Webster County

Biographical Record and Portrait Album of Webster and Hamilton Counties, Iowa.
The Lewis Publishing Company, 113 Adams Street, Chicago. 1888.

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James A. Findley, one of the representative citizens of Otho Township , is a native of the State of Vermont , having been born in Grand Isle County in 1828, a son of James Findley. He was reared in his native State, and from there removed to the State of Illinois , settling in De Kalb County , where he resided until the spring of 1871. He then came with his family to Iowa, and made his home in Clay County until he settled on his present farm on section 29, Otho Township, Webster County, in July, 1877. He has now 160 acres of well cultivated land, and all the improvements in the way of buildings have been done by himself. When he purchased this land from the Wells family, a small building was on the place which was used for a dwelling for his family until the present commodious residence was erected in 1882. Mr. Findley was married October 27, 1873 , to Miss Olive Goodyear, who was born in Geauga County , Ohio , in 1843. Her parents were natives of the State of New York and early settlers of Geauga County , Ohio . They finally left that county for Illinois , where they made their home until death. Mr. and Mrs. Findley are the parents of three children – George F., Charles V., and Lloyd J., all being natives of Illinois, and an adopted daughter, Lily V. Although not as long a resident of Webster County as many others Mr. Findley is thoroughly identified with the growth and progress of his township, and is recognized as one of its successful farmers and respected citizens. In politics he affiliates with the Republican party.

Edward Flaherty, section 31, Douglas Township , was born in Maryland , in 1835, and was twenty years of age when he accompanied his father, Michael Flaherty, to Webster County . In 1858 he went to Louisiana and remained a few months and then came north as far as Hannibal , Missouri , where he worked in a planing-mill for a time, and then came to Webster County and worked for his brother Thomas. August 2, 1862 , in response to a call from President Lincoln, he enlisted and was assigned to Company I, Thirty-second Iowa Infantry. He participated in many hard fought battles among which were Fort DeRussey , Pleasant Hill , Old Town Creek, Old Oaks, Tupelo and Nashville . After the war he returned to Webster County . He had pre-empted 160 acres of land, but not being able to pay for it he sold eighty acres, which, however, he has since bought again. He has made all the improvements on his land and how has one of the best farms in the township. His fine residence was built in 1879 and is a model of convenience and good taste. Mr. Flaherty was married July 7, 1867 , to Agnes Crowell, a native of County Galway , Ireland , a daughter of Thomas Crowell, who settled in Badger Township , this county, in 1857. In politics Mr. Flaherty affiliates with the Democratic party but is liberal in his views. He is a member of Fort Donelson Post, No. 236, G. A. R. He is an honorable, upright business man and one of the leading citizens of Douglas Township . He has served some time as a member of the school board.

John Flaherty, the youngest son of Michael and Catherine Flaherty, was born in Maryland , and was eleven years old when his parents came to Iowa , and here he was reared and educated. He was married September 15, 1884 , to Cecilia Ray, a daughter of Peter Ray, a pioneer of Fulton Township . They have two children – Mary M. and Catherine H. In politics Mr. Flaherty is independent.

Michael Flaherty, deceased, was one of the prominent pioneers of Douglas Township . He was a native of Ireland , born in Galway County in 1799, a son of Edward Flaherty. He was reared in his native country, and was there married to Catherine Higgins, a native of the same place. In 1830 he came to the United States , and after a few years sent for his wife. They first located in Prince George 's County, Maryland , where they lived three years. Then they lived in Alleghany County , Maryland , until 1855, when they moved to Iowa , going by rail to Dubuque , and thence by stage to Fort Dodge . Mr. Flaherty bought the southeast quarter of section 31, Douglas Township , at $1.25 an acre, and this land he improved and made his home until his death, which occurred June 5, 1880 , his wife's death preceding his by three months, taking place March 5, 1880 . They had a family of seven children, six sons and one daughter, all except the eldest born in Maryland . The daughter, Maggie, died in the third year of her age. The sons are Thomas, Michael, Edward, James, Patrick and John. Mr. and Mrs. Flaherty are members of the Catholic church. In politics he was a Democrat.

Michael Flaherty, Jr., was born in Maryland in August, 1834, the second son of Michael and Catherine (Higgins) Flaherty. He was reared in his native State, and was twenty-one years of age when he came with his father to Iowa . He now makes his home on the homestead of his father with his brother John. He is one of the representative men of the township, and has served as a member of the school board twenty years. In politics he is a Democrat.

