PIKE, Elwood (b. 1853)

PIKE, MAXWELL, WATKINS, HUDDLESTON

Posted By: Jennifer Gunderson (email)
Date: 4/7/2021 at 21:24:00

ELWOOD E. PIKE, former treasurer of Prowers County, has since his retirement from office been engaged in business at Lamar. For about one year he was a partner of C. C. Huddleston in the grocery and hardware business, and since their partnership was dissolved by mutual consent, he has been engaged in general merchandising. A native of Union County, Ind., he was born June 5, 1853, to Calvin B. and Sarah (Maxwell) Pike. His father, who was a farmer by occupation, removed to Winneshiek County, Iowa, in 1854, and pre-empted a claim, which he cleared, cultivated and improved.

From the raw prairie he evolved a fine homestead, and there he is now living, at the age of sixty-six. The education acquired by our subject was such as the common schools of Winneshiek County afforded. He remained at home until he reached the age of twenty-one, and then went to Cerro Gordo County, Iowa, where he bought a tract of eighty acres of farmland. In Mason City, the county-seat, he was married, October 28, 1879, to Miss Lyda C. Watkins, who was born in Iowa County, Wis., but had spent her girlhood principally in Mason City. A short time after his marriage he removed from his farm to town and opened a livery stable, in which business he met with fair success. A few months after Lamar had been platted, in 1886, he came to this village, and has since resided near or in this place.

Entering land in the southern part of Prowers County, Mr. Pike gave some time to its improvement, and at the same time he carried on a mercantile store at Mulvane for some years, also served as postmaster of Mulvane. In 1890, the Republican party, with which he had been identified from youth, elected him treasurer of Prowers County, and he then removed to Lamar. At the expiration of his first term, in 1892, he was re-elected, this time on the independent ticket. January 1, 1895, he retired from office, and turned his attention to business pursuits. The various projects for the advancement and growth of Lamar have received aid from him, and he has been especially active in such public enterprises as the creamery, hotel and mill. He has an only son, James E., who was born in Mason City, Iowa, November 11, 1881. Fraternally he is connected with Lamar Lodge No. 90, A. F. & A. M., in which he has held the office of junior deacon. He is also a member of the Woodmen of the World and has been banker of the camp for a number of years.

Source: Portrait and biographical record of the state of Colorado, containing portraits and biographies of many well known citizens of the past and present. Chicago, Chapman Publishing Co., 1899.