Trails-to-the-Past-Iowa-Winnebago-Co.-Biographies-Progressive-Men

Progressive Men of Iowa
1899

CONLEY, Joseph Bernard, is one of the craft of honest millers whose "mill goes round '' at the beautiful little city of Lake Mills. The parents of Mr. Conley were natives of Vermont, but removed to Wisconsin in 1850, where they engaged in farming. They reared a family of eleven children, five sons and six daughters, which, together with the few opportunities for enriching one's self afforded by the early times in Wisconsin, prevented any great accumulation of this world's goods. There were no railroads in the neighborhood where they resided, and they were compelled to haul their farm products to Milwaukee by ox team, and as that city was eighty miles away they would receive scarcely enough from their produce to pay the expenses of the trip. In 1881 they removed to Chicago, where the father en-gaged in the grocery business with moderate success. The earlier ancestors of Mr. Conley were natives of Ireland and were people of considerable importance, some being closely related to Marshal MacDonald, of France.

Mr. Joseph Bernard Conley was born in Clinton, Rock county, Wis., in 1852. His common school education was supplemented by a course in the Sharon academy, where he received the education which has been so useful to him throughout his life. After some years of teaching and farm work in Wisconsin, in 1877 he came to Iowa, and was employed for several years in drilling wells throughout the state. He located in Lake Mills. In 1881 he secured the interest of S. D. Wadsworth in an old buhr flouring mill, the business of which was conducted under the name of Conley, Smith & Company, until the year 1883, at which time the interest of Smith & Company was purchased by Mr. Winslow, after which the firm was known as Winslow & Conley. The property was greatly enlarged and improved by these gentlemen, and in 1895 an electric light plant was added which now furnishes illumination for public and private use. In March, 1897, Mr. Conley bought the interest of Mr. Winslow and has since operated the business alone.

Mr. Conley was a republican until Mr. Cleveland received his nomination, since which time he has been identified with the democratic party. He has been mayor of the city of Lake Mills two terms, and has served several years as member of the city council of that place. He is a devout member of the Catholic church. In 1881 he was married to Miss Sarah B. Kenny, of Delavan, Wis. They have two children: Vere, aged 12, and Wilfred, aged 10. The home life of Mr. Conley is a most happy and congenial one. He has ample means to provide the necessities as well as the luxuries of life, in which they indulge to a reasonable and consistent extent.

HOWARD, Joseph Edward. The story of the life of Joseph Edward Howard, of Forest City, is like that of many others of Iowa's progressive citizens in that his advancement from the position of a farmer boy in lowly circumstances to an honored citizen, filling a position of responsibility, has not been without its trials, vexations and arduous toil. The parents of Mr. Howard were natives of Pennsylvania. They removed to Fayette county, Iowa, in 1855, and engaged in farming. This vocation was followed until 1869, at which time they removed to Forest City where they now reside. It was in Fayette county that Mr. J. E. Howard was born, on August 31, 1855. He lived on the farm and attended the common schools until 13 years of age. At 17 he began teaching, which was followed for four years, a part of that time in country districts and part in Forest City. He later entered the law department of the State university, and was admitted to the bar on June 8, 1878. From 1879 to 1883, he followed the practice of law at Forest City, and then accepted the position as traveling collector in Iowa, Nebraska, Dakota and Minnesota, which position he held for seven years. In 1890, he established a real estate business in Forest City in connection with O. A. Olson, and the firm is now doing a most excellent business.

