HENRY FAIRCHILD (From the 1901 History)
Among the prominent and worthy citizens of Grant township whose lives
are devoted to agriculture and the farming interests of the county is
the subject of this biography, whose home is on section 11. He was born
in Champaign county, Ohio, on the 6th of September, 1851, a son of J.
H. and Sarah (Ellis) Fairchild, both of whom were natives of the same
state and are now living in Coggon, Linn county, Iowa. They came to
this county with their family in 1855, and the father purchased four
hundred acres of land in Spring Grove township, two hundred and fifty
acres of which was covered with timber. He at once commenced to improve
and cultivate his land.
Henry Fairchild was reared in Spring Grove township, and
pursued his education in its district schools until nineteen years of
age. He remained under the parental roof until he attained is majority,
giving his father the benefit of his labors. On the 20th of March,
1870, he was united in marriage with Miss Walton, a daughter of J. H.
and Maria (Cunningham) Walton, natives of Canada and Ohio,
respectively. Her family were among the pioneer settlers of Spring
Grove township, this county, where the father first purchased eighty
acres of wild land, and later bought a timber tract of forty acres. He
filled the office of justice of the peace for a number of years, and
both he and his wife held membership in the Methodist Episcopal church.
His death occurred in 1883, and she passed away the following year.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Fairchild were born thirteen children, as
follows: Lena, now the wife of Fred Van Tassel, a farmer of Buchanan
county, Iowa; John, who married Julia Hudson, and is engaged in farming
in Grant township, Linn county; Edward, who married Nellie Hudson, and
also lives in Grant township; Sarah, wife of Louis Hudson, a farmer of
the same township; Rebecca, wife of William Horak, a farmer of Grant
township; Agnes, Clarence, Matilda, Emma, Blanche and Jennie, all at
home; Fred, who died in infancy; and Ross, at home.
After his marriage Mr. Fairchild was engaged in farming in
Spring Grove township until 1892, when he purchased an improved farm of
one hundred and thirty-five acres on section 2, Grant township,
conveniently located two miles east of Walker. He has since added to
this property and now has three hundred and twenty acres on sections 2
and 11, Grant township, all of which is well improved and under a high
state of cultivation. In connection with general farming Mr. Fairchild
also devotes considerable attention to the raising of stock, and in his
undertakings is meeting with well-deserved success.
As a Republican he takes quite an active and influential part
in local politics, and in January, 1895, was elected supervisor of his
township, which office he creditably filled until January, 1901. He is
now a member of the school board, and takes an active interest in all
enterprises calculated to advance the welfare of his township or
county. Fraternally he is a member of the Camp of Modern Woodmen at
Walker.
Source: The Biographical Record of Linn County Iowa, Illustrated, Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1901, p. 570-1
Submitted by: Terry Carlson
HENRY FAIRCHILD (From the 1911 History)
Henry Fairchild, one of the prosperous agriculturists and
prominent citizens of Grant township, is the owner of a well improved
farm of three hundred and twenty acres on sections 2 and 11. His birth
occurred in Ohio on the 6th of September, 1851, his parents being J. H.
and Sarah Ann (Ellis) Fairchild, who were likewise natives of the
Buckeye state. They came to Linn county, Iowa, in 1855, purchased a
tract of land on section 1, Spring Grove township, and here continued
to reside throughout the remainder of their lives. The mother passed
away in 1870, while the father was called to his final rest in August,
1909, when eighty-two years of age. Unto this worthy couple were born
seven children, four of whom still survive, as follows: Ada, who is a
resident of Coggon, Iowa; Hattie, the wife of Fred Willis; William,
living in Sully county, South Dakota and Henry, of this review.
The last named, who was but four years of age when he came to
this county with his parents, attended the common schools in the
acquirement of an education and remained at home until the time of his
marriage in 1870. He has devoted his attention to general agricultural
pursuits throughout his entire business career and in 1892 purchased
his present home farm of three hundred and twenty acres on sections 2
and 11, Grant township, where he has resided continuously since. In
addition to cultivating the cereals best adapted to soil and climate he
makes a specialty of raising and feeding stock and has found both
branches of business congenial as well as profitable, He is likewise
one of the directors of the Walker State Bank and is widely recognized
as one of the enterprising and representative citizens of the
community.
