M. Fyfe

As printed in 1893

M. FYFE, one of the prominent residents of Douglas township, a '° homestead settler of Sac county, who came here in 1866 is the subject of the present sketch. He was born in Orleans comity, New York, September 27, 1834, a son of James Fyfe, a native of Vermont, who was in turn a son of John Fyfe who was a Revolutionary soldier, although he was born in Scotland.

The mother of our subject was Electa (Sanford) Fyfe, a daughter of Reuben Sanford, a native of Vermont. In 1847 Mr. and Mrs. Fyfe moved to Sheboygan county, Wisconsin, and there the mother died at the age of fifty years and the father in 1863 at the age of sixty-nine. Our subject was reared ou a farm in Wisconsin and spent three winters in the woods at lumbering. He enlisted in 1861 in the Fourth Wisconsin Infantry, but later transferred to a cavalry regiment, and took part in the battles of Baton Rouge and Port Hudson. He was a member of the Department of the Gulf in Texas, and was wounded at Clinton, Louisiana, receiving a ball in the breast, which penetrated his body and came out of his back. He was for some time in a hospital and was finally discharged at Madison, Wisconsin, July 28, 1864, and in 1866 he came here as one of the first settlers.

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Mr. Fyfe was married March 4, 1866, to Miss Elizabeth Seekins, a daughter of William E. and Lydia A. (Knapp) Seekins, both natives of New York. The mother died in 1869 in Sac county. Our subject and wife have a family of five children: Jennie Horine, of Clay county, Iowa; Franklin M.; Celia E.; William A., and James Dennis being the living ones, and Emma Dell died at the age of two and one half years; Ellen Lenora at the age of five years; Mary A. at the age of three years. In politics our subject is a Republican and has been Justice of the Peace and Township Trustee. He is a member of G. A. R. Post, No. 416, of which he is a charter member. He is well-known and much respected in the community.

jjP H. ALLISON, the efficient and popu- (m) 'ar cashier of the First National Bank ( of Sac City, Iowa, was born in Freeport, Illinois, March 5, 1854, son of Abraham and Fannie (Hogan) Allison, natives of the Keystone State.

Mr. Allison was educated in the common schools of Vinton, Iowa, and worked on a farm until he was eighteen years of age. He was then occupied, first, at carpentry, and afterward in the lumber business, which latter employment be followed for seven years. In 1885 he removed to Sac City, and became cashier of the Citizens' Bank, which was incorporated as a National bank in November, 1890, and the name c'iankjed to the First National Bank of Sac City.

December 6, 1876, Mr. Allison was married to bCise Lillie Stoue, of Vinton county, and they have one child, Grace Dell, born April 30, 1880.

Politically, he is an advocate of Republican principles. Religiously, lie belongs to the Presbyterian Church. As a financier and citizen his integrity and ability are universally conceded, and he stands deservedly high in his community.

kARRISoN HACKETT, one of the

?A early settlers of Ida enmity. Iowa, was W born in Orange county, Vermont, May 6, L832, son of Emery and Amanda (Hines) Hackett, both natives of Vermont. The Hackett family Bprang from one of three brothers who came to this country from England Beveral generations ago. The father of our subject was a carpenter in his early life and in his latter days was engaged in farming. Doth he and his wife are deceased. They had a family of thirteen children, nine of whom survive, being widely scattered: Louisa, wife of Mr. Markham. of Spink county. South Dakota; Harrison, whose name heads this article; Edna, wife of Edwin Silsby, of Houston county, Minnesota: Arabell, wife of William* Lynn, Houston county. Minnesota; John, La Crosse, Wisconsin; Harriett, wife of William Johnston, Minneapolis, Minnesota; Clifton, Houston county, Minnesota; Charley, southwestern Wisconsin; Augusta. wife of Elk Hike, Santa Barbara county,

California. Those deceased are as follow-:

Homer, South Dakota; Hellen, wife of Andrew Compton, near Onawa, Iowa; Henry. Clayton county, Iowa: and Angeline, \Yr mont. Four of the bobb were in the late war; Henry in the Becond Minnesota Volunteer

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Until he was fourteen the subject of our Bketch spent his youthful days on a farm, lie then entered the employ of the Vermont ('central Railroad Company, first in the shops at Northfield, Vermoi t, afterward fired on an engine, and later had charge of one, being in railroad employ six years. He then engaged in farming in Vermont until 1861, when he moved to Houston county. Minnesota, and purchased some wild woodland. There he developed a farm and made his home on it until 1876. That year he came to Ida county, Iowa, ami purchased 320 acres of wild prairie land on section 34, Silver Creek township. He piled his furniture out on the prairie until he had his house erected. It, however, was not long in building, being a frame house, Id \ 24 feet. He made other improvements and at once began cultivating his laud, making a specialty of corn. He also fed a Large amount of 6tock, both cattle and hogs, feeding all his own grain and purchasing large quantities besides. He afterward built a larger and more comfortable residence, a barn, granaries, cattle sheds, etc., etc., and continued to reside on this farm until 1888. To his original purchase! he added Kit l acres at one time and the same amount at another, all in the same vicinity. In the mean time, however, he disposed of small tracts to two of his children. By years of earnest and well-directed toil he developed his property into finely cultivated farms. In 1888 he purchased his present home in Ida Grove, corner of Fifth and Burns streets, and to it lias since made additions and improvements. He is now living a retired life and is one of the county's most worthy and respected citizens. In politics he is a Republican, and has filled the office of Township Trustee. He is a member of the G. A. R., Matthew Gray Post.

