Thomas Alexander, farmer, was born in Coshocton county, O., in 1827; moved to Sac county, Ia., in 1861, and purchased land one mile north of Sac City. He has one of the finest farms in the county. He owns 314 acres of well improved land, a fine bearing orchard of about three acres, and fifty acres of good timber.

E.F. Baxter, station agent and conductor, was born at Sidney Plain, N.Y., in 1833; moved to Rockford, Ill., in 1851 and engaged in mercantile business. In 1861 he moved to Wheatland, Ia.; thence to Marshalltown, in 1874, and in September, 1879, came to Sac City and took charge of the depot. He makes two trips a day as conductor, and during his absence the depot is charge of Frank L. Stayner, operator. Mr. Baxter is agent for the American express company.

A.T. Benton, M.D., was born in Johnson county, Indiana, in 1847; moved to Dallas county, Iowa, in 1852. He attended the Adel High School several years; entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons, at Keokuk in 1867 and graduated in 1869. He then engaged in practice at Adel, where he remained until July, 1871, then came to Sac City. Office at his residence, on the south side of public square.

Hon. Eugene Cris, farmer, stock-raiser, and proprietor of the City Mills, was born in Preston county, West Virginia, in 1822; removed to Davis county, Illinois, in 1840; thence to Sac county, Iowa, in 1854, locating on Coon river, where the present town of Sac City was shortly afterwards platted by Wagner Bros., Evans and himself. Mr. Criss built the first dwelling house in the town, which at that early day was considered a fine structure. The lumber for frames and the doors and windows was hauled from Dubuque, with ox teams, and this was for several years a tavern and stopping place for freighters and travelers. He began the erection of the City Saw Mills in 1866, which were not completed until eight years after, and during that time cut a race twenty-eight feet deep and two hundred feet in length, which gave a fall of nine feet. In 1872 he built the flouring mill, which is a three-story building and fitted with the best machinery. He owns one thousand acres of land adjoining town, and feeds about six car-loads of cattle every winter. He owns an elevator and deals in grain in partnership with Mr. Hanger, who has charge of the business. Mr. Criss was county judge for several years and representative in the State legislature.

Childs Brothers, dealers in dry goods, groceries, hats, caps and furnishing goods, came from Fort dodge, Ia., where hey had been engaged in business for ten years, and established their present business in Nov., 1879, in Bank block. They carry a large and complete stock. J.L. Criss, merchant, was born in Wis., in 1846; came with parents to Sac City, Ia., in 1856. He engaged in business at Grant City, remained one year, then moved to this city. He has a fine store, and carries a full stock of dry goods, groceries, boots, shoes, etc. He employs three clerks and does an extensive business. He has a branch store at Early, Ia., which is managed by F. Rhodes.

Levi Davis, cashier of the Sac county bank, was born at Newcastle, Ind., in 1841; moved with parents to Solon, Ia., in September, 1855. He received a diploma from the State Normal School, of Iowa City, and in August of the same year moved to Sac City, where he taught school two years. He went to Marshalltown in 1865 and was principal of the schools there for a year, then was elected county superintendent of schools, which office he held two years in Marshall county. He came back to Sac City and taught in the city schools for two years; was elected clerk of the courts in 1870 and county recorder in 1872. He was admitted to the practice of law in 1870, at a session of the Sioux Rapids district court, Judge H. Ford presiding. He went to California in 1874 and was for one year principal of the schools of Martinez; returned to Sac county and became cashier of the Sac County Bank, of which he is one of the stockholders.

R.H. Derby, carpenter, contractor and cabinet maker, was born in Wyoming county, N.Y., in 1853, where he remained until 1873, then moved with his father to Sac City, Iowa, where they engaged in mercantile business. They sold business and together engaged in present business. Hon. Ed. R. Duffie is a native of Copenhagen, Lewis county, New York, where he resided until he had come to years of manhood, and where he began the study of law. In 1866 Mr. Duffie was sent as agent for a citizen of New York to the State of Texas.His mission was to establish the validity of the grant of certain lands from the Republic of Texas to the aforesaid citizen of New York. Mr. Duffie left Texas and went to St. Louis, where he sought employment through an educational agency, and was offered and accepted the principalship of the public school at Andrew, Jackson county, Iowa. He came to Sac County in 1866, and engaged in teaching. In the spring of 1867 he was admitted to the bar. In the spring of 1868 he formed a partnership with Hon. D.C. Early, and henceforth devoted himself to the practice of his profession. In 1869 he was elected County Treasurer of Sac County, and in the fall of 1872 was elected Representative in the General Assembly. Mr. Duffie, in 1875, accepted the Republican nomination for District Judge, and was elected in the fall. Was married in 1867, at Maquoketa, Jackson county, Iowa.

