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 Full Page Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and 
 Representative Citizens of the County, 
 
 TOGETHER WITH 
 PORTRAITS AND BIOGRAPHIES OF ALL THE PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES 
 
 AND GOVERNORS OF THE STATE. 
 
 CHICAGO: 
 
 LAKE CITY PUBLISHINa CO. 
 
 1890. 
 

 
 
 
pF(Ep/^?E. 
 
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 HE greatest of Enylisli liistorians, M \c.\ulay, and one of the most brilliant writers oi 
 the present centiuy, has saiil: '-Tliu history of a country- is best told in a record of the 
 lives of its people." In conformit}' with this idea the Poktkait and BiodUAPiiiCAL 
 ALiiUMof this county has been prepared. Instead of going to musty records, and 
 taking tiierefrom dry statistical matter that can be appreeuited by but few, our 
 corps of writers have gone to the people, the men and women who have, by their 
 enterprise and industry, brought the county to a rank second to none among those 
 comprising this great and noble ^tate, and from their lips have the story of their life 
 struggles. No more interesting or instructive matter could be presented to an intelli- 
 gent public. In this volume will be found a record of many whose lives are worthy the 
 imitation of coming generations. It tells how some, commencing life in poverty, by 
 industry and economy have accumulated wealth. It tells how others, with limited 
 advantages for securing an education, have become learned men and women, with an 
 inllucnce extending throughout the length and breadth of the land. It tells of men who 
 have risen from the lower walks of life to eminence as statesmen, and whose names have 
 ^^'^%^ become famous. It tells of those in every walk jli life who have striven to succeed and 
 ^ ^ records how that success h.as usually crowned their efforts. It tells also of many, very 
 
 many, who, not seeking the applause of the world, have pursued "the even tenor of their way," content 
 to have it said of them as Christ said of the woman performing a deed of mercy — "they have done what 
 they could." It tells how that many in the pride and strength of young manhood left the plow and the 
 anvil, the lawyer's office and the counting-room, left every trade and profession, and at their country '.s 
 call went forth valiantly "to do or die," and how through their efforts the Union was restored and ueace 
 once more reigned in the land. In the life of every man and of every woman is a lesson that should not 
 be lost upon those who follow after. 
 
 Coming generations will appreciate this volume and preserve it as a sacred treasure, from the fact 
 that it contains so much that would never find its way into public records, and which would otherwise be 
 inaccessible. Great care has been taken in the compilation of the work and every opportunity possible 
 given to those represented to insure correctness in what has been written, and the publishers Hatter them- 
 selves that they give to their readers a work with few errors of consequence. In addition to the biograph- 
 ical sketches, portraits of a number of representative citizens are given. 
 
 The faces of some, and biographical sketches of many, will be missed in this volume. For this the 
 publishers are not to blame. Not having a proper conception of the work, some refused to "ive the 
 information necessary to compile a sketch, while others were indifferent. Occasionally some member of 
 the family would oppose the enterprise, and on account of such opposition the support of the interested 
 one would be withheld. In a few instances men could never be found, though repeated calls were made 
 at their residence or place of business. 
 
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FIRST I'RESIDENT. 
 
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 M ©EOIBBE WASHIK©1I'®K, 
 
 '.K)'"^'^t^';g!jtgjii,; ,i^.V)'ff;,';:?,i' .■ .i'; ,' ; i'.^5S(g^ta^i^|^'>a^'tig;'(ig;'>g^''i^''<^'(^"t%'ira''t^ 
 
 HE Father of our Country was 
 I born ill Westmorland Co., Va., 
 ' Feb. 2 2, 1732. His parents 
 were Augustine and Mary 
 g.^ ,_ .^ ^JI^J.^ ^ (Ball) Washington. The family 
 \^f--x" S-^/ to which he belonged has not 
 been satisfactorily traced in 
 England. His great-grand- 
 father, John Washington, em- 
 igrated to Virginia about 1657, 
 and became a prosperous 
 planter. He had two sons, 
 Lawrence and John. The 
 former married Mildred Warner 
 and had three children, John, 
 Augustine and Mildred. Augus- 
 tine, the father of (ieorge, first 
 married Jane Butler, who bore 
 him four children, two of whom, 
 Lawrence and Augustine, reached 
 maturity. Of six children by his 
 second marriage, George was the 
 eldest, the others being Betty, 
 Samuel, John Augustine, Charles 
 and Mildred. 
 Augustine Washington, the father of George, died 
 in 1743, leaving a large landed property. To his 
 eldest son, Lawrence, he bequeathed an estate on 
 the Patomac, afterwards known as Mount Vernon, 
 and to George he left the parental residence. George 
 received only such education as the neighborhood 
 schools afforded, save for a short time after he left 
 school, when he received private instruction in 
 mathematics. His spellinii v/as rather defective. 
 
 Remarkable stories are told of his great ijhysica. 
 strength and development at an early age. He was 
 an acknowledged leader among his companions, and 
 was early noted for that nobleness of character, fair- 
 ness and veracity which characterized his whole life. 
 
 When George was 14 years old he had a desire to go to 
 sea, and a midshipman's warrant was secured for him, 
 but through the opposition of his mother the idea was 
 abandontd. Two years later he was appointed 
 surveyor to the immense estate of Lord Fairfax. In 
 this business he spent three years in a rough frontier 
 life, gaining experience which afterwards proved very 
 essential to him. In 1751, though only ig years of 
 age, he was appointed adjutant with the rank of 
 major in the Virginia militia, then being trained for 
 active service against the French and Indians. Soon 
 after this he sailed to the West Indies with his brother 
 Lawrence, who went there to restore his health. They 
 soon returned, and in the summer of T752 Lawrence 
 died, leaving a large fortune to an infant daughter 
 who did not long survive him. On her demise the 
 estate of Mount Vernon was given to George. 
 
 Upon the arrival of Robert Dinwiddie, as Lieuten- 
 ant-Governor of Virginia, in 1752, the militia wa? 
 reorganized, and the province divided into four mili- 
 tary districts, of which the northern was assigned to 
 Washington as adjutant general. Shortly after this 
 a very perilous mission was assigned him and ac- 
 cepted, which others had refused. This was to pro- 
 ceed to the French post near Lake Erie in North- 
 western Pennsylvania. The distance to be traversed 
 was between 500 and 600 miles. Winter was at hand, 
 and th.c journey was to be made without military 
 escort, through a territory occupied by Indians. The 
 
GEORGE WASHINGTON. 
 
 trip was a perilous one, and several limes he came near 
 losing his life, yet he returned in safety and furnished 
 a full and useful report of his expedition. A regiment 
 of 300 men was raised in Virginia and put in com- 
 mand of Col. Joshua Fry, and Major Wasliington was 
 commissioned lieutenant-colonel. Active war was 
 then begun against the French and Indians, in which 
 Washington took a most important part. In the 
 memorable event of July 9, 1755, known as Brad- 
 dock's defeat, Washington was almost the only officer 
 of distinction who escaped from the calamities of the 
 day with life and honor. The other aids of Braddock 
 were disabled early in the action, and Washington 
 alone was left in that capacity on the field. In a letter 
 to his brother he says: "I had four bullct.s through 
 my coat, and two horses shot under me, yet I escaped 
 unhurt, though death was levelin", my companions 
 on every side." An Indian sharpshooter said he was 
 not l)orn to be killed by a bullet, for he had taken 
 direct aim at him seventeen times, and failed to hit 
 him. 
 
 After having been five years in the military service, 
 and vainly sought promotion in the royal army, he 
 took advantage of the fall of Fort Duquesne and the 
 expulsion of the French from the valley of the Ohio, 
 10 resign his commission. Soon after he entered the 
 Legislature, where, although not a leader, he took an 
 active and important part. January 17, 1759, he 
 married Mrs. Martha (Dandridge) Custis, the wealthy 
 widow of John Parke Custis. 
 
 When the British Parhament had closed the port 
 if Boston, the cry went up throughout the provinces 
 Ihat "The cause of Boston is the cause of us all." 
 It was then, at the suggestion of Virginia, that a Con- 
 gress of all the colonies was called to meet at Phila- 
 delphia,Sei)t. 5, 1774, to secure their common liberties, 
 peacealily if possiljle. To this Congress Col. Wash- 
 ington was sent as a delegate. On May lo, 1775, the 
 Congress re-assembled, when the hostile intentions of 
 England were plainly apparent. The battles of Con- 
 cord and Le.xington had been fought. Among the 
 first acts of this Congress was the election of a com- 
 mander-in-chief of the colonial forces. This high and 
 responsil)le office was conferred upon Washington, 
 who was still a member of the Congress. He accepted 
 it on June 19, but upon the express condition that he 
 receive no salary. He would keep an exact account 
 of expenses and expect Congress lo pay them and 
 nothing more. It is not the object of this sketch to 
 trace the military acts of Washington, to whom the 
 fortunes and liberties of the people of this country 
 were so long confided. The war was conducted by 
 him under every possible disadvantage, and while his 
 forces often met with reverses, yet he overcame every 
 obstacle, and after seven years of heroic devotion 
 and matchless skill he gained liberty for the greatest 
 nation of earth. On Dec. 23, 1783, Washington, in 
 a paiting address of surpassing beauty, resigned his 
 
 commission as commander-in-chief of the army to 
 to the Continental Congress sitting at Annapolis. He 
 retired immediately to Mount Vernon and resumed 
 his occupation as a farmer and planter, shunning all 
 connection with public life. 
 
 In February, 1789, Washington was unanimously 
 elected President. In his presidential career he was 
 subject to the peculiar trials incidental to a hew 
 government ; trials from lack of confidence on the part 
 of other governments ; trials from want of harmony 
 between the different sections of our own country; 
 trials from the impoverished condition of the country, 
 owmgto the war and want of credit; trials from the 
 beginnings of party strife. He was no partisan. His 
 clear judgment could discern the golden mean ; and 
 while perhaps this alone kept our government from 
 sinking at the very outset, it left him exposed to 
 attacks from both sides, which were often bitter and 
 very annoying. 
 
 At the expiration of his first term he was unani- 
 mously re-elected. At the end of this term many 
 were anxious that he be re-elected, but he absolutely 
 refused a third nomination. On the fourth of March, 
 1797, at the expiraton of his second term as Presi- 
 dent, he returned to his home, ho])ing to pass there 
 his few rentaining years free from the annoyances of 
 public life. Later in the year, however, his repose 
 seemed likely to be interrupted by war with France. 
 At the prospect of such a war he was again urged to 
 take command of the armies. He chose his sub- 
 ordinate officers and left to them the charge of mat- 
 ters in the field, which he superintended from his 
 home. In accepting the command he made the 
 reservation that he was not to be in the field until 
 it was necessary. In the midst of these preparations 
 his life was suddenly cut off. December i 2, he took 
 a severe cold from a ride in the rain, which, settling 
 in his throat, produced inflammation, and terminated 
 fatally on the night of the fourteenth. On the eigh- 
 teenth his body was borne with military honors to its 
 final resting place, and interred in the family vault at 
 Mount Vernon. 
 
 Of the character of Washington it is impossible to 
 speak but in terms of the highest respect and ad- 
 miration. The more we see of the operations of 
 our government, and the more deeply we feel the 
 difficulty of uniting all opinions in a common interest, 
 the more highly we must estimate the force <if his tal- 
 ent and character, which have been able to challenge 
 the reverence of all parties, and principles, and na- 
 tions, and to win a fame as extended as the limits 
 of the globe, and which we cannot but believe will 
 be as lasting as the existence of man. 
 
 The person of Washington was unusally tali, erect 
 and well iiroportioned. His muscular strength was 
 great. His features were of a beautiful symmetry'. 
 He commanded respect without any appearance of 
 haughtiness, and ever serious without being dull. 
 
''drtJdmio 
 
 y 
 
>,ECOND PRESIDENT. 
 
 
 
 
 <m 
 
 
 OHN ADAMS, the second 
 President and the first Vice- 
 President of the United States, 
 was born in Braintree ( now 
 Quincy ),Mass., and about ten 
 ^ miles from Boston, Oct. ig, 
 K^-yV-r^gi 1735. His great-grandfather, Henry 
 
 Adams, emigrated from England 
 about 1640, with a family of eight 
 ' !. sons, and settled at Braintree. The 
 parents of John were John and 
 Susannah (Boylston) Adams. His 
 father was a farmer of limited 
 means, to which he added the bus- 
 iness of slioemaking. He gave his 
 eldest son, John, a classical educa- 
 tion at Harvard College. John 
 graduated in 1755, and at once took charge of the 
 school in Worcester, Mass. This he found but a 
 'school of affliction," from which he endeavored to 
 gain relief by devoting himself, in addition, to the 
 study of law. For this purijose he placed himself 
 under the tuition of the only lawyer in the town. He 
 had thought seriously of the clerical profession 
 but seems to have been turned from this by what he 
 termed "the frightful engines of ecclesiastical coun- 
 cils, cf diabolical malice, and Calvanistic good nature,'' 
 of the operations of which he had been a witness in 
 his native town. He was well fitted for the legal 
 profession, possessing a clear, sonorous voice, being 
 ready and fluent of speech, and having quick percep- 
 tive i»wers. He gradually gained practice, and in 
 1764 married Abigail Smith, a daughter of a minister, 
 and a lady of superior intelligence. Shortly after his 
 marriage, (17(15), the attempt of Parliamentary taxa- 
 tion turned him from law to politics. He took initial 
 steps toward holdin^, a town meeting, and the resolu- 
 
 tions he offered on the sul)ject became very populai 
 throughout the Provnice, and were adopted word for 
 word by over forty different towns. He moved to Bos- 
 ton in 1768, and became one of the most courageous 
 and prominent advocatesof the popular cause, and 
 was chosen a member of the General Court (the Leg- 
 lislature) in 1770. 
 
 Mr. Adams was chosen one of the first delegates 
 from Massachusetts to the first Continental Congress, 
 which met in 1774. Here he distinguished himselt 
 by his capacity for business and for debate, and ad- 
 vocated the movement for independence against the 
 majority of the members. In May, 1776, he mcved 
 and carried a resolution in Congress that the Colonies 
 should assume the duties of self-government. He 
 was a prominent member of the committee of iive 
 appointed June 11, to prepare a declaration of inde- 
 pendence. This article was drawn by Jefferson, but 
 on Adams devolved the task of battling it through 
 Congress in a three days debate. 
 
 On the day after the Declaration of Independence 
 was passed, while his soul was yet warm with th^ 
 glow of excited feeling, he wrote a letter to his wife 
 which, as we read it now, seems to have been dictated 
 by the spirit of prophecy. "Yesterday," he says, "the 
 greatest question was decided that ever was debated 
 in America; and greater, perhaps, never was or wil 
 be decided among men. A resolution was passed 
 without one dissenting colony, ' that these United 
 States are, and of right ought to be, free and inde- 
 pendent states.' The day is passed. The fourth of 
 July, 1776, will be a memorable epoch in the history 
 of America. I am apt to believe it will be celelirated 
 by succeeding generations, as the great anniversary 
 festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of 
 deliverance by solemn acts of devotion to Almighty 
 God. It ought to be solemnized with ix>mp, shows. 
 
24 
 
 JOHN ADAMS. 
 
 games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations 
 from one end of the continent to the other, from this 
 time forward for ever. You will think me transported 
 with enthusiasm, but I am not. I am well aware of 
 the toil, and blood and treasure, that it will cost to 
 maintain this declaration, and support and defend 
 these States; yet, through all the gloom, I can see the 
 rays of light and glory. 1 can see that the end is 
 worth more than all the means; and that iwsterity 
 will triumph, although you and I may rue, which I 
 hope we shall not." 
 
 In November, 1777, Mr. Adams was appointed a 
 delegate to France, and to co-operate with Bemjamin 
 Franklin and Arthur Lee, who were then in Paris, in 
 the endeavor to obtain assistance in arms nnd money 
 from the French Government. This was a severe trial 
 to his patriotism, as it separated him from his home, 
 comiielled him to cross the ocean in winter, and ex- 
 jxjsed him to great peril of capture by the British cruis- 
 ers, who were seeking him. He left France June 17, 
 1779. In September of the same year he was again 
 chosen to go to Paris, and there hold himself in readi- 
 ness to negotiate a treaty of peace and of commerce 
 with Great Britian, as soon as tlie British Cabinet 
 might Ije found willing to listen to such pioposcls. He 
 sailed for France in November, from there he went to 
 Holland, wliere he negotiated important loans and 
 formed important commercial treaties. 
 
 Finally a treaty of peace with England was signed 
 Jan. 21, 1783. The re-action from the excitement, 
 toil and anxiety through which Mr. Adams had passed 
 threw him into a fever. After suffering from a con- 
 tinued fever and becoming feeble and emaciated he 
 was advised to goto England to drink the waters of 
 Bath. While in England, stilklroopinganddesixDnd- 
 ing, he received dispatches from his own government 
 urging the necessity of his going to .(Xmsterdam to 
 negotiate another loan. It was winter, his health was 
 delicate, yet he immediately set out, and through 
 storm, on sea, on horseback and foot,he made the trip. 
 
 February 24, 1785, Congress apixjinted Mr. Adams 
 envoy to the Court of St. James. Here he met face 
 to face the King of England, who had so long re- 
 garded him as a traitor. As England did not 
 condescend to appoint a minister to the United 
 States, and as Mr. Adams felt that he was accom- 
 plishing Init little, he sought ))ermission to return to 
 his own country, where he arrived in June, 1788. 
 
 When Washington was first chosen President, John 
 Adams, rendered illustiious by his signal services at 
 home and abroad, was chosen Vice President. .Again 
 at the second election of Washington as President, 
 Adams was chosen Vice President. Tn 1796, Wash- 
 ington retired from public life, and Mr. Adams was 
 elected President,though not without much opposition. 
 Serving in this office four years, he was succeeded by 
 Mr. Jefferson, hisoppf)nent in ]x>litics. 
 
 While Mr. Adams was Vice President the great 
 
 French Revolution shook the continent of Europe, 
 and it was upon this point which he was at issue with 
 the majority of his countr)'men led by Mr. Jefferson. 
 Mr. Adams felt no sympathy with the French people 
 in tlieir struggle, for he had no confidence in their 
 jxjwer of self-government, and he utterly abhored the 
 classof atheist philoso[)hers who he claimed caused it. 
 On the other hand Jefferson's sympathies were strongly 
 enlisted in behalf of the French peo;)le. Hence or- 
 iginated the alienation between these distinguished 
 men, and two powerful parlies were thus soon organ- 
 ized, Adams at the head of the one whose sympathies 
 were with England and Jefferson led the other in 
 sympathy with France. 
 
 Tlie world has seldom seen a spectacle of more 
 moral beauty and grandeur, than was presented by the 
 old age of Mr, Adams. The violence of party feeling 
 had died away, and he had begun to receive that just 
 appreciation which, to most men, is not accorded till 
 after death. No one could look upon his venerable 
 form, and think of what he had done and suffered, 
 and how he had given up all the prime and strength 
 of his life to the public good, without the deepest 
 emotion of gratitude and respect. It was his peculiar 
 good fortune to witness the complete success of the 
 institution which he had been so active in creating and 
 supi)orting. In 1824, his cup of happiness was filled 
 to the brim, by seeing his son elevated to the highest 
 station in the gift of the people. 
 
 The fourth of July, 1826, which completed the half 
 century since the signing of the Declaration of Inde- 
 pendence, arrived, and there were but three of the 
 signers of that immortal instrument left upon the 
 earth to hail its morning light. And, as it is 
 well known, on that day two of these finished theii 
 earthly pilgrimage, a coincidence so remarkable as 
 to seem miraculous. For a few days before Mr. 
 Adams had been rapidly failing, and on the morning 
 of the fourth he found himself too weak to rise from 
 his bed. On being requested to name a toast for the 
 customary celebration of the day, he exclaimed " In- 
 DEPENDKXCE FOREVER." When the day was ushered 
 in, by the ringing of bells and the firing of cannons, 
 he was asked by one of his attendants if he knew 
 what day it was? He replied, "O yes; it is the glor- 
 ious fourih of July — God bless it — God bless you all." 
 In the course of the day he said, " It is a great ami 
 glorious day." The last words he uttered were, 
 " Jefferson survives." But he had, at one o'clock, re- 
 signed his spiiit into the hands of his God. 
 
 The jiersonal appearance and manners of Mr. 
 Adams were not particularly preix)ssessing. His face, 
 as his jiortrait manifests.was intellectual ard exjires- 
 sive, hut his figure was low and ungraceful, and his 
 manners were freiiuctitly abrupt and uncourteous. 
 He had neither the lofty dignity of Washington, nor 
 the engaging elegance and gracefulness which marked 
 the manners ^nd address of Jefferson. 
 
■'% 
 
 ^^^TTZ, 
 
THIRD PRESIDENT. 
 
 27 
 
 
 FFEIR§©M. ^^ 
 
 
 HOMAS JEFFERSON was 
 bum April 2, 1743, at Shad- 
 S>*«ell, Albermarle county, Va. 
 His parents were Peter and 
 Jane ( Randolph) Jefferson, 
 the former a native of Wales, 
 and the latter born in Lon- 
 don. To them were born six 
 daugliters and two sons, of 
 whom Thomas was the elder. 
 W'b.en 14 years of age his 
 fatlier died. He received a 
 most liberal education, hav- 
 ing been kept diligently at school 
 from the time he was five years of 
 age. In 1760 he entered William 
 £.nd Mary College. Williamsburg was then the seat 
 of the Colonial Court, and it was the obode of fashion 
 and splendor. Young Jefferson, who was then 17 
 years old, lived somewhat expensively, keeping fine 
 horses, and much caressed by gay society, yet he 
 was earnestly devoted to his studies, and irreproacha- 
 able in his morals. It is strange, however, under 
 such influences,tliat he was not ruined. In the sec- 
 ond year of his college course, moved by some un- 
 explained inward impulse, he discarded his horses,' 
 society, and even his favorite violin, to which he had 
 previously given much time. He often devoted fifteen 
 hours a day to haid study, allowing himself for ex- 
 ercise only a run in the evening twilight of a mile out 
 of the city and back again. He thus attained very 
 high intellectual culture, alike excellence in philoso- 
 phy and the languages. The most difficult Latin and 
 Greek authors he read witli facility. A more finished 
 scholar, has seldom gone forth from college halls; and 
 
 there was not to be found, perhaps, in ail Virginia, a 
 more pureminded, upright, gentlemanly young man. 
 
 Immediately upon leaving college he began the 
 study of law. For the short time he continued in the 
 practice of his profession he rose rapidly and distin- 
 guished himself by his energy and accuteness as a 
 lawyer. But the times called for greater action. 
 The policy of England had awakened the spirit of 
 resistance of the American Colonies, and the enlarged 
 views which Jefferson had ever entertained, soon led 
 him into active political life. In 1769 he was choser. 
 a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses In 
 1772 he married iVIrs. Martha Skelton, a very beauti- 
 ful, wealthy and highly accomplished young widow 
 
 Upon Mr. Jefferson's large estate at Shadwell, thjre 
 was a majestic swell of land, called Monticello, whicl: 
 commanded a prospect of wonderful extent and 
 beauty. This spot Mr. Jefferson selected for his new 
 home; and here he reared a mansion of modest ye^ 
 elegant architecture, which, ne.xt to Mount Vernon 
 became the most distinguished resort in our land. 
 
 In 1775 he was sent to the Colonial Congress 
 where, though a silent member, his abilities as a 
 writer and a reasoner soon become known, and h.; 
 was placed upon a number of important committees, 
 and was chairman of the one appointed for the draw- 
 ing up of a declaration of independence. This com- 
 mittee consisted of Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, 
 Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman and Robert R. 
 Livingston. Jefferson, as chairman, was apjiointed 
 to draw up the paper. Franklin and Adams suggested 
 a few verbal changes before it was submitted to Con- 
 gress. On June 28, a few slight changes were made 
 in it by Congress, and it was ])assed and signed July 
 4, 1776. What must have been the feelings of that 
 
28 
 
 THOMAS JEFFERSON. 
 
 man — what the emotions that swelled his breast — 
 who was charged with the preparation of that Dec- 
 laration, which, while it made known the wrongs of 
 America, was also to publish her to the world, free, 
 uoverign and independent. It is one of the most re- 
 uiarkablc papers ever written ; and did no other effort 
 i;f the mind of its author exist, that alone would be 
 bufficient to stamp his name with immortality. 
 
 In 1779 Mr. Jefferson was elected successor to 
 Patrick Henry, r.s Governor of Virginia. At one time 
 the British officer, Tarleton, sent a secret expedition to 
 Monlicello, to capture the Governor. Scarcely five 
 minutes elapsed after the hurried escape of Mr. Jef- 
 ferson and his family, ere his mansion was in posses- 
 sion of the British troops. His wife's health, never 
 very good, was much injured by this excitement, and 
 in the summer of 1782 she died. 
 
 Mr. Jefferson was elected to Congress in 1783. 
 Two years later he was appointed Minister Plenipo- 
 tentiary to France. Returning to the United States 
 in September, 1789, he became Secretary of State 
 in Washington's cabinet. This position he resigned 
 Jan. r, 1794. In 1797, he was chosen Vice Presi- 
 dent, and four years later was elected President over 
 Mr. Adams, with Aaron Burr as Vice President. In 
 1804 he was re-elected with wonderful unanimity, 
 and George Clinton, Vice President. 
 
 The early part of Mr. Jefferson's second adminstra- 
 tion was disturbed by an event which threatened the 
 tranquility and peace of the Union; this was the con- 
 spiracy of Aaron Burr. Defeated in the late election 
 to the Vice Presidency, and led on by an unprincipled 
 ambition, this extraordinary man formed the plan of a 
 military expedition into the Spanish territories on our 
 southwestern frontier, for the purpose of forming there 
 a new republic. This has been generally supposed 
 was a mere pretext ; and although it has not been 
 generally known what his real plans were, there is no 
 doubt that they \\<ixt of a far more dangerous 
 character. 
 
 In 1809, at the expiration of the second term for 
 which Mr. Jefferson had been elected, he determined 
 to retire from political life. For a period of nearly 
 -jrty years, he had been continually before the pub- 
 .ic, and all tliat time had been employed in offices of 
 the greatest trust and responsibility. Having thus de- 
 voted the best part of his life to the service of his 
 country, he now felt desirous of that rest which his 
 declining years recjuired, and upon the organization of 
 the new administration, in March, 1809, he bid fare- 
 well forever to public life, and retired to Monticello. 
 
 Mr. Jefferson was profuse in his hospitality. Whole 
 families came in their coaches with their horses, — 
 fathers and mothers, boys and girls, babies and 
 nurses, — and remained three and even six months. 
 Life at Monticello, for years, resembled that at a 
 fashionable watering-place. 
 
 The fourth of July, 1826, being the fiftieth anniver- 
 
 sary of the Declaration of American Independence, 
 great preparations were made in every part of the 
 Union for its celebration, as the nation's jubilee, and 
 the citizens of Washington, to add to the solemnity 
 of the occasion, invited Mr. Jefferson, as the framer. 
 and one of the few surviving signers of the Declara- 
 tion, to participate in their festivities. But an ill- 
 ness, which had been of several weeks duration, and 
 had been continually increasing, compelled him to 
 decline the invitation. 
 
 On the second of July, the disease under which 
 he was laboring left him, but in such a reduced 
 state that his medical attendants, entertained nc 
 hope of his recovery. From this time he was perfectly 
 sensible that his last hour was at hand. On the next 
 diiy, which was Monday, he asked of those around 
 him, the day of the month, and on being told it was 
 the third of July, he expres.;ed the earnest wish tha'. 
 he might be jiermitted to breathe tl'iC airof the fiftieth 
 anniversary. His prayer was heard — that day, whose 
 dawn was hailed with such rapture through our land, 
 burst upon his eyes, and then they were closed for- 
 ever. And what a noble consummation of a noble 
 life ! To die on that day, — the birthday of a nation,- - 
 the day v/hich his own name and his own act had 
 rendered glorious; to die amidst the rejoicings and 
 festivities of a whole nation, who looked up to him, 
 as the author, under God, of their greatest blessings, 
 was all that was wanting to fill up the record his life. 
 
 Almost at the same hour of his death, tlie kin- 
 dred spirit of the venerable Adams, as if to bear 
 him company, left the scene of his earthly honors. 
 Hand in hand they had stood fortli, the champions of 
 freedom; hand in hand, during the dark and desper- 
 ate struggle of the Revolution, they had cheered and 
 animated their desponding countrymen; for half a 
 century they had labored together for the good of 
 the country; and now hand in hand they depart. 
 In their lives they had been united in the same great 
 cause of liberty, and in their deaths they were not 
 divided. 
 
 In person Mr. Jefferson was tall and thin, rather 
 above six feet in height, but well formed; his eyes 
 were light, his hair originally red, in after life became 
 white and silvery; his complexion was fair, his fore- 
 head broad, and his whole covmtenance intelligent and 
 thoughtful. He possessed great fortitude of mind as 
 well as personal courage ; and his command of tem- 
 per was such that his oldest and most intimate friends 
 never recollected to have seen him in a passion. 
 His manners, though dignified, were simple and un- 
 affected, and his hospitality was so unbounded that 
 all found at his house a ready welcome. In conver- 
 sation he was fluent, eloquent and enthusiastic ; and 
 his language was remarkably pure and correct. He 
 was a finished classical scholar, and in his writings is 
 discernable the care with which he formed his style 
 upon the best models of antiquity. 
 
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FOURTH I'RFSIDENr. 
 
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 IL 
 
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 I 
 
 AMES MADISON, "Father 
 of the Constitution," and fourth 
 President of t lie United States, 
 was born March i6, 1757, and 
 died at his home in Virginia, 
 Tune 28, 1836. The name of 
 James Madison is inseparabl)' con- 
 nected with most of the important 
 events in that heroic period of our 
 „ country during which the founda- 
 tions of this great repubUc were 
 hiid. He was the hist of the founders 
 of the Constitution of the United 
 States to be called to his eternal 
 reward. 
 
 The Madison family were among 
 the early emigrants to the New World, 
 landing upon the shores of the Chesa- 
 peake but 15 years after the settle- 
 ment of Jamestown. The father of 
 James Madison was an opulent 
 ■planter, residing uix)n a very fine es- 
 tate called "Montpelier," Orange Co., 
 Va. The mansion was situated in 
 the midst of scenery highly pictur- 
 esque and romantic, on the west side 
 of South-west Mountain, nt the foot of 
 It was but 25 miles from the home of 
 The closest personal and 
 
 Blue Ridge. 
 
 Jefferson at Monticello. 
 
 political attachment existed between these illustrious 
 
 men, from their early youth until death. 
 
 The early education of Mr. Madison was conducted 
 mostly at home under a private tutor. At the age of 
 18 he was sent to Princeton College, in New Jersey. 
 Here he applied himself to study with the most im- 
 
 prudent zeal; allowing himself, for months, but three 
 hours' sleep out of tiie 24. His health thus became so 
 seriously impaired that he never recovered any vigor 
 of constitution. He graduated in T771, with a feeble 
 body, with a character of utmost purity, and with a 
 mind highly disciplined and richly stored with learning 
 which embellished and gave proficiency to his subst" 
 quent career. 
 
 Returning to Virginia, he commenced the study of 
 law and a course of extensive an.d systematic reading. 
 This educational course, the spirit of the times in- 
 whicli he lived, and tlie society with which he asso- 
 ciated, all combined to inspire him with a strong 
 love of liberty, and to train him for his life-work ol 
 a statesman. Being naturally of a religious turn of 
 mind, and his frail health leading him to think that 
 his life was not to be long, he directed especial atten- 
 tion to theological studies. Endowed with a mmd 
 singularly free from passion and prejudice, and with 
 almost unequalled powers of reasoning, he weighed 
 all llie arguments for and against revealed religion, 
 until his faith became so established as never to 
 be shaken. 
 
 In the spring of 1776, when 26 years of age, he 
 was elected a member of the Virginia Convention, to 
 frame the constitution of the State. The next year 
 (1777), he was a candidate for tlie General .Assembly. 
 He refused to treat the whisky-loving voters, and 
 consequently lost liis election ; but those wlio had 
 witnessed the talent, energy and public spirit of the 
 modest young man, enlisted themselves in his behalf, 
 and he was appointed to the Executive Council. 
 
 Both Patrick Henry and Thomas Jefferson were 
 (iovernorsof Virginia while Mr. Madison remained 
 member of the Council ; and their apineciation of liis 
 
32 
 
 JAMES MADISON. 
 
 intellectual, social and moral worth, contributed not 
 a little to his subsequent eminence. In the year 
 1780, he was elected a member of the Continental 
 Congress. Here he met the most illustrious men in 
 our land, and he was immediately assigned to one of 
 the most conspicuous positions among them. 
 
 For three years Mr. Madison continued in Con- 
 gress, one of its most active and influential members. 
 In the year 1784, his term having expired, he was 
 elected a member of the Virginia Legislature. 
 
 No man felt more deeply than Mr. Madison the 
 utter inefficiency of the old confederacy, with no na- 
 tional government, with no power to form treaties 
 which would be binding, or to enforce law. There 
 was not any State more prominent than Virginia in 
 the declaration, that an efficient national government 
 must be formed. In January, 1786, Mr. Madison 
 carried a resolution through the General Assembly of 
 Virginia, inviting the other States to apjxiint commis- 
 sioners to meet in convention at Annapolis to discuss 
 this subject. Five States only were represented. The 
 convention, however, issued another call, drawn up 
 by Mr. Madison, urging all the States to send their 
 delegates to Philadelphia, in May, 1787, to draft 
 a Constitution for the United States, to take the place 
 of that Confederate League. The delegates met at 
 the time appointed. F,very State but Rhode Island 
 •ras represented. George Washington was chosen 
 president of the convention; and the present Consti- 
 tution of the United States was tjien and there formed. 
 There was, perhaps, no mind and no pen more ac- 
 tive in framing this immortal document than the mind 
 and the pen of James Madison. 
 
 The Constitution, adopted by a vote 81 to 79, was 
 to be presented to the several States for acceptance. 
 But grave solicitude was felt. Should it be rejected 
 we should be left but a conglomeration of independent 
 States, with but little power at home and little respect 
 abroad. Mr. Madison was selected by the conven- 
 tion to draw up an address to the people of the United 
 States, expounding the principles of the Constitution, 
 and urging its ado[)tion. There was great opposition 
 to it at first, but it at length triumphed over all, and 
 went into effect in 1789. 
 
 Mr. Madison was elected to the House of Repre- 
 yjentatives in the first Congress, and soon became the 
 avowed leader of the Republican party. While in 
 New York attending Congress, he met Mrs. Todd, a 
 young widow of remarkable ix)wer of fascination, 
 whom he married. .She was in person and character 
 queenly, and probably no lady has thus far occupied 
 so prominent a position in the very^ peculiar society 
 which has constituted our rcpuljlican court as Mrs. 
 Madison. 
 
 Mr. Madison served as Secretary of State under 
 Jefferson, and at the close of his administration 
 was chosen President. At this time the encroach- 
 ments of England had brought us to the verge of war. 
 
 British orders in council destioyed our commerce, and 
 our flag was exposed to constant insult. Mr. Madison 
 was a man of peace. Scholarly in his taste, retiring 
 in his disposition, war had no charms for him. But tlie 
 meekest spirit can be roused. It makes one's blood 
 boil, even now, to think of an American ship brought 
 to, upon the ocean, by the guns of an English cruiser. 
 A young lieutenant steps on board and orders the 
 crew to be paraded before him. With great nonchal- 
 ance he selects any number whom he may please to 
 designate as British subjects; orders them down the 
 ship's side into his boat; and places them on the gun- 
 deck of his man-of-war, to fight, by compulsion, the 
 battles of England. This right of search and im- 
 pressment, no efforts of our Government could induce 
 the British cabinet to relinquish. 
 
 On the 1 8th of June, t8i2. President Madison gave 
 his approval to an act of Congress declaring war 
 against Great Britain. Notwithstanding the bitter 
 hostility of the Federal party to the war, the country 
 in general approved; and Mr. Madison, on the 4th 
 of March, 18 13, was re-elected by a large majority, 
 and entered upon his second term of office. This is 
 not the place to describe the various adventures of 
 this war on the land aild on the water. Our infan. 
 navy then laid the foundations of its renown in grap- 
 pling wiih the most formidable power which ever 
 swept the seas. The contest commenced in earnest 
 i)y the appearance of a British fleet, early in February, 
 1813, in Chesapeake Bay, declaring nearly the whole 
 coast of the United States under blockade. 
 
 The Emperor of Russia offered his services as me 
 ditator. America accepted ; England refused. A Brit- 
 ish force of five thousand men landed on the banks 
 of the Patuxet River, near its entrance into Chesa- 
 peake Bay, and marched rapidly, by way of Bladens- 
 burg, upon Washington. 
 
 The straggling little city of Washington was thrown 
 into consternation. The cannon of the brief conflict 
 at Bladensburg echoed through the streets of the 
 metropolis. The whole populaticn fled from the city. 
 The President, leaving Mrs. Madison in the White 
 House, with her carriage drawn up at the doer to 
 await his speedy return, hurried to meet the officers 
 in a council of war. He met our troops utterly routed, 
 and he could not go liack without danger of being 
 captured. But few hours elapsed ere the Presidential 
 Mansion, the Capitol, and all the public buildings in 
 Washington were in flames. 
 
 The war closed after two years of fighting, and on 
 Feb. 13, 18 15, the treaty of peace was signed at Ghent. 
 
 On the 4th of March, 1S17, his second term of 
 office expired, and he resigned the Presidential chair 
 to his friend, James Monroe. He retired to his beau- 
 tiful home at Montpelier, and there passed the re- 
 mainder of his days. On June 28, 1836, then at the 
 age of 85 years, he fell asleep in death. Mrs. Madi- 
 son died July 12, 1849. 
 
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FIFTH PRESIDENT. 
 
 35 
 
 AMES MONROE, the fifth 
 .Presidentof The United States, 
 was born in Westmoreland Co., 
 Va., April 28, 1758. His early 
 life was passed at the place of 
 nativity. His ancestors had fur 
 many years resided in the prov- 
 ince in which he was born. ^V'hen, 
 at 17 years of age, in the process 
 ^ of completing his education at 
 William and Mary College, the Co- 
 lonial Congress assembled at Phila- 
 delphia to deliberate upon the un- 
 just and manifold oppressions of 
 Great Britian, declared the separa- 
 tion of the Colonies, and promul- 
 gated the Declaration of Indepen- 
 dence. Had he been born ten years before it is highly 
 probable that he would have been one of the signers 
 of that celebrated instrument. At this time he left 
 school and enlisted among the patriots. 
 
 He joined the army when everything looked hope- 
 less and gloomy. The number of deserters increased 
 from day to day. The invading armies came pouring 
 in ; and the tories not only favored the cause of the 
 mother country, but disheartened the new recruits, 
 who were sufficiently terrified at the [)rospect of con- 
 t.Miding with an enemy whom they had been taught 
 to deem invincible. To such brave spirits as James 
 Monroe, who went right onward, imdismayed through 
 difficulty and danger, the United States owe their 
 political emancipation. The young cadet joined the 
 ranks, and espoused the cause of his injured country, 
 with a firm determination to live or die with her strife 
 
 for liberty. Firmly yet sadly lie shared in the uiel- 
 .mcholy retreat from Harleam Heights and White 
 Plains, and accompanied the dispirited army as it fled 
 before its foes through New Jersey. In four months 
 after the Declaration of Independence, the patriots 
 had been beaten in seven battles. At the battle of 
 Trenton he led the vanguard, and, in the act of charg- 
 ing upon the enemy he received a wound in the left 
 shoulder. 
 
 As a reward for his bravery, Mr. Monroe was ])ro- 
 moted a captain of infantry ;. and, having recovered 
 .from his wound, he rejoined the army. He, however, 
 receded from the line of promotion, by becoming an 
 officer in the staff of Lord Sterling. During the cam- 
 paigns of 1777 and 1778, in the actions of Brandy 
 wine, Germantown and Monmouth, he continued 
 aid-de-camp; but becoming desirous to regain his 
 position in the army, he exerted himself to collect a 
 regiment for the Virginia line. This scheme failed 
 owing to the exhausted condition of tlie State. Upon 
 this failuie he entered the office of Mr. Jefferson, at 
 that period Governor, and pursued, with considerable 
 ardor, the study of common law. He did not, however, 
 entirely lay aside the knapsack for the green bag; 
 but on the invasions of the enemy, served as avolun 
 teer, during the two years of his legal pursuits. 
 
 In 17S2, he was elected from King George county, 
 a member of the Leglislalure of Virginia, and by that 
 body he was elevated to a seat in the Executive 
 Council. He was thus Iionored with the confidence 
 of his fellow citizens at 23 years of age ; and having 
 at this early period displayed some of that ability 
 and aptitude for legislation, which were afterwards 
 employed with unremitting energy for the public good, 
 
S6 
 
 JAMES MONROE. 
 
 lie was in the succeeding year chosen a member of 
 ihe Congress of the United States. 
 
 Deeplyas Mr. Mouroefelt the imperfections of the old 
 Confederacy, he was opposed toThe new Constitution, 
 Thinking, with many others of the Republican party, 
 '.hat it gave too much power to the Central Government, 
 and not enough to the individual States. Still he re- 
 tained the esteem of his friends who were its warm 
 supporters, and who, notwithstanding his opjiosition 
 secured its adoption. In 1789, he became a member 
 cf the United States Senate; which office he held for 
 four years. Every month the line of distinction be- 
 tween the two great parties which divided the nation, 
 the Federal and the Republican, was growing mere 
 distinct. The two prominent ideas which now sep- 
 arated them were, that the Republican party was in 
 sympathy with France, and also in favor of such a 
 strict construction of the Constitution as to give the 
 Central Government as little ix)wer, and the State 
 Governments as much power, as the Constitution would 
 warrant. The Federalists symiiathized with England, 
 and were in favor of a liberal construction of the Con- 
 stitution, which would give as much jiower to the 
 Central Government as that document could possibly 
 authorize. 
 
 The leading Federalists and Republicans were 
 alike noble men, consecrating all their energies to the 
 good of the nation. Two more honest men or more 
 pure patriots than John Adams the Federalist, and 
 James Monroe the Republican, never breathed. In 
 building up this majestic nation, which is destined 
 to eclipse all Grecian andiVssyrian greatness, the com- 
 bination of their antagonism was needed to create the 
 liglit equilibrium. .\nd yet each in his day was de- 
 nounced as almost a demon. 
 
 Washington was then President. England had es- 
 poused the cause of the Bourbons against the princi- 
 ples of the French Revolution. All Euro[)e was drawn 
 into the conflict. We were feeble and far away. 
 Washington issued a proclamation of neutrality be- 
 tween these contending powers. France had helped 
 us in the struggle for our liberties. All the despotisms 
 of Euro|)e were now combined to prevent the French 
 from escaping from a tyranny a thousand-fold worse 
 thar. that which we had endured Col. Monroe, more 
 magnanimous than prudent, was anxious that, at 
 whatever hazard, we should help our old allies in 
 their e.xtremity. It was the impulse of a generous 
 and noble nature. He violently o|)posed the Pres- 
 ident's proclamation as ungrateful and wanting in 
 magnanimity. 
 
 Washington, who could appreciate such a character, 
 developed his calm, serene, almost divine greatness, 
 by ap])ointing that very James Monroe, who was de- 
 nouncing the policy of the Government, as the minister 
 of that Government to the Republic of France. Mr. 
 Monroe was welcomed by the National Convention 
 in France with the most enthusiastic demonstrations. 
 
 Shortly after his return to this country, Mr. Mon- 
 roe was elected Governor of Virginia, and held the 
 office for three yeais. He was again sent to France to 
 co-operate with Chancellor Livingston in obtaining 
 the vast territory then known as the Province of 
 Louisiana, which France had but shortly before ob- 
 tained from Spain. Their united efforts were suc- 
 cessful. For the comparatively small sum of fifteen 
 millions of dollars, the entire territory of Orleans and 
 district of Louisiana were added to the United States. 
 This was probably the largest transfer of real estate 
 which was ever made in all the history of the world. 
 
 From France Mr. Monroe went to England to ob- 
 tain from that country some recognition of our 
 rights as neutrals, and to remonstrate against those 
 odious impressments of our seamen. But Eng- 
 land was unrelenting. He again returned to Eng- 
 land on the same mission, but could receive no 
 redress. He returned to his home and was again 
 chosen Governor of Virginia. This he soon resigned 
 to accept the jjosition of Secretary of State under 
 Madison. While in this office war with England was 
 declared, the Secretary of War resigned, and during 
 these trying times, the duties of the \\'ar Department 
 were also put upon him. He was truly the armor- 
 bearer of President Madison, and the most efficient 
 business man in his cabinet. Upon the return of 
 peace he resigned the Department of War, but con- 
 tinued in the office of Secretary of State until the ex- 
 piration of Mr. Madison's adminstration. At the elec 
 tion held the jjrevious autumn Mr. Monroe himself had 
 been chosen President with but little opposition, and 
 upon March 4, 1817, was inaugurated. Four years 
 later he was elected for a second term. 
 
 Among the important measures of his Presidency 
 were the cession of Florida to the United States; the 
 Missouri Compromise, and the " Monroe doctrine.'" 
 
 This famous doctrine, since known as the " Monroe 
 doctrine," was enunciated by him in 1823. At that 
 time the United States had recognized the independ- 
 ence of the South American states, and did not wish 
 to have Eurojjean powers longer attempting to sub- 
 due portions of the Arnerican Continent. The doctrine 
 is as follows: "That we should consider any attempt 
 on the part of European powers to extend their sys- 
 tem to any portion of this hemisphere as dangerous 
 to our peace and safety," and "that we could not 
 view any interposition for the purjK)se of oppressing 
 or controlling American governments or provinces in 
 any other light than as a manifestation by European 
 l)owers of an unfriendly disposition toward the United 
 States." This doctrine immediately affected the course 
 of foreign governments, and has become the approved 
 sentiment of the United States. 
 
 At the end of his fecond term Mr Monroe retired 
 to his home in Virginia, where he lived unii! 1830, 
 when he went to New York to live with his son-in- 
 law. In that city he died, on the 4th of July, 1831 
 
J, 5, Ai 
 
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SIX TH PRESIDENT. 
 
 39 
 
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 Li'. 
 
 OHN QUINCY ADAMS, the 
 sixth President of the United 
 L?» States, was born in the rtiral 
 home of his honored father. 
 John Adams, in Qaincy, Alass., 
 on the I I th cf July, 1767. His 
 mother, a woman of exahed 
 worth, watched over his childhood 
 during the almost constant ab- 
 sence of his father. When but 
 eight years of age, he stood with 
 his mother on an eminence, listen- 
 ing to the booming of the great bat- 
 tle on Bunkei's Hill, and gazing on 
 uijon the smoke and flames billow- 
 ing up from the conflagration of 
 Charlestown. 
 
 When but eleven years old he 
 took a tearful adieu of his mother, 
 to sail with his father for Europe, 
 through a fleet ol hostile British cruisers. The bright, 
 animated boy spent a year and a half in Paris, where 
 his father was associated with Franklin and Lee as 
 minister plenipotentiary. His intelligence attracted 
 the notice of these distinguislied men, and he received 
 from them flattering marks of attention. 
 
 Mr. John Adams had scarcely returned to this 
 cour.try, in 1779, ere he was again sent abroad. Again 
 John Quincy accompanied his father. At Paris he 
 applied himself with great diligence, for six months, 
 to Jtudy; then accompained his father to Holland, 
 where he entered, first a school in .\msterdam, then 
 the University at I>eyden. About a year from this 
 time, in 1781, when the manly boy was but fourteen 
 yea's of age, he was selected by Mr. Dana, our min- 
 ister to the Russian court, as his private secretary. 
 
 In this school of incessant labor and of enobling 
 culture he spent fourteen months, and then returned 
 to Holland through Sweden, Denmark, Hamburg and 
 Bremen. This long journey he took alone, in the 
 winter, when in his sixteenth year. Again he resumed 
 his studies, under a priv.nte tutor, at Hague, '{"hence, 
 
 in the sining of 1782, he accompanied his father tc 
 Paris, traveling leisurely, and forming acquaintance 
 with the most distinguished men on the Continent 
 examining architectural remains, galleries of paintings 
 and all renowned works of art. At Paris he again 
 became associated with the most illustrious men of 
 all lands in the contem|)lations of the loftiest tennioral 
 themes which can engross the human mind. Aftj- 
 a short visit to England he returned to Paris, and 
 consecrated all his energies to study until May, 1785, 
 when he returned to America. To a brilliant young 
 man of eighteen, who had seen much of the world, 
 and who was familiar with the etiquette of courts, a 
 residence with his father in London, under siuh ci:- 
 cumstances, must have been extremely attractive 
 but with judgment very rare in one of his age, he pre- 
 ferred to return to .'Vmerica to com[)lete his education 
 in an American college. He wished then to study 
 law, that with an honorable profession, he migiit b*? 
 able to obtain an independent support. 
 
 Upon leaving Harvard College, at the age of twenty 
 he studied law for three years. In June, 1794, be- 
 ing then but twenty-seven years of age, he w.-a ap- 
 pointed by Washington, resident minister at the 
 Netherlands. Sailing from Boston in July, he reached 
 London in October, where he was immediately admit- 
 ted to the deliberations of Messrs. Jay and Pinckney, 
 assisting them in negotiating a commercial trealvwith 
 Great Brilian. After thus S])ending a fortnight ir 
 London, he proceeded to the Hague. 
 
 In July, 1797, he left the Hague to go to Portugal ar, 
 minister plenipotentiary. On his way to Portugal, 
 upon arriving in London, he met with despatches 
 directing him to the court of Beilin, but requesting 
 him to remain in London until he should receive his 
 instructions. While waiting he was married to ar. 
 American lady to whom he had been I'Teviously en- 
 gaged, — Miss Louisa Catherine Johnson, daughtc; 
 of Mr. Joshua Johnson, American consul in I ondon ; 
 a lady endownd with that beauty and those accom- 
 plishment which eminently fitted her to move in the 
 elevated sphere for which she was dsiStined. 
 
40 
 
 JOHN QUINCY ADAMS. 
 
 He reached Berlin with his wife in November, 1797 ; 
 where he remained until July, 1799, when, having ful- 
 filled all tlie puriwses of his mission, he soHcited his 
 recall. 
 
 Soon after his return, in 1802, he was chosen to 
 Ihe Senate of Massachusetts, from Boston, and then 
 was elected Senator of the United States for six years, 
 from the 4th of March, 1804. His reputation, his 
 ability and his experience, placed him immediately 
 among the most prominent and influential members 
 of that Ijody. Especially did he sustain the Govern- 
 ment in its measures of resistance to the encroach- 
 ments of England, destroying our commerce and in- 
 sulting our flag. There was no man in America more 
 familiar with the arrogance of the British court upon 
 these points, and no one more resolved to present 
 a firm resistance. 
 
 In 1809, Madison succeeded Jefferson in the Pres- 
 idential chair, and he immediately ncnninated John 
 Qiiincy Adams minister to St. I'elersburg. Resign- 
 ing his professorship in Harvard College, he embarked 
 at Boston, in August, 1809. 
 
 While in Russia, Mr. Adams was an intense stu- 
 dent. He devoted his attention to the language and 
 history of Russia; to the Chinese trade; to the 
 European system of weights, measures, and coins; to 
 the climate and astronomical observations; while he 
 Kept up a familiar acquaintance with the Greek and 
 Latin classics. In all the universities of Europe, a 
 more accomjjlished scholar could scarcely be found. 
 .All through life the Bible constituted an important 
 part of his studies. It was his rule to read five 
 chapters every day. 
 
 On the 4th of March, 1817, Mr. Monroe took the 
 Presidential chair, and immediately apinainted Mr. 
 Adams Secretary of State. Taking leave of his num- 
 erous friends in public and private life in Europe, he 
 sailed in June, 1819, for the United States. On the 
 iSth of August, he again crossed the threshold of his 
 home in Quincy. During the eight years of Mr. Mon- 
 roe's administration, Mr, Adams continued Secretary 
 of State. 
 
 Some time before the close of Mr. Monroe's second 
 term of office, new candidates began to be presented 
 for the Presidency. The friends of Mr. Adams brought 
 forward his name. It was an exciting campaign. 
 Parly spirit was never more bitter. Two hundred and 
 sixty electoral votes were cast. Andrew Jackson re- 
 ceived ninety-nine; John Quincy .\dams, eighty-four; 
 William H. Crawford, forty-one; Henry Clay, thirty- 
 se/en. As there was no choice by the people, the 
 question went to the House of Representatives. Mr. 
 Clay gRve the vote of Kentucky to Mr. Adams, and 
 he was elected. 
 
 The friends of all the disappointed candidates now 
 combined in a venomous and persistent assault upon 
 Mr. Adams. There is nothing more disgraceful in 
 ••hf, ^-last history of our country than the abuse which 
 
 was poured in one uninterrupted stream, upon this 
 high-minded, upright, patriotic man. There never was 
 an administration more pure in principles, more con- 
 scientiously devoted to the best interests of tlie coun- 
 try, than that of John Quincy Adams; and never, per- 
 haps, was there an administration more unscrupu- 
 lously and outrageously assailed. 
 
 Mr. Adams was, to a very remarkable degree, ab- 
 stemious and temperate in his habits; always rising 
 early, and taking much exercise. When at his home in 
 Quincy, he has been known to walk, before breakfast, 
 seven miles to Boston. In Washington, it was said 
 that he was the first man up in the city, lighting his 
 own fire and applying himself to work in his library 
 often long before dawn. 
 
 On the 4th of March, 1829, Mr. Adams retired 
 from the Presidency, and was succeeded by Andrew 
 Jackson. John C. Calhoun was elected Vice Presi- 
 dent. The slavery question now began to assume 
 portentous magnitude. Mr. Adams returned to 
 Quincy and to his studies, which he pursued with un- 
 abated zeal. But he was not long permitted to re- 
 main in retirement. In November, 1830, he was 
 elected representative to Congress. For seventeen 
 years, dntil his death, he occupied the post as repre- 
 sentative, towering above all his peers, ever ready to 
 do brave battle' for freedom, and winning the title of 
 "the old man eloquent." Upon taking his seat in 
 the House, he announced that he should hold him- 
 self bound to no party. Probably tiiere never was a 
 member more devoted to his duties. He was usually 
 the first in his place in the morning, and the last to 
 leave his seat in the evening. Not a measure could 
 be brought forward and escape his scrutiny. The 
 battle which Mr. Adams fought, almost singly, against 
 the proslavery party in the Government, was sublime 
 in Its moral daring and heroism. For persisting in 
 presenting petitions for the abolition of slavery, he 
 was threatened with indictment by the grand jury, 
 with expulsion from tiie House, with assassination; 
 but no threats could intimidate him, and his final 
 triumph was conq)lete. 
 
 It has been said of President Adams, that when his 
 body was bent and his hair silvered by the lapse of 
 fourscore yeais, yielding to the simple faith of a little 
 child, he was accustomed to repeat every night, i)efore 
 he slept, the pra)er which his mother taught him in 
 his infant years. 
 
 On the 2istof February, 1848, he rose on the floor 
 of Congress, with a paper in his hand, to address the 
 speaker. Suddenly he fell, again stricken by jjaraly- 
 sis, and was caught in the arms of those around him. 
 For a time he was senseless, as he was conveyed to 
 the sofa in the rotunda. With reviving conscious- 
 ness, he opened his eyes, looked calmly around and 
 said " This is tlif end of earth ."then after a moment's 
 liause he added, " I am eon/eiit" These were the 
 last words of the grand " f>ld Man Eloquent." 
 
SEVENTH PRESIDENT. 
 
 ^3 
 
 
 v^'^ 
 
 
 •S2rf~KP«'^S/2W79v. ijfl^j 
 
 
 NDREW JACKSON, the 
 seventh President of the 
 ' United States, was born in 
 Waxhaw settlement, N. (J., 
 March 15, 1767, a few days 
 after his father's death. His 
 parents were poor emigrants 
 from Ireland, and took up 
 their abode in Waxhaw set- 
 tlement, where they lived in 
 deepest poverty, 
 Andrew, or Andy, as he was 
 universally called, grew up a very 
 rough, rude, turbulent boy. His 
 features were coarse, his form un- 
 gainly; and there was but very 
 little in his character, made visible, which was at- 
 tractive. 
 
 When only thirteen years old he joined the volun- 
 teers of Carolina against the British invasion. In 
 1781, he and his brother Robert were captured and 
 imprisoned for a time at Camden. A British officer 
 ordered him to brush his mud-spattered boots. " I am 
 a prisoner of war, not your servant," was the reply of 
 the dauntless boy. 
 
 The brute drew his sword, and aimed a desperate 
 hlow at the head of the helpless young prisoner. 
 Andrew raised his hand, and thus received two fear- 
 ful gashes, — one on the hand and the other upon the 
 head. The officer then turned to his brother Robert 
 with the same demand. He also refused, and re- 
 ceived a blow from the keen-edged sabre, which quite 
 disabled him, and which probably soon after caused 
 his death. They suffered much other ill-treatment, and 
 were finally stricken with the small-pox. Their 
 mother was successful Ml 'i;)iaining their exchange, 
 
 ami look her sick boys home. After a long iilnjsa 
 Andrew recovered, and the death of his mother -oon 
 left him entirely friendless. 
 
 Andrew supported himself in various ways, sacnas 
 working at the saddler's trade, teaching school and 
 clerking in a general store, until 17S4, when he 
 entered a law office at Salisbury, N. C. He, however, 
 gave more attention to the wild amusements of the 
 times than to his studies. In 1788, he was appointed 
 solicitor for the western district of North Carolina, of 
 which Tennessee was then a part. This involved 
 many long and tedious journeys amid dangers of 
 every kind, but Andrew Jackson never knew fear, 
 and the Indians had no desire to repeat a skirmish 
 witn the Sharp Knife. 
 
 In 1791, Mr. Jackson was married to a woman who 
 supposed herself divorced from her former husband. 
 Great was the surprise of both parties, two years later, 
 to find that the conditions of the divorce had just been 
 definitely settled by the first husband. The marriage 
 ceremony was performed a second time, but the occur- 
 rence was often used by his enemies to bring Mr. 
 Jackson into disfavor. 
 
 During these years he worked hard at his profes- 
 sion, and frequently had one or more duels on hand, 
 one of which, when he killed Dickenson, was espec- 
 ially disgraceful. 
 
 In January, 1796, the Territory of Tennessee then 
 containing nearly eighty thousand inhabitants, the 
 people met in convention at Knoxville to frame a con- 
 stitution. Five were sent from each of the eleven 
 cotmties, Andrew Jackson was one of the delegates. 
 The new State was entitled to but one meml or in, 
 the National House of Representatives. Andrew Jack-l 
 son was chosen that member. Mounling his horse he 
 rode to I'hiledelphia, where Congress then held its 
 
44 
 
 ANDRE W JACKSON. 
 
 iii-i\.y,\%, — a dislaucc of about eight luindred miles. 
 
 Jackson was an earnest advocate of the Demo- 
 cratic party. Jefferson was his idol. He admired 
 Bonaparte, loved France and hated England. As Mr. 
 Jackson took his seat, Gen. Washington, whose 
 second term of office was then expiring, delivered his 
 last speech to Congress. A committee drew up a 
 complimentary address in reply. Andrew Jackson 
 did not approve of the address, and was one of the 
 twelve who voted against it. He was not willing to 
 say that Gen. Washington's adminstration had been 
 " wise, firm and patriotic." 
 
 Mr. Jackson was elected to the United States 
 Senate in 1797, but soon resigned and returned home. 
 Soon after he was ch(jsen Judge of the Supreme Court 
 of his State, which position he held for si.x years. 
 
 When the war of 181 2 with Great Britian com- 
 menced, Madison occupied the Presidential chair. 
 Aaron Burr sent word to the President that there was 
 an unknown man in the West, Andrew Jackson, who 
 v.ould do credit to a commission if one were con- 
 ferred \\\!0\\ him. Just at that time Gen. Jackson 
 offered his services and those of twenty-five hundred 
 volunteers. His offer was accejited, and the troops 
 were assembled at Nashville. 
 
 As the British were hourly expected to make an at- 
 tack upon New Orleans, where (ien, Wilkinson was 
 in command, he was ordered to descend the river 
 with fifteen himdred troops to aid \Vilkinson. The 
 expedition reached Natchez; and afteradelay of sev- 
 eral weeks there, without accomplishing anything, 
 the men were ordered Ltack to their homes. But the 
 energy Gen. Jackson had displayed, and his entire 
 devotion to the comrfort of his soldiers, won him 
 golden opinions; and he became the most popular 
 man in the State. It was in this expedition that his 
 toughness gave hirn the nickname of " Old Hickory." 
 
 Soon after this, while attempting to horsewhip Col. 
 Thomas H. Benton, for a remark that gentleman 
 made about his taking a part as second in a duel, in 
 which a younger brotlier of Benton's was engaged, 
 he received two severe pistol wounds. While he was 
 lingering upon a bed of suffering news came that the 
 Indians, who had combined under Tecumseh from 
 Florida to the Lakes, to exterminate the white set- 
 tlers, were committing the most awful ravages. De- 
 cisive action became necessary. Gen. Jackson, with 
 his fractured bone just beginning to heal, his arm in 
 a sling, and unable to mount his horse without assis- 
 tance, gave his amazing energies to the raising of an 
 army to rendezvous at Fayettesville, .Alabama. 
 
 The Creek Indians had established a strong fort on 
 one of the hendsof thcTallaiKiosa River, near the cen- 
 ter of Alabama, about fifty miles below Fort Strother. 
 With an army of two thousand men, (ien. Jackson 
 traversed the pathless wilderness in a march of eleven 
 days. He reached their fort, called '!'olio|ieka or 
 Horse-shoe, on tlie 27th of March. 1814. I'he bend 
 
 of the river enclosed nearly one hundred acres of 
 tangled forest and wild ravine. Acnjss the narrow 
 neck the Indians had constructed a formidable breast- 
 work of logs and brush. Here nine hundred warriors, 
 with an ample suplyof arms were assembled. 
 
 The fort was stormed. The fight was utterly des- 
 perate. Not an Indian would accept of quarter. When 
 bleeding and dying, they would fight those who en- 
 deavored to spare their lives. From ten in the morn- 
 ing until dark, the battle raged. The carnage was 
 awful and revolting. Some threw themselves into the 
 river; but the unerring bullet struck their heads as 
 they swam. Nearly everyone of the nine hundred war- 
 rios were killed A few probably, in tlic night, swam 
 tiie river and escaped. This ended the war. The 
 power of the Creeks was broken forever. This bold 
 plunge into the wilderness, with its terriffic slaughter, 
 so appalled the savages, that the haggard remnants 
 of the bands came to the camp, begging for peace. 
 
 This closing of the Creek war enabled us to con- 
 centrate all our militia upon the British, who were the 
 allies of the Indians No man of less resolute will 
 than Gen. Jackson could have conducted this Indian 
 campaign to so successful an issue Immediately he 
 was appointed major-general. • 
 
 Late in August, with an army of two thousand 
 men, on a rushing march. Gen. Jackson came to 
 Mol)ile. A British fleet came from Pensacola, landed 
 a force upon the beach, anchored near the little fort, 
 and from both ship and shore commenced a furious 
 assault The battle was long and doubtful. At length 
 one of the ships was blown up and the rest retired. 
 
 Garrisoning Mobile, where he had taken his little 
 army, he moved his troops to New Orleans, 
 And the battle of New Orleans which soon ensued, 
 was in reality a very arduous campaign. This won 
 for Gen. Jackson an imperishable name. Here his 
 troops, which numbered about four thousand men, 
 won a signal victory over the British army of about 
 nine thousand. His loss was but thirteen, while the 
 loss of the British was two thousand six hundred. 
 
 The name of Gen. Jackson soon began to be men- 
 tioned in connection with the Presidency, but, in 1824, 
 he was defeated by Mr. .\dams. He was, however, 
 successful in the election of 1S28, and was re-elected 
 for a second term in 1832. In 1829, just before he 
 assumed the reins of the government, he met with 
 the most terrible afiliction of his life in the death of 
 his wife, whom he had loved with a devotion which has 
 perhaps never been surpassed. From the shock of 
 her death he never recovered. 
 
 His administration was one of the most memorable 
 in the annals of our country; applauded by one party, 
 condemned by the other. No man had more bitter 
 enemies or warmer friends, .^t the expiration of his 
 two terms of office he retired to the Hermit:ige, where 
 he died June 8, 1845. The last years of Mr. Jack- 
 son's life were that of .a devoted Christian man. 
 
^ 7 yZJC^ ^^7.^ U^c^^z.^:^ 
 
EIGHTH PRESIDENT. 
 
 47 
 
 
 >4$l^<2)(2^A®)^i^l!>2tf€^^T^>«i^^V^ 
 
 IWRTIQ y:5I] bureq. ^)m 
 
 ^^ 
 
 ARTIN VAN BUREN, the 
 eighth President of the 
 United States, was born at 
 Kindcrhook, N. Y., Dec. 5', 
 1782. He died at the same 
 place, Jwly 24. 1862. His 
 body rests in the cemetery 
 at Kinderhook. Above it is 
 a plain granite shaft fifteen feet 
 high, bearing a simple inscription 
 about halt way up on one face. 
 The lot is unfenced, unbordered 
 or unbounded by shrub or flower. 
 
 There is but little in the life of Martin Van Buren 
 of ri^mantic interest. He fought no battles, engaged 
 in no wild adventures. Though his life was stormy in 
 political and intellectual conflicts, and he gained many 
 signal victories, his days passed uneventful in those 
 incidents which give zest to biography. His an- 
 cestors, as his name indicates, were of Dutch origin, 
 and were among the earliest emigrants from Holland 
 to the banks of the Hudson. His father was a farmer, 
 residing in the old town of Kinderhook. His mother, 
 also of Dutch lineage, was a woman of superior intel- 
 ligence and c.xemijlary [)iety. 
 
 He was decidedly a precocious boy, developing un- 
 usual activity, vigor and strengtli of mind. At the 
 age of fourteen, he had finished his academic studies 
 in his native village, and commenced the study of 
 law. As he had not a collegiate education, seven 
 years of study in a law-office were required of him 
 before he could be admitted to the bar. Inspired witli 
 a lofty ambition, and conscious of his powers, he pur- 
 sued his studies with indefatigal)le industry. After 
 ojiending six year'; in an office in "^is native village, 
 
 he went to the city of New York, and prosecuted his 
 studies for the seventh year. 
 
 In 1803, Mr. Van Buren, then twenty-one years of 
 age, commenced the practice of law in his native vil- 
 lage. The great conflict between the Federal and 
 Republican party was then at its height. Mr. Van 
 Buren was from the lieginning a politician. He had, 
 perhaps, imbibed that spirit while listeniuig to the 
 many discussions which had been carried on in his 
 father's hotel. He was in cordial sympathy with 
 Jefferson, and earnestly and eloquently espoused the 
 cause of State Rights ; though at that time the Fed- 
 eral party held the supremacy both in his town 
 and State. 
 
 His success and increasing ruputation led him 
 after six years of practice, to remove to Hudson, th. 
 county seat of his county. Here he spent seven years 
 constantly gaining strength by contending in the 
 courts with some of the ablest men who have adorned 
 the bar of his State. 
 
 Just before leaving Kinderhook for Hudson, Mi. 
 Van Buren married a lady alike distinguished for 
 iieauty and accomi)lishments. After twelve short 
 years she sank into the grave, the victim of consump- 
 tion, leaving her husband and four sons to weep over 
 jier loss. For twenty-five years, Mr. Van Buren was 
 an earnest, successful, assiduous lawyer. The record 
 of those years is Ijarren in items of public interest. 
 In t8i2, when thirty years of age, he was cliosen to 
 the State Senate, and cave his strenuous nipport to 
 Mr. Madison's adminstration. In 1815, he was ap- 
 pointed Attorney-deneral, and the next year moved 
 to Albany, the capital of the State. 
 
 While he was acknowledged as one of the most 
 pominent leaders of the Ddnocratic party, he had 
 
♦^ 
 
 MARTIN VAN BUREN. 
 
 I he moral courage to avow that true democracy did 
 iiLit require that " universal suffrage " which admits 
 the vile, the degraded, the ignorant, to the right of 
 governing the State. In true consistency with his 
 democratic principles, he contended that, while the 
 j.alh leading to the privilege of voting should be open 
 lo every man without distinction, no one should be 
 invested with that sacred prerogative, unless he were 
 in some degree qualified for it by intelligence, virtue 
 and some property interests in the welfare of the 
 State. 
 
 In 1S21 he was elected a member of the United 
 States Senate; and in the same year, he took a seat 
 in the convention to revise the constitution of his 
 native State. His course in this convention secured 
 the a[)proval of men of all parties. No one could 
 doubt the singleness of his endeavors to promote the 
 interests of all classes in the community. In the 
 Senate of the United States, he rose at once to a 
 conspicuous position as an active and useful legislator. 
 
 In 1827, John Quincy Adams being then in the 
 Presidential chair, Mr. Van Buren was re-elected to 
 .he Senate. He had been from the beginning a de- 
 .ermined opposer of the .\dministration, adopting the 
 'State Rights" view in opposition to what was 
 deemed the Federal i)roclivities of Mr. Adams. 
 
 Soon after this, in 1828, he was chosen Governorof 
 the State of New York, and accordingly resigned his 
 seat in the Senate. Probably no one in the United 
 States contributed so much towards ejecting John Q. 
 Adams from the Presidential chair, and placing in it 
 Andrew Jackson, as did Martin Van Buren. Whetlier 
 entitled to the reputation or not, he certainly was re- 
 garded throughout the United States as one of the 
 most skillful, sagacious and cunning of politicians. 
 It was supjwsed that no one knew so well as he how 
 lo touch the secret springs of action; how to pull all 
 ;he wires to put his machinery in motion ; and how to 
 organize a political army which would, secretly and 
 stealthily accomplisli tlie most gigantic results. By 
 these powers it is said tliat lie outv.'itted Mr. Adams, 
 Mr. Clay, Mr. Webster, and secured results which 
 lew thought then could be accomplished. 
 
 When Andrew Jackson was elected President he 
 ap|)ointed Mr. Van Buren Secretary of Stale. 'I'his 
 position he resigned in 1831, and was immediately 
 ajjoointed Minister to England, where he went the 
 same autumn. The Senate, however, when it met, 
 refused to ratify the nomination, and he reti\rned 
 
 home, apparently untroubled; was nominated Vice 
 President in the place of Calhoun, at the re-election 
 of President Jackson ; and with smiles for all and 
 frowns for none, he took his place at the head of that 
 Senate which had refused to confirm his nomination 
 as ambassador. 
 
 His rejection by the Senate roused all the zeal of 
 President Jackson in behalf of his repudiated favor- 
 ite ; and this, probably mure than any other cause, 
 secured his elevation to the chair of the Chief Execu 
 tive. On the 20th of May, 1836, Mr. Van Buren re- 
 ceived the Democratic nomination to succeed Gen. 
 Jackson as President of the United States. He was 
 elected by a handsome majority, to the delight of the 
 retiring President. " Leaving New York out of the 
 canvass," says Mr. Parton, "the election of Mr. Van 
 Buren to the Presidency was as much the act of Gen. 
 •Jackson as though the Constitution had conferred 
 upon him the power to appoint a successor." 
 
 His administration was filled with exciting events. 
 The insurrection in Canada, which threatened to in 
 volve this country in war with England, the agitation 
 of the slavery question, and finally the great commer- 
 cial panic which spread over the country, all were 
 trials to his wisdom. The financial distress was at- 
 tributed to the management of tlie Democratic party, 
 and brought the President into such disfavor that he 
 failed of re election. 
 
 With the exception of being nominated for the 
 Presidency L-y the "Free Soil" Democrats, in 1848, 
 Mr. Van Buren lived quietly upon his estate until 
 his death. 
 
 He had ever been a prudent man, of frugal habits, 
 and living within his income, had now fortunately a 
 competence for his declining years. His unblemished 
 character, his commanding abilities, his unc]uestioned 
 patriotism, and the distinguished positions which he 
 had occupied in the government of our country, se- 
 cured to him not only the homage of his party, but 
 the respect ot the whole community. It was on the 
 4th of March, 1841, that Mr. Van Buren retired from 
 the presidency. From his fine estate at Lindenwald^ 
 he still exerted a powerful influence u^wn the politics 
 of the country. From this time until his death, on 
 the 24th of July, 1862, at the age of eighty years, he 
 resided at Lindenwald, a gentleman of leisure, of 
 culture and of wealth: enjoying in a hcaliliy old 
 age, probably far more happiness than he had before 
 experienced amid the stormy scenes of liis active life- 
 
ytcT. //r ^TOnyLyt^ 
 
 •H-^ 
 
NINTH PRESIDKNT. 
 
 S' 
 
 
 J 
 
 1 
 
 :ia 
 
 I 
 
 ILLIAM HENRY HARRI- 
 SON, the ninth President of 
 the United States, was liorn 
 at Berkeley, Va.,Feh. 9, 1773. 
 His father, Benjamin Harri- 
 son, was in comparatively op- 
 ulent circimistances, and was 
 one of the most distinguished 
 men of his day. He was an 
 intimate friend of George 
 Washington, w as early elected 
 a member of the Continental 
 Congress, and was conspicuous 
 anio?ig the patriots of Virginia in 
 resisting the encroachments of the 
 liritish crown. In the celebrated 
 Congress of 1775, Benjamin Har- 
 rison and John Hancock were 
 lioth candidates for the office of 
 speaker. 
 
 Mr Harrison was subsequently 
 chosen Governor of Virginia, and 
 was twice re-elected. His son, 
 i William Henry, of course enjoyed 
 
 in childhood all the advantages which wealth and 
 intellectual and cultivated society could give. Hav- 
 ing received a thorough comuion-school education, he 
 entered Hampden Sidney College, where he graduated 
 with honor soon after the doatli of his father. He 
 chen repaired to Philadeli)hia to study medicine under 
 the instructions of Dr. Rush and the guardianship of 
 Robert Morris, both of whom were, with his father, 
 signers of the Declaration of Independence. 
 
 Upon the outbreak of the Indian troubles, and not- 
 withstanding the remonstrances of his friends, he 
 abandoned his medical studies and entered the army, 
 having obtained a commission of Ensign from Presi- 
 
 5i 
 
 1^ 
 
 dent Washington. He was then but 19 years old. 
 From that time he passed gradually upward in rank 
 until he became aid to General Wayne, after whose 
 death he resigned his commission. He was then ap- 
 pointed Secretary of the North-western Territory. This 
 Territory «'as tiien entitled to but one member in 
 Congress and Capt. Harrison was chosen to fill that 
 position. 
 
 In the spring of 1800 the North-western Territory 
 was divided Ijy Congress into two iwrtions. The 
 eastern portion, comprising the region now embraced 
 in the State of Ohio, was called " The Territory 
 north-west of the Ohio." The western portion, which 
 included what is now called Indiana, Illinois and 
 Wisconsin, was called the "Indiana Territory." Wil- 
 liam Henry Harrison, then 27 years of age, was ap- 
 pointed by John Adams, Governor of the Indiana 
 Territory, and immediately after, also Governor of 
 Upper Louisiana. He was thus ruler over almost as 
 extensive a realm as any sovereign upon the globe. He 
 was Superintendent of Indian Affairs, and was in- 
 vested with powers nearly dictatorial over the now 
 rapidly increasing white population. The ability and 
 fidelity with which he discharged these responsible 
 duties may l)e inferred from the fact that he was four 
 times appointed to this office — first by John Adams, 
 twice by Thomas Jefferson and afterwards by Presi- 
 dent Madison. 
 
 When he began his adminstration there were but 
 three white settlementsin that almost botnidless region, 
 now crowded with cities and resounding with all the 
 tumult of wealth and traffic. One of these settlements 
 was on the Ohio, nearly opposite I.,ouisville; one at 
 Vincenngs, on the Wabash, and the thiid a French 
 settlement. 
 
 The vast wilderness over which Gov. Harrison 
 reigned was filled with many tribes of Indians. Abou- 
 
5^ 
 
 WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON. 
 
 the year 1806, two extraordinary nier, twin brothers, 
 of the Shawnese tribe, rose among them. Or.e of 
 these was called Tecumseh, or " The Crouching 
 Panther;" the other, OUiwacheca, or "The Prophet." 
 Tecumseh was not only an Indian warrior, but a man 
 of great sagacity, far-reaching foiesiglit and indomit- 
 able perseverance in any enterprise ni wliich he might 
 engage. He was insiiired with the highe;;! entliusiasm, 
 and had long regarded with dread and with hatred 
 the encroachment of the whites upon the hunting- 
 grounds of his fathers. His brother, the Prophet, was 
 an orator, who could sway the feelings of the untutored 
 Indian as the gale tossed the tree-tops beneath which 
 tliey dwelt. 
 
 But the Prophet was not merely an orator: he was, 
 in the superstitious minds of the Indians, invested 
 with the suiierhunian dignity of a medicine-man or a 
 magician. With an enthusiasm unsurpassed by Peter 
 the Hermit rousing Europe to the crusades, he went 
 from tribe to tribe, assuming that he was specially sent 
 by the Great Spirit. 
 
 Gov. Harrison made many attempts to conciliate 
 the Indians, but at last the war came, and at Tippe- 
 canoe the Indians were routed with great slaughter. 
 October 28, 18 12, his army began its march. When 
 near the Prophet's town three Indians of rank made 
 their appearance and inquired why Gov. Harri.ion was 
 approaching them in so hostile an attitude. After a 
 sliort conference, arrangements were made fora meet- 
 ing the next day, to agree upon terms of peace. 
 
 But Gov. Harrison was too well acquainted with 
 the Indian character to be deceived by such protes- 
 tations Selecting a favorable spot for his night's en- 
 campment, he took every [jrecaution against surprise. 
 His troops were posted in a hollow scjuare, and slei)t 
 upon their arms. 
 
 The troops threw themselves upon the ground for 
 rest; but every man had his accourtrements on, his 
 loaded musket by jiis side, and his bayonet fixed. The 
 wakeful Governor, between three and four o'clock in 
 the morning, had risen, and was sitting in conversa- 
 tion with his aids by tlie embers of a waning fire. It 
 was a chill, cloudy morning with a drizzling rain. In 
 the darkness, the Indians had crept as near as possi- 
 ble, and just then, with a savage yell, rushed, with all 
 the desperation which superstition and passion most 
 highly inflamed could give, upon tlie left flank of the 
 little army. The savages had been amply provided 
 with guns and ammunition by the English. Their 
 war-whoop was accompaincd by a shower of bullets. 
 
 The cauip-fires were instantly extinguished, as the 
 light aided the Indians in their aim. With hide- 
 tus yells, the Indian bands rusheil on, not doubtii.ga 
 speedy and an entire victory. Hut Gen. Harrison's 
 troops stood as immovable as the rocks around them 
 \mtil day dawned : they then made a simultaneous 
 charge with the liayonet, and swept every thing be- 
 fore them, and c()m[)letely routing tbf> foe. 
 
 Gov. Harrison now had all his energies tasked 
 to the utmost. The British descending from the Can- 
 adas, were of themselves a very formidable force ; but 
 with their savage allies, rushijig like wolves from the 
 forest, searching out every remote farm-house, burn- 
 ing, [jlunderlng, scalinng, torturing, the wide frontier 
 was plunged into a state of consternation which even 
 the most vivid imagination can but faintly conceive. 
 The war-whoop was resounding everywhere in the 
 forest. The horizon was illuminated with the conflagra- 
 tion of the cabins of the settlers. Gen Hull had made 
 the ignominious surrender of his forces at Detroit. 
 Under these despairing circumstances. Gov. Harrison 
 was appointed by President Madison commander-in- 
 chief of the North-western army, with orders to retake 
 Detroit, and to protect the frontiers. 
 
 It would be difficult to place a man in a situation 
 demanding more energy, sagacity and courage; but 
 General Harrison was found ei[ual to the position, 
 and nobly and triumphantly did he meet all the re- 
 sponsibilities. 
 
 He won the love of his soldiers by always sharing 
 with them their fatigue. His whole baggage, while 
 pursuing the foe up the Thames, was earned in a 
 valise; and his bedding consisted of a single blanket 
 lashed over his saddle Thirty-five Britisli officers, 
 his prisoners of war, supped witli him after tlie battle. 
 The only fare he could give them was beef roasted 
 before the fire, witliout bread or salt. 
 
 In 1816, Gen. Harrison was chosen a member ot 
 the National House of Representatives, to represent 
 the District of Ohio. In Congress he proved an 
 active member; and whenever he spoke, it was with 
 force of reason and power of eloquence, wliich arrested 
 tlie attention of all trlie mmiibers. 
 
 In i8ig, Harrison was elected to the Senate of 
 Ohio; and in 1824, as one of the jiresidential electors 
 of that State, he gave his vote for Henry Clay. The 
 same year he was chosen to the United States Senate. 
 
 In 1836, the friends of Gen. Harrison brought him 
 forward as a candidate for the Presidency against 
 Van Buren, but he was defeated. At the close of 
 Mr. Van Buren's term, he was re -nominated by his 
 party, and Mr. Harrison was unanimously nominated 
 by the Whigs, with John Tyler for the Vice Presidency. 
 The contest was very animated. Gen Jackson gave 
 all his influence to prevent Harrison's election ; but 
 his triumph was signal. 
 
 Tlie cabinet which he formed, with Daniel Webster 
 at its head as Secretary of State, was one of the most 
 brilliant with which any President had ever been 
 surrounded. Never were the prospects of an admin- 
 istration more flattering, or the hopes of the country 
 more sanguine. In the midst of these bright and 
 joyous prospects. Gen. Harrison was seized by a 
 pleurisy-fever and after a few days of violent sick- 
 ness, died on the 4th of April ; just one month after 
 his inauguration as President of the United States. 
 
'lyTL 
 
TENTH PRESIDENT. 
 
 55 
 
 ir¥lLEIB» 
 
 I Hev 
 I Co., 
 
 OHN TYLER, the tenth 
 , Presidentof the United States. 
 He was born in Charles-city 
 Va., March 29, 1790. He 
 was the favored child of af- 
 fluence and high social po- 
 sition. At the earlj' age of 
 twelve, John entered AVilliam 
 and Mary College and grad- 
 uated with much honor when 
 but seventeen years old. After 
 graduating, he devoted him- 
 self with great assiduity to the 
 study of law, partly with his 
 father and partly with Edmund 
 Randolph, one of the most distin- 
 guished lawyers of Virginia. 
 
 At nineteen years of age, ne 
 commenced the practice of law. 
 His success was rapid and aston- 
 ishing. It is said that three 
 mouths had not elapsed ere there 
 was scarcely a case on the dock- 
 et of the court in which he was 
 not retained. When but twenty-one vears of age, he 
 was almost unanimously elected to a seat in the State 
 Legislature. He connected himself with the Demo- 
 cratic i)arty, and v/armly advocated the measures of 
 Jefferson and Madison. For five successive years he 
 was elected to the Legislature, receiving nearly the 
 unanimous vote or his county. 
 
 When but twenty-six years of age, he was elected 
 a member of Congress. Here he acted earnestly and 
 ably with the Democratic party, opposing a national 
 bank, internal improvements by tlie General fVfve'n- 
 
 ment, a protective tariff, and advocatmg a strict con- 
 struction of the Constitution, and the most careful 
 vigilance over State rights. His labors in Congress 
 were so arduous that before the close of his second 
 term hj found it necessary to resign and retire to his 
 estate in Charles-city Co., to recruit his health. He, 
 however, soon after consented to take his seat in the 
 State Legislature, where his influence was powerful 
 in promoting public works of great utility. With a 
 reputation thus canstantly increasing, he was chosen 
 by a very large majority of votes. Governor of his 
 native State. His administration was signally a suc- 
 cessful one. His popularity secured his re-election. 
 
 John Randolph, a brilliant, erratic, half-crazed 
 man, then represented Virginia in the Senate of the 
 United States. A portion of the Democratic party 
 was displeased with Mr. Randolph's wayward course, 
 and brought forward John Tyler as his opponent, 
 considering him the only man in Virginia of sufficient 
 popularity to succeed against the renowned orator of 
 Roanoke. Mr. Tyler was the victor. 
 
 In accordance with his professions, upon taking his 
 seat in the Senate, he joined the ranks of the opposi- 
 tion. He opposed the tariff; he spoke against and 
 voted against the bank as unconstitutional; he stren- 
 uously opposed all restrictions upon slavery, resist- 
 ing all projects of internal improvements by the Gen- 
 eral Government, and avowed his sympathy with Mr. 
 Calhoun's view of nullification ; he declared that Gen. 
 Jackson, by his opposition to the nuUifiers, had 
 abandoned the piinciples of the Democratic party. 
 Such was Mr. Tyler's record in Congress, — a record 
 in perfect accordance with the principles which he 
 had always avowed. 
 
 Returning to Virginia, he resumed the practice of 
 !;!<i profession. Ther(7 was a c[>lit in the Denf.ocralic 
 
JOHN TYLER. 
 
 party. His friends still regarded him as a true Jef- 
 fersonian, gave hini a dinner, and showered compli- 
 ments upon him. He had now attained the age of 
 forty-six. His career had been very brilliant. In con- 
 seijtience of his devotion to public business, his pri- 
 vate affairs had fallen into some disorder; audit was 
 not without satisfaction that he resumed the practice 
 of law, and devoted himself to the culture of his plan- 
 tation. Soon after this he removed to Williamsburg, 
 for the better education of his children ; and he again 
 took his seat in the Legislature of Virginia. 
 
 By the Southern Whigs, he was sent to the national 
 convention at Harrisburg to nominate a President in 
 1839. The majority of votes werj given to Gen. Har- 
 rison, a genuine Whig, much to the disappointment of 
 the South, who wished for Henry Clay. To concili- 
 ate the Southern Whigs and to secure their vote, the 
 convention then nominated John Tyler for Vice Pres- 
 ident. It was well known that he was not in sympa- 
 thy with the Whig party in the Noith: but the Vice 
 President lias but very little power in the Govern- 
 ment, his main and almost only duty being to pre- 
 side over the meetings of the Senate. Thus it hap- 
 pened that a Whig President, and, in reality, a 
 Democratic Vice President were chosen. 
 
 In 1841, Mr. Tyler was inaugurated Vice Presi- 
 dent of the United States. In one short month from 
 that time, President Harrison died, and Mr. Tyler 
 thus found himself, to his own surprise and that of 
 tlie whole Nation, an occupant of the Presidential 
 chair. This was a new test of the stability of our 
 institutions, as it was the first time in the history of our 
 country that such an event had occured. Mr. Tyler 
 was at home in Williamsburg when he received the 
 une.xpected tidings of the death of President Harri- 
 son. He hastened to Washington, and on the 6th of 
 April was inaugurated to the high and responsible 
 office. He was placed in a position of exceeding 
 delicacy and difficulty. All his long life he had been 
 opposed to ll'.e main principles of the party which had 
 lirought him into power. He had ever been a con- 
 ;-istent, honest man, with an unblemished record. 
 Gen. Harrison had selected a Whig cabinet. Should 
 he retain them, and thus surround himself with coun- 
 sellors whose views were antagonistic to his own? or, 
 on the other hand, should he turn against the party 
 which had elected him and select a cabinet in har- 
 n.ony with himself, and which would oppose all those 
 views which the Whigs deemed essential to the pub- 
 lic welfare? This was his fearful dilemma. He in- 
 vited the cabinet which President Harrison had 
 selected to retain their seats. He reccomm.'nded a 
 day of fasting and prayer, that God would guide and 
 bless us. 
 
 The 'Whigs carried through Congress a bill for the 
 incor]X)ration of a fiscal bank of the United States. 
 The President, after ten dnys' delay, returned it wiih 
 his veto. He tueeestcd, however, that he would 
 
 approve of a bill drawn up upon such a plan as he 
 proposed. Such a bill was accordingly prepared, and 
 privately submitted to him.- He gave it his approval. 
 It A'as passed without alteration, and he sent it back 
 with his veto. Here commenced the open rupture. 
 It is said that Mr. Tyler was provoked to this meas- 
 ure by a published letter from the Hon. John M. 
 Botts, a distinguished Virginia Whig, who severely 
 touched the pride of the President. 
 
 The opposition now exullingly received the Presi- 
 dent into their arms. The party which elected him 
 denounced him bitterly. All the members of his 
 cabinet, excepting Mr. Webster, resigned. The Whigs 
 of Congress, both the Senate and the House, held a 
 meeting and issued an address to the people of the 
 United States, proclaiming that all political alliance 
 between the Whigs and President Tyler were at 
 an end. 
 
 Still the President attempted to conciliate. He 
 appointed a new cabmet of distinguished Whigs and 
 Conservatives, carefully leaving out all strong party 
 men. Mr. Webster soon found it necessary to resign, 
 forced out by the jjressure of his Whig friends. Thus 
 the four years of Mr. Tyler's unfortunate administra- 
 tion passed sadly away. No one was satisfied. The 
 land was filled with murmurs and vitu]5eration. Whigs 
 and Democracs alike assailed him. More and more, 
 however, he brought himself into sym"pathy with his 
 old friends, the Democrats, until atthe close of his term, 
 he gave his whole influence to the support of Mr. 
 Polk, the Democratic candidate for his successor. 
 
 On the 4th of March, 1845, he retired from the 
 harassments of office, to the regret of neither party, and 
 probably to his own unspeakable lelief. His first wife. 
 Miss Letitia Christian, died in Washington, in 1842; 
 and in June, 1844, President Tyler was again married, 
 at New York, to Miss Julia Gardiner, a young lady of 
 many personal and intellectual accomplishments. 
 
 The remainder of his days Mr. Tyler passed mainly 
 in retirement at his beautiful home, — Sherwood For- 
 est, Charles-city Co., Va. A polished gentleman in 
 his manners, richly furnished with information from 
 books and experience in the world, and possessing 
 brilliant powers of conversation, his family circle was 
 the scene of unusual attractions. \\\(\\ sufficient 
 means for the exercise of a generous hospitality, he 
 might have enjoyed a serene old age with the few 
 friends who gathered around him, were it not for the 
 storms of civil war which his own principles and 
 policy had helped to introduce. 
 
 When the great Rebellion rose, which the State- 
 rights and nullifying doctrines of Mr. John C. Cal- 
 houn had inaugurated. President Tyler renounced his 
 allegiance to the United States, and joined the Confed- 
 erates. He was chosen a member of their Congress; 
 and while engaged in active measures to destroy, b" 
 force of arms, the Government over which he had 
 once presided, he was taken sick and soon died. 
 
ELE I EA TH P RESIDES' T. 
 
 59 
 
 AMES K. POLK, the eleventh 
 
 ^President of the United States, 
 
 was born in Mecklenburg Co., 
 
 N. C.,Nov. 2, 1795. His par- 
 
 -.<-*j,\ ents were Samuel and Jane 
 
 (Knox) Polk, the former a son 
 
 of Col. Thomas Polk, who located 
 
 at the above place, as one of the 
 
 first pioneers, in 1735. 
 
 In the year i3o6, with his wife 
 and children, and soon after fol- 
 lowed by most of the members of 
 the Polk farnly, Samuel Polk emi- 
 grated some two or three hundred 
 miles farther west, to the rich valley 
 of the Duck River. Here in the 
 midst of the wilderness, in a region 
 which was subsequently called Mau- 
 ry Co., they reared their log huts, 
 and established their homes. In the 
 hard toil of a new farm in the wil- 
 derness, James K. Polk sjjent the 
 early years of his childhood and 
 youth. His father, adding the pur- 
 suit of a surveyor to thatof a farmer, 
 gradually increased in wealth until 
 he became one of the leading men of the region. Mis 
 mother was a superior woman, of strong conniun 
 sense and earnest piety. 
 
 Very early in life, James developed a taste for 
 reading and expressed the strongest desire to obtain 
 a liberal education. His mother's training had made 
 him methodical in his habits, had taught him punct- 
 uality and industry, and had insi)ircd him with lofty 
 principi(;s of morality. His health was frail ; and his 
 father, fearing that he might not be able to endure a 
 
 sedentary life, got a situation for him behind the 
 counter, hoping to fit him for commercial pursuits. 
 
 This was to James a bitter disappointment. He 
 had no taste for these duties, and his daily tasks 
 were irksome in the extreme. He remained in this 
 uncongenial occupation but a few weeks, when at his 
 earnest solicitation his father removed him, and made 
 arrangements for him to prosecute his studies. Soon 
 after he sent him to Murfrees^joro Academy. With 
 ardor which could scarcely be surpassed, he pressed 
 forward in his studies, and in less than two and a half 
 years, in the autumn of 1815, entered the sophomore 
 class in the University of North Carolinaj at Chapel 
 Hill. Here he was one of the. most exemplaiy of 
 scholars, punctual in every exercise, never allowing 
 himself to be absent from a recitation or a religious 
 service. 
 
 He graduated in 1818, with the highest honors, be- 
 ing deemed the best scholar of his class, both in 
 mathematics and the classics. He was then twenty- 
 three years of age. Mr. Polk's health was at this 
 time much impaired by the a.ssiduity with whicJi he 
 had prosecuted his studies. After a short season of 
 relaxation he went to Nashville, and entered the 
 office of Felix Grundy, io study law. Here Mr. Polk 
 renewed his acquaintance with .Andrew Jackson, who 
 resided on his plantation, the Hermitage, but a few 
 miles from Nashville. They had probably been 
 slightly acquainted before. 
 
 Mr. Polk's father was a Jeffersonian Republican, 
 and James K. Polk ever adhered to the same politi- 
 cal faith. He was a po[Hilar i>ublic speaker, and was 
 constantly called upon to address the meetings of his 
 party friends. His skill as a speaker was such that 
 he was po[)ulaily calletl ihe Napoleon of ihc stump. 
 He was a man of unblemished morals, geni.-;! aril 
 
/AMES K. POLK. 
 
 :ourterus in his bearing, and with that sympathetic 
 nature in the jo) s and griefs of others which ever gave 
 him troops of friends. In 1823, Mr. Polk was elected 
 to the Legislature of Tennessee. Here he gave his 
 strong influence towards the election of his friend, 
 Mr. Jackson, to the Presidency of the United States. 
 
 In January, 1824, Mr. Polk married Miss Sarah 
 Childress, of Rutherford Co., Tenn. His bride was 
 altogether worthy of him, — a lady of beauty and cul- 
 ture. In the fall of 1825, Mr. Polk was chosen a 
 member of Congress. The satisfaction which he gave 
 to his constituents may be inferred from the fact, that 
 for fourteen successive years, until 1839, he was con- 
 tinuec' in that office. He then voluntarily withdrew, 
 only that he might accept the Gubernatorial chair 
 of Tennessee. In Congress he was a laborious 
 mernber, a frequent and a popular speaker. He was 
 always in his seat, always co.urteous ; and whenever 
 he spoke it was always to the point, and without any 
 ambitious rhetorical display. 
 
 During five sessions of Congress, Mr. Polk was 
 Speaker of the House Strong passions were roused, 
 and stormy scenes were witnessed ; but Mr. Polk per- 
 formed his arduous duties to a very general satisfac- 
 tion, and a unanimous vote of thanks to him was 
 passed by the House as he withdrew on the 4th of 
 March, 1839. 
 
 In accordance with Southern usage, Mr. Polk, as a 
 candidate for Governor, canvassed tlic State. He was 
 elected by a large majority, and on the 14th of Octo- 
 ber, 1839, took the oath of office at Nashville. In 1841, 
 his term of office expired, and he was again the can- 
 didate of the Democratic party, but was defeated. 
 
 On the 4th of March, 1845, Mr. Polk was inaugur- 
 ated President of the United States. The verdict of 
 the country in favor of the annexation of Texas, exerted 
 its influence upon Congress ; and the last act of the 
 administration of President Tyler was to affix his sig- 
 nuture to a joint resolution of Congress, passed on the 
 3d of March, approving of the annexation of Texas to 
 the American Union. As Mexico still claimed Texas 
 as one of her provinces, the Mexican minister, 
 Almonte, immediately demanded his passports and 
 left the country, declaring the act of the annexation 
 to be an act hostile to Mexico. 
 
 In his first message. President Polk urged that 
 Texas should immediately, by act of Congress, be re- 
 ceived into the Union on the same footing with the 
 other States. In the meantime, Gen. Taylor was sent 
 
 with an army into Texas to hold the country. Fe vas 
 sent first to Nueces, which the Mexicans said was the 
 western boundary of Texas. Then he was sent nearly 
 two hundred miles further west, to the Rio Grande, 
 where he erected batteries which commanded the 
 Mexican city of Matamoras, which was situated on 
 the western banks. 
 
 The anticipated collision soon took place, and wa: 
 was declared against Mexico by President Polk. The 
 war was pushed forward by Mr. Polk's administration 
 with great vigor. Gen. Taylor, whose army was first 
 called one of "observation," then of "occupation," 
 then of " invasion, "was sent forward to Monterey. The 
 feeble Mexicans, in every encounter, were hopelessly 
 and awfully slaughtered. The day of judgement 
 alone can reveal the misery which this war caused. 
 It v/as by the ingenuity of Mr. Polk's administration 
 that the war was brought on. 
 
 'To the victors belong the spoils." Mexico was 
 prostrate before us. Her capital was in our hands 
 We now consented to peace upon the condition that 
 Mexico should surrender to us, in addition to Texas, 
 all of New Mexico, and all of Upper and Lower Cal- 
 ifornia. This new demand embraced, exclusive of 
 Texas, eight hundred thousand square miles. Tliis 
 was an extent of territory equal to nine States of the 
 siEeof New York. Thus slavery was securing eighteen 
 majestic States to be added to the Union. There were 
 some Americans who thought it all right ; there were 
 others who thought it all wrong. In the prosecution 
 of this war, we expended twenty thousand lives and 
 more than a hundred million of dollars. Of this 
 money fifteen millions were paid to Mexico. 
 
 On the 3d of March, 1849, Mr. Polk retired from 
 office, having served one term. The next day was 
 Sunday. On the 5th, Gen. Taylor was inaugurated 
 as his successor. Mr Polk rode to the Capitol in tlie 
 same carriage with Gen. Taylor; and the same even- 
 ing, with Mrs. Polk, he commenced his return to 
 Tennessee. He was then but fifty-four years of age. 
 He had ever been strictly temperate in all his habits, 
 and his health was good With an ample fortune, 
 a choice library, a cultivated mind, and domestic ties 
 of the dearest nature, it seemed as though long years 
 of tranquility and hapi)iness were before him. But the 
 cholera — that fearful scourge— was then sweeping up 
 tlie Valley of the Mississippi. This he contracted, 
 and died on the i5tli of June, 1849, in the fifty-fourth 
 year of his age, greatly mourned by his countrymen. 
 
^ 
 
 ^ 
 
 % 
 
TIVELFTH PRESIDENT. 
 
 63 
 
 ;^A^«4.j[^f f^ipii^i^ig. 
 
 llH-SS353i3SSaSES3S::S2n2EnESESIS32S 
 
 
 ACHARY TAYLOR, iwtlfth 
 P^ President of the United States, 
 Was bom on the 24th of Nov., 
 1784, in Orange Co., Va. His 
 father, Colonel Taylor, was 
 a Virginian of note, and a dis- 
 tinguished patriot and soldier of 
 the Revolution. When Zachary 
 was an infant, his father with his 
 wife and two children, emigrated 
 to Kentucky, where he settled in 
 the pathless wilderness, a few 
 miles from Louisville. Li this front- 
 ier home, away from civilization and 
 all its refinements, young Zachary 
 could enjoy but few social and educational advan- 
 tages. When six years of age he attended a common 
 school, and was then regarded as a bright, active boy, 
 rather remarkable for bluntness and decision of char- 
 acter He was strong, feailess and self-reliant, and 
 manifested a strong desire to enter the army to fight 
 the Lidians who were ravaging the frontiers. There 
 is little to be recorded of the uneventful years of his 
 childhood un his father's large but lonely plantation. 
 In 1808, his father succeeded in obtaining for him 
 the commission of lieutenant in the United States 
 army ; and he joined the troops which were stationed 
 at New Orleans under Gen. Wilkinson. Soon after 
 this he married Miss Margaret Smith, a young lady 
 from one of the first families of Maryland. 
 
 Immediately after the declaration of war with Eng- 
 land, in 18 12, Capt. Taylor (for he had then been 
 promoted to that rank) was put in command of Fort 
 Harrison, on the Wabash, about fifty miles above 
 Vincennes. This fort had been built in the wilder- 
 ness by Gen. Harrison. on his march to Tippecanoe. 
 It was one of the first points of attack by the Indians, 
 ied by Tecumseh. Its garrison consisted of a broken 
 
 company of infantry numbering fifty men, many of 
 whom were sick. 
 
 Early in the autumn of 1812, the Indians, stealthily, 
 and in large numbers, moved ujxjn the fort. The.i 
 ai)i)roach was first indicated by the murder of two 
 soldiers just outside of the stockade. Capt. Taylor 
 made every possible preparation to meet the antici- 
 pated assault. On the 4th of September, a band of 
 forty painted and plumed savages came to the fort, 
 waving a white flag, and informed Capt. Taylor that 
 in the morning their chief would come to have a talk 
 with him. It was evident that their object was merely 
 to ascertain the state of things at the fort, and Capt. 
 Taylor, well versed in the wiles of the savages, kept 
 them at a distance. 
 
 The sun went down ; the savages disappeared, the 
 garrison slept upon their arms. One hour before 
 midnight the war whoop burst from a thousand lips 
 in the forest around, followed by the discharge of 
 musketry, and the rush of the foe. Every man, sick 
 and well, sprang to his post. Every man knew that 
 defeat was not merely death, but in the case of caj)- 
 ture, death by the most agonizing and prolonged tor- 
 ture. No pen can describe, no immagination can 
 conceive the scenes which ensued. The savages suc- 
 ceeded in setting fire to one of the block-houses- 
 Until si.K o'clock in the morning, this awful conflict 
 continued. The savages then, baffled at every point, 
 and gnashing their teeth with rage,- retired. Capt. 
 Taylor, for this gallant defence, was promoted to the 
 rank of major by brevet. 
 
 Until the close of the war, Major Taylor was placed 
 in such situations that he saw but little more of active 
 service. He was sent far away into the depths of the 
 wilderness, to Fort Crawford, on Fox River, which 
 empties into Green Bay. Here there was but little 
 to be done but to wear away the tedious hours as one 
 best could. There were no books, no society, no in- 
 
ZACHARY TAYLOR 
 
 tellectual stimulus. Thus with him the uneventful 
 years rolled on Gradually he rose to the rank of 
 colonel. In the Black Hawk war, which resulted in 
 the capture of that renowned chieftain, Col Taylor 
 took a subordinate but a brave and efficient part. 
 
 For twenty four years Col. Taylor was engaged in 
 the defence of the frontiers, in scenes so remote, and in 
 eni|)loyments so obscure, that his name was unknown 
 beyond the limits of his own immediate acquaintance. 
 In the year r836, he was sent to Florida to compel 
 the Seminole Indians to vacate that region and re- 
 tire beyond the Mississippi, as their chiefs by treaty, 
 hac' promised they should do. The services rendered 
 he:e secured for Col. Taylor the high appreciation of 
 the Government; and as a reward, he was elevated 
 tc .he rank of brigadier-general by brevet ; and soon 
 after, in May, 1838, was appointed to the chief com- 
 mand of the United States troops in Florida. 
 
 After two years of such wearisome employment 
 amidst the everglades of the peninsula, Gen. Taylor 
 obtained, at his own request, a change of command, 
 li^nd was stationed over the Department of the South- 
 west, This field embraced Louisiana, Mississippi, 
 Alabama and Georgia. Establishing his headquarters 
 at Fort Jessup, in Louisiana, he removed his family 
 to a plantation which he purchased, near Baton Rogue. 
 Here he remained for five years, buried, as it were, 
 from the world, but faithfully discharging every duty 
 imposed upon him. 
 
 In 1S46, Gen. Taylor was sent to guard the land 
 between the Nueces and Rio Grande, the latter river 
 being the boundary of Texas, which was then claimed 
 by the United States. Soon the war with Mexico 
 was brought on, and at Palo Alto and Resaca de la 
 Palma, Gen. Taylor won brilliant victories over the 
 Me.\icans. The rank of major-general by brevet 
 was tlien conferred upon Gen. Taylor, and his name 
 was received with enthusiasm almost everywhere in 
 the Nation. Then came the battles of Monterey and 
 Buena Vista in which he won signal victories over 
 forces much larger than he commanded. 
 
 His careless habits of dress and his unaffected 
 r-implicity, secured for Gen. Taylor among his troops, 
 ihe. s<>l>n'(juiH of "Old Rougli and Ready.' 
 
 Tiie tidings of the brilliant victory of Buena Vista 
 .spread the wildest enthusiasm over the country. The 
 name of Gen. Taylor was on every one's lips. The 
 Whig party decided to take advantage of this wonder- 
 ful [jopularity in bringing forward the unpolished, un- 
 lettered, honest soldier as their candidate for the 
 Presidency. Gen. Taylor was astonished at the an- 
 nouncement, and for a time would not listen to it; de- 
 claring that he was not at all (jualified for such an 
 office. So little interest had he taken in politics that, 
 for forty years, he had not cast a vote. It was not 
 without chagrin that several distinguished statesmen 
 wlio had been long years in the public ser\'ice found 
 ■I..ir claims set aside in behalf of one wliose name 
 
 had never been heard of, save in connection with Palo 
 Alto, Resaca de la Palma, Monterey and Buena 
 Vista. It Is said that Daniel Webster, in his haste re- 
 marked, " It is a nomination not fit to be made." 
 
 Gen. Taylor was not an eloquent speaker nor a fine 
 writer His friends took possession of him, and pre- 
 pared such few communications as it was needful 
 should be presented to the public. The popularity of 
 the successful warrior swept the land. He was tri- 
 umphantly elected over two op[)Osing candidates,- — 
 Gen. Cass and Ex-President Martin Van Buren. 
 Thougli he selected an excellent cabinet, the good 
 old man found himself in a very uncongenial iX)sition, 
 and was, at times, sorely perplexed and harassed. 
 His mental sufferings were very severe, and probably 
 tended to hasten his death. The pro-slavery party 
 was pushing its claims with tireless energy, expedi- 
 tions were fitting out to capture Cuba ; California was 
 pleading for admission to the Union, while slavery 
 stood at the door to bar her out. Gen. Taylor found 
 the political conflicts in Washington to be far more 
 trying to the nerves than battles with Mexicans or 
 Indians 
 
 In the midst of all these troubles, Gen. Taylor, 
 after he had occuined the Presidential chair but little 
 over a year, took cold, and after a brief sickness of 
 but little over five days, died on the 9th of July, 1850. 
 His last words were, "I am not afraid to die. I am 
 ready. I have endeavored to do my duty." He died 
 universally respected and beloved. An honest, un- 
 pretending man, he had been steadily growing in the 
 affections of the people ; and the Nation bitterly la- 
 mented his death. 
 
 Gen. Scott, who was thoioughly aciiuainted with 
 Gen. Taylor, gave the following graphic and truthful 
 description of his character: — " With a good store of 
 common sense. Gen. Taylor's mind had not been en- 
 larged and refreshed by reading, or much converse 
 with the world. Rigidity of ideas was the conse- 
 quence. The frontiers and small military posts had 
 been his home. Hence he was quite ignorant for his 
 rank, and quite bigoted in his ignorance. His sim- 
 plicity was child-like, and with innumerable preju- 
 dices, amusing and incorrigible, well suited to the 
 tender age. Thus, if a man, however respectable, 
 chanced to wear a coat of an unusual color, or his hat 
 a little on one side of his head ; or an officer to leave 
 a corner of his, handkerchief dangling from an out- 
 side pocket, — in any such case, this critic held the 
 offender to be a coxcomb (perhaps something worse), 
 whom he would not, to use his oft repeated iihrase, 
 ' touch with a pair of tongs.' 
 
 "Any allusion to literature beyond good old Dil- 
 worth's spelling-book, on the part of one wearing a 
 sword, was evidence, with the same judge, of utter 
 unfitness for heavy marchings and comliats. In short, 
 few men have ever had a more comfortable, labor- 
 saving contempt for learnirg of every kind." 
 
^ (-^^^{^t-t^ocrZ/) 
 
THIRTEENTH PRESIDENT. 
 
 67 
 
 
 % 
 
 •MILLflHn FILLfflnHE.'^ 
 
 I 
 
 '■4 w 
 
 ILLARD FILLMORE, thir- 
 teenth Presidentof the United 
 M States, was born at Summer 
 <f Hill, Cayuga Co., N. Y ., on 
 the 7th of January, 1800. His 
 ^^=^ father was a farmer, and ow- 
 ing to misfortune, in humble cir- 
 cumstances. Of his mother, the 
 daughter of Dr. Abiathar Millard, 
 of Pittsfield, Mass., it has been 
 said that she possessed an intellect 
 of very high order, united with much 
 personal loveliness, sweetness of dis- 
 position, graceful manners and ex- 
 quisite sensibilities. She died in 
 1831 ; having lived to see her son a 
 young man of distinguished prom- 
 ise, though she was not permitted to witness the high 
 dignity which he finally attained. 
 
 In consequence of the secluded home and limited 
 means of his father, Millard enjoyed but slender ad- 
 vantages for education in his early years. The com- 
 mon schools, which he occasionally attended were 
 very imperfect mstitutions; and books were scarce 
 and expensive. There was nothing then in his char- 
 acter to indicate the brilliant career upon which he 
 was about to enter. He was a plain farmer's boy; 
 intelligent, good-looking, kind-hearted. The sacred 
 influences of home had taught him to revere the Bible, 
 and had laid the foundations of an upright character. 
 When fourteen years of age, his father sent him 
 some hundred miles from home, to the then wilds of 
 Livingston Coimty, to learn the trade of a clothier. 
 Neai' the nii'l there was a small villiage, wheri' some 
 
 enterprising man had commenced the collection of a 
 village library. This proved an inestimable blessing 
 to young Fillmore. His evenings were spent in read- 
 ing. Soon every leisure moment was occupied with 
 books. His thirst for knowledge became insatiate 
 and the selections which he made were continually 
 more elevating and instructive. He read history, 
 biography, oratory, and thus gradually there was en- 
 kindled in his heart a desire to be something more 
 than a mere worker with his hands; and he was be- 
 coming, almost unknown to himself, a well-informed, 
 educated man. 
 
 The young clothier had now attained the .-ige of 
 nineteen years, and was of fine personal appearance 
 and of gentlemanly demeanor. It so happened tha'. 
 there was a gentleman in the neighborhood cf ani[)le 
 pecuniary means and of benevolence, — Judge Walter 
 Wood, — who was struck with the prepossessing a!)- 
 pearance of young Fillmore. He made his acipuiint- 
 ance, and was so much impressed with his ability and 
 attainments that he advised him to abandon hi.; 
 trade and devote himself to the study of the law. The 
 young man replied, that he had no means of his ow;;, 
 r.o friends to help him and that his previous educa- 
 tion had been very imperfect. But Judge Wood had 
 so much confidence in him that he kindly offered to 
 take him into his own office, and to loan him such 
 money as he needed. Most gratefully the generous 
 offer was accepted. 
 
 There is in many minds a strange delusion abou'. 
 a collegiate education. A young man is supposed to 
 be liberally educated if he has graduated at some col- 
 lege. But many a boy loiters through university hal'- 
 Hud then enters a law office, who is by no means ks 
 
6i 
 
 MILLARD FILLMORE. 
 
 well prepared to prosecute his legal studies as was 
 Millard Fillmore when he graduated at the clothing- 
 mill at the end of four years of manual labor, during 
 which every leisure moment had been devoted to in- 
 tense mental culture. 
 
 In 1823, when twenty-three years of age, he -.vas 
 admitted to the Court of Common Pleas. He then 
 went to the village of Aurora, and commenced the 
 practice of law. In this secluded, peaceful region, 
 his practice of course was limited, and there was no 
 opportunity for a sudden rise in fortune or in fame. 
 Here, in the year 1826, he married a lady of great 
 moral worth, and one capable of adorning any station 
 she might be called to fill, — Miss Abigail Powers. 
 
 His elevation of character, liis untiring industry, 
 his legal acquirements, and his skill as an advocate, 
 gradually attracted attention ; and he was invited to 
 enter into partnershi[) under highly advantageous 
 circumstances, with an elder member of the bar in 
 Buffalo. Just before removing to Buffalo, in 1829, 
 he took his seat in the House of Assembly, of the 
 State of New York, as a representative from Erie 
 County. Though he had never taken a very active 
 part in politics, his vote and his sympathies were with 
 the Whig party. The State was then Democratic, 
 and he found himself in a helpless minority in the 
 Legislature, still the testimony comes from all parlies, 
 that iiis courtesy, ability and integrity, won, to a very 
 unusual degri e the res[)ect of his associates. 
 
 In tlie auti:-mn of 1832, he was elected to a seat in 
 the United States Congress He entered that troubled 
 irena in some of the most tumultuous hours of our 
 national history. Tiie great conflict respecting the 
 national bank and the removal of the deposits, was 
 then raging. 
 
 His term of two years closed ; and he returned to 
 hi.s profession, which he pursued with increasing rep- 
 utation and success. After a lapse of two years 
 he again became a candidate for Congress ; was re- 
 elected, and took his seat in 1837. His past expe- 
 rience 3^ a representative gave hmi stiength and 
 confidence. The first terra of service in Congress to 
 any man can be but little more than an introduction. 
 He was now prejjared for active duty. All his ener- 
 gies were brought to bear upon the public good. Every 
 measure received his impress. 
 
 Mr. Fillmore was now a man of wide repute, and 
 his popularity filled the State, and in the year 1847, 
 he was elected Comptroller of the State. 
 
 Mr. Fillmore had attained the age of forty-seven 
 years. His labors at the bar, in the Legislature, in 
 Congress and as Comptroller, had given him very con- 
 siderable fame. The Whigs were casting about to 
 find suitable candidates for President and Vice-Presi- 
 dent at the approaching election. Far away, on the 
 waters of the Rio Grande, there was a rough old 
 soldier, who had fought one or two successful battles 
 with the Mexicans, which had caused his name to be 
 proclaimed in tiumpet-tones all over the land. JUit 
 it was necessary to associate with him on the same 
 ticket some man of reputation as a statesman. 
 
 Under tlie influence of these considerations, the 
 namesofZachary Taylor and Millard Fillmore became 
 the rallying-cry of the Whigs, as their candidates for 
 President and Vice-Peesident. The Whig ticket was 
 signally triumphant. On the 4th of March, 1849, 
 Gen. Taylor was inaugurated President, and Millard 
 Fillmore Vice-President, of the United States. 
 
 On the 9th of July, 1850, President Taylor, but 
 about one year and four months after his inaugura- 
 tion, was suddenly taken sick and died. By the Con- 
 stitution, Vice-President Fillmore thus became Presi- 
 dent. He ai)pointed a very able cabinet, of which 
 the illustrious Daniel Webster was Secretary of State. 
 Mr. Fillniore had very serious difficulties to contend 
 with, since the opposition had a majority in both 
 Houses. He did everything in his power to conciliate 
 the South ; but the pro-slavery party in the South felt 
 the inadeipiacyofallmeasuresof transient conciliation. 
 The population of the free States was so rapidly in- 
 creasing over that of the slave States that it was in- 
 evitable that the power of the Government should 
 soon pass into the hands of the free States. The 
 famous compromise measures were adopted under Mr. 
 Fillmore's adminstration, and the Japan Expedition 
 was sent out. On the 4th of March, 1853, Mr. Fill- 
 more, having served one term, retired. 
 
 In 1856, Mr. Fillmore was nominated for the Pres- 
 idency by the " Know Nothing " party, but was beaten 
 by Mr. Buchanan. After that Mr. Fillmore lived in 
 retirement. During the terrible conflict of civil war, 
 he was mostly silent. It was generally supposed that 
 his sympathies were rather with those who were en- 
 deavoring to overthrow our institutions. President 
 Fillmore kept aloof from the conflict, without any 
 cordial words of cheer to the one party or the other. 
 He was thus forgotien by both. He lived to a ripe 
 old age, and died in Buffalo. N. Y., March 8, 1874. 
 
FOURTEENTH PRESIDENT 
 
 71 
 
 ^p'~^'x:^ ^fe^S3i^^_rv_., 
 
 foj£aa ia^ — - ° = 
 
 ^-a&aaEti^ 
 
 ^FRANKLIN PIERCE. 
 
 
 f^.t..t.t.t.t.,ji.t.t.,.t..A,.t.,.t..t.,±..t.;Ut. A,±,.tvt^ 
 
 RANKLIN PIERCE, th^; 
 fourteenth President of the 
 '"'United States, was born in 
 Hillsborough, N. H., Nov. 
 23, 1804. His father was a 
 Revolutionary soldier, who, 
 with his own strong arm, 
 hewed out a home in the 
 wilderness. He was a man 
 of inllexible integrity' ; of 
 strong, though uncultivated 
 mind, and an uncompromis- 
 ing Democrat. The mother of 
 Franklin Pierce was all that a son 
 could desire, — an intelligent, pru- 
 dent, affectionate. Christian wom- 
 an. Franklin was the si.xth of eight children. 
 
 Franklin was a very bright and handsome boy, gen- 
 erous, warm-hearted and brave. He won alike the 
 love of old and young. The boys on the play ground 
 loved him. His teachers loved him. The neighbors 
 looked upon liim with pride and affection. He was 
 by instinct a gentleman; always speaking kind words, 
 doing kind, deeds, with a peculiar unstudied tact 
 which taught him what was agreeable. Witliout de- 
 veloping any precocity of genius, or any unnatural 
 devotion to books, he was a good scholar ; in body, 
 in mind, in affections, a finely-developed boy. 
 
 When sixteen years of age, in the year 1820, he 
 entered Bowdoin College, at Brunswick, Me He was 
 one of the most ])opular young men in the college. 
 The jiurity cf his moral character, the unvarying 
 courtesy of his demeanor, his rank as a scholar, and 
 
 genial nature, rendered him a universal favorite. 
 There was something very peculiarly winning in his 
 address, and it was evidently not in the slightest de- 
 gree studied : it was the simple outgushing of his 
 own magnanimous and loving nature. 
 
 Upon graduating, in the year 1824, Franklin Pierce 
 commenced the study of law in the office of Judge 
 Woodbury, one of the most distinguished lawyers of 
 the State, and a man of great private worth. Thi' 
 eminent social qualities of the young lawyer, his 
 father's prominence as a i)ublic man, and the brilliant 
 political career into which Judge Woodbury was eii- 
 tering, all tended to entice Mr. Pierce into the faci- 
 nating yet perilous path of political life. Witli all 
 the ardor of his nature he espoused the cause of Gen. 
 Jackson for the Presidency. He commenced die 
 practice of law in Hillslwrough, and was soon elected 
 to represent the town in the State Legislature. Here 
 he served for four yeais. The last two years he was 
 chosen speaker of the house by a very large vote. 
 
 In 1833, at the age of twenty-nine, he was elected 
 a member of Congress. Without taking an active 
 part in debates, he was faithful and laborious in duty, 
 and ever rising in the estimation of those with whom 
 he was associatad. 
 
 In 1837, being then but thirty-three years of age, 
 he was elected to the Senate of the United States; 
 taking his seat just as Mr. Van Buren commenced 
 his administration. He was the youngest member in 
 the Senate. In the year 1S34. he married Miss Jane 
 Means Appleton, a lady of rare beauty and accom- 
 plishments, and one admirably fitted to adorn every 
 station with wliich her husband was honoied. Of the 
 
72 
 
 FRANKLIN PIERCE. 
 
 three sons who were born to them, all now sleep with 
 
 their parents in the grave. 
 
 In tlie year 1838, Mr. Pierce, with growing fame 
 and increasing business as a lawyer, took up his 
 residence in Concord, tlie capital of New Hampshire. 
 President Polk, ii[)on his accession to office, appointed 
 Mr. Pierce attorney-general of the United States; but 
 the offer was declined, in consequence of numerous 
 professional engagements at home, and the precariuos 
 state of Mrs. . Pierce's health. He also, about the 
 same time declined the nomination for governor by the 
 Democratic party. The war with Mexico called Mr. 
 Pierce in the army. Receiving the appointment of 
 brigadier-general, he embarked, with a portion of his 
 troops, at Newport, R. I., on the 27th of May, 1847. 
 He took an important part in this war, proving him- 
 self a brave and true soldier. 
 
 When Gen. Pierce reached his home in his native 
 State, he was received enthusiastically by the advo- 
 cates of the Mexican war, and coldly by his oppo- 
 nents. He resumed the practice of his profession, 
 very fre<iuently taking an active part in political ques- 
 tions, giving his cordial support to the pro-slavery 
 wing of the Democratic party. The compromise 
 measures met cordially with his a|)proval; and he 
 strenuously advocated the enforcement of the infa- 
 mous fugitive-slave law, which so shocked the religious 
 sensibilities of the Nortli. He thus became distin- 
 guished as a "Northern man with Southern principles.'' 
 The strong partisans of slavery in the South conse- 
 quently regarded him as a man whom they could 
 safely trust in office to carry out their plans. 
 
 On the i2th of June, 1852, the Democratic conven- 
 tion met in Baltimore to nominate a candidate for the 
 Presidency. For four days they continued in session, 
 and in thirty-five ballotings no one had obtained a 
 two-thirds vote. Not a vote thus far had been thrown 
 for Gen. Pierce. Then the Virginia delegation 
 brought forward his name. There were fourteen 
 more ballotings, during which Gen. Pierce constantly 
 gained strength, until, at the forty-ninth ballot, he 
 received two hundred and eighty-two votes, and all 
 other candidates eleven. Gen. Winfield Scott was 
 the Whig candidate. Gen. Pierce was chosen with 
 great unanimity. Only four States — Vermont, Mas- 
 sachusetts, Kentucky and Tennessee — cast their 
 electoral votes against him Gen. Franklin Pierce 
 was therefore inaugurated President of the United 
 States on the 4th of March, 1853. 
 
 His administration proved one of the most stormy our 
 country had ever experienced. The controversy ije- 
 tween slavery and freedom was then approaching its 
 culminating point. It became evident that there was 
 an "irrepressible conflict " between them, and that 
 this Nation could not long exist " half slave and half 
 free." President Pierce, during the whole of his ad- 
 ministration, did every thing he could to conciliate 
 the South ; but it was all in vain. The conflict every 
 year grew more violent, and threats of the dissolution 
 of the Union were borne to the North on every South- 
 ern breeze. 
 
 Such was the condition of affairs when President 
 Pierce approached the close of his four-years' term 
 of office. The North had become thoroughly alien- 
 ated from him. The anti-slavery sentiment, goaded 
 by great outrages, had been rapidly increasing; all 
 the intellectual ability and social worth of President 
 Pierce were forgotten in deep reprehension of his ad- 
 ministrative acts. The slaveholders of the South, also, 
 unmindful of the fidelity with which he had advo- 
 cated those measures of Government which they ap- 
 proved, and perhaps, also, feeling tliat he had 
 rendered himself so unpoiiular as no longer to be 
 able accei)tably to serve them, ungratefully dropped 
 him, and nominated James Buchanan to succeed him. 
 
 On the 4th of March, 1857, President Pierce re- 
 tired to his home in Concord. Of three children, two 
 had died, and his only surviving child had been 
 killed before his eyes by a railroad accident ; and his 
 wife, one of the most estimable and accomplished of 
 ladies, was rapidly sinking in consumption. The 
 hour of dreadful gloom soon came, and he was left 
 alone in the world, without wife or child. 
 
 When the terrible Rebellion burst forth, which di- 
 vided our country into two parties, and two only, Mr. 
 Pierce remained steadfast in the principles which he 
 had always cherished, and gave his sympathies to 
 that pro-slavery party with which he had ever been 
 allied. He declined to do anything, either by voice 
 or pen, to strengthen the hand of the National Gov- 
 erninent. He continued to reside in Concord until 
 the time of his death, which occurred in October, 
 1869. He was one of the most genial and social of 
 men, an honored communicant of the Episcopal 
 Church, and one of the kindest of neighbors. Gen- 
 erous to a fault, he contiibuted liberally for the al- 
 leviation of suffering and want, and many of his towns- 
 people were often gladened by his material bounty. 
 
'-*fc.. 
 
 V. 
 
 d 
 
 ZZy777.e-J (S^^uc- 
 
 ■/l^l/^Z-€6<^7/y 
 
FIFTEENTH PRESIDENT. 
 
 75 
 
 
 -^«« — ►-• 
 
 »» 
 
 '■■•^^cii'i^'igitsa'gjtt'Jagit^tBga'sgi'^'.; i' ; .' 
 
 .'..■gPl^l?jg'>^l%>(^(^t^l^|gg3|^^ 
 
 
 •-*- 
 
 ■^^- 
 
 AMES BUCHANAN, the fif- 
 -teenth President of the United 
 States, was born in a small 
 frontier town, at the foot of the 
 eastern ridge of the Allegha- 
 nies, in Franklin Co., Penn., on 
 s> the 23d of April, 1791. The ;>lace 
 where the humble cabin of his 
 father sti'od was called Stony 
 IT *> Batter. It was a wild and ro- 
 mantic spot in a gorge of the moun- 
 tains, with towering summits rising 
 grandly all around. His father 
 was a native of the north of Ireland ; 
 a poor man, who had emigrated in 
 1783, with little pro|<erty save liis 
 own strong arms. Five years afterwards he married 
 Elizabeth Spear, the daughter of a respectable farmer, 
 and, with his young bride, plunged into the wilder- 
 ness, staked his claim, reared his log-hut, opened a 
 clearing with his axe, and settled down there to per- 
 form his obscure part in the drama of life. In this se- 
 cluded home, where James was born, he remained 
 for eight years, enjoying but few social or intellectual 
 advantages. Wlien James was eight yeais of age, his 
 father removed to the village of Merccrsburg, where 
 Lis son was placed at school, and commenced a 
 course of study in English, Latin and Greek. His 
 progress was rapid, and at the age of fourteen, he 
 entered Dickinson College, at Carlisle. Here he de- 
 veloped remarkable talent, and took his stand among' 
 the first scholars in the institution. His aiiplication 
 <o study was intense, and yet his native powers en- 
 
 abled him to master the most abstruse subjects with 
 facility. 
 
 In the year 1S09, he graduated with the liighest 
 honors of his class. He was then eighteen years of 
 age; tall and graceful, vigorous in health, fond of 
 athletic sport, an unerring shot, and enlivened with 
 an e.xuberant flow of animal spirits. He immediately 
 commenced the study of hnv in the city of Lancaster, 
 and was admitted to the bar in 1S12, when he was 
 but twenty-one years of age. Very rapidly he rose 
 in his profession, and at once took undisputed stand 
 with the ablest lawyers of the State. When but 
 twenty-si.x years of age, unaided Ijy counsel, he suc- 
 cessfully defended before the State Senate ore of the 
 judges of the State, who was tried upon articles of 
 impeachment. .\t the age of thirty it was generally 
 admitted that he stood at the head of the bar; and 
 there was no lawyer in the State who had a more lu- 
 crative practice. 
 
 In 1820, he reluctantly consented to run as a 
 candidate for Congress. He was elected, and for 
 ten years he remained a member of the Lower House. 
 During the vacations of Congress, he occasionally 
 tried some important case. In 1831, he retired 
 altogether from the toils of his jjrofession, having ac- 
 (piired an ample fortune. 
 
 Gen. Jackson, u[)on his elevation to the Presidency, 
 apjjointed Mr. Buchanan minister to Russia. The 
 duties of his mission he performed with ability, wliirh 
 gave satisfaction to all parties. Upon his return, in 
 1833, he was elected to a seat in the United States 
 Senate. He there met, as his associates, Webster, 
 Clay, Wright ar.d Calhoun. He advocated th.e meas- 
 ures proi.>osed by President,Jackson, of miking repri- 
 
76 
 
 JAMES BUCHANAN. 
 
 %Aa against France, to enforce the payment of our 
 claims against that country; and defended the course 
 of tlie President in his unprecedented and wliolesale 
 removal from office of those who were not the sup- 
 porlers of liis administration. Upon this question he 
 was brought into direct collision with He.iry Clay. 
 He also, with voice and vote, advocated expunging 
 from the journal of the Senate tlie vote of censure 
 against Gen. Jackson for removing the deposits. 
 Karnestly he opposed the abolition of slavery in the 
 District of Columbia, and urged the prohibition of the 
 circulation of anti-slavery documents by the United 
 States mails. 
 
 As to petitions on the subject of slavery, he advo- 
 cated that they should be respectfully received; and 
 that the reply should be returned, that Congress had 
 no power to legislate upon the subject. " Congress," 
 said he, " might as well undertake to interfere with 
 slavery under a foreign government as in any of the 
 States where it now exists." 
 
 Upon Mr. Polk's accession to the Presidency, Mr. 
 Buchanan became Secretary of State, and as such, 
 took his share of the responsibility in the conduct of 
 the Mexican War. Mr. Polk assumed that crossing 
 the Nueces by the American troops into the disputed 
 territory was not wrong, but for the Mexicans to cross 
 the Rio Grande into that territory was a declaration 
 of war. No candid man can read with pleasure the 
 account of the course our Government pursued in that 
 movement 
 
 Mr. Buchanan identified himself thoroughly with 
 the party devoted to the pi^rpetuation and extension 
 of slavery, and brought all the energies of his mind 
 to bear against the Wilmot Proviso. He gave his 
 cordial approval to the compromise measures of 1S50, 
 which included the fugitive-slave law. Mr. Pierce, 
 upon his election to the Presidency, honored Mr. 
 Buchanan with the mission to England. 
 
 In the year 1856, a national Democratic conven- 
 tion nominated Mr. Buchanan for the Presidency. The 
 political conflict was one of the most severe in which 
 our country has ever engaged. All the. friends of 
 slavery were on one side; all the advocates of its re- 
 striction and final aliohtion, on the other. Mr. Fre- 
 mont, the candiilale of the enemies of slavery, re- 
 '.eived 114 electoral votes. Mr. Buchanan received 
 174, and was elected. The popular vote stood 
 1,340,618, for Fremont, 1,224,750 for Buchanan. On 
 March 4th. 1857, Mr. Buchanan was inaugurated. 
 
 Mr. Buchanan was far advanced in life. Only four 
 vears were wanting lo fill up his threescore years and 
 ten. His own friends, those with whom he had lieen 
 a11".e(2 in political princi|)les and action for years, were 
 seeking the destruction of the Government, that they 
 might rear upon the ruins of our free institutions a 
 nation whose corner-stone should be human slavery. 
 In this emergency, Mr. Buchanan was hopelessly be- 
 wildered He could not, with his long-avowed prin- 
 
 ciples, consistently oppose the State-rights party in 
 their assumptions. As President of the United States, 
 bound by his oath faithfully to administer the laws 
 lie could not, without perjury of the grossest kind, 
 unite with those endeavoring to overthrow the repub- 
 lic. He therefore did r.olhing. 
 
 The op[)onents of Mr. Buchanan's administration 
 nominated Abraham Lincoln as their standard bearer 
 in the next Presidential canvass. The pro-slavery 
 party declared, that if he were elected, and the con- 
 trol of the Government were thus taken from their 
 hands, they would secede from tlie Union, taking 
 with them, as they retired, the National Capitol at 
 Washington, and the lion's share of the territory of 
 the United States. 
 
 Mr. Buchanan's sympathy with the pro-slavery 
 party was such, that he had been willing to offerthem 
 far more than they had ventured to claim. All the 
 South had professed to ask of the North was non- 
 intervention upon the subject of slavery. Mr. Bu- 
 chanan had been ready to offer them the active co- 
 operation of the Government to defend and extend 
 the institution. 
 
 As the storm increased in violence, the slaveholders 
 claiming the right to secede, and Mr. Buchanan avow- 
 ing that Congress had no power to prevent it, one of 
 the most pitiable exhibitions of governmental im- 
 becility waS exhibited the world has ever seen. He 
 declared that Congress had no power to enforce its 
 laws in any State which had withdrawn, or which 
 was attempting to withdraw from the Union. This 
 was not the doctrine of Andrew Jacksen, when, wiih 
 his hand upon his sword hilt, he exclaimed. "The 
 Union must and sliall be preserved!" 
 
 South Carolina seceded in December, i860; nearly 
 three months before the inauguration of President 
 Lincoln. Mr. Buchanan looked on in listless despair. 
 The rebel flag was raised in Charleston: Fort Sunipter 
 was besieged ; our forts, navy-yards and arsenals 
 were seized; our depots of military stores were plun- 
 dered; and our custom-houses and post-offices were 
 apjiropriated by the rebels. 
 
 The energy of the rebels, and the imbecility of our 
 Executive, were alike marvelous. The Nation looked 
 on in agony, waiting for the slow weeks to glide away, 
 and close the administration, so terrible in its weak- 
 ness At length the long-looked-for hour of deliver- 
 ance came, when Abraham Lincoln was to receive the 
 scepter. 
 
 The administration of President Buchanan was 
 certainly the most calamitous our country has ex- 
 ])erienced. His best friends canrot recall it with 
 ))leasure. .\nd still more deplorable it is for his fame, 
 that in that dreadful conflict which rolled its billows 
 of flame and blood over out whclc 'and, no word came 
 from his lips to indicate his wish that our country's 
 banner should triumph over the flag of the rebellion. 
 He died at his Wheatland retreat, June i, i86t5. 
 
^ 
 
 <^ 
 
 e^/^^S^^^^^-^T^ 
 
SIXTEENTH PRESIDENT. 
 
 79 
 
 aaaaMaa^ifflc%^'^^^jf?'5??^^?;c5?r??? 
 
 < ABRAHAM > ?i:l)€5*^|S 
 
 ^f:S^ 
 
 H > : 
 
 
 LINCOLN. } i 
 
 < »■ 
 
 BRAHAM LINCOLN, the 
 
 sixteenth President of the 
 ^•©Uniled States, was horn in 
 ' f] Hardin Co., Ky., Feb. 12, 
 )|/J 1809. Ahout the year 17S0, a 
 ..'-^ man by the name of Abraham 
 '^ Lincohi left Virginia with iiis 
 family and moved into the then 
 wilds of Kentucky. Only two years 
 after tliis emigration, still a young 
 man, while woriving one day in a 
 field, was stealthily appro:;ched by 
 an Indian and shot dead. His widow 
 was left in extreme poverty with five 
 little children, three boys and two 
 girls. Thomas, the youngest of the 
 boys, was four years of age at his 
 father's death. This Thomas was 
 the father of Abraham Lincoln, the 
 President of the United States 
 whose name must henceforth fo-'ever be enrolled 
 with the most prominent in the annals of our v/oild. 
 Of course no record has been kept of the life 
 of one so lowly as Thomas Lincoln. He was among 
 (he poorest of the poor. His home was a wretched 
 log -cabin; his food the coarsest and the meanest. 
 Education he had none; he could never either read 
 nr write. .\s soon as he was able to do anything for 
 himself, he was compelled to leave the cabin of his 
 starving mother, and push out into the world, a friend- 
 .ess, wandering boy, seeking woik. He hired him- 
 self out, and thus spent the whole of his youth as a 
 'aborer in the fields of others. 
 
 When twenty-eight years of age he built a log- 
 rabin of his own, and married Nancy Hanks, the 
 daughter of another family of poor Kentucky emi- 
 grants, who had also come from Virginia. Their 
 second child was Aliraham Lincoln, the subject of 
 this sketch. The mother of Abraham was a noble 
 woman, gentle, loving, ])ensive, created to adorn 
 a palace, doomed to toil and i)ine, and die in a hovel. 
 " All that I am, or hope to be," exclaims the grate- 
 ful son "I owe to my angel-mother. 
 
 When he was eight years of age, his father solil his 
 
 cabin and small farm, and moved to Indiana Wherc 
 two years later his mother died. 
 
 Abraham soon, became the scribe of the uneducated 
 comuiunity around him. He could not have had r. 
 better school than this to teach him to put thoughts 
 into words. He also became an eager reader. The 
 books he could obtain were few ; but these he read 
 and re-read until they were almost committed to 
 memory. 
 
 As the years rolled on, the lot of this lowly familj 
 was the usual lot of humanity. There were joys and 
 griefs, weddings and funerals. Abraham's sister 
 Sarah, to whom he was tenderly attached, was mar- 
 ried wiien a child of liut fourteen years of age, and 
 soon died. The family was gradually scattered. Mr. 
 Thomas Lincoln sold out his squatter's claim in 1830, 
 and emigrated to iVIacon Co., 111. 
 
 Abraham Lincoln was then twenty-one years of age. 
 With vigorous hands he aided his father in rearing 
 another log-cabin. Abraham worked diligently at this 
 until he saw the family comfortably settled, and their 
 small lot of enclosed prairie [jlanted with corn, when 
 he announced to his father his intention to leave 
 home, and to go out into the world and seek his for- 
 tune. Little did he or his friends imagine how bril- 
 liant that fortune was to be. He saw the value of 
 education and was intensely earnest to improve his 
 mind to the utmost of his power. He saw the ruin 
 which aident 'spirits were causing, and l:e(ame 
 strictly temperate; refusing to allow a drop of iiitoxi- 
 cating liquor to pass his lips. And he had read in 
 God's word, "Thou shalt not take the name of the 
 Lord thy God in vain;" and a profane expression he 
 was never heard to utter. Religion he revered. His 
 morals were pure, and lie was uncontaminated by a 
 single vice. 
 
 Young Abraham woiked for a time as a hired laborer 
 among the farmers. Then he went to Springfield, 
 where he was employed in Imilding a large flat-boat. 
 In this he took a herd of swine, floated them down 
 the Sangamon to the Illinois, and thence by the Mis- 
 sissippi to New Orleans. Whati.'Ver Abraham Lin- 
 coln undertook, he performed so faithfully as to give 
 great satisfaction to his employers. In this ndvc.i- 
 
8o 
 
 ABRAHAM LINCOLN. 
 
 tare liis employers were so well pleased, that upon 
 iiis return tney placed a store and mill under his care. 
 
 In 1832, at the outljreak of the Black Hawk war, he 
 enlisted and was chosen captain of a company. He 
 returned to Sangamon County, and although only 23 
 years of age, was a candidate for the Legislature, but 
 was defeated. He soon after received from Andrew 
 Jackson the appointment of Postmaster of New Salem, 
 His only post-office was his hat. W\ the letters he 
 received he carried there ready to deliver to those 
 he chanced to meet. He studied surveying, and soon 
 made this his business. In 1834 he again became a 
 candidate for the Legislature, and was elected Mr. 
 Stuart, of Springfield, advised him to study law. He 
 walked from New Salem to Springfield, borrowed of 
 Mr. Stuart a load of books, carried them back and 
 began his legal studies. When the Legislature as- 
 sembled he trudged on foot with his pack on his back 
 one hundred miles to Vandalia, then the capital. In 
 1836 he was re-elected to the Legislature. Here it 
 was he first met Stephen A. Douglas. In 1839 he re- 
 moved to Springfield and began the practice of law. 
 His success with the jury was so great that he was 
 soon engaged in almost every noted case in the circuit. 
 
 In 1854 the great discussion began between Mr. 
 Lincoln and Mr, Douglas, on the slavery question. 
 In tiie organization of the Republican party in Illinois, 
 in 1S56, he took an active part, and at once became 
 one of the leaders in that party. Mr. Lincoln's 
 speeches in opposition to Senator Douglas in the con- 
 test in 1 85 8 for a seat in the Senate, form a most 
 notaiile part of his history. The issue was on tlie 
 slavery nueition, and he took the broad ground of 
 .he Declaration of Independence, that all men are 
 created equal. Mr. Lincoln was defeated in this con- 
 test, but won a far higher prize. 
 
 The great Republican Convention met at Chicago 
 on the i6lh of June, i860. The delegates and 
 strangers who crowded the city amounted to twenty- 
 five thousand. An immense building called "The 
 Wigwam," was reared to accommodate the Conven- 
 tion. There were eleven candidates for whom votes 
 were thrown. William H. Seward, a man whose fame 
 as a statesman had long filled the land, was the most 
 oroniinent. It was generally supposed he would be 
 the nominee. Abraham Lincoln, however, received 
 the nomination on the third ballot. Little did he then 
 dream of the weary years of toil and care, and the 
 bloody death, to which that nomination doomed him: 
 andaslittledid he dream that he was to render services 
 to his country, which would fix upon him the eyes of 
 the whole civilized world, and which would give him 
 a place in the affections nf his countrymen, second 
 tnly, if second, to that of \Vashington. 
 
 Election day came and Mr. Lincoln received 180 
 electoral votes out of 203 cast, and was, therefore, 
 constitutionally elected President of the United States. 
 The tirade of abuse that \"as ixjured ui>on this good 
 
 and merciful man, especially by the slaveholders, was 
 greater than upon any other man ever elected to this 
 high position. In February, 1861, Mr. Lincoln started 
 for Washington, stopping in all the large cities on his 
 way making speeches. The whole journey was frouglu 
 with much danger. Many of the Southern States had 
 already seceded, and several attempts at assassination 
 were afterwards brought to light. A gang in Balti- 
 more had arranged, upon his arrival to" get u[) a row," 
 and ill the confusion to make sure of his death with 
 revolvers and hand-grenades. A detective unravelled 
 the plot. A secret and special train was provided to 
 take him from Harrisl'urg, through Baltimore, at an 
 unexpected hour of the night. The train started at 
 half-past ten ; and to prevent ai.y possible communi- 
 cation on the part ot the Secessionists with their Con- 
 federate gang in Baltimore, as soon as the train had 
 started the telegraph-wires were cut. Mr. Lincoln 
 reached Washington in salety and was inaugurated, 
 although great anxiety was felt by all loyal people. 
 
 In the selection of his cabinet Mr. Lincoln gave 
 to Mr Seward the Department of State, and to other 
 prominent opiionents before tiie conventiort he gave 
 important [wsitions. 
 
 During no other administration have the duties 
 devolving upon the President been so manifold, and 
 the res[)onsibilities so great, as those which fell to 
 the lot of President Lincoln. Knowing this, and 
 feeling his own weakness and inability to nieet.and in 
 his own strength to cope with, the difficulties, he 
 learned early to seek Divine wisdom and guidance in 
 determining his plans, and Divine comfort in all his 
 trial?, Ijo'h personal and national Contrary to his 
 own estimate of himself, Mr. Lincoln was one of the 
 most courageous of men. He went directly into the 
 rebel capital just as the retreating foe was leaving, 
 with no guard but a few sailors. From the time he 
 had left Springfield, in 1861, however, |)lans had been 
 made for his assassination, and he at last fell a victim 
 to one of them. April 14, 1865, he, with Gen. Grant, 
 was urgently invited to attend Fords' Theater. It 
 was announced that they would l.e jiresent. Gen. 
 Grant, however, left the city. President Lincoln, feel- 
 ing, witli his characteristic kindliness of heart, that 
 it would be a disappointment if he shouki fail them, 
 very reluctantly consented to go. While listening to 
 the play an actor by the name of John \ViIkes Booth 
 entered tiie box where the President and family were 
 seated, and fired a bullet into his brains. He died the 
 next morning at seven o'clock. 
 
 Never before, in the history of tiie world was a nation 
 plunged into such deep grief by the death of its ruler. 
 Strong men met in the streets and wept in speechless 
 anguish. It is not too much to say that a nation was 
 in tears. His was a life which will fitly become a 
 model. His name as the savior of his country will 
 live with that of W^ashington's, its father; hisco-.ntry- 
 men being unable to decide whi< h m tl-e ureater. 
 
SE VEA'TEEiW 1 U J'JiE:i/L>EA T. 
 
 8.5 
 
 J 
 
 ^^ 
 
 NDREW JOHNSON, seven- 
 teenth President of the United 
 States. The early life of 
 Andrew Johnson contains but 
 the record of poverty, destitu- 
 tion and friendlessness. He 
 was born December 29, 1808, 
 in Raleigh, N. C. His parents, 
 belonging to the class of tiie 
 "poor whites " of the South, T.'ere 
 in such circumstances, that they 
 could not confer even the slight- 
 est advantages of education upon 
 their child. When Andrew was five 
 years of age, his father accidentally 
 lost his life while herorically endeavoring to save a 
 friend from drowning. Until ten years of age, Andrew 
 was a ragged boy about the streets, supported by the 
 labor of his mother, who obtained her living with 
 her own hands. 
 
 He then, having never attended a school one day, 
 ind being unable either to read or write, was ap- 
 prenticed to a tailor in his native town. A gentleman 
 ivas \n the habit of going to the tailor's shop occasion- 
 ally, and reading to the boys at work there. He often 
 read from the speeches of distinguished British states- 
 men. Andrew, who was endowed with a mind of more 
 than ordinary native ability, became much interested 
 in these speeches ; his ambition was roused, and he 
 was inspired with a strong desire to learn to read. 
 
 He accordingly applied himself to the alphabet, and 
 with the assistance of some of his fellow- workmen, 
 leerned his letters. He then called upon the gentle- 
 man to borrow the book of speeches. The owner.. 
 
 pleased with his zeal, not only gave him the booic. 
 but assisted him in learning to combine the letters 
 into words. Under such difficulties he pressed oi. 
 ward laboriously, spending usually ten or twelve hours 
 at work in the shop, and then robbing himself of rest 
 and recreation to devote such time a.s he could to 
 reading. 
 
 He went to Tennessee m 1826, and located a' 
 Greenville, where he married a young lady who pos 
 sessed some education. Under her instructions he 
 learned to write and cipher. He became prominent 
 in the village debating society, and a favorite with 
 the students of Greenville College. In 1828, he or- 
 ganized a working man's party, which elected him 
 alderman, and in 1830 tlected him mayor, which 
 position he held three years. 
 
 He now began to take a lively interest in political 
 affairs ; identifying himself with the working-classes, 
 to which he belonged. In 1835, he was elected a 
 member of the House of Representatives of Tennes- 
 see. He was then just twenty-seven years of age. 
 He became a very active member of the legislature, 
 gave his adhesion to the Democratic party, and ;r. 
 1S40 "stumped the State," advocating Martin Tan 
 Buren's claims to the Presidency, in opposition to thos. 
 of Gen. Harrison. In this campaign he acquired mucli 
 readiness as a speaker, and extended and increased 
 his reputation. 
 
 In 1841, he was elected Stale Senator; in 1843, he 
 was elected a member of Congress, and by successive 
 elections, held that important post for ten years. In 
 1853, he was elected Governor of Tennessee, and 
 was re-elected in 1855. In all these responsible jiosi- 
 lions, he discharged his duties with distinguished ab-.. 
 
84 
 
 ANDRFAV JOHNSON. 
 
 ity, and proved himself the warm friend of the work- 
 ing classes. In 1857, Mr. Johnson was elected 
 United .States Senator. 
 
 Years before, in 1845, he had warmly advocated 
 the annexation of Texas, stating however, as his 
 reason, that he thought tliis annexation would prob- 
 ably prove " to be the gateway out of which the sable 
 sons of Africa are to pass from bondage to freedom, 
 and become merged in a population congenial to 
 themselves." In 1850, he also supported the com- 
 promise measures, the two essential features of which 
 were, that the white people of the Territories should 
 be permitted to decide for themselves whether they 
 would enslave the colored people or not, and that 
 the *'ree States of the North should return to the 
 3oath persons who attempted to escape from slavery. 
 
 Mr. Johnson was neverashamedof his lowly origin: 
 on the contrary, he often took pride in avowing that 
 he owed his distinction to his own exertions. "Sir,'" 
 said he on the floor of the Senate, " I do not forget 
 that I am a mechanic ; neither do I forget that Adam 
 was a tailor and sewed fig-leaves, and that our Sav- 
 ior was the son of a carpenter." 
 
 Ill the Charleston- Baltimore convention of i8uo, ne 
 was the choice of the Tennessee Democrats for the 
 Presidency. In 1S61, when the purpose of tlie Soutl;- 
 ixw Democracy became apparent, he took a decided 
 stand in favor of the Union, and held that " slavery 
 must be lield subordinate to the Union at whatever 
 cost." He returned to Tennessee, and jepeatedly 
 imperiled his own life to protect the Unionists of 
 Tennesee. Tennessee having seceded from the 
 Union, President Lincoln, on March 4th, 1862, ap- 
 jx)inted him Military Governor of the State, and he 
 established the most stringent mllltar}' rule. His 
 numerous proclamations attracted wide attention. In 
 
 1864, he was elected A'lce-Presldent of the United 
 States, and ujxjn the death of Mr. Lincoln, April 15, 
 
 1865, became President. In a speech two days later 
 he said, " The American people must be taught, if 
 Zhey do not already feel, that treason is a crime and 
 must be punished ; that the Government will not 
 always bear with its enemies ; that it Is strong not 
 only to protect, but to punish. * * The people 
 must understand that it (treason) is the blackest of 
 crimes, and will surely be punished." Yet his whole 
 administration, the history of which is so well known, 
 was in utter icwonsistencv with, and the most violent 
 
 opiX)sition to. the principles laid down in that speech. 
 
 In his loose policy of reconstruction and general 
 amnesty, he was opposed by Congress ; and he char- 
 acterized Congress as a new rebellion, and lawlessly 
 defied it, in everything possible, to the utmost. In 
 the beginning of 1868, on account of "high crimes 
 and misdemeanors," the principal of which was the 
 removal of Secretary Stanton, in violation of the Ten- 
 ure of Office Act, articles of impeachment were pre- 
 ferred against him, and the trial began March 23. 
 
 It was very tedious, continuing for nearly three 
 months. A test article of the impeachment was at 
 length submitted to the court for its action. It was 
 certain that as the court voted upon that article so 
 would it vote upon all. Thirty-four voices pronounced 
 the President guilty. As a two-thirds vote was neces- 
 sary to his condemnation, he was pronounced ac- 
 quitted, notwithstanding the great majority against 
 him. The change of one vote from the not guilty 
 side would have sustained the impeachment. 
 
 The President, for the remainder of his term, was 
 but little regarded. He continued, though impotent';-; 
 his conflict with Congress. His own party did not 
 think it expedient to renominate him for the Presi- 
 dency. The Nauon rallied, with enthusiasm unpar- 
 alleled since the days of Washington, around the name 
 of Gen. Grant. Andrew Johnson was forgotten. 
 The bullet of the assassin introduced him to the 
 President's chair. Notwithstanding tliis, never was 
 tliere presented to a man a better opportunity to im- 
 mortalize his name, and to win the gratitude of a 
 nation. He failed utterly. He retired to his home 
 in Greenville, Tenn., taking no very active part in 
 politics until 1875. On Jan. 26, after an e.vcitlng 
 struggle, he was chosen by the Legislature of Ten- 
 nessee, United States Senator in the forty-fourth Con- 
 gress, and took his seat in that body, at the specla'. 
 session convened by President tlrant, on the 5lh of 
 March. On the 27th of July, 1875, the ex-Presldent 
 made a visit to his daughter's home, near Cartel 
 Station, Tenn. When he started on his journey, he was 
 apparently in his usual vigorous he.ilth, but on reach- 
 ing the residence of his child the following day, was 
 stricken with paralysis, rendering him unconscious. 
 He rallied occasionally, but finally passed away at 
 2 A. M., July 31, aged sixty-seven years. His fun- 
 eral was attended at Geenville, on the 3d of August, 
 with every demonstration of respect. 
 
y- a. 
 
 ,2tr 
 
EIGH TKENTH FRESIBENT. 
 
 8/ 
 
 ^/' 
 
 LYSSES S. GRANT, ihe 
 eighteenth President of the 
 tr- United States, was born on 
 the 29lh of April, 1822, of 
 Christian parents, in a liumble 
 home, at Point Pleasant, on the 
 banks of the Ohio. Shortly after 
 his father moved to George- 
 town, Brown Co., O. In this re- 
 mote frontier hamlet, Ulysses 
 received a common-school edu- 
 cation. At the age of seven- 
 teen, in the year 1839, he entered 
 the Milii'ary Academy at West 
 Point. Here he was regarded as a 
 3oiid, sensible young man of fair abilities, and of 
 sturdy, honest character. He took respectable rank 
 as a scholar. In June, 184J, he graduated, about the 
 middle in his class, and was sent as lieutenant of in- 
 fantry to one of the distant military posts in the Mis- 
 souri Territory. Two years he past in these dreary 
 solitudes, watching the vagabond and exasperating 
 Indians. 
 
 The war with Mexico came. Lieut. Grant was 
 sent with his regiment to Corpus Christi. His first 
 battle was at Palo Alto. There was no chance here 
 for the exhibition of either skill or heroism, nor at 
 Resacade la Palma, his second battle. At the battle 
 of Monterey, his third engagement, it is said that 
 he performed a signal service of daring and skillful 
 horsemanship. His brigade had exhausted its am- 
 munition. A messenger must be sent for more, along 
 a route exposed to the bullets of the foe. Lieut. 
 Grant, adopting an expedient learned of the Indians, 
 grasped the mane of his horse, and hanging upon one 
 side of the anipvil, ran the gauntlet in entire safety. 
 
 
 From Monterey he was sent, with the fourth infantry, 
 10 aid Gen. Scott, at the siege of Vera Cruz. In 
 preparation for the march to the city of Mexico, he 
 was appointed quartermaster of his regiment. At the 
 battle of Molino del Rev, he was promoted to a 
 first lieutenancy, and was brevetted captain at Cha- 
 pultepec. 
 
 At the close of the Mexican War, Capt. Grant re- 
 turned with his regiment to New York, and was again 
 sent to one of the military posts on the frontier. The 
 discovery of gold in California causing an immense 
 tide of emigration to flow to the Pacific shores, Capt. 
 Grant was sent with a battalion to Fort Dallas, in 
 Oregon, for the protection of the interests of tlie im- 
 migrants. Life was wearisome in those wilds. Capt. 
 Grant resigned his commission and returned to the 
 States; and having married, entered upon the cultiva- 
 tion of a small farm near St. Louis, Mo. He had but 
 little skill as a farmer. Finding his toil not re- 
 munerative, he turned to mercantile life, entering into 
 the leather business, with a younger brother, at (ia- 
 lena. 111. This was in the year i860. As the tidings 
 of the rebels firing on Fort Sumpter reached the ears 
 of Capt. Grant in his counting-room, he said, — 
 "Uncle Sam has educated me for the army; though 
 I have served him through one war, I do not feel that 
 I have yet repaid the debt. I am still ready to discharge 
 my obligations. I shall fherefore buckle on my sword 
 and see Uncle Sam through this war too." 
 
 He went into the streets, raised a company of vol- 
 unteers, and led them as their captain to Springfield, 
 the capital of the State, where their services were 
 offered to Gov. Yates. The Governor, impressed by 
 the zeal and straightforward executive ability of Capt. 
 Grant, gave him a desk in his office, to assist in the 
 volunteer organization that was being formed in the 
 Stale in behalf of the Government. On the 15th of 
 
88 
 
 [/LVSS£:S S. GRANT. 
 
 June, 1861, Capt. Grant received a commission as 
 Colonel of the Twenty-first Regiment of Illinois Vol- 
 unteers. His merits as a West Point graduate, who 
 had served for 15 years in the regular army, were such 
 that he was soon inomoted to the rank of Brigadier- 
 General and was jilaced in command at Cairo. The 
 rebels raised their banner at Paducah, near the mouth 
 of the Tennessee River. Scarcely had its folds ap- 
 peared in the breeze ere Gen. Grant was there. The 
 rebels fled. Their banner fell, and the star and 
 stripes were unfurled in its stead. 
 
 He entered tlie service witli great determination 
 and immediately began active duty. This was the be- 
 ginning, and until the surrenderor Lee at Richmond 
 lie was ever pushing the enemy with great vigor and 
 effectiveness. At Belmont, a few days later, he sur- 
 prised and routed the rebels, then at Fort Henrj- 
 won another victory. Then came the brilliant fight 
 at Fort Donelson. The nation was electrified by the 
 victory, and the brave leader of the boys in blue was 
 immediately made a M.njor-General, and the military 
 iistrict of Tennessee was assigned to him. 
 
 Like all great captains. Gen. Grant knew well how 
 to secure the results of victory. He immediately 
 pushed on to the enemies' lines. Then came the 
 terrible battles of Pittsburg Landing, Corinth, and the 
 siege of Vicksburg, where Gen. Pemberton made an 
 unconditional surrender of the city with over thirty 
 thousand men and one-hundred and seventy-two can- 
 non. The fall of Vicksburg was by far the most 
 severe blow which the rebels had thus far encountered, 
 and opened up the .Mississippi from Cairo to the Gulf. 
 
 Gen. Grant was next ordered to co-operate with 
 Gen. lianks in a movement upon Texas, and pro- 
 ceeded to New Orleans, where he was thrown from 
 his horse, and received severe injuries, from which he 
 was laid up for months. He then rushed to the aid 
 of Gens. Rosecrans and Thomas at Chattanooga, and 
 by a wonderful series of strategic and technical meas- 
 ures put the Union Army in fighting condition. Then 
 followed the bloody battles at Chattanooga, Lookout 
 Mountain and Missionary Ridge, in which the rebels 
 were routed with great loss. This won for him un- 
 bounded praise in the North. On the 4th of Febru- 
 ary, 1864, Congress revived the grade of lieutenant- 
 general, and the rank was conferred on Gen. Grant. 
 He repaired to Washington to receive his credentials 
 ■md enter upon t'"' duties of his new office. 
 
 Gen. Grant decided as soon as he took charge of 
 the army to concentrate the widely-dispersed National 
 troops for an attack ujKJii Richmond, the nominal 
 capital of the Rebellion, and endeavor there to de- 
 stroy the rebel armies which would be promptly as- 
 sembled from all quarters for its defence. The whole 
 continent seemed to tremble under the tramp of these 
 majestic armies, rushing to the decisive battle field. 
 Steamers were crowded with troops. Railway trains 
 were burdened with closely packed thousands. His 
 plans were comprehensive and involved a series of 
 campaigns, which were executed with remarkable en- 
 ergy and ability, and were consummated at the sur- 
 render of Lee, April 9, 1865. 
 
 The war was ended. The Union was saved. The 
 almost unanimous voice of the Nation declared Gen. 
 Grant to be the most prominent instrument in its sal- 
 vation. The eminent services he had thus rendered 
 the (ountry brought him conspicuously forward as the 
 Republican candidate for the Presidential chair. 
 
 .\l the Republican Convention held at Chicago. 
 May 21, 1868, he was unanimously nominated for tiie 
 Presidency, and at the autumn election received a 
 majority of the popular vote, and 214 out of 294 
 electoral votes. 
 
 The National Convention of the Republican party 
 which met at Philadelphia on the 5th of June, 1872, 
 placed Gen. Grant in nomination for a second term 
 by a unanimous vote. The selection was emphati- 
 cally indorsed by the people five months later, 292 
 electoral votes being cast for him. 
 
 Soon after the close of his second term, Gen. Grant 
 started upon his famous trip around the world. He 
 visited almost every country of the civilized world, 
 and was everywhere received with such ovations 
 and demonstrations of respect and honor, private 
 as well as public and official, as were never before 
 bestowed upon any citizen of the United States. 
 
 He was the most prominent candidate before the 
 Reijublican National Convention in 1880 for a re- 
 nomination for President. He went to New York and 
 embarked in the brokerage business under the firm 
 nameof Grant &: Ward. The latter proved a villain, 
 wrecked Grant's fortune, and for larceny was sent to 
 the penitentiary. The General was attacked with 
 cancer in the throat, but suffered in his stoic-like 
 manner, never complaining. He was re-instated as 
 General of the Army and retired by Congress. The 
 cancer soon finished its deadly work, and July 23, 
 1885, the nation wenf in mourning over the death of 
 the illustrious General. 
 
s^ 
 
 y^^-J^ 
 
 o- 
 
NINETEENTH J'RESIDENT. 
 
 9» 
 
 .^a 
 
 s--* 
 
 m- 
 
 RUTHERFORD B. HiLYES. 
 
 )' .•'i'-;'j|.;;i'.;)|,;i',.'-i'^>it^itg^'^'..' i' ; . 
 
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 ~~T>t-t5^3^£,N-v^.^_ ^^,-- ',?),GXQ^i'^*°*' 
 
 UTHERFORl) B. HAYES, 
 
 AA the nineteentli President of 
 . gfj'lhe United States, was born m 
 Delaware, O., Oct. 4, 1822, al- 
 most three months after the 
 death of his father, Rutherford 
 Hayes. His ancestry on hoth 
 the paternal and maternal sides, 
 was of the most honorable char- 
 acter. It can be traced, it is said, 
 as farbackas 12S0, when Hayes and 
 Rutherford were two Scottish chief- 
 tains, fighting side by side with 
 Baliol, William Wallace and Robert 
 Bruce. Both families belonged to the 
 nobility, owned extensive estates, 
 and had a large following. Misfor- 
 tune ovi:f<aking the family, George Hayes left Scot- 
 land in i68o, and settled in Windsor, Conn. His son 
 George wai born in Windsor, and remained there 
 during his liJe. Daniel Hayes, son of the latter, mar- 
 ried Sarah L;e, and lived from the time of his mar- 
 riage until h!s death in Sinisbury, Conn. Ezekiel, 
 son of Daniel, was born in 1724, and was a manufac- 
 turerof scythe^at Bradford, Conn. Rutherford Hayes, 
 son of Ezekiel aud grandfather of President Hayes, was 
 born in New Haven, in August, 1756. He was a farmer, 
 blacksmith and tavern-keeper. He emigrated to 
 Vermont at an uiiknown date, settling in Brattleboro, 
 where he established a hotel. Here his son Ruth- 
 erford Hayes the father of President Hayes, was 
 
 born. He was married, in September, 1813, to Sopiiia 
 Birchard, of Wilmington, Vt., whose ancestors emi- 
 grated thither from Connecticut, they having been 
 among the wealthiest and best famlies of Norwich. 
 Her ancestry on the male side are traced back tc 
 1635, to John Birchard, one of the principal founders 
 of Norwich. Both of her grandfathers were soldiers 
 in the Revolutionary War. 
 
 The father of President Hayes was an industrious 
 frugal and opened-hearted man. He was of a me 
 chanical turn, and could mend a plow, knit a stock- 
 ing, or do almost anything else that he choose to 
 undertake. He was a member of the Church, active 
 in all the benevolent enterprises of the town, and con- 
 ducted his business on Christian principles. After 
 the close of the war of 181 2, for reasons inexplicable 
 to his neighbors, he resolved to emigrate to Ohio. 
 
 The journey from Vermont to Ohio in that day 
 when there were no canals, steamers, nor railways 
 was a very serious affair. A tour of inspection was 
 first made, occupying four months. Mr. Hayes deter 
 mined to move to Delaware, where the family arrived 
 in 1817. He died July 22, 1822, a victim of malaii,,i 
 fever, less than three months before the birth of ih; 
 son, of whom we now write. Mrs. Hayes, in her sore be- 
 reavement, found the support she so much needed in 
 her brother Sardis, who had been a member of the 
 household from the day of its departure from Ver- 
 mont, and in an orphan girl whom she had adopted 
 some time before as an act of charity. 
 
 Mrs. Hayes at this period was very weak, and the 
 
92 
 
 "RUTHERFORD BTITA YES. 
 
 ■>\ 
 
 subject of this sketch was so feeble at birth that he 
 was not expected to hve beyond a month or two at 
 most. As the months went by he grow weaker and 
 weaker, so that the neighbors were in the habit of in- 
 iiuiringfrom time to time " if Mrs. Hayes' baby died 
 iast night." On one occasion a neiglibor, who was on 
 fimihar terms with the family, after alluding to the 
 boy's big head, and the mother's assiduous care of 
 lim, said in a bantering way, " That's right! Stick to 
 liim. You have got him along so far, and I shouldn't 
 wonder if he would really come to something yet." 
 
 " Vou reed not laugh," said Mrs. Hayes. " You 
 vait and see. You can't tell but I shall make him 
 President of the United States yet." The boy lived, 
 in spite of the universal predictions of his speedy 
 death; and when, in 1825, his older brother was 
 drowned, he became, if possible, still dearer to his 
 mother. 
 
 The boy was seven yeais old before he wjnt to 
 scliool. His education, however, was not neglected. 
 He probably learned as much from his mother and 
 s ister as he would liave done at school. His sports 
 were almost wholly within doors, his playmates being 
 his sister and her associates. These circumstances 
 tended, no doubt, to foster that gentleness of dispo- 
 sition, and that delicate consideration for the feelings 
 of others, which are marked traits of his character. 
 
 His uncle Sardis Birchard took the deepest interest 
 in his education ; and as the boy's health had im- 
 proved, and he was making good progress in his 
 studies, he proposed to send liim to college. His pre- 
 paration commenced with a tutor at home; bit he 
 was afterwards sent for one year to a professor in the 
 Wesleyan University, in Middletown, Conn. He en- 
 tered Kenyon College in 1838, at the age of sixteen, 
 and was graduated at the head of his class in 1842. 
 
 Immediately after his graduation lie began the 
 study of law in the office of Thomas Sparrow, Esq., 
 in Columbus. Finding his opportunities for study in 
 Columbus somewhat limited, he determined to enter 
 the I.aw School at Cambridge, Mass., where he re- 
 mained two years. 
 
 In 1845, after graduatmg at the Law School, he was 
 admitted to the bar at Marietta, Ohio, and shortly 
 afterward went into practice as an attorney-at-law 
 with Ralph P. Buckland, of Fremont. Here he re- 
 mained three years, ac(iuiring but a limited practice, 
 and apparently unambitious of distinctit)n in his pro- 
 fession. 
 
 In 1849 he moved to Cinrmnati, wliere his ambi- 
 tion found a new stimulus. For several years, how- 
 ever, his progress was slow. Two events, occurring at 
 this period, had a jiowerful influence upon his subse- 
 r_uent life. One of tliese was his marrage with Miss 
 Lucy Ware Webb, daughter of Dr. James Webb, of 
 Chilicothe; the othei was his introduction to the Cin- 
 cinnati Literary Club, a body embracing among its 
 niembers such men as '"hief Justice Salmon P.Clmse, 
 
 Gen. John Pope, Gov. Edward F. Noyes, and many 
 others hardly less distinguished in after life. The 
 marriage was a fortunate one in every respect, as 
 ever) body knows. Not one of all the wives of our 
 Presidents was more universally admired, reverenced 
 and beloved than was Mis. Hayes, and no one did 
 more than she to reflect honor upon American woman 
 hood. The Liteiary Cluu brought Mr. Haye^ ;ntc' 
 constant association with young men of high char- 
 acter and noijlc aims, and lured him to display t'.ie 
 ([Ualities so long hidden by his bashfulncs ant? 
 modesty. 
 
 In 1856 he was nominated to the office of Judg; o" 
 the Court of Common Pleas; but he declined to ac- 
 cept the nomination. Two years later, the office o' 
 city solicitor becoming vacant, the City Co"nci. 
 elected him for the une.xpired term. 
 
 In 1861, when the Rebellion broke out, he \va? a: 
 the zenith of his professional life. His rank at the 
 bar was among the the first. But tlie news of thfi 
 attack on F'ort Sum pter found him eager to take 'Ui 
 arms for the defense of his country. 
 
 His military record was bright ard illustrious. In 
 October, 186 1, he was made Lieutenant-Colonel, and 
 in August, 1862, promoted Colonel of the 79th Ohio 
 regiment, but he refused to leave his old comrades 
 and go among strangers. Subsequently, however, he 
 was made Colonel of his old regiment. At the battle 
 of South Mountain he received a wound, and while 
 faint and bleeding disjilayed courage and fortitude 
 that won admiration from all. 
 
 Col. Hayes was detached from his regiment, after 
 his recovery, to act as Brigadier-General, and jilaced 
 in command of the celebrated Kanawha division, 
 and for gallant and meritorious services in the battles 
 of Winchester, Fisher's Hill and Cedar Creek, he wai 
 promoted Brigadier-General. He was also brevetted 
 Major-General, "forgallant and distirguished services 
 during the campaigns of 1864, in \Vest Virginia." In 
 tlie course of his arduous services, four horses were 
 shot from under him, and he was wounded four times 
 
 In 1864, Gen. Haves was elected to Congress, frcni 
 the Second Oliio District, wliicli had long been Dem- 
 ocratic. He was not jireserit during the campaign, 
 and after his election was importuned to resign his 
 commission in the army ; but lie finally declared, " I 
 shall never come to Washington until I can come liy 
 the way of Richmond." He was re-elected in 1866. 
 
 I;-. 1867, Gen Hayes was elected Governor of Ohio, 
 over Hon. .Mien G. Thurman, a -populai Democrat. 
 In I R69 was re-elected over George H. Pendleton. 
 He was elected Governor for tlie tliird term in 1875. 
 
 (n 1876 he was the standard bearer of the Repub- 
 lii;an Party in the Presidential contest, and after a 
 hard long contest was chosen President; and was ir. 
 augurated Monday, March 5, 1875. He served his 
 full term, not, however, with satisfaction to h'.s party, 
 but his administration was an average ov- 
 
TiVENTIETH PRESIDENT. 
 
 95 
 
 
 
 A^IES A. GARi'IELD, iwcn- 
 tieth President of the United 
 States, was born Nov. ig, 
 1S31, '\.\ the woods of Orange, 
 Cuyahoga Co., O His par- 
 ents were Abram and Eliza 
 (Ballou) Garfield, both of New 
 England ancestry and from fami- 
 lies well known in the early his- 
 =''^ tory of that section of our coun- 
 try, but had moved to the Western 
 Reserve, in Ohio, early in its settle- 
 ment. 
 
 The house in which James A. was 
 born was not unlike the houses of 
 poor Ohio farmers of that day. It 
 . rfs about 20 X 30 feet, built of logs, with the spaces be- 
 .ween the logs filled with clay. His father was a 
 iard working farmer, and he soon had his fields 
 cleared, an orchard planted, and a log barn built, 
 /he household comprised the father and mother and 
 heir four children — Mehetabel, 'I'homas, Mary and 
 ames. In May, 1823, the father, from a cold con- 
 . /acted in helping to put out a forest fire, died. At 
 diis time James was about eighteen months old, and 
 Thomas about ten years old. No one, perhaps, can 
 .ell how much James was indebted to his biother's 
 (cil and self-sacrifice during the twenty years suc- 
 ceeding his father's death, but undoubtedly very 
 much. He now lives in Michigan, and the two sis- 
 itrs live in Solon, O., near their birthplace. 
 
 The early educational advantages young Garfield 
 enjoyed were very limited, yet he made the iiiost of 
 ihem. He labored at farm work for others, did car- 
 penter work, chopped wood, or did anything that 
 would bring in a few dollars to aid his widowed 
 mother in he- -struggles to keep the little family to- 
 
 gether. Nor was Gen. (rarfield ever ashamed of his 
 origin, and he never forgot the friends of his strug- 
 gling childhood, youth and manhood, neither did they 
 ever forget him. When in the highest seats of honor 
 the humblest fiiend of his boyhood was as kindly 
 greeted as ever. The poorest laborer was sure of the 
 sympathy of one who had known all the bitterness 
 of want and the sweetness of bread earned by the 
 sweat of the brow. He was ever the simple, plain, 
 modest gentleman. 
 
 The highest ambition of young tnirfield until hi 
 was about si.xteen years old was to be a captain of 
 a vessel on Lake Eiie. He was anxious to go aboard 
 a vessel, which his mother strongly opposed. She 
 finally consented to his going to Cleveland, with th- 
 understanding, however, that he should try to obtair 
 some other kind of employment. He walked all the 
 way to Cleveland. This was his first visit to the city 
 After making many applications for work, and trying 
 to get aboard a lake vessel, and not meeting with 
 success, he engaged as a driver for his cousin, Amos 
 Letcher, on the Ohio & Tennsylvania Canal. He re- 
 mained at this work but a short time when he wen': 
 home, and attended the seminary at Chester for 
 about three years, when he entered Hiram and the 
 Eclectic Institute, teaching a few terms of school in 
 the meantime, and doing other work. This school 
 was started by the Disciples of Christ in 1850, of 
 which church he was then a member. He became 
 janitor and bell-ringer in order to help pay his way. 
 He then became bt)th teacher and pupil. He soon 
 " exhausted Hiram " and needed more ; hence, in the 
 fall of 1854, he entered Williams College, from which 
 he graduated in 18^6, taking one of the highest hon- 
 ors of his class. He afterwards returned to Hiram 
 College as its President. As above stated, he early 
 united with the Christian or Diciples Church at 
 Hiram, and was ever after a devoted, zealous mem- 
 ber, often preaching in its pulpit and places where 
 he happened to be." Dr. Noah Porter, President of 
 Yale College, savs of him in reference to liis religion: 
 
96 
 
 JAMES A. GARFIELD. 
 
 " President Garfield was more than a man of 
 strong moral and religious convictions. His whole 
 history, from boyhood to the last, sliows that duty to 
 man and lo God, and devotion to Christ and life and 
 faith and spiritual commisBion were controlling springs 
 of his being, and to a more than usual degree. In 
 -iiy judgment there is no more interesting feature of 
 nis character than his loyal allegiance to the body of 
 Christians in which he was trained, and the fervent 
 sympathy which he ever showed in their Christian 
 communion. Not many of the few 'wise and mighty 
 and noble who are called' show a similar loyalty to 
 the less stately and cultured Christian communions 
 in which they have been reared. Too often it is true 
 that as they step upward in social and political sig- 
 nificance they step upward from one degree to 
 anotlier in some of the many types of fashionable 
 Christianity. President Garfield adhered to the 
 church of his mother, the church in which he was 
 trained, and in which he served as a pillar and an 
 evangelist, and yet with the largest and most unsec- 
 larian cliarity for all 'who love our Lord in sincerity.'" 
 
 Mr. Garfield was united in marriage with Miss 
 Lucretia Rudolph, Nov. ii, 1858, who proved herself 
 Worthy as the wife of one whom all the world loved and 
 mourned. To them were born seven children, five of 
 v'liom are still living, four boys and one girl. 
 
 Mr. Garfield made his first political speeches in 1856, 
 in Hiram and the neighboring villages, and three 
 /ears later he began to speak at county mass-meet- 
 •iigs, and became the favorite speaker wherever he 
 WIS. During this year he was elected to the Ohio 
 Senate. He also began to study law at Cleveland, 
 and in i86i was admitted to the bar. The great 
 Rebellion broke out in the early part of this year, 
 and Mr. Garfield at once resolved to fight as he had 
 talked, and enlisted to defend the old flag. He re- 
 ceived his commission as Lieut.-Colonel of the Forty- 
 second Regiment of Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Aug. 
 14,1861. He was immediately put into active ser- 
 vice, and before he had ever seen a gun fired in acfion, 
 was placed in command of four regiments of infantry 
 and eight companies of cavalry, charged with the 
 work of driving out of his nadve State the officer 
 'Humphrey M-'.rsl-all) reputed to be the ablest of 
 those, not educated to war whom Kentucky had given 
 to the Rebellion. This work was bravely and speed- 
 ily accomplished, although against great odds. Pres- 
 ident Lincoln, on his success commissioned him 
 Brigadier-General, Jan. 10, 1862; and as "he had 
 been the youngest man in the Ohio Senate two years 
 liefore, so now he was the youngest General in the 
 army." He was with Gen. Buell's army at Shiloh, 
 in it.' operations around Corinth and its march throu"li 
 Alabama. He was then detailed as a memberof the 
 General Court-Martial for the trial of Gen. Fitz-John 
 Porter. He was then ordered to report to Gen. Rose- 
 crans, and was assigned to the " Chief of Staff." 
 The military l^'story of Gen. Garfield closed with 
 
 his brilliant services at Chickamauga, where he woi: 
 the stars ot the Major-General. 
 
 Without an effort on his part Gev Garfield wav 
 elected to Congress in the fall of 1S62 from tiie 
 Nineteenth District of Ohio. This section of Ohio 
 had been represented in Congress for sixty years 
 mainly by two men — Elisha Whittlesey and Joshuji 
 R. Giddiiigs. It was not without a struggle that he 
 resigned his place in the army. At the time heen- 
 tered Congress he was the youngest member in thai 
 body. There; he remained by successive re- 
 elections until he was elected President in 1880. 
 Of iiis labors in Congress Senator Hoar says : " Since 
 the year 1864 you cannot think of a question which 
 has been debated in Congress, or discussed before a 
 tribunel of the American people, in regard to which 
 you will not find, if you wish instruction, the argu- 
 ment on one side stated, in almost every instance 
 better than by anybody else, in some speech made in 
 the House of Representatives or on the hustings by 
 Mr. Garfield." 
 
 Uixjn Jan. 14, 1880, Gen. Garfield was elected to 
 the U. S. Senate, and on the eighth of June, of the 
 same year, was nominated as the candidate of his 
 party for President at the great Chicago Convention. 
 He was elected in the following November, and on 
 March 4, 1881, was inaugurated. Probably no ad- 
 ministration ever opened its existence under brighter 
 auspices than that of President Garfield, and every 
 day it grew in favo." with the people, and by the first 
 of July he had completed all the initiatory and pre- 
 liminary work of his administration and was prepar- 
 ing to leave the ciiy to meet his friends at Williams 
 College. While on his way and at the depot, in com- 
 jjany with Secretary lilaine, a man stejjped behind 
 him, drew a revolver, and fired directly at his back. 
 The President tottered and fell, and as he did so the 
 assassin fired a second shot, the bullet cutting the 
 left coat sleeve of his victim, but inflicting nofurlhei 
 injury. It has been very truthfully said that this was 
 " the shot that was heard round the world " Never 
 before in the history of the Nation had anything oc- 
 curred which so nearly froze the blood of the peop"^ 
 for the moment, as this awful deed. He was smit 
 ten on the brightest, gladdest day of all his life, and 
 was at the summit of his ixDwer and hope. Foreighty 
 days, all during the hot months of July and August, 
 he lingered and suffered. He, however, remained 
 master of himself till the last, and by his magnificent 
 bearing was teaching the country and the world the 
 noblest of human lessons — how to live grandly in the 
 very clutch of death. Great in life, he was surpass- 
 ingly great in death. He passed serenely away Sept. 
 19, 1883, at Elberon, N. J , on the very bank of the 
 ocean, where he had been taken shortly |)revious. The 
 world wept at his death, as it never had done on the 
 death of any other man who had ever lived upon it. 
 The murderer was duly tried, found guilty and exe- 
 cuted, in one year after he committed the fou; deed. 
 
T WEN T V. Fins T PRESIDENT. 
 
 9') 
 
 -•?^ 
 
 ?^>e;'^| HESTER A. ARTHUR, 
 
 V' ji^'ti> 
 
 fJ twenty-first Presir^ut Oi the 
 
 f,j" United States was born in 
 
 ^ Franklin Coin ty, Vermont, on 
 
 « thefiftliof Oc'ober, 1830, andis 
 
 the oldest of a family of two 
 
 sons and five daughters. His 
 
 father was ths Rev. Dr. William 
 
 j Arthur, aBaptistd .rgynian, who 
 
 emigrated to th.s country fro-n 
 
 ^ the county Antrim, Ireland, in 
 
 his iSth year, and died in 1875, in 
 
 Newtonville, neai Albany, after a 
 
 long and successful ministry 
 
 Young Arthur was educated at 
 g [/ Union College, S( henectady, where 
 he excelled in all his studies, .^f- 
 
 ter his graduation he taught school 
 in Vermont for two years, and at 
 the expiration cf that time came to 
 New York, with $500 in his pocket, 
 and eiitered the office of ex-Judge 
 E. D. Culver as student. .After 
 1 being admitted to the bar he formed 
 a partnership with his intimate friend and room-mate, 
 Henry 1). Gardiner, with the intention of practicing 
 in the West, and for three months they roamed about 
 In the Western States in search of an eligible site, 
 i)ut in the end returned to New York, where they 
 hung out their shingle, and entered upon a success- 
 ful career almost from the start. General Arthur 
 
 soon afterward iiv-ypfd the daughter of Lieutenant 
 L.ofC. 
 
 Herndon, of the United States Navy, who was lost at 
 sea. Congress voted a gold medal to his widow in 
 recognition of the bravery he displayed on that occa- 
 sion. Mrs. Arthur died shortly before Mr. Arthur's 
 nomination to the Vice Presidency, leaving two 
 children. 
 
 Gen. Arthur obtained considerable legal celebrity 
 in his first great case, the famous Lemmon suit," 
 brought to recover possession of eight slaves who had 
 been declared free by Judge Paine, of the Su[)erior 
 Court of New York City. It was in 1852 that Jon. 
 athan Lemmon, of Virginia, went to New York with 
 his slaves, intending to ship them to Texas, when 
 they were discovered and freed. The Judge decided 
 that they could not be held by the owner under the 
 Fugitive Slave Law. A howl of rage went up from 
 the South, and the Virginia Legislature authorized tht 
 Attorney General of that State to assist in an ajipeal. 
 Wm. M. Evarts and Chester A. Arthur were employed 
 to represent the People, and they won their case, 
 which th.e)i went to the Supreme Court of the United 
 States, ("liailes O'Conor here espoused the cause 
 of tlie slave-holders, but I'.e too was beaten by Messrs 
 Evarts and Arthur, and a long step was taken toward 
 the emancipation of the black race. 
 
 Another great service was rendered by General 
 Arthur in the same cause in 1856. Lizzie Jennings, 
 a respectable colored woman, Avas put off a Fourth 
 Avenue car with violence after she had paid her fare. 
 General Arthur sued on her behalf, and secured a 
 verdict of $500 damages. The next day the compa- 
 ny issued an order to admit colored persons to ride 
 on their cars, and the other car companies iiuickly 
 
CHESTER A. ARTHUR. 
 
 followed their example. Before that the Sixth Ave- 
 nue Company ran a few special cars for colored per- 
 sons and the other lines refused to let tjieni ride at all. 
 
 General Arthur was a delegate to the Convention 
 at Saratoga that founded the Republican party. 
 Previous to the war he was Judge- Advocate of the 
 Second Brigade of the State of New York, and Gov- 
 ernor Morgan, of that State, appointed him Engineer- 
 in-Chief of his staff. In 1861, he was made Inspec- 
 tor General, and soon afterward became Quartermas- 
 ter-General. In each of these offices he rendered 
 great service to the Government during the war. At 
 the end of Governor Morgan's term he resumed the 
 practice of the law, forming a partnership with Mr. 
 Ransom, and then Mr. Plieljis, the District Attorney 
 of New Yoik, was added to the firm. The legal prac- 
 tice of this well-known firm was very large and lucra- 
 tive, each of the gentlemen composing it were able 
 lawyers, and possessed a splendid local reputation, if 
 not indeed one of national extent. 
 
 He always took a leading part in State and city 
 politics. He was appointed Collector of the Port of 
 New York by President Grant, Nov. 21 1872, to suc- 
 ceed Thomas Muri)hy, and held the office until July, 
 ?o, 1878, when he was succeeded by Collector Merritt. 
 
 Mr. Arthi'.r was nominated on the Presidential 
 ticket, witji Gen. James A. (iarfield, at the famous 
 National Republican Convention held at Chicago in 
 June, 1S80. This was perhaps the greatest political 
 convention that ever assembled on tlie continent. It 
 was composed of the 'sading politicians of the Re- 
 publican party, all able men, and each stood firm and 
 fought vigorously and with signal tenacity for their 
 respective candidates that were before the conven- 
 tion for the nomination. Finally Gen. Garfield re- 
 ceived the nomination for President and Gen. Arthur 
 for Vice-President. The campaign which followed 
 was one of the most animated known in the history of 
 our country. Gen. Hancock, the standard-bearer of 
 the Democratic party, was a popular man, and his 
 jjarty made a valiant fight for his election. 
 
 Finally the election came and the country's choice 
 .vas Cxarfield and Arthur. They were inaugurated 
 iVlarch 4, 1881, as President and Vice-President. 
 A few months only had passed ere the newly chosen 
 President was the victim of the assassin's bullet. Then 
 came terrible weeks of suffering, — -thost moments of 
 an,xious suspense, when the hearts of all civilized na- 
 
 tions were throbbing in unison, longing for the re- 
 covery of the noble, the good President. The remark- 
 able patience that he manifested during those hours 
 and weeks, and even months, of the most terrible suf- 
 fering man has often been called upon to endure, was 
 seemingly more than human. It was certainly (iod- 
 like. During all this period of deepest anxiety Mr. 
 Arthur's every move was watched, and be it said to his 
 credit that his every action displayed only an earnest 
 desire that the suffering Garfield might recover, to 
 serve the remainder of the term he had so auspi- 
 ciously begun. Not a selfish feeling was manifested 
 in deed or look of this man, even though the most 
 honored position in the world was at any moment 
 likely lo fall to him. 
 
 At last God in his mercy relieved President Gar- 
 field from further suffering, and the world, as never 
 before in its history over the death of any other 
 man, wept at his bier. Then it became the duty of 
 the Vice President to ;.ssume the responsibilities ■ of 
 the high office, and he took the oath in New York. 
 Sept. 20, 1 88 1. The position was an embarrassing 
 one to him, made doubly so from the facts that all 
 eyes were on him, anxious to know what he would do, 
 what policy he would pursue, and who he would se- 
 lect as advisers. The duties of the office had been 
 greatly neglected during the President's long illness, 
 and many important measures were to be immediately 
 decided by him; and still farther to embarrass him he 
 did not fail to realize under what circumstances he 
 became President, and knew the feelings of many on 
 this point. Under these trying circumstances President 
 Arthur took the reins of the Government in his own 
 hands ; and, as embarrassing as were the condition of 
 affairs, he happily surprised tiie nation, acting so 
 wisely that but few criticised his administration. 
 He served the nation well and faithfully, until the 
 close of his administration, March 4, 1885., and was 
 a popular candidate before his party for a second 
 term. His name was ably presented before the con- 
 vention at Chicago, and was received with great 
 favor, and doubtless but for the personal popularity 
 of one of the opposing candidates, he would have 
 been selected as the standard-bearer of his party 
 for another campaign. He retired to private life car- 
 rying with him the best wishes of the American peo- 
 ple, whom he had served in a manner satisfactory 
 to then and with credit i'" liinTself 
 
.-^l^€rt£y^ 
 
 C/€.^<^ayt^^xi 
 
TWENTY-SECONn PRESIDENT. 
 
 '=3 
 
 
 '^'^Viv^ '^'£;l*c'S' ^,ivVdP ^At^ *^ -^°<^ W'^J^ V"^°«<"*ff >/!tC^^T«^'9* <.;<^ 'ff "^.iCy ^;iC**'^;-t* V oI-=T V ^yVi^. V -'-Jv-* T 
 
 r0:0er 
 
 ^u 
 
 OCX? . 
 
 ooo 
 
 TEPHEN GROVER CLEVE- 
 LAND, the twenty- second Pres- 
 ident of the United States, was 
 born in 1837, in the obscure 
 town of Caldwell, Essex Co., 
 N. J., and in a little two-and-a- 
 half-story white house which is still 
 standing, characteristically to mark 
 the humble birth-place of one of 
 America's great men in striking con- 
 trast with the Old World, where all 
 men high in office must be high in 
 origin and born in the cradle of 
 wealth. When the subject of this 
 sketch was three years of age, his 
 father, who was a Presbyterian min- 
 ister, with a large family and a small salary, moved, 
 by way of the Hudson River and Erie Canal, to 
 Fayetteville, in search of an increased income and a 
 larger field of work. Fayetteville was then the most 
 straggling of country villages, about five miles from 
 Pompey Hill, where Governor Seymour was born. 
 
 At the last mentioned place young Grover com- 
 menced going to school in the " good, old-fashioned 
 way," and presumably distinguished himself after the 
 manner of all village boys, in doing tlie things he 
 ought not to do. Such is the distinguishing trait of 
 all geniuses and independent thinkers. When he 
 arrived at the age of 14 years, he had outgrown the 
 capacity of the village school and expressed a most 
 
 emphatic desire to be sent to an academy. To this 
 his father decidedly objected. Academies in those 
 days cost money; besides, his father wanted him to 
 become self-supporting by the quickest possible 
 means, and this at that time in Fayetteville seemed 
 to be a position in a country store, where his father 
 and the large family on his hands had considerable 
 inflaeacc. Grover was to be paid $50 for his services 
 t'le first year, and if he proved trustworthy he was to 
 receive $100 the second year. Here the lad com- 
 menced his career as salesman, and in two years he 
 h rd earned so good a reputation for trustworthiness 
 that his employers desired to retain him for an iPi. 
 definite length of time. Otherwise he did not ex- 
 hi'uit as yet any particular "flashes of genius" or 
 eccentricities of talent. He was simply a good boy. 
 But instead of remaining with this firm in Fayette- 
 ville, he went with the family in their removal to 
 Clinton, where he had an opportunity of attending a 
 high school. Here he industriously pursued his 
 studies until the family removed with him to a point 
 0:1 Black River known as the " Holland Patent," a 
 village of 500 or 600 people, 15 miles north of Utica, 
 M. Y. At this place liis father died, after preaching 
 but three Sundays. This event broke up the family, 
 and Grover set out for New York City to accept, at a 
 small salary, the position of " under-teacher " in an 
 asylum for the blind. He taught faithfully for two 
 years, and although he obtained a good reputation in 
 this capacity, he concluded that teaching was not his 
 
104 
 
 S. G ROVER CLEVELAND. 
 
 calling for life, and, reversing the traditional order, 
 he left the city to seek his fortune, instead of going 
 to a city. He first thought of Cleveland, Ohio, as 
 there was some charm in that name for him; but 
 before proceeding to that place he went to Buffalo to 
 jsk the advice of liis uncle, Lewis F. Allan, a noted 
 stock-breeder of that place. The Litter did not 
 rpeak enthusiastically. '' What is it you want to do, 
 my boy?" he asked. "Well, sit, I want to study 
 'aw," was the reply. "Good gracious!" remarked 
 he old gentleman ; " do you, indeed ? What ever put 
 that into your head? How much money have you 
 got?" ■■Well, sir, to tell the truth, I haven't got 
 any. 
 
 After a long consultation, his uncle offered him a 
 place temporarily as assistant herd-keeper, at $50 a 
 year, wiiile iic could " look around." One day soon 
 afterward he boldly walked into the office of Rogers, 
 Bowen & Rogers, of Buffalo, and told Ihem what he 
 wanted. A numlier of young men were already en- 
 gaged in the office, but Grover's persistency won, and 
 ne was finally permitted to come as rn office boy and 
 have the use of the law library, for the nominal sum 
 of $3 or $4 a week. Out of this he had to pay for 
 his board and washing. The walk to and from his 
 uncle's was a long and rugged one; and, although 
 the first winter was a memorably severe one, his 
 shoes were out of repair and his overcoat — he had 
 i.one — yet he was nevertheless prompt and regular. 
 On the first day of his service here, his senior em- 
 ployer threw down a copy of Blackstone before him 
 with a bang that made the dust fly, saying "That's 
 where they all begin." A titter ran around the little 
 circle of cleiks and students, as they thought that 
 was enough to scare young Grover out of his plans ; 
 ijut in due time he mastered that cumbersome volume. 
 Then, as ever afterward, however, Mr. Cleveland 
 exhibited a talent for cxecutiveness rather than for 
 chasing principles through all their metaphysical 
 iiossibilities. " Let us quit talking and go and do 
 't,"was practically his motto. 
 
 The first public office to which Mr. Cleveland was 
 elected was that of Sheriff of Erie Co., N. Y., in 
 which Buffalo is situated; and in such capacity it fell 
 to his duty to inflict capital punishment upon two 
 criminals. In 1881 he was elected Mayor of the 
 City of Buffalo, 01 tlie Democratic ticket, with es- 
 pecial reference to the bringing about certain p;fpr5Ps 
 
 in the administration of the municipal affairs of that 
 city. In this office, as well as that of Sheriff, his 
 performance of duty has generally been considered 
 fair, with possibly a few exceptions which were fer- 
 reted out and magnified during the last Presidential 
 campaign. As a specimen of his plain language in 
 a veto message, we quote from one vetoing an iniqui- 
 tous street-cleaning contract: "Tliis is a time foi 
 plain speech, and my objection to your action siiall 
 be plainly stated. I regard it as the culmination of 
 a mos bare-faced, impudent and shameless scheme 
 to betray the interests of the peopl'. and to worsi 
 than squander the people's money." The New York 
 Su?i afterward very highly commended Mr. Cleve- 
 land's administration as Mayor of Buffalo, and there- 
 upon recommended him for Governor of the Empire 
 State. To the latter office he was elected i;i 18S2, 
 and his administration of the affairs of State was 
 generally satisfactory. The mistakes he inade, if 
 any, were made very public throughout the nation 
 after he was nominated for President of the United 
 States. For this high office he was nominated July 
 II, 1884, by the National Democratic Convention at 
 Chicago, when other competitors were Thomas F. 
 Bayard, Roswell P. Flower, Thomas A. Hendricks, 
 Benjamin F. Butler, Allen G. Thurman, etc.; and he 
 was elected by the peoiile, by a majority of about a 
 thousand, over the brilliant and long-tried Repub- 
 lican statesman, James G. Blaine. President Cleve- 
 land resigned his office as Governoi of New York in 
 January, 1885, in order to prepare for his duties as 
 the Chief E.xecutive of the United States, in which 
 capacity his term commenced at noon on the 4th of 
 March, 18S5. For his Cabinet officers he selected 
 the following gentlemen: For Secretary of State, 
 Thomas F. Bayard, of Delaware ; Secretary of the 
 Treasury, Daniel Manning, of New York ; Secretary 
 of War, William C. Endicott, of Massachusetts ; 
 Secretary of the Navy, William C. Wiiitney, of New 
 York; Secretary of the Interior, L. Q. C. Lamar, of 
 Mississippi; Postmaster-General, William F. Vilas, 
 of Wisconsin ; .Attorney-General, A. H. Garland, of 
 Arkansas. 
 
 The silver question precipitated a controverr.y be- 
 tween those who were in favor of the continuance of 
 silver coinage and those who were opposed, Mr. 
 Cleveland answering for the lattsr, even before his 
 inauguration. 
 
c>v4 
 
 iJ2>'7^-J'L-i>«*^1^*-2^ 
 
TWENTY-THIRD PRESIDENT. 
 
 107 
 
 
 
 
 
 ■A ■<S-> 
 
 ^^ 
 
 -S- 
 
 ..o*o.@Xl5)"'>*<'" 
 
 I:NJAMIN HARRLSON, the 
 twenty-third President, is 
 the descendant of one of the 
 historical families of this 
 country. The head of the 
 family was a Jlajor General 
 Harrison, one of Oliver 
 Cromwell's trusted follow- 
 ers and fighters. In the zenith of Crom- 
 woll's power it became the duty of this 
 Harrison to particii)ate in the trial of 
 Charles I, and afterward to sign the 
 death warrant of the king. He subse- 
 quently paid for this with his life, being 
 hung Oct. 13, 1600. His descendants 
 came to America, and the next of the 
 family that appears in history is Benja- 
 r.:in 'Tarrison, of Virginia, great-grand- 
 father of the subject of this sketch, and 
 after whom he was named. Benjamin Harrison 
 was a member of the Continental Congress during 
 the years i774-5-G,and was one of the original 
 signers of the Dechaation of Independence. He 
 was three times elected Governor of Virginia. 
 Geu William Iliniy Harrison, the son of the 
 
 distinguished patriot of the Revolution, after a suc- 
 cessful career as n soldier during the War of 1812, 
 and with -a clean record as Governor of the North- 
 western Territoiy, was elected President of the 
 United States in 1840. His career was cut short 
 by death within one month after Iiis incuguration. 
 President Harrison was born at North Bond, 
 Hamilton Co., Ohio, Aug. SO, 1833? His life up to 
 the time of his graduation by the Miami University 
 at Oxford, Ohio, was the uneventful one of a coun- 
 try lad of a family of small means. His father was 
 able to give him a good education, and nothing- 
 more. He became engaged while at college to ths 
 daughter of Dr. Scott, Principal of a female schoo 
 at Oxford. After graduating he determined to en^ 
 tcv upon the study of the law. He went to Cin 
 cinnati and then read law for two years. At tht 
 cxi)iration of that time young Harrison receivtAl tb . 
 only inheritance of his life; his aunt dying left liin 
 a lot valued at 1800. He regarded this legacy as t 
 fortune, and decided to get married at once, ♦aks 
 tills money and go to some Eastern town an '. >e- 
 gin the practice of law. He sold his lot, and with 
 the money in his pocket, he started out witii his 
 young wife to fight fc>r a place "'n tlic world. I'e 
 
108 
 
 iiElN.JAMlN ilAkKiSON, 
 
 deciiled to go to Indianapolis, which was even at 
 that time a town of promise. He met witii slight 
 encouragement at first, uialving scarcely anj'thing 
 tlie first 3-ear. He worked diligently, applying him- 
 self closely to his calling, built up an extensive 
 practice and took a leading raniv in the legal pro- 
 .ession. He is the father of two children. 
 
 In 18G0 Mr. Harrison was nominated for the 
 position of Supreme Court Reporter, and *,!ien be- 
 gan his experience as a stump speake: He can- 
 vassed the IState tlK)rouglil_y, and was elected by a 
 handsome majority. In 18G2 he raised the ITtli 
 Indiana Infantry, and was chosen its Colonel. His 
 regiment was composed of the rawest of material, 
 .)ut Ct)l. Harrison emplo^'ed all his time at first 
 mastering military t.actics and drilling his men, 
 when he therefore came to move toward the East 
 with Sherman his regiment was one of the best 
 drilled and organiziMl in the arm}'. At Resaca he 
 especially distinguished himself, and for his bravery 
 :-.t Peachtree Creek he was made a Brigadier Gen- 
 eral, Gen. Hooker speaking of him in the most 
 complimentary terms. 
 
 During the absence of Gen. Harrison in tlie field 
 he Supreme Court declared the ollice of the Su- 
 preme Court Reporter vacant, and another person 
 was elected to the position. From the time of leav- 
 iiig Indiana with his regiment until the fall of 18G4 
 he had taken no leave of absence, but having been 
 nominated that year for the same office, he got a 
 thirty-day leave of absence, and during that time 
 made a brilliant canvass of the State, and was elected 
 for another terra. He then started to rejoin Sher- 
 man, but on the waj'' was stricken down with scarlet 
 .'ever, and after a most tr3'ing siege made his way 
 to the front in time to participate in tiie closing 
 incidents of the war. 
 
 In 18G8 Gen. Harrison dechned c, re-election as 
 j-eporter, and resumed the practice of law. In 1876 
 ae was .a candidate for Governor. Although de- 
 eated, the brilliant campaign he made won for him 
 a National reputation, and he was much sought, es- 
 pecia^.y in the East, to make S[)eechcs. In 1880, 
 as usual, he took an active part in the campaign, 
 and wa'_ elected to the United States Senate. Here 
 he served six j'ears, and was known as one of the 
 ablest men, best lawyer? uud strongest debaters in 
 
 that body. "With the expiration of his Senatorial 
 term he returned to the practice of his profession, 
 becoming the head of one of the strongest firms in 
 the State. 
 
 The political campaign of 1888 was one of tlie 
 most memorable in the history of our countr\'. The 
 convention which assembled in Chicago in June and 
 named Mr. Harrison as the chief standard bearer 
 of the Republican party, was great in everj' partic- 
 ular, and on this account, and the attitude it as- 
 sumed upon the vital questions of the day, chief 
 among which was the tariff, awoke a deep interest 
 in the campaign throughout the Nation. Shortly 
 after the nomination delegations began to visit Mr. 
 Harrison at Indianapolis, his home. This move- 
 ment became jwpular, and from all sections of the 
 country societies, clubs and delegations journej'ed 
 thither to pay their respects to the distinguished 
 statesman. The popularity of these was greatly 
 increased on account of the remarkable speeches 
 made by Mr. Harrison. He spoke dail}' all through 
 the summer and autumn to these visiting delega- 
 tions, and so varied, masterly and eloquent were 
 his speeches that they at once placed him in the 
 foremost rank of American orators and statesmen. 
 
 On account of his eloquence as a speaker and his 
 power as a debater, he was called u[i(in at an un- 
 commonly early age to take part in the discussion 
 of the great questions that then began tj agitate 
 the country. He was an inu'ompr<miising ant: 
 slavery man. and was matched against some of ' '..e 
 most eminent Demi.cratic speakers of his State. 
 Xo man \vli(_) felt the touch of his blade desired to 
 be pitted with him again. AVith all his eloq-ence 
 as an orator he ne\er siioke for oratorical effect. 
 but his words always went like bullets to tlie mark 
 He is purely American in his ideas and is a spier 
 did type of the American statesman, (iifted witl. 
 quick perception, a logical mind and a icady tongue. 
 he is one of the most distinguished ini|)roni|)fu 
 speakers in the Nation. Many of these si)eeches 
 sparkled with the rarest of eloquence and contained 
 arguments of greatest weight. IMany of ids terse 
 statements have already become ai)horisms. Origi- 
 nal in thought, precise in logic, terse in statement, 
 yet withal faultless in elo(|neuee. he is reeogiiized as 
 the sound statesman and brilliant orator o- the da 3' 
 

/.--^/z^^jTf 
 
OOVKHNOns OF IOWA. 
 
 11! 
 
 6')^5^^KS)(S)'^/^®>^ 
 
 .^ OOP . 
 
 NSKL BRIOOS, tho first 
 i;i'iitlciii.-m cliiisen in (ill (lie 
 .2:ul)urii;it()ri;il clinii' of Iowa 
 after its orL>'aiiizati()ii as a 
 State, was a native cif Ver- 
 mont, and was horn Pel). 3, 
 1K()('>. His i)arents, wh(;> likewise 
 were New Englaiiders, were IJen- 
 jamin and Electa liriggs. Tiic 
 lioyhood of our subject was 
 passed in liis native State, and in at- 
 tendance upon tlie common schools 
 he received a fair education wliicli 
 was subsequently improved liy a. 
 JMI term at Norwich Academy. \\'lien 
 I a young man he removed with his 
 parents t(i Cambridge, Guernsey Co., Ohio, where 
 young liriggs engaged in the woric (jf establishing 
 stage lines. He also here endiarked in political 
 affairs and as a Whig run for tlie oflice of County 
 Auditor ])ut was defeated by .lolui Ferguson, a 
 Jackson I democrat. 
 
 After remaining in Oliio for six years, the glow- 
 ing accounts of the fair fields and the fertile prairies 
 of the Territory of Iowa, led him westwai'd across 
 the Father of Waters. He had previously united 
 t\b fortunes in life with Nancy M. Dunlap, daugh- 
 ter cf INIajor Dunlap, an ollicer in the Warof 1,S12. 
 P>ven prior to this marriage he had chosen a wife, 
 a lady who was born on the same day and year as 
 himself, but of whom he was soon bereft. He 
 i>ruuglit with him to Iowa liis little lainily and lo- 
 tated at Andrew ;» j-.<_-ks<jn 'Jyuut.v. SeeL-io: the 
 
 opportunit3- here for resuming his former business, 
 he began opening up stage lines, fre(piently driving 
 the old stage coach himself. He made several con- 
 tracts with the l*<)st(jHice Department for carrying 
 the United States mails weekly between Dubuque 
 and Davenport, Dubuque and Iowa City and other 
 routes, tiius oi)cning up and eariying on a very im- 
 portant enterprise. I'olitically, Cov. Briggs was a 
 Democrat, and on coming to Iowa identified him- 
 self with that party. In 1842 he was chosen a 
 member of the Territorial House of Representatives 
 from Jackson County, and subsequently was elected 
 Sheriff of the same county. Ho had taken a lead- 
 ing part in public affairs, .and upon the forniaticm of 
 the State (Jovernment in 184G, he became a prom- 
 inent candidate for (iovernor, and though his com- 
 petitors in his own partj- were distinguished and 
 well-known citizens, Mr. Briggs received the nom- 
 ination. The convention was held in Iowa City, 
 on Thursday, Sept. 24, 184C, and assembled to 
 nominate State oilicers and two Congressmen. It 
 was called to order liy F. D. ]\Iills, of Des Moines 
 County. William Thompson, of Henry County, 
 presided, and J. T. Falcs, of Dubuque, was Seci-e- 
 tary. Tho vote for (iovernor in the convention 
 stood: Briggs, sixty-two; Jesse Williams, thirty- 
 two, and William Th<mipson, thirty-one. Tli-; two 
 latter withdrew, and Briggs was then chosen by ac- 
 clamation. Elisha Cutler, .Ii-., of \^an Buren Coun- 
 ty, was nominated ft)r Secretary of State; Joseph 
 T. Fales, of Linn, for Anilitor, and Morgan Reno, 
 of Johnson, for Treasurer. S. C. Hastings and 
 Sheuerd Ijclller were noniin.-ited for Congress. Tue 
 
112 
 
 ANSEL BRIGGS. 
 
 C'loction was hold Oct. 28, 184G, the entire Demo- 
 cratic ticket being successful. Briggs received 
 7,G2G votes and his competitor, Thomas ^McKnight, 
 the Wliig candidate, 7,379, giving Briggs a major- 
 ity of 247. 
 
 The principal ipiestion lietween the two leading 
 parties, the Democratic and the Whig, at tiiis period, 
 was tliat of the banking system. It is related tliat 
 I sliort time prior to the meeting of the convcn- 
 Jion wliicli nominated 5Ir. Briggs, that in offering 
 I toast at a banquet, he struck tlie key-note wliich 
 made him the popular man of the hour. He said, 
 " No banks but earth and they well tilled." This 
 was at once caught up by his jxirt^- and it did more 
 to secure him the nomination than anything else. 
 His administration was one void of any special in- 
 terest. He labored in liarmonious accord with his 
 party, yet frequently exhibited an independence of 
 principle, characteristic of his nature. The Mis- 
 souri l)Oundary question which caused a great deal 
 of excited controversy at this period, and even a 
 determination to resort to arms, was handleil by 
 liim with great ability. 
 
 On liis election as Executive of the State, Gov. 
 Briggs sohl out his mail contract, but after the ex- 
 piration of his term of service he continued his 
 residence in Jackson County. In 1870 he removed 
 to Council Bluffs. He had visited the western 
 part of the State before tlie daj' of railroads in that 
 section, inaking tlie trip by carriage. On the occa- 
 sion he enrt>lled himself as one of tlie founders of 
 tlie town of Florence on the Nebraska side of tlie 
 river and six miles above Council Bluffs, and which 
 for a time was a vigorous rival of Omaha. Dur- 
 ing tlic mining excitement, in 1860, he made a trip 
 to Colorado, and three years later, in comiiany 
 witli liis sini John and a large l)arty, went to 
 llontana, wliere he remained until the year 
 
 lSfi;j, when he returned to his home in Iowa. 
 
 As above stated, Gov. Briggs was twice married, 
 liis first wife being his com[)anioii fs;:' • bi-icf time 
 <mlj-. His second wife bore him ciglit cliildi-cn, all 
 of whom died in infancy s;ive two, and of these lat- 
 ter, Ansel, Jr., died Ma}' 15, 1867, aged twenty- 
 five 3'ears. John S. Briggs, tlie fMily survivor of 
 the family, is editor of the Idaho Herald, piibli.slied 
 at Blackfoot, Idaho Territoiy. Jlrs. Briggs died 
 Dec. 30, 1847, wliile her husliand was Governor of 
 the State. She was a devoted Christian lady, a 
 strict member of the Presbj-terian Church, and a 
 woman of strong domestic tastes. She was liighly 
 educated, and endowed by nature with tliat 
 womanly tact and grace which enabled her to adorn 
 the higli position her husband had attained. 
 She disijcnscd a bounteous hospitality, though her 
 home was in a log house, and was highlj' esteemed 
 and admired by all who met her. 
 
 Gov. Briggs went in and out among his people 
 for many j^ears after his retirement from the execu- 
 tive office, and even after iiis return from the Mon 
 tana expedition. He was admired for his able 
 services rendered so unselfishly during the pioneer 
 period of the now great and populous State. His 
 last illness, ulceration of the stomach, was of l)rief 
 duration, lasting only five weeks, indeed onl^- three 
 da3"S before his death he was able to be out. His 
 demise occurred at the residence of his son, John 
 S. Briggs, ill Omaha, Neb., at half-past three of the 
 morning of May ;"). 1881. His death was greatly 
 mourned all over the State. Upon the following 
 da}'. Gov. Gear issued a prochimation reciting his 
 services to the State, ordering half-hour guns to be 
 fired and the national flag on the Stite caiiitol to 
 be put at half-mast during the day upon which 
 the funeral was held, which w:us the following Suu- 
 <lav succeedinsr his death. 
 
 -^vsr 
 
 
>-<£:x: 
 
GOYEUNORS OK IOWA. 
 
 11-"^. 
 
 r>»- 
 
 ^^^^^^^i^^^^T^^^^^-^ 
 
 TEPHEN HEMPSTEAD, sec 
 ond Governor of Iowa, is a, 
 native of Connecticut, where, 
 at New Lunrton, he was Ijorn 
 > Oct. 1, 1812. He resided in 
 that State with his jiarents 
 until 1828, when the family' 
 came West, locating upon a farm 
 near Saint Louis. This was the 
 home of J'oung Stephen until 1830, 
 when he went to (ialena, 111., where 
 he served in the capacitj' of a clerk 
 in a commission house for a time. 
 He was there during the exciting 
 period of -the Black Hawk troubles, 
 and was an officer in an artillery 
 company which had been organized for the protec- 
 tion of Galena. After the defeat of lUack Hawk 
 and the consequent termination of Indian troubles, 
 he entered the Illinois College at Jacksonville, 
 where he remained for aljout two years. On ac- 
 count of difHculties which he got into about 
 sectrrianijm and abolitionism, he left the college 
 and retv.rned to Missouri. He shortly afterward 
 entered the office of Charles S. Ilemixstead, a prom- 
 inent lawyer of Galena, and jjegan tlu^ stud}' of the 
 prufessiuu m wUicli he afterward became ipiite pro- 
 
 ficient. In 1830 he was admitted to practice in all 
 the courts of the Territory of Wisconsin, which at 
 the time embraced the Teri-itory of Iowa, and the 
 same year located at Dubuque, being the first law- 
 yer who began the practice of his profession at that 
 place. 
 
 As might be expected in a territory but thinly 
 populated, but one which was rapidly settling up, 
 the services of an alile attorney would lie in de- 
 mand in order to draft the laws. Upon the organ- 
 ization of the Territorial Government of Iowa in 
 1838, he was, with Gen. Warner Lewis, elected to 
 represent the northern portion of the Territory in 
 the Legislative Council, which assembled in ISur- 
 lington that year. He was Chairman of tiie Com- 
 mittee Judiciary', and at the second session of that 
 body was elected its President. lie was again 
 elected a memlier of the Council, in 18-15, over 
 which he also presided. In 1844 he was clecteil 
 one of the delegates of Dubuque Count}', for the 
 first convention to frame a constitution for the 
 State. In 1848, in company with Judge Cnarles 
 Mason and AV. G. Wocxlward, he was appointed 
 by the Legislature Commissionei' to revise tiiejaws 
 of the State, which revision, with a few amend- 
 ments, was adopted as the code of Iowa in 18")1. 
 
 In 18;j() Mr. llenqistead was elected Govcrnur of 
 
116 
 
 STEPHEN HEMPSTEAD. 
 
 iti. 
 
 lor I c 1111' yoars, 
 
 the State, anil sctvci) wi 
 tlmt \K'\ug the full term uikUt the Coni^tilution at 
 the tiiiio. He reeeived i;i,l.s(; votes asjainst 11,- 
 403 east for his oppoiunt, .lames I^. 'riiompson. 
 After the vote had been eaiivasseil a eoiiimittec 
 was appointed to inform the Governor-eleet that 
 the two Houses of the Legislature were ready to re- 
 eeive him in joint eonvention, in order that he 
 might reeeive the oath jireseribed liy the Constitu- 
 tion. Gov. Hempstead. aeeomi)anied by the retir- 
 ing Exeeutive, Gov. Briggs, the .Judges of the Su- 
 preme Court and the ollieers of State, entered the 
 hall of the House where the Governor-eleet deliv- 
 ered his inaugural message, after whieh the oath 
 was administered by the Chief .Tustiee of the Su- 
 preme Covu't. This was an important period in the 
 history of the State, being at a time when the pid)- 
 lie affairs were assuming delinite shape, and indeed 
 it was what might be termed the formative jieriod. 
 The session of the Legislature passed many import- 
 ant acts whieh were ajiproved by the Governor, and 
 during his term there were fifty-two new counties 
 fornuMl. Gov. Hempstead in his message to the 
 Fourth General Assembly in December, 1S.52, 
 stated that among other things, the population of 
 the State according to the Federal census was 1!I2,- 
 211, and that the State census showed an increase 
 for one year of 37,78G. He also stated that there- 
 sources of the State for the coming two years 
 ■woulil be sulHcient to cancel all that jiart of funded 
 debt which was payable at its option. 
 
 Among the numerous counties organized was one 
 '\anu'(l r>uncond)e, which received its name in the 
 (illowing way: The Legislature was composed of a 
 arge majority favoring stringent corporation laws 
 and the liability of individual stockholders for eor- 
 "oara;3 debts. This sentiment, (m account of the 
 agitation of railroad enterprises then l)eing inangu- 
 "."ited, bn)Ught a large ntnnber of |)rominent men 
 It) the capital. To have an effect upon the Legis- 
 jature, they oigani/.eil a "loliby Legislature" and 
 ;lietc:l as Governor, \\'riilanlv \'an Antwerp, who 
 lelivered to the self-constituted body a lengthy 
 .Ticssage in which he sharjily criticize(l the regular 
 General Assembly. Some of the memlx rs of tr,c 
 latter were in the habit of making long and useful 
 speeches much to the hindrance of business. To 
 
 these he especially referred, charging them with 
 speaking for "Buncombe," and recommended that 
 as a lasting memorial a county should be called bj' 
 that name. This suggestion wa.s readily seized on 
 by the Legislatiu'e, and the county of Buncombe 
 was created with few dissenting voices. However, 
 the General Assembly, in 1802, changed the name 
 to Lyon, in honor of Gen. Natlmniel Lyon who was 
 killed in the early part of the Civil War. 
 
 The season of 1851 was one of great disappoint- 
 ment to the pioneers of Iowa, and much suffei-ing 
 was the result of the bad season of that year. By 
 the year 1854, the State had fully recovered from 
 the depression thus produced, and that year as well 
 as the following, the emigration from the East was 
 unprecedented. The prairies of Illinois were lined 
 day after day with a continuous caravan of emi- 
 grants pushing on toward Iowa. During a single 
 month 1743 wagons bound for Iowa passed through 
 Peoria. So remarkable had been the influx of peo- 
 ple into the State, that in an issue of the I5uiling- 
 t(»u Telegraph appeared the following statement: 
 " Twenty thousand emigrants have passed thrijugh 
 the city within the last thirty days, and they arc 
 still crossing the Mississippi at the rate of 600 a day." 
 
 At the expiration of his term of service, which 
 occurred in the latter part of the year 1854, Gov. 
 Hempstead returned to his old home at Dubuque. 
 In 1855 he was elected County Judge of Dubuque 
 County, and so acceptably did he serve the i>eople 
 that for twelve years he was chosen to fill that posi- 
 tion. Under his administration the principal 
 county building, including the jail, poorhouse, .as 
 well as some valualile bridges, were erected. 
 Owing to ill-health he was compelled to retire from 
 public life. [)assing the remainder of his days in 
 (piietude and repyse at l)ubu(pie. There he lived 
 until Eel). IG, l,ss;!. when, at his home, th..' light < " 
 his long .and eventful life went out. The record 
 he has made, which was an honoralile and distin- 
 guished one, was closed, and Iowa was called .;; >n 
 to mourn the loss of one of her most distinguis..ed 
 pioneer citizens. lie h;id been an unusually useful 
 man of the State and his services, which were able 
 .and wise, were rendered in that unsellish spirit 
 wiilch distingui,-iie<l so many of the early residents 
 of this now prosiJcroua State. 
 
_^ 
 
 C^t— ) -J 
 
GOA'EKNORS OF IOWA. 
 
 ! 1>J 
 
 AMES AV. GRIMES, the 
 third gcntleiiuin to fill the 
 Executive Chair of the State 
 if Iowa, was bora in the 
 tiiwn (^f Deering, Ilillsbor- 
 imi/** ough Co., N. II., Oct. 20, 
 it^fMCs 1816. His parents, John and 
 Elizabeth (Wilson) Grimes, were 
 also natives of the same town. 
 The former was born on the 1 1 th 
 of August, 1772, and the mother 
 ]\Iarch 10, 1773. They became the 
 l>arents of eight children, of w'hom 
 James was the youngest and be- 
 came one of the most distinguished 
 citizens of Iowa. He attended the 
 district schools, and in earl}^ childhood evinced an 
 unusual taste for learning. Besides attending the 
 district schools, the village pastor instructed liini 
 in Greel'C and Latin. After coniiiletihg his prepar- 
 ations for college, which he did at llanipton Acad- 
 emy, he entered Dartmouth College, in August, 
 IS.JL'. wliich was in the sixteenth year of his age. 
 lie was a hard .student, advanced rapidly, and in 
 February, 183;'), bid adieu to the college halls, and 
 with .lames W.alkcr, of I'cteilx.rougli. N. II., he be- 
 gan li. • slutly of his chosen iirot'cssinu. 
 
 Feeling that his native State afforded too hmited 
 advantages, and, in tHct, being of a rather advent- 
 urous disposition, as well as ambitious, he tiesired 
 broader fields in which to carve for himself a tort- 
 une. lie accordingly left the home that nad 
 sheltered him during his lioyhood days, and turn- 
 ing his face Westward iiroi^eeded until he had 
 crossed'' the great Father of Waters. It was ni 
 183G, and young Grimes was indeed 3'oung to thus 
 take upon himself such resiionsibilities; but jios- 
 sessing business tact, determinatioii and ten.acity, 
 as well as an excellent professional training, he de- 
 termined to open an ollice in the then new town of 
 Burlington, Iowa. Here he hung out his shingle, 
 and ere long had estalilished a rei)utation which 
 extended far bey<md the confines of the little city. 
 
 In April, 1837, he was appointed City Solicitor, 
 and entering ui)on tlie duties of that ollice lie 
 assisted in drawing ni) the first ])olice laws of tiiat 
 town. In 1838 he was appointed Justice of the 
 Peace, and became a law partner of William \\. 
 Chapman, United Slates District Attorney for 
 Wisconsin Territory. In the early jiart of the year 
 1841 he formed a partnership with Ilciny W.Starr, 
 Esq., which continue<l twelve years. This firm 
 stood at the head of the legal profession in Iow;i. 
 Mr. Grimes was widely known as :i counselor with 
 
120 
 
 JAMES W. GRIMES. 
 
 superior kninvledsje of the law, and with a clear 
 sense of truth and justice. He was chosen one of 
 the Representatives of Des Moines County in the 
 first Legislative Asscnibly of tlie Territory- of Iowa, 
 v.hich convened at" Burlinyton, IS'ov. 12. 183S; in 
 the sixth, at l<iwa C'it3S Dec. 4, 181.'!; and in tlie 
 fc:;: th Ceneral Assembly of the State, at Iowa City. 
 Doe. 0, 1>'5"2. He early toolv front ranli among tlie 
 |)ul.lie men of Iowa. He was Chairman of the 
 Judiciary Committee in the House of Keinesenta- 
 tives of the first Legislative Assembly of the Ter- 
 ritorj'. and all laws for the new Territory jjassed 
 through his hands. 
 
 iMr. Grimes had l)eeome prominently identified 
 with the Whig party, and being distinguished as an 
 able lawyer, as vvell as a fair-minded, conscientious 
 man, he was a prominent candidate for (Tovernor 
 before the convention which met in February, 1854. 
 It was the largest convention of that party ever 
 lield in Iowa and the last. He was chosen as a nom- 
 inee for Governor, was duly elected, and in Decem- 
 ber, 18;i4, assumed the duties of the ollicc. Shortly 
 after his election it was proposed that he should go 
 to the United States Senate, but lie gave his ad- 
 mirers to understand that he was determined to fill 
 tlie term of oHice for which he had been chosen. 
 I'liis ii(! did, serving the full term to the entire sat- 
 isfaction of all iiarties. He was a faithful ])arty 
 le;ider, and so able were his services that, while at 
 tlie time of his election as Governor Democracy 
 reigned supreme in the State and its representatives 
 in Congress were allied to the slave power, he 
 tnrnod the State over to the Republican party. 
 
 His term of oflice expired Jan. 14, 1858, when 
 he reth-ed from the Executive Chair, onl^^ how- 
 ever, to assume the responsibilities of a United 
 States Senator. Upon the 4tli of iMarch of the fol- 
 lowing year he took his seat in the Senate and was 
 placed ujjon the Committee (m Naval Affairs, upon 
 which he rem.aincd during his Senatorial career, 
 serving as Ciiairinan of th;it important committee 
 from December, 1864. Jan. KJ, 18G4, Mr. Grimes 
 wa.s again chosen to repres.'iit Iowa in the Senate 
 of the United States, receiving nil but six of tlu 
 votes of the General Assemlily in joint conveiiti<iii. 
 
 His counsel w:vs often sought in matters of great 
 moment, and in cases of peculiar ililliculty. Al- | 
 
 ways ready to promote the welfare of the State, he 
 gave, unsolicited, land worth $6,000 to the Congre- 
 gational College, at Grinnell. It constitutes the 
 " Grimes foundation," and '• is to be applied to the 
 establishment and maintenance in Iowa College, 
 forever, of four scjiohirsliips. to be awarded b\- Ihc 
 Trustees, on the recommendation of tlie facultj', to 
 the best schol.ars. and tiie most promising, in any 
 department, wiio may need and seek such aid, and 
 without any regard to the religious tenets or opin- 
 ions entertained by an}' i)erson seeking either of 
 said scholarships." These terms were imposed by 
 Mr. Grimes, and assumed July 20, 1865, by the 
 Trustees. He received the honorary degree of 
 LL.D. in 1805 from Dartmouth College, and also 
 from Iowa College. lie also aided in founding a 
 public library in Burlington, donating |i5,000, whicli 
 was expended in the purchase of costly books, and 
 sulisequently sent from Europe 256 volumes in the 
 German language, and also contributed 600 vol- 
 umes of public documents. 
 
 In January, 1869, he made a donation of *;5,fit)iO 
 to Dartmouth College, and *1,000 to the " Softd 
 Friend," a literary society of which he was a mem- 
 lier when in college. 
 
 His health failing, Mr. Grimes sailed for Europe, 
 April 14, 186'J, remaining abroad two years, 
 reaching home Sept. 22, 1871, ajiparently in im- 
 proved health and spirits. In Novemljer he cele- 
 brated his silver wedding, and spent the closing 
 months of his life with his famil}'. "He voted at 
 the city election, Feb. 5, 1872, and was suddenly 
 attacked with severe i)ains in the region of tlie 
 heart, and died after a few short hours of intense 
 suffering. 
 
 Senator (irimes was united in marriage .at Bur- 
 lington, la., Js<n'. 1), 1846, with Miss Sarah Elizabeth 
 Keally. Mr. Grimes stood in the foremost ranks 
 among the men of his time, not only in the State 
 but of the nation. The young attorney who left 
 the granite liiils of Ni'W llanipshire for the fertile 
 prairies of the West, distinguished himself both as 
 an attorney and a stMtesmaii. His i)ersoiial history 
 is so inseparably interwoven in th:it of the history 
 of the Stale that a sketch of his life is indeed but .i 
 record of the history of his ado|ited State iluriug 
 the years of his manhood and vigor. 
 
.K. 
 
 
 ^l^^^.^^ 
 
GOVERNORS OF IOWA. 
 
 123 
 
 ••o*o..@^<^@..o4o.. 
 
 ,ALPII V. LOWE, ttic fourth 
 ( lovornor of tlif St;it<' of 
 low;i. «;is Ijorii in ()lii() in 
 tlu- yi'iu' ISliS. ami lil;i' iiumv 
 otlitTs of tiic ili!^tiiii>uislR'il 
 men of Iowa. uaiiK" within her 
 holders in early pioneer 
 limes. He was a young man 
 but a little over thirty years 
 of age when he crossed the great 
 Father of Waters, settling ujjoii its 
 western bank at the then small vill- 
 age of Muse.itine. He at once 
 identified himself with the interests 
 of the growing city, and ere long 
 became quite prominent in local 
 affairs and of recognized ability in 
 questions of public policy. He was shortly after- 
 ward chosen as a ropresontafive from Muscatine 
 County to the Constitutional Convention of 18-f4, 
 whieli framed the Constitution which was rejected 
 by the people. 
 
 ^Vf'ter tiiis constitutional ciMivention, Mr. Lowe 
 tool< no fiirtlier \y.\vt in i)uliiie matters for a inim- 
 ber of years. He removed to Lee Count}' about 
 184!) or TjO, where he became District Judge as a 
 successor to George H. Willianio, who was after- 
 ward famous as I'residi'ut Grant's Attorney CJen- 
 eral. He was District Judge five years, from 1852 
 to 1857, being succeeded by Judge Claggett. In 
 the summer of 1857 he was nominated l)y the Re- 
 iniblieans for fiovernor of Iowa, with Ora.n Faville 
 for Lieutenaut-Governi.>r. The Democracy put in 
 
 the field Benjamin M. Samuels for Governor and 
 George (iillaspy foi' Lieutenant-Governor. Thei-e 
 was a third ticket in the field, supporteii liy the 
 American or "Know-Nothing" party, and lie;iring 
 the names of T. F. Ilenr}' and Easton JMorris. 
 The election was held in October, 1857, and gave 
 Mr. Lowe 38,4;)8 votes, against 3G,088 for Mr 
 Samuels, and 1,000 for Mr. Henry. 
 
 Hitherto the term of office had l)een four 3'ears 
 but by an amendment to the Constitution this was 
 now reduced to two. Gov. Lowe was iu.aug- 
 urated Jan. 14, 1858, and at once sent his first 
 message to the Legislature. Among the measures 
 passed b}' this Legislature wi're Ijills to iiicoi'i)orate 
 the State Bank of Iowa; to jjrovide for an agiicuit- 
 ural college; to authorize the business of banking; 
 disposing of the land grant made b}' Congress to 
 the Des Moines Valley Raih-oad; to provide for 
 the erection of an institution for the education of 
 the Ijlind, and to provide for taking a State census. 
 
 No events of importance occurred during the 
 adn.iinistration of (iov. Lowe, but it was not a 
 period of uninterrui)ted prosjierity. Tlie Governor 
 said in his biennial message of Jan. 10, I860, 
 reviewing the preceeding two yeais: ''The |)ei-u.d 
 that has elapsed since the last biennial session has 
 been one of great disturbing causes, and of anxious 
 solicitude to all classes of our fellow-citizens. The 
 first year of this perioil was visited with heavy and 
 continuous rains, which reduced the measure of 
 our field crops l)elow one-half of the usual product, 
 whilst the financial revulsicm which commenced 
 upon the Atlantic coast in the autumn of 1857, did 
 
J2 
 
 RALPH P. LOWE. 
 
 iKit iL'iiuli its climax fur ovil in our Ijorders until 
 the yoar ju.st i)ast." 
 
 lie referred at length to the claim of the State 
 ag.iinst the Federal Government, and tfaid that he 
 ii.i'.l appealed in vain to the Sccretar}- of the Inte- 
 rior for the payment of the ,'j per cent upon the 
 military land warrants that the State is justly en- 
 titled to, which tlien approximated to a million of 
 dollars. The payment of this fund, he said, "is 
 not a mere favor which is asked of the General 
 Government, but a subsisting right which could be 
 enforced in a court of justice, were there a tribunal 
 of this kind clothed with the requisite jurisdiction." 
 
 The subject of the Des Moines River grant re- 
 ceived fiom the Governor special attention, and he 
 gave a history of the operations of the State author- 
 ities in reference to obtaining the residue of the 
 lands to which the State was entitled, and other in- 
 formation as to the progress of the work. He also 
 remarked " that under the act authorizing the Gov- 
 ernor to raise a company of mounted men for de- 
 fense and protection of our frontier, approved 
 Feb. 9, 1858, a company of thirty such men, known 
 as the Frontier Guards, armed and equipped as re- 
 quired, were organized and mustered into service 
 inider the command of Capt. Henry B. JNIartin, of 
 AVcbster Citj', about the 1st of March then follow- 
 ing, and were tlivided into two companies, one 
 stationed on the Little Sioux River, the other at 
 Spirit Lake. Their presence afforded security and 
 gave quiet to the settlements in that region, and 
 after a service of four months they were disbanded. 
 
 ■• Late in the fall of the year, however, great 
 
 alarm and consternation was again felt in the 
 region of Spirit Luke and Sioux River setlli'menls, 
 produced by the appearance of large numbers of 
 Indians t>n the border, whose bearing was insolent 
 and menacing, and who wi'ri; charged with clan- 
 destinely running off the stock of the settlers. 
 The most urgent ajipeals came from these settlers, 
 invoking again the protection of the State. From 
 representations made of the imminence of their 
 danger and the losses already sustained, the Gov- 
 ernor summoned into the field once more the 
 frontier guards. After a service of four or live 
 months they were again discharged, and paid in the 
 manner prcscribetl in the act under which they were 
 called out." 
 
 Gov. Lowe was beaten for the renomination 
 by Hon. S. J. Kirkwood, who was considered 
 much the stronger man. To compensate him for 
 his defeat for the second term. Gov. Lowe 
 was appointed one of the three Judges under the 
 new Constitution. He drew the short term, wliich 
 expired in 1861, but was retiu'ned and served, al'. 
 told, eight j-ears. He then returned to the prac- 
 tice of law, gradually working into a claim Imim- 
 ness at Washington, to which city he reui(i\c' 
 about 1874. Li that city he died, on Saturday, 
 Dec. .22, 1883. He had a large family. C'arleton, 
 one of his sons, was an officer in the Third Iowa 
 Cavalry during the war. 
 
 Gov. Lowe was a man of iletail. accur.-ite and 
 industrious. In jirivate and i)ulilic life he was 
 pure, upright and honest. In religicnis faitli lie 
 was inclined to be a Spiritualist. 
 
y^ 
 
 O^^y-yt^uuL^Si- 
 
 j; cy-^Lx/l ^^^^<^^^-^^ 
 
GOVERNORS OF IOWA. 
 
 ^;:^/^^L^a. 
 
 
 ^^ ^l^li-Woodo I 
 
 
 -*--;5C— 
 
 UK fifth ( JoviM'niir of Iowa 
 was SaiiHU'l .1. Kirkwood. 
 lie was li(irn in Ilartfurd 
 ('(lunty. Mil ,1111 his father's 
 ^^ , , ,_ farm, Dec, 20, LSI 3. His 
 
 ^-.&4::%-^y f;itlier was twice married, 
 first t<i a huly named C'oulson, 
 wild Ijt'caiiie tlie iiidtlier of two 
 sons. After tlie deatli of tliis 
 companion, tlie elder Kirkwood 
 was united in maniage with 
 i\Iary Alexander, who bore him 
 three •■liildren, all of whom were 
 sons. Of this little family Samuel 
 was the youngest, and ivhen ten 
 years of age was sent to Washington City to at- 
 tend a school taught by John McLeod, a relative of 
 the famih'. Here he remained for four years, giv- 
 ing diligent attention to his studies, at the close of 
 which time he entered a drug store at Washington 
 as clerk. In this capacity he continued with the 
 exception of eighteen months, until he reached his 
 majority. During the interval referred to, young 
 Kirkwood was living the life of a pedagogue in 
 Yorlv County, Pa. 
 
 In the year 1835, Samuel quit Washington and 
 came westward to Richland County, Ohio. His 
 father and brother had precedeil him from Mary- 
 land, locating uixm a timbered farm in the Buckeye 
 State. Here Samuel lent them valiialile a.ssistance 
 in clearing the farm. He was anibiti<jus to enter 
 the legal profession, and in the year 1811, an oppor- 
 
 — ;:;-~4> 
 
 tunity was afforded him to enter tlie ollice of 
 Thomas AV. Hartley, afterward CoMinor of Oiiio. 
 The following two j'ears he ga\e <liligent ajtiiliira- 
 tion to his books, and in 18 J3, was admitted to 
 practice by the Supreme Court of Ohio. He was 
 then fortunate enough to form an association in 
 the practice of his profession with his former pre- 
 ceptor, which relations continued fc)r eight years, 
 
 From 1845 to 1849 he served as Pro.secuting 
 Attorney of his county. In 1819 he was elected 
 as a Democrat to represent his county and district 
 in the Constitutional Convention. In 1851 Mr. 
 Bartley, his partner, having lieen elected to tiie 
 Supreme Judiciary of the State, Kirkwood formed 
 a partnership with Barnabas Barns, with whom he 
 continued to practice until the spring of 1855, 
 when he removed to the West. 
 
 Up to 1854 Mr. Kirkwood had .acted with the 
 Democratic party. But the measures proposed ami 
 sustained that year by the Dcnn)cracy in Congress, 
 concentrated in what w.as Jcnown as the K.nnsas- 
 Nebraska Act, drove him with hosts of anti-slavery 
 Democrats out of the party. He was liesought by 
 the opposition in the " Richland District " to be- 
 come their candidate for Congress, but declined. 
 In 1855 he came to Iowa and settled two miles 
 northwest of Iowa Citj% entering into a partnerslii|> 
 with his Ijrother-in-law, Kzekiel Clark, in the mill- 
 ing business, and kept aloof from jmblic atTairs. 
 He could not long conceal iiis record and abilities 
 from his neighbors, however. an<l in 1 851! he was 
 elected to the State Senate from the district com- 
 
128 
 
 SAML KL J. KIHKWOOD. 
 
 jwised of tlio counties ftf ln\\:\ niid .Toliiison, ami 
 ■served in the last session of the Lenislaline held at 
 Iowa C'ily and the (list one luld at l)es Moines. 
 
 In IS.')'.) .Mr. Kiikwood was made tiie standaid- 
 lie.-ii'ei' of tlie I{e|inlilieans of Iowa, and though be 
 had as alile and |icj|)ular .'i eonipetitoi' as (Jen. A. 
 C. Dodge, lie was eleeted (iovernor of Iowa by a 
 majority of om'i- .'Ijilio. He was inaugurated .Ian. 
 11,18G(). Hefore the expiration of 1 lis first term 
 came the great Civil AVar. As Goveriwjr, <luring 
 tlie lUu'kest da.ys of the Rebellion, he performed an 
 oxeecdiugly important duty. "He secured a prompt 
 rcspon.se by volunteers to all requisitions by the 
 Federal (lovernment on the State for troops, so 
 that during Ids Governorship no '-(b'aft" took 
 l)lace in Iowa, and no regiment, except the first, 
 enlisted for less tlian tln'ee years. At tlie same 
 time he iiiMJiitained tlie State's financial credit. 
 The Legislature, at its extra session in 18(J1, 
 authorized the sale of ^.siid.OOO in bonds, to assist 
 in arming and equijipiug troops. So frugally was 
 this work done, that Init *;i<)l»,()()0 of the bonds 
 'vure Sold, and the remaining lj!.JOO,000 not having 
 been re(]ni:cd, the lioiid* representing this amount 
 .vcre destroyed by order of the succeeding Legis- 
 lature. 
 
 In October, l.S(;i,(;ov. Kirkwood was, with com- 
 parativeb' little oi>[)(_)sition, re-elected — an honor 
 accorded for the lirst time in the histor.y of the 
 ,State. His majority was about l,s,i!(M). During 
 his secoiKl term he was appointed by President 
 Lincoln to be Minister to Denmark, ))Ut he declined 
 to enter upon lii> diplomatic duties until the expir- 
 ation of his term as (iovernor. The position was 
 ke|i( open for him until that time, but, when it 
 I'Miue, pressing pii\atc business compelled a declin- 
 it ii 111 ( if the ollice alti igether. 
 
 Ill .ianuary, ISdC, he was ;i proiuiiu-nt candidate 
 before the Legislatui'c for rnitccl States Senator. 
 Senator Harlan had resigned the Seiiatoiship upon 
 
 his appointment to the oHice of Secretiuy of the 
 Interior by President Lincoln, just before lus 
 death, but had withdrawn from Ihe cabinet .soon 
 after the accession of ]Mr. Johnson to the Presi- 
 dency. In this waj' it ha|)i)ened that the Legisla- 
 ture had two terms of United States Senator ti> lill, 
 a short term of two years, to fill Harlan's unexpired 
 term, and a long term of six years to immediati'ly 
 succeed this; and Harlan had now become a candi- 
 date for his own successor.ship, to which Kirkwood 
 also aspired. L'ltimately, Kirkwood was elec'ted 
 for the first and Harlan for the second term. Dur- 
 ing his brief Senatorial service, Kirkwood did not 
 hesitate to measure swords with Senator Sumner, 
 whose natural egotism had begotten in him an ar- 
 rogant and dictatorial manner, borne with huinlily 
 until then by his colleagues, in deference to his 
 long experience and eminent ability, but unpalata- 
 ble to ai! indeiicndcnt Western Senator like Kirk- 
 wood. 
 
 At the close of his Senatorial term. ;\Iarch 4, 
 liSlu, he resumed the practice vf law. which a few 
 years later he relintiuished tt) accei)t the Presidency 
 of the Iowa City Savings Bank. In ls7.'i lu' was 
 again elected Oovernor, and w:is inaugurated Jan. 
 13, l.sTO. He served but little over a year, as 
 early in IS77 he was chosen Uniteil States Senator. 
 He filled this position four years, resigning to be- 
 come Secretary of the Interior in President Gar- 
 field's Cabinet. In this office he was succeeded, 
 April 17, 18.S2, liy Henry M. Teller, of Colorado. 
 
 (biv. Kirkwood returned to Iowa City, his home, 
 where he still resides, being now advanced in years. 
 He was married in isi;;, to ^liss Jane Clark, a na- 
 tive of Ohio. 
 
 In l.ssd Mr. Kiikwodd was iioiinuatcd for Con- 
 gress b\' the Kepublicaii^ of lii> di>tiict. ('oiislder- 
 able interest was niiinil'ested in the contest, as lioth 
 the Labor and Democratic parties had pojiular can- 
 didates ill the licM. 
 
:^ 
 
Jj^,9i,.c/f^^t^ 
 
GOVERNORS OF IOWA. 
 
 131 
 
 -oto-(Q^^'^/^-. 
 
 ILLIAJM M. STONE, the 
 
 .■ijV^ef sixth (ioveinor uf Iowa, was 
 : Vm . |„„.„ op,^ j4^ 1827. His 
 
 parents, Truman and La- 
 vina (NurUi) Stune, who 
 were of Englisli ancestry, 
 movcfl to Lewis County, N. 
 Y., when William was but a 
 year old. William's grandfather, Aaron 
 Stone, was in the second war with En- 
 gland. AVhen our subject was six years 
 of age his parents moved into Ohio, lo- 
 cating in Coshocton County. Like many 
 other self-made men, William M. had few 
 advantages. He never attended a school 
 of any kind more than twelve months. 
 In boyhood he was for two seasons a team-driver 
 on the Ohio Canal. At seventeen he was appren- 
 ticed to the chairmaker's trade, and he followed 
 that business until he was twenty-three years of 
 age, reading law meantime during liis si)are hours, 
 wherever he happened to be. He commenced at 
 Coshocton, with .Tames Mathews, who afterward 
 became his father-in-law; continued his reading 
 with Gen. Lucius V. Pierce, of Akron, and finished 
 with Ezra B. Taj'lor, of Ravenna. He was admitted 
 to the bar in August, 1851, by Peter Hitchcock 
 and Rufus P. Rannej', Supreme Judges, hnkling a 
 term of court at Ravenna. 
 
 After practicing three years at Coshocton with 
 his old preceptor, J.amcs Mathews, he, in November, 
 1854, settled in Knoxville, which has remained his 
 home since. The year after locating here Mr. 
 Stone purchased the Knoxville J»ur/ial, and was 
 one of the prime movers in forming the Republican 
 l)arty in Iowa, being the first editor to suggest a 
 State Convention, which met Feb. 22, 1856, and 
 completed the organization. In the autumn of the 
 same 3-ear he was a Presidential elector on the Re- 
 publican ticket. 
 
 In April, 1857, Mr. Stone was chosen .Iiidge of 
 the Eleventh .Judicial District. He was elected 
 Judge of the Sixth Judicial District when the new 
 Constitution went into operation in 1858, and was 
 serving on the bench when the American flag was 
 stricken down at Fort Sumter. At that time, 
 April, 18C1, he was holding court in Fairfield, 
 .lefferson County, and when tlie news came of the 
 insult to the old flag he immediately adjourned 
 court and prepared for what he believed to be more 
 important duties — duties to his country. 
 
 In May he enlisted as a private ; was made Cap 
 tain of Co. B, Third Iowa Inf., and was subse 
 quently promoted to Jlajor. AVith that regiment 
 lie was at the battle of Blue Mill, Mo., in Septcm- 
 l)er, 18(51, where he was wounded. At Shiloli, the 
 following spring, he commanded the rcgime!it and 
 was taken i)risoner. By order (jf Jefferson Davia 
 
132 
 
 WILLIAM M. STOXK. 
 
 he was paroled for tlie time of forty tlays. witli 
 orders to ri'iiair to Wa,-<liiiii;toii. and if ixjssible 
 t^cfurc an auri'fiiiriit for a caiti'l for a general ex- 
 elianye of prisoni'is, and to return as a jjrisoner if 
 lie did not succeed. Kailini;' to secure that result 
 wilhiii Ihc period .--iiecilicil. he retiu-ucd to Rich- 
 mond and had liis paroK' extended lifteen days; re- 
 jiairint;- asiain to Wa.--hington, he effected his pur- 
 l)ose and was exchanged. 
 
 In August, l.s(;2. he was appointed bj- Gov. 
 Kirkwood Colonel of the 'rwenty-second lov.a 
 Infantry, wiiicii rendezvoused and organized at 
 Canq) I'ope, Iowa City, tlie same month. The 
 regiment was occupied forsevei'al months in guard- 
 ing suppl}' stores and the railroad, and escoi-ting 
 sui>i)ly trains to the Army of the .Southeast Mis 
 souri until Jan. •27. l.S(;;j, when it received orders 
 to join the army umier (Jen. Davidson. ;it AW'st 
 I'lains, Mo. After a march of iive days it reached 
 its destination, ami was luigaded with the Twenty- 
 (irst and Twenty-tliii<l Iowa regiments. Col. Stone 
 commanding, and was designated the First Brigade, 
 First Division, Army of Southeast Missouri. April 
 I found C'ol. Stone at Milliivcn's IJend, La., to a.ssist 
 (Iraut in the caDture of \'icksliurg. lie was now 
 ni immediate command of liis regiment, which 
 foiined :i \K\H of a brigade under Col. C. L. Harris, 
 of the Fieventh Wisconsin. In the atlvance ujion 
 I'urt (iil'son Col. Harris was takeii sick, and Col. 
 Stone was again in cliarge <if a lirigade. In the 
 battle of Port (ubson the Colonel and his com- 
 mand distinguished themselves, and were successful. 
 
 The brigade was in the reserve at Chamiiion Hills, 
 and in active .skirmish at Black River. 
 
 On the evening of May 21 Col. Stone received 
 (ien. Grant's order for a general assaidt on the 
 I'uemj-'s lines at ID A. M. on the 22d. In this 
 charge, which was unsuccessful. Col. .St(Mie wa.s 
 again wounded, receiving a gunshot in the left 
 forearm. Col. Stone commanded a brigade until 
 the last of August, when, being ordered to the Gulf 
 Department, he resigned. He had become very 
 pojuilar with the people of Iowa. 
 
 He was nominated in a Republican convention, 
 held at Des Moines in June, 1803, and was elected 
 liy a very large majorit}'. He vvas breveteil Ihig- 
 adier-General in liStU, during liis first year as Gov- 
 ernor, lie was inaugurated Jan. 14, 1 .SO J, and was 
 re-elected in isii.l, his four ^X'ars in office closing 
 Jan. 16, 18GK. His majority ii: IHOS was nearly 
 30,000, and in 180.5 about 10,,JOO. His diminished 
 vote in 180.5 was dui; to the fact tliat he was very 
 strongly committed in favor of negro suffrage. 
 
 Gov. Stone made a very energetic and I'llicieiit 
 Fxecutive. Since the exi)iratii)n of liis gubernatorial 
 leiin lie has sought to escape the public notice, and 
 has given his time to his [ii'i\ate business interests. 
 He is in partnership with Hon. U. B. Ayres, of 
 Kiiox\ille. ill leg;il practice. 
 
 He was elected to the General Asscmlily in 1877. 
 and served one term. 
 
 Ill .May. 1 s."i7, he iiiMiried Miss Carloaet Mathews, 
 a native of Ohio, then residing in Knoxvillc. They 
 have one sou — AVilliam A 
 
(iOXERXOUS OV IOWA. 
 
 135 
 
 ?^C^ 
 
 K- 
 
 
 7i< ■ — ^ ^^ 
 
 jt?? -/It 
 
 .1 
 
 :p 
 
 ••o*o.@^<^@-. 
 
 AMFEL MERRILL, Governor 
 from isr.sti) 1S72, Avns l)orn 
 ill ( )xfnr(l C'uunty, Maine, 
 Aui;-. 7. !sl'2. IIo is a dc- 
 i sreiiil;mt on Ills niotJior's side 
 of Peter Hill, \viio eame from 
 England and settled in Maine 
 ill KJ.Vj. From this aneestry have 
 sprung most of the Hills in Ameri- 
 ea. On his father's side he is a de- 
 ceudant of Xathaniel Merrill, who 
 came from P^nglaiid in ll>;>(l,aiid lo- 
 eated in JIassaehnsetts. Nathaniel 
 liad a son, Daniel, who in turn had 
 a son named John, and he in turn 
 lieg.at a son called Thomas. The 
 latter was born Dee. is;. 1708. On the 4th of Ang- 
 11-1, 172S, was born to him a son, .Samuel, whii was 
 married and had a family of twelve children, one of 
 whom, Abel, was taken by his father to Boston in 
 1 7.')0. Abel was niarrii'd to Elizabeth Page, who 
 had five children, one of whom, Abel, Jr., was the 
 father of onr subject. He married Abigail Hill 
 ■ June 2;"), 1809, , and to them were liorn eight chil- 
 dren, Samuel being the youngest but one. At the 
 age of sixteen S.ainuel moved with his parents to 
 Uiixtoii. ;\Iaine. the native [Jace of his mother, 
 wlu re his time was emiiloyed in turns in teaching 
 and atti'iiding school until he attained his majority. 
 Having determined to make teaching a profession, 
 and feeling th.at the South offered better opportu- 
 uities, lie imniediatt'lj' set out for tliat section. Tie 
 
 remanied, liowever, but a short time, as he says "he 
 was born too far North." Suspicion having liecn 
 raised as to his aliolitioii priiicijiles .-iiid liiidiiig the 
 element not altogether congenial, he soon aliandoiicd 
 the sunny South and went to the old (iraiiite State, 
 where the next several years were spent in fanning. 
 In 1847 he moved to Taniworth, N. II.. where he 
 engaged in the mercantile business in comp.any with 
 a brother, in which he was ipiite successful. Not 
 being satisfied with the limited resources of North- 
 ern New England he determined to try his good 
 fortune on the broad prairies of the fertik' West. 
 
 It was in the year 18.JG that Mr. Jlerrill turiic<l 
 his face toward the setting sun, finding' a desirable 
 location near McGregor, Iowa, where he established 
 a branch house of the old firm. The iioiiulation in- 
 creased, as also did their trade, and their house be- 
 came one of the most extensive wholesale establisli- 
 ments on the Upper Mississippi. During all these 
 years of business Mr. Merrill took an active part in 
 l)olitics. In 1854 he was chosen on the abolition 
 ticket to the Legislature of New Hampshii'c. The 
 following year he was again returned to the Legis- 
 lature. an<l doubtless had he remained in th.at State 
 would have risen still higher. Incoming to Iowa 
 his experience and ability were demanded liy liis 
 neighbors, and he was here called into public serv- 
 ice. He was sent to the Legislature, and though 
 assembled with the most distinguished men of his 
 time, took a leading part in the important services 
 demanded of that body. The Legislatin-e was con- 
 vened in an extra session of 18C1, to provide for 
 
13G 
 
 SAMUEL MERRILL. 
 
 till- I'xifift'iicii's of the Kclii'lliuii, and in its deliber- 
 atiuiis Mr. iMi'iTill took an active part. 
 
 Ill \\\v smiuiKT (if 1si;l'. Mr. Merrill wascommis- 
 sioiieil Cdldiiel of the 21st I(i\va Infantry, and im- 
 mediately went t(i the front. At the time jNIarma- 
 iliike \v;is menat'ing the Tniiin fdrees in Missouri, 
 which called for pmmiit aetidu (in the part of the 
 I'liidn (ieiieials. Col. Merrill was jilaeed in com- 
 ni.-iiid. with (letachnieiits of the 21st Idwa and DDth 
 Illinois, a portion of the .'!d Iowa Cavalry and two 
 jiieees of artillery, with orders to make a forced 
 march to .Springfield, he lieing at the time eighty 
 miles distant. On the morning of Jan. II, I8G3, 
 he (■•nme across a body of Confederates who were 
 .advancing in heavy force. Imme(liate p!'eiiarati(_)ns 
 for liattle were madi' by Col. ^Merrill, and after brisk- 
 ly firing for an honr, the enemy fell back. Merrill 
 then moved in the direction of Ilailville. where he 
 found the enemy in force nnder ^larniadiikc. being 
 about eight thonsnnd strong, while Meirill had but 
 one-tenth of that number. A hot struggle ensued 
 in wliicli the Twenty-first distinguished itself. The 
 Confeilerate loss was several officers and three hun- 
 dred men killed and Wdundcd, while the Union loss 
 was but seven killed and sixty-four wounded. The 
 'ollowing winter the regiment [lerformed active 
 service, taking jiart in the camiiaign of \'ieksburg. 
 It fought luider MeClernand at I'ort (idison, and 
 while making the famons charge of Pilack River 
 liridge. Col. .Merrill was severely wounded through 
 the hi[). He was laid np from the 17th of May to 
 January, when he again joined his regiment in 
 Texa,s, and in .Iiine, ISCI, on account of suffering 
 from his wound, resigned and retnrned to Mc- 
 (ti-egor. Ill lisiiT i\Ir. Merrill was chosen Ciov- 
 eriior of the Slate, iieing elected upon the Repub- 
 lican ticket. He .served with such satisfaction, that 
 ill iscii hi' was re-nonunated and accordingly 
 elected. 
 
 Inder the administration of Gov. Merrill, 
 the movement foi' the erection of the new .State 
 House was inaugurated. The Thirleenlh Ceneral 
 Assembly iirovided for (he building at .a cost of 
 !|;1,,')()(),00(), and made an apjiropriatioii with which 
 to begin llie work of xI.'.o.oimi. With ihis sum the 
 work was begun, .'111(1 Nov. 2;!, 1.S71, the corner 
 stone was laid in the presence of citizens from all 
 
 jiarts of the State. On this occasion the Governor 
 delivered the address. It was an historical view of 
 the incidents culminating in the laliors of the day. 
 It was reiilete with historical facts, showed jiatieiit 
 research, was logical and argumentative, and at times 
 eloquent with the fire and genius of American pa- 
 triotism. It is a paper w(_)rthy of the (jccasion, 
 and does justice to the head and heart that con- 
 ceived it. 
 
 During the gubernatorial career of Gov. Mer- 
 rill, extending through two terms, from Jaiiu- 
 ar}', 1868, to .lanuarj', 1872, he was actively en- 
 gaged in the discharge (jf his otficial duties, and 
 proliably no incumbent of that otliee ever devoted 
 himself more earnestly t<j the public good, stand- 
 ing liy the side of Gov. Faircliild, of Wisconsin. 
 The two were iiLstrumental in placing the slack- 
 water navigation between the Mississippi and the 
 Lakes in the way of ultimate and certain success. 
 The Governor treated this subject to great length 
 and with marked ability in his message to the Thir- 
 teenth General Assembly, and so earnest w«s he in 
 behalf of this iiniirovement, that he again discu.s.si'd 
 it in his message to the Fourteenth General A.ssem- 
 bly. In the instig.'ition of the work the Governors 
 of the different States interested, called conventions, 
 and through tlii' deliberations of these assemblies 
 the aid of the (leneral (iovernment was secured. 
 
 Samuel Merrill was first married to Catherine 
 Thomas, who died in 1847, fourteen months after 
 their marriage. In January, 18.')1, he was united 
 in marriage with a IMiss Hill, of liuxton, Maine. 
 She became the mother of four children, three of 
 whom died 3-oung, the eldest living to be only two 
 and a half years old. 
 
 After the expiration of his imblic service he re- 
 tnrned to McGregor, but shortly afterward removi-d 
 to Ues Jloines, where he is now residing, and is 
 President of the Citi/.ens" National I'ank. 
 
 Thus brielly have been ixiinted out the leading 
 features in the life of one of Iowa's most promi- 
 nent citizens, and one who has made an lioiioralile 
 rectn'd both in public jiositions aiK^ i)rivaie enter- 
 prises. He is highly esteemed in the city where he 
 resides and is regarded as one of the lailiifiil rep- 
 resentatives of the sons of New Lngland. ^Iii stat- 
 ure he is fully six feet high and finely proportioneii. 
 
/rir'iy i Bj^^^ y ^ 
 
 "tj.-^f^Oy/^ 
 
COVERNORS OF IOWA. 
 
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 130 
 
 YRUS CLAY CARPENTER, 
 
 Governor of lo\v;i f lom 1872 
 to 1875, inclusive, was born 
 in Susquehann.i C(^iint_y, Pa., 
 Nov. 24, 1829. He was left 
 ^ an orphan at an early age, his 
 ilP"' '5'^*^**^^ mother dying when he was at 
 the age of ten years, and his father two 
 He was left in destitute 
 circumstancts, and went first to learn 
 the trade of a clothier, wiiich, however, 
 he abandoned after a few months, and 
 engaged with a farmer, giving a term 
 in the winter, however, to attendance 
 upon the district school. AVhen eighteen 
 he began teaching school, and the fol- 
 lowing four j'cars divided his time between teach- 
 ing and attending the academy at Hartford. At 
 the conclusion of this period he. went to Ohio, 
 where he engaged as a teacher for a j'ear and a 
 half, spending the summer at farm work. 
 
 In the year 1 854 Mr. Carpenter came further 
 westward, visiting many points in Illinois and 
 Iowa, arriving at Des Moines, then a village of 
 some 1,200 inhabitants. This place, however, not 
 offering a favorable location, he proceeded on his 
 juurne}', arriving in Fort Dodge June 28, 18.54. 
 Owing to his being without funds he was compelled 
 to travel on foot, in which way the journey to Fort 
 Dodge was made, with his entire worldly posses- 
 sions in a carpet-sack which he carried in his hand. 
 He soon found emijloyment at Fort Dodge, as as- 
 sistant to a Guvuruiueut surveyor. This work be- 
 
 ing completed, young Carpenter assisted his land- 
 lord in cutting hay, but soon secured another 
 position as a surveyor's assistant. In the early 
 part of the following January he engaged in teach- 
 ing school at Fort Dodge, but in the spring was 
 employed to take charge of a set of surveyors in 
 surveying the counties of Emmet and Kossuth. 
 
 On his return to Fort Dodge he found the land- 
 office, which had been established at that place, 
 was about to open for the sale of land. Being 
 familiar with the country and the location of tlie 
 best land, he opened a private land-office, and 
 found constant and profitable employment for the 
 following three years, in platting and surveying 
 lands for those seeking homes. During this period 
 he became extensively known, and, being an active 
 Republican, he was chosen as a standard-bearer for 
 his section of the State. He was elected to the 
 Legislature in the autumn of 18.57. In 18G1, on 
 the breaking out of the Rebellion, he volunteered 
 and was assip^ned to duty as Commissary of Sub- 
 sistence, much of the time being Chief Commissary 
 of the left wing of the IGth Army Corps. In 18(i 1 
 lie was promoted Lieutenant-Colonel and assigned 
 to duty on the staff of Gen. Logan, as Chief Com- 
 missary of the 15tli Army Corps. He continued in 
 the service until the close of the war, and iu 
 August, 1865, was mustered out. 
 
 Upon the close of his service to his country ho 
 returned to his home at Fort Dodge, but, owing to 
 so many changes which had taken place, and such 
 an influx of cntcriwising men into the city, he 
 found his once prosperous business in the hands of 
 
! jr. 
 
 CTUU.S CLAY CAUPEXTKU. 
 
 Dtlici-s. He turned his aUcution to the iiuprove- 
 inent of a piece of ImiiiI, where he remained until 
 'lis eloctiiin, in tlie unluinn of l.S(;(;, as Register of 
 t!u! State Land-Ollirc. lie was le-eleeted in ISG.s, 
 and refused the nomination in 1S70. This lX)sition 
 look him to Des Moines, lint in 1870 he returned 
 io Fort Dotlgc. During the summer of the follow- 
 ing jear he was nominated by the Republican party 
 for Governor. lie was elected, and inaugurated as 
 Clu-f Executive of Iowa Jan. 11, 1S72. In 1873 
 i!C was renominated by his party, and October 14 
 jf that year was re-elected, his inauguration taking 
 nlacc Jan. 27, 1874. Gov. Carpenter was an able, 
 j)opular and faithful Executive, and was regarded 
 as one of the most honest, prominent and luiselfish 
 officials the State ever had. Plain, unassuming, 
 nodest, he won his public position more through 
 ,he enthusiasm of his friends than by any personal 
 effort or desire of his own. *Everywhere. at all 
 times and upon all occasions, he demonstrated that 
 the confidence of his friends was justified. He took 
 an active part in the great question of monopolies 
 Hud tr-ansportation evils, which during his adminis- 
 tration were so prominent, doing 7nuch to secure 
 wise legislation in these respects. 
 
 Gov. Carpenter has been regarde<l as a pultlic 
 speaker of more than ordinary ability, and has 
 .ipon many occasions been the orator, and always 
 appreciated by the people. 
 
 At the expiration of his second term as Governor 
 Mr. Caipenter was appointed Second Comptroller 
 of the United Sbites Treasury, which position lie 
 'csi^ned after a service of fifteen months. This 
 step was an evidence of his unselfishness, as it was 
 taken because another Bureau ofHcer was to be dis- 
 missed, as it was held that Iowa had more heads of 
 ?>ureaus than she was entitled to, and liis resigning 
 ni office of the higher grade saved the position to 
 anothc:-. In 1881 he was elected to Congress, .and 
 ■served with ability, and in the Twentietli General 
 Assembly of Iowa he represented Webster County. 
 
 G< . Carpenter was married, in March, 18G4, to 
 Miss Susan Ilurkholder, of Fort Dodge. No chil- 
 dren have l)een born lo them, but they have reared 
 a niece of l\Irs. Carpenter's. 
 
 Dining hisenlire life Mr. Cariieiiter lias lieen de- 
 oted to the i>riuciples of Reform aiul the best 
 
 interests of all classes of citizens who, by adoutior. 
 or by birth-right, are entitled to a home upon our 
 soil and the protection of our laws, under the gi'eat 
 charter of '• Life, Liberty and the I'ursuit of Ilai)- 
 iJiness." In an address in I8.j2 he took advanced 
 views ujKjn the leading subjects of public interest. 
 He had already" laid the foundation for that love of 
 freedom which afterwards found an amjile field of 
 labor with the Re]iublican partj'. There was noth- 
 ing chimerical in his views. H? looked at eveiy 
 strata of human society, and, from the wants of the 
 nuasses, wisely dcvined duty and proiihesied destiny, 
 lie would have the peojile of a free Republic edu- 
 cated in the spirit of the civilization of the> age. 
 Instead of cultivating a taste f' ■ a s|)ecies of liter- 
 ature tending directly to degrade the mind anil 
 deprave the he:u-t, thereby leading back to a state 
 of superstition and conseqnent barbarism, he Wi.uld 
 cultivate principles of temperance, indiistiy and 
 economy in every youtlifiil mind, .as the indispens- 
 able ingredients of good citizens, or subjects upon 
 whose banner will be inscribed Liberty, Equality. 
 Fraternity. 
 
 Thus early in life Mr. Carpenter saw the destined 
 tendency of our American institutions, and the ad- 
 vancing civilization of the age. He saw it in the 
 peace congress, whose deliberations have made the 
 Rhine thrice immortal. He saw it in the prospect- 
 ive railway, which he believed would one day 
 unite the shores of the Atlantic witii those of the 
 Pacific — a fact realized by the construction of the 
 great continental railwaj'. 
 
 It was thus early that he began to stiid\- tlic 
 wants of the world, and with what clearness am! 
 directness may be seen by the correctness of ids 
 vision and the accomplishment of what he consid- 
 ered an inevitable necessity. 
 
 Thus, growing up into manhood, and psissing on- 
 ward in the rugged pathway of time, disc-ipliiied in 
 political economy and civil ethics in tli(> stern 
 scho(d of experience, he was jirepaivil to meet every 
 emergency with a steady hand; to l)ring onler out 
 of discord, and insure harmony and prosperity. 
 
 Gov. Carpenter is now eng-aged in the quiet \iiir- 
 suits of farm life, residing at Fort Dodge, where 
 he is highly esteemed as one of her purest minded 
 aud most upright citizens. 
 

GOVERNORS OK IOWA. 
 
 143 
 
 OSIIUA G. NEWBOLl), the 
 niiitli Governor of Iowa, is 
 n native of Pennsylvania. 
 He CDines from tiiat excellent 
 stoek known as the Friends, 
 who very early settled in 
 New Jersej'. Jijsluia G. is the 
 son of Barzilla and Catherine 
 (House) Newbold, and was horn 
 in Faj-ette Count}-, May 12, 
 lH:iO. He was born a farmer's 
 hoy and was reared in the vigor- 
 ous employment of farm work. 
 When he was eight years of age the 
 family moved to Westmoreland 
 County, Pa., where, in the common 
 schools and in a select school or academy, young 
 >'ewbold received his education. When sixteen 
 years of age he accompanied the family on their re- 
 turn to Fayette County. Here for the following 
 eight years he assisted his father in running a ttour- 
 ing-mill as well as devoting nuuii of his time to 
 teaching school. When about nineteen years of 
 age our subject began the study of medicine, de- 
 votir.g much of his time while teaching to his mcd- 
 cal looks. He, however, abandoned the idea of 
 iiecoming a physician and turned liis attention to 
 diffei'ent walks in life. 
 
 lu tlie mouth of .Marcii, 18;)4, Mr. Newbold re- 
 moved to Iowa, locating on a farm, now partl_v in 
 the corporation of Mount Pleasant, Henry County. 
 
 At the end of one year he removed to Cedar 
 Township, Van liuren County, there merchandising 
 and farming till about IHOO, when he removed to 
 Ilillsljoro, Henry County, and pursued the same 
 callings. 
 
 In 1802, wlien the call was made for 000,000 men 
 to finish the work of crushing the Rebellion, Mr. 
 Newbold left his farm in the hands of his family 
 and his store in charge of his partner, and went into 
 the army as Captain of Company C, 2;jth Regiment 
 of Iowa Infantr}'. He served nearh' three years, 
 resigning just before the war closed, on account of 
 disability. During the last two or three months he 
 served at the South he filled the position of Judge 
 Advocate, with headqu.arters at Woodville, Ala. 
 
 His regiment was one of those that made Iowa 
 troops famous. It arrived at Helena, Ark., in 
 November, 1802, and sailed in December following 
 on the expedition against Vicksburg by waj' of 
 Chickasaw Bayou. At the latter place was its first 
 engagement. Its second was at Arkansas Post, and 
 there it suffered severely, losing in killed .and 
 wounded more than sixty. 
 
 After Lookout Mountain it joined in the pursuit 
 of Bragg's flying forces to Ringgold, where it en- 
 gaged the enemy in their strong works, No\'ember 
 27, losing twenty-nine wounded. The following 
 year it joined Sherman in his Atlanta Campaign, 
 then on the famous march to the sea and through 
 the Carolinas. 
 
 On returning to Iowa he continued in the iner- 
 
144 
 
 JOSHUA G. NEWBOLD. 
 
 cantile trailc at Ilillsboro for three or four years, 
 and then sold out, giving thereafter his whole at- 
 tention t(j agriculture, stock-raising and stock-deal- 
 ing, making the stock department an important 
 factor in his business for several years. Mr. Jsew- 
 bold was a member of the 13th, 14th and loth Gen- 
 eral Assemblies, representing Henry County, and 
 was Chairman of the .School Committee in the 14th, 
 and of the committee on ajiprojjriations in the loth 
 Genci'al Assembly. In the l.utli (1874) he was tem- 
 porary Sjjeakcr during the deadlock in organizing 
 the House. In 1875 he was elected Lieutenant 
 Governor on the Republican ticket with Samuel J. 
 Kirkwood. 
 
 His Democratic competitor was E. D. AVoodward, 
 who received i)3,0G0 votes. Mr. Newbold received 
 134, KJG, or a majority of 31,106. Governor Kirk- 
 wood being elected United States Senator during 
 that session, Mr. Newbold became Governor, taking 
 the chair Feb. 1, 1877, and vacating it for Gov. 
 Gear in Jamiarj-, 1878. 
 
 Gov. Newbold's message to the Legislature 
 in 1878, shows painstaking care and a clear, busi- 
 ness-like view of the interests of the State. His 
 recommendations were carefully considered and 
 largely adopted. The State's finances were then in 
 a less creditable condition than ever before or 
 since, as there was an increasing floating debt, then 
 anxninting to |340,82G..')G, more than S!)n,nO0 in 
 excess of the Constitutional limitation. Said (4ov. 
 Newbold in his message: "The commonwealth 
 ought not to set an example of dilatoriness 
 in meeting its obligations. Of all forms of indebt- 
 edness, that of a floating character is the most ob- 
 jectionable. Tlje uncertainty as to its amount will 
 
 invariably- enter into any computation made l)j- per- 
 sons contracting with the State for supplies, mater- 
 ial or labor. To remove the present ditliculty, and 
 to avert its recurrence, I look upon as the most im- 
 portant work that will demand your attention." 
 
 One of the greatest problems before statesmen is 
 that of equal and just taxation. The following 
 recommendation shows that Gov. Newbold was 
 abreast with foremost thinkers, for it j)roposes a 
 step which yearl}' finds more favor with the people : 
 " The inequalities of the personal-property vahi- 
 ations of the several counties suggest to my mind 
 the propriety of so adjusting the State's levy as to 
 recpiire the counties to paj- into the State treasury 
 only the tax on realty, leaving the corresponding- 
 tax on personalty in the county treasury. This 
 would rest with each county the adjustment of its 
 own personal property valuations, without fear that 
 they might be so high as to work injustice to itself 
 in comparison with other counties." 
 
 Gov. Newbold has always affiliated with tlie 
 Republican party, and holds to its great cardinal 
 doctrines, having once emliraced them, with the 
 same sincerity and honesty that he cherishes his re- 
 ligious sentimeuts. He has been a Christian for 
 something like twenty-five years, his connection be- 
 ing with the Free-Will Baptist Church. He found 
 his wife, Rjichel Farquhar, in Fayette Count}', Pa., 
 their union taking place on the 2d of Ma}', 18o0. 
 They have had five children and lost two. The 
 names of the living are Mary Allene, Emma 
 Irene and (ieorge C. 
 
 The Governor is not yet an <>M lunn. and may 
 serve his State or county iu utlier capacities in llie 
 coming j'ears. 
 
 ^,. 
 
Jl^t^^-W^ 
 
GO^'ER^'01lS OF IOWA. 
 
 H7 
 
 
 -<5"-v:S";Tc~'fr— '^'*>— *^ 
 
 OHN II. GKAR, the tenth 
 'ij^ gentleniiiu to occupy the 
 Executive Chair of Iowa, is 
 still a resident of Burlington. 
 He is a native of the Empire 
 State, where in the city of 
 Itliica, April 7, 1 825, he was l>orn. 
 Rev. E. G. Goal, his father, was 
 born in New London, Conn., in 
 1 7!)2, and licc.anie a distinguished 
 clergyman of the Protestant 
 Episcopal Church. His family had 
 removed with him, wliile he was 
 still young, to Pittsfield, Mass., and 
 in the year 181G, after his ordina- 
 tion as a clergyman of the Episco- 
 pal Church, he went to New York 
 and located at Onondaga Hill near 
 ■] the city of Syracuse. Shortly after 
 this settlement, the young minister 
 was unileil in marriage with jNIiss 
 Jliranda E. Cook. After serving 
 various c<mgregati(ms in "Western 
 New York for many j'cars, he de- 
 termined to liecome a pioneer in 
 Noi'Uiern Illiiinis, whicli at the time, in the year 
 ls;it'i, was lieing rapidly settled u[>. lie found a 
 desiralile location at (Jalena where he remained un- 
 til 1 s;is, when he received the ap[)iiiMtment as 
 Chai)lain in the United States army while located 
 ;',t Fort Snelling, .Aliim. He lived a long ami act- 
 ive life, doMig much good, quitting his labors in 
 
 the year 1874, at the advanced .age of eighty-two 
 years. 
 
 The only son born to IMr. and Sirs. E. Ci. Gear 
 was J. II., afterward the distinguished Governor of 
 Iowa. As above stated the birth occurred in 182.5. 
 In 1 8 K3, wlun still a young man, he came "West to 
 IJurliiigton, where he has since continued to reside, 
 her most distinguished citizen. Shortly after his 
 arrival in the 3-oung citj', he embarked in his mer- 
 cantile career, engaging at the time with the firm 
 of IJridgman & Bros., in the capacity of a clerk. 
 Remaining with this linn for a little over a year, 
 he left them for an engagement with "W. F. Cool- 
 baugh, who at one time was President of the 
 Union Nation.-d Bank, of Chicago, and who at that 
 early period was the leading merchant of Eastern 
 Iowa. He served Mr. Coolbaugh so faithfully, and 
 with such marked ability for the following five 
 years, that, when desirous of a partner in his busi- 
 ness, the wealthy merchant could liud no one in 
 whom he could place greater confidein-e and with 
 whom he could trust his extensive business rela- 
 tions that pleased him better than the young clerk. 
 Accordingly he was associated . as a partner under 
 the firm name of W. F. Coolbaugh & Co. Under 
 this arrangement the firm did a, prosperous busi- 
 ness for the following five years, when ]Mr. Gear 
 l)urchased the entire business, which he cMrrie<l on 
 with marked success until he became known as the 
 oldest wholesale grocer in the State. He 's at present, 
 besides filling other jirominent business I'elations, 
 President of the Rolling Mill Co., of Galesburr 
 
148 
 
 iOHN H. GEAR. 
 
 Mr.Gcar has been honored b}- his ft'Uow-citizens 
 witli iiinny positions of trust. In 18.52 he was 
 elected Alderman; in 18G3 was elected Mayor 
 over A. W. Carpenter, being the first Republican 
 ui) to tliat time who had been elected in Burlington 
 on a party issue. In 1807 the Burlington, Cedar 
 Rapids & Minnesota Railroad Company was organ- 
 ized, an<l he was chosen as its President. His ef- 
 forts highly contributed to the success of the enter- 
 l)rise, which did much for Burlington. He was 
 .i!so active in promoting the Burlington & South- 
 western Railway, as well as the Burlington & North- 
 western narrow-gauge rf)ad. 
 
 He h.as always acted with the Republican partj', 
 and in 1871 was nominated and elected a member 
 of the House of Representatives of the 14th 
 General Assembly. In 1873 he was elected to the 
 15th General Assembly. The Republican cau- 
 cus of the House nominated him for Speaker by 
 acclnuiatioH, and after a contest of two weeks he 
 wr.'; chosen over his c)pponent, .1. W. Dixon. He 
 flUed the position of Speaker very acceptably, and 
 at the close of the session all the members of the 
 House, independent of party affiliations, joined in 
 ciguing their names to a resolution of thanks, which 
 was engraved and presejited to him. In 187o he 
 was the third time nominated to the Asseniblj- liy 
 the Republican party, and while his county gave a 
 large Democratic vote he was again elected. He 
 was also again nominated for Speaker Ijy the Re- 
 pulilii^an caucus, and was elected by a handsome 
 majority over his competitor, Hon. .Tohn Y. Stone. 
 He is the only man in the State who ever had the 
 lionor of being chosen to this high i)osition a sec- 
 ond time. He enjoys the reputation of being an 
 al)le parliamentarian, his rulings never having lieen 
 "apijcaled from. At the close of the session he 
 again received the unanimous thanks of the House 
 of Re|)resentatiyes for his courtesy and impartiality, 
 and for the alile and satisfactory manner in which 
 he iiail presided over that body. 
 
 In 1.S77 he was nominated for Governor by the 
 Rei>ulilican convention which met at Des Moines, 
 June 28, and .at tiie election held the following 
 October he received 121, f)!!) votes, against 79,353 
 Uji' John r. Irish, 10,(;;i'J for Elias Jessup and 38,- 
 V2(? for D. P, Stubbs, His jjlurality over Irish 
 
 was 42,103. He wsis inaugurated ,Tan. 17, 1878, 
 and served four years, being re-elected in 1879 by 
 the following handsome vote: Gear, 157,571 
 Trimble, 85,050: Campbell, 45,439; Dungan, 3,258. 
 Gear's majority over all competitors, 23,828. His 
 second inauguration occurred in January of tim 
 j'car 1880. 
 
 Gov. Gear's business habits enabled him to dis 
 charge the duties of his office with marked ;ibir y 
 He found the financial C(jndition of the State ;it : 
 low ebb, but raised Iowa's credit to that of the 
 best of our States. In his hist biennial message he 
 was able to report: "The warrants out-standing, 
 but not bearing interest, Sept. 30, 1881, amounted 
 to ^22,093. 74, and there are now in the treasury 
 ample funds to meet the current expenses of the 
 State. The war and defense debt has been paid, 
 except the warrants for *1 25,000 negotiated by the 
 Executive, Auditor and Treasurer, under the law 
 of the 18th General Assembly, and ^-IJM) ot 
 the original bonds not j-et presented for pay- 
 ment. The only other debt owing ]»j' the State 
 amounts to 1245,435.19, due to the permanent 
 school fund, a portion of which is made irredeom 
 .able by the Constitution. These facts place Iowa 
 practically' among the States which have no debt, 
 a consideration which must add much to her repu 
 tation. The expenses of the State for the last tw'> 
 years are less than those of any other period since 
 18G9, and this notwithstanding the fact that the 
 State is to-day sustaining several institutions not 
 then in existence; namely, the hospital at Inde- 
 pendence, tiie additional penitentiary, the Normal 
 School and the asylum fur tlie fceble-minde<l chil- 
 (h'eu, besides the girl's de|>artmcnt of the reform 
 school. The State also, ;it [)resent, makes provi-iou 
 for fish culture, for a useful weather service, fo 
 sanitary supervision by a Board of Health, furcu 
 couraging immigration to the State, for the inspeo 
 tion of coal mines l)y a State Inspector, and liber- 
 ally for the military arm of the Goveriunent." 
 
 Gov. t;ear is now in the sixty-first year of his 
 age, and is in the full vigor of both his mental and 
 ph3-sical faculties. He was married in 1.S52 to 
 Harriet S. Foot, forim'riy of the town of Jliddle- 
 bury, Vermont, by whuia he has had four children 
 two of whom are living. 
 
ty^^^yj^cc^^'^. 
 
GOVERNORS OF IOWA. 
 
 ^^=»— .^a.*.1> >a?^ 
 
 
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 Jpj'^SW-^^ ■•->5=^ 
 
 ^<s«-<(gii>-fe>^= 
 
 rNF] of llie most distiiiguislR'fl 
 gentk'UU'ii who was ever 
 honored with the jiositiou 
 of Chief Exeeutive of tlie 
 State is Biiren R. Sherman, 
 the eleventh fiovernor of 
 Iowa, who is a native of New York. 
 It was in the town of Phelps, in On- 
 tario Countj', that he was born to his 
 parents, Phincas L. and Eveline 
 (Robinson) Sherman, on the 2.stli of 
 Ma}', 1836, and was the third son of 
 a distinguished family of children. 
 His parents were likewise n.atives of 
 the P^mpirc State. Bureii R. attended the public 
 schools of his neighborhood, but was subsequently 
 given advantages of the schools at Almirn, N. Y.. 
 where he acquired a very thorough knowledge of 
 the English branches. His father, who was a me- 
 ch.anic, advised him at the close of his studies to 
 apprentice liimself to learn some trade. He ac- 
 cordingly made such arrangements with S. Ayers, of 
 Almira, to lear-i tiie trade of a watchmaker. In 
 18.5.5, however, he left this position and joincil liis 
 family on their r<'m<i\:d in tlic tlicn nen- State of 
 Iowa. They settled upon ;i piece of unlir(!!:en prai- 
 rie land on what is now Geneseo lownship, Tama 
 
 County, his father having previon.>ily purchased 
 land from tlie G(jvernment. Here li'.uen R. labored 
 diligently in de\'el(ipiiig his fatlier's fields, devoting, 
 however, leisure hours "whiclihe was granted, to the 
 study of law. Before leaving his Eastern home he 
 liad decided upon that ])rofessi<in and began its 
 study while yet in Ahuira. lie soon secured a po- 
 sition as a book-lveei)er in ,a. neiglilioring town, and 
 with the wages earned there, materially assisted hi:- 
 father in the development of their home farm. Ir. 
 the meantime he liad applied iiimself diligently tr 
 the study of his books. an<l so studious had hi 
 Ijcen that in the summer of 1 Js.JK, he was enabled 
 to ))ass a creditable examination and to be admitted 
 to the liar. The following s|irnig tlie young attor- 
 ney moved to ^ intou, liung out his shingle and be- 
 gan the jiractice of his |)rofessi< m. He was associated 
 with Hon. ^\'illiam Sniytii, formerly District Judge, 
 and J. C. Traer, under the firm name of Smyth. 
 Traer &• Sherman. The new firm ra[)idlygrew into 
 prominence, building up :i pros|)erons ])ractiee, 
 when JNIr. Sherman withdrew to tender his .services 
 to the Government in defense of her integrity and 
 honor. 
 
 It was early in I SC 1 , directly after the enemy h.id 
 assaulted the American (lag on Snmter, that the 
 young attorney enlisted in Co. G, 1 3th Iowa Vol. 
 
BURKN R. SIII-nniAN. 
 
 iuf.. and iinmediati'ly went to the front. lie 
 cnteiiil !li<' scivit-e as Secuiul .Sergeant, and in 
 FcliruMr\, li"*f!2. wa.s made .Second Lieutenant of 
 Coinpany E. On tlie (Itli of Ai)ril fi>llo\ving lie was 
 i^ery seveicl y wounded at the liattle of rittsbiirgh 
 I.andhig. and while in the hosjiital was jn'oniotedto 
 the rank of Captain, lie returned to his eonipany 
 while yet ol)Iiged to use iiis erutehes, and remained 
 (Ml duty till the summer of 1«(;;5, when, by reason of 
 his wound, he was eoniueiled to resign and return 
 home. Soon after returning from the arm^^ he was 
 elected Coriuty .Tudge of Benton County, and re- 
 elected without oijposition in IsGo. In the autumn 
 of 1S(;6 he resigned his judgeship and .-iceepted the 
 office of Clerk of the District Court, to which he 
 was re-elected in 1H0«, 1.S70 and 187-2, and in 
 IXceiuher, 1M74, resigned in order to accept the 
 ofii.-e of Auditor of State, to whicii ollice he had 
 l)ceii elected by a majority of :iH,42.J over J. M. 
 King, the " anti-inonopoly " candidate. In 1S7(J he 
 was renominated and received ;">(), 272 more votes 
 than W. (irownewcg (Democrat) and Leonard 
 f'rowne ((Greenback) togetle'r. In ls7,s ho was 
 again chcisen to represent the Iie|inlilican party 
 in that office, and this time received a major- 
 i'.V of 7,1 til over the coniliined votes of Col. 
 fjlioeck ( Democrat) and ( i. \'. Swearen;icr (tlreen- 
 hack). In the six years that he held this o/lice, he 
 v.as untiring in his I'aitlil'nl :ipplication to rou.tine 
 woi-k and devotion to his special sliaiv v)f the State's 
 iiusiness. He retii'ed with such an enviable record 
 tiiat it was with no s\n'prise the people learned, 
 .lime 27, 1881, that he was the nominee of the Ile- 
 pubiican party for Go verm u-. 
 
 The campaign was an exciting one. The (General 
 As.senibly had submitted to the people the prohibi- 
 tory amendment to the Constitution. This, while 
 not a partisan question, became iip|ierniost in the 
 mind of the ixifilic. Mr. Shennaii received 133,- 
 330 vt)tes, against .s.!.2 I I for Kinne and 28,112 for 
 1). M. Clark, or a phir.ility of r)0,08G and a major- 
 ity of 21,1171. In 1883 he was re-nominated liy 
 the lieiniblicans, as well as L. (i. Kinne bj' the 
 . Democrats. The National |)arty offered J. B. 
 Weaver. During the camiiaign these eandidatis 
 iield a number of joint discussions at different 
 points in the State. At the election the vote was: 
 
 Sherman, KM, 182; Kinne. 1 39,093 • AVeaver, 23,. 
 089; Sherman's plurality, 25,089 ; majority. 2,000 
 In his second inaugural Gov. Sherman saiil : 
 
 " In assuining, for the second time, the office oi 
 (liief Magistrate for the State, 1 fully realize n>y 
 grateful obligations to the peo|)le of k)wa, through 
 whose generous confidence T am here. I ;;m aware 
 of the duties and grave responsibilities of this ex- 
 alted position, and ;is well what is expected of me 
 therein. As in the past I have given my undivided 
 time and serious attenticm thereto, so in the future 
 I promise the most earnest devotion and untiring 
 efl'<)rt in the faithful performance of mj' ollicial re- 
 qiiii-cmcnts. I have seen the State grow from in- 
 fancy to mature manhood, and each year one of 
 substantial betterment of its previous position. 
 
 " With more railroads than any State, save two; 
 with a school interest the grandest and strongest, 
 v.hicli commands the supiiori and conhiit nee of all 
 the peoi)le, .and a population, which in its entirety 
 is superior to any other in the sisterhood, it is 
 not strange the jiride which attaches to our i>eoi)le. 
 When we remenilier that the results of oiii- effort.- iu 
 the direction of good government have been 
 crowned v.itli such magnificent success, and to-day 
 we have a Slate in most jierfect piiysicai and liiian- 
 cial condition, no woiuier our hearts swell in honest 
 pride as we contemplate the past and so confidently 
 lio|)c for tlie future. What we may become de- 
 pends on our own efforts, and to that future I hiok 
 with earnest and abiding confidence." 
 
 Gov. Sherman's term of oflice continued until .l.in. 
 14, 188(5, when he was succeeded by AVilliain Lana- 
 bee, and ho is now, temporarily, perhaps, enjoying 
 a well-earned rest. He has been a Republican since 
 the organization of that piiity, and his services as a 
 campaign speaker have been for many years in 
 great demand. As an oi'licer he has been able to 
 make an enviable record. Himself honoi'able and 
 thorough, his management of public business has 
 been of the same character, and such as has coin- 
 mended him to the approval of his fellow-citizens. 
 
 He was married, Aug. 20. 18(12. to Miss Lena 
 Kendall, of Vinton, Jowa, a young lad> of r.iie ae- 
 omplishmeuts and strength of character. Their 
 union Ins lieen h.ippy in every resiii-ct. Tlicy have 
 two children — Lena Kendall and Oscar Kugeue. 
 
I^^ 
 
 \ 
 
CUJVERNORS OK IOWA. 
 
 
 ^i^ 
 
 
 
 ^ o<^ 
 
 ciSo' 
 
 
 ILLIAM LARRABEE. tlic 
 piosont able Governor of 
 Iowa, and the twelfth gen- 
 tj^ tleinan selected by the 
 people as the Chief Magis- 
 trate of the great Com- 
 monwealth, is a native of 
 Connecticnt. His ancestors 
 were among the French Ilnguenots who 
 came to America earl^y in the seventeenth 
 century and located in Connecticnt. At 
 that time they bore the name of d'Larra- 
 bee. Adam Larrabee, the father of "Will- 
 iam, was born March 14, 1787, and was 
 one of the early graduates of the West 
 Point Military Academy. He served his 
 country during the War of 1812, with distinction, 
 iujlilingthe i)osition of Second Lieutenant, to which 
 he was commissioned ]March 1, 1811. Ho was pro- 
 moted to the Captaincj- of his company Feb. 1, 
 If-'l I, and on the 30th of the following March, at 
 the bailie of Lacole Mills, during Gen. AVilkinson's 
 cami>aign on the Saint I/ivvrence River, he was 
 severely wounded in the Inug. He eventuallj' re- 
 covered from the injury and was united in mar- 
 riage to Hannah C<. Ei'ster. This much esteenu'd 
 lady \v!is born June ;3, 1 7'.)8. and died on the loth jf 
 March, 1837. C'apt. Larrabee lived to an ad- 
 vanced age, djdng in 18G'J, at the age of eighty- 
 two years. 
 
 As above mentioned, William, our subject, was 
 
 born in Connecticat, the town of Leil3'ard lieing 
 the place of his birth and Jan, 20, 1 832, tlie date. 
 He was the seventh child in a family- of nine chil- 
 dren, and passed the early j-ears of his life upon a 
 rugged Now England farm, enjoying verj' meager 
 educational advantages. He attended, during the 
 winter seasons, the neighboring district schools 
 until he reached the age of nineteen 3'ears, when, 
 during the following two winters, he filled llie i)o>i- 
 tion of schoolmaster. He was ambitious to do 
 something in life for himself that would bi-ing fort- 
 une and distinction, but in making his plans for the 
 future he was embarrassed by a misfortune which 
 befell him when fourteen years of age. In being- 
 trained to the use of firearms under liis father's 
 direction, an accidental discharge resulted in the 
 loss of the sight in the right c3-e. This conse- 
 quently unfitted him for many emploj'ments usually 
 sought by ambitious j'oung men. The family 
 Jived near the seashore, only two miles away, and 
 in that neighborhood it was the custom for at least 
 one son in each familj' to go uijon the sea as a 
 sailor. The two eldest brothers of our subject had 
 chosen this occupation while the third reniainc^d iu 
 charge of the home farm. William was thus left 
 free to chose for himstilf an<l, like many of tlic 
 vouths of that daj', he wisely tuiiied his face West- 
 Wiird. The j'ear 1853 found him on this journc}" 
 toward the setting sun, stopping only when he 
 came to the broad and fertile ])rairies of the new 
 State of Iowa. He first joined his eldi'r sifter. Mr-. 
 
156 
 
 WILLIAM LARRABEE. 
 
 E. II. Williams, who was at that time living at 
 Garnavillo, (.'laytoii County. It w:i.s this circum- 
 stance which led the young lioy from Connecticut 
 to select his future home in the northeastern por- 
 tion of Iowa. He resumed his occupation as a 
 pedagogue, teaching, however, hut one winter, 
 which was jiassed at Ilardln. The following three 
 i'ears he was employed in the capacity of foreman 
 on the Grand Meadow farm of his brother-in-law, 
 Judge Williams. 
 
 In 1857 he bought a one-third interest in the 
 Clermont Mills, and located at Clermont, Fayette 
 County-. He soon was aljle to buy the other two- 
 thirds, and within a year found himself sole owner. 
 He operated this mill until 1^7 1 when he sold to 
 S. M. Leach. On the breaking out of the war he 
 offered to enlist, but was rejected on account of 
 the loss of his right eye. Being informed he might 
 possibly be admitted as a commissioned officer, he 
 raised a com|)any and received a commission as 
 First Lieutenant, but was again rejected for the 
 same disability. 
 
 After selling the mill ^Mr. Larrabee devoted him- 
 self to farming, and started a private bank at Cler- 
 mont. He also, exi)eriinentally, started a large 
 nursery, but this resulted only in confirming the 
 belief that Northern Iowa has too rigorous a cli- 
 mate for fruit-raising. 
 
 Mr. Larrabee did not begin his political career 
 until I8C7. lie was reared as a Whig and became 
 a Republican on the organization of that party. 
 While interested in politics he generallj- refused 
 local olBces, serving only as Treasurer of the 
 School Board prior to 18G7. In the autumn of 
 that year, on the Republican ticket, he was elected 
 to represent his county in the State Senate. To 
 this high position he was re-elected from time to 
 time, so that he served as Senator continuously for 
 eighteen years before being promoted to the high- 
 est office in the State. He was so popular at home 
 that he was generallj- re-nominated by acclamation, 
 and for some j'ears the Democrats did not even 
 
 make nominations. During the whole eighteen 
 years Senator Larrabee was a member of the prin- 
 cipal committee, that on Ways and Means, of which 
 he was generally Chairman, and was also a member 
 of (itlier committees. In the pursuit of the duties 
 thus devolving upon him, he was indefatigable. 
 It is said that he never missed a committee meet 
 ing. Not alone in this, but in iirivate and public 
 l)usiness of all kinds, his uniform habit is that of 
 clo.se application to work. Many of the importan\ 
 measures passed by the Legislature (^we their ex- 
 istence or present form to him. 
 
 He w.as a candidate for the gul)ernatorial nomina- 
 tion in 1881, but entered the contest too late, as 
 Gov. Sherman's following had ln'cn successfully 
 organized. In 18,s.") it w.as generally <-oiiceded be- 
 fore the meeting of the convention that he wouhl 
 be nominated, which he was, and his election fol- 
 lowed as a matter of course. He was inaugurated 
 Jan. 14, 188G, and so far has ma<le an excellent 
 Governor. His position in regard to the licpmr 
 (piestion, that on which political foitunes are made 
 and lost in Iowa, is that the majority should rule. 
 He was personally in favor of high license, but 
 having been elected Governor, and sworn to up- 
 hold the Constitution and execute the laws, he pro- 
 poses to do so. 
 
 A Senator who sat beside him in the Senate de 
 clares him to be ''a man of the broadest comjire- 
 hension and inf^)rniation, an extraordinarily cU-ar 
 reasoner, fair and conscientious in his conclusions, 
 and of .Sp.artaii firmness in his matured judgment," 
 and .says that '-he brings the practical facts and 
 philosophy of human nature, the science and his- 
 tory of law, to ai<l in his decisions, and adheres Avith 
 the earnestness of Jefferson and Sumner to the 
 fundamental principles of the people's rights." 
 
 Gov. Larrabee w.as married Sejjt. 1 2, 1 M(J 1 , :it Cler- 
 mont, to Anna M. Appelman, daughter of Capt. 
 G. A. Appelman. (Inv. Larrabee has seven chil- 
 dren — Charles, Augusta, Julia, Anna, William,, 
 Frederic and Helen. 
 
:p 
 
 f/< 
 
 0>n-Oi^.A^ji^ 
 
 /^a~^(-Mj 
 
GOVERNORS OF IOWA. 
 
 159 
 
 ^ fcl'yj?J>r-,^ 
 
 
 .lOSStt^i 
 
 
 "i' . t.i..t„.tA.t,.t,,t«.tt.T.iJ.,.f.>t.tg.t.i.t..T..t.«t .A -'i;' I 
 
 
 <T,lif<^€^^S^p- 
 
 {ACE BOIES, Oovernor 
 jf Iowa, is a lawyer by 
 profession, and a resident 
 of the city of Waterloo, 
 of this State, where he 
 has been in active prac- 
 tice since April, 18G7. Governor 
 Boies is a son of Elicr and Hettie 
 (Henshaw) Boies, and was born in 
 Anrora, Erie County, N. Y.,on the 
 7th day of December, 1827. His 
 father was a farmer by occupation, 
 and in moderate circumstances, and 
 Horace was reared under the 
 healthful and moral influences of 
 lie attended tlie public scliools, as op- 
 portunity afforded, until sixteen years of age, when 
 being inspired with an ambition to see more of the 
 world than had been possible for him within tiio 
 narrow limits of his native town, with the added 
 variety of an occasional visit to Buffalo, he per- 
 suaded his parents to consent to his departure for 
 the West. Passage was secured on a steamer at 
 Buffalo, which was bound up the lakes, and in due 
 linio he landed at tiie little handi-t of Racine, Wis. 
 This w.as in the spring of 1813, while Wisconsin 
 
 farm life. 
 
 was a Territory and butsparselj' settled. The total 
 cash assets of tiie youthful emigrant amounted to 
 but seventy-five cents, which necessitated strict 
 economy and immediate employment. Not finding 
 a favorable opening at Racine he struck out on 
 foot in search of work among the farmers, which 
 he secured with a settler near Rochester, and some 
 twenty miles from Racine. His ein[)loyer proved 
 a hard task-master and kept the lioy hard at tiie la- 
 borious work of ditch digging, while he stinted 
 him at meals. After a month spent in a lialf- 
 starved condition, and over-worked, tiie subject of 
 our sketch received tin; sum of ¥10 for his services, 
 and broken down in hcaltli. mo^«ed on a few^ miles, 
 where he luckily fell in witli a family that had 
 moved from tlie ucigliliorhood of his home. Tliey 
 proved true friends and kindly cared for iiira 
 through a long illness, that was the legitimate con- 
 sequence of his previous month of hardship and 
 starvation. 
 
 On recovering his liealtli, young Boies continued 
 at farm work until a year liad claiised since he had 
 left his home. He then returneil to his native 
 town, having learned tlie useful lesson of self-re- 
 liance, which in after years enabled him to more 
 easily overcome llie difficulties that beset the way 
 
160 
 
 HORACE BOIES. 
 
 of him who has to hew out his own road to success. 
 
 On his return to Aurora, Mr. Boies pursued a 
 course of study at the Aurora Academy, and later 
 spent one winter in teaching scliool in Boone 
 County, 111. Returning to New York, he was mar- 
 ried in Aurora, on the 18th of April, 1848, to Miss 
 Adela King, a daughter of Darius and Hannah 
 King. Mrs. Boies was horn in Eric Count}-, N. Y. 
 Three children were horn of their union, of whom 
 onl3' one is now living, a daughter, Adela, who was 
 the wife of John W. Carson, now deceased. Mrs. 
 Carson resides atMt. Vernon, Iowa. 
 
 In i850 Mr. Boies began the study of law in Au- 
 rora and {)ursued it in tliat place and also in Bos- 
 ton, of Erie County; and was admitted to the bar 
 at Buffalo, at the general term of the Supreme 
 Court in November, 1852. He pursued the prac- 
 tice of his profession in Buffalo and vicinity with 
 marked success, and in the fall of 18.57 was chosen 
 to represent his district in the New York House of 
 Representatives, for the session of 18.58. 
 
 In the autumn of 185.5 Mr. Boies was called to 
 mourn the loss of his wife, who died in November, 
 of that year. He was married again in December, 
 1858, in Waterloo, Iowa, to Miss Versalia M. Bar- 
 ber, a daughter of Dr. P. .T. Barlier. Mrs. Boies 
 was born in Boston, Erie County, N. Y., and had 
 removed to Iowa six months \mor to her marriage. 
 Siie died in April, 1877, leaving three children, a 
 daugliter and two sons. Earl L., the eldest, was 
 graduated at Cornell College, studied law wilii his 
 f.itiier, was admitted to the bar in 1886, and is now 
 his father's partner. Jessie, the only daughter, is 
 her father's companion and housekeeper. Herbert 
 B., tiie youngest, is a law student, reading law in 
 his father's office. 
 
 Mv. Boies after pursuing the pr.actice of his pro- 
 fession at Buffalo and vicinity for fifteen years, re- 
 moved to Iowa, and settled at Waterloo, in April, 
 I8G7. He at once formed a law partnership with II. 
 B. Allen, and for a time the firm was Boies & Allen, 
 then Carlton F. Coucli, tiio present district judge, 
 was admitted to membership, and the linn name be- 
 came Boies, Allen & Coucli. That connection was 
 continued until 1878, when JMr. Allen, on account of 
 failing liealth, was obliged to withdraw. The firm 
 continued under llie style of Boies it Couch until 
 
 1884, when Mr. Coucli was elected Judge of the 
 Ninth Judicial District. Mr. Boies was then alone 
 in business for a short time, until joined by his 
 eldest son, E. L.* In 1886 Mr. James L. Husted 
 was admitted to membership in the firm, which lias 
 since continued under the name of Boies, Husted 
 & Boies, and which is widely known as a leading 
 law firm of P^astern Iowa. 
 
 Gov. Boies was a Whig in earlj- life, and on the 
 disruption of that party and the formation of the 
 Republican party, he joined the latter. But he was 
 never ambitious to serve in official positions, and 
 with the exception of one term in the New York 
 Legislature and one term as City Attorney at Wa- 
 terloo, he held no office of consequence until elected 
 Governor of Iowa in the fall of 1889. He main- 
 tained his connection with the Republican party 
 until 1882, since which time he has affiliated with 
 the Democrats. Gov. Boies enjoj's the distinction 
 of being the first Governor of Iowa elected by the 
 Democratic party for a period of thirty-five years, 
 and was the only successful candidate of his party 
 on the State ticket at the late election. Consider- 
 ing the fact that the State was carried the j'ear jire- 
 vious in the Presidential election, by a majority of 
 thirty-five thousand in favor of the Republicans, 
 the success of Gov. Boies may be said to have been 
 a marked compliment to him as a man and a leader, 
 without disparaging the splendid campaign work of 
 his party managers, or ignoring the effect of the evi- 
 dent change in popular political sentiment in Iowa. 
 
 As a lawyer, Gov. Boies has won prominence by 
 his ability and well-grounded knowledge of law, 
 an earnest and conscientious regard for the inter- 
 ests of his clients, and the confidence and respect 
 he never fails to command in addressing the court 
 or jury. His life has lieeii a bus}' one, and success 
 has been achieved by indefatigable industry, close 
 study, and strict integrity of character. He is not 
 a politician in the common acceptation of the term, 
 and tlie nomination for Governor came tn iiiiii un- 
 sought and was onl}' accepted through a sense of 
 duty to the partj- with whose principles he was in 
 close sympathy. He enters upon the discharge of 
 his official duties under i)eculiar circumstances, but 
 with the confiilencc c)f all i)arlies tliat his adminis- 
 tr:"tion will be able, honest and fair. 
 
fOfe 
 
 
 
 13^*V^<^"^ 
 
 Polk County. 
 
 IOWA. 
 
 
 
 vg,?'/-" 
 
 
 m^^ 
 
"^ INTRODUCTORY. »^^ 
 
 ^««-<!l&^®>fe 
 
 '^vJHE time has arrived when it 
 becomes the duty of the 
 people of this county to per- 
 petuate the names of their 
 pioneers, to furnish a record 
 of their early settlement, 
 and relate the story of their 
 progress. The civilization of our 
 the enlightenment of the age 
 and the duty that men of the pres- 
 ent time owe to their ancestors, to 
 themselves and to their posterity, 
 demand that a record of their lives 
 and deeds should be made. In bio- 
 graphical history is found a power 
 to instruct man by precedent, to 
 enliven the mental faculties, and 
 to waft down the river of time a 
 safe vessel in whicli the names and actions of the 
 people who contributed to raise this country from its 
 primitive state may be preserved. Surely and rapidly 
 the great and aged men, who in their jirime entered 
 tlie wilderness and claimed the virgin soil as their 
 heritage, are passing to their graves. The number re- 
 maining who can relate the incidents of the first days 
 ii settlement is becoming small indeed, so that an 
 actual necessity exists for the collection and preser- 
 vation of events without delay, before all the early 
 settlers are cut down by the scythe of Time. 
 
 To be forgotten has been the great dread of mankind 
 from remotest ages. All will be forgotten soon enough, 
 in spite of their best works and the most earnest 
 efforts of their friends to perserve the memory of 
 their lives. The means employed to prevent oblivion 
 and to perpetuate their memory has been in pro|]or- 
 tion ^to the amount of intelligence they possessed. 
 Th-i pyramids of Kgypt were built to perpetuate the 
 names and deeds of their great rulers. The exhu- 
 mations made by the archeologists of Egypt from 
 buried Memphis indicate a desire of those people 
 
 to perpetuate the memory of their achievements. 
 The erection of the great obelisks were for the same 
 purpose. Coming down to a later period, we find the 
 Greeks and Romans erecting mausoleums and monu- 
 ments, and carving out statues to chronicle their 
 great achievements and carry them down the ages. 
 It is also evident that the Mound-builders, in piling 
 up their great mounds of earth, had but this idea — 
 to leave something to show that they had lived. All 
 these works, though many of them costly in the ex- 
 treme, give but a faint idea of the lives and charac- 
 ters of those whose memory they were intended to 
 perpetuate, and scarcely anything of the masses of 
 the people that then lived. The great pyramids and 
 some of the obelisks remain objects only of curiosity; 
 the mausoleums, monuments and statues are crum- 
 bling into dust. 
 
 It was left to modern ages to establish an intelli- 
 gent, undecaying, immutable method of perpetuating 
 a full history — immutable in that it is almost un- 
 limited in extent and perpetual in its action ; and 
 this is through the art of printing. 
 
 To the present generation, however, we are in- 
 debted for the introduction of the admirable system 
 of local biography. By this system every man, though 
 he has not achieved what the world calls greatness, 
 has the means to perpetuate his life, his history, 
 through the coming ages.^ 
 
 The scythe of Time cuts down all ; nothing of the 
 physical man is left. The monument which his chil- 
 dren or friends may erect to his memory in the ceme- 
 tery will crumble into dust and pass away; but his 
 life, his achievements, the work he has accomplished, 
 which otherwise would be forgotten, is perpetuated 
 by a record of this kind. 
 
 To preserve the lineaments of our companions we 
 engrave their portraits, for the same reason we col- 
 lect the attainable facts of their history. Nor do we 
 thir.k it necessary, as wc speak only truth of them, to 
 wait tnitil they are dead, or until those who know 
 them are gone : to do this we are ashamed only to 
 publish to the world the history of those whose lives 
 are unworthy of public record. 
 

 ■s ► — ;' =^ 
 
 Ti 
 
 UUArMm^ 
 
 
 
 f 
 
--Z^^-(J~^f-^ 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Ki'.l 
 
 -«<>»?fe<ir«^ 
 
 . JAMKS CUNNING- 
 HAM .lOHDAN, a por- 
 trait of whom appears on 
 the opposite page, is one 
 of tlie most [irominent 
 pioneers of Poli< Countj-, 
 jc^ Iowa, wlio is still a resilient of 
 J^ W-ilnut Township, living in the 
 (3-vP|^5J/3 spot where he (irst pitehed his tent 
 
 in September, I846,anci deserves es- 
 pecial mention in this volume. He 
 was born in Harrison County, Va., 
 on the 4th of March, 1813. and is a 
 son of John and Agnes (Cunning- 
 ham) Jordan, who were also natives 
 of the Old Dominion. His family dates its settle- 
 ment in Virginia back to early Colonial times. 
 George .lordan, the grandfather of our subject, was 
 there born and participated in the War of the 
 Revolution. Soon after the Colonists had achieved 
 independence he removed with a portion of his 
 family to the wilds of Illinois, about 1785, and set- 
 tled on the Okaw River, near where the city of 
 Vandalia now stands. He was indeed a pioneer of 
 the \\'csr, iiaving l)een one of the first white settlers 
 to locate in tiie Mississippi Valley. 
 
 John .Jordan, his only son, was born in Harrison 
 County, Va., and made farming his principal occu- 
 pation. He wedded Miss Cunningham, and when 
 our subject was three years old removed with his 
 family to Randol|)h (]ount}% W. Va., and thence a 
 few j'ears later went to Greenbriar County. 
 
 James Jordan passed his early life in the usual 
 routine of farm labor and in the district schools of 
 the neighborhood acquired his education. He had 
 almost reached man's estate when the family' re- 
 moved to Fayette County, Va., and was twentj' 
 years of age vvhen he (miigrated to the Territory of 
 Michigan, settling near Niles, where he was en- 
 gaged in farming and trading. Four years later, 
 while }"ct a resident of Michigan, he was married in 
 1837, to Miss Melinda Pitman, a native of Knox 
 Countj% Ohio, and a daughter of Benjamin and 
 Jemima Pitman. Six children were born of their 
 union — ^Benjamin P. wedded iMiss Mary Haines, 
 and is engaged in the grocery business in the vil- 
 lage of Commerce, Polk County; Emil\- Agnes is 
 the wife of George P. Hanawalt, a leading physi- 
 cian and surgeon of Des Moines; Henry Clay, 
 the present Postmaster of Gilniore Cit}', Iowa, 
 married Miss Alice Warner; (Henry C. Jordan 
 enlisted in tiic (iovernraent service in Company A, 
 
170 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Tvvciity-thirtl lona Infantry, in 1862, for three 
 years; after two years of service, during wliicli time 
 he i)articipatecl in many hard-fought battles — siege 
 of Vicksburg, Champion Hills, and other imi)or- 
 tant and sanguinary' engagements, he was appointed 
 cadet to West Point as a reward for meritorious 
 conduct while in the service). .John Q. is sin- 
 gle and resides with his father; James F., also un- 
 married, was the first white child born west of 
 Dcs Moines in Pollc County. He was appointed 
 Government storekeeper under Arthur's adminis- 
 tration, at Des Moines, served until Cleveland's ad- 
 ministration came in when he was removed for 
 offensive partizanship. since when he has been 
 teaching; George B. married Miss Louise Waj'ne, 
 and is a resident of Pocahontas County, Iowa. 
 
 After his marringe Mr. .lordan removed to 
 Piatt County', Mo., and in September, 1846, made 
 his way by team to Polk County. He selected a 
 site for a home in Walnut Township, near Coon 
 River, on Section 16, pitched his tent beLween two 
 burr oak trees, which were but a few paces apart 
 an<l have since shaded his home. A log cabin was 
 .soon erected on the site of his present commodious 
 and tasty residence, which has for many years not 
 only sheltered his own familj' but also proved a 
 hospitable haven for the weary traveler and land- 
 seeker of earlj' days. Since the large and roomy 
 mansion has taken the place of the log cabin, the 
 same broad sjjrcad of hospitality has prevailed and 
 the rich and poor, the high and low, have always 
 found a cheerj' welcome by the old-fashioned open 
 lire-place that has always been a striking and jjleas- 
 ant feature to Mr. Jordan's home, especially when 
 the driving storms of winter keep the family 
 within doors, and when some storm-bound traveler 
 has sought protection and comfort in its warmth 
 and light. Mr. Jordan made a wise selection in his 
 choice of land and prospered from the start. He 
 extended his possessions until he w.as the owner of 
 eighteen hundred acres of land at one time. Until 
 recently he has owned and operated a farm of six 
 hundred acres, but reduced it considerably by a 
 sale of a *28,000 tra(;t. Dealing in live-stock has 
 constituted an important feature in his business, he 
 carrving on that branch of industry on an cxtcn- 
 siv< ■iLale. At one time he fed upwards of seven 
 
 hundred head of steers and fifteen hundred head of 
 hogs, and the following season bought and sold 
 $33,000 worth of hogs. For the past few years he 
 has devoted most of his attention to the raising of 
 thoroughbred Short- horn cattle and to shii)ping 
 stock. 
 
 In 1855 Mr. Jordan lost his wife and the follow- 
 ing year wedded Cynthia Adams, who was born in 
 Canandaigua, Yates Countj-, N. Y., and is a daugh- 
 ter of Cyrus Adams. Five children were born of 
 their union, of whom two sons and a daughter are 
 now living. Ella is the wife of John P. Cook, a 
 farmer of Walworth Township; Calvin S., who is 
 living in Oklahoma; Eva died at the age of ten 
 years; Eda died when three 3-ears of age, and Ed- 
 ward, the youngest, is a medical student under the 
 preceptorship of Dr. Ilanawalt, of Des Moines. 
 
 Mr. Jordan was a Whig in early life and al- 
 though born and reared in a pro-slavery State, was 
 always an earnest ojjposer of slaver^-. After com- 
 ing to Iowa his home in Walnut Township was 
 often a haven for fugitive slaves while escaping to 
 Canada. John Brown, with a small part}' of col- 
 ored people whom he was leading to freedom, was 
 once his welcome guest. He was on his way to 
 Virginia accompanied by the principal ones of that 
 band that met defeat shortly after at Harper's 
 Ferry. Twenty-four colored people accompanied 
 him at that time. Mr. Jordan cast his first vote 
 for Henry Cla^', for President, being then a minor, 
 but under the ruling of the election judges he was 
 invited to vote as his father was dead and he was 
 recognized as the head of the family. Since that 
 time, 1832, up to the present, 1890, he has never 
 failed to vote at the presidential elections, either 
 for AVhig or Republican candidate and is an enthu- 
 siastic admirer of President Benjamin Harrison. 
 Mr. Jordan has taken an active interest in politics 
 and in the fall of 1853, was elected to the State 
 Senate by a majority of eighty -four votes, but was 
 counted out on account of some slight irregularity 
 in the returns from two townships in .lasper 
 Count}'. He contested the seat and won, but not 
 until his opponent, who had been admitted to a 
 voice in the Senate, had voted on the election of 
 United States Senator. The United States Senate, 
 however refuseti to seat the member so elected and 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 171 
 
 on taking liis seat in the State Senate, Mr. Jordan 
 li.iii the privilege of voting for Mr. Harlan, who 
 was I'lccted. The question of the removal of the 
 Stite Capital from Iowa City to Dos Moines, had 
 been agitated several times and failed, and it was 
 during Mr. Jordan's term of oHice of State Senator 
 tiiat the removal was aeeoraplished and Des Moines 
 iteeanio the capital city. That he worked failh- 
 fully and earnestly to accomplish the result so 
 nuuh coveted liy his constituents, is well-known, 
 and that he exerted a strong inlluenee in support 
 of the measure is well remembered by his surviv- 
 ing colleagues. He was a member of the Polk 
 County Board of Supervisors three times under the 
 old law, and served as President of that body. 
 "His public spirit is indicated by his gifts to pub- 
 lic enterprises. When the Valley Railroad pro- 
 posed to extend its lines to Des IMoines if >i70,000 
 could be raisc<1, lie was one of one hundred to 
 voluntarily tax themselves acc-ording to their last 
 assessment to make up that amount. It cost him 
 about -Si, 000 in cash to do this and his gifts to the 
 cause of education and religion would aggregate a 
 small fortune." His nomination and election in the 
 fall of 1878. to the Eighteenth General Assembly, 
 by a vote larger than his party ticket was a just 
 compliment to his loyalty to his party and a vindi- 
 cation of his past political career. 
 
 For sixty 3'ears the Methodist Episcopal Church 
 has found Mr. Jordon a faithful member and an ac- 
 tive worker. He has contributed liberally to the 
 building of churches and colleges and the support 
 of the ministry, and it was under the rocf of his log 
 cabin that the (irst church services were held in 
 Walnut Township and his hospitality has alw.ays 
 been freely extended to the clergy. He contrili- 
 uted a large portion of the funds u.^^ed in the con- 
 struction of the Methoilist Church, which is known 
 as Jordan Chapel. The church having lieen re- 
 moved from its original location to one more dis- 
 tant from his residence, Mr. Jordan and his wife 
 have transferred their membership to the First 
 Methodist Episcopal Church, of Des Moines. In 
 the iiistory of early banking in Des Moines, Mr. 
 Jordan's name ai)pears as one of the Directors of the 
 Des Moines branch of the State Bank, in which 
 he was a stockhohUr. and his financial relations 
 
 have been extended and important. He has led a 
 a remarkably active and useful life. Indefatigable 
 energy, enterprise and sagacious business foresight 
 have characterized his progress while inomplness 
 and llie strictest integrity have made his name re- 
 spected and his word as good as his bond. His ac- 
 (juaintance throughout the State among ijublic 
 characters is extended to a degree seldom acquired 
 iiy one employed in agricultural pursuits, and all 
 who know him recognize in him a man of superior 
 intelligence, great force of character and sterling 
 worth. 
 
 ■*V> < ^* r 
 
 * > •— j*,^- 
 
 ^^^OL. ISAAC WATTS GRIFFITH is one of 
 jll the best known of Polk Count3''s many 
 
 \^' prominent citizens. For the past eighteen 
 years he has held the office of County Coroner, 
 and two years will have passed ere his present 
 term expires. He was born in Trumbull Cc)untj', 
 Ohio, on the Western Reserve, Ain-il 2, 1820, and 
 is a son of Philip and Lydia (Lee) Griffith). His 
 mother was a daughter of Abijah Lee and a cousin 
 of the late Bishop Lee, of Davenport, Iowa. Their 
 marriage was celebrated in Montgomery County, 
 N. Y., in 1815, and by their union was born 
 Caroline, who is now deceased ; Adeline S., widow of 
 Albert Holcomb, is a i-esident of Michigan; Isaac 
 W. is the next younger; Lois L. is the deceased 
 wife of Houston Dilley; George W. is a resident 
 of Wisconsin; Elvira is the widow of Tilr. Bosley, 
 of Portage County. Ohio; and Henry, after serving 
 three years in the late war, died in Ashtaijula 
 County, Ohio. Mr. Gritlith, ,Sr., who was a carpen- 
 ter and joiner by trade, removed to Ohio, in 181G, 
 and settled in Trumbull County, where both he 
 and his wife spent the remainder of their da^'s. 
 His death occurred at the age of lifty-eight years, 
 and his wife departed this life in 1887, at the verj' 
 advanced age of ninety-two years. The families 
 of both were noted for longevity'. 
 
 After leaving the district schools, where his prim- 
 ary education was acquired, our subject attended 
 the acadetnj' in Farinington. Ohio, wliich was a 
 branch of the Western Reserve College, located 
 in Portage County. At the age of eighteen years 
 
172 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUII. 
 
 lie stalled out in life for himself, having: since de- 
 pended entirely' upon his own resources. He had 
 no capital with which to begin life, but possessed 
 energj' and determination, and stei) by step has 
 worked his way upward to a position in which he 
 may well feci a just pride. On the 30lh of August, 
 1838, he left Farmington. Ohio, and m.ide an en- 
 gagement with a Mr. (^Jrossbeck, who contracted 
 for his services for a year. He drove a team to 
 Ft. JNIadison. then known as tiie Black Hawk Pur- 
 chase, after which he cultivated a farm for his em- 
 ployer until the time of his service had expired, 
 when he rented the sanie land and eng.iged in busi- 
 ness for himself. After his crops had been gath- 
 ered for the year, he went to West Point, Lee 
 County, where he worked at the carpenter's tr.ide. 
 It was during his residence in West Point that, on 
 the 17th of September, 1840, he was united in mar- 
 riage with Miss Eales Brand, the ceremony being 
 performed by Parson Asa Turner, of Denmark, 
 Iowa. The lady is a daughter of Samuel and Mar- 
 garet (Gilbert) Brand, both of whom belonged to 
 early and respected families of A'irginia. They 
 emigrated from Indiana to Burlington, Iowa, in 
 the year 1838, and later removed to West Point, 
 where the mother died at the age of sixty-seven 
 years, and the father at tlie ripe age of eighty- 
 two years. The latter was a soldier in the War of 
 181-2, and his father, .lames IJrand, in the Revolu- 
 tion. In 1839, during the troubles concerning the 
 boundary line between Iowa and Missouri, Col. 
 Grillith, as a member of the State Militia, was 
 sent to the disputed territory, where, it was feared, 
 blood would be shed. Matters, however, were set- 
 tied by the Supreme Court of the United States, 
 and he then returned home. Shortly afterward he 
 was appointed Lieutenant of the State INIilitia by 
 Gov. Lucas, and in 1843 was commissioned Cap- 
 tain by Gov. Chambers. In 1846 he volunteered 
 under the first call for troops for the Mexican War, 
 but was unable to get in the army. Later, a regi- 
 ment was organized, comprising six Ohio com- 
 panies, two companies from Michigan, one from 
 Wisconsin and a tenth from Iowa, the regiment to 
 be commanded by George W. Morgan, of Ohio, 
 and known ;is the Fifteenth I'niled States Infantiy. 
 Our subject, as Sergeant of Company K, which 
 
 formed a part of the Fifteenth Infantry, in 1847, 
 was ordered with his regiment to Mexico to join 
 the forces of Gen. Seott at Vera Cruz. They re- 
 ported on the 10th of July of that year, and were 
 engaged in a number of battles and skirmishes, in 
 one of which — Churubusco — Sergt. Griffith was 
 wounded, a ball striking him just above the elbow 
 of the right arm. The wound proved to 1)eof such 
 a serious nature that it necessitated the amimta- 
 tion of the member. He remained with the ccun- 
 mand until October 27, 1847, when he was dis- 
 charged from the service and returned to Lee 
 Count}'. The papers had reported him de.id, a 
 mistake occasioned by the death of a namesake, 
 and we can imagine with what joy his wife wel- 
 comed his return. 
 
 Tlie public has also called upon Col. Griffith 
 for his services in the political Geld. He was 
 elected and served as a member of the House of 
 Representatives "n 1848, that being the second ses- 
 sion of the State Legislature. He filled the posi- 
 tion to the satisfaction of all concerned, and at the 
 expiration of his term returned home, onl_v to be 
 appointed Deputy Sheriff of Lee Count}'. In 1850 
 he went to Washington, D. C, and by President 
 Pierce was given a position on the police force of 
 the capital, continuing to serve in that citj' a year 
 after the accession of James Buchanan to the Presi- 
 dency. The family remained in the capital until 
 the spring of 1858, when be was appointed Regis- 
 ter of the I'nited Slates Land office in Des Moines, 
 which position he held until Jul}', 1861. During 
 the exciting times attending the breaking out of 
 the Pebellion. it was foiwid necessary to appoint a 
 committee to attend to the war expenses and other 
 such matters. Col. Griffith was one of that com- 
 mittee, but afterward resigned to accept the nomi- 
 nation for County Sheriff, which his many friends 
 urged upon him. He was triumphantly elected in 
 tlie f:dl of 1861, and upon the 1st day of January 
 following, entered upon the discharge of his duties, 
 continuing to fill the office until 1864, when he 
 went to Memphis. Tenn. He was there appointed 
 Deputy United States Marshal for the Western 
 District of Tennessee, holding the office until the 
 spring of 1868, when, with his family, he returned 
 to Des Moines. The succeeding six years of his 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUiM. 
 
 173 
 
 life were spent in charge of the toll-bridge and in 
 the pursual of various vocations, whereby he might 
 secure a livelihood for his famil.v. These included 
 a number of official positions, and in 1872 he was 
 elected to the office of Coroner of Polk Coant3', 
 which position he has held continuously since, cor- 
 ering a period of eighteen consecutive }'cars. In the 
 month of June, 188G, he was appointed Bailiff of 
 the Supreme Court of Iowa, and is also the pres- 
 ent incumbent of that position. He was succes- 
 sively appointed by Govs. Merrill, Kirkwood and 
 Xewbold, on the gubernatorial staff, with the rank 
 of Lieutenant-Colonel of Cavalry. 
 
 We now return to the domestic relations of Mr. 
 Griffith. By his union with Miss Brand a family 
 of four children was born, but the eldest died in 
 infancy. Stephen S,, who faithfully served his 
 country during the late war, as a member of 
 Company K, Seventeenth Iowa Infantry, and died 
 in 1877, from disease contracted while in the 
 service. He wedded Miss Martha A. Skinner, who, 
 with their only child, Carrie L.. now m.akes her 
 home in Des Moines; Albert Lee, who was born in 
 Lee County, Iowa, Octf)ber 10, 1846, and fought 
 as one of the boys in blui> of Companj' C, Eighth 
 Iowa Regiment, wedded Miss Mary Russell, by 
 whom he has two children, Frank and Lena, and 
 also makes his home in this. city; Augustus J,, 
 who was born December 26, 1850, in Lee County, 
 is now a telegraph operator and railroad man; 
 he married Miss Hattie E. AVaterbury, and thej' 
 also have two children, Isaac W. and Charles M. 
 Almost half a century has passed since Mr. and 
 Mrs. Griffith, as man and wife, started out on life's 
 journey. Should thej^ be spared until the 17th of 
 September, 1890, it will be the fiftieth anniversary 
 of their wedding. The greater part of their mar- 
 ried life has been spent in Iowa, and for manj- 
 years they have made their home in Des Moines, 
 and with the best interests of the city have ever 
 been identified. They are earnest and faithful 
 members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and 
 the poor and needy have received from them help 
 in many times of trouble. Socially, the Captain is 
 a member of the Inde])en<U'nl ( )r(ler of Odd I^ellows, 
 with wiiicli he has been connected for forty years, 
 and also belongs to the (i. A. R. Post, of Des 
 
 Moines. In 1888 he went as a delegate to the 
 Grand Arm>- of the Republic Encampment at Co- 
 lumbus, Ohio, and there met Col. Morgan, of Mt. 
 Vernon, Ohio, his old colonel under whom he 
 served in the Mexican War. Many were the remi- 
 niscences and tales told of those bygone days, and 
 it is needless to say the meeting was one of great 
 enjoyment to both. The record of Col. Griffith is 
 one of which his friends, children and descendants 
 may well be proud. His career in the sociil, busi- 
 ness and political world has ever been such as lo 
 win the respect and well wishes of all witli whom 
 he came in contact. He was a faithful soldier 
 during the Mexican War and a loyal and patriotic 
 citizen throughout the Rebellion. He well deserves 
 mention in this volume, and it is with pleasure 
 that we record this sketch. 
 
 ^OV^ BENJAMIN F. GUE, who h.as been a 
 j (— , resident of Iowa since 1852, was born in 
 ^^ Greene County, N. Y., December 25. 1828, 
 and is a son of John and Catherine (Gurne^-) Gue. 
 His father was born in Westchester Count}', N. Y , 
 while his mother was a native of Dutchess County 
 of the same State. The first known ancestor of our 
 subject that came to America was an exile from 
 France, who settled in Ulster County, N. Y., about 
 the year 1761. On the mother's side the familv 
 was of English origin, Mrs. (lUe being a lineal de- 
 scendant of the Hon. Joseph John Gurney, who was 
 a member of the English Parliament. 
 
 The subject of tiiis sketch was reared to manhood 
 on a farm and educated in the Canandaigua Acad- 
 emy and at East Bloomfield. In the spring of 1851, 
 he emigrated to Iowa and settled in Scott County, 
 where he was engaged in farming. He was married 
 in Davenjjort on the 12th of November, 1855, to 
 Miss Elizabeth Parker, who was born in Allegany 
 County, N. Y., and w.as a daughter of Francis 
 Parker, who was descended from an old N'ermont 
 family that settled in Allegany Countj' in an early 
 da)-. .She came to Iowa wUh her |)arents in 1840, 
 and became a resident of Scott County, leaching 
 school several vears before her marriage. Mr. ami 
 
174 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Mrs. Gue are the parents of fourcliildren, two sous 
 and two daughters — Horace G., Alice, Guniey and 
 Katheiine. 
 
 Gov. Gue continued to reside in Scott County 
 until 1K(!4, when he removed to Ft. Dodge and 
 l)urcli;\sed tiie Ft. Dodge liiqiubliiMa, and changed 
 its name to the •'Narth WcsV which paper he edited 
 and ecinduclcd for nine years. The political career 
 of our subject began in the fall of 1867, when at 
 the age of twenty-nine he was elected to the Iowa 
 Legislature, from Scott Counl3', and served four 
 years. He w.as then called to the ollice of Slate 
 Senator and served four j'ears in the l'pi)er House, 
 after which he was elected Lieutenant-Governor of 
 the State for a period of two 3 ears. In 1866, he 
 was elected Presi<leut of the lioard of Trustees of 
 the Agricultural College at Ames, and was most 
 actively' eng.aged in the management, construction 
 of and organization of the college for six 3'ears. 
 Gov. Gue has been the leading spirit in the matter 
 of estalilisliing that important institution; in con- 
 nection witii K. A. Richardson he was the author of 
 the bill [)ioviding for the founding of the college, 
 which thej- succeeded in having passed at the ses- 
 sion of 1858. In 1864, while a member of the 
 Senate, he assisted Mr. Clarkson Sr.,- in drafting a 
 bill whicli provided for the sale of tiie lauds of the 
 agricultural college land grant. The lauds were 
 sold in accordance with the provisions of that bill 
 and the college lias since received an annual income 
 of from §40,000 to §60,000 from that source. He 
 was Chairman of the commission to visit the vari- 
 ous agricultural colleges of the I'nited States and 
 examine into their plans of organization, their suc- 
 cess or failure, for the benefit of the new Iowa Col- 
 lege. For two years he gave most of his time to 
 this important work. In 1867 he made an elaborate 
 report to the Board of Trustees recommending a 
 plan of organization, wiiich was adopted and upon 
 which the college has for twent^-tiiree years been 
 successfully conducted. He selected the first faculty, 
 at the head of which was that distinguished edu- 
 cator President A. S. Welch, who for eighteen 
 years filled the executive chair with marked ability. 
 
 Gov. (iue continued to reside in Ft. Dodge until 
 1872, when he sold out the Nertli, West and the same 
 year removed to Des Moines, where he has since 
 
 made his home. During his residence in the former 
 place he also held the otKce of Postmaster for two 
 years. On coming to this city he took editorial 
 charge of the Iowa Homestead, a State agricultural 
 paper, and continued his connection with that jour- 
 nal until December of that year, when he sold his 
 interest and accepted the appointment of United 
 States Pension Agent, which he received at the 
 hands of President Grant. Ilehcld that position for 
 eight consecutive years, during which time he dis- 
 charged the duties of the ofHce with lirlelily and 
 promptness. At the close of his term of office in 
 1880, in company with his eldest son, Mr. Clue re- 
 purchased the Iowa Homestead, which they jjub- 
 lished four j'ears, during which time the}- greatly 
 increased its circulation and built it up into a valu- 
 able pioperty. Thoy sold out in the fall of 1883, 
 and from that lime until the present, the (Jovernor 
 has devoted his attention to gathering the material 
 for an elaborate history of Iowa. 
 
 Gov. Gue and his wife were members of the Uni- 
 tarian Church, wiLii which they became connected 
 in 1875. The (iovernor owns a fruit farm, which 
 is situated about five miles cast of Des IMoines, and 
 in fact has never been without a farm since he 
 reached man's estate. For several j-ears he has de- 
 voted most of his lime to his history of Iowa, and 
 has made considerable progress in the preparation 
 of the work, the first volume being nearly com- 
 pleted. 
 
 Gov. (iue is one of the prominent public men of 
 the State and enjoys an extended acquaintance 
 among its best citizens. His connection with the Agri- 
 cultural College from its inception to its comple- 
 tion and successful operation has been distinguished 
 by earnest and wise forethought, while the results 
 of his influence in connection with the legislation re- 
 lating to that institution will long be felt. In manner, 
 the Governor is unassuming, but earnest where dulv 
 demands an aggressive stand. His course in public 
 as well as private life has been distinguished by a 
 high standard of honor and the strictest purity. He 
 is an able writer, as a journalist ranks as a peer of 
 the brightest in loiva. Correct and methodical in 
 the dispatch of business, he has proved himself 
 possessed of good executive ability-, and has dis- 
 charged with exactness and fidelity ever}' public 
 
PORTRAIT AND RIOr^RAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 176 
 
 trust reposed in him. Tlie fortlieoiniiin history of 
 Iowa on which he is engaged can not fail lo prove 
 a work of great interest, and to be a standard on the 
 subject of the annals of the Ilawkeye Slate. 
 
 —->»->- 
 
 ■^^^^^^^^li^f^^*-^ 
 
 ;frt 
 
 ^AMES C. MoWILLIAMS, deceased, was 
 born Novemljer 8, 1817, in Ross County. 
 Ohio, and was a son of Pliilip and Eleanor 
 (Collier) Mc Williams, both of whom were 
 natives of Pennsylvania. On tlie paternal side the 
 family is of Irish descent, and on the maternal of 
 Scotch origin. Philip McWilliams was a farmer 
 b\' occupation, and removing to Ohio, in early life, 
 followed that business in the Buckej'e State until 
 his death, which occurred about the year, 1880. 
 His wife died a number of years previous, in 1863. 
 They had a large faniil}- of twelve eliildren, eight 
 of whom are living at tliis writing: William, a res- 
 ident of Mahaska County, Iowa; Thomas, who 
 makes his home in Kansas: John living in Ohio; 
 Rulhiford, also of Ohio; Samuel and Newton, both 
 of Kansas; Jane, wife of William Murray, of the 
 the Buckeye State; and Mary, wife of Isaac John- 
 son, of Ohio. 
 
 As James McWilliams was one of the best known 
 of the pioneer settlers of Polk Count}', and ranked 
 among its leading citizens, we feel that this sketch 
 will be of interest to many of our readeis. He re- 
 ceived no special advantages in his 30uth, yet by 
 his upright life and honorable career, won for him- 
 self a place in the confidence and esteem of all 
 with whom he came in contact. He attended the 
 common schools of the neighborhood, and re- 
 mained under the parental roof until attaining liis 
 majority, when he started out in life for himself. 
 He first purchased a small farm near the old home- 
 stead, in his native State, and for sixtceu years 
 engaged in its cultivation and development. Think- 
 ing to better his condition and provide a better 
 home for his famil}' by a removal to tlie West, he 
 came to Iowa, in 185G, locating in Mahaska 
 County, where he purchased land and followed his 
 chosen occupation for seven yeai*. His next place 
 of residence was Polk Count}', where a period of 
 
 two years vvas s|)cnt, when he became a resident 
 of AV^arren County, where he followed agricultural 
 [jursuils for about twelve months. Satisfied that 
 he had made a mistake by his last change of resi- 
 dence, he returned to Polk County at tlie end of 
 that time and purchased forty acres of land on sec- 
 tion 33, Bloomfield Township, wliere he was living 
 at the time of his death. He was an excellent 
 farmer, a good business man and did all in his 
 power to secure a comfortable home for his family, 
 in whom he felt the deepest interest. He could 
 not do too much to promote their welfare and en- 
 hance their hap|)iness, and found no task too great, 
 which would administer to their comfort. 
 
 Mrs. McWilliams still survives her husband and 
 is living on the old homestead. Her maiden name 
 was Miss Nancy McCarter, she being a daughter 
 of Robert and IMary (Brown) McCarter. Her 
 fatiier was a native of Ireland, but when only three 
 j'ears of age was brought by his grandfather to 
 America. He also made farming his life work, 
 following the same in Highland County. Ohio, 
 until his death which occurred in May, 1854. His 
 wife, who was born in Mrginia, died in 1818, 
 when their onl}' child, Nancy, was but six months 
 old. 
 
 The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. McWilliams was 
 celebrated March 12, 1839, and their union was 
 blessed with a farail}' of nine children: Blary E. 
 became the wife of W. S. Canon, a druggist of Elk- 
 horn, Neb., but died leaving two children; Sarah 
 J., widow of ICIisha B. Yeoman, has tiiree childien, 
 Frank F., who resides in California; Frederick J., 
 a resident of Grant City, Mo.; Edgar W., who is 
 still at home. Eveline, the third child, is now de- 
 ceased; Susanna is the wife of AVilliam II. Shaw, a 
 grocer of Oskaloosa, Iowa, and the}- have two 
 children — Eleanor and Ernest; Clara 15. wedded 
 Edward Wyuoff, a grocer of Des Moines, and they 
 have one daughter, Nora; Amzi married Maria 
 Holcomb, and died, leaving two children — George 
 and Jessie; Wilson married Naomi (ieil, but both 
 are now deceased, they leaving one child, Olio: 
 Frank, who wedded Belle Robertson, by whom he 
 has one child, Maude, is living in Carroll Count}', 
 Iowa: Orrin wedded Mary Bingham, by whom he 
 had one child, (iuy. but both mother and son are 
 
176 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 are now deceased. Orrin resides in Carioll County. 
 Mr. McWillJams. the father of tlie family, sup- 
 ported tiie Democratic party frou) the time he 
 attained his majority until liis deatli. He lield the 
 office of road supervisor for several years, and was 
 also treasurer of the school district for a number of 
 terms. All public enterprises calculated to pro- 
 mote the general welfare received his hearty sup- 
 port and co-o|(eration, and he gave liberally for 
 the advancement of educational, social and moral 
 interests. He was called to his final rest May 23. 
 1889, and his remains were interred in Oak Grove 
 Cemetery. He was a kind and loving husband 
 and father, and by all who kncvv him was held in 
 the higliest esteem. His wife, who bore her siiare 
 in the hardships and trials of life, and proved a 
 true helpmate to her husband, is also gi-eall\- be- 
 loved by those who know her. 
 
 who Is engaged 
 
 /ONATHAN P. FRENCH 
 
 in fruit-growing on section 17, IJloomtield 
 Township, has been a resident of Polk County 
 for a third of a century. A wide awake and 
 progressive citizen, he h.as felt a dee|) interest in all 
 {)ublic affairs, manifesting the same by the liberal 
 support which he has given to its public enterprises 
 and the im|)ortaut part which lie has borne in its 
 upbuilding and development. At the time of his 
 arriv.al the now beautiful city of Des Moines con- 
 tained but three thousand inhabitants and the en- 
 tire county was in a like unpopulated condition. 
 
 Mr. French is a native of New Hampshire, born 
 November 12, 1832, and son of Moses and Hannah 
 (Philbrick) French. His paternal grandfather, 
 Moses French Sr., who was born in 1755, served his 
 country through seven jears of the Revolutionary 
 War. He was a farmer l)j' occupation and followed 
 that business until his death, which occurred 
 INIarch 14, 1831. His wife died May 1, 1830. 
 Their son, Moses F^reneh Jr., also engaged in agri- 
 cultural pursuits as a means of livelihood. He 
 made his home in Deertield, Rockingham County, 
 N. II., where he lived until his death, which oc- 
 curred November 12, 18G8. lie survived his wife 
 
 twenty -eight ^-ears, she being called to her final 
 home in 1840. Their lemains were laid side by side 
 in Deerfield Center C'emeter\-. Their family num- 
 l)ered seven children as follows: Mary A., deceased 
 wife of .Tackson Cram, a resident of Deerfield, N.H. ; 
 Eleanor B., widow of Nathaniel 15. Adams of Mer- 
 rimac County, N. H. ;.Ionathan P. of this sketch; 
 Moses F. who resides on the old homestead ; Han- 
 nah P. and Sarah A. who are now deceased, and 
 Samuel .S. who died in infancJ^ The parents were 
 earnest, consistent Christian |)eo()le and eaily in- 
 stilled into the minds of their children principles of 
 industry and morality. 
 
 Our subject received his literary education in the 
 common schools of his native .State and upon his 
 father's farm was reared to manhood. He dcsireil 
 to pursue some otiier ocen[>,itiou llian that which 
 his ancestors had followed and so at the age of 
 eighteen ^cars entered a printing otiice at (,'oncord, 
 N. H., to leai'u the trade. When his term of a|)-- 
 prenticeship had expired and he had thoroughly 
 mastered the business, he went to P.oston, Mass., 
 where for a sliort time he worked on the Boston 
 Tmucler. Later he went to Cambridge where he 
 was employed in a printing oHice until 18.)G, which 
 j-ear witnessed liis arrivid in Iowa. He made his 
 first location Iti Iowa City, but after working at ids 
 trade for about three mouths came to Des Moines, 
 following the same business until 18fi0. He was then 
 made foreman of the liMjiMcr office, which position 
 he held until 18G8, when ill health forced him to 
 abandon his chosen work and seek employment in 
 another field of labor. The close confinement 
 proved injurious to him and in order to counteract 
 its infinence he determined to engage in fruit grow- 
 ing, which business would necessarily kee|) him in 
 the open air the greater part of the time. He there- 
 fore purchased twenty acres of land on section 17, 
 Blooinlield Township ami with excellent success has 
 carried on gardening ;nul fruit growing to the pres- 
 ent day. He finds a ready market for his products 
 and h.as gained a comfortable comi)etence which 
 ranks him among the prosperous citizens of the 
 community. 
 
 Mr. French was joined in wedlock on the 20th of 
 October, 1858, with Miss Helen L., daughter of 
 .Stephen and Eliza Bennett, both of whom were na- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGKAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 177 
 
 lives of the Empire State. Her father engaged in 
 the furniture and cabinel-making business in Farm- 
 ington. 111., for many jears. Ills death oeeurrert in 
 tliat city in 1860, and liis wife died ten years later. 
 Of their three children. Airs. French, who was born 
 June 17, 1839, is the eldest; Chester S. is now de- 
 ceased, and Josephine is the wife of Garrett S. 
 Guild. To Mr. and Mrs. French were born five 
 children — Frank A., a resident of Des Moines; Ella 
 B., wife of Ralph G. Durrette of Logan, Iowa; 
 Arthur P., who resides in Des Moines, and Charles 
 and Edward now deceased. 
 
 Mr. French is a warm friend of education and 
 gave his children liberal advantages in that di- 
 rection. He supports the principles of the Republi- 
 can party and both he and his wife are active woric* 
 ersin the Baptist Church to which they belong. 
 
 i^, ETER D. ANKEXY, of East Des Moines, 
 
 wns born in Somerset Countj', Pa., Febru- 
 
 ^J^ aiy 3, 182G, and was the second in a 
 
 I \ familj' of seven children, whose parents 
 were Joseph and Harriet (Geise\) Ankeny. They 
 were also natives of the Keystone State. The 
 Ankeny family is descended from French Hugue- 
 not ancestr3'. Representatives of the family went 
 to Germany in the days of protestant persecution 
 in France, and thence came to America, settling in 
 Maryland. The paternal ancestry of tiie Geisey 
 family is of German originT'wTino the maternal an- 
 cestry belongs to an early family of Maryland. 
 — ■Ihe father of Mrs. Ankeny was Rev. Henry GeiseV, 
 -— t^ ■vtnithfvin. minister, who for many years was pas- 
 tor of the church in Berlin, Somerset County, Pa.. 
 
