Trails to the Past

Iowa

Woodbury County

Biographies

 

Progressive Men of Iowa
1899

Progressive Men Index

BURTON, Asa Huntington, city attorney of Sioux City, is another addition to the long list of successful Iowa men who came from New England stock. His father was Alonzo Hazen Burton, born in Vermont in 1827. In 1846 he came, with his parents, to Denmark, Lee county, Iowa, and located on a farm. He was married to Miss Caroline Louise Ingalls, youngest daughter of Rev. Edmund Ingalls, a Presbyterian minister from western New York, and located near Denmark, Iowa, November 1, 1854, and remained on his farm in that county, until his death, May 14,1893. They had three children: Edmund Ingalls, born January 25, 1858; Asa Huntington, born August 9, 1861, and Eugene Henry, born August 1, 1863; all now living. They lived very comfortably, in a pleasant country home. The families date back eight generations in America, and on both sides members have attained high rank in public and private life.

Asa H. had about the usual life of a farmer's son. He went to school in the district school until he was 11 years old, when he worked on the farm during the busy season, and went to the academy in Denmark in the fall and winter, riding back and forth on horseback between the town and his father's home, where he boarded. When about 18 years of age he commenced teaching, and doing other work around the academy, graduating from that institution, in the classical course, in June, 1883. Having determined to be a lawyer, he commenced studying with that end in view at once, and in the winter of 1884 entered the law department of the State university, graduating in June, 1885, with the degree of LL. B. After helping his father out with the summer's work on the farm, Mr. Burton located temporarily in the little town of Elliott, Montgomery county, for the practice of law, and here he received his first professional earnings, which he remembers was for drawing some instruments of conveyance. Learning of the fine opening in the rapidly-growing and prosperous Sioux City, the young lawyer remained only six months in Elliott, when he removed to his present residence, where he has since practiced successfully. He was in partnership with Thomas F. Bevington from May, 1886, to September, 1890, when he purchased Mr. Bevington's interest, and continued alone until he formed a partnership with George Conway, in May, 1893. This lasted one year, when it was dissolved, and Mr. Burton has practiced alone since. In March, 1894, his professional ability was recognized by an election to the office of city attorney of Sioux City, and his work in that position was so satisfactory that he was re-elected in 1896; both times on the republican ticket, for he has always voted with the republican party. 

Mr. Burton has always been a close student of military tactics, having been teacher and captain of the Denmark Guards, at Denmark academy, and has shown his willingness to respond to the demands of his country by serving almost six years in the Iowa National Guard being a member of Company H, of Sioux City, Fourth regiment. He is a member of Sioux Council No. 1308, Royal Arcanum, Sioux City. He was married September 20, 1888, to Helen S. Turner, only child of Mr. and Mrs. Louis Q. Turner, of Denmark, Iowa. Daughters were born to them, October 26, 1892, named Adelene and Caroline. The latter died when but 2 days old.

CONNIFF, Robert E., president of the state board of health, is a resident of Sioux City, Iowa, where he is well known as one of the leading physicians of the state. He was born at Houston, Minn., in 1858, and came to Iowa in 1869. He graduated from the State University of Iowa in 1884, where he completed his professional studies in a most creditable manner, after which he located at Sioux City, where he has since been engaged in the active practice of medicine. He has developed an increasing love for his profession, and his one aim in life is to reach the top. He does not aspire to mix extensively in politics, nor does he seek political preferment, although he was appointed by Governor Boies a member of the state board of health, a political appointment, and has held that position under three republican governors up to the present time. As a member of the board of health he has been a constant and efficient worker in the field of preventive medicine and sanitation. He is a member of a number of medical societies, among others, the American Medical association, the Iowa State Medical society, American Public Health association.

 

 

FLETCHER, Charles W., ex-mayor of Sioux City, and president and manager of the large manufacturing establishment of Fletcher & Hutchins company at that place, was born at Pittsburg, N. H., June 30, 1837. His father was a pioneer farmer of northern New Hampshire, well educated, industrious and fairly successful in the accumulation of wealth. The mother was a daughter of Judge Cummings, of Canaan, Vt., and the effects of early culture were shown throughout her whole life. Grandfather Ebenezer Fletcher settled at Charlestown, N. H., and there followed the a vocation of carpenter; Great-grandfather Peter Fletcher was a soldier in the revolutionary war, and Great-great-grandfather Ephraim Fletcher served in the French war until captured by the Indians, after which he was never heard from.

