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Washington County >> 1909 Index History of Washington County, Iowa from the First White Settlements to
1908 T ARTHUR THERION submitted by Dick Barton Arthur Therion is one of the younger representatives of farming interests in Washington county, being the owner of one hundred acres of well improved land in Marion township. He was born in Washington , Iowa , March 3, 1871 , and is the only child of John and Theresa (Heiniman) Therion, both of whom were natives of France , the latter born in Alsace . The father emigrated to the United States about 1860 and soon after his arrival in the new world took up his abode in Washington , Iowa , where he remained until his death, which occurred in 1874. He was a wagonmaker by trade and conducted business along this line in Washington . The mother, who emigrated to this country in her girlhood, was married in this county to Mr. Therion. She still survives and now makes her home with her son Arthur. Arthur Therion was reared under the parental roof and acquired his education in the common schools. With the exception of three years spent in Kansas City and Chicago , he has always lived in Washington county, where he is now operating a farm of one hundred acres, which he owns. This tract is located on section 5, Marion township, and is devoted to general farming. He has made many improvements on the place since taking possession and now has a comfortable residence and substantial outbuildings which furnish shelter for grain and stock. In addition to his farming interests, Mr. Therion has operated a threshing machine for the past nine years and in this connection has become well known in various sections of the county. Mr. Therion chose as a companion for the journey of life Miss Mollie Putnam, whom he wedded in 1899, and this union has been blessed with two daughters and a son, but the eldest, Bertha, is now deceased, the other members being John and Mildred, both under the parental roof. Mr. Therion supports the men and measures of the democratic party and served as assessor of Marion township eight years. He is identified with the Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen at Washington . Gradually advancing year by year, Mr. Therion has gained a place among the substantial farmers of his section of the county, and having spent almost his entire life here, he has become widely and favorably known, meriting the esteem in which he is universally held. Basil Tracy submitted by Dick Barton Basil Tracy was born in Ohio, August 20, 1832, and came to Iowa with his parents about 1840. They settled in Brighton, and when grown he went into general merchandise, and has been in it ever since. On December 4, 1856, he married Martha Ann Fleak, daughter of Major L. B, Fleak. They have had seven children and five are living. Albert R. is the oldest, forty nine years of age, and owns a dry-goods store in Red Oak, Iowa, and is interested in a gas company and farm lands. Henry Fleak is forty-seven years of age and is in business in Brighton. Bertram Clay is thirty-nine years old, associated with his father in Brighton. Mattie Ethel is thirty years of age, the wife of Harry Ditmars, and lives in Olympia. Washington. Frank Basil Tracy submitted by Dick Barton Frank Basil Tracy was born in Brighton, October 18, 1866; went to school at the Brighton high school, Washington Academy and the State University of Iowa, graduating from the latter in 1888. He worked a year on the Brighton News, bought a managing interest in the Herald at Morning Sun, and was there until January, 1891, when he sold his interest and leased the Daily Plain-Dealer at Fort Madison, Iowa. After one year there he became an editorial writer on the Omaha Bee in 1892. Later in the year he took up the field of general newspaper correspondence. In 1896 he leased the Weekly Republican in Langdon, North Dakota, and conducted it until March, 1897, when he accepted a position on the Boston Transcript, of which he is now editor of the magazine department. He has written short stories for McClure's and other magazines, and has written political articles for the Forum, the North American Review, Collier's, and other forensic publications. In 1905 he edited Colonel Denby's book on China. In 1908 appeared his Tercentenary History of Canada in three volumes, published by Collier's and the MacMillan Company. While living in Fort Madison he was married to Miss Wegia Hope Hall, of Meriden, Connecticut, at Galesburg, Illinois, May 18, 1891. They live in Winchester, Massachusetts. We consider that Frank has made abundantly good, having been a most industrious plodder and worker, and his Canadian History is the most ambitious piece of authorship in the history of the county. This little wreath of laurel we bind round the clear brow of Frank Tracy. |