In 1892, the firm of Howard & Olson organized the banking institution of Howard, Olson & Ulland, at Buffalo Center, with a capital of $25,000, fully paid, and the same is to day one of the solid financial concerns of that county. During his long residence in Forest City, Mr. Howard has held many offices of trust and honor. In 1893, he was elected mayor, without opposition, and in 1894, a member of the town council, which last named position he has filled up to the present time. It was during his terms of office that the city put in a first-class electric light plant and system of water works, improvements which, by the way, reflected great credit upon the officers having them in charge. In 1895, he was appointed clerk of the district court of Winnebago county, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Mr. G. S. Gilbertson, who was elected to represent the Forty-first district in the state senate, and that position he held until his successor was elected in 1896, and is now postmaster at Forest City. He still makes Forest City his home and dealing in real estate a prominent part of his business. He has been identified with the history and progress of his county for the past twenty-five years; has contributed generously for the public improvements, and has crowded the avenues of benevolence with good deeds. He was married in 1879 to Miss Elnora Skinner, of Forest City, and seven children have been born to them, all of which are living. He is a prominent Mason and member of the Odd Fellows.

IRISH, Harry Russell, of Forest City, is one of the leading physicians of Winnebago county. He is the son of David Irish, who was a native of Vermont and a farmer in moderate circumstances. He removed to Dane county, Wis., in an early day, and from there to Kellogg, Jasper county, Iowa, in 1867, where he died in 1885 at the age of 61. Dr. Irish's mother, Harriet Brownell, was also a native of Vermont, and died in October, 1894, at the age of 68 years. The ancestors of David Irish were Quakers of Norman descent, who came to America about 1630 to escape religious persecution in England. The ancestors of Dr. Irish's mother were of Anglo-Saxon and Dutch descent. They came to America long before the revolution, and took an active part in that war.

Dr. H. R. Irish was born October 1, 1860, and removed with his parents to Kellogg, Jasper county, Iowa, at the age of 6 years. Here he made his home until 1883, when he located at Forest City. His preliminary education was obtained in the common country schools, and he also completed a course at Hazel Dell academy at Newton. He entered the medical department of the State university in 1881, and graduated March 7, 1883, and during the same month located in Forest City, where he has been in active practice ever since, enjoying a liberal patronage. He has the satisfaction of knowing that he has worked his own way to his present rank, having earned the money to secure his training by working on a farm. For four years and a half Dr. Irish served as one of the examining surgeons for the United States pension department at Mason City. He is a member of the Iowa State Medical society and of the Austin, Flint, and Winnebago county medical societies.

In politics Dr. Irish is a democrat. He served one term as mayor of Forest City, beginning in March, 1893, and is at present a member of the board of education. He holds no church membership.

The doctor was married April 8, 1887, to Alice S. Peirce, at Cedar Falls, Iowa. They have two children, Leita, who was born June 5, 1889, and Thomas J., born February 4, 1897.

JOICE, Peter Martin, at present a resident of Lake Mills, might very properly be termed the young Napoleon of finance in northern Iowa. Although born as late as the breaking out of the civil war he now holds foremost positions of responsibility in half a dozen banks, and is among the chief promoters of several business enterprises of considerable magnitude. His father, E. J. Joice, was born in Bergen, Norway, in 1827. The early years of his life were spent in farming and the manufacturing of cooperage. He came to this country in 1848, and located in Stoughton, Wis., where he ran a cooper shop for thirteen years. He removed to Forest City in 1879, where, for the last twelve years of his life, he was engaged in the lumber business. The mother of Mr. Joice was one of a prominent family in Norway, a brother having been a member of parliament for fourteen years.

Mr. Peter Martin Joice was born in Greene county, Wis., January 4, 1860. Following the regular period in the public schools of his native town he attended the colleges of Albion and Janesville, graduating from the last named institution in 1878. In May, 1879, he engaged in the lumber business with his father, at Forest City, and earned his first money of any consequence during that partnership. In the fall of 1880 he entered the Winnebago County bank as bookkeeper, and in 1883 was taken in as special partner, and made cashier. In July, 1886, he entered into partnership with Secor, Law & Plummer, bankers of Forest City, under the firm name of P. M. Joice & Company. This firm organized a bank at Lake Mills, and the same was placed in charge of Mr. Joice, by whose intelligent management it has been firmly grounded among the solid financial institutions of that section of the state. Besides owning the greater share of the stock in the bank last mentioned, Mr. Joice is vice-president of the First National bank at Wells, Minn., director in the First National bank at Albert Lea, president of the First National bank of Britt, Iowa, and president First National bank of Buffalo Center, Iowa. Mr. Joice is considered one of the best financiers in his section of the country, and there is no one who stands more ready to help his town than does he. He has served in the capacity of mayor for two terms, has been a member of the city council and school board for six years, and was re-elected to the same positions at the recent elections. He takes a warm interest in matters pertaining to education, and has contributed generously of his time and means toward bringing the schools of his town up to their present high standing.