The early education of Charles W.  Fletcher was acquired in a rude country schoolhouse, roughly seated and in which few text books were used. From that time until the outbreak of the civil war he was engaged as trapper, bookkeeper, traveling agent, railroad agent and merchant, respectively. In April, 1861, he enlisted in the Second New Hampshire infantry, serving as fourth sergeant He was disabled at the first battle of Bull Run and upon his partial recovery was sent to Lancaster, N.  H., to do duty in the recruiting service.  After peace had been declared he came to Iowa and located at Charles City, and engaged in the general merchandise business for five years, then lumber for ten years, then boots and shoes until 1882, at which time he located in Sioux City and assisted in the establishment of the concern of which he is now the president. The Fletcher & Hutchins company conducted their business at first under the firm name of Andrews & Fletcher, and employed about twelve hands. Some years ago the company was reorganized and incorporated and a new plant erected with a capacity sufficient for the employment of eighty men. The establishment receives the personal attention of the president and manager in its every detail. As manufacturers of bank counters and fine store fixtures, stair work, church decorations in fine woods, mouldings and all the common stock used by lumber dealers they have a reputation extending throughout the west.

Mr. Fletcher is an Abraham Lincoln republican. His convictions have continued to grow stronger since the time when he cast his first vote for "Father Abraham " and his courage has kept pace with that growth. He declares his views upon all proper occasions and leaves nothing un-done to promote the interests of his party.  The only political positions held by him have been ones of sacrifice rather than renumeration. At the expense of his personal interests he served for three terms as mayor of Charles City and for one term as mayor of Sioux City. He is a ruling elder in the First Presbyterian church and a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. In all movements of a charitable character he is foremost and his purse is not kept open for the notoriety of such a course, but because of a kindly and generous nature, to whom the doing of good deeds is in itself a satisfaction and a pleasure. He was married at Prairie du Sac, Wis., August 18, 1864, to Miss Carrie E.  Moore. They have two children Jessie M., who is the wife of L. L. Redding, of Brooklyn, N. Y., and Ralph M., book-keeper in the establishment of Fletcher & Hutchins company.

HANCHETTE, Dr. John L., of Sioux City, is president of the Hahnemann Medical association of Iowa, and one of the leading homeopathic physicians of the west. He came of a family of physicians, three of his four brothers being physicians.  A. P., referred to elsewhere in this work, is at Council Bluffs; W. H. is at Omaha and J. C. is at Salt Lake. The other brother, F. G., is a lawyer in Aurora, 111. Their one sister is Mrs. Clark Ravlin, of La Porte, Iowa.

Dr. John L. is a son of David and Fayette Churchill Hanchette, and was born and brought up on a farm near Kaneville, 111. He comes of sturdy old New England stock. He remained on the home farm, getting what education he could in the schools of that vicinity till he was 21 years old, when he removed to Parker, S.  D., and farmed on his own account five years, being married in the meantime, before he began to study medicine. He took a course in the University of Chicago, and graduated with high honors from the Chicago Homeopathic Medical college in 1889.  He was the valedictorian of his class.  Armed with his diploma, good health and courage he went at once to Avoca, where he intended to locate, but within a month he decided that Sioux City offered a better field, as it was then in the height of its financial glory and held out rich promise to the young and energetic. Dr. Hanchette's judgment has been proved unerring by the success that has attended his practice in Sioux City, where he has risen to a position of comfort and distinction, as his election to the presidency of the state organization of his school of medicine attests. He is also a member of the American Institute of Homeopathy. The repub-lican party represents his political views, and he has always supported it.

Dr. Hanchette was married in Parker, S. D., May 20, 1885, to Miss Maria Louise Stevens.  They have three children: Anna Fayetta, born July 5,1886; Ralph, W., born July 16, 1888, and James Harold, born September 29, 1890. The family belongs to the Baptist church.