In 1870 Mr. Fairchild was united in marriage to Miss Deborah
Jane Walton, a native of Linn county and a daughter of J. H. and Maria
Walton, both of whom were born in Ohio. They came to this county in the
early '40s, entering eighty acres of land and erecting thereon a log
cabin. The mother was called to her final rest in 1883, while the
father survived until 1894, when he, too, passed away. They reared a
family of nine children, seven of whom are yet living. Unto Mr. and
Mrs. Fairchild were born thirteen children, namely; Lena, the wife of
Fred Vantassel, of Grant township; John H., likewise a resident of
Grant township; Edward J., living in Dawson county, Montana; Sarah A.,
who married L. Hudson, but both are now deceased; Rebecca, the wife of
William Horrack, of Linn county; Agnes, who is the wife of William
Norris and makes her home in Buchanan county, Iowa; Clarence, who is a
resident of this county; Matilda, the deceased wife of Roy Melick;
Emma, the wife of Frank Chester, of Linn county; Blanche, who is the
wife of Charles Leach and resides in Buchanan county, Iowa; Jennie, who
is now attending normal school; Frederick, who is deceased; and Ross,
at home.
Mr. Fairchild is a republican in political views and is now
serving in the office of township trustee, having held that position
for nine years. He likewise acted as county commissioner for six years
and has ever discharged his official duties in a manner that has won
public approval and commendation. Fraternally he is identified with the
Modern Woodmen camp at Walker, while his religious faith is indicated
by his attendance at the Methodist Episcopal church, with which his
wife is also affiliated. Having resided within the borders of Linn
county for fifty-five years, he has gained a large circle of friends
which is almost coextensive with the circle of his acquaintances, and
his salient characteristics are such as have won for him the
unqualified respect, esteem and good will of his fellowmen.
History of Linn County Iowa From Its Earliest Settlement to
the Present Time, Volume II, The Pioneer Publishing Company, 1911 pgs.
231-232
Submitted by Becky Teubner
WESLEY B. FEE
Wesley B. Fee, an enterprising and successful farmer and
stockman of Grant township, is the owner of a tract of land comprising
one hundred and forty acres on section 33. His birth occurred in Linn
county, Iowa, on the 15th of July, 1867, his parents being George W.
and Almira (Miller) Fee, who were natives of Indiana and Ohio
respectively. They came to this county in 1845 and were married here,
spending the remainder of their lives on a farm in Grant township.
George W. Fee was called to his final rest on the 12th of March, 1909,
having for a number of years survived his wife, who passed away in
March, 1897. Both were consistent and devoted members of the Church of
Christ and were highly respected and esteemed throughout the community
where they resided for so many years. Their children were three in
number, as follows: William H., who is a resident of Center Point;
Cynthia A., the wife of Benjamin Cress, of Center Point; and Wesley B.,
of this review.
Wesley B. Fee received his education in the common schools and
when eighteen years of age started out on his own account as an
agriculturist, devoting his attention to the operation of a rented farm
for six years. On the expiration of that period he purchased the old
homestead of one hundred acres and lived thereon for fifteen years,
being busily engaged in its further cultivation and improvement. On
disposing of the property he bought his present place of one hundred
and forty acres on section 33, Grant township, where he has carried on
his farming interests continuously since, his industry and energy being
annually rewarded by bounteous harvests. His wife owns a tract of forty
acres on section 4, Washington township. He is likewise well known as a
stockman, raising, feeding, buying and selling stock of all kinds. His
undertakings have been attended with a gratifying measure of success
and he well deserves recognition among the substantial and progressive
citizens of his native county.
As a companion and helpmate on the journey of life Mr. Fee
chose Miss Estella Cox, who was born in this county in 1873, her
parents being J. M. and Fannie F. (Smith) Cox. The father, a native of
Canada, still survives and resides at Center Point. The mother, whose
birth occurred at Center Point, was called to her final rest in 1880.
They reared a family of three children. Mr. and Mrs. Fee likewise had
three children, namely: Bernard V., whose natal day was April 16, 1893;
Fannie E., born March 27, 1895; and Minnie V., who was born February
11, 1899, and passed away April 19, 1909.