In June, 1896, he was elected a trustee of Cornell college at Mt Vernon. Religiously, he is a member of the M. E. church, and a trustee of the denomination of that faith in Lake Mills; politically, he is a republican. He was united in marriage on January 2, 1883, to Miss Ida M. Law, and three children, Marie, Wilford and Katherine, have been born to them.

LLOYD, John B., of Lake Mills, is a native of Ohio, having been born in Cincinnati on September 15, 1843. He received his education in the district, intermediate and high schools of Cincinnati, and at the age of 16 became an apprentice in the trade of pattern making. While thus employed the civil war broke out and he promptly enlisted in Company L, Fourth Ohio Volunteer cavalry. He participated in twenty-two engagements, commencing with the tight at Perryville, Ky.; was in the campaign to Atlanta, and back to Nashville; then the siege of Nashville, after Hood was repulsed; then Selma and Macon, including the side expeditions, and throughout all of the severe fighting done by that division of the army up to June, 1865, when he was discharged. He returned at once to Cincinnati to finish the term of his apprenticeship, but a throat trouble, contracted in the army, compelled him to seek different employment. He engaged as bookkeeper for a large commission house, but at the end of one year purchased an interest in the firm of E. H. Cowing Company. Later he engaged in the manufacture of tobacco, then accepted the position of clerk on the steamer "Robert Mitchell," plying between Cincinnati and New Orleans. Tiring of that kind of a life he became bookkeeper for the wholesale candy manufacturing concern of E. Myers & Company, of Cincinnati. He remained with that company five years, then spent a year on the river; then conducted a coal business for a time, and finally became a member of the confectionery company with which he had formerly been connected.

Having secured a large tract of land in Winnebago and Hancock counties, Iowa, Mr. Lloyd concluded to come west and look after his new purchase. It was his intention at first to open up a stock farm, but the firm of Pickering, Hartley & Harwood, of Lake Mills, tendered him a position in their office, which was accepted and held for some eight years. He then bought out the firm, taking in with him as a partner Mr. D. N. Hill, and the business was carried on by those gentlemen until 1895, when Mr. Hill's interest was purchased by Mr. Lloyd. Later Jacob Larson and his son, John R. Larson, were taken into the firm, and it is now one of the leading banking, real estate and loan institutions in that section of the state. Mr. Lloyd is a nephew of Thomas Bebb, governor of the state of Ohio, away back in the 40's. He was married to Miss Mary C. Wade, daughter of Capt. R. M. Wade, who was commander of the gunboat "Corondolet" during the late war, and afterwards had charge of a number of boats on the lower Mississippi. Captain Wade was a grandson of Chief Justice Marshall, of Virginia.

Mr. Lloyd is a man of wide and varied experiences. He has seen the ins and outs of life as few men are privileged to see them, and the bruises against the rough edges have made him considerate, generous and knowing. He has reared a family of three children, two girls and one boy, all married. The son, Richard, is postmaster at Lake Mills.

Mr. Lloyd's success in life is to be largely attributed to his contact with and the advance of Iowa land, and it should serve as a valuable suggestion to young men.

NELSON, N. I. Mr. Nelson is engaged in the general merchandise and wholesale grocery business at Lake Mills, being a member of the well-known Scar Nelson Merchandise company.

