Gray, Babcock and Seers
Gray, L.M.
From Biographical History of Crawford, Ida & Sac Counties,
Iowa
The Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, 1893
Gray, Babcok and Seers, grain merchants of Odebolt, Sac county, Iowa, were organized in 1885 for the purpose of handling grain, stock, coal and seeds. They erected a large elevator, with a capacity of 40,000 bushels, and they have handled annually, from this point, upward of 130 cars of corn, which will average upward of 600 bushels, and also twenty cars of barley, averaging 700 bushels per car, with twenty-five cars of flaxseed, averaging 35,000 bushels, forty cars of oats, averaging 800 bushels, while the shipments of hogs will vary from 124 to 150 cars. The firm also has elevators at Battle Creek, Ida Grove, Arthur and Lohrville, and are heavy dealers at all points.
L. M. Gray, our subject, the head of the firm, was born in Ulster county, New York, July 27, 1840. He was the son of Thomas and Mary (Beasemer) Gray, natives of New York, of old Yankee stock on the paternal side, while the maternal ancestry stretches back to Germany. Our subject was brought up until his twelfth year on the farm and then the family removed to McHenry county, Illinois, where his occupation was not changed, if the place was. He received his education in the public schools and then prepared for the life of a farmer, but at the age of twenty-two he enlisted, August 9, 1862 in Company A, Ninety-fifth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and remained until mustered out, August 17, 1865. He was wounded at Nicojack creek, Georgia, in a skirmish, and took part in the battles of Champion Hill, Vicksburg, Nashville, Spanish Fort, Blakely and a number of skirmishes. After his term of service expired he returned to McHenry, Illinois, and there engaged in farming, but in the fall of 1886 he removed to Boone county, Iowa, and located on a farm there, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits.
In 1880 he went into the stock business in connection with his farming, and in 1886 he came to Odebolt, where he has since been associated with the firm of Gray, Babcock and Seers. Mr. Gray is one of the most enterprising men of this county, is a strong Republican, and is Justice of the Peace and Notary Public of Odebolt.
He was married in 1865, in Illinois, to Miss Nellie Babcock, who survived only six years, and died at the age of thirty-four. Mr. Gray was again married, in 1877, to Miss Mary McLaman, of Iowa, but a native of Ohio. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Gray, namely: Della, Nellie and Angie. Socially, our subject is a member of G.A.R., Colonel Goodrich Post No. 117, and is Commander of the same. Also he is a member of A.F. & A.M., Wheeler Lodge, No. 398. In his religious connections he is a member of the Presbyterian Church, in which he is a Deacon.
Mattess, Joseph
From Biographical History of Crawford, Ida & Sac Counties,
Iowa
The Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, 1893
Joseph Mattes - The hardware firm of Joseph Mattes, of Odebolt, Iowa, was established in 1879, and now is one of the leading houses of its kind in Odebolt. Mr. Mattes was born in Clinton county, Iowa, October, 1855, son of R. and Mary Mattes, natives of Germany, who emigrated to Clinton county, Iowa, in 1854, and still make that county their home. Our subject was educated in the common public schools and at the age of sixteen began to learn the tinners' trade, which he followed for eight years. At this time he took a trip through western Iowa and Nebraska in order to find a suitable location, but finally decided upon his native State and settled in Odebolt, Iowa, where he has since been engaged in business.
Upon arrival in this city he established his present business in the same location he now occupies, in a small, one-story frame building. This store was the first on erected in the village and its dimensions were 22 x 60. In this room Mr. Mattes operated his business until 1891, when he erected his present commodious brick building, two-story, with basement, 50 x 100 feet. All its appointments are modern and altogether it is one of the best store buildings in the city. Mr. Mattes carries a full line of shelf and heavy hardware, stoves and tinware, threshing machines, clover hullers and corn shellers. In stoves he handles the Acorn cookstoves and ranges, Stewart hard-coal stoves and Round Oak heaters. He makes a specialty of fine hardware, a full line of cutlery and edge tools. He carries a stock of $10,000; is the oldest hardware dealer in Odebolt and one of the first merchants. He is the only dealer in his line who has been in the business between Carroll and Sioux City since 1879.
Mr. Mattes is one of the most active businessmen in the city. Ever since his arrival in Odebolt he has taken an active interest in everything tending to the good of the city. He is a stockholder in the Fair Association and also in the water-works. He affiliates politically with the Republican party and by this party he was elected Treasurer of the School Board and has held the office for a number of years. He has also served as Township Trustee for the past eleven years. Socially, he is a member of the Masonic fraternity and is connected with Wheeler Lodge, No. 398; also belongs to the Knights of Pythias, Syracuse Lodge, No. 200, and A.O.U.W. Lodge, No. 217. Mr. Mattes has been connected with the Fire Department since its organization in 1880, and is one of the original officeholders.
Mr. Mattes was married in Clinton, Iowa, in 1879, to Miss Kate Shelley, a native of Ohio, and four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Mattes, namely: Gracie, Howard, Hattie and George. Mr. Mattes is a self-made man, having started in life with little or nothing and risen to his present position by his own, unaided efforts. He is now one of the solid men of Odebolt, financially, while socially, he is extremely popular. Mr. Mattes has been one of the prime movers in pushing the little city onward, and to him is due much of the present prosperity of Odebolt. He is a man of broad and comprehensive views and one not likely to be influenced by anything save his sense of right and justice.
Transcribed by B. Horak, November 2002
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