Mr. Fee is a stanch democrat in politics but has never sought
nor desired office as a reward for his party fealty. The cause of
education, however, has ever found him a stalwart champion and for
several years he served as a school director. Fraternally he is
identified with the Modern Woodmen Camp, No. 948, at Center Point, in
which he has filled all of the chairs. His religious faith is that of
the Christian church, with which his wife is also affiliated. They have
spent their entire lives in Linn county and enjoy a wide and favorable
acquaintance here.
History of Linn County Iowa From Its Earliest Settlement to
the Present Time, Volume II, The Pioneer Publishing Company, 1911 pgs.
58-59.
Submitted by: Terry J. Carlson
JAMES FERGUSON
Some time during the spring of 1849, Mr. James Ferguson and
wife came into our community and located on what was originally a part
of my father’s claim. He was born in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, and
both he and his wife were members of the Congregational church. After
coming here they and their daughter united with the First Presbyterian
church, and later Mr. Ferguson was elected to the office of ruling
elder. The sons came into the church some years after. Of the five
sons, Calvin, Cyrus E., Amos, Clement and James, only Cyrus and Clement
remain; the former living in Chicago, and the latter occupying the old
homestead.
Mr. Ferguson was a man of sound judgment and of the strictest
integrity. He was mild in his disposition and kind and gentle in his
treatment of others. He was strongly attached to his church and was
ever a strong pillar of support within its walls. He died April 27,
1850, after a short illness, mourned not only by the church of which he
was an honored member, but by the community at large.
His wife, a most noble, Christian woman, survived him till May 9, 1886,
when she, too passed away to join her husband in the land beyond. The
record of these two people here is brief and inadequate, but the
salutary influence of their lives lingers as a lasting benediction to
the community in which they lived.
Amos was taken prisoner and died in Andersonville prison February 28, 1865. James died at the old homestead December 24, 1890.
Source: Carroll, Rev. George R., Pioneer Life In and Around
Cedar Rapids, Iowa from 1839 to 1849, pages 172-3, Times Printing and
Binding House, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, 1895.
Submitted by: Terry Carlson
FREDERICK P. FERNOW
Frederick P. Fernow, whose efforts as a farmer and stock-raiser
have been attended with a well merited measure of success, is the owner
of two hundred and ten acres of valuable land on sections 4 and 33,
Marion township., His birth occurred in Linn county, Iowa, on the 18th
of September, 1868, his parents being Samuel and B. A. Fernow, of whom
more extended mention is made on another page of this work. In his
youthful years he enjoyed the educational advantages afforded by the
common schools, and after attaining his majority he devoted his
attention to the operation of the old homestead farm for a few years,
having been reared to the work of the fields. In the fall of 1906 he
purchased a tract of eighty acres on section 33, Marion township, in
the further cultivation and improvement of which he has since been
actively engaged. The well tilled fields annually yield bounteous
harvests and his operations as a raiser and feeder of stock are
likewise proving profitable.
On the 27th of February, 1894, Mr. Fernow was united in
marriage to Miss Olive B. Howard, who was born in Galesburg, Illinois,
in 1871. Her parents, Frank M. and Helen C. (Gage) Howard, who are
likewise natives of Illinois, removed to Ottumwa, Iowa, in 1904. Mrs.
Fernow had but one brother, Fred M,, who is now deceased. By her
marriage she has become the mother of four children, as follows: Esther
Pearl, whose natal day was March 23,1895, and who is now attending the
high school at Marion; Howard M., whose birth occurred February 5,
1900; and Margaret E., and Marjory H., twins, who were born July
24,1905.
In politics Mr. Fernow is a republican and, as every true
American citizen should do, keeps well informed on the questions and
issues of the day. The cause of education finds in him a stalwart
champion and he has served in the capacity of school director, but
aside from that has not held nor desired public office. His entire life
has been spent in Linn county and he is widely recognized as one of its
substantial agriculturists and esteemed citizens.
Source: 1911 Linn Co., IA History Vol. 2 pg. 143
Submitted by Becky Teubner
EDWIN B. FISHER
Edwin B. Fisher, constable of Spring Grove township for the
past six years and recently a candidate for the office of sheriff of
Linn county, is one of Iowa’s sons who is typical of that class of men
who have developed the middle west. He is a native of the township in
which he resides and has always maintained his home here, although for
several years he traveled through the extreme western portion of the
country. The date of his birth was October 2, 1869, and he is a son of
the late Edwin Fisher and Mrs. Mary (Fitts) Fisher, early settlers of
Linn county.