Hon. D. Carr Early, president of the Sac County Bank, was born in Ohio, in 1830; removed to Sac City, Ia. in 1856, where at that time there was but one building besides a log school house. He pre-empted land on which he lived a short time to secure it. He was elected deputy treasurer and recorder in 1857, and was re-elected the three subsequent elections. He was afterwards elected county judge, holding the office one term, the office then being dispensed with. He established a real estate business when first coming to the county, and did a general banking business several years previous to connection with present bank. He still does a land, loan and insurance business in connection with banking. The bank was incorporated in 1876.

S.M. Elwood, of the firm of Davis & Elwood, a attorneys at law, was born in Greensburg, Pa., in Sept., 1850; moved with parents to Grinnell, Ia., where he attended the Iowa College. He graduated from the Iowa City law school in the class of '73. He moved to Sac City in autumn of 1875, and engaged in practice with Capt. Stanfield, now of Odebolt. He formed his present partnership in 1877. He attends strictly to trial business, and is considered one of the most successful attorneys in the county. Mr. Davis attends to the land, loan and insurance business of the firm.

N.B. Flack, recorder of Sac county, was born in N.Y. in 1841. He enlisted Sept. 2d, 1862, at Lisbon, in the 142nd N.Y. Vol.; was at the battle of Fort Fisher, and was subsequently wounded in the leg. He was discharged June 16, 1865, and returned to N.Y. In Oct., 1866, he moved to Scott City, Mo., and engaged in milling; remained four years, then returned to N.Y. He then came to Sac county, Ia., and purchased land which he improved and still owns. In May, 1870, he came to Sac City and was employed by Platt & Criss as book-keeper. He was elected recorder in the fall of 1874, to fill a vacancy, and for the full term at the next election on the republican ticket. He has been re-elected each term since.

John M. Fox, hardware dealer, was born in France in 1836; came to America in 1850. He learned the tinners' trade in N.Y. city, and in 1862 moved to Waterloo, Ia.; thence to Winona, Minn., where he worked at his trade two years, and after visiting N.Y., located at Waverly, Ia., remaining there eight years. He came to Sac City in 1874 and engaged in his present business. He carries a large and complete stock of hardware and tinware. He is assisted in his business by his sons, John and George.

E.F. Gifford, barber, was born in Erie county, Pa., in 1854; came to Ia. in 1871, and located at Independence. He removed to Carroll, and in July, 1872, came to Sac City and engaged in present business. He owns the building, of which he occupies one-half of the lower floor for a barber shop, renting the other half for confectionery store. The upper story is fitted for photograph gallery. Mr. Gifford employs a first-class barber and runs two chairs.

H.C. Graff, of the firm of Graff Bros. & Whipple, came to Sac City in 1880 from Emerson, Mills county, Ia., where he was engaged in the hardware business three years. In partnership with D.W. Graff and A.A. Whipple, he purchased the stock and business of Terwilleger Bros., and engaged in his present business. The business is conducted by H.C. Graff. They carry a full stock of hardware, tin and shelfware, stoves, etc., making specialties of builder's hardware and barb wire. They are special agents for the Glidden barbed wire, and also for Charter Oaks stoves. They employ two tinners.

Charles D. Goldsmith, attorney at law, was born in Middletown, Orange county, N.Y., in 1841; moved to Webster City, Ia., in 1869, and there finished the study of law, with Jacob Skinner, and was admitted to practice the same year. In 1873 he moved to Newell, Buena Vista county, where he practiced for seven years. He moved to Sac City in 1880, and opened an office in the Commercial Bank building. He attends strictly to trial business.

P.H. Hankins and J.Y. Campfield, of the firm of P.H. Hankins & Co., dealers in lumber, coal, lime and agricultural implements,established business in 1879. Their office and yards are on the west side of the railroad track, near the depot. They are agents for the Grand Detour goods, McCormick and Champion reapers and other leading manufactures.

A.H. Hendrickson, proprietor of the Hendrickson House, was born in Oswego county, N.Y., in Jan., 1836; moved to McHenry county, Ill., in 1856, was engaged in the hotel business two years, then in the stock business until 1868; then moved to Sac City, engaged in mercantile business for two years; then engaged in hotel business for a time, after which he farmed for two years. In Feb., 1875, he purchased the hotel which he now owns. He enlarged the building in 1881 making it the largest hotel in the city.