HOYT, William Henry, M. D., one of the prominent physicians of Sioux City, was born in Northfield, Vt., April 27, 1862.  He is the son of Samuel Norris Hoyt, who superintended for years the wood construction for the Vermont Central railroad, and later had charge of the carpenter department of the Nashua Manufacturing company, at Nashua, N. H. His brothers are natives of the Green Mountain state, living in the vicinity of Peachem Hollow and Hardwick. The mother's maiden name was Mary Jane Ford, a native of Bangor, Me., but subsequently a resident of Hardwick, Vt.

Doctor Hoyt moved to Nashau with his parents in 1867. He at once entered the public schools, continuing in the same until the spring of 1881, when he was honorably graduated, receiving the Noyes prize medal as one of the leaders in his class in scholarship and deportment for the four years' high school course.  During his boyhood days, the first money earned by his own efforts was while acting as a newsboy for a local paper of large circulation. Thus was started early a wish to be independent, to pave the way for his own future college education, and so in many ways, during his school vacations, he added to his first small earnings. In this he was very successful.

Having conceived at an early date a choice of the medical profession as his future career, he engaged in the drug business, at the completion of his studies in the high school, as a preliminary step to the years of college work necessary to acquire a medical education.

In the fall of 1882 he entered the medical department of the University of the City of New York, graduating with honors in the spring of 1886. He then pursued a valuable and instructive course of surgical and practical medicine by accepting the position of resident physician of the institutions of Westchester county, located near Tarrytown, on the Hudson river.

In 1887 he located in Sioux City, Iowa, through the influence of eastern capitalists, and at once assumed the responsibilities of the active practice of medicine. Becoming well-known and popular through county as well as city, in 1893 he received the nomination for county coroner, and was elected to that office by a remarkable majority. In 1895 he was made the unanimous choice of the republicans and a second time was easily elected.  Dr. Hoyt, in professional circles, enjoys a high standing, and in the different medical societies and associations is regarded as a valuable member. He still retains his membership with the Granite Lodge, I. O.  O. F., of Nashua, N. H.

June 24, 1896, he was married to Dr.  Katherine E. Prichard, of Nashua, N. H., a native of Bradford, Vt. She is a graduate of the Women's Medical college of New  York city, and engaged in active practice in Nashua, and later in the New England hospital, of Boston. They are both members of the First Congregational church.

JOY, William L., has been a resident attorney of Sioux City since 1857. He stands out conspicuously as a Woodbury county pioneer and for many years he has been the leading lawyer of northwestern Iowa, where through a legitimate and honorable practice of his profession, together with prudent investments, he has made a financial success. It is said by his friends to his credit, that he uses the fortune he has accumulated for the true purposes that a goodly competency is given to men. He is not only an able lawyer, holding the respect and high esteem of the bar of the state, and of his neighbors, but is an active, public-spirited man, representing the best type of American citizenship. Having a kind heart and being a candid man, he has many friends and admirers.

Mr. Joy is a New Englander by birth and education.  His birthplace was Townshend, Vt., and the date August 17, 1830. His parents were William H. and Hetty Leonard Joy.  His father was a farmer, who also owned a mill. His paternal grandfather was a revolutionary soldier.

William L. remained at home till he was 20 years old, assisting his father in his business and fitting himself for college in Leland seminary in his native town. In his 21st year he entered Amherst college and graduated in the class of 1855. During his college course he taught several terms of school, being an instructor in Leland seminary while studying law with Judge Roberts at home. He was admitted to the bar early in the spring of 1857 and started immediately for the great, growing west to make his fortune.  He reached Sioux City on the 5th of May.  He found there a small village on the frontier, with no sign of a railway, but full of energetic young men like himself, with unbounded hopes for the future and the courage and industry to do their part in developing a country of rare promise. Mr.  Joy formed a partnership with N. C. Hudson and the firm of Hudson & Joy was continued until October, 1866. After practicing alone for two years he took as a partner Craig L. Wright, son of the late George G. Wright, and for twenty years the firm of Joy & Wright was the leading law firm in Woodbury county. They were the local attorneys for the Illinois Central Railway company and the general attorneys for the Sioux City & Pacific, the Dakota Southern, the Covington, Columbus & Black Hills railway companies and the Iowa Falls & Sioux City Railroad Land company. Mr.  Joy has always had a large law business, both in the state and federal courts. His son, C. L. Joy, was taken into his father's firm in 1888, when it was known as Joy, Hudson & Joy, A. L. Hudson being the other partner. Later the firm was Joy, Hudson, Call & Joy, A. F. Call, of Algona, having been admitted as a partner. The firm at present is W. L. and C. L. Joy.  The younger Mr. Joy has earned a high standing at the bar. The senior Mr. Joy has always been regarded as a strong pleader before a jury, but is best known as a court lawyer, and as such has but few equals in the state.