His father was born in New York. His early education was
received there, and he also read law in that state, preparatory to his
admission to the bar. But his health and fortunes demanded that he seek
another location, so he came west and settled in Linn county, Iowa. He
and his wife located in Spring Grove township, where he purchased one
hundred and twenty acres of land and commenced farming. After a time he
began buying other properties, for he was very successful in his work,
and later practiced law, having been admitted to the bar in this state.
He followed his profession for about fifteen years, then discontinued
it entirely and devoted his attention exclusively to his farms. At the
time of his death, which occurred January 23, 1904, he owned over four
hundred acres of fine land. His wife, who is also a native of New York
and is yet living, makes her home at Walker, Iowa, being in her
seventy-sixth year.
Edwin Fisher remained with his parents upon the home farm
until he was twenty years old. He received a good education in the
district schools of Spring Grove township, and then went to work for
himself, renting eighty acres of land, which he farmed for five years.
For three years he traveled about the west, going as far as the coast,
and upon his return to Linn county embarked in the business of painting
and paper hanging, which he continued to follow. He makes his home upon
one of the smaller but finely improved farms of the county, cultivating
twenty-six acres of land, upon which he has made all of the
improvements.
On June 16, 1897, Mr. Fisher was united in marriage to Miss
Gertie Powell, a daughter of Chester and Emma Powell. She passed away
January 25, 1900, leaving one son, Carl E. now aged eleven years. On
April 4, 1906, Mr. Fisher was again married, his second union being
with Mrs. Julia Ellsworth, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Norman Pike,
natives of Vermont and Iowa respectively, at present living in Central
City, Iowa, where her father owns and operates a fine farm. By this
marriage Mr. Fisher has two children, namely: Fred C., aged three
years, and Bessie I., aged eight months. Mrs. Fisher had one son by her
former marriage, Harold, now eight years of age. She is a member of the
Christian church and is active in religious work.
Mr. Fisher is a member of the Odd Fellows Lodge, No. 299, at
Troy Mills, and his political allegiance is given the republican party.
He has been constable of Spring Grove township for six years and at the
recent primaries he hotly contested the nomination for sheriff with W.
G. Loftus, who secured it by a narrow margin, Mr. Fisher having many
warm partisans. An honest, determined man, he makes an efficient
officer and a very desirable citizen.
History of Linn County Iowa From Its Earliest Settlement to
the Present Time, Volume II, The Pioneer Publishing Company, 1911 pgs.
410-411.
Submitted by: Terry J. Carlson
WILLIAM FLEMING
WILLIAM
FLEMING, one of the foremost dairymen and farmers in Otter Creek
Township, was born in Jefferson County, Ind., March 20,1832. He
is a son of John and Mary (McCrury) Fleming, natives of Kentucky.
The father was born in 1785 and died in February, 1835, in Indiana; the
mother was born in 1795 and died in March, 1877. They were the
parents of eight children, as follows: Jennie A. married Jacob Ferris,
and is now deceased; Betsy H. married Mr. H. D. Medcalf; James married
Miss Armede Evans; Polly married H. Medcalf; John married Miss Julia
Payne; Nancy became the wife of T. Evans; Samuel is still single; and
William, our subject.
William Fleming
was the youngest member of the parental family, and was reared on his
father's farm, attending the common-schools. At about the age of
twenty he started out for himself, and hired out by the month for some
time. He came to Iowa in 1844. In 1853 he took up a claim
of 200 acres in Otter Creek Township, and afterward purchased it from
the Government. Mr. Fleming was united in marriage Dec. 31, 1854,
to Anna Eliza Eastman. Of this union there were born seven
children -- Corwin D., born Dec. 6, 1855, married Miss Nancy Lanning,
and lives in Idaho; Attula E., born Jan. 2, 1857, married James H.
Davis Dec. 25, 1877, lives at Paris, this county; Othello M., born
April 10, 1859, married April 25, 1880, to Miss Mary Gleason, living in
Spring Grove Township, this county; Willie, born Jan. 16, 1864, died in
infancy; Alice Mary, born May 28, 1865, married June 5, 1886, to S. S.
