Unless otherwise noted, biographies submitted by Dick Barton.

T. K. Gale

The first to engage in the marble business was George Shocky, in 1873, who sold an interest soon after to Mr. Gale, the firm name being then Shocky & Gale.  They continued eighteen months, when Mr. Roth bought Shocky's interest in the business.  About the same time Bell & Rice engaged in the business, following it until 1883, when Mr. Gale bought Mr. Rice out, leaving the business in the hands of Gale & Rice.

T. K. Gale has been a resident of Mason City since 1870.  He came to Hardin Co., Iowa, in 1857, and built some of the best structures in Iowa Falls.  He was also a prominent instrument in the organization of the first Sunday school at Georgetown, a competing town with Iowa Falls.  Mr. Gale was born in England in April, 1828.  When nine years old he began to learn his trade of stone mason, and served an apprenticeship of five years, walking sixteen miles daily.  The first four years he received 25 cents per day, and during his last year of service $3.50 per week.  He was married in 1843 to Anna Attwooll.  They have been the parents of seven children, one of whom died on the passage to America in 1857.  Following are the names of the sons and daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Gale - Jennie, (wife of James Rule, vice-president of the City Bank), Hattie (Mrs. Mark Bradley), Absalom, a student at Iowa University, George, harness maker at Clear Lake, Thomas and Bertie.  Mr. and Mrs. Gale have been identified with the country for a quarter of a century.  Mr. Gale has built some of the most prominent of the buildings of Mason City, among them the Dyer House, and the M. E. Church of which he and his wife are members.

D. G. GIBSON
 
In the spring of 1870, D. G. Gibson located at Mason City, and opened a law office.  He was born in Chautauqua Co., N. Y., in May, 1844.  His early life was spent in his native county, where he received an academic education and for some time was taught by a private teacher.  When about eighteen years of age, having developed a taste for the legal profession, he entered the law office of Henry R. Mygatt, of Oxford, for the purpose of fitting himself for the practice of law.  Subsequently he emigrated to Wisconsin, where he was admitted to the bar in 1868.  He followed his profession in Madison until the spring of 1870, when he came to Mason City. In 1872 he removed to Waverly, Iowa, where he still lives.  He is now of the firm of Gibson & Dawson, the leading law firm of Bremer county.
 
GEORGE GIBSON has 240 acres of well improved land on sections 34 and 35, and has been a successful farmer.  Beginning with little, he has worked up until now he has one of the finest farms in the county, and a good residence with all necessary farm buildings.  He is a native of Sligo Co., Ireland, born Oct. 19, 1834.  When six years of age his parents emigrated to the United States and settled in Westmoreland Co., Penn.  In 1860 he went to Beaver Dam, Dodge Co., Wis., where he rented land until 1863, when he came to Iowa and bought land in Ingham township, Franklin county, living upon it until 1875, when he sold and came to Bath township, where he purchased wild land and has since lived.  He was married Sept. 26, 1857, to Mary McDowell and has five children - Robert A., William A., Benjamin F., Nina E. and George E.

JAMES GIBSON, a settler of 1863, was born in Herkimer Co., N. Y., in January,1844. He is a son of John and Rachel (Vinton) Gibson, and was trained to the pursuits of a farmer's son.  In November, 1861, he enlisted in the 81st regiment, New York Volunteer Infantry.  He was in some severe service at Fair Oaks and other engagements, and was discharged, in 1862, on account of physical disability. He returned to Herkimer county, and in 1863 came to Cerro Gordo, locating at Lime Grove. He was married Dec. 25, 1869, to Frances Wilson, of Owen township, but formerly of Chicago.  They have four children - Minnie, Maggie, Milton and Morton.  The family located at Mason City in 1864.  Mr. Gibson is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic.

Conrad Gildner is a native of Germany, born Feb. 27, 1842. When he was four years old his parents bade good bye to the Fatherland, and emigrated to America, settling in Canada, where the son was brought up to agricultural pursuits. In 1865 he came to the States and selected Iowa as his destined home. He came to Falls township, and bought wild land on section 25, breaking some of it to the plow the same year. The second year he harvested the first crop, and built a log house. He rented land on section 35, on which he lived until 1869, when he took possession of his own property, inhabiting the log house mentioned until 1872, in which year he built a frame house to which he made a large addition in 1882. His place is now in first class condition, being finely improved and set with forest and fruit trees in convenient and appropriate places. Mr. Gildner was married in 1861 to Julia Schnarr, who died March 11, 1870, leaving three children - Henry, Annie and Nettie. His second marriage took place in the fall of 1870. His wife, Mary Schnarr, is sister to the lady he first married. From the last union there have been five children born, four of whom are now living - John H., Lydia, Albert and Eda. Maggie died when four years old. Mr. Gildner is a member of the German Baptist Church.

Henry Gildner, senior, is a native of Germany, and was married there to Anna Moke. In 1846 they emigrated to America and settled in Canada, where they resided until 1866. In that year they came to Cerro Gordo Co., Iowa, and located in Falls township, where Mr. Gildner purchased a farm on section 14, Falls township, which is still their home. They have five children - Conrad, Catharine, Henry, Elizabeth and Warner. Mr. and Mrs. Gildner belong to the German Baptist Church. Henry Gildner, second son of Mr. Gildner, was born in the county of Perth, Canada, Nov. 11, 1853, where he resided with his parents, accompanying them to Iowa in 1866. Feb. 19, 1876, he was married to Mary Ann Brunner, also a native of Perth Co., Canada. He had previously, in 1873, purchased a farm on section 13, and on his marriage he settled upon it. He did the first breaking in 1874 and raised his first crop the following year. He has made the usual improvements, set out numerous forest and fruit trees and built his residence. He has a farm of 160 acres, one half of which is situated in Mitchell county. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Gildner are - William E., John H. and Edward E. Mr. and Mrs. Gildner are members of the German Baptist Church.

N. J. Grummon located the same year [1861] on section 3 [Geneseo township], and afterward owned an adjoining farm on the same section.

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N. J. Grummon settled on a farm in Geneseo township, in 1861.  Having sold that farm he settled on section 3, in 1876, where he now resides.  He was born in Chautauqua Co., N. Y., in 1836.  His father, Horace Grummon, removed with his family to Winnebago Co., Ill., when N. J. was a child, his mother dying when he was an infant.  He lived near Belvidere, Ill., for twenty-one years.  He married Romelia Quackenbos, a native of Canada, whose father settled in Illinois when she was a child.  Mr. and Mrs. Grummon have two sons - Charlie and Willie, both born in this township.  Their only daughter, Myrtie, was born in Illinois in 1861, and died here Dec. 16, 1882.  She was an estimable young lady, and her death was a severe affliction to her parents and a loss to the community.