Mr. Joy has always been a staunch republican. He was a member of the lower house in the Eleventh and Twelfth General Assemblies and spent most of his time in Des Moines during the session of the Thirteenth General Assembly, in 1868, looking after legislation for the purpose of securing railways for northwestern Iowa. In this capacity he probably did as much work for his constituents as any member of the legislature, for the legislation he secured has been of inestimable benefit to that part of the state. Having accomplished this work, Mr. Joy has since refused the solicitations of friends to become a candidate for any office, though he served two years as a member of the board of capitol commissioners during the inception of the great enterprise of building the state house. Friends urged him to be a candidate for district or circuit judge, a position he was peculiarly well qualified to fill, but he never encouraged such movements.

Mr. Joy has been a prominent member of the Baptist church for more than forty-two years. He was married October 18, 1859, to Frances A. Stone, of Westmoreland, N. H. They have two children, the elder, C. L., the lawyer, and Helen F., wife of Giles W. Brown, general manager of the Sioux Milling company, of which Mr. Joy is president. Mr. Joy has always been deeply interested in school matters, and for more than twenty years he gave his valuable time and business experience to the school board of Sioux City, as member and president. To the wise management given the district's affairs by these directors, who included some of the most prominent citizens of the city, is due the excellent condition of the public schools and most of the valuable property owned by the district. Mr. Joy was president of the Sioux National bank, the heaviest in Sioux City, from its organization until January, 1896. He has been a stockholder and otherwise connected with various financial institutions in Sioux City, that have felt the impress of his ability. He is a strong man, physically, mentally and morally, takes an active interest in all public enterprises for the improvement of the city, and it has been fortunate in having such a man among its early settlers. His has been the work of helping to lay a solid foundation for a great and growing city.

KELLY, John Charles, the well-known editor of the Sioux City Daily Tribune, is a native of the " Empire State. " He was born in Cortland, N. Y., on the 26th of February, 1852. His mother's maiden name was Mary Kelly, and his father's name was Thomas C. Kelly, but they were of different families and types, although both were natives of Ireland, and well educated in youth. His grandfather on his fathers side, was a business man, and on the mother's side a farmer. John C.'s grandmother, on his mother's side, was a Scotch woman. His father's education was completed at the University of Edinburgh, after which he spent some years in travel. Two of his father's brothers held commissions in the British army, but Thomas was educated for civil life, and came to the United States in December, 1849. His wife's people were farmers, in the state of New York, and he engaged in the same occupation soon after he reached America. Upon the opening of the civil war, and in response to President Lincoln's first call for volunteers, Thomas C. tendered his services to his adopted country, and, raising a segment of a company, received a lieutenant's commission. He had become a citizen of the republic as soon as its laws permitted, and took a deep interest in public affairs, allying himself with the Douglas wing of the democratic party. When his father entered the union army, John C.  was not 10 years old, and, although a mere schoolboy, he undertook to manage his father's large farm, but soon found it too formidable an undertaking for a youth of his years.

His education, up to this time, had been such only as the country district schools afforded. But the instruction given by his father at home was found in after life to be of more practical value than that imparted at school. John had a strong desire to get into the union army in some capacity, and went on to Washington in 1862, arriving in the city in time to witness "McClellan's Grand Review, " but his youth thwarted this desire.  During the war he had but two short terms at school, and after its close he had three months' instruction in a grammar school in Washington. His father was disabled during the war, and the boy found himself the chief support of the family, whose fortunes had been wrecked. He secured employment in stores at the national capital, and spent the late evenings, generally up till midnight, in study. Under this strain he finally broke down. In December, 1869, his father died, and soon after John secured a position in the government printing office, where it was thought his health might be recruited. He made such progress in acquiring a knowledge of the art of printing, stereotyping and electrotyping that, while he had yet a year of the prescribed apprenticeship unserved, he was chosen by Mills & Company, then state printers, at Des Moines, Iowa, to purchase a plant for them, and to come on to the state capital and superintend it. On the 23d of May, 1873, John C. Kelly, then 21 years of age, crossed the Mississippi river, came to Des Moines and entered upon the responsible duties of his new position at a salary of $30 a week. He served more than three years with Mills & Company, and has ever since reckoned the surviving members of the firm among his best friends. While in their employ he divided and numbered the streets of Des Moines on the "Philadelphia plan," it being the first city in Iowa so divided. Mr.  Kelly was the pioneer in organizing the first Building association in Iowa. It was established by him at Des Moines, and he became its secretary. Associated with him in the directory were such men as T. S.  Wright, Adam Howell and L. Harbach.