He is descended on his father's side from the old Vikings. His mother's grandfather was of Teuton descent, but his own grandfather was born in Norway, and served in the war of 1812 for his native country. Iver Nelson, the father of N. I. Nelson, landed in New York on the 1st day of July, 1851. having crossed the Atlantic in a sailboat. He was more than three months in making the voyage. From New York he went by water to Milwaukee, and with an ox team drove overland to Stoughton, Wis. He assisted in the construction of the first railroad leading west of Chicago. In 1853 he settled in Winneshiek county, this state, where he was married, in 1856, after which he removed to Mitchell county and engaged in farming. At the present time he resides in St. Ansgar, and is among the wealthiest citizens of that place. His mother, Ingelberg Rosby Nelson, came from Quebec to Winneshiek county July 4, 1856, where she was married to the father of our subject.

Mr. N. I. Nelson was born June 1, 1857, at Calmar, Winneshiek county. He was given a good common school education and in addition took two courses at the St. Ansgar seminary and a commercial course at the Decorah college, from which he graduated in the spring of 1882. He worked upon a farm, however, until he had accumulated $1,000. In June, 1882, he entered the hardware store of Johnson & Annis, at Osage, as clerk at $20 per month. Shortly thereafter his salary was raised to $35 per month, and in less than one year to $50 per month. That position he held until the spring of 1886, when he removed to Lake Mills and formed a partnership with Mr. 0. Scar in the general merchandise business under the style of Scar & Nelson. This firm is still in existence, operating three stores, with extensive cold storage facilities, and also a canning factory. The last named enterprise is known as the Lake Mills Canning company, and is an institution that has proved of inestimable value to the farmers of that section.

Mr. Nelson, in addition to the concerns mentioned, is largely interested in the Arlington Hotel company. He is an energetic businessman, and by honorable dealing, economy and good business judgment, will, if he lives, become as well off in this world's goods as is bis father. He has always voted the republican ticket, but has never held office except such as have been forced upon him. He has served as mayor of his town, and was for six years member of the city council. He is a member of the United Lutheran church, the Masonic order and the A. O. U. W. June 2, 1883, he was married to Miss Anna C. Sorbon, of Rock Creek. They have two children, Eda E. and Irving A., 9 and 5 years of age, respectively.

OLSON, O. A., a prosperous clothing merchant of Forest City, was born in Winneshiek county, Iowa, November 11, 1860, the son of John S. and Anna Nelson Olson. They were farmers at that time, but for twenty-five years have been engaged in the mercantile business. Mr. J. S. Olson was a soldier in the union army, serving in Company K, Thirty-eighth Iowa. He and his wife were born in Norway and came to this country in 1850 and 1852. The family moved to Forest City in the year 1870, and the children received a common school education there.

While yet a boy O. A. was put to work in his father's store and his first savings were the nickels he earned by running errands. When he was 22 years old, in January, 1883, his father gave him a working interest in the store and the firm name was J. S. Olson & Son. The father sold his interest in the store to his son April 8,1890, and two years later the latter sold the business and went into the real estate business with J. E. Howard, which partnership was dissolved in the summer of 1895. In September of that year the present business, Olson Bros. & Co., was started, Mr. Olson's brother, W. A. Olson, being a member of the firm.

Mr. Olson, who has always been a republican, was elected mayor of Forest City in March, 1888, and in the great presidential campaign of 1896 he was chairman of the republican county committee. He belongs to the Forest City Commercial club, the Masonic Lodge, Bethel Chapter No. 26, of Garner, St. Elmo Commandery, Iowa Falls, El Kahir Temple, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and to the Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias and the Elks lodge, the latter in Mason City. He was married September 8, 1885, to Annette Carlburg, of Neenah, Wis. They have one son, Sylvan Leander, born June 27, 1886. Mrs. Olson died July 10, 1889, after a long, lingering illness, of consumption.