 The marriage of Joseph Ankeny and Harriet 
 GeiseV was celebrated in Somerset County, where 
 they resided several years In 1831. they removed 
 to Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio, continuing 
 their residence in that county until 1867, which 
 year witnessed their arrival in Des Aloines. The 
 death of the husband occurred in this city in 1874, 
 t)ut his wife still survives him. She is now in the 
 ninetieth year of her age, but retains both her ph^-- 
 sical and mental faculties to a remarkable degree. 
 
 Mr. Ankeny ranked among the leading citizens of 
 Polk County. He was a man of much more than 
 average abilitj'. possessed a strong will power anti 
 was firm in his convictions of right and wrong. 
 He exerted an influence in every community where 
 he resided, being a power for good. He was also 
 prominent in public life. He served in the Legis- 
 lature of Ohio, and was an elector on the Repub- 
 lican national ticket in 1860, when that party 
 elected Abraham Lincoln as its first President. In 
 bis earlier years he had supported Democratic prin- 
 ciples, but when the Missouri Compromise w.as 
 repealed he withdrew his allegiance from that part^- 
 and on the organization of the Republican party 
 joined its ranks and continued to fight under its 
 banner until his death. During the War of the 
 Rebellion he was one of the most faithful advo- 
 cates of the Government and its policy. Although 
 he lived in a community where a large majority 
 S3'mpathi7.ed with the South, he spoke his views 
 freely and under all circumstances proclaimed his 
 faith in the triumph of the I'nion and the downfall 
 of its enemies. 
 
 As before stated, the family of Joseph Ankeny 
 and wife numbered seven children, four sons and 
 three daughters, all of whom grew to mature years. 
 Dr. John F., the eldest, who was graduated from the 
 Medical College of Cleveland, Ohio, for some years 
 engaged in practice at Des Moines, where he set- 
 in 1869, but his death occurred in Florida, on the 
 19th of April, 1886, leaving a familj-, who are still 
 residents of this city; Peter is the next j-ounger; 
 Henry, who resides in Corning, Iowa, enlisted in 
 the late war, becoming captain of Com()any H, of 
 the Fourth Iowa Infantry, and proved himself a 
 gallant and faithful soldier and .in able oflicer; 
 Gen. Rollin V., whose home is now in California, 
 marched to the front as a captain of the Fortj'-sixth 
 Illinois Regiment, was promoted to be colonel and 
 before the war was over was breveted Brigadier- 
 General, as a reward for meritorous conduct and 
 bravery displayed on the field of battle. Th(> 
 daughters of the family are: Mrs. Susan Barcroft. 
 of Des Moines; Mary Ellen, wife of H. H. Clark, of 
 Hartford, Conn.; and Harriet, who lives with her 
 mother in this city. 
 
 Peter D. Anken3', whose name heads this notice, 
 
178 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 was reared to manhood in Ohio. In 1842, lie en- 
 tered the preparatory department of Kenyon Col- 
 lege and, after two years, took up the collegiate 
 course, but left school while in the junior class, in 
 order to enter the service in the war with Mexico. 
 He enlisted, in 1847, as orderly sergeant of the 
 Fourth Regiment, Ohio Infantry, and later was 
 made Lieutenant, and had charge of his company 
 for a time. His regiment joined the army under 
 Gen. Scott, being under the immediate command 
 of Gen. Joe Lane, and was actively engaged until 
 the close of the war. 
 
 Peace having been declared, Mr. Ankeny re 
 turned to Ohio, where he pursued the study of law 
 and was admitted to the bar, but his service in the 
 army had so impaired his heallli that he found it 
 necessary to engage in some outdoor occupation. 
 In 1850, accompanied by J. K. Barcroft and .Sam- 
 uel Bell, he came to Iowa, but tlie party did not 
 make an3' permanent location. Our subject, how- 
 ever, returned in 1858, but as his health continued 
 poor he traveled quite extensively before making 
 a settlement. At length he jnirchased a farm in 
 the town of Delaware, Polk County, whicli he still 
 owns, and for a number of j'cars was actively en- 
 gaged in its cultivation and development. In 
 1869, he was elected a member of the Board of 
 Supervisors and served in tliat capacity for three 
 years. He was also Clerk of the Courts of Polk 
 County for five years, and from 1864 to 1866, held 
 a Government office in the city of AYashington. 
 He has ever been a warm admirer of the piinciples 
 of the Republican party and one of the stalwart 
 supporters of that organization. He has, however, 
 never aspired to otlice, such positions as he has 
 filled having been the gift of the people, unsought 
 by him. His duties of citizenship have ever been 
 performed in a loyal manner. Although he was 
 phj'sically unable to enter the service during the 
 late war, he gave his influence to the Government 
 and (lid all in his power for his country. 
 
 On the 6th of December, 1859, Mr. Ankeny 
 was united in marriage with Miss Ellen Lorah, 
 daughter of Samuel and Rachel Lorah. Her father 
 was a prominent citizen of Cass County, Iowa, 
 where he passed away a number of years ago. 
 Five children, one son and four ilaughters, have 
 
 L ^~ 
 
 been born to our subject and his worthy wife, 
 namely: Rose, who is now the wife of Edgar 
 Lewis, of Des ISIoiues; Dais3',wife of Frank Green, 
 of this city; Marj' Louise, Mabel and Paul. The 
 Ankeny household is noted for its hospitalit}-, and 
 its members hold a high position in the social 
 world. More than thirty years have passed since 
 the parents settled in Polk Count}', and by the 
 many friends gained during that period they are 
 held in high regard. 
 
 ssm 
 
 EIIKHE 
 
 DWIN M. CROSS, President of the Polk 
 Count}' Abstract Company, and a represen- 
 IL^ tative citizen of Des Moines, was born in 
 Richland Count}', Ohio, on the 22nd of April, 
 1853, and is the son of George W. and Mary J. 
 (Jaques) Cross, both of whom were natives of 
 Maine. The father was born in 1825. the mother 
 in 1824. But during their childhood they emi- 
 grated to the Buckeye State with their respective 
 families. By occupation IMr. Cross is a farmer and 
 throughout his business career has followed that 
 occupation. He continued operations in that line 
 in Ohio, >mtil 1869, when accompanied by his wife 
 and cliildren he came to Iowa, selecting .Jasper 
 County as the scene of his future operations. Both 
 he and his wife are still living on the old home- 
 stead in that county. 
 
 Our subject is one of five children. Ilis early 
 life passed uneventfullj', being spent mid play and 
 work in the usual manner of farmer lads. Having 
 in the common schools become familiar with the 
 rudiments of knowledge he entered an academy in 
 Newton, Iowa, where he completed his education. 
 Afterwards he engaged in teaching for two terms 
 and then followed farming for a time. He was 
 next employed on the construction of the railroad 
 between Newton and Keithsburg until 1882, when 
 he came to Des Moines. The Polk Coimty Abstract 
 Company had then commenced work, but was not 
 incorporated and had no olBceor place of business. 
 Mr. Cross soon afterward purch.ased a fourth inter- 
 est in the company, which through his instrumen- 
 tality was incorporated and from time to time has 
 
^■^l?yyC4t<^^^^f^ 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 181 
 
 contiiuietl buying the stock until he now owns 
 neniiy the entire amount. For five ^eais he has 
 been its President and h.as [iroved an eflieient offi- 
 cer. The company has tiie most complete and best 
 kept set of books in the city and Its business has so 
 greatly increase<l that it now eraploj's a clerical 
 force of four men throughout all the year. 
 
 Returning to Jasper Count}', Iowa, in 1S87, Mr. 
 Cross led to the marriage altar Miss Alice B. Blair, 
 a most estimable lad}' and then returned with his 
 bride to his home in this cit}', where the lady has 
 made many warm friends although the period of 
 her residence here is short. Mr. Cross is a worth}' 
 and valued citizen who keeps himself well informed 
 on all matters of public interest and in politics is a 
 Republican. He has had an extensive experience 
 in his business and is tliorough and accurate in all 
 details. His endorsement of an abstract is a guar- 
 rantee of its value. 
 
 ^jEORGE P. IIANAWALT, M. D., a leading 
 (— , pliysician and surgeon of Des Moines, whose 
 jiijl portrait appears upon the opposite page, and 
 who occupies the position of Surgeon General of 
 the Iowa State Militia, was born in Ross County, 
 Ohio, September 11, 183(5, and is a son of .Jolin and 
 Marj' (Jefferson) Hanawalt. His father was burn 
 in Mifflin Count}', Pa., January 18. 1798, and was 
 of German descent. The paternal grandfather of 
 our subject was a soldier in the AVar of tiie Revolu- 
 tion. The motiier of Dr. Hanawalt was born near 
 Frederick, .Md., August 20, 1812, and is a lineal 
 descendant of the Jefferson family to wliich the 
 third President of the United States belonged. 
 
 In his native State our subject was reared to 
 manhood, receiving his [iriiDary education in llie 
 pul)lic sciiools, after which lie pursued iiis literary 
 studies in Salem Academy, lie beg.an tlie study of 
 medicine in 1859, in the ollice of Drs. Salter <k 
 Holton, of Madison County, Oliio, bu'^ before com- 
 pleting his course he cntereil the volunteer service 
 in the late war and was attached to the Seventh 
 Ohio Iiifantiv ill February, 18(i2.and in the month 
 
 of August following was transferred to the regular 
 army as Hospital Steward. During his service he 
 attended medical lectures and in the month of 
 March, 1864, graduateil from the medical depart- 
 ment of the Georgetown University of Washington, 
 D. C. He was promoted to Acting Assistant Sur- 
 geon, in which capacity he served until October, 
 18t)8, when he resigned and on the 22d of JMay, 
 following, came to Des Moines and entered upon 
 the practice of his profession in this city, which he 
 has since pursued with marked success. 
 
 On the 30th of October, 1871, Dr. Hanawalt led 
 to the marriage altar Miss Emily Agnes Jordan, 
 the wedding taking pl.ace at the home of the bride 
 in Walnut Townshi|), Polk County. The lady is 
 a daughter of the Hon. James C. and Melinda 
 (Pittman) Jordan, and was bf>rn in Piatt County, 
 Mo., coming with her parents to Polk County when 
 a child of two years. She was reared in this com- 
 munity and her education was finished at the 
 Northwestern University, Evanston, III. Her re- 
 ligious training was received under the auspices 
 of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which she 
 has been a member for a number of years. 
 
 Dr. Hanawalt has won prominence in his pro- 
 fession both as a physician and surgeon and has 
 lieon chosen liy several ini|)ortant corporations to 
 care for their wounded and sick employes. He 
 holds the position of surgeon of the following 
 named railroad companies : the Chicago, Rock 
 Island it Pacific, the Des Moines & Fort Dodge, 
 the Chicago, St. Paul it Kansas City, the Des 
 Moines it Northwestern, the Des Moines it Kansas 
 City, and the Electric Street Railway Company, for 
 all of which he has done good service. In 1877 
 he was commissioned Surgeon (ileneral of the Na- 
 tional Guard of Iowa (State Militia) and has held 
 that position ever since, covering a period of thir- 
 teen years. The l^octor is a Repiililican in politics 
 but has neither time nor inclination to take an ac- 
 tive i)art in political affairs. He is a member of 
 Crocker Post, No. 12, G. A. R., and also holds 
 membership in the American Medical Association, 
 the Iowa State IMedical Society, of which he was 
 President in 1880, and the Polk County Medical 
 Society. He is a most indef.-iligable laborer, and 
 his efforts, both as a pliysician and surgeon, have 
 
182 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 been crowned with the greatest cUgree of success. 
 In surgery, he is especially distinguished and en- 
 joys a State wide reputation in ihat profession. He 
 is a genial, whole-souled gentleman, whose presence, 
 alone, in the sick room, regardless of his treatment, 
 brings confidence and hope to his patients. He is 
 ripe in experience and is thoroughly read in his 
 profession, keeping abreast of the times. His 
 army experience in surgery, coming as it did in 
 h"s student days, was of inestimable service in 
 qualifying him for further duties in that Hue. 
 
 \fl GUIS STOHLGREEN, who is President of 
 I (@ ^^^^ Bloomfield Coal Company, and proprie- 
 J[_^ tQi- q{ a meat market of Des Moines, ranks 
 high in business circles, and is recognized as one of 
 the representative and enterprising men of the cit3-. 
 He was born on the 2d of January, 18-17, in the 
 northwestern part of Sweden, near the Norway line, 
 and when twelve years of age, was left an orphan, 
 so that from earlj- boyhood he has had to make his 
 own way in the world. Mr. Stohlgreen is essen- 
 tially a self-made man, who by a determined will, 
 industry, enterprise, and fair dealing has steadily 
 worked his way upward, and secured for himself 
 and family a comfortable competence. When a 
 small lad he herded sheep, and from the age of fif- 
 teen until he had attained his majority, was em- 
 ployed in a lumber yard. Believing that he could 
 better his condition by emigrating to America, he 
 crossed the Atlantic in 1869, arriving in New York 
 on the 1st of October of that year. He then went 
 direct to Chicago, where he worked for a short time 
 on a construction train on the Hlinois Central Kail- 
 road, after which he went to Louisiana, where he 
 worked on a levee. He was next employed in 
 Arkansas on a farm, receiving as a compensation 
 for his labors $16 per month. Thence he came to 
 Davenport, Iowa, and on the 'id of July, 1870, 
 reached Des Moines, since which time he has been 
 prominently identified with its business interests. 
 He was first employed in a brickyard by C. Young- 
 erman, afterwards engaged in mining for four3'ears 
 and since February, 1871, h.as carried on a meat- 
 
 market. He built the two-story brick in which he 
 does business, and in other ways has aided in the up- 
 building of the city. In 1887, he was instrumental 
 in organizing the Bloomfield Coal Mining Compan}', 
 of which he has since been Director and President, 
 and was one of the originators of the society 
 Scandia. He is also interested in the Swedish Pub- 
 lishing Company, and the Diamond Ice Company. 
 To every enterprise with which he is connected, he 
 devotes his whole energies that it may be success- 
 ful, and in the various branches of business in which 
 lie is engaged he has met with marked prosperit}'. 
 In 1876, Mr. Stohlgreen was united in marriage 
 with Miss Mary Israelson, a native of Sweden, who 
 came to this country in 1871. Both he and his 
 wife are members of the Swedish Church. Their 
 family numbers five children, three sons and two 
 daughters — Anna M., Adolph F., Amanda M., Mar- 
 tin E., and Clarence H. Mr. Stohlgreen is the 
 founder of his family in America, but since his ar- 
 rival in this country, two of his brothers have 
 joined him. He deserves great credit for his per- 
 severance, which has overcome many obstacles, and 
 placed him on a firm financial basis. 
 
 \ | 1/ AV. LEHMAN, attorney and counselor-at- 
 [U^^ law of Des Moines, who is associated in 
 IL. ~' business with W. A. Clark, is of German 
 birth. He was born in the Kingdom of Prussia, on 
 the 28th of February, 1823, but when a babe was 
 brought by his parents to America, the date of 
 their emigration being 1855. The family located 
 in Cincinnati, Ohio, but in 1869, when a lad of 
 sixteen years, our subject came to Fremont County, 
 Iowa. Entering Tabor College in that county, be 
 was graduated in the Class of '73, and the same 
 year in which he completed his literary course of 
 study, w.as admitted to the bar, having prepared 
 himself for the legal profession while a student at 
 college. The same perseverance and pertinacity 
 which characterized his college course, has marked 
 his professional career, and in consequence he has 
 been attended with like success in the prosecution 
 of the law. Soon after he was admitted to the bar, 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 183 
 
 he located in Nebraska City, where as a partner of 
 Judge Mason, lie entered into practice. In 1876, 
 he came to Des Moines, forming .a partnership with 
 J. A. Harvey, whicli connection continued until 
 1882, when it was dissolved, and the firm of Leh- 
 man & Clark established. 
 
 In 1879, Mr. Lehman was united in marriage 
 with Miss Nora Stark, daughter of Jacob Starii, one 
 of the early merchants of this citj'. They have 
 three sons, Frederick, Sears, and an infant. 
 
 As a lawyer, Mr. Lehman has won the confidence 
 and esteem of his fellow-citizens, as is sliovyn bj- 
 his large practice. He possesses the qualities neces- 
 sary for a successful lawyer. He is clear, logical- 
 and comprehensive, and his sense of justice is such 
 that he cannot be removed from a course which he 
 believes to be just and honorable. He is a forcible 
 and impressive speaker, and his sincerity and per- 
 suasive eloquence, when addressing a jury, com- 
 mand and retain their undivided and earnest at- 
 tention. His brethren of the bar accord to him a 
 place in the front rank of the profession. In his 
 political aliiliations, Mr. Lehman is a Democrat, but 
 is governed by his convictions, and not by the dic- 
 tations of party. He is an able advocate of his 
 political principles, and his abilities as a political 
 debater are recognized not only by his own party, 
 but by his opponents as well. As a citizen, he is 
 esteemed for his progressive and enterprising spirit, 
 and the faithful manner in which he discharges his 
 public duties. 
 
 --^.^ 
 
 #^ 
 
 ,^sA AMUEL GRAY, who resides on section 16, 
 ^^^ Bloomficld Township, well deserves men- 
 IJA/'Jj) tion in this volume for two reasons — he is 
 one of the valued and representative citi- 
 zens of the county, and is also numbered among its 
 pioneer settlers. Few persons have so long made 
 their homes in this community, he becoming a res- 
 ident of Des Moines, when the entire |)opulation 
 numbered but eighty-five. 
 
 Mr. Gray is a native of Pennsylvania, born on 
 the 19th of .hine, 1811, in Franklin County. His 
 father, David Gray, was a native of Northern Ire- 
 
 land, from which country he emigrated to America 
 in 1790. His first settlement was in Pennsylvania, 
 where he followed his trade of weaving for a num- 
 ber of years. On leaving the Keystone Stale, he 
 became a resident of Jefferson Count}', Ohio, where 
 he followed the same business until he had accumu- 
 lated sufficient property to enable him to spend the 
 remainder of his days in retirement. While in 
 Pennsylvania, he became acquainted with and wed- 
 ded Miss Elizabeth Selander, a native of that State, 
 and of their union were born eight children, four 
 of whom are yet living — James, of Holmes County, 
 Ohio; Elizabeth, wife of George F. Newton, of 
 Millersburg, Ohio; Jane, who is also living in 
 Holmes County ; and Samuel, of this sketch. The 
 father of this family died in 1852, and his remains 
 were buried in the cemetery of Millersburg, Ohio, 
 where several years later the body of his wife was 
 placed bj' his side. 
 
 Although born in Pennsjlvania, Samuel Gray 
 spent the greater part of his childhood da^-s in 
 Ohio, whither his parents removed whcu he was a 
 small lad. His early life was unmarked by any event 
 of special importance. In the common schools of the 
 neighborhood he received his education, and when 
 he had attained to a sufficient .age he learned the 
 plasterer's trade, which he continued to follow un- 
 til the autumn of 1818, when,with the tide of iiuman 
 emigration which was steadily flowing westward, 
 he started for the new State of Iowa. Fort3-three 
 daj's were consumed in m.aking the trip from 
 ftolmes Count}', Ohio, to Ft. Des Moines, a horse 
 team being used for the [lurpose. Great indeed is 
 the change which has taken place since that time. 
 The licautiful capital city of Iowa, of whicii the 
 citizens of the State are so justly proud, then con- 
 lainc'd but three small frame houses, beside the 
 " fort houses." Two stores situated on Second 
 Street comprised the business portion of the city, 
 and a small log tavern furnished accommodation 
 and supplied the wants of the weary travelers. As 
 before stated, the entire population was but eighty- 
 five. Mr. Gray's family at tliat lime consisted of 
 himself, wife and eight children, and on the jour- 
 ney they were accompanied l)y a friend, whose 
 family numbered twelve, therefore both families 
 together made one i]uarter of the population. The 
 
184 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 most far-siglited could have scarcely imagined the 
 rai)id transformation which has taken place since 
 that time, nor realize the wonderful changes and 
 advancement to be made in the different lines of 
 business indnstrj'. The present advanced position 
 of the county is due in no small degree to the pio- 
 neer settlers. Words cannot requite them for the 
 service the}- have rendered the present generation, 
 yel we can express our gratitude, and perpetuate 
 their noble deeds by written records. 
 
 Not long after his arrival in the county, Mr. 
 Clr.ay secured work at his trade of a plasterer, as 
 some houses were in course of erection, when he 
 reoched the city. From that time until 1851, he 
 had little leisure, his services being constantly in 
 demand by the incoming emigrants. In that year, 
 however, he abandoned his chosen trade, to enter 
 upon the duties of Treasurer and Recorder of Polk 
 County, to which offices he was elected for a two 
 j'ears term. So acceptably did be fill the posi- 
 tions, that he was again elected in 18.i3, and served 
 until the spring of 1856. He did not then re- 
 sume work as a [ilasterer, but entered eighty- acres 
 of school land and forty-three .acres of river land 
 in Kloomfield Township, ami began the develop- 
 ment of a farm. Erecting a dwelling, he then gave 
 his entire attention to the cultivation of his land 
 until 1883, when it was found that there was a vein 
 of coal un<lerlying his farm. He then leascl his 
 land for twenty years, the income from the same 
 enabling him to live in comfortable circumstances. 
 
 On the "iSd of Maj-, 1833, Mr. Gr.iy w.as united in 
 marri.age with ^liss Mary Long, and unto them was 
 liorn a family of seven children : John L. and James, 
 of l)es Moines; David, of the State of Wasliington ; 
 Klizabeth, wife of M. Taylor, of Dallas County, 
 Iowa; Nancy J., wife of J. C. T.aylor, of Marion 
 County, Iowa; Samuel, a resident of Des Moines; 
 George B., who is living in North Dakota. The 
 mother of these children was not long permitted to 
 enjoy her new home in the AVest, but died on the 
 4th of November, 1850, at the age of thirty-four 
 years, and her remains were interred in the cem- 
 etery at Des Moines. Mr. Gr.iy was again married 
 February 26, 1852, his second union being with 
 Sally Brand, by wiiom he has four children: Car- 
 rie, wife of Frank I laarc, a resident of Bloomficld 
 
 Township; William B., who also resides in the same 
 township; Charlie B., a resident of Holyoke, Phil- 
 lips Count}-, Col. ; and Walter, who is living on 
 a part of the old homestead. 
 
 Mr. Gray may be truly be called a self-made 
 man. Commencing life without cai)ital, save a 
 young man's bright hope of the future, and a de- 
 termination to succeed, he has steadily worked his 
 way upward to a position of financial independence. 
 At one time he owned eighty choice lots in East 
 Des Moines, and is now the recipient of a handsome 
 income from his f.arni. He has alw.ays been liberal 
 with his means for the support of public enterprises 
 and as his resources have increased, has likewise 
 increased his donations. He has taken quite an 
 active part in politics, and is a warm advocate of 
 the Democratic part3^ He and his family are 
 well known throughout the count}', and are held in 
 the highest respect by all. 
 
 HARLES M. MACOMBER, a general farmer 
 
 ill and stock raiser of Bloomfield Township, 
 
 '^^T' residing on section 28, was born in Frank- 
 lin County, Me., January 7, 1823, and is a son 
 of John and Abigail (Millei) M.acomber. His 
 parents were both i.atives of Massachusetts, and 
 were of Scotch descent. His father was an enter- 
 prising and successful business man. By trade he 
 was a blacksmith, but in connection with that bus- 
 iness carried on farming and dealt largely in stock, 
 which he drove every fall from Maine to New Bed- 
 ford, M.ass., a distance of two hundred and seventy- 
 five miles. He continued to pursue these various 
 lines of work in Franklin County, Me., until his 
 death, which occurred in 1853. at the ripe old age 
 of seventy-one years. He survived his wife a 
 number of years, she having j).assed to her last rest 
 in 1832. As the result of their union eleven chil- 
 dren were born, but of that once numerous family 
 onl}' three are now living: !Mary M , widow of 
 Horace Allen; James N., a resident of New Bed- 
 ford, M.ass. ; and Charles M., of this sketch. After 
 the death of his first wife, John Macomber, In 1833, 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 185 
 
 wedded Betsy Robbins, ami unto tliciu wore born 
 two children: Philcna P., of Fariuinglon, Me.; and 
 Leonard H., who is now deceased. 
 
 Ill his native county our subject spent the days 
 of bis boyliood and youth, iiis time beiiisj passed 
 in the usual manner in whicii lads occupied their 
 attention. For a portion of the year he attended 
 llie common schools of the neighborhood, while the 
 remainder of the lime was passed in work upon his 
 father's farm or in play. lie remained under the 
 parental ruof until twenty-two 3'ears of age, wlien 
 he started out in life for liimsolf. Going to Mas- 
 sachusetts he engaged in teaciiing school for two 
 years, and tlien for several years following, taught 
 penmanship. The spring of 1854 witnessed his ar- 
 rival in Iowa, where he has since made his home. 
 The journej' was made b3' rail to Rock Island, 
 thence down the Mississippi on the boat '"Laniar- 
 tine," lie landing at Muscatine. Six miles north of 
 that city he purchased land, whi ;b he cleared and 
 improved during his two j'ears' residence thereon, 
 when he removed to Wilton .Junction. Some time 
 subsequent he entered the emploj' of the Singer 
 Sewing Macidne Company, as traveling salesman, 
 and meeting with such excellent success in that 
 line of work, continued in the employ of that eom- 
 pan}', until 1877. Four years previous he had re- 
 moved his family to Des Moines, and on severing 
 his connection witii his old emploj'ers, took up his 
 residence in this city, devoting his attention to 
 collecting until 1881, when he went to Arizona as 
 agent for the Bunker Hill Gold and Silver Mining 
 Companj-. He spent two and a half years in that 
 Territoiy, and then returned to Des Jloines, but 
 siiortlj' afterward traded his property in the city 
 for the farm on whicli he now resides. 
 
 On the 12th of November, 18.54, Jlr. ]\Iacomber 
 led to the marriage altar Miss Elzoda, daughter of 
 Joseph and Dorcas (Wheeler) Craig, both of whom 
 were natives of the Pine Tree State. Jf scph Craig 
 was a farmer bj occupation, and followed tliat liusi- 
 ness in Slaine until old age forced liim to retire from 
 active life, and lie resigned his farm to the care of 
 his son, but lie and his wife are still living on the 
 old homestead. They were parents of nine chil- 
 dren, seven of whom yet survive: Almaron, a res- 
 ident of Pocahontas County, Iowa; Klla, wife of 
 
 George W. Cothren, of Farmington, Me.: Joseph, 
 who makes his home in Dallas County, Iowa; Lynn, 
 who is operating the old homestead ; Fred W., of 
 Des Moines; Mary J., who is living with her par- 
 ents; and Elzoda, wife of our subject. The par- 
 ents of this family have long been members of the 
 Methodist F^piscopal Church, and have led earnest, 
 consistent Christian lives. They are well-known 
 in the community in which they make their homo, 
 and are surrounded by a wide circle of friends. In 
 early life Mr. Craig was a supporter of the Whig 
 part}', but since the formation of the Republican 
 party, he has cast his ballot with that great national 
 organization. 
 
 Mr. Macomber is also a stanch supporter of the 
 same party, and socially is a member of the Ma- 
 sonic fraternit}'. His farm is ijle.asantlv and con- 
 viently situated about one mile from Des Moines and 
 comprises eighty acres of valual)le land. His life 
 has been a successful one, as the result of his own 
 efforts, and in ma.ny ways is worthy of emulation. 
 He is ever faithful to the duties of citizenship 
 which devolve upon him, and when called upon 
 for assistance for any worthy enterprise calculated 
 to benefit the community, his aid is never refused. 
 
 EVI JESSE WELLS, is a leading livery- 
 man and one of the most popular citizens 
 of Des Moines. The story of his life would 
 be full of interest to many of our readers and might 
 well serve as an impetus to j'oung men, who like 
 our subject had nothing with which to begin life 
 save a strong right arm and determination. With 
 that capital he started, yet he is now one of the 
 prosperous citizens of the county. His upright 
 life may well be taken as an example and if fol- 
 lowed will win for all an honorable position al- 
 though they may not acquire wealth. 
 
 Mv. Wells was born in Susquehanna County, Pa., 
 near Dimmock Corners, January 28, 1831, and is a 
 son of Levi and Mary (Baird) Wells. The familj' 
 has long been establi.shod in America and its mom- 
 bers were connected with the history of the Rovo- 
 utionary War. His [laternal great-grandfather and 
 / 
 
ISG 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 liis wife were in tlie Wyoming Massacre, where the 
 husband was liilled by the Indians. Mrs. Wells, 
 however, escaped, flying with lier babe in her arms 
 througii the woods to a |)lace of safely. Both of 
 their names appear on a monument which was 
 erected to commemorate that event. Both grand- 
 fathers of our subject were members of the Colo- 
 nial forces, Grandfather Baird serving with the 
 rank of captain. 
 
 Levi Weils, Sr., was a native of Bradford County, 
 Pa., and on reaching manhood wedded Mary Baird, 
 a native of Susquehanna County. He was a pros- 
 (icrous farmer and in the midst of the forest cleared 
 and developed an excellent farm, upon which he 
 planted a fine orchard. lie died in the prime of 
 life at the age of forty -seven years and the death 
 of his wife occurred in her fifty-third year. Both 
 were members of tlie Baptist Church and were 
 highly respected people. Their famil}' numbered 
 five children, three of whom are now living — Will- 
 iam B., a lawyer of Pottsville, Pa.; Guy P., an ex- 
 tensive farmer of the Keystone State; and Levi J., 
 the youngest. 
 
 Our sul)jcct was reared to manhood upon his 
 father's farm and attended the district schools in 
 his youth, but so poor were the advantages tiiere 
 afforded that he sa3S the onlj^ real school training 
 he received was in an academj' where he spent one 
 year. At the age of eleven, he began woric in the 
 "harvest field for 64 a month and his dinner, but he 
 determined to make some other pursuit than farm- 
 ing his life work and when a lad of fifteen j-eais 
 began an apprenticeship to the carpenter's trade, 
 serving a term of five and a half 3'ears, a year and 
 a half being spent with one employer, the remain- 
 ing four years with another gentleman. His wages 
 were his board and §60 per year and at the e.x piration 
 of his term he was to receive §100 additional. Dur- 
 ing lliat period he thorougldy mastered the busi- 
 ness and at the age of twent3'-two look a contract 
 to build twenty' double miner's houses for the Jes- 
 sup ik Millard Coal Company. Believing he could 
 belter his condition in the West, he came to Polk 
 County in 1856, and i)urchased two lots in East 
 Des Moines. Shortly afterward he was employed 
 as foreman by the father of J. J. Williams, to su- 
 perinti nil liie building of a dam across the Des 
 
 Moines River and the construction of a mill, which 
 is now being torn down, it being one of the last 
 landmarks of pioneer days. 
 
 On his arrival in this city, Mr. Wells found a 
 mere village with little general trade and few im- 
 provements of any importance. He erected build- 
 ings on lots which he purchased, built olliers 
 around the capital .square and in many wa^'s aided 
 in the development and progress of the city. He 
 was proprietor of the Grout House for eight months 
 and in 1870 commenced the liverj' business, which 
 he has since continued. He has Innlt the finest 
 sta'.)les in tiie city, one being located at 119 Fourth 
 Street, a four floor brick, and the other at 818 
 Mulberry Street. It is the finest l)arn in the State, 
 was erected in 1889, and is tlu-ee stories in height. 
 Mr. Wells keeps on hand one hundred head of 
 horses, runs buses and a baggage line and carries 
 all the mail, meeting fiftv-five trains per day. He 
 l)egan life in Des Jloines as a day laborer, but 
 scorned no workb^' which he might earn an honest 
 dollar. He has been a hard worker and a man of 
 remarkable strength. On one occasion, before the 
 day of elevators, when the wheat had to be carried 
 to the fourth floor of the mill, the men under the 
 employ' of Mr. Wells refused to carry a sack,s.a3-ing 
 it was too heavy, so he himself shouldered it and 
 landed it in its proper place. On being wciglied it 
 tilted the beam at two hundred and fift^- pounds. 
 
 In 1852, Mr. Wells was joined in wedlock with 
 Mary Brown, a native of Bradford County. Pa., 
 who was employed as a te.acher in an academy. 
 Unto them were born two children — William B., a 
 liveryman of this city; and Jesse O., who is asso- 
 ciated with his father in the livery business. The 
 mother died in 1860, and the following year Mr. 
 Wtlls married Sarah liailcy, a native of Marjdand, 
 who was reared in Ohio, and came to Des Moines 
 some years prior to their marriage. In political 
 sentiment our subject is a Republican, but though 
 he h.is always been a popular personage in the city, 
 he has never asked for political distinction, prefcr- 
 ing rather the life of a quiet and unobtrusive 
 citizen. Since his arrival in Des Moines he has 
 accumulated a fortune, but not through speculation. 
 One speculation served him for all times. Toward 
 the close of the war he purchased one hundred 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 187 
 
 barrels of i)ork on which he lost $800 and that in- 
 vestment satisfied him. His financial growth has 
 been steady and he now does the largest liver}' 
 business in the Northwest. In all his de.nlings his 
 course has been marked by honesty and fairness. 
 
 -* *>^-q^. !-■ 
 
 J^ LEXANDER SHERIFF, one of the old and 
 (.@/l)|| respected citizens of the county, who is now 
 engaged in general farming and stock- 
 raising on section 36, RloomBeld Township, 
 is a native of Scotland. He was ?wrn in 1830, and 
 is a son of James and Elizabeth (Ila3-s) Slicriflf, 
 who were also natives of the same eountr^y, and in 
 that land bis father followed farming until his 
 death. Their family numbered eight children, six 
 of whom are yet living — Alice, wife of Philip Pil- 
 mer, who is living in Warren County on the line 
 of Polk Count}'; Janet, wife of George Pilmer of 
 Warren County; Mary, wife of Robert Dyer of the 
 same county; James, also a resident of Warren 
 County; Alex.ander of this sketch, and George, who 
 is a resident of Bloomfield Township. 
 
 In his native land and under the parental roof 
 the boyhood days of our subject were passed. He 
 received a limited education in the common schools 
 and resided with his parents until they were called 
 to the better land. The children then remained to- 
 gether for about four j'cars, during which time 
 Alexander worked upon a farm. Realizing that he 
 was not receiving sufficient compensation for his 
 labors in Scotland, he concluded to try his fortune 
 in this country and in the spring of 1850, accom- 
 panied by two brothers and two sisters, took pass- 
 age on a sailing vessel at Glasgow, bound for 
 Quebec. After a voyage of some weeks, the boat 
 reached its destination and our little party pro- 
 ceeded by way of canal to Cleveland, Ohio. On 
 their arrival in that citj' they found that they had 
 lost their tickets and that their money was com- 
 pletely exhausted. Having no friends in the neigh- 
 borhood, they were com[)elled to slcej) in an oat 
 field and the next morning our subject started in 
 search of some acquaintances who lived about sixty 
 miles distant. From them he borru'.vcd money and 
 
 returned to his brothers and sisters, after which 
 they procured their luggage and again started on 
 their w.ay. They made their first location near Alli- 
 ance, Columbia County, Ohio, where the brothers 
 procured work on a railroad at seventy-five cents 
 per day and from that sum [)aid $'2 per week board. 
 After working in that capacity for tiiree years, 
 having saved J;300 apiece, they started westward. 
 Alexander Sheriff w.as accompanied by his brother- 
 in-law, Robert Dyer. The railroad extended no 
 further than Illinois and they had to walk the re- 
 mainder of the distance. They had chosen Iowa 
 Cit}' as their destination, but as tiiey did not like 
 the country in that neighborhood the}- continued 
 their travels to Des Jloines, where Mr. Dyer had a 
 friend living by the name of William Hastie. It 
 proved of great importance to our subject tiiat they 
 decided upon this community as the scene of their 
 future labors, for here he found his wife. 
 
 After looking around for a time, Mr. Sheriff pur- 
 chased two hundred and forty acres for himself and 
 brothers, after which he returned to Ohio, where 
 he again spent the winter in raiiro.ading. The fol- 
 lowing spring the family came to Iowa and moving 
 their few household effects into a little log cabin 
 which had been erected upon the land, began life in 
 true pioneer style. The brothers continued the cul- 
 tivation of the land in partnership for a numlier of 
 years, when at length it was divided, each receivino- 
 his share of eighty acres. To that amount Mr. 
 Sheriff has added until he now owns a fine farm of 
 two hundred and ninety acres, all of which is under 
 a high state of cultivation. Its well tilled fields in- 
 dicate the thrift and enterprise of the owner and its 
 many excellent improvements indicate that he is 
 abreast with the times. In 1880, he erected a com- 
 modious and substantial two-story dwelling and a 
 large barn. His home is neatly and tastefully fur- 
 nished and surrounded by many of the comforts of 
 life. 
 
 In the same year, Mv. Sheriff was united in the 
 holy bonds of matrimony with Miss Janet Hastie, 
 daughter of William and Elizabeth (Purvis) Hastie, 
 both of whom were natives of Scotland, in which 
 country the father followed farming until ISoo, 
 when he sailed with his family for New York, and 
 thence proceeded by train to Salineville. Ohio. 
 
188 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 After a icsidcuce there of six inontlis, in 1856. lie 
 removed to AVarren Country. Iowa, where lie en- 
 gaged in agricultural pursuits until iiis death, which 
 occurred in 1878. His wife died in 1871. and their 
 remains are buried in tlie ceu]eter3- near where Mr. 
 .Sheriff now resides. They liad a family of six chil- 
 dren, but the three eldest, Margaret, William the 
 first and William the second are now deceased. 
 David died in the army; Philip is a resident farmer 
 of Warren County, and .Janet is the wife of our 
 subject. The parents were both members of the 
 Presbyterian Church and in politics, Mr. Hastie was 
 a Republican. 
 
 To Mr. and Mrs. Sheriff were born two children 
 — Margaret who died in infancy, and Lydie Belle, 
 who w\is born March 17, 1883. Mr. Sheriff has now 
 one of the best farms in the county and in connec- 
 tion with its cultivation also raises a good grade of 
 stock. In politics, he is a supporter of the Republi- 
 can part3' and himself and wife are members of the 
 Presbyterian Church. They have many warm 
 friends throughout the community, their home is 
 the abode of hospitality and in the social world 
 they are held in high regard. 
 
 -^ 
 
 S 1^ L. READ is the senior memlx 
 
 |/Jf firm of W. L. & J. M. Read, of 
 
 \^^ He entered upon the practice 
 
 L. READ is the senior memlier of the law 
 
 f Des Moines, 
 actice of his [iro- 
 fession in the spring of 1876, as a partner of Mr. 
 Wishard. That connection continued until 1883, 
 when by mutual consent it was dissolved, and Mr. 
 Read continued alone in business until 1885, when 
 he was joined in practice by his brother. 
 
 The Read brothers have been residents of Polk 
 Count}-, since 1867. Their father, Ainbivse Read, 
 was born in Guernsey County, Ohio, and was a son 
 of one of the early pioneers of that section. The 
 original ancestors of the family in this countiy 
 were residents of New Jersey and RLaryland. 
 
 Ambrose Read grew to manhood in his native 
 State, and wedded Mary Ann Lewis, also a native 
 of Ohio, whiiher her parents had emigrated from 
 Virginia, in an early day. Her fainily was of Welsh 
 oriijin, the earliest American ancestor having set- 
 
 tled in New Jerse}' in Colonial times. In the fall 
 of 1860, Mr. Read accompanied by his family, re- 
 moved to Iowa, settling in Scott County, whers the 
 mother died in 1863. Four years later, the family- 
 became residents of Polk County, settling in the 
 town of Alloona, but the father died in the citj' of 
 Des Moines. By occupation he was a fanner, and 
 followed that business throughout his entire life. 
 He was a man of much ability, and possessed a 
 large amount of general information. A conscien- 
 tious, upright and worth}- citizen, his loss was 
 deeply mourned. In the early days of the Repub- 
 lican party, and extending through the AVar of the 
 Rebellion, he was an earnest advocate of the prin- 
 ciples of that organization, but as new issues arose 
 of a national character, he believed hesaw his dut}- 
 elsewhere, and in 1872, voted for Horace Greele}', 
 the Democratic candidate for the Presidenc}-. Later 
 he became identified with the National Greenback 
 Ijart}', and took an active interest iu the monetary 
 and industrial interests of the country. 
 
 Ambrose and Mary Ann Read were the parents 
 of live sons, and by a second marriage Mr. Read be- 
 came the father of two daughters. Albert, the eldest 
 of the family, is deceased; W. L. is the next in order 
 of birth; George and H. II. are eng.aged in the real- 
 estate business in this city; and J. M. completes 
 the familj-. 
 
 W. L. Read, whose name heads this sketcli, is a 
 native of the Bucke^-e State, having been born in 
 Harrison County, on the lotli of May, 1851. He 
 was a lad of sixteen j-ears when he came with his 
 father's family to Polk County, Iowa. Choosing 
 the law as the |)rofession which he wished to make 
 his life work, when he finished his literary studies, 
 he entered the Iowa Stale University, graduating 
 from the law department of that institution in 1875. 
 His wife was formerly Miss Juliet E. McMurray, 
 who is a native of Indiana, and a daughter of Hiram 
 McMurray. Their union was celebrated in Se|)- 
 tember. 1882, and has been blessed with two chil- 
 dren, Ralph L. and Helen. 
 
 J. M. Read, the junior member of the law firm, 
 was born iu Ohio, on the 9th of August. 1859, and 
 passed his boyhood days under the parental roof. 
 He attended school in Des Moines, and to fit him- 
 self for his chosen profession, entered the law de- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 191 
 
 partiueiit of tlie Slate University, from whicli he 
 was graduated in the class of June, 1885. 
 
 The firm of W. L. & J. M. Read, as already stated, 
 is numbered among the leading law firms of Des 
 Moines. The source of every lawyer's success in his 
 profession is the confidence which the people feel in 
 his personal and professional integrity. The large 
 and lucrative business of this firm proves that they 
 have not only won the confidence of their fellow-citi- 
 zens, but that they retain the high regard and gcod 
 wishes of all whose friendship they have once se- 
 cured. Honorable and u|)right in their professional 
 calling, cordial and genial in disposition, they are 
 numbered professionally and socially among the 
 leading citizens of Des Moines. In their political 
 affiliations they are both supporters of the Demo- 
 cratic party. Their office is situated at Nos. 334 
 and 336 East Fifth Street, and No. 427 East Locust 
 Street. 
 
 •' ON. GEORGE G. WRIGHT, an eminent 
 ^^ jurist and a pioneer lawyer of Iowa, is a 
 
 native of Indiana, having been born in the 
 (((Q) town of Bloomington, Monroe County, on 
 the 24th of March, 1820. His father, John Wright, 
 was a native of Pennsylvania, and was of Welsh 
 descent, the family dating its origin in America 
 back to the year 1720, when the founder, an emi 
 grant from Wales, settled in Pennsylvania. John 
 Wright was a mason by trade, and in early life 
 married Miss Rachel Seaman. His death occurred 
 in Bloomington, Ind., in 182.'), when our subject 
 w.as but five years of age. Mrs. Wrigiit survived 
 her husband many years. She came to Iowa in 
 its Territorial days, and died in Keosauqua, in 
 1850. 
 
 George G. Wright was educated in the State 
 University of Indiana, being graduated in the class 
 of '39, while in his twentieth year, after which he 
 read law at Rockville, Ind., under the tutelage of 
 his brother, Joseph A. Wright, afterward Governor 
 of Indiana, and w.<is admitted to Ihi.- bar in the 
 Stale Courts of tiiat State in 1840. In September 
 of that year he came to the Territor}' of Iowa, and 
 
 in November established himself in practice in 
 Keosauqua, then one of the most promising towns 
 in the Territory. A thorough Whig in political 
 sentiment, the young lawyer at once took promi- 
 nence in his party, and was chosen Prosecuting 
 Attorney of his county, was also elected to the 
 State Sen.ate for the term of 1848 and 1850. In 
 tiie latter year he was the Whig candidate for 
 Congress in a district comprising the whole south- 
 ern half of Iowa, but the waning strength of the 
 party was not equal to the task of electing him, 
 although his vote exceeded that of the general 
 ticket. In January, 1855, and while yet under 
 thirty.five years of age, his ability and learning as 
 a lawyer and his personal poiiularity led to his 
 election as Chief Justice of Iowa, to which position 
 he was re-elected, holding the office for a period of 
 fifteen years, or until 1870, when he was elected to 
 the United States Senate. At the close of his 
 Senatorial term, Judge Wright declined a reelec- 
 tion, preferring as more congenial, the practice of 
 his profession to the more exciting arena of 
 politics. 
 
 " His time on the Supreme Bench covers the 
 most important period in the judicial history of 
 the State. The adoption of the Code system and 
 judicial construction of it is embraced in it. Judge 
 Wright's opinions will be found in all the Iowa 
 reports from Volume 1 to Volume 30, and the 
 lawyer, whether he be in Iowa, Maine, California 
 or elsewhere, will find in those volumes precedents 
 on geceral law that he may cite with confidence to 
 any court, assured that tliey will be accepted with 
 respect and will carry weiglit and authority with 
 them." 
 
 Ten years after his election to the Supreme 
 Bench, Judge AVright removed from Keosauqua to 
 Des Moines, which has since been his lionie. In 
 the fall of that year he associated with himself 
 Judge Chester C. Cole, of the same court, in the 
 organization of the Iowa Law School (the first 
 law school west of the Mississippi River). Judge 
 Wright had had a number of students in his office 
 during the two or three years preceding, and sev- 
 eral applications for a like i)rivilege suggested the 
 formation of a school, in which, during the first 
 year, twelve students pursued the study of law 
 
1!)2 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 under the tutelage of these two gentlemen, they 
 being the only instructors. At the opening of the 
 second year, Prof. William G. Hammond became 
 connected with the school, giving it a constant 
 personal attention, which tlie judicial duties of the 
 other professors did not permit them to render; 
 and the three men carried the enterprise through the 
 two succeeding years with but slight increase in 
 the number of students. The merits of the school 
 attracted the attention of the bar throughout the 
 Stale, .and in 1868, tlie Iowa Law School, by the 
 action of the Regents, became a department of the 
 State University, and its instructors still remained 
 in charge as its professors, while the prior gradu- 
 ates were made Alumni of the University. Prof. 
 Hammond removed to Iowa City and was placed 
 at the liead of the school, Judges Wright and Cole 
 continuing to give a portion of their time to its 
 service. 
 
 During his labors on the bench, and while en- 
 gaged in building up a sound and safe fabric of 
 the unwritten law, Judge Wright found time to 
 o-ive, by his energy and influence, an impetus to 
 many public enterprises and objects. Prior to the 
 organization of the Iowa Law School, he took a 
 prominent part in the organization of the State 
 Agricultural Society, of which he was President 
 for five years, from 1858 to 1863, thereby fostering 
 and cnconraging improved methods in all that 
 pertains to Iowa's peculiarly agricultural popula- 
 tion. 
 
 "An earnest patriot, while physical incapacity 
 prevented his entering the army, b3- word and 
 deed he sustained the arm of the Government in 
 the struggle to save the LTnion, and manj' a 
 soldier drew inspiration from his earnest speech, 
 and many a soldier's family found in him a stead- 
 fast supporter in time of need. In the Senate, he at 
 once became Chairman and member of influential 
 committees, and had he not, for reasons wholly 
 personal to himself, voluntarily declined re-elec- 
 tion, he would doubtless have become one of 
 Iowa's famous long-time Senators. Retiring from 
 the Senate, he took the head of the law firm of 
 Wrigiit, Gatch & Wright, and again entered the 
 practice with his early enthusiasm, and at once 
 was fell in tlie work of his profession. A desire 
 
 for rest and greater quiet induced him in time to 
 seek'less engrossing duties, and as the trusted head 
 of financial institutions of his city, he now devotes 
 such time as he desires to business. Retaining, 
 however, his early love for bis profession, Judge 
 Wright continues to lecture to his old law school, 
 and for like reasons is actively associated with the 
 American Bar Association, of which he was Presi- 
 dent from June, 1887, to June, 1888. His wide 
 experience as a lawyer, legisl.ator and judge, makes 
 his judgment in tiiat body of recognized value, and 
 as such is constantly sought and observed. In 
 1882, he severed his connection with the law firm 
 of which he was the head, and accepted the Presi- 
 dency of the Polk County Savings Bank, wiiicli 
 was organized that year, and which position he has 
 filled continuously since, covering a period of 
 seven years. During the same time he lias been 
 President of the Security, Loan & Trust Company, 
 of Des Moines, an important financial institution 
 of Polk County. 
 
 Judge Wright was married in Van Buren Countj', 
 Iowa, on the 19th of October, 1843, to Miss Han- 
 nah M. Dibble, daughter of Thomas and Ruth 
 (Gates) Dibble. Mrs. Wright was born in Saratoga 
 County, N. Y., near the celebrated springs of that 
 name, and came to Iowa with her parents in 1839. 
 Her family was of New England origin, and re- 
 moved from Connecticut to New York early in 
 the eighteenth century. Judge and Mrs. Wright 
 have six children living, four sous and two daugh- 
 ters — Thomas S., the eldest, wedded iMiss Mary 
 Tuttle, is an attorney by profession, and is the 
 present solicitor of the Rock Island Railroad fo»- 
 Iowa and Illinois, and resides in Chicago; Craig L. 
 married Miss Kate Van D^'ke. and is a [iracticing 
 attorney of Sioux City, Iowa; Mary I)., the eldest 
 daughter, is the wife of Frank H. Peavey, a grain 
 merchant of Minneapolis, ]\Iinn. ; Carroll, who 
 married Miss Nellie Elliott, was graduated from 
 the Iowa State University, and also from the Law 
 Department of Simpson College, and is a lawyer in 
 active practice in Des Moines; Lucia H. is the 
 wife of Edgar H. Stone, a banker of Sioux City; 
 George G. is single and a resident of Des Moines. 
 
 Judge Wright is and has been an earnest Repub- 
 lican since the formation of the party. In his 
 
PORTRAIT AND KIOGKAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 193 
 
 religious views he adheres to the Methodist Epis- 
 co|)al C'iiurth, iimler the auspices of which lie re- 
 ceived his early religious training. Mrs. Wright 
 is a memher of the Unitarian Church. The Judge 
 is a member of the Independent Order of Odd- 
 Fellows, .Tnd enjoys the distinguished honor of 
 being one of the three losva members from civil 
 life of the Lo^yal Legion of the United Slates. 
 Almost half a century has passed since he made his 
 maiden speech in an Iowa court. Then this now 
 populous and wealthy State was a si)arsely-settled 
 region, with but a portion of its territory open to 
 settlement by the whites. During that period his 
 name has been honorably associated with the his- 
 tory of the bar of Territoiy and State, and for 
 fifteen years he has served with distinction in the 
 highest oflice in its Judiciarj-. The imprint of his 
 legal talent is stami)ed upon the records and re- 
 ports of the State in a manner that reflects credit 
 njwn himself ami the commonwealth, and will per- 
 petuate his memory for all time. Many of the 
 most successful and promising lawyers of the State 
 were his pupils or were benefited in their profes- 
 sional education through his efforts in founding a 
 law school, and his continued interest in the Law 
 Department of the Slate University. His election 
 to the United States Senate was an honor justly 
 deserved, and his honorable and upright service in 
 that distinguished body fully justified the choice 
 of his constituents. 
 
 While it is difficult to write of the living in 
 terms worthy of their merits, virtues and talents, 
 without incurring the risk of offending with an 
 appearance of flattery, it is nevertheless true that 
 in a work like this, that is intended to be a standard 
 work of reference for posterity, a true delineation 
 of ciiaracter and a fair representation of the life- 
 woik of the subject should be presented. We know 
 no reason why we should wait until a man is dead 
 to speak the truth of him. 
 
 Judge Wright possesses all the characteristics of 
 a great lawyer. Studious by inclination, he is 
 well grounded in the law. His mind, always 
 active, grasps with force the subjects of liis 
 thoughts, and bis opinions are expressed in terras 
 at once clear, logical and comprehensive. In his 
 intercourse with mm his manner is cnlirelv f'ce 
 
 from ostentation and self. consciousness, but is calm, 
 dignified and at the same time evincing an earnest 
 cordiality that wins hiin many friends. Tlie 
 purity of his life and his fidelit3^ to every trust 
 have won for him the unbounded confidence and 
 respect of his fellow-citizens, both at home and 
 abroad. 
 
 A portrait of Judge AVright is presented on 
 another page of tiiis volume. 
 
 EN. JAMES MADISON TUTTLE, the hero 
 of Donelson and the late Commander of the 
 sD Department of Iowa of the Grand Army of 
 the Republic, is an honored citizen of Des Moines. 
 He was born in Summerfield, Noble County. Ohio, 
 (then Monroe County), on the 24th of September, 
 1823, and is a son of James and Esther (Crow) 
 Tuttle. His father was a native of Bangor, Me., 
 and was descended from one of the oldest 
 New England families, his ancestors having em- 
 igrated from England and settled near Hartford, 
 Conn., in 1630. The mother of our subject was 
 born near Pittsburg, Pa., and was of German de- 
 scent. In 1819, James Tuttle removed to Ohio, 
 where he followed the occupation of farming until 
 the winter of 1833-34, when with his family he be- 
 came a resident of Fayette County, In(^, where his 
 wife died in 1853. They had nine children, of 
 whom three sons and four daughters are living and 
 are residents of Des Moines. In 1860 the father 
 came to this city, where he spent the remainder of 
 his days, his death occurring in 1872. 
 
 James M., the subject of this sketch, was reared 
 on his father's farm and received a common-school 
 education. He accompanied the family from Ohio 
 to Indiana, and when twenty' years of age left home 
 to make his own way in tlie world. In the spring 
 of 1846 he emigrated to Iowa, settling in the town 
 of Farmington, Van 15uren County, where he en- 
 gaged both in agricultural and mercantile pursuits. 
 Returning to Fayette County, Ind., in the fall of 
 1847, he was there united in marriage with Miss 
 Elizabeth Conner, the wedding being celebrated 
 
194 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 September 22. The lady is a daughter of James 
 Conner, one of the early settlers of Indiaija, and a 
 member of the family after whom Connersvillc was 
 named. 
 
 Gen. Tuttlc and his wife at once came to Iowa 
 and took possession of the home previously pre- 
 pared by the husband, but Mrs. Tattle's married life 
 proved of short duration, her death occurring on 
 on tl.e fourtii anniversary of her wedding day, the 
 22nd of September, 1851. On the 17th of August, 
 1853, the General was married near his home in 
 Farmington, to Miss Laura M. Meek, a daughter of 
 Samuel G. Meek, of that place. She was born in 
 Goshen, Ohio, and came to Iowa witii her parents 
 in the carl^' settlement of Van Buren County. Five 
 cliildren were born of their union, three daughters 
 and two sons, of wiiom one son and two daughters 
 are living. Laura, wlio was born July 16, 1854, is 
 the wife of Albert L. West, a hardware merchant of 
 Des Moines; George, born January 26, 1856, died 
 on the 16th of October, 1863, in Vicksburg, Miss., 
 while on a visit to his father during the late war; 
 Mary, born March 26, 1860, died May 2, 1862; 
 Mella, born July 13, 1865, and Joel, April 4, 1872, 
 are still at home. 
 
 Gen. Tuttle was a Democrat in early life, and in 
 the fall of 1855 was elected by that party Sheriff 
 of Van Buren County, serving two years, when in 
 the autumn of 1857, he was elected County Treas- 
 urer and Recorder of that countj', which position 
 he filled two terms of two years each. On the 
 breaking out of the late Civil War he raised a com- 
 panj' of volunteers and was elected its Captain. 
 The company rendezvoused at Keokuk and was as- 
 signed to the Second Iowa Infantry, of which Capt. 
 Tuttle was elected Lieutenant-Colonel, and with 
 the regiment was mustered into the service of the 
 United States on the 27th day of M.aj', 1861, being 
 the first three jears regiment mustered into the ser- 
 vice from Iowa. The regiment was assigned to 
 duty under Gen. (i rant and on the 6th of Septem- 
 ber, 186), our suliject w.ns promoted to be Colonel, 
 succeeding Col. Curtis. lie distinguished himself 
 at the battle of Ft. Donelson, as the leader of the 
 successful charge on the enemy's works, February 
 15, 18C2, which nsulti'd in tiie capture of that 
 strongliold, together with a large quantity of pro- 
 
 visions and ammunition. Several unsuccessful as- 
 saults had been made on tiie entrenched confederates 
 by the Union forces, and on the loth. Gen. Grant 
 having satisfied himself that the enemy contem- 
 plated cutting their way through the army, ordered 
 the storming of the Confederate forces. The attack 
 was made in a double column, the Second Iowa 
 being on the left of Lauman's brigade and Col. 
 Tuttle with his regiment led the assault. '-Can you 
 get into the entrenchments.^" asked Gen. Smith, of 
 Col. Tuttle. "Yes," was the prompt answer, "only 
 support us, for we are going in there inside of 
 twenty minutes." Through a storm of shot and 
 shell the gallant Colonel led the cliarge and the 
 Iowa boys followed, climbing the stcei) ascent over 
 . fallen trees, reserving their fire until the trenches 
 were reached, when the Second drove the enemy 
 from their rifle pits and the da^' was won, not, 
 however, without a terrific loss to the storming 
 party. Fully one-half of the left wing led by Col. 
 Tuttle was lying dead or wounded when the fight 
 behind the trenches ceased, the total loss being two 
 hundred and forty-one. The Colonel, while leading 
 tliat brilliant charge at Donelson, was grazed by a 
 ball which passed througli his coat sleeve and glove, 
 hitting his sword hilt and knocking the weapon 
 over his head. The sudden wrenching of it from 
 his liand paralyzed his arm during the rest (>f the 
 eng.igemcnt. Afterwards, while standing on a log, 
 beckoning a regiment behind him to follow, a can- 
 non ball struck the log, knocking it from under him 
 and throwing him backwards upon a limb of a tree, 
 by which he was seriously injured, hut not suffi- 
 ciently so to prevent his continuing the charge. 
 Gen. Tuttle and the Second Iowa won high praise 
 for their brilliant achievement at Donelson, and 
 were the subject of a complimentar}- telegram from 
 Gen. Hallock, as follows: 
 
 St. Loiis February 18, 1862. 
 Adj. Gen. Baker: — Tlie Second Iowa Infantry 
 proved themselves the bravest of the brave. They 
 had the honor of leading the column which en- 
 tered Ft. Donelson. 
 
 (Signed) H. W. Hallock. 
 
 At the battle of Siiiloh Gen. Tuttle coniniandod 
 
 a brigade of Gen. W. H. L. Wallace's divison, 
 
 composed of the Second, Seventh, Eighth, Twelfth 
 
 and Fourteenth Regiments, Iowa Infantry and Ar- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 195 
 
 tillery. He advanced on the Corinth road early 
 Sunday morning, April 6, 1862, to a iioint about 
 one-third of a mile beyond the forks of the Ham- 
 burg- and Corinth roads, where he encountered the 
 enenij- in force. lie succeeded in placing a large 
 portion of his command in a washed-out road wliich 
 served the purpose of an intrenchment. The en- 
 gagement began before 9 o'clock A. M., and Gen. 
 Tuttle's three batteries and his infantry repulsed 
 the enemj' five times. At about 4:30 o'clock the 
 Rebels had nearlj' surrounded the Federal force 
 and succeeded in capturing tliree regiments, when 
 Tuttle with the remainder of his troops cut his way 
 through to the main Federal armj-. In the morn- 
 ing he was the fifth in command in his division, 
 but when night closed upon the scene he was the 
 first oHieer, his superiors having been all killed, 
 wounded or taken prisoners. By the prompt and 
 gallant action of Gen. Tuttle in making the ad- 
 vance on the line as he did and the determined and 
 fierce resistance his brig.ide had made to the ad- 
 vancing Rebel army, thereby delaying and cutting 
 them up so severely, tliey were prevented., from 
 marching directly to the river and effecting a sur- 
 prise that would in all probabijit}' have resulted in 
 the capture or destruction of the whole Union 
 army. His promotion to the rank of Brigadier- 
 General followed his brilliant effort at Shiloh, his 
 commission beanng date of June 9, 1862. 
 
 During the fall and winter of 1862, Gen. Tuttle 
 was in command at Cairo and in the spring of 
 1863, was assigned to the command of a division 
 of Gen. Sherman's corps and while servmg in that 
 capacity participated in the campaign against 
 Vicksbuig, and the capture of Jackson, Miss. He 
 continued in active service until September, 1864, 
 when he resigned and returned to his home. 
 
 On his return from tlie armj' Gen. Tuttle settled 
 in Des Moines and for two years was engaged in 
 farming and the real-estate business, after whicii 
 he cmliarkcd in i)ork packing with his brother Mar- 
 tin, under the firm name of Tuttle Bros. In 1870, 
 he bought his brother's interest and carried on the 
 business alone for the succeeding three years when 
 he formed a partnership with Lewis Igo, under the 
 firm name of Tuttle &. Igo, which cf)niiection con- 
 tinued until the spring of 187.'>, when he again be- 
 
 came sole proprietor. He carried on business 
 alone until 1877, when he closed out and has since 
 devoted his attention to other matters, including 
 extensive mining interests in Colorado, Arizona 
 and New Mexico. In 1863, the General was the 
 Democratic candidate for Governor and placed 
 himself on record in regard to the important ques- 
 tion of the day, the prosecution of the war, in an 
 open letter, as follows: 
 
 "I am In favor of a vigorous prosecution of the 
 war to the full extent of our power until the rebel- 
 lion is suppressed, and of using all means that maj- 
 be in our possession, recognized by honorable war- 
 fare, for that purpose. I am for the Union without 
 an "if" and regardless of whether slavery stands or 
 falls by its restoration, and am in favor of peace 
 on no other terms than the unconditional submis- 
 sion of the Rebels to the constituted authorities of 
 the United States." 
 
 His part3' being in a large minoritj' he was de- 
 feated. In 1866 he was the Democratic candidate 
 for Congress in opposition to Gen. G. M. Dodge, 
 and although unsuccessful ran ahead of his ticket 
 two thousand votes. In 1871 he was elected to the 
 State Legislature and served one term. Later 
 changing his political views, he was elected to the 
 same office as a Republican in 1883, and has since 
 affiliated with that partj-. He is a member of 
 Crocker Post, No. 12, G. A. R., and in 1887, was 
 elected Department Commander of Iowa. During 
 his term of service in that capacity he attracted 
 the attention of the Nation by his successful oppo- 
 sition to the partisan attempt to make President 
 Cleveland the guest of the Grand Army of the Re- 
 public at their National Encampment in St. Louis. 
 Just prior to the last i)residential convention he 
 also vigorously denounced the order of the Presi- 
 dent in regard to the return of the captured rebel 
 flags, in wliich he proved himself in full sympathy 
 with a large majority of his comrades. 
 
 In 1886, when the State of Iowa determined to 
 establish a Soldiers' Home, Gen. Tuttle was ap- 
 pointed by Gov. Larrabee, one of the commis- 
 sioners, and he was at once chosen by the board as 
 its President, which position he still fills. A hand- 
 some building, capable of accommodating three 
 hundred and fifty men, was erected at Marshall- 
 
196 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 town, and carried to a satisfactorj' completion 
 witliout any jobbery. The institution is !i credit 
 to the State and its managers. 
 
 Gen. Tuttle is tall of stature, being six feet in 
 height, and well proportioned, very erect and of 
 commanding appearance. He is unassuming in 
 ipanner, but firm and resolute where principle is at 
 stake. As his history shows he has won distinction 
 as a soldier, and in private life commands the re- 
 spect and esteem of his fellow-citizens, regardless 
 of party affiliations. 
 
 * 
 
 lEN. ED WRIGHT, of Des Moines, one of 
 IJie best known and most highly respected 
 ^^sft citizens of Iowa, who is now Custodian of 
 the public buildings and State property at the 
 Capitol, is a native of the Buckeye Slate. He was 
 born on a farm near Salem, Columbiana County 
 (now Mahoning), on the 27th of June, 1827. His 
 ancestors were of English origin, and were resi- 
 dents of the Shenandoah Valley, in Virginia, from 
 a period shortly prior to the War of the Revolu- 
 tion until 1803, when they emigrated as a colony 
 to Ohio, and settled in Columbiana Countj-. They 
 were of the good old Quaker faith, and were among 
 the most worthj- of the early pioneers of that sec- 
 tion of the State. Joseph Wright, the great-grand- 
 father of our subject, was the venerable leader of 
 the colonj". His son, Joseph, Jr., with his wife and 
 son James, accompanied the father to Ohio, and 
 located in Columbiana Count}'. Other members 
 of the family branched off and settled in Hardin 
 County, of the same Slate, and greatly increased in 
 numbers. James Wright, son of Josei)h, was born 
 in Bedford County, Va., on the 17ili of June, 1803, 
 and was an infant when taken by his parents to the 
 Buckeye State. In 1824 he was joined in wedlock 
 with Miss Mary Ilinchman, a native of New Jersey, 
 who settled in Ohio about the same time her hus- 
 band became a resident of that State. They reared 
 a family of six children, four sons and two daugh- 
 ters, all of whom are living at this writing. Mr. 
 Wright detested nicknames and determined to 
 name his sons in such a manner that it would not 
 
 be possible to abreviate them. The subject of our 
 sketch, who is the eldest, was called Ed ; the sec- 
 ond, Hugh, is now living in New Lisbon, Ohio; 
 Seth, is a resident of Coal Creek, Col., while the 
 3-oiingest son. Lot, resides in Lebanon, Ohio. The 
 eldest sister, Eliza, is the wife of James C. Trotter, 
 of Salem, Ohio; and Lovinia is the widow of W. 
 R. Ullery, of Coal Cre^k, Col. J.imes Wright was 
 a farmer, and was associated with his brother 
 Thom.as, who was a carpenter and millwright, and 
 the}- were proprietors of two mills, a sawmill and 
 gristmill. He led a useful and upright life and 
 died in 1856, at the age of fift}'-three years. His 
 good wife survived him many years, and passed 
 away in 1884. 
 
 Gen. E^d Wright was educated in the common 
 schools and in Linnean Academy, at Atwater, Por- 
 tage County, Ohio. In his youth he was em[)lo3'ed 
 about his father's farm and mills, and being famil- 
 iar with the use of carpenter's tools from childhood, 
 acquired a knowledge of house carpentering and 
 millwright work under the direction of his uncle, 
 and was employed in that branch of industr}-. He 
 was also engaged for a few terms in teaching school. 
 One of the most important events of his life occur- 
 red about this time — his marriage to Miss Martha 
 Thompson, which was celebrated in Allegheny 
 City, Pa., on the 23d of March, 1848. The lady 
 is a daughter of William Thompson, a farmer of 
 Columbiana County, Ohio, where she was reared to 
 womanhood. 
 
 For a few years following his marriage. Gen. 
 Wright took charge of the saw and flouring mills 
 at Deerficld, Ohio, known as Wright's Mills, and in 
 1852 removed to Cedar Count}', Iowa, where he 
 engaged in farming in S|)ringdale Township, in 
 connection with house building. On the formation 
 of the Republican party, he joined its ranks, and 
 began to be prominent in politics. In 1856 he was 
 elected Representative to the General Assembly, 
 and re-elected in 1857 and 1859, serving three 
 terms. After 1856 he wjis engaged exclusively in 
 agricultural pursuits, until he entered the military 
 service of the Government in the late War, as Ma- 
 jor of the Twenty-fourth Iowa Infantry, receiving 
 his-commission September 18, 1862. He served in 
 the Mississippi Valley, in the Thirteenth and Nine- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 197 
 
 teenth Army Corps, and participated in the battles 
 of Ft. Gibson, Champion Hills, the siege of Vicks- 
 burg and the battle of Jackson, Miss. In the lat- 
 ter part of 1863, with his regiment, he went to 
 New Orleans on the Red River campaign. Early 
 in July, 1864, a part of the Nineteenth Corps, 
 which included his regiment, was ordered to the 
 Shenandoah Valley, and participated in the battle 
 of Winchester, and in October, following, was in 
 the engagement at Cedar Creek. In January, 1865, 
 they went to Savannah, Ga., and from there to 
 Moorhead, to guard Sherman's supplies, and were 
 finally mustered out at Sav.annah, July 17, 1865. 
 Gen. Wright was twice wounded. First at the bat- 
 tle of Champion Hills, where he received a flesh 
 wound in the thigh, and again at the battle of Ce- 
 dar Creek, wlirre he was hit in the arm and hip. 
 In recognition of his services, he was brevetted 
 Brigadier-General, to date from March 13, 1865. 
 
 After the close of the war, Gen. Wright returned 
 to his farm in Iowa, and the following fall was again 
 elected to the Legislature. He w.as honored by being 
 chosen speaker of the House, of the Eleventh Gen- 
 eral Assembly, in which position he proved a pop- 
 lar officer. In October, 1866, he was elected Secre- 
 tary of State, was re-elected in November, 1868, and 
 again in October,1870,serving in all six consecutive 
 years. ^ In 1873 he was appointed Secretary of the 
 Board of Capitol Commissioners, and assistant su- 
 perintendent of construction of the Capitol. He 
 performed the arduous duties devolving upon him 
 with exactness and fidelit}-, and on abolishment of 
 the Board of Capitol Commissioners, and the crea- 
 tion of the office of Custodian of Public Buildings 
 and Property, he was appointed to that office, and 
 has since served in that capacity. He has now 
 been connected with the State .service in the vari- 
 ous positions named for a period of twenty-four 
 years, during which time he has proved a faithful 
 and competent officer, and has won the confidence 
 and respect of all who are familiar with his prompt 
 and faithful discharge of duty. 
 
 Since December, 1866, on his election to the of- 
 fice of Secretary of State, Gen. AVright has made 
 his home in Des Moines. On the 27th of June, 
 1877, on his fifliolh birthday, he wms called to 
 mourn the loss of his wife, who died on that day, 
 
 leaving her husband and two daughters. She was 
 a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, a faithful wife and a loving mother of four 
 children, two of whom are deceased. Asenath,the 
 eldest, died at the age of six years; Frank, the only 
 son, died in infancy; Celia, is the wife of D. P. 
 Cleveland, a resident of Norwalk, Ohio; Flora, is 
 unmarried, and resides with her father. 
 
 Gen. Wright is a member of Kinsman Post, No. 
 7, G. A. R., the only civic society to which he be- 
 longs. He is a stockholder and director in the 
 Citizens' National Bank of Des Moines, but other- 
 wise has no business relations not connected with 
 his official position. His popularity and promi- 
 nence are indicated by the important positions 
 which he has been called upon to fill, and, as before 
 stated, he is one of the most highly esteemed citi- 
 zens of Iowa. 
 
 
 ^Jl K. MACOMBER, County Attorney of Polk 
 County, and one of the leading members of 
 the bar, is located at 214 West Fourth Street. 
 He is widelj' known throughout the State, 
 having been connected with the f.iculty of the Ag- 
 ricultural College at Ames, which won him an ex- 
 tensive acquaintance, as well as the many friends 
 that he has gained during his career as a lawj-er. 
 Mr. Macomber is a native of the old B.iy State, and 
 traces his ancestry back through many generations 
 of Scottish people to the original progenitor of the 
 family who lived more than four centuries ago. 
 His father was K. AV. Macomber, and his mother's 
 maiden name was Martha Alexander. Their mar- 
 riage took place on the 12th of December, 1839, 
 and in 1855, they emigrated with their family to 
 Cass County, Iowa, settling near Atlantic, where 
 they made their home for five 3'ears, when they be-- 
 came residents of Lewis, the county seat of that 
 county, where members of the family- still reside. 
 Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Macomber, 
 namely : Mrs. Belle Re3'nolds, who is eng.ngcd in 
 the practice of medicine in Chicago; Dr. Henry K., 
 .•I practicing physician of Pasadena, Cal.. where he 
 located in 1882; J. K., of this sketch; and Frank 
 
lO.S 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 .T.. who is an attorney of Lewis, Iowa. George, 
 the deceased son and brother was the youngest 
 member of the family. He was formerly a mer- 
 chant of Lewis, Iowa, but died in California, whither 
 he had gone, hoping to benefit his health, in 188L 
 The early Ijoyliood d.ays of our subject were 
 spent upon his father's farm, but for three years, 
 between the ages of fourteen and seventeen, he was 
 engaged in assisting his father in operating the 
 wagon freight line between Omaha and Central 
 City, Col., after which he assisted his father on his 
 large farm near Lewis for two or three years, during 
 the summer season, while the winter months were 
 spent as a teacher in the public schools. In 1869, 
 at the age of twenty years, he entered the State 
 Agricultural College at Ames, Iowa, from which he 
 graduated in the class of 1872. When his course 
 was completed he was appointed instructor in that 
 college and after teaching two years entered the 
 institute of technology in Boston. Mass., where he 
 remained several montlis, jtursuing the study of 
 physics, which he continued in Cornell Universitj' 
 during the winter of 1875-G. When not other- 
 wise employed he continued to teach in the Agri- 
 cultural College until 1878, when lie was appointed 
 to full professorship in the institution and served 
 as a member of the faculty until 1883, wiien he 
 resigned to engage in tlie practice of law, having 
 in the meantime fitted himself for that profession. 
 He was admitted to the bar in Cass County in 1879, 
 and is now one of the active and leading members 
 of the bar of Polk County. He is a gentleman of 
 culture and of varied and extensive reading, which 
 adds greatly to his success in his professional career. 
 He is familiar with all the leading issues of the 
 daj', and possesses the qualifications necessary to a 
 successful lawyer. Before he undertakes a case he 
 gives to it a careful consideration and earnest 
 study, viewing the question from all standpoints 
 and is therefore ready to meet any argument which 
 may be brought u|i against him. In 1888, he suc- 
 ceeded W. W. I'liiUips as County Attorney of Polk 
 County, and it is needless to say h.as proved an 
 able and elliciont odicer. Since 1889, Mr. Macomber 
 has been associated in business with his brother-in- 
 law, Frank V. Locke, who studied with Judge 
 George M. (!ilrhri.st of Ninton, Iowa, an<l was ad- 
 
 mitted to the bar in Hutchinson, Reno County, 
 Kan. Subsequent to that time he engaged in prac- 
 tice in McPherson, Kan., but in the year above 
 mentioned formed a partneiship withMr. Macomber. 
 The gentlemen comprising the firm are genial, social 
 men and have succeeded in building up a large 
 and lucrative practice. 
 
 In 1877, Mr. Macomber was united in marriage 
 with l\Iiss Mattie A. Locke, a lady of culture and 
 refinement, who graduated with her husband from 
 the Ames Agricultural College, in the class of 1872. 
 Their union has been blessed with five children, 
 three sons and two daughters. 
 
 ^.t^i<^^ 
 
 AURISTON TWINING, real-estate dealer 
 and lawyer of Des Moines, is a native of 
 Iowa City, Iowa, born June 7, 1848. He is a 
 direct descendant of Thomas Twining, the progeni- 
 tor of the American branch of the family, who set- 
 tled at Cape Cod in 1640, only twent3- years after 
 the landing of the Pilgrim Fathers. A sketch of 
 his parents is given in connection with that of Dr. 
 E. T. Twining on another page of this work. 
 
 After attenduig the public and select schools 
 until seventeen years of age, Mr. Twining entered 
 the Iowa Wesleyan University at Mt. PleasanC, and 
 subsequently became a student in the Iowa State 
 University, at Iowa City, completing the course of 
 the junior year. Failing health then caused him to 
 leave college but after a time he read law under 
 J. F. McJunkin, ex-Attorney-General of Iowa, and 
 was admitted to the bar at AVashington, in 1871. 
 After practicing in th.at city for some four years he 
 removed to Corning, Adams Countj-, where he 
 prosecuted his profession and made a complete set 
 of abstract books for that county and served as 
 Mayor of that city for one year. In 1882, he came 
 to DeslSIoines, and has been in the real-estate busi- 
 ness since, handling chiefly his own i)roperty. He 
 is also making a special study of real-estate law 
 and as taken an active part in platting portions of 
 the city, among which m.'iy be mentioned Twiuing's 
 official plat. Twelfth and Laurel Streets, Lake Park, 
 where he erected the first two houses, and Twin- 
 
«^ 
 
 ^^^il 
 
 ^ --/ 
 
 =^ 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 201 
 
 ing-'s Addition just north of the river. He has 
 taken an active part in tlie public affairs of North 
 Des Moines and has served as C'onnciiman and a 
 member of tl:e School Board. 
 
 At Washington, Iowa, on tlie 3d of June, 1873, 
 ^Ir. Twilling was joined in wcdiociv witii Miss Laura 
 A. Botliin, who was born in Miami County, Oliio, 
 Mareii 2, 18.')2, and went with her parents to Illi- 
 nois, where she received her education, completing 
 her school life 1)\- her graduation from the Female 
 College of Jacksonvillo. They have four chil- 
 dren — Arthur B., Granville II., Edward L. and 
 Inez A., and the family circle remains unbroken. 
 The parents are loyal members of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church and take an active part in its 
 upbuilding and advancement. Mr. Twining is 
 always well-informed on the leading issues of the 
 da.y and in [Kjlitics is a Republican. He owns some 
 fine properl3' in the city as the result of judicious 
 investments, and in connection with his real-estate 
 business owns half the stock in the Guarantee Ab- 
 stract Compan}'. which has one of the best set of 
 abstract books ui the city. Though comparatively 
 aj-oungman he has witdessed the growth of Des 
 Moines from its early infancy. In 1854 and 1855. 
 his father being stationsd here on ministerial work, 
 he played ball on "the commons," where now 
 stands the court-house and the surrounding busi- 
 ness blocks. He remembers distinctly of seeing 
 some live hundred Indians have a war dance where 
 now he beholds tlie first cit3^ in the State. 
 
 ^A OL. CONDUCE H. GATCH, State Senator, 
 l( ^ and a prominent lawyer of Des Moines, was 
 ^^^' born near Milford, Clermont County. Ohio, 
 Jidy 25, 1825, and is a son of Philip and Mary 
 (Dimmitt) Gatch. His father, a well-to-do farmer, 
 was a native of Buckingham County, Va., born in 
 1793. The family of which the Colonel is a mem- 
 ber, yfas founded in America, by (Jodfrey Gatch, 
 who emigrated from his home in Prussia, and set- 
 tled in Maryland in 1725. He was the great-great- 
 grandfather, and Conduce Gatch the great-grand- 
 father of our subject. I'hilip Gatch, grandfather 
 
 of the Colonel, was a nunil)erof the (irsl conference 
 of the Methodist Episcopal Church organized in 
 America. In his early life he w.as a slave owner 
 in Virginia, but in 1798, liberating his slaves, he 
 removed to the Xortiiwest Territory, settling near 
 Cincinnati, Ohio. He was a, member of tlie con- 
 vention that framed the first constitution for Ohio, 
 and for many years was Associate Judge of Cler- 
 mont County, that Slate. 
 
 Col. Gatch's mother was born in Jefferson County, 
 ^'a., in 1798, and William Dimmitt, his great-great- 
 giandfather on the maternal side, having emigrated 
 from Germany, also settled, as did Godfrey Gatch, 
 in what is now Baltimore County, Maryland, and 
 probabl3' at about the sauie time. 
 
 Col. Gatch remained on his father's farm in Ohio 
 until seventeen years of age, during which time he 
 attended school in the winter season, while the re- 
 maining nine months of the year were spent at farm 
 labor. By close apjilication to his studies in leisure 
 hours, he qualified himself at the age above men- 
 tioned, to enter Augusta College, of Augusta, Ky., 
 where he pursued a regular course of study. On 
 its completion he entered upon the study of law 
 in Xenia, Ohio, and was admitted to the bar at 
 Columbus, in the same State, in 1848. Heengagtd 
 in practice at Xenia, and after having established 
 himself in business, on the 5th of September, 1850, 
 was united in marri.age in Cincinnati, with Miss 
 Mary E. Stewart, daughter of Dr. James B. Stew- 
 art. Mrs. Gatch was born in Monroe, Ohio, and 
 is of Scotch Irish descent. Five children grace 
 their union, one son and four daughters. The son, 
 Elwood S., wedded Miss Emma Gr.ay, and is en- 
 gaged in the wholesale and retail crockery business 
 in Des Moines, Iowa, and Omaha, Neb., the firm 
 name of the Des Moines house being Perkins it 
 Gatch, while that in Omaha is Perkins, Gatch & 
 Lauman. The eldest daughter, Eva S., is now the 
 wife of Judge William Connor, of the firm of Gatch, 
 Connor & Weaver, of Des Moines; Annie M., is 
 the wife of P. A. Lauman, of the firm of Perkins, 
 Gatch ife Lauman, of Omaha; Mary and Ruth G. 
 are unmarried. 
 
 In 1849, Col. Gatch removed to Kenton, Ohio, 
 where lie continued to reside until after tlie close 
 of the war. He was elected Prosecuting Attornej' 
 
202 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 of that count3', and in 1858, at the age of thirtj'- 
 three 3'ears, was elected to the Ohio Senate to 
 represent the district couiposed of Hardin, Logan, 
 Alarion and Union Counties. In the j'ear 1861, at 
 the breaking out of the late war, he raised a company 
 of the Thirty-third Ohio Infantry, of which he 
 was commissioned Captain, and participated in the 
 successful campaigns in Tennessee. Kentucky, and 
 Alabama, which residted in the capture of Bowling 
 Green, Nashville, Murfreesboro. Shelbyville, and 
 Huntsville. During the latter part of his service 
 in the array, he was Lieutenant Colonel of the One 
 Hundred and Thirty-fiflh Ohio Regiment. Col. 
 Gatch was a Whig in political sentiment in early 
 life, and was one of the first to ioin in the organiza- 
 tion of tlie Republican part}'. He was a delegate to 
 the First National Republican Convention, in 1856, 
 which nominated Gen. John C. Fremont for the 
 Presidency, and was also a delegate to the National 
 Republican Convention of 1884, which nominated 
 ■lames G. Blaine as Chief Magistrate of the coun- 
 try. 
 
 In 1866, Col. Gatch, accura|)anied by his family, 
 came to Des Moines, where he has since resided. 
 He soon won prominence at tiie bar in iiis new field 
 of labor, and being an earnest and active Repub- 
 lican took a leading part in support of his part}- in 
 campaigning service. At one time he lield the 
 offlce of District Attorney of Polk County, but re- 
 signed the position after a little more than a 3ear's 
 service, as the discharge of its <luties interfered 
 with his regular practice. In the fall of 1885. he 
 was elected to the State Senate from Des Moines, 
 and in the Twenty liist General AssembI}' served 
 on important committees. In the T went}' second 
 General Assembly he was Chairman of the Appro- 
 priation Committee, one of the most important of 
 the Senate committees. After serving his first term 
 of four years, he was re-elected in the fall of 1889, 
 for a second term of like duration, which gives him 
 eight years in that body. The Colonel has proved 
 a faithful and earnest legislator, always fearless in 
 the expression of his opinions, and honest and zeal- 
 ous in the performance of every duty. 
 
 An old member of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, Col. (iatch has lioriie a prominent and use- 
 ful part in the support and diivctioii of the affairs 
 
 of that church. He has twice been a delegate to 
 the General Conference, first in Baltimore in 1876, 
 and again in Cincinnati in 1880. He is a member 
 of the Masonic fraternity belonging to Pioneer 
 Lodge, No. 22. A. F. & A. M., and is also a mem- 
 ber of the Grand Army of the Republic, and of the 
 Loyal Legion of the United States. 
 
 The present law firm of (Jatcli, Connor & Weaver, 
 of which Col. Gatch is the senior member, ;was or- 
 ganized in 1885, and is one of the leading law firms 
 of Iowa. The legal business of the Colonel has not 
 been of that character which would call him so fre- 
 quently into the local courts as that of some other 
 lawyers, it consisting largely of litigation in the 
 United States Circuit and Supreme Courts, involv- 
 ing extensive landed interests. He is recognized 
 as a lawyer of superior ability, and is well grounded 
 in the principles of his profession. Exact and thor- 
 ough in the preparation of his cases, strong, clear 
 and forcible in argument, he holds the attention of 
 a jury, and commands the respect of the court. 
 Honesty of purpose, sincerity and unswerving in- 
 tegrity are the strong . characteristics that have 
 marked the public and private life of Col. G.atch. 
 He has but little of the suave and urbane manner 
 which usually marks the successful politician, and 
 his personal popularity, which is so great, is ;nore 
 the result of the possession of the sterner qualities 
 that beget confidence, and command respect. See 
 portrait. 
 
 E^^^ 
 
 ^ji^^OAII M. GEIL, who since 1855 has been a 
 jfj resident of this county, now resides on sec- 
 ^i^ tion 29, Bloomficld Township. As he is 
 well-known throughoul the community, and is re- 
 garded as one of the representative citizens, we feel 
 that this sketch will be of interest to any of our 
 readers. The history of liis life is as follows: He 
 was liorn in Fairfield County, Ohio. May 2:?, 1823, 
 being the son of Christian and Mary (Rodol|)h) 
 Geil, whose family numbered thirteen children, 
 seven sons and six daughters. Mr. Geil was a na- 
 tive of Pennsylvania, but when a small child w.as 
 taken by his parents to Ohio, where he was reared 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPIII^^AL ALBUM. 
 
 203 
 
 to manhood. He made farming his business 
 throughout life, and upon the old homestead in 
 Fail-field County, Ohio, passed to his last rest in 
 1805. His wife was born in Virginia, but also be- 
 came a resident of the Buckeye Stale in early life. 
 All of their children grew to mature years, but 
 only six are now living: Elmanuel, a resident of 
 Lancaster, Fairlield County, Ohio; Daniel, who re- 
 sides in Darke Count}', Ohio; Joseph, a farmer of 
 Bloomfield Township; Noah, the subject of this 
 sketch; Margaret, wife of George Waygum, of 
 Fairlield County, Ohio; and Sarah, wife of CJeorge 
 Griunn, a resident farmer of Darke County, Ohio. 
 Those who have passed away are: Jesse, who died 
 in Mercer Countj', Ohio; .lacob, who died in Polk 
 County, in 1879, from disease contracted while a 
 soldier in the late war; Israel died in his native 
 county; Rachel died at the age of sixteen j'cars; 
 Rosanna, wife of Jacob Insel, a resident of Fairlield 
 County, Ohio; Mary, wife of B. Berry, of Darke 
 Count}', Ohio; and Elizabeth, wife of Simon Berry, 
 who is now living in Kansas. After the death of 
 her husband, Mrs. Geil, the mother of this family, 
 went to make her home with her daughter in Darke 
 Count3% Ohio, where her death occurred. Mr. Geil 
 and his wife were numbered among the pioneers of 
 Fairfield Count}-, where many j'cars of their lives 
 were spent. Greatly respected by all who knew 
 them, they had many warm friends in the commu- 
 nity, and were widely known. 
 
 Noah (ieil has been a successful business man, 
 and is numbered among the well to-do farmers of 
 BloomQeld Township. He was early inured to hard 
 labor, his early life being spent upon a wild and 
 unbroken farm in Fairfield County, Ohio. The 
 greater part of the development of the land de- 
 volved ui)on him and his brother Jesse. It was no 
 easy task to clear away the heavy timber, |)low the 
 hitherto unbroken land, and place it in a conditicjn 
 to yield a sulllcient income for the wants of the 
 family. The work, however, was at length accom- 
 plished, and although it doubtless proved burden- 
 some at the time, was an excellent training school 
 for the i)hysical natures of the lads engaged in it. 
 lutil twenty years of age Mr. Geil remained under 
 the parental roof. He then began learning the tan- 
 ner's trade, at which he served a two years' ai»pren- 
 
 ticeshi[), receiving #10 per mouth as compensation 
 for his services. It was not long before he had 
 mastered the business, and until 185;') he followed 
 it for a livelihood. 
 
 In the meantime Mr. Geil was united in marriage 
 with Miss Soiihia Berry, the wedding taking place 
 in Fairfield County, in 1850. The lady is a daugh- 
 ter of Joseph and Barbara (Miller) Berry, the 
 former of \'irginia, the latter of Pennsylvania. The 
 father's death occurred in Ohio some years ago, 
 but the mother is still living, and makes her home 
 «ith Mrs. Geil. Should she be S|>ared until the 2d 
 of May,18'.t0, she will have reached her ninel}'- 
 sixth year. The family of this worthy couple 
 iiumbered twelve children, but only four are now 
 living: Christian, a resident of Jasi)er County, 
 111.; David, of Warren County, Iowa; Sail}', widow 
 of Abraham \Vellty,a resident of Fairfield County, 
 Ohio; and Sophia, wife of our subject. 
 
 In 1855, Mr. Geil accompanied by his famil}', 
 came to Polk Count}', making his first location in 
 Saylor Township. At the time of his arrival an old 
 mill, known as the Shepherd Mill, marked the site 
 of the State Capitol, while East Des Moines con- 
 tained but one log cabin. The greater part of the 
 land was still in its primitive condition, prairies 
 were unbroken, and the woodman's axe h.ad never 
 awakened the echoes in the forest. In company 
 with his brother-in-law, A. T. Berry, Mr. Geil pur- 
 chased two hundred and seventy acres of wild land, 
 the only improvement thereon being a little log 
 cabin. Into that they moved, rnixking it their home 
 for a period of eighteen months. The men in the 
 meantime were busily engaged in breaking prairie, 
 planting crops and otherwise develo[)ing a fyrm. 
 The year after their arrival tliey planted sixty 
 acres of sod corn, but in 1857, they sold the farm 
 in S.aylor Townshi|) and purch.ased two hundied 
 acres of land in Warren County, Iowa, twenty 
 acres of which had been broken. They fenced their 
 land, an<l develoi)ed two farms in that county, and 
 were quite successful in their operations, but in 
 180(5 Mr. Geil returned to Polk County. He pur- 
 chased seventy acres of land in Bloomfield Towii- 
 shi|i,.-\nd through his indefatigable labors has made 
 one of the Itest farms in the community. All the 
 necessary improvements are there found, incliuling 
 
204 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 excellent barns and outbuildings, and the boundii- 
 ries have been extended until it now comprises one 
 hundred and eighty acres. 
 
 Eight children have been born of the union of 
 Mr. and Mrs. Geil: Naomi, the eldest, wedded 
 "Wilson McWilliams, but is now deceased; Barbara 
 is the wife of .John Manbeek, a resident of Des 
 Moines; -Joseph. Mar}' and David B. are at home; 
 Frank F. wedded Miss Cora Lowe, and is engaged 
 in farming in Bloomfield Township; .Jonas and 
 Ida are deceased. 
 
 In politics Mr. Geil is independent, voting for 
 the man and not the part\-. He supported the Re- 
 publican party for many years, but believing it for 
 the best interests of the communit}', he took an in- 
 dependen"; stand. Social, moral and educational 
 interests find in him a ready supporter, and he is a 
 liberal contributor to the cause of Christ, he and 
 his wife being members of the Brethren in Christ. 
 
 ^^ LBERT BELL, a representative farmer re 
 ( @7lI| | siding on section 16, Bloomfield Township, 
 is a native of the Buckeye State. His birth 
 occurred in Harrison County, on the 20th 
 of September, 1839, he being a son of Samuel and 
 Rachel (Croskey) Bell. The ancestry of the Bell 
 family can be traced back to heland but tlic Croskey 
 family is of German origin. Samuel Bell was a 
 native of Pennsylvania and b}' occui)ation was a 
 farmer, which business he followed in Ohio until 
 1 S')6, when he came with his family to Polk County, 
 Iowa. Purchasing forty acies of wild land, he 
 1 herefrom developed a farm, upon which he re- 
 sided until his death. We can gain some idea of 
 the unsettled condition of the county at that time, 
 from the f.act that Des Moines then contained only 
 about two thousand inhabitants and what is now Sec- 
 ond Street was then the main street of the city. 
 There were only about six stores and the Des 
 Moines House was the priiuiiial hotel. In fact it 
 was considered one of the best Ir)IcIs in this part of 
 the .State. .Settling upon the land which he pur- 
 chased, Mr. Bell turned his attention to its cultiva- 
 tion and development and became one of the 
 
 prosperous farmers of the community. He was 
 also one of the well known and valued citizens and 
 served as Superintendent of schools of Polk County. 
 In political sentiment he was a stanch Democrat 
 and took an active part in local political affairs. 
 To the Church work he gave liberally, his member- 
 ship being with the Christian Church. He was just 
 and honorable in all his dealings, pleasant and 
 genial in manner, and made friends wherever he 
 went. His life was well spent and he was ready to 
 respond to the final summons which came March 17, 
 1877. He was buried in tlie cemetery of Des 
 Moines. 
 
 The family of Mr. and IMrs. Bell numbered six 
 children, three of whom are now deceased, namely; 
 Jackson. .Tohn and Caroline. Those still living 
 are Catherine, wife of Philander Smith, a farmer of 
 Bloomfield Township; Albert, the subject of this 
 sketch; and Rachel, wife of Cyrus A. Mosier. 
 She has a family of six children as follows: 
 Lenorc, wife of Harry L. Devin of Washington; 
 Blanche, wife of H. E. Snook of Bloomfield Town- 
 ship; Albert G., who also lives in the State of 
 Washington; Charles R., Rachel and M.ack at home. 
 
 The mother of this family is still living with her 
 son on the old homestead, where in all probabilitj' 
 she will spend the remainder of her days. She 
 has now reached the eighty-fourth year of her .age, 
 but yet enjoys a good degree of health. Like 
 her husband she is an earnest and consistent mem- 
 ber of the Christian Church, who delights in doing 
 good and is ever ready to extend a helping hand 
 to the poor and needy. 
 
 In his native State our subject received his edu- 
 cation, his ailvant.ages being such as the common 
 schools of that daj' afforded. He was a young man 
 of seventeen years when he accompanied his par- 
 ents to Iowa. He at once beg.an assisting his 
 father in the development of a farm and operated 
 the same until his father's death, when he assumed 
 entire control. He spends his time in looking 
 after its interests and caring for his loved mother 
 who is now quite aged. 
 
 His neighbors appreciating the worth and ability 
 of Mr. Bell have frequently called upon him to 
 serve in otlicial positions. He is now the present 
 Town Clerk of Bloomfield Township, which ollice he 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGltAPHlCAL A-LHUM. 
 
 205 
 
 Las lit'ld for the past ten years and has also been 
 School Treasurer for about the same length of time. 
 The duties of the ollice of township trustee he has 
 discliarged, and in every ollicial position which he 
 has filled lie has manifested a spirit of fidelity and 
 loyality which won the confidence of all concerned. 
 Like his father he is a stalwart supporter of Demo- 
 cratic principles and does all in his power to 
 advance the interests of that party. 
 
 4^^ Oh. WILLIAM H. JIERRITT, Postmaster 
 fifiSJ) 
 [11 .^ of DesMoines, and a pioneer of Iowa of 
 
 ^^^' 1838, was born in the city of New York, 
 September 12, 1820, and is a son of Dr. Jesse and 
 Harriet (Hilton) Merritt. His father was a native 
 of Connecticut, born March 19, 17!)0, of English 
 parentage. The paternal grandfather of our sub- 
 ject was one of foui- brothers who were born in 
 Connecticut, their parents having emigrated from 
 England to America prior to the Revolutionary 
 War. One settled in New York, one in Canada, 
 another in South Carolina, and the fourth remained 
 in Connecticut. The maternal grandmother of our 
 subject was a daughter of Joseph Griswold, and a 
 native of England. With her parents, she also 
 settled in this countr}' in Colonial days. Their 
 home w.as in New York City, on the Battery. The 
 maternal grandmother resided with her family on 
 the Hudson River, at the time of the Revolu- 
 tionary War, and was driven from her home by 
 the English soldiers. 
 
 Dr. Jesse Merritt, the father of the Colonel, was 
 a merchant on Chatham Street, N. Y., in early life. 
 and wlien William H. was about a j'car old re- 
 moved with his family to Ithaca, where he resided 
 eleven years. He continued mercliaiulising there 
 and also studied medicine, receiving his diploma 
 during the time. About 1832 he removed to Cat- 
 taraugus County, N. Y., settling in Lodi, now 
 known as Gowanda, vvhere he practiced medicine 
 until 1837, when he removed to Hufifalo, and en- 
 gaged in the real-estate business, in connection 
 with the practice of his profession, continuing his 
 residence in that city until his death, which oc- 
 
 curred in 1850. His wife .lied in Ithaca, in 1825. 
 
 The subject of this sketch received his literary 
 education in the Genesee Wesle3'an I'niversitj', of 
 Lima, N. Y., and in 1838, went to Rock Island, 
 111. After sijending a few months at that place as 
 merchants' clerk he continued his journey to Ivan- 
 hoe, Linn County, in the Territory of Iowa, for 
 the purpose of managing a l)ranch store for his 
 employers at that place, then only a frontier ham- 
 let. The white population of Linn County at that 
 time did not exceed one hundred, all told, and his 
 principal trade was with the Sac and Fox Indians. 
 Mr. Merritt was the first man who ever sold goods 
 in the interior of Iowa, except the licensed Indian 
 traders. In 1840 he closed up the business at 
 Ivanuoe and removed to Burlinglon, Iowa, to accept 
 the appointment of enrolling clerk of the Territo- 
 rial Council, whose sessions were held in the old 
 Zion Methodist Episcopal Church of that place, in 
 the winter of 1840-1. After the adjournment of 
 the Council he returned to Linn County, and in 
 1842, went to Buffalo, N. Y., where he engaged in 
 the mercantile iiusiness with his father. In 1847 
 he returned to Iowa and took charge of the Miner's 
 Express, a daily paper of Dubuque, which he con- 
 ducted until the fall of 1818, when he sohl out and 
 went on a Government survc}' in the northern part 
 of the State. 
 
 In January', 184'J, the gold discoveries in Cali- 
 fornia attracted the attention of Col. Merritt, and 
 he determined to try his fortune in that direction. 
 The jouiney was made by stage to St. Louis and 
 thence bj' steamer to New Orleans, where he 
 boarded a sixty-ton schooner bound for the Isth- 
 mus, which was reached after twenty-four days on 
 the gulf, in very stormy weather. Prom the Isth- 
 mus he went bj' the customary route to San Fran- 
 cisco. He was engaged in mining and trading in 
 California until March, 1851, when he returned 
 homeand joined W. A. .lones in the purchase of the 
 Miiwr'x Express, of Dulnique, which at the end of 
 two years was consolidated with l\w //cnild. While 
 conducting the pa|)er, Mr. Merritt was appointed 
 Surveyor of the Port of Dubucjue, ab mt 1852, be- 
 ing the first ollicer of the kind in Iowa. Two 
 years later he severed his connection with the pa- 
 per and acceiited the api)ointnient c)f tegister of 
 
20G 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Ibe newly created land office at Fort Dodge, and 
 entered upon the duties of that position in Novem- 
 ber, 1855. Gen. Verplank Van Antwerp, who was 
 the receiver of the first land office in the State, in 
 connection with Gen. A. C. Dodge, held the same 
 position in the new oflicc at Fort Dodge. Col. 
 Merritt served as register until the fall of 1857, 
 during which time two million acres of land had 
 been sold through the office, and then resigned to 
 enter into the banking business at Cedar Kapids 
 with George and William Green under the firm 
 name of Green, Merritt & Co., successors to Green, 
 Ware & Co., which continued until 1861. 
 
 At the breaking out of the late war Mr. Merritt 
 withdrew from his business interests to enter the 
 service, at the first call of President Lincoln for 
 three months troops. He was first elected Captain 
 of Companj- K, Fii'sl Iowa Infantry, whicii honor 
 he declined, after which he was elected Lieutenant- 
 Colonel of the regiment and so comrai.ssioned. 
 Owing to the illness of Col. IJates, Col. Merritt led 
 that gallant regiment at the hotlj" contested battle 
 of Wilson's Creek, Mo., where he exhibited much 
 coolness and braver}'. When Gen. Lyon fell, mor- 
 tally' wounded, on that occasion, he stood within a 
 few steps of that nuble officer. At the expiration 
 of four months, when the regiment was mustered 
 out, Col. Merritt w:us up|)<iinted on tlie staff of 
 Gen. McClellan with tiie rank of Colonel of Cav- 
 alry. He was strongly [>rescntcd f(n- promotion to 
 Brigadier-General, and was to have gone to Texas 
 on an expedition with (Jen. Kilpatrick, but differ- 
 ent orders were issued and he was stationed in Ft. 
 Leavenworth, Kan., where he remained till late in 
 18G2, when he resignid and returned to Iowa. He 
 sulisecjuently raised a company at Cedar Rapids 
 for the Sixth Cavalrj', under the promise of a com- 
 mission as Lieutenant-Colonel, failing of which he 
 resigned and again engaged in the newspaper bus- 
 iness. 
 
 I^ocating in DesMoines, Col. Merritt purchased 
 the SUilcsiiiaiu which he published initil 1800, 
 when he sold out and started a farm on Walnut 
 Creek, in Folk County, where he engaged exten- 
 sively in the growing of hops, but the grasshop- 
 pers ruined his crops and caused hiin to lo.se 
 heavily. A year lalir he rented his farm and, 
 
 with William Irving & Co., contractors, engaged 
 in building the Rockford, Rock Island & St. Louis 
 Railroad. In connection with Judge Green & 
 Bro., he was contractor and superintendent of con- 
 struction of the line between Beardstown, 111., and 
 Lower Alton. He was engaged in railroading 
 several years, during which time he built a portion 
 of the Ohio Central Railroad, and was connected 
 with the Continental Road, operating in Ohio and 
 Indiana, with headquarters at Ft. Wayne, from 
 1870 until 1873. In 1880 he returned to Des- 
 Moines, and in March of that year was elected 
 Mayor of the cit}-, which position he held through 
 two years. In 1883 and 1884, he was engaged in 
 constructing a portion of the Danville, Olne^- ife 
 Ohio River Railroad, after which he was not in ac- 
 tive business until appointed Postmaster of Des- 
 Moines, in September, 1886, which position be 
 holds at this writing. Col. Merritt has made an 
 efficient and popular Postmaster, his administration 
 of the office having been conducted with such 
 ability and fidelit}-, that, although now serving 
 under a Republican adininistr.ation. there is a large 
 portion of those opposed to him in politics who 
 will be sorry to see him superseded. The office is 
 an important one and requires a force of fifty em- 
 ployes to perform the necessary duties. The post- 
 master is the custodian of the building and Gov- 
 ernment property connected with it. Col. Merritt 
 has always been a consistent Democrat, and has 
 been influential in the councils of his part}' in Iowa 
 for many years. During the war he was the Demo- 
 cratic candidate for Ciovernor. and was defeated 
 by only eight thousand majority- in a State noted 
 for being one of the most radical Republican 
 strongholds in the Union. 
 
 Col. Merritt, on the 8tli of .lanuary, 1816, in 
 Silver Creek, near Buffalo, N. Y., was united in 
 marriage with Miss Marcia M. Sutherland, a daugh- 
 ter of Solomon and Rebecca Sutherland. She was 
 born in Chautauqua County, X. Y., and comes of 
 a [)rominent and inllucntial family of that .State, of 
 which the late .Judge Sulherlaml, of the Sui)reme 
 Bench, was a member. Seven children were born 
 to Col. and Mrs. Merritt. of whom only three sons 
 arc now living. Kdward .S., the eldest, married 
 INIiss Bertha Kidd. and is SuiK>rintendent of the 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 207 
 
 ('iiniiTS of the Des Moiues post-office; A\'illi:im II., 
 .Ir., is associated in business with J. D. Seebui'gcr in 
 the hardware business, in Des Moines; and Douglas 
 D. is connected with the Cliicago Lumber Com- 
 pany, of Denver, Col. Mrs. Merritt is a nieinbev 
 of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, of Des Moines. 
 
 The Colonel is an Odd Fellow and a Mason, and 
 has passed all the Chairs in the former order. He 
 has no business interests in this cit}', but is inter- 
 ested in mining operations in Arizona. A little 
 more than a half century has intervened since Col. 
 Merritt first entered the Territory of Iowa and 
 sold goods to the dusky natives, and more than 
 forty years have |)assed since he first conducted 
 one of the leading journals of the State. During 
 all these years he has made Iowa his home and has 
 been identified in one way or another with the 
 growth and development of the State. As a citi- 
 zen, he has always been highly esteemed for his 
 upright, manly and patriotic course in public and 
 private life, and for his kindly, genial manner to 
 all with whom he has had business or social rela- 
 tions. 
 
 HILANDER SMITH is a representative of 
 jjj one of t!ie pioneer families of the county 
 and is now owner of one of its most valua- 
 ble farms. His landed possessions comprise 
 four hundred acres,under a high slate of cultiva- 
 tion and well improved. 
 
 Mr. Smith is a native of Illinois, having been 
 born on the Cth of .lune, 18.'i5, in Fiillun County. 
 His parents, .lames and Eliza (Cojieland ) Smith, 
 were both natives of Kentucky and of Irish descent. 
 His father is also a farmer and en;)aged in the cul- 
 tivation of land in his native Slate until 1835, 
 when he removed to Fulton County, III. In con- 
 nection with his agricullural pursuits, he there 
 Worked in an oil mill and also stocked plows in a 
 factory at CantoH. He emigrated to Missouri in an 
 early day, probably aliout the year 1810, and en- 
 gaged in the nursery" business for about three years. 
 The spring of 1847 witnessed his arrival in I'olk 
 County. Iou;i, himself and two sons making the 
 journey I'roni Cairo by boat to (^)uiiicy, 111. As the 
 
 river was still frozen over, they could proceed no 
 farther in that manner and were compelled to walk 
 the remainder of the distance, two hundred and 
 sixty-five miles. On his arrival, Mr. Smith made 
 a claim in what is now Delaware Township, but 
 after two years sold out and purchased the farm 
 which he now owns. It comprises one hundred 
 and twenty acres, for which he paid -is 1.25 per .acre, 
 and is located in Kloom field Township, now a part 
 of the city of Des Moines. As the county has be- 
 comes more thickly poi)nlated it has risen rapidl}' in 
 value, and in connection with the many improve- 
 ments which have been made upon it has become 
 one of the most valuable farms in Ihe county. He 
 erected a large brick residence and surrounded his 
 home by a beautifid grove of evergreens which 
 makes it one of the prettiest farm residences in the 
 comnuinity. Mr. SniitU«4s»the pioneer nurseryman 
 of Bloomfield Township and continued business in 
 that line on the farm just mentioned until 1883, 
 when he leased his land and removed to Faulk 
 County, S. Dak., where he now has one of the finest 
 orcliards in the State. He was regarded as one of 
 the leading and progressive citizens of Polk County'. 
 He did all in his power to advance its best interests 
 and his aid was never solicited in vain for the ad- 
 vancement of its worthy enter[)rises. 
 
 Into James and Eliza Smith was born a family 
 of three children: John C, a resident of lUoomfield 
 Township: Pliilander, whose name heads this sketch, 
 and Eliza, who died in infancy. The mother was 
 called to her final rest in 1838, when a resident of 
 Fulton County, 111., after which IMr. Smith was 
 again married, in 1853, lo Miss Christiana Whit- 
 loge, by whom he had four children — Alice and 
 l^liza (twins) the latter deceased; Florence and 
 Sarah E. 
 
 We now come to the personal history of our sub- 
 ject. The days of his boyhood and youth were 
 spent upon his father's farm, he remaining under 
 the |)arental roof until twenty. four years of age. 
 He was a lad of eleven years when he became a 
 resident of this county, and from tli;it time assisted 
 his father in the nur.sery business until Mav, 1861, 
 when responding to his country's call for troop* to 
 crush out the rebellion in its infancy, he enlisted in 
 Ctiinpany D, Srrond Iowa Infantry, under Ca|il. 
 
£08 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Crocker. That was the first company to leave Des 
 Moines. They went first to Keokulf, after wliich 
 they were engaged in garrison duty at different 
 points in the country until the winter of 1861-62. 
 Their first engagement occurred on the 6tli of Feb- 
 ruary, 1862, and from that forward Mr. Smith with 
 his regiment particiijated in many hattlcs, includ- 
 ing the hard-fought battle of Corinth, where he 
 was wounded, receiving a gun shot in his right arm. 
 He was taken to the hospital at Corinth, where his 
 wound was dressed, and in a few da_ys removed to 
 Keokuk, Iowa, where he remained for about six 
 months, when, being disabled for dul}-, he was dis- 
 charged in April, 18G3, and returned home. 
 
 It was some lime before Mr. Smith regaine<l his 
 usual heailli. but as soon as he had acquired suffi- 
 cient strengtii, he engaged in farming. He bought 
 eighty acres of land in a wild and unimproved con- 
 dition on section 32, BlooomQeld Township, upon 
 which he erected a log cabin and then leased his 
 farm for a j'ear, but pt the end of that time de- 
 voted his own energies to its development. lie 
 cleared away the brush, planted croi's, and in a 
 short time had made a good farm, to the value of 
 which he has constantly added by his man^' im- 
 provements and the high state of cultivation under 
 which it was placed. He found an able helpmate 
 in bis wife, whose maiden name was Miss Catherine 
 Bell. She had [ireviousl}' been married, however, 
 being the widow of Moses Handle.y, who died in 
 1861. By that marriage she had four children, three 
 of whom are now living, William F., .lames B. and 
 Moses B. The only daughter. Mary B., is now 
 deceased. Mrs. Smith is a daughter of Samuel and 
 Rachel (Craskey) Bell, and came with her parents 
 to Iowa in 1856; she wns born in .lefferson County, 
 Ohio, April 18, 1835. The union of Mr. and Mrs. 
 Smith was celebrated December 16, 1864, and unto 
 them have been born four children : .Josephine, who 
 is now Principal of the Howe School, of Des Moines ; 
 TheroM, deceased ; Stella E. and Bell, who are at 
 home. Neither labor nor expense has been spared 
 bv the parents in providing their children with 
 excellent educational advantages, and of their 
 daughters the parents may well be proud. As be- 
 fore stated the eldest now occupies the position of 
 prihcijial in one of tlic schools of Des Moines. Miss 
 
 Stella is a graduate of the High School of that city 
 of the class of 1888, and the youngest expects soon 
 to complete the same course. 
 
 Mr. Smith and his wife began their domestic life 
 in a little log cabin, and there many happy days 
 were passed, but after seven yfars, success having 
 attended their efforts, the pioneer home was replaced 
 bj' a large and commodious two-stor^' residence. 
 Other improvements were soon afterward made, in- 
 cluding a large barn and the necessary outbuild- 
 ings and their home was beautified by surrounding 
 it witli a grove of evergreens. It indeed presents 
 an attractive appearance to the passer-by and indi- 
 cates to the traveler that the owner is a maji of 
 culture and refinement as well as of thrift and in- 
 dustry. To his original purchase he has added 
 until he now owns four hundred acres of finely 
 developed land, two hundreil and forty acres of 
 wliich is in the incorporated limits of the city, 
 ujion which can be found a good grade of stock. 
 For a period of twelve years he made a specialty 
 of breeding fine stock but now raises only enough 
 for his own use. He has certainly been ver}' suc- 
 cessful in his undertakings but liis prosperity is due 
 alone to his own efforts. As a citizen he is ind)lic 
 spirited and progressive and has identified himself 
 with the worthy interests of the county since 1847. 
 On his arrival in Iowa there was but one frame 
 house in the city of Des Moines and it was not 
 weather-boarded, the homes of the few settlers were 
 widely scattered, the work of progress had scarcely 
 begun and the most imaginative woidd hardly have 
 predicted the wonderful growth which h.as been 
 made. The county is on a i)ar with any in the State 
 of Iowa, and the capital city compares favorably 
 with the older cities of the East. The wild prairies 
 have been made to bloom and blossom as the rose, 
 industries and manufactories of great importance 
 have been introduced, and in no particular is Des 
 Moines behind the large cities of other States. It 
 has been no easy t.isk to f)ring about this pleasing 
 result and to the i)ioneers who bore the hardest part 
 of the labor, much praise is due. Mr. Smith is one 
 of these and he also deserves the encomiums due to 
 the valiant soldier and enterprising citizen. In 
 politics he is a supporter of the Republican party 
 and, socially, is a member of Crocker Post, O. A. H., 
 
/0(^'^<^'y^^ ^"^ 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICALfjALBUM. 
 
 211 
 
 of Dos Moines. Mrs. Suiitli and lier daughters are 
 members of the Christian Church, holding their 
 menibersiiip at tlie Central Church of Christ. She 
 is also a charter meu)l)er of that organization, and 
 an earnest worker in the Mastei"s cause, having 
 joined the church when but a girl. She is a lady 
 of refinement and culture and has been a true help- 
 mate indeed, taking charge of the domestic affairs 
 of her liome and bringing lier children ui) in the 
 faith of a living God. The home of Mr. Smith is 
 the abode of hospitalitj-. and while in his presence 
 and that of his worth}' wife one feels at ease, and 
 it is with pleasure we reco'-d the lives of so worthy 
 a couple for the coming generations. 
 
 -#-# 
 
 -*^ 
 
 ^^OL. BARLOW GRANGER, the pioneer 
 (I r^v^ journalist of Polk County, and one of the 
 ^^// most widely-known of Iowa's early settlers, 
 was born in Cayuta, Tioga County, N. Y., I\Iay 31, 
 181G, and is a son of Erastus and Betsy (Gillet) 
 Granger. The Granger family is of English or- 
 igin, and dates its residence in Northern Vew York 
 long prior to the War of the Revolution. The 
 paternal grandfather of our subject was born in 
 Whitehall, on Lake Champlain, and removed thence 
 to Cortland County, where he died at an advanced 
 age. 
 
 Erastus Granger, father of the Colonel, was boru 
 in Whitehall, N. Y.,on the 15th of February, 1787. 
 and married Miss Betsy Gillet, a cousin of the Hon. 
 Ransom Gillet, of New York. She was born in 
 New Lebanon, that State, on the IGtIi of Decem- 
 ber 1787, and died in Green, Chenango Count}', 
 on the •24th of June, 1840. Her husband survived 
 her twenty years, and died in Steuben County in 
 18G0, at the age of seventy-three. They had five 
 children, two sons and three daughters, our subject 
 being tlie eldest son. 
 
 Col. Granger removed to Rochester, N. Y., with 
 his parents, in 1823, and there witnessed the open- 
 ing of the Erie Canal, and the leaps of Sam Patch 
 into tiie Genesee River. He attendc<l the common 
 schools in his boyhood, and when thirteen years of 
 age entered the ollice of the Cortland Aduncate as 
 
 an apprentice, under Henr}' S. Randall, the noted 
 author. He continued in that oUice until the fall 
 of 1835, when he went to New York City, being 
 a resident of the metropolis when the great lire 
 broke out on ihe 16th of December, of that year, 
 burning over forty-flve acres of ground, and de- 
 stroying $20,000,000 of [)roperty. The following 
 summer he spent in New Haven, Conn., working as 
 a journeyman printer. In the fall of that year he 
 returned to New Y''ork City, and from there went 
 to Hudson, Ohio, to take charge of a paper. We 
 afterward find him in Clevel.and, and subsequently 
 in Detroit, Mich., where he arrived in time to wit- 
 ness something of the excitement caused by the 
 Patriot War in Canada, and where he first met Gen. 
 Scott. He returned to New York State in 1838, 
 and went to Albany, where he a as employed on 
 State printing. From 1838 until 1847 he made 
 that city his home, although he spent considerable 
 time in the interval in traveling and working at his 
 trade in other cities and States. 
 
 Col. Granger went to South Corolinaon a special 
 service, and while there was employed on the 
 Charleston Courier, and made a firm friend of one 
 of the publishers. Returning to New York he 
 worked at his trade in Albany, on the State work, 
 until the spring of 1847, when he set out for the 
 Great West. He passed through Chicago, and 
 traversed Wisconsin and Minnesota, and visited St. 
 Anthony's Falls. From there he went down the 
 Mississippi to St. Louis, where he secured employ- 
 ment in the ollice of the Missouri Republican, re- 
 maining on that force through the winter of 
 1847-48, during which time he met an old ac- 
 quaintance from Albany, James V. Jones, a son of 
 Nathaniel Jones, a prominent politician of the 
 Empire State, with whom, after a few days confer- 
 ence, he set out for Ft. Des Moines, Iowa. They 
 traveled by boat to Keokuk, and from there by 
 stage to Fairfield, where they hired a horse and 
 buggy and drove to their destination, reaching the 
 fort in August, 1848. They were not altogether 
 suited with the prospects at Des Moines, and deter- 
 mined to seek another location, but on leaving the 
 fort the road which they took led them past the 
 site of the Colonel's present suburban residence, 
 where such a raagniflcent view of Des Moines Val- 
 
212 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 ley met tlieir gaze that Ihej' were elianned, and at 
 once cbanging their tleterniinatioii ilecided to re- 
 main. Col. Granger selected the tract where they 
 stood as the site of his future residence, while Mr. 
 Jones chose tlie place where B. F. Allen after- 
 ward erected his mansion. Having settled this 
 important matter, these gentlemen returned to the 
 fort and established tliemselves in the real-estate 
 and land-warrant business, then the most impor- 
 tant and [iromising field of operations. Having a 
 strong credit they succeeded in negotiating a loan 
 of ^5,000, and entered into business. 
 
 Col. Granger having studied law previous to 
 coming to Iowa, was admitted to the bar in 1848, 
 and opened a law office in connection with his real- 
 estate business. In .lunc, l«4ii, he established the 
 Iowa Star, a Democratic weekly paper, a seven- 
 column folio, which was the first newspaper of 
 Polk County. Me continued its publication for 
 about a year, and then sold out, as he found it 
 more profitable lo devote his attention to his law 
 and real-estate business than to journalism. 
 
 On-the 7th of October, 1856, Col. Granger and 
 Mrs. Lucinda L. Rush were united in the hot}- 
 bonds of matrimony, by the Right Rev. Dr. Drake. 
 The lady was the widow of John W. Rush, and a 
 daughter of Daniel and Abbie (Van Schaick) Pow- 
 ers, who we'-e originally from Pennsylvania, but 
 removed to Ohio, and from that .State to Indiana. 
 Mrs. Granger w.as born in Montgomery County, 
 Ind.. on tiie 12lh of March, 1825, and came to Des- 
 Moines in 1849 with her first husband, who died 
 two years later. At the time of his marri.age Col. 
 Granger built his present commodious and elegant 
 residence, which is situated to the southward of 
 Des Moines,on a picturesque bluff which commands 
 an extensive view of the cit^-, the river and valley. 
 ■ There is nothing in the vicinitj' of Des Moines to 
 equa! the beautiful and varied scenes spread out to 
 the view from the Colonel's grounds. The broad 
 sweep of river and valley, and the beautiful capi- 
 tal city of fifty thousand inhabitants meets the eye. 
 while the busy hum of a thousand useful in<lnstries 
 salutes the ear with its suggestions of enterprise, 
 thrift and comfort. Within the brief space of 
 forty-one years this magnificent city h.as grown to 
 
 such dimensions that it stands without a rival in 
 the .State. 
 
 Foremost among those who have aided in the 
 growth and development of Des Moines stands Col. 
 Granger, always earnestly solicitous for the success 
 of every projected improvement, and active in 
 support of every enterprise and industry in the 
 early days of the town, until the size and impor- 
 tance of the city attracted capital and assured suc- 
 cess. When it was proi)osed to locate the capital 
 here, no man exerted more influence or worked 
 hai'der to secure that desired end than the Colonel, 
 and at this writing no one is more proud of the 
 V)eautiful capital city or more hopeful for her fu- 
 ture than he. 
 
 Col. Granger is a Democrat, l)ut independent 
 and original in his political views. The title of 
 Colonel was received from his service on the staff 
 of Gov. Hempstead from 1850 to 1854. He was 
 elected Prosecuting Attorney- of Polk Count}- with- 
 out opposition, in 1854, and ex-officio was County 
 Judge. In 1855 he served as M.ayor of Des Moines, 
 and since then has twice been Mayor of Sevastapol. 
 Col. Granger, while a lawyer b}- profession, prides 
 himself more upon being a farmer and stock- 
 grower. He hiis a stock farm in Gulhric County, 
 one in Adair, and one in Polk County adjoining 
 the city of Des Moines, aggregating in all about 
 eight hundred acres. In his home the Colonel is 
 seen at his best. Devoted to his family and gen- 
 erous in his hospitality', he is an entertaining host, 
 possessing a rich fund of anecdote, and an intimate 
 knowledge of public men and current events. His 
 reminisences of pioneer celebrilies, and the earl\- 
 history of Iowa, constitute an enjoyable treat to 
 his guests and friends. As neighbor and citizen, 
 he is held in high esteem for his integrit^^ of char- 
 acter, independence of thought and action, .and 
 genial, social manner. 
 
 ^^^LIVER K. PKARSON.pholograpiicr. of Dcs- 
 (( ))' ^^oines, is without a sujierior in his art in 
 ^^f' Iowa. His studio i.s located on the corner of 
 East Sixth and Locust Streets, where he has a large 
 
PORTRAIT AND UIOORAPHICAL ALBDM. 
 
 213 
 
 and constantly- increasing business, sucli as (tould 
 onl}' he secured bj' taste and genius. 
 
 Mr. Pearson was born in Washington Townshii), 
 Polk County, on liie 14th of Jnne, 1857, and is a 
 son of Abel and Matilda (Wise) Pearson, both of 
 whom were natives of Greencaslle, Ind. The 
 family located in this county about tlie j'ear 1850, 
 being among its earb'est settlers. Here the father 
 followed farming until 1876, when he removed to 
 the city and served in the oflicial capacit}' of jailor 
 for four years. The three succeeding years of his 
 life were then spent in the liolel business, when, in 
 1883. he removed to Tappen, N. Dak., where he 
 .again assumed the occu|)ation of farming, lie was 
 regarded as one of the cnteriirisiug and useful citi- 
 zens of Polk County, .and his removal was greatly 
 regretted bj' many warm friends. He had taken 
 an active part in [lolitical matters, w.as an ardent 
 supporter uf (lie Republican party, and did all in 
 his power to advance its interests. Both lie and 
 his wife are members of the Metliodist P^piscopal 
 Cliurch, and earnest laborers in the Master's vine- 
 yard. Tlieir family numbered four children: .Jo- 
 sephine, wife of David Pearson, a farmer of 
 Hamilton County. Iowa; Oliver, of this sketch; 
 Elswurth and Retta, who are living with their i)ar- 
 ent« in Nortii Dakota. 
 
 OiH- suljject received his primary education in 
 the district sdiools of the neighborhood, but after- 
 ward attended the Des Moines High School. His 
 early life was spent in the usual manner of farmer 
 lads, and though he aideil his father in the cultiva- 
 tion of the land, it was his desire to follow some 
 other (lursuit. He early developed a taste for pho- 
 tograi)hy, and while a boy was always making 
 sketches, in which much talent was displayed. At 
 length his father affoided him the oi)portuuitv 
 which he longed for, placing him in the studio of 
 George W. Slittler, who was then the leading pho- 
 tographer of Des Moines. No time was idly spent 
 by young Pearson, but with great activity and en- 
 ergy he aijpiied himself to the work and soon mas- 
 tered the art. He remained with Mr. .Stiftler for 
 two years, during wiiich time he m.ade great prog- 
 ress, and then branched out in business for himself. 
 He had made a careful study of his work, his in- 
 str\ictor l)eing one of the ablest in liie Slate, and tiu' 
 
 public from the first gave him a libera! patronage, 
 which has constantly increased. He has success- 
 fully contendeil witii all competition, and by his 
 indefatigable industry, skill and ability, has won a 
 place in the foremost rank of the pliotograjihers of 
 the countrv. He oijcned his gallery on the corner 
 of Sixth and Locust Streets in 1880, and the 
 throngs which daily visit Ids studio in quest of his 
 services, testify to the excellent success which has 
 rewarded his efforts. He keeps abreast of the 
 times and the latest ini|)rovements in the art, and 
 does all kinds of pastel, India ink, crayon and 
 photo work. lie has won many medals, an<l in 
 1888, to him was awarded the best medal for the 
 finest art collection given by the Iowa State Agri- 
 cultural Society. 
 
 On the 18th of January, 1883, i\Ir. Pearson was 
 united in mai-ri.age with Miss Susie Pierce, a native 
 of Canada, and a daughter of Edward and Alice 
 Pierce, who are now residing near Nevada. Iowa. 
 Their union has been blessed with one child, a lit- 
 tle daughter — Hazel. 
 
 Socialh', Mr. Pearson is a member of the Knights 
 of Pythias, Modern '\\'oodmen of America and the 
 Royal Arcanum. He is truly a self-made man, and 
 all honor and respect him for the position to which 
 he has attained. 
 
 OBKli r A. PATCHIN, M. D., who is en- 
 gaged in the practice of his profession at 
 k\ % Des Moines, is a native of the Empire State. 
 ^5; He was born in Livonia, Livingston 
 County, on the 2iHh of Decendier, 1849, and is the 
 son of Ira and Clara (Dixon) Patchin. lioth fam- 
 ilies were founded in America at a very early d.ay 
 and became itrominently connected vvith the history 
 of New England. The progenitor of the Patchin 
 family, a native of Wales, left the old country and 
 crossing the Atlantic, settled in Connecticut, from 
 whence his descendants removed to Pennsylvania 
 and New York and Westward to other States. 
 The name is now spelled in two different ways, 
 ending both in en and in. 'l'h<! Dixon family is also 
 one of note and like the Pati'hin familv fuinislied 
 
214 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 niembeis to all the learned professions. Tlie great- 
 graiulfuther of our subject was its founder in 
 America. He was a native of the North of Ire- 
 land, but was of Scotch ilesccnt and traces his 
 orii^in in an unbroken line back to the Duke of 
 Argyle. 
 
 Ira Patchin. father of the Doctor, was born in 
 Seneca County, N. Y, and is one of the well-known 
 educators of the Empire Slate. For some j-ears he 
 held the position of County Superintendent of 
 schools of Livingston County, and in connection 
 with Victor M. Rice, was mainly instrumental in 
 organizing the public school system of that State. 
 He was connected with the firm of Farmer, Brace & 
 Co., and later with Ivison, Finney & Co., in the 
 publication of school books and thereby amassed a 
 large fortune. He is now living in Livonia, N. Y. 
 with his aged wife, they being seventy -five and 
 seventy-two years old respeotiveh\ He has also 
 taken an active part in political affairs, supporting 
 first the Whig, and then the Republican part}'. 
 He entertains the religious views of the Methodists 
 and his wife is a member of the Congregational 
 Cliurch. Their family numbered only two children. 
 Artiiur, the elder, is now interested in the ()ublish- 
 ing business .at Rochester, N. Y. 
 
 As his fatiier took such an interest in educational 
 matters, the Doctor received liberal advantages in 
 that direction. He displayed a great aptitude for 
 learning and his primary training in the public 
 schools was sinjpleraented by a course in the State 
 Normal at Albany, from which he was graduated 
 in 1866. In deciding upon a profession which he 
 wished to make his life work, his choice fell upon 
 that of medicine and in the office of C. II. Rich- 
 mond he began his studies, which he later contin- 
 ued under the instruction of Prof. Thomas S. 
 Rochester, and graduated from the Buffalo Medical 
 College ill 1870. To him was awai-ded the honor 
 (if valedictorian of liis class. While pursuing his 
 studies he .acted .as assistant to the chair of physi- 
 ology, and immedialel}- after his graduation went to 
 Perry, W^'oraing County, N. Y., where he engaged 
 in practice until 1875. when he came to I)es Moines. 
 During his residence m Perry, he served for six 
 years as Coroner ( f the county. I'nder President 
 Cli'vciaud's administration lie was the Republican 
 
 member of the board of pension examiners, and is 
 now medical referee of the Manhattan Life Insurance 
 Company of New York. He is also chief surgeon 
 for the Des Moines ife Kansas Citj- Railroad Com- 
 pany, the Des Moines Cnion Railroad Company, 
 and for the Des Moines Northern; is local surgeon 
 for the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy, the Wab-ash 
 & Western, and the Chicago <k Northwestern Kail- 
 road Companies. He is a member and formerly 
 served as President of the County Medical Society 
 and also belongs to the State Medical Society, the 
 American Medical Association and the Association 
 of Railroad Surgeons of the United States. He has 
 twice held the office of Cit}- Physician. 
 
 In 1880, Dr. Patchin was united in marriage 
 with Miss Calista Halsey, the wedding being cele- 
 brated in Ilallsville, Ohio. The lady is a .lative 
 of New York .State and a descendant of an old Eng- 
 lish familj-. She is a graduate of the State Univer- 
 sity of New Y'ork and is a ladj^ of culture and 
 refinement, recognized as the social equal of any. 
 For a number of years she was connected with the 
 editorial staff of the Washington Post, and is the 
 author of quite a popul.ar book, entitled "Two of 
 Us." In religious belief she is an Episcopalian. 
 To the Doctor and his wife have been born three 
 children, sons, Robert H., Ira H. and Philip H. 
 The Doctor has made valuable contributions to the 
 literature of his profession and is widely known as 
 a skilled and alile physician. He takes considerable 
 interest in civic societies, belonging to the Masons, 
 and the Knights of Pythias and in [lolitics, is a 
 supporter of the Republican parly. 
 
 ^ 
 
 :i^= 
 
 J,EV. EDWARD P. BARTLETT, jtastor of 
 the East Des Moines Bai)tist Church, was 
 Ji \V\ born in Oxford Township, Oxford County, 
 Me., February 15, 1844, and is of English 
 descent, the family having been founded in Amer- 
 ica at an early day by English emigrants. The great- 
 grandfather of our subject who lived in Ilolden, 
 Mass., had a large famil}' of sons, whom he started 
 out in life to battle for themselves at an early age. 
 Daniel, the grandfather of our subject, and .i 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 215 
 
 brother were given an tix by their father, and a sort 
 of scrip in wliieii to carry their clotlies, by their 
 mother. Ttius equipped, they went to Oxford 
 County, Me., and bougiit a tiiree liundrcd-acre 
 tract of land at *! per acre. Having felled some 
 tiees and built a rude cabin, they went to the sea- 
 shore to earn sonic mone^- in a hay-field, and while 
 there Daniel Bartlett was married and returned 
 with bis young bride to his rustic home in the midst 
 of the forest. He became a prosperous farmer and 
 reared a famil}' of seven children, only one of whom 
 is now living — Mrs. Charlotte .Simonton, who has 
 reached the very remarkable age of one hundred 
 and two years, and is still enjoying a fair degree of 
 health. 
 
 The parents of the Rev. Mr. Bartlett were both 
 natives of JLaine. His father was born on June 20, 
 1800, and his mother some seven years later. For 
 many years, Mr. Bartlett was a deacon in the Bap- 
 tist Church and both he and his wife were zealous 
 workers for its advancement and upbuilding. They 
 lived a quiet, j^et useful life on their farm in the 
 Pine Tree State, wliere the husband died at the age 
 of sixt3'-nine j^ears, the wife in the fiftieth year of 
 her age. Of their family of eight children, two 
 sons and one daughter are yet living. 
 
 Our subject was the only one of the family who 
 followed a professional career. In his younger days 
 he performed the usual duties of a farmer lad and 
 when the crops were harvested and the summer 
 work over, he was allowed to attend the district 
 schools for about three months. The rapidity with 
 which he mastered the branches there taught, led to 
 a more advanced education. When sixteen years 
 of age he entered Hebron Academ3' to prepare for 
 college, and for several years attended Waterville 
 College, now Colby University. After further pur- 
 suing his studies one year in Rochester University, 
 at Rociiester, N. Y., he graduated from that in- 
 stitution in the class of 1867, receiving the degree 
 of A. B. The same year he went to Minnesota, 
 wiiere for six years he w.as employed as teacher in 
 the public schools, when, iiaving decided to enter 
 upon the work of the ministry, he became a studer.t 
 in the Baptist Theological Seminary of Chicago, 
 111., graduating in 1876. Not long afterwards, he 
 accepted a call from the church in La Moille, ill. 
 
 For thirteencunscculive years lie was pastor of that 
 church and it was with sincere regret on the part of 
 the congregation that he resigned in 1887, to enter 
 npon the work in Des Moines. 
 
 In La Moille. on the 10th of June, 1876, Mr. 
 Bartlett led to the marriage altar Miss Alida K. 
 Fargo, a native of New York. Mrs. Bartlett, a lady 
 of culture, is a graduate of Knox College, of (iales- 
 burg. III. Their union has been blessed with two 
 children — Jessie M. and Kate L. 
 
 Mr. Bartlett devotes his entire time to the minis- 
 try. He is an able orator, and by his warm-hearted 
 and courteous manner, wins many friends. The 
 church of which he is pastor was separated from the 
 First Baptist Church of Des Moines, the organiza- 
 tion being effected in 1871, the Rev. Granger Smith 
 being its first minister. Four years later the first 
 house of worship was erected on the corner of Des 
 Moines Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, but since 
 that time the congregation has so increased in num- 
 bers that the accommodations are already too small, 
 and probably before long East Des Moines will be 
 beautified with a new church edifice. 
 
 \i^;>RANK E. CRUTTENDEN, M. D., of Des 
 1—^ ]\Ioincs, whs Born in Brooklyn, N. Y., on 
 l]^ the 2'Jth of June, 1851, and is a son of 
 
 Alexis H. and Matilda J. (Stephenson) Cruttenden. 
 His father was born in Otsego County, N. Y., and 
 was descended from an old Connecticut family. 
 The mother was born near Richfield, Ohio, on the 
 Western Reserve. Both parents are still living 
 and are residents of Bath, Steuben County, N. Y. 
 Our subject was educated in the University- of 
 Buffalo, N. Y., from which institution he graduated 
 in the class of 1877. His literary and medical edu- 
 cation being completed he then took a sjiecial course 
 in the medical department in the New York Univer- 
 sity, and attended the Belle vue Hospital and the 
 New York Ej'cand Ear Infirmary, making a specialty 
 of the diseases of the eye, ear and throat. After 
 the completion of his course of study, he entered 
 upon the practice of his profession in Steuben 
 County, N. Y.. where he continued two years, when 
 
216 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 he removed to Dcs Moines, reacliing this city in 
 December, 1879. Since Hint time he ii.-is I)oen en- 
 gaged in active practice in I'olii County, and is rec- 
 ognized as one of the leading citizens. 
 
 Dr. Crnttenden was married in Columl)iis, Wis., 
 on the 16th of May, 1882, the lady of his choice 
 being Miss Ella Henderson, who was born near Oil 
 City, Pa., and is a daughter of James Henderson. 
 
 The3' have one child, a s(.n, Alexis H., who was 
 born on the 1st of September 1886. The Doctor 
 and Mrs. Crnttenden nie members of the Clirislian 
 Cluirch, and in politics he 1ms been independent 
 since 1884, but prior to that time was a Republi- 
 can. He was the founder and is now the editor 
 and publisher of the lou-a Sta/e Medical Reporter 
 of Des Moines. He is a member of the Xew York 
 Medical Legal Societ}'; of tlic Iowa State Medical 
 Society; the Polk County Medical Society; is Lec- 
 turer of Ophthamology at Ames College; and also 
 professor of diseases of the throat of Iowa College 
 of Physicians and Surgeons, the Medical Depart- 
 ment of Drake University. The Doctor is a mem- 
 ber of the Masonic and Turner societies and is 
 Master of Pioneer Lodge A. F. & A. M. He 
 has already built up a large and lucrative prac- 
 tice in Des Moines and has won a high reputa- 
 tion for skill, especially in the treatment of 
 all diseases of the eye, ear and throat. The 
 Iowa State Medical Reporter under his able 
 management has proved a valuable acquisition to 
 the medical journalism of the State. 
 
 ■-^^llBliw '^*~ 
 
 I DWARD HANSON LOCKWOOD, M. D.. 
 M| a practicing physician of Des Moines, has 
 I j ^ the honor of being a uative of this .State. 
 He was born on the 27tli of December, 1846, in 
 Cedar Countj\ and is a son of James H. and Lucy 
 (Walbridge) Lockwood. The family is of French 
 origin, having been founded in America b3- the 
 great grandfather of our sidijcct who left his home 
 in France and settled in the New York Colony. He 
 served his adopted country in the struggle for in- 
 deiiciidi'uce. His son, tlic graiidfathcr of the 
 
 Doctor, was horn in the Empire State, emigrated 
 to Indiana, and .about the year 1843, became a res- 
 ident of iowa, settling in Burlington. James 
 Lockwood was born in Northern Indiana in 1824, 
 and accompanied his parents to this State. Hav- 
 ing arrived at years of maturit)' he wedded Miss 
 Walbridge, who was born in Herkimer County, N. 
 Y.. in 182G, and also came with her parents to 
 Iowa. Their marriage was celebrated in this State, 
 and unto them were born four children, one son 
 and three daughters. The mother, wiio was a con- 
 sistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Churcli, 
 died in 1876. Mr. Lockwood was again niarrieil and 
 is now living at Ananiosa, Iowa. He is a brick-mason 
 and plasterer b^- trade and takes rank among the re- 
 spected citizens of the community in which he 
 makes his home. 
 
 Dr. Lockwood has spent his entire life in his na- 
 tive State and for the past three years has been en- 
 gnged in active practice in the capital cit^'. He 
 received his early education in the district and 
 graded schools, but not content with such advan- 
 tages, by his own labor he secured the money nec- 
 essary' to defray his expenses and tuition and 
 entered Iowa University. Later he became a 
 student at Cornell College where he took an 
 optional course. Teaching was the means employed 
 toward securing a collegiate drill and in that he 
 was very successful. Having determined to m.ike 
 the practice of his profession his life work, he 
 entered the office of Dr. L. J. Adair of Ananiosa, 
 Iowa, as a student, and in 1875, graduated from 
 Rush Medical College of Chicago. He began 
 practice in Mechanicsville and after four years re- 
 moved to Linn County, Iowa. His next field of 
 operations was in Guthrie County, Kan. and while 
 there located he held the position of surgeon for 
 the Santf. Fe Railroad, and was a member of the 
 board of pension examiners. As before stated he 
 came to Dcs Moines in 1887, and has built up a 
 good practice. He is health officer of University 
 Place. In 1888 and 1889, he took two conrscs at 
 Rush College, besides a private course in surgerj-, 
 which he makes a special study, unwilling to be 
 behind his profession in an^- particular. He is a 
 member of the Iowa Union Medical Association 
 and uf the American Mciljcal Association, and su- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 217 
 
 cially is a Royal Arch Mason, a member of tlie 
 
 Legion of Ilonur and the X. A. S. 
 
 On the 11th of June. 187;"), in Faiiview. Iowa, 
 Mr. Lookwood was united in marriage with Cer- 
 elda Mershon, a native of Newton, Iowa. Unto 
 Ihcni have been born live children — .Tames II., Leaii, 
 Lnsk I)., Zelta and loyl. Tlie Doctor, liis wife and 
 two eldest children are members of the Cliurcli of 
 Christ. In politics, he is a Rc|nibiican, having 
 su|>port<?d tliat parly since attaining his majority'. 
 ^Viien lie entered upon his business career his cash 
 eajntal consisted of but fifteen cents, which amount 
 he spent for stami)S to write to his friends, but the 
 public soon discovered that he was well fitted for 
 the work he had chosen and gave him a liberal i)at- 
 ronage. He has now been engaged in active prac- 
 tice fifteen years and deserves the confidence and 
 respect given him. 
 
 \|/_^ ENRY A. TITUS^ who is eng.agcd in gen- 
 \) eral farming and stock-raising, and who also 
 devotes considerable attention to fruit grow- 
 ing,liveson section 28,Bloomfield Township. 
 His farm comprises sixty acres of fine land under 
 a high state of cultivation and well improved, .and 
 his home is a most pleasant one. He raises an ex- 
 cellent grade of stock, has erected a large barn, 
 32x40 feet, which furnishes ample accommodations 
 for his cattle and horses, and serves as a store- 
 house for his hay and grain. In fact, all the neces- 
 sary improvements may there lie found, and the 
 neatness and regularity which al)Ounds at once 
 gives evidence to the'p.asser-by that the owner is a 
 man of thrift and enterprise. 
 
 Mr. Titus was born on the 21th of February, 
 1835, in Vermont, and is a son of Lyman and Al- 
 mira (Wheaton) Titus, who were also natives of 
 tiie Green Mountain State. On the paternal side 
 lie traces his ancestry back to Ireland, while on the 
 maternal side he is of Scotch descent, the family 
 having been founded in Connecticut at an early 
 day by ."^cotlish emigrants. The occupation of 
 farming was the pursuit which Lyman Titus made 
 [lis life work, he following that business until his 
 
 death, which occurred in Vermont, January 24, 
 
 1889, at tlie ri|)e old age of eighty-four years. His 
 wife departed this life several years previous, dy- 
 ing on the 17th of May, 1875. Our subject was 
 the eldest of their tliree children, ids sisters being 
 .Julia M.. who resides in Thetford, Vt., and Ellen, 
 wife of William H. llurr, of the same city. 
 
 Since the early ;ige of nine years, Henry A. 
 Titus iias made his own wa^' in the world. His life 
 is an example of what may be accomplished by in- 
 dustry, enterprise and a determination to succeed. 
 His first work was as an employe of his uncle, with 
 whom he remained three years, when he began 
 clerking in a liotcl, where he continued until the 
 fall of 185G. In the meantime his uncle had 
 come to the West, and believing that it would 
 be to his best advantage to follow the advice 
 of Ilor.ace Greeley, l\Ir. Titus also emigrated to 
 Iowa. His journey was made b^- rail to Mt. Pleas- 
 ant, and thence by stage to Agency City, "Wapello 
 County, where he again acted as salesmen for his 
 uncle for about eighteen months. Later, he spent 
 two years as a clerk in Otturawa, Iowa, after which 
 he determined tc> follow som'e other pursuit, and 
 obtained a jiosition as a traveling salesman for a 
 nurserj^ firm, with which he continued his connec- 
 tion for seven j-ears. Having in the meantime ac- 
 quired some capital, he then made a pnrch.ase of 
 forty acres of laud on section 28, Bloon.field Town- 
 ship, a part of his present farm. He erected a 
 shanty, in which he kept bachelor's hall for a time, 
 carrying on the work of developing and improving 
 his land. 
 
 A niarriage ceremony performed December 3, 
 1872, united the destinies of Henry A. Titus and 
 Sarah A. Fuller, but after about four 3'ears of 
 hai)py wedded life the lady was called to her last 
 rest. Her death occurred on the 19th of March, 
 1875, and her remains were interred in Woodland 
 Cemetery, Des Moines. Mr. Titus vvas again mar- 
 ried, .ranuary 24, 1877, tlie lady of his choice being 
 Miss Lorilla Babcock. daughter of .Joseph and 
 Mary (Cole) liabcoek, the former a native of 
 Rhode Island, of Holland descent, the latter of 
 Pennsylvania, born of (ierman parentage. Mr. 
 liabcock followed the occupation of farming in 
 Jiric County, Pa., until 1852, when he went to 
 
218 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 California to engage in mining. His operations in 
 that line were very successful, and "Tor a" pe- 
 riod of twelve years he remained on the Pacific 
 Slope accumulating considerable wealth, but he 
 was never again seen by his family. The last 
 word that ever reached tlicm, was a letter which 
 he had written saying that he would return to his 
 home in about tlirce weeks. The supposition was 
 that on the return journey' he was murdered for 
 his wealth, but the manner of his death will ever 
 remain a mystery. Mrs. Balicock is still living and 
 makes her home with her daughter, ilrs. Ann 
 Eliza Eaton, of Des Moines, who was her only 
 child, with the exception of Mrs. Titus. Mr. and 
 Mrs. Titus have two childien — William II. and 
 Julia A., who are still with llioir parents. 
 
 For a quarter of a centurj' Mr. Titus has been a 
 member of the ^Masonic fraternity, and since at- 
 taining his majority has supported the princii)les 
 of the Republican party. He held the office of As- 
 sessor for one term, and was Road Supervisor for 
 a number of j-ears. He came to the county during 
 the days of its early infancj', and has witnessed al- 
 most its entire growth. He has seen the intro- 
 duction of factories, manufacturing establishments, _ 
 large business industries, the railroad, the telegraph 
 and telephone, and many other enterprises which 
 have done much for the upbuilding of the county. 
 There was only one hotel in the city when Mr. 
 Titus arrived, that being a wooden structure con- 
 taining forty rooms, but so great was the influx of 
 emigrants shortly afterward that during the sec- 
 ond year, when Mr. Titus filled the office of clerk, 
 the profits were $16,000. 
 
 ^^!^EN. G. W. CLARK, a prominent citizen of 
 [j[ g— Des ^Moines, who is now sojourning tempor- 
 ^^J arily in Washington, D. C, was born on one 
 of the pioneer farms made in the forests of Central 
 Indiana, now in Johnson County, on the 26tli day 
 of ])ccenjl)er, 182:3. His father was one of the early 
 settlers of that community, having emigrated to 
 the Hoosier State, in 1820, from Kentucky. 
 
 The early life of our subject passed unevent- 
 
 fully, his time being .'^pent in the performance of 
 such duties as fall to the lot of farmer lads and in 
 attendance at the district schools, but later he pur- 
 sued a course of stud}- in Wabash College. The 
 law appeared attractive to his ej'es as a means of 
 gaining a livelihood, and to fit himself for the 
 practice of that profession he entered the office of 
 Robert Walpole, of Indianapolis, who remained his 
 preceptor until (Jen Clark established business for 
 himself in Indianola, Iowa, in 18r)6. He achieved 
 prominence and success in his chosen work, and at 
 the breaking out of the Rebellion in 1861, was 
 holding the office of State's Attorney. He had 
 watched the progress of events in the South with 
 interest, and when it w.as seen that blood must fiow 
 ere the rebellious States would submit to the gen- 
 eral Government, he resolved to strike a blow in 
 defense of freedom, and volunteered at the first 
 call for troops, becoming a member of the Third 
 Iowa Infantry, being commissioned First Lieuten- 
 ant of Company G. After the battle of Sbiloh, 
 where he displayed great coolness and courage, he 
 was commissioned Colonel of the Thirty-fourth 
 Iowa Regiment, of which he remained in charge 
 until near the close of the war, and won honorable 
 distinction as a brave and successful commander. 
 Before the war closed, however, he was brevctted 
 Brigadier-General, in recognition of his gallant 
 services, and as such led his m.n to victory. 
 When the South had surrendered and peace was de- 
 clared he returned to Iowa, where he has since 
 made his home. 
 
 In 1867, Gen. Clark was appointed, by President 
 Grant, as I'nited States Marshal for Iowa, and 
 while engaged in the discharge of the duties of 
 that office made his home in Des Moines. For 
 many years he was closely identified with the en- 
 terprise, growth and i)rosperity of this city and the 
 State, which he yet claims as his home and where 
 he expects to permanently reside, although he is 
 now living in Washington, D. C, that he ma^- bet- 
 ter attend to the discharge of his duties in the 
 legal department of the general land office. He 
 has spent several years in traveling through the 
 countries of Europe and is a |)olished and cultured 
 gentleman, entertaining in manner, genial in dis- 
 position, winning the friendship of all with whom 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 221 
 
 lie conies in conlacl. In 1880. Gen. Clurk was 
 iiniterl in niarri.age with Miss Sara Robinson, of 
 low.a C'itj\ and unto tliem have been born tliiec 
 cliililrfn — Edilii, ClitTord and Kleanfir. 
 
 ^i^Sl^fl^ 
 
 EDWIN RITHVEN CLAPP, geiuial live- 
 stock agent of liii' Chicago & Rock Island 
 i Railway Company, is iiuraliered among llie 
 
 {)ioneers of Iowa, of 1837, and ranks among the 
 most prominent citizens of Dcs Moities. He was 
 born in the town of C'azenovia, Madison County, 
 N. v., I\Iay 30, 1827, and is .'i son of John and 
 Lucy (Hanson) Clap[), liotli of whosn were natives 
 of Doerfield, Mass., descended from old New p]ng- 
 land families. The Clapp family is of Scottish 
 origin, Edwin E. Clapp, the great grandfather of 
 our subject, was the original American ancestor. 
 John Clapp was enthusiastic in his devotion to the 
 land of his ancestors as the names given his f'lur 
 children will suggest. The eldest was William 
 Wallace, the second Edwin Ruthven; the third 
 Helen Marr and the youngest Robert IJruce. The 
 second is the only one now living. John Clapp re- 
 moved from Deerlield to Jladison County, N. Y.. 
 about 1825, and a few j'ears later became a resident 
 of Kirtland, Ohio, whence the family came to 
 Iowa bj' team in 1837, settling at what is now 
 Mt. Pleasant, Henry County, then a little hamlet 
 cont lining a few log hut-. 
 
 The youth and early manhood of our subject 
 were spent amid the scenes of pioneer life. He 
 received no school privileges during his boyhood 
 days, as there were no schools in the community, 
 but his parents taught him at home and, when Hear- 
 ing man's estate, he sj.ent two winter terras in 
 Prof. Howe's Academy, at Mt. Pleasant, an insti- 
 tution of learning wliich was famous throughout 
 the State for its sujierior management and liigh 
 standing. Many of the most successful and prom- 
 inent men of Iowa received instruction under 
 Prof. Howe, the [Jeer of any educator of his day 
 or since. 
 
 Mr. Clapp took an active part in improving his 
 father's farui and making a home for the family, 
 
 l)reaking prairie, s|ilitting rails, driving ox-teams, 
 or doing any sort of labor that fell to his lot. In 
 184(5 ho came to Ft. Dcs Moines and engaged as 
 clerk with his brother William W., who was one of 
 the earliest merchants of th>s city. After spending 
 aboul a year as a salesman he went to Wisconsin, 
 where a few months were [lassed in the lead mines 
 of Plattsburg. After returning to Des Moines, he 
 worked at any pursuit whereby he might earn an 
 honest dollar until the spring of 1849, when he 
 engaged in farming north of Des Moines. 
 
 Mr. Clap|) was" married in Washington Countj-, 
 Iowa, on the 4th of April of the year last named, 
 to Jliss Emily J. Bougliton, who was born in Che- 
 nango County, N. Y., and came to Iowa with her 
 parents during the early settlement of the State. 
 Five children were born of their union, two sons 
 and three ilaughters: Helen, the eldest, became the 
 wife of Milton Forster, and died in 1878; Ella is 
 tlie wife of W. L. While of Sioux City, Iowa; Ida 
 married L. C. Smith, a resident of North Des 
 Moines; Edwin B. died at the age of live years; 
 and John W. at the age of twenty-four years. The 
 death of the mother occurred on the 2oth of March, 
 1801), and Mr. Clapp was again married, April 20, 
 1871, his second union being vvitb Mrs. Sarah A. 
 • Mills, widow of Col. N. W. Mills, and a daughter 
 of (Jen. P. A. Ilackleman. Her husband and 
 father both fell in the battle of Corinth on the 4tli 
 of October, 1862. Col. Mills had just been pro- 
 moted to the command of the Second Iowa Infantr}-, 
 of which he was Lieutenant Colonel when it made 
 the famous charge at the capture of Fort Donelson. 
 Mrs, Clapp was born in Franklin County, Ind.,and 
 cnmc to Des Moines with lier husband in December, 
 1856. She had two children b}' her former mar- 
 riage — P. J. Mills, who wedded Miss May Easton, 
 and is proprietor of the White Line Transfer Com- 
 pany, of Des Moines; and Minnie, wife of II. A. 
 Elliott, Assistant Secretary of the State Insurance 
 Company of this city. There were two children, 
 daughters, born of the second marri.agc — Bertha A. 
 and Nellie. The latter died at the age of two and 
 a half years. 
 
 Mr. Clapp engaged in farming until 1851, when 
 he removed to the city, where he has since resided, 
 lie at lirst aceei)ted any employment whereby he 
 
22 2 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 might earn a liveliliood for liimself .ind family, and 
 for a time engaged in freigliting between Des 
 Moines and Keokuk with ox-teams. In 1853, lie 
 stored the first ice ever put up in Des Moines for 
 market, and continued that business until 1858. 
 As he accumulated capital he invested it judiciously 
 in city real estate, and in that way added to the 
 competence which he was now acquiring. In 1860 
 he bought a farm in Walnut Township and en- 
 gaged extensively in farming and stock dealing, 
 which led to his becoming agent for the Chicago 
 it Rock Island Railroad Company in 1867. The 
 following year he sold his farm to Martin Fl.ynn, 
 who still resides there, since which time he has de- 
 voted his entire attention to the business of the 
 railroad company. He has entire management of 
 the work in his department of the lines of the road 
 between the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers, cov- 
 ering about seven hundred miles. In 1871 Mr. 
 Clapp built a fine block on the southwest corner of 
 West Fifth and Walnut Streets, which was burned 
 down January 11, 1883. He rebuilt the same year 
 on a more improved plan, having the finest busi- 
 ness block in the city, until the recent erection of 
 the building of the Icwa Loan and Trust Company. 
 He put up the first passenger elevator ever erected 
 in Des Moines and in manj' other ways has added ■ 
 "■reatly to the upbuilding of the cit}-. In the fall 
 ot 1850, he erected a residence on the site of his 
 present home, where he has three-fourths of an acre 
 of land and in 1878 transformed it into the elegant 
 and commodious mansion which is now his home. 
 In 1887, accomi)anied by his wife and daughter, 
 Bertha, Mr. Clapp made a tour of Europe. Leaving 
 Des Moines on the 28th of March, of that year, 
 they were absent until the 1st of October, follow- 
 ing, fluring which time they visited the points of 
 greatest interest in England, Ireland, Scotland, 
 France, Italy, Austria, Germany, Holland and Bcl- 
 <'-ium. Mrs. Clapp is a member of the First Meth- 
 odist Kpiscoiial Church. Socially, Mr. Clapp is a 
 ■ Master Mason. h\ August, 1889, he was elected 
 President of the Old Settlers' Society and now fills 
 that position. 
 
 We cannot close this sketch without a few words 
 in regard to the characteristics of our subject. E. 
 R. Clap]) is widely known thionghout Iowa as a 
 
 man of superior business capacity, indomitable 
 energ3' and good executive ability. He is most 
 affable and genial in disposition, with a keen appre- 
 ciation of a good jest. He tells jokes upon him- 
 self as readil}- as on others, and gives and takes 
 with impartiality. His private enterprises and un- 
 dertakings have been conducted with such sagacity 
 and forethought that he has .acquired a valuable 
 property and is classed among the successful men 
 of Des Moines. In his relations with the Rock 
 Island road, the prompt and judicious manner in 
 which he has discharged the important duties de- 
 volving upon him has won him the confidence of 
 the officers of the company and secured his reten- 
 tion in the position he holds, for twenty-three con- 
 secutive years. 
 
 In closing this sketch we wish to mention more 
 fully the family of our subject. His brother,Will- 
 iam Wallace Clajjp, was born in Deerficld. Mass.. 
 in 1820, came to Iowa with his parents in 1837, and 
 in the fall of 1845 settled in Raccoon Forks, now 
 Des Moines, where he opened a general store. He 
 was one of the pioneer merchants of the city and 
 was known as an enterprising, upright business 
 man. In 1851, he went to California during the 
 gold excitement, and was a resident of that State 
 until his death which occurred in 1857. The par- 
 ents of the Clapp brothers both died in Iowa, the 
 father in Mt. Pleasant in 1837, the mother in Des 
 Moines in 1879. A portrait of Edwin R. Clapp is 
 found upon r.nolher page. 
 
 OHN W. H. VEST, .M. 1)., of Des Moines, 
 was born in Buckingham Ctmnty, Ya., May 
 22, 1822, and is a son of John and Elizabeth 
 (Price) Vesl. His ancestors on his father's 
 side were of mixed origin, being of Scotch, Welsh, 
 and French descent, while his mother, who was a 
 native of Virginia, was born of German parentage. 
 John Vest, Sr., was a fanner by occupation, and re- 
 moved in 1833, from \'irginia to Highland County, 
 Ohio. He died in Scott Count}', Iowa, at the age 
 of eighty-six years. His wife departed this life at 
 the age of eighty-three years. Their family con- 
 
PORTRAIT AND HIOGkAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 •22;5 
 
 sisted of six cliiklrcn, of wlioiii foui- are living, 
 three sons and a daughter: Rainey C, wedded 
 Mar3' E. MoKiniie3\ and lives near Stone Lake, 
 Iowa; Peter McAfee is married and lives in Jeffer- 
 son, (irecn County, Iowa. Tlie daughter, Mrs. 
 Catiierine AVatts, a widow now seventy-nine years 
 of age, resides in Highland County, Ohio; Mrs. 
 Martha P. Wear died at Hastings, Neb. The sixth 
 died in infancy. 
 
 John W. II. Vest is the third son of the familj'. 
 He was reared on a farm, and received his medical 
 education in Starling Medical College of Columbus, 
 Ohio, and at the .lefferson Medical College of Phila- 
 delphia. He graduated from the former institution 
 in the Class of '56, and received his degree from the 
 latter in I8G.J. He began his medical studies in 
 1H45, and, having noti ing to depend u[)on except 
 his own unaided ( fforts, had to work his waj- through 
 college. He began practice in Newmarket, Ohio, 
 and in 1856 came to Iowa, where he has since re- 
 sided. On his arrival in this State, he established 
 himself in practice in Montezuma, Poweshiek 
 County, where he was living when in August, 1862, 
 he was commissioned surgeon of the Twentj^-eighth 
 Iowa Infantry. He served until December 4, 1864, 
 and was with the Thirteenth and Seventeenth Army 
 Corps combined, participating in theseigeand cap- 
 ture of Vicksburg, the battle of Champion Hills, 
 and many others. On his return from the war, he 
 took a course of lectures in Jefferson Medical Col- 
 lege oil Philadel|)hia, graduating from the same in 
 the Class of '65. On receiving his degree, he re- 
 sumed practice in Montgomer}-, where he remained 
 until October 15, 1887, during which time he suc- 
 ceeded in procuring a large and lucrative business. 
 His professional rides carried him into six counties, 
 and the work becoming too arduous for him, he 
 having become somewhat advanced in years, he 
 lemoved to Des Moines with the ex[)ectation of re- 
 tiring from active practice. This he has not been 
 able to do, however, but still does considerable 
 ollice piactice, which comes to him through his 
 well earned reputation for skill in specialties. 
 
 Dr. Vest was married in Russeilville, Blown 
 County, Ohio, December 23, 1854, to Miss Mar- 
 garet Phibbs, who was born in Adams Country, 
 Ohio, .\pril ;!, 1831. They became parents of six 
 
 children, three sons and three daughters: Mary E., 
 the eldest, became the wife of John .McDonald, and 
 died on the 14th of May, 1874; Martha is the wife 
 of L. "\V. Wilson, of Topeka, Kan.; John W. mi;r- 
 ried Mary Johnson, and is eugagetl in farming in 
 I'oweshiek County, Iowa; William E. is a [)hysi- 
 cian; he was graduated from the Keokuk Medical 
 College, and later from Jefferson Medical College 
 at Philadelphia, and is now successfully engaged in 
 practice in Montgomery, Iowa, where he has gained 
 great popularity. His wife was formerly Miss Alice 
 Wood. Fred E. has also twice graduated. First 
 from the medical dejjartment of the State L'niver- 
 sity at Iowa City, and later from the Jefferson 
 Medical College of Philadel|)hia. He is now in 
 partnership with his brother in Montezuma, where 
 both are recognized as skillful and thoroughly edu- 
 cated physicians, and enjoy a large and lucrative 
 practice. The junior member wedded Miss Addie 
 Stevenson. Myrtle, the youngest child of the fam- 
 ily, died in infancy. 
 
 Dr. Vest is a radical Republican in politics, and 
 belongs to several civic societies, including the 
 Grangers, tlie Odd Fellows and the Masons. He is 
 a member of the county Medical Society, and is 
 distinguished in tlic profession for his skill in his 
 advertised specialties. 
 
 R. ALONZO RAW.SON. who for twenty- 
 I; three years was a leading dentist of Des 
 Moines, but now living a retired life, is a 
 native of New Hampshire. He was born 
 in East AIslea<l, Cheshire County, on the 2d of 
 April, 1831, and is a son of Jonathan and Eliza- 
 beth (Flint) Kawson, who were also natives of New 
 Ham|>shire. The Rawson family of which our sub- 
 ject is a descendant, was founded in ^VuiL'rica by 
 Edward Rawson, who was boru in Gillingham, Dor- 
 setshire. England, April 16, 1615, married JNIiss 
 Rachel Perne, and emigrated to this country in 
 1636. He joined the Colony of Massachusetts Bay, 
 and settled in the town of Newbury. He was a 
 man of superior abilily and great force of char.ac- 
 
224 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 ter, and took prominence among the early colo- 
 nists. In 1647 and 1648, he represented Newluiry 
 in the General Council, and was the recipient of a 
 grant of five hundred acres of land from the Gov- 
 ernment for services rendered the commonweaUli. 
 He was appointed secretarj' of the Colony of Massa- 
 cliusetts, and acting in his ofticial capacity, signed 
 the warrants issued and sent by Charles the .Sec- 
 ond, of England, to America, for the arrest of the 
 Regicides. He was the author of several books, 
 and was a very strict Presbyterian in religious 
 faith. 
 
 Of his family, which was quite a large one, the 
 eighth child, Rebecca, who is said to have been a 
 beautiful and accomplished woman, had a sad and 
 romantic history. Slie married asni)posed nepliew 
 of Chief Justice Hale, of England, and accompanied 
 him to the old country, only to be deserted by her 
 husband, who proved to have been already married. 
 She then started to return to her home, but the ship 
 on which she embarked, while l\"ing at anchor in 
 Port Royal, was engulfed by the great earthquake 
 of June 7, 1692, and she, with all on board, was 
 drowned. 
 
 Edward Rawson died August 27, 1693, as shown 
 by the record in tlie family IJible, which is now 
 more than two hundred j'cars old, and is still in 
 possession of the family-. 
 
 The subject of this sketch, Dr. Alonzo Rawson, 
 received an academic education, and at the age of 
 eighteen years. liega]i teaching school, which voca- 
 tion he pursued until of age. wiien in March, 1852, 
 he started out to seek his fortune. Traveling on 
 foot, he reaclu'(l Cleveland, Ohio, where he spent 
 the summer, and in the following fall pushed on to 
 Western Illinois, stopping at Moline, where he 
 helped his uncle, the Hon. S. W. Wheelock. to start 
 the first paper f.actory on the Mississippi River. 
 Crossing into Iowa im horseback, he penetrated 
 the countr}- .as far as Cedar Rapids, remaining a 
 couple of days willi some squatters, then the onlj- 
 occupants of what is now the thriving cit3' of Wat- 
 erloo. At the end of two weeks he relraccd his 
 steps to Moline and returned his borrowed steed to 
 its owner. Not long after that time, young Raw- 
 son went to Cleveland. Ohio, where he studied den- 
 tistry, bill in the winter of lH,j;>, we again (in<l iiim 
 
 en route for the West, his destination being [Des 
 Moines. During that trip be entered a tract of 
 four hundred acres of land near Monroe, Jasper 
 County", which in 1857, he traded for his present 
 homestead in Des Moines. Again after a short sea- 
 son spent in this cit^-, he returned to Ohio, and en- 
 g.aged in the practice of dentistry. 
 
 In Richfield, that State, on the 10th of October, 
 1855, Mr. Rawson married Miss Lucy Amelia Bliss 
 Rawson, daughter of Dr. Secretary and Luc}' (Han- 
 cock) Rawson. Her father is a lineal descendant 
 of Edward Rawson before mentioned, and was born 
 (X'tol)er 18, 179G, in .Salem, Mass. He was twice 
 married, first in the Bay State, in May, 1820, to 
 Miss Clara Crossett, by whom he had one daugh- 
 ter, Clara IL. now Mrs. Firtnin, of Ohio. In 182.3 
 he removed to Summit County, Ohio, and eslab- 
 lisiied himself in [jractice at Richfield. Having lost 
 his first wife, he was again married .lune 19, 1824, 
 the lady of his choice being Miss Hancock, a lineal 
 descendant of John Hancock, the first signer of the 
 Declaration of Inde|)endence. Three ciiildren were 
 born of the latter union: Elizabeth C. A., who died 
 at the a'je of fifteen years; Luc}' A. B.. who is now 
 the wife of Dr. A. Rawson; and Sarah A. B., now 
 Mrs. McNeil, of Tiffin, Ohio. The mother died in 
 Des Moines, in August, 1884, at the .age of eightj-- 
 fivo years, but tiie father isstiU living in hisninetj'- 
 fourth j'car, and resides with his daughter Lucy. 
 Dr. Secretary Rawson was engaged in the .actire 
 practice of iiis profession for fifty-five 3'cars, and 
 enjoys the i-emarkable experience of having lived 
 under the administration of every President of the 
 United States, from George Washington to Benja- 
 min Harrison, inclusive. In early life he w.as a 
 Whig, and later heli)ed to organize the Republican 
 parly in Ohio. He is well preserved physically and 
 mentally, and still takes a warm interest in politics. 
 
 Dr. Rawson. the subject of this sketch, pursued 
 tlic practice of dentistry in Cleveland, Ohio, until 
 the summer of 1860, when he came to Iowa, and 
 embarked in practice in Des Moines. He was the 
 second dentist in the city, and is now the oldest 
 resident representative of his profession here. He 
 continued in active and successful practice until 
 188;], covering a period of twenty-three years, when 
 he retired. Since his arrival, his home h.as been on 
 
PORTRAIT AMD BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 225 
 
 the site of his prrsent residence. When he first set- 
 tled there he had to find his way down town by the 
 cow paths, and the Indians were so numerous and 
 intrusive, that Mrs. Rawson was afraid to be left 
 alone in her new homo. The Doctor ami his wife 
 have two children: the dauirliter. Nellie, who was 
 born September 11, 18()1, is the wife of Prof. R. II. 
 Miller, and both are employed as' teachers in the In- 
 stitute of Technology of Boston, Mass.; the son, 
 Alonzo Rawson, Jr., wlio was born November 18, 
 18G4, is a practicing attorney of AVhatcome, Wash., 
 and is the owner of a (jiiarter-seetion of (inc timber 
 land. Both children were educated in the State 
 University, the son graduating from both collegiate 
 and law de|iarlmeiits. while the daughter was grad- 
 uated from tlie collegiate department, and from the 
 school iu which she is now a teacher. No expense 
 or pains was spared i.i making them accomplished 
 and cultured jreople. 
 
 Ill 186-t. Dr. Rawson purchased a !arm of one 
 hundred and sixty acres, situated iu Valley Town- 
 ship, at ij^IO.oO |)er acre. The farm almost adjoins 
 the suburbs of Des Moines, and in consequence has 
 become quite valualile. and if the contemplated col- 
 lege is built w: ere it is proposed, the price of the 
 land will rise much higher. Dr. Rawson is Repub- 
 lican in |iolitics, but though often solicited to Ije- 
 come a candidate for ollice, would never consent. 
 He is a plain, unassuming man of Ijroad anil liberal 
 views, genial and kindly in manner, aiu( holds his 
 word as sacred as his bond. He is pul3lic-s|)irited 
 and liberal in support of public imiirovements and 
 local enterprises, and h.as labored long and earnestly 
 to secure the location of a college in Des Moines, 
 knowing that it will greatly benefit the city. 
 
 -€-^-^- 
 
 Vf'OHN B. HATTON, M. D., one of the lead- 
 ing practitioners of Des Moines, and a faith- 
 ful soldier of the late war, is now the junior 
 ($*/' partner in the firm of Ward & Hatton. His 
 early life was spent amidst wild and exciting scenes. 
 He was born in a camp among the Indians in Mon- 
 roe County, Mo., July 7, 1839, and his boyhood 
 days were spent as a pioneer of Iowa. His parents 
 
 were John B. and Catherine C. (Abbott) Hatton, 
 the former a native of Jlason County, Ky., the lat- 
 ter of East Tennessee. In their childhood d.aj's 
 both became resident.s of Monroe County, Mo., 
 where the}' were married and began their domestic 
 life. The husband was a carpenter, and followed 
 that business in Missouri until December, 184(;, 
 when accompanied by his family he removed to 
 Appanoose County, Iowa. Both parents died in 
 this State, the father at the .age of seventy-three 
 years, the motlier when seventy years of age. They 
 were numbered among the faithful members of the 
 Christian Church, and in politics Mr. Hatton first 
 supported the Whig party, and afterward became a 
 Republican. He was an enthnsiastic admirer of 
 Henry Clay, and was a warm advocate of the prin- 
 ciples originated b}' that statesman. 
 
 Our subject is the only one now living in a fam- 
 ily of thirteen children, six sons and seven daugh- 
 ters, and u|>on him therefore devolves the duty 
 of perpetuating their history. Three of his broth- 
 ers became physicians, having inherited a taste for 
 that profession from their mother, who was a wo- 
 man of remarkable intellectual force and industry, 
 and was a pr.actical physician. George W. was a 
 distinguished practitioner of Pleasant A'iew, Iowa; 
 Joseph W. engaged in |ir.ictice in Klliott, Iowa; 
 and the 3'oungest sister, Elizabeth, became the wife 
 of Dr. Daniel Pa^ton, of Oakland, C'al. 
 
 John B. Hatton, whose name heads this sketch, 
 was reared on the frontier, and early inured to the 
 hardships and trials incident to [lioneer life. He 
 was educated b}' his mother until seventeen years 
 of age, when he entered a siiliscription school, hav- 
 ing earned the money wherewith to pay his ex- 
 penses. At the age of twenty-two years he began 
 pieparing himself for his life work, under the in- 
 struction of his brother, George W., and in the 
 winter of 1859-60, he pursued a course of lectures 
 at the College of Physicians and Siirgeo^is, of Keo- 
 kuk. Iowa. Ill the meantime the countr}- was be- 
 coming involved in a serious trouble which resulted 
 in war, and August, 15, 1802, feeling it his duty 
 to aid the Government, he enlisted as a member of 
 Companj' F, Thirtj'-fourlh Iowa Infantry. After 
 serving six months as Second Lieutenant, he was 
 transferred lo the medical department and comiuis- 
 
22G 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 sioncd Assistant Smgeoii, liowever continuing witii 
 the same regiment. His superior oflicer resigning, 
 by a vote of the regiment he was elected to fdl the 
 vacancy, and cominissiuned 133- Gov. Kirkwood, 
 after wliich the commission was sent to Col. Clark, 
 but as Mr. Hatton lia>l not yet held the office of 
 First Assistant, he reversed the commission and 
 recommended him for that [josition. The Doctor 
 then offered his resignation. l>ut the Colonel would 
 not .accept it, and instead made him Captain of his 
 old company, which he commanded until the close of 
 the war. He participated 111 many of the most im- 
 portant engagements, including the l)attlcs at Vicks- 
 burg, Arkansas Post, the Rod River Expedition, 
 the capture of Ft. Gaines and Ft. Morgan, and the 
 siege and capture of Spanish Fort. He remained in 
 the army until the close of the war. and during his 
 entire service he was never wounded nor taken 
 prisoner. 
 
 Dr. Hatton received his discharge at tlie montli 
 of the White River, in Arkansas, and immediately 
 thereafter returned to the Korth, locating in the 
 village of New York, W.ayne Count}', Iowa, where 
 for three years he engaged in the jiractice of medi- 
 cine, when he removed to Russell, Lucas County. 
 Wishing to keep abreast of the times !>e after- 
 w^^rd attended lectures at the (.'ollegeof Physicians 
 and Surgeons, at Keokuk, Iowa, from which he vvas 
 gr.-iduated in 1 871, when, in May, of tlie same year, 
 he lo(-atcd in Red Oak. .Montgomery County, where 
 he remained until December. 1889. He had an ex- 
 cellent practice in Red Oak. and was fast accumu- 
 lating a competency, but wishing to have access to 
 the splendid schools of this city, he located in Des 
 Moines, at the same time forming a partnership 
 with Dr. W. II. H. Ward, the eldest resident prac- 
 titioner of the county. 
 
 On the 21st of January, 1880, Dr. Hatton was 
 joined in wedlock with Mi.ss Anna M. Matthews, a 
 native of Ohio, who came with her family to Des 
 Moines. They now have two children, sons — John 
 M. and Raymond. The Doctor is an active worker 
 and consistent member of the Christian Church, 
 while his wife is a communicant of the Presbyte- 
 rian Church. In bis political views he is a Demo- 
 cra'.. and by Prcsi<lent Cleveland was appointed 
 Secretary of the Board of Pension Kxaminers of 
 
 Red Oak. He is connected with two civic societies, 
 tlie Knights Templar Masons and Knights of Pyth- 
 ias, and by his brethren of the lodge is highly 
 esteemed. During the twenty-seven years with 
 which he has been connected with the medical pro- 
 fession he has enjoyed a liberal and lucrative prac- 
 tice, and has worked his way upward to a prominent 
 position in the front ranks. He [iroved himself 
 a loyal and faithful soldier during the late war, and 
 is regarded ,as one of the enterprising and valued 
 citizens of Polk County. Although his residence 
 in this commuuitj' has been of short duration he 
 has succeeded in establishing a large and profitable 
 business. 
 
 J^^- 
 
 (^^IIOMA.S BOYD, of Des Moines, is num. 
 ;#y^' bered among the pioneers of Polk County 
 *\^^' of 1850, and as such well deserves mention 
 in this volume. He has alwa^'s borne liis part in 
 the upbuilding of the county, its growth and ad- 
 vancement and to the early settlers Polk County 
 owes much of her present prosi)erity. 
 
 Sir. Boyd was born in F.ayette County, lud., in 
 the town of Connorsvill?, in 1826, and is a son of 
 James Boyd, a native of Virginia, who emigrated 
 to Indiana at an early d.ay. His boyhood days, 
 liowever, were spent in his native county but soon 
 after his marriage to Miss Martilla Harp, he re- 
 moved to Indiana. He served as a soldier in the 
 War of 1812, and fought under Gen. J.aekson at 
 the famous battle of New Orleans. Accompanied 
 by his family he continued his westward journeys 
 until he reached Scott County, III., where he passed 
 the greater [)art of his remaining days, allhough his 
 death occurred in Pike County, that State. His 
 wife survived him manj- years, and dying in Des 
 Jloines, was buried in Greenwood Cenietery near 
 this cit}'. The family of James and ^lartilla Boyil 
 numbered six children, all of whom grew to mature 
 3'cars, wliile two sons and the only daughter of the 
 family, Mrs. Elizabeth L. Kellogg, of Des Moines, 
 are now living. She is the eldest of the survivors. 
 Thomas is second in order of birth, and the young- 
 est is John B.. a resident farmer of this county. 
 Overton. Anderson and William, the three brothers 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 227 
 
 now deceased, lie buried by tlieir motiier in Green- 
 wood Cemetery. TLe first and tliird were unmar- 
 ried and the second left a wife, his cliildrcn having 
 died before his death occurred. 
 
 In his native State, the subject of this sketch 
 was reared, until ten years of age, when the family 
 removed to Illinois. He was but sixteen years of 
 age at the time of iiis faihei's death and at that 
 time was practically' thrown upon his own resources. 
 In 1849, accompanied by his mother and youngest 
 brother, he came to Iowa, and the following si)ring 
 to Des Moines, where he has made his home con- 
 tinuously since with the exception of a short time 
 spent upon the Pacific Slope. In the spring of 
 1850, his brother William started from his home in 
 Illinois to California and the same year Thomas 
 also made his way across the plains to the newlj- 
 discovered gold fields. Neither knew of tin; trip of 
 the other or that thej- had contemplated making the 
 journey and their meeting was a joyful surprise. 
 Tiiey spent two years in California, engaged in 
 mining during a greater part of the time, in which 
 they were reasonably successful and then returned 
 together by wa}' of the Isthmus of Panama, both 
 coming at once to Polk County, where the rest of 
 the family were then living. They resided upon 
 the farm for a time, but in 1853, became residents 
 of Des Moines, where William engaged in the har- 
 ness and saddlery business. He conducted that 
 business for a period and then sold out, but con- 
 tinued to make his home in tiie capital city until 
 his death. 
 
 The business which occupied the attention of our 
 subject on his return from the gold fields was car- 
 pentering and joining, but after a short time he 
 gave up active work in that line and turneil his 
 attention to real estate. Few men have done more 
 for the upliuikling and beautifying of the city, 
 especially in the earlier days. He erected many 
 residences and other buildings and yet owns con- 
 sifleral)le fine city pro|)erty. He Ins been a wit- 
 ness of the many great changes whicii liave taken 
 place for tiie past forty-one years, has seen a little 
 village of less than a thousand inhabitants trans- 
 formed into a city wiiich has no equal in the State, 
 countless manufactories and industries have been 
 introduced, large mercantile establishments have 
 
 taken the place of little country stores, and i)alatial 
 residences occupy the sites of pioneer log cabins or 
 one-story frame dwellings. This change has been 
 brought about only by the arduous labor, enter- 
 prise and industry of the citizens of Des IMoines, 
 Mr Boyd having fully borne his share. 
 
 On the 2d of January, 1856, in the city which 
 has so long been his home, Mr. Boyd was united in 
 marriage with Miss Nancy Homan, who was born 
 in Franklin County, Ohio, in 1826, and is a daugh- 
 ter of Johnson and Lucy (Locket) Homan, who 
 wei'e natives of Kentucky. The mother died when 
 the daughter was an infant and she lost her father 
 when only seven years old. She came to Des 
 Moines with an uncle, John Pruvolt, in 1852. The 
 lives of Mr. and Mrs. Boyd have been well spent. 
 They have not onl}- aided in [jublic matters but 
 have i)erformed many acts of ciiarity, which have 
 secured them the love of the recipients of their 
 bounty and have won man}' warm friends by their 
 uniform kindness and courtesy. 
 
 Vrl AMES STANTON, who is engaged in the 
 culture of small fruit on section 19, Bloom- 
 field Township, is numbered among tiie 
 i^fj honored pioneers of the county, dating his 
 residence from 1848. The traveler of to-day can 
 scarcely imagine that forty 3ears ago Polk County 
 was almost an uninhabited wilderness. Des ]\Ioines 
 had been established but was a mere hamlet, con- 
 taining some log fort houses along the banks of the 
 Des Moines and Coon Rivers and a few log cabins. 
 The greater part of the land was still "n the |)os- 
 session of the (Jovernment., the Indians had not yet 
 left the settlement and wild game, such as elk, deer, 
 etc., was still seen. Mr. Stanton tells of witness- 
 ing a war dance by the red men on the site of the 
 court-house and on the ground now occupied by 
 the StateCapitol, has frequently picked wild blnck- 
 berries. Much of the |)resent advanced position of 
 the county is due to the pioneers and earh' set- 
 tlers. Thc\- were men of determined will, who had 
 come to make homes for themselves and families 
 and were not to be deterred from their purpose by 
 
-22S 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 tlio hardsliips aucl trials incident to the settling of a 
 new country. Thej' laid the foundation for the 
 success of the county, and we cannot say too much 
 in tlieir praise. Mr. Stanton did liis share in the 
 noble work and therefore is deserving of mention 
 in this volume, which is to perpetuate the lives and 
 deeds of the pioneers and the most prominent citi- 
 zens of the county. 
 
 He was born in Vermdion Countj'. 111., March 
 25, 1824. and is of Scotch and English descent. 
 His father, Ricliard Stanton, was a native of Ken- 
 tucky, and in his younger days learned the trade of 
 a gunsmith, though he afterward engaged in black- 
 smithing and later devoted his energies to agricul- 
 tural pursuits. He wedded Ruth Hayworth, a 
 native of/fennessee and they became parents of 
 nine children, but only three are now living — 
 James; Rebecca, wife of Daniel Fox. of Jasper 
 County, Mo. ; and ^Nlahlon, of Bloomlield Town- 
 sliiji. Mr. Stanton followed blacksinithing in Illi- 
 nois until 1835, when he removed to Missouri. 
 Two years later, however, he returned to Illinois 
 and in 1842 became a resident of Indiana, where 
 he engaged in farming until 1847. Tluit year wit- 
 nessed his arrival in I'olk County. He settled on 
 what is known as the six-mile strip, which was then 
 located in Polk County, but'was afternard added 
 to Warren County, and after farming there until 
 1854, sold out and [)urchased one liui:dred and 
 twenty acres of land in Bloomlield Township. He 
 w.as now becoming quite aged and lading aside all 
 business cares made his home with his children un- 
 til his death, which occurred in June, 1885, in the 
 eightty-nintli year of his age. His wife dieil ten 
 3'ears previous and they were laid side by side in 
 the Bloomlield Cemetery. The}' were numbered 
 among the pioneer settlers of the county and were 
 among its respected citizens. 
 
 .lames Stanton, our subject, accompanied his pa- 
 rents to Missouri when fifteen years of age and with 
 them afterwards returned to Illinois. He was then 
 a lad of seventeen years and shortly afterward 
 started out in life for himself. He served an ap- 
 prenticeshii) of two years to the blacksmith's trade, 
 hut as his health did not permit him to engage in 
 that business, he went to work in a packing house 
 and the following spring drove cattle to the North. 
 
 His health having somewhat improved, he then 
 worked at his trade in Indiana until M.aj', 1846, 
 when he enlisted in the First Indiana Regiment to 
 serve in the Mexican War. The command was 
 sent to the mouth of the Rio Grande, where they 
 did garrison duty for about four months, iluring 
 which time a great many of the men died on ac- 
 count of the unhealthy section in wliiclf they Vere 
 camped. For some time they were engaged in the 
 same duty .at various places, and then Mr. Stanton 
 worked at his trade for the Government at Monte- 
 rey from June, 1847, until August of the same year, 
 when he received his discharge and returned to In- 
 diana. 
 
 Having in the meantime attained to mature 
 years, Mr. Stanton secured for himself a life com- 
 panion in the person of Miss Rebecca Lewsader. 
 Their marriage was celebr.ated on the 9th of March 
 1848, and in October, of the same 3'ear, they emi- 
 grated to Polk County, Iowa, three weeks being 
 consumed in making the trip. Having received a 
 land warrant in corai)ensation for his services in 
 the Mexican War, Mr. Stanton then made a claim 
 of some land, upon which he made his home until 
 1850, when he removed to Des Moines and opened 
 a lilacksniilh slioj). He was doing a good business 
 in that line and everything passed along pleasantly 
 until 1852, when death entered the household and 
 claimed as its victim the wife and mother, who 
 died on the 2nd of March. Three children were 
 born of that marriage but only one is now living, 
 Sarah J., wife of 11. A. Evans, of Des Moines. Mr. 
 Stanton was again married in November, 1852. his 
 second union being with Nancy A. Thrailkill, 
 daughter of Jacob and Ellen (Knao}-) Thrnilhill, 
 both of whom were natives of Tennessee, the 
 former born of Scotch parentage, the latter of Ger- 
 man origin. The father w.as a farmer and engaged 
 in that business in Missouri and Iowa until 1819, 
 when he went to California, where he engaged in 
 mining and became quite wealth}'. He then started 
 for home on a steamer, but as he was never again 
 heard from it was supposed he was murdered for 
 his money. His wife died December 13, 1846, 
 Tlieir famil}- numbered six children, a.'s follows: 
 Nancy A., wife of our subject; John, of Mexico; 
 Joseph C., of Des Moines; Catherine K., a widow 
 
<^ 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 231 
 
 of Lemuel Corison, who was killed in the charge 
 at Bhii-k Riilgc Biidge during the late war; David, 
 of De Soto, Dallas County-, Iowa; and Cassander, 
 wife of Joiiu Byran, of Cass Count}', Mo. After 
 tlie dealli of liis first wife, Mr. Tliruilkill, on the 
 19th of March, 1847, wedded Sarah B. Ferguson. 
 Tliey iiad one child, Thomas 15., wlio died in the 
 army. 
 
 By tiie marriage of Mr. Stanton and Nancy 
 Thrailkill ten children were born, hut four have 
 now passed away. Tiiose living are Mar}', wife of 
 Richard Lowe, of Des Moines; Belle, wife of J. O. 
 Tavonor, of Bloomfield Township; (Jideon W., who 
 is aiding his fatlier in the operation of the old 
 liomestead; Nellie, wife of Frank Eberman, of 
 Bloomfield Townsliip; Charles and Robert who are 
 still with their parents. 
 
 Mr. .Stanton continued to engage in blacksmith- 
 ing in Des Moines until 1859, whe.i he operated a 
 rented farm for a year, after wliich he removed his 
 family to their home in the city and started for the 
 mines of Colorado, where he sjjent the summer 
 mouths. The following winter he again engaged in 
 blacksniitliing and in the spring of 1861 , purchased 
 Utviy acres of land. lie li.as met with adversi- 
 ties in life but possessing a strong determination 
 and good business ability, he has overcome all 
 obstacles and now has a good farm. For the past 
 seventeen yeais he has given the greater part of 
 his fitlention to the culture of small fruits. In which 
 he has been quite successful, but also is engaged to 
 sonu! extent in the raising of stock. From the or- 
 ganization t)f the Republican party he has been one 
 of its suiiportcrs and in its welfare and success 
 feels a deep interest. 
 
 — //,( LLKN DEARTH, who is numbered among 
 ^ ®l'-\ tbe early settlers of the county and is no'v 
 ill Is living on section 35, Bloomfield Township, 
 was born in Warren County, Ohio, on the 
 2(;th of June, 1800. His i)arents were James E. 
 and ICIizabctli (Long) Dearth, the former a native 
 of I'l'iinsylvania of Scotch descent, the latter of 
 \'irgiiiia, born of Ijermau [)arcMtagi'. By occupa- 
 
 tion the father was a farmer, and for many years 
 followed that business in AVarren County, Ohio. 
 He served his country in the War of 1812, after 
 which he returned to his home in the Buckeye 
 State, where he resided until his death. He passed 
 away at the ripe old age of seventy- six years. His 
 wife survived him some time, and died in 18G1. 
 There were six children born to this couple, but 
 three of that number are now deceased, namely: 
 Leviletta, Eliza and Samuel. Those living are: 
 Allen, who is second in order of birth; William 
 L., of Warren County, Ohio; and Ellen S., a resi- 
 dent of Minnesota. The parents of this family 
 were earnest Christian people, who did much to ad- 
 vance the cause of Christ on earth. The}' early 
 instilled into the minds of their children such jnin- 
 ciples f,s would make them honorable, upright 
 citizens, and were they now alive, might well be 
 pi'oud of the family which they reared. 
 
 Allen Dearth, the subject of this sketch, grew to 
 manhood in Warren County, Ohio, where his early 
 life was passed in much the usual manner of 
 farmer lads. He availed himself of such oppor- 
 tunities as the common schools afforded, but as the 
 county in which his parents lived was newly-set- 
 tied, his educational advantages were necessarily 
 limited. Like a dutiful son, he assisted his father 
 in the cultivation of the farm until twenty-one 
 years of age, when he was given some land and 
 began operations for himself. He was married 
 about this time, and with his young wife removed 
 to his farm, which he o[)erated until 1818, when, 
 having a chance to dispose of it to an advantage, 
 he sold out and liought another farm in the same 
 neighborhood. That land he cultivated for about 
 five years, prosperity attending his efforts during 
 that period. Selling out, he then purchased fif- 
 teen acres on the outskirts of Springborough, \\'ar- 
 ren County, for which he paid $80 per acre and 
 afterward sold for $9,000. Later, he traded his 
 town [iroperty for eight hundred acres of land in 
 lioone County, Iowa. He had also been the owner 
 of extensive possessions in Indiana, including some 
 twelve hundred acres of land, all of which he dis- 
 posed of, trading the last eighty acres for one hun- 
 dred and sixty acres in Page County, Iowa.- Ho 
 believecl that this State would rapidly settle and 
 
232 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 that bis lands would become very valuable, so 
 that, iu 1853, he came to Iowa for tiie purpose of 
 here making liis home. He first went to P.oone 
 County, but thinking the land too wild in that 
 region, came to Polk County, with the future pros 
 pects of whidi he was quite delighted. In conse- 
 quence he purchased a lot iu the city of Ues 
 Moines, for which he paid ^800. and erected a resi- 
 dence thereon. Having t)een so successful in his 
 real-estate speculations in Oiiio and Indiana, Mr. 
 Dearth determined to make that his business in 
 Iowa, and after his settlement in this city made 
 I)urchase of four hundred acres of land in Dallas 
 County, which adjoins Polk County. After resid- 
 ing in Des Moines for about a year, he sold his 
 land just mentioned and bought four hundred acres 
 in Bloomfield Township, but by that investment 
 lost $8,000, the land having been previously mort- 
 o-awed. He labored hard to get his business affairs 
 in a good condition once more, after his failure, 
 and in due course of time purchased the farm on 
 which he is now living. 
 
 Mr. Dearth w.as married on the 10th of April, 
 1828, the lady of his choice being Miss Margaret 
 Deardorff, daughter of .Jacob and Annie (Van 
 Dyke) Deardorff, both of whom were natives of 
 Pennsylvania, born of German parentage. The 
 father was a farmer by occupation, and was en- 
 "■aced in that pursuit at the time of his deat'.. Of 
 the eight children born to Mr. and Mrs. Deardorff 
 only one is now living — Margaret, wife of our sub- 
 ject, who is now eighty-one years of age. Mr. and 
 Mrs. Dearth have had a family of five children, 
 but one died in infancy. Jacob is a resident of 
 Indianola, Iowa; Perry is a farmer of Webster 
 County, Mo.; Eliza A. is the wife of John T. 
 Chambers, of Benton County, Ark.; and Lavina 
 is the wife of John McGriff, who owns and oper- 
 ates one hundred and fifty acres of the farm on 
 which Mr. Dearth lives. They have an interesting 
 family of five children — William, Eddie, Howard, 
 Ella and Charles. One ciiild, Mary, is now de- 
 ceased. 
 
 Eor the long period of thirty-seven years Mr. 
 Dearth has made liis home in Polk County, his 
 residence dating from 18,53. Great, indeed, have 
 been the changes which have taken place since that 
 
 time, and prompted by his energetic and progres- 
 sive spirit, he has taken an active part in the work 
 of advancement. His fellow citizens, appreciating 
 his worth and ability, have frequently called upon 
 him to serve in official jiositious. He was Super- 
 visor of tiie roads. Trustee of Bloomfield Town- 
 ship and for about twenty terms has served on the 
 grand and petit juries. He cast his first Presi- 
 dential vote for John Quinc}' Adams, and sup- 
 ported the Wiiig party until he joined the Repub- 
 lican l>arty at its organization. He then continued 
 his connection with that great national organiza- 
 tion until 1880, when he joined forces with the 
 Greenback partj*. More than sixty years have 
 passed since Allen Deartli and Margaret Deardorff 
 started out on life's journej- together. They have 
 met many difficulties and discouragements and have 
 borne their share in the sorrows of this world, yet 
 their union has resulted in great happiness to ])oth, 
 and tiieir companionship grows dearer as the years 
 advance. For fifty five years they have given their 
 lal)ors for the u|)building of the Master's cause. 
 They are members of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church and are loyal Christian people, who li\- 
 their upright lives have won the love and confi- 
 dence of all. They are now nearing the other 
 shore, but they can look back over tiie past with 
 no regret and forward to the future with no fears, 
 resting on the promises of the Bible and the hope 
 of a home where all is peace and happiness. 
 
 ^^ p=: -'^ 
 
 ^ ON. EDWARD HOOKER ("tILLETTE, 
 j)j junior partner of the firm of Weaver A' 
 Gillette, editors and publishers of the Iowa 
 )! Tribunp, of Des Moines, was born in Bloom- 
 field, Conn., on the 1st of October, 1840, and is a 
 son of the Hon. Eranci.s and Eliza (Hooker) Gil- 
 lette. His parents were both descendetl from ol<l 
 New England families, of Puritan origin, tlie 
 mother, who is still living in Hartford, Conn., trac- 
 ing her ancestry iu direct line back to the Rev. Mr. 
 Hooker, who was the first Congregational minister 
 of that city. The father, who was a United States 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 233 
 
 Senator from Connecticut, in 1854, and rankerl 
 among the most prominent men of the State, died 
 in 1881. 
 
 Edward II. (lillette, whose name heads this 
 sketci), leceived. lilicial educational advantages in 
 his youlii. and was thereby fitted for a useful and 
 honorable [losilion in life. He attended the Hart- 
 ford High School, and the State Agricultural Col- 
 lege of New York. He left college to come to 
 Des ]SIoines, in 18G3, and has since been a resident 
 of this city, except a short time spent in business 
 in Hartford, Conn. Farming and the raising of 
 line stock have occupied his attention during a 
 considerable portion of that period, and for some 
 time he has also devotc<l his abilities and energy to 
 to manufacturing, journalism and politics. Since 
 December, 18S;3, he has been associated with Gen. 
 J. 1). Weaver in editing and publishing the Iowa 
 Tribune, a weekly paper, which was established in 
 1879, and which was pui-chased by Messrs. Weaver 
 it (iillette in 1883. The Iowa Tribuni' wns the or- 
 gan of the National or Greenback part}', and is still 
 devoted to the same issues under the I'nion Labor 
 paity, the name assumed b}- the old Greenliack 
 party, and advocates anti-monopoly, currency re- 
 form, and the rights of labor in all branches of 
 industry. The pa[)er, which is abi^' edited, lias 
 attained a large circulation throughout the North- 
 west, and to quite an extent throughout the length 
 and breadth of the land, from Maine to Texas and 
 California. Mr. Gillette has been for many years 
 an active supporter of the National party, and is 
 an able defender of its principles. In 1876 he was 
 a delegate to the National Convention of that party 
 in Indianai)olis, which nominated the Hon. Peter 
 Cooper for the Presidency. Mr. Gillette was nom- 
 inated for Congress in 1879, by the Greenback 
 partj', to represent the Seventh District (the capi- 
 tal), and as the nomination w'as satisfactory to the 
 Democratic convention he became its candidate, 
 and was elected to the Forty-sixtii Congress by a 
 majority of nine hundred and twenty-one votes 
 over his l{epid)lican opponent, the Hon. J. B. Cum- 
 raings, although the district had previously given 
 about eight thousand Republican majority. In the 
 fall of 188.5 he w,as nominated for Lieutenant- 
 Governor, receiving one hundred and sixty-seven 
 
 thousand, seven hundred and eighty-seven votes, 
 while the successful Republican candidate, tlie Hon. 
 J. A. T. Hull, was elected with one hundred and 
 seventy six thousand, nine hundred and forty-six 
 votes. Mr. Gillette has for many years been a 
 member of the National Committee of the National 
 part}', and for several years was Chairman of that 
 committee. He has taken an active part in every 
 campaign, and has made si)ceches tliroughout the 
 country, from Maine to Tex.as. in the interest of 
 the political organization which he supports. Asa 
 speaker and debater lie is logical, earnest and elo- 
 quent, and his addresses are alw.ays entertaining 
 and instructive. 
 
 On the 26th of June, 1866. in Milford. Conn., 
 Mr. Gillette was imited in marriage with Miss 
 Sophie Stoddard, a native of Connecticut, and a 
 daughter of .lose|)h and Sophia I. Stoddard. They 
 have three children, one son and two daughters: 
 Florence, the eldest chMd, is the wife of William 
 E. Nichols, of East Haddam, Conn. Mr. Gillette 
 is a man of superior mental force, well informed on 
 all general subjects, and an able and earnest advo- 
 cate of labor reform, and of such legislation as will 
 insure to the laborer the legitimate results of his 
 efforts in support of hiroself and family. He sym- 
 pathizes with all true reforms, demands equal 
 rights for all men and women, and entertains radi- 
 cal views upon the temperance question, but his 
 record has been made primarily as the advocate of 
 a financial system devised in the interest of pro- 
 ducers rather than in the interest of idlers, with a 
 view of emancipating all our industries from the 
 enormous and ruinous taxes now imjiosed upon 
 them by usurers. 
 
 -^^ 
 
 -H — • 
 
 ^^^p^HOMAS LOWE, an estimable citizen, who 
 f(l(^^ for many years has been engaged in general 
 ''^^! farming and stock-raising on section 31, 
 Bloomfield Township, was born in Ireland on the 
 18th of January, 1827. His father, George Lowe, 
 was also a native of the Emerald Isle and after at- 
 taining to mature years engaged in agricultural 
 l)ursuits in County Kildare. The lady nf hi.-i 
 
234 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 cboiuc, Catherine Beatty, was also born in the same 
 county and b> their marriage they became the pa- 
 rents of nine chilflren, four of whom are yet liv 
 iiig — George, the eldest, is a resident of Ireland . 
 William resides in Jackson. Miss.; Richard makes 
 his home in Des Moines. 
 
 Thomas, the fourth son. and the subject of this 
 sketch, passed his youth amid play and work in the 
 usual manner of farmer lads and remained at home 
 until twenty-four years of age. The prospects af- 
 forded young men in America at length attracted 
 his attention and with a view of bettering his finan- 
 cial condition, in the summer of 1851, he started 
 for this country. Crossing the Atlantic in a sail- 
 ing vessel, he at length arrived safely- in New York, 
 where soon afterward he [irocured work on a barge 
 on the Hudson River, wiiich position he retained 
 for about three years. By industry and economy 
 during that ))eriod, he acquired some capital and 
 embarked in the grocci-y, business in ^'ew York 
 City, continuing operations in that line for two 
 years. He then determined to seek his fortune be- 
 yond the Mississippi, anil in August, 1856, started 
 by rail to Iowa Cit}', whence he completed his 
 journey to Ft. Des Moines by stage. Scarcely had 
 the work of devolopment been begun in the 
 county, and the beautiful Capital City was then a 
 small village with no sidewalks or few imfirove- 
 ments of any importance. The present advanced 
 ixjsition of the county is due to the early settlers'. 
 and no inconsiderable part has iNIr. Lowe borne in 
 the work of advancement and progress. He has 
 witnessed almost the entire growth of the count\-, 
 has seen its broad prairies transformed into beauti- 
 ful homes and farms, its log cabins replaced by 
 commodious and palatial residences, its towns and 
 villages have grown into cities and all the im- 
 provements and luxuries known to the civilized 
 world has been introilueed. 
 
 With characteristic energy, Mr. Lowe began 
 search for employment and for a short time en- 
 gaged with Barlow (i ranger in i)utting up ha}'. He 
 then purchased four and one-half acres of land 
 near Des Moines, for which he $100 per acre, and 
 after working a short time for Samuel Gray .rented 
 a farm which he operated on shares for a year. He 
 then rented land of his old employer, which he 
 
 operated in connection with that be had formerly 
 purchased until he engaged to haul lumber which 
 business he followed until 1868. Having in the 
 meantime accumulated some capital, he added to 
 his possessions fortj'-three acres of wild prairie land, 
 upon which he erected a small cabin and after his 
 famil}' were installed in their new home began the 
 development of a farm. Industry and enterprise 
 have marked his business career and being ambi- 
 tious to succeed he has stead il}' pushed forward, 
 overcoming all obstacles and disadvantages and is 
 now numbered among the prosperous citizens of 
 the community. As his financial resources in- 
 creased, he extended I he boundaries of his farm 
 until now it comprises three hundred and eighty - 
 nine acres of land, the greater part of which is 
 under cultivation, there being only twenty-five 
 acres unimproved and that is a timber tract. His 
 land has been divided into fields which are well- 
 tilled and bj- the rotation of crops have been made 
 to yield excellent harvests, paj-ing a golden tribute 
 to the care and labor which he bestows upon ihem. 
 In 1870 the pioneer home was replaced by a sub- 
 stantial dwelling, good barns have been built and 
 all other necessary' buildings for the storage of corn 
 and the shelter of his stock, of which he raises ex- 
 cellent grades. He also keeps on hand the latest 
 imi)roved machinery. It can IruthfuUv be said of 
 Mr. Lowe that he is a self-made man. He was al- 
 most penniless when he landed in this country and 
 without the aid of inlluence or capital has become 
 one of the prosperous citizens of the county. His 
 business enterprises have been characterized b}' fair 
 and honest dealing and thereljy he has won the con- 
 fidence of all with whom he came in contact. As a 
 proof of the high regard in which he is held we 
 will relate a little incident which goes to prove the 
 warm friendship which his neighbors feel for him. 
 In 1885, he had the misfortune to have his barn 
 utterly destroyed b^^ fire with all its contents, in- 
 cluding six horses and a colt, harness, farming im- 
 plements, a spring wagon and a few tons of ha}'. 
 Insurance covered part of the building, but nt)t- 
 withstanding his loss was considerable, and his 
 neighbors when they saw what a misfortune had 
 overtaken him at once offered to make up his loss. 
 Fortunately Mr. Lowe was not in need of the aid. 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 235 
 
 but he warml}' thanked his friends and wHl ever 
 fherisii in his lienrt the memory of their kindness 
 and s} nipath}'. 
 
 On the nth of December, ISiU, in New Yorl< 
 C'itj', Tiiomas Lowe was united in marriage with 
 Julia Kclley, and unto tlicra have been born nine 
 ciiildron — Catherine F., who is now the wife of 
 Jolin Boganwriglit, of Pollv County; William B., a 
 resident of Warren County; Carrie J., wife of 
 Frank Oeil; Walton T., who is at home; Ella, who 
 is engaged in teaching scliool; Frank and Belle are 
 still with their parents; and Julia and George are 
 deceased. Mrs. Lowe is a daughter of William and 
 Catherine (Dunn) Kellej', both of whom were na- 
 tives of Ireland. Her father made merchandising 
 his life work. lie once came to America with the 
 intention of making his home in this country but af- 
 terward returned to his native land and there re- 
 sided until his death. His wife has also passed 
 away. This worthy couple were parents of eight 
 children, five of whom are yet living — Julia, wife 
 of our subject; Catherine, a resident of New York; 
 Margaret, who is still living in the Emerald Isle; 
 George, a resident of Cleveland, Ohio; and Caro- 
 line, who makes her home in Now York City. 
 
 In politics Mr. Lowe is a Republican, having 
 supported the principles of that party since its or- 
 ganization, and both he and his wife are members 
 of the Presbyterian Church. They have led faith- 
 ful Christian lives, and are ever ready to extend a 
 helping hand to the poor and needy and do all in 
 their power for the advancement of the cause on 
 eartii. 
 
 OHN M. MEIIAN, I'residenl of the Capital 
 City Commercial ('ollegc, of Dcs Moines, is 
 a native of Virgini;i. lie was horn in Bath, 
 Morgan County, on the (ilh of (October, 
 1IS45, and is a son of Jeremiah and Ann (O'Reily) 
 Mehan. His parents were both natives of tlie 
 "'land where the shamrock grows," but in early life 
 bade good-by to Ireland, and emigrated to this 
 country. After his marriage, Jeremiah Mehan set- 
 tled in Morgan County, Va., where he engaged in 
 farming until 1852, when he removed to Illinois. 
 
 Not long after, his wife was called to her final rest. 
 When the late Civil War broke out, like many oth- 
 ers of his brave fellow-countrymen, he went forth 
 to battle for his adopted land, and never returned 
 to the children who so anxiously awaited him, but 
 sacrificed his life for the preservation of the I'nion. 
 
 Bereft of both father and mother when a lad, 
 John Mehan went to live with a merchant in \'an- 
 dalia. III., where he was afforded the advantages of 
 the public schools, and laid the foundation of his 
 business education. At the age of twent}', he went 
 to Montana, where some ten years of his life were 
 spent. After mining for a time, he turned his at- 
 tention to teaching, and subsequently eng.aged in 
 book-keeping, in which vocation he became very 
 proficient. Returning to Iowa in 1872, he accepted 
 a position as a teacher in the grammar department 
 of the schools of Nevada, this State, where he re- 
 mained for two years, wdien he became Superinten- 
 dent of the public schools in Ames, Iowa. In 1876, 
 he was offered, and accepted the position of in- 
 structor in penmanship, drawing and book-keeping, 
 in the public schools of Creston, where he remained 
 until he resigned in order to become general man- 
 ager and special accountant for the New York Life 
 Insurance Company. In 1884, he came to Dcs 
 Moines, and has since made this city the center of 
 his labors. As an accountant he stands second to 
 none in the State, and has done a great deal of ex- 
 pert work in that line. 
 
 While In Nevada, Mr. Mehan was united in 
 marriage with Miss Nettie Vedder, who died in 
 1883, leaving a son and daughter. Three years 
 later, he wedded ]\Iiss Flora Ickis, who has charge 
 of the normal and English training department of 
 the Capital City Commercial College. The Profes- 
 sor is an active member of the Presbyterian Church. 
 He is a member of the Commercial E.xchange, and 
 one of the Directors in the Grand Avenue Savings 
 Bank. He has connected himself with but one so- 
 cial order, the iNIasonic. 
 
 The history of the rise and growth of the Capital 
 City Commercial College, will be of inteiest to 
 ever}' one interested in the educational welfare of 
 young men and women. When in 1884, Prof. 
 Mehan decided to establish such a school in Des 
 Moines, a small room near the corner of .Sixth and 
 
2 36 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Locust Streets was reuled, aiul tlirce teachers em- 
 ployed. The calling of the roll (imiiig tlie first 
 tliree raoutlis was certainly not a burdensome task, 
 as the students numbered only four, but ere the 
 year closed, so many sougiit for admission into the 
 school, that new accommodations had to he ob- 
 tained. A large part of the second, and all of the 
 third Hoor of Meek's Block at the corner of Sixth 
 and Locust Streets was secured, and is still in use. 
 These apartments are fitted up in the liest style for 
 the accommodation of tlie students. In 1889, the 
 attendance numbered four hundred and twenl}'- 
 five. The object of the school is to prepare young 
 men and women for business careers. Tlie college 
 is highly recommended by some of the most able 
 instructors, and leading business men of Des Moines, 
 but its highest recommendation comes from the 
 fact that its students on entering business life, can 
 command the best positions and highest salaries. 
 Its instructors are persons of recognized abilit}'. 
 Its President has had twenty-four years experience 
 in educational work, and has succeeded in founding 
 a school of wiiich tlie citizens of Des Moines may 
 well be i)roud. 
 
 ^, R. LEWIS SCHOOLER, of Des Moines, was 
 born near Columbus, Ind., March 17, 1848, 
 being one of nine children, whose parents 
 were Benjamin Harrison .ind Mary (Hughes) Schoo- 
 ler. His grandfather, William Schooler, emigrated 
 from Ohio to Harrison Count}', Kj'., at an early 
 day and there wedded Elizabeth Stupf. In 1831, 
 they removed to Bartholomew County, Ind., to 
 make that tiieir home, being accompanied b}- their 
 son Benjamin, who was born in Harrison County, 
 Ky., in 1824, and was therefore seven years old 
 when the family became residents of the Hoosier 
 State. Following in the footsteps of his father. 
 Benjami'i Harrison Schooler engaged in agricul- 
 tural pursuits, which he still makes his business. 
 Near Columbus, Ind.. he married Miss Hughes, 
 who was born in Ohio in 1827, and in childhood 
 accompanied her parents to Indiana. The young 
 couple began tiicii' domestic life in that State, and 
 
 are still living on the old homestead. The hus- 
 band is a substantial l)ut unpretentious farmer, 
 taking no part in public alTairs or politics, save to 
 vote his political principles, which have always 
 been in the line of the Wiiig and Republican 
 parties. Of their nine children, eight are now 
 living. 
 
 Dr. Schooler is the onl}- one of the family that 
 has ever pursued a professional career. His time 
 was spent on tiie farm and in the district schools 
 until December 3, 18G1, when at the age of fifteen 
 years he enlisted in Company A, One Hundred and 
 Forty fifth Indiana Infantrj', and served a year 
 and two months under lien. Thonuas. He had 
 previously m.ado two attempts to join the army, 
 but his father, not willing that a boy so young 
 should endure the hardships of a soldier's life, pre- 
 vented iiim carrying out his wishes. At the close 
 of the war he returned to his home in Indiana and 
 entered Ilartsville College, where he remained 
 three 3'cars, after which he engaged in teaching in 
 his native State until 1870, when he went to Lex- 
 ington, Mo., where he followed the same profession, 
 and in his leisure hours read law until he was 
 ready for admission to the bar, but before taking 
 that step, wliicli would make him a member of 'the 
 legal fraternit}-, he decided to study medicine, and 
 on coming to Iowa, in 1873, entered the office of 
 Dr. J. S. Gillett, of Iowa Center. During the 
 winter of 1874-75 he attended his first course of 
 lectures at the Louisville (K}'.) Medical College, 
 after which he located in Sheldahl, Polk County, 
 where he embarked in practice, there continuing 
 until 1883, when became to Des Moines. In 1879 
 he was graduated from the Kentuckj' School of 
 Medicine with honor. For four j'ears. Dr. Schooler 
 was Professor of Anatomy in the Iowa College of 
 Physicians and Surgeons, now a dei)artment of 
 Drake University, and is at present Dean of the 
 medical faculty, and Professor of Surgery in the 
 same. 
 
 On the 30th of M,ay, 1876, in this city, the 
 Doctor led to the marriage altar ^liss Alice J. Hos- 
 kins, a native of New Hampshire, and unto them 
 have been born five children, as follows: Blanche, 
 Dean, Elva, Hazel and Ward. 
 
 In May, 188'.). Dr. .Schooler was a[)pointed a 
 
PORTRAIT AND EIOGRAl'HICAL ALBUM. 
 
 237 
 
 member of tlie Pension Examining Board, of wliicU 
 he is now Secretary. He is an iionored member of 
 a number of civic societies, incliuling tiie Masons 
 and tlie Knights of Pytliias, and is Post Com- 
 mander of Crocker Post, No. !:>, O. A. R. Since 
 attaining his majority he has supiiorted the Hepub- 
 lican party, and takes an active part in political 
 affairs, but lias never sought public office. He is a 
 member of the Polk County I\lcdical Society, of 
 which he has been President some time, of the 
 State Medical Societj% and of the American Medi- 
 cal Association. Already he is accounted by the 
 profession one of the ablest surgeons in the State, 
 having within ten 3-ears gained a reputation that is 
 seldom acquired in a lifetime. Previous to this 
 time he |_has done a general [iractice, but in the 
 future he expects to devote his entire energies to 
 surgery. 
 
 -.^^^^m^^^-^^ 
 
 11 AWRF:NCE T. FILSON, who resides on 
 section 29, Hloomfield Township, has for 
 the long |)eriod of forty years been num 
 
 bered among the citizens of this county. He is a 
 native of Fleming County, Kj'., born April 25. 
 1822, and a son of AV'illiam and Percilla (Thomp- 
 son) Filson, both of whom were of English descent. 
 The father was a native of Virginia, but removed 
 to Kentucky at an earlj- d.ay, and there followed 
 farming throughout the remainder of his life. For 
 twentj'-one years he served as Sheriff of Fleming 
 Cojnt}^ and in the discharge of his official duties 
 formed an tstensive acquaintance throughout the 
 community. It is needless to say that he proved 
 an able and efficient oflicer, foi- his long continued 
 service plainly indicates that fact. He was a sup- 
 porter of the Whig paVty in early life, and on its 
 organization joined the Republican party. Al- 
 though a resident of a slave State, he was greatly 
 opi)Osed to slavery, and was a loyal supporter of 
 the Union during the Civil War. Both he and his 
 wife died about the year 1873. Unto them were 
 born the following eight children — Mary, widow 
 of Thomas Boyd, of Cass County, Mo.; Melinda, 
 who is now deceased; Washington, a resident of 
 Caldwell County, Mo.; Elizabeth J., wife of Will- 
 
 iam Buckle^^ a resident of Cass County, Mo.; 
 Emily, wife of Barnei* Ha3'den,of the. eame county: 
 Lawrence T., of this sketch; Eveline, wife of Will- 
 iam W. Williamson, who resides on the old home- 
 stead in Fleming County, Ky.; and James L., of 
 Caldwell County, Mo. 
 
 Our subject received a limited education in the 
 subscription schools, and was reared on the farm 
 on which he was born. He remained under the 
 parental roof until reaching man's estate, when he 
 left home and went to Scott Count}', lud., where he 
 served a three years' apjirenticeship to the carpen- 
 ter's trade. He tlien went to .Icnnings County in 
 search of work, and while there joined a regiment 
 bound for Oregon. The com[)any went to Jeffer- 
 son liarr.acks, St. Louis, and while there stationed 
 the news was received of Taylor's fight nith the 
 Mexicans. A call was then issued for volunteers, 
 and with the other members of the regiment our 
 subject enlisted. Thej' were drilled for cavalry 
 service, after which they marched to the front, going 
 by way of water to New Orleans, where they spent 
 some time in drilling on the old battle-field where 
 Andrew Jackson routed the British. After about 
 two weeks they crossed the gulf to the mouth of 
 the Rio Orande, but in so doing the horses were 
 all lost, and the regiment was forced to proceed on 
 foot. Later orders came to go to Vera Cruz by 
 water, and in all the general battles along Scott's 
 lines our subject participated. As a member of a 
 regiment of shar|)shooters he was placed in front 
 of the line of march, and was engaged in skirmish- 
 ing all the way from \'era Cruz to the Citj' of 
 Mexico, where the}' were quartered in the halls of 
 Montezuma, the last king of the Aztecs. Mr. 
 Filson was engaged in police duty for about eight 
 months, at the end of which time peace was res- 
 tored and they returne<l on foot to Vera Cruz, a 
 distance of two hundred and fift}' miles. His ser- 
 vice in the Mexican War covered a period of 
 about three years, during which he suffered injuries 
 from which he has never recovered. Proceeding 
 with his regiment to St. Louis, by an act of Con- 
 gress he was honorably discharged, after which he 
 returned to the home of his parents, where he re- 
 mained during the winter. His pay was then sent 
 him and a land warrant given him for his services. 
 
233 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Taking: his tools, in the spring of 1849 Mr. Fil- 
 son started for the West to try his fortune on its 
 broad prairies. He proceeded by water to Keokuk, 
 and thence by team to Polk Couniy. -He found 
 Ft. Des Moines to consist of a few scattered cabins 
 on the east side, and the fort cabins wiiich graced 
 the banks of the Coon and Des Moines Rivers. 
 From tiiat time forward for a considerable period 
 he was actively identified with the upbuilding of 
 the count}' and the promotion of her interests. 
 lie aided in the erection of the first frame house 
 built in Des Moines, a portion of whicli stands 
 to-day as a monument to his skill and industry. 
 He continued work as a carpenter for about twelve 
 years, during which lime he erected a number of 
 residences. His first purchase of land consisted of 
 one hundred and twenty acres in .Savior Township, 
 which lie operated for two years, when he was 
 forced to abandon agricultural pursuits on account 
 of ill-health. He then returned to the city, and 
 then engaged in contracting and building for two 
 years, having under his charge a force of ten men. 
 As he was a thorough master of the business in 
 every particular, and did his work in the most 
 careful and painstaking manner, he received a 
 liberal patronage and was r.apidl}' acquiring a 
 competence, but took a severe cold from exposure 
 while working in the rain, and from the effects was 
 confined to his bed for three months. For five 
 years afterward he was unable to engage in Inisi- 
 ness at all. and has never been able to resume 
 work at his chosen occupation. When the war 
 broke out he received a commission as Lieutenant 
 from Gov. Kirkwood to raise a compan}', but 
 owing to ill-health could not accept. In the sum- 
 mer of 1864 he made purchase of one hundred and 
 sixty acres of land, on which he now resides, and 
 began the development of a farm. A little frame 
 house of one room had been built, and an orchard 
 of ten acres had been planted, but otherwise the 
 land was in its primitive condition. 
 
 Mr. Filson was married on the loth of Novem- 
 ber, 1.S49. the lady of his choice being Miss Martha 
 .1. lUizick. The marriage ccremonj- was performed 
 in a little log cabin, and was one of the first wed- 
 dings celebrated in this county. Mrs. Filson is a 
 daughter of William and Kli7.:;betli (Walker) ISu 
 
 zick, tlie former a native of Maryland and the 
 latter of Ohio. Her father was an eminent minister, 
 and was one of the early settlers of Polk Count}'. 
 He arrived in Des Moines in 1846, and from that 
 time until his death, which occurred in 1883, 
 pre.ached the Gos[)cl in and around that city. His 
 wife, a most estimable lad}', died twenty-four 
 years previous to the death of her husband. They 
 were beloved by all for their many good works, 
 and in them the poor and needy found true friends. 
 Their family numbered six children, as follows: 
 Henry, Sarah A., Margaret, Mary A., William and 
 Martha J. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Filson has 
 been blessed with eight children, two sons and six 
 daughters — Mary E., the first-born, is the wife of 
 James Spring, a resitlent of Bloomfield Township; 
 Amanda .1. is the wife of Franklin D. Pierce, of 
 this county; Melinda E. wedded Truman Jones, of 
 Bloorafield Township; Laura B. married L. 0. 
 Jones; Edwin D. is operating the old homestead; 
 Maggie C, Sarah A. and Lawrence L. are still with 
 their parents. 
 
 Ill politics, Mr. Filson is a llepublican. and so- 
 cially a member of the ^lasonic fraternity. His 
 fnrm comiirises one hundred and sixty acres of 
 valuable land, highly cultivated and improved, 
 upon which may be found an excellent grade of 
 cattle. Mr. Filson is now practically living a 
 retired life, while his son attends tc> the maiiage- 
 menl of his business interests. 
 
 -^E 
 
 ,Tp\ E\'. F. WIXFRIED .SCHMIDT. (). S. B., 
 p^ pastor of St. Mary's Church, of Des Moines, 
 ^l\V was born in Siedlinghausen. Westphalia, 
 ^^Germany, March 31. 1851, and is the son 
 of a thrifty hardware merchant of that town. Hav- 
 ing attended the parochial school until fourteen 
 years of age, he then took a six 3-ears' course of 
 training in Paderborn University, from which he 
 was graduated in 1871. Those acquainted with 
 the requirements of the (German universities can 
 understand how thoroughly equipped the Rev. 
 IMr. Schmidt was to begin life. The same year of 
 his graduation he bade good-by to home and father- 
 
r'XJ> 
 
 Oi/<V.. GwJX.,«a_^ 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 241 
 
 land ail"! sailed for the United States. He at once 
 took a [irofessoisliip in St. \'incent's College, situ- 
 atod at Beatt^-'s Postoffice, Westmoreland County, 
 Pa. After six years of satisfactory work in that 
 college, he was called to the chair of Theolog}' and 
 Philosophy in St. Iknedict's College, of Atchison, 
 Kan., which he acceptably fdled until 1883. 
 
 In that year the Kcv. Mr. Schmidt became rec- 
 tor of St. Mary's Church, in Des Moines. The 
 church was organized about 18G9, and in 1876 
 their present fine brick cdilice was erected on the 
 corner of Second and Crocker Streets. It has a 
 huge auditorium that will seat some nine hundred 
 persons, and also a department for school work. A 
 school is maintained, in which bolii English and 
 (u'rman are taught. Untd 1883 the church had 
 Ik'pu under the Bishop's charge, but in that year 
 it was transferred to the Benedictine Fathers. AVIien 
 Father Schmidt took charge, the church was over 
 ^0,000 in debt. His efficient management, with 
 the hearty co-operation of an al)le and liberal 
 membership, has i)ai(l off all the indebtedness and 
 increased the churcli proiierty until, at a modest 
 estimate, it is valued at §80,000. The school af- 
 fords both litcrarj' and musical instruction, and 
 there are now al)out one hundied pupils under the 
 care of three tcachei'S. Father Schmidt is an excel- 
 lent linancier, as well as an able man in the pulpit, 
 and his six years' pastorate in Des Moines has been 
 a pleasant i>criod with both himself and his congre- 
 gation. 
 
 <|i l»;ILLIAM M. BEARDSHKAR, A.M. D.D.. 
 \rJi Superintendent of the West Des Moines 
 \^/^ [)ublic schools, is one of the renowned educa- 
 tors of Iowa. lie is of Swiss extraction on the 
 paternal side, and on his mother's side is of Scotch 
 and Welsh origin. His grandfather Beardshear 
 emigrated from Pennsylvania to \'irginia in an 
 early day and in 1802, became a resident of Ohio, 
 hjcating near Dayton, where he entered seven huu- 
 (ircd acres of land. That .became the permanent 
 home of the family and upon that farm, in 1811, 
 was born the Doctor's father, John Beardshear. 
 Having attained to man's estate, he was united in 
 
 marriage with Elizabeth Coleman, who was born 
 in Ohio, in 1821, and was a daughter of Robert 
 Coleman, who emigrated from Pennsylvania to the 
 Buckeye State during the earliest days of its his- 
 tory. Mr. Beardshear was an energetic farmer 
 and took an active part in local affairs, especially 
 in the advancement of public schools, colleges 
 and the interests of the Church. His hospitable 
 door always stood open for the reception of those 
 who spent their lives in preaching the gospel. He 
 was a worthy member of the United Brethren 
 Church and gave to it his earnest support until 
 his death, which occurred in 1873. His aged wife, 
 who still survives him, also belongs to that church 
 and is universally esteemed. Their famili' consists 
 of four children — AVilliam M. ; Sella, now :\[rs. 
 Coover, wife of a prominent stock dealer of Ohio; 
 Rilla, a music teacher; and Emma, wife of Prof. 
 W. O. Krohn,of the Western Reserve College of 
 Ohio. Emma died in .Tanuary, 1890. 
 
 Dr. Beardshear was born on the old homestead 
 near Dayton, Ohio. November 7, 1850, and until 
 fourteen years of age his time was spent in develop- 
 ing his physical nature by hard work on the farm, 
 and his mental forces by reading and attendance 
 in the district schools. In January. 1865, though 
 little more than fourteen years of age, he enlisted 
 in Company A. of the One Hundred and Eighty- 
 fourth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry and ser- 
 ved until the close of the war in the Army of the 
 Cumberland. On his leturn home, he began the 
 task of securing an education, having to depend 
 largely upon his own resources. In 1809, he en- 
 tered the preparatory deparlnicnt of Otterbcin 
 University, and after six years of hard study grad- 
 uated at the licail of a large class with the degree 
 of A. B. Dunng his college course he united with 
 the United Ihcthicn Church, anil upon his gradua- 
 tion in lS7('i,was called to the pastorate of that 
 church in Arcanum, Ohio, where he ministered two 
 years. That period is cherished alike by pastor 
 and people. The years 1878-80 were spent by Mr. 
 Beardshear mostly in the "^'ale Theological Semi- 
 nary of New Haven, Conn., and during that time 
 he supplied the i)ulpit of the Congregational Church 
 at Bethany. In the early part of 1881, he was 
 called to Summit Street Church in Dayton, Ohio, 
 
242 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 but resigned in Jiil^y of the snaie year to ac;cei)t the 
 presidency of Western College in Toledo, Iowa, 
 thus becoming one of the youngest college presi- 
 dents in the I'liited States. 
 
 When Dr. Beardsbear took charge of that insti- 
 tution, it was almost destitute of endowment, build- 
 ings and students, but by his persistent and well- 
 directed efforts, and the aid of stanch friends of the 
 college, the enrollment w.is more than quadrupled, 
 three large buildings were erected, and over 
 >!2()0,()()0 added to the various funds of 
 tlie college. While working in the interests 
 of the school and lecturing and preaching, he 
 was winning for himself a reputation .as an able 
 educator and a man of great mental power. As a 
 result in the fall of 1889. he was tendered the Super- 
 intendency of the West Des Moines public schools, 
 which he accepted, resigning the post of duty which 
 he had so ably filled in AVestern College. The 
 Tama Ilcmld, speaking of tlie loss sustained by his 
 resignation, says: "Under his guiding hand the col- 
 lege has gained a prosperity and usefulness far 
 beyond that of other days. All this has not been 
 accomplished without severe and protracted labor, 
 the brunt of which f< II upon the broad shoulders 
 of I'resident Beardshear. And now when Western 
 College has passed the critical |)oint in its history, 
 having reared palatial buildings, secured a line corps 
 of instructors and a large attendance of pupils, and 
 having thoroughly entrenched itself in the good 
 will of all in this section of the State, it seems hard 
 that the president to whom it owes so much should 
 not remain with it and enjoy some of the sunshine 
 of its prosperity." The duties of his new jjosition 
 ai-c manifold and arduous, but wiih his high con- 
 ception of what the schools should be and his de 
 sire and aliility to bring them ui) to his standard, 
 we may confidently cxi)cct that the West Des 
 Moines schools will lead the first rank of city 
 schools in a State in which for elllciency, the public 
 school system leads the nation. 
 
 Since he has become a resident of Iowa, Dr. 
 Beardshear has taken a very active part in educa- 
 tional Aork, having taught in County Institutes 
 and lectured on educational subjects in Iowa and 
 adjoining States. Soon after his graduation, he re- 
 ceived the degree of A. M. from his Alma Alater, 
 
 and in 1885 the honorary degree of D. D. was con- 
 ferred upon him b^' the Lebanon Vallej' College of 
 Pennsylvania. Socially he is a member of the 
 Masonic fraternity and the (Jrand Army of the 
 Republic. 
 
 In March, 1873, Dr. Beai-dshear was united 
 in marriage with Miss Josephine !Mundhcnk, a na- 
 tive of Ohio and a .lunior of Otterbein LTnivcrsit}'. 
 Her parents were born in the Buckeye State, but 
 were of German descent. Four children have 
 blessed this union — Hazel L., Gertrude M.. William 
 M. and Charley. The Doctor and his wife are 
 consistent members of the I'nited Brethren Church 
 and hold as high rank in the social world, as he 
 docs among the educators of the State. 
 
 u: 
 
 ILLIAM H. McHKNRY, An.. Attorney-at- 
 >aw, has passed his entire life in Des 
 Moines. Iowa. He was born in tills city 
 on the 1st of January, 18G0, his parents being 
 Judge William H. and Mar_v (Butterfield) McHenry, 
 who are well known in Polk Count3', especially 
 among its best citizens. On leaving the common 
 schools our subject entered the Iowa Agricultural 
 College at Ames, from which he graduate(i in the 
 class of 1881 with the degree of B. S. To fur- 
 ther fit himself for the legal profession, wliich 
 he had determined to make his life work, he en- 
 tered and graduated from the law department of 
 Drake University- in the class of '83, with an L.L.B. 
 degree. At the close of his course in that insti- 
 tution, he established himself in practice in his 
 native city and soon won a fair share of the legal 
 business of the local courts. On the 1st of Janu- 
 ary, 1887, he joined his father, who had recently 
 retired from the bench, an<l w.as connected with 
 him in practice until November. 1889, when the 
 partnership was dissolved and he has since piu'sued 
 his profession alone. 
 
 On the 9th of November, 1887. in Sioux City, 
 Iowa, Mr. McIIenr^' was united in marriage with 
 Miss L. A. Wright, a daughter of A. R. Wright. 
 The laily w.as born in the city where her wedding 
 w.as celebrated and was educated at the same col- 
 
PORTRAIT AND lilOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 243 
 
 lege and graduated in tliu same class witli her 
 liusband. She is a most estimable hid^- and a con- 
 sistent member of the Plymouth Congregational 
 Church. >Ir. McHenr^- is a member of Capital 
 Lodge, No. 110, A. F. it A. JL, and of Capital 
 Lodge, No. 29, K. of P. Like his father he is a 
 stanch Democrat in politics. lie inherited a posi- 
 tive quality of Democracy which time has never 
 lessened, but which age only strengthened. 
 
 A iieculiar incident in the professional experi- 
 ence of the McIIeurys occurred a fevv years since, 
 when the father was on the bench. It so happened 
 liiat in a certain case on trial before him, his eldest 
 son appeared for the i)laintiff and the second son 
 for the defendant, so that the trial, so far as court 
 and council were concerned, was a family affair. 
 The subject of this sketch, although comparativel}- 
 a young man, has already won prominence at the 
 bar and has shown marked ability in the line of his 
 profession. 
 
 — •—5^5c^-~' — 
 
 ^AMES A. MERRITT, Attorney and Coun- 
 selor-at-law, senior member of the firm of 
 Merritt & Loutham, is engaged in the prac- 
 ''■^i^JJ ti'^c of his chosen profession in Des Moines, 
 his oflice being situated in the building of tli(> Iowa 
 Loan and Trust Companj\ He has been a resident 
 of Iowa for the long period of thirty-five years 
 and has made iiis home in Des Moines since May, 
 1.S87. Me was born in Livingston County, N. Y., 
 October 10, 1852, and is a son of James P.. and 
 Laura C. (Wing) Merritt, the former a native of 
 the State of New York, born on the banks of the 
 Hudson River, the latter of Connecticut. In the 
 si)ring of 18.')5, the family came to the new State 
 of Iowa, and settled in Tama County. 
 
 Our subject here received liberal educational 
 advantaijcs. lie attended Orinnell College and the 
 State Agricultural College of Ames, later was a 
 student in the State University at Iowa City, and 
 afti'rwards entered tiie Western College of Toledo, 
 Iowa, from which institution he graduated in tiie 
 class of 1886. It had been his wish to make the 
 jcial profession his life work and in tiie meantime 
 he had studied law under the prcce[itorshii) of 
 
 Judge Struble of Toledo, ex-siieakcr of the Iowa 
 House of Representatives, and also was a student 
 in the oliice of Judge L. G. Kinne, of Toledo. 
 He was admitted to the bar of Tama County, Iowa, 
 in November, 1878, and the following year began 
 practice in Toledo, where he won an excellent 
 reputation and secured a liberal patronage, there 
 continuing to make his home until May 4, 1887, 
 when he came to Des Moines. Opening an oflice 
 he began to iiractice on the 16th of that month 
 and has carried on his labors continuously since. 
 He makes a specialty of mercantile law and cases 
 relating to real estate. 
 
 A marriage ceremony performed in Marion, Linn 
 County, Iowa, on the 9tli of August, 1882, united 
 the destinies of James A. Merritt and Miss Ida 
 L. MeClain, a daughter of James and Elizabeth 
 McClain, of Linn County. Mrs. Merritt is a na- 
 tive of Rock Island, 111. Their union has been 
 graced with a family of three children, a son and 
 two daughters, namely: Hazel Estella, who is now 
 six yeais of age; Claude W. aged four; and Luetta 
 May, a year old babe. 
 
 Mr. Merritt is a Republican in politics and served 
 as Cit3' Attorney of Toledo for a term of one year. 
 Socially, he is a member of Pioneer Lodge, No. 
 22, A. F. A' A. M., of Des Moines, having been a 
 member of the Masonic fraternity' since 188ri. Al- 
 though he h.as been in Des Moines but a short time, 
 Mr. Merritt has already succeeded in securing a fair 
 legal business which is constantly increasing. He 
 has recently formed a jiartnership with W. B. 
 Loutham, who was his former i)artner while in 
 Toledo, Ohio. Mr. Merritt possesses the ability of 
 a first class lawyer and in the course of time will 
 become a leader at the bar in the branch of the 
 business which he makes a specially. 
 
 ^#^ 
 
 «>HOMAS C. DAWSON, junior partner in 
 y the (irni of Hume & Dawson, of Des Moines, 
 is a native of Wisconsin, having been born 
 in Hudson, tiiat State, on the 30th of July, 1865. 
 The family is of Scotch descent and w.as one of the 
 first to settle in the Radgcr State, where its mem- 
 
244 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 bers became owners of valiiaUle land near Milwau- 
 kee. The father of our subject, Allan Dawson, was 
 a prominent attorney of the Badger State. He 
 (lied while in the prime of life, Thomas C. being 
 tiien but a child. His widow, in her maidenhood 
 was Anna Cleland. a sister of the mother of Mr. 
 Hume, an<l is now a resident of Elnterprise, Fla. 
 
 Tlie subject of this sketch was reared to man- 
 liooil in his native State and b3- nature and training 
 was especially fitted for the |)roniinent position 
 wliich he is rapidlj' gaining at the bar. He is a 
 graduate of Hanover College, of Indiana, complet- 
 ing the course in 1883. But not content witli end- 
 ing his school life there, the same year he entered 
 Harvard College and took a post graduate course 
 at the famous seat of learning. His taste led him 
 to select the legal profession as the one which he 
 wished to make his life work and he began the study 
 of law in Cincinnati. Ohio, in tlie office of Thornton 
 ct Hinkle, graduating from tiu^ law scliool of that 
 city in 1886. The same year he came to Des 
 Moines and shortly a(terwar<l tiie partnership of 
 Hume & Dawson was formed. Although both 
 members of the firm .ire young, both in years and 
 practice, the firm has been recognized as one of 
 ability and thus far has secured a liberal patronage 
 which is constantlj- increasing. 
 
 -J^^- 
 
 * i -^-' 
 
 tON. REINHARD FRANZ YOUNG, Presi- 
 \ dent of the Union Coal and Mining Com- 
 ^_^^' pan}- and JLayor of the city of Sevastopol, 
 ((^ is of (icrman birth. He was born in Hesse 
 Cassell, Germany, on the 22d of December, 182<;, 
 and is a son of John P. N. and Jeanuette (LeGoul- 
 lon) Young. His father w.as also a native of Hesse 
 Casscl, and belonged to one of the old respected 
 families of that country. His mother, however, 
 was bom of French parentage. 
 
 The subject of this sketch received his education 
 in a high school of his native country and was after- 
 wards employed as booU-keeeper until 1847, when 
 he determined to seek his fortune in the New 
 World. lie was then a young man of twenty 
 years. Crossing the broad Atlantic he settled in 
 
 Phillipsburg, Pa., but afterwards went to Pitts- 
 burg, where he served an apprenticeship to the 
 locksmith's trade. He was also married in that 
 city, on the 23d of June, 1849, to Miss IMary 
 Klepstein, who was born in Mulhausen, Thuiingia, 
 Germany, and came to America in August, 1847, 
 in company with her father, Samuel Klepstein and 
 his family. Mr. and Mrs. Young were the parents 
 of five children, three of whom are now living. 
 Charles, the eldest, who was born March 31, 1850, 
 died in infancy; Robert Kossuth, who was born 
 August 18, 1851, married Miss Lena Cordari, 
 August 18, 1878, and died on the first anniversary 
 of his wedding; Kmilie, who was born M.ay 1, 
 1854, is the wife of J. A. Lewis, who is engaged in 
 the manufacture of artificial stone and resides in 
 Des Moines; Ida, who was born August 13, 1857, 
 is the wife of Frank X. Spitz, a cigar manufacturer 
 of this city; Edward A., the only surviving son, 
 married Miss Paulina Munzcnmaier and is a grocer 
 of Sevastopol. 
 
 Sf)on after his marriage Mr. Y'oung removed to 
 Brownville, Pa., where he engaged in the manu- 
 facture of soap and candles, continuing that busi- 
 ness until March, 1857. when he came to Des 
 Moines, and established a small soap and candle 
 factory on West Sixteenth Street, the first factory 
 in that line in the city. In 18GG he removed to 
 the south side of the Coon River, where he followed 
 the same pursuit until June. 1883. Prior to closing 
 out his soap and candle business. Mr. Young aided 
 in incorporating the I'nion Coal and Mining Com- 
 pany, of which he was elected President and h.as 
 held that position continuous!}' since. The com- 
 pan}- was incorporated Noveml)er 1, 1881, and F. 
 W. Adlfinger was chosen secretary, a position he 
 h.as retained to the present. Tlie mine is situated 
 in Sevastopol, a suburb of Des Jloines and turns 
 out as fine coal as any in the State. One hiiiidivd 
 and fifty men are employed by the company and 
 the value of the annual output averages about 
 $100,000. 
 
 Mr. Young is a Democrat in politics and has 
 been chosen by his townsmen to many olliccs of 
 public honor and trust. He has been constantly 
 in oHicc ever since tiio city of Sevastopol w.as in- 
 corporatcil. For some time he served .as Recorder, 
 

 I 
 
 "-•'«, 
 
 6^o<f 
 
 64- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 245 
 
 was Alderman several years and has been Maj'or 
 tlirce years in succession. He was appointed United 
 States Ganger in the spring of 1887, and served 
 until the oflice was abolished, being the last to fill 
 the position in this district. He is a member of 
 Capital City Lodge, No. 110, A. F. & A. M., and 
 a charter member of Sevastopol Lodge, L O. O. F. 
 He also belongs to the I)es Moines Turners society. 
 He has been an Odd Fellow for thirty-five years, 
 has filled all the chairs in the subordinate lodge 
 and has represented his lodge in the (irand Lodge 
 of the State. Mr. Young is highly esteemed for 
 his sterling integrity and enleri)rise, and enjo3-s the 
 confidence of his fellow citizens to the fullest ex- 
 tent. He ivas the first of his father's family to 
 come to America and as time rolls on his descend- 
 ants may point with pride to the record of R. F. 
 Young, the founder of tiicir family in America. 
 
 : — i-x^?-« 
 
 HARLES CLINTON NOURSE was born at 
 11 Sharpsburg, AVashington County, Md., April 
 
 ^^(' 1, 1829. and was the third son of Charles 
 Nourse and Susan Cameron. Charles Nourse was 
 born at Frankfort. Ky., April 15, 1801. His father, 
 Gabriel Nourse was one of the earl}' settlers of 
 Kentucky, but after the death of two of his broth- 
 ers at the hands of the Indians he returned to Vif- 
 ginia where his family was reared. Charles Nourse 
 was a teacher bj- profession an i taught school for 
 fifty successive years, first in Maryland and after- 
 ward in Ohio, Kentucky and Iowa, lie died at 
 Keynoldsliurg, Ohio, in January, 1880. The mother 
 of Oiarlcs Clinton Nourse, Susan Cameron, died .at 
 Shepherdstown, Va., in 1830. On the mother's side 
 she was of the Clintons, and the name has been pre- 
 served in the family in honor of the grandmother. 
 The genealog}' of the Nourse family dates back to 
 1520 to John Nourse, of Chilling I'lace, Oxford, 
 England, and his wife IMiillii)a, daughter of Sir Ed- 
 ward Terrill. The American branch of the Nourse 
 family to which the subject of the present sketch 
 belongs, descendeil from James Nourse and his 
 wife Sarah Fouace. wIhj emigrated from London, 
 
 England, in 1709, and settled at Piedmont, Jeffer- 
 son County, Va. This worthy couple were the 
 parents of twenty-one children, among them Gab- 
 riel Nourse, the grandfather of the jjcrson of 
 whom we write. 
 
 The subject of this sketch. Charles Clinton 
 Nourse, enjoyed the advantage of a good education, 
 received chielly from his father's personal instruc- 
 tion. He graduated in the Law Department of 
 Transylvania University at Lexington, Ky., in 
 1850. He came to Iowa in 1851 and commenced the 
 practice of law at Keosauqua, Van Buren Count}-. 
 He was married, in Lexington. Ky., in 1853 to Miss 
 Rebecca McMeekin. In 1858 he removed to Des 
 Moines, where he has ever since resided. He has 
 been honored with various official positions, was 
 elected Public Prosecutor for Van Buren County, 
 in August, 1852; was Clerk of the Iowa House of 
 Representatives in 1853-54, and in 1856-57 was 
 Secretary of the Senate. He was elected Attorney 
 General of Iowa in 1800 and re-elected in 1802. In 
 1805 he was appointed Judge of the Fifth Judicial 
 District of the State. After being on the bench six 
 months he resigned and resumed his practice, which 
 he has since pursued with marked success. Judge 
 Nourse took an active itart in the organization of 
 the Re|)ublican partj' in the State in 1850, and has 
 been a stanch sujjporterof the principles advocated 
 by it continuously to the present. He li.as also been 
 an active and earnest advocate of the cause of tem- 
 perance and legal prohibition. 
 
 Clinton C. is the only child of Judge and Mrs. 
 Nourse. He was born at Des Moines, Iowa,in 1804, 
 was educated at Callanan College and the State 
 Agricultural College of Iowa. He married Miss Elte- 
 abetli Ik'hring, of Ft. Dodge, in June, 188!), and is 
 an architect by profession, now in business at Des 
 Moines. Judge Nourse and his wife arc membci's of 
 the Methodist Ei)iscopal Church, having belonged to 
 the same since their early youth. Among the most 
 worthy and highly respected citizens of Polk 
 Count}', no one stands higher or is entitled to 
 greater regard for purity of character, high order 
 of legal talent and the substantial (jualities of an 
 able and u|)riglit man than the .Judge. In 1H70 he 
 was selected by the (idvenior of low.i to <leliver 
 the Ceutcnni.'il address at Philadelphia in bclinlf 
 
246 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 of the Slati'. This address is a condensed history of 
 the State of Iowa, its early settlenienl, topography, 
 resources, progress, politics and educational facili- 
 ties. The State published twenty thousand copies of 
 itfor general circulation. In 1877 Simpson Centen- 
 ary College conferred on the .Indge the degree of 
 Doctor of Laws. For thirty-nine years he has been 
 identified with the bar of Iowa, and has been more 
 or less prominently connected with public affaiis in 
 oflicial and professional duties during that entire 
 period. He has always proved himself capable and 
 reliable in all he has undertaken, a faithful public 
 officer, and a citizen of whom his townsmen speak 
 only with pride. 
 
 ^^©^•" 
 
 ^f LVAN A. HASKINS, one of the leading 
 W/Ljv. young attorneys of Des Moines, Iowa, was 
 born in Chicago, 111., October U, 1863, and 
 is descended from old New Engl.and fam- 
 ilies. His father, Norman Haskins, was a native of 
 New York, where for generations pnst his ancestors 
 lived. He married Miss Julia K. Abel, who was 
 born in Saybrook, Ohio, but comes of a New Eng- 
 land family, her ancestors having settled in Massa- 
 chusetts. 
 
 In 1870, the family came to Iowa, settling near 
 Atlanlic, vvlience they removed to Des Moines in 
 1872. Mr. Haskins received his primary education, 
 in the public schools, which was supplemented by 
 a course in Drake I'liiversity in this city; he was 
 graduated from the classical course in 1884, and 
 from the law (lei)artment in 1885. He entered u|ion 
 his practice in company with (len. A. J. ISaker and 
 Judo'e C. A. IJishoi) under the liiin name of Baker, 
 Bishop & Haskins, which connection continued un- 
 til November 1, 1887, when Judge P.ishop retired, 
 tlie lirm becoming Baker & Haskins. Those two 
 gentk^man cO))tinue(l partnership until October 1, 
 1889, when the connection was dissolved, since 
 which lime Mr. Haskins has been alone in |)raeticc. 
 In politics he is a Rei)ul)lican. but h.as never taken 
 an active part in political affairs or sought public 
 office. He resides in West University Place with 
 his parents, the family there having a pleasant 
 
 home. He is a rising young lawyer who possesses 
 great legal talent and studious habits, which will in 
 time win him a foremost place in his chosen pro- 
 fession. His colleagues acknowledge his ability, 
 and his friends have just reason to be proud of the 
 position which he already occupies. ; 
 
 li^^ 
 
 ERMAN D. RE1^^■E is the senior member 
 IJ of tlie firm of Reeve & Gaston, Government 
 Claim Attorneys, whose office is situated at 
 No. 616 West Locust Street, Des Moines, 
 lie is a Hawkeye by birth, having first opened iiis 
 eyes to the light of day in Franklin Count3% Iowa, 
 March 25, 1857. His parents, James B. and Ade- 
 line (Riggs) Reeve, left their home in Rome, Ash- 
 tabula County, Ohio, and by team made the journey 
 to Franklin County, in 1852, while yet the coun 
 try was wild and unsettled. Mr. Reeve helped to 
 organize the county, and was elected its first judge, 
 the balloting taking place in his old log house. He 
 was a farmer by ocoujjation, a Republican in [loli- 
 tics, and a patriotic citizen. On the Gth of August, 
 1862, he was coramlssiofned Captain of Company H, 
 Thirty-second Iowa Infantry, and was in active 
 service until his death, which occurred in Ft. Pil- 
 low, Tenn., January' 24, 1863. He had two brothers 
 and three sons in the army, and the brothers and 
 one son dieil in the service. The son was a prisoner 
 and died at Andcrsonville from the effects of the 
 hardships and confinement of prison life. Mrs. 
 Reeve survives her husband, and still resides on the 
 old homestead in Franklin County. Their family- 
 numbered ten children. si.\ sons and four daughters. 
 The original American ancestor of Mr. Reeve was 
 a Frenchman by birth, who accompanied LaFayette 
 to America, serving with him until after the close 
 of the Revolutionary War, when he resolved to 
 make his future home in this country, and settled 
 in New England. The spelling of his name w.as 
 Revee, but it has since been changed to its present 
 form. 
 
 Herman B. R;eve, whose name heads this notice, 
 passed his early life in much the usual manner of 
 farmer lads, and in the district schools received his 
 
PORTRAIT AND UIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 247 
 
 (iiimarv ciliioiition. He afterw.ivds. however, be- 
 came a student in the loiva Agricultural College of 
 Ames, and was graduated in the Class of '82, in the 
 law de[)artnient of the State riiiversity. and subse- 
 qucntl}- took a post graduate course in the Isalional 
 University- at Washington. D. C. graduating from 
 that school in the Class of '84. He began business 
 in the Government service as special examiner of 
 the Pension Oflice, which position he held from 
 1882 until 1885, when he came to Des Moines, and 
 formed the existing partnership with INIr. Gaston. 
 The firm of Reeve & Gaston has an extensive prac- 
 tice, and makes a si)t,?ialty of Government claim 
 business, having a branch oltiee in Milwaukee, Wis., 
 and another in Washington, D. C. 
 
 On the 3d of November, 1887, in Des Moines, 
 Iowa, Mr. Reeve was joined in wedlock with Miss 
 Hattie B. St. John, a daughter of Carlisle St. John. 
 She was born in this city, and is a member of the 
 -Sixth Presbyterian Church. Her family were among 
 the early settlers of Polk County. The union of 
 Mr. and Mrs. Reeve has been blessed with one son, 
 Herman D.. who w.as born in Des Moines, October 
 21, 1888. In politics, JNIr. Reeve is & Republican, 
 and is a member of the town council of University 
 Place. Socially, he belongs to the Orders of Red 
 Men, Good Temi)lars, and Sons of Veterans. He 
 is a worthy and valuable citizen, honored by all 
 who know him. 
 
 ^MOS WISELEY BRANDT, Auditor of 
 (@^J]| Polk County, and a leading citizen of 
 DesMoines, was born in Auburn, De Kalb 
 County, Ind., on the 24th of August, 
 18;j0, and is a son of Isaac and Harriet (Wiscley) 
 Brandt, He came to Des Moines with his parents 
 in April, 1858. His early education was received 
 in tiie public schools of that place, but later he 
 entered Monmouth College, of Monmouth, HI., 
 from which he was graduated in the class of 1871. 
 He also pursued a course in Grinnell College, at 
 Grinnell, Iowa, 
 
 On the 8th of May, 1872, .Mr. Brandt w.as mar- 
 ried, near Soraonauk, HI., to Miss Mattie L. Mof- 
 
 fett. daughter of John and Lettie M. MolTett, and 
 a native of Bloomington, Ind., born] March 25, 
 1852. Six children graced their union, of whom 
 four are now living — Guy M., Lettie H., Anna M. 
 and Ruth, Isaac W. died at the age of four and 
 a half years, and another child died in infancy. 
 
 IMr. Brandt entered upon the study of law in the 
 oflice of Conrad A Phillips, where he remained two 
 years, when he entered the Iowa Law School, a 
 branch of Simpson Centenary College, at Indianola, 
 and was admitted to the bar in June, 1880. While 
 pursuing his law studies he engaged in teaching for 
 ten months. Previous'to that time he had followed 
 farming, in Valley Townshi|), continuing the same 
 till December 14, 1877, when he removed to the 
 city of Des Moines. In the fall of 1880 he was 
 elected Justice of the Peace for Lee Township, but 
 after one year's service resigned. In January, 
 1882, he was appointed United States Store Keeper, 
 and served until November 27, the same year, when 
 he was appointed United States Ganger, and con- 
 tinued to hold that office until Decem))er, 1885. In 
 the meantime he was off duty, in the spring of 
 1885, and organized the Black Diamond Coal Min- 
 ing Company, in connection with J. and G. E. 
 Walters, and has maintained his connection with 
 the company since. In the fall of 1887 Mr. Brandt 
 was elected Auditor of Polk County, and re-elected 
 in 1889, running two hundred ahead of his ticket. 
 He is an earnest Republican in politics, and has 
 done good service in support of his party. Both 
 Mr. Brandt and his wife are members of the United 
 Presbyterian Church. He. has served six years as 
 Superintendent of the Sabbath-school, and has been 
 otherwise active and intluential in church work. 
 
 The history of Mr. Brandt's early life, and his 
 efforts to obtain an education, is interesting. He 
 attended the first regular i)ublic school of Des- 
 Moines, and carried brick to be used in the con- 
 struction of the first public school building. His 
 first business venture was as a dealer in pop corn, 
 with the proceeds of which he bought a ()ig. Av'^hen 
 the pig was nearly' grown it was stolen from the 
 pen by some soldiers who were camijing in Des- 
 Moines. A iK^ighbor kindly made him a present "I" 
 
 two small hogs in plice of tlu e he lost, and he 
 
 made such progi-ess in stot'k growing that when he 
 
248 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 left school forcollcj^e he placed in care of liis father 
 stock to the value of ^iSO. Between the ages of 
 eleven and nineteen years he was janitor of the 
 Good Templars' Hall, and received therefrom an 
 income of from ^1 to 4i2.25 per week. He furuisiied 
 his own clothes and paid his own way, except board 
 for that time. After his marrias^e he successfully 
 conducted a farm for awhile, but at length lost 
 heavily through extensive speculations in stock 
 when prices were on the decline. He has been a 
 very active worker in the cause of temperance, 
 having joined the Good Templars' order at the 
 age of twelve years, since which time he has faith- 
 fully kept the pledge. He has made a very efH- 
 cient and popular county officer, and won the high 
 regard of all. lie is a candid, genial gentleman, 
 always willing and ready to do his duty, and ever 
 courteous and obliging. His personal popularity- 
 was evinced in his recent election when he received 
 such a large majority. 
 
 Mr. Brandt's eldest son. Guy M., who is now 
 sixteen years of age, graduated from the Des- 
 Moines High School, and .it present is a freshman 
 in Monmouth College, where he is inirsuing a 
 classical course. He has the distinction at this 
 time of being the only student of that institution 
 who is a son of a graduate of the college. He is a 
 member of the Good Templars' Society, and is a 
 young man of much promise and ability. 
 
 -H-*-i«=^^=t+- 
 
 ^S LEXANDER SCOTT deserves special men- 
 m/UW tion in this volume, as he was prominently 
 connected with the early history of I)es- 
 Moines. He was a brother of James L. 
 Scott, of this cily. in whose sketch, found elsewhere 
 in this work, are given facts relating to the family 
 of our subject. Alexander Scott was born in 
 Crawford County, Ind., December 18, 1818, and 
 when the garrison was established at Ft. Des Moines 
 he came to Polk County, being under contract to 
 furnish the garrison with provisions. He remained 
 at the fort for three years, and, when the Indians 
 were removed, accompanied them to Kansas in the 
 cai)acity of an Indian trader. When the land of 
 
 Polk County came into the market he returned, 
 and entered about five hundred acres on the cast 
 side of the river, including all uf what now con- 
 stitutes East l)cs Moines, and in consequence the 
 site of the present capitol, which he afterward pre- 
 sented to the State. 
 
 Alexander ScoU was a man of large heart, and of 
 liberal and generous impulses. He resided for many 
 years on the laud he had chosen for his home, and 
 aided greatly in laying the foundation of the pres- 
 ent beautiful ai?d pros|ierous city of Des Moines by 
 his enterprise and liberal gifts of time and money 
 for its upbuilding. He constructed the lirst bridge 
 across the river at this place, and refused his influ- 
 ence and liberal support to no interest that tended 
 to promote the growth of the young town. The land 
 that he had entered increased in value, and he be- 
 came comparatively wealthy, and as his financial 
 resources increased, his spirit of generositj* and lib- 
 erality also seemed to be enlarged. He was gen- 
 erous almost to a fault. He could not sa^' no to an 
 appeal for financial aid. and advant.age was taken 
 of his kindness by unprincipled men. He endorsed 
 heavily and was compelled to meet the obligations 
 of those who had sought his assistance and whom 
 he had befriended, and soon bis earthly possessions 
 were swept away. In 1859, when the excitement 
 attending the discovery of gold at Pike's Peak was 
 at its height, Mr. Scott joined a party of adventur- 
 ers and started for that region, but he did not 
 reach his destination, death ending his unfortunate 
 career in camp near Ft. Kearney. Once, while 
 strolling over what is now Capitol Hill with his 
 brother, James L. Scott, and admiring its surround- 
 ings and the beautiful view obtained from that 
 location, he exi)rcsscd to his brother a desire that 
 his last resting ))lace might be there. In accord- 
 ance with that wish the brother proceeded to 
 F"t. Kearney when he heard of the death of Mr. 
 Scott, brought back the remains and buried them 
 on the spot which he had chosen as bis sepulcher. 
 He loft a wife, but no children. His widow after- 
 ward went to California, where she died uome years 
 
 ago. 
 
 Alexjinder Scott lies buried on Capitol Hill, only 
 a few rods from the m.agniliccnt Iowa State House, 
 of which all citizens of Iowa are so justly proud, 
 
^-5^^^ 
 
 ^Z-<!>:;^i^ 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 251 
 
 but lie who once possessed tliose beauliful grounds, 
 and by whose generositj- tliey were conveyed to 
 the State, lies in a neglected grave with no stone to 
 indicate where he lii-s. Jlay it not be long ere a 
 fitting memorial shall mark the last resting place of 
 this most worthy man. 
 
 <;i?OnN .1. WILLIAMS, one of the early set- 
 tlers of Des Moines and a proiniuent real- 
 estate dealer of that city, traces his ancestry 
 baciv to the days when his great-grandfather, 
 a Welshman by birth, emigrated to the North of 
 Ireland, where he married and reared a family of 
 children, to one of whom was given the name ot 
 Josei)li. When the lad had grown to mature 
 years he was married, and in 1808 sailed witli his 
 family to America, locating in Pennsylvania. When 
 the War of 1812 broke out, he espoused the cause 
 of his adopted country and served in that struggle. 
 About 1820 he removed to Ohio, where he lived 
 many years, and died at the age of eighty-one 
 years. 
 
 Alexander Williams, the father of our subject, 
 was born on the ICmerald Isle, July 3, 1806. His 
 mother died when he was about twelve years of 
 age, but his father was again married, and his sec- 
 ond wife proved a true mother to the young lad. 
 Alexander remained at home until twenty-three 
 years of age, when he left the parental roof to 
 leain the trade ot a millwright. In 1832 he i)ur- 
 chased a small mill in Jeflferson County, Ohio, but 
 after six 3-ears sold out and removed to Gallia 
 County, where he was extensively engaged in the 
 mill business for some seventeen 3'ears, in connec 
 tion with the operation of a farm. In 18.t6 he made 
 a tour through Northern IMissouri and Southern 
 Iowa, and being pleased with the location of Des 
 Moines and its future prospects, he invested in real 
 estate, and then returned to Ohio. In 1859 he 
 again came to this city and purchased the water 
 power and a dilapidated mill. With the aid of our 
 subject, he rebuilt most of the dam across the Des 
 Moines River and erected a flouring-mill at the 
 corner of First and Center Streets, in West Des 
 
 Moines, which they successfully operated until 
 1873, when Mr. Williams retired from business. 
 In jiolitical sentiment he was u Whig until the rise 
 of the Ro|)ublicaii party, when Iw. espoused its 
 [)rinciples, remaining one of its strongest ailvocates 
 until his death. 
 
 In .lefferson County, Ohio, Alexander Williams 
 wedded Mary Jackson, who was born in that 
 county, December 17, 1805, of Irish and Scotch 
 descent. She was a consistent member of the Pres- 
 byterian C'hureh and died in full fellowship with 
 that denomination, January 13, 1862. Mr. Will- 
 iams survived a number of years, departing this 
 life. May 20, 1878. 
 
 John J. Williams was the only child of his [lar- 
 ents. He was born near SmiLliticld, in Jefferson 
 County, Ohio, JMay 14, 1834, and during his l)oy- 
 hood days, when not in school, he assisted his 
 father on the farm or in the carding and (lour- 
 mill, where he learned his business. His educational 
 advantages were liberal. He pursued an academic 
 course for two years aft'jr leaving the common 
 schools, and subsequently read law for two years, 
 being graduated from the Cincinnati Law School 
 in the siiring of 1860. lie became associated in 
 business with his father soon afterward, the part- 
 nership continuing until Mr. Williams, Sr., retired. 
 
 On the 25th of September, 1860, in Galliopolis, 
 Ohio, John J. Williams led to the marriage altar 
 JMiss Cornelia M. Gating, who was born June 18, 
 1842, in (Jallia County, of Irish and Scotch par- 
 entage, being a daughter of John and Isabella 
 (Rogers) Gating. Her father was an energetic and 
 prospi^rous farmer, and one who took an active 
 part in local affairs. To Mr. and Mi's. Williams 
 have been born nine children — Mary I>., .I<;nnie 
 C, Cornelia 1\I., IMinnelte, Gertrude (who died in 
 infancy), Ida L., Alice W., John A. (who died in 
 infan(^y) and Alexander. The mother is a member 
 of the Presbyterian Church and a znost estimable 
 lady. 
 
 Mr. >Villiams has made Des Moines his home for 
 twenty-nine years, and has watched its growth 
 from a town of four thousand to a city containing 
 a ])0])ulation of sixty thousanil. With the growth 
 of the city his financial interests have also grown. 
 He is largely interested in real estate, both in and 
 
252 
 
 POETRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 near Dcs Moines, and handles none save his own 
 property. He lias been proininentl_v identified witli 
 the progress of tlie city, lias aided in its upliuild- 
 ing, and three times lias servijd as Alderman. Po- 
 litically, he is an outspoken Republican. A portrait 
 of Mr. Williams will be found on another page. 
 
 ~,»> .o♦o••^y^«A^..o♦o•. *r~- 
 
 Vtp^UhiTACE J. CO()PKU,a real-estate and gen- 
 ||U] eral insurance agent of Des Moines, is one 
 JL^ of the leading citizens of Polk County, and 
 by the most prominent men of tiie community is 
 recognized as an important factor in business circles. 
 
 Robert M. Cooper, the father of our subject, was 
 a native of England and on reaching manhood 
 enlisted in Her Majesty's service, in which he 
 rose to the rank of colonel. As he was not in ac- 
 tive duty during all of the time, he studied and 
 engaged in the practice of law with good success. 
 He married Miss Sarah P. Giles, a native of Tivcs- 
 took, England, and resided in London until 1835, 
 when they bade good-by to their old home and 
 sailed for America with the intention of making 
 their home in this country. They landed at Que- 
 bec, and while en route for Boston the birth of our 
 subject occurred at Chamltly, in the Province of 
 Quebec, Canada, on the 8th of April, 1835. Thoy 
 at length arrived in Boston and made their home in 
 a house on Milk Street where Benjamin Franklin 
 was born. Thej' also lived for a time in the Prov- 
 ince House, where occurred many events of historic 
 importance. The father died while on a visit to 
 England in 1839. He was a brother of William 
 Cooi)er, who acted as tutor for Charles Dickens. 
 The motlicr of our subject long survived her hus- 
 band, and died at the ripe old age of eighty-five 
 years. In their family were eleven children, six 
 sons and five daugliters, but only three are now liv- 
 ing: Robert, who is a prominent business man of 
 Boston; Clara E. and Eustace J. 
 
 Our subject acquired his education in the city 
 schools of Boston and in the Greenwood Academy. 
 According to the English custom, during his vaca- 
 tions he learned the trade of manufacturing trunks 
 and valines, lie embarked upon his business career 
 
 in 1850 as an office boy in the banking house of M. 
 Bolles ife Co., which firm still exists, and rose to be 
 chief clerk, wliich position lie retained until he sev- 
 ered his connection with the firm in 1800, to engage 
 in other pursuits. He belonged to the rifle corps, 
 and during the Civil A\'ar several times enlisted in 
 the army, but his employers each lime hired a sub- 
 stitute rather than lose so valuable a clerk. He 
 repaid their kindness in later years, however. It 
 will be remembered that on the 17tli of March, 
 1873, one Spencer S. Pettis forged a check of 
 $10,000 on M. Bolles <fe Co., Boston, and that an 
 amateur detective after working carefully for two 
 years succeeded in getting into the inner circle of 
 tiie ring and exposing one of the most gigantic 
 counterfeiting schemes this countr}' has ever known. 
 The man entitled to the honor of that discovery 
 was Eustace J. Cooper. So successful was he that 
 he not only restored the §10,000 to the banking 
 house, but also succeeded in sending Pettis and four 
 of his accomplices to the penitentiary. 
 
 On the 15tli of September, 1860, Mr. Cooper 
 was united in n.arriage with Miss Mary P. At- 
 kins, a native of Prattville, Mass.. a suburb of 
 Boston, and a sister of Charles H. Atkins, a promi- 
 nent contractor of Ues Moines. Unto them were 
 born fonr children, namely: Mrs. Anna Guernsey; 
 E. Bolles; (iertrude C, who died in infancy, -and 
 Grace A. 
 
 In 1866 Mr. Cooper removed to Mineral Point, 
 AVis., to accept the position of superintendent an<l 
 director of the Mineral Point Mining Company, 
 which he acceptably filled for ten and a half years. 
 During that time he served four years as Mayor of 
 the town and won man}' warm friends whose high 
 regard he will ever retain. In 1876 he became 
 general traveling .agent for the Cedar Rapids & 
 Northwestern Railro.ad Com[)any, with headquar- 
 ters at Cedar Rapids, and devoted his attention to 
 that business until 1880, when he came to Dcs 
 IMoines, since which time he has given the greater 
 part of liis attention to the real-estate business. He 
 has lent a helping hand toward the upbuilding and 
 improvement of this citj- and is recognized by all 
 as a progressive and public-spirited man, whom 
 Des Moines could ill afford to lose. He is largely 
 interested in the following coal companies, tlio 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAITIICAL ALBUM. 
 
 263 
 
 Iowa Fuel Company and llu' Star Coal Mining Com- 
 pan}-, of ^botli of. which he is now I'residenl, and is 
 reeeivei- for the II. R. (,'reigliton estate. lie has 
 been a Republican since the organization of that 
 party, and is connected with four social orders, be- 
 ing a Knight Terajjlar JIason, a member of the 
 Ancient Order [^of United Workman, lA^gion of 
 Honor and U. A.'.O- ^^ ■ il" also holds member- 
 ship in the Baptist Church, and his wife is a com- 
 municant of the Congregational Church. ISIr. 
 Cooper has secured a goodly share of this world's 
 goods as the result of- his own efforts. As a luisi- 
 ness man he is enterprising, sagacious and far- 
 sighted and in all his dealings he is upright and 
 honoralile, thus winning the confidence and respect 
 of those with whom he has come in contact. 
 
 ^SHBSaa 
 
 iE^ 
 
 R. CHARLES WOODIIULL UATON, one 
 )V of Ihejeading homeopathic physicians and 
 (sj^^ surgeons of Iowa, has passed his entire 
 ^'^ professional career in Des Moines, where 
 
 ho located in October, 1879. His paternal grand- 
 father was descended from one of the early New 
 England families, and was a soldier of the Revolu- 
 tionary War. He fought at the battle of .Bunker 
 Ilill, and is said to have been one of those who 
 bore the body of the lamented Warren from that 
 bloody field. 
 
 The father of the. Doctor is the Rev. S. W. Eaton, 
 D. D., a Congregational minister, who was born ia 
 Boston, Mass., December 25, 1820. lie graduated 
 from Yale College, and studied theology in And- 
 over and at Union Seminary, New York. Leaving 
 the East he emigrated to L.'iiicastcr, Wis., in 1846, 
 settling in that State two years before its admission 
 into the Union. The following year he returned 
 to New York, and was united in marriage with 
 Miss Catherine Demorest, a native of Brooklyn, 
 born of Frencli Hugenot ancestry. With his young 
 bride he then went to Lancaster, where for the 
 long perioil of forty years he liad charge of the 
 Congregational Church. He was one of the pio- 
 neer preachers of that denomination in Wisconsin, 
 and to him in a great measure is due the [)nisperity 
 
 of the church in that State. The high estimation 
 in which he was held by the congregation in' Lan- 
 caster, is evinced by his long-continued service 
 which was broken by onl^' one interruption, and 
 that of his own making. Feeling that his countrj' 
 nce<led his services during the. late war, he became 
 Chaplain of the Sevcnth^Wisconsin Infantry. That 
 regiment formed a part of the famous Iron Brigade, 
 and as his regiment was the only one in which there 
 was a chai)lain, he virtually held that position for 
 the brigade until the close of the war. The church 
 which he left when he entered the service would 
 not fill his place in his absence, and so as soon as 
 the country no. longer needed his services, he re- 
 turned to his old charge, continuing the faithful 
 and beloved pastor until age, "with its attendant 
 inlirmities, induced him to accept a position where 
 the duties'were less arduous. So, bidding good- 
 bye to his many, many friends in Lancaster, he ac- 
 cepted the^pastorate of a smaller church in Roscoe, 
 111., of which he still has charge. 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Eaton was the father of four sons, 
 who have followed hisvvise and loving counsel, and 
 are filling useful and honorable positions in life. The 
 eldest, the Rev. -lames D. Eaton, is a missionary in 
 Chihuahua, Mexico. The Rev. Edward D. Eaton, 
 D. D., is the able and popular President of Beloit 
 College, Wisconsin; having succeeded A. L. Chapin, 
 D. D., to that position. He was graduated from that 
 institution in the class of 1872, after which lie 
 studied theology and engaged in pastoral work 
 until becoming President of the college; Dr. Sam- 
 uel L. Eaton, "the liiird son, is practicing'medicinc 
 in Newton Highlands, a subiirli of Boston, ;\Iass. ; 
 while Dr. Charles W. completes tlie family. 
 
 Our subject received his literary, education in 
 the scIkxjIs of Ij.niicaster, Wis.,'aiid. tiien began fit- 
 ting himself for the medical profession. In 1875 
 he atlended'a course of lectures in the Hahnemann 
 Medical College of Chicago, after which he [lur- 
 sued his studies in the Homeopathic Medical Col- 
 lege of New York, but in 1878, returne<i to Hahne- 
 mann College, from wiiich he was graduated the 
 following year. He soon afterward located in Des 
 IMoines. where he lias since pursued his profession 
 witli excellent success. Althnugh still a yiiung 
 man, his career has Iteen'a [irosperous one, and it is 
 
254 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 no exaggeratiun lo say that he stands at the head of 
 iiis profession. The success to wliich he has at- 
 tained is due to his untiring industry and his devo- 
 tion to the life worli which he lias chosen. That the 
 pulilie lias a just appreciation of iiis professional 
 skill is indicated by his large and growing practice, 
 and the prominent place accorded to him by bis 
 professional brethren. He has made a number of 
 valuable contributions to medical science, and is 
 the author of a work. iHiblished in 188 1. entitled 
 '•Things Young Men Should Know." which abounds 
 in good advice and valulile instruction to youth. 
 As a citizen the Doctor is progressive and public- 
 spirited, and socially is popular and entertaining. 
 
 /AMKS HALL, a retired carpenter and 
 builder of Des Moines, is one of the oldest 
 citizens of Polk County. He was born in 
 Chester County, Pa., on the 9th of January, 
 1817, and is a son of Aaron and Hannah (Hunt) 
 Hall. The mother was a daughter of Joseph Hunt, 
 who served as a regular soldier during the Revolu- 
 tionary War. At Camden he was taken prisoner, 
 stripped of his clothing, and with eight others 
 placed in the hold of a vessel, and before they 
 were released live of the number had died. Mr. 
 Hunt, however, lived to reach the barraOks. 
 
 Aaron Hall, the father of our subject, was a 
 native of Pennsylvania, and liis wife of Maryland. 
 He was a uiillwriglit and wagon-maker by trade, 
 and followed these two lines of work throughout 
 his entire life. In manner he was rather quiet and 
 reserved than otherwise, but his upright life won 
 him the confidence and resjject of all. He removed 
 with his family to Ohio in 1817, and after a resi 
 <lence in the Buckeye State of thirty years emi- 
 grated, in 1848, to Schuyler County, 111., where he 
 passed to his last rest. The death of his wife occurred 
 there in 1850. Their family numbered eight chil- 
 dren, but oidy two are now living — James, of this 
 sketch; and Joseph, a resident of California. 
 
 The early boyhood days of our subject were 
 passeil ill W.-ishinglon County, Ohio, on a farm, 
 anil in the district schools of the neighborhood he 
 
 acquired his education. With his father he went 
 to Belmont County, Ohio, when nine years old. 
 In the year 1833 we find him in Marietta, Ohio, 
 employed in a carriage and wagon shop, his wages 
 being $1 per day. The following year the factory 
 burned down, and in tlie lire his clothing and all 
 of his tools were burned. With a fellow work- 
 man he then learned the cari)enter's trade, after 
 which he entered the employ of Daniels & Null. 
 Ijut the lirm dissolved partnershij) and he remained 
 with JNIr. Null, continuing in his employ for two 
 years, when that gentleman fell from a building 
 and was killed. Again thrown out of employment, 
 Mr. Hall at length found work with a Mr. Jarvis, 
 who was engaged in the construction of a horse 
 power threshing machine. 
 
 About this time Mr. Hall was married. On the 
 20th uf December, 1840, he was joined in wed- 
 lock with Miss Maria Burlingame, a native of 
 Massachusetts and a daughter of James and Nancy 
 Burlingame, who were also born in the Bay State. 
 Removing to Ohio when their daughter was a 
 3'oung lady, they settled in Marietta. Here Mr. 
 and Mrs. Hall continued to make their home until 
 1844, when they removed to Findley, Hancock 
 County, Ohio, where Mr. Hall worked at the mill- 
 wright's trade until 1848. In the fall of that year 
 he emigrated to Farmington, Iowa. 
 
 Since May, 1849, Mr. Hall has been a resident of 
 Des Moines. After many days of travel, on the 
 10th of that month, lie reached a little hamlet com- 
 posed of a few scattered log cabins along the river, 
 and a military garrison. The place was called Ft. 
 Des Moines, and at that time gave little [)roniiseof 
 the present adv.anced position which it occu(iics. 
 Not long afterward, however, emigration rapidly 
 increased, and our subject found anii)le opportunity 
 for displaying his skill as a carpenter. Being an 
 excellent workman, his services were greatly in 
 demand, and in connection with that business he 
 also worked at his trade of a millwright. Few have 
 aided more in the upbuilding of the cajjital city 
 or have been more prominently identified with its 
 development. Many (if the important business 
 houses and residences have been erected under his 
 care and supervision, and stand as monuments of 
 his industry and skill. Among these was the First 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Presbyterian Church in the city. Industrious and 
 energetic bj- nature, he gave his entire attention to 
 bis business, and thereby has accumulated a liand- 
 some competence, whicii enables him now to lay 
 aside all business caj-es and s|)end his declining 
 years in retirement. 
 
 But one child w.is l)orn to Mr. and Mrs. Ilall, a 
 daughter, Nauc}', who was born in this city and is 
 now the wife of Charles .1. Hammer, one of the 
 well-to-do citizens of Dos JNIoincs. The wife and 
 mother was called to lier linal rest on the 4th of 
 February, 1885. An estimable lady, her loss was 
 deeply felt outside of her immediate family, for 
 wide was her circle of friends and acquaintances. 
 
 Mr. Hall is recognized as one of the representa- 
 tive citizens of Des Moines, and certainly no one 
 deserves more credit for the progress made by the 
 city tlian he. He has not only been a. witness of 
 its wonderful growth, but has also been an active 
 l)articipant in its development. He is one of the 
 tiie few survivors of the first brass band of Des 
 Moines. In politics, he is liberal in views, support- 
 ing the man and principles rather than tiie party. 
 
 ^ €-*-! 
 
 fnl)ARTON O. AYLESWORTH,A. M.,Ph. B., 
 l^^ President of the College of Letters and 
 ^M)JI Science, of Drake Cniversity, was born in 
 ^is=^ Athens, Menard County. III., September 5, 
 1860, and is the onlj' child of Ezra and Melinda 
 (Hall) Aylcsworth. He traces his ancestry back 
 to a remote period. In Oliver Cromwell's .armj' 
 served five brothers, who at the restoration emi- 
 grated to America. From them +ias sprung a num- 
 erous posterity, some retaining the original spelling 
 of the name, Aylcsworth, while others have changed 
 it to Ellsworth. 
 
 The grandfather of orr subject, Hiram Aylcs- 
 worth, a native of New York, became one of the 
 jiioneer settlers of Trumbull County, Ohio, and 
 amid the privations and disadvantages incident to 
 life in a new country, reared a family of four sons. 
 One of that number, Ezra, inherited the martial 
 spirit of his English ancestors. In the eaily d:i\s 
 of his manhood, he emigr.vted to Menard Countv. 
 
 111., where he became acquainted with, and married 
 Miss Hall, a native of that Slate, and granddaugh- 
 ter of Thomas Hall, an estimable Virginian, of 
 French Huguenot and (lerman descent. Her par- 
 ents. Fleming and Susan (Tice) Hall, removed 
 to Illinois just before '-the winter of the deep 
 snow." The father is still living at the very .ad- 
 vanced age of ninet3'-five 3'ears, and retains his 
 mental and i)hysieal powers to a remarkable degree. 
 He m.ay well be proud of the famih- whicli he has 
 reared, three sons especially being deserving of men- 
 tion: Clay born is an eminent minister of the Chris- 
 tian Church; .Toel, a well-known druggist, was 
 reporter for the Smithsonian Institute on Western 
 Meteorology; Elihu gained a world-wide reputation 
 as a botanist. Without text book he began the 
 study amid the luxuriant flora of Illinois, and so 
 ardently did he devOte himself to the subject as 
 found in n.ature, that he was called "the Thoreau of 
 the West." He soon took rank among the first 
 botanists of the Utited States, and among his 
 friends and correspondents was numbered the 
 noted Asa Gray. At his death his v.ast herbarium 
 became the legacy of the State. He also achieved 
 distinction in the sciences, entomology and con- 
 chology. His death w;is brought on by exposure 
 in the ardent pursuit of the subject to which he was 
 so closely wedded. 
 
 After locating in Illinois, Ezra Aylcsworth fol- 
 lowed farming until the breaking out of the war, 
 when, feeling that his country needed his services, 
 he bade good-by to his young wife and infiint son, 
 and offered his services to the Government. Act- 
 ing as captain, ho was killed while leading his com- 
 pany at the battle of Chick.amaugua. His widow 
 survived him eleven years. 
 
 Being left an orphan (his f.ather dying when he 
 was three years old, and his mother during his four- 
 teenth year). Prof. Aylcsworth went to live with 
 an uncle, who became his guardian, and took an 
 active interest in his education. In 1879, he was 
 graduate<l from Eureka College, of Eureka, III., 
 with the degree of A. B., and afterward took a post 
 graduate course in Betliany College in Mrginia, 
 receiving the degree of A. M. in 1880. The fol- 
 lowing year the same degree w.as conferred u|ion 
 him l)y his Alma Mater. I'pon lea\ing IJctlianv, 
 
256 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 he aoceptprl a call as pastor of the Christian Church 
 ill Peoria, III., wliere he did iioble work, biiikling 
 up the congregation and paying off its indebted- 
 ness. In the summer of 1H81, he pursued a course 
 in the Concord School of Philosophj-. where he was 
 enriched by contact with sucli m-ster minds as 
 William T. Harris. A. 15. Alcott. Dr. C. A. Bartol, 
 .Julia Ward Howe, and others scarcely less distin- 
 guished. Returning to Illinoiji, he took charge of 
 the church in Atlantic, w^hich under his ministry 
 had a healthful growth. While in that city, he was 
 united in marriage with Jliss Georgia ^I. Shores, 
 and unto them has been born a son. Merlin H. Af- 
 ter a pastorate of two years in Atlantic. Prof. Ayles- 
 wo.th rt^moved to his farm for improvement and 
 for (juiet study. In the spring of 1884, he accepted 
 a call from the church in Aliingdon, 111., where iie 
 remained until the fall of 188;'). when he became 
 pastor of the Church of Christ, of Cedar Rapids. 
 Iowa. That congregation was young and full of 
 vitality, and during the four years he labored with 
 them, the numerical strength was more than doubled. 
 That is now the Banner Missionary Church of the 
 Brotherhood in Iowa. Wliile in Cedar Ra|)ids, he 
 found diversion in leading a philosophy club com- 
 posed of the best thinkers of the cit}-, professors, 
 doctors, lawyers, and others, and in editing tiie 
 Book Slwlf, a monthly devoted to reviews of books 
 and literary productions iu general. 
 
 In 1889, Prof. Aylesworth, quite unexpectedly 
 to himself, was called to his present position as 
 President of the College of Letters and Science and 
 Professor of Mental and Moral .Science. He is mak- 
 ing a special effort to broaden the work in litera- 
 ture and philosophj-, and his work thus far has given 
 excellent satisf.action. He has perhaps the must ex- 
 tensive private library in the city, containing over 
 fifteen hundred volumes. Sociallj', he is a Knight 
 Templar IMason, and while in College was a mem- 
 ber of the Phi Kai)pa Psi fraternity. In his politi- 
 cal views, he is broad and liberal, though thoroughlj' 
 in sympathy with the principles of prohibition. 
 The faculty of Drake I'niversity is composed of 
 some of the best educators of the country, not tlie 
 least of whom is Prof. Aylesworth. He has achieved 
 grand success for one so young. Ripe in scholar- 
 shii), he is also an accomplished speaker, but his 
 
 oriatorial powers were acquired. Until his second 
 j-ear in college he was seldom called upon to recite 
 in public because of an impediment in his speech, 
 but bj- constant care and practice, he developed a 
 rich, clear, full tenor voice. We close this brief 
 sketch without eulogv, knowing that the high po- 
 sition which President Ayleswortli holds in one of 
 the first universities in the State, is a better and 
 higher compliment to his abilitj' than anj- words of 
 ours could express. He has the distinction of be- 
 ing the youngest college President in the United 
 States. Of Prof. Aylesworth, one who has known 
 him intimatelj', says: '-while he is progressive in 
 his trend of thought, and familiar with every ad- 
 vance movement in religion, science or philosophy, 
 he yet holds alwaj's with unyielding grasp to the 
 great primary truths of the gospel ; like the artist 
 who never leaves the primary colors of nature, how- 
 ever loft}' his conception ; or the musician who 
 never fors.akes the eight notes, though desiring and 
 seeking an almost endless variation wiiliiu their 
 compass." 
 
 "1^ W. S.MOUSE, M. U., has been a member of 
 I j) the medical fraternity of Des Moines since 
 j^ November 1, 187'J. He was born in the 
 city of Cumberland, Md.. but when a lad he re- 
 moved to Baltimore, where he grew to manhood. 
 His father. John I. Smouse, continued to reside in 
 Cumberlaiul until his death, and his mother is still 
 a resident of that cit3\ His paternal grandfather 
 was iiiic of the early settlers of Cumberland, and 
 the familj' has been prominently identified with 
 that section of the State. The family to which 
 our subject belongs numbered live children, four 
 sons and one daughter, of whom he w.as the eldest. 
 Dr. Smouse received an excellent literary educa- 
 tion in the schools of iJaltimore and. having made 
 choice of the medical profession as the one he 
 wished to make his life work, he entered the Uni- 
 versity of Maiyland, graduating from the meilical 
 department of that institution in February, 187G. 
 He then entered the hospital connected with the 
 universit}-, where he remained two years. That 
 proveil an excellent training school to him. On 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL[]ALBUM. 
 
 257 
 
 severing liis conneolion witli tlie I'niversity. lie 
 came to Iowa, settling in Monroe, Jasper County, 
 where he opened an office and continued in prac- 
 tice until his removal to Des Moines, on the 1st of 
 November, 1879. In the ten yearsof his residence 
 in this city he has l)uilt up an excellent practice, 
 lie is a gentleman of culture and possesses the con- 
 fidence and esteem of his fellow citizens, both 
 professionally and otherwise. Ilis excellent edu- 
 cational advantages, in addition to his natural 
 aptitude for the profession, have made him an ex- 
 pert phj'fician, and as he makes his profession a 
 study, he is ahv.ays abreast of the times. In 
 manner he is genial and courteous, and possesses 
 tiiat delicate consideration and attention so neces- 
 sarj' in a sick room. 
 
 One of the most important events in the life of 
 Dr. Smouse occurred in Waterloo, Iowa, on the 
 4th (tf October, 1881, when he led to the marriage 
 altar Miss Amanda Cummings. This lady is a na- 
 tive of Ohio, and like her husband has many warm 
 friends in Des Moines, by whom she is highl)^ es- 
 teemed. 
 
 i^^ EUBEN J. YOl'TZ. In looking abroad over 
 1^^ the home of our subject, who is a promi- 
 nent farmer of Bloomfield Township, resid- 
 '^)jing on section 26, we everywhere see evi- 
 dences of thrift and enterprise, which are marked 
 characteristics of the owner. His possessions con- 
 sist of two hundred acres of arable land, a commo- 
 dious and substantial residence, one of the best 
 liarns in the county, and an excellent grade of 
 stock of all kinds. Indeed it is a model farm. 
 The land has been divided into fields which are 
 well tilled, the latest machinery has been procured 
 to aid in the labor of its cultivation, and every 
 necessary improvement is there found. 
 
 Mr. Youtz was born in Stark County, Ohio, on 
 the 23d of November, 1834, and traces his ances- 
 try back to Switzerland. His father, Joshua Youtz, 
 was born in Pennsylvania, but in the early days of 
 Ohio became a resident of the Bucke\e State, where 
 he carried on shoemaking and farming for man}' 
 years. He wedded Miss Esther Hosier, also a na- 
 
 tive of Pennsylvania, and unto them were born 
 nine children, seven of whom are yet living — Josiah 
 S.. Hiram L., John B.. Reuben J., Simon E., Me- 
 linda K. and Addison H. The mother of this fam- 
 ily was called to her final rest in 18G7, at the age 
 of fifty -seven years, dying a number of years pre- 
 vious to the death of her husliand, which occurred 
 in 1884, at the age of eight3'-two years. 
 
 While a lad our subject was permitted to attend 
 the public schools of his native State during the 
 winter months, but as his services were needed upon 
 the farm during the summer season, his educational 
 advantages were necessarily somewhat limited. 
 Not content with the knowledge he had acquired, 
 however, after attaining to mature j^ears he at- 
 tended high grades of schools, and has also greatlj^ 
 supplemented his early education bj' subsequent 
 reading and observation. On leaving home, at the 
 age of twenty-one years, he began teaching school, 
 which profession he followed during the winter for 
 a number of j-ears, and in the summer engaged in 
 farm work. In 1861 he determined to devote his 
 energies to some other pursuit, .and embarked in 
 the furniture business, but the war breaking out 
 about that time he concluded he could not make a 
 success in that line and so resumed teaching. In 
 the spring of 1862 he rented a farm, but in the fall 
 of the same year became a member of Company I, 
 Nineteenth Ohio Infantry. Tlie recruits were or- 
 dered to report at Camp Mansfield, Ohio, where 
 they were equipped for duty and sent to Louisville, 
 Ky., whence they proceeded to Bowling Green, 
 where they remained in camp for about six weeks. 
 Thej- then marched to Nashville, and later joined 
 the Ami}- of the Cumberland at Murfreesboro, 
 where they remained in camp for about six months, 
 during which time they did scouting and garrison 
 duty, and guarded the rear of the army and the 
 provisions .and ammunition. Their time having ex- 
 pired on thnr arrival at Tulalioma. Mr. Youtz re- 
 ceived his discharge, and returned home to once 
 more resume the daily toils of life. 
 
 On account of ill health, the result of exposure 
 and privations in the army, our subject was unalile 
 to engage in teaching the following winter, but in 
 the following spring resumed work upon his farm. 
 In the winter of 18G3 a volunteer militia comi):uiy 
 
258 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 was formed near his home, of wiiich Mr. Youtz was 
 cleeled Captain, and in the spring of 18G4, word 
 w.'is rcfC'ived from I'ncle Sam to report at Camp 
 Chase. Colnmhus. Oliio, wiiere they were mustered 
 into service, joining the Army of the Tennessee. 
 About this time Gen. Price was inal<ing liis raid 
 through Kentuc'l<y, and a force, of wliich tlie eom- 
 pan3' commanded l)^' our subject was a part, was 
 ordered to arrest liis progress, which they did. after 
 which tliey went into camp at Covington, Ky., 
 doing garrison duty until September, 186J, wlien 
 they were again disciiarged from the service. 
 
 Capt. Youtz continued to malvc his home in 
 Ohio until the spring of Ib65, when following the 
 course of human emigration which was steadily 
 drifting Westward, lie landed in Dos Moines, where 
 he spent the following summer. He tlien purchased 
 eighty acres in Bloonilield Township, cultivating it 
 until 1873, when he purchaseil one hundred and 
 sixty acres of wild land, constituting a part of his 
 present fine farm. To this he has added by subse- 
 quent purcliaso, until, as before stated, two hundred 
 acres pay tribute to liis care and cultivation. He 
 began life a poor man, but is now ranked among 
 the well-to-do citizens of the county. He eer- 
 tainl}" deserves great credit for his success, which 
 is the result of his own efforts, aided only by those 
 of the loved wife who has now passed away. 
 Though the greater part of his attention has been 
 devoted to his business interc.'sts, he has yet found 
 time to serve the public in divers ways, including 
 tiic discharge of various official ciuties as a town- 
 sliip ollicer. He is a firm adherent of the principles 
 of the Republican part}', which he has supported 
 Willi his ballot since its organization, and keeps 
 himself well informed on all the leading issues of 
 the day. 
 
 In 18G0 Mr. Yi)utz led to the marri.age altar 
 Miss Harriet Miller, and their union was blessed 
 with six children: Minnie, vvho is now the wife of 
 William Mitchell, a resident of Bloomlleld Town- 
 ship; Lewis A., Ella E., Arthur W., Homer F. and 
 Chauncey A., who are still with their father. Mr. 
 Youtz lias ever been a warm friend of education, 
 and intends that his children shall have the best 
 advantages in tiiat direction. Two of them are now 
 attending college, the daughter pursuing a musical 
 
 course, and the son a scientific course, which he 
 will complete in 1890. L. A. is also a graduate of 
 the elocutionary department. On the 22d of No- 
 vember, 1886, Mrs. Youtz departed this life. She 
 was a kind friend and neiglibor, a loving and 
 faithful wife and mother, and a sincere Christian 
 woman. Her beauty of cliar.acter and many excel- 
 lencies won tlie love of all, and her loss wiis deeply 
 regretted by manj' warm friends, as well as her 
 immediate family. Mr. Youtz was .again married, 
 in April, 188',), to Mrs. Martha A. Badley, an 
 estimable lady, who for some time has been a resi- 
 dent of this county. They have one child, an 
 infant. The Youtz household is noted for its hos- 
 pitalit}', and our subject and his wife hold a high 
 position in tiie social world. 
 
 ci^^HOMAS F. KELLKHKR, M. D.. a practicing 
 j'/^v physician of Des Moines, has made his home 
 Vg^ in Iowa since 18G8, and has engaged in 
 practice in this city since 1885. He was born in 
 Lawrence, Mass., February 5, 1855, and is a son of 
 •lohn and Elizabeth (Ludgate) Kelleher, who emi- 
 grated to the Ilawke^-e Slate in 18f!8, settling in 
 Iowa Cit}'. The death of the father occurred 
 twenty years later, but the raotlier is still living, 
 and m.akes her home in Fonda, Iowa. 
 
 The subject of this sketch, Dr. Thomas F. Kel- 
 leher, accompanied his parents to Iowa when a lad 
 of thirteen jxars. He w.".s educated in the State 
 University of Iowa City, graduating from the medi- 
 cal department of th.^t institution in the class of 
 1878. He established himself in practice at Bev- 
 inglon, Madison County, Iowa, whence he removed 
 to Fonda, Po(ahont!is County, where he remained 
 engaged in the practice of his chosen profession 
 until 1885, when, as before stated, he located in 
 this cit3'. 
 
 In the month of M.ay, 1880, Dr. Kelleher led to 
 the marriage altar Miss Annie Cunningham, daugh- 
 ter of John Cunningham, the wedding I)eing cele- 
 brated in Madison County. The lady was born and 
 reared in the county where her marri.age occurred, 
 her parents having there settled at an early day. 
 
^■ 
 
 r 
 
 
 J,»4>to*i«^ 
 
 ^^^-4 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 2C1 
 
 Tlie Doctor and ]Mrs. Kellehcr are the liappy par- 
 ents of two children, a son and daughter — John and 
 Mar\' — who shml sunshine tlirough tlieir iiome l)y 
 their liriglil pi'esence. 
 
 Tiie Doctor and his wife are devoted nieml)ers of 
 tlie Catholic C'hurcli of ]Jes Moines, and in political 
 sentiment lie is a Democrat, having supported that 
 party since attaining his majority. He is a mem- 
 ber of the I'olk County Medical fSociety, and also 
 the State Medical Society. He is well skilled in 
 his [)rofession, and ulthougli liis resi<lence in Des- 
 Moines covers only the short period of five years, 
 he has succeeded in building u|) a good |)ractice,as 
 the people recognize his ahilily and are willing to 
 acknowledge it by a liberal patronage. 
 
 "(I, OHX M. OTIS, an earlj* settler of Iowa, now 
 engaged in the insurance business in Des 
 Moines, was born in Tunkhannock, Wyom- 
 ing County, I'a,, on the 22d of May, 1822, 
 and is a son of Charles and Jeriisha (Marcy) Otis. 
 His father, anative of Massachusetts, was descended 
 from I'uritan ancestcu-s. the family dating its origin 
 in New England back to 1030. His most distin- 
 guished ancestor was Col. John Otis, who was born 
 in I'lingham. Mass., in IG.jT. settled at Barnstable 
 on Cape Cod, and represented that town for twenty 
 years in the General Court. He commandeil the 
 county militia, was Chiif Justice of Common I'leas, 
 was the first Judge of Probate of Barnstable County, 
 and Counselor from 1706 until his death, which oc- 
 curred on the 2lid of September, 1727. He was the 
 f.'Uiirr of Judge James Otis, also a man of note in 
 his day. 
 
 Mrs. Otis, the mother of the subject of this 
 sketch, was born in J)utchcss County, N. Y., while 
 the family was sojourning there after the massacre 
 of Wyoming, and waslhe daughter of Zebum Marcy, 
 who was an inmate of Forty Fort of the Wyoming 
 \'alley at tiie time it was captured by the Tories 
 and Indians, July 1, 1778. Great cruelties were 
 there perpetrated, the whole region was burned over 
 and devastated, and many other wrongs inflicted 
 upon the settlers. The few families escaped, and 
 
 tied to the Delaware River, where they subsisted 
 among friendlj' families until the close of tiie war. 
 After tlie close o( hostilities the families returned 
 and again toiik possession of their lands, which liad 
 fallen into the hands of the Tories. Mr. Marcy 
 served as captain of a comiiany of the United 
 States troops, and was, througii mistake, a sjiecial 
 object of hatred on the |)art of the Tories. He be- 
 longed to the same family of which Gen. Randolph 
 B. Marcy and Gov. JMarcy were members. 
 
 The parents of our sulijcct came to the West in 
 Jul}' 18.':>8, locating in Marengo. McHcnry Count}', 
 III., where both died at about the age of eighty 
 years. John H. accom|)anied them on their re- 
 moval to that State, and spent four years in Mar- 
 engo, after which he went to Lancaster, Grant 
 County, Wis., where he was engaged in the mercan- 
 tile business from 1842 until 1852. when he went 
 to California. The gold excitement attracted him 
 as it did many others, andhe started for the Pacific 
 Coast, going liy the New York and Isthmus route. 
 He eng.aged in mining for five years, and at the ex- 
 piration of tiiat time returned to his home in 1857. 
 The following year he became a resident of Iowa, 
 locating in Bentonsport, where he was engaged in 
 the forwarding, commission and produce business. 
 When the railroad was completed to Edd\ville, he 
 removed to that i)lace, whence he came to Des 
 Moines in 18GG, and pursued his former line of 
 business, also carrying a stock of agricsdtural im- 
 plements, until 1876, since which time he has been 
 engaged in the insurance business. He represents 
 several of the leading companies in that line, in- 
 cluding the .Etna Life, the Rockford.of Illinois, 
 German.of Illinois, Rochester German of Rocheste:-, 
 the Empire State, the Peoples, of New Hampshire, 
 tlie Long Island, of New York, and others. 
 
 One of the most important events in the life of 
 IMr. Otis occurred in Fariiiingham, Mass., July 18, 
 18411, vvhcn he led to the h}incneal altar, Miss 
 S. Georgana Eaton, daughter of Eban and Sarah 
 Eaton. She was born in Farmingham, as were also 
 her father and grandfather, and hers was an old 
 family of New Hampshire. Mr. Otis and his wife 
 are communicants of the CongiegationnI Church, 
 to which the lady has l)eIonged since her thirteenth 
 year, and the liusban<l for the [last forty years. He 
 
262 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 lias lillef! tlie offlces of Deacon and Trustee, and has 
 served as Secretary- of the church for ten or twelve 
 years. Six children have been born to this worthy 
 couple, four of whom are now living: Catherine 
 G., who is the wife of D. 0. . Eshbaugh, of New 
 York Cit}'; William Eaton, who married Miss Daisy 
 Robliins, and is a real-estate dealer of Kansas City; 
 Charles D., who is living at Lake Arthur, in south- 
 western Louisiana; (TCnevieve is at home; Lizzie, 
 who died at the age of nineteen years; and Nellie, 
 who died in infancy. 
 
 In politics, Mr. Otis wa*; a Whig in earl3' life, 
 and voted for William Henry Harrison for Presi- 
 dent in 1840. He joined the Re|)ublican parly at 
 its organization, and still gives it his support. 
 While a resident of Lancaster, Wis., he served as 
 Postmaster for several years under appointment of 
 President Tyler. Mr. Otis, is a genial, courteous 
 gentleman, whose course in life has been an upright 
 one, whereby he has gained the respect and esteem 
 of those with whom lie has had business or social 
 relations. 
 
 ■}- 
 
 -i— 
 
 m). 
 
 (OHN MILLER KNIGHT, tlie pioneer 
 wholesale and retail dealer in millinery of 
 Des Moines, established business in this city 
 in 1805, in company with his brother, R. A. 
 Knight, under the firm name of Knight IJros., 
 wholesale and ret.iil dealers in dr3'-goods and mil- 
 linery. That connection continued until 1875, 
 when our subject became the sole i)roprieter, and 
 has since continued alone in liusiness. 
 
 Mr. Knight was born in Danimerston, Windham 
 County, Vt., on the 2Hth of August, 183G, and is 
 the son of the Hon. Asa and Susan (Miller) Knight. 
 His father was the son of Joel and Esther Kniglit, 
 and was born in Danimerston, Vt., Eebruary i)^, 
 1793. The Knight family was founded in Ameiiea 
 about 1730 by two brotheis who emigrated from 
 England and settled in Worchester, Mass. The 
 first native-born Ameiican of the family was .Ton- 
 atlian Kniglit, Sr., great-grandfather of our subject, 
 who was born in Worcester, Mass., January 3, 
 1732, and married Tamas Russell, by whom he had 
 several ehihben. Ilis death occurred March 13, 
 
 1819, in the eighty-eighth year of his age. His 
 .son Joel, is the grandfather of John M. 
 
 Hon. Asa Knight, on the 1st of M.ay, 1822, was 
 united in marriage with Miss Susan Miller, a daugh- 
 ter of John and Polly (Davenport) Miller, and a 
 native of Dammerston. She was born October 22, 
 1796, and died in July, 1885, at the age of eighty- 
 nine years. She was of Scotch descent, and her 
 family was noted among the early Colonists of 
 New England, who dated their settlement from 
 IGGO. Mrs. Miller is of the sixth generation from 
 Lew Miller, who was born in Edinburg, Scotland, 
 in 1G13. The second in descent was James Miller, 
 son of the above, who was born in Edinburg in 
 1G40. His son, Is.aac Miller, was born in Charles- 
 town, Mass., and Isaac Miller, Jr., born in Concord, 
 Mass., in 1708, was of the fourth generation. John 
 Miller was the fifth in direct descent and was born 
 in Dammerston, ^'t.. in 1751. He was the father of 
 Susan Knight, and the grandfather of the subject 
 of this sketch. The Miller family of \'ermont 
 numbered many influential citizens of that State 
 among its members, and especially were they prom- 
 inently connected with the history of Dammers- 
 ton. 
 
 The Hon. Asa Knight was a prominent and lead- 
 ing citizen of his native town, where he followed 
 merchandising as a vocation. In 1821 he removed 
 with his family to Newfane, of the same State, 
 where he served several years as Deputy Sheriff. 
 In 1830 he was elected to the \'ermont Legislature 
 and being twice re-elected, served until 183G. Dur- 
 ing the years of 1831, 1835 and 1836, he was Judge 
 of the Probate Court, and discharged the duties of 
 that office with ability and fidelity. 
 
 We now come to the immediate history of our 
 subject, J((lui Miller Knight received an .academic 
 education, and was initiated into the mysteries of 
 mcrcantilt^ life in his father's store, which he en- 
 tered when but twelve years of age. Afterward 
 be sold dry-goods in Bratlleboro, Vt., eight vears 
 for Eishcr & Haven, after which he emigrated to 
 Des Moines, Iowa, iu 18G3, via Marshalltown, 
 Iowa, then the end of the railroad, and from there 
 to Des Moines by stage, there being no railroad 
 into Des Moines at that lime. The population of 
 Des Moines was then about five thousand. In 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 263 
 
 Ma3', llSG I, lie joined (juitc a party bound for the 
 gold luiiics of Montana and Idaho, equipped with 
 ox teams and Indian ponies, and taliing a stock of 
 miner's merchandise. Tiie^* took the Nortii Platte 
 route through the Sioux country. The Sioux In<lians 
 were verj' treacherous, and on the war path at that 
 time, and but for the fact that lliej- had cattle, would 
 have had trouble, but they only wanted iiorses or 
 mules. At South Pass they look what was known 
 a^ the Sanders' cut-off on the Oregon Trail, being 
 one hundred and nineteen days in reaching ^'ir- 
 ginia City. Mont. The mining interests of that re- 
 gion were then attracting much attention, but the 
 Indians were hostile and traveling was hazardous. 
 Fioni Virginia Cit}' Mr. Knight m.ade his waj'' to 
 what is now the city of Helena, but was then known 
 as " the last chance gulch," where placer gold 
 mining was tiie attraction. But two houses had 
 been built at that time. Mr. Knight erected sev- 
 eral others, and also engaged in prospecting. One 
 year later he went to Salt Lake City, where he 
 spent the winter, and in 186a he returned to Des 
 Moines. On his return the party was attacked by 
 the Sioux In<lians near Ft. Bridge, and lost some 
 slock. Arriving at Denver, Col., then a small 
 town, he took the stage for Des Moines, a distance 
 of seven hundred and fifty miles. On reaching 
 Des Moines he [)urchased the interest of C. W. 
 Keyes, of the firm of Keyes & Knight, and engaged 
 in th(! w-holesale and retail dry -goods and millinery 
 business, under the firm, name of Knight Bros., 
 near the corner of Fourth Street and Court Ave- 
 nue, where ho remained until 18S0, when he re- 
 moved to No. "227 Fourth Street, his present [ilace 
 of business. 
 
 At Niagara Falls, N. Y., on ;he Ith of Septem- 
 ber, 1.S73, Mr. Knight wedded Miss Ellen Frances 
 Rice, who was l)orn in Massacluisetls, and removed 
 to New York with her parents in childhood. Iler 
 father was Dr. W. B. Rice, and she is a niece of 
 Judge Byron Uice, of Des Moines. Four children 
 have been born mito them, three daughters and a 
 son; the last named, John Rice, died at the age of a 
 year and a half. The daughters are Frances K., 
 Susan and Helen. 
 
 In politics Mr. Knight is a Democrat, as his 
 fatlier w:is before him, hut he has never desired 
 
 public oflice, as his business requires his undivided 
 attention. The great brotherhood of Masons claims 
 hi;n as a member, and he still retains his membership 
 in Golden Rule Lodge, No. 32, A. F. & A. M., of 
 Putney, Vt., also in Ft. Dummer Chapter, R. A. 
 M., of Brattleboro, Vt., and is a member of Tem- 
 ple Commandery, K. T., of Des Moines. He is 
 the oldest established wholesale and retail dealer in 
 millinery in this city, his operations in that line 
 covering a period of a quarter of a centurj'. Dur- 
 ing all these years of business and social intercourse 
 with the people of Des Moines, and vicinity, Mr. 
 Knight has won a reputation for integrity, fair and 
 upright business methods, and a genial, courteous 
 manner that has secured him a host of warm and 
 tried friends. 
 
 *■ ARK E. GLIDDEN, attorney at-law, of 
 Des Moines, was born in St. Albans, Somer- 
 
 set County, Me., December 8, 1859, and 
 is a son of Calvin S. and Olive (Stewart) 
 Glidden. His family on both sides dates its origin 
 in America back to the earl}' settlement of the 
 New F^ngland Colonies. His father's ancestors 
 came with that historic [larty on the "Maytlowei'," 
 while his mother's people were only a few genera- 
 tions later. 
 
 Almost the entire life of our subject has l)een 
 passed in this .State, having been brought by his 
 parents to Iowa, in 18(J2, when onl}- three years 
 old. The family settled in ^Vinneslliek County, 
 where Mark was reared, and where he received his 
 primary education in the district schools. Later 
 he attended the high school in AVinona, Minn., 
 from which he was graduated, in the class of 1881. 
 He then entered Williams College, at Williamstown, 
 Mass., and after a four years course was graduated 
 from that institution, in the class of 1^85. He then 
 came to Des Moines and engaged in the study of 
 law, under the direction of .T. K. Macomber, the 
 present county attorney, and was admitted to the 
 bar in May, 1888, since which time he has been in 
 active iiraclieeat Des Moines. His ability, both 
 natural an<l acipiircil, are such as to command 
 
264 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 respoct'ancl attract attention, and lie is lecognizcfl 
 as a young lawyer of miic'!i promise and superior 
 culture. He is quick in tliought, liis arguments 
 are logical and convincing, and ere many years 
 have passed lie will no doubt occupy a prominent 
 place at the Polk County bar. In political senti- 
 ment he is a supporter of the Rejiublican party. 
 
 Mr. Glidden lost his parents when young, his 
 fatlier dying when Mark was but nine years of age, 
 and the mother when he was a lad of sixteen. He 
 lost a brother during the late war, but has four 
 sisters yet living. 
 
 ir_ ON. WILLIAM LYTLE CARPENTER, 
 '^j^ Mayor of Dos Moines, was born in Colum- 
 ^ biana County, Ohio, on the iA\\ of October, 
 (^ 1841, his parents being James H., and Ann 
 Carpenter. His father was born in Lancaster, Pa., 
 in 1815, and in 1844, i-emoved to Pittsburg, where 
 lie was engaged in manufacturing for ten years, when 
 he beeame a resilient of Dubuque County, Iowa, 
 where he pursued the occupation of farming. Later 
 he went with his family to Black Hawk County, 
 where he and his wife still reside. The subject of 
 this sketch was a lad of thirteen years when he ac- 
 conii)anied the family to Iowa. He was educated 
 in Ei)W()Vth Seminar}', and at the Pittsburg High 
 School, and on the "iid of August, 18G2, enlisted as 
 a member of Company G, 32d Iowa Infantry, of 
 which he was commissioned Second Lieutenant, and 
 later promoted to be Adjutant. His service was 
 principally in the West, and led to his participa- 
 tion in the following named battles: that of Cape 
 Girardeau, Mo., Bayou Meto, Ft. Dellussey, Pleas- 
 ant Hill, Crucheyville, Bayou La Moir, iMarksville, 
 Yellow Bayou. Tujielo, Miss.. Nashville, Tenn., 
 Old Town Creek, and Ft. Blakely, Mo. He was 
 mustered (>ut August 25, 1865, having faithfully 
 served his country for three years. During his 
 long service in the malarial districts of Arkansas 
 and Louisiana, his health I)ecamc seriously impaired 
 and it w.ns not until three years had elni)sed after 
 his retuiti to the North, that he fully recovered. 
 Mr. Carpenter was niurrieil on the 2Gth of Scp- 
 
 ti'inbir. 18G5, -to Miss Estella C. Dickerson, the 
 wedding being celebrated in Dubuque, Iowa. The 
 laily was born in Columbia County, N. Y., and is 
 a daughter of the Rev. Josiah Dickerson. By]their 
 union have lieen born nine children, seven sons and 
 two daughters — William McKindon, James Samp- 
 son, (ieorge Erasmus. Edwin .Stanton, Lockwood 
 Dickerson, Hamilton, Estella Ann, Mary Frances, 
 and Donald Scroggy. Soon after his marriage, Mr. 
 Carpenter engaged in farming near Waterloo, Iowa, 
 and became an .active member of the Grange. He 
 was elected Secretary and Purchasing Agent of the 
 St.ate Grange, and held that position from 1875 un- 
 til 1878. In 1875 he came to Des Moines and es- 
 tablished a barb wire factor}' in opposition to a 
 combination that controlled the manufacture and 
 sale of that article. He manufactured for the 
 Grange, and successfully carried on the business 
 until 1887. 
 
 In political sentiment, Mr. Carpenter was a sup- 
 porter of the Republican parly until 1872, when he 
 joined the Independent movement, and has since 
 worked with the opposition. He w.as the Demo- 
 cratic candidate for Congress in 1886, and though 
 defeated, had the satisfaction of knowing that he 
 r.an three hundred votes ahead of his party ticket. 
 In March, 1888, he w.as elected iMayor in a Repub- 
 lican city, and has proved a competent and faith- 
 ful officer. During Mr. Carpenter's administration, 
 substantial and extensive irai)rovements have been 
 projected and carried forward to a successful com- 
 pletion. Sociall}', he is a member of Crocker Post, 
 No. 12, G. A. R. ; Home Lodge, No. 370, A.. F. ct 
 A. M.; the Ancient Order of United Workmen; and 
 the V. A. S., all of Des Moines. Mr. and Mrs. 
 Carpenter are members of the Weslcyan Methodist 
 Episeop.al Church, of East Des Moines. 
 
 -^^—^^- ^- 
 
 AVID NORRIS, a retired farmer of Des 
 Moines hfis resided in Polk County since 
 the Territorial days of Iowa, his resi- 
 dence dating from 1845. He was born 
 in Frederick County, Md., on the 3d of August, 
 ISOL-ind is at the present writing in his eight}-- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 265 
 
 iiiiUli year. His father, George Norris. was a na- 
 tive of Scotland, but vvlien an infant, was brought 
 by his parents to America. He was a miller by 
 trade, and in the prime of life was injured b}- a 
 water-wheel of the mill so seriously, that death re- 
 sulted. His wife was in her maidenhood Miss Julia 
 Ann Logan, and lier family was of German descent. 
 She survived her husband about forty years, and 
 cared for lier cliildren until they were able to earn 
 their own livelihood and depend upon their own re- 
 sources. The family consisted of six children, three 
 sons and three daughters, but only three are now 
 living: Maria, now Mrs. Beck, is a resident of Day- 
 ton, Ohio; William died a number of years ago: 
 George, who is also deceased; Mrs. Harriet Snj'der 
 is a resident of Da3'ton, Ohio; Charlotte, who be- 
 came the wife of Mr. Motto, died in Dayton. 
 
 Our subject spent the d.iys of his boyhood and 
 youth upon his father's farm, and throughout his 
 business career followed agricultural pursuits. His 
 mother removed to Dayton, when he was a child, 
 and in Montgomery C6unt3% Ohio, on the 23d of 
 September, 1828, having attained to mature 3ears, 
 lie was united in marriage with Miss Catherine 
 Hilderbrand, a native of Allegheny County, Pa., and 
 a daughter of James and Elizabeth Hilderbrand, 
 who removed to Montgomery County-, Ohio, in an 
 earl}- day. In 183'J, Mr. Norris and his wife became 
 residents of Johnson County, Ind., where they 
 dwelt until becoming residents of Polk County-, 
 Iowa, in the ^ear 1815. The first settlement which 
 Mr. Norris made was at Saj'lor Grove, on what is 
 now the county farm. He improved that place, 
 and made it his home for ten 3'ears, when he sold 
 out and removed to the city of Des IMoines. He 
 obtained the position of crier in the county. Slate, 
 .Supreme and L^nited States Courts, which position 
 he held for j'ears, but resigned the three flrst-iMimed 
 when, in 1868, he resumed farm labor. He i)ur- 
 chased land in lUoomfield Township, on which he 
 lived until l.SSl, when in consequence of his ad- 
 vanced age, he could no longer operate his farm, 
 ami, selling out, returned to Des Moines. He pur- 
 chased his land for ^.'ill per acre, and on disposing 
 of it sold at an increase of ^liU) per acre. He 
 was one of the ka<llng agriculturists of this sec- 
 tion of the State, and, possessing all the elements 
 
 essential to success, his career as a farmer was a 
 prosiierous one. Although he resigned his jiosition 
 as caller in three courts, he filled that position in 
 the United States Court until 1888, covering a 
 period of thirty-two years. He is one of the oldest 
 and one of the earliest citizens of Des ^loines, and 
 is respected and esteemed by all who know him. 
 He has led a useful and upright life, and ina^- now 
 look back over the past with no regret for unim- 
 proved opportunities and time illy spent. 
 
 The family of iMr. and Mrs. Norris includes only 
 two chiklren, daughters: Elizabeth, who is now the 
 widow of Benjamin Saylor, and Eve, wife of Thomas 
 Gnadle. 
 
 ■^S^ ANIEL n. UEES., M. D., of Des Moines, was 
 ij; born in Vermillion County, 111., May l',>, 
 1824, and is the son of Thomas and .Sarah 
 (Haworth) Rees. His father, a ^'irginian by birth, 
 removed to Clinton, Ohio, in earl^' life, and was 
 there married, after which he engaged in farming. 
 Later he left the Buckeye State and became a res- 
 id(mt of White River, Ind., when. e, in 1820, here- 
 moved to Vermillion County, III. He was one of 
 the earliest pioneers of that region and continued 
 to make his home in that county until 1816, when 
 he emigrated with his fuinil^' to Polk County, 
 Iowa, using ox-teams and wagons as a means of 
 transportation. Arriving in Polk County on the 
 1st of June of that year, the}' found Iowa's capital 
 to be a small inilitaiy post called Ft. Des Moines. 
 Mr. Rees settled on what was subsequently known 
 as the "six mile strip," which, in January-, 1853, 
 was sei)arated from Polk County and attached to 
 Warren County. The death of his wife occurred in 
 1848, and he suljsequently married Lydia Hen- 
 shaw. He continued his residence on the claim 
 which he had made for a period of twelve j'ears, 
 when he went to Kansas. Three years later he re- 
 turned to Iowa and settled near Stuart, (iiithric 
 County, where he i)assed the latter years of his life, 
 his death occuriing in 1863. By his first mar- 
 riage were bmii six chihbvn, three sons and three 
 daughters, but Dr. Kees :ind two sisters are llieon'y 
 
266 
 
 PORTRAIT AND liiOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 surviving ones. The eldest of these, .Sidney .Smiih, 
 married John Pearson, of Ohio. Tiiey came to 
 Iowa in 1H46, settled in Polk County, where they 
 they lived for about twenty yearSj then moved to 
 Guthrie f^ounty, Iowa, where Mr. Pearson died 
 aliout 1870. Ilis widow was agsin- married and 
 now resides in Stuart, Iowa. Martlia Rees. llirce 
 years younger than the Doctor, married James W. 
 Dowell, February 3, 1848, and now lives in Des 
 Moines, Iowa. 
 
 Doctor Rees came to Iowa_. with his parents, in 
 June, 181G. Having received a common school 
 education, he entered upon the stuily of medicine 
 and was graduated from the Eclectic Medical Col- 
 lege, of Cincinnati, Ohio, in the class of 1859. 
 Previous to that time, however, he studied two 
 years with Dr. Beck, of Palmyra, Iowa. On re- 
 ceiving his degree he at once entered upon the 
 active duties of liis profession in Guthrie Countj', 
 continuing in that field until 18G4, when he re- 
 moved to Palm^-ra, Warren County, of the same 
 State, where he spent fourteen years in successful 
 practice. Coming to Des Moines at the expiration 
 of that time, he has since been actively employed 
 in professional work in this city. 
 
 On the 2nd of February, 1818, in Polk County, 
 Dr. Rees vvas united in the holy bonds of matri- 
 mony with INIiss Mary S. Edgerton, a native of 
 Grant County, Ind., and a daughter of William 
 Edgcrton. Her father died while she was yet a 
 child, and in 1817, she accompanied her brother 
 and family to Polk County. The Doctor an<l his 
 wife have five living children and have lost four, 
 three dying in infancy, the other reachirig woman- 
 hood. S. Ctdvin, the eldest, married Miss Lula 
 Harris, and is engaged in farming in Fremont 
 County, Iowa; William W. married Miss Emma 
 Snow, and is a druggist of Schuyler, Colfax County, 
 Neb.; Celissa J., wife of Hiram Griffin, died in 
 INIay, 187f); Lewis A. is engaged in the drug l)usi- 
 ness in llaniluug, Fremont County, Iowa; Delia 
 Celesta is the wife of Louis Sheldahl, of Des 
 Moines; Ivie E. is a teacher in the city schools, 
 and makes her home with her parents. Mrs. Rees 
 and family attend the Congregational Cluirch. 
 
 In politics, Dr. Rees is a Republican, but has 
 never sought pt litical pretVrnient. After coming 
 
 to Des Moines, he took a post graduate course in 
 King's Eclectical Medical College, graduating in 
 1881. He is professor of Theory and Practice in 
 the Iowa Eclectic Medical College, of Des Moines, 
 and has filled that chair for the past three years. 
 He is a member of the Iowa State Eclectic Medical 
 Society, of which he has served as Vice-President, 
 and is also a member of the National Eclectic Meil- 
 ical Society. The Doctor has now been engaged in 
 active practice in Des Moines for twelve years, 
 having his office at No. 422 P'ast Sixth Street, anil 
 residence at No. 1209 Lyon Street. He is recog- 
 nized as a physician and surgeon of superior abil- 
 ity, and is a gentleman of culture. His skill in his 
 profession and close application to business have 
 won him an extensive and lucrative practice, which 
 is well merited. 
 
 EDWIN II. CARTER, Physician and Sur- 
 geon, was born in Prince William County, 
 Va., July 9. 183C. His father, Rhodam C. 
 
 Carter, and his grandfather, John Carter, were 
 born in the same place. His great-grandfather, 
 Nathan Carter, emigrated from London and settled 
 in Prince William County, where he became a 
 planter. Rhodam was born August 6, 1806, and 
 in 1826 married Miss Lucy, daughter of William 
 Hulitl, a native of Virginia, whose wife, JMaigery 
 Ball, belonged to a noted family of Virginia. Both 
 the Doctor's grandfathers served in the War of 
 1812-15. 
 
 In 1847, Rhodam C. with his family removed 
 to and settled on a farm in Ileniy County, luwa. 
 Subsecpiently he removed to Afton, Iowa, where 
 Mr. Carter died January 1, 1881, when in the 
 seventy-sixth year of his age. Mrs. Carter, who 
 was born in \'irginia, September 26, 1808, died 
 December 25, 1888. They were the parents of 
 live sons and live daughters who grew to maturity, 
 and eight of that number are living in 1890, vi/..: 
 I.evi, Elizabeth, Ranzel, Rhodam S., Edwin II., 
 Harriet, Maria and Juda. The deceased are: Mar- 
 gery, the second daughter and liftli child, who 
 died at the age of eighteen years; and Allen, the 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 267 
 
 youngest son. The latter enlisted during tiie late 
 war in tbe Fourth Iowa Cavalry, was taken pris- 
 oner at the battle of Pea Kidge, Ark., and died 
 while in captivity at Little Rock, his death having 
 Ijeen caused from exposure and exhaustion. 
 
 Dr. Carter, while in Ins native State, attended 
 tlie primitive scliools of that ua\-, iu which he ob- 
 tained the rudiments of an education. fSoon after 
 sunrise school was called, and throughout the day 
 until sunset the strictest attention and diligence 
 were required by the teacher, who was employed 
 by the 3'ear, and an infraction of rules was sure 
 io provoke sj^eedy and sunnnaiy punishment. In 
 that day the methods of imparting instruction 
 were crude, and the text books were remarkably 
 ambiguous to the scholars. .School aiijiaratus was 
 luiknown, and tlie sciioolhouscs were marvels of 
 architectural ugliness and discomfort, and taken 
 altogether, an excellent illustration is afforded of 
 the wonderful contrast that exists in the school 
 systems of the i)ast and i)resent. 
 
 As a farmer boy, though onl}' eleven years old 
 when his parents seLtled in Iowa, Dr. Carter per- 
 formed nearly all the duties of a farm hand during 
 the summer, and attended school during the winter. 
 Thus his life was passed 'to his eighteenth year, at 
 whicii age he forever aljandoned farm life. During 
 the next seven or eiglit years he attended school 
 and taught alternately, becoming' a successful and 
 proficient instructor. 
 
 In the spring of 1862, our subject enterel the 
 office of Dr. William Molesworth, of Des Moines, 
 and commenced the studj' of medicine. After a 
 thorough course of office instruction, he matricu- 
 lated at the Eclectic Medical institute of Cincin- 
 nati, Ohio, from which college he was graduated 
 on the loth of February, 1865. Returning to 
 Des Moines, he formed a partnership with his 
 former preceptor, and actively' engaged in tiie 
 practice of medicine. 
 
 During the winter of 1868-6!) Dr. Carter took a 
 course of study in the University Medical Col- 
 lege of New York City. Returning again to Des 
 Moines, he lias continued in the active practice of 
 medicine and surgery to the present time. In 
 1868 he was one of the f','w who organized the 
 Iowa State Eclectic Medical Society, in which he 
 
 successively held the otDces of Corresponding 
 Secretary, Kecording Secretary, Treasurer and 
 President. 
 
 In Des Moines, January 21, 1875, the Doctor 
 married Miss Amanda Richmond, a native of Ohio. 
 They liave one child, Edwin Richmond, who was 
 born May 20, 1877. In 18.S1 Dr. Carter assisted 
 in organizing the Medical Dei)artment of Drake 
 L'niversity, which o|)''ned its first course of lec- 
 tures January 10, 1882. During the first term he 
 was Professor of Surgery, and for four succeeding 
 terms taught the theory and practice of medicine, 
 and from the opening of the school to the end of 
 the fifth term was Dean of the Faculty. At the 
 close of the fifth term he resigned his positions in 
 the college, and again gave his undivided attention 
 to the pr.actice of his profession. For a quarter of 
 a centur}' Dr. Carter has practiced medicine in 
 Des Moines and vicinity, and has come in contact 
 with ever}' form of disease to which this climate is 
 subject. As a physician and surgeon, he stands in 
 liie front rank of the fraternit3- in Polk Countj'. 
 He is a close student, a keen observer and is thor- 
 oughly devoted to his profession. An affable and 
 social gentleman, he enjoys a wide circle of ac- 
 quaintances, and commands the resjiect of all whom 
 he meets. He takes a lively interest in the world's 
 progress, and bears no small share in promoting 
 the growth and best interes'ts of his home city and 
 State. 
 
 JEOROE THOMAS CARPENTER is tiie 
 -, present Chancellor of Drake University. 
 v^^iJi ^" ^ f'^'''" '" Nelson County, Ky., on the 
 4th of March, 1831, was born one of the ablest 
 educators of which Iowa can boast — G. T. Carpen- 
 ter, A.M., L.L.D., F.A.S. He springs from a line 
 of farmers on both sides. His paternal grandfather, 
 Michael Carpenter, left his home in •tJermany 
 when a youth, crossed the Atlantic and settled in 
 Kentuck}', where he was married and reared a fam- 
 ily' of children. One of his sons. Judge Carpentoi-. 
 figured prominently in the politics of that Stair; 
 another, Thomas by name, chose farming as his 
 vocation, but as he was just entering upon I lie 
 
268 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 most active :tn(l useful perioil of liis life, he was 
 called to that land whence no traveler returns. 
 He w.ns the father of Chancellor Carpenter, and at 
 his death left a wife and two sons to mourn his 
 loss. One of the latter, the subject of this sketch, 
 was born after the fallier's death. The children 
 were George T. arid Prof. William .1. Carpenter, of 
 California. Their mother, whose maiden name was 
 Mary Kurtz, belonged to one of the old and res- 
 pected families of Pennsylvania, and was a daugh- 
 ter of .Tacob and Elizabeth (Enlow) Kurtz, Her 
 father, as his name would indicate, was of German 
 extraction. Her mother was a cousin of Abraham 
 Lincoln. Seven years after the death of Thom.as 
 Carpenter, his widow married Jacob Huffaker, and 
 wiih him removed to Bureau County, 111., in 1842, 
 where a home was made and four more children 
 added to the famiij-. 
 
 [Subjected to the hardships and privations inci- 
 dent to the settling of a new country, our subject 
 made the most of his opportunities, which at best 
 were few in his earlier days. However, manliness, 
 a strong determination to succeed, and an honora- 
 ble, u|)riglit course, marked his boyhood effoits 
 and his rapid advancement in the district schools 
 warranted his attending Princeton Academy, then 
 under the management of Prof. .lames Smith, a 
 deacon in tl.e church of Owen Lovejoy, whose 
 brother died a martyr to the principles of freedom 
 of speech and of tlic press. During his academic 
 course Mr. Carpenter supported himself largely by 
 manual labor, one of the tasks performed and now 
 on record being "Ofteen cords of wood sawed for 
 Mr. Lovejoy's church." His rclij.'ious training was 
 not neglected in his education. Both parents were 
 at one time members of tiie Baptist Church, but 
 becoming couvincetl that llie teachings of tiie 
 Church of Christ were in harmony with the New 
 'i'l'stament [tlan of salvation, the mother united 
 with that denomination and was a lirui and faithful 
 member until death. Mr. Carpenter was liaplized 
 near Dover, III., and united with liie same church. 
 The following year he came to Iowa and taught his 
 first school in Greenlnish, Warren Count}-, where 
 he also made his fiist effort to preach the Gospel. 
 Having returned to Illinois, he taught for two 
 terms in his home district, receiving an advance in 
 
 salary for the second term and a iiromise of a still • 
 greater increase if he would accept the position for 
 a third term. A desire to better prepare himself 
 for an educator led him to decline the offer and 
 enter Abingdon College, from which he was gradu- 
 ated in the class of '59. His standing as a student 
 is best shown by the fact that at the completion of 
 both his academic ami collegiate courses, he was 
 granted the honor of delivering the valedictory. 
 Toward the close of his college course he was cm- 
 ployed as tutor in the cla.ssics. In connection with 
 his literary researches, he had been nuiking a clofc 
 study of the Bible, ap.d the same year of his grada- 
 tion he was ordained to the Christian ministry-. 
 
 Prof. Carpenter was now read3' to enter upon a 
 business career. For two j'ears he was eng.aged in 
 preaching and teaching in Winterset, Iowa, when, 
 in 1861, he and his brother were called to open and 
 conduct Oskaloosa College, with which he was con- 
 nected fur the succeeding twent}' 3'ears, the greater 
 part of the time as its Presi. lent. He was one of 
 the most proficient instructors ever in charge of 
 thai school, and under his able management the 
 college soon took rank among the best institutions 
 of the kind in the .State. Mr. Carpenter has been 
 entrusted with some responsible positions in the 
 fields of education, politics and finance. For many 
 years he was editor-in chief of the ('hrisfian Ecnn- 
 yelitil; in 1873 he was appointed United States 
 Honorary Commissioner to the World's Fair in 
 Vienna, Austria, and is now President of the Mer- 
 chants' and Banker's Insurance Conip.any, besides 
 being interested in other business enterprises. It 
 is often said that college professors know not 
 enough about business affairs to furnish their own 
 tables, but if this be true. Chancellor Cariienter is a 
 marked exception to the general rule, as he can 
 analyze business i)roi)osilions as accurately as he 
 can a sentence in (u'cek. 
 
 For a ccmipanion in life Mr. Carpenter chose 
 .Miss Henrietta T. Drake, a lady of splendid ac- 
 complishments and a native of Ft. Madison, Iowa. 
 She is a daughter of Judge John A. Drake, of 
 Drakeville. Iowa, so widely aiul favorably km>wn 
 throughout tiie State. Of the four children born 
 of their union three are graduates of the Drake 
 Lniversity — lohn I)., the eldest, is .assistant secre- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHrCAL ALBUM. 
 
 271 
 
 tary of the Merchants' and Bankers' Insurance 
 Company; Mary A. is assistant editor of the 
 Christian Orac/c, published at Ciucago; Henrietta 
 I)., a graduate of tiie Boston School of Oratory, is 
 tiie teacher of elocution and calisthenics in Drake 
 I'niversit}-; and Jennie is at home. 
 
 Monuments are generally erected to the memory 
 of men who have passed awa}-, but Chancellor 
 Carpenter has erected his own monument, but not 
 one that alone commemorates his noble deeds. 
 This magnificent structure is nothing less than 
 Drake Tniversity. To Mr. Carpenter more than to 
 any other one man is the establishment and rapid 
 growth of that splendid institution due. For many 
 3'ears it had been the cherished ho|)0 to found a 
 schgol worthy the name of universitj', but not 
 until 1880 did the opiiortunity present itself. 
 With the assistance of Elder D. R. Lucas, and 
 others, the school was founded in 1881, and in 
 honor of Gen. F. M. Drake, of Cenlerville, Iowa, 
 the princely donor, it was named Drake rniversity. 
 Tlie eity of Des Moines was selected as the site for 
 the school on account of its central location, its 
 beauty and its general healthfuluess. I'lion the 
 establishment 'of the school, Mr. Carpenter was 
 chosen Chancellor, and to his assistance were 
 called educators of ability and reputation. It may 
 be truly said tiiat no institution in the State has a 
 stronger faculty than Drake I'niversity. Though 
 in its infancy, it embraces eight colleges — College 
 of Letters and Science, Bible College, Business 
 College, College of Music. Art School, Normal 
 School, Law College, and College of Medicine and 
 i'iiarmac}'. In the several dei)artnients there arc 
 more than fifty instructors, and the cnrollnicnl fur 
 the year 1888-8'J reached seven hundred and forty. 
 Drake University is under the control of the Cliris- 
 tiiui Church, but built on a broad and liberal 
 foundation, it throws wide its doors to all of what- 
 ever sex, nation or belief. The success of this 
 institution is a Mattering coni|)liment to its chan- 
 cellor. 
 
 Mr. Carpenter has taken some inteicst in great 
 political questions, especially on the; subject of 
 Prohibition. In 1879, he was unanimously nomi- 
 nated by the Trohibition Convention assembled in 
 Cedar Rapids for Govcrtior of the State of Iowa, 
 
 but he declined the honor, as it would lead him 
 from his chosen calling. His authorship is limited 
 to lectures and numerous letters, interesting and 
 ably written, on subjects concerning his tour 
 through Europe; a small work entitled "The Bible 
 vs Spiritualism," and the '-Destiny of the Wicked," 
 a book of some si.\ hundred pages, being a joint 
 discussion l)etween himself and the Ucv. .lohn 
 Hughs, Universalist. 
 
 OH. JAMES GAMBLE DAY, late Chief 
 I Justice of Iowa, and a member of the law 
 firm of Phillips, Day & Crosby, of Des 
 (vS| Moines, was born in Jefferson County, 
 Ohio, on the 28tli of .lune, 1832, and is a son of 
 George and Sarah Day. The family is of English 
 descent, and was foun led in America during the 
 early history of our counlr^-. George Da}', father 
 of our subject, was a native of Mar3-land, whence 
 in early life he removed to Ohio, where he became 
 acquainted with and married Miss Sarah (;:iuible, a 
 native of Lycoming County, Pa., of Irish extrac- 
 tion. 
 
 In his native State our suliject spent the days of 
 his boyhood and 3'Outh, his early life being un- 
 marked by any event of s[)ecial importance. His 
 literary educaticui .vas received in Richmond Acad- 
 emy, after which he entered the Cincinnati Law 
 School, being graduated from that institution in 
 the class of '.07. Immediatel}' after receiving his 
 degree he came to Iowa,- settling in Afton, I'nion 
 County, in the spring. He at once opened a law 
 ollice, and carried on a successful legal business 
 until 1800, when he removed to Sidney, Fremont 
 County. He was but fairly launched in practice 
 at that place when the late war broke out, and in 
 the fall of 1861 he left his home to enter the ser- 
 vice as Lieutenant of Company F, Fifteenth Iowa 
 Infantry. For meritorious conduct he was pro- 
 moted to the rank of Captain, and participated 
 in many of the hard fought battles of the war. 
 At the battfe of Shiloh, on the Gth of April, 1862, 
 he received a gun shot wound in the hip, which 
 caused him to resign his commission in September 
 following. 
 
272 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 While on the fieUl at Corinth, Capt. Day was 
 nominated by the Republicans for the ollice of 
 Judge of the District Court, and was elected in the 
 fall of 1862, following his return from the war. 
 The-ability with which he dischnrged his duties led 
 to his re-election, and he served on the bench of 
 the district court until June, 1870, when he re- 
 signed to accept the appointment of Chief Justice 
 of the Supreme Court of Iowa, to fill a vacancy 
 caused by the resignation of Chief Justice Georgtf 
 C. Wright, who had been elected to the United 
 States Senate. Capt. D.ay was nominated for the 
 position at a convention held previous to his ap- 
 pointment, and was elected Chief Justice in the 
 fall of 1870, and by re-elections filled that office 
 until January 1, 1884. covering a period of thir- 
 teen years. In the f.all previous he had been a 
 candidate for the election, but was defeated on 
 account of a celebrated opinion rendered by him 
 in regard to the prohibition amendment to the 
 Iowa Slate Constitution, which was adopted in 
 1882. AVithout regard to personal or political 
 sentiment. Judge Day declared, as a lawyer, that 
 the amendment had not been legally ratified. He 
 IrM that the amenilment could be properly estab- 
 lished, and that the delay necessary to that end 
 was a less misfortune than the violation of the 
 constitution. In this he was sustained by the 
 sound legal voice of the State, but popular will 
 triumphed over legal methods. 
 
 On retiring from the office of Chief Justice, 
 Jud^e Day removed to Des Moines and formed 
 the existing partnership with Judge William Phil- 
 lips, since which time he has been actively en- 
 gaged in the practice of his profession. The firm 
 of Phillips & D.iy was formed January 1, 1884, 
 and is recognized as one of the leading law firms 
 of the State. Since the admission of W. B. Crosby 
 to partnershi|), in December, 188!), the style of the 
 firm has been Phillips, Day & Crosby. 
 
 On the 1st of December, 18.57, in Jefferson 
 Count}', Ohio, a marriage ceremony united the 
 destinies of James Gamble Day and Minerva C. 
 Manic}', who now for almost a third of a century 
 have traveled life's journey together. The lad}' 
 was born in .Mlegheny City. Pa., but in early 
 childhood accompanied her father, .loshua Mauley. 
 
 Esq., to Jefferson County. Ohio. Seven chililren, 
 six sons and a daughter, grace their union, while 
 an infant son lies sleeping in the churchyard. 
 Curtis L., the first born, was graduated from tlie 
 Iowa City College and Law School, and is now a 
 practicing attorney of Omaha; George, who was 
 graduated from Tabor College, of Tabor, Iowa, 
 and fi'om the law department of the State Univer- 
 sity, married Miss Sarah Brown, and is now en- 
 gaged in practice as a partner of his elder brother; 
 Mary, the only daughter, who is also a graduate 
 of Tabor College, is the wife of Edmond B. Edgar, 
 an attorney of Redfield, S. D. ; Charles M., also a 
 Tabor College graduate, married Miss Annie 
 Davenport, and is one of the editors of the Sioux 
 Falls Argil a- Leader; Harry B., who was educated 
 in the Ames Agricultural College, making a spe- 
 cial study of electrical engineering, was graduated 
 in the class of '89, and is now residing in Des 
 Moines, where he is employed as an electrician; 
 Edwin S. and James G. are students in the Des 
 Moines I'niversity; and John Jlatthew, the young- 
 est, died in infancy. 
 
 Judge Day and Ins wife are members of the 
 Presbyterian Church. In politics, the Judge is a 
 stanch Republican, and socially, is a member of 
 Crocker Post, No. 12, G. A. R., and the Loyal 
 Legion of the United States. As a jurist he ranks 
 among the best of the profession in Iowa, and his 
 opinions, which are the result of careful investiga- 
 tion and based on a thorough knowledge of law, 
 are always received with confidence and respect in 
 court or council. Candid and sincere by nature. 
 and possessed of a genial, courteous manner, Judge 
 Day wins and holds a firm place in the hearts of 
 the best people with whom he comes iu contact 
 either in business or social intercourse. 
 
 A portrait of Judge Day is presented on another 
 page of this volume. 
 
 (ji^DWIN W. GARBERICH, M. D., homeo- 
 fe pathic physician and surgeon of Des Jloines, 
 \ ^ established practice in this city October 1, 
 1878. He is n native of Lebanon County. Pa., his 
 birth having occurred on the 21th of July, 1842. 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 273 
 
 Tlie first American ancestor of the family was An- 
 drew Garbericli, who emigrated from Rotterdam, 
 Holland, to Pennsylvania, and settled in Leliar.on 
 County', in 1751. He was the great-irrand father 
 of our subject. The Doctor's grandfather was 
 Philip Garbericli, and his father Daniel Garber- 
 ich, who has been five years a resident of Des 
 Moines, married Klizabeth AVise, and unto them 
 were born four sons, the Doctor being the eldest. 
 Allen D., the second, who enlisted in the late war 
 as a membrr of the One Hundred and Twcnt}' 
 seventh Pennsylvania Regiment, died in the hos- 
 l)ital near Alexandria, A'a., in the 3-ear 18()2; Philip 
 is a traveling salesman for the well known music 
 firm of Lyon & Ilealy, and represents the Nebraska 
 store; Prof. Lyman S., the j'oungest son, is a grad- 
 uate of the Lei[)sic Conservatory of Music, and is 
 now a resident of Des Moines, where he is engaged 
 in teaching music. 
 
 Dr. Garbericli was reared on a farm, and his 
 earl3' education was supplied by an excellent pub- 
 lic school. After completing an academic course 
 of stud\' he engaged in teaching a few terms. He 
 determined to fit himself for the medical profession 
 and devoted his leisure time to the stiidy of medi- 
 cal works. In April, 1861, he continued hjs 
 studies, under Dr. J. B. Herring, of IMeclianics- 
 burg, but the AVar of the Rebellion broke out 
 about that time and, 3'ielding to the patriotic sen- 
 timent that imbued the people of the North when 
 the life of the nation was threatened, ho decided 
 to go forth to battle for the old flag. Three 
 months after he had entered uiion the course of a 
 medical student, he laid aside his books and en- 
 rolled his name as a member of Company E, One 
 Hundred and Tweutj'-seventh Pennsylvania In- 
 fantry. For about nine rponths he served as n» 
 private and was then promoted to the rank of First 
 Lieutenant of Company D, Forty-eighth Penn.syl- 
 vania State Guards. He participated in the battles 
 of Fredericksljurg and Cliancellorsville, under Gens. 
 Burnside and Hooker. He resumed his medical 
 studies in the fall of 1863, and entered the medical 
 department of the I'niversity of Pennsylvania, in 
 Philadelphia, from which institution he was grad- 
 uated in 1865. Soon after completing his course, he 
 located in New Kingston, ne;ir Harrisburg, Pa., 
 
 where he engaged in practice from April, 1865, 
 until Sei)tember, 1886, when he removed to Me- 
 clianicsburg, in the same State. He remained there 
 until September, 1878, when he came to Des 
 Moines. The Doctor came to Iowa in the spring 
 of that 3'ear with a view of selecting a favorable 
 situation, as he had determined to locate in the 
 West, where opportunities for advancement prom- 
 ised better than in the older States of the l-'.ast. 
 He visited Des Moines and, beiug pleased with the 
 city, determined to locate here, which decision he 
 carried into effect iinmediatel3-. Dr. Garbericli, 
 b3' his skill as a physician, his cordial and genial 
 'disposition and his enterprise as a citizen, has made 
 a large circle of friends, and his practice is a large 
 and growing one. 
 
 The Doctor's wife, wiiom he married in Pennsyl- 
 vania, was formerly Miss Mary E. Brandt, a native 
 of York 'County, Pa. Her f^ither is deceased, and 
 the mother came to Des Moines in the fall of 1878, 
 and is still residing in this city, as a member of 
 the Doctor's f am 113'. 
 