Patrick Flaherty, section 31, Douglas Township , is one of the well-known agriculturists of the county. He was born in Maryland in 1840, and was fifteen years of age when his parents came to Webster County , and here he grew to manhood, remaining with his father until 1869, when he bought 132 acres of wild land which he has improved and since made his home. He now owns 212 acres of good land, and his improvements are among the best in the township. He is an enterprising, public-spirited man, and is one of the leading citizens of his township, where he has spent the greater part of his life, and has seen the country develop from a wilderness to an advanced state of cultivation, and has been one of the most active in promoting this change. He was married in 1869 to Miss Bridge McNamara, a native of County Clare , Ireland , daughter of Daniel and Bridget McNamara, who came to Webster County in 1868. They have four children – Mary M., born in 1873; James P., born in 1875; Catherine C., born in 1877; and Daniel Emmett, born in 1879. In politics Mr. Flaherty is a Democrat. He has served as a member of the school board. He and his wife are members of the Catholic church.

Thomas Flaherty, one of the leading citizens of Webster County , was born in County Galway , Ireland , in 1829, the eldest son of Michael and Catherine (Higgins) Flaherty. He came to America when a small child and lived in Maryland until 1852, when he took a trip to California , going via the Isthmus of Panama . He remained on the Pacific coast two years, engaged in mining, and then returned east, and in the spring of 1855 came to Iowa and bought 160 acres of Government land in Webster County at $1.25 an acre. He has improved his land and added to his first purchase until he now has 330 acres of choice land all under cultivation with good building improvements and it is considered one of the best farms in the county. Mr. Flaherty was married in June, 1857, to Catherine Welch, a native of County Wexford , Ireland , daughter of James Welch, a pioneer of this county. They have eleven children – Katie, Margaret, Mary, Edward, Agnes, Thomas, William, Anna, John, David, Walter. In politics Mr. Flaherty is a Democrat, and one of the leaders of his party in the county. He has served as township trustee fifteen years, as a member of the school board twelve years, and on the county board of supervisors four years. He declined the nomination as representative in the Legislature in 1887. He has always taken an interest in the cause of education and all other enterprises of benefit to the community. He is one of the influential citizens of Douglas Township , and stands high in the estimation of the people. His wife died February 6, 1883 . She was an estimable woman, and her death was not only a loss to her family, but to the entire community.

John D. Flanagan, Cooper Township , is a representative farmer and business man, although he has been a resident in the county only since January, 1885, becoming widely and favorably known through his business transactions and the interest he manifests in local improvements. He is a native of Ireland , born in County Limerick , April 14, 1850 . His early life was spent in school and when in his eighteenth year he began teaching, continuing that occupation until the day he left home for America . March 27, 1871 , he took passage in the steamer City of Montreal , bound for New York , and landed April 10. He remained in New York about three months and then came west to Chicago , where he soon after found employment as bookkeeper and cashier in the retail grocery store of William Sullivan, on Elston Avenue with whom he remained until 1876. He then returned home to visit his parents and in the fall of the same year returned to Chicago and took the position of bookkeeper and manager of the large business of P. K. Bowen, remaining with him four years. In the spring of 1881 he started in business for himself at 646 43d street , where he carried on a successful business until December, 1884, when he sold out and the next month located in Cooper Township . While in the mercantile business in Chicago his enterprise and energy prompted him to invest in other speculations in the pursuit of which he visited California and Washington Territory twice and purchased some very valuable property in the city of Tacoma on Puget Sound , now the terminus of the Northern Pacific Railroad. He now owns and manages a large stock farm and is also devoting some time and attention to buying and shipping live-stock. He is a shrewd business man who is likely to make a success of any business venture he may make. In politics he is an ardent supporter of the Democratic party. He was married September 13, 1882 , to Mary C. Broderick, a native of Ohio , daughter of John Broderick, who was a native of Ireland . They have two children – May, born July 1, 1883 , and Maud, born May 24, 1886 .

Myron S. Fleming, general merchant in Badger, is a representative of one of the early pioneer families of the township. He was born in Kane County , Illinois , October 21, 1854 , a son of William F. and Julia A. (LeDue) Fleming, the father a native of New York and a descendant of one of the early New England families, and the other a native of Fairfield County , Connecticut , of French descent. William F. Fleming was a minister of the United Brethren church, but on the breaking out of the Rebellion left his pulpit and enlisted in the defense of his country. He was a member of Company H, Seventy-fourth Illinois Infantry, and participated in a number of hard-fought battles. After the close of the war he followed his profession about a year, and then actuated by a desire to try his fortune in the gold fields of Idaho, he started with a party to make the journey to that territory with teams, and they have never since been heard from, and it is not known whether or not they ever reached their destination. In September, 1867, Mrs. Fleming brought her family to Iowa and settled in Cooper Township in the Haviland settlement, and there our subject received the most of his education and was prepared for business life. The early years of his life were spent in working on the farm in summer and in attending school in the winter, and later he spent some time clerking in a hardware store in Fort Dodge . Early in 1882 he started in business for himself, and became the pioneer merchant of Badger, and has since had a good trade with is constantly increasing. It was mainly through his influence that the post office was located at Badger, and he was appointed the first postmaster and held the office until May 17, 1886 . He is an active Republican in politics, but is not in any sense an office seeker, declining rather than accepting office. However, he has served two terms as justice of the peace, a position he still holds. He was married October 31, 1881 , to Maggie A. Winsand, a native of Norway , daughter of Andrew and Bertha (Nelson) Winsand. They have three children – Josephine C., Andrew F. and William H. Mr. Fleming is a member of the Methodist Episcopal, and his wife is a member of the Lutheran church.