Rogers, and also lives in Idaho; Inez E., born Dec. 23, 1867; Myrtie
L., born Aug. 20, 1872. Mrs. Fleming departed this life Aug. 9,
1881. Mr. Fleming formed a second matrimonial alliance with Miss Sarah
E. Shinn, July 3, 1882. Of this union there is no issue.
Mrs. Anna Eliza (Eastman) Fleming was the second child of Mr. T. R.
Eastman, and Mrs. Elizabeth (Gould) Eastman, both natives of Ohio, and
moved to Iowa July 4, 1854. They were parents of twelve children,
nine girls and three boys. Mr. Eastman held the position of
County Superintendent of Schools in Linn County for several
years. Mr. Fleming is now the owner of 216 acres. He has
put into operation a fine creamery. His dairy consists of forty
milch cows, some of them Jerseys, some Shorthorns, and other high
grades. He entered into this business in 1884. He has a
very fine house for caring for his cream and butter, and makes an
average of forty pounds of first-class creamery butter per day, which
he ships to the New York market. He has about ten head of horses
of the Bashaw, Gold Dust and Percheron stock; his hogs are of the
Poland-China breed, while his sheep are Cotswold and French
Merino. The barn is three stories in height with basement, and
cost $3,500. He can stall forty head of stock and shelter forty
head of young cattle. His root cellar will hold 12,000 bushels of
roots, 150 tons of hay and 4,000 bushels of grain. On the farm is
a windmill, used for sawing wood, churning butter, grinding grain and
pumping water. He has just completed a scale house which is
supplied with Fairbank scales. The house he now occupies is a
frame one, with the exception of one room, which was the first put up
on his land in 1853, and is made of hewed logs. It is a very
complete dwelling. Mr. Fleming has in course of construction a
handsome residence. There are also 900 apple trees on the
farm. Mr. Fleming is a model farmer; he has spared in expense in
the improvement of his farm, and it is now one of the finest in the
State of Iowa. To its improvement and cultivation he has bent all
his energies, and brought to it, not only his own practical experience,
but has largely utilized the experience of others. His progress
in material wealth is an evidence that he has made excellent use of
his brains in carrying on his work.
In
politics Mr. Fleming is independent. Though he has no taste for
public office, his fellow-citizens have honored him by electing him for
several years to the position of District Supervisor and Township
Trustee.
Mr. Fleming is a member of the
Christian Church, and was a building Trustee in that body. Known
far and near for the excellence of his judgment, his unswerving
integrity in business transactions, and his generous liberality, he
cannot help but have the esteem and confidence of his community.
He has been first and foremost in all good works, and has taken a
leading part in the material development of the township and the
county, besides contributing largely to moral, social and charitable
objects.
A portrait of Mr. Fleming and view of his farm, residence and out-buildings, appear in another part of this work.
Source: of portrait, biographical sketch (verbatim
transcription) and view of his farm and residence: “Portrait and
Biographical Album of Linn County, Iowa”, 1887, biographical sketch on
pages 497 - 498, portrait on page 495, view of his farm and residence
on page 496
Submitted by: Eric & Marcia Driggs
WILLIAM FOGARTY
William Fogarty owns and operates a finely improved farm of one hundred
acres in Buffalo township, Linn county. He is a native son of the
state, born in Dubuque county, in 1858, his parents being Daniel and
Mary (Cleary) Fogarty, both natives of Ireland, They came to America at
a very early day and spent five years in New York state, whence they
removed to Dubuque county, Iowa, where the father spent several years
in railroading. He then rented a farm in Buffalo township, Linn county,
operating the same for three years, and at the end of that time he was
enabled to purchase forty acres in that township. This proved but the
beginning of his success, however, for as he prospered he kept adding
to his original holdings from time to time until at his death his
possessions aggregated five hundred and sixty acres of land, which he
divided among his children, each of his sons receiving one hundred
acres, while the remainder was given to his other children.