 
 ROF. HENRY D. McANENEY, Principal 
 of the Business College of Drakel'niversity, 
 was b(jrn in Piqua, Miama County, Ohio, 
 March 18, 1858, and is a son of William A. 
 and Anne (Dowd) McAneney, both of whom were 
 natives of Ireland. The father was born in Dublin, 
 In 1831, and was a son of an extensive land owner 
 of that country. AYhen a young man he came to 
 the United States, locating in Rochester, N.Y. The 
 mother was born in Wicklow, in 1833, and also 
 belonged to one of the substantial families of the 
 land. Her great-grandfather, Mr. Plunkett, served 
 as a General in the Revolution of 1798, when Ire- 
 land sought her freedom. When a young lady of 
 nineteen years, Miss Dowd came to America to join 
 her brothers in New York, afterward removing 
 with them to Rochester, where she again met Will- 
 iam A. McAnenev, whom she had known in Ire- 
 land. Here she and Mr. McAneney were manied. 
 After residing in the ICnipire State for : time, tlie3- 
 
274 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 removed to Ohio, residing in I'rbana, Piqua and 
 Miaruisburg bucccssively. In 1872, tliej' removed 
 to Southern Wisconsin, and tiic fullowing 3 ear be- 
 came residents of Eastern Pottawattamie Count}-, 
 Iowa, wliere tlie\- reside(l until 1 888. again removing 
 to a farm near Atlantic, where they still reside- 
 In 18Gt, the husband enlisted in C'omiian}- A, One 
 Hundred and Eigiitj'-seventli Ohio Uegiment, with 
 which he served until the olose uf the war, iiartici- 
 pating in some of the hardest fought battles. 
 When he entered the service he was a supporter of 
 the Democratic party, but ere he received his dis- 
 charge he had become a stalwart Republican. He 
 is in heart\- sympathy with the struggling people* 
 of his native isle who are contending for their 
 natuial rights and both he and his wife are mem- 
 bers of the Catholic Church. In their family are 
 six children, four sons and two daughters: John F. 
 is in the iniplenient jjusiness in Atlantic, Iowa; 
 William and Thomas are bookkeepers for large 
 lirms in Chicago; and the other sou is Prof. Henry, 
 who is the eldest. 
 
 Our subject prepared himself U>v public school 
 work which profession he followed three years and 
 then took a course in the Eastman National Busi- 
 ness College of Poughkeepsie, N. Y., graduating in 
 1883. Ui)on the close of his school life he became 
 l)ook-keepcr for Boyle ik Co., of Council Bluffs, 
 and subsequently' was cashier in the wholesale 
 clothing house of Hcnrj- Eisman & Co., but re- 
 signed that position to become head book-keeper 
 for Dcvol & AVright, one of the largest wholesale 
 hardware firms of that city. Mr. McAneney gained 
 an enviable reputation .as an accountant and in 
 •lanuarj'. 1884, was tendered a position as instructor 
 in the Business College of Drake ruiversily, and 
 the following year was made principal. He has 
 always been a diligent and earnest student and in 
 connection with his professional work has almost 
 completed the philosophical course in the Univer- 
 sit^'-from which he will take the degree of A. B., 
 this j'car. He is a young man of strong mental 
 force, untiring energy and fine ability, and has won 
 recognition as an able instructor from some of the 
 most noted educators of the countr}'. In p0litic.1l 
 sentiment he is a Republican, entertaining strong 
 prohibition sentiments. 
 
 On the 29th of December, 1888. Prof. McAneney 
 was united in marriage with Miss Kittle A. Wood- 
 worth, who was born in Strj'ker, Ohio, April 28, 
 1867. One child, a lovel}' girl, has blessed this 
 union. Both the Professor and his wife are earnest 
 and faithful niembeis of the Christian Church. Mrs. 
 McAneney is a lad}' of educ.itiou, refinement and 
 culture, and a musician of artistic al)ility. !She has 
 taken a four years' course in the Conservator}' of 
 Music of Drake rniversity. She is in full sympa- 
 thy with the work of her husband and is a valuable 
 aid in all his efforts. 
 
 O.SllUA GE.SNER HILL. M. I)., of l)e>< 
 Moines, has been engage<l in the practice of 
 medicine in this city since 1878, and ranks 
 deservedl}- high amongst his professional 
 brethren of Polk County. A native of Ohio, he 
 was born in Shelby County, on the 4th of July, 
 1842, and is the son of Joshua Hill, a native of 
 Virginia. When our suljject w.as a boy, his father 
 removed with his family to Illinois, but subse- 
 quently returned to Ohio, and a number of years 
 later, .accompanied by his children, came to Iowa, 
 locating in Guthrie Center, where he died a num- 
 ber of years ago at the adv.inced age of eighty- 
 four. His wife died in 18G2, while a resident of 
 Illinois. They were the [tarents of fifteen chil- 
 dren, eight sons and seven daughters, six of that 
 number still living, namely: James (}., of Iowa 
 City; Henry, of Peoria County, 111.; Dr. J. G.; 
 Caleb, Charlotte and Harriet. Two of the chil- 
 dren died in infancy, but the other members of the 
 family reached mature years. Four of the brothers 
 served their country in the War of the Rebellion, 
 and another sou, Ephraini S., raised a eoiiii)ary, 
 but illness prevented him from entering the serv- 
 ice. He was a lawyer by puofession, and died in 
 Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in 1880. John L. was Cap- 
 tain of Company A, Si.xtieth Ohio Regiment, in 
 which he served until taken prisoner at Harper's 
 Ferry, when that place was surrendered to the 
 Canfederates by Gen. Miles. He was parolctl .and 
 
PORTRAIT AND HIOGKAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 275 
 
 retuvneil home, .and rpcniitecl and ortrani/.ed tlic 
 Twenty-fourth Oliio llattciy, and as its coniinandi'i- 
 re-enteied the service, reninining until the close of 
 tlie war. lie died in Waverly, Ohio, in Kehruai y, 
 1889. from disease contracted in the army. Henry 
 served in an Illinois regiment during the latter 
 part of the struggle, and our subject ;tlso enlisted 
 in the defense of the Union on tlie 1 2th of -hme, 
 18(12, as a memlier of Company K, .Sixly-eighth 
 Illinois Infantry. 
 
 The Doctor received his piimary education in 
 tile public schools of Peoria County, III., and sub- 
 sequently pinsued an academic course of study in 
 Cliillicothe Academy. Wiien quite young, it be- 
 came his desire to make the practice of medicine 
 his life work, and at an early age he liegan fitting 
 himself for that end. lie was graduated from the 
 Eclectic Medical Institute, of Cincinnati, in 1878, 
 and afterward was for some time prominently 
 (*onnected with the medical department of Drake 
 I'niversity. The necessary labor attending that 
 position, added to his large general [)ractico,so im- 
 paircil his health that a change of climate and less 
 ardnous (hities were deemed necessary to his res- 
 toration, and in April, 188,5, he went to Los An- 
 geles, Cal., where he remained about a j'car, at the 
 end of which time he returned to Des Moines and 
 resumed his professional laliors. 
 
 The Doctor was married, in Galesburg, 111., to 
 Miss Edith H. Owen, a daughter of John JI. Owen, 
 and unto them has been born a daughter, Fannie. 
 Dr. Hill is a popular and successful physician, and 
 as a citizen is highly respected and esteemed. A 
 large general practice yields him a good income 
 and indicates the confidence rejiosed in his skill 
 ar>d ability. He is a member of the United States 
 Pension Board, of Des ^loines. 
 
 ^( AMES L. SCOTT, who is now living a re- 
 tired life in Des Moines, is numbered among 
 the honored pioneers of the .State, having 
 first visited Iowa during its territorial d.ays 
 in 1834. He was prominently connected with the 
 early history of several of its counties, and 
 
 throughout his entire life has been an active and 
 enterprising citizen, doing all in his power for the 
 advancement of the best interests of the State 
 wdiich he adopted for his home more than half a 
 a ceutiuy ago. 
 
 Mr. Scott was born in Giles County, Tenn., 
 January 12, 1813, and; is of Scottish descent, his 
 great-grandfather, the original American ancestor, 
 having emigrated from Scotland to this countr}' in 
 a very early day. John Scott, was the grandfather 
 of our subject, and when hi.s son, Andrew, (the 
 father of James,) was a young lail, removed from 
 his home in North Carolina .to Tennessee. The 
 maternal grand p;irents, Caleb and Hannah Longest, 
 were of English descent. 
 
 Andrew Scott w.as united in marriage with Anna 
 Longest, in the State of Tennessee, whence 
 they removed to Crawford Count3', Ind., during 
 the infancy of (uir suliject. In 1819, they became 
 residents of Sangamon County, 111., where they 
 spent the lemainder of their lives, the father dj'ing 
 in 18.");), the mother in 185.J. They were the parents 
 of eleven children, five sons and six daughters, all 
 of whom lived to mature years. 
 
 James L. Scott, whose name heads this notice, 
 was the third in order of birth in the numerous 
 family of which he is a member, and is the oldest 
 surviving. His early life w.as spent in the usual 
 manner of farmer lads, and in the days of his early 
 manhood he became a pioneer of the Territory of 
 Iowa. He first crossed the Mississippi River at 
 Burlington in the fall of 1834, being oneofaparty 
 of five who explored the country with a view of 
 making a location. He returned to Illinois, how- 
 ever, without deciding upon a phtce of settlement, 
 but in the fall of 1835, again crossed the Father of 
 Waters and made a claim of a half section of laud 
 in Lee County. He resided upon hiS claim duiing 
 the following winter, but when spring came he 
 pLaccd it in the hands of Sam Weaver with in- 
 structions to sell it to the best possible advantage, as 
 he h.ad decided togo to the le.ad minesof Wisconson. 
 For a j-car and a half Mr. Scott remained in the 
 mining country of Southwestern Wisconsin, and 
 then returned to his home in Sangamon County, 
 where he attended school until 1838, when he 
 again canu; to Iowa. lie made aclaim in.lelTersnn 
 
276 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 County, on wliieli he settled, continuing there to 
 make liis home for some time. l")uring tlie winter 
 of 1838-9, the county wns organized and he was 
 elected its first sheriflf, and twice re-elected to the 
 same position. He took the first census of Jeffer- 
 son Count}' in 1840, and w.as prominently iden- 
 tified with the early history ^f that communilj'. 
 
 In the month of October, 1839, a wedding cere- 
 'mony was performed in .lefferson County, the con- 
 tracting parties being .lames L. Scott and Jliss 
 Mary Ann Gilrtier. The lady was boin in Adair 
 County, Ky., December 18, 1818, and with her 
 patents, .Tames and Elizabeth (Tilford) Gilmer, 
 came to .Jefferson Count}' in the spring of 1838. 
 Mr. Gilmer and his sons entered large tracts of land 
 in that section, and he and his wife continued there 
 to reside upon their farm until death. They were 
 parents of four children, two sons and two 
 daugiilers, who attained to mature j'ears. Ben- 
 jamin F., the eldest, removed from Kentuck}- to Illi- 
 nois, and engaged in the mercantile business in 
 McDonough Count}-. He afterwards followed the 
 same business in Jefferson County, Iowa, where 
 his death occurred in 1846. Mrs. Jane Ross re- 
 sides in Fairfield, Iowa. Robert T. married Anna 
 Scott, a sister of our subject and resides in F"air- 
 field. ]\Irs. Scott completes the family. 
 
 A third of a century has passed since James L. 
 Scott, accompanied by his family, settled in Polk 
 County. For eleven years they were residents of 
 Des Moines, but at the end of that time our sub- 
 ject resumed farming in Bloomfield Township, that 
 occupation having occupied the greater part of his 
 business career. For twenty years he devoted his 
 energies to the development and improvement of 
 his land, but at length returned to the city, where 
 lie and his estimable wife are now living a retired 
 life, their pleasant home being situated in the first 
 addition to University Phce. 
 
 Twelve childi-en were born to this woithy couple, 
 si.\ of whom are living, namely: Mrs. SanianthaC. 
 Kmbry; Mrs. Iowa E. McEIdery; Dick, a resident 
 of Kansas City, Mo.; Frank, whose home is in 
 Austin, Texa.s;Caleb D. at home; and ]\Irs. Mary 
 Olive Bolinger of Afton, Union County, Iowa. 
 The other children all died in childhood, with the 
 exception of Annex Texas, who wns an invalid for 
 
 many years and died al tlie age of thirty, and 
 Wilson A. who died in Des Moines December 15, 
 1889, aged thirty-three years. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Scott are numbered among the well- 
 known citizens of Des Moines and honored pioneers 
 of Iowa, whose growth they have witnessed from 
 its early infancy, until it takes a front rank among 
 the sister States of the Union. Their long residence 
 in the .State has brought them many acquaintances, 
 and their upright lives have won them many warm 
 friends. They are consistent and faithful members 
 of the Christian Church. 
 
 rsSELL M. DiiWITT, M.D., who was a 
 faithful soldier in the late war and is an 
 ili v. honored member of the medical fraternity 
 of Polk County, w.asborn in Auburn. Cayuga 
 County, N. Y., on tiie 8th of November, 1849, and 
 is of Holland descent. He traces his ancestry in 
 direct line back to John DeWitt, an exile from 
 Holland, who to secure freedom crossed the At- 
 lantic and settled on tlie banks of the Mohawk 
 River in the seventeenth century. M.atthcw De- 
 Witt, the grandfather of our subject, was an exten- 
 sive landowner of the Em|)lre State, and served his 
 country as a soldier in the War of 1812, liolding a 
 high command. He married Jane Ammermon, 
 and unto them w6re born eight children, five sons 
 and three daughters. The sons all became minis- 
 ters of the Baptist Church, one being the noted 
 evangelist, II. G. DeWitt, who by his noble efforts 
 in promoting the Master's work won a wide repu- 
 tation. 
 
 .lames A. DeWitt, the father of the Doctor, was 
 I)orn near Auburn, N. Y., March 4, 1814, and was 
 educated for the ministry, wliich he m.ade his life 
 work. In his native city he married Miss Phiebe 
 Slreeten a n.ative of Cayuga County, N. Y., born 
 M.ay 4, 1818, and a d.aughter of Benjamin and 
 Abigail (.Spaulding) Streeter. Her father com- 
 manded a battery in the War of 1812, and was a 
 meml)er of the General Assembly of New York. 
 When the late war broke out Mr. DeWitt w.as in- 
 
PORTKAIT AND IJlOGUAl'lilCAL ALBI'IM. 
 
 277 
 
 stnimental in raising troops, and ur.uh- man}- pub- 
 lic speeches in >vder to induce soldiers to enlist. 
 He was among the 6rst to enroll his name as a 
 defender of his country, his name heading the 
 list of the company which he raised, while the 
 second name w.as tliat of his son, John M,,w+io was 
 then but sixteen years of age, and wlio w-as after- 
 wanl jiromoted to the rank of First- Lieutenant 
 in recognition of gallantry displayed on the field 
 of battle. He was captured at iMonocacy Junction, 
 July 9, 1864, and ilied in the rebel prison at Dan- 
 ville, \'a., April 10, 1865. It is supposed that he 
 with others were poisoned by the Confederates, for 
 one hundred and eleven died the same night in 
 that prison. The Rev.Mr.DeWitt served as Chaplain 
 of the Ninth New York Heavy Artillery, and was 
 twice wounded by going to the front in order to 
 relieve the sufferings of those who were lying in- 
 jincd on the field. On several occasions he shoul- 
 dered his gun and entered the charge. He labored 
 so incessantly and assiduously that his iicallh failed 
 him, and he left the service at the close of the war 
 an invalid, never afterward recovering his health. 
 In 1866 he removed to Jlichigan, and seven years 
 later became a resident of 0'P>rien County, Iowa, 
 where his death occurred in 187i). His life was 
 such that he won the regard of all with whom he 
 came in contact, and of him it may truly be said 
 that the world is better for his having lived. His 
 excellent wife died at the home of our subject in 
 1886. In their family were six children, five sons 
 and a daughter; two of the sons are now deceased. 
 Those living are: Charles H., a physician of Lucas, 
 Iowa; Willard W., a druggist of Peterson, Iowa; 
 the Doctor, and Abigail J. Wooley, now living at 
 Wichita, Kan. 
 
 Our subject received his early education in the 
 old subscription schools, and though not yet thir- 
 teen years of age, on the 21st of July, 1862, he 
 tried to enlist in the service of his country, which 
 was then engaged in the Civil War. .The I'nited 
 Slates enlisting officer, however, refused to muster 
 him into the service, so he remained at Auburn, 
 acting as drummer boy at the State ren<lezvous. 
 At length, through the inlluenee of W. H. Seward, 
 Jr., who was then Colonel of the Ninth Heavy 
 Artillery, on the 7lh of April, 1861. he was mus- 
 
 tered into the regular service as a member of Com- 
 pany C, by a special order of President Lincoln, 
 which the Doctor still has in his possession. He 
 had practically done duly for his country from 
 1862 until that tinio. but his first retrular eniiasrc- 
 mcnt occurred at Spottsylvania. He had carried a 
 gun in thirteen battles before he was fifteen year* 
 of age, and altogether was in some twenty-five 
 battles and numerous skirmishes. On his fifteenth 
 birthday, November 8, 1861, he was detailed as 
 orderly on the staff of Gen. Sheridan, and was 
 relieved the following April on account of sick- 
 ness. 
 
 After being mustered out in July, 1865, Mr. 
 DeWill returned to his home and resumed work on 
 his father's farm. He acquired his education by 
 study in his leisure hours and at night, after which 
 he engaged in teaching. In that way he helped 
 his parents to !)a3' for their home, and assisted in 
 the sup[iort of the family. So liberally did he give 
 of his earnings that oftentimes he had hardly sulli- 
 cient clothing, yet he always managed to save from 
 his earnings a little sum to invest in books. 
 After teaching for a time his health failed him and 
 he went to Northern Michigan, where he worked 
 in the pineries and located a land-warrant which he 
 had received from his grandfather. At length he 
 made choice of the medical profession as one 
 which he believed he could willingly follow 
 throughout life, and began his studies with Dr. 
 W. W. Whitford, of Coldwater, Mich., after 
 which he attended a coiu'se of lectures at the State 
 University in Ann Arbor, in 1869. The following 
 year he located in O'Brien Count3-, Iowa, being 
 among its pioneer settlers, as there were only 
 twelve voters in the county on his arrival. He 
 there eng.aged in teaching, dealing in real estate 
 and in studying medicine, and in 1877 was gradu- 
 ated from the Keokuk Medical College. 
 
 On the Slh of May, 1878, Dr. DeWitt married 
 Miss Lora E. Taylor, a native of Ml. Pleasant, 
 Iowa, and unto them have been born two children 
 • —Russell M. and C'live E, The year previous the 
 Doctor located in Lucas, Iowa, whence he came to 
 Des Moines in 1883. He was IMedical Director of 
 the Grand Army of the Republic, Department of 
 Iowa, in 1888 and 1889, and was Surgeon General 
 
278 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 of llie Grand Anu.y of Ibe Kcpulilic (lining the 
 adminislralion of William Warner, being elected 
 to that position in Cohinilms, Ohio, in September, 
 1888. He belongs to the Polk Count}- and the 
 State INIedical Societies, socially is a Knight of 
 Pytliias, and in political sentiment is a stanch 
 Republican. Dr. DeWitt has now been engaged in 
 practice for twelve years, and is an honor to the 
 profession. He is recognized as one of the leading 
 idiysiciaiis of Des Moines, and the confidence 
 placed in him is indicated by the liberal patronage 
 which he receives. In 1889, he was appointed a 
 member of the Board of Medical Examiners of the 
 Pension JJepartment in Washington, D. C. 
 
 J, ICHARD WALTER MARQUIS, one of the 
 tr successful real-estate dealers of Dcs Moines 
 ^l vrt was born in Somersetshire, England, on the 
 ^p; 10th of October, 1830, and is a son of 
 Richard JIarquis, who was a native of the same 
 county and a well-to-do miller and farmer. His 
 mother, whose maiden name was Susan Luffman, was 
 also born in .Somersetshire, and is still living on the 
 old homuitead at a very advanced age. Like her 
 husband, who died a number of years ago, she is a 
 memljer of the Established Church of England. 
 Their family consisted of live children, three sons 
 and two daughters, two of whom came to America 
 —John L., who died in Louisville. K}'., leaving a 
 wife and five children; and our subject. 
 
 Richard W. Marquis, whose name heads this 
 notice, v.as roared to manhood in the village of 
 Rimpton, England, and acquired his education in 
 private schools. When a iad of fourteen years, he 
 was apprenticed to the miller's trade at which he 
 served a term of seven years, becoming an expert 
 miller. He crossed the Atlantic to America in 
 18r)2, to visit relatives residing in Ohio, but with 
 nointcntion of making this country his future home. 
 He was about ready to return but circumstances 
 prolonged his stay until he abandoned the idea of 
 returning In his native land. Having traveled for 
 a time, lie then took charge of the Bay City Mills, 
 at Sandusky, Ohio, wlieie lie remained until l.H.5(). 
 
 On the 13th day of October, of the year previous, 
 Mr. Marqids was united in marriage with Miss 
 Jerene A. .lones, a distant relative of the .Tohn 
 Sherman family and a native of Erie County. Ohio, 
 born April 3, 1838. They had three children — 
 Earl L., who died at the age of thirteen jears; 
 V.'alier C. a traveling salesman; and Sherman G. 
 who died in infancy. Mr. Marquis continued the 
 operation of various mills in Milan, West Libert}- 
 anfl Riplc}-, and was quite successful in his business 
 pursuits. Returning to Milan on a visit, the death 
 of his wife occurred January 10, 186.5. About 
 two years later, on thefl/th of Februar}-, 1867, he 
 wedded Mary F. Thompson, a native of Riplej', 
 Ohio. Her father, Haden Thompson, was an old 
 river captain who plied his boat, the "Des Moines," 
 when only a fort marked the site of the present 
 beautiful capital city of Iowa. Her mother was a 
 daughter of Thomas Kirkwood, Governor of Iowa. 
 In 1870. Mr. Marquis located temporarily in 
 Des Moines for the purpose of looking after his 
 farming lands which he had acquired in that vicin- 
 itj-. For several years he spent his summers in 
 this city and bis winters in Ohio, and it was not 
 until 1875, that he made a permanent location in 
 Polk Count}-. He has been connected with a num- 
 ber of leading business interests of Des Moines. f^)r 
 a time was a member of the wholesale firm of Watt 
 ife Co., then operated a wholesale an<l retail grocery 
 store for his own interests and sulisequently en- 
 gaged in merchandising as a dealer in dry goods 
 with T. Bethel. He embarked in his present bus- 
 iness as a real-estate dealer in 1878 but for some lime 
 has devoted all his attention to his • own property 
 and the loan business. Enterprising and progres- 
 sive, his has been a very active life and possessing 
 great sagacity and excellent judgment, he has met 
 with excellejit success in his efforts. In 1885, he 
 was instrumental in organizing the Dcs Moines 
 Loan and Trust Company, of which he has since 
 been a director; has also served in the capacity of 
 vice-president and for four years was a member of 
 the loan committee. He assisted in the organiza- 
 tion of the St. Clair Manufacturing Company and 
 is now serving as its prcsiilent. Mr. Marquis has 
 been a member of the Odd Fellows Society for 
 twenty-live years and has supjiorted the Rei)ul)lican 
 
/^)4^^:»x^<^ ^ ,.a2l-^J^^t7~- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 281 
 
 [larty nearly tliirty years, but during Uiat time 
 has never sought pulilic office. Both he and his 
 wife are members of the Presbyterian Cliuroii and 
 in llie soeial wtnld are held in high regard. Their 
 family numbers five ciiildren, namelj': Waller ('. a 
 commercial traveler also engaged in the retail dry- 
 goods business in Des IMoines; Richard H., a trav- 
 elling salesman ; Alice A., a graduate of Callanan 
 College; Addie G. and Clifford S. 
 
 Of this world's goods l\rr. Marquis has a sulTi- 
 ciency. In addition to his extensive interests in 
 Des Moines, he owns i)roperty in Marslualltown, 
 Iowa. Ivipley, Ohio, and other points, all of which 
 is but the result of his just dealing, a sound jiulg- 
 mcnt and a [iropcr huslianding of the fruits of his 
 own untiring efforts. 
 
 ON. HIRAM Y.SMITH, senior member of 
 Y the law firm of Smith tt' Morris, the oldest 
 .^-^^ firm in the city of the legal profession in con- 
 (^) linuous practice without change, is a native 
 of Ohio. He was born in Piqua, Rliami County, 
 March 22, 1843, and is a son of .John L. and Jlary 
 A.J(Girard) Smith, whose sketches appear elsewhere 
 in this work. He removed with his parents to 
 Rock Island, HI., in April, 18.50, and there resided 
 until the autumn of 1854. On the 2d of October, 
 of that year he arrived with his parents in Des 
 Moines. His father had erected, during the sum- 
 mer a commodious dwelling for those days, situ- 
 ated on the corner of West Walnut and Eighth 
 Streets. The old home is still standing and is an 
 historic relic of early times. The pine lumber used 
 in its construction was hauled from Davenport. 
 
 The subject of this sketch received a common- 
 school education, and was a prominent member of 
 a well-known debating socict}- that existed in this 
 city for some time prior to the year 1861, holding 
 its meetings in the brick schoolhouse then on the 
 northeast corner of West Locust and Ninth Streets. 
 During the winter of 1860-61 he taught school in 
 the Guye schooliiouse, live miles north of Winter- 
 set, Madison County. The following spring he 
 eidisted in a cavalry com|)any raised by Judge 
 
 John Mitchell, which was sworn into the State 
 service. The Indians becoming troublesome in the 
 northwestern part of Iowa, the conii)aiiy was sta- 
 tioned near Sionx City, where it remained until 
 late in the fall of that year, when it was transferred 
 to Council Bluffs and disbanded a few weeks later 
 in Des Moines. Karly in January, 1862, Mr. Smith 
 w.is appointed Caj'tain's clerk in the navy and 
 ordered to re|K)rt on the I'uited States gunboat, 
 "Kanawha" at the Brooklyn Xav\- Yard, which he 
 did, but not being satisfied with the position, he re- 
 signed and w.as appointed to a clerkship in the 
 Dead Letter Otiice of the Postoflico Department at 
 Washington. He served in that position from the 
 29th of January, 1862, until February 5, 1864, when 
 he was promoted to a clerkship in the ollice of the 
 Secrftary of the Treasur}', Treasury Department, 
 which position he filled until August, 1865. He 
 then I'esigned and entered the Albany Law School, 
 from which he w.as graduated in May, 1866. 
 
 Having completed his legal studies, Mr. Smith 
 immediately established himself in piactice in Des 
 Moines as a partner of Joseph L3'raan, but the firm 
 continued only until the fall of that year, when Mr. 
 Lyman removed to Council Bluffs, Iowa. Mr. 
 Smith then liecanie associated with E. J. Ingersoll 
 under the firm name of Ingersoll & Smith and 
 continued business until February', 1809, when the 
 firm was dissolved, Mr. Ingersoll engaging in the 
 insurance business. From th.at time until Decera- 
 bei% 1874, Mr. Smith was alone in i)ractice. At 
 the latter date the existing partnership was formed 
 with E. T. Morris, under the firm name of Smith 
 & Morris, and has continued to the present time, 
 May, 1890. In 1874 Mr. Smith was elected District 
 Attorney for the Fifth Judicial District, which 
 comprised six counties, Warren, Adair, Madison, 
 (hilhrie, Dallas and Polk, and served four years, 
 from January 1, 1875, until .lanuary 1, 1879. He 
 w.as elected State Senator from Polk County in the 
 fall of 1881, and served in the Senate four ^-ears fn 
 the Nineteenth and Twentieth General Assemblies. 
 During the Nineteenth General Assembly he was 
 C'haiiinan of the Committee on Judicial Districts, 
 and in the Twentieth he was Chairman of the 
 Joint Committee on Dedication of the New Capitol 
 and Inauguration; the Republican Joint Caucus 
 
282 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Committee, and the Committee on Tnsnrance. In ] 
 the fall of 1884 he was elected a Representative to 
 the Fortyeightli Congress to fill the vacancy 
 caused by the resignation of tiie Hon. .John A. 
 Kasson, who had been appointed Minister to Ger- 
 nian}% and served during the second session of that 
 Congress, during which he was a member of the 
 Committee on Elections, one of the leading commit- 
 tees of the House. 
 
 Mr. Smitii was married in his native town on the 
 lOtli of April, 1873. to Miss .Susan .Smiley, daugh- 
 ter of Dr. H. H. Smiley of that place, and a native 
 of Butler County, Ohio. She was reared under tlie 
 auspices of the Presbyterian Churcli, of which she 
 lias been a member for many years. Her mother 
 died .Inly 28, 187'.), while visiting at Des Moines. 
 Her fatlier is still a resident of Piqua, Ohio. Mr. 
 and Mis. Smith have five ciiiklren, two sons and 
 tliree daughters — Hugh Lawson, Gertrude Girard, 
 Alma Martha, Marjorie, and Hiram Y., .Tr. 
 
 On the 16th of May, 1868, Mr. Smith was made 
 a Mason in Pioneer Lodge, No. 22, A. F. & A. ]\I., 
 of this cit}% and has since lield membership with 
 that fraternit3'. lie has taken the Royal Arch and 
 Council degrees. He was Master of Pioneer Lodge 
 in 1874, and Master of Capital Council, No. 
 9, R. &S. Master Masons, in 1870 and 1871. In 
 tlie latter year he was also elected to the second 
 highest office in the Grand Council of Ro^'al and 
 Select Master Masons of Iowa, and was Grand 
 Mr.ster of the Grand Council two terras, from Oc- 
 tober, 1872, to October, 1874. In politics he is a 
 Republican and has done active service for the sup- 
 port of his part3- principles. He served as Chair- 
 man of tlie Reimblican Congressional Committee 
 of this district in 1872 and 1873. As a lawyer he 
 stands high in the profession and the firm of which 
 he is a member has an extensive practice. Mr. 
 Smith came to Des Moines in childhood and h.is 
 boen a resident of this city for thirty-six years. 
 During that long period his iiiterconrse with his 
 fellow-citizens has been marked by the strictest in- 
 tegrit}' and a genial and courteous manner tliat has 
 won him a wide circle of friends. He first sug- 
 gested founding the public library in this city, 
 wiiicii is now the Des Moines City Library. He 
 circulated the first paper to secure membership 
 
 thereof, and called the first meeting to effect an 
 organization. In 1874 Mr. .Smith built and occu- 
 pied the frame residence on the northeast corner of 
 West Grand Avenue and Thirteenth Street, where 
 he has since made his home. 
 
 ATHKR M. FLAVIN, the well known pas- 
 tor of .St. Ambrose Church, was born in 
 County Waterford, Ireland, October 3J, 
 1841. His primary education was acquired in Mt. 
 Melar\- .Seminary, where he i)repared himself for 
 college, after which he pursued a course in Carlow 
 College, being graduated in philosophy and the 
 English branches. It w.as in 1869 that he severed 
 all the sacred relations which bound him to his home 
 and fatherland and set sail for the United States, 
 to become a minister in this country. At .St. Vin- 
 cents Theological Seminary, Cape Girardeau, Mo., 
 he com|>leted his prc|)aration for the ministry, and 
 in 1870 came to Des Moines to be ordained by the 
 Bishop of Omaha, his being the only ordination 
 that has ever occurred in this city. Not long 
 afterward he accepted a call as an assistant in the 
 Cathedral at Dubuque, where he remained a year, 
 wlien he took charge of a parish at Cedar Falls. 
 A short time afterward he was called to the pastor- 
 ate of St. Anthony's Church at Davenport, Iowa. 
 That church edifice w.-is the first one built of rock 
 in the city, and it is one of the oldest churches of 
 the diocese. While acting as p.istor of St. An- 
 thony's he orgniiized the parish of St. Mary's, 
 built a fine chuicii and parsonage, and gave it rank 
 among the first congregations of the city. As 
 soon as it was able to support its own pastor. 
 Father Flavin accepted the appointment, and there 
 labored until 1885, when he came to St. Ambrose 
 Church, this city. 
 
 In 185,5 the congregation purchased frtun Tho- 
 mas G. Given, two lots on the southeast corner of 
 Sixtli and Locust Streets for the site of a Catholic 
 Church. The following year a small frame house 
 was erected, the lumber being liauled from Iowa 
 Cit}-, and in 1858 an addition was made to accom- 
 modate the increasing congregation. In l.S(;3. 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 283 
 
 iindt'r tlie management of the \evy Rev. Father 
 John K. Urazil, tlie present brick edifice was 
 erected, I aviuf^ a seating capacity of about nine 
 lunuhcd. This church property has just been sold 
 for iJbiO.dOO, and ere long a magnifiucut church, 
 inferior to none in the State, will be in process of 
 construction. In connection with St. Ambrose 
 Church, a large parochial school is maintained by 
 special contributions from the congregation, giv- 
 ing instruction to three hundred and fifty pupils. 
 From four commnnicants, the congregation has in- 
 creased to over two thousand, and has been twice 
 divided, making two branches, St. Mary's and St. 
 Michael's, both strong congregations. 
 
 Father Flavin has niinistered to the people of 
 St. Ambrose Church for five years, and has grown 
 in favor not only with his own congregation but 
 with all who know hira. He is a gentleman of 
 scholarl3- attainments, well informed on almost 
 every question, and takes an active interest in all 
 the great social topics. 
 
 {i >ILLIAM J. GASTON, of the firm of 
 \v/-N / Reeve & Gaston, attorneys of Des Moines, 
 ^^^ was born in McDonough County, 111., Au- 
 gust 14, 1842, and is a son of Thomas and Sarah 
 (Marr) Gaston. His father was born in Cincinnati, 
 Ohio, and removed with his parents to Illinois in 
 childhood, while the mother was a native of Ten- 
 nessee. In March, 1844, the family emigrated to 
 Iowa and settled in Keokuk County, where Mr. 
 Gaston engaged in agricultural pursuits. 
 
 Our subject was reared to manhood upon the 
 farm, and in the common schools of the neighbor- 
 hood received his education. On the 14th of 
 August, 18(32, when twenty years of age, he left 
 home to follow the fortunes ofj his country*. He 
 enlisted as a member of Company F, Thirtj'-third 
 Iowa Infunlr}-, and served until December, 1863, 
 wheii he was discharged for physical disability, 
 brought on tiirough the hardshi|is and exposure of 
 army life. He inunedialely returned to his iiome, 
 and soon after entered ui)on the study of law 
 under the direction of G. H. Smith, Esq., of Sig- 
 
 ourney. Iowa. On his admission to 'the bur in 
 October, 1«70, he formed a partnership with his 
 former preceptor under the firm name of '^mith & 
 Gaston, and continued in practice at Sigourney 
 until 1882, which witnessed his arrival in Des 
 Moines. He was then alone in practice until 
 1885, when the existing i)artnershi[) with H. D. 
 Reeve was formed. Mr. Gaston has made a spe- 
 cialty throughout his career as a lawyer of the pro- 
 secution of government claims, and the firm of 
 Reeve it (laston has built up an extensive practice 
 in that branch of business. Both gentlemen are 
 men of marked ability, and the liberal patronage 
 which they receive testifies to their rank in the 
 pi-ofession. 
 
 Mr. Giiston was married in Martinsburg, Keokuk 
 County, Iowa, in May, 18G4, to Miss Cynthia liol- 
 torff, a native of Greensburg, Ind., and a daughter 
 of George Boltorff. She died in 1869, leaving one 
 child, a son, John J., who is now employed in the 
 Milwaukee ofKce of Reeve & Gaston. On the 22d 
 of February, 1873, in Fairfield, Iowa, Mr. Gaston 
 was again married, his second union being with 
 Miss Matilda Mowery, a daughter of David Mow- 
 ery. Mrs. Gaston was born in Jefferson County, 
 Iowa, where her parents were among the early 
 settlers. 
 
 In politics, Mr. Gaston is a Republican, and 
 while a resident of Sigourney was Mayor of that 
 city one term. Socially, he is a Royal Arch Mason, 
 belonging to Martinsburgh, Iowa, Lodge, A. F. it 
 A. M., and to Joppa Chapter, No. 12, R. A. M., of 
 Sigourney, Iowa. He also holds membership in 
 Crocker Post, No. 12, G. A. R., of Des Moines. 
 
 RANVILLE G. DAVLSSON, a real-estate 
 
 Gde.aler of Des Moines, was born in Taylor 
 County, Va , April 16, 1846, and is a son of 
 Josiali M. and Ann (Read) Dayisson. His pater- 
 nal grandfather, Jesse Davisson, was an officer in 
 the War of 1812, and died from the effects of ex- 
 posure in the service. He was of Irish and his wife 
 of Scotch descent. Unto them was born, in T.-iylor 
 County, \'a., a son, whom they named Josiali. He 
 
284 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 was k'ft nn orpliaii when a small lad, and lie and liis 
 brother were bound out and, as is too often the 
 case, it was a grevious bondage. On reaching 
 manhood he married Miss Read, wlio was born in 
 Barbour C'ountj-.Va., in 1820, and is descended from 
 a highly respected family of Irish extraction, her 
 father having been one of tiie prominent citizens 
 of her native county. Josiah Davisson was eng.aged 
 in farming and stock-raising, and was associated 
 with his brother in tlie mercantile business in 
 Pleasant Creek, Va., where for the long period of 
 nineteen years, he also served as Postmaster. He 
 was a strong anti-slaver^' man although a Southron 
 b3' birth, and during the Civil War tendered good 
 service to the Union cause in transporting supplies 
 and mail for the array and in acting as guide for 
 Gen. McClellan. In 1865 he removed to Warren 
 County, Iowa, where, with his estimable wife, he is 
 still living. Both are zealous workers in the Meth- 
 odist Church. 
 
 The subject of tliis sketch was the third child in a 
 family of nine children, five of whom are still liv- 
 ing. His early education was confined to the dis- 
 trict schools and at the age of elcTen years he began 
 to carry the mail in Virginia. Although vervj'Oung 
 when the war broke out, he n'as compelled by the 
 Confederate soldiers to render them service, but as 
 soon as the Federal forces gained possession of the 
 country he shouldered his gun and enlisted in the 
 home guards. As his education was limiteil in early 
 life, on coming to Iowa he attended the Indianola 
 Seminary, after which he turned his attention to 
 merchandising in Council Bluffs and subsequently 
 in Logan, Iowa. Kor four years he served as Post- 
 master at Oswego, Iowa, which position he resigned 
 in 1868. Returning to his old home in Warren 
 County, he followed farming and trading for some 
 three years, when he received an ap|)ointmenl as 
 clerk in the United .States Mail Service, holding that 
 position for three years. On the election of President 
 Cleveland he resigned, and coming to Des Moines 
 in 1881 opened a real-estate oflice. He assisted in 
 laying out Forest Park and has greatly added to 
 the growth of the city b}- improving residence jirop- 
 erty. He now owns both city and country propertj-, 
 his possessions haying been .-acquired by his own 
 efforts. He is energetic, industrious, and possesses 
 
 excellent l)usiness ability. As a citizen he ranks 
 high and has won the regard of all with whom he 
 has come in contact. He has been a stanch sup- 
 porter of the Republican part}' since its organiza- 
 tion, but has never sought or desired political 
 preferment. 
 
 In 1870, Mr. Davisson was united in marriage 
 with Catherine A. ^'an Ilaesen, a native of Iowa. 
 Her father was born in Xew York, her mother in 
 Ohio, but at an early dav in the history of this 
 State they were numbered among its citizens. To 
 Mr. and Mrs. Davisson were born four children — 
 Lester L., Herman D., Myra A. and Ethel. The 
 mother departed this life in 1883,d3-ing in the faith 
 of the Methodist Church. Mr. Davisson is also a 
 member of the church. 
 
 ' • " °^- 
 
 ^ARROLL WRIGHT, of the law firm of 
 Cummins it Wright, has been a resident of 
 Des Moines sin''c eleven years of .age. His 
 family has been prominently identified with the bar 
 of Polk Count}-. He is a son of Judge George G. 
 Wright and was born in Van Buren County, Iowa, 
 on the 21st of October, 1854. In 1865 lie accom- 
 panied his father's family to this city and in its 
 public schools prepared for college. He is a grad- 
 uate of the Iowa State University, at Iowa City, 
 belonging to the cl.ass of 1875. On the completion 
 of his college course he was emploj-ed in the office 
 of the loiva State Refjister for about two j'cars, 
 when in the spring of 1877, having made choice of 
 the legal profession as a life work, he entered the 
 law ollice of Wright, (Jatch k AVright, where he re- 
 mained until becoming a student in the law depart- 
 ment of Simpson Centenary College, from which 
 he was graduated in 1878. About the time of his 
 gialuation Judge Gatch withdrew from the above 
 mentioned firm and (lur subject joined his father 
 and brother, the remaining members, while the 
 style of the firm was changed to Wright it AVright, 
 and this continued until 1881, when Mr. Cum- 
 mins was admitted to i)artnersliip and the firm 
 name changed to Wright, Cummins it Wright. 
 Some time passed and the Judge withdrew luit the 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 •285 
 
 name remained unchanged. In 188C the brother 
 of our subject also severed his connection, on ac- 
 count of having been appointed Division Solicitor 
 of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad 
 Company, by wliich he is now eipploycd as Gen- 
 eral Attornej\ No change in the firm has occurred 
 since that date, the partners being ]\Ir. Cummins, a 
 sketch of whom is given elsewhere in this work, 
 and Carroll Wright. Both are gentleman of culture, 
 ability and business resources. They receive alib- 
 eral patronage and their corporation business in the 
 line of their profession perhaps outranks all others 
 in Iowa. 
 
 In 1879. Mr. Wright was united in marriage with 
 Miss Nellie Elliott, the accomplished daughtsr of 
 the Hon. .John A. Elliott, who was formerly State 
 Auditor of Iowa. His death occurred in Des 
 Moines in August, 1877. The 3'oung couple rank 
 high in social circles and have an extensive ac- 
 quaintance among the best people of Polk Countj'. 
 
 — V 
 
 -^*w 
 
 e^ 
 
 ENRY T. MARRIOTT, owner of one of the 
 finest farms in Bloomfield township, sit- 
 '4\^' uated on section 34, is a native of the 
 (^) Buckeye State. He was born in Licking- 
 County, Ohio. November 28, 183;3, his parents 
 being .loshua and .Sarah (Brown) Jlarriott. both of 
 whom were natives of Maryland, the former born 
 in 1800, tracing his ancestry back to Prance, while 
 the latter was of Irish auccstr}^ Tliey were mar- 
 ried in Pennsylvania, and soon afterward emi- 
 grated to Ohio, becoming |)ioneers of that State. 
 After assisting his father in developing a farm lie 
 entered land for himself and made a home. In the 
 early daj's he often killed deer, bear and many 
 other kinds of wild animals. Indians were still 
 numerous in the settlement, and he underwent all 
 the hardships and privations of pioneer life. The 
 farm which he developed continued to be his home 
 until his death, which occurred in the summer of 
 1860. His remains were laid by those of his wife, 
 who died thirty 3'ears before and was buried in the 
 cemetery of Martinsburg, Ohio. Joshua Marriott 
 was a man "ell known in the couuly. He was up 
 
 right and honoralile in all his dealings, was genial 
 in disposition and made friends wherever he went. 
 He gave his support to the principles of the Dem- 
 ocratic party, and in religions belief subscribed to 
 the doctrine of the Presbyterians, his wife being a 
 member of that church. There were seven chil- 
 dren in the family to which our subject belonged, 
 five of whom are yet living, namely: James H.; 
 William R.; Permelia, wife of Joseph Jewell, of 
 ISIorrow County, Ohio; Mar}' E., wife of Benom 
 .Simkins, of Licking Count}', Ohio; and Henry. 
 After the death of the mother of these children, 
 Mr. Marriott wedded Elizabeth Johnson and unto 
 them were born eleven children. Those now liv- 
 ing are: Angeliue, widow of Charlie Mc Williams, 
 of Knox County, Ohio; John F., Joshua N., Green- 
 berry and Elizalielh E. Mrs. Elizabeth Marriott 
 survived her husband until 1878. 
 
 When a lad wc find our subject learning his les- 
 sons in an old log school bouse, such as were com- 
 mon at that day. The seats were made of slabs 
 and the desks were formed of planks placed u[)on 
 ])ins. which projected from the logs about eighteen 
 inches. Mr. Merriott remained at home until 
 about twenty-one years of age when, in company 
 with three young men of the neighborhood, he left 
 home for the West. They journej'ed b}- rail to 
 Rock Island antl thence walked to Mt. Vernon, Linn 
 County, Iowa, a distance of sixty-five miles. They 
 all secured positions as farm hands, but after two 
 months the others returned home. Mr. Marriott, 
 however, remained until spring, then retraced his 
 steps to Ohio. He again worked with his father 
 until the following fall when, on the 28th of Sep- 
 tember, 1855, he w-as joined in wedlock with Eliza- 
 beth A. Rice, and two weeks later the young 
 couple started b}' team to Lisbon, Iowa, where 
 they remained until April, when they removed to 
 Adair County, Mo., wliere they spent four 3'ears. 
 During that time our subject was engaged in farm- 
 ing, but crops |)rovcd a failure, his health was 
 broken down with fever and ague and he resolved 
 to return to the North. Gatliering his household 
 effects togetiier he started for llenrv Count}', Iowa. 
 Locating upon a farm he eng,aged in its cultivation 
 for two yea: s, after which he purchased propertv 
 in Mt. Pleasant. ;uid enutigod in mercantile trade 
 
286 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM, 
 
 ver^' successfully for about twelve months. He 
 wished, however, to devote his attcnlion to ftirraing 
 .and selling out purch.ased land, which after culti- 
 vating for a year he disposed of at a profit of 
 ^1300. He then paid ^1700 car-h for a farm of one 
 hundred and twenty acres, which five years later 
 he sold for 84500, after which he removed to Polk 
 County and, in the fall of 1870, purchased one 
 hundred and forty-five acres of hand in Crocker 
 Township, which he eng.aged in cultivating for 
 thii'teen years. In the meantime he extended its 
 boundaries until it comprised two hundred and 
 forty acres. He then gave forty acres each to his 
 two children, leaving him one hundred and sixty 
 acres. Later he [jurchased a six-acre tract of land 
 in A'alle}' Township, near the line of Ncnlh Des 
 Moines, but after a year removed to his present 
 farm of one hundred acres, for which he gave 
 |i8,500. It i.s one of the finest farms in the 
 county and is located onl}- four miles from the 
 State capitol. The residence 'Is a large brick 
 dwelling, which is surrounded by all the improve- 
 ments necessary to a model farm. He raises an 
 excellent grade of stock of all kinds, and ships 
 butter on (|uite an extensive scale. By the union 
 of Henry and Elizalieth Marriott six children 
 were born, three of whom are now living: Will- 
 iam H.,who resides in Crocker Township; Martha, 
 wife of Si'ott Howard, of Sajloi Township; and 
 Charles Tildun, who is still at home. The mother 
 died on the 8th of .lune, 1876, and on the 1st of 
 November, 1877, Mr. Marriott wedded Eunice 
 Larason, a native of Knox County, Ohio, and a 
 daughter of Thomas and Melinda (Craig) Larason. 
 the former a native of New Jersej', the latter of 
 Ohio, while both are of English descent. 
 
 Mr. Marriott started in life a poor bo\' but has 
 gradually worked his way upward to a position of 
 alluence. Energetic and persevering and ambi- 
 tious to succeed for the sake of his family, he has 
 overcome all disadvantages and now has one of 
 the best homes in the count}-. He has advocated 
 the principles of the Democratic party since at- 
 taining his majority and has held a number of town- 
 ship ollices, including that of trustee. He was 
 also nominated for County Supervisor, but owing 
 to the Republican party being in the majority he 
 
 was defeated. Both he and his wife are members 
 of the Christian Church and take an active part in 
 its advancement. Charitable and benevolent they 
 have contributed liberall}- to all worth}^ enter- 
 prises, and have made for themselves many friend.s 
 in the community. 
 
 (| l^iLLIAM A. DRAKE h.as for a thinl of a 
 \^// century been connected with the agricult- 
 \^y^ ural interests of the count}', and is now 
 engaged in general farming and stock-raising on 
 section 34, Bloomfield Township. He is a native 
 of the P>mi)ire State, his birth having occurred in 
 Orange County March 3, 182G. On the paternal 
 side the family is of Holland origin, and on the 
 maternal of Scotch descent. Jedediah Drake, his 
 father, was a native of New York and died in 
 Broome County ,N. Y. He wedded ^I.atilda Oakle}', 
 a native of the same State and they became the 
 parents of seven children: John, a resident of Long 
 Island; Elizabeth, who is living in Orange Count}-, 
 N. Y. ; Jonas, of Crawford County, Wis. ; William, of 
 tills sketch; Thomas, (deceased); Sarah, wife of Ho- 
 ratio Gibl>s, of l}roome County, N. Y.,and Hannah, 
 wife of George Didrick, residing in Broome County. 
 The father of this family served his country .as a 
 soldier in the War of 1812, during which he was 
 taken prisoner in Canada but was afterward recapt- 
 ured by the American fi)rces and brought b.ack to 
 this country. His death occurred in 1803 and his 
 wife died in 1884. 
 
 From the tender age of eight years our subject, 
 William Drake, has made his own way in the world. 
 He left his parents when a lad and went to make 
 his home with an uncle, with whom he remainc.l 
 five years, during which time he received a limited 
 education but was reared to habits of industry, 
 enteri)risc and good maii.agemeiit, which have been 
 of much benefit to him in after life. When a lad 
 of thirteen years he began working as a farm liand 
 for $7 per month, which position he retained three 
 years, when he engaged in jobbing until his mar- 
 riage, which was celebrated February 25, 1849, 
 Miss Roxann-i Andrews becoming his wife. The 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 287 
 
 young couple began their domestic life upon a 
 rentec) farm in Broome County, N. Y., and in con- 
 nection with the cultivation of that land Mt. Drake 
 engaged in the dairy business until 1857, when he 
 determined to try his fortune in the West, lie 
 chose Polk County, Iowa, as the scene of his future 
 operations and, accompanied by his family, made 
 his way by rail to Iowa Citj-, completing the jour- 
 ney by stage to Ft. Dcs Moincf-., where he spent four 
 years engaged in various occupations. At the ex- 
 piration of that time he rented land and once more 
 resumed farming, which he carried on until l.SGU, 
 when he purchased eighty acres of land on section 
 34, Bloomfield Township. Since that time he has 
 extended its boundaries until one hundred and 
 twenty- acres pay tribute to his care and cultiva- 
 tion. He erected a house ui)on his laud, and after 
 seeing that his family was comfortably situated 
 devoted his entire energies to his business interests. 
 Although he is now numbered among the prosperous 
 farmers of the community, this resiUt was not at- 
 tained without much labor. He has always been 
 an industrious and energetic man and has graduallj' 
 worked his way upward step by step. 
 
 Unlike many who have been blessed with pros- 
 perity, Mr. Drake has always taken a deep interest 
 in the welfare of the county and has given liberally 
 to the support of those enterprises which were cal- 
 culated for its advancement. All social, moral and 
 educational interests have found in him a warm 
 friend, and of the cause of temperance he is a 
 stanch advocate, cfinsidering no labor too great 
 which will jnomote temperance sentiment among 
 the people. He cast bis first Presidential vote for 
 James Birney, the Abolition candidate, and next for 
 Martin Van Buren, the nominee of the same party. 
 In the meantime a new party w,as being formed, 
 the Kcpulilican, ar.d .John C. Fremont was its first 
 candidate for the ollice of Chief Magistrate of this 
 Nation. Since that time Mr. Drake has never failed 
 to cast his ballot in its support. His residence in 
 this county covers a period of thirty-three years, 
 and with the advance of time still others are 
 atided to his list of friends who hold him in high 
 regard for his sterling worth, strict integrity and 
 usefulness as a citizen. His wife is equally beloved 
 and is a most estimable lady. Ilcr inlluence is felt 
 
 for good in the community and she holds a high 
 position in the social world where true worth is 
 taken as a standard. 
 
 The union of this worthy couple has been blessed 
 with seven children, but Charles O., the first-born, 
 is now deceased. William is a resident of Ft. Col- 
 lins, Colo.; Georgie Ann is the wife of George 
 Frcedman, a merchant of Grimes, Iowa: Albert is 
 a resident of Polk County ; John is also engaged in 
 merchandising in Polk County; Edla is at home, 
 and Helen is the wife of William Deets, a resident 
 farmer of Warren County, Iowa. Mrs. Drake, the 
 mother of these children, is a daughter of Philoand 
 Hoxanna (Meecliam) Andrews, the former a native 
 of Connecticut, tlie latter of New York. I>y trade 
 Mr. Andrews w!is a blacksmith and followed that 
 occupation until old age, accompanied by the usual 
 failing health, forced him to lay aside all business 
 cares. He continued his residence in Chenango 
 County until his death, which occurred in 1.S63. 
 His excellent wife, surviving him eight years, died 
 in 1871. Both were members of the Old School 
 Presbyterian Church and were greatlj' respected 
 by those who knew them. The following is the 
 record of their living children: Bet.sy is the wifeof 
 Stephen Bl3',of Steuben County, N. Y.; Mary is the 
 widow of Gideon Burslej', of Essex County, Del.; 
 Philo makes his home in Chenango County, N. Y.: 
 Ivoxanna, wife of our subject, is the next younger; 
 Martha is the wife of N'olney Roe, of Cortland 
 County, N. Y. ; Melissa is the wife of Chauncey 
 Manning, also of Cortland County, and Emily is 
 the wife of John H. Day of tlie same county. Five 
 members of the family are now deceased. 
 
 USTIN CLARK is a representative of one 
 of the pioneer families of I'olk County. 
 lii He is now engaged in farming and stock- 
 raising on section 35, IMoom field Town- 
 shii), and ranks among the respected citizens of 
 the community. He first opened his eyes to the 
 light of day in Oneida County, N. Y., October 16, 
 183!), and is a son of Ezekiel and M:iiv (Edick) 
 Clark. His fathei was a New York fanner, and 
 
288 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 carried '>n oi)erations in liiat line in the Empire 
 Slate until 1859, when lie emigrated with his family 
 to this county. Tlie first winter was spent in Des 
 Moines, after which he removed to Adair County, 
 where in connection with farming he'engaged quite 
 extensively in the manufacture of cheese and butter. 
 A year later he went to the mines of Colorado, and 
 during his five months' residence in that State was 
 quite successful in his search for the golden ore. 
 He returned home in October of the same year, 
 and the next spring embarked in the dai.y business, 
 keeijing about thirty cows for that purpose. The 
 butter and cheese which he made were of such an 
 excellent quality that he found a ready sale for his 
 products, and engaged in their manufacture on an 
 extensive scale. In the spring of 18G2 we again 
 find him a resident of Polk County, where he car- 
 ried on the same line of l)usiness near the site now 
 occupied by the State House. After continuing 
 operations on that farm for about seven years, he 
 purchased four hundred acres of land in Bloom- 
 field Township, which was still in its primitive 
 condition, not a furrow having been turned or an 
 improvement made, lie removed his family into 
 a little schoolhouse and then built a barn, in which 
 they resided until the fall of the same year, during 
 which time he erected a commodious and substan- 
 tial brick residence, which is still one of the best 
 homes in the township, the house and barn costing 
 between >!8,000 and -^10,000. The barn is eighty 
 feet in length by thirty-six feet in width, and is 
 therefore one of the largest as well as one of the 
 best in the county. Mr. Clark still continued to 
 engage in the manufacture of cheese and butter in 
 connection with the cultivation of his land until he 
 acquired a handsome property. He was always 
 watchful for the interests of the family, and was 
 not satisfied until he hatl provided them witii a 
 handsome home, the exterior of which is not only 
 pleasing, but it is adorned within by many works 
 of art, and lieautiful and tasty furniture. 
 
 Mr. Clark had a wiile acquaintance in Polk 
 County, and by all was held in high regard as a 
 worthy, ui)riglit citizen. lie held a numl)er of 
 local offices, and in politics was a standi supporter 
 of the Democratic party. Socially, he was a mem- 
 ber of the Masonic frali'i'iiity during his residence 
 
 in the Empire State, and in religious faith was a 
 Metliodist. Although he gave liberally to all public 
 enterprises, the church had the firmest hold on his 
 sympathies, and he never wearied in his efforts to 
 advance its interests. He brought hajipiness to 
 himself in making others hajipy, and his memory 
 will long be enshrined in the hearts of many on 
 account of his deeds of charit}', acts of kindness 
 and expressions of sympathj'. Consumption at 
 last fastened itself upon Mr. Clark, and on the 10th 
 of April, 1885. at the age of sixtj'-uinc years, he 
 dropped peacefully asleep. His remains were in- 
 terred in Pleasant Ridge Cemetery, of Warren 
 County. Mrs. Clark, who is a most estimable 
 Lady, survives her husband and is still living on 
 the old homestead, where she expects to spend the 
 remainder of her days. There many happy years 
 of her married life were passed, and the associations 
 which cluster abjut it make it very dear to her. 
 
 A famil}' of seven children was born unto this 
 worth}' couple — Lester, the eldest, is now a resi' 
 dent of Bloomfield Township; Austin is the sec- 
 ond in orilcr of birth; Francillo is also living in 
 Bloonificld Township; Miuy is now deceased; Wel- 
 tha is the wife of Nat McClelland, of Polk County; 
 Welcome is living on the old honiest(Md; and 
 Esther, the youngest, has passed away. 
 
 Our subject remained at home until his mar- 
 riage, and like a dutiful son assisted his father in 
 the fjultivatiiin of the home farm. Having arrived 
 at years of maturity, he led to the marriage altar 
 JHss Lucy .1. Uoodhue. the wedding being cele- 
 brated January 22, 1873. The parents of Mrs. 
 Clark, Joseph AV. and Mary (Ordway) Goodhue, 
 were both natives of New Hampshire, r.nd resided 
 in that State until life was ended. The mother 
 died in 1846, but her husband survived until 1859. 
 Unto them were born four children — Franklin. 
 Mary A., Lucy J. and JMartha A. The parents of 
 this family led earnest Christian lives, and in the 
 community where tliej' made their home were held 
 in high regard. 
 
 After his marriage Mr. Clark took possession of 
 his portion of the property, consisting of eighty 
 acres of land on section 35, Bloomlield Township, 
 and forty acres in Dallas County. He also owned 
 twenty head of cattle, thirty head of hogs and a 
 

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 291 
 
 span of good liorses. With this beginning he 
 started in life under f.ivoralile circumstances, and 
 having been reared to agricultural |nirsaits, his 
 efforts in that direction have been quite successful. 
 In 1877, however, he rented his farm and removed 
 with his family to Des Moines, where for live and 
 a half years he engaged in the livery business. At 
 tiie exiiiration of that time lie returned to his home 
 in Bloomticld Township, and purcliasing eighty 
 acres of land adjoining his original farm, has there 
 resided continuously since. lie has engaged in 
 stock-raising to a consitlcrable extent, and makes a 
 specialt}' of Durham cattle. He entertains [nacti- 
 cal and [jrogiessive ideas, and by tiie citizens of 
 the community is regarded as one of the enterpris- 
 ing and worthy ^'oung farmers of the townslu'i). 
 In politics, he is a Democrat. On all matters of 
 l)iiblic interest he keep himself well informed, and 
 cai) tiierefore converse intelligently on almost any 
 subject. 
 
 Mr. and IMrs. Clark have an interesting famih'of 
 four children — Alice J., Ilalictt A., JLiry O. .and 
 Warren E. They have also lost one child — Mabel E. 
 
 JONATHAN V. NICHOLSON, one of the 
 well-to-do farmers and general stock-raisers 
 of Bloomtield Township, residing on sec- 
 tion 24, was born in Clarksville, Wanen 
 County, Ohio, September 23, 1832, and is the son 
 of Abraham and Sarah (Peacock) Nicholson. His 
 great-grandfather was the founder of the family in 
 America. He left bis home in Scotland and settled 
 in this country during the Colonial days, and for 
 five years served in the Revolutionary War. He 
 then left the army but his health was so broken 
 down that he died three months later. The grand- 
 father of our subject was a native of North Caro- 
 lina and his father, Abraham Nicholson, of Warren 
 County, Ohio. The latter wedded Sarah I'eacock, 
 who w.as born in New Jersey of English descent, 
 her parents being natives of England. By occupa- 
 tion, Abraham Nicholson was a blacksmith and 
 carried oh that business for a number of years in 
 Clarksville, Ohio. Accompanied liy his faniih' in 
 
 183G, he removed to Hamilton County, Ind., where 
 he purchased three hundred acres of timber land. 
 Building a shop of logs he resumed work at his 
 trade, hiring men to clear his farm. He did an 
 excellent blacksmithing Ijusincss and succeeded in 
 placing two huixlrcd and forty acres under a state 
 of cultivation. In 1848 he was elected County 
 Commissioner of Hamilton County. Energetic and 
 ambitious he proved himself a valued citizen, la- 
 boring not only for his own interest but doing 
 much for the advancement of the count}-. Many 
 other public ollices he held and in all cases gave the 
 best satisfaction. He was liberal with Lis means in 
 the support of public enterprises, was a man well in- 
 formed on the leading issues of the day,and by those 
 who knew him was held in high regard. Socially, lie 
 was a Mason, politically, a Whig, and religiously, 
 a member of the Free-Will Bajjtist Church. He 
 was called to his final rest in March, 1876, at the 
 age of seventy-live years and his loss was deeply 
 mourned by his many friends. His excellent wife 
 passed aw.ay in 187!t at the age of seventy-six 
 j'ears. She shared in the esteem in which her hus- 
 band was held and well merited the respect tend- 
 ered her. 
 
 To this worthy couple was born a family of nine 
 children, five of whom are now living: Mary Ann, 
 wife of Sharon Jones, who resided on the old home- 
 stead in Hamilton County, Ind.; Jonathan, of this 
 sketch; Almeda, widow of J. W. Evans, of Hamil- 
 ton County; Hannah, wife of Franklin Bratton, 
 of Cowley County, Kan.; Albert, a resident of Chey- 
 enne County, Neb. 
 
 Although born in Ohio, Rlr. Nicholson was 
 reared on a farm in Hamilton County, Ind., where 
 he received such educational .advantages as the 
 common schools afforded. In those days, however, 
 they were not of the best. Farmer lads usually 
 had to assist in the cultivation of the laud during 
 the summer months, only attending school during 
 a short winter season, and his experience was not an 
 exception to this rule. The sunshine, the rain or 
 tiie snow, according to the weather, made its way 
 through the roof into the school room, and often- 
 times the scholars when taking their liooks for the 
 day's work would have to shake the snow off before 
 they could dclermine which volume they hail. .Mr. 
 
292 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Micliolson assumed almost the entire management 
 of the farm at the age of sixteen years. He worked 
 hard and helped his parents secure a comfortable 
 home, and when this was done, at the age of twenty 
 years, he started out in life for himself. He went 
 first to Clay County, HI., to improve a piece of 
 land which his father had given him and two years 
 later, in 1855, removed to Steele County, Minn., 
 where he took up a homestead, upon which he re- 
 sided eighteen montiis. His next place of residence 
 was Madison County, Iowa, where he worked at the 
 carpenter's trade for two years. The following- 
 spring he (hove an ox-team from Winterset, Madi- 
 son County, to Baker County, Ore., reaching his 
 destination after four months. He located in a 
 small mining town called Auburn, where he worked 
 at the carpenter's trade until the following spring, 
 when he went to Boise County, Idaho. In part- 
 nership with a gentleman who had accompanied him 
 lo the West, he there engaged in farming and gar- 
 dening, raising vegetables for the city market. His 
 efforts in that line were quite successful and he 
 continued operations for three years, when he de- 
 termined to return to the East. In the autumn of 
 1866, accompanied by two friends, he started on 
 horseback across the plains, arriving in Winterset 
 after some four years absence. When he left for 
 the West he had no capital but returned with 
 *ri,250 as his share of the proceeds of the trip. 
 Once more he resumed work at carpentering and 
 succeeded in establishing a good trade but in 1868 
 he abandoned that business and purchased two 
 bundled acres of land on section 24, Bloomfield 
 Township, Polk County, where lie has since resided. 
 His farm was then in its primitive condition but 
 he liad not forgotten the training of his youth and 
 ere long waving fields of grain greeted the e^'e 
 where before were barren prairies. 
 
 Oil the 30th of June, 1 808, Mr. Nicholson was 
 united in marriage witii MissfSarah A. Ross, who was 
 born August 16, 1817, in Wniien County, Ohio. Her 
 birth occurred on a farm only six miles distant from 
 that on which iier husband was l)orn, but although 
 living within such close [iroximity iu their early 
 cliildhood they did not become acquainted until 
 both had taken up their residence in Madison 
 County, Iowa. The lady is a daughter of Cun- 
 
 ningham and Mary J. (Emery) Ross, who were 
 also natives of the Buckeye State, the former born 
 of Irish parentage, the latter of Scotch descent. 
 Mr. Ross made farming his life occupation, carry- 
 ing on operations in that line in AVarren County 
 until 1856, when he moved to Illinois and thence 
 came to Madison County. His death occurred in 
 September, 1888, but his wife is still living. They 
 were the parents of eight children — Sarah A., .John 
 D., Henry E., Silas W., Susan I., Lawson, Marietta 
 and Perrj' C. To Mr. and Mrs. Nicholson have 
 been born six children — Lewis E., Almeda, Otis. 
 Loren, Alva L., and N'ernon. The family circle 
 remains unljroken and all are still with their par- 
 ents. 
 
 After erecting a good frame residence upon his 
 farm Mr. Nicholson at once began its development 
 and his labors have not been without tiieir result. 
 He has made other improvements, has built barns 
 and outbuildings, raises excellent grades of stock, 
 and has everything necessary to a model farm. 
 Politically, he is a Democrat and has served as 
 Road Supervisor and School Director, holding the 
 latter oflice fourteen years. He is well known 
 throughout the community as a worthy citizen, just 
 and honorable in all his dealings and is a represent- 
 ative farmer of Polk Count}'. See [lortraits of Mr. 
 and Mrs. Nicholson on another page. 
 
 ti p-^A ^RANK L. DA\'IS is engaged in general 
 J-^JfiVi farming and stock-raising on section 14, 
 /IJj Bloomfield Township, where he has made 
 
 his home for the past twenty-two years. His entire 
 life has been spent in tiiis county, and with its 
 interests he has been prominently identified. He 
 was born in a little frame house which stood on 
 the corner c>f ^\'alnul and Seventh Streets, in Des 
 Moines, l)eceml)cr 7, 18.")8, and is a rei>resentative 
 of one of the pioneer families of the coinmunity. 
 His fatiier, .Joseph I). Davis, a natiVe of Ohio, ful- 
 lowed the occupation of carpentering in the cit^" 
 of Dayton, the place of his birth, until 1847, when 
 he became a resident of Indianapolis, Ind. Two 
 years later we find him en route for Des .Moines, 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 2D3 
 
 which he found to be a mere hamlet, ronsisting of 
 a few log cabins and Goveiiiuiont buildings. Not 
 a frame iiouse was in sight, and the greater part 
 of the land was undeveloped prairie. His family 
 resided in a log cabin until he could erect a better 
 residence and underwent many hardships and dilli- 
 culties incident to life on the frontier. Although 
 the county was but sparsely settled at the liiue of 
 his arrival, emigrants soon came ])0uring in, and 
 he had all the work wliich he could possibly at- 
 tend to. lie had in his immediate employ twenty 
 men, and also superintended the building of the 
 barracks by the soldiers. He continued at his 
 trade for a year, when he formed a partnership in 
 tlie hardware business with Granville Holland, the 
 firm continuing to operate quite successfully in 
 that line for five }'ears. Having a chance to sell 
 at a good profit. Mr. Davis then disposed of his 
 interest and resumed contracting and building, 
 which he carried on extensively until 18G8. A 
 proficient workman and cai)able foreman, he knew 
 how to use his employes to the best advantage, 
 and the able manner in which the work was always 
 done led to his securing a liberal patronage. He 
 furnished employment to from twenty to twent3'- 
 five men, and oftentimes refused work which was 
 offered hii^. He abandoned that occupation in 
 1868, however, and purchased three hundred and 
 twent}' acres of land in Bloomfield Townshii), 
 where our subject now resides. After erecting a 
 house thereon, he removed his family to their 
 new home and devoted his energies to the develop- 
 ment of the wild hand, which he transformed into 
 a fine farm. Mr. Davis was well-known throughout 
 the county, and held the offices of Road Supervisor 
 and School Director. He supported the Repub- 
 lican party and took an active part in political af- 
 fairs, quite frequently attending the conventions 
 as a delegate. Socially, he vras a member of the 
 Masonic fraternity, having united with the Des 
 Moines Lodge on its organization. 
 
 The wife of Mr. Davis, whose maiden name w.as 
 Elizabeth Shoerfiaker, was a native of North Caro- 
 lina. Their marriage was celebrated in Ohio, and 
 unto them was born a family of ten children, but 
 only four are now living. Henry ('., the eldest, 
 resides with Frank, who iy the sixth in order of 
 
 birth, on the homestead; Charles F. is a traveling 
 salesman; and Kittie makes her liome with her 
 brothers. The father of this family after a long 
 and useful life of seventy years passed awa^', in 
 June, 188G. His wife was called to her final rest, 
 April 5, 1885, at the age of sixtj'-two years, and 
 their remains lie liuried, side by side, in Green- 
 wood Cemetery. 
 
 Until ten years of age, Frank Davis remained 
 in his native city, and then rcnK)ved to the farm 
 which has since lieen his home. His early life 
 passed away uneventfully, being spent in tiie usual 
 manner of farmer lads. He assisted his parents in 
 their labors until their deaths, when he assumed 
 the man.agement of the old homestead. The farm, 
 which h.as so long been in the possession of the 
 faniil}', is one of the best in the county, having 
 all the modern improvements and everything ne- 
 cessary to a model farm. 
 
 On the 21st of January, 1890, Mr. Davis was 
 united in marriage with Miss Minnie W. Roth, the 
 accomplished daughter of William and Mary (Boos) 
 Roth, who are among the pioneers of Polk County, 
 and are now residing in Walnut Township. The 
 young couple have many warm friends throughout 
 the community, and in the social world are held in 
 high regard. Mr. Davis supports the Republican 
 party, and has served as Treasurer of Bloomfield 
 Township. He; ranks among the leading young 
 farmers of Polk County, is an energetic and indu.s- 
 trious man and a progressive citizen. 
 
 
 \i^™:AURON CASE, of the real-estate firm of 
 '' '^ Case & Porter, of Des Moines, is numbered 
 
 among the earl}' settlers of Polk County. 
 He was liorn in Delaware County, Ohio, May 13, 
 1831, and belongs to a family- of four children born 
 unto Thomas F. and Sarah A. (Bush) Case. On 
 both sides he is descended from old and highlj' re- 
 sjiected New England families. His paternal grand- 
 father followed farming in Connecticut during his 
 earlier years, but afterward emigrated to Ohio, lo- 
 cating in Delaware Countv. Thomas F., son of the 
 
294 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 latter, was born in Connecticut, but was reared in 
 the Buckeye State, and on attaining years of ma- 
 turity wedded Miss Busb. She was a native of 
 New Yori<, but lilce her husband, came to Ohio 
 in cliildhood with her parents. Mr. Case followed 
 farming in Ohio until 1855, when be became 
 a resident of I'ollv County, Iowa, locating near 
 l)es Moines. The now populous and beautiful city, 
 liion consisted of a few one-story frame business 
 iiouses surrounded b}' log cabins and shanties, 
 while East Des Moines was a dense forest. Here 
 he again resumed farming, which he followed until 
 iiis death. He was universal!}' known as Maj. 
 Case, a title which he won in the days when the 
 law reqnired all citizens to spend a certain time 
 eacii year in drilling for military service. He sup- 
 ported the Whig party in politics until the organ- 
 ization of the Republican party, when he ardently 
 espoused its principles. He was a member of the 
 Episcopal Ciiurch, and died at the age of sixty- 
 two years, a highly respected citizen. His wife also 
 united with the Episcopal Church, but in after life 
 became a member of tlie Baptist Church. Slie is 
 still living, at the advanced age of eighty-seven 
 j'ears, and makes her home with a son, in Kansas. 
 Three of their children are yet living — Nathan T.. 
 a nur-seryman of this city ; Isaac, a farmer, of Kan- 
 sas; and Farron. 
 
 The days of his boyhood and youth our subject 
 spent upon liis father's farm. His primary educa- 
 tion, received in the district schools, was supple- 
 mented by a partial course in college, where he 
 pursued his studies for a year and a half. At the 
 expiration of that time, lie accompanied his father 
 to Polk County, Iowa, but in I806 returned to 
 Ohio and married Jliss Elizabeth Wiley, a native 
 of Franklin County. Accompanied by his young 
 l)ride, he once more crossed the Father of Waters 
 and located on a farm in Bloomfield Tovvnship, 
 where he made his home until IfSTti. lie was quite 
 successful in his agricultural pursuits, acquiring 
 a liandsome property, but in the jear above-men 
 tioucil he laid aside his old occupation and re- 
 moved to Des Muiues, where he is now cugaged in 
 the real estate and loan business as a member of 
 the (irni of Case (t I'ortcr. He has been associated 
 with several partners, his connection with W. B. 
 
 Porter being formed in Maj', 1887. He and his 
 estimable wife expect to spend their last da^'S in 
 this city. By their upright and useful lives they 
 have won many friends in the community, by 
 whom the}- are held in high regard. For nearly a 
 lifetime Mrs. Case has been a member of the Meth- 
 odist I^piscopal Church, and her husband has re- 
 cently joined that body. They have always been 
 liberal supporters of the work. Their family num- 
 bers Ijut two children — Charles W. and Lizzie L. 
 
 Mr. Case was formerly a AVhig, but since the 
 dissolution of that party has been a stanch Reijub- 
 lican. He has lived a quiet life, never having 
 sought political preferment at the hands of his fel- 
 low-citizens, content to devote his time and atten- 
 tion to his business interests. He is well and 
 favorabl}' known throughout the county, with the 
 business interests of which he has been identlBcd 
 for thirtj'-four j-ears. His dealings with his fel- 
 low-men have been characterized bj' justness and 
 upiightness. Honesty in business has won him 
 patronage and friends, and the firm of Case & 
 Porter ranks among the first of Des Moines. 
 
 -i — ^- 
 
 z^^ 
 
 <^ l*,ALTER McHENRY, who is engaged in 
 ' ' the practice of law in Des 3Ioines, was 
 
 y 
 
 born in this city on the 6th of February, 
 1862, and Is a son of Judge William H. McHenry, 
 an eminent law^^er and well-known pioneer of Polk 
 County. Walter received excellent educational 
 advantages, and on completing his course in the 
 Iowa Agricultural College, at Ames, entered upon 
 the study of the legal profession with his elder 
 brother, William II. McHenry. .Ir. He was ad- 
 mitted to the bar in 1886. and einl)arked upon his 
 professional career as a partner of his brother, but 
 later joined his fatiier with whom lie has since been 
 associated in business. 
 
 In 1887, Mr. McHenry was joined in wedlock 
 with Miss Lou Cummins, and tiieir union has 
 been blessed with one child, a daughter. This 
 young couple hold a high position in the social 
 world, and arc widely known in the city of Des 
 Moines. Mr. McHenry, socially, is a Knight of 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 295 
 
 Pythias, bclongiug; to Capital Lodjje, No. 20, and 
 also to the Independent Order of Hed Men. He is 
 a Democrat in politics, and was a candidate of his 
 partv for Secretary of State at the election in No- 
 vember, 1889. Like all others on the ticket, with 
 tiie exception of the candidate for Governor, he 
 was defeated, bnt he ran far ahead of the usual 
 Democratic ballot polled, a fact which indicates his 
 personal popiilaritj- amonji Republicans as well as 
 his own constituents. He was elected City Solicitor 
 for the city of Des Moines, on March 3, 1890. 
 
 W ESTER CATE is one of the enterprising 
 I (^ '""^ successful business men of Polk County, 
 jj '— ^ Iowa, being now senior partner of the firm 
 of Cate tt Graham, proprietors of the Des Moines 
 Transfer Company. The history of his life is as 
 follows. He was born in Sussex, England, on the 
 3d of May, 1830, being a son of Stephen and .Jane 
 (Bray) Cate, who were also of English birth. He 
 was reared to manhood in his native county, luit 
 in 1852, when twenty-two years of age, left home 
 and went to London, where one of the most im- 
 portant events of his life occurred. In that city 
 he formed the acquaintance of Miss Amelia Mc- 
 Merrill, and on the 9th of June, 1854, they were 
 united in the holy bonds of matrimony. The lady 
 was a daughter of John McJIerrill. She was born 
 in London, but was only permitted to enjoj' a few 
 short j-ears of married life. She died in 1859. 
 leaving one child, a son, Stephen E. 
 
 In June, 1857. Mr. Cate emigrated to America 
 and came direct to Des Moines, where he has since 
 resided. On his arrival in this city, then a small 
 town of little importance, he began teaming and, 
 in 1861, purchased an interest in the Transfer bus- 
 iness. In 1868, he organized the Des Moines 
 Transfer Company, with Seth Graham as partner, 
 and since that time the firm of Cate & Graham has 
 carried on the business with marked Success. 
 
 Mr. Cate w.as again married in this city, Janu- 
 ary 1, 1863. to Miss jNIartha A King, a daughter 
 of John King. She was born in Huntingtonshire, 
 England, and came to America in 1851. Four 
 
 children blessed their union, one son and three 
 daughters. AVillie K. is an emi)loje of the Ilawkej'e 
 Insurance Company, of Des Moines; Jennie S. is 
 the wife of Homer 1!. Collins, of iMurfreesboro, 
 Tenn.; Carrie E. and Annie L. are unmarried. 
 Stephen E., the only child of the first marriage, 
 was born in London, wedded Miss Nellie Porter, of 
 Dps Moines, antl is an adjuster of Ihe Guardian In- 
 surance Company, of England, making his he.ad- 
 (juarters in this city. 
 
 In [lolitics, Mr. Cate is independent, lie was 
 reared under the auspices of the Episcopal Church, 
 but is now holding niembershi|) with no religious 
 denomination. His wife, however, is a member of 
 the First Baptist Church, of Des Moines. Socially 
 our subject is a Knight Templar Mason, belonging 
 to Pioneer Lodge, No. 22. A. F. ife A. M.; Corinth- 
 ian Chapter, No. 14, R. A. M. ; and Temple Com- 
 mandery. No. 4, K. T., in all of which his son, 
 Stephen E. .also holds membershi|). The Des 
 Moines Transfer Company, of which Mr. Cate is se- 
 nior partner, employs some twelve men, and is the 
 oldest established company in that line in the eit3'. 
 Individually, Mr. Cate has been in the business 
 twenty-nine years, and by his industry and enter- 
 prise has secured a competence. He is a man of 
 bro.ad views, upright and honorable in all his rela- 
 tions with the world, and is recognized as one of the 
 substantial men of Des Jloines, both ph3^sically 
 and financially. 
 
 kLINDLEY POUTER, M. D., of Des Moines, 
 is a native of the Keystone State. He was 
 born on the 5th of November, 1847, in Fay- 
 ette County, and is the son of Moses Porter, who 
 was born in ]\Iaryland,January 10, 1804, and when 
 thirty-four years of .age, in 1836, removed to Penn- 
 sylvania, where he made his home until laying aside 
 the cares and toils of this life to enter upon the world 
 beyond, in 1880. His wife w.is, in her maiden- 
 hood. Miss Amy Wade. She was born in April, 
 1810, in Allegany County, Md., and still resides 
 on the old homestead in Pennsylvania. Of their 
 eight surviving children, including five sons and 
 
■296 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 two daiiglitcrs, tbe Doctor is the youngest. They 
 had five other children, three sons and two daugh- 
 ters but they are now deceased. Dr. G. E., the 
 eldest of the family, served as Lieutenant-Colonel 
 in tlie Second Uegiment, Maryland United States 
 Infantry, in tlie War of the Rebellion, to which po- 
 sition he was promoted from Major of the same 
 command. He died December .30, 1889, while en- 
 gaged in the practice of medicine in Lonaconing, 
 Md.; Samuel resides in Mt. Pleasant, Pa.; James 
 D., is living in Owensdale, Pa.; George W. and 
 Elisha C, are residents of Scottdale, Westmore- 
 land County, Pa. ; Rebecca, is the wife of .John 
 Keyser; and Lydia is living in Fa3-ette County, Pa. 
 
 The Porter family was founded in this couutr^' 
 i)y .lohn Porter, a native of Gloucestershire, Eng- 
 land, who gained the displeasure of the reigning 
 monarch — George I — by composing and singing a 
 song uncomplimentary to his majesty, and was 
 forced to tlee. He settled about 1715 in Baltimore 
 Count}', Md. His son, bearing the same name, the 
 great-grandfather of our subject, was born there, 
 married a Miss McKenzic, and settled in Allegany 
 Count}', the same State, in 1782. He died near Eck- 
 hurt Mines, in 1810. His fourth son, Gabriel Mc- 
 Kenzie I'orter, born in September, 177G, married 
 for Ills first wife, Rebecca Frost, of Frostburg. He 
 died at the residence of his fourth son. Moses, (the 
 father of our subject) April 20, 1842. 
 
 The Doctor acquired his literary education in 
 Mt. Pleasant College, of Mt. Pleasant, Pa., and 
 l)egan the study of medicine with his brother in 
 Maryland, in 1865. Later he entered Jefferson Med- 
 ical College, of Philadelphia, Pa., where he contin- 
 ued from September, 18C7, until March, 1868. He 
 went to Bit. Vernon, Ohio, and pursued his studies 
 under the direction of Dr. Jacob Stamp, until the 
 fall of the .<*ame year, when we find him in the 
 Good Samaritan Hospital, of Cincinnati. Ohio. 
 Immediately after graduating in medicine and sur- 
 gery in Marcli, 1869,Mie opened an oflice in Colum- 
 bus, Ohio, and in the fall of that year was appointed 
 ))y Gov. R. 1>. Hayes as house physician in the 
 Ohio Penitentiary, where he remained about a year. 
 Returning to his native State, he opened an office 
 near his old homo, and in April, 1871, formed a 
 [jartnership with his brother in Lonaconing, Md. 
 
 On account of the precarious condition of his wife's 
 health, he was forced to leave the East, and in 1877 
 went to Los Angeles, Cal., with a view of making 
 a permanent location, but he was not satisfied with 
 that place as a summer resort, and soon after re- 
 turned eastward. He located in Sloingona, Boone 
 County, Iowa, where he engaged in the practice of 
 his profession, and where he continued until his re- 
 moval to Des Moines. Shortly after his arrival in 
 this cit}', in March, 1884, Dr. Porter formed a part- 
 nership with Dr. Lewis Schooler, and together they 
 engaged in business for more than a year, since 
 which time our subject has been alone. 
 
 Mrs. Porter, the wife of the Doctor, ^s■as form- 
 erlj' Miss Janet Wilson. She was born in Virginia, 
 but spent the da3's of her girlhood in Ohio, whither 
 her father, Daniel D. Wilson, removed with his 
 famil}' when she was a child. Into them have 
 Ijcen born three daughters: .Susie O. B., Amy M. 
 and Elizabeth Fay. Their onlj' son, James W., 
 died in infancy. 
 
 Dr. Porter is a gentleman of culture, and pos- 
 sesses a thorough knowledge of his i)rofession, ;ind 
 though comparatively a late addition to the medi- 
 cal fr.aternity of Des Moines, he has won the con- 
 fidence and respect of the entire community to a 
 marked degree. 
 
 ^ ^-^-^ 
 
 "jfjOSHUA C. PAINTER, a real-estate dealer of 
 Des Moines, is a native of tlie Keystone 
 ^ I State, born in New Castle, Lawrence Count}', 
 i(^' July 16, 1834. The Painter family was 
 originally of German origin, but was founded in 
 America at a very early day in the history of this 
 country. William Painter, the grandfather of our 
 subject, engaged in farming near Philadelphia and 
 his son Jolin, fallier of Joshua, followed in his foot- 
 steps. John Painter was born on the old homestead 
 fam in 1796, and after attaining to mature years 
 wedded Miss Hannah Chenowetli, who was born in 
 New C.istle, Pa., in 1801. He made farming his life 
 occupation and was an e.Ktensive land holder of that 
 coninuinity. In political sentiment he was a sup- 
 porter of the Whig party and in religious belief 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 297 
 
 was a. ^rethodist. Mr. I'ainter died in 1853, leav- 
 ing five children, four sons and a daiigliter, two of 
 whom are living in Kansas, two in Des Moines and 
 one in Warren Count}*, Iowa. The mother, wiio 
 w.is a consistent Christian latly, also a member of 
 the Methodist Episcopal Church, survived her lius- 
 band until 1879. 
 
 Joshua C. Painter, the subject of this sketch, was 
 the fourth child of his father's family. Tlie days 
 of his boj'hood and youth were spent u|)un the old 
 homestead farm and he became familiar with tiie 
 rudiments of learning in the primitive schools of 
 that da3-, where the ferule formed an important 
 part of the education. At tlie age of twenty lie 
 commenced business for himself in the liWe lil which 
 his father had carried on operations and continued 
 farming until tlie war. He emigrated to Hancock 
 County. 111., in 1858, and about two j'ears later re- 
 moved to Warren County, Iowa, where he followed 
 carpentering and the lumber business until A|)ril, 
 1861. He had watched with interest the progress 
 of events in the South and all of iiis patriotic feel- 
 ings were aroused by tiic actions of the slavehold- 
 ing States, so when Ft. Sumter was fired upon, he 
 laid aside all other interests, determined to strike a 
 blow for the preservation of the Union. He enlisted 
 in Company D, Second Iowa Infantrj', his regi- 
 ment being the first to leave the State for the scene 
 of battle. It was assigned to the Army of the Ten- 
 nessee and for three jears Mr. Painter was always 
 found with his company, doing duty wlierever 
 needed. He participated in tlie battles of Ft. Don- 
 elson and Pittsl)urg Landing and manj' minor en- 
 gagements and during liis entire term of service 
 escaped without a wound. 
 
 After receiving his discharge at Pulaski, Tenn., 
 Mr. Painter at once returned to Des Moines and 
 with many of the leading business interests of the 
 city has since been prominently connected. For a 
 year after his return he was engaged in operating a 
 meat market and on selling out ran a grocery store 
 for two years. The three succeeding years of his 
 life were spent at the painter's trade, after which he 
 again engaged in the meat business for eight years. 
 During all this time he had been investing his money 
 in real estate. The value of his property increasing 
 with the growth of the city, he h.as thereby accu- 
 
 mulated a handsome competency and now devotes 
 his entire attention to looking after his propert3- 
 interests. He has also devoted considerable atten- 
 tion to pul)lic affairs and has served liis fellow- 
 citizens in various official capacities. Immcdiatel}' 
 after his return irom tlie war he served on the 
 police force for a year and for one term was Town- 
 sliii) Trustee. He was a member of the City Coun- 
 cil for two years and in 1880 was elected Cit\- 
 Treasurer. Wliile holding that office he was elected 
 Sheriff of Polk County and entered upon the dis- 
 charge of the duties of that position in 1884, con- 
 tinuing in the otiiec for four successive years. Upon 
 him devolved the task of breaking up the saloons 
 and he performed his duty without fear or favor, 
 having no friends to reward or enemies to punish. 
 He has ever displayed the greatest fidelity to the 
 interests of the [leople in general in the discharge 
 of his i)ublic duties and has won the confidence and 
 respect of all concerned. Socially, he is a member 
 of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the 
 G. A. K. Post of Des Moines, and in policies in a 
 stanch Republican. 
 
 In this city, on tlie 20th of October, 18G8, Mr. 
 Painter was united in marriage with Miss Emma 15. 
 Turner, a native of Marion County, Iowa. Their 
 union has been blessed with three children — ( )rrin 
 C, Ernest and Mabel. The sons are now running 
 a ranch in Kansas. Sirs. Painter is a most estimable 
 lady and a member of the Christian Church. Mr. 
 Painter is one of the most highly esteemed citizens 
 of Polk County. His public and private life are 
 alike above reproach. He faithfully served hiscouu- 
 try during the late war and has proved liiinself a 
 loyal citizen in times of [jcace. 
 
 OLK COUNTY SAVINGS BANK. Tliis 
 bank, which is one of the substantial mon- 
 eyed institutions of the county, was incor- 
 porated July 22, 1882, and oijeued for 
 business on the 1st d.ay of November, following, 
 with a paid u|) capital of ^50,000. The first officers 
 of the bank were: tlie Hon. (leorge G. Wright, 
 President; C. I), licinking. \icc President; and 
 
298 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 A. J. Zw.irt, Cashier; and tliese geiiLleinen have 
 behl tlieir respective positions continuously since. 
 The first board of directors or trustees was com- 
 posed of tlic following-named gentlemen: J. A. 
 Ankcny, C D. Reinking. Fayette Meek. George H. 
 Maish (now deceased), F. M. Gilbert, George G. 
 Wright, .lohn A. Elliot, (now deceased). W. Red- 
 head and R. T. Wellslager. 
 
 The bank lias now been in business seven years 
 under liie same ollicers, and with very slight change 
 in its board of trustees, and lias had a prosperous 
 career. The capital remains the same as at the time 
 of organization, and the surplus amounts to -§20,000. 
 The present board of trustees is comijosed of the 
 following- named citizens of Polk Count}': J. A. 
 Ankeny, L. Sheueinian, C. ]). Reinking, CJeorge G. 
 Wright, Fayette Meek, Martin Flynn, .lames H. 
 Windsor, S. B. Tultle and R. T. Wellslager. The 
 long continued period during which the officers 
 have hold their positions indicates the trust reposed 
 in them, and they and the stockholders of the bank 
 are among the best known and most responsible 
 business men of the cit}', and the policj- of tlie 
 management from the start lias been safe and con- 
 servative, which accounts for its i>opularity and 
 the confidence it enjoys. 
 
 ~:^^^ 
 
 "«'j EORGE SHERIFF, one of the representative 
 and intelligent farmers of Bloorafield Town- 
 jAj ship, residing on section 36, is of Scottish 
 birth. His parents, James and Mary E. .Sheriff, 
 were also natives of Scotland, and spent their en- 
 tire lives iu that country. George was born in 
 1835, and remained iu his native land until sixteen 
 years of age. His mother died when lie was but 
 three years old, and his father when he w.as a lad 
 of twelve years. Thrown upon their own resources 
 the children sought work in the neighborhood, and 
 managed to reside together at the old home. Our 
 subject obtained a position as a farm hand, and a 
 part of his earnings gave for the maintenance of 
 the familj*. He was sixteen years of age when he 
 determined to try his fortune in America. In com- 
 pany with two brothers and two sisters he bade 
 
 good-bye to his old friends, and boarding a vessel 
 at Gl.asgow sailed for (.Quebec. On their arrival in 
 that city they purchased tickets for Cleveland. 
 Ohio, liut these they lost through accident, and in 
 consequence were forced to bu}' more. The capi- 
 tal with which the}' started to the United States was 
 small at best, and the additional ex|)ense proved a 
 heavy drain on the exchefpier. The}- had to spend 
 the first night after reaching Cleveland in the oijcd 
 field, and then Alexander Sheriff, brother of our 
 subject, walked sixty miles to friends, where they 
 borrowed money for the expenses of the remaining 
 journey. The struggles of the next few years for 
 a foothold, their contentions against poverty and 
 other hardships, bridges over the period from their 
 arrival in this couiitr}' to their settlement in Iowa, 
 the details of which are more fully given in the 
 sketch of Alexander Sheriff. In partnership with 
 his brother our subject i)urchased a tract of wild 
 land in this county, and began the development of 
 a farm, which they operated in partnership until 
 1804, w'hcn the property was divided, George re- 
 ceiving one hundred and ten acres as his share. He 
 resided in a small frame house that stood upon his 
 land until 1867, when he replaced the ]iioneer cabin 
 by a commodious and tasty residence. 
 
 The following year Mr. Sheriff was united in 
 marriage with Caroline Brown, and upon the farm 
 where they still make their home ten children were 
 born unto them. Seven of that number are yet 
 living, and with the exception of Mary E., wife of 
 George Evans, of Warren County, Iowa, all are 
 still under the parental roof. In order of birth 
 they are as follows: George A., James D., Mary 
 E.. Albert, Alice, Janet and Arthur A. Mrs. Sheriff 
 is a daughter of Daniel and Mary ( Allen ) Brown, 
 both of whom were natives of England. Her father 
 is a farmer by occupation, and is still engaged in 
 that business in Van Bnren County. His wife died 
 many years ago, when Mrs. Sheriff was a young 
 girl of seventeen years. They had a family of three 
 children: Alice, wife of Alexander Garrow, of 
 Warren County, Iowa; William, of Cherokee, that 
 State; and Caroline, wife of our subject. 
 
 The career of Mr. Sheriff is another example of 
 the fact that success comes not alone to those who 
 begin life under favorable circumstances. In his 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 301 
 
 eai'liei- years the |ialh wliiuh he trod was certainly 
 not a Ihoniloss one. He had to overcome many dis- 
 advantajjes and suiniounl many obstacles, Init ho 
 never faltered. Pressing forward he has now 
 gained a [losition among the well-to-do citizens of 
 the community, as the result of his own effort. His 
 fine farm comprises three hundred and fifty-eight 
 acres, all of which is under an excellent state of 
 cultivation with the exception of eight acres of 
 timber land. He raises a good grade of stock of 
 all kinds, has the latest improved machinerj', and 
 all other essentials of a well-regulated farm. In 
 political sentiment he is a liepnblican, having sup- 
 ported that part}' since his arrival in this country. 
 He and his wife are members of the Presliyterian 
 Ohnreh, and have taken an active part in its work, 
 aiding materially in the advancement of the cause. 
 
 * 
 
 ■*,EN. JOHN H. LOOBY, ex-Adjutant-Oen- 
 -. eral of Iowa, who, since the autumn of 
 ■^ii^ 185G, has been a resident of Des Moines, is 
 one of the most widelj' and favoralily known of 
 Polk County's prominent citizens. His acquainl- 
 ance extends over the entire Stale, and embraces 
 some of the honored men of the country. His rec- 
 ord as a soldier is one above rei)roach in every 
 particular, and his heroic conduct won him the 
 love, respect and confidence of those who were wit- 
 nesses of his army life. 
 
 Gen. Looby was born in what was then the 
 Province of Quebec, now Ontario, Nov. 25, 18;35. 
 His native town was Newmarket, in the county of 
 York, and his parents were Lawrence and Mary 
 (O'Brien) Looby, who were reared and married in 
 tlieir native county, in the south of Ireland, and 
 shortly afterward crossed the Atlantic to America, 
 settling in Canada. The father was a farmer b}' 
 occn|iation, and continued to live in the town of 
 Newmarket until his death, which occurred when 
 his son, John H., was a lad of twelve j'ears. His 
 wife survived him many years, dying at the home 
 of her daughter in Chicago, in 1888. To Lawrence 
 and Mary Looby were born three children who 
 grew to mature years, our subject being the oidy 
 
 son. His elder sister, Bridget, became a .Sister of 
 Charity and Mother Sui)erior, and occupied a high 
 |H).^ition in that order. For a long time she had 
 charge of a Catholic Academy in New Orleans, and 
 was then sent on a mission connected with the 
 Church, to Paris. She died a number of years ago 
 in New York City, soon after her return from 
 France. The younger sister, Catherine, is the wife 
 of a Mr. Wheeler, of l^ittsburg, Pa. 
 
 Soon after the death of his father, (Jen. Looby 
 went to Canandaigua, N. Y., where relatives of the 
 family weie living, and obtained employment with 
 Orrin Crittenden, wlio lived a!)OUt seven miles from 
 the city. During the summer months he worked 
 as a farm hand, and during the winter did chores for 
 his board, while attending school. In that manner 
 about four years of his life were spent, when at the 
 age of seventeen years he began an apprenticeshi|) 
 to the painter's trade in Canandaigua, where 
 he remained about three years, when he went to 
 Rochester, X.Y., where he learned graining and or- 
 namental [lainting, becoming quite proficient in the 
 art. His employer, T. II. .Stringham, emigrated to 
 Des Moines in 185G, and believing it furnished a 
 good opening for work in his line of business, in- 
 duced Mr. Looby to join him in his new home. He 
 again entered the employ of that gentleman, with 
 whom he remained until he bought out the busi- 
 ness, which he continued in his own interest until 
 the spring of 18GI,vvhen he sold, feeling that his 
 services were needed in behalf of his countr}', 
 whose destruction had now been fully determined 
 on by the slaveholders of the South. 
 
 On the 26th of June, previous, Gen. Looby was 
 united in marriage with Miss Mary IClizabcth Nor- 
 ton, the wedding being celebrated in l^es Moines, 
 the I\ev. Dr. Nash olliciating. Bidding adieu to 
 his bride of a few short months, and putting aside 
 every other consideration which would naturally 
 occu|iy his attention, he gave himself up to duty 
 in the field, enlisting in Company D, Second Iowa 
 Infantry, in April, 18G1, in response to President 
 Lincoln's first call for troops. He was mustered 
 into the United States service on the 27th of May, 
 as a private, and with his regiment went immedi- 
 ately to Hannibal, Mo. The first engagement in 
 which the Second Iowa took part was at Ft. Donel- 
 
302 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 son on the IJlli, 15th and ICtli of Fobriiary, 1862. 
 I>uriiig that encounter liis regiment was found in 
 the liotte&t of the struggle, and was tlie first to enter 
 tlie fort after its surrender. Jt was als(j at the front 
 at the battle of Siiiioh on the Gth and 7lh of April, 
 following, and did effective service. At about 4 
 o'clock on Sunday — the first day of the battle — as 
 the Second was falling back to secure a better po- 
 sition, they received a severe cross fire from the 
 Confederates. Gen. I.,ooby was shot down, sup- 
 posed by his comrades to be fatally injured. Me 
 received a bulletin his bod}', which [lassed through 
 the muscles of the riglit arm, the apex of the right 
 lung, grazed the spinal column ami lodged just be- 
 neath the skin, under the riglit shoulder blade. He 
 Lay where he fell until near the close of the follow- 
 ing da}-, when the ground was retaken by the Union 
 forces, but his wound was not dressed for many 
 hours later. All around him on the battlefield lay 
 the wounded and dead of both Union and Rebel 
 forces. Close by him lay a Confederate, severely 
 woundtd, and our subject, forgetting emnity in 
 pity, shared with him his canteen of water. After 
 lying there together for many weary hours they 
 were at length taken to the same iiospital. but after 
 that he lost all track of his unknown companion. 
 Mr. Looby was taken to Hospital No. 5, Louis- 
 ville, Kj-., arriving April 13, and it was then 
 for the first time that his wound was thoroughly 
 dressed. He was granted a thirtj' days' furlough 
 May 16, and although owing to the serious nature 
 of his wound, it was almost impossible ft)r him to 
 travel, he returned home, rightly believing that the 
 companionship and tender nursing of his wife 
 would do more to restore him to health, than an}' 
 ministration in the hospitals of the South. His fur- 
 lough was extended for three weeks, but before 
 the expiration of that time he reported for duty at 
 Clinton, Iowa, and was commissioned Second Lieu- 
 tenant of Company G, Eighteenth Iowa Infantr}-, 
 ■ having been discharged from his former regiment 
 to enable him to accept the promotion. It was 
 only his untiring energy and determination that 
 caused him to return to the army, as his wound 
 was still in a bad condition and quite painful. Jn 
 fact iiis health was |)ermanently impaired, and dur- 
 ing the remainder of his army life he served on de- 
 
 tached duty. He was acting Adjutant of the 
 Eighteenth Iowa from Se|>tember 1, 1862, until 
 near the close of the following j-ear, when he was 
 recommended for promotion to the captiincy of his 
 company. He however refused to accept the po- 
 sition, having decided to enter a colored regiment, 
 and on .Tanuary 14, 1864, was mustered out of the 
 Eigliteenlh Iowa as Second Lieutenant, and as First 
 Lieutenant entered the Sixty -second United States 
 Colored Infantr}', in wiiich capacity he served until 
 .June 3, 1864, when he was commissioned Captain. 
 Shortly after he was detailed as assistant Inspector 
 (•eneral, and while acting as such was ordered, on 
 Gen. Lawler's review, as Inspector General, and 
 later was made assistant Adjutant-General, with 
 headquarters at Ringgold Barracks, on the Rio 
 (irande, in Texas. This was in 1805, and soon af- 
 terward the war closed. On the 8th of January, 
 1863, he participated in the battle of Springfield, 
 Mo., and on May 12, 1865, he took part in the 
 battle of Boco Chico, the last battle of the war. 
 He was mustered out at Brownsville, Tex., March 
 31, 1866, the regiment disbanding in St. Louis, on 
 the 21st of April, and arriving home May o, fol- 
 lowing. He had been brevetted Major by Congress 
 on the 10th of May, his commission being signed 
 by Edwin M. Stanton, Secretar}' of War, and An- 
 drew Johnson, President of the United States. 
 
 Gen. Looby was endowed by nature with a ro- 
 bust constitution, and remarkable will power and 
 determination, which enabled him, notwithstand- 
 ing the severe injuries which he sustained, 
 which would have incapacitated most men for 
 duty, to continue in the service until the end of the 
 struggle. His promotion came not through intlu- 
 ential friends, but was the result of worth, and the 
 reward of gallantry, braver}' and faithful service. 
 He entered into business immediately after his re- 
 turn home and continued active operations, not- 
 withstanding his broken health, uutil June 25, 
 1870, when he was partially disabled by a para- 
 lytic shock. He soon after sold out the business in 
 which he was then engaged in Des Moines. On 
 Christmas of the same year he received a second 
 attack, which totally disabled him for any active 
 business, since which time he has lived in practical 
 retirement. On the 1st of October, 1876, lie was 
 
PORTRAIT AND BJOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 303 
 
 commissionoil Adjiitant-Ooin'ial of Iowa. 1)V Gov. 
 Kirkwood, and liis administration of that ollice was 
 vtiy able and effective. In fact, it is adniilteil 
 even by many of Ids political oijponents. that the 
 duties of the ollice were never conducted in a more 
 able manner. 
 
 As before stated. Gen. Looby was married a 
 short time prior to the opeiang of the war. His 
 wife was born in Trumbull County, Ohio, in 1830, 
 and is a daughter of David and Elizabeth Norton. 
 She lost her mother when she was an infant, after 
 which her father was again married, but his second 
 wife died in 18.50. In company with his <Ianghter. 
 he became a resident of Iowa in 18.t(j, and died in 
 Osceola, t'larUe County, December 28, 1879, at the 
 age of eighty- two years, having been born in the 
 Shenandoah \'alley of Virginia, October 30, 1797. 
 At the age of ten years he removed with his par- 
 ents to Trumbull County, Ohio. He was a worthy 
 citizen, and for many years a member of the Free- 
 will Ba|)tist Church. Mrs. Looby came to Des 
 Moines in 1858, and for two years prior to her 
 marriage, engaged in teaching in the public schools. 
 The General and his wife are numbered among the 
 highlv esteemed citizens of Des Moines, and in the 
 social world, where worth and intelligence are taken 
 as the passports, hold a high position. He is an 
 honored member of Crocker Post, No. 12, G. A. R.,. 
 and served for si.^ years as (Quartermaster of the 
 Lodge. 
 
 II -^ ON. CHARLES A. BISHOP, of Des Moines, 
 j|l Judge of the Ninth Judicial District, was 
 ^ elected to Ids present position in November, 
 1889. He is a native of Wisconsin and was 
 born in Waukeslia County, near the city of that name 
 M.ay 22, 18.') 4. His father, M. P. Bishop, was a pioneer 
 of Waukesha Count}-, and later moved to Walworth 
 County, where he died Januar}- 1, 1883. His mother 
 died when lie was but twelve years of age. Charles 
 was third in order of birth of five sons and two 
 daughters. His eldest brother is Dr. Ira Bishop, a 
 practicing iiliysician of Mapleton, Minn.; Frank is 
 a resident of Blue Earth County, Minn.; John, the 
 youngest, also resides at Mai)leton, while Albert 
 
 died at the age of twelve years. The elder of the 
 two sisters is Mrs. Kittle Dow, who with her fam- 
 ily resides on the old homestead in Walworth 
 County, Wis. The 3'oungest daughter, Nellie, is a 
 teacher in the schools of Palmyra, Wis. 
 
 The earl}^ education of the subject of this sketch 
 was received in the public schools, but quite early 
 in lif(! he deterndncd to qualify himself for the 
 legal profession, and at the age of nineteen 3^ears 
 was perusing law books at home. Later he pros- 
 ecuted his studies in the law office and under the 
 instruction of J. II. Page, of Whitewater, Wis. 
 Here he remained for a considerable time when, 
 having to secnie means for the prosecution of his 
 profession, he engaged iu teaching, taking charge 
 of a school at Clinton ville, Wis., in the meantime 
 continuing his law studies. He was admitted to the 
 bar at Waupaca, Wis., in Dacember, 1875. Com- 
 ing to Iowa soon after, he formed a partnership 
 with his uncle, George Bishop, at La Porte, Black 
 Hawk County. There he continued until the spring 
 of 1883, when he formed a partnershiii with Judge 
 S. Bagg, of Waterloo. After practicing in Water- 
 loo for a short time the firm removed their office to 
 Miuneapoiis, I\Iinn. About a year later the death 
 of Judge Bagg occurred, when Mr. Bishop decided 
 to locate at Des Moines, and was here connected 
 with the bar until his election fo the bench. 
 
 Judge Bishop was married, in Palmyra, Wis., to 
 Miss Delia M. Dow. They have three children, a 
 son and two daughters — Alvord L., Lura J., and 
 Josie K. In the few years that Judge P.ishop had 
 been a member of the bar of Polk County' previous 
 to his assuming the duties of his present office, he 
 had established a reputation as an able lawyer, and 
 the ability with which he discharges the duties of his 
 present position justifies the highest expectations of 
 hi.s constituents. When Judge Bishop began his 
 legal practice in Des Moines, he became associated 
 with Baker & Kavanagh, and when the latter was 
 elected District Judge, the firm became Baker, 
 Bishop A' Haskins. A j-ear later he retired from 
 the firm and was employed as an assistant to the 
 Attorney General, in special connection with rail- 
 road litigation, and continued in that capacity un- 
 til the siiring of 1 889, when he w.ts aiipointed to 
 hid present pos'tiou, and elected at the fall elcclion 
 
304 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 of the same year to fill out the vacancj' occasioned 
 by the election of Judge J. (liven to the Supreme 
 Bench. .Judge Bishop had the honor of defending 
 Gov. Larr.ibee in his recent celebrated trial for libel. 
 He is a Republican in politics. While a resident of 
 Black Hawk County he was elected to the Legisla- 
 ture of Iowa, and served willi nuich credit in the 
 Ninth General Assembl}'. 
 
 .ludge Bishop is a conspicuous example of the 
 success to be attained by pei-sevcring and well-di- 
 rected effort. His attainments are the result of his 
 individual effort, under circumstances that would 
 discourage most lads and young men. Matthew 
 P. Bishop, his father, was a pioneer farmer of Wis- 
 consin, and could not give his large family the 
 educational advantages that many now enjoy in the 
 same region. By following out his early determin- 
 ation, Jndge Bishop fitted himself for and w.as ad- 
 mitted to legal practice without the aid or influence 
 of any save himself, and deserves all the honor 
 which the people of Iowa can bestow on him. 
 
 lEORGE BOGANWRIGHT, who is exten- 
 (-— . sivelj' engaged in stock raising on section 
 J[( 18, Bloom field Township, is numbered 
 among the early settlers of the county, having for 
 thirty years been identified with its agricultural 
 interests. He w.as born upon a farm in Perry 
 County, OImo. in October. 1810, and is of German 
 lineage. His father, Adam Boganwright, a native 
 of Pennsylvaniti, was a cabinet ni.aker by trade but 
 fullowed farming much more than he did tliat oc- 
 cupation, lie was twice married, his first union 
 being with Sarah Rider, wlio was also a native of 
 t!ie Keystone Stale, and died in 1824. Seven 
 cliii'lrcn were born unto them l)ut only three are 
 now living, namely: Lawrence, who resides on the 
 old liomcstoad in Perry County, Ohio; Samuel, a 
 farmer of Fairfield County, Ohio; and George of 
 this sketch. Dm lug the pioneer days when Ohio 
 w.as considered one of the Western States, IMr. 
 Boganwright emigrated witli his family to Perry 
 County, where he devpl(>|i('(l a farm and spent the 
 remainder of his days, dying in the year I8(U; at the 
 
 .advanced age of one hundred and four years. His 
 second marriage was celebrated in 1825. when he 
 was joined in wedlock with Sophia Armstrong, by 
 whom he had two children — Peter, a lawyer of Perry 
 County; and Belinda, wife of Dr. AViiliam 11. Shank, 
 who is eng!»ged in the practice of his profession in 
 the same county. 
 
 The days of his boyhood and youth our sub- 
 ject passed upon his father's farm in Ohio. His 
 education was acquired in a little log school-house 
 with slab seats, a huge fire-pl.ace in one end, and 
 other such conveniences. As soon as old 'enough 
 to handle a plow he began work upon the farm 
 and assisted iiis father in his labors to provide for 
 the familj' until twenty- nine years of age, when 
 he began working in his own interests. He has al- 
 ways devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits 
 and his undertakings have been crowned with suc- 
 cess. For a time he was engaged in farming in 
 Licking County', Ohio, but since 18.59, h.as aided in 
 the development of the prairie lands of Polk 
 Count3'. In 1856, he visited Iowa and being 
 pleased with the outlook of the country purchased 
 land in Bloomfield Township, but it was not till 
 three j'ear3 later that he made a permanent location. 
 Wholly destitute of improvement he has had to 
 develop his farm from the beginning. The first 
 home of the family was a little log cabin, but in 
 1872, the pioneer building was re|)laced by a com- 
 modious and substantial residence. It is no easy 
 task to convert unbroken land into profitable farms 
 and during the first years of his residence in the 
 county, Mr. Boganwright labored from early dawn 
 until late at night. Possessing a determination to 
 overcome all obstacles, the hardships of frontier 
 life seemed but to nerve him for greater effort, un- 
 til now a fine farm of two hundred and fifteen acres 
 pays a golden tribute to his care and cultiv.ation. 
 Ho also devotes considerable time to stock raising, 
 and now has on hand thirty-eight head of cattle 
 and sixteen horses. 
 
 In 1847. Mr. Boganwright married Miss Bar- 
 bara Menlzer, and by their union were born five 
 children, three of whom are yet living, — John of 
 this county; Fmma, wife of George Evans; and 
 Samuel, a resident of Colorado. The mother, who 
 w.as a consistent member of the Methodist Episco- 
 
^<^h^<^^-^^ 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 307 
 
 pal C'hiircli, dicil on the SUi ihiy of November, 
 18G3. Jlr. Boganwriglit was njiain mairied Jan- 
 uary 4, 18GG, bis second union being with Saraii K. 
 Flin, by whom he has two children — Mary, wife 
 of Artiiur V>agg of Bloonitiehl Townsliip; and Eva- 
 lena, who is still at home. Mrs. Buganwrighl had 
 been previously married, her tiist husband having 
 been Nathaniel Flin. They also had two children. 
 Alice and Jim W. The niotlier was born in 
 Indiana, April 12, i836, and is a daughter of Jolui 
 and Mar}' (Case) Gilbreth. both of whom were na- 
 tives of the same .Slate. Her father made farming 
 ills life work. He died in l)cs Moines in 1862, but 
 his wife is still living and resides in I'olk County 
 with her children, at the ripe old age of sevent}-- 
 three years. They were parents of a family or five 
 sons and four daughters — .John. Thcopholis. Joseph, 
 Jury, Marj-, Ida, Sarah, Benjamin and Cynthia A. 
 The two last named are now deceased. 
 
 Mr. Boganwright has been a witness of the nianj' 
 great changes which have taken place in Polk 
 County since 1859. He is a pulilic-spirited citizen, 
 enter|)rising and progressive and has ever wiilingh' 
 borne his part in the upbuilding and advancement 
 of the county's best interests. He keeps himself 
 well informed on all public affairs and is a man of 
 worth. He cast his first Presidential vote for 
 William Henry Harrison and supported the Whig- 
 party until the organization of the Re[)nblican part}-, 
 when he joined its ranks. He has never held pub- 
 lic ofHee, but has steadily refused the many polit- 
 ical honors tendered him, wishing to devote his en- 
 tire time to his farm and enjoyment of the pleasures 
 of the home. His household is noted for its hos- 
 l)itality and he and his family are held in high re- 
 gard by their many friends. 
 
 uiitti ...l><Ml.rTTn 
 
 IIOF. DAVID ROBERTS Dl"NG AN, A. M. 
 
 If there is one thing above another of 
 which Des Moines, Iowa, is justly proud, 
 it is that she can boast of a corps of edu- 
 cators second to none in the State, and in the front 
 rank of tiiese stands Prof. Dungan, Dean of the 
 Bible College, and Mce Presitlent of the College of 
 
 Letters and Science, of Drake University. He was 
 born in Noble County, Ind., on tlie 15th of May, 
 1837, and in his boyhood days was inured to the 
 hardships of farm life. His early ancestors on 
 both sides were natives of England. On the pater- 
 nal side they crossed the ocean and settled near the 
 site of the present city of Philadelphia, two years 
 prior to the arrival of William Penu in America, 
 and were among the first to purchase land from the 
 United Cohjnies. The great-grandfather of our 
 subject. L(^vi Dungan, was a valiant soldier during 
 the Revolutionarj' War. He afterward removed 
 to Beaver County, Pa., locating west of Pittsburg, 
 where- he acquired an extensive tract of land. Two 
 of his sons served in the War of 1812, one of them 
 acting on the staff of Gen. R. ;\I. Johnson, during 
 the battle in which that gallant Indian chief, Te- 
 cumseli, fell. Isaiah Dungan, the grandfather of 
 the Professor, was a man of remarkable vigor and 
 power. He was a second time married when sev- 
 enty-four years of age, and it was not until tvveuty 
 years later that he departed this life, his death be- 
 ing caused by injuries received. His first wife w,as 
 a Miss Taylor, a distant relative of President 
 Zachary Taylor. 
 
 The seventh child of that union became the fa- 
 ther of our subject. He was liorn in Beaver County, 
 Pa., in 1807, and when a boy accompanied his par- 
 ents to the Western Reserve of Ohio, where his 
 father j)urchased land and erected a mill, but an 
 older claim proved valid, and they lost all they 
 had except the mill and the ground on which it 
 stood. The family were thus forced to seek a home 
 further AVest, but before leaving Ohio, James Dun- 
 gan wedded Jlary A Johns, who was born near 
 Wilmington, Ohio, in 1811, and when a small girl 
 was left with six brothers and sisters to the tender 
 care of a widowed mother. Soon after their mar- 
 riage the}' removed to Noble County, Ind., and five 
 years later, 1838, became residents of Clay County, 
 that State, where Mr. Dungan engaged in farming 
 and operated a mill. For many^'cars he i)reaciied 
 the Gospel in that community, receiving no salary-, 
 content if he could in any way further iiis Master's 
 cause. His own physical ailments led him to study 
 medicine, and on his removal to Harrison County, 
 Iowa, in 1852, through f.ii'h in his aliility to heal. 
 
308 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 iind tl\e sc:irfity of physicians, he was fureeil into 
 practice, which he still continues to a limited ex- 
 tent in California, tliough he has now reached the 
 advanced age of eighty-two years. His faithful 
 wife was called from his side wiiile in Harrison 
 County, dying at the age ef forty five years. She 
 was one of Christ's faithful disciples, and her many 
 acts of kindness won her a place in the love and 
 esteem of all who knew iier. Of the eight children 
 horn to tiiat worth3- couple, but five are living. 
 The sons are: Isaiah, a farmer and manfacturer; 
 Michael C, a farmer and minister, of California; 
 and David R. 
 
 The last named is the one in whom tlie people of 
 Iowa are especially interested. He received his 
 elementary education in the old-time Hoosier dis- 
 trict schools, and after coming to this State was 
 permitted to attend the Kentucky University for 
 about a year, but his ripe scholarship and extensive 
 knowledge are pre-eminently due to his own per- 
 sistent effort, though he makes grateful acknowl- 
 edgements to his private tutors, Prof. G. U. Hand, 
 of Woodward Universit}'; KIder Eli P"isher, of 
 Eureka College; and Prof. A. R. Benton, Chancel- 
 lor of Nebraska University. On the 31st of March, 
 1858, by confession and baptism, he united with 
 the Church of Christ in Harrison County, Iowa, 
 and a year later preached his first sermon to a large 
 audience in a grove in Pottawattamie Count}'. The 
 only distinct impressions of the occa.sion which he 
 still retains are of the grove, the sea of faces and 
 his own embarrassment. From 185'J until 1863, 
 his energies were divided among three callings — 
 farming, teaching and preaching. The last year 
 was spent in Plaltsraouth, Neb., and in connection 
 with his public school duties at that place lie per- 
 formed pastoral work for two congregations. In 
 1864 he was selected by the Missionary Board as 
 the first missionar}' sent b}' the Christian Church to 
 that Stale, and for six and a half years he zealously 
 devoted himself to that field of labor. The vast 
 amount of good which lie accomplished will never 
 be known until his life record is read above. When 
 he first entered upon thcr work, the financial sup- 
 port came largely from the Missionary Board, but 
 under hi.s judicious management the fichl became 
 self-supporting, and at his request the approin-iated 
 
 fund was withheld. Having accepted a call from 
 the church in Lincoln, Neb., in 1871, he served 
 acceptably as its pastor for three years. During 
 his residence in the Slate, Prof. Dungan also filled 
 a number of other positions worth}' of mention. 
 He was Chaplain of the House during the session 
 of the first State Legislature, and of the Senate 
 throughout the sessions of 1872 and 1873. He was 
 the author of the Prohibition Bill which was intro- 
 duced into the Senate by Senator Dillon, and with 
 one more vote would have passed that bod}-. From 
 1868 until 1871 he was one of the Board of Re- 
 gents of the Nebraska University, and was also 
 Chairman of the board appointed to collect the llora 
 and fauna of the State for the museum, and books 
 for the library of the school. The committee did 
 its work well, leaving the institution richly fur- 
 nished. 
 
 Prof. Dungan's work in Iowa began in 1874. 
 when he accepted a call from the Church in Oska- 
 loosa, where he labored three years, also serving jis 
 one of the Board of Trustees of Oskaloosa College. 
 He h.as always been a strong temperance man. and 
 in 1879 permitted his name to be placed before 
 the people as the Prohibition candidate for Gov- 
 ernor of Iowa, not with the expectation of being 
 elected but to forward an interest of vital impor- 
 tance to the Nation. Having preached to the 
 church in Ml. Pleasant. Iowa, for a few months. 
 Prof. Dungan then took charge of the church in 
 Davenport, where he remained until called, in 
 1883, to Ihe Chair of Sacred Literature in Drake 
 University. The following year he was chosen 
 Vice President of the College of Arts and Sciences, 
 and in 1887, was made Dean of the Theological 
 Department. In June, 1881. the University con- 
 ferred upon him the degree of A. M. To belter 
 prepare himself for the work, in the fall of 1885), 
 Prof. Dungan made a to-ir of the Old World, vis- 
 iting its greatest historic centers, especially those 
 connected with s.acred history, bringing back with 
 him a fund of knowledge that will be distributed, 
 through his students, to thousands who will never 
 have the privilege of beholding those scenes for 
 themselves. 
 
 On tlie 17th of February. 1861, Prof. Dungan 
 wjis united in the holy bonds of malriniony with 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAl'IIICAL ALBUM. 
 
 309 
 
 Sliss Mary A. Kinnis. a native of I'oilli. Scotland. 
 Slie was reared in Glasgow, however, until her 
 fifleenth year, when she accompanied her parents 
 to America. 'I'hcir union has been blessed with 
 eight children, six of whom arc yet living: Ella 
 J., who was graduated from Drake Inivcrsity in 
 the clnss of 1887; David E.. Robert M., James A., 
 Allen 15. and Daniel O. 
 
 Prof. Dungan is widely known as a debater, hav- 
 ing had twenty-six public contests — live with Infi- 
 dels, nine with Atlventists, and twelve with Pcdo 
 B.aptists. In discussion his manner is dignified, 
 his logic convincing, and his thoughts are presented 
 in a clear and comprehensive style. Those who 
 have heard him pronounce him a master hand, and 
 Ills opponents find that they have met their equal, 
 if they are not completely' routed. Many books of 
 note are from the pen of Prof. Dungan, his best- 
 known works being: '-On the Rock," "Modern 
 Phases of Skepticism," a course of lectures deliv- 
 ered in Oskaloosa College ; "Rum, Ruin and the 
 Remedy;" "Chang Foo, or the Latest Fashions in 
 Religion;" "Dungan-.Tameson Debate on Spiritual- 
 ism," Modern Revivalism," "IngersoU's Mistakes 
 abont Moses," "Our Place and Mission," "What 
 Shall We Do," and "Hernien(utics, or The Princi- 
 ples of Interpretation." The last is being adoi)ted 
 bj' colleges as a text book. 
 
 V|?OHN COOPER, M. D., Professor of Surgery 
 and Dean of the faculty of the Iowa Eclectic 
 Medical College, of Des Moines, is a native 
 of the Buckeye State. He was born in Pre- 
 ble County, September 3. 1841, and belonged to a 
 family of five children, three sons and two daugh- 
 ters. William Cooper, the founder of the family 
 in America, was a native of Scotland. In his youth 
 be went to London, where he worked at the tailor's 
 trade until after his marriage, when with his young 
 wife he sailed for America, locating in ^'irginia. 
 Their son, Alexander, was born in that State and 
 after his marriage removed with his famil}' to Pre- 
 ble County, Ohio, becoming one of its pioneer set- 
 tlers, lie had twelve children, of whom James 
 
 Cooper, the father of our subject was the second in 
 order of liirtli. He was liorn in Virginia prior to 
 the emigration of the family to Ohio, and on reach- 
 ing }"ears of niaturit>- chose for his life companion 
 Delilah liaker, who was also a native of Virginia, 
 but when a cliild became a resident of the Buckeye 
 State. That worthy couple who for so many years 
 traveled life's journey together were seiiaratcd by 
 the hand of death in 1 88G, the wife being called to 
 her last rest. Mr. Cooper is still living in Ohio, at 
 the age of seventy-four years. Leaving the ranks 
 of the Whig parly on the organization of the new 
 Reiiublican party, he has since been one of valiant 
 supporters of the latter. He has not gained a wide 
 reputation, but his life is great in that it is g(H)d. 
 Ho has long been a faithful member of the Baptist 
 Church, as was .also his wife. The three sons of 
 their family have all followed the medical profes- 
 sion, William and Isaiah being able physicians of 
 Kokomo, Tnd. 
 
 John Cooler, the well known physician of Des 
 Moines, receivc<l his earl}' training on his father's 
 farm and in the district schools. Afterwards he 
 prepared himself for teaching in the Kokomo Nor- 
 mal College, and for six years followed that pro- 
 fession. InlSCland 18G.5, he attended a course 
 of lectures in the Eclectic Medical Institute of Cin- 
 cinnati, Ohio, and during the five succeeding years 
 engaged in practice in Young America, near Ko- 
 komo, Ind. In 1870, he graduated from the above 
 school, and then returned to his former location, 
 where he continueil until 1873, which year wit- 
 nessed his removal to Iowa. He opened an office 
 in W^interset, where for ten years he successfully 
 followed his chosen calling, when he' came to Dcs- 
 Moines. He has proved himself a valuable addition 
 to the medical fraternity of Polk County. Since 
 1881 Dr. Cooi)er has been connected with an Eclectic 
 Medical College of Des Moines, and in November, 
 1887, when the Iowa Eclectic Medical College was 
 incorporated and immecliately began work, he was 
 elected Dean of the facult3^ It is to his influence 
 and untiring efforts, more than to any other source, 
 that the success of the school is due. At the close 
 of the second terra, its graduates numbered twenty 
 and it has a promise of a long and successful ca- 
 reer. 
 
310 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 In Mny. 18G5, the Doctor was unitetl in marriage 
 Willi Miss Ladoska A. Daggett, of Galveston, Ind., 
 where their only eliikl P)iillev, was iwrn. The lat- 
 ter is now a promising young physician at Win- 
 terset, this State. Close application and long 
 experience have made Dr. Cooper master of his pro- 
 fession, lie has now been in active practice for 
 alnio.st a (jnarter of a century, and the liberal pat- 
 ronage which he receives testifies to his skill and 
 ability. He is courteous in manner, genial in dis- 
 jiosition, and wins friends wlierever he goes. Al- 
 though reared in the faith of the Republican party, 
 for several yeavs past the Doctor has alliliatcd with 
 the (Jrecnback party. He is an honored member of 
 the Iowa State Eclectic Medical Society, of the Na- 
 tional Eclectic Medical Association and also belongs 
 to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. 
 
 ILLIAM G. BAGG, deceased, was born in 
 West S|)riuglield, JIass., February 1, 1833, 
 W^ ''""1 fli*-''' ^^ I'is home on section IG, Bloom- 
 field Township, .lanuar}' 10. 1888. He was the 
 younger of two sons of Justus and Sarah (Day) 
 Bagg, natives of the Ba\' State, where the father 
 engaged in farming until his death in 1871, long 
 surviving his wife, who crossed the dark river in 
 18;!9. The elder son, Harvey, is still living near 
 the old homestead in West Siiriugliold. The father 
 after the death of his wife in 1^39, married Delia 
 Loomis, by whom he had two children — Joseph and 
 Huldah; all arc novv living on the old homestead. 
 
 Mr. Bagg was only six years old vvhen he suffered 
 the loss of his mother. He remained with his fa- 
 ther until attaining his majority, and in his boy- 
 hood dajs acquired such education as the common 
 schools and Westlield Academy affordeil. When 
 he had arrived at man's estate, he left home to 
 seek his own fortune. Going to Henry County, 
 111., he rented some land which he cultivated until 
 1855, when he emigrated to Adair Count}', Iowa, 
 and in that section entered six hundred acres of 
 land. 
 
 He is one of the founders of Greenlield, the 
 county seat of Adair County, having been assisted 
 
 in his labors by Mathew Clark and Isaac Myers. 
 They pui-chrsed the land and laid out the town and 
 were actively engaged in the upbuilding and de- 
 velopment for .some time. Mr. Bagg held the oftice 
 of Postmaster of Greenfield for three years and at 
 thiTsame time carried on his farming operations on 
 the outskirts of the town, there remaining until his 
 return to his native State in November, 1857. A 
 desire to see his oM home was one of the infiuences 
 which caused his return, but a more i)owerful one 
 was made manifest when on the 4th of February, 
 1858, he led to the marriage altar Miss Persis E. 
 Brooks, who was one of eight children born to 
 Philo and Harriet (Hing) Brooks. Her parents 
 were natives of West Springfield, Mass., and de- 
 cended from families of English origin. The fa- 
 ther carried on f.•f^raing in the Buy State until after 
 the death of his wife in 1851, when he removed to 
 Ohio, where his last days were spent. He was 
 called home in 1872. Their family consisted of 
 eight children — Sophia, wife of Durlin Hickok, of 
 Geneva, Ohio ; Alfred, of Ilion, New York ; Persis 
 E. widow of W. (i. Bagg. of Des ]\Ioines. Iowa; Lu- 
 cien, deceased, of Hamilton, Ontario; Eliza, widow 
 of James Kendall; Emil}', wife of Daniel Steel; 
 Frances, widow of Charles Myers, all of Ilion N. Y.; 
 and Gilbert, decetised, of Adair Count}', Iowa. 
 
 Immediately after his marriage Mr. Bagg started 
 with his joung bride for his home in Adair Count}', 
 Iowa, where he continued to resi<]e for about 
 six years. The }ear 18G4, witnessed their arrival 
 in Polk County. Having disposed of his |)roperty 
 in Adair County, Mr. Bagg purchased forty acres 
 in Bloomfleld Townshij), which he cultivated for 
 six years, when he made purcha.se of thirty-five 
 acres on section 16, Bloomfleld Township. That 
 tract was then in its primitive condition, being 
 covered with hazel brush and wholly unimproved. 
 He at once erected a barn in which the family lived 
 until a dwelling could be built. He turned the 
 first furrow upon his land, cleared and plowed it, 
 planted crops and gave his whole attention to its 
 cultivation for two years, during which time a won- 
 derful transformation took place in its api)earance. 
 He then combined brickmaking with his other la- 
 bors, conducting that branch of his business with 
 excellent success until 1884, when he began the 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 313 
 
 erection of buildings in the cit^'. A number of 
 brifk buildings in Des Moines were put up under 
 his supervision and as fast as he could dispose of 
 them to an advantage, he sold. The residence in 
 which Mrs. Bagg is now living, waserecied by him 
 ill 187.J and is one of the best homes in the town- 
 slii|). It is neatly and comfortably furnished and 
 the yards are in keeping with the house, an at- 
 tractive feature being the grove of evergreens 
 which surround the house. 
 
 To Mr. and Mrs. Bagg were born eight chihhen, 
 but the eldest died in infancy. Those living are 
 Frank P.. Arthur G., Cliarles P., Harvey D. Har- 
 riet, Nellie and .Sarah, all still residing with their 
 mother with the exception of the seconil son, who 
 wedded May Boganwright, April 25, 1889, and is 
 now engaged as foreman of the Western While 
 Bronze Company', of Des Moines. 
 
 Mr. Bagg,' s. success in life was due to his own ef- 
 forts, his possessions having been acquired as the 
 result of industrj', enterprise and the exercise of 
 correct Inisiness principles. In politics he was a 
 stalwart Kepubliean. He held several minor oflices 
 of the township and the duties of the positions 
 were ably discharged. He was well informed on 
 the toiiics of the day. He was liberal with his 
 means for the advancement of public enterprises 
 and the support of charitable and benevolent insti- 
 lulions, and the deserving never called in vain for 
 his assistance. But it was in the family circle where 
 his true life was shown. He was cvir watchful of 
 the comforts and welfare of his faniilv and in his 
 death they lost a loving husband and tender father, 
 whose place can never be filled. 
 
 ^7 0HN L. SMITH, deceased, was born in Caz- 
 enovia, N. Y., on the 12th of December, 
 1814. His father, Isaac .Smith, removed to 
 ' Cattaraugus County, N. Y., in an early da}-, 
 where he died in 1830, leaving a widow with sev- 
 eral children depending upon her for support. Our 
 subject was then but sixteen years of age, and as 
 his father had left no property, he was forced to 
 
 begin life for himself without assistance. Posses- 
 sing a vigorous constitution and a determined will, 
 he staj'tcd out to make his own wa^- in the world. 
 Traveling westward he at length reached the then 
 wilds of Michigan, Wisconsin, and the Upper iNIis- 
 sissippi Valley, going as far north as Lake Supe- 
 rior, wheie he was for many years amongthe Chip- 
 pewas, Winnebagoes, and other Indian tribes as 
 trader and in other capacities. He was in the cm- 
 ploy of John Jacob Astor's American Fur Company 
 for some time, and delivered furs in Chicago at an 
 early day. At one time he remained in the wilder- 
 ness for three years without seeing a white person, 
 other than the two men who were engaged in busi- 
 ness with him. He bore upon his person a number 
 of scars, the result of a fight between himself, his 
 two companions and some friendlj* Chip)iewas on 
 one side, and hostile Winnebagoes on the other. 
 The purchasing of furs at that time in the western 
 country, had, connected with it, many responsibili- 
 ties, and was a hazardous undertaking. The hand- 
 ling of large sums of mone^', mostly in gold and 
 silver, and the task of coTiveying it from one trad- 
 ing ix)St to another thiough an unbroken wilder- 
 ness on horseback, required nerve, courage and 
 determination. The shipment of furs in canoes 
 down the various rivers, was also hazardous in the 
 extreme. At length he determined to leave the 
 West, and joined his mother and family in Findlay, 
 Ohio, whither they had removed some time pre- 
 vious. In 1840, he became a resident of Piqua, 
 Miami County, ( )hio, where for several years he was 
 engaged in the manufacture of fanning mills in com- 
 pany with E. Sawyer, under the lirni name of 
 Sawyer & Smith, which lirm was well-known in 
 Western Ohio. 
 
 On the ;5d of May, 1842, on the old Blue Farm, 
 one and a half miles east of Piqua, Mr. Smith was 
 united in marriage with Mary A. (Jirard. They 
 resided in Piqua until April. ISSO, when they re- 
 moved to Uock Island. 111., where Mr. Smith en- 
 gaged in the mercantile business until the last of 
 September, 1854. In May, 1854, he came to ]3es 
 Moines and i)urcliascd two lots on the northwest 
 corner of AVest Eighth and'Walnut Streets,on which 
 he erected the frame house which still remains 
 thereon, hauling part of the luniljcr by wagon from 
 
314 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Davenport. lie removed with his family to Des 
 Moines, arriving on the 2d of October of that year. 
 For some time Mr. Smilli engaged in the mercan- 
 tile business on vSccond Street, near Vine, in a two- 
 slory frame Ixiilding which is still standing, and 
 then turned iiis attention to the business of loca- 
 ting lands lliroughout western and northwestern 
 Iowa. His next enterprise was in the marble busi- 
 ness, in which he gained an extensive reputation 
 tlnoughout the central and western portion of the 
 Stale. In 18CC, he was appointed Indian agent for 
 tlie Otoe and INIissouri tribes at the reservation in 
 Gage County. Neb., on the northern line of Kansas, 
 and held that position until superseded by the 
 (iuaker policy of President Grant. He was very 
 successful in promoting friendly relations with the 
 Indians. In 1 808, he erected the frame residence 
 on the northeast corner of West Walnut and Tenth 
 Streets, where he made his home until his death. 
 In INIay, 1870, he opened a grocery store on West 
 Walnut Street, between Sixth and Seventh Streets, 
 but subsequently sold out and engaged in the in- 
 surance business. He was in the employ of, and 
 traveling for Mills ik Co., publishers, at the time of 
 his death. 
 
 The death of Mr. Smith occurred al Stuart, Iowa, 
 on the forenoon of the 2Gtli of May, 1874, the re- 
 sult of injuries sustained by being thrown from a 
 light wagon drawn by a runaway team. The ac- 
 cident occurred just after he had crossed the rail- 
 road track, going south, about three miles west of 
 Stuart. His remains were interretl on the 29th of 
 May, in the cemetery at Des Moines, where fifteen 
 years later the body of his wife was also consigned 
 to its last resting place. 
 
 Mr. Smith was a man of strict integrity, and of 
 unusual energy and activity. He was possessed of 
 excellent judgment, and while ])Ositive in his con- 
 victions, and strong in will, was of a cheerful and 
 accommodating disposition. an<l made many warm 
 friends. He was of large physique, and during his 
 mature years was a great sufferer from asthma. As 
 a member of the Old Settlers' Society, he took a 
 great interest aiul active part in its affairs, and his 
 funeral was attended by an unusually large number 
 of llie members of that body. At the early age of 
 fourteen years, Mr. Smith united with the Baptist 
 
 Church, and continued a consistent and active mem- 
 ber of that denomination to the time of his death. 
 For many years he held the office of Deacon, and was 
 widely known by bis brethren of the church 
 throughout Central Iowa, being generally in at- 
 tendance at the annual associations. He assisted 
 largely in the building of the little brick Baptist 
 Church which forraerl3' stood on Mulberr}' Street, 
 north of the Court House, and subsequently aided 
 in the erection of the present church edifice, which 
 is located on the northeast corner of West Locust 
 and Eighth Streets. 
 
 Mary Ann (Girard) Smith, was born on the old 
 Coleman farm near Troy, Ohio, on February 26, 
 1818, and was a daughter of JohnGirard, whodicd 
 during her infancy. Her mother subsequently lie- 
 came the wife of Uriah Blue, a farmer residing one 
 and a half miles east of Piqua, Ohio. She resided 
 with her sister, Mrs. W. M. Garvey, of Piqua, for 
 some time prior to her marriage. On the 3d of 
 May, 1842, she became the wife of Mr. Smith, and 
 followed the f(U'tunes of her husband until his 
 death, which occurred May 26, 1874. From that 
 time she continued to make her home, in companj- 
 with her three daughters and son Edmund L. Smith, 
 at the family residence on West Walnut and Tenth 
 Streets until her death, which occurred at seven 
 o'clock on the evening of February 20, 1889, on 
 her seventy-first birth-d.a}'. She lived the allotted 
 three-score j-ears and ten, but for some years prior 
 to her demise, was confined to her home much of 
 the time by sickness, but notwithstanding her atllic- 
 tions, she was always cheerful, seldom complaining 
 of her illness, and bore her sufferings with Christian 
 fortitude. She was a true and firm friend, and her 
 nianj' excellencies of character won her an I'nviable 
 place in the esteem of a wide circle of acquaint- 
 ances. She was a uiomber of the Old Settlers' .So- 
 ciety, which attended her funeral in a body. .She 
 had a large circle of warm friends among the la- 
 ter, as well as the early residents of Des Moines. 
 Her remains were temporarih' placed in a vault, 
 and on the 4th of May, 1889, they were buried by 
 the side of her husband, who long since had been 
 called to the home prepared for the righteous. 
 Mrs. Smith made a profession of religion, and be- 
 came a member of the Baptist Church in her twelfth 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 315 
 
 year, and continued a faiilifid follower of llie Di- 
 vine Tcaclier. Her religious convictions were stron<j 
 and she was an active and zealous worker in tlie 
 church until confined to iu'r home by sickness. She 
 then did not lose interest in the work, but her sym- 
 pathies and prayers continued with the laborers in 
 tiic Master's field. Her faith remained unshaken, 
 and almost her last words to her pastor, Dr. H. L. 
 Stetson, were, -For we know that, if our earthly 
 house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a 
 building of God. a house not made with hands, 
 eternal in the iieavens." Not long afterward she 
 was called to that home. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Smith, sketches of whom we have 
 given aboxc, left five children to mourn their lo^s 
 — Ilirani Y., Alwilda E., Nevada JM., Edmund L. 
 and Callie K. One daughter, Hannah J., died on 
 the 2;»th of .Inly, 1856, aged eight months and 
 seven days. 
 
 i^m — — 
 
 <^?;f RTHUR NOWLEN, M. D., of Des Moines, 
 Iowa, is a Canadian b^' birth. He was born 
 in Iroquois, near Prescott, Canada, on the 
 ISthof.Tuly, 1818, his parents being Thomas and 
 Lena (Serviss) Novvlcn. When two 3'ears of age, 
 he lost his motlier by deatli, and on the removal 
 of his father to Quebec, he w.is left in the care of 
 an uncle, residing near his birthplace. His early 
 life was passed in mucli the usual manner of farmer 
 lads, and the educational advantages which he re- 
 ceived were such as the district schools afforded. 
 On reaching manhood, he entered upon the study 
 of medicine, attended lectures and was licensed to 
 practice. He first opened au office in Matilda, now 
 Iroquois, Canada, where, on the 2d of April, 1810, 
 he led to the marriage altar Miss Asenath Proctor. 
 Five children were born of their union. L. Har- 
 vey, the eldest, is married, and resides in Marengo, 
 Iowa County, Iowa. Wesley was twice married, 
 his second wife being a Miss Hall, and is now a 
 resident of Chester, Neb.; Ann is the widow of W. 
 H. Record, and resides in De Kalb, 111.; Robert 
 married Llbliie Preston and makes his home in 
 Morrison, 111. Dr. James A. has been twice mar- 
 ried. His first wife was a Miss Kidd. while his 
 
 second union was with Louisa J. Houcler. He is 
 a graduate of Rush Medical College, of Chicago, 
 and of the Iniversity of New York, and is a thor- 
 oughly educated physician, standing in the front 
 rank of his profession in Whiteside County', 111., 
 wiierc he makes his home. He is tiie i)resent county 
 [)iiysi(ian and chief of the examiiiing boanl of 
 pensions, and has a largo practice. 
 
 Dr. Nowlcn, Sr., the subject of this sketch, emi- 
 grated fr(un Canada to Worcester, WayneCounty, 
 Ohio, in 1850, in company with his family, and 
 thence removed to Canaan Center, where he prac- 
 ticed his profession, in company with Dr. Shafer, 
 for three years, when he removed to Whiteside 
 County, 111. He was a pioneer and one of the 
 founders of the now important cit}- of Morrison, 
 111., where he established a large and lucrative prac- 
 tice, continuing to make his home there until 1878, 
 when he came to Des Moines. 
 
 Having lost his first wife. Dr. Nowlen was again 
 married, in this city, October 19, 18S2, his union 
 being with Mr". Lizzie Coleman, widovv of Jacob 
 Coleman, and a daughter of John Hooker. She 
 had one child by her first marriage, Mina Cole- 
 man, who is now engaged in teaching school. The 
 mother was born in Montgomery County, and the 
 danghter in Philadelphia, Pa. Mrs. Nowlen is 
 skilled musician, and h.as given instruction in in- 
 strumental nni.sic for a consiilcrable time. She is a 
 member of the Methodist Episcoi)al Church, and 
 has a brother, who has been Presiding Elder of the 
 Evangelical Church. Her father is now deceased, 
 while the mother, Elizabeth, i)ce Horning, is still 
 living, at the age of seventy-nine. One child, a 
 son, Arthur Eber, was born to Dr. Nowlen and his 
 present wife, December 23, 1883, and has shown 
 unusual brightness of intellectand a decided musi- 
 cal talent for his age. While in Illinois, Dr. Now- 
 len was a member of the State Board of Health for 
 several years, and was also a member of Whiteside 
 Medical Association. He was a Republican in poli- 
 tics from the organization of that party until the 
 State election of 1889, when he voted the Demo- 
 cratic ticket. In Masonry bo has advanced to the 
 C'ouncil Degrees, and is a member of Hiram Lodge, 
 No. 370, A. F. & A. M., and belongs to Sterling 
 Chapter. No. 57, H. A. M, of Sterling. III. While 
 
316 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 residing in Morrison, lie took an active part in 
 local political affairs, and for eight j'ears served as 
 a membei- of the City Council. For several years 
 he was in active practice in Des Moines, but is now 
 retired. 
 
 ,<*H3- 
 
 -■glt.^ 
 
 -^- 
 
 NTIIONV M. MILLKU, attorney and 
 couiiselor-at-law, has been engaged in 
 practice for only about one j-ear. yet in 
 that time has given promise of becoming 
 one of the leading lawyers of Des Moines. lie 
 was born in Burlington, Coffey County, Kan., on 
 the 7th of January, 18.j8, and is a son of Adam 
 Miller. Ilis father removed to Kansas when a 
 j'oung man and was joined in wedlock with Miss 
 Mary Ann Ilenrj-, a native of Tennsylvania. .Soon 
 after their marriage they removed to Coffey Count}-. 
 That wns during the border war in that Territory', 
 between the free State men and the pro-slaver}- 
 part}', the issue being the admission of Kansas 
 to the I'nion as a free or slave State. It became a 
 dangerous thing to be a resident of that commu- 
 nitj', so Mr. Miller removed with his family to 
 Missouri, but not being satisfied with that State, as 
 a place of residence, lie came to Iowa, and settled 
 in Saylorsville, in Polk County, where he was en- 
 gaged in blacksmithing. Later he became a resi- 
 dent of Polk C'il}', where his death occurred in 
 March, 1865. His widow was again married, be- 
 coming the wife of Phili}) Uanous, who died in 
 iMay, 1889. B}- her first marriage she became the 
 mother of three children, two sons and a daughter, 
 of whom Anthon}- M. is the eldest; Helen is now 
 the wife of Albert Harvey, a resident of this county; 
 and Maurice, the youngest, is engaged in farming 
 in Saylor Townshiii. Of the second marriage was 
 born one son, .Jesse, who is living on the homestead 
 with his mother. 
 
 AVilh his father's family, Anthony Miller re- 
 moved from Kansas to Missouri, and thence to 
 Iowa, where his life has since been passed. He re- 
 ceived his primary education in the common 
 schools, and later was a student in the high school 
 of Des Moines for two years. He then pursued a 
 four years' course in the Agricultural College at 
 
 Ames, from which institution he was graduated in 
 the class of 1883. He paid his own way through 
 college by teaching, and for three years followed 
 tiie same profession in the public schools of Des 
 Moines. Desiring to make the i)ractiee of law his 
 life work, in the fall of 1886, he entered the law 
 office of Judge C. C. Cole, of Des Moines, under 
 whose direction he pursued his studies for some 
 time and then read law in the office of Oscar C. 
 Peterson. As before stated, he was admitted to 
 the bar in 1889, at the January session of the Su- 
 preme Court, and at once entered upon the prac- 
 tice of his profession. In 1886, he was elected 
 Justice of the Peace for a term of two years and, 
 in 1888, was re-elected to the same position. 
 
 Mr. Miller was united in marriage on the loth 
 of June, 1885, with Miss Mamie Chandler, third 
 daughter of George W. and Elizabeth J. Chandler, 
 who are both natives of New York, and formed}' 
 residents of Boone County, Iowa, where their chil- 
 dren were educated and their daughters engaged 
 in school teaching, but are now living in this city. 
 Our subject is a worthy and respected citizen and 
 is highly esteemed for his Integrity as a lawyer. 
 
 LBERT A. ANDERSON, M. D.. who is en- 
 gaged in the practice of medicine, his office 
 V^4\ being located at No. 428 East Locust Street, 
 Des Moines, was born in Lindkophig, Sweden, Feb- 
 ruary 17, 1858, and is a son of A. P. and Louise 
 Anderson. He was reared to manliood in his na- 
 tive country, and received his education in its 
 public schools. He eniigrate<l to America in 1870, 
 in company with his parents, the family locating 
 in Moraence, Kankakee County, III., whence they 
 removed to Boone, Boone County, Iowa. In 1874, 
 he commenced clerking in a drug store in Boone, 
 Iowa, where he remained five and one-half years, 
 and for four years had full control of the store. 
 Having decided to make the medical profession 
 his life work, he entered Rush Medical College, 
 of Chicago, taking the graded course, and was grad- 
 uated from that institution in the class of 1882. 
 Immediately after taking his degree he oi)ened an 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 317 
 
 office in Des iNIoines, Iowa, where he h.ns t^'mce 
 been engaged in practice. He latces rank among 
 tlie leading physicians of the county and lias suc- 
 ceded in securing a lilieral patronage. 
 
 Dr. Anderson was married in this city on the 
 2:V1 of October, 1888, to Miss Anna Boehler, a 
 daughter of Cliarles A. liocliler. The l.ady was 
 born in New Orleans, and is a member of St. 
 Mary's Catholic Cliurch. Tho Doctor belongs to 
 tlie .Swedish Evangelical Church, and in politics is 
 an Independent Kepublican. He belongs to the 
 I'olk County Medical Association and is also a 
 member of the State Medical Society. Dr. Ander- 
 son is the possessor of a Iwie library, whieh is espe- 
 cially rich in works of art. His collection of n'orks 
 of that nature is not excelled in the city, and com- 
 |)rises some volumes of great value, now out of 
 |)rint. He is a thorough student, and while he has 
 devoted his lime and attention closely to the study 
 of medicine and surgery, and is abreast of the 
 the times in all that pertains to scientific discov- 
 eries relating to the profession, yet he has found 
 time to pursue a general course of study in his- 
 tory, science and literature, that has entitled him 
 to take rank among the scholarly people of his 
 day. His circle of friends is extensive, and in tlie 
 social and professional world of Polk County, none 
 rank hiii'.ier than Dr. Aliiert A. Anderson. 
 
 "'^' V*w' 
 
 '^l/OHN A. McCALL is one of the well-known 
 members of the bar of Polk County. He 
 was born on the 15th of Februa«f, 1852, 
 J in Polk County, Iowa. His parents, Thomas 
 C. and Sarah A. McCall, were among its earliest set- 
 tlers. He acquired his literary education at the 
 Iowa State Universit}', where he also fitted him- 
 self for the legal profession, being graduated in 
 1872. He then went to Nevada, where he em- 
 barked in practice, but in 1875 he determined to 
 try ills fortune in the capital city. Never j'et lias 
 he iiad occasion to regret the carrying out of that 
 resolution, for he has met with excellent success in 
 business and has made manv warm friends, who re- 
 
 gard him as one of the progressive and enterprising 
 citizens of Dps Moines, and hold him in the high- 
 est esteem. His political sentiments are in accord- 
 .ance with the princii)les of the Republican party, 
 which he has supported since attaining his raajor- 
 it3'. He held the otlirt' of County Attorney of 
 Polk County, in !8K(). 
 
 ^^ 
 
 -H — ■ 
 
 (W_^IRAM B. HATCH w.as one of the well- 
 known early citizens of Des Moines. He 
 was born on the 18th of September, 1824, 
 |§J) in Orange County, Vt., and is a son of Asa 
 Hatch, a native of Tolland, Conn., who served as a 
 soldier in the Colonial Arm3'. He fought at the 
 famous battle of Bennington under Gen. Stark, and 
 was present at the time of the surrender of the 
 British Army by Gen. Bnrgoyne, to the American 
 forces under Gen. Gates. He remained in the ser- 
 vice during the entire struggle, and then returned 
 to his home in the Green Mountain State, where he 
 lived to an advanced age, dying in 1844, in his 
 ninetieth year. Blr. Hatch was three times mar- 
 ried. His first wife was Bets}' Hyde, by whom he 
 had sixteen children, fourteen of whom grew to 
 mature years, while several lived to advanced life, 
 but all have now passed awa}-. Our subject was a 
 child of the second marriage, his mother's maiden 
 name being Jane Black, whence he derives his ini- 
 tial letter. Of that union were born seven chil- 
 dren, four sons and three daughters, of whom three 
 sons and two daughters lived to adult age. The 
 onlj' surviving ones are: Hiram G., of this sketch, 
 and Stearns C, of Evansville, Ind. 
 
 The first of the Hatch family to leave Vermont 
 for the West was .Joshua, the eldest own brother 
 of our subject. He first went to Rock Island, III., 
 in his early manhood, and during tiie prevalence of 
 the gold fever in California crossed the plains to 
 the Pacific Coast, where he remained for about three 
 years employed in various occupations. He was 
 elected judge of a court in California during his 
 sojourn in that State, and was ever afterward 
 known as Judge Hatch. In the meantime Hiram 
 had left the East for Rock Island, 111., and shortly 
 
318 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 after tbo leturn of the .Iiidge to that city the two 
 hrotliers, in 18.3 J, came to IJe.s Moines. Judge 
 Hatch became a prominent business man and rep- 
 restntative citizen of liie capital city. He dealt 
 quite extensively in real estate, and for a time was 
 a hoot and shoe merchant. As Representative from 
 this district he served in the Stale Senate for a 
 term, and was honored by his fellow-citizens with 
 other ollicial positions. He possessed far more 
 than average ability, and his life of uprightness won 
 him the high esteem of all with whom he had busi- 
 ness or social relations. He died in this city in 
 .June, 1881, leaving a family which consisted of a 
 wife, one son and four daughters, but one of the 
 daughters is now deceased. 
 
 Beside the two brothers of the Hatch family al- 
 ready mentioned as having become residents of 
 this county, liieir sister Jane, in company with her 
 husband, Caleb B. Lalhrop, found a home in the 
 capital city. They hail a family of five children. 
 The mother died several years ago in Wiuterset, 
 Iowa, whither she had removed from Des Moines. 
 The youngest brother, Stearns, who has .already 
 been mentioned, came to Des Moines with his 
 brothers from Rock Island, but after a number of 
 years spent in this citj', removed to Evansville, 
 Ind. 
 
 Hiram B. Hatch, the subject of tliis sketch, never 
 had occasion to regret the step taken by him in 
 in IS')!, lie found in Des Moines a pleasant home, 
 made many warm friends among its citizens, and 
 won a i)rominent place in their regard. Here also 
 he found his wife, their marriage being celebrated 
 in this city in November, 18G9. The l.ad}' was 
 formerly Miss Eliza CJodson, a native of Tro3', 
 N. Y., who came to this city with her parents, Rob- 
 ert and Mary (Losey) Godson. The dealli of the 
 father occurreil in 18r>7,but her mother is still liv- 
 iu", and resides with Mr. Hatch. That worthy 
 coupl'j were the parents of five ciiildren, two sons 
 and three daughters, of whom three are yet living: 
 Mrs. RLary J. Laffer, of Des Moines; ^Irs. Susan F. 
 Laffer, of Sigi)urney, Keokuk County, Iowa; and 
 John A. Godson, of Stewart, Iowa. Thomas J. 
 Godson died near Bozeman, Mont., a number of 
 years ago. 
 
 Mr. Hatch was lierfft ly dealh of his faithful 
 
 and beloved vvife, December 21, 1881, and in the 
 spring of 1890, he too passed away. He became a 
 resident of Des Moines in its infancy, and was ever 
 prominently identified with the growth and prog- 
 ress of the city. Of unquestioned integrity, and 
 possessing a cheerful disposition, ever disi)0sed to 
 look upon the bright side of life, he was one of the 
 most respected and popular citizens. 
 
 ^SCAR C. PETERSON, who is engaged in the 
 practice of law in Des Moines, is a native of 
 Sweden. He was born in that country, on 
 the 15th of December, 1857, and when a lad of 
 ten years crossed the Atlantic with his father. The 
 family settled in Webster County, Iowa, and his 
 parents are still residents of that community. Our 
 suliject remained under the parental roof until at- 
 taining his majoritj'. He received liberal educa- 
 tional advantages, both in literary' and legal studies, 
 and is therefore fitted to become one of the leading 
 practitioners at the bar of Polk Countj'. His pri- 
 m;iry education was supplemented by a course in 
 the Iowa State Agricultural College at Ames, where 
 he remained a student for five j'ears. After a four 
 years' course, he graduated in 1882, and the follow- 
 ing year pursued a post graduate course in the 
 same institution, studying under the direction of 
 the eminent Dr. Welch, and received the degree 
 of Master of Philosophy. In the meantime he chose 
 the legal profession as a life work and entered the 
 Iowa College of Law, a deiiartment of Drake Uni- 
 versity' at Des Moines, and graduated from that in- 
 stitution in 1881. Without delay he openeil an 
 office and announced to the [ndilic that ho w;is now 
 ready to attend to all legal pi'ocecdings which they 
 desired to give liini. For two years he was con- 
 nected in business with W. L. Reed, but since that 
 time has been alone in practice. 
 
 Mr. Peterson was married in Ft. Wayne, Ind., to 
 Miss Florence E. Felts, a native of that State, and 
 their union has been blcs.sed with a little daughter, 
 Ruth. Although l)elonging to the younger class of 
 lawyers. Mr. Peterson has already attained an 
 honorable standing at the bar of Polk County, and 
 
PORTRAIT AND KIOGkAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 319 
 
 his abilities, liotli natural and acquired, are such as 
 to attract attention and command respect. B}^ ardu- 
 ous study he familiarized liimself witli all the 
 standard works on law, and with liis knowledge is 
 combined fluency antl a clear understanding. He is 
 a strong supporter of the Republican party in [joli- 
 tics, and .as a citizen, lawyer and friend is highly 
 esteemed by all who know him. 
 
 --;»^H-:^la?> 
 
 «tf5«f-«tf!<i» 
 
 \f/,-^ ILL M. BELL, B. S., M. S. D., resilient pro- 
 Ji fessor of higher mathematics in Callanan 
 College, of Drake University, was born on 
 (fiS^ the 10th of .June, 1860, in Licking County, 
 Ohio, near Martinslnug, Knox County. His pa- 
 ternal grandfather, John Bell, w.as a farmer and 
 at one time tlte Democratic Representative of Lick- 
 ing County in the General Assembly of Ohio. His 
 maternal grandfather was an extensive stockdealer 
 who emigrated from Pennsylvania to the Buckeye 
 Slate in an earl}- day. 
 
 Prof. Bell is a son of James II. Bell, who was 
 born in I^icking (Jounty, Ohio, Apiil 18, 1835, and 
 on attaining to years of maturit}' wedded Elmy A. 
 Cooper, a native of Pennsylvania, born in Wash- 
 ington County, on the 28th of June, 1835. They 
 removed to Jasper County, Iowa, in 18C6, and are 
 still living on a farm in that neighborhood. Unto 
 them was born a family of three children, two of 
 whom are living — Hill M. and David F. 
 
 The elder brother, while performing the arduous 
 tasks of farm life, felt a desire to follow some other 
 pursuit than the monotonous one of the agricultur- 
 ist, so after he had made the best of his advantages 
 in the country schools, he began teaching at the age 
 of eighteen years. To further fit himself for that 
 profession, he attended the academy at Hazel Dell, 
 and subsequently pursued his studies in the West- 
 ern Normal College, where be completed the nor- 
 mal and scientific courses. That he might receive 
 the benefits of a higher education. Prof. Bell taught 
 school, thcrcl)y procuring the means necessary- to 
 pay his tuition and defray his other expenses while 
 in college. He possessed a resolute and determined 
 nature, which overcame all early disadvantages and 
 
 h.as been an important factor in his success in after 
 life. After his graduation, he accejitcd the [losition 
 of Superintendent of the schools of Kellogg, Iowa, 
 where he served to the entire satisfaction of his 
 ])atrons until 1888, when he resigned to accept the 
 professorshii) of mathematics in Drake Universit}'. 
 While a resident of Jasper County, Prof. Bell was 
 nominated on the Republican ticket in 1886 for the 
 office of County Superintendent of Public Instruc- 
 tion, but declined the honor, preferring to devote 
 his energies exclusively to his chosen calling. 
 
 A most important event in the life of Mr. Bell 
 occurred on the 2nd of September, 1886 — his mar- 
 riage with Edith L. Oreraugh, a native of Jasper 
 County, Iowa, and to them has been born one 
 daughter, Jessie. The Professor and his wife are 
 both active workers in the Christian Church, giv- 
 ing liberally to its support and aiding in its up- 
 building ill all ways within their power. He is 
 associated with C. W. Martindale in editing and 
 publishing the Des Moines Teacher, a paper devoted 
 to the interests of education, in which work he has 
 now been engaged for eleven j-ears. In February, 
 1890, he was elected Principal of the Western Nor- 
 mal College, his alma mater, but the trustees of 
 Drake University declined to release him from his 
 present position, and he therefore declined the ten- 
 der. At the same time, the Board made him Prin- 
 cipal of Callanan Normal College, at an increased 
 salary. Although comparatively a young man he 
 has made a biilliant record and won the high es- 
 teem of all with whom he has come in contact. 
 
 •.O4o..^^<\^..o4o» 
 
 U ALTER AUGUSrrs REED, deceased, an 
 early settler and honored citizen of Des 
 W^ Moines, was born in Linn, Mass., June 1, 
 1807, and died in Des Moines, Iowa, on the 9tb of 
 February, 188<s, in the eighty-first year of his .age. 
 His parents, Thom.as and Elizabeth (Phillips) Reed, 
 were members of the Society of Friends and his 
 ancestors on both sides were among the early set- 
 tlers of Massachusetts. He began his education in 
 tiie Friends' school, where he remained until nine 
 years of age, when he accompanied his parents to 
 
320 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Stark County, Ohio, then but a sparsely settlerl 
 region, considercfl by the people of New England 
 as tlie '-Far West." The journey was made in 
 wagons drawn hy horses. Over mountains and 
 through forests, the emigrants made their waj', 
 consuming nearly two montlis in the iiassagc. 
 
 As the subject of our sketch grew in years and 
 strength, he ably assisted iiis father in the clearing 
 of a heavily- timbered farm and later cleared a tract 
 of land for himself. Before attaining his majority 
 he learned the tanner's trade and when twenty-one 
 years of age. tliongh possessing but little capital, 
 began the manufacture of leather in Massillon, 
 Ohio. His enei'gy and industry brought him 
 moderate success. Iii March, 1832, he was called 
 to mourn the death of bis mother. That same year 
 he joined the first temperance society org.anized in 
 Massillon, and in June, of that year made a visit to 
 his native place, lie was in Boston when tlie news 
 of President Jackson's veto of the bill establishing 
 the United States Bank was received, an event 
 which created much excitement in the financial 
 circles of the city. 
 
 Mr. Reed was also married November 23, 1832, 
 to Miss Eleanor S.arah Wright, in Millersburg, 
 Ohio. She was a native of Rutland, England, born 
 November 7, 1811, and came with her parents to 
 America when but sixteen years of age. Three 
 sons and three daughters were born unto them, of 
 whom one son and two daughters lived to mature 
 years. Annette was the wife of S. J. Dangler, and 
 died in 1865; Waller G., whose sketch appears 
 elsewhere in this volume, is engaged in the mercan- 
 tile business in Des Moines; Helen, the youngest 
 daughter, is the wife of John H. Merrill, of Des 
 Moines; Alvira died at the age of two years; and 
 two sons died in infanc}'. In 1819, Mr. Reed, like 
 many others, caught tlie gold fever and went to 
 California, partly with the hojie of improving his 
 licalth :uid with a view of securing a share of the 
 yellow treasure. After an absence of sixteen 
 months, his lioi)es having been realized in a fair de- 
 gree, he returned to liis home. In the winter of 
 1850-.')1, he engaged in active business at his old 
 home in Ohio, and in 18,^7, emigrated to Iowa, 
 settling in Des Moines. During the first two j'ears 
 of his residence in tlie capital city,l\Ir. Reed was a 
 
 member of the wholesale and retail grocerj' firm of 
 Laird Bros. & Co. He then formed a partnership 
 with his son Walter G. in tlie wholesale and retail 
 business, dealing in leather, saddlery h.ardware and 
 shoe findings. Starting with a limited capital, the3' 
 increased their stock and and extended their busi- 
 ness as their accumulated capital permitted until 
 they built up an extensive and prosiicrons trade. 
 In 1883, impaired health caused Mr. Reed to retire 
 from active business, when be made a transfer of 
 his interest in the house to his son, who lias since 
 continued the business. 
 
 During his active business life, Mr. Reed made 
 many substantial additi(;ns to his adopted city and 
 aided greatly in the improvement and development 
 of the count}'. He erected a brick business build- 
 ing and eight residences, and improved six farms. 
 lie was a Whig in early life and later a Republican 
 and took a patriotic interest in the 'Success of the 
 Union Array in the late war. Both he and his wife 
 were consistent members of the Episcopal Church 
 from t'leir early years until life was ended. Mr. 
 Reed was recognized as one of the substantial and 
 reliable business men of Des Moines, and as one 
 whose integrity and honor were above reproach. 
 His wife preceded him to the better land, dying 
 August 5, 1884. 
 
 Tl=^ ON. WILLIAM CONNOR, a leading lawyer 
 of Des Moines and a member of the law 
 firm of Gatch, Connor & Weaver, was born 
 on the Emerald Isle on the 4th of April, 
 1845, but has passed nearly his entire life in Amer- 
 ica, having crossed the broad Atlantic to this 
 country with his parents in 1848, when only three 
 years old. The famil}' settled in Oneida County, 
 N. Y., where the subject of this sketch was reared 
 and received a common-school education. In his 
 eighteenth year he responded to the call of his 
 adopted country for aid, and in May, 1863, offered 
 his services to the Government. He was assigned 
 to Company D, of the Thirteenth New York Cav- 
 alry and served until the close of the war. being 
 rausicred out IM.ay 25, 1865. He was captured in 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 323 
 
 Culpeper. Va., September 25, 18G3, and confined 
 in Libbj', Danville and Salisbiuy Prisons until tiie 
 1st of Ma}-, 18G4,wlien he was exchanged. On his 
 retnrn from the army lie studied iaw in I'lica, xs. V., 
 and was admitted to the bar, in Syracuse, in 1867. 
 From tiiat time forward Mr. Connor has been en- 
 gaged in tlie practice of the legal profession, stead- 
 ily working his way upward step by stei) until he 
 now occupies a prominent position at the bar. He 
 first opened an office in Utica, where he continued 
 business until 18C1.* wlien lie came to Des iNIoines, 
 where he has since l)een engaged in active practice 
 with the exceiition of a few years spent in the dis- 
 charge of otlicial duties. Mr. Connor is a Repub- 
 lican in politics and by that party was elected to 
 the office of District Attorney, which position he 
 filled from 1878 until 1882. From January 1, 
 1883 until September. 1 885, he served as Circuit 
 Judge, and in both positions was alike faithful to 
 duty. The existing partnership of Gatch, Connor 
 & Weaver was formed in 1885. 
 
 Judge Connor was married in Des Moines, April 
 25, 1883, his union tieing with Miss Eva Gatch, 
 daughter of Col. C. H. Gatch, and a native of 
 Xenia. Ohio. Thi^y have three interesting childieii. 
 
 -E^- 
 
 V^ 
 
 ^OHN D. SEEBERGER. Among the most 
 successful and highly resjiected l)usine.ss 
 men of Des Moines must be classed the 
 worthy gentleman whose name heads this 
 sketch. For twenty-six years he has been engaged 
 in tlie hardware business in this city and is now 
 pr()[)rietor of tlie onlv wholesale hardware house in 
 Des Moines. 
 
 Mr. Sceberger was born in New York City, on 
 the 4th of November, 183G, and is a son of John 
 I), and Dorathea ((;oeth) Sceberger, botli of whom 
 were natives of Wetzlar, Prussia, where they were 
 reared and married. In 1834, they emigrated to 
 America, locating in New York City, wliere they 
 resided until 1837, when they removed to Wooster, 
 Ohio. Their family ronsislod of three sons and two 
 daughters, of whom J. I)., of this sketch, is the 
 yiuiiigest. The eldest brother, Alexander, is now 
 
 in California but usually makes his home in Mon- 
 mouth, 111.; Anthony F. was the late United States 
 collector of the port of Chicago and is yet a resi- 
 dent of that city. The two daughters died in child- 
 hood. The mother, a most estimable woman, whose 
 life was devoted to the comfort of her family and 
 the training of her children to be useful and worthy 
 members of societ}', died at her home in AVooster 
 in the spring of 1858. Mr. Sceberger Sr., subse- 
 (juently came to Des Moines, where he was an hon- 
 ored and cherished memlier of the household of his 
 youngest son, J. 1)., until his death, which occurred 
 in February, 188G, at the advanced age of ninety- 
 three years. 
 
 Our subject attended the public schools of Woo- 
 ster, Ohio, until fourteen years of age when he began 
 an apprenticeship to the mercantile business in the 
 dry-goods house of James B. & Neal Power, of 
 AVooster. He devoted himself to the discharge of 
 the duties devolving upon him with an energy and 
 fidelity that won him the confidence and regard of 
 his employer and procured him promotion. In 
 18G0. after ten years of continuous service with 
 that firm, he found his health seriouslj' impaired, 
 which led to his leaving the store and making a 
 journey to the Territory of Idaho, then a moun- 
 tainous wilderness almost wholly in the jiossession 
 of the Indians who were in their natural wild con- 
 dition and in many instances hostile to the en- 
 croaching settlements of the whites upon their 
 favorite hunting grounds. Mr. Sceberger spent four 
 years in that region and then returned to the States 
 with renewed health and vigor. After spending a 
 few months in Chicago, he came to Des Moines, in 
 February, 1805, ami purchased the interest of Mr. 
 Chillis, of the firm of Childs & Howell, hardware 
 merchants of this citj'. The new firm of Howell & 
 Sceberger continued in the retail hardware busi- 
 ness exclusively until l.s7(),when they extended 
 their business by doing a jobbing and >vholesalc 
 trade. That connection was continued until 1872, 
 when .Mr. Seeberger purcliased his partner's inter- 
 est and has since carried on business alone under 
 his individual name. When he began the whole- 
 sale trade in 1 870, the annual business amounted to 
 but ^50,000, but under the judicious and enterpris- 
 ing management of its [jroprietor, the volume of 
 
324 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 traiJe lius iiicreasod until, at tliis writing in 1 890, tlie 
 liouse of .1. D. Seelierger does a bnsinoss amounting 
 to lialf a million of dollais, while, owing to the 
 prevailing low [irices, the actual amount of goo'ls 
 handled is largel}- in excess, in [jroportion to the 
 given increase of the business in dollars and cents. 
 The building occupied b}' Mr. Seeberger is situated 
 at the southeast corner of West Court Avenue and 
 Fifth Street in what is known as the Cole lilock. 
 This luiilding has a frontage of forty-four feet on 
 Court Avenue and one hundieil and tliirt3-two feet 
 ileep on Fifth Street, is a brick structure four 
 stories high with I)asenicnt,and the entire block, ex- 
 cept a few small rooms used as law ollices on the 
 second floor, is occupied by Mv. Seeberger in his 
 extensive business. His is theonl}- wholesale hard- 
 ware house in the capital city and is one of the most 
 important in the State. The annual freight bills of 
 this house amount to upwards of -^Sii.OOO and the 
 line of goods handled embraces every thing in- 
 cluded in a general hardware stock. 
 
 ISIr. Seeberger was married in Chicago on the 
 l.ilh of November, 1866, to Miss Maryett B. 
 Cooper, a daugliter of Hugh Cooper and a native 
 of Mt. Vernon, Ohio. Both he and his wife are 
 members of St. Paul's Episcopal Church and have 
 been associated with that society for many years. 
 
 In politics, Mr. Seeberger is a Democrat, yet not 
 so strong a partisan but that he ignores party lines 
 in local elections. He has never had time or in- 
 clination to take an active |)art in practical politics 
 or to serve in any ollicial capacity. The legitimate 
 pursuit of business has been more congenial to his 
 taste and he has ap|)lied himself to it with such 
 earnestness and good judgment that he has achieved 
 marked success and won a foremost place among 
 the prominent business men of Des Moines, while 
 all with whom Mr. Seeberger has had business rela- 
 tions, appreciate his fair and courteous treatment 
 and his strict integrity. There is an inner side to 
 his character that is t)est known to his family and 
 intimate friends. The earnest devotion with which 
 he cared for his [)arents in their declining j'ears be- 
 speaks a tenderness of heart and lilial regard that 
 is more to be commended than business success or 
 the winning of honor or renown among the masses. 
 His father, who lived twenty-three years beyond 
 
 the allotted .age, was comparatively helpless during 
 the closing years of his life and as he had but im- 
 perfectly acquired a knowledge of the English 
 language, he was more dependent on his son for 
 company and assistance than he might otherwise 
 have been. That he received from Mr. Seeberger 
 the most unremitting attention and the tenderest 
 care that affection could prom[)t or intelligence de- 
 vise is well known, and to a degree that m.akes 
 mention of the fact not inappropriate in this sketch, 
 whore a delineation of character is one of the pur- 
 poses of the writer in the preparation of this work 
 which is designed to be a record that will l)e read 
 even long after the present generation shall have 
 "passed over to the silent majority." 
 
 .1. MATHIS, Esq., .lustice of the Peace of 
 Des Moines, is a native of Iowa, and a rep- 
 resentative of one of the pioneer families 
 0ljl of the .State. His father, William Mathis, 
 settled in Des Moines Coimty, in 1834, residing 
 there for twenty-one years, when in 1855, accom- 
 panied by his family he came to Polk County, and 
 located in Douglas Township, where he resided un- 
 til his ileath in .h'nuary, 1865. His wife, who sur- 
 vived him many years, died in .\pril 1888, at the 
 advanced age of eighty-one years. William Ma- 
 this was a farmer by occupation and a worth}" and 
 respected citizen. He and his wife were the [larents 
 of ten children, but of that once numerous family 
 only two are now living — A. J., of this sketch, and 
 a younger brother, George, who is now a resident 
 of Douglas Township, Polk County. Another 
 brother. James H., during the late war enlisted as a 
 soldier of Company' B, Fifteenth Regiment Iowa 
 Infantry, and while the Rebellion was in progress 
 died in the hospital at .Jackson, Tenn. Two other 
 brothers, John T. and William, also grew to nia- 
 ture years and at their death left families. Tlie 
 other members of the family diad in early life. 
 
 The boyhood days of our subject were spent in 
 the usual manner of farmer lads. Ho was reared to 
 agricultural pursuits and for some time previous to 
 his removal lo Des Moines he was engaged in the 
 
POUTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALIiUM. 
 
 325 
 
 stock business. On his arrival iu the Cqiital City 
 be opened an ottiee and branclied out as a real-estate 
 dealer, whicb business he continued until elected 
 to his present office, which he has occupied since 
 .lanuary, 18S7. He is progressive and i)ublic- 
 spirited, industrious and enterprising and lias 
 proved himself an eflicient public officer. In tlic 
 rianagenicnt of his business Interests be displayed 
 much ability and acquired for himself and family 
 a comfortable competence. 
 
 The wife of Mr. Mathis was in her muidciiliood, 
 Miss Amanda P. Carr, being a daughter of Lind- 
 say Carr. Unto them have been born two children, 
 sons, namely: Frank A., wlio is dealing in real 
 estate at Des Moines; and AVhitney II., who is now 
 a student of the High School of tliis city. 
 
 -^ 
 
 SjjICHARD A. GRIFFITH, insurance agent, 
 {f of Des Moines, was born in Dulverton^ 
 Somersetshire, England, on the 16th of 
 ^, September, 1847, and is a son of Robert E. 
 and Amelia (Duggan) Griffith, both of whom were 
 natives of Bath, England. For some twenty-five 
 j'ears, liis father was employed in tiie custom de- 
 partment of the English Government and while 
 serving in that capacity, in the discharge of his 
 duties was called to different parts of the realm, so 
 that some of his children were born iu England, 
 some in Ireland and some in Canada. At length he 
 severed his connections with the office, in which he 
 had so long and faithfullj' served and in the year 
 1857, settled permanently in Canada. Not long 
 after his arrival in that country he was elected to a 
 position. Die duties of which were to have ( hargo 
 of the penal institution of Toronto, to [irovide for 
 the jail and pay tiie salaried olHcers. He has now 
 passed his three-score years and ten, but is still serv- 
 ing in thnt capacity, having lield the office for 
 twenty-six years. It need hardly be said that in- 
 tegrity' and uprightness have characterized his life 
 for his long continued public service well indicates 
 that fact. Both lie and his wife are members of the 
 Established Churcli of England. In their family 
 were eleven children, of whom six are now living, 
 
 four sons and two daughters. William E., the eldest 
 son is chief clerk in the inspector's office of the 
 postal department of Toronto, in which he has 
 served twenty-three years; John W. is engaged in 
 the practice of medicine; Richard A. is the next 
 j'ounger, and Edward I), is Quartermaster at the 
 Royal Military Academy at London, Ontario. 
 
 Our subject had but meagre advantages in his 
 youth but through private instruction and his own 
 effort has acquired a good education and has be- 
 come a successful business man. At the age of fif- 
 teen years he began life for himself as a salesman in 
 a wholesale book and stationery store, where he re- 
 mained for six and a half years. He then embarked 
 in business for himself in Montreal, but sold out 
 after three years. His residence in Des Moines dates 
 from April, 1872, when he came to this city and en- 
 tered the employ of Carter & Hussey, with whom 
 he remained some five years. Again he embarked 
 in business for himself in the book and stationery 
 line, in 1879, but sold out in 1882, and the follow- 
 ing 3'ear engaged in the real-estate and insurance 
 business, still continuing the latter. Every firm 
 with which he has been connected has retained him 
 in its employ for a long period and it was doubtless 
 at his own request that the connection was severed, 
 for, faithful to every duty he won the respect of 
 his emploj'ers and retained their confidence to the 
 last. So(nally, he is a member of the Masonic and 
 Odd-Fellows societies and in politics in an advocate 
 of Republican principles. 
 
 A marriage ceremony performed on the 25th of 
 October, 1878, united the destinies of Richard A. 
 Griffitii and Jennie Dewey. The lady was born iu 
 N'ermonl on the 23d of March, 1856, and is a 
 daughter of Col. J. N. and Iletta (Johnson) Dewey. 
 Ihito them have been born two children, sons, 
 Jesse D. and John N. I). Mr. firifflth and iiis wife 
 are members of the Episcopal Church. 
 
 
 ^^^ APT. J. S. CLARK, of the law firm of Cole, 
 McA'ey & Clark, is a lawyer of merit, worth 
 and al)ility, and as a citizen ranks among 
 
 the best in Polk Countv, Iowa. He was born on 
 
 6 
 
326 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 the 1 Till of Oftober. 1M41, in Johnson Countv, Ind., 
 of wiiiol) county his parents were pioneers, remov- 
 ing from Kentucky and locating in tlie forests of 
 Centra] Indiana about 1820. His early life was 
 spent upon the old homestead, where he remained 
 until 1854, when with the family lie came to War- 
 ren County, Iowa. The death of his father occurred 
 in ISoG, and upon our subject then devolved the 
 care and support of liis widowed mother and sisters, 
 witii whom he remained upon the farm until the 
 dsatii of Mrs. Clark in 1859. 
 
 'I'iie outbreak of tlie late Rebellion found our 
 suliject just entering upon his colleaiate career at 
 tiie Iowa AVesle^an L'niveisity, situated at Mt. 
 Pleasant, but when President Lincoln issued his 
 first call for troops he laid aside his text books and 
 volunteered, enlisting as a private in Company F, 
 of the First Iowa Regiment. When his term of 
 service had expired lie again enlisted and was as- 
 signed to Company C, of the Thirty-fourth Iowa 
 Infantry, of which he was made Second Lieutenant. 
 On the death of the Captain, who fell in the battle 
 of Arkansas Post while advancing side b}" side with 
 the subject of this sketch, the latter was promoted 
 to the captaincj' of his compan3'. I>y tlie customs 
 of war the First Lieutenant would have received 
 the promotion, but owing to his superior fitness and 
 soldierly- qualities Lieut. Clark was made Captain. 
 He proved iiimself a faithful soldier, both as a pri- 
 vate and as an officer, and during the entire strug- 
 gle was ever found at his post of duty, defending 
 as best he could the honor of his countr}' and tlie 
 Union cause. His company in competitive drill 
 took the banner as the best drilled, and as having 
 the most soldierly bearing of all the companies in 
 the command to which the regiment belonged. 
 
 When the war was over ^Ir. Clark returned to 
 Iowa, but shortly afterward entered the Ohio Wes- 
 leyan University at Delaware, from v,rhieh he was 
 graduated with high rank in the class of 1878. 
 Deciding to study iaw he joined the first class of 
 the Law Department of the Iowa State University 
 and became \'aledictorian of the class of 1869. Mr. 
 Clark then served as Deputy I'liited States Marshal 
 for a short time and entered upon the (iracticeof his 
 chosen profession in Des Moines in 1870, which he 
 has carried on continuouslv since. He has been 
 
 promiiicntlj' connected with many of the institu- 
 tions of this eitj', especially those that are for the 
 upbuilding and advancement of its best interests, 
 among whicli may lie mentioned the Iowa College 
 of Law, of wiiich he was Secretary and Treasurer 
 for some j^ears; the Des Moines Insurance Com- 
 pan}-, the Des Moines Edison Electric Light Cora- 
 jiany, the Young ileu's Christian Association, of 
 each of which he has been President, .and the Plj'- 
 moutli Congregational Church, of whicli he has been 
 for many j'ears an active and faithful member. 
 
 In 1870 Capt. Clark was united in marriage with 
 Miss Laura C. Hutchinson, of Iowa City, who died 
 a year later. In 187G he wedded Miss Fannie JI. 
 Page, daughter of E. S. Page, a leading insurance 
 man of the West. Unto them have been born six 
 children — Laura, Glenn, Page, Helen, Mabel and 
 Morton. 
 
 " <x->o ' 
 
 GiEORGE F. HENRY, who is engaged in the 
 - practice of law at Des IMoines, as a member 
 of the firm of Berrjhill & Henr}-, was born 
 in Cook County, III., on the 27th of August. 185L 
 and is a son of John E. Henry. His father was a 
 native of the Empire State, but removed to Illinois 
 with the earl}' Western railroad movement, being a 
 pioneer in that line of work. He was Superintend- 
 ent of the construction of the Chicago & Rock Isl- 
 and Railroail between those cities, and in 1855 
 removed to Iowa, where he officiated iu the same 
 capacitj- on the construction of the Mississippi & 
 Missouri Railroad, which was subsequently merged 
 in the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific. For some 
 time Mr. Henr}' made his home in Davenport, but 
 is now living in Des Moines. His family numbered 
 three sons: J. Howard, who is now engaged in 
 the abstract and loan business in Des Moines; 
 Charles A. is engaged in railroading in Utah Ter- 
 ritory; George F., the third son. was reared in 
 Davenport, Iowa, and acquired his literary educa- 
 tion iu Griswold College, of that city. He began 
 the study of law in 1873, and was graduated from 
 the law department of the Iowa State Universitj- in 
 1876. The following j-ear he located in Des Moines, 
 forming a partnership witii Mr. Herryhill. which 
 
(Jj^aacL /^^ayndf 
 
POUTliAlT AND BIOGiiAPHlCAL ALBUM. 
 
 329 
 
 Ikks foiitiniied through a, siucossful career of Ihir- 
 lei'ii years. He is Master in Chancery of the 
 liiiled States Circuit Court, a position whicli he 
 lias held for three years. 
 
 Mr. lleury]^was married, in Des Moines, to Miss 
 Rose Casady, daugiiter of Judge Casady, of this 
 city, but the beloved wife was ( ailed to her linal rest 
 Ai)ril 21, 18H'J, leaving two eliildren — Ward C. and 
 Phineas McCr.iy. In polities Mr. Henry is a Ke- 
 piibliean, while religiously, he is a member and ves- 
 tryman of .St. Paul's Episcopal Church of this city. 
 
 i"^ .-^ ON. LSAAC BRANDT, a prominent citizen 
 )j) of Des Moines, dating his residence from 
 185C, is the youngest son of David and 
 Martha (Hamilton) Brandt. He vvas bom 
 near Lancaster, Fairfield County, Ohio, on the 7tli 
 of Ajiril, 1827, and his father, a native of Cumber- 
 land County, Pa., was born December 22, 1776. 
 The paternal grandjiarents of our subject were 
 Adam and Eve ( Metzler) Brandt, who were born of 
 (ierman parents, and were married March 28, 1775. 
 on the eve of the great struggle for American Li- 
 dependence. They had only just erected their 
 small stone house in the wilds of Cumberland 
 County, Pa., when the war began. Their lives 
 were in constant danger from roving Toiies or 
 hostile Indians, imt both were good shots, and it 
 was the custom of the husband to carry a rille at- 
 tached to his plow, while his wife had another by 
 her side while she s;it at her spinning svheel, under 
 the shade of a tree near the centre of the field. In 
 the autumn of 177(1, Adam Brandt shouldered iiis 
 gun and enlistefl in the Cmil iMcnlal .\rniy. It was 
 only at very rare intervals that he had the i)le;isure 
 of visiting home, and it was not until his son, 
 David, the father of our subject, was three years 
 old, that the father saw the boy. for tiie child was 
 born in Decembc'r after his enlistment. Mr. 
 15randt served until the country had attained its 
 freedom and then lesumed his farming operations, 
 becoming one of the substantial citizens of Cum- 
 berland County. I'a. He and his good wife lived 
 to mijoy titty-live years of vvedded life. 
 
 It is a peculiarity of the lir.aiidt family, of which 
 they may be justly proud, that more members of 
 tlieii' family h.ave maintained their marri.age rela- 
 tions long enough to celebrate the golden wed- 
 dings than ])erliaps any other famil}- in the United 
 States. Adam and Eve (Metzler) Brandt lived 
 together as nian and wife for fifty-six years. 
 Adam IJrandt, Jr., brother of our subject, lived 
 with his wife, Rebecca Cooper, fifty years. John 
 Brandt and Hannah Coulson had been married 
 liftj'-threc years when death separated them. 
 .Martin and IMaiy Ann (llaudabaugh) Brandt cele- 
 brated their golden wetlding November 21, 1889, 
 and our subject and his estimable wife have lived 
 together for more than forty years, an'! bid fair to 
 reach their golden wedding. Four of the above 
 are lirothers, and their history is [irobably with- 
 out a paiallel in this country. 
 
 The Brandt family w.as founded in America by 
 (iottlieb Brandt, who emigrated from (Jermany to 
 America, in 1717, and settled in Huiiunelstown, 
 Pa. His son was the grandfather of our subject. 
 
 David Brandt, the father of Isaac, was a saddler 
 and harness maker l)y trade and, as he was the 
 eldest son of the family, received superior educa- 
 tional advantages. He married Miss Martha Ham- 
 ilton, in Pennsylvania, November 21, 1808, and 
 iu 181 1, removed to Lancaster, Fairfield County, 
 Ohio. His wife, who was of Scotch-Irish parent- 
 age, w.as born in York County, Pa,, May 3, 178,0. 
 They had six children, five sons and one daughter. 
 The mother died December 27, 1847, and l\Ir. 
 Brandt passed aw.ay October 17, 1854. 
 
 Isaac Brandt was born on a farm, and his early 
 life w-as passed in much the usual manner of fanner 
 lads. His education w.as received in the district 
 school aud at Williams College, and .-it the age of 
 sixteen he was .api)renticed to liie slioemakcr's 
 trade, serving two years without pay. From that 
 time until he was of age he worked at his trade 
 during the summer and attended school in the 
 winter, or followed the profession of teaching. 
 On attaining liis majority he gave his father all 
 the money he iiossessed, rented a slioj), and at 
 daylight on the morning of his twenty-first birtli- 
 (hn- niiiiht have lii'cii sien in a little louui ready 
 to beyin life f(n- lii.'.i-.elf. as a ^-hoeiiiaUer, without 
 
330 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 a cent in his poflcets. The first day. F'riday, he 
 earned seventy- Ave cents and on Saturday 81. 
 Tlie next week he cleared *10 and felt that he was 
 on tlie diiect road to success. My autumn of the 
 following year he had accumulated enough wealth 
 to justify him in setting up a home for himself 
 and. on the 1st of November, 1849, he was united 
 in marriage with Miss Harriet Wisely, a daughter 
 of Kdward and Leah Wisely. She was of Knglish 
 descent, and was liorn and reared in the same 
 neighborhood with her husband. 
 
 In the month of jNIay, IS.'iO, Mr. Brandt re- 
 moved with his young bride to Audubon, DeKalb 
 Comity, Ind., where he carried on the boot and 
 shoe business with marked success. In October, 
 1854, he was elected Sheriff of DeKalb County, 
 and served two years, to the satisfaction of his 
 constituents and with credit to himself. About 
 this time he became infeete<l with the Western 
 fever and, in January, 18.')6. came to Iowa, in 
 company with Judge Morris, of Ft. \Va3ne, and 
 T. R. Dickerson, of Waterloo, Ind. After visiting 
 several of the principal cities of the State, includ- 
 ing Des Moines and Council Bluffs, he made some 
 investments in real estate in the last named town, 
 which subsequently [iroved quite profitable. He 
 then returned to Indiana, and in the spring of 
 18.58 brought his famil3', then consisting of wife 
 and three chihb'en, to Des Moines. Soon after his 
 arrival he embarked in general merchandising and 
 carried on that line of business until 1866, when 
 he sold out and became a real-estate dealer. 
 During the late war he gave a patriotic support to 
 the Government, in liberal donations and in en- 
 couraging enlistments. 
 
 In politics, Mr. Brandt is a stanch Reiiulilican, 
 and while a life-long temperance man believes that 
 the best interests of the temperance cause will bo 
 served through the success of the Republican 
 party. In January, 1867, he was ap[)ointed Assist- 
 ant State Treasurer, which oflice he held six years, 
 when in the fall of 1873, he was elected to the 
 Fifteenth General Assembly of Iowa, was made 
 Chairman of the committee of ways and means 
 and of the committee on cities and towns. He 
 did good service on each, and was instrumeutul in 
 securing the passage of some important measures 
 
 that were of great public bcnelit. In the S|)ring 
 of 1877, he was elected to the city council, and 
 was chosen raaj'or p''" ''''"^- '"^'k' 'ii tl'c spring of 
 1880 received the Republican nomination for that 
 office, but on account of sectional issues was de- 
 feated 113- a small majority. Mr. Brandt has been 
 a consistent worker in the cause of temperance 
 since his boyhood, and has made a record in that 
 direction equalled by few. During his long life 
 of sixty-three years he has never drank a drop of 
 alcoholic liquors, wine or beer, neither has he used 
 tobacco in any form. For many years he has been 
 identified with various temperance societies, and in 
 the fall of 1862, was elected Grand Worthy Chief 
 Templar of the Independent Order of Good Tern 
 plars, of Iowa, re-elected in 1863, again in 1870, 
 1871 and 1879, making five full terms as Chief of 
 the order. His annual contributions to this cause 
 range in amounts from •i'lOO to %300. 
 
 IMr. and Mrs. Brandt have had a famil\- of six 
 children, four sons and two daughters. Amos W., 
 the eldest, married Miss Mattie J. Moflfatt, and is 
 the present Auditor of Polk County; Josiah died 
 at the age of two years; Alice J. wife of John B. 
 Taylor, of Des Moines, died November 3, 1889; 
 Olive C. resides with her parents; George W. mar- 
 ried ."Miss Ida L. \'annatta, and is living in Chi- 
 cago; William Ix., the youngest, is engaged in the 
 coal business with his father and brother, Amos. 
 All are strictly' temperate, like the father, and are 
 occupying useful and honorable positions in life. 
 
 Mr. Brandt is one of the original abolitionists, 
 and from early childhood until slavery was abol- 
 ished, took an active part in carrying out his prin- 
 cii)k'S and in assisting fugitive slaves on their w.ay 
 to Canada. His first experience was peculiar and 
 illustrates in a degree the characteristics of the 
 man. While serving his ai)prenticeship to his 
 trade, in Ohio, he had no means of earning money 
 except on two or three occasions during the year. 
 It so hai)i)ened that a dog, which h.ad been killing 
 sheep, had been killed and his carcass thrown in a 
 lane near b\-. Ho|)ing to make an honest penin*, 
 young Brandt was up by daybreak the next morn- 
 ing, and stripping the hide from the dog sold it to 
 a neighboring tanner for twenty-five cents. That 
 being his only cash capital, it was hoarded very 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 331 
 
 carefully until one day he observed a poor negro, 
 whom he soon saw by his signs was a runaway and 
 nearly starved. Young Brandt went to his mis- 
 tress and asked her if she would give a poor hun- 
 gry negro something to eat, whereupon slie wanted 
 to know if he was a runaway slave. On being 
 assured that he was not, she said that slie wovdd 
 give him a meal if he would pay for it. Under 
 the eireumstanees there was only one thing to do. 
 Mr. Brandt returned to the runaway and gave him 
 the precious coin that he had received for the dog 
 skin, and told him to go and eat, after which the 
 young underground conductor directed his charge 
 on his way. He helped many an escaping slave to 
 make his way northward, while still a youth, and 
 after coming to Iowa he kept it up. Vv. F-randt 
 first made the acquaintance of John Brown in 
 Lawrence, Kan,, in 1857, and afterwards saw him 
 three times at Des Moines, the last time not long 
 l)cfore tlie attack on Harper's Ferry. Brown came 
 along earl\- one morning, with four negroes lying 
 in his wagon bed covered with corn stalks. He 
 stojiped and talked a while and at length bid good- 
 li\' to 'Mv. Brandt, over a little wooden gate in the 
 yard. Th.at was the last he saw of John Brown, 
 but the old gate is still preserved by him as a 
 cherished relic. Mr. Brandt possesses many of the 
 characteristics of the Scotch, is earnest, energetic, 
 self-reliant and shrewd. He has prospered in life 
 and is recognized as a successful business man and 
 good citizen. 
 
 -i^m" 
 
 -«j-»^_. 
 
 j*?=^ ETH GRAHAM, an early settler of Iowa, 
 ^^^^ and a member of the firm of Gate & Ora. 
 lv/_>3) ''^'^^- pi'oprietors of the Des Jloines Trans- 
 fer Company, is a native of the Buckeye 
 State. He was born in Wayne County, Ohio, 
 April 17, 1831, and is a son of John Newton and 
 Esther (Wakefield) Graham. His father, a native 
 of Scotland, emigrated to America in 1793, with 
 his parents, and on the voyage the paternal grand- 
 father of our subject passed awaj-. The remainder 
 of the family landed at Philadelphia, where the 
 mother died slmrlly afterward, and the children 
 
 became scattered. John N. Gralmni went to Lan- 
 caster, Pa., where he w.as apprenticed to and learned 
 the millwright's trade, and was also married near 
 that city. In 1828 he removed to Wayne County, 
 Ohio, where he worked at his trade and speculated 
 in land. J>atcr, he removed to Ashland, Ohio, 
 where he built a woolen mill, and tlieiMie, in 1838, 
 removed to Pike County, Ind. He there erected a 
 sawmill, but after operating it for about two years, 
 sold out and went, with his family, to Perry 
 County, 111. His wife, the mother of our subject, 
 was born near Lancaster, Pa., and was of Scotch- 
 Irish descent. Her death occurred in November, 
 1846. and four ye.ars later, in November, 1850, her 
 husband (le|)arted this life. 
 
 Seth Gjaham received a common-school educa- 
 tion, and from early boyhood was familiar with 
 the tools used in wood work. In that manner he 
 learne<l to .assist his father, and developed con- 
 cral)le ability in the line of mechanics. He re- 
 mained at home until 184!). and the next year 
 witnessed his arrival in Iowa, his first location 
 being in Muscatine. Subsequently he secured em- 
 plojnient with M.N. Milburn, a contractor and 
 builder of Cedar County, with whom he remained 
 for three years building bridges and a steamboat. 
 He was engaged in steamboating until May, 1855, 
 when he located in Des Moines, which has since 
 been his home. During the first ye.ars of his resi- 
 dence in this city he was variously employed, act- 
 ing as a sawyer in a mill for a portion of the time. 
 In I8C3 he began learning the trade of a machinist, 
 and devoted five yeais to that occupation. In 18C8 
 he formed the existing partnership with Mr. Cate 
 in the transfer business, which they have carried 
 on continuously since, having secured an excellent 
 trade in that line. 
 
 On the '2l)th of November, IStSO. in Des Moines, 
 Jlr. (irnham and Miss Elizabeth A. King, daugh- 
 ter of .bjhn King, were joined in wedlock. The 
 l-'.dy, a native of Huntingtonshire, England, came 
 to America in 1851. Three children were born 
 of their union — Augustus Willard died at the age 
 of fifteen years; Frederick AV., who was born in 
 Elkhart Township. Polk County. Septemlier 19 
 l.Sfw. is now impluyt'd in the ollici' df ('ate A' 
 t;i-;iham; ClarissM A., who \v;i> liuiii in Des Moines, 
 
332 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 is still with her i>;irfiHs. Mr. Gialiam luiil family 
 are ineinbers of the Episcopal Ciiurcli. In politics 
 he is a Republican, but lias never souglit or de- 
 sired public otHee. Both he and his son are mem- 
 bers of Pioneer Lodge, No. 22, A. F. S: A. M., 
 Corinthian Chapter, No. 14, R. A. M., and Temple 
 Commandery, No. 4, K. T. Mr. Graham has been 
 Treasurer of Pioneer Lodge for twenty consecu- 
 tive years, of the Chapter ten years, and of the 
 Commandery seventeen years, and is tlie present 
 Treasurer of all these organizations. His long 
 continued service as custodian of the funds of the 
 order in thoseDinstitutions plainly indicates that 
 he enjoys the confidence of his brethren to the 
 fullest extent, and that his integrity is beyond 
 question. For thirty-five years Mr. (iraham has 
 been'a resident of Des Moines, during whicii time 
 his fellow-citizens have known him only to esteem 
 and respect iiim for tiie possession of the sterling 
 qualities that go to make up the true man. 
 
 ■■ . — M "? * S * fl ' S * S '* '" 
 
 -^ LVA W. VOODHY, a highly respected cit- 
 (@/ull izen of lUoouifield Township, residing on 
 section 20, has for a quarter of a century 
 1^^ made his home in Polk County, and dur- 
 
 ing the greater part of that time was prominently 
 connected with the business circles of Des Moines. 
 Four years ago, wishing to live a more retired life 
 he removed to his farm, upon which has been built 
 one of llie finest residences in the community. The 
 dwelling is not only substantial and commodious, 
 Inil it is also tastefully furnished and suirounded 
 by all the comforts of life. .Situated on .'i natural 
 building site in the midst of a beautiful grove, it 
 attracts the notice of everj' passer-by and forms a 
 marked feature in the landscape. 
 
 As the owner has an extensive accjuaiutance and 
 is regarded as one of the leading citizens of the 
 county, we feel that his sketch will be of interest to 
 ni.an^'. He was born on a farm in Caledonia, Vt., 
 January 24, 182.'). His |)arents, Lewis and Mary 
 (Cole) Voodry, were natives of Lower Canada, but 
 at an early day settled in Caledonia County, where 
 they spent the remainder of their lives. They were 
 upright people, respected by all who knew them 
 
 .■lud made frien<ls wherever they went. The father 
 was a farmer by occupation and followed that bus- 
 iness for many years. Of their family of thirteen 
 children, only six are living, namely: John, Frank, 
 Jose|)hus "W., Gilbert L., Sarah and Alva. 
 
 Our subject spent the days of his boyhood and 
 youth in much the same manner in which all 
 farmer lads occupy their time. He assisted his 
 father in the summer months, and during the win- 
 ter season attended the district school, where lie 
 acquired a good English education. At the age of 
 twenty j'ears he determined to engage in some 
 other pursuit than that to which he was reared, and 
 went to Fairfield, Franklin Countj-, Vt., where 
 he learned the carriage-maker's trade, which he fol- 
 lowed for about eight years. The succeeding eight 
 years of his life were spent as a salesman in Peoiia, 
 III., after which he came to Iowa. In the mean- 
 time, however, he was united in marriage with 
 Delia Freeman, the wedding taking place on the 
 30tliof May. 1852. Their union was blesseJ with 
 a family of five children but only two are now liv- 
 in« — Carrie, vv'ife of Carl McNeil, of Des Moines; 
 and Alva, who resides on the farm with his father. 
 On his arrival in Des Moines in 18G5, Mr. 
 ■\'oodry opened a carriage manufactury and did an 
 extensive business in that line until 1876. when he 
 sold out. He then became proprietor of a flour 
 and feed store, which he successfully conducted 
 until 1883, when healso disposed of it and removed 
 to his farm as above mentioned. He possesses all 
 the qualities essential to a successful business ca- 
 reer, is persevering, energetic and s.agacious. Idle- 
 ness is utterly foreign to his nature and although 
 he has acquired a competency which would enable 
 him to live without further labor he will not en- 
 tirely lay aside all work, but devotes himself to the 
 care of his farm of twenty-five acres. He takes a 
 deei) interest in public affairs, has given liberally 
 to the sup|>or1 of those enterprises which are cal- 
 culated to upbuild and benelit the conimuuit}', and 
 in i)olitics, is a Republican. 
 
 In 1873, Mr. \'oodry was called upon to mourn 
 the loss of his wife who passed to her final rest on 
 the 8th of January. She was interred in Green- 
 wood Cemetery and many were the expressions of 
 deep regret at her loss. A uieniber of the Baptist 
 
#' 
 
 ^^S- 
 
 j( >^^ ^^^^^&^^ 
 
Jj^l;^ ^J^^ 
 
^ 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 337 
 
 Cluii-cli, she lived a consistent C'liri.slian life jind 
 was ready to resi)ond to the siiniinons of the Mas- 
 ter. Mr. Voodiy was again married in Novenibor, 
 1373, Jane Blodgett beeonunu his wife. Iloth are 
 members of the ISaptist Chiireh and are widely 
 known throug'liout the eommunily. 
 
 -g)^i" 
 
 ^m 
 
 \t ONATHAN WRIGHT CATTKLL-deceased. 
 The history of Polk County would be in- 
 complete without the sketch of the gentle- 
 man whose name appears above. In his 
 death Iowa lost one of her truest, noblest sons, one 
 whom the State mourned and whose loss will not 
 cease to be felt while the present generation lives. 
 He was born in Faj-ette Count}-, I*a.,June 25, 1820, 
 and remained in his native State until he had at- 
 tained to mature years, when he removed toColum- 
 biaca County, Ohio. In that county he became ac- 
 quainted with Miss Deborah Ellj'son and winning 
 her affections, in 1842, led her to the marriage 
 altar. They began their domestic life in the Buck- 
 eye State, but four years later came to the Terri- 
 tory of Iowa, settling in Springdale Township, 
 Cedar County. 
 
 Although a quiet and unostentatious man, Mr. 
 Cattell had not long been a resident of Cellar 
 County before its citizens l)ecame convinced of his 
 worth and ability, and in 1852. they tendered him 
 the position of Clerk in the Disliict Court, which 
 he accepted and occupied for four 3-ears. In that 
 office he gave further proof of his sterling worth 
 by the manner in which he protected the interests 
 of the county. One notable instance is worthy of 
 mention. The people had voted to take stock in 
 in coriioration form for the purjiose of building 
 and operating a railroad from Lyons to Iowa City, 
 and had determined to issue bonds with which to 
 pay for the stock. The county judge, without 
 awaiting for the conditions upon which the bonds 
 were voted, to be complied with, iiroceeded to issue 
 them, but when they were presented to Mr. Cattell, 
 as Clerk of the County Court, he refused t<j coun- 
 tersign them. The men who expected to handle 
 the bonds were veiy i)rofuse in promises as to what 
 they were going to do after they got the obligation. 
 
 l)Ut the Clerk insisted on performances before hand, 
 and from this position neither threats or cajolery 
 couM move him. Subsequent evenis proved that 
 he had taken a correct stand for the bonds were 
 subseijuently issued, the money raised on them, 
 turned over to the radroad-builders and the county 
 ha<l ti) p;iy them eventually, but to this day the 
 road remains unfinished. 
 
 Upon retiring from the Clerk's office, Mr. Cattell 
 was elected to the State Senate from Cedar County, 
 which only a short time previous was made a Sena- 
 torial district. Many distinguished men werc-niera- 
 bers of that body and he thereby came in contact 
 with some of the strongest minds of the West. Al- 
 most from the first he took rank as one of the influ- 
 ential members of the Assembly. He was a worker 
 and not a speaker, but ivhcn he arose to express bis 
 views on any subject, his associates listened, for 
 they knew that he w^ould give utterance to some- 
 thing worth hearing. The characteristics there 
 displayed suggested to the minds of his colleagues 
 the thought that he would be a proper person to 
 place at the head of the deiiartment of finance, and 
 accordingly he was elected Auditor of Iowa in 
 1858. Jn regard to his election the Stah' Jieijisli'r 
 says: -'It was a fortunate thing for Iowa that a 
 man of his Roman simplicity. Spartan courage and 
 inflexible honesty, that rose above every tempta- 
 tion, was in that position at that particular time. It 
 was during that period when large financial opera- 
 tions offered cfirresponding opportunities by devi- 
 ous ways foi' men so inclined to amass colossial for- 
 tunes,; and many were they who succumbed to the 
 temptation. Kot so Mr. Cattell. With all the op- 
 portunities the period afforded, amid all the temp- 
 tati<)ns of the time, he kept the even tenor of his 
 honest ways." He introduced improvements into 
 the niMuner of conducting tlu? monetary transac- 
 tions of the Stale, as well as in the system of book- 
 keeping, and up to the present there has been no 
 decided change niade in those jjarticulars, so well 
 did he accoin|ili,.h the task. During his incum- 
 bency, which covered nearly the entire period of 
 the war, when the expenditures were very heav}' 
 and the work greater than ever before, his duties 
 were well, honestly, systeniaticallv and cautiously 
 performed. Twice he was re-elected to tie same 
 
338 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 office and was slioitly su[)porte(l for a fourth term. 
 Aflei- his relircinenl Mr. Cattcll rem.aiiieil a resi- 
 dent of Dcs Moines :iiul for a sliort time was out of 
 political life, but the followiiiji; autumn, 18C5, he 
 was nomin.atcd by the Republicans of Polk County 
 for their representative in the .State .Senate. The 
 nomination was entirely unsolicited by him, in fact 
 was a s>reat surprise. During his second term he 
 w^as again a coteniporary of man^' of the ablest 
 men of Iowa and again he was place<l as a leader 
 before the [leople, not tlirough his own wishes but 
 because he was lilted for the position. His judg 
 mcnt ou any matter of special importance was al- 
 ways .sought and generally accepted for his 
 conscientiousness and strict adherence to what he 
 believed his duty m.nde his opinion one of much 
 value. Again he retired from public odicc, but in 
 1885, he was ai)pointnd ijy Gov. Sherman as Au- 
 ditor of State, to fill out the term to which a Mr. 
 P.rown had been elected, but had failed to give 
 the required bonds. The ability with which he con- 
 ducted his affairs and his ready knowledge of the 
 duties of the position after an absence from public 
 life for twenty j-ears, were a surprise to those not 
 intimate with him. His rulings upon doubtful 
 points of law were never influenced by those cir- 
 cumstances or effected by any extraneous consid- 
 eration. His term of office expired in January, 
 188G. 
 
 Mr. Cattell held many minor positions during 
 his long and useful life, including those connected 
 with insurance companies. About the close of his 
 senatorial term or shortly afterward, he became 
 President of the State Insurance Company, which 
 position he retaiwed for some years, establishing 
 firmly the company's business and its reputation 
 for fair dealing. For many years and up to the 
 time of his death, he was one of the managing 
 board of the Northwestern Life Insurance Company 
 and regularly attended its quarterly meetings. 
 
 After his death the executive board of the 
 ?<ortliwostern Mutual Life Insurance Company 
 passed the following resolutions: 
 
 I'cgoli'f'K That by the death of the Hon. J. W. 
 Cattell lliis board has lost one',of its most useful and 
 w()rthv members, and the Companj' one of its 
 truest friends, one who has long stood in his own 
 
 State as a worthy representative of the Company 
 whose interest he has ever studied to promote. 
 
 Rpsotwd, That these resolutions be spread upon 
 the records of the Company and a certified copy be 
 furnished to the faniil)- of our deceased associate. 
 (Signed) (). P. Wakicman, 
 
 ■I. H. Van Dvkk, 
 John Lawi.kr. 
 
 To the Iioard of Trustees of the Northwestern 
 Mutual Life Insurance Comi>any, of Milwaukee, 
 Wis., your committee appointed to prepare a min- 
 ute relative to the death of our associate. Hon. J. 
 W. Cattell. report for adoption the following: 
 
 ••This Board having learned with deep .sorrow of 
 the death of our associate, Hon. J. W. Cattell, of 
 Des Moines, Iowa, whieh occurred on the 2.")lh of 
 .'^ei)tember last, would place on reconl our high ap- 
 preciation of his character and worlh, not only as 
 a citizen out one who in his ollicial capacity' in his 
 own State had a rei>ulation above reproach and was 
 regarded .as the embodiment of integrity and up- 
 rightness. 
 
 ••It is. Iiowever in his relation to our Compan}- 
 that we have eome to know him best, and best ap- 
 preciate his sterling worth. 
 
 ••Judge Cattell was born June 25, 1820, and was 
 elected to the membership of this Board June 8j 
 18G4, and held that position continously from tiiat 
 time to the time of his death. He served three 
 years, viz: 1871, 1873 and 1874, as a member of 
 the Examining'Commiltee, for which duty he w.as 
 admirably qualified and his suggestions were timelv 
 and wise. He h.as seldom been absent from the 
 meetings of the Board during the twenty-three 
 years of his connection with it." 
 
 About 1881, Mr. Cattell removed to a farm 
 which he owned in Delaware Township, and there 
 resided until his death. On Friilay, September 23, 
 1887, he met with a serious accident in falling from 
 a wagon, but none thought that the injuries would 
 prove fatal. Indeed, the reports were rather en- 
 couraging until Saturday afternoon, when his phy- 
 sician announced that he could not live and death 
 relieved his sufferings at r);30 o'clock, Sunday 
 morning, Se|itember 2.^. The news of his decease 
 brought sorrow to man^- hearts outside the family 
 circle and especially to the pioneers, upon whose 
 sturdy shoulders the State has been lifted to its 
 present proutt |)osition, for they felt that they had 
 lost a nobl<! helper as well as friend. Although he 
 never ac(|uired great wealth, he left behind him a 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 339 
 
 fai- lietter inheiitance, a clean record and a spot- 
 less name. 
 
 Mr. Caltell was one of four brolluMs. the small 
 est of whom was six feet in liciglit. wliilc lie and 
 the two others were six feet four inches. It is said 
 that physicalh' he greatly resenililed Abraliain Lin- 
 coln, and his mental and moral characteristics were 
 also much the same. He leaves a widow and two 
 adopted children to mourn his loss, one of whom. 
 AVilliam H. H. Cunningham, is now a resident of 
 the Territory of New iNIexico. The other, Mrs. 
 Edwin Grimes, with her hushaml and children, re- 
 sides with her adopted mother. 
 
 Mrs. Cattell, no less than her distinguished hus- 
 band, has attained some prominence as a leader in 
 popular reform movements. Her whole life has 
 been devoted to aiding the temperance cause, and 
 her work and influence in that direction has been 
 of inestimable value. In the Women's Suffrage 
 movement she from the beginning look a loading 
 part, becoming a champion for her sex, attending 
 as a delegate State and National conventions. Dur- 
 ing the war she was Chairman of the Sixth Ward 
 (Des Moines) Committee of the Sanitary Board 
 and did efficient work. 
 
 OSEPII CAKLILE is the owner of a tine 
 farm of one hundred and ninetj'-five acres, 
 located on section 18, Bloomfield Township. 
 The mapy improvements which have been 
 made thereon, the well-tilled fields and the excel- 
 lent grades of stock there raised, indicate the owner 
 to be a man of thrift and enterprise, and jnstlj- 
 rank him among the leading agriculturists of the 
 county. Mr. Carlile is of Irish birth, and is a son 
 of Joseph and Martha (Caronduff) Carlile, who 
 were also natives of Ireland. By occupation the 
 father was a farmer. He followed that business in 
 |)ursuit of fortune in his native land until 18-JC, 
 when, believing that he could better his condition 
 bj' a removal to the Xew World, he emigrated to 
 this country and located in Ohio. Some years later 
 he became a resident of Minnesota, where lie again 
 engaged in farming until his death, which occurred 
 
 in 1887. His wife died ere the family left their 
 native land. Four sons and Iwo daughters accom- 
 panied theii- father, namely: .John, Joseph, Alex- 
 ander, Robert, Margaret and Mary. 
 
 Joseph Carlile, whose name heads this sketch, 
 was born in IH.'io, and when a lad of eleven years 
 crossed the broad Atlantic to the land which was 
 henceforth to be his home. Like a dutiful son he 
 assisted his father until twenty-one 3'ears of age, 
 when he started out in life for himself. He was first 
 emi)lo.yed as a farm hand, b\' the month, in Ohio, 
 where ho worked until his marriage, which was cele- 
 brated in 1857, Miss Catherine Mesmore becoming 
 his wife. With his bride he then started for Min- 
 nesota, where ho engaged in farming for himself 
 until 1868. In 1863 his wife died, and four years 
 later he wedded Miss Matilda Mentzer. Having 
 sold his farm in Minnesota, in 1868 he removed to 
 Polk County, Iowa, and purchased one hundred 
 acres of land on section 18, Bloomfield Township. 
 With characteristic energy he began its develop- 
 ment, and by subsequent purchase extended its 
 boundaries until now one hundred and ninety- five 
 acres pay tribute lo his care and cultivation. He 
 may trul}' be called a self-made man. He had no 
 capital or influential friends to aid him, but step by 
 step vvorked his waj' upward, unassisted, save by 
 his own energy and perseverance. He now ranks 
 among the well-to-do farmers of the county, and 
 his success is but a fitting reward for his unceasing 
 activity. He luis also given liherall}' of his means 
 for the support of such enterprises as he believed 
 would benefit the public. Educational, social and 
 moral interests have found in him a warm advo- 
 cate, and although not a member of any religious 
 organization, he has aided in maintaining the church. 
 His wife, a most estimable lady, belongs to the 
 Methodist Church. In political soutinient he is a 
 Democrat. 
 
 Four children have been' born of the union of 
 Mr. and Mrs. Carlile, and have lived to become 
 useful men and women in the world: Jasper, the 
 eldest, assists his father in the cultivation of the 
 home farm; Elizabeth is the wife of Byron South, a 
 resident farmer of Bloomfield Township; Mary is 
 the wife of Oscar Baker, a farmer of the same town- 
 ship; and (icorge \. is engaged in merchandising 
 
340 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 ill St. Cloud, Minn. This family is lielil in high 
 regard in the social world. During the Iwenly- 
 two years of their residence in the community Mr. 
 and Mrs. Carlile have made many warm friends, 
 having by their upright lives gained the confidence 
 and good wishes of those with whom they have 
 come in contact. 
 
 - — ^9-r4(-^°^- 
 
 e( )I>. JOHN N. J)EWEY, deceased, was one 
 of Des Moines' most highly esteemed and 
 __^ ' useful citizens. He was born in Hanover, 
 N. H., February 3, 1814, and was a son of .Jesse 
 and .lane (Dow) Dewey. His father was a native 
 of Springlkld, M.ass., horn Marcii 30. 1774, and his 
 mother was born in Coventry, Conn., on the 28th 
 of December, 1773. In early life they emigrated 
 to Kew Hampshire, where they were married and 
 made their home for many long years, the father 
 dying in Lebanon, that State. .Inly 14, 1850. After 
 his death. -Mrs. Dewey removed to Sharon, Vt., 
 where she was called home July 4, 18C3. Of their 
 four children none are living. 
 
 The Colonel was the last of the family to pass 
 away. As he was numbered among the Icmding 
 citizens of I'olU County, it is with pleasure that we 
 record this sketch, knowing that it will be received 
 with interest by his many friends. His early edu- 
 cation was acquired in the district schools and sup- 
 plemented by two terms at Moore's Academy, which 
 institution was located in his native town. It was 
 originally intended for the education of the In- 
 dians, but subsequently- was used for the schooling 
 of their superior white brethren. In 1839, lie went 
 to Anne Arundel County, Md., where he followed 
 teaching for a term and then made his way north- 
 ward to Newbury, Orange County, Xt. 
 
 Ill that county on Christniius D.ay of 1S45, the 
 Colonel was united in marriage with Miss Helta 
 Johnson, who was born June 12, 1820, in Orange 
 County, and wsis a daughter of Haines and Phix'be 
 (Hazcltine) Johnson, both of whom were natives 
 of Newljury. \'l. Her father owned a splendid 
 farm on what is known as the Ox Bow of the Con- 
 
 necticut River and ranked among the suljstantial 
 citizens of that community. Both he and liis wife 
 were memliers of the Congregational Church and 
 were alive to all its interests. Their family num- 
 bered sixteen children. 
 
 In 184y, Col. Dewey turned his attention to 
 civil engineering and for ten years was employed 
 bj" railroad companies in New England and New 
 York, until in April, 1855, when he came to Ft. 
 Des Moines, then but a village, and engaged in en- 
 gineering, survej'ing and dealing in real estate. 
 He followed the hatter pursuit until his death and 
 was remarkably successful. Being an able business 
 man he was often called upon to transact business 
 for his friends, the city and the State. A long list 
 of offices of honor and trust was accorded him, 
 among which ma}- be mentioned that of Citj- En- 
 gineer, City Treasurer, Alderman of his AVard, 
 Aldermanat large and President of the City Coun- 
 cil. In 1861, the Legislature, convened in a called 
 session, commissioned him .Auditor of Militar}- 
 Claims against the State on account of expenses 
 incurred in arming, c<iuipping, moving, clothing 
 and subsisting troo()S raised for service in the Army 
 of the United Slates, as well as for State defense. 
 Arduous were his duties, but with such ability, dis- 
 patcii and fidelity were they performed that llie 
 .State was saved many thousands of dollars." In 
 1862, President Lincoln appointed Col. Dewey as 
 Assessor of Internal Revenue for the Third Con- 
 gressional District of Iowa, he being the first to fill 
 that position. He also received the appointment 
 from Secretary .Stanton as Commissary of Subsist- 
 ence, but was afterwards ol)liged to resign, .as the 
 discharge of his duties as auditor of military ac- 
 counts kept him in the active einplo}' of the State 
 until after the close of the war. In 1868. the Iowa 
 Legislature made him Slate Agent at Washington, 
 conferring full power upon him to settle and adjust 
 all its claims against the United States for mone3'S 
 expended in aiding to suppress the rebellion at the 
 South, as well as in defense of the State from In- 
 dian and guerrilla raids made upon the northern 
 and southern borders. In 1870, he was ai)])oiiited 
 a member of the Board of Capitol Commissioners 
 for the location and coirstruction of the capitol at 
 Des Moines, in which he took a very active inter- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 341 
 
 est. In 1876, he was made President of the Dos 
 Moines Gas Company, and two years later was 
 elected Alderman at-larjio to servo in the City 
 Council, of which he became President. In If^SO, 
 he was elected President of tiie Dcs Moines Water 
 Works Company, the largest corporation of the 
 kind west of Chicago. 
 
 Col. Dewey was one of nature's noblemen. From 
 all the trials and temptations of long public service 
 he came forth with a character irreproachable. He 
 was a strong- believer in the principles of the lie- 
 publican party, and stood high in its councils. He 
 was charitable to the poor and gave liberally to 
 churches and other worthy enterprises. lUit it was 
 in his home that his true life shone out. He passed 
 away September 9, 1889, leaving a family to which 
 he was supremely devoted, consisting of wile and 
 four daughters: Jennie D., the eldest, is now the 
 wife of R. A. Griffith, of Des Moines; Belle D. is 
 the wife of John L. Carey; Bertha and Abbie are 
 at home. Mrs. Dewey and two of her daughters 
 are meniliers of the Episcopal Church and the family 
 stands high in the social world. As a business 
 man, Col. Dewey was a marked success, having 
 through his own efforts aceiimulaled a large for- 
 tune which places his family above all want. 
 
 If.SAAC B. DE FORREST, real-estate dealer of 
 Des Moines, was born in Livonia, Tiivingslon 
 County, N. Y., March 21. 1834. His paternal 
 grandfather, also Isaac by name, emigrated from 
 France in a earl}' day and settled in the Mohawk 
 \'allcy in New York, where he was married. After- 
 ward tliey removed to Michigan, being amoiig the 
 first settlers of Ann Arbor, where the husband fs 
 still living at the advanced age of almost one; hun- 
 dred years. In early life he learned the trade; of 
 a carijcnter and builder, vvliich he followed many 
 years, and his sons, three in number, also learned 
 the same occupation. David, the eldest, who died 
 a number of years ago. was an extensive lumber 
 dealer of .\nn Arbor; Andrew, the wealthy banker 
 of Ann Arbor, Ijegan his business career by pur- 
 chasing for -*i5 a pile of slabs which he used in 
 
 erecting a house upon a lot wliich he subsequently 
 bought. After completing it he traded the entire 
 proiierty for sugar, besides investing whatever 
 money and credit he had in the same product. 
 .Sugar rose to more than double the price paid, and 
 his s()eculation proved a profitable one. This is 
 only one of the many far-sighted deals that liave 
 made him one of the richest citizens of Ann Arbor. 
 The other son, Benjamin, father of our subject, 
 was a contractor and builder and m.ade a success of 
 life in that line. He was a fine specimen of manhood, 
 measuring si.x; feet four in height andweighing two 
 hundred and twenty pounds. He accompanied his 
 parents to Michigan, but returned to Livingston 
 County, where he married Miss Lydia Fox, a na- 
 tive of that county. Her father, Daniel Fox, was 
 of English extr.action and served as a cook in the 
 Colonial army during the Revolutionary War. 
 Some years after their marriage Mr. De Forrest 
 and his wife removed to Ann Arbor, but in 1840 
 returned to New York, where he shortly afterward 
 met with a fatal accident. While working on tlii' 
 court-house at Geni;seo the third round fiom tlie top 
 of a forty-eight-foot ladder broke, letting him fall 
 on the pavement below, his death resulting immedi- 
 iitely. His wife still lives in Rochester, N. Y. Of 
 their four children, two sons and two daughters, 
 only only one is now living, our subject. 
 
 Isaac B. De Forrest was born on the same farm 
 where his mother opened her eyes to the light of 
 day, on the bank of the clear, winding Mohawk. 
 After the death of his father he was bound out to 
 farmer in the neighborhood, but l)econiing dissatis- 
 fied he left at the end of three months, unknown to 
 his employer or his niDther, and proceeded along 
 the toll roacl toward town. The farmer followed 
 in hot iiurs\iil, lint young Isaac's eyesight being 
 tiic belter of llie two, he perceived the old gentle- 
 man in the distance, jumped a fence and hid. At 
 the toll-gate the farmer described the boy to the 
 keeper who replied that he thought such a lad had 
 gone l\y. Mr. De Forrest, however, passed on 
 through the gate, after his pursuer, and dined wiili 
 a hospitable old farmer who assured him protection 
 and gave him advice. The next day hestarted for 
 the Alleghany River, where he spent the winter in 
 making shingles, receiviuy one-half of those he 
 
342 
 
 POKTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 iiiaiuifactureil. After lie had made sixty-lliousaiid 
 a raftsman proposed to lake liis Lalf of tliem to 
 Cincinnati and to give liim ^40 and a ticket to 
 Buffalo if lie would assist in propelling the raft. 
 On his arrival in IJulTalo he found that he had,i5!200 
 in cash, and with that capital in his [joeket went 
 to Rochester and rented and furnished a house for 
 his mother and sister, unknown to them, whom he 
 cared for until he had a family of his own depend- 
 ent upon him for support. When about fourteen 
 3'ears of age he secured a position .as licll hoy on 
 the New York Central Railroad, but when that road 
 consolidated with the Buffalo, Rochester & Niagara 
 Falls Railwa}' he quit the position and gave his at- 
 tention to paper-hanging, which he followed suc- 
 cessfully for a year, being an expert in that line. 
 During that time he was called to do work for the 
 master mechanic of the Buffalo, Rochester & Niag- 
 ara Falls Railroad, Daviil Upton, who induced him 
 to go into the company's shop and gave him the 
 best possible chances, sending him out with a switch 
 engine, giving him the management of the baggage 
 car, making him conductor of the yiay car and 
 using him, in fact, wherever a capable, trusty man 
 was needed. For some eight years he was with that 
 company, but spent a part of each year at paper- 
 hanging. He then went to work for the Kasson 
 Locomotive Exi)ress Company, transporting and 
 setting up engines, trip-baramers, etc. He shipped 
 the first four-wheeled pony engine to Chicago, took 
 the U. S. Grant engine to Louisville, Ky.. trans- 
 ported some forty engines to St. Joseph, Mo., for 
 the Union Pacific Road, and during the war deliv- 
 ered to the Louisville ife Frankfort and the Xash- 
 vill & Chattanooga Railroads. Altogether he served 
 in that capacity eight years. 
 
 At Buffalo, N. Y., April 7, 1800, Mr. De Forrest 
 was united in marriage with Miss Louisa F. Brad- 
 bury, who was born in Corinth, Orange Count}', 
 Vt., and is a daughter of David and Louisa (Rich- 
 ardson) Brg.dbury, the former a native of Canaan, 
 N. IL, and the latter of Corinth, Vt. All of their 
 ten children lived to mature years and were mar- 
 ried. Avaline died in Corinth, Vt., at the age of 
 thirty-four years; Alvali died in Orange, VI., in 1885; 
 I<'iauklin lives in Mancdicstcr, N. II. ; Henry resides 
 in Adair County, Iowa; Converse died in East 
 
 Orange, \'t., in 18G7; Louisa Francelia, wife of our 
 subject, is the next younger ; Marietta makes her 
 home in .Stannard, \'t. : Osman is a resident of 
 ^Michigan; Romano is located in East Orange, \'t., 
 and Loiva is a resident of Westfield. Mass. 
 
 .Soon after his marriage Mr. Dc Forrest located 
 in Buffalo, N. Y., where he .again engaged in paper- 
 hanging for some time, but in March, IH70, in 
 order that he might be far from the railroad busi- 
 ness, where his services were constantly solicited, 
 he came to Des Moines and for fifteen years had 
 I almost sole control of the paper busines of this 
 ! city and acquired a handsome property. Since 
 1885 he has been dealing in real estate, stock and 
 merchandise, and is also doing a good business in 
 that line. Although his success has been nothing 
 remarkable, bis prosperity has been of steady 
 
 growth and he has accumulated a comfortable com- 
 I 
 i petenc}' as the result of his own untiring industry. 
 
 I In |)oliti('S Mr. De Forrest is independent. 
 
 ,^|JRC1IIBALI) K. STEWART, junior member 
 of the law firm of Chamberlin & Stewart 
 which was formed in May, 1883 and covers 
 almost the entire period of his legal |)ractico, h.as 
 the honor of being a native of the Hawkeye State. 
 He was born in Louisa County, April 20, 1850, 
 and is a son of Archibald K. Stewart Sr., now a 
 I resident of Keota, Keokuk County. Mr. Stewart's 
 ancestors emigrated to the American Colonies in an 
 day and settled near Carlisle, Pa., and two of his 
 great-great-grandfathers fought for the inde))en- 
 dence of their country in the Revolutionary War. 
 The father was born in P)eaver County, Pa., !March 
 23, 1820, l)ut in 1835 accompanied his parents to 
 Dearborn County, Ind., where he -vedded, October 
 16, 1841, Miss Mary A., daughter of Philip and 
 Nancy Lawrence, a native of that county and a 
 re))resentative of one of the pioneer families in 
 whose honor the cit}- of Li.wrenceburg was named. 
 They lived in that county until 1850 when the}' 
 sought a home in the West and choosing Louisa 
 County as their destination, became nnndiered 
 among its honored pioneers After a successful 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 343 
 
 life as a farmer and stock-raiser Mr, Stewart is now 
 living a retired life in Keota. His first wife, the 
 motlier of our subject died when Arcliiliald K., Jr. 
 was a lad of fiv^ycars. Tlicy were tiie parents of 
 eight children, four sons and four daugliters, and 
 with the exception of one son, who died in infancy, 
 all are yet living. I^aviiia, the eldest is still at 
 home; Joseph Warren is engaged in business in 
 Keota; Eliza J., is the wife of Alpheus E. Erdice 
 a merchant of Keota and the present Mayor of that 
 town; Arthur E. is a partner of his brother Warren; 
 Mary A. is the wife of M. H. nuckaha,of St. Louis 
 Mo; A. K. is the next j'ounger anfl Louie B. 
 completes the family. Since the death of his first 
 wife, Mr. Stewart again married and by that union 
 has three children — Grace, Lee and Daisy. 
 
 The earl^' childhood days of our subject were 
 spent upon a farm in Louisa County, but in the 
 fall of 186G he moved with his father to a farm in 
 Washington County, and in 187G to the family 
 home in Keota. He received his early education 
 in the district schools of the neighborhood and in 
 the years 1874-75-76 attended the Washington 
 Academy and afterwards graduated _ at the Keota 
 High School. The legal profession being his choice 
 as a pursuit which he believed he could follow con- 
 tentedly through life, he began making preparations 
 for practice and was graduated from the Iowa State 
 University in tiie class of 187!), the largest class 
 that has ever graduated in the lower department of 
 that school, numbering one hundred students. Mr. 
 Stewart being under twenty-one years of ago at the 
 time of his graduation could not therefore be 
 admitted to the State Courts, but was ai once ad- 
 mitted to tiie United Stales Courts and in June 
 1880 was admitted to the .Su|jrcme C(jurt and all 
 other courts of Iowa. On completing his law course, 
 not bi'ing old enough to practice in the State Courts 
 he engaged with his brothers in merchandising in 
 Keota, where he passed a somewhat brief but suc- 
 cessful business career. However having fitted 
 himself for the work in which he is now engaged 
 he determined to pursue his profession and in 1883, 
 as above stated, established himself in the practice 
 of law in Dcs Moines. 
 
 Mr. Stewart was marriedJune 18, 1885, to JNHss 
 Mary E. Van Winkle, of Keota, a native of St. 
 
 Clair County HI., and the youngest daughter of 
 James and Martha \'an Winkle. Their union has 
 been blessed vvitl\ one son, Lawrence O., born on the 
 14tli of November, 1887. ,Mr. .Stewart m.nkes his 
 business a stud^^ and is rapidly gaining rank among 
 tiie older pr.actitioners at tho bar of Polk County. 
 He is one of the organizers and directors of the 
 Grand Avenue Savings l>ank, and as an enterpris- 
 ing and valued citizen stands high in the esteem of 
 his associates both socially and professionally. lie 
 is well deserving of representation in the history of 
 his adopted county and it is with pleasure that wo 
 record this sketch. 
 
 OHN R. ROLLINS, for many years one of 
 the reiiresentative business raon of Dcs 
 Moines, and an honored pioneer settler, dat- 
 ing his residence in this city from April, 
 1857, was born in Carroll County', formerly Staf- 
 ford County, N. IL, in 1824, and is a son of Elisha 
 Rollins, who was born in Maine, only a short dis- 
 tance from the New Hampshire line and removed 
 to the Granite State in an early day. The family- 
 is of Scotch Irish origin and the ancestry can be 
 traced back to 1395. The progenitor of the family 
 in America, James Rollins, came to this country in 
 1G32, settling in Ipwich, Mass., whence he removed 
 to Dover, in tlie same State. 
 
 Elisha Rollins, on attaining to mature years, 
 wedded Prudence Lord and they con'.inued to re- 
 side in New Hampshire until called from tliis life. 
 They were |)arents of two children who grew to 
 mature years — John R. and Mrs. Olive Brown, who 
 resides on the old homestead. Their first-born, a 
 son, died ere the birth of our subject. 
 
 John R. Rollins grew to manhood in his native 
 Slate, acquiring a good English education in Wake- 
 field Academy. At the age of eighteen years he 
 began teaching and followed tli.at occupation for 
 some time. It was with the hope of bettering his 
 financiirt condition that in 1857, he bade good-by-e 
 to his native State and emigrated to Iowa. As be- 
 fore stated he took up his residence in Des Moines, 
 where he eniliarked in teaching and in 1857 and 
 
 ^. 
 
344 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 1858 was Superinteiulentof tliecit.y schools. In 1H;J8 
 be engaged in the wliolesale and retail grocery trade 
 under the firm name of A. W. Rollins & Co.; sev- 
 eral years later he became sole owner of the '.icsi- 
 ness and four years later, or in the fall of 186.0, 
 sold out to D. D. & W. W. Skinner. 
 
 That same autumn, Mr. Rollins was united in 
 marriage with Sarah E., daughter of Richard Rol- 
 lins of this city and soon afterward returned with 
 his bride to New Hampshire, but after remaining in 
 the old Granite State for two j'ears. again came to 
 l)es Jloines and purchased from Messrs. Skinner, 
 the business which he had formerly sold them. For 
 some time afterward iie carried on operations as a 
 memlicr of the firm of Rollins & McClelland, his 
 partner being one of the early settlers of Des 
 Moines. The^' did a good business and prosperity 
 seemed attendant upon their efforts but in 1872, 
 misfortune overtook them, their store with its en- 
 tire contents, which was wholly uninsured, being 
 destroyed by fire. The loss on the stock was not 
 less then >S 1.0, 000. With characteristic energy, 
 however, the firm resumed business on Court Ave- 
 nue and soon afterward Mr, Rollins purchased his 
 partner's interest, continuing operations alone until 
 the autumn of 1878, when he closed out his grocery 
 stock and retired from the business. Either vvhen 
 alone or as a member of the fiiin he did not devote 
 his entire attention to the grocery trade but in- 
 cluded other branches of business industry. lu)r 
 several j'cars the firm was numbered among the 
 princi()al pork packers of the city and their busi- 
 ness .as a whole was one of the largest in Des 
 Moines. After retiring from mercantile pursuits 
 our subject was engaged with the State Insurance 
 Company as adjuster and special agent for a time, 
 but since 1884, has practically lived a retired life. 
 For many years he was one of the successful l)usi- 
 ness men of the city and aside from the enterprise 
 above Micntioned was connected witli other impor- 
 tant interests, lie was one of the organi/.ers of the 
 Citizens' Hank of Ues Moines and has been a Di- 
 rector of that institution continuousi)' since its 
 establishment. He was also one of the organizers 
 of the State Savings bank, of wiiich he is a director 
 and stock-holder, and in fact lias been ])romiiienll3' 
 identified with the banking interests of the city for 
 
 many years. He is also a Director of the Iowa Pipe 
 and Tile Company, and indeed is inseparably con- 
 nected with the business history of the capital 
 city. He has never sought ofHcial honors but for 
 eiglit years was a member of the City Council of 
 Des Moines, where he displa3'cd the same abilitv 
 and fidelity to every trust reposed in him as else- 
 where in his public and private career. Those who 
 are acquainted with Mr. Rollins esteem him highly 
 as an upright, honorable business man and pro- 
 gressive citizen, worthy of the respect and confi- 
 dence of all. 
 
 V>y the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Rollins two 
 children were born, a son and daughter. The former, 
 Dick, born February 4, 1872, is their onl^* surviv- 
 ing child. May, who was born October 14, 18G9, 
 died of typhoid fever on the 6th of November, 
 18SH. She was a most amiable and worthy young 
 lady anil her early death was a sad atlliction to her 
 parents and friends. 
 
 j^- t)N C. r.RAINARD, one of the leading 
 ■ jY j'oung attorneys of Des Moines, who, since 
 ^^ ISIarch, 1883, has engaged in practice in 
 this cit}', was born in Exeter Center, 
 Otsego County, N. Y., in 1860 and there the 
 early days of his boyhood were passed. When 
 he was a lad of nine years, his father, M. S. llrain- 
 ard, removed with his family from Exeter Center 
 to Richfield Springs in the sanie county, where our 
 subject aLtended school for about two 3'ears, after 
 which he pursued a three years' course of studj- in 
 Whilelovvn Seminary near I'tica, N. Y., to which 
 place the family removed in 1878. Leaving home 
 two years later, in the s[)ringof 1880, Don IJraiuard 
 removed to Danville. Tnd., where he attended a 
 normal college for about six months, going from 
 thence to rullman. 111., where he embarked ujjon a 
 business career as an employe in the cabinet de- 
 partment of the ear shops of that place. While 
 thus engaged he also began the study of law, having 
 decided to qualify himself for the legal profession. 
 On leaving I'ullman. he engaged in teaching at 
 Gray's Lake, near Waukegan. 111., but after one 
 
?*i..: 
 
 ■'^ 
 
 
 
PORTRAIT AND BlOGllAl'HICAL ALBUM. 
 
 347 
 
 term thus spent, he came to Iowa, locating in 
 Lawler, Chickasaw County. After a few nionliis. 
 liowevcr, he entererl the law ollice of Ainsworth 
 <t Ilchson at West Union, where lie leniaine I a year, 
 wiien in February, 1883, he was admitted to the 
 bar and immediately came to Des Moines. For a 
 year he acted as attorney for the Stale Insurance 
 Company, since which time he has been engaged in 
 general pr.actice, doing a good business for one of 
 his years. 
 
 Mr. Braiuard is the youngest of five brothers 
 and the only one of the number living in the West. 
 His fatlier is now deceased but the other members 
 of the family are still residents of the Umpire 
 State. The oldest of the brothers isLavcgaM.; 
 Bradner N. is engaged in manufacturing in New 
 York; Lucian L. is a physician of Little Falls, 
 N. Y.; and Edward D. resides on the old home- 
 stead farm nearUtica. There were also two sisters 
 in tiic family, but one is now deceased. 
 
 Mr. Brainard, wliose name lieads this notice, is a 
 gentleman of excellent attainments, a good lawyer, 
 and a progressive, enterprising citizen whom we 
 are pleased to mention in this volume. 
 
 M. 
 
 *-^^ 
 
 '/i\- 
 
 OX. CHESTER CICERO COLE. Promi- 
 nentamong the names of distinguished mem- 
 bers of tlie Iowa b.ir must lie i)laced that of 
 D' tiie gentleman of whom the following bio- 
 graphical sketch is here presented. .Tudge Cole, 
 late Chief .Justice of the Supreme Court of Iowa, 
 was born in Oxford, Clienango County, N. Y., on 
 the 4th .June. 1821, and is a son of Samuel and 
 Alee (Pullman) Cole. His father was a farmer 
 by occupation, and was descended frotn one of the 
 earliest Now England families. The American 
 founder was .lolin Cole, who was born ni England 
 in 1C70. and soon after the beginning of the eight- 
 eenth century came, with his family, to America, 
 settling in Rehoboth,now .Secunk, U. I. From him 
 the genealogy is traced as follows: His son, John 
 Cole, Jr., who was born in England in ITO.'i, ;ic- 
 compaiiied his parents to America in childhood. 
 He was twice married, his second wife being Mary 
 
 Bowen, bj' whom he had six children. One of 
 the number, Thomas Cole, was born in ^■ulu^- 
 town, now Sterling, Conn., on the 'ioth of August, 
 1735. He was married to Miriam Kinne, who 
 was born in Sterling, Conn., in 1737. They lived 
 together nearly seventy years, the husband dying 
 October 25, 1827, in Oxford, Chenango County. 
 N. Y., and his wife departing this life two months 
 later. They had ten children, nine of whom mar- 
 ried, and had families. 
 
 At the time of his death, Tlioni'is Cole left one 
 hundred and fifty living descendants — five chil- 
 dr(?n, fifty-eight grandchildren, eight3--two great- 
 grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren. 
 The following, regarding Thomas Cole, appeared 
 in the Chenango HepuhliiMii, November 27, 1827: 
 "His days were industriously spent in the pursuits 
 of agriculture. He was exemplary in his morals 
 and just in his dealings. The wear of time had so 
 enfeebled his nerves that he w.as confined to his 
 bed nine days before his death, and we may with 
 propriety quote the words of the [joet .as applicable 
 to him — 
 
 'Of no distemper, of no blast he died, 
 lUit fell like autumn fruit that mellowed long; 
 E'en wondered at because he falls no sooner. 
 Fate seemed to wind him u|) to four-score years. 
 Yet freshly ran he on twelve winters more. 
 Till, like a clock worn out with beating time, 
 The wheels of weary life stood still.' " 
 
 .Samuel Cole, seventh son of Thomas and Miriam 
 Cole, was born in Sterling, Conn., July 23, 1775. 
 His wife was Alee Pullman, a native of West 
 Greenwich, Conn., born .huu! 22, 1783. They were 
 married December 20, 1 7118, and were the parents 
 of eleven children, ten of whom lived to rear 
 families. The father died in Oxford, N. Y., No- 
 vember 8, 1832, and his wife died in Empire, III., 
 January 21, 1858. Chester C. Cole, the subject of 
 this sketch, w.as their youngest child. He wis pre- 
 pared for college at Oxford Acaderaj', and when 
 eighteen years of age was to have entered the 
 junior class of Union College, but protracted ill- 
 hcallli prevented, and at the age of twenty-two he 
 entered the law school of Harvard University, then 
 l)residi'd ovci' by the ablest legal instructors in the 
 country. After a two-years' course, he was gradu- 
 ated in the class of '48. Immediately after com- 
 
348 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 pleting his course in the law school. Judge Ci-le 
 went to Frankfort, K3'., where for a short time he 
 was in charge of the legislative ilepartment of the 
 Frankfort Commomvcallh, a daily paper of that 
 city. He then located in ilarion, Crittenden 
 County, Ivy., whore he was admitted to the bai 
 and established himself in practice. The succeed- 
 ing nine years were spent by him in active profes- 
 sional work in Marion, and with marked success. 
 From that start he had won a leading place among 
 his brethren of the legal profession, and was re- 
 tained, on one side or the other, on every import- 
 ant case that came into court. He distinguished 
 himself especially as a criminal lawyer, and made 
 an enviable record. During those nine j-ears of 
 practice it is said of him that he was retaii.ed in 
 nearly ever^' important criminal case tried in that 
 court, and that he cleared every client he defended, 
 and convicted the only two that he prosecuted. 
 His reputation as a successful lawyer led to his 
 being emploj'ed on important cases in the neigh- 
 boring States. His career was all the more credital)le 
 U> him for the reason that he,as a young practitioner, 
 had to r^ontend with some of the best legal talent 
 of a State noted for its able lawyers. Among his 
 competitors were L. W. Powell, Archibald Dixon, 
 Samuel A. Kingman, Robert A. Patterson, George 
 W. Barber and H. C. Burnett, all of whom have 
 since lield high positions in the State and Federal 
 Congresses. 
 
 In Majs 1857, Judge Cole came to Des Moines, 
 where he has since resided, being one of the oldest 
 surviving lawyers of this citj'. On locating here, 
 lie was at once accredited the leading position in 
 the Iowa bar, to which his rare ability and high 
 re[)ulation justly entitle him. When the late war 
 broke out, he was among the first to take a decided 
 stand in support of the Government and in de- 
 fense of the Union, and to aid by his eloquence in 
 the enlistment of men and in the development of 
 patriotic sentiment in the hearts of the people. His 
 political career began in 185SI, when he was de- 
 feated as the Democratic candidate for Judge of 
 the Supreme Court. In 18G0 he was the candidate 
 of the same i)art3- for Congress, but the district 
 being strongly* Republican, he was again defeated 
 after a brilliant canvass on his part, by his oppo- 
 
 nent. Gen. Curtis. Judge Cole continued to act 
 with the Democracy until after the convention in 
 1861, since which time he has been a stanch sup- 
 porter of Republican principles. In P'ebruary, 
 1861, he was appointed one of the judges of the 
 Supreme Court of Iowa, and the following fall 
 was elected 10 the same office by the unprecedented 
 majority of fort^- thousand votes, and was re- 
 elected, in 1870, by an equally flattering vote. In 
 1865 he became associated with Judge George G. 
 AVright, formerly Chief Justice of the .Supreme 
 Court of Iowa, in the organization of a law school 
 of Des Moines, which subsequently became the law 
 department of the State Universitj". Man3' of the 
 leading members of the present Iowa bar received 
 instructions from the subject of this sketch. In 
 1869 Judge Cole became Chief Justice of Iowa, 
 and was re-elected for the succeeding term, but 
 resigned the otlice on the 19th of Januaiy. 1876, 
 and resumed the practice of his i)rofession. In 
 speaking of the career of Judge Cole on the bench 
 and his qualifications as a jurist, we quote an ex- 
 tract from a biographical sketch of him which was 
 published in "Andreas' Historical Atlas of Iowa," 
 of 1874 : '"Associated during his judicial experience 
 with the ablest minds which the State has produced, 
 with Wright, Dillon and Lowe, with Beck, Miller 
 and Day, called to the consideration of legal ques- 
 tions, a large part of which were without prece- 
 dent in the reports of the State, particularly- those 
 relating to the taxing power and to the relation of 
 corpoiations to the whole body corporate. Judge 
 Cole has been the peer of the ablest of his judicial 
 associates. With respect to the subjects to which 
 we have adverted, and which, during this period, 
 have been matters of absorbing interest, the de- 
 cisions of the court have been plainl}- and Indel- 
 ibly stamped with the stamp of his conviction. The 
 positions which he assunieil in the early history' of 
 this time, particularly with reference to corporate 
 rights, have come to be the settled faith of the pub- 
 lic mind. His judicial work has been distinguished 
 for a display of the highest qualities which are de- 
 manded by the bench. Of remarkable quickness 
 and correctness of apprehension, he ahv.iys deals 
 directly with the point at issue; of great discrimi- 
 nation in the selection of anaIoa:ies. he illustrates 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 349 
 
 l>is opinions wiLli few, but apt, citations of nutlior- 
 ities; fortunate in his early legal training, and 
 still more fortunate in tiie possession of an untir- 
 ing intUistry, wliicli lias never given him resi)ite 
 from stuil3', he has infused into his decisions, and 
 tiius into the local monuments of the State, the 
 spirit with which he has been imbued from a life- 
 long inter(!0urse with the highest sources of the 
 law. To these (pialities he has brought a single- 
 ness of intellectual purpose which has always kept 
 him from discursive argument and reasoning, and 
 a courage of conviction by which he has announced 
 the law boldly and fearlessly, regardless of per- 
 sonal consequences or present approval. As a 
 judicial writer, he has eloquence, cleai-ness and 
 force. Some of his opinions, while alw,ays reaching 
 to every point in issue, have the characteristics of 
 scholarly cssajs upon legal topics. At the same 
 time, while his elegance of diction and readiness 
 of expression might expose him to the danger of 
 intellectual display, his opinions always bear the 
 evident purpose of casting upon the mind of the 
 reader the same light which is shining in his own. 
 This paramount and single object is always in 
 view, to illustrate clearly and logically his own 
 earnest and honest convictions. To one other char- 
 acteristic his reputation stands not a little indebted. 
 While always a lawyer and jurist, his inspiration has 
 not been drawn alone from the studj' of authorities, 
 m- guided by the formulas of the books. Of large 
 sympathies and a thorough practical knowledge, 
 he has never lost sight of the human and ethical 
 side of the law in his devotion to the niaxioms of 
 the past. With him a decision must always be 
 grounded in the law, but that could not be law 
 which did violence to equitj' or resulted in incon- 
 venience or wrong to great masses of the commu- 
 nity." 
 
 For many years .Judge Cole was editor of the 
 Wi'slf'rn Juris/, a |)eriodical |niblislied in Des 
 Moines, and conducted with marked ability. He 
 was also editor of the edition of the Iowa Law Re- 
 ports, in 1)S7'.), which he had liberally annotated, 
 and which exhibits his gieat legal acunien and ex- 
 haustive research. 
 
 On the 24th of .June, 1848, .Tudge Cole was 
 iiiiitrd in marriage with Miss Amanda M. Itennett, 
 
 an associate of his youth. She is a daughter of 
 Egbeit Bennett, and was born in Cortland County, 
 N. Y. Her family is one of the oldest in that 
 State. Her mother, whose maiden was Bogardus, 
 belonged to the famil3' so largely interested in an 
 extensive property now in chancerj'. .Judge and 
 Mrs. Cole are the parents of five children, two sons 
 and three daughteis — Will W.. the eldest, married 
 Miss Frances Cha|)in and is engaged in the hnnber 
 business on the Columbia River, in Oregon; Alice 
 Gertrude is the wife of A. C. Atherton, of Lewis- 
 ton, Fulton County, 111., who is the general super- 
 intendent of an Illinois railroad; Mary Eugenie is 
 the wife of U. C. McMartin, a lawyer of this city; 
 Frank 15., who married Ella .Jenkins and makes his 
 home in Des Moines, is employed as an engineer 
 by the Chicago, St. Paul & Kansas City Railroad 
 Company; Carrie Stone, the youngest, is the wife 
 of J. R. Hurlbul, of the firm of Hurlbut, Iless & 
 Co., wholesale druggists, of Des Moines. 
 
 While .Judge Cole has spent forty-two years in 
 the active practice of his profession and in service 
 on the bench of the Su[)i'eme Court, he is still in 
 the legal harness and working as industriously as 
 in his earlier days before he had won the reputa- 
 tion of being one of the ablest and brightest law- 
 3'ers in the Stale. 
 
 /AMES CAMPBELL, M. D., a pioneer phy- 
 sician of Polk County, dating his residence 
 from 1810, is now one of the leading prac- 
 titioners of Des Moines. He was born near 
 Gallipolis, in (iallia County, Ohio, July 11, 1815, 
 and is a son of .(ohn and Mary (Knight) Campbell, 
 tlie former born in Virginia of Scottish ancestors, 
 while his mother was a native of North Carolina. 
 
 The early life of our subject passed uneventfully. 
 His boyhood days were spent in his natire State, 
 and his education acquired in the common schools. 
 He niaile a t: ip to Iowa Territory on horsebark in 
 1830, and settled first in Van Buren County, 
 whence he came to Ft. Des Moines in l,S|ti. 
 Shurtly after his arrival he engaged in inerchau- 
 
350 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 dising ill the old guard house, liut continued in 
 that business only a short time, when, liiving pre- 
 viously pursued the stud^' of medicine, lie estab- 
 lished himself in practice, being the second ph3'si- 
 cian in the place. Ilis predecessor was Dr. T. K. 
 Brooks. The capital city is much indebted to him 
 for the active part which he has taken in her up- 
 building and the promotion of her leading fnter- 
 ests. He laid out the part of I)es Moines known 
 as Campbell and McMullen's Addition and was 
 actively identified with the early history of Polk 
 Countj\ 
 
 On the 8th of July, 1841, in Van Buren County, 
 Dr. Campbell w.as joined in wedlock with Miss 
 Calista Hill, a daughter of John Hill, and a native 
 of Mansfield, Ohio. They have four sons and four 
 daughters, as follows: Milton, who is a practicing 
 physician of Chillicothe, Mo.; Emiline, wife of 
 Robert Hathaway, of .Santa Rosa, Cal. ; George, 
 who died in childhood; Mary J., who died at the 
 age of twenty years; John, a practicing phjsician 
 of Des Moines; Sarah, wife of John Bird of this 
 eity; and Albert, who married Abbie Peisley and 
 is a resident of Des ^loines. The mother of this 
 family was called to her final rest June 18, 1858, 
 and five years later, on the 22d of July, 1863, the 
 Doctor was again married, his second wife being 
 Miss Barbara Keltz, who w.as born in Zanesville, 
 Ohio. They have one child, a daughter. Ida, who 
 is now the wife of James Deakin, of Des Moines. 
 
 Dr. Campbell is a supporter of the Democratic 
 party and was the second County Treasurer and 
 Recorder of Polk (bounty, and bought the first 
 bound book used in those offices. When he was 
 elected the county had no established otliee and no 
 supplies. At that time in its histoiy. the Des 
 Moines River w.as navigable for good sized steam- 
 boats and the Doctor s.a>'s he witnessed the passage 
 of the first boat, the "'Dove," up the river in the fall 
 of 1840, and h.as since seen five such boats that 
 had come up from the Mississippi, lying near the 
 mouth of the Coon. That was in 1851 and the 
 place was then known as Racoon Forks. The Doctor 
 claims the honor of being the second oldest sur- 
 viving settlor of Ft. Des .Moines still residing in 
 the cit3', his professional [ircdecessor enjoying the 
 distinction of being th' first. Fifty-one years 
 
 have p.'xssed since Dr. Canipl)ell first settled in the 
 Territory of Iowa and the snows of forty-four 
 winters have fallen upon his he.ad since he became 
 a resident of Des Moines. He has been a witness 
 of the wonderful growth of the present magnifi- 
 cent capital cit}- of fifty thousand inhabitants, 
 which has taken the place of the little frontier 
 hamlet of Racoon Forks with its log cabins and 
 other rude evidences of an embryonic civilization. 
 That he bore a more or less conspicuous part in 
 many of the wild scenes of those early times is 
 well remembered by his few remaining comrades of 
 the days of long ago. 
 
 \l^ ENRY COX, M. D., w.as for many years a 
 prominent physician and surgeon of Des 
 Moines. He w.as a native of Ohio, born in 
 '^ Butler County, September 21, 1821, and a 
 son of a Methodist clergyman. When he was a 
 child of about five 3'ears his parents removed to 
 Indiana, where they died not long afterward, thus 
 leaving Henry an orphan at a tender .age. He re- 
 turned to his native State but after three years 
 again went to Indiana. His literary education was 
 acquired in the common schools but he was studious 
 and being a great reader, throughout life kei)t him- 
 self well-informed on the leading issues of the day 
 and was an intelligent conversationalist. When 
 but a youth he determined to educate himself for 
 the medical profession and bent all liis energies to 
 the attainment of that object. In 1849, soon after 
 the discovery of gold on the Pacific coast, with the 
 hope of rapidly acquiring a competence, he crossed 
 the plains to California, where he rem.'iined about 
 two years. On his return he resumed his prepara- 
 tions for the profession which he had chosen and 
 gr.aduated from the Ohio Medical College of Cin- 
 cinnati, in 185.'i. .Soon after he located in Danville, 
 Ind.. where he successfully practiced his profession 
 for many years. His health finally failing from 
 overwork, he resolved to seek a home elsewhere 
 and in f8GG. came to Des Moines, where he en- 
 gaged in the wholesale drug business as a ineniber 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALHUM. 
 
 351 
 
 of tlie linu of Russell & Cox. He was quile suc- 
 cessful for a time aiul displayed iiuicli ability in 
 the mauaiiement of his business, but adverse cir- 
 cumstances, over which lie had no control, resulted 
 in financial loss and in consequence he resumed his 
 professional labors in 1S73. A liberal patronage 
 rewarded his efforts and he was regarded as one of 
 the leading physicians of the cit}-. Ho died on the 
 1st of February, 1888, a respected and honored 
 citizen. 
 
 On the loth of October, I84G, Dr. Cox was uni- 
 ted in marriage in Highland County, Ohio, to Miss 
 Catherine H. Beatv, who survives her husband and 
 is still a resident of Des Moines. By their union 
 were born six children, one of whom, Frank E., 
 died in early life. Mary I., the eldest, is the wife 
 of Dr. J. W. Adams of this city; Eliza is the wife 
 of AV. F. Mitchell, of Des Moines; James E., the 
 eldest son, was born in Indiana in 1835, but has 
 made his home in Des Moines since 1866, when he 
 accompanied his parents to this city. He married 
 Miss Louise Hunter, a native of Illinois, lie is 
 one of the drug merchants of Des Moines, being 
 the principal partner in the firm of J. E. Cox & Co. 
 
 The death of Dr. Cox proved a loss to profes- 
 sional and social circles as well as to his immediate 
 family. He was a well-educated man and possessed 
 much more tiian average ability. He was related 
 to the well-known statesman, S. S. Cox, and the 
 famil^^ has produced a number of men of note. 
 Active, energetic and upright in ail his business 
 transactions, he won tlie confidence and esteem of 
 all with whom he came in contact and left at death 
 a character well worthy of emulation. 
 
 -^¥r 
 
 (| IfelLLIS B. PORTER, of the real-estate firm 
 \^n ^^ Case & Porter, is a native of Iowa. He 
 W^ was born in Lee County, June 2:]. 1859, 
 and is a son of John Porter, a native of Ohio, who 
 in early manhood emigrated to Iowa, and located 
 in Lee County. For a companion in life lie chose 
 Miss Rachel S. Brand, who was born in what is now 
 AVcst \'iri;inia. and came to Iowa iu 1840. during 
 its territorial dtiys. Having fiijlowcd thi! occupa- 
 
 tion of farming until 1861, John Pcjrter then re- 
 moved to Des Moines, and in A|)ril of the following 
 year responded to iiis country's call for troops b}' 
 enlisting as a private in the Twenty-third Iowa 
 Infantry. He served two years and eight months 
 and participated in a number of hotly contested 
 engagements. At the battle of Jlilliken's Bend he 
 lost his right thumb. .Soon after his return from 
 the war he went to work in the press room of the 
 Jiegister office and within a short time arose to be 
 foreman, a position he has held continuously since. 
 Politically he is a stanch supporter of Republican 
 principles and both he and his wife are members of 
 the Methodist Church. The family consisted of 
 seven children, of whom five, four sons and a 
 daughter are yet living. It is remarkable that so 
 many of the family should have been so long con- 
 nected'with the licy inter. Willis B. has been iden- 
 tified with that pa|)er twenty-three years; Addison 
 S. for twenty ^-ears. the last decade being press- 
 man; and John L. for nineteen 3-ears, being now 
 at the he.ad of the mailing department. 
 
 When our subject was eight j-ears of age he 
 began selling papers for the Register and his faith- 
 fulness and trusted service soon won him promo- 
 tion. After a time he began working in the mailing 
 department and finall}' entered the press room, 
 where he has been employed continuously since, 
 though in the past few years he has devoted him- 
 self more especially to dealing in real estate. He 
 has, since his seventeenth year been handling Des 
 Moines property in a small w.ay and in May, 1887, 
 formed a partnership with Farren Case. The firm 
 is now doing a good business and is recognized as 
 one of the leading real-estate corporations in the 
 city. Mr. Porter aided in platting Williamson 
 Place and Case's addition to Des Moines and in 
 many other ways has been instrumental in [nomo- 
 ting the interests of the city. 
 
 On the 6th of September, 1877, Mr. Porter led 
 to the marriage altar Miss Clara Rich, a native of 
 Des Moines and a daughter of Harry H. Rich. They 
 have now become parents of four children, as fol- 
 lows: Willis B., Jessie G., Ross M. and Richard 
 Clarkson, all of whom were born in this cil^- and 
 are still at home, hi [loliticnl sentiment Mr. Porter 
 is a Ki'[)ulilican. Iku iiig suppurted llial [larty since 
 
3.12 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 !itt;iining liis iiiMJority. lie takes great interest in 
 its success and welfare and lias served as delegate 
 to the county conventions, where lie has been an 
 important member. He keeps himself well in- 
 formed on all the leading issues of the day. whether 
 political or otherwise and from his boyhood up has 
 been regarded as a worthy citizen. Certainl3' he 
 deserves great credit for his perseverance and well- 
 diiTCted efforts. Tliough he began life as a news- 
 boy, his ambition would not allow liira to be 
 content with that humble position and working his 
 way upward he is now recognized as a leading- 
 business man. and is the owner of valuable city 
 property. 
 
 H»-M+-<3^: 
 
 '.+0+"< 
 
 OLLIN E. HARRLS, President and manager 
 \( of the Mahaska Coal Company, and mana- 
 ger and secretary of the Marion Coal Com- 
 i^, pany, is a native of Beloit, Wis., of English 
 descent. He was born on the 8lh of December, 
 1850, and is a son of Daniel and Jerusha (Hodges) 
 Harris. Ills parents, both of whom were natives 
 of New York, emigrated from that Slate to the 
 West in 1835, settling in Chicago, III., where at 
 that time choice lots could be had "for a song," 
 The following year thej* took up tlieir residence in 
 Beloit, Wis., where for some time Jlr. Harris 
 worked at his trade of cariicntering and for manj' 
 }-eais ran a planing mill. They have since returned 
 to the East and are now living in Pennsylvania, at 
 the ages of seventy-three and seventy- two j'ears, 
 respectively. They are consistent members of the 
 Baptist Church, and in political sentiment IMr. 
 Harris is a Republican. 
 
 There are only two children in the famil\- to 
 which our subject belongs. The boyhood daj-s of 
 Rolliu E. were spent under the i)arental roof and 
 in the public schools he received his education, 
 completing his course of study in the Quincj'High 
 School of Quinc}', III. Having fitted himself for 
 business, when twenty -one years of age he secured 
 a position as assistant bookkeeper in a wholesale 
 house, where he remained five years, but his duties 
 were verj- arduous and failing healtli at length 
 com|)elled him to seek eiiipldynieiit elsewhere. For 
 
 seven years he was engaged as salesman vvilli the 
 Standard Oil Company of Chicago, and the suc- 
 ceeding two 3'ears of his life were spent as book- 
 keeper for the Northwestern Fuel Company of St. 
 Paid, Minn. He was then employed in Angus, 
 Iowa, b^- llie Climax Coal Coinpan}', and iu 1885 
 became manager of the Mahaska Coal Company at 
 Des Moines. His residence in Des Moines dates 
 from 1886. In 1889 he formed the Marion Coal 
 Company, of which he is now manager and secre- 
 tary. The Mahaska Company has its mines at 
 Fishville. Jlahaska County ,the capacity being about 
 one hundred thousand tons per 3'ear, and owns and 
 has under lease five hundred and twenty acres of 
 land. The mines of the Marion Coal Company, 
 which have a daily capacity of six hundred tons, 
 are located near Otley, Marion Countj', and the 
 field embraces one hundred and twenty-one acres. 
 
 In Quincy, 111., Mr. Harris wedded Miss Minnie 
 Montgoineiy, a native of New York, the marriage 
 taking place in April, 1874. They now have an 
 interesting family of five children — Kate, Mont- 
 gomery, Russell, Eugene, Marguerite. 
 
 As a business man Mr. Harris has been (juite 
 successful, having made what he has by his own ef- 
 forts. He owns considerable shares in both the 
 Mahaska and Marion Coal Companies. He furn- 
 ishes to the public a splendid locomotive coal, one 
 that p.''oduces a great amount of heat to the ton 
 and finds a ready sale in the market. Under his 
 able management the companies have one uf the 
 extensive businesses in the city. In political senti- 
 ment Mr. Harris is a Republican and is a worthy 
 and valued citizen who ranks as high in the social 
 world as he does in Imsiness circles. 
 
 m 
 
 '^\]^>^m 
 
 RS. A. W. & M.L. DFN LAP, eclectic |iliysi- 
 cians, constitute one of the leading medical 
 firms of Des Moines. The senior [lartner, 
 Asbury W. Dunlap, was born in Iluntiiig- 
 don County, Pa., September 16, 1852, and is a son 
 of Samuel and Rachel (Woomer) Dunlap, both of 
 whom were natives of the Keystone Slate. He 
 passed his early life in his native county, attended 
 
PORTRAIT AND KIOGkAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 353 
 
 seliool until sixtetMi years of age, and llicn in 1868 
 came to Iowa with his parents, inalvinn his home 
 with them in I'oweshietc Count}'. 11 is father is of 
 Scotch origin and his niotiior of (iennan descent. 
 Tlie}- arc both living and are still residents of Pow- 
 esiiick C'ounly. 
 
 Dr. Duidap attained to mature years in tliat 
 count}' and, having arrived at man's estate, De- 
 cember 20, 1870, wedded Miss Mary L. Blood, 
 who is now Dr. M. L. Dunlap. engaged in practice 
 with her husband. She is a native of Adrian, Mieli., 
 and a daughter of Leonard P. and Lucinda (Will- 
 iams) Blood. She came to Iowa with her parents 
 in 1871, and made her home in Poweshiek County, 
 where, as before stated, she was mariied, December 
 ■20, 1876. 
 
 Dr. A. W. Dunlap received his medical education 
 in the Iowa Medical College, of Des Moines and w.:s 
 graduated in the class of March, 188'J, since which 
 time he has been in practice in this city. After his 
 marriage, however, he resided in Poweshiek County, 
 until 18.S2, when with his wife he came to Dos 
 Moines where they have since made their home. 
 Thej' have one child, n son, Wallace Asbur}', born 
 in Poweshiek County, July 21, 1878. The mother 
 pursued her medical studies in Drake University, 
 graduating in the class of 1887, and subsequenll}' 
 took a course of study in the Iowa Eclectic Medi- 
 cal College of this citj', from which she received 
 the degree of M. D.in April, 1888. Both husband 
 and wife possess a thorough knowledge of the pro- 
 fession to which they devote their energies and by 
 laboring ( onjointly their efforts are much more 
 effective. They are members of the Primitive 
 Methodist Church and are held in liigli regard by 
 all vvho know them. 
 
 _=E 
 
 ~ f-^-^' — 1 ~ 
 
 
 '()nN TUOSTKL is one of the well-known 
 business men of Des Moines, having been 
 identified with the interests of the city since 
 1869. He was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, 
 on the 15lh of June, 18i;3, and is one of six chil- 
 dren, foursons .and two dauglders. His father was 
 George M. Trostel, also a native of Germany, in 
 
 whichj country he spent his entire life. A record 
 of the children is as follows: Ernst, the eldest son 
 is still a resident of his native land; Albert was 
 the first of the family to come to the ITnited States 
 and is now extensively engaged in the tanning 
 business in Milwaukee and ranks amtxig the prom- 
 inent and iiitiuential citizens of that place; Philip, 
 the tliird child remains with his brother in Germany. 
 The sisters are Mrs. Dora Shurr and Mrs. Sophia 
 Scheible. 
 
 John Trostel, our subject, is the youngest of the 
 four brothei^. In his youth he learned the trade 
 of a ijutcher but as no favorable opportunity pre- 
 sented itself for engaging in business he determined 
 to come to America, lielieving better advant.ages 
 were afforded j'oung men than in the older coun- 
 tries acro.ss the water. It was in 1863, when about 
 twenty years of age, he sailed to the United .States. 
 On reaching this country he at once went to Mil- 
 waukee, wheie his brother was living and remained 
 in tliat city for about three years. He afterwards 
 resided for a time in Waukesha, Wis., and in Mad- 
 ison, the capital of the State, but in 18G!) sought a 
 home in Des JMoines. Shortly after his ai rival iu 
 this city he engaged to work for John Duff, with 
 whom he continued about six months and then en- 
 tered the employ of August Schlosser, but after a 
 short time he embarked in business for himself as 
 a partner of Fred Roth on Third Street, opening 
 their establishment to the public January 22, 1864. 
 About six months later they removed to AVabiiit 
 Street, where they continued until 1871, when they 
 suffered a heavy loss by fire. However, with char- 
 acteristic energy, Mr. Trostel began preparations 
 for the renew.al of his business and in the same 
 year formed a partnersiup with Gotlieb Hutten- 
 locker, with whom he continued about ten years. 
 In 1873, the firm erected a fine building on AValnut 
 .Street, now occupied by Kahler it Co. After sev- 
 eral years Mr. Trostel sold his interest in that 
 building to his partner and |)urchased four lots on 
 the corner of Locust Street and Sixth Avenue, for 
 which he paid $ll,r)00 and erected thereon a fine 
 block, which is known as the Trostel Itloclc. at a 
 cost of * 13,000. 
 
 In Des Moines, in October. 1.S7S. Mr. Trostel 
 was united in marriage with iMiss .M;iiv liowman, a 
 
354 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 iKilive of I'olk Coiiuly. ,aii() a (lau.;;hlei- of John 
 Bowman, an early seUler of .Icfleison Townsliip, 
 who died at his liome in that community on the 
 20tli of January, 1890. His wife survives him 
 and is still living on tlie old lioniestead. Their 
 family numbered seven children. The sons are 
 Jacob, John and Ciiristopher, the last named dying 
 April 20, 1890, and the daughters are Carrie, wife 
 of Charles Zeininger of Wichita, Kan.; Maggie, 
 wife of G. F. Speith, of Des Moines; Mary, the 
 wife of our subject; and Kaiie J. who is still with 
 her mother. To Mi-, and Mrs. Trostel have been 
 born four children, George W., Carl, Fred Bruno, 
 and Kdwin John. All were born in Des IMoines 
 and the family circle yet remains unbroken. 
 
 Mr. Troslcl may Inily be called a self-maiie 
 man, having m:id(! his own way through life by his 
 industry, enteri)rise and good business ability. He 
 came to America when a youth of twenty summers 
 and immediately engaged in honest work which he 
 continued until by the labor of his own hands he 
 had accumulated a few hundred dollars. lie then 
 came lo Des Moines and invested his capital, em- 
 barking in what has proved to be a most successful 
 business career. He is still comparatively a young 
 man and energetically api)lying himself with un- 
 tiring industry to his interests until he now ranks 
 among the prominent and prosperous l)usines.s men 
 of Des Moines. As a cili/.en he is honoied for his 
 integrity and upright character and has gained the 
 conlidenci' and good will of a large circle of friends 
 and accpiaintanccs. 
 
 HaiJiil 
 
 jNriTTTTC 
 
 ICHAKD ROLLINS, of Des Moines, is an 
 honored • early settler, who since March, 
 18G5,has made his home in this city. He is 
 ^J) a native of the Pine Tree Slate, having been 
 born in Lebanon, York County, on the l.'ith of 
 June, 1801. His father, John Rollins, was a native 
 of New IIam|)sliire, born of English parentage, 
 while his mother, whose maiden name was I'etsv 
 Shapley, was a native of Maine. The parents of 
 our subject continued to reside in Maine until their 
 death. Their children all grew to mature years and 
 
 renre'l families of their own, but Richard and KHz 
 abeth aie the only ones now surviving. AVhcn the}- 
 married they all settled within a few miles of the 
 old homestead (as it was the desire of the mother 
 that she might have her children near her) and re- 
 mained in that vicinity until the parents were callcil 
 home. The children were Moses, Elislia, Daniel, 
 John, Richard, David L., Samuel, Andrew, Caro- 
 line and Elizabeth. 
 
 Richard Rollins, whose name heads this sketch 
 passed his early life in the usual manner of farmer 
 lads, but ere he had attained to mature years learned 
 the carpenter's trade, which he made his life work. 
 In comi)any with his sons, he erected many of the 
 finer buildings of Des Moines and for many years 
 was acknowledged to be one of the best contractors 
 and builders of the city. By his industry and en- 
 terprise, combined with good management, he ac- 
 quired a con' potency which now enables him to live 
 in retirement and enjo}- a well-earned rest. He 
 was married in his native State to Miss Betsy 
 Hayes, a native of New Hampshire, the \inion tak- 
 ing place on the 9lh of September, 182(). The young 
 couiile began their domestic life in Maine, where 
 they continued to reside until 1 856, which year wit- 
 nessed their arrival in Des Moines. They had a son 
 who, two years i)revious, had come to the West and 
 located in this city, and through his influence Mr. 
 Rollins was induced to seek a home in the Ilawkeye 
 Slate. Not long after his arrival in Polk County-, 
 in company with his sons, he erected a paper mill, 
 which he operated for a time and then sold toother 
 parties. It was probably the first paper mill in the 
 State of Iowa. On selling out he turned his atten- 
 tion to his chosen trade, which he followed with 
 marked succes.s until his retirement to private life. 
 l>y the union of Mr. and Mrs. Rollins they be- 
 came parents of nine children. George A. continued 
 to resiilc in Maine until within a few years i)asl 
 when he became a resident of Chicago. He was for 
 many years a' leading merchant of the Pine Tree 
 vState; William A., the second son, died of a cancer 
 at the home of his fatlier, a number of years ago; 
 Alonzo W., is also deceased; .lohn F. is a resident 
 of Des Moines; Henry M., is living in Ihiscitj'; 
 Sarah E.. is the wife of John Rollins; Fanny is the 
 wife of B. Corning. Mi-. Rollins was called upon 
 

 (^.j^^j^yzoCo ^yt},c/'€L/c 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 357 
 
 to mourn the loss of his beloved wil'i', who died on 
 tlie 28lh of March, 1882,at the age of eighty years. 
 They had tiavelerl life's journey togeliier for fifty- 
 six years and it was indeed a iieavy lilow to the 
 husband when the conapaniou of his manhood days 
 was taken from liim to be united no more tiiis side 
 of the grave. 
 
 Thus have we given a brief sketch of the princi- 
 l)al incidents in the life of Mr. Rollins, one of tiie 
 early settlors of Polk County, and an honored citi- 
 zen of J3es Moines. He is greatly respected by all 
 who know him and justly merits the esteem of his 
 friends, on account of his upright life and honor- 
 able career. 
 
 //n 
 
 RLANDO TISDALE, wiio resides at No. 
 , jjl 1009, Twenty-first Street, Des Moines, is 
 ^^' numbered among the early settlers of tliis 
 city, and is one of its reijresentative citizens. He 
 was born in Cortland County, N. Y., November 
 16, 1818, whither his fatlier, Leonard Tisdale, a na- 
 tive of Massachusetts, had removed when that por- 
 lioii of the State was almost an unbroken wilder- 
 ness. Tiie familj- is originally of Englisii origin, 
 but the first American ancestors came to this coun- 
 try a long time prior U> the Revolutionary AVar. 
 The paternal grandfather of our suljject, .James Tis- 
 dale, was a man of considerable prominence in that 
 part of ]\Iassacliusetts where lie made his home. 
 He served as Surve)'or and also as Justice of the 
 Peace, and spent his entire life in the Bay Stale. 
 
 Leonard Tisdale, having arrived at years of ma- 
 turity, wedded Sally Hicks, a daughter of a Revo- 
 lutionary soldier and with his young wife removed 
 to Cortland County, where he cleared and de- 
 veloped a farm, upon which they spent the remain- 
 der of their days. Mr. Tisdale died in February, 
 1850, but his wifesurvived him several years. Tiiey 
 were parents of eight children who grew to mature 
 years and of that number four are living at this 
 writing in 1890 — Loring still m.akes his home in 
 Cortbind County. N. Y.; Eveline, wdow of E. K. 
 Spencer, is still living on the old homestead in that 
 county; Orlando is the fifth in order of birth, and 
 
 Orsamus is also in Cortland County. The oldest 
 of the family was Alonzo who died many years 
 ago. Minerva became the wife of Noah Ashley, 
 and removed to Ontario County, N. Y., where she 
 lived until her death. Almira became the wife of 
 Alanson \'an A'alkenburg and spent her life in 
 Cortland Count3'. Lavina, the youngest of the 
 family, was twice married and for a number of 
 years prior to her decease made her home near 
 Fond du Lac, Wis. 
 
 We now come to the personal history of our sub 
 ject, who in his native county was reaied to the 
 occupaiiou of farming, assisting his father in the 
 labors of cultivating the land and attending the 
 district schools of the neighborhood. It was on 
 the 7th of November, 1840, that he led to the mar- 
 riage altar Miss Anna, daughter of Oliver and 
 Esther (Rosco) Westeott, who were early settlers 
 of Essex County, N. Y., and continued their resi- 
 dence in that cdinnumity until called to their final 
 rest. The family is of Welsh descent, but for many 
 generations has resided in this country. Mr. West- 
 eott and his people were early settlers of Rliorie 
 Island, while the Rdsco family were from Con- 
 necticut. Mrs. TLsdale was one of eight children, 
 four of whom are now living — Electa, wife of 
 George P'ountiin of Ansable Forks, N. Y.; Anna, 
 wife of our suliject; Leander who resides in Eliza- 
 bethtown, N. Y., and Mrs. Anna Fountain, also of 
 Ansable Forks. The deceased are Cyrus, who 
 served his country in .a New York regiment and 
 gave his life in defense of the cause; Emily, the 
 eldest, who became the wife of Nathaniel Miller 
 and died many years ago; IMrs. Lucia Bacheldor, 
 who also died many years ago in Jasper County, 
 Iowa, and C^harles, the youngest of the family, who 
 as one of the boys in blue of a Vermont regiment, 
 also died in the service. Oliver Westeott, tie fa- 
 tlier of iMrs. Tisdale was a soldier in the War of 
 1812. Her grandfather, Zeba Westeott, served in 
 the Revolutionary' War. 
 
 After their marriage Mr. Tisrlale and his wife 
 began their domestic life in the town of Cortland, 
 where they continued to make their home until 
 their removal to the West in May. 18.')6. Tliej' 
 arrived in Des Moines on the 2;Jd of that month 
 and have had no occasion to regret their choice of 
 
358 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 a location as they have not only pi'ospcrfcl in busi- 
 ness, but have formed many warm friendships in 
 the years of their residence here an<l have made for 
 themselves a pleasant home in wliiuli to spend tlieir 
 remaining days. Mr. Tisdale had given some at- 
 tention to the business of painting ere coming to 
 Iowa and after locating in Des Moines, devoted his 
 entire attention to that pursuit, being of the first 
 to follow the trade in this city. Kor twelve years 
 he and his worthy wife resided on Walnut Street, 
 whence they removed to the corner of Fiftli and 
 Park streets, where they lived until June, 188fi, 
 when having erected a commodioun residence at 
 1009 Twenty-Urst Street, they took up their abode 
 in their pleasant home, where they are surrounded 
 by all the comforts and many of the luxuries of 
 life. 
 
 In his early maniiood Mr. Tisdale supported the 
 Whig party, casting his first Presidential ballot for 
 William Hcnrj' Harrison in 1840, and since the or 
 ganization of the Republican party has been iden- 
 tified with that body. He and his wife are faithful 
 members of the Presbyterian Church and, living in 
 harmony with their professions, have won the re- 
 spect and esteem of all. They have been witnesses 
 of the wonderful growth of the capital city of Iowa 
 from a village of a few hundred inhabitants to a 
 metropolis of sixty thousand, and in many ways 
 have been connected with its leading interests, 
 thereby entitling them to a place in the permanent 
 record of the county's history, where are repre- 
 sented lier lionored pioneers and leading business 
 men. 
 
 ^UCIHE CHRISTY, tlie present etUcient 
 Postmaster of East Des Moines, and one 
 of the representative citizens of the county, 
 ^/ was born in Piiiladelphia, Pa., on the 3 1st 
 
 of Jul}', 1830, and is a son of William and Mary- 
 Ann (Young) C'lirjst}-, who are mentioned more 
 fully in the sketch of Willi;im Christy, the brother 
 of our snliject. 
 
 Archie Christy was reared in a pleasant home 
 and amid comfortable surroundings until about 
 twelve years of age, when by the death of his 
 
 father he was thrown upon his own resources and 
 left to battle alone with the world. He was bound 
 out on a farm ncir his native city, where lie re- 
 Tnaiiied until seventeen years of age, when disliking 
 that labor he returned to Philadel[)liia, where he 
 served an apprenliceshi|) to the carpenter's trade. 
 His term lasted three and a half years, during 
 which time he completely mastered the business in 
 all its details and became an excellent workman. 
 Going then to (iermantown, one of the suburbs of 
 Philadelphia, he engaged in business for himself 
 and soon built up an exte)isive traile. His work 
 proved satisfactory in everj' particular and the 
 conscientiousness with which he discharged his 
 duties won the confidence of all with whom he 
 came in contact. After a successful period of five 
 years work in ("iermantown, be emigrated to the 
 West, but previous to that time, on the oth of 
 October, 1851, he was joined in wedlock with Miss 
 Martha A. Crawshaw. 
 
 In 1854, his brother Daniel had settled in Polk 
 County and receiving from him such favorable de- 
 scriptions of the country and hearing of the great 
 demand for carpenters in that section, Mr. Christy 
 there determined to try his fortune. Accompanied 
 by his little family, in 1856, he made his way to 
 Iowa, arriving in Des Moines when the old capital 
 building was in course of erection. There were 
 only two brick buildings in the city at that time 
 and East Des Moines had onl}- about one hundred 
 and fifty frame houses. No roads had been made 
 there and the greater part of the town was covered 
 with a tiiick growth of hazel brush and also con- 
 siderable timber. The best hotel in the place was 
 called the Walker House and was situated on the 
 east side. A bridge connected the two portions of 
 the city and the different churches held their meet- 
 ings in a one-story schoolhouse- situated on the 
 site now occupied by the State Capitol. Mr. Christy 
 at once began work at his trade and as in the East 
 was very successful. The greater part of the 
 buildings of East Des Moines, erected before 1874, 
 were constructed by him or under his supervision. 
 In 1874, he was appointed mail (carrier and retired 
 from the carpenter's trade. He was the first man 
 who was appointed to that position after the system 
 had been introtluced into Des Moines, and for nine 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 359 
 
 years be continued to serve in that (•;ipafity. resign- 
 ing to accept the position of Postmaster of Hist 
 Des Moines, to which he was appointed Octoher 1, 
 1882. He served until Marcli, 1886, when on ac- 
 count of a. change in the administration, he resigned, 
 but wlien the Republicans again came into power 
 he once more obtained the office. He liad served 
 the people so acceptably before that they were 
 anxious for his reappointment. He entered upon 
 the duties of a second term December 14,1889, 
 and the same warm support has been given him 
 which he at first received. No discrepancy has 
 ever been found in his management of the office 
 and even his political enemies acknowledge him to 
 be a suitable man for the position. As will have 
 been inferred, Mr. Christy is a Republican in poli- 
 tics and a stanch advocate of the i)arty principles. 
 He has occupied a number of positions of honor 
 and trust, including that of Alderman of East Des 
 Moines for three years, during which time he looked 
 after the interests of the city and people with great 
 c.irc and judgment. He is public-sijirited and 
 progressive, is well-informed on all the leading 
 issues of the day, both political and otherwise and 
 manifests his interest in public affairs by the ready 
 support which he gives all worthy enterprises and 
 the active part he has taken in the upbuilding and 
 progress of the community. His life has been one 
 of industr}', a struggle against poverty and the 
 trials which come to one in limited circnnistances, 
 but always looking on the bright side he has worked 
 with a determined will, supplemented l)y good 
 business ability and has gained for himself and 
 family a comfortalile competence. Both he and 
 his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Chuich, having been earnest workers in the Master's 
 vineyard the greater part of their lives. Socially, 
 he IS a member of the Masonic fraternity and of 
 the Im|)roved Order of Red Men. He formerly 
 belonged to the Independent Order f)f Odd Eellows, 
 the Knights of Pythi.as and the American Mechan- 
 ics, but as those lodges were not in existence in 
 Des Moines at the time of his arrival, he severed 
 his coiuicction with thciii. 
 
 Mrs. Christy, the wife of our subject, w^as born 
 in Pliilaflelphia and is a daughter of .lames and 
 Henrietta (Stollwngr)n) Crawshaw, (he former a 
 
 native of England and the latter of Philadelphia. 
 Her father was a manufacturer of carpets, hair cloth 
 and mats and followed that business in Pliiladeli)liia 
 niitil his death, which occurred in the spring 
 of 18G4. His wife died in the spring of 
 1861. They were the parents of seven children, 
 but only three are yet living: James R., a resident 
 of East Des Moines: Daniel T., who is residing in 
 Hebron. Ohio; and Martha, wife of our subject. 
 To Mr. and Mrs. Christy were born nine children, 
 but seven of that number have been called to the 
 better land. The two living are George W., who 
 resides in Colfa.v County, N. M. ; and Frank Palmer, 
 who was named after the government printer. He 
 makes his home with Ins parents. 
 
 E^^^ 
 
 ,^^HARLES W. .JOHNSTON, attorney and 
 l( _ counselor-at-law, dates his residence in 
 ^i^ Des Moines from 1879, and his .admission 
 to the bar of Polk County from 1881. He is a 
 H.'iwkeye by birth. His father, H. S. .Johnston, is 
 numbered among the pioneers of V^an Buren 
 County, in 181!), aiitl still resides in that commu- 
 nity, his home being in the town of I'tica. He 
 was born and reared in the State of Indiana, where 
 for many \'eais he engaged in merchandising, but 
 since his residence in Iowa he has devoted himself 
 exclusively to .agricnltural pursuits. The .Johnston 
 family was founded in Giles Countj', Va., and was 
 numbered among the early and well known families 
 of that f-itate, whence the paternal grandfather of 
 our subject removed to Greensburg, Ind., where he 
 lived until death. 
 
 As before stated, II. S. .lohnston was born in In- 
 diana, in 1818, and when he had attained to years 
 of maturity married iNIiss Brownfield, of Greens- 
 burg, Ind., who died in 18r)2, and in 1850 he mar- 
 ried Sarah Downard, who died at the age of 
 thirty-live years, hsaving four children, two sons 
 and two daughlers. Lucretia, the eldest, is the 
 wife of (ieorge Miller, 'uul resides on the home- 
 stead farm; Charles W.. is the second in order of 
 birth; Ida l>. is the wife of .lohn Topping, a 
 grain mercluuit intHiindv Center, Iowa; and Juhn 
 
360 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 V. is cliief liill clerk of the fi-ciglit office of the 
 Chicngo, Rock Island it Paciflc Railway Company 
 at Kast Des Moines. 
 
 The subject of this skclcli was born M:M-eh 3, 
 185<S, and remained under the parental roof until 
 the autumn of 1876, wlien he entered the Iowa 
 State Normal School in Cedar Falls, which liad just 
 been opened. He was the second pupil enrolled 
 at thai institution and for two years he there pur- 
 sued his studies, completing the second year's 
 course, after which he engaged in teaching. Com- 
 ing lo Des Moines in 1879, lie became a student of 
 law under Judge George G. Wright, in the office 
 of Wright it Wright, and two years later was ad- 
 milled lo the bar of Polk County, and in 1887 
 gained admission to the Federal Court. lie is a 
 j'oung man of excellent literary and legal altain- 
 inents. He makes a specialty of commercial law 
 and his energy and industry combined with the 
 confidence imposed in his integrit}- have secured 
 him a lucrative and constantly increasing practice. 
 He has no outside ambitions, political or otherwise, 
 but applies himself strictly to business and hopes 
 to so continue. 
 
 Mr. Johnston was married lo Miss Martha Vir- 
 ginia Burton, daughter of John Burton, of Ben- 
 tonsport. Van Buren County, Iowa, May 18, 1885. 
 She is also a second cousin of Mrs. Thomas A. 
 Hendricks and of A. C. Freeman, an eminent at- 
 torney of San Francisco, C'al., who edits the -Amer- 
 icau Decisions," which has been adopted as a 
 standard legal work ; also works on "Judgments,'' 
 "Executions," etc. 
 
 \f] AMES GUEST BERK V HILL, a member of 
 the bar of Des Moines, has passed his entire 
 life in Iowa. Ho was born in Iowa Citj', 
 November 5, 1852, and is a son of Charles 
 "H. Berry hill, one of the honored pioneers of this 
 Slate. The latter was born in llarrisburg. Pa., in 
 1818, and is of English descent, the family having 
 Iieen founded in America, near Philadelphia, Pa., at 
 an early day by iMigllsh emigrants, ^^'hen twenty 
 
 /J 
 
 years of age Mr. Berr^diill emigrated to the Terri- 
 tory of Iowa, settling in Johnson County, near 
 Iowa City, where for many years he was engaged 
 in the mercantile and real-estate business. He be- 
 came one of the prominent citizens of the commu- 
 nity and his death, which occurred a number of 
 3'ears ago, was sincerely' mourned by those who 
 knew him. 
 
 The primary education of our subject was sup- 
 plemented by a course in the collegiate department 
 of the Iowa .State University", from which he was 
 graduated in 1873. He then entered the law de- 
 partment of the same Institution, graduating in 
 1876, and the following year located in Des 
 JMoines, where he at once embarked in practice. 
 Not long after his arrival he formed a partnership 
 with George F. Henr}-, which connection still con- 
 tinues under the firm name of Berryhill & Henry. 
 Tne}' do a large business, and rank high in the pro- 
 fessional world. Mr. Berryhill is also interested in 
 various commercial enterprises throughout the 
 State, which demand considerable of his attention 
 and yield him a good income. He has been hon- 
 ored with several official positions, was elected to 
 the General Assembly in 188.'), and re-elected in 
 1887, serving two terms as a member from the 
 Thirty-seventh District. He proved an able and 
 efficient legislator who labored earnestl}' for the in- 
 terests of the people, winning Ihe regard and con- 
 fidence of all whom he represented. During his 
 first term he was appointed Chairman of the Ap- 
 proprialif)n Committee, one of the most important 
 committees of the session. That committee did 
 most excellent work and saved the State some 
 |!810.000, appropriating >!612,0()O, including the 
 general approi»rialion bill, where !?2,5oO,000 had 
 been asked for. To the Chairman and a few other 
 members of the committee, much credit is due for 
 the large amount which they saved lo the State, 
 while none of it was at the expense of Iowa State 
 institutions. The re-election of Mr. Berryhill tes- 
 tifies lo the satisfaction which his course in the 
 legislative halls afforded those most interested. It 
 is needless to say that his second term was marked 
 by the same earnest and efficient work in behalf of 
 the i)eople. He organized the legislation of rail- 
 road matlcr.s dining the Twenty-second session, 
 
<>.■. ^^ -^ 
 
 o' 
 
 /in. 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 363 
 
 and porfunned effective labor in lu'luilf of llit 
 farming populalion of Iowa. 
 
 Mrs. Bcrryliill was formerly Miss N'irginia .1. 
 Slagle, daughter of Christian Y. Slagle, Ksq., a 
 lawyer of eminence, well known through the .State, 
 l)oth .as an attorney' and for the [n'ominent part 
 which he has taken i)i educational interests. He was 
 President of the Iowa State Universitj* in 1877-78 
 and was Regent of that institution for manj' years. 
 His own education was acquired in \\'.ishington 
 Universitj', of rennsyivania, of which State he 
 was a native. His death oceured in 1882. 
 
 -5 #.#. ^. 
 
 '^ ICHARD W. BARGER, attorney and coun- 
 selorat-law, has been engaged in the prac- 
 
 \\ tice of his profession at Des Moines since 
 February, 1876. He is a native of Illinois, 
 his birth occurring in 1849, in DeWitt County, 
 while his boyhood d.ays were spent in McLean 
 Countj'. His father, the Rev. John S. IJargcr, was 
 a native of A'irginia, and when a young man left 
 his native State, going to Kentucky, where he 
 married Miss Mary Ann Lee 15al<cr. He was a 
 clergyman of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and 
 was one of the iiioneer preachers of that denomi- 
 nation in Illinois. He began his work in the min- 
 istry in Kentucky, and on going to the Prairie 
 State, became a co-worker with the famous Peter 
 Cartwright. He left the .^outh on account of his 
 antagonism to the institution of slavery. Though 
 boi'n and reared in slave-holding States, he was ever 
 opposed to holding human creatures in bondage, 
 and from motives of principle became an Aboli- 
 tionist of the most pronounced type. When the 
 war broke out, he entered the service of the Gov- 
 ernment as Chaplain of the Seventy-third Illinois 
 Infantry, in which his three sons, Robert, John 
 and Richard, were actively engaged in the service. 
 His other son, William, was one of the boys in 
 blue of the Forty-second Illinois Infantry,. The 
 Rev. Mr. Barger was a I'rofessor at one time in 
 McKcndree College, at lycbanon. III., and was after- 
 ward Financial Agent for the Illinois Female Col- 
 lege, at Jacksonville, and the ^Vesleyan liiiversity. 
 
 at I?loomington. Elder Piarger was well known 
 throughout Illinois, and was universally esleenied. 
 lie died at llloomington, in 1876, in his soventy- 
 (iflli 3ear, leaving behind him the record of a life 
 than which a jiurer, nobler, and better Christian 
 one was never lived by any man. In 1877 his wife 
 died at the same place, in her .soveuty-lifth year. 
 Their family nuniljered six children, five sons and 
 one daughter, all of whom are living, with the ex- 
 ception of the eldest, James H. Barger, wliose death 
 w-as a most tragic one. He was accidentally shot 
 and killed by a friend in the fall of 1861, while 
 hunting upon an island of the Mississippi, just be- 
 low Quincy. He received the first degree of Mas- 
 ter of Arts that was ever conferred by the Illinois 
 Wesleyan University, commenced preaching when 
 he was eighteen years of age, and was killed in his 
 thirtieth year, when he was Presiding Elder of the 
 Quincy district in the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
 He was one of the most eloquent preachers of his 
 time. His loyalty to his country was evidenced by 
 the fact of his having enlisteil the greater part of 
 a regiment of volunteers. He himself was deterred 
 by circumstances from going to the front, but his 
 labors were none the less effective at home. 
 
 John S., the eldest surviving son, is a teacher by 
 profession, and resides at Cuba, Fulton County, 
 111. William M. resides at Webster City, Iowa. 
 Robert N. is a practicing physician of Hopedale, 
 III., and Susan, the only daughter, is living in 
 Bloomington, III. 
 
 Richard W. Barger, our subject, is the j-oungest 
 of his father's family. He was but thirteen years 
 of age when he entered the service of his country 
 as a drummer boy for Company K, in the Seventy- 
 third Illinois Regiment. Afterward he served as a 
 soldier in Company U,of the First Battalion of Cav- 
 alry in the Mississippi Marine Brigade. Having 
 been honorablj' discharged from the service, he 
 entered the Illinois Wesleyan University, at Bloom 
 ington, as a student, from which he was graduated 
 with the class of '71, receiving in due course the 
 degree of Master of Arts from that institution. He 
 made his way through college by means of teach- 
 ing. This he continued one 3'ear after graduation, 
 when he entered upon the study of law at the 
 Iowa State University. Sulise(|ucntly he was .ad- 
 
364 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL. ALBUM. 
 
 mitled to the bar at Mt. Pleasnnt, Iowa, where he 
 eonimenced practice, following his profession there 
 until his removal to Des Moines, in 1876. Mr. 
 Barger devotes his entire attention to insurance 
 law. and b.as rei>re.sented, at various times, most, if 
 not quite all. of the insurance conipanies doing 
 business in Iowa. He has been connected with 
 some of the most important litigations of this eliar- 
 acter in the country, and his business as a lawj-er 
 now extends over man}' States. 
 
 In August, 1889, Mr. Barger had the good fort- 
 une to will the heart and hand of Miss Belle F. 
 Moore, of Des Moines, a lady whose culture and 
 kindness have endeared her to many friends in her 
 home city and elsewhere. See portrait of Mr. 
 Barger on another page. 
 
 OSES .STRAUSS, President of the State Sav- 
 ings liank, and a member of the wholesale 
 millinery house of Lederer, Strauss & Co., 
 of Des Moines, was born in Bavaria, Ger- 
 many, March 6, 1833, and is a son of Marcus and 
 Leah (Simon) Strauss. He was educated in his na- 
 tive country, and emigrated to America in 1848. 
 landing in New Orleans. He began learning the 
 cigar maker's trade in that citj', but before com- 
 pleting his apprenticeship he removed to Vine ennes, 
 Ind., and in 1852, sailed from New York to Aus- 
 tralia. He was in business two years in Melbourne, 
 and then spent some time in the mountains, after 
 which he went to Africa, and thence to South 
 America, returning to New York in 1857. The 
 following year he came to Des Moines, where he 
 eno'aged in the dry-goods and clothing business in 
 company with his brother. Leopold, under the firm 
 nanie of Simcn, Strauss k Co. The firm had two 
 stores, and carried on an extensive business. In 
 18GC Moses Strauss and Mr. Lederer formed a part- 
 nership, the firm doing a wholesale business in 
 millinery and notions. The gentlemen now com- 
 posing the firm are Alexander Lederer, Moses 
 Slraufs. Jlax Shloss and Morris Samisli. The com- 
 pany occupies a four-story l)liick, Nos. 51.". and 
 
 515 West Locust Street, with ground floor 44x132 
 feet, and do an annual business of from ?i400,000 to 
 $500,000. In the beginning the company denlt in 
 diy goods and clothing, Init since 1872 the}' have 
 done an exclusive wholesale millinery business. 
 
 In May, 1872, Mr. Strauss became interested in 
 banking, and was elected Director of the Citizen's 
 National Bank. In March, 1887, in company with 
 others, lie established the State Savings Bank, with 
 S capital of •"i'50,000, James H. Merrill being elected 
 its President, wiiile Mr. Strauss became a member 
 of the ]>oar<] of Directors, but in May, 188!), he 
 succeeded 'Mv. Jlerrill, and has since held the office 
 of President, R. (). Green being Vice President; 
 and .Joseph Genesser, Cashier. 
 
 In August, 1807. in Philadelphia, Pa.. Mr. Strauss 
 was united in marri.ige with !Miss Nanic Schloss, 
 daughter of Samuel Schloss, who was born in Ba- 
 varia, Germany, and came to the United States in 
 1860. To this worthy couple has been born a 
 family of five children, four sons and a daughter: 
 Samuel, aged twenty-one j'ears; Leon, aged eight- 
 een; Gertrude, aged sixteen; Oscar, aged fourteen; 
 and Augustus, eleven years of .age. All were born 
 in Des Moines, and are still at home with their 
 parents. Mr. Strauss and familj^ are members of 
 the Jewish Church, and in politics he is a Demo- 
 crat. A Hoj-al Arch Mason, he belongs to Pioneer 
 Lodge, No. 22, A. F. & A. M., and Corinthian 
 Chapter, No. 14, R. A. M. Successful in business, 
 enterprising and public-spirited, he has borne a 
 prominent part in the commercial and financial 
 history of Des Moines, and is justly held in high 
 esteem by his fellow-cntizcns who lia\c known iiiin 
 these many years. 
 
 i|,SAAC P. BRUBAKER, M. 1)., allliough one of 
 the younger members of the medical fiaternity 
 of Polk County, is rajjidly gaining the front 
 rank among his professional brethren. His parents, 
 Michael and Catherine (Probst) Brubaker, were 
 both born in Somerset County, Pa., the father born 
 January 12. 1807, of German i)arcntage; while the 
 mother, wlm w;is born March 24. 1812, is of French, 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 365 
 
 Scotch aiul German descent. By trade Mic-liacl 
 Pirubaker was a blacksmith and carriage-maker, and 
 for many years ran a shop in Stoyeslown. lie was 
 not a man that took an active part in politics, 
 thonijh he always kept himself well informed con- 
 cerning political questions, and was a stanch advo- 
 vucate of Whig and afterward of Republican 
 principles. He died in 1887, a consistent member 
 of the Keform Church. His wife, who is still liv- 
 ing, is a member of the Lutheran Church. They 
 were the parents of twelve children, of whom four, 
 two sons and two daughters, are yet living. 
 
 The Doctor is the youngest of the family. He 
 W!is born on the 30th of September, 18.51, in Som- 
 erset Counti'. Pa., and received his rudimentary 
 education in the schools of his native village, after 
 which he attended the Pittsburg High School and 
 the Normal Schools held in that county. He was 
 only seventeen years of age when he began teach- 
 ing. In 1871 he entered Franklin and ^Marshall 
 College, at Lancaster, Pa., graduating with honor 
 from the classical course of that institution in 
 1876. after which he taught for a year in the gram- 
 mar school of Johnstovvn, Pa., the jjlace with which 
 the whole country became familiar on account of 
 the disastrous tiood which swept away the town in 
 1889. Not content with teaching as a life work, 
 Mr. Brubaker determined to engage in the prac- 
 tice of medicine, and took a course of reading in 
 that science with Dr. W. B. Lawman, Surgeon for 
 the Cnmby Iron Company, until his means were 
 exhausted, when he was forced to resume teaching 
 ill order to replenish his exchequer. In the au- 
 tumn of 1877 he taught in a Normal school in Ber- 
 lin, Pa., then going to his native town entered the 
 olliceof Dr. R. H. Patterson, with whoni he remained 
 for some time. In 1878 he took chai'ge of an 
 academy at Grantsville, Md., and the following 
 year entered Jefferson Medical College of Phila- 
 delphia, from which he was graduated in March, 
 1881, and supplemented the knowledge thei'e gained 
 Ity the pursual of a select course during the spring 
 of that year. In the following August he located 
 in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, where he [iracticed until 
 December, 1882, when he came to Des Moines, and 
 shortly afterward formed a partnership with an old 
 college friend. Dr. II. C. Eschach, which connectinn 
 
 continued until 1880. His practice is general, al- 
 though he gives special attention to nervous dis- 
 eases, and he is now reaping the rewards of a 
 liberal patronage. 
 
 On the 2'2d of June, 1887, Dr. Brubaker was 
 united in marriage with Miss Jennie Santel, who 
 was born near Wilkesbarre, Pa., but their marriage 
 bliss was brief, the wife dying on the 2d of Jan- 
 uary, 1888. The Doctor is a member of the I'olk 
 County Medical Society, and the State Medical 
 Society. By persistent and well-directed efforts he 
 has gained rank among the leading physicians of 
 Dcs Moines, and has a well deserved reputation. 
 
 1 
 
 '■' "4 * I * H '' S * (A' * * " 
 
 ,41 I^ALTKR GARDENER REED, wholesale 
 \/iJ// ''*''^'^''' '" le>itlier, saddlery, hardware, and 
 W^ shoe findings, is engaged in business at No., 
 313, West Walnut Street, Des Moines. He was 
 born in Massillon, Stark County, Ohio, on the 2d 
 of December. 1837, and is a son of Walter A. and 
 Eleanor Sarah (Wright) Reed. He was educated 
 in his native town under the iireceptorship of Prof. 
 Harve}', the well-known author and publisher of 
 school text books. When nineteen years of age, 
 Walter came to Des Moines, reaching tiiis cit}' in 
 April, 1857, and has here raiide his home continu- 
 ousl.v since. His first business venture after his 
 arrival was as an employe in the wholesale and re- 
 tail grocery house of J. M. Laird ik Co., of which 
 his father was a partnei-. In 1860 he engaged in 
 business with his father in a small way, they deal- 
 ing in leather, s.addlery, hardware and shoe find- 
 ings. Theirs was the first house in Des Moines to 
 handle saddlery hardware. The firm w,as known 
 as W. A. Reed &. Son, ;uid the connection was con- 
 tinued for a period of twenty-five years with per- 
 fect harmony and marked success. Starting in a 
 small wa}-, their business steadily increased with 
 the exception of a short interval, when, through no 
 fault of the original partners, the affairs of the 
 house became somewhat demoralized. At th.-it 
 state of affairs, W. (!. Reed assumed the manage- 
 ment and soon restored the business to a healthy 
 and i>r(isiierous condition, since wliicli time il has 
 
366 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 steadily grown in extent and inii)orlaiice. In 1883 
 Mr. Reed, Sr., fell a victim to a stroke of [laralysis, 
 wliieli incapacitated liim for active business, after 
 wliicli he assigned liis entire inttrest to his son, 
 the present proprietor. 
 
 On the 1st of November, 186G, in Des Moines, 
 Walter G. Reed led to the marriage altar Miss 
 Jlaggic Wharton, a tiaughter of Oeorge Wharton, 
 of Cadiz, Ohio. Mrs. Heed die() on the Gth of 
 January, 1870, leaving two children, a son and a 
 daughter. The former, who was born in Des 
 Moines, October y, 1867, is employed in his father's 
 store as a book-keeper and salesman. The latter, 
 Louise Hood, was also boru in Des Moines, on the 
 25th of August, 18C9. Mr. Reed was again mar- 
 ried, in Cliicago, 111., April I'i, 1880, wlien he 
 wedded Miss Pattie Bennett, a native of Cadiz, 
 Ohio, and a .laughter of R. J. Bennett. Their 
 union has been blessed with one child, a daughter, 
 Martha M., born May 10, 1886. Mrs. Reed is a 
 member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, of this 
 city. In political sentiment Mr. Reed is a Re- 
 publican, but has never sought or desired pub- 
 lic otHce, preferring to devote his energies to the 
 care of his private affairs. He has built up a large 
 and prosperous business, and during the long terra 
 of years in which he has been known as an im- 
 portant factor in tlie business circles of Des 
 Moines, he. has won and holds tiie confidence and 
 esteem of his fellow-citizens. 
 
 fpLFRED WIXGATIv Eminent Grand Re- 
 corder of the Grand Coniraandery, K. T., 
 
 and Grand Secretary of the Grand Chap- 
 ter, R. A. M., is one of the most promi- 
 nent Masons of Iowa. His office is situated in the 
 Masonic Temple, at Des Moines, wliich city has 
 been his home for some time. He was born near 
 Montreal, Canada, September 15, 1839, and is the 
 son of Asa S. and Charity (Willsie) Wingate. His 
 parents were natives of New Hampshire and botii 
 ■were descended from old Nevv England families of 
 Scotch origin. 
 
 The sul)joct of this sketch spent iiis earl\' years 
 
 in his native country. It was not until he was a 
 lad of fifteen years that he became a resident of 
 the United States. In 1851 his parents removed 
 to Clinton County, N. V., where he attended school 
 during the succeeding three terms. The year 1857 
 witnessed his arrival in Iowa, the faniil}' settling 
 on a farm in Winnesheik County, where the}' were 
 numbered among the early settlers. For several 
 years Alfred was employed as a mereliant's clerk at 
 McGregor, and was then engaged in the tobacco 
 business for two years, when his stock was de- 
 stroj'ed by fire. He tiien entered the eaiploj' of 
 the Merchants' Union and the American Express 
 Companies, and served as local agent at McGregor 
 until 1869, when he went to Mason City to accept 
 the position as cashier in a private bank. A year 
 elapsed, and he then went to Winnesheik Count}', 
 where another twelve months were passed. He was 
 next employed in Fremont County in the service 
 of the Burlington A- ^Missouri River Railroad Com- 
 panj', after which he worked for the Chicago, IJur- 
 lington & (Juincy Railroad Company at various 
 points from 1871 until 1880, when he came to Des 
 Moines as general agent of that company, in which 
 capacity he served until September, 1887, when 
 he resigned to acce[)t the |)Dsition he now holds 
 with the Grand bodies of the JNIusonic order. 
 
 Mr. Wingate was married in McGregor, Iowa, 
 on the 23d of October, 1865. to Miss .losephinc 
 Biffel, daughter of Peter Biffel, and a native of Ot- 
 tawa, 111. Four children were born of their union, 
 a son and three daughters — Florence A., Allie Grace, 
 Clara Blanche and Harry Alfred. 
 
 Mr. Wingate is a Repidilican in politics, but has 
 never cared to accept political ollicial positions. 
 He takes a great interest in civic societies, especi- 
 
 I all}- in the Masonic fraternity. He is a member of 
 Capital City Lodge, No. 110, A. F. ii A. M.; Cor- 
 inthian Chapter, No. 14, R. A. M.; and Temple 
 Commaiidery, No. 4, K. T. lie also belongs to 
 
 ! Cai)ital City Lodge, No. 14, A. O. U. W. He has 
 
 1 taken an active interest in masonry for man}' years, 
 has an extensive acquaintance in the order through- 
 out the State and h.as discharged the cluties of the 
 oHices he holds with ability and fidelity. His long 
 
 I service with the Chicago, l$urlinglon it (Juincy 
 l{ailroa<l Company, ct)vering a period of sixteen 
 
'•%•?"' ^,^r*ft~ 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 369 
 
 years, in tlic rcsi)onsil>le position of local agent, 
 testifies in no uncertain manner as to Ids executive 
 al)ility, integrity and iiii>li standing in tlie estima- 
 tion of llie management of tliat im|)orlant eor|iora- 
 lion. 
 
 ON. THOMAS E. HAIXES, a prominent 
 * citizen and leading business man of Alloona, 
 
 is widel}' known througliout Central Iowa. 
 
 In many ways he has been identified with 
 the interests of Polk County, and has never failed 
 in his support to all worthy enter[)rises calculated 
 for llic advancement of the people's interests. He 
 wa.« born in Carroll County, Ohio, on the 21st of 
 •lanuary, 1831, and is of English and (ierman lin- 
 eage. The family to which he belongs numbered 
 ten children, he being the youngest of the four 
 sons. The parents were Joseph and Hannah (Shri- 
 vers) Haines, both natives of Frederick County, 
 Bid. The father was born in 1799, and when a 
 youth emigrated to Pennsylvania, where he spent 
 his boyhood days ami received his early training 
 in the common schools. When a yoirig man he 
 removed to Carroll County, Ohio, where his mar- 
 riage took place. He then began life in earnest, 
 turning his attention to agricultural pursuits. He 
 purchased one hundred and fifteen acres of land 
 near Minerva and there led a quiet, yet useful life 
 until 1849, when he was called to his final rest. His 
 wife, who was born in the year 1803, and for more 
 than a quarter of a century went hand in hand 
 with him, sharing equally his joys and sorrows, his 
 adversity and prosperity, died in Carroll County, 
 Ohio, in 1874. She was a devoted Christian woman, 
 having l)ci'n a member of the Christian Church 
 during the greater part of her life. Politicallj', 
 Mr. Haines was a true type of the original Jeffer- 
 sonian Democrat. In his youth he became a mem- 
 ber of the Christian CJhurch and for many years 
 served as Ehlcr in the congregation to which he 
 belonged. He gave liberally to the support of the 
 ministry and ilid all in his i)owor to advance the 
 cause. 
 
 The children of this worthy coui)le are Hon. 
 Albert R., a resident of Carroll County, Ohio, who 
 
 for many j'ears engaged in merchandising, and one 
 term represented his district in the State Senate; 
 .lolin E., who died in Carroll County, at the age 
 of thirty-three years; Thomas E., of this sketch; 
 Catherine, who died at the age of fifteen years; 
 Rebecca, wife of Graves Jaggers, of Ouray, Col.; 
 Matilda, wife of J. D. Thompson, a farmer of Car- 
 roll Count}', Ohio; Joetta, who died at the age of 
 fifteen in Carroll County; Henry, who died aged 
 two years; and Elizabeth, wife of D. A. Cheney, a 
 resident of Creamery, Mont. 
 
 We now come to the personal history of our sub- 
 ject who is ranked among the prominent citizens of 
 Polk Count\', Iowa. The days of his boyhood and 
 youth were passed in the county of his nativity, 
 during which time he was engaged mainly in as- 
 sisting his father on the farm and attending the 
 common schools, where he received a good educa- 
 tion in the English branches. After his father's 
 death he managed the homestead and provided for 
 the family from 1849 until 1863, when in company 
 with Reulien Redman, he came to Iowa. They left 
 home in June of that year with a flock of twelve 
 hundred sheep, which they shipped by rail to Chi- 
 cago and thence drove to Mahaska County. By 
 the time they had reached their destination, their 
 purchases along the way had increased, their flock 
 to four thousand. For four years they engaged in 
 sheep herding, when Mr. Haines sold out and in 
 1868 embarked in the grocery business in Oska- 
 loosa, which he continued for a year. He then 
 disposed of his stock and moved to Altoona, where 
 he has since made his home. The first enterprise 
 in uliich he here engaged, the buying and selling 
 of grain, still engrosses the greater part of his at-, 
 tention he having built up a splendid trade in that 
 line. He also has a steam elevator and is engaged 
 in other pursuits. In 1883, he began the manufac- 
 ture of tile and in 188"), the manufacture of brick. 
 He now turns out two hundred thousand tile [)ev 
 annum and the same amount of brick of a su- 
 perior l)uilding quality. 
 
 In llic month of August, 18C9, Mr. Haines was 
 united in llie holy bonds of matrimony with Miss 
 Loretia Iierridge. a native of New London, Ohio, 
 .•mil a daughter of William and Mary (Swasey) 
 Iierridge. the former a native of iMii.'-land. the lat- 
 
370 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 ter of Ohio. Tlicir union iias liccn blusseil vvitli 
 no cliiklren of liicirowii, but tliey liavc two adopted 
 diuighteis and a son. Tiie}- toolv to llieir home 
 Minnie Van Wey. now a young lady of eighteen, 
 when eight years of age. Their son. Guy, a lad of 
 eiglit years, has been with them sinte 1887. Nellie 
 IJcnidge has been with them since a babe of a year, 
 and is now three \-ears old. The last two are a 
 nephew and niece of Mrs. Haines, but Minnie is a 
 relative only by adoption. 
 
 Mr. Haines may well be cited as an example 
 of a self-made man. He received no special ad- 
 vantages in bis youth and for fourteen years labored 
 only for the interests of the f unily, receiving little 
 benefit liiniself. When he left iiis native county 
 he had bul^CiOD which he could call iiis own as the 
 result of lliose many years of labor. That amount 
 he invested in sheep in connection with wiiat he 
 had borrowed from a friend, but after four years 
 spent in herding, he had paid off all indebtedness 
 and acquired a capital of «l,5fJ0, which be judi- 
 ciously invested and has since accumulated consid- 
 erable property, llesides his business interests he 
 owns fifty acres of land within the corporation lim 
 its of Altoona. Any young man of average ability 
 might attain the same success if they would exer- 
 cise the same judgment and foresight, labor as in- 
 cessantly and watcli every opportunity as he has 
 done. 
 
 His fellow citizens have frequently called upon 
 him to serve in ollicial positions. He has been 
 Township Trustee for six years, for several years 
 was a member of the School Board, and in the fall 
 of 1881, was elected to the State Legislature, serv- 
 ing during the term of 1882-3. During that time 
 the resolution was introduced to annex to the con- 
 stitution an amendment, authorizing the enactment 
 of llie present prohibitory law and to it lie gave 
 his hearty support, u.sing his greatest infbiencc for 
 its passage. His first I'.re^sidontjal liallot was cast 
 for John C. Kremont in 18o(J, and siiice tliat time 
 he has never failed to deposit a balk>t in siqiiiortof 
 the Republican party. When a young man of 
 twenty-two years, Mr. Haines joined the Masonic 
 fraternity in his native county ami was made a 
 Master Mason. In 1880, he assisted in the organi- 
 zation of King David's Lodge. No. 107. A. F. & 
 
 A. M., and became the first Worshipful Master, 
 which position he occupied for three successive 
 years, during which time he was a representative 
 of the Grand Loiige by virtue of his office. Both 
 he and his wife are members of the Christian 
 Church and are earnest workers in the Master's 
 vineyard. They contributed liberally to the en- 
 dowment of Dr.ake rniversity and have also aided 
 in the snpi)ort of other worthy enterprises. 
 
 u^^ACrrUS HUSSEY, of the firm of Carter & 
 (/^^ Hussey. printers, book binders, and nianu- 
 ^^0' facturers of blank books, of Des Moines, is 
 a native of Indiana, having been born in Terre 
 Haute, on the 10th of Octoljer, 1834. His parents, 
 George and Mary (Brockw.ay) Hussey, had a fam- 
 11}^ of seven children, six sons and a daughter, Ta- 
 citus being the fourth in order of birth. His father 
 was born in Baltimore, iSId., in 1771, and enjoyed 
 his childish si)orls during the historic days of the 
 Revolution. He was a tanner by trade, but later 
 made farming lug .vocation. When the War of 
 1812 broke out, he offered his .services to the Gov- 
 ernment, and was commissioned Second Lieutenant 
 in the volunteer serviee.participating in the seige and 
 capture of Ft. McIIenry. He enjoyed the honor 
 of a personal acquaintance with Francis S. Key, the 
 author of the Star Spangled Planner. His life was 
 a long and useful one, he being called to his final 
 rest at the extreme old age of ninety-five years, his 
 death occurring in 1860. He was permitted to 
 witness the successful termination of the war for 
 the preservation of the Union, in which he was so 
 deeply interested. His wife, who was twenty years 
 his junior, i>assed away the year previous, at the 
 age of seventy-five years. She was Imrn in Sche- 
 nectady, N. Y., but went to Indiana during her 
 girlhood. 
 
 Tacitus or '-Tac" Hussey, as he is famili.arli' 
 called, received his education in Lost Creek Town- 
 ship, near Terre Haute, Ind. A few winter terms 
 of three months each, comprised the length of his 
 school life, and his advantages were such as were 
 affordetl in a log schoolhouse with puncheon floor 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 371 
 
 and furnished with slab seats. Such was the edu 
 c.ition vouchsafed to bo3's in those primitive d.ays. 
 .Vt tlie age of sixteen 3'cars, lie entered tlie oflice of 
 tiie Wabash Courier, edited b}- Judge .lesse Con- 
 rad, of Terre Haute, as an apprentice, but finished 
 Ills trade in tlie oflice of the Terre Haute Jniinm!, 
 and became a journeyman in 1855. In that year 
 he started for the West, with Des Moines, Iowa, as 
 his objective point, and on arriving at his destina- 
 tion obtained a situation in the otlice of the loica 
 Staiesmaii, where he labored for some months, 
 when the loica Citizen was founded, and he secured 
 employment in that office. In 1858, he obtained a 
 position in Mills Bros', book and job ottice, where 
 he worked as a joiirne3man, and afterwards as fore- 
 man until 1864, when he formed a partnership with 
 .1. S. Carter and E. N. Curl, as printers and blank 
 book inaiiiif.acturers. The firm started with very 
 limited c.ipltal, but possessing the essentials of suc- 
 cess — skill in the business, energy, application and 
 strict integrity", which have ever marked their busi- 
 ness career, they stand at the front in their line, and 
 in the quality and durabilit}' of their Ijlank books. 
 Mr. Curl retired from the luisiness in November, 
 1879, since which time the liriii has been Carter & 
 lliisse^'. Their house emplo3S, on an average, 
 thirty- hands, and makes a specialty- of outfits for 
 county offices and banks. They have lately m.'ide 
 a sii|)crior improvement in blank liooks. called the 
 Kinnard Level, combining boards, a side rest or 
 level, and an arm rest. Paper boxes are also made 
 113- the liim. and in their various deiiartments the3' 
 do an extensive Inisiness. 
 
 Mr. IIusse3- was united in marriage on the 18ih of 
 August. 1859, to ]\Iiss Jennie Clenienl, of Pongli- 
 keepsic, N. Y., tiieir union being celebrated in Des 
 Moines. After a record of thirty-live years lis a 
 printer in this cit3', it is generall3' conceiled that 
 Mr. Ilussey is entitled to the honor (jf being the 
 oldest printer in eontiniious service, in Des Moines. 
 His memoiy of old-time liistoiy, and man\' inci- 
 dents connected with those earl3' days, make him 
 an entertaining conversationalist, and the articles 
 which he has occasionally contributed to the pa- 
 pers on such subjects, and other articles from his 
 lien, are read with much interest. In .September. 
 l.ss'.i, he made a great hit in writinif the "Proclama- 
 
 tion or "Edict" of "KingSeni Om Scd," which was 
 much commented upon, and had a wide circulation 
 throughout the State. He is a lover of outdoor 
 sports, an expert with the oar, i)addle, rod and long 
 bow. He is never so happy as when cxiiloring 
 some stream in his stanch little canoe far awa\- from 
 the bus3" haunts of man, and his wife also takes 
 great pleasure in that sort of recreation. He is 
 fully in accord with the poet who says: 
 
 "There is a (ileasiire in the pathless woods, 
 There is ra()ture on the lonely shore. 
 There is society where none intrude 
 By the deei) sea, and music in its roar." 
 
 ICHARI) ASHWORTH. who resides on sec- 
 tion 3, Walnut Township, is one of the rop- 
 \\ resentative farmers of the county and also 
 " ranks among the esteemed citizens of the 
 coniiuunit3-. He was born in the town of Buiy, 
 Lancastersliire, England, March 25, 1812, in the 
 old stone house which has been occupied by the 
 descendants of the Ashworth family since the days 
 of William, the Conqueror. 10G6, covering a poriod 
 of more than eight hundred 3'ears. Both his 
 [jarentMl and maternal grandparents were also na- 
 tives of Lancastersliire, ami spent their entire lives 
 in that county. His father, Peter Ashworth, was 
 born in Rosendale, England, in 1787, and by trade 
 was a fuller. He married jMiss Anne Eaton, 
 who was born in the same county about the 
 same year and unto them was born a family- of 
 eight children, live sons and three daughters, all 
 of whom grew to mature years. The death of the 
 mother occurred in 1851, in her sixty-fourth year 
 and not long afterwards the father started for 
 America, making his honie partly in Aiidover, 
 Mass., with his sons until his ileatli, which occurred 
 in 1750 at Oxford, ^hlss. He was a member of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church and won the respect 
 and cciiifideuce of all with whom he came in con- 
 tact. 
 
 The siilijcct of this sketch was the oldest in his 
 fathi'i's Iainil3'. "In 1 !^ 12, he bade good-bye to his 
 home an<l native land and sailed for America. He 
 
372 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 also was a fuller by trade ami settling in Salem. N. 
 H., followed tliat occupation for six years in the 
 employ of .John Taylor. In 1848, he went to 
 AVatcrville, Vt., where he worked in the same line 
 for Robert Herring until .September 1, 1851, when 
 he started for Polk County, Iowa, believing that 
 he might better his condition in the West. In con- 
 nection with Abram C'legg and Tliomas and 
 Charles Xuttall, he purchased four hundred acres 
 of land and enteicd eight}' acres. When the prop- 
 erty was divided he received as iiis share two hun- 
 dred and forty acres, to wiiich he afterwards added 
 and still owns three hundred and .sixty acres of 
 highly improved land on sections 2, 3, 8 and 12, 
 AValmit Townsliip. His farm is one of the best in 
 the township having all the necessary improve- 
 ments and every other convenience found on the 
 model farm of the nineteenth centuary. 
 
 Ere he left England, Mr. Ashworth was united 
 in marriage with Margaret Sutcliffe of Lancaster- 
 shire, their union being celebrated in Roach- 
 dale, on the 2oth of March. 1832. Their union 
 was blessed with five childron but four are now de- 
 ceased — William, Richard, Mary and Peter. 
 Richard enlisted in Company F, Second Iowa In- 
 fantry for the late war, but upon reaching Daven- 
 port, Iowa, before being mustered, he voliaiteered 
 in the Fourth Iowa Cavalry and died in the Fifth 
 Street Hospital at St. Louis on the 20th of .lanuar^-, 
 18G3, and was buried in ihc cemetery at .Jeffer- 
 son Barracks, St. Louis. Abrani, the second of the 
 fiunilv is the only one now living. The death of 
 tlie mother occurred in ,luly, 1 8.')9, and in .Ianuai'>-, 
 ISl."), Mr. Ashworth was again married, his second 
 union being with IMary Nuttall, who was born in 
 liarence Cottage, \'illago of Hedgeworth. Lanc.as- 
 tershire, England, and eliristened at Turti)n Chapel, 
 near Bolton. They have two sons — .lames T., born 
 on the 26th of December, 184.").; and Cliarh s H., 
 lioni .January 31, 1818. The lady was a daughter 
 of Richard and Ann (Hutchinson) Nuttail, both 
 of whom were natives of Laiieastcrshiie. They 
 crossed the Atlantic in the spring of 18M, and seven 
 years later started for Iowa, but at lieardstown, 
 111., on the Illinois River, the mother died. Mr. 
 Nutlall jifterward located in Walurtt Township, Polk 
 Countv. where his death oecuned. Mrs. Asliworth 
 
 accom[)anied her parents to this country and re- 
 sided with them until her "niarri.age. ~ She united 
 with the Methodist Ciuirch in 1832, and remained 
 a faithful member until her death which occurred 
 May 13, 1888. 
 
 In political sentiment Mr. Ashworth is a Demo- 
 cr.at and for forty-six years has been a nienii)er of 
 the Independent Order of Good Templars. In 1843, 
 he joined the temperance society of Salem, N. IL, 
 and on coming to Iowa united with the Sons of 
 Temperance. He has iilwa^'s felt the greatest in- 
 terest in the cause of temperance and his influence 
 and support have ever been given for its advance- 
 ment. He was christened in the Church of Jing- 
 land but was reared in the Methodist Church, of 
 which he has since been a member. 
 
 The Ashworth brothers, sons of the above, are 
 among the most extensive farmers and land-owners 
 of Polk County and rank among its repiesentative 
 business men. .James T., the elder, was born on 
 the 2Gtli of December, 1845, in the town of Salem, 
 Rockingham County, N. IL, and was reared to 
 manhood on his father's farm. He was a lad of 
 five years when the family came to Polk Countj', 
 since which time he has made his home in this cora- 
 munit3\ He acquired a common education in the 
 district schools of the neighl)orliot)d and has made 
 farming, stock raising and grain dealing, his prin- 
 cipal oecu|ialions. He earned his first money bv 
 picking gooseberries and «ild plums and with the 
 proceeds of the sale purcha.sed a calf from .James 
 .Sherxan, brother of Gen. William T. Sherman, 
 paj-ing ^3 for the same. From that time he has 
 since given considerable attention to stock raising 
 and has some of the finest stock in the .State. 
 
 His brother, Charles, who is associated with him 
 in business, was born in Salem, Rockingham County, 
 N. II., .Januar}' 31, 1818, and was but three years 
 of age when he came to Polk County. His early 
 life was also passed in the usual manner of farm 
 lads and since attaining to mature 3'ears he h.as 
 given the greater part of his attention to agricul- 
 tural pursuits. The Ashworth brothers do an ex- 
 tensive business and now take rank among the well- 
 to-do citizens of I'olk County. In their younger 
 days, they had many disadvantages to contend 
 against. Not only were the}' ft)rced to endure 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 373 
 
 those luiidsbips ami trials of |)ioiiCi'r life but uiany 
 times tliey cut and shoekeil coni all night, receiv- 
 in:^ onl\' three and a half cents i>er shock. Both are 
 endowed uilli energy and uoud business ability and 
 by the exercise of those powers tlie}' have met with 
 excellent success, ovviiiu!^: some lifteen hundred acres 
 of land besides stock and other pro|>erty. Both 
 are Democrats in polities, members of the Metho- 
 dist E|)iscopal Church and Jaiues 'I', is a member 
 of the Masonic fraternity. 
 
 A IVILLIAM Ml'.SSON, Clerk of the District 
 \f\jl t'ourt of Polk County, is a native of Eng- 
 W^ land. He was born in Calslerworth, Lin- 
 colnshire, May ;>, 1831), and is the son of -lames and 
 Jane (Stokes) Mussoti, who were also natives of the 
 same countiy. He w.as educated in a privatj 
 school in Nottingham, anrl for six years prosecuted 
 the study of I'harmacy in Grantham. 
 
 On the 2;5d of January, 1.S66, in Grantham, Mr. 
 Mussoii was united in marriage with Miss Jane 
 Winter, a native of that city, and a daughter of 
 William and Mar}- Winter, both of whom belonged 
 to old English families. In 1.SG8 he started with 
 his young wife to America, and on the 4th of July, 
 of that year, reached Des Moines. However, he 
 did not then make a permanent location in this 
 city but vvent to Neosha Count}', Kan., and in 1'870 
 became a resident of Wellington, .Sumner Country, 
 Kan. Two years served to convince him that be 
 did not wish to make his home in that State and he 
 returned to this city, where be engaged with the 
 Des Moines Valley Railroad Con)i)any as baggage- 
 man. He was soon afterward made clerk and later 
 was appointed Station Agent at Des Moines and 
 continued with that eora[)an3' and its successors for 
 sixteen and a half years. In the fall of 1888, he 
 was elected Clerk of the District Court, which po- 
 sition he now holds, proving himself an able oth- 
 CLT. In politics, Mr. Musson is a Republican, and 
 is a member of the Ft. Des Moines Lodge, No. 25, 
 I.O.O.F., in which he has held all the otHces, includ- 
 ing that of presiding oflicrer. He is also Past Grand 
 Master and Past (irand Palriiuch of the order in 
 
 the State. He has taken an active interest in edu- 
 cational matters and at this writing is President of 
 the School Board. He was lirst elected a member 
 of the Board in 1882, was re-elected in 188.'). ar.d 
 again in 1888, and has been President for a i)eriod 
 of three years. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Musson are the i)arents of six chil- 
 dren, four of whom, two sons and two daughters 
 are now living — Florence A., the eldest, who was 
 born in England, December ,5, 18G7, is astudent of 
 the State University ; Frank S. died at the age of 
 six years; Ethel died aged one year; Frank R. was 
 born July 28, 1875; Fred C, December 25, 1877; 
 and Gertie M. on the 27th of September, 1879. All 
 but the eldest was born in this country. 
 
 Mr. Musson was not the lirst of lii.s family to 
 come to America. An older brother, Thomas F., 
 emigrated to the L'nited States in 1863, and is now 
 a resident of Audubon County, Iowa, where he is 
 extensively engaged in the live-stock business. 
 Our subject makes a faithful and eflicient public 
 ollicer and is highly respected for his many excel- 
 lent traits of character. 
 
 ^|:*JC#?-^.^^--' 
 
 W^l Moine 
 
 ;I L L I A SI J. PRATT, of the Prouty & 
 Company, wholesale grocers of Des 
 les, was born in Hartford County, 
 Conn., in the town of Granb}', April 28, 1843, and 
 is a son of Almarin and Lavina A. (Viets) I'ratt. 
 His parents on boll; sides are descended from old 
 and prominent New England families, and were 
 also natives of Hartford County. 
 
 The subject of this sketch received a common- 
 school education and when sixteen years of ige 
 removed to Painesville, Ohio, where he began his 
 business career as a salesman in a dry-goods house. 
 He continued to make his home in that city until 
 1872, when he married and removed to Cleveland, 
 Ohio. His wedding was celebrated on the 5lh of 
 December, of that year, and his wife, whose maiden 
 name was Miss I\Iarj' A. Russell, was a native of 
 Painesville, and a daughter of David Russell. Five 
 children were born unto thim. three sons and two 
 daughters, but on" ihuigliiir is now deceased. 
 
374 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 'riu'ii- liirtlis (icciDTcii in the folluvving tudcr: Rus 
 sell J.. Everett V., Anna, who died November 3, 
 1887, aged nine years. William J. and Maiy Agnes. 
 
 On going to Cleveland in 1872, Mr. Pratt en- 
 gaged in the manufacture of wooden-ware goods, 
 which business be continued for eight ^-ears. when 
 he removed to Chicago, and became a partner in 
 the firm of S. P. Farrington & Co., wholesale gro- 
 cers, which connection continued until 1884. In 
 that year, Mr. Pratt sold out and came to Des 
 Moines, where he purchased the interest of the 
 Webb estate in tlie wholesale grocery business of 
 Webb & Prouty, of this city, the firm name chang- 
 ing to Prouty & Pratt. The business was carried 
 on under that style until Noveml)er, 1888, when it 
 was incoiporated under the title of the Prouty & 
 Pratt Company'. Mr. Prouty being President, and 
 Mr. Pratt, Vicc-Presi<lent. 
 
 In politics Mr. Pr'itt is an earnest Republican 
 and feels a deep interest in tiio success of the party, 
 but has neither time nor inclination to serve in any 
 olticial capaeit}'. 
 
 U. WILLIAM N. IlKA'l'ON.one of the well- 
 known dental surgeons of Des Moines, is 
 located in business at No. 523 ]>ocust Street. 
 lie was born in Washington County, Pa., in 1847, 
 and is a son of Weaver and IJebecca (Sharj)) Ilca- 
 ton. both of whom were natives of the same State. 
 The Ileaton family has been i)i'ominently con- 
 nected with the iron interests of Pennsylvania for 
 many years, liowen Ileaton, grandfather of our 
 subject, operated an extensive iron founchy for 
 many years, and had tlie honor of inventing the 
 iron mould-board plow, known as the IJull plow, 
 which was a most im|)ortanl improvement in that 
 agricultural implement, and at once was received 
 into favor antl general use, and a few of them are 
 still in use in I'ennsyl vania. lie was a man of 
 much ability and large inventive faculty. His 
 death occurred in Hock Island, III., in 1844. while 
 on a trip to the West for the purpose of viewing 
 the country. 
 
 Weaver Ileaton spent his early lil'e in the Slate 
 
 of his nativity, and there married Miss Sharp, who 
 also belonged to one of the prominent Pennsylva- 
 nia families that settled in Washington County at 
 an early da}'. Hotb were people of intelligence 
 and culture and occupied a high rank in social cir- 
 cles. Their family- numbered eight children, four 
 sons and four daughters. Dr. .Tames C, the eldest 
 son, a homeopathic physician, was a resident of 
 Alliance, Ohio, at the time of bis death, but died 
 in Des Moines, in 1876, while eii route to Santa 
 Barbara, C'al., whither he was going for the benefit 
 of his health; Henry, a surveyor of Atlantic, Iowa, 
 is one of the most eminent mathematic.'aus in the 
 country, standing in the front rank of those who 
 have made that branch of knowledge their special 
 study; the Doctor is the next younger; and 
 ( Jeorge, who completes the quartet of brothers, is 
 a grain merchant of Perrj', Dallas County, Iowa. 
 
 The ability of Dr. Ileaton, both natural and ac- 
 quired, is such as to attract attention and command 
 respect. He was provided with liberal educational 
 advantages, attending the Southern Pennsylvania 
 Normal .School and the Mt. Union College, of Stark 
 Count}-, Ohio. In the last named institution he 
 pursued a course of medical study, but afterwards 
 relin(iuisheil the [ilan of making the medical pro- 
 fession his life work. For a short time he studied 
 medicine in Alliance, Ohio, and after his arri\al 
 in Des Moines, in the fall of 1874, he abandoned 
 mcilicine and decided to turn his attention to the 
 stuily of dentistry, and to prepare himself for that 
 work entered the olllce of Dr. A. Jones. He en- 
 tered upon the practice of dentistry in Des Moines, 
 in the fall of 187."). and during the past fifteen 
 vcars has Ijuilt up an extensive practice, being 
 numbered among the older dental surgeons in the 
 city. 
 
 Dr. Ileaton was united in marriage, at Perry, 
 with Miss Lucinda Willis, a native of Indiana, 
 •■uid a daughter of Harvey Willis, one of the early 
 settlers of Dallas County. Their union h.as been 
 blessed with two sons — Duane and Hal N. 
 
 The Doctor is a well cdiu-atcd gentleman and a 
 student of his profession, keeping well informed 
 concerning the progress made in his line, and ever 
 ready to adopt such improvements as experience 
 shall have shown to be worthy of api)roval. He 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 375 
 
 is a liberal and progressive citizen, anrl takes a 
 commendable interest in whatever tends to pro- 
 mote the welfare of the community. Politically, he 
 is a Republican, and takes an advanced stand on the 
 questions of proiiil)ilioii and woman's suffrage, l)e- 
 lieving that the adoption of tliose measures would 
 advance the best social and moral interests of our 
 State and Nation. 
 
 |Z_^ ALSEY R. LOVE.IOY, deceased, was a na- 
 J; tive of Indiana, born in Connersville, Oc- 
 '^)^ tober 27, 1821. His parents, John and 
 
 (^) Jemima (Kingsbury) Lovejoy, both be- 
 longed to old New England families and leaving 
 the East, emigrated to Connersville, Ind., whence 
 they afterwards removed to Tippecanoe, in the 
 same State. The father there died but the mother 
 is still living and makes her home with her son. 
 Dr. James C. Lovejoy, of Greene County, Iowa, in 
 the ninety-fourth year of her age. They were the 
 parents of eight children, four of whom grew to 
 manhood and womanhood but tiie son above men- 
 tioned is the only one now living. 
 
 At the usual age our subject entered the school 
 room and began familiarizing himself with the 
 rudiments of an English education. Later he en- 
 tered Crawfords College but his attendance thereon 
 was interrupted b^- the sickness and death of his 
 father, which threw him upon his own resources. 
 He was married in Monticello, White Countj'. Ind., 
 on the 12th of June, 18;')!. to Miss Isabella .Slieetz, 
 a ftiost estimable lady, Ijorn in Hampshire County, 
 ^'a., April 6, 1827. She was a daughter of Zebulon 
 and Margaret (Patterson) Sheet/,, who were parents 
 of eight children, four sons and four daughters: 
 Otto, a resident of Southern Indiana; Austin, liv- 
 ing near Sitiux City, Iowa; Eliza became the wife 
 of James Reece, and after his <leatli wedded John 
 Longrior, and her death occurred in Missouri; 
 Moses, who tiled in the fall of 1855, was one of liie 
 [lioneer merchants of Des Moines, belonging to the 
 lirni of J. M. P.. Sheetz, the latter dying in 1851; 
 Mar\ A. became the wife of L. M. Tlioni|)son and 
 both arc now deceased liul left a large family who 
 
 are residents of Minneapolis. Minn.; Mrs. Lovejoy 
 is the next younger; Emily W. is the wife of Rev. 
 Jesse Edwards, a Presbyterian minister who died in 
 Plover, Wis.; and J. B. M. of the linn of Sheetz k. 
 Co. The parents of this family were lifelong 
 members of the Presbyterian Church and the father 
 was a ruling elder for man_y years. They lived 
 earnest, consistent Christian lives and in the vine- 
 yard of the Master performed effective service. 
 =\ After the marriage of Mr. Lovejo^', he and his 
 3'oung bride began their domestic life in Monti- 
 cello, Ind., where he embarked in the mercantile 
 business. At the death of his brother James he 
 came to Des Moines and being favorably impressed 
 with the- cit.y and its |)rospects sold his stock, in 
 Indiana and with his family took up his residence 
 in this city, purchasing an interest in a dry-goods 
 store with which he was connected for the long 
 period of twenty-one years. Not a little of the 
 success of that establishment was due to him and 
 he justly ranked among the leading merchants of 
 Des iNIoincs. His unfailing courtesj', considerate 
 attention to his customers and strict honesty won a 
 liberal |)atronage and he retained the high regard 
 of his jjatrons to the last. He was also honored 
 with several local offices, served on the school 
 board and w.as a member of the city council. 
 
 The union of Mr. and Mrs. Lovejoy was graced 
 with ten children but five have been called to the 
 land beyond. Those living are i\Iary Belle, wife 
 of Rev. Alexander Casky, Presbyterian minister 
 now located near Belfast, Ireland; Chalmers, owner 
 of a ranch in Northwestern Nebraska; William H. 
 L. who makes his home in Denver, Col.; Jonathan 
 E., of this city, and Maggie P.. wife of II. W. 
 Weber, Assistant Secretary of the Loan and Trust 
 Company of Des Moines. 
 
 Mr. Lovejoy was called to his final home on the 
 8th of May, 1875. He was long a meml)er of the 
 Presbyterian Church and a lirm believer in its 
 principles. His home life was of the most [)leasant 
 and his loss to the family circle is one which can 
 never be supplied. His business associates have 
 also felt the loss of an honored and ui)right com- 
 panion and in social circles dee]) regret was called 
 foitli at the announcemdit of his death. Mrs. 
 Lovejoy still sui'. ivc.s iier huNli;niii and makes licr 
 
376 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Iiome ill Dis Jloines wlieri; thirty -six j-ears of her 
 life have been spent. Mr. Lovejoy was an ardent 
 supporter of the anti-slavery movement — doing 
 some effectual work in the movements of the under- 
 ground railroad system which was early organized 
 in Pollv County. Mrs. Lovejoy has been a consist- 
 erit, member of the Presbyterian Church since she 
 was fifteen years old. 
 
 _,/t LP.ERT P. CHAMBERLIN is one of the 
 (@OI representative attorneys of Dcs Moines. 
 He has l)oen a member of the bar of I'olk 
 County since May, 1877, and has gained 
 a re|)ntation of which many an ohler i)ractitioner 
 might well be proud. His ollice is located in East 
 Des Moines, and lie is associated in l)usiness with 
 A. K. Stewart, Jr., under the firm name of Cham- 
 berlin & Stewart. 
 
 ]\Ir. Chamberlin is a native of the Puckej'e State, 
 having been born in .Sciola County, on the lltli of 
 December, 1853. The family to which he bcdongs 
 numbered thirteen children. The parents, Oliver, 
 and Clarissa (Backus) Chamberlin, were also na- 
 tives of Sciota County, Ohio, and were re|)resenla- 
 tives of pioneer families of that section, in I)S57, 
 accompanied by his family, Mr. Chamberlin emi- 
 grated to Iowa, settling in Cambriilge, Story 
 County, where he still resides, lie is an extensive 
 farmer and one of the well-knov,n and respected 
 citizens of that community. His estimable wife died 
 in 1883. Of their family of eight sons and live 
 daughters, five sons and three daughters are living 
 at this writing, in 18'J0. A. C, the eldest, a con- 
 tractor and builder, resides in Stanton, Neb.; Alva 
 is engaged in farming near the same city; Albert 
 P. is the next younger; Dr. A. W. is engaged in the 
 practice of medicine in Stratford, Hamilton County, 
 Iowa; A. M. is a mine operator, residing in Hope, 
 Wyo.; Isadore is the wife of S. Ridiar, of Cam- 
 bridge, Iowa; Mrs. Isabel .Shaw resides in .St. Fran- 
 cis,Kan. ; and Mrs. Carrie Grillith is living in Sloiy 
 County, Iowa. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was reared to the oc- 
 cupation of farming, but tiring of the monotony of 
 
 that life chose a professional career. He received 
 his early education in the district schools and later 
 pursued a scientific course in the State Agricult- 
 ural College of Ames, and subsequently was gradu- 
 ated from the Law Department of Simpson College 
 in 187G. In Ma}- of the following year, he opened 
 an otlice in this city and entered upon a successful 
 career in his chosen profession. He has won an 
 enviable reputation for probity, and enjoys a high 
 standing as citizen, attorney and counselor. He is 
 a member of the Inter-State Deep Harbor Commit- 
 tee, and has given more time, energy and talent to 
 the furtherance of the project for a deep water 
 harbor on the northwest coast of the Gulf of Jlex- 
 ico than any other citizen of Iowa. He has been 
 in the movement from its inception, and the results 
 are certain to demonstrate the value to the West 
 and Southwest of his foresight. Mr. Chamberlin 
 has made a personal inspection of the entire gulf 
 coast, and is enthusiastic and untiring in furthering 
 the enterprise. The bill to appropriate $0,200,000 
 for this undertaking, favorably reported in the 
 United States Senate on the 1 Sth of February, 1 8U0, 
 is largely his handiwork. He has contributed much 
 to current literature on the subject of legislation, 
 and has exercised considerable inthienee on the 
 public mind in this direction. 
 