Hon. W.H. Hobbs, banker and insurance and real estate agent, was born in New York City in 1837; moved with parents to New Orleans; thence in 1852 to La Fayette county, Wis., where he was employed by Judge Criss, as clerk. He moved to Sac City, Ia., in 1855, and pre-empted 160 acres of land and engaged in farming. In 1858 he was elected clerk of the courts, which office he held two terms. He was elected auditor in 1866, which office he held until 1871; then was elected county treasurer and held office for three terms. He engaged in real estate business in 1873, with D.C. Early, and in 1875, in partnership with Early & Davis, established the Sac County bank. He takes charge of the land and insurance business of the firm. He has a very fine residence in the city and owns a half section of farm land three miles north of town, and other city and country property.

D. Herrold and S.F. Lusher, of the firm of D. Herrold & Co., deal in groceries, queensware, provisions, etc. Their place of business is on the corner of Main street and public square. The business was established in 1875 by Mr. Lusher and the present firm has existed since Nov., 1881. They do an extensive business and intend extending their premises the coming season.

Louis Hunefield, proprietor of blacksmith and plow works, was born n the province of Lippe Detmold, Germany, in 1829; came to the U.S. in 1849, and located at St. Louis, Mo., where he worked at his trade one and one-half years, then moved to Dodge county, Wis., where he worked at his trade nearly twenty-two years. He came to Sac county in 1872, and engaged in farming for a year and a half; then sold part of his farm; retaining eighty acres, and moved to Sac City. He was in the employ of Mr. Fishman for about eight years, then purchased the business. He employs three men and does a large business.

Joseph H. James, harness dealer, was born in Iowa county, Wis., in 1856, learned his trade at Mineral Point, and in Feb., 1877, moved to Webster City, Ia. In June, 1879, he came to Sac City and purchased the business and stock of Lewis Vanderworker; has since purchased building and lot. He employs three men and carries a full stock of harness, saddles, robes, blankets, whips, etc. In the spring of 1880 he established a branch shop at Newell, Buena Vista county, which is the only one at that place.

Jones & Baxter, proprietors of the City livery, feed and sale barn, established business in 1878. They own and occupy the barn on the corner of Fifth and River Sts. Have stalls for forty-five horses, keep twenty horses and twelve buggies and carriages for livery purposes. The is the only livery barn in the city.

John Kessler, wagon maker, came to Sac City, Ia., from Kenosha, Wis., in 1872 and established his present business. He occupies a shop on the south side of the public square; manufactures wagons and buggies and does a general repair business.

F.H. Knights, of the firm of George Knights & Co., dealers in boots, shoes, hats, caps, gloves, mittens and rubber goods, came to Sac City in Sept., 1881, from Dubuque, Ia., where he had been engaged in the jewelry business for three years, and established his present business in partnership with his father, George Knights. They have the county agency for the Crown sewing machine.

R.H. Lamoreux, postmaster and druggist, was born in Orange county, N.Y., in 1839; moved to Wausau, Wis., and engaged in the lumber business. He moved to Sac City, Ia., in 1868 and engaged in the grocery business, which he conducted for nine months, then purchased a farm and for four years engaged in farming. In the winter of 1872 he engaged in clerking in the drug store of Eli Camp, and also took charge of the postoffice under J.E. Armstrong. He purchased the drug business and stock in the spring of 1875 and the following spring was commissioned postmaster. His drug store, which is elegantly fitted, contains a full line of drugs, stationery, books, paints, oils, toilet and fancy articles, etc. He is assisted by F.B. Knight, deputy postmaster, and is also registered pharmacist.

Chas. E. Lane, clerk of the courts, was born in St. Lawrence county, N.Y., in 1874 [?1844]; moved with parents to St. Catherines, Canada West, in 1846; thence to Dyersville, Dubuque county, Ia., in 1856. He moved to Sac county in 1873; bought land and engaged in farming in Eden township until the autumn of 1878, at which time he was elected to his present office, on the republican ticket. He was re-elected in 1880.

A.B. Mason, attorney at law, was born in Tama county, Ia., in 1857. He attended the Toledo High School for several years and afterwards the Iowa College of Law, Des Moines, from which he graduated in 1880. He came to Sac City the same year and opened a law office in Sac county bank block, on second floor, also does a land, loan and insurance business.

James N. Miller, editor and proprietor of the Sac Sun, is a native of Pa., and was for several years editor of the Republican, published at Waynesburg. In 1870 he came to Iowa and located at Eldora, Hardin county, remained only a short time, then came to Sac City, and established the Sac Sun, which has grown to importance and is the official paper of the county. In 1878 He built the new office, which he now occupies. The paper is an eight-column folio, and has a circulation of eight hundred. Mr. Miller is prepared to do first-class job work of all kinds.