SCAR, Ole, of Lake Mills, is a good type of thrifty, intelligent class of citizens which Norway has contributed to this country. Beginning life with no other capital than energy, perseverance and good sense, he has succeeded in acquiring a very comfortable fortune, and in being classed among the most prosperous merchants of the state. He was born August 11, 1845, at Bang, Norway. His early educational advantages were somewhat limited, but by the aid of self-instruction, he fitted himself for business, so that at the age of 12 he secured a position as clerk in a store, where he remained about five years. But feeling the need of a more complete and thorough education, he petitioned for admittance to the Sargeant Military school, at Christiania, where he was accepted, and in 1866 graduated with first honors, as sergeant. Not satisfied, however with the future which a military life offered, he secured his discharge and permission to emigrate to America, the requests not being granted until after three successive petitions.

Mr. Scar sailed for this country in July, 1868, when not quite 23 years old, and first settled in Black Earth, Wis. Here he secured work at once as clerk in a store, and after remaining a year concluded to go farther west and accordingly located at West Mitchell, in Mitchell county, Iowa. His funds being limited, he was unable to start in business for himself, so he was again employed a9 clerk. While here he became acquainted with William Larson, a businessman of Osage, who was so well pleased with young Scar that he offered him a position as manager of a branch store at Lake Mills. He conducted the business so successfully at this place that Mr. Larson soon sold out his stock at Osage and established himself at Lake Mills, where the two men prospered well until the mill burned in 1871. This misfortune caused a check on all trade, as the mill had been the life of what was then a small trading post. The dullness of business made Mr. Scar restless, and in 1871 he went to California to try the gold fields. He was quite successful at first, but soon feeling that luck was not with him there, he concluded to go to Puget Sound, where it was expected that the Northern railway would terminate. He settled at Olympia, Wash., where he entered eighty acres of land in hopes of striking the terminus. The railroad project finally failed, but Mr. Scar proved up on his land, which he still owns, and in 1874 returned to Iowa. He formed a partnership with his former employer, Mr. Larson, and after a few years bought him out, but the connection was again resumed, and finally dissolved in 1880. Soon after this Mr. Scar purchased the business of S. D. Wadsworth & Co., which he conducted alone until 1883, when he entered into partnership with his brother-in-law, N. I. Nelson, and in 1893 the firm was incorporated under the name of the Scar-Nelson Mercantile Co., and has been very successful, enjoying a wide patronage. Mr. Scar has also dealt considerably in real estate. Mr. Scar is a bachelor.

SECOR, Ellsworth E., cashier and resident manager of the Buffalo Center State bank at Buffalo Center, and a nephew of Eugene Secor, of Forest City, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work, is one of the most prominent and progressive young business men in northern Iowa. He wu born January 2, 1864, at Forest City, Iowa. His father is the Hon. David Secor, now president of the Faribault County bank. of Winnebago City, Minn., also president of the bank of Amboy, Amboy, Minn., Devlevan bank, Delevan. Minn. He Is also director of the First National bank, of Forest City Iowa, his former home. He was a representative from his district in the house of representatives in the Iowa legislature for two terms during the years 1872-1874, and was twice elected register of the Iowa state land office. He was one of the early settlers of Winnebago county, coming there in 1858. He was county treasurer two terms during the sixties, occupying that position during the war, but hiring a substitute for his office, he joined the union army and was in Sherman's march to the sea. Mrs. Secor's maiden name was Samantha Van Curen. She died when Ellsworth E. was but 7 years old.

Mr. Secor, in early life attended the public schools of Forest City, and in 1881 entered the Iowa Agricultural college at Ames, but before completing the freshman year was taken sick and did not complete his course. His father was Identified with the building of the Chicago, Iowa & Dakota railway, known as the "Slippery Elm" road, so the ambitious young man concluded to fit himself for future life in the railway service. He put in four years as freight brake-man, mostly on the Winona & St. Peter division of the Chicago & Northwestern railway, and later on the What Cheer branch of the same railway, out of Belle Plaine. Near that place, in the winter of 1886-87, he nearly lost his life one frosty morning just before daylight, by stumbling between the tender and the first car, striking on the draw bar and cutting through his heavy clothing and through the flesh of one leg, to the bone. He realized his perilous position and managed somehow to climb to the top of the car, where he fainted, but was brought to his senses by the cold air; this experience caused him to change his occupation.