 Mr. CliMmliiMliu married IMiss Augusta Puis, of 
 Scott Count}', Iowa, daughter of Christian and Jo- 
 anna Puis. Their union has been blessed with one 
 son, Albert lA'a, burn .lanuar}' 20. 1887. In poli- 
 tics Mr. Chamberlin is a Republican. He ranks 
 auK^ng the worth}' and enterprising citizens of Des 
 Moines, and has many friends among his profes- 
 sional brethren as well as in the social circles of 
 life. 
 
 ^^^1 
 
 |(_^ ON. TOM BURKE, the i)resent popular 
 Judge of the Police Court of Dcs Moines- 
 l)^ has passed his entire life in this State, and 
 \^M/ is justly ranked among the leading citizens 
 of Des Moines. He was boin in Marion, Linn 
 County, Iowa, in 185G, but passed the greater part 
 of his boyhood days in Sigourne}', Keokuk County. 
 His father, John Burke, was born in Ireland, but 
 
"HOTX Br *C«>I«^ 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 379 
 
 emigratiug to Iowa, became a [lionoer of Linn 
 County, where he made his liomc until 1857 when, 
 in com|iany with his family he hct-anie a rosirlent 
 of Keokuk County, where he still resides. Judge 
 Burke is the second of three brothers, the eldest of 
 whom, Richard, is now editor and propietor of the 
 What Cheer Re^icrt^r, one of liie leading newspapers 
 of Keokuk County, and John, the 30uugest of the 
 famil}', is now living in St. Johns, N. Dak., and is 
 Countj- Judge of Roulette County. 
 
 The early life of our subject was unmarked by 
 any event of special importance. In the common 
 schools he acquired his [irimary education, which 
 was supplemented by a course in the Iowa Agri- 
 cultural College of Ames, from which institution 
 he was graduated in 1881. The following year he 
 entered the Law Department of Drake University 
 and was graduated in 1883. Soon afterward Judge 
 Burke opened an olHce and embarked in the practice 
 of the legal profession in Des Moines. For about 
 a year he was associated in business with AVilJiara 
 Mcllenry, but subsequently lias been alone. In the 
 niontli of March, 1888. he was elected to the ollice 
 of Judge of tiie Police Court of Des Monies, as tlie 
 successor of Judge F. W. Craig. In March, 18'.)0, 
 he was re-elected to the same ollice. 
 
 Judge Burke is a lawyer of ability, and is a 
 courleous and alTablc gentleman who makes friends 
 wherever he goes. The duties of the position 
 which he now occupies demand the exercise of su- 
 perior judgment and tiic efliciency with wlilch tliese 
 duties are [lerformed is well attested by the satis- 
 faction with which his administration of the otHco 
 is received. As a citizen he is progressive, public- 
 spirited and forward in whatevei tends to ijroniote 
 the best interests of the public. 
 
 *! f» ILLIAM BABB, who resides on sectioi 
 \rJ// liloomfield Township, is engaged in 
 ^5^ dening and fiuit growing. His far 
 
 ILLIAM BABB, who resides on section 17, 
 
 gar- 
 irm, a 
 
 good one of forty-eight acres, is situated within 
 half a mile of the citj' limits, and therefore he can 
 always furnish fresh vegetables to the [jcople of 
 Des Moines. The historv of Ids life is an interest- 
 
 ing one, for since a lad of eleven years he has 
 made his own way in the world, successfuU}' com- 
 bating with its dilliculties and disadvantages. He 
 was born in Ohio County, lud., June 9, 1820, 
 during a temporary sojourn of his parents in that 
 •Slate. He is a son of Noah and Kitty (Phares) 
 Babb. His father was a native of Virginia, born 
 of Scotch and Welsh parentage, and during his 
 earlier years engaged in boating on the Missis- 
 sii)pi, as pilot, running between Louisville and 
 New Orleans. He abandoned that pursuit when 
 forty-two years of age, and gave his attention to 
 contr.acting for railroads and turnpikes, which oc- 
 cupied his attention until 1873. He superintended 
 the Miami Canal, in 1826, and continued work in 
 that line until the year above mentioned, when he 
 took up his residence in Ohio County, Ind., whei'e 
 he engaged in the real-estate business until his death, 
 which occurrcrl November 23, 1889, at the very 
 advanced age of one hundred years and eleven 
 days. He was numbered among the pioneer set- 
 tlers of Hamilton County, Ohio, and wherever 
 known w.as held in the highest regard. He was 
 twice married, his first union being with Nancy 
 Smith. Subsequent to her death he married Kitty 
 Phares, in 1817. This lady was a native of New 
 Jersey antl belonged to a family of P^nglish origin. 
 By their union were born eight children, but only 
 two are living: William, of this sketch; and John, 
 a resident of Hamilton County. Ohio. The mother 
 died in 1832. 
 
 Although boin in Indiana, our subject w.as 
 reared in Hamilton County, Ohio, whither his 
 parents removed when he v^as a babe of three 
 months. He received such educational advan- 
 tages as the common sclu)uls afforded, and re- 
 mained under the [larental roof until his mother's 
 death, which occurred when he was about twelve 
 years of age. He then started out in life for him- 
 self and from that time has made his ovvn wa}- in 
 the world. Obtaining a position as cabin bo}' on 
 the river he served in that capacity until large 
 enough to perform the labors of a deck hand, 
 which he did for a year or two. He next em- 
 barked in garilening, and from that time until 
 twentj'-seven years of age carried on a good busi- 
 ness in that line. He then resumed boating on the 
 
380 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 canal between Cincinnali and Toieilo, but after 
 three years again turneil his attention to gardening, 
 which he continued in Ohio until the fall of 1856, 
 wlien he came to the West. The journey was 
 made by boat to Keokuk and thence by stage to 
 Des Moines. On his arrival lie found, not a beau- 
 tiful city with all the modern conveniences, but a 
 little hamlet, built upon the banks of two rivers, 
 giving little promise of future growth and pros- 
 perity. He determined, however, to try his for- 
 tune in this community, and has never yet had 
 occasion to regret the step. In the spring of 1 857, 
 he began gardening and in the winter engaged in 
 packing pork, continuing the alternate employ- 
 ments until 1862, when he purchased sixty acres of 
 land, the farm upon which he now resides. Thor- 
 oughly understanding the business and wishing to 
 please his customers it was not long before he had 
 built up a good trade, which has steadily increased 
 and is novv quite extensive. In connection with 
 the raising of vegetables he also devotes consider- 
 able attention to the growing of small fruits. 
 
 In 1847 Mr Babb was joined in wedlock with 
 Christina Minshall, and they became the parents of 
 eight chihlien,four of whom arc yet living: Noah, 
 of Hamilton County, Ohio; Alexander, who re- 
 sides on the home farm; Lucina, wife of John 
 Price, of Bloomfleld Township; and Sarah E., wife 
 of M. R. Carson, of Tupcka, Kan. The mother of 
 these children died in 1865, and was buried at Oak 
 (irove Cemetery. She was an estimable lady and 
 for her many excellent traits of character w.as 
 beloved by all. On the 9th of December, 1870, 
 Mr. Babb wedded Mary De Vault, daughter of 
 Noah and Elizabeth (Pendergrass) De Vault, the 
 father a native of Kentucky, the mother of Ohio. 
 Mr. De\ault spent the greater part of his life in 
 farming, and served for a number of years as .Jus- 
 tice of the Pc.ice. He came to Polk County in 1852, 
 and here resided until his death, in 1882, at tiie age 
 of eighty-three years. He survived his wife many 
 years, her death having occurred in 1838. Of 
 their six children, tiiree are now living: Mary A., 
 wife of our subject; Ellen E., widow of Samuel 
 Carson, of Bloomfield Township; and James C. of 
 the same t<)wnshi|). 
 
 in political sentiment. Mr. ISal)!) is a Democrat, 
 
 having supported that party since casting his lirsl 
 vote for James Buchanan. Socially, he is a member 
 of the Indepondent Order of Odd Fellows, but for 
 several years has been unable to attend owing to his 
 eyesight l)eing somewhat affected. He has always 
 taken a deep interest in i)ublic affairs, keejiiug him- 
 self well informed on the leading issues of the day 
 and is a valued citizen. Sec portrait. 
 
 ■^m^m~^ 
 
 ORITZ UIEGELMAN, senior memi)er of 
 ,// \ the lirm of M. Riegelman A- Co., importers 
 1 and wholesale dealers in millinery, fancy 
 goods and notions, is located in l)usiness at 
 Nos. 419 and 421, West Walnut Street, Des Moines, 
 and at No. COl Broadway-, N. Y. The firm is com- 
 posed entirely of the Riegelman family, the part- 
 ners being our subject and bis sons, Henry and 
 Isaac, and was eslal)lished b^- the father in tiie 
 spring of 1871, in a modest way in a room in the 
 Exchange Block, G0x22 feet. The following year 
 he removed to the site of the present commodious 
 establishment, but at first occui)ied only two floors 
 of No. 419. After a few years, their business hav- 
 ing rapidly increased, the}' were compelled to en- 
 large the capacity of the sale and store rooms, and 
 in 1877 erected the brick budding, No. 421, ad- 
 jcining on the west of the store they already occu- 
 pied. Retaining the old stand in addition to the 
 new building, their present quarters comprise a 
 double buikling with an aggregate frontage of 44 
 feet and with a depth of 132 feet. There are four 
 floors with a total area of 23,232 square fee'./. The 
 firm employs, including six traveling salesmen, 
 from fifty to sixt^' people, does an annual l)usiness 
 amounting to from *350,000 and -$400,000, and has 
 a constantly increasing trade. 
 
 Moritz Riegelman, whose name heads this sket<'h, 
 was born in Addelsdorf, Bavaria, March 4, 1834, 
 and is a son of Henry and Fannie (Buckman) 
 Riegleman. He was reared and educated in his na- 
 tive country, and was employed in the line of busi- 
 ness in which he is now engaged until 1850, when 
 he emigrated to America. He made his first loca- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 381 
 
 lion in tliis cumitiy in Cintinnati, Ohio, but soon | voyage at that clay and locaterl in New London, 
 afterward removed to Terre Haute, Ind., and ; Conn. From iiiin the line of descent passes down 
 opened a wholesale rnilliuery estalilislinient i'l that < lliroiij^li Jacoli. Jacob, Silas, Ehiathan, Austin C, 
 
 city. His residence in Des Moines dales from 1871, 
 and in that year he established the house, of whici) 
 lie is still the head. 
 
 Mr. Riegelnian was married in Cincinnati, -lune 
 17, 1853, to iMiss Minnie Simon, a daughter of 
 Isaac and Charlotte Simon. She was born in Ba- 
 varia, Germany, came to America in 1851, and 
 died in Terre Haute, lud., April 26, 1809, leaving 
 a familj' of eight children, three sons and five 
 daughters, all of whom were born in Terre Haute. 
 Henry, the eldest, wedded Miss Ida Mayor, of New 
 York, a daughter of Isaac and Emma Mayor, and 
 unto them has been !)orn a son, Edward, liorn Oc- 
 tober 25, 1887; Isaac is single; Sadie is the w'fe of 
 Joseph May. superintendent of the hat department 
 of the house of M. Riegelraan & Co.; Carrie is the 
 wife of Harry May, of Cincinnati; Rosa married 
 Henry Hiller, of Omaha; Nora is a talented mus- 
 ician and the leading soprano singer of the city. 
 The 3'ounger members of the family' are Charles, 
 Emma and Ilattie, the l.-ist-named having been born 
 of a subsequent marriage. 
 
 Mr. Riegleman is a Democrat in political senti- 
 ment, but has never sought or desired official posi- 
 tion. He is a member of Capital Lodge, No. 110. 
 A. E. ct A. M., and his son. Isaac, belongs to the 
 same order. He and his sons have succeeded in 
 building up a large and prosi)erous business from 
 a small beginning. Their career has been marked 
 with enterprise, fair dealing and the striclest in 
 tegrily, and they are classed among the most suc- 
 cessful and reliable business men of Des Moines. 
 
 ^;RANK E. MUN.SELL. carrl.ige manufac- 
 turer of Des Moines, is a native of Michi- 
 gan, born in Battle Creek. December 7, 
 1854. His family is of English origin and was 
 founded in America by Thomas Munsell about the 
 year 1080. Determining to cast his lot with the 
 emigrants who had already sought homes in the 
 New '\Vf>rld, he braved the perils of an ocean 
 
 Jarvis P., down to our subject. p:;inathan was the 
 first to come West, removing in an early d.a3' to 
 Genesee County, N. Y. Jarvis P. Munsell, the 
 father of our subject, was born in Butler,' Wayne 
 County, N. Y., June 30, 1830. and in early life 
 emigrated to Kalamazoo, Mich., with his father, 
 who erected the first brick house in that city, 
 being a contractor and builder by trade. Jarvis 
 learned the bricklayer's trade, but followed wagon- 
 making as his chief occupation through life. In 
 Kalamazoo, Mich., he wedded Miss Matilda Hall, 
 a native of New York, who was taken to that city 
 in her cliildhood. She pas.sed away some years 
 .ago, but Mr. Munsell is still living in Traverse 
 (Uty, Mich. He was a skillful and conscientious 
 workman, and in old age enjoys the fruit of his 
 honest toil. Politically, he is a Republican, but 
 has never sought oflicial distinction. The fam- 
 ily consisted of two children — Ella, wife of Albert 
 Frost; and Frank E. 
 
 Our subject acquired his education in the com- 
 mon schools and throughout his life has given his 
 attention to mechanical w'ork. As soon as he was 
 old enough to use a pocket knife, he began to show 
 signs of genius in that direction by making sleds 
 and wagons. During his youth he learned to do 
 the wood work in his father's shop, and in JIa\-, 
 187G, he came to Des Moines, where he learned 
 blacksmithing in the carriage shop of his uncle, 
 O. W. Munsell, who was a pioneer of Des Moines 
 that line of business. In 1881 our subject em- 
 barked in business for himself on Third Street, 
 and the following year built his present establish- 
 ment at Nos. 712 and 714 West Locust Street, lie 
 does a safe and subsl:uilial business, having under 
 his immediate supervision every department of the 
 work, and is (ire-eminently fitted for his calling, for 
 notwithstanding there are four distinct trades in 
 the business, he is master of all. 
 
 On the Ulhof December, 1881, in this city, 
 Mr. Munsell was united in marriage with Miss 
 Mary E. Hoff, a native of Des Moines. Their 
 union lias been l)less((l with two children — Orson 
 W. anil Bessie M. Mr. Munsell is a Republican in 
 
382 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 politics anil a member of Eaton Lodge, No. 264, 
 A. O. V. AV. — the banner lodge of tlie State. His 
 wife is a member of the Central Churcii of Christ. 
 The business record of Mr. Miinsell is well 
 worth\- of emulation and furnisiies an example of 
 what can he accomplished by determined energy, 
 perseverance and the exercise of correct business 
 principlcfi. On his arrival in the city, he at once 
 secured employment, but received only *C per 
 week, out of which amount he paid |i board. At 
 len<,nh, through industry and economy, he had 
 accumulated *.jO, which he invested in Govern- 
 ment bonds. Time i)assed, and other investments 
 wliich lie made proving profitable, he soon became 
 established on a firm financial basis, and is now 
 doing a good business. 
 
 -i^— 
 
 -^ 
 
 iiENJAMIN H. McCAIN" of the firm of H. H. 
 
 McCain & Co., was bijrn on New Year's 
 )i I' Day of hS;jG, at Ft. Ciraliot, Mich. From a 
 
 sturdy Irish family he is descended. His 
 liaternal grandfather, William McCain, left his 
 home iu the north of Irelaiul and emigiated to 
 Canada, locating at Port Colburn, Ontario, where 
 he carried on farming for many years. Tiicre he 
 married and by his union were born two sons. 
 Klias, the eldest, started on foot for California dur- 
 ing the gold excitement, but died ere he reached 
 his destination. William, Die youngest sor,and the 
 father of our subject, was born in Ontario, August 
 '24, 1827, and in his youth learned the carpenter's 
 trade, becoming an extensive contractor and builder 
 for the Grand Trunk Railroad Company. In his 
 native city he was joined in wedlock witli Lavine 
 Nelson, who was born in the same province in 
 March, 1827. About 1848, he removed with his 
 family to Ft. Gratiot, Mich., but afterwards re- 
 turned to the old homestead to care for his aged 
 father. His death occurred .September 21, 1879, 
 after which his wife once more went to Michigan, 
 where she died Mari:h 2'J, 1885. IJoth were zealous 
 members of the Presbyterian Church and early in- 
 stilled into the minds of their children the precepts 
 of righteous liviny. Their faniilv numbered twelve 
 
 children, of whom six sons and three daughters are 
 yet living. The sons arc all first class mechanics. 
 .1. W. runs a shop in Deford, Mich.; Charles W. is 
 a machinist in the employ' of B. H. .McCain <fe Co.; 
 lieiijamin II. is the next ^-ounger; Cyrus is a con- 
 ductor on the Grand Trunk Bailroad ; Williaiu is 
 also a machinist for the B. H. McCain Company, 
 and Governor completes the family. 
 
 The subject of this sketch spent his early life in 
 the same neighborhood with Mr. F^dison, the fa- 
 mous electrician and in their school days they were 
 phiyinnles. He received but a limited education 
 for in earl}' life he began to make his own living, 
 entering iii)on his business career as a newsboy on 
 a train, selling the Eiitorpris.i\a. pa[(er published by 
 Jidison. It was a four page, two column journal, 
 five by seven inches in dimension. When only 
 twelve 3-ears of .nge he went to work for the Gov- 
 ernment, carrying messages for the chief engineer, 
 and his duties often brought him face to face with 
 great dangers, especially in taking messages to light- 
 houses across rougli waleis. His wages, however, 
 were a great temptation to a boy — $2 i)er day. 
 Having served in that ca|)at'ity three summers, at 
 the age of lifteen he entered the (irand Trunk Lo- 
 comotive Works to learn the trade of a niachinist, 
 to wliich he applied himself diligently for six 
 years, becoming master of the business. He then 
 spent one year at work in Chicago, and in IH80 
 came on a visit to Iowa, stopping l)y chance at I)es 
 Moines. While looking through a sli0|) in this city 
 he was asked if he was a machinist and draftsman, 
 and rei>lying in the aliirmativc was offered a posi- 
 tion vvliicli lie accepted. He made the first draw- 
 ing of the Dexter Pa))er Folder, but soon after- 
 ward he returned to Chicago to work for his 
 former employer. In the meantime the Dexter Man- 
 ufacturing Corapau}' was organized and he was 
 called to take charge of tiieir plant, continuing to 
 serve that company until 1883, when witli a partner 
 he established the Iowa Iron and Brass Works. 
 Four years later W. H. Welch bought out his part- 
 ner and the linn naiiie of B. H. McCain it Co. was 
 assumed. They do a good business, employing 
 some eighteen men and their shop, a large brick 
 one covers an area of 50x132 feet. 
 
 At Ft. Gratiot, Mich., December 11, 187'J, Mr, 
 

 )^r- ^ i^. 
 
 ^Z-.J> 
 
 l^ 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 38.i 
 
 McCain was united in marriage with Miss Fi-ances 
 A. Bryant, a native of Chicago, and a daughter of 
 Ca|)t. D. H. Bryant, one of tiie oldest captains on 
 the lakes. Unto them have been born six children 
 — William A., Benjamin John.'IIatlie Mabel, wlio 
 died aged three years, Minnie, Franklin and 
 Charles, who died in infancy. 
 
 Mr. McCain is a member of two social orders — 
 the United Workmen and Select Knights, and, like 
 his fa'her, is a stanch Democr.at. He started in life 
 a d.a}' Laborer but has steadily pressed forward, 
 overcoming all obstacles until he is now at the head 
 of one of the leading industries of the ca|)ital city. 
 
 I>;ILLIAM FITCH CONRAD, .Judge of the 
 \V/"v// ^ '"'''' 'Tudicial District, li.as been a resident 
 )^j of Des Moines since the autumn of 187G. 
 The history of his life, which we feel will he of 
 interest to the readers of the Album, is as follows: 
 He is a native of the Em|)ire State, having been 
 born in Ithaca, in Tompkins County, November 7, 
 182G. His parents were George P. and Rachel 
 (George) Conrad, the former of German descent 
 and the latter of English origin. Judge Conr,ad 
 can boast f)f Uevolutionar3- ancestry, his |iaternal 
 grandfather having been a sohlier in the War for 
 Independence, in which he rose to the rank of 
 Major. 
 
 AVhen onr subject was a lad of fifteen years his 
 father removed with his family to Brantford. in 
 what was then Canada West. When the discovery^ 
 of gold was made on the Pacific Slope in 181SI, he 
 crossed the plains to California, and died a victim 
 of disease, which carried off so many of the earl^' 
 adventurers to that country. His widow continued 
 to reside in Canada until her death. Of their 
 family of seven children one died in childhood, 
 while three sons and three daughters reached ma- 
 ture years. Those living are: William Filch, of 
 this sketch; Ransom Bartlett, a f.arnier of Lucas 
 County, Iowa; John, a resident of Burlington, 
 Iowa; and Mary L., widow of O. F. Montfort. 
 
 Judge Conrad jirepared for college in the Gene- 
 see Wesleyan Seminary, at Lima, N. Y., and was 
 
 graduated from the Wesleyan University at Mid- 
 dletown, Conn., in the class of '53. Soon after his 
 literary education was completed he went So'itli 
 and took charge of a female acadcm3' in Port 
 Gibson, Miss., and while thus employed spent his 
 leisure hours in the study of law. He was .ad- 
 mitted to the bar in 185.3, and the same year came 
 to Iowa, locating in Burlington, where he engaged 
 in the practice of his profession until August, 18G2. 
 He then enlisted for the late war in Company- G, 
 Twenty-fifth Iowa Infantr}'. He was made Ser- 
 geant-Major before entering the field. He at once 
 went with his regiment to Helena, Ark., and served 
 with that rank until December following, when he 
 was made acting First-Lieutenant of Conqiany K, 
 of the same regiment. His command shortly after 
 joined Gen. Sherman's army, then oper.ating against 
 Vicksburg. Before Judge Conrad's commission as 
 Lieutenant vvas received, although he had been re- 
 commended for such, he w.as elected Captain of the 
 company, and at once entered upon the duties of 
 that rank. On May 24, 1863, when engaged with 
 his command at R.aymond, in the rear of Vicks- 
 burg, he was ca()tured by the Confederates and 
 conveyed to Libby Prison, where he was confined 
 from June 3, 18G3, to May G. 18G-1, or nearly a 
 year. Gen. Grant had now made considerable 
 progress in his campaign against Richmond, and 
 for greater safetj- many prisoners were sent far- 
 ther south. Judge Conrad .and others were take:i 
 to Danville, Va., but soon after transferred to 
 Macon, Ga., and on July 28, of the same y'oar, he 
 was one of six hundred who were taken to Charles- 
 ton, S. C, and pl.accd under fire of our own guanis 
 to prevent the Union war vessels from shelling the 
 city. There he was detained until the 5tli of Oc- 
 tober, when he and his fellow prisoners were taken 
 to Columbia, in the same State. ^Vllile there, on 
 the 29th of November, L8Gt, with a companion 
 (George II. Morris^*, of the Twelfth Iowa Regi- 
 ment), he effected his escape, and reached the 
 Union picket post at Strawberry Plains about six- 
 teen miles from Knoxville, Tenn., arriving on the 
 7th of January, 18fi5, about six weeks after they 
 h.ad succeeded in eluding their guard and making 
 their escape. 'I'heir sufferings from hunger and 
 exposure were very great, but they encountered on 
 
386 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 the wny many culored |)CO|)le who administered to 
 their wants as far as they were able. After reach- 
 ing the Union lines, Judge Conrad obtained a 
 leave of absence of thirty days, and returned iioine. 
 but l)efore the e.vpiraLion of his furlougii he was 
 sent on detached service to Ft. Snelling, Minn., 
 where he remained until the close of the war. 
 .Tudge Conrad's army life, but more especially his 
 prison life, had much impaired his iiealth, and sev- 
 eral j-ears passed before lie returned tcj liis former 
 he.altiiful physical condition. In the fall of 18G5, 
 he engaged in the practice of law at Canton, Mo., 
 where he continued until the autumn of 1876, 
 when he came to Des Moines and engaged in the 
 practice of his profession, iu which he continued 
 until elected to the bench in 1886. lie w.is for 
 several years associated with W. \V. I'liillips, ex- 
 County Attorney Of Polk Count3 . 
 
 On January 22, 1853, Judge Conrad was united 
 in marriage, in Aurora, N. Y., to Miss Harriet S. 
 Pierce, a native of Maine. He was bereft of his 
 wife by death, April 27, 1888. Two children were 
 born to them — AVilliam Fitch, Jr., and H.attie L., 
 who, in August, 1889. was married to John Trepa- 
 nier, of Des Moines. 
 
 Judge Conrad is an able lawyer, and his record 
 on tiie bench is one tliat entitles him to nnicli crdit 
 as a man of the highest integrity. He was a brave 
 soldier who fought for his country, and is a wor- 
 thy and respected cilizcn. 
 
 A portrait of Judge Conr.ad will be found on 
 another page of this volume. 
 
 — ^ 
 
 -^^ 
 
 yOIlN H. HOLLAND is tiie senior partner 
 of the firm of Holland S; New, retail dealers 
 in paints, wtill paper, glass, oils, etc. Mr. 
 Holland began business iu this line in 1878, 
 at No. 606 Walnut Street, but after a year removed 
 to .Sixth Street, where he continued business .as a 
 partner of Henry S. New. Their constantly in- 
 creasing trade forced them to seek more commo- 
 dious riuarters. and in 1884 they removed to No. 
 610 Locust Street, where they arc still doing busi- 
 ness. 'I'liey have llieie a laige store-room, which 
 
 is filled with a supply' of pai)er, paints, oils and 
 glass, and in connection with their retail trade they 
 keep employed about twenty men, engaged in 
 l)ainting, pnperhanging, frescoing and sign writing. 
 Theirs is the most extensive business in this line in 
 the city, and is numbered among the leading in- 
 dustries of Des Moines. The courteous manner of 
 the gentlemen comprising the firm, their fair and 
 honest dealing, and the able manner in which their 
 work is performed has secured them a liberal pat- 
 ronage from the start. 
 
 Mr. Holland is a native of Pittslield, Mass., born 
 Ai>ril 14, 1839. The family is of English descent, 
 and was established in America at an early da}-. 
 His father, John M. Holland, a native of Virginia, 
 was also a dealer in paints, oils and glass, which 
 business he carried on iu Pittslield for more than 
 fifty j-ears. His trade extended over a wide belt 
 of territory, and he gained quite a reputation in 
 that line, but after a long and successful business 
 career of half a century he sold out, and is now 
 living a retired life in Pittsfield. His wife, whose 
 maiden name was Mary Lavery, was also of Eng- 
 lish descent. For m.any years Ihey traveled life's 
 journey together, but in November, 1885, Mrs. 
 Holland, who was a faithful member of the Meth- 
 odist ICpiscopal Church, was called to her final 
 rest. Mr. Holland is an honored citizen of Pitts- 
 field, having by his upright life won the respect 
 and confidence of those with whom he h.as come in 
 contact. This worth}' couple were the i)ari nts of 
 nine children, five of whom are jet living — John 
 H., of this sketch, is the eldest of those surviving; 
 George A. makes his home in Pittsfield, Mass.; 
 Dwight resides in Springfield, M.ass. ; Walter P. is 
 also a resident of Pittsfield; and Mary E. is the 
 wife of Dwight Blinn, of Westfield, .Mass. 
 
 The subject of this notice, John II. Holland, 
 spent the days of his boj'hood and youth in the 
 city of his nativitj', and in the public schools re- 
 ceived a good education. He left the parental roof 
 wiien seventeen years of age to fit himself for a 
 business career. He chose the one in which he is 
 now engaged, and going to New York City, learned 
 the trade of frescoing and sign-writing, serving an 
 aiiiirenticeship of three years. He then visited va- 
 rious cities of the East in search of a location, but 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 .•■;s7 
 
 retiiriRMl to Pittsfield and entered into ijartnership 
 with Lis father. In the fall of 18G4 lie laid aside 
 business cares and enlisted in the service of his 
 country as a nietnlter of Company A. Sixly-lirst 
 Massachusetts Infantry. Willi his coninianii. he 
 was at once sent to the front, and i)articii)ated in 
 the battle of Hatches' Run and the siege and cap- 
 ture of Petersburg and Richmond. The Sixty-first 
 was the first r"giment to enter the city after its sur- 
 render. He remained in active service until after 
 the downfall of Lee, when he marched to Arling- 
 ton Heights, and thence to Washington, where he 
 participated in tiie grand review, which every sol- 
 dier remembers with a thrill of pride. In f.act, it 
 was the greatest military pageant ever seen on the 
 face of the globe, and the boys in blue nia}' well 
 feel it an honor to have participated in that crown- 
 ing event of the war. Mr. Holland received his 
 discharge in Reedville, Mass., and immediately after- 
 ward returned to Pittsfield, again joining his father 
 in business. As before stated, their efforts were 
 croA'ned with prosperity, and having accumulated 
 some ca[)ital. he determined to come to the West 
 and embark in business for himself. He reached 
 l)es Moines in 1878, and from that time forsvard has 
 occupied a i)rominent place in the business circles 
 of this city. 
 
 On the 30lh of September, 18.59, Mr. Holland 
 was united in the hol_y bonds of matrimony with 
 Eveline H. Seevers, of Cincinnati, and five children 
 graced their union — Cliarles A., a scenic artist, en- 
 gaged in business in Denver, Col.; John E.. a book- 
 keeper in the employ of tho Ilaxtum Steam Heating 
 Company, of Minneapolis; Anna B., Mabel and 
 Ruth at home. The mother of these children died 
 on the 5th of Maj', 1884. A member of the Meth- 
 odist Church, she lived a consistent Christian life, 
 doing tiic will of the Master as far as al)le. On the 
 7th of November, 1888, Mr. Holland wedded Mrs. 
 Mary E. Koenig, of St. Louis, a most estimable 
 lady. 
 
 Mr. Holland is an industrious and energetic man, 
 who, by the exercise of correct business principles, 
 has worked his way upward to a position of afflu- 
 ence. Pul)lic-spirited and progressive, his aid is 
 never solicited in vain for the support of social, 
 moral, educational, or anj' other interests (•alcul!Ue<) 
 
 to benefit the community . Mc feels a deep pride 
 ill the growth and develo()ment of t!ic city in 
 which he makes his home, but has never sought for 
 ollicial distinction. He casts his li:dlot with the 
 Democratic party, and socially, is a .Mason, having 
 united vvitli that order in 18G(;. Both he and his 
 wife are members of the Methodist Church. 
 
 lyiLLIAM MONTGOMERY, a real-estate 
 dealer and builder of Des Moiner, and one 
 }^'^' of its prominent citizens, was born in 
 Lee County, Iowa, May 14, 1842, and is the young- 
 est son of Samuel and Mary (Purcell) Montgomery 
 Ilis father was a native of New .lersey, born in 
 1803, and when a yo\ing lad was left an orphan l)y 
 the death of his iwrcnts — David ftlontgomery and 
 wife. He then made his home with his grand- 
 father, Samuel Howell, with whom he removed to 
 Indiana, where he afterward became acquainted 
 with and married Miss Purcell, a native of I'cnn- 
 s_vlvania, born December IG, I80G. In 1811 they 
 emigrated to Iowa, locating near Ft. Madison, 
 where the Indians were frecpient visitors at their 
 home, while wolves were often seen in tlie neigh- 
 l)orhood. Some fifteen years later they removed 
 to Washington County, vphcre the father died in 
 1872. He was an industrious, hard-working man, 
 and labored diligently for the interests of his fam- 
 il3'. At the age of sixt^-live years he cradled and 
 bound grain with cpse. He did much for the up- 
 building of Iowa in its earl3' days, and was a use- 
 ful citizen of the community in which he made his 
 home. Both he and his wife were meinbcrs of the 
 Christian Church, and in their loyalty to the M.as- 
 ter never wavered. In political sentiment, Mr. 
 Montgomery was a Whig, supporting that pnrty 
 tnilil its dissolution, when he joined the new 
 Republican party. He was an entlnisiastic sup- 
 porter of the Government during the Civil War. 
 and gave two sons to the service. He enlisted in 
 the Iowa •'( J re\' beards," but was rejected on ac- 
 count fif his age. Of his family of seven children 
 live are yet living — Sarah, wife of William S|ie|)- 
 
38« 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 herd; John, a merchant of Des Moines; Lee <)., 
 a real-estate dealer of this city; Martha, wife of J. 
 Beanblossoin, and William. James, the eldest son, 
 was kill(>d at Spanish Fort in 1865, while serving 
 in the Nineteenth Iowa Infantr3'. The mother was 
 called from this life November 2S), 1889. 
 
 Our subject, in his youth, endured the hardshi|)S 
 and privations of pioneer life on a farm. He re- 
 ceived liis education in the district schools, having 
 to walk two miles and a half to the school. Early 
 inured to arduous labor, he was strengthened for tlic 
 battle of life, which lie has fought most bravely. Pur- 
 ch.asing his time of his father, he started out when 
 twenty years of .age to make his own waj' in the 
 world, and like many who have achieved honor- 
 able positions and won the respect of their fellow- 
 men, he embarked ui)on his business career as a 
 book agent. Later he followed farming for three 
 years, and during the close of the war handled 
 fruit, hauling by w.agon from Missouri and selling 
 in Iowa. In 18G7 he went to Winterset, Iowa, 
 where he broke prairie until coming to Des IMoines 
 the following year. Soon after his arrival in this 
 city he engaged in the lightning rod and pump 
 trade, and in the two branches continued business 
 on an extensive scale. In the meantime he also 
 branciied out as a real -estate dealer. lie kept from 
 twenty to thirty men, part of whom were em- 
 ployed in building houses, and .as the result of his 
 energy and enterprise in that direction, some sixty 
 or more dwellings now beautify the city, together 
 with a number of business houses. Mr. Mont- 
 gomery takes rank among the prominent and relia- 
 iile real-estate dealers of Des Moines, and deserves 
 no little credit for the active interest which he has 
 taken in ihe uplniilding of the city. He alw.ays 
 lias liclil large agricultural landed interests, and 
 continues to deal in farm property. His entire 
 possessions have been acquired through industry, 
 close attention to business and good judgment, for 
 h(! had no capital with which to begin life. In 
 politics, ho is a Republican, having supported that 
 party since attaining his majority. 
 
 On the 6th of March, 1878, Mr. Montgomery 
 I(h1 to the marriage altar Miss Mary Brelim, who 
 was burn in Chicago, .luly IC), I8.')r), and is a 
 daughter of John Ailani :iii<l Camllne ((lauch) 
 
 Hrehm. Her father was born July 20, 1830, in 
 Exweiler, Rhine Province, Dreir Bazierk, Prussia. 
 German}', and was the son of a wealth}' landowner, 
 who w.as also Mayor of the town. As John Adam 
 neared the age that his country' would require his 
 service in the standingarraj', his father determined 
 to send him to America to become a free citizen. 
 Hfc came in 1849, and afterward twice visited his 
 native country, but willingly returned to his 
 .adopted home in the city of Chicago. November 
 10, 1851, he married Miss Gauch, who was born in 
 Painesville, Ohio, May 14, 1832. Her parents, 
 Jacob and Katharine (Ramsberger) Gauch, were 
 also natives of Germany. The former was born in 
 Meisenheim, Germany, in Ma}', 1798, and the latter 
 in Eunella, Rhine Province, Bavaria, in 1 792. 
 Mrs. Gauch died in Chicago, October 3, 18C8. 
 This worthy couple emigrated to New York, later 
 to Ohio, .and at length became residents of Chi- 
 cago, in 1843, when it was but a mere village on a 
 wet swamp. The death of Mr. Brehm occurred at 
 his home in 1867, after which his widow married 
 Jacob Buechsenstein, of Ottawa, 111., who died 
 some years later. She then came to Des Moines, 
 where she still lives. Mrs. Montgomery is tl:e 
 only one of her four children yet living. Two of 
 the luunbei^ died in infancy, and the son, Adam, 
 Ixiru in Chicago, October I, 1852, died in Ottawa, 
 111., April 3, 1873. To Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery 
 have been born three children — Minnie G., Carrie 
 May and Ruth lirehni. 
 
 ^;RED E. REDHEAD, proprietor and nianu 
 '(J) facturer of the patent process coal, well de- 
 serves mention in this volume as one of the 
 leading ooal merchants of Des Moines. Hes])rings 
 from a' substantial English famil}'. His father, 
 Edward Redhead, brother of Wesley, the noted 
 pioneer of Des Moines, was a native of Norlhuni- 
 berland County, England, and in 1829 crossed the 
 Atlantic with his parents, who settled in Montreal, 
 Canada, where they died (luring the cholera scourge 
 of 1831-32, leaving a family of seven children, 
 six sons and a daughter. Left an orphan at an 
 
■^ 
 
 v 
 
 
 '2^^^^-z^- 
 
 '--(>t^^C<5~tL^v_^ 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 SOI 
 
 early age, Edward was forced to begin life for him- 
 self, aud ever afterward made his own way in the 
 world. He made carpentering his life wc)rk. and 
 through that agency accumulated a comfortable 
 competence. Coming to liie West, he m;ide ids 
 home for manj- years in Iowa City, but is now 
 living in LaCrosse, Wis. For a companion in life 
 1)6 chose Miss .Sarah Stover, a native of Pennsyl- 
 vania, who died about 1867, leaving four ciiildren, 
 two sons and two daughters, of whom three are 
 3'et living. 
 
 The subject of this sketch, wiio was born De- 
 cember 7, 1861, in Iowa Citj-, is the youngest of 
 the family, and was only about six years of age at 
 the time of his mother's death. He was educated 
 in the public schools of LaCrosse, Wis., until about 
 thirteen years of age, when he came to Des Moines 
 to live with his uncle, Weslej^ Redhead, who 
 proved a father to him in the fullest sense of the 
 word. On his graduation from the Des Moines 
 Higii Sc1iO(j1 he entered his uncle's office, and after 
 serving in the capacitj^ of clerk for two years 1)C- 
 came identified with the Polk County Coal Com- 
 pany, of which he was Manager some ten years, 
 when the conipan}' was dissolved. In 1889 he 
 opened the Coal Palace, of which he is now sole 
 proprietor. Mr. Redhea 1 belongs to tvvo social 
 orders, the Alasonic and the Knights of Pythias, 
 and has taken the Knight Templar Degree in the 
 former. Ho is a Republican in politics, and a 
 member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, as 
 were also his parents. He is a competent Inisiness 
 man. and iiis dealings have been universally- cjiar- 
 aeterized by justice and honesty. 
 
 T/ ANDON HAMILTON is one of the well- 
 ) known citizens of Des Moines, who has been 
 identified with the history of the city since 
 1854. When he came to Iowa, Des Moines, which 
 is now by far the most important city of the State, 
 was then but a village, and had scarcely' begun to 
 assume any importance. With the growth and 
 prf)gress of the cn[)ital city Mr. Hamilton has Ium'u 
 prominently connected, and he is numliered with 
 
 the remaining few whose coming dates liack to 
 18.")l. He is a, native of Virginia, having lieen 
 born in Loudoun County, that State, about 1820. 
 His parents were James and Hannah Hamilton, and 
 he was one of three children, but is now the only 
 surviving member of the family. His brother died 
 at the rige of twenty-four 3'ears, and his sister in 
 the sixteenth year of her age. When Mr. Hamilton 
 was eighteen years old he left his father's home and 
 started out into the world for himself, going di- 
 rectly to Knox County. Ohio. Later he became a 
 resident of Adams County, that State, whence he 
 emigrated to Iowa in 1810. It has been said that 
 every man has a natural inclination toward some 
 pursuit in life for which he is especially endowed, 
 and if permitted to follow his inclination and en- 
 gage in the pursuit for which he seems best fitted, 
 that his success in life is assured. Be that true or 
 otherwise, so far as the general rule is concerned, 
 with the subject of this sketch it has proved emi- 
 nently correct. Possessing from his early boyhood 
 an admiration for the works of nature, and reared 
 on the frontier of civilization, where opportunities 
 for the study of books were extremely limited, it 
 was necessary that his desires be gratified, if grati- 
 fied at all, 1)}' personal observation and experience. 
 In 1810 the Territory of Iowa was but sparsely 
 settled, and when, in that year, Mr. Hamilton lo- 
 cated in what is now Keokuk Count}-, he found 
 only a few inhabitants, while wild game of all kinds 
 was abundant, and Indians were still frequently 
 seen. Accustomed as lie was to the use of the gun 
 from his early boyhood, he now found ample op- 
 l)ortunity for indulging his fondness for the ch.ase, 
 and, like Nimrod of old, he l)ccame a "mighty 
 hunter." He made hunting and trap[)ing not only 
 a pastime but a business, from which he realized a 
 a fine income. As already stated, in 1854, he came 
 to Des Moines, and continued for many years to 
 follow that pursuit, and also that of fur buying. 
 Investing the proceeds of his business in Des 
 Moines properly, he now owns a fine and valuable 
 l)lock in this city. From the year 1854 until ISGO 
 j\Ir. Hamilton was engag(id principally in bujing 
 and selling furs, and did but little hunting and 
 tra[iping himself during that period. He aban- 
 doned the chase about 1868. In 1816 he began 
 
392 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 kee|)iiig a '•sporting book." in wbieli he entered llie 
 number of different kinds of game that he killed 
 from year to year. We cop}- from that volume the 
 number of some of the principal kinds of game 
 killed by him in order to give an approximate idea 
 of what he accomplished. These figures indicate 
 the aggregate amount of game killed from 1 846, 
 and may be relied upon as absolutely correct, as 
 the numbers were entered by Mr. Hamilton at the 
 time the game was secured: 100 deer, 10 elks, 220 
 beavers, 83 otters, 014 minks, 67 prairie wolves, 
 several timber wolves, 223 coons, 150 turkeys, 31 
 foxes, and other game of different kinds too numer- 
 ous to mention. 
 
 Several years ago Mr. Hamilton retired from 
 active business, having acquired sullicient means to 
 enable him to spend the remainder of his life in 
 comfort, and in the pursuit of the stud^' of natural 
 history' and other sciences. He set about collecting 
 specimens in natural history, geology, mound rel- 
 ics, etc. He fitted up an upper room in one of his 
 residences as a receptacle, where his collection forms 
 as fine a private museum as can be found in Iowa. 
 Here ma}' be si'cn nearly the entire fauna of the 
 State, with valuable specimens of natural history 
 from various other i)artsof the country. Mr. Ham- 
 ilton is a skilled taxidermist, and has prepared for 
 exhibition all his specimens of the animal kingdom. 
 His long experience in hunting and trapping has 
 given him a perfect knowledge of the habits of ani- 
 mals and Ijirds. and the various positions thej' as- 
 sume under different circumstances, so that he is 
 enabled to give his specimens a most natural and 
 life-like appearance. Ilis collection of mound rel- 
 ies is very full and complete, containing over two 
 thousand arrow heads, and man}' other interesting 
 siiecimens of the Rlound Builder's skill. It would 
 be impossible in an article of this character to men- 
 tion in d{-tail all the interesting features of Mr. 
 Hamilton's valuable collection, the gaining of which 
 has been attended with much laljor and expense. 
 One of the most prominent objects in the collection 
 is the jaw l)one of a whale, which is nineteen feet 
 in length and weighs live hundred and thirty 
 pounds, being one of the largest ever o[)tained. 
 The collection also contains a number of mastodon 
 bones, found in Iowa and othei' States, and a large 
 
 collection of crinoids and other fossils of a most 
 interesting and wonderful character. 
 
 Mr. Hamilton uniformly takes tlie first premium 
 at the Iowa State Fairs in conchology and zoologj', 
 the latter including animals, insects, birds and ser- 
 pents; and in 1889, also took first special premium 
 on the best exhibition of birds, and for the best 
 collection of the natui'al woods of Iowa, numbering 
 about ninet}' kinds. For several years he made a 
 special study of that branch of natural historj- 
 called entomology or insect life. He finds this 
 department of the science a most interesting one. and 
 has a valuable collection of specimens of the insect 
 world. Thus is Mr. Hamilton enabled to gratify 
 his love of the study of nature, and to make valua- 
 ble use of the knowledge acquired by long j^eai's of 
 experience. AVc have thus given a brief sketch of 
 one of Des Moines' early ami most esteemed citi- 
 zens, of one who came to Iowa in the eaily day of 
 its history, the greater part of whose seventy ^ears 
 has been spent within its borders, and who expects 
 when the summons comes, to here lay aside the 
 cares of life, to be buried in our beautiful ceme- 
 tery- on the spot which he has selected for his final 
 resting place, and on that spot will be erected a 
 beautiful monument, the design of which is of his 
 own choosing, and surely this moiuuncnt will mark 
 the burial place of a worth}' and useful citizen. 
 See [tortrail. 
 
 ^r^KORGE W. BARNS, of Des Moines, is a 
 
 '11 ^ — , son of William Strange Barns, one of the 
 'V^jJ[( early settlers of this city. His father was 
 born in Troy, Ohio, April 28, l.S15,and is a son of 
 Lemon .). and Jane Barns, who removed from 
 Kentucky, becoming pioneer settlers of Miami 
 County, Ohio, where they spent the remainder of 
 their days. Both died on the 23d of August, 
 1838, and wore buried in the same grave. Their 
 family numbered seven children who grew to ma- 
 lure years, five sous and two daughters. Of the 
 former Hugh was the eldest; Thomas J., who set- 
 tled in Indianola, Iowa, in 18;")7, but afterward en- 
 gaged in the mercantile business in this citv, and 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 393 
 
 subsequently returned to Indiauola, where his 
 death occurred; George W., who was a resident of 
 Tro}', Oliio, died at his liomc in 1838; William 
 Strange is the next j-ounger; Albert R. continued 
 to make his home in Miami County, Ohio, until 
 death; Rachel, the elder daughter, born in 1821, 
 and Margaret P., horn in 1824, are deceased. 
 
 William S. Barns, father of our subject, grew to 
 manhoood in his native county, fjid was there mar- 
 ried. September 4, 1838. to Miss Nancy M. De'w- 
 wese, who was born in Virginia, May 25, 1820, and 
 when a child removed with her parents to IVIiami 
 County'. In 185o, accompanied 1)3' his family, he 
 came to Iowa, and for about two years was engaged 
 in milling and the live-stock business in Somerset, 
 Warren Count}-, but in the autumn of 1857 he re- 
 moved to Des Moines, where he engaged in mer- 
 chandising near the corner of Second and Court 
 Avenue, and also continued the stock business. 
 Prosperity attended his efforts, and he established 
 a branch store iu Decatur, in the southern part of 
 tlie count}', but when the war broke out he left 
 home and became a sutler in the army of Gen. 
 Lane, in Missouri. Returning home in 1864, he 
 disposed of his business interests in tliis city and went 
 to the South, having bought a large plantation con- 
 sisting of about three thousand acres near Houston, 
 Tex., which proved an unprofitable investment. 
 After a few years spent in the South he once more 
 returned to liis home in tlie caiMtal city of Iowa. 
 His death resulted from paralysis in Marcii, 18G8. 
 He was a prominent and successful business man, 
 and a worthy and respected citizen. His wife is 
 still living at tiie okl home in this city. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Barns were parents of six children, 
 five of whom are living — Jennie, the eldest, is the 
 wife of J. V. Kemp, of St. Louis, Mo. ; James L, 
 resides in Hot S|)rings, Ark.: Loretta is the wife of 
 J. H. Walsh, of Dcs iMoines; Zelora E. is deceased ; 
 George W. is the fifth in order of liirth; and Mav- 
 garet is the wife of II. C. Luey, of St. Louis, Mo. 
 
 (u'orge W. Barns, whose name stands at the 
 head of this sketch, like his father is a native of 
 the Buckeye Stale. He was born in Miami County. 
 Sei)tember 1, ISIS, and was therefore about eight 
 years of age when he accompanied his parents to 
 Iowa, lie well lomembers man}- incidents C)f the 
 
 trip, although thirty-five years have elapsed since 
 that time. The family proceeded down the Ohio 
 River to its mouth, then up the Alississippi to Keo- 
 kuk, and across the country with team to their des- 
 tination, such being the means of travel employed 
 by the emigrants of that early day. Mr. Barns 
 still lives at the old home, where the famil}- took 
 up their abode so long ago. Since attaining to 
 mature j'ears many business enterprises have en- 
 grossed his attention, and he now devotes the 
 greater part of his time to his valuable real estate 
 in the cit}-. 
 
 Mrs. Barns was formerly Miss Nettie Ilolden, a 
 daughter of Lewis A. Holden, who left his home in 
 Indiana to become a citizen of Des Moines, where 
 he died in June, 1882. Her mother is still living 
 in this city. Our subject and his worthy wife, 
 who are widely known throughout the community, 
 hold a high position in the social world, and well 
 deserve the esteem and respect which is accorded 
 them. 
 
 -4- 
 
 -^^ 
 
 -^ 
 
 I^RANK H. PERRY, one of the younger 
 1— HJgi members of the bar of Des Moines, is a na- 
 J, tiveof the old Granite State, his birth hav- 
 
 ing occurred in Claremont, Sullivan County, in 
 18.")6. His i)arents were Charles L. and Dorothy 
 (Mitchell) Perry. The former died manj- years 
 ago. but the mother, who is a sister of Judge John 
 ]\Iitchcll, of this city, still resides on the old home- 
 stead in Claremont, N. II. There were four broth- 
 ers of the faniil}-, of whom our subject was second 
 in order of liirlli. namelv: Charles E.. of Clare- 
 mont, N. H.; Frank II.; Theodore, also a resident 
 of Claremont; and Arthur, who makes his home in 
 Chicago, III. 
 
 Frank II. Perry received lilicrnl educational ad- 
 vantages in his youth, and by nature and acquire- 
 ments is well fitted for the profession which he has 
 chosen as his life work. After graduating from-the 
 Higli School of his native town, he was for some 
 time a student of Kiniliall I'nion Ai'adem\'. and 
 subsequently engaged in the study of law in his na- 
 tive Uivvn. In 187!l he came to Des .Aloines. where 
 he resumed his legal studies under the diii'ction of 
 
394 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Parsons & Runnells, one of the leading law firms of 
 the eaintal cil^'. After his admission to the bar In ; 
 1880. he formed a partneishlp with (ialusha Par- 
 sons, which connection was continued until the fall ^ 
 of 1888, siiifc which time Mr. Perry has been alone 
 in practice. It will ))e seen that he has been a 
 member of the bar of Polk County since 1880. , 
 Ten years is a short time in which to gain a repn- I 
 tation, especially in a city the size of I)es Moines, 
 yet he has won favor with thei)ublic, and is rapidly 
 working his way upward. lie occupied the posi- 
 tion of assistant United Slates Attorney, under 
 Joliu L. Runnells, Esq., for two years, in 1883 and 
 1884, and al)ly discharged tlic duties of that posi- 
 tion. In his political alliliations, he is a supporter 
 of the Republican parly. 
 
 Mr. Perr}' was married in Des Moines, in No- 
 vember, 1888, to Miss Ida Kurtz, a most estimable 
 lady of this city. Both are wcUkuown in the com- 
 munity, and are held in high regard in the social 
 world. 
 
 ^,ARBY GILL is the pioneer meat market 
 *"' man of Des Moines, having boon engaged 
 longer in this business in this cit}' than anj- 
 other man. He was born in County IMayo, Ireland, 
 April 1, 1835, and is a son of Darby and IMary 
 (Hughes) Gill, both natives of the same county. 
 His father followed farming and stock-raising on 
 theEnierald Isle and resumed that occupation after 
 his emigration to America. Believing it to be for 
 the best interests of his family, in 1841), he bade 
 good-by to his old home and with his wife and 
 children embaiked for the New AVorld, landing in 
 New York on the 13lh of April. Having resided 
 for a time in both the Empire Slate arid Pennsyl- 
 vania, in 1855, he left for the West, locating in 
 Madison County, Iowa, whore ho onlorcd some five 
 hundred acres of land. To lliat amount he subse- 
 fpioully added by purchase .'ind developed one of 
 the rmost farms in the community. On becoming 
 a citizen of this country- he adoi)tcd the principles 
 of the Democratic party and remained a faithful 
 adherent of that organization until his death. All 
 of the familv were members of the Catholic Church. 
 
 The father lived to the advanced age of eighty-two 
 years and his wife reached the age of seventy-two, 
 the remains of both being interred in a cemetery 
 in Madison County. Of their nine childre.i, four 
 sons and three daughters crossed the Atlantic, and 
 became residents of the IJnited Stales. 
 
 Our subject is the eighth in order of birth. The 
 advantages which he received in earl}- life were 
 limited; almost as soon as he was old enough to 
 reach the plow handles he was put to work upon 
 the farm and labored on in the interests of his 
 father until he had attained to manhood. An .it- 
 tendance of three terms completed his school life. 
 However, bj- contact \ ith the business world he 
 has gained sufficient education to attend to his 
 affairs in a masterly way as is evidenced by his suc- 
 cess in life. Having engaged in farming in Madi- 
 son County until 1862, he came to Des Moines 
 where he has since made his home. The following 
 year he opened a meat market in a small frame 
 house on Second Street, which is still standing, and 
 soon secured an extensive and profitable triide, 
 when having accumulated a surplus, he bought the 
 building in which he now does business at No. 1 12 
 West Second Street. It is a two story brick, 22x70 
 feet and Ijoing favoralily located Mr. Gill secures 
 a liberal patronage. He also owns considerable 
 -Other properly in Des Moines together with a farm 
 in ^ladifon County, his possessions being the re- 
 ward of hard labor, perseverance and close attention 
 to business. 
 
 On the 7th of April, 1869. in this city. Mr. Gill 
 was united in marri.age with Miss Margaret Sulli- 
 van, who was lioru in County Kerry, Ireland, and 
 when about fifteen j'ears of age came with her par- 
 ents to the I'nited States. By their union have 
 been born six childron: iMich.aol, Daniel, .Tohn, Ed- 
 ward, Uaymond. who died in childhood, and Frank. 
 I'.olh parents and children belong to St. Ambrose 
 Catholic Church an<l are libcr.d supjiorters of the 
 same. Mr. Gill is a Democrsit in iiolitics but h,as 
 never asi)ircd to public ofllce. For twenty-seven 
 years he has lun a meat market in Des Moines with 
 the greatest success. Many have started in the 
 business during that time and b}' putting down 
 prices tried to monopolize the tr.ide but have uni- 
 versally failed. He never would compete in i)rices, 
 
PORTRAIT AND lUOOUAl'IIICAL ALHIM. 
 
 395 
 
 but liy fuiiiisliiiig the best meat piocunible could 
 hobl Ills trade and if he lost a ciistoiiier it was only 
 ti'iiiporariiy. His business has always been one of 
 tlie uu>st extensive in the eity,liis wrel<ly slaughter 
 aiiioiuiling' to alH)ut one hundred beeves, one luin- 
 dieil and fift>- hogs and tuo hundred sliee|). His 
 dealings have ever been eliaracteri/.ed by truthful- 
 ness and honesty which combined with his ccnir- 
 teous manner have made liis establisjiment one of 
 great [lopularity with the public. 
 
 ^ AUL MATTKS, one of the well-known Ger- 
 man citizens of Des Moines, who since 
 186G, has resided in the Stale capital, was 
 born in the Province of Wurtemburg, in 
 the nionlh of February, 1841. His father, Franz 
 Mattes, never came to America, but continued to 
 live in Germany until his death. He was the father 
 of six children, who grew to mature years, Ave 
 sons and one daughter. All of the brothers came 
 to the United .States, but tlieir sister still lives in 
 her native land. The eldest of the family, Franz, 
 Jr., came to America in 1871, but returned to Ger- \ 
 many, where his death occurred in 1880. Alois 
 came to the United States in ISaS, and locating in 
 St. Louis, there resided until January, 1866, when 
 he came to Des Moines. He was born in Wurtera- 
 liurg, (iermany, in 1835, and wns but a youth on 
 his arrival in the United States. On settling in 
 this city he purchased a brewery on Seventh Street, 
 which he conducted until his death in June, 1878. 
 He married Miss Clotilde Kuntzer, a native of Frei- 
 berg, IJaden, German}-. Her father died in that 
 country, after which Mrs. Mattes came to the 
 United States, and several years later was followed 
 by her mother. 
 
 15y the union of Mr. and Mrs. Alois Mattes 
 were boin six children, five sons and a daughter: 
 Franz, born in Des INIoines, in 1868, is a prominent 
 3'oung busiriess man of this city, belonging to the 
 firm of Mattes, Hayes & Co., wholesale fruit and 
 commission merchants; Lewis died in childhood; 
 Ale.\andei' and John died in infancy; August is a 
 
 student in the Notre Dame University, of South 
 Bend, Ind.; and I<]rama completes the family. Al- 
 exander Mattes, the third son of Franz Mattes, Sr., 
 came to the United States in 1864, locating in Hur- 
 lington, whence he removed to Des Moines in 
 1869. John, the next younger, came to America 
 in 1865, and located in this city in 1872. He op- 
 erated the brewery of his brother Alois, on Seventh 
 .Street, after the hitter's death for a time, but now 
 lives in Nebraska City. 
 
 The subject of this sketch, Paul Mattes, grew to 
 manhood in his native country, and there learned 
 the trade of a brewer. Crossing the Atlantic to 
 America in I1S6-I, he came at once to Iowa, and 
 after two years' residence in Burlington, during 
 which time he was engage<l in a brewery, he came 
 to Des Moines. He resumed his former business in 
 this city, continuing the o|)eration of a brewery 
 until 1876, when forced to retire from the business 
 on account of the [lassage of the Prohibitory law. 
 
 Our subject was married, in this city, to ]Miss 
 Nersul'i Mattes, and In" their union have been born 
 seven children — Franz P., Mar}', Paulina, Rosa, 
 Frances, I\Iena and Matilda. All were born in Dps 
 Moines, with the excc|)tion of the eldest son, who 
 was born near llrooklield. Mo., May 1, 1869, dur- 
 ing a teni[)orary residence of the f:unily in that 
 State. 
 
 J\Ir. Mattes is one of the respected tierman citi- 
 zens of Des MiJnes, and is well known throughout 
 the community, having here made his home for 
 almost a quarter of a century. 
 
 i)(ILLIAM SHARP, a car|)enter and builder, 
 ^-^/./ residing at No. 817 Tenth Street, Des 
 y^/ Moines, was born in Sheflleld, I'Lngland.on 
 December, 26, 18.'39, and when a lad of eleven 
 years was brought by his parents to America, the 
 family arriving in Columbus, Ohio, in November, 
 of that year. The father, William Sharp, Sr., was 
 a carpenter b}' trade, and carried on the business 
 in the capital city of Oliio for n)any years. His 
 death occurred in Columbus, in 1870, and his wife 
 departed this life ill 1802. Of ilKir four children 
 
306 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 who grew to mature years, Sarah A., wiilow uf 
 George Potts, resides in Coliiinbiis; Wilford makes 
 his home in Carlisle, Iowa; Wilham is living in 
 Des Moines; and Fred is a citizen of Coliimhus. 
 
 Our subject passed the days of his boyhood and 
 youth in the parental home, and with his father 
 learned the trade of a carpenter, which, with one 
 exception, he h.as made his life work. When a 
 young man he worked for about seven years for 
 Butler Bros., of Columbus, who conducted a large 
 manufactory, and were wliolcsalc dealers in spices. 
 Having become a proficient workman, and feeling 
 that his income now justified him in marrying, in 
 1861, in Columbus, he led to the hymeneal altar 
 Miss Mar}' A. Tyson, who was born in England, 
 and came to America with her maternal uncle, 
 when she was eleven years of age. Her father, 
 John Tyson, died in England when she was in her 
 third year, but her mother is still living. They 
 were the parents of three childrea, who grew to 
 mature j^ears — John, Henr}- and Marj- — but Mrs. 
 Sharp is the only one who ever came to America. 
 On the 1st of July, 1863, Mr. Sb.irp, l)idding 
 good-bye to his young wife, responded to his 
 country's call for troops, and enlisted as a member 
 of Company A, Fifth Independent Battalion of 
 Ohio Cavalry, serving seven and a lialf months 
 under Gen. Judson Killpatrick, in Kentuckj*. The 
 regiment was engaged in active duty during the 
 entire time in which lie was one of its members. 
 Returning to his home he continued his residence 
 in the Buckeye Slate until the spring of 1866, then 
 with his farail}- followed the course of human emi- 
 gration which was steadily flowing westward, and 
 settled in Stor}^ County, Iowa, where he engaged 
 in farming for about two years, lie then came to 
 Ues Moines, in December, 1867, and resumed work 
 at his trade, which he has since continued. He is 
 an industrious and energetic business man. .and a 
 worthy and respected citizen. In political senti- 
 ment he is a stanch Republican, and his wife is a 
 member of the Christian Church. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Sharp are the parents of five chil- 
 dren, four of whom are yet living: William H., a 
 tinner, residing in Odebolt. Sac County. Iowa; 
 Conrtland 1'., a bookl)indtr by trade, now residing 
 in Memphis, Teun.; Grace and Harry T.. who are 
 
 yet with liieir [)arcnls. They lost their second 
 child, Mary Emma, wlio became the wife of Foster 
 Reynolds, and died in Joplin, Mo., on the 14tli of 
 December, 1886, at the age of twenty-two years. 
 Her death was a severe affliction to her parents, 
 husband and friends, as she was a most worthy and 
 estimable lady. 
 
 % 
 
 AMES C. HUME of the law firm of Hume it 
 Dawton, is one of the j-ounger attorneys of 
 Des .Moines. He has been a member of the 
 ' bar of Polk County since the spring of 1884, 
 and entered into his present partnership with Mr. 
 Dawson in the summer of 1886. Although Mr. 
 Hume is comparatively a young man, he is widely 
 known in legal and social circles, and we feel that 
 his sketch will be of inteiest to man}' of our read- 
 ers. He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Ma\- 22, 
 1862, and is descended from one of the old and well- 
 known families of Miil-Lothian Shire, Scotland, a 
 family of wealth and influence. His father, James 
 Hume, Sr., w.as born in Scotland, and in early life 
 became possessed of a desire to go to sea, and leav- 
 ing home when but a boy, shipped before the mast 
 and sailed on a voyage to India, where he lived for 
 several years. Shipping ag.un, he eventually set- 
 tled in the West Indies, whence Mr. Hume came 
 to the United States. It was in Cincinnati that he 
 first met his future wife. Miss Eliza Cleland, and in 
 tlrt city thej' v/ere married. .Shortly afterward the 
 young couple returned to Scotland, but again 
 crossed the Atlantic to America, and settled in 
 Cincinnati, where our subject was born. The father 
 died when his son was but three years of age, leav- 
 ing one other child, a little daughter, Maud. The 
 mother is now Ihc wife of Dr. E. J. Hamilton, [iro- 
 fessor of metaphysics in llamillon College, New 
 York, a man eminent in philosoph}-, and the author 
 of valuable, standard works on metaphysics, ethics, 
 and political economy. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was reared in the fam- 
 ily of Dr. Hamilton, and thus received rare oppor- 
 tunities for mental culture. He acquired a classical 
 education, graduating from Hanover College, Ind., 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM, 
 
 397 
 
 in 1880, with the degree of B. A., and from his alma 
 luaU'r received his degree of A. JL, in 1S85. After 
 gradiiution he engaged in teacliing in Scott County, 
 Ky., ai:d in tiie meantime studied law. In the 
 spring of 1881, Mr. Ilumc went abroad ami pursued 
 his legal studies in tlie celebrated university of 
 Paris. An interesting (ja't of liis trip abroad, was 
 his tour of Europe on foot. His travels occupied 
 about a year. Walliing from Havre to Marseilles. 
 a distance of nearly a thousand miles, he visited 
 Italy and Switzerland, and followed tlie Riiinefrom 
 its source to Cologne. During his tour he acted as 
 correspondent to the Oi(tiiiij, a well-known periodi- 
 cal then published in Boston, and his lettei'S formed 
 !in interesting feature of tliat paper. 
 
 In the autumn of 1882, Mr. Hume returned to 
 his own country, and entered the law school of 
 Cincinnati, from which he was graduated with 
 honor in 1884, being one of the prize men in his 
 class, which numbered seventy puiiils. Mr. Hume 
 is a gentleman of culture, and for one soyoinig has 
 seen much of the world. In his travels ho has ac- 
 quired a knowledge of men and their motives, 
 which he would not otherwise have gained, and 
 which will be of much benelit to him in his chosen 
 profession. As a lawyer, he has already taken a 
 prominent place at the bar of Polk County. Po- 
 .litieally, he is a Republican, and a warm admirer 
 of the principles of that great National party. A 
 fluent and logical speaker, he has done much to 
 promote the interests of the party, and did etfectivc 
 work for its candidates during the exciting Presi- 
 dential campaign of 1888, when he occupied the posi- 
 tion of Chairman of the Republican Polk County 
 Convention. 
 
 «l'i»t^-iS»^ 
 
 «i*5.£?-»«^«*s^ 
 
 \j^\ i»,ILLlAM CHRISTY, who is now iiructically 
 \/iJi' living a retired life in Des Moines, has 
 
 W 
 
 W^ long been identified with the history of 
 this county, and for the past fifteen years has held 
 the oflicc of County Supervisor. On the KUh of 
 October, 1832, he was born in Philadel|)hia, Pa., 
 his parents being William and .Mary Ann (Black) 
 Christy. His father was a native of Ireland, but 
 
 his mother was born in Pennsylvania, of Scotch 
 descent. Mr. Christy was well-known in business 
 circles in Philadel!)hia, being a prominentshoe mer- 
 chant of that cit}'. For a part of the time he ope- 
 rated two stores, doing an extensive business. He 
 won the respect and confidence of all by his honor- 
 able, upright life, and at his death, was sincerely 
 mourned by many friends. He was always well 
 informed on all matters of general interest, and in 
 [)olitical affairs to<jk an active part, being an ardent 
 supporter of the Whig party. The church also 
 found in him a ready supijorter, he being an earn- 
 est worker in the Methodist Episcopal Church, to 
 which his wife also belonged. His death occurred 
 about the year 1812, and his remains were interred 
 in the church3'aid of the Christian Street Metho- 
 dist Episcopal Church of Philadelphia, where six 
 3ears later the body of his wife was placed by bis 
 side. That worthy couple were parents of nine 
 children, liut only three are now living: Archibald, 
 who is Postmaster of East Des IMoines; Daniel, who 
 is now holding a i)osition under the Government in 
 Washington, 1). C; and William. 
 
 Probably no man has been more closelj' connected 
 with the u[)building of the capital cit}' of Iowa, than 
 our snbjvict. Ho resided with his parents in his na- 
 tive city until their deaths, and was left an orphan 
 at the age of ten years. He then worktd for a 
 time upon a farm but returned to the cit}' and 
 served an apprenticeship of two years to the car- 
 penter's trade. When eighteen j'earsof age he had 
 sufflciently mastered the business to work for his 
 own interests, and followed his trade in Philadel- 
 phia until 185C, when through the influence of his 
 brother Daniel, who two years previous h.ad settled 
 in Des Moines, he emigrated to Polk County. The 
 journey was made by rail from Philadelphia, to 
 Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, whence he proceeded by stage 
 to Ft. Des IMoines, vvhich he found to be a small 
 town of about two thousand inhabitants with not 
 nearly enough houses to accommodate them, there 
 being some times four or five families residing in 
 one small dwelling, while eight or ten were obliged 
 to sleep in one room. Mr. Christy had no ditli- 
 culty in securing work, but immediately found em- 
 ployment at $3 per d.iy. He eiintimicd work at his 
 trade until the Ci\il War luuko out, when lie felt 
 
398 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 that his foiiiitn nccduil liis servicis, and hiid down 
 the square and bamnier fur the lille. In the mean- 
 time, he had boiiglit a lot ui)on whieh lie liad erected 
 a slianty. Tlie land was entirely unimproved and 
 covered with a thick growth of hazel brush. About 
 the time the war broke out. the house was burned 
 down with all its contents, but feeling that he then 
 had no time to erect another honie, ho rented a 
 house in which his family residnl until after peace 
 had been restored. 
 
 Just previous to his emigration to tiie West, in 
 April, 1856, Mr. Christy was united in marriage 
 with Miss Mary E. Deal, of Philadelphia. P.idding 
 his wife and little children a sad farewell in August, 
 1 862, lie enlisted in Company C, Twenty-third Iowa 
 Infantry, under Capt. Oregg. The company was 
 e(iuipped for duty at the barracks in Des Moines, 
 whence they marched to Keokuk, where they took 
 boat for .St. Louis. After remaining in 8t. Louis 
 for two months, they were ordered to the Iron 
 Mountains, where they went Into winter quarters, 
 but while there stationed, a co?\imand came to 
 break up a camp at P.lack River on the line between 
 Arkansas and Missouri. While eng.aged in that ex- 
 pedition, Col. Dewey, who had command of the 
 regiment, had occasion to send back a despatch to 
 Gen. Boyd. Mr. Christy was chosen for the pur- 
 po.^e. The trip was a dangerous one through a 
 strange country infested with guerrillas, but he felt 
 equal to the emergency and started. His way led 
 through a forest, and he had no other bed than that 
 whidi mother earth afforiied, but after three days 
 he reached his destination in safety, and delivered 
 his despatch to Gen. lioyd, who then enquired 
 where Col. Dewey and his men were stationed. On 
 being told that they were iu Arkansas, the General 
 remarked that '-the darned lowans would follow the 
 secesh to the devil if they would let them go." 
 Mr. Christy remained iu camp at the Iron Moun- 
 tains until the return of liis regiment, when the 
 forces were ordered to join Grant's Army at Rich- 
 niond. While jireparations were being made to 
 cross the Mississippi, they determined to run the 
 batteries at Vicksburg, which feat was successfully 
 accomplished with the loss of only two boats. They 
 participated in a number of battles, including that 
 at Jackson, Champion Hills, Ft. (Jibson and K'ay- 
 
 niond. and in the meantime preparations were made 
 for the attack on \'icksburg. As it was found 
 strongly fortified iu front, they detcrn.ined to attack 
 in the rear,and the TweiUy-thirtl Iowa Regiment was 
 the first to cross the river for that pur))oso. It was 
 also the first to meet the troops defending the city, 
 and lost the first men of that engagement. When 
 the seige was over, and the city had been taken, 
 the regiment was ordered to Texas on the Brown- 
 ville expedition, and assisted in capturing the rebel 
 Ft. Ks[)eranza, after which it joined Gen. Banks on 
 the Red River expedition. The same summer it 
 was engaged in guarding the river at Morganza 
 Bend, La. The following winter was spent in Ar- 
 kansas, and in the spring the forces engaged in the 
 seige of Mobile and the seige and caiJture of Span- 
 ish Fort. The war ended that spring, but the 
 Twenty-third was sent to Central Texas in order to 
 keep peace, remaining there until August, 1865, 
 when its mem'jers were lionorabl}- discharged as 
 men who had done true service for their country. 
 As soon as he was mustered out of service, Mr. 
 Christy hastened to his home and family, but the 
 gieat joy of the meeting was not unraiiigled with 
 sadness, foi' one lillle face was missing from the fire- 
 side, that of his youngest child, who was called to 
 the better home during his absence. Mr. Christy 
 had to begin life anew. As before stated, his house .,,. 
 had been burned and his resources had been ex- 
 hausted for the su|iport of the family-, while he was 
 battling for the preservation of his country. He 
 at once erected a littfe carpenter-shop, and em- 
 barked in business for himself. Many of the citi- 
 zens of the county were acquainted with the able 
 manner in which be did his work, and it was not 
 long before he received a liberal patronage. His 
 business increased from the beginning, and rapidly 
 acquiring a competence, he was enabled to retire 
 from that work in 1878, turning over his business 
 to his oldest son, who still conducts the same. 
 
 To Mr. and Mrs. Christ}' were born nine chil- 
 dren, namely: William Jr., Charles AV.. Frank II., 
 Henry, Archibald, Kate, Edith, lidward, and one 
 who died in infancy. With the exception of 
 Charles and Frank, who reside in Denver, Col., 
 the children all make their home Des Moines. The 
 family is held in lii^h regard in social circles, and 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 401 
 
 lias many warm friends in the city. Tlie jiouse- 
 liold is noted for its liospitality, and Hie pleasure 
 which the friends tal\e in their visits to that pleas- 
 ant home. 
 
 Since retiring from the carpenter's trade, Mr. 
 Christy has engaged to a considerable extent in the 
 real-estate husiness, owning a number of houses 
 and lots in the city, together with four good busi- 
 ness blocks, and a number of vacant lots. The re- 
 mainder of his time is occupied by ids oflicial duties. 
 He is now Supervisor of Polic County, and has held 
 that ollice for fifteen years. Since 1880, he has 
 been Overseer of the Poor, and for nine years has 
 been a member of tiie Kast Side School Board. He 
 is also a Director in a bank and loan com|)an3', 
 with which he has been connected since he ga\c 
 over to his sou his dlhcr husiness interests. From 
 tlie lowest rounil of the ladder Mr. Christy has 
 steadily worked his w;iy upward. He received no 
 special advantnges in his youth, and iiad no capital 
 with which to begin life, but possessing persever- 
 ance, energy, and determination, he steadily worked 
 on until he is now numbered among tlie well-to-do 
 citizens of Des Moines. The same success might 
 be achieved by any .\'0uug man of average abililv, 
 if lie would only apply himself to his work, as did 
 our subject, and comliine it with the same uiiright 
 and honest dealings. Ilis example is certainly one 
 worthy of emulation, and might well stimulate oth- 
 ers to a renewed effort. 
 
 ■^ MLLIAM BAKER, M. D., was one of the 
 \/kJr P^'J"*^*-"'' physicians of Des Moines and a 
 ^i/¥/ widtly-known and esteemed citizen. A 
 native of Kentucky, he was born in Lexington, in 
 1816, and belonged to one of the early and re- 
 siiected families of the State. In his native city 
 he was reared and acquired his literary education, 
 while his medical studies were pursued in the Tran- 
 sylvania Jledical College, of which he was a grad- 
 uate. He began his iirofcssional career in Lexington 
 and on leaving that city was united in marria<je 
 with Miss Ella B. Poindexter, who was also there 
 born. The year 1817, witnessed their removal to 
 
 Carmi, 111., and in the spring of 1851, they became 
 residents of Des Moines. Here Dr. Baker engaged 
 actively in the practice of his |irofession for some 
 years, but the country was then new and sparsely 
 settled and the fatigue and exposure attendant upon 
 his labors began soon to seriously affect his health. 
 To obtain relief from constant [irofessioual [iraclice 
 he resolved to vary his occupation and in ISal. in 
 company with his lirother-in-law, W. A. Poindex- 
 ter, he embarked in the drug business, under the 
 firm name of William Baker & Co. The lirst loca- 
 tion of the lirni was on Second Street, but in the 
 siiring of 185;), they removed to the corner of 
 Third Street and Coiu-t Avenue where Charles 
 William Baker still conliniies the business. Dr. 
 Baker found it imiiossible to retire wholly from 
 practice at once; his professional services were too 
 fully appreciated and the demands of his friends 
 were too urgent to permit liiai to engage alone in 
 the drug business, but about 18G5, he retired 
 almost wholly from active professional work. In 
 1861), h(^ purchased the interest of Mr. Poiiitiexler 
 and continued the business alone until 1882, when 
 his son was admitted as a [wrtncr and succeeded 
 his father as sole [iroprietor. 
 
 The death of Dr. Baker occurred on the 13tii of 
 July, 1888. He was the second in order of birth 
 of four brothers: John, the eldest, went to Cali- 
 fornia during the gold excitement on the Pacific 
 coast and is still in that State, residing in Lower 
 Lake, Lake County; the third was Hon. Jehu Baker, 
 of Belleville. III., who was minister to Venezuela 
 during President Grant's administration and later 
 served as a member of Congress from Illinois. The 
 youngest sou, Grafton, died many years ago, and 
 the only daughter of the family, Jane, married 
 Henry Bradford, and died in her twenty-eighth 
 year. 
 
 Dr. Baker and his wife were the parents of five 
 children, \,\\o sons and three daughters, fiut only 
 one is left to share with the mother the great loss 
 which she has sustained. William P., the eldest, 
 died in infancy; Sally died in childhood; Anna M. 
 in 188:5, at the age of twenty-six years; and Laura 
 died in early life: Charles William, the youngest, 
 is the only survivor. He was Ixnn in Des Jloines. 
 in 185t), educated in the schools of this city, at 
 
402 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 I'eckeikill, N. Y., ami at Lake Forest, 111., and re- 
 ceived his business train insi i" liis father's store. 
 As before stated ho vvas adniilled to the [wrlnership 
 in 1882, and suceteded to tiie business as sole 
 proprietor on the death of liis father. The worthy 
 and estimable wife of Dr. liaker resiiles with her 
 son at their [ileasant home in Dcs Moines. The 
 Doctor wr,s held in high esteem by all who knew 
 him. His absolute integrity of character was never 
 for a moment questioned and during his residence 
 in Des Moines, covering a period of more than 
 thirtj' -seven years, he posstsscil the conlidencc and 
 respect of all in the fullest degree. He was an 
 able practitioner and ranked equally high in busi- 
 ness circles. 
 
 Vp^, RANCIS GENESER well deserves a repre- 
 L^^ sentation in this volume; in fact the his- 
 /il ~ tor}' of Polk County would hardly be 
 complete without his sketeli. He is not only num- 
 bered among the early settlers, but for many years 
 was one of its prominent business men, and also 
 bore an im|)ortant part in the upbuilding of the 
 city, giving his support and influence to all worthy 
 enterprises, and those interests which are calculated 
 to promote the general welfare. He is of German 
 birth, yet the county has no better or more loyal 
 citizen. He was born in Bavaria, Germany, on the 
 2d of April, 1829. and is a son of George Geneser. 
 His parents remained in their native land until 
 death called them hence, and only two of the chil- 
 dren ever came to this country. The family was 
 com|)rised of four sons and one daughter — Daniel, 
 tlie eldest, has been dead for many years; Susan, 
 the only daughter, and the second in age, also de- 
 parted this life some years ago; and Jacob died 
 in his native land. The two surviving ones are 
 both liv'ing in this country, being Joseph and 
 Francis. The former is the younger, and has been 
 a resident of the United States since 1852. He is 
 now living in Adel, Dallas County, Iowa. 
 
 Francis Geneser, whose name heads this sketch, 
 sjjcnt the days of his boyhood and youth in his 
 native land, and there learned the mason's trade, 
 lie was a young man of twenty year.s when he 
 
 severed the connections which bound him to homo 
 and fatherland, and crossed the Atlantic to Amer- 
 ica. The voyage was made in a sailing-vessel, and 
 consumed many weary days, l.nit at length he ar- 
 rived at his destination and took up his residence 
 in Albany, N. V., where he worked at his trade. 
 During his residence in that city he learned througii 
 a friend who had already located in this part of Iowa 
 that Des Moines, which several years before ha<l 
 become the cipital of the Slate, wouhl in all prol)a- 
 bility be one of the most important cities and fur- 
 nish ample opportunity for work in his line. In 
 consequence of tlie excellent advantage thus offered 
 Mr. (Jeneser came to Des Moines, in 1856, and for 
 a time worked at his chosen occupation in the 
 employ of other parties, but soon began taking 
 contracts for the manufacture of brick in his own 
 interest. During the succeeding twenty-two 3ears 
 he was one of the leading contractors and brick 
 manufacturers of Des Moines. As the brick which 
 he manufactured was of a superior quality, he soon 
 secured a liberal patronage and did an extensive 
 business, thus reaping agood^income and acquiring 
 a comfortable competence, which now enables him 
 to live a retired life. 
 
 Mr. Geneser was married in Albany, >«'. Y., to 
 Miss Mary Kline, a native of Prussia, who came to 
 America in 1851, when nineteen years of age. She 
 was one of three children, a son and two daughters, 
 but the other members of the family never left 
 their home across the water. She is the only one 
 now living. Of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. 
 Geneser a family of five children has been born, 
 three sons and two daughters — Joseph, who is 
 cashier of the State Savings Bank of Des Moines; 
 Mary, wife of Harry Harvard, of this city; John, 
 a farmer of Dallas County, Iowa; George, a mer- 
 chant of Granger Station, Dallas County ; Mattie, 
 who is still with her parents. 
 
 In 1885 Mr. (Jeneserlaid aside all business cares, 
 and is now living a retired life in the enjoyment of 
 the fruits of former toil. He has a pleasant home 
 on Fifth Street, where he and his worth}- wife re- 
 side and expect to pass the remainder of their days. 
 As will have been seen, Mr. Geneser is one of the 
 oldest residents of Des Moines, having become 
 identified with this city in its early infancy, lie 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 403 
 
 has been connected with ilsgreatgrowlli ;unl iirogress 
 since that day. He is botli widely mid favoralily 
 known, and we feel that this brief record of liislife 
 will be received witli interest by nian\' of our 
 readers. 
 
 I^^ATHAMEL B. RAYMOND, attorney and 
 
 if ]//' counselor-at-law, has been a member of the 
 l\,Z^ bar of Polk County since 1881, at which 
 time he located in Dcs Jloines. He is a native of 
 Cincinnati, Ohio, wliere lie was born September 9, 
 1855. His f.ither. Burr Raj'mond, was born in 
 Virginia and became a prominent business man of 
 Cincinnati, where he resided for many years, en- 
 gaged in the wholesale commission business. When 
 our subject was about three j'ears of age, Mr. Ray- 
 mond went to Nashville, Tenn., with a view to en- 
 gaging in business there. After about a year's 
 residence in Nashville. lH>wevcr, he found that con- 
 ditions for a business venture there were less favor- 
 able than he supposed, and was about to leave to 
 rejoin his family in the cit3' of New York, wliiiher 
 they iiad in the meantime removed, when he was 
 attacked by a fatal disease which terminated his 
 life after a few days' illness. The widowed wife and 
 mother was thus left with four little children, the 
 youngest a babe of one year. Unfortunately the 
 property which Mr. Raymond possessed was also 
 swept away, and left no |)rovision for the family. 
 In consequence thesupiwrt of four 3'oung children 
 devolved upon the mother who nobl3' performed 
 her dut}- toward them. Her life was one of nijble 
 selfsfTcrifice and was characterized by true Christian 
 patience and fortitude. 
 
 The parents of our subject had five children who 
 grew to mature years. William, the eldest, was for 
 several years before the war engageil in the whole- 
 sale commission business in Nashville. He vvas com- 
 pelled to leave the .South at the beginning of the 
 War of the Reljellion, and coming North assisted 
 in raising the Fifty-second Indiana Regiment, and 
 entered the service with that regiment in the ca- 
 pacity of captain. After serving his term of three 
 years, ho started to return home but vvas interceiited 
 by a telegram from Gen. Thomas asking him to 
 
 return under promise of a major's commission. He 
 complied with the request of the General, and re- 
 turned to his regiment without going to see his 
 family. He was killed in the battle of Nashville 
 in the autumn of 18(J4, when bravely leading his 
 men. He was a galUnt soldier, and gave his life in 
 defense of his country. A wife and ihree children 
 were left to mourn his loss. Addie E., the second 
 child of the family, became the wife of Frank Gall, 
 and died at Asbury Park, N. J., in 1885. Angle M. 
 is now a resident of .New York Cit3-; Nathaniel B. 
 is the next younger, and Charles W. is a resident 
 of New York. Several other children died in early 
 life. 
 
 Our subject .attended the public schools in New 
 York City until he w.as about nine ^-ears of age, . 
 when he was considered old enough to assist in 
 caring for himself and his widowed mother. A 
 situation as office bo}^ in a [ihysician's office was 
 secured for him, and he retained the position for 
 two years, when he was sent to JIl. Washington, 
 Ohio, to the home of his maternal grandmother, 
 with whom l:e remained two years, during which 
 time he attended a private school. Returning to 
 New York City, he secured a clerkship in a station- 
 ery store, and after three years S[)ent as a salesman 
 returned to school, eagerly prosecuting his studies. 
 Out of school hours he collected doctor's bills and 
 did other work as he could find opportunity'. In 
 the |)rei)aratory class of the public schools, he be- 
 came fitted for college, graduating from that de- 
 j)artment at the age of seventeen years, after which 
 he entered "The College of the City of New York." 
 As he w.as dependent upon his own resources for 
 the money to meet his educational c.vpenses, his 
 college course was not a continuous one, but was 
 prosecuted at such times as he was able to devote to 
 study. Once more he secured a clerkship in a 
 stationery store, where he remained about four 
 years. During that time he looked about him for 
 some occupation or profession which he wished to 
 ni.akc his life work, and resolved to devote his at- 
 tention to law. Having thus determined, he gave 
 such time to its study as possible after l)usiness 
 hours. While holding this last clerkship his em- 
 l)loyer died and Mr. Raymond look charge of the 
 business, and afterwanls closed it out for the estate. 
 
404 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 For some time he bad been considering tiie ques- 
 tion of making bis home in tlie West, and licing now 
 thrown out of employuient be resolved to make 
 Iowa the scene of bis future operations. Going di- 
 vecti}" to Iowa Cit^-, he entered the law department 
 of the Slate University, from which be graduated 
 in June, 1881, and in the fall of that year came to 
 I)es Moines, since which time lie has been activelj- 
 engageii in the practice of his profession in the caj)- 
 ital eitj'. In June, 1885, be was joined by his 
 mother and sister, but the former has since been 
 called home, dying in October, 1888. 
 
 Mr. H.a^-mond was joined in wedlock with Miss 
 Mary H. Magoum, daughter of Dr. George F. Ma- 
 goum, a well-known educator, who for tvveuty-Bve 
 years was President of Iowa College, and still re- 
 tains a professor's chair in that institution, although 
 now well atlvanced in life. Mr. and 31rs. KajMuond 
 were married April 9, 1885. and unto tliem has been 
 born a little daughter, Esther. 
 
 Our subject i.s a close student of jurisprudence, 
 and has done some literary work pertaining to that 
 subject. ■ He was editor of the Wpxleni Jurist for 
 two years, 1882 and 1883, and has made valuable 
 contributions to various law magazines. He pre- 
 pared the subject of Garnishment fur the American 
 and English Kncyclopedia, publisheil in 188!1, an 
 exhaustive treatise of the subject, comprising one 
 hundred and seventy octavo pnges of that work. 
 He is still engaged in other important works on 
 jurisprudence. Politically, Mr. Raymond is a Re- 
 publican, and both he and his wife are members of 
 tiie Methodist ivpiscopal Church. He is a genllcman 
 of culture, and both professionally ;ind socially is 
 bighl}' esteemed. 
 
 v,AUL HrrZ, the well-known sign writer of 
 )jj I)es Moines, is one of the progressive cit- 
 izens of Polk County. He was born in 
 Switzerhuul, JIarch 3, 1853, and is a son 
 Frederick and Maria (Witmer) Hitz, who were 
 also natives of the same country-, and belonged to 
 two of her Ijest families. By occupation his father 
 w;i!< .■! machinist, which business he followed in his 
 
 native land until 1854, when be emigrated with his 
 family to America, locating in Cleveland. Ohio, 
 where be engaged at his trade until bis death, 
 which occurred in 1883. His wife is ,slill living 
 in Cleveland, and has reached the rifie old age of 
 sevent3'-four. This worthy couple were the pa- 
 rents of eight children, seven of whom are now 
 living, as follows: Joseph L., a retired merchant 
 and prominent member of the city council of 
 Cleveland ; Caroline, wife of Jacob Miller, of the 
 same city; Frances, a Sister of Charity, in Trsu- 
 liiie Convent, of Cleveland; Paul, whose name 
 beads this sketch; Mary, wife of Fred Fisher, a 
 m.acbinist of Cleveland; Albert, who is foreman of 
 the American Wire Company, of the same citj', 
 liHving charge of seven hundred men; and Benja- 
 min, a carriage trimmer of Cleveland. The pa- 
 rents of this family were members of the Catholic 
 Chunli, and were well known in the cit}- where 
 they so long made their home. 
 
 Although born iu Switzerland, our suliject b.as 
 spent almost bis entire life in this country, having 
 bien but a year old when bis parent's crossed the 
 Atlantic to America. He received a good Kng- 
 lish and German eduL-aticin in the parochial schools, 
 and at the age of nineteen years started out in life 
 for himself. Having served an apprenticeship of 
 three and one-half years to the business of fresco 
 painting and sign writing be went to Chicago, 
 where lie followed bis trade for about a year. He 
 then traveled through various States in search of a 
 location, reaching Dcs Jloines in the autumn of 
 1875. The enterprise and |>rogressive spirit of 
 this city determined him to here locate, and he at 
 once opened a shop on Court Avenue, whoj-c he 
 engaged in frescoing, decorating and sign paint- 
 ing, but for llie past few years he has devoted his 
 entire attention to the last-named branch of the 
 business. In that time be has gained a wide repu- 
 tation .OS a first-class workman. From the begin- 
 ing he has received a good patronage, which has 
 constantly' increased until bis time is now fully 
 occupied. Those who have once employed him 
 never hesitate to seek bim again when the\- wijli 
 work done in his line. 
 
 One of the most important events in the life of 
 Mr. Hilz occurred November 25, 1881, wlun he 
 
Joseph A.M. Hierb. 
 
PORTRAIT AND HIOGkAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 407 
 
 was joined in wedlocic with Miss Maiy ]>ari-y. 
 Tiieii- union has been blessed with two children: 
 J. Benjamin, born at Atlanta, Ga.. Scpteml)er 3, 
 1882; and Stella, born at Des ftloincs, September 
 3, 1884. 
 
 In jiolitics, Mv. Ilitz is a Democrat. He lakes a. 
 deep interest in all public affairs and keeps him- 
 self well inforijjed on the leading issues of the day, 
 whether political or otherwise. He has established 
 one of the leading industries of the city, being the 
 pioneer decorator and sign writer of Des Moines. 
 lie does all the work in that line for the western 
 division of the United States Express Conii)any, 
 ijicluding five different States, and a large amount 
 of his work fimls its way into surrounding towns. 
 
 -.y<> t ■ 
 
 \T OSEPII A. M. IIIERB, deceased, was for 
 many years a leading citizen of Des Moines. 
 A native of Bavaria, Germanj', he was born 
 in Eichstadt, August 21, 1828, and was a 
 sou of Joseph Anton Maximilian and Anna Kai.li- 
 erine Hierb. The daj's of his boyhood and youth 
 were spent in his native land and in the schools of 
 Munich he was liberally educated. Throughout 
 his entire life, however, he was a student and al- 
 ways kept himself well-informed on the leading 
 issues of the d.ay. lie was an intelligent conver- 
 sationalist and his faniiliaritj^ with current topics 
 made him a pleasant companion. Having attained 
 to mature years he determined to try his fortune 
 in America, and in 18.52, sailed for this countr^y, 
 landing in Baltimore, Md., whence he made his 
 way to Wheeling, "W. Va., where he worked at his 
 trade, that of a brick and stone inas(jn, which he had 
 learned in the Fatherland. Mis next place of resi- 
 dence was Davenport, Iowa, and in 18,5."), he came 
 to Des Moines, then a small village. From that 
 time until his death he took an iictive interest in 
 the affairs of the city and ever bore his part in the 
 [)romotion of its worthy enterprises. On his arri- 
 val, he established the first brewery in Des Moines, 
 in company with his brother to whom he sold out 
 in 1860, He then embarked in the wholesale liquor 
 business which he followed until 1S73. Th.at year 
 
 witnessed his arrival in Omaha, Neli,, and in 1877 
 he went to the Black Hills, where for five years he 
 was extensively engaged in mining. Returning to 
 the Capital Cit^', he here lived a retired life until 
 his death, which occurred on the 2-ltli of August. 
 1887, in the fifty-ninth year of his age. 
 
 l\Ir. Hierb was united in marriage, September 13, 
 1859, with Miss Antoinette Kunzer, a daughter of 
 Alois and Elizabeth ( Weisenberger) Kunzer, who 
 were natives of liaden, Germany. Of their union 
 were Ijorn five children but only one of that num- 
 ber is now living, namely: August, who was born 
 August 29, 186C. He received his education at the 
 University of Notre Dame and Iowa Business Col- 
 lege. He then studied arcihitecture under some of 
 the architects of Chicago. 
 
 'I'he death of Mr. Hierb was attended by sincere 
 regret on the part of many friends and acquaint- 
 ances who h.ad known him during the long years of 
 his residence in Des Moines. Although he ever 
 retained a love for Germany as the land of his 
 birth he was a true American citizen, loj'al and 
 faithful. Mr. Hierl) held honorable membershij) 
 in the Des Moines Turnverein and Des Moines 
 Chess Club. He was also a member of the Old Set- 
 tlers' Society, of Polk County. 
 
 — ^-^#=S^^S=€^•-^- 
 
 IIARLES II. MORKIS, the present ellicient 
 Secretary and Treasurer of the Des Moines 
 Coal Mining Company, who since 1876, 
 has made his home in this city, was born in York 
 County, Me., on the IHlli of •Tulj-, 1860, his parents 
 being Hugh and Augusta (Hill) Morris. The tra- 
 dition of the family tells of the emigration of three 
 brothers from Wales to America in the year 1760, 
 one settling in N'irginia, one on Morris Island, and 
 the third in Maine. From the last sprang the 
 branch of the family to whicli our subject belongs. 
 His father, the eldest of twelve children, was a na- 
 tive of Maine, and in connection witli farming fol- 
 lowed the profession of teaching. He wedded Miss 
 Hill, also a native of the same State, and unto 
 them were born two children, a son and daughter — 
 Elizabeth, who is eng.aged in teaching in the cilj' 
 
408 
 
 PORTRAIT AND UIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 ?cliO()ls of Des Aloines, and Clmrles H., of this 
 sketch. The year 1 876, witnessed the arrival of 
 the family in lliis city, where the niotiier still 
 makes her home. 
 
 The subject of this notice spent his early days in 
 the usual manner of farmer lads and in the com- 
 mon schools of the neighbori)Ood acquired his 
 primary education. Wishing to fit himself for tlie 
 duties of life by further advantages in this direc- 
 tion, he entered tiie Iowa College at Grinnell, in 
 1880, from which he was graduated in 1884, witli 
 the degree of A. B. lie entered upon his business 
 career as book-keeper for tlie oil mill firm of Des 
 Moines, with which he remained a year, and in 
 1887, became connected with the Des Moines Coal 
 and Mining Company, which was organized in 
 1883. It came under its present management in 
 1887, the ollicers being Edward Turby, President, 
 and Charles II. Morris, Secretary and Treasurer. 
 Tlie mine of the company is located in Sevastopol, 
 and has a daily capacity of two hundred and 
 twenty-five tons lump coal. Mr. Morris manages 
 the affairs of the office und Mr. Tnrby superintends 
 the l)iisiness at tiie mines. They do a good business 
 and the Des Moines Coal and Mining Company is 
 one in which the people place the utmost confi- 
 dence. 
 
 )^., »^|^oJ«- 
 
 bKNRY ROBINS HEATH, an early settler 
 ' and prominent business man of Des 
 ._^^ iMoines, was born in Tyringham, Berkshire 
 (^ County, Mass., April 6, 1830. His parents 
 were Cyrus and Clarissa (Cheney) Heath, an<l both 
 were descended from old New England families, 
 which were established in Massachusetts prior to 
 the War of the Uevolution, by Engiisli and Welsh 
 emigrants. Both of Mr. Heath's grandfathers were 
 soldiers in the Colonial Army during tiie struggle 
 of the Colonists for American independence. 
 
 The sul)ject of this sketch received a eoinmon- 
 scliool education and in his youth learned the car- 
 penter's trade, being for several years employed in 
 tlie nianiifactuic of sash, doors and blinds. He was 
 niarried in his native town in M.ay, 18.')0, to Mi.^s 
 
 Editha A. Underwood, a native of Tyringham. 
 JI:iss., and a daughter of AVilliam O. Underwood. 
 
 In April, 1856. Mr. Heath emigrated to Iowa, 
 and settling in Des Moines embarked in business as 
 a contractor and builder. In I860, he became in- 
 terested in the gold discoveries at Pike's Peak, and 
 madeatiipto the mountains, visiting that ))lace 
 and other points in Colorado, after which he re- 
 turned home in the fall of 1860. He was next 
 employed for several years as foreman in a planing 
 mill, but at length in 1869, he established business 
 for himself in that line, manufacturing sash, doors 
 and blinds. After having operated his planing 
 mill and factory successfully for a period of ten 
 years, he then converted it into an oat mill and for 
 several years was engaged in the manufacture of 
 oat meal, turning out from one hundred to one 
 hundred and fifty barrels of meal a day', the pro- 
 duct finding a ready market in the E.ast and in 
 Europe. About 1882 he added an elevator to his 
 plant and has since dealt largely in grain. His 
 elevator has a capacity of two hundred and fifty 
 thousand bushels and the amount of grain, princi- 
 pally oats and barley, handled by him in favorable 
 seasons reaches eight hundred thousand bushels a 
 year. 
 
 Mr. anil Mrs. Heath have three children living 
 and have lost one child. Frances Ella, their first- 
 horn, died in 1872, at the age of twenty-one years. 
 Charles H. married Ora Belle Brandon, a daughter 
 of Gideon Brandon, and is interested with his fa- 
 ther in the grain business. One son, Henry R., has 
 been born of their union. Albert C, who is en- 
 gaged as book-keeper in his father's ollice, married 
 Fannie Hale, a daughter of James Hale, and they 
 have had two children, one being deceased , H.azel is 
 their infant daughter. James C, the youngest, is 
 single. 
 
 Mr. Heath is indepcndenl in politics and has 
 never held public ollice, preferring to devote his 
 entire attention to his business interests. He is a 
 member of Pioneer Lodge, No. 22, A. F. A A. M.; 
 of Corinthian Chapter, No. 11, R. A. M., and of 
 Teniiile Commandery No. 1, K. T.; and also be- 
 longs to the Ancient Order of United Workmen 
 and the Legion of Honor. He is a stockholder .-ind 
 director in liie Iowa National Bank, with nliich he 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 409 
 
 has been connected since its organization; is rankefl 
 among the entei'inising and successful business 
 men of Des Moines and stands deservedly high in 
 liie estimation of his felhjw-citi/.cns as a man of 
 strict integrity and correct business [)iincipk'S. 
 
 ^♦f*— VW" 
 
 n 
 
 Vi^ ORMAN T. VORSP:. deceased, was one of 
 the widely known pioneers of Des Moines, 
 
 k\£L- and ranl<ed 
 
 l^Sh, ^"d ranticil among tiie most prominent of 
 iier citizens, lie was born in Harrrison County, 
 Ohio, December 13, 1821, his father having emi- 
 grated from his native State, New York, to Ohio, 
 soon after the War of 1812, in which lie served. 
 He first settled in Harrison County, but removed 
 to Knox County, where he was a pioneer, and there 
 resided for many years. Finally, when well ad- 
 vanced in life, he went to Atchison, Kan., and lived 
 at the home of his son, James, until his death. He 
 was the father of six sons and a daughter, wlio at- 
 tained to mature years, namel3': Justus, a physi- 
 cian who came to Des Moines in the early dajs, 
 but died shortl}' afterward, leaving a family who 
 are still residents of this city; Addison, who for 
 some time was associated in business with our sub- 
 ject, but left Des Moines many years ago, now re- 
 sides on the Pacific Coast, being the only one of 
 the family yet living; Norman T. was the third in 
 order of birth; Ciiarles went to California soon af- 
 ter the discover^' of gold in that State, and thence 
 to South America, where he died; James became a 
 resident of Atchison, Kan., where his death occur- 
 red; Cyrus departed this life in California; and 
 Harriet, who became Mrs. Stone, has ))ecn many 
 3'ears deceased. 
 
 Norman T. Vorsc, the subject of this sketch came 
 to Des Moines in 1841), but four years later returned 
 to Ohio, where he was united in marriage with Miss 
 Elizabeth M. Searle, daughter of John R. and Mary 
 (Stark) Searle, both of whom were natives of Penn- 
 sylvania. Her father died many years ago, but her 
 mother, who was born February IG, IKOO. is still 
 living. They were the parents of eight children, 
 tvvo sons and six daughters: James died in renn- 
 sylvania. at tlie home of his |);ucnts. The other 
 
 son, John, was a Lieutenant in a Pennsylvania regi- 
 ment during the Rebellion, and died while in the 
 service. TIk! daughters of the familj- are Clara, 
 widow of Nelson Dean, of Waverly, Pa.; Mrs. 
 Catherine Williams, of Homer, Ohio; Mrs. Vorse; 
 Ruth, wife of James C. Courtwright, of Wilkes 
 Barre, Pa., with whom Mrs. Searle resides; Mary, 
 wife of Rev. J. K. Peck, a Methodist l<4>iscopal min- 
 ister, and a nephew of liishop Peck; and Martha, 
 wife of James D. Green, of Wyoming, Pa. The 
 Searle family, of whom Mrs. ^'orse is a representa- 
 tive, was one of the early families of the Wyoming 
 Valley, of Pennsylvania, and one or more of its 
 members were victims of what is known in history 
 as the Wyoming Massacre, which occurred July 3, 
 1778. The parents of Mrs. Vorse never left their 
 native State. She was living with her sister, Mrs. 
 AVilliams, in Ohio, at the time of her marriage. 
 
 The name of Norman T. Vorse is permanently 
 identified with the early history of Des Jloines, and 
 especially with its early manufacturing interests. 
 He was for some lime associated with his brother 
 Addison S. in the manufacture and sale of agri- 
 cultural implements, and after the partnership was 
 dissolved, he continued operations in that line, be- 
 ing thus engaged at the time of his death, which 
 occurred May 18, 1877. He was an energetic and 
 sagacious business man, and was eminently success- 
 ful in his undertakings. He entered considerable 
 land in the early days of the county, and in that 
 way and by purchase, came into possession of a 
 large amount of real estate. Two hundred and 
 twenty acres of what is now Easton Place, was en- 
 tered 1)3' him, and was platted, divided into lots, 
 and incorporated by his sons. As a citizen, Mr. 
 Vorse was enterprising and progressive, and in all 
 his dealings with his fellow-men was honorable and 
 upright, never intentionally wronging any one. 
 Perhai)s no name is more indelibl}' connected with 
 the earlier historj' of the capital city of Iowa, than 
 his, and when mentioned b^- those who knew him 
 best, it is ever attended with the expression of senti- 
 ments of respect and ai)prcciation. He was a faith- 
 ful and consistent member of the Methodist Episco- 
 pal Church, and when the final summons came, 
 [rnssed peacefully to his reward. 
 
 Mrs. \'orse and son, Frank W., are the only sur- 
 
410 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 viving members of the family. He left at death 
 two sons, but the elder, Charles S., is now deceased. 
 He was born in Sidney, Fremont County, Iowa, 
 where his parents were temporarily residing, Sq[)- 
 temlicr2t, 18;") J. He received an excellent educa- 
 tion, and then went to Kurope for the benefit of his 
 health, which had become impaired by long and 
 constant application to his studies. lie spent some 
 time in IJerlin, the capital of Prussia, where he con- 
 tinued his studies as much as possible. Soon after 
 he returned home he cntercil the law department of 
 the Iowa State University, graduating in 1876, but 
 never eng.aged actively in practice. Until his 
 father's dcatii, he assisted him in his extensive busi- 
 ness, and then took up his chosen [jrofession, but 
 his continued [nwr health prevented him from giv- 
 ing it the time he wished to, and he consequently 
 devoted much attention to the real-estate business, 
 the duties of -which were less arduous. On tlie ■26th 
 of December, 1889, accom[)anied by his mother, he 
 left Des jMoines. for a visit to the Pacific Coast, the 
 object of the trip to attend to his business interests 
 in California, and spend the winter months in the 
 milder climate of that State, as he had done before 
 with beneficial results. While in Santa Cruz, Cal., 
 he was seized with a fatal illness, which terminated 
 his life l-'obi-uary 2, 1890. His wife and brotlicr, 
 on learning of his sickness, hastened to be present 
 at his bedside, but his death occurred before the}' 
 reached their destination, and the grief-stricken 
 family returned to this city with the remains of 
 their dear one for burial. He was a man of much 
 natural ability, a fine scholar, and is said to have 
 greatly resembled his honored father. His death 
 in the prime of life, was a great loss to the com- 
 munity, and a sad afliiction to friends. His wife 
 w.as formeil}' Miss Augusta 'i'errill. He also left 
 three children, two sons and a daughter — Norman 
 T., Florence and Searle. 
 
 Frank W. Vorse, the onlj' surviving child, was 
 born in Sidney, Iowa, February 9, ISaO, and ac- 
 fpiired his [uiinary education ii> the pulilic schools 
 of Des Moines, graduating from the iligh School 
 in 1873. He then entered the Northwestern Uni- 
 versity of Evanston. 111., where he continued as a 
 student until tlie spring of 187."). Two years later 
 he became connected with the Marseilles Manuf.ac- 
 
 luring Company, and in 1879 engaged in the agri- 
 cultural im|)lement business in the building in 
 which his father formerly carried on operations in 
 the same line. I""ornier experience had eminently 
 fitted him for that business, and he met with marked 
 success in the undertaking. He is now a real-estate 
 dealer, and occupies the office in which he and his 
 brother were located at the time of the latter's 
 death. Frank Vorse was united in marriage with 
 Miss Agnes Newton, an adopted daughter of .Judge 
 Curtis Bates, one of Iowa's eminent jurists and citi- 
 zens, and unto them have been born two daugh- 
 ters, Ruth and Myrtle. 
 
 We have thus given a brief sketch of one of Des 
 Moines' representative f.-imilies. The father look 
 r.ank among her honored citizens. The mother is 
 a lady of high social standing, and the sons rank 
 among her prominent business men. 
 
 
 /^ WILLIAM MKNNIG, seni( 
 !| ^ the (irni of Mennisi it Slater, 
 
 ior (lartner of 
 is a native of 
 \^' the I'^mpire State. He was born in Buffalo, 
 F'ebruary 22, 1850, and is the eldest son of C. R. 
 and Magdelen (Kli[)fel) Mennig, both natives of 
 Germany, the former })orn in Khenish Bavaria, 
 and the latter in Hesse- Darmstadt. In 1844, prior 
 to their marri.age, Mr. Mennig emigrated to the 
 I'nited States, and the following year his wife 
 erossc<l the Atlantic. Their first location was 
 Buffalo, N. Y., where the}- were married and 
 reared a family consisting of four sons and two 
 daughters. 
 
 C. R. Mennig was reared in his native city, and 
 during his youth learned the trade of a soajj-maker, 
 whi(^h he followed until 1847, when he turned his 
 attention to the manufacture of vinegar. In 1863, 
 he retired from active business, ami removed to 
 the suburbs of Buffalo, where he is still living. 
 Both he and his wife are members of the German 
 Reformed Church. Of their sons, C. William and 
 Henry W. are eng.aged in business in Des Moines; 
 J. B. is engaged in business in Buffalo; Charles A. 
 is a resident of C;difornia. 
 
 At the time of the removal of his father's family 
 
FnyhyFSK'.'-.-'^^''^ 
 
 ^2^c^i^-^^ ^ 
 
PORTRAIT AND BlOGRAriilCAL ALBUM. 
 
 413 
 
 to tlioii- subiirl)an home, our subject was a ln<l of 
 thirteen years. There he received a fair educa- 
 tion in both Englisii and German, and on roachinjj; 
 Ills ninjoritj- he learned the business which iiis 
 father liad so successfully followed for sixteen 
 years. Tlic year 1872 witnessed his arrival in 
 I)es iVFoincs, where lie immediately began the man- 
 ufacture of vinegar, in a one story frame building, 
 20x40 feet, doing all the work himself. Business 
 increased and he was forced to secure more com- 
 modious quarters. In 1876, he formed :i partner- 
 ship with William Slater, and thereupon they 
 purchased a part of the establishment where they 
 now do business, at No. 122 Second Street. Since 
 that time additions have been made until their 
 manufactorj' covers an area of 44x132 feet and is 
 tlirce stories in height. They do an extensive 
 business, employing some twelve assistants, and 
 mannfactnring about three thousand barrels of 
 vinegar yearl3', besides pickles, mustard, etc., in 
 large quantities. 
 
 In Des Moines, on the 9th of June, 1887, Mr. 
 Mennig was united in marriage with Miss .^nna 
 McCord, a native of Newton, Iowa, and a daugh- 
 ter of James H. McCord, a furniture dealer of this 
 city. Both he and his wife are members of the 
 Plymoutli Congregational Church, and in politics 
 he is a Republican, but has never sought public 
 recognition. For eighteen years he has been con- 
 tinuously in one line of business, and his time and 
 labor have not been spent without reward. 
 
 'i^^.- 
 
 R. CHARLES HAMILTON RAWSON, 
 deceased. The history of Polk County 
 would be incomplete without thcski;tcli of 
 the gentleman above named. Probably 
 no man in. the county was more widelj' known, and 
 we feel certain that none was held in higher re- 
 gard. Esteemed by his fellow associates, respected 
 by both the rich and poor, and loved b3' the chil- 
 dien, his record is one of which his family and 
 friends may well be proud. His home life was of 
 Ihc most pleasant, and the vacancy left in the fam- 
 U\ circle, is one which can never lie filled. He 
 
 j was born in Orleans Count}', \'t., on the ICth of 
 ' July, 1828, and was the son of Elijah and Susan 
 I (Allen) Rawson, (a sketch of whom will be found 
 on another page of this work). 
 
 In early life, our subject conceived the idea of 
 making the medical profession his lift; work. After 
 couipletiug his literar}- education in the common 
 schools, at the age of twenty years he began pre- 
 paration for his chosen profession in the ofllce of 
 Dr. A. P. Barlier, and later was graduated at Wood- 
 stock, \'t. He then spent two years engaged in 
 practice in Canada, after which he attended lectures 
 at the New York College of Physicians and Sur- 
 geons, from which institution he was graduated 
 with high honor. He was then placed on duty as 
 house surgeon of the Bellevue Hospital, wheie he 
 remained for about eighteen months. Ills first pro- 
 fessional experience was in attendance upon some 
 small pox patients, anil in his treatment he was quite 
 successful. Ui)0n the breaking out of the gold 
 fever in 1849, he applied for, and obtained the posi- 
 tion of surgeon of the steamer, "S. S. Lewis," go- 
 ing around the Cape to San Juan, and running from 
 that place to San Francisco. He served in that ca- 
 pacity until the steamer was wrecked near Acca- 
 pulco. when he went into the Marine Hospital in 
 San Francisco as Surgeon. At the expiration of 
 two years, he returned to his native State on a visit 
 and during that time was influenced by friends to 
 locate in Des Moines. 
 
 Dr. Rawson reached the cit^' in October, 1856, 
 and almost immediately succeeded in securing a 
 liberal pi actice. But a short time was needed to 
 convince the people that he possessed the skill, 
 ability, and knowledge needful to a successful phy- 
 sician, and numerous were the calls made upon his 
 services. He left his private practice, however, at 
 the breaking out of the late Civil War, feeling that 
 his country needed his services. He was among the 
 first to respond to the call for troops, and enlisting 
 in the Fiftli Iowa Infantry, was appointed Regi- 
 mental Surgeon. Soon afterward he was commis- 
 sioned Brigade Surgeon, and in many of the most 
 im|)ortant battles of the Western Arm^- partici- 
 pated, but at length worn out through watching 
 and almost constant labor, he was forced to resign, 
 being no longer able to attend to his duties. Im- 
 
414 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 mediately after liis return from the wur. lii; Look 
 into partnership with iiini, Dr. W. H. Waril, which 
 connection continued until 1881. when it was de- 
 solved by mutual consent. During those many 
 years of hard work and successful practice, not a 
 single circumstance ever occurred to cause an nn- 
 friendij' word or feeling. 
 
 On the 17th of November, 18G3, Dr. Rawson was 
 united in marriage with Miss Mary E. Blake, a na- 
 tive of Swanton, A't., and a daughter of lion. AVill- 
 iam H. Blake, who is now residing in Franklin 
 C'ountj', Vt. He is one of the leading citizens of 
 that portion of the State, and is a man of promi- 
 nence and influence in his county. To the Doctor 
 and his wife were born eight cliildren, four of whom 
 are yet living: William 15., the eldest, who was 
 born September 17, 1864, died while a student in 
 Ames College, on the 1 Ith of May, 1882, at the 
 age of seventeen 3'ears and eight months. He was 
 a bright, promising young man. and his death was 
 a severe blow to his parents. Lizzie, born August 
 19, 1866, died October 28, 1869; Carrie, born July 
 24, 1872. died February 22, 1879; John, born April 
 11, 1877, died September 9, 1879; Anna B., born 
 .hiue 4, 1867, is still at home; Frank B., born May 
 30, 1869, is attending college in (iriiinell. Iowa; 
 Nellie M., born November 7, 1875, and Laura H., 
 February 27, 1880, are still at home. 
 
 For some time after his return from the war. 
 Dr. Kawson continued in poor health, but as soon 
 as he had regained his strength, he resumed private 
 practice, and it is needless to say, met with excel- 
 lent success. Of him one of the pa|)ers in giving 
 an account of his death says: "During his profes- 
 sional career in this city, extending over a period 
 of more than twenty-five years, it is said bj' his as- 
 sociate phj-sicians, th.at beyond a doubt, either in 
 his own practice or in consultation, Dr. Rawson has 
 visited every famil}' in this city. Was there a ease 
 demanding the most eonsumate skill and profound 
 knowledge procurable, his assistance was sought. 
 Upon numberless occasions has he been called upon 
 to in.ike final decisions in consultation, at which the 
 most prominent members of the profession of the 
 State were assembled. All this may be said with a 
 trueness that will be warmly acknowledged by the 
 eminent physicians of tli is eil_v, who survive to main- 
 
 Uiin tlie nobility of the calling which was his, and 
 continues theirs." His practice embraced not only 
 Polk County. but extended to man^^ adjoining coun- 
 ties. Upon the establishment of the pension bureau. 
 Dr. Rawson was appointed President of the Board, 
 which position Le held fifteen jears. It was often 
 times his desire to resign, but he was repeatedly 
 urged to continue in the office which he held until 
 death called him hence. 
 
 The Doctor took a deep interest in political 
 affairs, and was a warm supporter of the Republican 
 party, but always refused to accept public oflice. 
 Social 1}', he was a member of the Masonic frater- 
 nit3'. He lived to witness the wonderful growth of 
 of Des Moines, from a mere hamlet to its present 
 size and greatness, and ever bore an active part in 
 the upbuilding of its best interests. When he came 
 to the city in 1856, he found a village containing 
 but a few frame houses and log cabins, with little 
 business prospects, and apparently scarcely' any ad- 
 vantages. The railroad had not yet been built 
 through the town, and when he brought his 3'oung 
 bride to his new home in the West, had to complete 
 the journey from Grinnell to Ft. Des Moines in a 
 stage, arriving at 3 o'clock in the morning. 
 
 The character of Dr. R.awson was that of an hon- 
 orable, upright man. He was rather quiet and un- 
 obtrusive in manner, but his course won him a 
 countless number of fiicnds of the truest and no- 
 blest sort. He -vas firm in his convictions, but 
 gave to others the right of opinion. It is said by 
 Dr. Wanl, than whom none can be more competent 
 to speak of his professional courtesy, that during 
 the man}' ^-ears the^' practiced together, he was 
 never heard to speak reproachfully of, or to criti- 
 cise in any way the methods emploj'ed b}' other 
 physicians of whatever school. 
 
 The strictest ethics of his profession were by him 
 
 rigidly complied with to the letter, and his great 
 
 sense of justice to all, was so prominently portrsiyed 
 
 by liis deeds and acts, as to leave no room for 
 
 ! doubt or misconception of purpose b^' any of his 
 
 I cotemporaries. The poor and needj' found in him 
 
 a true friend. In their sickness and distress he w;\s 
 
 ! ever readj* to minister unto them, although he 
 
 knew no financial benefit could be gained thereby, 
 
 and in the sick room his sj'inpathetic presence 
 
PORTRAIT AUD BJOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 415 
 
 provL'd almost as good a tonic as bis medicines. 
 About six weelts previous to liis deatii, tlie Ameri- 
 cai> Medical Association convened in ^Vashington, 
 and many of the plijsicians of I)cs Moines were in 
 attendance. During that time he was ministering 
 to the sick of the cit\' with scarcely a moment's ces- 
 sation. His own private practice was quite large, 
 but with the additional service which he was called 
 to render in the absence of his coUegues, his health 
 gave way, being no longer able to bear up under 
 the great strain placed upon him. He was f()r('(>d 
 to take to his btd, and from the first liour of his so 
 doing. Drs. Ward. Hanawall, and Swift remained at 
 his side. Hack of the liigii skill wliicii those gen- 
 tlemen lent the cass, there was a warm ami pro- 
 found fellow love which urged them on to still 
 greater endeavors than perhaps ever were put forth 
 by them before. Pvobabli' every physician in the 
 city called at Dr. Rawson's house during his illiu'ss 
 with kind inquiries and expressions of regret, for 
 he was equally loved and respected by his profes 
 sional .associates. After raan\' days and nights of 
 luipeless watching, lie succumbed to the victor of 
 all. and passed away, his death occurring on the 
 27th of June, 1884. 
 
 Mrs. Rawson still survives her husband, and is 
 living in Des Moines. She is a most estimable lad3', 
 and like her husband, shares in the confidence and 
 esteem of those who know her. 
 
 RY ife THOMAS constitute one of the re- 
 cently' organized firms of contractors and 
 builders of Des Moines, their partnership 
 having existed since January 1, 1890. Mr. Fry has 
 resided in this city since 1880, and during the years 
 which have elapsed has devoted his energies to car- 
 pentering and contracting. He was born in Wash- 
 ington D. C, in 1853, and is a son of James T. and 
 Sarah E. Frj-. His father was born and reared in 
 Washington and has passed his entire life in that 
 city, following his trade of a carpenter and builder, 
 until within the [last few years, when he has practi- 
 cally lived a retired life. His wife is a native of 
 Mar\land. Their children, three in number, .arc 
 
 as follows: M. Edgar of this sketch; Alvin E.. who 
 is engaged in the grocery business in Washington, 
 and Mrs. Leil.i R. Barnes of New York. Two 
 brothers, James and Clarence died in Washington. 
 
 M. Edgar Fry spent the days of his boyhood and 
 youth under the parental roof and in the schools of 
 the capital city of our country was educated. With 
 his father and an uncle, he learned the trade of 
 a carpenter and for some time ere he left Washing- 
 ton was in the employ of the United States Govern- 
 ment. He had, however, determined to come West, 
 believing that better opportunities were afforded 
 \'Oung men in his business than in the older States 
 of the East. Acting upon his resolution, he went 
 to Chicago in 1877 and entered the employ of the 
 Pullman Car Company, with which he continued 
 for three years, when in .1880, he came to Des 
 Moines, as already stated. 
 
 Mr. Fry was married in his native city to Miss 
 Sarah A. Jenkins, a native of St. Johns, New Bruns- 
 wick, Can.ada. This union has been attended by 
 the birth of five children, three of whom are living, 
 two sons and a daughter — James Vernon, Harry 
 Clifford and Lottie M.ay. They have lost two chil- 
 dren, Edgar while residing in Washington and 
 Helen in Des Moines, both dying in infancy. Mr. 
 Fry is a superior mechanic and kis reputation as a 
 gentleman of honor and integrity is unquestioned. 
 
 William C. Thomas, of the firm of Fr}- & Thomas, 
 contractors .and builders, is a native of South Wales. 
 He was born in Abcrdare in 1847 and continued to 
 reside in that countr3' until he had attained to man- 
 Mood. He there learned the trade which has been 
 his life work, and after his emigration to America 
 in 1807, he engaged in carpentering for twelve 
 3'ears in Tioga County, Pa. At the expiration of 
 that period, he came to Iowa and locating in Os- 
 kaloosa engaged in contracting and building until 
 his removal to Marshalltown, where he entered the 
 emi)loy of the Chic;ago, St. Paul & Kansas City 
 Railrcxad Company, with which he continued four 
 years. He then removed to Des Moines and re- 
 sumeil his former business, which he has carried on 
 continuously since, alone until 1890and since Ihcn 
 as a partner of Mr. Fry. 
 
 Ml'. Thoni;is was the first of his family to come 
 to .Vmerica, but in 18(;:i, his father, Moses Thomas, 
 
416 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 accompanit'fl l\v liis wife iiml cliildron, ci'o.'sgjI llic 
 water, and sellled near Osknluus-a, Iowa. William 
 is the eldest of five brothers and four sisters, namely': 
 Edwaril. (!omar. Isaac, David. Sarah, Amelia, Ruth 
 and Annie. 
 
 In 1866, Mr. Thomas w.a.s united in marriage 
 with Miss Annie Watkins wiio is also a native of 
 Aberdaro. and unto tlicm have been horn nine chil- 
 dren, four sons and five daughters — AVillie. Edward. 
 Moses, Charles, Margaret .lane, Bessie, Nellie, 
 Annie and Carrie. Mr. Thomas is a worthy and 
 estimable citizen and in the short time in which he 
 has made his home in Dcs Moines, has won the con- 
 fidence and well wishes of all with whom he h.as 
 come in contact. The firm of Fry it Thomas is re- 
 ceiving a liberal patronage and is rapi'lly taking 
 rank among the best in the city. 
 
 ^^- 
 
 ATHAN C. TOWNE of the real-estate firm 
 
 ,. of Towne and McFarland, belongs to one of 
 
 J// 
 
 ^ the oldest English-American families. The 
 
 founders of the family in this country' are William 
 .and Joanna (Blessing) Towne. of Yarmouth. Eng 
 land, who settled in Salem, Mass. as early as 1G40. 
 In direct line of descent from William to our sub- 
 ject, their names are as follows: Edmund, Joseph, 
 Benjamin, Eli, Eli, Eli. the Uev. Edward O., and Na- 
 than C. Edmund Towne was a member of the com- 
 mittee from the town of Topstield, who at the time of 
 King Philip's War presented a petition to the gen- 
 eral court for leave to form milit.arj- companies to 
 protect the inhabitants from the Indians while at 
 work. Benjamin Towne was a prominent man in 
 local affairs and a man of large estate. He w.as 
 four limes married. Eli, the first, served in the 
 Revolutionaiy War. Eli, the second, emigrated 
 in 1804 from Massiiohusetts to Washington County. 
 Pa., where Rev. Edward O. Towne, the father of 
 our subject, was reared to manhood, although he 
 w!xs born in JIaryland. « After graduating from 
 Muskingum College he entered the Oxford Theol- 
 ogical Seminary of Oxford, Mass., preparing him- 
 self for the ministry of the Baptist Church. His 
 father, however, was a Methodist i)reaclu'r. but 
 
 their idea-i differing somewhat he accepted the faith 
 of the Baptist Church. In IHtl). the Rev. Mr. Towne 
 came to Iowa and entered a large tract of land of 
 one thousand .acres near Pella, but soon returned to 
 Ohio. Two years later he removed to this State 
 and settled for a time in Bonap.artc, where he or- 
 uranized a cliurch, but in 1853 removed to Pella 
 and was one of the leaders iu the establishment of 
 the Central I'niversity, which was the object of his 
 special care during the remainder of his life. He 
 gave his whole energies and attention to wliatever 
 he undertook and as a result everj- enterprise or 
 work which he began was carried forward to a suc- 
 cessful completion. Not only w.as he successful in 
 the pulpit, but his business affairs also prospered 
 and in proportion to the increase of his worldly 
 possesssious he gave for the .advancement of the 
 Master's cause. Politically, he supported the Whig 
 party until the rise of the Republican party, when 
 he became one of its strong adherents. He passed 
 away in 1875, at the age of fifty-seven years. 
 
 Mr. Towne w.as twice married ; his first wife, 
 Emma Clutter, was a native of Pennsylvania, and 
 became the mother of six children — Rebecca, 
 Matilda and .Sarah, all married; George W., who 
 enlisted as a soldier of Co/npanj' G, Thirty-Third 
 Iowa Volunteer Infantr}-. was killed at Jenkins 
 Ferry; F. P. died in California in 188C; and Nathan 
 C. is the 3'oungest. By his second wife he had 
 three children — Edward O., Robert II. and D.avid 
 C. The latter died in Texas in 1878. The two 
 eldest are married, and reside in Cliicago,where they 
 are engaged in the practice of law. 
 
 Our subject, who is accounted one of the leading 
 real-estate men of Des Moines, first ojjcued his eyes 
 to the light of day in Guernsey Count}-, Ohio, on 
 the 18th of August, 1849. He received excellent 
 educational advantages in his youth, entering Cen- 
 tral I'niversity after completing the course in the 
 public schools. The sickness of his father, how- 
 ever, abiuptly terminated his college course and 
 though only eighteen years of age at the time, he 
 took charge of his father's affairs, working up the 
 real-estate business to one of the most extensive in 
 Central Iowa. He handle<l lands for railroad com- 
 panies and bought five thousand .acres for the 
 I'nion Land Company of Des Moines, Iowa, to- 
 
FORTKAIT AND BlUGKAl'HlCAl. ALliUM. 
 
 4iy 
 
 gctticr with an equal nmouiit for himself which he 
 sLill holds. 
 
 ill 1883, Mr. Towne came to Dcs Moines, where 
 lie has since been actively enj^ajred in business. 
 Shorth' after his arrival in this i-itv, hi' formed a 
 partnersliii) willi lliMiry M. IMcFarlaiid, whicli still 
 agreeablj' continues. Tiiey do a general real-estate 
 business and deal quice e.Ktensively in coal and 
 other lands in Iowa is well as Des Moines really. 
 Public affairs elicit his active interest and in pro- 
 moting the welfare of the Republican party he 
 takes an active part. lie is a member of three 
 social orders and of the ISaptist Church, to which 
 his wife also lielongs. 
 
 At Pella, Iowa, in Jlay, 1.S7.H, Mr. Towne mar- 
 ried Miss Ida A. JIarkel, a native of that city, and 
 a daughter of J. Maikel, vice-|)resident of the First 
 National Bank of Pella, and one of the most prom- 
 inent farmers and stock-raisers of Central Iowa. 
 Thcj' are now parents of four children — Irma, 
 Ethel, Edwin J. and (Jeoige L. 
 
 Mr. Towne like his father is a warm friend of 
 e<lucational institutions and manifests his interest 
 in the cause in a substantial manner, lie was for- 
 merly a trustee of Central L^nivcrsity and is now a 
 member of the board of trustees and of the execu- 
 tive committee of Des Moines College. He has 
 been remarkabl\' successful in l)usinessand although 
 a comparatively young man has accumulatetl a 
 good property. The secret of Mr. Towne's suc- 
 cuss in whatever he undertakes, is [)usli and fair 
 dealing. 
 
 H. WARD, M. D., is the oldest practic- 
 ing physician of Des Moines, where he has 
 \V?'^ made his home and engaged in |)ractice 
 for the past forty-one years. He numbers ^among 
 his friends and acquaintances almost every residiMit 
 of the county and this volume would therefore be 
 incomplete without his sketch. The record of his 
 life is as follows: He was born in Lexington. Ind., 
 on the 2yth of May, 1829, being the fourth in a 
 family of seven children, numliering four sons and 
 three daughters. His father. .lames W'anl, was a 
 native of Rockljridge County, \a., Init when a 
 
 young man_ emigrated to Georgetown. Ky., where 
 he became acquainted with and wedded Miss Pris- 
 cilla Tucker, who was born in Cynthiana, that 
 State, but accompanied her parents to Georgetown 
 when a young girl. Shortly after his marriage, 
 Mr. Ward renu)ve<l with his bride to Madison, 
 Ind., becoming one of its pioneer settlers. He Iiuilt 
 the second house in that cit^' and there resided for 
 some time when lie became a resident of Scott 
 County, Ind. He was a man of worth, honorable 
 and U|)right in all his dealings and was frequently 
 calleil to till (lusitions of trust. While in Scott 
 County, he held the jiosition of Clerk of the Court 
 for fourteen years and after his removal to Craw- 
 fordsville, Ind.. in 1840 he served as Justice of the 
 Peace for some time. He gave his sup[)ort to the 
 Whig party and in religious belief both he and his 
 wife were INIethodists. Tin ir house was the home 
 of the pioneer preachers and in many ways they 
 aided greatly in the advancement of the Master's 
 cause. Mr. ^Vard never became a wealthy man 
 for lie gave liberally to all calls for charitable and 
 iKMievolent interests and by going security lost 
 eonsideralile sums. Doth he and his wife have been 
 called to their reward. The husliand died while on 
 a visit to his son, the Doctor, in 185!), and Mrs. 
 Ward passed aw.ay in Danville, Ind., in 1871. 15ut 
 three of their children are now living, the brothers 
 of our subject being .lames F. and Charles C, both 
 of whom are eng.aged in farming in this State. 
 
 Dr. Ward was reared to manhood in Indiana and 
 in the subscri|)lion schools acquired his primary 
 education. For three years he attended a school 
 taught by Mrs. M:u1dox, where across the aisle sat 
 the sister of Mrs. J^ew "Wallace. He afterward at- 
 tended Wabash College for a year, [laying his own 
 ex'iienses, and then began the study of medicine 
 under Dr. I>. lifirtholemew, of Danville, who is 
 still engaged in practice at the age of eighty-seven 
 yenis. Subsequently he eng.aged in teaching in 
 order to secure the means necessary to further 
 prosecute his studies. It was his wish to enter 
 upon his business career in Iowa, .as he believed 
 that the West furnished better oiniortunilies than 
 the older States of the East, but he had no money 
 with which to make the journiy. At length he 
 obtained a situation taking charge of a drove of 
 
120 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 lioijos. taUinji Uk'mi U> '.'liic.igo.and for ll|is receiver! 
 *20. With lliat sum in his pocliet lie started on 
 foot for Des Moines, arriving at wliat is now tlie 
 cai)ital city on tiie 1st day of May, 1848, vvitli only 
 sixty-live tents in \\U pocket. He Imd been at liis 
 new vocation for tliree montlis l)efore lie received 
 a c:l11. when his services were lequired for an In- 
 dian bah}', and in iiaymcnt he received a six gallon 
 brass kettle. That, however opened the gale upon 
 the pathway of success, and from that time forward 
 his time has been fully occupied lij' |)rivate prac- 
 tice, lie received calls not onlj' from the i)eople 
 in the immediate vicinity of Des Moines, but often 
 would ride thirty or forty miles to visit a patient. 
 Summer's heat or winter's cold could not keep him 
 from the bedside of one whom he believed needed 
 his services, but putting aside his own comfort 
 he endured man\- hardships for the sake of those 
 who depended upon him for aid. 
 
 On the 2.Jth of November, 1851, Dr. Ward was 
 united in marriage witli Miss AUie Parker, a native 
 of LaFaj'ettc, Ind., born in August, 1832. They 
 became the parents of four children — Minnie, who 
 is at luime; Frank F., who is engaged in business 
 in Los Angeles, Cal.; Harry C, a ranclunau of Ari- 
 zona; and I'jlmer, a railroad engineer. The family 
 worship in the I'rcsbyterian Church. In his wife, 
 Dr. Ward has found a true lielpmale. one who has 
 nobly shared with iiim the hardshi|)s and trials of 
 pioneer life and aided him to overcome the diffi- 
 culties incident to the settling of a new country. 
 15oth are widely known and in the community are 
 held in the highest regard. As before stated tlie 
 Do(;lor has longer l)een a resident of Polk County 
 than any otlier physician now engaged in iiractice 
 here. His ability was soon recognized and by the 
 liberal [lalronage which he received he was able to 
 accumulate a handsome competency. For twenty 
 years he was :issociated in business with Dr. C. H. 
 Rawson, one of the ablest surgeons ever in Des 
 Moines, and since 188'J, Dr. J. B. Ilatton, who for 
 many years was a practitioner at Red Oak, Iowa, has 
 been his partner. During President Arthur's ad- 
 ministration he was appointed pension examiner, 
 but on account of his Republican principles the of- 
 fice was taken from him by President Cleveland. 
 Socially, he is a member of the Knights of Pythias 
 
 and of the Old Settlers' Association. He held the 
 chair of g3necology in the low^a College of Physi- 
 cians and Surgeons before it became a |)art of Drake 
 University and earned a high reputation for knowl- 
 edge and skill as a physician. In the winter of 
 1862-63 he graduated from the College of Physi- 
 cians and Surgeons of Keokuk. Iowa. See portrait. 
 
 ^ €-*^- 
 
 ■vRED HUNNEL. a contractor and builder of 
 
 fj. Des Moines, is a native of Pennsylvania. 
 He was born in Greene County, on the 2f)th 
 of .lulj-, 18.")0, and is a son of .John and Mary 
 (Seals) Hunnel, who were also natives of Greene 
 Count}', and are now residents of Des Moines. He 
 is the second in order of birth in a family of five 
 sons, the eldest of whom, ^'incent Seals, is engaged 
 in carpentering in this city; William, the third in 
 order of birth, is also a carpenter anil builder of 
 Des Moines; .Tolin Dorsey is a cigar manufacturer 
 of this city; .Tames P.. who is a printer by trade, 
 is now operating a job olfice in Seattle, Wash. 
 There are also two daughters in the family: F^dith, 
 wife of Charles Wilson of Des Moines; and Emma, 
 wife of Hiram Iliggins, of Chicago. The father of 
 this family has made cariK'nlcring his life work, 
 and tliiee of his sons have also followed the same 
 occupation. 
 
 The early life of our suliject [lassed uneventfully 
 in a manner not unlike that in which all lads usually 
 sjiend their time. With his father he learned the 
 trade of carpentering, and (lossessing considerable 
 natural genius for mechairicat'wOrk, soon mastered 
 the business, and became a proficient workman. 
 He was fifteen years of age when he accompanied 
 his parents to Monroe, Iowa, and in 1867, they set- 
 tled in Des Moines. For about two years after bis 
 arrival in the city, Fred was in the ein|iloy of Cnpt. 
 F. S. Whiting, and then formed an engagement 
 with A. M. Rouse, a leading architect of Des Moines, 
 willi whom he continued about four years. Dur- 
 ing that period he obtained a thorough knowledge 
 of stair building, and on severing his connection 
 with Mr. Rouse, he went to Chicago, where he 
 made a specialty of that branch of the business. 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 421 
 
 :in(l has since devoted mueli attentioH to tliat de- 
 |):H-LiDent of Ijiiildina-. On leaving C'hieago, INIr. 
 Ilunnei located in Wintciset. Iowa, wliere lie was 
 engaged in contracting and bnlMing about two 
 years, when lie returned to Des Moines, l-'inally. 
 he decided to try his fortune in the far West, and 
 in 1878 went to tlu^ Territorj' of Idaho, where he 
 resided six years, when deciding that Iowa was in 
 many respects more desirable as ii place of resi- 
 dence he again returned to the ca[)ital city. 
 
 Mr. Ilunnel was married in Des Moines, to Miss 
 Mary McNeil, daughter of Archie JIcNeil, who 
 settled in Iowa about 185'.l. and continued a resi- 
 dent of this State until his death, which occurred 
 in Des Moines in IStJo. His wife, the mother of 
 Mrs. Hunnel. survived her husband a number of 
 years, and died in AVinterset, Madison County. 
 This worthj' couple were parents of three children, 
 one son and two daughters, naniely: .John, who was 
 killed by the Indians at .Smoky Hills, near Den- 
 ver, Colo. He was scouting at the time, and was 
 killed by treacherous Indians. Mrs. Ilunnel is the 
 next in age. Anna, the youngest, is the wife of 
 W. II. Garner, of Ft. Madison, who for twelve 
 years has served as one of the gu.ards at the |)C'ni- 
 tentiarj' ac that place. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Hunnel have six children, four 
 sons and two daughters: Archibald L., Frederick 
 E., James V., Ethel M., Annie, and Ualjih W. 
 
 Mr. Hunnel, as already stated, is a first-class me- 
 (!hanic, and takes pride in doing his work well, 
 therefore he receives a liberal patronage of which 
 he is in every way worthy. As a citizen and in 
 business and social circles, he is held in high es- 
 teem. 
 
 -^ ^#~^ "^ 
 
 eAPT. C. C. I'HOITY. senior member of the 
 , wholesale grocery house of I'routy it Pratt, 
 , ' was born in the town of Cumberland. Guern- 
 sey County, Ohio, August 8, 1841. llis parents, 
 Russell and Nanc^' (Dunbar) I'routy, were Now 
 England people, his father having been born in 
 Spencer, Mass., his mother in I'elchertown of the 
 same State. The family was founded in America, 
 by Richanl Prouty, of England, who left his home 
 
 across the water and settled in Massachusetts, in 
 1C;30. The paternal great-grandfather of the Cap- 
 tain, served in the Army of the Colonics in the 
 Revolutionary' War, and his grandfather in the 
 War of 1812, while he won his title of Captain in 
 defense of the Union iluring llu; late war. 
 
 The residence of our subject in Iowa dates from 
 18,')1), when he accompanied his [jarents to Keokuk 
 County. He was reared to manhood on the farm, 
 and in the common schools of the neighborhood 
 acquired his education. With interest he watched 
 the progress of events just preceding the Civil War, 
 determined, if need be, to strike a blow for his 
 countr\''s honor. He enlisted in June, 18G1, as a 
 member of Company E, Thirty third Iowa Infan- 
 try, and w.as soon afterward commissioned Captain. 
 He took part in every battle and engagement in 
 which the Twenty-third Regiment participated un- 
 til the close of the war, and was mustered out of 
 service in ISC'). For a time after his return home 
 he engaged in farming, but afterward carried on 
 the grocery business in t)skaloosa. 
 
 in the fall of 18G1), wliile a resident of Oskaloosa, 
 Capt. Prouty was united in marriage with Miss 
 Belle Needham, a daughter of David Needham, and 
 a sister of .lohn R. Needham. The lady is a native 
 of Cumbciland, Guernsey County, Ohio, and by 
 her union has become the mother of two children: 
 Harry L., born August 22, 1870; Cheney R., July 
 14, 1882. 
 
 Coming to Des Moines in 1874, the Captain pur- 
 chased an interest in the vvholesale grocer}' house 
 of Webb & Son, which was established in 1870, 
 and the firm became Webb & Co. Five years later, 
 in 187!), it was changed to Webb & I'routy, which 
 connection was continued until 1881, when William 
 J. Pratt bought the interest of Mr. Webb, after 
 which the firm became Prouty & Pratt. From that 
 time there was no change until 1888, when the pre- 
 sent company was incorporated under the title of 
 the Prouty & Pratt Company, wholesale grocers. 
 The stock holders and oflieers are: C. C. Prouty, 
 President; W. J. Pratt, Vice-President; P. H. 
 Skinner, Secretary ; Charles D. Prouty, Treasurer. 
 This house has grown to be one of the most im- 
 j)ortant wholesale gro;'ery establishments in Iowa. 
 It has won an enviable reputation for reliability as 
 
422 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 to quality of goods, and for promptness and court- 
 esy in the dispatch of business, and does an annual 
 trade amounting to a million of dollars an<l up- 
 wards. 
 
 The Caplaiu is a Repul)lican in politics, and is a 
 member of Crocker Post, No. 12, (1. A. U. 
 
 
 
 R. NELLIE K. HARRIS, who is engaged 
 Ij' in the practice of medicine in Des ISIoines, 
 was born near St. Callierinrs, Canada, on 
 on the 10th of November, 1848, and is a 
 daughter of William W., and Mary (Brown) Mil- 
 ton. Her grandfather Milton was a native of Eng- 
 land, and on reaching manhood entered the British 
 Navy, rising to an otlicial position. lie was after- 
 ward sent to Ft. Niagara, where on the 4lli of .lune, 
 1821, his son William W., was born. After receiv- 
 ing his primary education in Canada, the latter 
 removed to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he pursued 
 a collegiate course. He was a tinsmith liy tra<le, 
 and believing his native country offered a lieltcr 
 business outlook, lie returned, locating in St. Johns, 
 where he engaged in the manufacture of stoves anrl 
 tinware for some years. Later he removed to Font 
 Hill, where he died in 185.^. He was a prominent 
 member of the Masonic ami Odd Fellow lodges, 
 and took an active interest in temperance work. 
 Both he and his wife were members of the I'niver- 
 sallst Church. Mrs. Milton w.as born in Oaspereau. 
 Nova .Scotia, October 16, 1821. Her parents were 
 also natives of that country, inil when a child she 
 accompanied them to New York City, and three 
 years later to Buffalo, N. Y., where she was gradu- 
 ated from the High School. They afterward re- 
 turned to Canada, where the father ilicd at the age 
 of seventy-five years, and the mother in the eighty- 
 fourth year of her age. Mr. Brown was a carri.'ige 
 trimmer and cabinet-maker, and his father, who 
 lived to be nearly ninety-three years of .age, was a 
 Baptist minister. Mrs. Milton still survives her 
 husl)and, and is living in Canada. 
 
 Mrs. Harris is one of four children, as follows: 
 Cytheria E , who is now the wife of William L. 
 Beatty; Olive, who died in infancy; Nellie R,. and 
 
 M.argaret, wife of William F. Lyon. In the dis- 
 trict schools of the neighborhood. Dr. Harris con- 
 ned the rudimentary branches of knowledge, and 
 in the Buffalo High School, from which she w.as 
 graduated, completed her liter.ar^- education. It 
 w.as while on a visit to Erie County, Pa., that she 
 became acquainted with, and married Henry 1*. 
 Hairis, who was born in Font Hill, Canada, Janu- 
 ary 11, 1838; ho emigrated to the West in 1857, 
 and learned the trade of a machinist in tlie Hanni- 
 bal & St. Joseph Railroad shops. When the war 
 broke out he went to California, but returned to 
 Hannibal in 18G4, and accepted tlie position as 
 clerk in the ticket office of the Hannibal & St. Jo- 
 seiih Railroad, where he 'cmsined until going to 
 Buffalo to become time keeper and shippii'g clerk 
 for the Shepherd Iron Works. Subsequent!}' he 
 came to Iowa and took charge of a steam shovel at 
 Kellogg, where he remained until he was injured 
 bv an accident, and was forced to lay .aside all busi- 
 ness cares for a time. While recovering, he re- 
 turned to Pennsylvania, where he was united in 
 marriage on the 8tli of July, 1867. Shortly after- 
 ward he returned with his bride to the West, and 
 until 1881. was engaged as an engineer. He is an 
 expert mfichinist, a first-class cugiuecr. and is espe- 
 ciall}' skillful in setting machinery. After his ar- 
 rival in Des Moines, he had charge of an engine for 
 Wesley Redhead until failing health caused him to 
 change his <iccu[)ation, since which time, covering 
 a period of nine years, he has been engaged as a 
 dealer in wood. 
 
 JSIrs. Harris had alw.ays jiosscssed an efliciency 
 for the iiraclicc of the medical (irofession. and in 
 1882 decided to give her attention to its study. 
 {>he read for some time under the direction of Dr. 
 C. W. Eaton, of Des Moines, and took her first 
 course of lectures in the homcepalhic department 
 of the State University. On the 26th of February. 
 188'j, she was graduated frtmi the llahneinann Mcili- 
 cal College, since which lime she has devoted her 
 entire attention to [uactice. She is one of two 
 lady honm'pathic physicians in the city, and well 
 deserves the lilicral patronage which she receives. 
 She is a member of the Polk County Ilfnncepathic 
 Medical Society, the Iowa State llonKcpathic iSlcdi- 
 cal Society, and the Anicricaii Institute of llomu;- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 425 
 
 path^', and Mi-. Harris holds membership in the 
 Odd Fellows lodge, the Order of United Workmen 
 and the Woodmen. Both .are communicints of the 
 Unitarian Church, and by tbose who know them, 
 are held in liiijh reorard. 
 
 •^#J 
 
 -^ 
 
 ^f? UCIUS G. BAN NISTEU. deeeaseil, foi many 
 I (© years a prominent and honored citizen of 
 ji '— ^ Des Moines, and an eminent member of the 
 Polk County bar, was born in Leroy, Genesee 
 County, N. Y., August 22, 1835, •>nd was a son of 
 William and Eliza (Havens) Bannister. His early 
 educatidn was acquired in the common schools, and 
 supplemented by a course in Iheseminaiy it Kings- 
 ville, Ohio. At the early age of nine years he was 
 thrown upon his own resources, being left an 
 orphan, and therefore his advantages were rpiite 
 limited. After working all daj' to provide for his 
 maintenance, he would sjjcnd his evenings in study 
 while other boys of his age were engaged in play. 
 He worked his way through the seminary by teach- 
 ing, and subsequently entered the law ollice of 
 Judge Bangs, where he fitted himself for tiie legal 
 profession, and in I8GG, was admitted to the bar in 
 Buffalo, N. Y. 
 
 The fciUowing year. Mv Bannister was joined in 
 wedlock with Miss Alice Ward of Leroy, N. Y., 
 and after a residence of seven yeais in the Emiiire 
 .State, came in 1<S74. with his family to Des Moines, 
 where he formed a law (jartnership with ^V. W. 
 Phillips, which was afterwards dissolved by mutual 
 consent. Three children were Ijorn of the union 
 of Mr. Bannister and wife — Alida, who dicil in in- 
 fancy; Lucius Ward; and Willie, who died at the 
 age of two years. The mother departed this life 
 in 1873, and four years later Mr. Bannister was 
 again married, hie second union being with ^Miss 
 Mary K. Secor of Pcekskill, N. Y., a d.aughter of 
 Alson and Sarah (Knapp) Secor, who were natives 
 of Putnam County, N Y. In their family were 
 eleven children who reached mature years, namely: 
 Abbie .1., now of Forest City, Iowa; .lohn. who 
 die.l in Brooklyn, N. Y., in June. 18s',); Kate, wife 
 of Orville W. Fowler of Peekskill. X. Y. ; David. 
 
 a resident of Winnebdgo City, Minn., who twice 
 represented his district in the State Legislature, and 
 was twice register of the land ofBoe; Carrie, wife 
 of J. W. Shorman of Peekskill, N. Y.; Egbert, '"ho 
 died in I.SG6; Eugene, who is president of the State 
 riorticultnral Society, trustee of the Ames Agri- 
 cultural .School, trustee of Cornell College, and a 
 banker and real-estate dealer of Forest City, Iowa; 
 Mary E., widow of Mr. Bannister; Phrebe, is living 
 in Peekskill, N. Y.; Leonard, in Forest City, Iowa; 
 Julia, wife of D. E. Champlin of Indianola, Iowa. 
 The father of this family, Alson Seeor, was an old 
 time Democrat, and was honored with several local 
 oflices of trust, the duties of which he discharged 
 faithfully and well. His death occurred August 
 9, 1HG5, and his wife, who was a consistent mem- 
 ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church, died in 
 1881, August 10. Mr. Bannister was a member of 
 the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a devout 
 christian. 
 
 To Mr. and Blrs. Bannister were born three 
 children — Alice, Bird and Kate, who share in their 
 mother's great loss. 
 
 Mr. Bannister was a Master Mason in good 
 standing, a member of the V. A. S., and also of the 
 Select Knights of which he was Chief Ruler. He 
 was also a member of Capital Lodge, No. 11, A. O. 
 V. W., and on his death the lodge passed appro- 
 priate resolutions of res|ject and regret. He died 
 May 31, 1889. He was a self-made man, and 
 deserved much credit for his untiring energ3\ In 
 character, he was strong and brave, doing what he 
 thought to be right, and upholding no one in the 
 wrong. A friend in writing of him said, "He hated 
 sham, and his courage in denouncing what seemed 
 to him wrong doing, made him not unfrequently 
 tlie subject of misrep.'esentation, and especially of 
 misunderstanding." The following speaks for itself, 
 and is a well deserved tribute to the memory of 
 one of Di^s Moines' prominent lawyers. 
 
 Dks Moimos, Iowa, .Sei)teniber 25, 1889. 
 At the last meeting of the members of the bar, 
 ui)on'the occasion of the death of L. G. Bainiister, 
 a committee was appointed to prepare resolutions 
 giving some fitting expressions of the sentiments 
 of the bench and bar as to our deceasctl brother. 
 Your committee l>eg leave to report as follows: 
 An esteeme(l frien<l and professional brother has 
 
426 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 eiidecl liis career on oarlli, ami it is fitting that the 
 liar of which he was a useful and most respected 
 member, sliould exjiress liieir sense of liie loss that 
 has been visited upon them, and upon his family- 
 and friends; therefore, be it 
 
 Bi'soh-ed. 1st. That tiie members of the lieneb 
 and bar of Poll< County, recognize in the late L. 
 G. Bannister, an able and upright lawyer, a 
 worthy and esteemed citizen, and an amiable nncl 
 devoted husljand and fatlier, and we will always 
 regard him as one who stood high in the estimation 
 of his professional brothers, and of all the people 
 who know him. 
 
 II. That we tender to the family of the deceased 
 onr heartfelt sympathy and regret at their great 
 iind untimely loss. 
 
 III. That the court be requested to enter lliese 
 resolutions u|)on the records, and a copy be trans- 
 milted to the family of the deceased. 
 
 State of Iowa. ) 
 
 Polk County, f 
 
 I. William Musson, Clerk of the District Court 
 of Polk County. Iowa, do hereby certify that tiie 
 above and foregoing is a full, true and correct 
 copy of the resolutions of the Polk Count3' bar, as 
 full, true and complete as the same remains of 
 record in my office. 
 (SEAL.) 
 
 Witness by hand and seal of said court this 2ud 
 day of October, 188'J. 
 
 William Mussox, Clerk. 
 
 B3- James G. Gokpox, Deputy. 
 
 Mrs. Bannister and her children still reside in 
 Des Jloines, where they have a ])leasant home and 
 man}' warm friends. 
 
 E. BUNKER, auditor and resident manager 
 of the AVestern Newspaper Union of Des 
 il li' -Aloines, was born in Littleton, N. H., 
 '^1 March 211, 1849, and is a son of E. A. and 
 
 Blartha (Moulton) Bunker. When seven years of 
 age. in 18.')6, he removed with his parents to Dodge 
 County, Minn. His father enlisted in the late war 
 in the spring of 1861, as a member of the 4th Min- 
 nesota Volunteer Infanlrj', and was wounded at 
 the battle of luka Springs, on the IDtb of Septem- 
 ber, 1862. lie received an honorable discharge in 
 1863 on account of physical disability and returned 
 
 home, but death resulted from his injuries in Sep- 
 tember, 1871. His wife survives him and is now 
 a resident of Minneapolis, Minn. 
 
 Our subject was liberally educated, his school 
 life being passed in Carleton College of Northfield, 
 Minn., and embarked upon his business career as 
 teller in the First National Bank of that city. He 
 was on duty when the hank was raided liv the 
 James and Youngei' brothers, on the 7th of Sept.. 
 1876, an event that created a great sensation 
 throughout the country. In their attack on the 
 bank, the robbers shot the acting cashier dead at 
 the first fire, and shot Mr. Bunker through the 
 shoulder, causing a serious wound. The party of 
 highwaymen were eight in numlier, three of whom 
 entered the bank while five remained on guard 
 outside. The citizens opened fire u|)on them, kill- 
 ing two of the party, while the others escaped, but 
 a few weeks later f-.ur of the parly were surrounded 
 by odicers, one was killed and the others wounded 
 and captured, and after conviction were committed 
 to State prison for life. 
 
 Mr. Bunker left Northfield in 1878. going to 
 Kans.as City, where he was engaged in banking for 
 a year, when he went to St. Paul and became asso- 
 ciated with the Western Newspaper Union in 
 charge of the St. Paul liranch ofHce. Hecontinuefl 
 tills connection until 1882, when he sold out and 
 went to Helena, Mont., where he was engaged in 
 banking until the spring of 1888. He then came to 
 Des ^loines and again bought into the Western 
 ■ Newspaper Union, of which he has since been 
 resident manager. This institution is one of tlie 
 most important concerns in the West in its relation 
 to newspaper circulation as it supplies ready print 
 or auxiliary sheets for sixteen hundred papers with 
 an aggregate circul.ation of over (.uie million copies 
 |)er week. They have ten different ofKces similar 
 to the one at Des Moines, and include in their line 
 of business wholesale paper and printer's supplies, 
 and are also western agents for advertising. Their 
 customers for auxiliary sheets, (or patent in, or 
 oulsides. as they are often called), are to oe fouml 
 in the city or villages of the Western and South- 
 western States from the Rio Grande to Lake 
 Superior, and from the Alleghenies to the Pacific 
 Ocean. The business of the Des Moines otlice, 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 427 
 
 iiifluilfes advertisins? and collections for othei- 
 olliccs, nggi-pgatiiig upwiii'dof ^150.000 ami\ially. 
 W. A. Hunker, brother of our subject, was con 
 nectcd uitii tiie business from tiie organization of 
 the company until August, 1889, when he sold out. 
 He held the oflice of president and general manager, 
 and is now one of the wealtiiy men of Kansas 
 City. Tne present officers are George A. Joslyn 
 of Omaha, president; W. II. Remington of New 
 York, vice-president; W. U. AVelch of Des Moines, 
 secretary; H. C. Akin of Omaha, treasurer; and A. 
 E. Bunker of Des Moines, resident manager and 
 auditor. The Western Newspaper Union of this 
 city is the successor of the Stale Printing Company, 
 which was established in Februar3', 1872, by Gov. 
 Samuel Merrill and others. The transfer to the 
 present companj- was consummated in June, 1880. 
 On tlie nth of August, 1875, in Red Wing, 
 Minn., Mr. Bunker was united in marriage with 
 Miss Nettie L. Smitli, the accomplished daughter 
 of Jefferson Smith. The lady was born in Hudson, 
 N. II., and is a graduate of the Minnesota State 
 Normal of Winona. In politics, Mr. Bunker is a 
 Republican, and for two years served as city 
 treasurer of Northfield, Minn. He is a member of 
 Eaton Lodge, No. 264, A. O. U. W., and both he 
 and hi.s wife belong to the Congregational Church. 
 
 -i. — . '■■^- -t- •%■■■• • i- — -««i*- 
 
 , OIIN O'CONNELL, one of the early settlers 
 of the count}', residing on section 19, Val- 
 ley Township, is a native of County Water- 
 ford, Ireland. Determining when a young 
 man to try his fortune in this country', he crossed 
 the Atlantic in 18.30, landing in Quebec, Canada, 
 in the month of May. For about four years he 
 was employed in that country as a d.ay laborer and 
 then came to the United .States, making his home 
 in New Orleans, Ln., for two years. During the 
 Mexican AVar he enlisted as a six months' volun- 
 teer, but his service extended over two years, l-'or 
 two months he w.as stationed at Port Lavaca, Tex., 
 as (Quartermaster. Aftcrwanl he started to join his 
 regiment, but while en route was overtaken by 
 
 guerrillas and a number of his comrades were 
 killed. Mr. O'Connell, however, escaped and sub- 
 sequently rclurne<l to Port Lavaca, where, with his 
 regiment, he was transferred from the command of 
 Gen. Scott to that of Gen. Taylor. His captain, Capt. 
 Issuni, employed him as a messenger during the 
 siege of A'era Cruz, during which he performed 
 some important services. He also participated in 
 the battles of Sierra Gorda, those ai'ound the City 
 of Mexico and C'liapultapec, where his horse was 
 shot under him. On the 4th of July, 1848, he re- 
 turned to New Orleans and received his discharge. 
 
 Not long after the close of the Mexican War, 
 we find Mr. O'Connell in Cincinnati, Ohio, w!iere 
 he remained for nearly ten years engaged in the 
 pork packing trade with Irwin & Jones, the former 
 a brother of Capt. Irwin, with whose bod}' our sub- 
 ject returned .as an escort to Cincinilati at the 
 close of the War. His connection with that lirm 
 continued about ten years, at the end of which 
 time he sought a home west of the Mississippi. 
 Having accumulated sonie capital in Ohio, he 
 came to Des Moines in IMarch, 18.')6, and invested 
 in eighty acres of wild land, but after a short time 
 sold out and engaged in teaming between Des 
 Moines and Iowa City, the railroad having not 
 then been built. 
 
 In 1863 Mr. O'Connell returned to Cincinnati, 
 Ohio, and was united in marriage with Miss Mary 
 Clancy, a native of Ireland. He then returne<l 
 with his bride to Polk County, where they have 
 since resided. Sis children have been born unto 
 them — Thomas, a farmer of Ogden, rtali; .lolin, 
 who is now cmi)loyed as a cleric in the Polk County 
 Savings Bank; iMary. wife of James Ilaidon; Lena 
 and Eliza, deceased; and Martha, who is still liv- 
 ing with her p'uents. 
 
 In the spring of 1862 Mr. O'Connell once nuu'e 
 responded to the call of his adopted country for 
 aid. enlisting .as a member of the Sixteenth Iowa 
 Regiment. lie was immediately put in charge of a 
 wagon used in hauling amuiuniliun. and performed 
 that duty until the battle of Shiloli, when he was 
 taken sick and sent to the hospital at .'^t. Louis, where 
 he was met by friends, who cared for him until he 
 was again able to go on dut\'. As soon as po.'ssible, 
 he rejoined his command and remained at his postj 
 
428 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 until the war ended, when he was honorably dis- 
 charged at St. Louis, in 1865. He was never 
 known to shirk any task imposed upon him, but 
 was a faithful soldier and gave strong proof of his 
 loyalty to tlie home of his adoption. 
 
 When .again released from public duty, Mr. 
 O'Connel returned to Iowa, and shortly afterward 
 purchased the farm of one hundred and sixty 
 acres upon which he now resides. The home, with 
 its entire surroundings, indicates thrift and enter- 
 prise, the fields are well tilled and he has made 
 many excellent improvements. In politics he was 
 a sui)[)orter of the Democratic ixirty until 1888, 
 when he cast his ballot for Benjamin Harri.son. He 
 and his family are members of the Catholic Cburcli, 
 and are liberal coi.tributors to the cause. Mr. 
 O'Connel is also a member of the Olil Settlers So- 
 ciety of Polk County, with which organization he 
 has been connected since 1857. l'ublic-si)irited 
 and progressive, he takes rank among the valued 
 citizens of tlie township and is numbered among 
 tiie ■.epre-scutative farmers of the community. 
 
 ^jOHN STIART DEAN, deceased, was born 
 in Lancaster County, Pa., August 9, 1797' 
 and closed a busy and useful life, December 
 •2\. I.S72. An honored pioneer, a worthy 
 citizen, and a friend to all, we feel that this volume 
 would be incom])leLe without this sketch. ll"i was 
 loved alike by young and old, rich and poor, and 
 throughout the c*)nimiinity was known as I'ncle 
 .b)hn Dean. In crrly life he was taken by his par- 
 ents to Ross County, Ohio, wheie he grew- to man- 
 hood and embarked up(jn his business career as a 
 farmer. In ISrown County, that State, he was 
 united in inariiage with Hannah Baird, and unUj 
 them were born three children, but all are now de- 
 ceased : Abrahams, died iu Polk County, Iowa; 
 James II. died in Ross County, ( »hio; and .Sarah J., 
 wife of .1. II. I-"incli, died at her home in tirant 
 Township, lY-bruary 9, 1890. The mother, who 
 was born August IG, 1799, died in Boss County, 
 ()hic>, April 19, 1M2.S. Mr. Dean sub^erpienlly mar- 
 ried Miss Nancy Taylor, and they became parents 
 
 of the following children: John, who died in Ross 
 Count}', Ohio; Hannah Caroline, who bectime the 
 wife of I. J. Cole, a pioneer of the county, she and 
 her husband being now deceased; Marj', wife of 
 .John G. Irwin, of Iowa; William M..of Nebraska; 
 Annie, wife of James Harbor, of Ellsworth, Kan.; 
 and Elizabeth C, wife of George Crystal, of Med- 
 ford, Jackson County, Ore. 
 
 In 1847, a party was formed, consisting of live 
 fanailics who emigrated from Ross County, Ohio, 
 to Polk County, Iowa, being among its earliest set- 
 tlers. Mr. Dean and his family were of the num- 
 ber. He tlrst located upon land in East Des Moines, 
 and soon afterward purchased three hundred and 
 cigliteen .acres of land now included within the 
 boundary of E.ast Des Moines. Fouri'ears later he 
 was again called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, 
 who died in 1851. His third union was witli Rachel 
 Scroggs, who is yet living in North Des Moines. 
 As soon as his family w.as comfortably located, Mr. 
 Dean began the erection of the first steam .saw and 
 grist mills built in Polk County, located on the 
 e,ist bank of Des Moines River, just north of Lo- 
 cust .Street. It took some time to m.ake it a pay- 
 ing investment, and in the earlier years proved a 
 source of loss to him. Many of the now leading 
 enterprises of the county were first introduced by 
 him, he taking an .active and prominent part in the 
 promotion of all interests calcul.ated to benefit the 
 community. The cause of education found in him 
 a warm friend, and the church work advanced 
 greatly through his assistance. He was reared in 
 the faith of the Presbyterian Church, and was ever 
 an earnest- worker in the Master's vineyard. The 
 first church of tb.it denomination was organized in 
 a little log cabin which had been a trading post on 
 East First and Walnut Streets. For some time it 
 tlien convened in the home of itsdiflfeient members, 
 until at length ariangements were made with the 
 Baptist Church to hold services in that house of 
 worship. Afterward funds were raised, and the 
 I'resbyterians built a church of their own at the 
 corner of Seventh and Locust Streets, which is now 
 occu|)ied by the people of the Christian Church. 
 Death at length called this worthy man to the 1 let- 
 ter home above. No death in the county was more 
 sincerely mourned Few were more widely known 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 429 
 
 mid it is safe to say, that no eiti/eii of tlio commu- 
 nity had more true friends. Mr. Dean often re- 
 marked that lie liad a greater nnmljev of nieces and 
 nepiiews than any other man in the whole State. It 
 was an adoption of love, as those who called liini 
 by the title of uncle, gave him the tender regard 
 which they would to a dear relative. His birth- 
 days were always an occasion of celebration to his 
 children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. 
 On the 9th of August, each year, they would as- 
 semble to do honor to him, and make the day one 
 long to be remembered both by him and them. On 
 these f'ccasions it was customary to make Uncle 
 .John presents, which remembrance by his friends 
 was always received by him with much feeling. 
 
 ^.5 i^g^- -^- 
 
 R. JAMES B. OLMSTED is a Homeopathic 
 physician and surgeon engaged in practice 
 in Des ]\loines. His oflice is located at the 
 corner of Sixth and College Avenues. He was born 
 in Columbus, Ohio, in 1854, and is a son of Col. 
 E. Olmsted of this city. His father, also a native 
 of th'^ Buckeye State, was liorn in April, 1832, and 
 served his country lioth in the Mexican and Civil 
 Wais. He enlisted in the service at Columbus for 
 the former and was under the command of Gen. 
 Scott. He enlisted for the late war at Eelicity, 
 Clermont Countj', Ohio, and was made a captain of 
 the Twenty-second Ohio Regiment, his former ser- 
 vice having abl3' fitted him for the position. He 
 took part in the memorable battle of Shiloh in 
 Ai)rii, 18G2, his regiment forming a part of Gen. 
 BiK'irs command and several times during the con- 
 llict narrowly escaped death, once having his horse 
 shot from under him. He has never recovered 
 from the results of the exposure and hardships at 
 lending that battle. Eor a time he w.as unable to 
 continue with his command and returned home on 
 a furlough, but on the expiration of his leave of 
 absence, although still in poor health returned to 
 his regiment, hoping he would be able to resume 
 the command of his company. He grew worse 
 however instead of better .and w^as sent to the hos- 
 pital where scarcely a hope w.is entertained for liis 
 
 recovery. Eeeling that he would never again be 
 able to enter into active service with his company 
 he deemed it best to resign and his resignation be- 
 ing accejitcd he returned to his family. In 1863, 
 accompanied by his wife and children he came to 
 Des ^loines. Col. Olmsted possesses a natural love 
 for a military life luid his experience in two of the 
 struggles in which our eountrj' has been involved 
 gave him an opportunity of learning much of the 
 art of war. Although his health was so seriouslj' 
 impaired he yet felt a desire and regarded it as a 
 duty to do something in the way of organizing a 
 force which in case of emergency might be of use 
 to the State or Nation. He .accordinglj' set about 
 that duty at Des Moines and the result of his 
 efforts was the raising and organizing of the first 
 home companj' in this city. The company was 
 known as the Olmsted Zouaves and he continued 
 in command of the organization for a considerable 
 time, after which he was commissioned Colonel of 
 the Third Regiment of the Iowa State Militia, a 
 p isition he occupied for several years. He is now 
 practically living a retired life and is numbered 
 among the respected citizens of Des Moines. In his 
 early manhood ho married Miss Marcella E. Wall- 
 ming, a native of Ohio, whose father was an eminent 
 Mason and at one time was Grand Lecturer of that 
 fraternity. They have but two childreii — the Doctor 
 and Ida, wife of Elmer Wiekham of Des Jloines. 
 Our subject w^as about nine j-ears of age when 
 his father removed liis family from Ohio to this 
 city. As, during his boyhood, he was not physi- 
 cally strong he left school at the age of fourteen 
 j-ears being unable to endure the confinement and 
 work of the school-room. He was then variously' 
 emi)lo}'cd for a number of years. He served as an 
 apprentice to the trade of book-binding and later 
 was engaged in the [lost-otlice department at Des 
 Moines, acting as letter carrier No. 1. for three, 
 years. Erom his early boyhood he w,as deeply in- 
 terested in the study of natural history and pursued 
 that branch of learning by himself after leaving the 
 [jublic schools until he at length became so well in- 
 formed on the subject that when, at the .age of 
 twenty-one years, he entered the Wesleyan I'ni- 
 versity of Delaware, Ohio, he was at once made .as- 
 sistant curator in llu' natural historj' deiiartmeni 
 
430 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 of that institution. In 1879, while still a student 
 ill the university, he went to the Atlantic coast in 
 the interests of the natural history braucli of the 
 college and while in the F^ast liecanie acquaintc<l 
 with a physician \)y whom he was persuaded to 
 turn his attention to the study of medicine. He 
 accordingly left Delaware and entered I'ulte Iloineo- 
 pathic College of Cincinnati, from which he gradu- 
 ated with tlie degree of M. D. Tlie Doctor paid his 
 own wa3' through college by the labor of his hands, 
 scorning no honorable employment; he even workeil 
 for a time on a steamboat, engaged in house paint- 
 ing, and for six weeks was employed in the Gill 
 Car Works of Columbus, Ohio, where he received 
 but seventy-five cents per day for his services. On 
 completing his medical course he returned to Co- 
 lumbus and began practice, but in 188."), came to 
 Des Moines, where lie has since continued tlie pros- 
 ecution of iiis profession with excellent success. 
 
 The Doctor was united in marriage with Miss 
 Anna (Juinn, daughter of Capt. Nathan (^uinn, a 
 sea captain who died many years ago at his home 
 in Tuckerton, N. J. Mrs. Olmsted was reared at 
 the lighlliouse on Tucker's Island and afterward 
 became a student at Delaware, Ohio, when her hus- 
 band was connected with tiic natural history de- 
 partment of that college. She also engaged in 
 teaching for a number of years and is an educated 
 and accomplished lady. They have one adopted 
 child — Gertie. 
 
 The Doctor has a good practice and his invest- 
 ments in real estate in Des ^loines have also been 
 forUmate. The beautiful home where he and his 
 wife have now resided some years, is located in Oak 
 Park on Sixth Street and Euclid Avenue. 
 
 ':^*-v-#^--— *- 
 
 NDllEW M. ROUSE, architect, has been a 
 resident of Des Moines since October 1, 
 1804. He is a native of Ohio, having been 
 born in Muskingum County, Janiinry 12, 
 18ol. Tlis father, E. S. S. Rouse, was a native of 
 the Slate of New York, and was of French clescent. 
 It is said that the lirst American ancestor went 
 
 from France to Holland, where he married, and 
 then emigrated to this country, settling in New 
 York during the days of the early liistor}' of that 
 colonv. The fat'.er of our subject was reared in 
 the Empire State, served in the War of 1812, and 
 after his marriage to Polly Mills removed with his 
 family to Ohio, about 1822, and became one of the 
 earliest settlers of Muskingum County. There he 
 cleared and developed a farm, but subsequently 
 sold out and became a resident of Knox Count}', 
 Oiiio, where he engaged in farming for a number 
 of j'ears. He removed thence to Mt. V^ernon, 
 where he was for some time editor of a paper, 
 known as the Western Home Visitor. In his youth 
 Mr. Rouse had acquired a good education, and was a 
 man of no little literary ability. Prominent and in- 
 fluential ill public alTairs, he exerted a wide influ- 
 ence in the community, and was honored by an 
 election to the otflce of Maj-or of the city of Mt. 
 \'ernon, Ohio. He lived to an advanced age, dying 
 in iSIl. Vernon, in 1882, in his eighty-ninth year. 
 His wife pas.sed away in 1881, at the age of eighty- 
 six years. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Rouse were the parents of six chil- 
 dren, four sons and tvvo daughters. One of the 
 former died in infancy; Maria, the eMest, still lives 
 in Mt. Vernon, Ohio; Lydia, a widow, resides in 
 Santa Anna, Orange County, Cal.; Erastiis is also 
 a citizen of Santa Anna; Andrew M. is the next 
 younger; .John, who was a Captain in the Seventy- 
 seventh Illinois Regiment, entering the service at 
 Peoria, served until the close of the war, and then 
 settled in New Orleans, wiiere he is now a promi- 
 nent lawyer. 
 
 It is with pleasure liiat we take up the personal 
 history of our subject, who is numbered among the 
 leading citizens of Des Moines, as we feel that a 
 sketch of his life will be of interest to man}- of our 
 readers, while many traits of his character might 
 well be copied by the young. His business record 
 is one of which he may well bo proud. He first 
 learned the trade of carjientry at Mt. \'ernon, 
 Ohio, and then went to Columbus, the capital of 
 the State, in 1852, and engaged in work at his 
 chosen occupation. It was during iiis residence in 
 Columbus that he married Miss Melissa Swan. In 
 I8ij;j he went to Indianapolis, but returned to Co- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 431 
 
 lumbus ill 1855. and worked for a time on tiic State 
 Capitol. In the succeeding spring lie came to 
 Iowa. It was liis intention to locate in Keoknk, 
 but going to Mt. Plea-santlic there took u() his resi- 
 dence, and remained about tlirec 3-cars. wiien he 
 removed to Ottumwa, whence, in 18G 1, lie came to 
 Des Moines. In thesijring of l»(J5 he embarked in 
 contracting and building, and soon look rank among 
 the best workmen in the city in that line. Many 
 years he devoted his attention to that work, and 
 gained a wide reputation for skill and ability, and 
 for his strict adherence to all agreements. In the 
 meantime he began making architecture a study, 
 and since 1888. has wholly retired from building, 
 devoting his entire attention to that science. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Rouse have two daughters: An- 
 nie, wife of P. II. Bristow, now an emi)loye in the 
 post office department in AVashington, 1). C; and 
 Cora, wife of R. L. Benton, of Englewood, now a 
 part of Chicago. 
 
 Mr. Rouse has been a resident of Des Moines for 
 more than a quarter of a century', has witnessed its 
 growth from a town of five thousand to a city of 
 fifty thousand, anrt has liornc no inconsiderable 
 part in its upbuilding and progress. He ranks 
 among the leading architects oflowa, and his fam- 
 ily are held in as high regard in the social world. 
 
 JUDGE ALEXANDER R. FL'LTOX, editor 
 of the Western Neirspapcr Union of Des 
 Moines, is a native of Chillicothe, Ohio, 
 born October 11, 1825, and is a son of James 
 and Rebecca (Green) Fulton. His father was born 
 in Huntingdon, Pa., in 179!), and was of vScotch 
 ilescent, his father having emigrated from Glasgow 
 to America in the eighteenth century. The mother 
 of our subject was a daughter of Nathaniel Green, 
 a Virginian, whose ancestors left their home in the 
 north of Ireland, to become residents of the I'liitcd 
 States. Both parents lived to a ripe old age, hav- 
 ing [)assed their eightieth birthdays. The father 
 departed this life in 1883, and his wife was called 
 to her final home in 1881. 
 
 .hidije Fulton is one of the well-known citizens 
 
 of PoIk County, and it therefore affords iis great 
 pleasure to present this sketch to the readers of the 
 Ai.iir.M, knowing that it will be read with interest 
 I)}- many. He was educated in ^It. Pleasant Acad- 
 emy at Kingston, Ross County, Ohio. He made a 
 Sjjecial study Of higher luatlieiiialics and surveying, 
 and ill 1851, when a 30ung man of twenty-six 
 years, came to Iowa, locating in Faiilield, .Jefferson 
 County-, where his parents had settled the year pre- 
 vious. Soon after iiis arrival in that city, he be- 
 came proprietor of the Fairfiehl Ledijpr, which he 
 conducted until 1851, when he sold out to W. W. 
 .lunkin, tlu; |)resent proprietor. He was engaged 
 ill surveying during the early years of his residence 
 in F.airfield, and for twelve years served as Count}' 
 Survej'or. 
 
 In politics, .Iiidge Fulton was a Whig in carl}- 
 life, and later became a Republican. He was elected 
 to tlie otlice of County .Tudge of -Jefferson Count}-, 
 which i)osition he held four }-ears. When the Re- 
 publican party was organized in Iowa, he |)artici- 
 pated in that event .as a delegate to the first State 
 Convention. He also served as a clerk of Ihe 
 House of Representatives for three sessions, and 
 represented .Jefferson County in the Lower House 
 in the Twelfth General Assembl}-. In 1870. he be- 
 came a citizen of Des Moines, and was for a time 
 employed on the Inwa Stale Itegister. When the 
 State Board of Immigration was formed, he was 
 appointed .Secretary of that body, and was a mem- 
 ber of the same ex-o(Hcio. In the interest of im- 
 migration, he was the author of several pamphlets, 
 ■ one of which, entitled "Iowa the Home for Immi- 
 grants," was printed in five languages, and liber- 
 ally circulated in the Eastern States, and in Euro- 
 pean countries, aiding materiall}' in encouraging 
 immigration to this State. He remained Secretary 
 of the Board for four years, during which time he 
 did efficient service in the cause of immigration. 
 During the early part of the construction of the 
 new Stale Capitol, the Judge served as Secretary of 
 the Board of Commissioners in charge of that work. 
 In 1872, when the Iowa State Printing Company 
 was organized, he was one of the original proprie- 
 tors, serving as sccretarj' of the company, an<l 
 when tiie re-organ izalion occurred in 187G, forming 
 the Iowa Printing Company, lie was continued in 
 
in-i 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Uie same ijosilion aid served in that irapaoity until 
 tiio concorii was sold to tlii; ^Vl'stl'r» Ni'irsiicijicr 
 Union in .him'.liS80,since wliicli tiinojio has had edi- 
 torial diari^c of the ready print slieets issued by 
 thai company. 
 
 While a resident of Fairfield. November 20, 1 853, 
 ■Judge Fulton married Mrs. Augusta S. Wheeler, 
 widow of (ieorge AVhceler. and a daughter of Sam- 
 uel Connable. She was born in Massachusctls, of 
 an old New F.ngland family, anil came to Iowa in 
 1849. B^' her former mairiago she had two chil- 
 dren, a son and daughter: Lizzie, who became the 
 wife of l^r. T. J. Douglass, of Otlumwa, and died 
 in 1885; and George (), Wheeler, who married 
 Miss Irene Phifer, and is residing in Dcs Moines. 
 
 .Judge Fulton is the author of a work entitled the 
 •Red Men of Iowa," and of numerous pam|)hlets 
 on Iowa. He occasionally also courts the muses, 
 and some of his productions in verse possess rare 
 literary merit. He is an eas}' and fluent writer, 
 whose works are read with interest, and rank liim 
 among the aJjle authors of the State. He has al- 
 ways been an active temperance worker since his 
 youth, doing all in his power to destroy the liquor 
 trallic, and has been Chief Templar of Fidelity 
 Lodge, No. 259, I. O. G. T. As an old-time Whig, 
 Judge Fulton was chosen secretary of the Des 
 Moines Tippecanoe Clul), and still fills that posi- 
 tion. Ho is also the secretary of the Iowa Asso- 
 ciation of Pioneer Law-makers. He is intensely 
 loyal to the State of his adoption, with whose his- 
 tory he has been so long identified. Everything 
 pertaining to her welfare, is of interest to him, and 
 the memories of the olden times are cherished as 
 essentials to a proper cnjoymeut of the present. 
 Judge Fulton has a wide circle of acquaintances 
 throughout the State, and his intimate relations 
 with i)ublic men of Iowa, have made him many 
 warm friends. 
 
 R. TIPPIE, Es<i., who is now serving as 
 one of the Justices of the Peace of Des 
 Moines, is l)y profession an attorney and 
 counselor at-law. lie h.as been a resilient 
 of this city since 1881. ilowever, he did not at 
 
 once enter into the pi'actice of his profession, hut 
 engaged in business for about a year and a half, 
 and then opened n law ollice on the West Side, 
 whence after two years he removed to the East 
 Side. In 1888 he temporarily gave up his law 
 practice in order to accept the office of Justice of 
 the Peace. The duties of such a position in a city 
 like Des Jloincs are important and require a good 
 knowledge of law. and Mr. lippie's practical ex- 
 perience in the legal [irofcssion renders him emi- 
 nently qualified to discharge with abilit3' and 
 dispatch the duties of iiis present office. 
 
 Our subject is a native of the Buckeye State. 
 He was born in Athens County. April 5, 1847, and 
 is a son of Joseph and Anna (Wilkins) Ti|)pie. 
 who are still residents of Athens County, the for- 
 mer being now eighty years of age, and the latter 
 seventy-eight years. They were the parents of 
 four sons and four daughters, namely: Sylvina, 
 deceased; Wesley M., also deceased; Eliza, who 
 wedded William Ogg, and resides in Ohio; George 
 J., a farmer of Springfield, Ohio; Julia, who is the 
 wife of George Young, and resides in Illinois; 
 John W^., decea'sed; our subject is next in order of 
 birth; and Martha, who became the wife of John 
 James, a resident farmer of Ohio. 
 
 The first business pursuit which occujiied the 
 attention of our subject was that of railroading, in 
 which he engaged about four years, when having 
 decided to make the legal profession his life work, 
 he entered upon the study of law iu 1874, and 
 after a vigorous research in the standard volumes 
 was admitted to the bar January 5, 1877. He 
 began practice in Pana. III., as a partner of 
 J. C. Essick, with whom he had pursued his studies 
 and continued there in the prosecution of the pro- 
 fession until his removal to Des Moines in 1881. 
 He wished to enlarge his field of labor, and to se- 
 cure the advantage of a more populous city, so 
 chose Des Moines as the scene of his future opera- 
 tions. 
 
 Mr. Tipple was joined in wedlock, in Utica, Ind.. 
 with Miss Mary E. Bruner, a native of that State, 
 and a daughter of Dr. Jacob Bruner, a prominent 
 and well-known physician of I'tica. Her mother 
 has long since passed away, and her father has been 
 a second time married. Below we give a limited 
 
■:?\ 
 
 ■oeyiyic^ 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAP£IICAL ALBUM. 
 
 435 
 
 record of the otiier members of her family. Dr. 
 E. M. Bruner, the eldest brother of Mrs. Tipple, 
 follows in the footsteps of his father, and is now 
 engaged in the practice of medicine in Arkansas; 
 Melville is a lawyer by profession, and resides in 
 Crawfordsville, Ind.; Elizabeth is the wife of Mr. 
 Pralher, and with her luisbaml is living in Antaii- 
 garille, Autauga County, Ala.; Cornelia, who is 
 the wife of a Mr. Wallace, of San .lose, C;il.; Mary 
 E., wife of IMr. Tippie; Ella, still unmarried, and 
 Olive, the wife of the Rev. Charles Ilaiiis, a minis- 
 ter of the Methodist Eiiiscopal Church. 
 
 Three children grace the luiiou of Mr. and Mrs. 
 Tippie, namel}-: Olive H., Orace Annie and John 
 Melville. The household is noted for its hospitality, 
 and in the social world the members of the family 
 are held in high regard. In political sentiment, 
 Mr. Tippie is a Republican. He cast his first 
 Presidential vote for Gen. U. S. Grant in 1872, 
 and since that time has never failed to deposit a 
 ballot for the candidate of his chosen party. lie 
 keeps himself well informed on all the leading 
 issues of the day, and is a young man of sterling 
 worth. 
 
 <f i»;ILLIAM R. ANKENEY, President of the 
 '* .- i/i Des Moines Loan and Trust Company, 
 \yY' -I'l'l Of>P of the prominent business men of 
 Cential Iowa, has resided in the Capital Cit3' since 
 May 1, 18GG. In the fall of that year, in coini)any 
 with his brother, Joseph A. Ankene^', he purchased 
 the site of the present Linseed Oil Mill and began 
 the erection of that establishment, which w.as com- 
 |)leted in 1807. It was one of the pioneer mills of 
 its kind, being the third erected in the State. The 
 enterprise was an experiment which involved con- 
 siderable risk, and the result plainly indicates the 
 sagacity and excellent business ability of its man- 
 agers. At that time no flax was raised in this (lart 
 of the State, and to encourage its production Mr. 
 Ankeney brought with him from Ohio, the neces- 
 sary seed for a crop the first year. This he loaned 
 to the farmers, the firm at the same time making a 
 contr.act to take the entire crop at a stated price per 
 bu^liel. The farmers, therefore, ran no risk, ex- 
 
 cept, perhaps, an unprofitable expenditure of labor, 
 but even then they engaged somewhat reluc- 
 tantly^ in the undertaking, being doubtful of its suc- 
 cess, and the beginning was indeed not ver^' 
 encoui'aging, as the first year the crop was de- 
 stroyed by gr.asshoppers. The second year, 1868, 
 the season was extremely wet, and but a light har- 
 vest was gathered, but the third year proved much 
 more propitious, an excellent crop being raised. 
 From this time the success of the enterprise was 
 assured. 'Ilie business rapidly increased, and for 
 many years has been ranked among the leading in- 
 dustries of Des Moines. The mill has a capacitj' 
 for the consumption of one hundred and fifty thou- 
 sand bushels of seed annually, a liushel of seed 
 producing about two g.allons of oil. The mill was 
 operated by the Ankeney brothers alone until 
 1884, when a stock company was formed, under 
 whoso auspices the business has since been con- 
 ducted. Mr. Ankeney was also connected with the 
 Des Moines Paint Works, an enterprise which is 
 now discontinued, and was the principal organizer 
 of the Des Moines Ijoan and Trust Company, of 
 which he holds the otlice of President. 
 
 Having given a sketch of the business enterprises 
 with which Mr. Ankeney is connected, we feel that 
 a few facts concerning his career will be of interest 
 to our readers. lie is a native of Greene Count}', 
 Ohio, and is descended from a family of Ilugnenot 
 origin. It was established in America by emigrants 
 from Alsace, France, now a Province of German}', 
 who crossed the Atlantic and settled in North Caro- 
 lina, from which they made their wa\' northward 
 to Virginia and A'ar3land. In the latter State 
 John yVnkenev, the grandfather of our subject, lies 
 buried near Ilagerstovvn, and there his father, John 
 Jr., was born. In the days of his early manhood 
 he left the State of his nativity and took up his 
 residence in Ohio, where he Ijocamc acquainted 
 with and nian-ied IJachel Uuckman. Tliey began 
 their domestic life in (Jreenc County, where the 
 death'of her husband occurred in Februar}', 1817. 
 Ills wife died the previous year, in the month of 
 June. In tiieir family were four sons and a daugh- 
 ter, namely: John S.. a resident of Carthage, Mo.; 
 William R., of this sketch; Joseph A., who is a 
 resident of Des Moines; and Henry N., who was 
 
436 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 gradiiater] from Miami I'niversity, in Oiiio, and 
 died soon after llie completion of his school life, 
 in Panola. ^Nliss. 'I he only dauglilcr is Mrs. C. II. 
 Getchell, of Des Moines. 
 
 Our subject was reared to manhood in his native 
 county and in the early days of his manhood came 
 to Des Moines, where he was united in marriage 
 with Jliss Anna Iliatt, a native of Ohio, and a 
 daughter of Amos and Lydia (Davis) Iliatt, who 
 settled in IMahaska County in 1857. They were 
 both natives of Gra3'son County, Va.. Mr. Iliatt 
 died near Oskaloosa, Ocfobor '22, 187C, and Mrs. 
 Iliatt is still living, at the age of seventy-seven. 
 She is still vigorous for cmc of her age, and' re- 
 tains her mental f.aculties remarkably well. .She 
 keeps herself well informed as she is a most invet- 
 erate reader. She is strongly in favor of all re- 
 forms having for their object the bettering of the 
 condition of mankind generally. She is a member 
 of the Society of Friends. Since the death of 
 Mr. Hialt she h.as made her home with her d.augli- 
 ter. Mr. Ankency is a successful business man, 
 who b}' industry, enterprise and perseverance, has 
 steadily worked his w.ay upward until he is now 
 connected with two of the most important enter- 
 prises of the city. His time, however, is not so 
 much taken up but that l.e can assist in the 
 promotion of tliose interests which are calculated 
 to advance the general welfare. Ilis reputation 
 for integrity of character is an enviable one. and 
 his public and private life arc alike above reproach. 
 
 HARLES F. SAYLOR, Superintendent of the 
 public schools of Polk County, was born in 
 ^' Saylor Township, on the lOlh of September, 
 185G, and is a son of Tliomas .1. and Adeline (Nagle) 
 Suyhjr, honorc 1 pioneers of the county, whose 
 sketch appears elsewhere in this vt)lume. His early 
 life was spent as that of most farmer boys, alternat- 
 ing between labor in the field and the [lerusal of 
 the common English liranches in the district schools. 
 At the age of seventeen he was given his liberty 
 and the first year worked for wages and losing 
 only two dajs during the entire time, one of which 
 
 was the Fourth of July. He believed that the 
 mone3- thus secured could be most profitably in- 
 vested in educating himself and in consequence, in 
 1H75, he entered the preparatory department of the 
 Iowa Agricultural College, where he remained un- 
 til his resources were exhausted, when he began 
 clerking in a hotel. Later he engaged in teaching 
 and subsequently was employed as s.alesman in a 
 store until 187S, when he again enrolled as a stu- 
 dent in the same college. His course was afterwards 
 interrupted by a mutual arrangement entered into 
 with his brother whereby he dropped out of school 
 for a j'ear and assisted his brother financially to 
 finish the collegiate course. This brother having 
 finished the course, rccijjrocatcd by supplying means 
 and such assistance that Mr. Saylor was enabled to 
 resume his course in 1880, when he again entered 
 college, from which he was graduated two jears 
 later with the degree of B. S. His brother is now 
 Professor of Sciences at Western Normal College, 
 .Shenandoah, Iowa. I'pon the completion of his 
 school life he accepted a call to the Principalship 
 of the IJed field schools, which position he held 
 three years, when in 188.5, he was elected Su'perin- 
 tcndent of the public schools of Polk Count}'. He 
 is now serving the third successive term in that 
 oHice, being the only one that ever enjoyed the 
 marked distinction of holding a countj- oHico for 
 so long a [leriod. At each election the returns 
 showed that he had run far ahead of his ticket-a fact 
 which indicates his popularity and the confidence 
 which is placed in his ability. In 1888, in conipanj' 
 with Hon. .1. W. Akers, Prof. .Saylor pur- 
 chased Call;uian C()llege, intending there to con- 
 duct a normal but ere the [iroject w:is hardly 
 bt gun, he sold most of his interest to the Drake 
 I'nivcrsit}-. 
 
 On the 2.')th of November, 1885. the Professor 
 was united in marriage with Miss .lennie McFar- 
 land, a native of Indiana, born in Wayne County. 
 They have one son, Donald 1\I. and one daughter, 
 Helen I. Jlrs. .Saylor is a member of the Prcs- 
 liyterian Church. In politics, the Professor is 
 a Rei)ul)lican and socially is a member of the 
 Knights of Pythias. He has held the i)osition 
 of president of the County Superintendent Section 
 of the State Teachers Association and is a member 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 437 
 
 of tlie board of directors of the State Teachers 
 Reading Circle, also State manager of same. C. F. 
 Saylor was elected by the Twenty-third Ocneral 
 Assembly- of Iowa as a member of the board of 
 trustees of the Iowa Agricultural College, t/j take 
 the place of Hon. J. S. Clarkson resigned from tiie 
 seventh Congressional district. Prof. Sa3lor has 
 done much toward elevating the standard of the 
 schools of the conn t3' and to increase the ofliciency 
 of the teaching force. His summer normals have 
 been a grand success owing to tlie fact that instead 
 of selecting instructors from the teachers in the 
 county, he has called to his aid such master minds 
 and educators as Payne of Michigan University, 
 Parsons of the Indiana State Normal; Brown of the 
 Blooraington Isormal, 111; Jordan of the Indiana 
 State University; also Misses O. A. Evans, R. Anna 
 Morris, Alice Harper, Nanie C. Love and others. 
 To eulogize the work accomplished by Prof. Saylor 
 is not neccessary, the fad that he has so long tilled 
 the imjiortant position of County' Superintendent 
 and witii such general satisfaction speaking more 
 forcil)l\' llian mere words could do. 
 
 WILLIAM II. BOWER, deceased, was for 
 many years an honored citizen of Des Moines 
 ^ ^ and wri know that, a sketch of his life 
 will be received with interest by the many readers 
 of the At.i'.iM. While the lives of self-made men 
 seldom aliound in sensational incidents there is an 
 energy, a perseverance and an underllow of char- 
 .acter which lends to them a charm and attractive- 
 ness that merits admiration and careful tliouglit. 
 We need not look among those of royal blood to 
 lind lives worthy of record. Among the American 
 peojdethey are the outcome of a stern conflict with 
 opportunities and the proud result of this grand 
 American civilization. 
 
 Mr. Bower was born in Adams County, Pa., on the 
 Otli of October, lb40,\and is a son of Jacob and Lydia 
 A. (Creswell) Bower, who were highly respected 
 peoiile of Adams County. William was reared upon 
 his father's farm and received his early education 
 ill the common schools. Later he attended Wil- 
 
 iiamsport Academy with the intention of prepar- 
 ing himself for the ministry, but failing health 
 forced him to abandon that hope. In 1863, when 
 the destruction of the country seemed imminent, he 
 felt that his duty w.as at the front, and enlisted in 
 the Twelfth Pennsylvania Cavalry as a member of 
 Coinpaii3- 1, serving with credit and honor. He was 
 captured by the Mosby Band and first sent to Sal- 
 isbury, N. C, whence he was taken to Lihliy 
 prison, where he endured all the hardships of that 
 nwCul place. At lengtli he won the friendship of 
 one of the guards who aided him to make his escape, 
 but it was soon found that he was missing and lilood- 
 hounds were put n[ion his track. However, he" suc- 
 ceeded in re.'Lcliiiig the Union lines, where he was 
 granted a furlough and the war soon after closing 
 he was never recalled to the front. 
 
 Not long after his return home, Mr. Bower made 
 a trip to Michigan, where he became acquainted 
 with Miss Margaret Smith, and their friendship 
 ripening into love they were united in marriage on 
 the lOtli of August, 18G9, The lady is a dautjhter 
 of John and Margaret (Pieice) Smith, natives of 
 York Count}', Pa. Her father was a man of great 
 energ\- and perseverance and formed an extensive 
 acquaintance with the people between Pittsburg and 
 Baltimore, on which road he eng.aged in teaming 
 liefore the day of railways. In politics he was a 
 Jackson Democrat and for twenty-six years held 
 the otHce of Justice of the Peace, which won him 
 the title of Esquire Smith as he was ever^-where 
 known. In 185 L ■iccompanied by his family he 
 removed to Plymouth, Ohio, and thence to St. 
 Joeseph, Mich., where he eng.aged in the real-estate 
 business. His death occurred August 22, 1865, and 
 his wife died on the 21st of M.arch, of that same 
 year. They were jiarents of twelve children, ten 
 of whoiii lived to adult .age. while Cornelius, John 
 A., Margaret, Joseph, Leah and .Tames O. still sur- 
 vive. 
 
 Soon .ifUr his mariiage, Mr. Bower st.-rted with 
 his young bride to the West to seek a home noon 
 its bro;id prairies. He chose Des Moines as a fav- 
 orable location, and for six years engaged in clerk- 
 ing, after which he embarked in the real-estate bus- 
 iness. His wife, also, desirous of helping her hus- 
 band supplemented his efforts Ity conducting a 
 
438 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPinCAL ALBUM. 
 
 dress -making cstalilislmu'iU, which she carried on 
 for fifteen years, thus aiding not a little in securing 
 a cora|ietence. Mr. Bovrer continued his real-es 
 tate operations up to the time of his death, which 
 occurred April fi. 1H8."). lie attended closely to 
 Ijusiness and hy fair dealing woikcd up a trade which 
 in time made him one of the substantial citizens of ; 
 Des Moines. In early life he united with the Meth- 
 odist Episcopal Church and was ever afterwards 
 one of its faithful members and liberal supporters. 
 His wife still survives him and makes her home in 
 Des Moines, where she has a large circle of friends 
 and acquaintances. In early life she united with 
 the Reform Church, but after her marriage joined 
 the Methodist Church and is still a consistent mem- 
 ber of the same. 
 
 <t) AMES McKEON, who resides on section 2'.t, 
 A'alleyTownship, is a representative of one 
 of the i)ioneer families of thecounty. lie w;is 
 born in the city of Des Moines, April 1 i,l 858. 
 His father, Patrick McKeon, was a native of Ireland, 
 born February 1, 1827. Patrick McKeon remained 
 in his native land until twenty years of age, assist- 
 ing his father in farm labor and attending school 
 as the opportunities were afforded him. Coming 
 to America, he went to Genesee. Monroe County, N. 
 Y., and engaged in farming, in which occupation he 
 continued until 18.56. In Buffalo, N. Y. he was 
 united in marriage with Catherine Pay and to them 
 were born nine children; Julia, who became the 
 wife of Thomas Flynn; James, whose name heads 
 this sketch; Mary, Sarah, Celia, Anna and John, who 
 yet reside under the parental roof; George V. 
 and Catherine deceased. Mr. McKeon was a con- 
 sistent member of the St. Ambrose Catholic Church, 
 a Democrat in politics and a farmer b^- occupation, 
 continuing that pursviit until his death, which oc- 
 curred on the nth of February, 1881). 
 
 The subject of this sketch spent the days of his 
 boyhood and youth on the old homestead, assisting 
 his father in the labors of the farm until twenty- 
 four years of age. After attending the district 
 schools he ei.tered the Des Moines High .School and 
 
 later was a student iu the Jordan P.usiness College, 
 where he completed his education. Having ar- 
 rived at years of maturity, he chose for himself a 
 companion, Miss Ellen Brady, and on the l.'ith of 
 JaiHiary. 188.'). they were united in tlie holy bonds 
 of matrimony. The Iad3' is also a native of this 
 county and is a daughter of Michael .and Biidget 
 Brady. In 1888 they adopted a little son, who was 
 brought to Iowa from the Orphan's Home in New 
 York. 
 
 Mr. ISIcKeon has made farming his life occupa- 
 tion and has been very successful in his undertak- 
 ings. He embarked in the dairy business in 1888, 
 but discontinued the same after about a year and 
 three months. He is now giving special attention to 
 the raising of haj-, having one hundred and thirty- 
 three acres planted in grass for that purpose. His 
 farm comprises one hundred and thirty-three acres 
 and the owner is regarded as one of the leading 
 young agriculturists of the county. In political sen- 
 timent, Mr. McKeon is an advocate of Democratic 
 principles and religiously is a member of St. Am- 
 brose Catholic Church of Des Moines, to which his 
 wife also belongs. 
 
 ■"5*1^ 
 
 R. W. II. PALMIER has been connected 
 with the dental fraternity of Des Moines 
 only since the 1st of January, 1890, but 
 in the few months which have passed since 
 that time he has won a place in the confidence and 
 regard of the people of the capital city that many 
 an older practitioner might well envy. The Doctor 
 is a native of the Empire State, his birth having 
 (ccurredin 1856, near the city of Syracuse. He 
 jiossesses much natural ability and this has been 
 supplemented by excellent training. He received 
 his literary education in an academy of Mexico, N. 
 Y., and there began the study of the dental pro- 
 fession, but after a year further completed his prep- 
 arations in Syracuse. When he had acquired a 
 sufrieient knowledge of the business to engage in 
 practice, he formed a partnership with Dr. AV. W. 
 Wiliamson of that city, but after a short time the 
 connection was discontinued. Dr. I'almor lleli^■^•ing 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAl'lllCAL ALBUM. 
 
 439 
 
 tliiit lie miglit better his condition liy a removal to 
 the West where better opportunities for advance- 
 ment are afforded j-Qiing iirofessional men tlian in 
 tliu older cities of the East. He (Ulerniined to 
 make Iowa the scene of his future labors and in 
 June, 1881. located in Cherokee, where he engaged 
 in the i)ractice of dental surgery for nearly nine jears 
 enjoying a large and lucrative [iractice. Many 
 expressed deep regret when lie left tliat place but 
 he believctl that a city practice would prove more 
 desirable and located in Des Moines as above 
 slated. 
 
 The parents of Dr. I'ahner are still residents of the 
 I'>mpire State and he has four younger brothers yet 
 living — Chailes A., wlio is engaged in the practice 
 of dentistry in Luvcriie. Minn.; Ford N. a dental 
 surgeon of Madison, S. D.; Calvin 1). a telegraph 
 O|)erator of Syracuse, X. Y. ; and Frank who is still 
 at home. Pearl, the only daughter of the famil\', 
 is engaged in teaching and still resides with her 
 l)arents. 
 
 Dr. Palmer was united in m.arriage with Miss 
 Ilattie Lawrence, a most eslimaljle lady who shares 
 with him the esteem of the i)eoi)le of the coramu 
 nity. The Doctor's oltice is pleasantly located on 
 Walnut Street and its furnishings are of a rich and 
 elegant character, the reception and o|)erating rooms 
 being models of neatness and beauty. The owner 
 is a gentleman of genial dis|)osition and in every 
 way fitted to attain success in his profession. 
 
 
 'rxR-LDWAHD .1. McGOKMUSK, an eminent 
 jf'j physician and surgeon of Des Moines, has 
 been a resident of this city since 1858. He 
 is a native of Ireland, having been born in County 
 Armagh, in 1835. His parents were John and 
 Bridget (Lennen) McGorrisk, who both spent their 
 entire lives in their native countiy. Our subjc(;t 
 emigrated to America in 1850, being then a l!td 
 of some fifteen summers. His brother, the Rev. 
 Bernard Mc(iorrisk, had i)receded him as early 
 as 1811. lie was eilucated in France and on 
 coming to America, by his talents and culture, 
 
 soon won prominence as a clergyman, and had the 
 honor of founding St. Mary's College of the Lakes, 
 the first Catholic college established in the I'nited 
 States, west of the Allcghen}' Mountains. In 
 1813, he brought the first Sisters of Mercy to 
 Chicago, in which city he became known as an en- 
 terprising and talented clergyman. His death oc- 
 curred in the fall of 1865. 
 
 Dr. Edward J. Mc(!orrisk attended school in his 
 native land until his departure for America, and 
 after his arrival in this country became a student 
 in Chambley Literary College, situtited near Mont- 
 real, Canada. He took his first course of medical 
 lectures in McGill's Medical College, of the same 
 city anil after lii.s removal to (Salcna, III., in 1851, 
 studied pharmacy and medicine under the pre- 
 ceptorship of J. S. Crawford, M. D. After a 
 lu'opcr course of lectures he was graduated from 
 the medical department of Pope's Medical College, 
 of St, Louis, Mo., in 1855, and shortly afterward 
 was appointed physician and surgeon of the 
 ()'F:dlon Dispensary, of St. Louis, Mo., which po- 
 sition lie held one year. From St. Louis he went 
 to Ottawa, III., whei'C he engaged in the practice 
 of his [jrofession until 1858, when he came to Des 
 Moines, where he has since maile his home, and 
 been continuously engaged in practice with the 
 exception of the time spi'ut in the army. 
 
 Dr. McGorrisk entered Iheservice of his adopted 
 countr}' in the summer of ISUl, as surgeon of the 
 Seventeenth Regiment, Iowa Infantry. He was 
 promoted to be brigade surgeon, next to the rank of 
 division surgeon, and later to acting medical 
 director of the Fifteenth Army Corps. He was with 
 Gen. Sherman in his celebrated march to the sea, 
 and after the close of the war was mustered out 
 with his regiment, at Clinton, Iowa, after four years 
 service. He was ever found faithful to liis duty, and 
 won the respect and ap|)roval of his superior 
 odicers. as was evinced by his ra[)id promotion. 
 
 In May, 1857, in Ottaw;i, III., the Doctor was 
 joined in wedlock vvilh Miss Mary A. Crotty, a 
 daughter of Jeremiah Crotty. The lady was born 
 in Mayville. Md., and died at her home in Des 
 IVIoines, in .January, 1S70. leaving three children, 
 all sous. .lohn !>., the eldest, maniod Miss Annie 
 Uncle, and is engaged in contracting and building 
 
no 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 ill Des Moines; AViliiani I!, wedded Miss Hattie 
 Hunt, and is a grain dealer of Harlan. Slielby 
 Count}-, Iowa; while Edward W., the youngest, is 
 a contractor, carrying on operations in Wyoming 
 Territory. Dr. ]\IcGorrls!< was again married in 
 June, 18H7, when he led to the marriage altar Mrs. 
 Catherine Brown, widow of Edward Brown, and a 
 daughter of Mr. Foley. She was born in Dubuque 
 County, Iowa, and like her husband is a devout 
 member of the Catholic Church. 
 
 In iiolitics, the Doctor is an earnest liepubliean, 
 having es[)Gused the cause of that part}' since its 
 earliest infancy. Previous to that time he was an 
 Abolitionist. At one time he served as Surgeon 
 General of Iowa, and also was tlie Brigade Sur- 
 geon of the militia. He is widely known as a 
 physician and surgeon of superior skill and long 
 experience, and is an honored member of the State 
 Medical Society. His residence in Des Moines 
 covers a period of thirty-two years, and he not 
 oul}' enjoys an extensive acquaintance among the 
 people of this city Ijul is also widely known 
 throughout central Iowa. 
 
 <^ IfelLLIAM L. HAWKINS, who resides on 
 \/iJJ' section 11, Four Mile Township, is one 
 V7\P of the representative and resiieclcd farm- 
 ers of the communit}', w.is born in Abbeville 
 County, S. C, on the 13th of November, 1812. 
 His parents, James and Rachel (Little) Hawkins, 
 were both natives of Lincohi County, N. C, and 
 were married in 1787. Their famil}- of ten chil- 
 dren were all born in Ablicvilie Count}' however, 
 and nine of that iiuiiilier grew to manhood and wo- 
 manhood, but our subject, who is the youngest, is 
 the only one now living. His mother died in South 
 Carolina on the 3d of September, 181 J, and in 
 April, 1834, in company with his father and two 
 children, he removed to liarlholcmew County, Ind., 
 where his father died June 12, 1840. His brother, 
 John Hawkins became a resident of Franklin 
 County, Ind., where he married Miss Nancy Hac- 
 kleman, an(' in 1804, accompanied our subject to 
 Polk County. He made his home near RisingSun, 
 
 where lie spent the remainder of his days, dying on 
 the 16th of April, 1882. 
 
 Our subject siient his early life in the State of 
 his nativity, and received bis education in the com- 
 mon schools. As before stated he accompanied the 
 family to Indiana in 1834, and upon his fatlier's 
 death the old homestead was left to him. He then 
 gave his entire attention to farming, remaining in 
 Indiana until September. 1848, when he sold his 
 farm and came to Polk County. Previous to that 
 time, on the 12di of August, 1838, he was united 
 ill marriage with Elizalieth Mills, the wedding be- 
 ing celebrated in Johnson County, Ind. The lady 
 is a native of Washington, Ky., and a daughter of 
 Willis S. and Elizabeth (Brown) Mills, of Nelson 
 County, Ky. On the arrival of Mr. Hawkins in 
 Iowa, he made a claim of four hundred and eighty 
 acres of lanil in Four INIilc Township, and began 
 the development of a farm. Only twenty-three 
 acres of the entire amount had been liroken. and a 
 log cabin constituted the improvements. The In- 
 dians were still nunu'rous in the settlement, and 
 many a home marks the site of an old wigwam. 
 Wild game was found in abundance, and wolves 
 were sometimes yet seen. Little di<l he dream of 
 the great changes which have since taken |)lace, or 
 that Ft. Des Moines would become the metropolis 
 of Iowa. W'licii 1k' went to Iowa City in 184i), 
 however, "llicre iiad ahead}' liccii some talk of mak- 
 ing it the .State Capital, but when Jlr. Hawkins saw 
 the Government buildings, he thought they were 
 too Gne to permit of .-uiy change, and that the talk 
 would result in nothing. The work was wrought 
 however, anil in the city of Des Moines is now a 
 capitol which ranks fourth in magnificence among 
 the niaiiy line Slate Houses in the I'nion. 
 
 -Mr. Hawkins has been one of the busy sons of 
 toil. His life has been an industrious one, and by 
 his own efforts lie has gained all he now [jossesses. 
 I'lillinchingly he and his young wife bore the hard- 
 ships and trials incident to life on the frontier. 
 Hand in hand they have made their way along life's 
 jouirney for more than fifty-two years, bearing an 
 cijual share in the joys and sorrows, the |)ros|>erity 
 and adversity, the hai)pincss and sadness from 
 which none are exempt. They have both passed 
 the allotted three-score years and ten. but are still 
 
PORTRAIT AND KIOGKAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 441 
 
 IimIc ami lioarty, and may yet be spared for many 
 years. 
 
 To tliis worthy couple have been born five chil- 
 dren, namely: James N., who was born in 1839, 
 and now has charge of the old home farm; Willis 
 Sanford ; AVilliam L., a farmer of Four Mile Town- 
 sliip; Martiia, wife of Jeremiah Williams, of Kid- 
 der Countj', N. Dak.; and Benjamin Ross, who 
 died in infancy. In political sentiment, Mr. Hawk'- 
 ins is a Democrat, having supported that party 
 many years. His line farm comprises two hundred 
 and forty acres, and yields him a good income as 
 the result of the care and labor which he has he- 
 stowed upon it. By all who know them Mr. and 
 Mrs. Hawkins are held in thehigliest resided. Their 
 lives have been well and worthily spent, and in 
 looking back over the past, tliej' need fcehio regret 
 for o|)porlunities wasted. 
 
 James N. Hawkins, the eldest son of William and 
 Elizabeth Hawkins, has charge of the old home 
 farm, thus relieving his father of all care. He was 
 born in Bartliolemew Count}-, Ind., on the 10th of 
 May, 183',), and when a lad of nine years, accom- 
 l>anied his i)arents to Polk County, where almost 
 his entire life has since been passed. He acquired 
 his education in the common schools, and worked 
 upon the farm until 18G0, wiien he left home and 
 went to California, wheie he resided for twelve 
 years. At the expiration of that lime, in 1.S72, he 
 returned to Iowa, and assumed the management of 
 the old homestead, of which he has since had charge. 
 He is accounted one of the energetic and leading 
 farmers of the communitj', and the appearance of 
 the place gives every indication of thrift and in- 
 dustry on the part of the manager. 
 
 The wife of IMr. Hawkins was in her maidenhood 
 Miss Ellen M. McClure, of Adair County, Iowa, a 
 daughter of Jolm I). McCIun". and unto them liave 
 been born two interesting cliildren — daughters, 
 Maud and Xora. The Hawkins f:imi!3- hold a high 
 position in tlie social world, and the houseiiold is 
 noted for its hospitality. 
 
 In political sentiment. Mr. Hawkins is ind(!pen- 
 dent, casting his ballot for [irinciple, and the man 
 whom he thiid« will best lill the ofllce, rather tlian 
 for parly. For thirty years he has been connected 
 with the Masonic fralernily, and is now a Royal 
 
 Arch Mason, belonging to the lodge of Indianola. 
 In all public enterprises he manifests a deep inter- 
 est, and keeps jiimself well-informed on tiie leading 
 issues of the dav. 
 
 <^ )i)ILLIAM B. WELLS, one of the leading 
 \^i liverymen of Des Moines, is a representa- 
 W^ tive of one of the i)ioneer families of this 
 city. He was born in Montrose, Pa., December 
 28, 1855, and when a liabe of two years was 
 brought by his parenls, Levi J. and Mary (Brown) 
 Wells, to Polk County. He had ample opportu- 
 nity for securing an education and made good use 
 of his advantages. For some time he attended the 
 public schools, ,and then became a student in Des 
 Moines College. His first business venture was as 
 a i)arlner of his father, they running one of the 
 first iiack lines in the cit>-. In 1878, he embarked 
 in business on his own responsibility, opening a 
 livery stable at Nos. 313 and 315 West Third 
 Street. He owns a large barn, well stocked with 
 excellent teams and rigs and, with the exce[)tion 
 of his father, has the largest stock in tlie cit^-, 
 kee|jing on hand .an average of thirty horses. He 
 also does considerable business in tlie line of buy- 
 ing and selling, and being an excellent judge of 
 horse fiesh has been quite successful in that liranch. 
 
 Mr. Wells has been twice married. His first 
 union, celebrated in ^878, was with Miss Vinnie 
 Wilcox, a native of Jasper County, Iowa, who 
 dieil in November, 1882, leaving two children- 
 Jessie and Lee. On the 7th of June, 188G, he 
 wedded Miss Ella Clark, daughter of K. L. Clark, 
 private secretary to (lov. B. R. Sherman, and unto 
 them have been born a son, Clark. .Mrs. Wells 
 has won an enviable reputation as an artist, having 
 taken a goodly numbi'r of premiums at the Stale 
 Fair. Miss Jessie, though onl^' nine years old, 
 has [iroduced some excei)tioua]l3' fine work in that 
 line for one of her age. 
 
 Mr. Wells lielongs to two social orders, the Red 
 Men and Ihc Patriotic Circle. Politically, he is 
 an in<lc|>endcnl K'«'piilillcaM. Having run a liver^y 
 
442 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 barn for Iwelve years lie is well acquainted with 
 the business and has become familiar with the 
 wants of his customers. In manner he is genial 
 and pleasant, anil b}' his fair dealinj,' has secured 
 the confidence of those who have given him their 
 patronage. 
 
 EWIS BRKUDKL, one of the represcnlalive 
 li uifjj farmers of Saylor Township, resiiling on 
 
 ^j section 12, is a native of Oerman}', born 
 on the bank of the historic Rhine, October 1, 1852. 
 His i)aternal grandfather was Peter Breudel, who 
 came to America, in 18G0, with llic i)arenls of our 
 subject, and settled in l^ee County, where he died 
 ere a week had passed. Lewis Breudel, Sr., father 
 of our subject, was born in Germany, .September 
 30, 1815, and in tlKit country followed farming. 
 Crossing the Atlantic to America, in 1 8C(), he lo- 
 cated in Franklin Center, [^ce County, Iowa, where 
 in connection with his brother-in-law, Henry Bo- 
 linger, he owned and operated a gristmill for a 
 year, when the partnership was dissohed. The 
 succeeding eight years of his' life he devoted to 
 farming in that county winn.in the spring of 18G9, 
 he settled in this count) , spending tlie remainder 
 of his days in retirement. Me married Margaret 
 Bolinger, of Germany, daughter of Theodore and 
 Louisa Bolinger, both of whom were natives of the 
 same country'. Their family numbered six chil- 
 dren, four sons and two daughters. The father 
 was a member of the LuthcRui Church. 
 
 Our subject was the fifth in order of birth in his 
 father's family and was the elder son. lie at- 
 tended the schools of his native land until the a<'e 
 of nine years, when he accom[)anied his [larents to 
 this country and entered the scIhk)! of Franklin 
 Center, Iowa, after whicii he went on the farm, 
 assisting in its cultivation during the summer 
 months, while in the winter season he continued 
 his studies. At the age of eighteen years he made 
 his first business venture, working as a farm la- 
 borer. He chose for himself a life companion, in 
 1870, being united in mariagc with Miss llattie 
 Leek, on the lilth of Otlolu'r. of that year. The 
 lady is a native of Clay County, |lnd., and a 
 
 daughter of Frederick and Mary (Tinsle}') Leek, 
 of the same State. I'nto them were born two 
 children: .lames C, June 10, 1871 ; and Binlie C, 
 April G. 1877. 
 
 In the fall of 1872, Mr. Breudel came to Polk 
 County, and for four years engaged in o|)erating 
 his father's farm. He made his first purchjise 
 of land in 1876, becoming owner of sixty-three 
 acres, to which he has since added ninety-five 
 acres, the entire amount l)eing situated on section 
 25, Saylor Township. He continued the cultiva- 
 tion of that farm until January 1, 1889, when, 
 having been a|)pointed steward of the County 
 Asylum, he entered upon the duties of that oltice, 
 which position he still maintains. The public has 
 exi)ressed satisfaction with his man.'igement, and 
 he has proven himself a callable and proficient 
 olficer. In politics, Jlr. Breudel is a Republican, 
 by whicli l>arty he was elected Townshi[) Trustee, 
 in 1886, but after two years he resigned to accept 
 his present office. He takes considerable interest in 
 civic societies and is an honored member of several 
 such organizations, including Polk City Lodge, Nc. 
 ;500, I. O. O. F. of Polk City, in whicli he was 
 JS'oble Grand two terms; Excelsior Lodge, No. 
 186, A. O. U. W.. of Polk City, of which lie was 
 Master Mason two terms and rei)rescntalive to the 
 Grand Lodge, at Dubuque. He is als» a member 
 of the Congregational Churcli, and is a worthy 
 citizen who has won tiie esteem of his many 
 friends. 
 
 fyATTS BROS. This firm is com|)osed of 
 two of the young business men of Des 
 W'i/ Moines, Charles S. and D. L. Watts, both 
 of whom were born in Rockford, 111,, tiie former 
 July 26, 1858. and the latter on the 5tli of May. 
 1 8C2. Their father, James Walts, was a shoe dealer 
 and did an extensive business in that line for a 
 number of years, lie married Miss Anna Hole- 
 gate, a daughter of an Methodist Episcopal minis- 
 ter, who for forty years had charge of the chureii 
 of that denomination in Elgin. 111. Four sons were 
 born of that union, and when Ihey were yet young, 
 their supiiort devolved upon the mother, who pro- 
 vided for their needs and wants by sewing. Two 
 
( A< 
 
PORTRAIT AND lUOCKAl'IIICAL ALRUM. 
 
 415 
 
 of the sons are now engaged as salcsniun in Rock- 
 forcl, 111., while the oUicr two, as before stated, are 
 roisidcMits of Dcs Moines. 
 
 Ciiaik's S. Watts, in iiis yoiilli, luaincd llio liiidL' 
 of carriage trimming, which business he followed 
 for .-i livelihood until ISS-O, when he joined his 
 Inothcr in their present enter[)rise. J). L. Watts 
 engaged in farming for several years, l)iit though 
 he devoted his energies to that pursuit, his Ihouglils 
 were with art, for which he had a great love. Hav- 
 ing worked tor a time with pastel and crayon, at 
 the age of eighteen years, as a student he entered 
 the studio of 1.. Walkup, the inventor of the air 
 brush system. Having continued operations in that 
 line for three years in his native city, lie joined his 
 brother, and in 1885, they established iiusiness in 
 Des Moines, where they have built up an excellent 
 trade. They have the best display of any one in 
 the city, and theirs is the only air brush work done 
 in Des Moines. Both are artists of ability, and 
 their work has been favoraljly received by the pub- 
 lic, it can now be found in England, Scotland, 
 Sweden and other foreign countries, and in nearly 
 every State in the Union. They devote their at- 
 tention exclusively to their art, making a specialty 
 of i)ortrait work, and are meeting with excellent 
 success, now employing several I'eprcsentatives on 
 the road. Roth brothers are su|iporters of the Re 
 publican l)arly. but have never taken an .'K'tive 
 part in |)olitical affairs. 
 
 Charles Watts is married, the lady of his choice 
 being Miss Nettie Koons, whom he wedded in Xe 
 braska. 
 
 LRKRT 1!. CUMMINS. Rrominent among 
 those who occupy the front rank (,-f the 
 bar of I'olk County is Albert li. Cummins, 
 of the lirm of Cummins & Wright. He 
 has l)een a resident of Des Moines sini'c .laiuiary, 
 1 878, when he came to this city in company with iiis 
 bnitlier, .J. C. Cummins, and foinied with him a co 
 partnershii) for the practice of his profession. This 
 parlnersiii|) continued about two y(!ars, vvhen the 
 brother retired from the practice of law, owing to 
 the fact that close application to the duties of his 
 profession had seriously affected his eyes, and lu; 
 is now Secretary of the Stale Insurance Company. 
 In November, 1881, Mr. Cummins liecame asso- 
 ciated with Judge (Jeorge G. Wiigiit, Thomas S. 
 
 \\ right and Carroll Wright, under the lirm name 
 of Wright, Cummins & Wright. On .lanuary 1, 
 1883, .Judge Wright retired from the firm, but the 
 lirm name continued as befoi'e until 1886, when 
 Thomas S. Wright also withdrew, since which lime 
 the lirm name has been Cummins it Wright. 
 
 Mr. Cummins is a native of Greene County, I'a., 
 where he was born February 15, 1850. He pur- 
 sueil a college course at Waynesburg, where he was 
 grduatcd in the class of I8G1). He was then a 
 youth of but nineteen years, and was thrown upon 
 his own resources, with his way to make in the 
 world. In the autumn of the year in which he 
 completed his college course he came to Iowa, and 
 for a time made his home in Elkader, Clayton 
 Count}', where he secured a clerkship in the 
 County Recorder's ollice. He also worked as a 
 carpenter, and thus to some extent re|)!enished his 
 limited financial resources. Not content witli these 
 occu|)ations he decided to make a change, and go- 
 ing to Indiana secured the position of division and 
 afterwards assistant chief engineer in the constru"- 
 tion of the Cincinn.ali, Richmond & Ft. Wayne 
 Raihduil. He remained in the Iloosier Stale until 
 .January, 1U72, when he assisted in locating and 
 constructing a railroad between Jonesville, Mich., 
 and Lansing, called the Northern Central Miclii- 
 gan Itailroad. A portion of the time, while thus 
 engaged, he acted as chi(^f engineer. Mr. Cummins 
 had now I'ully resolved to enter the legal profes- 
 sion ami, abamloning the (jceupaticm of an engineer, 
 became a student in the law ollice of McClellan A' 
 Hodges, of Chicago. He was admitted to the bar 
 in Springfield, III, .lanuary I, 1875, and immedi- 
 ately thereaftt'r began [iractice in Chicago, where 
 he continued until .January, 1878, when, as alieady 
 stated, he located in Des Moines. 
 
 In 1874, Mr. Cdiniuius was united in marriage, 
 in Michigan, with .Miss Ida L. (Gallery, a native of 
 Faton County, that State, and their luiion has 
 been blessed with one daughter. Kate. 
 
 The law lirm of Cummins iV Wright has an ex- 
 tensive practice, and i)robably the laigest corpora- 
 tion practice of any firm in Iowa. .Mr. Cummins 
 is I'resideni of the I'olk County Bar Association, 
 and is |)rominently connected with several impor- 
 tant business enter|>rises. He is I'resident and 
 
446 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 general counsel of the Des Moines and Northern 
 Raihvay Company, and a Director and general 
 counsel of the Des Moines & Northwestern, and 
 D,es Moines Union Railway Company, and has 
 been identified with other enterprises whicli have 
 proved beneficial to the city's growth and up- 
 building. He was elected to the Legislature of 
 Iowa, as an independent candidate, in 1887. and dis- 
 cliarged the duties of the oUice with nnich ability. 
 The eminent success in his business life is due to 
 his natural ai)titude and persistent energy in carry- 
 ing forward whatever he undertakes. As a lawyer, 
 a business man and citizen be occupies a high posi- 
 tion in the esteem and regard of all. A portrait of 
 Mr. Cummins ajipears on tlic opposite i)age. 
 
 ON. MARTIN D. M< IIKNRV, late Receiver 
 It^i of the United States Land Office, of Des 
 Moines, is widely known throughout Iowa, 
 and well deserves representation in this 
 voiu^mc. He is a native of Kentucky, and was born 
 in Washington County, .September 21, 1806. His 
 parents were the Rev. Barnabas and .Sarah (Harden) 
 McHenrv. The father was a well-known Method- 
 ist preacher of Kentucky, of a hundred years ago, 
 an. I the mother was a daughter of Col. .Tohn Har- 
 den, of Revolutionary fame, who served as Lieu- 
 tenant in C.en. Morgan's rifle corps during the War 
 fur Independence, was Lieutenant-Colonel of the 
 Kentucky militia in the light with the Miami In- 
 dians under Gen. Hamer, and was finally killed in 
 Ohio, in 1792, by the Redskins, while advancing 
 unilcr a flag of truce. He was born in Fauquier 
 Countv, Va., October 1, 17r)3, and was a prominent 
 historic character of the pioneer days of Kentucky. 
 Juib'e McIIcnry's parents were born in AVasli- 
 ington County, \a., and removed to Kentucky 
 about 1790, at the lime of the first permanent set- 
 tlement in that region. Their son Martin was 
 reared on the old homcslea<1 farm, and educated b^' 
 a private tutor. When twenty years of age he be- 
 gan the study of law with a brother, under whom 
 he served as Deputy Clerk of the county, and was 
 admitted to the bar in November, 1827. He en- 
 
 tered u[)on the practice of his profession in his na- 
 tive count3'. where he continued until 1835, when 
 he removed to .Shelliy ville, Shelljy County, where 
 he established himself in practice, and was after- 
 wartl appointed District Attorney of the circuit 
 embr.acing the capital of the .Slate. In 1844 he was 
 elected to represent his district in the State Senate. 
 Previous to this time he was twice elected to the 
 House of Representatives. In 1849 he was ap- 
 pointed by the Governor as Judge of the Circuit 
 Court, and served on the bench for several years. 
 His residence in Des Moines dates from tin; autumn 
 of 1856. Not long after his arrival he was admit- 
 ted to tiie bar of Polk County, and at once entered 
 upon the practice of his profession, soon winning a 
 prominent place among his brethren of the legal 
 fraternity. 
 
 Judge McIIenrj- has been thrice married. His 
 present wife, whom he wedded in Janu.ary, 1841, 
 was Miss Amelia D. Merrivvether, of Shelbyville, 
 Ky., a member of the Merriwether family, of Jef- 
 fersfm County, one of the oldest and most promi- 
 nent families of that .State. Ten children were born 
 of their union, three sons and seven daughters: 
 ISarnab.is, the eldest, is a railroad engineer; Martin 
 D., Jr., was a lawyer of Des Moines, and died on 
 the 1st of May, 1888. Of the daughters, four arc 
 living: Rosa, wife of Col. Albert G. Brackett, of 
 the United ^-^tates Army, in command at Ft. Mcin- 
 tosh, Tex.; Mary F., wife of Pierce Bodle^-, of 
 Louisville, Ky.; Sally and Jennie H. at home. 
 
 In August. 1885, Judge McIIenry was appointed 
 Receiver of the I'nitcd States Land OUice of Des 
 Moines, bj- President Cleveland, and served until 
 March, 1890. In earl\- life he advocated the prin- 
 ciples taught by Henry Clay, and voted witii the 
 Whig iiarty until its dissolution, since which time 
 he has been independent, with strong inclination 
 toward the Democracy. In September, 182.'), he. 
 joined the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which 
 bis parents had been members since the first settle- 
 ment of Kentucky, and has continued his connec- 
 tion with that denomination ever since, coverin'g a 
 period of sixty -five j'ears. fifty of which he has 
 spent as a Class-Leader. At this writing he is a 
 member of the Weslcyan Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, of Fast Des Moines. From early manhood 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 447 
 
 Judge McIIenry lias been an earnest worker in the 
 cause of temperance, and has achieved promi- 
 nence in that direction. He was at one time the 
 chief ofhcer of the National Lodge of the Sons 
 of Temperance, and on coming to Iowa, in 1850, 
 organized the order in this State. While he was 
 brought up in direct contact with African slavery, 
 and for many years was a slave owner, he has a 
 record in that direction which would put to shame 
 many a lond-niouthed advocate of abolition who was 
 \"illing to sacrifice the property of others while he 
 had nothing to lose. The Judge liberated his 
 twelve slaves, some of whom he brought with him 
 to l)es Moines, and they are still living in this city. 
 
 The Rev. Barnabas ]McIIcnry, father of our sub- 
 ject, was born in Washington County, Va., Decem- 
 lier 10, 17C7, and removed to Kentucky about 
 I7'.MI. He and his wife, two daughters and a grand- 
 daughter, died in June, lS;j;J, of Asiatic cholera 
 witliin a few hours of eacli other. Judge McIIenry 
 was some miles distant from home at the time, but 
 in company with a brother-in-law hurried baci<, ar- 
 rivi:ig in time to witness the closing scenes of the 
 awful tragedj', and to bury their dead. 
 
 The Judge is now in his eigiity-fourtii year, 
 tall anil erect in form, with mental faculties well 
 preserved, and still lively and able to <lo busi- 
 ness. He is a fair type of the old-school Kentucky 
 gentleman, of cultured mind, courteous manner, 
 brave and warm-hearted. 
 
 •^»-+«+:Jf-<Sj:J:^ij('pg)-K+ f»- 
 
 l/OSEPH M. DORR, one of the well-known 
 citizens of Des Moines, dates his residence 
 in Polk County from December, ISG.'i. Few 
 men in Central Iowa are more widely known 
 and none receive the esteem of their frii'uds in a 
 greater degree. 
 
 The history of the life of this worthy gentleman 
 is as follows: he was born in Athens County, Ohio, 
 August 13, 1«2'J, and is a son of Baruch and 
 Phoebe (Ward) Dorr, both natives of the Empire 
 State, the former born in 180!), the latter in 1788. 
 The first American ancestor of the Dorr family 
 was Edward Dot r. who was born in the West of 
 
 ^y 
 
 England in 1648, and in 1670 braved the dangers 
 of the broad Atlantic to become a citizen of Amer- 
 ica. He settled in Boston, Mass.. but afterward 
 removed to Ro.xbury, in the same State, where his 
 death occui red in 17.il. Our subject is of the fifth 
 generation. 
 
 Baruch Dorr and wife were parents of twelve 
 children,of whom nine, five sons and four daughters, 
 grew to manhood and womanhood, while of these, 
 four are living at this writing (ISitO), namely: jNIrs. 
 Helena Warnock, a resident of Indiana ; .lonathan 
 L., Joseph M..and Jonas W. Those of the family 
 who passed away after reaching mature ^ears were 
 Russell, Edward, Belinda, Julia and Levina. In 
 1835 the parents removed to Porter County, Intl., 
 where tiiey continued to reside until calle<l from 
 this life. The father died March 1, 184 1, at the 
 age of sixty-three years, but the mother survived 
 him for a long period, dying at the advanced age 
 of eight \-nine 3'ears. 
 
 I'l) to his sixth year Jose[)h IM. Dorr, whose name 
 heads this sketch, resided in his native county, but 
 from that lime until eighteen years of age he spent 
 his days upon his father's farm in Porter Count}', 
 Ind. The educational advantages which he had 
 hitherto received were onl\' such as the common 
 schools at that time afforded. As he neared man- 
 hood he began to realize that his lack of education 
 would prove a disadvantage to him and he deter- 
 mined to pursue a more extendeil course of study, 
 but his father, having a large family dependent 
 upon him for support, could not assist him and 
 therefore young Dorr was obliged to de|iend upon 
 his own resources. Going to Michigan City he 
 worked for his board and attended school until he 
 had fitted himself for teaching, when he embarked 
 in that pursuit. Having decided to engage in the 
 meicanlile business, he entered the mercantile col- 
 lege of Indianapolis, from which he was graduated 
 in 1853, but instead of cai lying out his |)roposeil 
 phui he was induced to ado|)t a professional career, 
 and with that end in view became a student in As- 
 bury College, where after completing the course he 
 was graduated from the law department. The city 
 of Valparaiso. Ind., vviinessed his infantile legal 
 efforts, he continuing practice there from 1856 un- 
 til December, 1863, when he came to Des Moines. 
 
448 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Ere lie had long been in this city his merit .ind 
 ability were recognized by a liberal patronage which 
 he continued to cujoy for many years. In 1872 
 he removed with his family to Colorado Springs, 
 Colo., where he engaged in the i)roseculion of the 
 legal profession until 1«80. Ills health failing him 
 he was compelled to retire and sold out a large 
 practice to Judge Joseph M. Helm, now Supreme 
 Justice of Colorado. Mr. Dorr has been very fort- 
 unate in his investments in real estate in Colorado. 
 On his removal to the West he purchased one hun- 
 dred and sixty acres of land, which then adjoined 
 Colorado Springs but is now in the heart of the ' 
 city, and in consequence has greatly increased in 
 value. The investment has indeed proved a profit- 
 able one. It shows the excellent foresight of the 
 owner .-Mid was the means of making him a wealthy 
 man. lie is now practically living a retired life, 
 yet continues to devote considerable time to look- 
 ing after his valuable landed interests in Colorado 
 and Iowa, alternating between the two States. 
 
 Just prior to his admission to the bar Mr. Dorr 
 was united in marriage with Miss Julietta 15. Rey- 
 nolds, daughter of Levi and Hannah Reynolds, the 
 former a native of North Carolina and the latter of 
 Tennessee. They were members of the Society of 
 Friends or (Quakers and possessed ^the charactcris 
 tic virtues of that worthy people. They left their 
 native States when young with their respective 
 families and settled near Richmond, Ind., but after- 
 ward removed to the northern |)arl of the Stale, 
 where they remained until called home. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Dorr have five children: Mark L., 
 a resident of C<ilorado Springs; John W., an exten- 
 sive fanner and stock dealer of Walnut Township, 
 this county; Helen A., wife of George Stedger, of 
 Denver, Colo.; Edward, who was educated in the 
 Iowa Slate University, being graduated from the 
 Medical Department in March, 1881), is now, in 
 April, 1890, a student at Vienna, Austria. He is a 
 young man of much promise and undoubtedly will 
 obtain eminence as a stu'geon, to which jirofession 
 he seems especially adapted ; Carrie, the youngest, 
 will graduate from the Iowa Slate University in 
 1890. Mr. Dorr is a gentleman of culture, an able 
 lawyer and a progressive aiul enterprising citizen. 
 He has ever taken a deep interest in educational 
 
 affairs and his ehildren have received liberal ad- 
 vantages in that direction. He and his wife are 
 greatly esteemed by a wide circle of friends and 
 acquaintances. 
 
 ininii HEimnE 
 
 llAliLES EI5ERS0LE. proprietor of one of 
 the leading meat markets of Des Moines, 
 was born iu Cattaraugus County, N. Y., 
 June Ij, 1854, and is a son of Teter H. and Carrie 
 (Hazelsweel) Ebersole. His father was born in 
 Germany and in early life came to this country, 
 where he became acquainted with and married 
 Miss Hazelsweet, an American by birth. Having 
 resided in New York until about the lime of the 
 breaking oul of the late war, they removed to 
 Canada, where they made their home until 1871. 
 Coming to Polk County in that year, they located 
 near Polk City, where they still reside. By occu- 
 pation the father is a carpenter and has made that 
 his business throughout life. They are the parents 
 of ten living children, foursons and six daugiiters, 
 and have one son and a daughter deceased. 
 
 The subject of this sketch is the third in order 
 of birlh in the family. The educational advi n- 
 tages which he received in his youth were limited, 
 and at the age of sixteen he began life for himsilf, 
 since which lime he has made his way in the worhl 
 unaided. Having worked one summer at the car- 
 penter's trade he, like 3'Oung Garfield, drove horses 
 on the tow-path. This at best was a hard life for 
 a boy, but oftentimes he would have to drive day 
 and night through the mud without sleep or rest. 
 For six years he remained in the cmplo}' of a lum- 
 ber company. The winters he spent at work in the 
 pineries and during the summer months ran the 
 lioat, bringing lumber and wood to market. He was 
 a strong and willing hand and was highly esteemcl 
 and favored by his employer who soon learned to 
 appreciate his worth and ability. After working 
 for about three years he was made captain of a 
 wood boat, retaining that position three seasons. 
 Seeing that he could not accumulate property' as 
 long as he followed a seafaring life, he resigned 
 his po-iition and came to Des Moines iu 187(!, 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 451 
 
 After the expenses of the journey wimo mot, ho 
 found that he had only fifty cents remaininj^. A 
 stranger in a strange city, without money or friends, 
 lie w.ns forced to accept the flrst position which 
 offered itself. At length he succeeded in securing 
 a position with a butcher for $20 per month, but 
 this seemed very low wages in .compari^jn with 
 what he had been previously receiving. Having 
 worked for others in that business until 1882, he 
 opened a shop for himself at his present location 
 and took .is a partner his brother, George W., which 
 connection continued until the death of the latter 
 in 1889. Since that time Mr. Ebcrsolc has been 
 sole proprietor. lie h.is one of the best markets 
 in the city and is liberally patronized. For four- 
 teen years he has been in this line of business and 
 it is generally conreded that no one in the cit\- 
 keeps a better market or better prepared meats. 
 
 In Des Moines, on the 18th of .August, 1887, 
 Mr. Ebersole was united in marriage with Mrs. 
 Lizzie Brewer. Her maiden name was Foley, and 
 l>y her first marriage she had one daughter. Mr. 
 Ebersole is a Republican in politics, but lias never 
 sought ofHce. 
 
 -^— 
 
 J) AMES WILLIAM ADAMS, a leading pliy- 
 sician of Des Moines, Iowa, was born on 
 ' the 26th of December, 1840, in Hendricks 
 ' County, Ind. His father, Alexander Adams, 
 who is now a resident of Indianapolis, was one of 
 the pioneers of Hendricks County. 'I'he Doctor is 
 the only one of three brothers who adopted a pro- 
 fessional career. He attended what is now Ilntler 
 rnivorsit}', and was a student in that institution 
 when the late war broke out. Feeling tliat he 
 could no longer quietl}- pursue his studies, he laid 
 aside his liooks and donned the blue, enlisting in 
 1861, as a member of Company B, Seventh In- 
 diana Infantry. After serving two years as a non- 
 commissioned oflicer he was promoted to the raidc 
 of lieutenant, and in that eapaeily remained with 
 his regiment until the close of the war. AVith his 
 command he served in the Aimy of the TolouLac 
 and took part in many of the most imporl.ant bat- 
 
 tles of the war. Ho fought at Winchester under 
 Gen. Shields, participated in the second battle of 
 Bull Run, Fredericksburg, Chanccllorsvillc, An- 
 tietam, South Mountain, Gettysburg and the bloody 
 battle of the Wilderness, which lasted several days. 
 He also took part in the seige of Petersburg under 
 Gen. Grant, particip.ating in the severe battle 
 which resulted in the capture of the Welden Rail- 
 road, and the immediate evacuation of Petersburg 
 by the Confederates. On the close of the war he 
 w.as honorably discharged, having faithfully' de- 
 fended his country's honor through four long- 
 years, in which he underwent many of the hard- 
 ships .and trials of war. 
 
 Immcdiatel}' after his return home. Dr. Adams 
 entered upon the stud}- of medicine in Danville, the 
 count}' seat of Hendricks County, Ind., his pre- 
 cejitor being Dr. Lockhart. Later he read medi- 
 cine in the office of Dr. Henry Cox, .and was 
 graduated from the medical department of the 
 University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, in 1867. 
 In 1881, the Doctor took a course of lectures in 
 Rush Medical College, of Chicago, and b}- reading 
 and research has become one of the best informed 
 members of the medical fraternity of Polk County. 
 Soon after his graduation from the University of 
 Michigan, he located in Prairie City, Jasper 
 County, Iowa, where he remained until his re- 
 moval to Des Moines, in 1881. 
 
 The Doctor was married, in Indiana, to Miss 
 [ Mary I. Cox, daughter of Dr. Henr}' Cox, who is 
 mentioned in this sketch. Unto them have been 
 born two children, Kate and Lawrence. Dr. 
 Adams is a skillful physician and sur^^eon and is 
 accounted one of the leading citizens of Des 
 Moines. He served his country faithfully and 
 well during four long years of the late Civil War 
 and deserves all the praise due to a loyal sol- 
 dier. See portrait. 
 
 \J 
 
 S. SIM.S, who is engaged in the culture of 
 small fruits on section 32, Delaware 'I'own- 
 y^'yj ship, is ')ne of the entorpiising anil well- 
 j to-do farmers of the county. He is a native of 
 
452 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Indinna, his birlli having occurred in Lmvroncc 
 CounU-, on the IGUi of Oclol)cr. 1H31. He is one 
 of a f:uiiil3' of seven chihlrcn born unto John and 
 Rosanna (McMannis) Sims. Leonard, the eldest, 
 is now residing in Colorado; Emily is the wife of 
 Josiah Free, a farmer of Keokuk County, Iowa; 
 Thomas J. died in Keokuk County, in 1856; W. S. 
 is the next younger; Alfreddicd in Indiana in 1840; 
 Samuel L. departed this life while a resident of La- 
 bette County, Kan.; Ellington '1'. is a resilient of 
 Wyandotte, Kan. In 185G, the Sims family re- 
 moved from Indiana to Keokuk County, Iowa, 
 where the father purchased a farm of eighty acres, 
 upon vvhich he made his home until the breaking 
 out of the Rebellion. In earl}' days he was a stanch 
 supporter of the Whig p.arty, and although it had 
 not been made a political issue, was a stanch advo- 
 cate of the cause of freedom. When the Rei)ubli- 
 can party was formed to prevent the further ex- 
 tension of slaver}- he at once joined its lanks and 
 when the country became involved in war concern- 
 ing that subject, althougli an old man, he deter- 
 mined to do what he could for the oppressed being 
 in the South and enlisted in the Thirt3'-seventh 
 Iowa Infantry. The regiment was known as the 
 Iowa Graybeards, being formed of men too old to 
 enter the regular service and mostly engaged in 
 guard duty. Their service, however, w.as by no 
 means an easy one and from tiic exposure and 
 hardships which he endured, the death of Mr. Sims 
 occurred. IJoth he and his wife were devoted mem- 
 bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church. lie laid 
 down his life in defense of his country in March. 
 1863, and in April of the sa)ne year his wife was 
 called to meet the loved one gone before. 
 
 Mid pl.ay and work, the boyhood days of our 
 sulijcct were spent upon his father's farm, and in 
 the common schools of the neighborhood he ac- 
 quired his education. Tiring of the monotony of 
 farm life,how'evcr, he determined to engage in some 
 otiior pursuit and on attaining his majorit}' learned 
 tlic carpenter's trade which he followed in Indiana 
 until his removal with his parents to Iowa in 1856. 
 He then resumed work in that line and was doing a 
 good business when the war broke out. Mr. Sims 
 shared in his father's abolition ]n'inciplcs and when 
 the echoes of Ft. Sumter's guns were heard 
 
 throughout the land, his [latriotic impulses were 
 kindled and he at once offered his services to the 
 Government. He enlisted at the first call for troops 
 for three months, becoming a member of Company 
 E, Second Iowa Infantry, the regiment, however, 
 was mustered in as three years' men and after being 
 equipped and drilled for service was sent to Cairo, 
 where it remained until November, lis61, when it 
 was ordered hack to St. Louis. On the 15th of 
 February, 1802. at tlie battle of Ft. Donelson the 
 Second Iowa regiment made tlie charge and was 
 first inside the works. The command was afterward 
 sent to Pittsburg Landing, where for two da\s the 
 Second Regiment with tlie brigade of which it was 
 part, held in clicck the enemy at the Hornet's Nest. 
 About this time Mr. Sims was taken sick and sent 
 to the hospital at Cincinnati. Shorll}' afterward 
 he received a leave of absence but subsequently 
 rejoined his command at Corinth, Miss., and par- 
 ticipated in tiie seige against tlie city. In Decem- 
 ber, 18C3, he was put on detached service in the 
 pioneer corps, then engaged in repairing and build- 
 ing bridges, an<l continued to serve in that line of 
 duty until March, 1864, when he rejoined his regi- 
 ment at Huntsville, Ala. lie marched with Sher- 
 man on the celel)ratcd March to the Sea and on 
 reaching Kingston, Ga., was ordered to be mustered 
 out of service May 28, 1864. He was sent to Pu- 
 laski where he was discharged and received his pay 
 in Louisville, Ky. Three long years he had spent 
 on the bloody battle fields of the South .aiding in 
 the struggle of his country for its preservation and 
 the liberation of its slaves. 
 
 Mr. Sims immediatel}^ returned to his home in 
 Keokuk County, Iowa, but no more resumed the 
 occupation of carpentering. He embarked in farm- 
 ing and after making some preparations for a home, 
 on the llth of October, 1868, was united in mar- 
 riage with Miss Sarah Bosley, a native of Tazewell 
 County, 111., and a daughter of William and Mary 
 (Stanley) Bosley. Her parents are both now de- 
 ceased. Her mother died when she was about two 
 years old and her father some years later. Mr. and 
 Mrs. Sims began their domestic life in Keokuk 
 County, where they remained until 1870, when 
 they came to Polk County. They purchased their 
 piescut ciiinforlablo home on section 32, Delaware 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 453 
 
 Township, in 1873. Tlie land was then in a com- 
 paratively uncultivated condition and few improve 
 raents of any iuiportnncc had been made, but they 
 have now a pleasant residence, surnjunded by 
 beautiful shade and ornamental trees, planted and 
 tended bj- their own hands and their fruit farm is 
 one of the best in the county. Mr. Sims began 
 setting out small fruit iu 1S75, and now devotes 
 his entire time and attention to its culture. He has 
 made it a profitable business and as he raises liie 
 finest fruits, finds a ready sale for his iiroducls. lie 
 is a sagacious and enteri)rising l>usincss man and 
 bj' his own efforts has acquired the possessions 
 wiiich rank him among the prosperous farmers of 
 the community. In [jolitics, Mr. Sims is a stalwart 
 Republican and has been elected to various town- 
 ship otlices, the duties of which he lias ever dis- 
 cliarged in a faithful and able manner. lie lias ever 
 taken an active interest in educational matters and 
 has been a member of the School I'.oaril for many 
 years. 
 
 By the union of JMr. and i\Irs. Sims three chil- 
 dren have been born, two sons and a daughter — 
 Willinm O., who was lorn in Keokuk County, 
 Iowa, June 29tli, 1869; IMary born in I'olk County, 
 April 17, 1873, and John S., also born in this 
 count}', June 29, 1882. Berth [laren's arc members 
 of the Methodist Episcopal Church anil have led 
 worthy and upriglit lives. 
 
 OHN FLYNN, a prominent farmer, and one 
 of the most extensive land owners of the 
 countj', is a native of County Waterford, 
 ^^JJ Ireland. His father, Martin FJynn, was also 
 born in tliat county, and was by occupation a far- 
 mer, lie resided on the Emerald Isle until 1817, 
 when accompanied by his family, he crossed the 
 Atlantic and made a home in America. He mar- 
 rie<l Catherine Croty, a native of County Water 
 ford, and unto them were born five sons and three 
 daughters, all of whom grew to manhood and wo- 
 manhood. About 1849, Martin Flynn came to 
 Iowa and settled in Jones County, wheie he pur- 
 chased land and engaged in agricultural pursuits 
 
 until his death. Previous to that time he h.ad fol- 
 lowed railroading in X'ermont, New York, and 
 Pennsylvania. 
 
 Our subject was a lad of seventeen j'cars when 
 he accompanied liis pMreiits to the United States. 
 He earned his first money in this country liy haul- 
 ing water to the railroad emplo3'cs working between 
 ■\'ermont and Troy, N. Y., for whicli he received 
 twenty-five cents [lor d.a}'. He afterward followed 
 teaming, and as a compensation for his services in 
 that time recci\ed from $10 to $12 iier month, from 
 which amount ho paid his board. Later he was em- 
 ployed by a dairyman in Washington Count}', N. 
 Y., for five years, and while thus eng.aged, was 
 united in marriage with Leanora Barrett, a native 
 of County Cork. Ireland, in whicli county her par- 
 ents. Ri)bL'rt and CatluMine (ilogau) Birrott, were 
 also born. Her gran<lparents were William and 
 Ella (Sullivan) Barrett, also of County Cork. Pre- 
 vious to that marriage hovvever, Mr. Flynn had 
 married Bridget Welch, a native of Count}' Water- 
 ford, Ireland, who died in 18G1. Unto them were 
 born three sons: Jt)sepli, who married Anna Cor- 
 nell, and is now general freigiit and ticket agent, 
 and general manager of the Missouri & Pacific 
 Railroad, with oHice at Denver, Colo. Formerly 
 he was agent for the Santa Fe at Cincinnati, Ohio, 
 later was transferred to La Junitu, from which 
 place he went to Denver as general Western agent 
 of the Missouri &: Pacific Railroad Company. His 
 connection with the railroad companies began at 
 the age of fifteen, he becoming an operator in Penn- 
 s^ivania, and from that position h.as risen to the 
 important office which he now holds. John, who 
 was formerly general book-keeper and paj'masterat 
 Denver, now holds the otiice of contracting agent 
 for the Missouri it Pacific Railroad, under the su- 
 pervision of his brother Joseph; Mallory is the 
 other son. 
 
 After leaving the dairy business, John Flynn. 
 our subject, was employed as foreman for lluec 
 years, by Barry A- McOrau on the construction of 
 the Schuylkill Railroad in Pennsylvania. This was 
 followed by fourteen j'cars spent as roadmasti r o. 
 the above line, after which he entered the employ- 
 ment of his brother, Martin, becoming superinten- 
 dent over a gang of men engaged in the construe- 
 
451 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 tion of a tunnel on tlie Alchinson & Topcka Rail- 
 road. That occnpied iiis time for fifteen months, 
 and he then went lo laying tr.ack for the same road, 
 but after a brief period returned to the emi)loy of 
 iiis brother. After two ye.irs he began railroad 
 contraeting for himself. l)eing first employed hy the 
 Des Moines Valley Road, lie was next engaged 
 in work on the Northwestern in Dakota for about 
 eight months, after which he spent two years in 
 Iowa, and was then again engaged in grading 'n Ne- 
 braska. He first made a settlement in Des Moings, 
 in 1879, at which time he purchased ninety-three 
 acres of improved land. He was very successful 
 as a contractor, and did an extensive business in 
 that line, but during tlie past tA'o years he has de- 
 voted his attention exclusively to f.arming. 
 
 Mr. Flynn is a loyal American citizen, and takes 
 a d"cp interest in the welfare of his adopted coun- 
 try, although he naturally retains a deep love for 
 tiie land of his birth. He cast his first Presidential 
 vote for James Buchanan in 1856, and has since 
 been a stanch supporter of the Democracy-. Both 
 he and his wife are members of the Catholic Church 
 of Des Moines. 
 
 ^\]m\ 
 
 ] AMES HAN LEV resides on section .32, Jef- 
 ferson Townsiiip. In presenting the sketch 
 of this gentleman to the readers of the Ai,- 
 
 I BUM, we record the life work of one of the 
 most enterprising and prosperous citizens of the 
 county, also one of its most extensive landowners 
 and stock raisers. Few men of the community are 
 more widely and favorably known, his large busi- 
 ness interests making iiim many acquaintances 
 which his geni.al nature and upright life transform 
 into warm friends. 
 
 Mr. llanley was born in County Limerick, Ire- 
 land, in 18;55, and is a son of John and Elizabeth 
 Hanle^'. His father engaged in farming on an ex- 
 tensive scale in the land of his nativity, where he 
 and his wife spent their entire lives. Both were 
 devoted members of llie Catholic Church and were 
 highly respected citizens. Their family of six chil- 
 dren cons'stcfl of Miiry. deceased wife of Dennis 
 
 Buckley; Bartholemew, who resides near Portage, 
 Wis. ; Johanna, who became the wife of Michael 
 Coughlin and died in Chicago; James of this sketch ; 
 Margaret, wife of I'hilip Lawley of Chicago. 
 
 Our subject acquired his education in his native 
 land and when a youth of sixteen summers in com- 
 pany with two sisters and a brother, crossed the At- 
 lantic to America. He made his first location in 
 Dutchess County, N. V., where for three years he 
 engaged in farming, after which he followed the 
 same pursuit in Noble County, Ind. [lis next place 
 of residence was in Livingston County, 111., sub- 
 sequent to which he removed to Iowa, making his 
 home in Scott County. A year later, however, he 
 removed to Mahaska County, where he spent one 
 year, when he came to Des Moines. With the ca|>- 
 ital acquired as the result of three j-ears spent in 
 teaming, he iiurehased eighty acres of wild land in 
 Warren Countj-, but afterward sold and purchased 
 one hundred and tiiirty acres constituting a part of 
 his present home. Success has attended the efforts 
 of Mr. Hanley in a marked degree and his own La- 
 bor has been the means used in bringing about that 
 result. He has added at different times to the farm 
 upon which he now resides until it comprises 
 eleven hundred acres, the greater part of which was 
 in its primitive condition at the time of iiis i)ur- 
 chase, but by the labor of his own hands li.as been 
 brought under a high state of cultivation and made 
 to yield a good income. Buying and feeding cattl^i 
 li.as also been an important branch of his business 
 and to other thorough-lired stock he also devotes 
 considerable attention. The business which en- 
 grosses his attention summed np in a few words is 
 as follows: The cultivation of seventeen hundred 
 acres of land, the pasturing of about three hundred 
 head t>f cattle, raising about two hundred head of 
 swine per year and a large number of horses. His 
 corn crop averages about six thousand bushels per 
 year and his other grain yields are proportionateh* 
 great. Possessed of excellent executive abilitj'. 
 sagacious and far-sighted, industrious and ener- 
 getic, Mr. Hanley has indeed made a business 
 record of which he maj' well be proud. His suc- 
 cess is all the greater when we take into considera- 
 tion the fad that he cauie to this country practi- 
 cally lu'iuiib'SS. 
 
{^LOC^ 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 457 
 
 In 1858, Mr. Hauley married Anna Callahan, a 
 native of Count)- Waterford, Ireland, but she lived 
 only four months after their marriage and was 
 burled in the Catholic Cemetery. Three years later 
 in 18G1, he wedded Mary Keyes, who was born in 
 County Limerick, Ireland. Four children graced 
 tlieir union, but two have now passed away — John, 
 the eldest was drowned at the age of twelve years, 
 and Patrick, the third in order of birth, died at the 
 age of six years. James and George P., vrho are 
 still at home are etlucated, gentlemanly young men, 
 materially assisting their father in his extensive 
 and profitable farming and stock raising enterprises. 
 The home of this family is conveniently situated 
 and is one of the most pleasant in the township. 
 During the earlier years of their residence in the 
 county, a hewed log house furnished protection 
 from the summer heat and winter's cold, but it has 
 long since been replaced by a commodious and 
 t.asty two-story frame residence, which is situated 
 on a natural building site in the midst of a beauti 
 ful grove of trees which at once shelters, beautifies 
 and protects it. 
 
 Tiic present wife of Mr. Ilanley was formerly 
 Miss Hannah Donahue, who w.as liorn in County 
 Limerick, Ireland, in 1834, and came to America 
 in 1856. Tlieir marriage was celebrated in 1879. 
 With the exception of a brother living in New Jer- 
 sey, she is tiie only one of tiie family residing in 
 this countr} . Both Mr. and Mrs. Hanley are mem- 
 bers of the Catholic Church and contribute liberally 
 to its supi)ort. C)f a genial and social temperament 
 fair and upright in all dealings, Mr. Ilanley is uni- 
 versally esteemed throughout the communitj\ He 
 is a stanch sui)portcrof the Democracj'. having cast 
 his ballot with that party since attaining his major- 
 ity. 
 
 [ OSKPH P. DAY, a leading farmer of Saylor 
 Township, residing on section '22, was born 
 in New Castle County, Del., August 2G, 
 1837, and is of English and German descent. 
 The family was ffninded in America at an early 
 day. The paternal grandfather of our subject was 
 idsii born in New Castle County, and in the War 
 
 of 1812 faithfully served his country. He married 
 Helen Aldred, a native of England, who came to 
 America when two years of age, and the young cou- 
 ple began their domestic life in his native county, 
 where was born unto them in 1814, William M. 
 Day, the father of our subject. William Day was 
 reared to manhood in New Castle County, and in 
 connection with farming, carried on cabinet-njak- 
 ing. He came to Polk County in the spring of 
 1857, and for two years worked at his trade in Des 
 Moines at the corner of Fifth and Walnut Streets. 
 In 1859, he took up his residence upon a farm on 
 section 16, Saylor Township, which he operated 
 eight years, and then returned to Des Moines. Af- 
 ter serving six years as Justice of the Peace of the 
 city, he retired to private life. He married Eme- 
 line Ford, of Philadelphia, Pa. a daughter of 
 David and Catherine (Freshraett) Ford, the former 
 a native of New Castle County, Del., the latter of 
 Philadelphia, Pa. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Day were 
 born four sons and four daughters, and with the 
 exception of one daughter, all grew to mature 
 years. Both parents were members of the Metho- 
 dist Episcopal Ciuirch. The mother died in 1861. 
 
 The early life of our subject was not unlike that 
 of any other farmer boy. lie was reared to man- 
 hood under the parental roof, and received such 
 educational advantages as the common schools 
 afforded. He was a young man of nineteen years 
 wiien the family came to Polk County, since which 
 time he has made his home in this community. 
 For two years after his arrival he assisted his father 
 .at the cabinet-maker's trade, and then began farm- 
 ing operations for himself, which he has still con- 
 tinued. He is the owner of a good farm of forty 
 acres on section 22, Saylor Township, and as lie 
 thoroughly understands his business, and is an in- 
 dustrious and energetic man, lie is meeting with 
 success in his undertaking. 
 
 On the 25th of October, I860; Mr. Day led to 
 tiie marriage altar Miss Minerva A. Dail)-, a native 
 of Franklin County, Ohio, who was born near the 
 city of Columbus, December 21, 1842. Her par- 
 ents were George and IJnIiecca (Ncedels) Daily. In 
 1841. they removed from ( )hio to H.ay County, Mo., 
 luit after two years came to Polk County, Mr. 
 Daily Laying claim to three hundred and sixty 
 
458 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 acres of latul in Saylor Township, where he made 
 his home until liis death, which occurred in June, 
 1848. His wife, who is still living, is a member of 
 the Methodist Episcopal Church. A sketch of her 
 life is given below. 5Ir. and Mrs. Day began tiieir 
 domestic life upon the farm, and unto them has 
 been born a family of nine children, but three died 
 in infancy'. Those living arc Helen, wife of John 
 Bowen, a farmer of Saylor Township; L. Newton 
 is an Evangelical minister; he married Adella Lar- 
 sen, and resides in Kingsley, Pl)'raouth County, 
 Iowa; Clara, wife of ^George Kimball, a resident 
 farmer of Saylor Township; James E., Editli and 
 George W. are at home. 
 
 Mr. Daj' takes an active interest in all public 
 affairs, and in politics is a supporter of the Repuli- 
 lican party. He was elected and served for ten 
 years as Justice of the Peace, and for the long 
 period of twenty years was School Director. He 
 feels a deep interest in educational matters, and has 
 (lone much for the advancement of scLools in this 
 community. 
 
 Mrs. Rebecca (Needels) Daily well deserves more 
 extended mention in this volume, as she is num- 
 bered among tiie pioneer settlers of the county. 
 Her birth occurred near the city of Columbus, Ohio, 
 on llie 19th of November, 1818. It is thought that 
 her father, Philemon Needels, was born in Mary- 
 land, March 21, 1781. It is certainly- known how- 
 ever, that he emigrated from the East to Franklin 
 Count}', Ohio, when a young man, and near the 
 city- of Columbus made a claim of one hundred and 
 sixty acres of land, which by arduous labor he 
 cleared and developed into a comfortable home. 
 He married Sarah Collins, who was born April 30, 
 1785, and was a daughter of James Collins. The}' 
 reared a family of eight children, who grew to man- 
 hood and womanhood, but some of the number 
 have now passed away. Mr. Needels spent the re- 
 mainder of his life upon his farm in Ohio, reaching 
 the allotted three-score years and ten. His death 
 occurred April G, 1851. He was a member of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church for many years, and 
 lived the life of a useful citizen and upright man. 
 
 In the common schools of the neighborhood Re- 
 becca Needels acquired her education. Her girl- 
 hood days were spent under the parcnlal roof, she 
 
 leaving home to become the wife of George Daily, 
 a native of New York, born December 22, 1818. 
 Their marriage was celebrated February 4, 1841, 
 and in 1844 they emigrated to Ra}- County, Mo., 
 but after a short time removed to Platte County, 
 where they also remained only a brief period. Iowa 
 then became their home, and in 184G. they settled 
 in Polk County, Mr. Daily purchasing a claim of 
 three hundred and sixty acres in Saylor Township, 
 for which he paid §200. He had scarcely begun 
 the work of improving and developing his farm, 
 ere death entered the happy home claiming him for 
 its victim. He died on the 22d of June, 1848. He 
 was a Whig in politics, a member of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church, and a highly respected citizen. 
 
 ll}- the union of Mr. and Mrs. Dail}', four chil- 
 dren were born: Melissa J., the eldest, die;l in Pl.atte 
 County, Mo.; Minerva A. is the wife of Joseph P. 
 Day, a well-known farmer of Saylor Towushi[); 
 Lewis N. enlisted in the Twentj'-third Iowa Infan- 
 tr}-, in the spring of 1864, and died the following 
 August in Hospital No. 2, ^'icksburg. Miss.; James 
 I. is the youngest of the family. 
 
 Mrs. Daily has continued to reside upon the farm 
 where she and her husband settled almost half a 
 century ago. Few persons have so long been resi- 
 dents of the count}-, or have been witnesses of so 
 much of its growth. As far as possible she had 
 aided in the advancement of its best interests, and 
 was one of the prime factors in the building of the 
 Highland Park College, contributing twenty acres 
 of land towards its construction. She united with 
 the Methodist Church when eighteen years of age, 
 and has since been one of its faithful members, 
 earnestly laboring for the advancement of the 
 cause. 
 
 ■^dlOMAS BECK, manager and stockholder 
 fft«^\ in the Coon Valley Coal Company, has in 
 various capacities been connected with the 
 mining interests of England and this country, for 
 the long period of forty-one years. He was born 
 in County Durham, England, February 27, 1842, 
 and is the eighth in order of birth in a family of 
 nine children, whose parents, Jacob and Sarah 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 459 
 
 (James) Beck, were also natives of the same county, 
 riis father made mining his life occupation, and 
 met his deatli b}' falling down a shaft some two 
 hundred and sixteen feet deep, which killed him in- 
 stantly. 
 
 Following in the footsteps of his father, Mr. 
 Beck began work in the mines of his native land at 
 the earl}' age of eight jears, and step liy stop stead- 
 ily rose until he mastered the business in all its de- 
 tails. Between the ages of fourteen and seventeen 
 years lie worked for the compnn}' at car|>entering. 
 Having mined in England until 1863, he sailed for 
 America, being the first of the famil}' to seek a 
 home in this country. Later three brothers fol- 
 lowed him: Joseph, who is engaged in mining; 
 John, who follows the occupation of farming; and 
 another brother, Jacob Beck, who was killed in a 
 mine in this cit}-. Our subject made his first home 
 in .Salinesville,Columbiana County, Ohio, and after- 
 ^vard resided in Pennsylv.ania and Illinois. He has 
 followed no other occupation than that to which 
 he was reared, and by long experience has become 
 so familiar with the business, that he is recognized 
 as an expert miner. He came to Iowa in 1867, 
 and after working a short time in the town of 
 Mongoni.'i, located in this city in' the j'ear 1868, 
 where he and his brother sunk a shaft, called the 
 Eclipse Mine, whence the coal was hauled with 
 iiorses. They sold out to T. D. Youman, and in 
 company with that gentleman, Mr. Beck soonafter- 
 waid opened a shaft on Barlow Granger's place, 
 the first shaft on that side of the city. He also 
 opened a mine near Swan, and organized the Cen- 
 tral Coal Compan}' of Iowa, and about the same 
 time opened another at Reynolds; after a year he 
 opened a mine one mile east of the capitol, 
 which afterward became the propertj' of the ^Etna 
 Coal Company, later re-opened a mine for the I'ho?- 
 nix Coal Mine Company, and in 1881, sunk a ^Ijaft, 
 near this city, and organized the Coon N'alle^- Coal 
 and Mining Company, of which he has since been 
 Director and Manager. Understanding the busi- 
 ness in all its details, he so ably manages it, that 
 the mine is made to j-ield al>ont four hundred tons 
 per day. 
 
 in Mongonia. INIr. Beck was united in marriage 
 « itii i'",lizabetli I'.ale.«. who was born williin six miles i 
 
 of the birthplace of her husband, and came to this 
 country only a short time after his arrival. Their 
 union has been l)lessed with nine children, seven 
 of whom are living — Ralph, Jacob, Fremont, John 
 William, Alvin, and Arthur; Sarah, third in order 
 of birth, died at ihc age of eigliteen months; and 
 Arthur, the sixth of the family, died aged four 
 years; Jacob is an assistant in his father's office; 
 and Ralph is an engineer in the mines. 
 
 Mr. Beck takes consideralile interest in civic so- 
 cieties, holding meinbershij) with the Odd Fellows, 
 the Masons, United Workmen, Red Men, Sons of 
 St. George, and the Patriotic Circle. He is a Re- 
 publican, in politics, and has served both as Treas- 
 urer and Councilman of Sevastopol. Both he and 
 his wife are members of the Episcopal Church, and 
 by their many friends arc held in high regard. 
 
 
 r|OHN B. SCHUSTER, President of the Cap- 
 ital Citj' Oat Meal Company, was born in 
 Wurtemburg, Germany, November, 5, 1850, 
 and is a son of Joseph and Frances (Hum- 
 mell) Schuster, both of whom were natives of the 
 same province and there made their homes through- 
 out life. His father was a substantial farmer and 
 highl\' esteemed citizen of that community. Their 
 family consisted of four children, two sons and two 
 daughters, of whom three came to the United 
 States, namely ; Louis, Walburga, wife of Joseph 
 Reiner; anil John B. 
 
 The subiect of this sketch was the eldest of the 
 family. He received but limited educational advan 
 tagcs in his youth, such as are commonl}' afforded 
 farmer lads, and during the summer months assisted 
 his father in the cultivation of the farm until he 
 n-.is fourteen j-ears of age, when he entered a brew- 
 ery and worked at tiiat trade for five years. To 
 avoid spending an erpial length of time in the armj' 
 he came to America, landing in New York in 1869, 
 proceeding to Jasper County, Iowa, wliere he hail 
 an uncle living. He worked at farm lal)or for a 
 time and was then employed in a tirewery in 
 Eddyvilh' until 187"2, wlien he came to Des Moines 
 
 m. 
 
460 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 and worked for August Mattes, until 1876. In that 
 year, in p.artnership with William Aiilm.inn, he es- 
 tablished the Union Brewery, but on account of the 
 proliibitory law they were forced to close out the 
 business, and in July. 1888, in company with two 
 others, he organized The Dcs Moines O.it Meal 
 Company, whicli 'proves a valuable addition to 
 the manufacturing interests of I3cs Moines. 
 
 In this city on the 28th of November, 187C, Mr. 
 Schuster and Miss Margaret Geneser were united 
 in marriage. The lady is a native of Cermany .and 
 a daughter of J.acob Geneser and a niece of Francis 
 Geneser one of the early settlers of Des Moines. 
 Their union has been l)lcssed wilh five children — 
 Francis, Joseph, Louis, Mattie land Annie. .Mr. 
 Schuster and his family are all members of St. 
 Mary's Catholic Church. He may truly be called one 
 of the self-made men of the city for by his own 
 efifortshe has acquired the;competenee which num- 
 bers him among the substantial residents of Des 
 Moines. lie is a public spirited citizen and by those 
 who knew him is held in high regard. 
 
 ^^ 
 
 ■r^^ATHAN ANDREWS, an old and honored 
 I l)) pioneer of the county now engaged in farm- 
 j^Mi ing *i"*^l stock-raising on section 10, Jeffer- 
 son Township, was born near Rochester, N. Y., on 
 the 1st of December, 1815, and is a son of Wil- 
 liam Andrews, a native of Rhode Island, who w.as 
 a prominent farmer and stock-raiser. Leaving his 
 native State, he removed to New York where our 
 si;bject was born and in 1818, became a resident of 
 Tippecanoe County, Ind. Natlian received his lit- 
 erary education in the common scliools of that 
 community, and resided upon his father's farm un- 
 til eighteen years of age, when he started out in 
 life for himself. He rem.ained, however, in the 
 vicinity of his old home, working at farm labor 
 until twenty-five years of age when he removed to 
 Jasper County, Ind., where he pre-empted govern- 
 ment land .ind for the succeeding eight years gave 
 his .attention to its cultivation. Farming has been 
 Ills i)rincii)al occupation through life .and in th.at 
 line of business he has prospered exceedingly. As 
 
 before stated, Mr. Andrews is numbered among 
 the pioneer settlers of Polk County, dating his ar- 
 rival from 1850. He pre-empted hand in the lount}' 
 and from time to time he added to his possessions 
 until he owned more than fifteen hundred acres, 
 a part of which he has since conve3ed to his child- 
 ren, but still retains about seven hundred acres of 
 arable land, well improved and highly cultivated. 
 In fact everything necessary to a model farm is 
 there found. The latest improved machinery,, ex- 
 cellent barns and outbuildings and tiie best grades 
 of slock, including thoroughbred cattle. He takes 
 great pride in keeping abreast of the times and 
 although he is now seventy-four jears of age has 
 the entire management of his f.arm. 
 
 When a young man of twenty-two years Mr. 
 Andrews was joined in wedlock with Maria Cun- 
 ningham, who died in 1852. B3' their marri.age 
 were born two children, Sar.ah, who become the 
 wife of Sullivan Duncan and died in Tippecanoe 
 County, Ind.; and Naomi, who died in infancy. 
 On the 9th of November, 1856, Mr. Andrews was 
 again married, liis second union being with Sarah 
 M. Lyons, and they became parents of seven chil- 
 (h-en — AVilliam, an extensive farmer, married Jennie 
 Loomis; Letta, now deceased; Lucj-, who died in 
 infancy; Anna, wife of Douglas Cunningham; an 
 extensive farmer of Jefferson Township; George, 
 who is also engaged in agricultural pursuits in 
 Jefferson Township; Flora, wife of Andrew Hurst, 
 a farmer of the same towHship; and Omar, the 
 3'oungest, who resides at home. Mrs. Andrews 
 died in December, 1889, leaving beside her im- 
 mediate family, many warm friends to mourn her 
 loss. 
 
 Forty years have passed since Mr. Andrews came 
 to Polk County. He has been identified with its 
 agricultural interests and has witnessed the greater 
 part of its growth and development, having seen 
 the transformation of Des Moines from a hamlet 
 of five hundred inhabitants to a city of sixty 
 thousand. He h.as ever been a liberal contributor 
 to all public and private enterprises calculated to 
 benefit the community and with his own means 
 built the first schoolhouse in Jefferson Township. 
 This is but one of the many inst.anees in which he has 
 given substantial support to wortliy interests. So- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 461 
 
 cialiy lie is a inoiubcr of the Farmer's Alliance and 
 ill i>ulitics is iiidepciulenl, voting for men and 
 measures regardless of party. Hospitable and gen- 
 ial in liis disposition, upright and honorable in his 
 dealings he occupies an enviable position in the 
 community. Whatever success he has achieved in 
 life is due to his own efforts and business sagacity. 
 
 ^Se^ APOLEON B. COOLEY, one of the early 
 I /// *'2''t'6i"S of the county, now resides on sec- 
 lk\J^, tion 5, Grant Township. He is a native of 
 Washington County, IncL, born September 9, 1820, 
 and a son of John and Jane (Brott) Coole}', both 
 of whom were born in Delaware Count3-, N. Y. 
 The Cooley family is of Scotch descent. By trade 
 ihe father of our subject was a millwright and car- 
 |)entcr and followed those branches of business in 
 pursuit of fortune for a number of years. His 
 death occurred in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 185), 
 after which Mrs. Coolc}' came to Iowa and made 
 her home with our subject until she too passed away 
 on the 1st of .Lanuary, 18HS. They were parents 
 of two children — Napoleon, of this sketch; and 
 La Fayette, who died in Butler County, Ohio, at 
 the age of ten j cars. 
 
 Our subject sijcnt the days of his boyhood aud 
 youth in Butler County, Ohio, and during that time 
 engaged in farm labor or assisted his father at the 
 carpenter's trade. On attaining his majority he 
 started out in life for himself. The first enterprise 
 in which he embarked was in raising broom corn, 
 which he manufactured into brooms and shipped 
 to Cincinn.atti. He continued that business until 
 1841, when he resumed work at the carpenters 
 trade. It was while folk-wing that pursuit that Mr. 
 Coole}' was married to Bliss Martha Wray, the wed- 
 ding being celebrated on the 12th of Fel)ruarv, 
 18 tC. Mrs. Cooley is a native of Butler County, 
 Ohio, and a daughter of Samuel and Ann (Morris) 
 Wra}', the father a native of Harrisburg, Pa., the 
 mother born near Georgetown, Ky. They became 
 acquainted and were married in Indiana, and spent 
 their last days in Oxford, Ohio, liotli having been 
 called to their l:ist rest. Mrs, Cooley was ed- 
 
 ucated in Oxford, Ohio, and was a schoolmate of 
 Mrs. Benjamin Ilairis'in, with whom she was quite 
 intimate. Gen. Harrison also attended th'i Miami 
 University of O.xford at the same time. 
 
 After their marriage, our subject and his wife 
 took up their residence on a rented farm near Ox- 
 ford and in connection with the cultivation of that 
 land he engaged in the manufactire of brooms un- 
 til 1851, and on the death of his father, he re- 
 moved to the old homestead and attended to the 
 business of settling up the estate. The task com- 
 pleted, he began work at brick making with Mr. 
 Wray, which he continued until the autumn of 
 1855, when he started for the West. Believing 
 that he might better his financial condition in one 
 of the new and growing States, he decided upon 
 Polk County as a favorable location and on the 
 5lli of October, 1855, arrived at Des Moines. East 
 Dcs Moines at that time contained but four or five 
 dwellings, to which number Mr. Cooley added the 
 spring following and there began the manufacture X)f 
 brick. He sold the first kiln to Capt. Harry Griffith 
 and it was used in the erection of the Capital City 
 Hotel on Capital Avenue between F'ourth and Fifth 
 Streets. Each year since that lime he has turned out 
 from six hundred thousand to one million five 
 hundred thousand bricks, many of which have been 
 used in the construction of the city buildings and 
 line residences in Des Moines. With admirable 
 foresight Mr. Cooley determined upon Des Jloines 
 as a favoraljlc i)lace of location believing that it 
 would become a city of much importance, but his 
 expectations have been more than realized. Like 
 every resident of Iowa, lie feels a just pride in the 
 position which it to-day occupies in the West, and 
 manifests a warm interest in its prosperity and ad- 
 vancement. He himself has done not a little for 
 its upbuilding. In addition to the establishment 
 of one of the leading industries of the city he pur- 
 chased four acres of land in what is now Capital 
 Park and laid it out into town lots. He was also 
 one of the parties organizing that park, served as 
 Justice of the Peace and School Trustee of the city 
 and has made liberal donations to churches, 'schools 
 and all other worthy enterprises calculated to ad- 
 vance the best interests of the community. He 
 purchased, in 1885, one hun<lrcd and tliirty-thiec 
 
4 (52 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 acres on section 5, Grant Township, Imt lias since 
 disposed of a portion of it, having remaining thirty- 
 three and one -half acres — liis present home. Since 
 his removal to the county he has served as Sec- 
 retary of the Independent School District of 
 Pleasant Hill. In politics, he Is a supporter of tiie 
 Democratic party. 
 
 To Mr. and Mrs. Coolcy have been born two 
 children. William, the eldest, who was born in 
 Butler County, Ohio, and now makes his iiome 
 upon the farm, wedded Miss Ab'jie Hendricks, by 
 whom he has four children — John, Joe, Josephine 
 and James. Josephine, the only daughter of our 
 subject and his wife, wedded Joseph Cox, and died 
 February 20, 1870, aged twenty years. 
 
 -^-^-^- 
 
 ^ AMES II. FINCH, who resides on section 5, 
 Grant Township, is numbered among the 
 honored pioneers of Polk County. In re- 
 i^jl' cording this sketch we present to the read' 
 ers of this Album a history- of one of the most 
 popular and best beloved citizens of the commu- 
 nity. His popularity has come not through his 
 seeking for public favor but is the result of an hon- 
 orable, uprigiit life, where true merit has won the 
 confidence and regard of those who are his friends. 
 He was born in Ross County, Ohio, on the 1st of 
 Januarj', 1822, and is of English descent. His 
 grandfather, Josiah Finch, w.as a pioneer settler of 
 Kentucky and of Ross County, Ohio. He removed 
 to the former State during the last half of the 
 eighteenth centur3' and there resided until the close 
 of the War of 1812, when he enlisted and served 
 during the war. l"hc following year the faniil}' 
 removed to Ohio, where he developed a farm, which 
 is still in the (tossession of some of his descendants. 
 His son, Isaac Finch, the father of our subject, 
 was born in Kentucky, on the 1st of May, 1800, and 
 when a lad of about fourteen years went to the 
 Buckej'e State, wiiere the remainder of iiis life vvas 
 spent on a farm which his father improved. On 
 arriving at man's estate, lie wedded Miss Lucy Ir- 
 win, wlio was the first white chiiil born in Huckskin 
 Township, Ross County, her birth occurring May 
 
 22, 1800. They became the parents of five chil- 
 dren: Ellen, deceased wife of Isaac C. WiLson, of 
 Ross County; James H., of this sketch; Sarah J., 
 who died in Fayette County, Ohio, July 28. 1850, 
 at the age of thirty-six years; Joseph A., of Fayette 
 County, Ohio, and Isaac I., a retired farmer of 
 Highland County, Ohio. The father died in Ross 
 Count3-, September 21, 1828. His wife survived 
 him many j'ears, dying Februarj' 13, 1878, at the 
 advanced age of seventy-eight. They were both 
 leading and influential members of the Presbyterian 
 Church and in the community where they so long 
 made their home were held in the highest esteem. 
 
 On the old homestead in Ross Countj^, Ohio, 
 which his grandfather located, James H. Finch was 
 born and spent his earl3- boyhood daj's. Later he 
 went to live with an uncle and remained at his 
 home until fourteen years of age, w'hen he returned 
 to his parents. From that time until seventeen 
 years of age, he had almost the entire management 
 of the home farm. Later he engaged in carpenter- 
 ing for about two years, after which he worked for 
 a time by the month and subsequently' again took 
 charge of the farm, continuing its man.agement un- 
 til his marriage, which was celebrated Ma}' 26, 
 184C. The laly of his choice. Miss Sarah J. Dean, 
 was the eldest daughter of J. S. Dean, late of East Dcs 
 Moines, a native of Pennsjdvania. The following 
 summer, with a company of five families, number- 
 ing thirty -one persons, the}' started with teams from 
 Ross County, Ohio, to Pclk County, Iowa, reach- 
 ing their destin.ation November 2, 1847. The en- 
 tire part}' setttled in wiiat is now called Grant 
 Township, with the exception of John S. Dean, who 
 became a resident of East Des Moines. 
 
 Mr. Finch entered two hundred and forty acres, 
 the first entry of river land made in Polk County. 
 With his bride he then moved into a little log 
 cabin, which lie made his home until 1849, when he 
 pre-emi)lcd two hundred and forty acres of land on 
 Agency Prairie, where he made his home until 
 1885. On that farm is now located the Tibbie 
 Sewing Machine Company of Des Moines. For the 
 past five years he has resided on section 5, Grant 
 Township, where he h.as a pleasant home. Great 
 indeed have been the changes which have taken 
 place sin 'e his arrival in the county. The now 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAl'HI'-^AL ALBUM. 
 
 463 
 
 beautiful capital city of whicli the people of Iowa are 
 justly proud contained then hut two frame houses, 
 a few log cabins and the fort, but with character- 
 istic foresight he determined to here make a loca- 
 tion, believing that the little hamlet gave promise 
 of becoming a city of importance t n account of its 
 favorable location ani the ricli farming district of 
 which it is a center. Little did he dream, however, 
 of the wonderful transformation which has been 
 brought about. In those early days dry-goods and 
 provisions were obtained at Keokuk and Iiurling- 
 ton, but now mercantile estal)lishnients second to 
 none in the -State are here seen. 
 
 Since Mr. Finch came to Polk County, he has 
 met with reasonable success in his life-work and has 
 acquired a comfortable competency which enables 
 him now in his declining j'ears to lay aside the more 
 arduous duties of farm life. He has always taken 
 a deep pride iu keeping alire.ist of the times and all 
 the improvements of the d.ay are found upon his 
 farm. The interests of his family, however, laj' 
 nearest his heart and he lias labored untiringly for 
 their welfare and the promotion of the happiness 
 of his wife and children. The greatest sorrow of 
 his life came upon him February 9. 1890, when 
 Mrs. Finch was called to her final home. Together 
 they had traveled life's journey for ahuost forty- 
 four 3-ears. She had patientl}' shared the trials and 
 hardships of pioneer life, had aided him in bearing 
 the adversities and hardships which fell to his lot 
 and had rejoiced with him in his success and pros- 
 perity. She was kind, loving and affectionate, a 
 friend to all and an enemy to none. At the age 
 of sixteen years she united with the Presbyterian 
 Church, and for half a century did what she could 
 for the advancement of the cause of Christianity on 
 earth, and who w'lll say that her labors were un- 
 fruitful.'' Her example will ever be present before 
 her children, and the memory of her pure life will 
 dwell in many hearts for years to come. She saw 
 the orchards and gardens planted by the first set- 
 tlers blighted with frost, decay and die, and iu like 
 manner she succumbed to the ravages of disease, 
 but like the foliage her life grew brighter and more 
 beautiful to the end. For thirtj' 3'ears her health 
 was broken, but she bore her suffering uncomplain- 
 ingly, glad, however, when the Master saw fit to 
 
 call her to her rest. She leaves a fond husband anil 
 seven loving children to mourn their loss. 
 
 IMartha R., the eldest child of .lames and Sarah 
 Finch, is now the wife of George W. Smith, a 
 farmer of Grant Township; Isaac S. is a carpenter 
 and joiner residing in East Des Moines; Lucy and 
 Hannah are botii deceasi'<l: John D. is a farmer of 
 Grant Township; .lames H. is living in Grant Park; 
 Abraham F., who resides in East Des Moines, is an 
 engineer in thecraploy of the Northwestern Railroad 
 Company; Minnie died aged one year; Sarah E., 
 wife of James Wilkins, a farmer of Clay Township, 
 and Jennie B. completes the family. It was her 
 desire to become a teacher and when her education 
 was completed she embarked in that profession, 
 but on her mother's death she unselfishly laid aside 
 her school duties to take charge of the home. 
 
 Mr. Finch has been one of the leading farmers 
 of the county for many years, and has ever identi- 
 fied himself with its best interests. He and his wife 
 were charter members of the first Presbyteri'in 
 Church of Des Moines and have ever been active 
 workeis for the promotion of the cause. He supports 
 the Republican part^' and has fille<l various township 
 offices, having discharged his duties with prompt- 
 ness and fidelity. His life work is now .almost fin- 
 ished and, like Paul, he con saj' I have fought a 
 good fight. He is not only one of the honored and 
 and respected citizens of Grant Town,sliip but has 
 a wide circle of acquaintances throughout the 
 county, by whom be is held in the highest regard. 
 
 ,!>;ILLIAM C. EDINGER. a leading photo- 
 grapher of Des Moines, is a native of the 
 W^J Buckeye State. He was born in Green- 
 ville, Ohio, on the 2Cth of February, ISOd, and is 
 a son of William and Rebecca (Foster) Ediuger. 
 He received a common-school education, and in 
 187G, accompanied his parents to Iowa, the family 
 locating in l\Iadison County, where William C. re- 
 mained three years. At the expiration of that time, 
 in 1 879, he came to Des ^loines. lie determined to 
 make photography his life work, and on his arrival 
 in this city, ai)plied himself to learning the busi- 
 
464 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 ness. When he had sufficiently mastered the art. 
 he opened a gallery, and from that lime, July 1884, 
 to the present, February, 1«'J0, has done an excel- 
 lent business, receiving a liberal share of the public 
 patronage. 
 
 Mr. Edingcr was married in this city on the 5lh 
 of June, the lady of his choice being Miss Bertha 
 Comfort, a daughter of E. M. Comfort. She was 
 born in Boone, Boone County, Iowa, and their 
 union was blessed with two children, twins, Edith 
 and Ethel, but the latter mentioned, died in in- 
 fancy. Mr. and Mrs. Edinger were both reared un- 
 der the auspices of the Society of Friends, and are 
 now members of that religious denomination. Mr. 
 Edinger is independent in politics, and has never 
 sought political prominence, preferring to devote 
 his undivided attention to his business. He has 
 now been engaged in the photograph business in 
 Des Moines uninterruptedly for eleven years, and 
 through his superior skill in this work, and his 
 genial and courteous manner has won a wide popu- 
 larity that places him in the front rank as an artist. 
 
 ^g-JC#L^^ 
 
 R. FRANCIS C. GRIMMEL, one of the 
 pioneer [thysicians of Des Moines, of 1840, 
 and who for sixteen years was one of the 
 most highly respected citizens of this city, 
 was a native of the Kingdom of Hanover, Ger- 
 many, where his birth occurred May 8, 1800. He 
 was educated in his native country. On arriving at 
 years of maturity, he wiis united in marriage with 
 Miss Christena Brodthage, and in 1833, emigrated 
 to America with his family, settling in Funckstown, 
 Md., where he established a large and lucrative 
 practice. His wife died the year after their arrival, 
 leaving three children, two daughters and a son. 
 Mary, the eldest, became the wife of Thomas Mc- 
 MuUcn and died in the spring of 1848; Augusta is 
 now the wife of Judge P. M. Cassady of Des 
 Moines; Francis C. Jr., the only son, died in No- 
 vember, 1862. 
 
 Dr. Grimrael was married again in 183G, to Mrs. 
 Maria Sneer, widow of George Sneer. Her maiden 
 name was Reussey, and she was born in Rheinbeyer, 
 
 Germany, and came to America in 1832. Shu had 
 one child, a son, George, by her former marri.age. 
 a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. 
 Six children were born of the latter marriage, three 
 sons and three daughters, but all died in infancy, 
 with the exception of Louis, who died at the age 
 of twenty-four years. 
 
 In 1839, Dr. Grimmel and family removed to 
 Taylorsville, Ohio, and the year following to Lan- 
 caster, whence they journeyed to Perry County, in 
 1843, taking up their residence in Chapel Hill. The 
 year 1846 witnessed the emigration of the Doctor 
 and his family from Ohio to Iowa, and the follow- 
 ing .account of the expedition is taken from a recent 
 article from the pen of George Sneer, the Doctor's 
 step-son. "About the last of August, 1846, my 
 step-father, Dr. F. C. Grimrael with his family, 
 consisting of mother (the Doctor's wife), three sons 
 and two daughters, took up their line of march 
 from a little village called Cliapel Hill, located in 
 the sautheastt.-rn i)ortion of Perry County. Ohio, 
 for the far off West, looking to Iowa as our point 
 of destin.ition and the land of promise, making the 
 entire journey by land and camping out every 
 night. Our motive power consisted of four wagons 
 drawn by four, three, two and one horses, respect- 
 ively, with a one horse buggy to bring up the rear, 
 which was used by father and mother while the 
 three wagons were loaded with household furniture, 
 medicine, etc., and the fourth was set ap.art for 
 commissary purposes. Thus our journey was con- 
 tinued up to the 15th of October, 1846, when we 
 landed in what w.as then known .is Raccoon Forks; 
 later on, by the name of Ft. Des Moines, and now 
 Des Moines. Our entrance to the fort w.-is obtained 
 by fording the Des Moines River in a diagonal di- 
 rection, starting in at about the east end of Grand 
 Avenue bridge and coming out at the west end of 
 Walnut Stree'.bridge. Entering iit the fort between 
 eight and nine o'clock .at night, we thus reached 
 our journey's end. The first thing to be done was 
 to secure a house in which to spend the winter. To 
 our surprise, we found that no houses were to be 
 had except the guard house which stood on the in- 
 tersection of Third and Vine streets. There being 
 no other alternative, we gr.acefully accepted the 
 situation and spent tiie winter of 1846-47 in that 
 
^ 
 
 V 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 ■167 
 
 place. In the spring, father purchased the trading 
 iiouse which was used by the Government for the 
 stomge of supplies, etc. Said building was built of 
 wnlnut [ilank, one and a half stories high, without 
 partition, which we took down and erected again 
 about where the Sisters' residence now stands, on 
 West Sixth Street, and used it as a residence dur- 
 ing the summer of 1847. We immediately com- 
 menced getting out the framing timbers for the old 
 home which was destroyed by lire Sunda}' night, 
 October G, 1881). These timbers, including tiie 
 upper joists and rafters were cut down, scored and 
 hewn fiom tiie lan<l which lies between Park and 
 School Streets and Fifth and Kightli Streets. The 
 shingles were hand made as was also a greater por- 
 tion o£ the lath. The weatherboarding was sawed 
 at Parnielee's mill on Middle River, fifteen miles 
 to the soutii. Late in the fall of 1847, the house 
 was flnished ready for the plastering, but being un- 
 alile to procure any lime, and much less a plasterer 
 to do the work, we were compelled to use heavy 
 muslin on the walls and ceiling, and thus spent the 
 winter of 1847-18 therein. In the fall of 18-18, we 
 succeeded in securing lime and Samuel Gray, who 
 had come tiiithcr from Ohio during the summer of 
 1843, and who now lives on the bluffs south of 
 Coon River, did the plastering. 
 
 '■It was in this house that Judge P. M. Cassady, 
 during the summer and winter of 1847-48,succeeded 
 in the consumation of a contract which resulted in 
 his marriage to Miss Augusta Grimmel, in June of 
 the latter year. In this house a reception was given 
 in the latter part of November, 1849, on the occa- 
 sion of Dr. P. B. Fagen's marriage to Miss Melissa 
 Hoxie, sister of the late H. M. Hosie, the railroad 
 magnate. It was in this house that the first meet- 
 ing was held in the fall of 1854 for the purpose of 
 organizing a Lutheran Church, which was consum- 
 mated, and the old court house, which stood on tiic 
 site of the Wabash depot, was the place where the 
 congregation met for organized worship. In this 
 house was also held the first meeting for the pur- 
 pose of considering the propriety of locating and 
 building a Lutheran College in Des Moines, which 
 was finally consummated, but as signally failed." 
 
 Dr. Grimmel pursued the practice of his profes- 
 sion in Des Moines until about 1856, when he re- 
 
 tired from active duty. He was a skillful and 
 
 well-read (jhysician and was very successful in his 
 liraclicc. Religious and educational matters en- 
 listed his warmest interest and snp[)ort, and his 
 liberality and public spirit were shown in numerous 
 ways by which the co;umunity was largely bene- 
 fitted. He and his estimable wife were the prime 
 movers in founding the Lutheran Church in Des 
 Moines and contributed liberally to its supi)ort as 
 well as toward the erection of the college that was 
 started by that denomination, and in aid of other 
 worthy public enterprises. See portrait. 
 
 — S- 
 
 § EORGE SNEER, one of the earliest pioneers 
 
 of Des Moines, was born in Funkstown, 
 Washington County, Md., on the 3rd of 
 May, 1835. His parents were George and Maria 
 (Russey) Sneer, both of whom were natives of 
 Germany, the former born in the Kingdom of 
 Baden, the latter in Rheinbeyer. They came to 
 America about the sauio time, Mr. Sneer arriving 
 [irobably a little later than liis wife. They were 
 married in 1834. The name was originally spelled 
 Schnearer, according to the German orthography, 
 but for the sake of convenience when a boy, our 
 subject changed it to its present form, which he 
 has since used. George Sneer, Sr., was a mill- 
 wright by trade, but survived his emigration to 
 America only a few years, dying in February, 1835, 
 about three months prior to the birth of his son, 
 the subject of this sketch. In 1837, Mrs. Sneer 
 became the wife of Dr. Francis C. Grimmel, a Ger- 
 man physician, and a widow'er with three children, 
 two daughters and a son, Mary, Augusta and 
 Francis C. The sketch of the Doctor appears else- 
 where in this work. In 1839, with his family, in- 
 cluding our subject, he removed to Taylorville, 
 Ohio, and the following year became a resident of 
 Lancaster, in Fairfield County, of the same State. 
 In 1843, they removed to Chapel Hill, Perry 
 County, and in the latter part of August, 1846, 
 emigrated tolowa, traveling with teams and camp- 
 ing out ever}- night on the way. At length they 
 arrived at what was then known as Racoon Forks, 
 
468 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 nuw Des Moines, on the 15th of October, the same 
 year. 
 
 Mr. Sneer was reared on a farm, which was sit- 
 uaterl ou the site of the well built section of Des 
 Moines, the south line being Grand Avenue, while 
 the old home was situated on the corner of High 
 and Sixth Streets. The old house which was rich 
 in historic interest, was burned on Sunday night, 
 October ('., 1889. At the lime of his arrival in Des 
 Moines, the subject of this sketch was in his 
 eleventh year. Eight years of liis life had been 
 spent in three different Ohio settlements, whose 
 educational facilities were very meager, and he 
 had received one quarter's schooling in each place. 
 The privileges of Ft. Des Moines included still 
 less of educational character, and it was not until 
 he was twenty years old that he again attended 
 school. He then spent a year under the instruc- 
 tions of Mr. Anderson, now of Madison County, 
 Iowa; .ludge J. P. Cassady, now a resident of 
 Council P>luffs; Judge Byron Rice and Rev. J. A. 
 Nash, of Des Moines. Nature had endowed Mr. 
 Sneer with a sound mind and body, and lie became 
 self-educated by using his faculties in the battle of 
 life. His prosperity and high standing in the com- 
 munity are due to his own well-directed efforts, 
 and he stands an example to coming generations of 
 a self-maile man. 
 
 On the 2.'5d of November, 18.")G, in Des Moines, 
 Mr. Sneer was joined in wedlock with Miss Paulina 
 E. Reinig, daughter of John M. Reinig, and a 
 native of Hoffenheini, in the Kingdom of 15ailen, 
 where she was born September 5, 1835. She came 
 with her parents to America in 1850, and resided 
 in Lancaster, Ohio, until 1855, when the family 
 became residents of Des Moines, where her father 
 and mother spent their last days. Thej' were 
 wortliy citizens and highly respected people. Mr. 
 and Mrs. Sneer have two children, a son and 
 daughter — George S., who married Miss Jessie B. 
 Snavely, daughter of W. A. Suavely, and is now 
 engaged in the hardware business at No. 520 West 
 Walnut street; while Minnie is the wife of Philip 
 S. Holland, a wholesale grocer of this city. 
 
 In September, 1857, Mr. Sneer purchased a farm 
 in "Valley Township, on which he spent three years, 
 and then returned to the cit}-, where he has since 
 
 been engaged in building, and in real-estate busi- 
 ness. In earl}- life, he was a stanch Republican, 
 and in 1861 and 1862, was Alderman from the 
 Third Ward. In 18G9, he was elected City Clerk, 
 which position he held for two j'ears, after which 
 he served as Street Commissioner in 1871 and 1872, 
 and in 1875 was again elected a member of the city 
 council for a term of two years. In 1877, he was 
 elected Ma^-or, to fill a vacancy caused by the 
 resignation of J. II. Turner, and was elected his 
 own successor, holding the office until 1880. In 
 1881, he supported Cleveland and Hendricks for 
 the Presidencj' and Vice-Presidenc}', and since that 
 time has been independent in politics. 
 
 Mr. Sneer is prominently identified with Free 
 Masonr}', having attained the Thirty-second degree. 
 He is a member of Capital Lodge, No. 110, A. F. 
 & A. M., Coiinthian Chapter, No. 14, R. A. M., 
 and Temple Cominandery, No. 4, K. T., and is a 
 past officer of all these bodies. He is also a mem- 
 ber of Ft. Des Moines Lodge, No. 25, and Eben- 
 ezer Encampment, No. 10, I. O. O. F., in both of 
 which societies he has passed all the chairs. 
 
 Mr. Sneer is one of the old settlers of Des 
 Moines, and has spent forty-four 3'ears of his life 
 in that city. AVIien he first forded the Des Moines 
 river from the east, on the 15tli of October, 1S4G, 
 coming out about where the west end of Walnut 
 Street bridge now is, he was a boj- of eleven years 
 of age. Where he then found a wilderness, is now 
 the leading city of Iowa, containing a population 
 of fifty thousand citizens, with all the modern ac- 
 cessories of a metropolitan town, lie has been 
 identified with the interests of theCa|)ital City since 
 its inception, and has always been recognized .as a 
 liberal minded, [)ublic spirited citizen, upright in 
 all his dealings, independent both in thought ;nid 
 action, and alw.ays reliable. 
 
 * 
 
 W 
 
 R. AVILLARD BRADWAY is the senior 
 1)1 partner of the firm of Ilradwaj' & Brad way, 
 J^ which is one of the recent additions to the 
 medical fraternity of Des Moines, lie was born 
 in Jlonson, Mass., on the 1st of November, 1827, 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 469 
 
 and comes from an cmlj' and well-known Js'ew 
 F^nyland family. He received a good English ed- 
 ucation, studying the higher branches in tlu; Mon- 
 son Academy, and early in life made choice of 
 the medical profession as his life work. He began 
 fitting himself for practice in his native town un- 
 der tiie instruction of Prof. Calkins, of a Philadel- 
 phia medical school, and afterward was graduated 
 in the Eclectic Medical College, of Philadeli)liin. 
 
 Dr. Bradw.aj- removed to the West in the spring 
 of 1856, and the town of Le Claire, Scott County, 
 Iowa, witnessed his first efforts as an authorized 
 practitioner. Removing to Nebraska City in the 
 summer of 1859, at a time when a very extensive 
 epidemic of dysentery was prevailing in the citj', 
 gave liim an opportunity of making a very re- 
 markable record of success in practice, having 
 treated three hundred and twenty-five cases of the 
 disease, and many of tliem of a serious type, before 
 he had a fatal case to report. During part of his 
 residence here he acted as surgeon for four com- 
 panies of the Seventh Iowa Cavahy, whicli were 
 stationed at this point. His extensive practice 
 here during a period of five j'ears made such in- 
 roads upon his health, that he found it necessary 
 to have a season of rest from active professional 
 labor, which led him to m.ake a trip to Montana, 
 spending nearly three years in the pure bracing at- 
 mosphere of that healthful region. 
 
 After having fully recovered his former health 
 and vigor our subje(^t returned East, and opened 
 an office in the city of Philadelphia, confining him- 
 self to office practice, but having been so long ac- 
 customed to plenty of outdoor exercise, close 
 confinement to an office was not found to be either 
 enjoy.able or healthful, and he .again turned his at- 
 tention to the growing .State of Iowa, commencing 
 in Anita, in October, 1873, where he practiced 
 nine years. While there he made a reputation in 
 the treatment of cerebro-spinal meningitis, which 
 prevailed extensively in Cass and Audubon coun- 
 ties in epidemic form in 1873-74, treating more 
 than one hundred cases, only two of which i)roved 
 fatal. He afterward practiced in Omaha, Neb., and 
 Atlantic, Iow;i, from which latter [ilace he removed 
 to I)cs Moines in .September, 1880. 
 
 Dr. Bradway has boon twice married; in earl}' 
 
 life to Miss Mary J. BuHington, who died in 1871. 
 They were the parents of four children, three of 
 whom, a son and two daughters are still living. 
 The latter Mary Eugenia and Ida May arc both 
 married and reside in Colorado. In 1873 the 
 Doctor was married to Mrs. M. C. Sherwood, of 
 Washington, D. C. In 1872 Dr. Bradway w.as the 
 recipient of the honorary degree of medicine con- 
 ferred by the University of Philadelphia, Pa. 
 
 Dr. Willard F. Bradway. the junior member of 
 the firm of Bradway & Bradway and the only son 
 of the senior member, was born in Monson, Mass., 
 in 1851. Liberal educational advantages were af- 
 forded him and on the completion of his literary 
 studies he began reading medicine under the pre- 
 ceptorship of his father. In March, 1878, he was 
 graduated from the medical department of the 
 Iowa State University, since which time his field of 
 practice has been at various points in Iowa. He 
 also engaged in the prosecution of his profession 
 for a time near Huron, S. D., but came to Des 
 Moines in September, 1889, joining his father in 
 partnership. April 28, 1889, he was called upon 
 to mourn the loss of his wife who passed to the 
 land beyond. Her maiden name was Lillie A. 
 Simmons. 
 
 The office of Bradw.ay & Bi-adway is located on 
 Cottage Grove Avenue. The gentlemen constitut- 
 ing the firm are physicians of long and successful 
 experience and that their merit and ability is ap- 
 preciated, is attested by their constantly increasing 
 practice. 
 
 OCX? 
 
 t MLUXM B. CROSBY, junior member of 
 \Jl' the law firm of Phillips, Day & Crosby, 
 W^ one of the leading law firms of the State of 
 Iowa, is a resident of the Capital City. lie was 
 born in Whitewater, Wis., on the 27th of duly, 
 l.s(13, and is a son of James and Ellen (Biglain) 
 Crosby. His father was born in the cit}- of Belfast, 
 Irelanil,and came to America in his youth. In 
 1 8(i'.i, our subject accompanied his parents to Iowa, 
 the family settling in Chariton, where he was edu- 
 cated in the public' schools. Iti 1883, he came to 
 Des Moines, ami on the 4lh of November, 1884, 
 
470 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 enleied upon tlie study of law under the direction 
 of Judges Pliillips k Dav, botii eminent jurists, tiie 
 last named being an cx-Chief Justice of Iowa. He 
 continued reading in the office of those gentlemen 
 until tlic month of June, 1887, when having passed 
 a regular examination before a committee of the 
 judges of the supreme court of that State, he was 
 admitted t<j the l)ar, and at once entered upon the 
 practice of his profession in Ues Moines, which he 
 pursued alone until December, 1889, when he was 
 admitted to partnership witli his preceptors, and 
 became a momljer of the law firm of Phillii)s, Day 
 & Crosby. 
 
 In 1887, Mr. Crosby became connected with the 
 Iowa Collection, Loan and Trust Company of Des 
 Moines, and in October of that 3'ear was elected 
 secretary of the organization, a position which he 
 has continued to fill to the present time — 18'J(). 
 He is an earnest Democrat in political sentiment, 
 and has sliown a warm interest in the success of 
 his partj'. While comparatively a young man, Mr. 
 Crosbj' has displayed qualities that mark the suc- 
 cessful lawyer, and is recognized as a rising member 
 of the younger class of the Polk County bai-. 
 
 <* i» ILLARD J. COMBS, Mayor of the town of 
 \/-J// Altoona, Iowa, is a native of the Buckeye 
 ^/^ State, his birth having occurred in Carroll 
 Count}^, September 24, 18G0. The family is of 
 German and Irish descent, and was established 
 in this country at an early day. The grandfather 
 of our subject was a native of Pennsylvania, and 
 in that State was married and resided until after 
 the death of his wife, when he removed to Carroll 
 County, Ohio, where he engaged in farming. He 
 afterwards, however, returned to his native State, 
 where his death occurred. William V. Combs, 
 father of Willard, was born in Pennsylvania, and 
 accompanied his father to Ohio, where he was 
 reared to manhood, receiving such educational 
 advantages as the ( ommon schools of that earlj- day 
 afforded. In his j'outh he learned the trade of a 
 carriage maker, which he made his life work. His 
 
 residence in Carroll County continued for a period 
 of fifty years, when he removed to Ft. Wayne, 
 Ind., where he is now living a retired life. He bore 
 aims in the late Civil War, but never experienced 
 an}' very active military' service. In politics, he 
 was a Democrat in early life, but now advocates 
 the principles of the Prohibition parly. He is a 
 member of the Presbyterian Church, and luis always 
 contributed liberally to its support and that of the 
 ministry. He married Sarah A. Drake, a native of 
 Carroll County, Ohio, and a daughter of Daniel 
 and Rebecca (McCaulc}') Drake, both of whom 
 were natives of Pennsylvania. The lady is % con- 
 sistent and devoted memlier of the Presbyterian 
 Church. She liore her husband seven children, 
 four sons and three daughters, namely' : Jennie, 
 Willard J.. Eugene V.. Herbert A., Abbie, Blanche 
 and Franklin JI., deceased. 
 
 The subject of this sketch lived in the county of 
 his nativity until he had attained to mature ^ears, 
 and in the pul)lic schools received a good education. 
 He began life for himself as a farm laborer at an 
 earl}' age, and when fourteen years old entered the 
 dry -goods store of Haines ife Sheiiherd of Malvern. 
 Ohio, as salesman, serving that firm for six years, 
 when he entered the employ of W. A. McCrea, a 
 wholesale dry-goods merchant of Canton, as travel- 
 ing'salesman, which position he retained for three 
 years. He was then employed in the same ca|)acity 
 by U. 11. Parker ife Co., a wholesale dry-goods firm 
 of Youngstown, until the spring of 1886, when he 
 came to Altoona. During his residence in that city 
 he has been employed b}' T. E. Haines in the buy- 
 ing and selling of grain, Laving almost complete 
 control of this brancli of his employer's business. 
 
 On the 2oth of December, 1883, Mr. Combs led 
 to the marriage altar in Carroll County, Ohio, Miss 
 Jettie L. Haines, a native of that county, and a 
 daughter of ex-Scnator A. R. Haines. They have 
 a pleasant home in Altoona, and hold a high posi- 
 tion in the social world, having many warm friends 
 among its best citizens. The people of the com- 
 munity appreciating the worth and ability of Mr. 
 Combs, although his residence here htis been short, 
 elected him to the office of Mayor in 1888, by a 
 handsome majoritj', which is truly a high compli- 
 ment as the town is Republican, while he is a stanch 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 471 
 
 Democrat, anfl an advocate of the Jefifersonian 
 principles. lie lias also held the oflice of Town 
 Recorder for a year, and in his lodge, King David 
 Lodge, No. 407, A. F. I't A. M., he has been 
 honored with several offices. He is a man of ster- 
 ling wortli, whose upright life has ever won him 
 the confidence of his employers, and provided liim 
 with excellent and lucrative iiositions. 
 
 -4-t-i.^>^=€-M-- 
 
 %R. SURRV L. EDWARDS, of the firm of 
 
 Edwards it Son, dental 
 
 of Des 
 
 jjj ivdwariis (X. ."5on, (ieni:u surgeons, 
 ■ Moines, w.is born in Brattleborongh, Yt., 
 March 13, 1827. The family to which he belongs 
 is of Welsh descent, and was established in Amer- 
 ica by his great-grandfather, William Edwards, 
 who was born in 1741, and when a young man, 
 accompanied by two brothers, crossed the At- 
 lantic to this country. The next in direct descent 
 was Benajah Edwards, who was born in 1772, 
 and became the father of Joel Edwards, who was 
 born in 1799, and is the father of our subject. 
 
 Joel Edwards was born and reared in the Green 
 Mountain State and married Lucy Goss, a native 
 of Massachusetts. In the autumn of 1827, when 
 the Doctor was a babe of a few months, they emi- 
 grated to Illinois, settling in Wa^-ne County, but 
 soon afterward removed to Greene County. They 
 were accompanied by two brothers of Mr. Edwards, 
 David and Eri. These three brothers were among 
 the earliest pioneers of Greene County, and in that 
 community they resided with their families until 
 called to their final rest. Their remains were in- 
 terred in the same cemetery. The familj^ to which 
 tliey belonged consisted of twelve children, nine 
 sons and three daughters, all of whom grew to ma- 
 ture years, witli the excoi>tion of the youngest 
 son, Lewis, who died in iufanc3'. Luther, the old- 
 est, was born September 15, 1793, and was fol- 
 lowed by William, David, Joel, Benajah, Eri, 
 Zeviah, Mary, Solomon II.: Edward, who died 
 in February, 1890; and Sarah. Of these there arc 
 living in 1890 Solomon II. and Mary, both resi- 
 dents of Bratlleborough, A't. 
 
 Joel and Lucy Edwards were the parents of 
 
 three sons and three daughters, and all lived to 
 adult age, with the exception of the eldest, Oshea 
 L., who died in infancy. To the second son was 
 given the same name, and lie is now living on the 
 the old homestead farm in Greene County, 111.; 
 Try|)liena. widow of Josepii Carter, resides in 
 Girard, III.; Mrs. Mary Gardener is also a resident 
 of Greene County; Jane Ann married Samuel 
 Hutchinson and died in Griggsville, 111., June 29, 
 1856. The father of this family died in Greene 
 County, September 28, 1860, his wife surviving 
 until September 25, 1869. She was three days his 
 senior and died at the age of seventy years. 
 
 Dr. Edwards, whose name heads this sketch, is 
 the second surviving member of his father's fam- 
 il}'. His early life was spent in much the usual 
 manner of farmer lads, and in his youth he ac- 
 quired sui h education as the common district 
 schools afforded. He displayed great aptitude in 
 his studies, and with the desire to pursue a more 
 extended course, in 1847 he entered McKendrec 
 College, from which he was graduated four years 
 later. The succeeding five ye.ars of his life were 
 spent as a teacher, after which he began the study 
 of dentistry in 1858, at Griggsville, III. He pur- 
 sued .as thorough a course of study in ])reparation 
 for the practice of dental surgery' as w.as prac- 
 ticable at that time and entered into practice at 
 Griggsville, where he remained until 1870, when 
 he opened an oflice and removed to Peoria, 111. 
 
 A marriage ceremony performed in Griggsville, 
 in 1855, united the destinies of Miss Emma A. 
 Dickerson and Dr. Edwards, the lady being a 
 daughter of Theodore and Mary (Beckford) Dick- 
 erson. r>y their union have been born seven chil- 
 dren, the eldest of whom is Lucy Jane; Horace N., 
 the second, was born March 23, 1862, received a 
 thorough education in the schools of Des Moinc?, 
 studied dentistry' with his father .and was graduated 
 from the dental department of the Iowa Stale Uni- 
 versity on the 28th of February, 1887, since which 
 time he has been .associated with his father in the 
 practice of his chosen profession. He possesses 
 much natural mechanical ability', and having been 
 reared to the profession of dentistry and graduated 
 from a lirst-olass dental school, he is eminently 
 fitted for the pursuit which he has adopted as his 
 
472 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 life work. Newton, the nest son, is engaged in 
 raiiroading. Mary, Estlier, Albert and Benjamin 
 complete the family. The Doctor and his wife 
 have lost two children — Rollin, the oldest son 
 and second child, attained to 3'ears of manhood, 
 wedded Miss Chihlcrs and apparently had a bright 
 future before him, but died on the 11th of Octo- 
 ber, 1886. The fir.il great affliction which befell 
 Dr. and Mrs. Edwards was the sad death of their 
 son "Walter, who was drowned while bathing in 
 Coon River, July 28, 1882. He w.as a bright, in- 
 telligent boy, and was but eleven years of age at 
 the time of his death. 
 
 For a year after his arrival in Des Moines, which 
 event occurred in 1874, Dr. Edwards was asso- 
 ciated in business with Dr. A. Rawson, after which 
 he was alone in practice until 1887, when his son, 
 Horace N., became associated with his father, 
 under the firm name of Edwards & Son. This firm 
 has a branch oflice at Adel, Iowa, of which the 
 son has immediate charge. Dr. Edwards possesses 
 the highest respect and esteem of his fellow-citi- 
 zens. Earlier in life he took quite an active part 
 in public affairs, but since coming to Iowa has de- 
 voted himself closely to his profession, although 
 he still feels an interest in public matters. He an.l 
 his wife have long been faithful members of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church, and are earnest 
 workers, doing all in their power for its advance- 
 ment. 
 
 -^-r^-^^^Vt^t^^^- 
 
 EWTON J. HARRIS, President and Man- 
 ager of the Des Moines and Denver Land 
 and Tree Company', is one of the leading 
 nurserymen of Polk Countj'. making a specialty- of 
 shade and ornamental trees. His home is on sec- 
 tion 15, Say lor Township. He was born in Clay 
 County, Ind., on the 30th of September, 1841, 
 being the eldest of a familj- of nine children, whose 
 parents were Alfred and Nancy ((iraves) Harris, 
 the former a native of Ross County, Ohio, and the 
 latter of North Carolina. The Harris famil}- is of 
 Welsh origin, but was founded in America at an 
 early day. Daniel Harris, the grandfather of our 
 subject, was a native of Airginia, hut shortly after 
 
 his marriage removed to Ross County, Ohio, be- 
 coming one of its early settlers. He later took up 
 his residence in Owen County and afterwards made 
 his home in Clay Countj', Ind., until his death. 
 
 Newton J. Harris is a representative of one of 
 the pioneer families of this county. He w.as but 
 ten years of age when his parents came to Iowa, at 
 which time thej' settled temporarily in Boone 
 County, but in 1852 came to Polk Count}-, 
 renting a farm in Madison Township, on which 
 they resided for a j-ear, when Mr. Harris pur- 
 chased land in Saylor Township, on which he 
 is still living. After his son Newton had mastered 
 the course of study afforded hj- the district schools 
 he was sent to the Iowa Weslcyan I'niversity of 
 Mt. Pleasant, Henrj' Countj'. where he pursued a 
 three j-ears' scientific course, entering the college 
 at tlie age of nineteen years. He afterwards held 
 the position of principal of the Polk City graded 
 schools for two years and during the winter season 
 engaged in teaching for some time. He embarked 
 in his present business in 1868 as a partner of his 
 brother Daniel F., under the firm name of ILirris 
 Bros., which connection continued until 1882, when 
 it was dissolved and for two years, he was alone in 
 business. At the expiration of that time the Des 
 Moines Nursery Company was incorporated with 
 the following officers: A. M. York, President; John 
 J. Gannon, Secretary and Treasurer; and N. J. 
 Harris, Vice-president and Proi)agator, but after 
 two years Mr. Harris sold out to J. H. York, al- 
 though he still continues in the nursery business, 
 being now Piesidcnt and Manager of the Des 
 Moines and Denver Land and Tree Company, while 
 his brother, Daniel F., is .Secretarj' and Treasurer. 
 He makes a specialty of shade and ornamental 
 trees and is doing an excellent business in that 
 line, having l)een fitted bj' jears of expeiiencc and 
 a thorough knowledge of the business to become 
 on»! of the leading nurserymen of the State. He 
 is the patentee of the ilevice by which trees of any 
 size can be safely removed. Mr. Harris is also 
 engaged in the raising of fine slocl;, m.aking a 
 specialtj' of coach horses an<l (iailoway cattle. He 
 is President of the .Vinerican Coach and Carriage 
 Horse Association. 
 
 On the 8lh of August, 1872, Mr. Harris was 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 473 
 
 joined in wedlock with Martha J. Ilendiix, a na- 
 tive of Wapello County, Iowa, and a daiightcv of 
 Ileniy (J., a native of Alabama, and Selina (Sher- 
 rill) Hendris, a native of North Carolina. The}' 
 have a family of seven children, namely: Jlartha 
 May, Jasjier C, M.argaret S., Newton L., Susan A., 
 Carl G., and Alfred A. Our subject supported 
 the Republican party until 1876, since which time 
 he has cast his ballot with the Greenback party. 
 In 1870, he became a member of Capital Lodge, 
 No. 106, I. O.X). F., and his wife is a member of 
 the Christian Church. 
 
 J^ 
 
 ICHAEL DRADY, Ahlerman from the 
 First Ward of I)es Moines, was born in 
 the city of Cork, Ireland, on Ash Wednes- 
 day, in 1832, and is a son of Patrick and 
 Ellen (Hiekey) Drady. He emigrated to America 
 in 18-19, arriving in Quebec, Canada, ou the 15th 
 of August of that year. He did not remain long 
 in that city, however, but made a settlement in 
 Burlington, Vt., continuing to make his home in 
 that city until 18.51. He learned the carpenter's 
 trade with bis father and for a number of years 
 followed that vocation. On leaving Burlington he 
 went to Hoosic Falls, N. Y., but the same year re- 
 turned to Canada and entered the era[)loy of the 
 Grand Trunk Railroad Company. 
 
 On the 6th of February, 1852, in St. Catherines, 
 Ontario, Mr. Drady was united in marriage with 
 Jliss ]\Iary Fogarty, daughter of John P"ogart3-, 
 and a native of Queen's County, Ireland. She 
 emigrated to Canada in 1842, and was educated in 
 the Sisters' school at Montreal. Mr. Drady re- 
 mained in Canada until his emigration to Des 
 Moines in 1856. He arrived in this city on the 
 loth of September, and for eighteen years was 
 actively engaged at his trade of house building and 
 for a large portion of this time was a contractor 
 and builder, doing a large business. To him and 
 liis wife have been born five children who are j-ct 
 living, while four others are now deceased: .lohn, 
 William, Ella, Charles and Anna still survive. The 
 deceased are Mary .lane, the eldest of the familj'. 
 
 who died at the age of eight years; .Joseph, who 
 died when seven years of age; George, at the age 
 of five; and Margaret when three months' old. 
 
 When the late war broke out Mr. Dr.ady was not 
 long in responding to the call of his adopted coun- 
 tr_y. He offered his services to the Government 
 and became a member of Company D, of the Sec- 
 ond Iowa Infantry, serving under Gen. Sherman. 
 He participated in the battles of .lonesboro, jNIari- 
 etta, Kenesaw Mountain, the eng.agements before 
 Atlanta, and in the celebrated JIarch to the Sea. 
 He was wounded in one of the battles before At- 
 lanta on the 13th of December, 1864, but with the 
 exception of the time spent in the hospital in con- 
 sequence of this injury, he was never off duty and 
 is numbered among the f.aithful defenders of his 
 country. In politics, Mr. Drady is a Democrat, and 
 has served fifteen years as a member of the Com- 
 mon Council of Des Moines. lie was first elected 
 in March, 1873, and with the exception of one 
 year has been a member of that body continuously 
 to this writing in 1890. In his church relations, 
 he and his family are devout Catholics and liberal 
 contributors to the support of the church. 
 
 Mr. Drady has now been a resident of Des 
 Moines for more than thirty-four years. lie has 
 led an industrious and useful life, and by his in- 
 dustry and good management has won a valuable 
 property. His influence in the city government 
 h.as always been exerted for the best interests of 
 the city and in aid of all legitimate [jublic improve- 
 ments. As a man and public officer, he stands de- 
 servedly high and is much respected. 
 
 3rrnr 
 
 fEHmE 
 
 T/ONATHAN L. DORR is one of the well- 
 known citizens and a leading grocer of Des 
 Moines, who since 1865 has made his home 
 in this city. He was born in Athens Countj-, 
 Ohio, in 1827, and is of New England origin. The 
 genealogy' of the Dorr family states that the first 
 American ancestor was Edward Dorr, who was horn 
 in the west of England in 1618, an<l emigrated to 
 this country in 1670, s.Htling in Boston, JIass., 
 whence he removed to Roxbury of the same State, 
 
474 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 where his death occurred in 1734. His descend- 
 ants are very numerous and arc widely scattered 
 over this country. The grandfather of the subject 
 of this notice was Capt. Matthew Dorr, who emi- 
 grated with his family from the State of New 
 York in 1794, liis objective point being Southern 
 Ohio, but on reaching Pennsylvania news of the 
 Indian depredations in the Buckej'e State caused 
 him to delay his journey for about a year. The 
 family then resumed their travels and succeeded in 
 reaching Marietta, Ohio, but finding the Indians 
 still troublesome they took shelter in the stockade 
 at that place, where they remained until a definite 
 treaty of peace had been made with the red men. 
 The family then proceeded to Washington County 
 but finally removed to a place known as Wolf 
 Plains, near the present village of Athens, where 
 Capt. Matthew Dorr died September 18. 1801. His 
 Wife survived until 1813, passing away on the Stli 
 of December of that year. Tiie party whose trav- 
 els we have thus described consisted of the Captain, 
 his second wife, whose maiden name was Lydia 
 Wood, and their five children, three sons and two 
 daughters. 
 
 The second of that family was Baruch Dorr, 
 the father of our subject. He was born in the Em- 
 pire State, and on the 1st of June, 1809, wedded 
 Phojbe Ward, who was born in New York, February 
 21, 1788. Farming was his chosen occupation and 
 he follovved that l)usincss throughout the greater 
 part of his life. For a time he resided near Atiiens, 
 Ohio, but in the autumn of 1835 removed to Por- 
 ter County, Ind., where he died March 4, 1841, his 
 wife departing this life a number of years later. 
 To that worthy' couple were born twelve children, 
 nine of whom, five sons and four daughters, grew 
 to mature years. Of that number four are living 
 at this writi.ng in 1890: Mrs. Helena Warnock, who 
 resides in Indiana; Jonathan L., Joseph M., and 
 Jonas W. 
 
 The subject of this notice was about eight 3'cars 
 of age when his parents leraoved to Indiana where 
 he was reared to manhood, spending his boyhood 
 days in the usual manner of farmer lads. Having 
 attained to man's estate, he was united in marriage 
 witli Miss Laura Underwood, a daughter of Will- 
 iam and Poll}' (Townsend) I'nderwooil, both of 
 
 whom were natives of Canada. On her father's 
 side Mrs. Dorr is of B-nglish descent, while the 
 Townsend family is of Scotch origin. She was born 
 in Canada, but in her girlhood accompanied her 
 parents to Michigan and thence came with the fam- 
 ily to Indiana, where her mother's death occurred. 
 Her father afterward removed to Iowa and made 
 his home in Tama County until he also was called 
 to his final rest. William Underwood and wife 
 were parents of twelve children, only five of whom 
 grew to mature years, while but three are now 
 living: Mrs. Sarah Stillwell, of Kalamazoo County, 
 Mich.; Mrs. Rebecca Rockwell, of Barton County, 
 Kan., and Mrs. Dorr. 
 
 As stated in the beginning of this sketch, Mr. 
 Dorr has been a resident of Polk County since 
 18C5. When he left Indiana and emigrated to the 
 West he settled on a farm in Crocker Township, 
 which he still owns, but came to the city a number 
 of years ago that his children might have better 
 educational advantages. Two sons and three daugh- 
 ters grace the union of himself and wife, as follows: 
 Frank L., who is now residing on the old home- 
 stead farm in Crocker Township; Alfred E., who is 
 associated with his father in the grocery trade in 
 Des Moines; Jennie E., wife of Joseph Harvey, of 
 Crocker Township; Lcvina, wife of John Owens of 
 this city, and Pha-be M., at home. 
 
 In religious connection Mr. and Mrs. Dorr are 
 members of the Methodist E|)iscopal Church. 
 They have won many friends during the quarter of 
 a century which has |)assed since they came to Polk 
 County and are highly esteemed.. 
 
 RANCES S. CAROTIIERS, A. M., M. 1)., 
 ■/^^ who is engaged ia the practice of medicine 
 in the capital cit}', is a native of Illinois. 
 She w.as born in Du Page County on the Ifith of 
 June, 185G, and was one of a family of seven chil- 
 dren, three sons and four daughters, whose parents 
 were Henry and Mary (Buck) Carothers. She is of 
 tiie fifth generation in direct descent from a Scott- 
 ish emigrant by the name of Carothers who left his 
 home in Scotl.ind to l)ecome a resident of Ireland. 
 
(y -cA/ i/^-t-'O^-^ 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 477 
 
 In that counti'}- her father was born, liis birth oc- 
 ciining near Enniskillen, C'ount3' Fermanagh, on 
 the 9lli of October, 181L The days of his lioy- 
 hood and youth were tiiere passed and al the age 
 of twenty-three years he sailed for America in com- 
 pany Willi liis uncle. He made his first location in 
 I)u Page County, 111., about eighteen miles from 
 Chicago, where he became acquainted witii Miss 
 Buck, who was born near Saratoga, N. Y., January 
 17, 1816, and came to Illinois when a young lady. 
 Their acquaintance rii)ened into love and they were 
 married. They began their domestic life in Illinois, 
 where they remained until 1870, when they came 
 to Guthrie County, Iowa, where the mother died in 
 1878. .She was a consistent member of the Metho- 
 dist Church to which Mr. Carothers also belonged. 
 He is still living and makes his home in Dos Moines. 
 He entertains the sentiments and advocates the 
 principles of the Republican party. 
 
 Two of tlie three brothers of our subject, Alex- 
 ander and .Tohn. follow agricultural pursuits. George 
 li. at present a student of Rose Polytechnic School 
 at Terre Haute, is fitting himself for a teacher of 
 manual training. Miss Carothers is the only one of 
 the family to engage in a profession. In the dis- 
 trict schools of the neighborhood she [irepared her- 
 self for teaching, in wliicii businesB she embarked 
 at the age of seventeen years. She early displayed 
 a love for learning and it wa.s a long cherished 
 desire to continue Jier studies in an advanced scliool. 
 Having saved her earnings as a teaciier she thus 
 gratified her wish, entering Wheaton College. 111., 
 in 1876. Four years later she completed tLie classi- 
 cal course of that institution and graduated with 
 the class of 1880. In the year 1882, slio began 
 titling herself for the medical i)rofession under the 
 direclion of Di'. P. Ilostetter of (iutluie Center, 
 Iowa. The following year she was awaided the de- 
 gree of A. M. by Wheaton College an<1 two years 
 later she graduated from the Woman's Medical 
 College of Chicago, with the degree of M.l). The 
 following year she spent in llie Woman's Hospital 
 of Chicago and in the Latter part of 1886, located 
 in I)es Moines, where she has won an excellent repu- 
 tation as a general jiractitioner and as a s|)ecialist in 
 women's diseases. 
 
 Dr. Carothers is a member of the Polk Counts- 
 
 Medical Society and of the Stale Medical Society 
 and belongs to the Congregational Church of this 
 city. Unlike many others she finished a classical 
 education before entering upon her medical studies 
 and her subsequent career has shown that her 
 course was a wise one. She is a lady of culture and 
 refinement and .as a physician she ranks with the 
 ablest practitioners of the medical fraternity in 
 Polk County. 
 
 
 ■JOSEPH EIBOECK, the editor and pul)lislicr 
 of three journals, the Atn(>kj('r,JIaus ScJiatz 
 and Soiiiilags Pnst, of Des Moines, and the 
 most prominent German journalist of the 
 great Northwest, was born in Zeleskut (Breiten- 
 brunn) Hungary, on the 23d of February,! 838. and 
 is the onl}' child of .Joseph .and Marie Eiboeck. Ills 
 father w.as killed in a duel when Joseph was but six 
 years of age. The young lad was then taken to 
 Vienna and educated in German, receiving also 
 thorough instruction in Latin. After the Revolu- 
 tion of 1848-49 his step-father, Paul Kiene. who 
 participated in that struggle, was forced into exile 
 and with his family came to America in 1849, set- 
 tling in Dubuque, Iowa, in April of that year. 
 Very soon after reaching Dubuque, Joseph entered 
 the ollice of Minprs' Expreufi as an apprentice 
 under '.'ol. W. H. Merrill, where he learned the 
 I)rinter's trade and the English language at the 
 same time. While an apprentice and jounieymaii 
 printer he applied himself during his leisure 
 hours to study willi great assiduity and qualified 
 himself for the position of teacher, in which oc- 
 cupation he was cini)lo\"cd for three years. In the 
 year 18;j9 he i)urcliased an interest in the Elkader 
 (Clayton County) Juiinia K:\u English paper, wlilfh 
 he edited and i)iililished for thirteen years. He 
 was also the founder of the I'^lkader Nbrd loira 
 Ilcriilil. a Cierman weekly, which he conducted for 
 a time. He continued to publish the Elkaker Joiir- 
 iKil until the siiriug of 1872, when ho sold out and 
 devoted himself to the compilation and piililication 
 of a histoiy of Clayton County. 
 
478 
 
 rORTllAlT AND liiOGRAPillCAL ALBUM. 
 
 While engaged in tcacliiiig. Mv. Eiboeck wrote a 
 series of lectures, the principal ones being iiiion the 
 following subjects, "Hungary," Rise and Progress 
 of Literature," and Lenjamin Franklin." which he 
 delivered many limes in Iowa and Wisconsin to 
 well pleased audiences. Partly for the improve- 
 ment of his health but mainly for information, he 
 traveled extensively in the Inited States and Ter- 
 litories, visiting the-Pacific Coast and Mexico. Li 
 1873 he was sent by Gov. Carpenter as Commis- 
 .«ione'r to the World's Fair at Vienna, and after 
 discharging the duties of his mission made a tour 
 of the contitrent, visiting many of the princi|)nl 
 cities of Europe. U|)on his return to Iowa he pre- 
 pared and delivered some very instructive and 
 interesting lectures which were based on his obser- 
 vations abroad. It was in 1874, not long after he 
 had completed his European tour, that Mr. Eiboeck 
 took up his residence in Des Moines and purchased 
 the loira Siaats Anzcigr-r, which he has continue<l 
 to edit and publish to this date, covering a period 
 of sixteen years, during which time he has made it 
 the leading German paper in the State. The paper 
 is a large, nine-column folio, and always contains 
 from one to three columns of lOnglish i^rint. an in- 
 novation on the custom of publishers of German 
 papers which has proved a marked succdss. He has 
 made the lovm Staats Anzciger noted as the lead- 
 ing exponent of the principles of personal liberty 
 as opposed to all sumptuary legislation. In addition 
 to the paper above mentioned he edits and publishes 
 the Hans Schalz and Soiuitngs Post, two pojjular. 
 local, German literary papers. 
 
 .Mr. Eiboeck w.as married, in Cedar Falls, Iowa, 
 on the Lith of September, LSfiS, to Miss Fannie 
 (iarrison, an American girl a native of Detroit, 
 .Mich. They have one child, a daughter, Maria, now 
 Ihe wifeof S. C. McFarlaner, editor of the Marshall- 
 town Times (did liepuhUcan. 
 
 In politics Mr. I<)iboec,k was a Republican until 
 1872, when he joined the Inde|)endent part}', but 
 is now an avowed Democrat. He is a member of 
 Capital Lodge No. 110, A. F. & A. M., of Corin- 
 thian Chapter, No. 14, R. A. M., and of Temple 
 Commandery. No. 4, K. T. He also belongs to 
 Capital Lodge No. 106, 1. ().(). I"\, the German 
 Turners Association and several other societies. In 
 
 1878 he was nominated for the office of Auditor 
 of Slate against (Jov. Buren R. Sherman and came 
 within seven thousand of an election at a time when 
 the R('i)ulilican majority- w.as over thirty thousand. 
 .^Ir. Kil>occk wrote a liistory of Chayton County 
 and of Northern Iowa,rnnning back for two hundred 
 years, and has now a book of poems in press en- 
 titled ''The Terrors of Prohibition," which has an 
 assured edition of three thousand copies. He is a 
 tluent writer, of superior literary al)ility, and has 
 won many warm friends among tht intellectual 
 people of the West, both German and American, 
 through his literary productions and extended con- 
 nection with Western journalism. See portrait. 
 
 
 i^, AMI'l'^L GK KEN, one of the proprietors of 
 Green's F'oundry of Des Moines, is a native 
 of the lilmpire State, his birth having oc- 
 curred in Waterloo, Seneca County, on the 
 5th of April, 1833. The famil}' is of English origin 
 and was established in America during the seven- 
 teenth century. James B. Green, the father of our 
 subject, was born in Boston, in 1800, and when 
 thirteen j'earsof age entered the service during the 
 War of 1812 as a cabin boy on board a man of 
 war. Under Grant's administration he received a 
 pension for his services which his widow still draws. 
 It was in an early da}- in the history of Geneva, N. 
 Y., when .accompanied by two brothers he took up 
 his residence in that cit}-, where he and a brother 
 afterwards married two sisters of the name of Fisher. 
 His wife. Miss Martha Fisher, was born in Geneva, 
 in 1808, and was of Holland extraction, her father 
 having emigrated from that country to America 
 and settled in Geneva as one of its pioneers. Me 
 lived to tiie advanced age of one hundred and one 
 years, longevity being a chai'acteristicof his family; 
 one of his sons reached the age of one hundred and 
 four, another is now almost one hundred years of 
 age and the mother of o>u' subject, who resides in 
 Prattsburg. is eighty-two years of age. 
 
 By tra<le, James B. Green was a shoemaker vau. 
 as the residt resi<led in various places. Ilnviug 
 moved lifty-three times, he at length located in 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 479 
 
 Pratlsburg, N. Y., where his dejilli occ'iiireil in 
 1884. He led a pious, unoslentalioiis life, true to 
 the teachings of the Presbyterian Ciiiirch.of ivliicii 
 he was a devout member as is also his wife. Though 
 ho look no active part in politics, he was a life-long 
 Democrat and a firm advocate of the party jirinci- 
 ples. Of the twelve children born unto Mr. and 
 Mrs. Green, ten are living, two having passed to 
 the other shore, one at the age of twenty years, the 
 other forty j-ears. Three served the Union in (lie 
 late war — Daniel H., Alfred and ^Viili^lll \V., who 
 was a surgeon. 
 
 The fourth child of the faniil)-, Samuel Green, 
 whose name heads this notice, grew up at the bench 
 and received such educational advantages as the 
 <lislrict schools of that day afforilcd. At the age 
 of sixteen years he began clerking in a drug store, 
 but after being thus emplo3ed a j'ear and a half an 
 op|)ortunity was offered him to learn the foundry 
 business in Penn Yan, N. Y., at which he worked 
 five years. Ilis residence in the West dates from 
 1856, when he located in Michigan, but after a 
 sliorl time he continued his journey to Des Moines, 
 arriving in this city on the 26tli of March, 1857. 
 lie found employment with H. M. Ilemmingway, 
 "wlio hail an old wooden shop almost destitute of 
 uiachiner^', and for him and others worked until 
 186',), when he began business for himself, leasing 
 a lot on West Third Street, where he built a foun- 
 dry at a cost of »200. When he had taken off the 
 first blast, he fonnd himself $700 in debt and was 
 beset with many misgivings as to whether he should 
 ever be able to pay his creditors. Encouraged by 
 his wife, wiio possesses a hopeful disposition and 
 has proved a true helpmate to him, he pressed for- 
 ward, however, and made money so ra[)idly that at 
 the expiration of four years lie was enabled to 
 build a splendid two-story brick foundiy at No. 
 104 West Second Street, and to the main building 
 has since added until it covers an area of 121x132 
 feet. It is equipped with tiie best a|)pliances used 
 in the work and on an average furnishes employ- 
 ment to eighteen men. 
 
 In political sentiment, Jlr. Green is a Republican, 
 supporting that itarty in opposition to his father 
 and six brothers, all of whom were stalwart Demo- 
 crats. He cast his first Presidential ballot for Fre- 
 
 mont and fce^g that he has never yet had occasion- 
 to change his political views. He would never ac- 
 cept oflice however, and on admitting his sons to 
 partners in the business he required from them a 
 pledge to do likewise. Socially, he is a member of' 
 the Old Settlers' Association, wiiich is formed of 
 former residents of New York, who came to this 
 State in an early day; the Odd-Fellows, United 
 Workmen and Good Templars. 
 
 On the 6th of September, 1860, Mr. Green led to 
 the marriage altar Miss Jennie, daughter of John 
 W. and Sarah Owen, who emigrated from Pennsyl- 
 vania to Des Moines in 1856. The lady is a native 
 of the Ke^^stone State, born in Perr}' County, 
 Mr.rch 28, 1839, and is the mother of two children, 
 Frank O. and James B., both of whom are partners 
 of their father in the foundry. The firm of S. 
 Green ife Sons does the most extensive foundry 
 business in the city and also gives considerable at- 
 tention to the manufacture and sale of furnaces. 
 The senior partner is the oldest foundry man of 
 Des Moines, now in business, and one of the most 
 successful .as well. He started in this city thirt3'" 
 four years ago as a d.ay laborer but has become a 
 man of wealth and the secret of his success is in- 
 dustrj', perseverance and good man.agement. While 
 he has not |)ushed himself into public notice, in a 
 quiet way he has won the universal esteem of his 
 fellow-citizens, such as is accorded an uprii^ht 
 honorable man. 
 
 f! "iRAM S. AMKS, ESQ., Justice of the Peace 
 
 of Valley Township, whicli includes North- 
 
 ■~7^ western Des Moinos, has been numbered 
 
 ((l5)) among the well-kiiowu l.iusiness men of this 
 city for about eight years. A native of Michigan, 
 he was born in Hillsdale Comity, May 7, "1841. His 
 father, Henry Anu^s, was a nalive of Massachusetts 
 and a reiiresentative of the well-known Ames 
 family of that State. Having arrived at the years 
 of maturity he made his wa^' to Rochester, X. Y. 
 The western portion of tlie Ku-piro State was tlien 
 ill its iiit'auc^' and he became one of it early settlers. 
 In Pittsford, Monroe County, N. Y., he became 
 
480 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 fifqiiaiiited witli and inanieil Louisa \M and 
 tlionce removed to Michigan, casting iiis lot with the 
 pioneer settlers of Hillsdale Connty. lie is a man 
 of great energy and perseverance and in the midst 
 "of a dense forest cleared and developed a farm, upon 
 which he still makes his home. He was horn in 
 1807 and fias consequently now (in I.SitO) attained 
 lo the advanced age of eighty-three years, but still 
 enjoys robust health. He was three times married, 
 the mother of our sul)ji'Ct l)eing iiis second wife. 
 She died wiien her son w.as in his fourth year. 
 
 When a young man of twenty -one years Hiram 
 Ames left home, going to Applelon, Wis., and for 
 some time was a student in the Lawrence Univer- 
 sity at that pl.ace. He continued to m.ake his home 
 ill Appleton and Menasha for about three 3'ears, 
 until in the month of May. 1H64, he enlisted in the 
 service of the Union as a member of a hundred 
 daj' regiment and was stationed at Memphis, Tenn. 
 At the expiration of that time lie returned and was 
 mu3tered out in Milwaukee, after which he at once 
 proceeded to his old home in IMichigan and imme- 
 diate!}' again enlisted, becoming a member of 
 Company I, Eleventh Michigan Infantry, in which 
 he served until the war ended. For the greater 
 part of the term he acted as steward of a United 
 .States post hospital in Cleveland, Tenn. 
 
 At the close of the war Mr. Ames was mustered 
 out at Jackson, 'Mich., and at once came to Iowa, 
 locating in Independence, Buchanan Count}-, where 
 ho worked at cariientering for a time. He also 
 served as Deputy Postmaster for two 3'ears and 
 later engaged in the mercantile business, which he 
 continued with fair success until 1876, when he 
 sold out and entered the enii)loy of the Sterling 
 School Furnishing Company, traveling on the road 
 as a salesman in the interest of the firm for three 
 j-ears. He then made an engagement vvith the firm 
 cf \. II. "Andrews & Co., in the same business and 
 on the 1st of Januai'}', 188G, having secured a po- 
 sition with L. Harbach, of Des Moines, took charge 
 of the metal department in the establishment of his 
 employer. In fact, Mr. Ames was the originator of 
 that department and continued in charge of the 
 same to the entire satisfaction of Mr. Harbach un- 
 til .lanuary, 1889. But the Last year considerable 
 ixirtion of his time was taken up by his ollicial 
 
 duties and he deemed it liestfor both interests that 
 I.e abandon the former as he could not do justice 
 to both at the same time. 
 
 In 1866. Mr. Ames married Miss Frances A. Hal- 
 lett, a native of Watkins. Schuyler County, N. Y., 
 their union being celebrated in Independence, 
 Iowa. They are now the parents of two children — 
 Fannie J., liorn in March. 1870; John II., Decem- 
 ber, 18, 1887. They lost three boys in infancy. 
 In 1888, Mr. Ames was elected to the office of 
 Justice of the Peace of Valley Township, an im- 
 portant position, as his territory comprises North 
 Des .Moines. The able manner in which he has dis- 
 charged his duties has won high commendation and 
 his public spirit and integrit}' have secured for him 
 the confidence and respect of all. His residence in 
 Des Moines covers but a short period j'et he has 
 made many warm friends among the best class of 
 people. 
 