H.T. Martin, county superintendent of schools, was born in Putnam county, Ind., in 1839; moved with parents to Boone county, Ia., in 1853. He returned to Ind. in 1855, and attended the Cloverdale Seminary for two years; spent the following winter in Mo., and in 1858 returned to Boone county, Ia. He engaged in teaching school, and for twelve years taught in that county. He then entered the employ of the railroad company and was agent at Ontario, Story county, for eight years, and for four years at Odebolt, Sac county, where, in partnership with Mr. Bennett, the present editor, he established the Odebolt Observer. He was also engaged in the restaurant business ten months. In the fall of 1881 he was elected county superintendent, on the independent ticket.

George M. Parker, merchant, was born in Hartford, Ill, in 1847; moved with parents to Manchester, Ia., in 1851; thence to Delhi, where he received his education. He traveled for wholesale houses of Chicago and Dubuque for six years. In 1872 he engaged in business at Earlville, Ia., and two years later came to Sac City and established his present business. The store is in the Bank block. In 1881 he commenced the erection of a creamery, which is fitted with a ten-horse power engine, and will have a capacity of from 2,500 to 3,000 lbs. per day. This is the only creamery in the county; it will employ from fifteen to twenty teams, and from twenty to thirty men. Mr. P. has for two years previous conducted the business on a smaller scale.

A.D. Peck, county auditor, was born in Onondaga county, N.Y., in 1846. He graduated from the Syracuse High School in 1872 and the same year moved to Cedar Rapids, Ia. He came to Sac county in the spring of 1873 purchased land and engaged in farming until the autumn of 1877, when he was elected auditor and was re-elected in 1879 and 1881.

Asa Platt, stock dealer and farmer, was born in Middlesex county, Conn., in 1830; moved with parents to Chautauqua county, N.Y., in 1839; thence in 1848 to Erie county, Penn., and engaged in the lumber business. In 1856 he moved to Sac City, Ia., which had just been laid out and contained only two log cabins. He pre-empted land near town, one hundred acres of which he laid out in town lots, and nearly all of which he has since sold. He engaged in mercantile business in 1864, which he continued for twelve years. In 1874 he erected a fine brick and stone residence in the city, at a cost of ten thousand dollars. He carries on his farm and is extensively engaged in buying and shipping stock.

J.O. Platt, of the firm of Schaller & Platt, proprietors of meat market, was born at Saybrook, Conn., in Dec., 1836; removed with parents to Chautauqua county, N.Y., in 1839. In 1850 he moved to Erie county, Pa., was employed for a time in a meat market, and afterwards engaged in business for himself; sold out in 1866 and moved to Sac county, Ia. He engaged in farming until 1874 when he moved to Sac City and opened a meat market which he run three years then sold. He next engaged in the stock business for several years, and in Aug., 1881, bought an interest in his present business. Mr. P. has been a member of the board of supervisors.

A.S. Platt, senior member of the firm of Platt & Platt, dealers in clothing and furnishing goods, was born in Windsor county, Vt. in 1839; moved to Dubuque, Ia., in 1870 and was in the employ of the I.C.R.R. four years. He moved to Osage, Wis., and was for about six years a member of the firm of Simons & Platt, grocers. He came to Sac City, Ia. in Dec. 1880, and purchased business and stock of J.M. Woodard and engaged in his present business. In 1881 he took into partnership his nephew, C.A. Platt.

C.E. Read, furniture dealer and undertaker, was born in March, Canada, Dec., 20th, 1826; moved to Toledo, O., in April, 1856; was engaged in the drug business four years; then moved to Huron county, Mich., where he was engaged in same business for three years. In Aug., 1865, he came to Sac City and engaged in contracting and building. He entered his present business in 1873; employs first-class cabinet-maker, and carries a fine stock of everything in his line.

E.M. Reynolds is business manager for C. Hatfield, furniture dealer and undertaker. This business was established in 1879, and contains a complete stock of furniture and undertakers' goods, and is the agency for the Whit, Wilson and Victor sewing machines, also for the Mason & Hamlin organs.