His father was preparing to remove to Minnesota and wanted him to go to Forest City, and, in a measure, take his place in the firm of Secor Brothers & Law. This he accordingly did, leaving Belle Plaine, his former headquarters, January 25, 1887, to take charge of the conveyance and abstract work of his father's firm, remaining with them until July, 1892, when he took charge of the Iowa Investment company's business at Buffalo Center. The company soon began to do an exchange and banking business, Mr. Secor occupying the responsible position of secretary and resident manager of the company's business. The banking feature of the business grew so rapidly that a separate institution for that purpose was organized, and the Buffalo Center Savings bank was launched forth January 16, 1893, with Mr. Secor as its cashier. In February, 1894, the two institutions were merged into one, and thus the Buffalo Center State bank was organized and commenced business February 12, 1894, with a capital of $25,000. It is still the principal bank of the town with the following named officers: G. S. Gilbertson, president; C. J. Thompson, vice-president, and E. E. Secor, cashier. The bank has built up a fine business, has a surplus fund of $8,000, pays 15 percent dividends to its stockholders and has deposits amounting to over $55,000. On January 1, 1899, Mr. Secor, in connection with H. G. Gardner, G. S. Gilbertson, C. J. Thompson, F. W. Thompson, and F. L. Kelley, all prominent bankers of northern Iowa, formed a limited partnership, and are now operating a bank at Titonka, Kossuth county, under the firm name and style of Secor & Gardner, of which Mr. Secor is president.

Mr. Secor has always been a staunch republican, filled the office of city clerk of Forest City; was the first mayor of Buffalo Center, refusing re-election, but in 1896, he was chosen by the citizens' caucus and elected without any opponent. Re-elected in 1897 and resigned mayor ship July 1, 1897, on appointment by President McKinley as postmaster at Buffalo Center. He was also nominated as a candidate for school director and received every vote cast, and re-elected in 1898. He is a member of Truth Lodge No. 213, A. F. & A. M. at Forest City; Camp No. 2659 Modern Woodmen of America; Bison Lodge No. 379, and Buffalo Center Lodge No. 596, I. O. O. F., all of Buffalo Center. He was married April 27, 1887, to Emma J. Harmon, of Jewell, Hamilton county, Iowa, at Webster City. They have four children, Ethel Jozella, born March 24, 1888, Russell Harold, born September 20, 1889, Beryl Joy, born June 8, 1894, and Raymond, born November 22, 1898.

SECOR, Eugene, of Forest City, is descended on his father's side from a family of French Huguenot refugees, who came to America in 1689 and settled in New York. The name is spelled in the letters of denization S-y-c-a r-d, but has gradually evolved into the present name, Secor. His ancestors on both sides were participants in the revolutionary struggle. British soldiers were the terror of the country where they lived. They were all loyal to the American cause, and this subject is a "Son of the American Revolution " by virtue thereof. The father of Mr. Secor was an enthusiastic horticulturist of his time. He was also justice of the peace for many years, and among the attorneys who practiced in his court was Chauncey M. Depew. His mother was Sarah Caroline Knapp, whose mother was a Lee prominent among the leading families in Yorktown.

Mr. Eugene Secor. was born May 13, 1841, near Peekskill, N. Y. He never attended any except the New York country school, until 21 years of age. The family consisted of eleven children, and, being in only moderate circumstances, much of their time was required in clearing their land of stones and trees. Without educational advantages himself his father wanted the children to be more fortunate, and made them so by providing a good library, containing the best works in literature of that day.