He was twice married, William, the subject of this review, having been
born of his first marriage. His mother died in 1865, and in 1868 the
father was again married, his second union being with Mrs. Ellen O
'Neal, who was born in Ireland, and by whom he had three children,
Maggie, Daniel and John, The father died November 14, 1908. William
Fogarty acquired his education in the common schools and was early
trained in the work of the fields, assisting his father during the
periods of vacation. Putting aside his text-books, he gave his entire
time to the cultivation of the farm, remaining under the parental roof
until he was thirty years of age. He was then given by his father the
one hundred acres of land on which he now makes his home, this being
located in Buffalo township.
He has made many modern improvements on the place, which include a good
country residence, a substantial barn and outbuildings for the shelter
of grain and stock, and everything about the place is neat and
attractive in appearance, indicating the progressive methods of the
owner. On the 6th of June, 1899, occurred the marriage of Mr. Fogarty
and Miss Bridget Fay, a daughter of Edward and Margaret (Mulconery)
Fay, who were natives of Ireland. In early life they emigrated to
America, first locating in Chicago, but after ten years spent in the
western metropolis, they made their way to Jones county, Iowa.
There the father purchased one hundred acres of land, operating the
same until the mother's death in February, 1898, after which he lived
retired in Anamosa until he passed away on the 6th of August, 1909.
Their family numbered six children. Politically Mr. Fogarty is a
democrat and at present is serving as township trustee. Both he and his
wife are members of the Catholic church. He shows good judgment in the
conduct of his business affairs and in his work is meeting success.
Source: 1911 History of Linn Co., IA Vol. II pgs. 454-455
Submitted by Becky Teubner
ALPHONSE FRANCHERE
In this enlightened age when men of energy, industry and merit
are rapidly pushing their way to the front, those who, by their own
individual efforts, have won favor and fortune, may more properly claim
recognition. To this class belongs Alphonse Franchere, who in
connection with his brother, O. J., is proprietor of the Fair, a large
department store of Cedar Rapids. He came to this place in 1885, and
has since been prominently identified with its mercantile interests.
Mr. Franchere was born in Chicago, Illinois, on the 4th of
February, 1861, and is a son of David and Matilda (Moffit) Franchere,
both natives of Montreal, Canada. The mother died when our subject was
a small boy, leaving nine children, of whom five are still living,
namely: Mrs. P. U. Magnan and Mrs. N. F. Chiniquy, both residents of
Chicago; Oscar J., who is with our subject in business; Gabriel, a
merchant of Chicago; Alphonse, of this review; and Napoleon F., a
resident of Mason City, Iowa. Euclid died in Chicago in 1871, and two
others died in early childhood.
The mother's death occurred in 1863, when she was thirty-nine years of
age. The ancestors of our subject were of French extraction. His
paternal grandparents both died in Chicago in 1864, when well advanced
in years. All of their children lived to be over seventy-eight years of
age, and one daughter is still living in Chicago. Our subject's father,
who was the youngest of this family, engaged in merchandising in Canada
in early life, and about 1850 removed to Chicago, where he conducted a
crockery store until about ten years before his death, which occurred
in 1898, when he was seventy-eight years of age. He was a self-educated
man, and in business affairs was quite successful.
Like the other children of the family Alphonse Franchere was
educated in the public schools of Chicago. The sons all obtained their
business education in the large mercantile establishment of Marshall
Field & Company of that city. On leaving that firm our subject
sought a location with the view of embarking in business for himself,
and finally decided on Cedar Rapids, where he settled in 1885. Having
but small capital he opened a shoe store, and as he became familiar
with the wants of his customers he gradually enlarged his stock as fast
as his resources would permit. He began business at No. 212 First
avenue, occupying only about one third of the space he now has, and two
years later opened a dry goods and fancy goods department at No. 214.
In 1889 he again enlarged his store by an addition forty feet square
and two stories high, and also increased his stock. In 1891 he secured
the adjoining store room, No. 216, and converted his establishment into
a regular department store, carrying everything found in a first class
general store with the exception of heavy hardware. In 1894 he was
joined by his brother Oscar J., from Chicago, and two years later sold
to him the crockery, groceries and household goods departments, which
now occupy No 218-220-222, while our subject has the remainder of the
stock in Nos. 212-214-216. He carries a fine line of dry goods,
millinery, shoes, clothing, gents' furnishing goods, furs, carpets,
etc.