Frederick Folger, of Colfax Township, is a native of Vermont, born in the town of Pawlet, Rutland County, May 4, 1844, a son of Nathaniel and Sarah (Rogers) Folger, who in 1856 moved to Granville, Washington County, New York, where they still reside being now well advanced in years, both having passed the allotted three score and ten. Frederick Folger was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools of Washington County , remaining at home until September, 1862, when he enlisted in Company E, Fifth Vermont Infantry, and served two years and ten months, until the close of the war, when he was discharged at Brattleboro , Vermont , in June, 1865. He participated in a number of active engagements, viz. – Fredericksburg , Chancellorsville , Gettysburg , the Wilderness, Brandy Station, Cold Harbor , Winchester , Cedar Creek, most of the engagements attending the siege of Petersburg , and at Appomatox, when Lee surrendered, as well as a number of his important battles. Although he was in active service most of the time, and in some of the hardest fought battles of the war the only injury he ever received was a slight graze on the left wrist, made by a spent ball at the battle of the Wilderness. When the war was virtually at an end he was stricken down with nervous exhaustion which led to brain fever, the result of overwork, anxiety and exposure and for a month was in the hospital at Baltimore , Maryland . Comparatively few have borne the hardships incident to a soldier's life and boldly faced the dangers of so many hard-fought battles and escaped so fortunately. After the war he returned to New York and engaged in farming in Fort Edward Township , Washington County, until 1877, when he went to Kansas , spending a year at Ottawa and a year at Wichita . He then spent the winter in the Indian Territory and from there went to Pueblo County , Colorado , and thence to Gunnison County . In July, 1883, he returned to New York , and in December, 1884, came to Webster County, Iowa, and settled in Colfax Township , and in the summer of 1887 bought his present farm. He is one of the representative farmers of the township making a specialty of raising short-horn Durham cattle. He is a member of the township school board. In politics he is a Republican. He is a member of Gunnison Post, G.A.R., and also of the Masonic order.

Frederick Frost, proprietor of one of the most important business establishments in Fort Dodge , was born in Suffolk County , England , but reared in Middlesex County . He learned the carpenter's trade in his native country, and was one of the workmen employed on the Crystal Palace , in London , that being the last work he did in his native land, as before its completion he emigrated to America , landing in Chicago , Illinois , in the fall of 1854. He remained in Chicago until the fall of 1863, when he enlisted in the war for the Union , a member of the Seventy-second Illinois Infantry, known as the First Board of Trade Regiment, and was in active service until the close of the war, participating in the important battles of Franklin, Nashville , Spanish Fort and others. He returned to Illinois at the close of the war, and December 25, 1865 , came to Fort Dodge and started in business as a contractor and builder, and the excellent of his work, the reasonableness of his charges, and his personal reliability soon became well known and he suddenly found himself in the possession of a fine business. In 1873 he erected a factory and commenced practically his present business. He has sustained severe losses by fire, but not disheartened by adversity he has persevered and success has crowned his efforts. His building of to-day is a substantial two-story brick, and is supplied with as complete machinery as can be found in any building of its size in the country, among which may be found the following: Planer and matcher, rip and cut-saws, eight and six-inch moulders, sash sticker, eight-inch buzz-planer, heavy tenenter, mortiser, shaper, scroll-saw, turning lathes, etc. The machinery is operated by a twenty-five horsepower engine, of latest improved design, and from fifteen to twenty-five skilled mechanics are constantly employed. Mr. Frost came to Fort Dodge when it was comparatively in its infancy, its total population in 1865 being but 600. He has kept pace with its growth and is numbered among its most enterprising and prosperous business men. He was married in England , to Miss Penelope Willis.