Philip Schaller, county treasurer, was born in Woerth, province of Alsace, Germany, in 1838; came to America and landed at N.Y. City in April, 1854, and in Dec. of the same year located at Dubuque, Ia., and engaged in wagon-making. He enlisted in 1862 at National, Ia., in the 27th Ia. Inft., was sent to Minn. among the Indians, and thence south; was with Gens. Sherman, Smith, Steele and Thomas in some of the principal battles; was mustered out at the close of the war, and returned to Clayton county, Ia. He purchased land in Sac county in 1868, returned to Clayton county and remained until 1870, then engaged in farming in Sac county, on 640 acres of land. He was agent for the Iowa Railroad Land company while living on the farm, and was afterwards transferred to Storm Lake, and held the agency for Buena Vista county until he was elected treasurer of Sac county in 1877, to which office he has been re-elected each successive term since. He is now land agent for this county, having been appointed in Jan., 1878. He has been a member of the board of supervisors of this county for five years. He organized a Farmers' Mutual Insurance Co. in 1874, and was elected as its President, which office he still holds. The insurance company has about $800,000, issued in policies and on property.

J. & W.C. Shull, of the firm of Shull Bros., dealers in lumber, lime, coal, hair, cement, etc., office on Main street, established business in 1880. They were formerly of Montgomery county, N.Y> J. Shull graduated from the Fairfield Seminary and entered the employ of Walter Shoemaker, lumber dealer, Chicago, Ill.; came to Sac City in 1880.
W.C. Shull, previous to coming to this city, was engaged in the drug business at Little Falls, N.Y.; afterwards with D.R. Dyche & Co., druggists, Chicago; came to Sac City in May., 1881, and formed present partnership.

George A. Smith, watchmaker and jeweler, was born in Belvidere, Ill., in 1851; moved to Waverly, Bremer county, Ia., in 1855. He attended the high school, at Ypsilanti, Mich., from 1868 to 1872; returned to Bremer county and learned his trade. He moved to Sac City in Dec., 1874, and established his present business in the Commercial Bank block. He keeps a fine line of clocks, watches, jewelry, silverware and optican's [optician's] goods, and in connection carries a fine stock of stationery, books and newspapers.

Rev. Robert Smylie, pastor of the M.E. church, was born in Ontario, Canada, in 1849. He graduated from Victoria College, Coburg, in 1868; entered the ministry the following year and filled various pulpits in Ontario. He was ordained at Dunville, in 1873; i Oct., 1880, he came to Sac City, Ia., and took present charge.

George Stanley, proprietor of the Stanley House, came to Sac City in May, 1881, from Bloomington, Wis., where he had been engaged in the mercantile business for eleven years. He purchased his present hotel property, and after thoroughly renovating and refitting it, engaged in present business. He keeps a first class house and runs a 'bus to and from trains.

B.W. Trout, deputy recorder, was born in LeRoy, Bradford county, Pa., in March, 1843. He enlisted in the 106th Pa. Vol., and was in several of the most important engagements of the war. He was wounded at Gettysburg and also at Petersburg, June, 1864, where he was captured and confined in Libby Prison a few days; started for Macon, Ga., and escaped, was recaptured and taken to Lynchburg, Va., thence to Raleigh, N.C. He was paroled in March, 1865, and discharged the following April. He came to Sac City, Ia., in May, 1867, and engaged in farming one season; taught school the following winter, and continued teaching until 1871, when he was appointed deputy treasurer. which office he held until 1878, excepting during the year 1874. He then filled a vacancy as recorder, and was appointed deputy upon Mr. Flack's being elected recorder.
Mrs. B.W. Trout, milliner, established business in Dec., 1880. She carries a full and elegant line of millinery and ladies' furnishing goods, and employs a first-class milliner trimmer.

Henry Wilson, sheriff, was born in St. Lawrence county, N.Y., in 1841; moved with parents in 1851, to Dundas county, Canada West. In 1869 he moved to Clinton, Clinton county, Ia., and engaged in contracting and building; thence to Sac county in the autumn of 1875 and followed same business. He was elected to his present office in the autumn of 1881 and moved to Sac City in Jan., 1882.

Christopher Waddell, collection agent and auctioneer, was born in Oxford, Eng. He was for several years in the Royal Mail West India service, also East India service. In 1851 he came to America and located at York, Dane county, Wis.; was engaged in farming, also livery business. He was elected sheriff in 1876 and re-elected in 1877 and 1879 on the Democratic ticket, the county being republican by a majority of nine hundred. This speaks well for Mr. W.'s popularity.

John L. Woodward, junior member and business manager of the firm of Condron & Woodward, dealers in grain and machinery, was born in Champaign county, O., He served during the war of the rebellion a short time, doing garrison duty, after which he bough land in Dallas county, Ia. He engaged in the grain business at Dallas Centre, [Center?] which he continued for two years and in 1871 located at Sac City, where he engaged in the mercantile business. In 1880 established business as above. During 1881 the firm shipped one hundred cars of grain.