In Des Moines Mr. Kelly first met Miss Martha A. Hill, daughter of Col. S. G. Hill, of the Thirty-fifth Iowa infantry, who was killed while leading his regiment at the battle of Nashville. Miss Hill and Mr. Kelly were married at the home of her mother in Muscatine, May 1, 1878. It was a very happy union, and seven children came to make the home an ideal one. Of these, Martha died, while Rose, Mabel, Rachel, John H., Eugene and Gardner are living.

Mr. Kelly read law, while living in Des Moines, with Judge William Connor, and also engaged in merchandising, but eventually purchased an interest in the Daily State Leader, of which he became one of the editors. Three years later he disposed of his interest in that paper, and, removing to Sioux City, he purchased the weekly Tribune of that place. In 1884 he established the Sioux City Daily Tribune, of which he is editor and proprietor. During the same year he established the Sioux City Printing company, which has grown into a large manufacturing establishment, dealing in printers' supplies, and doing auxiliary publishing, of which enterprise he is the principal owner and general manager.

In 1893 he was appointed collector of internal revenue by President Cleveland, and also disbursing agent of the treasury department. Mr.  Kelly was always a "hard-money" man, and is an advocate of the single gold standard. He was a member of the first free trade or tariff reform club organized after the war. He has for many years been a member of the Reform club, of New York, and a warm advocate of civil service reform. He was a delegate at large to the democratic national convention of 1888, which nominated Cleveland and Thurman.  In 1892 Mr. Kelly supported Governor Boies, in the national democratic convention, as a candidate for president. In 1896 he refused to support Bryan for president on the "free coinage" platform, and was a delegate to the national democratic convention which nominated Palmer and Buckner. He has served on the committee on resolutions in ten democratic state conventions.  He is not a member of any fraternity or church, but since his marriage has, with his wife, attended the Congregational church. He was for many years president of the Humane society, of Sioux City.

LEWIS, Judge Charles Henry. The life of this honorable and honored citizen of Woodbury county as citizen, soldier, jurist and judge, stands a shining example of combined American attributes. He was born October 17, 1839, in Collins Center, Erie county, N. Y. His parents Oren and Elizabeth Nichols Lewis, were natives of Connecticut, descended from English ancestors. When he was but 9 months old the family moved to southern Wisconsin, where they remained for two years, and thence went to Boone county, 111. They made their home there until 1851, when they came to Iowa, arriving at Independence October 8. Three years later the father moved to Quasqueton, Buchanan county, this state, where he remained until his death, which occurred in 1884.  Judge Lewis' early life was spent upon his father's farm, save for a little time when he was employed in the furniture factory operated by the father at Independence.  In 1859 he began a close student's life in Cornell college, at Mount Vernon.

In 1862 he left the school and enlisted in the army, entering the services as a private soldier in Company H, Twenty-seventh Iowa infantry. For a year he served as a private soldier, was then made sergeant-major of the regiment, and held that position for one year, when he was promoted to first lieutenant, and appointed and commissioned adjutant, which position he filled until the war closed. He served three years and five days, and during all that time was never absent from the regiment, and was off duty but three days, during which time he was on the sick list The war closing, he returned to his old home in Buchanan county, and soon engaged with his brother, and another in the milling and mercantile business, which he pursued for a little time.