David R. Fuller, one of the well-known and representative citizens of Webster County , is a native of Jefferson County , New York , born February 2, 1823 , a son of Elijah and Roxanna (Dickinson) Fuller. His ancestors were of Puritan stock. His grandfather, Jedediah Fuller, was a Major during the Revolutionary war, losing an arm in the service of his country. After their marriage the parents of our subject removed to Jefferson County , New York , where they were among the early settlers. In November, 1833, they settled in Geauga County , Ohio , in the town of Parkman , where the father died February 23, 1843 . The mother was cared for in her declining years by our subject, at whose home she died, March 23, 1881 , at the advanced age of eighty-five years. Elijah Fuller and wife had five sons born to them, all of whom are living – David R., who is the eldest; Alonzo G. was a brave and gallant soldier during the war of the Rebellion, serving in the Twenty-fourth Iowa Infantry. He fought under General Sheridan in the Shenandoah Valley campaign, where he was severely wounded, and after the war returned to Iowa with his constitution badly shattered from his army experience. He is now living in Nodaway County , Missouri . Sylvanus, the next son, was also a soldier for the Union , in an Ohio regiment, and is now a resident of Michigan . Mahlon resides in De Kalb County , Illinois , and George lives in Michigan . David R. Fuller learned the trade of blacksmith in Lake County , Ohio , which he followed until coming to Webster County, Iowa, in 1869. He was married in Ohio to Miss Martha A. Ford, a native of Chautauqua County , New York , a daughter of Warren and Sophia (Town) Ford. Her parents were also natives of the State of New York , but removed to Geauga County , Ohio . When Mrs. Fuller was a child they moved to Hamilton County , Iowa , where they made their home until death. They had a family of four sons and eight daughters, seven of their children still living. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Fuller, named Homer E., Frank F. and Frances F. (twins), Lamay Fremont and Lew G. E. They have also two adopted daughters – Elmina, who is now the wife of Adam Palm, in Illinois , and Bertha L., who still makes her home with our subject. Mr. Fuller's farm is located on section 28, Otho Township , and everything about the place indicates the thrift and enterprise of the proprietor. Politically Mr. Fuller is a Republican, and has ever been an able advocate of the principles of that great political party. Mr. Fuller was not a soldier during the late civil war, owing to a severe permanent injury to one of his limbs in early life, while serving his apprenticeship, but although he was unfitted for duty as a soldier he made his influence felt on all occasions in the cause of the Union, and during the war he was an enrolling officer. Mr. Fuller has departed somewhat from the religious belief of his Puritanic ancestors. He is independent and charitable in his religious views, and believes that a man's life is the standard by which he will be judged. He is a man of decided views on all questions affecting the moral and social interests of the people. In 1851, three years after his marriage, becoming convinced that the use of liquor was a social evil, he took an oath that he would henceforth entirely abstain from its use, and this oath he has faithfully kept for thirty-seven years.

Jared Fuller, section 15, Pleasant Valley Township , has been a resident of Webster County since 1857. He was born in Delaware County , New York , August 16, 1821 , a son of John and Nina (Langdon) Fuller. The Fuller family came to the United States and settled in Massachusetts in old Puritan times. The immediate ancestors of our subject were residents of Westchester County , New York , during the Revolutionary war and in 1795 settled in Delaware County . Both his grandfathers were soldiers during the Revolution and patriotism has always been a ruling characteristic of their descendants. His parents had a family of fourteen children, two of whom died in early childhood, and seven of whom are now living. In 1857 Mr. Fuller came West and through the influence of his brother-in-law, G. E. Bates, to Webster County . Mr. Bates afterward went to Junction City , Kansas , and during the civil war served in a Kansas regiment. After the war he devoted himself somewhat to politics and became quite prominent, serving several times in the Kansas Legislature. He died January 6, 1888 . At the time Mr. Fuller came West there was a general financial depression throughout the country. He pre-empted and settled on land in Douglas Township . In August, 1861, he enlisted in the defense of the Union , in Harland's independent cavalry regiment, which became, when independent regiments were made State organizations, the Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry. He served until November, 1863, when he was discharged on account of disability. He was in active service all the time, and was a brave and faithful soldier. As a result of his army life he was unable to attend to any business for some time after his return, and in 1884 the Government rewarded him for his services with a pension. In 1865 he was elected treasurer of Webster county, and in 1874 was elected county recorder, filing the latter position two terms. In June, 1879, he succeeded L. D. Button as editor of the Webster County Union, a paper devoted to the interests of the Greenback party, which he continued about two years. Mr. Fuller has two sons – Marcus, in New Mexico , and Edward, who with him owns the homestead where they reside. Three sons, James B., Arthur B., and Jared, died within a few days of each other in 1872, of spinal meningitis. They were bright boys, aged respectively, fourteen, eight and five years, and their loss was a sad blow to the father. In politics Mr. Fuller has been a Republican from the organization of that party. He is a member of the Congregational church, and a firm believer in the doctrines of the Christian religion. During his long residence in Webster county, he was merited and received the respect of all who know him.