On the second floor he has five rooms devoted to bargain counters,
while the six rooms on the third floor are devoted exclusively to the
mail order department. Mr. Franchere has recently purchased sixty feet
in the rear of Nos. 212-214 and 216 First avenue, where he is building
a warehouse for storage purposes. The Fair, by which name their store
is known, is fitted up with all modern improvements in the way of
heating, lighting, etc. and would be a credit to a city much larger
than Cedar Rapids. It occupies the property from 212 to 226 First
avenue. By advertising extensively, the firm have secured a large trade
from several of the adjoining states, and also from New Mexico and
Colorado.
They have one hundred and fifty employees on their pay roll, and keep
eight delivery wagons and fourteen horses. Their business has grown so
rapidly that for the year 1901 it will undoubtedly amount to a quarter
of a million dollars. The brothers own property at 216 and 218 First
avenue occupied by their businesses.
Alphonse Franchere is not identified with any political party,
but at local elections votes for the men whom he believes best
qualified to fill the office. Fraternally he is a member of the
Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and the Commercial Club of Cedar
Rapids. He takes considerable interest in outdoor sports, such as
baseball, bicycling and horse racing, and is what may be termed a
baseball enthusiast. He built the Athletic Park, which has since been
sold to the Carnival Association, with which he is connected, and he is
also a stockholder of the Auditorium Building.
His first thoughts are always for the city of his adoption, and he has
been a liberal contributor to all enterprises which he believed would
prove of public benefit. He also gives freely to charity, putting his
donations where they will do the most good. Pleasant and genial by
nature, he makes hosts of friends wherever he goes, and has been a
welcome addition to the business interests of Cedar Rapids.
Source: Biographical Record of Linn County, Iowa. Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1901, p. 759-760.
OSCAR J. FRANCHERE
The Fair, which is one of the leading business houses of Cedar
Rapids, is owned by Oscar J. and Alphonse Franchere, two brothers, who
are numbered among the most energetic, enterprising and successful
business men of the city. The older, Oscar J. was born in Montreal,
Canada, April 30, 1853, but during his infancy was taken to Chicago by
his parents, David and Matilda (Mot) Francere (sic), who were also
natives of Montreal and of French descent. The mother died in 1863, at
the age of thirty-nine years, leaving six children who are still
living, namely: Mrs. E. Magnan and Mrs. N. F. Chiniquy, both residents
of Chicago; Oscar J., of this review; Gabriel, a merchant of Chicago;
Alphonse, who is engaged in business with our subject; and Napoleon F.,
a resident of Mason City, Iowa. Euclid died in Chicago in 1871, and
Adolphus died in 1898 in Chicago; one other died in early childhood.
In early life the father was engaged in merchandising in Canada, and
after his removal to Chicago conducted a crockery store in that city
until the last ten years of his life, when he lived retired. He was a
self-educated man, and in business affairs was quite successful. He
died in 1898, at the age of seventy-eight years, and was the youngest
in a family of six children, all of whom were older that at the time of
their deaths. One sister is still living in Chicago at the age of
seventy-four years. His parents died in that city in 1864 when well
advanced in years.
During his boyhood Oscar J. Franchere attended the public
schools of Chicago, and began his business career in the store of
Field, Palmer & Leiter, as the firm was styled when Mr. Franchere
was with them, of that city, where he remained seventeen years, being
head cashier in the retail department nine years of that time. In 1894
he came to Cedar Rapids, and formed a partnership with his brother,
taking the grocery, house furnishing, drug, hardware and crockery
departments of the Fair, and occupying with these three stores of the
building on First avenue, at Nos. 218-220-222, where his brother has
carried on business since first coming to this place in 1885. (An
extended account of the business is given in the sketch of Alphonse
Franchere on another page of this volume.) The brothers own the
property at Nos. 216 and 218 First avenue, and our subject also has
residence property on the west side of Chicago, valued at fifteen
thousand dollars.
In 1874 Mr. Franchere was united in marriage with Miss Mary Le
Beau, who died in Chicago in 1894, leaving two sons, Alfred O., who is
now buyer for the Fair of Cedar Rapids; and Ernest C., who is attending
school here. Mrs. Franchere was a native of Chicago and a daughter of
Cyrille Le Beau, a prominent contractor of that city, where he built
the old court house, the Sherman House, the Tremont House, and many
other large buildings. He died there in 1889, his wife in 1892, and all
of their six children are now deceased.