Mr. Hackett was married in October, 1852, to Miss Almina Hatch, daughter of Henry and Nancy (Rollins) Hatch, of Vermont. She died in February, 1888, aged fifty-nine years. They had two children: Alma, wife of James Dunn; and Augusta, wife of Frank Fisher, both of Silver Creek township, this county. In March, 1889, Mr. Hackett wedded Mrs. Elizabeth Howser, daughter of John and Emily (Fletcher) Metcall. She has four children by her former marriage: Cora M., wife of James F. Holliday, of Brookings, South Dakota; Carrie M., a teacher in Ida county; Chester M., Nebraska; and C. Maud, at home. Mrs. Hackett is a member of the Episcopal Church.

;R. DAYIJ) McWILLIAMS is the pioneer physician of Crawford county, Iowa, and in sketching the lives of the early settlers of this part of the country and the prominent men of to-day, we m,ust not omit some personal mention of him.

Dr. David McWilliams was born near Belfast, Ireland, son of John and Martha (Smith) McWilliams, both natives of county Down, Ireland, and members of the Presbyterian Church. He was reared and received his medical education in Belfast. At the age of twenty he came to the United States, located at St. Charles, Kane county, Illinois, and established himself in the practice of his prose fession. In 1856 he came to Iowa, making the journey here by wagon, and for two years lived at Onawa, Monona county, from which place he came to his present location, a fine farm of 300 acres near Denison. His early professional career here was attended by many difficulties incident to a new and undeveloped country.

His practice extended over Crawford, Sac, Ida, Carroll and Shelby counties; the streams had to be forded as there were no bridges at that time, and he frequently took long rides on an Indian pony, the wolves howling and, following in his wake.

The Doctor was married at St. Charles, Illinois, to Mary Cleghorn, who was born in Glasgow, Scotland, daughter of Charles and Elizabeth (Carmichael) Cleghorn, both natives of Scotland. Thev have eight children, namely: II. C, D. H., John J., Elizabeth, Charles M., Mary, Emma A., and Lillian M.

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After completing his medical course, Dr. McWilliams located in Denison and established himself in the practice of his profession, remaining there until September, 1887. Since that date he has been identified with the interests of Charter Oak. He opened the

Bret drug Btore here, being in partnership with his brother, and carrying a stock of goods worth $5,000. Bis ability as a physician Boon brought him into prominence, andere Long he had a large and lucrative practice, which now extends a distance of sixty miles. 1 1 - makes a specialty of diseases of women.

Dr. McWilliams is one of the leading Republicans of Crawford county. May 25, 1 ss9, lie received the appointment of Postraaster at Charter Oak, which position he is still rillinir. eivintr entire satisfaction to all. lie is liberal and generous to a fault. Any measure or enterprise that has for its object the advancement of the best interests of his town is sure to find in him a hearty supporter. In 1890 he built one of the finest residences in Charter Oak, at a cost of ' <MM). lie also erected the drug store building.

Be was married April 17, 1883, to Miss A. C. Lyon, a native of Illinois, and a daughter of N..1. and Susan Lyon, of Morrison, Illinois. They have two children: Nellie and Omar D.

Socially, the Doctor is connected with I. ( F. Lodge, No. 105, and K. of P., No. 221.

fil. ROMANS, the leading hardware merchant of Denison, Iowa, has been en- ° gaged in business in this city for the past twenty years. As one of the prominent men of the county, it is appropriate that more than a passing mention of him should be made in this work,

Mr. Romans was born In Harrison county, Ohio, in 18-15, son of Elisha and Elizabeth

(Knight Romans, the former a native of

Chester county, Pennsylvania, and the latter of Cecil county, Maryland; both came from old Quaker families. His parents moved from Ohio to Iowa in 185ii and Bettled in Clinton county. The father was in well-todo circumstances at that time, but he bold most of his property, arranging for the payments to be made to correspond with his obligations on the farm he bought here. The panic of 1857 came on, these notes were not paid, and he was compelled to sacrifice his land in order to meet his own obligations. He then rented a farm and started anew, but his death occurred in March of the following year, 1S5S; thus did his family meet with a sadder blow than the loss of property. Mrs. Romans was left with a number of small children, the subject of our sketch being the oldest. He remained with his mother and aided in her support until he was twenty-six years of age. They purchased an eighty-acre farm in Clinton county, and there the mother passed the last years of her life. She died at Charter Oak, February 27, 1889. The other members of the family are as follows: Catharine, wife of George b\ Gaudie, of Denison; Ann, wife of E. V. Councilman, of LeMars. Iowa; Hannah, wife of Charles I!. Eaton, of Manchester, Iowa; Lewis, Charter < )ak, Iowa; Hubert, Denison; and Eva. deceased.

The untimely death of his father and their then reduced circumstances interfered with the education of our subject. After reaching manhood, however, he took a four years' course in the Iowa State Univereity. At the age of twenty six he was married in Denison to Miss Mary, daughter of lion. Henry O l.aub, and after his marriage spent one year on the farm with his mother. He then relumed to Denison, and for three years was employed in the mercantile establishment of II. C. Laub. At the end of that time he formed a partnership with Mr. Laub in the same business, and was associated with him

As printed in Biographical history of Crawford, Ida and Sac counties, Iowa (1893). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.