 ESSE M.CHAFFEE, who is eng.aged in gen- 
 eral farming and stock-raising on section 
 8, Delaware Township, has followed agri- 
 cultural |)ursuits throughout the greater' 
 part of his life. His home comprises one hundred 
 and sixty acres of highly cultivated land, the re- 
 sult of his industry and enterprise. It is provided 
 with all the necessary improvements including ma- 
 chinery, barns and other outbuildings, and the 
 fine stock there seen indicates an important branch 
 of his business. 
 
 Mr. Chaffee is a native of Bradford County, Pa., 
 his birth having there occurred on the 9th of Au- 
 gust, 183 1. His ])arcnts, John and Fannie (Med- 
 bur}') Chaffee, were natives of Jl.assachusetts. 
 Tracing back the ancestry we find that the Chaffee 
 family was founded in America liy four brothers, 
 natives of Scotland, who left their homes across 
 the water and settled in New England during the 
 early Colonial d.ays. The Medbury family is of 
 Welsh origin. By the union of John Chaffee and 
 Fannie Medburj' nine children were born, as fol- 
 lows: William, the eldest, born in Pennsylvania, 
 .September 12, 1824, died in Bradford County, 
 tlial Slate, in October, 1873; Abigail, who was 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL AL15UM. 
 
 181 
 
 born in August, 1826, is tlie wife of George Hicks, 
 and lesides near the oM homeslcad in the Ke}'- 
 stone Statu: Susan, born April 12, 1828, is the 
 widow of Truman Whitakcr, who followed fanning 
 ia Bradford County, Pa.; Jolin M.. born March 
 17, 1830, is a fanner of Beaver Township, Polk 
 County, Iowa; Frances, born February 2, 1832, is 
 the wife of Charles Dimond, a fanner of Bradford 
 County, Pa.; Jesse M. is the fifth in order of 
 birtli; Dexter N., born April 10, 1837, is engaged 
 in agricultural piusuits in Delaware Townshi|); 
 George, born October 10. 183'J, was for many 
 years a resident of Nebraska, but has now returned 
 to his native county; Charles, born August 10, 
 1842, enlisted in a Pennsylvania regiment during 
 the late war and laid down his life on the altar of 
 his country, September 20. 1801. 'Ihi fatiier of 
 this family also followed the same occupation 
 which his sons have made their life work. He 
 was one of the pioneer settlers of Bradford Count3-, 
 Pa., becoming a resident thereof when it was an 
 almost unbroken wilderness. Blazed trees served 
 to point out the road to tlie traveler, and the en- 
 tire county was then under but little civilization. 
 He proved an excellent and valued citizen ui the 
 community and, although (piiet and undemonstra- 
 tive, did much for its upbuilding and won tlie 
 respect of all. In politics, he was a .Tackson Dem- 
 ocrat, His death occurred on tlie Sth of N(jvem- 
 ber, 1857, at the age of sixt3'four years, he h.'iving 
 been born in 1703, His wife, wiio w.as born Feb- 
 ruary 11, 1802, is now in the eighty-eigiitli year 
 of her age. She makes her home in Bradford 
 County, and is a devoted member of the Method- 
 ist Episcopal Church, 
 
 Karly inured to hard laljor, the i)hysical nature 
 of Mr, Chaffee was develoi)ed by work upon a 
 farm, while his intellectual nature was strength- 
 ened by exercise in tiie common scitools. As the 
 county in which his family resided was quite 
 stony, when a small boy he was put in the fields to 
 gat'ier up the stones, which were used in making 
 fences. As he grew older other parts of the farm 
 work were assigned him, and like a dutiful son he 
 assisted his father until twenty-one years of age. 
 It was in 18,06, when having attained his majority, 
 Mr, Chaffee s'arled out in life for himself. He 
 
 made his way to Carroll County, 111., and in the 
 fall of the same year continued his journey to 
 Benton County, Iowa, where he spent the winter. 
 In June of 18.57, he went to ^Missouri, later spent 
 some months in Kansas and afterwards settled in 
 Bates County, Mo., vvhere he remained until the 
 spring of 18C0, when he n)ade an overlaml trip to 
 Denver, Col,, an<l engaged in freighting. The 
 following autumn we again find him in Iowa, and 
 having chosen Polk County as the scene of his 
 future labors, ho has here since made his home. He 
 earned his first money in the county by working as 
 a farm hand witli Daniel Justice, In the spring of 
 1861 he rented a farm and put in a crop, but about 
 this time other events of a more important nature 
 were attracting his attention. 
 
 About harvest time a call was issued for three 
 hundred thousand volunteers, and anxious tostrilie 
 a blow in defense of bis country's cause, he dis- 
 posed of his crops for almost nothing and enlisted 
 in Company D, Second Iowa Cavalry. From the 
 10th of August, 1801, until October, 1801, he was 
 actively engaged in the service. He was mustered 
 in at Davenport, Iowa, and then sent to Benton 
 Barr.acks, St, Louis, where his n^giment was drilled 
 and cquipi)ed for duty. Tlien followed a number 
 of important engagements in which viw subject 
 participated, including the battle of New Madri<l 
 where the troops were under (ire f(jr iwenty-fcjur 
 hours. Another engagement was brought on at 
 Ft. Pillow, followed by i!ie important battles of 
 Farmington, Booneville, U\ka and Corinth. For 
 a part of the time he was on detatched duly in the 
 quartermaster's de[)artment, and at length was 
 mustered out, October 5, 1864, at Davenport, 
 Iowa, after three years of hard fighting on South- 
 ern battle fields. 
 
 Immediately after the close of the war, Mr, 
 Chaffee returned to his home in Polk County, and 
 engaged in burning lime west of Des Moines, 
 When he had accumulated some caiiital, in Feb- 
 ruary, 1866, he purchiised eighty acres of land on 
 s(!ction 8, Delaware 'lownship, and two years later 
 built a small frame house thereon, that now forms 
 a i)art of his splendid farm residence. .lust before 
 starting for the war, on the 12th Of August, 18(!1, 
 he led to the marriage altar Miss Eliza J. Hardin, 
 
482 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM, 
 
 wlio was born in liuli;ii)a, December 1. 1841. and 
 is a (laughter of Joseph anil Maiia J. (Ewing) 
 Hardin, natives of Ohio, who removed to Indiana 
 in its pioneer days. They were also nunihered 
 ainong- the early settlers of Polk Count}', taixing 
 up tiieir residence in Delaware Townshii) when In- 
 dians and wolves abounded in the settlement and 
 when the nearest ueighliors were miles awa}'. 
 Both parents i)asse:l away at the home then made, 
 the mother dying October 16, 1869, aged forty- 
 nine years, and the father February 17, 1885, aged 
 sixty-nine years. Tliey will long he remembered 
 by the early settlers of the county and are well 
 deserving of mention in this volume. Her early 
 life ie a picture never to be effaced from the mem- 
 ory of Mrs. Chaffee. Her early days were spent 
 in a little cabin with no other children near, save 
 the other members of her family, yet that little 
 band of boj's and girls spent many happy days in 
 the pioneer home and made the old logs ring with 
 their merry laughter and shouts of J03'. Joseph 
 Hardin, father of Mrs. Chaffee, was born in ^'ir- 
 ginia, April 22, 181G, and was a son of Thomas 
 and Katy (Wilsin) Hardin. Joseph married INIaria 
 J. Ewing, who was born in Ohio, June 17, 1820, 
 daughter of Joseph and Jane (Lamb) Kwing. 
 Their ni*iiiage was celebrated in Indiana. They 
 had eight childien, three of whom ^v■ere born in 
 Indiana: James F. born August 12, 1831); Eliza 
 J., December 4, 18J1; Benjamin F., October 31, 
 1844. Malissa Ann horn in Illinois, -September 11, 
 1847. In PolU County were born Alonzo R., Feb- 
 ruary 8, 18.01; Mary M., November 23, 1853; Jo- 
 seph C, July 31, 1826; Ilattie H., July, 1860. 
 died in infanej'. In Mrs. Hardin's veins ran the 
 blood of the aborigines, in volume suiruwent to 
 show the characteristics of the red race. She was 
 very erect in stature, having hair long, black and 
 straight, perfect physical development, unusu'd in- 
 telligence and a voice rare in its compass and 
 sweetness. She also inherited the natural grace 
 and dignity so characteristic of the Imlian, and by 
 her many of lliese characteristics have been trans- 
 mitted to her descendants. James F. Hardin mar- 
 ried Malissa Wilson, and resides in Bozeman, 
 Mont.; Malissa married Dexter N. Cliafl'ee, and 
 resifles in Dehiware Townsliip: .Mon/.o H. Miarried 
 
 Alice Warrington, and resides in Delaware Town- 
 ship; Joseph C. married Cylvia ImcIs; ]Mary M. 
 married John Brown. Bj' their united efforts Mr. 
 and Mrs. Chaflfee have established one of the most 
 pleasant homes in the county. Two children have 
 been born untothein: Charles. November 21, 1865; 
 and Rose, .hine 29, 1869. The daughter is an 
 accomplished young lady, having been afford il 
 the ad vantages of instruction in music and paint- 
 ing. Many works of art, the result of her bbor, 
 adorn the walls of their happj' home. In political 
 sentiment, Mr. Chafiee is an ardent supporter of 
 the Republican party, and for eight years has been 
 Township Trustee. Socially, he is a member of the 
 Ancient Order of United Workmen. He has been 
 a liberal supporter of the interests of his adopted 
 county and is ranked among its best citizens. 
 
 I 
 
 Ik F\ GARRISON, Secretary and Treasurer 
 i\ /\yi, tlie of Maple (irove Coal and Mining Com- 
 W^ l);uiy.\vas born December 1, 1855, in Elkhart 
 County, Ind.,and is a son of Alfred Garrison. His 
 father was born in New York, but at an early day 
 accompanied his parents to Indiana, where he was 
 reared to manhood, and in that State became ac- 
 quainted with and wedded Mary J. Jaques,a native 
 of Ohio, who also accompanied lier family to Indi- 
 ana at an early day. The young couple began their 
 domestic life upon a farm in F^lkhart Count}', Ind., 
 and in his business efforts Mr. Garrison prospered, 
 becoming one of the substantial farmers of the 
 neighborhood. He won the confidence and good 
 will of those who knew him and died at the age of 
 fift3'-six 3'ears. His widow, who is now sixty-two 
 years of age, makes her home with her only living 
 son. She has a daughter living in Indiana and has 
 buried three children. 
 
 Our subject, the youngest of the family, during 
 his youth learned all the details of farm work and 
 spent the winter seasons in the common schools 
 until, having acquired a sullicient education to 
 teach, he followed that calling seven j'ears. One 
 of. the most iniportarit events of his life occurred 
 in 1879. when he was joined in wedlock with Miss 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 483 
 
 Kmnia Virgil, a native of Elkhart County, Ind., 
 
 ami iiiitu tliein wore hoiii two cliildren — Bertha, 
 who (lied ill infancy, and Sylvia. 
 
 On his marriage Mr. Garrison tinned liis atten- 
 tion to farming, but in 1880, sold his farm equip- 
 ments and pnrehased the 15utler lii'CimJ. a Kepiib- 
 iicaii paper, published in DeKalb County. Though 
 he was entirely unfamiliar with the business he at 
 once became proprielc>r, editor and foreman. Me 
 increased the size of the paper from six to eight 
 columns and in every way made it an acceptable 
 journal, but after five j-ears spent in that line of 
 business he sold out, and in 1885 came to I'olk 
 Count}'. He leased a^fruit and garden farm in con- 
 nection with which he carried on a dairy until No- 
 vember, 1881), when he organized the Maple Grove 
 Coal and Mining Company with J. A. Carlson as 
 President, C. A. Swanson, Vice President, and 
 W. F. Garrison, Secretary and Treasurer. Thej- 
 threw the first shovelful of dirt last November and 
 now have a dail}' capacity of two hundred tons per 
 day, working some thirty-five men. Their mine 
 is situated three miles northeast of the court- 
 house. Mr. Garrison is well calculated for a busi- 
 ness man, being |)leasant in manner, full of energy, 
 ambitious and far-sighted. In politics he is a Re- 
 publican. 
 
 jKAM C. JOHNSON, chief of the Dcs Moines 
 Fire Department, is a native of Indiana. He 
 dAi ^ was born in New London, near Cincinnati, 
 on the 1th of October, 1849, his parents be- 
 ing Howard P. and Lucinda Johnson. The father, 
 accompanied by his family, came to Iowa in 18;')!), 
 and after spending one \'ear in Keokuk, located in 
 Des Moines. Our subject attended tlie public 
 schools of the city, and in the (jarly spring of 186.5, 
 when a lad of fourteen years and small of his age, 
 offered himself as a recruit in the volunteer service 
 for the late war. but on account of his extreme 
 youth he vvas refused. After several unsuccessful 
 attempts to get a place on the roster of some com- 
 pany, he attached liimself to the Fourth Iowa In- 
 fantry and went to the front. After tiie battle of 
 
 Uesaea, Ga., he was taken sick and sent to the hos- 
 pital, and on his discharge from the hospital he 
 worked his wsxy back home as best he could, steal- 
 ing rides on trains, from which he was frequently put 
 off to journey along on foot. He reached Des Moines 
 in due time, having gratified his love of adventure 
 but disappointed at not having been a regularly 
 enrolled soldier. On his return homo from the war he 
 re-entered school and later entered his father's har- 
 ness-making shojj, where he worked for about a year. 
 He then took lessons in civil engineering and was 
 cmploj'ed on the Des Moines and Indianola branch 
 of the Chicago & Rock Island Road as flagman and 
 later as head c.hainman. He next obtained a posi- 
 sition on the survey of the Chicago & Nortliwestern 
 Railroad from Des Moines to Polk City, and after- 
 ward engaged as rodinan on the Winterset branch 
 of the Chicago & Rock Island Road. Subsequently 
 he worked with a city engineer for four or five 
 years and in 1876 served as Deputy Sheriff under 
 George Lendrum. In 1873 he became a member of 
 the Des IMoincs Fire Department and in 1876 was 
 chosen chief, in which position he served two years. 
 Still retaining his connection with the depart- 
 ment he resumed railroading as leveler on the 
 Chicago, Kansas City and St. Paul Roa<l. He was 
 alsf) employed in the same capacity on the Wabash 
 from Des IMoilies to Albia, and later on the Des 
 Moines & Northwestern Narrow Gauge to Spirit 
 Lake. Again he was employed on the Chicago, St. 
 Paul ik Pacific Railroad as leveler and continued 
 with that company until the spring of 1882. While 
 away on duty he was again elected chief of the Des 
 Moines Fire Department and has held that position 
 continuously since, covering a period of eight ytars. 
 At the recent election, following the organization 
 of the city government under the new charter of 
 181)0, he was .again elected chief. 
 
 Mr. Johnson was married, in Des Moines on the 
 1st of May, 1876, to Miss Annie Mui'phy, daughter 
 of John Murphy. Mrs. Johnson was liorii in Can- 
 ada and came to Des Moines in 1S71. Five chil- 
 dren grace their union, three daughters and two 
 sons — Lucinda, Bessie, (iracie. Ream and Frank. 
 
 The parents of ]\Ir. .lolinsou sliil reside in Des 
 Moines and the father continues to carry on the 
 harness-making biisiiu^ss. Our snl)ject has proved 
 
484 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 a capable and faithful officer as chief of the Fire 
 Department and his long retention in office is good 
 evidence tliat his services have been satisfactory to 
 the people. 
 
 .^Hfec-' — ■: 
 
 — '-ia xr -' < ' 
 
 & 
 
 lOUN .lAV TOWN, President of tlic Valley 
 National Bank of Des Moines, was born in 
 Northeast, Erie County, Pa., October 17, 
 182G, and is a son of Bester and Betsy M. 
 (Martin) Town. The family is one of the oldest in 
 New England, dating its origin in America back to 
 lG+0. Well anthenticated genealogical records be- 
 gin tlic family history in America with William 
 and Joanna (Blessing) Towne, who was born and 
 reared in Yarmonth County. Norfolk, England. 
 They were married at St. Nicholas Church, at that 
 place, on the 25th of March, 1G2(), and there six 
 of their older children were baptized. The next 
 we learn of the family, they apjiear in Salem, Mass., 
 in 1G40, as shown by the locnl records. William 
 Towiie's residence was in that part of Salem known 
 as Northliekl, and in IGol, he removed to To|)s- 
 field, of the same State. The second generation is 
 re[)resented by .lacob Towne, son of William and Jo- 
 anna (Blessing) Towne. who was bajitized in Yar- 
 mouth, England. JIarch 11, 1G32, and came to 
 America with ids parents. lie was married June 
 2(). IG57, to Callieriuc, daughter of Joim S^'monds, 
 of Salem, and died in 1704. Their son, John Town, 
 the first of the family in this country wluj spelled 
 liis name with the omission of the e, was born in 
 Topsfield, April 2, IG.^8, and on the 2d of Feb- 
 ruary, 1680, wedded Mary Smith. Their St/U, Is- 
 r.iel Town, w;is Ixirn in Topsfield, November 18, 
 1684, and married Susanna, daughter of Deacon 
 IMoses Haven, lie lived to the age of eighty-seven 
 years, and his wife attained to IhcadvariCed age of 
 ninety-six years. Their son Israel was born Feb- 
 ruary 12, 1727. married Naoma Stebbins, October 
 17, 1751, and died in Belchertown, Mass., Decem- 
 ber 10, 1805, ageil seventy-seven years. Ills wife 
 died February' 12, 1827, in the ninety-second year 
 of her age. Joseph Town, son of Israi;! and Naoma 
 
 Town, was born February 22; 1761, and married 
 Hannah Coleman, November 10, 1785. 
 
 Their son, Bester Town, the father of our sub- 
 ject, was born in Grandville, N. Y., August 20, 
 1794, and on the 22d of September, 1816, wedded 
 Betsy M. Martin, who was born in Bennington 
 County, Vt., June 4, 1791, and died January 22, 
 1872, in her seventy -seventh year. Hers was an 
 old New England family of French origin. Bester 
 Town vvas a merchant of Northeast, Pa., and died 
 in 1871, at the age of seventy-seven years. 
 
 We now come to the personal history of our sub- 
 ject, John Jay Town, who was educated in the com- 
 mon schools of his native State, and in an academy 
 of New York. He was reared to mercmtile pur- 
 suits in his f.ather's store, as were his four brothers, 
 and all became merchants, but later three engaged 
 in banking. Two of tli.at number were bankers for 
 tiurty-five years, and one for twentv-five. In 1848, 
 our subject removed to Elgin, HI., where he en- 
 gaged in merchandising in company willi a brother, 
 and later carried on b.anking in that city, whence 
 he removed toGeneseo, III., and followed merchan- 
 dising. In 1804, he returned to Erie, Pa., ami 
 with others organized the Keystone National Bank 
 ()( that city, <jf which lie was casliier u|) to 1871, 
 when lie removed to Des Moines, and in 1873, in 
 comiiany with Ucoige M. llippee, established the 
 \'aliey Bank. After a few years, his partner retired 
 from the Ijusiiiess, and in 1883, l\Ir. Town, in com- 
 pany wilii olliers, organized liie present Valley Na- 
 tional Bank, of which he lias been President from 
 the beginning, while William D. Lucas has served 
 as cashier during the same period. The present 
 Board of Directors is composed of the following 
 named gentlemen: Ira Cook. Samuel B. Tuttle. J. A. 
 Ankeney, K. R. Clajip, William Lyon, W. D. Lu- 
 cas, Charles Weitz, J. K. (iilcrest, and J. J. Town. 
 At this writing, in 181)0, the capital and undivided 
 profits amount to §220,000, and the bank is doing 
 a [irosperous yet conservative business, and is re- 
 cognized as one of the leading banks of the Stale. 
 Mr. Town was married in Dundee, III., on the 
 15th of April, 1850, to Miss Esther M. Graves, a 
 daughter of Kandall (haves, and a native of Steu- 
 ben County. N. Y. Two daughters and a son were 
 born to llieni: Louise, wife vf E. D. Waldron, 
 
.«»^" '; 
 
PORTRAIT AND IUOGkaPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 487 
 
 Casliicr of the Home National Bank, of Elgin, 111.; 
 Bessie A., wife of W. E. Andrews, also of Elgin; 
 and William G.. who is single, residing in Des 
 Moines. 
 
 Mr. Town is a Kepubliean in political seiUiuicnt, 
 lint has never Ijecn an ollice seeker. In religions 
 belief, he and his wife are Presbjlerians. and the 
 latter holds membership with the First Presbyterian 
 Clinreh of this eity. In addition to banking, lie is 
 largely interested in othei' business concerns, being 
 a stockholder and Director of the Sleepers Starch 
 Company of Dcs Moines, Director and Treasurer 
 of the Des Moines Insurance Comiiany, and is con- 
 nected with the De.xter Jlanufacturing Com|)any 
 of this city. Mr. Tow'n has had thir.ty-five years 
 experience in banking, and is accounted one of the 
 most exiiert and conservative linanciers in Des 
 Moines, as well as one of the most highly esteemed 
 an<l puldic-siiirited of her citizens. 
 
 IIARLES WEITZ has been one of the lead- 
 
 y_ ing contractors and builders of Des Moines 
 / for many years, his residence in the city 
 covering more than a third of a century, during 
 which time he has aided materially in its upbuild- 
 ing and advancement and won for himself a place 
 among its representative and inlluential citizens. He 
 was born in Schotten, about thirty miles north of 
 the city of Frankfort, in Hesse-Darmstadt, Ger- 
 many, May 4, 1826. His father, Henry Weilz, 
 was also a native of the same country and spent his 
 entire life in that land. (Jur subject was one of 
 four children, three sons and a daughter, l)ut has 
 only one brother now living — Christian, who is 
 older than he, accom|)anied Charles to America 
 and is now a resident of Walnut Township, Polk 
 County. 
 
 At the age of fourteen years, Mr. Weitz was 
 apprenticed to the carpenter's and l)uilder's trnde 
 and having served a term of two and a half years 
 for his first employer soughi further knowledge of 
 the business in some of the chief cities of Ger- 
 many, France and Switzerland. .Several yeais were 
 passed in thus more perfectly familiarizing him- 
 
 self with the occupation which he had chosen as 
 his life work. But there came a time when his gov- 
 ernment demanded his services ami in 1847, he was 
 drafted into the army and for two years was en- 
 gaged in active duty. He fought in a number of 
 hotl}' contested battles and was severely wounded 
 in an engagement that occurred near the city of 
 Manheim, which resulted in his confinement in the 
 hospital for more than three months. In 18.5(1, Mr. 
 Weitz emigrated to America, landing in New York 
 City in the spring of that year. After engaging 
 in work for about a month he an<l his brother left 
 the Eastern metropolis and proceeded to Ashland, 
 Ohio, where they remained a year, when they ile- 
 partcd for Columbus, the cai)ital of the Stale. 
 There Mr. AVeitz continued to work at his trade and 
 settled down to the actual life of a citizen. Bus- 
 iness during the winter of 1854-.'j.5, in many jjlaces, 
 including Columbus, was much depressed on ac- 
 count of the great fatality that attended the pre- 
 valence of cholera the preceding summei'. AVhile 
 sitting in the shoji of his employer one day, read- 
 ing a newspaper, his e3-e fell upon an item which 
 stated that the cpital of Iowa had been changed 
 from Iowa City to Ft. Des Moines. These thoughts 
 at once occurred to him -'that is the place for me. 
 The new capital city shall be my future home. I 
 will go to Iowa and grow up with the country." He 
 at once made preparations to carry out his reso-- 
 lulion, sold what little property he then possessed 
 that he did not wish to carry with him and started 
 at once for his destination. His course was by rail 
 to Cincinnati, thence down the Ohio River and up 
 the Mississi|)pi to Keokuk, where a prairie schooner 
 was chartered, which brought him safel}' to his 
 destination. 
 
 Mr. Weilz was accompanied on his journey by 
 his wife, their mariiage having been celebrated in 
 1 854. The maiden name of the lady was Miss Helena 
 Kinnel, a ilaughter of Adam Kinnel who emigrated 
 from (iermanylo America with his family when his 
 daughter was an infant. The union of Mr. and 
 Mrs. AVeitz has been blessed with seven children, 
 three sons and foiu' daughters — Lizzie, Charles, an 
 architect and buiidc- of Des Moines; Amelia; 
 Rosa; Fritz W., who is engaged in the same bu!,! 
 ness as his brother; Emma, a teacher of recognized 
 
488 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 ability; and Eddie wlio completes the family. The 
 children have been provided with good opportuni- 
 ties and the members of the family who have at- 
 tained to mature years arc worthy and industrious 
 citizens of whom the parents may well be proud. 
 
 On his arrival in Ft. Dcs Moines, Mr. AVeitz en- 
 deavored to obtain work as a journeyman but after 
 considerable effort, finding no one willing to give 
 him employment, he resolved to act independently 
 and at once announced liimsclf as a contractor a.vl 
 builder who desired a fair share of the public pat- 
 ronage. He did not have to wait long, for his 
 merit as a mechanic and his integrity as a citizen 
 soon became known to the peoi)le and secured him 
 all he could do. His life has been an eminent and 
 successful one as regards his business and when old 
 age comes on him he can retire from the active 
 duties of life, knowing tliat a comforlalile comi)et- 
 cnce, the fruits of former toil, will provide for all 
 his wants for the remainder of his days. He has 
 ever attended strictly to the duties of his business 
 and only once has he been induced to acceiit an 
 official position. In 1886, he was i)revailed ui)on 
 to become the nominee for Alderman at large of 
 Des Moines and served one terra, but refused a 
 re-election. In his political affiliations Mr. Weitz 
 is a Democrat and he and his family are woithy 
 members of the Lutheran Churcli. Tiicy also liold 
 an enviable position in the social world and are 
 widely known throughout the comnninily. 
 
 ^^ IIARLES W. TKURKLL, of tlie real-estate 
 firm of Webb & Terrell, of Des Moines, was 
 
 '/^ born in Clinton County, Ohio, February 
 28, 1851, and traces his ancestry back to English 
 emigrants vvho at an early day crossed the Atlantic 
 and settled in Virginia. Subsequently tiie family 
 removed to Ohio, where his father. Dr. C. C. Tcr 
 rell vvas born in 1819. The Doctor fitted himself 
 for his profession in a medical college of Cincin- 
 nati. Ohio, and until within the past few years has 
 been actively engaged in jiractice. While a resi- 
 dent of the lUickeye State he wooed and won Miss 
 Martha A. McCoy, also a native of Ohio, born in 
 
 1 822. She is of Irish lineage, her grandfather liav- 
 ing emigrated from the North of Ireland to Vir- 
 ginia, from which State her parents removed to 
 Ohio, in an earh' day. Her father was a w^ealtliy 
 planter of the Old Dominion, owning about one 
 hundred slaves, but being an abolitionist in prin- 
 ciple he went to the Buckeye State where he lib- 
 erated the negroes, being unable to do so in 
 Virginia. On her mother's side, Jlrs. Terrell is a 
 cousin of Congressman Ben Butter worth. 
 
 The year 1857 witnessed the arrival of Dr. Ter- 
 rell and his family in Iowa, their location being 
 I'owcsheik County, where he is still living. IJis 
 wife died in 1882, and two j'ears later he marrie<l 
 Mrs. Melissa ((iarrett) Timmons. By his first mar- 
 riage, he ha<l eleven children, of whom two sons 
 and two daughters are j'et living. The Doctor is 
 rather reserved in manner and his upright life has 
 won the confidence of all with whom he comes in 
 contact. He formerly supported the Whig party, 
 but since its dissolution has been a Republican and 
 is a warm advocate of prohiMtion [trinciples. Both 
 lie and his wife are members of the Christian 
 Church. 
 
 Charles W. Terrell, whose name heads this sketch, 
 w.as the sixth in order of birth in his father's famil}'. 
 His primary education, acquired in the district 
 schools, vvas supplementcvl b}' a year's course in 
 the Iowa College of Grinell, and a half year spent 
 in Western College. On leaving the school-room 
 he entered upon his business career as a salesman 
 for Wilsun & Rogers, with whom he remained six 
 years, after which he s|)eut two years in the employ 
 of .1. H. Tilton. The year 1871 was spent by hiiii 
 in Cape Ann, Mass., and in 1875, he formed a part- 
 nership with Moses Paul, to carry on general mcr 
 chaudising in Searsboro, Iowa. That connecliim 
 was continued two years, when Mr. Terrell sold out 
 and going to Nebraska, dealt e.\tensively in Ne- 
 braska, Colora(U) and Kansas lands. After two 
 years experience in the West he returned to Iowa 
 and purchased two stores, one in Searsboro, tlie 
 other in Sully, anil placing them under the man- 
 agement of otlicrs he started out on the road as a 
 traveling salesman,- in which line he continued op- 
 erations until 1887, when he came to Des .Moines 
 and joined Jlr. Webb in the real-estate business. 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 489 
 
 Tlieir efforts have been crowned wilh success and 
 the3' are now receiving a lilteral patronage. 
 
 One of the mosl important events in liie life of 
 Mr. Terrell occurred in Powcsiieik County, Iowa, 
 on the 1st of July, 1877, when he led to the mar- 
 riage altar Miss Ida M. Evans, who was born in 
 that county, IMay 11, 1859. Their uniou was 
 blessed with four children, but Mary D., the first- 
 born died at the age of four years. Those living 
 are Everett, Nellie and Nora. Mr. Terrell is a 
 member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows 
 and the V. A. S., fraternities and in political senti- 
 ment is a Republican. He is essentiallj' a self-made 
 man and deserves no little credit for the success 
 which lie has made in life. 
 
 -^^ 
 
 ENRY STIVERS, one of the proprietors, 
 ff "jlj and editor of the Dcs Moines Lcich-r, was 
 born in Ponieroy, Meigs County, Oliio, Oc- 
 tober 26. 1849, and is a son of Aaron and 
 Susan (Karr) Stivers. His father was a native of 
 New York, but emigrated to Ohio in an early da^'. 
 His mother's peojile were originally from North 
 Carolina, l)ut moved to Kentucky soon after the 
 War of the Revolution. 
 
 Mr. Slivers was educated in the i>ublic schools 
 of his native State and stai-ted in the industrial race 
 as an apprentice in the ollice of the Meigs CouiiO/ 
 Telegraph. lie came to Iowa in 18G9, and after 
 studying law for a time was admitted to the bar in 
 1870. He entered upon the practice of the legal 
 profession in Osceola, Clark County, where he 
 pursued that line of business until 1880, when he 
 became interested in railroading, discharging the 
 duties of Superintendent of the Des Jloines, Os- 
 ceola it Southern Railroad, wiiicli position he held 
 five years. He then purchased the Osceola Senti- 
 nel, a weekly paper, which he conducted until the 
 spring of 1888, when he sold out and in company 
 with his brother bought the Burlington Gazette, 
 which was published daily and weekly. His con- 
 nection with that paper continued until May, 1889, 
 when he disposed of iiis interest in it and became 
 one of the proprietors and editor of liie Des Moines 
 
 Leader, which under his\able management has be- 
 come the leading Democratic pai)er of Iowa. 
 
 On the 25th of September,", 1872, in Osceola, 
 Iowa, Mr. Stivers was united in' marriage with 
 Miss Lucy (5oetchius, a daughter [of Edmund 
 Goetchius. The lady was born in Franklin County, 
 Ohio, and with her parents came to Iowa. Tliey 
 have a wide circle of friends and acquaintances in 
 this city and are held in high regard by those who 
 know them. 
 
 The Des Moines Leader in tiie direct lineal i)oliti- 
 cal descendant'of the Star, the first pap.er published 
 in Polk County. It was established by Col. Barlow 
 Granger, in June, 1818. The name Leader was 
 first given the paper by W. W. Witmcr in 1870, 
 that gentleman then Ijcing the proprietor. Since 
 Mr. Stivers has come into possession of tli'j Leader 
 he has enlarged the paper from a six'column to a 
 seven column quarto, and has given it a new dress 
 and increased _its circulation. The circulation of 
 the daily is now six thousand, and of the weekly 
 twelve thousand. 
 
 
 ^^ CZTITin 
 
 
 ^,R. WILLIAM H. CARTER, President <.f the 
 Iowa State Medical Society and the leading 
 physician of Altoona, is a native of Russell 
 County, Ky. His birth occurred May 18, 1839, 
 and on both the [latcrnal and maternal sides he is 
 descended from families founded in this country 
 during Colonial days. The Carter family was es- 
 tablished in Virginia, where the grandfather of 
 our subject was born and reared. He married 
 Sarah I).a3', of that State, and afterward removed 
 to Kentucky, settling in that part of Adair County 
 which was afterward given the name of Russell 
 County. James La|)sley, the original American 
 ancestor on the maternal side, was of Scotch and 
 Irish descent. 
 
 Enos Carter, father of the Doctor, was born in 
 Russell County, Ky., in 1811, and his occupations 
 were those of farming and carpentering. He w.as 
 educateil in the common schools of his native 
 county and for si.Kty years there made his home, 
 during which time he served for eight years as 
 
490 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Deinily Sheriff of Russell County, rntil tbe break- 
 ing out of the Civil War he supported the Whig 
 l)arly, but after that event cast his ballot willi the 
 Democracy. Hi'! choice of a life companion was 
 Miss Mary Lester, who was born in Adair County 
 in 1815, and was a daughter of William and Isabel 
 (Lapsley) Lester, both of whom were natives of 
 A'irginia, but became early settlers of Adair County, 
 where they resided until their removal to Pike 
 County. III. The father was a soldier in the War 
 of 1812, and died in the year 1830. In the sjjring 
 of i8G4, Enos Carter came to Iowa, settling in 
 Marion County, near where the town of Percy now 
 stands. He there bought one hundred and thirty 
 acres of land, and developing a farm, made it his 
 home until Ai)ril 3, 1885, when he departed this 
 life. Ilis wife preceded him to the final home, dy- 
 ing January 9, 1881. .She was a member of the 
 Christian Church for manj' j-ears. 
 
 It was not until he was twenty-three 3'ears of age 
 that Dr. Carter left the parental roof and his na- 
 tive county. During the daj^s of his boyhood 
 and j'outh he assisted his father in the labors of the 
 farm and acquired sutlicient education in the com- 
 mon schools to enalie him to teach, which profes- 
 sion he followed for two terms in Unrsell County, 
 Ky. — 18G1 and 1863. During the winter he worked 
 upon the farm and attended the district school. In 
 1863 he accompanied his parents to JIarion County, 
 Iowa, where for two 3'ears he devoted his attention 
 to farming and sjjent one terra as a teacher. He 
 passed the winter of 1866 in Pike County-, III., and 
 while there became acquainted with Miss Mary L. 
 EUedge, a native of that county, with whom lie 
 was united in marriage December 12, 1867. 
 
 Mrs. Carter was born March 10, 1849, and is the 
 daughter of .Joseph and Merica (Williams) Ell- 
 edge, natives of Ohio and North Carolina respect- 
 ively. Her grandfather, Anderson Williams, was 
 born in North Carolina and became one of the 
 early settlers of Pike County, 111. The paternal 
 grandfather, a native of Ohio, was also a pioneer of 
 Pike County, where he resided for several years, 
 and then removed to a farm in Madison County, 
 Iowa. He died near Wintcrset some years ago. 
 From early manhood he was a member of the Bap- 
 tist Church, and for many years engaged in preach- 
 
 ing the Gospel. His wife was a Miss Phillips, a 
 native of Pen nsvl van ia, born of German parentage. 
 
 The union of Dr. Carter and his wife has been 
 blessed with a family of eight children. Charles 
 O., the eldest, wlio was born in Marion County, 
 Iowa, IMarch 2, 1869, and educated in Drake I'ni- 
 vcrsity, of Des ftloiues, where he pursued his studies 
 three years, began teaching at the age of seventeen 
 in Jasper County, where he taught one term, alter 
 which he taught one term in Marion County, two 
 in Polk County', and is now the [irincipal of llie 
 graded schools of Moingona, Boone Count}'; Irina, 
 who was born in Marion County, September 26, 
 1870, has attended three terms in Drake L"ni vers- 
 ify; Belle, who was born in Marion Count}', July 
 3, 1873, lias also been a student in the same school; 
 Arthur Ray was born in Marion County, Jul}' 13, 
 1875; Anna E. was born in Marion County, Iowa, 
 September 12, 1877; Eddie E. was born in Cloud 
 County, Kan., January' 14, 1880; Ina Perle, who 
 was born in Warren County, Iowa, died at the age 
 of one year; and Lola died in infancy. 
 
 In 1807 Dr. Carter entere(l upon a course of 
 study preparatory to engaging in his present busi- 
 ness, lie began reading medicine, jukI for three 
 years vigorously pursued his stu<lies without the 
 aid of a preceptor, and at the same time was con- 
 ducting his father's farm. He embarked in practice 
 in Marion County, Iowa, in 1877, but two j'ears 
 later removed to Cloud County, Kan. He had 
 previously taken a course of lectures in the Ameri- 
 can Jledical College, of St. Louis, in which insti- 
 tution he was graduated in 18*.0. After receiving 
 his dii)loma, he returned to Cloud County, an<l 
 continued his practice for a few months, but in 
 1881 located in Warren County, Iowa, where he 
 made his home for two j^ears, when he opened ari 
 oflice in Pleasautvillc, Marion County, and devoted 
 two more years to his profession. In the 3'ear 1885 
 be removed to Rising Sun, Polk County, and 
 on the 23d of January, 1889, located in Al- 
 tooua. Although he has been a resident of this 
 place but a short time, he is recognized as an able 
 practitioner and the leading physician of the com- 
 munity. His position at the head of the Iowa 
 State Medical Societj- plainly indicates the high 
 rank which he holds among his professional brelb- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRArHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 491 
 
 reii. He applies tlie same energy to liis practice 
 that he did to the study of medicine, and without 
 doubt lias won a foremost place among his hretli- 
 ren of tlie fraternity. He held the ollice of N'ice 
 President of the State Medical Society one year 
 prior to iiis election to the office of President. 
 
 The Doctor cast his first Presidential vole for 
 John Bull, of Tennessee, in 1 800, and since that time 
 has affiliated with the Democratic party. In 1882 
 lie became a member of Attentive Ear Lodge, No. 
 90, A. F. &. A. M., of Warren CoHnty, where he 
 was made Master Mason and by prox}- represented 
 his lodge in the Grand Lodge of Iowa, in 1882. 
 He is now an active and respected member of King 
 David Lodge, No. 407, A. F. & A. M., of Altoona. 
 The Doctor and Mrs. Carter are consistent mem- 
 bers of the Christian Cliurch, as are also their 
 four oldest eliildren. 
 
 In connection with the income derived from his 
 practice, he owns forty acres of good land in Ma- 
 rion County and valualilc properly in Prairie City 
 Jasper County. 
 
 ■_v^t> 
 
 'f|!,-^ ON. PE'U'-R V. CAREY, Insurance Agent 
 ll/jj of Des Moines, is a native of New York, 
 L^ born in Chemung County, on the 17th of 
 (l^i May, 1844. His parents, the Rev. Absalom 
 and Rebecca (Tillman) Carey, were natives of New 
 Jersey. The mother is deceased, but the father is 
 still living at the age of eighly-eight years, his 
 home being in Delaware. 
 
 The subject of this sketch received' a common- 
 school education, and in his youth learned the mill- 
 wright's trade. On the 15111 of December, I8G2, 
 when eighteen years of age, he enlisted for the late 
 war, and was mustered in as a niemlierof Company 
 K, Fourteenth New York Heavy Artillery. In the 
 winter of 1 802-63, he was detailed on rc(!ruiting 
 service, and in March, 18G4, w.as i)romoled to the 
 captaincy of his original company. He was en- 
 gaged in active service, and was wounded six times 
 while making a charge on the enemy's works lieforo 
 Petersburg, for Ihe purpose of si)iking (heir guns, 
 on the 2.3d of July. 18G1. He had almost the en- 
 
 tire right hand shot away, received a sabre cut in 
 the left leg, and a ba^'onet thrust in the right one. 
 He continued in the service until the fall of that 
 year, and was mustered out in October. On his 
 return from the war he engaged in hotel keeping at 
 Waverly, N. Y., and later removed to Montrose, 
 Pa., where he continued in the same line until he 
 w.as burned out, suffering heavy losses. His next 
 place of residence vvas Chemung, III., where he was 
 employed as local agent for the Chicago & North - 
 wesleiTi Railroad ("ompany, and was also local agent 
 for the American Express Companj'.of that place. 
 To the duties already devolving upon him, he 
 added those of agent for the Champion Reaper & 
 Mower Company, and devoting his energies to the 
 •duties of those positions continued in Chemung 
 until 1875, when he came to Des Moines in the 
 interest of the latter company, and was associated 
 with the firm of Ainsworth & Boubright, dealers 
 in agricultural implements. 
 
 In March, 1882, Mr. Carey was elected Maj-or of 
 of the city of Des Moines, and re-elected to thff 
 same position in March, 1884, serving four years. 
 In 1886 he went to Arizona, in the interests of 
 the Hawkeye Reduction Compan}% of Pella, Iowa, 
 also traveling through IMexico engaged in the same 
 business, and returned after a year's absence. 
 When he again reached this city he resumed busi- 
 ness as a dealer in agricultural implements, on the 
 East Side, and in 1889 embarked in his present 
 business as an insurance agent. He represents 
 the United States Mutual Accident Association of 
 New York-, and the Anchor Fire Insurance Com- 
 [iMuy, of Crcston, Iowa, in each of which he is 
 working up a large and satisfactor3\ business. 
 
 On the 19th of December, 1863, Mr. Carey was 
 united in .marriage with Miss Emily M. Rogers, 
 the wedding being celebrated in Chemung, N. Y. 
 The lady is a daughter of Elbert Rogers, of that 
 [ihicc, and a native of Chemung. Three children 
 were born of their union, two of wiiom are now 
 living — Esther Maud and Mabel Edith. Anna 
 Blanciie, the eldest, died in 1879, at the age of 
 eleven years. 
 
 Mr. Carey is a Knight Templar Mason, belong- 
 to Capital Lodge, No. 110, A. F. <fe A. M.; Corin- 
 tliiaii Chapter, No. II K. A. M.: and Temple 
 
492 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Coramandery, No. -1, K'. T. He is also a member 
 of Ft. Des Moines Loilge. No. 2.'), I. O. O. F.; and 
 Past Departinoiit Coinmaiulci- of liie (i. A. R., for 
 the Department of Iowa. Wiiile serving in that 
 ca|)aeity lie organized the Grand Army of the Re- 
 public Department of Dakota. He was one of the 
 first members of Kinsman Post of East Des Moines, 
 was four times Post Commander of Joe Hooker 
 Post, and since the consolidation of that lodge 
 with Crocker Post, No. 12, has been a member of 
 the latter. He is also Post Commander of tljc Sons 
 of Veterans, being the first son of a veteran who 
 held that position in lov/a. and is prominently con- 
 nected with military and patriotic societies. Mr. 
 Carey is a I{eiiul)lica!i in politics, a tlucnt speaker, 
 and an earnest worker in tiie cause of his party. 
 His family has made a Haltering military' record, 
 and manifested their patriotism by a representation 
 of four members in the service during the late war. 
 In a<hlition to our subject his father and two broth- 
 ers were in the field. The father enlisted as chap- 
 lain and nnisiciun of the One Hundred and Third 
 New York Infantry, and his oldest and youngest 
 fons were with iiim, in the same regiment, as musi- 
 cians. The father entered the service in 1863, at 
 the age of sixty-one years, iiad a leg sliattcred by a 
 fragment of a shell in the .Shenandoah Nalle^:, and 
 is now, at the .age of eiglit^'-eight years, Chaplain 
 of the Department of Delaware, of the fi rand Army 
 of the Republic. 
 
 <^jEORGE A. LUTHER, one of the leading 
 citizens of Des Moines and aself-m.ade man, 
 was born in Bristol County, Mass., on the 
 Gill of August, 18.t2, and is of German ami Irish 
 lineage. His father, William Luther, was also a 
 native of Bristol County, where he nmde his home 
 •luring the greater part of his life. He was a shoe- 
 maker b}' trade, and followed that business in the 
 pursuit of fortune. His death occurred in his na- 
 tive county, in 18G1. He died in the faith of the 
 Baptist Church, of which he was a member many 
 years. Ills wife w.as Miss Nancy Magnire, of 
 Uristol County. Mass., and three ciiildri'ii graced 
 
 their union, as follows: George A., Charles and 
 Florence, wife of Pliny Mosier, of Westport, Mass. 
 
 The grand|)arenU5 of the subject of this sketch 
 were all earl}' settlers of New England. Joseph 
 Liillier was a native of Seekonk, R. I., by trade a 
 ship car|>eiiter, and for a number of years followed 
 a seafaring life, being captain of a vessel. He 
 married Jerusha Hodges, of Trenton, Mass. The 
 uiatcrnal grandparents, I>arney and Trijihosa 
 (Downing) Maguire, were both natives of Bristol 
 County, M.ass., where they lived useful lives. 
 
 George A. Luther, whose name heads this notice, 
 resided in liis native count}' until he had attained 
 to mature years, and in the public schools obtained 
 a liberal education in English literature. At liie 
 age of fourteen he began a three years' apprentice- 
 ship to the blacksmith's trade with Samuel Hamley, 
 of the town of Asoonct, nine miles souih of Taun- 
 ton, the seat of justice of Bristol Count}'. F"or 
 the first year's service he received the meagre sum 
 of ij;'5(l, board and washing; the second he received 
 S!lO, and the third an increase of -^10. In addition 
 to his daily labors in the shop he was required to 
 do all the chores, such as feeding the stock, cutting 
 and carrying in wood, etc. After leaving his cm- 
 [iloycr lie worked at his trade one year in Provi- 
 dence, R. I., and then went to New Brunswick, 
 N. J., where he hired out lo a man in the employ 
 of the Rcardon Canal Company, with whom lie re- 
 mained one summer, after which he returned to the 
 Bay State, and for two years served in the employ 
 of the Taunton Iron Company, working in a gen- 
 eral job shop. On the 21th of June, 187.5, ho 
 came to Iowa and settled in Polk County. For 
 the first eighteen months after his arrival he was 
 employed on the farm of his stepfather, William 
 JIcDivitt, and then established himself in busi- 
 ness at McDivitt's Grove, where he worked at his 
 trade about a year and a half. In July, 1878, he 
 changed his location, removing to Livermore, 
 Humboldt County, where he diligently plied his 
 trade for five years. 
 
 A marriage (ceremony performed on the 13tli of 
 June, 187(!, united the destinies of George A. 
 Luther anil Miss Florence Turk, a native of Mar- 
 ion County, Iowa, born in the town of Newburg. 
 She is a daughter of .lames and Titha Ann (Clear- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 493 
 
 water) Tiiik. natives of Keiitiieki' and Indiana 
 respectively. AViiile residents of llnnihnldt (.'ounty 
 there were born of tiicir union a son .and a d,uii;liter 
 —William J., born June 18, 187'.); and Lillian G.. 
 .Inly 15, 1881. 
 
 In the spring' of 1883 Mr. l>ntlier renu)ved with 
 his family to Charles Mix Count}', S. Dak., and pre- 
 empted a homestead of one hundred and sixty aercs 
 of undeveloi)ed prairie land, upon which he lived 
 for nearly' seven years. By iiis industry, unceasing 
 energy and good management he succeeded in 
 pl.acing it under a high state of cultivation and 
 m.aking it quite productive. But lie left his Da- 
 kota home in the fall of 1889 that he might better 
 educate his children. He selected Dcs Moines as 
 his future home, so that they might receive oppor- 
 tunity for securing thorough literary training. 
 In political sentiment he is a stalwart Republican, 
 haying supported that party since casting his first 
 vote for R. B. H.a^'es, in 1876, and when a resident 
 of Dakota served as Township Supervisor in Ciiarles 
 Mix County. Since his arrival in this city he has 
 established iiimself at his trade on the corner of 
 Twenty-fourth and North Streets, where he con- 
 ducts a general blacksmithing business. lie has a 
 social and genial disposition, is upright and honor- 
 able in all his business transactions, and merits the 
 high regard in which he is held. 
 
 3 ^-*-B- ^ 
 
 y,.v BRAM STl ART DEAN, deceased, was 
 (JgJ^Ji long an honored citizen of this county. 
 On the 9th of January, 1820, he was born, 
 in Ross County, Ohio, being the eldest 
 child of John S. and Hannah (Haird) Dean. His 
 early life was spent in tlie usual manner of farmer 
 lads, and his education was received in tlie com- 
 mon schools. When about twenty-two years of 
 age he was married to Ann Welshimer, who was 
 born near Harper's Ferry, Va., February 10, 1819. 
 They liegan their domestic life in his native ('(^unly, 
 and there resided until 1847, when accompanied by 
 their three children — James II., Hannah C. and 
 John L. — and the families of John S. Dean, .1. H. 
 Finch, William and Lyle A. (iarrett, the\- maciellie 
 
 journey of seven hundred miles by wagon from 
 Ohio to Iowa, arriving at Ft. Des Moines on the 
 1st day of November. Mr. Dean sought shelter 
 for his family in a v.acant dragoon barrack, si tuateil 
 on the bliilT at what is now the intersection of E.ast 
 V'ine and Twentieth Streets. A few weeks later he 
 and Mr. Finch succeeded in erecting a rude log 
 cal)in, with a mud and stick fireplace, and a 
 puncheon floor with a seam through the center 
 serving as a partition between the two families. It 
 continued the home of both f.amilies during the 
 winter of 1817-18, and was located four miles east 
 of the fort, on section 5, township 78, range 23. 
 
 Early in the following summer, 1848, Mr. Dean 
 completed a more commodious house of hewed 
 logs, on his new farm on the southwest quarter of 
 section 1, township 78, range 24, or the location 
 may be more readily noted by saying that the resi- 
 dence stood on the north bank of what is known as 
 De."n Liike. Many privations and hardships were 
 endured by the family, but they labored on, and at 
 length had a good home. Mv. Dean hauled his 
 corn and wheat t(/ Oskaloosa, a distance of sixty- 
 five miles, in order to get it ground into meal and 
 flour for the use of the familj-. At that time there 
 were no cooper shops in the county, so, by the use 
 of axe and adz, he made three troughs from the 
 trunk of a large linden tree, the largest of which 
 had a capacity of two barrels. In this the home 
 suppl}' of pork was salted down, while the smaller 
 two were used to hold lard and soft soap. The 
 good wife performed the duties of the cuisine 
 on the hearth of a large fireplace, and very tooth- 
 some, as then prepared, were the slapjacks, corn- 
 dodgers, Johnnie cake and lye hominy. After 
 coming to this county the family circle w.as in- 
 ci'eascd by the birth of two other children — Nancy 
 K., who was born May 1, 1849, became the wife of 
 Marion 1>. Harnes, and died January 5, 1873, leav- 
 ing an infant son, who <lied June 2, 1873; and Da- 
 vid I*., who was born February H), 1852. The 
 eldest daughter, Hannah C, died December 21, 
 18G9, at the .age of twenty-five \'ears and twelve 
 days. 
 
 Mr. Dean continued to engage in farming until 
 his death, and was quite successful in his opera- 
 tions, lu politics, he was first a Whig and after- 
 
4!)4 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 ward a lieiniblii-an. He took an active i)ait in 
 supporting the public seliools, was charitable and 
 benevolent, and was a consistent Christian gentle- 
 man. He was a charter member of the first Pres- 
 byterian Cliurch that was organized in Ft. Des 
 Moines. His death occurred January 25, 1859, at 
 the r.ge of thirty-nine years and sixteen days. A 
 kind and loving husband and father, an accommo- 
 dating neighbor and friend, and a true and loyal 
 citizen, his loss was sincerely mourned. The Slate 
 is indebted to him for his liberal contribution of 
 fifteen acres, to secure the location of the capital 
 on its present site. Man3' other enterprises and 
 interests received his help, and his aid was never 
 s(jlicited in vain when needed for the advancement 
 of tlie public; welfare. His widow resided on the 
 home farm for many years, but is now living with 
 her son, D. P. Dean, near Altoona, in Claj' Town- 
 ship. Altliougii now sevent3^-one years of age, she 
 is still enjoying excellent health, and retains her 
 faculties unimpaired. She is a devoted member of 
 the Presbyterian Church. 
 
 Vfis^R. CHALKLEY THOMAS, who for four- 
 ] jl teen years has been engaged in the prac- 
 ifi^^ lice of dentislry in Des Moines, was born 
 in Harrison County, Ohio, in 1837, and is 
 of Scotch descent. The familj^ was founded in 
 America by Scottish emigrants at an earl}- day, its 
 members becoming residents of Pennsylvania, 
 where Townsend Thomas, the grandfather of our 
 subject, lived and died. The father of the Doctor 
 was also named Townsend, and his mother's maiden 
 name was Ann Barber. .She was a daughter of 
 Samuel Barber, who removed from Pennsylvania 
 to Harrison Count}', Ohio, becoming one of its 
 l)ioneers. 
 
 By trade, Townsend Thomas, .Ir., was a carpcn 
 ter and builder, but after his emigration to Cedar 
 County, Iowa, in 18C5, he engaged in farming. He 
 ilieil in the village of .Springdale a number of years 
 ago, and his wife ha.s now also passed away, though 
 she survived her hnsban<l many years. I'nto them 
 
 were born eight children, who grew to mature 
 years, five sons and three daughters, while one 
 daughter died in early life. Beulali E., the oldest 
 of the family, is the wife of Abram AVilson of 
 Cedar County; Chalkley is the next younger; 
 Samuel is a resident of Louisa County; Marj- is 
 the wife of William Jlilcs of Stewart, Iowa; Town- 
 send is a dental surgeon of Siigerstown, Pa.; Will- 
 iam makes his home in Des Moines, Iowa; Clarkson 
 G., who for some time was a student in the office 
 of his brother in this city, graduated from the Den- 
 tal College of Iowa City, in 1885, and is now 
 located in East Des Moines; Rebecca A., the young- 
 est, died in early womanhood. 
 
 The subject of this sketch reeeiveil a good Eng- 
 lish education, and at the age of twenty-one years 
 entered upon the study of dentistry. After cora- 
 pleteing his preparations, he embarked in the prac- 
 tice of his profession in St. Clairesville, Ohio, but 
 about this time the South rebelled against the gov- 
 ernment, and Dr. Thomas determined to enter the 
 service in defense of his country. He enlisted early 
 in 1861, in response to President Lincoln's first 
 call for troops, as a member of Company K, Seven- 
 teenth Regiment Ohio ^'oluntecrs, and served four 
 months, although the call was made on)}' for three 
 months service. In that time he became familiar 
 with the usages of war, and the hardshi|)s to be 
 met, yet this did not deter him from re-enlisting. 
 His country's honor was at stake, and he felt that all 
 patriotic citizens should be willing to strike a blow- 
 in her behalf. In August, 18G2, he became a 
 member of Companj- G, Ninety-eighth Ohio Infan- 
 try, and served until the close of the war. He was 
 made orderly sergeant soon after the organization 
 of his compan}\ ajid [M-omoted to Second Lieuten- 
 ant Ai)ril 8, 1863, serving in thai capacity unlil 
 Ma3' 25, 1S64, when he was made First Lieutenant, 
 and on the 10th of November, of the same year, 
 promoted to the rank of Captain. He had, how- 
 ever, virtually had the command of his company 
 from the time he was commissioned Second Lieu- 
 tenant. He particip.ited in many of the most im- 
 portant battles and campaigns, including the engagc- 
 :nents at Perryville, Chickamaugua, Missionary' 
 Ridge, Lookout Mountain and all the encounters 
 attending the Atlanta campaign. He marched with 
 
c)oC^'>'-y^ J^'Kb^-OC^^ 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 497 
 
 Sherman to the sea, and llienco to Wasliiugton, 
 taking [lait in the Grand Review in that cit}-. lie 
 then returned to his home in Ohio in l.'^l!'). 
 
 Sliortly after iiis return, Dr. Thomas \(\i\ to tiic 
 marriage altar IMiss Mary .1. Forker. a native of 
 the Bncke3e State, and with his 30ung bride started 
 for Muscatine County, wliere lie engaged iu the 
 practice of his profession for two years, going 
 thence to Nebraska City, Neb. For a period of 
 ten years he did a lucrative business in the line of 
 <lentistr_v in that city, at the end of which time he 
 located in Des ^loinos. He is a skillful dental sur- 
 geon who keeps well abreast of the progress and 
 improvements made in his profession, and enjoys a 
 large practice. lie has recently introduced the 
 "Porcelain Dental Art" into his practice, which 
 consists of the new process of restoring decayed 
 and defective teeth to their original appearance in 
 shape, size and color. In the application of porce- 
 lain to operative and mechanical dentistry, he uses 
 Dr. C. II. Land's Comi)ound Gas or Gasoline Fur- 
 nace. This is a most wonderful triumph of art. 
 In disposition the Doctor is cordial and genial, and 
 in his dealings fair and honorable. He was a gal 
 lant soldier in the war for the Union, and is a 
 worthy and respected citizen. 
 
 Dr. Thomas and his wife have two children, a 
 son and <laugliter — Carrie B., born in l.SG<J, and 
 Harry F., born in 1870. 
 
 -.■73- 
 
 --E5^ 
 
 ^DWIN F. DICKS, one of the early sett his 
 of the county and the owner of one of tl e 
 most pleasant farms in Saylor Township, re- 
 sides on section 24, about two and one-half miles 
 from the Capitol buildings of Des Moines. He was 
 born in Leroy, Genesee County, N. Y., August 8, 
 1829, and is the son of Jesse S. and Electa C. 
 (Richmond) Dicks. His father, who was born in 
 Chester County, I'a., June 27, 1801, emigrated in 
 an early day to New York, and in Caledonia, Lex- 
 ington County, was united in marriage with Miss 
 Electa C. Richmond, a native of Herkimer Count}', 
 born February 10, 1808. He was an extensive 
 contractor and builder, and in connection with that 
 
 business owned and operated a foundry. In 1836 
 he returned to his native county and tlu' following 
 year removed to Greencastle, Putnam County, 
 Ind., where he was engaged in the manufacture of 
 furniture until 1818, when, in comi)aii>- with our 
 subject, he visited Iowa. The country and its fu- 
 ture prospects were pleasing to him, and he deter- 
 mined to try his fortune in this State. In accord- 
 ance with that resolution, in 1849, accompanied 
 by his famil}', he located in Ottumwa. Before 
 leaving Greencastle, he purch.ased a stock of goods, 
 which he disjiosed of along the road. He reached 
 Des Moines in the latter part of 1849, and for a 
 time lived in an old Government log house, which 
 which was the best .accommodation the town then 
 afforded. Soon afterward Mr. Dicks opened a stove 
 and tinware store, which he conducted until 18.")G, 
 when he disposed of the business and embarked in 
 the retail grocery line, which he continued for 
 about four years. Again, in 1863, he engaged in 
 the stove and tinware business in connection with 
 his son, Alonzo F., who still carries on the same, 
 being one of the oldest merchants in the city of 
 Des Moines. In 1870 the father withdrew from 
 business and removed to his farm in Dall.^s County. 
 His wife died some years previous, on the 5th of 
 April, 1862. His death occurred on the 14th of 
 September, 1875, in Philadelphia, while on a visit, 
 but his remains were brought back and interred in 
 the Woodland Cemetery, this county. In early life 
 he was a member of the Universalist Church, but 
 afterward xiuiteft with the Christian Church, of 
 which his wife was a life-long member. Politically, 
 he was a Democrat. He was a man endowed with 
 sterling qualities of both head and heart, find is 
 spoken of in grateful remembrance Ijy those who 
 knew him. 
 
 Of the seven children born to Jesse and Electa 
 Dicks, only three arc now living, our subJRct being 
 the eldest of that number. Ills life has lieen spent 
 in various parts of the country, he having trav- 
 eled from the Atlantic to the Pacific Coast. When 
 a boy he accompanied his parents to the State 
 of Indiana, where, in the common schools and 
 in the Asbury Universit}'. of Greencastle, he ac- 
 quired his education, pursuing his studies in the 
 latter institution for three vears. In his voiitli he 
 
498 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 learned the cabinetmaker's trade in his father's fac- 
 tory, and on coming to Des Moines, began the 
 manufacture of furniture in a log building belong- 
 ing to the Government, which was situated at the 
 corner of Front and Vine Streets. The spirit of 
 adventure seizing upon hiin, and longing to ac- 
 quire wealth more rajiidly, with three companions 
 he started for California, not long after the dis- 
 covery of gold in that State. After many months of 
 weary travel and exposure to the weather and In- 
 dian ferocity, the}' reached the Pacific coast, Mr. 
 IJicks having traveled across the American conti- 
 nent, from ocean to ocean, in a wagon before he 
 was twenty-one years of age. After mining for a 
 short time, he engaged in the manufacture of fur- 
 niture in Sacramento, and had built u)) a good 
 business when the great lire came, sweeping away 
 nearly everything he had and leaving him heavily 
 in debt. A boatload of furniture that had just ar- 
 rived was floated down the river to San Francisco 
 to escape the fire, and with this he again embarked 
 in business. He bent every energy to retrieving 
 his lost possessions, and ere long every obligation 
 was paid dollar for dollar. 
 
 While a resident of San Francisco, on the 11th 
 of May, 1854, Mr. Dicks was united in marriage 
 with Miss Martha ])e Mark, who was born Octo- 
 ber 6, 1835, and is a daughter of William and 
 Marie (Muke) De Mark, both of whom were of 
 French birth. Thej' came to California in an 
 early day, and passed away in that State when 
 their daughter was a small child. To Mr. and Mrs. 
 i)icks was born one daughter, Eleanor, who died at 
 the ai'e of three years. In 1857 the}' left California 
 and settled in Des Moines, where for about two 
 years our subject engaged in clerking. He then, 
 in 1859, removed to his farm on section 24, Say- 
 lor Township, where he has since made his home. 
 It was then entirely unimproved, but is now under 
 a "ood state of cultivation, having all tlie necessary- 
 farm buildings, and is well stocked with an excel- 
 lent graile of horses and Jersey cattle. 
 
 Mr. Dicks is a supporter of the Democratic 
 party, and is a llniversalist in religious belief. His 
 family consists of himself, wife and one daugliter, 
 Dool. Tliey have a pleasant home, conveniently 
 situated on the edge of the city limits, where they 
 
 live a peaceful life, enjoying the freedom of the 
 country as well as the benenls of the city. The 
 farm comprises two hundred and eighty-five acr(S 
 and has been acquired b}- the unaided efforts of the 
 owner, who is also the possessor of some valuable 
 citj' property. 
 
 ^ ^^3-^. '<- 
 
 >|f^ OLLAND PvAPEARE PERSINGER, ed- 
 itor and half owner of the Mail and Times, 
 of Des Moines, was born in Xenia, Greene 
 ^^ County, Ohio, on tlie 0th of June, 1852, 
 and is the son of John ISI. and Mary M. (Irving) 
 Persinger. The subject of this sketch spent his 
 boyhood days in his native State and Indiana, com- 
 pleting his education in Battleground College, of 
 Battleground, Ind. When ready to enter upon his 
 senior year he left college to embark upon a jour- 
 nalistic career. We find him, in 1877, in Central 
 City, Neb., where he was employed several months 
 as editor of the Courier. From there he removed 
 to Bloomington, 111., in 1878, and established the 
 Sunday Eye. liut the following year came to Des 
 Moines and started a paper called the Mail Car, 
 which he sold to J. E. Clare}', in April, 1882. The 
 following year, October 7, 1883, he established the 
 Des Moines Timex, which he conducted until April, 
 1888, when he joined Mr. Whitcomb in the con- 
 solidation of the Times with the Mail into a paper 
 called the Mail and Times, now the leading liter- 
 ary and society paper of the State. There was an 
 interval of a year and a half between the s.ale of 
 the Mail Car and the establishment of the Times, 
 during which Mr. Persinger was employed as local 
 editor; for the first half of the time he was engaged 
 on the Des Moines Leader, and the latter on the 
 Iowa Slate Register. Ever since leaving college 
 he has devoted his time exclusively to journalism, 
 and is known as a talented and (hient writer. His 
 .'Success in the editorial management of the Mail 
 and Times has been marked by a steady growth 
 in its circulation, and the justly acquired popular- 
 ity of that journal. The Mail and Times has 
 attained a high standard in the estimation of the 
 more inteiiectual and refined people of the commu- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 499 
 
 nit}^ on account not only of its real merits as a 
 literary paper, but for the purity of its columns and 
 its high moral tone. 
 
 Mr. Persinger's father was born at Covington, 
 Va., and is descended from German ancestry. His 
 mother was born at Dayton, Ohio, and comes of an 
 old American family. Both are members of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church, and are n<iw residents 
 of Des Moines, making their liome witii their sou 
 Holland K. 
 
 , ETER C. TERHUNE, an early and honored 
 pioneer of I'olk County, was born in Shelliy 
 County, Ky., on the 1st of .Tanuarj-, 1820, 
 and is a son of Isaac and Anna (Canine) 
 Terhune. The famil3'is of English origin and the 
 first American ancestor of the subject of this sketch 
 emigrated from England to Holland and from that 
 country came to America during the Colonial days, 
 taking up his residence in New Jersey. Some of his 
 descendants removed to Shelby County, Ivy., in an 
 early day, and engaged in .igrieultural pursuits in 
 that community. From this branch Peter C. Terhune 
 is descended. He was reared to farm life, and in 
 the neigliborhoofi received a common-school edu- 
 cation. In 1835, when fifteen j'cars of age, he 
 went to Montgomery Count}', Ind. and on reach- 
 ing man's estate there engaged in farming. He 
 was married in that county, on the ICtli of Novem- 
 ber, ISi.'i, to Miss Martha Beard, a daughter of 
 John and M.aria (Burroughs) Beard. The lady was" 
 born in Montgomery County, December G, 1824, 
 and is descended from an early North Carolina 
 family, in which State her father was born in 1795. 
 Her people belonged to the Society of Friends. 
 
 In the spring of 1853, accompanied by his fam- 
 ily, Mr. Terhune started for Iowa in the emigrant 
 style, traveling by team .across the country, and ar- 
 rived in Polk County in April, of that year. 
 The previous year he purchased a large farm in 
 what is now Walnut Townsliii), where his family 
 still resides. The farm, which at present embraces 
 two hundred acres of valuable land, is one of the 
 finest in Polk County, being well imi)roved and 
 highly cultivated. Mr. Terhune continued to ui; 
 
 gage in stock-raising, and the operation of his land 
 at bis new home, u[) lo the time of his death. He 
 died in the prime of life, on the 13lh of February, 
 1802, at the early age of forty-two years, leaving a 
 wife and seven children to mourn his untimely 
 lo.ss. The family consisted of four sons and three 
 daughters, all of whom are at home except one son, 
 who resides in Montana: Claiborne W. and Charles 
 v., the elder brothers, are unmarried, and carry on 
 the farm; John 15. wedded Miss Rose Downing, 
 and resides in Great Falls, Mont.; Mary E., wife 
 of Joseph E. Fagan, died October 17, 1886; Emma 
 L., Edgar and .lennie, the younger members of the 
 family, are unmarried. 
 
 Mr. Terhune was a man of superior intelligence, 
 and sterling integrity. He was unassuming in man- 
 ner, and had no sympathy with ostentation and 
 shallow pretention. He impressed those with whom 
 business or social relations brought him in contact, 
 with a feeling of utmost confidence in his sound 
 judgment and perfect reliability. His family rela 
 tions were of the happiest, and the most enduring 
 monument to his memory is found in the deep ven- 
 eration and strong love of wife and children. Mr. 
 Terhune was a member of Ft. Des Moines Lodge, 
 I. O. O. F., was a Ivepublicau in politics, and a 
 stanch supporter of its i)rinciplcs. He was a Pres- 
 byterian in religious belief, in his e.arl}- manhood; 
 after settling in Iowa, he joined the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church, of which ho died a consistent 
 member. 
 
 "■ r-^^ 
 
 E^^ 
 
 ^S?^^"^ EWTON LAMB is a [irominent farmer re- 
 siding on section 17, Grant Township. The 
 ,-,,-A] history of PoU^'ounty would be incomplete 
 without liis skctchior he is numbered among the 
 worthy pioneers and is a re|)rrsentative of one of 
 its honored families. He was born in Wayne County, 
 Ind., on the 1 1th of August, 1818, and is a son of 
 William and Fannie (Garr) Lamb, the former a n.a- 
 tiveof Hourbon County, Ky., the latter of Virginia. 
 The Lamb family is of Scottish origin and was es- 
 tablished in America shortly after the close of the 
 Revolutionary War by the grandfather of our sub- 
 
500 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 jcc-t. .lames Lamli, who was horn in Perthshire. 
 Scotland, July 22. 1756. .Setllin<;- in Cliester County, 
 Pa., he was there united in marriatre witli Miss 
 Hannah Boone, own cousin of Daniel Boone, the 
 famous Kentucky explorer, whose history is familiar 
 to every school boy. They afterward emigrated 
 to Bourbon County, Ky., where thej' entered land 
 and made a home. Their last days, however, were 
 spent in Wayne County, Ind. James Lamb was a 
 soldier in the Indian War under Anthony Wayne. 
 
 Reared to ni.inliood among tlie wild scenes of 
 frontier life, William Lamb was filled for the work 
 wliich lie afterward undertook in tliis State. The 
 date of his arrival in Polk County is 1H43. Having 
 gained the permission of Capt. Allen, then in charge 
 of the United States troops stationed at Ft. Des 
 Moines, to farm and raise corn and other products 
 for the use of the soldiers of the garrison, he came 
 to Iowa, becoming one of the first two settlers of 
 Polk County. The other gentleman who ventured 
 into the wilds of Central Iowa at that early da}' 
 was a Mr. Scott, who has long since passed to his 
 final rest. The land which Mr. Lamb claimed was 
 of course still in its primitive condition and cm 
 braces the site on which the Des Moines Starch 
 Factory is now located. During the winter of 
 1843-44, their only neighbors were the Indians, nor 
 did they have any means of communication with 
 their friends in the K.ist. Little did the}' imagine 
 that upon the land on which tiic}' were then en- 
 gaged in farming a city was to be built, becoming 
 the metropolis of the State and the capital of the 
 commonwealth. The citizens of to-d.iyare indebted 
 to the Lamb famil}- in no little degree, for they 
 opened the county and paved the way for tiie in- 
 coming of others. At length the husband and fa- 
 ther was called from the busy scenes of this life to 
 the rest be^'ond the grave, dying in Lee County, 
 Iowa, in 1856. It was in 1849, that the family cir- 
 cle was first broken, the gold excitement of Cali- 
 fornia attracting some of its members to that far 
 distant State. Ere long others were married, the 
 parents were called home and the little band is now 
 widely scattered, but the jieoplc of Polk County 
 should ever hold them in grateful remembrance. 
 
 Of the twelve children born to William and 
 Fannie Lamb, one died in infancy, but eleven are 
 
 still living — Betsy, who wedded Franklin Meek and 
 after his death became the wife of John Young, 
 who IS also deceased, resides in Jefferson County, 
 Iowa; James is living in Clare County, Cal.; 
 Abraham resides in Oregon; Rosanna is the wife 
 ol I'eter Newcomer, who came to Polk County, 
 in 1843, obtaining land from Capt. Allen, then in 
 charge of the garrison at Ft. Des Moines, ujMjn 
 which he resided until the |)ast three years, during 
 which period he has made his home in Jennings 
 Coiinly, I. a.; Wallace is a resident of California; 
 Martha is the wife of William Cooper of California; 
 Jackson is a ranchman of Dakota , Larkin resides 
 in Oregon; Smith is a farmer of Lee County. Iowa, 
 and Catherine, who first wedded a Mr. Baldwin 
 is now the wife of Marion Peters, and resides in 
 Stockton, Cal. 
 
 We will now take up the personal histor}- of our 
 subject. His education was obtained in a primitive 
 log schoolhouse in Wayne County, Ind., in the days 
 when the teacher's salary was made up of voluntary 
 contributions from the farmers of the neighborhood. 
 More than sixty years afterward, in 1880. he re- 
 turned to his native county and visited the old play 
 grounds but the schoolhouse was torn away. ISIany 
 familiar lamlmarks yet remained however, and the 
 old spring- on the hillside was still bubbling as mer- 
 rily as ever. The greatest change of all was in 
 the scholars. Few of the old schoolmates were to 
 be found in the neighborhood, many having re- 
 moved to different States, while others had gone 
 to the land whence no traveler returns. One of his 
 teachers, however, remained and is yet living in the 
 neighborhood. As soon as he was old enough Mr. 
 Lamb began work upon his father's farm and 
 throughout his entire life has engaged in agricul- 
 tural pursuits. On the 4th of February, 1841, in 
 W.ayne County, Ind., he was joined in wedlock with 
 Miss Caroline Evans of W.ayne County, Ind., a 
 daughter of Henry and Harriet (Vese}') Evans, of 
 English descent. Shortly afterward the young 
 couple started for Iowa, making their first location 
 in Jefferson County, where Mr. Lamb purchased 
 eighty acres of land. He came to Polk County, in 
 1845 and four j-ears later entered three hun<lred 
 and forty .acres of laud which ha<l been given by 
 the Initoil States Government to the Territory of 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 SOI 
 
 Ii)\va for |)ul)lic improvements to be made on ll". 
 Dcs Muines iliver. In those ilays the Indians were 
 far more unmerons than tlie white settlers antl he 
 was aequainted with many of the noted chiefs of 
 the nortliwest, including Blaclv Hawk and Wapello. 
 In 18 IG, lie huilt a heweil lug house, 18x27 feet, a 
 portion of which is still standing, one of the few 
 landmarks of the ijionecr days that now remains. 
 The family shared in all the hardships and trials 
 incident to pioneer life but nevertheless prosperity 
 attended their efforts and the wild, undeveloped 
 land, astlie result of their cultivation and improve 
 ment, became a productive farm, yielding them a 
 good income. 
 
 The union of Mr. and Mrs. Lamb, has been 
 blessed with fourteen children, nine of whom are 
 j-et living. Harriet, the eldest, who was born in 
 Jefferson County, Iowa, January 8, 1<S42, is the wife 
 of James A. Garrett of Feindale, Humboldt County, 
 Cal. ; James, who was born in April, 1843, and is 
 engaged in farming in Lincoln County, S. Dak., 
 wedded Miss Rebecca Stockdale, who died Decem- 
 cer 8, 1889, leaving eight children; Elizabeth E., 
 who was born in Jefferson County, Iowa, May 20, 
 1845, died on the lath day of August following; 
 Casjjer L., born in Polk County, May 26, 1846, 
 wedded Laura L. Matthew, now deceased, and is 
 living in Idaho; Henry, born May 3, 184;), wedded 
 Miss Flora Briukerhoff, by whom lie has seven 
 children and is living in Kellogg, Idaho; William. 
 born September 24, lSol,died September 14, 1852; 
 Ira, born August 13, 1854, wedded Miss Sadie 
 Yergey, and is now principal of the schools of 
 Atkinson, Neb.; Fannie, born July 3, 1856. is tlie 
 wife of John D. Finch, a farmer of Grant Town- 
 ship; Orrin, ?jorn August 11, 1858, is a miner of 
 Kellogg, Idaho; Rosunna and Eliza, tvvins, were 
 born January 29, 1861, the latter died in infanc3', 
 and Rosanna, since Iier mother's death has taken 
 charge of the domestic affairs of the old home; 
 John Vesey, born March 19, 1863, died on the 26th 
 of Seiitember following; Florence, born November 
 29, 1864, is the wife of AVallact Maricle, who li.as 
 charge of the home farm; Laura, born December 4, 
 1867, died April 3, 1868. The mother of this fam- 
 ily was called to her last rest August 5, 1881. She 
 was a sincere Chiistiaii woniuii, beloved by all who 
 
 knew her. Her deeds of kindness and acts of charity 
 won her many friends and in the family circle her 
 place can never be supplied. Her daughter, Rosanna, 
 assumed the management of the domestic affairs on 
 the death of the mother, laying aside the duties of 
 the school for that purpose. 
 
 The Lamb family is remarkable in many respects. 
 Eleven of the children of William Lamb are still 
 living and their average height is six feet. The'y 
 are noted for the jollity of their dispositions, their 
 hospitality and their honor in all business relations. 
 Our suliject shares the characteristics of his brothers 
 and sisters. His home is always ojjcn to his friends, 
 he delights in congenial company, is jovial in dis- 
 position and has the politeness and courtesy of the 
 old school without its formality. His reminiscences 
 of the early days of the county are both interesting 
 and instructive and if written out in full would 
 make a volume of thrilling interest. Besides many 
 relics of his life on the frontier he has in his posses- 
 sion the Vesey Bible wliich is more than one hun- 
 dred years old, a cup and saucer which was brought 
 from Scotland by his grandfather, and an old lace 
 cap, which by his children is the most valued of all 
 because it was worn liy Mr. Lamb in his babyhood. 
 He is surrounded 1)3' nine children, thirty grand- 
 children and he has one great-grandchild, and all 
 delight to do him honor, giving him every care 
 and attention due from the j'oung to the aged. He 
 has now passed the allotted three-score years and ten 
 and is still hale and heart}' and many years may yet 
 elapse ere he passes away. His life has been well spent 
 and he can look back with no regret for the years 
 that have come and gone. He has all the comforts 
 necessary to happiness, his fine farm of two hundred 
 and seventy acres in Grant Park, yielding him an 
 excellent income which provides him with every 
 thing that he may wish. 
 
 >^^^^¥^^^<- 
 
 FREDERICK E. ELLIOTT, who resides on 
 . ™, section 5, Delaware Township, is numbered 
 /1\ among the honored pioneers of Polk County. 
 
 He celebrated July I of 1847 b\' his arrival in Iowa 
 and upon Ihi. farm on which he immediately lo- 
 
502 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 catcd, [)rocuring the same through a Mexican land 
 warrant, he is still living. 
 
 The birth of Mr. Elliott occurred in Perquimans 
 County, N. C, Sei)teniber G, 1825, his parents be- 
 ing Foster and Penninah (Boyce) Elliott, who were 
 also natives of the same State. Their family num- 
 bered nine children, five of whom were born in 
 North Carolina. The father was a shoemaker by 
 tl-ade, but in the latter 3'ears of his life became an 
 overseer on a large cotton plantation. Accompan- 
 ied 1)3- his family, in 1828, he left North Carolina 
 for the West. A short time was spent in Ohio, and 
 the following year the partj' proceeded on their way 
 to Vermilion County. 111., where Mr. Elliott, Sr., 
 puichased a farm. In connection with the opera- 
 tion of his Innd he also carried on a tanning busi- 
 ness, and from thineather which ho manufactured 
 made siioes. Continuing his residence in Illinois 
 until 1847, be then loaded his household effects 
 into wagons drawn by ox-teams and started for 
 Iowa, reaching his destination after three weeks 
 travel. The same journey could now be made in 
 twenty-four hours, which gives some idea of the 
 wonderful progress made in the past third of a cen- 
 tury. Few indeed were the settlers who had sought 
 homes in Polk County at that time. Man}' were 
 the hardships and trials to be endured, the disad 
 vantages to be overcome and arduous were the 
 tasks to be performed. Chicago was the nearest 
 grain market, and after hauling their wheat that 
 distance, one hundred and twenty' miles, it brought 
 only from thirty to fifty cents per bushel. Mr. 
 Elliott entered two hundred and forty acres of land 
 on section 5, Delawaie Township, from which, ore 
 \'.':» death, he had developed a good farm. His wife 
 was called to her final rest in ISij'J, and on the 2nd 
 of October, 1865, the iiusband followed her to the 
 home of the redeemed. Their earnest Christian lives 
 were well worthy of emulation, and their many ac- 
 quaintances felt deep and sincere regret at their 
 deaths. IMr. Elliott was a true type of an Old Line 
 Whig and was a personal friend and great admirer 
 of Henry Clay. He was also much interested in 
 educational matters, and for many years he was an 
 able member of the School Board of Delawnre 
 Township. 
 
 The children of the family were as follows: 
 
 Mary, wife of Benjamin Davis, came with her hus- 
 band to Polk County in 1847, but both are now 
 deceased; Rachel is the deceased wife of Jose|)h 
 Thompson, a farmer of Saylor Township; Nancy, 
 widow of Dillon Ilayworth, is living in Lawrence 
 County, Mo.; Frederick E. is the next younger; 
 John accompanied the family' to this State, but after 
 a short time returned to Illinois and died in Cham- 
 paign County; Dempsey, who removed to Kansas 
 in 1857, died in Cowley County, that State, in 
 June, 1885; Stephen, a Congregational minister, 
 has charge of the church in Aurora, Mo.; Alfred is 
 a farmer of Lawrence County, Mo. 
 
 Such educational advantages as the common 
 schools afforded were received by our subject, but 
 otherwise he is self-educated. His life has been an 
 industrious one and from the age of sixteen }ears 
 he has made his own waj' in the world. On leaving 
 home he went to Warren County, Ind., where he 
 secured work as a farm hand at $\0 per month. 
 For four jears he spent the summer season in that 
 pursuit, while during the winter he engaged in 
 chopping wood at twenty-five cents per cord, cut- 
 ting two and a half cords per da}-. Though such 
 wages noiv seem very meager to us, Mr. Elliott 
 succeedetl in lajing by S400 with which he em- 
 barked in liusiness for himself. 
 
 Having now a prospect of securing a home, on 
 the 14th of January, 1847, liaving won the afifec- 
 ti(ms of Jliss Martina Bazleton, he led her to the 
 marriage altar and the union of hearts was consu- 
 raated by the union of hands. The lady is a native 
 of Vermilion County, 111. Being left fatherless at 
 an early age she made her home with her grand- 
 father, John Bazleton, with whom she resided until 
 her marriage. A few months later the young couple 
 came to Polk County, where they have since made 
 their home. Mr. Elliott at once entered one hun- 
 dred and twenty acres of land on section 5, Dela- 
 ware Townsiiip, and in a little log cabin they began 
 their domestic life. Some wigwams were yet seen 
 in the neighborhood, but the red men gave very 
 little trouble and soon afterward left the settle- 
 ment. The history of the pioneer life vvould [irove 
 an interesting one if s|)ace would permit us to write 
 it out in full. The youth of to-day can scarcely 
 realize the condition of the cnuntry forty years 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 503 
 
 ago. An tihl lliiil lilk' was used I)}' Mi'. Klliutl in 
 \iiulliiig Uie lire; the farming implements were also 
 of tlie most crude character; oxen were used in 
 breaking land and hauling grain, and the homes of 
 many of the settlers were little one-roomed log 
 cabins. As prosperity attended the efforts of our 
 subject he added to his landed possessions until at 
 one time he owned one thousand and fort}' acres, 
 situated on sections 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7, Delav/are 
 Townsbi[), but the greater part of this he has since 
 disposed of, giving some to his children and selling 
 other tracts. Tlie family now,however, oi)erates one 
 thousand and ten acres of land in the county, while 
 Mr. Elliott owns five hundred and thirty-five acres, 
 two hundred of which is comprised in the old home- 
 stead. Knowing tl.e manner in which he started 
 out in life, we see at once that he has been pros- 
 pered abundantly, but no one is more deserving of 
 success. He shunned no honest measure, but by 
 industry, enterprise and forethought acquired his 
 possessions. Other business interests have also oc- 
 cupied a portion of his time, he having been an 
 extensive and successful stock-dealer. He is Vice 
 President and Director in the American Savings 
 Bank of Des Moines. Many worthy enterprises 
 ivhich arc calculated to up-build the community 
 and its best interests have received from him lib- 
 eral contributions, and he has ever been recognized 
 as a valued citizen ; educational an(i church work 
 receive his lieartj^ support and co-operation, and 
 for fifteen j'ears he has been Treasurer of the School 
 I'lOard. His liallot is east in sup[)ort of the Rejiub- 
 lican candidates, he having affiliated with that 
 party since its formation. 
 
 But those who were benefited most by the liber- 
 ality of Mr. Elliott were his children, thirteen in 
 number. To them he gave excellent educational 
 advantages and also bestowed upon them portions 
 of his worldly goods, that they would not have to 
 contend against the poverty and hardships which 
 he met in earlier years. Almarinda, the eldest 
 child, became the wife of T. J. Thornton, a farmer 
 of Delaware Township, but is now deceased; Will- 
 iam H. is living in the State of Washington; John 
 F. is engaged in farming on section 3, Delaware 
 Township; Francis M. follows the same occupation 
 on the same section, and Albert VV. also there makes 
 
 his homo; James C. is another faruu'r of Delaware 
 Townslii]); Alexander B. is teller in the American 
 .Savings Bank of Des Moines; Laura died in 1880 
 at the age of sixteen years; Elizabeth is the wife of 
 William Yoder, a farmer of Delaware; George and 
 Clara are at home; Charles died in 1880, at the age 
 of seven years, and Etta is still with her parents. 
 
 J. MILLER. Life for all of us begins and 
 j]j ends alike; a birth, a death; a cradle, a 
 grave. We fill in between a short span 
 which is useful or vicious, industrious or idle, 
 successful or unsuccessful, which blesses or curses 
 the world, which is a jov to live, or a burden to 
 lay down. 
 
 N. J. Miller, whose name heads this sketch, 
 began life in Connersville, Ind., June 13, 1839; 
 began it in a comfortable home, descended from 
 excellent parents, and with favorable environments 
 for the development of a noble manhood. Good 
 opportunities for an education were enjoyed in 
 school at Connersville and Centerville, but in 1856 
 the western fever took hold of a rather restless 
 nature, and in the spring of that jear he came to 
 Des Moines, Iowa, where he has since resided. An 
 only child, his father and mother were as lonely 
 without him in the old home as he was homesick in 
 the new without them, so in the autumn there 
 was a reunited family in the new western village. 
 There was, however, "the girl I left behind me" in 
 this case, as in that of so many young men who 
 come West to try their fortunes, and in the fall of 
 1858 Mr. Miller returned to Indiana and was mar- 
 ried to Miss Vina Swafford, of Wayne County. 
 Life then began in earnest, and amid varying for- 
 tunes seven years went by, and the young wife was 
 laid away in AV^oodland Cemeter}'. Life seemed 
 scarcely worth the living then, but lime turns the 
 face about from the graves of our dearest, and bids 
 us take up again the duties it imjjoses. In the 
 '•brown and sear" autumn of 186G, Mr. Miller was 
 again married, this tin)e to Mrs. Florence Chap- 
 man, of Indianola, Iowa. A few brief years brought 
 to the household a family i>f three bright, active 
 
504 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM, 
 
 boys, wlien a sciatic trouble of long standing made 
 it necessary to leave tlie farm home and go into 
 some business not requiring so mucli manual i;ibor. 
 It was then, April 24. 1874, Mr. Miller entered tin; 
 mail service as Route Agent from Omaha. Neb., 
 to Chicago, 111. Here, as in many other business 
 relations, his integrity of character and faithful- 
 ness to every duty his work imposed, won him the 
 conlidence of the Government he served, and the 
 regard of tlie men with wliom he was associated. 
 It was in this service tliat he received the terrible 
 injur}' whicii lias made him l<nown to iuindieds of 
 l)eople in his own and other States as "|)lucky Jim 
 Miller." who stood by his mail with his head and 
 face half burned off until he could turn it over to 
 the properlj' sworn clerk, and then had the '-grit" 
 and courage to live under a calamity, the very 
 knowledge of which would have killed half the 
 men of the world had they been in his place. 
 
 On the night of April 4, 1875, the tsvo express 
 trains on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy road 
 were speeding toward each other in the darkness. 
 A mistalic in delivering an order to the conductor 
 of train No. 2, allowed it to pass the point desig- 
 nated for meeting, when it should have been held 
 for the on coming train, No. 1, and thougli the 
 train dispatcher boarded an engine and went fli'ing 
 after the train which was speeding on to destruc- 
 tion, it could not be overhauled in season to pre- 
 vent the catastroplie, but round a curve in a "cut," 
 uear the station of Tyrone, the trains crashed into 
 each other and both were badly wrecked, while 
 four [lersons wore kdled and several injured. 
 Among these Mail Agent Miller suffered most, 
 liaviiig been pinioned in the debris with the stove 
 resting upon the left side of his head and fsice. 
 The burn was so deep that the ej'e. ear, and all the 
 facial bones with a part of the skull plate sloughed 
 away and were taken off. Years of suffering fol- 
 lowed from a wound that did not heal, but after a 
 year he returned to his work in the service, and 
 for fourteen yv.txvs railroad men, postal men and 
 otlicials in tlie railway mail service were wont to 
 meet him at his work, always prompt, faithful, 
 cheerful, and inspiring hope and courage liy liis 
 cheerfulness and bravery in going right on wilii 
 the work given him, although suffering umlcr ii'> 
 
 great misfortune. Another time of trial and suf- 
 fering came in the summer of 1 887, v.hen it was 
 found that a cancer had fastened its deadl}' fangs 
 in the wound tjf sucli long standing, and that only 
 a little of life remained unless speed}' and heroic 
 reined}' was applied. The same dauntless courage 
 and "[Juck" met the emergency, and a few weeks 
 in hospital, and a surgical operation which took 
 away a good part of the skull on the left hand side 
 of the head, "made him as good as new." Mr. 
 Miller declares, and did not add to the disfigure- 
 ment he had borne all the years before. 
 
 April 29, 1889, Mr. Miller was appointed Super- 
 intendent of Mails in tlic Des Moines I'ost-odice, 
 and went out of the Railway Mail Service, though 
 still in the postal department, connected with the 
 work lie likes so well, anil in whicli his long exper- 
 ience makes him of efficient service to the Govern- 
 ment. Ilis many friends in iiis own city and State, 
 as well as those beyond his home State, will hope 
 he may long live, a useful member of society en- 
 joying the life his courage and strong vitality 
 have twice won from the grim fingers of death. 
 
 — — "I ' ^ ' i ' ^ ' l ' " ^ 
 
 OHN J. HAMILTON is editor and one of 
 the proprietors of the Des Moines Daily 
 Ncirs. That paper was established Novem- 
 ber 9, 1881, by C. S. Wilson, George L. 
 McCracken and C. S. Painter, by act of incorpora- 
 tion, with a capital stock of ¥30,000. A few months 
 later John J. Hamilton (lurchased Mr. Wilson's in- 
 terest in the business and afterward Mr. Painter's 
 interest passed into the hands of P. B. Durley. 
 Mr. McCracken still continues in the company as 
 its President. Mr. Hamilton holds the ollice of 
 Secretary and Jlr. Durley is Treasurer. The entire 
 stock of the Neivs Company is held by these three 
 gentlemen and is equally divided between them. 
 The Weekly iVcfcs was started in August. 188G, as 
 a part of the business of this company. The paper 
 is independent in politics, and has rapidly grown 
 in favor and in extent of circulation. 
 
 Tlie subject of this sketcii is a native of Penn- 
 sylvania, having been born in llarrisvlUe, Butler 
 

 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 507 
 
 County, on the lOlli of November, 1854. His p.ar- 
 cnts WL'ie William and Catliarino (Logan) Hamil- 
 ton. The paternal ancestois were of Scottish ori- 
 gin, but for six generations the family has resided 
 in Pennsylvania. On the mother's side, the fam- 
 Uy, which was early fonnded in America, is of 
 mixed ancestr}-, including Scotch, Irish and Dutch. 
 John .T. Hamilton was a lad of twelve 3-ears 
 when, in 18()G, he accompanied his parents to Iowa, 
 the family locating in Davis County. Ilis primary 
 education was su|)p!eraentod by a course in the Slate 
 University, from which he was graduated in the 
 class of '77. He entered the newspaper business 
 as editor of the P)loorafield Republican, and con- 
 tinued that connection for three years, when he be- 
 came interested in the Des Moines Daily Netvs, in 
 March, 1883. He was city editor for three years, 
 since which time he has served in the capacity of 
 managing editor. He i)Ossesses excellent business 
 abilitj', and to him in a great measure is due the 
 success of the Daily News. In politics Mr. Ham- 
 ilton is a supporter of tiie Republican party, and 
 in his religious convictions a Presbyterian, belong- 
 ing to the Central Presbyterian Church, of Des 
 Moines. He is also a member of the Knights of 
 Pythias and of the Ancient Order of United Work- 
 men, lie ranks high both in the social and biisi 
 ness world, and is regarded as a valued citizen. 
 
 ■■^ l»;ILLIAM H. QUICK, Supei intendent of the 
 X'iij// t "'t'^'^' States Express Company, has held 
 
 \*f ^ that o/Iice since 1 SC5, covering a period of a 
 quarter of a century. The mere statement of the fact 
 of his long-continued service indicates his ability 
 and the faithful discharge of the duties devolving 
 upon him. He was born in Hamburg, Sussex 
 County, N. J., on the 1st of July, 1832. and is a 
 son of William H. and Rebecca (Ford) Quick. His 
 parents were natives of New Jersey, and his father 
 was descended from an old New York family. The 
 earliest known ancestor of our subject on the pa- 
 ternal side was the founder of the family in Amer- 
 ica, who emigrated to tliis country from IbillaiMl, 
 
 and held a large tract of lanil in New York, under 
 a grant from Queen Anne, which he leased to 
 various i)arties for ninety-nine years. From fail- 
 ure to properly record the grant and leases, the 
 property was ultimately lost to the heirs. The 
 father of William Quick was a miller by tr.ade, ai.d 
 died near Patterson, N. .T., at the age of fifty-seven 
 years. His wife survived him some time, and died 
 in Port Jervis, N. Y., at the age of eighty-three 
 years. 
 
 Our subject began life for himself at the early 
 age of ten. He attended school in Port Jervis, 
 N. Y., and when a lad of fourteen we find hira 
 learning the miller's trade, which occupation be 
 follovved continuously until nineteen j'ears of age, 
 when he began railroading as brakesman, in New 
 York, but was subsi;quently made conductor. In 
 1855 he was eraplo3-ed in that capacity on the Chi- 
 cago & Rock Island Road, running out of Chicago, 
 and continued with that company until M.ay 1, 
 1856, when he went to Iowa City, in the employ of 
 Parker's Express Company, a private company, 
 doing business just in advance of the railroad. He 
 was employed bj- that company as messenger be- 
 tween Iowa City and Dubuque for six months, and 
 at the expiration of that time was appointed local 
 agent at Iowa City. He continued with that com- 
 pany until it transferred its business to the United 
 States Express Comi)any, in the spring of 1858, 
 when he was retained in his position by the latter 
 company. As the Rock Island road was extended 
 westward Mr. (Juick was transferred to IMarengo, 
 IJrooklyn, Grinnell, and on the 1st of July, 1863, 
 reached Des Moines, where he succeeded R. K. 
 McMasters as local agent. He continued to fill that 
 jjosition until 1865, when he was promoted to be Di- 
 vision Superintendent to succeed Joseph Shepherd, 
 who had been promoted to the General Western 
 Superintendcy. Mr. Quick's division included Iowa 
 and Nebraska, with headquarters at Des Moines. 
 The business of the company has since increased to 
 important proportions, and since the 1st of May, 
 1888, our subject has served as General Superin- 
 tendent, covering, in addition to tht above named 
 territory, Kansas, Missouri, Colorado and Okla- 
 homa. 
 
 Ml', i^uick was married, in Des Moines, on the 
 
508 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOaRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 'Jtli of October, 18G6, to Miss Mary, diuighter of 
 Juilge Love, of Buffalo. N. Y. She was a most 
 estimable woman, and a consistent member of the 
 Episcopal Ciiurch. She died March 3, 1870, leav- 
 ing one cliild, a daughter, Ella, who resides with 
 lier father. 
 
 Mr. Quick has made his home in Des Moines 
 since 18G3, and is a Diembcr of Capital Lodge, No. 
 110, A. F. dc A. M.; and of Iowa City Chapter, 
 No. 2, R. A. M. He is the recognized pioneer ex- 
 press man of Iowa, having been associated with 
 the United States Express Corap.any since it first 
 established business in Iowa, in 18.57, or for a term 
 of thirty-three years. Early in his service with the 
 company lie exhibited those qualities so essential 
 in one in his i)Osition — superior executive abilit}' 
 and strict integrity — and soon won the confidence 
 of the company. During tlie extended term of 
 service his fidelity to ever}- trust reposed in him, 
 and his sag.acious and careful discharge of duty, 
 have justified the high estimate placed on his abil- 
 ity and honesty by the company's management of 
 a third of a century ago. He is genial and cour- 
 teovis in manner, and lias won the good will and 
 confidence, in the fullest sense of the words, of the 
 officials and employes of the immense corporation 
 of which he is a prominent officer. 
 
 "if/UDGE THOMAS T. MORRIS, cx-judgc of 
 Carroll County, Iowa, and one of the lead- 
 ing contractors of Des Moines, is a native 
 of Cumberland County, N. J. He was born 
 October 19, 1822, and is a son of Robert Morris. 
 The founder of the family in America long ante- 
 dates the Revolution. In 1635, only fifteen ycai-s 
 after the landing of the Pilgrims at Plymouth 
 Rock, John Morris, a gentleman of English birth, 
 left his home across tlic water and took ui) his resi- 
 dence on Manhattan Island, not far from the pres- 
 ent location of Central Park, New York City, at 
 what afterward was known as Morris' Woods. The 
 paternal grandfather of our subject, whofie name 
 was tlin same as that of the original progenitor of 
 the family, took up his residence near Sandy Hook, 
 
 on the New Jersey shore, where the father of 
 Thomas was born in 1792. He was but two years 
 of age when the family removed to New York .Stale, 
 settling near Cayuga Lake. There Robert Mor- 
 ris grew to manhood. On the breaking out of the 
 second war with England, in 1812, he res[)onded to 
 the call for troops and served until the close of 
 hostilities. Later, he went to Philadelphia, and 
 thence to Delaware, where he became acquainted 
 with and married Nancy Watson, who belonged to 
 one of the early families of that State. The young 
 couple began their domestic life in Cumberland 
 Count}', N. J., and when our subject was about fif- 
 teen years of age removed to Wheeling, W. Va., 
 where they remained nine 3-ears. At the expira- 
 tion of that time they located in Pittsburg, Pa., 
 and in 1855 emigrated to Iowa, making their home 
 in Carroll Count}', at what is kumvu .as Old Car- 
 rollton. At his home in that place, in December, 
 1 874, Robert Morris departed this life. His wife sur- 
 vived him sever.al years, when she. too, was called 
 to her reward. 
 
 Mr. and ]Mrs. Morris had a family of six chil- 
 dren who grew to maturity, comprising five sons 
 and <me daughter^Thomas T. is the eldest; David, 
 the second in order of birth, is a resident of Pitts- 
 burg, Pa.; Catherine, the only daughter, is the 
 wife of S. A. Davis, of Carroll County, Iowa; John 
 and Robert are now deceased; and George W. 
 completes the famih*. 
 
 As our subject ranks among the prominent and 
 influential citizens of Des Moines, we take pleasure 
 in recording his sketch in the history of his .adopted 
 county, feeling that it will be received with inter- 
 est by many of our readers. His bo^-hood days 
 were spent amid play and work in a mariner not 
 unlike that of the average lad. In early life he 
 learned the mason's trade, but for manj- years he 
 has given his time and attention to contracting 
 and building with good success. He has been 
 numbered among the chief builders of Des Moines 
 for many years, having erected a number of its 
 most important business blocks and other buildings 
 in the city. Public-spirited and progressive, he is 
 a valued factor in the community and a worthy 
 member of both business and st)cial circles. He 
 has taken an active interest in the (irogress and 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 509 
 
 growth of ])es Moines, and in all possible ways has 
 aided in her advancement. Public duties have 
 also engrossed his attention, and the im[)ortant of- 
 fices which he has held indicate the eonlidenee and 
 trust reposed in him. While a resident of Car- 
 roll County, Iowa, he served as County .ludge for 
 11 num'ber of j^ears, has been a member of the 
 Hoard of Supervisors of Polk Count}', and also 
 held the olllce of Justice of the Peace. It is al- 
 most]needless to say that his duties were discharged 
 with lidelity and ability, thus winning him the 
 commendation of his friends and the respect of 
 even his political enemies. His first Presidential 
 vole was cast for James K. Polk, the Democratic 
 candidate in 1844, but on the formation of the 
 Republican pail\- he joined its ranks, and has ever 
 remained true to its [ninciples. Both he and his 
 wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, Mr. Morris' connection with that denomi- 
 nation covering a period of half a centur\'. 
 
 Mrs. Morris was formerly Miss Louisa Jarvis 
 Potter. She is a native of Erie County, Pa., and 
 belongs to an old and highly respected New Eng- 
 land family, which was founded in Concord, Mass., as 
 early as 1G35, and her father was one of the pio- 
 neer settlers of Erie County, Pa. His death oc- 
 curred in 1 870, at the age of seventy years, but his 
 wife died long previous, being called home when 
 Mrs. Morris was a child. The union of our sub- 
 ject and his worthy wife has been blessed with 
 nine children, six of whom are living — Frank 
 T., Robert, Harry, William; Carrie, wife of M. 
 O. Taucbe; and John A. They lost three daugh- 
 ters — Ella, Laura and Mary. 
 
 OL. DOUUS MORTON FOX, Register of 
 ., the United Stales Land OtHce, of ])es 
 
 ^^to^ Moines, was born in the town of Adams, 
 Jefferson County, N. Y., November 29, 1817, and 
 is the son of Truman and Lydia (Morton) Fox, 
 the former a native of Bennington Count}', Vt., 
 and llie latter (jf Connecticut. P>oth were of Eng- 
 lish descent, three generations remote. Elijah Fox, 
 the paternal grandfather of our subject, was a 
 
 soldier all through the War of the Revolution. 
 His father served in the War of 1812, and he and 
 his sons were ollicers in the late war. So we see 
 that his family hiis been well represented in the 
 important struggles in which our country has been 
 involved, and have faithfully performed their du- 
 ties as citizens in that line. 
 
 In 1825, Col. Fox removed with his parents 
 from his native county to the town of Ponliac, in 
 Michigan Territory. He received a common- 
 school education, and at the age of thirteen began 
 his liusiness career as a clerk in a grocery store in 
 Detroit, at a salary of $6 per month. As time 
 progressed so did the value of his services, and his 
 wages were likewise increased, until, at the age of 
 twenty years he felt justified in marrying. On the 
 l(ilh of March, 1837, at Detroit, he was joined in 
 wedlock with Miss Lorinda Haskell, daughter of 
 Thomas Haskell. Three years later, in 1840, they 
 removed to Lyons, Iowa County, ]\Iich., and the 
 Colonel engaged in the mercantile business, which 
 he continued until the breaking out of the late 
 war, when he entered Ihe service. 
 
 Mr. Fox enlisted in April, 18G1, in the Ninth 
 Michigan Infantry, and was promoted to the rank 
 of Major, September 10, 1861. On the 13th of 
 October, 18G2, he was made Colonel of the Twenty- 
 seventh Michigan, and served in that capacity 
 until October, 18C4, when he received his honor- 
 able discharge. He participated in the battles of 
 Tyree Springs, Tenn., Knoxville, siege of Vicks- 
 burg, Jackson, Miss., and then joined the Army of 
 the Potomac, with which he participated in the 
 battles from W.ashington through the Wilderness, 
 at Spottsylvauia, North Anna, Bethesda Church, 
 in fact was fighting all the way to Petersburg. His 
 eldest sou, Charles 'T. Fox, enlisted in the same 
 regiment with his father, the Ninth Michigan, in 
 May, 1861, and on the 12th of October following 
 was commissioned Second Lieutenant, and pro- 
 moted to be First Lieutenant in April, 18C2. He 
 w.as killed at Tyrce Springs, September 22, 1802, 
 leaving a widow, who was formcrl}' Bliss Jennie 
 Webber, of Lyons, Mich., now residing in Boston. 
 The second son, Oscar F. Fox, was commissioned 
 First Lieutenant on the 10th of October, 1862, 
 was assigned to liis father's regiment, the Twenty- 
 
510 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 seventh Michigan, and died of congestive cliilis 
 at the siege of Vicksl)urg, in July. 1863. Col. 
 Fox was wounded at Petersliiirg, June 17, 1864, 
 by a gunshot through the right shoulder, but held 
 his commission until October, 1861. 
 
 On Ills return from the war, the Colonel re- 
 sumed business at Lj'ons, and continued a resi- 
 dent of that city until the spring of 1871, when 
 lie removed to Chicago and engaged in the pub- 
 lishing business. He was but fairly started when 
 the great lire of October of that year occurred, 
 sweeping aw.ay all his possessions, even his insur- 
 ance, which was in Chicago companies, proving 
 worthless. After his loss in Chicago, he went to 
 New York City, and was associated with Tlieodore 
 Tillon in the puhlisliing business but, in 1876, 
 again came West, spending one year in Missouri. 
 He then returned to Rochester, N. Y., where lie 
 remained two years when, in 1880, he came to 
 Iowa, locating in Ottumwa, where he engaged in 
 the publishing business until 1887, when he came 
 to Des Moines, where he was employed as journal- 
 ist until May, 1889. hi that month he was ap- 
 pointed Register of the United States Land Ollice, 
 to lill a vacancy and was re.ip|)oiuted for a full 
 term January 11, 1890. 
 
 Col. Fox was married in New York City, March 
 11, 1873, his second union being with Miss Nettie 
 Pease, a daughter of Dr. D. A. Pease, now of San 
 Jose, Cal. The la<ly was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. 
 They iiave one child, a son, Morton Pease Fox, 
 wiio is still a student. Tlie father and son are 
 members of the Christian Ciiurdi. 
 
 Col. Fox was a Whig in earlj' life and has Ijeen 
 a Kei)ublican since the dissolution of that party. 
 Always a strict temperance man, he is an earnest 
 worker in the interest of that cause and lias been a 
 memlier of some temperance organizalion since a 
 lad of twelve years. He is now the chairman of 
 the Iowa State Central Committee of tlie Iowa 
 Temperance Union, the first State tenii>oiance 
 committee formed in Iowa. He was appointed 
 Commissioner, by Gov. Larrabee, to investigate 
 Industrial Homes for Adult IMind. established in 
 other States. His favorable report led to the 
 fouiicliiiv, of till' Iowa Industrial Home for Adult 
 lUiiid, and he is President of the Des Jloines Veteran 
 
 Tippecanoe Club. As his rocord shows, Col. Fox 
 has been true to the traditions of his family, where 
 pure patriotism an<l love of countr}' led to a rep- 
 resentation of the family in the three great wars 
 of America. He not onlj^ bears the scars on his 
 person, of the enemy's bullets, but saorificed the 
 lives of !iis two sons in defense of the Union. 
 While but a short time a resident of the Capital City, 
 he has already won hosts of friends among the 
 best of his fellow citizens. Fnthnsiastic to a 
 marked degree as a part^- man and Republican, 
 earnestly in favor of absolute and total prohibition 
 of the liquor traffic, never ceasing in his work for 
 its accomplishment, it inevitabl}- follows that such 
 a man will have bitter opponents as well. Never- 
 theless his motto is: "Stand bj' the right." 
 
 \T/OHN BREWBAKER, who is engaged in 
 farming on section 1, Saylor To\vns!iip, was 
 born on the 2d of December, 1831, in Frank- 
 lin County, Pa., of German parentage, al- 
 though for several generations the famil}' had 
 resided in the Keystone State. His paternal grand- 
 father was a native of Lancaster County, and his 
 father, Peter Brewbaker, was born in Franklin 
 County, Jaiiuary 23, 1801. He made blacksmith- 
 ing his life occupation, following that tr.ade until 
 sixty-seven years of age. His entire life was spent 
 in his native county, where he ranked among the 
 respected citizens. In politics he was at first a 
 Whig, later a Republican and in religious belief 
 subscribed to the princii)les of the Gorman Reform 
 Church, of Mhich he vvas a member tiiirty-five 
 years. He took (piite an active part in the work 
 of the church and lived a faithful, consistent 
 Christian life. In 1821, in Franklin County, he 
 married Rachel Meltz, who was born February 27, 
 1799, and was a daughter of Adam Beltz, a native 
 of Hesse Darmstadt, (Germany, who' crossed the 
 Atlantic and settled in Franklin Count}' in an early 
 day. His death occurred in 1819. To Mr. and 
 Mrs. Brewbaker were born ten children, all of 
 whom lived to mature years witli the exception of 
 Samuel, whose death resulted from the kick of a 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 511 
 
 horse. The father died in 187;'), and the mother, 
 who was also a member of the (iorman Reform 
 Church, deiiarted this life in 18C8. 
 
 .lohn Brewbaker, wiiose name heads this sketch, 
 spent the days of his boyhood and youth in Ills 
 native count}', where he learned liie blacksmith's 
 trade with his father and accjuired the rudiments of 
 an education. Having arrived at years of maturity. 
 he emigrated in Se|)tembcr, 18,52, to Newcastle, 
 lud,, and after working for a time entered the High 
 School, wlicre he pursued a fifteen montlis' course. 
 He has been a resident of Polk Count}- during the 
 greater part of the time since June, 1856, and lias 
 therefore been a witness of almost its entire growth. 
 During the first three j-ears after his arriv.al he 
 worked at his trade in Corydon, and in 18')9, went 
 to California. He spent two and a half years in 
 blacksmithing in the town of Rough and Ready 
 and for a short time engaged in mining in that 
 place. The journey was made with an ox-team to 
 Salt Lake City, where he sold that team and pur- 
 chased a span of mules. In the fall of 1862, he 
 returned to this county, and, renting a farm a mile 
 north of Polk City, engaged in its cultivation two 
 years. He then spent four years in operating a 
 rented farm in Crocker Township, after which he 
 purchased land on section 1, Saylor Township, 
 where lie has made his home since 1870. It was 
 all wild prairie land, suitable for agricultural pur- 
 poses and is now one of the best cultivated farms 
 in the community. Until within the past seven 
 _vears he also worked at his trade during the winter 
 season and in that way added not a little to his 
 income. 
 
 On tiie 11th of December, 1862, Mr. Brewbaker 
 married Minerva A. Mercer, who was born near 
 Xenia, Greene County, Ohio, October 2, 1843, and 
 is a daughter of James A. and Beulah (Jay) Mercer, 
 who were also natives of tiie same county. Mrs. 
 Mercer's grandparents, James and Jemima Jay, 
 emigrated from their native State, South Carolina, 
 to Ohio. Her parents were Alexander and Nanc}- 
 (Spears) Jay. Her paternal great-grand|)arents, 
 Aaron and Elizabeth Mercer, were natives of Vir- 
 ginia. Her grandparents were Edward and Eliza- 
 beth (Hickman) Mercer, the former a native of 
 Virginia, the latter of Pennsylvania. The father 
 
 of Miss Hickman served through the Revolutionary 
 War and afterwards emigrated to Oliio. Having 
 incurred the hostility of the Indians they tleter- 
 mined to burn hini at the stake but ere the}' could 
 carry out their barbarous intention he was shot by 
 a while man wlio was living with the Indians and 
 who came near losing his life for the act, but he 
 could not lieai the sight of seeing a fellow being 
 so tortured. James Mercer, the father of Mrs. 
 Brewbaker, followed carpentering in his younger 
 days but afterwards engaged in farming. He came 
 to Polk Count}' in the spring of 18.if>, locating in 
 Corydon on the 4th of May. where he established 
 himself in the manufacture of lumber which he 
 followed for six years. He then sold out and le- 
 turncd to carpentering, but afterwards embarked in 
 farming on a small scale. In 1883, he removed to 
 Greene County, where he makes his home with his 
 son Edward A, He took a great interest in educa- 
 tional matters, provided his children with the best 
 advantages possible and is a worthy citizen. His 
 wife is a memlier of the IMethorlist Episcopal 
 Church, and to them were born nine children, five 
 of whom grew to mature years. 
 
 To Mr, and Mrs. 15rewbaker were also born nine 
 children, three of whom are now deceased, one 
 having died in infancy; Henrietta, twin of the 
 first, died November 8, 1888; and Edwanl E. died 
 September 18. 1885.. Those still living are Oris 
 ()., Jennie F., Mary E., Nellie J., John JI. and 
 James R. 
 
 In political sentiment Mr. Brewbaker is a Repub- 
 lican. He has served as Assessor of his town and 
 in 1878, was elected Trustee, which position he 
 still holds. He became a member of Fidelity Lodge, 
 No. 59, I. O. O. E., of Newcastle, Ind., in 1853, 
 being one of the oldest members in the State. Both 
 he and his wife are members of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Clinrch and are earnest workers for its 
 interest, he having held the office of Steward, 
 Class-Leader and Superintendent of the Sund.iy- 
 school, all for a number of years. The life of Mr. 
 Brewbaker has been an eventful one and one of the 
 greatest uprightness and integrity. He has shared 
 not only the hardships and trials of pioneer life, 
 but on the 18th of August, 1862, met with a very 
 exciting and perilous adventure. He was then 
 
512 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 near the Crowfoot River in Idaiu) Territory and 
 was returning to ills home when be was attacked 1)\' 
 a band of about forty Indians. lie succeeded in 
 wounding five of the number although he himself 
 was shot through the right lung, and for four hours 
 succeeded in keeping them at bay, but then had to 
 flee for safety. The Indians pursued him for two 
 miles when he succeeded in making his escape, liut 
 in the encounter he lost two horses and nearly all 
 his liaggagc. At length he met with a partj' of 
 emigrants, after he had liddeu a distance of four- 
 teen miles, and a phi'sician who chanced to belong 
 to the companj- extracted the ball. 
 
 W*,ILLlAi\l AULMANN, a leading citizen of 
 / Des Moines, is a native of Burlington^ 
 Iowa, and a representative of one of the 
 pioneer families of the State. His father, Adam 
 Aulmann, was born in the city of Muhlan Nassau, 
 German^', December 11, 1821, and resided in his 
 native country- until 1844, when he came to the 
 United States. The Mexican War began not long 
 afterward, and going to St. Louis he enlisted in 
 Company A, Kirst Missouri Light Artillery. Dur- 
 ing an engagement he was quite severely wounded 
 in the right ankle, and it was thought for a time 
 that the wound would necessitate amputation. It 
 healed, however, but forced his discharge just be- 
 fore the close of the war. In 1847, .is soon as he 
 was able to travel, he returned to Germany, where 
 he married Theodora Pulch, and with his wife im- 
 mediately returned to the United States. This 
 was in 1849. He located in Burlington, Iowa, and 
 for a time devoted his attention to tlie cultivation 
 of a farm near that citj'. Later he was engaged 
 in business in Burlington until the spring of 18G4, 
 when he removed to Ottuniwa. He became a 
 permanent resident of Des Moines on the 31st of 
 .laiiuar^', 18GG, but the year previous, as a partner 
 of Messrs. Ileil & Mattes, he purchased the brew- 
 ery property located on the corner of Seventh and 
 Center Streets, of (ieorgc Heirb. In August, 18Gf>, 
 he sold his interest to his partners and purchased 
 the site of the present Aulmunn brewery proiJcrty, 
 
 which is located tin P^lm between Second and 
 'I'hird Streets. In 1872 he erected a part of the 
 building, completing it in 1874, but he had scarcely 
 begun his work when his death occurred. On the 
 31st of December, 1874, he was called to bis final 
 rest. He was a worthy and respected citizen, and 
 ever regarded as an upright, honor.ible man. In 
 his political affiliations he w.as a Republican from 
 the organization of that party to his death. During 
 the war he was a strong Union man, and had it not 
 been for physical disability as the result of his 
 service in the Mexican War, would again have en- 
 listed under the old flag. At a meeting of the 
 veterans of the war with Mexico, held in the office 
 of Gen. Given on Friday, January 1, 187.5, the 
 following resolutions and preamble were adopted : 
 
 "Whereas: It has pleased Divine I'rovidence to 
 call from our number our comrade, A. Aulmann, 
 who died peacefully at his residence in Des Moines, 
 December 31, 1874; bo it 
 
 '•Jiesohml, That in the death of Comrade Aul- 
 mann the country has lost a brave and faithful 
 soldier, a good citizen and true friend, the family 
 a most excellent husband and father, and we deeply 
 sympathize with them in this their hour of bereave- 
 ment. 
 
 " Ji't'udli'fid, As a further mark of respect to our 
 deceased comr.ade, that we will attend his funeral 
 in a body and wear the b.adge of mourning for 
 thirty d.ays."' 
 
 Mrs. Aulmann still survives her husband, and 
 since October, 1887, has resided in California with 
 her son Carl, but expects soon to return to Des 
 Moines. The family numbers six children, four 
 sons and two daughters — .Tennie, the eldest, is tlie 
 wife of II. C. Bachrodt, of Des Moines; William, 
 whose name heads this ^etch, is the next younger; 
 Lena is the wife of Otto Rompano, and resides in 
 New York; Carl makes his home in California; 
 Lorenz is Superintendent of the Kagle Iron Works 
 of Des Moines; and George W. is also a resident of 
 Dos Moines. 
 
 William Aulmann was born in Burlington, Iowa, 
 April 29, 18.")2, and remained under the parental 
 roof until his father's death. Since that sad event 
 he has been the owner of the brewery property, 
 and conducted the business for many years. It 
 was in 1881 that Mr. Anlinan?i was united in tlie 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 513 
 
 holy bonds of matrimony with Miss Lucy Wel- 
 come, of Keokuk, Iowa. Their union has been 
 blessed with .1 faraily of three interesting cliildren, 
 one son and two (laughters, as follows: Bertha, 
 Flora and William Grover. 
 
 Mr. Aulmann lias made man}' improvements in 
 the property which he now owns, since the de.atli 
 of his father. His residence in Des Moines covers 
 a period of almost a quarter of a century, and his 
 acquaintance is an extensive one. He is widely 
 known throughout the communit}', and is respected 
 as a worthy citizen. 
 
 3>^ 
 
 I DWIN OAKS, a contractor of Des Moines, 
 was born near Bangor, Me., July 12, 1827. 
 His paternal grandfather, Abel Oaks, in 
 early life settled near Moosehead Lake, and con- 
 tinued to make his iiome in the Pine Tree State un- 
 til his death. There Stephen L. Oaks, father of 
 our subject was born, and having attained to ma- 
 ture years, wedded Sarah Jane Ames. He was a 
 carpenter and millwright by trade, and a superior 
 workm.an. In 1837, when Edwin was a lad of ten 
 years, his father removed with the family to Blairs- 
 ville, Pa., but after a short time took up his resi- 
 dence in Cambria County, where he and his wife 
 spent the most of the remainder of their da^^s, the 
 father dying in Jefferson County, at tlie age of 
 seventy-nine years, and his wife at the age of eighty 
 years. They were the parents of nine children, six 
 sons and three daugiiters, and the family all attained 
 to mature years, while all are yet living with the 
 e.\ception of the youngest son and daughter — Hud- 
 son S. and Mrs. Sarah Jane Ililenian. The former 
 died in C^learficld, Pa., leaving a family, and Mrs. 
 Hilcman died at her home in Jo Daviess County, 
 III. The surviving members of the family are: 
 Mrs. Elizabeth A. Douglas, who resides in Indiana 
 County, Pa.; Stephen, a resident of Brookville, 
 Jefferson County, Pa.; Calvin, who is living in 
 Adair County, Iowa; Edwin of this sketcli.; Mrs. 
 Cordelia J. Weslover, of Clearfield County, Pa.; 
 George W. of Plymouth County, Iowa; and Mar- 
 
 tin V. B., who is also living in the Keystone State. 
 The family is remarkable from tlie fact that no 
 death occurred until after all had attained to m;i- 
 ture years. 
 
 Edwin Oaks, whose name heads this sketch, be- 
 gan work at the car|)enler's trade when l)ut a boy, 
 with his father, and h.as followed that business dur- 
 ing the greater part of his life. He was married in 
 Cambria County, Pa., on the 27th of October, 
 1853, to Miss Mary Ann Gifford, the ceremony be- 
 ing performed at the home of her parents, Isaac 
 and Martha ( Lowell) Gifford. Her father was a 
 native of Huntington County, Pa., but her grand- 
 father was born in New Jersey. In 1861, Mr. and 
 Mrs. Gifford came to Iowa, settling in Polk County, 
 but the wife was not long permitted to enjo}' her 
 new home, for on the l9thof April, 1862, less than 
 a year after their arrival in Iowa, her death occur- 
 red. The husband is still living at this writing, 
 in iS'.lO, having attained to the advanced age of 
 ninety years. This worthy couple were parents of 
 eight children, who grew to adidt .age, three sons 
 and five daughters, and three others died in in- 
 fancy. Sis are yet living, namely: Benjamin, a 
 resident of Arkansas; Mary A., wife of oursubject; 
 Mrs. Sarah Miller, of Cambria County, Pa.; Joseph 
 of Polk County; Mrs. Jemima Fronk, of Indiana 
 County, Pa.; and Isaac, of Des Moines. The de- 
 ceased are Mrs. Hannah Ileimhach, and Mrs. Mar- 
 garet Wilson. 
 
 On the 14th of November, 1854, Mr. and Mrs. 
 Oaks arrived in Polk County. They are numbered 
 among its honored i)ioneers, and during the lon'» 
 years of their residence in the community have 
 borne a rejnitation for uprightness, that h.as won 
 theni m.any warm friends. They first located in 
 Allen Township, but after a year and a lialf, set- 
 tled in Bloomfield Township, and since that time 
 have lived in or adjacent to the city of Des Moines. 
 Mr. Oaks has devoted the greater part of his life 
 to contr.ieting and building, and has aided materi- 
 ally in the progress made by the county in that 
 line, but otiier enterprises, which afforded him no 
 pecuniary profit, have also received his sujiportand 
 co-operation, and in no small degree is the county 
 indebted to him for his untiring labors in her be- 
 half. In return it has furnished iiim a comfortable 
 
514 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 home, and here he has found opiiorliinitv to ac- 
 (juiie the means which rank him among the sub- 
 stantial citizens of the communit3'. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Oaks have two adopted children, a 
 a son and daughter: Francis Marion and Nanc}- 
 Belle, wife of A. B. West, both residents of Des 
 Moines. Mr. Oaks has ever been an industrious 
 and enterprising man, and in his business enli^r 
 prises has been generallj' successful. In proportion 
 as he has prospered, he has given to the poor and 
 need3-,and liberall\' aided the Christian Churcli,of 
 which both he and his wife arc faithful members, 
 lie is also a friend to whatever tends to elevate the 
 moral and reliuious standard of- the i)eoi)ie, and an 
 inplacable foe to all social evils. In consequence 
 he is a Prohibitionist — an uncompromising enemy 
 to the liquor tratlic in all its forms. 
 
 R. MARY D. FREDERICK, who is engaged 
 in the practice of medicine in Des ^Moinesi 
 enjoys the distinction which probably none 
 other in the city does. She is a native of Iowa, 
 having been born, in Burlington, on the 4th of 
 May, 1842. The State was then under Territorial 
 Government and the city of her birth was a men: 
 hamlet or landing on the bank of the Mississippi. 
 Her father, Jacob Hodgen, was born in Louisville. 
 Ky., in 1817, and when a lad accompanied his par- 
 ents to Sangamon County, 111., where he became 
 acquainted with and married Miss Elizabeth Combs, 
 who was born in Elizabethtown, Va., in 1823, and 
 when a young girl also accompanied her family to 
 that county. Their wedding journey consist d of 
 a trip to Burlington, Iowa, where they intentled 
 making their home. They subsequently removed 
 to Texas, but soon afterward returned to this State, 
 where they remained until the breaking out of the 
 late war when they again became residents of San- 
 gamon County, 111. The death of the father occur- 
 red in Iowa in 1864, he having come to this State 
 to look after his farming interests. His wife is still 
 living in Illinois and, like her husband, is a faith- 
 ful member of the Christian Church. The father of 
 .Mr. llodgen organized the first Cluisti:in ('i\urcli in 
 
 Burlington, Iowa, and his cousin. Dr. John Hodgen 
 was the father of the practice of transfusion of 
 blood. 
 
 In the family of Jacob and Elizabeth Hodgen 
 were twelve children, of whom seven, four son.s 
 and three daughters, are jet living. One of the 
 sons, P. O. Hodgen, entered the service of his 
 country during the late war as a member of an Ill- 
 inois regimenL, and Iteing captured wis confined 
 for nine moriths in the loathsome Anderson villc 
 Prison. His <iiscliarge was secured by his mother, 
 who made a personal appeal to President Lincoln 
 with whom she was intimately acquainted. Her 
 petition was signed by llie President on the day of 
 his assassination. 
 
 Mrs. Mary D. Frederick, whose name heads this 
 sketch, has spent her entire life in her native State. 
 The greater part of her education was received in the 
 public schools of Decatur Count}', Iowa, after which 
 she completed a course in the Leon High School and 
 for one term was a student in OsUaloosa College. 
 While prosecuting her High School studies she 
 boarded in the family of Dr. J. H. McClelland, and 
 there became possessed of the desire to studj- mcdi- 
 cine,which wish she later carried out. It was while in 
 Leon, on the Gth of January, 18.58, th.nt she became 
 the wife of Joseph Frederick, a native of Tusca- 
 rauwas County, Ohio, born December 14, 1836. 
 He is a millwright b}' trade and is engaged in that 
 business in this city. The year 1874 witnessed llicir 
 arrival in Des Jloines, where soon afterward Mrs. 
 Frederick embarked in practice. In 1883 she was 
 graduated from the College of Physicians and Sur- 
 geons of Keokuk, and since that time h.as received 
 a liberal patronage. It has now been twelve \-ears 
 since she took upon herself the duties of the medi- 
 cal jjrofession and during that time she lias acquired 
 a reputation which many others might well envy. 
 She does a general practice although she has made 
 a special study of the diseases of women .ind chil- 
 dren, and contemplates the founding of a home for 
 the treatment of the same. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Frederick have an interesting fam- 
 ily of three children, namely: Ida M., who is now 
 the wife of John Sconneman; William E., a tel- 
 egraph operator of New Hartford, Iowa; and 
 Clarence E., is a jeweler of Parkersburg. low:i. 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 515 
 
 Tlieir second son. Charles E., is now deceased. He 
 was drowned wliile bathing in the Des Moines 
 River, at the age of seventeen 3-ears. Botli Mr. 
 Frederick ami his wife are memhers of the Chris- 
 tian Chnrch and are licld in iiigh regard in the 
 coninumity where the}' make their homo. Dr. 
 Frederick is a member of both the Polk Connty 
 nnd State Medical Societies. 
 
 ^^ ()L. MARTIN T. V. BOWMAN, one <if the 
 Y( ^-^_ well-known citizens of Des Moines a;id CJen- 
 ^^^/J eral Agent of the Washington Life Insur- 
 ance Company, for Iowa, was born in Waterville, 
 Me., July 6, 1H38, and is a son of Tiiomas and 
 Nancy (Cottle) Bowman. On Ids father's side he 
 is of English origin, the first American ancestor 
 having emigrated from England and settled at 
 Martha's Mneyard in '.he early days of the 
 American Colonies. The maternal ancestors of tbft 
 Colonel came from Scotland long prior to the 
 Revolution and also settled at Martha's Vineyard. 
 For several generations the Bowman family were 
 seafaring people but finally abandoned that mode 
 of life, settled in Kennebec County, Me., and de- 
 voted their attention to other pursuits. 
 
 Thomas Bowman, father of our subject, was a 
 wheelwright by trade but owned a large farm 
 which was operated by hired help while he pursued 
 his trade. He removed with his family during the 
 infancy of our subject to Sidney, Me , but he died 
 a few years later leaving the mother with eight 
 young children, five sons and three daughters. 
 Soon after the death of her husband Mrs. P.ownian 
 returned with her family to Waterville, Me. She 
 kept licr children together until they were able to 
 provide for themselves and afforded them excellent 
 educational advantages. Several have become em- 
 inent in professional life and do honor to their |>a- 
 rents. The eldest son, Dr.Mcrcmiah Bowman, was a 
 physician of nuicii .ibility. He practiced for a 
 number of years in Ohio and \'irgiiiia and finally 
 settled in Flora, 111., where he died a number of 
 years ago. Rev. Augustus Iiowman was a Baptist 
 clergyman and spent his entire life in .Maine, dying 
 
 in Ibulland some years ago. Rev. C. C, the next 
 younger, is a Free-Will Baptist clergyman, residing 
 in Manchester, Me. Josei)h .1., a farmer by occu- 
 pation, resides in Ilallowell, Me,, and the Colonel is 
 the youngest of the brothers. The oldest daughter. 
 Julia Ann, is now the wife of Nelson P)Owniau 
 and resides at the old home in Sidney. Me. Adda 
 Ann, twin sister of Julia, died .at the age of eight- 
 een years. Mrs. Christania Marshall, now a widow, 
 is living in Auburn, Me. 
 
 It is with [ileasure that we turn to the immediate 
 histor}"^ of our subject for we know that in present- 
 ing this sketch to the [leople in Polk County we 
 will afford pleasure to many of our readers. He 
 received his education in the Waterville and Hallo- 
 well Academies and in his seventeenth 3'ear, left 
 his home and native State, going to Sistersville, 
 Va. where his eldest brother was then engaged in 
 the practice of medicine. Having taught two terms 
 of school he was called to Sardis. Ohio, where he 
 pursued the same profession until having decided 
 to further extend his knowledge he entered Grand- 
 villc College, now Dennison Universitjr, where he 
 remained for a year. At the expiration of that 
 time he returned to Maine and continued his stud- 
 ies in the Maine State Seminary for a short period. 
 Having received a favorable proposition from his 
 former field of labor in Virginia, he decided to re- 
 turn, and in 1859, accompanied by his mother and 
 sisters, who desired to visit friends in that State, 
 he again located in the Old Dominion and resumed 
 the profession of teaching, his school being of a pri- 
 vate academic character and attended by the sons 
 and daughters of Virginia planters. But the War 
 of the Rebellion was at hand and the mutterings 
 that liresagcl the coming storm could already' be 
 heard. 'I'he celebrated raid of John Brown at 
 Harper's Ferry which occurred soon after Mr. 
 Bowman had returned to Virginia, served to inten- 
 sify the feeling of hatred toward the North and he 
 decided to again seek a home in his native State and 
 when the war broke out he w.ascng.aged in teaching 
 the grarnmar school at Ilallowell, Me. 
 
 Mr. Bowm.an promptly offered his services in the 
 defense of the (iovernmcnt, and entered the army 
 .as a Corporfd in the First ^L^inc Cavalry, l>ut was 
 soon delacheil as Regimental (Quartermaster Ser- 
 
516 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 gcant, and on the 1st of May, 1802, was appointed 
 Regiiuental Commissar}' Sergeant. In December, 
 18G3, lie re-enlisted and was commissioned First 
 Lieutenant and Regimental Commissar}', on tlie 
 IHli of February, 18G4; was mustered into the 
 United States service on tlie 22nd of llie same 
 month. He was detailed as Commiss.iry of tlie 
 Tliird Hrigade, Second Division, of (!en. Sheridan's 
 Cavalry Corps, October 9, 1864, and on March 26, 
 18G5, was ordered to take charge of the reserve 
 supjjly train, wliich position heoccujiied until Gen. 
 Lee's surrender to Gen. Grant at Appomattox. By 
 order of Brevet-Gen. C. H. Smitii he took charge of 
 the commissarj' department of tiic sub-district of 
 the Appomattox, relieving Capt. M. A. Richard- 
 son, C. S., June 15, 1865. He remained in that ca- 
 p.aeity issuing rations to the soldiers and desti- 
 tute citizens, until he was mustered out on the 1st 
 of August, 1865, in Petersburg, Xa.. Col. Bowman 
 was engaged in active duty during the entire time 
 that he was enrolled in the service and though con- 
 nected with tlie commissary department his duties 
 were both arduous and dangerous and his position 
 a most responsible one. Ilis first important service 
 w.as at the battle of Winchester, May 25,1862. 
 This was followed by tiie engagement at Cedar 
 Mountain; the second battle of Bull Run on Au- 
 gust 29 and 30, 1862; Fredericksburg, December 
 12, 1862: Rappahannock Station, April 14, 1863; 
 Brandy Station, June 9, Aldic, June 17, Jliddle- 
 burg, June 19, Gettysburg, July 1, 2 and 3, Shep- 
 licrdstown, July 16, 1863, and in the fortifications 
 liefdic Ricliinond, March 1, 1864. On the 7tli and 
 Sth of May, 1864, an engagement occurred at 
 Todd's Taveru, which was followed by the battle 
 of Cold Harbor on the 2nd of June; Reams Station. 
 August 23,1864; Farmer's Cross Roads, April 5, 
 1865, and many others down to Ap[)omattox 
 Court House and the surrender of Gen. Lee on the 
 91 h of A|)ril, 1865. With his command Col. Bow- 
 man was then ordered to re-enforce Sherman and 
 went to North Carolina with that object in view 
 but Johnston had surrendered to Gen. Slicmian 
 and the war was over. 
 
 As stated. Col. Bowman's service was an impor- 
 tant and hazardous one. He was fr''<piontly ap- 
 piiinlcd liv the general in coinm.'ind to lake part in 
 
 in scouting enterprises and never shrank from dutj' 
 however responsible or perilous. It would be im- 
 possible in a biographical sketch of this character 
 to enter fully into all tiie details of his army expe- 
 perience, but the following account from the pub- 
 lisiied history of the First Maine Cavalry illustrates 
 his gallantry and coolness in the hour of danger. 
 This is but one of the man}' thrilling experiences 
 that he underwent during his army life, and is re- 
 corded in Gen. Polk's campaign in 1862; "On the 
 night of August 22, 1862, Sergeant Bowman, then 
 Cr)mmissary Sergeant and subsequently Lieutenant 
 and Commissary was at Catlett's Station, where he 
 was in consultation with the brig.ade commissary 
 and quartermaster, with reference to taking rations 
 to the front on the following morning, when sud- 
 denl}', to the surprise of ever}' one, for there was 
 no apprehension of danger, the train was attacked 
 by Gen. Stuart's cavalry which had swung round 
 the Union Army and was making a rapid raid at 
 this point, a raid well remembered by Gen. Polk's 
 forces. The attack was so furious and so well fol- 
 lowed up that there was no time to harness the 
 teams and barely time for these officers and a third 
 one to secure their horses and mount, which they 
 did though surrounded and amid a shower of bul- 
 lets. They escaped capture by plunging into the 
 woods with the bullets whistling around them in a 
 lively manner. Then oStne a wild ride through the 
 woods in llie darkness, dodging among tiie br.anche.s 
 of trees and going they knew not whither. Finally, 
 thinking it best to know what had taken place be- 
 fore they went farther, Sergeant Bowman consented 
 to return and ascertain, the other officers to wait for 
 him four hours. He had but started when a ter- 
 rific thunder storm began, but tliis proved to be to 
 ilis advantage as the flashes of lightning helped 
 liim on his way. Riding until he heard tiie sounds 
 of the enemy he left his horse and advanced on 
 foot until lie could see the foe busily breaking open 
 boxes, for whatever they could find. Soon he heard 
 a movement in his rear and the same instant was 
 ordered to hall; but not choosing to obey, a bullet 
 was sent after liim to enforce tlip order. He eluded 
 ilis foe. found his horse and was up and aw.ay, 
 liastily pursued by the enemy. He reached his 
 wailing friends but tiie eiiciii}- was close behind, 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 517 
 
 lie and his friends were forced to llec. and linally 
 csenped unharmed, remaining concealed until day- 
 light, and then finding their wa^- to the Union 
 forces." The Colonel was a gallant soldier and 
 served his country faithfully and well until the 
 end of the struggle. 
 
 At the close of the war Col. liownian returned 
 with his regiment to Maine and was mustered out 
 in Augusta, going thence to Boston, Mass., where 
 he conducted a market until the spring of 186C, 
 when he came to Iowa, locating in Newton, Jasper 
 Count}'. For a time he engaged in the hardware 
 business and in the spring of 18G7, was appointed 
 a special agent for the Washington Life Insurance 
 Company, which position he held until the spring 
 of 1 870, when he resigned and accepted the gen- 
 eral agency of the Brooklyn Life Insurance Com- 
 pany, of New York, for Iowa. After working for 
 that compan}- eleven months and sending them a 
 large amount of new business, he accepted the gen- 
 eral agency of his former company and removed 
 to Des Moines, in June, 1870, opening an offic* 
 and has held that position for the State of Iowa 
 continuously since. After- his arrival in Iowa, he 
 was commissioned Lieutenant-Colonel on the staff 
 of Govs. Gear and Sherman. 
 
 On the 1st of January, 18fi4, Col. Bowman was 
 married in Charleston, (now a part of Boston) 
 Mass., to Miss Josephine Webber, a native of 
 Maine, who died in November, 1881. Of the eight 
 children born of their m.arriage, three died in in- 
 fancy. Those still living are Leona, De Forrest, 
 Harold M., Herman T. and Josephine Beatrice. 
 The Colonel was a second time married in Chicago, 
 .huuiaiy, 13, 1886, his second union being with 
 Miss Hatlie L. Stanard, and on their fourth wed- 
 ding anniversary, he was again bereft by death of 
 a loved wife. Two children were born of this 
 marriage —Dean Cottle and Hattie Corinne. From 
 a biographical sketch published soon after the 
 death of the wife and mother, the following 
 facts are taken: "Mrs. Hattie I^. Bowman, wife 
 of Col. M. T. \. Bowman, was born in Clarrion, 
 liureau County, 111., April 24, 1852. She received 
 most cxceller.t moral and religious training from 
 her i)arents and united with the Baptist (Church 
 at the age of twelve years. When fourteen years 
 
 of age she entered the State Schoul at Normal, 
 III., where for two years she was preparing for the 
 the work of teaching, and at the age of sixteen 
 ye.ars began her labors in that direction in Charles- 
 ton, III. During her second year at Charleston, 
 she was tendered and accepted a situation in Little 
 Rock, Ark., where she remained nearly' three years, 
 when she came to Des Moines where she taught for 
 one year. The greater part of her work as a teacher, 
 however, was in Omaha, Neb., where she taught for 
 ten years, and during the last seven j'ears of that 
 time was princii)al of the South school. The sum- 
 mer of 1873, she spent in tr.-iveling in Europe, 
 going abroad as a representative of the School 
 Journal. She visited England and Scotland and 
 also spent some time on the continent. She pos- 
 sessed fine executive abilit}', was enthusiastic and 
 conscientious .and consequently was most successful 
 in her work. Severe Ir.bor tending to impair her 
 health she resigned her position in Omaha and in 
 company with her brother, H. A. Stanard, spent 
 about two years on a farm which she had pre- 
 viously bought, near Madison, Neb. She brought 
 to the home of her husband the graces of a cultured 
 mind, refined tastes and a devoted Christian char- 
 acter. Her death wiis an irreparable loss to her 
 husband and family and to all who knew her a 
 source of sincere sorrow." 
 
 Col. Bowman has been very successful as a l>us- 
 iness man having been connected with numerous im- 
 portant" business enterprises of Des Moines. During 
 1881 and 1882, he held the First Vice-Presidency 
 of the Iowa Baptist State Convention, and during 
 1883 and 1881, was the President of that organiza- 
 tion, was re-elected in 1885, but resigned, when J. 
 W. Burdctte, of Burlington, Iowa, was chosen in his 
 stead. He has been a Director of the Iowa Na- 
 tional ISiiiik since its organization, and for elevi'u 
 years w.is a member of the Committee on Loans 
 and Discounts. He is the First Vice-President of the 
 Des Moines Ice Company, a Director of the Clifton 
 Heights Land Company, also Director of the first 
 Electric l{:iilroad of Des Moines, and he has been 
 lirombiently eonnecteil with other business enter- 
 [iriscs. lie is a charier member of Crocker Post, 
 served as its second Commander and is a member 
 of the Iowa Comm indcry of the order of the L(i\al 
 
518 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Legion of llie United States. He has been a mem- 
 ber of the Older of Masonry for many years and is 
 a proniJMeiit Knight Temiilar. In educational 
 matters the Colonel has always taken a lively inter- 
 terest, having been a member of the Executive 
 Board of I)es jMoines Tniversit}' (now Des Moines 
 College) ft))' eleven years, anil was President of the 
 general board one year, when he re.signcd. 
 
 Col. Bowman has madf his wa>' in life unaided, 
 .■uid he has won the respect and confidence of his 
 fellow citizens, by whom he is esteemed for his in- 
 tegrity and u|)rightncss of character. Politically 
 he is a Heimblican. and i eligiously is a member of 
 the First Baptist Church of Des INFoines. 
 
 EACON WILLIAM 11. IIRXDRICKS, 
 one of the prominent early settlers of the 
 ,»J1^ Caifitnl City, and one who is well worthy of 
 representation in this volume, whose mis- 
 sion is to record the lives of those who have been 
 identified with its history, was born in Shelby 
 County. Ind., on the 21st of October, 1827, and is 
 of(;erman descent. His great-grandfather, . I oseph 
 Hendricks, emigrated from German}' to America in 
 an early day, settling in Maryland, where Peter 
 Hendricks, the grandfather, was born. He became 
 one of the early settlers of Kentucky and later of 
 Indiana, removing to the latter State when there 
 were fewer white men than Indians within its bor- 
 ders. The homes of the settlers were block houses, 
 most substantially built in order to protect them 
 against the depredations of the red men. Peter 
 Hendricks served in the War of 1812, under Gen. 
 Harrison. 
 
 The father of our subject, Landon N. Hendricks, 
 w:\s born in Kentucky in 1802, and in his native 
 State wedded Drucilla Hardesty, who w.as born Oc- 
 tober 2'.i, 1807. and belonged to one of the earliest 
 families of that State. In 182(!, they removed to 
 Slielbj' County, Ind., locating on a small farm, but 
 on account of thcsickness of the family were forced 
 to leave that region and located in .Johnson County, 
 Ind., where Mr. Hendricks has m.ade his permanent 
 home. With the assistance of ids sons he cleared 
 
 and developed a farm of six hundred acres which 
 he still owns. Both he and his wife are yet living 
 and their record is almost without a parallel, they 
 having traveled life's journey together as man and 
 wife for more than sixty-five years. They have 
 witnessed almost the entire growth of the State of 
 Indiana, having shared in the hardships and trials 
 of pioneer life, but overcoming those disadvan 
 tages have met with prosperity and in their old age 
 have a competence which enables them to live a 
 retired life enjoying the fruits of former toil. 
 Their pioneer record would, were it written in 
 detail, form a story of thrilling interest but space 
 forbids us to mention more than a few particulars 
 of their manner of living at that time. The land 
 which Mr. Hendricks secured was originally cov- 
 ered with a dense growth of trees and shrubs which 
 had to be cleared awa}- ere planting could begin. 
 The deer were so numerous that in order to keep 
 them from eating up the first crop of corn, the 
 mother would take her spinning wheel into the 
 corn field, where, sitting on a stump, she would 
 frighten the deer away, spinning and singing the 
 while. Their nearest neighbor w.as a brother of 
 Mr. Hendricks who lived some three miles away 
 and the city of Franklin was composed of only 
 two houses. 
 
 In the family were ten children, seven sons and 
 three daughters, the eldest of whom was our sub- 
 ject. William II.; James H. died June 24, 1852; 
 S. B. is living in Franklin, Ind.; Mary J., died 
 September 23, 1887; Thomas resides in Johnson 
 County, Ind.; John G. served in the .Seventeenth 
 Indiana Regiment four years, and makes his home 
 in Franklin, Ind.; Amanda is the wife of George 
 Early wine of Franklin, Ind.; George W., who en- 
 listed in the Fifteenth Indiana Battery serving four 
 j'ears, is now a resident of Spokane Falls, Wash.; 
 Martha is the wife of Joseph l'>arlywine. of Madi- 
 son Count}', Ind.; and Willis makes his home in 
 Brown County. Ind. Mr. and Mrs. Hendricks 
 have been life-long members of the Bajjlist Church 
 and arc held in the highest regard by the people of 
 the community where they have so long resided. 
 
 William Hendricks, whose name heads this 
 sketch, was reared in the wilds of Indiana, amid 
 the hardships incident to pioneer life. His summer 
 
Portrait and biographical album. 
 
 519 
 
 monlhs he spent in assisting his father in the hibois 
 of llie farm, while in the winter he attended the 
 district schools. His educational course was begun 
 in a rude log schoolhouse, wiih |)unchcon Uoor and 
 mud and stick chininc}'. Tlie windows were formed 
 Ijy cutting out a portion of the log and over the 
 aperture pasting oiled paper. However he received 
 the training of Christian parents and their teachings 
 have Dever been foigotten. Tiic lessons of moral- 
 ity, sobriety and honesty early instilled into his 
 mind have remained with liim as safeguards 
 against the temptations of life and have made him 
 an honored man among the many. Having arrived 
 at years of maturity, he was united in marriage 
 on the 13th of June, 1852. with Miss Martlia Mills, 
 who was born in Kentuciiy, November 28, 1819, 
 and is a daughter of Willis and Elizabeth Mills, 
 who were natives of the same State. 
 
 The previous j'ear Mr. Hendricks had visited 
 Des ]\Ioines, then an insignificant village, giving 
 little promise of its present greatness and prosper- 
 ity. He crossed the Des Moines River on a float- 
 ing bridge but after viewing the town decided to 
 wait some time ere be made a, location. In the 
 spring of 1857, howeyer, lie canK! witli his family 
 to Polk County and located on a farm near Rising 
 Sun, whence he afterwards removed to Adair 
 County. Thei-e were only a few settlers in the 
 county at that time. He afterwards assisted in its 
 organization, became the Second Assessor and also 
 held the offices of Justice of the Peace and School 
 Treasurer. His residence in Des Moines dates from 
 1869, covering the continuous period of twenty-one 
 years. He has been engaged in the stock business 
 and also in the grocery trade but is now livi]ig a 
 retired life in the enjoyment of the fruits of former 
 toil. 
 
 At the age of sixteen years Mr. Ilendi'lcUs was 
 converted anil became a nieniber of the Baptist 
 Ciiureh. He was one of ths organizeis of the 
 church of that denomination on the east side and 
 served as a member of tiie Building Committee 
 during tiie erection of the [nesent house of worship. 
 He was also one of its first Trustees and has servi'd 
 as Deacon for the past fifteen years. His wife is a 
 consistent member of the Methodist Chnrcii. I'.oth 
 have lived earnest, upright Christian lives, doing 
 
 all in tlieir power for the advancement of the Mas- 
 ter's cause and sustaining cacii other by their co- 
 oiieration in the work. To tiie poor and needy 
 they are ever ready to extend a helping hand, doing 
 it for Him to whom is due all glory, both here and 
 above. 
 
 — V 
 
 -^ 
 
 ^p^lOTTLIKB F. SPIKTH, junior member of 
 ill ^m) ^'"^ '""'" ^'' Phitt & Si)ieth, liianufacturers 
 ^^^11 of plows, was born in "Wurtemburg, Ger- 
 many, September 27, 1843, and is a son of John 
 and Louisa (Bentel) Spieth, both of whom were 
 born and lived throughout life in that same 
 Province. The father was a farmer and owner of 
 a large vineyard. His family consisted of a wife 
 and four children, but our subject is the only one 
 who ever left his native land. 
 
 As soon as he was old enough, when not in 
 school, Gottlieb assisted his father in tilling the 
 farm and dressing the vineyard. He received a 
 good education in the German language, and since 
 his ai rival in this countiy has become conversant 
 with the English. In 18(50 he left his home and na- 
 tive land to become the founder of a family in the 
 New World. Having spent one year in (Jliio, he 
 came to Des JMoines in 1867, and in this city 
 learned the blacksmith's trade. The nest year he 
 began working for C. D. Pratt, father of his pres- 
 ent partner, who was engaged in the manufactuie 
 of [)lows in Des Moines from a very early day. He 
 remained with his employer until 1876, when, in 
 company with his present partner, they purchased 
 the establishment, which they have since owned 
 and controlled. They do the most extensive busi- 
 ness in their line in the city and have a wide repu- 
 taliiin. 
 
 In 187C Mr. Spietii was united in marriage with 
 Miss Maggie Bowman, a native of Oliio, and unto 
 them have been born two children, John W. 
 and Florence. Mr. Spieth takes considerable in- 
 terest in local politics and is a stanch supporter 
 of Republican priciples. He is now numbered 
 among the old settlers of Des Moines and is one of 
 its representative citizens. Although he came to 
 this country in limited ciicumstanccs, he has by in- 
 
520 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 dustry and close application to business become the 
 proprietor of one of the leading industries of the 
 Capital City, as well as having secured for himself 
 and family a comfortable home. 
 
 ^^ 
 
 ^^^^EOHGE C. JEFFRIES, one of the most 
 (fif , — worthy citizens of Des Moines, passed away 
 ^\^(( on the 14th of December, 1881. His death 
 was n source of deep regret to many, and well may 
 it have been, for he was ever prominent in public 
 affairs and made friends wherever he went. He 
 was born in Grayson (,'ounty, Ky.. on the 4th of 
 August, 1819, and was a son of William and Susan 
 (Keller) Jeffries, who emigrated with their family 
 to Coles County. 111., June 1, 1830. George was 
 then eleven years of age. After a short time, how- 
 ever, he removed to Galena, III., and thence went 
 to IJurlington, Iowa, ere the Territory had been 
 transformed inio a State. In that cit}' he became 
 acquainted with an<l married ^lary Cady, their 
 union being celebrated on the Ctli of March, 1845. 
 The lady, a native of Warren County, Ohio, was 
 burn March 12, 1820, and is a (laughter of Cliarles 
 and JIary Cady. both of whom were natives of 
 Pennsylvania. She was the eldest of seven chil- 
 dren, six of whom lived to adult age; David, the 
 next younger, served as a soldier in the Mexican 
 War and died of cholera in St. Louis while on his 
 way home; Sibilena is the wife of S. J. Eads, of 
 r.urlington, lowii; William L., who served with 
 honor through the Ucbellion and was in the front 
 ranks at the limes of the ca|)tiire of Ft. Donelson 
 and Corinth; Charles, a resident of Des Moines, 
 also served in the late war; Thomas 11. makes his 
 home in this city and is the 3'oungesl of the fam- 
 ily. Mr. and Mrs. Cady were among the early set- 
 tlers of this cit}'. In 1840 they removed to Henry 
 County, Iowa, locating on land near New London, 
 where thej' made for themselves a home, there con- 
 tinuing their residence until called from this life. 
 The death of Mr. Cady occurrei.1 in l.sio. and his 
 wife died on the 1st of January, 1817. 
 
 The (irsl ten years of their married life Mr. and 
 Mrs. Jeffries spent in Burlington, luwa, and in 
 
 1855 came to this city. East Des Moines had not 
 yet sprang into existence, a wilderness marking the 
 site of that present beautiful and populous portion 
 of the Capital City. Both took an active interest 
 in such enterprises as tended to promote the 
 general welfare, and in 18.5G, with five others, or- 
 ganized the first Methodist Church on the East side 
 and secured the Rev. W. H. I'lemings as pastor. 
 In jjolitical sentiment Mr. .leffries was first a Whig 
 and afterwards a Republican. He was also a mem- 
 ber of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, 
 served as Past tirand and several times repre- 
 sented his lodge in the Grand Loilge. 
 
 The union of Mr. and Mrs. Jeffries was blessed 
 with ten children, as follows: Charles W., who 
 served his country in the late war, is now a resi- 
 dent of Denver, Colo.; David T. is living in 
 GriuH's, Iowa; Mary S. is the wife of Orville Row- 
 ley, of Crawford County, Iowa; George C. makes 
 his home in Audubon County, Iowa; S^-bil C, a 
 te.acher of much abilit}-, is employed as principal 
 of one of the |mblic schools of Des Moines; .Sarah 
 A., a widow, is also engaged in teaching in this 
 city; .Simeon J. is a resident of Denver, Colo.; 
 Elizabetli J., a widow, is the family manager of the 
 Industrial School in Mitchellville, Iowa; John J. 
 makes his home in Denver. Colo.; and Henry T. 
 
 Mr. Jeffries, father of this family, lived a useful 
 and upright life, and was one of the representative 
 citizens of Des Moines. A true and devoted hus- 
 band and father, an accommodating friend, a loyal 
 citizen and a consistent Christian, he won the re- 
 gard and high esteem of all with whom he came in 
 contact. Mrs. Jeffries slill makes her lunue in Des 
 Moines, where she has a large circle of friends and 
 accpiaintances. 
 
 G GEORGE H. LEWIS, President of the Lewis 
 — Investment Con)pany and senior partner in 
 Sj the law firm of Lewis A- Royal, has been a 
 resident of Des Moines since 1871. He was burn 
 in New Britain, Hartford County, Conn., in 1842, 
 and is the son of George Lewis, who belonged to 
 cue of the early families of Connecticut. Our sub. 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALI5UM. 
 
 521 
 
 ject |)assed the days of his boyhood and youth in 
 his native State an<l early in life began a prepara- 
 tory college course at Kllington, Conn., wliich he 
 hitor continued at Willislon Seminary, in East 
 Ilauipton, Mass. Tiie war of tlie Rebellion, how- 
 ever, came on and in Se[)tember. 1862, before he 
 had finished his preparatory course, he laid aside 
 his school-books and doiuied the blue, entering the 
 arm}' as a member of Company- F, Fourteenth 
 Connecticut Infantry. The lirst battle in which he 
 was engaged was that ot Antielam on the 17th of 
 September, 1862. In this contest, one of the se- 
 verest engagements of the war, he was severely 
 wounded in the left shoulder and confined to the 
 hospital for a considerable length of time. He re- 
 juined his regiment a week previous to the battle of 
 Fredericksburg, where the Union troops under 
 command of (!en. Burnside, were repulsed by the 
 Confederates, whooccui)ied an almost impregnable 
 position. In this battle the Fourteenth Connecti- 
 cut took a most important [)art, u.aking the fa- 
 mous charge at Mary's Heights. In this charge 
 Mr. Lewis was permanently disabled, receiving a 
 severe wotuul in his left knee which disabled him 
 for further duty and in the fall of 1863, he left the 
 service. 
 
 Returning to his native State, Mr. Lewis com- 
 pleted his preparation fur college and entered Yale 
 in 1861, graduating from that celebrated instilu- 
 tion with high honor in the class of 1868. For a 
 year following his graduation he was engaged in 
 teaching near New Haven. The year 186!) wit- 
 nessed his ariival in Iowa anil for two 3'ears he 
 held the [jusition of principal of the pre|)aratory 
 department of the Iowa College, at Grinnell, but 
 he had long before decided to enter upon the |iro- 
 fession of law and engaged in teaching only as 
 a temporary pursuit. However, he was a most 
 successful educator and his [lopularity in Grinnell 
 is indicated by the fact that the Lewis Literary So- 
 ciety, of that instiluliou, was named in his honor 
 after he had severed hjs connection with the col- 
 lege. As already staled. Mi'. Lewis came to Des 
 Moines in 1871, and the following year formed a 
 law partnership with Galnsha Parsons, a- well-known 
 lawyer of Des .Moines, wliiyh connection continued 
 about eight years. The law firm of Lewis A- Ro^al 
 
 was formed in 1882. As its members are both able 
 legal practitioners, only a short time was necessary 
 to secure to the firm a liberal patronage which it 
 still retains, but of later years the senior partner has 
 been devoting considerable attention to other lines 
 of work. In the fall of 1881, the firm of George H. 
 Lewis & Co., was organized to carr^' on the business 
 of loaning on real estate and dealing in bonds and 
 other negotiable securities. In 1886 the Lewis 
 Investment Company was incorporated with Mr. 
 Lewis as President, as successor t j tlie above firm, a 
 position which he still holds. With such !ui able bus- 
 iness man at its head its success was almost assured 
 from the first, but it has even prospered more than 
 was anticipated by its incor[)orators. The business 
 done bj' the company is large and forms one of the 
 leading euter|)rises of the city. 
 
 In the Km|)ire State, in the .•lutunin of 186'.), Mr. 
 Lewis was united in marriage with Miss Elmina 
 Bueli, a native of the town of Sherburne, Che- 
 nango Count}', N. Y.. and three children grace 
 their union — Anna Newton, Harry Buell and Lucy 
 Gager. 
 
 Mr. Lewis is on(! of the representative citizens of 
 Des Moines and ever i)rominent in whatever tends 
 to promote the best interests of the city. In his 
 political sentiments he is a supi)orter of the Re|)nb- 
 lican party, but has never asidred to public ullice, 
 preferring to devote his entire atlention to his bus- 
 iness interests. However, he for two years served 
 as Alderman at largs for the west side and was in- 
 Huential in promoting many nee(ied improvements 
 wdiilc occufiying that p'jsition. He and his wile 
 and three children are members of the Congrega- 
 tional Church. 
 
 ^OllN BKIAR LOlUillRAN, proprietor of 
 the foundry on First and West Locust Streets, 
 was born in Wheeling, W.X'a., November 
 16. 18')4, and his father, Edniuiul Lough- 
 ran, was a native of Armah, Province of I'lster, 
 Ireland, born June ■!(), l.s.">2. He received a good 
 common-scliool education, Armah being the great 
 seat of learning during the miildle ages, and there 
 
522 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 King Alfred of England received his literary 
 training. Mr. Loughran resided not far from the 
 city, but ere he w:is old enough to attend college 
 he emigrated to America. His father died when 
 he was an infant, and in 1848 his mother, accom- 
 l)anicd by three sons and a daughter, came to this 
 country, locating in Wheeling, AV.Va., where Ed- 
 mund learned the moulder's trade and was reared 
 to manhood. In February, 1854, he married .Sarah 
 A. liriar, who vvas also born near Arniah, Ireland, 
 and was some two j'ears her husband's junior. In 
 1856 they removed to New York City, and the 
 following j'ear Mr. Loughran came to Des Moines, 
 where he was joined bj' his family in 1859. For 
 many years he followed his trade, but is now deal- 
 ing in agricultural imijlemenls in Ames, Iowa. 
 During the late war he served nearly two years in 
 the First Iowa Battery, going with Sherman from 
 Chattanooga to Atlanta, and after the capture of 
 that city joined Thomas at Nashville, Tenn. He is 
 a Republican in politics, a member of the Grand 
 Army of the Republic, and a zealous worker in the 
 I'nited Presbyterian Church, as is also his wife. 
 Their family consists of eight children, one liaving 
 died, and in tlie order of birth are as follows: 
 Jolm r>.. Sarah M., Ednuiud .1.. Ste|)h('n L., Thomas 
 .1., Jane E., William B. and Mary M. 
 
 .1. B. Louglirau, whose name hea<ls liiis notice, 
 landed in Des Moines from the steamboat "Colonel 
 Morgan," in 185'J. He w.is reaied in the Capital 
 City of Iowa, and when not in school spent liis 
 boyhood days in his uncle S. .1. Loughran's foun- 
 dry. His i)rimary education, acquired in the pub- 
 lic schools, nas sui)|>lemented by a course in 
 Bowen's Business College, where he pursued such 
 studies as would prove useful in a business career. 
 He si)ent the year 18i)l» in the liullclin ollice, 
 learning the printer's trade, and in 1871 began 
 learning the moulder's trade in his uncle's foundry, 
 conlinuing there to serve in various cai)aeities 
 until lK8;i, when he became a member of the Arm. 
 The business was started in 185(J b\- S. .1. Lough- 
 ran, since which time it has been in active opera- 
 tion, ami was the second I'nundry established in 
 the cit}'. In 1890 our subject took charge and is 
 now sole proprietor. 
 Mr. Loughran was married November I I, 1878, 
 
 to Sarah A. Harbison, a native of Warren County, 
 Iowa, born July 1. 1800, and a daughter of John 
 Harbison. The^y have one son, Edmund H., and 
 lost one, John II.. who died at the age of three 
 years. He was the eldest. The parents are mem- 
 bers of the United Presbyterian Church, and in 
 politics, Mr. Loughran is a Republican. He has 
 been honored with the oflSce of Mayor of North 
 Des Moines during three terms, and proved an 
 eflicient and popular public servant, as his re-elec- 
 tion indicates. He has alwaj-s taken an active in- 
 terest in church and school work, and h:is made 
 for himself man}- friends throughout the commu- 
 nity. 
 
 I EV. A. H. SHAFER, of Des Moines, was 
 born in Preston County, W. Va., July 31, 
 'J|^ 182;5, and is the son of John and Mary 
 (Dix) Shafer. On the paternal side he is 
 of German descent, while the Dix family is of Eng- 
 lish origin. His Grandfather Shafer was a Vir- 
 ginian farmer and his father was born near 
 .Morganlown, Aa., October 10, 1797. His mother 
 was born on the 11th of November, 1800, in the 
 Old ])oniinion. and her father followed the occu- 
 pation of coopering, 'i'lieir marriage was cele- 
 brated on the 6tli of January, 1820, and after 
 having resided in their native State for thirty-seven 
 years they removed to Jasper County, Iowa, where 
 they s|ient the remainder of their lives. Mr. Shafer 
 wiis a local preacher in the .^lethodist Eiiiscopal 
 Church, of which Ijolb he and his wife had been 
 niend)ers from childhood. They reached a rijjc 
 old age and passed away as they had lived, re- 
 si)ected by all who knew them, 'i'heir family num- 
 bered ten children, five sons and five ilaughters, of 
 whom four sons and three daughters ai'e now living. 
 Our subject is the only member of the family 
 who has followed a })rofessional career. He was 
 reared to farm life but determined to devote his 
 energies to other interests and chose the minis- 
 try as the one in which he believed he could ac- 
 acconiplish the most good. His early educational 
 advantages were very meagre though he attended 
 an academy for about a 3'ear and a half. He had 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 525 
 
 been converted in his fifteenth year under the 
 preaching of David Hess and as best he could, liad 
 prcpiired himself for gos|)el work. AVhen .ibout figb- 
 teen yuars of age he \Yas licensed as a local preacher, 
 and in 1846, located in Edinburg, Ind. In October, 
 of tlie same}"ear, in Connorsville he joined the Indi- 
 ana Conference and was appointed [lastor of the 
 church in Shelbyville. He then had charge of 
 Sugar Creek Circuit and was next called to Frank- 
 lin, after which, on the 4th of Julj', 1851, he 
 landed in Iowa, locating in Newton, Jasper County. 
 In tlie fall of the same year he was placed in 
 charge of the Red Rock Mission and in 1852, went 
 to California, being stationed at Santa Cruz, Bux- 
 porl. Eureka and Toll Gate. Returning to Iowa 
 in 185G, he engaged in farming for a short time 
 and thcH joined the Iowa Conference, after which 
 he was engaged as pastor of the church in Newton 
 for two j'cars, Grinnell two years,' Peoria one year, 
 Albia Station one year and one year in Galesburg. 
 After entering the I)es IMoines Conference in 1866, 
 he was assigned to the cliurch at Glen wood, wiierc 
 he remained a year, was then engaged in proclaim- 
 ing the gospel to the people in Clarinda for two 
 years, later spent one year in Indianola and tlie 
 same length of time in Greencastle. He was tiien 
 numbered among the supernumeraries for two 
 years, when he received a call from Prairie City, 
 where he remained two years. After a like period 
 spent in Monroe he had charge of the Des Moines 
 Circuit two years and was pastor of Asbury Ciiapel 
 two years. He built and remained pastor of 
 Grace Church for a year, later labored in tiie in- 
 terest of the church in Rising Sun, was then pastor 
 of the Walnut Street Church and is now City Mis- 
 sionary. For twenty years he has never been absent 
 from his place of duty on the Lord's Day, with llie 
 exception of one Sunday wlien detained by sickness. 
 On the 29th of March, 1853, while in the far 
 West, Rev. A. II. Shafer was united in marriage 
 with Clarissa Wallace, a native of Fujelte C<ninty, 
 Pa. Their union was celebrated in Santa Clara, 
 Cal. Tliiy have no children of tlieir own Ijut have 
 reared two adopted daugiiters — Mary A., now the 
 wife of William M. Reasoner, of Tojieka, Kan,; 
 and Clara E. S.. wife of C. W. Fry, of Jasi)er 
 County, Iowa. 
 
 In political sentiment, Mr. Shafer is a Republi- 
 can, and for thirty years has been connecled with 
 the Masonic fraternity. He is still interested in 
 agricultnre and liesidts his farm proi)erty owns one 
 and a quarter acres in Des Moines. Few more 
 faithful workers have ever been with the ministry. 
 For forty-four years he has devoted himself to that 
 work, while one-half of the time h.as been spent in 
 the Des Moines district. He has lived the life of 
 uprightness and honor, gaining the love of his own 
 people and the respect and confidence of all with 
 whom he has been brought in contact. His words 
 of encouragement and sympathy and his genial 
 manner have been im|)ortant factors in the work 
 which he has accomplished, winning many to his 
 views and the .acceptance of the gospel who could 
 not have been induced to take the step through 
 preaching alone. 
 
 
 L^l.— ' 
 
 IDWARD T. TWINING, M. D., of Des 
 
 Moines, is a native of the Buckeye State, 
 and a descendant of one of the early fami- 
 lies of Massachusetts, the original American ances- 
 tor having settled in the Bay State during its early 
 Colonial days. His father was E. W. Twining, 
 who is now a resident of Corning, Iowa. Leaving 
 Ohio, in 1846, he emigrated to this State, in com- 
 pany with his family, and settled in Washington 
 County, whence he moved to his present houie. 
 Ills wife, the mother of our subject, is now de- 
 ceased. 
 
 The Doctcr is the eldest of three Ijrothers, the 
 second being L. Twining, of Des Moines; while 
 the youngest. Dr. J. L., is engaged in the practice 
 of medicine in Adams County, Iowa. Our sub- 
 ject w.as but two years of age when the family set- 
 tled in W.ashingtou County, and since that time he 
 hrs made his home in this State. He received his 
 liteiary education in the schools of Washington, 
 Iowa, and in that city began reading medicine in 
 1858, under the direction of Dr. .1. J. Rousseau, 
 lie was graduated from the Chicago IMedical Col- 
 lege, in 18GG. and for the year preceding and the 
 year following that date held the jtosition of house 
 
526 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 surgeon iu the Cook County Hospital, of Cliicago. 
 He then opened an oHice at his own home in 
 Washington, where lie engaged in practice until 
 1872, which year witnessed his removal to Cor- 
 ning, Iowa. He succeeded in there building up a 
 good practice, but severed his business relations 
 with the people of Corning in 1885, when he came 
 to Des Jloines. 
 
 The marriage of Dr. Twining and his estimable 
 wife, whose maiden name was Florence C. Conger, 
 was celebrated in Washington. The lady is a 
 daughter of J. C. Conger, who is numbered among 
 the pioneers of Washington County. They Lave 
 become the parents of two sons and two daughters, 
 namely: Lenore, Luella, Clark and Howard. 
 
 Dr. Twining has a fine practice and has proved 
 himself worthy of the (ontidence and high esteem 
 in which he is held. He is rii)e with years of ex- 
 perience, and although more than twenty years 
 have passed since he left college, he is still abreast 
 of the times, as he makes his profession a stud}' 
 that he will not comi)lele until he lays aside his 
 labors in that direction. 
 
 ►^ 
 
 
 EDWARD TURBY, President of the Des 
 Moines Coal and Mining Company, and 
 one of the prominent business men of the 
 county, resides in Sevastopol. He was born in 
 Pennsylvania, September 3, 1815, and belongs to 
 a famil\- of seven children, whose parents were 
 Richard and Mary (Markle) Turby. His father 
 was a native of Ireland, but at an carl}- day emi- 
 grated to this countrj' and settled in Pennsylvania, 
 where ho became acquainted with and married 
 Miss Markle, a native of the Keystone State, born 
 of Scotch parentage. They spent their entire mar- 
 ried life ir. that State, the husband dying in 1884, 
 the wife in 1888. Of their children, live are now 
 living: William and James of Pennsylvania; Ed- 
 ward, of this sketch; Lewis, of Des Moines; and 
 Timothy, of Pennsylvania. 
 
 Edward Turl)}- for a number of years has occu- 
 pied a prominent place in business circles in the 
 Ca|)ital City, and as his circle of friends and ac- 
 
 quaintances is quite extensive, we feel that this 
 brief sketch of his life will be received with 
 pleasure by many of our readers. He attended the 
 comuion schools in his j'outh, and remained at 
 home with his parents until eighteen j'cars of age, 
 when, in January, 18G3, he started out in life for 
 himself, as a defender of his country. Enlisting 
 in the One Hundred and Twelfth Pennsylvania 
 Heavy Artiller}', with his command he was sta- 
 tioned at Ft. Ethan Allen for about a month, and 
 thence went to Alexandria, where for a time tliey 
 did garrison duty. Joining the Ninth Corps, tliey 
 afterward participated in the battles of the Wil- 
 derness and were fighting almost continuously from 
 that time until the battle of Petersburg, where 
 I they remained until the close of the war. ISpott- 
 I sylvauia and Cold Harbor were two important 
 engagements in which they took part during that 
 time. Mr. Turby received some slight flesh 
 wounds but otherwise cscoped uninjured. After 
 remaining six months at Petersburg he went to 
 Philadelphia, where he was honorabl}' discharged 
 as corporal. 
 
 The war having closed, Mr. Turby returned to 
 his home in Bloomsburg, Pa., where he worked at 
 various occupations until 1875, when he went to 
 Texas, but after two weeks spent in that State, he 
 returned to the North. His choice of location fell 
 upon Des Moines, which had then become a city 
 of importance, and therebj- I'olk Count}' gained a 
 valued citizen. For about six years he was en- 
 gaged in mining coal for the Watson Company, 
 after which he worked for other companies until 
 he was elected President of the Des Jloines Coal 
 and Mining Company, which office he held for six 
 months. He then accepted the jwsition of Super- 
 intendent of the Garver Coal Comi)any, which he 
 filled about two and one-half years, when he was 
 again made President of the Des Moiucs Coal and 
 Mining Compan}', in which capacity he has since 
 served. 
 
 In November, 1885, Mr. Turby was united in 
 marriage with Annie Rees, daughter of Daniel 
 and Ruth (Bailess) Hees, both of whom were na- 
 tives of Wales. They were also believers in the 
 Mormon doctrine, to which they were converted 
 in the old country, but never joined that i>eople 
 
PORTRAIT AND KIOGUAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 527 
 
 in Utah. Mr. Rees acted as mining mauager for 
 different companies until his deatli, which occurred 
 in January, 1886. His wife is still living and re- 
 sides in Des Moines. Unto them were born ten 
 children, as follows: .Toseph. Annie. Daniel, James, 
 Evan, Lottie, George, Frank, Winnie and Harry. 
 Mr. Turby and his wife have two children, 
 Winnie and Edwaril. Jr. In politics, our subject 
 is a Republican, having cast his ballot with that 
 party since attaining his majority, and socially, is 
 a member of the Masonic fraternity, of Des 
 Moines. He was a gallant soldier, is a loyal citi- 
 zen and has proven a capable and faithful ofBcer, 
 as his re-election to the position of President of the 
 Des Moines Coal and Mining Company plainly 
 indicates. 
 
 YLVESTER A. MONTIS, President of llic 
 Northwestern ,Susi)ender Comiiany, and 
 IIV^^I one of the self-made men of Des Moines, 
 was born in Richland Count3% < )hio, Jan- 
 uary 3, 1848, and is a son of Cieorge and Rosanna 
 (McGarvey) Montis. His father is a native of 
 Ohio, and a mechanic by trade. When the war 
 broke out he responded to the call for one hundred 
 d.ty men and served during the time for wiiich he 
 enlisted. He still makes his home in Mansfield, 
 Ohio, at the age of sixty-eight years. His wife, 
 who died some years ago, was a native of Penn- 
 sylvania. In their family were four children, but 
 only two are now living: S3lvester A. of this 
 sketch; and John W. who is engaged in farming 
 in Ohio. 
 
 Our subject, as before stated, is a self-made man. 
 Since the early age of eleven years he has been 
 dependent uijon his own resources, ami as a result 
 his advantages for acquiring an education were 
 limited. Notwithstanding this fact however, by 
 close ap|)lication to business he became qualified 
 to teach school and at the age of nineteen turned 
 his attention to that vocation. In 1868 he re- 
 moved to Newton, Iowa, where after teaching 
 school for a time he followed farming for ten 
 years. During that period, on the :intl of Jan- 
 
 uary, 1872, he was united in marriage vvitU Ella 
 M. Drew, a native of Ohio and a most estimable 
 lady. Their union has been blessed with one 
 child, Ralph D. 
 
 In 1885 Mr. Montis came to Des Moines, and 
 since that time has been prominently identified 
 with the business interests of the cit}'. In com- 
 pany with A. D. Cross, he embarked in his [jresent 
 business, the manufacture of suspenders, which 
 they continued alone until the organization of the 
 Northwestern Suspender Company, of which Mr. 
 Montis was made President. The business has rapidly 
 increased and become one of the leading industries 
 of the city. It furnishes employment to some 
 twenty hands, and the product of the manufactory 
 finds a ready sale throughout the entire West. In 
 political sentiment, Mr. Montis is a stanch Repub- 
 lican, but has never desired that his faithful- 
 ness to party i)rinci|)les should be rewarded by 
 any official honors. Giving careful attention to 
 all the details of his business, he has but little 
 time for outside pleasure and prefers to spend his 
 little leisflre in the enjoyment of social pleasures 
 rather in the turmoil of iiolitlcs. 
 
 ETER HICKEY, who is living in Des 
 iMoines, but devotes his attention to farm 
 
 Ting, is a native of County Claire, Ireland. 
 He was l.orn in 18:30, and remained on the 
 Emer.ald Isle until nineteen years of .age, when in 
 the autumn of IS.o.j, he emigrated to America, land- 
 ing in the city of New York, on the 5th of Sep- 
 tember. He spent one winter in the Empire State 
 engaged in railroading, for which he received 
 twenty-three cents per day, and boarded himself. 
 In the summer he went to Penns^'lvania, and worked 
 upon a farm at ^'.) |ier month. The meagre wages 
 of the East determined him to seek a home in Iowa, 
 and traveling by stage he at length arrived in Des 
 Moines, since which time he has been a resilient of 
 Polk County. One shilling comprised his entire 
 cash ca[)ilal, and with that small anu)unt, he began 
 lifi^ in the West. He knew that he must at once 
 find work, and made armugenicnts with Henry Ru- 
 
528 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 sick, husking corn for liim for a month, for $15. 
 He then sought employment in a coal mine, one of 
 the first opened in Polk County, and continued 
 operations in that line for ten years at various 
 places. He also worked in a nursery for .lames 
 Smith, his wages being $15 per month. Industry 
 and economy, however served him instead of cap- 
 ital, and after a number of years of hard labor, he 
 found that he had aecumidated sutlicient means 
 with which to make a start in life. He first pur- 
 chased a lot on Eighth Street for #200, upon which 
 he built a house at the cost of 1100. This he 
 traded for a farm of one hundred acres, seven miles 
 southeast of the city, in Warren County, in 18G6, 
 eiglity acres of which was prairie land, the remain- 
 ing twenty being covered with timber. After re- 
 siding thereon, he sold, and purchased one hundred 
 sixty acres, just over the line in Polk County, where 
 he made his home for twelve j'ears, when he bought 
 a hundred-acre farm on section 29, Valley Town- 
 ship, which he still owns. He has, however, since 
 1887, made his home in the cit3% but he still man- 
 ages his farm, and is accounteil one of the leading 
 agriculturalists and stock-growers of Central Iowa. 
 He keeps on har.d a good gr.ide of cattle, and gives 
 special attention to the breeding of horses, Norman 
 and Clj'desdale. of which lie sold eight lie.ad for 
 ^1,500 each. Farm life seems especially adapted 
 to his nature, and combining his love of the work 
 with ceaseless industry and good management, he 
 has been ([uite successful, and is now numbered 
 among the prosperous citizens of the community. 
 The mnrri.age of Peter Hickey and Margaret I\Ic- 
 Namara, was celebrated on the ICth of August, 
 1858. The lady was born June 13, 1839, in County 
 Claire, Ireland, and their union has been blessed 
 with eight children, as follows: John, Mary, Peter, 
 Margaret, Machew, Cornelius, Anna and Kittie. 
 The family are all members of St. AuiImosc Catho- 
 lic Church. Mr. Hickey cast his first vote in this 
 country for James Buchanan in 1856, and lias since 
 been a warm advocate of Democratic principles. 
 He is one of the representative early citizens of 
 Des Moines, having made his home in the city sioce 
 it was a town of only four thousand inliabitants. 
 It containeil no lirick houses at that time, n(»r had 
 a Catholic Clnuch l>ecn built. The first mass was 
 
 held in a little log cabin about twelve feet square. 
 Afterward services wer: held in a rented room on 
 Sixth and Elm Streets until 1859, when Si. Am- 
 brose Church was built. 
 
 ELSON ROYAL, of the law firm of Lewis & 
 Royal, attorneys for the Lewis Investment 
 Company of Des Moines, was born in Berk- 
 shire County, Mass., July 9, 1853. and is a son of 
 Ambrose and Mary (Laboucher) Royal. His par- 
 ents were both of French descent, and natives of 
 Canada, where they were married. .Shortly after 
 their marriage, however, thej- removed to Berk- 
 shire C'ount3', and when Nelson was about two years 
 of age, went to the town of Coventrj-, in Tolland 
 County. Conn., where the mother died about six 
 years later. The father still survives, and is living 
 on the oil! homestead in that county. Our subject 
 IS one of five brothers, the eldest of whom is Dr. 
 George Royal, of Des Moines; Lewis E. resides in 
 Mt. Pleasant, Mich., and is the present !Mayor of 
 that town; Nelson is the next younger; Dr. Thomas 
 C. is engaged in the practice of medicine in Sara- 
 toga, N. Y., and Horace C, liie youngest, is a resi- 
 dent of Coventry, Conn. The only daughter of 
 of the family-. Mar}', became the wife of Hiram 
 .Monnette, and died at the old homestead in Con- 
 necticut in 1882. 
 
 After attending the i)ublic schools, and in Nat- 
 chaug High School at Willimnntic, Conn., at the 
 early age of seventeen years, our subject began 
 teaching in Manchester, where he followed that 
 profession two years. During that time he eon- 
 tinued the study of Greek and Latin with Dr. Rob- 
 ins, and also pursued the stud}' of law. Having 
 determined to make the legal inofession his life 
 work, in 1880, he entered the Liiw De[iartiuent of 
 Yale College, from which he was graduated in the 
 Class of '82. On the 25th of September following, 
 he was united in niairiage in New Haven, Conn., 
 with Miss Emma J. Clark, daughter of Chai)iii K. 
 Clark, and almost immeiliately thereafter started 
 with his young bride for Des Moines. For a year 
 after his arrival in this city, he was alone in prac- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 529 
 
 ticc, when the iiresent jiartnership of Lewis & Ro3'al 
 was formed. The firm docs a good Inisiness, and 
 stands high in the profession. 
 
 Mr. Royal has made his own way in life, hissue- 
 ccss being due entirely to his own efforts. He left 
 home and began life for himself at the age of twelve 
 years, and securing a jiosilion on a farm, received 
 as comiienSation for his services, his board, cloth- 
 ing, and four montiis schooling each year, lie 
 thus worked his way until at last he had acquired 
 suflicient means to pay his tuition in college, and 
 embark in the practice of liis chosen profession, lie 
 is a thorough scliolar, and possesses much natural 
 ability. Keen of perception, and quick to catch a 
 point, lie has become an able lawyer, and althougii 
 comparatively a young practitioner, has received 
 acknowledgements of his skill and ability, of which 
 many an older member of the profession might well 
 be [iroud. He is a niemlier of the law faculty of 
 Drake University, and delivers lectures on the fol- 
 lowing subjects: Laws of Torts, Common Law 
 I'leading and Practice, and Probate Law. In pol- 
 itics, Mr. Royal is a Republican, and possesses much 
 influence in the local councils of his party. He 
 occupied the position of Treasurer of North Des 
 Moines for three years, and was elected for a fourth 
 term, but refused to serve. 
 
 Mr. Royal and his wife have two interesting chil- 
 dren, daughters, Myrtfe E., and Jessie C. The 
 honsehold is noted for its hospitality, and the fam- 
 ily holds a high position in the social world. 
 
 !»JDWARD B. WHITCOMB, is senior partner 
 US] and business manager of the firm of Whit- 
 comb & Persinger, publishers and proprie- 
 tors of the 3fail and Timrs, a weekly society and 
 literary paper of large circulation and great popu- 
 larity. This paper is an outgrowth of the Satur- 
 day Eccning Mail, which was established in 187',t, 
 and of the Des Moines Times, which sprang into 
 existence in 1883. The two were consolidated by 
 the present proprietors, April 1, 1888, under the 
 title of 3fail and Times. The paper in size is an 
 eight-page of six columns, twenty inches, and is 
 
 non-partisan. It is ably edited, elegantly printed, 
 and has a circulation of five thousand two hundred, 
 a large share of its i)atronage being in the city and 
 suburlian towns. 
 
 JMhvard I'.. Whitcomb, the senior proprietor, was 
 born in the town of Adams, Jefferson County, N. 
 Y., October 11. 183ii, and is the son of Hcnr\' and 
 Clarinda (Hollcy) Whitcomb. More tlian a pass- 
 ing mention should lie made of his estimable par- 
 ents. His father, Henry Wliitcomb, w.as a man of 
 decided characteristics, firm and determined in 
 everything that was good. He was one of the most 
 scientific men of his time, and had no peer as a 
 mathematician in the great State of New York, 
 where for nearly eighty' years he lived. He figured 
 in nearly all the coast surveys and eclipses, and 
 was the inventor of many of the most useful things 
 of the age. He was a polished and educated gen- 
 tleman of the old style. 
 
 Clarinda (Ilolley) Whitcomb, his mother, was 
 a woman possessed of rare attainments, always mak- 
 ing home the center of attraction, and the most 
 loved place. Vov over sixty years the two lived 
 under the same roof. She was refined and cultured, 
 and of a line of noted writers, not the least of whom 
 is her niece Marietta Ilolley, the distinguished au- 
 thoress known as "Josiah Allen's Wife." At the 
 ages of eighty-four and eighty-seven 3ears, Henry 
 Whitcomb and wife i)assed away, aud are now 
 sleeping in the cemetery in the quiet little village 
 of Adams, N. Y. 
 
 Our subject received an academic education in 
 his native town, and when twentj'-two years of 
 age learned telegraphy in I'tica, N. Y., being the 
 first operator in the Empire State, to take messages 
 by sound. He continued in that line of work for 
 many years, and in 1865, came to Des Moines, 
 where he was variously employed until 1869, when 
 he entered the service of the Iowa State Register 
 in the capacity of book-keeper, and continued that 
 connection for a period of nine yeais. He then 
 bought into the Saliirda;/ Ei^ening Mail, which was 
 subsequently consolidated with the Times as pre- 
 viously mentioned. 
 
 The marriage of Mr. Whitcomb was celebrated 
 in Des Moines, on the 3d of October, 1872, the lady 
 of his choice being Miss Maggie Lyon, a daughter 
 
530 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 of Jonathan Lyon, and oneof lliu bt'llcsof llie cap- 
 ital city society. i\Irs. Wliitconib was l)Oin in Des 
 Moines, lier parents being among tiie early settlers 
 of Polk County. A sketch of llicir lives appears 
 elsewhere in tins volume. Mr. and Mrs. Whitcomb 
 have one child, a son, named Bonner, who was horn 
 in Des Moines, on the 10th of December, 187.5, 
 and is now a student of Callanan College. 
 
 Mr. Whitcomb is a Democrat in politics, but has 
 always refused to be a candidate for any i)olitical 
 office. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, 
 and was made a Alasoii in Zion Lodge, No. 1, of De- 
 troit, Mich., in which city he spent one year while 
 on his way West. Mr. Whitcomb is a practical, up- 
 right business man, and during his connection with 
 the Saturday Eveninr/ Mail, and later with its suc- 
 cessor, the 3fail and Thws, has by his enterprise 
 and close attention to details, aided materially in 
 building u|) a substantial and prosperous business. 
 The Mail and Times is a model paper, not only in 
 its literary makeup, but in its material and me- 
 chanical construction, and is the acknowledged 
 leader of the many ably conducted literarj' papers 
 of Iowa. Mr. Whitcomb is a Director in the Oak 
 Park Land Company, and also in the Zoological 
 Park Company, and is an active worker in these 
 and many other enterprises calculated to improve 
 and build up the city. He is a recognized leader 
 araf>ng the younger and more enterprising business 
 men of Des Moines, and has always contril)uted 
 liberally to worthj- public enterprises. He believes 
 in a pi'ogressive policy, and in the use of Des 
 Moines capital to improve and build up home in- 
 stitutions. 
 
 ^ALBOTT CHAMBERS DEXTER, Super- 
 intendent of the Dexter Manurnctiiiino 
 '^■' Company, was born in Lena, III., on the 
 20tli of April, 185(), and is a son of William P. and 
 Anna B. (Chambers) Dexter. His falhei- u;is 
 roared in Canada, but on reaching manhood went 
 to Ohio, whore lie married Miss Chambers, a na- 
 tive of tlie liuckeye State. Not long afterward 
 lIu'V removed to ( ialena, 111., where Mr. Chainbors 
 
 carried on the furniture business in the same build- 
 ing in which Gen. Grant's father had formerly 
 done business. In 1859 Le removed to Polk Cit3', 
 Iowa, an.I after a three j'ears' residence in that 
 place came to Des Moines. In this city he also 
 engaged in the manufacture of furniture, and 
 worked at his trade until within three days of his 
 ileath, which occurred in 1887, at the advanced age 
 of oighty-one years. He was an industrious and 
 energetic citizen, and labored untiringly for the 
 interests of his famil}'. In politics, he was a sup- 
 porter of the Republican party. His widow, who 
 still survives him, is a member of the Presbyterian 
 Church. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was the fourth in order 
 of birth in a family of five children, consisting of 
 three sons and ,two daughters. He attended the 
 public schools until twelve years of age, after 
 which he was em|)loycd by a dairj-man for a year. 
 The succeeding three years he was engaged in the 
 press room of the lotva Slate Register, and for the 
 continuous period of seventeen j-ears was pressman 
 of the Newspaper Union of Des Moines, serving as 
 foreman of the press room for the last three years. 
 In 1880 he invented the Dexter folding machine, 
 wiiicli he has greatl3' improved since. His long 
 experience with the publishing business has made 
 him familiar with its needs, and his invention sup- 
 plied a long-felt want. The same year a company 
 was formed of some of the most substantial busi- 
 ness men of Des Moines and known as the Dexter 
 Manufacturing Company, of which Mr. Dexter was 
 made Suporiutendent. That position he has since 
 continued to hold, an<l the business has grown 
 until it requires a force of twenty-five hands. In 
 view of the fact that the most of their folders are 
 sold in the East it has been thought best to remove 
 the plant to Fulton, N. Y., where the business will 
 be continued under the style of the Dexter Folder 
 Company. 
 
 On the 21st of May, 187;>, in this city, ]\Ir. Dex- 
 ter was joined in wedlock with Miss Mary E. Hall, 
 daughter of Joseph Hall, one of the early settlers of 
 I'olk County, where Mrs. Dexter was born October 
 17, 18.')8. They are parents of three children, two 
 now living — Iiwin II. and Myrtle. Fay, tneir sec- 
 ond child, dii'il at tho atfo of throe vears. IVfr. 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 531 
 
 Dexler and his wife are nicnibers of the Prosln- 
 terian Cliurcli, i" political sentiment lie is aliepulj- 
 lican, and socially, is a meniher of the Ancient 
 Order of United AVorknien. For the long period 
 of twenty-eight years he lias been a resident of Des 
 Moines, and regarded as one of its prominent and 
 representative business men, and his departure is a 
 loss to the community, both on account of his en- 
 terprise aiul his worth as a citizen. 
 
 V* ESSE B. CURL, the enterprising foreman of 
 Carter's tfe Uussey's Bindor3' has through loug 
 years of experience become master of the 
 iJS^' business in which he is engaged and is full}' 
 competent to occupy his important position. The 
 confidence reposed in him by his em[)loyers is 
 shown by his long continued service with that 
 firm. 
 
 Mr. Curl is a native of Ohio, born in ISellefon- 
 taine, on the 7th of June, 1841. When ten j^ears 
 of age, he accompanied his parents, Ephraim and 
 Rebecca (Skects) Curl, to Oxford, Ind., where he 
 acquired his education in the common schools. 
 Going to Watseka, 111., when a young man, he 
 studied pharmacy under George W. Richards of 
 that place, and later engaged in the drug business 
 in Milford, 111., whence he came to Des Moines 
 in 1863. Having resolved to engage in some other 
 line of business, be entered the binder}' of Carter 
 & Hussey, where he remained' two years, when in 
 1865, he went to Chicago in order to perfect him- 
 self in that line of work. Returning in 1867, he 
 again obtained a position with the firm by which 
 he was formerly employed, and for seven years re- 
 mained in their establishment in Des Moines until 
 1874, when he was sent to Topcka, Kan. to take 
 charge of a branch establislunenl of the biiulcry 
 in that city. After a year, in coniiiany with C. 
 B. Hamilton, he embarked in business for himself 
 as a member of the firm of Hamilton & Curl, who 
 opened a printing office, doing job work, furnishing 
 office and business sujiiilies and nianvifacturing 
 blank books. They soon socuieil a large p;itron:igc, 
 their trade extiMidinn; into Texas, Colorado and 
 
 New Mexico, and continued business in that line 
 until 188;!, when on account of failing health, Mr. 
 Curl was obliged to sell out. With the hope of 
 being benefited by the bracing airs of Colorado, 
 he spent two years in thafState, during which time 
 he held the position as Secretary of a mining 
 company of which he was one of the org.anizers. 
 Tn 1885, ho once more returned to the capital city 
 of Iowa and has since served as foreman of the 
 bindery of Carter Si Hussey. Altogether Mr. Curl's 
 business career has been a successful one and be 
 ranks among the enterprising citizens of Iowa. He 
 is also the patentee of several valuable inventions. 
 In Des Moines, in May, 1869, Mr. Curl was 
 united in marriage with Miss Anna, daughter of 
 John Poling. She was born and reared in Ohio, 
 and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
 They are parents of four children, one son and 
 three daughters, three of whom are living — Jennie, 
 Fred and Alice. One daughter, Jessie, died at the 
 age of two and a half years. In jiolitical sentiment, 
 Mr. Curl is a Republican, having supi)orted that 
 party since the time when he cast his first Presi- 
 dential vote for Abraham Lincoln. He is a 
 member of the Masonic fraternity, having been 
 initiated into the mysteries of Masonry in a 
 pioneer lodge at Des Moines. He also belongs to 
 Lincoln Camp of Modern Woodmen. 
 
 ERNST W. BERGSTROM, of the firm of 
 RoUinson A Bergstroin, llcjrists and market 
 ! gardeners of Des Moines, is of Swedish 
 
 birth. His father, Olof I'orgstrom was a sailor by 
 occupation and followed the sea for many years. 
 During the latter part of his career he was Captain 
 of a Swedish vessel and lost his life at sea when 
 his son F^rnst was but three years of age. Our sub- 
 ject was born in 1862, and when a lad of fourteen 
 years, through the inllueuce of his uncle, A. Ander- 
 son, he crossed the Atlantic to America and at once 
 proceeded to the home of his relative where he re- 
 mained for two and a half years. Thinking it time 
 that he acquaint himself with some business, 
 whereby he might earn a livelihood, he went to 
 
532 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Chicago anrl engaged in floral culture in the ser- 
 vice of IMiller & Hunt, pioniincnt tlorisls in 
 that city, with whom he continued three 3'cars. 
 There he obtained a thorougli knowledge of the 
 culture of plants and flowers and after llirce years 
 experience returned to this cit^'. The first work 
 in which he engaged after his return was the Imild- 
 ing of tlie fine conservatory of C. C. Cole of which 
 lie had charge about five j-ears, when the present 
 partnership of Rollinson k Bergstrom was formed. 
 These gentlemen began in a modest way but have 
 steadily in< reased their business until it has assumed 
 extensive proportions. Their conserv.atory is one of 
 the finest in the city and is under the immediate sup- 
 ervision of Mr. liergslrom, while Mr. Kollinson 
 conducts the horticultural department of their 
 iinsiness. Our subject is familiar with all depart- 
 ments of floral culture but has made a special 
 study of roses. He gave that flower his greatest 
 attention while in Chicago and excels in its cul- 
 ture. A visit to the beautiful conservatory is con- 
 vincing evidence that Mr. Bergstrom is thoroughly- 
 acquainted svith his business and the horticultural 
 department of the work is also ablj' managed. 
 
 On the 19th day of April, 188t, Mr. Bergstrom 
 was united in marriage with JMiss Eugenia Pearson, 
 a native of Sweden "who came to this country- with 
 her parents in chihlhood. Her father was drowned 
 a number of years ago in Swan Lake, Emmett 
 County, Iowa, where the familj- resided. Two 
 children have been liorn to our subject and his 
 worth}' wife — Anna May and Eugenia. 
 
 ^ -^^- 
 
 -f*- 
 
 ILLIAM II. PENN, one of the stirring and 
 enterprising citizens of Des Moines, holds 
 the responsible position of chief clerk of 
 the railway mail service in Iowa. Since 1856 he 
 has been a resident of Polk County and has uni- 
 forml}- identified himself with its best interests. 
 He was born in Pickaway Count}-, Ohio, on the l3th 
 of April, 1842, and with his parents, John and Bar- 
 bara (Powel) Penn, whose sketch appears on an- 
 other page of thi.s work, went to l^aFayelto, Ind. 
 He was llien n lad of nine years. He grew to man- 
 
 hood in that city and in the fall of 1856 came to 
 this county, as before stated. The family settled 
 in Saylorville, but the following year removed to 
 a farm near Peoria City, where he remained, as- 
 sisting his father in the lal)ors of the farm, until 
 the 1 8th of October, 1861. The country was then 
 engaged in one of the most perilous wars known to 
 history and, feeling that his duty was at the front, 
 he donned the blue, becoming a member of Com- 
 li.nny E, Thirteenth Iowa Regiment. He enlisted 
 as a private but rose successively through the va 
 rious ranks to that of Second Lieutenant. His 
 service was an arduous one and he fought in many 
 of the most important engagements of the war, in- 
 cluding the battles of Shiloh, Corinth, luka, the 
 siege of Vicksburg, the battle of Jackson, Miss., 
 and Kenesaw Mountain and the l)attle of Atlanta, 
 Ga., which occurred on the 21st and 22nd of July, 
 1864. During the first day of the engagement Mr. 
 Penn received a gun-shot wound, the ball entering 
 his right side and coming out at the left hip. This 
 necessitated his remaining in the hospital for eleven 
 long months, but on the 22nd of June, 1865, he 
 rejoined his command. Soon afterward the war 
 closed and on the 21st of July he was mustered 
 out of service. 
 
 On his return from the army Mr. Penn became a 
 student in the Iowa Weslcyan University, where he 
 remained one year, and then spent the two suc- 
 ceeding years in the employ of his uncle, Edward 
 L. Penn. On the 21th of February, 1869, he was 
 united in marriage with Miss Clementine E. Mar . 
 tin, daughter of John L. and Carrie B. Martin. 
 The lady is a native of Pottsville, Pa., and their 
 union has been blessed with three children — Es- 
 tella, Carrie and W. Harry. They also lost two 
 children. Pearl K.. who died at the age of thirteen 
 years, and Myrtle, who died at the age of eight 
 years. 
 
 After his marriage Mr. Penn removed to Des 
 ^yioines, but a year later returned to the farm which 
 he operate<l until the 1st of Jann.ary, 1873, from 
 which date he has been a continuous resident of 
 the capital city. In October of that same year he 
 entered the mail service .as railway postal clerk on 
 the Chicago it West Liberty H. P. (). and contin- 
 ued to serve in that capacity until the 1st of April, 
 
^a^4. ly^^ C^ 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 535 
 
 1880, when lie was appointed to his i)resenl posi- 
 tion as t-iiief cleik of tiie railway mail service in 
 Iowa. He now has charge of most of tlic important 
 linos in the State, particularly those connected with 
 Des Moines. Seventeen years has he been connected 
 with the mail service. Ills fidelity to every trust, 
 the i)romptness displayed in the dispatch of his 
 duties and his excellent business ability have won 
 him the high regard and confidence of the I'ost- 
 oftice Department, as well as all with whom lie has 
 come in contact. A man of sterling worth, he is 
 rcffarded as one of tht leading citizens of Des 
 Moines, and he has a wide circle of friends through- 
 out Central Iowa. 
 
 In political sentiment, Mr. I'cnn is a Republican, 
 and during the Fourteenth General Assembly 
 served as door-keeper of the Senate. Socially, he 
 is a member of Capital Lodge, A. V. & A. M., and 
 of Crocker Post, No. 12, G. A. R., and also belongs 
 to the First Methodist Church, of Des Moines. 
 
 AMUEL VAN CLEVE, deceased, is num 
 bered among the honored pioneers of Des 
 Moines, and was long one of its leading 
 and inlluential citizens. In various public 
 capacities, he served the people of Iowa's capital 
 and by his upright, honorable career won their 
 high regard and lasting friendship. We feel that 
 a sketch of his life will be received with interest 
 by many, and it therefore affords us great pleasure 
 in presenting it to our readers. 
 
 Mr. Van Clevcvras born in Bedford County, Pa., 
 October 1, 1825, and is a son of William and Anna 
 (Wolf) Van Clevc. When he was a lad of six 
 years, his parents removed to the Western Reserve 
 in Ohio, wliere he was reared to manhood, receiv- 
 ing his education in the schools of Wayne County. 
 On the 19th day of May, 1850, he w;is joined in 
 wedlock with Miss Ruth L. Cook, daughter of the 
 Rev. John and Rachel (Bryson) Cook. Ilcr father 
 was a native of New Jersey, but resided in Mary- 
 land i)rior to his emigration to Knox Co\inty, Ohio. 
 He was one of the first !?aptist ministers in that 
 
 section of the Stale. A man of more than average 
 ability, devoting his energies to the Iiest interests 
 of the people, he lived a life well worthy of emula- 
 tion, and undoubtedly has reaped the reward pre- 
 pared for the righteous. He would accept no com- 
 pensation for his ministerial lal)ors, but maintained 
 himself and family by farm work, lie died in 
 Knox County, Ohio, in 1822. As a citizen he was 
 loyal; as a Inisliandand father, kind and affection- 
 ate, and as a C'hrlstian, true and faithful. His wife, 
 an estimable lad}-, survived him many years, dying 
 in 1855, aged eight,y-oue years. 
 
 In the fall of 1855 Mr. ami Mrs. Van Clevc 
 came to Polk County, and the following j'ear took 
 up their residence in the city, where for a time the 
 husband worked at contracting and building. As 
 before stated he held a number of important posi- 
 tions, and was a prominent though modest promoter 
 of the progress attained by Des Moines. He had 
 acquired a good English education, and seemed 
 specially fitted for the duties which devolved upon 
 him, both while a member of the City ©onncil and 
 when in charge of public works. Some time after 
 the establishment of the Water Works, and when 
 their etliciency was marred by ill management, he 
 was made Superintendent. The charge was a diffi- 
 cult and laborious one, and required much mental 
 and physical labor to bring order out of the pre- 
 vailing confusion, but he succeeded, and for some 
 jears the city was supplied with water from Coon 
 River, having the purest and licst |uiblie supiily in 
 the United States. The exposure to which he was 
 subjected for a time in the management of the 
 works, seriously undeniiined his constitution, yet 
 notwithstanding he continued to lead an active 
 life to the last. After leaving the Waterworks he 
 was Superintendent of the Government buildings, 
 and also superintended the paving of many of the 
 public streets. His whole career was an open and 
 honorable one, and his fidelity and the conscien- 
 tious manner in which he ilischarged his duties led 
 to his long retention in the service of the public. 
 
 Three children were born of the union of Mi', 
 and Mrs. \'an Cleve, but two are now deceased: 
 William L., the only son, died at the age of three 
 years; Lillic died in infancy; Marie Louis.i. the 
 ehlest, is the wife of David lilngolf. of Des Moines. 
 
536 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 In politics, Mr. \'aii Clevc was a Democrat, und 
 ill religious sentiment lie was a supporter of the 
 the Christian Church, with which he united in 
 Ohio, in 1851. His death occurred in 1886, No- 
 vember 19th. Mrs. Van Cleve is stdl living and 
 is a true Christian woman, winning many friepds 
 \>y her excellencies of cliaracter. Her connection 
 with the Christian Church, as one of its members, 
 covers a [leriod of fifty-seven years. In 1864, Mr. 
 \'an Cleve, in company with others, went to Mon- 
 tana on a prospecting tour, and while there for 
 eighteen months, thoroughly' traversed the terri- 
 tory of Montana, penetrating far into the interior 
 of the Yellowstone country. The company when 
 ill that remote region built a Ueet of boats, of 
 which Mr. Xan Cleve was elected captain, and fol- 
 lowed the Yellowstone River to its junction with 
 the Missouri River. The spirit of ex|)loration was 
 strongly developed in Mr. Van Cleve. and on him 
 devolved the entire resi)onsibility of conducting 
 a large company through the dangers of the Rocky 
 Mountaiiffastncsses. 
 
 ^JOSEPH P.rFFON STKWART, an iionoied 
 [lioneer of Iowa, and an old-time resident 
 and prominent business man of Dcs Moines, 
 ' was born near St. Charles, Mo., on the 2d of 
 August, 1821. His father, Dr. Abram Stewart, w.is 
 a surgeon of the United Slates Army, and was born 
 in Vermont in 1784. On his father's side he was 
 of Scotch origin, on the mother's side of French 
 descent, and the family was one of the oldest in 
 New England. Dr. Stewart emigrated to Missouri 
 as earlj^ as 1805. Having entered the regular arm^' 
 as surgeon he served in the War of 1812, and w.is 
 wounded b}- the Indians, a [larly of liravcs headed 
 l>y lUack Hawk, at Rock Islan.l, in 1.S14, In l.siG 
 he was married, in Missouri, to Miss I'^.niily Ayers. 
 and continued a resident of that State until his 
 death, which occurred in Hannibal, on the 11th of 
 October, 1834. Mrs. Stewart was born in Marietta, 
 Ohio, January 22, 179.J. Her parents were natives 
 of Connecticut, and were descended from I lie early 
 Puritan Colonists of that commonwealth, hor 
 
 mother belonging to the widely known Davenport 
 family. She survived her husband man}' 3'ears, 
 dying on the 18th of July, 1879, at the age of 
 eighty-four. 
 
 Josejih 1j. Stewart received his early education 
 in the log school house of pioneer days, one in 
 which the floor, desks and seats were made of 
 puncheon or slabs, which had been split from hewn 
 logs, while the light was admitted througii sheets 
 of oiled paper stretched on frames like sash. Later 
 he li.ad the benefit of more modern conveniences 
 anil better instructors. In October, 1835, when 
 fourteen ^-ears of age, he came to Iowa, then a part 
 of Michigan Territory, and with his mother settled 
 at Ft. Madison, on what waii then the Black Hawk 
 liurchase, a sU'ip of land l^'ing along the Missis- 
 sippi River, which had been purchased a short time 
 previous by the Oovernmeht from the Indians. 
 All the territory, which comprises a large part of 
 what is now the State of Iowa, Ij'ing west of that 
 strip, was known as Indian land. Mr. Stewart saw 
 more Indians in those days than white people, and 
 at one time, in July, 1837, sat at a table with Black 
 Hawk, "the great brave," and listened to him while 
 he made a speech. ITntil 1846 Mr. Stev.'art was 
 engaged in farming. He then began merchandis- 
 ing, which he carried on until 1853. when he came 
 to Des Moines to accept a place in the United 
 States land oiMce. After serving one year as clerk 
 in the Receiver's office, he engaged in the real- 
 estate business, during which time he platted a 
 tract of three hundred and sixt^'-two acres, in 
 .September, 1857, which was reconled as Stewart's 
 Addition to Des Moines, and which is now a 
 populous and wealthy district of the cit^'. 
 
 On the ;iOth of October, 1861, Mr. Stewart was 
 united in marriage with Miss Dora Adell McKay, a 
 native of Warsaw, Wyoming County, N. Y., and a 
 daugiiter of F. C. D. and Angelina J. (Juddl Mc- 
 Kay. She was of Puritan origin, and her ancestors 
 first settled in Cambridge, M.ass., in 1632. Four 
 chddren were born to our subject and his wife, 
 three daughters and one son, all born in Dcs Moines, 
 namely: Mary, Cecil iMcKay, Dora and Emilj'. 
 Mary w;»s educated at Welleslcy College, where her 
 younger sister is now a student. 
 
 Mr. Stewart has continued business in Des Moines 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 537 
 
 till tlie present time, and still lias extensive [irop- 
 crty interests here, altlioiigli sinee Octolier, lH8,j, 
 lie lias resided in Cambridge, Mass. Hon'ever, lie 
 always spends several months of tiic year in the 
 Ca|>ital City of Iowa, whieh seems more like home 
 to him than any other place in the Union. It is 
 here where he finds his warmest friends, among 
 those who have known him during the past thirty- 
 seven years, and have learned to esteem him for his 
 many kindly deeds and the purity of his life. While 
 his business operations have been extensive and 
 important, he has never been found severe or ex- 
 acting,, and hasalwa3-s proved himself just, upright 
 and honorable in his intercourse with his fellow- 
 men. In politics, Mr. Stewart has been a Repub- 
 lican since the formation of that party, but h.as 
 never coveted political preferment or distinction. 
 He is a man of quiet, unassuming ways, who dis- 
 likes ostentation and display, preferring the con- 
 sciousness of well doing, and the tacit apiirobation 
 of friends, to the noisy demonstrations of the po- 
 litical arena. 
 
 o<.55~ 
 
 !h^ 11. KING, a member of the Board of Pub- 
 lic AVorks and a prominent member of the 
 City Council for fifteen \ ears, is a native 
 of County Cavan, Ireland, where he was 
 born December 23, 1837. His [larents were Hugh 
 and Margaret (McCaiiley) King, both of whom 
 were .also natives of the same county. In 1812 
 his father emigrated to America an<l made his 
 homo in IMuenixville, Pa., and in 1847 his wife, 
 accompanied by the children, joined her husbani'l 
 in the New World. 
 
 Our subject was then a l:i(l of ten years, lie at- 
 tended a school near Harrisburg, Pa., which was 
 taught by a son of Gov. Shunk. In 18.00, the fam- 
 ily removed to Blairsville of the same State, and 
 about that time he was inducted into the mysteries 
 of mercantile business while serving as merchant's 
 clerk for William Mattlier & Co., of Saltsberg, near 
 Blairsville. He removed from the latter city in 
 18,')6, emigrating to I)es JNloines, Iowa, where he 
 engaged as book-keeper for R. W. Clark, a merchant 
 i>f that city, and after a short time transferred his 
 
 services to Alexander .Scott, who wa-s conducting a 
 general business, operating saw-mills, handling coal, 
 etc. In 1857 Mr. King began lousiness for himself 
 as general merchant, but continued in that line only 
 a 3'ear or so, when he was elected to the office of 
 Justice of the I'eace of Lee Township, Polk County. 
 From that time forward he has Uakcn an active part 
 in politics. Ht was re-elected and served two terms 
 as Justice, served two terras as a member of the 
 County Board of Supervisors and was elected a 
 member of the City Council. His faithful dis- 
 charge of duty led to his re-election again and 
 again, and he held the office altogether for fifteen 
 years. For one terin he served .as City Clerk and 
 was once elected Police Judge, but was counted 
 out. lie was appointed a member of the Board of 
 of Public Works for thrc e years and entered on his 
 duties in Ai)ril, 1881). 
 
 Mr. King is a prominent contractor on public 
 works and in railroading. Since 1872 he h.as 0|>er- 
 ated as a contractor on railroad construction in 
 Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Wisconsin ami 
 Illinois. 
 
 On the 28th of Se|)tember, 1800, in Ottuniwa, 
 Iowa, Mr. King was united in marri.age with Miss 
 Rose Ann Casad}-, who was born in County Mona- 
 glian, Ireland, and came to America with her par- 
 ents in childhood. Her fi tlier was Patrick Cas.ad}', 
 of Warren County, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. King are 
 the parents of ten children, eight of whom are liv- 
 ing, six daughters and two sons, namely: Hugh 
 Mncent,' Mary Frances, Rose Ann, ISIargaret II., 
 Mich.ael, Jr., Alice Agnes, Katie and Stella. Three 
 are graduates of the Sisters' schools at Lj'ons and 
 Des Moines, Iowa. The sons have been educated 
 in the city schools. Margaret is an artist of ac- 
 knowledged talent and skill and her works won two 
 premiums in the art exhibit at the State Fair in 
 1888 and 188!); Rose is a fine singer, and INIary a 
 skillful instrumental musician. 
 
 .Mr. King was a Republican for many years, at- 
 tended conventions and took an active part in pub- 
 lic affairs, but is now inde|)endent in politics. He 
 is a |iromiiu'iit member of the Land League of 
 Iowa, and was one of the first to ai<l in the orgarii- 
 zation of the League in this Slate. He attended the 
 l'>utTalo Convenlioii ;iud was active in briiiiiinu' 
 
538 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 about tbe visit of Parnell to Des Moines. At tlie 
 meeting of the Le.igue iu Des Moines in 1880, Le 
 liml the honor of introducing Gov. Ge.ir to the 
 .iiiilience. He is opposed to violence in the con- 
 duct of Irisli affairs and is a believer in I'arneil's 
 |)olicy of political agit.ation and is a great admirer 
 of Gladstone, lie enjoys an extensive acquaint- 
 ance througliout the 'West, l)Otli politically and 
 in business circles and is liiglil}' resi)ected by all. 
 I lis life lias been an active and useful one, and he 
 has made his own way in the world by his energy, 
 inlelligencc and natural al)ilitv. Quick to grasp 
 and comprehend the most important points of in- 
 terest in political events, he w.as alw.ays in the lead 
 in matters of party management and exerted a 
 strong influence in that direction. In municipal 
 affairs he has for m^ny years been a recognized 
 leader and has done much by his efforts to encour- 
 age publir improvement and all enterprises that 
 have proved of substantial advantage to the city, 
 Mr. King and family are earnest members of the 
 Catliolic Church. 
 
 -^ ^ 
 
 eAPT. FRANCIS R. WEST, a pioneer bank- 
 er, and prominent business man of Des 
 Moines, well ileservcs representation in this 
 volume. lie is a native of Wayne County. N. Y., 
 born in the town of Clyde, July 28. 1813. His 
 parents, Harry and Nancy (Warren) West, were 
 also nativfs of the Empire State, born in AH)an}^ 
 County, and both were descended from old Ameri- 
 can families of English origin, whose settlement in 
 the New Wurbl dales back to the middle of the 
 seventeenth century. Harry West, the father of 
 our subject, had removed to Wayne Count}', with 
 his family, but a short time prior to 1813. He was 
 a contractor, and was also extensively engaged in 
 merchandising. 
 
 Erancis U. West was educated in a private school 
 and became familiar with business methods while 
 a.ssisting his father in his various enterprises. Hav- 
 ing arrived at years of maturity, on .lul}' 17, 
 -18:5.3, iie wedde<1 Miss Elizabeth F. Black, themar- 
 > ringe taking place in EIniira N. Y.. where Mrs. 
 
 West was reared. She has proved a helpmate to 
 her husband in the highest sense of the word. Pos- 
 sessing intellectual faculties of a high order, and 
 an earnestness and fidelity in her devotion to dut}', 
 she has, through fifty-seven j'e.ars of wedded life, 
 been the light of her home, and the comfort and 
 joy of husband and children. 
 
 In 1836, Capt. West went to Pennsylvania, 
 where he was engaged on public works, (canals 
 and railro.ads) oper.ating between Pittsburg and 
 .lohnstown. At one time he ran a packet boat-on 
 the Pennsylvania Canal, where he acquired the 
 title of Cajitain, by which he is so generall}' 
 known. When the Allegheny & Portage Railroad 
 was completed over the mountains, he became its 
 Superintendent, and served in that capacity until 
 1853, when he removed to Iowa with his family, 
 settling in Des Moines. After his arrival in that 
 city he became extensively engaged in the real- 
 estate business, and in ISoG, built a brick block at 
 the southeast corner of Court Avenue and West 
 Fourth .Street, now the Iowa State Register Block. 
 Two years later a branch of the Iowa State Baid\ 
 was established in Des Moines, beginning business 
 on the 1st of .lanuary, 1850, with Capt. F. R. West 
 as President, and Hoyt Sherman as Cashier, but in 
 1801. Mr. SlKuinan was apiiointed Paymaster in the 
 army, and o\ir suliji'ct was made Cashier, while 15. 
 F. Allen was elecleil President. A few years later, 
 Capt. West was ai)pointcd one of the commission- 
 ers on Iowa War claims, arising from the clothing 
 and equipment of Iowa soldiers in the l)eginningof 
 the war. 
 
 In May, 1865, the bank which Capt. West h.ad 
 been instrumental in establishing was incorjiorated 
 under the national banking law. as the National 
 State Bank of Des Moines, with B. F. Allen as 
 President, and our subject as Cashier. The busi- 
 ness of the bank attained mammoth proportions, 
 making it by far the most important financial con- 
 cern in Iowa. At one time the deposits in the two 
 banks amounted to ^1,750,000. Mr. Allen subse- 
 quently bought the Cook County Bank of Chicago, 
 an<l estal)lished a banking house in New York City. 
 Besides these, he had a private liank in East Des 
 Moines, known .is the Capital City Bank, of which 
 he was President, ami A. 1,. West. Cashier, When 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBL'iM. 
 
 539 
 
 iLc J:i\' Cook failure of 1873 shook the financial 
 centers of the country, Mr. Allen was forced to the 
 wall, anil in consequence the National State Bank 
 of Des Moines became involved, and was suspended 
 in 1875. In cominuy willi his sons, Harry and 
 Albert L., Capt. West then organized the State 
 Bank of Des Jloines. Albert L. had been running 
 a private bank of his own on the East side, wliieh 
 he sold out, wlien he joined his father and brother 
 in the State Bank, under the firm name of F. R. 
 West ife Sous. Complications beyond their control 
 caused the proprietors of the State Bank to close 
 their doors in July, 1877, and the affairs of the 
 l)ank were settled up through a course of law. The 
 career of Capt. West as a banker extended over a 
 period of eighteen consecutive years in Des Moines, 
 during whicli time he liad been the chief manager 
 of one of the most important monetary institu- 
 tions in the State. The ultimate failure, which 
 wrecked his fortune in common with many others, 
 grew out of the gigantic failure of B. F. Allen, 
 with whom he was intimately identified, and in 
 whom the people of Icjwa had the most implicit 
 confidence. The business management of Capt. 
 West was distinguished liy a conservative pru- 
 dence, and strict integrity that commanded the 
 conlidence anil respect of all with whom he had 
 business relations. At one time he owned several 
 liundred acres of valuable land, in what is now 
 North Des Moines, besides numerous desirabis 
 business lots and buildings. Being advanced in 
 years when trouble overtook him, (he is now 
 seventy-seven), he has since lived in quiet retire- 
 ment. 
 
 Capt. and Mrs. West had si.x children, of whom 
 two are now deceased. Francis M. -went to Califor- 
 nia vvlien a lad of sixteen years. He acipiired a 
 roving habit, and spent many years in the mining 
 regions of the West, and when last liear<l from was 
 in the city of Mexico. The ne.'vt eklesl was Mary 
 Arathusia, who became the wife of B. F. Allen, the 
 great Iowa banker. .Siie traveled extensively in 
 Europe, .and died January 31, 1877, leaving four 
 children, two sons, and two daughters. Harry 
 West, the next younger, wedded Miss Alary Chase 
 and is liic present manager of the extensive pack- 
 ing business of the Liverpool it Des Moines Pack- 
 
 ing Co. Albert L. married Miss Laura Tuttle. 
 a daughter of Gen. Tuttle, and is engaged in the 
 hardware l)usiuess in this city. Wliitman died in 
 ciiildliood. Nettie L., the youngest, is the wife of 
 Norman Liclity, wholesale druggist of Des Moines. 
 Although far adv.ancod in years, Capt. West is 
 well [)reserved, both physicialli' and mentally. His 
 life has been an active and useful one, and in spite 
 of the business disaster that befell him, he retains 
 the res|)ect and good will uf his old neighbors and 
 friends m a marked degree. 
 
 \f, OHN PENN, a real-estate dealer of Des 
 Moines and an early settler of this county 
 was born in the cit}' of Piiiladelphia, Pa., 
 l^^jA/ on the Gth of January, 1812. His father, 
 Abraham Penn, was born in Chatham, England, and 
 descended from an old (Quaker family of that local- 
 ity. He also embraced the faith of that society. 
 Coining to America in early life, he became ac- 
 quainted with and married Miss Elizabeth Living- 
 ston, who was born in Philadelphia and was a 
 daughter of Capt. John Livingston, a Revolutionary 
 hero, who vvas killed in the battle of Brandywine. 
 She was also a niece of Robert R. Livingston, one 
 of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. 
 Abraham Penn, father of our subject, was a ship- 
 builder by trade tnit in after life followed farming. 
 In 1822, accompanied by his family, ho removed to 
 Pickaway County, Ohio, and engaged in agricul- 
 tural pursuits. 
 
 From the age of ten years until he had attained 
 his majority, our subject remained u|)oii his father's 
 farm and in the meantime acquired an eiUication. 
 In the si)ring of 1835, he was joined in wedlock 
 with Miss Barbara Powel, a daughter of John 
 I'owel, her family being of (iernian origin. Her 
 birth occurred in Somerset County, Pa., and their 
 marriage was blessed with a family of ten cliil<lren, 
 eight sons and two daughters. Of that number 
 four sons and one daughterare yet living? — Edward, 
 who is manager for the .1. I. Case Plow Company, 
 and the Mitchell Wagon Company at Des Moines, 
 Iowa; John \\ ., wliu is living in Des Moines, mar- 
 
540 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 ried Jane Goldsbury, now deceased; William H. is 
 represented on nnotlier pnf^e of this work; Louisa 
 Maria is tlie wife of A. W. Cuthrie of Des Moines; 
 Jaco!) Mile3- married Susan Meese and died at llie 
 age of tliirt.v J'cars; George wedded Allio Ajers 
 and died in li^>il . at tlieageof thirty; Charles Fre- 
 mont married Susan I'arker and makes liis home in 
 Des Moines, being employed as a mail agent in the 
 railway service. Tlic otlicr chihlren died in in- 
 fancy. 
 
 In 1853, Mr. I'enn left Ohio and settled in Tip- 
 pecanoe County, Ind., hut si.x \ears later resiinieil 
 his westward journey and took up his residence in 
 Saylor Township, Polk County, where lie made his 
 home for a year and a lialf. Having purchased a 
 farm in Washington Township, he then engaged in 
 its operation until 1875, when lie determined to try 
 city life aiu) came to Des Moines^, For a time he 
 engaged in the insurance liusiness, later wcis con- 
 nected with the Barh Wire Manufactuiing Cuiii- 
 pany for four years and since that time has devoted 
 his attention to real-estate dealings. 
 
 In January, 1879, Mr. Peiin was called ui)<)n to 
 mourn tiie loss of his wife wlio died at her home in 
 this city. She was an estimable l.'idy and iier loss 
 was deeply regretted by many warm friends. Al- 
 though reared in the faith of the Sociel}- of Friends. 
 Mr. Penn united with the Metiiodist Episcopal 
 Church of which he is yet a member. In early life 
 he was a sui)i)orter of liie Whig party but juinecl 
 the new Republican party on its organization and 
 lias since -ontinued to figiit under its banner. He 
 has held a number of local olHces, both townshi|) 
 and county and for three terms was a member (jf 
 the County Board of Supervisors. 
 
 -^^ 
 
 -J- 
 
 m 
 
 lOIIN A. DAY, deceased, is numbered anunig 
 the carl}' settlers of Kasi Des Moines and 
 having at his death left many warm friends 
 behind liini who will be glad to learn more 
 of his liistoiy, we record with pleasure this brief 
 sketch of his life, lie was a native of Ohio, born 
 in Clermont County ,on the 15th of November IKIC. 
 lu 1822, when a lad of six years, he acconi|)anied his 
 
 parents to Johnson County, Ind., where he acquired 
 
 such education as the district schools of that day 
 afforded. However the advantages of the pioneer 
 school were rather limited. The building in which 
 the youths of that day familiarized themselves with 
 the "three Iv's" was built of logs, the lloor was 
 formed of puncheon or perhaps had no lloor at all, 
 the chimney was made of niiid and sticks and 
 greaseil paper i)laced over a small o|)ening in the 
 logs served as windows. In his youth he also 
 served an apjirenticeship to the plasterer's trade 
 which he afterward followed in piasuit of fortune 
 for a number of years. 
 
 On the 24th of Decemlier, 1810, Mr. Day married 
 Miss Frances Galbreth, the ceremony being per- 
 formed in Indianapolis, Ind. The laily was born in 
 Hendricks County, Ky., Ajiril 0, 1821, and is a 
 daughter of James and Nancy Galbreth, who are 
 numbered among the pioneers of the lloosier Stale. 
 In 1827, they left their old home and with their 
 faiuil}- located in Johnson County, where in coin- 
 nioii with her husband Mrs. D.'i}' sliari'd in the hard- 
 ships ami trials of pioneer life, being reared amid 
 the wild scenes of the frontier. Wild beasts, such 
 as wolves, bears and wihl cats were j'el freipiently 
 seen, while deer ami otiicr kinds of game were 
 found ill abundance and furnished many a meal for 
 the settlers. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Day were the [larents of a large 
 family of lifteeii chiklren, seven of whom lived to 
 adult age — Jose()lius, who enlisted in the late war 
 as a member of the Thirty-second Iowa Cavalrj-, 
 after serving his term of three years veteranized 
 and remained with the boys in blue until the ces- 
 sation of hostilities. He was wounded at Mine 
 Creek in the elbow, but survived until Februai-y 4, 
 1871. Those who grew to manhood and womanhood 
 and are yet living are Austin, Luther, Sarah, 
 George, Dora and Charles. 
 
 Having resided in Indiana until 1857, Mr. Day 
 emigrated with his family to Davis County, Iowa, 
 and in 18()5, caiiu! to Polk County, locating in 
 what is now Fast Des Moines. The land on which 
 he settled was covered with hazel brush and was a 
 mile distant from the river. As the city had not 
 yet begun to be Imilt on the east side he did not 
 dream that its boundaries would be extended until 
 
PORTRAIT AND lilOGKAFIIJCAL ALliUM. 
 
 541 
 
 it cinljraced liis home, but such is the case. In 
 puiilics, lie was a stanch Dcuiociat and an anient 
 advocate of .leffersonian ininciples. lie could not 
 he called a politician, having never sought |)id)lic 
 oflice, but he always kept himself well -informed 
 concerning public affairs and took a deep interest 
 in the success of his party. He was kilK'd by being 
 goreil by a vicious bull, his death occurring on the 
 12tli of Septeud)er, 187."!. In curly life he was con- 
 verted and joined the Methodist Cliurch and ever 
 remained one of its faithful and devoted niendjcrs, 
 His career was one of the strictest integrity and up- 
 rightness and his honorable life was so well known 
 throughout the community that his word was as 
 rcadih' received as his bond. Austin has four chil- 
 dren, viz: Clara, Charles W., Isabelle, John W. 
 I>uthei has three children, viz: Lillie, Mar^' K. 
 Fannie F. Sarah IJrown has three children, viz; 
 IJyron, Lotta M. and Mabel 1). Geoi-ge W. has 
 three children, viz: Lewis, Harvey, Ewing. Dora 
 Hinkle has one child, Arthur .1. Lavina Ncal, the 
 deceased daughter le'ft three children, viz: John 'I'., 
 Frances K,, I<la S. John has two children, Alonzo 
 and Hari-y. 
 
 -4-^-i>=^<$4^-^- 
 
 i;!^ RS. A. ]'.. TRACY, the founder and pro- 
 prietor of Tracy Home, was born in Ports- 
 mouth, Ohio, April 28, 1835. and is a 
 daughter of Capt. James W. Davis. Her 
 father, a native of Pittsburg, Pa., born on the 4 th 
 of .lannary, 1805, was left an ori)l)an at a very early 
 age and thus forced to begin the battle of life for 
 himself. Soon after the death of his parents he 
 wont to Lexington, Ivy., where he grew to man- 
 hood and acquired a common-school education. 
 He was one of the first captains of the vessels [liv- 
 ing up and down the Ohio River and for several 
 years folhjvvetl that life. Later he was e.vlensively 
 engaged in the m.inufacture of pig iron in Ports- 
 mouth and also devoted considerable attenticni to 
 pork packing, becoming one of the substantial citi- 
 zens and business men of that place. On the 3d of 
 June, 1827, in his native cily, he was united in 
 marriage with Miss Amanda IJaldwin, a most excel- 
 
 lent lady, by whom he had si.\ children, five yet 
 living — John .S., now a resident of Xowton, Iowa; 
 Mrs. Tracy, of this sketch; Elizabeth II., wife of 
 M. A. Bently, of Nebraska; Emma T., wife of L. 
 W. Dennis, of Los Angeles, Cal.; and Julia 15., wife 
 of C. W. Keys, of Des Moines. 
 
 On the 15th of November, 18G1, accom[)anied 
 by his family, Mr. Davis reached Des Rloines, 
 where he spent the rem;nnder of his life, lie im- 
 mediately eudjarked in the wholesale and retail 
 grocery business and succeeded in building up an 
 e.vcellent ti'ade, which he afterward sold out to his 
 sons-in-law, L. Dennis and C. W. Keys. From the 
 first he was numbered among the representative 
 citizens of Polk County, and his record both in the 
 social world and in business circles was such as to 
 command the respect and confidence of all with 
 whom he was brought in contact. In carl}' life he 
 was a su[)porter of the Whig [larty and a great ad- 
 mirer of its two [irominent statesmen, Henry Clay 
 and Daniel Webster. His death occurred in this 
 city, December 12, 18G'J, and his wife died May 7, 
 1888. She was a sincere Christian woman and in a 
 quiet, unostentatious manner performed the duties 
 of life, striving to conform her actions to her pro- 
 fession. 
 
 Mrs. Tracy, whose name heads this sketch, was 
 liberally educated and graduated with honor from 
 the Steubenville Female Seminary, Ohio. She w.as 
 united in marriage with V. D. L. Trac}', a gentle- 
 man of culture and refinement and of good busi- 
 ness qualifications. For six years he was engaged 
 in the banking business at Portsmouth, Ohio, and 
 his upright manner of doing business made him a 
 record worthy of emulation. Their marriage was 
 celebrated In 18.")4, but after six short years of 
 lia[)py wedded life the husband was called to liis 
 last rest in ISOO. He was a prominent member of 
 the Episcopal Church and also a Knight Tenqilar 
 M.ason. Two children were born unto them, daugh- 
 ters — Libbie and Gertie, but in 1803, death again 
 visited the home, both dying of diphtheria. 
 
 Left alone, with no one to care for, Mrs. Tracy 
 has since devoted herself toHjthers, and the many ^ 
 friends which she has gained will, while life Lasts, 
 ever hold her in loving remembrance. In IS7(I, 
 the Cottage Hospital was organized through the 
 
542 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 instrumentality of a few Christian women, Mrs. 
 
 Tracy and her mother beins; two of tiie cliief 
 movers in the affair, and in Ut-tober, 188G slie cs- 
 tablislied Tracy Home. A siiorl history of that 
 institution will not l)c inapiiropriate. Several at- 
 teiiipls had been made in the past decade to found 
 a good liospital in tlic city but, all had i)roved un- 
 successful witli the exception of the Cottage Hos- 
 pital, therefore, such a home as she established was 
 much needed. It is a private liospital located in 
 West l)es Moines and is i)leasanlly situated on a 
 high eminence overlooking the river, and in full 
 view of the State Capilol. The building is two 
 stories in height with a basement and the rooms are 
 all separate and well ventilated. It is finished in- 
 side with Georgia i)ine and the whole presents an 
 attractive appearance which makes the patients feel 
 at home and at once at ease. The arrangement is 
 so perfect that the rooms do not 0[)en opposite and 
 the sanitary condition is all that could be required. 
 On the first floor are the waiting and operating 
 rooms, with eight rooms all large and airy, and on 
 the upper floor the remaining eight rooms. The 
 whole is under the personal supervision of Mrs. 
 Tracy, who has had many years e.xiierience is hos- 
 pital work. She is also assisted b}-- a competent 
 corps of trained nurses. While Mrs. Tracy's 
 "Home" is a private institution it is conducted on 
 tiie broadest kind of liberal principles, all schools 
 of medicine with their patients, being receiveil liy 
 its proprietor. 
 
 (f^ ENRY CLAY Ml'RPIlY, one of ihe pro- 
 prietors of the Capital K'oIUm' IMills, of 
 Des Moines, belongs t<j one of the early 
 families of North Carolina, of which State 
 his paternal grandfather, Miles Murphy, was a na- 
 tive, but at an early day lie left the South and emi- 
 grated to Wayne County, Ind., when that State 
 was a tcriitory. He acquired an extensive tract 
 of land and became «a substantial farmer of the 
 community. Of his eight children, Robert Murphy, 
 father of our subject, was the oldest. The mater- 
 nal grandfather, Daniel Burgess, removed from 
 
 South Carolina to Wayne County, IncL, during the 
 early days of its history and became one of the 
 founders of the city of Richmond. 
 
 Robert Muriihy was born in North Carolina in 
 17'J6, but at an early day accompanied his family 
 to Wayne County, where he was reared and mar- 
 ried Sarah Burgess, who was born in South Caro- 
 lina in 17'.)7, and became a resident of Indiana 
 during her girlhood. They co.itinued to make 
 their home in that State until late in life and were 
 numbered among the respected people of Wayne 
 County. Though farming was his chief occui)ation, 
 Mr. Murphy dealt extensively in lands and be- 
 came quite wealthy. About 18f)7 he made a tour 
 through the West in a wagon, and on reaching 
 Central Iowa purchased some two thousand acres 
 of land. However, he carried back with him the 
 greater part of his money, fearing to invest it in 
 real estate as he did not believe railroads would 
 ever be built Ihrough this [lart of the country, but 
 he lived to see a perfect network of roads cross- 
 ing the State, and consequently increasing the 
 value of his (iioperty. He made a perinanenL lo- 
 cation ill Des Moines in 18G-1, and he and his wife 
 si)ent their last days in this citj', Mr. Murphy dy- 
 ing at the age of eighty years, his wife in the sev- 
 enty-ninth year of her age. He sup[)ortod the 
 Whiy party until its dissolution, and was after- 
 ward a warm advocate of l{ii)ublican principles. 
 In Wayne County, Ind., he held for several terms 
 the ollice of County Commissioner, one of the most 
 responsible positions within the gift of the people 
 of the county. 
 
 The family of Mr. and Mrs. Murphy numbered 
 eight children, of whom six. are now living — John, 
 a farmer, residing near Indianapolis, Ind.; Daniel 
 is engaged in business in tiila Bend, Ariz.; Miles 
 M., ft real-estate dealer of Ashburn, Cal. ; Sarah .1., 
 wife of Milton Lawson, a retired farmer of Madi- 
 son County ; Martha, widow of Joseph Shisler, of 
 Des Moines. 
 
 Ilenr}' Clay Murphy, another member of the 
 family and the subject of this sketch, was born in 
 Wayne County, Ind., Sei)tember 3, 1837, and was 
 reared on a farm adjoining the town of Milti'ii. 
 consequently obtaining such educational advan- 
 tages as that place .iffordcd. He subsequently at- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 543 
 
 tended Newcastle Acadeni}', and at the age of 
 sixteen entered ui)on his business eareer as a sales- 
 man in liis brother's dry -goods store, wlu're he re- 
 mained three years, when he engaged in Ijuisness 
 fur himself. After two years' successful opera- 
 tions a disastrous tire swept away his store and 
 stock, and as very few insured in those days he had 
 nothing remaining but debts, and notliing willi 
 which to pay them. He again ri^sorted to clerking, 
 and bj' this means, aided somewhat by his fatlicr, 
 lie paid off all incumbrances, starling in life anew. 
 Going to Denver, Colo., in 1S7',), lie engaged in 
 mining one summer, and on his return to his na- 
 tive State opened a store in Miildlctown, whicli he 
 continued until August, 18G2, when he enlisted as 
 a private in the Eighty-fourth Indiana Infantry. 
 Upon the organization of the regiment, lie was ap- 
 pt)iiiled Coniinissar_y Sergeant, in wliicli cMpacily 
 lie served until the close of the war, lieing dis- 
 ciiarged at Nashville, Tenn. 
 
 .Soon afterward Mr. Murph}' came to Des Mdines, 
 but not being able to suit himself in business he 
 returned to Indiana and purchased his old store in 
 Middletown, which he carried on until 1871, at 
 which time lie returned to this city, and for two 
 years engaged in the grain business. His next 
 place of residence was in Earlham, Iowa, where he 
 dealt in stock and grain and carried on farming, 
 but something seemed drawing liiiii to Des Moines, 
 and in 1882 he again returned. Forming a pait- 
 nership with li. C. White and M. 11. Pickering, he 
 built the Capital Roller Mill at a cost of about 
 $30,000. Its caiiacity is one hundred and fifty 
 barrels per day, and as it is the only (louring mill 
 in the city a very liberal (latronage is accorded it. 
 .Since the death of Mr. White the enterprise h.as 
 been managed by the other [lartiiers, Mr. Mur|)liy 
 having chai'ge of the financial interests and Rlr. 
 Pickering the practical operations of the mill. 
 
 On the 22d of December, 18G.S, Mr. Murphy was 
 joined in wedlock with Miss ^lary A. Dipboye, a 
 native of ^liddlctown, Ind., where they were mar- 
 ried. They have two chiidien — Mattie K. and 
 Winnetka. 
 
 Politically, Mr. Murphy has always been a re- 
 liable Rcpublicnn and cast his (irst Presidenliul 
 vole for Lincoln. He is also a memlerof the M;i- 
 
 sonic fraternity and of the Grand Arni\ of the Itc- 
 l)ublic. He lakes an active interest in political 
 affairs, but not with selfish ends in view, as he 
 has never asked, nor would he be inclined to ac- 
 cept any ollicial position. Being a man of business, 
 he attends strictly to his affairs, and has tlunefore 
 prospered. He is also Vice- President of the Execu- 
 tive Committee of the Milhrs' Mutual Eire Insur- 
 ance (Company. 
 
 #^ TEPIIEN 1). WILSON, the senior partner 
 ^^^ of the firm of Wilson & Stein, machinists. 
 (jl/Jl) located in business at No. 223, E.asl First 
 Street, Des Moines, was born in Salisbury 
 Townshiii, Lancaster County, Pa., November 28, 
 18i8. His paternal great-grandfather was a 
 Scotch-Irishman and a miller by trade. He left 
 his home in the north of the Emerald Isle and emi- 
 grated to America at an early day, locating in Penn- 
 sylvania. He liad but one son, .lohn, who passed 
 his entire life in the Keystone State and followed 
 the occupation of farming. He married and had 
 two sons but one only, John D. Wilson, father of 
 our subject, r(!ared a family. On his mother's side, 
 Mr. Wilson is of Welsh descent. His maternal 
 grandfather, Jehu Jones, a Pennsylvanian by birth, 
 was educated for the legal i)rofession but his in- 
 clinations never led him to the ))raclice of law. 
 He taught seliool and kept hotel for many years. 
 He married .■iiid had live children, three sons and 
 two daughters. One of the former is deserving of 
 especial mention — J. (JIancy Jones, who was born 
 in Pennsylvania in 181 1. He was educated for the 
 ministry Iml became a successful lawyer and served 
 as Deiiuty Attorney General of Pennsylvania; was 
 three times sent to Congress, was founder of the 
 Court of Claims, for a time served as Ciiairnian 
 L'f the Committee of Wa^'s and Means and was sent 
 as Minister to Austria in 18r)8. He died in Read- 
 ing, Pa., in 1878. Kachel Jones, his sister, became 
 the mother of our subject. She too was born in 
 Pennsylvania and in that Stale the marriage of Mr. 
 Wilson and Miss Jones was celebrated. Itoth were 
 highly resiiecled citizens and were members of the 
 
544 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Episcopal Cluiicli. Mr. Wilson was a well-to-do 
 farmer and in |)ulilical sentiment was a supporter 
 of llie Dciuocraliu party. Durinjj the War of 1812 
 he belonged to a Irooi) of horse liut was never 
 called into active service. He reached the advanced 
 asc of seventy-four and his wife was sevunty-one 
 years of age at the time of her death. I'lieir fam- 
 ily consisted of ten cliihlreii, of whom six are 
 living — two sons and four daughters. The other 
 sou, John D., is a real-estate dealer of Helena, Mont. 
 
 Stephen 1). Wilson, the well-lcnown n)achinist of 
 I)es Moines, was reared to manliooil in his native 
 county and until sixteen years of age his lime was 
 divided between the school room and such duties 
 as are incident to a Ijoy's life on the farm. He 
 early learned the two great principles which have 
 made his life a success — industry and a proper 
 husbanding of his resources. At the :ige of sixteen 
 he was api)reniiced to the m.achiuist's trade, at 
 Reading, Berks County. Pa., serving a term of 
 about three and a half years. Having thoroughly 
 mastered his trade he worked as a journeyman for 
 a number of years, in the employ of the Pennsyl- 
 vania Railroad, when that line belonged to the 
 State, and after it passed into the hands of a com- 
 pany; also for the Lancaster Locomotive Works 
 and for the Ohio A- Mississippi Railroad in Southern 
 Indiana. In ISa'J. he went to Richmond, Ind., to 
 work for the Cincinnati <k Chicago Air Line. 
 
 It was during the residence of Mr. Wilson in 
 Richmond that he formed the accpiaintance and 
 was united in marriage with Miss Amanda M. Lewis, 
 a native of that city. Their union was celebrated 
 on the 22d of October, 18G2, and unto them have 
 been born two sons, Lewis D., and George F. 
 
 Soon after his marriage, Mr. Wilson engaged 
 with his father-in-law in business as proprietors 
 of the Steam Power Bakery, with which he con- 
 tinued his connection some two years. His resi- 
 dence in Ues Moines dates from 18G6, when with 
 his family he located in this city and became an 
 employe of the Des Moines Iron Works. By in- 
 dustry and economy he was soon enabled, in com- 
 pany Willi others, to purchase a plant and did 
 business under the firm title of Brooks, Slrawbridge 
 & Wilson. Later, Mr. Slrawbridge sold his interest 
 to George Leudrum and in 1873, that gentleman 
 
 was succeeded by William Stein. The next change 
 in the firm occurred in 1878, when by the death of 
 Dr. Brooks. Messrs. Wilson it Stein weie left sole 
 l)roi(rictors. They own a valuable plant and ()rop- 
 erty adjoining and furnish employment to about 
 fifteen men. Their business is numbered among 
 the leading industries of the city and its ra|)id 
 growth indicates the successful management and 
 systematic manner in which it has been carried on. 
 Socially, Mr. Wilson is a member of the Masonic 
 Order, belonging to Pioneer Lodge, No. 22, A. F. 
 & A. M., and his wife is a member of the Episco- 
 pal Church. Polilicall}', he is an unswerving 
 Republican Inil not a politician. He has been 
 reijcatedl}' solicited by his many friends to become 
 a candidate for odice but holding the unquestion- 
 able correct view that one cannot attend to both 
 business and politics at the same time, he h.as never 
 allowed himself to be drawn from his business in- 
 terests. He is now numbered among the old set- 
 tlers of the Capital City, having made Des Moines 
 his home for almost a (juarter of a century. 
 
 \ 
 
 ILLIAM KENNEDY, who is engaged in 
 Y ^ ., the practice of law in Des Moines, hsis been 
 y^^ a member of the bar of Polk County since 
 1879. His entire life has been passed in this State. 
 He was born in Lee County, Iowa, September 1, 
 1818, and is a representative of one of its i)ioneer 
 families. His father, Lewis G. Kennedy, was a na- 
 tive of Kentucky', but removed to Illinois in eari^' 
 life, and thence came to Iowa. He wedded Mary 
 Newsom. daughter of George Newsom, one of tlie 
 early settlers of Loe County, but' her death occur- 
 red when our subject was but two years of age. 
 His father afterward remarried. 
 
 William Kennedy was reared to manhood in Lee 
 County, and by his own unaided efforts made his 
 way through an academy, and for a considerable 
 time was a student in Howe's Seminaiy at Mt. 
 Pleasant. From the age of seventeen to twenty- 
 five years he was engaged the greater (lart of the 
 time in teaching, being employed in that ca- 
 [lacity both in the public schools and the Academy 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALHUM. 
 
 545 
 
 of Boiiapiirte, Van Buren County-, after wliicli lie 
 held Uie position of Superintendent of tlie P^irni- 
 ington Sciiools for two ^ears. lie began the study 
 of law in the law dei)artnient of the Chicago Uni- 
 versit\ , and was adiuitled to the liar in Oskaloosa, 
 Iowa, in 1875, entering upon liis professional ca- 
 reer in that city, where he continued in practice 
 until his removal to I)es Moines, in 187'J. 
 
 While a resident of Van Buren County, Iowa, 
 ftlr. Kennedy was united in marriage with Miss 
 Alice Proper, daughter of O. C. Proper, one of the 
 early settlers of tiiat community, Two children 
 grace their union: Carrie, born in ISTG; and Obie, 
 in 1880. 
 
 In i)olitical sentiment Mr. Kennedy is a Uei)ub- 
 lican, and is an honored member of the Masonic 
 Lodge of Farminglon. By perseverance and in- 
 dustry lie obtained a thorough English education, 
 and became a successful teacher, and into the legal 
 [)rofession lie brought the same earnestness of pur- 
 pose that characterized his career as a student and 
 teacher, and cannot but result in success. He is 
 an accurate aii<l able lawyer, and is highly esteemed 
 fur his public siiirit and integrity. 
 
 JOHN MEERDINK, manager of the Cajii- 
 , tal City Planing Mill, is at the head of one 
 
 S^^' of the leading industries of Des Moines, and 
 is accounted one of its leading citizens and enter- 
 prising business men. He is a native of Chaiitau- 
 (jua County, N. Y., born Februaiy 23, IHlIt, and a 
 son of G. .1. and .Jennie (Beniiink) Mcerdiiik, both 
 of whom were natives of Holland. Soon after their 
 marriage they emigrated to this country, reaching 
 New Vork about 184."), and having located in Chau- 
 tauqua County thej' resided thereuntil 1850, when 
 they einigrated to Muscatine, Iowa; making the en- 
 tire joiirne)' by water. For sonic thirty yeais IMr. 
 Meerdinic had chargeof a lumber yard at that city. 
 He was a man of good business ability, well in- 
 formed on general topics, and a great student of 
 the l?ible, being an active worker in the Baptist 
 Church, as is aNo his wife, who is yet living at the 
 age of scveutj-livc 3cars. Mr. Meerdink di'paitcd 
 
 this life in the seventieth year of his age. In their 
 family were six children, five sons and a daughter. 
 
 Our subject is the only one connected with the 
 business interests of Des Moines. He is the third 
 child of the family, and was reared and educated 
 in Muscatine. Having attended school until four- 
 teen yeais of age, he commenced his business ca- 
 reer as a clerk in the post-oUice, but when sixteen 
 years old began learning the planing-mill business. 
 After serving a term of two and a half years, in 
 18(57, he went to Chicago to become a linislicd 
 workman, and for more than two years was in the 
 employ of the eminent contractor, Edwin Ballard. 
 At the expiration of the first three months he was 
 made foreman, and served in that capacity for the 
 time above mentioned, when he resigned and en- 
 tered a large stair building factory, of which busi- 
 ness he became master. Later he spent a year and 
 ■ a half in business for himself, and then returned to 
 the management of the stair factory, where he re- 
 mained until the failure of the firm, in 1875, caused 
 him to seek employment elsewhere. The succeed- 
 ing six years of his life, four of which he was fore- 
 man, were spent in the employ of the W. E. Frost 
 Manufacturing Company, when, having decided to 
 turn his attention to agricultural iiursiiits, he re- 
 signed and removed to his farm in (iiithrie Coiintv, 
 Iowa. One season sufliced to convince him that he 
 was not suited for farm woik; he could not wait 
 for the .slow growth of a crop for his returns. Com- 
 ing to Des Moines, in 1881 , he worked for a [ler 
 cent, with the Ca))ital City Planing Mill Company 
 until 1884, when he acquired a third interest in the 
 above business, of which he has since been mana- 
 ger. 
 
 A marriage ceremony performed in Chicago, on 
 the 10th of December, 1872. united the destinies of 
 C. John Meerdink and Mrs. Elizabeth (Coryell) 
 Daiing. who was born in Sciota C(jiinty, Ohio, No- 
 vember 4, 1817. They arc the parents of six cliil- 
 dren: Jennie C!., who died in infancy; Annie L., 
 Charles S., Bertlia M.; Lewis C, who died in child- 
 hooil ; and Sarah E. 
 
 Mr. Meerdink and his wife are member.s of the 
 North Park Congregational Church, in which he 
 holds the otlice of Trustee. He also belongs to 
 I hire Miciul orders — the Masonic, the Woodmen, 
 
54(; 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 and United Workmen, and politically, is a Repub- 
 lican, now serving his second term as Alderman of 
 Norlli Des Moines. Mr. Meerdiiiii is inasler of iiis 
 trade, at wliicL lie lias now worked for twenty-live 
 vears, and js also an ex|)ert draftsman. He li;is 
 succeeded remarkably well consideiing the fact that 
 lie began life a i)oor boy. He takes a laudable in- 
 terest in church, school and city affairs, and I'olk 
 County has reason to luinibir him among her best 
 citizens. 
 
 ^: 
 
 z^ 
 
 ESIN WILKINS, who i.s engaged in general 
 ? farming on flection 7. (Jranl Towii.-ihi[), has 
 11 been a resident of I'olk County for forty- 
 ^)j four years, dating his residence from the 
 lOlh of April, 1849. He justly ranks among its 
 honored pioneers, and deserves no little credit for 
 the active part which he has taken in its upbuilding 
 and advancement. The history of his life is as fol- 
 lows: He was born in Belmont County, Ohio, and 
 is the sou of Robert .and Eliza (Holmes) Wilkins. 
 The family was established in America in 1G2(), 
 founded by P^nglish emigrants, who crossed the At- 
 lantic in the Mayllower. aiul with the I'ilgriin 
 Fathers settled at Plymouth Kock. From the New 
 England States their descendants have scattered 
 throughout tlie East and South. Robert Wilkins 
 was a native of Virginia, but in his childhood went 
 to Pennsylvania, where he became acquainted with 
 and wedded Miss Eliza Holmes, a native of County 
 Down, Ireland. Her father was also born in that 
 county, and had to flee from his native land on ac- 
 count of having taUen i)art in an insurrection against 
 the British Government. He lirst located near 
 Philadelphia, but at an early day removed to Shelby 
 County, Ohio, where the remainder of his life was 
 si)ent in peace and quiet. He there entered land 
 and devoted his energies to farming, and upon the 
 old homestead one of his sons is yet living. 
 
 To Robert and F^liza Wilkins was born a family 
 of thirteen children. Those who grew to manhood 
 and womanhood are as follows: Rebecca w.as twice 
 niarricil, and by (■ach union had three ehihlien, 
 but she and both husbands are now deceased; 
 
 Fannie was married, and at ber death left six chil- 
 dren; Hester is now a resident of Morrow County, 
 Ohio; Thomas makes his home in Paulding County, 
 Ohio; Resin is the next younger; Mary J., widow 
 of John Collins, resides in Paulding Count}', Ohio; 
 John died in Slielbj' County, Ohio; Louise became 
 the wife of Chauncy Wood, by whom she had four 
 children, but is now deceased; Ellen is the wife of 
 Edward Shaw, who resides near Atchison, Kan.; 
 Asher died in Shelby County, Ohio; James N.is a 
 fanner of (irant Township. Mrs. Wilkins, tlie 
 mother of this famil}', having died some time [H'c- 
 vious to the death of her husband, he was a second 
 time married, the lady of his choice being Mrs. 
 Ivoxa Dillon, by whom he had three children. 
 
 Tiie subject of this sketch began his education in 
 a log school-house in Muskingum County, (Jhio, 
 and completed it in a subscrii)tion school of Knox 
 County. With his father he learned the carpen- 
 ter's trade, whicli he followed in Knox County, 
 until 1841. when, owing to a scarcity of work in 
 that region, in company with three comrades, he 
 started out to seek emitloyment elsewhere. Times 
 were hard, and money scarce, and it was no easy 
 matter to secure work. He started down the Ohio 
 Biver, but his fumls being exhausted ere he reached 
 his (lestinatioii, he had to stop on his way for two 
 weeks, and work for the money necessary to defray 
 his additional expenses. On arriving in Hanging 
 Rock, he secured a position in the iron works, l)Ut 
 the}' were soon afterward closed, and he engaged in 
 shaving shingles. By working from early dawn 
 until d;uk, he was al)le to make *1 per day, from 
 which sum he hait to clothe and board himself. In 
 the juitumn of 1845, he went to Cincinnati and se- 
 cured a i)osilion with a man who was preparing to 
 take a boat down the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers 
 to New Orleans, he to receive $12 per month. Six 
 weeks were consumed in inaking the trip, after 
 which he tt)ok n boat up to the mouth of the Red 
 River, and in that section began cutting and cord 
 ing wooil, which he continued until tlie following 
 March, when 'he weather grovviiig much warmer, 
 he determined to return to the North. Having 
 heard that Polk County furnished favorable open- 
 ings to young men who were ambitious to secure 
 homes, he started for Iowa, arriving in Des Moiues 
 
|5^' 
 
 W'' 
 
 i a 
 
 §N^ 
 
 i 
 
 ^ 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 547 
 
 ou the lOth of Ai>ril, 1846. Ho staked :i li;ilf sec- 
 tion of land in Warren County, near Carlisle, and 
 upon it made his home until the autumn of 1847, 
 when he had opportunity to [jurehase his present 
 farm on section 7. Believing this to he a favor- 
 able location, and that the county woidd sot)n be- 
 come thickly populated, hedetcrmineil to make the 
 investment, and bought one hundred and fiftj'- 
 soven acres of wild prairie, upon which not a fur- 
 row, at that time, had been turned. It was entirely 
 destitute of improvement, but he courageously be- 
 gan the arduous task of developing a farm. 
 
 On the 5th of -lul}-, 1819, j\lr. Wilkins was joined 
 in the holy bonds of matrimony with Miss Martha 
 J. Henderson, a native of Wayne Count}', Ind., and 
 a daughter of Thomas .1. Henderson, who was one 
 of the pioneer settlers of Polk County. Thej- made 
 their home on the Henderson farm until 1850, wiion 
 the}- removed into a little log cabin on their own 
 land. That dwelling was quite primitive in char- 
 acter, having a puncheon lloor and clapboard roof. 
 In 185.S, it was replaced by a story and a half frame 
 house. Shortly afterward, accomiianied by his wife 
 Mr. Wilkins made a visit to his old home, twenty- 
 seven days being consumed in making the trip each 
 wa}'. He returned in October, 1853, and furnished 
 his home, hauling tho dry-goods and groceries from 
 Keokuk and Burlington. The pioneers did not 
 have many luxuries, and the wild game which was 
 then found in abundance furnished then) in:iny a 
 meal. For a liarrel of sail they paid ^il. while the 
 prices they received for the farm products w(M'e 
 very low. 
 
 Mr. Wilkins, undaunted by the hiirdships and 
 toils of pioneer life, pressed on :ind stc.'idily con- 
 tinued the work of dcveloiiing his farm until the 
 breaking out of the late war, when, on the 1st of 
 November, 1801, he enlisted in the country's ser- 
 vice as a sharpshooter. Soon afterward, however. 
 he was transferred to the Fifteenth Iowa infantry, 
 and with his command went to St. Louis, Mo., 
 whence he was ordered to Sliiloh, arriving thereon 
 the eve of battle. The}' at once were placed in the 
 ranks, and wlieu Gen. Prentice was about to be 
 captured, the Fifteenth formed into line, and hold 
 the enemy in check until aid w!,s received. Our 
 subject narrowly escaped dcatli several times dur- 
 
 ing that engagement, his coat having a number of 
 bullet holes through it. On account of mlTitorious 
 conduct displayed on the field of battle, he* was com- 
 missioned Second Lieutenant, but in March, 186;}, 
 was discharged from the service on a surgeon's cer- 
 tificate of disability. It was with deep regret on his 
 part that he was forced to leave the army, for he 
 felt the deepest interest in the cause and wished to 
 .aid his country in her desper.ate struggle. 
 
 Immediately after his return, IMr. Wilkins re- 
 sumed farming, but he has never regained his usual 
 health and strength. Wishing in every w.ay to |)ro- 
 motc the ha|)piness and welfare of his famil}', he 
 li.as made for them an excellent home and in 1876, 
 replaced the old dwelling by a commodious and 
 beautiful two-story lirick residence, which is neatly 
 an<l tfistcfully furnished, and surrounded by all 
 the comforts of life. It is situated in the midst 
 of a beautiful grove of shade and ornamental trees 
 which were planted ami tended by the master and 
 mistress of the home. The family of this worthy 
 coui>le numbers ten children: La Fayette, who was 
 born Ai)ril 18, 1850, and is engaged in f.arming in 
 Saylor Township; Thomas J., wiiodied in infancy; 
 Robert II., who was born August 26, 1853, in 
 Shelby County, Ohio, and died August 21, 1886, 
 leaving a wife and one child; William R., l)orn 'N 1- 
 vember 27, 1855. a farmer of Delaware Townshiii; 
 F^liza E., who was born .January 7, 1858. and is now 
 the wife of Jerome B. Thornton, of West Phiins, 
 Mo.; .lames, born in April, 1S60, is a farmer of 
 GrantTownship; Adolphus, who was born October 
 29, 1861. and for two years served as Deputy Sheriff 
 of the count}-, assists his father in the cultivation 
 of the home farm; Mary A., born September 9, 
 1867, is the wifeof Kdwin AVyman,of Des i\Ioines; 
 Emma, born .lanuary 5, 1870, is the wife of Ed- 
 ward Moon ; and Charles C, born November 22, 
 1872, is .at home. 
 
 During the long years of his residence in this 
 county, Mr. AVilkins h.as ever manifested a deep in- 
 terest in public affairs, and fully borne his share in 
 the promotion of its enterprises, and the advance- 
 ment of everything calculated to [iromotc the gen- 
 eral welfare. He feels a deep pride, as well he 
 may, in the position wliicli his county now occupies 
 in the State. In politics, he is a Republican, and 
 
548 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 socially, is a member of the Grand Army of tlie 
 Repul)!!^, Kinsman Post. In business atfairs, liis 
 conduct has ever been upriglit and honorable, among 
 Ills acfiuaint.iiicos it lias been tli.nt of a true and 
 courteous i;eiitlemaii. 
 
 -.4<«E"~ 
 
 I^ILLIAM STKIN, of tlie firm of Wilson A- 
 Stein, machinists of Dcs Moines, was one 
 of four children, three sons and a dauijli- 
 tcr, born to .John and Eve (Kirsh) Stein, and his 
 birth occurred in Baden, Germany, June 30, 1831. 
 His father, also a native of P.aden, was a mill- 
 wright by trade, and did an extensive business 
 working from one hundred and fifty to two hun- 
 dred hands. He died when William was about 
 four years old, leaving his wife and children 
 comfortably provided for. Mrs. Stein was a na- 
 tive of Lyons, France, but her parents were of 
 German birth. Of the family only two crossed 
 the waters to America, but the older, a son, has 
 never l)cen heard of since his arrival In this coun- 
 try. 
 
 Willi.ani Stein is the founder of his branch of 
 the family in the United States, and a sketch of 
 his life will therefore be of interest, not only to 
 the present generation, but long after he shall 
 have passed aw.ay this will be a monument to the 
 establishment of the Stein family in America. He 
 acquired a good education in the common schools, 
 and at the age of fourteen years was apprenticed 
 to the trade of a cabinet and pattern maker, the 
 conditions of the contract being that he w.as to 
 work si.xteen hours per day, pay a fee of $100 per 
 year and board and clothe himself — a h.ard bar- 
 gain, we would think, in this country. At the end 
 (if I H<p and one-half years he received his i)apers 
 from the Government, eertif3-ing tiiat he was a 
 skilled workman and giving him the right to 
 travel in the em[,ire but not across the Phine. De- 
 siring to see more of the country, witlioiil permis- 
 sion he crossed into Switzerland aiid having spent 
 some time returned and worked in the Black Forest. 
 .Suhsetpiently lie visited Freyburg. Dresden and 
 
 Hamburg and then returned to his liome, where 
 he soon afterwards received a letter from his 
 guardian stating that he must, in person or by 
 proxy, draw lots which would determine whether 
 he must serve in the army or not. Being author- 
 ized, his guardian drew for him, drawing number 
 7, which meant five years of military service, but 
 not willing to spend the years of his best manhood 
 thus, assisted bj' his brother and guardi.an, he pro- 
 cured the means to p.ay his {passage to America, 
 and without .asking the consent of the Govern- 
 ment succeeded in getting away. When he landed 
 at New York, in September, 18/)1, ho had only four 
 and one-half cents in his pocket, but. as he says, 
 "was the happiest boy on earth." He soon found 
 work in the city at good wages, and thus reasoned 
 to himself, "land is only ^1.2.5 per acre and every 
 time I can save that much I may add an acre to 
 my possessions." By hard work and economy he 
 saved until his bank account reached over !j 100, 
 but a strike came on and he went into it. His 
 money dwindleil away and he left the cit}'. At 
 Albany he he sold his two hundred dollar kit of 
 t[>ols to get money to bring him to the West. A 
 few daj's were S|)ent in Chicago, then he went on 
 to St. Louis, where he worked for a time and then 
 fioated down the river to New Orleans, where lie 
 had an attack of the cholera and narrowl3' escaj)cd 
 death. On his return to St. Louis he found his 
 papers and other effects had been burned and was 
 thus forced to begin life anew. After saving ^200 
 lie went to Minnesota, but after four months sick- 
 ness .again m.ade his W!iy back to St. Louis, anil 
 there .advised b^^ his doctor to come to Iowa. The 
 journey from Keokuk to Oskaloosa, Iowa, had to 
 be made by a stage, and though the distance was 
 oidj' fifty miles, it took him from Monday- morn- 
 ing till Saturdaj' night to make the trip, the roails 
 l)eing so mudd}- that rails had to be carried to pry 
 out the stage. His f^rc was ¥1), his board <il3, 
 total ^22 for fifty miles — rather expensive travel- 
 ing. 
 
 Mr. Stein arrived at his destination, Pella, Iowa 
 in IH.'iC), and during his residence in that city, on 
 the 1 lUi of March, 18.')8, he married Rebecca Cas- 
 per, who w.as born in Holland, in 1836. Her 
 father, Charles L. Casper, emigrated with his fam- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGKAl'HICAL ALBUM. 
 
 549 
 
 ily from that country, in ISIG. nnd scttU'il near 
 Pella, where he liuill a log house, wliich lie cov- 
 ered with beef hides, selling tiic liecf for a song. 
 He lived to be only forty-nine years old. but his 
 wife reached the advaiifed age of seventy-nine 
 years. Thej- were parents of seven children. Mr. 
 and Mrs. Stein also had seven children, three of 
 whom are now living — Nellie, Mar}' and William. 
 Soon after his marriage Mr. Stein removed to 
 Indianola and ran a cabinet slio}) for three years, 
 or until 18()2, when he came to Des Moines. 
 Having worked for others until 1H73, he became a 
 mtyiibfr of the firm of Brooks, Wilson & Stein. 
 He has succeeded in accumulating a nice propert}', 
 but has twice met reverses by fire. To use his 
 own thought, he is a runaway German and a burnt- 
 out American, but nevertheless he has prospered 
 and ranks among the well-to-<lo citizens of Des 
 Moines, where he has made his home for twenty- 
 eight years. Socially, he is a member of the Odd 
 Fellows and Turner Societies, and piolitically is a 
 Democrat. 
 
 S^^- 
 
 1(^\INCENT S. MARTIN, of Des Moines, was 
 born in Columbiana County, Ohio, March 
 22, 18.33, His father, Robert Martin, was 
 a native of Washington County, Pa., but when a 
 youth removed to Ohio, where he resided for many 
 years. At one time he owned the site of the pres- 
 ent cit>' of Youngstown, in that State. He was 
 twice married, his second union being with Marga- 
 ret Rogers, who became the mother of our subject. 
 l?oth parents were of Scotch origin, the mother 
 being a n.itive of that land. The Martin famil}' 
 was noted for longevity. Robert Martin passed 
 away at the advanced age of ninety-four years 
 and his death then resulted from an accident. He 
 h.ad one brother, Samuel, who died in the city of 
 Pittsburg at the advanced age of one hundred and 
 four J cars, while other members of the family 
 lived extremely long lives. Robert Martin was an 
 honorable, upright citizen, and, true to his Scottish 
 teachings was a strict Presb^-terian in religious 
 faith. He was the father of ten cliililron, six sons 
 ami four daughters, two fif whom, Koberl and .Su- 
 
 san, were boin of the fust niarri.age. .James, the 
 eldest child of the second marriage, is a carriage- 
 maker by trade, residing in the State of Tennessee; 
 Sarah, wlitj makes her home in Parke Count}-, Ind., 
 is the widow of Martin Nowling, deceased, who en- 
 gaged in the manufacture of |)lows for a nundier of 
 years and died from the effects of an accident, be- 
 ing thrown from a horse; Eliza became the wife of 
 Knos Turner and died at her home in Chicago, 
 where she resided many years; Samuel lives in Co- 
 lumbiana County, Ohio, near the old homestead; 
 Luther resides in Afton, Union Count}-, Iowa; 
 Martha, widow of W. A. Cooper, makes her home 
 in Los Angeles, Cal.; \'incent S. is the next 
 younger; and .Joseph, who completes the family, 
 resides on the old homestead in Ohio. 
 
 Our subject remained upon his father's farm un- 
 til seventeen years of age, dividing his time be- 
 tween the district schools .and assisting his father 
 in farm labor. He then went to Pittsburg, Pa., 
 where he served an apprenticeship to the trade of 
 a plasterer. At length having mastered the busi- 
 ness, in comiiany with his brother-in-law, Mr. 
 Cooper, he located in Gallon, C'rawford County, 
 Ohio, where he remained unlil his emigration to 
 .Iowa in Its.'iS. Kor about three years he engaged 
 in working at his trade in Davenport and then em- 
 barked in business in the same line in Winlerset, 
 M.adison Count}', where he became acquainted 
 with and wedded Miss Clara E. Brady. His resi- 
 dence in Des Moines dates from the winter of 
 18.59-00, and covers a period of thirty years. 
 
 In 18C2, Mr. Martin enlisted in Com|)any E, 
 Twenty-third Iowa Infantry and on the organiza- 
 tion of his company w.as made fourth Corporal and 
 l)romoted to third Corporal Sci)tember 8, 1862. 
 The regiment was under the command of Col. Will- 
 iamll. Dewey and took part in the cani|)aign in 
 IVIi.ssouri in the winter of 1862-63. During that 
 campaign Mr. Martin suffered severely with the 
 measles .as did many others of his comrades. Dur- 
 ing the campaign of 1 863, he took part in many 
 severe and imi)ortant engagements. At the battle 
 of Black River Bridge, on the 17th of May, the 
 regiment distinguished itself in a most gallant man- 
 ner. At that point the Confederates had a line of en- 
 trencluneuls .about Ihree miles in lenirth and the 
 
550 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Twenty-third charged the enemy's works and cap- 
 tured twonty-live hundred prisDners. Col. Kinsman, 
 who had but lal-ely succeeded to tiie command on 
 acconnt of the dcatli of Col. Dewey, was mortally- 
 wountkd in the charge and Col Samuel 8. Merrill 
 of the Twenty-first Iowa Regiment, who was sup- 
 porting tlic Twenty-third, was also severely 
 wounded. The regiment lost one hundred and 
 seventy men in killed and wounded hut left the 
 field covered with glory as it made one of the most 
 brilliant charges of the war. It was then assigned 
 to special duty, having charge of the prisoners 
 which were conducted to Memphis. At the battle 
 of Millikcn's Bend the regiment again distinguished 
 itself and lost heavily, but on that occcasion the 
 subject of this sketch was on picket duty and con- 
 setpiently did not participate in Hie struggle. Af- 
 ter the liattle. the Twenty-third rejoineil the 
 brigade which was in the trenches at Mcksburg, 
 where it remained until the surrender of that 
 stronghold. But while stationed in front of the 
 city. Corporal Martin was'again taken ill and from 
 the field hospital was sent to Adams li(isi)ital in 
 Memphis, where he was granted a leave of absence 
 and came iiomi'. At the end of the furlough he 
 reported at Keokuk wlience he was sent to New 
 Orleans, whither his regiment had gone in the 
 meantime. Shortly afterward the Twenty-third 
 started to join the Red River expedition under 
 Gen. Banks, but arriveil only in time to build a 
 bride across the river for the retreating troops. It 
 took ]>art in the Mobile canniaign, including the 
 battles of Spanish Fort and Ft. Blakely and contin- 
 tinued in service nniil the close of the war, when 
 he was mustered out in Ilarrisburg, Tex., .luly 26, 
 IHGo. Thus ended the war record of Mr. Martin 
 anil the gallant TwCnly-tliird. Returning by way 
 of the (uilf and New Orleans, to Davenport, the 
 regiment was then discharged. 
 
 Mr. Martin"al once proceeded to his lunne and 
 for a number of years was engaged as a plastering 
 contractor, cor.linuiug in that line of business untd 
 1883, since which time he has been jobbing in ce- 
 ment work. He is an enterprising and iiuluslrious 
 business man and his efforts have been genendly 
 successful. 
 
 In 187r>, Mr. Martin was callcil tijion to mourn 
 
 the loss of his wife who died on the 17th of De- 
 cember, leaving seven children, six sons and one 
 daughter, as follows: James E., Charles C, Willie 
 C, Frank S., Carrie Dell, Harrj' V. and Norman 
 B. In March, 1880, the father was again married, 
 his secoiid union being with MissMollie \'. Triggs. 
 The3' have one son, John, and lost their first child, 
 a daughter, in infancy. In political sentiment, Mr. 
 Martin is a stanch Republican and socially is a 
 member of the Crocker Post, G. A. R. He was a 
 gallant soldier for the cause of the Union and is a 
 worthy and valued citizen, well deserving repre- 
 sentation in this volume, which records the lives of 
 the most prominent and representative citizens of 
 Polk County. 
 
 #«# 
 
 jc.R. G. LEONARD BAGLEY, of East Des 
 Moines, who joined the medical fraternity of 
 Polk County in 1 880, is a native of the Empire 
 State, having becii born in the city of Elmira, Janu- 
 ary 20, 1851. His father, William A. Bagley, is a 
 native of Pennsylvania, but for many years he has 
 made his home in Elmira, where he is still living. 
 
 'I"he early life of the Doctor passed uneventfully, 
 he spending his time in much the usual manner of 
 other boys. His literary education was acquired 
 in his native city, where he entered upon the study 
 of his profession with Dr. Walkins as preceptor. 
 He attended lectures in the Western Reserve I'ni- 
 versity of Cleveland, Ohio, from which he was 
 graduated February 25, 1885, but desiring to still 
 further pursue his medical researches where he 
 he might obtain the best advantages possible, he 
 resolved to go to Europe and spend a year in 
 Vienna, the capital city of Austria, where he re- 
 ceived special instruction from the most learned 
 medical professors of that city, which is renowned 
 for the excellence and thorough character of its 
 medical institutions. Feeling that he had now 
 mastered the profession sulliciently to enter ujion 
 practice, he again crossed the Atlantic an<l sought 
 a home in the West, choosing Des Moines as his 
 field of labor and his place of residence as well. 
 
 Dr. Baglev came to this city only four years .ago 
 
C^/rd ^-rvVy 
 
 C^Tt^c^ 
 
 C'l^'i'^^/ xyf (yi^^ 
 
 c/J o^r^^^si 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 553 
 
 an entire stianuor. Iiiit liis merits as a pliysieiaii 
 mill siiijieoii have becuinc fully e<tablisl)eil, as is 
 imiicatod hy iiis laiue and g-c wing practice. He is 
 conlial anil al'falile in manner, ami social'y, as well 
 as iin)fessic)nal!3-, is iiiglily respected and esteemed. 
 The Doctor has been twice marrieil. His first 
 wife was a Miss Alscn, who died in Elmira, N. Y., 
 leaving one child, a son. AVayland O. His iiresent^ 
 wife was formeily JHss Molly I vie, a native of 
 Tennessee, who, like her linsband, has won popu- 
 larity in social circles and has made many warm 
 friends. The}' are both widely known throughout 
 the communit}', and as they arc worthy and repre- 
 sentative citi'/ens, we arc pleased to record their 
 sketch in this volume. 
 
 '|f^^,EV. THOMPSON BIRD (or Father Bird), as 
 ll><f he was familiarly and reverently called liy his 
 cii fl^ many friends, was the pioneer Presb3torian 
 minister of Des Moines, and in June, 1848, 
 organized the Central Presbyterian Church in a lit- 
 tle hamlet called Ft. Des Moines, now the Ca|)ital 
 City and metropolis of Iowa. 
 
 Mr. Bird was a native of North Carolina, born 
 in Caswell County, on the 7tli of January, ISOl, 
 and when twelve years of age engaged as clerk in 
 a store, wlicie he remained until 1821. His ambi- 
 tion for the acquirement of knowledge led to his 
 preparing himself for college, which he succeeded 
 in doing at a private academy. He then entered 
 the rniversity at Chapel Hill, N. C, from which 
 he was graduated in the class of 1827. Returning 
 to his native town he became a tutor in the acad- 
 emy, which position he held three terms, serving 
 for the same length of time .as tutor in his Alma 
 Mnlcr. In the meantime he resolved to enter the 
 Christian ministry. With him, to resolve was to 
 do. He became a student in the Andover The- 
 ological Seminary, where he spent three years, be- 
 ing a classmate of Prof. Calel) Mills, of Wab.ash 
 College, and other eminent scholars. He returned 
 to the South with enlarged views, being strongly 
 impressed with the superior condition of the i)eople 
 
 of a free State with lilieral pulilir srlnioi piivileges, 
 over the region where he had been born and 
 reared, in which the unfortunate institutif>n of Af- 
 rican slaver^' was a l)ar to the inlellectual progress 
 of the masses. On returning to North Carolina he 
 engaged in missionary work on Dan River, and 
 .along the biu'ilers of North Carolina and \'irgiuia. 
 
 On the 18ih of December, 18:58, the Rev. .Mr. 
 Bird was united in marriage, in Sussex Cr)unty. 
 \'a.. with Miss Anna Parkluiist Kuowlton. a daugh- 
 ter of William Kuowlton, and a native of Hartford, 
 ^'t. A lady of rare culture, possessing all the 
 attributes of the highest type of the true woman, 
 she proved to be a true helpmate to her hnsliand. 
 She was reared and educated in her native State, 
 and went to Fayettville, N. C, in 183G, where she 
 taught school one 3'car. Thence she went to Ral- 
 eigh and engaged in teaching. It was there she 
 formed the acquaintance of Mr. Bird, which resulted 
 in their marriage. 
 
 In 1840 Mr. Iiird removed with his family to 
 Thorntown, Ind., where he resided until 18 17, 
 when he emigrated to Iowa. After spending a few 
 months in Red Rock, he located in Ft. Des Moines, 
 then but a small frontier hamlet. In December, of 
 that j'ear, he began his labors as a missionary of 
 Des Moines Prcsbyterj' for Polk and adjoining 
 counties, which embraced a wide extent of terri- 
 tory, Polk County alone covering neaily all llie 
 State north and west of Des Moines. His lirst 
 work was to form a nucleus about which to labor. 
 In June, 1848, he organized the Central I'resby- 
 terian Church of Ft. Des Moines, the society con- 
 sisting of six women and one? man. During the 
 summer meetings weie held in the barrack build- 
 ing, but as cold weather apiiroaclied they met in 
 private houses. On the com|)letion of the cnnrt- 
 house the society made use of it .as a [Jacc of wor- 
 ship. In the meantime Mr. Bird w.as industriously 
 striving to gather material for the erection of a 
 church edifice of their own. A lot was purchased 
 on West Fourth Street, adjoining on the south th.at 
 which is now known as Mills & C'o.'s. A building. 
 comniitlec was chosen comi)rised of the following- 
 named gentlemen: R. W. Sypher, Barlow raniier, 
 J. K. Jewett, J. D. Davis and Mr. liird. As olUn 
 happens the burden of the labor fell upon II ic pastor. 
 
554 
 
 POUTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 For six years ho toiled, galliering a little liei-e and 
 a little there. Tije settlers were poor and money 
 was scarce. His own salary was a mere pittance, 
 liut of that he gave freely, wliile liis cstimal)le wife 
 gave her aid to his good works I13' teaching .school. 
 .She erected a. building for that purpose, which two 
 years since was st.anding at the corner of Second 
 and Locust Streets. Six years after the project was 
 started the building was but half completed, but in 
 .luiic, 1855, it was made habitable, and was dedi- 
 cated in tiiat month. A bell was needed, hut the 
 means to procure it were not easily obtain.able. Mr. 
 Tiird came to the rescue, and by the sale, to the 
 llev. Dr. Spr.Tguc, of a choice collection of auto- 
 graph letters from eminent men of the country, 
 which he prized highly, the bell w.as procured. It 
 proved to be one of the sweetest in tone that has 
 rung in the cilj'. On the night of November 1, 
 1867, the church was burned to the ground, and 
 the bell was ie<Uiccd to a shapeless mass. For 
 twenty years Father Bird was the beloved pastor of 
 tills church. His labors, however in the early 
 years of his residence in Iowa, extended over a 
 v.ast region, sparsely settled and difficult of access. 
 lie probably organized more churches than any 
 other minister witiiin the limits of the State. He 
 w.'is an earnest," self-sacrificing worker in his holy 
 calling, going forth often "without money or 
 scrip," and frc(jucnlly weary and hungr3', but he 
 always found a hearty wx'lcome from the pioneeis 
 wherever lie went, and a generous hospitality. On 
 foot or on horseback, from hamlet to hamlet, some 
 times swimming rivers or w.ading sloughs to keep 
 an appointment to hold divine service. It was no 
 unusual occurrence for him to walk from Ued Uock 
 to Cedar Rapids to attend a meeting of the Synod. 
 Where duty called he went, at all times and in all 
 seasons. Sunday-schools were special objects of 
 interest to him, and Bible and tr.act distribution his 
 favorite work. While the field of his labors em- 
 braced a large portion of the State, it w.is in Des 
 Moines wlicre he was best known, and where his in- 
 Ihience .'is a refined gentleman, a ri[)c scholar and 
 earnest Christian minister was most felt. There 
 are few people who have done so much to mold the 
 moral, religious and social sentiment of this city as 
 did the K'ev. Tluinipsiin liini lliniugli his long and 
 
 active career. Early in the settlement of the town 
 Mr. Bird made small but judicious investments in 
 real estate, which, owing to the rapid growth and 
 increased value of city property placed him in easy 
 fiiianci.'d circumstances. 
 
 On New Year's Day of 18G1, Mr. Bird was 
 stricken with paralysis, from the effects of 'which he 
 never recovered. On Monday, Januarj- 1,1809, 
 a calm winter day, he quietly fell asleep for the 
 last time on earth, as the sun was setting in a 
 bright lialo of glory, typical of the close of the life 
 of this worth}- Christian gentleman. The funeral 
 services were very properly conducted by the Rev. 
 Dr. John A. Nash, who had been his co-laborer in 
 ministerial work, and an intimate acquaintance for 
 nearly a quarter of a century. 
 
 Mrs. Bird survives her husband, and at this 
 writing is seventy-seven years of age. She is a 
 lady of superior intellectual attainments, possessed 
 of an earnest Christian spirit and many noble at- 
 tributes of character. She shared the arduous 
 labors of her husband, and endured with cheerful- 
 ness the man}' trials and privations incident to pio- 
 neer life, and proved herself in every way worthy 
 to be the wife and helpmate of such a man .as the 
 Rev. Mr. Bird. These worthy people have left the 
 imprint of their lives upon the comirmnil}- in 
 which they have been potent factors in laying the 
 foundation of a higher civilization. Through their 
 labors in church and school, and in the juirity and 
 perfection of their lives, as shown in daily inter- 
 course with their fellow-citizens, they won a strong 
 and Lasting hold upon the affectionate reinend)rance 
 of all who have enjo3cd tiieir society. 
 
 I Y. RAW.SON is one of the early settlers 
 l ^/uf and representative business men of Des 
 w Moines. He springs from an old English 
 family, .'^ix generations back Edward Raw- 
 son, a native of Dorsetshire, England, in 10;?7. 
 emigrated to America and located in Newbury, in 
 the Colon}- of Mass.achusetts Bay. He was grantee 
 of that town and held various positions of trust, 
 including that of .Secretary t>f the Colony to wliich 
 
PORTRAIT AND KIOGKAPHICAL ALBUM 
 
 555 
 
 he was annunlly elected for tliirtyfive years or un- 
 til the (ioverniDent w;i.s turneil over to Sir Kdimind 
 Androse. The family have greatly increased in 
 ninnhers, as m:\\ lie surmised from the faet that his 
 son William was the father of Iwent}" children. 
 Alile lawyers, skillful physicians, [irominent legis- 
 lators and military men are numbered among the 
 descendants of that sturdy Knglish pioneer. Har- 
 vard College graduated a goodly number of then), 
 and in the struggle for Inde|)cndenee and the \\:\y 
 of l.Si2 they fought for liberty. 
 
 Elijah Rawson, the father of our subject, mar- 
 ried Susan Allen and settled in Craftsbur}', Vt., 
 wlici-e he devoted himself to agricultural pursuits. 
 Unto them was born a family of nine children, 
 five sons and four daughters, but only four are liv- 
 ing at this writing, in 1890. Horace L. is a resi- 
 dent of Vermont; E. E. is President of the Gates 
 City Cottin Company of Atlanta, Ga.; A. Y. is the 
 next younger, and S. ISI. is the widow of Judge 
 IJarber. Those deceased are: ]\[rs. C. M. lioynton, 
 who died in Atlanta, Ga.; E. H. Hastings and Mrs. 
 l-'.mma Clapp who died in \'ermoiil; William A. 
 wlio died in Des Moines, and Dr. C'liarles IJ., whose 
 sketch appears elsewhere in this work. 
 
 The life history of A. Y. Kawson is as follows: 
 He was born on the 9th of June, 1.S2.'?, in Orleans 
 County, N't., and spent his early life in his native 
 Stale. His education was acquired before he was 
 fourteen 3'ears of age, at which time he entered a 
 store as clerk and worked until he had attained his 
 majority, for ^100. For a nund)er of 3-ears he made 
 clerking a means of suppoi't. At length, thinking 
 his income justifying him in marrying, in the month 
 of June, 1850, lie wedded Miss I'Miza Root, who died 
 after fourteen years of happy wedded life, leaving 
 one daughter, Mary E., who became the wife of 
 Hardy C. Harris, of Des Moines, and died June 27, 
 1885. In April, 18G(), Mr. Rawson was again mar- 
 ried, his second union being with Mary L. Scott, a 
 native of Vermont, by whom he had four children: 
 Charles A., Superintendent of the Pipe and Tile 
 Works; Joseph S., a student of Iowa College; 
 H;jllis A. and Ilarvey I). 
 
 In 1860, when Central Iowa was still sparsel}' 
 settled, Mr. Rawson came to Des Moines and 
 engaged in general merchandising until 1808. when 
 
 he sold out and became idcntihcd with the coal 
 dealing interests of this city. In 1881 the Des 
 Jloines Sewer Pijie and Tile ('(unpanj' was organ- 
 ized and he was made its Secretary and man.'iger, 
 which position he still continues to till. This is one 
 of the most e.vtensive manufacturing interests of 
 Des Moines, furnishing employment to some liftv 
 hands, while their annual gross output aggrcgalcs 
 about ^2(10,(10(1. 
 
 Mr. Kawson and his wif(^ belong to the Plymouth 
 Congregational Church of this city, and i'l social 
 circles are held in high esteem. Politically, he 
 was a Whig until the rise of the IJepublicau party, 
 when ho joine<l the ranks of that organization. He 
 has been a witness of the growth of Des Moines 
 from a town of twenty-live hundred to a citv of 
 sixty thousand, containing important industries 
 and manufactories, large mercantile establishments 
 and other liusiness interests, and churches, schools 
 and palatial residences which would grace the older 
 cities of the East. Shortly after his arrival, Mr. 
 Rawson erected a one-story wooden store house on 
 Fifth and West Walnut Streets, paying a ^-early rent 
 for the ground of ^"). His sign bore this inscription, 
 "Head of Navigation on AValnul Street." When 
 he built his present home, in 1857, he w.as asked 
 why ho was going so far 'lut in the country, but 
 now it is within a few squares of the business por- 
 tion of the city. For thirty-four years he has been 
 in active business in Des Moines. All his trans- 
 actions have been just and honorable, and as a re- 
 sult he has not only won the esteem and confidence 
 of those with whom he has been associated, but has 
 also accumulated a fair sli;ue of this world's goods. 
 
 m 
 
 f OIIN F. KM'SSKLL, of the firm of Hussell 
 A' Patrick, who are engaged in the livery 
 business in Des INIoines, was born in Colum. 
 biana County, Ohio, August 11, I8.")2, ;md 
 is descended from an old Scotch famil3-. His 
 father, the Hon. John Uusseli, wa.s born on the sth 
 of October, 1821, in Fifeshire, Scotland, where ihi' 
 family liad lived for at least five generations pri.u- to 
 that time. In early life he learuc<l the stone- 
 
556 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 mason's trade from his father, who was also a con- 
 tractor. Hearefl l)y intelliircnt parents, whose lives 
 were in keeping witii the principles of liic Scotch 
 Presbi'terian faitii, it niigiitlie expected that a man 
 of stcrlinjr wfirth wf)uld he the result, and so we 
 find it. In 1842 .luhn Hiissell sailed for the I'nited 
 States, landing in New York on the 29th of JM.i}'. 
 Me at once proceeded to Pittsburg, Pa., where he 
 h.ad an uncle living, but .ifter a years|)Ciit in w(^rk- 
 ing at his trade in that city removed to Colum- 
 biana County, Ohio, where he engaged in mer- 
 chandising. On the 20th of November,. 1H49, 
 he married IMargarcl Fcchan, a native of Colum- 
 biana County. 
 
 Having continued merchandising until l.s52, Mr. 
 Russell then sold out and emigrated to Jones 
 County, Iowa, where he improved the fertile and 
 valuable farm on which he now resides. His pub- 
 lic career h.as been a remarkable one. In early life 
 he was an anti-slavery Democrat, but in later years 
 he has been a stanch advocate of Republican prin- 
 ciples. In 1851 he took a leading part in molding 
 public sentiment in ojiiiosition to the encroach- 
 ments of slavery, .as manifest in the Kansas-Ne- 
 braska Hdl. Gaining favor with the public, which 
 recognized his superior abilities, in 18G1 he was 
 elected a member of the General Assembly, which 
 position he held five consecutive terms, being the 
 only man in the State ever thus honored. At the 
 session of 1868 he was chosen Speaker of the 
 House, and the .able and impartial manner in which 
 he discharged the duties of that important ofRce 
 won high ecomiums even from the opiiosing part^-. 
 In 1870 he was elected Auditor of the State, and 
 re-elected in 1872. At the expiration of his terra 
 of .service he returned to his farm in Jones Count}', 
 where he has since made his home, but w.as not 
 long permitted to remain in retirement. In 1879 
 ho was sent to tiie Senate from the Twenty-first 
 Senatorial District, consisting of Jones and Cedar 
 Counties. His public career has been distinguished 
 b}' honesty and farsightedness, ever keeping in 
 view the one great object — the interests of the 
 people. 
 
 The family of Mr. and ^Mrs. Russell consists 
 of four children — Robert W., John F., David W. 
 and Lizzie. The second is the one luomincnlly 
 
 connected with tiie business interests of Des Moines 
 and the history of his life is as follows: His bo}'- 
 hood days were spent chiefly upon his father's 
 farm. Owing to defective sight he was permitted 
 to attend school but little. Coming with the fam- 
 ily to Des ^'oincs in 1870. he worked al whatever 
 his hands could find to do, among other things 
 breaking stone for the foundation of the capitol 
 building. In 1873 he bought an interest in a 
 livery stable, and many changes were made in tlio 
 firm until 1882, wiien .lames W. Patrick became 
 his partner, since which time the business has been 
 carried on under the firm n.ame of Russell <fe Pat- 
 rick, and they do the leading business on the East 
 Side. P'our years prior to that time his older 
 brother, Robert W., was connected with him in 
 business. 
 
 In this city, on the 2'.)th of .September, 1880, Mr. 
 Russell was united in marriage with Eveline M. 
 Chapman, a native of AVarren Count}', Iowa, by 
 whom he has two children — Lester AV. and HoytC. 
 Mr. Russell began business with a capital of only 
 ^150, but from that small beginning has risen until 
 he is now one of the leading livery men of the city. 
 His success is chiefly due to the fact that he has 
 attempted but one line of business with which he is 
 thoroughl}' conversant, and h.as given that his con- 
 stant i)erson.al supervision. He is a Republican in 
 politics, but uidike his father has steadily refused 
 to accept pulilic office. 
 
 -^•|>?^- 
 
 •KsosE^-K' 
 
 ^^EORGE RICHTER is one of the pioneers 
 ml g—. in the grocery business of Des Moines, his 
 ^^JJ operations in that line in this city com- 
 mencing in 1866 and continuing uninterruptedly 
 up to this date, 1890, covering a period of twenty- 
 four years. 
 
 A record of tiic life of Mr. Richter wc herewith 
 append: He was born in Ravaria, Germany, Oc- 
 tober 26, 1835, and is a son of Jolin George and 
 Kunigunda Richter. His father w.as a farmer, and 
 the family Iwing in limited circumstances, he was 
 reared to habits of industry and frugalitv. In the 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 s|)ring of 1861, believing that he might better his 
 (inaiicinl coiulition, he einigratcd to America, set- 
 tling near LaPorle, Ind., wliere ho worked for a 
 year as a farm hand. Tiie following year lie was 
 engaged as clerk with an elder brother who liad 
 preceded iiim to the New Worhl, after which, in 
 March, 18GG, he came to Des Moines and opened a 
 grocery store on the West Sitle, where lie contin- 
 ued o|)eratious five years. He then removed to 
 the East Side, where he has since carried on busi- 
 ness with marked success. 
 
 Kre his removal to this State, Mr. Richter was 
 united in marriage with Miss Emma M. Amdagc, 
 their union being celebrated in La Porte, Ind., on 
 the 11th of September, 18G3. Mrs. Richter was 
 born in lireslau, Prussia, and came to America in 
 18.J7. They are parents of four children, all sons 
 — .Schiller, Frank, George, and Harry. The last- 
 named and yoinigest died at the age of ten years. 
 
 In politics, Mr. Richter is a Democrat, but liaa 
 never desired public oflice, and he and his wife are 
 members of the Lutheran Church. Soon after his 
 arrival in Des Moiaos, in I.SISG, he joined the Odd 
 Fellows societ}', becoming a inemiicr of .Jonathan 
 Lodge, No. 137, 1. O. O. F., and has |)assed all the 
 chairs of the order. 
 
 There were four of his family came to thiscoiin- 
 tiy, two brothers and a sister beside himself — .Tolm, 
 an elder brother, is a merchant of La Porte, Ind.; 
 Christopher died in La Porte in LS77; and the 
 sister, Barliaia, is now the wife of .lohn Scliroi)|)ell, 
 of Madison County, Iowa. 
 
 Mr. Ivichter is justi}- regarded as one of the en- 
 terprising and successful business men of Des 
 Moines. Always upright and honorable in his 
 dealings, he has succeeded in securing a large and 
 profitable business, and is highly respei'ted anion<i; 
 a wide circle of friends and acquaintances. 
 
 3i^;lSlimSiE 
 
 TUTTLE, brother of (Jen. 
 J. M. and Martin Tuttle, is one of the few 
 pioneers of forty years ago yet residing in 
 Des Moines. He was born in Ohio, on the 
 19th of February, IS^U, and when five years of 
 
 age accompanied his parent.-, to Indiana, wluic lie 
 worked upon his father's farm and atteiuled the 
 district school until reaching Ids majority. In 
 1850, having just reached man's estate, he wended 
 his way westward and spent the summer in Des 
 Moines, working iri Mr. Dcan"s sawmill. In the 
 fall he returned to Indiana, and engaged in o|)erat- 
 ing the old licmcstead until 1858, when he again 
 came to Iowa and purchased a tract of land near 
 Farmingtou. Some three years later he removed 
 into the town, where he made his home for four- 
 teen years, during which time he served as Mayor 
 one term, and when the battle of Athens was fought 
 he wasan active participant. 
 
 In the month of January, 1860, Mr. Tuttle was 
 united in marriage with Miss Almira Kelley, a na- 
 tive of New York, and b^- their marriage were born 
 three children — Fred, who died at the age of eleven 
 years; Lynn J., who is employed as draughtsman 
 for the King Iron Bridge Comiiany; and Albert II., 
 the youngest. 
 
 In A[nil, 187G, Mr. Tuttle took upjiis residence in 
 Des Moines, and shortly after |)urchased a h;df-in- 
 terest in the Iron Stone Pi|)e Works. Subsc(|uciitly 
 he purchased his partner's interest, and has since 
 been sole i)ro|)rietor. Possessing excellent business 
 abilit}', he has met with uncommon success, anil in 
 addition to his manufacturing eslaL'lishmeut is in- 
 terested in several of the moneyed associations of 
 the city. He is a director in the Polk County 
 Savings Bank, in the X'alley National Bank, and in 
 the ijecnrity Loan and Trust Com|)any. His accu- 
 mulations, with the exception of ><.'J00 received 
 from his father, are the residt of close api)licalion 
 to business and sagacious investment. His business 
 career has lieeii marked with the strictest integrity 
 and uprightness, and is eertaiidy vvortliy of emula- 
 tion. 
 
 Politically, Mr. Tuttle was an old Hue Whig 
 until the orgaiuzation of the Republican party, 
 with which he has always alliliated. His first 
 Presidential vote was cast for (Jen. .Scott. In 
 1882 he was ajipointed a member of the County 
 Board of Supervisors, and served coniinu<nisly 
 until 181»0, having been twice eleclcd to that posi- 
 tion. As a public servant, his acts st.aud without 
 reproach, his name without a blemish. His allilia- 
 
558 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 lions Willi social onlers are confined to the Masonic 
 fraternity. He and his wife attend the Congrega- 
 tional Church. In manner. Mr. Tullle isnalurally 
 retiring, for to him the quiet of business and home 
 life are more compatible than tlie honors of a pub- 
 lic career. His friends in the community are 
 many, and his acquaintances alike hold liini in 
 high esteem. (For genealogy of the family see 
 (ien. .1. M.Tultle's sketch on another page.) 
 
 ^•■^^g'SL. 
 
 i=^T^:J 
 
 \J 
 
 OODS HUTCHINSON, M. 1).. one of the 
 W A/// l'i''glilest and most skillful of the younger 
 class of pliysicians of Des Moines, is a na- 
 tive of England, and was born in Yorkshire, Janu- 
 ary- 3, 18G2. His i)arenls were Charles and Eliza- 
 beth (Woods) Hutchinson, the former a native of 
 Yorkshire, England, and the latter of Limerick, 
 Ireland, but both were followers of the Society of 
 Friends. The faniil}' crossed the Atlantic to Amer- 
 ica in 1874, and settled in Oskaloosa, Iowa, where 
 the}' resided until the winter of 18H5.iSG, when lliej' 
 removed to Des Moines. IMr. Hutchinson died in 
 October, 1889, but his widow has since continued 
 to make her resi<lence in this city. Ur. Hutch- 
 inson's ancestors on both sides were members of 
 the society of F'riends for several generations re- 
 mote, and the Doctor's early education was re- 
 ceived at a large and popular Friends' school in 
 Yorkshire, England. After his arrival in America, 
 he entered Pcnn College, of Oskal-.osa, from which 
 he was graduated with the degree of A. 15. in the 
 class of 1880, and received the degree of M. A. in 
 1883. He then entered the Slate University of 
 Michigan, at Ann Arbor, and was graduated from 
 the medical department of that institution in the 
 cla.ss of 84. 
 
 In the autumn of that year Dr. Hutchinson came 
 to Des Moines and entered upon the practice of Ids 
 profession, conlinuing in active practice in this 
 city until September. 1887, when he went to Eu- 
 rope in order to receive instruction in the best 
 medical schools of the Old AVorld. He took a 
 special course in the medical department of the 
 University of ^'ienna. He next took lectures in 
 
 Paris on the treatment of the eye. ear and Ihroal. 
 He also spent nearly eightfen mouths in London as 
 a student in special hos(>itals, especially in that of 
 the celebrated Sir Morell McKeiizie, M. D. Ue- 
 fore leaving America, he was a student of Dr. 
 Knapp's Opthalmic Institute, of New York. 
 
 In his course of study Dr. Hutchinson has had 
 Ihe benelil of the best medical schools of three 
 great capitals of Europe and of the metroiiolis of 
 America. Late in the summer of 1889 he returned 
 to Des Moines and resumed the practice of his pro- 
 fession in this city. He is a member of the Polk 
 County Medical Soeict^', of the Iowa Slate Medical 
 Societj' and the American Medical Association. 
 The Doctor is a thorough student and has e.\- 
 hibiled marked ability- and skill in his [irofessional 
 work. His practice has increased ra[)idly since his 
 return from Europe, and his future is brightened 
 by a well deserved and growing po])ularity. The 
 North American Revicv has lately' contained sev- 
 eral articles from his pen on the subject of Hy- 
 gienics, which have attracted favorable altenliou 
 from the profession. 
 
 ^' LEXANDEK LEDEUEU, senior partner of 
 the firm of Lederer, .Strauss ik Co., whole- 
 
 sale dealers in millinery and fancy goods 
 at Nos. 513 and 515, West Locust Street, 
 Des Moines, was born in Carlsbad, the celebrated 
 watering place of ISohemia. on the 12th of August, 
 1832, and is a son of .Joachim and Leo (.Meyers) 
 Lederer. He was reared and educated in his native 
 land, and when a j'oung man of twenty-two years, 
 bidding good-by to his old home, sailed for Amer- 
 ica in 1854, coming direct to Iowa on his arrival 
 in this country. He came to the New WorhL like 
 many another emigrant, with no capital except in- 
 telligence and a robust constitution, and was com- 
 pelled to labor both early and late, and practiced 
 the strictest economy in order to get a stnrt. He 
 made his first location in the city of Davenport, 
 where he resided for some time. In 1860 he be- 
 g.in business for himself as a clothier, and the sea- 
 son of "good times" that followed the opening of 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 559 
 
 the late war afforded liiiu liis upporlunily, and he 
 |)i(js(n'i-ed in business. Five years laler, in 18G5, 
 lie eanie to Des Moines and formed a partnersliip 
 wllii .Moses Strauss in the retail elothing business, 
 whic-ii the}- followed until 1875, when llie^' dis- 
 posed of their stock and started in their present line 
 of wholesale millinery and fancy goods. They subse- 
 quently admitted into i)artnt'rship Max Schloss and 
 Morris Samish, who, witii the aljove- named gentle- 
 men, constitute the firm .is it now exists. 
 
 Mr. Lederer was married in New York City, on 
 the 28th of February, 1867, to Mits Emma Samish, 
 a native of that city and a daughter of L. Samish. 
 Our subject is ncjt a politician, and has never had 
 time or inclination to hold public ollice. His atten- 
 tion has been full}' occupied by his extensive busi- 
 ness interests, which he finds more congenial and 
 more to his taste than politics. Socially, he is a 
 member of the Odd Fellows society, belonging to 
 Jonathan Lodge, I 0.0. F., of Des Moines. ]\Ir. 
 Lederer is a practical business man, who has 
 achieved success b}' close application and strict at- 
 tention to the affairs of his house, which has grown 
 to be one of the most important in its line in the 
 State. For twenty-five jcars this firm has been in 
 active business in Des Moines and has b}' an up- 
 right and honorable business policy won the con- 
 fidence and good will of an extensive line of 
 customers, extending throughout the West. 
 
 ■'"■^^•Wr 
 
 ^i/OHN O. SKINNER, M. D., of Des Moines, 
 is one of the pioneer medical practitioners 
 of Iowa, lie was born on the Gth of .-iep- 
 (^// tember, 1824, in Meigs County, Ohio, and 
 is descended from an early New Englanil famil>'. 
 His great grandfather, accompanied l)y two broth- 
 ers, left their English home in the early part of the 
 eighteenth century and settled in Maine. He served 
 in the English arm\' during the French and Indian 
 War, and his son Daniel, the Doctor's grandfather, 
 fought for the independence of the I'nited Colonies 
 in the Ucvoliilionary W'arand lived to theadvanced 
 age of ninety-seven years. Ashcl Skinner, father of 
 
 our subject, was born on the old lionu'stead in 
 Maine, and there married, and of the union there 
 were born fourteen children. Subsequently he re- 
 moved to Massachusetts, and about 1818 emigrated 
 to Meigs County, Ohio. Soon afterward his wife 
 died and later he was joined in wedlock with Jane 
 Evertou, a native of New York. Her father was a 
 Captain in the Revoluliun and his parents were also 
 natives of England, Ijul on the maternal side she 
 was of Welsh descent. 15y trade Ashcl Skinner was 
 a cooper, though most of his iife was spent on a 
 farm. Bj- his second marriage he h.id eight chil- 
 dren, four sons and four daughters, and three of 
 the sons scrvctl in the late war — 1). Calvin, Thomas 
 E. and John O. 
 
 Dr. Skinner spent the greater part of his boy- 
 hood days upon the farm, but workeil to a limited 
 extent in his father's shop. He received only such 
 educational advantages as the district schools af- 
 forded until the age of eighteen 3'ears, when he 
 commenced the study of medicine in the oflice of 
 Dis. Alvin and I). C. Ralhburn. Subsequently he 
 entered Sterling Medical College, of Columluis, 
 Ohio, from which he was 'graduated in the class of 
 '46. Having engaged in practice for about two 
 >'ears in (lallia County, Ohio, he came to Iowa and 
 ocated in Charleston, where he |)racticed until 
 1857, when he came to Des Moines. In 1861 he 
 was commissioned !)y Ciov. Kirkwobd as surgeon 
 of the expedition conducted by Capts. Mitchell and 
 Tripj) against the Indians in the northwestern [)art 
 of the State, ami in August, 1862, he was commis- 
 sioned Assistant Surgeon of the Tenth Iowa In- 
 fantry. On the march from Savaniiali toGoldshor- 
 ough his horse fell with him, indicting a peniianent 
 injur}'. At the latter place they remained for some 
 time, and then went to Raleigh, where the news of 
 Lee's surrender reached them. They then marched 
 on through Richmond to Washington, where they 
 witnessed the great military review. After remain- 
 ing there some time, they were ordered to Iahus- 
 ville, wlwre he was mustered out of the siuvice in 
 June, 1865. He then returned to Des Moines, 
 where he has since iii.'ide his home. 
 
 Di'. Skinnei' was a charter memlier and one of 
 the first ollici'rs of the I'olk County Medical So- 
 ciety, and for thirty-seven years has been a nu'iu- 
 
5G0 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 ber of llic Slate IMedical Society. In June, 1889, 
 he was appointed a member of tlie Pension Ex- 
 amining Board. In liis political sentiments he was 
 lirst a Whig, but on the formation of the Repub- 
 lican party he joiix-d its ranks, and has since been 
 a linn adherent of its principles. He served as a 
 dek'i4ate to the convention that nominated Curtis 
 for Congress, and has ever taken an active interest 
 in political affairs. He h.is also affiliated with sev- 
 eral social orders, esi)ecially those which have made 
 tcMipeniiae work their |)rincipal object, belonging 
 both to the Sons of Temperance and the Good 
 Templars. He also holds raembersbip in the An- 
 cient (Jrdcr of United Workmen and tiie Grand 
 Army of the Republic, of which he served as De- 
 partment Surgeon of Iowa for one term. 
 
 On the -24111 of A|)ril, 1850, near Ft. Madison, 
 Iowa, Dr. Skinner was united in marriage with 
 Miss Margaret E. Eveihart, a native of Pennsyl- 
 vania, who ill childhood came with her parents to 
 the West. By their union have been born seven 
 children, fi ur of whom are now living — Tiiomas 
 r... LiuM M., diaries W. and Jennie. The Doctor 
 is a member of the Baptist Church and his wife of 
 the Presbyterian Ciiurch. He has now been en- 
 gaged ill the prac-lice of medicine for forty-three 
 jears, few having a like record, (ireat are the 
 changes in the modes of practice since that time, 
 hut he has advanced witii the (irogrcss of ihe pro- 
 fession, always iiiaiiitainiiig a [ilace in the front 
 rank of his colleagues. 
 
 1-*^ ^ 
 
 [|/ ON. WILLIAM PHILLIPS, senior nicm- 
 )\i ber of the law linn of I'iiillips, Day A- 
 E\^' Crosby, atlorneysat-law, of Des Moines., is 
 1^' a native of Steiihenville, Jefferson County, 
 Ohio, where his birth occurred on the 22d of Sep- 
 tember, 1827. His parents, Thomas and Rebecca 
 (Irwin) Phillips, were natives of Pi-nnsylvania. the 
 father of Irish descent and the moliier of Welsh 
 origin. Our subject was reared on a farm and 
 received a collegiaV education. In 18r)l he emi- 
 grated lo Illinois, settling in Peoria, where for a 
 time he was engaged in the nieicantile business. 
 
 Having a taste for the legal profession, he puisued 
 a course of law study, and after a thurough |)rcp- 
 aration was admitted to practice in the courts of 
 Illinois in 1851. He came to Iowa the same j-ear 
 and located his parents upon a section of land 
 in Green County-, near where the town of Jeffer- 
 son is now situated. He laid out the town of Jef- 
 ferson, the county scat of that count}-. In July, 
 185G, he came to Des Moines, and for nearly thirty- 
 four years has been actively' engaged in practice in 
 this cit3', and has been successful in a remarkable 
 degree. Shortly after his arrival, he formed a law 
 partnership with the Hon. Curtis Bates, a promi- 
 nent lawyer of Des Moines, which connection con- 
 tinued until 185U, when it was dissolved, and a 
 brother, James II. Phillips, joined the subject of 
 this sketch in business under the (iim name of 
 Phillips k Phillips. Later, Col. C. H. Gatch, the 
 present State Senator, was admitted to the linn, 
 which then became Pliilli|)s, Gatch &, Philliiis. In 
 the course of time the Colonel retired and was suc- 
 ceeded 1)3' Col. E. J. Goode, the firm continuing 
 business under the style of Phillips, Goode & Phil- 
 lips for several years, when the iiartiiershii) was 
 dissolved. Ill .lanuaiy, 1881. .ludge Phillips was 
 joined by .Iiidge .1. (!. Day, who ftir iii.iiiy years 
 had been on the .Su|irenie bench, and live years 
 later, in December, 188'.), W. B. Crosby was ad- 
 mitted to |)artnersliip, and the present lirni (jf Phil- 
 liiis, Day it Crosby established. 
 
 On the 20th of August, 1857, in Des Moines, 
 Judge Phillii's was uniteil in marriage with Miss 
 S. Jennie Rutan, a daughter of William Butan, 
 Esip, and a niece of (iov. Kirkwood, of Iowa. The 
 lady was born near Maiislicld, liiehhiiid (Vanity, 
 Ohio. By their union they became the parents of 
 four children, two sons and two daiighlers, but one 
 of the daughters is now deci;ased. Thomas Will- 
 iam, the rnst-borii, is employed in the ollicc of the 
 Hawkeye Insurance Company; Nettie died when 
 c\w, year old; Juliii Frank resides in Colorado 
 Springs, Colo.; and .Uiinie B. is still with her par- 
 ents. 
 
 Judge Phillips lias now been a member c)f llu' 
 bar for thirty-six years, thirty-four of wliieli have 
 been spent in the city of Des Moines. During all 
 these years he has been at the head of the various 
 
PORTRAIT AND UIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 5(53 
 
 firms with which he lias been associated, and has 
 built up and luainlaiued an extendi-d practice. In 
 earl}' life he laid the foundation for the substan- 
 tial success that has crowned his efforts by a strict 
 re.ijard for integrity, an earnestness of (jurpose and 
 a delerniination to make the practice of his profes- 
 sion, in the legitimate channels of the law, the par- 
 amount object of his business career. A conscien- 
 tious, i)ainstaking prciiaration for all cases in- 
 trusted to Lini,and their able management in court, 
 has characterized the i)rofessional work of .bulge 
 Phillips tlironghout liis many years of [iractice, 
 and has won for him the reputation of an able 
 liial lawyer, while in general practice he takes rank 
 among the best in the profession in his adopted 
 
 8 tale. 
 
 *^ J^». .3.i^ .o^,^:Jg,^^,iC;^f-.,^5tfS 
 
 W ORKNZO F. ANDRKWS, Assistant Sccre- 
 I (JS, tary of the State lioard of Health, was llie 
 /!'--% first Secretary of that body, and has been 
 connected with it olliciall^' since its organization 
 in 1880. The change of (losition from secrelaiy 
 to assistant occurretl at the end of his first \'ear's 
 service, and was the effect of a change in tlic law 
 governing tiie qiialilieations of the secretary, which 
 required that that ollicial should be a i)liysician. 
 
 A record of tiie life of Mr. Andrews, who is one 
 of the well known citizens of Des Moines, is here 
 given. lie was born in Athol, Worcester County. 
 Mass., on the 8th of March, 182'J, and is a son of 
 Collins and Hannah (Twicliell) Andrews. The 
 Andrews family of which our .subject is a member, 
 is descended from John Andrews, one of the eighty- 
 four pro|)rietors of the ancient town of Tun.xis, 
 afterward, Farmington, Conn., given theui by a 
 charU'r granted December 1, 1045, by the (!over- 
 iior and (jeneral Court. That portion of the (ilan- 
 tation allotted to Mr. Andrews remained in [losses- 
 sion of his direct descendants until 1K72. 
 
 Collins Andrews, the father of our subject is 
 deserving of more than mere mention, as he was 
 endowed with considerable inventive talent, and a 
 fondness for scientific research. While a resident 
 of Brandon, Vt., in 183-1, in connection with 
 Thomas Davenp^)rt. he began the construction of 
 an Electro Motor. ;uid tlie following year com- 
 
 pleted a small circular railway for exhibition pur- 
 poses, on which two [)ersons could be carried, when 
 sitting in a seat. This was, so far as there is any 
 record, the first electric railway in the world. 
 They got their idea from an electro-magnet in 
 an iron works at Crown Point, where it was used 
 to extract iron from the ore. The magnet weighed 
 but four [)ounds, Init would suspend a weight of 
 one iiundred and fifty pounds. To give this force, 
 or energy, rotary motion was the problem tiiey 
 had to solve, and they succeeded. 
 
 Lorenzo F., when at the age of sixteen, Iiegan 
 learning the printer's tr.ade iu Barre. Mass., in 
 the otlicc of the Barre I'alriol, where he served 
 an apprenticeship of three years. In 1850, he 
 removed to Kalamazoo, Mich., where he worked at 
 his chosen occupation for a lime, and tlien estab- 
 lished a paper in Niles of the same State, called 
 the Weslcni Union. On the 4th of July, 1852, he 
 lost his olfiee, i)resses and printing material by lire. 
 After that disaster ho returned to Kalamazoo, and 
 again warked at his trade in the employ of others 
 until 18t)l, when lie went to Oshkosh, Wis., whert' 
 for a year he was engaged as city editor of tiie 
 Otshkiish Nortliircslcni. The succeeding ^-eai we 
 find him in La Fayette, hid., where he remained 
 until 1804, as assistant eilitor of the Dui/;) Courier. 
 In December, I8U1, Mr. Andrews came to Des 
 Moines, and lias siiiei^ been employed in journalism 
 continuously, in 'addition to his ollicial dntfes con- 
 nected with the Iowa Stale Board of Health. He 
 has been conneeted with the Des Moines cit}- press; 
 first as night editor of tlu Dnilij ISUlU' lii'ijister, 
 under the adniiiuslration of Mills & Co., juid was 
 city editor' of the Jhii/>/ IlepuO/icaii -Hud l)<iily 
 State Journal at intervals during their existence. 
 While giving ten hours a day to his regular 
 business, Mr. Andrews found time to devote to 
 the reading of law. He entered the first class of 
 the Iowa Law School, now the law department of 
 the State I'niversity, and was graduated in tiie 
 class of 187U, after which he was admitted to the 
 bar of the Federal and State courts. During that 
 year lie was also appointed United Slates Commis- 
 sioner for the district of Iowa by Judge Dillon. 
 
 Mr. Andrews came to Des Moines as special c^r- 
 respondent for the Chicago Ei;eirii)(/ Journal, and 
 
5G4 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 has continued to fill tbat position for the past 
 twenty -six years, being the oldest employe in that 
 (leiiartment of tlie service now connected witli tiie 
 paper. For many years, as correspondent, lie also 
 represented the Chicago Trihune, St. Faiil J'ioneer- 
 I'rcsH, St. Louis Olo/jc-DcmoiTat, New York Tri- 
 //iiiit' and several other papers. Of these latter, the 
 New York Tribune is the only one with which he 
 is now connected. In the discharge of his duties 
 as correspondent, Mr. Andrews sent the first 
 "speci.il" over the first wire from Dcs Moines, and 
 was the first foreign corrcspotident from that city. 
 
 On the nth of August, l.Sdl, in Kalamazoo, 
 .Mich., Mr. Andrews was united in marriage with 
 Mrs. Sophie M. Crittenden, a daughter of John 
 and Klizabeth (,Ca;r) Dolson. The lady was born 
 in Elmira, N. Y., on the 27th of April, 1829, and 
 in 1810, entered the Kalamazoo branch of the Stale 
 rniversity, now known as the Baptist College, 
 from which she graduated in the class of 1850. 
 Tliat same year her marriage to Charles S. Critten- 
 den occurred. Two children were born of the 
 union, a sou and a daughter — Charles Willis, who 
 died at tlie age of five years, and Lillian A., who 
 is now the wife of John W. Bishop, a merchant of 
 Ellendalc, N. D. Mrs. Andrews' father, a native of 
 New Y'ork city, born June 17, 1752, was descended 
 from Holland Dutch ancestry. The name origin- 
 ally was ^'au Dolson, and the family was founded 
 in America, at New York, when the colony was 
 known as New Amsterdam. Mrs. Andrews' mother 
 was born in rnMiuiugtt)n, Yt., on the 1 7th of Au- 
 gust, 1 7'.)1 , and was of an old New England family. 
 Our subject and his worthy wife have but one 
 child, a son, Frank JL,who was born in Des Moines, 
 .lanuary 28, 18G7. 
 
 lie attended the city schools until twelve years 
 of age, when he entered Callanan College, remain- 
 ing for one year, and then became a student of the 
 Dcs Moines College for about a year and a half, 
 lie then spint three years at the Agricultural Col- 
 lege at Ames, iu the civil enginceiing course. Hav- 
 ing decided to adoi)t architecture as a profession, 
 he entered Comell Inivcisily at Jthaca, N. Y., 
 from which he was graduated with high houors in 
 the class of 1888. 
 
 He made a special study of architecture for 
 
 which he had developed unusual talent, and was 
 awarded three diplom.as in the line of his art at 
 coii)|)Ctitive e.xhibitions. At the time of his grad- 
 uation he was highly complimented by the Presi- 
 dent of the college on his splendid record. On 
 graduating he entered the office of Architect H. W. 
 Miller of Ithaca, N. Y., where he has demonstrateil 
 his ability to originate and execute fine work in the 
 line of his chosen profession. Several specimens 
 of his designing were sent by Mr. Miller to the 
 recent exhibition in Paris. 
 
 Mrs. Andrews is a woman of rare educational 
 attainments, and takes high rank among the literary' 
 women of the city and State. She enjoys the dis- 
 tinction of having been the first lady correspondent 
 to report the })roceedings of the Iowa Legislature, 
 or to have been accorded a seat on the floor of that 
 body. 
 
 In |)olitical sentiment, Mr. Andrews is in har- 
 mony with the Republican part}-, and has done 
 much good work with his pen in support of the 
 principles of that organization, and in advancing 
 its best interests. His acquaintance with the pro- 
 minent men of the State is extensive, and he has 
 won and retains the confidence and respect of all 
 with whom he has been associated for his candor, 
 earnestness of purpose and strict integrity. As a 
 eorresiiondeut he is widely known throughout the 
 United Slates, and is esteemed for the [lerfect reli- 
 ability of his statement of facts, and for the evi- 
 dent care and fidelity exhibited in his work. Dur- 
 ing his connection with Ihc Slate Board of Health, 
 which extends over a period of ten years, he has 
 systemalizeil and perfected the business of his 
 oMice, and is recognized as a faithful and competent 
 official. 
 
 -^ 
 
 ^^ 
 
 -f- 
 
 4 OliEUT TURNER, one of the proprietors of 
 
 tlic Iowa lioilcr AYorks of Des IMoines, was 
 
 -*i\V born in Fifeshire, Scotland, November 21. 
 
 ^^; 1851, and is a son of Robert and .Margaret 
 (White) 'J'urner, botli of whom were natives of the 
 same county, lioth |)arents were consistent Chris- 
 tian |)cople, belonging to the old Scotch Prcsby- 
 teriiu Church, and the father was an extensive mine 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 565 
 
 contractor, etiiployiiig ;is many as four liuntlrcd 
 liands. 'riieir family nunilicrc<i five cliiUlien. but 
 ono son, and llie only daughter dic<l in infancy. 
 Tlie remaining sons came to the Uniied Stales, l)Ut 
 the parents spent their lives in Scotland. 
 
 ( )ur subject was the eldest of the five childien, 
 and at the age of ten years he was forced to leave 
 school in order to earn his own living. Soon in- 
 ured to hard labor, his early life was not an easy 
 one, but the hardships he endured, developed a de- 
 termination and self-reliance which have been of 
 great value to him in after life. At the age of 
 thirteen he was api)renticed to the iron ship build- 
 ing and boiler maker's trade, the contract provid- 
 ing tliut he should serve Bve jears, receiving ^1.25 
 |K;r week the fir^t year, and an additional twenty- 
 five cents per week each succeeding year, and fines 
 were provided in case of absence, disobedience, or 
 other reprehensible conduct. Having filled his 
 l)art of the contract to the entire satisfaction of his 
 employer, he continued to work for a time in Scot- 
 land, and in 1871, went to England, where he was 
 employed three years in the great ship yard of 
 I'almer. Returning to his native land, he was em- 
 ployed in all the [)rinci[)al ship yards of tho Clyde, 
 and also spent a short time in Ireland. 
 
 In Burntisland, Scotland, on the 21st of Ma}', 
 1875, Mr. Turner married Ann Brownlie, a native 
 of Lanarkshire, born Jul}' 5, 185G. They began 
 their domestic life in the country of their nativity, 
 Init in 1881, accompanied by his family and his 
 two brothers, .lohn and Davi<l, Jlr. Turner bade 
 good by to his old home, and sailed for America, 
 locating in Des Moines the same year. Not long 
 after his arrival in this city, be engaged in the boder 
 liusiness with his uncle, William Turner, anil the 
 same year, in connection with a third partner, they 
 built a boat, called the "iMiterprise," and a barge to 
 [)ly the Des Moines River, investing about |!6,000 
 in the construction of the tw(/. ^\'itllin a j'ear the 
 boat sank, and Mr. Turner sold his third interest 
 for |.")(i. Notwithstanding he had lost everything 
 he went hoi)efully to work again, and in 1.S82, 
 formed a partnershii) with .luseph Itcjsser, in the 
 present business, giving the title of Iowa Boiler 
 Works to the s ime. Both are experienced and in- 
 dustrious woikuuii. and success is attending their 
 
 efforts. They began on a small scale, but have 
 worked up a good trade, and furnish employment 
 to eight men. 
 
 In political sentiment, Mr. Turner is indepen- 
 dent, voting for the candidate whom he thinks will 
 best fill the ollice. lie is a member of the Masonic 
 fraternity, of the Scotcli Club, and of the Presby- 
 terian Church, to which his wife :dso belongs. This 
 worthy couple are the parents of seven children, 
 of whom three were born in Scotland: Robert, 
 Margaret, and William, but the youngest died in 
 infancy, ere the family came to this country. The 
 remaining four, John, David, Ann, and James, 
 were boi'u in Des Moines. 
 
 Mr. Turner has reason to congratulate himself 
 upon the financial advancement he has made, 
 though the sinking of the "Knterprisc," and the 
 burning of his residence have been heavy drawbacks. 
 He is a capable business man, and by the exercise 
 of industry, enteriirise, and good management, has 
 won a place at the head of one of the leading in- 
 dustries of the capital city. 
 
 r ^^^^'^^^ RANDALL .M.VSOX. clerk of the 
 p] United Stales circuit court, deputy clerk of 
 IL^^.' the United States district court and Pres- 
 ident of. the Des .Moines Cotton Mill Company, is 
 one of the re|)resentalive business men of the cap- 
 ital city. He was born on the 18tli of December, 
 1846, in Franklin ville, Cattaraugus County. N. 
 v., and is the eleventh chilil in ;i family of fourteen, 
 whose i)arenls are Lewis Janus and Nancy (Wins- 
 low) JLason. His father was born in Oxford, 
 Chenango County, N. V., in March, 1801), and is 
 descended from an old New England family of 
 English origin. His mother w.as born in New Ber- 
 lin, X. v., in ( Ictober, 1808. and was a lineal descent 
 of Gov. Edward Winslow of .Massachusetts, a prom- 
 inent Puritan leader of the Pilgrim band that 
 landed at Plymouth Rock from the historic "May- 
 fiower" and who was several times chief executive 
 of the Massachusetts Colony. 
 
 Mr. Mason Sr. and his family residetl in Cattar- 
 augus County, N. Y., from 18:56 until 1858, when 
 
560 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 they emigrated to Van Buren County, Iowa, locat- 
 ing in Bentonspoil. The father was a wagon man- 
 ufacturer and cabinet maker in the East but after 
 his arrival in Iowa engaged in nieVchandising and 
 hotel keeping. He died of cholera in September, 
 18C7, his wife surviving him until May, 187.3. 
 .Several members of their large family have attained 
 to i)Osilions of prominence in the various eom- 
 nuinilies in which they have resided. William E.. 
 a lawyer, l)y profession, is at present a member of 
 Congress from the Third District of Illinois. Edgar, 
 another son, raised a company of Bucktails for the 
 late war and was brigade sutler in the Army of 
 the Cumberland. 
 
 The subject of this sketch acquired such educa- 
 tion as the common schools aftordeil and when 
 lifteen years of age went to Keokuk, where lie was 
 em|)l()yed as clerk in the drug store of V. H. O'Con- 
 ner until the President's call for one hundred day 
 men n;adc in May, 18C4. He then enlisted in the 
 Fiirtylifth Iowa Infantr}' and served the term 
 of his enlistment. He was liut seventeen years of 
 of age at the ti'ne and his father, who had con- 
 sented U) his .!.;oing for one Imndrcd days, refused 
 his sanction to a rc-enlist-nenl. After his return 
 from the arnw' young Mason was emjiloyed as sales- 
 man in a general store at Bentousport for three 
 years, after which he pnrsuetl the study of med- 
 icine at that place and at Keokuk unld 18G9, when 
 he came to l)es Moines. His lirst engagement in 
 this city was as a salesman in the grocery house of 
 (lus Smith, where he continued until 1870. 
 
 On the .'51st day of May of that year, in this city, 
 Mr. Mason married Miss Alice Losie, daughter of a 
 Sinclair Losie, and a native of Elniira, N. Y. Im- 
 mediately after his marriage he started with his 
 young bride for Missouri, but returned the follow- 
 ing July, and was soon afterwards appointed deputy 
 clerk of the I'niled Slates circuit court under 
 George B. Corkhill, who accjuired notoriety as the 
 prosecutor of the assassin of President Garfield. 
 Mr. Corkhill resigning in December, 1875, Mr. 
 Mason was appointed to (ill the vacancy and has 
 lilk'd that position for lifteen years ami will con- 
 tinue to hold it for life unless removed for cause. 
 lie was appointed deputy clerk of the district court 
 about the same lime and has been the incuinlieut 
 
 of that office continuously since. During the same 
 period he has held the position of standing Master 
 in Chancery and'Jnitecl States Circuit Court Com- 
 missioner. AVhile acting as deputy clerk of the 
 United States Circuit Court he studied law, was ad- 
 mitted to the bar in 1872 and licensed to practice in 
 the Supreme Court of the United States. 
 
 In addition to his official duties, Mr. Mason h.as 
 found time for extended and important business 
 relation. He began business as a manufacturer 
 and jobber in tinware, sheet-iron and metals which 
 he carried on from 1870 until 1881, being sole 
 owner during the greater part of the time. In 1882, 
 he became connected with the Merchants' Union 
 Barb Wire Company which controlled the business 
 of the country in that line and continued his con- 
 nection with the business until 1887, when he l)e- 
 came interested in the Jonesville Cotton Com|)an3', 
 of -lonesville, Mich. His brother, -1. F. Mason and 
 George H. Cowles of Osceola. Iowa, joined him in 
 the enterprise and together they operated thai mill 
 until the summer of 1888. when the}' sold out to 
 the Des Moines Cotlon Mill Company, of which E. 
 R. Mason is now President. This company em- 
 ploys one hundred hands and manufactures five 
 thousand yards of brown sheeting dail^'. being one 
 of the most iin|)orlaMt industries of the city. In 
 1875, Mr. Mason became largely interested in the 
 breeding and growing of trolling horses and 
 blooiled ,lersi'3' caUle and owns a small farm in \'an 
 Buren Count}', where he keei)s a |)ortion of his 
 stock. From 1885 until 1888, he was the receiver 
 of the Des .Moines, Osceola it .Sontliern [{ailroad. 
 now the Des Moines ct Kansas City Railroad. In 
 politics he is an anli-saloon Republican of the most 
 luicomidomising order and is a member of the 
 council of I ' reen wood Park, President of the school 
 boar<l. and has recently been a|ii)ointed custodian 
 
 ' of the United Stales Court House ami i)roperty at 
 Des Moines. He formerly belonged l(» the order 
 of Odd Fellows and is now a member of the Mystic 
 Shrine. He also holds membershi[) in Capital Lodge, 
 
 I No. 110, A. F. lir A. M.; Corinthian Cha[)ter, No. 
 
 [ II, R. A. M.; and Temple Commandcry, No. 4, 
 
 K. r. 
 
 Mr. Mason was called upon to mourn the loss 
 1 of tiis wife in September, 1887. She bore her hus- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 567 
 
 l)a)iil twocliildieii — Carrie M., born A [nil 11, IS71; 
 and Ktta, September G, 187i). The latter died 
 in May, 1870. He was again married on tlie 2'2nd 
 of August, 1888, to Miss Fannie Kiefer Rider, a 
 native of Xorwich, Chonango County, N. Y., and 
 a daugliter of (Joorge Rider. The lad^' is a mem- 
 ber of St. Paul's Episcopal Church. 
 
 Mr. ^Mason is a man of .superior business ability 
 and executive talent. Hisotlicial diilies are per 
 formed with adelity and despatch and lie has won 
 the respecland confidence of all witli wlmni he has 
 had business or social relations. 
 
 '^Ol 
 
 -^-^"- 
 "s)^^ 
 
 Y 
 
 |1 OSEPH ROSSER, a member of the firm of 
 Turner & liosser, proprietors of the Iowa 
 Boiler Works, li.as been a resident of Des 
 Moines since 1.S71, and has carried on his 
 present business in this city since 1882. during 
 which time he has won a place in the front rank of 
 the leading business men of the county. 
 
 Mr. Rosscr is of English birth, a son of William 
 and Mar}- (Morgan) Rosser, both of whom were 
 natives of Monmouthshire, England, where they 
 spent their entire lives. His father w.as a Ijlack- 
 sniith by trade, and an honest, fndnstrious man, la 
 boiiug untiringly for the interests of his family, 
 which numbered four children, three sons and a, 
 daughter. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was also born in Mon- 
 mouthshire, on the loth of .Taunary, 1810, and in 
 his youth had but meagre chances to obtain an edu- 
 cation, having never attended school since twelve 
 years of age. As soon as he was old enough, he 
 began to swing thehanimerin his father's shop, and 
 continued to follow the trade of blacksraithing, 
 with the exception of ,i short time when he worked 
 ,as a puddler in an iron foundry, until he came to 
 the United States. Ere he left his native land, how- 
 ever, he was united in marri.age with Miss Emily 
 Buckle^-, a native of Gloucestershire, England. 
 Their marriage was celebrated in 1HG7, and ere 
 iheir emigration to this eountr\', two children were 
 born unto them: William, wlu' died in infancy: 
 and Mary J. In Des Moines, the family circle ha 
 
 been iucrc'i ed liy the birth of livf children : Fran- 
 ces M., who died at the age of seven 3ears; Dollie. 
 who died in infancj'; Frederick .1.: Sarah E., who 
 died .'iged eight years; and Susan. 
 
 Believing that he could better his financial con- 
 dition in the New A\'orld, and that it would be for 
 the best interests of his family to seek a home in 
 this country, Mr. Rosser crossed the broad Atlantic 
 in 1871, and on the 10th of May, of that year 
 reached Des Moines, wlioic he has since resided. 
 For some tinu' he worked as a common laborer in 
 a quarry, getting out stone for the capitol building. 
 He then worked at his tr.ade in the employ of oth- 
 ers for a number of years until, by industry and 
 economy having acquired some capital, he became 
 associated in business in 1882, with Robert Turner 
 ,as one of the proprietors of the Iowa Boiler Works. 
 Their partnership has proved a profilalile one. .as 
 Mr. Rosser is a practical blacksmith, and Mr. 
 Turner a skilled boiler maker. From the begin- 
 ning their patronage has increased, and tliev arc 
 now reaping the reward of their honest toil. Mr. 
 Rosser, like his partner, is independent in politics, 
 voting for men and measures rather than for party. 
 Socially, he is an Odd Fellow, having been a nicm- 
 l)er of that fraternity for twenty-six years. In af- 
 ter years, when it shall lie asked who w.as the 
 founder of the Rosser family in America, this sketch 
 will answer by telling of him, who with wife and 
 child, braved the dangers of an ocean voy.agi; to 
 make a home in the land where the laborer is the 
 true monarch. 
 
 j4\ F. WATERS, Mayor of Grant Park, Polk 
 County, and a leading f.ariner ami stock- 
 raiser, residing on section 7, w.as born in 
 Clermont County, Ohio, on the 1th of 
 A|nil, 1820. His parents, William and JNIary 
 (Posey) Waters, were natives of Maryland, and 
 their wedding was celelirated in that State. They 
 removed to Clermont Count}', Ohio, in 1820, wdiere, 
 as in Maryland, the father engage<l in the mercan- 
 tile business until I8.'51, making his home in Will- 
 iamsblirij. The I'hildren l)orn of his union with 
 
56d 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Miss Posey, were as follows: Elnii>-a became the 
 wife of Thoinns Lytic, but both are now di'coased; 
 Maria dieil in INIilton, Fnd., at the age of twenty, 
 six years; Charlotte is the wife of Thomas Kramer, 
 a commission merchant of St. Louis, Mo.; Clawson 
 U. resides in Pontiac, 111.; M. F. is the fourtli in 
 order of birth; and William, the youngest, died in 
 Milton, Ind., at the age of nineteen years. The 
 faU.er of this family was called to his final rest in 
 tiie iirinie of life, after which his widow became the 
 wife of Dr. Jesse E. Dozier, with whom she re- 
 moved to Martinsville, Ind., and later to Milton, 
 thai State, where the death of the Doctor occurred 
 in 1S.')0. For a time Mrs. Dozier made her home 
 in Riciimond, Ind., and then went to live with her 
 dau'diter in St. Louis, where she died in 1886. 
 
 Tlie liusiness career of our subject has been a 
 successful one. He h.as traveled over many parts 
 of our country, Ins become acquainted with the 
 ways and dealings of men, and his estimate of busi- 
 ness principles is generally correct. He was edu- 
 cated in the schools of Dayton, Ohio, and then as a 
 salesman in a mercantile estalilishment started out 
 in life, lie continued that work until 18A'.>, when, 
 attracted by the gold discoveries of California, he 
 started for the I'acific Slope in company with three 
 companions. They made the journe3- across the 
 plains with a team. 'Ihir w.agon bed was made 
 water light, so that tliej' could lloat across the 
 stream, and hitching four mules to the wagon 
 they started for the land of gold. They remained* 
 about a montli in Salt Lake City in sight-seeing, 
 and then resumed their journey to Hangtown, 
 where they arrived six months after leaving home. 
 I'"()r a time Mr. Waters engaged in mining, in 
 whicli he was very successful, and then followed 
 freigliling between Sacramento and Biddlesbar, 
 hauling groceries and provisions to that town, and 
 returning vvith lumber to the city. Previously he 
 h;id entered one hundred and sixty .acres of Iand,:nid 
 for alioiit a year engaged in stock-raising, when, 
 iiaving a chance to sell at a good advantage, he 
 disposed of his property. He w.as called home on 
 .account of the illness of his stepfathei-, in l,S.'i2. 
 after three years spent on the Paitilic Slo|)e. That 
 was an interesting and profitable period in his life. 
 After hi.s return he s|iont a short time in Milton, 
 
 anil then went to Richmond, Ind., where he en- 
 g.ageil in tiie general mercantile business until 
 18.57, when he sold out and went to Mt. Pleasant, 
 where, as a partner of T. B. Shaw, he owned and 
 operated a store until 18(!1. Disposing of his stock 
 we next find him engaged in the dry-goods busi- 
 ness in Pontiac, 111., with his brother Clawson. 
 There as in other places, his efforts were quite suc- 
 cessful, and he .added quite a little sum to his capi- 
 tal. 
 
 Mr. Waters h.as been twice married. In 1800 he 
 wedded Miss Hattie Hul)bard, of Milton, Ind., 
 where her death occurred three years later, leaving 
 an infant son, Ilarr}', wiio was born Fel)ruary 20, 
 of tiiat year. He married Miss Susan Ilanna, and 
 is now employed .as a book-keeper at Minneapolis, 
 Minn., where he makes his home. On the oth of 
 April, 18G.3, Mr. W.aters wedded Mrs. Amelia 
 Montfort, widow of .John Montfort, who w.as born 
 near Oxford, Pa., and was of French descent. His 
 death occurred in 18G2, leaving one ciiild, George 
 Montfort, who was born in INIiddleton, Oiiio. .Tune 
 2.3, 18fi2, and is now employed as a traveling sales- 
 man for the firm of Altman, Miller A: Co. Mrs. 
 Waters is a daughter of Cieorge and Marella 
 (Mumma) .T.acoby, and was born in Butler County, 
 Ohio. The family numl)ered four children, but 
 only two arc now living — Mrs. Waters, and .Tames 
 Jac()l)y, who is an iron merchant of the ci(3' of 
 Philailclphia. P.oth her parents were utitivcs of 
 the Keystone State. In his caily life her father 
 followed cariientering, but in later years was a pa- 
 per manufacturer and lunilier dealer of IMiddletown, 
 Oiiio, where l)otli he and his wife spent their last 
 days. They were both meml)ers of the Presby- 
 terian Church, and were highly res))ected in the 
 community where lliey resided. 'I'o Mr. and Mrs. 
 Waters have lieen born two ciiildrcn: Cora, who 
 was i)orn in I'ontiac, 111., died in that city in 1880, 
 at the age of ten years; .I.ames, wiio w.as l)orn in 
 Pontiac, .lanuary 10, 1874, is still at home with his 
 parents. 
 
 In 1881 Mr. ^^'aters sold out iiis interest in the 
 business in Pontiac, and came to Polk County, 
 Iowa, where he purchased a farm of two hundred 
 acres on section 7, (Jrant Township, and h.as since 
 •Tiven his attention to the cultivation of his land 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 569 
 
 '• ' °^- 
 
 and to stock-raising, in wliicli he lias also met with 
 |iiospui'ity. He possesses the qualities essential to 
 business success — industry , enterprise, perseverance 
 and good management — and hns therefore attained 
 to a position of afHuenee. He takes an active part 
 in public affairs, and devotes much of his time to 
 the advancement of those enterprises which are 
 calculated to promote the general welfare. In 1882 
 he was elected a member of the School Board, and 
 has done nuich to raise the standard of perfection 
 in the sciiools of Grant Park. In 1889 he was 
 elected Mayor of Grant Park, and his faithful dis- i 
 charge of the duties of that otlice led to his re- 
 election in 1890. His careful attention to public 
 matters intrusted to him has notouly won the con- 
 fidence of iiis constituents, hut also the respect of 
 his political opponents. lie is recognized as a 
 valued citizen, and as an honored member of the 
 Masonic fraternitv. 
 
 |f7 P:MUEL G. COUGHLAN, who is engaged 
 I (?§) in general farming and stock-raising on sec- 
 ilL^^ lion 29, in the town of Delaware, is an in- 
 dustrious and enterprising citizen of the county. 
 He has a pleasant home surrounded by all of the 
 comforts, and many f)f the luxuries of life, a i)retty 
 maple grove surrounding the house,, makes it an 
 attractive spot as well as shielding it from the 
 burning rays f)f summer sun, ami many other are 
 the evidences of thrift, culture and refinement there 
 seen. 
 
 The history of Mr. Coughlau's life, is as follows: 
 He was bf)rn in Windham County, Vt., August 7, 
 1819, and is a son of Joseph Coughlan, a native of 
 Chesterfield, X. H. The Cfiughian family is of 
 Knglish descent, and was fo\indeil in America dur- 
 ing the seventeenth century, b}' emigrants who 
 (M'ossed the Atlantic and settled in the Granite 
 State. Joseph Coughlin was born and reared in 
 Chesterfield, and was the son of a Revolutionary 
 sf>ldier. His father enlisted in the Colonial Army, 
 and was given the position of Lieutenant, and also 
 acted as Hecording Secretary, keeping account of 
 the movements of the army. Our subject now has 
 
 in his possess! some of the writing from the pen 
 of his grandJat --r, which bears date October, 17, 
 1773. Lieut. Coughlan proved a valiant scjidier, 
 and for his country's freedom laid down his life. 
 The cx|>osure ;uid hardships incident to war undcr- 
 niincil his he;iith so that he was forced to resign, 
 and starteil home, but death overtook him before 
 he reached his family-. With her children, who 
 were then married, his widow removed to New 
 York, where she made her home until her ileath. 
 Their family numbered four sons and four daugh- 
 ters, as follows: .loseph, father of our subject; 
 Thomas, who died in childhood; Richard and 
 George, both of whom died in the Empire State; 
 Sally became the wife of Henry Potter, and passed 
 away in New York; Melinda became the wife of 
 Seth Herrick, and died in Windham County, \'t. ; 
 Eunice was the wife of Joseph Herrick, and both 
 died in New York, wiiile Susan wedded Marcus 
 Judson. The death of herself and iiusband also 
 occurred in the Empire State. 
 
 When a young man, Joseph Coughlan became 
 acquainted with and wediled Miss Eunice Graham. 
 July T), 1807. They also were parents of eight, chil- 
 dren, four dying in infancy; Merritt,who for a time 
 resided in Susquehanna County, Pa., afterward 
 returned to Windham County, \'t., where he died 
 al)Oiit the year 1813; Ob'ed G. is a farmer of Sus- 
 quehanna County, Pa.; Lemuel G. is tiie next in 
 order of birth; and Charles H. is a farmer of Jas- 
 per County, Iowa. The father of this family, w.as 
 throughout life a farmer. In 181(;, he iiiirch.ased 
 a farm in Windham County, upon which lie resided 
 until his death, which occurred September 12, 1857, 
 aged seventy-four years, five months, and twenty- 
 six days. His wife afterward came to -Jasper 
 Councy, Iowa, where her death occurreil October 
 13, 18(18, at the ripe old age of eighty-one yeai-s, 
 five months, and fourteen <l.ays. Both hnsliand au.l 
 wife were devoted members of the Congiegational 
 Church. 
 
 Beared by Christian parents, and following the 
 teachings instilled into his mind in youth, Lemuel 
 G. Coughlan has become one of the honorable and 
 honored citizens of I'olk County. Ilis eai'ly life 
 was spent in Windham County, \'t.. where he 
 workiMl upon (he farm until tweiit\'-one years of 
 
.-)70 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 nge. His ediioalion was acquired in tlie subscrip- 
 tion school, and in tlie common district schools of 
 the ncinliborliood, and being an a[)t sciiolar, luf 
 soon mastered tlie branches there taught. Later 
 he engaged at farm work during the summer, while 
 in the winter season he taught school. Subse- 
 quently he had charge of a ward in the State Asy- 
 lum at Uratth'lioro, \'t., for five years, accei)tably 
 lining that position until 1849. Severing his con- 
 nection with the asylum, he was then united in mar- 
 riage, October 16, 181!t, with Miss .Sylva 1). K.ason, 
 of (iilford, Windham County, Vt., and with his 
 young bride went to Kane County, 111., where he 
 taught in the public schools for two years. In the 
 autumn of lS.i3, he once more returned to his na- 
 tive county, and to his old position in the State 
 Asylum, but after a year took charge of the home- 
 stead farm, managing the same until IS;')!*. P.c- 
 lieving that lie might better his condition by a 
 removal to the West, in that year he started for 
 Iowa, and made a location in Jasper County, where 
 his l)rollier Charles had settled three years ))rcvi- 
 ous. With as little delay as possible, he made )inr- 
 chasc of a tract of land, and gave his attention to 
 Its cultivation, ('ontinning there to make his home 
 for ten years. 'I'he result of his labors during that 
 period, was one of the best farms in the neighbor- 
 hood. Its wcll-tilli'd lields and man}' excellent im- 
 |)rovenicnts, attracti^d the notice of passcrsby, and 
 having an opportunity to sell at a good advantage, 
 he disposed of tiie i)roperty, and bought forty- 
 acres on section 21), Delaware Township. Again 
 prosperity attended his efforts, and affairs were 
 moving along pleasantly until 1876, when death 
 visited his new home, claiming for its victim the 
 wife, who died on Sei)tembcr 20th of that year, 
 aged forty-eight years, seven months, and twelve 
 d.ays, and was buried in Jasper County, Iowa. 
 