In the spring of 1862 Mr. Secor came to Iowa. It may be asked why he did not go south. There were many reasons, for he was not disloyal. He never shirked a duty to his country and he did enlist in the 100 day service, but for some reason the company was never called out. It must be understood that he lived at the time more than a hundred miles from railroad or telegraph. In 1864 he entered Cornell college, but in the fall of the same year was called home to look after his brother's business as county treasurer, he having gone to the front in the service of Uncle Sam. That ended his school life. His practical business education was in the county offices of Winnebago county, where he was deputy treasurer two years, deputy clerk for one year, clerk for six years, deputy auditor one year and auditor four years.

In 1880 he entered into partnership with his brother, David Secor, and John Law, under the style Secor Brothers & Law, to carry on a real estate business, but through the retiring of Mr. Law in 1893, whose place was taken by Willard Secor, the firm is now known as Secor Brothers & Co. In 1882 the firm of Secor Brothers & Law erected the brick block in which the First National bank of Forest City is now located, and established the City bank, with B. A. Plummer added to the banking firm.

In 1893 the bank was nationalized. Mr. Secor is one of its directors and its vice-president. He is also a member of the banking firm of P. M. Joice & Co., of Lake Mills, and has connections with four similar enterprises in Minnesota. Another concern in which he is a director and stock-holder is the Forest City Electric Light and Power company.

Although nurtured in the lap of democracy, of the pro-slavery type, Mr. Secor is and always has been a republican. His early training was received during Seymour's feign in New York and Buchanan's weakness in Washington. He has been a delegate to nearly every state convention for the past fifteen years, and was a Tenth district delegate to the National Republican convention held at Minneapolis in 1892, and supported Harrison. He has been identified for many years with the State Horticultural society, was its president two years, and is at this time a director thereof and manager of one of its experiment stations. He was sole judge at the World's fair and at the Omaha exposition in the department of the apiary. He is a prominent beekeeper, and not uncommonly has a ton of honey in a season. He has been president of the National Beekeepers' society, and is at present its treasurer and general manager. The Twenty-second General Assembly elected him as a trustee of the Agricultural college, which position he held tor six years. He has been for many years, and still is, a trustee of Cornell college and one of its executive committee. Was one of two delegates from the Northwest Iowa conference to the general conference of the M. E. church in 1892. He was the first mayor of Forest City, and re-elected to the same office three times. Was on the council for many years following. Has been a member of the board of education for many years, and is now its president. He organized the Winnebago County Agricultural society, and was its president for two years.

Mr. Secor has contributed to the papers and magazines, both literary and technical, for many years. He wrote by request, a resume of the apiarian industry in the United States and its representation at the Chicago fair, for publication in the permanent records of the World's Columbian exposition.

THOMPSON, F. W. The Thompson family, of which the subject of this sketch is a member, no doubt inherited the ability of an illustrious father, Mr. O. P. Thompson, the father, is a wealthy dry goods merchant of Decorah, Iowa. The beginning of his present fortune was made in McGregor. Born in Norway in 1834, he came to this country in 1853, and located in Decorah early in the sixties. He passed through all the panics from war times up to the present, but by keen business judgment, and ability of a high order, succeeded in keeping safely without the whirlpools which carried many great men down. Of the five children that were born to him several have attained distinction in the financial circles of the country. Edward T. is president of the First National bank of St. Thomas, N. D.; Charles J. holds a like position in the Forest City National bank, and T. A. Thompson is junior member of the firm of 0. P. Thompson & Sons at St. Thomas. Edward T. is also the present grand chancellor of the Knights of Pythias for the state of South Dakota and has served four years as county treasurer of Pembina county, in the state of North Dakota.