He then entered the law department of the State university, and graduated therefrom in the summer of 1869. He at once removed to Cherokee, Iowa, arriving there May 29th of that year, and formed a partnership with his father-in-law, H. C. Kellogg. They were the first lawyers in the county, and their practice was soon extensive and lucrative. Mr. Lewis was county recorder and county superintendent of schools of Cherokee county, for a time. In 1870 he was nominated district attorney of the Fourth judicial district of Iowa, the district then embracing twenty two counties in northwestern Iowa. He was elected by a large majority. He served as such until January 1, 1875. So well had Mr. Lewis performed his duties as district attorney, that in the summer of 1874 he was nominated for district judge, and at the fall election, in 1974, he was elected by an overwhelming vote. In the fall of 1878, Judge Lewis was re-nominated by acclamation to succeed himself, and at the fall election was chosen for another term by an increased majority. He served two terms more of four years each in that capacity, being re-elected by increasing majorities at each election, showing the appreciation the people had of his talents and his fitness for the office. He has been firm in the enforcement of the law, and has justly earned the reputation of being one of the best judges who ever presided over any court in Iowa In the first trial of John Arensdorf and others accused of the murder of Rev. George C. Haddock, of Sioux City, Judge Lewis presided, and won the favorable opinion of all loyal citizens. He has presided over nearly all the hotly contested legal battles growing out of the temperance legislation and agitation, in so far as the same have had hearing in northwestern Iowa.  The following is taken from the records of the district court of Woodbury county, being a portion of the resolution adopted by the bar association, upon the retirement of Judge Lewis:

Resolved, That the bar of Sioux City and Woodbury County tender to Judge Lewis their cordial and affectionate respect, recognizing in him those qualities which make a great judge; that unerring sense of justice which seeks for the right under whatever cloud of technicality; that promptness which takes from the law the reproach of delay; that benevolent spirit which knows bow to temper justice with kindness; that firmness which fate and fears not; that impartiality which looks with equal eye upon all men and all causes, measuring them only with the standard of truth.  The judge has been a member of the G. A. R. for many years, and is prominent in the Loyal Legion of Iowa.

PERKINS, George D., was born in Holly, Orleans county, N. Y., February 29, 1840. He learned the printer's trade at Baraboo, Wis. In 1860 he associated himself with his brother and started the Gazette, at Cedar Falls, Iowa.

On the 12th day of August, 1862, he enlisted as a private soldier in the Thirty-first Iowa infantry. He was mustered out of the service at Jefferson Barracks, Mo., on the 12th day of January, 1863. In 1869 he left Chicago, 111., where he had been connected with the service of the Northern Associated Press, and settled in Sioux City, Iowa, where he has since lived, and during that time has been editor of the Sioux City Journal, the best newspaper property of Iowa.

He was a member of the Iowa senate in 1874-76; was immigration commissioner under Governor Gear; was United States marshal for the Northern District of Iowa, under President Arthur; was elected to the Fifty-second Congress as a republican, and re-elected to the Fifty-third, Fifty-fourth and Fifty-fifth Congresses.

Mr. Perkins is one of the strong and great men of the state and nation, and it is a matter of regret that he requests so brief a sketch.

WARREN, Dr. John Nelson, of Sioux City, is a native Iowan and a well-known physician of northwestern Iowa. He is the son of Monroe Warren, a blacksmith, who came to Iowa in the spring of 1844, first locating in Davenport, but soon afterwards removing to De Witt. Clinton county, where he has since resided. He was married July 4, 1845, to Betsy Ann Saliss, who came to Iowa with her parents from Albany, N. Y., in 1844.

Dr. Warren was born at DeWitt, Iowa, April 30, 1846, and has resided in the state the principal part of his life. He attended the public schools of De Witt and the Mt.  Carroll, 111., seminary, from which he graduated in 1863. Following this he entered Cornell college for a collegiate course, but in April, 1864, he enlisted in the Forty-fourth Iowa Volunteer infantry as a private and served until September, 1864, when he was mustered out at Davenport.

After being mustered out he took a course in Bryant & Stratton's Commercial college, of Chicago, and, after returning home, was clerk in the county clerk's office for one year, when he accepted a similar position in the county recorder's office. While in the recorder's office he commenced work on the first set of abstract books of farm lands of Clinton county, doing the work for Mr.  Dennis Whitney, now of Clinton.