 Mr.Coughlan was .again married ()ctl«ber 17,1877, 
 to Mrs. Harriet K. Arthur, who was born October .0, 
 1H.32. a daughter of Chamberlain Wilder, of Wind- 
 ham C(juuty. Vt. Iler father is no»^' deceased, but 
 hi'r mother is still living, and makes her home with 
 licr d.-uighter, Mrs. Coughlan. Mrs. Wilder isnow 
 seventy-live years of age, and enjoys an excellent 
 degree of health. Her family is noted for longevity, 
 ie|iresentativcs of four generations living at tlu^ 
 
 present time. By her first marriage Mrs. Cough- 
 lan li.ad six children: Robert C, a farmer of Dela- 
 ware Townhij); George G., a traveling salesman 
 for the Des Moines Soap Works; Jennie, wife of 
 Allen Campbell, who is engaged in farming near 
 Hastings, Neb.; Ernest W., who for eight years, 
 was traveling salesman for the Des Moines Soap 
 Factory, but is now a resident of Omaha, Neb.; 
 Frank G., who lias charge of the home farm; and 
 Alice, wife of George Ilarter, a farmer of Delaware 
 Townslii|>. The father of those children, Robert 
 Arthur, died May .'5, 1866. He was anative of Gl.as- 
 gow, Scotland, and an honored and respected citi- 
 zen. 
 
 When i\Ir. Coughlan purch.asecl his jjresent farm 
 in Delaware Township, it was entirely unimproved 
 as regards barns, outl)uildings, etc. He built a lit- 
 tle house, 16x18 feet, and twelve acres of the land 
 had been broken, but outside of that small begin- 
 ning, the entire work has been accomplished livour 
 subject. The raw prairie has been transformed into 
 ricli and highly cultivated liehls. the liltle home 
 has been replaced by a commodious two-stor^- resi- 
 dence, 21x28 feet, trees and shrubbery have been 
 .set out, a good grade of stock has been introduced 
 and in all possible ways Mr. Cougldan h.as made 
 his home one of the l)est in the community. The 
 farm comprises one hundred and eighty acres of 
 land, and it, as his other possessions, stands as a 
 monument of his industry and enteiprise. He be- 
 gan life without capital, but by degrees worked his 
 way upward, overcoming all obstacles and dillicul- 
 ties in his path to success. In politics, he is a sup- 
 porter of the Republican party, and liis wife is a 
 member of the Congregational Church. 
 
 '0-<'*9^(^^^-^i^^ 
 
 x?^, OL. JAMES M. ELLWOOD was for a nuni- 
 ll' T' '^'^' ^^ years a iirominent lawyer of Des 
 ^\si<' Moines. His native State was probably New 
 York, and there his early life was doubtless passed. 
 He was .admitted to the bar in Rome, N. V., and 
 became one of the prominent lawyers of that cit^-, 
 building up an extensive i)racticc. Subsequently, 
 he removed to New York Cilv, where he formed 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 573 
 
 a. pai'tneiship with cx-l'iiiti'il Stales Senator Nye. 
 'I'lie lirm was one of liigli slaniling, tlio partners 
 lieinj; the competitors of snch eminent lawyers as 
 John Van I'.nren, Thomas K. Ilraily anil other dis- 
 tin^nished members of the New York liar. Col. 
 Klvvood was regarded as a safe counsel and a 
 learned man. and vvas especially strong in the pres- 
 entation of a case. Ho came to Des Moines In 
 l.s.")G,and formeda law partnership with Talmadsio 
 E. Brown, the firm doing a sneeessful iiusiness. 
 Their merits soon won them a lilieral patron.age, 
 and they liecarae recognized ,as leading jurists of 
 the State. 
 
 In polities Col. Ellwood entertained Democratic 
 principles, and was once the candidate of his party 
 for Attoriic)'-General of Iowa, hut .as the partj- 
 was largely m the minority, he was defeated, after 
 having made an ahle canvass. Toward the close 
 of his life, heing in failing health and unalile to 
 withstand the cold of the North, he spent his win ■ 
 ters in Florida, where he died in 1880. 
 
 Tf/OSIAH FORREST KENNEDY, A.M., M.D., 
 
 of Des Moines, Secretary of the State Board 
 of Health, was born near Landlsburg, Perry 
 / County. Pa., January 31, 1834, .ind is a son 
 of William and Mary (MlUb) Kennedy. The an- 
 cesiry of the family is traced in direct line to 
 an old Scottish chieftain of that name, who during 
 the time of Cromwell emigrated to Ireland. He 
 was a relative of Lord North, who left the family 
 a princely estate. The great-grandfather of our 
 subject, a native of the Emerald Isle, in company 
 with two bn^lhers, emigrated to America and set- 
 tled In Pennsylvania prior to the Revolution. 
 When that war broke out he shouldered his musket 
 In defense of his a<lopted coiiiitry and (trowed a 
 valiant soldier. Grandfather Kennedy was born 
 In Pennsylvania, and by trade w.as a tanner. 
 
 Ills son William was born in Cumberland 
 County, that .State, In 18()«. and In early life learned 
 the mouliler's traile. Having managed well his busi- 
 ness and become proprietor of a large Iron foundry, 
 he retlied frt>m active Ijusiness with a handsome 
 
 competency. His wife was l((un i.ear llnriishurg. 
 Pa., In 18U), and both lived and died in the faith 
 of the Methodist Church, the wife at the age of 
 forty-six years and the husband at the age of sev- 
 ent3"-four years. His lot, politically, was cast with 
 the Whigs, and subsetjuently "itli the Repidilicnn 
 party, and he ever gave his su import .and intlueuceto 
 the advancement of temperance [ninciples, among 
 the people. Of the family of nine children, only 
 four sons arc now living. A. B. succeeded his father 
 in the foundry business, but Is now living a retired 
 life; William H. has for twenty years been engaged 
 as traveling salesman for a Philadelphia firm, and 
 Edward ^I., who was formerly a compositor in the 
 ollice of the l(jira State lleijistcr, is now engaged in 
 the grocery business in Altoona, Pa. 
 
 The second son, Josiah F., after pursuing a pre- 
 paratory course in Williamsburg Academy- of Penn- 
 sylvania, entered Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pa., 
 from which he w.as graduated, in 185.5, with the 
 degree of A. B. In IM.jS he received from this 
 (;ollege the degree of A. M. After graduating as 
 above stated he was emiiloyed as I'rincipal of Ber- 
 rysburg Seminary in Pennsylvania, during which 
 time he also pursued the study of medicine under 
 Dr. Isaac Pursell, and in the Fall of 1856 entered 
 Jefferson Medical College, of Philadelphia. The 
 following Spring he went to Shamokin, Pa., whither 
 his preceptor had moved, in 1857. He was gradu- 
 ated from the Medical Department of the I'nlvcr- 
 sity of New York City, in the Spring of 1858, after 
 which he removed to Tipton, Cedar County, Iowa. 
 
 On the 13th of July of the same year. Dr. Ken- 
 nedy wedded Mary C. Relgart, a native of Will- 
 iamsburg, Pa. Her ancestors on lioth sides were of 
 the sturdy German families that earlj' settled in 
 that State. In 1859 the Doctor removed to Mc- 
 chanlesvllle, Iowa, where he remained until .April, 
 18(!l,when he received an invitation from the Sec- 
 retary of War, Simon Cameron, to appear before the 
 Regular Ami}' Board of Medical Examiners at New 
 York City, and be examined for admission into the 
 Regular army .as Assistant Surgeon. The oxaniln- 
 atlou w.as successful and lie wasstationed.itSemlnary 
 Hospital. rSeorgptown, D. C. His commission was 
 signed by Abraham Linccln and Simon Came ion 
 and was ai^iroved by the liiitccl States Sei);i1e. Soon 
 
574 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 after, owing to the advancement of his superior offi- 
 oer. Dr.. I. R. Smitii, .Surgeon. United States Army.be 
 was iilaced in entire charge oftiic hospital. Tlie posi- 
 tion was a most important one since there were con- 
 nected witli it in Geoigetown four other general 
 hospitals. While Dr. Kennedy was connected with 
 the Seminary Hos|iital it was liy order of tlie War 
 Department specially set apart a.s an tiHicers' iios- 
 pital. During the battle of Anlietam he was sent 
 to the field, and for two weeks remained there and 
 at Frederick City, Md.. caring for the wounded and 
 transporting them to hospitals. Unable longer to 
 endure tlie hardships of his jjosition, because of 
 (irotracled sickness, he resigned in October, 18G2, 
 and returned to Tipton, Town. 
 
 The Doctor soon after entered upon a successful 
 professional career. In 18G3 he was a|)pointed ex- 
 amining agent for the Pension Department, and in 
 1869 was elected Professor of Obstetrlcs-in the Med- 
 icnl Department of the .State Universit}'. In 1870 
 he resignctl both positions and came to Des Moines. 
 Having secured an extensive general practice, he 
 continued the same until 1884, when he was elected 
 to his present oHlce, which requires all his time and 
 ability. Dr. Kennedy is well and favorably known 
 to the profession, both at home and abroad. lie is 
 a member of Polk County Medical Society, of winch 
 lie lias been both President and Secretary ; of the 
 .State Medical Society, of which he was Secretary 
 seven jears; of the American Medical Association; 
 of the American Public Health Association; an(l in 
 December, 1889, was elected a member of the 
 American Academy of Bledicine. In 1882. he wns 
 called to the Chair of obstetrics, and diseases of 
 children in the Iowa College-of Physicians and Sur- 
 geons, now a department of Drake Uiuversity, 
 which position he held until 1884. The year pre- 
 vious he was appointed a member of the Hoard of 
 Pension Examiners, which he held until the change 
 (•f administratio.n. In addition to his professional 
 work he h.as made some valuable contributions to 
 the literature of his profession. He is editor of the 
 Jotra Monthly Bulletin, the ollicial organ of the 
 State Board of Health; was editor and publisher of 
 four volumes of the transactions of the State Medical 
 Society, and has 'contributed some practical and 
 interesting articles to mcdicMl JDurnals. lie iilso 
 
 takes an interest in civic societies, belonging to the 
 Ancient Order of Free and Acce])ted Masons, An- 
 cient Order of United Workmen, Grand Army of 
 the Republic, Good Tem|)lars, and \ . A. 8. 
 
 Both the Doctor and his wife are members ot the 
 Methodist Church. Their family numbers seven 
 ihildren. namely: Anna. Mary, Carrie, Emerj', (Jer- 
 trude, William and Karl. Dr. Kennedy has now 
 been engaged in practice for the long period of 
 thirty-two years, and the many important oHiecs 
 which he has lilled indicate his high standing in the 
 ranks of his professional brethren. In |)olilics, he 
 is a stanch Republican. 
 
 ^ AMES H. DEAX. now resides on section .^, 
 Orant Township, on a jiart of the old home- 
 stead, which for forty-three years has been 
 ill the possession of the family. He was 
 born in Ross County, Ohio, on the 12tli of June, 
 1843, and is the son of Abram S. and Ann Dean, 
 whose sketch is given on another page of this work. 
 Although but four years old when his parents came 
 to this countj', he yet retains a vivid recollection 
 of the journey which lasted about four weeks. 
 Since that earl}' age he has been a resident of this 
 community and ranks among its honored pioneers 
 and worthy citizens. His education was received 
 at the district schools of the neighborhood and he 
 assisted his father in the laliors of the farm until 
 the breaking out of the Rebellion, when he put 
 aside every other consideration and offered his ser- 
 vices to the government. On the Otii of August, 
 1862, he enlisted in Company C. Twenty-third 
 Iowa Volunteer Infantry, for three years service, 
 the regiment being organized for duty on the I'Jth 
 of September. With his command he was then 
 sent to St. Louis and encamped during the winter 
 in Southern Missouri and Northern Arkansas. In 
 ^larch, 1863, the regiment was sent to Vieksburg 
 and afterwards participated in the following bat- 
 tles — Port Gilison, Raymond, Champion Hills and 
 Black River Bridge, during which eiig.'igement the 
 colonel was killed and our subject had his musket 
 
VL/' 
 
PORTRAIT AND lUOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 knocked out uf liis liaml by a rt'bcl Ijall. In May 
 they participated in iLe l)attle of Miliikcn'.s ISend, 
 wlH'i'e tlio Twenty. tliird look part m a luuul to liand 
 liji'lit losing sixty-nine out of one liundi'ed and 
 eiglit, hut nevertheless ihey hehl the grounil. 
 This was followed l)y the siege of X'ickshurg, which 
 lasted forty-seven days. The regiment then took 
 part in the seige against Fort Esperanza and Span 
 isli Fort, ending April "Jlh, 18G.'). That night the 
 Confederates surrendered and the great war was 
 lirought to a close. The Twenty third regiment 
 was then sent to Harrisburg, Tex. and mustered 
 out .luly 26. 1865, disbanding in I)aven|)ort in 
 .Vugust, following. Our subject was discharged 
 with the rank of First Sergeant, to which he had 
 lieeii promoted about a year after his enlistment as 
 a reward for liraverj' and meritorious conduct, and 
 for a short lime had command of his company (C), 
 wLile the regiment was posted at Brashear City, La. 
 While at Devil's Hluff, i^rk., in November 1864, 
 he cast his first Presidential ballot, the troops vot- 
 ing at midnight so that the regiment could 
 start for other fields. 
 
 Immediately after the close of the war Mr. Dean 
 returned to his home. On the 1st of Maj-, 1866, he 
 led to the niarriage altar Miss Sarah A. Hlatchley, 
 who traces her ancestry back to Wales. She was born 
 in NewIIaven County, Conn., October 29, 1845, and 
 is a daughter of Gilbert and Mariette (Field) 
 l)l:itchlev. iler mother is now deceased but her 
 father is still an honored citizen of Des Moines. 
 Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. 
 Dean — Nellie E. born September 3, 1868, is a grad- 
 uate of the Stale Agricultural College of Ames, 
 Iowa: .lames C, born January 19, 1870, died June 
 21, of that same year; Annie, born .Inly 13, 1871, 
 isattending college at Ames; Susan, born Decem- 
 ber 8, 1.S7.J; Jerome, January 21, 1876; Mabel, 
 April 16, 1878; Grant, April 18, 1881; and Logan, 
 November 23, 1883, are now at home. Mr. and 
 Mrs. Dean have taken great pride in educating 
 their children and fitting tln^m for useful and 
 honorable positions in life. The two eldest aie 
 now attending the State Agricultural College, pre- 
 paring for teaching and Miss Nellie has taught 
 three successful terms of school. 
 
 Forty-three j (vus have [lassed since Mr. Dean 
 
 came to F.ilk County, lie has bcni prnniiiuiilly 
 identified with its history and to such as he the 
 county is indebted for its present prosperity and 
 advanced position. lie has witnessed the many great 
 changes which have taken place, has seen the 
 pioneer cabins give way to i)alatial residences, has 
 witnessed the marvelous growth of town and city, 
 the introduction of the large mercantile estab- 
 lishments, industries and enterprises, and has been 
 an active |)articipant in the work of developing 
 the wild land into fertile farms and beautiful 
 homes. Although he is now |)raclically living a 
 retired life he yet owns forty-five acres in (irant 
 Towushi|); together with some city property and 
 one thousand and twenty-nine acres in Acadia Par- 
 ish, near Jennings, a thriving little city of Louis- 
 iana. His home is a handsome frame structure and is 
 one of the most comfortable in the township. The 
 household is noted for its hospitality and in the 
 social world its members rank high. As a citizen, 
 Mr. Dean is public spirited and i)rogressive and 
 has taken great interest in everything tended to 
 benefit the community. He is a s|)ecial friend of 
 education and for twenty years has been a meml)er 
 of the School Board. In politics, he is a stalwart 
 supporter of the Republican party and in the many 
 otticial positions which he has held, his duties have 
 ever been discharged with promptness and fidelity. 
 Socially, he is a member of Kingsman Post, Xo. 
 7, G. A. R., of East Des Moines. Mr. Dean has 
 frequentl3- been called by his parly to represent it 
 in the Stale, Judicial an'd County Conventions. 
 
 #^ 
 
 -V*- 
 
 \|]OHN A. WEBB, senior partner of the real- 
 estate firm of Webb & Terrill, was born in 
 Garnavillo, Clayton County, Iowa, on the 
 
 m. 
 
 23d of .luly, 1857, and is a son of Rev. 
 John and Frances (Jones) Webb. The origin of 
 the family is lost in antiquity. However, we 
 know that the great-granilfalher of our subject 
 was William Webb, a noted politician, who for 
 many years served in the Legislature of N'^rlh 
 Carolina. He was known a^ a great lover of fa^t 
 horses. His family com|irised twenty-two cliildicn. 
 
576 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 His son. William. Ay., married a JMiss Moorman, 
 and emigrated from Uiulunond County, N. C to 
 Waj'ne County, lud., where lie cleared a heavily 
 wooded farm and became one of the extensive ag- 
 riculturists of tiiat d.-iy. He was the father of ten 
 ciiildreu, five of whom are now living, the Hon. 
 Robert C. Webb, of Polk County, being of the 
 numljcr. 
 
 The Rev. .lohn Webb, the third of th.it famil}', 
 wns born in Wa^yne County, Ind., Ma}' 15, 1825. 
 and in early life w.as taught the useful lessons of 
 indiistrj' and perseverance which he has never for- 
 gotten. His educational advantages were confined 
 to elementary training in the (Quaker schools, and 
 three months m a county seminary. On the 8th 
 of July, 1844, he married Frances Jones, a native 
 of Wayne County, Ind., born June 21, 1822, and 
 a daughter of Benjamin Jones, one of the early 
 settlers of the Hoosier .State. Soon after his mar- 
 riage he removed with his bride to the Miami 
 Reserve in Howard County, and in the midst of the 
 forest cleared and developed a farm. In 1851, he 
 removed to Fayette County, Iowa, .and made a 
 location on Turkey River, but after a year, being 
 elected District Clerk, took up his residence in 
 West Union. At the close of the term of office he 
 ran for County Judge, and on counting the bal- 
 lots there w.as found to be a tie. It w.as decided 
 to settle the matter by drawing cuts, but unfortu- 
 nately for 'Sir. Webb he drew the sliorter and his 
 opponent was declared elected. However, it per- 
 haps proved fortunate in the end for he then de- 
 cided to give his whole attention to the ministry. 
 When only thirteen years of age he had united 
 with the Methodist Clninh. under the Rev J. II. 
 Hull, of liloomsport, Ind. For some four years 
 l)ri(ir to 1853, he had lieen preaching regular!}-, 
 yet h.ad not made il his entire business, but at that 
 dale ho joined the Iowa Conference, which then 
 (Ui braced the whole .Slate. Having labored failh- 
 fuliy until 18G2, ho was elected chaplain of the 
 Thirty-eight Iowa Infantry, but after a year's ser- 
 vice in the .South his health gave way and he was 
 forced to resign. During the succeeding seven 
 years he engaged in farming but also devoted a 
 considerable |)ortion*of his time to ministerial 
 wtirk. In 1S7(I. he juincti the Northwest Iowa 
 
 Conference and was .assigned to the church in Sib- 
 le\-, but shortly afterward was appointed Presiding 
 Elder of the North Dakota District, taking in M 
 that part of the territory. He served in that ca- 
 p.icity three years, making Sibley his home. In 
 1H7('), the Rev. Mr. Webb was called upon to 
 mourn the loss of his wife, who died on the 1.3th 
 of February, in Siblej'. On the 27th of .Septem- 
 ber of the same year he married Mrs. Augusta D. 
 Bellows, nee Chase, who was born in \'ermont, 
 March 12, 1835. 
 
 From D.akota the Rev. Mr. Webb went to Kan- 
 s.as. and for a time was connected witli the Kansas 
 MHliodist, a paper published in Topeka. In 1882, 
 he came to Des jNIoines, where he h.as since made 
 his home. In 1888 he became the editor of the 
 Inland Adrocatf, a journal devoted to the interests 
 of the Methodist Church in Iowa. Mr. AVebb h.as 
 given the greater part of his life to the work of 
 the ministry, and tlie fruits of his Labors can only 
 be known when the final records are read. His 
 quiet and unassuming manner combined with his 
 Christian character, as well as his teachings have 
 led many to adopt a better mode of life, and have 
 won him the high regard of all with whom he has 
 come in contact. He had five children by his first 
 wife: Lucy A., widow of W. H. Cooper; William 
 AV.; S.arah M., deceased wife of C. M. Brooks; 
 Nancy A„ who died in infancy; .and John A. 
 
 We now tiike up the personal histor\' of John A. 
 Webb, whose name heads this sketch. In his 
 youth he received good opportunities for securing 
 an education but. possessing a taste for business 
 rather than books, lie did not pursue an extended 
 course. Having clerked for sever.al years in the 
 employ of his father and others, at the age of 
 eighteen he opened a hardware store in Sibley, but 
 soon sold out. From that time until he made a 
 [)ermancnl location in Des Moines, his life and oc- 
 cupation were extremely varied, lie passed three 
 months in the Black Hills, spent one year as a 
 traveling salesman, took a general tour over differ- 
 ent .States, was engaged as a drummer for a cigar 
 house of San Francisco, visited Wasliington Ten i- 
 torj', and thence went to New Mexico, where he 
 was employed as foreman for the California Cattle 
 and Mining Company, then returning to Fowa, lo- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 cateil ill Sioux City, where tie remained until liis 
 removal to Des IMoiiies, in 1883. In the same year 
 he opene(i a grocery house, carrying on lliat busi- 
 ness until 1884, since wMcb time lie lias given his 
 attention to real estate. 
 
 In Sei)tember, 1885, Mr. Webb led to the mar- 
 riage altar Mis.« Lettie E. Andriis, a native of 
 DcRuyter, N. Y., and unto them have been born 
 two children — John E. and Aniie M. The former 
 died at the age of two and one-half years. The 
 motlier is a member of the Church of Christ. Mr. 
 Webb is a member of the Knights of Pythias and 
 V. A .S. fiaternities, and in political sentiment 
 is a Republican. Though a '-rolling stone" fur 
 a number of years, he has nOb failed to gather 
 some "moss." Possessing excellent business abil- 
 ity he is rapidly acquiring a competence, and the 
 firm of Webb & Terrill is recognized as one of the 
 leading real-estate firms in the city. 
 
 ^jOHN MILNE is Treasurer and Manager of 
 the Des Jloines Sua|) Works, which [)o»ition 
 he has held since 1883, covering a period of 
 seven years. lie has been identilled with 
 business in that line for a fifth of a century, and is 
 therefore qualified for the important office which 
 he now holds. A native of Scotland, he was born 
 in the city of Aberdeen, April 11, 1851, of a 
 highly respected Scotch family. His father, Alex- 
 ander Milne, who was a well-to-do fanner of that 
 country, died when John was about fourteen j'ears 
 age. His mother, whose maiden name was Isabel 
 Farnie, about six years after her husband's death 
 came with a part of her children to the I'uited 
 States, reaching Chicago in 1871, where she has 
 since made her home. She has three children liv- 
 ing, two of whom reside with her in the city. 
 
 During his early life John Milne, the subject of 
 this sketch, received such educational advantages 
 as the common schools aff(.)rded, but on his father's 
 death he was forced to lay aside his books an<l 
 earn his own livelihood. At the age of fifteen 
 years he learned lh<; business of manufacturing 
 soap, which he continued until eighteen years of 
 
 age, when he bade farcwi^ll to home and fatherland 
 and sailed for America, his destination being Chi- 
 cago. Soon after his arrival in the city he was 
 fortunate enough to secure a good jiosition, and for 
 fourteen years remained in Chicago, working for 
 Wrisley Bros., Thomas Degal or S. W. McBride. 
 As before stated, his lesidence in Des Moines dates 
 from 1883, when he became manager of the Des 
 Moines Soa[) Works, and by the exercise of indus- 
 try and economy he was enabled, in 1888, to pur- 
 chase an interest in the factoiy, whereupon he was 
 elected Treasurer. Mr. Milne is a connietent busi- 
 ness man and thoroughly understands the trade, 
 having for m<_)re than t'venty years been engaged 
 in that line of operations. The enterprise of which 
 he is manager is tlie most extensive one in the 
 city, eini)loying some fifteen hands in the factory 
 and three salesmen on the road. About fifty thou- 
 sand pounds of laundry soap are turned out per 
 week and ten thousand pounds of toilet soap per 
 month. 
 
 Mr. JMilne's political afliliations are with the Uii- 
 publiean party, and he is an earnest worker in the 
 Congregational Church. In after years, when it 
 shall be asked, who was the founder of the Milne 
 family in America and from what nationality dM 
 it siiring, this brief sketch will tell the story 
 though all living witnesses may have [icrished. 
 
 Tp^DWAKD S. AIEiaaTT, Superintendent of 
 |fe] the city delivery of the Des Moines I'ost- 
 /l' — ^ office, has spent his entire life in Iowa. He 
 was born in Ft. Dodge, April 20, 18.')(), and is a 
 son of Col. William II. Merritt, Postmaster of this 
 city, whose sketch appears (m another page of this 
 work. Our subject enjoys the distinction of hav- 
 ing been the first white child born at Ft. Dodge. 
 He was educated at the Iowa State University, 
 being graduated from the law department in the 
 Class of '81, which consisted of one hundred and 
 fifty-six members, and out of tliat large class Mr. 
 Merritt had the honor of being chosen President. 
 liy virtue of his diploma he was admitted to prac- 
 tice in the courts of llie State and the United 
 
o78 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 States, and at once entered upon the prosecution 
 of liis profession in Des Moines, where he has re- 
 sided since 1865. Two j'cars later, in 1883, he 
 went to Neliraska, visited various towns in that 
 State, and was there engaged in the practice of law 
 nntil 1887, when he returned to the capital city to 
 accept the [losition ho now holds, tliat of Superin- 
 tendent of the entire city delivery in and out of 
 the Des Moines post-oflice. 
 
 (.) the 12th of February, 1885, Mr. Merritt was 
 joined iu wedlock with Miss Bertha I. Kidd, a 
 (laughter of .lohn S. Kidd. The lady was born in 
 Brookl}n, X. Y., and is a member of St. Paul's 
 Episcopal Church of Des Moines. Their union has 
 been blessed with two daughters — Marcia Louise 
 and Edna Southerland. 
 
 In politics, Mr. Merritt is a Democrat, and lias 
 lieen an active worker iu the interests of his party, 
 having served as Cliairman of the Polk County 
 General Committee. As Superintendent of the 
 city delivery he discharges the arduous duties of 
 his olticial position with energy and fidelity and to 
 the gener?l satisfaction of the iiatrons of the office. 
 He has the ability to became a leading lawyer, and 
 should he again resume the practice of the legal 
 profession will no doubt attain a foremost place in 
 its ranks. 
 
 IDWIN I). WILKV, M.l)., has been cn- 
 lisg gaged In the practice of medicine for twenty 
 j'ears, and is a memlier of the Eclectic 
 school. Nineteen years of that time have been spent 
 in the city of Des Moines, where he still resides, 
 and from the beginning he has met with good suc- 
 cess, his practice steadily increasing until he has all 
 the business which he can attend to. 
 
 On the lOth of April, 1846, in Woodstock, Prov- 
 ince of New Brunswick, Dr. Wiley first opened his 
 eyes to the light of day. He is one of a family of 
 ten children, six of whom are yet living, born to 
 Dr. William and Mary (Dibblee) Wiley. The 
 family originally is of Scotch origin, but during 
 the religious persecution were forced to leave that 
 country and seek a home in Ireland. William 
 
 Wiley was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, and at 
 
 the age of seventeen years crossed the Atlantic to 
 America, locating in NeV York City, where he 
 studied and practiced law successfully for some 
 years. Going to Nova Scotia to visit a lirother, 
 he was induced to study medicine, which he did, 
 being graduated from the medical department of 
 Bowdoin College, in Maine. Having fitted himself 
 for this new field of labor, he now entered upon 
 practice in Woodstock, New Urunswick, where he 
 remained until within a few years prior to his 
 death, when in 18.") 1 he emigrated to Elgin, Hi. 
 He was married iu Woodstock, New I'.runswick, to 
 Miss Mary Dibblee, who was of French descent, 
 and both lived to about the age of sixty years. 
 The husband was a member of the Presbyterian 
 Church and his wife of the Episcopal. They were 
 highly respected citizens, and won for themselves 
 a [ilace in the esteem of those amidst whom their 
 lots were cast. 
 
 The early life of our subject was passed amid the 
 trials and difliculties of comiiarative poverty', yet 
 he overcame all the obstacles in his path and won 
 for himself a place in the ranks of the profession 
 which he has chosen that many with far more ad- 
 vantages might well envy. The death of his father 
 cut short his school life, for liis mother was left 
 with a family of small children, and he felt called 
 upon to aid in tlieir support at the sacrifice of his 
 education. He afterward, however, pursued an 
 academic course at Elgin, III., and then read 
 medicine with Dr. Tyrrell, of the same city. He 
 paid his own way through college, being graduated 
 from the Bennett Medical School iu 1870, after 
 which he [iraeticed for a year in Chicago, associated 
 with one of his professors. On the 3d of July, 
 1871, he arrived in Des Moiues,|and at once opened 
 an office in this city, since which time he has en- 
 gaged continuously in practice. 
 
 In February, 1881, Dr. AViley nnrried -Miss Eva 
 Pratt, daughter of Philoman Pratt, a dentist of 
 Elgin, 111. Two children were born unto them, but 
 both are now deceased. In addition to the loss of 
 his children, the Doctor has undergone other 
 afflictions. For two years he was confined to his 
 home with inflammatory rheumatism, which to a 
 man of bis activity and energy proved a sore trial. 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 579 
 
 His career, nevertheless, has been a successful and 
 prosperous one, the resull of his ability and weli- 
 dirccled energy. The Doctor is a menibor of the 
 Eclectic State Medical Society, of which he was 
 President two years, and of wiiicli-he has been 
 Recording Secretary for four years. Socially, he is 
 a Mason, a Red Man and a member of the Pat- 
 riarchal Circle. His wife, an estimable lady, is a 
 communicant of tlie I'.aptisl Church. 
 
 > OL. .TOSEPH MURRAY GRIFFITHS, a 
 
 resident of Des Moines for forty years, was 
 "^^ig/ born in Philadelphia, Pa., on the '.Ith of 
 March, 1823, and is a son of Dr. Elijah and Anna 
 Isabella (Sharp) Grilliths. His father, who was one 
 of the leading physicians of Philadelphia of his time, 
 was born in Chester County, Pa., and was a gradu- 
 ate of the University of Phil.adelpiiia. The family 
 is one of tiic oldest of the Keystone State. Grace 
 Sharp, the great grandmother of Col. Griffiths, 
 came from England with the Penn Colony. On 
 the father's side tlie family is of Welsh origin. Two 
 brothers of the paternal grandfather of the Colonel 
 were in the Colonial Army and "Washington's camp 
 at Valley Forge was situated on the farm of tlie 
 grandfather. Thomas Sharp, tiie Colonel's maternal 
 <rrandfatlier, who was a (Quaker, laid "side his re- 
 ligious scruples against shedding blood and served 
 in the War of the Revolution. Dr. Grilliths look 
 part in the War of 1812, and tlie Colonel, as will 
 appear later, was an ollicer during the Civil War. 
 In his native city our subject was reared and ed- 
 ucated and in early life engaged in mcrcmtile luir- 
 suits. On the -iGlh of Aprd, 1848, he wedded Miss 
 Sarah .1. 1-yttlc, daughter of Archibald and Sar.ali 
 (Conarroe) l^yttle, the former a native of Chester 
 County, Pa., and the latter of New Castle, Del. 
 Mrs. Lyttle's i)arenls. were membcnsof the Society 
 of Friends and came originally from New .lersey, 
 belonging to one of the oldest families of that 
 State. The Colonel and his wife spent a few ^ears 
 near Salem. N. J., and in IH.'jO, emigrated to Iowa, 
 locating in Des Moines. On Iheii arrival in this 
 
 city Col. Grilliths engaged in nierch:uidising.wliicii 
 he continued until 185",). 
 
 His military record began in August, 18G2, when, 
 entering the .•service, he was commissioned Major 
 of the Thirty-ninth Iowa Infantry, on the IGth of 
 November following. He was wountled at Parker's 
 Cross Roads, December 31, 1862, was made Lieu- 
 tenant-Colonel, October C, 18()4. and promoted to 
 the rank of Colonel May 12, 1865. Tiie Thirty- 
 ijinth Iowa Regiment particularly distinguished 
 itself at the battle of Altoona where it rei)ulsed the 
 heaviest charge made by thoenemy who weregieatly 
 superior in numbers. It was right after the battle 
 and the death of Col. Kedlield, that Major Grilliths 
 was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel. The Tliirty- 
 ninth went upon the field nine hundred and seventy- 
 six strong and returned with only three hundred 
 and eighteen, having lost si-K hundred and fifty- 
 eight men in killed, wounded and prisoners. Col. 
 Griffiths took part in the celebrated march with 
 Sherman to the sea and i)articipated in the Grand 
 Review in Washington at the close of the war. 
 
 Eight children, three sons and five daughters 
 were born to Col. and Mrs. GriOiths, but of that 
 number only three are now living — Isabella, wile 
 of Henry Clioate of Chicago; Sarah wife of Simon 
 Casady, a resident of Des Moines, and Mabel, the 
 youngest, is the wife of Dr. L. C. Swift of (Jreat 
 Barrington, Mass. Robert died at the age of two 
 years; .Toseph Murray died aged two years and four 
 months; Paul died in infancy; Grace died in New 
 Orleans of yellow fever while with her father in 
 that city. 
 
 Col. Griffiths is a Republican in [jolitics and was 
 a member of the first City Council of Des Moines. 
 In February, 187."), he went to New Orleans as 
 Government Inspector and Examiner of Customs 
 which position he held for four years. During that 
 perioil he was stricken with yellow fever ami was 
 bi'ought near death's door. It was at that time that 
 his daugliter Grace, a beautiful and accomplished 
 young lady, lost her life in her devotion (u her fa- 
 ther. In iMay, 187i), the Colonel returned to his 
 lionu; in this city. Previous to his departure for the 
 South he engaged in the grain business but after his 
 return he livc<l a companitiveiy retired life until 
 1882, when he uas ;\pi)(>intt'd to his |)re>cui- [losition 
 
580 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUII. 
 
 in the money order department of the post-oflice in 
 Des Moines. lie takes considerable interest in civic 
 societies, especially the Masonic order. He was 
 made a Jlason hy the Grand Lodge of New Jersey 
 in 1851, and on coming to this city becamea mem-- 
 ber of I'ioncer Lodge, of which he has served as 
 Master for eleven years. He helped to organize 
 Capital Lodge, No. 110, A. F. ik A. M.;;is a mem- 
 ber of Corintiiian Chapter, No. 14, R. A. M., is 
 a charter member of Temple Comniandery, No. 10, 
 K. T. and has served as Eminent Commander seven 
 years. At tliis writing he is tlie only surviving 
 contributing member of the Comniandery of the 
 ciiartor members. Mrs. Griffiths and her daughters 
 areallcoinmnnicanlsof St. Paul's Episcopal Church. 
 The Colonel is one uf the oldest and most highly 
 respected citizens of Des Moines. His record as a 
 soldier is one of whicii his friends may well be 
 proud, and his coiiise during the late war was in 
 keeping with tiic history of the family ivv patriot- 
 ism and devotion to country. 
 
 r^HOMAS Ki.VNN, who resiiles on secMoii 
 31, Walnut To\viishi[), is one of tiie land 
 owners of Polk County. He was forni- 
 eily an (xleiisive and successful railroad con- 
 tractor and built many miles of road in tlie Central 
 States, Ijdlh cast and west of tiic Mississippi. He 
 was born in C^'unty Walerford, Ireland, 1)S38, and 
 is a descendant of a f.-imily of prominence which oc- 
 cupied an eminent and inlluential position in 
 Ireland ere it bucanii' a part of (ireat Britian. 
 With all the belter and more intelligent class of 
 Irish citizens, Mr. Klynn greatly deplores the fact 
 that his native c(ninlry is novv denied her |>olitical 
 rights, !ind has contriljuted liburall3' to the vvork 
 whicii is now being carried on in the hope of at- 
 taining its independence once more. His parents, 
 Martin and Catherine (Crotty) Flynii, were also 
 natives of County \\'aterforil, and there reared a 
 family of children. The fnther was an extensive 
 stock-raiser of that count}' until 184iS, when he 
 b.'ide good-b}' to his old home and sailed for 
 America, locating in Now York. The eldest son. 
 
 Dennis, remained in Ireland, where he still lives on 
 the old homestead, although he has five sons in this 
 country. Of the other seven children IMary married 
 Patrick Harket, of Norristowii, Pa., where she still 
 resides; John, who was also a railroad contractor 
 until recently, row owns a farm in Walnut Town- 
 ship, Polk Count}', where he resides; Patrick mar- 
 ried Elizabeth Wallace, of Decatur County, Iowa, 
 where he purchased the farm on which he now re- 
 resides; Bridget married Patrick Cushion, of Penn- 
 sylvania, and they removed to Missouri soon after 
 their marriage, where she died in 1859; Martin, 
 who was the principal railroad man of the family, 
 is also a resident of Walnut Township, where he is 
 extensively engaged in fine stock raising, and has 
 become somewhat noted, as a breeder of swine, 
 in Polk County, Iowa; Catherine married Da- 
 vid O'Kourke, who was also a railroad contractor, 
 but is now deceased, his widow and five children 
 are living in a comfortable home at Lincoln, Neb.; 
 Thomas, the subject of this sketch acccom|)anied 
 the faniil}' to Westmoreland Count}-, Pa., in 1852. 
 Throughout almost his entire business career he 
 has been engaged as a railroad contractor. One of 
 his liist engagcmenls was with the Pennsylvania 
 Central Railroad, and after coming to the West he 
 did an extensive business with the roads having 
 lines in Iowa, Illinois, Wis(!0!isin and Nebraska. 
 After lesiding in Dulunpie for a sliorf. lime lie re- 
 moved to Anamosa and engaged in r.-iilroading 
 on the Dubuque it Soutlnveslern uiuil 185'J, after 
 whicii he made an engageiiiciil with llie Des Moines 
 X'alley Raiiioad. About that time, in coiiiijany 
 with his brothers, he |iiiicliased a tract of land in 
 Monroe County, Iowa, which they imjjrovcd and 
 on which the parents spent the remainder of their 
 days, the fatlier dying in 1 8(j0, and the mother in 
 18G1. During ISGO and 18()1, Mr. Flyiin was en- 
 gaged in ihe construction of the Chicago ik North- 
 western Railroad, after whicii he joined his parents 
 in Monroe County. After a year, however, he re- 
 sumed railroading, obtaining a position with the 
 Chicago, Rock Island A- I'acilic Railroad, with 
 whicii lie rcuKiiiud until 1 8t)."), when he obtained 
 a position with the Union Pacific, his work being 
 in Nebraska. Two years later he maile another 
 engagement with the Chicago & Northwestern, 
 
sSsa 
 
 /' 
 
 A/AwKmia-iw S^^-i54l, 
 
PORTRAIT AND HIOGRAPHIOAL ALBUM. 
 
 583 
 
 woi.Uiug in their employ' until the completion of 
 the roail to Council Bluffs, lie then aided in the 
 construction of the Chicago, Rock Island ct 
 Pacific to Council Bluffs, after which he was en- 
 gaged in the construction of the Ues Moines Val- 
 ley Railroad to Ft. Dodge. His next engagement 
 was on the soutinvestern division of the Chicago, 
 Rock Island il' Pacific, be superintending its con- 
 struction between AVashington and Sigourney, 
 Iowa. He then made an engagement with the Wis- 
 consin Central between Stevens' Point and the 
 pineries. After many years of more or less suc- 
 cessful labor as a contractor, he retired from that 
 business. 
 
 In 1870, Mr. Flynu turned his attention to ag- 
 ricultural pursuits, purchasing the farm in Walnut 
 Township on which lie now resides, and devotes 
 himself almost exclusively to the care of his farm, 
 taking no active |)art in political affairs, althougli 
 he feels a deep interest in the advancement and 
 prosperity of his adopted county. He and his 
 family are members of the Catholic Church. 
 
 In October, 1872, Mr. Fl\'nn was uniteil in mar- 
 riage with Miss Mary Collins, a native of New 
 York, and a daughter of Miles and Kate Collins, 
 who were born in County Claire. Ireland. Mrs. 
 Fl\nn was the eldest of four children; Kate, the 
 second daughter, is the wife of Peter Toner, of 
 California; .Miles, who is engaged in railroading, 
 resides in East Des Moines; I'nd Lizzie is now 
 deceased. Mrs. Flynn was a member of the Cath- 
 olic Church and an exeniplaiy Christian lady. 
 Twu children blessed this union: Catherine B. was 
 born December o, 1873; she is now receiving her 
 education at .St. Joseph Academy, Grand Avenue, 
 Des Moines, where she e.xi)ects to finish her lit- 
 erary course this year. j\lrs. Flyun died at the 
 birth of her second child, little Mar}', who survived 
 her mother only si.x months. 
 
 Mr. Flynn was again married April 20, 187G, his 
 second union being with Annie Duffy, who was 
 liorn in October, 1837, and is one of twelve chil- 
 dren. Her parents were James and Mary (Swift) 
 Duffy, both of whom were natives of County 
 Mealh, Ireland. Mr. Duffy was an extensive con- 
 tractor and eng.iged as an architect and builder in 
 his native countrj until I8.)l,wlieu he emigrated 
 
 to America, locating in the State of New York, 
 where for some years he continued operations in 
 that line, his sons, John and Patrick, being his 
 partners in the business. On his removal to 
 Dubuque, Iowa, ill-health forcing him to lay aside 
 such arduous labor, he eng.agcd in book-kec|)ing, 
 being an expert accountant, and also doing con- 
 siderable literary work. He was a valued corres- 
 pondent to the Dublin Nation, while living in 
 rtica, N. Y. His death occurred January I, 1861, 
 aged sixtj'-three years. After her husband's death, 
 Mrs. Duffy, in A|)ril, IStjl, located in Des Moines. 
 Her last tlays were spent with her daughter, l\Irs. 
 Thomas Flynn. at whose home she died March 30, 
 1881, aged seventy- five years. Of the sons of Mr. and 
 Mrs. Diift'y, Patrick resides in ITlica, N. Y., and is 
 an architect and builder; John settled in Chicago, 
 where part of his family now reside, and died at Hot 
 Springs, Ark., in August, 1883; James died, unmar- 
 ried, at Rock Island, III.; Thomas .ami family icside 
 at Ch.attanooga, Tenn., and he is an architect and 
 builder; David Gavin, who resides in St. Louis, 
 Mo., is a commercial traveler and handles two 
 lines of goods, i)aints and leather; Lawrence W. 
 and family live at Kansas City, Mo., where he is 
 engaged in journalistic vvork. Of the daughters 
 five of the six embraced religious lives joiniiig the 
 order and becoming teachers of the different acad- 
 emies where they received their education. Eliza- 
 beth became a member of the St. Vincent De 
 Paul Community at Emnietlsburg, Md., and died 
 in the city of Mobile. .Via., where she taught 
 a large school of colored children; her name 
 in religion being Sister Mary Genevieve. J.ine 
 Frances, now Sister Mary Alexius, became a mem- 
 ber of the same conunuiiity .and is at presenfa 
 teacher in that acadein}'. Catherine now Sister 
 Mar}' Maurice of the Sisters of Charity, whose 
 home is Duluuiue, Iowa, taught at Mt. ,St. Jo- 
 seph and other academies in the Slate for twenty 
 years, and for two .years has been Superioress of 
 a branch Convent at San Francisco, Cal. Marga- 
 ret married W. (i. McNulty, of Des Moines, in 
 •1868, by whom she has had live children, viz. : 
 Catherine M., Mary A., Anna E., Lizzie G. and 
 Margaret !•".. Mr. McNulty is a successful cari)en- 
 ter and buildei and resides in Des Moines. Mary 
 
584 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 or Sister Alberta died at half past eight o'cock, on 
 the morning of December 4th, 1883, at SI. Clara's 
 Convent, Sinsinawa Mound, Wis. Slie wa** a wo- 
 man of marked talent, and zealonsly devoted her- 
 self to the doini^ of a great and good work, which 
 will lonji endure as a monument to iier memorj'. 
 
 Ai; TIN l-'LYNN, an extensive railroad con- 
 tractor, and the pnnnietor of the largest 
 and most completely a|)pointed farm in 
 Polk County, dales liis residence in this 
 community from the fall of 18G7. A native of Irc- 
 hmd, he was born in County Waterford, August 
 21, 1840, and is a son of Martin and Catiierine 
 (Crolty) Flynn, who were also horn in the same 
 county. He was but a lad of eleven years when he 
 crossed tiie Atlr.ntic to America, in company with 
 ids parents. The party landed in New York, and 
 without delay made their way to Westmoreland 
 County, Pa., where our subject attended the public 
 schools until about twelve years of age, when he 
 be^an work on the Pennsylvania Central Railroad, 
 at lifty cents a day. When not quite twelve years 
 old, he took iiis lirst contract in company with two 
 otiier boys, in breaking stone, at which he made 
 seventy-five cents a day. He came to Iowa during 
 tlic winter of 1856-57, and made his hoaie in Du- 
 buque for a short time. In 1858, when eighteen 
 years old, he took a contract on the Dubuque &: 
 Southwestern Railroad, and until 1883, was ac- 
 tively emploj'crt in railroad construction as a con- 
 tractor, operating in Iowa, Wisconsin, Nebraska, 
 Colorado, New Mexico, Tennessee, and Dakota, 
 lie liad nwde heavy work a specialty, including 
 tunneling, rock woik, and bridge building, and has 
 been very successful. In 1872, he built forty miles 
 of the Wisconsin Central Railroad, and during 1878, 
 built ^the Rattoun Tunnel on the Atchison, Topeka 
 it Santa Fe Railroad in New Mexico. From 1881 
 to 1883, inclusive, he was engaged in the construc- 
 tion of one hundred and fifty miles of the Chicago 
 Si Northwestern Railroad, besides forty miles for 
 the Wabash, and liftccn miles for the Dcs Moines 
 ik Northwestern Railroad. The above comprise 
 
 but a part of some of tlie more important contracts 
 carried through by our subject. 
 
 •Oi> the I4lli of December, ISG^. Mr. Flynn was 
 married in Omaha, Neb., to Miss Kllen Kean, daugh- 
 ter of Michael and Winnefred (Kinsella) Kean. 
 Mrs. Fl\nn was born in County Wexford, Ireland, 
 February, 23, 1843, and in 1844 was Inought by 
 her parents to America. They made their home in 
 New York until 1857, and then removed to Ne- 
 braska. 
 
 In 18()7, Mr. Flynn purchased a line farm in Wal- 
 nut Towiislii|). Polk County, where he made his 
 home until the autumn of 18.s;t, when he left it in 
 the care of his sons, and removed to Des Moines. 
 Mr. Flynn has fifteen hundred acres of good farm- 
 ing land lying in a body in Wali.'ut Township, well 
 im|>ruved, and stocked with thoroughbred Short- 
 horns, and excellent grade cattle. His herd of full- 
 bloods numbers one hundred and forty, and he has 
 three hundred head of grade stock, while his farm 
 buildings form a small village. In addition to this 
 extensive farm, the largest in Polk County, he has 
 another in Guthrie County-, Iowa, of six hundred 
 acres, also well-improved and stocked, on which he 
 has a herd of one hundred and fifty head of cattle 
 — all high grade. He also raises excellent grades 
 of horses, and hogs in goodly numbers. In addi- 
 tion to his farms, Mr. Flynn is the possessor of 
 considerable valuable city property in Des Moines, 
 owning the elegant brick block on the southeast 
 corner of Seventh and Locust Streets, known as the 
 Flynn Block, and two dwellings, one of whiih he 
 occupies. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Flynn arc members of the Catholic 
 Church. Their family numbers live sons and live 
 daughters, namely: Thomas F., who is engaged In 
 mercantile business in Salida. Colo.; Catherine, 
 John M., Mary, Francis P., William V., Winnefred 
 A., Ellen Theresa, Edward J., and Anna Belle, all 
 of whom are residing in the city or on the farm. 
 Mr. Flynn is a Democrat in politics, and although 
 offered the nomination for oHice, has never had 
 lime or inclination to serve in any olHcial position. 
 He is essentially a self-made man, having started in 
 life without the intluencc of monej- or friends. His 
 lirst earnings were fift}- cents a day, received for 
 carrying water to the men working on the railroad, 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 5«j 
 
 when a boy. His salary gradually increased, and 
 at one time amounted to ^300 per month. He has 
 been cnterprisini» and sagacious in m:il<ing cou- 
 trai'ls, and energetic in [lustiing lliem to comple- 
 tion. The force of men in his employ, has at times 
 reached as higli :is two tliousand in number, wliile 
 some of his larger contracts have exceeded half a 
 million of dollars in amount. His farming opera- 
 tions have been on a magnificent scale, as the fig- 
 ures already given, show, and he lias been the means 
 of introducing into Polk County a large number 
 of thorougii-bred cattle, that have added greatl3' to 
 the reputation of the stock of Iowa. JNIr. Flynn is 
 an active, energetic man, hroad and liberal in liis 
 views, possessing superior executive ability, .-uid 
 business sagacit)'. His success has been the r?sult 
 of the exercise of his best po-ers, both mental and 
 physical, suj)ported bj' nerve to undertake, and 
 skill to carr^' through extensive contracts, that at 
 times gave none too ccrlaiu luomisc of [)rolit:ibIe 
 returns. 
 
 ^EN. A. .1. BAKER, of Des Moines, was 
 born in Ohio County, \'a., (now Marshall 
 %JX\ County, W. Va.,) on the (Jth of .hine. 18;32. 
 His |)aternal great-grandfather came to the United 
 States from Brunswick, Ger:nany, landing in Phila- 
 delphia in 1755. Five years later, he married 
 Margaret Sullivan, and with his wife removed to 
 the Shenandoah \'alley. In 1780, he purchased a 
 tract of land, situated about a mile south of the 
 month of Grave Creek, about twelve miles south 
 of the [)resent cit}- of Wheeling, W. Va., where 
 with the aid of his six sons he erected a block 
 house or fort called Baker's Station. The father 
 of our subject was born in that fort in April. 1790. 
 and on reaching maturity- married Mtirgaret Reager. 
 In 18.i.'! he removed with his family to Ohio, set- 
 tling in Butler County in the Miami ^'alley, eight- 
 een miles north of Cincinnati. 
 
 On the farm of his father our subject resided 
 until sixteen years of age, spending his iime in the 
 district schools during the winter season, vvhile 
 during the summer months he worked upon the 
 farm. He became a sludent of Kuiman's Academy 
 
 at Hamilton, Ohio, in the winter of 1847-48 and in 
 the month of October, following, started for Iowa. 
 He made his first location in Burlington, where he 
 spent the following winter as a clerk in a grocery 
 store and then secured' employment as a farm hand. 
 In the winter of 1849-50, he attended the opening 
 session of what is now "We.sleyan University, of Mt. 
 Pleasant, Iowa, doing chores for a farmer in the 
 neighborhood to pay for his board while attending 
 school. He desired to procure a more advanced 
 education and in order to do s<i underwent many 
 privations and hardships in his endeavor to secure 
 the money needed for his tuition and expenses. 
 Ill 1849, he taught in Henry County, and the 
 following year attended the private school of Mrs. 
 C. B. Darwin of Burlington. From that tinu^ until 
 1855, he was alternately engaged in teaching jind 
 reading law with C. B. Darwin, of Burlington, and 
 was at length admitted to the bar in August, 1855. 
 He at once embarkeil in inactice in Winterset, Iowa, 
 and rapidly made his w.ay to the front rank in the 
 profession. 
 
 Duringa portion of the late war. Mr. Baker served 
 as First Lieutenant of Company K, Si'venteenth 
 Iowa Infantry, but in 1864, located in Lancaster, 
 Schuyler County, Mo., where he engaged in le<'al 
 practice. He also occupied a prominent place in 
 the political arena and was elected to the Slate 
 Legislature of Missouri, serving as Representative 
 in the two sessions of 18(;8 and 18(!9. The follow- 
 ing year he was elected Attorney General of Mis- 
 souri, serving one term. Tlie Democrats then 
 came into power and as he is a stanch Republican 
 in political sentiment, it ended his political career 
 in Missouri. Resuming law practice, he soon se- 
 cured a liberal patronage and was appointed Attor- 
 ney of the Missouri, Iowa A Nebraska Railroad 
 Company-, serving from 1873 until 1880. In 1875 
 he removed to Centerville, Iowa, the head(puuters 
 of the road and formed a law partnership with Gen. 
 F. M. Drake, President of the railroad company. 
 He was elected Attorne3' General of Iowa in 1881 
 and re-elected in 188G. 
 
 On the 19th of August. 1858, Gen. Baker led to 
 the marri.age alt.ar INIiss Sophie Parker, daughter of 
 Rev. Leonard Parker of Winterset. Iowa. They 
 now have eight children and two grandchildren 
 
586 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 living: Frances, their first-born, is now the wife of 
 J. L. Mason, of Des Moines; Mamie is the wife of 
 W. G. Moore, of Ccnterville, Iowa; Margaret is 
 still at lioine; Clarence is a civil engineer, now em- 
 ployc'il with the King Bridge Company ; the younger 
 menihers of the family are Grace, Lulu, Edith and 
 Ethel. The parents are members of the Presby- 
 terian Ciaireh. 
 
 In liis social relations Mr. Baker is a Knight of 
 Pythias and a member of the Grand Lodge and 
 Past Grand Master of Odd Fellows of Iowa. His 
 reputation is not only State-wide but he has many 
 warm friends and numerous acquaintances among 
 the prominent men of this country. Three terms 
 he has served as Attorney General, once in Mis- 
 souri and twice in Iowa, and proved himself not 
 only an alile lawyer, hut one who was ever aleit 
 to the interests of the .State which he represented 
 and watchful for the best welfare of the i)eople. 
 
 •{<a^' 
 
 ^jAPT. IIENRV IIOLCOMB GRIFFITll.S, a 
 
 [[ gallant ollicer of the late war. now deceased, 
 
 ^^^■' was burn in Philadelphia, Pa., December 
 31, 1821, and came to Iowa in 1818. He located 
 in Burlington, wliere he opened a wholesale hard- 
 ware store which he carried on until 1851. In that 
 year he came to Des Moines and shortly after his 
 arrival in the cit\' embarked in the real-estate lousi- 
 ness, which he continued until the breaking out of 
 the late war. His symi)alhies were all enlisted for 
 the Union cause and he raised a company which 
 became a part of the Fourth Iowa Infantry in 
 April, 1801, and was commissioned its Captain. On 
 the 1th of May, 1.SG2, he was transferred to com- 
 mand of the First Iowa Batter}'. Prior to that 
 time, however, he had i)artici|)ated in the battle of 
 Pea Kidge and subsequently was made chief of ar- 
 tillery linder Gen. Steele. He took part in the ca|)- 
 lure of Arkansas Post on the ISth of May, 18G3, 
 opened fire on Mcksburg in Jidy following, {)ar- 
 ticipated in the cajoture of Jackson, Miss., on the 
 25th of Novemlier, took (larlin the battle of Look 
 out Mountain and the day following in^that of Mis- 
 sionary Kidg('. He was also under fire at the 
 
 battle of Resaca in May, 1864, and did gallant ser- 
 vice at Dallas, Miss. He was also in the hottest of 
 the fight at Kenesaw Mountain and particiiHited in 
 the many engagements in the siege of Atlanta, tak- 
 ing an active part in the terrible struggle which oc- 
 curi-ed on that ever memorable 22nd of July, 
 1801. No truer soldier ever fouglit on the South- 
 ern battlefields than Capt. Griffiths, and his coolness 
 and bravery not onl^- displayed his loyalt}- but fur- 
 nished an example to his men which made their ef- 
 forts of much more avail. He was honorably 
 discharged ;ind on the 17tli of August, 18GI, was 
 mustered out of the seryice, after which he re- 
 turned to his home. 
 
 The wife of Cajot. Grilliths was in her maiden- 
 hood IMiss Mary Nash, a niette of the late Rev. 
 John A. Nash, of Des Moinee. A family of ten 
 children were born unto them, seven of whom are 
 yet living. 
 
 At the county election, which occuried the fol- 
 lowing fall after his return from the war, Capt. 
 Grilliths was chosen Clerk of the Court for Polk 
 County, and so aljly did he discharge the duties of 
 that olliee that he was re-electe<l in 18GG, fvud again 
 in 18G8 and 1870, serving in all eight years. In 
 political sentiment he was a stanch supporter of Re- 
 publican principles and look an active part in local 
 politics. His death occurred in July, 1885, and 
 occasioned much sincere regret on the [lart of many 
 friends who had learned to esteem him for his great 
 worth. Mrs. (Jrilliths and her ciiildren reside in 
 North Des Moines, lovva. • 
 
 i 
 
 /x^ t)L. GEORGE L. GODFREY of Des Moines, 
 /(^.^ chairman of the Utah Commission, is a na" 
 ^^^ tive of the Green Mountain Slate. He was 
 born in Orleans Count}-, \t., in 1833, ant! is a 
 son of Alba and Lydia (Martin) Godfrey. His fa- 
 ther, also a native of Vermont, died in 1882, at the 
 advanced age of eighty-four years, but his mother 
 passed away in 1850. The}' were parents of seven 
 chililren. four sons and three daughters, of whom 
 our subject is the 3'oungest. The eldest son, Henry, 
 died at the age of thirty years; Hazen K. served in 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 587 
 
 a Massacliuselts regiment (hiring the late war and 
 is now living in River Fails, Wis.; William W., tlic- 
 tliird lirotliei'. fought in the War of tlic Kobollion, 
 as a member of tiie Sixth \crniont Regiment and 
 was killed in a hand to iiand fiulit with the enemy 
 at Lee's Mills. Ya. The eldest sister, Henrietta, 
 became the wife of Ali)heus Bohonan, and died in 
 Washington, Vt.. a number of years agf); Augusta 
 is the wife of George Cowdry of Soiilli Ro\'alton, 
 Vt.. and Elizabeth is the wife of Frank Curtis of 
 Orange, Vt. 
 
 The boyhood days of Col. Godfrey were passed 
 on a farm in the State of his nativity and in the 
 public schools of the neighborhood he acquired his 
 primary education. He was j'et quite young when 
 he began teaching.with the determination to secure 
 the means to extend his knowledge and also to [)re- 
 pare for the legal profession. In tiie autumn of 
 1855, he came to Iowa and the following winter 
 taught school in Dubuque County. In the spring 
 of 1856, he decided to go to Sioux City, which 
 was then just starting into existence, having been 
 offered a situation which promised to be more 
 protital)le than teaching, but on his arrival he 
 found that the position had been given to another. 
 However he was not long idle, soon finding suflici- 
 ent employment to occupy his whole attention. He 
 engaged in the speculation common at that time 
 and well known to all old settlers, of entering land 
 on time and selling out to emigrants. This proved 
 so profitable that by autumn he found himself in 
 possession of $1000 as the result of his season's la- 
 bor. The object for which he came West was now 
 realized, namely: to acquire the means to continue 
 his studies and he accordingly returned to Vermont 
 and entereil the academy at Barre, where ho re- 
 mained for about two 3'cars. The fall of 1858 
 witnessed his return to Iowa and after teaching 
 school during the winter term in Boonesborough in 
 the spring of 1859, he came to Des Moines and en- 
 tered the law oflice of Judge C. C. Cole. In due 
 lime he was admitted to the bar but did not enter 
 upon pr.actice. 
 
 The War of the Rebellion was now at hand and 
 in obedience to the call of his conntr)- he resolved 
 to enter the army. On the '27th of May, 18C1, Mr. 
 Godfrev enlisted in Coin|pan\' I) of the Second 
 
 Iow:i Regiment under the (onininnd of Capt."Mar- 
 cellus M. Crocker, than whom no braver soldier 
 fought to preserve the I'nion. Our subject, was 
 promoted to the rank of Seconil Lieutenant of his 
 company December .'>. I8G1; to First Lieutenant, 
 .lune 22, 18IJ2, and on the same day was made Ad- 
 jutant of the Regiment. He also acted as Adjutant- 
 (ieneral of his brigade. He participated with his 
 command in its famous charge at Ft. Donelson, 
 which carried the enemy's work and captured the 
 key of its position, resulting in the surrender of 
 the Confederate forces to Gen. Grant. In this fa- 
 mous charge Col. Godfrey was struck in the breast 
 by a musket ball and quite severely injured, but 
 was soon able to resume his ['lace with his regiment 
 and took jiart in the bloodj- l)attle of Sliiloh on the 
 Cth and 7tli of April, following the capture of Ft. 
 Donelson. He was in the most furious ]iart of the 
 struggle .nnd was stationed near W. H. L. Wallace 
 when that noljle General fell. His regiment fought 
 on the right of Gen. Prentice's command and was 
 ever in the thickest of the conllict. It was also in 
 the advance at Corinth. Miss., and in the battle 
 which occurred at that i)lace on the 3d and 4tli of 
 October. 18G2, when the confederates under Gen. 
 Price and ^'an Dorn made a most desperate and de- 
 termined effort to capture or destroy the I'nion 
 Army. There on the 3d, Col. Barker, and on the 
 4tb, Lieut-Col. Mills, were mortallv wounded in one 
 of the most desperate eug.agements of the war. Col. 
 (Todfrey bore a conspicuous part in that awful 
 battle of Corinth and successfully rejjelled the at- 
 tack of the confederates on the Union line. Two 
 horses were shot from under him and many times 
 he narrowly escaped death. The following from 
 the report of the battle by (ien. J. I!. Weaver. 
 Vol. II of the Adjutant-General's Report of 
 1863, will illustrate his gallantry in that action. 
 '■Among those who distinguished themselves was 
 Adj. George L. Godfrey, who could alw.ays be seen 
 and heard charging along the line upon his horse, 
 shouting to the men to be cool and steady. He is 
 one of the most valuable 3'oung ollicers that I have 
 ever met." 
 
 Here the relations of Col. Godfrey with the gal- 
 lant Second Iowa Regiment terminated. The State 
 of .M.abama contained manv brave Union men 
 
588 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 who only needed the opportunity to .strike n blow 
 at the venomous iicad of rcliellion. The defeat of 
 the rebel forces at Corinth and the advance of the 
 Union Army afforded this opportunity and soon a 
 f^allant regiment of Alabama troops was organizetl 
 as the First Alabama Cavalry, and of this regiment 
 Mr. Godfrey was made Major on October 18, 180.'?, 
 and soon after [jromoted to Lieutenant-Colonel, 
 having command of the I'cgiment during the greater 
 part of the remainder of the war. It comprised a 
 splendid body of men and under the leadership of 
 our subject did noble service in the cause of the 
 Union. It took an active i)art in Sherman's At- 
 lanta campaign and led by Col. Godfrey "marched 
 to the sea." One company of the regiment formed 
 Gen Sherman's body guard in that expedition and 
 the remainder of the regiment under our Colonel, 
 formed the advance guard of the Seventeenth Army 
 Corps. Thus honored they continued to Savannah 
 and to the final scene of Johnston's suncnder. Col. 
 (iodfrey was selected to bear important dis()alches 
 from (ien. Slieruian to the Confederate Gen. John- 
 slon, and was also the bearer of dispatches to 
 iiim from Gen. Grant, proposing the place of meet- 
 ing between the two commanders for the arrange- 
 ment of the linal surrender of the Confederate 
 Army, nnd was present at the consultation. 
 
 The war was now over and preparations were 
 being made for tiie march to Wnshington for the 
 grand review. Col (Godfrey's regiment from Ala- 
 bama, caring more for liomc and friends than for the 
 review, desired to return to Iluntsville, that Stale 
 and )>e mustered out. They had received tidings 
 of tiie suffering and death of friends at the hands 
 of the rebels and were anxious to know the worst 
 and learn tiie fate of their families and kindred. 
 Gen. Shermiin protested against the nu)vement as a 
 dangerous one for the march would be through the 
 enemy's country over tlie route tiiej' had just 
 pnssecl. His consent, however, w;is at length given 
 at the earnest and iiersistent solicitation of Col. 
 Godfrey who knew full well that though the men 
 had been brave and faitiiful soldiers to tlie end, that 
 now the war was over nothing would restrain them 
 from an immediate elTort to le.arn the fate of those 
 whom tliev hail left behind when tiie}' joine<l llie 
 I'niou Ainu. Tlie yrnnd review would ha\e no 
 
 charms for them when their families or friends were 
 probably suffering or dead, and Col. Godfrey knew 
 that desertions and a desperate effort to reach their 
 homes, either singly or in squads, would be the re- 
 sult of refusing them the privilege of returning in 
 a body. The consent of Gen. Sherman having been 
 obtained he placed himself at the head of the regi- 
 ment and the long return march began. At length 
 they arrived at Iluntsville, and the Colonel pro- 
 ceeded immediately to Nasliville, where he found 
 Gen. Thoma.s and made arrangements for jiaying off 
 his men. Me then returned to Iluntsville, saw that 
 duty performed and the men furloughed. In Octo- 
 ber, 18G5, they were ordered to report at Hunts- 
 ville to be mustered out and the Colonel again met 
 the brave comrades who had followed him faith- 
 fully on many a fatiguing mareii and on many a 
 bloody battlefield. 
 
 While in Huntsville attending to the mustering 
 out of his regiment, Col. Godfrey was elected b^- 
 his home district to the Legislature of Iowa. Some 
 inducements were offered him to remain in the 
 South and a seat in Congress could have easily been 
 procured b^' him had lie consented to remain in 
 Alabama, liut the ties of home were more effective 
 than the honor of any political preferment, and re- 
 turning to Des Moines he served the following win- 
 ter in the General Assembly, 'n the spring of 1866, 
 he entered the law dei)artment of the State l^niver- 
 sity and after ctnitiiuiing his studies a year entered 
 into partiiershi[) with L. A. (iraiit, now Assistant 
 Secretai}' of War, and later was .associated in the 
 practice of his profession with Judge William E. 
 Miller. lie served as City Solicitor of Des Moines 
 for two years and Assistant United States District 
 Attcu'ney for three years. He has ever taken an 
 active part in sui-.taiiiing the principles of the Re- 
 publican party and is regarded as an able cham[)ion 
 of that organization. He was honored by being 
 made an Klector in 1870 wlien I'resident Hayes was 
 chosen as chief executive of the Nation. In 1882 
 on the establislimeut of the Utah Commission, Col. 
 (iodfrey became a member and in 188!) was made 
 chairman. The object of the commission is the en- 
 forcement of what is known as the Ediniiiid's law 
 for the snp|)iession of polygamy in Ulali. The 
 work of till' commission has been most effective, re- 
 
PORTRAIT AND HIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 589 
 
 suiting in almost tlie entire suppression of tiiat evil 
 in tlie Territory and bids fair to remove it entirel}' 
 in tiio near future. 
 
 Col. Godfrey has been twice married. In 1867, 
 he wedded Miss Carrie Corning, a most cstimal)le 
 lady and a daughter of Charles Corning, now of Pa- 
 latlca, Fla. Her death occurred in 1879. The present 
 Mrs. Godfrej' was formerly Miss Ella Fisher, a na- 
 tive of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, and a most excellent 
 and worthy lady. Five children were born of the 
 first marriage, sons — William Sherman, Charles 
 A., Walter, George and Edward, the two Last 
 named, are now deceased, and two daughters by 
 the second raarrliige, Anna and Bell. 
 
 Col. Godfrey is an honored member of the Mili- 
 tary Order of Loyal Legion, and of the United 
 Workmen, hiving served as Gi'and blaster of the 
 Iddgo. His family and friends may indeed be jiioud 
 of his record and his sketch will be an honor to this 
 work. His public and private life are alike above 
 reproach and the respect which is tendered him is 
 l)nt his just due. 
 
 — ^ 
 
 -«*J- 
 
 ^,^ROF. NORMAN DUNSHEE, A. M., who 
 
 occujiies the chair of Ancient Languages 
 in Drake University, is one of the veterans 
 in the cause of education. He is a native 
 of Cuyahoga C'ount3',Ohio,where his birth occurred 
 January 24, 1822. The Diinshee fnmily was 
 founded in America by a gentleman of tiiat name 
 born of Scotch and Irish parentage. The Profes- 
 sf>r springs from a line of farniei-s, both grandfa- 
 thers having followed that jiursuit in Addison 
 County, Vt., where liis parents were born. His 
 fathei-, William Dunshee, was born in 1794. and on 
 arriving at mnn's estate led to the marriage altar 
 LauraTurnor, who was born in 1800. About 1819, 
 the}' removed to Cnyalmga County, Ohio, where 
 they spent the remainder of their lives. In their 
 earlier years they advocated tlie doctrines of the 
 Metlifxlist Episc(jpal Church but on the rise of the 
 Christian Church united with that denomination. 
 Unto them was born a family of eiglit children, 
 but only three arc now living, a brother and sister 
 
 besiile our snViject — Harrison is now engaged in 
 farming in Ohio; while Mrs. Laura Norris is living 
 in Cleveland, that State. 
 
 Like man}' other great educators of this country, 
 Prof. Dunshee followed the plow in his earlier 
 days, though not to the neglect of his education. 
 Having attended the common schools until seven- 
 teen years of age, he entered Twinsburg Academy, 
 there to prepare for college. The academy at that 
 time was under the management of Rev. Samuel 
 Bissell, a graduate of Yale College, and a man of 
 sjjlendid attainments. Leaving the academy, he 
 entered the Western Reserve College, at Hudson, 
 Ohio, which still exists as Adelbert C(jllege of th'e 
 Western Reserve University of Cleveland. Though 
 Mr. Dunshee could not attend scIkkjI during; tivo 
 terms of the regular coin-se. he applied himself 
 with such diligence to his studies that he graduated 
 with his class, numbering thirteen students, in 
 184.5. He then spent two seasons at his Alma ISIa- 
 ter, further |)ursiiing the study of (ireek Hebrew 
 antl theology. The succeeding five j'cars of his 
 life were then spent in teaching in Tvvinsburg, Eu- 
 clid and .Mantua, Ohio, and in 18")!, he accepted a 
 call to the chair of mathematics in Mirani Collce 
 where he labored eight years. His instruction, 
 however, was not confined exclusively to mathe- 
 matics, but extended to (Jreek and Latin, as well. 
 Among those who 'ecilcil to him was a young man, 
 loft}' of pur[)Ose. vigorous in mind and body and 
 untiring in a|ii)licalion. That }oulli developed into 
 the college president, the orator and the statesman, 
 and at length, James A. (Jarfield, for licit was, was 
 placed in the executive chair of the Nation. Gen. 
 Garfield, s[)caking of his itcdent life at Hiram, 
 mentions Prof. Dunshee as one of his able instruc- 
 tors. 
 
 In addition lo his college work, Mr. Dunshee 
 preached occasionall}' for the Christian Church. He 
 severed his connection with Hiram College in 18.59, 
 anil went to Atchison, Kan., where he taught for 
 two years, and for an equal period filled the otlice 
 of County Superintendent of Public Schools. He 
 also engaged in ministerial work and carried on 
 farming. In 1871 ho was chosen professor of 
 mathematics and was also teacher of modern lan- 
 guages in Oskaloosa College, of Oskaloosa, Iowa, 
 
590 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Imt .-iflei- six jears of satisfiicloiy work left lliat 
 fiekl for a position in AI)ing(1on Colioge, of Abing- 
 don, 111. Siicli was the reputation that be has 
 gained as an educator, IJiat on tlie opening of 
 Drake Iniversity in l.SSl, ho was tendered tlie 
 cliair of Ancient Languages wliieli lie lias since 
 ably filled. 
 
 In Sullivan, Ashland County. Ohio. Prof. Dun 
 shee was united in marriage with ]Miss Calista (). 
 Carlton, a lady of culture, who had been a student 
 both of Hiram and Oberlin Colleges. They became 
 parents of three children, two of whom arc now 
 living— Mrs. Dr. K. C. Scott and Mrs. R. T. An- 
 drews. 
 
 Prof. Dunshcc has been cngageil in training the 
 minds and characters of 3 0ungmen and women for 
 thirty-five years, and among bis pupils of note are 
 numbered Prof. B. II. Hinsdale, of Michigan Uni- 
 versity ; Prof. A. Atwatcr. of Indiana State Uni- 
 versilj- ; Prof. .Tolin .Vtwater, of Garfield rnivcrsity ; 
 and several of the distinguished faculty of Dr.ake 
 University. Though the Professor is now well ad- 
 vanced in years, he is still young in thought and 
 action. His unceasing and tireless effort has been 
 to improve his fellovv-nien intellectually, socially 
 and morally, and the impress of his own worth 
 upon those with whom he has labored will I)e trans- 
 mitted to thousands who have never met him per- 
 son all j*. 
 
 ]OIIN ECKLES JOHNSON, a prominent 
 farmer and stock-raiser of Clay Township, 
 residing on section 3G, is a native of Mont- 
 gomerj^ (^ountj-, Ohio. His birth occurred 
 on the 28tli of Juno, 1820, and he is the son of 
 Jesse and Frances (^.Swallow) Johnson. The family 
 was founded in America at an early day and its 
 members are now residents of many States of the ] 
 liiion. Jesse Johnson w.as a native of South Car- I 
 olina. born of English parentage and in the War 
 of 1812. proved himself a failhfid soldier. He 
 served under the command of Gen. Hull and was i 
 taken prisoner at his surrend'M-. He was after- 
 ward exchanged and at length mustered out with 
 an honoralile war recor<l. His oiciipniion waslhat 
 
 of a wheelwright and wood -worker in general and 
 to those branches of business industry he devoted 
 a greater i>art of his manhood years. When a 
 young man he emigrated to Montgomery County, 
 Ohio, where lie became acquainted with and 
 married Jliss . Johnson, a native of the State 
 of North Carolina, born of English parentage. The 
 result of their union was the birth of six sons and 
 one daughter. The eldest, Levi, is a resident of 
 Jay County. Iml. ; Henderson died in 18S4, and his 
 remains were interred in a cemetery of Johnson 
 County, Kan,; Isaac C. is an eminent divine of the 
 New Ligiit Church and resides in Denison, Craw- 
 ford County, Iowa; Willi.am is a graduate of the 
 medical deiiartmenl of the State University of 
 Michigan, locating at Ann Arbor, where he resides 
 and practices his profession; Wiley is a well-to-do 
 fanner of Polk County, Neb.; Marj- is a widow of 
 Samuel Skinner and resides in Miami County Ind. 
 
 The father of this famil3' while en route from 
 Iowa to Indiana, dei)arted this iife and was burieil 
 at Stillwater. Mrs. Johnson continued with her 
 chililren to their destination and passed the re- 
 mainder of her da3S in Jay County, where she died 
 at the age of fifty years. 
 
 The subject of this sketch resided in the county- 
 of his nativity until fourteen years of age and ob- 
 tained his education in the schools such as were 
 common at that early day. The building was a 
 hewed log schoolho\ise with puncheon floor, 
 slab seats and oiled p;iper for windows. At 
 the age above mentioned he accompanied his 
 mother to Jay County, Ind,, where he entered one 
 hundred acres of unimproved land, upon which he 
 resided for the greater part of ten years. Game 
 being abundant in that region at that time, he de- 
 voted a considerable portion of his time to hunting 
 and trapping, by which means he contributed 
 largely to the support of his widowed mother and 
 the family. Afterwards removing to Miami 
 County, Ind.. he purchased eight}' acres of heavily 
 timbereil land in what was known as the Eel River 
 Country, and immediately beg.an placing it in con- 
 dition for agricultural [lurposes. His efforts were re- 
 warded with success and after ouitinuing the work 
 of improvement and development for some time 
 ho sold that farm to a good advantage and moved 
 

 %/.^?/^^^^ 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 593 
 
 to a place about five miles south, whei-e lie pur- 
 chased one hundred and sixty acres of virgin hind 
 and cleared one hundvei] acres of the amount with 
 his own hands. That farm he disposed of in KSod 
 for >*.'?, (100, with which he purchased a iuilf section 
 of land, slightly ini|iroved, i'l J.as|ier County, Iowa. 
 During the year in whicii he there ma<le his hf)nic, 
 he hroke one hundred and forty acres, fenced the 
 entire amount and made some other small improve- 
 ments, but about this time the country became in- 
 volve<l in a financial panic and having no means 
 with which to continue his labors, Jlr. Johnson 
 was obliged to dispose of his possessions at a saci'i- 
 fice. His next place of residence was near Rising 
 Sun, Iowa, where for three years he lived upon a 
 rented farm. Having increased his resources 
 somewhat in the meantime, he then bought two 
 hundred and sixty acres of I'nivcrsity land, consti- 
 tuting his present farm. At the time of his pur- 
 chase it was in its natural state, but by energy and 
 industry he has succeeded in placing it under su- 
 perior cultivation, dividing it into fields whicli are 
 now well-tille<l and y'leUl abundant harvests as the 
 reward for the care and labor wluch he has be- 
 stowed upon them. He also erected a comfortable 
 home together with good barns and other necessary 
 outbuildings. 
 
 While a resident of Miami County, I nil., on the 
 5th of November, 1838, Mr. Johnson was joined in 
 wedlock with Mary Cox and by their union they 
 have become parents of the following children: Lo- 
 rinda, the eldest, dieil in infancy; Teresa E., a grad- 
 uate of Oskaloosa College, of Oskaloosa, Iowa, is 
 now eno;aged in the profession of teaching ; Fre- 
 mont resides on a farm in Camp Township; Vitura 
 died in infancy; E. Goodwin is at home; Mahala 
 Frances is a successful teacher and accom()lished 
 musician and is the youngest of the family. 
 
 Mr. Johnson manifests great interest in the ad- 
 vancement of the cause of education and has en- 
 deavored to afford his family the best opportunities 
 in that direction. He is a zealous member and a 
 liberal supporter of the Christian (Jliurch, to which 
 his wife and children also belong, and since the or- 
 ganizatifm of the Republican party was an earnest 
 advocate of its principles until 187II, since whicli 
 time he has held conservative views in regard to 
 
 politics, voting for men rather iIi.mii pnilv. lie 
 never aspired to odice, much ijrefcrring the enjoy- 
 ment of home life to the turmoils of politics. For 
 thirty-four long years Mr. Johnson has watched 
 the rapid development of his adoptpil co'.int3', has 
 witnessed the introduction of railro;ids and manu- 
 facturing establishments and the l)uilding up of the 
 city and county in gener.al. He has many warm 
 friends in the community, by whom he is highly 
 esteemed for his hospitality and sterling worth. 
 
 L. AVIIIT.MAN, A.M., M.I)., deceased, wi.8 
 jjl born in West Hartford. Conn., Dcceudier 
 30, 1814, and was the eldest son of Samuel 
 and Elizabeth (Howard) Whitman. The 
 Whitman famil}- was founded in America b3'John 
 Whitman, a native of England, who crossed the 
 Atlantic on the ship "Confidence," landing on the 
 bleak and inhospitable shores of New England in 
 December, 1638, settling at Weymouth, Mass. 
 The early life of Dr. Whitman was spent on the 
 farm till in his seventeenth j'car, receiving his 
 rudimentary education Iti the district schools, after 
 which, by reciting to the Rev. Dr. C. L. Henr\-, 
 and attending East Hartford Academy, he fitted 
 himself to enter AnUierst College, from which he 
 was graduated in 1839. Being endowed with an 
 ambitious spirit, he immediately started fo" the 
 West, his objective ])oint being Tennessee, in which 
 State for one year he eng.aged in teaching, after 
 which he traveled to Missouri, then on the border 
 of civilization, where he was similarly employed 
 for the period of a year, accpiiring success and 
 proficiency as an educator. Returning to Wethers- 
 field, in his native State, he began the study of 
 mediciiH! under the direction of Dr. Welch, an 
 eminent [ihysician who w.as his preceptor during 
 his i)reparatory course of reading. .Subsequently 
 he matriculated at the Jefferson Medical College of 
 IMuladeliJhia, from which he was graduated with 
 honors in the spring of 1845. 
 
 His experience and observation during the two 
 years he passed in the West, determined him to 
 enter upon his c:ireer in that undeveloped coujitry, 
 and selecting Freeport, III., as a location, he began 
 
594 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 the iJiaclice of his profession, where for two j'cars 
 lie was busily eini)loyed. About tliat time Du- 
 buque, Iowa, became the "Mecca" to wliieli hun- 
 dreds were attracted by llie expectation of reali/.- 
 ini;: wealth from the lead mines, and tiiithcr the 
 l)octf)r went, wliere he passed five years in laf)or- 
 ious practice. At the exiiiration of that lime 
 (in 18.5.3) he removed to Des INIoines. where he 
 opened an ofKce and actively- engaged in the [jiac- 
 tice of medicine. Des Moines at that time was a 
 typical prairie town of about seven hundred and 
 fifty inhabitants, and the surrounding country had 
 i)ut few settlers. In all new countries the physi- 
 cian's labors are greatly augmented by the driving 
 of long distances over almost impassable roads to 
 .see patients. This, taken in connection with his 
 laige city practice, the hours he devoted to study 
 and literary work, one can Iwirdly conceive of liyw 
 Dr. Whitman found time to accomplish so much. 
 He was a regular contributor to leading medjcal 
 journals, and was an acknowledged authority upon 
 everything [K-rlaining to MntPria Mcdica. He was 
 an honored member of the I'olk County Medical 
 Society, of which he was the originator, and for 
 several years was its President. He was also a 
 member of the American Medical Association, and 
 the Iowa State Medical Societ}'. He took great 
 interest in the honor and standing of the regular 
 profession, and his denunciation of charlatanism in 
 all its forms, w.as so unmistakably pronounced as 
 to leave no doubt of his meaning. In all he was a 
 model representative of educated physicians, ;in 
 honor to his profession, a gentleman of sterling 
 worth and of uublemisiied reputation, one whose 
 memory will long t)e cherished in the hearts and 
 minds (jf a people ho long and failhfLdlj' served. 
 Aside from his professional labors he assumed the 
 care of his business interests, which were numerous 
 and varied. 
 
 Dr. Whitman always took a lively interest in all 
 that pertained to the well-being and imjjrovement 
 of the city. In its sanitary condition he was es- 
 [xicially interested, and his suggestions were always 
 timely and invaluable to the people, whose health 
 was .always his first consideration. Although never 
 an as|)irant for political preferment, he consented 
 to a candidacy lor |>lace on the Hoard of Aider- 
 
 men ; also on the Board of Health, to both of which 
 he was elected. Be-ing enter])rising and public- 
 spirited, he contributed to every needed improve- 
 ment. 
 
 He was elected a director of the Citizens' Na- 
 tional Bank of Des Moines at its Last organiza- 
 tion, and was otiicially connected with the 
 institution till his death. In earlj^ life the Doctor 
 was, in iwlitics, what is known as a Whig, and 
 when that party was merged into the Republican 
 party be not onl}' accepted, but espoused its prin- 
 ciples. To slavery he was unalterably- opposed, 
 and during the long and ceaseless agitation of that 
 question, previous to the opening of hostilities, he 
 as fearlessl}' advocated the emancipation of the 
 enslaved race as the most pronounced Abolitionist 
 of anti-slaver^' days. After the clash of arms 
 came, much suffering and want was necessarily felt 
 by the families of the men who had gone forth to 
 Bght their country's battles, and for their relief the 
 pure and unselfish patriotism of Dr. Whitman was 
 made manifest by his generous deeds and acts. 
 During the entire war ho never failed to respond 
 professionally to the calls made upon him by the 
 families of soldiers, and for his valuable services 
 he refuseil all compensation. 
 
 His marri.age with Miss Ellen Thompson was cele- 
 brated at Ellington, Conn., in 1865. Three chil- 
 dren were born of their union, viz.: Ellen AVest, 
 Mary Elizabeth and Laura Thompson. Mrs. Whit- 
 man is a daughter of Samuel and Maiy (Ellsworth) 
 Thompson, of P^llington, Conn., of which State 
 both were natives, and each was a representative 
 of prominent and old New England families. Her 
 maternal grandfather, Daniel Ellsworth, emigrated 
 to Western Pennsylvania in the early settlement of 
 that part of the Stale, taking with him a stock of 
 general merchandise. He located at Prcsque Isle 
 (now Erie), where ho built the first frame house. 
 After his death his ^widow with her children re- 
 turned to Connecticut, the journey occupying live 
 weeks. 
 
 Ten 3ears prior to his death, Dr. Whitman re- 
 tired from active practice, and devoted himself to 
 literary work and the man.agement of his affairs. 
 In the month of November, 1884, his health 
 fnilt'd. and in .Iul\'. 18S.'). he traveled north, hoping 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 o95 
 
 tliereb}' to be benefited. Al Dulutli he contracted 
 a severe cold, from which arose coniplicalioiis tliat 
 baffled the skill of iihysicians, and at last worn out 
 nature succumbed to tlic inevitable, and iie passed 
 away on the 17th of August, ISHo. His deatii pro- 
 duced profound sorrow throughout the citj' and 
 State, anil numerous letters of condolence and sym- 
 pathy were received l)y his family, expressing in 
 tender words the love and respect in vvliich he was 
 held. Convened in special session, August 18, 
 1S8.J, the I'lilk County Medical Society' [lassed the 
 following resolutions: 
 
 Whereas: Our hiiihl^- esteemed brother, II. L. 
 Whitman, A.i\I., M.I)., has been reuioved by death; 
 therefore be it 
 
 RcaolveiU That in this afflictive dispensation we 
 realize most keenly tiiat death comes alike to the 
 l)h3sician and his patient. 
 
 llcsoiced, That during the entire existence of 
 this society, Dr. Whitman was an esteemed and 
 useful member, and that his life was one of success- 
 ful labor in his profession; that his attendance at 
 the meetings of the society was a constant source 
 of pleasure ami jjrofit so us, that bis ripe experience 
 and deliberate judgment were always helpful to us, 
 and that in his i)rofessional intercourse he was the 
 :i(iitl ef honor. 
 
 IIi'soIohI, That, as a member of the American 
 Weilical Association, the Iowa .State Medical So- 
 ciety and the Polk County Medical Society (of 
 which he was the first President), as well as the 
 community at large, we commend his professional 
 work and integrity, his devotion to pri!ici|)le and 
 honor, his eminent qualities as a public-spirited 
 citizen, and his irreproachalile moral character, as 
 most worth)- of emulation. 
 
 Rpsolved, That we tender to the f.amily and 
 friends of the deceased our most heartfelt .sympathy, 
 feeling their loss is ours as well as that of the en- 
 tire community. 
 
 Rcxolri'd, That, as a tribute of respect for the 
 memory of oui- deceased brother, the members of 
 the Polk County Medical Society attend the ob.se- 
 quies in a body. 
 
 h'/'solvf'd, That this memorial be placed upon the 
 records of onr society, that a copy hereof lie fur- 
 nishcil to the fon'a Sidtc Mdlirnl /{pjiorlfr for pub- 
 lication, and that a copy be presented lo the family 
 of the deceased. 
 
 J. O. Skinner. 
 
 C. E. CuKlilE, 
 
 Lewis Sciiooi.Kit. 
 
 Committee. 
 
 Dr. Wliitmiu possessed scliohistic attainments of 
 a high classical order. From his youth he w.as a 
 close student, his reading covering almost the 
 entire range of human knowledge. Possessing a 
 retentive memory and extraonlinary conversational 
 powers, he was an instructive and entertaining com- 
 panion. iVIodest and unol>trusive, without affecta- 
 tion or faidty habits, he stood the i)ersonification 
 of an ideal manhood to every relation of life. It 
 is said by Dr. Ward, "that no man more thoroughly 
 had the hearts of the people than Dr. Whitman." 
 In words as well as methods he was conservative, 
 yet in emergencies he was quick to conceive and 
 prompt to act. Of strong feelings, he was natu- 
 rally a positive man, and in times of hardest trial 
 the courage of his convictions never failed him, 
 A stern moralist himself, he never excused the 
 immoral acts of others, and rigidly excluded all 
 such from his intimacy and friendship; but to those 
 who conformed to his standard of measurement bo 
 was, as a friend, steadfast ami true. 
 
 Early in life he joined the Congregational 
 Church, of which for many years he was an exem- 
 plary member, Aftei- locating in Des Moines he 
 connected himself with the Presb3'torian Church, 
 of which the Rev. Thom|)son Bird was pastor. 
 After the organization of the Congregational 
 Church at this place he resumed mendjership with 
 that body. Between Fatlu'r Uird and Dr. Whitman 
 a close intimacy existed, (ireatness, in the attrib- 
 utes of cliaracter, predominated in both, and strong 
 was the bond tliat liound them to each other, and 
 which death alone did sever. Endowed with a 
 deeply religious nature, he was a Christian in all 
 that the term can imijl)-, endeavoring to do his 
 full <luty to his (iod, to his fellow-man. lo his 
 family and to himself. 
 
 \¥ OSEPII W. OENESER, Cashier of the Stale 
 I Savings Bank of Des Moines, was born in 
 Albany, N. V., on the ICth of March, 1853, 
 and is a son of Francis and Mary (Kldu) 
 (ieneser, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in 
 this volume. Our subject was .■> child three years 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 of age when liis parents emigrated to Iowa, locat- 
 ing in this city. He was educated in the pulilic 
 schools, a graduate of Des Moines High School, 
 and wlicn old enough to to be of service was em- 
 ployed about Ills father's brick-yards, afterward be- 
 coming foreman. He learned the mason's trade and 
 worked at tiiat business two years, after whicli, in 
 in 1872, he became connected willi tlie banking 
 interests of this city as collection clerk for the Cit- 
 izens National Bank, which position he retained 
 until he was promoted to personal book-keeper, 
 lie afterward became general book-keeper and 
 served in that capacity until January. 188.'), when 
 he resigned to accept the cashiership of Die Union 
 Savings Bank, which was afterward merged into 
 the Des Moines Savings Bank. He acceptably 
 filled that position until the 1st of ISIarch, 1887, 
 when he resigned to become Cashier of the State 
 Savings Bank. That position was tendered him 
 and accepted on the organization of the hank and 
 he has helil it continuously since. The bank was 
 started in modest quarters on Fifth Street and for 
 the first eleven months, ISIr. Geneser did all the 
 work, laboring from early in the morning until 
 late at night over his books. As the business in- 
 creased it was moved to its present commodious 
 quarters in the Good ]>lock, in 1888, and the result 
 shows an increased business to a very flattering ex- 
 tent. On the 1st of March, 1890, the books 
 showed a line of deposits to the amount of •i<.'340,- 
 000. The Cashier has been its chief executive 
 oflicer from the beginning and to his superior finan- 
 cial ability and faithful and arduous service its 
 success is hugely attributed. 
 
 Mr. Geneser was married in Des IMoines, on the 
 1 1th of September, 1884, the lady of his choice be- 
 ing Miss INIary J. Jennings, daughter of Patrick 
 ami Mary (O'Neil) Jennings, and a native of the 
 Empire State, born near Troy. They have two 
 children, daughters, Cora K. and Frances. The pa- 
 rents are members of St. Ambrose Catholic Church 
 and in politics, Mr. Geneser is a Democrat. So- 
 ci.'iUy, he is a member of the order of Catholic 
 Knights of America, and is the Treasurer of the 
 Des Moines branch of that fraternity. He is also 
 Treasurer of the Capital City Oat Meal Company, 
 and is a large stockholder and Director in the State 
 
 Savings Bank. A wide awake and energetic young 
 business man, he occupies a prominent place in bus- 
 iness circles and has done much to pl.ace the bank 
 on the firm financial footing where it stands to-day. 
 
 'i*^ 
 
 ^RNEST B. GASTON, who resides at Uni- 
 7$1 versity Place, Polk Count\-, is proprietor 
 L^/ and editor of the Siibiirfjan Advocate, a 
 
 seven column quarto, published in the interest of 
 the north and west suburljs of Des Moines. The 
 Advocate was first established in May, 1887, by J. 
 D. Bottenfield, who sold out to Charles McCanon 
 in October, 1887. He continueil the publication of 
 the paper until August 20, 1889, when Mr. Gaston 
 became its editor and proprietor. The paper is 
 independent in politics, is rapidly increasing in 
 influence and circulation. 
 
 Ernest B. Gaston is a n.ative of Illinois, having 
 been born in Knox County, November 21, 18G1. 
 His parents, James E. and Catherine E. (Estep) 
 Gaston, were both natives of Pennsylvania, whence 
 thej' emigrated to Illinois, where they made their 
 home until their removal to Des Moines in 1865. 
 The death of the father occurrefl at his home in 
 this city, June 1, 1888, but the mother still sur- 
 vives and makes her home in Des Moines. 
 
 Our subject began his school life in the capital 
 city and completed his education in the Drake 
 University, graduating from the commercial de- 
 partment in 1887, with the honors of his class. On 
 leaving school he entered upon his business career 
 .as a real- estate dealer in University Place, where 
 lie built a number of houses. 
 
 On the 24th of November, 1887, Mr. Gaston led 
 to the marriage altar IMiss Clara ISIershon, a native 
 of Jones County, Iowa, and a daughter of C. H. 
 Mershon, of Des Moines. Their union"was cele- 
 brated in Des Moines, and has been blessed with one 
 child, a daughter, Frances L. The parents are both 
 members of the Christian Church and take an active 
 l)art in forwarding its interests. In politics Mr. G.as- 
 ton is a Republican, having supported that part}- 
 since attaining his majority. He has been honored 
 with a number of local offices, served two terms as 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 597 
 
 Juslice of the Peace, one as Town Recorder, was a 
 member of Uie City Council of University Place 
 fur two years, wiiicli otlice he held when Univer- 
 sity Place was annexed to Des Moines. Socially, 
 he is a member of tiie Legion of Honor. His pub- 
 lic and private life are alike above reproach, and 
 he deserves no little credit for the [lart which he 
 has taken in the_adv:incemeiit and uiibuilding of 
 University Place. 
 
 <Y/OHN TAYLOR, a retired citizen of Grant 
 I Park, was born in Tallington, England, on 
 ; the 15th of Jul\', 1826, and is the son of 
 ' John and Elizabeth Ann (Booth) Taylor. 
 The father was a shei)herd and engaged in that 
 business throughout his entire life, having charge 
 of great herds of sheep in Lincolnshire. He was 
 an upright and honorable man and was a faithful 
 member of the Methodist Church. His death oc- 
 curred in his native county at the age of sixty-five 
 years and his moihcr. a member of the Episcopal 
 Church, passed awa\- at the age of eighty jears. 
 .She was born, reared, married and died beneath the 
 same roof, where for many years had lived her 
 father, who was an industrious and energetic citizen 
 and in that homo reared a family of fourteen chil- 
 dren. His death occurred in his ninety-ninth year. 
 To .lolin and Elizabeth Taylor were born s(tven 
 children, live sons and two daughters: William, 
 who died in England; James, who came to this 
 country in 1847, and thence removed to Canada, 
 where he spent his remaining days; Charles died 
 in England after ten weeks of intense suffering, the 
 result of a fall; George died in infancy; Catherine, 
 now Mrs. Sears, resides near London ; and Sarah is 
 married and makes her home in that cit}-. 
 
 Although our subject is now numbered among 
 the well-to-do citizens of Polk County', his life h.as 
 not been an easy one. When only nine years of 
 age he was thrown upon his own resources and 
 forced to perform an}' labor that presented itself. 
 He at first onl^' received eight cents per day for 
 liis services. Struggling against i)overty and its 
 disadvantages, he worked on, scorning no labor 
 
 whereby he might earn an honest dollar. .Vt Icnglh 
 his wages being increased, he felt justified in mar- 
 rying and on the lOlh of Ma}', 1853, wedded Miss 
 Eliza Butler, who was born in Spaulding, Lincoln- 
 shire, England, June 23, 1830, and is a daughter 
 of Matthew Butler, who for seven years served as 
 captain on an English man-of-war. An excellent 
 position was then offered him by the government 
 and he started on his I'eturn and last voyage. A 
 storm coming up he received injuries while caring 
 for the ship which terminated his life a few days 
 afterwards. Mrs. Taylor's parents had eleven chil- 
 dren, namely: Jane, John, Harriet, Eliza, Mary A. 
 (1); Mary A. (2); Maria, Sarah, Lucy Ann. Two 
 died in infancy. Previous to Mrs. Ta3lor's mar- 
 riage she was engaged in nursing se\en jears. 
 Since 18G!), she has devoted much of her time to 
 nursing, eighteen years of which has been in Des 
 Moines. Her father served seven years on one of 
 Iler Majesty's vessels, at the close of which time 
 he was given command of a vessel which he com- 
 manded till his death, which occurred at Boston, 
 England. He was marrierl to Sarah Gadsb>', who 
 (lied in Boston, where she is buried. He died De- 
 cember' 2, 1849, aged forty-five years. His wife 
 died in 1SG3, aged fifty-four years. 
 
 The wedding tour of Mr. and RLs. Taylor cvu- 
 sisted of a U\\) to America. Bidding good-by to 
 home and friends they sailed for (Quebec and hicated 
 near Alillon, Canada, where the husband fonml em- 
 ployment in tlie harvest fields at ¥15 per mdulh. 
 When the harvest was gathered they removed to 
 Stratford, Canada, and for a time he worked upon the 
 Buffalo and Erie Railroad. While there residing 
 two of their seven children were born unto them: 
 Kilizabeth R., who was born April 2>^, 1854, became 
 the wife of John Crad^' of Et. Dodge, Iowa, by 
 whom she has four daughleis: Emma, Rose, Carrie 
 antl Anna. Charles Butler, who was born in Strat- 
 ford, M.ay 26, 1856, is a large ranchman residing 
 in Clark and Lewis County, Mont. Seven miles 
 of fence are required to enclose his land and he is 
 the owner of three hundred head of horses. Miss 
 Ada White became his wife. Prior to the birth of 
 the next child. Mr. Taylor removed to North 
 Evans, N. Y., where on the 15th of June. 1859, 
 was born a daughter, Carrie I'llizabetji, who is now 
 
oi)8 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 the wife of William O'Graham, who resides near 
 Los Angeles, Cal. The nextehild. William Butler, 
 was bom after the arrival of the family in Web- 
 ster County, Iowa, his birth occurring at Ft. Dodge, 
 September 20, 1H60. He is the owner of five hun- 
 dred acres of land near Cascade, Mont., and has. 
 upon his ranch three hundred head of cattle. John 
 Booth, who was born in Ft. Dodge, April 2, 1863, 
 is the owner of a ranch of one thousand acres and 
 also of the w.ator jjuwer of Cascade, Mont., lie con- 
 ducting the water one mile through a steel |)ipe 
 which was laid at a cost of $4,000. George, the 
 next child, was born in Ft. Dodge. December 27, 
 1865, is the owner of three hundred acres of land 
 near Cascade, Mont., and is operating gold mines 
 in that rcgio'). Matthew Henry, who was born in 
 Ft. Dodge. Febi-iiary 22, 1868, resides in Fresno, 
 Cal., where he is (ihinting and fitting out a large 
 vineyard. Mr. arid Mrs. Taylor may well be proud 
 of their sons, all of whom art useful citizens, li}' 
 their just and fair di-aiing with all with whom they 
 have been brought in contact, and tlie exercise of 
 correct business princi|)les, the}' have acquired 
 wealth and are now owners of valuable property. 
 The father and mother who tendei ly cared for 
 them in theiryc^utli have not been forgotten in the 
 ilays of their [jrosperil^-, but have been lemembered 
 by substantial gifts. Tobacco or liquors have 
 never been used by an}" of them and again we s.iy 
 that the parents have just reason for the pride 
 which they take in their sons. 
 
 In the spring of 1860. Mr. Taylor became a resi- 
 dent of Iowa, locating in Ft. Dodge. During the 
 summer after his arrival he mowed hay and ilid 
 such other farm work as he could secure. He then 
 operated rented land for a time, after which, having 
 accumulated some capital, he [jurchased a farm. 
 Kven then his course was not always smooth sailing 
 for a considerable portion of his property was de- 
 stroyed by fire. Leaving his home in Webster 
 County, in 187"). he removed to Dallas Count}-, 
 Iowa, where he purchased one hundred and sixty 
 acres of aralile land and twenty acres of timber 
 land, but after three years he sold out and came to 
 Polk County, where he made a purchase of sixteen 
 acres and devoted his energies to gardening. In- 
 dustry, economy, enterprise and good manageraei't 
 
 have characterized his business career and have at 
 length brought their reward, he being now able to 
 retire from active life and spend his declining 
 years in the enjoyment of the fruits of former 
 toil. Both he and his wife are members of the 
 Baptist Church and have made it their daily en- 
 deavor to live in harmony with their professions. 
 A man of sterling worth and strict integrity, cor- 
 dial in manner, genial in disi)osition and gentle- 
 manly in deportment, he has won the conlidenee an'l 
 well wishes of manv friends. 
 
 FLBERT SMITH KINGMAN isoneof the 
 well-known pioneers of Des Moines, resid- 
 ing at Kingman Place, one of the most 
 beautiful suburbs of the city. He dates 
 his residence in Polk County from April 2;), 1850, 
 wdien he settled upon a farm that now constitutea 
 the beautiful suburban town before mentioned. 
 He was born in the town of Riga. Moiu'oe County, 
 N. Y., in 1826, but soon afterward his parents re- 
 moved to the town of Bergen, Genesee County. He 
 is a son of Franklin D. and Sophia (.'^mith) King- 
 man, both of vvhom were natives of Massachusetts 
 and were representatives of early New England 
 families. When the husband was a young man he 
 removed to Western New York, that coiintr}' being 
 then a comparative wilderness. Returning to 
 Massachusetts, he was married and brought his 
 young bride to the home whieh he had prepared, 
 and which continued to be his al)iding place until 
 called from this earth. Tliey became parents of 
 four children, two sons and two daughters, of 
 whom Albert is the eldest; Melissa is the wife of 
 Lucius P. Wilcox, of Walnut Township, Polk 
 County; Cecelia married C. 1'. Mott, anil died in 
 Walnut Township many years ago; and Legair 
 died at the age of twelve years. 
 
 The subject of this notice was reared to theaccu- 
 pation of farming, and remained under the parental 
 roof until twenty-one years of age, when he started 
 out in life for himself. He journeyed to the West, 
 and after a short sojourn in Michigan started for 
 the South. He made his way to Cincinnati on 
 
PORTRAIT AND BI0"(;RAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 599 
 
 foot, and llienoe to Kentucky, but not wishing to 
 ni;ikc a perniaiient location in that State, he sought 
 a home in Iowa, and has never yet had occasion 
 to regret his choice. He .spent liis last cent for a 
 dinner in Oskaloosa, and then continued on his 
 way to Polk County, arriving in the latter part of 
 April, 1850. lie immediately began a search for 
 emplo^'ment, and s|)ent the summer of 1850 as a 
 farm han<l with a Mr. Frederick. The following 
 winter he was employed by John Dean, receiving 
 for his services *13 per month, and in the spring 
 of 1851 purchased four yoke of cattle and engaged 
 in breaking prairie. With tiie money obtained 
 thereby', in the fall of 1852, he purchased seventy- 
 five acres of laud, including his present home, and 
 afterward addcd_ to that amount until his farm com- 
 prised oue hundred and twenty acres. One can 
 scarce!}' imagine the unsettled condition of the 
 countrj' at that time, especially as he looks abroad 
 over the beautiful city of Des Moines, witii its fine 
 churches, schools, countless manufactories and in- 
 dustries, large mercantile houses and palatial resi- 
 dences. The land on which Mr. Kingman settled 
 had not even then been cleared, but, possessing 
 grpat energy, he soon had it ready for cultivation 
 and planted a nursery, doing an extensive and 
 lucrative business in that line for many years. His 
 first home was a log cabin, situated on liie site of 
 his present fine dwelling, but his financial resources 
 increased as lime passed, iniprovomenls were made, 
 and he is now reckoned among the substantial citi- 
 zens of tiie community. 
 
 On the 2olli of .Iidy, 1851, Mr. Kingman was 
 united in marriage with Miss Eliza .lane lligby, a 
 native of Michigan and a daughter of Isaac Higliy, 
 who removed with liis family from that State to 
 Missouri when she was a child. His death there 
 occurred, and IMrs. Kingman afterward came to 
 Polk Coimty with her uncle. Kli Mosier, who was 
 one of the early settlers of this county and the 
 original owner of Kingman Place. After his mar- 
 riage with Miss Iligb}' her mother came to live 
 with ths young cou|)le. and has since been a per- 
 manent member of the household, finding with 
 them a ph'asant home. Fourteen children were 
 born tif the union of Mr. and Mrs. Kingman, of 
 whom twelve, si.\ sons and six daughters, are now 
 
 living, namely: Charles S,, Belle S., Ida M., Hat- 
 tie L., Etta, Albert M., Lottie, Harry W.. Tupper, 
 .•jlrving, Grace and Walter. The first and fourth 
 sons died in infancy. 
 
 Mr. Kingman made a very fortunate choice in 
 his selection of a homestead. As the city of Des 
 Moines increased in size and approached the bor- 
 ders of his farm he began selling his land, and for 
 forty acres received $1,000 per acre. Thailand 
 was laid out by the purchasers into town lots, on 
 many of which beautiful homes have been erected, 
 and the whole called Kingman Place, in honor of 
 the former owner. For forty years Mr. and Mrs. 
 Kingman have been residents of Polk County, and 
 are numbered among its respected pioneers. Their 
 homestead comprises two acres of the original 
 farm, upon which has been erected as fine a home 
 as can be seen in the residence part of the city. 
 
 RANKLIN B. COOK, one of the leading 
 [s) .young farmers of the county, residing on 
 section 16, Walnut Township, is a repre- 
 sentative of one of the early New England families, 
 which was established in this country during Col- 
 onial d.ays, and is of Scotch and German origin. 
 His father was a native of Tompkins County, 
 N. Y., and for a time resided in Ithaca, that State, 
 but in 1855, emigrated to Iowa, locating in the 
 city of Des Moines. He went to Colorado in 1859, 
 where he eng.aged in mining, |)rospecting and team- 
 ing until his death, which occurred in iS'ovend)er, 
 18(!'), asthe result of injuries sustaineil liy being- 
 thrown off a stage, lie married Catherine A. Pe- 
 ters, a native of Waterloo, N. Y., and a daughter 
 of Philip and Hannah (i\Iarkle) Peters, both of 
 whom were natives of Penn.sylvania. The father 
 served in the War of 1812. and was slationcil at 
 Niagara Falls. To Mr. and Mrs. Cook were born 
 five children, three sons and two daughters. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was the youngest of 
 the family. He was born in Des Moines, on the 1st 
 of December, 1859, !>nd reside<i in his native city 
 until twelve years of age. attending the graded 
 scluiols duriuL;' that time. The famil\- then removed 
 
GOO 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 to the farm where his brother, John 1'., now resides, 
 and lie there remained until l.^Hl, or for fourteen 
 years, during whicli time tiic death of iiis mollier* 
 occurred. He then sohl liis interest to liis brother, 
 and the same year removed to his present location 
 on section IC, Walnut Township, where he owns a 
 good farm of forty acres, well improved and culti- 
 vated. In connection with its develoiimenl he also 
 devotes considerable attention to stock-raising, and 
 in both lines of business has been quite successful. 
 He has made what he has l)y his own efforts, and 
 in the course of time will doubtless take rank 
 among the le.ading farmers of the county. 
 
 Mr. Cook was married, on the 4th of October, 
 1883, to Miss Hattie Jordan, daughter of Uenjaniin 
 and Mary (Haines) Jordan, whose sketch is given 
 below. The lady was born in this county, Septem- 
 ber 22, 18G2, and by her marriage has become the 
 mother of three children: Catherine Anna, born 
 September 4, 1884; Harry P., April 30, 1S86; and 
 Mabel M., July 29. 1880. Mrs. Cook is a kdy of 
 culture and refinement, and was educated in Sim|)- 
 son College, of Indianola, Iowa. Mr. Cook cast his 
 lirst Presidential vote for R. B. Hayes, and has 
 since been a warm sup[)orler of Republican princi- 
 ples. He has in his possession a silver sjjoon, 
 owned by his grandmother, and which is therefore 
 more than one hundred years old. 
 
 Henjaniin P. Jordan, father of Mrs. Cook, was 
 born in Greenbrier County, W. Va., October 10, 
 1838, and is a son of the Hon. J. C. Jordan. On 
 his father's side he is of Irish origin, and on the 
 mother's side of Scotch descent. He resided in his 
 native State until the age of eight years, when he 
 accompanied the family to Michigan, settling about 
 four and a half miles from Nilcs, where for five 
 years he attended the common schools. He then 
 accompanied his parents to Platte County, Mo., 
 where for three years he aided his father in oi)cr- 
 aling the farm, and then came to Polk County, in 
 1854. At the age of twenty-six years he left home 
 to begin life for himself, and determined to follow 
 the occupation to vvhich he was reared. In the line 
 of farming his operations have been very success- 
 ful, and as a stock dealer he has also met with pros- 
 perity. For fifteen years he engaged in buying anil 
 shipping cattle, horses and hogs, after whirh he 
 
 devoted bis time to general farming for a jjeriod 
 of several 3ears. His next ventui'e was in 1878, he 
 embarking in the mercantile business in Ida Grove, 
 Ida County, where he continued operations for t-en 
 years. He then returned to Polk Couiit3'. settling 
 in Commerce, where he opened a general merchan- 
 dise store, which he still continues. He possesses 
 those characteristics essential to success — industry, 
 enteri>rise and ability-, and by the exercise of cor- 
 rect business principles has secured a handsome 
 comi)etence. 
 
 Mr. Jordan was married to Miss Mary Haines, a 
 native of Wayne County, Ind., and a daughter of 
 David and Hannah (Cramer) Haines. Their union 
 has been blessed with three children: Ida, a 
 graduate of Barnes College, Indianola, Iowa, is the 
 wife of John Phili|)s, of Colorailo; Hattie, a grad- 
 uate of the same college, is the wife of F. I>. Cook, 
 a well-known .•\gricultiirist of Polk County; and 
 Charles J. is the youngest. 
 
 Mr. Jordan cast his first Presidential vote for 
 John C. Fremont, in 18.JG, and has never failed in 
 his sup[)orl to the Re|)iiblican |)art3'. He takes an 
 active [lart in public affairs, both political and otli- 
 erivise, and keeps himself well informed on Jhe 
 leading issues of the day. His wife and daughters 
 are members of the Mctliodist Cluirch. The family 
 is held in high regard in the social world, an(i is 
 widely known throughout the community. 
 
 EV. DAVID II. KOOKKR, President of the 
 Granil Avenue Savings Hank of Des Moines 
 'J!>\\\ and editor of the lotva Ca^ntaU was born 
 )) in Limerick, Montgomery County, Pa., on 
 the 7th of April, 1812, and is a son of John and 
 Eliicabeth (Horning) Kooker, who were also natives 
 of the same State. His father was born in Bucks 
 County, in 1805, of German parentage, and his 
 mother, who was born in Montgomery in 1810, was 
 of the same descent. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was reared in his na- 
 tive State and educated under the auspices of the 
 Evangelical Association for the ministry. At the 
 .•ige of nineteen years he was licensed to preach and 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 601 
 
 was employed as pastor in various c-biirclics of 
 liis native county. In 18GS lie eanie to Iowa and 
 was assigned to Polk City, I'olli County, liavinii: 
 charge of tlie societies of tlie churcli of liis denom- 
 ination at tliat place and at Camliridge and Iowa 
 Center. After two years si>ent in work at the points 
 named, the Rev. Mr. Kooker was in charge of the 
 church at Afton. I'nion County, for the same period 
 and at the expiration of that time came to Des 
 Moines, serving as resident pastor of the Trinity 
 Evangelical Church for three years. In 1H75 he 
 was elected Presiding Elder for the Des Moiucs 
 district for a four years' term, hut resigned at the 
 end of three years and resumed charge of Trinity 
 Church, where he continued three years longer, 
 when he was again elected Presiding Elder. He 
 served a full term of four jears that time and was 
 re elected, but at the end of the lirst year of the 
 second term resigned on account of failing health. 
 For the space of a year Mr. Kooker was not engaged 
 in active service hut at the end of that lime was 
 elected Secretary of the Capital City Building and 
 Loan Association, which position he retained for a 
 year and a half, or until the company's charter ex- 
 pired by limitation. He then bought into the Capi- 
 tal Printing Company and assumed the position of 
 business manager. In 1888 he also look upon 
 himself the editorial management and is now serv- 
 ing in that capacit}'. He was one of the incorpor- 
 ators of the Grand Avenue Savings Bank and was 
 elected its first President. 
 
 Mr. Kooker was united in the holy bonds of 
 matrimony with Miss Mary Jane Nelson, a native 
 of Zeiglersville, Montgomery County, Pa., and a 
 daughter of Dr. John Nelson. They have six chil- 
 dren, four sons and two daughters — Osborn Allen, 
 Wilmer Nelson, David Arthur, Charles Elmer, 
 Mary Elizabeth and Bertha Estella. 
 
 In politics Mr. Kooker is a Republican, hut has 
 never sought or desired office outside of his church 
 relations. He has been quite active and influential 
 in his connection with the church and was for four 
 years a member of the Board of I'ublicalion of the 
 Evangelical Publishing House at Cleveland, Ohio, 
 and during the past eighteen years has attended 
 four General Conferences. He was a member of 
 the Board of Tinslces of the N. \V. College for 
 
 three terms of two years each, and a member of the 
 Board of Missions for a mimbcr of years. Elder 
 Kooker is a gentleman of fine scholarly attainments, 
 a conscientious and faithful worker in all positions 
 to which he has been called. He discharged the 
 arduous duties of a Presiding Elder with great ef- 
 ficiency and to the general satisfaction of iiis peo- 
 ple. As an editor and iournalist he has made the 
 loira Capitd/ a popular pa|»er among the best citi- 
 zens of Des Moines. 
 
 LBERT O. STONE, real-estate broker of 
 Des Moines, lakes rank among the leading 
 /IL^ business men of this city. He was born in 
 Mahaska Comity, Iowa, September 24, 1845, and is 
 the youngest of six children I)orn unto Homer 11. 
 and Lucy (Lindsley) Stone. The parents were both 
 natives of Connecticut, tlie former born in 1808, 
 the latter in 1806. By trade Ilomer Stone was a 
 carriage-maker and followed ihat occupation in the 
 East. In 1841 he became a resident of Mahaska 
 County', Iowa, being among its first settlers, and 
 there followed farming until 1857, when he engaged 
 in the groceiy trade in Oskaloosa, where he contin- 
 ued for four years, when he embarked in the same 
 business in Newton. It was in 1«66 that he took 
 up his residence in Des Moines, and for some five 
 years after his arrival he carried on a retail boot 
 and shoe business, but has since lived aretireil life. 
 Though well advanced in years, both Mr. Stone 
 and his wife enjoy good health and the lady has 
 a remarkable memory for one of her years. Tlu'V 
 are members of the Methodist Episcopal Chinch, 
 and it has been their daily endeavo"' to shape their 
 lives in accordance with their professions. Of their 
 children four are now living, three sons and a 
 daughter, namely : Wilbur F., ex-Supreme .Judge 
 of Colorado and one the most talented lawyers of 
 that State, went to the West in a very early day 
 and helped to organize the Tcrritor}'; Wells W. 
 is an extensive farmer and stock-raiser of Oregon. 
 The daughter, Hester A., wife of J. W. Eastman, 
 who is engaged in fruit-raising and farming, resides 
 at Mitcliellvillf, Iowa. 
 
602 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Klljcrt 0., the one idenlifieil with the business 
 iiiUiests of Dcs Moines, received a common scliool 
 education and was trained in business luetliods by 
 his father, wiiose store he entered as a clerk when 
 quite young-, continuing to serve in tiial capacity 
 until admitted to partnership. Selling out on the 
 retirement of Ids father from business, Mr. Stone 
 then went to (ireencastle. Iowa, where for three 
 yoars he engaged in merchandising, and at the ex- 
 piration of that period transferred his business to 
 Colfax, where he carried on operations for eight 
 yeais. lie was the first Treasurer of Colfax and 
 the first to builil a business lilock in that town. 
 Returning to Des Moines in 188."). he engaged for 
 for a short lime in the manufacture of windmills 
 and then embarked in the real-estate business. 
 
 In jMechaiucsville, Iowa, on the ■22d of Novem 
 ber, 18C7, Mr. Stone was united in marriage with 
 Rachel E. Tyson, a native of Ohio, by whom he has 
 three chihlreii— Gertrude, Jessie and Kranc. The 
 parents are members of the Presbyterian Church, 
 and in politics Mr. Stone is a Republican. He is 
 regarded by all who know him as an upright relia- 
 ble business man, and as a real-estate dealer has 
 been quite successful. His interests are largely in 
 farms, located in several States, notalily in Texas. 
 
 ;LOYD DAVIS, M. Sc, Ph.D., Professor of 
 Chemistry and Physics in Drake University, 
 was born at Ithaca, X. Y., May 29, 1859, 
 being one of three sons of John and Miranda 
 (Shepherd) Davi.s. The founder of the Davis fam- 
 ily in the United States came from ^Yales and set- 
 tled in New Jersey, and was the great-grandfather 
 of the Professor. His son Caleb, when a young 
 man, emigrated to New York, locating near Ithaca 
 and became Sheriff of Tompkins County, although 
 he made farming his principal occui)alion. He 
 married a Pennsylvania lady bj- whom he had 
 eleven children, an<l lived to the advanced age of 
 ninety years. 
 
 Prof. Davis' father was reared on the old home- 
 Stead, and though, a farmer bj' occupation he did 
 considerable vvork as a surveyor and civil engineer; 
 
 he laid out Michigan City and a number of other 
 towns in Northwestern Indiana and Northeastern 
 Illinois. His death occurreil at the age of eighty- 
 four years. His wife, a native of Herkimer County, 
 N. Y., is still living at Ithaca, being now in her 
 seventy-lirst yeai-. 
 
 Our subject is the youngest of three children 
 and the only professional member of the family-, 
 one brother being a mechanic, while the other fol- 
 lows farming. He received instruction at home 
 until nine jears of age when he entered the district 
 schools. \Vhcn a lad of fourteen years he com- 
 menced a liigher course of training, spendingayear 
 at each of the following institutions: Canisteo 
 Academy, Ithaca High School and Cornell Univer- 
 sity ; at the Ohio State Iniversit^- he pursued a 
 four years' course. In 1882 he went to Missouri, 
 and the following year was graduated from the 
 Missouri State School of Mines and Metallurgy, 
 receiving the tlegrees of Ph. U., C. E. and E. M. He 
 was then called to the Chair of Chemistry and Met- 
 allurgy in the Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical 
 College, which position he held three yi^irs and then 
 spent one year studying at the Johns Hopkins 
 University. After some six months spent as a min- 
 ing engineer in the ^Vest, he accepted his present 
 position in January, 1888. Besides the degrees 
 above mentioned Prof. Davis received in 1884 the 
 degree of M. Sc. from Adrian College, and in 1888 
 the degree of Ph. D. from Miami Universit\'. 
 
 Prof. Davis has a wide reputation among tin; 
 educators of the I'nited States and ranks deservedly 
 high in his profession as a chemist, metallurgist 
 and mining engineer. Besides his professorshi)! he 
 holds other positions worthy of mention. In 1888 
 he was chosen non-resident Professor of Assaying 
 and Metallurgy' in the Wisconsin State University, 
 and was also appointed State Chemist of Iowa. 
 Prof. Davis is a member of the American Institute 
 of Mining Engineers and a member of the Wiscon- 
 sin Academy of Science, Arts and Letters. 
 
 Prof. Davis has wi'itten some very able, instruct- 
 ive and useful articles on various scientific and 
 technical topics, the following being some of the ti- 
 tles: "Imaginary Functions," -'The March of time," 
 "The Systems of Amalgamation," "Natural (ias," 
 ••Primeval Evolution, or Development of the Earth 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 603 
 
 before the Iiiti'oduclion of Life," "Iinpiirilips in Wa- 
 ter and tlieii- Relation to Disease," "Potable Water," 
 etc., etc. He lias also written a valuable treatise 
 entitled "An Elementary Handbook on Potable 
 Water," wliicb is one of the most complete diseus- 
 .sions of the subject yet published. With a mind 
 well trained and stored with useful knowlege, with 
 an experience broad for one of his years. Prof. 
 Davis is well qualified to fill the positions which 
 lie now holds. 
 
 The wife of Prof. Davis was in her maidenliood 
 Miss Elizabeth Edwards, a native of Skaneatelcs, 
 N. Y.; their marriage was celebrated in Ithaca, 
 N. Y., on the 2 1st of December, 18H2,and has been 
 blessed with two children — Ralph Emerson and 
 Sidney Hugh. 
 
 EV. AUGUST WILHKLM STARK, pnstor 
 i(? of the Swedish Lutheran Church of East 
 l\ Des IMoines, is a native of Sweden. He 
 ^^ was liorn on the 2d of November, 18,51, 
 and is a son of John G. and Martha (Stark) 
 Johnson, but as the name Johnson is so very 
 common among the people of his nationality, 
 he assumed his mother's name, as did also his 
 brother. In early life Mr. Johnson learned the car- 
 penter's trade, which be has made his deiiendencc 
 for a livelihood, and becoming an expert workman, 
 it has. proved an ample provision for his wants. In 
 187.5, accompanied by his family, he came to the 
 United States, and located in Pennsylvania, but af- 
 ter twelve years, removed to Rockford, 111., where 
 he and his wife still reside. Their family consisted 
 of seven children, six sons and a daughter, but the 
 daughter is now deceased. Three of the sons have 
 given their lives to the ministry, E. M. Johnson 
 having charge of a cliurch in Rockford, 111,, while 
 (i. K. .Stark is |ire|)aring for the same calling. It 
 is remnrkable that the three sons should have given 
 tlicir lives to Christian work in view of the fact, 
 that they were not reared under Christian home in- 
 fluences. 
 
 Our subject "row ii|) a stranger to aflluence. As 
 soon .as he wtis oi'l enough to be of any assistance, 
 
 he was called upon to lend a hand in gaining a liv- 
 ing. He attended the parochial .s^-hools until four- 
 teen years of age, and from that time until the 
 emigration of the family to the Uniteil States la- 
 bored at any employment whereby he might earn 
 an honest dollar. In 1873, through the inlliience 
 of a brother and sister who had already eome to 
 this country, he was induced to leave his Father- 
 land and cross the Atlantie. Reaching Tidioute, 
 P.a., he performed manual labor for a time, but 
 soon after his arrival in America, he was converted, 
 joining the Swedish Kvaugelical Lutheran Chureli. 
 and believing his duty called him to the ministrv. 
 he began a thorough preparation for that work. 
 In 1878, he entered Augustana College, from which 
 he was graduated in 1S83, with the degree of A. R. 
 On the day of commencement, Mr. Stark delivered 
 the oration in the Swedish language. In 1885, he 
 was graduated from the Theological Seminar)- at 
 the same place, ranking among the first of hischiss. 
 While acquiring his eduealiou, he largely suppcu'ted 
 himself by teaching school and preaching, Cliieago 
 being one of his appointments. He was ordained 
 in Rockford, III., in 1885, having received ealls to 
 four different charges, accepting one near Round 
 Rock, Tex. 
 
 In Chicago, on the 1 llh of January, 1880, Mr. 
 Stark was united in the holy bon<ls of m,atrimony 
 with Miss Wilhelmina Peter.son, an estimable lady, 
 with whom he had become acquainted while preach- 
 ing in that city. She was born in Chicago, Novem- 
 ber 5, 1862, and is the daughter of O. P. and Carrie 
 (Anderson) Peterson, lioth of whom were natives 
 of Sweden. They have two children, Minnie E. 
 and Carl F. E. 
 
 O. P. Peterson, father of Mrs. Stark, served as a 
 soldier in the Union Army, enlisting when the sec- 
 ond call was maile, and served until the close of 
 the war. He had previously been engaged in the 
 boot and shoe business in Chicago, which business 
 he resumed after the war. His death occurred in 
 Chicago in 1877. Mrs. Peterson is still living, and 
 resides in Chicago. 
 
 In 1886, Mr. Stark was called to the pastorate of 
 the Swedish Lutheran Church of East Des Moines, 
 which he has filled very acceptably since. It is one 
 of the leading churches in the ( it\-, havint; a ineiii- 
 
604 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Ijersbip of nine luimlietl and fifty-five, with five hun- 
 (Ireil and thirty-two comnninieants. Tlie house of 
 worship is a large Ijrick edifice with a seating capa- 
 city of one tiiousand. and was built at a cost of 
 some *.'?0,000. The yearly expenditures amount 
 to over ^5,000, including the current expenses, 
 charities, etc. Though Mv. Stark preaches in his 
 native language, he has good command of the Eng- 
 lish tongue. Both he and his wife are earnest 
 workers in the church, and are greatly beloved by 
 
 all. 
 
 -l^-M+^KgJ^I^jjf^-KH- t^ 
 
 V HAULKS K. CURRIE, M. I)., who is en- 
 g.aged in the practice of his profession in 
 Des Moines, was born in Jo D.iviess County, 
 III., January 27, 185'.), and is a son of James and 
 Louisa (Fairbanks) Currie. The family was 
 founded in America by the great-grandfather of 
 our subject, who was a native of England and a 
 British soldier, serving in India. Later in life he 
 emigrated to Canada, where was born the grandfa- 
 ther of the Doctor, and in his native land he was 
 reared to manhood, learning in his youth the trade 
 of a ship carpenter. In later life he became a resi- 
 dent of Sandusky, Ohio, where he curried on oper- 
 ations at his chosen occupation. lie married and 
 by his union was born James Currie, who also 
 learned the carpenter's trade, and having attained 
 to mature years wedded Miss Louisa Fairbanks, a 
 native of Watertown, N. Y. Their marriage was 
 celebrated in Illinois, whither they h.id removed 
 in childhood with their respective families and 
 where they made their homes until about 1872, 
 since which time thej' have been residents of Dela- 
 ware County, Iowa. Their famdy originally con- 
 sisted of six children but only three are now living — 
 Charles E., F'rank, L.' and Albert L., a dentist by 
 profession. 
 
 Dr. Currie received his literary training in the 
 public schools of La .Salle, 111., and having made 
 choice of the medical profession as his life work, he 
 began labor in order to procure the means to pros- 
 ecute a course of study. Having read medicine 
 for three years with Dr. S. Ilaskins, of Earlville, 
 111., he attended three courses of lectures at the 
 
 Rush Medical College, of Chicago, graduating from 
 that institution in the class of 1882. Upon com- 
 petitive examination he made the highest grades 
 wiiit'h entitled liim to a i)Osition in the Cook County 
 Hospital as one of the resident physicians. His 
 practice in Des Moines covers a period of seven 
 years, dating from IH83, and in that time he has 
 won a rank of which many an older practitioner 
 might well be proud. Socially he is a member of 
 of the Knights of I'ythias frateinity and also be- 
 longs to the American Medical Association and the 
 I'olk County Medical Society, of which he has 
 served as Secretary and is now President. 
 
 On the 18th of December. 1888, Dr. Currie led 
 to the marriage altar Miss Ilattie Hagler, a native 
 of Alilton, Iowa, and a most estimable lad}-. Their 
 union has been blessed with one daughter, Helen. 
 Dr. Currie is a self made man in the fullest sense 
 of the word and, -though eomparativel}' young in 
 his profession, has been accorded a liberal share of 
 the patronage of the city. 
 
 -^^ 
 
 SI, im, S. II. MATTHEWS, M. D., is the present 
 \/iJ/' County Physician of Polk County, and 
 
 W 
 
 W^ also the Des Jloines City Physician. He 
 was elected to the former ollice in January, 1889, 
 and re-elected in January-, l&UO, and to the office 
 of City Physician in March of the same year, and is 
 the first person who has had the honor of occupj'- 
 ing both offices at the same time. The Doctor also 
 fills the chair of Genito Urinary Surgery and Der- 
 matology' in the College of Phj'sicians and Surgeons 
 of this cit3', and is also Surgeon for the Chicago, 
 Burlington & (^uincy Railroad at Des Moines. 
 
 Our subject is a native of Akron, Summit County, 
 Ohio, his birth having occurred in that city on the 
 2r)th of January, 1860. His father, Willard S. 
 Matthews, died before his son was born, and his 
 mother married for her second husband William 
 Douglas. The family removed to Iowa in 1871. 
 and settled in Altoona, Polk County, but are now 
 residents of Des Moines. The Doctor is the only 
 child of his parents. He was educated in the High 
 School of this city and began the study t>f his 
 
PORTRAIT AND KIOGKAPHICAL ALBUM 
 
 605 
 
 chosen profession in 1880, in the office of Dr. F. E. 
 
 Elnslish, of Altoona. The same year he came to 
 Des Moines and fiirtiier continued liis st\idies under 
 the direction of Dr. Kennedy, and later graduated 
 from the College of Physicians and Surgeons, in 
 188G. He liad pursued a three j'ears' course in 
 tliat institution and graduated with the liighest 
 honor. 
 
 Dr. Matthews is one of the younger members of 
 the medical fraternity of Des Jloines, hut has al- 
 ready won a reputation that would do honor to 
 much older members of the profession. That his 
 al)ilit\- and merits are appreciated is indicated hj' 
 tlio several responsible positions wliicli he holds, 
 and b3' the ever-increasing general practice with 
 which he is favored. 
 
 In January, 1889, the Doctor led to the marriage 
 altar ^liss Rosa D. Skidmore, one of the accom- 
 plished and cultured young ladies of Des Moines, 
 whf> like her husband has man}' friends in the city 
 an<l holds an enviable [losition in the social world. 
 
 6" ONRAD STUTSMAN, deceased, is num- 
 . bered among the pioneer settlers of Polk 
 County, who in the early d.ays of its his- 
 tory settled within its borders, and during his resi- 
 dence took an active part in its advancement and 
 progress and the promotion of its worth}- interests. 
 He was born in Cambria County, Pa., in 1803, and 
 was of German origin, although the famil}' for a 
 number of generations had resided in this country. 
 When Conrad was but three years of age his 
 father, Daniel B. Stutsman, removed with his fam- 
 ily to Ohio, settling near the city of Dayton, where 
 they remained until 1830, at which time they 
 became residents of Elkhart County, Ind., where 
 the parents continued to reside until death. Their 
 family numbered four sons and three daughters, 
 who grew to mature years, but all have now 
 passed away. 
 
 Our subject passed but a short period of his 
 life in his native State, being taken, as before 
 stated, by his parents to Ohio when he was but 
 three j-ears of age. He was married in the Buck- 
 
 eye State to Miss Hannah Stutsman, who, although 
 of the same name, was no relation. She w.is also 
 a native of Pennsylvania, born in tiie same year 
 as her husband and removed to Ohio with her 
 parents when a child of fourteen years. 
 
 Conrad Stutsman wiis one of the earliest settlers 
 of Polk County. In 184fi he left his home in 
 Indiana, and with his family emigrated to Iowa, 
 settling in what is now Madison Townsliip, where 
 he continued to reside about tliree years when he 
 removed to Polk Citj- and erected a sawmill. 
 However, about two years later he removed to Ft. 
 Des Moines, and on the corner of First and Walnut 
 Streets erected what was known as tiie Des Moines 
 House, wiiere he engaged in hotel kee|>ing about 
 three years. At the exi)iration of that pcriodjhe 
 sold out and purchased proiierty on East Fifth 
 Street, where he made his home until the sprins of 
 1864, when, accompanied by his son Xoah and 
 others, he again traveled westward, to the Terri- 
 tory of Idaho. In Januar}-, 18G8, they returned 
 and togetlier father and son Itnilt a residence on 
 Pennsylvania Avenuf, near the northern limits of 
 the original town of East Des Moines. There his 
 death occurred in 1869. His wife, who survived 
 her husband many years, died in 1885. They 
 were worthy, industrious peo|)le, and were highly- 
 esteemed by those who knew tiiem. Consistent 
 members of the German Baptist Church for many 
 years, they lived lives of uprightness and honesty, 
 such .as might well be emulated to the profit of all. 
 On attaining his* majority, Mr. Stutsman cast liis 
 ballot with the Democratic p.art}-, but later became 
 a Whig and when the Republican party was 
 formed he joined tliat organization, to whose prin- 
 ciples he ever remained true. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Stutsman were the jwrents of four 
 sons and two daughteis, and with the exception of 
 one daughter who died in infancy, all grew to ma- 
 ture years: Jonathan, the eldest, is a resident of 
 Des Moines; Noah is the next in order of birth; 
 Maliala is the wife of A. N. Overman, of Des 
 Moines; Daniel died in 18u6 but left no family; 
 Solomon, also of Des Moines, is the j-oun^cst of 
 the family. 
 
 Noah Stutsman was born in Indiana, in 1831 
 and was therefore in his fifteenth year when he 
 
606 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHIOAL ALBUM. 
 
 came with his parents to Iowa. He learned tlie 
 trade of a carpenter and builder and has made tiiat 
 occupation iiis chief business tlirongii life, but has 
 traveled extensively over tiie West. In 18o?, lie 
 went to the mines of Colorado and after an 
 al)sence of five 3'cars returned, in January, 1864, 
 but in the following Ma.y, he aucompanied his 
 father on a trij) to Idaho, as already- mentioned. 
 After their return some years ela|)sed, in which be 
 devoted his attention to his business, Init, in 1870, 
 he went to Lcadville, returning in .September, 
 1880. He is a good workman and has received a 
 liberal patronage, whcrel)y he has accumulated a 
 comfortable competency, becoming one of the sub- 
 stantial citizens of Des Moines. 
 
 Wr. .Stutsman was married in Des Moines to 
 Miss Mary Wariinglon, a native of Ohio, and unto 
 them has been born one son," Forest, who was born 
 in this city, M.ay 2:5, 1881. 
 
 g^^ IIARLES A. DIDLEY, Altorney-at law. 
 and a member of the firm of Mitchell \' 
 Dudley, one of the leading law firms of 
 Des Moines, is a n.ative of Ohio. He was born in 
 Portage County, on the 14tli of November, 1839. 
 His parents, Charles and Sarah ( Leet) Dudley-, 
 were natives of Herkshire County, Mass., and were 
 of English descent. The father was born in 1813, 
 and the mother, who was a lineal descendant of 
 Gov. Leet, of Guilford, Conn., was born in 181 G. 
 Her ancestors were among the earliest and mcst 
 prominent of the Colonial settlers of New Eng- 
 land. 
 
 When a youth, our subject entered the common 
 schools, there pre|)aring himself for teaching, which 
 profession he followed for a time. Not content 
 with the educational advant.ages which he had re- 
 ceived, after acquiring sufficient means, he entered 
 the I'niversity of Michigan at Ann Arbor, from 
 which institution he was graduated with honor in 
 the class of '65. Immediately thereafter he entered 
 upon the study of law in Havenna, Ohio, where he 
 remained until the spring of 1S67, when he be 
 
 carfte a resident of Des Moines. During the follow- 
 ing autumn he was admitted to the bar of Polk 
 County, and in 1869 formed a law partnership 
 with Levi J. Brown, under the firm name of Brown 
 <fe Dudley', which connection continued until the 
 death of his partner, in 1883. Mr. Dudley shortly 
 afterward formed the existing partnership with 
 John Mitchell, late Judge of the Circuit Court, 
 and together they have carried on a successful 
 business. On the 15th of April, 1871. in this city, 
 Charles A. Dudley was married to Miss Sarah A. 
 Washburne, a daughter of Lieut. Gustavus Wasli- 
 burne. Her native city was Monlpelier, Vt., but 
 in her early childhood she came with her parents to 
 Des Moines, which has since been her home. A 
 famil}' of six children, four sons and two daugh- 
 ters, was born of their union, l)ut only two sons 
 and one d.iughter are now living, namely : Cora 
 May, Frank and I'limmon H. The others died in 
 infanc3'. The parents are members of the Presby- 
 terian Church. 
 
 Mr. Dudlej' has ever been regarded as one of the 
 leading and enterprising business men of the Capi- 
 tal City, and has done not a little towanis the 
 promotion of its enter|nises and interests. In Janu- 
 ary, 1883, he was one of the incorporators of the 
 Iowa Loan A Trust Company, the most import 
 ant financial institvition in the State, and has been 
 connected with it odicially since its organization, 
 as a director, counsel and trustee, holding the first 
 two named offices continually and the latter since 
 1880. The Iowa Loan & Trust Company has a 
 working capital of half a million dollars, and has 
 four and a li.alf millions of dollars of loans in force 
 at this date, February, 1890. The total amount of 
 lousiness done by the company- to date aggregates 
 $15,000,000. 
 
 Associated with Mr. Dutlley, as trustees of the 
 above-mentioned company, are iNIessrs. George M. 
 Ilippel and Ira Cook, and the importance and re- 
 sponsibility of their trust may be inferred from 
 the fact that the}' are the custodians of all the se- 
 curities for the debentures of the company, amount 
 ing to upwards of |;4,000,000. 
 
 Mr. Dndle}- has also taken an active interest in 
 educational matters and has served on the Des 
 Moines School Board for eleven years, froiu 1871 
 
cy . d. ji>z^ 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 607 
 
 until 188'2, and for seven years of that time was 
 President of the Board. His efforts in directing 
 and aiding the management of tlie city schools re- 
 sulted in placing them on a level with the best city 
 schools in Iowa. As a lawyer, IMr. Dudley stands 
 tlescrvedly high He is painstaking and studious, 
 and is noted for his thorough preparation of cases, 
 tlieir strong presentation in court and a conscien- 
 tious devotion to the interests of his clients. In 
 all his relations in life, his course !ias been char- 
 acterized by the strictest integrity and a firm sense 
 of honor. Those who know him respect him,, and all 
 speak of him In the highest terms. 
 
 ^_ 
 
 ■^YJ' ACOB KNADLER, an honored pioneer of 
 Polk County, Iowa, who is now living a re- 
 tired life in Des Moines, was born in York 
 Count}-, Pa., December 16, 1812, and is a 
 son of Joseph and Magdalena (llidler) Knadler. 
 His father was a butcher by trade and his mother 
 was a daughter of Dr. Hidler, of Abbotstown, Pa., 
 one of the leading and influential citizens of the 
 comniuuity. Mr. Knadler died at the age of sev- 
 enty-five years, and his wife was called to her final 
 rest when eighty-two years of age. A family of 
 ten children was born unto them, five of whom grew 
 to manhood and womanhood: Julia became the 
 wife of a Mr. Glassmj-er, and Polly married a 
 brothel of that gentleman. The sons who reached 
 maturity were Joseph, George and Jacob. 
 
 Our subject is the only one of the family loft to 
 [lerpeluate their history. As his father died when he 
 was quite young he was thrown upon his own re- 
 sources, and from a very tender age he has made 
 his own way in the world. Many hardshii)s and 
 difficulties were encountered b^- him but he came 
 off conqueror in the end, possessing a courage and 
 determination which have carried him through life 
 and made him respected by all men. At the age 
 of eleven years he ttegan learning the jeweler's trade 
 and afterward learned the trade of a inoldor in his 
 native cit}'. When a young man of eighteen years 
 he went to one John McCury, a pump manufact- 
 urer, to whom he expressed the desire of learning 
 that business. The gentleman did not think he 
 
 would continiv at the work until he had mastered 
 the trade, Init nl length decided to employ him. 
 Young Knadler, however, had ilctcrmincd to make 
 something of himself in life and resolved to master 
 that business. He served an apprenticeship of 
 several years and then after working as an employe 
 for Mr. McCury for a year was admitted to partner- 
 ship the business. Their connection continued with 
 good success until 183G, when it was dissolved, 
 Mr.Knadler selling his interest prior to his removal 
 to Wayne County, Ind. He settled in German- 
 town, that State, where he established a pump fac- 
 tory, carrying on business for himself. 
 
 On the 26th of March, 1835, Mr. Knadler mar- 
 ried Miss Annie Miller, who was born in October 
 1814, in York, Pa., .and a daughter of George MiU 
 ler, of German origin. Mr. Knadler continued to 
 engage in the manufacture of pumps for a number 
 of years, and then selling out lecame express, 
 freight and ticket agent on the railroad from D.ay- 
 ton to Indianapolis, Ind. His upright manner and 
 faithfulness to duty won him the respect of the 
 comi)any wlio regarded him as one of their most 
 trusted employes. He continued to make his home in 
 Germantown until 1856, when he closed his affairs 
 in that city and emigrated to Jasper Count}', Iowa, 
 where he owned a farm of four hundred and eighty 
 acres. The same 3'ear he purchased a one hundred- 
 and sixty-acre tract of land in Polk Count^^and in 
 the spring of 1856, removed to that purchase. At 
 the time but twenty acres of the entire amount had 
 been broken and a small cal)in constituted almost 
 the onl}' improvement, but from the wild prairie 
 Mr. Knadler developed a most beautiful home and 
 a farm which compared favorably with any in the 
 county. His oper.ations as an agriculturist were 
 remarkably successfid and Ihoreb}- he won the com- 
 petence which now enables him to live in retire- 
 ment. 
 
 He laid aside .'ill business cares in 187.3. and, 
 with his "stimable wife, who has proved a true 
 litl|imate to him. removed to East Des Moines, where 
 they now have a (ileasant home at No. 831, Des 
 JNIoines Street. This worthy couple arc members 
 of the English FvUtheran Church, with whic'i Mrs. 
 Knadler united sixty years ago, and are devoted 
 Christian people. The ICth of March, 1885, wit- 
 
608 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 nessed the celebration of their golden wedding. A 
 half-eenlury had passed since they plcdiird them- 
 selves to remain faithful, one to the other, until 
 death. Many relatives and friends gathered at their 
 iiome in commemoration of that happy event, 
 bringing with them golden tokens of their love and 
 esteem. The day was passed in congratulations 
 and good cheer, and will long be remembered by 
 the participants on that occasion. 
 
 The union of Jacob Knadler and Annie Miller 
 has been blessed with -a familj' of seven chililren: 
 Mary A., their eldest, who was born in German- 
 town, Ind., and came with her parents to Polk 
 County, wedded Jonathan M. Hewitt, who is now 
 living on Grand Avenue, Des Moines, but she has 
 now passed away; Louis died in Ger-mantown at 
 the age of two years; Manuel M. wedded Henrietta 
 Wolf anil is now an extensive stock-raiser of Mon- 
 tana; Rebecca, widow of William Ilaivey, is living 
 in Delaware Township, this county; Henry, who 
 was born in Wa^'ne County, Ind., is also a ranch- 
 man of Montana; Louisa M., the youngest, is the 
 wife of Ezra J. .Selover, who is engaged in the un- 
 dertaking business at No. 6.30 East Grand Avenue, 
 East Des .Moine.«. He is a practical and practiced 
 embalmer, thoroughly understanding the work in 
 all its dei)artments. Jacob, Jr., died at the ago of 
 two years. 
 
 Thirty-five j-ears have passed since Mr. Knadler 
 came to Polk County. An enterprising .ind useful 
 citizen, he identified himself with the best interests 
 of the community and did all in his power for their 
 progress. In polities he is a supporter of the Demo- 
 cratic l)arty, and by his honest, upright life and 
 manner of dealing with his fellow-men. he has won 
 the confidence and respect of all. 
 
 —5 #-f# S— 
 
 '" ** OSKS H. LAWSON, who lor the long 
 ()eriod of thirty-five years has been en- 
 
 gaged in farming and stock-raising in this 
 county, now resides on section 7, Valley 
 Township, and is numbered among the leading 
 cilizen^ of that community. He was lK)rn on the 
 7th of August, 1H28, in York County, I'a, and is a 
 
 son of Jacoli M. and Elizabeth (Hart) Lawson, 
 both of whom were also natives of the Keystone 
 State. His father was an extensive and inthiential 
 farmer and stock-raiser and accompanied by bis 
 family', removed from Pennsylvania to Waj^ne 
 County, Ind., in 1836, where he followed that pur- 
 suit for about sixteen years, when in 1851, he came 
 to Iowa. Choosing Polk County .■is a favorable 
 location he piircliased two hundred and seventy 
 acres of land in Valley Township, and afterwards 
 became owner of one hundred and sixty acres in 
 Jefferson Township, upon which farm he and his 
 wife spent twenty-seven years of their life. The}' 
 were both highly respected people, members of the 
 I'nited Brethren Church and lived to celebrate their 
 flfty-niuth wedding anniversary. Mr. Lawson died 
 at the advanced age of eighty-four years and his 
 wife in the eighty-second year of her age. This 
 worthy couple were parents of eight children, as 
 follows: Daniel, who died at the age of eighteen 
 years; Moses, whose name heads this sketch; Mary, 
 wife of J. B. Lewis, of Polk County, Neb.; Jere- 
 miah, who died in Coose County, Ore.; John, a 
 resident of Story County, Iowa; Elizabeth, de- 
 ceased wife of D. .J. Graham, of this county; Jacob, 
 who served four years in the Rebellion, one year 
 as a member of the Second Iowa Cavalry, after 
 which he was discharged for disability and enlisted 
 ill the Eighteenth Iowa tnfantiy, in which ho served 
 until the close of the war and was discharged with 
 an honorable record; Catherine, the youngest of 
 the family, became the wife of .lacob Shirboriip, 
 and died in this county. 
 
 Our subject was a lad of eight years when with 
 his iiarents he left the State of his nativity to be- 
 come a resident of AVayne Ctmnty, Ind., where he 
 remained until attaining his majority-, living the 
 life usual to a farmer lad. He received his educa- 
 tion in the primitive schools of that day and then 
 learned the carpenter's and millwright's trade,wliich 
 he followed for some ten years with good suc^cess. 
 At length he determined to try his fortune in the 
 AVcst, believing it would furnish excellent ojiporu- 
 nities for one engaged in his line of business. The 
 spring of I M.05, fonn<l him cstal)lished on his present 
 farm, which for seven years he cultivated in con- 
 nection with the operation t>f a sawmill. Since 
 
V3 
 
 '<^ 
 
 
 ;.p:.i«)f*#»'' 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 611 
 
 that time he has givon his entire attention to laim- 
 iiig and stock raising and I)}' his own efforts has 
 become one of tiie prosperous citizens of the 
 county. He laises tlioroughlired cattle and other 
 excellent stock and tliis branch of the business as 
 well as that of the cultivation of his land 3'ields 
 him a good income. 
 
 On the Gth of October, 1853, Mr. Lawson was 
 united in marriage with Miss Abigail Finwick and 
 they became the parents of eleven children, namely : 
 John Franklin, who was born September 8, 1!554, 
 and is now living in this county; Mary Melinda, 
 wife of William Glass, of Los Angeles County, 
 Cal. ; Sarah Ann, who died in inf.inc}'; Jacob 
 Dalmas, a resident of Nortliern Oregon; AVilliarn 
 Alvis, who makes his home in Southern California; 
 Klizabeth Adeline, wife of N. J. Otto, of Valley 
 Township; Henry Edward, at home; Marelda Ellen, 
 wife of Elmer Root, of Oregon; Minnie Retta, the 
 youngest, who is still with her father. The mother 
 of this family, who was a sincere member of the 
 United Brethren Church, and devoted to the in 
 terests of her husband and children, died on the 
 3d of October, 1872. On the 30th of September, 
 1874, Mr. Lawson wedded Christina Schmidt, 
 daughter of John M. and Christina Schmidt, both 
 of whom were natives of Germany. They emi- 
 grated to America in 1835, locating in Fairfield 
 Count}', Ohio, where they resided upon a farm 
 until called to their final rest. 
 
 As before stated Mr. Lawson has resided in this 
 county for thirty-five years and is universally 
 esteemed as an upright, honorable gentleman and 
 valued citizen. Both he and his wife are members 
 of the Methodist E[)isco|)al Church and have con- 
 tributed liberally to its support and the cause of 
 Christianity. 
 
 EDWARD PERU AM VAIL, a pioneer Metho- 
 dist minister of Des Moines, was born in 
 Bennington County, Vt., November 2, 1822, 
 his parents being Amasa and Lavina (Williams) 
 Vail. His early American ancestors came to this 
 country from England. The family is noted for 
 longevity as will be indicated by the fact that our 
 
 subject retains a romcmbrancc of his great-grand- 
 parents. His grandfather emigrated in an earlj- day 
 from Jlassachusetts to Vermont, where Amasa Vail 
 was born. Growing to manhood he became a brick 
 and stone mason and w.as also owner of a farm in 
 the Green Mountain State, where he lived n long 
 and useful life, dying at the advanced age of eighty- 
 nine years. He voted with the Democnicy until 
 the organization of the Republican party, when he 
 became one of its stanch supporters. In his na- 
 tive State he married Lavina Williams who w.as also 
 born in Vermont and the result of their union was 
 a family of twelve children, seven sons and five 
 daughters, but of that number only two are now 
 living — Edward and Leonard, a Vermont farmer. 
 The i)arents, though not members of any religious 
 organization, were stri(;t observers of Simday and 
 lived U[)riglit lives. 
 
 Edward Perliam Vail was the oldest sou and 
 third child of his father's family and the only one 
 living in the West. He was reared to farm life 
 and in the district schools received his primary 
 education, which was supplemented i)y a course in 
 Burr Seminary, of Manchester, Vt. At the age of 
 eighteen years he began teaching and with the 
 means thus secured, continued his studies in the 
 Seminary. Thinking to better Ids condition on the 
 untried prairies of the West, in 1848, he went to 
 Jo Daviess County, 111., where he spent six years, 
 his winters being devoted to teaching while in the 
 summer months he worked in the mines. In Coun- 
 cil Hill, III., he celebrated Independence Day of 
 1849, by his marriage with Mary A. Ross, who was 
 born in Fulton Count}-, that State, December 22, 
 1830, but spent her girlhood days in Jo Daviess 
 County. Her parents were Thomas L. and Susan 
 (Nye) Ross, both of whom were natives of New 
 York. Her father was a hatter by trade and fol- 
 lowed that business in the Empire State until 1824, 
 when he removed with his family to Illinois. His 
 death occurred in 1841, at the age of forty-one 
 years, after which Mrs. Ross married John Wilson. 
 By her first union she had six cliildren, three of 
 whom now live, one son and two daughters, and l)\- 
 her last marriage had a son. She was a member of 
 the Methodist Episcopal Church and died in 1S88, 
 at the advanced age of eighty-three years. 
 
612 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Mr. Vail became one of the e.irl}' settlers of 
 Boone County, Iowa, where he located in 1855, 
 and entered one thousand acres of land from the 
 government. Since that time he has been connected 
 with the interests of Iowa. At the age of twenty- 
 five years he was converted under the preaching of 
 Rev. E. S. Grumley, his wife uniting with the 
 ciiurch at tlie same time. Being awakened to tlie 
 need of more Christian workers, l)y private study 
 he prepared himself for the ininistri', and in March, 
 1858, was licensed to exhort and in Jul}' of the 
 .«ame year became a local preacher. In 1873, he 
 was appointed by Elder M. D. Collins to t.ake 
 charge of the church in Carroll City, Iowa, where 
 lie remained for two years. In 1870, he w.is or- 
 dained as Deacon by Bishop E. S. Janes, and in 
 1874 was ordained Elder by Bishop Oilbert Haven. 
 Four years later he was admitted to traveling con- 
 nection in the Des Moines Conference and in 1880, 
 to full connection. His labors cannot be estimated 
 but thej' have certainl}* resulted in good to man}-. 
 For two years he had charge of the church at Car- 
 roll City, the succeeding year was located in Scran- 
 ton, then became pastor of the church in Waukee 
 where he remained for two years. The three suc- 
 ceeding years were spent in ministerial work in S.ay- 
 lorviUe. The following year he was pastor of Asbnry 
 Church, of Des Moines, and was then eraplojed 
 in the Des Moines circuit two years. The same 
 length of time he spent as pastor of the church in 
 Swan and the following year had charge of the con- 
 gregations in both Swan and iMitchellville. .Since 
 1880 he has been cl.assed among the superannuated 
 ministers. But though be has retired from pulpit 
 work bis interest still continues and he does much 
 in other lines of the work. 
 
 In his younger years Mr. \ail provided for old 
 age and is now the owner of one hundred and sixty- 
 eight acres of land in Dall.as County, and two hun- 
 dred and forty acres in Boone County. While a 
 resident of the latter county he aided in the organ- 
 ization of Union Township and held a number of 
 minor offices. In Dallas County he served as Sup- 
 ervisor and Justice of the Peace, of Sugar Grove 
 Township. He has been a Republican since the 
 rise of that party, but previously supported the 
 Democracy and cast his lira Prcsidenlial ballot for 
 
 Polk. A life of ui)rightness and integrity has won 
 him man}' warm friends and has been an important 
 su[)|)lenientaiy work to his ministerial labors. With 
 unflagging zeal he continued bis efforts for the sal- 
 vation of the face until old age forced him to re- 
 tire from work. He seldom if ever missed an 
 appointment to preach. Mudd}' roads and swollen 
 streams were no barriers to him. but at the cost of 
 his own [jcrsonal inconvenience, he would make 
 his w.a}' to the place of meeting. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Vail have no children of their own, 
 but have given homes to three friendless little 
 ones. Daniel Baume received from them the care 
 and attention of parents. He served honorably in 
 the late war but soon after his return he met his 
 death by being thrown from a coll. They also 
 reared two children of ^Ir. Vail's brother — Frank 
 E. and Ella .1.. who are now married and reside in 
 \'ermont. 
 
 S^P3 
 
 G.EORGE W. SllOPE, Cashier of the Grand 
 , Avenue .Savings Bank of Des ^Moines and 
 I the present Treasurer of the Capital City, is 
 a native of the Keystone State, his birth having oc- 
 curred in Dau[)liin County, August 13, 1838. His 
 parents, Abraham and Elizabeth (McFaden) Shope, 
 were also natives of Pennsylvania; and were de- 
 scended from families that were founded in that 
 region prior to the Revolution. On the father's 
 side the original nationality was German and on 
 the mother's side of Irish origin. 
 
 George W. Shope was educated in the common 
 schools of his native State and in the select schools 
 of Peoria, Polk County. Iowa. His father died in 
 1857. Removing twoj-earslater to Marion County, 
 Ohio, he there resided until the spring of 1859, 
 when he became a resident of Slor}- County, Iowa. 
 The mother survived her husband and died in 1878. 
 Having become a resident of this .State, our subject 
 turned his attention to farming which he followed 
 for a number of years. He was thus employed at 
 the time of his marriage with Miss Ellen Sessions, 
 which occurred December 25, 1861. The lady is a 
 daughter of Warren Sessions. She was born in 
 IJrattleborough, Vt.. and with her parents emi- 
 
PORTRAIT AJSD BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 613 
 
 grateil to Newlon, lowu, in 1 Sol, and thence to 
 Stoiv County, in 1853. The young couple began 
 tlieir domestic life upon a farm in tliat community, 
 wliere were born untotliem two sons — Edwin 15. and 
 Charles C. In 1868. Mr. Slioi)e brought his family- 
 to Polk County, locating in Wasliington Township, 
 where he continued his farming operations for two 
 years and the family' circle was increased In' the 
 birth of two other sons — William II. and Albert E. 
 
 In the spring of 1870, Mr. Shope laid aside agri- 
 cultural pursuits and removed with his family to 
 Des Moines, where he engaged in the manufacture 
 of school desks, sash, doors and blinds, continuing 
 in that line until the fall of 1871. His next enter- 
 prise was as a grocery dealer and engrossed his en- 
 ergies until the fall of 1877, when he sold out and 
 resumed farming upon land which he owned in 
 Delaware Township. In the spring of 1880, how- 
 ever, he again left that pursuit, having been ap- 
 pointed Deputy County Recorder, which office he 
 filled four ^-ears, when he once more embarked In 
 the grocery trade, continuing that business until 
 Ills election to the office of City Treasurer in March, 
 188G, for the term ending March 17, 1890. Jn 
 November, 1889, he aided in the organization of 
 the Grand Avenue Savings Bank, was chosen its 
 cashier and is still engaged in the discharge of the 
 duties of that office. 
 
 Mr. .Shope is a IJepublican in politics and while a 
 resident of Indian Creek Township, Story County, 
 served as Assessor and Constable for several j'cars 
 and while a resident of Washington Townshi[), this 
 county held the office of Justice of the Peace. He 
 takes considerable interest in civic societies, belongs 
 to the Independent Order of Red Men, Is Treasurer 
 of Keokuk Tribe. No. 13, and the Keeper of Wam- 
 pum of the order for the States of Iowa and Ne- 
 braska.. He Is also Treasurer of the Knights of 
 Labor of Des Moines and a member of Des Moines 
 Lodge, No. 68, K. of P. and Capital Lodge, No. 
 14, A. O. U. W^ He has ever proved a capable and 
 faithful officer In whatever position he has been 
 called upon to fill and is sure to make man^' friends 
 for the new bank, in which he holds the responsible 
 l)osition of cashier. 
 
 The (irand Avenue Savings Hank of Des Moines, 
 although but a recent addition to the list of financial 
 
 in.stltutions of Polk County, st.-uicd off with fair 
 encouragement and counts among its officers and 
 stockholders some of the most substantial business 
 men of the Capital City. The bank was incorpor- 
 ated in November, 1881), with a capital of §50,000 
 and opened for business on the northwest corner of 
 Grand Avenue and East Fifth Streets, .lanuary 6, 
 1890. Its ollicers arc; as follows: President, D. H. 
 Cooker; \' Ice-President, Wesley .In venal; Cashier, 
 a. W. Shope; Teller. LInford FisUer. The Board 
 of Directors Is composed of Edward Penn, Wesley 
 Juvenal, Linford Fisher, J. M. Mehan, S. N. S. 
 Potts, A. F. Bemis, D. II. Cooker, Jacob Hartung 
 and A. K. Stewart. Men of ability are at the head 
 of this bank and we sec no reason vvhy It should 
 prove otherwise than successful. In fact it has 
 already secured a liberal patronage and has a bright 
 prospect before it. 
 
 T LONZO S. WILCOXEN. one of the proml- 
 w/ul neut real-estate dealers of Des Moines, was 
 
 born in Seneca Falls, N. Y., on the 3d of 
 April, 181-1, his parents being Alfred anil 
 Abigail (Gilbert) Wilcoxen, both of whom were 
 natives of Connecticut. The Willcockson family 
 (as the name was originally spelled) came from 
 England soon after the lauding of the Pilgrim Fa- 
 thers and the establishment of the Plymouth Colony. 
 One branch of the family shortened the name to 
 Wilcox and by others It was transformed to the 
 present mode of spelling. The great-grandfather 
 of our subject served his country in the Revolu- 
 tionary War and the grandfather In the War of 
 1812. 
 
 Alfred Wilcoxen was born on the old homestead 
 in Connecticut in 1801, but when he was a young 
 lad his ()arents removed to Madison County, N. Y., 
 wdiere he was reared to manhood and married Miss 
 Gilbert who was some three years his junior. He 
 became a well-to-do farmer of that community and 
 one of its respected citizens. He supported the 
 Democratic party in politics, and both ho and his 
 wife were members of the Baptist Church. In llu ir 
 family were thirteen children. si\ sous and seven 
 
614 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 daughters, of whom nine are now living. Two of 
 the sons, Gilbert and Newton, graduated from 
 Hamilton College and are able lawyers. Tiie mother 
 died at the age of fifty years and the father passed 
 away in the seventy -sixth year of his age. 
 
 The sniiject of this sketch is the youngest cliilil 
 of the family-. His primary education, acqnireii in 
 the public scliools was supplemented bj' a business 
 course in an academ3', which he attended two 3'ears. 
 His father, possessed of the old English idea, caused 
 all his boys to learn some trade and Alonzo served 
 an apprenticeship as a machinist. When his term 
 of service had expired lie went to Nashville, Tenn., 
 in 1863, and worked for about three months in the 
 government shops, but at the expiration of that 
 time he returned to the State of his nativity and for 
 some three years was employed as a salesman in a 
 wholesale house at Syracuse. The year 1871, wit- 
 nessed his arrival in Dcs Kloines and after a short 
 time spent in working at his trade he engaged as 
 traveling salesman in the employ of E. M. Ford 
 and continued with the same estal)lishment for thir- 
 teen years although the house changed hands dur- 
 ing that period. At length he determined to engage 
 in Viusiness for himself and embarked as a real-estate 
 dealer in Dakota. He platted a part of the original 
 town of Clear Lake, but the following year re- 
 turned to Des Moines and became a partner in the 
 real-estate business of Lowery W. Goode. This 
 |iroved a pleasant and profitable partnersiiip and 
 continued until 1889, when the paitnership was dis- 
 solved by mutual consent. In 1886, they laid out 
 EnglewoUl, an addition to North Dcs ^loines and 
 m.adc many other important improvements. Mr. 
 Wilcoxen is a member of the executive committee 
 .•uid director of the Highland Park Land Company; 
 he is also largely' interested .as director in the AVest- 
 orn White Bronze Company, and the Zoological 
 Park Comjiany and is one of the originators of that 
 very worthy enterprise — the Higliland Park Col- 
 lege. 
 
 In 1874, Mr. Wilcoxen was joined in wedlock 
 with Miss Lizzie A. Keeler, a native of New York, 
 born in Penn Yan, Yates County. He is a member 
 of the Baptist Church and liis wife belongs to the 
 Methoilisl Cliurcli. .Socially. Mr. Wilcoxen is a 
 Kniglit of Pythias and politically is a Republican, 
 
 but has never aspired to official positions. He has 
 been active and liberal in all efforts to advance the 
 interests of Des >Ioines, and in so doing has also 
 promoted his financial affairs. He began life a poor 
 man but b}' judicious investments and close atten- 
 tion to business has accumulated good property, 
 and throughout lias borne a high reputation for 
 just and honorable dealing. 
 
 
 <f)OHN II. GIVEN, who is now living are- 
 tired life, has made his home in Des Moines 
 since 1851, and has been a resident of the 
 State since 1845. Probably no one has 
 watched the development of Polk County with 
 keener interest than he. Ever contributing as lib- 
 erally as his means would allow to the upbuilding 
 of its many institutions, lie deserves no little credit 
 for his share in placing the city in the front rank 
 which it now occupies in the State. Mr. Given 
 was born in Braxton County, W. Va., before the 
 separation of that State from the Old Dominion, 
 October 27, 1820, and is of Irish and English 
 descent. His father, James Given, was a native of 
 Bath County, Va., and for a livelihood followed 
 the occupation of carpentering. He married Eliza- 
 beth Graham, a native of the same county, and a 
 descendant of one of tlie earlj' Colonial families. 
 At the age of thirty-four years, Mr. Given enlisted 
 in the War of 1812 and served his country for two 
 vears, being stationed the greater part of the time 
 at Norfolk. Va., where he was taken sick and dis- 
 charged. He never recovered his health but was 
 disabled for active work during the remainder of 
 his life. He died in Braxton County, W. Va., at 
 the a»e of sixty-five years. Socially, he was a 
 niemlier of the M.asonic fraternity and a much re- 
 spected citizen. In politics, he was a Jeffersonian 
 Democrat and for many years held the office of 
 Justice of the Peace. 
 
 The paternal grandfather of our subject, William 
 Given, was born on Jackson River, in Bath County. 
 Va., where he lived the life of a well to-<lo farmer. 
 He was one of the largest slaveholders of that 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGUAl'HICAL ALBUM. 
 
 G15 
 
 section, owning upvrards of seventy-five negroes. 
 Tlie maternal grandfather was Christopher Graham, 
 a native of Enghuul, who imigrated to this coun- 
 try and settled in the Virginian Colony prior to tiie 
 Uevolutionary War. Tiy occupation he was a 
 farmer. Mis death look [ilace in Bath County, on 
 the BuDpaster River, where he spent the greater 
 part of his life. 
 
 As few men in Polk County are more widely or 
 favorably known than John H. Given, we feel that 
 this sketch of his life will be of much interest to 
 many of our readers. His boyhood days were 
 spent in a like manner to those of all farmer lads, 
 performing slkIi iiarl of the farm labor as he could 
 and conning his lessons in the district schools. In 
 1837, when seventeen years of age, he went to 
 Charleston, \n.. now the capital of West ^'irginia, 
 where he served an apprenticeship of four years to 
 the carriage maker's trade under James Billings. 
 After the expiration of his term of service he went 
 to Augusta, Ky., and not content with the limited 
 educational advantages which he had received he 
 pursued a j'ear's course in the college of that place. 
 1I(! then came to the Territory of Iowa, and now 
 for forty-five years has made his home in the 
 Hawke3'e State. The first summer was spent in 
 Lee Count}', and in the autumn he went to Wai)ello 
 Count}', settling at Dahloncga, three miles north of 
 Ottumwa, where he opened a carriage shoj) and 
 also followed general blacksmithing. It was there 
 he really began the battle of life, far from home 
 and kindred, and in a new country where civiliza- 
 tion had matlc but few advancements he realized 
 that he must depend uiwn his own resources and 
 make of himself what he desired to be. He spent 
 six years in Dahlonegaand on tlieSd of lM;iy, 18nl, 
 reached Des Moines. He at once made preparations 
 for continuing his old business and in connection 
 with carriage making antl general blacksmithing 
 embarked in the manufacture of agricultural im- 
 plements. His first shop was located at the corner 
 of Third and \'ine Streets, where the Windsor 
 Hotel now stands. It may here be mentioned that 
 it was Mr. Given who erected the Windsor, which 
 for about twenty years was known as the Given 
 House. Not long after his arrival he formed a 
 partnership with James SUm'.on, which connection 
 
 continued si.\ j-ears, when in 1857, Mr. Stanton 
 sold his interest to David Skinner. He also re- 
 mained a partner for about the same length of time 
 and at the e.xiiiration of the period sold out to 
 Henry Hutsonpiller. Six years later that gentle- 
 man was succeeded by Jeremiah Courson and after 
 an equal period Hon. William L. Carpenter, ex- 
 Mayor of Des Moines, became a partner of Mr. 
 (iiven, which connection continued until 1888, 
 when the}' retired from business. Shortly after 
 the partnership was formed they erected a large 
 business building on the corner of Second and 
 \'ine Streets, which they occu|)ied until closing out. 
 They had an extensive trade and their business 
 became one of the leading industries of tbe city. 
 Long experience in that line, fair dealing, cour- 
 teous treatment and good man.agement crowned 
 Mr. Given's efforts with success and secured for 
 him a handsome com|)etence which will enable him 
 to spend the remainder of his days in quiet, sur 
 rounded by all the comforts of life. 
 
 AVhile a resident of Dahlonega, Mr. (jiven was 
 united in marriage with Cynthia A. Martin, a na- 
 tive of Jackson County, Ohio, and a daughter of 
 William and Jane (iMcClintock) jNIartin, who settled 
 in Wapello County before the atlmission of Iowa 
 into the Union. Eight children have b»en born to 
 our subject and his worthy wife, and those whose 
 lives have been si)ared do honor to their name. 
 Arthur Milton, who was educated in Iowa College 
 of Iowa City, is now a dry goods merchant of 
 Bishop, Cal. Pauline, a graduate of Grinnell Col- 
 lege, of (irinnell, Iowa, is the wife of Albert Swalnt, 
 proprietor of the Oskaloosa Ilenihl and does the 
 greater part of the editorial work for that pa|)er. 
 Albert died in Des Moines, aged thirteen months. 
 Eugene dieil at the ag(! of twelve years. Eugenia, 
 his twin, a graduate of the Des Moines High School, 
 is the wife of iMigene Bryan, a real-eUatc dealer of 
 Des Moines, living with her parents. Charles D., 
 who married Elizabeth Rickard, also remains at 
 home. Kitlie is the wife of Dan R. Mills, who 
 owns a large stock farm in Webster Townshi|). .She 
 is also a gr.aduate of the Des Moines High School. 
 Mary P. died at the age of nineteen years, while a 
 stu<lent of Call.'inan College, of Des Moines. 
 
 Mr. (iiven has ever taken an active interest in 
 
010 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 educational matters, giving a practical illustration 
 of this hy the advantages, which he has afforded 
 his children. All other worthy enterprises have 
 also received his hearty support and cooperation 
 anil he justly ranks among the enterprising, pro- 
 gressive and valued citizens of Des Moines. He 
 cast his first Presidential vote for Henry Clay in 
 1841, and supiwrted the Whig party until its dis- 
 solution, since which time he has cast his ballot 
 with the Republican party. He has three times 
 re[)resented the Second Ward in the City Council 
 and for four years has been a niemlior of the School 
 Board. Socially, he is a member of Pioneer Lodge, 
 No. 22, A. V & A. M. and has filled all the chairs 
 with the exception of Worshipful blaster. The cause 
 of temperance has ever found in him a warm ad- 
 vocate and as a member of the Sons of Temperance 
 and the Independent Order of Good Templars, he 
 does all in his power to advance its interests. Fort}- 
 years have passed since Mr. Given came to Des 
 Moines, and during that long period by no act of 
 his has he evir forfeited the res|)ect which was at 
 once accorded him. His life has been one of the 
 strictest integrity and uprightness, winning liim 
 the confidence and high regard of all with whom 
 business or social relations have brought him in 
 contact. He has witnessed the growth of the city 
 from a mere hamlet of two hundred inhabitants, 
 while its houses consisted mostly of log cabins and 
 government buildings. In the changes which have 
 since taken place he has been an active participant, 
 and it affords us great pleasure to record this sketch 
 of John 11. (Jiven, the honored pioneer. 
 
 ^f? ORENZO D. SIMS, who resides on .section 
 I (?3) fi. Grant Township, is numbered among the 
 ilLJx) honored pioneers of Polk County, Iowa, 
 dtiliiig his residence from October, 1818. Hewas 
 born on the Pickaway Plains in Ohio, September 
 22. 1816, and comes from a loyal and i)atriotic 
 family, of Scotch-Irish origin. His paternal grand- 
 father served in the Revolutionary AVar and his 
 father in the War of 1812. while he himself has 
 been a soldier in both the Mexican and Civil Wars. 
 
 When a child, his father, William Sims, went to 
 Ohio, and there became acquainted with and mar- 
 ried !Mrs. .Susan (Evans) Curran, wh.o was of 
 Welsh descent. Our subject was the only child 
 born unto them. When he was a babe the parents 
 removed to Indiana, and Lorenzo went to make 
 his home with an uncle, with whom he remained 
 until six years of age when he went to live with 
 Henry Rowshier, who was. to educate and care for 
 3oung Sims until he reacheil maturity, in return 
 for aid rendered him in his farm work. Mr. Sims 
 not only remained with him until he arrived at 
 man's estate but spent another year in his service. 
 Mr. Bowshier. however, faileil to keep his part of 
 the contract in educating him. Without capital 
 and nothing he could call his own, save a horse 
 and its equipments, he started out in life for him- 
 self at the age of twenty two years. Anj- employ- 
 ment which offered itself, whercb}' he mig!?t earn 
 an honest dollar anil gain a livelihooil, Mr. Sims 
 accepted. He was young, full of life and energy, 
 and being willing to perform • any duty, his servi- 
 ces were always in demand. In 1810, he began 
 work on the Cleveland it Portsmouth Can.al as 
 bowman, in which capacity he servetl until 1842. 
 
 In the meantime Mr. Sims cast his first vote. 
 He had been reared in the Democratic faith, but 
 consideration and refiectit)n determined him to op- 
 pose the Free Trade movement and he resolved to 
 support William Henry Harrison, the ^\'hig candi- 
 date for the Presidency. A bully, in Pickaway 
 County, learning of his determination thought to 
 make young Sims vote the Democratic ticket by 
 force. All day long he followed him about with 
 insults, wishing to liring about a fight, but our 
 subject determine<l, if possible, to have no trouble. 
 In every honorable way he tried to keep out of the 
 light, but at length was comjielled to defend him- 
 self, and soon knocked his antagonist out. Beaten 
 and cowed, the Imlly left him the hero of the oc- 
 casion, and he was carried by the admiring crotvd 
 to the |)olls, where he cast his first vote f(u' Gen. 
 Harrison. 
 
 The following year, (in the 21st day of October, 
 1811, Mr. Sims was united in marriage with Miss 
 Christiana Bowshire. a native of Pickaw.ay Countj', 
 and a daughter of Anthony Bowshire, a soldier of 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 617 
 
 the War of 1812. lie oonlinued liis work on the 
 canal until 1842, after wliicli he followed various 
 |)ursuits until 1817, when he went to C'olumbiis, 
 Ohio, and enlisted in Company E, Fourth Ohio 
 Regiment, under Capl. Lilly, for the Mexican 
 War. lie was mustered in at Cincinnati, and 
 thence was ordered to New Orleans, after which he 
 was sent to Matanioras, later he shlpi)ed to Vera 
 Cruz, l)ut a short tiina afterwards was takoi with 
 tlie yellow fever and sent to tlic Iiospital. where he 
 remained a month. lie then returned to New 
 Orleans, where, on the surjieon's certificate of disa- 
 bility, he was honorably discharged March 9, 1848. 
 On attain reaching Pickaway County, he spent the 
 summer in his old home, and in the autumn started 
 to seek a location in the West, being accompanied 
 by liis wife and three children. The journe}' was 
 made in a wagon. He had not yet determined 
 where to locate on leaving Oliio, but on reaching 
 Covington, Fountain Count}', Ind., he stopped 
 with his mother one week, and in that time re- 
 solved to seek a home in Polk County, Iowa, 
 where he arrived ()ctober 28, 1848. Obtaining 
 employment with Peter Newcomer, he established 
 his family in a workshop belonging to that gentle- 
 man, where the household furniture consisted of a 
 pine box for a dining table and benches for chairs. 
 For his labor he received fifty cents per day, doing 
 such work as huskir.g corn, etc. The following 
 December he removed to tlie farm now owned by 
 Lester Perkins, wiiere he worked upon the shares. 
 He gathered ten acres of corn, receiving one-half, 
 which provided for their exi)enses until spring 
 came. That winter the snow was about three feet 
 deep, and many hardships were enduretl liy our 
 subject and his family. It will readily be seen 
 that few luxuries were found in their home or on 
 their table, but «;ild game, such as deer and tur- 
 ke}', was plentiful and furnished many a meal. In 
 the spring of 1849, Mr. Sims began work in earn- 
 est, but just when starting out bad the misfortune to 
 meet with what was then a heavy loss. When 
 hitching up his team for plowing one of tlu; horses 
 sickened and died, which proved a great detriment 
 to him in his labor. That spring he jjlanted ten 
 acres of corn, sixteen acres of sod corn and five 
 acres of wheat, on Thomas Henderson's farm, and 
 
 in the autumn used the first cradle, in harvesting 
 his crop, ever in the county. In August of that 
 year, during a thunder storm lightning struck and 
 killed his other horse. The loss of his team at that 
 time, when he had so little of this world's goods 
 proved a greater loss to him than in after years, 
 when he was cheated out of 810,400 by a rascal 
 who had won the confidence of the people of Polk 
 County. His team gone, he invested his last 
 money, $35, in a yoke of oxen, and began to 
 gatlier his corn. The crop was fairly good, he 
 gathered one hundred and fifty bushels, which 
 he sold to Alex Boivcrs, for twenty-five cents 
 per bnshcl. With the money thus obtained he 
 bought food and clothing for his family, and pro- 
 vided other necessaries. 
 
 Shortly after his arrival in the county, ]SIr. Sims 
 made a claim on section 18, Bloomfleld Township, 
 upon which, in the fall of 1849, he built a log 
 cabin. His family moved into their new home 
 P^ebruary 20, 1850, when it was minus both Hoot 
 and door. No chimney had been built and the 
 apertures betA'een the logs had not then been 
 filled up. Mr. Sims hung his wagon cover at the 
 northwest corner of the cabin to keep the snow 
 from blowing in upon his children, and frequently 
 had to place the wagon bed over them for the same 
 purpose. So ''ntense was the cold that winter that 
 they often had to remain in bed all day to keep from 
 freezing, but at length spring <'ame bringing with 
 it lenewed hope. Mr, Sims accomplished a great 
 amount of labor that season. He planted sixteen 
 acres of corn, cut and split rails to fence thirty 
 acres and worked out for a month for fifty cents 
 l)er day, walking seven miles to and from his work 
 each morning and evening. In the fall of 1850 
 he sold his oxen for $55, taking in payment a note 
 with 6 i)er cent, interest. This with an additional 
 ^o he gave f(H- tvvo yoke of oxen in the spring, 
 but let his half-brother, Mr. Curran, take the oxen 
 in exchange for horses, which he used in planting 
 his crops. In the fall he traded his oxen for a team 
 of horses and with them accomplished much more 
 than he would otherwise. He labored both early 
 and late, but at length his farm began to yield a 
 good return for his work. In 1850, he replaced 
 the primitive cabin by a hewed log house of four 
 
i;i8 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 rooms. Aided by his wife he did all the work 
 
 upon the cnbin, with the exception of putting in 
 the (luors and framing the rafters. He afterward 
 sold his farm, which contained three hundred and 
 sixty acres, for $8,500, and started with his family 
 for a visit to his old home, where he spent the 
 winter of l«o6-57. In tlie spring he decided to 
 locate in Kansas, aixl made his way to Linn 
 County, Mo., where he left his family while he 
 went on a tour of inspection. On Ids return he 
 found his wife and children in tears. They t(id 
 not wish to cross the Missouri River, but begged 
 to return to Des Moines, and he acceded to their 
 wishes. Tbe first day they traveled fifty miles, 
 the second crossed the lo-'-a line and on the 7th of 
 May, ISfiT, again reached Polk County. Mr. Sims 
 found that spring wo:k had not yet begun so he 
 rented a house and resumed farm work. In the 
 summer of 1857, he had a chance to go to Kansas, 
 but soon afterwards returned and was content to 
 make his home in this county. He found his wife 
 sick with chills and fever. She gradually grew 
 worse, and on the lltii of August, 1857, passed 
 <iway, leaving a loving husband and eight children, 
 tlie eldest of whom was twelve years of age, to 
 mourn her loss. 
 
 The children of Mr. and Mrs. Sims are: (ieorge 
 C., who was born July 28, 1844, served four years 
 in Company E, Fourth Iowa Infantry and is now 
 County Recorder of Polk County; Sarah E., twin 
 sister of George, is now the wife of Harvey Mor- 
 gan, of Des Moines; Marian, liorn October 28, 
 1816, in Picl<away County, died in 1858; An- 
 tliony, born in Polk County, January 30, 1849, is 
 a farmer in Four Mile Township; Matilda A., 
 born December 8, 1850, is the widow of Jerry 
 Winterowd, who was drowned wliile attempting to 
 rescue his brother; Lucinda, liorn October 21, 
 1852, is the widow of Walter Short; Minerva, 
 born January 25, 1855, is the wife of Z. T. Wood- 
 ard ; Lorenzo D., the youngest, born in Pickaway 
 County, Ohio, December 8, 1856, now has charge 
 of the iiome farm. lie wedded Miss Emily Fredri- 
 gill, who died in 1889. They had three children, 
 viz.: George, and two who died in infancy. Lo- 
 renzo is ranked among the leading young farmers 
 of Grunt Township, and is an energetic business 
 
 man. He supports the Republican party and takes 
 an active interest in political afiairs, especially in 
 the.politics of the county and State. He held the 
 otlice of Road .Supervisor for six ^ears, and for the 
 same length of time served on the School Board. 
 After the deatii of the mother, Mr. Sims, Sr., found 
 a home for his cliildren where tne}' could all be 
 together. It was his wife's last request that they 
 should not be separated and as soon as possible he 
 purcliased a farm, and in the fall of 1858, gathered 
 the little ones around him, his second daughter, 
 Marian, then taking charge of tlie domestic afifairs. 
 As far as possible she filled her mother's place in 
 the household and tenderly looked after the inter- 
 ests of the younger children until January 27, 
 1859, when she was called to meet the loved one 
 gone before. Sarah then took charge of the home 
 and the children remained with tlieir father until, 
 having attained to mature years, they left the pa- 
 rental roof for homes of their own. They all re- 
 ceived such educational advantages as the schools 
 of the county afforded, and are now honored citi- 
 zens of the community where they reside. 
 
 When ]Mr. Sims purchased his present farm it 
 was in a ivild, uncultivated slate, but with cliarac- 
 teristie energy he began its development, and as 
 the result of his timely efforts now has one of the 
 best homes in Grant Township. He has made all 
 the modern improvements, and one hundred and 
 thirty -seven acres pay tribute to the care and labor 
 which he bestows on it. His path of life has bj- 
 no means been a smooth one. Obstacles, which at 
 first seemed almost insurmountable, have hindered 
 ills progress but he overcame them, gaining 
 strength by the effort, and at length has won a 
 j)lace among the well-to-do citizens. Honorable 
 and upright in all his dealings he has won the 
 respect and confidence of his fellow citizens, and 
 has made a record of which his children and friends 
 may well be proud. Oftentimes he has -been called 
 upon to serve in oflicial positions and for many 
 years was connected with the Sciiool Board. So- 
 cially, he is a member of the Inde|)endcnt Order 
 of Odd Fellows, and in (lolitics is independent. 
 He has given liberally to the advancement of all 
 public enterprises, having donated ^1000 to the 
 the location of the State Fair grounds, and has also 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 GU) 
 
 made generous contributions for the promotion of 
 
 educalional interests. He was instrumental in 
 buililing the first school house in Grant Park, and 
 in man}' other ways has identified himself with the 
 county's history. As a citizen lie stands second to 
 none in the respect of his acquaintan(,es, and we 
 feel that this record of his life work will be re- 
 ceived with interest by his many friends. 
 
 —J"* 
 
 !S> IIARLES P. REINIG, who is numbered 
 my among the early settlers of Des Moines of 
 
 \^' 1855, was born on the 10th of July, 183'J, 
 in Baden, Germany, and is one of a familj' of seven 
 children, five sons and two daughters. In 1852, 
 his father, Joiin M. Reinig, emigrated to America 
 and with his family settled in L'lncaster, (Jhio, 
 where for three years he made his home, he then 
 came to Des Moines and on the site of the Gateh 
 Block erected a two-story brisk residence. He was 
 so far advanced in life at the time of his emigration 
 to America that he never became familiar with the 
 English language. He also partially lost his hear- 
 ing while crossing the ocean which facts combined 
 to determine him to not learn the tongue of his 
 adopted country, but nevertheless he formed many 
 acquaintances and to quote the language of another, 
 ''everj' man was his friend." He lived a life 
 worthy the respect and confidence of all and died 
 in 1880 at the advanced age of eighty-five years. 
 His wife having survived him three years, passed 
 away iu.l883. The seven children who accompan- 
 ied their parents to America, with one excei)tion, 
 are all living: Ered, the eldest, is a resident of 
 Des Moinos; Pauline is the wife of Gtorge Sneer 
 of this city; Mrs. Otillie Sinn, is the ne.xt younger; 
 Charles P. is the fourth in order of birth; Louis O. 
 died at his home in Cass County, Iowa, in Febru- 
 ary, IbJ^i^, leaving a wife and three sons; Augustus 
 is in the employ of the I'nited States Express Com- 
 pany ; Adolph W. has been Auditor for the same 
 company many years and makes !.is home in Des 
 ftloines. 
 
 Charles P. Kcinig, whose name heads this sketch, 
 
 was about fourteen years of age when with bis 
 
 l)arents he crossed the Atlantic to America and 
 was a lad of sixteen years when he took up his 
 residence in Des Monies. More than a third of a 
 century has since elapsed, during which period he 
 has witnessed the growth and progress of the cilj', 
 has aided in its upbuilding and bore no inconsid- 
 erable part in the promotion of its enterprises. 
 Having arrived at years of maturity he was joined 
 in wedlock with Miss Mary Iluglin, daughter of J. 
 IIuglin,and a native of Germany. She has resided 
 in this country since her childhood, having been 
 brought to America by her parents. Their union 
 has been blessed with four children, two sons and 
 two daughters: Charles E. is the present Teller of 
 the Des Moines Savings Bank; William F. is en- 
 gaged in the drug business in Kanesville, Mo.; Ida 
 is the wife of Ezra K. Failer; and Ettie, who com- 
 pletes the family, is at home. 
 
 In his i)olitical alHliations, Mr. Reinig is a Demo- 
 crat though like his respected father he sup[)orted 
 the Kepulilican party until a change in his views- 
 led him to adopt the principles of the Democracy. 
 He is highly respected for his integrity of character 
 and for his u|)right antl honorable record as a citi- 
 zen, lie and his family have a i)le;isaut home in 
 the capital city, where he has now resided continu- 
 ously for thirty-six years and have a wide circle of 
 friends and acquaintances. Mr. Reinig is a mem- 
 ber of the Old Settlers' Society of I'olk County, 
 Iowa, and is much interested in its ali'airs. 
 
 
 /ACIIARIAH COOK, father of Mrs. Joshua 
 II. Il.'itch, was born on the 1 5th of A|)ril, 
 1800, in \irgiuia. His early life passed 
 uneventfully, his time being spent in the usual 
 manner of boys in that period and State. In his 
 early manhood he learned the trade of a carpenter 
 and builder, which he followed in [lursuit of fortune 
 throughout life. 
 
 Having arrived at years of maturity, Mr. Cook 
 was united in iiiarn:ige with Miss Barbara Lemmon, 
 also a native of the Old Dtmiiiiion, born March 27. 
 1801. They becaii e the (>arents of eight children 
 
620 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 wbo lived to manhood and womanhood, the record 
 of the family being as follows: James M., the eld- 
 est, died in California. Scptcmher 19, 1887; George 
 W. is eng.iged in carpentering in Rook Island. III.; 
 Joseph is a miner of Salt Lake, Wyoming County, 
 riah Ter.; Mary E. is the wife of C. R. Ains- 
 worth. of Moline 111. ; Martha is the widow of V. A. 
 Wliittaker. of Denver, Colo.; Samuel S. is a re- 
 tired farmer of Montana; llattie is the wife of Otis 
 Dinimiek. a prominent citizen of Moline,.Ill.; and 
 Sarah A. is tlie widow of Hon. Josiiua Hatch of 
 I)es IMoines. 
 
 Having resided in Virginia until 1830, Mr. Cook, 
 following the course of human emigration wliicli 
 was steadily flowing westward, made his way to 
 Illinois and taking up his residence in Rock Island, 
 resumed his trade as a contractor and huilder, 
 whicli he continued until his death. Conscientious 
 in the discharge of every obligation and exijert as 
 a workman, he found little dilliculty in securing 
 employment and aided not a little to tlie material 
 upbuilding of the city in which lie made his homo. 
 After residing in Rock Island for tliirty-five years, 
 he deiiartcd this life on the 2i»th of January, 18G5. 
 His wife, who long survived him, died at her home 
 i.'i Moline, III.. M.arch 31, 1887, aged eighty-six 
 years and the last one of the charter members of 
 the church to which she belonged. This worth}' 
 couple were both members of the Ba|)tist Churcli 
 and, living earnest, consistent Christian lives won 
 the respect of all who knew them and stood high 
 in tlie community. 
 
 ILLIAM FRAIZER is engaged in farming 
 and stock-raising on section 9, Jefferson 
 ^/ Township, where he has a i>leasant home 
 surrounded by many of the comforts of life. The 
 Kraizer family has been connected with the agri- 
 cultural interests of this country for scver.al gener- 
 ations, and for some time past carried on farming 
 in the State of Tennessee. Eli Fraizer, the father 
 of our subject, was a native of that State, but when 
 a young man removed to Greene County, Ohio, 
 where he became acquainted with and married 
 
 Jane McFarland, who was born in Pennsylvania. 
 Shortly afterward they became residents of Waj'ne 
 County, Ird., where Mr. Fraizer made purchase of 
 one hundred and si.xty acres of uninii)ioved land, 
 and developed a farm. He afterward purchased a 
 farm in Ilenr}- Count}-, Ind., where he spent his 
 last (lays in peace and quiet. He was a. participant 
 in the War of 1812, as were two of his brothers, 
 who with himself were hon(jred and resi)ected citi- 
 zens in the community in which they lived. 
 
 The early life of our subject [jasscd unevent- 
 fully, the d.ays of his boyhood and youth being 
 spent on his father's farm, and in attendance at the 
 public schools, where he acquired a good English 
 education. It was in 18.')2 that he left Indiana, and 
 emigrated to Polk County, where he li.as since made 
 his home. His first purch.asc of land consisted of 
 two hundred and forty acres, which, after improv- 
 ing and cultivating for some years, he sold and 
 l)ought three hundred and twenty acres of raw prai- 
 rie land. With the assistrnce of his sons, Mr. 
 Fraizer soon succeeded in transforming that tract 
 into a well-developed farm, which yielded him a 
 good income for the care and labor wiiich he had 
 bestowed upon it. He erected a number of sub- 
 stantial and tasty buddings, hut at length exchanged 
 it for his present home in Jefferson Township. 
 
 Mr. Fraizer has been twice married. On the 28th 
 of July, 183G, he was joined in wedlock with Eliza 
 Bunday, daughter of Williai:i and Elizabeth Hun- 
 day, both of whom were natives of North Carolina. 
 Of this marriage were born three children, but only 
 one is now living — Hiram B., who is married and 
 resides with his family on a farm in Southern Kan- 
 sas; Eli and Miles died in youth. The second 
 maraiagc of Mr. Fraizer w.is celebrated Februarv 
 23, 1843, when Eliza Carroll became his wife. The 
 lady is a daughter of Hugh and Susanna Carroll. 
 Her father was a native of England, and a relative 
 of the Carroll who signed the Declaration of Inde- 
 pendence. He was an extensive manufacturer, and 
 a man of considerable imjjortance in the commu- 
 nity where he made his home. He l)ecame a resi- 
 dent of this country when a young man, settling 
 in Connecticut, where he married Susan Sabin, a 
 native of that State. Living in the days of the 
 Wesleys, Mr. and Mrs. Carroll accepted the faith 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 (;2i 
 
 wliicli tliey taught, cndiii-ing the stigma and pcrse- 
 futioii that members of tliat religious society were 
 subject to in tiie early claj\ 
 
 The marriage of William and Eliza Fraizcr was 
 blessed vvith seven chiidien, two of whom are now 
 deceased — Amanda !>., the third in order of birth; 
 and Isaac B.. the youngest. Mary Jane, the ehlest 
 of the family, is now the wife of Jacob Fees, a rep- 
 resentative farmer of Jefferson Township; Joseph 
 is a farmer and merchant of Lincoln, Iowa; James 
 is an extensive farmer and stock-raiser, owning 
 land which adjoins the old homestead ; Sarah K. is 
 the wife of Dr. Albert Sheidler, a prominent i>r.ac- 
 titioner of Guthrie County, Iowa; and J. E., an 
 energetic and successful business man of Granger, 
 where he is condiieling a butcher 'shop and meat 
 market. He married Dora Van Dorn, an estimable 
 lady, who departed this life in 1889, leaving one 
 child, a bright and beautiful little daughter of ten 
 summers, who is the idol of her grandparents, with 
 wjom she is now living. 
 
 William Fraizer and his family are well worthy 
 of mention in this volume, for they are numl)ered 
 among the best citizens of the county, and justly 
 merit the high respect and esteem in which they 
 are held throughout the community. The parents 
 are consistent members of the Christian Church, 
 and take an active interest in its advancement. Mr. 
 Fraizer is a member of the Farmers' Alliance, and 
 in politics is a stalwart Republican, having sup- 
 porteil that pari}' since its organization. 
 
 ^^ 
 
 NDUEW J. HICKS, a retired f:u-mer re- 
 siding in Rising .Sun, takes rank among 
 the prominent citizens of the count}'. He 
 is a native of Butler County, Ohio, born 
 February 22, 182'J,and on both the paternal and 
 UKiternal side is of German descent. Both fam- 
 ilies, however, settleil in America prior to the 
 Revolutionary War. His parents were Levi and 
 I'^li/.abctli (Dill) Kicks, the father a native of Guil- 
 ford County, N. C, and the mother of Mont- 
 gomery County. Ohio. When a youth Levi Ricks 
 went with his Lmiilv to Oliin, where he becnme 
 
 acquainted with Miss Dill. By occupation he was 
 a farmer, and followed that business in the Buck- 
 eye State until 1841, when he removed to Henry 
 Count\-, Ind.. where in connection with the cultiva- 
 tion of his land, he engaged in stock-raising. Al- 
 though born in a slave State, he was a strong 
 advocate of abolition principles, and immediately 
 after the organization of the Republican part.y, 
 which was formed to prevent the further e.xten- 
 sitm of slavery, he joined its ranks. He always 
 manifested a deep interest in political affairs, and 
 kept himself well informed on the leading issues of 
 the day. Both he and his wife were members of 
 the United Brethren Church, and the church edifice 
 in which they worshiped was erected on land 
 donated by Mr. Ricks for the purpose. The fam- 
 ily of this worthy couple numbered ten children, 
 of whom our subject is the eldest; Peter is en- 
 gaged in farming in Grant County, Ind.; Asenath 
 is the deceased wife of James Pratt; Julia A. is the 
 wife of William Rider, a farmer of Ap|)auoose 
 County, Iowa; Mary lillen married a Mr. Russell. 
 of Grant County, Ind.; Mercer, who was a mem- 
 ber of the Thirty-sixth Infantry, died in the ser- 
 vice near Richmond, Kj'.; Levi is a farmer of 
 Henry County, Ind.; Phwbe is the wife of David 
 Hutchinson, of Grant County, Ind.; John is a 
 farmer of Champlain County, Jll.; and Rhoda is 
 the wife of J. H. Black, of Henry County. Ind. 
 Both parents died in that county, the father at the 
 age of eighty years, the mother in her seventy- 
 fifth year. 
 
 In the common schools of Ohio and Henry 
 County, Ind., Henry Ricks acquired his education. 
 His boyhood days were spent under the parental 
 roof, but on reaching maturit}' he went to Kinns- 
 ton, Ind., where he learned the carpenter','- trade 
 which he followed for a number of yeai's. In 18,50 
 he went to Cincinnati, where he worked at that 
 occupation for a year, when lie went to Preble 
 County, Ohio. That proved an important step in 
 his life, for in that county he liecame acquainted 
 with and wedded .Miss Klizal)eth (;oodwin, the 
 wedding taking place on the 2."»(h of August, 
 1852. The lady was born in Preble County, and is 
 a daughter of .lames and Lavina (\Vard) Goodwin 
 bolb of whom wen- natives of Davis County, N. C. 
 
622 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 although they were married in Ohio. The young 
 couple began tlieir domestic life in the Buckeye 
 Slate, but on the 1st of March, 1854, took up their 
 residence in Harrison Townslii]), Henry County, 
 Ind., where Mr. Ricks purchased a farm of two 
 hundred acres, paying .§12.50 per acre. In 18G8 he 
 sold for §75 per 'acre and came to the West, where 
 he made purchase of eight hundred and twenty 
 acres of land located in Camp and Beaver Town- 
 ships, Polk Count}'. That farm continued to be 
 his home until 1884, when having accumulated a 
 sufficient capital to enable him to live a retired 
 life, lie removed to Rising Sun, where we now Gnd 
 him. His entire possessions have been acquired 
 by Ills own efforts. lie started out in life with 
 nothing save a young man's bright hope of the 
 future and a determination to succeed, but full of 
 life and energy, he did whatever presented itself. 
 With Gen. Garfield he believed that things do not 
 turn u\> in this world unless some one turns them 
 ui), and made the most of ever^- opportunity. His 
 life has been a bus\' one, eventful and interesting, 
 and has brought its own reward. When farming 
 he believed ii: keei)ing good material on liand, and 
 his stock was of tlie best grades. During the 
 fourteen years he was engaged in buying and 
 shiiiping he never i)ureliased poor cattle, horses or 
 hogs, l)elieving that the finest grades paid better 
 in the end. He still owns in Camp and Beaver 
 Townships five hundred and si.\ty-six acres of rich 
 and fertile land, higlil^' improved, ami has shipi)ed 
 on an average five car-loads of cattle per annum 
 and two car-loads of Poland-China hogs. 
 
 .Air. and Mrs. Hicks had a family of four chil- 
 dren — Winfield S., born in Preble Count}', Ohio, 
 December 5. 1853, wcilded Mary M. Smith, and is 
 now oper.'iting his father's land; Ilattie .1., born in 
 Henry County, Ind., December 17, 1856, is the 
 wife of Milton Walli'r, a farmer of Nel^aska; Lil- 
 lian L. is the wife of A. F. Snedeker, a farmer of 
 Polk County, by whom she has three children — 
 Charles II., Eva P. and Morris C; Kva is at home 
 with her father. The mother of this famil}', who 
 was a faithful and active member of the Christian 
 Church, died October 18, 1887. On the 13th of 
 May, ISHlt, Mr. Hicks wedded Mrs. Margaret N. 
 (Hawkins) Gallian. In politics he was first a Whig 
 
 and later a Republican, liaving supported that 
 part}' since its organization. For a number of 
 years he served as Justice of the peace, and for 
 many years he has been a member of the Christian 
 Church, giving liberally of his means to its sup- 
 port, and in all jxissible ways aiding in its advance- 
 ment. Few men in the count}' are more widely 
 known and none are held in higher regard than Mr. 
 Ricks, who takes rank among the public-s[)irited 
 and progressive citizens of the community. 
 
 ?^] DITII M. GOILD, M. D. has been connected 
 with the medical fraternity of Polk County 
 -^^ since 1880, having for the [last ten years 
 
 been engaged in practice in Des Moines. She was 
 born on the 15th day of M.ay, 1853, in Litchfield, 
 Conn., where her early life was passed and is a 
 daughter of Edmund and Annie (Wood) Gould. 
 Her father is a native of England, born in Derby- 
 shire in 1821. When a young man of twenty-six 
 years, he crossed the Atlantic to America and lo- 
 cated in Connecticut, where he embarked in busi- 
 ness as a grain dealer, in which line he lias 
 since continued. He is the youngest of thirteen 
 brothers. Ills wife was born near Litchfield, Conn., 
 in 1823, and is a sister of two prominent physicians 
 of the iMnpire State: C. S. Wood, an eminent 
 doctor of New York City; and M. M. Wood, of 
 Green, N. Y. Mr. and Jlrs. Gould are yet resi- 
 dents of Brooklyn and both are members of the 
 Episcopal Church. They are parents of six child- 
 ren, two sons and four daughters. 
 
 The subject of this sketch, Dr. Edith Gould, is 
 the only member of the family living in Iowa. In 
 her early girlhood she attended the public schools 
 of her native city, after which she became a stu- 
 dent in a normal school iu Brockport, N. Y., where 
 she remained until reaching the senior year. The 
 succeeding two \ears of her life were spent .as a 
 teacher in Syracuse, N. Y., after which she began 
 fitting herself for the medical profession. She 
 studied for a year in the Syracuse I'niversity and 
 iu 1878, graduated from the Woman's Medical Col- 
 lege of Pennsylvania. .She then spent one year in the 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 623 
 
 hospital at Philadelpliia and in 1879, lowitod in St. 
 Paul, Minn., but the following yeai came to Des 
 Moines, where siie has practiced continually since, 
 meeting with excellent success. 
 
 Dr. Gould is a member of the Polk County Med- 
 ical Society, of the Iowa State Medical Society and 
 the American JMcdical Association. She is liber- 
 ally patronized b}- the peojile of Des Moines and 
 is ever highl}- spoken of bj- the leading members 
 of the profession. 
 
 J^ RS. A. D. KING, M. D. Tiiere are a num- 
 '^'V ber of ladies connected with the medical 
 l\ fraternit}- of Polk County, but none have 
 won a firmer hold on the confidence of the 
 people, or are more deserving of their support, 
 than she whose name heads this sketch. Mrs. 
 King was born in Tioga County, Pa., January 16, 
 1836, and is a daughter of Theodorus and Susanna 
 (Bowen) Doty. The founder of the Doty famil3' 
 in America crossed the Atlantic in the "Mayflower," 
 and with the little band of Pilgrim Fathers settled 
 at Plymoutii Rock, Mass., whence has spread the 
 family south and west. Theodorous Doty was a 
 native of the Empire State, born in Lewis Count^', 
 in 1806. When a young man, he accompanied his 
 parents to Pennsylvania, where lie became ac- 
 quainted with and married Miss Bowen, who was 
 born in Rhode Island, in 1810, and also removed 
 with her family to the Keystone State. Their union 
 was Ijlessed with a family- of nine children, seven 
 of whom are now living, but Mrs. King is the onl}' 
 one who has followed a professional career. The 
 mother was calle<l to her final rest in 1887, but the 
 father is still living and makes his home witii his 
 daughter in Des Moines. lie is a cousin of tiie 
 eminent judge and ex-Governor of Wisconsin, 
 James Duane Doty. Farming was iiis life occupa- 
 tion, and he is a follower of the faith taught b}' the 
 Society of Friends, of whicii religious organization 
 his wife was also a member. 
 
 Mrs. King was educated in an academy in her 
 native State, and in Dccenihcr, 18,58, became the 
 wife of John King, who was born in Tioga County, 
 
 Pa., and cducnted in Alfred Center College. He 
 followed merchandizing for a livelihood and w.as 
 quite successful in his business pursuits, but six 
 3'ears after his marriage the final summons came, 
 he dying in 1865. He left a widow and two chil- 
 dren to mourn his loss, but the son, Fred D., was 
 called to join his father in the better land when a 
 young man of twent3'-one years. The daughter, 
 Margaret, is now engaged in teaching in the pub- 
 lic schools of this city. 
 
 Several years after her husband's deatii. Mrs. 
 King determined to prepare herself for the medi- 
 cal profession. In 1 873 she removed to Iowa City 
 and began her studies under the direction of Dr. 
 Schrader, her preceptor, in the Iowa State Uni- 
 versity. She had done much private reading prior 
 to this time, and in 1876 she was graduated from 
 the medical department of the Iowa State Univers- 
 ity. Almost immediateh' thereafter. Dr. King 
 came to Des Moines, where she has since devoted 
 her energies to practice. She is in realitj' the pio- 
 neer lady pliysician of the city, for although others 
 had come to Des ]\Ioines, they had not made per- 
 manent locations. She came here to make her 
 home, and has found her stay iirofitablc. having 
 secured during her fourteen years' residence a lib- 
 eral patronage among tiie best families. She is a 
 member of both the I'olk County and the Iowa 
 State Medical Societies, and is a faithful worker Iti 
 the Christian Church. 
 
 HAULKS WOODWORTIl ENSIGN, pro- 
 prietor of a livery, board and sale stable, of 
 Des Moines, is one of the earl}- settlers of 
 that city, dating his residence from June, 18.51). 
 His birth occurreil in Saratoga County, N. Y., on 
 the 23d of December, 1813, he being a son of John 
 and ' Esther (Wood worth) Ensign, who were also 
 nati\es of the Empire State. In early life the 
 father w.as a farmer and miller of Saratoga County, 
 but when Charles W. was about nine years of age 
 le removed to Essex County, settling on a large 
 tract of land ne:ir Lake Champlain, which he h.ad 
 previously purchased. The whole constituted some 
 
624 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 two thousand acres of timber land, mostly pine. 
 There Mr. Ensiffn erected four large sawmills and 
 also got large quantities of sliip spars and square 
 timber. He also owned boats, which plied on the 
 lalie in the line of his lumber interests. He made 
 his purchase of this land just prior totiie construc- 
 tion of the Xortiiern or Lake Cham plain Canal, 
 which event greatly added to the value of his 
 jnoperty. Mr. Ensign became one of tlie most 
 prominent business rccii of that section of the 
 State. In connection with liis sawmills, he owned 
 a grist or flouring mill, and both branc hes of the 
 business netted him a good income. 
 
 Charles VV. En.dgn, the subject of this sketch, 
 received a common-sc'liool education, and when 
 not in school was variously employed about the 
 mills, on the farm, in tiie woods, or spent his lime 
 in boating. He was married in December. 1837, 
 bis union being with Miss Harriet Tarbell, a daugh- 
 ter of Daniel Tarbell, a prominent merchant and 
 lumberman of tiiat region. Three children were 
 born unto them, two sons and a daughter. Edgar, 
 the eldest, who married Miss lUiten and resides in 
 Colorado Springs, is a law^'er by profession and 
 h.as charge of the forestry of that country". Frances, 
 the only daughter, is now the wife of John Lynde, 
 of Des Moines. George Frederick, the youngest 
 of the family, wedded Miss Hilda Stitt, and is en- 
 gaged in business witli liis father. 
 
 While a resident of Essex County-, Mr. Ensign 
 was engaged in the lumber business, and was also 
 elected and served as High Sheriff of the county, 
 and served for a term of three years. He also fdled 
 the position of Dc[)uly Sheriff for six years. At 
 one lime lie owned valuable property at Saratoga. 
 Springs, where he began the erection of a large 
 hotel, but owing to reverses in business, his plans 
 were interrupted, and in 1859 he came to Des 
 Moines and omliarkcd in his present business as 
 proprietor of a liver3'. board and sale stable. He 
 has been thus employed duiing a longer period 
 Ihan any other liveryman in the city, ami is widely 
 and favurabl3- known. While in New York he 
 operated largelj in breeding an<l dealing in fine 
 horses, and when he came to Des Moines brought 
 with him a pair of fine colts, which' he subse- 
 qi.enlly sold for S!2,0(l(). lie has ahv.ays possessed 
 
 a love for fine horses and has bred and kept many 
 of Ihera, having some promising colts in his stable 
 at this time. In politics Mr. Ensign was a Whig 
 in carl^- life, and has been a Republican since the 
 organization of thai party. He is a genial, kind- 
 hearted man, who has many friends and few ene- 
 mies. 
 
 JUOF. LYMAN S. 150TTENF1ELD, who 
 ) occupies the chair of English I.,iterature in 
 , Drake University, was born in Greene 
 
 I \ Count}', Pa., August 17, 18;>3, and is a son 
 of William C. and .lane (l)r.ake) Bottentield. He 
 comes from a long line of farmers, and is of Ger- 
 man descent. His paternal great-grandfather, Adam 
 IJoltenfield, was a German by birth, but at a vcrj- 
 early age became a resident of Virgini.a, where he 
 was educated, and spent his remaining life engaged 
 in agricultural pursuits. Having removed to 
 Greene County, I'a., he purchased a tract of land 
 which remained in the family until the piist few 
 j'ears. His son Adam, the grandfather of our sub- 
 ject, oiterated the old homestead, and there the 
 father of the professor was born in 1832. When 
 he had attained to mature years, he wedded IMiss 
 Drake, who was also bt)rn in the same county, and 
 in 1834. Their residence in Pennsylvania con- 
 tinued until 18,^1, when they removed to McLean 
 County, III., where they made their home for seven 
 years. Mr. Bottenfield then engaged in farming in 
 Keokuk County, Iowa, from 18G1 until 1877, when 
 he removed to Audubon County, Iowa, where liis 
 death occurred. His widow still survives him, and 
 makes her home in Des Moines. The}- united with 
 tiie Christian Church at an early age, and by their 
 ui)right and consistent lives, won the respect of all. 
 In their faniil}- were nine children, seven of whom 
 are yet living. Three of that number are engaged 
 in the profession of teaching. 
 
 Prof. Lj'nian is the eldest of the family. Ills 
 early life was passed in much the usual manner of 
 farmer lads, assisting his father during the summer 
 months, and attending the common schools of the 
 neigliborhood in the winter season. He showed an 
 aptitude and love for learning, and not content 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 625 
 
 vvitli the advantages which, he received, he de- 
 tenuined to pursue a collegiate course. In 1671, 
 he entered Oskaloosa College, liut did not take a 
 continuous course as he was obliged to meet all of 
 his own expenses, and at intervals was compelled to 
 engage in teaching in order to replenish his ex- 
 chequer. He was graduated from the classical 
 course in 1 878, and the same year was tendered the 
 chair of Knglisli Literature in the Oskaloosa Col- 
 lege, which he held until he accei)ted his present 
 position. In 1880. he received the degree of A. 
 ]\I., from his Alma Mater. At the opening of Drake 
 Univeisity, he was elected to the chair of English 
 Literature, and made Superintendent of the Stu- 
 dents' Home. Those in charge of the school have 
 had no occasion to regret their ciioice of Prof. Bot- 
 tenfield for the position. He has worked out a 
 S|)lendid course of study in liis depaitment. and 
 planned the synthetic method of teaching grammar, 
 which has proved of great value. 
 
 In 1875, Prof. Bottenfield led to the marriage 
 altar Miss Sue L. Reed, an accomplished lady who 
 was also a student of Oskaloosa College. She is a 
 native of Keokuk Count}', Iowa, and hy their union 
 have been born six children. 
 
 Prof. Bottenfield and his wife are members of 
 the Christian Church, and he is Superintendent of 
 the Sunday-school. For the past seventeen years 
 he has been identified with the educational interests 
 of Iowa, and is rapidly gaining a high rank among 
 the able instructors of this State. In the highest 
 and best sense, he is a self-made man; his scholars 
 love and respect him; his acquaintances esteem him 
 highl}-; and his colleagues acknowledge him to be 
 a man of great ability and sterling worth. 
 
 ^^EORGE ROYAL, M. D., who is engaged in 
 III ,=- the practice of medicine in Des Moines, was 
 ^^^J born in Berkshire County, Mass., on the 
 15th of Jul}', 1853, and is a son of Ambrose and 
 Adelaide (Bnchner) Royal. The Royal family is 
 of Englisli origin. The father of our subject was 
 born near Montreal, Canada, and in early life was 
 deprived by death of the i)rotection and counsel 
 of ids [>arents. Having at length maile his way to 
 
 Massachusetts, he there uiet and married Miss 
 Buchner, who vras born near Quebec, Canada, and 
 during his residence in that community he operated 
 a marble quarry, but after removing to Connecticut 
 engaged in farming. In 18C5 his wife died, being 
 thirty-nine yeais of age. Mr. Royal however still 
 survives and is living in Coventry, Conn., at the 
 age of sixty-five years. He has taken an active 
 part in local affairs, especially on the question of 
 prohibition. In religious belief he is a Congrega- 
 tionalist. Their family consisied of six children, 
 five sons, and one daughter who'died in 1882. The 
 Doctor is the eldest son. The others are : Lewis E.. 
 who is Mayor of Mt. Pleasant, Mich.; Nelson is 
 engaged in the practice of law in Des Moines; 
 Thomas C. is a physician of Ballston, N. Y.; and 
 Horace G. is a farmer of Connecticut. 
 
 Until seventeen years of age, Dr. Royal spent 
 his time upon his father's farm and in attendance 
 at the district schools. At that age his father gave 
 him his time and the next year he entered iS'atchaug 
 High School, from which he graduated on the com- 
 pletion of a thiee yearcj' course in 1874, and 
 entered the Freshman class of Amherst College the 
 same year, but on account of failing health was 
 compelled to abandon his studies and for eighteen 
 months was an invalid. Having been elected 
 Principal of the East Hampton High School he 
 served in that capacity acceptably three years and 
 .at the same lime when not engaged with his school 
 duties read medicine under the direction of Dr. A. 
 S. Field. He had formed the determination to 
 make the practice of medicine his life work and 
 in 1882, graduated from tlie Homeopathic Medical 
 College of New York, receiving the first prize in 
 treatment of diseases of children. After piactieing 
 a year in Rockville, Conn., taking the practice of 
 Dr. C. L. Beach, who left on a vacation, he came 
 to Des Moines in 188.'5, and has here practiced con- 
 tinuously since. He is a member of the Polk 
 County Homeopathic Medical Society, of which he 
 served as Secretary two years and is now Chairman 
 of the Committee on Materia Medica. He is also 
 a member of the Hahnemann Medical Association 
 of Iowa and has served three years as its .Secretary. 
 
 On the 27th of November, 1871), Dr. Royal was 
 united in marriage with Miss Ella J. Kingsburw a 
 
626 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 native of Coventiy, Conn., and tlieir union has 
 lieen blessed wiiii three children: Malcolm A., 
 Wilmot K., and Harold P. The Doctor and his 
 wife are members of the Congregational Church 
 anil he is regarded as one of tlie leading citizens of 
 Des Moines. Although never allowing himself to 
 fall behind in the advance march of his profession 
 he has yet found a little time to devote to public 
 interests. He served for three years as a member 
 of the North Des Moines School Board, of which he 
 is now President and is Treasurer of Cottage Home 
 Building Association. He is fast gaining an envia- 
 ble reputation as a pli3'sician and has gained the 
 respect of the coinniunily in a remarkable degree. 
 
 LDER DENNIS R. ELLIS, who resides on 
 J^ section 3, Four ;\Iile Township, is numbered 
 among the early settlers of the countj', hav- 
 ing here resided^or thirty-five years. Although he is 
 engaged to some extent in farming, he has devoted 
 the greater part of his time and energies to the 
 work of the Gospel, laboring for the upbuilding of 
 the church and the spiritual welfare of his fellow- 
 men. He was born in Orleans County, N. Y., August 
 3,1 841, and is a son of Walter and Clarissa (Nichols) 
 Ellis, both of whom were natives of the Empire 
 State, and descended from I'uritan ancestry. Our 
 subject is the eldest of their family of seven chil- 
 dren. Jason, the second son, was a member of the 
 Eighteenth Iowa Infantry, and died in the service 
 at Springfield, Mo.; Minerva is the wife of Frank 
 Burke, a farmer of O'Brien County, Iowa; James 
 resides in Coon Rapids, Carroll County, Iowa; 
 Mar}- is the wife of Harry Chamberlain, a resident 
 of Si)encer, Claj* County, Iowa; Nelson is a farmer 
 of Warren County, Iowa, and Elmer Is living in 
 O'Brien County. 
 
 The father of this family was reared to the occu- 
 pation of farming and followeil that pursuit dur- 
 ing his entire life. Selling his farm in Orleans 
 County, N. Y., he removed to Marsiiall County, 
 III., where he purchasetl land and made his hame 
 until 1H55, when he came to Polk County, settling 
 ill Beaver Township. I'pon a farm of one hundred 
 
 and sixty acres he resided until 1870, when he re- 
 moved to Rising Sun, where the succeeding five 
 3'ears of his life were spent. He then resided in 
 Dexter, Dallas County-, Iowa, later in Cla^' County 
 and subsequenti}' became a resideat of Faulk 
 County. Dak., where he made his home until the 
 fall of 1889. when he removed to Marysville, Mo., 
 where, with his loved wife, he is now residing. 
 Both are devoted members of the Christian Church 
 and are earnest workers in the Master's vineyard. 
 Mr. ICllis is a quiet, unassuming man, kind and 
 generous in disposition and is greatly res()ected for 
 his many good qualities. 
 
 Our subject began his school life in his native 
 county and completed his education in this county. 
 He was a lad of fifteen years when his parents came 
 to low'.'i, and since that time he has been identified 
 with the history of this community. He chose for 
 an occupation that business for which he was reared 
 but gives much of his time to the work of the min- 
 istry. At the age of eighteen years lie united with 
 the Christian Church of Rising Sun, then a small 
 congregation of fifty or sixty members, and has 
 continued his connection with it through all these 
 years. In his 3'outb he spent his leisure hours in 
 study, thus fitting himself for a life of usefulness. 
 He made his home under the parental roof until the 
 age of twenty-three jenrs when, in 18G4, he was 
 united in the hol^' bonds of matrimony with Miss 
 Mary J. Ellis, who is also a native of Orleans 
 County, N. Y., but they were not in an3- way re- 
 lated. She was reared in Waukesha County. Wis., 
 and came to Polk Count3' for her health. Their 
 union has been blessed with seven children, as fol- 
 lows; Alva, who was born October 13, 1805; 
 Charles and Eltie, who died in infanc3-; Ora, born 
 December 10, 1870; Eddie, Miiy 16, 1873; Walter, 
 November 22, 1875, and Minnie, March 2, 187!*. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Ellis have given their children 
 good educational advantages and have reared them 
 to habits of raoralit3'. all having become members 
 of the church. Having jnirchased fifty-five acres 
 of land in Camp Township, Polk Count3',Mr. Ellis 
 and his bride there began their domestic life, but 
 after a year sold and went on a visit to her parents. 
 On their return the}- made their home in Rising 
 Sun until I8(«7 when our subject purchased his 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 f>27 
 
 present farm, then comprising seventy acres of 
 wild, undeveloped land. He at once turned ids 
 attention to its cultivation and by subsequent pur- 
 chase lias extended its boundaries until now one; 
 liundred and sevent^'-five acres [jay a golden Irili- 
 ute to the care and labor which he bestows upon it. 
 He has tnade many excellent improvements, erected 
 a storv-and-a-half frame residence and all the out- 
 buildings necessar3' to well regulated farming, and 
 surrounded the home with beautiful shade and 
 firnameutal trees. He has never, however, let his 
 farm duties interfere with his church work. From 
 the time when he confessed his faith in Christ he 
 has taken an active interest in promoting the cause, 
 and in 1863 was ordained as a minister. His serv- 
 ices have been given gratuitously wherever needed, 
 laboring not for pecuniary benefit but for the good 
 of his fellow-men. His work has been blessed by 
 Tnany additions to the church, fifty having been 
 added at one time under his preaching. He never 
 waited to be called upon for assistance, but when he 
 saw that his services were needed gave them cheer- 
 fully and freely. His example as well as precept 
 has been an important feature in his labors. His 
 upright life, and his entire consecration to the work, 
 have won many hearts and taught them to search 
 for the motives which influenced him, and in their 
 seeking they learned and accepted the truth. In 
 politics he has ever supported the Republican |)arty 
 and entertains strong prohibition principles. 
 
 €-*^- 
 
 1f OHM 1'. C(^)OK, a farmer of Walnut Town- 
 ship, residing on section 10, was born in 
 l)es Moines, .January 4, 1856, and is fourth 
 in a family of two sons and three daugh- 
 ters — Catherine, Frances, Charles A., John P. and 
 P'rank 15. His father, J. S. Cook, was the eldest 
 son, and third child of a family of eleven children 
 born to liurnett and Abigail (Christie) Cook, of 
 whom mention is made further along in this sketch. 
 Burnett Cook, grandfather t.f John P. Cook, 
 was born on Long Island, August 21, 1786. He 
 was one of a family of eight children, named as 
 follows: Ix)tt, Silas, Uurnett, Polly Fulkcrson, 
 
 Hannah King. Sallie Conklin, I'lelsey Allen. Pluebe 
 Di-ake. The parents of these children, subsequent to 
 their birtii, located in Morris County, N. J. In the 
 year 17S)1, when Burnett Cook was eight ye'irs (>f 
 age his parents, with all the members of the family, 
 removed to and settled in Lnolowville, Tom])kins 
 County, N. Y. At this pl.ace Grandfather Burnett 
 served an ai)prenticcship as a turner and carver. 
 At the age of twenty-two he visited Orange 
 County, N. Y.. where he formed the acquaintance 
 of Abigail Christie, whom he married in 1808. Tak- 
 ing up his residence in Ludlowville, it continued 
 to be his home until 182i), in which year he located 
 at Trumansburg, in the same county. To him and 
 his wife were horn a family of eleven children, five 
 sons and six daughters, viz: Sarah M. Smith, Mary 
 A. Giles, Jehiel S., Calistie ITalsey, Abigail M ^Cor- 
 mick, Andrew B., James C, Jackson, Elizabeth 
 Jane King, John Giles and Charlotte. The last 
 named died in infancy. 
 
 The father of our subject was born March 12, 
 1813, was married Janu.iry 8, 1846, to Catherine 
 Ann Peters, born Februarj' 28, 1817. She was a 
 daughter of Philip and Hannah (Markle) Peters, 
 a native of Pennsylvania, from whence they re- 
 moved to Tompkins Count}', N. Y., and later to 
 Seneca County, same State, where both died. Philii) 
 Pi'ters was a farmer by occupation, and served his 
 country in the War of 1812. Mr. and Mrs. Cook 
 resided in the Empire State until 185.^, at which 
 time they emigrated to Iowa, settling in Des 
 Moines, where Mr. Cook followed various employ- 
 ments. In 1859, he went to Colorado, and in 
 18G1, rraurned, going back ag.iin the same year. 
 He enlisted at Denver, Colo., November 21, 1862, 
 in the Third Coloiado Regiment, and was commis- 
 sioned (Quartermaster with the rank of First Lieu- 
 tenant. On the 18th of F'ebruaiy, 1861, he was com- 
 missioned I Quartermaster of the Second Colorado 
 Cavalry, to date from November 26, 186.'?. He 
 served principally in Missouri. 
 
 When the war was over he returned to his home 
 and continued his residence in Des Moines until 
 the spring of 186'.t, when he went to Colorado and 
 engaged in mining. An accident caused his ileal h 
 November 25, of the same year. He was a K'epulili- 
 cnn in polities and served as an Alderman •■ind uther 
 
628 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 oflicial positions. His wife, wlio was a faithful 
 member of tlie Prcsliyterian Cburcli, survived lier 
 luisbaml until September 15, 1878, when she too 
 was called home. 
 
 John P. Cook, the subject of this notice has 
 spent his entire life in Polk County, and from his 
 youth up Ills career has been characterized by up- 
 rightness and fair dealing, llius winning him the re- 
 spect of tliosc with wiiom he has come in contact. 
 After attending the common schools of Des Moines 
 he went to New York in 1874. and attended the 
 Academic School of Aurora, and Cornell College, 
 of Ithaca, N. Y., until the spring of 1875, when he 
 returned to Polk Count}' and embarked in business 
 for himself as a farmer, which occu[)ation he has 
 since followed. He owns one hundred and sixty 
 .acres of aralilc land, all suitable for agricultural 
 purposes and has a pleasant home. 
 
 On the 10th of September, 1878, Mr. Cook mar- 
 ried Ella Jordan, a daughter of J. C. Jordan, 
 also a native of this county, born March 14, 1857. 
 She is an estimiible lady and a member of the 
 IMethodist Church. Their union li.as been blessed 
 with four children, and the family circle remains 
 unbroken. Jehiel S., the eldest, was born August 
 22, 18711; Emma Agnes, September 23, 1881; John 
 Calvin, April IG, 1 885; and Frederick, February 1.3, 
 1888. Mr. Cook is conservative in his views but 
 generally supports the Republican parly. He is a 
 member of Myrtle Lodge No. 9, K. P., of Des 
 Moines. Although a quiet and unassuming man he 
 possesses qualities of sterling worth and well de- 
 serves a representation in this volume, whose pur- 
 pose is to record the lives of the leading citizens 
 and pioneers of Polk County. 
 
 ^m- 
 
 oris IIARBACH, the leading manufacturer 
 and wholesale dealer of furniture in Iowa, 
 j^. takes rank among the prominent business 
 men of the West, lie is proprietor of the oldest 
 mc-cantile house in Des Moines, wliicli he has con 
 ducted continuously since 18C0. Mr. Ilarliacii was 
 born in the Province of Nassau, Germany, Novem- 
 bea 22. 18.38, and is a son of Frederick and Janet 
 
 (Miller) Harbach, both of whom were natives of 
 the same country. He was reared and educated in 
 in his native land, being sixteen 3'ears of .age when 
 in the fall of 1854, he emigrated to America, in 
 company with his brother Christian. On arriving 
 in the I'nited States, Louis made his home in Mo- 
 bile, Ala., for a period of one year. He tlien went 
 to Louisville, Ky.. where he spent two j'ears as an 
 api)reutice to the saddler and harness maker's trade, 
 after which he came to Des Moines in June, 1857. 
 For the succeeding two j'cars he was em[)lo3'ed at 
 his trade as a journeyman, and in the fall of 185!), 
 went to Cincinnati, Ohio, to learn upholstering. It 
 took six months to perfect himself in that line of 
 industr}', after which he returned to this city, and 
 in 1860, joined his brother Christian in the furni- 
 ture business, which the former had started in a 
 small way in 1856. They commenced operations 
 under the name of C. Harbach & Brother, but the 
 style was afterward changed to C. & L. Harbach. 
 When they began, they operated only a small hand 
 shop, situated on West Second Street, between 
 Court Avenue and W.alnut Street, and em[)loyed 
 but four workmen. By the exercise of diligence 
 and good judgment In the management of their 
 affairs, their business was rapidly- incre.ased, neces- 
 sitating more commodious quarters. A retail store 
 was built on Third Street, a brick structure, 44x132 
 feet ami four stories high, with basement, which 
 is now used as the wholos.ale mantel and under- 
 taking department and upholstering shops. Their 
 fiictory is situated on West Locust, between First 
 and Second Streets, and is a brick structure, sixty- 
 six feet square, three stories high, and a basement. 
 The present wholesale house is situated on West 
 Second Street, and that building which is con- 
 structed of lirick and stone, five stories high with 
 basement, and is 44x130 feet, is always well stocked. 
 The present retail estalilishment was erected in 
 1 887, and is situated on West Walnut Street, at Nos. 
 412 and 414. The building, which is constriu'ted 
 of brick and stone, measures 41x132 feet, and is 
 seven stories high with a b.asemcnt, the entire 
 height being 108 feet. It is built in the most sub- 
 stantial anil elegant manner, and is the finest com- 
 mercial building in Iowa. The front is constructed 
 with a view to secure the finest possible effects of 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 629 
 
 architeclunil lieauty. ;iiiil Uic rosult, is such as to 
 cliarm the uyo of an nrlist. Tlie interior is divided 
 into rooms tlie full width of the building, and the 
 whole is finishi'ti in the most elegant and attractive 
 nianner. The cost of constrnt'tion was ^05,000, 
 and the building is one of which the owner and the 
 citizens of Des Moines have reason to lie proud. 
 Louis Ilarhaeli inirchased his brother's interest in 
 the business, November ;W, 1878, since which time 
 he has been sole proprietor. He continued tin- 
 hand shop untd 1882. when he [lut in steam power, 
 and otherwise increased his facilities for business. 
 Tlie steady growth of the retail trade has in eight 
 years comjielled the use of four, and sometimes five 
 delivery wagons instead of one as formerly. The 
 total number of employes in the different depart- 
 ments is one hundred, which at limes is increased 
 to one hundreil and ten, while the annual business 
 now amounts to upwards of 4>400,000. The fine 
 finishing of the State House, the leading hotels and 
 churches of the city, and man}' of the finest resi- 
 dences attests the excellence of Mr. Harbacli's 
 work. lie buys only from the best factories in the 
 country, and has estal)lished a wide reputation fdr 
 turning out only the finest finished and most sub- 
 stantial class of goods to be had in the market. 
 His trade extends throughout the West and South- 
 west in numerous States, and Territories to the I'a- 
 cific Coast. 
 
 Mr. Harbach was married in Des Moines, on tlu 
 IGtli of September, 1862, to Miss Sarah Harker, a 
 native of Northumberland County, England, who 
 came to America when but two years of age. They 
 have eight children living, four sons and four 
 daughters, and have lost one son, Louis F., their 
 first born, dying October 16, 18T5,aged eight years. 
 The living are Mary Jeanette, wife of Dr. William 
 .1. Latta, of Des Moines; Elizabeth Helen, wife of 
 C. D. Ives, of Cedar Rapids; William C, who is 
 his father's able assistant in the management of his 
 extensive business; Leonard Edward, who is man- 
 ager of the wholesale deiiartnient; George Ray- 
 mond, AVilmot Arthur, Carrie Ma^-, and Mni.d 
 Sarah, comi)letes the family. 
 
 Mr. Harliach is a Democrat in politics, but has 
 never sought public office. He is a Knight Tem- 
 plar Mason, a member of the Capital City Loilge, 
 
 No. 110, A. F. it A. M.; Corinthian Chapter, No. 
 14. R. A. M.; and Temple Commandery, No. 4, 
 K. T. He is also a member of .Myrtle Lodge, No. 
 9, Knights of I'ytliias, and is a Director of the Des 
 Moines Savings IJauk. In 1879, he erected his 
 palatial residence, which is situated near the corner 
 of Fifth aiul Center Streets, at a cost of §2.'),00(). 
 The inside finish is in native liaril woods, and is 
 done in Mr. Harbacli's best style of workmanship. 
 The same house could not be built in these times 
 for less than $35,000, and it is acknowledged to be 
 one of the finest residences in Iowa. 
 
 The history of the business career of our subject 
 covers a period of thirty years, and the capital city 
 of Iowa has been the scene of his successful efforts. 
 He was poor and of necessitj' bej^aii business in a 
 limited manner. Indomitable energy, superior busi- 
 ness capacity, and strict integrity, have been his 
 most striking characteristics. The result of such a 
 combination is shown in the production of the ex- 
 tensive manufacturing plant, the commodious vvare- 
 room, and his palatial retail establishment. Mr. 
 Ilarbach's share in the growth and development of 
 Des Moines, has been a liberal one, and the employ- 
 ment he has furnished to the many whose names 
 appear on his pay rolls, has helped to build homes, 
 and add to the material wealth of the city. 
 
 Mr. Ilarbach's brother Christian, who was one of 
 the pioneers of Des Moines, and who was an .active 
 partner in the business during its earlier existence, 
 was never in active business after selling out to his 
 brother Louis in Novemlter, 1878. He lived a re- 
 tired life, making Des Moines his home until his 
 death. He died, however, in New Orleans in •biu- 
 uary, 1882, where he had gone for his health. 
 
 '^j. DAM DICKEY, of the firm of Randall it 
 Dickey, implement dealers of Des Moines, 
 
 is prominently connected with the histor}- 
 of I'olk County. Of the hardy pioneers 
 who came to Iowa lift}' ^ears ago, few remain to 
 tell again the thrilirng stories of liardshi[)s. priva- 
 tions and dangers. Here a crude stone and iherea 
 gr.ass grown mound are the only sentinels marking 
 
630 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 tbeir last resting place, but the great State of Iowa, 
 rleveloped in its varied resoiucep, ])raclaiins the 
 (isefulness of tiieir lives and tiic nobilit}' of their 
 aspirations. As such an one, a sketcii of Mr. 
 Dickey cannot but be of interest to the readers of 
 tliis Ali(1!.m, and we fi el that tlie work would be 
 incomplete without it. 
 
 His paternal gr.nnd father, a Presbyterian clerg}-- 
 riian, accomp.inied b^' two brothers, emigrated 
 from Scotland and scttleH in Vermont. His son, 
 Adam, a native of Londonderry, Vt., was aMetho- 
 <list minister and married a Miss Styles, a lady of 
 Canadian birth. During the War of 1812 he was 
 drafted into the British Navy, and after its close 
 settled in Ohio. Tiie year 183G witnessed his 
 arrival in the almost unsettled Territory of Iowa, 
 where he died at tlic advanced age of seventy- 
 seven years. His son Joseph, the father of our 
 .subject, was born near (JueensviUe, Canada, in 
 1812, but was reared in Lawrence County, Ohio, 
 where he became acquainted with and married a 
 Miss Payne, who was born in the Buckeye State. 
 She died in that county, leaving two children, one 
 of whom departed this life in childhood. After 
 the death of his wife Joseph Dickey went to Cin- 
 cinnati, Ohio, and engaged in the transfer business. 
 In that city he married his second wife, and in 
 1837 came to Iowa, making the journey by boat to 
 Ft. Madison, where he landed on the 1st of May. 
 Locating iu Farmington lie became an extensive 
 business man. His gains, however were not used 
 for selfish ends, but to every enterprise for the 
 public good he was a liberal supporter. In politi- 
 cal sentiment he was a Whig until the dissolution 
 of that party, wlien he became a stanch advocate of 
 Republican princi|)les. At the breaking out of 
 ttie late vvar lie was made Captain of the '-South- 
 ern Border Brigade," organized to protect the 
 southern portion of Iowa from the rel)els across tiie 
 line. At the battle of Atiwns, wiiiie leading his 
 cduunand, he was wounded, thougii not seriously. 
 Having served two years he returned to his liome 
 and business, and iu 1872 de|)aited tiiis life, dying 
 witli faitii unshaken in tiie Methodist teachings. 
 
 Adam Dickey, whose mime heads tliis sketch, is 
 the only living ineuilier of tliis branch of tlie fam- 
 ilv. He was born in Lawrence Countv, Oliio, No- 
 
 vember 20, 1832, and was therefore not yet five 
 3'ears of age when he came with his parents to 
 Iowa. The few educational advantages he enjoyed 
 were such as could be>obtalned in the old style log 
 schoolhouse of th.at earl}' da}'. When a lad of 
 fifteen years he began the battle of life for himself, 
 and has fought it bravely and well. Having learned 
 the cooper's trade, ho followed that business for 
 five years, and then went to California, paying ^50 
 for the privilege of driving an ox-team. During 
 the four years iu whicli he remained in that far 
 Western State he was engaged in hotel-keeping in 
 Sacramento and a short time in San Francisco. On 
 his return to Iowa, in 18.56, he engaged in Itusiness 
 with his father under the firm name of J. Dickey A' 
 .Son, and they did an extensive business, running a 
 store, mill, ])ork-packing establishment and a bank. 
 On a certain night in May, 1858, the bank safe 
 was blown open and robbed of $18,000, none of 
 which was ever recovered. Thus the accumula- 
 tions of years went in an hour. In 1870 Mr. 
 Dickey came to Des Moines, and for nine years 
 engaged in the grocery and provision trade, when 
 he withdrew and joined Mr. Randall in the firm of 
 Randall & Dickey, dealers in agricultural imple- 
 ments. 
 
 On the 17th of Xovemlier, 1857, in Van Buren 
 Count}', Iowa, Mr. Dickey was united in marriage 
 with Miss P^mma Manning, who was born in Jeffer- 
 son County, Ohio, December 27, 1837. They be- 
 came parents of six children — Ella became the wife 
 of Odell Reed, and died leaving a daughter, Ella 
 O.; the second child died in infanc}-; Laura is the 
 wife of R. E. Anderson; Jennie is the wife of 
 Charles H. Martin; Josei)li died at the age of tiircc 
 years; and Kmma. the youngest, completes the 
 family. 
 
 Mr. Dickey and his wife are members of the 
 Central Presb3teri:ui Chureli, and take an active 
 interest in its welfare. He cast his first Presi- 
 dential vote for Gen. Scott, and since the organi- 
 zation of tlie Repulilican party has been one of 
 its faithful adherents, but notwithstanding he has 
 often been tendered ollicial positions, lie would 
 never accept (lublic oflicc, preferring an unostenta- 
 tious business life. When the war was in progress 
 lie organized and w.as elected Captain of tlie 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 631 
 
 '•Fanuiiigton Uunie Guards," and was one of the 
 loyal supiJOiters of the Government during those 
 perilous times. For twenty years Mr. Dickey was 
 a member of the Odd Fellows fraternity, but of 
 late years his time has been so occujiied with busi- 
 ness interests as not to permit him to alliliate with 
 any social order. Fifty-three years have passed 
 since he set foot on Iowa soil. He has become ac- 
 quainted with all {)hases of Western life, and has 
 been identified witii man}' leading business inter- 
 ests of the 8tate. lie can remember in tlie early 
 d.a3's wiicn his father went to (Juincy for flour, 
 paying ^20 per barrel. In common with the fam- 
 ily he shared in the hardships and trials incident to 
 pioneer life, but like the country, lie has prospered, 
 and as it has become an imi)ortant factor in the 
 I'nion, so has he won a leading [(lace in business 
 circles in its Capital Citj'. 
 
 ENJAMIN T. GILLETT, merchant tailor 
 of Des Moines, established business in this 
 
 _); il, city in 187(J, and is now located .'it No. 509 
 East Locust Street. He is a native of Eng- 
 land, his birth having occurred in Bridgewater, 
 Somersetshire, on tiie IDtii of July, 1841. His 
 parents were Alfred .John and Sarali li. (Tazwell) 
 Gillett, and tiie ancestrj' belonged to the French 
 Huguenots who were forced from France on ac- 
 count of their religious 0[)inions in the sixteentii 
 century. 
 
 Our subject at the age of thirteen years began 
 learning tlie tailor's trade and served an appren- 
 ticeship of seven years, afterwards working as a 
 journeyman, principally in London, till 18CG. 
 Having mastered the business, at the expiration of 
 that i)eriod he, bade good- by to his old home and 
 in May of that year he first set foot on American 
 soil in Quebec. He located in Toronto, where for 
 some time lie worked as a journeyman. In 1HC8, 
 we find him in New York and later he carried on 
 business in Burlington, Vt. His next jilace of 
 residence was in Macon, Ga., lieing employed in 
 the largest establishment as cutter and for one 
 
 year he engaged in that capacity in Washington, 
 D. C. He spent the year 1871 as cutter in the 
 employ of J. H. Dykeman, of Des Moines, after 
 wliich he was engaged in business in St. Louis, Mo., 
 Buffalo, N. Y., and otlier cities. He has traveled 
 through thirty-two States and Territoi'ies of ttie 
 Union, but in 1876 return"bd to Des Moines, where 
 he has been engaged in business continuously since, 
 covering a period of fourteen years. 
 
 On the 15th of February, 1875, near Toronto, 
 Canada, Mr. Gillett was united in marriage with 
 Miss E. A. McAlpine, daughter of (iilbert McAl- 
 pino who is of Scottish descent. By their union 
 have been born four children, but one, Frederick 
 William, the eldest, was killed by a train wiien 
 thirteen years of age. Tliose living are Granville 
 Malcolm. Leslie Alexander and Kalph Priestly. 
 Mr. Gillett is a member of the Baptist Cliurch and 
 his wife of the Presbyterian. In politics, he is a 
 warm supporter of Republican principles, but h.as 
 never sought public office, and is an honored mem- 
 ber of the Masonic fratcrnitj'. He belongs to 
 Home Lodge, No. 370, A. F. &. A. M., Antioch 
 Chapter, No. 110, R. A. M., and Temple Com- 
 raandery. No. 4, K. T. He is the founder of his 
 family in America and in future generations when 
 it shall be asked who was tlie original ancestor, his 
 descendants can point with pride to him as one 
 who was an upright and honored citizen of his 
 adopted land. A life-long exiierience in his busi- 
 ness has placed him in the front rank among the 
 merchant tailors of tlie city and his establishment 
 has found favor with the jniblic as manifested by 
 a liberal patronage. 
 
 5?5EOUtjE A. CARTER, senior member of the 
 firm of Carter Bros., manufacturers and 
 dealers in windmills, pumps, etc., was born 
 in Ashland County, Oliio, November 2G, 1850. His 
 father, Milton Carter, was born and reared in Ohio 
 and in that State wedded Jane E. Boice, who emi- 
 grated from Pennsylvania to tlu' Buckeye State 
 with her parents at an early i\'.\y. About 1854, 
 
632 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Millon Carter and bis family removed to Bureau 
 County, 111., where he engaged in farming until 
 18G2, which yeav witnessed iiis removal to Prince- 
 ton, the county seat of Bureau Count}', lie there 
 engage<l in mercantile pursuits, liandling wind- 
 mills, pumps and their ap|)urtenanccs, of which he 
 became quite an extensive manufacturer. In 1882 
 he moved to Jefferson, Iowa, and three years later 
 to Des Moines, where he and his wife still reside 
 and at the ages of sixty-two and fifty-seven years 
 respectively. Both are members of the Congrega- 
 tional Church. In their family were five children, 
 four sons and a daughter: Perry 8. is a dealer in 
 windmills and pumps at Princeton, 111., and the 
 other sons, R. B., .1. C. and G. A. are associated in 
 business in tliis city under the firm name of Carli.i 
 Bros. 
 
 George A. Carter, whose name heads this sketch, 
 is the eldest of his father's family. Having atten- 
 ded the common schools until fifteen years of age 
 he then spent two years as a clerk in a drug store, 
 after which he assisted his father in business eight 
 years. In early life it was manifest that he pos- 
 sessed inventive genius whicii took form, in 1872, 
 ill an im|)rovement on the llalladay Winiluiill, for 
 which he was granted a patent, and the following 
 year he invented and |)alenled a hog waterer. In 
 1875, the Carter Windmill was constructed b^- him- 
 self and father, and a i)atent secured. The" same 
 year Mr. Carter started in business for himself, 
 manufacturing windmills and |)um[is and running 
 a general repair shop. In 187'J, he commenced to 
 make the Carter AVindniill and has added improve- 
 ment after impi-ovement until it is now one of the 
 best on the market. Recently he has also patented 
 a regulator pum|), to Ije used when it is desired to 
 deliver water at a distance and which is a;i impor 
 taut improvement in patent [uiinps. The result of 
 Mr. Carter's labors has been to give farmers and 
 stock-raisers an easy and ciieap method of fresh 
 water supjjly. Having o|)erated his manufacturing 
 establishment in Princeton until 1880, he then ac- 
 cepted the position of Sup 'rintendent of the gas 
 works of that city, of which he had charge four 
 years, when in 1881, he came to i)cs JNIoines and 
 resumed the manufacture of windmills, pumps, etc., 
 being joined in business by his brothers in 1880. ' 
 
 They do an extensive trade and find sale for their 
 manufactures throughout the AVestern States. 
 
 In September, 187.5, Mr. Carter was joined in 
 wedlock with Mary E. Banister, a native of Pitts- 
 field, Mass., who emigrated to Illinois in early life. 
 Their marriage was celebrated in Princeton, III., 
 but after ten years, the wife was called to her long 
 home, dying in Des Moines, January 10, 188G. She 
 was a consistent member of the Congregational 
 Church, to which Mr. Carter also belongs. He is 
 a Republican in [tolitics ami a warm supporter of 
 the parly principles, but has never sought office or 
 distinction. For twenty-two years he has been en- 
 gaged in his present line of business. Beginning 
 life without a dollar he now stands at the head of 
 one of the most extensive concerns in the oit^- as 
 the result of a life of industry, well-directed ener- 
 gies and the exercise of correct business principles. 
 
 •«>»--j3- 
 
 afe 
 
 -w-> 
 
 ^'iICHARD M. J. COLEMAN, one of the 
 well known citizens of Des Moines, was born 
 ill Berks County, Pa., in 1838. His father, 
 lleuiy Coleman, is a native of the same 
 count}', and belonged to one of the early families 
 of that [lart of IVnns3lvania, of English origin. 
 In his youth he le.irned the trade of a plasterer, and 
 it has been his chief occupation through life, yield- 
 ing him a good iiKome. He married Miss Emma 
 (ieiger, a lady of German descent, and in 1859 re- 
 moved with his family to Champaign County, 
 Ohio, where he and his wife still make their home. 
 ();;r subject is the eldest of fifteen chilcircii, and, 
 with one exception, all are living, but he is the 
 only member of ihe family who has located in 
 Iowa. Toward the close of the War of the Re-- 
 belliou he had attained to an age when his services 
 would be accepted as a soldier, and wishing to aid 
 his country, he accordinglj- offered his aid to the 
 tioveriiment, and was assigned to Company K, 
 One Hundred and Thirteenth Ohio Regiment. He 
 enlisted .lanuary 23, 181)5. and remained with his 
 command until the close of the war. In the be- 
 ginning of that yi^ar his regiment was inarching 
 through Georgia with Gen. Sherman, and in com- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 633 
 
 p.iiiy Willi in;iny other newl^v-ciilisleil incn lie wei I 
 ilowii llie Alluntic coast, joining tlie ami}- at 
 lIulU" Springs, N. C. Fov some time lie served on 
 detached dut\' at Cliarleston. S. C.. and also at 
 Wilmington, N. C. AVliile en lonte to join his 
 regiment he learned of the assassination of Presi- 
 dent Lincoln, but in common with his fellow sol- 
 diers disbelieved tiie tragic stor^-, which was too 
 soon fully confirmed. Marching norlliward with 
 his regiment, he took i)art in the Grand Review in 
 Washington, and was discharged in Louisville, 
 Ky., July 10, 1865, soon after which he was mus- 
 tered out in Springfield, Ohio. On Uie close of his 
 military service he located in Springfield, and en- 
 gaged in business as a plasterer, which trade he had 
 learned with his father. After some time he re- 
 moved to Indiana, locating in Indianapolis. 
 
 In the latter cit}-, in 1872, Jlr. Coleman was 
 united in marriage with Miss Hattie A. Baker, a 
 native of Rushville, Rush County, Ind., and a 
 daughter of Andrew and Elizabeth Baker. The 
 services of Mr. Coleman as a plasterer soon won 
 recognition by a liberal patronage, and for a num- 
 ber of years he was engaged in superintending the 
 plastering of public and other important buildings 
 in various large cities, including Indianapolis, Chi- 
 cago, St. Louis and New York. He came to Des 
 Jloiiies from the latter city, ^a.m\ was employed as 
 foreman on the ornamental work of the .State Capi 
 tol, then in process of construction. Since the 
 completion of that work he has been engaged the 
 greater i>art of the time as contract plasterer. lie 
 stands in the front rank among those engaged in 
 his line of business, and has a high reputation as a 
 man of unimpeachable business integrity. He 
 takes an active interest in the progress of public 
 affairs, and has never refused to respond when his 
 aid was solicited for the advancement of any wor- 
 thy enterprise. In the fall of 1889 he accepted 
 the nomination .as a member of the Board of Super- 
 visors, and was declared elected by four majority. 
 His opponent, however, by virtue of an alleged 
 tcclinical error in the election, apiiealed from the 
 decision of the board, and the case was tried before 
 the Board of Contests, which declared Mr. Coleman 
 clcctcil and ordered a certificate of election issued, 
 but a second .'ippfal was taken, and the case was 
 
 then tried liy a ..uiy, wlii';li deci<lcd in favor of liis 
 ojiponent. Mr. Coleman is a Democrat in political 
 sentiment, and takes an active interest in the suc- 
 cess of his iiarty. He is a prominent member of a 
 number of civic societies, including Kinsman Post, 
 ti. A. R., and the Masonic fraternity, being a Knight 
 Templar Mason. For five 3-ears he has held the 
 position of Secretary of the Royal Arch Chapter, 
 and has taken the degree of the Mystic Shrine, and 
 also belongs to the Knights of Pythias. Mr. Cole- 
 man is a gentleman of culture, and poss<;s.ses the 
 confi.ience and respect of his fellow-citizens. 
 
 ^^ARAH J. SPRINGER, M.D., who is en- 
 gaged in the practice of medicine in Des 
 Moines, is numbered among the residents 
 of this cit)' who claim Ohio as the State of 
 their nativity. Shi', was born in Senecaville, Guern- 
 sey County, on the 22nd of July, 1844, and is a 
 daughter of William and Elizabeth (James) Porter. 
 Her paternal grandfather, James Porter, a native of 
 Ireland, in early life left the Emerald Isle and 
 ( rossed the Atlantic to America. He settled in 
 I'ennsylvania, where he married and reared a fam- 
 il}'. His son, James Porter, married Elizabeth Piper, 
 a tyi)ical Welsh lad}', and emigrated to Muskingum 
 County, Ohio, where was born unto them a family 
 of fifteen children, of whom fourteen lived to adult 
 ago. The father died when the children were ye', 
 young,and thus upon the widowed mother devolved 
 the care of supporting and educating her family. 
 She did everything in her power to advance their 
 interests and had reason to be proud of them, while 
 they in turn had ever}- reason to be grateful to her 
 for the sacrifices which she made in their behalf. 
 Dr. Joseph R. Porter, so widely known in politics 
 and legislative halls as a chami)ion of the I'rohi- 
 bition cause is one of that family and William Por- 
 ter, father of our subject, is another. The latter 
 was born January 9, 1814, in Muskingum County, 
 Ohio, an. I by occupation was a farmer. He was a 
 prominent and influential man in local affairs and 
 took an active i)art in promoting aliolition senti- 
 ment, lie first siiiiported the Whig party but be- 
 
631 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 lieving the question of slavery paramount to all 
 others, he became an Abolitionist and on the organ- 
 ization of the Republican party joined its ranks. 
 His home was a station on the famous L'nder- 
 ground Railroad and many a negro has reason to 
 bless him for his ready assistance to tlicm in their 
 efforts to secure frecilom by escai)ing to Canada. 
 In his native county lie marriu<i Miss James, a na- 
 tive of Allegheny County. Pa., born March 13, 
 1822. Her father died wlicn she was five years of 
 age and two years later her mother was called home. 
 Slie was then taiven by a maiden aunt, with whom 
 she removed to Ohio. William Porter and his wife 
 were earnest Cliristian people and exerted a wide 
 interest for good. In 1859, they located in Scott 
 County, Iowa, and two years later removed to 
 Guthrie County, where both died, the husband on 
 the 20th of May, 1883, and his wife on the 14th of 
 August, following. Thej' were parents of ten chil- 
 dren, of whom one son and four daughters are yet 
 living. Two of the number chose tiie medical pro- 
 fession as their life work — our subject and Dr. J. 
 L. Porter, who died at the age of thirty-five years. 
 Sarah J. Porter acquired her literary education 
 chiefly in Senacaville, but has been a student all her 
 life. In her j'oung womanhood, she became the 
 wife of Stephen II. Springei-, their union being cel- 
 ebrated iu Guthrie County, Iowa, September 25, 
 1861. To them have been born seven children as 
 follows: Clifton F., who is engaged in tlie insur- 
 ance business; P^lba M., wife of Charles West; Etta, 
 a stenographe; ; W. H., a plumber; Leroy P.; Her- 
 man B. and Lizzie. 
 
 For many 3-ears prior to commencing regular 
 practice. Dr. Springer had read medicine in order 
 to know how intelligently to attend lier family in the 
 ills whicli always accom[)any childhood. Pursuing 
 a systematic course of study, in 1H8C, she gradu- 
 ated from what is now the medical (lei)artmcnt of 
 Drake University and when the Iowa Eclectic Col- 
 lege of Des Moines was established, was elected 
 teaciier of Obstetrics and in 188'.), Professor of 
 Chemistry. Dr. S|iriMger is a member of the Iowa 
 Stale Eclectic Medical .Society. She is now engaged 
 in general practice and though but a short time has 
 elapsed since she look up public work, .she has 
 already secured a liberal patronage. 
 
 Stephen H. Springer, was born in Cambridge, Ind., 
 in 1842, and is the son of William M. and Sarah 
 (Buck) Springer, the former born iu North Caro- 
 lina and the latter in Virginia._^In_1845 they s(.t- 
 tled in Mahaska County, Iowa, and in 1846 removed 
 to near the present city of Newton, and when that 
 place was settled, William M. Springer opened a 
 public house which he kept fifteen years. He died in 
 1864, aged lifty-one years. Mrs. Springer lives in Des 
 Moines. They had twelve childien, eight of whom 
 are living, viz: Mary J., Eliza A., Lovina 11., 
 .Stephen H. Martha, Oliver P., William A., and Oscar 
 E. At the age of thirteen 3ears, our subject en- 
 tered the olfice of the Newton Free Press. He subse- 
 quently went to Ilarlan and in 1859, to Guthrie 
 Centre, and eslablisherl the Gazette. .Selling out be 
 bought a half interest in the Winterset Madisoniaih 
 with which he continued until 1878. In 1880 he 
 founded the Chronicle and conducted it two 3ears. 
 In 1882, in Des Moines, he engaged in the insurance 
 and real-estate business. A|)ril 12, 1887, Mr. 
 Springer patented a safely car coupling, a simple 
 and yet effectual device that is unquestionably des- 
 tined to come into universal use. 
 
 ^iir- 
 
 ^|, OlIN BARLOW, deceased, is worthy a reiu-e- 
 senlation in this volume, for he is nundjcred 
 among the honored pioneers of Polk County, 
 i^^/, and for a number of years was a representa- 
 tive citizen of Des Moines. lie was a native of In- 
 diana, born on his father's farm in Shelb^' County, 
 on the 11th of March, 1827. His early life was 
 spent in attendance at the district school in the 
 neighborhood, where he acquired a good English 
 education, and in aiding in the cultivation of the 
 home farm, lie made agricultural pursuits his life 
 work, and in that line of industry- was quite success- 
 ful, in 1848, when a young man of twenty-one 
 years, he accomijanied his father to Polk County, 
 Iowa, and entered some seven hundred acres of 
 land near Rising Sun. After attending to its de- 
 velopment and cultivation for two years, he re- 
 lumed to his native State, and in 1850, was united 
 in marriage with Miss Georgiana West, a daughter 
 

 
 
 '-'t^^^.^,^. ^ , 
 
 ^ 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 637 
 
 of William and Martha (Finley) West. Tlie former 
 •was a native of North Carolina, and the latter 
 of Kentucky. The parents died in the Hoosier 
 State, where they were highly respected citizens. 
 
 Shortly after liis marriage, Mr. Barlow started 
 with his young bride for his home beyond the Mis- 
 sissippi, and in a log cabin, 12x12 feet, with punch- 
 eon floor and stick chimney, they began their 
 domestic life. They endured all the hardships and 
 difficulties incident to settlement on the frontier, 
 but tiieir efforts were crowned with a good degree 
 of prosperity, and they were soon enabled to build 
 a more comfortable home, which continued to be 
 their abiding place until 1856, when Mr. Barlow 
 traded his property near Rising Sun for land on 
 Agency Prairie, in Polk County. Great indeed 
 Lave been the changes which have occurred since 
 that time. The county was but very sparsely set- 
 tled, and at the time of his arrival in Iowa, there 
 were but two stores in Des Moines, lie took his 
 grist to mill at Oskaloosa, and traveled long dis- 
 tances for provisions. Stock growing and feeding 
 engrossed the greater i);irt of his attention after lo- 
 cating in this community', and for a number of 
 years his shipments were large. Mr. Barlow pos- 
 sessed tiie qualities essential to business success, 
 was enterprising, industrious, and persevering, and 
 his honesty was pioverl)ial, his word being as read- 
 ily received as his bond. Whatever he undertook 
 to do, he would accomplish if an honor.able path 
 led to the goal. He was a great reader, kept him- 
 self well-informed on the affairs of the State and 
 Government, and was a stanch sii[)portei' of Demo- 
 cratic principles. AVhile residing in Leo Township, 
 he was elected Justice of the Peace, wliicli office be 
 fdlcd witii credit to himself, and to the satisfaction 
 of his constituents. 
 
 Seven children were born of the union of Mr. 
 Barlow and Miss West, but of that number only 
 two are now living: Lewis W., who resides on the 
 (lid homestead in Lee Township; and Indiana T., 
 a student of Drake Tni versify. 
 
 The pioneers of a county or State are rightfully 
 regarded as its founders, and to them great credit 
 is due for the establishment of a settlement, and 
 the inlioduction of such industries an<l business in- 
 terests as make up i nourishing community. Mr. 
 
 Barlow justly ranks among this class. He lived 
 a quiet and unselfish life, and although unpreten- 
 tious, did much toward promoting the interests of 
 his a lopted county, and advancing its worthy en- 
 terprises. The cause of church and school found in 
 him a special friend, and the community, at his 
 death, felt it had lost a worthy factor. At the age 
 of sixteen years, he united with the Christian 
 Church, and the uptight life whicii he henceforth 
 led, is well worthy of emulation. His wife is still 
 living, and makes her home in Des Moines, where 
 she has many warm frient's. Like her husband, she 
 delights in doing good, and is ever read}' to extend 
 a helping hand to the |)0or and needy. 
 
 ^/^^ ON. JOSHUA II. HATCH, who for many 
 
 j; years was identilied with the history of Des 
 
 Moines, was one of the representative 
 
 ^ men of the State, and a native of Vermont, 
 
 (( 
 
 born in Williamstown, Orange County, on the 18th 
 of November, 1816. He was descended from one 
 of the New England Puritan families through a line 
 of ancestors who \t'ithout exception were virtuous 
 men. Although none could boast of immense 
 wealth they had si'fficient means to obtain the com- 
 forts of life and though none became distinguished 
 personages in histoiy, all were respected by their 
 neighbors and the community in which they lived. 
 The family is noted for longevity and the Puritan 
 principles which all have advocatetl. It is said that 
 at the time of the settlement of New England, mem- 
 bers of the Hatch family were very numerous in 
 the mother country lint the early history is lost in 
 antiquity. In all probability, however, they be- 
 longed to the middle class of society-, but it is cei- 
 tainl}' known that soon after the founding of the 
 Plymouth Colony, Joseph Hatch left his home in 
 England and joined the Puritan Ijand. Soon after- 
 ward he purchased of the Indians the whole of the 
 original township of Falmouth, situaleil on the 
 northeast coast of Vineyard Sound, in Barnstable 
 Count}', M.ass. At his death he left three sons, 
 Joseph. Benjamin and Jonathan, and in all proba- 
 bility several daugliters survived himaud tiuni this 
 
638 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 family it is believed that all of the name of Hatch 
 ill the Unitrd States have s|)riin<^. Asa Hatch, fa- 
 ther of our subject, was boi'n August 15, 175'J, niul 
 served as a soldier during llie ^{uvoluLioiiary War. 
 He was three times married, his second wife being 
 the mother of Joshua H. By that marriage were 
 born three sons and two ilaughtcrs who lived to 
 mature years, while two otlicrs died in infanc}'. 
 All have now passed awa}' however with t!ie ex- 
 ception of a brother who is living in Evansville, 
 Ind. 
 
 Joshua II. Hatch was the eldest of the family and 
 upon his father's farm he remained until attaining 
 his majority, spemling his tisne in farm work and 
 attendance at tlie common schools. He engaged in 
 teaching school for two winters previous to his emi- 
 gration to the AVest, wliicli occurred about 1838, 
 his location being Peoria, 111. In 1840, he removed 
 to Rock Island Count}-, and for five years was em- 
 ployed as a salesman in Moline. In that county he 
 was married to Sarah A. Cook, the nidon being 
 celebrated in Rock Island on the 9th of May, 1811. 
 She is a daughter of Zachariah Cook, whose sketch 
 appears elsewhere in this voUime. 
 
 In 18.50, Mr. II;ilcli was elected jMa\or of Rock 
 Island and serVed one term to the satisfaction of 
 his entire constituency. He continue I his residence 
 in that city until 1853, when attracted by the glit- 
 tering prospects of the AVest he made his way to 
 California, where he engaged in business until 1856. 
 That j'car witnessed the arrival of himself and 
 family in Des Moines and in the third of a century 
 which has since elapsed, the people learned to know 
 and appreciate him for his high worth and ability. 
 Public enterprises calculated to advance the gen- 
 er.al welfare ever found in him a read}- supporter. 
 He did much to aid in the progress and advance- 
 ment of the city and was also connected with its 
 business interests, but of these we will speak further 
 on. 
 
 A family of eight children was born <if the union 
 of Mr. and IMrs. Hatch, two of whom died in in- 
 fancy. Emily J., born April 10, 1818, became the 
 wife of A. W. C. Weeks, a soldier of the late war, 
 now residing in AVinterset, Iowa; George L. was 
 born in Rock Island, October 31, 1851 ; Lenora J., 
 born March 30, 1853, is the wife of Capt. W. A. 
 
 Abbott of Des Moines; Annie M., born April 8, 
 1856, became the wife of Morton Pickering, and 
 died July 1, 1882; Charles H., born April '.). 1858. 
 was drowned January 20, 1866, while skating on 
 the Des Moines River, the ice breaking through 
 and he perishing before help could .each him; 
 Nettie B., the 3'oungest of the famil}-, born Septem- 
 ber 11, 1861, is the wife of Peter Bloom of this city. 
 For some time Mr. Hatch was engaged in the 
 boot and shoe trade as a partner of his son-in-law, 
 W. A. Al)bott, who served as captain during the 
 late war. The many official positions which he sub- 
 quently held, indicate his popularity and the fidel- 
 it\- displayed in the discharge of the many and 
 important duties devolving upon him. Only four 
 years after he became a resident of Des Moines he 
 was elected to the State Senate and served for four 
 years with credit to himself and satisfaction to all 
 concerned, his district being Polk County, the cap- 
 ital county of the State. Two years later, in 1866, 
 he was again called from retirement to public life 
 as the representative of his district in the Lower 
 House of the General Assembly and in 18G',l, he was 
 elected Maj-or of the city and re-elected in 1870. 
 Subsequently he was appointed assistant clerk in the 
 Forty -second Congress. The interests of the people 
 he made his interests, v/hen occup3ing a scat in the 
 legislative halls of his adopted State, and with that 
 object ever in view he gave careful consideration 
 to every question or measure which came up for 
 settlement, and was thus cnaliled to deposit an un- 
 biased ballot. His public and private life were alike 
 above reproach. In politics, he was a Re[)ublic:'.n ; 
 socially, he was a member of the Masonic order. 
 He died at San Francisco, Cal., June 9, 1881. 
 
 ' OIIN WEBER has been connected with many 
 of the leading business interests of Des 
 Moines, and has borne no incousideral>le 
 part in the advancement and progress made 
 b}' this cit}'. He is of German birth, and a son of 
 John Frederick Weber, also a native of Germany. 
 B}- occupation his father was a horticulturist, and 
 gave especial attention to the culture of grapes, a 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOORAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 639 
 
 common iiiiliistrv in that i)art of (U'lnianj'. Our 
 subject was boni in tlie town of llegenslwrg, in the 
 State of Wurtenihuvg, Se|)teniln r 7, 18;!7, and was 
 one of seven ciiiklicn, all of whom are ^et liviuy. 
 He, ht)wever, is the only one who has left the 
 fatherland and become a resident of America. In 
 ihe autumn of 18a4 he crossed the Atlantic, land- 
 ing in New York, and at once [iroceeded to Me- 
 dina County, Ohio, where were living two aunts, 
 sisters of his mother. After a year spent in that 
 neighl)orhood he continued his journe}- to Illinois, 
 where he resided from 1855 until 1859, when he 
 came to Des Moines. Five years later he went to 
 IMontana, where he remained until 1861), during 
 whic'ii time he viewed much of the country, and 
 helped to found the town of Helena, now a city of 
 considerable importance. He was fairly successful 
 in his mining operations, but at length decided 
 that Iowa was a more desirable place of residence 
 than the far West, and returned to this city, ^'a- 
 rious occupations have engaged his attention since 
 that time. He followed farming, and for a time 
 owned and operated the Sevastopol Coal Mine. 
 In 1880 he purchased what is known as the Na- 
 tional Brewery, which he operated until recently. 
 In 1885, in company' with G. Van Ginkel, he built 
 the Des Moines ik Sevastopol line of street rail- 
 road, which they owned until 1889, when the}' sold 
 to the Des Moines Street Railroad Company. Mr. 
 Weber was also one of the incorporators of the 
 Broad Gauge Street Railroad of Dea Moines, and 
 up to within a year was alvv.aj's prominently con- 
 nected with the street railroads of the city, owning 
 a fourth interest in the same. In December, 1889, 
 he purchased the street railroad at Atchison, Kan., 
 which he still owns and operates. This includes 
 several branches, and the total length of this njad 
 is eight miles. 
 
 During his residence in Illinois Mr. Weber was 
 joined in wedlock with Miss Louisa Weber, who, 
 thougli of the same name, was no relation to him. 
 Si.x children have been born of their union, two 
 sons .■uid four daughters, viz.: Louisa, Wilhel- 
 niin.',. Helena (deceased). .Tolin, William and Caro- 
 line. 
 
 Mr. Weber is one of the representative men of 
 Des Moines, wLuc history is iMscparably connected- 
 
 with the record of the city's |)rogressand advance- 
 ment. Public spirited and progressive, he is always 
 willing and ready to aid in the work of improve- 
 ment, and refuses his support to no worthy enter- 
 prise. '^Jourteous in manner, and gentlemanly in 
 disposition he has many warm friends, both in 
 business and social circles, and an extensive ac- 
 i(uaintance liolds him in high esteem. 
 
 
 ^I^UDGE WILLIAM ?:i)WARD MILLKR, 
 of Des Moines, one of the well-known pio- 
 neers of Iowa, was born near the town of 
 Mt. Pleasant. AVestmoreland County, Pa., 
 October 18, 1823. His father, Samuel Miller, was 
 born in Somerset County, that State, but when a 
 child removed with his parents to Westmoreland 
 County, where he w.as reared and became an active 
 and prominent business man, distinguished for his 
 energy, public spirit and integrity, and also for his 
 zeal as a Methodist, of which church he became a 
 member prior to his marri.age, and to which he and 
 his wife were ever faithfully attached. He removed 
 from Mt. Pleasant, Pa., to Johnson County, Iowa, 
 in 1854, where he and his wife spent their remain- 
 ing daj'S. 
 
 Although in early life Judge Miller h.id not the 
 advantage of a university course, he had a good 
 English education obtained in the select schools of 
 his early home, for the common school system of 
 Pennsylvania had not yet been established. In 
 1846, he began the systematic study of law. which 
 for three years he applied himself to incessantly 
 during his leisure hours and at night, supporting 
 himself and his family meantime b}' working at his 
 trade as a moulder in his father's foundry. At 
 the same time he also with diligence extended his 
 study of ancient and modern history as collateral 
 with that of law, and so captivated was he by the 
 chani.s of study, and so possessed did he become 
 with the determination to master the profession, 
 that to him this double work seemed no hardship. 
 By the year 1850, the present constitution of 
 Pcniisylvani.-i luul gone into effect with a more 
 
i;40 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 liberal code of laws. Previous to this time tlie 
 office of Justice of the Peace in that common wealth 
 had been looked upon as well-nigh hcieditaiy in 
 certain families, and was at all events filled by 
 appointment by the Governor, and in Mt. Pleasant 
 had been held for a half century by John E. Flem- 
 ing with great acceptability to the people, but in 
 this year the "Young American Party" elected Mr. 
 Miller to the office as a triljuto to his worth as a 
 rising and persevering young man, and as a mark 
 of their approbation uf his efforts in the face of 
 great difficulties to master the abstruse science of 
 jurisprudence. lie had now become the moat 
 popular youth of the jjlace, and his .associates lav- 
 ished upon him most of their honors. Among 
 other marks of distinction they conferred on him 
 was the title of Captain, by electing and having 
 him commissioned Captain of the "Jackson Blues," 
 a military company, whose history covered a per- 
 iod dating back to the South Carolina nullification 
 troul)les during the Presidency of Andrew Jackson, 
 and which formed a part of the uniformed militia 
 of the Slate. 
 
 From April, 1850, to September, 18.52, Mr. 
 Miller held the office of Justice of the Peace, at 
 the same time pursuing more closely his law stud- 
 ies, as the object of his ambition seemed nearer 
 attainment. In the latter j'ear he doffed (he jus- 
 tice's ermine and the captain's cockade, and started 
 with his fiiuiily for Iowa, m.iking the journey by 
 steamer from Pittsburg to Keokuk, and tiience by 
 stage to Iowa Cily, where he and his little flock 
 arrived on the 10th of October. Me was married 
 on the 1st of August, 1844, to Miss Mary Robin- 
 son, daughter of James Robinson, a i)rominent 
 citizen of Fayette County, Pa. They now have 
 eight children, four sons and four daughters. Two 
 daughters, Mrs. William R. Kerr and Mrs. Laura 
 Eldredge and W. K. Miller, Jr., reside in Chicago; 
 .lames W. is living in Wintcrset, Iowa; Mrs. C. C. 
 Fuller, Miss Grace and Dr. H. 1). are living in this 
 cily; and Albert G. makes his home in Ch.adron, 
 Neb. 
 
 On his arrival in lown Cit}-, .Judge Miller found 
 the fall term of the District Court over, and upon 
 consideration of thi.^ f.act, and that the prospect of 
 immediate [iractice for a new young lawyer did 
 
 not seem flattering, together with his unacquaint- 
 ance with the practice under the Iowa code, de 
 cided him to defer for a time entering upon his 
 profession and to accept the offer of the two Iowa 
 Cit}' papers, the loioa Reiniblican and the Iowa 
 Capital Reporter, to report for them the proceed- 
 ings of the Senate during the session of the Fourth 
 General Assembly, then al)out to convene in Iowa 
 City. At the spring term of the District Court 
 for Johnson County, in Ma^-, 1853, he was ad- 
 milted to the bar and at once opened a law office 
 in Iowa Citj'. A tin shingle, attention to business, 
 application to study and lionoraljle conduct toward 
 his clients, soon brought their rewards in patrons 
 with gold ill their hands, gave him local popularity, 
 placed him in the front rank of the profession of 
 his town, and finally laid that foundation on whifh 
 his eminent reputation as a jurist now rests. In 
 August, 1%54, on the ticket opposed to the Demo- 
 cracy, he was elected Prosecuting Attorney for 
 Johnson County, a no despicable tribute to his 
 popularity, for, with one other exceittion, all his 
 associates on the ticket were defeatetl. The duties 
 of his office he discharged for the full term of two 
 years. In 1867 he was selected as one of the 
 Republican candidates for Representative in the 
 Legislature from the district then composed of 
 Iowa and Johnson Counties, but the Democrats, 
 having received accessions of strength, their m.ijor- 
 ity w.ns too strong to be overcome by personal 
 popuhrit}-, however great, and he was defeated. 
 
 At the October election of 1858, the first lielil 
 under the present constitution, Mr. Miller was 
 elected Judge of the Eighth Judicial District, com- 
 prising the counties of Benton, Cedar, Iowa, John- 
 son, Jones, Linn and Tama, and entered upon the 
 difficult and responsible duties of the office on the 
 1st of January, 1859. At that time the courts 
 were overwhelmed with business. In his own 
 district the cases on the calender had been accn • 
 mulating for about three years, having been 
 continued from term to term. He at once set him- 
 self to work to clear the dockets in the several 
 counties of his district, and by persistent industry 
 accom|)lished the task in the lirst two years of his 
 term. Holiling court in those d.iys in Iowa, besiiles 
 its plodding, hard work, was somewhat fruitful in 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPFIICAL ALBUM. 
 
 611 
 
 adventure. At tlwt lime none of the connty seats 
 ill the Eighth District were accessihle from any 
 direction by railroad, except those of Iowa and 
 Johnson, and the Judge usually traveled in his own 
 conveyance. 
 
 In 1862, after a service of nearly four years 
 on the bench, in which the [lublic were well and 
 faithfully served, and the bar well satisfied, Judge 
 Miller resigned the position to accept the Colonelcy 
 of the Twenty-eighth Iowa Infantry, then organiz- 
 ing at Camp Pope near Iowa City. The last year 
 of his service as Judge was one of irksome res- 
 traint on his inclination. The martial spirit of 
 every one was aroused, and it did not seem to him 
 becoming that the former Captain of the "Jackson 
 Blues" should dally at home over law decisions 
 when the very foundation, not only of law 
 but of constitutions, had been submitted to the 
 dread arbitrament of the sword. For two months 
 Col. Miller performed perhaps the most arduous 
 service that falls to a commander — to drill raw 
 recruits under the shadow of their own eves. He 
 did, however, with such tact as to gain their ap- 
 plause without sacrificing discipline. In Novem- 
 ber, with the Twenty-eighth he broke up camp and 
 proceeded to Helena, Ark., in the environs of 
 which he encamped with his regiment about the 
 20th of November. There he remained until 
 spring, in what was denominated winter quarters, 
 but he, with the whole or detachments of his regi- 
 ment, made frequent expeditions in different direc- 
 tions. It was a detachment of the Twenty-eighth 
 with a detachment from the Eleventh Ohio, under 
 command of a captain, that cut the levee and 
 allowed the waters of the Mississippi to rush into 
 the Yazoo Pass, which afterward became so famous. 
 The Twenty-eighth, with Col. IMillcr at its head, 
 also formed a part of the expedition commanded 
 Iiy Gen. Gorman, which ascended White River in 
 January, 1803. Capt. Stuart, in hi.s " Iowa Colo- 
 nels and Regiments," in speaking of this campaign, 
 says: 
 
 " If on this expedition Col. Miller and his regi- 
 ment won Utile distinction it wss because no occa- 
 sion offered. One thing is certain, tliat the 
 liflrdshi|)s and exposures attending the movement 
 wore har<lly ever eqiuUlod. The w'cnlhcr was cold. 
 
 and it rained nnd snowed by turns almost inces- 
 santly. Scores contracted disease at that time, 
 which totally disabled them for further service." 
 
 The arduous service and exposures experienced 
 in this ex|iedition laid the foundation of that 
 disease which finally compelled Col. Miller, on the 
 entreaty of friends and the recommendation of 
 surgeons, to resign and come home, in March, 
 1863, the alternatives presented being certain death 
 there and the possibility of recovery at home. His 
 constitution was very much impaired, and it was not 
 until long after the war that it recivered its pristine 
 strength. 
 
 In the spring of 1.SC4, Judge Miller's health 
 having been partially renewed, lie resumed business 
 as a legal practitioner in Iowa City, and about this 
 time began to prepare "A Treatise on Pleading and 
 Practice in Actions and Special Proceedings at Law 
 and Equit}' in the Courts of Iowa, under the Revis- 
 ion of 18G0," the first edition of which was pub- 
 lished in 18GS, and, though a large one, has already 
 been exhausted, and a new one, revised to meet 
 the changes resulting from recent legislation, being 
 called for, is now in course of pulilication — the 
 best evidence of the appreciation by the bar of the 
 worth of the work. In 1880, he also made a re- 
 visions of the code and statutes of the State, anno- 
 tated from the decisions of the Supreme Court, 
 and in 1888 revised and annotated a new edition 
 of the same work. He also prepared, in 1888, a 
 work upon the '-Law of Highways, Bridges etc.," 
 and in 188!) a work upon the "Practice in the 
 Probate Court," a practical work as a guide and 
 helper in the settlement of the estates of deceased 
 persons and guardianshi[) of minors, etc. In 1881, 
 in connection with Judge Field, he prepared the 
 work, "Federal Practice." All of these works have 
 been and are yet published by the Mills Publish- 
 ing Company, of Des Moines. 
 
 In 1808, Mr. Miller was again called to the bench 
 by an election as Judge of the Circuit Court in the 
 Eighth Judicial District, entering upon the dis- 
 charge of his duties in Januarj', 1809. The ex- 
 perience gained while acting .as District Juilge and 
 later as Circuit Judge, the approbation with which 
 his decisions were received by the bar and the pub- 
 lie, the almost uniform endorsement they met liy 
 
642 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 tlie superior ecurls, his high character for integrity 
 anil learninn-, and the general aptitude he iiad dis- 
 played for the bench, singled him out as the proper 
 person to fill a vacancy in the Supreme Court, 
 which occurred before his term as Circuit .Tudg:e 
 had expired. 
 
 Accordingly at the Republican State Convention 
 held in Des ^Moines in August, 1870, Judge Miller 
 was nominated with scarcely any opposition, as the 
 Republican candidate to fill ^he vacancy occasioned 
 by the resignation of the Hon. John F. Dillon, who 
 had been re-elected Supreme Judge to fill the term 
 beginning January, 1870, but who had declined to 
 qualify because appointed by the President one of 
 the new Circuit Judges of the United States. In 
 view of his nomination Judge Miller was appointed 
 by the Governor, and at the ensuing October elec- 
 tion was chosen by the people for the office of 
 Supreme Judge, his term expiring in January, 
 1876. In accordance with a provision of the con- 
 stitution requiring the judge having the shortest 
 term to act as Chief Justice, Judge Miller dis- 
 charged the duties of that position from Januaiy I, 
 1874, to the expiration of his term. In the spring 
 of 1871 he became connected with the Law De 
 partment of the State University as the successor 
 of Judge Wright, and served until June, IS?.*), 
 when he resigned, lecturing at stated intervals dur- 
 ing each coujse on the topics of criminal law, 
 agincy, the law of partnerships and of private cor- 
 porations. 
 
 While not engaged in more important official 
 duties. Judge Miller has rarely ever been allowed 
 to rest from the cares of local office, which pro- 
 claims the esteem in which his neighbors hold him. 
 He was for three 3'ears a member of the municipal 
 government of Iowa City, having been elected a 
 member of the City Council from the Second Waid 
 in 1854 and 18.56, and from the Fourth Ward in 
 1867. He has always taken a deep interest in pub- 
 lic cntcrijrises, especially of an educational char- 
 acter, and it was by his exertions mainly, while 
 acting in the capacity of Alderman and as Chair- 
 man of the committee on schools, in 185;), that the 
 first three school buildings in Iowa City were se- 
 cured, at a time when she had no school buildings 
 of any kind. 
 
 in the sjiriug of 1873, for the convenience of 
 having easy access to the archives of the Supreme 
 Court and to the Stale Librarj', whose volumes 
 must often be consulted by the Supreme Judges, 
 lie removed with his family to Dcs^Moines. At the 
 expiration of his term of office on the Supreme 
 Bench he returned to the practice of law in this 
 city, and enjoyed a liberal patronage until the fall 
 of 188.'?, when having become seriounl}' atllicted 
 with deafness, he was compelled to abandon the 
 legal profession. In the spring of 1884, he re- 
 moved from Des Moines to his farm in Storj' 
 County, but the work resulted in a serious illness, 
 which entirely disabled him for an^- manual labor, 
 and in the spring of 1886 he returned to this city, 
 where he has since resided, having exchanged his 
 farm for Des Moines real estate. Since his return 
 he has been connected with the Western Mutual 
 Aid Societj', an assessment life insurance company 
 until February', 1890, when it was consolidated with 
 another companj\ 
 
 Judge Miller early adopted his father's religious 
 views, and remains to this daj' a consistent, sincere 
 and working member of the Methodist Church, 
 and according to his ability, has alw.iys had as 
 open and full a palm for the worthy poor as any 
 Christian brother, while his benevolent disposition 
 is also attested by his long connection with the 
 great orders of P'ree Masons and Odd-Fellows. He 
 w.as initiated into the mysteries of Masonry in Iowa 
 City Lodge, No. 4, September 5, 1862, and raised 
 to the sublime degree of Master Mason on the 9th 
 of the same month. He was exalted in Iowa City 
 Royal Arch Chapter, No. 2, January L"), 1870, 
 and Knighted on the 4th of March following in 
 Palestine Commandery. 
 
 In stature Judge Miller is five feet six inches, 
 in weight one hundred and seventy pounds. His 
 hair is black, with an inclination to curl, his com- 
 [)lexion dark, his eyes clear gray. In his constitu- 
 tion the temperaments are nicely blended, with a 
 slight predominance of the sanguine, yielding a 
 disposition of singular evenness and gentleness. 
 As migl.t be inferred, his prominent characteristics 
 are firmness and perseverance. In manner, he is 
 cheerful and urbane, willing to listen or able to 
 t.ilk, r.'ither disposed to gravity than gaiety. In 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 G43 
 
 tlie war, Judge Miller i)roved himself a brave and 
 judicious cummaiider, looking to tlie welfare and 
 comfort of those under him rather than to his 
 own. As a judge, patient in investigation, dis 
 criminating in judgment, compassionate in sentence, 
 his decisions were acce[)ted as final and just. If 
 we follow him to the fireside or to the social circle, 
 we find the traits of character distinguishing him 
 in official position still ascendent, but tempered to 
 the occasion. As friend, husband, parent, son or 
 brother, he more than fulfills every obligation of 
 duty. As a citizen, a civic functionary or a mili- 
 tary officer, duty has been the pivot on which 
 every action turned. 
 
 r-,/, HARBACH, proprietor of the Capital City 
 '^ Bottling Works and a resident of Des 
 
 Moines since 1857, was born in Michel- 
 bach, Nassau, Prussia, on the 1st of October, 1831, 
 and is a son of William and Wilhelmina (Miller) 
 Ilaibach. His paternal grandfather was the man- 
 ager of an extensive foundry and machine shop, 
 and lived to the advanced age of eighty-two years, 
 while his wife reached the age of eighty j^ears. 
 Four sons and three daughters comprised the fam- 
 ily, and two of their sons married sisters of the 
 Miller famil}'. By one of those marriages our sub- 
 ject was born, while Louis Harbach, one of the 
 most prominent business men of Des Moines, was 
 born of the other. 
 
 William IIarba(th was born in Prussia in 1802, 
 and in early life learned the shoemaker's trade, at 
 which lie afterwards did an extensive business, and 
 in addition, was the owner of considerable real es- 
 tate. From 182-2 until 185G he held the position 
 of County Treasurer, being succeeded in office bj' 
 his son, who still holds tiie i)osition. He died in 
 1870, and seven 3'cars later his wife, who was born 
 in 180.5, passed away. Both were members of the 
 Lutheran Church and highly respected people. 
 
 Our suliject is one of seven children, but, with 
 the exception of one brother, has been the only 
 representative of the family- in America. Charles 
 crossed the ocean in ISfiLand died in Des Moines, 
 
 leaving a wife and children to mourn his loss. Hav- 
 ing attended school until fourteen j'ears of ago, F. 
 Harbach then learned the shoemaker's trade in his 
 father's shop, where he served an apprenticeship of 
 three years. Having then mastered the business, he 
 went to Frankfort-on-tht> Main, where he worked at 
 his chosen occupation until 1854. The time drew 
 near for enlistments into the army, but as he was 
 a high number, it was evident that he would not 
 have to serve, and the same j'ear, therefore, ac- 
 companied by his cousin, Louis, before referred 
 to, he sailed for the United States, landing in 
 Mobile, Ala. He spent a period of seven months 
 in that city, working at his trade, and afterwards 
 was employed in a like manner in Louisville, 
 Ky., from which place he made his way to St. 
 Louis, Mo. Only a short time elapsed, however, 
 ere he resumed his journey, and in .Iul3-, 1857, ar- 
 rived in Des Moines. After working at the bench 
 for a short time, he became foreman in the employ 
 of Charles Corning, and continued working for 
 others until 1861, when he opened a shop for him- 
 self, and two years later admitted into partnershij) 
 Fred Huddenloclier. In 1804 they started for 
 Virginia City, Mont., with $3,000, and at the ex- 
 piration of nineteen months returned with §9,000. 
 After the capital was divided, in 18GC, in company 
 with Philip Nau, Mr. Harbach embarked in the to- 
 bacco business, the first establishment of the kind 
 in the city. After six months, he bought out his 
 partner, and in ISO" formed a connection with his 
 brother, Charles Harbach, the partnership continu- 
 ing until the death of the latter, in the 3'ear 
 1882. Tluydid an extensive business, liul the same 
 year Mr. Harbach sold out an<l purchased |)rop- 
 erty in the rear of Nos. 512 and 511 AVest Walnut 
 Street, where he cstalilished the Capital City l>ot- 
 tling Works. 
 
 In Des Moines, on the 20th of August, IS60, 
 Mr. Harliach was ji)ined in wedlock with Miss 
 Mary Schneider, a native of Marklissc, Prussia. 
 She came with her parents to America when a 
 maiden of thirteen summers. Both her paients 
 have now passed away: the father died in Des 
 Moines, at the ago of eighty-four 3-cars, and her 
 mother when seventy-eight years of age. To Air. 
 and Mrs. llrirbach liave been born five children 
 
644 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Anna, Frank, Agnes, Minnie and George. The 
 mother is a member of the Catholic Church, but 
 the children belong to the Lutlieran Church. Until 
 1884 Mr. Ilarbach supported the Republican 
 party, casting his first Presidential vote for Abra- 
 ham Lincoln, but since that time has been an ad- 
 vocate of the Democrac}'. Socially, he is a member 
 of the Knights of Pythias and Turner Society, and 
 lias the honor of having, in 1857, organized the 
 first Turner Society in Dcs Moines. He is also the 
 organizer of Myrtle Lodge, No. !), K. of P., in 
 1871, and is Treasurer of both societies. For a 
 third of a century he has made this city his 
 home, and is well known as a prudent, straightfor- 
 ward business man, well worthy of the esteem of 
 all. 
 
 — •" <>iio ' 
 
 ,,.! NDREW ANDERSON, proprietor of the 
 I^TlJII East Side planing-milj, well deserves rep- 
 resentation in this volume, as he is num- 
 bered among the leading business men and 
 representative citizens of Dcs Moines. His birth 
 occurred near Christiana, Norway, November 25, 
 1825, his parents being Andrew and Anna (Jon- 
 seud) Anderson, both of whom were natives of 
 Norway, where they spent their entire lives. His 
 father was a carpenter and wheelwright by trade, 
 and owned a small farm near Christiana, where his 
 nine children were born and reared. Seven of the 
 family are now living, and five of the number be- 
 came residents of America, 
 
 At an earl^' age the subject of this sketch en- 
 tered his father's sho)), where he learned the car- 
 pouter's trade, and hi.s educational advantages were 
 therefore limited, being confined to such opportu- 
 tunities as the common school afforded. At the 
 age of twenty-two he was drafted into the armj-, 
 and while serving his Government he was also 
 serving himself a good turn by spending his leisure 
 hours in study and reflection, thus becoming a 
 well-infor7iierl man. Owing to his excellent con- 
 duct and studious habits he was given a non-com- 
 missioued oflice, and after serving for nearly five 
 years petitioned for a discharge that he might 
 come to the United Slates, which was granted. 
 
 On the 25lh of March, 1852, Mr. Anderson 
 wedded Marie Eid, a native of Norwa}-, and in 
 April they sailed for America. Locating in Madi- 
 son, Wis., he worked for several years by the day 
 until the breaking out of the Civil "War, when he 
 was offered a commission as Lieutenant in a Wis- 
 consin regiment, but having a family of small chil- 
 dren dependent upon him for suiiport, declined the 
 proft'ered honor. In 18G7 he began contracting as 
 the leading member of the firm of Anderson, David- 
 son <fe Co., which built the Insane Asylum at^Iadi- 
 son, and in 18(J8 erected the Blind A.sylum at 
 Janesville. He removed to the latter city, and in 
 connection with his work as a contractor ojierated 
 a plnning-niill under the firm name of Anderson, 
 Harvej' & Co., for some time. Having sold out, 
 he turned his attention to architecture for a num- 
 ber of jears, during which time he furnished the 
 plans for the rebuilding of the institute for the 
 blind at Janesville and other important works. In 
 187G he visited the Centennial Exi)osition in I'hila- 
 dclphia, and also visited his old home and native 
 land. On his return he spent sometime in Bea- 
 trice, Neb., engaged in architectural work, after 
 which he came to Des Moines, in 1880, but as 
 business was dull in that line, he entered into part- 
 nership with two of his countrymen in the opera- 
 tion of a planing-mill, which after two j'ears he 
 sold out. He then made purchase of a lot, and 
 built his present mill, which is one of the best in 
 the city and furnishes employment for some twenty 
 hands. He also takes contracts for building, and 
 in both branches of his industrj' has gained a wide 
 reputation. 
 
 In 1874 Mr. Anderson was called upon to mourn 
 the loss of his wife, who died in Janesville, Wis., 
 December 10, leaving six children, namely: Al- 
 bert. Martin A., Bertha A., Carl A., Isaac and 
 IMarie. While in Beatrice, Neb., he was again 
 married, Johanna (irinde becoming his w^ife, in 
 1879. They have had thice children — Benjamin 
 O., who died at the age of three years; Margaret 
 and Alice J. The parents arc both members of 
 the Lutheran Church, and take an active part in 
 the promotion of its interests. Mr. Anderson is a 
 mcmlierof the Board of Trustees andof^the Building 
 Committee of the Lutheran College at Decorah, 
 
,-5t»'>i'-"'" l5?tT».\ 
 
 iSSlTsN. 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 647 
 
 Iowa, anil in politics is a Rt.'[)iiblican. lie is com- 
 fortablj' supplied with this world's goods, and has 
 the satisfaction of knowing tiiat his possessions 
 have resulted from his. own industry and the care- 
 ful husbanding of his resources. As a citizen, he 
 is public-spirited and progressive, in business deal- 
 ings he is u[)right and honorable, and his life has 
 been such .as that .all who know hiui tender him 
 their high regard, combined with expressions of 
 good-will. 
 
 fOIIN A. NASH, D.D., a distinguished pio- 
 neer Baptist minister of Central Iowa, and 
 an eminent educator, w.as born in the town 
 of Sherburne, Chenango County, N. Y., on 
 the nth of July, 181.^. He is a son of John and 
 Elizabeth (Peck) N.ash. The family from which 
 he is descended was founded in America in 1649, 
 by P^dward N.isli, who came from Stratford, Eng- 
 land, and settled near Norwalk, Conn. The pater- 
 nal grandfather of our subject was born near that 
 city, and died in the same house' where his birth 
 occurred, at the unusual age of nearly one hundred 
 years. John Nash, father of our subject, was born 
 in Norwalk, Conn., in July, 1780, w.as a fanner bj' 
 occupation and married Miss Elizabeth Peck. His 
 death, which occuri-ed Jul}^ 2, l.S2(), resulted from 
 the bite of a small spider. He left a widow and 
 eight children, three sons and five daughters. 
 John, Jr., was the si.xth child, and w.as but five 
 years of age at the time of his father's death. In 
 each generation, from Edward Nash to the present, 
 there has been a son .John, our subject being the 
 seventh. On the mother's side, the Pecks were 
 from New Jersey, and originally resided in New 
 P^ngland. 
 
 After the death of his father, the Rev. Mr. N.asli 
 went to reside with an aunt in Otsego County, 
 where he was reared on a farm, receiving the edu- 
 cational advc-intages of a country school and the 
 benefit of early religious instruction. He united 
 with the Baptist Church when twenty-three years 
 of age, and in 183C, when a young man of twenty- 
 one, entered the preparatory department of the 
 
 M.adison I'niversity, at that time a leading Baptist 
 school of the State. He was graduated from the 
 University in 1842, and from the Theological 
 Seminary in 1814. In August of that latter year 
 he was ordained, and was assigned to the p.astorate 
 of the Baptist Church at Watertown, N. Y., where 
 he served six 3ears. In the meantime, on the 9th 
 of July, 1810, he wedded Miss Christiiina J. Cal- 
 houn, who was born near Rochester, N. Y., in 1823, 
 and belonged to an early New Hampshire family-. 
 Her father was distantly related to the distinguished 
 John C. Calhoun, of South Carolina. The lady 
 was an invalid at the time of her marriage, and 
 with the hope of improving her health by a change 
 of air, Mr. Nash brought her to Iowa, in the 
 autumn of 1850, and settled in Des Moines, Janu- 
 ary 3, 1851. His wife, who w.as suffering from 
 consumption, died the following February. 
 
 Mr. Nash came to Iowa under the auspices of 
 the American Baptist Home Mission Society, and 
 up to the time of his wife's death w.as engaged in 
 mission work. On his arrival in Des Moines he 
 proceeded to organize a Baptist society, which he 
 perfected at a meeting held in the court-house on 
 the 18tb of February, 1851. He was elected Pastor 
 with a salary of $450 per annum, the church to 
 pay $i)0 of that amount. The next thing necessarj- 
 was to proviile a place of worship. Efforts were at 
 once made to erect a church, but the society was 
 weak and many dillicultics arose. For six years 
 Mr. Nash strove to complete the meeting house, he 
 hauling the material and doing the manual work, 
 at the same time encouraging others to do tlieir 
 utmost. After a severe struggle the church was 
 completed, and dedicated March 16, 1856. 
 
 In the meantime Mr. Nash succeeded in another 
 important enterprise. He was married in Augusta, 
 Lee County, on the 15th of March, 1853, to Miss 
 Mary E, Hepburn, a daughter of James Hepburn. 
 She w.as born in Olcan, N. Y., and is a lady of cul- 
 ture and refinement. Her father w.as a n.ative of 
 Pennsylvania, and her mother, whose maiden name 
 was Roxanna Simmons, w.as of Canandaigua, N. Y. 
 .She came to Iowa with her parents in 1850. Soon 
 after the completion of the church, the hard times 
 of 1857 set in. and it was all the members of the 
 little congregation at Des Aloiucs could do to pro- 
 
G48 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 vide for their families without paying a salary to 
 the minister. In 1853, with the assistance of his 
 wife, Mr. Xasli opened a little private school, wliere 
 both acted as teachers, and liie tuitions received, 
 though small, helped out, with Mr. Nash's meagre 
 salary, to jirovide for their modest wants. When 
 the salary failed the future looked dark, but with 
 true Christian fortitude they did not lose heart. 
 It was settled that by their united efforts the 
 church and Sunda3'-sciiool .'jhould go on the same 
 as usual. About this time, when there seemed lit- 
 tle to brighten the future, a few of the parishioners 
 proposed that Mr. Nash teach twelve of their sons 
 for |)50 each, thus giving him un income of #600 a 
 year. Tlie welcome proposition came like a tlood 
 of sunshine after a storm. The arrangement was 
 perfected and the school opened. From this pro- 
 vidential beginning grew the Forest Home Semi- 
 nary, which uilimately resulted in the establishment 
 of the University of Des Moines, an institution of 
 learning which is conducted under the auspices of 
 the Baptists of Iowa, and of which Dr. Nash was 
 the financial head some four years during its in- 
 fancj'. He was President for three years conse- 
 cutively, and was again elected in 1877, and served 
 about two j'ears. From tiie time tlie Doctor and 
 his vvife establislied tlie Forest Home .Seminary 
 until his retirement from active work as instructor 
 in the university, covers a period of thirty years. 
 During the earlier years he was ably assisted by his 
 talented wife. 
 
 In addition to his educational work. Dr. Nash 
 was also active in the discharge of his ministerial 
 duties. AViiile the country was new he accom- 
 plished a large amount of mission work, which in- 
 cluded the organization of some thirty churches in 
 Central and Western Iowa. He served in many of 
 them, and his constant labor as pastor of the First 
 Baptist Church of Des Moines continued fifteen 
 years, from 1851 until 18()G. when he resigned. 
 For the last three years of his life he served as 
 pastor of the Forest Avenue Baptist Church, be- 
 side performing much outside duty, at funerals 
 and weddings. 
 
 The Doctor and Mrs. Nash had four children, a 
 son and three daughters — John A.. Jr., who was 
 born May 9, 1854, educated in llie Des Moines 
 
 University, studied law and is now a practicing 
 attorney of Audubon, Iowa, married Miss Ger- 
 trude Russell, of that place, by whom he has two 
 children — Beatrice, born June 11, 1881, and Gret- 
 chen, August 25, 1883; Jennie C., the eldest 
 daughter, born Ajiril 7, 185G, is the wife of the 
 Rev. C. J. Rose, of Oberlin, Ohio, and they 
 have two children- — John A., liorn July 6, 1884, 
 and Marion, May C, 1889; Netta M., born Juno 
 14, 1858, is now the wife of John MacMcar, of 
 Des Moines, and the mother of two children — 
 Mary, born July 27, 1885, and Marjorie, August 
 21, 1887; Harriet M., the youngest of the family, 
 is unmarried and resides at home. All the chil- 
 dren were born in Des Moines, and were educated 
 at the University. 
 
 Dr. Nash was a Whig in eaily life, but being 
 imbued with the broad spirit of human liberty, 
 his s^'mpathies were with the anti-slavery agita- 
 tors from the start, and on the formation of the 
 Republican party he attached himself to that 
 organization. From early bo3'hood he had taken 
 a firm stand in favor of the cause of temperance, 
 and has been an active worker in that cause con- 
 tinuously since, both in New York and Iowa, and 
 of late years has been identified with the National 
 Prohibition party. He was i)ersuadod to accept 
 the nomination for Congress in 1884, but his party 
 being in the minority he was defeated, although 
 he received more than his party vote. Prior to that 
 time he was elected and served one term as Super- 
 intendent of the Polk Count}' Schools, closing his 
 term of oflice January 1, 1874. In 1842 the 
 Columbus University conferred the degree of A. B. 
 on Mr. Nash; in 1845 he received the degree of 
 A.M. from the Madison University; and in 1870, 
 the degree of D.l). from the Chicago Universit}'. 
 In this brief sketch it is not possible to do justice 
 to the many virtues and successful life work of 
 this worthy laborer in the Lord's vineyard. He 
 has made one continuous effort in the interest of 
 education, religion and temperance, (iifted with 
 an earnest, vigorous mental force, a good com- 
 mand of language and a deep and abiding piety, 
 he was well adapted to the work that fell to his 
 lot. He has been a slu<lent all his life, as well as 
 a teacher and divine, and possessed of culture of 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 f.49 
 
 a liigh order aud fine literary ability. Cordial, 
 courteous and unassuming, he has endeared him- 
 self to his fellow-citizens, regardless of political 
 views or religious faith to a degree tiiat reflects the 
 iiighest honor upon him as a man, a teacher and a 
 clcrg3'raan. 
 
 Since the ahovc was written the Rev. Dr. Nasli 
 has crossed the dark river and is-forever at rest. 
 His death was the result of a serious accident tlial 
 befell liim, November 11, 1889, at Polk City. 
 While attempting to board a moving train he was 
 knocked from the platform, sustaining a fracture 
 of the thigii bone of the right leg near the hip. He 
 was brought to his home in Des Moines, where lie 
 lay motionless for twelve weeks, e.xhil)iting the 
 most remarkable fortitude and cheerfulness. At 
 his advanced age the long strain upon his vitality 
 wa.s too great, and he quietly passed away on the 
 evening of February 14. 1890, in his seventy-fifth 
 year. His funeral occuired the following Sabbath, 
 and was very largely attended by as sincere a body 
 of mourners as ever followed the dead to their last 
 resting place. All felt tiiat they had lost a per- 
 sonal friend. To many he bore the relation of 
 pastor .and instructor, but all knew him as a sin- 
 cere Christiar., a true friend and an honest and 
 [lure man. 
 
 ^^ HARLES A. RVDEN, shipping clerk of the 
 "' Department of Secretary of State, was born 
 
 c 
 
 in Ryda Parisii, in Soutiiwestern Sweden, 
 on the £th of March, 183G, and is a son of Anders 
 Anderson. Tlie day.s of his iioyhood and youth 
 were spent upon his father's farm, and in early life 
 he received a liberal education. Having attained 
 to mature years, in 18.')7, he emigrated to America, 
 and for a time engaged in farming near Princeton, 
 111. On the breaking out of the late war lie was 
 among the first to res[)ond to the call of his 
 adopted country for aid, and enlisted in defense of 
 the Union on the 18th of April, 1 80 1, only five 
 days after the firing upon of Ft. Sumter. He was 
 sworn into the United States service as a three 
 months' volunteer, and assigned to company I, 
 
 Twelfth Regiment Illinois Infantry. No sooner 
 had the first term expired than he enlisted in the 
 same company and regiment for three years' ser- 
 vice, and on the 1st of January, 1864, he veteran- 
 ized with the other members of the company, and 
 remained as a defender of the stars and stripes un- 
 til the war w.as ended and the country once more 
 at peace. He was in active service from the begin- 
 ning, and participated in some of the most impor- 
 tant campaigns of the war. He took part in the 
 capture of Ft. Donelson, in the battles of Siiiloh 
 and Corinth, and in the Atlanta campaign, includ- 
 ing Sherman's celebrated march to the sea, and 
 ending with the engagement at Bentonville, N. C, 
 the last regular battle of the war. He met with no 
 serious accident, but was twice slightlj- wounded. 
 He was mustered out on the 10th of July, 1805, in 
 Louisville, Ky., having served four years and tiiree 
 months. Never was he known to shirk a task im- 
 posed upon him, but was always found at his post 
 faithful to his duty. 
 
 Wiien the war was ended Mr. Ryden returned to 
 Princeton, IH., and resumed farming. On the 1 7t!i 
 of March, 1868, he w.as united in marriage witii 
 Miss Christine Johnson, a native of Sweden, and a 
 daughter of Olof Johnson. Slic was born in the 
 same neighborhood as her husband, and came to 
 America in 1854. Five children grace their union, 
 three daughters and two sons — Ella, I'.elle, Floi'- 
 ence, Roy and Hugo, all yet at home. 
 
 In 1868, accompanied by his young wife, Mr. 
 Ryden came to Iowa, and took u|i his residence in 
 Brooklyn, Poweshiek County, but a year later lo- 
 cated in Des Moines. In 1873 he was appointed 
 clerk of tliC shipping <lepartnuMil of the ollice of 
 Secretary of State, which position he has held con- 
 tinuously since, covering a period of seventeen 
 years. In politics he is a stalwart Republican, and 
 has voted with that party since becoming an Ameri- 
 can citizen. Mr. Ry<lcn and iiis wife, also their 
 older cliildren, belong to the Swedish Lutheran 
 Churcli, of which he is an .active and influential 
 memljer. His long continuance in the service of 
 the Sl.ate is only a just recognition of his fidelity 
 to the trust reposed in him, and of liic prompt and 
 faithful discliarge of every odiciai duty. Soci;dly, 
 he is a member of Kinsman Post, Nf>. 7, (i. A. R., 
 
650 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 and a prominent officer of various Swedish socie- 
 ties of Des Moines. He is President of the Swedish 
 Benevolent Sociel.y, Secretary' of tlie Swed ish Mutual 
 Societ\', and President of tlic Swedish Economical 
 Society, Skandia. Among the people of his nation- 
 ality who are residents of Des Moines, Mr. Ryden 
 is looked upon as one of the most active and in- 
 fluential, and is iield in high regard by those who 
 know him. 
 
 E^ 
 
 yr; AYETTE MEEK, who is now living a re- 
 tired life in Des Moines, has for more than 
 half a century been a resident of Iowa, and 
 for manj- j-cars was numbered among the leading 
 business men of Polk C()unt3\ He was born in 
 Clermont Count}', near Cincinnati, Ohio, on the 
 9th of March, 1841, and is a son of Dr. Samuel G. 
 and Marilla (Newton) Meek. His father was a na- 
 tive of Virginia, born iu 1798, of English and Ger- 
 man i)arentage and in an earlj' day removed to 
 Oliio, where he became acquainted with Miss New- 
 ton, wiio was born in Boston, Mass.. in 1814. He 
 wooed and won the lady and in 1 839, when our 
 subject was a lad of eight summers, they emi- 
 grated to the Territory' of Iowa, reaching their 
 destination in November. They located in Bloom- 
 ington, now the city of Muscatine, but a month 
 later removed to Burlington, and afterwards be- 
 came residents of Farmington, Van Buren County. 
 He devoted his time principally to milling and 
 mercantile pursuits, but in his latter years he re- 
 tired wholly from business life. Both Mr. Meek 
 and his wife are now deceased. 
 
 Our subject received but limited educational 
 advantages as he was forced to attend the common 
 schools of this State in an early day, when they 
 had not attained their present excellence. He en- 
 tered upon his business career as a clerk in his 
 father's dry-goods house, where he became famil- 
 iar with the methods and manner of business life. 
 Later he was employed as a salesman in a drug 
 store and subsequently embarked in the same lino 
 in Kcosauqua, Iowa, as a partner of his brother-in- 
 law. Gen. Tuttle. Their connection continued un- 
 
 til 1868, when Mr. Meek sought a home in the 
 Capital City. For a number of years he was prom- 
 inently connected with the business interests of 
 Des Moines. His first venture was in the grocery 
 trade which he successfull}' carried on for three 
 years. He then engaged in pork packing in which 
 he continued until 1886, since which time he has 
 lived a retired life. 
 
 In 1858, in Farraimgton, Iowa, he was united 
 in marriage with Miss Caroline A. Dibble, a native 
 of Rochester, N. Y., and a daughter of Judge 
 Horace Dibble. Their union was blessed with four 
 children but two are now deceased — Harper, the 
 eldest, died at the age of twenty- nine years; Alva 
 is engaged in tiie groceiy business in Des Moines ; 
 Gale died at the age of two years; and Dale is a 
 member of the firm of Meek Bros. & Co., proprie- 
 tor of one of the leading grocerj^ houses. 
 
 In politics, Mr. Meek is a Republican but has 
 never sought or desired official distinction, prefer- 
 ing to devote his attention to his business and 
 home interests. He possesses business ability of a 
 high order, is enterprising and progressive and by 
 his own efforts won a handsome competence which 
 now enables him to 3|)end his declining years 
 ;n retirement from all labor. 
 
 y;ILLIAM LOWRY, a well known ex County 
 and Cit3' Treasurer, and a prominent car- 
 „ ^ penter and builder of Des Moines, came 
 to this city in October, 1856. He is therefore 
 numbered among its pioneers and is well worthy of 
 representation in this volume. He was born in 
 Lancaster, Pa., Kebruary 14, 1835, and is a son of 
 William and Mary (Russell) Lowry. His parents 
 were also natives of Lancaster, and were of Scotch- 
 Irish descent. The paternal grandfather of our 
 subject emigrated to this countr}' from the north 
 of Ireland in 1798, and settled in the Keystone 
 Stale. Later four of his brothers came to this 
 country and settled in different parts of the L^nited 
 States but he never met any of them after they 
 reached this land. 
 
 Our subject was educated in the common schools 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 651 
 
 and siipiileiueiited his early kuovvicdge by a course 
 in Franklin College. He learned the trade of car- 
 pentry- in his native town, and in 1855 emigrated 
 to Iowa. He s{)eul the summer in Davenport and 
 the following winter in Moline, 111., but returned 
 to Davenport in the spring of 185G. The month 
 of October the same year witnessed iiis arrival in 
 Des Moines, whither he had come to work on the 
 first capitol building erected in this city. He fol- 
 lowed his trade until the spring of 1860, when at- 
 tracted bj' the discovery of gold at Pike's Peak, he 
 joined an expedition bound for that promising El- 
 dorado. Crossing the plains he spent one sum- 
 mer in the gold region but failed to find the 
 anticipated fortune. 
 
 In the fall, Mr. Lowr^- /eturued to Des Moines 
 and on the 22nd of November, was joined in wed- 
 lock with Miss Mar3' E. Turney, a native of Peters- 
 burg, Md., and a daughter of Daniel and Ellen 
 Turney. They have five children living and have 
 lost one. William R., the eldest, wedded Miss 
 INIarj- O'Couner, and is a resident of Des Moines; 
 Daniel Francis resides in the State of Washington; 
 John D., single, is engaged with his father in the 
 grocery business at No. 1304 East Ninth Street, 
 Capital Park; Mary E., resides at home; Mark died 
 at the age of seven years; and Alice T. is the 
 youngest. 
 
 Mr. Lowry continued to work at his trade until 
 1861, when he engaged as clerk in the store of J. 
 M. Moody, with whom he continued until elected 
 to the oftice of City Treasurer in 1871. He was 
 twice re-elected and served three terms. He was 
 also the people's choice for County Treasurer in 
 1873, and served three terras in that office. While 
 holding the latter position he was required to 
 make good a loss of $7,000 county funds which 
 he had on deposit with F. R. AVest & Son, bunk- 
 ers, at the time of their failure. Tliis was an 
 unjust and severe hardship to Mr. Lowry, but by a 
 vote of,tlie people of the county he was subsequently 
 re-imbursed. He was an efficient and faithful 
 officer and his great popularity is shown by the 
 fact that, while he was known to be an earn- 
 est Democrat, he was three times elected to the re- 
 sponsible office of County Treasurer in the face of 
 from thirteen hundred to sixteen hundred Repub- 
 
 lican majority. Mr. Lovvry was reared under the 
 auspices of the Presbyterian Church, but after his 
 marriago united with the Roman Catholic Churcli, 
 of which his wife has been a consistent niemlier 
 since her girlhood. He is a member of the An- 
 cient Order of United Workmiui and for a quar- 
 ter of a century has been identified W'itli the 
 Masonic order. 
 
 GjEN. JAMES BAIRD WEAVER, hitc mem- 
 - ber of Congress from the sixth district of 
 J Iowa, and a prominent lawj-er and politi- 
 cian of the Slate, was born in Dayton, Ohio, on 
 the r2th of June, 1833. His iJarents, Abram 
 and Susan (Imley) Weaver, were also natives of 
 the Buckeye State and became pioneers of Davis 
 County, Iowa. The family' is of English origin 
 and was established in America in Colonial days by 
 emigrants from England who settled in New Y'ork. 
 Members of the family served in the War for In- 
 dependence and others became men of note in the 
 various communities where they resided. William 
 Weaver, grandfather of our subject, removed 
 from New York to (^hio in the days of its early 
 settlement and served as a Judge in one of the 
 courts in that State. During the Indian Wars, he 
 was in command of a fort that stood at a point, 
 now the foot of Main. Street, Cincinnati. He also 
 participated in the War of 1812. 
 
 Abram Weaver, father of Gen. Weaver, was 
 born and reared in Ohio, and in 1835 removed 
 with his famii}' to Cass County. Mich., where he 
 followed farming until 1842, when he emigrated 
 Westwaid. On the 1st of May, 1843, (the first 
 day on which the whites were allowed to enter 
 upon the reservation which had been purchased of 
 the Sac and Fox Indians) he settled in Davis 
 County, Iowa. He took an active part in public 
 affairs and for ten years held the office of clerk 
 of the court of that county. Subseqently he re- 
 moved to Atchison County, Kan., where he 
 served as clerk of the court for fourteen years. His 
 death occurred in the city of Atchison in the 
 spring of 188!), at the .age of eighty-three years. 
 
G52 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 His wife, tlie mother of Gen. Weaver, was born in 
 Ohio, ;ind w.is descended from an old and promi- 
 nent Kew Jersey family. She died prior toiler hus- 
 band, in the spring of 1888. 
 
 The subject of this sketch s|)ent his boyhood 
 days upon his father's farm, and when fifteen j'cars 
 of age went to Bloomfield, where he availed him- 
 self of such educational advantages as the pioneer 
 schools afforded. During this period he was em- 
 plo3ed a part of the time in carrying the mails on 
 horseback between Bloomfield and Fairfield, his 
 father having the contract on that route. In 1850, 
 j'oung Weaver decided to .adopt the legal profes- 
 sion as a business and entered upon the studj- of 
 law in the office of Hon. Samuel G. McAcliran of 
 Bloomfield, but soon afterwards, he entered 
 the store of C. W. Phelps as salesman and pur- 
 sued his readings in such leisure times as he 
 found available. In 18.53, he drove an ox-teara 
 across the plains to California for a relative and re- 
 turned by Wily of the Pananij route and 2sew York 
 in the fall of the same year. The following year 
 he clerked for Edward Manning, a merchant of 
 Bonaparte, Iowa. Mis employer urged him to re- 
 main under the promise of increased salary' and an 
 ultimate partnership in the business, but this he 
 declined and again turned to his favorite ()ro3ecl, 
 that of becoming a lawyer. In the autumn of 
 1854, he entered the Cincinnati Law School and 
 was graduated in the class of 1855, with the de- 
 gree of L. L. B. In May of the same year he 
 opened a law otfice in Bloomfield, where he has 
 pursued the practice of his profession except when 
 in the service or employed in ollicial or political 
 work. 
 
 On the breaking out of the late war, Mr. Weaver 
 was one of the first to respond to President Lin- 
 coln's call for troops, and in April, 1861, enlisted 
 as a private of Company G, Second Iowa Infantry-, 
 intending to enter the Pirst Regiment, but missed 
 it on account of his company not filling soon 
 enough. He was elected First Lieutenant of the 
 companj', which position he held until October, 
 1862. Having participated in the battles of Don 
 elsOD, Shiloh and the seige of Corinth, lie was 
 commissioned M.ajor on the eve of the bat- 
 tle of Corinth, an honor unsolicited by him. 
 
 During the sanguinary battle of the following 
 day Col. James Baker was mortall3' wounded, 
 and the succeeding day Lieut. Col. N. H. Mills 
 fell a victim to the enemy's bullets. Thus the 
 command of the regiment devolved upon Maj. 
 Weaver until the end of the engagement. .Seven 
 days later he was unanimousl}' chosen Colonel 
 and was duly commissioned by Gov. Kirkwood. 
 Within one week he h.ad risen from lieutenant to 
 colonel and continued to lead the gallant Sec- 
 ond Iowa Regiment until the expiration of 
 the term of service on the i?7th of May, 1861, 
 when he was mustered out. During his war exper- 
 ience he never missed a march, a skirmish or a 
 battle in wliicli his command took part. At the 
 capture of Fort Donelson a b.all perforated his hat 
 and cut a furrow through his hair, which is the 
 nearest he came to being hit. He led the brigade 
 which crossed the Oostenaula, during the battle of 
 Resaca, Ga., discovered the enemy's position, laid 
 the pontoon bridges under fire, and after crossing, 
 the brigade drove the eneru^' from the rifle jiitsbe- 
 fore him. He bore the reputation of never shrink- 
 ing from the most perilous position, wiiile the 
 magnetism of his presence inspired his subordinate 
 officers and men with confidence and hope. He was 
 brevetted Brigadier Gciicral on the 22nd of May, 
 1866, to dale from the 13lh of March. 1864, "for 
 gallant and meritorious services," the United 
 .'>tates Senate confirming the well deserved honor. 
 After the close of the war, Gen. Weaver resumed 
 the practice of law in Bloomfield. and in 1866 was 
 elected District Attorney of the secontl judicial dis- 
 trict of Iowa, and the following ye.ar was appointed 
 Assessor of Internal Revenue for the first district of 
 the State, which position he held six years, or until 
 the oflice was abolished by law. In 1871, Gen. 
 Weaver came within one vote of being the Repub- 
 lican nominee for Congress from his district and 
 in 1875, against his wishes was a prominent can- 
 didate for Governor. He was one of the organ- 
 izers of the Republican party in Iowa in 1856, and 
 affiliated with that party until 1877, since which 
 time he has been prominently identified with the 
 National Greenback Labor party and its most con- 
 picuous leader in the West. In the fall of 1878, 
 he was nominated by that party for Congress, in- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 653 
 
 dorscd by the Democrats, anil was elected by a 
 vote of 1G,36G against 14,308 cast for E. S. Samp- 
 son, the KeiHiblican nominee. On the 18th of 
 March, 1879, he tooii liis seat as a member of the 
 Fort\--sixth Congress. In June, 1880, he was 
 nominated for the presidency by the National 
 Greenback Labor party and in the November 
 election received 307,740 votes for that office. In 
 1884 he was returned to Congress by the combined 
 vote of his and the Democratic party and took his 
 seat in the Forty-ninth Congress on tlie 7th of 
 December, 1885. Having twice held tlie office the 
 people knew of his worth and ability and again sent 
 him as tlicir representative to the legislative halls 
 of llie Nation. The broad and liberal views of pub- 
 lic policj- advocated by Gen. AVeaver is shown in 
 the spirit of his letter of acceptance when nom- 
 inated for tlie presidency, from which we make the 
 following extract: 
 
 '•One of the grand missions of our party is to 
 banish forever from American politics that deplor- 
 able spirit of sectional hatred which for base pur- 
 poses has been fostered by the leaders of the old 
 parties. This has greatly deceived and eml)ittcred 
 the public min.l both North and .South. Our civ- 
 ilization demands a new party dedicated to the 
 pursuits of peace and whicii will not allow the war 
 issues ever to be re-opoened, and will render the 
 military strictly subordinate to the civil power. 
 Tl)e war is over, and tlie sweet voice of Peace, 
 long neglected, calls us to worship at lier altars; 
 let us crowd her temijles with willing votaries. 
 Let us have a free ballot, a fair count and equal 
 rights for all classes; for the laboring men in 
 Nortliern factories, mines and workshops, and for 
 the struggling poor, both vvhite and black, in the 
 cotton fields of the South." 
 
 Oil the 12th of July, 1858, Geu. Weaver was 
 married in Keosauqua, Iowa, to Miss Clara Vin- 
 son, a native of St. Mary's, Ohio. She is a woman 
 of superior talent and culture, and is one of the 
 leaders of the State in the Woman's Foreign Mis- 
 sionary' work. (ien. and Mrs. Weaver have seven 
 children living, two sons and five daughters and 
 lost one son in infancy. Maud, the eldest of the 
 family becainc the wife of Rev. K. A. Robinson, 
 of Cincinnati, Iowa;. lames I!, married Miss Fay 
 
 Atkins, and is a member of the law firm of Gatch, 
 Connor &. AVeaver of Des Moines; Susie is still at 
 home; Abram C. is engaged in farming near Bloom- 
 field, Davis County, Iowa; Laura, Ruth and Esther 
 complete the family. 
 
 Gen. AA'eaver is a Knight Templar Mason and 
 also a member of the Odd Fellows society. In the 
 temperance cause he is an earnest worker and is an 
 official member <:>f the Methodist Episcopal Chu.'-ch. 
 He was a lay delegate to the general conference 
 whicli met in Baltimore in 1876, and has been 
 prominentl3' identified with that church for many 
 years. Since 1883, he has been one of the editors 
 and proprietors of the loiva Tribune of Des Moines, 
 which pajter is the recognized organ of the Nat- 
 ional Labor party in the AA'est and a powerful 
 cliamiiion of the rights of the people in opposition 
 to all monopolies. Gen. AVeaver is a clear and 
 forcible writer, a talenteil and able lawyer, and 
 one of the most eloquent ami popular public speak- 
 ers in the I'nited States. Ills course as a lawyer, 
 soldier and statesman has won for him a fore- 
 most place among the distinguished men of the na- 
 tion. 
 
 't^" ^ ' ^^ 
 
 \»/ AMES C. SAV^ERY, the pioneer hotel man of 
 Des Moines, came here in 1853 and opened 
 a hotel in a log house which was situated at 
 the southeast corner of Walnut and AV'est 
 Third Streets, and whicli was known as The Marvin. 
 He also de.alt in real estate and took an .active in- 
 terest in the improvement and development of the 
 city. In 1856, when the capital was located in Des 
 IMoines, a joint stock company was formed for the 
 purpose of Imilding a first-class hotel building. 
 Mr. Savery was the leading spirit in the enterprise 
 and the result was the Saver^' Hotel, now known as 
 the Kirkwood, of which he became the owner and 
 wliicli was conducted by his brother until 1878. 
 Financial troubles having overtaken him, he in 
 connection with Mr. Allen, a banker in Des Moines, 
 went to Montana, where he engaged in mining and 
 other enterprises. Having in a few years recuper- 
 ated his financial condition he returned home .'iiid 
 became hugely intcresled in real estate in Iciwa in 
 
654 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 connection with James Callanan, they buying all 
 the lands of the American Emigrant Company. 
 In 1886, a spirit of public improvement led to a 
 desire on the part of the citizens of Des Moines to 
 have a still flner hotel erected that should be second 
 to none west of Chicago, and a movement was set 
 on foot to effect that result. At the head of this 
 movement was Col. Frank Kiselej'. A stock com- 
 pany called the Savery Hotel Company was incor- 
 porated, of which Col. Riseley was elected President 
 and \V. W. Witmer, Secretary. Mr. Savery was 
 strongly urged to become a member of the com- 
 pany and to let the proposed hotel bear his name. 
 Yielding to the solicitations of his friends he 
 bought :i>100,000 of the stock aTid the work went 
 on. The citizens furnished the site, which was 
 valued at $50,000. as a subsidiary gift. The erec- 
 tion of the building was begun in the spring of 
 1887, and completed, furnished and opened for bus- 
 iness on the 1st of Julj', 1888, under the name of 
 The Savery, with Col. Frank Riseley as manager. 
 The hotel was built on the best modern plans and is 
 furnished in the most elegant manner. The furni- 
 ture and ai)puinlments are in kee|)ing with the lux- 
 urious style of the house. The very name of the 
 place is suggestive of comfort and ease, and under 
 its able management the Savery has never disap- 
 pointed its owners or patrons. The value of the 
 site, as previously stated, was 5!50,000, the cost 
 of the structure it;22r),0OO and the cost of furniture 
 $50,000, making a grand total of $325,000. Mr. 
 .Savery, who began the hotel business in a log 
 house in 1853, has reason to be proud of the pala- 
 tial house of 1890 that bears his name. 
 
 .lames C. Savery was born in Wareham, Mass,, 
 on the 30th of November, 1826. His forefather was 
 a member of the first Puritan colony of 1620. His 
 immediate family resided in Saratoga, N. Y., ilur- 
 ing his childhood, and he is the only survivor of 
 six children. He was triarried in .January, 1853. 
 His wife is a native of London. Her life has been 
 devoted principall}' to literary pursuits. 
 
 I'rior to coming to Des Moines in 1853 Mr. SaT- 
 ery resided in New York. He went to California 
 among the first at the time of the gold discoveries 
 on the Pacific Coast. He was one of the founders 
 of the American Emigrant Company and uia<le 
 
 several trips to Europe on that business. This 
 company has settled over a hundred thousand 
 Scandinavians in the Northwestern States. Mr. 
 Savery is at the head of this company at the present 
 time. The reverses and successes of life have 
 neither soured or disturbed the even current of his 
 nature. Kind and genial to all, he is a stanch 
 friend to those who have won his regard, and has 
 an especially warm corner in his heart for the 
 friends of the pioneer daj'S of the capital city. 
 For several years past Mr. Savery has made his 
 home in New York City, though his large property 
 interests in Des Moines and throughout the West 
 require him to spend considerable time each year 
 among his old friends in Iowa's capital, an arr.inge- 
 ment which it is needless to say, is found mutually 
 agreeable. 
 
 I * 
 
 ,-,ILLIAM KNO\VLTON BIRD, eldest son 
 
 ViA/// ^^ ''''^ Rev. Thompson and Anna P.(Knowl- 
 V^^ ton) Bird, is a native of Indiana. He was 
 born in Thornton, Boone County, on the 9lh of 
 September, 1840, and in 1847, accompanied his 
 parents to Iowa, the family' locating in Des Moines 
 the following year. In his youth he enjoj'ed un- 
 usual educational advantages, receiving the tute- 
 lage of his learned father and cultured, affectionate 
 mother, who evidently molded his character and 
 impressed upon him those traits of integrity and 
 sterling worth which have always characterized his 
 intercourse vvith those with whom he has had 
 business relations. In his youth he attended a se- 
 lect school in Norwich, Conn., for a time, but was 
 obliged to discontinue his studies on account of .\ 
 weakness of the eyes. Returning home, I'C en- 
 gaged in the profession of teaching .'<>'• several 
 terms or until the breaking out of the late war, 
 when, true to his patriotic impulses, he enlisted in 
 the Second Iowa Infantry, but was rejected on ac- 
 count of the difficulty before mentioned, as attend- 
 ing the pursual of his studies. He persisted, 
 however, and finally succeeded in securing a place 
 in the ranks, but at the end of nine months he was 
 oliliged to return home, and for more than three 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 655 
 
 years was pliysically incapacitated for business. 
 On recovering iiis heaitli, lie entered a dry-goods 
 store as a salesman, where his genial manners, cul- 
 tivated mind and honesty of purjjose at once made 
 him popular. 
 
 In 1873 Mr. Bird engaged in business for him- 
 self. in the same line, occupying a portion of the 
 then vacant Aborn House. Subsequently he trans- 
 ferred his business to the newly-erected block of 
 the State Insurance Company on the east side of 
 the same street, between AValnut Street and Court 
 Avenue, where he increased his stock and carried 
 on an extensive business. 
 
 On the Hth of November, 18(50, Mr. Bird 
 formed a matrimonial alliance with Miss Mary H- 
 Earle, daughter of William Earle, of Milton, Rock 
 County, Wis. One chikl, a daughter, Anna May, 
 was born to them, but died .September 8, 1868. 
 
 yW. WISE, Secretary and Manager of the 
 Wise Ice Company, is one of the repre- 
 sentative business men of IJes Moines. 
 From the age of thirteen years he has made his 
 own way in the world, and though many are the 
 difficulties and obstacles which he has met, perse- 
 verance and industry have overcome all opposi- 
 tion, and he is now one of the well-to-do citizens 
 of Polk County. 
 
 The history of his life is as follows: He was 
 born in Jasper County, Iowa, on the 19th of De- 
 cember, 1861, and is a son of Edward and Adeline 
 (Hunt) Wise, who are numbered among the early 
 settlers of Iowa. His father was a blacksmith by 
 trade and died in the prime of life, leaving tvvo 
 children — Hose and our subject, who was then but 
 five years of age. The mother was afterwards again 
 married, and is now living in this county. 
 
 Few, indeed, were the advantages afforded our 
 subject in his youth, of an educational character 
 or otherwise. When a mere lad he began work 
 upon a farm, which he continued for several sea- 
 sons, and then ucnt on the road as a train boy, 
 after which lie sold JKjg cholera medicine. Jn that 
 
 enterprise he was so unsuccessful that he lost all 
 that he had made as a farm hand. The days were 
 indeed dark to him about that time. He was next em- 
 plo3ed as janitor in the Iowa Business College and 
 turned the keys in the County Jail. Later, he was 
 employed for some three years in the real-estate 
 business for Adams & Hastie, and himself practic- 
 ing the strictest economy, gave his money to his sis- 
 ter that she might be educated. .Scorning no labor 
 whereby he might earn an honest dollar, he at 
 length was recognized as a competent and faithful 
 business man, and was given charge of the lumber 
 yard owned by the Green Bay Lumber Company, 
 of Oneida County. After his arrival in Des Moines, 
 he engaged in book-keeping for the Wabash Coal 
 Company until 1884, when he embarked in the 
 real-estate business, which he has since continued, 
 although he now handles little else than his own 
 property. He is also engaged in the ice business, 
 which in 1887 he commenced, having for a ])artner 
 T. Christy. The following year the Wise Ice Com- 
 pany was formed, of which he was elected Presi- 
 dent, and in 1889 he was also made manager. 
 
 Mrs. Wise was formerly Miss Ilatlie E. Under- 
 wood, the wedding of this worthy couple having 
 been celebrated in Des Moines, September 17, 1886. 
 She is a lady of (uUture and refinement, and like 
 her husband, has many warm friends in the com- 
 niunnity. They have one child, a little daughter, 
 Ruth Ilelene. Socially, Mr. Wise is a member of 
 the Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias and the 
 Ancient Order of United Workmen, and in polit- 
 ical sentiment is a Republican. He is a member of 
 the Council of Capital Park, and laid out Wise's 
 subdivision to that park. He is a stirring business 
 man, and is indebted only to his own energy and 
 industry for the position to which he has attained 
 in the world. 
 
 -*>->- 
 
 '^^>^;i^^^fif?<'^^< 
 
 ^OHN C.IIUTTENLOCHER, owner and pro- 
 prietor of the Banner House, of Des Moines, 
 is one of the pioneer hotel keejjers of this 
 city, liaving here been engaged in that busi- 
 
 ness fur twenty years. He w\s born in the town 
 
656 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 of Hegensberg, county of Esslengen, Wuitemburg, 
 Geimiuiy, ou the 18th of October, 1828, and is one 
 of nine cliildien, wliose fallier was Lorenz F. Ilut- 
 tenloclier. Seven of llie family liave come to 
 America. Frederika accompanied our subject on 
 Lis voyage across tbe Atlantic to the shore of the 
 New World, in 1854, they being the first to seek 
 homes in the United States. Slie died in Rhode 
 Island several years ago, leaving a family, who are 
 still residents of Des Moines. With the exception 
 of one sister who makes lier home in Story County, 
 Iowa, all the other members of the family reside 
 in Des Moines. The parents are now deceased. 
 
 In his native land our subject spent tlie days of 
 his boyiiood and youth, and at the age of twenty- 
 five years, accompanied by his sister, as above 
 stated, he bade good-by to his old home and sailed 
 for New York. He spent one year in Elmira, in 
 the Empire State, and the succeeding year in Rock- 
 ford, 111., after whicli lie came to Des Moines, 
 which has since been his home. Great indeed have 
 been the changes which have taken place in the 
 thirty years which liavc come and goLC since that 
 time. The town of a few thousand has increased 
 to a city of sixty thousand; important manufac- 
 tories and industries have been- established, splen- 
 did churches and schools, and palatial residences 
 liave been built, and every luxury known to llie 
 East has been introduced. . The lowans may look 
 with just pride upon their Capital City, which is 
 also the metropolis of the State. 
 
 The principal business in which Mr. Ihiltenlo- 
 cher has been engaged is that of hotel keeping, to 
 which he has devoted his energies for twenty years, 
 eiofhteen jxars of which lime he has been located 
 at his present place of business. His long expe- 
 rience, and consequent familiarity with the wants 
 of the traveling public, have enabled him to con- 
 duct his house in a manner pleasing to all, and a 
 liberal patronage is the result. 
 
 Mr. Hutteidochor, in 1855, led to the marriage 
 ullar Miss Louise Spicth, who is also a native of 
 Hegensberg. The ceremonj- was performed in Rock- 
 ford. III., and by their union have been born nine 
 children, six sons and three daughters, viz.: Christ, 
 Louisa S., Herman G. L., Fred L., Caroline, Ida R., 
 Ernest A., Louis Otto, Frank E. W, 
 
 In 1885 Mr. Huttenlocher and his wife went back 
 to their old home in Germanj', after an absence of 
 thirty-one years. Many of the old landmarks yet 
 remained, but the greatest changes were among 
 their j-outhful friends, many of whom had sought 
 home.s clsewliere, while others had departed this 
 life. Although it was a pleasure to once more 
 look upon the scenes of their childhood, the}' wil- 
 lingly returned to theii- home in this country, 
 around wliich nearly all of their interests were 
 clustered. They arc held in high respect through- 
 out this comrauuit}', and are numbered among the 
 worthy German-American citizens. 
 
 ♦ >o - 
 
 -4*- 
 
 & 
 
 AMES MAINE, though not one uf the ear- 
 lier contractors and builders of Des Moines, 
 is yet a i)romincnt representative of that 
 liranch of business in I'olk County. He lo- 
 cated in this city in 1885, and for three years was 
 associated with E. I). .lanes in the firm of .lanes & 
 Maine, but since tlie dissolution of that partnership, 
 which occurred in 1888, he has been alone in busi- 
 ness. His olbce is situated at No. 517 Mulberry 
 Street, and he is the recipient of a liberal patron- 
 age. 
 
 The life record of Mr. Maine is as follows: He 
 is a native of England, having been born in Bris- 
 tol in 1851. He grew to manhood in his native 
 town, and in his youth served an api^renliceship to 
 masonr}' and building. His father, Heniy IMainc. 
 was a railroad contractor in early life. In 1870, 
 the family crossed the Atlantic to America, and af- 
 ter one year's residence in the Slate of New York, 
 removed to Chicago, 111., where the father is now 
 living. In that cit}' our subject also made his home 
 for a number of 3'ears, and engaged in the prosecu- 
 tion of his chosen occupation. He was in Chicago 
 immediately after the great lire in 1871, and aided 
 in the rebuilding of a consideralde portion of the 
 city. He first came to Iowa in 1875, and took up 
 his residence in Newton, .Jasper County, where he 
 resumed work as a contractor and builder. 
 
 The following year, in Newton, Mr. JMaine was 
 united in marriage with Miss Missilda Wheeler, a 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 657 
 
 daughter of Joseph K. Wheeler, one of the pioneers 
 of Jasper County, where Mrs. Maine was born. By 
 their union tliey have become parents of six chil- 
 dren, four sons and two daughters — Orin, Herbert 
 A., Dais3', Kiuue, Harry and an infant daughter. 
 
 Mr. Maine continued to make ids home in New- 
 ton, Iowa, until 1 8H5, when as above stated, he came 
 to Des Moines. His experience as a contractor and 
 builder covers his entire manhood years, and he 
 has aided in the erection of many fine buildings, in 
 Chicago, Newton and Des Moines. He sustains a 
 high rejiutation for honesty and integrity, and these 
 elements of his character, combined with a superior 
 knowledge of his business, have ever insured him 
 a full share of patronage. Altliough their resi- 
 dence in the capital cit^' has been of short duration, 
 Mr. Maine and his wife have made many warm 
 friends by whom they are held in high regard. 
 
 FERNANDO A. PERCIVAL, the pioneer 
 
 real-estate dealer of Des Moines, is a native 
 of the Empire State. He was born in Os- 
 wego Count}', December 25, 183G, being a son of 
 Denman and Lucy (^Lainb) Pereival. The founders 
 of the Pereival family came from England, and the 
 grandfather of our subject, who was a physician 
 by profession but spent his latter years upon a 
 farm, was a frontiersman of Western New York. 
 His son, Denman Pereival, was reared to farm life, 
 but followed divers occupations, dealing in wool 
 and furs, keeping tavern, running tan yards, etc. 
 After making several removals in New York, he at 
 length settled in Cleveland, Ohio, where he dealt 
 extensively in leather. In 1863. he came to Des 
 Moines, bought wool for a time and then engaged 
 in the real-estate business in vvhicii he continued 
 until his deatli. 
 
 In Morrisvillc, N. Y., Mr. Pereival married Miss 
 Lamb, daughter of Aroswell Lamb, a substantial 
 fnrnitr formerly from Connecticut, who with his 
 wife emigrated from that State to New Vork and 
 lived to the advanced age of cighl^-tlirec years. 
 Mr. Pereival died in Des Moines in LS70, at the 
 age of sixty-three years. He sup|(i)rte<l the \\'hig 
 
 party in early life, was afterwards a l{ei)ublican 
 and in religious belief was a Universalist. He was 
 truly one of nature's noblemen. Ail who knew 
 him respected and esteemed him and his death was 
 sincerely mourned by many friends. His wife, 
 wlio was a member of the Episcopal Church, ilied 
 in 1872 in Cleveland, Ohio, while on a visit to 
 friends in that city. In their family were five 
 children, three sons and two daughters: Heniy F., 
 a manufacturer of Des Moines; Fernando A. of 
 this sketch; Eunice S., wife of Tyler Scoville; 
 Anna E., widow of Frank B. Hill; and Jerome, 
 deceased. 
 
 After acquiring such education as the district 
 .schools afforded, Fernando Pereival went into busi- 
 ness with his father, continuing to operate con- 
 jointly until 1862, when he laid aside business 
 cares and enlisted in the Forty-second New York 
 Artillery, of which he was commissioned First 
 Lieutenant. He was detailed on recruiting service 
 and his colonel gave him credit fur bringing in 
 more recruits than any other man in his regiment. 
 Having served a year he was called home by the 
 death of his brother and resigning shortly after- 
 ward, engaged in the real-estate business with hi.s 
 father and others under the firm name of Thomas, 
 Hill & Co. Soon Mr. Thomas sold out and 
 the firm became Pereival, Hill tk Co.. afterward 
 Pereival & Co., an'd . in 1865 it assumed its 
 present style, Pereival & Hatton, under which 
 form the business has been carried on continu- 
 ously since. This is not only the oldest but is 
 also one of the most reliable real-estate firms in 
 the city. Its members have ever been liberal 
 toward all worthy eiiter[)rises and none have done 
 more to forward the interests of Des Moines. They 
 were instrumental in laying out Grand Park, were 
 the original incorporators of the Clifton Heights 
 Land Company and of the N'ermont Syndicate that 
 platted Kingman Place; beside they have added 
 much to the city in the wa}' of huildings among 
 wliich may be mentioned the Oriel Block, Gault 
 House, and a great many residences. They were 
 large contributors to the Iowa Kxposition Huilding. 
 Mr. Pereival is prominently connected with several 
 of the organized companies of the city, being one 
 (if the lio.'ird of ilireetors of the Central Loan ife 
 
658 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Trust Company; President of the Iowa Pipe and 
 Tile Company; and President of the Capital City 
 Planing Mill Company. In political sentiment he 
 is a Republican and socially is a thirty-second de- 
 gree Mason. 
 
 In 1873, Mr. Percival was united in marriage 
 with Mrs. Etta B. McCuUough, a native of Wis- 
 consin, and unto tlicm have been born two children: 
 Lucy M. and Helen. All the family are members 
 of the Congregational Churcii and rank high in 
 the social world. Our subject lias been very suc- 
 cessful in the accumulation of properl}- and in all 
 his dealings he has been pre-eminently just and 
 honorable, thus winning to himself tiie respect and 
 confidence of liis patrons and those with whom he 
 has had business relations. 
 
 «-^^ 
 
 AMUEL liRANSON, who is practically 
 living a retired life at No. 1217 Pine 
 Street, in East Des Moines, was born in 
 Belmont County, Ohio, October 10,1814, 
 and is a son of Jacob and Rebecca (Ilolloway) 
 Branson. His father was a native of Virginia and 
 traced his ancestry back to England. On reaching 
 maturity, on the I6th of September, 1795, .lacob 
 Branson was joined in wedlock with Miss Hollo- 
 way, also a "naiive of the Old Dominion, whose 
 family was founded in New Jersey at an early 
 day. In 1805 they removed to Ohio, settling in 
 the vicinity of Flushingtown, Belmont Count}', 
 where Mr. Branson purchased a farm. He was a 
 cabinet maker by trade and followed that occupa- 
 tion until his emigration to the Buckeye State, 
 after which he engaged in agricultural pursuits 
 until his death, which occurred June 27, 1845, in 
 the seventy- fourth year of his age. He was a min- 
 ister of the Society of Friends, and one whose up- 
 right life won the respect of all with whom he 
 came in contact. His wife died very suddenly on 
 the 30th of October, 1834. They were the par- 
 ents of nine ciiildren, but only two are now living: 
 Ann, the si.xth in order of biriii, who is now a res- 
 ident of Belmont County, Ohio; and Samuel, the 
 
 eighth. Those deceased are: Abigail, Isaiah, Phoebe, 
 Lydia, Deborah, Aaron and Jacob. 
 
 Sunuitl Branson was reared to the occupation of 
 farming, and acquired his education in a school 
 which was under the auspices of the Society of 
 Friends. After the death of his parents, he began 
 clerking in a store, which position he retained five 
 or six years, when he rented a mill, and in its op- 
 erations spent the six succeeding years of his life, 
 turning out from seventy-five to one hundred bar- 
 rels of dour per day. In 1856, in partnership 
 with a cousin, he embarked in the general merchan- 
 dise business in Uuiontown, Belmont County, 
 Ohio, and also 'engaged in the buying and selling 
 of wool quite extensively until 1879, when he 
 closed out his business connections in the Buckeye 
 State and removed to Polk County. Immediately 
 after his arrival he rented a hotel in Des Moines, 
 then called the Avenue House, which he carried 
 on successfully for a 3'ear, after which he was em- 
 ploj'ed for six years as salesman in a shoe store. 
 He then engaged in general merchandising for him- 
 self for about a year, when, in 1883, he began 
 dealing in ice, in which he still retains an interest. 
 He has also devoted some attention to the real- 
 estate business, and in the two lines has met with 
 good success. In 1886 he purchased a farm of 
 one hundred and eighty-three acres of land in Mad- 
 ison County, Iowa, which is well improved, but 
 has never engaged personally in its cultivation, 
 leaving it to the care of tenants. 
 
