A History
of Crawford, Ida and Sac Counties, Iowa
[?]: Lewis Publishing Co., 1893
L
Unless
otherwise specified, biographies are submitted by Conley
Wolterman.
H.
C. Laub
Hon. H. C. Laub,
one of the pioneers of Crawford County, Iowa, resided there since the
fall of 1855. First locating in Mason's Grove, he purchased a tract
of unimproved land and farmed for a time. In the fall of 1856, he opened
a stock of general merchandise in a room, 14 x 18 feet, in the new town
of Denison. This was the first store in the county. He continued the
mercantile business in Denison until 1876, and in the meantime established
branch stores at the following places: Deloit, this county; Smithland,
Woodbury County; Carrollton, Carroll County; Gallan's Grove, Shelby
County; Westside, Crawford County; Harlan, Shelby County; Butler's Mill,
Harrison County; Dunlap, Harrison County; Correctionville, Woodbury
County, with Denison being headquarters. This business started in a
small way, soon grew to large proportions, his sales one year amounting
to $120,000. He hauled his first goods by wagon from Cedar Rapids, when
he sold out his stock in Denison and Westside valued at $30,000, and
that at Dunlap $16,000, besides the stock at the other points. During
his business career up to 1876, he was also engaged in farming and stock
raising. He handled much of the land in Crawford County, improving perhaps
more land than any other man in the County. He owned more than a thousand
acres. He took an active part in introducing higher grades of stock,
such as Jersey and Durham cattle, draft horses, etc.
He erected 5 churches,
2 schoolhouses, the McKim Hall, upward of forty dwellings and two brick
business blocks. He built his own residence in 1887.
Besides establishing
the first general merchandise store in the county, he also established
the first hardware store. He had the roller mills at Westside and Deloit,
one steam and the other water-powered.
Mr. Laub was born
in Little York, Pennsylvania, April 18, 1824, son of William and Catharine
(Snyder) Laub, natives of that State, his father of German extraction
and his mother of German and Irish. He was reared at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania,
and in his youth learned the trade of shoemaker, at which he worked
3 years. After that, he taught in the district schools 4 years, in Pennsylvania
and Iowa. It was in the fall of 1852 that he came West. In Muscatine,
Iowa, he lived 2 years, and then to Cedar Rapids, where he was engaged
in the mercantile business. In 1855, he came to Crawford County.
He served as County
Sheriff one term, County Surveyor, County Superintendent 12 years, County
Commissioner 3-4 years, and filled all the minor offices. In 1880, he
was chosen as a Representative to the State Legislature, and served
2 years.
He was married in
Frederick County, Maryland, February 7, 1848, to Miss Lydia Baer, daughter
of Jacob and Matilda Baer. She was born in Montgomery County, Maryland,
February 7, 1824. They had eight children: Alice M., wife of James D.
Ainsworth of Onawa, Iowa, editoress of a journal at that place; Mettie
M., wife John B. Romans of Denison; William, engaged in the livery business
at Denison; Catharine, wife of W. T. Perkins, an attorney of Bismarck,
North Dakota, she being a practicing physician of the Homeopathic school,
having graduated at Ann Arbor, Michigan and took a post-graduate course
at Boston and Chicago; Anna L., wife of George F. Bartholomew, a banker
of Valparaiso, Indiana, she being a practicing physician; Ely C., a
merchant of Correctionville, Iowa; Lydia B., who died at the age of
20 years; and Lillie, wife of C. F. Kuehnle, a banker of Denison.
Henry
Lee
(Civil War Veteran)
Henry Lee, proprietor of
Summit Heights stock farm, near Battle Creek, Ida County, Iowa, was born near
Carlisle, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, March 17, 1833.
He was married November 24, 1863 to Maria Fishburn, the daughter of John
and Catherine Fishburn. Henry and
Maria had 4 children: Harry F.,
Kate M., Myra M., and Thomas H.
Mr. Lee�s ancestors were
natives of the Emerald Isle. His
father, Thomas Lee, was born in Lancaster County, Pa., June 22, 1785, died May
21, 1871. Mr. Lee�s father was a soldier in the War of 1812. His mother�s
name was Mary Noble, and she died August 27, 1862 at 67 years.
Henry Lee�s brothers and sisters were:
Thomas, James, John, and Margaret E.
Henry Lee enlisted in the Union
army in September 1862 and was 1St Lt. Of the 165 Pa. Vol. Infantry
for a period of one year. He
recruited a company and became Captain of the 209th Pa. Volunteers.
He was taken prisoner November 17, 1863, at Bermuda Hundred, Va., and
first confined in Belle Island prison. He
then was taken to Libby, to Danville, to Salisbury, and finally taken back to
Libby prison. He was held a
prisoner until February 22, 1864 when he was exchanged and sent to Annapolis,
Maryland, where he again entered the fight for his country, serving until the
close of the war in May 1865.
In 1882, Henry Lee came to Ida
County, Iowa, and purchased a farm.
He lived here 6 years and moved to Fayetteville, Arkansas.
After two years, he came back to Ida County.
He had some of the best draft and road horses in northwestern
Iowa. He was a member of
the Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R).
M.
L. Lewis, Superintendent
of Sac County Poor Farm, was born near Richmond, Virginia, February
8, 1851, a son of J. B. and Alice (Ruie) Lewis. He was reared in Virginia
to farm life, receiving his education in the common schools, remaining
at home, aiding his father to work upon the farm until age of 20 years.
At that age, he went to Pickaway County, Ohio, where he remained some
time, then went to southeastern Kansas, and from there he moved to Piatt
County, Illinois, where he remained until 1880, then moved to Sac County,
Iowa, settling in Delaware Township. Later he moved to South Dakota
and remained some time, engaged in farming.
In March 1892, Mr.
Lewis was appointed Superintendent of the Poor Farm of Sac County, and
held that position for some time. The farm consisted of 160 acres of
land, located 3 ½ miles southeast of Early, on Section 14, Boyer
Valley Township. The main building was 32 x 64 feet, with 18-ft. posts,
and a north L, 14 x 24 feet. It was full two stories high and contained
23 rooms. This building provided shelter for those who were unfortunate.
The farm was ably managed by Mr. Lewis who endeavored to provide suitable
board and lodging for his charges, without incurring too much expense
for the county.
Mr. Lewis married
March 5, 1878 to Miss Elmaretta Byers, a native of Stark County, Ohio,
who moved to Piatt County, Illinois in 1864. She was the daughter of
E. and Matilda (Morrow) Byers, natives of Ohio, where they were both
reared and married, and where the father died in 1862.
Six children were
born to M L. and Elmaretta Lewis: Jessie C.; Alice M.; Kirby B.; Gertie
R.; Grace M.; and Dwight Merdith.
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