In the fall of 1868 he commenced reading medicine under the late Dr. Asa Morgan, of De Witt.  In 1869-70 he attended a first course in medicine in the medical department in the University of Michigan and then entered the Miami Medical college at Cincinnati.  Ohio, from which he graduated in March, 1871. Following his graduation he received the appointment as assistant physician in the hospital for the insane at Athens, Ohio, which position he held for a period of one and a half years, resigning in order to return to his home, where he opened an office. In March, 1878, he located at Storm Lake, and was in general practice there until October, 1889, at which time, having received the appointment as chief surgeon for the Sioux City & Northern railroad, he moved to Sioux City. Since this he has devoted most of his time to surgical practice, and, in order to better qualify himself for such work, he attended, in the fall of 1883, the Post Graduate Medical college, of New York city, and also took a course of private instructions in abdominal and gynecological surgery under the late Professor Dawson, of New York city. 

Dr. Warren has been a life-long republican, but has never aspired to any public office. He is a member of the International Association of Railway Surgeons, State Association of Railway Surgeons, an association which he himself organized, the first meeting being held at Sioux City, October, 1894. He was elected president at that time, and has been chairman of the judiciary committee since retiring as president of the association in 1895. He is a member of the American Medical association, Sioux City Medical association, Sioux Valley Medical association, being secretary of the latter since its organization at Sioux Falls, S. D., in June, 1895. He is a member of the Surgical Society of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway company, and is chief surgeon of the Sioux City & Northern railway. Sioux City, O'Neill & Western railway, and local surgeon for the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railway, and is also professor of practice of surgery and clinical surgery in Sioux City College of Medicine.

Dr. Warren was married June 27, 1877, to Mary V. M. Hubbard at Lindon, 111.  They have three children: Alexis M , born 1879; Renita Madge, born 1883; and Nelson Jay, born 1885.

WHEELER, Hial Augustus, M. D.  Among the many members of the medical profession to whom the management of the Iowa State university may point with pardonable pride is Prof. H. A. Wheeler, for five years dean of the faculty of the Sioux City Medical college, and at present filling the chair of medicine, clinical medicine and neurology in that widely known institution.

He is the son of Silas and Jane P. Wheeler, both of English and Scotch parentage, who are now living in La Grange, 111. There were three children besides Hial A. He was born at Barton, Vt, June 20, 1854, where his early education was acquired in the common schools.  At the age of 16 he was placed in the Freewill Baptist seminary at Lindon Center, where he remained one year, then worked for a time as clerk in manufacturing establishments in Boston and New York. 

In 1873 he returned home and assisted his father, who was engaged in the livery and stage business, until September 9th, at which time he started for the west. Stopping for a time in La Salle county, 111., he followed the vocation of school teacher, and in the spring of 1875 came on to Monona county, Iowa, in a covered wagon, where he engaged in farming and teaching for two years, while he continued the study of medicine under local physicians.  He entered the medical department of the Iowa State university in 1878, graduated therefrom in 1881, practiced at Riverside until June, 1883, then removed to Onawa, where, for eleven years, he devoted himself to his profession. During this time he purchased a large professional library, and the hours not required by his practice were spent very largely in study. The office of county physician was tendered him, and he filled the same for five years, but was obliged to give it up by reason of the demands made on his time in other directions.

From September 1, 1887, to January 1, 1891, he was senior member of the drug firm of Wheeler & Egli. In 1890 he compiled and published "Abstracts of Pharmacology," a work prepared for the use of physicians, pharmacists, and students of medicine and pharmacy, preparing for examination in colleges and before state boards of examiners. Many thousand copies of the work have been sold throughout the middle and western states. In 1887 he conceived the idea of a college of medicine for the northwest, and at once started the movement which resulted, in 1890, in the establishment of the Sioux City Medical college. He was the prime mover, one of the original incorporators, and served as dean of the faculty during the first five years of its existence. Although his time is taken up with a large practice in Sioux City, he still maintains an active connection with the institution, and now fills a chair of the highest importance in the school. 

The doctor is a member of the Missouri Valley Medical society, and has acquired a reputation as lecturer upon subjects pertaining to his profession. He was married to Miss Mary C. Ingham, a native of Texas, September 27, 1876, and they have four children: J. Rush, born in Iowa City, April 28, 1879; E. Ruel, born at Morse, Iowa, March 6,1881; A Ray, born at Onawa, April 16, 1885, and Jessie J., born at Onawa, June 20, 1886. Both the doctor and his wife are members of the Congregational church. He is a staunch republican, though not active in politics.

 

 

 

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