Trails to the Past
Iowa
Monono County
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Biographies
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Progressive Men of Iowa
He is now a member of G. A. R. Hoskins Post, No. 87. In 1865 he attended high school, and commenced the study of medicine at Hampton, 111. In 1868 and 1869 he attended Rush Medical college, and soon took up his residence in Wheatland, Clinton county, Iowa. Here he was employed in the drug business until 1878, when he removed to Mapleton and bought a drug stock, conducted a store, and at the same time engaged in the practice of medicine. Mapleton was a town of about 200 people when he settled there. It has now a population of 1,200; its people prosperous and with every promise of becoming one of Iowa's leading towns. Dr. Griffin was one of the organizers of the Monona County State bank, of Mapleton, and has been a director since its organization. Dr. Griffin was married to Caroline E. Grover, February 2, 1870.
Thomas Holbrook, the pioneer of the family in America, sailed from
Weymouth, England, March 20, 1655, and settled in Weymouth, Mass., where
he lived until 1674. His son, born in England in 1625, died in Braintree,
Mass., in 1697. Deacon Peter
Holbrook, his son, born in 1665, died in Minden, Mass., in 1712. His son,
Joseph Holbrook, born in 1679, died in Billington, Mass., in 1765. Josiah,
his son, born in 1714, was a colonial soldier in two French wars, and
moved with his family from Massachusetts to New York, settling in Pompey.
He was twice married, to Peggy Ives and to Mary Moffitt, and died in 1783.
His son, David, born in 1760, served as a soldier during the revolutionary
war and was severely wounded at the battle of Bennington. After the
revolution he settled in Lafayette, N. Y., where he practiced medicine
until his death in 1832. His son, Henry L., was born in 1799. He moved to
Somerset, Pa., where he was, for many years, principal of the Somerset
academy. In 1865 he removed to Onawa, Monona county, and there continued
to reside until his death in 1874.
Parker K. Holbrook received his education in the public schools,
graduating from the Onawa high school in the class of 1880, and prepared
for college in St. Joseph's academy and Hiatt's academy, of Iowa City. He
entered the State university in the class of 1886, but did not complete
the course, leaving in the spring of 1885 to enter upon an active business
career. While in the
university he was a member of the Irving institute and Sigma Chi
fraternity. Upon leaving the university he went to Onawa and took a place
in his father's bank, where he has remained ever since, except the time
spent in the bank of Marcellus Holbrook, in Missouri Valley, and in that
of Weare & Allison, in Sioux City, for the purpose of securing a
business education. He became cashier of Holbrook & Brother's bank
April 1, 1889, and September 1, 1894, he purchased the interest of C. H.
Holbrook in the banking house, and continued business under the old firm
name. Mr. Holbrook has always been a democrat but has not sought
office. He was a member of
the Iowa delegation to the democratic national convention of 1892, and to
the convention of the national democratic party in Indianapolis in
1896. He was unable to
support the Chicago platform of 1896, upon which Bryan was a presidential
candidate. He was elected regent of the State university in February,
1896, and was made a member of the executive committee of the board of
regents in the spring of 1897, and chairman of that committee that fall,
which place he still holds. He is also chairman of the building committee
and of the library committee, which positions require much work on account
of the destruction of the library by fire, and the large amount of
building being done under the one-tenth mill levy for this purpose. Mr.
Holbrook is a Mason, and a member of the Knights of Pythias, having passed
all the chairs in both lodges. He is not a member of any church, but his wife is an Episcopalian. He was married June 7, 1893, to Virginia, daughter of Albert C. and Frances Suydam Robinson, in Green Bay, Wis. They have one son, Weare H., born April 15, 1896.
In the spring of 1869 the family came to Iowa, stopping at Sac
City, and afterwards located near Newell, Buena Vista county. The trip
from Wisconsin was made in a covered wagon. When in his teens Mr. Welch
began his business career by driving three pairs .of oxen on a breaking
plow at $8 a month, sleeping in a covered wagon and boarding himself. After that he worked on a farm,
served as apprentice in a livery stable and hotel, and by dint of economy
saved $120. With this money he purchased a pair of oxen and put in the
summers of 1870 and 1871 working his cattle and going to school winters.
In the spring of 1871 he bought another pair of oxen on time and began
breaking prairie at the rate of $4 and $5 per acre. Although only 16 years
old at the time, he broke ninety acres during the summer, sleeping in a
covered wagon and boarding himself, alone from Monday morning until
Saturday night. With his money he made payments on eighty acres of land
south of Newell, where he attended school the following winter. Soon after
this he accepted an offer of $10 a month and board, in a store. And in 1876 the partnership of
Blair & Welch was formed, taking charge of the general store of F. W.
Runkle. Business prospered from the start. But in one year the store was
burglarized and set on fire and both members of the firm lost every cent
they had. A friend in need, H. E.
Harris, of the banking firm of Parker & Harris, then offered
Mr. Welch a half interest in a general store, with his note in payment.
The partnership of Norton & Welch was then formed and Mr. Welch took
charge of the general store, while his partner attended to the grain and
stock part of the business. They built and operated the first creamery in
the county. In seven years,
Mr. Welch retired from the firm with $15,000 as his share of profits. He then entered business in Storm
Lake, doing a larger business in a general store. In the fall of 1887 he started a
store in Fonda, Iowa. This did not prove to be a successful venture and in
the spring of 1888 he removed to Sioux City and engaged in the book and
stationery business, afterwards removing to Oto, Iowa, where he started
the Oto Exchange bank. The following year he started the Anthon Exchange
bank, which in 1890 became the Anthon State bank. Mr. Welch continued as
cashier of this bank until 1894 when he bought a large interest in the
First State bank of Mapleton, of which he is at present cashier. He is
also vice-president of the Anthon State bank and chairman of the examining
board. Mr. Welch has always been a loyal republican, and although not an
office seeker, has a strong influence in politics in his town and county.
He is a Mason, member of Columbian Commandery No. 18, of Sioux City, a
Shriner, member of El Kahir Temple of Cedar Rapids, and an Odd
Fellow. He was married in February, 1885, to Louise B. Hanson, of Dubuque.
Two children have been born to them: Marion C., born March 11, 1887, and
Fred H., born February 6, 1888.
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GRIFFIN, Dr. Francis, one of the prominent citizens
of Mapleton, was born in Boston, Mass., July 2, 1847. His father, Frank
Griffin, married Mary Nelson, who came to Boston in 1840 from Ireland. Her
death occurred in 1853, and his father married again and removed with his
family to Port Byron, Rock Island county, ILL. Dr.
HOLBROOK, Parker Kimball, is a well-known banker of
Onawa, Monona county, where he was born September 23, 1864. His father; B.
D. Holbrook, in partnership with a brother, C. H. Holbrook, established in
1857 the banking business which is now conducted by father and son. B. D.
Holbrook was born in Somerset county, Pa., May 22, 1834, and was the son
of Henry L. and Mary (Connelley) Holbrook. He was educated in Washington
and Jefferson college, Pennsylvania, and came to Iowa in March, 1855.
WELCH, John Robert, cashier of the First State bank
at Mapleton, was born June 23, 1855, in the town of Fowler, St.