 On the 18th of April, 1848, Samuel Branson and 
 Miss Sarah Huff were married, and unto tliem 
 have been born three sons, namely : Daniel, the 
 eldest, who is now deceased; Frank, who married 
 Adeline McNett, and resides in Kingman Place; 
 and Abbott, an engineer on the Union Pacific Rail- 
 road. Mrs. Branson is a daughter of Daniel and 
 Nancy (\'an Pelt) Huff. Her fatlier, a native of 
 South Carolina, was a son of Mrs. Huff, a sister of 
 Gen. Burnsides. He made farming his life occu- 
 pation and was eng:iged in that business at the 
 time of his death, which occurred March IGth, 
 1867, in the sixty-eight \ear of his age. His wife, 
 who was born in Ohio, died July 22, 1875, when 
 seventy-three years of age. They were the parents 
 of nine children, namely: Julia, now deceased; 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 659 
 
 Mary, a resident of Iiuliaiia; Sarah, now Mrs. 
 Branson; John, deceased; Maldon; Aaron, who is 
 living in Chillicothe, Ohio; Pha3be, deceased; 
 Jesse, of Belmont County, Ohio; and Daniel W., 
 who resides in the same connt^'. 
 
 Mr. Branson is a self-made man, and is a re- 
 spected citizen of Polk Countj'. He cast his first 
 Presidential vote for Gen. William Henry Harrison, 
 and supported the Whig party until its dissolution, 
 when he joined the new Republican party, of 
 which he has since been a warm advocate. So- 
 cially-, lie is a member of the Masonic lodge, and 
 in religious belief, both he and his wife are Pres- 
 byterians. 
 
 T--^' 
 
 0~ APT. FRED SHEARER WHITING, one of 
 the leading contractors and builders of Des 
 , Moines, dates his residence in this cit}' from 
 
 August, 1K65. He was born in Ashland, Ohio, on 
 the 12th of March, 183G, and is a son of Samuel 
 Bowers Whiting, who w.as born near Augusta, Me. 
 The family was established in Massachusutts in an 
 early day and later the branch to which our sub- 
 ject belongs removed to Maine. His father was 
 born in 1799, and when about fifteen years of age 
 with his family became a part of a colony that 
 emigrated westward from tlie Pine Tree State and 
 settled near New Madrid, Mo. But the settlers 
 were unfortunate. Sickness soon prevailed among 
 them to an alarming extent and death carried off 
 many, including the father of the Whiting family. 
 Most of the colony that survived became discour- 
 aged by continued sickness and the death of so 
 many of their friends, and resolved to seek homes 
 elsewhere. Again turning their faces eastward 
 they retraced their stejjs until reaching Fayette 
 County, Pa. 
 
 In that county Samuel Whiting attained to man- 
 hood and married Reb(!cca Shearer, after which he 
 removed with his wife to Ashland, Ohio. He was 
 a carpenter and builder by occupation and con- 
 to work at his trade in the Buckeye State until 
 the year 1858, when, accompanied by his family, 
 he once more sought a home be^-ond the Missis- 
 sippi, choosing Iowa as tiie scene of lli^' future op- 
 
 perations. He first settled in Henry County but 
 afterward removed to Fairfield, .TefTerson County, 
 where he and his wife died and were buried. Their 
 family numbered seven children, two sons and five 
 daugliters, all of whom attaine<l to mature years 
 and are yet living, with one exception, at the time 
 of this writing, in 1890. David, the eldest, is still 
 living in Ashland, Ohio; Marj' Ann is deceased; 
 Sarah is the wife of Clark Van Ostrond, a large 
 stock-dealer of Jefferson Count}', Iowa; Louisa is 
 the widow of John Hughes, of Livonia, Richland 
 County, Ohio; Capt. Fred is the ne.xt 3'ounger; 
 Nancy Elizabeth is the wife of Jacob Spraker, of 
 Oakland Mills, Henry Count}', Iowa; Rebecca, a 
 maiden lady, resides with her sister, Mrs. V.aii Os- 
 trond. 
 
 The subject of this notice was educated in the 
 common schools and in his youth learned the trade 
 of carpentering. He came West in' 1855 and vis- 
 ited Des Moines at that early day. At length he 
 made a location at Oskaloosa, but after two years 
 went South and in January, 1861, we find him in 
 the city of New Orleans, but war was then threat- 
 ened and excitement in the South ran high. It was 
 hardly safe for a Northern man to remain among 
 the rebellious people, and in consequence Mr. 
 Whiting returned North, going to Fairfield, Iowa, 
 where his parents were then living. Soon after his 
 return he received a recruiting commission from 
 Gov. Kirkwood and for a short time was engaged 
 in enlisting men for the service, but wishing to en- 
 ter actively into army life he offered his services 
 as a volunteer in November, 1 861 , and was assigned 
 to Company M, Fourth Iowa Cavahy. He was 
 mustered into the United States service as First 
 Lieutenant of his company and soon after the fall 
 of Vicksburg, in 1863, was promoted to the rank 
 of Captain. The war record of Mr. Whiting is a 
 most honorable one, 3'et is but an example of the 
 fidelitj'and loyally which he has ever shown to the 
 Government an<l which he displays in the discharge 
 of every duty or trust imposed in him. He was 
 in active service during almost the entire period of 
 the Rebellion, or nearly four years. The history 
 of the Fourth Iowa Cavalry is one of constant and 
 untiring service, fraught with danger and peril. It 
 was first under the command of Gen. Curtis in 
 
660 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Missouri and Arkansas, but in May, 1863, took part 
 in the move danfrerous, ,yet important, siege of 
 N'icksburg, wbere it continued until the Meridian 
 campaign of December, 1863, and January, 1864, 
 in which ini))ortant expedition it took an active 
 part. Early in 1864 Capt. Whiting with his regi- 
 ment re-enlisted as veterans and was granted leave 
 of absence. During his furlough he was married, 
 but at the expiration of the time allotted he left 
 his young bride and returned to the front, reaching 
 Memphis in April; thence the command inarched 
 with Sturgis in the expedition against Forrest, then 
 returned to Memphis and in vSeptember joined in 
 the pursuit of Price. It then joined the Grierson 
 raid from Memphis down the railroad to Okolona, 
 thence again to Vicksburg and took part in the 
 march with Gen. Winslow through Alabama and 
 Georgia to Macon. In all these movements Capt. 
 Whiting witU his regiment took an active and im- 
 portant part. The Fourth Iowa Cavaby was mus- 
 tered out at Atlanta, Ga., August 10, 1865, and 
 disbanded in Davenport. Capt. AVhiting escaped 
 the bullets of the enemy but many times came near 
 death and twice had his horse shot from under him. 
 While in Jackson, Miss., however, he received a sun 
 stroke from which he has never yet full}- recovered. 
 
 As before stated, while on a visit to his home in 
 1864 Capt. Whiting was married, the lady of his 
 choice being Miss Annie Louise, daughter of 
 Charles and Elizabeth Rommel. She is a native of 
 Indianopolis, Ind., and came to Des Moines with 
 her parents in 1858. Her father is still living in 
 this cit}-, but his wife is now deceased. By the 
 union of Capt. Whiting and Miss Rommel there 
 have been born six children, five sons and a daugh- 
 ter — Howard, Fred S., Charles B., Emma D., George 
 S. and Raymond, all of whom were born in Des 
 Moines. 
 
 A quarter of a century has passed since Ciipt. 
 Whiting became identified with the history of this ' 
 city and its progress. During that time he hsis : 
 ranked as one of its leading contractors and build- 
 ers, and many of the fine buildings stiind as monu- 
 ments to his enterprise and skill. One of the most ' 
 important works that he has recently- been engaged j 
 upon, was the superintending of the remodeling of 
 the Government building of Des Moines. The I 
 
 liberal patronage which he receives not only indi- 
 cates his ability and skill as a workman but his 
 worth as a gentleman of honor who fulfills every 
 obligation and faithful!}' carries out every con- 
 tract. His time is largely' occupied by his busi- 
 ness yet he finds leisure to devote to the interests 
 of the public, such as are worthy the support of the 
 best citizens. He has taken an active interest in 
 educational work and for eight years has been an 
 active and influential member of the Des Moines 
 .School Board. He was largely instrumental in 
 establishing the High and Industrial School of Des 
 Moines. Politic.allj- he is a Republican, and is an 
 honored member of Crocker Post, G. A. R., .and of 
 the Loyal Legion. Capt. Whiting is held in high 
 esteem for his public spirit and integrity and for 
 his unclouded record .as a brave soldier during the 
 late war. 
 
 R. JACKSON WATTS, one of the leading 
 dental surgeons of Des Moines, has spent 
 nearl}' his entire life in this countj-, being 
 a representative of one of its pioneer fam- 
 ilies. His father, John Watts, emigrated from 
 Montgomery County, Ind., to Polk Countj- in ()c- 
 toljer, 1848. He was born near Lexington, Ky., in 
 1805, and was reared to the occupation of farming. 
 Having attained to mature years he wedded Ruth 
 Cox, who was about a year her husband's senior, 
 and soon after their marri.agc removed to Mont- 
 gomery County, Ind. They were also early settlers 
 of that communil}', and in the midst of a forest 
 Mr. Watts cleared a farm. He possessed a robust 
 constitution which could well brave the hardships 
 of pioneer life, and the wildncss and excitement of 
 a new country delighted his nature. He determined 
 to ni.ake his home in Iowa when this county w.as 
 almost an unbroken wilderness, and purchased a 
 claim of one hundred and sixt}- acres from a man 
 named Perkins. He then returned to Indiana and 
 the same fall, accompanied by his family, consist- 
 ing of wife and eight children, he .again came to 
 Iowa, settling on the land previousl}" mentioned. 
 It was located in Allen Township, and the farm 
 which he there devoloped continued to be his home 
 
PORTRAIT AND KIOGkAPHICAL ALBUM 
 
 661 
 
 until liis (lealli, wliieli oeuunx'd iS'uveinber '2i^, 
 1857, al the age of fifty-two years, live inontlisand 
 eig)it days. His wife survived iinlil March IS, 1879, 
 aged seventy-four years, six months and seven 
 days. John Watts was a worthy, upright citizen 
 and a fair example of the typical pioneer who laid 
 the foundation for the present prosperity and ad- 
 vanced position of Polk County, [n his religious 
 belief he was a Baptist, to which doctrine his wife 
 also subscribed, and in his political views he was a 
 ■lacksonian Democrat. Benevolent and charita))le, 
 lie gave liberall3' to all in need of assistance, was 
 ever read^' to help those in distress and won for 
 himself the love of man}'. 
 
 Of the family of eight children who accompan- 
 ied their parents to Iowa only three are now living, 
 the Doctor being the eldest of that number; John 
 is a resident of Council Bluffs, Iowa, and Ruth, the 
 onl}' surviving daughter, married Levi Carter, a 
 resident of Columbia County, Wash. All of the 
 members of the family now deceased grew to man- 
 hood and womanhood and died in this county. Sa- 
 rah married William Kecney and left one child, 
 who died soon after the mother's death; Mason 
 died at the age of twenty-four years; Elizabeth be- 
 came the wife of Caleb Crandali. and at her death 
 left a son and daughter; Barbara was the wife of 
 Stephen Shelton but had no children ; Martha died 
 at thfc age of eighteen years. 
 
 Dr. Watts, whose name heads this notice, was 
 born in Montgomery County, Ind., October 10, 
 1840, and was therefore only eight years of age 
 when the family became residents of Allen Town- 
 ship. He was reared to manhood on the homestead 
 farm, and in the public schools received his liter- 
 ary education. Desiring to follows ome other pursuit 
 tlian that which occcui)ied much of his boyhood 
 days, he made choice of dentistry and began fitting 
 himself for practice in the ollice of Dr. J. W. 
 Bishop, of Des Moines, in the summer of 18.59. 
 in the fall of the following year he formed a part- 
 nership with Dr. William Molesworth, but bought 
 out the interest of that gentleman in 1861, since 
 which time lie has been alone in business. He is 
 one of the leading dental surgeons of Des Moines, 
 who through }'ears of practice and research has won 
 a foremost place in the ranks of his professional 
 
 brethren. He thoroughly understands his business 
 in all its details and lias met witii excellent success 
 financially, as indicated by the liberal patronage 
 which he receives. 
 
 On the 31st of October, 18G1, Dr. W;itts married 
 Miss Sarah A. Bell, who was born in .Johnstown, 
 Pa., October 1, 1811, and is a daughter of Samuel 
 Bell who emigrated with iiis faniil}- from the K'.}'- 
 stone State to Ohio, and thence to Polk County. 
 He afterward started, in search of wealth, to Pike's 
 Peak, Colo., where his death occurred. His wife 
 died in Eddyville, Iowa, in 1SC3. They had but 
 two children, daughters, the younger being Mrs. 
 AVatts; Mrs. Mary Rozell, the elder, is now living 
 near Klk Point, S. Dak. One child graces the union 
 of Dr. and Mrs. Watts, Clarence Victor, who was 
 born February 10, 1807, and is a promising j'oung 
 man. After completing a course of study in the 
 Callanan College and Drake University, of Des 
 Moines, he entered the Dental Department of the 
 State University of Pennsylvania, located in I'hila- 
 pliia, where he is now a student. 
 
 ,jp^ AMUEL iNOl 
 
 '^^ Des Moines s 
 
 1^^ born in Mid 
 
 ,jp3^ AMUEL NOBLE has been a resident of 
 since April 30, 1855. Hs was 
 ddlebury, Vt., April 19, 1832, 
 and is a son of Augustus and Helen (Era- 
 lick) Noble. His father was born in Westfield, 
 Mass., of English ancestry, and is descended from 
 an early New England family, while th6 Fralick 
 famil3' is of Holland origin. In 1836, accompanied 
 by his wife and children, Augustus Noble emi- 
 grated to Ohio, settling in Ashtabula County. Al- 
 though our subject was then but four years of age, 
 he 3'et retains a faint remembrance of the long 
 journe}', which was made in a covered \vogon from 
 New England to the land then situated on the 
 borders of civilization, as it was thought. The 
 Noble family were among the pioneer settlers of 
 Ashtabula County. They endured all the hard- 
 ships iind disadvantages incident to frontier life, 
 and in the midst of the forest Mr. Noble cleared 
 and develo])ed a farm, upon which he resided until 
 his death. Both he and his worthy wife lived to 
 
662 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 an advanced age, the former d^'ing ia 1877, aged 
 eighty-eiglit j'ears, and the latter passing away in 
 1881, about the same age. They were the parents 
 of four sons and two daughters, but of that num- 
 ber four are now deceased, namely: Hiram, Helen 
 F., George W. and Jane. However, all attained 
 to mature j-ears and reared families. Samuel, our 
 subject, and Frank, who resides on the old liome- 
 stead in Ohio, are the surviving ones, and also the 
 youngest of the familj-. 
 
 Samuel Noble is the only representative of his 
 people in Iowa. He received only such educa- 
 tional advantages as the common schools afforded, 
 and was then permitted to attend only a few 
 months eacli year, as liis services were needed upon 
 the farm. At the age of twenty he began learn- 
 ing the carpenter's trade, commencing in Ashta- 
 bula, but serving the last j-ear of his apprentice- 
 ship in Cleveland, Ohio. Having thoroughly mas- 
 tered the business, he looked about iiini for a 
 location which furnished a favorable opening in 
 this line and determined to come to the new, but 
 rapidlj' growing, village of Des Moines and, as al- 
 ready stated, reached liis destination on the 30th 
 of April, 1855. From Burlington to Ft. Des 
 Moines he traveled by stage, then the only public 
 conveyance, carr^'ing passengers between the two 
 points. Shortly after his arrival, Mr. Noble re- 
 sumed work at his chosen occujiation, and ere long 
 the able manner in which he performed every task 
 entrusted to him won recognition from the public 
 by a liberal patronage. He laid aside all business 
 duties, however, in October, 1861, that he might 
 respond to his country's call for aid and enlisted 
 as a member of the Tenth Iowa Band. After six 
 months, he was discharged on account of <lisaliil- 
 ability and returned to the business which had 
 hitherto engrossed his attention. 
 
 It was in this city, in 1866, that Mr. Noble was 
 united in marriage with Miss Helen Churchman, 
 daughter of Thomas and Eva Churchman, who 
 came to Polk Countv about 18C0. from Chillicolhc, 
 Ohio, and settled near the town of Cluucliville, 
 where the father died in May, 1884. His wife sur- 
 vived him until April, 1889, when she, too, was 
 called home. They were the parents of a large 
 family of children, but at this writing, in 1800, 
 
 onlj' three are now living, as follows; Mrs. Noble; 
 Augusta, wife of J. A. Kurfner, of Des Moines; 
 and Mary. Mr. and Mrs. Noble have two chil- 
 dren, a son and a daughter — Frank A., who was 
 born in October, 1870, and Jessie, March 19, 1882. 
 They lost their first-born, Nellie, at the age of 
 about three years. 
 
 Many indeed are the changes which have taken 
 place in Des Moines since Jlr. Noble became a 
 resident of the city. Thirt^'-five years have passed, 
 and in that time he has seen a village transformed 
 into the metropolis of the State, whose industries 
 and enterprises, mercantile establishments, churches 
 and schools and palatial residences would grace 
 many an older city. As a carpenter and builder, 
 he has assisted in the erection of many of the first 
 as well as the more recent buildings. Every worthy 
 enterprise for the benefit of the city and its inter- 
 ests have founil in him a ready supporter, and he 
 and his wife are widely known in the soci.al circles 
 of Des Moines. 
 
 DAM BACHMANN, who is now living a 
 retired life, is numbered among the rep- 
 resentative citizens of Des Moines. He 
 was born in the Kingdom of Hesse-Cas- 
 sel, (Germany, Jul3' 20, 1823, and is a son of Karl 
 Frederick and Catherina Bachmann, who were also 
 of German birth and spent their entire lives in fheir 
 native land. Their family numbered but two 
 children — Adam, of this sketch ; and a daughter, 
 Maria, who died when about two years of age. 
 The father died in 1828, and his mother, when he 
 was a lad of eleven years. Karl Bachniann and 
 two brothers fought in the German Army against 
 Napoleon I. 
 
 Left an orphan at an early age, our subject, thus 
 thrown upon his own resources, was forced to 
 make his own way into the world. He learned the 
 trade of a weaver, being instructed in his business 
 by parties in the employ of the government of his 
 countr}'. He followed his trade for many years, in 
 fact until his emigration to America, and became a 
 superior workman. In the Revolution of 1848, he 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 663 
 
 was compelled to enter the army, but after a ser- 
 vice of six months he abamloned liis post and 
 sailed for the New World, landing in New York, on 
 the 18th of October, 1818. His intention on com- 
 ing to this country was to engage in business ns a 
 weaver, but as he did not readil}' lind employment 
 in that line, he secured a position as clerk in a New 
 York grocery house, with which he continued seven 
 years, a fact which indicates his popularity with 
 both his employer and jiiitrons. In the meantime, 
 in, IM.ay. IHol, he returned to Germany to settle up 
 some business left unattended to, but returned in 
 October of the same year and again resumed his 
 former duties, continuing in the position until the 
 time above mentioned. During iiis visit to his na- 
 tive land, he induced two families, friends of his, 
 to come to America, believing that they could bet- 
 ter their condition and secure farms without much 
 outlaj' of money, in Iowa, which but a short time 
 before had been ndmitled to the I'nion. The fam. 
 dies, acting upon his advice, came to America, in 
 18ij.3, and settled in .lohnson County, Iowa, where 
 Mr. Bachmann joined them in 1855. That was his 
 (irst introduction to the Stale which h.as now been 
 his home for thirtj'-five years. 
 
 In 1858, while a resident of .lohnson County Mr. 
 Bachmann was joined in wedlock with Miss Anna 
 \'icke3', but she survived her marriage only one 
 year, dying in Iowa City in 185!l. She also was a 
 native of Ilesse-Cassel, and the daughter of the 
 guardian of our subject. In 1801, Mr. Bachmann 
 was again married, liis second union which was cel- 
 ebrated in Iowa City, being witli Miss Susan Rock, 
 who was born in Krie, Fa., and is a daughter of 
 Jacob and Hannah Rock, who removed from Iowa 
 to South Bend, Ind., where they s|>ent their last 
 days. Her father was twice married, she being the 
 youngest child of the first marriage. When about 
 sixteen ^ears of age she left her native county- and 
 in the eomiian^- of friends who sought homes in 
 this State, locate<l in Sioux C'it}', then a small vil- 
 lage of little importance. Three years later she 
 became a resident of Iowa City, where she was liv- 
 ing at the time of her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. 
 Bachmann have four <'hildron, a son and three 
 daughters and the famil}' circle has remained un- 
 broken, though the eldest, Anna Laura, has left the 
 
 parental roof, being now the wile of IK'nry Moeller 
 of Des Moines. The others are Almira, George and 
 Susie. 
 
 In 1803, the famil}- came to Ues Moines, where 
 tbcy have since resided. Mr. Bachmann was one 
 of the leading business men of the city until 1876, 
 when he retired to private life, having accjuired a 
 sufticicnt competency to enable him to spend his 
 remaining daj's in ease and quiet. He has a pleas- 
 ant home at No. 930 West Fourth Street, where 
 surrounded by many warm friends, he and his es- 
 timable wife will (loid)llcss pass their remaining 
 years. 
 
 ' OIIN J. PEDP:RSI<:N, the ellicient City 
 Treasurer of Des Moines, is of German 
 birth, having Hrst opened his eyes to the 
 light of da^' on the 10th of November, 1851, 
 in Schleswig-Holstcin, Germany. His parents 
 were II. P. and Annie (Juler) Federsen. John 
 w.as educated in his native country and in 1870. at 
 the age of nineteen years, emigrated to America 
 with the intention of making this country his future 
 liome, believing it would furnish better op|)ortu- 
 nities than his native land, lie came directly to 
 Des Moines, Iowa, and was employed in various 
 positions for three years, during which time he 
 was learning the language and becoming familiar 
 with the ways of the country. In 1873 he entered 
 the employ of the Chicago Lumber Company of 
 this city and so faithfully did he perform every 
 duty devolving ui)on him that he was retained in 
 the service of that coni|)any until his election, in 
 March, 180O, to the i)ositii)n of C'ity Treasurer of 
 the Capital City of Iowa, a city of upwards of sixty 
 thousand iidiabitanls. He was elected on the citi- 
 zens" lieki'l by a majority of six hundied anil 
 seventeen over his opponent and entered upon the 
 discharge of the duties of the oflice on the 17th of 
 March. By an act of the Legislature extending 
 the city limits, thereliy including several suburban 
 towns and increasing the area of the city to a cor- 
 poration eight by ten miles in extent, a new i ity 
 election was made necessary, which occurred .\piil 
 7 following the former. Bv the Last electif)n Mr. 
 
664 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Perleisen was the only successful candidate on tlic 
 'ticket of his i>arty, which speaiis stiongly for liis 
 personal popularity. In politics he was a Repub- 
 lican until 18S4, since which time he has voted 
 with the Democratic party. 
 
 Mr. Pcdersen was married in Des Moines in the 
 autumn of 1873 to Miss Tina Hanson. Their 
 union has been blessed with four children, three 
 sons and a daughter: Mamie, aged fourteen; H. 
 Frcderi<'k, eleven years of age; .lames aged nine; 
 and riysses Grant, aged four. Mr. Pcdersen is a 
 member of Ft. Des Moines Lodge, No. 25, 1. O. O. 
 v.. and Ebenezer Camp, No. 10, I. O. 0. F. lie 
 hiis won the esteem of all with whom he has come 
 in contact and was held in the highest regard by 
 his associates and employers in the Chipago Lum- 
 ber Comi)any, in whose service he remained for the 
 long period of seventeen years. 
 
 3niiHMliiiimE 
 
 e 
 
 OL. F. OLMSTED, a gallant soldier of two 
 ... wars and a military man through all his ma- 
 
 ^^^y ture 3'ears, is the subject of this sketch. He 
 was born on the Sth of May, 1831, in Marion 
 Countj-, Ohio, being a son of Almon and Melissa 
 (Case) Olmsted. His parents were natives of Ohio 
 and were descended from New England ancestry, 
 thtur families liaving removed from Connecticut to 
 Ohio in the early settlement of the Buckeye State. 
 Our subject vv.as educated in the common schools 
 of Ohio and when sixteen years of age, in April, 
 1847, he e.nlisted for the Mexican War as a private 
 of Company E. Fourtli Ohio Infantry. He parti- 
 ci[)aled in the capture of Pueblo and other engage- 
 ments, and at the close of the struggle was mustered 
 out after fourtec-n months of .active service und 'r 
 (ions. T.aylor and Scott. In 1848, he went to Ra- 
 cine, Wis., where be spent three years learning the 
 painter's trade and on his return to Ohio, followed 
 that occupation until the breaking out of the Civil 
 War. He had watched witli interest the progress 
 of affairs in the South, determined if need be to 
 strike a blow for the honor of his iini)erilled coun- 
 try, and hardly had I''t. Sumter's guns ceased re- 
 vcrl)oratin<; when he olTcrod his services to the 
 
 Government. The attack was m.ade on the 12th 
 and 13th of April; the President issued a call for 
 troops on the loth, and on the 18th Mr. Olmsted 
 entered the service as Captain of Comi)any I, 
 Twenty-second Ohio Regiment, but was afterwards 
 promoted to Lieutenaut-Coloael of the Fifty-ninth 
 Ohio Regiment and served two 3'ears. He took 
 part in the battle of Sliiloh and other important 
 engagements, but ere the close of the war was forced 
 to resign on .account of failing health. 
 
 Returning to Ohio in 1864, Mr. Olmsted shortly- 
 after wards came to Des Moines, where, having re- 
 covered his health he eng.aged in carriage painting 
 and carried on a shop for nine years. He .also 
 served as chief of the police for four years and for 
 a similar period of time wsis clerk in the [lost-oflice. 
 He took a warm interest in military matters from 
 early boyhood and after his return from the Mexi- 
 can War organized a military companj' in Ohio and 
 was commissioned Captain, but before leaving his 
 native State was promoted to be Major. On coming 
 to Iowa, he organized the first militia company of 
 the State and in 1865 was commissioned Colonel. 
 He was subsequently promoted to Brigadier-General 
 of the First Brigade of State Militia and maintained 
 his connection with the State Militia until 1884. 
 He has been connected with military matters in 
 cither State or National service for thirty-four 
 years, and, being fitted by nature for that life has 
 proved himself a capalile commanding odicer. 
 
 On the 17th of April, 1851, in Worthington, 
 Ohio, Col. Olmsted was united in marri.age with 
 Miss Marcella E. Walliilg, who was born in Franklin 
 County, Ohio, and is a daughter of Joel Walling. 
 They have one child. Dr. .lames B., who is now a 
 practicing [ihysician of Des Moines. In politics 
 the Colonel is a Republican and he and his wife 
 are members of the Summervillc Christian Church. 
 
 a* 
 
 i|r^ 
 
 lor and builder of Des Moines, has 
 been engaged in business in this city since 
 .luly 1, 1883. Immediately after his arriv.ol in this 
 cily lie n.as engaged at work on the capitol, contin- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHIOAL ALBUM. 
 
 665 
 
 uing its coiistnittioii until March, 1)S86, when he 
 engaged in contracting anil in superintending the 
 erection of buildings. Among the many iniiiortant 
 structures of which lie has had charge during their 
 construction may be mentioned the Bethany Pres- 
 byterian Church, of East Des Moines, the Pilgrim 
 Congregational Church, also on the east side, and 
 the fine residences of Jesse M. Smith and Cieorge 
 W. Brown, and on the west side the residence of 
 George W. Coon. He erected all the above men- 
 tioned buildings by contract anti also superintended 
 the construction of the residence of Dr. A. Holland 
 and that of William K. Ankeney and others. lie has 
 also done a large amount of work for the Des 
 Moines Loan and Trust Comi)any and as a contrac- 
 tor and builder has few equals. 
 
 Mr. Shipley was born in Spiingfield, 111., in 
 1842, and is a son of R. A. Shipley, a native of 
 Baltimore, Md., who died many years ago. His 
 wife, hoivever, long survived her husband, and 
 finally met her death b}- an accident, being thrown 
 from a wagon and killed in March, 1889. They 
 were parents of eight children but only tiiree of 
 that number grew to mature years — Robert, the 
 eldest, went to Texas in 1853, and after several 
 years spent in the South returned to Springfield in 
 1867, but ills health was broken down and he die<l 
 the following year. Richaid A., the second of the 
 three brothers, still resides in the State of his na- 
 tivity. 
 
 Our subject is the youngest of the surviving 
 members of his father's family. All of his earlier 
 life was spent inCJcutral Illinois, where he acquired 
 a common-school education and the age of eigli- 
 teen years began an apprenticeship to the carpen- 
 ter's trade. But the War of the Rebellion came on 
 and he determined to enter the array in defense of 
 the Government. He enrolled his name as one of 
 the boys in blue in the Chicago Board of Trade Iiat- 
 leiy in 1862, and served until the close of the war 
 in the Western Army. He participated in some of 
 the most iiniK>rtant and hotly contested battles of 
 the war, including the engagements at Stone River, 
 Chickamauga and Kenesaw Mountain and in the 
 principal battles of the Atlanta campaign. He 
 also fought in the second battle of Nashville. 
 where the Confederate Gen. Hood was totally 
 
 overthrown and his whole army ivell nigh de- 
 stroyed hy the I'nion forces under Gen. Thomas. 
 He was raustereil out with his regiment in Chicago 
 on the 1st of July, 1S65. 
 
 Immediately after the close of the war Mr. Ship- 
 lej' resumed work at his trade in Illinois, and after 
 a considerable time spent in Jacksonville went to 
 Dakota, where for several years he was engaged in 
 the construction of depots in the emplo}' of the 
 Northwestern Railroad Coinpnuy. From Dakota 
 he came to Des Moines and entered into business as 
 above stated. Ere he left Illinois he was united 
 in marriage with Miss Anna E. Johnson, a native 
 of that State. The3' have but one child, a sou, Al- 
 bert, a printer l>y trade, who is now cmploj'ed in 
 the office of the Homestead in Des Moines. They 
 lost their only daughter, Jessie, who died of diph- 
 theria in December, 1883. She was then in Ihm- 
 fifth year and her death was a sad aHliction to her 
 parents. 
 
 Mr. Shipley is a gentleman highly esteemed as a 
 citizen and has by upright, honorable dealing, se- 
 cured the confidence of his fellow-men. He made 
 for himself a worthy record as a soldier and at 
 death will leave behind him ashonoralile a one, re- 
 garding his life as a private citizen. 
 
 -5 #-£# i-- 
 
 BEN D. JANES, one of the prominent 
 contractors and builders of Des Moines, 
 f: has been identified with the growth of the 
 Capital City since its early infancy and. the history 
 of Polk County would therefore be incomplete 
 without his sketch. He was born in the town of 
 East Hampton, Hampshire County, Mass., Septem- 
 ber 18, 1831, and is a son of Obediah and Elizabeth 
 (Davis) Janes, who were also natives of the Bay 
 State. He is descended from one of the early 
 families of New England, the genealogy stating 
 that the first American ancestor was William Janes, 
 who was born in Essex, England, about KiKi ami 
 came to America in 1637. He took a |)rominent 
 part in the settlement of tiie Connecticut Colony 
 and was one (jf the foun<l('rs of New Havcu. His 
 descendants arc ver\ numerous. It was estimated 
 
666 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 some j'cars ago that not less than twenty-five liun- 
 dred people of the present and past fjeneralious 
 could claim him as their direct ancestor. Members 
 of the family were prominent in early New Eng- 
 land history and several of them took an active 
 part in the early Indian wars of the colonies. The 
 grandfather of our subject, Jonathan Janes, who 
 was born in 1726, served as a soldier in the French 
 and Indian War, which began in 1755 and also 
 fought for the freedom of the country in the War 
 of the Revolution. He died in 1825, in the one 
 hundredth year )f his age. 
 
 OI)ediah Janes, father of Eben, was a merchant 
 by occupation and a successful business man. He 
 was three times married, our subject bcing.a child 
 of the last union and his family, altogether, num- 
 bered fifteen children, five of whom are living in 
 1890, namely: Mrs. Mary Sackctt, of Hartford, 
 Conn.; Alexander II., who was born in 1810 and 
 resides in Shellield, 111. ; Oliver E., who was 1)orn 
 in 1815 and makes his home in Princeton, III.; Mrs. 
 Julia Miller, who was born in 1824 and makes her 
 home in Hartford, Conn.; Lyman, a resident of 
 Des Moines; and Eben D., the youngest of the 
 surviving members of the family. The father died 
 at the ago of sixty-eight years and the mother of 
 our subject at the ripe old age of eighty three 
 years. 
 
 Eben I). Janes was reared in his native town and 
 in its public schools .acquired a good English edu- 
 cation. He chose the trade of a m;ison as one 
 which he believed to be both profitable and pleasant 
 and served an apprenticeship to the same in Indian 
 Orchard, Mass. In 1851, at the age of twenty- 
 three years he first came West. After two years' 
 residetice in Prirceton, 111., he continued his jour- 
 ney beyond the Father of Waters and sought a 
 home in Des Moines, where he has resided contin- 
 uously since lH5fi. With characteristic enterprise 
 he sought and found em))loyment, and steadily 
 working his way upward has Ijecome one of the 
 chief contractors and builders of the city. A men- 
 tion of a few of the structures which have been 
 built under his supervision will serve to indicate 
 the class of work on which he has been engaged 
 an<l his skill and ability in his lino of trade. These 
 include the Second \\ rnil Sehoolhonse, Rollins' 
 
 Block, Clapp Block, Seeberger's Block, Mitchell- 
 ville Seminary, the Court Mouse in Guthrie Center, 
 the High School building in Panora and many 
 others of importance. Beside his extensive busi- 
 ness in this line he is also engaged in the sale of 
 lime, wood, coal, cement, etc. 
 
 Mr. Janes was married in the autumn of 1856 to 
 Miss Sarah Long, a native of Ohio. They have 
 three children: Susan E., wife of John Owens, of 
 Des Moines; Madora, wife of Henry Liebbe, of the 
 firm of Foster & Liebbe, architects of Des Moines; 
 and Ida, wife of Harry Kirkwood. 
 
 During the long period of thirty-five years, Mr. 
 Janes has been identified with the growth and pro- 
 gress of Des Moines, and has taken a deep interest 
 in its advancement. He has ever possessed the 
 confidence and esteem of his fellow citizens in the 
 highest degree. 
 
 -^^ 
 
 '(_^ ENRY K. PERCIXAL, Secretary and Treas- 
 l) iircr of the Caiiital City Planing Mill Com- 
 pany, was born in Hamilton, Madison 
 County. N. Y.. on the 4th of January, 1835, 
 the son of Dcnman and Lucy (Lamb) Percival, a 
 sketch of whom is found elsewhere in this volume. 
 SiJCnding the ilays of his boyhood and youth under 
 the parental roof, our subject received a common- 
 school education and at the age of eighteen years 
 began to learn the tanner's trade. When he had 
 mastered the business and prepared himself to 
 make his own nay in llie world he chose a life com- 
 panion, and on the 15th of September, 1857, was 
 united in marriage with JNIartha A. Adsit, a native 
 of New York, their wedding being celebrated in 
 Silver Creek, that State. The following year Mr. 
 Percival became a piutner with his father and 
 brother. F. A. Percival, in the leather trade at 
 Cleveland, Ohio, but in 1861, the others withdrew. 
 He admitted to partnership a man who had but lit- 
 tle means and their liabilities almost equalled their 
 resources, but both went to work in an earnest man- 
 ner and at the expiration of three 3ears Mr. Per- 
 cival purchased his partner's half interest for $5000. 
 All debts were ]i;iid aud business was extended 
 

PORTRAIT AMD BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 GG9 
 
 until it aiiiounted tu'i'100,000 peryear, but tlie leae- 
 tioii fuUuwing the war came on, prices fell, busi- 
 ness stagnated and he was obliged to sell out as his 
 trade no longer yielded him the proi)er income. 
 To add to his alllietions his wife died on the 1st 
 of July, IH71, leaving one child, Charles L., who 
 is now manager for 1). H. McDonald A Co. of this 
 city. He married Florence Aubrej' and unto them 
 has been born a son. Worth W. 
 
 Mr. I'ercival cauie to Des Moines in 1874, and 
 became Secretary of the Capital City Planing 
 Mill Company, in which ollicial capacity he has 
 acted since, and during the past live years he has 
 also served as Treasurer. The company does quite 
 an extensive and safe business and in a consider- 
 able measure he has retrieved his lost possessions. 
 In politics he is an unswerving Republican and 
 takes an active interest in the success of the party 
 but does not seek public ollice. He however served 
 for three years as Councilman of Capital Park. 
 
 Mr. I'ercival was a second time married on the 
 1st of Se|)tember, 1875, when he led to the hy- 
 meneal altar. Miss Ella Courtney-, a native of Indiana 
 and a daughter of Dr. Henry Courtney, deceased, 
 who was one of the most eminent physicians of this 
 city from 1855 until his death. They have an inter- 
 esting family of four children — Garth 1)., Carl P., 
 Henry C. and Shirley A., and lostone child, Alice, 
 the eldest, who died at the age of fifteen months. 
 BothJIr. and Mrs. Pcrcival are active, mendiers pf 
 the Congregational Church. 
 
 d 'STAMPS W. GRIN.STEAD, one of the fore- 
 l|| most farmers and stock-raisers of Beaver 
 I Township, residing on section 11, is a repre- 
 f' sentative of one of the pioneei families of 
 Polk County, where thcj- located in the year in 
 which the Territory of Iowa was made a State. His 
 parents, Jesse and Melinda (Hendricks) Grin- 
 stead were both natives of Kentucky, but the former 
 was of English descent, while the latter was born 
 of Holland and German [larentage. Jesse was a son 
 of Jesse (2nd) and was a soldier in tiie war of 1812. 
 In his younger years, Jesse Grinslead learned and 
 followed the trade of cabinet making, but after his 
 
 emigration to Iowa in 18-15, he devoted his ener- 
 gies to agricultural pursuits. Por some years 
 previous to that time he had carried on business in 
 Illinois, but the year above mentioned located in 
 Pella, Marion County, Iowa, whence he came to 
 Polk County in 184G, settling in Pour Mile Town- 
 shii), where he spent the remainder of bis days. 
 Gladly would we give an extended account of the 
 pioneer experiences of the family but space for- 
 bids. However, a few facts may here be mentioned. 
 Traveling westward they crossed the Mississip|ii 
 and at length made their way to this county, then 
 a sparsely settled region where the Indians were 
 still numerous and wild animals and game yet 
 roamed over the prairies. The markets were miles 
 away and they had to travel long distances to mill. 
 The now populous and important city of Des 
 Moines, superior to all otlicis in the .State, was a 
 mere hamlet consisting of a few fort !iouses along 
 the banks of the Coon and Des Moines Rivers. 
 They had many hardships to undergo and their 
 path was beset with difficulties. It was no easy 
 task to transform the unbroken land into a farm 
 which would yield sullicient for their wants and 
 needs. The farming implements were very crude 
 and oxen were princii)ally used in that work. 
 However this life was not without its pleasures. 
 Those who cared for hunting and fishing could in- 
 dulge their taste to the utmost, the homes were 
 noted for their hospitality, and the sociability and 
 good feeling which existed between the few settlers 
 was such as is seldom seen at this day where one 
 has ready access to their friends. 
 
 Jesse Gnnstcad continued his farming operations 
 in Four Mile Townsliii) until his death, which oc- 
 curred on the 17th of December, 18GG, at the age 
 of seventy years, six months and three days. He 
 was a man well known throughout the community 
 and held in the highest regard for his many ex- 
 cellent traits of character. He took an active in- 
 terest in all that pertained to the welfare of the 
 county and held a number of local ollices. In poli- 
 tics, he was a Whig until the days of Douglas, 
 when he became a suppf)rter of Democratic prin- 
 ciples. His widow still survives him and is now 
 the wife of Kdlurt ('. Brown of Jasper County. In 
 their fnmily were four children of whom our sub- 
 
670 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 ject is tlie eldest; Anna S. is the wife of John N. 
 Lee, 11 resident of Beaver Township; Martha J. is 
 now deceased, and Jolin T. resides on the old 
 homestead. 
 
 It is with pleasure that we take up the [lersonal 
 history of James W. Grinstead, who is not only one 
 of the leading farmers and sloek-raisers of Polk 
 County, but is numbered among its honored citi- 
 zens as well, liorn in RIacoui)in County, 111., on 
 the 25th of April, 18;3'J, became to Iowa when a 
 lad of six years and has resided in this community 
 during Iowa's entire existence as a State. His boj'- 
 hood days were si)ent in a manner not unlike that 
 in which farmer lads usuall\- pass their time with 
 the exception perhaps of man}' hardshii)S borne 
 in consequence of his home being on the frontier 
 where comforts and luxuries were almost unknown. 
 Having remained at honii.. and aided his father until 
 twenty-five years of age, he tiien removed to a fprm 
 of forty acres in F>eaver Townshij), which he had 
 previously entered and shortly aftt-rward extended 
 its bound.'uies until it com|irise(l two iiundred and 
 eighty acres, u|M)n which lie made his home for 
 twelve years. During that time he succeeded in 
 |)lacing his land under a good state of cultivation 
 and made many improvements. In 1877, he pur- 
 chased an eigiityacre tract adjoining his old home 
 on which was a frauu' house. But in 1888, he re- 
 l)laced that structure liy a beautiful icsidence 
 which i.s commodious, tastefully furnished and pro- 
 vided with all the comforts which go to make life 
 pleasant and agreeable. In 1881. he erected a 
 large barn together with other needed outbuildings 
 and is now the owner (jf one of the model farms of 
 i'olk County. Its well cultivated fields, handsome 
 residence, good buildings, excellent stock, etc., all 
 are indicative of the activity and energy of the 
 owner who may certainly feel a just |)ride in his 
 success. 
 
 Mr. Grinstead chose as a life companion Miss 
 Lucinda A. Lewis, and their marriage was celebrated 
 on the 20tli of April. 1801. Their life has been a 
 happy ()ue darkened by few clouds of trouble or ad- 
 versity. Their greatest sorrow has been the loss of 
 three children — Lewis B., Jesse J. and one child 
 who died in infancy. (!corge M., Melinda K.. Cora 
 I. and James W. arc still with their parents. 
 
 Politically, Mr. Grinstead isa Democrat and has 
 held the ollice of Assessor of his township for four 
 years. Socially, he is a member of Blue Lodge, 
 No. 313, A. F. tt A. M., taking an active part in 
 the work of that order. His wife is a member of 
 the New Light Church and he isa liberal supporter 
 of the same. To say that Mr. Grinstead is highly 
 esteemed is but a mild way in which to exi)ress the 
 regard in which he is held throughout the com- 
 munity. He has ever proved himself a loyal citi- 
 zen, a devoted friend, a tender and loving father 
 and an upright, honorable man, and such (fualities 
 are always sure of securing the confidence and re- 
 spect of those with whom their possessor comes in 
 contact. 
 
 vllOMAS J. SAYLOR, who is engaged in 
 general farming on section 1 l,Saylor Town- 
 ship, is an honored representative of one of 
 the |)ioneer families of Iowa, as well as of this 
 county, lie was born on the21tli of March, 1830, 
 and is the only child of Thomas and Mary (llow- 
 :u-(l) Saylor. His father died when he was a mere 
 child and his mother became the wife of John B. 
 Saylor, by whom she had seven children, five sons 
 and two daughters: A. W., James A., William A., 
 John (^ A., (ieorge S., Margaret and Avis Caroline. 
 The fauiilv during the earliest history of this State 
 settled in A'an Burcn County, there being no white 
 t^cttlers in the comnumityat that time. Mr. Saylor, 
 step-father of our subject, made a contract with the 
 government to furnish beef and Hour to the Indians 
 of Iowa, and in consequence took up his resilience 
 in this State. He afterwards became a resident of 
 I'olk County, where he resi<1ed until going lo the 
 war as sutler for the Twenty-thirtl Iowa Infantry. 
 His death occurretl in July, 1 863. Benjamin Saylor, 
 grandfather of our subject, was a native of South 
 Carolina, born near Charleston of (Jeruian parent- 
 age. He made farming his life occupation and 
 came to Iowa in 1838, being the first settler of Van 
 Buren County, where he resided until 1847, when 
 he came to Polk County, locating two miles west 
 of Saylorvillc, where he resided for several years. 
 He then became a resident of Des Moines, where 
 
POKTRAIT AND HIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 671 
 
 ■ lie speiU llie reniaiiKUn- of his ilays, his death oc- 
 cuiriiig in June, 1851. 
 
 The story of the life of our subject is an inter- 
 esting one as it was |)assetl among the pioneer 
 scenes of Iowa and is closely connected with the 
 iiistory of this county. His early boyliood days 
 were spent in his native cit^-, whence in 1834, he 
 removed to Valparaiso, Ind., where he resided three 
 years and acquired his early education. Tiie month 
 of Ma}', 1837, witnessed his arrival in V'an Buren 
 County, where he made his home until Maj', 18-15, 
 when he came to Polli County, tlien a wild and un- 
 settled region inhabited mostly b}' Indians. Its 
 prairies were uncultivated, its forests still standing 
 in thtir primitive grandoui', inhabited mostly by 
 wild beasts, and the work of cultivation and pro- 
 gress had been scarcely begun. Mr. Say lor pur- 
 chased two claims, consisting of six hundred and 
 forty acres, only forty of which was improved. His 
 land was located near the town of Saylorville which 
 was named in honor of his stepfather. He has made 
 his own way in the world since the age of nineteen 
 j-ears. lie olitained his first proi)erty by trading a 
 horse, which hail been given him by his grandfather 
 and he had raiseil, for eighty acres of land which 
 tract is still in his possession. Energetic and in- 
 dustrious, he at once began its cultivation, contin- 
 uing the same until 1851), wiien attracted by the 
 discovery of gold in Colorado, he went to Pike's 
 Peak. He sunk a shaft, but on account of the 
 condition of the countrj- at that time did not oper- 
 ate the mine. He returned to his home in October, 
 18(10, and after making arrangements for the pro- 
 vision and comfort of his family, he enlisted in the 
 service of his country in .Inly of the following 
 year. 
 
 The lirst duty of Mr. Saylor after donning the 
 blue -was scouting, he Ijccoming a member of the 
 baml of forty men commanded by .ludge Mitcl.ell, 
 wlio were engaged in driving from the border the 
 Indians who had i)een conunitting seiious de[ireda- 
 tions on the white settlers. On the 1st of August, 
 1862, he entered the regular service as a member 
 of Company K, Twenty-third Iowa Regiment and 
 was stationed at the barracks in Ivist Des Moines. 
 Tlic ( lovcrninenl had Icariicd by this time that it 
 was useless to semi out untrained men and until 
 
 the 19th of September, the regiment was there 
 drilling and preparing for duty at the front. It 
 was then ordered to St. Louis and detailed as pro- 
 vost guard for two or three weeks. That duty 
 cndeil it went by way of Patterson, Mo., to the 
 Iron Mountain, where it joined the forces uniler 
 command of Gen. Davidson. On the 1st of De- 
 cember, 1862, the army left Patterson, Mo., with 
 orders to cut off the advance of Gen. Marmaduke 
 which task being completed it returned to Iron 
 Mountain, March i), 18G3, after which it joined the 
 forces of Gen. Grant at Vicksburg, whence it was 
 sent to New Orleans under the command of Gen. 
 Banks. In December. 1863, with his regiment, 
 Mr. Saylor returned to Algiers and thence was 
 shipped to the mouth of the Rio Grande River, 
 where the regiment landed, marching along the 
 coast for two hundred miles to Matagorda Bay. 
 The garrison in Fort Esperanza which prevented 
 the entrance of the Union troops into the bay, after 
 an eight days' fight was captured. The troops then 
 marched forty miles to Powder Horn, where they 
 went into winter quarters. The Twenty-third 
 Regiment formed a part of the Third Brigade, 
 Second Division, Thirteenth Array Corps, and with 
 those forces on the 1st of Ajjril, 1861, was ordered 
 to New Orleans to join the Red River Ex[)editioii 
 under Gen. Banks. They were afterward ordered 
 to Arkansas to stop the invasion of Gen. Price, 
 later spent two weeks in New Orleans and after- 
 wards remained at the mouth of the Mobile Bay 
 until INIarch 1, fitting up a tleet for the campaign 
 against that cit}', in which Jlr. Saylor parlici|)ated. 
 After a month si)enl in Mo))ile with his command 
 he was ordered to Galveston, Tex. After more 
 than four years of hard fighting and arduous service 
 on Southern battle fields, he returned to Davenjwrt, 
 Iowa, where he was mustered out August 14, 1865, 
 with the rank of Orderly Sergeant. 
 
 Immediately after the close of the war, Mr. Sa}'- 
 lor returned to his home and family. Ik was mar- 
 ried on the 16lh of February, 1850, to Adeline F. 
 Nngle, a native of Oliio, and a d ughter of Franklin 
 and Rebecca (Jackson ) Nagle. Unto tlieni have 
 been born ten children, six of whom are yet living: 
 John F., Charles F., Lizzie I.. Lillian May. Mattie 
 E. and ICIIie Belle. Thosf dccc;ised are Alveda W.. 
 
672 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Jemiie, Mary R. aiui William Clay. Mr. Saylor is 
 a Reimblicaii in political scnlimciil and lias served 
 as Assessor and School Director. His wife is a 
 member of the Methodist Ei)iscoi)al t'hiirch. Both 
 are respected citizens and have a large circle of 
 friends in the community. 
 
 yrilLLlAM MtDl\ ITT is an honored i)ioneer 
 of Folk County, now residing in the city 
 ^^ of Dcs Moines. lie was born on the SOth 
 of .lime, 181'.), in Preble County, Ohio, and is of 
 Irish and VV'elsh extraction. His father, Isaac Mc- 
 Divitl, was a native of Maryland, and spent Ofty 
 years of his life in that State engaged in farming 
 and stock-raising. For a life companion he made 
 choice of Miss Mary Lakin, also a native of Mary- 
 land, and a number of years after their marriage 
 they removed with their family to Preble County, 
 Cthio. where l\Ir. McDivitt purchased from the Gov- 
 ernment one hundred and sixty acres of land, which 
 witli the assistance of his sons, he cleared and cul- 
 tivated until the year 1830, when he removed to 
 Noble County, Ind. In that county he made pur- 
 chase of live hundred and twenty acres of wild tim- 
 ber land, and again with the aid of his sons, in the 
 midst of the forest developed an excellent farm, on 
 which he and his wife spent the remainder of their 
 days. Their family numbered nine children.of whom 
 William of this sketch is the eldest; .Tulia Ann, 
 the second, became the wife of Dr. Milton Latta, 
 and died in Goshen, Ind.; the third cliild died in 
 infancy; John is an extensive manufacturer of sash 
 and blind.s of Uuntsville, Ala.; Mary .Jane, wife of 
 Conrad Lowry, ilied and was buried in (ioshen, 
 Ind.; Rebecca passed away while a resident of 2s'o- 
 ble County, Ind.; Elizabeth died near Oskaloosa. 
 Iowa; Patrick died in childhood; Rebecca, wife of 
 David Darlington, died in Dayton, Ohio; Martha 
 died in infancy; I<;tta became the wife of .lolin Mc- 
 Clure, and died in (ioshen, Ind. 
 
 "^'hen a lad of ten years, Willi.am McDivitt ac- 
 com(ianicd his parents to Noble County, Ind., 
 where he became inured to tlic hardships and 
 ililliculties of idoneei- life, lie assisted his futhir 
 
 in clearing and improving a large farm in the 
 midst of a dense forest in that State, cutting, pi- 
 ling and burning much of the limber himself. His 
 educational advantages were limited. He attended 
 the common schools during the winter season when 
 there was little work upon the farm, and pursued 
 his studies in his leisure moments at home. At 
 the age of twenty years, he began life for himself, 
 l)y procuring a farm of forty acres in Noble County, 
 Ind.. which, after improving, he traded for eighty 
 acres in La^Grangc County, of the same Stale, llav • 
 ing been compelled to assist his father in such 
 labors, he was [)repared to perform such tasks in 
 his ovvn interest, and was therefore quite successful 
 in his undertakings. After some time spent in the 
 development and cultivation of his land in La 
 (i range County, he sold out and removed to .Ias[ier 
 County, Iowa, where he purchased one hundred 
 and sixty acres of land. He made some improve- 
 ments thereon, then sold out, removing to Walnut, 
 now Webster Township, Folk Count}', and made 
 purchase of a tract of land comprising four hun- 
 dred acres. Twelve acres of that amount had been 
 [ilnced under the plow, and a little log cabin iiad 
 been built, but otherwise it was in its primitive 
 condition. For a number of years that farm con- 
 liiuied to be the home of himself and family, and 
 with like energy and business industry, he gave his 
 attention to its improvement. With the assistance 
 of his sons, the farm was made one of the l)est in 
 the county, the fields were well tilled, good barns 
 and outbuildings were erected, and a t.asty and com- 
 modious residence was built. Mr. McDivitt was 
 recognized as one of the progressive and |)rosper- 
 ous farmers of the community, but at length w.as 
 forced to sever his business interests, and retire to 
 private life. Having lost his right hand by an ac- 
 cidental discharge of a shot gun, he w.as compelled 
 to give up farming, sold his land and moved to liis 
 present home in the city of Des Moines. He has 
 met adversity with manly fortitude and Christian 
 resignation, and accepted his i)rosiierity as a gift 
 from the Giver of all good. He is a zealous and 
 earnest member of the Christian Church, contribu- 
 ting liberally his lime .and money to the cause of 
 Christianity. Almost unaided, he erected a church 
 edilice at McDivitt's Grove in this county. For 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 073 
 
 thirty-five years lie has been an ardent supporter of 
 the principles of the Repuhlican part)', and has 
 filled all the offices in the township. 
 
 Kre leaving Indiana for a home in the West, Mr. 
 .McDivitt was married in Noble County, on the 
 1 Uh of April, 1849, to Miss Sarah Parks, and unto 
 them the following chililren were born: Elizabeth, 
 who is now the wife of Nelson Snodgrass, of Los 
 Angeles, Cal.; Isaac II., a leading farmer residing 
 on the olil homestead in Webster Township: Mari- 
 etta, wife of Kdwaril A. Tripp, of New liedford, 
 Mass. 
 
 The |)resent wife of Mr. McDivitt was Mrs. 
 Nancy (Maguire) Luther, and their marriage was 
 celebrated January 20, 18G9. The lady is a native 
 of r>ristol County, Mass., and a daugliter of IJarney 
 Maguire, who was born in the Uay State, of Lisli 
 parentage. They have one child, a daughter, Ida 
 Lenora, wife of John J. (Jaston. a [irominent at- 
 torney and [lension claim agent of Des Moines. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. McDivitt are held in high esteem 
 throughout the community where their charity and 
 hospitality have won them many friends. They 
 have provide<l their children with good educational 
 advantages, such as would fit them for the practi- 
 cal duties of this life, and by example and })recept 
 have reared them in the way tiiey should go. Their 
 life work is far more worth}' a place in this volume 
 than many who make more pretensions, and occupy 
 more exalted positions, and might well be imitated 
 by tlieir posterity. 
 
 
 as" 
 
 ^|(^ ON. ROBERT C. WEltll, who resides on 
 section 3, Four ]\Iile Township, was for a 
 ^ number of years ranked among the promi- 
 >l) nent business men of the county, having 
 been a partner in the largest wholesale grocery 
 business in the Slate. He is widely known through- 
 out Central Iowa and is held in high regard by his 
 many friends. He was Ijorn in Middle Tenncssef, 
 August 20, 1827, and is a son of William and Sa- 
 rah (Moornan) Webb, both of wiiom were luilives 
 of Richmond Cciunty. N. C. They removed to 
 Indiana atiil fiom Uierc to TiMincssee. In 1829, 
 
 they returned to Wayne County, Ind., and later 
 became residents of (irant County, where Mr. 
 Webb was elected the first School Commissioner in 
 that county. He followed agricultural pursuits 
 throughout his entire life and at one time owned 
 large tracts of land, but disi>osing of the greater 
 amount returned to Wayne County, where his 
 death occurred in 18(;5. His wife survived him 
 five years, dying in 1870. Both were devoted 
 members of the Methodist Church, and the hus- 
 band took an active [lart in political affairs, first 
 suijporting the Whig party, after which he became 
 a stanch Abolitionist. Of the children born to 
 William and Sarah Webb, five are yet living — Ben- 
 jamin, a farmer, residing near Kansas City; John, 
 a Methodist minister of Des Moines; Jane P. 
 wife of Iverson II. Benson, of Des Moines; Sarah 
 A., wife of Henry Davis, of Randolph County, 
 Ind.; and Robert, of this sketch. Those deceased 
 are James, who died in Howard County, Ind., leav- 
 ing a family; Calvin, who died in infancy; and 
 Elizabetii and Melinda, twins, who died in (irant 
 County, Ind. 
 
 The earlj' life of our subject pas.sed uneventfully; 
 he attended the district schools during the winter 
 season and aided his father in the labors of the 
 farm during the summer months. Having attained 
 to years of maturity, on the 2nd of October, 1845, 
 he led to the marriage altar Miss Sarah A. B. Case, 
 a native of Wayne County, Ind., and a daughter of 
 William and Lavina Case, the former born in 
 North Carolina and the latter in Ohio. The pater- 
 nal grandfather, Isaac Case, was a soldier in the 
 Revolutionary War and lived to the advanced age 
 of ninety-six years. In 1840 the young couple re- 
 moved to Wabash County, Ind., where Mr. Webb 
 engaged in farming until I84'.», when he went to 
 Somerset, that State, and embarked in the mercan- 
 tile business. His undertakings in that line were 
 successful in a marked degree and from that time 
 forwartl he devoted almost his entire attention to 
 mercantile pursuits. In 1852. however, he was 
 comi)elled to retire on :iccount of failing health 
 and spent the succeeding year in farming but going 
 to Kokomo, In<l.. in l.sOl, he resumed o|)orations 
 in the mercantile line, purchasing two stocks of 
 goods of •gentlemen who were retiring from busi- 
 
1574 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 ness. Again be Iniilt ui> a good trade, l)iit closed 
 out in 18G4 and leuiovcd to Peiu, Ind., wLere after 
 buying an entirely new slock of goods be opened 
 a store and continued there in business until 1865, 
 when be came to Des Moines. That winter be en- 
 gaged in buying and selling wheat, but in the 
 spring of 18GG, opened a retail grocery store. 
 From the beginning be did a large business and his 
 trade so rapidly increaseil that at lengtii he em- 
 barked in the wholesale grocery trade under the 
 firm name of K. C. Webb & Son. Another partner 
 being afterward admitted the style was changed to 
 R. C. Webb & Co., which it continued until their 
 retirement from business. Years of experience, of 
 familiarity with the wants of bis customers and the 
 exercise of correct business principles soon brought 
 Mr. Webb a large wholesale trade and be gained a 
 wide reputation. The sales of the firm during the 
 last two years amounted to $1,000,000, the largest 
 business done by any wholesale house in the city. 
 Wishing to lay aside all care and retire to a more 
 private life, in March, 1885, Mr. Webb disposed of 
 his interest to the firm of Prouty & Pratt, who are 
 keeping up the reputation of the house. It was 
 the fourth wholesale grocery house established in 
 the city and is first as regards success and amount 
 of business done. 
 
 When disposing of his mercantile interests in 
 1885, Mr. Weblj |)urchascd his |>resent fine farm of 
 one hundred and forty acres in Four Mile Town- 
 ship, to wliicli he removed in October of that 
 year. He was not content to retire utterly 
 from business life so gives his attention to 
 the management and su|)ervisi()n of the farm 
 work. lie is a worthy example of a truly 
 self-made man his success being entirely due to his 
 own elTorts. After paying for bis marriage license 
 be bad Init thirty-two cents remaining and a wife 
 depending M|ion him for sui^iurl, ))Ut wilb ayoung 
 man's bright hope of the future and a determina- 
 tion to succeed be started out to make for himself 
 and bride a home. As before slated bis first efforts 
 were at farming on rented land and practicing the 
 Strictest economy and laboring almost incessantly 
 from dawn to dark be ac(|uir('d a small capital and 
 embarked in the ini icintile liusincss. It soon be- 
 earae evident that lie bad fnund tlie work for wiiich 
 
 nature bad fitted him, and in the j'ears whicli fol- 
 lowed he became a prosperous and wealthy citizen. 
 Upright and honorable in all his dealings, he won 
 the confidence of bis patrons and made them bis 
 well-wishers for life. Indomitable energy has 
 formed an important feature in his success and has 
 overcome all the disadvantages which he met. 
 
 In 1885, Mr. Webb was called upon to mourn 
 tiie loss of his wife, who died on the 7tb of Ai)ril 
 of that year, leaving a husband and two children 
 to mourn her death. She was a noble Christian 
 lady and was beloved by many friends. Constan- 
 tine L., her son, who was born in Wabash County, 
 Ind., wedded Miss Ceorgiana Joucs, l)y whom he 
 liad one cliild, Robert, and after her death, wedded 
 Ellen Morrison, by whom be also has a child. He 
 is now engaged in the wholesale grocer}' business 
 at Seattle, Wash., and ranks among the prominent 
 merchants of that place. Clara E., the daughter, 
 is the wife of Alvin P. Vinedge, who is engaged in 
 mining near Cook City, Mont. Their union has 
 been lilessed with two c'bildren, Alice and Webb. 
 On the 7tb of October, 1885, Robert Webb was 
 again married, the lady of his choice being Miss 
 Nora Case, a native of Illinois, and a daughter of 
 Isaac Case, of Chicago. He and his wife are both 
 membeis of the Methodist Church and take an ac- 
 tive part in the advancement of the cause. 
 
 The schools have also found in Mr. Webb i true 
 friend. IJelieving education an essentiality to good 
 citizenship he has done much for its promotion 
 and deserves no little credit for his efforts in that 
 direction. For ten years be has been a Director in 
 the State Agricultural Society. His fellow- citi/.ens 
 ap|)reciating bis worth and ability have frequently 
 called u[)on him to serve in ollicial positions and be 
 has taken an active part in political affairs. While 
 a resident of Indiana be was twice commissioned 
 Justice of the Peace by Gov. .loseph A. AVright, 
 and in this Slate has occupied many important of- 
 liccs. Ill 1 87G, he was sent as a delegate to the Na- 
 tional Kepublic.in Convention, at Cincinnati, which 
 nominated K. 1!. Hayes for the Presidency and in 
 1878, was elected by his party to a sea* in the Iowa 
 Senate, where he at once took rank among the 
 leading and innucntial members. Througii his 
 efforts the people were released from paying toll re- 
 
PORTUAIT AND BIOGKAl'HICAL ALBUM. 
 
 ti75 
 
 quired at bridges and in many other ways he luan- 
 ifested Iiis interest iu liie coniuuinily at large. Tlie 
 temperance cause had ever found in him a stanch 
 advocate lie doing all in his [lower for tlie supprcs 
 sion of the liquor trallic. As a citizen none stands 
 higher iu the couiuuinity than Hon. Kobert C. 
 Webb. Ilis public and private life are alilie above 
 reproach. He has aided in the upl)uilding of the 
 town, county and State, has identilied iiiinself with 
 tlie best interests of tlie comnuinity and has lived 
 the life of an upright Christian gentleman. 
 
 I LBERT GKKFE, Sk., is one of the well- 
 (.(^/Ull known early settlers of IJes Moines, <lating 
 his residence here from the spring of 
 1856. The now populous citj' was then a 
 town containing only about fifteen hundred inhabi- 
 tants, and gave little promise of its present ad- 
 vanced position. With the remarkable growth and 
 progress which has been made since that time he 
 has been identilied, bearing no iiiconsideralilc |Kut 
 ill the noble work. 
 
 Mr. Grefe is a native of Hanover, Germany, his 
 birth having occurred on the 2btli of October, 1822. 
 His father, Andrew Grefe, died when the son was 
 but eight 3'ears of age, after which his widow was 
 again married, becoming the wife of Mr. Heise. 
 In 1 848 she came to the United States accompanied 
 by her husband and several of their children. .She 
 did not long survive her removal, however, but 
 died of cholera in Pittsburg, Pn., in 18-ii), about a 
 year after her arrival in this country. She was the 
 mother of eight children, seven of whom are living 
 in 1890. Of that family, Albert, whose name heads 
 this sketch, is the eldest; Charles, the second in or- 
 der of biith. resided with his family in New Ulm, 
 I\liim.. when the Indian massacre occurred at that 
 place. Ho and his family escajied the savages and 
 came to Polk County, where they are now living, 
 but his wife's father was slain bv the Indians on 
 that occasion. Augusta, the eldest daughter, died 
 in Dos IMoines a number of years ago, leaving a 
 family; Louise removed in 18,") I, with htr husband 
 to California, wheie she still lives. The remainiii" 
 
 children are the fruits of the secoml uiai i iage, and 
 are as follows: Caroline, a resident of Fayette 
 County, Pa.; Henrietta, of Pittsburg, Pa.; August 
 also of Pittsburg; and Dora, of New Ulm, Minn. 
 
 The date of the arrival of our subject in Amer- 
 ica, was 1819, the year succeeding the emigration 
 of his mother and step-father. He was at that time 
 twenty-seven years of age. He made his first loca- 
 tion in Pittsburg, Pa., but shortly afterward re- 
 moved to Fayette County, where he made his home 
 until his removal to Des Moines in 18.06. hi his 
 native land he had learned the trade of slaughter- 
 ing, having served an apprenticeship to that busi- 
 ness as is the custom in tlie Fatherland. He fol- 
 lowed that occupation from the time he began his 
 apprenticeship at the age of fourteen years, until 
 well advanced in life, and has the honor of having 
 erected the first slaughter-house in Des Moines. 
 Immediately after his arrival in this city, he en- 
 gaged in the meat business, and carried on opera- 
 tions in that line until 1865, when he embarked in 
 the ice business. He began on a small scale, which in- 
 creased with the demand, and finally it became one 
 of the most important industries of the city, his ice 
 trade being the most extensive in Des Moines for 
 many years. Another enterprise to which he de- 
 voted his energies for a time, was the grocery trade 
 but he is now practically living a retinul life, hav- 
 ing laid aside the cares and duties of former years, 
 to enjoy the fruits of his labor iu the earlier days 
 of his manhood. 
 
 Several years before emigrating to the United 
 States, Mr. (irefe was united in marriage with Miss 
 Wilhelmine Apiieniodt. also a native of Hanover, 
 and a daughter of Andrew Appenrodt. who was for 
 many years engaged in the banking business. She 
 is the only member of her father's family who ever 
 came to America. Mr. and Mrs. (Jrefe are the par- 
 ents of six children, four sons and two daughters: 
 Augusta, the eldest, is the wife of William Davis, 
 of Des Moines; Kda, the youngest member of the 
 family is still at home. 
 
 William, the eldest son, and the second of the 
 family in order of birth, is now engaged in the liv- 
 ery business in this city. He w:\s born in Hanover, 
 Germany, in 1819, and was hut a few months old 
 when his (larents emigrated to America. He re- 
 
676 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 niaiiied in Pennsylvania, at tlie home of an uncle 
 for !i year aflcr the reinaiiider of llie family came 
 to Iowa. He was then a lad of but eight years of 
 aye, and alone made the journey from Pittsburg to 
 this cit3' on a steamer called the 'Des Moines City," 
 being the only througli passenger on the boat. The 
 days of his boyhood and youth were here spent, 
 and as soon as he was old enough, he liegan assist- 
 ing his father in the ice biisiness,whicli he continued 
 until his father retired, William buying the busi- 
 ness, which lie continued for about four years. In 
 1884, he began making cement walks, which pur- 
 suit engaged iiis attention until 188(), when he em- 
 barked in the livery business. His wife was form- 
 erly Miss Mary H:ist, a native of Germany. 
 
 Albert, or ''Al" as he is commonly called, is one 
 of the leading grocery merchants of Ues Moines. 
 The town of his nativity is Brownsville, Fayette 
 County, Pa., and the date of his birth is June 28, 
 1851. He was thus about four jenrs of age when 
 the family came to this city, where he too spent his 
 early life, acquiring his education in the public 
 schools. He has been engaged in the grocery trade 
 since 1869, at which time he became a salesman in 
 the employ of Grefe ik Weaver, the senior [jartner 
 being his father, whom he represented iii the busi- 
 ness until I87o, when Mr. Weaver retired from the 
 (inn, and he and his lather became associated, 
 which partucrsliii) continued until 1880, since which 
 time he has been alone. In connection with Hugo 
 Umfrcd, he also has a branch store on the corner 
 of Sixth and School Streets, while his main store is 
 located on the corner of Seventh and Locust Streets. 
 The business was started on Third Street, where it 
 was conducted four years, when it was removed to 
 No. 312 Walnut Street. Seventeen years were spent 
 at that stand, and at the expiration of that time it 
 was removed to the present location. Al Grefe was 
 joined in wedlock .vith Miss Lena Widmann, of Ft. 
 Atkinson, Jefferson County, Wis.; and unto them 
 have been born two daughters, Ruth and Bernice. 
 
 Charles Grefe, the third son of the family, is 
 Superintendent of the First Division of the Des 
 Moines Electric Street Railway. He was born in 
 Brownsville, Pa., April 2i>, 1853, and though only 
 three years of age at the time of the emigration of 
 his parents to Iowa, recalls many incidents of the 
 
 journey which was made by water from Pittsburg 
 tu Keokuk, and thence in covered wagons to Des 
 Moines, reaching this city in March, 1856. Like 
 his brothers, he was educated in the public schools 
 of the capital city, which has been his home con- 
 tinuously since, with the exception of one year 
 spent in New L'lm, Minn., soon after the massacre 
 at that place. His assistance was required by his 
 father in the ice business, which he continued until 
 187it, when he established a livery stable, carrying 
 on the same until 1882, when he sold out toG. W. 
 Messenger, after which he engaged for a consider- 
 able time in .speculating, buying budding lots and 
 erecting dwellings thereon. Between 1882 and 1886. 
 he erected and sold twenty-seven residences. In 
 March of the latter year he once more resumed the 
 livery business, but disposed of it in August fol- 
 lowing, in order to assume the duties of Superin- 
 tendent of the Des Moines Street Railway, to which 
 position he had been api)ointed. His services were 
 so effective and satisfactory, that when the electric 
 system was substituted for the old method, he was 
 retained as superintendent of the new system. This 
 was certainlj' a well -merited compliment, and the 
 success that attends his labors in the new field, at- 
 tests the wisilom that dictated his retention as su- 
 perintendent. On the 6th of May, 1873, Charles 
 Grefe wedded Miss Rosetta Sovereign, daughter of 
 Solomon Sovereign. She died July 20, 1880, and 
 lib then wedded Miss Kate Barger, daughter of Ja- 
 cob Barger, of Des Moines. Bj' his first marri.ige 
 he has five children — Nellie, Eddie, Harry, JNIaud, 
 anil Rose, and by the second union a little daugh- 
 ter, Elsie. He and his wife also lost a son, Charles, 
 who died March 1, 1881, at the age of one year. 
 
 Theodore F., the youngest son of Albert and 
 Wilhelmiiie Grefe, is the Superintendent of Agen- 
 cies of the State Assurance Company. He was 
 born in Brownsville, Pa., July 31, 1856, and on the 
 completion of his literary education in the public 
 schools, entered his father's store as a clerk. He 
 afterward spent two years in the machine shops of 
 Brooks, Wilson ife Stein, now Wilson &. Stein, after 
 which he resumed work in his father's store. He 
 embarked in business for himself in Avoca, Iowa, 
 as a merchant, which he continued about a year, 
 when in November, 1878, he entered the employ of 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 677 
 
 the State Assurance Company, with which he has 
 since been connected, covering a period of twelve 
 years. lie began at tlie lowest round of the lad- 
 der, .IS it were, and by close application to business 
 and strict integrity, h.as attained to his present re- 
 sponsible position, lie led to the marriage altar 
 Miss Melissa A. ^Miller, a native of Illinois, and a 
 daughter of Ithamer Miller. Four children have 
 blessed this union, three of whom are living, two 
 daughters, and a son, Wilma, whose name is an 
 abreviation of the grandmother's; Fred and Letha. 
 They lost their third child, F^lliott, who died at the 
 age of a j'ear and a half. 
 
 The four sons whose sketch we have given above, 
 with the exception of their earliest childhood years, 
 have spent their entire lives in Des Moines. Here 
 they were reared to manhood, and have become 
 successful business men and worthy and respected 
 citizens. Their lives have been upright and honor- 
 able, winning them the respect of all men. The 
 father and mother are passing the evening of life 
 in their pleasant home in Des Moines, in the enjoy- 
 ment of the fniitsof the industry and toil of former 
 years. They and their family are well worthy a 
 record in this volume, for they take rank among 
 the best citizens of the community, and are num- 
 bered among the honored pioneers. 
 
 ?ILL II. JOHNSON, A. B., pastor of the 
 East Side Church of Christ, was born in 
 Bridgewater, Vt., .Inly 14, 1864, and is a 
 son of Richard II. and Susan (Smith) Johnson, a 
 sketch of whom we give below. When he was a lad 
 of five years his parents left New England for the 
 West, becoming residents of Tallula, 111., where he 
 remained until 1878, at which time he came to 
 Iowa. His primary' education was received in the 
 public schools. He posse.sses a studious nature, and 
 .soon mastering the rudiments of knowledge, at the 
 age of fifteen years he entered the preparatory de- 
 partment of the Oskaloosa College, from which 
 institution he was graduated with the degree of 
 A. B., in the cl.ass of IHS.'J. During the Inst two 
 years, in addition to the studies of the prescribed 
 
 course, he devoted himself to the study of theology, 
 with the purpose of entering the ministry. About 
 the time of entering college he became obedient to 
 the faith and united with the Christian Church. 
 His early aspirations trended toward the legal pro- 
 fession, but in riper years ho decided to make the 
 ministry his life work, and upon his graduation 
 took charge of two congregations, respectivel_v in 
 Cantrill and Milton, Iowa. A year later he re- 
 signed to acce[)t a call from the church in Tal- 
 lula, 111., his old home — a pulpit that had been 
 filled by some of the ablest theologians connecteil 
 with that denomiation. After remaining in charge 
 of the congregation for nearly' two years, he re- 
 signed to accept his present position in January', 
 1888. Under his ministry the church has had a 
 health3- growth, both 'inanciallj- and numericall3-, 
 the membership having increased more than a hun- 
 dred, now numbering about three hundred and fift3-. 
 Mr. Johnson has won the love of his congregation 
 and the respect of all Christian people. 
 
 R. II. Johnson, father of the above, was born in 
 W.ashington, 111., on the 2d of March, 1835, and 
 was one of a family of seven children, whose par- 
 ents were John and Martha (McCorkle) Johnson, 
 the former a native of Ohio, the latter of Kentuck3'. 
 The early life of our subject was spent in the usual 
 manner of farmer lads, assisting in the cultivation 
 of the home farm and attending the district schools 
 of the neighborhood. His primary education was 
 snpjilementcd by a course in Eureka College, which 
 he entered at the age of eighteen years. Subse- 
 quently he became a student in Bethan3' College, 
 and celebrated Independence Day, of ISal), by his 
 graduation from that institution. Returning hoiie 
 he accepted a professorship in Eureka College, 
 where he remained for three years. f 
 
 About that time, on the 1 1th of August, 1 86^^ 
 Mr. Johrson was united in marriage with Susan 
 S. Smith, a native of Bridgewater, Vt. In 1804 he 
 removed with his young wife to Williamsville, 
 N. Y., where he served as Principal of tlie Will- 
 iamsville Classical Institute for three years. The 
 succeeding three years of his life were spent in 
 Lockhaven, Pa., as pastor of the Christian Church. 
 He then again came West, and was em|)loyed as 
 pastor of the Christian Church in Tallul.a and Meta- 
 
678 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 mora, 111., until the spring of 1878, when, removing 
 to Oskaloosa, he took cliargc of that conjrrcg.ation 
 in January, 1880. In the autumn of 1881 he ac- 
 cepted the Professorship of Oskaloosa College, and 
 in 1883 was elected President, serving until 1888. 
 He takes rank among the leailing educators of the 
 State, and under his charge Oskaloosa College 
 gained ii wide re|)utation. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have four children, two 
 sons and two daugiiters — W. II., (i. II., I'.cUc and 
 Corroll. 
 
 <S^ llJLLIAM PORTER, journalist, is the oldest 
 \rJ// newspaper man in I)es Moines, having been 
 ^^y^ connected with that profession for thirty- 
 five years. In 1855, he came to the city and be- 
 came editor and proprietor of the Stali'svmii, suc- 
 cessor to the Star, the first paper p\d)lishcd in the 
 city, which he edited until I860. 
 
 Mr. Porter was born in Hanging Rock, Lawrence 
 County, Ohio, on the •22d of January, 18.35, and is 
 11 son of Charles and Isabel (Courtney) Porter. 
 His father was born in Fayette County, Pa., in 
 1797, and his mother, l>orn in 1800, was a native 
 of Nicholas County, Ky. Tlie family is of Scotch- 
 Irish descent, and several of the ancestry served in 
 the Revolutionary AVar. In his youth our subject 
 received an academic education, and began the stud3' 
 of law in Ripley, Ohio, completing the course of 
 reading in Bluffton. He was only twentj'-one years 
 of age when admitted to the bar, and thinking him- 
 self then too young to engage in practice, gave his 
 attention to other pursuits. Previous to this time, 
 in 18 18, he began learning the printer's trade in 
 Ripley, Oliio, completing his apprenticeship in Cin- 
 cinnati, after which, and subsequent to his admis- 
 sion to the bar, he went to Vicksburg, and took 
 chaigc of the Vicksburg H7(/(/, conducting that pa- 
 per until the spring of 1855. 
 
 On the 14th of May, of that year, Mr. Porter 
 reached Dcs Moines, and purchasing the paper, 
 changed the name to T(»r<i Stnio Jminuil, conduct- 
 ing it under that name for three or four years. On 
 selling out, he gave liis attention to law practice 
 
 and real estate dealing, but still retained his con- 
 nection with journalism, in fact, has never entirely 
 abandoned that pursuit. For fifteen years he was 
 special correspondent of the Chicago Times, and 
 has been connected with a number of other leading 
 l)apers in the same cap.acit^'. In politics, -Mr. Por- 
 ter is a stanch Democrat, and takes a deep interest 
 in the success and welfare of his party, but lias 
 never sough' or desired political distinction. Dur- 
 ing his earlier residence in this city, he was once 
 prevailed upon to accept the office of Justice of the 
 Peace, but resigned. For a year he was Register 
 of the United States land ollice in Des Moines, but 
 though engaged in other pursuits, has never wholly 
 laid aside his journalistic work, having been con- 
 tinuously connected with the leading newspapers 
 of the country, cither editorially or as a corres- 
 liondent. He was a reporter in the Iowa Legisla- 
 ture for man}' j'cars, during whieli time he formed 
 an extensive acquaintance with many of the lead- 
 ing statesmen and legislators. 
 
 On the 18th of June, 1857, in Des Moines, IMr. 
 Porter wedded Miss Harriet M. Haskell, daughter 
 of Noah 1). and Nancy Haskell. She was born in 
 Boston, Mass., ami on her father's side is descended 
 from an old New Kngland famil3-of Puritan origin, 
 while on her mother's side she is of French descent. 
 Three children, one son and two daughters, have 
 been born to Mr. and Mrs. Porter: Harry C, the 
 eldest, married Anna Wheaton, and is now residing 
 in Chicago; Mary is the wife of Albert Vasej", a 
 large stock dealer of (J rund}' County ; and Kdna, 
 who is twenty 3-ears younger than her sister, com- 
 pletes the famii}'. Mr. Porter is a member of the 
 Presbyterian Church, with which his peo|)le have 
 been conneclcci for many generations p.ast. 
 
 .^^^m^^^-* 
 
 ~ TTO NELSON, of Des Moines, is the State 
 
 01 binder and manager of the Swedish paper 
 Svilhiod, the only paper in Iowa published 
 in the Swedish language. The name Scilhioil is a 
 traditional name given to a part of Asia Minor and 
 Central Sweden. The paper known by that name 
 was eslablishe(l in 1883. by our subject. Attempts 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 679 
 
 had been made in Burlington, Slieldon and especi- 
 ally in Sioux Cily. to cstablisli an organ for the 
 Swedish population in their own language in the 
 .Slate, but up to that lime no attempt had been suc- 
 cessful. The Svithiod was a six column folio until 
 Febru.ar^' 1, 1889, when it was enlarged to eight 
 l)agcs, the columns seventeen inches long. Its 
 founder organized a company known as the Swed- 
 ish Publishing Companj- of Des Moines, which was 
 incori)orated October 25, 1886, and continued the 
 publication of the paper to the present time. The 
 oflieers and Board of Directors were C. L. Dahl- 
 berg, President; .John A. Rustan, Vice-President; 
 E. P. Frisk, Secretary; Lewis Stolilgren, Treasurer ; 
 Otto Nelson, Man.ager, and Gus Newlen, George 
 Hanson .and P. M. Dahlgren, Directors. The com- 
 pany extended the length of the columns to twenty 
 inches December 23, 1880, but continued it .is an 
 eight p.age paper. Since the foundation of the 
 Svitlu'od five persons have been employed .as editors 
 none, however, owned shares or were financially 
 interested in the paper. This accounts in part for 
 the man}' changes, but the principal reason was that 
 the editors differed from the manager as to true 
 Republican principles. Mr. Nelson has proved an 
 able manager and the success of the (lapcr is largel_y 
 due to liini. Ileiias not only performed the duties 
 of his oflice. but has flUeil almost ever\' position 
 connected with it that the [laper might be published 
 on time and be complete in every part. It fills a 
 long felt want and is rapidly increasing in circula- 
 tion. 
 
 Otto Nelson, the manager, is deserving of more 
 extended mention in this volume. He was born in 
 Karr. Ulrika, Sweden, on the Mth of November, 
 184:5, and .'s a son of Nils .lohaii and Katarina 
 Margueritta (Abrahamson) Nelson. He was edu- 
 cated in the military school in his native country 
 and served si.x years in the Swi'dish Avmy. In 1867, 
 he emigrated to America and made his home for a 
 lime in Swedesburg, Ilenr}' County, Iowa. In 1870, 
 he came to Des Moines and learned the book bind- 
 er's trade with Carter S: IIusse\'. in the enn)loy of 
 which firm he remained thirteen years. In 1883, he 
 established the Swedish paper, Srith/i.il, as before 
 racntioned and has continued its ninn.agement until 
 the present time, lie was elected Slate bimlcr in 
 
 1888, anil in IH'JO was re-elected. He is a stanch 
 Re[)ublican in politics and while a resident of 
 Swedesburg, Henry County, helped to secure the 
 eslalilishment of a post-oflice at that place in 1809, 
 and served as deputy [)0stniaster. 
 
 On the 20th of December, 1871, in Des Moines, 
 Mr. Nelson was joined in wedlock with Miss Al- 
 frida Jonson, a daughter of .Jonas .Jonson,anda na- 
 tive of Sweden. She came to America in 1869, and 
 died at her home in this city, January 4, 1881, 
 leaving two children, daughters — .Jennie Amelia, 
 and Sclma Katarina. Mr. Nelson is a courts o 
 gentleman and a successful journalist. 
 
 IWV'TTlil 
 
 •SBJE 
 
 ICHARD L. STUART, M.D., is a native of 
 Iowa, and is now one of the leading prac- 
 l4i\\\ tilioncrs of her Cai)ital City. He was born 
 ^jin Ft. Madison on the 10th of May, 18,5.5. 
 and his father. Dr. .Tames Stuart, was a pioneer 
 physician of Lee County. He was born in Ken- 
 tucky, but in his youth removed to Cincinnati, 
 Ohio, where he received his medical training in the 
 Physio-Medical College of that city. He was mar- 
 ried in Ohio.after which he emigrated to Lee Countv, 
 Iowa in 1850, where he engaged in the practice of 
 his profession until his decease. After pr.acticing 
 for many years, desiring to keep pace with the 
 progress made in the science of medicine, in 1858, 
 he returned to Cincinnati to attend lectures and 
 while there was prostrated with sickness which sud- 
 denly terminated his life. He left at death a wife 
 and three children, two sons and a daughter. Henr\' 
 Clay, the eldest, is now general manager of the 
 Toronto (Canada) Insurance Company, and m.akes 
 his home in Des Moines. The daughter, Lucia, 
 who is the youngest of the f.aniily, is the wife of 
 ]\Ir. James Welch of this city. 
 
 The subject of this sketch has made his own way 
 in the world since the age of thirteen years, at 
 which time he entered the office of the Oskaloosa 
 Jlfrnlil as an apprentice to the trade of a printer. 
 He continued in that olfice for about two and a 
 half years and in the meantime- hail decided to 
 qualify himself for the medical |]rnfcssi<)n. In fact, 
 
680 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 he haii even eiitererl on a course of reading witli 
 that object in view. When his term of apprentice- 
 ship as a printer hail expired, he went to Keolinic, 
 Iowa, where for three and a iialf 3'ears lie was a stu- 
 dent in the College of Physicians and Surgeons in 
 that city, his first preceptor being ])r. J. C. Hughes, 
 while later he continued his studies under the di- 
 rection of Dr. M. .1. Angler of Ft. Madison. He 
 was awarded the degree of M.l). by the College of 
 Physicians and Surgeons and soon after his gradu- 
 ation located in Solon, Johnson County, where he 
 engaged in practice for about n year, at the end of 
 which time he opened an otlice in Ft. Madison. 
 After practicing for a time in his native city, he 
 believed that he might better hi.s condition by a re- 
 moval further westward and located in Denver, 
 Col., where he remained until 1884. During two 
 years of that time Iw was connected with the medi- 
 cal department of the county hospital. 
 
 On the atii of September, 1888, Dr. Stuart was 
 united in marriage with Miss Paulina D. Sinn, 
 <laughter of Frederick Sinn, one of the early settlers 
 of Polk County. Thej- now have a little daughter, 
 Corinne. Tiic Doctor's residence in Dcs Moines 
 dates from 1884, and in the short period of time 
 which has since elapsed he has siKceeded in secur- 
 ing a lil)eral practice. Ilisollice is located on Cot- 
 tage Grove A venue, where he has purchased valuable 
 property and he is now permanently connected 
 with the medical fraternity of Polk County. Dr. 
 Stuart is a gentleman of culture, a successful and 
 popular physician and an energetic and progressive 
 citizen. He is a member of both the State and 
 National Medical Associations, and is also an hon- 
 ored member of the Order of the Ancient Free and 
 Accepted Masons. 
 
 'ifi_^ ARRISON LYON, deceased, one of the early 
 settlers of Fast Des Moines, was born in 
 Madison, Ind., on the IGlli of October, 
 'i^ 1811, his parents having emigrated from 
 Pennsylvania to- that Slate in an early day. He 
 received only sinli oduealiurial advantages as the 
 
 common schools at that time afforded, but through- 
 out life he was a constant reader and always kept 
 himself well informed on the leading issues of the 
 day, taking an active interest in public affairs. 
 Having attained to mature years, Mr. L3on, in 
 Morgan County, Ind., in 1842, led to the marriage 
 altar Miss Sarah N. Bonner. 
 
 While a resident of his native State, Mr. Lyon 
 engaged in milling and farming, but in 1850, he 
 came with his family to the West for the purpose 
 of making a home in Iowa. The journey to this 
 State was made in a carriage and consumed many 
 days. In 1852, he came to this city and purchased 
 a large tract of land which comprises the greater 
 part of the site of East Des Moines. His first home 
 was a one-story frame house built on Capitol Hill, 
 where the capitol now stands. No man according 
 to his means did more for the upbuilding of the 
 city and received less credit for it th.iu Mi'. Lyon. 
 He donated almost one-half of the capitol grounds, 
 with his own means built the first schoolhouse in 
 East Des Moines, was largely instrumental in lo- 
 cating the capitol on the east side and favored 
 every worthy enterprise calculated to upbuild the 
 city and promote its welfare. Lyon's Addition to 
 Des Moines was platted by him in 1850 and the 
 street running through that addition bears his name. 
 When the Methodist Society' of East Des Moines 
 was to build a liouse of worship, he furnished the 
 lot and gave liberally of his means toward the en- 
 terprise. His lime was spent in the management 
 of his city and farm property, which was quite ex- 
 tensive. He su|)i)()rted the Democratic party but 
 took no active part in political affairs. 
 
 In 18fi4, Mr. Lj-ons was called upon to mourn 
 the loss of his wife, who died on the 14th of No- 
 vember of that year. She united with the Wesley 
 Chapel Methodist Episcopal Church at its organi- 
 zatit)n .nnd continued one of its faithful members 
 until her death. Mr. Lyon survived his wife many 
 years, dying on the 20th of March, 1885. fn their 
 family were seven children — Thomas P.; Eliza J.; 
 Margaret E., wife of H. C. Senteny; Amanda, who 
 died at the age of twenty-two; Franklin who died 
 at the age of thirty-nine; John, a resident farmer 
 of this county, and Ivlward, who died in infancy. 
 
 Mr. Lyon was a man of marked individuality, un- 
 
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 683 
 
 swerving in his defense of liie riglit ami unceasing 
 in his o|)i)osilioii to wrong. He had tlic respect, of 
 all who knew him and did much for the city's in- 
 terest, hut hMs ncvi'f received duo credit- for his la- 
 bors. 
 
 Henry Clay Senteny. son-in-law of Mr. Lyon 
 and one of the leading business men of Des Moines, 
 is a native of Ohio. He was horn in the Grant 
 neighborhood of Clermont County, on the nth of 
 May, 1830, and spent the days of his boyhood and 
 youth in the Buckeye Slate. Having attended tiie 
 common schools until the age of sixteen years he 
 then entered Shelbyville College, but not long 
 afterward the school broke iiij in confusion and he 
 went to Louisville, K)., where he obtained a posi- 
 tion as clerk, continuing to serve in that capacity 
 until 18r);5, when he opened a book store. Ill health 
 forced him to sell out and he went to Indiana, but 
 in 1858, returned to Kentucky. Three years later, 
 at the beginning of the war, he enlisted in Com- 
 pany A, Twcntyeiglith Kentucky Regiment and 
 on its organization was placed on the regimental 
 staff iis Sergeant Major, but during the Last two 
 j'ears of his service was Acting Adjutant. For 
 some time he was engaged in guard duly in Ken- 
 tucky and Tennessee, but later participated in the 
 battle of Chattanooga, all the engagements of the 
 Atlanta campaign and a number of others of im- 
 portance. Fortunately' he escaped without injuries 
 and at the close <>( the war was honorably dis- 
 charged, having ■ faithfully performed his duty 
 through four long years of service. 
 
 In 18(i7, Mr. Senteny went to Chicago, III., 
 where he eng.aged in the wholesale sailillery. leather 
 and hardware bu.siuess with the firm of (i rant it 
 iMcLean until the disastrous fire of 1871 occurred 
 which burned thcii- entire store with all its contents. 
 in fact consumed everything but the clothing which 
 they wore. It was during a l)usiness trip to Des 
 Moines that' he met Miss Lyon, to wliom he was 
 married in November, 1872. Five years later he 
 located |)ermanently in this city, since which time 
 he has been connected with the Ilawkeye Insurance 
 Company, covering a perioil of eleven years. He is 
 a competiMit, business man as evinccMl by the fact 
 that he has so long I'emaincd with one company. 
 Soiially, he is a member of the Ancient ( )r<ler of 
 
 I'nited Workmen, and in politics is independent, 
 voting not for the party but for the man who he 
 thiidvs will best discharge the duties of the ollice 
 
 and care for the iutcresls of the peo|)le. 
 
 11? AMI'.FRT STERNBERG, deceased, was for 
 I ^ many years a prominent and inlluential citi- 
 jl *— ^Vi zen of I'olk County, and is therefore well 
 worthy of representation in this volume. He w.as 
 born in the Empire Slate, in the month of June, 
 1800, .and was the son of Marquis and Nancy 
 (Mabee) Sternberg. The Sternberg family is of 
 Holland origin but the mother of our .sulijecl was 
 born of German parents. The early life of our 
 subject p.as.sed uneventfully but his later years 
 were ones of industry, enterprise and business 
 activity. He made farming his life occupation and 
 in connection with that business dealt extensively 
 in stock. After following farming in his native 
 State, in 185.'! he purchased a store which he man- 
 aged until March, 1855, when he [)laecd it in charge 
 of his son and emigrated to Iowa, coming to this 
 State ft)r the purpose of loaning money and buying 
 land warrants. As it seemed a favorable opening 
 he returned to New York the same fall and made 
 preparations for permanent location in Iowa, which 
 he carried into effect the following spring, lie 
 luirchased one thousand acres of land in Beaver 
 Township, Polk C'ount3', and in 1857, w.as joincil 
 by his family, they becoming early settlers of this 
 ],art of the Slate. Upon his land stood an old 
 l)uilding, part of the structure being frame, while 
 the remainder was made of logs. This the family 
 look possession of .•iiid their new life in the far 
 West omiuenced. Mr. Sternberg and his sons 
 gave their attention to the development and im- 
 provi'inent of a farm, while the mother and daugh- 
 ters attended to the wants and comforts of weary 
 travelers, their home being a station on the stage 
 line and being the principal traveled road to Des 
 Moines, diuiiig the first winter, when the Iowa 
 Legislature was in session, they cleared ^1.000 as 
 the result of tlK^ir labors. The outdoor work also 
 prospered, acre after acre was cleare(l, plow(-d and 
 
684 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 jilanted mid in llie course of lime yielded almndaiit 
 harvests. Tlirifl and enterprise was everywhere 
 manifest, and by llie joint efforts of parents and 
 ehild.cn a liaiidsome competence was acquired and 
 lliey hecame numbered among the substantial citi- 
 zens of Polk County. 
 
 Mrs. Sternberg's maiden name was Ilubina Stern- 
 l)erg, but she and her husband were not related. 
 'I'heir marriage was celebrated in 1824 and unto 
 Iheni was born a famil)' of niru' children, seven of 
 whom are yet living: Jane resides with her mother 
 in Milcliellville; Mary is the wife of Charles Kced, 
 of Huron, S. Dak.; Rebecca is the widow of Jacob 
 Crou.sc and resides in Los Angeles, Cal.; Marquis 
 i.s the next younger; Dc Kalb is engaged in agri- 
 cultural pursuits in Colorado; Jay is a miller of 
 the same State; and Lambert is a farmer of Beaver 
 Tovvnship, this county. The oldest and youngest 
 of the family are deceased. 
 
 Mr. Sternberg was widely known throughout this 
 community and was one of the representative farm- 
 ers of the county'. He lived a life of uprightness 
 in accordance with the teachings of the Methodist 
 Kl)iscoi)al Church, of which he was long a faithful 
 member. Politically, he was an advocate of Demo- 
 cratic principles. He died at his home in l")eeember, 
 1870, respected by all who knew him, and his loss 
 occasioned deep regret on the part of many. l\Irs. 
 Sternberg, a most estimable ladj', still survives her 
 husband and although she has reached the advanced 
 age of eighty-four years is still in the enjoyment 
 of a good degree of health. She and her daughter 
 Jane are now residing in Mitchcllville, where they 
 have a beautiful home, surrounded by all the com- 
 forts and many of the luxtuies of life. 
 
 »-*-^ ^ 
 
 OL. I':DWARI) MARTINDALE is an at- 
 torney and counselor-at-law, and one of the 
 well-known citizens of Dcs Moines. He w.as 
 born in Sandy Hill, Washington County, N. Y., in 
 1H17, and is a son of Henry C. Martindalc. His 
 father was a native of Massachusetts, a lawyer by 
 profession, and a man of marked ability and tlie 
 strictest integril^'. He w:is descended from an earl}' 
 
 New England family, well known in the Colonial 
 history of Massachusetts, and was a worthy repre- 
 sentative of his illustrious ancestors. In political 
 sentiment he was an old-time Whig, who exerted 
 much induence in the councils of his l>arty, and for 
 twelve years was a member of Congress from the 
 State of New Yoik. He was twice married, his 
 first union being with Minerva Hitchcock, who also 
 belonged to one of the earl}' New York families. 
 She died when our subject was a mere child, after 
 which Mr. Martindalc married Miss Olivia V. KviaU, 
 a daughter of Dr. James Ewell, and cousin of the 
 noted Gen. Ewell, of the Confederate Armj'. Of 
 the first marriage were born eight chihlren, five of 
 whom, two sons and three daughters, attained to 
 manhood and womanhood. Edward is the j'ounger 
 of the brothers. The elder, John Henr}', liecame 
 Gen. Martindalc, and attained honor and distinct- 
 ion in the War of the Rebellion. He was born in 
 Sandy Hill, N. Y., March 20, 1815 , graduated sec- 
 ond in his class in the United States Military Acad- 
 emy of West Point, in 183,"), and was appointed to 
 the engineers, but resigned in 183G, and soon aft- 
 erward entered upon the study of law. In 1838 he 
 located in Ratavia, N. Y., where he engaged in the 
 practice of his profession until 18;') I, when he re- 
 moved to Rochester, N. Y., and continued practice 
 in that city until 1861. In August, of that year, 
 Mr. Martindalc was appointed Brigadier General 
 of volunteers, and commanded a brigade in Porter's 
 Corps during the Peninsular campaign of 1862, 
 under Gen. McClellan. He fought gallantly and 
 well in nearly all the battles of the famous cam- 
 paign, and severely censured the commanding gen- 
 eral, as did other leading officers, for not advancing 
 on Richmond after the battle of Malvern Hill, 
 where the Confederates were severely defeated and 
 badly demoralized. For this criticism he was called 
 to account, but his course was vindicated, and in 
 November, of the same year, he was made Milit.ar}- 
 (iovernor of the District of Columbia, where he 
 continued until the opening of the final campaign. 
 In May, 1861, he joined the Eighteenth Army 
 Corps, which became united with the Arm}' of the 
 Potomac, and fought under Gen. Grant in the ter- 
 rible battle of Cold Harbor, on the first three days 
 of Juno, 186 1. aiul was engaged in the siege of Pe- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 685 
 
 tersluiri;. IIo first coniiiiandcil a ilivision, and later 
 succeeded to the couimand of tlie iMghtecntli Corps, 
 but resigned owing to impaired lioallli,on the l.'Uh 
 of September, 18G4, returning to liis home in Ro- 
 chester, N. Y. 
 
 The subject of tliis siietei), Edward Martindale, 
 was reared to manhood in his native village. At 
 the age of seventeen years he entered I'nion Col- 
 lege, from which lie was graduated tiiree years 
 later, lie then became a student of law in his 
 father's ollice, where he remained three years, after 
 which he spent one year in the ollice of the Hon. 
 David L. Seymour, of Troy, N. Y. He was admit- 
 te(l to the bar in 1839, and in 1810 went to the city 
 of New York, where he engaged in the practice of 
 his cho.sen profession until the breaking out of the 
 War of the Rebellion. He entered the army as Cap ■ 
 tain and C. S., and was attached to the statT of Gen. 
 William F. Sniith,coramanding the Second Division, 
 Sixth Army Corps. He participated in all the prin- 
 ci|)al engagements of the Peninsular campaign in 
 1 802, and was always found with his command at the 
 front, encouraging his men l)y his daring spirit and 
 bravery. He continued with his original command 
 until immediatel3- after the battle of Fredericksburg, 
 which occurred in December,! 862, when he obtained 
 leave of absence from staff dut3',and was appointed 
 Lieutenant-Colonel of the Twenty-sixth New. Jerseys 
 Regiment, and attached to the Second Brigade of 
 his former division, doing duty until the last of 
 .June, 18G1, when his regiment's term of service ex- 
 pired. While in the latter command he was also 
 constantly engaged in active service in the field, 
 and at the battle of Chancellursville was command- 
 ing officer of the regiment. Nino months having 
 p.assed since it entered the army, the Twcntj- si.xth 
 Regiment was ordered home and Col. Martindak; 
 mustered it out of the service. He was then or- 
 dered to the department c)f the Gulf, .■ind reported 
 to Gen. Banks, and was sent by that olllcer to 
 Baton Rouge, in charge of th(! Commissary Depart- 
 ment. Col. Martindale had occupied his new field 
 but a short time when he unexpectedly received a 
 commission as Colonel of the United States Col- 
 ored Infantry, and was assigned to the com- 
 mand of the Eighty-thirit Kcginient of colored 
 troops, after which he at once n'|)orte(l for duty 
 
 to the commander at Port Hudson, and was 
 lilaced in charge of that regiment. Not long after- 
 ward, however, a re-organization occurred, and 
 he was given command of the Eighty-first Regi- 
 ment, remaining at Port Hudson and at Morganzia 
 for a few months, when, by virtue of a special order 
 from the War Deiiartinent to the commander of 
 the Aimy of the James, he was ordered to report 
 to Gen. B. F. Butler, and was placed by him in 
 command of a colored regiment which had just 
 been recruited. As soon as the regiment was armed 
 and equipped it was ordered into the breastworks 
 in front of Bermuda Hundreds and Richmond. 
 Col. Martindale vvas soon after, by special order, 
 assigned by C.en. Butler to the eomm.and of a bri- 
 gade in the Twenty-fifth Army Corps in the Array 
 of the James, and at once entered upon the dis 
 charge of his new duties at the front, where he 
 served until just prior to the fall of Petersburg and 
 Richmond, when he reported for duty .at Norfolk, 
 and with Gen. Gordon, Admiral Farragut and 
 other officers, started up the James to the vicinity 
 of Richmond, and entered that city the day after 
 the Uight of Jeff Davis. The war was now vir- 
 tually ended, and all absent officers were ordered 
 to their commands. Our subject, however, was 
 ordered to report to Gen. Hartsuff, at Petersburtj-, 
 and was at once placed in command of the city of 
 Petersburg. Here he remained in command until 
 his resignation was accepted late in the summer of 
 1865. 
 
 When hostilities ce.ased and peace was declared. 
 Col. Martindale returned to the city of New York, 
 and resumed the i)ractice of law, where he contin- 
 ued until 1883, when he came to Des Moines, and 
 now attends to a special pr.actice in this city. 
 
 The Colonel was married in the city of Brook- 
 lyn, on the 11th of July, 1817, his union being 
 with Miss Mary M. lilake, daughter of Anson 
 Blake. The lady was born in New York City, 
 July 13, 1826, and by their union the Colonel and 
 his wife have become the parents of one son. Dr. 
 John H. Martindale, now of Minnca|)olis, Minn. 
 He was born in New York (.'ity, in 1860, and is a 
 graduate of the New York Medical College. 
 
 Col. Martindale is n gentleman of liberal culture 
 and i)()s.': esses a large fund of informaliuu, acrpiiretl 
 
686 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 by leading aixl experience. His conversational 
 powers are far in advance of the average, and be 
 is an entertaining and instructive talker. Four years 
 of iiis life lie gave to tlie service of liis country, 
 and liivc his lamented brother was a brave and 
 faithful soldier. He iwssesses in a higlj degree the 
 esteem of all who know him, and it affords us great 
 pleasure to present this brief sketch of his life to 
 the readers of the Ai.i'.i>r. In politics he is a Re- 
 luililic.Tu, nnd in religious belief an Episcopalian. 
 
 ■S^ LIJAH L. MAHIN, one of the highly re- 
 ife spected citizens of Des Moines, was born in 
 jt ^ — ^ Fleming County. Ky., Januarj^ 28, 1823, 
 and is a son of George W. Mahin. His father was 
 born in Virginia, March 14, 1784, but was reared 
 in Kentuck_v, and during the war of 1812, served 
 inider Gen. William llenij- Harrison, participating 
 in the battle of Tippecanoe. On the 8th of Feb- 
 ruary, 1820, he married Nancy Lewman, who was 
 l)orn June 11, 1802, in Maryland, and was a 
 daughter of Elijah Lewman, and unto them was 
 born a numerous family, numbering eleven chil- 
 dren. William, the eldest, born January 1, 1821, 
 died December 31, 1845; Filijah is the second in 
 order of birth; John, born February- 4, 1825, died 
 August 1, 1863; Margaret, born April 17, 1827; 
 Thomas Y., born August 5, 1829, died March 23, 
 1845; Elizabeth, born October 17, 1831, died Feb- 
 ruary 11, 1859; Ann, born November 14, 1833. 
 died February 13, 1885; James K., born Februar}' 
 5, 1836; George W., born May 10, 1838, enlisted 
 in the late war as a member of the Thirty-sixth 
 Iowa Infantry, but was discharged on account of 
 disability; Charity Jane, born Januarj- 6, 1811, 
 died June 20, 1889; Samuel D., born November 
 28, 1843, was a soldier in the late war, and died 
 from exposure in Helena, Ark., in April, 1863. 
 Mr. Mahin, the father of this family, was a Whig 
 in early life, and was a man well informed on all 
 l)ublic affairs, whether political or otherwise. When 
 the Ivcpublican party was formed he was among 
 the lirst to espou.se its principles, but died ere it 
 accomplished its great work of freeing the slaves. 
 
 his death occurring November 19, 1857. His wife, 
 who survived him several years, died February 27, 
 1864, at the age of sixty -one years, eight montlis 
 and sixteen days. 
 
 Elijali L. Mahin was reared on a farm, and ac- 
 quired his education in the subscription schools; 
 In 1847, while the Mexican War was still in pro- 
 gress, he enlisted in the Third Kentucky Infantr3\ 
 After being mustered into the United States ser- 
 vice in Louisville, the troojis were sent by boat to 
 New Orleans and across the gulf to Vera Cruz, 
 landing shortly after the battle which occurred at 
 that jilace. They then marched to the city of 
 Mexico, and about six months after their arrival 
 the terms of peace were dictated, and in conse- 
 quence they returned to Louisville, where thej' 
 were mustered out at the close of the war. In 
 1849, Mr. Mahin accompanied his parents to Iowa, 
 and in 1850, attracted by the discovery of gold in 
 California, started with a party for that far away 
 land, driving an ox team. After a long and 
 weary journey across the plains, where danger 
 threatened on every side, he reached his destina- 
 tion and remained for six years in the mines 
 near Placerville, whence he went to Portland, 
 Ore., and subsequently to Vancouver Cit}', Wash.; 
 from there he went up the Columbia River to Ft. 
 Dalls. Returning to San Francisco, he embarked 
 on a steamer for home by way of Panama and 
 New York, to Monroe Countj-, Iowa, near Albia, 
 where he engaged in agriculttiral pursuits again, 
 remaining in that business for twcnt}' one years, 
 with the exception of two j'cars, one of which he 
 spent in Albia, and one in Mt. Pleasant, engaged 
 in the grocery business. F'rom the latter place he 
 moved back to the farm in Monroe County, and 
 from there to another farm near Red Oak, Mont- 
 gomery County, Iowa, where he remained five 
 years, and then removed to Dos Moines, whore ho 
 now lives. 
 
 On the 9th of October, 1862, Mr. Mahin led to 
 the marriage altar Miss Frankie Spencer, a most 
 estimable l.idy and a daughter of William and 
 Nanc}' Spencer, both of whom were natives of 
 Kentucky. In 1852, accompanied b}' his family, 
 her father emigrated to Monroe County, Iowa, 
 whore for a time ho engaged in agricultiuiil pur- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 087 
 
 suits, when be removed to Albia and eml>arked in 
 tlio nitrcaiitile business. Later he engaged in tiie 
 same line for a sliorl time in Ml. Pleasant, and in 
 IH7S, removed lo Smilli Count}', Kan., and tliunoe 
 to the city of Wichita, wliere he died on tlie loth 
 of March, 1890, a res()ecled and esteemed citizen. 
 Mrs. Silencer deijarted this life .luly o, 1888. 
 Unto them were born the following children: Mi- 
 randa, wifeof Joseph Muddy, of Wichita; Fraiikie, 
 wife of our subject; Ollie, who died in June, 1871); 
 and Mary, wife of Elmer Maddy, of AVichita, Kan. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Mahin began their domestic life 
 upon a f.'irm in Slonroe County, but afterward re- 
 moved to Mt. Pleasant, where our subject engaged 
 in the mercantile business in company with his 
 father-in-law. lie also spent a short time in Red 
 Oak Junction, where he followed the same pursuit, 
 and in 188G, came to Des Moines, where he has 
 since lived a retired life. By the exercise of cor- 
 rect business principhiS, fair dealing and good 
 management, he has acquired a con)pctence which 
 enables him now to rest fiom all labor. He cer- 
 tainly deserves no little credit for liis success, and 
 is well worthy the [irosperity which has attended 
 his efforts. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Mahin are the parents of two sons: 
 William S., who was born Si'|)tember iC, 1864; 
 and W.alter T., burn on the l.'Uh of June, 1869. 
 The parents are both members f)f the Methodist 
 Church, and have lived lives of viprightness which 
 have won for them the conlidenee and goodwill of 
 all with whom tl^ey have come m contact, and 
 surrounded them with many warm friends. 
 
 — 3"* 
 
 OHN R. SHAFFER, Secretary of the Iowa 
 Stall! Agricultural Society, is a native of 
 Zanesville, Ohio, born on the liOtli of Au- 
 ' gust, 1835. His |)arents were \Villi:nn and 
 Ann (Ruth) Shaffer, liolh of wiioui were natives of 
 Wasiiington County, Pa., and were of (iennan 
 descent. The father was born in 1810. and the 
 mothir in 1815, f nd their marriage was celebrated 
 in their native county, after which they removed 
 
 to Zanesville, Ohio, in 1832. Mr. Shaffer there 
 embarked in the iiarness-making business, wliiuh 
 he continued until 1861. when the family emi- 
 grated to Iowa, settling in Fairfield, Jefferson 
 County, where his death occurred in 187-1. His 
 wife still survives him and is living in Fairfield. 
 
 The subject of this sketch received a common- 
 school education, and with his father served a 
 seven years' upprenticeshii) to ihe harness maker's 
 trade. Coming to Iowa in 185G, he located in 
 Fairfield, where, in connection with George How- 
 ell, he opened a harness shop, doing business under 
 the firm name of Howell ife Shaffer. That connec- 
 tion was continued for live years, when Mr. Shaffer 
 sold out to his partner and engaged in business 
 alone until 1870, when he turned his attention to 
 the insurance business, which he carried on in 
 Fairfield until 1875. In the meantime, in January, 
 1 873, he was elected Secretary of the Iowa State 
 Agricultural Society, and took possession of the 
 office on the 1st of April, 1873. He has been 
 unanimously re-elected to the position at each suc- 
 ceeding election to the present, making a continu- 
 ous period of service amounting to seventeen 
 years. 
 
 In Fairfield, Iowa, on the 20tli of M.ay, 1862, 
 fklr. Shaffer was joined in weillock with Miss Mary 
 E. Thompson, daughter of Col. James and Mary 
 Thompson. The lady was born in Harlem, Car- 
 roll County, Ohio, and came to this State in 1816. 
 A family of six children, three sons and three 
 daughters, were born of their union — William E., 
 the eldest, died at the age of twenty-four years; 
 Clara A. is now the wife of M. M. Baker, of Ot- 
 turawa, Iowa; and- the younger members of the 
 family are: Genevieve, J. Rollin, Frederick and 
 Helen Louise. Mrs. Shaffer and her eldest daugh- 
 ter arc members of the Episcopal Church. 
 
 In politics, Mr. Shaffer is a Democrat and a 
 supporter of Prohibition principles, but has never 
 sought political prominence, preferring to devote 
 Ills entire attention to his business interests. He 
 was identified with the Western Mutual Aid Asso- 
 ciation as Secretary for several years, or until the 
 time of its going out of business. He has resided 
 in Des Moines only since 1886, but in that time he 
 has won the high esteem of all with whom he has 
 
G88 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 come in contact. The fact that lie has been unan- 
 imously elected for seventeen successive years as 
 Secretary of the Iowa State Agricultural Society, 
 is a distinguished mark of respect and confideuce 
 on the part of the members of that organization, 
 to which he is justly entitleil for the faithful and 
 elhcient manner in which he has discharged the 
 duties of the oflice. Courteous and genial by na- 
 ture and gentlemanly in deportment, Mr. Shaffer 
 h.as won hosts of friends ti)rouglioul the State, 
 where he is so widely known. 
 
 AMES E. STOUT, Superintendent of the .1. 
 M. Christy Coal Mining Company, is a na- 
 tive of Ohio, having been born in Trumbull 
 County-, September 21, 1849. His parents, 
 Jasper and Mary (Urmson) Stout, were natives of 
 England, the former born in Northumberland, the 
 latter in Lancastershire. Mr. Stout 8r. was also 
 connected with the mines and engaged in that busi- 
 ness i)rior to his emigration to America. When a 
 young man he crossed the Atlantic and settled in 
 Mercer Count}', Pa., where he became actjuainted 
 with Miss Urmson, whom he wooed and W(.n. They 
 l)ccanie parents of five children — Mary Ann, wife 
 of .James Taylor of Youngstown, Ohio ; Cidn}' Jane, 
 wife of William M.adge of Mercer County, Pa.; 
 Esliier, wife of Alonzo Hunter of Mercer County; 
 Abbie R. of the same county ;and James E. of this 
 sketcli. The father of this family died in Mercer 
 County, in 18.58. He was quiet and reserved, caring 
 little for public life Init devoting himself exclu- 
 sively to his family, for whose happiness and wel- 
 fare he could not do too much. Mrs. Stout after- 
 ward became the vvife of Samuel Siddall and the}' 
 now reside in Mercer County. They have one child, 
 a -son, Samuel U. who is lalegra[)h operator at War- 
 ren, Ohio. The mother has for many years been a 
 member of the Methodist Church and lives a con- 
 sistent Christian life. 
 
 It is said that each person is fitted for a certain 
 work and that if they engage in that pursuit they 
 will meet with success. If that be the natural re- 
 sult of such a course we would say that Mr. Stout 
 
 has found that work for which he was destined. 
 Few so well understand mining in all its details or 
 have met with better success than, he as will be 
 shown further on in this sketch. At the age of 
 seven years he entered the coal mines with his fa- 
 ther, and in consequence was cut olT from all school 
 privileges sudi as are commonly afforded young 
 lads. In order to counteract that disadvantage he 
 atteniled night school and gave his leisure hours to 
 study and retlection, thus fitting himself for the 
 useful positions which he has held in ditTerent 
 States. He is truly one of the self-made men of 
 the county. He continued to reside in Mercer 
 County, Pa., until 187G, but during that time 
 operated mines in Ohio, Indiana and the Keystone 
 State, .acquainting himself with all the details of 
 the business. 
 
 Mr. Stout was married October 9, 1871, to Miss 
 Margaret L. Ilitechew, a n.ative of Allegheny 
 County, Pa., and a daughter of John and Margaret 
 (Wills) Ilitechew, who were also born in the same 
 State. Their union has been blessed with four in- 
 teresting children, Mary L.,who was born in Mercer 
 County, Pa., June 3, 1873; William, born in Greene 
 County, Iowa, May 17, 1878, died February 2, 
 1880; John I), was born March 14. 1880, in Greene 
 County; Jasper U. was born May^ 9, 1885, in the 
 same county. Having himself suffered from the 
 luck of an education, Mr. Stout resolved that his 
 children should not have the same disadvantage to 
 undergo and has provided them with liberal school 
 |)rivileges. 
 
 In 187C, leaving Pennsylvania, Mr. Stout settled 
 in (Jreene County, Iowa, where he engaged in min- 
 ing for two years, when in 1878, in company with 
 J. M. Markham and Isaac Jones, he opened a mine 
 and the Keystone Mining Company was organized. 
 For some time they were quite successful but after- 
 waid through the failure of one of the partners' 
 they lost heavily. In consequence Mr. Stout dis- 
 posed of his interest in 1885, and on the 1st of .June, 
 188G, was appointed by Gov. Larrabee as Slate 
 Inspector of Mines and removed to Des Moines, 
 which has since been his home. In 1888, he was 
 reappointed to the same position, but resigned in 
 November. 1889, to become Superintendent of the 
 Christy Coal Mining Compan}', which had been or- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 689 
 
 gaDized a sliort time previous. In August lie sunk 
 
 a !~liaft and in llie short time wiiicli has elapsed 
 the mine has become a paying enterprise. The 
 (irm emplo3's sixty-three men in digging the dusky 
 diamonds and has one of llie finest equipped plants 
 in the county, having an engine of seventy horse 
 power. He is a n)iner of much ability, his methods 
 arc characterized b}- practicability and for tlii; 
 reason tiie im|)ortant position of State Insi)eclor of 
 Mines was tendered him. True to every trust im- 
 [losed in liini he diseiiarged the duties of tliat olHce 
 with fiilclil^' and continued to serve until by his 
 own choice he resigned. He takes an active part 
 in i)ublic affairs, is an enterprising and i)rogressive 
 citizen and lias the resiiect and confidence of all 
 with wiioni he has come in contact. lie has su|)- 
 l)ortcd the Republican party since attaining iiis 
 majority and while a resident of Greene County, 
 Iowa, was elected .lustice of tlie Peace, which oflice 
 he held three years. Socially, he is a nicmlier of 
 the [ndi'|)en<lent Order vf Odil Fellows, Knights 
 of 1'3'thias and Modern Woodmen of America. He 
 has a pleasant home at No. .1223, Buchanan Street, 
 P^ast Des Moines, his household is noted for its 
 hospitality and the members of the family are hchl 
 in high regard. 
 
 vOKYDON K. FULLER, late President of 
 the Iowa Loan and Trust CoTn()any, was 
 '%^ born in Chardon, (ieauga County, Ohio, on 
 the 2d of November, IS.'iO, and is a son of Edson 
 anil Celira (Canfield) Fuller. His inolher was a 
 descendant on the maternal side from the Sher- 
 mans, who were prominent in National affairs in 
 an early d.ny, and signed the Declaration of Inde- 
 |)endenc(!. His father was a native of Cazenovia, 
 
 N. y. 
 
 When a lad of lifteen 3'ears, our subject accom- 
 panied his parents to (hand Rapids, Mich., where 
 he attended the (irand Raiiids Acarlem}', Franklin 
 Everett being one of his teachers. He was studious 
 and ambitions, and when seventeen years of age, 
 had (pialilied himself for a teacher in the district 
 schools. After following that [irofession foi- three 
 
 3'ears, he entered the Western Reserve Kclcctio In- 
 stitute of Ohio, now kno'vn as Hiram College, 
 where he became a classmate and intimate friend 
 of James A. (iarfield, with whom he corresponded 
 until the President's death. Before his graduation, 
 however, on account of failing health, he was forced 
 to leave college. This was the cause of much re- 
 gret (jn his part, as he was a great lover of learning, 
 and desired to im[irove every advantage afforded 
 him. His mother was a poetess of some note, and 
 Mr. Fuller was a jioetical and [irose writer of much 
 merit. He taught school a portion of the winter 
 while at Hiram College, and during the vacation 
 worked at carpenter work with Gen. (iarfield. 
 Later he went to Now York, where he taught school 
 for about a 3'ear and a half, and then returned to 
 Grand Rapids. 
 
 On the 1st of January, 1855, in Bntler, Wayne 
 County, N. V., INIr. Fuller wedded Miss Mary P. 
 Watson, ilaughter of Joseph and Roxie (Fowler) 
 Watson. Her father was born in Worchester, Mass., 
 October 3, 1774, and her mother was a native of 
 liethlehem, Conn., an<l a daughter of a Revolution- 
 aiy solilier, Maj. Daniel Fowler, who enlisted as 
 a private at an early age, was taken [H-isoner by 
 the British, and after his release returning to the 
 ranks, was commissioned Major, though only twenty 
 years of age. He established the first school in 
 Hudson, and among his pupils was Martin Van Bu- 
 ren, while he numbered among his intimate friends 
 Alexander Hamilton. He was a prominentand in- 
 llnential citizen of the community in which he re- 
 sided, and did much for the advancement of its 
 educational interests. 
 
 Mrs. Fuller was born and reared on a farm near 
 Butler, Wayne County, Ind. Shortly after (heir 
 nnuriage, they located in (Srand Ua[)ids, but in less 
 than a year returned It) her native State, where Mr. 
 Fuller engaged in business with his father-in-law, 
 from I85G until the spring of 1.S57, when accom- 
 panied by his wife, he went to Arkansas, Miss., 
 where he spent a year and a half. Returning to 
 Indiana, he there made his home until the s[)ring 
 of 1859, when he took up his residence in Leonard, 
 now Big Rapids, Mich. In the succeeding summer 
 his wife taught the first school in that town, which 
 was situated in the pine forests of the northern 
 
690 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 peninsular. Mr. Fuller taught the same school 
 iluring the winter term, while his wife, in Novem- 
 ber of that year returned to Wayne County, Intl. 
 In February, 1801, he went to New York on busi- 
 ness for his father, and on his return purchased a 
 newh;pa|)cr. which he edited for some time. Later, 
 in company with Gen. (iarlield, he i)urchased the 
 Rochester Chronicle, of Rochester, Ind., which he 
 conducted until the winter of 1803-04, when he 
 sold out, and in .January, of that latter year, took 
 up his residence in Washington City. He had pre- 
 viously served as Collector, of Internal Revenue, 
 and was now emploj'ed as clerk in tlie Internal 
 Revenue Bureau, filling that position until the close 
 of the war, when he was given a place in tlie Treas- 
 ury Department. He was in the capital city at the 
 time of the aesassination of President Lincoln, was 
 a witness of the mililary review at the close of the 
 war, and continued to serve in the Treasury De- 
 partment until the last of October, 1865, when he 
 returned to IMichigan. locating in Berlin. After a 
 short time however, he went to South lu'iid, Jnd., 
 where he purchased the .St. Josei)h N'alley liMjister, 
 of llial city, conducting the paper until Ueceniber. 
 1807, when he came to Des ftloiues, and continued 
 in the newspaper business for some time. 
 
 In the spring of 186;), he puichascd an interest 
 in the pioneer abstract business with Lewis J. 
 Brown, with whom he continued until 1871, when 
 he l)ecame a.ssociated in business with .lames B. 
 llartwell and H. A. Coffe, under the firm name of 
 Fuller, Hartwell & Coffe. A year later, in 1872, 
 he was one of the organizers of the Loan and Trust 
 Company, of which he was made Treasurer, and 
 filled that oHice until his election as President. In 
 that ollice he continued to serve until his death, 
 which occurred on the 12th of November, 1886. 
 
 In political sentiment, Mr. Fuller was a Repub- 
 lican, and in religious belief advocated the doctrine 
 of the Christian Church. He ever manifested the 
 deepest interest in church work, and did much for 
 the advancement of the cause, giving liljcrally to 
 its support, and in many other ways aiding in its 
 jirogress. He was one of the leading Elders and 
 workers in the church, and served as clerk for the 
 • long period of twenty years. He also served as 
 Treasurer of the State Missionary .Society for nine 
 
 years, and was one of the founders of Drake Uni- 
 versity, an institution of which ever}- citizen of 
 Des Moines is proud. He also took an active part 
 in temperance work, as a member of the Indepen- 
 dent Order of Good Templars, the Sons of Temper- 
 ance, and the Temperance Alliance. Charitable and 
 benevolent, he was ever read}' to extend a heliiiiig 
 hand to the poor and needy, and many have rea- 
 son to gratefully iememl)cr him for his kindness 
 and generosit\- in their time of need. His faults 
 were few, his virtues many, and his life was in iiar- 
 niony with his Christian professions. 
 
 ^^ APT. JAMES C. GREGG, East Des Moines. 
 
 [l( ^^ was born in Fleming County. Ky., on the 
 ^f^J 2ulii of October, 1817, and is of Scotch and 
 Irish descent. His parents were William and Mary 
 (Golilsbeary) (iregg, the former a native of ilary- 
 land. the iattej' of N'irginia. They were married in 
 the Old Dominion and shortlj' afterward emigrated 
 to Kentucky, being among the first settlers of Flem- 
 ing County. In 1822, they removed to Koss County, 
 Ohio, where Mr. Gregg purchased land and de- 
 veloped a faim. Seven years later thi'y became 
 residents (if Marysville, I'niou County, Ohio, which 
 at that tune contained but two houses. There the 
 death of both [larents occurred. Their family 
 numbered seven children, three sons and four 
 daughters — Edward who served in three different 
 wars in which our country has been engaged, mak- 
 ing in all a period of thirteen years, is now living 
 in Logan County, Ohio; Isabel died in Mitchell- 
 ville, Iowa; William is living in Indiana; .lames is 
 the next younger; Cynthia A. is the widow of 
 Benjamin Grubb who was killed in the Rebellion; 
 ,lanc is the widow of William Wells, who also die<l 
 in the army; Mary tiled in Champaign County, 
 Ohio. The father of this family served in the War 
 of 1812 under Gen. Harrison. He was reared in 
 the faith of the Society of Friends but six months 
 after his marriage, he was converted and became 
 a member of the Methodist Church. 
 
 Our subject was reared in Marysville, Ohio, and 
 I for six years resided in the family of Judge Strong. 
 
Ze^^Ce^^^ 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 C'J3 
 
 Whun he iiirived at man's estate, on the 7th of 
 >Septeml)nr, 183G, he was joined in wedlock with 
 Miss Anna E. Bear, who was left an orphan when 
 a mere cliild. In the following May they removed 
 to Carroll, Ky., where he engaged in farming until 
 1846. when he entered the First Kentucky Cavalry 
 for the Mexican War. With his regiment he jjar- 
 tieipated in the battle of Buena Vista and followed 
 the enemy sixty- five miles on forced march. He re- 
 turned to Kentucky in May, 1847, and subsequently 
 removed to Logan Countj', Ohio, where he engaged 
 in farming until April, 1851. The opportunities 
 of the West attracted him and with his family he 
 emigrated to Iowa, settling in Oskaloosa, where he 
 engaged in mercantile pursuits for five years. In 
 )85G, he took up his resilience in Saj'lorvillc, Polk 
 County, where lie remained until the breaking out 
 of the late war, when in 1861, he enlisted in Capt. 
 John Blilchcll's Company, serving until the follow- 
 ing autumn. He then returned home and raised a 
 com[)any which was mustered in as Company C, of 
 the Twenty-third Iowa Infantr3', with Mr. Gregg as 
 Captain. They were ordered to St. Louis, where 
 they did jirovostduty for a time, then parlicii)ated 
 in the engagement at Pilot Knob and also at Ar- 
 lington. On account of ill health, he was forced 
 to resign his [losilion in .lanuary, 1862, but after 
 somewhat Tegainiug his strength he again entered 
 the service as a private in the First Iowa Battery. 
 He participated in the battle of Reseca antl in all 
 the engagements before Atlanta, being under fiie 
 during that siege for one hundred and eight days. 
 After the capture of the city the battery was sent to 
 Nashville, where it remained until the close of the 
 war. 
 
 Capt. (iregg received his discliarge in Daven- 
 l)ort, Iowa, in .June, 1865. and at once returned to 
 his home in S;iylorville. In .September, 1867, he 
 came to Dcs Moines where he has since resided. Ills 
 altcniiou has been devoted to various Hues of busi- 
 ness l>iit lie is now practically living a retired life. 
 Ill politics, he alliliates with the Democratic party 
 and religiously is a member of the United Brcthicn 
 Chinch. For forty-seven years he was a Methodist 
 but in 1881! jcjiiied the former clmrcli. ami is now 
 serving as local preacher. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. (Jregg are |)arciits of eight chil- 
 
 dren — William who died of cholera in Burlington, 
 Iowa, at the age of nineteen years; Lawrence who 
 served as postmaster of the regiment, was killed 
 during tlie service at-Belmont, Mo.; Mary, wife of 
 Oliver Isbell of Brooklyn, N. Y. ; Alpheus served 
 in place of his lirother Lawrence and is now en- 
 gaged in the grain business. Belle is the wife of 
 .John Ilarley of Dcs Moines; Jennie is the deceased 
 wife of Hon. David Secore of Winneba|i:o County, 
 Iowa, who twice served in t,he Iowa Legislature; 
 John died of cholera in Oskaloosa, and Eliza is the 
 wife of David Kirk of Adair County. The mother 
 died of cholera in Oskaloosa in 1855, and Mr. 
 Gregg wedded Mrs. Polly Porter, daughter of 
 Hamilton and Prudence (Wait) Cree. By her first 
 husband, Watson Porter, who died of consumption 
 many years ago, she had three children, but only 
 one is now living — Nellie, wife of George Carson 
 of Des Moines. To Mr. and Mrs. Gregg have been 
 born one child, .loliii, who is still living in this city. 
 Mr. Gregg is a man of more than ordinary abil- 
 ity. Studious and possessing a retentive memory, 
 he keeps himself well posted on all [niblic affairs 
 and is a valued citizen of the community in which 
 he makes his home. He was also a loyal soldier 
 during the late war and the same lidelity displayed 
 to the cause of freedom m.'irks his every day inter- 
 course with his fellow-men. 
 
 " ON. THOMAS MITCHELL, who resides on 
 
 llj section 1, lieaver Township, has long been 
 
 I resident of Iowa. The history of Polk 
 
 ®) County would be incomplete without this 
 sketch, for he has not only been identified with the 
 growth and progress but has been connected with 
 the transformation .and advancement of the State 
 as well. None have done more for the interi'sts of 
 this comiimnily and, although we owe him a debt 
 of gratitude which can never be rejiaid, we can 
 ever hold him in grateful remeriibrance for what 
 he has done for the county, and perpetuate his 
 memory by written record so that those of future 
 generations will know of him as the founder of 
 many of the enter|)rises which do honor to the 
 
6'J-t 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Stale. Folly-six years has lie made bis borne in 
 Beaver Township, while his residence in Iowa 
 covers half a ccnlury. On Ihe 8th of March, iSlO, 
 he lirst set foot on Iowa soil and on the Uth of 
 Aitril, 1844, reached what is now Polk County, 
 l)assinii on his way by Keokuk, which then eon- 
 UuDcil hut two houses. The beautiful little city of 
 Oskaloosa was unmarked by a single building, and 
 Ihe foot of* the wliite man bad never trod u|)on 
 acre nfler acre of what is now comprised within 
 the fertile farms in this State. 
 
 Tlie honored citizen of whom we write, and who 
 is known lhroui;hout all the country round as 
 '•Uncle Tom," was born in Claremont, Sullivan 
 County, N. II., March 3, 181(1, and is a son of 
 William and Uolly (Mitchell) Mitchell. His 
 mother's maiden name was Blake, and she first 
 became the wife of Thomas Mitchell, who though 
 of the same name was no relation to her .second 
 husband. AVilliain Mitchell had also been pre- 
 viously married, his Ijisl wife being Louisa Ather- 
 toii, by whom he bad eleven children, all now 
 deceased. Mrs. Mitchell and her first husband had 
 four children who have also [lassed away, but there 
 are three children living born of the union of 
 William and Dolly Mitchell. Our subject is the 
 oldest of that number; Henry B. is a resident of 
 t'airlield, Iowa, ami with him resides the only 
 sister, Mary A. The father of this family made 
 farming his life occupation, and died in Clare- 
 mont, N. IL, in October 1832, at the age of sixti"- 
 four years. His wife passed to her final rest in 
 the same place. He was a Whig in politics and 
 a strong advocate of abolition principles although 
 he did not live to see the day when slavery was 
 banished from this land. He lived a (juiet and 
 una,-isumii)g life, but was reganled as one of the 
 leading citizens of Sullivan County, and died in 
 the faith of the Episcopal Church, of which ho was 
 long a member. 
 
 Upon the old home farm Thomas Mitchell s[)ent 
 the days of his boyhood and youth, receiving such 
 educational advantages as the common schools of 
 that day afforded. He was but sixteen years of 
 age when the death of his father occurred. Thus 
 thrown upon his own resources, with no home and 
 without capital with which he might prepare him- 
 
 self for life's battle, he was cast forth to the mer- 
 cies of a cold and cruel world. He at once sought 
 and obtained employment as a farm hand, and for 
 his services received «ll per mouth the first year 
 and four months schooling. The second j'ear his 
 wages were increased to ^14 per month, a part of 
 which he laid by. However this was 011I3' a short 
 time previous to the financial panic of 1837 and 
 money was hard to get. In 183G, he engaged 
 work in a paper mill in Claremont, N. II., where 
 it was soon found that he was a faithful and hon- 
 est employe, and his wages were increased to ^4 
 per week. In 1837, he went to Springfield, Vt., 
 where he worked in the same line for about a year, 
 receiving *4 per week aud eight cents per hour for 
 every extra hour worked. Although twelve hours 
 then constituted the working day, he managed to 
 put in extra time and increase his wages to ¥5 per 
 week. In 183i"< he started ujion the road, selling 
 botiks and paper for the Springfield Paper Com- 
 [)any, and also folU)wed that business for a year. 
 With the hope o( bettering his financial condition, 
 he at length determined to come West, and on the 
 2nd of November, 1830, after bidding good-by to 
 his old home, he started for the Mississippi valley, 
 reaching St. Louis just one month later. lie spent 
 the remainder of that winter in St. Charles County, 
 Mo., working as a farm hand at ^■l;) per mc>uth, 
 and on the Gth of !Maich, 1840, resumed liis 
 journey, reaching Keosauqua after two days travel. 
 The succeeding summer he worked at an}' eniploy- 
 meiil whereliy he might earn au honest doll.ir, con- 
 sidering no service too humble wliich would provide 
 him his tlaily bread. About the same time he also 
 entered a claim in Jefferson County, upon which 
 his brother now lives, who after casting his vote 
 for William Henry Harrison, in New Ham|ishire, 
 started for Jefferson County, Iowa, where he has 
 since made his home, an honored and resiiected 
 citizen of that community. 
 
 Having residetl in Jefferson County until 1811, 
 Thom:is Mitchell came to Polk Countj-, and on 
 Cam I) Creek erected three log cabins, each 18x20 
 feet, which were open for the entertainment of all 
 emigrants. He obtained permi.<sion to carry out 
 that plan from Capt. Allen, who then had charge 
 of the garrison iu Ft. Des Moines. These were 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 G9-) 
 
 the only liouses, outside of the fort, tlifii in Polk 
 Coimly, unit ont' of the trio is yet standinj;. a i)is- 
 toric moiiunienl of pioneer thiys. After keeping 
 tavern for two years, in 18JG, he removeil to what 
 was called Api'le (Jrove, where lie entered one 
 thousand and eighty acres of land, the patents 
 iH-'iiig signed by Presidents Pierce and Killniore,aiKl 
 later liy President Polk for whom the toiinty was 
 named. At tlie lime the land all belonged to the 
 Government and in oousequeiice was entirely iin- 
 improve<l. Mr. Mitchell, however, developed a 
 line faiiii in what is now Heaver Township, and 
 altogether entere(1 and improved more than a 
 thonsand acres in this county, lie has done more 
 than any other man for the interests of the countj- 
 in that line and, although others aided in laying 
 the foundation for the jneseiit Prosperity, he was 
 the |)rincipal builder and to him great honor is due. 
 At the time when the soldiers left Des Moines, in 
 l.S4r>, he was personally acquainted with every 
 white man in the county. lie was also present 
 when the treaty was formed with the Indians, pro- 
 viding that they should give up. their homes here 
 and journey further westward. At that time there 
 was from one to two thousand red men in the 
 neighborhood, and the Indian wigwams marked 
 the site where now stands many a beautiful farm 
 residence. There was an Indian village just west 
 of Colfax, on the Skunk River, where lived Powe- 
 shiek, the chief of the Fox tribe, with whom Mr. 
 Mitchell was well acquainted. In fact the most fra- 
 ternal relalit)ns existed between him and the red men 
 and for a time they farmed upon his land. Kair- 
 lield, Iowa, was then considered the western limit 
 of the territory, and the site of that city was com- 
 prised within the tract of land which Mr. Mitchell 
 entered. In 1840, no white man had made a loca- 
 tion more than seven miles west of Fairfiehl, and 
 in 1845. when Gen. A. C. Dodge, who was then a 
 delegate to Congress from the territory, visited 
 Polk Count)' to ascertain the views of the peo- 
 ple in regard to making Iowa a State, in con- 
 versation with Mr. Mitchell, he said that in all 
 proIial)ility the western boundary line woidd be 
 but a few miles west of the fort, and said tli.at the 
 land beyond was a part of the American Desert. 
 Mr. Mitchell, however, insisted on includinsj all 
 
 lauds between[^ the two' livers, and on the 1st of 
 .lannary, 184(;, when the State was admitted, the 
 boundary was lixcd as he had said. Little did the 
 most far-sighteil or imaginative person even dream 
 that the unimportant little fort would one day be 
 transformed into the capital city of the State, with 
 a po|inlation t)f sixty thousand peo|)le, or that it 
 would become one of the leading comnieicial cen- 
 ters beyond the Mississippi. 
 
 Not unaided was Mr. Mitchell in all the arduous 
 labors of pioneer life. In August, 1841, in Thed- 
 ford, A't., he was united in marriage with Miss 
 Klniiia Swih, who [iroved a true helpmate to him. 
 She was a native of Thedford, and a daughter of 
 lienjamin Swift. With great willingness and for- 
 titude she bore the trials and dillicultiesof fnmtier 
 life. For three months after she came to the 
 county she did not see a white woman, with the 
 exception of the girl who accompanied her. Her 
 life ended in June, ISGO, when she was called to 
 her reward, leaving a husband and four children to 
 mourn her loss: Urrin, the eldest, who enlisted as 
 a member of the Eighth Iowa Cavalry during the 
 late war, died in Waverly, Tenn., from exposure 
 while in the service, and his remains were brought 
 back and interrcl in the cemetery at M itchellville; 
 Mary A., who was born in January, 1844. in Jef- 
 ferson County, is the wife of M. R. Iloxie, now of 
 Taylor, Tex.; Charles M. was born in Polk 
 County, in 1850, married Miss Lizzie De Long, 
 and is living in Taylor, Tex. ; Walter A. died in 
 Texas, in 1881, at the age of twenty-two years, 
 and was laid to rest in the cemcterj- in Mitchell- 
 ville. There was one other child of the fanjily, 
 Allie, the fourth in order of birth, who <lied in 
 infancy, prior to the death of the mother. In .June, 
 18G1, Mr. Mitchell was again married, his second 
 union being with Miss Ann C. Mattern, a native 
 of Pennsylvania, and a daughter of David U. and 
 Barbara Mattern, both of whom were natives of 
 Pennsylvania. A short history of her parents is 
 given in the sketch of Jeremiah Swift, on another 
 page of this work. To Mr. ami Mrs. Mit<-hell 
 have been born four children, three of whom are 
 yet living: Allie died at the age of eight months: 
 Henry II., Maude and John are still with their 
 jwrcnts. 
 
696 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Mr. Mitchell has resided upon his present farm 
 on sec-tion 1, Beaver Towusliip, since April. 1857, 
 and in connection with tlic cultivation of his land 
 devotes considerable attention to stock raising. 
 He may truly be called one of the self-made men 
 of the county. We liave seen, how at an early age 
 he was thrown upon his own resources without 
 capital, yet undaunted he has steadily worked his 
 waj' upwaid, overcoming all disadvantages, sur- 
 mounting all obsta(tIes until he has now gained a 
 position of wealth and atiluencc. But it is not to 
 his own interests that a greater part of his labors 
 have been devoted. He has served in public life 
 as an honored and faithful representative of the 
 people. He first advocated the principles of the 
 Whig party, and later was one of the first to 
 espou.se the cause of the Republi'-an [iart\-. of 
 which he has since been one of the leading and in- 
 fluential members, of Iowa. The first oiiicial po- 
 sition which lie was called upon to fill was that of 
 Sheriff of the county, to which he was elected in 
 April, 18U), and he made the first arrest, the 
 culprit being James Hart, a fugitive from justice. 
 He held that office two }'ears to the entire satisfac- 
 tion of all concerned. In 1857, lie was elected a 
 member of the General Assembly for a term of two 
 years, and in 1860, was elected County Comiuis- 
 sionei', serving six years. He also held the same 
 ollice in Jefferson Count}-, but resigned, in 18-12, 
 on his lemoval to this county. In 1873, he was 
 again called from private life and honored with the 
 oflice of State Senator which he held two terms. 
 He proved a wise legislator, laboring for the inter- 
 ests of the people in general, and was recognized 
 as a leading member in both sessions. Such was 
 his official record, but the true character of the 
 man is manifested in those acts of kindness, of 
 charity, benevolence and love, which, although 
 performed in a quiet and unostentatious manner, 
 have won him friends without number and the 
 lasting gratitude of those who have benefited l)y 
 his generosit}'. Ueniend)cring his own youth, he 
 has made it a special object of his life to aid in 
 every possible way, all young men wiio are simi- 
 larly situated. The poor and needy h-ive found 
 in him a true friend, yet his bounty lias been so 
 bestowed lh;it it did not lessen their self resnect. 
 
 while it won their love. Another outcome of his 
 noble life is the Iowa Industrial School for girls, 
 one of the greatest reformator}' institutions of the 
 State. In June, 1867, he founded the i)leasant 
 village of Mitchellville, which was named in his 
 honor. He resolved to make it a place in which 
 parents could bring up their children, uiisur- 
 rounded by the evil influences of intemperance, 
 and has steadily' refused to sell lots to any one 
 wishing to engage in the liquor business. No 
 saloon has ever been opened in the place. Churches 
 and schools have also been greatly benefited b}' liis 
 aid, and both he and his wife have long lieen 
 members of the Universalist Church. Thus we 
 close the sketch of Hon. Thomas Mitchell, the 
 prominent citizen, the enteri)rising farmer, the 
 honored [)ioneer and the benefactor of man}'. 
 
 -« -H>+-(5^q[:^>j{:-HH..*». 
 
 "^j? BUAHAM BLY, deceased, was born in Mer- 
 0/Li\ \ cer County, Ky., October 31, 1810, and 
 was a son of John BIy, who was a son of 
 ^ David, the founder of the family in Amer- 
 
 ica, and who according to tradition, was of English 
 birth. John Bl3''s settlement in Kentucky was con- 
 temporaneous with Daniel liooue. He niariied 
 Charily Adams, who bore him ten children, viz: 
 David, Martin. Susan, Henrietta, Abraham, John, 
 Nancy, Millie, William, and Bryant, lie (.lohn) 
 died in Montgomery County, Ind.. at the age of 
 sixty jears. Charity, his wife, departed tiiis life at 
 the age of seventy-five years. Both were members 
 of the Methodist Church. 
 
 The subject of this skctcii was united in mar- 
 riage with Mary A., daugliter of Isaac aiul Mary 
 (Hughes) Carman, by birth Kentuckians. Isaac's 
 father was among the first to settle in the wilds of 
 Kentucky. He w.as murdered by Indians. Isaac Car- 
 man and family removed to Montgomery Count}', 
 Ind., in 1833, where he died in 18i0. He and his 
 wife were Baptists in religious belief. To them 
 were born the following named children: Joseph. 
 Waller, Benjamin. Rebecca. Hughes. Mary, Kliza- 
 beth. Isaac, Barbary, and William. 
 
 Abraham Bly was reared on a farm in his native 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 697 
 
 county, ,•111(1 ill the primitive schools of a sparsely 
 settled, Mild undeveloped country, he olitained the 
 rudiments of his education. When seventeen years 
 of age, he, with his [larents, emigrated to Moiit- 
 gomer}' County, Ind., which locality at that time 
 was thinly settled and uiiini|iioved. Confronted 
 with the task of clearing and improving a farm in 
 a wooded country, young Aliraham's he.ilth and 
 strength made him an important acquisition to the 
 working force of Ihe family, and inculcated in him 
 lialiits of industry and perseverance that became 
 strong characteristics of the man in his after life. 
 riis marriage with Mary A. Carman, was the incen- 
 tive for greater efforts on the part of lioth, and to- 
 gether the3' nobl}' set to work carving out a home 
 and fortune. Purchasing one liundred acres of 
 heavy timbered land, near Ladoga, Montgomery 
 County, Ind., he erected a house, and began to 
 clear and imiirove his farm. 
 
 In this work he was ably assisted liy his devoted 
 wife, who, to him, ever proved a faithful and help- 
 ful companion. On this place, the scene of their 
 early toil and jirivation. they passed man}' liap[iy 
 years in the enjoyment of the fruits of their labor, 
 and in the companionship of tlieir children. The 
 death of Mrs. Bly occurred .Lanuary 28, 1804, at 
 the age of fifty years. She was an exemi)larj mem- 
 ber of the Methodist Episcojial Church, and a con- 
 sistent Christian woman, who imparted her share 
 of the religious zeal that characterizes the lives of 
 her children, of whom there are twelve. At this 
 writing (1890), onl}' six are living, to whom brief 
 mention is accorded: James T., the eldest son, mar- 
 ried Margaret Staten. He entered the ministry of 
 the Christian Church, without especial preparation, 
 and l)ecame eminently successful. He possessed 
 talent as an evangelist, and diiriiig his ministerial 
 career was instrumental in the conversion of many. 
 Cogent in utterance, logical in reasoning, and pos- 
 sessing the courage of his convictions, he stood 
 fortii an able representative of that class of preach- 
 ers, who, without theological training, have dis- 
 tinguished themselves for earnestness and power. 
 At present he resides in the State of Washington. 
 Rebecca married Milton Harrison, and resides in 
 Sac County, Iowa; Nancy married Camjibell Clark, 
 and resides in I);illas C(jiuity, Iowa; Mary A. mar- 
 
 ried A. P. Kindred, and resides in Bloomfield Town- 
 sliip; John W., the second son and third child, has 
 been twice married. Mary Miller, his first wife, is 
 deceased. His second marriage was celebrated with 
 Lydia Miller. Ho resides at Adel, Iowa, where he 
 is engaged in business. He was elected to tiie 
 shrievalty of Dallas County, and proved himself 
 an efficient jniblio officer, and is prominent in local 
 affairs. 
 
 Ilattie S., the youngest of the living members of 
 this family was educated in the Des Moines Col 
 lege. Slie chose teaching as an occupation and has 
 successfully taught in the schools of Polk and 
 Dallas Counties. 
 
 J. Martin was the sixth child and third sou, 
 and was united in marriage with Annie Peacock. 
 When scared}- nineteen years old he enlisted in 
 the service of his country and received an honora- 
 ble discharge. After his return he entered De Pauw 
 University, from which he graduated and w.as-im- 
 mediatelj' afterwards ordained for the ministry, his 
 first charge being in Des Moines. Aided liy active 
 and elficiont workers, he built Centenary Church, 
 which remains a monument to his zeal and enthu- 
 siasm. He was appointed to Webster City, where 
 he remained one 3ear, and then in response to a 
 lengthy petition from Sioux City, he w.as assigned 
 to that charge, where he was eminenth' successful, 
 but soon afterward dieil from injuiies received in a 
 railroad disaster, at the earl}' age of twenty-seven. 
 No one who ever became .acquainted with Mr. Bly, 
 could help loving him. He had a tenderness of 
 heart, a gentleness of manner, and a genial, confid- 
 ing spirit, which melted down all coldness and dis- 
 tance in all who came truly to know him, and there 
 was nothing left for them to do but love him for 
 his goodness, and few iiass from this life leaving 
 so many to mourn their loss, and to love, admire 
 and reverence their memory. Not only in Iowa, 
 but elsewhere, where his eloquence and writings 
 had won him fame, his loss was most keenly felt. 
 Those who knew his worth anticipated that he 
 would rise to eminence among his brethren, even 
 to the bishopric, the highest position within the 
 gift of the church. He had a wonderful personal 
 magnetism that attracted people to him, and ho 
 was as iiiucli beloved by people of other denoiiiiu- 
 
698 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 ations as by his own. and his influen<;c was great, 
 paitifulaily with young people. Boys loveil, not 
 feared liini, fur in liira tliey found a friend. His 
 eloqueneo was such that he could sway the niulti- 
 lude at will, api)caling to the mind and li'^art, touch- 
 ing the syniijalhies and always ins|)iring to nobler 
 deeds and aims. Scholarly and profonnd, his ser- 
 mons furnished iileas for after relloction, and no 
 one lislenod to iiini but felt the better for it. Asa 
 .student lie was diligent, systematic and thorough; 
 as a gentleman, lie was urbane in deportment, cour- 
 teous in ex|)ression and steadfast in friendship; .as 
 a Christian he w.as truly pious, and as a minister of 
 of the Gospel, conscientious, eloquent and success- 
 ful. His wife was a most congeni.al companion in 
 every respect anil a highly cultured and accom- 
 plished lady. ]!otli Mr. and Mrs. IMy were thor- 
 ough scholars in the Latin, Greek, French, and Ger- 
 man languages, both had literary aspirations, being 
 regular contril)utors to leading Eastern journals, 
 and their poems and newspaper articlesevince great 
 literary merit. Both were good vocalists, and Mrs. 
 BIy still ranks among the leading organists in the 
 countrj'. They were famous for their devotion 
 aud [lerfect sympath}- with each other's aims, and it 
 is not strange that two such talented individuals 
 should be blessed with a daughter who combines 
 all the noblest qualities of each parent.- Left an 
 infant at her f.ather's decease, Birdie BIy has been 
 given by her mother every adv.intage of travel and 
 education, and though but 3^et in her teens, is a 
 young lady of rare talent and .accomplishment. 
 As a ])ianist and violinist her fame is known on 
 two continents, and in the musical world she is an 
 acknowleilgcil star of the first magnitude. Her 
 maternal ancestry traces back through several cen- 
 turies. They arc of good birth and descended 
 from some of the best and most aristocratic famil- 
 ies of the English nobility. Birdie h.as a pale face 
 of aliiiostr idyllic purity, and soft, silky blonde hair. 
 Reporters at her concerts have styled her the 
 •■American St. Cecelia," and painters say it is a 
 " ISLadonna face." She is an artist of rare ability 
 and stands second to none in her art. One can 
 scarcely believe it possible that a slight, girlish 
 form can contain the fire and passion of genius. 
 SJK' iippi'ared in concert in Chicago when but li\e 
 
 years of age, and at eleven made her cMjut in Paris 
 and London at orchestral concerts. She pl.ayed 
 from memory, concertos, sonatos, and other compo- 
 sitions by the world's most renowned authors, and 
 even at that early age could pl.ay the whole clavi- 
 chord without notes and transiwse to every key. 
 She has studied under the direction of ablest com- 
 posers at Paris, London and German}'. She h.a.s 
 been the recipient of attention from the most dis- 
 tinguished people c>f the old world, and even roy- 
 ally deigned to listen to the sweet-faced little 
 maiden. Birdie is fond of painting, and at Gros- 
 venor gallery where she studied, was said to pos- 
 sess marked talent and was advised to devote 
 herself to it. Several of her paintings have been 
 exhiliiled and sold at remarkable prices. The last 
 three 3ears Miss l>ly has spent in New York, where 
 she took part in upwards of two hundred concerts, 
 inusicales, etc. Her rei)ertoire is marvelous for 
 one of her .age, including piano concertos of Clio[)in, 
 Liszt, Beethoven, Weber, Ilubenstein, Hanselt, 
 Schubert, Schum.ann, Mozart, Mendelsohn, Scar- 
 latti, .loseffy, IS'eupert, Bach. etc. 
 
 Following are the names of the nmaining de- 
 ceased children of Abraham and Mary (Carman) 
 BIy: Benjamin, .aged seven 3'ears; Isaac, aged eight- 
 een years; David, .aged eighteen years; Prances, 
 aged twelve years; Harvey W. died in infancy. 
 
 In 1X64. subsequent to the death of his wife, 
 Mr. Bl}- removed to Warren County, Iowa, where 
 he resided until 18G6, at which time he located on 
 forty .acres of land in Bloomfield Township that he 
 had previously purchased, and which became his 
 permanent home. In 1869 he consummated a sec- 
 ond marri.age, uniting with Elizabeth, widow of 
 Panics Hancock, and daughter of John and Cath- 
 erine Spr}-, who settled in Iowa in 1853. Their 
 union resulted in the birth of one child — IIerl>ert, 
 who died at the .age of four years. Mr. BIy was a 
 man of strong character, of high moral courage and 
 great firffincss of i)uri)ose. His nniiuestionable in- 
 tegrity and rugged honesty commanded the respect 
 and esteem of all with whom he came in contact. 
 He was conservative in words and manners, and 
 while quick to conceive, he proceeded with mode- 
 ration, if not hesitancy, in the execution of his 
 plans. Possessing a domestic natnie, his relations 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 699 
 
 with his faniil}- were of the most affectionate kind, 
 and no man more thoroughly liad the hearts of his 
 faniil}- than Mr. Bly. He was temi)erate in all 
 things, and l)\' deed and exanii)Ifc he left the record 
 of a life everyway worthy of imitation, as no act 
 of hi.s life rollects the least discredit upon iiis or his 
 family's honor. 
 
 His charity extended to all people, and his 
 generosity knew no hounds. ITpon questions in- 
 volving honest difference of opinions he invariably 
 respected the views of an opponent, but as between 
 right and wrong he was never known to compro- 
 mise. From his means he gave liberally to the 
 support of the church, and although for nearly 
 sixty years a member of the Mclliodist Episcopal 
 persuasion, he charitabi}' aided all denominations, 
 and to all Christian people of whatever sect, he en- 
 tertained a feeling of brotherly love and interest, 
 lie read extensively on religious toi)ics, and was 
 well informeil on leading issues, taking an active 
 interest in whatever tended to promote the growth 
 and welfare of the public good. 
 
 To his Bible he was devotedly attached, and 
 ills daily reading of that l)Ook i)rovcd his greatest 
 source of consolation. For several years previous 
 to his death his perusal of the sacred volume was 
 almost incessant. Kight times, in four years, he 
 read it from Genesis to Revelations, and while on 
 the ninth time, ac the seventh chapter of Second 
 Chronicles, he was stricken with his Last sickness, 
 and on Ih:^ 17lh of Feliruary, 188G, lie peacofull}- 
 passed nwa^', fully relying upon the promises of tlic 
 Savior, that the jusl shall inherit eternal life. 
 
 
 \f/_^ ARVEY OSCAR BREEDFN, A. M., pastor 
 jj) of the Central Church of Christ, of Des 
 ^Jy iMoines, was born in Mason County, III., 
 j^ April 18, 1857. His ancestors were among 
 the early and substantial settlers of Virginia. Fam- 
 ily tradition s.ays that two brothers of the name of 
 Breeden emigrated from England to this country 
 and that the one from which this branch of the 
 family sprang settled in the Old Dominion. One of 
 
 Lis descendants emigrated to Kentucky and Mr. 
 Breeden 's paternal grandfather, Lewis Breeden, was 
 a Kentucky planter, who afterward made a home 
 in Pike County, 111., in Lhe pioneer days. 
 
 In that county, Dr. John H. Breeden, the father 
 of our subjecc, grew to manhood. By private study 
 and a course of training in Rush IMedieal College, 
 of Chicago, he equipped himself for the practice of 
 medicine, which he has made his life work. Ere 
 he left Pike County, 111., he wedded ftliss Sarah 
 Stoner, a native of Ohio, of German descent, be- 
 longing to one of the prominent families of that 
 countj% The Doctor and his wife have been life 
 long members of the Christian Church, and for 
 ma*iy years he has gratitiujusly performed the 
 labors of the ministry. His family numliered three 
 children, Miss DoUic now in college; Lewis C, editor 
 of the Lewiston«(Ill.) News; and II. O., the well- 
 known pastor of the Central Church, of Dcs Moines. 
 The Doctor took great pains to educate his children, 
 thereby fitting them for the practical duties of life. 
 
 II. O. Breeden, after attending the common 
 schools until fifteen years of age, entered Abingdon 
 College of Abingdon, III., Ihcn one of the first 
 schools in point of merit of the brotherhood. Hav- 
 ing s[)ent two years at college, he was then engaged 
 in general merchandising with his father in .Sum- 
 mum, 111. .about a year and a half,l)ut the walls of the 
 store-room were too narrow for his aspiring mind, 
 hence we find him enrolled as a student of Eureka 
 College, from which he was graduated in 1878, 
 with the degree of A. 15. Throe years later he deliv- 
 ered a master's oration and received the degree of 
 A.M. At the .age of fifteen years, he confessed his 
 faith in Christ and took his stand with the people 
 of tiie Christian Church. At the time of his grad- 
 uation he had not selected a profession but had 
 given some consideration to the question of making 
 teaching his life work. Circumstances, however 
 Ipd him to choose otherwise. On New Year's Da^' 
 1877 he delivered a religious address to the people 
 of his home church which was greatly appreciated. 
 While at college a 3'oung minister invited Mr. 
 Breeden to go out and fill his aiipointmcnt, which 
 he did. Having made unsuccessful efforts to se- 
 cure a suitable position as instructor, he w.as asked 
 l)y a college friend to [lay him a visit and inci- 
 
700 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 (lently to preach for the church at Talliila, 111., then 
 without a pastor. On arriving who should he there 
 find but his oM professor. Dr. J. M. Allen. It was 
 arranged that the Doctor sliould preach in the 
 morning and Mr. IJreeden in the evening. So ac- 
 ceptalile was the light he shed even after the ser- 
 mon of the learned Doctor, that he was urgently 
 requested to accept the pastorate of that Church, 
 which he did after due consideration and with many 
 misgivings. His ministry began on tlie 1st of Scp- 
 temlier, 1878, at a .stated salary of ^700 per year. 
 The youthful pastor's trepidation can well be im- 
 agined, for that pulpit had been fillcil by the ablest 
 preachers of the brotherhood, sucii a.'; I'resident 
 R. H. Johnson, D. R. Lucas of Indianapolis, W. D. 
 Owen member of Congress, and others; the terms 
 of the contract rerpiired him to preach two sermons 
 each .Sund.ay. whereas he had but two in the ••barrel", 
 one of which he had delivered on the occasion 
 •above mentioned. P.ut the w'ork prospered, the 
 church grew in nundjers and influence, missions 
 were established, and in the three and a half j'cars 
 he lal)ored in Tallula, the church took a iilace in the 
 first rank of tlie congregations of the State. 
 
 On the 21st of Octolter, 1879, Mr. Breedcn was 
 joined in wedlock with Miss Florence K. Myers, a 
 native of Euieka, 111., born Febuary M, 1857. This 
 union has been happy in the extreme, blessed as it 
 is with the Ijirlh of a son. Bernard M., who first 
 oi)ened his ej^es to the light of daj- January 30, 1 88-2. 
 
 In the month of March of the same year, Mr. 
 Brccden accepted the call from the Central Church 
 of Christ, Terre Haute, Ind., as successor to George 
 W. Sweeney, where he labored faithfully four 
 }-ears, a period cherished alike by p.astorand people. 
 His meetings were atten('cd by large audiences and 
 with splendid results, one of the fruits of his labor 
 being a large and flourishing mission in the south- 
 eastern part of the cit}'. Endeared to the Church 
 in Terre Haute, it was with great reluctance ihat 
 the}- pcrmitteil iiim to leave for a larger field of 
 usefulness. Aside from his p.astoral work, he gave 
 some time to literary studies, delivering lectures on 
 historic and literary topics before the Terre Haute 
 Literarj- Club, which was composed of such eminent 
 men as Charles O. Thompson, I'resident of the Rose 
 Polytechnic School, .Indgc William Mack., Col. U. 
 
 W. Thompson, the '•silver-tongued orator of the 
 Wabash" and others. In December, 188.5, he took 
 charge of the Central Church of Christ in Des 
 Moines, which had also been blessed with talented 
 pieachers such as A. I. Hobbs, Prof. B. J. Badford 
 and others scarcely less eminent. 
 
 .Soon Jlr. Breeden will have served this people 
 live years. When he began his Labors, the Disci- 
 ples h.ad but the one Church on the west siile with 
 scarcely three hundred and fifty members, and from 
 the Central has branched University Cha|)el, with 
 a membership of about live hundred anil fifty, while 
 the main church has still a membership of six hun- 
 dred. The old church house having become too 
 small for the large congregations, they have now in 
 [irocess of erection on Ninth and Pleasant streets, 
 the finest church edifice in the city. The financial, 
 as well as the numerical strength of the church ha.s 
 raarvelonsly increased; since 1885, a heav}- debt has 
 been lifted and funds raised for the new edifice, 
 which with the lot on which it stands is valued at 
 $80,000. The success of the church in this line is 
 due in no small degree to the fact that the ollicial 
 board consisted of some of the most competent 
 business men of the city. During the ministry of 
 Mr. Brccden in Des Moines, he had the satisf.action 
 of seeing neailj* eight hundred .souls come to Christ. 
 His strength as a minister lies chiefly in two facts, 
 his abilily to present the gospel in its simplicity 
 and attractiveness, and his tact in organizing ef- 
 forts, inducing e.ich to ilo his p.art. He is possessed 
 of characteristics that m.ake him beloved in what^ 
 ever community he is called to labor. Socially, he 
 has a warm grasp of the hand, a cheerful greeting 
 for all, and in the pulpit, his thought is clear and 
 logical, his manner dignified and earnest. All his 
 sermons are interwoven with the divine thread of 
 love. In truth, he makes love the pivotal center 
 around wlii(th sliould revolve all the affairs of 
 social, church and home life. 
 
 c<.^o~ 
 
 /^ OL. WHITING S. CLARK, a lawyer of Des 
 [|(^_^ Moines, w.as born in the town'of Sangerville, 
 ^^Jv Piscataquis County, Me., November 28, 
 1837. and belongs to a branch of the Clark family 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 701 
 
 tlmt was foiinded in America in 1640, by Hugh 
 Clark, who left Ills Englisli lionic and became a 
 resident of Watertown. Mass. Hepreseutatives of 
 tiie family were also numbered among the earl}' 
 settlers of Maine. Tiie graiulfathcr of our subject 
 was born in York County, that State, where was 
 also tiie birtliplace of William (.!. Clark, fatlier of 
 the Colonel. The father was reared to manhood in 
 York County and in that community married Miss 
 Elizabeth W. Stevens- daughter of Dr. 'Wluting 
 Stevens, for more than forty years a distinguished 
 physician in Y'ork County, Me. He followed the 
 profession of law in .Sangerville, an<l was one of the 
 inlluential and representative citizens of the coui- 
 miinitv in whicii he made his home. He served for 
 a c'(Misiderable lime as Secretary of the Senate of the 
 Slate of ^Maine and filled other important public 
 oUices. His death occurred in i8.'J7, but his wife sur- 
 vived until October. 18f^4, d3ing in Algona, Iowa, 
 where several of her children are now living. The 
 family numbered nine sons and two daughters, of 
 whuni Whiting S., is the eldest. Col. Charles A. ,a 
 resident of Cedar Rapids and a distinguished Dem- 
 ocrat and lawyer, was the first man to i-espond to the 
 country's call for troops in Piscataquis County, Me. 
 lie entered the service as a non-commissioned of- 
 licL>r in the .Sixth ]\Iaine Regiment, afterward was 
 niaile Second Lieutenant, then promoted to be First 
 Lieutenant, and Adjutant, and in 1864 was Captain 
 and Assistant Adjutant General on the staff of 
 Brig.t Ion. Hiram Burnham ; Frank .'\.,who has been 
 clerk in the Second Auditor's ottice since 1879 and 
 makes his home in Webster City, Iowa, was a mem- 
 ber and First Lieutenant of the First Maine Heavy 
 Artiller}', ajid was wounded at Hatcher's Run in the 
 fall of 1864; George Vl. is a lawyer in Algona, 
 Iowa, and for more than ten j-ears past the attornej' 
 for the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad 
 Company; Mary, the only surviving daughter, re- 
 sides in Algona; Eugene H. is an attorney of the 
 same citj'; William G., the youngest of the fam- 
 ily, is also a lawyer by profession and resides 
 in Kansas City; James W., who is deceased, was 
 also one of the boys in blue; he first served as a 
 member of the Second New Hampshire Infantry, 
 which regiment was attached to the conrmand of 
 Gen. .lo. Hooker's fighting brigade. He continued 
 
 in that command until after the second battle of 
 Bull Run, when he was made First Lieutenant, and 
 later Adjutant of the First Maine Heavy Artillery. 
 He was fatally wounded in the assault on Peters- 
 burg, June 18, 1864, and died on the .3()th of July, 
 following. Alonzo, a twin brother of Frank, died 
 at the age of fourteen years; Abbie, a twin sister of 
 George, and Edgar I)oth died in childhood. As 
 will have been seen four of the Clark brothers were 
 soldiers in the Civil War. All were wounded and 
 one fatally so. They made a record of which they 
 may well be proud. 
 
 Whiting S. Clark passed his early life in his na- 
 tive Stjate. He pursued a preparatory course in 
 Foxcroft and Bloomfield Academies and in 1862 
 was graduated from Colby Fniversity, W.aterville, 
 Me. He paid his own way through college by 
 teaching school winters, and the perseverance and 
 determined energy which characterized his early 
 life have been marked features in his business ca- 
 reer. When he completed his studies, the war of 
 tlio Rebellion had been in progress for more than a 
 year, and yielding to his patriotic impulses Mr. 
 Clark determined to enter the army. He raised a 
 company which was organized as Company E, of 
 the First Maine Heavy Artillery, and was commis- 
 sioned its Captain. "For gallant conduct in the battle 
 of Spottsyl vania" he was brevetted Major ; "for mer- 
 itorious conduct in the battles of North Anna and 
 Cold Harbor" he was brevetted Lieutenant Colonel, 
 and his undaunted course and able efforts before 
 Petersburg won the recognition of the war ollicials 
 who brevetted him lo the rank of Colonel "for 
 gallant conduct in the action before Petersburg 
 from June 1.") to June 18, 1861, and particularly in 
 the action of the 18th." He participated in some of 
 the most hotly contested battles of the war. At 
 Spottsylvania, on the 19th of M.ay, 1864, his com- 
 mand lost seventy-one men of the one hundred and 
 forty that went forth to bSttle, and in the assault 
 on Petersburg, which continued from t'le loth to 
 the 18th of June, the regiment lost six hundred and 
 thirty of tiie nine hundred gallant foldiers that re- 
 sponded Lo the roll-call before the battle. Their loss 
 wasgreater than that suffered by any other regiment 
 in a single battle, and diiriiiij the entire service the 
 number of killed and wounded in the First Artill- 
 
702 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 cry was a greater per cent, tban that in any otlier 
 regiment. Col. Clark continued in the service until 
 November 26, 1.S64, wlien he was lionorably dis- 
 charged for disability, resulting from wounds re- 
 ceived at Petcrsbug, and returned to his home. He 
 h.id received in the assault on Petersburg, June 18, 
 18G4, severe gun-shot wounds through the left arm 
 and side and still carries tiie rebel lead in his left 
 arm pit. 
 
 Mr. Clark began the study of law at Bangor, 
 Me., sliortly after his return from the war, and was 
 admitted to the bar in the spring of 18G6. He then 
 entered upon the practice of his profession, stead- 
 il}' working bis way ui)ward to .i position of juom- 
 iueuce among his professional brethren. For five 
 3'ears he served as Judge of the Municipal Court, 
 and was Assistant Secretary of the Legislature of 
 Maine during the year 18G(J. He began practice 
 in DesMoines,in Sei)teniber, 1880, and bis career in 
 this cit3' has been alike lionorablc. He has received 
 a liberal patronage from llic beginning and from 
 the first has been accorded a i)rominent place by 
 his brethren at the bar. A successful lawyer, a 
 gallant soldier in the late war, and a wortliy and 
 valued citizen, he merits the higii esteem in which 
 he is held and well deserves a representation in this 
 volume where are recorded the lives of Polk 
 County's prominent citizens. 
 
 Mr. Clark was married, in Maine, to Miss Luella 
 Bradbury, a native of Bangor and a daughter of 
 8. P. Bradburj-, wiio for many years has been .Super- 
 intendent of the schools of that city. Mrs. Clark 
 is a lady of fine education and superior literary 
 attainments, and devotes niucli of her time to 
 instructing classes in literature, art and general 
 history. Their union has l>ecn blessed with three 
 chiklren: Kufus B., wlio was liorn in ISG7, is en- 
 gaged with J. H., <^ueal, a hinibcr merchant of 
 ■Sioux City, Iowa; Alice L., born in 1868, has in- 
 herited licr mother's literary ta,stes. .She received 
 liberal educational ail vantages and is now a mem- 
 ber of the editorial staff of the Yotilh's Companion. 
 and has contributed several stories of much merit 
 to Harper's Week!;/. Florence, who was born 
 in 1874, is now a student in tiie I)es Moines High 
 School. 
 
 P 
 
 AMES ANDREWS, a retired farmer and 
 leading citizen of Mitchellville, is numbered 
 among the honored pioneers of Iowa. His 
 history is connected with that of the Terri- 
 torial days of the Stale, and with interest be has 
 watched its |)rogress 3-ear bj- j-ear until it now oc- 
 cupies a foremost place among the sisterhood of 
 the Union. He has not only an extensive acquaint- 
 ance throughout Polk County, but is widely known 
 in Central Iowa, and we feel that his .sketch will be 
 received with interest bj- many. 
 
 He was bf>rn in Busti, N. Y., November 29, 1823, 
 and is a son of Enos and Mary Ann (Shepherd) 
 Andrews. His father, a farmer bj' occupation, was 
 a native of Herkimer County, N. Y., while his 
 mother was born in Massachusetts, of English an- 
 cestry. When our subject was a babe of six months 
 they started Westward, becoming pioneers of Trum- 
 bull Count}', Ohio, wliere Mr. Andrews cleared and 
 developed a farm. Their home was a rude log 
 cabin, and the}' were forced to undergo man}- of 
 the hardships of frontier life, but in the course of 
 time a valuable farm was seen in i)l.ace of the un* 
 broken forest as the result of the father's efforts. 
 Having resided in Trumbull County until 183C, he 
 again came West, this time his destination being 
 Iowa. He located in Denmark Township, Lee 
 County, a part of the Black Hawk purchase, built 
 a cabin, ))lanted a crop, and in the fall returned to 
 his family. The following spring accompanied by 
 wife and children, and some friends with their fam- 
 ilies, he again started for Lee Count}', reaching bis 
 destination on the 2Gth of March, 1837. Some of 
 the part}' located on the Illinois side of the Father 
 of Waters, and Mr. Beach, one of the company, took 
 up his residence in Washington County, bis settle- 
 ment being the most western one at that time. 
 Scarcely can the traveler of to-day, viewing Iowa 
 in all her brightness, realize the condition of things 
 half a century ago. At the time of the arrival of 
 tiic An<lrews family, the Indians were very numer- 
 ous Ihroughovit the State, here and there their wig- 
 wams could be seen through the trees, and even 
 villages were situated on or near the site of many a 
 now fiourisbiug village. The old chief. Bl.ick Hawk, 
 and his tribe were still in the neighborhood, and 
 on llie Ith of July, 1837. that noted warrior de- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 703 
 
 livered an address to the new comers, in which he 
 rehiled the hardships and wrongs whicii his people 
 had suffered, and begged that the hatchet shouhl 
 l)e Imried, and peace and happiness reign between 
 tlieni. The following 3-ear he was called to the 
 lla[)p3' Hunting (i rounds. It was not an unfre- 
 quent occurrence when tlie Indians partook of the 
 hospitalit}' of the Andrews family, for the must fra- 
 ternal feelings existed between tlicni. Enos An- 
 drews carried on his farming operations in Lee 
 Couuty until 18r)t, when he was called upon to 
 mourn the loss of Ids wife, who had been a true 
 helpmate to him along life's journey, and had 
 bravely- shared with him the disadvantages and diffi- 
 culties which come to all who makes homes on the 
 frontier. He then went to live with our subject, 
 who in the meantime had removed toMt. Pleasant, 
 and there found a comfortable home, where, sur- 
 rounded by all that could make life pleasant for 
 him, he passed his last days, dying September 22, 
 iUGb. lie .and his wife were life-long members of 
 the Methodist Church, and when the slavery ques- 
 tion divided that denomination, went with the 
 Wesleyan Methodists, and later in life, being at a 
 distance from any Methodist congregation, he 
 united with the Congregational Church. Krom 
 early life Mr. Andrews w.as a bitter opponent of 
 human slavery, and many a poor fugitive he as- 
 sisted on his w.ny to freedom wiiile residing in fowa. 
 (hir subject, James Andrews, is the only one left 
 to i)erpetuate the history of his family', the other 
 members having gone to that land from which no 
 traveler returns. His earlier life was all passed 
 among pioneer scenes. Until t lurteen years of age 
 he was reared upon the frontier of Ohio, and in 
 1837 he found a home on the Black Hawk pur- 
 chase of Iowa. Well does he remember the first 
 land sale which occurred in lUulington, and many 
 other inciilents of pioneer days are still fresh in his 
 mind. Oftentimes he would sleep in the cabin 
 with half a dozen or more Indians, and with the 
 old chief Keokuk he became acquainted, and par- 
 tially learned their language. He remained under 
 the parental roof until reaching mature years, and 
 followed farming, working with his father. He l)e- 
 iiig the only child, their interests were one, and 
 they labored on together until Mr. Andrews sought 
 
 a home of his own. In 1815, he returned toTrum- 
 Indl County, Ohio, and on the fst of October of 
 that year was joined in wedlock' with Miss Mari- 
 etta M. Snyder, who was born and reared in Truin 
 bull County, and remained at home until our sub- 
 ject came to claim her as his bride. Her parents were 
 .Tohn and Anna (Crow) Snyder. Her mother died 
 in Trumbull County, Ohio, after which her father 
 sold the olil home and removed to N'ienna, in the 
 same .State, where he died in 1884. Mr. Andrews 
 returned with his young wife to Lee County, Iowa, 
 and in a little log cabin they began their domestic 
 life. Their home was gladdened by the presence 
 of three bright children, but all have been taken ■ 
 aw.ay: C.issimer, the eldest, died in Ohio, while the 
 family' were visiting at the old home; Emma M. 
 died in jMitchellville, at the age of twenty-four 
 j^ears; Addison O., who was born in Lee County, 
 Iowa, January 21 , 1852, and educated in the schools 
 of Mt. Pleasant, died on the lOtli of November, 
 1881. He was a bright and intelligent young man, 
 full of life and energy, and iiis untimely death was 
 deeply mourned not onl}' by his parents, but bv 
 manj' friends as well. 
 
 Mr. Andrews has made farming his life occupa- 
 tion, and continued the cultivation of his land in 
 Lee County until 1857, when he sold out, and the 
 following year removed to Minneapolis, Minn. In 
 1860, he went to Des Bloines County-, Iowa, where 
 he purchased and operated a farm until 180,3, when 
 he took up his residence in I\It. Pleasant, continu- 
 ing to make that city his home until 18G;). In that 
 year he came to Mitehellville, and after a number 
 of years engaged in milling, but in 1880, his mill 
 property was burned to the ground causing him a 
 heav}' loss. lie is now living a retired life, hay- 
 ing acquired a sufficient competence in former j-ears 
 to permit him in the decline of life to rest from akl 
 lal)or. He and his wife have a pleasant home in 
 the village, and are surrounded by all that goes to 
 make life worth the living. Many friends arc glad 
 to pay them the respect and esteem due to their 
 advanced years and upright lives. For almost half 
 a century they have traveled life's journey- to- 
 gether, sharing its joys and sorrows, its pleasures 
 and its griefs. Their home has been made desolate 
 by the loss of their children, but otherwise their 
 
704 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 career has been attended with prosperity and iiap- 
 piness. Few have so long been residents of Iowa 
 iis Mr. Andrews, who has made his home in tliis 
 State for fifty-three years. He has watched witli 
 interest its growtli and progress, and in every pos- 
 sible way has aided in its advancement and the pro- 
 motion of its interests. He has seen its wild and 
 unbroken prairies transformed into beantiful homes 
 and farms, has seen its villages converted into 
 cities, while other towns of importance have sprung 
 np. He has witnessed the introduction of the rail- 
 roads which now cross and re-cross the State, form- 
 ing a |)erfect network together with the telegrapii 
 and telephone, which permit man to address a mes- 
 sage or converse with another hundreils of miles 
 away. When we take into consideration these great 
 changes, we cannot but exclaim "surely the age of 
 wonders is upon us." It is certainly a satisf.iction to 
 know that one has been a witness of this progress, 
 but to l>e an active participant as Mr. Andrews has 
 been, is certainly an honor of which few can boast. 
 
 -^ 
 
 ; > ■ 
 
 ERBERT L. STETSON, D. D., President of 
 Des Mc)ines College, was born in Greene, 
 l^^' Androscoggin County, Me., October IG, 
 1848. About two hundred and fifty 
 years .igo, the founders of the famil}- in America 
 left tlicir English home and crossed the Atlantic to 
 the colonj' of Massachusetts, but later two of the 
 brotiier emigrated tt) Maine. Tlie great-grandfa- 
 ther of our subject ac()uired a tract of land in the 
 Pine Tree State, whicli lie improved and which is 
 still in the possession of the family. That lumie- 
 stead was the birthi)Iaco of Dr. Stetson, as well as 
 his father and grandfather. His fatlicr, Reuben 
 .Stetson, followed a seafaring life for thirteen years, 
 holding the position of mate for a long time. Tiie 
 family consists of four sons. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was reared to farm 
 life until twenty years of age. He became a Chris- 
 tian in bis fifteenth year. His elementary education 
 was accjuired in the district schools, but at tlie age 
 of sixteen years he entered the Edward Little In- 
 stitutCj'at Auburn, Me., and subsequently attended 
 
 Monmouth Academy. As he had to depend 
 largely upon his own resources for the means nec- 
 essary to prosecute his studies, his course was in- 
 terrupted by seasons spent in teaching. In 18C8, 
 he entered Colby University, but on account of 
 lack of funds could not complete the course there. 
 He removed to Illinois in the spring of 1871, and 
 was ordained at Griggsville on the 16th of the fol- 
 lowing September, and remained in charge of the 
 Baptist Church in that place for three years, during 
 which time he added many to the church and 
 through his instrumentality a meeting house cost- 
 ing ^IS.OOO was built. From 1874 until 1878, he 
 further fitted (himself for his work in Chicago 
 Universitj' and Morgan Park Theological Seminary, 
 from which lie was gr.aduated with the degree of 
 B. D. At his graduation he was called to the 
 Baptist Church at Logansport, Ind., where he la- 
 bored continuouslj' for ten years. His efforts, 
 however, were by no means wholly local. For 
 some five years he w.is on the editorial staff of the 
 Indiana Baptist, and for three years was a member 
 of the Board of Trustees of Indiana University. 
 In 1886, Dr. Stetson w.as awarded the degree of 
 A. M., and two j'ears later the degree of D. D., by 
 Franklin College. His residence in Des Moines 
 dates from 1887, when he was called to the pastor- 
 ate of the first Baptist Church, of that city. While 
 serving in that cap.acity he w.as placed on the Exe- 
 cutive Committee of Des Moines College, and 
 appointed as teacher of the Scriptures. The accep- 
 tability of his service led to his election to the 
 presidency of the college, in March, 1889. 
 
 A brief history of the institution of which Dr. 
 Stetson now has charge, we feel, will be of interest 
 to our readers. In May, 18.55, the Conference of 
 Lutheran Church decided to establish a denomina- 
 tional school tp be known as the Iowa Central Col- 
 lege, and t!ie citj' of Des Moines was chosen as the 
 most suitable location in the .State. The following 
 year they began the erection of a college building 
 on West Pleasant Street, anil in 18;)7, the edifice 
 was put under roof, but lack of funds caused the 
 work to .stop. As early .as 1803, the Baptist peo- 
 ple of Iowa began to contemplate the ostal)lishment 
 of a college in the. State and seeing the unfinished, un- 
 used building above mentioned, thought it would 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 705 
 
 be a good idea to secure it if possible. It was as- 
 cort.iincd that the pro|)erly could be bought for 
 $8,000. A consultation in connection with the 
 meeting of the Board of the State Convention was 
 held in Janiiaij', 18G4, but the subject was of such 
 linporlancc it was thought best to defei it for gen- 
 eral consideration at tlie State Convention at Cedar 
 Kai)ids. At that meeting it was resolved to call 
 a ma*iS meetiugof the JSaptistsof the 'State, Novem- 
 ber 16, 1864, at Des Moines, but on account of the 
 inclement weather there was a ver^^ small attend- 
 ance, and it was deemed wise to delaj' incorpora- 
 tion, but a committee was appointed, consisting of 
 J. A. Nash, J. E. Ouild and T. C. Townsend, to 
 negotiate for the purchase of the property. Rev. 
 Luther Stone liberally offered to make the advance 
 paj'ments ami assume the pr(>perty until an organ- 
 ization could be effected. In January, 1865, a 
 meeting was called in connection with the meet- 
 ing of the Board of the State Convention, which 
 adopted articles of incorporation. The follow- 
 ing were the incorporators: J. T. Wcstover, 
 J. O. Wilson, J. F. Childs, J. A. Nash,S. H. Mitch- 
 ell, John Williams, (). Wells, and R. M. Tracj-. In 
 April, 1866, the school was opened and christened 
 University of Des Moines, but the name has since 
 been changed to Des Moines College. For a num- 
 ber of years the scliool prospered, but was sadly on 
 the wane when Dr. Stetson took charge of it, but 
 it is now in a prosperous and thriving condition 
 and ranks among the leading educational institu- 
 tions in the Slate. 
 
 LFRED G. NYE, a retired farmer now 
 residing in Mitchollville, was born in Barn- 
 stable County, ]Mass., on the 1st of Decem- 
 ber, 1813. His (larenls, Moses and Chloe 
 (Gifford) Nye, were also natives of that State. 
 The father was of English descent, and the mother 
 traced her ancestry l)ack to Walter Gifford, who 
 emigrated to this country in 1648, and became the 
 founder of the family in America. Moses Nye 
 followcil the sea throughout his life, and for a num- 
 ber of years commanded a vessel. His <lcath oc- 
 
 curred on the water, he having shipped from Phila- 
 delphia, and it is supposed that the vessel with all on 
 board were lost. His wife survived until 1861, 
 when she too passed away. They were the parents 
 of four diildrcn: Clementina became the wife of 
 John Bagle}-, a resident of Catskill, N. Y., and died 
 in 1889, at tiie age of eighty-two years; the second 
 child died in infancy; and X'aientine is also de- 
 ceased. 
 
 Our subject is the youngest, and the only sur- 
 viving member of the family. He remained with 
 his mother until twelve years of age, .and then spent 
 one year with an uncle, after which he went into 
 the countr}', and for two years worked as a farm 
 hand. Returning to Massachusetts, he followed 
 various occupations until about eighteen years of 
 age when he went to Hudson, N. Y., where he spent 
 a short time clerking. In 183.5, having attained to 
 mature years, he started AVestward, and locating 
 in Cincinnati, Ohio, spent three years along tlie 
 river engaged in speculating. The two succeeding 
 3'ears of his life were passed in Indiana, after which 
 he engaged for three years at hotel keeping in Pe- 
 kin, III., and seven 3'ears followed milling at that 
 place. lie then removed to Burlington, and sold 
 goods through the country until finally, in 1852, 
 he commenced contracting with the railroad for 
 grading, continuiag that business for seven years. 
 Following that time, lie devoted his energies to 
 farming in Jefferson County, Iowa, for ten years, 
 when on the expiration of that decade he sold out 
 and came to Mitchellville, Polk County, where he 
 built and operated a mill for nine months. That 
 proi)erty he tlien disjwsed of and purchased a farm 
 of three hundred acres in Beaver Township, which 
 he imjjroved and made his home for four year.*. 
 He has been an industrious and active business man 
 anil althoiigii he began life without capital, has 
 steadily worketl his way ui)ward until he has now 
 a comfortable competence which enables him to 
 live a retired life surrounded by all the comforts 
 and luxuries which make a pleasant home, lie was 
 married to Olivia Loring, near Danville, IJl., in 
 1841. She is a daughter of the Rev. Daniel Lor- 
 ing, a Presbyterian minister, a native of .Massachu- 
 setts. His wife was Mary Stuart, of New York. 
 j On attaining his majority, Mr. Nye proudly de- 
 
70 G 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 positc'l Lis first Presidential ballot for William 
 Ileury llari'isun, and continued a supporter of tliat 
 party until its dissolution, when he joined the He- 
 publican party. He has held a number of local offices, 
 and has been a candidate for the State Legislature. 
 As the result of his industry, good nianageruentand 
 business abilit}', he is now the owner of eight hun- 
 dred acres of highly improved land constituting 
 four farms, three of which are situated in Pocahon- 
 tas County, and one in Woodbury County. Mr. 
 and IMrs. ISye have no children, their only child 
 dying in infancy, but they arc surrounded by many 
 warm friends, and are widely known and higiilj' re- 
 spected throughout the community, where they 
 have now resided for more than twenty-one j"ears. 
 Mrs. K^e is a member of the Congregational 
 Church. During the war period, Mr. Nye was a 
 meUiber of a coni[)any of Home Guards in .Jeffer- 
 son County, and during the same time was Chief 
 Marshal of a detective society organized for the 
 supi)ression of crime and tre.ason. 
 
 lEUT. PpyrER MILLER, grain dealer of 
 .^ jMitchellvillc, claims Ohio as the State of 
 J}-^, his nativity. IIo w.is born in Wayne County, 
 that State, on the '22nd of Jidy, 183:3, and is the 
 fifth son of .lacob and Sarah (Waltz) Miller. Mis 
 parents were married in Mar3'land but removed to 
 Ohio in pn earlv day. The i)aternal grandfather 
 of our subject, Abraham ^liller, was one of the 
 pioneers of the P>uckeye State. He was the father 
 of five children, three sons and two daughters — 
 •lacob, .John, Philip, I'olly and Sallj-, all of whom 
 settled in Medina Countj-. All are now dice.ased, 
 and though Jacob w.as the eldest of the family lie 
 outlived the other members. With one exception 
 all died in Medina county. 
 
 Jacob Miller was a carpenter and joiner by trade 
 but in connection with that occupation followed 
 farming for many years. In the midst of a heavj' 
 timbered region in Medina County, Ohio, he devel- 
 oped an excellent farm, which, as the county round 
 about was more thickly settled, became valuable 
 land. In politics he was a Democrat, and in relig- 
 
 ious belief was a member of the United Brethren 
 Church, lie w.as twice married, his first union be- 
 ing with the mother of our subject. Their family 
 numbered seven children, five of whom are yet liv- 
 ing: John P., a merchiint of Medina, Ohio; George 
 E., a farmer of Medina County; David A. J., who 
 is also engaged in farming in LaF.ayetle Township, 
 Medina County; Jacob A., who served in the One 
 hundred and Sixty-sixth Ohio Infantry and died 
 in the service at Washington Ilcighls; Peter, of 
 this sketch; Margaret J., the wife of George O. 
 Adams, a grocer and resident of Michigan, and 
 P. L., thedece.ised wife of C. C. Bowman, of Mich- 
 igan. The mother of this family died in Medina 
 County, in 1842, after which Mr. Miller wedded 
 Mrs. Elizabeth Dobson nee Lance, b}- whom he had 
 four children: James F., a farmer of York Town- 
 slii|j, Medina County; Alraeda, wife of Orval Nich- 
 ols, a baker of ^ledina, Ohio; Ella E., who makes 
 her home with her mother, and Estella, the wife of 
 Waller Bowman of Medina. Mrs. Miller is still 
 living in Medina, Ohio. The death of Mr. Miller 
 occurred in May, 1889, at the ripe old age of 
 eighty-five years. He died, as he had lived, re- 
 spected by all who knew him, and though in manner 
 he was quiet an'd unassuming, the county lost one 
 of its best citizens when he w.as called to his final 
 rest. 
 
 Althougli born in AVayne Count}-, Ohio, Peter 
 Miller was reared in Medina Countj', where the 
 family removed during his infancy. He remained 
 at home assisting his father in the care and culti- 
 vation of the farm until twenty five years of age, 
 when in company with his brother, J. P., he en- 
 gaged in the mercantile business in Whittlesey. 
 Hardly had the echoes of Ft. Sumter's guns died 
 away, however, when leaving the store in charge 
 of his brother he offered his services to the Gov- 
 ernment, enlisting in the first call for troops. He 
 became a member of Company B, Eighth Ohio 
 \'ulunteers, and on the exi)iration of his first term 
 of service, in August, 1861, wun mustered into the 
 I'nited .Slates service for three jxars and was as- 
 signed to Comi)any B, Forty-second Ohio Infan- 
 try under Col. James A. Garfield. After being 
 equipped for duty in Columbus, Ohio, the regiment 
 was ordered to Big Sandy, Kj'., and participated in 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 707 
 
 the Kentucky campaign, doing good service uiuler 
 the command of its able leader, wlio was a psrsoual 
 friend of Mr. .Miller. On the '2nd of May, 18C2, 
 the troops succeeded in runnini; the blockade at 
 Vicksburg. Oar subject had previously been made 
 Second Lieutenant in Kentucky, and after the seige 
 against that city as a reward for meritorious con- 
 duct he W.1S i)romoted to the rank of First Lieu- 
 tenant. Later he was detailed and served on the 
 staff of (ien. Sheridan, and was afterward transfer- 
 red to Company II, of the Forty-second Ohio 
 Volunteers, where he virtually' tilled the ollice of 
 Captain, having entire command of the company. 
 The regiment lost heavily at Grand Gulf and dur- 
 ing the engagement Mr. iMiUer was wounded in the 
 left hand, which unlitted him for duty for a time. 
 As soon .as possible, however, he rejoined his com- 
 mand and was ever found at his post. In October, 
 1801, the Forty second Regiment, having served 
 three years, was mustered out wilh the excc|)tion 
 of Com|>any 11. ]>v some accident that company 
 was overlooked, and although engaged in duty w.is 
 not mustered into the service until two months 
 after the remainder of the regiment, and in conse- 
 quence was not discharged until December. 
 
 After three and a half long years, in which 
 he unflinc'hingl}' bore the hardslii|is and trials of 
 war, Mr. Miller returned to his home and once 
 more resumed business wiUi his brother, but in 
 1867 he came to Iowa, and Polk County present- 
 ing so favoratile an appearance and giving prospect 
 of continued growth and advancement, he deter- 
 mined to here make his future home. After set- 
 tling up his l)usiness affairs in Ohio, acc()m[)anied 
 by his famil}', he carried out his resolutions in 
 18G8, and on his arrival purchased one hundred 
 and sixty acres of land on section ofi, Beaver 
 Township. The land was then almost wholly 
 unimproved, only a few acres having been broken, 
 while a small frame dwelling was almost the only 
 building which had been erected. Having been 
 reared to farm life, Mr. Miller was not* unac- 
 quainted with the melho.ls of conducting that bus- 
 iness and soon material changes indicated his labor. 
 The land was cleared, divided into fields, and in 
 course of time abundant harvests were garnered, 
 barns and outbuildings were erected ^ a fine grade 
 
 of horses, cattle and hogs were iiilri)duce'l and 
 everything necessary to a well-regulated farm was 
 there found. The boundaries of his land were also 
 extended until he owned in one body three hun- 
 dred and seventy-live acres and was also the 
 owner of eighty acres and a farm of one hun- 
 dred and twenty acres, both in -Insper County, 
 making an aggregate of four huiuhed and ninety- 
 live acres. At length he determined to retire from 
 farm life, and in Jlarch, 1885, removed to Mitch- 
 ellville, trading a farm of one hundred and twenty 
 acres in Jas|)er County for town property. Ills 
 residence in the village is valued at |;4,000, and in 
 connection with this he also owns a nuinlier of 
 buildings, etc., connected with his business. It 
 was his intention on locating in MitchcUville to 
 wholly retire from business life, but he found this 
 impossible. Indolence or idleness arc utterly for- 
 eign to his nature, and not contented that his time 
 should be so unoccu[)ie(^, in 1887 he b(jught out 
 the grain business of S. S. Moore A So.), and has 
 since given his attention to buying and shi|)ping 
 grain, owning an elevator with a capacity of six- 
 teen thousand kushels, and crilis for corn holding 
 twenty thousand bushels. He also h.as a granaiy near 
 Santiago, on the Chicago, St. Paul & Kansas City 
 Railroad. He always [jays the highest cash [irice for 
 grain and has won an enviable n'|iutation for his 
 square dealing .and honesty of purpose. He also 
 carries a full line of farming implements and reaps 
 a good income fi'om that branch of his business. 
 
 On the 3d of September, 18();j, in Medina 
 County, Ohio, Mr. iSIiller was united in marriage 
 with Miss Cornelia A'. Cliilds, a daughter of Charles 
 and Sally (Abbott) Childs, [both of whom were 
 nativ(^s of A'ermont. Her father died in Medina 
 County, Ohio, in 1873, but her mother is still liv- 
 ing in that connty. Seven children have been born 
 of their union: Fred C'., born in Medina Count}', 
 August 21, 18t!(), weddeil Miss Mamie J. Hooker, 
 I)}' whom he has one child and is engaged in oper- 
 ating the home farm; Charles K., born in Polk 
 County, November 20 ,18G8; Viola B., May 7, 
 1873; Edith M., April 1,1875; Almond 1). .and 
 (xcorge E. (twins), born December 2'.l, 187!); 
 the latter died at the age of six months; Alice, 
 the youngest, was born June 5, 1884. As the chii- 
 
708 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 dicn Imvc grown up llicy have been fiiinislied with 
 excellent o|)[)uitunilies for securing an education, 
 such as will fit them for the practical duties of life 
 and make them useful and respected citizens. 
 
 In politics Mr. Miller is a Republican, and a pro- 
 hibitionist in principle and practice. He and his 
 family are members of the Congregational Church, 
 an<l are numbered among its earnest workers. The 
 father is now occu]n-ing the position of Superin- 
 tendent of the Sunday school and has done much 
 for the advancement of the cause. He has served 
 in a number of ofBcial positions and is now a mem- 
 ber of the Village Committee. Socially, he is a 
 Mason and a member of the Warr Post, No. 17, 
 G. A. R., of Mitchellville. As a citizen, none stands 
 higher in the community than Mr. Miller, and it is 
 with pleasure tliat we present his sketch to the 
 readers of this Album. 
 
 J,.. MOS ROTHTROCK, one of the rcprcsenla- 
 WhM tive farmers of this county, residing on 
 section 10, Heaver Township, is a native of 
 the Keystone State. He was born in Lan- 
 caster County, January 12, 1834. and his parents, 
 Samuel and Margaret (Kschbach) Rollitrock, were 
 born in Berks County. The family is of German 
 origin. The father was reared in his native county, 
 where he married the lady above mentioned, after 
 which they removed to Lancaster Coiinty, where 
 Mr. llothtrock foUowLMl farming for some time. At 
 length he removed to Stark {'ounty. Ohio, later 
 became a resident of Summit County und after- 
 wards of Hancock County, that State, where he re- 
 sided until 1860. That year witnessed his arrival 
 in Iowa. He made his home with our subject from 
 that time until his death, which occurred in 1870. 
 His wife, who preceded him to the final home some 
 years, died in Hancock County, Ohio. Into them 
 was liorn a large family, numbering fifteen chil- 
 dren, but only three are now living — Joseph, a 
 farmer of Hancock County; Levi, a minister, of 
 Wood County, Ohio; and AmoM, of tills sketch. 
 Eight of the number died in childhood, while the 
 
 remaining three grew to mature years, but are now 
 deceased. .Samuel died in Summit County, Ohio, 
 leaving a large family of children; ILinnah, wife 
 of .lacob Klingamau, died at her home in Akron, 
 Ohio; and Mary died in Staik Count}', Ohio, at 
 the age of thirty j-ears. 
 
 Our subject spent only a few years of his life in 
 his native county, having removed when a j'oung lad 
 to Stark County, Ohio, whence he w^ent with his 
 parents, in 18.53, to Summit County. Attaining to 
 man's estate in that county, he was joined in wed- 
 lock, on the 5th of February. 1851), with Miss 
 Mar}'^ Ann Harsh, of Wayne County, a daughter of 
 Joseph and Catherine (Yohe) Harsh, both of whom 
 were natives of Pennsylvania. Her father died in 
 W.lyne Count}-, after which her mother became a 
 resilient of Beaver Township, Polk County, where 
 she passed to her last rest. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Rothtrock began their married 
 life in Summit County, Ohio, whence thej- removed 
 to Wayne County, in I860, and two years later be- 
 came residents of Hancock County. It was during 
 their stay in that county that Mr. Rothtrock left 
 home to enlist in the late war. In the spring of 
 1864 he joined Company A, One Hundred and 
 Thirty-third Ohio Infantry, one hundred day men 
 and served with that regiment for the enlisU^d 
 time, ii.irticipating in all its skirmisher and engage- 
 ments from that time. At the ex[)iration of his 
 term of service he was mustered out and received 
 his discharge in Columbus, Ohio. He then returned 
 to his family and in the spring of 186.") came to 
 Polk County. For a short time he made his home 
 in ^litehellville and then operated a farm belong- 
 ing to Mrs. Hothliock's mother for tv^'o year*. In 
 1869 he purchased eighty acres of land on section 
 10, Beaver Township, then in a wild and unculti- 
 vated condition, and after erecting a comfortable 
 story and a half residence, into which the family 
 at once moved, he gave his attention to the im- 
 provement of his lanil. erecting all the necessar}- 
 builditigs for a well-regulated farm and placing the 
 entire acre.igc under a high slate of cultivation. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Rothtrock have been the |)arenls 
 of four children — Elmira. who for ten years has 
 been numbered among the successful teachers of 
 the public schools of this county; Ada, who is en- 
 
PORTRAIT AND HIOGKAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 711 
 
 gagetl in dressmaking; IJonjamin K. ; mihI Mur\-, 
 who is still at home. Their only son was born in 
 Hancock Coiiniy, Ohio, April 10, 18G4, and is a ^ 
 young man of more than ordinary ability. Ilis 
 primary education was supplemented by a course 
 in the Iowa Business College. Previously he was a 
 stiidfnl at Ame* College one year, and he now 
 holds the ])osition of Assistant Cashier and book- 
 keeper in the Citizens' l$ank. of MilchelJsville. Ilis 
 position is one of im[)ortance and is ably filled. He 
 was appointed Enumerator of Beaver Township, for 
 tjje census of 1890. 
 
 Since coming to Polk County, Mr. Rothtrock has 
 identified himself with all its best interests pertain- 
 ing to its improvement and the advancement of the 
 general welfare. In politic? he has always sup- 
 ported the priiK.'iples of the Republican party and 
 has been called upon to fill a number of local of- 
 fices, the iUities of which he ever discharged with 
 promptness and fidelity. Socially, he is a. member 
 of Warr Post, Xo. 17, O. A. R., of Mitchellville, 
 and he and his wife hold membership in the I'nt- 
 vcrsalist i'huroh, of which they are liberal sup- 
 porters. 
 
 EUENEZKR JARED IX'GERSOLL, President 
 of tlie Hftwkeye Insurance Company of Des 
 Moines, is a native of New York, born Ln 
 Oswego County, March 17, 182«. He traces his 
 ancestry back to England, the first of the name 
 coming to America prior to the Revolutioniiry War, 
 and settling in. the western part of Connecticut, 
 where Ebenezer IngersoU was born August 5, 1793. 
 He wasof a familj' that haSgiven to the world men 
 and women of great abilitv, eminent for sclujlar- 
 !<lii|;, occupying positions of trust, and who have 
 been honored as niinisters, lawyers and statesmen. 
 In his boyhood Ebenezer IngersoU moved to Ot- 
 sego CoiilKy, JS\ Y., and later, married Miss Sallie 
 Rich, then moved to Oswego County, in the same 
 .Slate, where he entered into active business pur- 
 suits, anil where he reared his family, of which 
 ]';benezer Jared IngersoU was fourth in order of 
 birth. 
 
 Young IngersoU reraaiaed with his parents until 
 
 after attaining his majority, receiving in his youth 
 a Uiorough academic education. He commenced 
 the study of law in the ofliceof .Tudge Huntington, 
 of Pulaski, N. Y., and then entered the Tnited 
 States Law School at Balston Spa, from which in- 
 stitution he graduated in 1852, with the degree of 
 Bachelor of Law. After being admitted to practice 
 in the several courts of the State, he commenced 
 the active pursuit of his profession in Adams, N. 
 Y., where he built up a successful and lucrative 
 practice. In the fall of 18.58 he removed from 
 Adams, N. Y., to Des Moines, Iowa, where he le- 
 suined the practice of his profession in which ho 
 took high r.«ink, meeting with the same uniformly 
 good success attained in New York. 
 
 Some three years after coming to Des Moines, 
 Mr. IngersoU returned to his old home in Adams. 
 N. Y., and on the 10th of .lanuary, 186 1, was there 
 united in marriage with Miss Elizalieth Whitconib, 
 and at once brought his young bride to her western 
 home, where she resided until her death I''ebruary 
 15, 1882. On the 21st of August, 1H88, Mr. Inger- 
 soU w.is again married, Mrs. Fannie \'arina Knight 
 becoming his wife, at the homo of her [)arcnts in 
 Newburyport, Mass. 
 
 During his residence in Des Moines of almost a 
 third of a century, Mr. IngersoU has not confined 
 himself alone to the i)ractice of his profession, but 
 has .ictively engaged in other pursuits, alw.iys tak- 
 ing a special interest in whatever tended to the 
 building up of his adopted city. For three years 
 he was President of the Board of Trade of the city, 
 during which time he did much to encour.ige the 
 establishment of business enterprises in Des Moines, 
 and throughout Central Iowa. In 1865, he wfls the 
 princii)al mover and organizer of the Hawkeye In- 
 sui-ancc Company, and was elected its first Presi- 
 dent, which position he has since continuously 
 filled. His ability as a manager has contributed 
 largely in making this one of the most important 
 insurance companies of the State, and in making 
 Des Moines the "Hartford" of Iowa. In addition 
 to his other important business enterprises, Mr. 
 IngersoU owns and operates several extensive 
 farms, where be has gratified liis t.iste in the breed- 
 ing and raising of fine blooded stock, and in the 
 course of his farming operations he has done much 
 
712 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 to improve and raise to n higher standard the live 
 stock of Central Iowa. Energy and force of cluir- 
 acler, directed l>y correct business princiijies. have 
 characterized his course in life, and won for him a 
 substantial success. Possessing a tender and sym- 
 pathetic nature, he is free hearted and liberal where 
 his sympathies are touched. Indei)endcnt in thought 
 and action, he is a man who naturally has some op- 
 ponents, while his friends are of those who never 
 falter in the earnestness of their attachment. 
 
 ^|()EL OSGOOD, who for the past ten years 
 has been living a retired life, was born in 
 the village of Elraira. N. Y., June 21, 1805, 
 and is now the oldest living citizen of 
 Mitchellville. having long since passed the allotted 
 tliree-score-and-ten years. However, he still enjoys 
 a good degree of health for one of his age, and we 
 join his many friends in wishing that he may be 
 spared for some time to come. His [wrents, 
 Thomas and Aliigail (Ingalls) Osgood, were'also 
 natives of the Em[)ire State. The father was born 
 and roared on the banks of Lake C'hamplain, and 
 in 1812 started for the war to supply the place of 
 a friend who had been drafted, but hostilities 
 ceased ere he entered into active service. In 18.'J3 
 tiie family removed to Wood County-, Ohio, where 
 the parents p.assed to their long rest. In their 
 family were six children, as follows: James, who 
 died in Pennsj'Ivania, where he was living at the 
 time; Joel, of this sketch; Catherine became the 
 wife of IJenjamin Judson, and both died in AVood 
 County, Oldo; Sally is the deceased wife of Mr. 
 Ilusted; Amanda was the wife of Mr. Wolf, 
 but her death has long since occurred: and Abi- 
 gail is the wife of IMartin Patterson, of Lenawee 
 County, Mich. 
 
 Our subject was educated in the common schools 
 of his native town, now one of the most important 
 cities of the Empire. State, but when he left for 
 Ohio its population was so limited that he could 
 claim an acquaintance with all the inhabitants. 
 His boyhood days were spent in a manner similar 
 to that in which all farmer lads spend their time 
 
 and -with his father's family. He removed to 
 Wood County, Ohio, in 1833. Just previous to 
 his emigration Westward he was united in marriage 
 with .Aliss Annie Odell, a native of Orange County; 
 N. V;, born January 20, 1810.. It was Mr. Os- 
 good's desire to engage extensively in stock-rais- 
 ing, and he believed that in the West he would 
 have a better opportunity for carrying out his 
 wislies, so with his j"ouug wife he started for the 
 IJuckeye State, where they continued to- make their 
 home until 1818. The unhealthfulness of that' 
 jiart of the State caused him to remove with his" 
 family to Lenawee County, Mich.; locating near 
 Adrian. He once more resumed farming, and also 
 engaged extensively in the dairy business. The 
 product of his dairy found such favor with the* 
 public that he could always obtain the highest 
 market prices, and yet could hardly supply the 
 den)an<l. He purchased four hundred acres of 
 land in Michigan, and as heretofore was eminently 
 successful in his farming operations. In 18C3 he 
 sold his iiroperty for ^8,000 and removed to Jas- 
 per Count}', lo'wa, where he purch.'ised a farm of 
 two hundred and sixteen acres, for which he paid 
 |!4,000. Little improvement had then been made, 
 but with characteristic energy IMr. Osgood began 
 the development of his land, which he fenced, 
 erected good buildings, andon selling out received 
 an advance of ?4,000 on the purchilse [irice. 
 
 Unto Joel and Annie- Osgood were born eight 
 children, of whom these are yet living — L^'man, 
 wiio was born in Wood County. Ohio, is engaged 
 in farming near Adrian, 3Iich.-; Ben-nctt, born in 
 the same county, is 'a well-to-do f.armcr of Black- 
 burn County, Neb. In all probaliilitj' his farm 
 will .soon become of great-^alue, for a village has 
 been platted upon his lami, while a cwurt-house 
 has already been built; Perry, who was born in 
 Wood C<junty, Ohio, is now living on the old 
 home farm in Jasper County, Iowa; Clara, widow 
 of Elijah I'.lliolt, is a resident of Humboldt County, 
 Iowa. As the children attained to <i sufficient agu 
 they were provided with good educational ad- 
 vantages, such .as would fit them for the practical 
 duties of life, and when thej' Ifeft the {Mirental roof 
 for homes of their own, tlie father gave to each 
 some portion of his goods. Remembering his 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 713 
 
 own 3-outb, he dutermiued tliat lliej^ should not 
 have to contend against the disadvantages of 
 poverty as he liad done. Thus starling out with 
 a mother's blessing and the material aid of the 
 father, they have become useful men and women, 
 and resjjected citizens of the various communities 
 in which they reside. 
 
 In 1880. Mr. Osgood decided to lay aside the 
 liusy cares of life and remove to Mitchellvillo, 
 where he purchased a lot and erected a comfor- 
 table home. In 1888 a shadow darkened the house- 
 holil, Mrs. Osgood being called to her last rest on 
 the '2Glli of July, that year. They iiad traveled 
 life's journey together for sixty j'ears, and the 
 blow which se|)arated them was a sudden and un- 
 expected one. At !) o'clock one evening Mrs. Os- 
 good retired to rest, apiiarently in her usual health, 
 and an hour later her husband hearing her moan, 
 hastened to her side, but death had already set his 
 seal upon her. She lingered onl^' a few days and 
 then passed away. She was a devoted Christian 
 woman, a member of the Christian Church, and 
 was beloved bj' all who knew her. 
 
 Mr. Osgood was again married, January- 17, 1889, 
 to Mrs. Sarah J. Mason, witlow of Ephraim F. 
 INIason, who was a native of Berkshire County, 
 Mass. Her maiden name was Newell, and iier 
 marriage to Mr. Mason was celebrated on the 8lh 
 of April, 1844, in Elbridge, Onondaga County, 
 X. Y. In 1865 the^- came to Iowa, residing the 
 first season upon the Osgood faiin. The death 
 of the husband occurred in Polk Cuuntj', Novem- 
 ber 211, 1884, and his remains were interred in the 
 cemetery- of Mitchellville. Mr. and Mrs. Mason 
 were the parents of three children — Martha, wife 
 of A. G. Tigner, was born in New York, and is 
 now living in Piatt Count}\ Neb.; DeWitt C, 
 who was born in Fairfield, Mich., in 1857, is now 
 engaged in farming in Beaver Township: and 
 George M., who was born in Fairfield, Mich., in 
 1859, died in Omaha, Neb., in 188G. 
 
 Considered from both the business and social 
 point of view, the life of Mr. Osgood has been 
 eminently successful. AVith no capital save a 
 young man's bright hopes of the future and a de- 
 termination to succeed, he began life and steadily 
 pressed forward to the goal. The fruits of former 
 
 toil now enable him to s|)end his declining years in 
 rest, surrounded by ail the comforts wliicli money 
 can procure. He has been prominent in the i)ro- 
 motion of .all that could advance tiic best interests 
 of the community, and no church struggling for 
 existence has ever aiipealed to him for aid that he 
 did not respond. Education has also found iii him 
 a true friend, and the schools of the various com- 
 munities in which he has resided are greatly in- 
 debted to him for his interest in their behalf. To 
 such enterprises he gives not sparingl3 or grudg- 
 ingly but with a bounteous hand, which shows- 
 that his entire sympathies are with the work. He 
 cast his first Presidential vote for William Henry 
 Harrison, but for many years has been a su[)|)orter 
 of the Democracy. 
 
 -"-^so^- 
 
 •'"H-^f 
 
 AVID STREETT, one of the highly respected 
 citizens of Mitchellville, Polk County, who 
 has resided in Central Iowa from an early 
 day, was born in Harford County, Md., April 1, 
 1815, and is of English descent, though the family 
 has resided in this country for several generations. 
 His [jarents, Benjamin and Martha (Grafton) 
 Strcett. were .also natives of Harford County. His 
 father was a soldier in the War of 1812, and served 
 on guard duty in Baltimore. By occu|)ation he 
 was a farmer and followed that business through- 
 out his life. Both he and his wife remained in 
 their native county until death. In their family 
 were six children, two sons and four daughters, but 
 our subject is the only surviving member. Eliza- 
 beth, the eldest, became the wife of Dr. Abram 
 .Streett, who is also deceased, and died in Harford 
 County, leaving a family of children; Sarah and 
 Corbin also passed away in that count}'; David is 
 the next in order of birth; Jemima was the wife of 
 Spencer Webb, a farmer of Fremont County, Iowa; 
 and Lorensea became the wife of Isa.ac Streett and 
 both died in Harford Count}-. 
 
 As Mrs. Streett died when our subject was a 
 lad of only six j-ears, the family was separated, 
 finding homes with various relatives. At the ago 
 
'U 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 of Iwclvc he went to live with an uncle with whom 
 he remained four years, when in 1831, he was 
 l)uun(l out to S;iiiiuel Fowler to learn the carpen- 
 ter's trade. For four long years he toiled for his 
 board and clothes, both of which were meagre and 
 at the expiration of his term of service he left Bal- 
 timore era|)ty-banded but with a complete knowl- 
 edge of his business. Going to Lancaster, Pa., he 
 secured work as a journc^'man but wages were 
 very low. He was first employed in Philadelphia. 
 The 6rst week he worked to establish himself and 
 at tin; end of six days was promised ^14 per month. 
 lie s|icnt two years iu that city, during which time 
 liis wages were increased to *20. In 1837, we find 
 him in Springfield, Ohio, and tiic following year 
 he started for Wayne County, lod., where he re- 
 sumed work at his trade. 
 
 In that county Mr. Streett formed the acquaint- 
 ance of Miss Amanda Tout, and on the 7tli day of 
 .'Vpril, 1837, was married to her. She was born in 
 Lancaster County, Pa., in 1822, and is a daughter 
 of Joseph and Fannie (McMurraj-) Tout, who 
 were also natives of Lancaster County and removed 
 to Wayne County, in 1834', where they spent the 
 remainder of their lives. They were parents of the 
 following children, most of whom are living — Mary, 
 wife of Michael Swope, of Indiana; Caroline, wife 
 of Sam Buiidy, of Tei're Haute, Ind.; Samuel, who 
 was a music-ian of more than ordinary' ability' 
 although deprived of his sight for twenty-five 
 years, died in Nebraska; Jacob, a resident of Lan- 
 caster County, ><'eb. ;Francina, wife of John Foun- 
 tain, a lumber merchant of Dublin, AVayne 
 County, Ind.; Joseph, a professor of music, resid- 
 ing in Terre Haute, Ind.; Vashti, deceased wife of 
 ,Iolin Ilinkley; Melissa, who died in infancj'; John, 
 a druggist, of Wymore, Neb.; Hiram, who died in 
 Wayne County, Ind.; Volne}-, an accomplished 
 musician. Seattle, Wash. ; Ephraim, who died in in- 
 fancy; and Robert, a carpenter and builder of In- 
 di'Uiapolis, Ind. 
 
 After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Streett 
 resided in Cambridge, Ind., until 1847, when they 
 removed to Baltimore, Md., where they spent two 
 3-ears. From 1841) until 1851, they again resided 
 in Cumbri<lge, and in the latter 3'ear purchased a 
 small farm in Wayne County which they sold in 
 
 1855, and removed to Greencastle, Jasper Countj', 
 Iowa. Mr. Streett shortly afterward purchased one 
 
 hundred acres of wild prairie land but for a short 
 time after his arrival worked at his trade. He then 
 gave his attention to agricultural pursuits and at 
 lengtli developed a beautiful farm which yielded a 
 golden triliute to the care and labor which he be- 
 stowed upon it. Prosperity, however, did not come 
 to him at once but was the result of long and con- 
 tinued labor. The family- endured many hardships 
 and trials such as are common to pioneer life. They 
 lived in a wagon in whicli the journey was accom- 
 plished until a log cabin could be erected. As soon 
 !is the building was up and roofed they moved in 
 even before the floor was laid or windows put in. 
 A piece of carpet was Lung up across the door- 
 way but was very insufficient protection against 
 storms and against a more terrible enemy of man- 
 kind, snakes, which were quite numerous in and 
 around the settlement at that early da}*. At one 
 time. Mrs. Streett happening to glance around, saw 
 a huge rsittlesnake coiled under the cupboard, but 
 without delay she soon dispatched the rejttile. She 
 has been an imjjortant factor in tiic success which 
 has attended her husband, the handsome compe- 
 tency which now enables them to lived in retired 
 life, liaving been acquired bj' thtir united efforts. 
 In 1878, they left their home in Jasper County, 
 and purchased seven acres of land adjoining the 
 village of Mitchellville, where they erected a hand- 
 some story and a half frame residence. 
 
 Of the children wlio have been born of the 
 union of Jlr. and Mrs. Streett — Martha, died at the 
 age of two and a half 3-ears; William, born in 
 Wayne County, Ind., November 9, 1842, is a resi- 
 dent of Colfax, Iowa; Mar^-. a native of the .same 
 count3', is the wife of William Wilson, of Wymore, 
 Neb. ; James B., who was a member of the F'ort3-- 
 eigth Iowa Infantry, died during the service at 
 Rock Island. III., in 1864; A'iola became the wife 
 of William .McConnell, and both are now deceased; 
 Joseph T. is Superintendent of the Ilecla Mijiing 
 Company of Norwood, Mont.; Fannie B. is a sten- 
 ographer in the office of W. L. Read, of Des Moines; 
 and Minnie is a successful teacher of Jasper and 
 Polk Counties. Mr. and Mrs. .Street have a grand- 
 daughter, Laura McConnell, who is employed as a 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 715 
 
 type-setter in tlie Index olHce of MitchoUville. 
 Fre(L a brotber of Laura, died in 1880, aged six 
 years. 
 
 I'ntil wiliiin a few years Mr. Streett has been a 
 Republican. ))ul favoring froe-lra<le principles, for 
 some lime past lie lias supported the Democracy. 
 He started in life with a strong arm and determina- 
 tion to succeed, as his only capital, but whatever 
 he has undertaken he h.as accomplislied by industry 
 and perseverance. While engaged in carpentering 
 he <lid the best of work and thus won the confidence 
 and secured the patronage of many. As a fanner 
 he carried on liis business with neatness and dis- 
 patch, and one looking abroad over his home would 
 at a glance see that the owner was a man of thrift 
 and activit}'. He is an lionored citizen, a man of 
 sterling worth and one who has gained many 
 friends by his upright career. 
 
 APT. WILLIAM L. CLARK, who faithfully 
 served his country during the late war and is 
 now engajjed in general farming on section 
 1, Camp Township, was born in Guernsey County, 
 Ohio, Deceniljer 21, 1837. His father, John H. 
 Clark, was born in Frederick Count}-, Va., January 
 7,1811, and on the maternal side is of Irish de- 
 scent. His father died when he w.is a lad and thus 
 left him dependent upon his own resources. For 
 many years he engaged in mercantile pursuits but 
 for the past thirty years has devoted his attention 
 to farming. He remained in Virginia until 1827, 
 when at the age of sixteen 3'ears he went to Guern- 
 sey County, Ohio, and in 18.35 married Margaret 
 Lane. After engaging in merchandising until KSfiO, 
 he followed boating on the Miami Canal for ten 
 years. In 1860 he removed with his family to 
 (ireene County, 111., where he operated a farm for 
 six years, when he sold out and came to I'olk 
 County, settling in Cami) Township. Both parents 
 are still living with their only child, oui- subject. 
 The}' had two children who died in infanc}' — Olivia 
 and John. 
 
 Capt. Clark when a balie of a year was taken by 
 bis parents to Gviernsey County, Ohio, and in the 
 
 schools of that community he acquired his cduca- 
 cation. In 18.V2 he left the parental roof, and go- 
 ing to I'rbana, Ohio, was engaged as a clerk in a 
 dry-goods and boot and shoe establishment, one of 
 the large mercantile houses in that place, but in 
 1853 he changed his pursuit, embarking in civil 
 engineering on the Grand Rapids & Indiana Rail- 
 road, of which Caleb ]{. Smith was President. But 
 ill health forced him to abandon that work, and the 
 following winter he taught school near Delphos, 
 Ohio. In the spring of 1851, going to Indiana, he 
 was employed as civil engineer on a branch of the 
 Cincinnati it Chicago Air Line Road, but his health 
 remaining poor, and wages being so small, he was 
 compelled to abandon that profession which he had 
 hoped to make his life work. He was also strug- 
 gling to obtain a college ciluuation, but he could 
 not collect his earnings and he was also forced to 
 abandon that plan. He Jlhen removed to Piqna, 
 Miami County, Ohio, and for a time was engaged 
 as a salesman in a general merchandising store, 
 after which he spent some lime in l)a3-ton. In the 
 fill! of 1856 he determined to try the West, believ- 
 ing that it would furnish a better field of labor, 
 and the same year we find him behind the counter 
 of a book and stationery establishment of Quincy, 
 111., where he continued until 1858. He then again 
 spent a short time in school, but the financial panic of 
 the preceding year made times so hard that ho had 
 to engage in manual labor and .secured a position 
 as brakesman on the road. In 1860, an uncle of 
 his came West, to Greene County, 111., and pur- 
 chased a farm of two thousand acres niion which we 
 find Mr. Claik at the breaking out of the Rebellion, 
 aiding his uncle in the oi)eralion of the land, but 
 when the President issued his first call for troo|)s 
 lie at CHice laid aside the plow and went to Jack- 
 sonville. 
 
 On the inih of May, 1861, Capt. Clark was miis- 
 loreil into the Tniled States service as a private of 
 Company D, Fourteenth Illinois Infantry, this be- 
 ing the first regiment of three years' men raised in 
 the Stale, lie served for about eight months as 
 duty sergeant and was then detaileil to act as qn.'ir- 
 termastcr sergeant. At Shiloh he w.as promoted to 
 the position of commissary sergeant and later 
 was made First Lieutenant and quartermaster. 
 
716 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 While at home on a furlougli lie was ^iveii a letter 
 from Col. Ha^i, Ihen coramamlcr of tiie Fourteenth 
 Illinois, to Gov. Y.atcs, Chief Mti^'islrats of Illi- 
 nois at the time, in which he was recommended for 
 quartermaster of the Fourteenth. The Governor 
 ordered him to report to his regiment at LaFayctle, 
 Tcnn., for duty as quartet master, but for some 
 cause the position was afterward given to another 
 and he was made chief clerk of the department, 
 serving as such until he was made First Lieuten- 
 ant and regiment (juartcrmaster. In the fall of 
 18C3 he was ordered to report to Gen. Ransom at 
 Natchez, and given the position of First Lieutenant 
 and regiment quartermaster of the Fiftj'-eighth 
 United States Colored Infantry, in which position he 
 served until December, 1865, when his faithful and 
 meritorious service w.as rewarded by promotion to 
 thecaptainc}'^ of Company G, of that regiment. At 
 Jackson, Miss., he was detailed as Coramissar3' and 
 moved all the stores fi'oni that place to Yicksburg. 
 On the 10th of May, 18CC, he was mustered out 
 and returned to Greene County, III., having faith- 
 fully served his country from the first call to arms 
 until the J.ast regiment was discharged. 
 
 Capt. Clark remained in Greene County until 
 18GG, when he came to his present home, having 
 purchased the farm while in the service of I'ncle 
 Sam. He gave his attention to the cultivation of 
 the wild land and soon had the entire amount, one 
 hundred and eighty -three acres on section 1, Camp 
 Township, under a good state of cultivation and 
 also had erected a comfortable two -story residence. 
 Having now provided tlie home, he cliose a com- 
 panion to .share with him its comforts, and on the 
 fith of April, 1869, wedded Miss Amaryllis Z. 
 IJotsford, a native of Illinois and a daughter of 
 T. F. Kotsford, one of the honored [)ioneers of 
 I'ella, Iowa. Unto them were born two children: 
 William K., born Januarj' 2i», 1870, and .lohn A., 
 February 1, 1872. The latter, a j'oung man of 
 much promise, died December 3, 1889, at the age 
 of seventeen j ears and ten months. 
 
 Capt. Clark is numbered among the representa- 
 tive and induential citizens of I'olk County, and in 
 all public affairs takes a deep interest. Both he 
 and his wife are members of the Methodist Fpisco- 
 pal Church, and he is a prominent member of the 
 
 Masonic Order, having united with Crystal Lodge, 
 No. 218, A. F. & A. M. at its organization. For 
 two years he occupied the Chair of Worshipful 
 Master, and is a member of both Chapter and 
 Comniandery. He also belongs to McCray I'ost, 
 No. 27, G. A. R. 
 
 |f^ H. CHAUNCEY E. WIHTTEN. eclectic 
 I j)] plo'S'ci'*'! and surgeon of Des Moines, 
 jja,!^^ joined the medical fraternit}' of Polk 
 ^^ Count3-, in March, 1889, at which time lie 
 
 took up his residence in Des Moines. The record 
 of his life is as follows: He is a native of Ohio, 
 born near the citj' of Toledo, in 1851, and is a son 
 of Randall L. and Mary (Walker) Whitten. His 
 father was born in Orleans Count}', N. Y.; his 
 mother in (ienesee County, of the same State, and 
 ill childhood both removed with their parents to 
 Ohio, where they grew to mature years, became 
 acquainted and were married. Their residence in 
 the IJuckeye State continued until 1855, when Mr. 
 Whitten, accompanied b}' his family, followed the 
 tide of human emigration that w.is steadily (lowing 
 westward, and became a resident of Lucas County, 
 Iowa, where he still makes his home, devoting his 
 energies to agricultural pursuits. In the famil}' 
 were three sons and one daughter, of whom the 
 Doctor is the eldest; Archie, the next in age, is a 
 farmer of Luc;is Count}-; Asa is editor and pro- 
 prietor of the Fella, Iowa, Jlcpitblican; Clara, the 
 only sister, is -at home. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was l)Ut four years of 
 .age when he was brought by his parents to Iowa, 
 and under the parental roof he was reared to man- 
 hood. He acquired his literary education in .Simp- 
 son College, Indianola, Iowa, and having deter- 
 mined to make the jiractice of medicine his life 
 work, he beg.an preparations to that end in 1871, in 
 the oHice of Dr. J. A. McKleveen, of Chariton, 
 Lucas County, under whose direction he con- 
 tinued his studies two years. In the winter of 
 1873-71 he .attended lectures at Uennett Medical 
 College, of Chicago, after which he opened an 
 Ollice and began (Jiactice in Lee Ct>unty. III., where 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 717 
 
 he remained for five \'ears. The ten suceeedino; 
 ycais of liis»lif(' were spent in active praetice in 
 Rfarion CouHty, Iowa,' and at the exiiiiation of 
 that lime lae came to Des Moines. Only a year has 
 elaijsed since liis arrival in this city, but the people 
 have already recognizetl his ability and skill by a 
 liberal patronage. He makes a specialty of the 
 treatment of rheumatism in his practice, and in 
 that line is exceptionally successful, having per- 
 formed some marvelous cures. 
 
 The Doctor's wife was formerly Miss Augusta 
 Perry, a native of Mansfield, Ohio, and they have 
 traveled life's jourr.cy together since 1874. 
 
 -^^ 
 
 ILLIAM D. ROOKER, a farmer and stbck- 
 f^ll raiser, the o\vner of a fine farm on section 
 >7^ 24, Beaver Township, has been a resident 
 of the county for thirty-nine years. He was born 
 in Ti[)pccanoe County, Ind., on the 1st of March, 
 lS.'i8, and is a son of .Tames and Kli/.alieth (Downs) 
 Hooker. The Kooker family is of (iermun descent, 
 and was founded in America at an early day. 
 Throughout life he has followed the occupation of 
 farming, and is a leading representative of that 
 class of people which forms the bone and sinew of 
 our countrj'. He has licen three times married, 
 anil by his first wife had five children, two of whom 
 are now living: William D. of this si^etch, and 
 James AV., at» honored farmer of Beaver Township, 
 who served during the late war, and in the battle 
 of Nashville' was wounded, the ball i)assing through 
 his right e3'e, and coming out near the left ear. It 
 instantly blinded him, causing total loss of. sight. 
 The itiother died about 1848, in Keokuk County, 
 Iowa, whither the family had removed five years 
 previouf.* In that county .Tamos Kooker entered 
 from the Government ft tract of land which he 
 transformed into a go'otl farm, and -made his home 
 until 18.51, when he came to Polk County, settling 
 near Rising Sun, in Four Mile Township. He 
 there purchased one hundred and sixty acres of 
 land, and engaged extensively in farming. He 
 wasa second time m.arried while living in Keokid< 
 County, to Margaret Oglcrie, by whom he had six 
 
 children: Elizabeth, wife of Amassa I)e Long, a 
 farmer of Beaver Township; George W., who is 
 also engaged in farming in that township; Louisa, 
 wife of William II. Homan, of Colorado; John, a 
 resident farmer of Beaver Township; Joseph, of 
 the same township; and Margaret, wife of Sam- 
 uel Crawford, of Mitchellville. Mrs. Hooker's 
 death occurred in the year 1857, after which Mr. 
 Rooker wedded ^Irs. Hayes. They have two chil- 
 cken: Franklin, deceased; and Amanda wife of 
 (George Burgett. Mr. Booker is still living in 
 Beaver Township at the ripe old age of eighty-two 
 years, and ranks among the honored citizens of the 
 communit}'. 
 
 Since his sixth year, our subject, William D. 
 Rooker, h.is been a resident of Iowa, having ac- 
 comi)anied his parents to this State in 184.3. His 
 education was acquired in a primitive log school- 
 house of ' Keokuk County, and he was reared to 
 farm life, which Tie has made his principal occupa- 
 tion. He remained at home until 185'J,when hav- 
 ing attained his majority, he made a trip to Colo- 
 rado on a gold hunting expedition, but not meeting 
 with the success ho antici|)atcd, returned the fol- 
 lowing autumn and resumed farm work. He was 
 thus engaged in following the i)low, when the late 
 war broke out, but soon he abamloned his home 
 duties to discharge the greater duty toward the 
 Government. He enlisted on the 2d of August, 
 18C1, in Company I), Second Iowa Cavalry, for 
 three years, and was etpiipped and mustered into 
 the United States service in Davenport, Iowa, 
 whence the troops were ordered to St. Louis, where 
 the regiment remained until March, 1862. In the 
 spring of that year the Second Cavalry participated 
 in the battles of New Madrid and I''t. Pillow, and 
 afterward marched to Pittsburg Landing, which 
 was followed by the battle of Corinth, Miss , and 
 Booneville. Later the troops took part in the sec- 
 ond battle of Corinth, and fought under Gen. 
 Grant at Holly S|)rings, which was sueceoded b}' 
 the battles at Memphis, Tenn., and La (irange. 
 There' they went into winter quarters, and during 
 the following summer, engaged in scouting expedi- 
 tions and many skirmishes. From White Station 
 the^'. went to Pulaski, where for three weeks the 
 Second Cavalry held the army of Hood in check. 
 
718 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 For sixty-five clays they were without tlieir tents, 
 and liad to sleep iiniirotected wliilc their food they 
 obtained 1)\' foraging. At length tlic^' reached 
 Nashville, where they found tents and supplies 
 awaiting them. On the loth and IClh of Decem- 
 ber the cavalry was dismounted, and every fourtii 
 man detailed to take care of tiie horses, while the 
 remainder of the regiment went forth into battle. 
 For two long day.s the engagement at Nashville 
 continued. On the 15tli Mr. Kookcr was wounded 
 by a piece of shell which struck him on the right 
 check, fracturing the bone. He was then sent to 
 the hospital and granted a furlough of thirty days, 
 which he spent at home, rejoining his command at 
 Kastport. Miss. In the meantime tlie three 3'cars 
 hiul expired, and he h.ad veteranized, continuing 
 in the service until the 9th of September. 18().j, 
 more than four years. He was then honorably dis- 
 charged as one who had faithfully done his duty at 
 all tiine.'^ and in all places. With the exception of 
 the time when wounded, he took part in eveiy en- 
 gagement in which his regiment participated, and 
 made for iiimself an honorable reCQrd. 
 
 Returning to his home when the war was over, 
 Mr. Hooker at once resumed his farming opera- 
 tions. In January, 18G6, he was united in marriage 
 with Mrs. I'hotbe A. l«arlow,and removed to his pn;- 
 sent farm in Heaver Township.which at that time con- 
 sisted of two hundred and twenty-eight acres. The 
 wild prairie land he has since placed under an ex- 
 cellent state of cultivation, and as the result of his 
 labors reaj)S abundant harvests. He has made all the 
 necessary improvements, including the erection of 
 good barns and outbuildings, and has extended the 
 boundaries of his land until now three hundred and 
 fifty-four acres paj' tribute to the care and labor 
 wliicii he bestows upon it. His home, a tasty resi- 
 dence, is surrounded bj' beautiful shade and orna- 
 mental trees, planted and tended by his hand, and 
 altogether his farm is considered one of the finest 
 in the county. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Rooker arc the iiarents of six chil- 
 dren: Charles 1'. and .lames C. at home; Mamie, 
 wife of Frederick INIiller, a farmer of Heaver Town- 
 ship; Lfiuisa v.. Am}' and Robert W. Mr. Rooker 
 hiLS been one of the leading .agriculturalists of the 
 county for tlu' long period of thirty-nine years,and 
 
 an eyewitness and active participant in the many 
 great changes, the progress and advancement, which 
 has taken place in that time. In politics he is a 
 stalwart advocate of Republican principles. He is 
 a worthy member of the (irand Armjr Post of 
 Mitchellvillo, and as a citizen none stands higher in 
 the community. Rotlj Mr. and Mr^. Rooker are 
 members of tlie Christian Church, aTid take an ac- 
 tive part in an}- interest which will material!}- ad- 
 vance the cause. 
 
 OHN F. CONRAD, one of the younger mem • 
 bers of the bar of Des Moipes, yet a worthy 
 representative of the legal professi=on, has 
 ' been engaged in practice In this city since 
 the 1st of January, 1887. He is a native of Iowa. 
 having been born near Hurlington, Dcs IMoines 
 County, May 10, 180:^. His father. R. B. (?onrad. 
 is a farmer by occupation, and now resides in Lu- 
 cas County, Iowa. He married Maria Canterbury, 
 daughter of Isaac Canterbury, a jjioneer of Des 
 ]SI()incs County, of 1831. Her father was reared 
 on a farm in Sangamon County, 111., and there 
 married Eliza Morgan, after whicK he operated a 
 rented farm until his emigration to the Territory 
 of Iowa, in the year above mentioned. He rented a 
 farm of Government land about tlipee miles south 
 of the preseilt city of Burlington, then known as 
 Flint Hills, but in 18.37, sold out and removed to 
 Danville Township, locating near Bliddlelown, 
 where he entered land and developed a fine farm. 
 He added to his possessions until he owned » val- 
 uable tract of four hundred acrps, upon which lie 
 resided until his death, which occurred Aprif 21, 
 1848, at the early age of thirty-eight years. His 
 widow still survives him, and makes her home with 
 her daughter. Mrs. Cofirsd; in Lucas County. 
 That worthy couple were the p.arents of six chil- 
 dren, as follows: Matilda, wife of William Wood- 
 ard, of Decatur County, Iowa, a lawyer by pro- 
 fession; Carlisle, who resides in Pleasant Grove 
 Township, Des Moines County; Margaret, widow 
 f)f Henry N. Jackson, of Marion County. Iowa; 
 Maria, wife of H. B. Conrad, and the mother of 
 
^i.Pdc^ 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 721 
 
 our subject,; .Toliii, who is engaged in agricultural 
 pursuits in Fremont County; anil Cynthia, the 
 youngest, who is now the wife of Frederick Lea- 
 hart, a resident of Lucas County. 
 
 John F. Conrad, tiie subject of this skotcii, dur- 
 ing his boyhood days accompanied his parents 
 from Des Aloines County to Mahaska County, and 
 subsequently removed with Ihera to Lucas County. 
 He received his primary education in the pultlic 
 schools, and after its com|iletion |)ursued a classical 
 course of study in .Simpson College, of Indianola. 
 lie then looked about for some trade or |)rofession 
 which he desired to make his life work, and having 
 made choice of the law, in 18X4, he entered the 
 otfice of Judge W. F. Conrad, of Des Moines, un- 
 ilcr whose direction he continued his studies until 
 Januarj', 1887, when, as before stated, he opened 
 ;m ollice in the eastern part of the city, and li.as 
 since devoted his energies to practice. Mr. Conrad 
 is a gentleman of culture, and an earnest student 
 of iiis profession, and though one of the youngest 
 memberg of the liar of Polk County, is held in 
 high esteem by his professional brethren who have 
 the pleasure of his ac(piainlance. There are two 
 otlier members of his father's f.aniily, he being a 
 l)rollu'r of Fred C. Conrad and of JNIrs. Kmnia 
 (ir.a^-, both of Lucas Count}-. 
 
 KNJAMIN CLAYTON WHITE, deceased, 
 who for many years was cimnected with the 
 |i|i milling interests of Des IVIoines, was born 
 in Lancaster County, Pa., December 2;i, 
 182;?. His parents, Job and I'luebe (Kinsey) 
 White, were both natives of Pennsylvania, whose 
 ancestors belonged to the Society of Friends. From 
 the Keystont' State they removed to Richmond, 
 Ind., where tiie husband died. Mrs. ^\'llile spent 
 her last days in Des Moines with her son reaching 
 the advanced <ige of ninctj-four years. They had 
 six cliildi'cn. of whom <iur subject was fifth in order 
 of birth. 
 
 lienjamin ('. White acquired sullicient education 
 to teach school, and for several years <biring his 
 early manhood foUowed that vocation in the 
 
 winter, while in the summer time he worked at the 
 machinist's trade, which he partially learned in ids 
 uncle's shop during his boyhood. Sul)sequently 
 he completed his trade in Philadeli>hia. but imme- 
 diately after his return home he carried on a store. 
 Later he was employed as a machinist in Chi('ago 
 and Indianapolis, and on going to Richmond, Ind., 
 was in the gas works with James M. Stair, wht) 
 established the gas works in Des Moines. Mr. 
 White located in this city in 1865, in which year 
 he built the old Capital Mills at the foot of West 
 Third and Elm Streets, which he operated success- 
 fully for more than fifteen j'ears, when in 1882 he 
 became a member of the firm of White, Murphy i^- 
 Pickering, that built the Capital Roller Mill and 
 dill an extensive business. 
 
 In 18GG Mr. White returned to his native State, 
 and in Port Carbon, Schuylkill County, on the 
 1st of November, was united in marriage with 
 Miss Lititia Fleming, a native of Columbia, Lan- 
 caster County, and a daughter of Solon and Eliza 
 J. (Fisler) Fleming, both of whom were born in 
 Chester County, Pa., the former January 23, 1811, 
 and the latter October 7, 1820. Their marriage 
 took place on the '.itli of August, 1842. Mr. 
 Fleming was one of the lirst locomotive engineers 
 In the Inited Sl.ates. He was a carpenter by trade, 
 but w.ages for such labor being very poor, he ob- 
 tained a position as fireman on the old Penns^-lva- 
 nia Railroad, running from Columbia to Philadel- 
 |)hia, and after a short time, in Jul}', 1835, was 
 given charge of an engine. He later became 
 Superintendent of the ISIine Hill Railroad, and 
 served in that capacity for other roads, also hold- 
 ing other responsible positions at different [daces. 
 He at one time had charge of the Union Depot in 
 Indianapolis, Ind., was general freight agent for 
 tlie Rock Island Road at Chie.igo, and both ticket 
 and freight agent in (ieneseo, III. While making 
 liis liome in that city, the death of his wife occurred 
 while on a visit to old friends in Pennsylvania. 
 Mr. Fleming is now living with his daughter, Mrs. 
 White, and has attained the ripe old age of sev- 
 enty-nine jears. It is doubtful whether anyone 
 living can antedate his exiicricnce as a locomotive 
 engineer. He lias lived an unpretentious life, 
 though one crowded with varied and interesting 
 
722 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 experiences, and iias won the liigli regard of all b}' 
 whom he is known. Mrs. While, his only daugh- 
 ter, and two sons constitute the family. 
 
 Upon his marriage Mr. White brought his bride 
 to Des Moines, where she has since continued to 
 reside. By their union were born four children — 
 George F., a progressive young artist; (.Jrace M.; 
 lienjaniin V.. who died at the age of two years; 
 and Pearl L. 
 
 For twenty-three years Mr. White w.a.s conncctei) 
 with the milling interests of Des Moines, and his 
 dealings were marked by honesty and justice, as 
 will be attested b^- the many farmers who were his 
 patrons. Few wei'e better known in the count}-, 
 and none more universally esteenied. He was un- 
 swerving in the faith of the Socielj' of Friends, 
 and politically, was a strong Proliibition-Repub- 
 lican. On the 11th of April, 188H, he w.as called 
 from his earthly toils. The integrity and purity- 
 of his life are worthy of Imitation. 
 
 ILAS P. OLDFUOLU. an enterprising 
 farmer roslillngon section '.(, Beaver Town- 
 shii), Ls a native of Ohio. He was born In 
 Richland County, May 23, 1844, and is a 
 son of Richard and Eimina (Pheli)s) Oldfield. His 
 father was a. native of New York, born of Sfoteli- 
 Irish j)arentage and by occupation was a farmer. 
 In his youth he removed to Pickaway County, Olilo. 
 where he grew to manhood and on reaching nia- 
 lurit}' went to Klchlaiid County, where he married 
 Miss Plielp.s, a native of >few Hampshire. He 
 owned a large tract of laud in that county and was 
 extensively engaged in farming until his death In 
 1873, in the seventy-fourth year of his age. His 
 wife yet resides in Richland County, and has at- 
 tained the advanced age of eight^'-five years. In 
 early life Mr. Olddcld was a Whig, but on the or- 
 ganization of the Republican |)artv joined its ranks 
 and continued to fight under its banner until his 
 death. He filled a number of local offices of trust 
 an<i was numbered among the honored citizens of 
 the community in which he maile his home. Our 
 
 subject is one of a family of eleven children, five 
 sons and six daughters — David P., a resident of 
 Mitcliellville; Annie, wife of Wyman Andrews of 
 Belleville, Ohio; Matilda wife of Daniel Oarlier, 
 who resides near Indejiendenee, Ohio; James T., 
 who served in the late war and died on the old home- 
 stead; Coidelia, wife of Daniel Loose, of Indepen- 
 dence, Ohio; Reuben, who died in llie Buckeye 
 State, at the age of seventeen years; Elizabeth, now 
 Mrs. Sapi)ington; Martha, wife of Jasper Gaddis 
 of Knox C'ounlj', Ohio; William, who was a mem- 
 ber of the Thirtj'-SecOnd Ohio Volunteer Infantry, 
 died from disease contracted in the service and is 
 now sleeping in the National cemetery, near Mari- 
 etta, (ia., grave 114, section C; he died at Rome, 
 Ga., in 1861; Mar}', wife of Aaron B. Leedy, who 
 resides near the old homestead in Richland County, 
 Ohio; and Silas P. of this sketch. 
 
 Our subject spent the days of his bo3'hood and 
 youth upon his father's farm and attended school 
 in tlie neighborhood until the breaking out of the 
 great Rebellion, when he laid aside his books and 
 on the 10th of August, 1862, enlisted in Company 
 K, One Hundred and Second Ohio Volunteer In- 
 fantry for three j'ears' service. The regiment was 
 was organized, e(|iilpped and drilled at Camp 
 JVIansiield and then sent to Covington, Ky., where 
 it joined the command of (Jen. Lew Wallace, driv- 
 ing Kirby Smith from the Stale. Taking steamer for 
 Louisville, Ky., they were then put under com- 
 mand of (Jen. Bucll and followed in [)ursuit of Gen. 
 Bragg to Perryville, Ky., where a severe eng.age- 
 mentwas brought on and had the forces done tlieir 
 dut}', the entire rebel arm}- would have doubtless 
 been captured. However, as it was, they drove 
 Gen. Bragg to Cumberland (iap and then returned 
 to Bowling Green, where they were placed under 
 the coiniiiand of Gen. Rosecrans, where they re- 
 mained until the fall of 1864. Din-ing the greater 
 part of the time that }ear they did guard <lnty, 
 guarding the railroad between I'hattanooga and 
 Nashville, Tenn. At the battle of Athens, Ala. 
 half of the One Hundred and Second Regiment 
 was capt*ire<l by Gen. Forrest while making a raid 
 on that place. Our subject was on picket duty 
 at the time and escaped. The men were placed in 
 prison and many of them died in those horril)le 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 723 
 
 rebel dens. The remainder of tlie regiment was 
 placed on garrison duty at Decatur, Ala., during 
 the winter of 18(34-6;"). On the 2i)th of October, 
 1864, the}- were attacked b}- Gen. Hood who con- 
 tinued the seigc four days, but the boys in blue, 
 being well fortified, bravely held the city and cap- 
 tured about one hundred and thirty of the enemy. 
 From Decatur thej' were sent to Nashville, where ■ 
 the regiment w.as discharged July, 1865. 
 
 IMr. Oldfield served his country for three long 
 years and participated in man}' of the important 
 engagements of the war. On its close he again re- 
 turned to his native count}' and gave his attention 
 to the tilling of the soil. February 3, 1867, he 
 was united in marriage with Samantha Traxler, a 
 native of Richland County. Ohio, and a daughter 
 of Philip and Prudence Traxler, who were born 
 in the Empire State. Her parents are both now 
 deceased. 
 
 Mr. Oldfleld continued his farming operations 
 in Richland County until 1870, when he moved 
 with liis fnniiiy to Elniwood. Peoria County, 111., 
 and enil>arke(l in the railroad hotel business which 
 he continued with excellent su(-cess until 1876. 
 In the spring of that year he sold out his interest 
 and he and his wife spent the summer and autumn 
 seasons in viewing the battle-lields of the Suulh 
 which Mr. Oldfield had once trod, together with a 
 niimlter of places of interest in the East and the 
 Centennial at l'liiladel|)hia. Pa. On the 1st of 
 .January, 1877, we find them in Mitchellville foi' 
 the purpose of selecting a location in this county. 
 At length Mr. Oldfield purchased one hundred 
 and twenty acres of land on sectior. 0, Ikavor 
 Township, where he has since made liis home. He 
 has identified himself with the liest interests 
 of the township an<l county and is numbered among 
 the representative citizens. IIi' is one of the 
 self-made men of the community, having l)egiin 
 life without capital and worked his wa}' upward 
 until he is now nuuiliered among the substantial 
 farmers in tlie neighborhoofl. In polities, he is a 
 stalwart Repul>lican, and in 1887 was the nominee 
 of his party for Representative but by an under- 
 handed election sclieme he was defeated by a small 
 majority. Socially he is a memlier of the Masonic; 
 Order and Warr I'osl. No. 17, G. A. R. of Mitch- 
 
 ellville, and both he and his wife :M(> members of 
 the Congregational Church. For the past three 
 years lie has been one of (he leading members of 
 the Farmer's Alliance, an organizatiini formed for 
 the purpose of protecting the interests of the pro- 
 ducer and was selected to amend and revise the by- 
 laws of the order. As a citizen none stands higher 
 in the community and it is with pleasure that we 
 record his sketcli in this volume. 
 
 f.BEN SUTLIFF HARTER, President of the 
 American Savings Bank of Des Moines, and 
 
 ij one of the leading financiers of the State, is 
 a native of Ohio. He was born in Mansfield, Rich- 
 land County, on the 30th of July, 1824, and is a 
 representative of one of the resiiected pioneer fam- 
 ilies of Polk County, his jjarents, John W. and 
 Cordelia (SutlitT) Ilarter, having located near Des 
 Moines at an early day. In 1835, they removed 
 from Richland to Lucas County, Ohio, setlling on 
 a farm, where our subject w.as reared to manhood. 
 He received his education in the common district 
 schools of the neighborhood, and made fanning his 
 l)rincii)al occupation. In 1852, he went to Cali- 
 fornia, where he engaged successfully in mining for 
 two years. On the return voyage, the steamer on 
 which he sailed (the ''Winfield Scott") was wrecked 
 on the rocks opposite Santa r)aibara,and he remained 
 on an island with the other passengers, for eight 
 <lays. In February, 1851, he anived in Des Moines, 
 Iowa, and purchased a farm in Saylor township, 
 Polk Count}', altiioiigh he made his home in the 
 city, wliere lie has since resided. From 1857 until 
 1873, Mr. Harter was succcssfuil}' engaged in the 
 retail grocery business; but selling out in the latter 
 year, turned his attention to real estate and bank- 
 ing, ill which he }et carries on o|)erations. In 1.S83, 
 in company with others, he iiicorjiorated the Amer- 
 ican Savings liaiik, with a paid ca|)ital of *50,000. 
 At the first election James Garrity was made Pres- 
 ident. biiL in 18.S1. he was succeeded by Jlr. Dar- 
 ter, who has since siiecessfnlly filled the position. 
 The bank has had a pios[)erons eareer and is con- 
 sidered one of the solid, financial institutions of 
 
724 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Des Moines. Possessing excellent business ability, 
 judgment antl foresiglit, oursubjeet liascontiilnitcd 
 iniicli to the success of the bank. 
 
 Mr. Harter was raarriert in Davenport, Iowa, on 
 the i;3th of June, 1859, wlicn he led to tiie may- 
 riage altar Jliss Chaviotta C Howell, a native of 
 the Empire State, and a daughter of Jobn Howell. 
 Her death occurred March 23, 1802, and on liic 4th 
 of April, 18fiG, Mr. Harter was again married, his 
 second union being with Mrs. Louisa Shcrell, widow 
 of Elislia Slierell, and a daughter of A. W. Ilobson. 
 Mrs. Harter was born in Indiana, and came with 
 her parents to Polk Count}', Iowa, in 1«47, the 
 family settling in Saylor Township when it con- 
 tained but few inhabitants. Two children, a son 
 and daughter were born of their union — Allen .1. 
 and Annie May. 
 
 In political sentiment, Mr. Harter is a supporter 
 of tlie Republican Jiarty, and socially' is a member 
 of Capital City Lodge, No. 106, I. O. O. F. He is 
 a plain, unassuming man, possessed of good busi- 
 ness ability, great industry and the strictest integ- 
 rity. More than half his life has been passed among 
 the people of Des Moines, and none have known, 
 but to esteem and respect him. 
 
 , EY. HENRY C. RO.'^EXBEROKH, p.astor of 
 the Congregational Church of Milchellviiie, 
 iV w.as born in Seneca County, t)hio, August 
 '.), 184(1. and is a son of Nicholas and Han- 
 nah (Keopplc) Roscnbergcr. His paternal granil- 
 (larents were -lohn and Catherine Uosenberger, 
 who a few years after their marriage removed to 
 Seneca County. Ohio, where ^Ir. Roseiiberger pur- 
 chased a farm near Tilliu. lie iMiinedi;tlcly began 
 tiic work of improvement, and at length, l>v pa- 
 tient and persevering industry, the once unfruitfid 
 fields were maile to yield an adequate suppl\- for 
 the large family. So far west were they living 
 that few ministers ever visited that region, and 
 nxetingsof a religious chai-actor were seldom held. 
 At length the minister of the I'nited Brethren 
 Church visited the neigliborhood and succeeded 
 in forming a class, at which lime .Mr. Uosenberger 
 
 became the subject of saving grace and united 
 with that church. Some time afterward he with 
 many others, under the watchful care of the Rev. 
 .John Sounder, were organized into a Methodist 
 Protestant Society. He loved that form of church 
 government, hence the change in his church rela- 
 tions. In 185.3, accompanied by more than a 
 score of relatives and friends, lie came AVest and 
 purchased a large tract of laml in Iowa County, 
 Iowa. Perhaps more than half of the party were 
 Christian people, and they soon appointed a 
 prayer meeting, which they continued until a reg- 
 ular church organization was formed. It was not 
 long l)efore news of tliis devoted little band of 
 praying people re.ached others, and soon afterward 
 a INIethodist Protestant Society was formed in that 
 p.art of the county, being organized ;us the Ohio 
 Class. It constituted a |)art of the new circuit, 
 and the first quarterly meeting was lielil at the 
 home of Father Rosenbcrger, as he w.as every- 
 where known, before the completion of their 
 house. JIany meetings of interest were held be- 
 neath his roof, wjiich resulted in the conversion of 
 a large numl)er. At length death ended one of 
 the most devoted Christian lives, and it w.as .said 
 th.at a father in Israel had f.allen. His life 
 abounded in good works, deeds of charity and 
 kindness and acts of love. On the 11th of .Inly, 
 IIS7G, his body was consigned to its last resting 
 place, anil his spirit returned to him who gave it. 
 Mrs. Rosenbcrger dicl not long survive her hus- 
 band, but on the 3d of October, of th.at same year, 
 followed him to his long home. The endearing 
 relationship of husband and wife existed between 
 them for more than sixty-one years. To write of 
 tiie marriage of Jlrs. Ixoscnberger. Iier removal 
 from ^'irginia to Ohio, licr heroic deeds and labors 
 anil saerilices in f)peiiing up their new farm near 
 Tillin, of the large .-xud interesting family she 
 reared and of her church relations in (Jhio and 
 also in Iowa, would be to rewrite a large part of 
 the noble life of her companion, as the ir interests 
 were one, and they labored tt)gether in the Master's 
 worl<. In lier religious life she was governed 
 more by princi|)le than impulse, more by faith 
 than feeling. Siie made (iod's work, her work, 
 and knowing the man}' hanlships and privations 
 
PORTRAIT AM) UKHiRAPHICAL AI,I?UM. 
 
 725 
 
 whieli ministers' fiirailies were often forced to en- 
 dun," nn lln' froiitior. no one cngaiicd in that work 
 coulil ever loni-' remain in the neigli')orli<i<id wilii- 
 out her finding out their needs and wants. She 
 alwajs kei)l a guoil su|i|ily of pri^ivisiuns at her 
 home, and woulil so delicately place tliein at tlie 
 refusal of the minister that he could not hut ac- 
 cept them. Her acts of kindness and words of en- 
 couragement have benelited many. \'anity and 
 |)ride found no place in her heart, l)ut like her Mas- 
 she was meek an<l lowly in spirit. Her last words 
 were, "Farewell, I am going home; my Saviour 
 smiles and liids me come." 
 
 I'nder such inlluences our subject was reared 
 and be must have indeed been hard-hearted if, with 
 such examples of Christian i)ractice before him, he 
 bad failed to accept the salvation offered to all 
 and become a follower of Christ. His parents 
 were also worthy members of the Methodist Prot- 
 estant Church. In Ohio, his father was reared, 
 and married Hannah Ken|ii)le and unto them were 
 born seven children: John, who enlisted in the 
 late war, as a member of Company E, Twenty- 
 fourth Iowa Infantry, was taken sick with the 
 measles during the service and started to return, 
 but died before reaching home and was buried in 
 the cemetery near Benton Barrreks, St. Louis; 
 Henry C, of this sketch is the next younger; Re- 
 becca is the wife of Martin Shoull, a farmer of 
 Iowa County, Iowa; Sarah is the widow of Benja- 
 min Franklin, and resides in Ta\lor, I(jwa; Rol- 
 lins is a merchant; ]Mary is the wife of George 
 Slosser, whf) is engaged in merchandising in Ladoga, 
 Iowa; and Maggie is the wife of William Raw- 
 ley, a commercial traveler, of Omaha, Neb. Mr. 
 Rosenberger followed farming in Sencc.'i County, 
 Ohio, until 1851, when with his family he started 
 westward, and located in Iowa County, Iowa,' 
 where he and his wife slill reside. Like their 
 parents, they have taken a prominent pai't in 
 church work, they have endeavored to mould their 
 lives according to the divine pattern and have 
 made their religion a part of themselves. Their 
 children they trained to habits of industry, so- 
 briety, integrity and morality, and have done their 
 duty by their fellow-men. 
 
 We now lake up the personal history of our 
 
 subject. Ill' was but six years of age when the 
 parents located in Inwa County, and his early edu- 
 cation was acquired in the Ohio school, which was 
 organized largely by the Methodist Protestant 
 Church. He pursued his studies during the win- 
 ter months and in the summer season aided his 
 father in the cultivation of the farm, until nine- 
 teen years of age, when ln' entered the University 
 of Iowa City. He there continued his studies for 
 five yeais, but a few months before his graduation 
 his health failed him, and he was forced to lay 
 aside his books. In the meantime he had deter- 
 mini'tl to devote his life to the cause of the church, 
 and having fitted himself for that work, in 1870, 
 took charge of the Methodist Protestant Church 
 in Peoria, six jears, and five years in Colo, Iowa, 
 during which time six hundred were brought to 
 see the light and accept the pardon offereil all. 
 
 In the same year in which the Rev. Mr. Rosen 
 berber entered upon the work in Peoria and Cole 
 he was united in the hol.y bonds of matrimon^ 
 with Miss Melinda J. Rumple, the wedding taking 
 place on the 3d of November. She was born in 
 Seneca County Ohio, October 6, 1818, and is a 
 daughter of John and Nancy (Hiser) Rumple, the 
 former a native of I'ennsylvaiiia and the latter of 
 A'irginia. In his boyhood, her father removed to 
 Ohio, where he became acquainted with and mar- 
 ried Miss Hiser. Later they emigrated to Iowa, 
 and settled on a farm adjoining that on which 
 Nicholas Rosenberger resides. His wife tiled in 
 1881. Like her husband she was a consistent 
 member of the Methodist Protestant Church and 
 delighted in doing good. Mi', and Mrs. Rosenber- 
 ger are the [larents of seven children: Arthur K., 
 who was Iiorn in Stoiy County, Iowa, Decend)er 
 1'2, 1871, died on the Nth of December, 1872; 
 .Mia A., who was boi-n in Story Count}', Febru- 
 ary 22, 187."5; Mary ( ). was born in the same 
 county, April 0, 1875; Charlie \'. was born in 
 Slory County, May I, 1877; Kdilh I-;., who was 
 liorn in the same county, May 21, 1880, died .Sep- 
 tember 11, 1881; Kollin L. born June 5. 1882; 
 and Orpha P., June It, 1885, were born in Iowa 
 County. 
 
 Mr. Rosenbciger continued in charge of the 
 cliurch in Colo, Iowa, until 1881, when he was sent 
 
■2C 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 to the Millersburg circuit and for some years served 
 in that conference. In 1887, lie took charge of the 
 the Congregational Chiircli, in Webster, Keokuk 
 Coiintj', acting as supply for a j'ear, ami in 1888, 
 went to Cleveland, Lucas County, where lie served 
 until called to the pastorate of the Congregational 
 Church in Mitchellville, in l.HSD. During his min- 
 isterial labors more than one thousand have been 
 brought to confess the Savior, yet the results of 
 his efforts cannot be measured by numbers, and 
 will only be revealed when the Book of Life is 
 opened. His labors have been ably suiiplenicnted 
 b3' Mrs. Rosenberger, and they ever win a warm 
 place in the hearts of the people. 
 
 ♦^^ 
 
 :^^ 
 
 ellAKLES CASS LOOMIS, Sheriff of Polk 
 County, was born in the town of Halifax, 
 Dauphin Count}', Pa., on the Gth of No- 
 vember, 1848, and is a son of Anthony W.ayne 
 and Mary (Murray) Loorais. His father was born 
 in New Hampshire, in November, 1800, and was 
 descended from one of the oldest Puritan families 
 of New England. The original American ancestor 
 was .lose|)h Loomis, who was born and reared in 
 Braintree, Ksscx County, England, and left Lon- 
 don, on the 1 Itli of April, 1638, on the ship "Ellen 
 and Mary," which arrived in Boston on the 17th 
 of July following. He was accompauie<l by five 
 sons and three daughters and in the autumn of 
 1839, settled in Windsor, Conn., where he carried 
 on the business of a woolen draper. Our subject 
 is descended from Thomas Loomis, the fifth son of 
 the famil}-, who in turn was the father of Capt. 
 Joshua Loomis and the line comes on down through 
 Joshua Jr., Eleazer, Ashbell, Anthony W.ayue and 
 Charles Cass. 
 
 The father of our subject died in Halifax, Dau- 
 phin County, Pa., on the 6th of August, 1 864, but 
 his widow is still a resident of that [)l.ice. But 
 little is known of her ancestors as her father was 
 left an orphan in early cliildhood and lost all tr.aces 
 of his family except a general knowledge that his 
 his ancestors were of .Scotch-Irish origin, 
 Charles Cass Loomis received a common-school 
 
 education in the State of his nativity, which was 
 largely supplemented b^' self-instruction. Through 
 his own efforts he became qualified for the position 
 of teacher and for .several years was engaged in the 
 prosecution of that profession in the schools of his 
 native town. Later he became a clerk in a bank 
 at Halifax, in which capacity he was em|)loyed 
 just prior to his removal to Iowa. It was also in 
 his native city, in the month of Fel)ruary, 1870, 
 that he was united in marriage with Miss Laura 
 Lingle, a daughter of Alexander and Lydia Lin- 
 gle. Mrs. Loomis was born In Halifax, Pa., and is 
 of Scotch and ticrman descent. Thej- have two 
 children, daughters, Mary E. and Laura Eflie. She 
 died September 30, 18H1. His second marriage 
 was with Mary Quayle, in March, 1884. They 
 nave no children. 
 
 In August, 1881, Mr. Loomis came to Iowa with 
 his family and located in Des Moines, where he wa.-; 
 engaged in the grocery business until November, 
 1887, when he was elected Sheriff of Polk County. 
 The able and ellicient manner in which he dis- 
 charged his ofhcial duties led to his re-election in 
 the autumn of 188'.i. and he is now serving his 
 second term. In political sentiment he is an earn- 
 est Democrat and the fact that he has been twice 
 elected to the important office of Sheriff in a 
 count}' known to have a decided lvei)ublican ma- 
 jorit}-, is the best possible assurance of his high 
 standing and personal popidarity. He has |)roved 
 an ellicient and faithful officer and his re-election 
 was but a fitting expression of [mblic confidence 
 and of satisfactit n with his fidelity to the trust re- 
 posed in him. Mr. Loomis is a member of Capital 
 Lodge, No. 110, A. F. & A. i\I., and has been a 
 member of the order since attaining his majority. 
 
 ^p^EOKOE LENDRUM, who is now living a 
 [|| g=^ retired life in E:ist Des Moines, is numbered 
 ^^41 among the early settlers of Iowa, and since 
 1862, has been a resident of this city. He was born 
 in the town of Argyle, Washington County, N. Y., 
 on the ."5 1st of July, 1827. and in the Empire SUite 
 the days of his boyhood and youth were spent. 
 
PORTRAIT AND BlOfiUAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 727 
 
 His fatlier, (4eorge Lendrum, was a native of Scot- 
 
 hiiul, and in tliat (•(^iiiitry UvuirhI the Irado of a 
 sli^) builder. Ik' crossed the Atlantic to America, 
 when a young man, and for a few years followed 
 his cliosen occupation in New York City, lie at 
 length settled in the town of Argyle, Washington 
 Count}', receiving the land on which he located as 
 a present from the Uuke of Argylc, who founded a 
 Scotch colony in that count}', giving to the settlers 
 a title to the land without compensation. Mr. 
 Lendrum, .Sr., wedded Miss IMary Robinson, a lady 
 of Scotch descent, and they continued to make; 
 their home in the town of Argyle until life ended. 
 Their union was blessed with ten children who grew 
 to mature years, seven sons and three daughters, 
 but only two lirothers and two sisters of the fam- 
 ily now survive, namely: George, of this sketch; 
 Archie, who resides near the old homestead in 
 Washington County, N. Y.; Margaret, wife of 
 Thomas McEachron, a resident of De Kalb County, 
 111.; and INIary, wife of David Ilor, who for many 
 j'ears lived in I)e Kalb County, III., but now makes 
 his home in Kansas. 
 
 (leorge Lendrum was reared in his native town 
 to the occupation of farming, and remained under 
 the parental roof until his marriage. The lady 
 whom he married was Miss .Iidia T. Bain, a daugii- 
 ter of I'eter .ind Jane Ann (McNeil) Bain. She 
 belongs to one of the early families of the State of 
 New York, her original American ancestor being 
 Hugh Bain, who left his home in Scotland to be- 
 come a citizen of this country prior to the War of 
 the Revolution. His son, James, was the great- 
 grandfather of Mrs. Lendrum, and was one of the 
 pioneer settlers of Washington Count}-, N. Y. In 
 1854, the parents of this worthy lady removed from 
 New York to Jasper County, Iowa, where they 
 spent their remaining days, the mother dying in 
 18G0, the father in 1878. They had a family of 
 twelve children, six sons aifd six daughters, and of 
 that band five sons and five daughters are }et liv- 
 ing: Dr. Seneca M. Bain, the eldest son, who is now 
 a practicing physician of Hall \' alley, Ind., Ter., was 
 graduated from a medical school in New Orleans, 
 La., .and engaged in the practice of the profession 
 in that city until the war broke out, when he was 
 compelled to enter the Confederate service, and 
 
 for a time commanded a regiment; Hamilton re- 
 sides on the old homestead of his parents in Jasper 
 County, Iowa; Kobert F., who first served biscoun- 
 tr}- in the Fifth Iowa Infanlry, and later in the 
 Fifth Cavalry, is now a resident of Los Angeles, 
 Cal. ; Thomas C., who was a member of the Fortieth 
 Iowa Infantry, now makes his home in Dos Cabezos, 
 Arizona; James (L, who enlisted in the service at 
 the age of fourteen years, as a member of the Ninth 
 Iowa Cavalry, and served four years, is a resident 
 of Des Moines. Mrs. Lendrum is the eldest of the 
 sisters, three of whom are living in Jasper County, 
 Iowa, while Blrs. Abbie Dcihl is a resident of Ft. 
 Worth, Tex. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Lendrum were married and began 
 their domestic life in New York, whence they came 
 to Iowa in 1863, settling in Burlington. They are 
 now parents of three children, a son and two daugh- 
 ters — George, Jennie J., :uid Ida May. For the 
 greater part of his business life, Mr. Li'ndrum en- 
 g.aged in the foundry business, in which line he 
 continued operation in Burlington during his ear- 
 lier residence in Iowa. On his removal to this city 
 in 18G2, he again resumed work at that occupation, 
 but is now living a retired life. He was eminently 
 successful in his business pursuits, acquiring a com- 
 petence which now enables him to lay aside the 
 arduous duties and cares of this world. ]5oth he 
 and his wife have long been faithful and consistent 
 members of the I'rcsbyterinn Church, and are luim- 
 Ijered among the well known and respected citizens 
 of Des Moines. In 187;') Mr. Lendrum was elected 
 Sheriff of Polk County, and re-elected in 1877, 
 serving four years. 
 
 ICllAUl) T. WKLLSLAtlFI?, President of 
 (c the Des Moines National Bank, has been a 
 \\ resident of Iowa since 1854. He was born 
 ^^ near Ilagerstown, in Washington County, 
 Md., on the 18th of April, 1834, and is a son of 
 Samuel and^INIary (Welsh) Wellsliiger. His parents 
 were also natives of Washington C\)unty, but on 
 the paternal side the family is of German origin, 
 and on the maternal of Irish descent. When Richard 
 
728 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 T. was two years of age his parents removed to 
 Richlaafl County, Ohio,where he grew to manliooil, 
 receiving his ('ducation in the common schoois. As 
 before staled, lie came to Iowa in )8.')-4, and located 
 in Oskalooka, wliere he secured the appointment of 
 Deputy Postmaster. So efficiently did lie perform 
 the dulies of that position that lie received the al- 
 most unanimous indorsement of the citizens for the 
 appointment of Postmaster, to which he was com- 
 missioned in 185'i', under President Buchanan, and 
 served until the spring of 18G1. He then came to 
 Des Moines, and at the opening of the extra session 
 of that 3ear was made Assistant Secretary of 
 t .e Senate. When the Legislature adjourned he 
 accepted the ))ositioii of Cashier in the bank of B. F. 
 Allen, which lie lilled four years, when he went to 
 New York City and operated on \\'all Street for a 
 year and a half, after whicli he returned to Des 
 Moines and bought a half interest in the book and 
 stationery business owned by AVesley Redhead. 
 That was in 186(5, and for nineteen years the firm 
 of Redhead & Wellslager carried on an extensive 
 and prosperous business. At the expiration of that 
 jteriod our subject retired from the firm on account 
 of impaired health and with his family traveled ex- 
 tensively over the country for nearly liirae years. 
 
 In the fall of 1887, Mr. Wellslager entered the 
 Des Moines National Bank as cashier as a prelimi- 
 nary to a higher position and in -lanuar}', 1888, was 
 elected President, which position he has since held. 
 When he became the head of the bank its report of 
 January 1, 1888, showed a capit.al stock of *3(i(l,. 
 000; surplus, *28,300 ; undivided profits, $12, 00 1.97 
 and deposits .'imounting to $229,743.15. The re- 
 port of May 13, 1889, seventeen and a half months 
 later sliowed, capital slock iiSOO.OOO; sur[)lus fund, 
 $32,400; undivided profits, $28,4-41.13, and de- 
 posits amounting to $501^431.64. 
 
 A comparison of these figures shows a large in- 
 crease of business, of surplus and undivided profits 
 and a line of deposits more than double the amount 
 when he became President, all of which speaks 
 very highly to the credit of Mr. Wellslager as a 
 financier, as he has given the busine.ss of the bank 
 the benefit of his personal supervision since his con- 
 nection with it. In addition to his connection with 
 the Des Moines National Bank, he is actively iden- 
 
 tified with several other import.'uit linancial insti- 
 tutions of the city. He is a Director in the Des 
 Moines Savings Bank, in the Security, Loan and 
 Trust Companj'. the Stale Insurance Company, 
 Equitable Life Insurance Company, and the Polk 
 County Loan and Building Association. Of the 
 Kfpiitable Life Insurance Coin|)aiiy he is alsf) Treas- 
 urer. 
 
 iSIr. Wellslager was married in Des ISIoines on the 
 26th of October, 1862, Ihe lady of his choice being 
 Miss Anna Beekman,daughter of Harmon Beckman, 
 an early settler of this city of 1851, now a resident 
 of Salina, Kan. The lady was born in .S(;lioharie 
 County, N. Y., and one child graces their union, a 
 daughter, Kmiua, who resides with her [larents. 
 
 In ))olitics, Mr. AV^ellslager is a Republican but 
 has never sought or lielil an ollicial [losilion. He 
 is known as an enterprising yet conservative busi- 
 ness man, possessed of superior financial ability and 
 of the strictest integrity. 
 
 r^^OL. NOAH W. MILLS, Coniniander of the 
 .Seconil Iowa Infantry, who gave his life a 
 ransom for the cause of freedom, was lK>rn 
 in Montgomery County, Ind., June 21, 1834. He 
 was liberally educated, completing his school days 
 by a collegiate course in Wabash College. After 
 his graduation he was engagc'l for a time in civil 
 engineering and subse<iueiilly was emiiloyed for a 
 year by the American Express Conijiany. lie de- 
 voled his leisure hours during that period to the 
 study of law which he had determined to make his 
 life work, and after his admission to the bar in the 
 fall of 1856, came to Des Moines, as furnishing a 
 good field for one in his profession. He here re- 
 sumed his legal pursuits and also engaged in the 
 book bindingand printing businc^ss with his brother, 
 F. M. Mills, uiuler the firm name of Mills <k Co., 
 which he continued until his eiilistnieiit in the late 
 war. 
 
 Col. Mills was one of the first in Polk Count}- to 
 respond to the President's call for troops and en- 
 tered the service. He became Lieutenant in Capl. 
 Crocker's company, which ivas organized for en- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 731 
 
 tering the three months' service, but the call being 
 filled they were made a company in the Second 
 Iowa Infantr}-, at the rendezvous in KeoUuk, where 
 Capt. Crocker was promoted to Major, while Lieu- 
 tenant Mills was placed in command of the com- 
 pany. He held the rank of Captain until the 22d 
 of .June, when he was made Major. Two days 
 later he was promoted to be Lieutenant Colonel and 
 on the 8th of October, was promoted to the col- 
 onelcy of the Second Iowa Infantry. He was with 
 his regiment in all its cam|)ai<j:ns. Gen. Tuttle re- 
 marked of him •' He was the coolest man in battle 
 that I ever saw and his watchfulness ami valor 
 were worth a rcj^iment." He was wounded at 
 Corinth in the final chari>e, which Capt. Stewart 
 describctl as follows: "In this tinal chai-jje, Lieut.- 
 Col. Mills was conspicuous. Spnng'ing to the front 
 of his regiment, he snatched the tattered battle-flag 
 from the color sergeant and in the very face of the 
 foe cheered liij men to the onset. 1 was in tlie 
 charge and after the ej:emj' had been routed found 
 fhat he was wounded. He was shot in the foot by 
 a musket ball which entered at the big toe joint 
 and loilged in the heel. A week afterwards he was 
 attacked Ity lockjaw and died at sundown on Sunilay 
 evening, October 12, 1862." 
 
 Col. Mills was a fine scholar and able writer and 
 possessed literary taste of a high order, lie also 
 di^phyed excellent business ability and by busi- 
 ness associates, army comrades, and friends of the 
 social circle, he was held in the highest regard. 
 
 IIILIP MORGAN. Among the most con- 
 I) servative and successful business men of 
 
 l)es Moines, must be classed the gentleman 
 whose name heads this sketch. He is the 
 pro|)rietor of the Hotel Morgan, one of the leading 
 hotels of Uie Caiiital City, which he has had leased 
 for several years but is now temporarily operating 
 under his own supervision. 
 
 Mr. Morgan was born in Wheeling Creek Town- 
 shii), Belmont Count}', Ohio, May 1, 1H2'.), and is a 
 son of Amos and Catherine (Gettinger) Morgan. 
 The latter was born near Ilagerstown, Md., the 
 
 father on the 16th of August, IHO.j, and the mother 
 on the 4th of March, 180;5. Their ftunilies hap- 
 pened to meet while crossing the moinitains on their 
 way from Maryland to Ohio and became acquainted. 
 The>- settled in the same neighborhood and Mr. 
 Morgan's parents, who were then children, grew up 
 together and were married in .lanuary, 1825. Unto 
 them were born two sous and three daughters, all 
 of whom are living at this writing in 18;)0. Henry, 
 the eldest, is a n'sident of Harrison County, Ohio; 
 Phili|) is the next jounger; Mrs. Maiy A. Logan 
 is now a resident of .lasi)er County, Iowa; Mrs. 
 Kliza ,1. Edwards, and Mrs. Martha M. Kdwards, 
 the youngest of the famil}', are both residents of 
 Harrison Couiit>', Ohio. In 1839, the family re- 
 moved to Harrison County, Ohio, where they fol- 
 lowed agricultural pursuits. The father died in 
 the spring of 1872, at the age of sixty -seven years 
 and his wife died September 23, 1^8'.), at the age 
 of eighty-six years. 
 
 Philip was reared to farm life and in his j'outli 
 attended the public schools. When lifteen years 
 of age he sustained a slight injury to the left knee. 
 He was one day carrying a scythe from the hay- 
 lield and the implement came in contact with his 
 left leg. The cut, while apparently slight, |)roved 
 serious when not projjcrly tre;ited and lirought 
 about a long and painful illness and resulled in a 
 l>ermanent lameness of the limb. On regaining 
 his strength but conlimdng lame, I'hiiip fcnind him- 
 self- unfitted for the arduous labor of the farm and 
 at the age of seventeen years, by his father's ad- 
 vice, became apprenticed, in I.SIG, to the saddlery 
 and harness trade with William Knox of Cadiz, 
 Ohio. After serving four years he reliuncd home 
 and opened a sadillcry and harness shop in (Jeorge- 
 town, in 18.50, near his old home, with a borrowed 
 capital of ^loO. 
 
 On the Slh of November, 1853, ftlr. Morgan w.as 
 
 j married in Wellsville, Ohio, to Miss Martha Ann 
 
 j Wiley, a daughter of Joseph Wiley, and a native 
 
 j of Harrison County, born on the 18lli of January, 
 
 1831. Two children were born unto them, a son 
 
 and daughter. The latter, Flora ()., was born 
 
 March I, 185/'), in Georgetf)wn, Harrison County, 
 
 I and is now the wife of .lolin N. Henze, of Des 
 
 Moines. The son, Philip Wiley, was born in Alhia, 
 
732 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Monroe Couuty, Iowa, July 6, 1860. He grew to 
 be a briglit, intelligent lad of great promise, but 
 died September 23, 1870, when little more than ten 
 years of age. On the 2oth of February, 1887, .Airs. 
 Morgan died after being an invalid for twenty 
 years, during the greater part of which time she 
 li.ad required and received constant medical care 
 and unusual attention. 
 
 Mr. Morgan continued business in Georgetown 
 until the month of Mareh, 1856, when he sold out, 
 and then emigrated with ^'SSG, his wife and infant 
 daughter to Iowa,locating in Albia,Monroe County, 
 - where he bought into a business, but soon after- 
 waril he |)urchased a small house in Albia, where 
 he carried on h.irness and saddlery and dealing in 
 hides and leather, from 1850 until 18(!1. Toward 
 the commencement of the late war he bought and 
 sliipi)ed cattle a]id sold in theChic.igo market until 
 November, 1861. In December, 1861, he came to 
 I)es Moines and opened a store on Second Street, 
 wliere he dealt in shoe leather and hides, beginning 
 with a capital of >< 1,020, and four years later added 
 saddlery hardware. In 1875, he bought the old 
 r.icific House, a two-slorj' hotel, and in 1876 built 
 the addition in the rear which is now a part of the 
 Morgan, a brick structure, 32x80 feet and three 
 stories in height. Leasing the hotel, Mr. Morgan 
 continued his former business and in 1878 formed 
 a partnership with N. W. Hunter, under the firm 
 name of Morgan & Hunter. Tliat connection con- 
 tinued until July, 1870, when Mr. iNIorgan sold out 
 to ills partner. He then took charge of his hotel, 
 operating it tuitil the spring of 1881 without 
 change. He then began the erection of the front 
 part of the Hotel Morgan and on the 7th of Janu- 
 ary, 1882, completed it as it stands to-day, and he 
 opened it for business .lanuary 1, 1882. The front 
 is 66x53 feet and is four stories high with Mansard 
 roof. It contains sixt3-six rooms, exclusive of 
 parlors, wash rooms and ollices. The house is well 
 furnished, complete in its appointments and is 
 classed as one of the popular hotels of the ('a[)ital 
 City. He leased the iiotcl from December 15, 1882 
 to January 1, 188',t, and traveled extensively 
 throvigh the I'nited States from February 1883 to 
 October, 1888. 
 
 On the 21st of September, 1887, in Ran'ton, N.J., 
 
 Mr. Morgan wedded Mrs. Anna De Hart Thomp- 
 son, widow of Robert Thompson, journalist and 
 postmaster of Memphis, Tenn.. and a daughter of 
 J. V. N. Dc Hart, of New Jersey. Mrs. Morgan 
 was born in Franklin Township, Somerset County, 
 N. J., as were also her parents who were descended 
 from old New Jersey- families. The mother died 
 when Mrs. Morgan was eleven years of age, but the 
 father is still living in his native State. Mrs. Mor- 
 gan received a thorough education and was reared 
 under the auspices of the Reformed Lutheran 
 Church. Her former husband was |)roprietor and 
 editor of the Memphis Avalanche; a Democrat in 
 politics and an active and influential member of 
 political circles. He was postmaster of Memphis 
 during one of those scourges of yellow fever that 
 periodically visit that city, and fell a victim to the 
 disease. His widow succeeded to the office made 
 vacant by her husband's death and completed the 
 term for which he was appointed. She proved 
 competent and faithful in the discharge of the 
 duties of the ollice and retired with a clear record. 
 After the close of her ollieial career she traveled 
 extensively for two years in Kurope and became 
 the wife of Mr. Alorgan .several months after her 
 return to tiic United States. 
 
 After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Morgan went 
 to California, where they remained until February-, 
 1888, when they came to Des Moines. The fol- 
 lowing summer and autumn were spent by them 
 among the watering places of Wisconsin. Return- 
 ing to Des Moines Mr. Morgan took possession of 
 his hotel, January 1, 188!>, which he has since 
 carried on successfully. 
 
 In politics Mr. Morgan w.ns a Republican until 
 within a few years, since which time he has to 
 some extent sup|)orted the Democracy. He li.as 
 been a successful business man, energetic and en- 
 terprising, yet conservative. He h.as alwa\'s .acted 
 on the principle that he who would succeed must 
 be in earnest and never allow his attention to be 
 diverted from the end in view. Upright and lion 
 orable in his intercourse with the world and always 
 re.ad}- and willing to meet every honest claim in 
 full, he, like most men of his character, looks well to 
 the merits of a trade ami is disposed to be ex.acting 
 of his just dues. He has been a keen observer p{ 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 733 
 
 mankind and is quick to detect and understand 
 motives in tiiose with wlioni lie has dealinos. In- 
 de|)endent and self-reliant, lie has achieved success 
 and has nelLlier feared opiiusition or courted favors. 
 
 *-# 
 
 -t— 
 
 AMES K. ]M()LLKR, banker and one of the 
 leading business men of Milchellville, was 
 born in Wayne County, Ohio, on the 24th 
 of October, 1839, .and is a son of .lohn and 
 Margaret (Harkins) Moller, the former a native of 
 Pennsylvania, of (Jernian orii^in, the latter a native 
 of Stark County, Ohio, of Irish descent. Their niar- 
 riige was celebrated in Wayne Count}', where they 
 lived the quiet and unostentatious life of farming 
 people until called to their final rest. Both were 
 members of tlie Presbyterian Church and their uii- 
 right lives won them the respect of all. Mr. INlol- 
 ler died in 1845, his wife the succeeding year. 
 Their famil}' numbered nine children, but two died 
 in childhood, Thomas and Nancy, and only four 
 are now living: William, who resides in South 
 Bend, Ind.; Eleanor, widow of Adam Bear, of 
 ]\Larshallville,Ohio; Eliza, wife of David B.Myers, 
 of Akron, Ohio; and James K. 
 
 Although left an orphan at the early age of seven 
 years and deprived of tl.-e care and counsel of lov- 
 ing parents, Mr. Moller has live(i a life of upright- 
 ness that numbers him among the leading citizens of 
 tlie community in which he makes his home and no 
 doubt h.as been .an important factor in his business 
 success. He began his school life in Stark County, 
 Ohio, and afterwards attended the Union School in 
 Ciinal Fulton, Ohio, and Greensburg College, of 
 (ircensburg, Ohio, completing his education in 
 Henderson College of Mendota, 111. He is studious 
 1)3' nature and being ambitious to acquire .an edu- 
 cation, he allowed no obstacle to deter him from 
 that purpose. Although he had no money with 
 which to p.a}' his expenses, he would work during 
 the v.acation and frequently had to lay aside his 
 books during a school term in order to replenish 
 his exchequer, Imt jiushing steadily forwanl he at 
 length completed a d.assical course and was gradu- 
 ated in 1860. He then engaged in te.aciiing in 
 
 Mendota with the intention of continuing his ef- 
 forts in th.at line, but in IHOI, at the breaking out 
 of the great rebellion, he |iut aside all thoughts of 
 himself and responded to the country's call, enlist- 
 ing in Com|)any C, Seventh Illinois Cavalry, for 
 three years service. One of the first engagements 
 in which his regiment took p.-irt was the battle of 
 New Madrid, followed by the battle of Island No. 
 10. Going to Hamburg, they joined Ccn. Pofie's 
 army and with him marched to Corinth, the regi- 
 ment being stationed on the left. They then pur- 
 sued Beauregard who proceeded southward to 
 Booneville, .and afterward served on guard duty on 
 Memphis & Charleston Railroad for a time. This 
 w.as followed by the battle of luka and the capture 
 of the city by Gen. Grant, when they started in 
 pursuit of Cien. Price .and met the enemy in the 
 second battle of Corinth in tJctober, 18G2. After 
 the engagement, the Seventh Cavalry w.as sent to 
 La Grange, 'I'enn., where it remained on duty dur- 
 ing the winter of 18C2-G3. The following spring it 
 followed Gen. Grierson to B.aton Rouge and join- 
 ing Gr.ant's army in the fall of 1863, st.arted south 
 for Holly Springs. They drove Gen. Price from 
 that place to Coft'eeville, Miss., where a hard fought 
 engagement was brought on .and skirmishing con- 
 tinued all the way to Tupelo, where another battle 
 occurred. The [Seventh Cavalry then made forced 
 marches in order to burn and destroy the bridges, 
 thus cutting off the (:onfederates from Chattanooga. 
 Thence they marched to Colliersville, where they 
 were attacked by J.ackson and Chalmers. The 
 Seventh was driven out of camp but afterwards re- 
 captured the place. They again went into winter 
 quarters at La Gr.ange and in the spring of 18(;t 
 marched down to Memi)his, where they were sur- 
 prised in the early morning by Gen. Forrest. The 
 Seventh, however, immedi.ately mounted and did 
 valiant service, lilierating some of the One hiuidred 
 and Thirty-seventh Illinois Infantry that had been 
 captured. This was followed by an exi)edition to 
 Guntown, and on their return to Memphis they 
 were ordered to Colliersville. Not long after the 
 term of service of the Seventii Cavalry expired, 
 and it w.as ordered to Si)ringfield, 111., and dis- 
 charged after three years and two months service. 
 In all that [leriod, Mr. Moller was never missing 
 
7U 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 from roll call, aiul in every engagement in wliich 
 tlie regiment took part, lie was found at his post of 
 diUy. Returning' to La Salle County, III., he again 
 resumed Icat'hing. l)nt the following spring joined 
 his old division at Kastport, Miss., where he served 
 as flerlv in tlio (Quartermaster's department, where 
 he continued until l.S(j5. In August of that year. 
 P. H. Ken(hill, the (Quartermaster, was sent to St. 
 Louis, and left Mr. MoUer to close up the business, 
 which he did, and then again returned to La Salle 
 County, where he followed his old profession dur- 
 ing the succeeding winter. 
 
 On ilie 0th of JMarch, 1860, Mr. MoUerwas united 
 in marriage with Miss Letitia C. Porter, a native 
 of Stark ('ount^'. Ohio, and a daugiiler of John A. 
 and Ann (Lachaw) Porter. Three children have 
 been born unto then:, all burn in La Salle County, 
 111., namely: Albert P., born .hmuary 7, 1809; 
 Ilariy L., September 2, 1876; and Amie L., No- 
 vember 2."(, 187'.). 
 
 In the spring of 1866, Mr. Moller, accompanied 
 by his wife, wont to Springlield, 111., where he was 
 engaged in the I'ension Department, collecting 
 bounties for the soldiers. In the autumn he re- 
 turned to La Salle and took charge of the Fifth 
 Ward school, and continued to serve in that capa- 
 city for fourteen years. His lung service in one 
 position is certainly a higii testimonial of his al)il- 
 ity as an e(lucator, and the confidence which the 
 people placed in him. He spent the summer of 
 1881 in recreation, traveling through California, 
 and then joining his famil\' at Clear I,ake, Iowa, 
 where a pleasant tuoiith was passed. As the scliool 
 year drew near, he repaired to Meudota, and at the 
 close of the term of 1882, removed to Penora, Iowa, 
 with the intention of making that place his home, 
 but on the urgent solicitation of leading business 
 men of Morris, 111., he changed his plans, and in 
 that city engaged in the manufacture of hard-wood 
 refrigerators anil church furniture, until the spring 
 of 1885. when he closed out his business, and re- 
 movecl to Des ^loines. In the capital city he en- 
 gaged in the transfer business until March 15, 1886, 
 when he was sent by the Merchants National Bank 
 to take charge of their bank in Milchellville, but 
 in a short time the company sold out, and in Julj- of 
 the same year, Mr. Moller organized a State Savinsrs 
 
 Bank, with a capital of if 10,(J00. Later he purchased 
 the Mitchellville Bank of O. J. Dntton. He is now 
 doing a general Ijanking business, and b\- liis hon- 
 est, upright manner has won the entire confidence 
 and respect of those with whom he has had business 
 dealings. Mr. Moller may tridy be called a self- 
 made man, and deserves no little creilit for his suc- 
 cess in life. Both he and his wife are members of 
 the Congregational Church, and in the social world 
 are held in high regard. He takes considerable in- 
 terest in civic societies; is a member of the Masonic 
 fraternity of Mitchellville, and the Chapter an<l 
 Conimaudery of Peru, III. He also belongs to the 
 Ancient Order of I'nited Workmen, the Modern 
 Woodmen of America, and Warr Post. No. 17. G. 
 A. R., of this place. In pulitics, he is a stalwart 
 Re[)ublican. and is now Treasurer of the village. 
 For man\' years Mr. Moller ranked among the lead- 
 ing educators of lilrnois, and is now at the lieail 
 of one of the solitl financial institutions of Polk 
 Countv. 
 
 'S5^' 
 
 \f|OHN BAILKY,one of the leading contrac- 
 tors and builders uf Des Moines, who is also 
 numbered among its representative citizens. 
 J is a native of Staffordshire, England. He 
 was born September 10, 1810, and is a son of John 
 and Martha ( !Man waring) Bailey. His father was 
 a miner and lost his lifi' by an accident in the mines 
 when his son, John Jr., was about nineteen years 
 of age. The mother is j'et living and still makes 
 her home in her native land. Our subject w'lS the 
 eldest of a family of four sons. Alfred, the ne.xt 
 younger also lost his life in the mines, dying De- 
 cember )3, 1800, when nineteen years of age. The 
 other two sons died in early childhood. It will 
 thus be seen that John is the only surviving child 
 of the family and therefore it devolves upon him 
 to perpetuate their record. He also engaged in 
 mining until about seventeen ^-e.ars of age, but the 
 dangers attending that life doid)tless induced him 
 to change his occupation an<l at the time above 
 stated he became apprenticed to the trade of a ma- 
 son, obtaining a thorough knowledge of the busi- 
 ness. Ere he left his native land he was joined in 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBLM. 
 
 r35 
 
 wedlock with JNIiss Tliercsa Un-i-eton, a native of 
 !^taffoi<l.sliirc, England, and a daughter of William 
 Hrcielon. Their niaiiiage was felphiatcd on Iho 
 l.st (lay of May, 1.SG7. and on the 7lh of .lidy, 
 I8(!s, Mr. liaile^', acconipaniod l)y his wife and 
 their first-born child, set sail from Liverpool for 
 New York, reaching their destination in due time. 
 Going directly to Shar[)sville, Pa., ho engaged in 
 work at his trade for about three months and then 
 removed to Mineral Point, Wis., where some friends 
 of Ins wife were living'. 
 
 Almost a 3car elapsed and than Mr. liailey took 
 up his residence in Des Moines, where he entered 
 at once upon work at his trade of masonry. lie 
 was first employed bj' Samuel (). C'olvin for some 
 months but in the fall of the year worked for Lewis 
 Highland, another of Des Moines early contractors 
 and builders, and for Francis (ieneser. At length 
 he entered the employ of S. A. Robertson, with 
 whom he continued six years, when he embarked 
 in business for himself. In 1H83, he. engaged in 
 the manufacture of brick which became an imjior- 
 tant branch of his Ijusine.ss and together he 3'et 
 continues the two lines of work. 
 
 Unto Mr. and Mrs. Bailey were born six daugh- 
 ters, but only three are now living — Annetta 
 Bertha, Minnie L. and Therza E. They have been 
 deeply atHicted in the loss of their other children, 
 who died from diphtheria. On the night of De- 
 cember If), 1881, their eldest daughter, Agnes, 
 ivhom they had brought from England and who 
 had attained the age of fourteen years, and Frances 
 Clarinda, nine years of age, passed from this life 
 to the better land, victims of that dread disease. 
 They also lost another daughter, Martha E., in in- 
 fancy. With the exception of the eldest, all their 
 children were born in Des Moines. 
 
 Mr. Bailey may truly be called a self-made man 
 for beginning life without capital he has steadily 
 workeil his way upward until he is now numbered 
 among the substantial citizens of Des Moines, be- 
 ing at the head of one of the leading industries of 
 the city, while the other branch of his business also 
 yields him a good income. He is numbered with 
 the valued and respected citizens of Des Moines, is 
 esteemed for his integrity and force of character 
 and both he and his wife are numbered amonir (he 
 
 devoted and f^iithful members of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church of East Des Moines. The}' have 
 made it their daily endeavor to live in harmony 
 with their professions and following as nearly as 
 possilile in the footsteps of the Master they have 
 won the respect and high regard of all with whom 
 they have been brought in contact. 
 
 f((^t 
 
 —5 ^W^^ S.- 
 
 <^f|EREMIAn CANFIELD, deceased, wasnum- 
 liered among the honored and respected 
 pioneers of Polk County. He lived a life of 
 uprightness and honesty and his example is 
 well worthy of emulation. The history of his life 
 is as follows: lie was born in Susquehanna Couny, 
 Pa., April .'!, 18.'iO, and when a small lad removed 
 with his parents, Harvey and Aliigail Canfield, to 
 Bradford Countj', Pa., where he was educated and 
 grew to mature 3'ears. His boyhood days passed 
 uneventfully, he spending his time in discharging 
 the duties of farm life and in attendance at the com- 
 mon schools. 
 
 It vvas in Bradford Count}' that Mr. Canfield 
 formed the acquaintance of Miss Jane Gregory 
 whom he led to the marriage altar on September 20, 
 18r>3. They traveled life's journey together for al- 
 most a quarter of a < entury; sharing with each other 
 its prosperity and adversity, its joys and its sorrows, 
 its pleasures and its pains, and to the loving wife 
 the loss of a husband came like an almost un'iear- 
 able allliction. In Bradford County, Mr. Canfield 
 owned a large farm, but in 185G, following the 
 course of emigration westward he came direct to 
 Polk Count)'. After a few years he made a pur- 
 chase of forty acres on section 22, Beaver Townshi|). 
 This was wild undeveloi)cd prairie land, upon which 
 no improvements had been made. He immediately 
 erected a small frame house which still stands as a 
 monument to the thrift and industry of this honored 
 liioneer. As time passed on, prosperity, the com- 
 panion of industry and enterprise, followed in his 
 footsteps and he began to add to his first purchase, 
 but when the war broke out he laid aside every 
 other consideration to discharge the duty resting 
 upon him as a loyal .\merican citizen and offered 
 
736 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 his services in defense of tlie stars and stripes that 
 now float so proiidl}' over the land made free by 
 the brave men who went forth to battle, and to die 
 if need be, for the right. 
 
 Mr. Canfield enlisted in Company I), .Second 
 Iowa Cavalry and for three years and sixty-two 
 days bravely and nobly fought for freedom, never 
 shirking any duty he was called ui)on to i)erform. 
 Sickness was the only thing which kei)t him from 
 his place in the ranks and he remained with the reg- 
 iment until the close of the war when he was honor- 
 ably discharged from the service. He then returned 
 to his wife and children who had watched and 
 waited for his coming, fearing each day that news 
 would reach them that he would never again return. 
 Soon after his return from the war he went I)ack to 
 I'ennsylvania, and sold the old homestead, then oc- 
 cupied by his father, and bringing his father to 
 Iowa with him, invested tlie money in land on sec- 
 tion 27, where the family now resides. 
 
 Mr. Canfield again took up tlie old plow and fol- 
 lowed successfully his chosen occupation until his 
 death, his labor being rewarded by a handsome in- 
 come. The boundaries of his farm were extended 
 until it comprised tliree hundred and ninety acres 
 of arable land which paid a golden tribute to his 
 good nianagenient. Idleness was utterly foreign 
 to his nature and he labored untiringly- for the inter- 
 ests of his family, content that their happiness and 
 comfort was secured. He managed his business 
 interests with the same fidelity and in'omiitness 
 which characterized his military career, but on the 
 13th of IMa}', 187G, he w.as called upon to answer 
 to the roll call of the (ireat Commander of the uni- 
 verse. His body wa.s consigned to its last resting 
 place in the Canfield Cemetery amid the tears and 
 heartfelt regret of tlie family, friends and comrades, 
 and each year on the day set a[)art in memory of 
 the gallant soldier dead, his grave is strewn with 
 lov<'ly lloweis as a token of the esteem .and love in 
 which he was held. In enrly life he confessed his 
 faith ill the Savior and united with the Methodist 
 Church and ever afterward manifested a deep in- 
 terest in both Sunday-scliool and church work. lie 
 hail filled various township ollices of tiiist, and in 
 politics was an ardent supporter of the Hcpiihlican 
 party and as a eiti/.cii noiiestooil higher in the eom- 
 
 munitj-. It was his greatest desire to live such a 
 life that others might be i)rofited by his example 
 and he left to his children a priceless heritage, an 
 untarnished name. Upright and honest in all his 
 dealings he won the confidence and respect of his 
 fellow-men .and the lasting esteem of all with whom 
 he came in contact. 
 
 A wife and five children were left to mourn the 
 loss of a tender and loving husband and father. 
 Eight children had been born of the union of Jere- 
 miah C'a'nfield and Jane Gregorj% but three of the 
 number died in infaneJ^ Those living are Wallace 
 A. the eldest, who was born in P)radford County, 
 Pa., August 6, 1854, a farmer of Calhoun County, 
 Iowa; Charles IM. is a farmer of Polk County, where 
 he w-as born, February 1, 1857; Martha A., born 
 March 10, 1859, is the wife of Rev. Olin Baker, a 
 Methodist minister; William, born June 25, 18G9, 
 has charge of the home farm, and Oscar, born 
 March 28, 1871, is still with his mothei-. Mrs. Can- 
 field since the death of her husband, has h.ad the 
 entire management of the farm and business inter- 
 ests, assisted b^' her son William, and has displa3-ed 
 excellent ability in her care of the same. The 
 family is well known throughout the county and in 
 the social world is held in high regard. 
 
 \f*^H. GEORCF, W. FILLER, one of the 
 well-known citizens of Des Moines, who 
 has been identified with the growth and 
 [irogress of the city since its earl^' infancy, 
 also takes rank aincmg the leading dentists, having 
 been engaged in the practice of that profession 
 since 18G1, when was formed the firm of Ilallctt it 
 Fuller, whose reputation is second to none in the 
 county. 
 
 The history of the Doctor's career is as follows: 
 lie w:is born in Jefferson County, N. Y., on the 
 27lli of June, 18.'$8, and is a son of Benjamin and 
 (.Sylvia (Lacore) Fuller. His father was born in 
 Leinesboro, N. H., Maj- 20, 1810. while his mother 
 w.is a native of the Empire State, born March 13, 
 1817. 'I'lie paternal ancestry were aiiKnig the ear- 
 liest settlers of New England, the family .as the 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 737 
 
 historical records show, havinsr been foiinclod in 
 America liy Andrew Fuller, who' came .over in the 
 Maylh)vver in 1G20, or immediately subsequent to 
 that event. Meml)ers of the Fuller family were 
 prominently connected with the early history of 
 the JNLissachusetts Colony and in later years have 
 become leading citizens of the various communi- 
 ties in which they reside. 
 
 Benjamin Fuller was reared to agricultural [lur- 
 suits which formed his life work. After his mar- 
 riage he settled on a farm in Jefferson County, N. V., 
 but in 1853, emigrated with his family to Polk 
 County, Iowa, locating on land in Bloomfield 
 Township, where his death occurred on the 19th of 
 April, 1878. He was then sixtj-eight years of age. 
 His wife survived him until February 27, 1890, 
 when she too was called awaj'. Three of the four 
 children who graced the union of that worthy 
 couple are living, namely: Dr. George W. ; Mrs. 
 Cornelia E. Nims, of liloomfield Township; and 
 Jasper IL, who operates the old home farm. One 
 daughter, Sarah, died after having attained to woman- 
 hood. Benjamin I'uller was numbered among the 
 prominent .and influential citizens of Polk County. 
 He inherited the marked characteristics of his Puri- 
 tan ancestors, stern integrity and strong religious 
 convictions, and was an earnest and sincere Christ- 
 ian gentleman, belonging to the Baptist Church, in 
 which he filled the olfice of deacon for many years. 
 In his political afliliations he was a Whig in the 
 old time and later supported the Republican party. 
 He ever performed the duties of a citizen, consci- 
 entiously and well, and is worthy a place in the 
 permanent record of Polk County's representative 
 early citizens. He left behind him nn unsullied 
 name as an inheritance to his posterity. 
 
 ])r. Fuller was a lad of about fifteen years when 
 the family left the State of his nativity and emi- 
 grated to Polk County. He had pursued an acade- 
 mic course of study in the East and his education 
 was continued in the schools of Des Moines where 
 be thoroughly qualified himself for teaching, in 
 which profession he successfully eng.aged during 
 the greater part of five years. His services in that 
 line were alw.ays in demand .and he never failed to 
 retain the respect of his employers. He began 
 preparation for the practice of <lentistry in tlie 
 
 office of his |);utner, Dr. Hallett, in 180:3, and the 
 following year joined him in business. It would 
 be superfluous to make anj- statement as to the 
 business standing and success that has been realized 
 by this firm as the gentlemen are too well known 
 to make such a course necessary. It is sufficient 
 to s.ay that Dr. Fuller, like his partner, is a gradu- 
 ate of the dental dc|)artment of the Iowa State 
 University-, where he received his degree in 18«;5, 
 and the jieoplo will acknowledge his ability. The 
 firm of Hallett & Fuller has ever enjoyed the con- 
 fidence of the public to the greatest extent, both 
 as to the character of the work they perform and 
 as to their perfect integrity in all business trans.ac- 
 tions. 
 
 On the 17tii of December, 18G.'?, Dr. Fuller was 
 married to Miss Charlotte T. Phillips, daughter of 
 William Phillips, a i)ioueer of J.ackson County, 
 Iowa. The lady was one of the first white children 
 born in that county, her birth having occurred 
 near Maquoketa, in 1839. They have become the 
 parents of three children, two of whom are living: 
 Benjamin, a student of Des Moines College and 
 Edith S. Minnie E., their first born, died in 1881^ 
 at the age of fifteen years. She was a most amiable 
 worthy girl and gave promise of a bright future. 
 Her early death was the greatest aflliction that the 
 parents have ever been called upon to endure. 
 
 Socially, Dr. Fuller is a leading member of the 
 Masonic order and has been prominently identified 
 with the higher degrees of that brotherhood. He 
 w.as recorder of Temple Commandery, No. 4, K. T. 
 for three years and later was elected Gener.alissimo. 
 or second in command and when the conclave of 
 Knight Templ.ars was held in San Francisco in 18H3, 
 owing to the inability of the Commander to attend, 
 the Doctor, as second officer, h.ad command of the 
 pilgrimage fioin Des Moines to the conclave on the 
 Pacific Coast, lie is a gentleman of culture and 
 refinement. His early advantages for edujation 
 were more than ordinary and with that excelhiiit ' 
 found.ation to builil upon he has made his life a 
 successful one. He has been prominently connected 
 with the educational and religious growth of the 
 city and he and his wife are faithful and consistent 
 mendiers of the First lia|)t,ist Church, in which the 
 Doctor served as Deacon for ten years. He is now 
 
(3K 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Cliainiiaii of tlie Board of Trustees and is also 
 N'ic'c-I'icsideiit of tlic Dos Moines College I'.oard (jf 
 Triislecs. In his political views lie is idenlilied 
 witli the Republican party. Fur the long period 
 of Ihirty-sovcn years Dr. Fuller has been a resident 
 of Dos Moines, or its immediate vicinity, and has 
 boon a witnoss and participant in the remarkable 
 growth, i^rogross and advanconient that those joars 
 have brought about. His ropulatiou .as a worthy, 
 upright and progressive citizen attests the esteem 
 ill whi<h lie is hold by all. 
 
 \f>ACOB W. RANDOLPH, druggist and pliar- 
 I niacist of Dos Moines, has boon engaged in 
 I business in that lino in this city since 18GG. 
 ' He first locate<l on the corner of East Sixth 
 and Locust Streets. That corner w.as then covered 
 with brush, and with his brother-in-laws, AVilliam 
 .1. Ilaraor, and John Wookw, he engaged in the mer- 
 cantile business. His partners, however, were as- 
 sociated in business with Mr. Randolph but a short 
 time, when they retired. Both are now residents 
 of Kansas. Our subject remained at his fu'st loca- 
 tion about three years, and then retired from mer- 
 cantile business, devoting his energies to various 
 oceup.itions for some six years. At the ex[)iration 
 of that time he opened a drug-store on the north- 
 east corner of E.ast Fifth and Locust Streets, where 
 he has carried on business continuously since. 
 
 'I'lio life record of Mr. Randolph is as follows: 
 he was born in Warren County', Ohio, in 1831, and 
 his father, .lolin Randolph was a native of the same 
 county. He was born and lived on the farm where 
 his death occurred in August, 1889, at Iho .age of 
 eighty-four years. His father, the grandfather of 
 our subject, was a native of Kentucky, and an early 
 pioneer of Warren County, Ohio. The family' is 
 of the same line of descent as the famous John 
 Randoliih, of Virginia, who claimed descent from 
 Pocahontas, the celebrated daughter of the noted 
 Indian chief Powhattan. The mother of Mr. Ran- 
 dolph was. in lior maidenhood Ellen Weaver. She 
 w.'is ji native of Pennsylvania, ami died at the old 
 
 homestead in Ohio, in July, 1888, at the advanced 
 age of scvouty-oight j'ears. 
 
 John Randolph and wife were the parents of 
 nine children. Two of the number died in child- 
 hood, but the remaining seven, consisting of four 
 sons and throe daughters, grew to mature years. 
 The surviving members of the family in 1890 are: 
 Rebecca, the eldest, who resides in Warren County, 
 Ohio; Jacob W.. whose name heads this sketch; 
 David a resident of St. Louis, .^lo. ; an<l John, who 
 makes his homo in (iuthrie Count3', Iowa. The 
 deceased members of the family who grew to ma- 
 ture 3-ears were Mrs. Marj- Brown ; James, and Mrs. 
 Alvia Hicker. 
 
 .Jacob W. Randolph, our sulijeot, was reared to 
 manhood on his father's farm, and in his youth 
 divided his time between work uiHjn the farm and 
 attoiidaiicc at the common school, where he ac- 
 quired a good English cducali(Mi. Remaining un- 
 der the jiarental roof until twonty-two years of age, 
 bo then loft home and wont to Illinois, where ho re- 
 mained from 18.J7 until l^itiG, a period of nine 
 j'cars. During that time he became acquainte(l 
 with Miss Kate Wooley, a native of Illinois, and a 
 d.'uighfcr of Lewis Wooley. The friendship of the 
 young couple rijiencd into love, and they were mar- 
 ried, .Tiid in 18GG came to Des Moines. liy their 
 union have been born four children, two sons and 
 two daughters — Minnie, Frank, Xollie. and Rlilo. 
 The latter was accidentally drowne<l in the Dos 
 Moines River in 1887. 
 
 Mr. IJandolph is one of the leading druggists of 
 the cit3'. liy courteous treatment to his cusluniers 
 and prompt .attendance to their wants, he has built 
 up a good trade, and has therein' socnrod a coni- 
 petence which numbers him among the substantial 
 residents of the city. He has many excellencies of 
 char.acter worthy of emulation, and is a worthy citi- 
 zen, public-spirited and progressive. 
 
 -i- 
 
 -^^- 
 
 \f/OIlN W. M.CLURE, loan agent and dealer 
 in real estate, merchandise and live stock of 
 Des Moines, is one of the most extensive 
 proi)erly owners in the county. He was 
 born in St. Louis, Mo., Jul}' 7, 1817. .'iiid is the 
 
^ 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 741 
 
 tliiid child of Alvin ami .liula (Tapp) IMcClurc, 
 l)f>tli of whom wcie natives of Oliio, tlio former of 
 Scotch descent, the latter born of Scotch and (j!ci'- 
 iiiaii i)arciitago. Wlicn child icn tiic}' wore taken 
 by their parents to Knox Coiinty, HI-, wlicrc they 
 became ac(( I lain It'll and were married. After some 
 years they removed to St. Louis, where the father 
 died of clu)lera in 1819. lie was a mechanic by 
 trade and labored long and earnestly- for the inter- 
 ests of his family, Init was taken from them wlien 
 our subject was a babe of less than two years, llis 
 widow afterwards returned to Knox County, 111., 
 and is now living in the city of (lalesburg, III. 
 In their family were four children, two sons and two 
 daughters. 
 
 On the death of his father, .as the mother could 
 not provide for her family, .John W. McClure, our 
 subject, was given in charge of Alex Sornborger, a 
 farmer of Knox County, III., who as far as possible 
 supplied a father's |)lace to the boy, rearing him to 
 liabits of industry and uprightness and affording 
 him such educational advantages as coidd I)e .ac- 
 (piired in the district schools. .lohn found with 
 him a good home until twenty-one years of age, 
 w hen having attained to man's estate he started out 
 for himself. He chose for a coni[)anion and hcl[)- 
 mate on life's journey Miss Sarah .'Spencer, a native 
 of Otsego County, N. Y., who with her parents re- 
 moved to Illinois when a child. Their union was 
 celebrated on the "2 1st of November, 18(;.S,an(l unto 
 them has l)een born an interesting family' of four 
 children: Il(^na M., Kuby W., Nathaniel K. and 
 Meta. 
 
 Mr. IMcClurc and his wife are both members of 
 the Evangelical Church, in which he holds the o(h(^e 
 of Trustee. Having engageil in farming in Illinois 
 until I1S71, he then brought his family to Iowa, lo- 
 cating in .Madison County, where he followed the 
 same pursuit for nine years, when in l.S.SO, he tan- 
 barked in merchandising, to which business he de- 
 voted his energies for the succeeding live years. 
 Since his arrival in Des Moines he has been en- 
 g.aged in the rt-al estate business and is meeting 
 with excellent snc<*ss. From time to lime he h.as 
 invested his earnings in property and is now the 
 owner of lands in Tex.as, Nebraska, Kansas and 
 Iowa, in all amounting to fourteen hundreil and 
 
 eight3' acres. He may truly be called a self-made 
 man for without cai)ilal or the aid of inlluential 
 friends he began life, overcoming all didiculties by 
 his deti'rmiued will, enterprise and ability, until lie 
 is now numbered anujng those who occupy posi- 
 tions of alllucnce. 
 
 LFREI) IIKNHV McVKV, a member of 
 the law firm of Cole, McVey & Clark, is 
 an honored re|)resentative of the bar of 
 Des Moines. He is a native of Fayette 
 County, Ohio, and is descended from an old and 
 well-to-do family, being of Scotch descent on the 
 paternal side and of English on the maternal. The 
 McVey family was founded in America during Col- 
 onial days, about the middle of the seventeenth cen- 
 tury, his ancestors being among the Scotch-Irish 
 emigrants of that name who crossed the waters, and 
 settled in Washington C'junty, I'a., in lG;')t. 
 
 Our subject received his elementary education in 
 the common schools of his native State, and after- 
 ward he entered the Southwestern Normal School 
 at Li^banon, Ohio, where he was [)re[)areil for col- 
 lege. While but a youth he w,as noted for his 
 studious habits and before leaving the common 
 schools was familiar with a wide range of English 
 literature. When a mere boy he entered the vol- 
 unteer service, l:cc(jming a member of the Seventy- 
 Ninth Ohio Infantr3', and when his term lia<l 
 expired he resumed his studies, entering the Ohio 
 W^esle.\an Cuiversity at t)elaware in IBG'I. Having 
 com|>letcd the cl.assical course of that institution, 
 which is the same as that of Harvard and Yale Col- 
 leges, he was graduated in 1.SGH. While in college, 
 although in all things a good student, he was es- 
 pccially marked for his literary attainments, and 
 was considered the best debater and writer in the 
 University. His ability and scholarship rcsulte<l 
 in his election as a tutor in the university, but he 
 resigned that position to enter upon the practice of 
 law, which in the meantime he had deci.led to make 
 his life work. 
 
 l\Ir. McVey is also a graduate from the law school 
 of the (Mneinnati College, one of the oldest and 
 
742 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 best law schools west of the Allejilianies. Having 
 prepared himself for the legal profession, in 18G9, 
 he opened a law ofBce in Wilmington, Ohio, and 
 immediately took rank among the ablest members 
 of the liar in that section of the State, evincing un- 
 nsiial aliility Ijoth in presenting his case to the jury, 
 and in arguments addressed to the konch. Three 
 years later, in February, 1872, he opened an ollice 
 in Toledo, Ohio, and removing to that city tliere 
 continued his residence until January, ISS;?. His 
 abilities immediately won recognition and he 
 soon secured a good general practice in tlie 
 local courts, but he there more particidarlj' de- 
 voted himself to professional duties in the United 
 States, courts and in addition to his forensic efforts 
 lie has for some years devoted the time, usually 
 termed leisure, to authorship, and Is the author of 
 several professional works of merit. He is the 
 author of McVey's Ohio Digest, published in 1875, 
 consisting of two large octavo volumes. This work 
 has been highly commended by the press and pro- 
 fession and within seven months after its lirst ap- 
 pearance it had reached a third edition. While 
 in Toledo, Mr. McVey was for somc^ years employed 
 as general counsel for the Toledo, Cincinnati it St. 
 Louis Hailroad Company, and gave considerable at- 
 tention to insurance and corporation law. 
 
 Accompanied by his wife, whose maiden name 
 was Anna Ilohnes, a daughter of tiie I\ev. Wil- 
 liam Holmes, and a direct lineal descenilant of the 
 Hev. Obadiah Holmes, who settled in Salem, Mass., 
 In lO.'V.), and wa.s one of the founders of the 
 Ba|)tist Church in America, J\Ir. McVey, having 
 resigned his position as general counsel for tiie 
 railroad com pan}-, came to Des IMolnes in Jar.uary, 
 lS8."i, having shortly liefore formed a co-i)artner- 
 ship with Judge C. C. Cole and Cai)t. J. S. Clark. 
 From its organization this (Irm has been one of the 
 leading law firms In the Stale of lown, its mem- 
 bers all being men of professional merit anil ability. 
 They have the largest Insuranc^e clientage in the 
 West, and have as large agener.al [ir.actice as any law 
 firm in Iowa. Mr. McVcy has had charge of a large 
 |)art of the litigation of this firm. As a lawyer he 
 Is dislingiilsheil for superior natural ability and 
 judicial talent. His life has alw.ays been a busy 
 one, and in the practice of his [irofcssion he is es- 
 
 pecially noted for the conscientious regard for the 
 interests of his clients, in a careful, painstaking 
 preparation of iiis cases and uniform candor and 
 honest}'. ]!y the strictest integrity and keen sense 
 of [)rofessional honor he has won and retained the 
 confiilenc;c of the people. Mr. McVey is a thorough 
 scholar, a man of large and varied reading, and 
 whose general information is extensive and accu- 
 rate. He has a decided taste for general literature 
 and has one of the largest and best selected mis- 
 cellaneous libraries in the State, and few men liave 
 a greater knowledge of books and literature. Mr. 
 Mc\'ey has never been a candidate for any ofllce, 
 appointive or selective, but has always t.aken a 
 deep interest In |)iil)lic affairs. In person he Is tall 
 and well [iroportioned, while his countenance be- 
 tr.ays the man of thought and great capacity for 
 mental work. 
 
 yfelLLIAM YOUNG HCME, a reprcsenta- 
 I tlve farmer of liloomfleld 'I'ownship, was 
 WW horn in Shapinsay, Scotland, August 21, 
 1h;?0, and is a son of William Hume. His boy- 
 hood (lays were spent in his native land, where he 
 learned the stonemason's trade, and at the age of 
 twenty years he emigrated to America, with the 
 Intention of tiying his fortune In the New World. 
 He ma<le his first location in Canada, settling in 
 Argentueil County, in the Province of (^hiehee, 
 where he became accjuainted with and married 
 Miss MMitlia I )orrman. daughter of Pester Dorrman, 
 September 17, 1855. She is also a native of Scot- 
 land, born In Glasgow March 1, 1 Sod, and emi- 
 grated to Canada about the same time th:it her 
 husband took up his resilience In that country. 
 Their union was lilessed with a family of nine 
 children, five sons and four daughti'rs — Thomas, 
 the eldest, died In infancy; Mary is now the wife 
 of George (irayson, of Des Moines; Annie I^. is a 
 resident of the Ca[)ital City; John T.. whose 
 sketch Is given below, is Chief Clerk in the oflice 
 of the Adjutant General of Iowa; Martha; Will- 
 iam P., Janet 11. and (ieorge and James, twins, 
 died in Infaucv. 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 713 
 
 The year 1870 witnrssed the iirnival of Mr. 
 Hiiiuu ami liis family in Poliv Coiiut^'. As a 
 mason lie aided in laying the first stones for the 
 foundation of the i)rescnt Stale Capitol, and was 
 also employed at other important works. He con- 
 tinued work at his trade in Ues Moines until Au- 
 •fust, 1877, when he was seriously' injured in the 
 terrible railroad accident that happened at Four 
 Mile Creek, just east of tiie city, on the Chicaifo, 
 Roek Island &. Pacific Railroad, which was a sec- 
 ond Ashtabula affair. Seventeen peoi^Ie were 
 killed ami thirty injured, Mr. lUmie among the 
 latter number. His spine was so seriously injured 
 tliat he has never since been able to pursue his 
 usual occupation. In 1881 he rem')ve(l to a farm 
 in Bloomfield Township, where he now makes his 
 home, devoting his attention to its care and culti- 
 vation. 
 
 Mr. Hume is a Republican in politics, and a 
 strong advocate of prohibitory law. From early 
 life his sympathies have been enlisted with the 
 temperance cause, and he has ever labored for its 
 advancement. Religiously, he and his wife, and also 
 their children, are members of the United Presbyter- 
 ian Church. Mr. llunie has lived a useful and indus- 
 trious life. Upright antl strictl}' conscientious in 
 all his dealings, be has observed the tioldiui Uide 
 and his Christian obligations with afidelitj' consis- 
 tent witli his early instructions and the strict i-elig- 
 ious views of niaturer years. 
 
 ^ 
 
 flf, OIIN T. IIUMK, Cliicf Clerk in the ollicc of 
 the Adjutant General of Iowa, was born in 
 Argcutneil County, Province of (Quebec, 
 Canada. October 27, l.S(;;5,and in May, 1871, 
 came to l)es Moines with his parents, \Villi:uu V. 
 and Martha (I)orrman) Ilume, a sketch of whom 
 appears on anotiier page of this work. Our subject 
 was educated in the city schools, aud on Ihc coni- 
 l)lelion of bis school life wascnii)loyed .-is messenger 
 in the State service from 187H until l.SSI. In .June, 
 1882, he enlcred the National (iuard service of 
 Iowa as a private of Ccunpany A, Third IJegiuicnl, 
 
 was [)romoted to the rank of cor|)oral, November 
 15, 1882, was made Second Lieutenant, July 30, 
 1883, and on the 20tli of March. 188G, was com- 
 missioneil First Lieutenant. His next promotion 
 occurred on the 21th of March following, when he 
 was made Adjutant of the Third Keglment; on the 
 16th of May, 1888, he resigned. He was elected 
 as Captain of Company A, Third Regiment, on Feb- 
 ruary 4, 1889; May 24, 1890, he was appointed 
 Assistant Inspector General of the First Brigade, 
 and in every way he has proved himself capable of 
 discharging the duties of the office. Since Octolier, 
 1881, he has been employed in the Adjutant \ien- 
 eral's ollice, and for three years discharged the du- 
 ties of Ordinance Sergeant. He was ai)pointed as 
 Chief Clerk in 1884, and, as in his other ollices, has 
 gained popularit3' on account of his fidelity and 
 prom|)tness in the discharge of every task. 
 
 In political ssentiment, Mr. Hume is a Re])ub- 
 lican, having supported that party since attaining 
 his majority. He takes considerable interest in 
 civic societies, being a member of Myrtle Lodge, 
 No. 9, K. of P., and to Diamond Division, No. 4. 
 In 1889 be was ai)pointed Assistant Ailjutant Gen- 
 eral of the Iowa Brigade, Uniformed Rank of 
 Knights of Pythi.as, and is an active worker. Mr. 
 Hume possesses a natural love for military aff.airs, 
 and has taken an active interest in everything per- 
 taining to the Iowa National Guards. 
 
 fji 
 
 YRUS II. KEKLKY, Postmaster of Mitchell- 
 ville, has been a resident of Polk County for 
 the continuous [leiiod of seventeen 3'cars. 
 lie was lioru in Madison County, 111., on the l.ith 
 of June, l.S.'iH, and is a soti of ,Iessc and Mary^C. 
 (Whiltaker) Keeley, both of whom were natives of 
 Pennsylvania, liy occupation his father was a 
 blacksmith iukI carried on that business neai' Car- 
 rolllon. III., for a nund)er of years, until finding 
 that that work was too laborious for one of his age 
 he turned his attention to farming. He owned .a 
 farm of two hundred and forty acres, eiglit\ of 
 which was timber land and contiuucd its cnlllvalion 
 until 1SC),S, when he moved to ( Jrceiilield, 111. His 
 
744 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 ileatli ucouned in iMnicli, iss:i. His wilV, tlic 
 niiitlier of our siiltject, died in 18J.'5, lo:iviiiy llirec 
 children: Daniel S., who served as a soldier in the 
 Sixty-first Illinois Infantry dnring the war as First 
 Lieutenant, Captain and Major, but is now deceased ; 
 Clyrus II., of this sketch; and Charles \V.,a soldier 
 in Company K, Seventy third Illinois Infantry, .1 
 resident of Eldred, 111. Mr. Keeley was again mar- 
 ried in 1SJ1, his second union being with Celissa 
 Curr3',-by whom he had four children: Jessie, of 
 Granil Island, Neb.; Jacol) and John, deceased; and 
 Ellen, wife of .T. II. Entrekin, a resident of Green- 
 field, 111.; the mother died in 1872. 
 
 Cyrus II. Keeley spent but two years of his life 
 in his native county, the family moving to (Jrecne 
 County, 111. The days of his boyhood and ynutli 
 were spent upon his father's farm and iu the district 
 schools of the neighborhood he acquired his educa- 
 tion. At the age of twent\-tw() years he left home 
 to enter the service of his country. He enlisted in 
 the month of August, 18()l,at Carrolllon, 111., in 
 Company F, First Missouri Cavalry, and with bis 
 command, went to Jefferson Barracks, Mo., where 
 they recruited. Din-ing their siny at the latter 
 |)lace the liattle of Wilst>u's Creek was fought Au- 
 gust 10, ISfiL The First Missouri Cavalr>- were 
 next ordered to Henton liarraeks, back of St. Louis, 
 where the troops were e(iui|)ped for duty, and were 
 employed in drilling and iu dress parades, (len. 
 Fremont being in command. From lienton liar- 
 racks thej' were ordered to 'i'iplon, Warsaw, and on 
 to Springfield, Gen. David Hunter, now command- 
 ing. Springfield was ca|)Uired and held for a time, 
 but the Confederate retreat was not followed up. 
 The liiion troops were next f)rdere(l to Uolhi, Mo., 
 and scouting parties sent to Salem, lOininenee, and 
 Bolivar, Gen. Samuel R. Curtis, now being in 
 command of the Department of the Missouri. The 
 army moved again in the direction of Springfield, 
 halting a few days each at the (iaseonade River 
 and at Leb:inon. On ai)proaching Springfield, the 
 enemy w.as encountered uniler (!en. Price, but the 
 city was recaittured by (!en. Curtis, February i;i, 
 18G2. Gen. Price retreating into Arkansas, the 
 Union troops followeil him to Sugar Creek, where 
 a skirmish occurred, they losing a number of 
 horses and several men. Iiolh killed :inil wonndeil. 
 
 The enemy continued the retreat, the Union troops 
 following to Cross Hollows, tlien going into cami), 
 on the north side of Sugar Creek. Gen. I'rice now 
 being reinforced by Gens. Van Dorn, Mcintosh, 
 and Pike, surrounded (len. Curtis' army during the 
 night of Februar3' 7, and the battle of Pea Ridge 
 was begun by Gen. Curtis at sunrise the 8th and 
 ended during the forenoon of March 9, 18C2, by 
 the Union troops gaining a complete victory, Gen. 
 Price losing two Generals, M(!Culloch and Mcin- 
 tosh. After participating in the battle of Pe^ 
 Ridge, Mr. Keeley was taken sick with t^'phoid 
 fever and remained in the hospital at C.aseville 
 until his recovery. He then rode a distance of two 
 hundreil miles on horseback to Batesvillc, Ark., 
 where he rejoined his regiment. He served until 
 1861, when he returned to Carrollton, III., being 
 mustered out with the r.ank of Second Lieutenant. 
 On his return from the w.ar, Mr. Keele}^ com- 
 menced work on a farm in M.acon County, III., 
 where he remained three j'cars, when in the spring 
 of 18G8, he rented a f.arm in the same county, which 
 he operated two seasons until his marriage in 1870, 
 the lady of bis choice being Miss Lavina Ilough- 
 man, of Medina C'ounty, Ohio. He then rented 
 the old homestead and carried on agricultural pur- 
 suits until I87.'5, when he came to Iowa, locating 
 ti'mporarily iu Mitchellville. Sliortl3' afterwards he 
 purch.ascd one hundred and eighty .acres of land on 
 section 2.'), Beaver Township, an<l after erecting .a 
 house and making other nee<led prejjarations he re- 
 moved with his family to the farm, where he con- 
 tinued to make his home until 1 88(). During that 
 time he addeil many improveinents and placed the 
 entire ;iniount of land under a good state of culti- 
 vation. He then rented and came to Mitchellville, 
 where he has since resided. As a citizen he is pub- 
 lic-spirited and i)rogressive and takes an active p.-irt 
 in cver\lliing that tends to advance the best inter- 
 ests of the conimnnily. Since attaining his majoi-- 
 ity he b.-is supported the i>rineiples of the Republican 
 party, and iu May, 1880, was np|)ointeil Pctstmaster 
 of Mitchellville. He h.as proved himself a capable 
 and popular ollicer ami is faitliful U> every duly 
 imposed upon him. Socially, he is a mend)e'- of 
 the Masonic lodge ami the Coniinaiuler of a Post 
 in the (! rand Army of the Republic. He and his 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALRUM. 
 
 15 
 
 wife lire iiieiiibei-s of the Congrcgaliutiiil (liiiicli. 
 Tlirce C'liildrcii liavulioeii born to this worthy C(>iii)li; 
 l)iit Siuah, the o."!}' ilaiighU'r uiul Iho eldest chihl, 
 is now deceased, .luhii A. is assistant postmaster 
 and Ivlwiu S. is still at home. 
 
 ^^ONRAU VOrN(iERMAN, one of the most 
 [|[ |)romiiicnt contractors and liuiideis in the 
 
 ^>w/' cai)ital city of Iowa, is of CJernian birth. 
 In Ilesse-Cassel, Germany, on the 15th of J)ecera- 
 bcr, 1833, he first saw the liglit of day. Ilis iwr- 
 ents were Henry and Anna (Siinnenshuin) Younger- 
 man. Tiie original spelling of the family' name of 
 our subject was Jnngermann, which ha changed to 
 the present mode on coming to America in order 
 to preserve the correct pronunciation. WIkui he 
 was eight years of age the death of his father oc- 
 curred, but he was tenderly cared for by his most 
 estimable mother, who now at the age of eighty- 
 Bve, is a member (if his household. When his 
 school life was over Conrad was apprenticed to the 
 stonecutter's trade, at which he served the usual 
 term, and further peifected himself by a year's 
 travel and work in distant cities, in accorchincc 
 Willi the custom of liis counti-y, which required 
 all mechanics and tradespeople to have spent at 
 least one year, known as the "•Wanderyahr", in 
 travel and work in the cities of foreign countries 
 before establishing business for themselves. While 
 working as a journeyman, the desire came to him 
 to try his fortune in the new world. Leaving home 
 on New Year's day 1K5 I, he embarked at lirenieu 
 for America, reaching New York JMay ."), of the 
 same year, after a voyage of ninety days, during 
 which lime he suffered all the discom foils incident 
 to such a journey. 
 
 Ueing without nujiiey Mr. 'loungermaii at once 
 began seeking for emplo\iiieiil and at length en- 
 gaged work at a brickyard at llaversliaw, N. V., 
 where he remained fur two mouths, earning money 
 enough to continue his journey to llyria, Lorain 
 County, Ohio, where he worked at his trade, thereby 
 ac(iuiring sullicient caiiilal to permit his taking a 
 very important step in life. On the I llli of Septem- 
 
 ber. l.S.'iG, he united his destiny' with that of Miss 
 Minnie Stark, a daughter of Louis and Minnie 
 Stark. She was born in Mecklenburg, (jerraany, in 
 1840, and emigrated with her [larcnts to America 
 in 1853, when thirteen years of age. Immediately 
 after his marriage, Mr. Youngerman came to Iowa 
 with his bride, arriving in Des Moines on the 28th 
 of .Se|)tember. The foUovving day ho established 
 business as a stonecutter and in the s|iring of 
 1X57, took his first contract. Although beginning 
 in a very modest way with limited capital, his ex- 
 cellent workmaushii) and earnest desire to please 
 led to his securing a liberal patronage and he was 
 soon forced to increase the number of his hands 
 and found himself doing an extensive busincs. 
 
 In I.SHO, Mr. Youngerman began the manufac- 
 ture of brick in a small way, but soon increased 
 his facilities for that line of industry and turned 
 out from two to six millit)n of brick annually. In 
 the meantime he was carrying on his building op- 
 erations (jii a large scale, the force of hands em- 
 ployed ranging from one hundred and fifty to two 
 hundred and fifty. Prosperity, through his indus- 
 try, perseverance and good management, has at- 
 tended his efforts and he has become one of the 
 substantial citizens of Des Moines. He has con- 
 tinued both branches of the business u)) to the 
 presi'iit time without interruption, covering a 
 period of thirty 3'ears in the nianiifacture of brick, 
 and of a third of a century in contracting and 
 building. During this time, Mr. Youngerman has 
 erected hundreds of buildings, large business 
 blocks, [lublic edifices, and private residences, 
 among which may be mentioned the exposition 
 buililiiig, the third and fourth ward si'hool-lioiises, 
 the east side high school, Masonic Temple, the Perry 
 block, a number of factorii'S ami four bank luiihU 
 ings — the Capital City Itank, ^'.•dl^■y jiaiik, Des 
 Moines Savings bank .•mil Polk County Savings 
 r>ai)k, till' latter In-ing his own propeilx . He is 
 .also the owner of several other business buildings, 
 including the brick block, Nos. 2<m;-l'08, on 
 West Koiirlh Street, Youngerman block at the 
 north-west corner of West Fifth and Mulberry 
 streets, block on ^Vest Jvocust and l'"iftli streets 
 and the elegant block, Nos. 513-.5I5 and 507-50'J 
 West Locust Street. He has also built and sold sev- 
 
Jir, 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 eral otliers in additiuii to those above named. The 
 niinieroiis dwelling iiouscs erected by liiiii li-ivc var- 
 ied in cost from $100 to |70,00O, many of wliich 
 were very expensive, the home of J. S. Polk being- 
 the liiicst. 
 
 IMr. and Mrs. Youngerman are parents of seven 
 children, six sons and one dmiglitcr. William A., 
 the eldest, married Miss Alice Longshore, and is 
 extensively engaged in contracting and building 
 in l)es Moines; George II., who married Miss 
 .Sophia Felton, is engaged extensively in contr.act- 
 iiig and building in Omaha, Neb. in con)|)any with 
 I-ouis his next younger brother, under the firm 
 name of Youngerman Bros.; Carl is emi)loyed asa 
 salesman in a mercantile house of Des Moines; 
 August is learning the jeweler's trade, and Frank, 
 the youngest son, is a stndent in college. Minnie, 
 who completes the family, is now pursuing her 
 studies in the city schools. 
 
 In 1872, Mr. Youngerman returned to his native 
 country and brought his aged mother to America 
 that she might make her home with him. Although 
 she is now eighty-five j' ears of age, she is in full 
 possession of her faculties and is unusually bright 
 and active for one so far advanced in yeais. All 
 tiie members of the family belong to the Lutlu^ran 
 Church, and in the social world are held in high 
 regard. 
 
 In politics Mr. Youngerman is a standi Demo- 
 crat, but has neither time nor inclination to seek 
 prominence in public life. He has, however, served 
 two years as member of the city council, where his 
 good jiiilgment ond sound sense had much influ- 
 ence in promoting wise and conservative legisla- 
 tion. His social and benevolent instincts have led 
 him to adiliatc with several civic and charitable 
 societies. He is a Knight Tein[)lar Mason, a mem- 
 ber of Capital Lodge, No. 110, A. F. & A. M.; of 
 Corinthian Chapter, No. 14, R. A. M.; and of 
 Temple Commandery, No. 4, K. T. ; and has been 
 a member of that oi'der since 1801). He is also a 
 member of .(onalhan Lodge, No. 118, I. O. O. F.,; 
 of Capital City Lodge, No. 29, Knights of Pythias; 
 and of the Ancient Order of Elks. 
 
 Mr. Youngerman has led an .active useful life 
 and the large portion of the city of Des Moines, 
 that has been built under bis direction, intlie shape 
 
 of massive bi ick[bloeks, public buildings and elegant 
 
 residences, will be an enduring momiment to his 
 skill and industry. That he has iirospercd and 
 aetiuired a large amount of property since his ar- 
 rival in Iowa, is not the result of accident or good 
 luck but h.as been brought about by his well- 
 directed energy, a thorough knowledge of his bus- 
 iness, the observance of correct business principles 
 and strictest iiitcgritj'. He began the battle of life 
 unaided by fortune or the inrtuence of friends, re- 
 lying entirely upon his own resources, which at first 
 consisted only of skill in his business combined 
 with energy and enterprise. His success has been 
 the result of years of patient industry and saga- 
 cious business investments. Mr. Youngerman is 
 the founder of his family in America, being the 
 first to emigrate from the fatherland and the only 
 one left of the original family except his mother. 
 His descendants ma^- point with pride, in years to 
 come, to the honorable record made by Conrad 
 Youngerman, the original ancestor in the new 
 world, as a man of honorable, upright character, 
 enterprise and industry, generous and large-hearted, 
 bro.ad and liberal in his views and genial and 
 courteous in his intercourse with all. 
 
 -:^^^ 
 
 IP 
 
 <(y/AMES TA<i(!Airr PRIESTLEY, M. I)., a 
 leading physician and surgeon of Des 
 Moines, is a native of Pennsylvania. He 
 w.'is born on the 19th of .July, 1852, in 
 Northumberland, and is a son of Marks B. and 
 Mary (Taj^gart) Priestley. His father w:is also 
 born in Norlhumberland, on the 17th of Novem- 
 ber, 1823. The Doctor is descended from a line of 
 ancestors of whom he has reason to be proud. He 
 is the fourth in direct descent from .loseph Priest- 
 ley', D. I)., the eminent divine, philoso|)her and 
 scientist, who discovered oxygen gas, anil won 
 fame throughout all the academies and among the 
 scientific men of Europe. For his valuable serv- 
 ices to science, be received gold medals from the 
 Royal Society of ICngland and from Catherine, 
 Empress of Russia. Dr. .Io.se|)h Priestley was born 
 March 13, 1733, and was the son of Jonsis Priest- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 747 
 
 ley. a cloth manufacturer, who plied his trade in a 
 vilhiift: near Leeds, England, lie lei'oivcd a llior- 
 ougli eduealioii, and at. an early age gave proof of 
 rcniaikahie mental |)0\vers. lie beeanie a I'nitarian 
 cleigyniaii, and took proniineiiee in religious de- 
 bates. He was a materialist in pliilosopli}', a velie- 
 ment op|)oser of a religious eslablislunent of 
 "Cliureh and State," and an open, though not ag- 
 gressive sympathizer with tiie llevolution in Franee. 
 His course i)rovoUcd a mob to destroy his house 
 aud effects, which included vahialile manuscripts on 
 religious and scientific subjects, that h.ad cost the 
 Doctor years of laI)or. He and his family barely 
 eseajjcd with their lives. This occurred in l!ir- 
 niingham, and the Doctor sought refuge in LontUtn. 
 After several years of active life in church, literary 
 and scientific work, he emigrated to America in 
 179t. 
 
 His son, the great-grandfather of our subji'ct, 
 iiad preceded his father to the New World, taking 
 up his residence in Northumberland, I'a., where 
 Dr. Priestley made his home, after a short stay in 
 Philadelphia, the bettor to pursue his scientific stud- 
 ies in quiet retirement. In 17'JC he again visited 
 Philade!|»hia, and subsequently founded the Mist 
 Unitarian Church of that cit^-, in fact, the lirst 
 church of that denomination established in Amer- 
 ica. Ilis death occurred on the 6th of February, 
 1801. 
 
 Marks B. Priestley, the father of our subject, 
 was reared to mercantile puisnits, .'uid served 
 throughout the Mexican War, as a member of the 
 Third Regiment, Tennessee Infantry, enlisting at 
 Murfreesboro, where he was employed as a clerk at 
 the time. He was made a clei-k of the commissary 
 department, and during the absence of the su|)erior 
 offlcer, served as commissary until the close of the 
 war. During the succeeding twenty years, he was 
 engy.ged in merchandising in Northumberland, Pa. 
 He studied law and was .admitted to the bar in Sun- 
 bury, Northumberland County, in 1875, and pur- 
 sued the practice of his profession for seven years, 
 when in November, 1882, he came to Dt'S Moines, 
 where he li.as since made his home. Mr. Priestley 
 was married in Northumberland, Pa., December 
 20, 1840, to Miss Mary Tagg.art, of that place. 
 They became the parents of four children, three 
 
 sons and a daughter — Lindsey, the eldest, died 
 May 23, 1875, leaving a wife and one daughter; 
 .lames 'I'., our subject, is tliQ secoiul S()n; .Joseph, 
 died in eliildhood on the Isl of August, 1856; aud 
 Eliza L. resides with her parents. Mr. Priestli^y is 
 a Royal Arch Mason, and has been a mendier of 
 the order since April 4, 1841). In politics he is a 
 Republican. 
 
 Our subject, on the paternal side, is of English 
 and Scotch descent. Ilis grandmother was a grand- 
 daughter of the Earl of Dnndas, of Scotland, aiul 
 a first cousin to Sir Ralph Aljercrondiie, both of 
 whf)ni were Major-(!eui'rals in the British army. 
 Her paternal grandfather — .lames Biddle — was a 
 Judge of the Admiralty Court, and upon the or- 
 ganization of the State of Pennsylvania, after the 
 Revolutionarj' War, he was appointed Presiding 
 .ludge of the First Judicial District c)f Pennsyl- 
 vania, which included the city of Philadelphia, 
 which office he retained until his death in 1797. 
 Her father, Marks John Biddle, commenced the 
 l)ractice of law in the city of Reading, Berks 
 County, Pennsylvania, in the year 1788, and at 
 once entered upon a large business, which he re- 
 tained until advanced in years. In 1817 he was 
 elected a State Senator. His life was marked by a 
 lofty sense of professional and private honor, and 
 he was up to its close in the enjoyment of the 
 highest respect and affections of the citizens of 
 IJcading. 
 
 William Biddle, the progenitor of the Biddle 
 family, was an officer in the Parliamentary army 
 under Cromwell, but having joined the Society of 
 Friends, he resigned his commission. Shortly af- 
 ter the restoration of King Charles the F'irst, the 
 ( Juakers were subjected to violent persecutions, and 
 in 1()81 he emigrated to America, aufl settled in 
 the northeastern part of the State of New Jersey 
 wlit^rc he became a large landed proprietor, being, 
 according to the n^cords of the courts, the owner 
 of forty-two thousand, nine hundred and sixteen 
 and two-thirds acres of land. His son, William, 
 reuioveil to the city of Philadeli)hia, Pa., and was 
 the grandfather of .ludge James Biddle, before 
 mentioned. 
 