In 1889, in company with his brother Gabriel, Mr. Franchere
attended the Paris Exposition and also visited the principal cities of
Europe, spending three months abroad. In the business circles he stands
deservedly high, and he and his brother, Alphonse, eminently deserve
classification among those purely self-made men of Cedar Rapids.
Source: Biographical Record of Linn County, Iowa. Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1901, p. 770-771.
WILLIAM A. FULKERSON
William A. Fulkerson, one of the leading architects residing in
Cedar Rapids, was born in Bucyrus, Crawford county, Ohio, October 17,
1847, and is a son of Joseph F. and Margaret (Messinger) Fulkerson, the
former a native of New York, the latter of Pennsylvania. He is the
youngest in a family of ten children and the only one living in Iowa.
He was carefully reared and received an excellent education in the
public schools. In 1856 he came with the family to Linn county, Iowa,
the journey being made by teams, and they camped and cooked by the
roadside during the four weeks en route.
They first located on what is known as the Biggs' farm, between Cedar
Rapids and Marion, but after residing there for six months they removed
to a farm near Iowa City in Johnson county. The winter of 1856-7 being
unusually severe, the crops were almost a total failure, and Mr.
Fulkerson, like many others became so discouraged that he returned to
his old home in the Buckeye state, the journey being made by way of the
Mississippi and Ohio rivers. Only three of the children had removed
with the parents to Iowa, though two daughters had previously located
there.
After the return of the family to Ohio, William A. Fulkerson
attended school until the spring of 1864, when he joined the Union
army, enlisting in Company E, Thirty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry.
His command was a part of Duffey's brigade in the Eighth Army Corps,
and participated in the engagements at Lloyd's Mountain, Newburn
Bridge, Martinsburg, and the two battles of Winchester on July 24 and
September 19, 1864. Mr. Fulkerson celebrated his seventeenth birthday
by taking part in the battle of Cedar Creek, where Sheridan made his
famous ride. On the 11th of January, 1865, the rebel general Rosseau
surprised the Union outposts at Beverly, Virginia, and captured the
regiment of which our subject was a member, together with the Eighth
Iowa Cavalry, both stationed at that point, but Mr. Fulkerson with
about one hundred others managed to escape, and after traveling about
forty miles reached the village of Philippi near the Baltimore &
Ohio Railroad, where they remained for several weeks.
They were then ordered to Cumberland, Maryland, where they went into
winter quarters. The regiment to which our subject belonged had lost
all its officers above a sergeant, as well as most of its men, and was
then consolidated with the Thirty-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and
was afterward a part of the latter regiment. In the spring of 1865 they
were ordered to Winchester, Virginia, where they were located when
President Lincoln was assassinated. Shortly afterward they were ordered
to Staunton, that state, to establish civil law and protect the people.
Our subject was mustered out at Columbus, Ohio, July 27, 1865.
After his return from the war Mr. Fulkerson did nothing until
the following spring, when he became interested in contracting and
building. In 1871 he removed to Chicago, where he was employed as an
architect until 1876, when he returned to Cedar Rapids, just twenty
years after he first came to this county. He built the Soldiers Home at
Marshalltown; the Central Hall building of the State Normal School at
Cedar Falls in 1895; the Auditorium of Cedar Rapids, which has a
seating capacity of thirty-five hundred, in 1899; and ten of the public
school buildings of this place, besides numerous fine business blocks
and residences.
Mr. Fulkerson has been quite prominently identified with
public affairs, and served eight years as alderman of the sixth ward,
during which time he was chairman of the public improvement committee
which had charge of numbering the houses and renaming the streets of
Cedar Rapids. He was also a member of the board in charge of the main
sanitary sewerage system. While he was a member of the council a
franchise was granted the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad.
Socially he is a prominent member of Cedar Rapids Lodge, No 98, K.P.;
T. Z. Cook Post, No. 235, G. A. R.; and Cedar Rapids Lodge, No. 141, I.
O. O. F.' Linn Encampment, No. 49; and Canton Cedar Rapids, No. 21, of
which he is past commander. He is quite popular both in business and
social circles and is regarded as one of the leading citizens of Cedar
Rapids.
Source: Biographical Record of Linn County, Iowa. Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1901, p. 991-992.
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