Mr. F. W. Thompson was born at Decorah, Iowa, April 6, 1869. He graduated in the high schools there, and later took a business course under the tutorship of an expert accountant. He was then engaged as a clerk in his father's mercantile establishment, where he remained for four years. It was his early ambition to become a banker, and when an opportunity was presented to enter that business in connection with Thompson Brothers, at Forest City, the same was promptly accepted. This firm, while of the same name, were in no way related to F. W. Thompson. In October, 1892, the banking institution of Thompson Brothers & Thompson began business, with Mr. F. W. Thompson as cashier. He held, in addition to that office, the position of treasurer of the Chicago and Iowa Western Land and Town Lot company, a corporation of $75,000 capital, and embracing within its assets 2,500 acres of choice land adjoining the town of Thompson, including the town site. Negotiations are about concluded, however, whereby Mr. Thompson will dispose of his interest in this corporation and identify himself with a bank of large capital, of which he will be the principal officer and manager. He has always been a republican, and has taken a lively interest in the campaigns of his party, but has held no office except that of alderman in his own town. Being unmarried he is socially quite popular, and holds the foremost office in several clubs of considerable social note. He is a past grand officer in the order of Odd Fellows, and venerable consul in Camp 7, of the Modern Woodmen of America. He belongs to no church, but is trustee of the Baptist organization at Thompson. Mr. Thompson is now cashier of the First National bank of Thompson, Iowa, and president of the Citizens State bank of Lakefield, Minn.

THOMPSON, John Foster. Well versed in the law and in the monetary affairs of the state is Mr. J. F. Thompson, of Forest City. His father was a farmer in northern Iowa, in only moderate circumstances. His mother was a cousin of Salmon P. Chase, a member of Lincoln's cabinet. His grandmother on his father's side was a sister of Sir Thomas Bell, of Belfast, Ireland, who was a leader of one of the Irish rebellions. Mr. J. F. Thompson was born near Carey, Ohio, September 3, 1848.

His parents removed to Iowa in 1857, at which time Mr. Thompson was quite young, so his early education was obtained in the county schools of the old-fashioned sort in Clayton county. This, however, was supplemented with a special course in English, Latin and mathematics in the Iowa State university. His legal education was obtained in the law department of the same university, from which he graduated in 1875, and his business education at a branch commercial school of Bryant & Stratton's. After graduating he was appointed deputy register of the state land office, which position he held until 1876, at which time he resigned and removed to Forest City to engage in the practice of law. In 1877 he organized the Winnebago County bank, later made a state bank, of which he is the vice-president. Mr. Thompson is connected one way or another with many other banking institutions besides the one which receives his personal supervision. He is one of the managers of the Citizens bank of Britt, the Buffalo Center State bank and the State bank of Thompson. Together with his brother, he organized the Chicago & Iowa Western Railway company, which built the Forest City division of the Burlington,Cedar Rapids & Northern, and the Chicago & Iowa Western Land and Town Lot company, an organization that has done much in the way of developing that section of the state.

Mr. Thompson enlisted in Company I, Eighth Iowa cavalry, but was rejected on account of age. In a second trial in the Fourth Iowa battery he was more successful, being made battery bugler. He served in the Gulf department under Generals Canby and Banks. He was severely wounded in the right thigh in an engagement in northwestern Louisiana, and was given an honorable discharge, having served a little more than two years, and not being 17 years old when mustered out. He is a member of the G. A. R., and was appointed a member of the staff of Department Commander Mills, and inspector-general of Iowa by Department Commander Thompson. He is present commander of Hayden Post He has always been a republican and prohibitionist but not a third party prohibitionist; was chairman of the county central committee, and under his administration Winnebago county won the Tippecanoe banner. He was at one time mayor of Forest City, president of its board of education and president of the board of trade. Mr. Thompson had the honor to be one of the two delegates to the National Farmers' congress, appointed by Governor Larrabee and reappointed by Governor Boies. He belongs to the Masons, Knights Templars, Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias. Several years ago he united with the Methodist church, but now affiliates with the Congregationalists. He was married December 22, 1875, to Miss Julia A. Clark, oldest daughter of Judge Robert Clark, of Winnebago county, well known in the early 60's Six children were born to them, three of whom are now living.

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