 Dr. James Taggart Prcistley received his medical 
 education in the University of Pennsylvania, one 
 
748 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 of the oldest medical institutions in tbe United 
 States, giaduating in the class of 1874. He pursued 
 the practice of bis profession in liis native town 
 until 1876, when he came to Des Moines, where he 
 lias since been in constant practice. 
 
 He was married April 30, 1S71, in Nurlhumhcr- 
 land, Pa., to Miss Clara Simpson, daiii-hlcr of A. 
 C. Simpson, a leading lawyer of that State. Mrs. 
 Priestlt-y was born in Sclins Grove, Snyder County, 
 Pa., and their union has been blessed with two 
 children: Crayke S., born in Northumberland, 
 .lanuary 21, 1875; and ]Marks B., born in Ues 
 Moines, -lanuary 22, 1879. 
 
 The Doctor is a Republican in ixililics. luul has 
 taken thirty-two degrees in the Masonsic order. 
 He is a member of Home Lodge, No. 370, A. F. 
 & A. M., Antioch Chapter, No. 110. R. A. M., and 
 Temple Commandery, No. 4, K. T. He also be- 
 longs to the Orders of Elks and Knights of Pythias. 
 His relation with medical organizations consists 
 in membership in the Polk County Medical Soci- 
 ety, the Iowa Stale Medical .Society and the Na- 
 tional Medical Society. Since his removal to Des 
 Moines, the Doctor has been engaged in active 
 practice in that city, and has built up a large and 
 lucrative business. It is generally conceded lliat 
 he has the most extensive practice of any one in his 
 profession in the city, and that he takes rank among 
 the most eminent physicians and surgeons of Iowa. 
 He is a most indefatigable worker, .and a thorough 
 student in everything that pertains to the advance- 
 ment of medical and surgical science. While 
 comparatively a young man, he has already demon- 
 started that he has the ability and will to win a 
 place tiiat will ilo no discredit to bis illustrious an- 
 cestors. 
 
 ooo 
 
 ENRY S. BUTLER, one of the enterprising 
 Y business men of Des Moines, is now general 
 
 l^^ agent for the McCormick Harvesting Ma- 
 l^Q) chine Comi)any, doing business at Nos. 
 21(1 and 218 West Court Avenue and No. 123 
 West Third Street. He was born in Rome, Oneida 
 County, N. V.. on the 17th of Deoember. 1810, 
 anil is a son of Ezekiel iiud Emma (Shaw) Butler. 
 
 Ills jiarents were born in Vermont, and were of 
 
 English descent. The paternal grandmotlier of 
 our subject w;is .'i Willson, and was a lineal de- 
 scendeiit of Benjamin Willson, who was one of 
 that historic band that came to this country in the 
 Mayllower. 
 
 Henry S. Butler attended school at Kome, in his 
 early boyhood, and when sixteen years of ago, in 
 18;")5, came west with his parents, who settled in 
 Whiteside County, III. His father was engageil in 
 farming in that couutj', and Henry passed several 
 j'ears in assisting him in the managemcut and la- 
 bor incident to the improvement and culture of 
 the land, securing such educational advantages .as 
 the district schools afforded. In lisG 1 he obtained 
 employment on a supplj' boat belonging to the 
 Fox River Improvement Company, in Wisconsin. 
 Two years later he went to Chicago, where he took 
 a regular course in the Eastman Commercial Col- 
 lege of tliat city, and was gradualwl from that in- 
 stitution in the spring of 18G7. He was next 
 employed as a book keeper in Chicago, and in the 
 winter of 1867-6S engaged with the McCormick 
 Harvesting Compiiu}-, as agent at Freeport, 111. 
 In the following autumn he was made general 
 agent at Des Moines for the company, the district 
 over which he has charge comprising the territ<>ry 
 along the Chicago & Rock Island Railro.ad and its 
 branches, l)etween Iowa Citj- and Council Bluffs. 
 In this region the company has some fifty local 
 agents, and the annual business of the Des Moines 
 oflice exceeds $500,000. About 1884 the com- 
 pany erected, in part, the elegant brick building 
 they now occuj)}', which is 44 feet front on West 
 Court Street by 132 feet deep, with an "L" of 30 
 feet in width fronting on Third Street. iTiey oc- 
 cupy the entire building of three stories .and base- 
 ment. Since moving to their present quarters 
 the^' have carried a full line of agricultural im|)lc- 
 mcnts. buggies, carriages and harness. 
 
 Mr. Butler was mari-ied in Kalamazoo, Mich., on 
 the 20th of March, 1870, to Miss Aurilla Everette, 
 a daughter of Mahlon Everette, and a native of 
 Michigan. They have had four children, two sons 
 and two daughters, of whom only two are now 
 living: Robert, the eldest, dic<l when four years of 
 age; and Bessie, the second died nl the age of two 
 
^^<^^^^^^^€^^ 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 7.51 
 
 years. Maiul and liiuce are stiulents in tlie eily 
 schools. 
 
 In politii's, Mr. Butler is in(U'|ien(lont. He is 
 a nictnl'er of I'lonecr Lodge, No. '22, A. V. A; 
 A. M.. of Des ftloincs. To hold a iiositi^tn of trust 
 and large responsibility, with so iniporlaul a I'or- 
 poraliou as that of llie .McConuifk Harvesting 
 Company, for so long a period of time as that cov- 
 ered by Mr. Butler's service, twenty-two years, is 
 a mark of confiilcnee and satisfaction, on tlie part 
 of the coni[)any, that is highly coni|ilimentary to 
 the agent. In all these years he lias, l)y the ex- 
 ercise of superior business ability, strict integrity 
 and perfect fiileliti' to every trust, proved himself 
 worthy of the unlimited conlidence of his employ- 
 ers, and has also won the respect and regard of 
 those witii whom he has maintained business rela- 
 tions. 
 
 S^^- 
 
 M 
 
 ESLEY REDIH:AD, one of the best-iiiiown 
 and most successfid business men of Des 
 ^'V/ .Moines, was born near Penritii, Cumber- 
 land County, England, on the 22nd of .luly, 1825, 
 and is a son of Nicholas and Sarah (Clark) Red- 
 head. In 1)S2'.>, when but four years of age, he 
 emigrated with his parents to Montreal, Canada. 
 His father was a merchant in England and engaged 
 in tlic same line of business in .Montreal until his 
 death, which occurred in the summer of 1831, of 
 brain fever. The great cholera scourge of that 
 time had just terminated the life of the mother of 
 our subject and the fatl;er survived her loss but two 
 weeks. The orphan family consisted of si.x sons 
 anil a daughter, Wesley being next to the young- 
 est and only six years of age. 
 
 In company with a brother, our subject went to 
 live with an uncle in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he 
 was educated and began his career as a wage-earner 
 in a printing ofJice, serving as the youngest appren- 
 tice, or "i)rinlers' devil." He was one of the first 
 newsboys of Cincinnati. His uncle believing the 
 inlluences surrounding the nephew to be bad, sent 
 him when fourteen years of age to Faiifiehl, Vt., 
 where his eldest brother was engaged in the cabi- 
 net business. Three weeks wt-e consumed in 
 
 making the journey, traveling by steamboat, canal 
 and stage. After spending four months with his 
 brotlier, he became so dissatisfied vvitli his sur- 
 rounding that he decided to run away and make 
 his own way in th(^ world. So h(^ set out with a 
 cash ca|)ital of live cents and liul [loorly clothed. 
 He walked to St. AUnins, whence he made his w.ay 
 to Whitehall, N. V., where he engaged as a driver 
 on the Eric Canal. At the close <jf tlie boating 
 season he hired out to a farmer in Washington 
 County, N. Y., receiving for his services his board, 
 clothing and three mouths schooling. This connec- 
 tion continued two years, wiicn having a desire to 
 see more variety in life than tlie occupation of a 
 farm hand afforded, he went to Saratoga Springs, 
 where he secured a position of "(lii)|)er-boy" at 
 Congress Springs, and w.as so employed^for two 
 seasons. During that period he was brougiit in 
 contact with many noted pcoide of this country- 
 and some distinguished tourists from abroad. Hav- 
 ing saved up a little nnjuey, he returned to Cin- 
 cinnati, where he surprised his friends with a visit 
 after an absence of live ye;irs, during which time 
 they had heard nothing from him. His next cx^ie- 
 rience was in the capacity of a cabin-boy on an 
 uyward bound Mississipj)! sleamloat. Having 
 reached Bloomington, now Muscatine, Iowa, in 
 September, 1844, he decided to visit a brother who 
 was a resident of Iowa City. On arriving at his 
 destination he secured emplo^'ment in the oflice of 
 the luwa Capital Iicporlcr, which was conducted 
 by Jesse Williams, who was then territorial printer. 
 The amount of young Redhead's wages w.as fi.xed 
 at $3 a week and his duties were intended to in- 
 clude the devil's work of the oHiee and the setting 
 of one column of the pa[>er |)er djy. The first 
 constitution of Iowa was printetl that fall b}' Mr. 
 Williams, and his new emi)!oye h.ad the honor of 
 performing a share of the labor on that historic 
 instrument. The following year, 1845, he went to 
 Anamosa, Iowa, where he operated a carding ma- 
 chine for a time until compelled by impaired 
 health to abandon that work, when he returned to 
 Iowa City. lieing unfitted for ii.ard labor he 
 learned the tailor's trade as being one that he 
 thought likely to require less physical ctfort than 
 many others. He served a three year's ajjiirenticc- 
 
752 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 sliip to that business and continued to work as a 
 •'jour," until the winter of l^')!, when he came to 
 Kt. Dcs Moines and engaged in business for him- 
 self in tlic line of his trade, but the business proved 
 distasteful and he closed out after one year's expe- 
 rience and engaged as a merchant's clerk :it a 
 salary of ^25 per month. 
 
 In 185:5, Mr. Rediieaih was appoiiilici Postmaster 
 at Kt. Des Moines, by President Killinore, to suc- 
 ceed Iloyt Sherman, resigned, lie filled the posi- 
 tion nine years, during which time the business of 
 the office assumed important proportions. Shortly 
 after being made Postmaster, he put in a small 
 stock of books, having the fourth bookstore in the 
 State. Trade in that line was limited and his 
 weekly sales at first <lid not exceed |i5, but he has 
 since built up an excellent business. lie admitted 
 to i)artnership R. T. Wellslager, who continued 
 with him several years. The house at [)rcscut is 
 known as Redhead, Norton & Lathrop, pro[>rietors 
 of the largest bookstore in Iowa; wholesale station- 
 ers and joljbcrs in l)Ooks,stationcry, fancy goods,etc. 
 
 In November, ISdi, Mr. Uedhead organized the 
 first coal company at Des Moines and began the 
 first systematic coal mining. His efforts in that di- 
 rection attracted the attention of others and in 
 August, 18C5, the Dcs ftloines Coal Company was 
 organized, consisting of Wesley Redhead, .lames 
 M. Starr, William Vincent, B. P. Allen, William 
 Phillips, Iloyt Sherman, John Teesdale, .laraes W. 
 Davis, L. W. Dennis, Frank Butler and E. Sanford. 
 Tiie coal mining interest of this region was then 
 given its first impetus and has since grown to mag- 
 nificent proi)ortioiis. A set of I'airbank scales 
 were |>rocured and the fiist weighing of coal in the 
 city, was done l)y iMr. Redhead who is entitled to 
 the credit of l)eing the pioneer coal man of Des- 
 Moines. The following bit of coal mining history 
 clipped from a history of Polk County, published 
 by the llni(jii Historical Company in 1880, seems 
 specially ap[iroi)riale to the sketch of our subject. 
 
 "It is said that the presence of coal in and 
 around the present site of the city of Des 
 Moines was first notie(Kl by the soldiers who 
 built and occupied the fort; it is also said that 
 the blacksniith shops in connection with the gar- 
 rison were su]>iilicil with coal from certain coal 
 
 banks adjacent and it is stated as a matter of his- 
 tory that A. N. liases and Capt. Allen opened a 
 coal shaft and stone quarry on the banks of the Des 
 ftloines as early as tlieyear 184;?. Notwithstanding 
 the fact that coal was known to exist in large 
 (juantitics and that it had been mined in small 
 (juaiitities as early as 1843, at the time Prof. 
 White's book on the geology of Iowa was pub- 
 lished in 1870, nothing but a superficial and mis- 
 cellaneous system of mining had been adopted and 
 the amount mined scarcely equalled the limited de- 
 mand of the home market. About this time Wes- 
 ley Redhead, a gentleman who had been identified 
 with the interests of Des Moines and Polk County 
 from the very first, commenced prospecting for coal 
 in a systematic manner with a view of engaging in 
 the mining business on a grand scale. He made 
 persistent efforts to achieve success and called to 
 his aid all the resources at his command. In addi- 
 tion to his time and labor he e.Ki)ended over iF8, 0(10 
 of his private funds and still his investigations ha<l 
 not been crowned with success. He finally secured 
 the services of Johntjibson, of Derbyshire, Eng- 
 land, whose extended experience in the coal mines 
 of the Old AV^orld had eminently fitted him for the 
 prosecution to a successful issue, of the investiga- 
 tion which his employer h.ail so long conducted in 
 vain." 
 
 The circumstances attending the final effort and 
 its triuini)hant conclusion are related by Mv. Dixon 
 ill his Centennial History of Polk County and also 
 ill an editorial published in the Des Moines Jjcmb-r 
 of .hiiu? 1, 187."i. A syno|)sis of both accounts arc 
 here introduced. Mr. Dixon says: 
 
 "A few rods south of Coon railroad bridge, on 
 land belonging to Mr. Uedhead, west of South 
 Park, a drill was introdiued in 187.!, under the 
 direction of Mr. (lilison, foreman. In tliedescent 
 seventy feet were attained, the drill passing thi oiigli 
 three inferior veins of coal and reaching, at the 
 depth indicated, a flint rock, so stidjhorn and in- 
 vincible as to bring discouragement even io the 
 old Derbyshiie miner, who advised Mr. Redhead at 
 this point to abandon the work. Even the geolo- 
 gist Imd state(i that if success was not realized 
 within that distance of the surface, it would lie 
 useless to proceed further. 
 
PORTRAIT AND HIOORAPIIICAL ALBUM. 
 
 753 
 
 ' "Mr. Redhead did not pailicipato inUiis jilooiny 
 view of tlic subject. He quietly inquired of the 
 foreman liow many feet of rod was left and being 
 answered that there were twent}', he urged the em- 
 l)hiynieut of every ineh, decharing that if this did 
 not bring the anlicii)ated triumph of human en- 
 terprise over stubborn nature, he would furnish a 
 hun(]red feet more and work tliese up before he 
 would abandon his long clicrislicd plans. Tlii^y 
 went to work again, consuming all of four weeks, 
 at the slow rate of three inches per da}', in pene- 
 trating tin's miissivc rock, tliree feet in tliickness. 
 When the drill finally passed through the resisting 
 mass, it quickly descended through a vein, live feet 
 thick, of l)laek diamond coal, signalizing in its 
 pjwsage the superiority of genius over inanimate 
 matter. It w.as late in the evening wiien tiiis great 
 triumi)li was achieved; Initiate as it was, James 
 Clark, an employe of Mr. Redliead, who had been 
 a witness of the thrilling scene justenacted, hurried 
 away to report to that gentleman the auspicious 
 result. To Mr. Redhead this rejwrt must have 
 been intensely gratifying, lie immediately went 
 to B. F. Allen, and on communicating his grand 
 discovery secured from the banker an investment 
 of $35,000. A shaft was sunlc to the rccjuireil 
 depth, and in a short time all the ap))liances be- 
 longing to a first-class mine were visible to the 
 spectator, .'aid scores of operatives down dee|> in 
 the earth were busily engaged in bringing out from 
 this vast store-house of nature its exhaustless 
 treasures." 
 
 The following is from the Lcwh'r, of .luiie 4, 
 1873: 
 
 "WKSI.HY ki;i>iii:ai)'s cat oit ok run r.Ad." 
 
 "The Lr'(i<li'i- of the 3d staU'd that Wesley lled- 
 liead had at last been successful in his prospecting 
 for coal, but owing to a pressure of other matters 
 a det.'iiled account of his work and discovery did 
 not appear in that day's issue. 
 
 "It has alw.ays been a cherished theory of Mr. 
 Ucdhead that the su|iply of coal .about Des Moines 
 was inexhaustible and that a better (ju.ality than 
 any nowin the market would yet be found. In pur- 
 suance of this object he has woiNed early and late 
 incurring an expense of about -tO.OOO, until at last 
 his labor Las been crowned with glorious success. 
 
 Last January, he commenced sinking a shaft in 
 South I'.ark, near Seventh Street bridge. Two gangs, 
 each consisting of eight men, were employed alter- 
 nately night and d.ay. A thin vein of coal was found 
 near the surf.ace and further down two larger veins 
 were passed through. When the shaft had reached 
 the depth of one hundred and eleven feel below the 
 surface, the foreman .and other experienced miners 
 were of the opinion that further search would lie 
 fruitless but Mr. Redhead was confident and lo use 
 his own expression was "bound to dig to China or 
 find coiil." The work was continued and fourteen 
 feet further down — one hundred and twenty-five 
 feet below the surface and ninety feet below the 
 bed of Coon River — the shaft struck a vein of coal 
 four and one-half feet in thickness. This discovery 
 wiis made on the the 2nd and on the 3(1 a lo.ad of 
 the coal was mined anil conveyed to Mr. I{"dhead's 
 olKce in this city. The best judges pronounced it 
 of a superior quality and equal to .any mine in Iowa. 
 Directly .above the coal vein, the drills passed 
 through twelve feet^jf slate which was strongly im- 
 pregnated with sulphur. The coal is hard and glossy 
 but presents no appearance of snliihur. It will be 
 known as the black diamond coal, and will be mined 
 by the Des Moines Coal Company, of which Mr. 
 Redhead is President. Work will be [ircssed for- 
 ward as rapidly as |)ossil)lc and the i)ractical bene- 
 fits arising from the discovery be demonstrated. A 
 track will be laid to the shaft from the Indianola 
 branch of the Chicago, Rock Island A' Pacific Rail- 
 road and the necessary machinery for hoisting put 
 in by the coiiqiany. Mr. Iledhead is deserving of 
 the thanks of Des Moines and tue vicinity for tlu! 
 persever.ance he has shown and the discovery 
 which he has made. He was the first man to intro- 
 duce anything like system in the business of coal 
 mining in Des Moines, and now his Last great 
 achievement places him in the rank of a benef.ac- 
 tor ami he will uiuhnibtcdly receive the just cneo- 
 iiiuins of the people which he so richly deserves." 
 Mr. Redhead gradually purcli.ased the interests 
 of the other members of the comiiany and in 1874, 
 became solo proprietor. In M.ay, 1880, James P. 
 Clark was admitted .as a partner, and the name of 
 the coni|)any was changed to Pioneer Coal Com- 
 pany, iMr. Redhead being I'lesident. He is now 
 
754 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 sole piopiietor. At. one time he was Secretary and 
 Treasurer of the Black Diamond Coal Company of 
 Marion County, also Treasurer of the I)es Moines 
 Scale Company; a Director of tlie Slate National 
 Bank and \' ice-President of the State Printing 
 Company. lie organized the Pioneer Hay Com- 
 pany, of which he is President, the company hav- 
 ing lieon incorporated in lS8;j. with a paid up 
 capital of §G0,000. Its. business is that of whole- 
 sale dealers in Iowa uphmd prairie hay and that of 
 breeders and dealers in fine horses and high grade 
 cattle. The stock of the company is now entirely 
 owned by Mr. Redhead and llie Itusiness is in a 
 prosperous condition. He also has a laige farm 
 and an elegant suburban residence situated about 
 one mile and a half from his office, lie owns ex- 
 tensive tracts of land in Polk County. In addilion 
 to his other liusiness interests he is Treasurer of 
 the State Insurance Company of Iowa, one of the 
 iniportant Insurance Comi>anies of Des Moines. lie 
 also located the present State Fair site, which he 
 sold to the State. 
 
 Mr. Redhead h.as been twice married. First in 
 October, 1851, to Miss Isal)el Clark, of Iowa City, 
 a sister of Hon. Ezckicl Clark, of Iowa City, and 
 a sister of the wives of ex-Gov. Kirkwood, Kdward 
 Lucas, I. K. Jewelt and William Rutton, of Iowa 
 (,'itv, as noble a family of women as was ever 
 reared in the Buckeye Stale — they being born and 
 reared near Mansfield, Ohio. She died in 1S5H. In 
 18G0 he was united in marriage in Des Jloines witii 
 Miss Annie Seymour, daugliter of Austin and Mar- 
 tha (Miller) Seymour, and a ward of .ludge M. D. 
 McIIenrv. The lady was reared in Kcnlucki' anil 
 removed to Des Moines in 1855. Eight children 
 were born of their uni<m, three sons and five 
 daughters, four of whom are living — George S., 
 Lizzie K., deceased, Mildred, Charles W., Herbert 
 S., Annie Belle and Sarah M.. deceased, and one 
 unnamed. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Kedhead are members of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a member of 
 of the Masonic fraternity, having risen to tlie .Scot- 
 tish Right <1egree. Has been i<lcntified with nearly 
 all the large enterprises that have been started in 
 Des Moines. He was a Democrat until 180 1, be- 
 coming a Republican at that time. He served in 
 
 the Legislature of Iowa one term; also was Super- 
 visor of the count}-, member of the City Council 
 and School Board nearl}' all the terms until within 
 a few years. 
 
 Mr. Redhead, as his record shows, has been a 
 busy man all his life. Possessed of a restlrss en- 
 ergy, cool determination and great self-reliance, he 
 has fought the battle of life unaided except by his 
 natural intelligence, energy and integrity. That he 
 has succeeded beyond the ordinary expectations of 
 most people is conceded, and in doing so he has 
 materially aiilcd in the development of the n.atural 
 resources of Polk County, built up extensive l)usi- 
 ness enterprises and given employment to a large 
 number of men. The history of such a man serves 
 to encourage the j'ouiig whom ailversity has left at 
 the fool of the ladder, to greater effort and fuller 
 hope. 
 
 !',_, ENRY TASKETT is engaged in general 
 ji farming and stock-raising on section 35, 
 Bloomlield Township, where he has a pleas- 
 ant home and a nice farm of eighty acres. 
 He is a native of the Empire State, born Aiiril 18, 
 182 I, ami is a son of Israel and Harriet (Fuller) 
 T.TSkett. On the [laternal side he is of Spanish de- 
 scent and on the maternal is of English origin, 
 though the Fuller family belonged to one of the 
 early Puritan families. The grandfallu^r of our 
 subject was born in Spain, but at an early day 
 crossed the Atlantic to America and settled in \'er- 
 niont, where Israel Taskelt was born, lie grew to 
 manhood in his native Stale, but afterwards re- 
 moved to New York, where he foilowcd farming 
 until his death, which occurred in 18CI. The lady 
 of his choice, Miss Harriet Fuller, was born in New 
 Hampshire and survived her linsbiuid many yeais, 
 dying in 1883. Of their family of seven children, 
 four are now living — Charles, who resides near the 
 old homestead in New York; Lavisa, wife of I!. 
 F. Wood; Lydia, wife of B. S. Keyes, of Nebr:iska; 
 and Henry. 
 
 Our subject si)ent the early part of his boyhood 
 days in .Icft'erson County, N. Y., during which 
 time he conned the rudimentary branches of learn- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 755 
 
 ing in the district schools. He w.as eighteen years of 
 of .nge when he started out in life for himself. It 
 his first intention to learn tlie machinist's trade, and 
 to this end he went to Chelmsford, Mass., but after 
 a six months' trial he concluded to engage in some 
 other occupation. He then hired out as a farm 
 hand, working two months, after which he received 
 an offer from his uncle in N.ashua, N. H., to 
 take him as an aiiprcntice to the saddlery trade. 
 Accepting, Mr. Taskett spent two years in perfect- 
 ing liimself in that business, and then worked at 
 different places in that line until 185;?, when, iiav- 
 ing acquired some money, he purchased a harness 
 shop in Antwerp, N. Y. At that time there were 
 but two sh<>i)s in the village, and believing the in- 
 terests of botli |)roprietoi's could l)c benefited b}' 
 uniting their businesses, lie purchased a half in- 
 terest in the other shop. The partnership con- 
 tinued a year, when Mr. Tasiiett became sole pro- 
 |)rietor. He was verj' successful in his operations 
 and for five years did an extensive business in 
 Antwerp, during wiiieh time he also erected eight 
 buildings in the town. Selling (jut in 1859, he re- 
 sumed farming, which he folh^wed in the East un- 
 til 1863, when he came to Polk County to seek a 
 location. I'eing pleased with the country and its 
 future prospects, he returned to his family in the 
 Empire State, and the following August, accom- 
 panied by his wife and children, he came to Des 
 Moines. 
 
 Mr. Taskett was married in September, 185.'!, to 
 t<i Miss I'erinelia A. Alton, daughter of George 
 and Harriet (Culiedge) Alton, both of whom were 
 natives of Connecticut. Her father was a farmer 
 and followed that business for a livelihood to the 
 end of his life. He died in I8()5, and his wife 
 passed away in 1872. They were the parents of 
 ten chiblren. viz: Alvin, David, Almira, Nanc^', 
 George, Mary, Daniel, Julia, llattie and I'ernielia. 
 Hattie is now deceased. Five children were born 
 of the nnifin of INIr. and Mrs. Taskett, and the fam- 
 ily circle still remains unbroken, although .several 
 have left the parental roof. Charles II., the eld- 
 est, resides in Hhiomlleld Township, near the old 
 homestead, and is engaged in farming; Il.adic is the 
 wife of Adin Simons, of Ida Grove, Ida County, 
 Iowa; Klla wedded .1. II. Grali.'im.of Clay Count}', 
 
 Iowa; Julia I\I. is engaged in teaching in Dallas 
 Count}', Iowa; and Mamie is a teacher of Ida 
 County, Iowa. The children received excellent 
 educational advantages, thereby being fitted for 
 the practical duties of this life, and are now re- 
 s|)ected men and women of the several communi- 
 ties in which they reside. 
 
 On his arrival in the West, Mr. Taskett located 
 in l)cs Moines, but after residing in the city for 
 eighteen months, he purchased eighty .acres of land 
 on section 35, Bloomfield Township. No improve- 
 ments had been made upon it, but lie immediately 
 erected a home for his family and turned liis at- 
 tention to the development of his land. Although 
 other pursuits have occupied his attention for a 
 number of }'cars, he has spent the greater portion 
 of his life in farming and umlerstands the business 
 in all its details. His fields are well- tilled, he keeps 
 on hand a good grade of stock .and has all the latest 
 improved machinery. In his political views he is a 
 Republican, liaving supported that party since its 
 organization, when he cast his first Presidential 
 vote for its first candidate, John C. Fremont, in 
 1H5G. He has iield several local ollices, including 
 that of I\oad Sui)ervisor, Trustee and School Di- 
 rector. Although many have longer been residents 
 of the county than Mi-. Taskett, none have felt a 
 deeper interest in its uplmilding and progress, and 
 as the result he is nuniliered .among its progressive 
 and public-s[)irited citizens. 
 
 I AHLON PARIK THRNKR, a prominent 
 I)liysician and citizen of Des Moines, was 
 born in lioonc County, Mo., October 25, 
 1821, and is a son of John D. and I'.liza- 
 licth (Stroad) Turner. His paternal grandfather, 
 .biim Turner, emigrated from North Carolina, and 
 settled near Lexington, Ky., at an early day, but 
 removed thence to Boone County, Mo., in I81(>, 
 when but few white settlers were living in that 
 State. In 1829, he became a resident of Morgan 
 County, III., where he died at the ripe old age of 
 eighty-two years. His family numbered eight chil- 
 dren, of whom John I), was the eldest. The latter 
 
756 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 wiis horn ill 1 7!I9, near Lexington, Ky., and wliik' 
 in Missouri was married, iu 1822, to Aliss Slroad, 
 who was born in Bowling Green, Ky., in 1801, and 
 was a niece of Stephen Stroad, tlie noted historic 
 character of the P.lack Hawk War. Her faliicr died 
 when she was an infant and she accompanied her 
 widowed mother to Missouri. 
 
 Dr. Turner's parents improved a farm in that 
 State and shared many of the toils and privations 
 of pioneer life. Their house was huiit from boards 
 made witli an old fashioned wliipsaw. In 182'J, 
 they removed to Morgan County, 111., where liiey 
 reniaiiie<1 until the st>ring of 180;'), when they came 
 to Des Moines and made this citj' their home until 
 their death. Theirs was the first golden wedding 
 celebrated in this cit}'. Both were zealous mem- 
 bers of tlii^ Christian Church and were highly re- 
 spected people. Mr. Turner was a grc9,t admirer 
 of Clay until that gentleman gave his political in- 
 lluence to elect Adams, when he espoused the prin- 
 ciples advocated by Jackson until the rise of the 
 Uepublican partj^ He was a strong Union man and 
 volunteered to join the Graybeard Hcgiincnt, but 
 at that time he had reached such an advanced age 
 that his services wcic not accepted. His death oc- 
 curred in 1877, and his wife passed away in 1887. 
 Tl'eir family consisted of nine children, live sons 
 and four daughters, only four of whom are now 
 living. Giles II., who died in 1885, was an eminent 
 lawyer of Des INIoines; while a resident of Carroll- 
 ton, 111., lie served as District Attorney, and repre- 
 sented his district in the State Legislature. He 
 was City Attorney and twice Ma3'or of Des Mo!nes. 
 Two others are residents of this city. Dr. M. P. and 
 Ziilica T., widow of Col. Diinla]), who enlisted as a 
 private and was promoted to be Cajitain in the Mex- 
 ican War, and served as Colonel in the late War. 
 
 Dr. Turner, whose name heads this sketch, worked 
 upon his father's farm and attended the district 
 schools until fifteen years of age when lie entered 
 the lilcrarj' department of the Illinois College at 
 .lacksonville, where he pursued a two years' course 
 of study. It was his desire to make the niedi' al 
 professic/n his life work, but in order to procure th(i 
 means necessar}- to fit himself for practice, he was 
 forced to engage ill ti^nching. After studying for 
 some time with I)i-. H. IM. Stewart of l'",xeter. III., 
 
 he entered the medical deiiartment of Illinois Col- 
 lege, from which he graduated in the class of 1847. 
 The day after his graduation he was admitted to 
 partnership by his former preceptor, to receive a 
 third of their earnings during the first two years 
 and a half of the profits after that period had ex- 
 pired. Their connection continued for six years, 
 during which time he m.aile ^10,000, notwithstand- 
 ing lie was in feeble health all the while. 
 
 On the 2;^<1 of December, 18;';2, our subject was 
 joined in wedlock with Miss Mary A. Raius.ay, who 
 was born near Jacksonville, 111., Sejitember 20, 
 1828. Her father, AVilliam M. liainsay, was born in 
 1782, near Charleston, S. C.,and in that citj' learned 
 the saddler's trade. When the War of 1812 broke 
 out he enlisted and did valiant service for his coun- 
 try. Ho married Susanna Gillham, who was born 
 in Pendleton County, S. C, in 1787. John and 
 Sarah (Clark) (iillham, the [larents of Mrs. Ram- 
 say, lived in South Carolina during the Revolution, 
 and suffered much from the cowardly abuse of 
 their Toiy neighbors. While the husband was ab- 
 sent, serving in defense of his country, liis wife 
 tilled the farm and cared for her children unaided. 
 The Tories attempted to take away her only horse 
 and houseliold supplies, but the brave woman re- 
 sisted until they were forced, out of shame, to re- 
 lease her property. In early life they removed to 
 Illinois, where they were married in 1820, Mr, 
 Ramsay there followed .farming for a number of 
 years. His death occurred in 183!). In politics 
 he was a Democrat, and both lie and his wife were 
 consistent Christian people. In their family were 
 three children, one son and two daughters. In 
 1818, Mrs. Turner accompanied her mother and 
 brother to Oicgon. They made the journej- by 
 wagon ami the following year removed to Cali- 
 fornia, where her mother died in 1850, ami soon 
 after the sister and lirother returned to Illinois. 
 
 The year 1853 witnessed the emigration of Dr. 
 Turner and his wifi' to California. He took with 
 liiiii two hundred head of cattle and embarked in the 
 breeding of dairy stock, in which he gained quite a 
 re|)utation. As physicians were scarce in that 
 neighliorliood, he w.as forced into practice, which 
 he continued until his return to Des Moines in 1858. 
 Altnoiigh he met with soiiu' reverses in the West, 
 
PORTRAIT AND lUOGRAPHICAL ALHUM. 
 
 757 
 
 he rcacbed Iowa. ini|irovc(l both in Iioalth and 
 finances. Since that time he has (Uine a great deal 
 to assist in the grovvtii and deveUjpnu'nt of the city. 
 He built Turner's IJiocic, in tlie hall of wliicli w.as 
 given the first iierforinance by a theatrical troupe 
 in Des IMoines. He erected the bridge across Coon 
 River, which was swept away, and with U. 1). 
 White rebuilt it. They also put the second and 
 third bridjres acro.ss the Des Moines on Court 
 Avenue. The Doctor deseives special commenda- 
 tion for his effort to furnish the city with a street 
 railroad. With others, he organized the Des Moines 
 Street Railroad Company, and built the first street 
 railroad in the State. As the people were not edu- 
 cated up tt) the luxury of riding on street cars, it 
 soon l)ecaine tvu exi)ensivc improvement, and those 
 associated with the Doctor were anxious to sell out. 
 AVith full faith in the growth and development of 
 the city, he and his wife purchased the entire stock 
 of the compan3% he becoming Tresideut and Super- 
 intendent and she Vice-President, Secretary and 
 Treasurer. For fourteen j'cars they operated the 
 road, although they never reaped any profit there- 
 from. They sold out llie entire line in 1886. 
 
 Dr. Turner has been ver}' successful as a financier 
 and when he became interested in any enter|)rise he 
 continued his labors until he made it a successful 
 one. He has large real-estate interests in an<l near 
 Des Moines and is connected with four flourishing 
 banks, being a Director in the State Savings Bank 
 of this city. In early life, although the other mem- 
 bers of his family were Democrats, he sup[)orted the 
 Whig party until the organization of the Republican 
 party, when he joined its ranks. He entertains 
 strong temperance principles, and he .'uul his family 
 are members of the Congregational Church. The 
 Doctor has never aspired to public ollice, though 
 during the war he was chosen Alderman from the 
 Fourth Ward, which was strongly Democratic. He 
 has alw.ays been a friend of the laboring man, is 
 charitable to the |)0or, and ever ready to extend a 
 helping hand to the downtrodden. 
 
 To Doctor and Mrs. Turner have been born four 
 children: Lizzie C, the eldest, was born in Cali- 
 fornia, and died at the age of seven years; Mary 
 A., born in Des Moines, died at tiie age of sixteen 
 years; Kinma .1. and .Susie P. are still with tlu^ir 
 
 |)arents, having iiassed their entire lives iii this 
 city. In justice to Dr. Turner and his estimable 
 wife it sliould be said that few have done more for 
 the upbuilding and progress of Des Moines than 
 the}', yet they assume no credit for it, Ijciug con- 
 tent to enjoy the advanced positicMi which the city 
 to-day occupies, rather than to hear the [iraises of 
 men. 
 
 ^)OHN HA'i'S, who owns a fine fruit farm on 
 .section 2;'), Mloomfield Township, is num- 
 bered among the honoicd pioneers of I'olk 
 County. He is one of the oldest as well .as 
 the earliest citizens, an<l dates his residence in this 
 community from 184(). At that time the county 
 contained only one hunilred inhabitants and gave 
 little promise of its present advanced position. Its 
 lands were wild and uncultivated, Des Moines was 
 but a mere hamlet, and many of the now thriving 
 towns and villages situated between its borders 
 were not then in existence. It is the pur|)Ose of 
 the publishers of this work to i)er[)etuate, by 
 written record, the lives of the county's early set- 
 tlers and worthy citizens, and as such a one Mr. 
 Hays certainly deserves representation in this 
 volume. 
 
 .lohn Hays was born in Augusta Couiily. \'a.. 
 September l.T, 181.'), and was the fifth in order of 
 birth in a family of seven children. His father, 
 Patrick Hays, wa.s a native of Pennsylvania, born 
 of Irish parentage. He was reared to the occupa- 
 tion of farming, which he made his life work, fol- 
 lowing the business for a numljer of years in 
 Augusta County, \'t\. He married .lane r.rown, 
 who was a native? of that count3', and with his fam- 
 ily afterward removed to (Jreenbrier County, \'a., 
 but there remained only a, short time. His next 
 place of residence w.as in Pocahontas ('oiinty of 
 the same State, where he made his home live years, 
 when in 18;j9 he emigrated to Davis County, Mo., 
 where the remainder of his life was passed. He 
 died in 18.5;5, at the .age of eighty years, and his 
 wife passed aw.aj' the year i)rcvious at the .age of 
 seventy-five years. In the War of 1812 Mr. Hays 
 proved himself a loyal citizen by enlisting in the 
 
758 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 American ranks. He won fiiemls wlicrcver lie 
 went by liis lionorahle, uiiriglit life, and both lie 
 anil Ills wife were held in high regard by the citi- 
 zens of Davis County, Mo. Onl}- two of their 
 cliildren are now living — John, of this sketch; and 
 KUen, widow of John Kent, of Davi.s County, Mo. 
 Those deceased are: -lane, Sall^', William, Samuel 
 and Rebecca. 
 
 The early life of our subject was spent as that 
 of many another farmer lad. He received such 
 educational advantages .-is the common schools 
 afforded, and remained under the parental roof 
 until the emigration of his parents to Misfouri. 
 He eml)arked upon his business career as a teacher, 
 which profession he followed two terms. The 
 year succeeding his parents' removal to the West, 
 he joined them in INIissouri, and assisted his father 
 in the cultivation of the home farm until 1816, 
 when he determined to seek a home elsewhere on 
 account of his abolition principles. In company 
 witli his brother and a friend, Henry Kverly. lie 
 started for Iowa in February, 184G. Each of the 
 young men purch.ased horses, and placing their 
 grips upon them, followed an Indian trail to the 
 noith, which led them straiglit across the prairies 
 to Ft. Des Moines, which on their arrival the^- 
 found to be a mere hamlet, consisting of a row of 
 fort houses along the bank of the Des Moines 
 River, and another along the bank of the Coon 
 i{iver. The buildings wore constructed of logs, 
 but having been whitew.ashed, presented a very 
 neat api)earance. The first man the^' met was 
 .lohn 15. Saylor, in whose honor Saylorville was 
 named. They inquired of him the best place to 
 make claims, and were told to follow the Des 
 I\It)ines River on the east side. After proceeding 
 about fifteen miles they chose locations embracing 
 Ihc present site of Polk Cily. Our subject and his 
 brother made claim of three hundred and twenty 
 acres of land, half of which w.as covered with a 
 dense growth of timber. They erected a log 
 cabin and began the <levelopment of a farm, but 
 after two months received an excellent offer and 
 sold. They then came down the river tf) what is 
 now Saylorville and rented land of Mr. S.aylor and 
 proceeded to rai.so a erop. During the same sum- 
 mer .lolui I lavs ptuchiised the claim where Lisander 
 
 Harvey now lives. His brother, however, soon 
 afterward returned to Missouri on account of the 
 poor health of his family. 
 
 The following season, in compan3- with his 
 friend, Mr. Kverly, Mr. H.ays -purchased a drove 
 of oxen, which lie took to Ft. Leavenworth, Kan., 
 and sohl to ISIajs. Hussell and Waddcll, contract- 
 ors for furnishing supplies for the army — the 
 Mexican AVar being then in progress. Having 
 disi)osed of the stock, he then returned hoMie and 
 began the task of clearing and develoi)ing the 
 land, but the same year sold out to Lisander Har- 
 vey. The following spring he |)urehased a claim 
 near Saylorville, but after two years' residence 
 thereon lie moved to Des Moines, where he en- 
 gaged in teaming for some time, lljs next enter- 
 prise was the buying and shipping of stock, in 
 which he engaged as a partner of J. C. Jordan. 
 He purchased and drove the first lot of hogs in 
 in this county to Keokuk, and successfully cai'ricd 
 on the business for about fifteen 3-ears. In the 
 meantime he kept an hotel, which every old set- 
 tler will remember as the Cottage House, doing 
 business in that line for about five years. While 
 engaged in the stock business, in the fall of 185!), 
 he was elected Sheriff of Polk County, which posi- 
 tion he filled two years, discharging the duties of 
 the ollicc while looking after his other interests. 
 He accumulated a handsome conn)etency as the 
 result of his efforts as a stock dcah-r, and in 1870 
 sold out, becoming owner at the same time of a 
 large fruit farm in liloomficld Township, upon 
 which he now resides. It has one of the finest 
 orchards in the county, and is a superior f:uin in 
 every way. 
 
 Althougii Mr. Hays has gained wealth, it has not 
 come to him through mere gooil fortune, but is the 
 result of industry, enteri)rise, good management 
 and the cxerci.sc of ettrrect business principles. He 
 li.as also had to contenti against the hardships ami 
 trials of pioneer life. He h.as aidcil in the arduous 
 task of developing the wild land, and in many 
 w.ays has .assisted in the upbuilding of the county. 
 He has been a witness of its growth from the days 
 of its earliest infantry, and no citizen has taken a 
 more a<!tive interest in its progress. All social, 
 nioml ami educational enteriirises have received 
 
^^ 
 
 €aX«L-<^^l^ 
 
PORTIJAIT AND I'.KXiRAl'HiCAL ALBUM. 
 
 761 
 
 his hearty support aiul co-oper.atlon, and liy ;ill he 
 is regarded as a worthy and vahied citizen. In 
 early years he was a supporter of the Wiii<>- party, 
 and cast iiis first Presidential vote for William 
 Ihnr}' Harrison, l)ut on the organization of the 
 IJo|)nliliean party he joined its ranks and has since 
 heen one of its warmest advocates. Socially, he is 
 a inenil)er of the Masonic fraternity, and in relig- 
 ious faitii both he and his wife are Baptists, they 
 having been charter memliers of the First Bn|)tist 
 Church of Des Moines. 
 
 Mrs. IIa3S, a most eslimalile lady, was in licr 
 maidenhood Miss Martha A. Saylor, a dangliter of 
 Ucnjamin and Corilla (Evans) Saylor. Their mar- 
 riage was celebratcil in the month of .lunc, ISlH, 
 and unto them were hoi-n six ciiijdreii, liut two 
 died in infancy. Those living are: Mary E., wife 
 of .1. L. Barnes, a resident of Hot Springs, Ark.; 
 \Villiani A., who is living on tiie old homestead; 
 •lolin F., a shi|)ping clerk in the cm|>!oy of the Des 
 Moines S:id<llery Com]iany, of Des Moines; and 
 Charles F., who also makes his home in the Capital 
 City. 
 
 =^\ AMI'EL A. ROBERTSON, an early settler 
 and one of the successful business men of 
 Des Moines, was born near Dayton, Preble 
 County, Ohio, Decu'mber 23, 18.'io. His 
 parents were Samuel and Susan { \an Winkle) 
 l!ol)ertson. His father, who was commonly known 
 as Alaj. IJoberlson, was born in New .lersey about 
 the year ITH.S, and won his title in the War of 1812. 
 Before the war he removed to Preble Countv, Ohio, 
 in ISIO, being among the earliest settlers in that 
 vicinity. He was .a contractor and buildei by 
 trade and carried on the business on an extensive 
 sc.ale, making a specialty of the erection of public 
 buildings. Many (churches and court houses of 
 Ohio stands .as monuments of his handiwork and 
 others of but littU' less impintance were also built 
 by him. ()ne of them is a church with a date built 
 in the wall, of blue-glazed brick, 1812. He did 
 a large amount of contract work on the Ohio canal. 
 He was an enthusiastic Democrat in politics and a 
 warm sii|iporler of Andrew Jackson. While not 
 
 ambitious of political preferment he was honoi('<l 
 with various ollieial positions and was a recognized 
 leatler of the party in Western Ohio. His death 
 occurred in 187.5. Mrs. Robert.son, an estimable 
 lKd3', survived her husband until 1882, aged eighty- 
 three years. 
 
 The subject of this sketch attended the district 
 schools in childhood and later was a student in the 
 Da3-ton schools. At the age of fourteen years he 
 was apprenticed to the bricklayer's trade at which 
 he served a full term and then embarked in busi- 
 ness for himself although he had not yet attained 
 to mature years. He displayed business ability in 
 early life and won the respect of those with whom 
 he came in contact. In 18.')G, before twenty-one 
 years of age, he came to Des Moines and without 
 the aid of ca|)ital or friendly intluence, soon became 
 proniinent'as a contractor and builder. For some 
 time before coming West h(^ was eniplnyed in rail- 
 road work, in charge of the construction of build- 
 ings, bridges, etc. When the Inited States post- 
 ollice building was erected in Des Moines he was 
 the S\iperintendent chosen, and the work w.as per- 
 formed in so admirable a manner that it won even 
 the commendation of the critical Oovernment en- 
 gineers. F^-om l8r)4 to 1884 he was continuously 
 cnuaged in building in Des .Moines. The Kirk- 
 wood was erected l)y Inm in 18;')(;- ,")7, the new 
 Savery in 1887, and the l''irst Methodist Episco- 
 pal Church. Besides these he has buill many business 
 blocks and private residen<'es in the Capital City, 
 and all were constructed in a manner that rellects 
 ciecHt, and won for him the confidence of the peo- 
 ple whom he served. Mr. Robertson purchased 
 and o|)er.ated an extensive limestc)ne (piarr3' in 
 Madison ('ounty, Iowa, on the line of the Chicago, 
 Rock Island & Pacific llailroad. He also engaged 
 extensively in the manufacture of lime and brick, 
 which inilustry lu^ has carried on for many years 
 in connection with contracting and building busi- 
 ness. His force of employes has been large, rang- 
 ing fiom one hundred to three hundred men. 
 
 A weilding ceremony performed in Des Moines 
 on the 21lli of March, 1W.'')7, united the dc-tinies 
 of Mr. Hobert.son and Margaret Porter, a native of 
 Ripley, Ohio, and a daughter of Charles Porter. 
 Nine childien were born unto them, of whom one 
 
762 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 son and five daughters are living, three having died 
 young. .Toiin, tlie onlj- son, is a contractor and 
 luulder. now residing in Denver, Col.; Suda Bell is 
 the wife of Lieut. V. .1. T. Clark, of the United 
 States Army, now stationed at New York Harbor; 
 Eilith C. is the wife of .1. W. Canii)l)cll, of Des 
 Moines; Emma II. married J. K. Rogers, of Albany, 
 N. v.; and Bertha and Margaret are at home. 
 Those deceased are Libbie, Lonnie and Bessie. 
 
 In politics Mr. Robertson is a Democrat and one 
 of the old guard who has stood b^' the party in 
 storm and sunshine, when nothing was to be iioped 
 from an adherence to Democratic principles and 
 mucli to be endured from the prejudice of a pow- 
 erful majority against him. He was for three 
 terms a member of the City Council, where liis 
 practical knowledge in relation to public improve- 
 ments exerted a powerful influence, especially in 
 securing a permanent and improved system of 
 sewers. 'I'iie system of intercepting sewers was 
 adopted by tlie Council on his advice and has 
 proved eminently satisfact(ji'\ in their use. The 
 system was tlien a new one in the West but has 
 since been adopted by the Chicago City Council. 
 As evidence of the important service which Mr. 
 Robertson rendered Des Moines, we quote from the 
 [oira Stale Iti'ijislcr of March 3, 1880: "We can- 
 not, as a pa[)er of the public as well as of a |)arty, 
 refrain from giving to Mr. Robertson a hearty 
 tribute of |>raise which is due to him for his great 
 work done for Des Moines, |)resent and future. 
 The sewer system for which the city so long has 
 waited, was introduceil ]\y him through his unceas- 
 ing energy, and the city Ikk! in that th(^ benetit of 
 his unusual skill as a buildei-. That wc have a 
 sewer system today and that it is projected on the 
 wise scale that it is, is largely due! to Mr. Robertson, 
 and the people who have th<' good of the city and 
 its future interests at heart can never too gratefully 
 rememlier him for this and many other good works 
 in the Council. This i.'j an unusual thing for a 
 IJcpublicau |>:iper to say of a Democrat and a 
 Democratic ollicial, but as it is in an unusual emer- 
 gency and of an unusual man, we will take the 
 privilege and lind a pleasure in saying it." 
 
 Mr. Roltertjjon is a fair type of the enterprising 
 and successful western business man. Starting in 
 
 life as he did at the foot of the ladder, he has by 
 indomitable energy push and enterprise won sub- 
 stantial results in useful work accomplished and in 
 accumulated wealth. His course in life, of Ihirt^'- 
 four years passed among the citizens of Des 
 Moines, has been characterized by the exercise 
 of correct business principles and an honorable dis- 
 charge of every obligation. Every worthy- public 
 enterprise or undertaking that promised to benefit 
 the city has received from him a cordial and earnest 
 support that has aided materially- in placing the 
 capital city in the lead among the important cities 
 of the Hawkeye State. He has made Des Moines 
 his home since his arrival in Iowa, and now owns 
 and occupies one of the finest residences in the 
 city at No. l,IOil West Plesisant Street. 
 
 ■S^^NIEL M. CROSS, one of the pioneer pho- 
 ))) tographers of Iowa, and the |)roprietor of 
 
 ■^ one of the most popular art studios of the 
 Capital City, is a native of the (ireeu Mountain 
 State, lie vvas born in Shaftesbury, Bennington 
 County, \'t., I'V'bruary 2, ISSC, and is the grandson 
 of Maj. Elihu Cross, who won dislinetioii in the 
 Kevoliitionary War ami in recognition of his ser- 
 vices w.as |)romoted to the rank of Major. David 
 Cross the father of our subject, w;is born in \^er- 
 nioiit ill 17'JO, and in the Slate of his nativity- was 
 reared to manhood. He was three times married. 
 By the first union were born two sons and a daugh- 
 ter. His second wife, Luciiida Slociiiii. who vvas 
 born in New York, in 180 1, an<l was the daughter 
 of a wealthy gardener, died in 1851, leaving four 
 children, three sons and a daiigliter. No children 
 were born of the last marriage. Mr. Cross vvas a 
 farmer Iiy occupation and was leared uinlcr the 
 auspices of the Society of Kriends, but .-ifteiwards 
 united with the Baptist Chuii-h, as did the mother 
 of our subject. Having lived to the advanced .age 
 of eighty-three years, he |)assed away, an honored 
 and respected citizen. 
 
 On the old homestead in \erniout, Daniel H. 
 Cross w;is reared to manhood. He received excel- 
 lent educational ail vantages, considering the oppor- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIGG RA PI IK.' A L ALBUM. 
 
 7G3 
 
 tiinities afforded in tliose days, his early school 
 trnininij hi'iny: siip|ik'ineiited by several terms at- 
 tfiid.uiee at an aeadi^niy. He started out in life for 
 himself at the aj^e of seventeen years, and what- 
 ever success he has met with and whale ici' jiros- 
 perity has crowned his efforts is due to himself 
 alone. He entered upon his business career as an 
 ein|iloye in a jeweler's store, but, after a year and a 
 half, his health failinu him, he was compelled to 
 turn his attention to other |iursuits. In IS.'i.j, he 
 came to the village of l)es Moines, where he learned 
 the diiguerreotj'pe process of taking pictures and 
 soon after look up anibrotyping, being one of the 
 first in the State to practice th:it method. In 1 H.'iT, 
 he returned to \'ermont, where during the next 
 few jears he watched with growing interest affairs 
 in the Sonlh. llis /e-d and anger were kindled by 
 the hostility of the rebellious States and immedi- 
 ately after the firing upon of Ft. Sumter, he of- 
 fered his services to the (Government and became a 
 member of the Second N'ermont Kegimental Band, 
 In wliicli lie served until such b.'inds were discharged 
 as an unnecessary expense. l'"rom that time until 
 the close of the war he continued with the army as 
 a |)liotograplier. On the close of hostilities he lo- 
 <ated in Bennington, \i., where he established and 
 carried on a photograph gallery for six years. 
 
 On New Year's Day of 18i;<!,in Brattleboro, Vt., 
 Mr. Cross was united in marriage with Miss IAx/ag 
 A. Newman, a native of Xewfane Township, Wind- 
 ham County, N't., born March 13, IH 44. The New- 
 man family springs from one of three brothers who 
 emigrated to this country from England during 
 the days of our early history. Mrs. Cross is a 
 daughtei- of .lolin and Betsy (Miller) Newman, the 
 former a native of the (ireen Mountain Stale, the 
 latter of New Hampshire. Her father died when 
 she W!»s a small child, but her mother, who passed 
 away in Des Moines, reached the ripe old .age of 
 seventy-six years. They were parents of two sons 
 and a daughter, but the elilerof the brothers is nov.' 
 deceased. 
 
 In 1871. Mr. Cross IxK'ame a resident of Chicago, 
 where he followed his i)rofession for seven years. 
 In 1871>, he locate<l in Indianola, Iowa, and in con- 
 nection with the management of a gallery he en- 
 gaged in the manufacture of dry gelatine plates 
 
 until .lanuary, 1.S80, when he rinioved to Des 
 Moines, and carried on both lines of business until 
 188(1, since which time he has devoted himself ex- 
 clusively to the latter brruich. Imu- tliirty-liv<' 
 years he has been connected with photography and 
 it is needless to sa^' has met with success in that 
 line for had he not- prospered. he would necessarily 
 have been forced to devote his energies to (jther 
 interests. Politically, Mr. Cross is a Rei)ublican, 
 and is a mendicr of the society known as the Des 
 Moines Secular Inion, of which he had thc^ionor 
 of being the first President. 
 
 To Mr. and Mrs. Cross were born foui- chililrcn, 
 but only two are now living — Arthur, the eldest, 
 died in chihlhood; (ieoige S. is associated with his 
 father in business; Clarence M. was killed in a 
 railroad .'U'cident when six years of age; an<l Brain- 
 ard C. completes the family-. 
 
 ^AMES B. SWEARINflEN, slock-dealer of 
 Des Moines, was born in Hancock County, W. 
 Xn., Axww 21, 1812, and is a son of Ben and 
 ' Margai'et (Morrow) Swearingen. Of Ger- 
 man descent, the family was founded in America 
 at an earl^' day, by emigrants from that country, 
 who crossed the Atlantic and settled in Maryland, 
 where the grandfather of our subject was born and 
 reared. Having attained to mature years he re- 
 moved to Hancock County, W. \'a., where the 
 birth of his son Ben, occurred. Mrs. Swearingen 
 w.as a native of Hancock County, and her fathsr 
 served in the War of 1812. After their marriage 
 Mr. Swearingen and his wife began their domestic 
 life on a, farm, and he became one of the substan- 
 tial farmers and stock-dealers of the communitv. 
 Politically, he was a Whig in early life, and al- 
 though reared in a Southern State, was a strong 
 anti-slavery man. As a proof of his principles he 
 joined tlu^ Republican party formed to prevent the 
 further extension of sl.avery, on its organization. 
 He died in the prime of life, passing away :it tiie 
 age of fort^'-five years, ISCJ. His widow, who is 
 a member of the Presbyterian Church, still resides 
 in West \'irginia, and is now sixty-six years of 
 
76-1 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 age. They were the parents of thirteen children, 
 seven of whom yet abide. Two, Robert and James 
 B., are residents of Dcs Moines; Alexander served 
 two 3-ears as a soldier during the late war. 
 
 Our subject is the eldest of the surviving chil- 
 dren. As soon as be was old enough to handle the 
 plow, he began work upon his father's farm and 
 became early iiuircd to hard labor. He received 
 only such educational advantages as the district 
 schools of tiie neighborhood afforded, and was then 
 permitted to attend only through the winter sea- 
 son, when his services were not needed upon the 
 farm. On the 12th of August, 1862, though only 
 twenty years of age, he responded to liis country's 
 call for trooi)S and enlisted among the boys in blue 
 of Company I. Twelfth West \'irginia Infantry, 
 and served until .Inly 17. \X6'). when he received 
 an honorable discharge at Trenton, N. J. He was 
 in a great many engagements, but was fortunate 
 enough to escape without injury. The most im- 
 portant contests in which he parlicipated were the 
 three battles fought at Winchester, the l)attlc of 
 Cedar Creek, where Sheridan made his famous 
 ride. 
 
 At the close of the war. Mr. Swearingen located 
 in Licking County, ( »hio, and embarked in farm- 
 ing. He chose for himself a companion. Miss 
 Emma Thrap, daughter of Nathan C. and Lydia 
 (Miller) Thrap. and on the Sth of Feliruary, IMOT, 
 they were united in the holy lionds of nialriinony. 
 The lady was born in Licking County, September 
 20, 185(1. Her father was a man of excellent (pial- 
 ilications and character, and his upright life won 
 him the regard of all with whom he came in con- 
 tact. His faults were few, his virtues many, and 
 his earnest laliois in the Master's vineyard were 
 the outcome of a true. Christian life. He was a 
 school teacher by profession, but for a number of 
 years was a ])reaclier in the Christian Church. Ho 
 died December C, IS;")!), in the full strength of 
 manhood, l)eing only thirty-live years of age when 
 called to his.linal rest. His wife, who was always 
 a ready helper in every good work, lived to the 
 age of lifly-nine years, dying October .'i, 1 .S74. 
 His wife was left a widow with three children, 
 whom she reared •mil educated. At the present time 
 two arc living, viz. : Kuiiice, who resides in Lick- 
 
 ing County, (Jhio, and Mrs. Swearingen. Sarah 
 died at the age of thirty-seven years. Mrs. Thrap 
 was devoted to her children. She w.ns an exem- 
 plary Christi.xn woman, a kind and affectionate 
 mother, whose memory is sacred to her children, 
 flrandfather Thrap was also a minister of the Chris- 
 tinn Cliiiich. llioiigli all his people were Metho- 
 dists. 
 
 Mr. Swearingen followed farming in the lUick- 
 ej'e State until 1881, when accompanied by his 
 family, he came to Iowa, and the following year 
 took up his residence in Des Moines. For two 
 years he operated a meat market, after which he 
 turned his attention to slock-de.aling, continuing 
 that business until 188.0, when he built a corn and 
 feed mill at the corner of East Sixth and Court 
 Avenue. To the carrying on of that enterprise he 
 devoted his time and attention until February. 
 1890, since which time he has eng.aged in hand- 
 ling stock. 
 
 To Mr. and Mrs. Swearingen were born five chil- 
 dien : lien \{.. Mary M., Filraer J., Louie 1)., who 
 died in infancy; and Bessie. The mother is a 
 member i^f the Church of Christ and a most estim- 
 able lady. The father is an uncompromising Repub- 
 lican in politics, but has never sought honor or 
 profit from his political afliliations. He has met 
 with good success in his business ventures, and all 
 his possessions are the result of his own efforts. 
 He is a worthy citizen and an honored member of 
 Kinsman Post, No. 7, G. A. R. 
 
 ilLLIA.M .lOllNSON, who for many years 
 w.as one of the i)rominent business men of 
 \^^ Des Moines, but is now living a retired 
 life, dates his residence in this city from 18oG. A 
 little hamlet composed of a few residences and sev- 
 eral stores, but with little general trailc. marked 
 tlie site of the present metropolis at the time of his 
 arriv.al. With its growth and changes he has been 
 identified, has been a participant in its transforma- 
 tion, and has aided not a little in its development 
 and progress. To the pioneers the prosperity and 
 advanced position of the city is due, and it is there- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 765 
 
 fore but meet tliat William Jolinson be represented 
 ill this volume. He w.is born in Clieslcr County, 
 I'll., near Pliiladelphia, March 11. 18;i(l, and his 
 parents, William and Lydia (McIMin) .lolinson, 
 are also natives of the same State, lie received 
 his education in the common schools, and at the 
 age of seventeen was apprenticed lo llic mill- 
 wright's trade, serving a tcnn of four years. He 
 coutinued in that business in his native State niilil 
 18.52, when, believing that the West furnished 
 better opportunities for young men, he bade good - 
 by to bis old home and started out to seek his 
 fortune on its broad prairies. His etTorts have 
 indeed been crowned with success. He continued 
 his journey until reaching Iowa, when, after spend- 
 ing about a ^ear in the southern part of the State, 
 he came to Des Moines, in 18;').'i, and has since made 
 this city his home. In company with two gentle- 
 nieii, Messrs. Prince and Miller, he piucliased a 
 sawmill, which he operated two years, and then 
 worked at his chosen occupation. Some of the 
 best mills in the State staiul as moiuuiients to his 
 thrift and enterprise, and many others lie has re- 
 modeled. Continuing business in that line iiiilil 
 187(), he then, in com[)any with Mr. .larrett, opened 
 a mill furnishing establishment under the tirm 
 name of .Johnson \' .larrett, and did an extensive 
 business in that line, furnishing mill machinery in 
 nearly every State in the South and A\ est. When 
 the roller process came into vogue lie remodeled 
 many of the mills. The firm of .bihnsoii A- .larrett 
 continued operations until 1881, when the senior 
 partner retirciJ. He is a man of good business 
 (pialilications, fair and upright in .all his dealings, 
 and, although he began life a jioor boy, he aceu- 
 mulated a comfortable property, which enables him 
 to spend his remaining days in rest and ipiiet. 
 
 In 185!) Mr. Johnson was united in marriage 
 with Miss .lulia l'>ertin, a native of Pennsylvania, 
 anil a daughter of Elias liertiii. Two children 
 have been born of their union, a son and a daugh- 
 ter — Clara A. and Horatio 8. 
 
 In politics, Mr. .lohnson is an ardent sup|)orter 
 of Jeffersonlan principles, but has never sought or 
 desired public oflice. He is truly one of the pio- 
 neers of Hes Moines. He came to Polk County 
 when it was almost an unsettled wilderness, with 
 
 few improvements, and indeed little prospect of 
 the wonderful growth which it lias .•ittaliicd. The 
 future was unknown, and even the most far-sighted 
 probalil}- never dreamed of its present brightness. 
 In all enterprises calculated to advance the best 
 interests of the community, Mr. .lohnson has been 
 found in the front rank, and has taken a just pride 
 in the growth of his adopted city, whose niaiiiifac- 
 tiirics, industries, large mercantile establisliir.ents, 
 churches, institutions of learning and palatial resi- 
 liences would grace the older cities of the East. 
 
 #»^ 
 
 PREDKRICK V. STOWK, one of the self- 
 ) made men of the county, resides on section 
 _ 2, Jefferson Townshii), and is engaged in 
 
 P 
 
 stock-raising. He is a native of Mass.achuselts, 
 having been boiii in Middlesex County, June 21, 
 18,50, ami a son of V. V. and Elizabeth \V. (Win- 
 slii|)) Stowe, who were also natives of the Hay 
 State. The family is of New England origin, and 
 shared in the liaidshi|)s and glory of the Revolu- 
 tionary War, and also had its representatives in 
 the War of 1812. The father of our subject did 
 an extensive business in the line of buying hides, 
 fur, wool, etc., and liecanie a wealthy citizen. On 
 leaving his native State, hi' settled in Kentucky, 
 later was a resident of Arkansas, and in 18GI, .ac- 
 companicil liy his family, located in the capital 
 city of Idwa, where he carried on operations in the 
 same line of business on an extensive scale until 
 called from this life to his final rest. Of the seven 
 children born to F. X. and Eli/.abeth Stowe, the eld- 
 est, Fannie, is now the wife of A. H. AVaito, a 
 prominent banker of Storm Lake, this State; Emma 
 and Ilattic are residents of Des Moines; Charles, a 
 prominent wholesale merchant of Massachusetts, 
 died in that State in 1880; lOd E. is a partner of 
 of our subject in the business of stock feeding and 
 selling; and Will, who completes the family-, died 
 in 3 outh. 
 
 In his childhood, l''icderick \ . Stowe was afforded 
 ample oiiportunity for securing a good litcraiy and 
 business education. On arriving at man's estate, 
 he embarked in the business in which his father was 
 
7Gt> 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 eiigngeil, carrying on the same successfully for a 
 period of twenty years. He then purchased a farm 
 of seven hundred and forty acres in .leffersou 
 Townsliij), and in partnership with liis brotiier lias 
 since been engaged in buying and feeding stock, 
 constantly increasing their business from tlic be- 
 ginning, until they now kcej) on hand from one 
 hundred and fifty to two hundred head of cattle, 
 together with a fine herd of draft and driving 
 horses. The farm is one of the best in the State, 
 and under the able management of the lirolbers, is 
 yielding satisfactory results. Corn is tlicir princi- 
 pal product, and in liS89, about lifleen thi>usan(l 
 bushels were gathered as the result of their labor. 
 Both are widely and favorably known, not only in 
 this county, hut in business circles throughout the 
 entire State, and in politics they are stalwart Re- 
 publicans, having lieen lifelong advocates of that 
 paily. Their generous hosiiitalily and cordial 
 greeting to all friends has esiJCcially endeared them 
 to the entire ct)ininunity, and they rank high in the 
 social world. 
 
 (*«E^AMrKL .J. OLDFIKLI), one of the early 
 '^j^^ settlers i)f I'olk Couiit\' and the Cashier 
 of the Citizen's Bank of Mitclullville, was 
 born in Hichland County. Ohio, on llie 1th 
 of .Inly, 1«;V). lie is a sou of l):n id P. and Cath- 
 erine (Creighton) Oldtield, bolli of whom were 
 also natives of the Buckeye Slute, though the 
 fathi'r was of (lennau descent a]ul his wife of Irish 
 origin. By occupation David Oldlield was a 
 laiiner, and followed that business during the 
 greater part of his life. He continued his agricul- 
 lural [)ursulls in Ohio until IIS-OG, when with his 
 family he removed to .laspcr County, Iowa, .-uid 
 ( utired one hundred and si.xty a?res of land, which 
 lie made bis home until 1870. During that time 
 he succeeded In transforming the once wild and 
 barren land into a rich and fertile farm, which 
 yielded him a golden tribute as the reward of his 
 care and cultivation. In 1870, he sold out and 
 removed to Mitchellville, but for three years con- 
 tinued the operation of a forty-acre tract, which he 
 
 owned just outside the city limits. At the end of 
 that time he retired to private life, and has since 
 rested from all labor, enjoying the fruits of former 
 toil. He has a wide acquaintance throughout the 
 county, and is held in high regard by all who know 
 him. 
 
 In 1853 Air. Oldficld was called upon to moiu'n 
 the loss of his wife, who died in Belleville, Ohio, 
 leaving three children: Sylvanus, a farmer and 
 stock-raiser of Denver, Col.; Samuel J., of this 
 sketch; and Catherine K., wife of C. A. Lafferty, of 
 Belleville, Ohio. The mother was a lady i)OSsess- 
 iiig many excellent traits of character, and was 
 beloved by all who knew her. Mr. Oldfield was 
 again married, his second wife being Mrs. Mary 
 (Drew) Cross, a widow lady, who died in Mitchell- 
 ville, in 1887. lly her former niuiiiage she had 
 one (laughter, who is now the wife of William 
 Mitchell, a farmer and stock-raiser of Ennis, .Mad- 
 ison County, Mont., and a nephew of liicle Tom 
 .Mitchell, the pioneer of Polk County. 
 
 Samuel .1. Oldfield, whose name heads this 
 sketch, has residcil in Iowa since his sixth 3'ear, 
 when he was brought by his father to .lasper 
 County-. He was leared to farm life, and in the 
 district schools received his early education, which 
 WHS sup|)lemented by n course in Ibizcl Dell Acad- 
 emy, of Newton, Iowa. Immediately after the 
 eon\pletion of his school life he enj^agcil in teach- 
 ing, which profession he followed three terms, when 
 with his parents he came to Mitchellxillc, in 1870. 
 and secured a [losition as salesman in a general 
 mercantile establishment. For live years he re- 
 mained with oiw. employer, and only severed his 
 connection on being appointed to the oHicc of 
 Postmaster .luly I, 1875. After receiving the ap- 
 pointment he erected a frame building suitable for 
 the oHice, and later removed it to its present loca- 
 tion. He proved a popular and able ollicial, .and 
 remained in ollice about eleven years, when by the 
 change of administration he was snperscedcd. For 
 a time, in connection with the discharge of his 
 public duties, he carried on a book anil stationery 
 store, and on selling out that stock, opened a jew- 
 elry store and engaged in repairing in that line. 
 That business he still continues, and being a profi- 
 cient workman and carrying an excellent stock, he 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 767 
 
 (Iciivt'S no littl(! incunn' Ihoiofrdin. Since alliiin- 
 his niiijority Mr. Olillk-ld liMS boeii promiiiciilly 
 idi'iitilied willi llio Imsiiicss interests of Milcliell- 
 villc, and ever n-My to aid in llie estalilisliinent ol' 
 anj' enterprise calculated U> aiil in the progress of 
 the town. Therefore, in .\ugust, 1«S'.), when a 
 bank was talked of, he liecaine one of the prime 
 movers in the affair, and when the organization 
 was effected wai called upon to till the otti(-e of 
 cashier, which position he still holds. Although 
 the bank has been in operation less than a year 
 it has already gained a reputation as one of the 
 solid linancial institutions of the county, its suc- 
 cess being due in no small degree to Mr. Oldfield, 
 who is POt only fair and honorable in all his deal- 
 ings, but is genial in manner and soon wins the 
 confidence and respect of all with whom he is 
 l)rouglit in contact. 
 
 On the 3d of November, l.sT."., Mr. Oldlield was 
 joined in wedluck with Miss Mary .l.tirismcr, and 
 their union has been l)lcssed with three children, 
 l)ut ICdna K., the eldest, is now deceased. Maud A. 
 and Guy are still with their parents. The family 
 holds a high position in the social world, and Mr. 
 Oldlield and his wife arc well worthy the esteem 
 with which they are regarded, lie is numbered 
 among the representative citizens and leading men 
 of Mitchellville, and not a little of the activity 
 and prosperity which characterizes the town is due 
 to his efforts. In political sentiment, like his hon- 
 ored father, he is a stalwart I{epul>lican, having 
 sui)ported that party since attaining his majority. 
 He has filled other public offices, in addition to that 
 of I'ostmaster, and has three times served as 
 Mayor. He takes considerable interest in civic 
 societies, being a member of the Modern Wood- 
 men, Good Templars, and Masonic fraternity, in 
 which he has held the office of Worshipful Master 
 for some seven years. He has been connected with 
 the temperance organization for some fifteen years, 
 and is a most active worker for. the advancement 
 of the cause. He strongly favors iirohibition, and 
 took great interest in the passage of the prohibi- 
 tory amendment. Both Mr. Oldfield and his wife 
 are earnest Christian people, the former a member 
 of the Univer.sali.st Church, and the latter a mem- 
 ber of the Methodist Church, with which she 
 
 united in childhodd. lie has served as S\iperin- 
 tcnilent of the Sunday-school for about five years, 
 anil is an untiring laborer in the Master's vine- 
 yard. Charitable and benevolent, he is ever ready 
 to extend a helping hand to the poor and needy, 
 and his wife is an able assistant in all his good 
 works. 
 
 iil_, ON. BKADKOIH) B. LANK, one of the 
 ifj] [.lominent citi/.ens of the county, residing 
 i>i^ on section KJ, Washington Township, is a 
 Canadian by birth. His father, Nathan Lane 
 was born in Canada of English descent and fol- 
 lowed farming in pursuit of fortune. He wedded 
 .Mary Moot, a native' of the Kmi)ire State, l)0rn of 
 German parentage and by that union became the 
 father of twelve children, of whom our sidtject is 
 the youngest, but only five are now living — Nelson 
 N. ami .loseph who are engaged in farming in Can- 
 !uIm; William, a iiraeticing physician of Ncwfane, 
 N. v.; Bradford 15., and Margaret (IMrs. IVIcPher- 
 son) who is a widow and resides in Lincoln County 
 Ontario. The parents continued their residence in 
 Canada until their deatiis, which occurred in Lin- 
 coln County. Both were devot(Ml members of the 
 Methodist Church and highly respected people. 
 Our subject was born in Lincoln County- Onta- 
 rio, Canada, on the 5th of February, 183H, and 
 began his school life in his native town. At the age 
 of sixteen he entered Carlile Seminary of Schoharie 
 County, N. Y., where lie remained one year and 
 then, returning home in 1855, engaged in teaching 
 for one year. He next pursued his studies for a 
 similar period of time in Belleville Seminary, after 
 which he again taught until the fall of 1858. Pos- 
 sessing a strong desire to visit the South, he then 
 made his way to Western 'I'ennessee, but a short 
 Southern experience sufficed to convince him that 
 the North was more suited to his taste and locating 
 in Hamilton County, 111., he secured a position as 
 teacher in the public schools until 1860. Desiring 
 to further continue his sliulies, he then entered 
 Oberlin College, completing the Sophomore course 
 in theclass of 18(;2. The three succeeding years 
 he passed in his native country and in 1865 went 
 
768 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 to Des Moines but located in Palmyra, Wancn 
 County. Iowa, where he again engaged in teach- 
 ing. In the fall of the same year he joined the 
 Des Moines Conference of the Methodist Church, 
 having been ordained .as minister in 18G7, and in 
 18G1) was ordained as Klder. He then had charge 
 of various churches until 1872, when he settled on 
 his farm in Washington Ti^wnship, and for ten 
 years, in connection with the I'uitivation of his land, 
 preached for the Highland ('ongregational Church 
 i)i district No. 7. For seventeen years he labored 
 faithfully in the Master's vineyard but failing 
 health at length forced hira to abandou its duties. 
 The out door exercise of farm life iiroved better 
 than indoor studying so he resolved that hereafter 
 to devote his attenti(jn to that occupation. He 
 now owns two hundred and eighty acres of land 
 all under a high stale of cultivation as the result 
 of his industry' and business .ability. 
 
 On the 20th of October, 18(53, Mr. Lane was 
 united in marriage with Miss Nannie lirown of 
 Ohio, daughter of Alexander and Nancy (Sheldon) 
 Hrowu, both of whom were natives of Providiiice, 
 Iv. I. Mrs. Lane w.as born in Huron County, ()hio, 
 .■I |)art of the Western Reserve, and her falliei- was 
 one of the stalwart abolitionists and honored 
 pioneers of that section. INh-. and Mrs. Lane are 
 parents of three children — (!rapho, who was born in 
 Cana<h», August 10, 18C1. is at home; Saiipho who 
 was born in Webster County, Iowa, Marcii 25, 
 I8G8, is a young lady of more than average ability. 
 She graduated from the College of l'h3'sicians and 
 Surgeons, of Des Moines, in the class of 1889, and 
 is now pursuing a literary course in the Ames Ag- 
 ricultural College; IJismark, the youngest, was born 
 in Cambridge, Story County, Iowa, June 7, 1872. 
 The family is one of which the parents may well 
 be proud. 
 
 For a number of ^ears Mr. Lane has raiiUid 
 among the prominent citizens of the county and is 
 a leading member of the Ui'publican party, doing 
 all in his power to ailvance its interests and secure 
 its success. In 1881), he was nominated by his 
 party as candidate for State Representative to the 
 Twentj'-Third (General Assembly and was elected 
 by a large majoriiy. We quote the following 
 which tells something of his course in the house. 
 
 "The /""•(( ('(qiilal, published liy ex-Senator 
 Voung, comi)Iiments I'olk County's Representa- 
 tives in the late session of the Legislature as fol- 
 lows: It is a matter of common talk that the 
 County of Polk has rarely been better represented 
 than in the Session just closed. One of the mem- 
 bers from this county was unexpectedly called upon 
 to act !is temporary presiding oflicer. It has always 
 l)een the custom for one of the Representatives 
 from this county to call the House to order, but 
 never, until 189(l, did this process occupy more 
 than a few minutes of time, a temporary i)resi<ling 
 oflicer being almost immediati'ly elected. This 
 year the |)rocess extended over two weeks, during 
 which lime INlr. Lane acted as temporal^' speaker. 
 How wt'll Uie<luties, thus unsought and unintention- 
 ally assumed, were performed, is a matter of 
 common fame. The member from lV)lk County, as 
 a presiding olHcer, was in fact an agreeable sur|)rise. 
 Few men, however well versed in i)arliamentary law, 
 could have more hai)|)il3' presided over ihe House 
 during so troublous a peiiod. In all the other 
 business of the session, whether in committee on 
 the tloor, this gentleman and his colleague were 
 • tTeelive mendiers, working with conscientious and 
 zeal, for the best interests of the Slate. The fad that 
 neither of the members are residents of Des Moines 
 gave rise to some apprehension before the session, 
 that the interests of the city might suffer frcjm neg- 
 lect, not because of unwillingness, but because <,)f 
 want of knowledge of the needs and wishes of our 
 citizens. But now it is generally conceded that 
 the city's interests, have seldom if evia' been i)etter 
 cared for and often not so well, by its own 
 residents; and the citizens of Des Moines and es- 
 [u'cially those of the party which elected them are 
 abundantly salislietl with the record made by the 
 county's representatives. The Capital on\y voices 
 the general sentiment of the community when it 
 expresses the wish that the metropolitan county 
 and the capital of the State may always be as well 
 reiircsented in the (iencral Assembly as they have 
 been l)y Bradford B. Lane and William J.Stewart." 
 After leaving the chair, in which he had served 
 so acceptedly, Mr. Lane continued one of the lead- 
 ing members of the House and served on a num- 
 ber <if the most iniporianl Comniitlecs. He worked 
 
V 
 
 ^ 
 
 ^^ 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 771 
 
 faitlifiiUy for the liost interests of the citj- and 
 county, served as a member of tlu; Commilteo on 
 on Ways anil ISIeans, on Coiporations, on Schools, 
 on Pardons and was chairman of tlie Committee on 
 Rules. IJis course won the respect of even his po- 
 litical enemies and was iiij^hly satisfactory to all 
 liis constituents. 
 
 ,;()UN K. I1U15AI (ill. who resides on .section 
 1, Washington Township, is nnmliered 
 among the honored pioneers of Polk County, 
 _ having since IS.j.") been a witness of its 
 growth and progress, and an active particij)ant in 
 its development and upbuilding, lie is widely 
 known throughout the community as a |)romineut 
 and respected citizen, and we take i)leasure in pre- 
 senting a sketch of his life work to the readers of 
 the Ai.iJUM. A native of Logan County, Ohio, he 
 was born on the 7th of Ajjril, 1820, his parents be- 
 ing George and Elizabeth llobaugh. Both were 
 natives of Westmoreland County, Pa., the former 
 born in 17',)3, the latter in 1797. The father be- 
 came a resilient of Ohio in ISOl, settling in Ross 
 County. In Madison County jie was married, and 
 their eldest son, Xiui 1)., was there born on the 22d 
 of January', 1810. Their nest place of residence 
 was in Logan County, and in 1827 they removed 
 to Sidney, Slielb3' County, Ohio. Their next re- 
 moval was from the State, they locating in Grant 
 C'ount3', Ind., in 1835, where for thirty years Mr. 
 llobaugh continued his resilience, coming to Polk 
 County in 1855. lie built a home in Washington 
 Townshii), but in 18G5 removed to Marion, Ind., 
 where his wife, a most estimable lady, died in 
 1 87 1 . The busb.and then resided with his cliildren, 
 his death occurring on the I'Jtli of -Inly, 1874, at 
 the advanced age of eighty-one ^ears, while visit- 
 ing his daughter in York County, Neb. Both were 
 members of the Christian Church, and lived earn- 
 est, consistent lives. Their children were as fol- 
 lows: \'an D., wiio was born in Aladison County, 
 in 1811), and died near Marion, Ind., May 31, 1888; 
 John Iv.; Rachel, who was born in Logan County, 
 March 17, 1822, became the wife of Samuel Karr, 
 
 of Grant Count}', Ind.; William II., born in Logan 
 County, September 18, 1821, died in Grant Couiity, 
 Intl., October 25, 1852, leaving a wife and three 
 children — Mary A., George and W.Il.; Lydia, 
 the liflh of the family, was born in Logan County, 
 August 3, 182G, and is the wife of Benjamin Wool- 
 man, a farmer of Colorado, Neb. ; Priscilla, born 
 January 30, 1828, in Shelby County, t)hio, died in 
 (irant County Ind., February 9, 1847, .at the age 
 nineteen years; George W., who was boin in 
 Slielby County, March 1,1830, and came to Pulk 
 County in 1853, becoming one of the first settlers 
 of Washington Township, died October 1, 1856, 
 anil his giave was the third in Peoria Citj' Ceme- 
 tery. He left a wife and oni^ daughter, Luiy, who 
 became tlic wife of Klias llarlan, of Kingsbury, 
 Cal.; Elizabeth, born in Shelby County, Ohio, Ma^' 
 22. 1S32, was the first wife of Elias l)rai)er, and 
 dice] in Polk County, .lunc ID, 1857, leaving three 
 children — Theodore IL, who was born March 10, 
 1852, in (jlrant County, Ind.; Francis A. born in 
 Oakland, Cal., February 13, 1855; and Sarah E., 
 born in Polk County-, in June, 1857. 
 
 The advantages which our subject, John K. llo- 
 baugh, received in his youth were limited, and on 
 attaining his majority he started out in life for 
 himself, with no ca|)ital save energy and ;i deter- 
 mination to make the most of every opiiortunity. 
 He familiarized himself with the rudiments of edu- 
 cation in the log schoolhouses of Logan and Shelby 
 Counties, Ohio, and on leaving the parental roof 
 began his business career as a farm hand, working 
 for ^12 per month. Previous to this time he had 
 learned the shoemaker's trade, which he followed 
 during the winter season, and continued his other 
 employment during the summer months. He also 
 split rails to add to his income, being paid by the 
 thousand. Such was the manner in which his early 
 life was [lasseil and the competence which he has" 
 now acquired, is but a litting reward for his la- 
 bors. 
 
 On the IGth of January, 1812, Mr. llobaugh 
 united his destiny with that of Miss Lucy Wool- 
 man, their marriage being celebrated in Indiana. 
 Mrs. llobaugh was born in Clark County, Ohio, 
 August 1, 1821, and is a daughter of Abraham and 
 Kuth (Bond) Woolman, the former a native of 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 New Jersey, tlio l.Hlcr of Virginia, liotli ruinovi-d 
 to llie HiK-kcye State in an early day, where tliey 
 were married. Tliey are now deceased, tlie fallier 
 having died in Clinton County, the mother in 
 Grant County, In(5. Unto Mr. and Mr.s. Ilohangh 
 have been born three eliildren, all born in Grant 
 County, Ind. — Uulh K., born November 13, 1812, 
 died in her native county June 16, 1844; Eber \V., 
 born April T), 1811. d'ied February 10, 1818; Har- 
 vey S., born August 21,1817, died Man-li 21, 
 1848. The loss of their children has been the 
 deepest allliction which has fallen upon Mr. and 
 Mrs. Ilobaugli in the many years in which they 
 have traveled life's journey together. Otherwise 
 their lot has Ijeen a i)rosi)erous and happ.\' one. 
 
 They began their domestic life in Washington 
 Townshij), (!rant County, Ind., where he owned a 
 heavily timbered farm of forty acres, part of which 
 he cleared ready for cultivation. He continued the 
 operation of his land during the summer months, 
 and when the crops were harvested and stored 
 for the winter, took his [)lace u()on his bench and 
 worked at the shoemaker's tr.ide until \7,')3, when 
 he sold his farm in Grant County, and loading iiis 
 household elTects into a wagon, started for Iowa, 
 his destination being Polk County. He purchased 
 one hundred and sixty acres of land on secti(jn 1, 
 Washington Township, and entered eighty acres 
 on the same section. At the time it was all com- 
 l)rised in KIkhart Township, and the settlers in both 
 were few in numbers. In 185(> Mr. Hobaugh tvas 
 appointed to organize and name the township, to 
 which he gave the name of Washington, after the 
 one in wliicli he had made his home in Indiana. 
 He found but three or four families in the township 
 wlien he came to Iowa, :ind the entire township 
 was almost wholly unimproved. He and his giiod 
 wife look lip their abode in a little log cabin with 
 a clapboard roof .Mid puncheon floor, and began 
 life in true pioneer style. In the winter liie snow 
 would sift llirough the chinks, but they bore un- 
 complainingly ail such hardships, pulling aside 
 every other consideration exeei>t that in the end 
 they would have a good home as the result of their 
 efforts. Mr. Hobaugh has ever taken an active in- 
 terest in the advancement of the counl3''s interests, 
 and is numbered among the public-spirited and 
 
 progressive citizens of the community. In con- 
 nection with Mr. Pearson lit platted and laid out a 
 village, calling il I'eoiia Cit^-, but the railroad p:iss- 
 ing through .Maxwell and leaving it to one side, 
 the little town became a thing of tlie past. How- 
 ever, for some time it was a nourishing place. Mr. 
 Hobaugh there opened a general store, the first in 
 this part of the count}-, and did much to aid in 
 its growth and progress, but it became a doomed 
 town when the railroad left it to one side. Churches 
 and schools have found in hini a firm friend to 
 whom they could go for aid in their darkest hours. 
 In politics he is a stalwart Hepublii-an, having sup- 
 ported tluat party since his organization. He li:is 
 filled many ollices of honor and trust. From 185G 
 until 18(12 he was .lustice of the Peace, in 18G2 and 
 1860 he w.is Township Suix-rvisor, and during the 
 erection of the schoolhouse was Township Treas- 
 urer. Mr. Ihibaugh and his estimable wife are 
 widely known, and in all the country' round about 
 are held in the highest regard. As pioneers and 
 worthy citizens they are well worthy of represent.a- 
 tion in this volume. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Hobaugli were for many years 
 niemliers of the United IJrethrcu in Cliiist Church, 
 but as there is no church of their denomination 
 near to them, the^' still adhere to that faitii, and 
 are eninest. exemplary Christians and contribute 
 liberally to the support of other denominations. 
 
 UDGI-: WILLIAM il. McHKNRY, a pronii- 
 ncnt iiioneer of Polk County, his residence 
 dating from August, 1848,w:is boin near Co- 
 lumbus, Franklin County, Ohio, September 
 17. 181(). His father, Alexander IJlair McIIeniy, 
 was born in Kentucky, of Irish descent; his antes- 
 tors were Irish. They settled in what is now the 
 Uiiiteil States long before the Revolutionary War. 
 Ft. McHi'ury in Maryland wjvs named after one of 
 them. There I he Stars and Stripes were floating 
 when Key wrote the immortal song called " The 
 Star Spangled Haniier." He removed to Ohio in 
 his 3'oulh and in the IJuckeye .State married Miss 
 Sarah Wood. The lady was a native of Cayuga 
 

 Trr 
 
 *''*«*f?'. 
 
 i/l/ 
 
 
 
 ?y^ 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 773 
 
 County, N. Y., of Welsh extraction, the mollier 
 li.'iving been horn in Wales. Alexander lilair Mc- 
 lleniy was a teacliei li\- profession. Tiie family of 
 which he is a member is descendeil from some 
 Irisli eniigi'ants vvlio at an early ila}' selllcd iii \'ir- 
 giiiia, hut aflerwurcis removed to Maryland, wlienie 
 they made their way to Kentuek}' during the early 
 settlement of that State. One of his ancestors was 
 a signer of the Declaration of Independence. 
 
 Tile subject of this sketch wiis deprived by deatli 
 of a father's care in early youth. He was rearetl 
 to manhood upon a farm, where' he received l>ut 
 limited educational .ad vantages, the i)rivileges lie 
 enjoyed licing such as the connnon scliouls afforded, 
 but he studied industriously, lioth in and out of 
 school, giving es|)ecial attention U> mathematics 
 and surveying, for whicli he [)osscssed a strong 
 love. In September, 18;5G, he removed from Ohio 
 to Warren County, J nil., making the journey by 
 teams, and on reaching his destination followed 
 farming, lie was married in that county on the 
 Kllh of March, \SAo, the lad\- of his choice being 
 Miss .Mary Butterlield, daughter of Judge Na- 
 thaniel BulterQcld. The lady was born in Warren 
 County, and there rcsidetl until her huslnuid went 
 t<j seek his fortune elsewhere. 
 
 .ludge Mcllenry entered upon the study of law 
 in Indiana, but in 1815, before completing his 
 preiiaralion for examination, removed with his 
 young wife to Shelby County, 111., where he raised 
 a company for the Mexican War, of which he was 
 elected Ca|)tain. The compaii}', however, wiui never 
 called into actual service. In the summer of 18 48 
 he started with his wife and baby for Iowa, trav- 
 eling in true emigrant sl^le. He reached the Des 
 Moines Kiver, o|)positc Ft. Des Moines, on the 13th 
 of August of that year. As no bridge had yet been 
 built in or near that locality, he waded the river 
 and drove his team across, then made his way up 
 Beaver Creek A'alley about six miles above the 
 fort, where he located laud for a farm. He took 
 contracts Uiv Government surveys of Dall:is and 
 other counties, during the performance of which 
 he often waded the classic Coon and took his 
 night's repose sheltered by the prairie grass ami 
 a tent made of cotton cloth. In the fall of 
 1818, when the land sales were about to begin at 
 
 Iowa City, an immense meeting of tiic settlers of 
 Polk County was held at Ft. Des .Moines to organ- 
 ize for the protection of settlers against speculators 
 in the rights to their claims. Sever.al meetings of 
 a like nature liad been previously held, hut at this 
 one linal action was to be taken. A committee of 
 three, consisting of Thomas Baker, l-'rank \Vatso;i 
 and William H. Mcllenry, was appointed to draft 
 a set of club laws. Mr. Mcllenry was the author 
 of till' laws, of whicli the following is a synopsis: 
 
 Isl. That the meeting shall appoint a commit- 
 tee of three to settle all disputes between settlers as 
 to claims, boundary lines, etc. 
 
 2nd. That it shall appoint a secretary, whose 
 duty it shall be to register in a book the name of 
 every man and the descri|.tion of the tract each 
 wanted bid off at the ap|iroacliing land sale for 
 hiuLself, and that the secretary should attend the 
 hind sale at Iowa City and bid off the lands so 
 registered in the name of the respective claimants. 
 And that it should be the duties of the settlers to 
 attend the land sales in a body and there knock 
 down and drag out any man other than the said 
 secretary who should attem|)t to bid on the settK-r's 
 home. 
 
 R. L. Tedrick w;is chosen secretary and bidder, and 
 a huge body-guard was selected to accompany him 
 and go well armed and see that he was not inter- 
 fered wi_th in the discharge of his duty. The iin- 
 l>ression made by this formidable organization was 
 such that the si'tllers' claims were respected and the 
 land bid olT as arranged. 
 
 In the meantime Mr. Mcllenry had continued his 
 law studies, and in 1852 was admitted to practice 
 in the courts of Iowa. He has held various ollicial 
 positions, from .liistice of the Peace to Judge on 
 the bench, the duties of which he has ever dis- 
 charged with lidelity and ability. He was lirsl 
 chosen Justice of the Peace, which position he held 
 two years. In l.Sy.) he was elected Sheriff of I'olk 
 County, refusing a second nomination when his 
 two years' term had exiiired. On his election to 
 that ollice he removed to Ft. Des Moines, which he 
 li.as since made his home. He was a member of t!.e 
 CommcMi Council and was elected the first Mayor 
 of Des Moines after its organization as a city. He 
 was also City Solicitor for one term, and would 
 have been the people's choice for a second term 
 had he iu>l declined a .second election. In 1850 he 
 
r74 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 was apiwinted surveyor for the committee whose 
 duty it was to re-locate the State Capitol within 
 two miles of the junction of Dcs Moines anrt 
 Racoon Rivers, .hulgc Crookham, Stewart Gooil- 
 sell, Guy Wells and others constituted the commit- 
 tee. Judge Mcllenry performed the duty assigned 
 him, laid outCa|)itol Sipiarc and Governor Square, 
 and also platted a large portion of the city of Des 
 IMoines. He continued surveying until ISoT, since 
 which time he lias been engaged in the jtractice of 
 law and the discharge of his official duties. In 1878 
 lie was elected Judge of the District Court of the 
 Kiflli Judicial District, which then iucludeil six 
 counties, namely: Polk, Dallas, Guthrie, Adair, 
 Madison and Warren. His faithful discharge of 
 duly led to his re electiou again in 1882 for a term 
 of four years. He vacated the office December 31, 
 188(>. His service as a judge was an arduous one, 
 yet such was his prompt dispatch of business, with 
 fair and iiniiartial rulings and just decisions, tli.at 
 the members of the bar thruughout the district 
 we;e pleased at the close of his term uf ofHce to 
 pass complimentary resolutions in the Judge's favor, 
 while the bar of Adair County presented him with 
 an elegant gold- headed cane suitably inscribed. 
 
 We now return to the home relations of our sub- 
 ject. The union of Judge and Mrs. Mcllenry was 
 blessed with a faniil}- of eight children, five of 
 whom are yet living. Sarah E., the eldest, is the 
 wife of Charles (). Perkins, of Des Moines; Olive 
 is principal of tiie Hawthorne School; Krama is the 
 •wife of Harvey L. Glenn, now of Livingston, 
 Mont.; William H. and Walter are both prominent 
 young lawyers; and the other three children died 
 in infancy. 
 
 Judge McHenry has always supjiorted the Demo- 
 cratic party, and his long service in office in a 
 State where his party has ever been in a minority 
 indicates his great personal poiiularity. In the 
 early history of the county, and while serving as 
 SheritT, he acted as agent for a great many people 
 ill entering lands, and in so doing was the custodian 
 of large sums of money. Shot bags full of gold 
 pieces were often in his possession, but he never 
 lost a dollar, and gave the utmost satisfaction in the 
 discharge of the trusts imposed in him. The con- 
 fidence shown in the early days by the pioneer in 
 
 the honesty and integrity of his neighbor was not 
 based on bonds and securities, and was seldom 
 abused. Judge McHenrj- has spent more than 
 forty -one 3'ears in Polk County, and there are some 
 yet living who have known him througii .all that 
 period. Such willingly testify to the purity of his 
 record and his integrilvas a business man and citi- 
 zen. He is warm-hearted and genial by nature, 
 plain and unpretentious. In his profession he won 
 distinction, especially' .as a criminal lawyer, but he 
 made no branch of the law a specially; lie prac- 
 ticed in law and iquity courts as well as in crimi- 
 nal courts. 
 
 ATRICK IK )EV, who resides on section 31, 
 Hloomfield Township, and makes farming 
 his princiiial occupation, was born on the 
 20th of March, 1843, in County Louth, 
 Ireland, where lor several generations remote his 
 ancestors had resided. His grandfather. Lawrence 
 Hoe}', there si)ent his da^'s in .agricultural pursuits, 
 ai)d his father was born in that community aliout 
 the year 180G. Having attained to mature yeai-s, 
 Patrick Hoey, Sr., was united in marri.age with 
 Eliza Traynor, a native of the same county, and In 
 18411, emigrated with his family, consisting of wife, 
 two sons and four daughters, to America. He 
 made his first settlement near Keokuk, Iowa, and 
 was engaged in work on the Mississippi River, and 
 in (luarrylng stone. In 1851, he came to I'olk 
 County, scllliiig in Somerset, in March of that 3'ear, 
 but after following farming for two years, he re- 
 moved to Winterset, Madison County, where he 
 engaged in the same occup.ation for the same period. 
 Returning to this county in 1855, he settled on sec- 
 tion 31, P>loomfield Township, where he engaged 
 in agricultural pursuits until his death in 187fi. He 
 was a devoted member of the Catholic Church, and 
 by those who knew him, was regarded as a useful 
 and upright citizen. 
 
 Since the age of twelve years, our subject has re- 
 sided upon the farm which is now his home. He 
 had passed but six summers when with his family 
 he crossed the Atlantic to America. They landed 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 775 
 
 at New Orleans in February of 1819, niid pro- 
 ceoiled up the Mississippi Rivor to Keokuk, Iowa, 
 becoming permanent settlers of Polk County, in 
 1855, when Mr. Hoey, Sr., entered eighty acres of 
 land from the Government, ancl purcliiised two 
 hunilred and sixty acres at ^\0 per acre. Our sub- 
 ject was reared to the occupation of farming, and 
 tlie turmoil of commercial circles form no attrac- 
 tion for him. He determined to follow in the foot- 
 steps of his father, and devotes his entire attention 
 to farming, the liandling of grain and stock-raising. 
 He keeps on hand the liest grade of iiorses, cattle, 
 and hogs, having some of the finest specimens in 
 the county. He began life for himself as a day 
 laborer, but h.as steadily worked his way upward, 
 and as the result of his industry, economy and good 
 management, he h.as succeeded in accumulating a 
 moderate fortune. He received no special advan- 
 tages in his youth, his education being acquired in 
 the common schools, but he has made the most of 
 every ojjportunity, and as the result h.as one of the 
 best farms in the township. His mother still msikes 
 her home with him, and both are members of the 
 Catholic Ciiurch, to which Mr. Hoey is a liberal 
 contributor. In politics he supports the Demo- 
 cratic part}'. His residence in this county covers 
 almost forty years, and in consequence he has been 
 a witness of the greater part of its growth and de- 
 velopment. 
 
 ~tN£r' 
 
 THOMAS STILAVELL, general farmer .and 
 stock-raiser residing on section 5, Wash- 
 ington Township, was born in Schuyler 
 County, N. Y., January 20, 18;?2, and is a son of 
 Jacob and Elizabeth (t^uick) .Stilwell. His father 
 'was a native of New Jer.sey, and went to Tomp- 
 kins County, N. Y. (of which Schuyler County 
 was formerly a part), when a child with his father, 
 .Fames Stilwell, who served in tlie Revolutionary 
 War, and was wounded in one of the engagements, 
 wliile faithfully fighting for the liberty of the land. 
 The family was of Welsh origin. Jacob Stilwell 
 was l)y tr.ade a carpenter, and also engaged in 
 
 farming on a small scale in the Empire State. In 
 Schuyler County he passed to his final rest, about 
 the year 1866. His wife, who long survived him, 
 died in 1885, at a ripe old age. Roth were con- 
 sistent members of the Alethodist Church, and 
 their upright lives made them greatly respected. 
 They became parents of eleven children, ten of 
 whom grew to manhood and womanliood, while 
 nine are yet living: C.atherine, wife of Noah L^'on, 
 of Cayuga County, N. Y.; James, who died after 
 attaining to mature years; Sarah E., wife of Ilenr}' 
 Dickersou, a farmer in Schuyler County, N. Y.; 
 Matilda, wi<low of William Bowers, of Schuyler 
 County; Martha (^».. wife of Cornelius Warren, of 
 the same county; John (t., who served in the 
 Twelfth New York Infantry, and is now living in 
 Schuyler County; Thomas, of this sketch; Spencer 
 C, who served in the Ninth Heavj' Artillery, of 
 New York; Andrew (^., a farmer of Cayuga 
 County; Lewis of Schuyler County ; and one child 
 who died in infancy. 
 
 The early training of our subject was such .as he 
 received in the public schools and upon his father's 
 farm. He remained under the parental roof until 
 twenty-one years of age, when he bade good-by to 
 his home and started out in life for himself, work- 
 ing as a farm hand, at from ^12 to *16 per month. 
 Believing that he could better his financial condi- 
 tion in the West, in January, IS.'ir), he emigrated 
 to Iowa and, locating in Van Buren County, began 
 working as a farm hand but, in the spring of 1856, 
 went to Scotland County, Mo., where he entered 
 eigthy .acres of land. The following fall, how- 
 ever, he returned to Van Buren County, and on 
 the 15th of October, 1H5G. was united in marriage 
 with iSIiss Lydia .1. Ayers, a native of E.aj'ctte 
 County, Pa., who removed to Van Buren County 
 with hei' jtarents in 185.3. Her father died in that 
 county, and her mv)ther's death occurred near Mt. 
 I'leasant. 
 
 After his marriage, Mr. Stilwell engaged in 
 farming until February, 1864, when lie enlisted in 
 Company B, Third Iowa Cavalry, for three years, 
 and was mustered into the service at Keokuk, 
 whence he was sent to St. Louis and on to Tennes- 
 see. The first summer the regiment was engaged 
 in scouting duty in Mississipj)!, participating in 
 
77C 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPfflCAL ALBUM. 
 
 tlie (Jimtown raid, and the battle at TuiielK oppos- 
 int;(ien. FuM'csl llirough Mis.sissii)pi and Tennessee, 
 the following winter, luuU'r command of (len. 
 (ireirsun, the dashing eavalry leader, they pro- 
 ceeded on to Vicksbiirg, and thence u|i the Missis- 
 sippi River to Cairo, and up ttie Ohio to 
 Louisville, Ky. In the spring of 18()a, they 
 joined the expe<lilion nuder Gen. Wdson, and 
 made their w.aj' through Alabama and (leorgia. tnk- 
 ini; part in a number of skirniislies, arriving at 
 Macon about the time of Lee's surrender. During 
 the summer of IHtif), they were in the vieiuity of 
 Atlanta, doing gu.ard dut\-, or maintaining order 
 throughout the county. Li August, 1 8(i."), the 
 Third Cavalry was mustered out at Atlanta, (ia., 
 and subsequently discharged at -Davenport, Iowa. 
 Immediately after the ck)se of the war, Mr. .Slil- 
 well returned to his home in \'an Buren County, 
 where he again devoted his attention to farming 
 until 18fi9, when he traded his properly in that 
 county for two hundred ami forty .aci-es of wild 
 land, which he later exchanged for his piescnt 
 farm of one hundred and .si\t}' acres on section .'), 
 Washington Townshiji. At that time only fort3- 
 acres had been broken, but week after week .saw the 
 amount of cultivated laud increased until the en- 
 tire amount was (touverted into rich and fertile 
 fields, paying a golden tribute to the care and la- 
 bor which the owner bestowed u|)on them. The 
 beautiful maple grove which surrounds his lujme, 
 and attracts the notice of every passer by, was 
 planted and tended by his own hand, and long- 
 after he shall have passed away, will staml .as a 
 monument to his thrift and industrj'. He is re- 
 garded as one of the enterprising and progressive 
 farmers and stock-raisers of the community, and is 
 recognized as a man of sterling worth. He has 
 been honored with all the township ollices, and for 
 a nnml)er of years past has served as Township 
 Trustee. To one acquainted with Mr. Stilwell, it 
 is needless to say that his public duties have ever 
 been discharged in a prompt, and faithfid manner, 
 ns is every trust rei)Osed in him. Socially, he is a 
 member of the Masonic fraternit}' and the (Irand 
 Army of the Republic, and in politics is an inllexi- 
 ble adherent to Republican principles. Both he 
 and hi>: wife are membei's of Ihe I'.aplist Cliurch. 
 
 m. 
 
 Their ho\iseliold is noted for its hosi)itality, and in 
 the social world they are held in high regard. 
 
 To this worthy couple were born seven children, 
 but the eldest four died in infancy; Dora K., the 
 fifth in order of birth, is a teacher in the public 
 schools of RLixwell, Iowa, and is recognized as 
 one of the able educators of the county and where- 
 ever her .services have been cmpk)yed she has 
 given general satisfaction; Annie ^^. is also a suc- 
 cessful teacher and is employed in the schools of 
 this conuly; Katie, who completes the family, is 
 still with her parents. 
 
 1 AMIvS B. .WKAVKR, Jn., is the junior 
 member of the law firm of (j!at(rh, Connor A- 
 Weaver. lie was l)orn in Bloomfield, Davis 
 County, Iowa, on the I'.tth of August, 1861, 
 and is a son of the Hon. James B. and Clara (Mn- 
 son ) Weaver. The subject of this sketch was erlu- 
 cati'd in (he Normal School of Bloomfield. and 
 having determined to made the practice of law his 
 life work, was grndualcd from Ihc law department 
 of the State I'niversity in the class of .liine, 1 8,S2. 
 He established himself in |)racti(W in Des Moines 
 dniing the following August, and in 188.') foruu'd 
 a law partnership with Col. C. H. Calcli, under the 
 firm name of (!a1ch A' Weaver. They I'ontinued 
 praitice together until the fall of I88,t, when on 
 the retirement of Judge William Connor from the 
 bench, that gentleman became a member of the 
 firm and the style was changed to Gatch, Connor & 
 Weaver. 
 
 On the Till of November, 188ii, Mr. Weaver led 
 to the marriage altar Miss Fay M. Atkins, a daugh- 
 ter of C. B. Atkins, of this city, where their 
 union was celebrated, and a native of (ilenwood, 
 Iowa. 
 
 In politics, Mr. Weaver is indejK'ndent. voting 
 for principle rather than part}'. He is a member 
 of M3-rtlc Lodge, No. !), K. I'., and is the present 
 Secretary of the Central Iowa Alumni Association. 
 He was also President of the Des Moines Invest- 
 ment Company in 1881), and at this writing is a 
 Director and N'ice-I'resident of the same cor|)ora- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 777 
 
 tion. Tlie law firm of which Mr. Weaver is the 
 junior mcinher is one of tlie .iblest in the city. Col. 
 Gatch, the present St;ite Senator, .anil Judge Connor, 
 late District .lurlge, have eslahlished reputations .as 
 able lawyers, while llie younger member of the 
 firm, by his ability and industry, is fast gaining 
 prominence among the newer representatives of 
 tlic Polk County bar. 
 
 -j=4ij,i_ 
 
 -Er- 
 
 y ILL! AM W. PHILLIPS, ex-County Attor- 
 ney of Polk County, has been engaged in 
 the [)ractice of the legal profession in East 
 Des Moines since 18G8, and is one of the most 
 prominent members of the bar of this city. His 
 professional career has been a successful one, and 
 he maintains a;i honorable standing at the bar of 
 I'olk County. 
 
 Mr. Phillips is a native of the riuckcye State, 
 having lieen Ijorn in Cari-ollton, Carroll Couut3', 
 onthel.'ithof March, 1810. His father, Alexan- 
 der Phillips, who was a native of Cadiz, Harrison 
 County, ( )liio, married Catherine Duvall, and when 
 their son AVilliani W., w;is al)ont eight years of 
 age removed to Findlay, Hancock County, in the 
 same State, where the f.ath.M- died in Se|itember, 
 lS7(i. His wife still survives him. The maternal 
 granilmother of our sulijcct, Mrs. IVlary Duvall, 
 who was born in 17!)(). dieil January "Jti, l.S'.MI, in 
 the one luindreillh year of her age. To I\Ir. and 
 Mrs. Phillips were born nine cliililren who grew to 
 matur(i years, four sons and live daughters, all of 
 whom are residents of Kindl.ay, Ohio, with the ex- 
 ception of our subject. They are: James K., Theo- 
 <lore, I.ero}', Mrs. Martha Schoonover, Mrs. Saman- 
 tha Cox, Mi-s. Caroliiu' .McConnell. Mary F. and 
 Alice. 
 
 William W. I'hillips, whose name heads this 
 notice, was reared on a farm near Findlay, ( )hio. 
 He attended the public schools, and was about to 
 enter Oberlin College when the excitement attend- 
 ing the War of the Rebellion, then in progress, 
 aroused his patriotic impulses and leil him to en- 
 list, in August, 1862, as a member of company 1), 
 Ninety-ninth Ohio Infantry, in which he served 
 
 until the close of the war. He took i>art in many 
 of the most important engagements of that strug- 
 gle. At the battle of Stone River the Ninety- 
 ninth lost so heavilv that it no longer continued a 
 separate organization, but vvas consolidated with 
 the Fiftieth Ohio. Mr. i'hillips also took ])art in 
 the famous battle of Chatianooga and the Atlanta 
 campaign, and then served under (Jen. Thomas in 
 the Nashville campaign. After the destruction of 
 the Confederate Army under Gen. Hood by the 
 forces commandiMl l)y (ien. Thomas, the regiment 
 was transferred to Ft. F'isher, by wny of Washing- 
 ton and the Atlantic, and rejoined the .arm3' under 
 (ien. Sherman at (Johisborougli, N. C, but the war 
 soon after ended b}' the surrender of the armies 
 under I>ee and Johnston to (Jens, (irant and Sher- 
 man. Mr. I'hillips was mustered out with his 
 command at Camp Denuisou. Ohio, in August, 
 18G5. He was a faithful soldier in the service of 
 his country for three years, ami during that long 
 perioil was not confined in the hos|)ital a single 
 day, but was alwa^'s found at his post of duty, 
 valiantly defending the countiy's cause. 
 
 As Mr. I'hillips entered the service bcft>rc his 
 education was completed, when he ivtnrned from 
 the war he entered a commercial school .at Oska- 
 loosa, Iowa, from which he was gra<lnatt'd in the 
 class of '()7. In llie meautnue he had fulh' re- 
 solved to adopt the law as his profession, and to 
 this end entered the office of I>acey it Shepherd, of 
 Oskaloosa, liut soon afterward came to Des Moines 
 and attcnde<l the law school in this city. In the 
 s|)ring of 18GS ho was admitted to the bar, and 
 shortly afterward o|i('ucd an odict- in Fast, Des 
 Moines, where he has since practiced his profession. 
 He has been engaged in practice longer than any 
 other man in this part of the city. .Soon after he 
 entered upon his business career he became ;isso- 
 cialed with L. G. Bannister, which coniu'ction con- 
 tinued about ten years, when on account of failing 
 health Mr. Bannister withdrew from the lirm and 
 retired from law practice. He died in Des Moines 
 not long after. On the dissolution of the partner- 
 ship the firm of Phillips \' Conrad was formed, the 
 partner being W. F. Conrad, who is the preser.L. 
 District Judge. In IHSI Mr. I'liillips withdrew 
 from the fiiMn and went to Tennessee for the benefit 
 
778 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 of liis liealtli, (liscoiilinuin;; liis praclicc for aliniil a 
 _year, at the end of which time he retiinii'il and has 
 since been alone in linsiness. 
 
 In Fin(lla3'. Ohio, Mr. Thillii)s led to the niai- 
 riai^^e altar IMiss Mary ]\I. Taylor, a native of Cadiz, 
 Harrison Countj', who removed with licr parents to 
 Findlay when a child. Her father. Thomas II. 
 Taylor, died many years ago, and her mother. Mrs. 
 Nancj' Taylor, departed this life in October, 1888, 
 at the age of eighty-six 3'ears. The hnsl)and was 
 one of fourteen children, and his wife belonged to 
 a family of ten children. Into them were born 
 two sons and three daughters, namely: Dr. Wallace, 
 Mrs. Phillips, Catherine, William and Nancy. The 
 wife of our subject is the only mcml)er of the fam- 
 ily residing in Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Phillips are 
 |iarents of four sons — Ilarvc}' T., Frank W., Will 
 iam W. .and Carl H. 
 
 In politics, Mr. .Phillips alliliatcs with the Repub- 
 lican party. lie filled the ollu^e of County Attor- 
 ney of Polk County in 1887 and 1888 in the most 
 acceptable manner to all concern(Ml. A loyal, citi- 
 zen, a prondnent lawyer, and a faithful defender of 
 his country during her days of peril, are titles 
 which apply to Mr. Phillips, and justly entitle him 
 to a representation in this vf)lume. 
 
 RIAII BURR WHITK, one of the most 
 highly res|)ected citizens, and early set- 
 tlers of Polk County, who a few months 
 since was called to his final rest, was born in New- 
 ark, Conn., on the 8tli of February, 1811, and in 
 his native city grew to manhood. In his youth he 
 had not even the advantages of the public schools, 
 but acipiircil his education in llic subscription 
 schools, and from an early .'ign made his own way 
 in the world. When a lad of sixteen years he was 
 apprenticed to the carpenter's and joiner's trade 
 and served a term of four years, receiving his 
 board and clothing as a compensation for his la- 
 bors. For the purpose of engaging in business, in 
 1833 he went to 'I'arrytown, N. Y., that place 
 m.ad(! celebrated by living's "Sleei)y Hollow," an<l 
 iK'coniing accpiuinted with Miss Mir\- Warren, was 
 
 unilcd in marriage to th.at estim.able ladj' on the 
 7tli of November. That same year he removed 
 with his young bride to Warren, Trumbull County, 
 Ohio, then one of the Western States, where they 
 m.'ide their home f(U' almost a quarter of a century. 
 Mr. White took an active interi'st in all public 
 affairs calculated to benefit the community, and 
 was one of the organizers of the first school in the 
 townshi[) where he located. His removal from the 
 Buckeye State occurred in 1 857, when he became 
 a resident of Des Moines, then a small village of 
 littls importance. The same year, in company 
 with Dr. Turner, he built the first bridge across 
 the Des Moines River, where Court Avenue now 
 inter.sects the city, and about 18C1, superintended 
 the construction of the Coon River bridge, of 
 which he was part owner until some years later, 
 when the structure was purchased bj' the county 
 and made public |)roperty. In the exercise of his 
 chosen vocation be aided not a little in the up- 
 building of the city, and many are the works of 
 his hand which still stand .as monuments to his 
 thrift ami enterprise. He abandoned carpenter 
 work, however, in 1878, and eng.aged in farming 
 in the eastern part of the county for some years, 
 when he returned to Des Moines. 
 
 By the mniriageof Mr. White and Miss Warren, 
 a family of nine cliibircn were born, eight of 
 whom lived to adult age. I'riali II., the eldest, is 
 now engaged in the real-estate business in Council 
 Bluffs; .1. A. is extensively engaged iii farming 
 near Fargo, S. Dak.; A. C. is a large stock raiser 
 and shi|)per, of Booneville, Dallas County, Iowa; 
 C. H., who resides in Marion, Lynn County, is ex- 
 press messenger on the Chicago, Milwaukee it St. 
 Paul l{ailroa<l, running between Marion and Coun- 
 cil Bluffs, Iowa; and Hannah completes the fam- 
 ily. The mother died in 1881, after which Hannah 
 became her father's liouse-kec|)cr, ami aa far as 
 possible supplied her mother's placi? in the home 
 until the death of Mr. White, which occurred on 
 the 6th of March, 18'.)0. Besides the many ways 
 in whi(^h he aided in the progress and advancement 
 of the city's interests, he tilled a number of o!!icial 
 positions, including that of (ouncilman. His 
 views, politically, were in accordance with the 
 [irinciplcs of the Democratic party,. -nid in religions 
 
Nl 
 
 ■^c/. /^. /&. Mx^ 
 
PORTRAIT AND RIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 7S1 
 
 l)olit'f, hotli lie and liis wifi; were Episcopalians, he 
 
 lioiiig vestryniai) in Uk; churcli I'di- many years. 
 IK' lived a luiin' and u.si-fii! )ifV, ;ind died rcspt-cled 
 liy all. His nolilc ii|)riglil. clianu'lcr won liini warm 
 friends, and the high regiird i>f all with wJKim he 
 came in conlacl. 
 
 RCtlF<:i.AlTS (;. FIKI.I), l\l. I)., L, 
 
 I'.., 
 
 one of the old and sudccssfnl practitioner^ 
 (I '* of Iowa, is a native uf <)ntario C'onnty, N. 
 v.. horn Novcnihi-r l.'i, 1820. His father, 
 Dr. Ahel W. Field, wa.s born in Honningtun, Vt., 
 Jul}' 2(!, 1X02, and was the yonngest of :i family of 
 fourteen childien — Tohn, Henry, Alliert, Isliza- 
 lieth, ( Mrs. I'eter A. Story ) ; Naomi, Hazen, Daniel, 
 Knnrce, (Mrs. .losepii Olin): S.irah A.. (Mrs. Selah 
 Squire); iMarinda, ( Mrs. RnfMs Sipiire) ; France.';, 
 William, and IJnth. Rnfn.s Si(nire remc>ved to 
 Michigan; Frances, to Ohio; Ha/.cn, to ISoston; 
 Daniel, to Michigan ; and William to New ^'ork. 
 The maternal ancest()r was Wakelee. She had three 
 brtitliers who lived in Western New York. Aliel W. 
 was married to Zilpha Witter, eldest daughter of 
 Elijah Witter, in Hntario County, N. Y., Decend)er 
 i:;, 1826. She was horn Novemlier 22, IS02, and 
 is still living in I'liion County, Ohio, a consistent 
 and faillifid iiiemlier of the Kaptist C'hurch. 
 
 In I8:!0, r)r. Abel AY. I'iehl removed with his 
 family to Madison Connly, (_)hio, where he engaged 
 in the |>ractiee of medicine until his death, which 
 resnUeil from an accident, August 2, 1851. While 
 returning from a professional visit, he is supposed 
 to have Ikumi [larlially thrf)wn fn^m his scat, and 
 his foot having caught in the front part of his sulky, 
 he was il ragged to deatli. Of the three children, 
 James W., the yonngest, is a druggist in Marys- 
 ville, Ohio; Orestes G. is a i)hysician in South So- 
 lon, Ohio; the subject, of this sketch, is the ehlest. 
 He receiveil such educational advantages as the 
 district schools in those times alTorded. supple- 
 mented by brief terms at the acadendes at West Jef- 
 ferson, London, Flea.snnt Yalley.and Worthington, 
 most of the time hiring a room and providing his 
 own "grub." During intervals, he began at the 
 
 •ige of thirteen to earn money to meet school ex- 
 penses, by working for farmers for !j<8 (icr month, 
 and at fifteen, by teaching di: trict s<'hools, which 
 business he continued as a "stepping stone" to pro- 
 vide Tucans f(ir the |)rosccution of his jirofessional 
 studies. During the succeeiliiig live j'ears he taught 
 successfully in M.adison, I'nion, Pickaway, Ross, 
 and Franklin (bounties, receiving at each engage- 
 ment an advance in wages, by reason of which he 
 was enabled to pay his way, and to receive the de- 
 giee of Doctor !n MiMllcln(>. fiom Starling Medical 
 College, at Columbus, in the spiingof 18.51. From 
 the lecture room he was compclhMl to return to the 
 school room to earn means to liu> a few books an<l 
 medicines, at the same time keeping his horse ne.ar 
 the schoolhonse, and making himself useful .as far 
 as called upon, by visiting patients before and after 
 school hours. This, however, was not his first ex- 
 perience in pr.'ielice. During intervals of teaching 
 and attending school, his father's otiice and prac- 
 tice had afforded him some o|iportunities, and in 
 the year 1840 he joined a company of emi- 
 grants by wagon, to Iowa, and located at Center- 
 ville, and subse(piently foiined a partnership with 
 Dr. Nathan I'dell, of Unionville. While at Center- 
 ville, he was invited to accompany the commission 
 appointed to locate the county seat of Wayne 
 County. The location having been agreed upon. 
 Dr. F^ield lost no time in reaching the land office at. 
 Fairlield, and lieing in advance of the commission- 
 ers, secured the site for them, and also an oppor- 
 tunity' to pay forty per cent interest on an adjoin- 
 ing investment for himself. He soon returned to 
 Ohio on account of the death of his father, and en- 
 engaged in the lK>n;e practice until S(!ptember, 
 IH;)3, when he was kindly received into the olliee 
 of the late I'rof. .lohn Dawson. After graduation 
 th<^ following spring, and recuperating his finances 
 in the sch(»ol-room, he located .at Hillsboro, where 
 he practiced for a year with but, little financial suc- 
 cess. In a fit of despondency In; look the advice 
 of a friend, and started south, leaving his books, 
 instruments, diploma, in fact everything, sidijcct to 
 his creditors, except the contents of :i. sni.all hand 
 satchel. Arriving at Louisville, he found a boat 
 ready for (he Tennessee River, and going on board, 
 he gave nearly all his monej' (*10), for pas.sage as 
 
782 
 
 PORTRAIT AND 1510GRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 far as the stage of water would [jermit it to go. 
 The trip happened to end at Easlport, Miss., and 
 the hahxnce of his nionc\' was expended for stage 
 fare to the eouutj- seat, Jacinto. It being a square 
 ease of "root hog or die," Dr. Field began at once 
 to make himself useful. atten<ling strit-liy to liis 
 own business. His friends and patronage rapidly 
 increased, and very soon his business was all that 
 could be desired, liul the war cloud was fast ris- 
 inir, and in 1858 he thought best to come North. 
 Returning to his old |)Ossessions in Corydon, Iowa, 
 he there engaged in practice \intil 18C3. He tlien 
 went to New York City for the advantages of its 
 laroe institutions and hospitals, and having again 
 graduated at the College of Pliysieians and Sur- 
 geons of that city, in 1804 returned to Iowa and 
 Des Moines, for his future iionic. 
 
 In 18G5, Dr. Field was appointed physician for 
 Polk Countj', being the first to fill that office, and 
 from I8r)5 to 1884, he was I'nited States Exainin- 
 in"' Surgeon for Pensions. At length lie resigned 
 the otlicc, but was immediately tiicreafter appointed 
 on the lioard of Medical Reviewers, in Washing- 
 ton, D. C. In 1882, he was elected to the Chair of 
 Physiology and Pathology in the College of Phy- 
 sicians and Surgeons, of Kei)kuk, where he delivered 
 a course of eightj- lectures each j'ear. For several 
 years lie held the otHce of Secretary of the State 
 Medical Society, and in 1X71 was its President. lie 
 also holds membership in tlie I'olk County Medical 
 Society, the American Medical Association, and 
 tlie American Society of Microscopists. In the year 
 1876 he was honored by being a Representative 
 fr(im Iowa to the International Medical Congress 
 at Philadclpliin. Dr. Field li;.s also made some 
 valuable contribulions to the literature of the piK- 
 fession, including New Treatment for I'mbilical 
 Hernia in Chil<h('u. Report on Spotted Fever, An- 
 omalous Human Head, Medical Aspect of Iowa, 
 Decapitation in Transverse Presentation. HistDry of 
 Medication by Anatomized Medical Substances, 
 Puerperal Convulsions and Olycogenesis, Urethral 
 Applicator, Address on the Present Attitude of the 
 Science of Medicine. Alimentation in Disease, Piiy- 
 siology and Ilygene as a liranch of Popidar Educa- 
 tion, Public Health, Cellars and Diphtheria. The 
 Doctor has made a long and careful study of bac- 
 
 teria and microbes, and the results of bis study by 
 an ingenious arrangement, illustrated and described 
 in PhdtiiijnijiJtir ^fosaics for 1890,are photographed 
 and kei)t for future comparison and stud^'. In a 
 financial, as well as in a professional way, the Doctor 
 has been successful. His own business interests led 
 him to stuily law, and he was graduated from the 
 law department of Simpson Centenary College, and 
 wasadmittcil to the bar in 1879. 
 
 On the 7th of Maj-, 1877, Dr. Field was united 
 in marriage with Ilattie Weatherby, a native of 
 
 ■ Chestervillc, Ohio, born October 1. 184G. They 
 had three children, but Dalton A. is the only sur- 
 viving one. The other two died in infancy. Dr. 
 Field and wife are members of the Congregational 
 Church. Politically, he is a Republican, though 
 he has never sought official positions, having never 
 held public office, with tlie exception of two years 
 spent !is Mayor of the cit^' of North Des Moines. 
 He is among the old |U'actitioncrs of Des Moines, 
 having followe<l his ()rofession forty-two years. 
 For several years he h.as devoted his time to a scien- 
 tific study of medicine, the result of his labors hav- 
 ing been given to the public iind the profession, 
 through journals and lectures at medical gather- 
 
 I ings. He is widely known throughout this and ad- 
 joining States, and has gaineil rank among the 
 
 ,' well-informed men of the medical fraternity. 
 
 * 
 
 P. KINDRED, was born near Lexington, 
 @//Jl! Ky., In 18;)7.from which place he removed 
 to Montgomery County, Iiiil. He served 
 three years in an Indiana regiment during 
 the war of the Rebellion. He removed to Polk 
 County, Iowa, in 18tiC, locating f)n a tract com- 
 (irising twenty acres of land on wliicli he now re- 
 sides. He is by trade a carpenter, a vocation he 
 has followed principally througli life to the present. 
 Mr. Kindred is prominent in local affairs, having 
 as a delegate represented his township in conven- 
 tion numerous times. In edu(\atioual affairs he 
 takes considerable interest, and upon all leading 
 topics he is well informed. 
 
 His marriage with Maiy A., daughter of A. Bly, 
 
PORTRAIT AND P.iOGRAPIIlCAL ALKUM. 
 
 783 
 
 has resulted in the birth of two iliililioii, one of 
 whom, Ivotta, is deceased, aged sixteen years, her 
 (h'uth ofciirriiig- ISFay 1, 1882. She w:i.s cast in the 
 intcnectnal inouhl, and for one of licr years, gave 
 unusual ]iroTuise of a brigiit and useful career. 
 ISarthold is tlie name of tiic snrvivini; cluhl. Po- 
 litically Mr. Kindred is a Repuliliean. Socially, 
 he is a member of tlie Masonic fraternity and of 
 Crocker Post, <i. A. I>, aud religiousl\ he and his 
 wife are members of the t'liristian C'hnrcli. 
 
 T. C;. LORD, a real-estate deaU>r of Des 
 rf Moines, is !iccounlcd one of the leading eiti- 
 ~^\ Zens of I'dlk Connly. He was born on the 
 ^'20th of April, 1831, in Kent County, Del., 
 aud is descended fi'om good old Revolnlit)narv 
 stock, his patein.'d grandfather having been a soldier 
 in the War for Independence. His parents, Andrew 
 and Letitia ( Uccd ) lA)rd, were also natives of Del- 
 aware, the former born in 1 7'.)2, and IIk' l.atler in 
 170.'i. ISolli were members of the Methodist Epis- 
 copal Clinrch in earl}' life, but the niothei- afer the 
 death of the father united with the Christian 
 Cluircli. P>y occupation An(bew i.ord was a far- 
 mer, and followed that business throughout his en- 
 tire life, lie supporte<l the Whig party and died 
 in IS.Sl, in the prime of manhood, being only forty- 
 five years of age. He left at his dealli a family of 
 nine children, live sons and four daughters, six of 
 whom are living. Not long after the (h^atli of her 
 liusl)and, Mrs. Lord removed with her family to 
 Ohio, settling in Hamilton County, but aftei- three 
 years went to Rush County, hid, where she spent 
 her remaining <i.ays, d^ing in liei- eighty-thiid 
 year. 
 
 'I"he subject of this sketch was the youngest of 
 the family and is the only one living in Iowa. He 
 w.as hut six years of age when his ruiillier l(i<-;iled 
 in Indiana, anil in the primitive schools of Rush 
 County he pursued the common hr.anches of learn- 
 ing. His early life was not ;in c.asy one, for as 
 soon as he was old enough to handle the plow he was 
 forced to assist in the farm Labor .ami aid in the 
 support of the family. Like a dutiful son he re- 
 
 mained at home tuitll twenty-one years of age, 
 giving such assistance as he could to his widowed 
 mother aud then began farming for himself. 
 
 Not long after ln^ had attained to mature years, 
 Mr. Lord was united in marriage with Kliza .1. 
 Davis, the wedding ceremony being performed on 
 the 1-lth of August, 1850. The lady was born in 
 Rush County, Ind., April 1, 1838, and is a daugh- 
 ter of William S. and Nancy (Zumwalt) Davis, the 
 former a native of Kentucky, born in I 7!)fi, and 
 the latter born in Ohio, in 1802. That worthy 
 couple were married in the Buckeye State and wore 
 among the pioneers of ludjana. Mr. Davis was a 
 farmer of nu)re than average intelligence and abil- 
 ity, and he look an active interest in the alTairs of 
 his cofiutr}-. Both he aud his wife were mendiers 
 of the Christian Church and lived earnest, consist- 
 ent lives. They became residents of Polk County, 
 Iowa, ill !«;')(;, where the father died at the age of 
 sevcuty-uine years, his wife passing away in the 
 eighty-third year of her age. I'lito them was born 
 a laige family of fourteen children, six sons aud 
 eight daughters, of whom eleven are yet living. 
 
 Mr. .and Mrs. Lord began their domestic life in 
 Indiana, liut in 1800 came to Iowa, locating in Jas- 
 per County, where lie followed farming for eight 
 years. He then spent ii year in Oskahjosa f'(jllege, 
 after which he engaged in business in Oskaloosa as a 
 grocer and coal dealer, continuing operations in 
 that line for twelve ycais. For about four years 
 of that time he personally superintended the mines 
 anil under his direction they proved quite product- 
 ive. The rtal estate aud insurance business next 
 engrossed his attention and yielded him a good in- 
 come until 1880, when he removed to Des Moines. 
 He then resumed oiieralions as a real-estate dealer, 
 which has since been his chief business, although 
 in connection he has carried on a grocerj' store and 
 done a drug business, having as high as three 
 drug stores at one time. For six years he has been 
 hnndling land for the Missouri, P.acific & Iron 
 Mountain Railway Company, carefidl\ looking 
 after its interests. In whatever community resid- 
 ing, Mr. Ijord has taken an actiye jKU't in its pro- 
 gress and development, and has aided considerablv 
 in the upbuilding of this city. He assisted in laying 
 off Barlow & Lord's Addition to Des Moines aud 
 
784 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 has erected a number of bnildings. He owns farm 
 lands in Iowa and adjoining Slates, and by liiij own 
 efforts has become one of the well-to-do citizens of 
 Polk County. AVhilc a resident of Oskaloosa, for 
 twelve years he served as a Trustee of Oskaloosa 
 College, and for eight years was its Treasurer. He 
 took an active part in organizing Drake University, 
 and since its establishment has also been a 'I'rustee. 
 The cause of education finds no truer friend than 
 Rlr. Lord or none who gives more liberally for its 
 sn[>port. In political sentiment he is a Republican, 
 and socially is a memlier of the Legion of Honor. 
 Both he and his wife hold membership in the 
 Christian Church, where for some thiity years he 
 has filled the oflice of Deacon. The duties and re- 
 sponsibilities devolving \ipon him lliroughout his 
 business career have been many, but he has ever 
 pursued the even tenor of his honest way, and liy 
 his upright life has won many warm friends, who 
 hold him in the highest regard. 
 
 TEPHEN BROOKS, who is now living in 
 Warren County, Iowa, was for a number 
 of years a resident of this county, and is 
 the father of Mrs. Bondurant. He was 
 born in Ohio and is of Scotch descent. He was 
 reared to farm life and has made lliat his princi|)al 
 occupation, nltliough he has devoted some attention 
 to mercantile pursuits. In his native Stale lie 
 wedded Miss Mary E. Mitchell, who was probably 
 born in Indiana, and continued there to make his 
 home until 1 S52, when he came to this county. 
 The following year after his arrival he engaged in 
 farming and thence removed to the village of Say- 
 lorviUe, where he resided for about two jears, en- 
 gaged in the mercantile business. After selling out 
 he became a resident of Polk City, where he con 
 tinned in the same line of liade for one year. Dur- 
 ing that time he was called upon to mourn the loss 
 of his wife, wlio died on the 5tli of May, IS.'');"). 
 After her death he closed out his store and removed 
 to a farm near Rising Sun, where he t (intinucd lo 
 make his home for a number of years. Leaving 
 this county, he then lived in various places and en- 
 
 gaged in varied business pursuits until at length 
 he settled in Warren County, Iowa, where he has 
 since resided. He there owns a small farm, well 
 improved. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Brooks were the parents of eight 
 children, namely: Enos, now deceased: Elizabeth, 
 wife of Frank Kimball, a farmer residing in North 
 Des Moines; Catherine S., wife of Austin Saylor, 
 of Saylorville, Polk County; Stephen M., who is 
 living in C!hicago; Margaret M. was born in Mont- 
 gomery County, Ind., in February, 1844, and is 
 now the wife of Alexander C. Bondurant, a prom- 
 inent citizen of this county, whose sketch appears 
 elsewhere in this work; Benjamin now deceased; 
 James, a resident farmer of Jefferson Township, 
 and Anna, wife of Clark Reader, who is living in 
 Carroll County, Iowa. 
 
 Mr. Brooks, as was his wife, is a member of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church and t.akes an actire . 
 interest in church work. Politically, he was a Re- 
 publican nnlil of late years, but now casts his bal- 
 lot with the Greenback party. Sociall}-, he is a 
 member of the Masonic fraternity. As a citizen he 
 is public-spiritcii ami progressive and manifests a 
 deep interest in all that pertains to the welfare of 
 the community in which he nuikes his home. He is 
 well infoimed fin all the leading issues of the day, 
 is a great ri ailer, and therefore an intelligent and 
 entertaining conversationalist. 
 
 ^/_ OWARl) 1). SHACKELFORD. Among the 
 ^ )|] abh> liusiness nu-u of Des Moines is the 
 ^■Sij/' Secretary and Treasurei' f)f the Xorthwest 
 >) Suspender Company-^ho whose name heads 
 this sketch. The family to wliicli he belongs is one 
 of Scottish origin anti was founded in Ameiica in 
 an early day, its founders sctlling in ^ irginia. Suh- 
 serpiently they removed to Kentucky, where the 
 grandfather of IF. D. was i)orn. Gen. Shackelford, 
 who captured Morgan on his norlhern raid, was of 
 the same family. His father was born near Ilar- 
 rodsburg, Ky.. on the 1st of .lannary, 1812. and on 
 ; attaining to mature years wedded Nanc}' liurks, 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 785 
 
 nlio was ])vvn in tbe same Slate in 1813. Soon 
 after llieir niaiiiage, about 18;i."), tliey lenioved to 
 Putraan County, Jnd., and tlienee to lleniiriek.s 
 County. wLeie they resided until ISIS, which year 
 witnessed their aiiival in Iowa. Tliey loealed 
 in Davis Cunnty, wlienef they removed to De- 
 eatnr and in ls(i2 eami' to Des Moines. Ai>;iin 
 eh.auuinjT tlieir [ilaee of residence, in 1S81, they 
 removed to Kan.sas, where the death of Mr. Shack- 
 elford oe(urred in .lune. ISSS. He was a very 
 muscular man and was rema)kalil\' wtdl preserved 
 for one of his age. His widow still snrvivfs him 
 .•iiid makes her Inmie with her children, live in num- 
 ber, thiee sons ami two daughteis. Two others of 
 the famdy have departed this life. O" the organi- 
 zation of the Cliristiau Cluircli they were among 
 the first to unite with that body and were long 
 faithful members of that congregation to which 
 they belonged. Their sons are well established in 
 business, ^^■illiamT. being a farmer of Iowa; while 
 Robert is roadmaster at Des Moines, employed by 
 the Rock Island Railroad. The third son is also 
 [irominently identified with the business interests 
 of this city, lie was born in Hendricks County, 
 Ind., May 17, 1842, and was therefore only si.v 
 years of age when his i)arents came to this State. 
 His edneational facilities were very meagre owing 
 to the undevelo|)ed condition of the schools at tliat 
 time and the demand for his services at home. lie 
 assisted his father until 'October 22, 18C1, when 
 feeling that he couhl no longer quietl}' remain at 
 home while his country was involved in one of the 
 most perilous wars known to historj% he offered his 
 services to the government, enlisting in Company 
 M, Third Iowa Cavalry. He i)arlicipated in the 
 battle of Pea Ridge and Little Rock and his com- 
 mand was largely eng.'iged on outpost duty. After 
 the battle of Little Rock he was made Sergeant 
 and after veteranizing in January, 1861, wa.s pro- 
 moted to be Orderly. H is regiment was stationed in 
 Mem|)his, Tenu., to operate against N. H. Forrest, 
 one of the most astute, brave yet cool cavalrymen 
 of the Confederey. Having been transferred to 
 flen. Wilson's C:ivalry Corps tiiey made a tri[) from 
 Kastport, Miss, to Atlanta, Ga., and aided in the 
 (•a|)ture of Seluia and Montgomery. At Atlanta, 
 Mr. Shackelf(jrd was commissioned C.-iotain and 
 
 transfered to llie command of Com|)any F, Unite<l 
 States Colored Infanlr\'. After a long service of 
 four years and three months he was honoral)ly dis- 
 charged .lanu.iry 10, iscn. During the entire 
 period he was neither wounded nor t;iken prisoner, 
 nor did he spend a da.\- in the hosjiital. 
 
 When hostilities ceased and peace was restored. 
 Air. Shackelford returned to AVinterset. Iowa, where 
 he engaged in nierch.andismg for two 3ears. In 
 that time, on the 1st of September, 18157, in the 
 Christian Church which now forms a part of the 
 Wabash depot, he was united in marriage with 
 Leonora Alley, a native of IMarion County, Iowa. 
 She is a lady of culture and refincnient, who after 
 completing her education in Pleasant Hill Seminar}', 
 of \'irginia, came to Des Moines, where she was 
 employed as one of the early teachers in the iiublic 
 schools. Unto them were born two children. How- 
 ard A. and Mania, but the latter died at the age of 
 two years. 
 
 In 18()7, Mr. Shackelford removed to Corning, 
 Iowa, where he engaged in the livery business until 
 1871, when he went to Jewel County, Kan., and 
 entered a claim adjoining Jewel City. He kept the 
 first stage station in that county and also built the 
 first hotel in Jewel City. In July, 1875, he com- 
 menced traveling for the old Fairbanks Scale Com- 
 pany as their salesman in Iowa, Alissouri and 
 Kansas and for eightyears remained with that linn, 
 a trusted enii)lo\c. He then engaged in mcrcham- 
 dising for a year in Oneida, Kan., and for two 
 years followed the s.ame business in Garnet. In 
 1886, he (tame to Des Moines and in the following 
 April purchased an interest in the Northwestern 
 Suspender Company and was made its Secretary, 
 which position he still holds. Largely through his 
 influence, the business has grown in three years to 
 an importance that others have not reached in ten 
 years. The goods of this company are sold to tlic 
 best jobbers of Chicago, St. Louis, Kan.sas City, 
 Omaha and Minneapolis; in fact their trade reaches 
 from Illinois to the Pacific coast. Mr. Shackelford 
 is peculiarl}- fitted for the business which he occu- 
 pies for he wears the same pleasant and cheerful 
 demeanor that char.actt^rzies him in the social circle. 
 He is a member of the (irand Army of the Uepub- 
 lic and in political sentiment is a Republican, sup- 
 
786 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 porting lliiit party in opposition to the views of his 
 father and brothers who have adhered to the De- 
 mocracy. He and his wife are memWcrs of tiie 
 Cliurcii of Christ and are useful workers in tlie 
 same. Tiiough comparatively a young man Mv. 
 ShacUelford is ripe in business cx|)erience. From 
 the age of twelve years he has not only liiade liis 
 own way in the world but has assisted in the main- 
 tenance of his parents. He now represents one of 
 the most important manufacturing enterprises of 
 De's Moines and his .sketch is well worthy- a place 
 in this volume where is recorded the life work of 
 the representative and prominent citizens of Polk 
 County. 
 
 '• ' ^z 
 
 E^^-^ 
 
 ^^HOMAS DUNCAN, wlio is living a retired 
 life in ftlitchellville, has been a resident of 
 Polk County for the long i)eriod of thirty- 
 five years. He was born in (ila.sguw, Scotland, 
 Ai)ril 28, 1817, and is a sou of William and Mar- 
 garet (Smith) Duncan, who were also natives of 
 the same country. His father was a representative 
 Itusine-ss man of Glasgow, and in that city ciigagcd 
 III the wholesale grocery trade until 1820, when he 
 bade good- by to his native laud and with his fam- 
 ily sailed for America. He located nc;ir Cianljy, 
 Slicllord County, in the Province of <^Uiebec, 
 wlicre he purchased land and engaged in fanning 
 until advanced age forced him tu lay aside all bus- 
 iness cares, when he rcimoved Lo (iranby and there 
 lived a retired life until his death, which occurred 
 several years ago. His wife, tlie mollier of our 
 subject, died some twenty yens jirevious, after 
 which he was a second time tiiarricd. l!y the lirst 
 
 union nine children weie born, six of wl i .Mre 
 
 living at this writing in 18I)0 — Mai'garet, wiilow of 
 .luhii Parker, resides in Craiiby, Canada; Thomas 
 is the next 3'ounger; .lohii also makes his home in 
 Cranby; William is a citizen of Atlantic, Iowa; 
 Janet is the wife of W. Hale of Granby; and .lames 
 is also living in Atlantic. 
 
 Our subject spent but three years of his life in his 
 native city when he was brought by his parents to 
 the province of CJuebec, then Lower Canada. Dur- 
 
 ing his youth he received a coinmon-sebool educa- 
 tion and at the age of twenty years left home to 
 begin the battle of life for himself. Making his 
 way to A'ermont he secured a position as a farm 
 hand, receiving if 13 i)er month sis a compensation 
 for his services. Continuing to reside a greater 
 part of the time in that State until 1855, he then 
 followed the course of emigration westward and 
 became a resident of Polk County, Iowa. A wild 
 and unsettled region was that which his eye lirst 
 rested upon. The greater part of the prairie land 
 was still undeveloped, forests were still standing 
 in their primitive grandeur, the Capital City was 
 then a mere village and many of the lesser cities 
 aiul towns had not ^^et sprung into existence. 
 Wolves often made the night hideous with their 
 howling, deer were still seeu roaming over the 
 prairie and smaller wild game was found in abun- 
 dance. Such was the condition of things Mr. Dun- 
 can found on his arrival. In common with the 
 . other earl^' settlers he shared in the hardships 
 and ditlicullies of frontier life but with them h;is 
 now the honor of being numbered among the 
 fonndcrs of the principal county in this vast com- 
 nionwi^alth. He purchased rift3-two acres of wild 
 land on section 22, Beaver Township, and after 
 erecting a log cabin began the w<jrk of developing 
 and iini)roving a farm. After a number of years he 
 sold and purchased a one hundred and sixty acre 
 tract in the same townshii),on which he resided until 
 March, ISltl), when he leased his land and remov- 
 ing to Mitchelville, retired to inivale life. In a 
 l)leasaiit home, furnished with the comforts and 
 many of the luxuries of life, he and his wife ex()ect 
 to spend t!ie remainder of their days. 
 
 The 2nd of May, 1812, witnessed the celebration 
 of the inariage of Thomas Duncan and Sarah Toild, 
 who have now traveled life's journe}' together for 
 iiu)re than forty-ciglit years. Mrs. Duncan is the 
 daughter of Simon and Anna (Wood) Todd, the 
 former a luilive of New Voik, and the latter of 
 Canada, both of ICnglish [(arentage. I>y occupa- 
 tion, lu'r father was a farmer and followed that 
 business in Shefford County, Canada, until his 
 death. IMrs. Todd survived her husband a num- 
 ber of years, passing to her final rest about 18G8. 
 In their family were twelve children, eight of whom 
 
PORTRAIT AND KIOGKAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 787 
 
 are now living-Jaiues, Caiuliiit', T\-lin% Lydia, 
 Si)|i|ii;i, Estlier,, R()l)ert L. and Sarah. 
 
 Mr. ami ]\lrs. Diinoaii are llic pareiils of ciulit 
 children — Elizabetli, wife of AlexaiulerC 'riyner. 
 a farmer of Howard t'ouiity. Neli.; Robert., a far- 
 mer of Sae Comity, Iowa; Margaret, wife of J. C'. 
 (larret, who is engaged in aurieiiltiual pursuits in 
 Camp 'I'ownship, this eoiiiity; Marv% deceased; 
 Thomas il. who makes his home in Sac County; 
 Sarah A., at iiome; William C. a resident of Cal- 
 houn County, Iowa; and one child who died in 
 infancy. 
 
 Mr. Duncan has ever been :ui industrious :uid 
 eiilerprisim; man an<l his possessions have all been 
 acfpiired through his own eftoits, supplemented by 
 the able assistance of his wife. .\lthoUi;h he began 
 life with nothing ))ut a strong right arm and a de- 
 termination to succeed, he has sti'adily worked his 
 way ni)W;U(l mitil now he is tlic owner of a highly 
 improved ami valualile farm in I'.eaver Township 
 besides some |)roperty in Milchcllville. In politi- 
 cal sentiment he is .a I!ei)ulilican, having supfjorted 
 that (larty since its organization and is a member 
 of the (I1<1 Settlei's Association of I'olk County. 
 His wife holds mend)eiship in the Methodist l'4iis- 
 copal Church and to itssup[iort Mr. Duncan con- 
 tributes liberall}', although he himself is not a 
 mend)er. 
 
 '"• 'I ' i 'I^^ 
 
 =^1^ AMIIKL H. WALKER, who has now retired 
 from farm life and is living in Mitchell- 
 ville, was born on the 2;5d of February, 
 1S20, in the (iraiiite State, and is descended 
 from one of the early Now England families. His 
 father, Araassa Walker, was born in Massachusetts, 
 August 31, I71t7, and was of English descent. 
 Throughout his life he followed the mason's trade, 
 doing a good business in that line. During the 
 early days of his manhood he removed to New 
 Hampshire, where he became acquainted with and 
 married Ethana lialdwin, a native of CMarem;>nt, 
 that State, born in 1809 of Lisli i)arentage. Their 
 union was blessed with six children, four of whom 
 arc yet living, and with the e.xccptiou of our sub- 
 
 ject, the eldest of the family, .all are yet residents 
 of Mew Ilami)sliire. They are Wdliam, .lane and 
 (ieorgc A. The two now deceased are JMiiily and 
 Mary .\nn. Mr. Walker, the father of this family, 
 was a pr(nninent and inlluential citiz"n in the com- 
 munity in whifh he made his home, and the fam- 
 ily was held in high regard. Politically, he re- 
 mained astanch supi)orter of Democratic prin(;iples 
 until his death, which occui red December 12, l.SSH, 
 at the advanced age of ninety-(jne years. His wife, 
 who departed this life a number of years previous, 
 died September 21, 1881. 
 
 In the common schools of his native .State Sam- 
 uel Walker ac(piired his education, and with his 
 father learned the mason's trade, working with 
 him until twent}' years of age, when he started out 
 in life for himself. He earned his first nnmcy 
 after leaving home, as a farm liaufl, receiving ^12 
 per mouth, .and after worU'iug two years in that 
 line was united in marriage, on the 20tli of April, 
 18 12, with Miss ICslhcr .lohnson. The young couple 
 began their d imcstic life on a rented farm, but 
 after two years Mr. Walker resumed work at the 
 mason's trade, at which he did an extensive busi- 
 ness until 1857. 'J'he favorable reports which he 
 had heard of the West and its rapid growth in- 
 duced him to try his fortune on its broad jirai- 
 ries, and leaving his family liehind until he should 
 find where opportunities were such as were rep- 
 resented, he maile his way to Polk County, 
 traveling by rail to Iowa City and thence by stage 
 to Ft. Des RLjInes. which he found to be a small 
 village giving little proniisc of its i)rcsent prosper- 
 ity and advanced position. After working three 
 months at his trade in that place, he came to Mit- 
 chelville, and shortly afterward was employed to 
 do the masonry work on the house of "I'ncle Tom 
 Mitchell," the pioneer of this region and one of 
 the most honored of its citizens. His skill and 
 abilil}' in the line of his l)usiness soon won iccog- 
 nition by a liberal patronage, and believing it for 
 the best interests of his family, he returned to New 
 Hampshire in February, 1858, and the following 
 spring brought his wife and children to Polk 
 County. Two years before he had |)urchased forty 
 acres of land in Franklin Township and built 
 thereon a little frame house, in which his family 
 
788 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 took up tlit'ir abode while lie i;;;ive liis iittenlion lo 
 the development and improvement of a farm. His 
 efforts were successfnl in tiiat line, and after seven 
 years he addi'd to his first pnreliase an eiijlity- 
 iicre tract, constituting a fine farm of one iiundred 
 and twenty acres, all in one body. Year by yi^ar 
 saw added improvements, by tlie rotation of cro|>s 
 tlie fields wore made to yield abundant harvests, 
 and success attendeH the elVorts of the owner, who 
 contiiuicil his fanning operations until the spring 
 of law, when having acquired a coinforLable com- 
 petence, he retired from active life and removed 
 with his family to Mitchellville, purchasing there a 
 nice residence, in which he and his wife expect to 
 spend the remainder of their days. Mr. Walker 
 may truly be called a self-made man, for his pos- 
 sessic)ns have all been acquired as the result of 
 hard lai)or, good managemeut and business ability. 
 His farm is now operated by his son. 
 
 As a citiiien, Mr. Walker is public-spirite<l and 
 progressive, taking a deep interest in the county's 
 welfare and giving liberally to the support of such 
 worthy enterjjrises as are calculated to advance the 
 general welfare. He has ever been a supporter of 
 Democratic iilinciplcs, and has held the oljices of 
 School Director of Franklin 'rownship and .lustice 
 of the I'cace. 
 
 ]iy the union of I\Ii'. Walker and Miss .lohnsou 
 a family of si.\ children was born, and with the ex- 
 ception of one, who died in infancy, all are yet 
 living, namely; Thyeliuan ().,a resident of Hloom- 
 liild, Davis County, Iowa; Odillion, a farmer of 
 lieaver 'I'ownship; Addie A., wife of (leorge Mc- 
 Collister, of Hastings, Nelj.; l.i/,/,ie Iv at honu ; 
 and Mott D., who o[)('rates the old home farm in 
 Franklin Townshii). 
 
 The parents of Mrs. W.alkei', I'alnur and I'lilly 
 ( liunuel) Johnson, were both natives of Connecti- 
 cul and t)f English descent. During the greater 
 part of his life ISIr. .lohuson followed farming in 
 C'larennint, N. H. He lived to the advanced age 
 of eighty-four years, and his wife, who survived 
 liim some ten years, dieii at Ihc age of eighty-two. 
 Of their family of ten children, seven are yet liv- 
 ing, as follows: tiilbert, who makes his home in 
 Uetl Wing, RHnn.; Mary, widow of James O'Hura, 
 of Knlield, N. H. ; J'>sther, wife of .Sanuu^l H. 
 
 Walker; Amos D. is also living in Claremont, 
 N. H.; Knima, wife of Stephen Heath, of Akworth, 
 N. H.; Martha, wife of Caleb Smi'h, of Farming- 
 ton, Minn.; Sarah, widow of A. Speariu, of Duluth, 
 Minn. Those deceased are Clarissa, Job and .Ma- 
 hala. 'i'lie f.'ither of this family was a Whig in 
 early life and later supported the Republican party. 
 IJotli he and his wife were u)eud)ers of the (.'ongre- 
 gational Church and highly res[(ected in the com- 
 nuuiity where they made their home. 
 
 
 "Slt^ 
 
 »)NOS r. MARMON, cdib.r and |)r<.prietor of 
 the MitchelU ille ///'/'•.(:, and one of the lead- 
 ing citizens of that thriving village, is a na- 
 tive of Ohio. He was born in Zaueslield, lA>gan 
 County, on the (itii of November, liS.^;), and is of 
 French de.-<cent. His ancestors, who belonged to 
 the religions sect known as Huguenots, were ex- 
 pelled from France in the sixteenth ceidur\' and 
 crossed the Atlantic to America duiing the early 
 hisUny ()f this counl-ry, settling in North Carolina, 
 where many of the name still icslde. At- tin; age 
 of ek^ven years i\Ir. Miuuion enlcri'd upon his busi- 
 ness caieer as a farm hand, his father having died 
 three years previous and thus necessitating his 
 earning his own living. When ji lad of f^)urlcen, 
 he went to work in a woolen factoiy in I'^ast l,if)- 
 eit3', Ohio, and afterward was engaged in the .same 
 c.ap.Mcit.y near West Liberty ami IJichwood, ( )hio, 
 and in iMadison, Ind. It was while in tin; latter 
 place that he gained his lirst knowledge of the 
 piinling business, lieiiig cmployeil in the Cotuici- 
 ollice of Madison i[i the winter of 1872. 
 
 In his native citN', v)u the 2'.)th of April, I1S75, 
 Mr. Marmon was united in marriage with Miss 
 Maggie Woith,and immediately {.hereafter removed 
 lo Kichwood, ()hio,wliere he resided for three years, 
 doing to Carthage, Mo., in 1878, he was enniloyed 
 on the staff of the Carthage licpuhlwdii for two 
 years vvln'u he removed to Hellefontaine, Ohio, in 
 1881), and was connected with the i«(/(V of that 
 place in the cai)acity of foreman until .luly, 1882. 
 Helieving that Mitchellville fmnislied a favorable 
 o[iening for one in his business, he came lo this 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM, 
 
 791 
 
 village and on the 18th t)f August, of tiiat year, 
 issued the fust inuiil)er of the Mitcliellvillc riuh'A\ 
 his lnother, II. C. Mariiion, being associated with 
 him. In Rlari^h, 18K;?, he purchased his brother's 
 interest in the paper and has since jjccn sole pro- 
 prietor. He ro.akes it his chief and only care to 
 furnish to his palrons a paper of intei'cst and his 
 success is indicated by the steadily increasing pat- 
 ronage which he receives. The Index is a bright, 
 newsy sheet, published weekly, and in addition to 
 all local matters of general interest, discusses impir- 
 tially all the htading issues of the day togelher witii 
 the cui*i-ent events. 
 
 The union of Mr. and Mrs. Marmon has been 
 blessed with three ciiildien, but Eddie Thomas, 
 their lirst-lpoin, who was born March 21, 1877, died 
 of scarlet fever an the 1st of April, 1883; Asa 
 .lames was born .lanuary 12, 1881, and Charlie 
 Worth, July 13, 1884. 
 
 Mr. Marmon performs iiis duties of citizcnsliiii 
 in a quiet, unassuming manner, yet is a pulili<- 
 spirited and [xogressive citizen, who feels a <leep 
 interest in all that pertains to the general welfare. 
 In political sentiment, he is a Kepidjlican, yet has 
 never sought or desired pidilic oltice, [jreferring to 
 devote his entire attention to his business, his only 
 and)ition being to make a good local iievvspa[)er 
 and in this lie has succeeded. 
 
 \TPx KTKR LAMliKRT, Superintendent of Wood- 
 land Cemetery, of l)es Moines, has held that 
 position since April It), 1882. lie was born 
 in Trior, Prussia, August 21, 1835, and is a 
 son of Nicholas and Theresa (Koch) Lambert. He 
 attended the public schools of his native country 
 until fourteen years (jf age, and received instruc- 
 tion from his father in lloriculture and landscape 
 gardening. At the above age he went to Metz, 
 Krance, where ho served a regular apprcnticeshi[) 
 to the trade of a llorist and Iandsca[ie gardener, 
 his term covering a period of two and one-half 
 years, at a cost of two hundred francs per annum 
 premium. He was obliged to work from ilaylight 
 until after dark, but in that time became f.Miniliar 
 
 with the business in its many branches. On com- 
 pleting his term of service he returned to his home, 
 and in 1853 emigrated to America, reaching his 
 destination on the 28th of November of that year. 
 After several months sjieiit in Astoria, N. V., in 
 IS.") I he joinetl an ex|(e(lition under (Jen. Harney 
 against the Indians, and was with him at Ash Hol- 
 low. He spent that year in Wyoming, and the 
 nc.\t few years in traveling in Ihe West. The 
 f(;llowing winter he passed in Miiiuesota, and in 
 1857 located in Keokuk, Iowa. In December, 
 1859, he was united in marriage, in Summerville, 
 Iowa, near Keokuk, with Miss Lu(\y Ctjnipton, a 
 native of Hancock County, III., and a daughter of 
 Samuel Compton. She is a mendjer of the Haii- 
 tist Churtli and a most estimable lady. 
 
 On the 12th of August, 18(12, Mr. Lambert en- 
 listed in Com|)an\ A, Nineteenth Iowa Infantry, 
 and served until August 1, 1SG5. He was mus- 
 tered out in Mobile, Ala., -luly 10, 18G5, and dis- 
 charged at Davenport on the 1st of August 
 tollowing. He [)arlicipated in the battles of Prai- 
 rie (i rove and Stony Point, Ark., in the battle of 
 \:\n I'.uien ;uitl the capture of Spanish l''orl. Dur- 
 ing a part of I8(;3 he served on detached duty, 
 cairying dis|)atches between Ft. Scolt and Ft. 
 (iibson, and other (joints, and in 1801 was post 
 gardener at lirownville, Tex. 
 
 On returnmg from the war Mr. I.tunbert located 
 in Keokuk, where he made his home until October, 
 1867, when he went to Kurope. He attended the 
 Paris Kxposilion of that season, and from France 
 went to his old home in (iermany, returning to the 
 Inited States on the Nth of April, 18(;8. Since 
 Septendjcr of that 3'ear he has been a icsident of 
 l)es IMoines. On condng to this cily he was eni- 
 [iloycd at his trade, that of a llorist and l!Uidsca|ie 
 gardener, and soon had a good gard(Mi and green- 
 house of his own. In April, ISS2, he was ap- 
 pointed Supciinteiulent of \\ oodhind Cemetery, 
 which [losition he continues to hold, being now 
 in his ninth year in that ollice. He has proved 
 a proficient and faithful ollicer and is deservedly 
 popular. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Lambert have seven children liv- 
 ing, si.v sons and a daughter, and have lost one 
 son, Charles, their first-Liorn, who vvas accidentally 
 
792 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 shot when four years of age; William N. is the 
 next younger, and is followed by Oscar, (leorge 
 F., .lohn T., Uiidolph, Theresa and Krank. In 
 political sentiment Mr. LaMil)ert is an independent 
 Hepublican, and socially, is a nicniher of .lonalhan 
 Lodge, No. 137, I. O. O. F., of which he is a Past 
 Grand. He is also Past Chief Priest of the camp 
 and is a Master Mason, a member of Capital Lodtje, 
 No. 110, A. F. & A. M., and of Crocker Post, No. 
 12, G. A. R. He is one of tlie charter memlicrs 
 and originators of "The Association of American 
 Siiperinten<ients of Cemeteries, "which was organi- 
 zed in 1S,SG. Mr. Lambert is a man of sterling 
 integrity, good executive ability and is highly es- 
 teemed liy all with whom he has had business or 
 social relations. When in future ages it shall be 
 asked who was the tdunder of the family in Amer- 
 ica, the interrogator can be referred to this volume, 
 and will turn to the sketch of Peter Lauibert, 
 where he will find the record o( the founder, 
 whose memoiy will lie worthy of perpetuation in 
 this or any other biographical work. 
 
 ..o*o-e®y^<A^-.o*o.. 
 
 IIAWLKS SKir.i:i!r.lNU is the Vice-l>resi- 
 ,lenl of the Mitchell ville Savings IJank, and 
 
 -^ is also engaged in farming and stock-raising 
 on section lo. Leaver Township, his home ))eing 
 |)leasantly situated about a mile from the village. 
 Few, if any, in this |).'ut of the county, have done 
 more for the .advancement of its interests than he, 
 and for this reason, if for no other, our subject 
 would be worthy a reitresentation in the history- of 
 his ailoptcd county, but he is numbered among the 
 representative business men of RLtclu'llville, is 
 an enterprising farmer, and is one of the promi- 
 nent citizens of the c(,inMnnnity. The histor}' of 
 Ills life is as follows: 
 
 He is a native of Ohio, his blilh having oc- 
 curred in Summit Count\- on the SMi of March, 
 1845. His parents, Nathan and Catherine ( I'eters) 
 .Seibcrling, were both natives of I'emisylvania, but 
 removed to Summit County, Ohio, at an early 
 day, the father there following farming until his 
 death, which occurred in October, 1H8;), at the age 
 
 of seventy-nine j'cars. His remains wei-e interred 
 in the cemetery at Wadsworth, Ohio. His wife is 
 still living, at the age of seventy -six years, and re 
 sides on the old homestead. Like her husband 
 she is a raeraber of the Lutheran Church, and is 
 highly esteemed for her many excellences of char- 
 acter. Their children, eight in number, are as 
 follows: .Tohn F., a lesident of Akron, Ohio; 
 .lames II., who is living in I)oylestown,Ohio; Mon- 
 roe, of Kokomo, Ind. ; Charles, our subject; Co- 
 lumbus anil Milton A., who live in Summit 
 County, Ohio; Augustus, who is living on the 
 old homestead; and Sarah, wife of Jacob Ilarter, 
 who resides near the old homestead. 
 
 Charles Seibcrling has made farming his life occu- 
 [lation. He was born and reared on a farm, and 
 as soon as old enough to handle the plow, assisted 
 his father in that work. In the common schools 
 of the neighborhood he familiarizeil him.self with 
 the Kuglish branches, but did not end his stud}' on 
 lc;iving his schoolroom. He has alw.ays kept him- 
 self well informed on matters of general interest, 
 Ospeci.ally on (luestions of State and National im- 
 portance, and has gained a wide i)raclical knowl- 
 edge by close observance of men and their methods, 
 which h:is been of much use to him in his business 
 career. At the age of eighteen years he responded 
 to his country's call for troops, enlisting on the 4th 
 of .laiuiary, 1864, as a member of Company 1, 
 One Hundred and Third Ohio Infantry, under 
 Capt. Redway. I'.eing e(pii[)ped for duty in Cleve- 
 land, Ohio, with his eoniniand he was sent imme- 
 diately to Knoxville, Tcnn. The first engagement 
 in which he icuticipated was the battle of Resaea, 
 <ia., after which he ivas with the ami}' of Sherman 
 until after the siege and ca[)tnre of Atlanta, when 
 Comiiany I was sent back to Chattanooga, and 
 siiljsecpiently went with the Twenty-lhird Corps to 
 .North Carolina, where he did guard duty until 
 till' close of the war. 
 
 In .lul\', IHC,'), Ml-. Seiberling was honorably 
 discharged at .S;ilisl)ury, N. ("., as a man who had 
 unllinchingly done his duty. He then returned to 
 his home in Summit County, Ohio, and once more 
 resumed work at the plow, continuing his old life 
 on the farm to which his parents <loubtless feared 
 he might never return. Two years longer lie aided 
 
PORTRAIT AND BTOOKAPIIICAL ALBUM. 
 
 793 
 
 his fiitlicr, until in lln' spring of 18G7, linving at- 
 tainod to mature years, he tbouglil it time that lie 
 labored in liis own Interests. an<l left his native 
 State to seek a home beyond the Missis.sippi. 
 Coming to I'olk County, he made [lurehasc of one 
 hundred and sixty acres of land in licaver Town- 
 ship, upon which he now resides. In a|ipearaiue, 
 however, there is a great ditTerenee, for the onec 
 wild and uneullivated Irael has been transformed 
 into one of the finest and most valuable farms 
 of the county, and many improvements have been 
 added. 
 
 As a helpmate on his lifi''s journey, INIr. Seiber- 
 ling chose Miss .lerusha C. IJetz, their union being 
 celebrated October 2(j, l.SGG. llei- parents were 
 Alvin 1). and Sarah A. (I)eshlor) Betz, both na- 
 tives of Pennsylvania. I'hey are now living in 
 Summit County, Ohio, where the father is en- 
 gaged in f.'irming. Unto them were born twelve 
 children, ten of whom are yet living — Sarah .1., 
 dernsha, JIary S., Charles J., Ira D., C'lara Iv, 
 Archie O., Ilazvvell A., Alvin K. and Laura K. 
 The parents are now well advanced in years, and 
 will doubtless spemi tin; remaining years of their 
 lives on the old homestead in the Buckeye State. 
 Both have l)een members of the Metliodist Church 
 for many years, and arc held in high regard by 
 all who know them. 
 
 The union of Mr. and Mrs. Sciberling has al.so 
 been blessed with a family of twelve children, and 
 with one exception all are yet living, namely: 
 John F., Clara M., iVlthii L., Sarah C, Harry G., 
 Eltie M., Charles (;., Kellie V., Walter E., Gyles 
 C. and Robert M. Nathan A. is deceased. The 
 home of this family is a handsome two-story resi- 
 dence, t.aslefully furnished and surrounded by all 
 the comforts of life. It is situated in the midst 
 of a fine farm of three hundred and eighteen acres 
 all of which is under a high state of cultivati(jn 
 excc|)tiug ten acres of timber land. Lxeelleiit 
 barns and outbuildings have Ixsen erected, store 
 houses for grain, sheds for the stock, and every- 
 thing necessary to a well-regulated farm. The 
 latest-improved machinery is there also found, 
 nothing is wanting which could add to its conve- 
 nience or usefulness. Having been prospered in 
 worldly affairs, Mr. Scibciliiig has not selfishly de- 
 
 voted his wealth only to his own interest, but has 
 contributed liberally to the support of all |>ublic 
 enterprises looking to the growth and advancement 
 of the conimiinily which has so Uuig been his home. 
 He has aided in the upbuilding of churches and 
 schools, and while serving in various ollicial capa- 
 cities has been instrumental in ••idvancing the best 
 iiiteicsts of the township. He served as Township 
 Treasurer for several years, was Assessor three 
 years. School Diri'ctor seven years, and is now 
 serving his second teim as Township 'I'rustee. 
 Politically, he is a stanch .a<lvocate of the Kepub- 
 lican party, and socially, is a member of the Grand 
 Army of the Republic, while in religious belief 
 both he and his wife are Congregationalists, and 
 take an active part in church work. 
 
 'i^^m- 
 
 \1 
 
 m 
 
 AMLS H. WINDSOR. In recording the life 
 work of this gentleman we i)resent to the 
 readers of the Ai.ni Ji the history of one of 
 the most prominent citizens and leading 
 business men of Des Moines, where he has resided 
 since August, 187o. During the seventeen years 
 of his residence in the city he has been largely con- 
 nected with its [lacking interests and has now a 
 half-interest in the Liverpool & Des Moines Pack- 
 ing Com|)any, associated with Kdwin Whitworth, 
 a prominent merchant of Livei'iiool, lingland. The 
 headquarters of the company are in the two cities 
 above mentioned. In 1«7;5 the firm of .1. II. Wind- 
 sor & Co. succeeded the Slowers Packing Company 
 and three years later the business took the name of 
 the Des Moines Packing Com|)any, with J. II. 
 Windsor as one of tJie chief members of the firm 
 and manager of the business. The present title 
 was assumed in November, I88'J. 
 
 Mr. Windsor is a native of the Empire State? having 
 been born in the town of Pike, Wyoming County, 
 then aparlof Allegany County, April IC, 182'.). The 
 family is of English origin but for several genera- 
 tions has resided in this country. Samuel Wintlsor, 
 the father of our subject, was a native of Otsego 
 County, N. Y., but when a young man removed to 
 the vvestern part of the State, which at thai time 
 
794 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 w:is thought to be almost on tlic holders of civili- 
 zalioii, and hnvalcd in I'ike, wheie he ht-canic ac- 
 quainted with and married Miss Kiiza (! rover, a 
 ie|)ieseutative of one of the prominent ami well- 
 Iviiown families of Western New York, several of 
 its members havin<r attained to eminence in the 
 political history of that [lortion of the Empire State. 
 Mr. Windsor was a tinsmith by trade and followed 
 that oeeupation in cunneetion with the hardware 
 business for many years, lie died irj the villageof 
 Pike in 18;')7, at the eoniiiar.-itively early age of 
 tifty-tive years. The family, however, is somewliat 
 n-niarkablc for longevity', seveial of its members 
 having .-ittained to a very advanced age. Two 
 jiaU'inal uncles of the subject of this notice are still 
 living, one a resident of Allegany County', N. Y., 
 was born in l.SbO, and another residing in Catta- 
 raugus County, was born in 1H12. The wife of 
 .Samuel Windsor survived her husband for many 
 years, dying in Buffalo, N. Y., at the home of her 
 youngest son, in l^^itJ. This worthy couple were 
 the parents of four children, three .sons and a 
 daughter. The latter is now Jlr.s. E. C. Chapin, 
 widow of Dr. AVillard Chapin. of Perry, N. Y.; she 
 is the second of the family. The brothers of our 
 sul)ject, Joseph C. and INllllaid F., are engaged in 
 the live stock busini:ss in IJufl'alo. 
 
 James H. Windsor received his education in the 
 schools of his native village and served an api)ren- 
 tieeship of four years to the trade of a tinsmith 
 with his father. But he did iu»l follow that busi- 
 ness. In ISoo he went to Ellicottville, Cattarau- 
 gus County, and for a time engaged in the drug 
 and grocery trade, but in the winter of lyOl-ilu 
 came West, locating in W'ankegan, 111., where he 
 was appointed Dejiuty Clerk of the Circuit Court, 
 serving in that capacity until the death of his father 
 ill 1857, when he w:i.s called home to settle up the 
 business and provide for the mother and younger 
 chihlren. After Ove years spent in New York, in 
 18G"2, he again left Ids native village, and going 
 to BulTalo entered the employ of J. 11. Metcalfe, 
 pro|)rietor of a stock yard of thatcit^'. A year later 
 he became associated with his eniiiloyersin the live 
 stock business, the 'irm becoming Metcalfe -S: Wind- 
 sor, but after a year's association with Mr. Metcalfe 
 as proprietor of the Elk Street Drovers' Yards, of 
 
 BnlTalo, he dis|)osed of his interest and went to the 
 city of New York, where he remained but a short 
 time. In 18(51 he located in Chicago, where he 
 engaged in the live-stock and commi«sioii business 
 until his removal to Dcs Moines in 1873. 
 
 In Chicago, on the 2;>tli of March, lS6o, Mr. 
 Windsor was joined in wedlock with Mrs. Alary 
 (Mor<') Lewis, daughter of D. T. More, of W'(!st 
 Albany, N. Y., but she was only pcrmitieil to en- 
 joy her l)es Moines home for a short lime. She 
 died in l'err\-, Wyoming County, N. Y., on the 
 8th of March, 187 I, leaving a husband and three 
 children, a son and two daughters, to mourn their 
 loss. Mary, the eldest child. is now the wife of Fred 
 C. Ilubbcll, of this city ; Leiaiid is next younger; 
 and Kiith completes the family. On the Kith of 
 November, 1875, Sir. Windsor was again married, 
 his .second union being with Miss llattie B. Mc- 
 Maiiiis. a native of Eddyville. Iowa. Her father 
 was a pioneer of Henry County, and for some time 
 engaged in the drug business iu Eddyville, where 
 bis death occurred a number of years ago. One 
 child has been born to our subject and his worthy 
 wife, a son, James Uaymoiid. 
 
 Mr. Windsor is one of the well-known, enterpris- 
 ing and progressive business men of Des Moines. 
 lie takes a commendable iiiterest in wh.itever tends 
 to promote the welfare and advancement of the 
 city and county and has aided materially in the 
 progress and upbuilding of Des Moines. A suc- 
 cessful business man and a social favorite, he com- 
 mands the res|)ect and esteem of all with whom 
 public or private relations have brought him in 
 contact. 
 
 ^"^i^ 
 
 -V"- 
 
 J I Zoo. W!is born in Jel 
 .J December 5, 1842, ai 
 
 jjT^^ELSON E. li.VKBEK, Superintcn<lent of the 
 
 fferson County, N. Y., 
 and is a son of William 
 H. and Bettie (Butterfield ) Barber, both of whom 
 were also natives of New York. Our subject was 
 reared in his native State and educated in the com- 
 mon schools. In 3'outh he learned the carpenter's 
 irade, which occupation he followed for some years. 
 On the 30tli of October, I8ti3, he was united in 
 marriage with Miss Ellen Bailey, a native of St. 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALRUM. 
 
 795 
 
 Lawrence County, N. Y., and a daiigliter of K. P. 
 Bailey. Two children have been born unto Iheru, 
 Mal)el and Maud. The former married Fred ( Jootle, 
 of Newman, Iowa. They have two children, Fred 
 an<I Fennimore C. 
 
 In 1870, Mr. Barber removed from New York to 
 La Salle County, III., locating at Marseilles, whei-e 
 ft>r the next thirteen years he was eng.aged as travel- 
 ing S(ilesmau of the Marseilles Manufacturing 
 Conipanj'. In 1883, he came to Des Moines, Iowa, 
 and for two j'ears was salesman in a wholesale es- 
 tablishment. He then returned to his old ti-adeand 
 for the next four years engaged in (ronti'acting and 
 building. In August, 1889, lie w;is ajipointed to iiis 
 present position. Mr. Barber is a member of the 
 United Workmen in Marseilles, III., being a char- 
 ter member of Lodge No. 170. Religiously, he is 
 a member of the Congregational Cliureli, of which 
 I)ody his wife is also a member. Politically, he is a 
 Republican. 
 
 The Zoo, of which Mr. Barber is Superintendent, 
 was incor|)orateil .luly "27, 1889, with a c.Tpitid of 
 $'200,000. Sixt3--five acres of land was purchased 
 and improved for the use of the .association. AV. W. 
 F"ink is President; George C. Newman, Secretary-; 
 A. S. Wilcoxen, Treasurer. Tiie companj' have 
 now on exhibition four lionesses, one tiger,one leop- 
 ard, one elephant, severaP monkeys, three kang.a- 
 roos, a wolf, fox, bison, six elks and a number of 
 birds, including sandhill cranes and wild geese. 
 The lake is well stocked with fish and a small steamer 
 is run upon the lake during the suniiner season. 
 Over forty small boats aie in general use. The 
 animal building is 40x80 feet, well ventilated and 
 lighted. A restaurant has lately been opened and 
 many improvements are being made at the present 
 writing, in the spring of 18'.tU. 
 
 IV'N.TAMIN F. COTTRELL,agener.al farmer 
 and stock-raiser residing on section 14, 
 m, Beaver Township, n.-s born in !\Iontgi)ni(ry 
 ^ County, Ohio, May 2'.). 1 8:5,S, and isason of 
 Josei)h and Mary ((iailalian) Cottrell, both of 
 whom are natives of Ohio, the father born of (Jer- 
 
 man parentagi . while the mother was of Scoleh 
 descent. By trade Joseph Cottrell was a carpenter, 
 and followed that business for many j'oars, but 
 toward the close of his life he devoted his energies 
 to farming and was engaged in that pursuit in Cass 
 County-, Ind., at the time of his death, which oc- 
 curred in 186(5, at the age of fifty-five years. Ills 
 wife died some time previous, being called to her 
 final rest in 1849, at the age of thirty-seven years. 
 They were (jarents of six cliddren, but only two 
 are now living — Benjamin F., of this sketch; and 
 his brother, .lohn G., who is the elder anil resides 
 in the Stale of Washington. After the death of his 
 first wife Mr. Cottrell married Mary Williamson in 
 IS.")?, anil by their union one child was born. The 
 mother is still living in Cass County, Ind. 
 
 When a babe of a year Benjamin Cottrell was 
 taken by his parents to Miami ('imnty, Ind., where 
 the days of his boyhood and youth were spent. Ilis 
 early life ])assed uneventfully, his time being occu- 
 pied by farm labor and attendance at the district 
 schools of the neighborhood. At the age of eigh- 
 teen years, believing it time that he made his own 
 way in the world, he left the parental roof and 
 started out: in life for himself. He has made 
 farming his prineipal oeeupatiou and began his 
 business career in that line. After working .as a 
 farm hand for a year he operated a farm oti the 
 shares for a few years, when, in 18.'),'). he left Indi- 
 ana and started westwanl. Loi-ating in Howard 
 County, Iowa, he eng.aged in staging for a time 
 carrying passengers between NewOregon andOsage. 
 The following season he broke prairie and in the 
 autumn went to Kansas, where he was engam'd in 
 various occupations for about eighteen months. 
 Heturning to Iowa in the fall of 18.')8, he located in 
 iiising Sun, Polk County, and the following year 
 rented a faiin, which he operated on the shares for 
 two years, when oilier matters attracted his atten- 
 tion. The Civd War had now been in progress 
 several months and the people were becoming 
 awakened to the fact that it was .-i ipiestion not to be 
 settled by a lialtle or two, that the Soutli was pre- 
 pared and determined to resist until secession was 
 accomiilislied if possible. The President issued a 
 call for troops to serve three j'ears and in August, 
 1861, Mr. Cottrell responded, enlisting in Comi)any 
 
790 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 D, Second low.a Cavalry iimler C'a|>l. Craves. The 
 conipany reported at St. Louis vvliere lliey were 
 equipped for duty ami drilled at IJentoii I'.arraeks 
 until the followin<r spring when they were ordered 
 to l>ird's Point, thence to Rurtran and on to Ft. 
 Pillow, where they remained two weeks. They were 
 next ordered to Hamburg Landing, where liieydid 
 active service for sometime. Mr. C'ottrell partici- 
 pated in a niinilier of skirmishes and at length suf- 
 fered an injury which caused his discharge in 1803, 
 on account of disaliility. 
 
 When no longer al)le to aid his country, IMr. 
 Cottrell returned to Polk County and after some- 
 what regaining his health again engaged in farm- 
 ing on the shares for a year, after whi<-h lie 
 purchased a |)atent and manufactured riding culti- 
 vators for about twelve months. Sut>se(|uently 
 j)urchasing eighty acres of land in Rising Sun, he 
 followed farming for aljout five years, when he 
 rented his land and went to Missouri. After a year 
 he returned, sold his place and removed to Story 
 County, Iowa, where he engage<l in agriculturnl 
 pursuits for about eight years when once more he 
 came to Polk County, and (turchased the farm upon 
 which he yet resides. It contains one luindrcil 
 and thirty acres and at the lime of his arrival was 
 wlioliy unimproved, lie erected a little cabin, 
 which he 1ms since rei)laced with a commodious 
 residence and began the work of cultivating and 
 developing his l:ind, which now forms one of the 
 most fertile and valuable farms in the township. 
 There may found all the necessary improvements 
 tojiether with a good grade f)f stock and the latest 
 improved machinery. The entire surroundings in- 
 dicate thrift and enterprise, which are eliaracteris- 
 tic of the ownei-. 
 
 Since attaining his mrijority, IMr. Cottrell has 
 been a supporter of Republican princii>les .and so- 
 cially, is a member of Warr Post, No. 17, (!. A. R. 
 lioth he and his wife are members of the Christian 
 Cluircli and are well known and respected llndiii;li- 
 out the community. 
 
 The marritige of this worthy couple took place 
 on the '2-lt.h of September, 1801, the lady's maiden 
 name being .\nnie Iv P.arlow. Hy their union 
 weic born ten chihlren, five of whom are yet living 
 an<l are still with their parents, nauu'ly: Ad:i May, 
 
 .lames II.. llaitie 15., Chellie I), and Louie A. 
 Those deceased are Martha E., Mary, Charlie, Otis 
 antl Lutie. 
 
 LKWIS BARLOW, deceased, the father of Mrs. 
 Cottrell, is numbered among the honored pio- 
 neers of Polk County, where he located prior 
 to the departure of the redmen for their west- 
 ern reservation. Unlike a great ni.anj' others, he 
 always showed to the Indians the greatest kind- 
 ness and in leturn was treated by tlieni in a like 
 manner and to him the\- gave the name of "True 
 Wiiite Man." He was a native of Kentucky, born 
 and reared on a tarni and with his parents re- 
 moved in a very early day to Shelby County, Ind., 
 where he became ac(piainteil with and marrieil Miss 
 Ruth llishop, a native of that county and :i daugh- 
 ter of Stephen and Margaret (Adams) Bishop. Af- 
 ter residing for a lime in Indi.'ina, thej' started for 
 the wild West in l.sis, ni;iUing thetri|i from Shelby 
 County to Polk County in an old covered wagon 
 or "piairie schooner." At length reaching their 
 destination, Mr. Barlow settled near what is now 
 the village of Rising Sun, Four Mile Township, 
 where he entered land and also puivhaseil two 
 claims, lie opened a general mercantile store in 
 that [ilace, the (ir.st establishment of the kind in 
 Rising Sun, and made his home in that communit\ 
 until his dfath, which occurred in 1850. Man}' 
 were the hardships and trials home by this worthy 
 man his <'stimable wife. 'J'he place was dilticult of 
 access and ;is travel was accomplishe<l by st.age or 
 private conveyance there was little intercourse with 
 the outside world. After the death of Mr. Harlow 
 his widow became the wife of Samuel (_»liver. who 
 is n(iw also deceased, and remove<l with him to 
 Kansas, where she died and w.as l)uried in 1801. 
 
 By the union of Lewis l>arh)W and Ruth liishop 
 there were horn two sons and three daughters. 
 Henry, the eldest, went to California in an early 
 day and served in the First California Regiment 
 during the late war. and is now a resident of Fm- 
 metsb\irg, Iow:i; .Stephen, who was a nx'mher of 
 the Fourth Iowa Infantry and was honorably dis- 
 charged at the e.xi>iration of three years is now en- 
 gaged in merchandising in Dawson, Kan. ; Anna F. 
 
PORTRAIT AND BTOGRAPIIICAL ALBUM. 
 
 797 
 
 is tlie wifo of Rerijamiii F. Cottrell; Margaret J. is 
 tliL' deceased wife of James W. Hooker, of Beaver 
 Towiisliip, wiio served three 3'ears in the late war 
 and then veteranized, reinainint; with his coniinand 
 until wounded in tlie eye, wiiicii caused total 
 blindness; Alice, the wife Of Robert Skinner, re- 
 sides in I'jninclsburg. 
 
 We take pleasure in rccordin2; this sketch of 
 Mr. Barlow, for he was one of the fust of the |>io- 
 neers and was an honored citizen of Tolk County. 
 Of the fraternal feeling which existed between him 
 and the Indians we have ahvady sjioken. His up- 
 right, honorable life won hiin the conlidence of all 
 with whom he came in contact and he was held in 
 the highest regard b^' a large circle of friends and 
 acquaintances. His home was the abode of hospi 
 tallty, the latch-string was always out and a hearty 
 greeting welcomed each guest. Many of those 
 traveling across the country in 184^, to the gold 
 field of California regarded his home as a haven 
 where they might rest from their wearj' journej'. 
 Those wlio came to make settlements in the county' 
 he was ever ready to aid in securing locations and 
 to the poor and needy he was a special friend. Ik- 
 took great interest in the moral .auil educational 
 advancement of the ctunniunity ami both he and 
 his wife were devoted members of the Christian 
 Church. 
 
 ^<ss. HARLRS II. MUNN, one of the substantial 
 [|[ " liverymen *)f Des Moines, is a native of 
 ^>^7 Illinois, born in flje town of Freeport, De- 
 cember 1, 1845. His father, (). B. Munn, is a na- 
 tive of New York, and when a young man emi- 
 grated to Illinois, where he married Kllen W. Van 
 Dyke and reared a family of four children, three 
 sons and one daughter. The brothers of our sub- 
 jecrt are .1. O. of this city and E. W., a dentist of 
 Dubuque, Iowa. The sister is the wife of Dr. C. 
 W . Leigh of Chicago. The father resided upon a 
 farm for a number of years and then removed to 
 Freeport, where he and his wife still make their 
 home. Both are zealous workers in the Presliytcr- 
 ian Church and Mr. JMunn was one of the organ- 
 izers of the first church of that denimiiuation in 
 
 Freeport. He has been (piitc prouiinentlv idcnti(ie<l 
 with the insurance business for many years, being 
 adjuster fur the .\merican Fire Insuiancc Company 
 of Chicago. In politii-s he gives his .support to the 
 Republican parly. 
 
 The e.'uly life of Cli;ules II. .Mnnn was [)!isse(l 
 uneventfully in the usual manner of farmer lads. 
 Having received his primary- education in the com- 
 mon schools he attended the Freeport High School 
 and later became a student in the Commercial Col- 
 lege, where he accpiired a hrst-cla.ss business edu- 
 cation. I laving attained to mature 3e,ars he formed 
 a matrimonial .•illiance with Miss Annie Ramsey, 
 the wedding being cclel>rated in Williainsi)ort, Pa., 
 of which .State the lady is a native. Having re- 
 turned with his bride to the West, he located on a 
 farm and for some years engaged in agricultural 
 |)ursuits. His (irst |iurchase of land consisted of 
 eighty acres which he bought of his father, to be 
 paid for within fourteen 3'ears, but at the ex|iira- 
 tion of three years he had so prosjiercd that he w.as 
 able to pay every dollar upon the |)lace. That w;ls 
 his lirst real estate and he still holds it. In 1881, 
 Mr. Munn took up his residence in ( Irundy County, 
 loWM, :uid o|iciu'(l a livery stable in (irundy Cen- 
 ter, where he ci)nlinued, doing a good business, un- 
 til 1884, which year witnessed his arrival in Des 
 Moines, starting a new livery which he h.as since 
 increased until he now h.as a lirst-class stable, run- 
 ning thirty-five horses and a fine livery- and Inuk 
 line in the finest location in the city. 
 
 Mr. Munn has never connected hiuuself with any 
 organization, his only adiliation being politically 
 and th.'it with the Republican parly. His wlft; and 
 daughtei- Kttie, their i'nl3- child, are members of the 
 Presbyterian Church. Mr. Munn has carved out 
 his own fortunes and his financial career has been a 
 successfid one. 
 
 OLOMON STUTSMAN, City Marshal .•ni.l 
 Chief of Police of Des Moines, and a pio- 
 neer of Iowa, of 1810, was born in Klkhart 
 County, Ind., .lune 10, 1840. His parents 
 were Conrad and Hannah ( Fiery) .Stutsman. u:i- 
 
TMi 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 lives of Pennsylvania, an'l the family is of German 
 tlescent. In 1846, when a. lad of six summers, our 
 subject accompanied his parents to Iowa, the fam- 
 ily scttlinjT in RLidison 'I'ovvnsliip, I'olk Coui.ty, 
 thou a wilderness which was just becoming iniiab- 
 iled by tlie wliite race. Flis early boyhood was 
 passcil on tlie farm among tiie wihl scenes of pioneer 
 life, wliere Indians were more plenty than the peo- 
 ple of his color. In 1852 the family removed to 
 Des IMoines, wliere the father, as,sist(^d b^' iiis sons, 
 built ttie Des Moines House, ttnc of tlie earliest of 
 the better einss of hotels in the city. 
 
 Solomon, in his yf)ntli, learned the cai()enter's 
 trade, which he follo\ve(l forn livelihood for twenty 
 years. He has been an extensive contractor and 
 builder and li.is erected a number of the finest resi- 
 dences in the cit\-. besides business blocks, school 
 houses and other public liuildings. He was a con- 
 tractor of acknowledged merit .as is indicated by 
 the above. On tlie I'.ith of May. 18.'i'.», he joined 
 an ex|5edition bounti for Colorado witli a train 
 •composed of wagons drawn by ox teams. He 
 crossed the plains and s(iciit the winter of IBSil-TiO 
 in New Mexico, returning to Des IMoines the fol- 
 lowing autumn. In l8Gl,lie made a second tiip 
 to tile UKJuntains, driving a freight team and on 
 again reacliing this city enlisted in Cn])t. .lolin 
 Mitchell's Company for tin; Indian war, then threat- 
 ening in the Northwest. The troops marched to 
 Xortliwestern Iowa, where they had some skirmishes 
 with the red skins, when the trouble being ended, 
 they returned. On the 4th of January, 18G4, Mr. 
 Stutsman entered the service for the late war as a 
 member of tlie First Iowa Ilattery.and was ap|)ointcd 
 a non-commissioned officer. He remained with his 
 commnnd in all its .service from January I until 
 the close of the war and was mustered out in Daven- 
 port on the r)th of July, 1805. 
 
 On the 1st of August, succeeding his return from 
 the South, Mr. .Stutsman was joined in wedlock 
 with Miss Emma Bishard, the cereinony being per- 
 formed in this city. The lady was born in (iiiein- 
 sey County, Ohio, and came with her parent-s, John 
 C. and Charlotte Bishard, to Des Moines, in 1859. 
 .She is a member of the Methodist I'^piscopal Church 
 and a most estimable lady. By their union they 
 have become the parents of two sons and three 
 
 daughters: Otto, the eldest, now twentj^-four years 
 of age, is a carpenter and joiner by trade; Charles 
 aged twenty-two. made choice of the printer's 
 trade; Ellie, the eldest daughter, graduated from 
 the Des Moines High School in 18'.»0; Blanche and 
 I'carl ,'ire still with their parents. 
 
 Mr. Stutsman is a member of Kinsman Post. No. 
 7, <;. A. R., and is the officer of the d.ay. He also 
 lielongs to Onowa Tribe of the Independent Order 
 of Red Men, of which he is Sachem. In politics, 
 Mr. Stutsman is a radical Repiiblicui and has been 
 honored with a number of official positions. He 
 served for four years as Assessor of ('a]>ital Park 
 and on the 7lli of Aiuil, 1890, was elected to the 
 position which he now holds, that of City M.arshal 
 and Cliii'f of Police. He has but just entered ujjon 
 the duties of the office, but being well qualiMed 
 for the pfisition and conscientious in the disclifirge 
 of every trust reposed in him, is sure to prove a 
 comi)etent and popular officer. 
 
 ■40s-^.^^ 
 
 i|/,_ rtUI I'.RKNNAN, the present City Solic- 
 '|f )V itor of Des IMoines, is a native of Mouoh.'in 
 J^^<^ County. Ireland, where he was born iSlarch 
 \^j 12, 1845. His father, Owen Brcnuan, emi- 
 grated with his family to the Fnited States when 
 our subject was about five years of age, and settled 
 near Philadelphia, whence thej' removed to Pitts- 
 burg, Pa. On coming to Iowa, they chose Polk 
 Ct>unty as a favorable location, and here Owen 
 I'liennan continued to reside until his death, which 
 occurred in IST;!. His wife still survives him and 
 makes her home in this city. 
 
 Hugh Brennan had attained to manhood before 
 his emignition to Iowa, and in Pittsburg ha<l mar- 
 ried Miss Jane Bnrnett, a lady of Scotch descent. 
 He received a good Knglish education, but h.ad not 
 turned his attention to the stud^' of a profes- 
 sion. However, he was industrious and enterpris- 
 ing, possessed good natural ability, and was an 
 earnest student. He harllong contemplat.ed the pur- 
 suit of the legal profession, but his limited means 
 and the necessities of those depending upon him for 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 799 
 
 support, iviuliM'ed it iicccssaiv thai, lie slioiild daily 
 poifoim iiiaiuial lal)t)r to proviiio for tiioir maiiilo- 
 nanco. and it was not until 187-1, that he was cn- 
 .Uik'tl to (luvote any eonsidiaabie portion of his 
 lime to the study of law. He tlicif entered the law 
 olUee of Smith & Bayles, a prominent lejjal firm of 
 Des Moines. He was admitted to the bar after 
 thorough research into the standard works regard- 
 ing his chosen profession, in February. 1878, and 
 for some time after Mr. llayles had withdrawn from 
 the firm, continued with Mr. Smith in the rp<iu- 
 lar practi<'e of his profession. In 188() he was ap- 
 pointed Assistant City Solicitor of I)(s Moines, un- 
 der .lames 11. Detrick, Ksq., and liegan at once to 
 make a special study of municipal law, devoting his 
 whole time and attention to the faithful discharge 
 of the duties of his oltice. His services were so 
 efllcient and aceeptaDle to the pulilic. tliat he be- 
 came the i-egular nominee on the Republican ticket 
 for City Solicitor in 181HI, and at the election held 
 on the 7'h of April of that year he was elected by 
 a large majority over the opposing candidate. His 
 election at that time was an especial compliment to 
 his ability and integrity, as it was the lirst election 
 of the city (illicers after the consolidation of the 
 city and suburban towns, which largely intueascd 
 the responsiljility of the City Solicitor. Mr. Bren- 
 nan qualilled himself for the [josition by liis own 
 unaided efforts, and by so doing overcame adverse 
 circumstances which would discour.age many an- 
 other. The confidenc^c imposed in him by his fel- 
 low-citizens, is evidence of a just ajjpreciation of 
 his worth and ability. In his political sentiment 
 he is a Republican, and has ever labored for the In- 
 terests and success of that party. 
 
 ■^ 
 
 ^^T=' 
 
 ^m- 
 
 (EN.IAMIN BARLOW, a highly respected 
 citizen of Des Moines, whose residence cov- 
 I'f^jif, ers a period of Ihii-ly-one years, is a native 
 • ~ ' of Kentucky, his birth having occurred in 
 Washington County, on the 28th of .hine, 181 it. 
 His parents were .Jacob and Rebecca ( Pile) Barlow. 
 The father when a small lad, was taken by his [lar- 
 ents to Kentucky, where he was reared to manhood 
 
 ar.d married Miss Pile. By their uiu(>ii were born 
 thirteen children, eight of «lioni grew to adult age, 
 while four are living at this writing in 1890. Ilenrj', 
 the I'ldest surviving mendierof the family, is a resi- 
 dent of .lasper County, Ind. ; Benjamin of this 
 sketch, is the next younger; .lohn is living in .John- 
 son County, Inil.; and William resides in Shelby' 
 County, that Slate. About 1821 the family removed 
 to Bartholemew County, Ind., where the father 
 and his sons cleared and devclopeil a farm in the 
 midst of a heavily timbered region. They there 
 continued to reside for many years, the mother dy- 
 ing on the old homestead. The death of Mr. Bar- 
 low occurred In .Johnson County, Ind. In early 
 life he cast his ballot with the Whig parly, but later 
 became an advocate of Rc|>ublican |)rinciples. 
 
 < )ur subject spent the days of his boyhood and 
 yt)utli upon his father's farm, and when his time 
 was not occupied with farm labor, attended the dis- 
 trict scho<jls of the neighborhood. In 1812, he 
 was joine(] in wedlock with Miss Sarah Mills, a 
 daughter of Willis .and Klizabeth Mills, and a na- 
 tive of Kinitucky. In 1857. having followed farm- 
 ing in Indiana until that time. Mi'. Barlow emi- 
 grated to Iowa, anil Ijeing pleased with I'olk 
 Countj' and its future prospects, iiurch.ased a farm 
 near Rising Sun. For two years he continued the 
 cultivation of bis land, but in 18o9 abandoned the 
 farm, and moved to the cit3-, where he engaged in 
 cari)entering and various other pursuits. 
 
 By the union of Benjamin Barlow and Saiah 
 Mills, a family of three cliildren were born, but 
 none are now living: .lames, the eldest, enlisted as 
 a soldier in the late war, and died in Utah, Sep- 
 tember 2C, 1883, in the tljirty-eiglith j-ear of his 
 .age; Mary died at the age of eixteen years; and the 
 third child died in infancy. The mother of this 
 family has also been called to her final rest, dying 
 on the 2;ith of A[>ril, 1881. She was a consistent 
 member of the Methodist E|)iscopal Church, and 
 was held in high esteem for her many excellencies 
 of character and upright life. 
 
 Mr. Barlow is now living in retirement, an hon- 
 ored and respected citizen of Des Moines. He is 
 numberid among the early settlers of the county, 
 a third of a century having passed since he took 
 up his residence within its borders. He has wit- 
 
800 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 nessed its rapid growtli ami development, lias seen 
 tlie transfi)rmation of the village into tiie metro- 
 polis of the State, and tlic introdiictioii of its tnaun- 
 facturies, industries, etc. He has fell a just pride 
 in the progress of the coniit}', and lias Ijorne no in- 
 considerable part in the work of its upbuilding. 
 
 ^C 
 
 VI 
 
 ESSE PEARSON, one of the snl)stantial 
 farmers nnd stock-raisers in lieaver Town- 
 ' shi|), residing on section 24. has for many 
 jears resided in this county, dating his res- 
 idence from 18.0,5. Here he has struggled against 
 the disadvantages of limited circumstances and won 
 a position among the well-to-do citizens as a re- 
 sult of his industry, enterprise, good managnient 
 and fair dealing. He is now the owner of a fine 
 farm of one hundred nnd forty-six acres, eighty of 
 which is under a good state of cultivation and well 
 improved. An excellent grade of stock can there 
 be found, together with gofxl barns nnd outbuild- 
 ings and all the latest improved machinery, while 
 as a whole the farm at once indicates to the pass- 
 erby that the owner is a man of thrift and energy. 
 Mr. Pearson was born in Morgan County, Ohio, 
 on the 5th of October, 1833. and is a son of Wil- 
 liam and Catherine (Brock) Pearson, the former a 
 native of Pennsylvania, born of Welsh parentage, 
 the latter is of English descent. Having followed 
 farming in Morgan County, Ohio, until 18.51, Wil- 
 liam Pearson removed to Warren County, Iowa, 
 where he purchased a farm of three hundred and 
 twenty acres, already improved, paying ^()X)i'> per 
 acre. There he continued to make his home un- 
 til his death, which occurred on the 18th of April, 
 1883, at the advanced age of ninety-one years. His 
 remains were Iniil to rest in the cemetery near the 
 (Quaker Church in Palmyia Townshii), Warren 
 County, and his death was the occasion of deep re- 
 gret on the part of m.iny warm friends. His wife 
 had passed away long previous, dying in 1840. 
 Their family numbered nine children, but three are 
 now deceased — William, Ent)ch and Stephen. Those 
 still living are Benjamin; Mary Ann, widow of 
 Loren Bartlett of Des Moines; D.'ivid W. of Oes 
 
 Moines; Jesse of this sketch; Amos who is living 
 in Nebraska; and Smith, a resident of Beaver 
 Township. The father of this family, after the 
 death of his first wife, in 185!i, wedded Mrs. Re- 
 l)ecca Smith, widow of William Smith of Morgan 
 Count3", Ohio. Her death occurred about the j-ear 
 1877. 
 
 The days of his boyhood and youth, .Tesse Pear- 
 son spent in the county of his nativity, where he 
 was reared to farm life and aiquired such education 
 as could be obtained in the district schools of 
 the neighl)orhood. Like a dutiful son he assisted 
 his father until attaining his majorit\-, when he pur- 
 ch.nsed a half interest in an old threshing mnchine 
 and began business for himself. For three years 
 he operated that machine during the season and 
 spent the remainder of the year in farming on the 
 shares. With the family he came to Iowa in 18.51, 
 and four years later removed from Warren to Polk 
 County, where with the cai)itnl which he had ac- 
 ()uired he purchased eighty acres of i»rairie land- 
 the faiin on which he now resides-together with 
 forty acres of timber land in Washington Town- 
 ship, Jasjier County. In tlie spring of 1850, he 
 erected a frame house and after seeing his f.amily 
 comfortably settled began the work of improve- 
 ment which he has still continued. He brought 
 with him to this county the old chaff |iiler and 
 with it engaged in threshing until 1800, when he 
 purchased a machine of more modern make. He 
 operated the first thresher in this part of the county- 
 and continued work in that line throughout all the 
 sui rounding country for twenty-five years. Al- 
 though he met with some drawbacks in his labors 
 and encountered a number of obstacles in his path to 
 success, his prosperity has been greater than his 
 misfortune and h.-is before stated he is numbered 
 amcmg the substantial citizens of P>enver Town- 
 ship. 
 
 On the 2iui\ day of February, 1855. Mr. Pearson 
 was married to Miss Hannah .T. Ilibbs, and unto 
 them have been born five chiblren — William W., 
 the enterprising hardware dealer of Mitchellville 
 who Is associated in business with his brother, 
 D.avid K., the third child of the family. Martha E., 
 the second in order of birth, is the wife of N.athau 
 W. Lee, a fanner of dasper Count\'; Sarah .1., is 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOOUAl'IIICAL ALIUJM. 
 
 HOI 
 
 the wife of Thomas .1. Lee, of lieaver Townsliip; 
 and Smith (!., the youngest, aids his father in liie 
 operation of the old home farm. The children were 
 provided with y;ood educational oportunilies such 
 as wouhl lit lliem for the practical duties of life 
 and have liecome useful men and women in the 
 world. 
 
 As regards his political sentiments, Mr. Pearson 
 is a Republican, having supported that i)arly since 
 the time when he cast his lirst Presidential vote for 
 John C. Fremont, lie takes an active interest in po- 
 litical affairs, and keeps himself well informed on the 
 leading issues of the day. holh |)olitical ami (other- 
 wise, lie has served both a.^ Road Su'H'rvisc)r and 
 School Director. As an early settler of the county 
 he has watched its growth and development from 
 the days when its cities were unimportant villages, 
 its prairies yet uiibroken and deer and other kinds 
 of wild game still found in abundance, until it has 
 become the chicfcst anuiiig the counties of this groat 
 commonwealth, containing the* capital which is 
 also the metropolis of the .State, and a number of 
 other thriving cities and villages. 
 
 A short sketch of the parents of INIrs. Pearson 
 would not lie inapprcipriately added. Her father, 
 William \'. Ilibbs, was a native of \'irgiiiia and 
 was of Scotch-Irish descent, lie remained in his 
 native Slate until sixteen years of .age, when lie 
 went 'M Ohio, where, after having attained to ma- 
 ture vears, he wedded Miss Sarah llollett, who 
 was born in ihe Buckeye State and was of Welsh 
 descent. The^' began their domestic life on a farm 
 in Ohio where they lesidcd until IS.'io, when with 
 the desire of bettering their financial condition tlie\' 
 emigrated to Jasper County, Iowa, and entered a 
 farm of three hundred and sixty acres, where they 
 spent till' remainder of tlieir da3s. The death of 
 IMr. Ilibbs oecuried on the 2nd of April, 1883, 
 and his wife passed away in August, 188!). The\' 
 were laid side by side in Mitclullville cemetery. 
 Eight of theii- family are now living — Valentine, 
 who is engaged in farming in Dallas County, Iowa; 
 "William .1., a farmer of this county; (ieorge, who 
 is engaged in the same [nirsuit in Jasper Coiiiity; 
 Hannah J., wife of iMr. Pearson; Sarah .\., widow 
 of Andrew J. Snelson of Calhoun County, Iowa; 
 James L., who is engaged in farming in the same 
 
 county; lienjaniin who is operating a farm in 
 lieaver Township; and Ivhoda T., wife of Smith 
 Pearson of P>eaver Township. Mr. and Mrs. Ilibbs 
 were both mendiers of the Society of Friends and 
 by all who knew them were held in high regard 
 for their upright lives and Christian character. 
 
 .-♦i^i<^^. 
 
 l> W. FINK is an honored pioneer and lead- 
 ing business man of Des Moines, and we 
 
 WW f'''"' assured that his sketch will be received 
 with interest by man}'. His paternal giandfatliei-, 
 a sturdy Virginian fanner, emigrated to Kentucky 
 when forests and Indians were the chief things of 
 which that State could lioast. There the Rev. \'. 
 P. Fink the father of our subject, was born Feb- 
 ruary 27, 18(1;'). \\lieii (piite a young lad, his par- 
 ents died, anil he was reared by an older brother, 
 who resided in Ohio. In early manhood he began 
 life's battle with the world. Seized with the spirit 
 of adventure, he lirst returned to Kentucky, then 
 went to lialtimore, Md., aiul finally wended his 
 way to Texas before that Slate was .admitted to the 
 Union. iMitering u()on the work of the ministry, 
 he for a time acted as missionary to the Creek anil 
 C'herokee Indians, but subsequently changed his 
 field of oiieration to .Southern Missouri, where he 
 traveled for a number of years as an itinerant 
 preacher. In Potosi, Washington County, Mo., he 
 was united in marriage in 183;"), with Louisa P. 
 Wescott, a native of Philailel|ihi:i, Pa., born in 
 18iri, who in her girlhood removed with her par- 
 ents to Missouri. 
 
 In 1841;, the Rev. V. P. Fink went with his fam- 
 ily to \'an P.uren County, Iowa, where he engaged 
 in |)rea(hing and teaching si'hool. Two years later 
 he took up a claim in Warren County, and devoted 
 his energies to its development, until his removal 
 to Polk County, in 18.")(), when he purchased a large 
 tract of land on which he farmed and grew fruit 
 for seventeen years, at the end of which period he 
 became a resident of Des Moines. He is now an 
 old man of eighty-live years, but in looking back 
 over the long period of the past, he has the satis- 
 faction of knowing that it has not been spi lit- for 
 
802 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 selfish ends. His beloved conii>anioii, who for fifty 
 years traveled by his side on life's journey, eu- 
 coiiraging and aiding him in all his efforts, was 
 called to the better land December 25. 1885. Like 
 her husband, she was an earnest worker in the 
 Methodist Ki)iscopal Church, and did much good 
 in the world. 'I'lie political principles which Mr. 
 Fink has advocated are embodied in the three 
 words, Whig. Abolitionist, Republican. The family 
 born to this worthy couple consisted of four chil- 
 dren: Robert H.. who was a member of Conip.any 
 K, Twenty-third Iowa Infantry, and was killed in 
 the battle of Milliken's Bend, La.; .lohn F., who 
 died in llic hospital at Mound City, Mo., while en- 
 rolled as a defender of the old tlag; Mary C. wife 
 of J. .1. Caldwell, of Waukee. Iowa; and W. W. of 
 this sketch. 
 
 As will have been seen, our subject is the young- 
 est of the family. He was born on the 8tli of No- 
 vember, 1844, in Lewis County, Mo., and spent his 
 early life in assisting his father on the farm, and in 
 attendance of the district schools, but in August, 
 1862, he bade good-by to his parents and home, and 
 offered his services to his country. He enlisted in 
 Company K, Twenty-third Iowa Infantry, and 
 served three years as a piivatc and ni)n-comniis- 
 sioiicd otliccr, partici(iatiiig in the following hattlcs: 
 Port Ciil)Son, Cliampiou Hill. Black River Bridge. 
 Milliken's Bend, Vicksburg, Jackson, Ft. Esperanza 
 and Spanish Fort. He was always found at his 
 post of duty, and was honorably discharged at 
 Davenport, Iowa, in August. 18G5. 
 
 Soon after liis return home, Mr. Fink entered the 
 Iowa Wesleyan luiversity, from which he was 
 graduated in 1«70, witli tlie degree of A. I!. Hav- 
 ing' now coni|ilcted his studies, on the 21sl of Feb- 
 ruai'v, 1871. he united his destiny with that of Miss 
 Kliza C. AUen.a daughter of Reuben Allen, of Des 
 Moines. The lady is a native of Mt. Pleasant, 
 Iowa, and was graduateil from the Iowa Wesleyan 
 I'niversity, in the Class of '<>!'■ I'nto tlicni lia\c 
 been two children, but the elder. Flora I.., died in 
 infancy; Louise, the other daughter, is still with 
 her parents. 
 
 Ill 1872, Mr. Fink embarked in the coal business 
 in Des Moines, which he carried on successfully for 
 six years, when he went to Omaha. Xid)., as an ac- 
 
 countant in the Union Parcifie Railroad office, where 
 he remained four j'ears. At the expiration of 
 that time he returned to this city, where he has 
 since dealt largely in real estate, handling only his 
 own [iiopert}'. He has taken an .active part in ex- 
 lending and improving the citj' ; platted Fink's sub- 
 division; is a Director in the O.ak Park Land 
 Company; Director and Secretary in the Highland 
 Park Company; Director .and Secretary' of the Oak 
 and Highland Park improvement Company'; and 
 President of the Zoological Park Comp.any. He 
 helped organize North Des Moines, and is one of 
 its couneibuen. He is .an honored member of 
 Crocker Post, G. A. R., and a communicant and 
 Treasurer of Prospect Park Jlethodist Episcopal 
 Church, to which his wife also belongs. Mr. P'ink 
 has been very successful in his business undertak- 
 ings, but it is in the field of literature he has gained 
 his greatest distinction. F'or several years he was 
 a contributor, both in prose and verse, to such 
 standard magazines as the f't>iilin->i, Ilarpcr'a and 
 St. Xicholus, and also to leading papers. AVithin 
 the past few years, however, business cares have so 
 crowded upon him that he has been compelled to 
 lay aside literary work for the present. Thougli a 
 young man. .Mr. Fink is spoken of as old settler 
 from tlie fact that Des Moines has practically been 
 his home since 1848. 
 
 ^ ^ 
 
 .1. AIILLS, proprietor of the White Line 
 Transfer Comiiany, Des Moines, estalijishi'd 
 his |)reseiit business in liiis city in 1880, 
 under the lirm name of Jones iV- Mills, 
 his partner being C. 1>. .lones. After continuing 
 opeialioiis for three years the business was incor- 
 porated, with Mr. Mills as President and J. O. Par- 
 vin. Secretary .-xud Treasurer. However. Mr. Mills 
 is now sole proprietor of the business, which has 
 grown to important proportions, and furnishes 
 employment to some twcnt3-five men. 
 
 Our subject is a native of the Capital City, his 
 birth having here occurred on the 6th of July, 
 isr)7. His parent.s were Col. N. Webster and 
 Sarah A. ( llacklcman) Mills, who are mentioned 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHI<^AL ALBUM. 
 
 803 
 
 further mi. Young Mills attended tlie public 
 schools of this cit}- until 1 87.'>, vvlicu he liecanie a 
 student in the Stanford Military- Institute of Stan- 
 ford, Conn. In 187(1 the school was removed to 
 Xorlli (iranville, N. Y.. Imt Mr. Mills continued 
 with it until cani|)!etiuii; a liiree years' course, 
 when he was graduated in the class of '~.S. lie 
 then entered upon his l)usiness career, obtaining a 
 position on the road in the passenger service of 
 the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad Com- 
 pany. Later he entered the ticket agent depart- 
 ment of that company iu Des Miiines, and subse- 
 quently was employed in the freight de|)Ot, but 
 abandoned that position in December, 1880, to en- 
 gage in his present liusiness. He has bi^en very 
 successful, and the A\hite Line Transfer has 
 gained a wide reputation and yields him a good 
 income. He is a young man of good business 
 ability, and the prosperity which lias attended him 
 is due entirely to his own efforts. 
 
 Oil the 8th of November, 18,s2, Mr. Mills was 
 united in marriage with Mi.ss Annie M. Kastoii. a 
 daughter of .1. S. Easton, of Dell Center, low;i. 
 The ladj' is a native of Cleveland, Ohio, and by 
 their union has been born one child, a daughter, 
 Margaret. Mrs. Mills is a member of St. Paul's 
 Episcopal Church, and socially-, JMr. jMills is a 
 member of the Knights of Pythias fraternity, be- 
 longing to Myrtle Lodge, K. P., of Des Moines. 
 In politics, he is a su|)porter of the Republican 
 party. Both he and his wife are hehl in high 
 regar<l by those wIkj know them, and their circle 
 of friends and acquaintances is an extensive one. 
 
 COL. N. ^VEB.STER MILLS, father of P. .1., 
 was a native of Imliana, born in Crawfordsville in 
 1833, and wiis a son of Daniel Mills. The family 
 originally emigrated from \irginia to the West. 
 The earl}' life of our subject passed uneventfully'. 
 In his youth lie acquiriM] a common-school educa- 
 tion and learned the piiiiter's trade, which he fol- 
 lowed for a number of 3'ears in his native State. 
 At length, having arrived at iiiatuie \ears, he 
 made choice of a companion on life's journey, and 
 in 18,50 was united in marriage with .Miss Sarah A. 
 llacklemaii, who was born in Brookville, Incl., and 
 is a daughter of fJcn. P. A. Hackleman, of that 
 
 Stat' . Their union w:us celebrated in Rushville, 
 Ind., and shortl\ aflerwaiil they came to Des 
 Moinej, where they beg.aii their domestic life. 
 Three children were born unto them, one son and 
 two daughters — Pleasant J., who wedded Miss 
 Annie M. Easton, and is now proprietor of the 
 White Line 'I'ransfer Conii)any, of Des Moines; 
 Minnie, who became the wife of Harry A. l'"Jliott, 
 of this city; and Katie, who dieil at the age of 
 three years. 
 
 Long prior to tliel.ate war Col. Mills was known 
 to be a linn .advocate of aliolilion, and when the 
 warbrokeout determined to strike a blow for free- 
 dom and the honor -jf his country. In 18()1 he 
 responded to the call for troo|is and enlisted in 
 the second Iowa Infantry, lie enlisted May I, 
 l.sdl, and served under Cols. Samuel R. Curtis and 
 .1. M. Tuttle, both of whom rose to the rank of 
 !\Iajor-(!eneral. Col. Mills was Second-Lieutenant 
 of Company D, at time of enlistment, but was pro- 
 moted to the Captaincy of the coin[)an3' June 1, 
 181)1, to be Lieutenant-Colonel -luiie 22, 18(!2, and 
 to be Colonel October 8, 18(i2. He was W(.)uud( d at 
 Corinth, October 4, from which wounds he died 
 October 12, 1862. 
 
 The widow of Col. Mills, A[iril 20, 1S71, be- 
 came the wife of E. R. Clapp, and is now li\ingin 
 Des Moines. 
 
 "jf OHiX LEWIS, Bailiff of room 2, Court-house 
 of Des Moines, is a native of Henry County^ 
 Ind., born .Inly 21, IMO. When a babe of 
 three years he was lirought liy his parents 
 to Washington County, Iowa, but a year later they 
 reiurned to Indiana, where ihey remained until 
 1848. Once more his father di'lermined to try his 
 fortune in this .State, and took a claim eight miles 
 west of Des Moines. He afterward spent another 
 year in Washington County, when he again came 
 to Polk County. 
 
 Young Lewis reeived his education in the com- 
 mon schools, and remained at home engaged in 
 farm labor until .Inly 4, LSOl, when he enlisted in 
 Company E, Fourth Iowa Infantry, and was made 
 
801 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPITICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Third Corporal. He look part in many important 
 engagements and bard-fouglit battles, but remained 
 uninjured. At Pea Ridge the regiment went into 
 battle four hundred strong, and at tlie roll call in 
 tlie evening one hundred and sixty-five failed to re- 
 spond tt) their names. The troops then marched five 
 hundred miles to Helena, Ark., later parlieip.iting 
 in tli3 battle of Chickasaw Bayou and the capture 
 of Arkansas Post. They then returned to Vicks- 
 burg, where Mr. Lewis was taken sick ami remained 
 in the hospital for a time. With his regiment un- 
 der Gen. Steele he then jjarticipateil in the b.attle 
 near Vicksburg, fighting all the way for sixty miles 
 from the city, (ioing to Vicksburg they ran the 
 blockade at Grand Gulf, and afterward took jwrl 
 in the battles of Jackson and Black River Bridge. 
 Fur forty days during the siege of Vicksburg the 
 Fourth Iowa was under tire, and on the 22d of 
 .lune charged the lireastworks. After the surren- 
 <ler of the city the troops followed .lohnson to 
 Jackson. Miss., where a hard-fouglit battle occur- 
 red, followed b\' engagements at Corinth and luka. 
 With five thousand infanliy they fought the cav- 
 alry troops of Gen. I'orrest until the enemy surren- 
 dered. They then marched through Tennessee, 
 participated in the battle of Chattanooga and in the 
 charge at Lookout Mouutain. The following day 
 the battle of Missionary Hidge occurred, when five 
 thousand prisoners vvere captured. His term of 
 service having expired, in February, 18()4, Mr. 
 Lewis veteranized, and was granted a forty-days 
 furlough, returning to his home. While in I)es 
 iMoiues, on the 'iSd of March, 18(JI, he was united 
 in marriage with Lucy A. Wood, but a few d;iys 
 later left his young brid(Miud rejoined his regiment, 
 which was then attarhed to Slieiinaii's Army, and 
 took part in the siege mid capture of Atlanta, and 
 the ceU^brated march to the sea, also in the siege of 
 Savannah, (la.; and the battle of Jouesboro, Md., 
 where Mr. Lewis shot a rebel through on skirmish 
 line. Shortly afterward Lee snirendercd, ami the 
 war was brought to a close. Proceeding to Wash- 
 ington with his regiment he ])arti<'ipate(l in the 
 Grand Review, and in Davenport, Jowa, was dis- 
 charged in Septemlier, 18(55. Mr. Lewis then re- 
 turned to his young wife. Mrs. Lewis had been 
 l)reviouslj' married, and by her first union had one 
 
 daughter, who is now the wife of W. (!. Thompson, 
 of Des Moines. She is a native of Preble County, 
 Ohio, and her father was John Wood. Mr. and 
 Mrs. Lewis have an adopted son, Harry Calvin. 
 
 For a time after his return from the war Mr. 
 Lewis was engaged in farming. He then turned 
 his attention to coal mining, which he followed 
 until 1881. when he went on to the police force, 
 serving in that capiicity for four years and two 
 months. In January, 1887, lie was made Bailiff 
 under Sherifif Loomcr, and now has charge of 
 Court Room No. 2, of Des Moines. Socially, he is 
 a member of Crocker Post, No. 12, G. A. R., of 
 this city. He is a competent officer, and his genial 
 courteous manner has won him friends among all 
 with whom ne has come in contact. 
 
 \r>Sy. R. THOMAS A. 11ALLI:TT, of the dental 
 )jj firm of Hallett & Fuller, outranks all his 
 f^ brethren of the profession in Des Moines as 
 to tlie time of his location in the city and the num- 
 ber of years he has here engaged in practice. He 
 first opened an oilice in Des Moines in April, LsiJ.'i, 
 hence his professional labors cover a period of 
 twenty-seven years. Dr. Hallett is a native t)f Coii- 
 neelicut, having been born in New London 
 County, October 21, 18.'i;j, and is descended t'rtnn 
 an earl}' New Fngland family. The chronoloijical 
 history of the lltdlett family iji America records 
 that three brothers of that name left their home 
 in JMinland and emigrated to this country in the 
 early history of thi' American colonies. ()ne set- 
 tled in Connecticut and from him the branch of the 
 family to which our subject belongs has descended. 
 'I'lie Doctor can also boast of Revolutiouar\ line- 
 age, his i)aternal grandfather having been a soldier 
 in the war for independence. 
 
 Ills father, llcniy Hallett, who was alst) a native 
 of New London (\)unty, was twice married, his sec- 
 ond wife, whose maiden name was Julia Ann Hai- 
 ley, being the mother of the subject of this notice. 
 Ten children called Henry Hallett father, three of 
 wlnmi were born of the first marriage and seven of 
 the second union. Of that oucc nnmerous family 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBDM. 
 
 805 
 
 only tlie Doctor and a lialf-lirollicr, AVillinni. of 
 East Des Moini-s, are novf living, tlie greater 
 part of the family having fallen victiins of a piil- 
 monary disease, wliieli was a|i|)arenlly lieieditary. 
 
 Dr. Ilailett, has, however, attained to the age of 
 fifty-five yeais, and no evidence of the disease, 
 which has proved so fatal to other nieniliers of his 
 family, lias shown in him any sign of development. 
 On the contrary he possesses a siilendid physique, a 
 robust constitution and more th:in an average de- 
 dree of vitality. This entiie exemption from |)liys- 
 ical ailment, either inherit* d or acipjired is, wMtlKHit 
 donlit, due to the strict observance of the laws of 
 health, which has characterized him through life, 
 'iemperate in all things from his youth up, he has 
 undergone a physical training that included abund- 
 ant and a|)propriate exercise which has endowed 
 him with a constitution much beyond the average 
 in strength and enduiance. 
 
 Dr. Ilailett received an excellent education in 
 his youth, of an academic character, and was for 
 some time a student in the Normal School of Nor- 
 wich, Conn., wiierc he received special instruction 
 in the art of teaching. He had already h.ad some 
 experience in the practice of that profession, and 
 po.ssessing good scholarly attainments, he entered 
 the Normal at an advanced stage in the course, 
 wliicli hecom|)ieted in niucli loss than the usual time 
 required, graduating in LS-Oti. Having llnislied his 
 studies in that institution, he resumed teaching, his 
 field of labor being in New Jersey. The spring of 
 1857 witnessed liis arrival in Des Moines. Mis 
 brother William, already mentioned as a resident 
 of this city, had preceded him and it was this fact, 
 perhaps, that induced our subject to make Des 
 Moines his objective ])oint in his (irst trip to the 
 West. Soon after his arrival he obtained a posi- 
 tion as tea(;her and successfully engaged in that 
 line of work for several terms, lint he had not 
 yet fully decided to make Des Moines his perma- 
 nent abiding place, and in the spring of 18(!0 re- 
 turned to his Connecticut home, resuming his old 
 profession. But he had already acquired the West- 
 ern fever, which a residence of one year in the .State 
 of his nativity failed to cure, and in 18G1 he again 
 came to I'olk County, which has since been his 
 home. After teaching a term of school in X'alk'^- 
 
 Township he entered the dental office of Dr. Brown- 
 well, one of the pioneer dentists of Dos Moines and 
 with the exception of a winter term spent in teach- 
 ing, there remairicil until April, lf<().'i, when he 
 bought out his preceptor and began business for 
 himself. In November, ISIM, the present |)artner- 
 ship was formed, which has continued tor the long 
 |ieriod of twenty-six years, being in all probability 
 without a pa;allel in the dental profession in the 
 Sl.ate. That he might keep fully abreast of the 
 progress maile in the science of dental surgery he 
 took a course of study in the branch of the Iowa 
 Stale I'nivcrsity which is devoted to his profession, 
 and graduated therefrom in 1881. 
 
 Dr. Ilailett was married in Des IMoines on the 
 ISlh of A|iril. IMi;2, lo Miss Minerva .loncs, daugh- 
 ter of W. W. Jones of Des Moines, now deccas(!d. 
 The}- arc the parents of six children, thiee sons and 
 three daughters: (ieorge E., an architect and 
 bulkier now of Colorado; James C., Charles II., 
 .lulia A., Nellie C. an<l .Minnie. Professionally. Dr. 
 Ilailett occu|)ies a place in tlie front rank of Polk 
 County's corps of dental surgeons, which fact is 
 attested by the liberal |)atronage which the firm of 
 Ilailett & Fuller has ever received. As a citizen 
 he is resi)ected and esteemed and is ever in favor 
 of whatever enterprises tend to promote the best 
 interests of tlu^ cominunit}-. Having been well 
 educated and devoting a consiilerable time to in- 
 truclion, he has never lost his interest in educa- 
 tional progress and his inlluence has been a potent 
 force in promoting the best interests of our schools. 
 Dr. Ilailett possesses a mathematical mind, being 
 perhaiis one of the most skillful matheinaticians of 
 this city. The (piality of his mind is illustrated in 
 his fondness for the game of chess, which those 
 who have tested his ability in that direction will 
 rcailily admit. 
 
 — -^ 
 
 * 
 
 ^f OHN KKANKI.IN MASON, Secretary of 
 the Des Moines Cotton Mills Company, is 
 well worthy of representiition in this volume, 
 / in which is recorded the life work of the 
 most i)romiiient of Polk County's citizens. He was 
 
806 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 born in C'attaiaiigus County, N. Y., on the 10th of 
 ISeptembei-, 1818, and when nine yeai-s of age cjime 
 with Ills parents to Iowa, the family settlinn:in Van 
 Biiren County. In his boyhoo<l he (li.si)hiyeil the 
 greatest activity and energy, carinsr little to be 
 confined in tlie sclioulroom. and those traits of 
 cliaracter have remained with him, proving impor- 
 tant factors in Imsiness his success. Between the 
 ages of fourteen and nineteen years lie engaged in 
 tlie liv<'ry business and then turned liis attention to 
 tlic manufacture of tinware, which lie pe(l<lled liy 
 wagon over the countr}'. In 1869, lie came to Des 
 Moines, where he resumed business in tlie same line 
 on Sixth .Street. From a small beginning, with an 
 income of only a few hundred dollars per year, he 
 steadily worked his way upwanl. enlaiging his fa- 
 cilities with the increasing demand until his yearly 
 sales amounted to !jil (10,000. In 1S,S2 he disposed 
 of the Imsiness and became the leading spirit in 
 organizing the Merchants I'nion liarl) Wire Com- 
 pany, com|)osed largely of merchants over the .State 
 who had formerly been his patrons in the hardware 
 business. Mr. Mason was made man.ager ami his 
 brother E. R. elected Treasurer. The pur|iose of the 
 organization was to fight the great barb wire mo- 
 nopoly, which was manipulated by the Washbuin A 
 Moen Manufacturing Conniany of Worcestei'. Mass. 
 Every one who altem|)led to manufacture the wire 
 was prosecuted for infringement and closed out. 
 The Merchants" I'liion was the first to get a ilecis- 
 ion against that company, which was rendered by 
 •ludge G. W. McCrarey. Machinists were afraid to 
 put up machines for the Merchants' I'nion lest they 
 should become legally responsible, and it was nec- 
 essary, therefore, for the company' to manufacture 
 their niachines as well as their wire. In 1881 the 
 company sold patents to the monopoly to the value 
 of ii21,O0O, but continued operations until 1888, 
 when they disposed of the business. 
 
 In 188r>, Mr. Mason organized the Domestic 
 Soap Compan^s composed of some of the most in- 
 fluential men of Des Moines, and served .as Director 
 for a time when he parted with his interest. lie 
 also re-organized and was a Diieetor in the Daily 
 Iowa Capital Company. In .laniuiry, 1887. he and 
 three others jiurchased a cotton-mill in .lonesville, 
 Alicb,, but the following year, through certain par- 
 
 ties of Des Moines, they were induced by promises 
 (which, however, have not been fulfilled ) to remove 
 their mill to this city. They liave a fine plant, their 
 establishment is a two-story brick, 220x14 feet, 
 they give emplo^'ment to about one hundred hands 
 and turn out some live thousand yards of cloth 
 per day. Mr. Mason is familiar with and looks 
 after every detail of the business. His son, Charles 
 ¥. is Superintendent and his brother. Kdward R., 
 President, liut he has the general management. 
 
 In Davis County, Inwa.on the l',)tli of February, 
 1879, Mr. Mason led to the marriage altar Miss 
 Annie Montague, a native vf Grandville, Ohio, and 
 a graduate of Grandville College. They were the 
 jiarents of four children: Charles F. ; Kate A., who 
 died at the age of sixteen years; Harriet N. and 
 Frances,' C. The death of the mother occurred on 
 the I Ith of .lannary, 188'), and in February, 1886, 
 Mr. Mason wedded .lennie H. Rogers, a native of 
 Illinois and a member of the I'nileri.an Church. 
 Their union Iiils lieen bles.sed with one son, Gil- 
 bert n. 
 
 Mr. Mason is an unswciving Republican in poli- 
 tics, and socially, is a niendier of the Masonic order. 
 In all his business enterprises he has Im'Cu associated 
 with his brother, Kdward K. For the past twenty- 
 one years, never has a Saturday night passed with- 
 out their having a pay-roll. Close ap[)licalion and 
 fair dealing have won for them success in business 
 anil friends among tho,>e with whom they have had 
 business or social relations. 
 
 s^y^iL 
 
 # 
 
 'f AMKS M. COLIU RN, one of the most e.\- 
 tcnsivc stock dealers of Central Iowa, n\- 
 siding on section "2(1, Washington Township, 
 is a native of the Fmpire State. He w:is 
 born M.ay II, 1!S11 in Chenango Count}', and is a 
 sen of Orrin Colburn, who was boiyi and reared in 
 the same county. There were two children in the 
 family, our subject and a brother, Orrin, Jr., who 
 is engaged in the mercantile business in Eureka, 
 Kan. 
 
 .lames Colburn began hi.^ school life in his na- 
 tive county but eoniplete<l his education in Loni- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 807 
 
 bard Universitj-, of Galesburg, III , to wliieti State 
 liis parents liad previously removed, settling in 
 Bureau Count}'. He attended that school in 1857 
 and IHy.S, and then returned to his home and eni- 
 l):uke(l in tlie stock business, which he has sinci 
 continued with si)lendid success. He first bought 
 horses for the (iovernrnent. This he continued 
 four \ears, when he engaged in operations for liis 
 own interests, purchasing in April, I8G lvsi.\ty-one 
 head of horses nnd seven head of mules which he 
 drove across the country to California, live months 
 being consumed in making the journey from the 
 Missouri Rivt'r to liis destination. lie then placeil 
 his slock on pasture and as opportunity offered, 
 sold, receiving his pay in gold, which he carried 
 back to New York anil disposetl of at .a premium 
 of si.xty-five cents on the dollar. He then again 
 bought stock for tlie Government until the close of 
 the war when he reversed his tactics and sold for 
 the Goveinnient, which no longer had use for the 
 stock. Many car-loads which he shipped to the 
 .South he after re-solil through Iowa and Illinois. 
 lie tlu'n returned to Bureau Couiit\-, 111., whcic in 
 1H(J5 and 18GG, he lio\ight slock for the market 
 and 18G7 w;is engaged in buying and shipping 
 stock in Port Byron, Rock Island County. The 
 following year he went to Lanark, Carroll Count}', 
 111., wiiere he erected a sleam elevator, the first in 
 that jiart of the Slate and handled grain and stock, 
 doing a general commission business. I^atcr lie 
 ((ursucd the same vocation in Racine and Milwau- 
 kee, Wis., anil also engaged in shipping cattle and 
 hogs. At length he sold out his entire business 
 and came West. 
 
 Taking up his residence in I'olk County, in I 8(;s, 
 Mr. Colburn purchased four hundred acres of land 
 in Washington Township aiul then resumed opera- 
 tions in the stock business, which he carried on 
 both in Nevada and Colorado in connection with 
 dealing in real estate. In 1871, he solil out in 
 those pl.accs and has since given his entire attention 
 to his business interests in this county. His landed 
 possessions aggregate twelve hundretl acres, three 
 quarter sections located near Garfield, Mead 
 County, Kan., while the remaining seven hundred 
 and twenty are in this county, si\ hun<ired being 
 comprised within the farm in Washington Town- 
 
 ship, on which Mr. Colburn now resides. He 
 makes stock dealing his sole business, and is one of 
 the most extensive stock dealers in this part of the 
 State and the heaviest taxpayer in his township. 
 When he first came to the county the land which 
 he purchased was wild and unbroken bnl it was 
 soon placi^l under the plow and a crop of wheat 
 planted, which when harvested was taken to mar- 
 ket to Altoona. The roads at the time were nevv 
 and often in such a [loor condition that when about 
 half way he would have to unhitch his team and 
 carry the wheat the remainder of the distance on 
 horseback. Wihl hay could be cut almost any 
 place in the surrounding country and no trees were 
 to be seen. \ person couhl ride for sixteen miles 
 from Mr. Colbuin's home across the prairies, with 
 no house or fence to intercei)t his progress. Such 
 was the condition of things twenty-five years ago, 
 but to-da}' one could hardly recognize the (ilace 
 after an absence of that length of time. So rapid 
 and wonderful has been the growth and i)rogress. 
 Mr. Colburn has succeeded lieyond his expecta- 
 tions in his business operations. The farmers look 
 to him as their market for corn, he using such an 
 inimensc amount in feeding. He keeps on hand 
 about two hundred and lifty head of cattle and three 
 hunilrcd head of hogs and has had as many as eight 
 hundred head of cattle on his farm at one time. 
 The county is greatly indebted to him for intro- 
 ducing such excellent grades of stock, he raising 
 onl}' the best and these he is constantly improving. 
 His horses are fine Englishshire, he making a spe- 
 cialty of that breed. In politics, Mr. Colburn is a 
 stalwart Republican and ranks anicmg t!ie enter- 
 prising citizens of Washington Townshi|). 
 
 ^/ KSSK W. Cill'dCK, of Des Moines, is-a na- 
 tives of Iowa, his liiilh having occurred in 
 Kairlield, .Icft'crson County, February 11, 
 i^^l ISll. His father, .lames P. Cheek, was a 
 pioneer of Jefferson County, where he for m.any 
 j'ears made his home. Later he removed to Keokuk 
 County and then to Knoxville, Marion County, 
 Iowa, an(l sid)sc(iucnLly to Nebraska, where he is 
 
808 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 now located. A native of Tennessee, he removed 
 thence to Illinois and as before mentioned came to 
 Iowa in an early da^-. Mis wife died when .lessc 
 W. was but a small child. 
 
 Thus at an early age our subject was left without 
 a mother's care. His entire life has been spent in 
 this State except when engaged in the seivicc of 
 his country. In 18,')8, when .1 lad of fourteen 
 years, he went to reside with a niaternal uncle in 
 Mahaska County and two years later visited Des 
 Moines for the first lime, liut still eontinucd his 
 residence with his relatives in Mahaska County a 
 few years longer. The late war broke out in April 
 of 18G1 and in the spring of 1862, Mr. Cheek, then 
 in his eighteenth year, deterniineil to enter the 
 army in the service of his country and accordingly 
 enlisted at Des Moines. He was assigned to Com- 
 pany G, of the Fifteenth Iowa Regiment, and 
 served as a faithful defender of the I'nion until 
 the close of the war, carrying a musket and fighting 
 ill the ranks during the whole term of his service. 
 The war rct'ord of Mr. Check is the record of the 
 regiment. It has been wiillcn of the Fifteenlh, 
 " This was one of the nubtcst regiments that Iowa 
 furnished in the War of the Rebellion and to have 
 been a member of it is honor enough foi' any sol- 
 ilier. It was organized in February, l.sil^, iiiiistcied 
 into the service on March lUli, and joined (iianl's 
 army at Pittsburg Landing in A|iril, where it re- 
 ceived its bloody baptism, losing in two days one- 
 fourth of its uumbci'. Out of seventeen hundred 
 and sixty-three men who belonged to the regiment, 
 ten hundred and fifty-one were killed, died in the 
 service or were crippled for life. It sufferi'd more 
 casualties than any other regiment sent from the 
 State. It carried its battle-llag nearly eight thou- 
 sand miles and it now hangs in the State A[senal, 
 torn in shreds by leaden hail, a cherished relic of 
 heroic deeds." The following are a few of the 
 battles and expeditions in which Mr. (^heck engaged, 
 especially the more important: Sliiloh, ('(ninth, 
 luka, \'icksburg, the Atlanta cnmpaigii, Sherman's 
 March to the Sea and the grand review at Wash- 
 ington. 
 
 On the close of the war Mr. Cheek returned to 
 Des Moines and entered the emploj' of John 
 McWilliams, wholesale grocer of this city, in whose 
 
 service he continued for about seven years, his 
 time being divided between the position of head 
 salesman for the house and its representative on the 
 road as traveling salesman. Later he occupied the 
 position as book-keeper for II. F. Getchell & Sons, 
 lumber merchants, continuing his connection with 
 that firm three years. On the 16th of May, 1877, 
 he was appointed Ciiief Deputy Collector of In- 
 ternal Revenue for the Fifth District of Iowa, L. 
 P. Slieiman being Collector. On the llh of .luly, 
 1882, Mr. Sherman met with a severe .accident, 
 rendering him unfit for duty. Mr. Cheek was pl.accd 
 in charge of i\n'. district, as provided by statute, 
 and continued in the revenue service until October 
 11, 1886, when by reason of a change of adminis- 
 tration he was su|)erseded iiy an adherent to the 
 party in power. Since his retirement from oHicial 
 position he has been eng.aged in the insurance and 
 real-estate business. 
 
 On the ;ilst of .lanuary, 1878, Mr. Cheek was 
 united in marriage with Miss Alice M. Smith, a 
 lady of culture and iiiany .aceom[)lishnieuts. She 
 is a singer of superior excellence and acknowledged 
 ability, having a voice of rare sweetness. To Mr. 
 and Mis. Cheek have been born one son : Charles 
 K., was born .laimary 1, l.ST'.l, and bears the name 
 of his maternal grantlfather. The parents are both 
 members of the Presbyterian Church, having been 
 connected with the society for many years. In 
 18()8, Mr. Cheek became usher in the Central Pres- 
 byterian Church of Des Moines and still serves in 
 that capacity, his services having a continuous 
 period of twenl\-two years. As a solilier he de- 
 serves all honor and (iraise due to the gallant de- 
 fenders of the Union iluriug the late war. Though 
 his immediate ancestors were hnvn in the South, his 
 father being a native of Tennessee, yet ho never 
 for !i inomeiit lusilalcd as lo his [lath of duty and 
 almost from the beginning of the war to the chjse 
 of the great struggle he was at the front battling 
 bravcl}' for the old flag. Uis service in the cause 
 of his country has been recognized and he w.as 
 connected with the military affairs of the State for 
 many years. For two years he w.as Assistant .Ad- 
 jutant (Jeneral of the Third Brigade Iowa National 
 (iuard.s, was also Chief of Gov. Sherman's Staff 
 and served on the staff of Gen. Larrabce, during 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 809 
 
 liotli terms. In 1875 lie was !i memlu'r of llio Kx- 
 ceiilive Committee, whose duty il was to make ar- 
 laiigemeiits to receive the Army of tlie Tennessee 
 wLieli held its reunion in Des Moines in thai year 
 and a special honor was conferred u|)on him liy 
 Seerelary of War, l>elkna[), on that oeeasion. lie 
 had servecl un(h'r the Secretary who, in rccoiiniti()n 
 of his gallantry as a soldier, aiipoinled him Chief 
 Marshal of the ollicers of the Army of tiie Ten- 
 nessee on that occasion. tJen. (! rant was ['resident 
 of the society at that time and was present at the 
 reunion, as were also Sherman, Pope and many 
 other |)rominent ollicers of the Army of the Ten- 
 nessee. 
 
 Mr. Cheek is a charter member of Crocker Post, 
 No. 12, G. A. P., and is a well-known and promi- 
 nent Mason, lie is Past Commander of Tem[)le 
 Ccmmandery, No. 4, K. T., and was Pus'. (Irand 
 Captain General for the Slate of Iowa, heingelee'ted 
 to that otiice in 1882. He now holds the odice of 
 Grand Representative of the .State of Ohio of 
 Knights Templai-. A puhlic-s|iirited and pro- 
 gressive citizen and worthy gentleman he com- 
 mands the respect and conlidence of all. In polities 
 Mr. Cheek is a staneli >u|ipoiter of liepid>lican 
 principles and east his lirst vote for Abraham JJn- 
 coln in 18t;i,in the field at Marietta, Ga. lie is an 
 active wc)rker in the interests of his party. 
 
 'iTX Iv. ISAAC A. HAMMER, the present ellicient 
 [I Ji City Clerk of Des Moiiu^s, is the son of Isaac 
 'l^ ami Mary (Stanley ) llaunner. His father w.is 
 born near (Uiilford Court House, N. C, in 170.'!, 
 of (Quaker parentage, was a hatter by trade and 
 died in Huntsville, Madison County, Ind., in 18."i7. 
 During the War of the Revolution, although but a 
 lad, he was taken i)risoner by the Tories, after re- 
 ceiving a saber cut on the head which marked him 
 for life. He was released at the urgent solicitation 
 of his mother and on the grounds of belonging to 
 the Society of Friends, who were opi)osed to war. 
 Soon after his marriage, Mr. Hammer settled on 
 the Holston River, in Tennessee, before that Tcrii- 
 
 toiy was admitted to the I'nion, and there resided 
 until 1830, when on account of his abolition prin- 
 ciples he found his pro-slavery surroundings very 
 uncongenial and removed to Huntsville, Iiul., 
 where he spent the rem:iinder of his days in peace. 
 Mrs. Hammer, the mother of our suliject, was born 
 near (iuilford Court House in 18U(), and was re- 
 
 j lateil to the Sta;deys, one of the most prominent 
 families in the State. Her death occurred in Ilunts- 
 
 j vilie, lud., in IS.") I. 
 
 ! The subject of this sketch was but three years 
 
 j old when his parents removed from Tennessee to 
 llunts\ ille, Ind. He received his literary educa- 
 tion in the schools of that city and afterwaid 
 studieil medicine with Dr. William V. Paris, an old- 
 school physician. He endtarked in practice in 
 lluutsvillc, Ind., and in 18,50 removed to Iowa and 
 opened an oflice in Lisbon, Linn County, Iowa, 
 where he remained until the spring of IS.'i.'i, when 
 he returned U> the Last and took a regular course 
 of study in the Lcleclic Medical College t>f Cincin- 
 nati, Ohio, from which he was graduated in the 
 class of 185.'i. He IIkmi resumed practice in Lisljon 
 and succeeded in buihling n|) a lucrative busines. 
 On the l.')tli of .launary, 18tK, in Pendleton, 
 lud., I)i-. Hummer was united in marriage with 
 Miss Cussundru C'. W(!st, who wus born in IJucks 
 County, Pa., .luly 1, 182G, ami is a daughter of 
 Samuel and Elizabeth West. Six chUdren were 
 born of their union, four sons ami two daughters, 
 but only two are now living. Adelia, the eldest, 
 died at the age of four years; Oscar P. at two years; 
 William when si.\le<^n nnjiit lis t)ld, while Willie P. 
 was killed by the cuis at the uge of twenty-one 
 years. i'he surviving children, Fannie P. and 
 Etlvvurd, reside at home. 
 
 While living in Lisbon, lowu. Dr. Ilumiiier de- 
 voted a por' ion of his time to the study of law and 
 wus udmitted to the bur, in Linn County, in 18G0. 
 He then removed to Newton, .Jasper County, Iowa, 
 where he enguged in the pruelice of the legal pro- 
 fession as u member of the linn of Clurk, ,Sennett& 
 Hammer, which connection was continued until the 
 breaking out of the late war, when Mr. Sennett 
 entered the army. Dr. Hammer, finding the time 
 unpropitious for the law business at Newton, 
 aliandoned it, though with the intention of rcsum- 
 
810 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 ing it after a time. At the expiration of a year, 
 liovvever, lie again engaged in the practice of med- 
 icine atid lias never again returned to tiic law. He 
 continued his residence in Jasper County until 
 1871, when he came to Des Moine.s, where he con- 
 tinued the practice of medicine until 1882. About 
 that date his health ))ecanie so impaired that he was 
 (ihligcd to abandon professional work, since which 
 time he has been connected with the city govern- 
 inent of Des iMoines in various capacities; first as 
 CounciluiMii, next as superintendent of the sidewalk 
 (U'partnienl, later as assistant City Clerk, and since 
 the spring of 1SH8 has held the ottice of City Clerk 
 being now upon his second terra. In politics, Dr. 
 Ilaniincr was a Whig in early life, but since the 
 organization of the lie|)nblicaii party has bteii one 
 of its stalwart supporters, lie is the youngest of 
 a family of sixteen children, only one of whom, 
 himself excepted, is now living, lu his youth he 
 li;id the benefit of religious instruction in the faith 
 of the fSociety of Friends, but on reaching mature 
 years joined the Methodist Episcopal Church, of 
 which he is now a member, lie was made a Miison 
 soon after attaining his inajoiity and is now a mem- 
 ber of Home Lodge. No. .'iTO, A. F. & A. M. He 
 also belongs to Capital Lodge No. IJ^, A.O.l'. \V., 
 and of Keokuk Tribe, No. 14 of the Order of Hcd 
 Men. Faniest and indefatigable in the dischargi! 
 of every duty. Dr. Hammer has proved an ellicient 
 anil popular city officer. I'ossessiiig a varied and 
 extensive fund of information, a genial and viva- 
 (tious manner and more than ordinary conversa- 
 tional j)Owcrs, the Doctor wins friends on short 
 acipiaintance, who later learn to esteem him also 
 for his many substantial traits of character that 
 challenge respect and invite their sincere regard. 
 
 (/_.. ON. JOHN A. KASSON, a distinguished 
 statesman and diplomat of Iowa, who has 
 resided in the city of Des Moines since 18o7, 
 (^) was born in the town of Charlotte, Chitten- 
 den County, \'t., on the 11th of January, 1822. 
 His father, John Steele Kasson, was a native of 
 Connecticut, and of Scotch-Irish descent. The 
 
 family was established in America in 1721, when 
 Adam Kasson, accom|)anied by his seven children, 
 all sons, left his native land, crossed the Atlantic, 
 and landed in Boston. Mass. He settled on a tract 
 of land, which proved, on the establishment of the 
 line between Rhode Island and ( V)nneeticiit, to lie 
 partly in each of those Colonies, .lohn Steele Kas- 
 son. the father of our subject, was a lineal dcsicn- 
 dent of James, a son of the first emigrant. He 
 followed agricultural pursuits throughout his entire 
 life, .'uid (lied in 1H2H, when John A. was a lad of 
 si.x years. His wife survived him many years, dy- 
 ing at the home of her daughter, in Troj', N. Y., 
 in 1850. 
 
 Depiived of a father's eiire and support in early 
 ehildliood, oursubject was largely depcndentoii his 
 own exertions for liis advancement and progress in 
 life. He re(eive<l his piimary education at the pub- 
 lic schools, and fitted hiniself for college in a coun- 
 try academy. In I S.'JS, he entered the .State I'ni- 
 versity of \ erinont, situated in Biulinglon, and 
 after a four gears' course, was graduated in the 
 class of 1,S!2. Having decided to become a law- 
 yer, he entered u[)on a course of study undei the 
 direction of his eldei- brother, Charles D., then a 
 |)roininent attorney of \'ermont, but before com- 
 pleting his legal studies, his pecuniary circumstances 
 demandeii an effort in the direction of the replen- 
 ishing of the exchequer. To that end, he went to 
 Nirginia, and for a year was emi>loyeil as a family 
 tutor. On his return to New England, he resumed 
 the study of law with the Hon. Fernery Washburne, 
 afterward Governor of Massachusetts, and was ad- 
 mitted to practice in the courts of that State in 
 1811. One year was sjient in the ottice of Timothy 
 Collin, a distinguished admiralty lawyer of New 
 Bradford, after which he formed a law partnershi[) 
 with Hon. Thomas I). IClliott, of the same city, who 
 was afterward a member of Congress. That con- 
 nection continued four ^-ears, when his ambition to 
 seek a broader field of operation led him to the 
 Mississippi X'alley, and in .St. Louis, Mo., he formed 
 a connection with Hon. Joseph H. Crockett, of Ken- 
 tucky, afterwartl Judge of the Supreme Court of 
 California. The firm continued its connection for 
 a year, when it was interrupted by the withdrawal 
 of Judge Crockett, to accept the position of editor 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 811 
 
 of llie St. Louis Democrat. Mr. Kasson tiiLMi took 
 into partnership with him Hon. B. (iratz Brown, 
 afterward United Slates Senator from Missouri, and 
 candidate for the Mce-Prcsidcncy on tlic ticket 
 with Horace Greeley. Success attended the efforts 
 of this lirm, hut after a few ^-ears Mr. Kasson was 
 obliged to leave the large and lucrative practice 
 which he had secured, on account of failing health, 
 and seek relief in a change of climate. Iowa was 
 his chosen destination, and in 18.')7, he located in 
 Dcs Moines, where he has made his home continu- 
 ously' since. He soon hullt up an extensive prac- 
 tice in this city, while his talents and earnest Re- 
 publicanism won him political prominence. In 
 l«r)8, at the time of the removal of the Iowa State 
 capital fron) lona City to Des Moines, Mr. Kasson 
 was apiiointed liy Gov. Lowe to the chairmanship 
 of the commission, whose duly it was to investigate 
 the condition of the State offices. He was also a 
 Slate Director of the State Bank, which was organ- 
 ized about that time. 
 
 The Repiililicans of luwa recognizuig the ai)ility 
 of Mr. Kasson elected him (hairnian of their Slate 
 Committee and |)rior to tlie Presidential election of 
 1800, he was sent as ilelegate to the Republican 
 National Convention of Chicago that nominated 
 Abraham Lincoln for the highest otiice in our 
 Government. While a mend)er of that historic 
 body, he served on the general an'd suli-commillees 
 a|i|)ointed to frame the party platform and enjoyed 
 the distinguished honor of being cre(lile<l with the 
 authorship of th.at document by Horace (ireeley, 
 who was also a member of the committee. He 
 spent till' entire night in the arduous duty, adding 
 the closing lines just as the sun rose the follow- 
 ing morning. On the recommendstion of Senator 
 (irinies of low.a, I\Ii-. Knsson was appointed by Mr. 
 Lincoln to Ihe [lositlon of l-'Irst Assistant Post- 
 master (ieneral of the United Slates, in March, 1801, 
 which appointment was llii^ seccnid sent by the 
 President to the Senate. During his service in thai, 
 caijacity, he ievise<l all the postal laws of the I'niled 
 States and 'obtained a reduction of various rates of 
 postage to a uniform rale, and also prepared the 
 plan for the International Postal Conference for 
 simplifying postal relations and reducing the rale 
 of postage lietween the United Stales and all for- 
 
 eign countries. In the convention which convened 
 in Paris in 1803, where fourteen National (Jovern- 
 nients were rei)resented, he was chosen as the repre- 
 sentative of our country. During that conference 
 principles were laid down for future treaties, which 
 established uniformity of rales of postage, abolished 
 postal accounts, and reduced the cost of corres- 
 pondence. Meanwhile, in 1802, Mr. Kasson was 
 elected to Congress from the southwest district of 
 Iowa, which then comprised twenty-three counties, 
 was re-elected and served two con.secntive terms. 
 During the period of this service, he was elected 
 an inrtuential member of various important com 
 mittees, including the Ways and Means Committee, 
 the Committee on Appropriations, and the Commit- 
 tee on Coinage, Weights and Measures, which had 
 but just l>een organized. Of the last named com- 
 mittee he served as Chairman. When it is remem- 
 bered that this was a critical period In the history 
 of the Nation, when the (Jovernment was in the 
 midst of a nughty struggle for self-preservation, 
 Incurring enormous expense and demanding an en- 
 ergetic and wise administration of affairs, it will be 
 seen that the duties of these comtuiltees were most 
 important. Mr. Kasson's patriotic and earnest 
 efforts in the dischaige of his duty were not sur- 
 passed by any of his colleagues. At the close of 
 his Congressional Uaiu, in March. IhOT, he was .so- 
 licited by the Postmaster General to visit Europe 
 in the interest of the United States International 
 Postal service. He accepted the mission, and once 
 more went abroad, where he succeeded in making 
 arrangements on the principles settled in Paris in 
 180.'?, with the (iovernments of ll.aly, Austria, 
 (iermany, Holland, Belgium, Switzerland and luig- 
 land, for uniform and low rates of postage, and 
 abolishing international postal accounts which had 
 previously residte<l in large balances dui; from the 
 United Slates. During his absence he was elected 
 a member of the (Jeneral Assembly of b)wa with 
 special reference to the permanent establishment 
 and building of the capilol at Des Moines. He was 
 twice re-elected and served three successive terms, 
 in all six years. During these years he made ex- 
 tended tours through the oKl world, visiting many 
 countries in Europe, also historic Egypt, and many 
 points of interest in Asia, whence he was recalled 
 
812 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Ijv liis election to tlie Legislature. In 1S72, lio was 
 again elected to Congress from liis disliict, wliicli 
 then comprised ten counties, reelected in 1.S74. 
 serving two additional torms, during whicii he was 
 again a nicmher of the Committee on Ways and 
 Means. In 1877, he declined a renoniinalion. 
 
 On the accession of R. B. Hayes to the Presi- 
 dency, Air. Ka.sson was offered at his oi)lioii cither 
 the Spanish or Austrian mission. Accepting the 
 latter, he went as minister plenipotentiary to the 
 court of \ienna, where he remained four years. 
 During the last year of his ahsence he was nomina- 
 ted liy his p;irty as Representative to the Forty- 
 eighth Congress from the Fifth District of Iowa, 
 whicii now included seven counties. The district 
 had |)revi()usl3' rctunuMl an opposition member, 
 and his constituents demandeil ids return to recover 
 the district, lie was elected in 18S(), re-elected in 
 1882, and serveil two terms. Just prior to leaving 
 that otlice, I'residcMit Arthur nominated him as en- 
 voy and minister to Berlin, where trouble existed 
 in the diplomatic relations between the United 
 Slates and that (iovernmcnt. liesigning his seat in 
 Congress, he entere(l upon the duties of the otlice 
 and succeeded in restoring ainieal)le relations be- 
 tween the two ( Jovernments. lie also represented 
 the United Slates in the Congo Conference, which 
 convened in lierlin, where thirteen (iovernnients 
 were re|)resenied, and where im|)ortant work was 
 done for our futui'e relations with Africa. The 
 nomination of Mr. Kasson as minister to (!er- 
 many was made without his knowledge, and was 
 entirely unlooked for by him. In March, 188,'), 
 after the accession of Mr. Cleveland to the Presi- 
 dency, he resigned his position as minister to Ber- 
 lin, and gave his attention to the pursual of his 
 diplomatic and historical studies, publishing occa- 
 sional articles in the numthly reviews on topics of 
 public Inteiest. On the occasion of the Constitu- 
 tional Centennial celebration by the States of the 
 Union at Philadeli)hia in 1887, he was made Presi- 
 dent of the Interstate Commission, .'Uid designed 
 and carried into execution the Miiee days' cere- 
 mony of that historic occasion. 
 
 In 1889, soon after tlie accession of Picsidcut 
 Harrison, it became necessary to take up the (pies- 
 tion of the Samoan dilliculties between the Ameri- 
 
 can, (lerman. and F^nglish (Jovernments, which the 
 administr.'ition of Mr. Cleveland had failed to set- 
 tle; and President Harrison appointed Mr. Kasson 
 chief of the United States Commission to attend the 
 International Conference in Berlin, whicii met to 
 discuss that subject. The negotiations were suc- 
 cessfully conducted, and a convention agreed upon 
 and signed in .hine, 1889. On the conclusion of 
 that important duty, he returned to his home in 
 Des Moines. 
 
 Mr. Kasson is a Knight Templar Mason, a mem- 
 ber of Pioneer Lodge, No. 22, A. F. & A. M., and 
 of Des Moines Commandcry, Ni>. -J, K. T. He also 
 belongs to the Protestant Episcopal Chun-h. The 
 people of Iowa, regardless of party afliliations. look 
 willi pride u|ioii the public record of their distin- 
 guished fellow-citizen, .lohn A. Kasson, a uentle- 
 man i)f)sscssing talents of a high (uder, which have 
 been develo|)ed and perfected by thorough culture, 
 extensive travel and long continued intercourse 
 with eminent i)ublic men of his own and foreigh 
 countries. He has ma<le many speeches Imth in 
 Congress and fiom the platform in man}' States of 
 the Union; he has been employed by State and Na- 
 tional (Joveriuuenls in important legislative and 
 diplomatic service for many years, and has alw-a^s 
 discharged every trust re|)osed in him with ability, 
 Ijroinptness ami lidelity. and to the satisfaction of 
 the Covernnient ami his constituents. As a states- 
 man and dipknnat, he is the acknowledged [leer of 
 the brightest and ablest of his fellow-citizens of 
 America. 
 
 -:^Ez_ 
 
 E^^ 
 
 m. 
 
 OSEPH W. LASI<:LL is the owner of a fine 
 farm of two hundred and (ifly-six acres sit- 
 uated on section 17, Washington Township. 
 It has only been his home for about three 
 years yet he has the entire amount under a high 
 state of cultivation. 'I'he latest inipr<i\ed machin- 
 ery is there found together with barns and out- 
 I)uildings, such as are necessary to a well-regulated 
 farm, while the stock which he raises is of the best 
 grades. His home is a commodious two-story frame 
 residoice, tastefully furnished. 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 813 
 
 Mr. Lasell, wlio is regarileil as one of the repre- 
 sentative citizoiis of llic townsliip.was l)oni in Clay 
 County, Intl., Septcml)er 6, 1^12, and traces iiis 
 ancoslry l)acl< to France. His gramlfatlier, .losepli 
 Lasell, for whom lie was nanu'<l. was a native of 
 that conntry and oaine to America durini^' the last 
 l>art of the eighteenth or the lirst part of the nine- 
 leentli centnry. He took part in the War of 1812 
 and afterward removed to Indiana, where he lived 
 until his death, which occurred in Clay County at 
 the advanced age of one hundred and two years. 
 Willinm Lasell, his son, and thi' father of our sub- 
 ject, w.as born in Indiana and is still living in 
 (.ireene County at the ripe old age of eight\'-two 
 years. He married IVIargaret Trent, a native of 
 the same State, but her parents were born in North 
 Carolina. Of their union were born nine children 
 eight of whom are yet living: Elizabeth, wife of 
 .1. II. Cahal, who served in the Twenty-third Iowa 
 Infantry, and is now living near Des Moines; Lucy, 
 wife of William Marshall, of Oregon; Priscilla, 
 wife of Hardin Smith, who resides near Marysville, 
 Cal.; Clara, wife of Jacob lUirgess, a farmer of 
 (iuthrie County, Iowa; Etta, wife of Wash Gas- 
 canaugh, of Clay County, Ind. ; .lohn F., a farmer of 
 Poweshiek County, Iowa; Charles.who is also living 
 in that county; James of Des Moines, and Ilaehel, 
 deceased wife of Jesse Cochrane, of Polk County. 
 The mother of the family died in Guthrie County, 
 Iowa, in 1878. As is her husband, she was a ile- 
 voted member of the Baptist Church. 
 
 Our subject has spent nearly his entire life in Iowa, 
 having in 1847, when a lad of five years, .iccom- 
 panied his parents to Saylorville, where his father 
 engaged in blacksraithing for twenty -five years, but 
 in 1 >^85 returned to Clay C<junty, Ind., where he 
 is living, .as above stated. In the subsci-iption 
 schools Joseph acquired his education, and during 
 his younger da^s worked in his father's shop, but 
 when the Rebellion broke out he at once responded 
 to the country's call for aiil, enlisting in Company 
 1), Second Iowa Infantry for three 3ears' service. 
 He first went to St. Louis, where he was taken sick 
 with the measles, which then iirevailed loan alarm- 
 ing extent, and fortliree months lay in the hospital. 
 The doctor, thinking him unfit for duty recom- 
 mended his discharge and he was sent home but in 
 
 18(52 he again enlisted and was assigned to Com- 
 pany C, Twenty-third I(»wa Iiifautry. After being 
 mustered in at Davenport, with his command he 
 was ordered to Pilot Knob, where a slight engage- 
 ment occurred, and then on to Springfiekl. For a 
 year they were engaged in skirmishing with the 
 bushwhackers vvhen thcj- joined the lied River ex- 
 pedition under Gen. (!rant but later were sent 
 back to reenforce Gen. Banks at Vicksburg. The 
 Twenty-third Kegiment participated in the entire 
 siege against that city and were afterward engaged 
 in the following battles: Port Gibson, May 13, 
 1863; Champion Mills, May !(!; Black River Bridge. 
 May '7, and the seige of X'icksburg from Ma3' 18, 
 until July 4, 1863, when the city surrendered to 
 (Jen. (irant. This was followed by the attack and 
 capture of Ft. Esperauza from Novendier 27 to No- 
 venibei- 30, and the troops also engagecl in a three 
 days' seige against Spanish Fort, ending in its sur- 
 render March 30, 1865. Mr. Lasell took part in all 
 the long marches and engagements with his regiment 
 from August 6, 1862, until July 26, 1865, when he 
 received his discharge. Only once was he off duty, 
 and on that occasion there were only seventy men 
 out of the entire regiment who were able to en- 
 gage in the march. Company C furnishing three of 
 that number. Imraediatel3' after his discharge he 
 returned to his home in Saylorville to meet the 
 mother who had anxiously watched and prayed for 
 the safe return of licr boy. It was not always upon 
 the fielil that the greatest heroism was witnessed, 
 and when we laud the soldiers who went forth to 
 battle and die if need be for the honor of the conn ■ 
 try, we shoidd remember with thoughts of love and 
 words of |)raise the self-sacrifices of tlie mother, 
 wives and daughters who, with hearts almost bieak- 
 ing with anxiety, were forced to remain quietly' at 
 home and bear the harder part of waiting in silence. 
 Mr. Lasell i-esolved, after his return, to give his 
 attention to farming, and to that end rented land in 
 Saj'lor Township. The following spring he was 
 united in marriage with Catherine Knough, but after 
 a few short months the young wife w.as called to 
 her final rest. On the 1 Ith of February, 1868, he 
 wedded Miss Lavina A. Beason, a native of Indi- 
 ana, and a daughlfi' of \\ illiam Beasou, one of the 
 honored pioneers of this county. Their union has 
 
814 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 been blesse<l with seven cliiklren: William, born 
 Maivli 1, 18G;): . lames, Mar.-li 2. 1871; Hiram. No- 
 vember 17,187;^; Mary .)., IM.ireli 23, 187G; .Vlberl 
 .!.■ Horn November 12, 1877. ilied December 28, 
 1880;Osear. born March 15, 1878; Clara Mny,.Inne 
 8, 1882, aiTtl Dai.sy, December i:5, 1889. 
 
 In 1869 Mr. Lasell made purcliase of forty acres 
 of lanil in Sajior Townsliip ami sul>se(|uently a<l(le<l 
 to tliat amount a one hiindreil-acre tract for wliicii 
 he paiil ^10 jx'r acre. He there continued to reside 
 until 1887, when he .sold iiis farm in Sayior Town- 
 sliip and [lurcliased liis present lionie, as mentioned 
 in the beginning of this .si<eteh. He is one of the 
 Icadinij; citizens of the ((immunity and has been 
 identilied with the history of the (county for forty- 
 three years. Tiie journcjy to Saylorviile in 1847 
 wa.s made in a wag'on drawn by oxen, and lie was 
 familiar with all the varied e.\i)crineces of pioneer 
 life and shared in many of its hardships. He has 
 witnessed it,s wonderftd growth and progress and 
 participated in its development, and has identilied 
 himself with its best interests. In politics he is-a 
 stalwart Reimblican and a strong ad\'ocate of pro- 
 hibition principles and, socially, is a inemlier of the 
 Masonic Order and the Grand Army I'ost. He 
 has held v.arious township olliccs including that of 
 School Director and Justice of the Peace and is a 
 worthy and valued citizen. 
 
 ^^^VHi^:5^^^^--^ 
 
 ^•>-> % - 
 
 DWIN MITCIIKLL, deceascid. Probably 
 mi] no death which ever occurred in Mitchcll- 
 ^ ville was more regretted tlian that of our 
 subject. It occasioned a loss to the village and 
 county as he was one of its best citizens, his 
 neighbors uiourned a kind and accommodating 
 friend and his family suffered an allliction which 
 time maj' alleviate but can never heal. His acquaint- 
 ances at once became his friends, and as time 
 passed they learned to resi)ecthiin more and more 
 .as they gained a deeiier insight into his character. 
 Edwin Mitchell first saw the light in Clare- 
 mont, N. H., on the 27tli of .laniiary, 18;!(;, and 
 spent his early life upon his father's farm, re- 
 ceiving such edu(;ational advantages as the dis- 
 
 trict schools of the neighborhood then afforded. 
 He remained in the count}- of his nativity until 
 1850, when, following (Jreeley's advice, he came 
 West to try his fortune upon the broad |)rairics of 
 Iowa. Locating in Jasper County, he at once 
 turned his attention to farming, which he followed 
 until 1858. when he came to Des Moines. Soon 
 afterward he was api)ointed Deputy Sheriff of Polk 
 County, his siqierior ollicer being Mr. Spaulding, 
 and continued to lill that jjosition until April, 
 I8(J|, when, thrilled with patriotic impulses, he 
 enlisted in his country's service and was :issigned 
 to Coiiipaii}' D, Second Iowa Infantry. The re- 
 verberation of Ft. Sumter's guns had hardly died 
 aw.ay ere he donned the blue, but he wa.s only per- 
 niilled to serve a short time when failing health 
 caused his discharge. .-Vfter partially regaining his 
 wonted strength, he accepted an appointment in 
 the State land odice with A. 15. Miller, then Regis- 
 ter of Deeds, and remained with him until 1802, 
 when Mr. Miller resigned and Mr. Mitchell was ap- 
 pointed to fill the unexpired term. He honorably 
 and faithfully performed the duties of the office until 
 the spring (»f 18U;i, when, on account of close appli- 
 cation, his health again broke down and he started 
 on a recui)erating tour through the mountains of 
 the West. After traveling until the autumn o( 
 18GC, he again came to Des Moines, where he spent 
 the winter, when in the following spring he went 
 to llaniiibal. Mo., and established an office as gen- 
 eral agent of the National Insurance Company, of 
 Hannibal. He was instrumental in organizing that 
 company and was one of its principal managers, 
 remaining in charge of the home ollice until 1868, 
 when became to Mitchellville. Here, in company- 
 with M. S. Kimball, he opened a lumber yard, and 
 Ml connection with its operation handled all kinds 
 of grain. By the fair dealing of that firm they 
 soon won the confidence of the people and did an 
 extensive business, grain being brought to their 
 elevators for miles around. 
 
 In this villngc jMr. Mitchell met the lady whom 
 he desired to make his wife, and on the 2d of 
 March, 1871, l(>d to the marriage altar Miss Tillic 
 Snyder, a daughter t)f John and Anna (Crow) 
 Snyder, the former a native of Pennsylvania, and 
 the hitter of Hartford, Conn, .\fter their marriage, 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 815 
 
 llicv eniigriitcil to f l!iitfi>r<l, Ohio, whcio Mis. Mit- 
 clu'll was horn and icareil. 'I'hc iiiolhur dii'd in 
 Ihal city, after whicli iicr hushaiul rt'moved to \'i- 
 i-niiM, Oliio, wheri' liis life i'lose<l. 
 
 Mr. Mili'liell eonliniu'd in the hirnhor and i^rain 
 husincss for many year.s, and hy tiie exercise of 
 good husiyess ability I'e.'qied an exeeUenl income 
 as tlie resnit of his hibors in tliat direction. He 
 and his wife were the parents of two children — 
 Thomas C, who was born in Mitchellville, Septem- 
 ber 10, 1.S7;3; and Edwin S. Mr. Mitchell was 
 nnmbered auiont; the heading citizens of the county 
 an<1 for many years was a member of the village 
 bcjard of Mitchellville, In all (inblic eiilfrinises cal- 
 cnlatc(] to advance the general welfare he took the 
 deepest interest, and was ready at any and all times 
 to aid in the advancement of the church and school. 
 In manner he was geni.al and pleasant, and made 
 frtends wherever he went; he had a kind word for 
 all, and was conlinnally giving encouragement :ind 
 assistance to tluxse who were not so fortunate as he. 
 Ills life is certainly worthy of emulation and ever 
 won for him the highest regard of everyone with 
 whom he came in contact. His wife and children 
 are still living in Mitchellville, where they have a 
 pleasant home. 
 
 f^^RANK E. I'Ll'MMER, Principal of the East 
 [— Ujj) Des Moines High School, ranks among the 
 1^ "" leading educators of the city, which con- 
 tains not a few of the most able instrnctois in 
 Iowa. He was born in Peoria. 111.. Eebruary iS, 
 I8.")«, and is a son of Talbnan ami Elizabeth 
 (Bramble) Plunimcr. 1 he family is probably of 
 English origin. His paternal grandfather, John 
 I'Inminer was born in Canada, but when a young 
 man came to the United States, locating in Ohio, 
 where he was married. Subsequently he emigrated 
 to Illinois and was one of the '4Uers that came so 
 near starvation on their road to California in search 
 of wealth. Returning to Illinois he engaged in 
 contracting and building for himself until the 
 breaking out of the late war, when li(> and his son 
 Tallman hel|)ed build the gunboats for the lower 
 
 Mississippi. The maternal grai.dl'athei' of oui' sub- 
 ject also emigrated to ( >hio at an eaily day and 
 afterward removed to Illinois. One of his daugh- 
 ters is the mother of Congressman .bimes F. Wdson, 
 and two of his sons served with honor in the (nion 
 Army. Elizabeth was the youngest of the famil}'. 
 Mr. I'lummer's parents were born in the liuckeye 
 Stale, but were married in Illinois, whithei' they 
 had gone with their respective families. His father 
 was an extensive contractor and builder, and in 
 political sentiment was a Republican. His mother 
 was a member of the Methodist Pqiiscopal Church 
 and lived a consistent Christian life. They left 
 four children to mourn their loss: Ida M., wife f)f 
 George Xowl.'in,a banker of Toulon, III.; Frank E. 
 of this sk(!i,cli; (ieorge C, a commercial traveler, 
 anti Tillie, wife of W. I?. Ilajwood, a farnier of 
 Illinois. 
 
 In his \outh our subject received liberal educa- 
 tional advantages, completing his course of study 
 in the Brimfield schools in 187(). The succeeding 
 three years of his life he spent as a teacher in the 
 district schools, after which he accepted a call to 
 the Brimlield schools, when he I'emained two years. 
 He then spent one ^'ear in teaching in Pleasantville, 
 a suburb of Peoria, III., and in 1882 came to Iowa. 
 After spending three years as Superintendent of 
 the schools of Nevada, he was chosen Principal of 
 the East Des Mf)ines High School in 1885, in which 
 capacitN' he has served very acceptably since. More 
 pui)ils are said to have graduated from the public 
 schools under his instruction than any other man 
 in the Northwest. In eight years he has graduatotl 
 two hundred anil forty -one students, of whom 
 fifty-eight are now teachers in the East Des Moines 
 schools. Mr. I'lummer possesses, in a marked de- 
 gree, the chanicteristics essential to a successful 
 teachei. Genial in disposition and full of life and 
 energy he wins the esteem of his pujiils and inspires 
 them to the highest eff(^rt. 
 
 On the 12tli of July, 1883, Prof. Phimmer led 
 the marriage altar Miss Flora L. Fait, a native of 
 Pennville, Ind. She is a lady of high accomiilish- 
 ments, having been educated in the schools of Lig- 
 onier anil Ft. Wayne. Ind.. at Brimfield. III., and 
 Abingdon College. \\ liile residing in Nevada she 
 served .as assistant Principal of the IIii;h School, 
 
816 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 and since their removal to ihh city was for a year 
 a teacher of literature in the East Des Moines 
 schools and also in the Capital City Commercial 
 College. The Professor is general manager of the 
 National League of State Teachers' Bureau, and 
 socially, is a memher of the Ivnigiits of Pythias. 
 In |>olitical sentiment lie is a Rcpuljlican, but has 
 never sought or desired i)\il(lic oflice, preferring to 
 devote his entire time and attention to his business 
 interests. He has now been identified with school 
 work for fourteen years and his career lias been a 
 successful one. Long experience has induced iiim 
 to prepare a work on "Words, tiieir Spelling, Pro- 
 nunciation and Choice," a book whicli is of value 
 alike to teachers and pupils. 
 
 (jp^ILAS R. TYLKH, who is living a retired 
 ^^^ life on section 11, Beaver Township, h.is 
 ((t£_Jjj long been identified with the agricultur;d 
 interests of Polk County, being numbered 
 among the early settlers. Little is known of the 
 early histoiy of the Tyler family, but it is probable 
 that the original Amcricnu ancestors came from 
 Scotland to this ci^untry in an early day. The father 
 of our subject. K[)hiaiiii Tyler, was born in Con- 
 ncfticiit, and at the .age of sixteen years began 
 learning the milliiig business, which he continued 
 until retiring from business life at the age of fortv. 
 During the entire period he was cinploycd in what 
 is known as the old Tyler Mills, of Claremoii', 
 N. H., of which he became proprietor, ami on laj'- 
 ing aside business cares s(j|il for ><2o,oon. lie was 
 twice married, his first union being with Sallic 
 Gooking, by whom he had four children, two of 
 whom are j'ct living — Charles, a resideni of Cor- 
 nish, N. H.; and Mary, widow of Ai Weed, of 
 Plainfield, N. H. The mother died in 18-20, after 
 which Mr. Tyler wedded Ucl)ccca lieed, who was 
 born in AVestfor<l, Mnss., and was of Knglisli de- 
 si/cnt. They ln'canie the i>arents of six children, 
 but four of that family liave ;ilso passed awny. 
 there remaining only our subject and one daugh- 
 ter, limily, who resides in Plaiiilifld. N. H. The 
 death of Mr. Tyler occurred mi the 12tli of De- 
 
 cember, 1 851 , at the age of fifty-nine years, and his 
 wife died in 1875. at the age of seventy-nine years. 
 The3' were members of the Universalist Church, 
 and took an active part in its advancement. Mr. 
 Tyler aided largely in building the L'niversalist 
 Church in Claremont. He w.as numbered among 
 the prominent business men and influential citizens 
 of that place, and his death proved a great loss to 
 the community. 
 
 Our subject first opened his eyes to the light of 
 day on the 10th of November, 1822, in Claremont, 
 where his early life was spent. After acquiring a 
 common-school education he served an apprentice- 
 ship to the ])aperraaker's trade, which he followed 
 for thirteen years in various cities in Massachu- 
 setts, Vermont and New York. In 1848 he aided 
 in establishing a mill in Canada, and the following 
 year went to Columbus, Ga , where he also started 
 a mill, remaining in charge of the same until M.ay, 
 1851. Returning to his native city in that year, in 
 company with his brother he leased of the heirs the 
 old saw and fiouring mill, which they operated for 
 three years. 
 
 Previous to this time, while in Columbus, Ga., 
 Mr. Tyler was united in marriage with Miss Ade- 
 line L. Crisse3', the wedding being celebrated on 
 the Ifith of May, 1850. Six children grace their 
 union: (ieorgia A., who is now the wife of George 
 W. Rooker, of Beaver Township; Frank C. at 
 home; Kate R., wife of Daniel EUedge. of Beaver 
 Township; Annie, wife of Charles Ferguson, of 
 Shelby County, Iowa; Sarah E.. wife of William 
 W. R.ay,of Mitchell ville; and Nellie L., who resides 
 in Des .Moines. 
 
 It was in 1854 that Mr. Tyler first came to the 
 AVest. Having sold the mill in Xew Hampshire he 
 made his way to Detroit, Mi,_'li., where he worked 
 for a time in tlie pineries, while bis brother contin- 
 ued on to Polk County and purchased a farm. In 
 company with others our subject purchased thir- 
 teen hundred acres of pine land, and continued 
 business in that line until .Inly, 1855, when he re- 
 turned to his native State. The following year he 
 came to I'olk County and aided his brother iu put- 
 ting in a crop, after which he engaged in teaming 
 for a time. l>ater he rented his brother's farm, and 
 in eonneetion with it# cultivation worked at an}' 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPmCAL ALBUM. 
 
 817 
 
 other employment wliiuli lie could liml to do, 
 whereby lie raiffht earn an honest dollar and thus 
 add to the store necessary for the support of his 
 family. Times were hard and money scarce, and 
 during- the earlier years of iiis residence in Ihis 
 county he had to labor very hard that his wife and 
 children should not want. After about five years 
 he removed to Beaver Township, where he pur- 
 ctiased eighty acres of wild land, and after [ilant- 
 ing two crops went to Des Moines to help start a 
 new paper mill. Returning to his farm after a j'ear 
 he began the work of improvement, and com- 
 menced the erection of a house, but before he had 
 the floor laid or the chimney built he found that his 
 means were exhausted and he would have to sus- 
 |)end his labors for a time. However, it proved 
 otherwise. Bridges were being built for the new 
 railroad, and Mr. Tj-ler was requested board for 
 fourteen men engaged in that work. Not being 
 prepared he refused, but they insisted until at last 
 he gave the reluctant consent, and for six weeks 
 boarded and lodged the entire number in his un- 
 completed house, the result of his labor being that 
 in the end he had $7.5 in money, together with a 
 lot of provisions which would keep his family for 
 some time to come. He then completed his home, 
 and with characteristic energy turned his attention 
 to the farm, clearing and developing the land, and 
 adding many excellent improvements. In the 
 meantime he also spent one year in Iowa Citj', 
 where he started in operation :i paper mill, and by 
 the urgent request of citizens of Peoria established 
 a paper mill in tkat place. Otheis had tried and 
 failed, but he was successful, and after the enter- 
 prise was in good running order returned to his 
 farm. 
 
 Mr. Tyler certainly deserves not a little credit 
 for his success in life. He not only starleil out, in 
 the world with no capital, but in addition to the 
 fact that he had to contend against poverty, he had 
 also to brave the trials and hardships of pioneer 
 life, yet he worked on, always looking hopefully 
 forward until at last as the result of his untiring 
 efforts he has a handsome competence, which now 
 enables him to live a retired life. His farm com- 
 prises eighty acres of valuable land, un<ler a high 
 state of cultivation, and there may be found a good 
 
 grade of stock and the latest ini; roved machinery. 
 Within the last ten years, however, he has rented 
 his land, retaining onl}^ the old home, in which he 
 and his wife will doubtless spend their remaining 
 days. Thirty- four years have passed since he came 
 to I'olk Coimty. He has been a witness of its 
 many great changes, and has ever manifested a 
 deep interest in its progress and advaneeraeut. 
 Upright and honorable in all things he has won the 
 respect and good will of bis fellow-citizens, and is 
 an honored member of the Masonic fraternity. He 
 was initiated into the mysteries of that order in 
 1853, and since 1854 has been a Ro3'al Arch Ma- 
 son. In 1844 he proudly cast his first Presidential 
 vote in support of the Whig ticket, and remained 
 an advocate of that part}' until its dissolution, when 
 he joined the new Kepublican party. 
 
 ^^EOIJGE L. JAHRPnT, of the Des Moines 
 III ^p Manufacturing & Supply Company, was 
 ^^Jl born in Morgantown, N. C, August 29, 
 1852. He is a son of (Jcorge W. and Elizabeth R. 
 (Zimmerman) Ilarrett. natives of the same State. 
 His father came to the Capital City in 1H55, and 
 in 1858 his wife and children joined him, this city 
 becoming their permanent home. Mr. .larrelt, .Sr., 
 was a carpenter and builder by occupation, in 
 which pursuit he was (piite successful. Nine chil- 
 dren were b(n-n to hiui and his wife, seven of whom 
 grew to mature years, and at the present writing 
 five are living — William received injuries in an 
 accident, which caused his death; David was sup- 
 posed to have been poisoned to ileath and after- 
 ward robbed at Denver, Colo.; Clara is the wife 
 of John Page; Annie is the wife of Sylvnuus 
 Kddiburn; Addie is the wife of (J. \'. Wright; and 
 Alice is wedded to .lacob Snyder. The surviving 
 cliildren reside in Des Moines. Mr. .Tarrett is de- 
 ceased, and Mrs. .larrett de|)arted Ihis life August 
 14, 1885. 
 
 Our sidiject was six years of .age when he came 
 to Des Moines. In the old Ninth Street School he 
 obtained the rudiments of an education, ivliich was 
 afterward developed by private stud\, usually at 
 
818 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 night or at odd times wIkmi ikiI oHieiwise oiiipkn ed. 
 Being endowed willi liigh meclianical genius lie 
 earl^' in life heamc an alile assistant to Iiis father, 
 as from Ids 3'outh he was an adept in the skillful 
 use of tools. 
 
 At the age of twelve years he began the l)attle 
 of life for himself, and when fourteen years old 
 we find him an employe of the old C'ai)ilal Flour- 
 ing-mill, tlien operated liy the late B. C. White. 
 At that .age he did all the repairing, and the gen- 
 ius of his mechanism supplied the most intricate 
 parts of machinery when needed." 
 
 When only eighteen _vears old he became a mill- 
 wright, and operated extensively in Iowa and Ne- 
 braska, establishing such a rejintation as can only 
 be attained by one who is a thorough master of his 
 business. 
 
 On the i;5th of .Tune, 1877, Mr. .Tarrett was 
 united in marriage with Elizabeth, daughter of 
 Abner and ^'ashti (Ircton) Wright, natives of 
 New .lersey. Two I'hildren liave been born of 
 their union, viz.: .John O. and Will. 
 
 In the spring of 1877 Mr. .larrett entered into a 
 co-|)artnership vvith William Johnson, and estab- 
 lished in l)es Moines a complete stock of mill fur- 
 nishing goods, he taking full charge of the busi- 
 ness. The co-partnership continued until .lune 1. 
 18S4, at which time Mr. .larrett bought his part- 
 ner's interest and sul)sequently removed his estab- 
 lishment to the F^ast Side. In January of I8S9 he 
 organized tlie present company with a paid uj) 
 capital of $1 10,000, the principal pari of which is 
 held by N. S. McDonald and himself. Their 
 present establishment is complete in its various 
 departments, having facilities for turning out every 
 conceivable kind of iron and steel work that enters 
 into a mill, and is the onl}- one of the kind in the 
 State. During the summer season employment is 
 given to one hundred and fifty men. Jlr. Jaiielt 
 possesses inventive genius of a high order, having 
 invented and patented numerous devices that 
 enter into complications of modern mill machinery, 
 and give to it a practical utility that lirings to its 
 projector both fame and mone}'. 
 
 Our subject is a close student and a keen ob- 
 server of passing events, keeping himself well 
 abreast of the well-informed men of the day, upon 
 
 all questions that have an important bearing upon 
 the commercial and economic conditions of our 
 country. 
 
 Mr. Jarrett is an able draughtsman, not one of 
 the "cut and fit" kind, but one who plans and 
 executes with jnathematical precision. Relig- 
 iously, he and his estimable wife are members of 
 the Evangelical J.ulhcran Church. Politically, he 
 affiliates with the Democratic part^', and socially, 
 is a popular member of the orders — Ancient Order 
 of United Workmen, Select Knights and Modern 
 Woodmen. 
 
 ■ ^^^- 
 
 ^,EV. LESTER PERKINS, State Loan Agent 
 for the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance 
 Company, is a native of Jefferson County, 
 N. Y., his birth occurring on the •27th of 
 November, 1828. His father. Dr. Solomon Perkins, 
 was born in the Empire State, April 2, 180,5, and 
 in his youth prepared himself for the medical pro- 
 fession. On the 20th of January, 1825, he married 
 Miss Jjovina Campbell, who was born in New York, 
 March 9, 1808, five years later removed to Erie 
 County, Pa., where he engaged in an extensive 
 practice and in connection with the prosecution of 
 his chosen profession improved a heavily timbered 
 farm. He was a Whig in politics; both he and his 
 wife were leading members of the Mcthf)dist Epis- 
 copal Church. On the 18th of November, 1854, 
 Mrs. Perkins depnrlcil this life and on March 25, 
 18G3, the Doctor was called to the home be3^ond. 
 Of their eight children onl}' three are now living — 
 Leroy, a railroad contractor; Lester, of this .sketch; 
 and Elvira, wife of Ilollis Hiscoek. 
 
 Our subject was the second child of the family. 
 He w.as earl^' inured to hard labor, his boyhood 
 days being spent upon a farm in a new and heavily 
 wooded country where labor was arduous and du- 
 ties pressed hcavil}' upon the settlers. For a short 
 time each winter, until abont fifteen years of age, 
 he attended such common schools as were in exist- 
 ence fifty years ago. He was a bright student, 
 quick and ambitious to learn; iiis father, wishing 
 togivehimthe best oi)portunities for an educa- 
 tion, procured for his benefit a scholarship in Alle- 
 
PORTRAIT AND KIOGliAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 HI',) 
 
 glieiiy College. F'roin a high sense of duly to his 
 fatiier be deeidcd to forego the pleasures iiiid bone- 
 tits of a college course and assist hiui on the farm. 
 When twelve jears of age he was converted and 
 from that time religion liecanie an all absorbing 
 theme to bim. From an early age he was impressed 
 with the idea that it was bis duly to preach the 
 gospel and all his thoughts and dreams had their 
 trend in that direction. Concious of his unworthi- 
 ness he tried to banish the Ibougl.t and avoid pub- 
 lic confession. 
 
 Before be was twenty years of age, Mr. Perkins 
 had chosen a wife — Clarinda Eatwn, to whom he 
 was married April U>. 1.S48. .She was born in Erie 
 County, Pa., June 15, 1828, and was the second of 
 nine children, whose parents were Ebenezer and 
 Eunice (Shattuck) Eaton, natives respectively of 
 New Hampshire and Vermont. In an early d.ay 
 they emigrated to Pennsylvania, where they lived 
 until their deaths. When married Mr. Perkins bad 
 no resources save a good constitution and a willing- 
 ness to work. He therefore ehoi)ped wood at 
 Iwenly-tive cents [ler I'lu-il and threslic(l whejit with 
 a flail for every tenth bushel. His father afterward 
 deeded liiui fifty-six acres of land and he |nuchased 
 a sixtv-acre tract, I'equiring ten years lime on con- 
 tract, but paid the whole in one-half that lime. The 
 lirst money he borrowed was-^;!,") which he obtained 
 from a wealthy uncle who said he could let bim 
 have the money, but wanted bim to return it at the 
 time promised, which he promptly did. After- 
 w.ard whenever in need of funds be bad onlj' to 
 call upon bis uncle, whose conlidence he had won 
 by the ready payment ot the small loan. 
 
 In .January, 1857, a meeting was in piogress 
 which our subject attended, and at the cbjse of the 
 service one evening a good old brother took bim 
 by the hand and said, "Lester jnu ought to have 
 been preaching for years." Returning home he 
 said to bis wife, "I niusl |)reach," and asked her if 
 she could consent to become a Metho<lisl preach- 
 er's wife. Endowed with higli religious instincts 
 although not a member of the church at that time 
 she heartily approved of bis course. In the spring 
 of 18,50, be (neached his lirst sermon in bis home 
 neigliborbood and in the fall of the same year .sold 
 his fai'in and gave his whole time to the ministrv, 
 
 his efforts being attended willi wnuderful success. 
 In 1858, be was sent by Presiding Elder M. Hime- 
 baugh as a su|)ply to Poynett, Wis., wdiere under 
 his preaching a hundreil souls were converted dur- 
 ing the first four months from this charge. He was 
 recommended to conference which convenefl at 
 Monroe, Wis., and on his way thither stopped to 
 preach at one of bis appointments. So great w.as the 
 interest manifested that bo wrote the presiding 
 elder that he could not bi^ there. He was, however, 
 admitted to the Western Wisconsin Conference, and 
 returned to Poynett, where be labored successfully 
 for three years, being ordained ,it the close of the 
 second year. He worked bard, preaching three ser- 
 mons each Lord's Day. He was next sent to Juda, 
 where there was a small society; thougb he had six 
 appointments to fill, dniing his two years stay at 
 that place he erected two churches and a parsonage. 
 War at this time became the all absorbing issue of 
 the da}'. In bis preaching he had never touched 
 u|)on that subject, but being pressed to express his 
 views be tinally announced that on a certain day 
 be would deliver a war sermon. All the country 
 came to bear him. His sermon turned not on the 
 Civil War, but the greater struggle against sin, the 
 rtesh and the devil. 
 
 In .luly, 1802. in n night vision, our subject saw 
 the surrender of I^ee's army at the very place 
 where it finally occurred. Impressed by this that 
 the time had come, however, for him to take an 
 active part in the struggle in which bis country 
 was eng.aged, Mr. Perkins, alone in cme week's time 
 enlisted one hundred and seven men and was made 
 Captain. On the organization of the regiment be 
 was offered bis choice iietween the offices of Major 
 and Obaplain, I nl sickness prevented him from ac- 
 ce|iting, or going with the regiment, (be Twenty- 
 second Wisconsin. The following year he took 
 charge of anotbei' circuit but so thoroughly w,as his 
 nervous .system shattered that he bad to give up 
 tbo beloved work of the ministry in I8G4. Coming 
 to Ml. ^'ernon, Iowa, In; engaged to sell nursery 
 stock as a business atTordiiig him out-door exercise 
 and he proved to be as successful a salesman as 
 preacher. At JIarion, Iowa, be met aii .-igent for 
 the Nortbwesti rn Mutual Life Insurance Coni|)any 
 who induced bim tu put a few applications for pol- 
 
820 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 icies in his pocket and while selling trees see what 
 lie could do in tlie insurance business. For twenty- 
 five years he has now continued operations for 
 that company. In 1868, he removed his family to 
 Des Moines and from that time until 1885. did 
 quite an extensive real-estate business in coniieo- 
 tion with his duties as an insurance agent. He was 
 made State Loan Agent for the Northwestern in 
 1885, and has since devoted his entire time to its 
 interests. 
 
 To INIr. and Mrs. Perkins have been born seven 
 children — Perry, who is Secretary of the Iowa 
 (Irand Lodge, Indeiiendent Oriler Good Templars; 
 Charles O., who is a i)artner with iiis father in the 
 business of handling coal, building materials, etc.; 
 Ella, wife of E. B. Eagen ; Erank, a farmer; Kittle, 
 Jennie and Bert. The parents and daughters are 
 members of tlie Eirst Metiiodist Episcopal Church 
 of this city. Mr. Perkins has always been a liberal 
 donor to the chmch and while a resident of Daven- 
 port, Iowa, gave one-fourth of his jiossessions for 
 the building of a iiouse of worsiiij). Since coming 
 to Des Moines he has accumuhited an aliundance of 
 this world's goods and iiis contributions to all 
 worthy enterprises have increased proi»ortionately. 
 In politics, Mr. Perkins has always been a stanch 
 Uepuplican and a str(jng temperance man. He lias 
 never sought otlice but consented to serve as Mayor 
 of Greenwood Park, for tlu^ purpose of ridding it 
 of saloons. This sketch, tiiough brief, gives an 
 outline of the life of one of the most prominent 
 business men in the State and fine of Des Moines' 
 most esteemed citizens. 
 
 Vt/OHN J. STEINRIEDE, M. I), of Des 
 Moines, is a native of the (J rand Duchy of 
 Oldenburg, and was born June 20 1833. 
 His parents, Henry and Marie (Mackie) 
 Steinriede, were born in the same province, re- 
 spectively in 1780 and 178G. His mother was a 
 niece of Francis P. Molier, whose name has such 
 prominence in the French Revolution. At the 
 clo>-e of that struggle the royal family and its ad- 
 herents took refuge in foreign countries, the Molier. 
 
 and Maekie families gwing to Germany. Grand- 
 father Mackie was coramissar\' to Napoleon's Army, 
 on its campaign through Oldenburg, and it was on 
 this occasion that Henry and Marie, then young, 
 first met. I'pon marriage they settled on the old 
 homestead that had been in the possession of the 
 familj' for several hundred years. It was a large 
 estate, containing some eight hundred acres. He 
 was an extensive stock-raiser, especially horses, and 
 a man liial took a prominent |)arl in local affairs. 
 He lived to be eight\'-seven, and his wife ninety- 
 nine j'cars old. Of their nine children only two 
 survive — Henry, who resides in Germany; and our 
 subject. 
 
 Dr. Steiii'iede enjoyed the very best oppor- 
 tunities for education. Under a learned priest he 
 l>repaied for the gymnasium, ami at the age of 
 Seventeen entereil the university at Witzburg, and 
 four years later was graduated. As he could not 
 get a diphjina from the university until he was 
 twenty-five years old, he was induced to come to 
 America, in 1856, through the influence of Uisliop 
 Ferreding. At the instance of the above bishop 
 he was ai)poiiited by Arch IJishop Purcell 'Miiterne" 
 at St. John's Hospital for Invalids at Cincinnati, 
 Ohio, wiieii' he iciuiiined till 1860. The same year 
 he was giaduatc'il by the ( )hio Medical College, and 
 sulisequently by the Miami Medical College, both 
 of Cincinnati. 
 
 Our subject w'as married, in May, 1861, to Mrs. 
 lilizabeth Sicgendorf, we De Duhme, a native of 
 Louisiana. Going to New Orleans he entered the 
 Confederate Navy as Su'geon, in September, 1861, 
 and served until nearly the close of the war. In 
 1863 he had ciiarge of the hospital at Benton, Miss., 
 ami the folhiwing year was ajipointed Examining 
 Surgeon at Moljile. After the service he located 
 at Benton, Miss., where he luul a lucrative practice. 
 In 1878 he removed to Yazoo Cit^', and remained 
 till 1884, when he look up his abode in New Or- 
 leans. In 1888 he came to Des Moines. 
 
 Dr. Steinriede is a successful practitioner, and is 
 accounted one of the best read physicians in Des 
 Moines. He is % member of the Polk County Medi- 
 cal Society, and of the National Medical Asscia- 
 tion. He w.is chosen Professor of Materia Medica 
 and Tlicrai)eutics, in Drake University. He is at 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM, 
 
 821 
 
 present Professor of Clieiuistry, Plianiinov iinil 
 Tdxieology in tlio same inslitutimi. In aildition U> 
 bis piofessiunal duties lie lias eoiitiiliuteil a iinnilier 
 of articles to medical journals. I'xitli lie and liis 
 wife are meiiilieis of the C'atliolie Clinuli, and lie 
 of the Catholic Kniglils. Tliey liave two children 
 — John W. and Marie A. B. 
 
 Dr. Steinriede is a man of wide experience in 
 his profession, having' [iiacticed thirty-three years. 
 In August, 1889, lie imichased a large ?nd well- 
 eqnip|)ed hotel, capable of acconiniddatiiig over one 
 hundred guests, at Siloam Springs, Gentry County, 
 Mo. The springs have become quite noted for their 
 medicinal properties. Barrels of water are hauled 
 awav, aud invalids, unable to get relief from med- 
 cal treatment, are made whole by siiending a few 
 months at this — nature's fountain of healing. 
 
 Vf/OSEPH WILLIAMS, real-estate dealer of 
 Des Moines, was born in Shelby County, 
 Ind., July 12, 1837. He is one of five chil- 
 dren born to Joel and Jane (Dawson) Will- 
 iams. Onlj' one besides himself, Jeremiah, is now 
 living. The Williams family emigrated from 
 Tennessee and the Davvsons from Kentucky, being 
 among the earliest settlers of Shelby County, Ind. 
 AVIien onl^' four years old Joseph lost his father 
 who died in the prime of manhood. Subsequently 
 his motlier married \\'illiani Sweeney, by whom she 
 had six children. In 1850 the family' came to Polk 
 County, and located near Mitcliellvillo, where she 
 still lives being in her seventy-tliird year. 
 
 Josephs' early life was such as was common to 
 farmer boys in the new West. Having attended 
 the district schools, he entered, in 1856, the North- 
 western University at Inilianapolis, Ind., but 
 sickness caused him to give up his college work. 
 Returning home he farmed, with the exception of 
 two years spent in merchandising at Mitchell ville, 
 till 18G(), when he came to Des Moines, and en- 
 gaged in the grocery trade for a year, then bought 
 the property on Kast Fifth Street and Cc^urt Avenue, 
 jml in mill machinery and for nine years did an 
 extensive milling business. Having sold his mill 
 
 he tinned liis attention to dealing in real-estate, to 
 which he has devoteil himself since, handling more 
 partieiiiarl3- coal land, of which he and his partner, 
 Mr. George Garver, own large and valuable tracts. 
 He has not only given time and means to prospect- 
 ing for coal, but has helped organize mining com- 
 |)ani"s, notably the Watson Coal and Mining 
 Company and the Hastie Coal and Mining Com- 
 pany. 
 
 Mr. Williams is interested in farm and city prop- 
 erty; he has full faith in Des Moines as a safe place 
 to invest in real-estate. Politically, he is a Repub- 
 lican and though he has never as|)ired to |)laces of 
 public trust, he has been called upon by his ward 
 to serve in the City Council. He is a member of 
 the Knights of Pythias, and of the Ancient Order 
 of United Workmen fraternities. October, 1.S51), at 
 Muscatine, Iowa, he married Miss Salinda Thornton, 
 a native of Indiana, though she came with her 
 parents to Iowa in early life. She bore him six 
 children; one died in infancy: Jeremiah P. died at 
 the age of twenty-one; Klla, Fred, Ada, and Neota. 
 March 17, 1870, his wife died and two years later 
 he wedded Mrs. Lottie E. Bointon, nee Winters, 
 who had one daughter, Jennie, by her former h«s- 
 bund. JNlr. Williams and wife are of the Univer- 
 salist faith, as was also his first wife. Mr. Williams 
 has lived in Polk County forty j^ears, and during 
 that time has been activel3' engaged in one busi- 
 ness or another. That his labors have been well 
 tlirccted is evidenced from the fact that he has ac- 
 cumulated a good share of property and has always 
 borne a reputation for fair dealing and lionest}'. 
 
 ROF. CHARLES W. MARTINDALE, 
 
 •1 Dean of Callanan College, was born in 
 Delaware County, Iowa, November 15,1859. 
 The Martindalc family emigrated from 
 England to South Carolina, among the early set- 
 tlers; his great-grandfather was one of llu^ lirst to 
 cross the mountains to Kentucky. John Martindale, 
 son of the above and grandsire of the Professor, 
 was a pioneer i)reaclu>r in the Christian Church, ex- 
 tending hislaliors over Indi;ina, Illinois and Mich- 
 
822 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 igan, until 1851, when lie came to Iowa. He is still 
 living at the advanced age of eighty-five. His son 
 David, father of Charles W., was l)Oin in Southern 
 Indiana in .lunc. 18;]0,aiid was theref'jre twenty-one 
 years old when the family' came to Iowa. He is one 
 of tiie snetessful farmers of Delaware County, Iowa. 
 For a wife he returned to Indiana and married Miss 
 Elizabeth C. Jones,a native of Butler County. ( >liio; 
 she was born Febiuary j, 1830. Both he and his 
 wife are active members of the Church of Christ. 
 They had but three ciiildren. onl}- two of whom are 
 living — Joseph 1'., a Christian minister, and tlie 
 Professor. 
 
 Prof. M. was taught to do all kinds of farm work 
 in his boyhood da) s. His educational advanlnges 
 until fifteen years of age were such as the district 
 schools offered, tlien he attended a village school 
 until he was qualified to teach. Having followed 
 that vocation until he iiad some means saved, lie 
 entered Oskaloosa, Iowa, College and the second 
 year secured a position as tutor in the college, be- 
 ing thus enabled to |>.ay his tuition. The subjects 
 taught were pretty <U('|i for a youth — mathematics, 
 civil government and (ireek, but so satisfactory 
 was his work that ou tiie o|>eiung of Drake Uni- 
 versity at Des Moines, in 1881, he was given a 
 tutorshi|). While toaciiiug he was also doing the 
 work of a student in the university. In 188."5, he 
 graduated with tiic degree of A. B., being the first 
 classical graduate of the institution. The winter 
 of 188.'i and 1884 he was Principal of the Center- 
 ville High School. Having closed his work there, 
 two portions were offered him. Instructor in Drake 
 University, and the Principalsliip of Corydon Iowa 
 schools. The latter he accei)led and held five years, 
 giving the Ijest of satisfaction and winning for him- 
 self a reputation as a"! educator. At Corydon he 
 married, February 27, 1885, Miss Annie Harls- 
 horne, a native of that city, where she was also 
 educated. They have two children. Willi;in) 11. 
 and Elizabeth. In issi), Prof. M. was tendered-a 
 position in the university, as Dean of Callanan 
 College. He is an earnest, aggressive young man, 
 not only in educational but also in moral reforms. 
 Politicallj', he is a Republican with a slron<> pro- 
 hibition plank in his platform, lie is a member of 
 the Knights of Pythias fraternit}- and an active 
 
 worker in the Church of Christ, as is also his wife. 
 .Taiuiar^- 188'J, Prof. M. received a life diploma 
 from the Stale as evidence of ten year's succtssfiil 
 work as a teacher. In addition to his professional 
 duties he and Prof. Hill .M. Bell are erliting and 
 publishing the Des Moines TeaoJu-r, a magazine 
 'devoted to the educational interests of Iowa, in 
 wliicii will be found the most advanced thoughts 
 on educational (jueslioiis. 
 
 Jj EREMIAII SWIFT, one of the early settlers 
 I of the county and a loyal soldier in the late 
 ! war, is now numbered among the represen- 
 ' tative farmers of Beaver Township. He 
 resides on section 3. A native of Vermont, he 
 was boni in Orange Count3', October 7, 1835, and 
 is a son of Joseph and Nancy (Seavy) Swift, both 
 of whom were natives of M:issachusetts, and were 
 of Kuglish descent. His ('.•ilher made farming his 
 life occupation, and was engaged in that pursuit in 
 Orange County at the lime of his deati), which oc- 
 curred in 1863, at the age of sixty 3'ears. His 
 wife survived him several years, and continued a 
 resident of Orange County until called home. 
 Tinir ciiildren were as follows: Eliz.-ibeth became 
 the wife of Benben Morris, and is now dece:\sed ; 
 Minnie, wife of (!eorge Roberts, a farmer of Or- 
 ange County; and Jeremiah. 
 
 Study, work and play occu|>icd the attention of 
 our subject during his boyhooil days, but at the 
 age of Iwenly-one years he began life's battle with 
 tiie world. The following spring after attaining 
 his mnjorily, he starti'd for Iowa, lielieving that 
 the West fiirnisiu'd better (ippdi lunities for young 
 men, than tlie older and more thickly settled 
 Stales of the East. Bidding aood-by to parents 
 and friends, he made his way by r- il to Iowa City, 
 thence proceeded by stage to Newton and con- 
 tinued his journey on fool to the home of Uncle 
 Tom Mitchell, tlie pioneer of Polk County, for 
 whom he workeil as a farm hand until the autumn 
 of 1858. when, in company with two companions, 
 he started with an (p.\-tinm for K^iusas, with the in- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 823 
 
 tention of locating in tiiat State if lie foiiml ;i fa- 
 vorable oiiening, but iie was not i)ieasi'<l witii tho 
 fountiy. auil retunu'd to his olii enipbiyer, witli 
 whom lie rcmaineil until .Inly. 1!^02. 
 
 On tlie Dtli of August, of tiiat same year, Mr. 
 Swift ilonned the l)iue and became a member of 
 Company C, Twenty-third Iowa Infantry, under 
 Col. 'William II. Dewey. The comiiany remained 
 in the liarracks at Des Moines until the l!)lh of 
 September, when, having been equipi)ed for <bily 
 they were ordered South. Tiiey marched to Kd- 
 dyville, Iowa, thence by rail lo Keokuk, wiiere 
 tiiey boarded a steamer for St. Louis. Arriving 
 at the latter city, the}- wrre put on garrison duty 
 at Seoficld Barracks, and after two weeks were 
 ordered to Iron IMountain, Mo., wliere the}' also 
 did garrison duty for a short time. From Patter- 
 son, Mo., they were sent to Arkansas on a scout- 
 ing exi)editioM, and thus the winter of 1862-63 w-ore 
 away. After their return to Iron Mountain the 
 following spring, ti.e}' were sent to Millikin's Bend, 
 La., where tiie ainiy was organizing for the \'ieks- 
 burg camiiaigii under <!en. (irant, and sliuitly 
 afterward started southward, marching along the 
 Louisana side of the river until oi)posite Brooms- 
 burg, wliere they crossed, continuing on lo Mag- 
 noia ilill, where a severe engagement occurred 
 with the rebel troops under (ien. Johnston. Tiie 
 battle lasted aliout twenty-four iioui's, duiing 
 which many niemliers of the Twenty-third Iowa 
 Infantry were killed or wounded. (iardcner 
 Webli. who was stationed by the side of oni' sub- 
 ject, was shot down, but Mr. Swift remained unin- 
 jured, although shot and slieil were flying tliicl< 
 and fast alioul iiim. The battle ended, tiiey started 
 for .lackson. Miss., but while ''/( i-Dutc it was found 
 that tlie rebels were in tiie rear, and facing aliout 
 the}' brought on an engagement at ( li.impion 
 Hills, where the enemy was forced to retreat. 
 However, tliey succeeded in escaping capture, and 
 darkness closing over the scene the armies rested 
 for the night. The following morning tlie battle 
 was resumed and both sidcii lost lieavil}', but the 
 I ni(jn forces were again victorious and caplnied 
 about fifteen hundred prisoners, chasing the re- 
 mainder of the forces into \'ieksbuig. The 
 Twenty-third Iowa Infantry was detailed to guard 
 
 tile prisoners, while the main body closed up 
 around Vieksburg. The prisoners were then 
 marched down to Young's Point, opposite the city, 
 and a few days afterward were taken to Memiihis, 
 Tenn., and i)laced in charge of other troops and 
 conveyed northward. 'I'lie next engagement oc- 
 cniieil at Millikin's Bend, where a tierce hand to 
 hand light took [ilaee, in which half of the troops 
 were either killed or wounded. This was followed 
 by the long seige and linal captnie of N'icksburg, 
 after which the}' were ordered to New Orleans, 
 and thence went by vessel to St. Joseph's Island, 
 Tex. On the voyage the vessel eneountereJ a 
 heavy storm which lasted live days and nights, iti 
 which the soldiers gave u|) all hope of ever again 
 reaching the shore alive, but the wind at length 
 abated and they reached their destination in 
 safety. M:ircliing to Matagorda Island, they be- 
 sieged and captured Ft. I'^sper'inza, and returned 
 to New Orleans in May IHOI. The next battle oc- 
 curred at S|)anish Fort, Ala., and after camping 
 awhile in the city of Mobile, they were again sent 
 to Texas, In parole prisoners. The Twenty third 
 Iowa Infantry was mustered out .Inly 26, 1S6;"), 
 and in Davenport, Iowa, Mr. .Swift received an 
 hoiioiable discharge. He remained a faithful sol- 
 dier from the time of his enlistnienl until the close 
 of the war, alwa}S found at liis iiost of duty, nev(^' 
 shirking any task imposed uiioii him. .Viiothcr 
 member of the regiment was also activi'l\- engaged 
 in every campaign. Dock, the reginienlal dog, 
 who followed the Tweiit\ -lliiicl through every bat- 
 tle and on every march, made friends with every 
 member of the company, and at length returned to 
 tlie North when the war was over. Mr. Swift still 
 has in his possession a picture of (hat f;iitlifii! 
 caniiH'. 
 
 Returning to Mitchell villc, Mr. Swifl once more 
 entered the employ of Mr. Mitchell, and reinaiiu^d 
 with him until lfS67. On the Ifith of April, of 
 that year, liii was united in marriage with Miss 
 Ilenrielta Mtittern, and ]>y their union two chil- 
 ilreii have been born, Carrie and La Forrest. 
 After their mariiagc they resided in Mitchell villo 
 for a year, and then removed to the farm on which 
 the}' now resiile, Mr. Swift having purchased the 
 same in 1.^66. lie erecti'd a liouse and then began 
 
824 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 the work of improvement, which hi' lins still con 
 tinned until his farm of one hnndrud acres is one 
 of the Ijest in the township. Me also devotes con- 
 siderable attention to the raising of the best grades 
 of slock. In political sentiment he has been a 
 supporter of the Repul)lican party since 18(51, and 
 socially is a member of Warr Post, No. 17, 
 ti. A. R., of Mitchellville. He and his family are 
 well known throughout the county, where their 
 friends are many and where they hold a high po- 
 sition in tlie social world. 
 
 The parents of Mrs. Swift are ileserving of more 
 especial mention in this volume. Her father. 
 David Mattern, was born in Pennsylvania, of Ger- 
 man descent and having attained to mature years, 
 weddeii Barl)ara Parks, who was also a native of the 
 Keystone State, but her family is of Scotch origin. 
 In his earlier years, Mr. Mattern learned the 
 blacksmith's trade, and has made it his life oc';u- 
 pation, now carrying on the same for Thomas 
 Mitchell. His wife died in 1870, and w.as deeply' 
 mourned by many friends. Of their nine children, 
 six .are jet living: Jacob, a resident of Colfax, 
 luwa; Scott, who served in the late war, and for 
 nine months was conlinod in Andersonville prison, 
 is now a resident of Nebraska; Irvana is living in 
 Ft. Worth, Tex.: Jane m.ikes her home in Jlitch- 
 ellville; Carrie is the wife of Thomas Mitchell; 
 and Henrietta is the wife of Jeremiah Swift. Two 
 other sons of tlic family served in the arm}-, and 
 gave their lives on the altar of their country, one 
 dvins in Helena. Ark., and the other in Louisiana. 
 
 |/_^ ON. GEORGE W. COPLY, a prominent 
 ' )|) lawyer and the present Mayor of :^^tchell- 
 ville, is a native of the ISuckeye State. He 
 ifi§)) was born in Wayne County, on the 25tli 
 of August, 183;i, and is of English descent. His 
 paternal great-grandfather, .lacob Coply, came 
 from England to this country duiing the Revolu- 
 tionarj' War as a Lieutenant in the service of King 
 (ieorge, but when he learned the state of affairs 
 in this country, his sympathies were enlisted with 
 the Colonists, and deserting the British service ho 
 
 joined the Colonial army, with which he served 
 until American independence was attained. His 
 property was confiscated to the English govern- 
 ment, but by a special act of Congress was after- 
 ward restored to him. He then started on a return 
 trip to his native land to settle uii his affairs in 
 that country prior to making- a permanent location 
 in the Tnited States, but was never again heard 
 from, and it is supposed was lost at sea. He left a 
 wife and two children, but the mother died shortly 
 afterward, and the children were reared by a Penn- 
 sylvania farmer, near Lancaster. One of these 
 children, Thomas !))• name, was the grandfather of 
 our subject. He was born in Pennsylvania, hut 
 removed to Wayne County, Ohio, about 1H24, and 
 made farming his principal occupation, and died 
 at an ailvanced age in 1863. He was the father of 
 five children, of whom J.aeob, the eldest, who was 
 born in 1811. was the father of our subject. He 
 married Elizabeth Bixler, a native of Maryland 
 born of German ))arentagc. Their union was blest 
 with the birth of four children, of whom our sub- 
 ject was the eldest; .lohii 1!.. died while in the 
 service during the late war; Mary M., is the wife 
 of John S. Addleman, of Cleveland, Ohio; and 
 David E., a farmer of \Vest Salem. Ohio. The 
 father has been a life-long Democrat, and is a man 
 of sterling worth, highly respected in the commu- 
 nity where he and his wife now reside, their himiu 
 being in West Salem, Ohio. 
 
 (!et)rge W. Coply was born :ind reared on his 
 father's farm in Wayne County, (Jhio, and during 
 his 3'outh received a common- school education. 
 However he possessed a studious nature, and made 
 the best of his 0|)|)ortunitics, and on his sixteenth 
 birthday he began teaching. Having thus secureil 
 some ready money, he determined to extend his 
 knowledge, and at the age of eighteen entered upon 
 a scientific course of study in the Ohio Weslcyan 
 I'nivcrsity, where he remained three years, gradu- 
 ating in the class of 18."jl. He paid his own way 
 through college hy teaching during vacations, and 
 again followed that pursuit after the completion 
 of his school life. He was an able instructor, and 
 where once emjiloyed could always again secure a 
 position. 
 
 In 1855 Mr. Coply was united in marriage with 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 825 
 
 IMiss Maria W. Heniaitl, of (Jcnosuo, 111., after 
 whioli he s|)ciit Ills winter niontlis in Icaeliiny, while 
 (hiring the suiDincr niDiiths he ilevoled his lime to 
 the operation of a farm. In l!S(i'.t he eanie to I'olk 
 County, and imrehaseil one hnndreil and ssixtj' 
 acres of land in Fivinklin Townsiiip, wliieli he cul- 
 tivated for two years, when an ••ici-iileiit forced him 
 to abandon that mode of life. It was during a 
 hard wind storm in 1872, when trying to replace a 
 window which had been blown out, the glass was 
 broken and cut his wrist, severing an arler\-, 
 which caused him to lose the use of his left hand. 
 That accident changed the whole (.'ourse of his life. 
 Being no longer alilu to follow the plow, he deter- 
 mined to engage in a professional career, and be- 
 gan the study of law at iMitchellville. He was 
 admitted to the bar on the lUth of .Se|iteniber, 
 IbTG, and here at once begaii the [jractice which 
 he has still c()iitiniied. He makes a siiecialty of 
 collecting and commercial law, and also represents 
 se\eral of the best insurance eomiianies in tlie 
 country. He has gained a wide reputation as a 
 successful lawyer, and has proved a valuable addi- 
 tion to the bar of Polk County. 
 
 Since attaining his inanhood, a period of thirty- 
 five .years, Mr. C'o))ly has continually represented 
 the people in some official capacity, either in town- 
 ship, county or municipal office, with the exception 
 of two years. This is a fact of which but few can 
 boast, and is excellent evidence of the worth and 
 ability of the man. In opposition to the views of 
 his ancestrj'. he is a Republican. His popularity 
 is shown from the fact that after his nomintion by 
 his own i)arty for the office of Township Clerk, his 
 name was placed upon the Democratic ballot, and 
 out of three hundred and twenty-five votes east he 
 secured three hundred and five. In the spring of 
 '.)S8!) he was elected Mayor of Mitchellville, and so 
 satisfactorily did he discharg3 the duties of the of- 
 fice, that he was re-elected in the s|)ring of 1890. 
 The office of Secretary' of the independent school 
 district of IMitchellville, he has held for seventeen 
 years. Socially, Mr. Coply is a Mason, and for a 
 nundjer of years has served as Master of the home 
 lodge. In the Ancient Order of I'nited Work- 
 men, of which he is also an active member, he has 
 been Recorder for about seven ^cars. An ac- 
 
 knowledged re|)resentativi' citi/en and leading 
 business man of Mitchellville, he certainly deserves 
 representation in this volume, and it is with pleas- 
 ure that wc record his sketch. He in.ay also be 
 called a self-made man, his success being due 
 entirely to his own efforts and the assistance of his 
 estimable wife. Besides considerable property in 
 Mitchellville, he owns an adjoining farm on which 
 can l)e found a goo<l grade of stock. 
 
 Air. and Mrs. Coply have been the parents of 
 eight children. .lean \V.,the eldest, was accidentally 
 killed by a friend while on a hunting expedition 
 at the age of tvventy-seven years. He was an ex- 
 emplary young man, of more than average intelli- 
 gence and ability, and his untimely death was a sad 
 affliction to parents and friends. Ariel B., the sec- 
 ond member of the family, is a resident of Des 
 Moines; Frances M., is engaged in teaching; Ber- 
 tha K., is at home; George B., is a resident farmer 
 of Polk County; William ,1., is operating the hc>me 
 farm; Florence M., is still with her [larents; and 
 Roy is deceased. 
 
 _^DEi_ 
 
 ")),01!EUTS(Ji\ M. BKISCU, who for a quarter 
 of a century has been identified with the 
 t \l^ agricultural interests of this county, is now 
 engaged in general farming and stock-rais- 
 ing on section 34, Bloomfield Township. The 
 Brisco family is of (ierman origin and was founded 
 in America at an early day. Jeremiah Brisco, the 
 father of our subject, was born in Virginia, and on 
 attaining mature years wedded Klizabelh Fanner, 
 a native of Loudoun County, th.-it State, born of 
 Scotch parentage. Mr. Brisco was a boat builder 
 by trade and in his youth removed from \'irginia 
 to Kentucky, and thence to Monroe Countv, in 
 Southern Indiana, where he followed boating, tak- 
 ing bo.its down the Mississippi to New Orleans, and 
 then making the return journey- on foot. It was a 
 slow and tedious trip, Uk; boats not being ])ropelled 
 by steam. In 183(; he abandoned that occu|)ation 
 and went to Northern Indiana, where he leased one 
 hundred and sixty acres of timber land and began 
 the dcvcliipinent of a farm. His residence in that 
 
826 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 coiiiiiiiiiiily covered a period of fuurteeu years, 
 when, ill 1850, lie removed to Wimuslieik County, 
 Iowa. After a few years s^'eiit iii fanning in tliat 
 county, lie moved to l'"lt)yd County', where lie also 
 followed aurieullural pursuits and continued to re- 
 side there until his death, which occurred in IHSO. 
 His wife preceded her liiisliaiid to the filial home, 
 dying in 1870. They were the parents of a large 
 family of fourteen children, eight of whom are yet 
 living — John, a resident of Floyd County', Iowa; 
 Robertson, of this sketch; Klias, who makes his 
 home in Toiieka, Kan.; Thomas .1., of Nashaway, 
 Iowa; Sarah A., who makes her home in Wiscon- 
 sin; Mary A., wife of David Reames, of Floyd 
 CV)unty, Iowa; Fliz?.betli, wife of N'. Reames, of 
 Floyd County; and Catherine, of Wisconsin. 
 
 Our subject has made farming his principal oc- 
 cupation through life, although to some extent he 
 has engaged in other ))ursuits. He was rearei! to 
 that industry, and like a dutiful son assisted his 
 father until nineteen years of age, when he started 
 out ill life for himself. His fii.st eraployinent was 
 as a farm hand, he working nine months for $72. 
 He was then employed in splitting cordwood and 
 rails, and afterwards constructed an iron forge for 
 the manufacture of Ijar iron on the Tippecanoe 
 River, lie shunned no occupation whereby he 
 might earn au honest dollar for he had no capital 
 with which to begin life and no influential friends 
 to procure him a start. He maj' truly be called 
 a self-made man and deserves no little credit for 
 the success whith he has achieved. Going to 
 Southern Michigan, he sought and obtained a po- 
 sition oil the construction of the Michigan South- 
 ern Railroad, the lirst railroad ever run into 
 ''liicago from tlie Hast. After its completion lie 
 went to St. .lo County, Ind.. and engaged with a 
 fanner at >< 1 .'! per iiionth, working eighteen nioiiths. 
 lie then detcniiined that his efforts should be in 
 his own behalf, and leasing live acres of land, lie 
 erected a little log cabin and began to ni.-uil rails 
 and chop cordwood. He is now an extensive stock 
 dealer and owns a number of fine horses, but he 
 was [irobably as iiiiieli delighted with the first horse 
 he possessed as any of the fine specimens .seen in 
 his barns to-day. He paid |7,'j for the animal anil 
 worked lor lifty cents per ilaj- to pay for it. After 
 
 eighteen months, he rented a farm in the same 
 county and continued to operate rented land for 
 three years, when having, by industry and econ- 
 omy, accumulated some capital, he purchased a 
 tract of one hundred acres in Berrien County' 
 Mich., where he made his home for three years. 
 Later he rented another farm and operated the two 
 conjointly for a time, when he purchased property 
 in Buchanan, Mich., and there made his home for 
 the succeeding six years of his life. He then de- 
 term iiied to try his fortune in some other branch 
 of business, and going lo Colorado in 1860, car- 
 ried on a restaurant and engaged in mining near 
 Louisville. After seven months, however, he tired 
 of life in the West and returned to Buchanan, 
 where he engaged in the manufacture of fanning- 
 inills to a considerable extent, doing an excellent 
 business in that line for four years. 
 
 The month of August. 18(55, witnessed tlii' ar- 
 rival of Mr. Briscoaiid his family in Polk County, 
 Iowa, where he purchased one hundred and sixty 
 acres of land — his present farm. It was entirely 
 uniinprcved or developed, and he rented a house 
 on some laud adjoining his own, where he resided 
 three years, when he purchased a forty-acre tract 
 three-ipinrters of a mile east of his present home. 
 A residence had also been built ii[)on that tract and 
 was used as the home of the family for a year, 
 when Mr. Brisco traded his forty acres adjoining 
 his lirst |)urchase. His life li.as been an industri- 
 ous one, and when he came into possession of his 
 present farm be immediately began transforming 
 it into a comfortable home. The wild prairies, 
 which have been transformed into rich and fertile 
 lields, now yield hiui an excellent income, and the 
 boundaries of his land liave been extended until 
 four hundred acres are now comprised within its 
 borders. It is pleasantly situated about two and 
 a half miles from the capital city, the pleasant resi- 
 dence is neat and tastefully- furnished, and the com- 
 forts and many of the luxuries of life ;ire there 
 found. His barn is one of the largest and best in 
 Bloomlield Townshii), and as before stated, he owns 
 some of the best stock in the county, iiieliiding 
 several fine imiiorted horses and a blooded bull. 
 
 On the .')th of September, 1850, Mr. Bri.seo was 
 united in marriage with i\liss Catherine J. Wy- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 827 
 
 koff, (laughter of Peter ami Sarali (Uiiekels) Wy- 
 koff, the fdimer a native of Mainland, and the 
 lalter (if Nuniiiia. By oecupalioii the father was a 
 giinsniith. Imt fhirino- his Inter years he en»agetl in 
 farniinsi;. Ilis death (tcfiirred in \\'arren Count}', 
 Iowa, in 18711, and his wife died at the home of 
 Mrs. lirisco in August, 1886. Tlieir family num- 
 bered six children, four of whom are yet living — 
 Henry C, a resident of Warren County, Iowa; 
 Cornelius C, who is living in the same <'ouuly; 
 Catherine, wife of our subject; and Peler B., who 
 is living in Benton County, Iowa. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Brisco are the i)arents of twelve 
 children, but three have jtassed away. Those liv- 
 ing are: Martha E., of Des Moines; Emma F., 
 wife of Llo^'d .lones, of Warren County, Iowa; 
 Charles C, who is living in this county; .lanet B.^ 
 wife of S. T. Trowbridge: Ida, Clara, Samuel B., 
 Kittie P. and Mabel, who are at home. 
 
 Mr. Brisco justly ranks among the leading citi- 
 zens of this county. The cause of education has 
 found in him a special friend, and he has held the 
 office of School Director for nineteen 3-ears, during 
 which time be has done much to advance the stand- 
 ard of schools in the community. He is a mem- 
 ber of the Masonic fraternity and Farmers' Alli- 
 ance, of Bloomlield Township, and in politics is a 
 supporter of the Kepublican party. Mr. Bi-isco is 
 widely known in this community, where he has so 
 long resided, and those whose .icciuaintancc with 
 liim dates from the earliest period are his warmest 
 friends. 
 
 06So~ 
 
 ^)ERIUT VAN GINKKL, one of the most ac- 
 tive business men of Des Moines, who in 
 various ways is connected with the leading 
 interests of the city, is of Holland birth. His father, 
 A. Van Ginkel, was a native of the same country, 
 and was twice married, having six children by his 
 first wife, and three sons and three daughters b}' 
 his second union. In IH57, he sailed with his fain 
 ily for America, coming direct to I'ella, Iowa, 
 where he engaged in farming. His wife died at her 
 home near that city a few years ago. Mr. \'an (iin- 
 kel removed to Kansas, where he spent his last days. 
 
 (iei'iit \an (Jiiikcl was born on tlic I 1th of De- 
 cember, 1819, and is a son of the second mairiage. 
 So early in life did he begin to earn his own living. 
 th.it he had but little time to attend school, though 
 he has ac(piired a gcwd practicil education at the 
 printer's case, and in the business affairs of life. He 
 possesses an observing eye and retentive memor\', 
 and therelty has greatl\ supplemented his early 
 knowledge, becoming one of the well-read men of 
 this community. When only eleven years of age, 
 he took his place before a case in the oflice of Henry 
 Hospers, and for some thirteen ^ears was engaged 
 in newspaper work. When a young man of eight- 
 een years, he estalilished the i'ella Oazcttf. pi-inted 
 in Pella, Iowa, which he pulilished for two years, 
 when failing health caused him to seek other em- 
 ployment. Idleness is utterly- foreign to his nature 
 and it was not long before we find him established 
 in Des Moines, devoting his energies to gardening 
 and shipi)ing vegetables in large <|uantities, in 
 which he has since been interested with his brother 
 John, now being his partner in the business. He 
 woidd work in the garden during the summer sea- 
 son, and in the winter at his ease. As his capital 
 increased, he ventured into more extensive busi- 
 ness enterprises, and deserves no little credit foi- 
 the part which he has borne in the uplniildinii- -Tud 
 advancement of Des Moines interests. 
 
 Our subject was largely instrumental in build- 
 ing the Des Moines and Sevasla|iol Street Railway, 
 and such was the success of that line, that t'le com- 
 pany was induced to buihl lines in Des Moines 
 proper, competing with the old Des Moines Street 
 Railway Com|)any. After a long and hard strug- 
 gle, Mr. \au (iinkel and his associates succeeded 
 in getting a charter, but the other company, hav- 
 ing the exclusive right to use horse cars, liled an 
 injuiictiou. wiiicli, after a struggle, was sustained. 
 After this his coni|)any decided to adopt the elec- 
 tric street railroad system, of which every Des 
 Moines can boast, which I'veut was hastened l)y this 
 clasii of interests. IVo little honfir and credit is due 
 Mr. \'an (Jinkel for his persistent labors in this en- 
 terprise. In IS.S".) he sold his interest, but has since 
 taken stock in the Des Moines Electric Street Rail- 
 wa}' Com|)any, and Mr. Van Ginkel feels very 
 proud over this roail. In 1S8-2, he established the 
 
828 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM, 
 
 Van Ginkol Coal Coiupaiiy, whicli li;is its iiiiiu' :it 
 Sevastapul. ami employs from sevfiily-fivi' to one 
 liunilriMi and twenty-five men with a daily capacity 
 of two luindied and fifty tons of lump ooal. and 
 owns a laiije brickyard in connection, where mil- 
 lions of liricks are made annually, lie was one of 
 the originators of tlie celebrated Iowa Mineral and 
 Ochre Paint Works at l)es Moines, and in addition 
 to his interest in and about this city, owns an i';iec- 
 tiic Street Railwaj' in Springfield, 111., and is inter- 
 ested in one in South Bend, Ind. He has done 
 much to enlarge and beautify Sevastapol, having 
 there built some thirty houses and several brick 
 blocks. 
 
 At Pella,Iowa, December 13, 18(;7, Mr. Van (Jinkel 
 led to the mairiage altar Miss Catherine Ten Ilagen, 
 a native of tliat city, to whom much of Mr. Van 
 Ginkel's success has been due, so he claims. Her 
 parents emigrated to this country from Ilollanil, 
 but her father is of French extraction. Unto them 
 were born eight children: Gerrit G. ; Katie, who 
 died at the age of four years; Ada. Samuel, .lulia, 
 Charlotte, Nancy and Katie. 
 
 Mr. A'an Ginkel religiously was brought up in 
 the faith of the Dutch Reformeil Church, and is an 
 Odd P^ellow, a liberal Republican in politics, and 
 his wife is a memlier of the Bajjtist Church. His 
 life has been an industrious one, and his efforts 
 have not proved fruitless. Coining to I)cs .Moines 
 twenty years ago, with only ii2() in his pocket, he 
 has gained a place among the prosi)erous and most 
 prciiniMcnl business men of this city. 
 
 E^^^ 
 
 ^t LEXANDKR C. HONDIWANT resides on 
 (fwz ||| section 31, Franklin Township, where he 
 ii is engaged in general farming and stock- 
 raising. The history of Polk County, with 
 whose interests he has been so long and so closely 
 idenlilieil, would be incomplete without this sketch 
 and i"i recording Ids life work we place before the 
 3'ouths of the present gener.ation an example which 
 is well worthy tbeir emulation. As all know, he is 
 one of the wealthy citizens of the county, but his 
 possessions came not to him tlii<iugh inheritance, 
 
 but arc the result of carrying out certain resolu- 
 tioiis wliich he formed in early life. 
 
 This respected citizen was born in .Sangamon 
 Count\'. III., on the 1st of September, 1829, and be- 
 longs to a farailj' of eleven children. The parents, 
 Joseph and Martha (Tliarp) Bondurant, were both 
 natives of Boone County, Ky., and removed in 1828, 
 to Sangamon County, III., where the father fol- 
 lowed farming until his death, which occurred in 
 ISfil. For many years he w.as a devoted member 
 of the Christian Church and live<l a life of upright- 
 ness and honesty which won him the respect of all 
 and made him a valued citizen. Late in life he be- 
 came identified with the I'niversalist Church. His 
 wife still survives him and is now living with her 
 son Thomas. The record of their family is as fol- 
 lows: .lohn T. went to California in an early day and 
 passed away in that State; Lucrelia is the wife of Jos- 
 eph Churchill of Piatt County, III.; KlizabctL became 
 the wife of William Miller, both are deceased; .Mex- 
 ander C. is the next j'ounger; Thom.as is a resilient 
 of Piatt Count}-; Samuel died in 1884, as the result 
 of disease contracted in the late war; Margaret is the 
 deceased wife of Thomas Uiulerwood of .Sangamon 
 County, 111.. Mary K. is a resident of Deland, 111.; 
 Martha F. is the wife of William Thornton. a farmer 
 of Crocker Township; Joseph N. is a farmer and 
 sto'jk dealer residing in Ford County. Hi., and 
 Amanda <lied in infancy. 
 
 The early life of our subject was passed in a man 
 ner not unlike that in which farmer lads usually 
 spend their time. In the summer months he as- 
 sisted his father in the cultivation of the farm and 
 during the winter seasi)n attended the district 
 schools of the neighborhood until he had familar- 
 ized himself with such studies as are essential to 
 business success. Years passed along and he reached 
 his maturity an<l thinking it time that he be no 
 longer deiicndent upon his father, he started out in 
 life for himself. In all his undertakings he w.as as- 
 sisted by bis brother Thomas, who was but a little 
 younger than he and ttigether they labored. The 
 history of one, in many particulars, is the history of 
 the other — a record of prosperity founded upon in- 
 dustry, enterprise and good man.agement. Many 
 convers.ations they held in regard to the future. 
 I,ot)kiug about them they saw that the liest people 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 829 
 
 were the cliurch-going people and Imtli iiU-iitilii'il 
 themselves with the Christian Church. I'hey also 
 (leterniineil to live temperate lives, to which reso- 
 lution both have always adhered and in making 
 choice of a Inisiness both determined to f(jllow that 
 occupation to whicii they had been reared. Tliey 
 agreed that as soon as tliey could save some money 
 the}' would invest in farming lands and if possible 
 make for themselves comfortable homes. Their 
 hopes have been more than realized and both have 
 l)een prospered in a degree far beyond their expec 
 tations, yet they have not lived for themselves 
 alone, amassing wealth imly for their individual 
 use, but in their prosperity have remembered the 
 poor, have given liberally to tiie cliurch and have 
 aided in all worthy enterprises which arc calculated 
 to advance the best interests of mankind. 
 
 I'he brothers started out upon their l)usiness ca- 
 reer in breaking prairie witli ox-teams and .as soon 
 as they h.ad earned enough to enter land from the 
 (iovernmont, made choice of locations. Thomas 
 Bondurant went to Piatt County, 111., and entered 
 a (piarter section, upon wliich he at once Iniilt a 
 house and began the ilevelopment of a farm. Week 
 l>y week saw the amount of liroken land increased 
 and improvements added, and "with the quarter sec- 
 tion as a nucleus his possessions have grown until 
 he now owns and operates two thousand acres of 
 valuable land. lie has adhered to tiie noble reso- 
 lutions forme<l in Ids youth, has been an active 
 worker in the temperance cause and is a leading 
 and useful member of the Christian Church, being 
 Holder in the congregation to which he belongs. He 
 gives cheerfully and liberally to its support, con- 
 sidering it only a just return for the l)lessings 
 which Lave been showered upon him. In politics, 
 he is an ardent supporter of the Uepublican party. 
 
 The other brother, Alexander Hondurant came 
 to Polk County, when? his interests have since been 
 centered. He laid claim to three hundred and 
 twenty acres of laud on section .'51, Franklin Town- 
 ship, and erected a small house which is still stand- 
 ing as a monument to the thrift and industry of 
 his early manhood. He cleared and |)lowed the 
 hitherto unbrcjkcn fields, built all the necessary barns 
 and outbuildings and in course of time his labors 
 were rewarded with bounl<'ous harvests. His landed 
 
 possessions now aggregate twenty-eight hundred 
 acres and his beautiful home is surrounded by all 
 the comforts and luxuries which make life worth 
 the living. 
 
 Mr. Bonduiant cliose as a companion Miss Mar- 
 garet M. Brooks, their marriage being celebrated 
 October 27, ISiil. The lady was born in Mont- 
 gomery Count}', Ind.. .and is a daughter of Stefjlien 
 Brooks, whoso sketch appears on another page of 
 this work. Their home was brightened by the pres- 
 ence of eight children — Emma 15., now the wife of 
 John W. Kcdlingeshafer, a fanner of Douglas 
 Township; Fannie, wife (if S. C. Perdue of Doug- 
 las Townshii); Martha E. who died at the age of 
 four years; P'rank also deceased; Florence, Ihirton, 
 Nellie and Alexander C. As the children have 
 grown u|) tliey ha.'c been jirovided with good edu- 
 cational advantages. 
 
 Mr. Bondiiraut has made it his sole object in life 
 to be a representative of the noblest type of man- 
 hood, ever looking to a higher power to guide and 
 direct his efforts and aid him in his deliberations. 
 Although in looking back over the past he sees 
 many mistakes on his |)art, he h.as the consciousness 
 of having tried to act for the best. His possessions 
 he has considered as trusts given unto him for a 
 short earthly life and has used his means for the 
 upbuilding of his Master's cause on earth, giving 
 not reluctantly or spaiingly but with a bounteous 
 hand. In connection with others, he organized a 
 church at a school house, at which place they wor- 
 shiped until the completion of the Chicago, Rock 
 Island it Pacilic Railroad, when tlie^' removed to 
 the village of Altoona, where a church building 
 was subsequently erected. This church proved 
 successful and did a vast amount of good in that 
 community. Mr. Bondurant's financial ability and 
 generosity soon put the church in an easy mone- 
 tary condition. He gave it a deed to forty acres of 
 Isnd on section .51, Fraidilin Townshi|). The pro- 
 ceeds of this land furnishes a haiuKsomo yearly' in- 
 come to the church. He takes a deep interest in 
 educational nuitters and to Drake University he 
 subscribed ^500, to be derived from fifty-six .acres 
 of land in rental to be collected in three years, to 
 the credit of the institution. Bondurant is a |)leasant 
 little village named in honor of our subject who 
 
830 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 l)latlo(l llio town and during its early existence 
 giivo to ail those wlio would Iniild or open a busi- 
 ness house in the place, a town lot. lie also gave 
 the lots on wjiicli the <-luir(h was liuilt and with a 
 number of (jlher bretiuen withdrew from the Al- 
 toona church and organized the new chiUH'h. which 
 has now a membership of one Jiundred and five and 
 is in a good working condition, its i>astor being 
 Rev. .1. II. I'uinter. Some years since Mr. Hondu- 
 rant with otiicr lirethren conceived an iilea wiiich 
 has resulted in great benefit to the church. For two 
 years he has given the use of thirty acres of land 
 which each s|)rini^ was planted in <-(nn, while the 
 members each gave a few days' work to its cultiva- 
 tion during the growing season and when the corn 
 was ready lo be gathered, the entire mendiership re- 
 paired to the field, and procured the golden ears. 
 This was followed by a "husking bee" such as was 
 enjoyed by our granil fat hers and a general good time 
 was hadwhile the corn was prepared for sale or stor- 
 age. The first crop yielded t wel\ e huuilred bushels 
 and as the result of last season's labor the church 
 has asurplus of ><2M in the treasury. This forms an 
 in)|)orlant factor in paying the expenses of the 
 cliurch which is now entirely free from all iudebte<l- 
 ness and is accomplishing a good work in the com- 
 munity. To other worthy enterprises Mr. Hondu- 
 rant Is also a liberal supporter, giving freeU' to the 
 cau.se of lenipeiance and also educational work. The 
 poor are never turneil empty handed from his door 
 but find in liim a faithful friend in time of need. 
 He is respected alike by rich and poor, 3'oung and 
 old and long after he shall have passed .away his 
 memory will he enshrined in the hearts of those 
 who partook of his bounty or were numbered 
 among his friends. 
 
 ^p^KORfiK GAKVKR, re.al -estate dealer of 
 (|( ,— - Des Moines. was^born in Tuscarawas County, 
 ^3i Ohio, Ai)ril 18. 18.34, a son of Martin and 
 Suas (Shaffer) (iarver. Hoth parents were horn 
 in Pennsylvania, and among the eaily enugrants 
 came to Ohio. He clc.ired a fine farm, and made 
 a coniforlable liome for his family. lie died in 
 
 his sixtieth year. His wife survives at the ripe 
 age of eighty-(me. Of their family five sons are 
 living, of whom George is the only one identified 
 with the business interests of Des Moines. While 
 growing up he learned to swing the ax and receive 
 the birch as it was wielded by the |)edagoguc in 
 the pioneer schools. .\t the age of nineteen he 
 went into a general store as a clerk. Having 
 workc(l hard and saved his earnings, he went into 
 business for himself, and in all merchandised some 
 thirteen years. From Ohio he found his way to 
 Iniliana, and at Ncwville, in lHo7, he married 
 .Miss Barbara Fusselinan, a native of j)e Kalk 
 County, Inil. Pushing on westward he Itecame 
 interested in mining in Colorad.a and Montana. 
 Returning from a flip I'.ast, in 1S70, it chanced 
 that he had to change cars at Des Moines. Here 
 he met a friend, and wliile visiting with him his 
 tr.'iin left, and he was detaincil a time in the city. 
 Imi)ressed with the outlook, he decided to make 
 this his home, and in March, lK7l,movcci to the 
 city. He soon engaged in coal mining. He and 
 .loliTi Walters developed the first coa! nnnes on 
 the Northwestern liailroad. They sunk, .and for 
 several years oiicrated four shafts. Mr. (Jarver 
 and his partner. Mr. .Io.sei)h Williams, own a large 
 number of the finest tracts of coal land in the 
 State. 
 
 Mr. (iarver is not a theoretical coal miner, but for 
 a broad, practical knowledge, tlcrived from exten- 
 sive prospecting and developing coal mines, he has 
 not a superior in the State. His energies, however, 
 have not all b?en given to one line; he h;is done 
 much to add to the city in the way of building, 
 having put up about one hundred houses. Exten- 
 sive business in this depaitment led him to dealing 
 in building material and hardware, though of late 
 years he has given his attention chiefly to his coal 
 lands. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. G.arver had four children, of 
 whom two died in childhood. Henry F. is a real- 
 estate man of Des Moines, and Carlton M. is 
 associatiMl with the Converse Company of Wyo- 
 ming. 
 
 Politically, Mr. fJarver is a Prohiliition-Iii-pub- 
 licau. lie is a man that stands for jtrinciple, even 
 though it touches the pocketbook. In 1880 he 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPjlIOAL ALBUM. 
 
 831 
 
 was electerl Coiincilman-at-large, which he lield fur 
 five successive years. During that period the 
 most of the substantial imiirovenients of the cit}' 
 were made. 
 
 Mr. Garver is a stirring, energetic man, indeed 
 his has been a very bu.sy life. As a result lie has 
 a liberal suppl}' of this world's goods. 
 
 (ir^^illOMAS S. AVRIGHT, general attorney for 
 Y the Chicago, Rock Island ct Pacific Railroad 
 Cora|)any, was for man>' years a citizen of 
 Des Moines, but is now living in Chicago. A na- 
 tive of Iowa, he was born in Keosauqua, \'an 
 Ruren Countj', on the 29th of September, 1844, 
 his parents being the Hon. George G. and Han- 
 nah M. (Dibble) Wright. His father was a pio- 
 neer of Van liurcn (Vjunty, of November, 1840, 
 w.as there married on the 19th of October. 1843, 
 and iu 1855 was elected Chief Justice of Iowa, 
 serving on the Supreme P)ench for fifteen years. He 
 was elected United States Senator in 1S70, and 
 would have been again elected had- he not de- 
 clined to serve. His residence in Des Moines 
 covers a period of twenty-five years, and a por- 
 trait and sketch of this illustrious citizen appears 
 on another page of this work. 
 
 Thomas S. Wright was educated in the common 
 and private schools, and in the University of Iowa. 
 In Januarj-, 18G4, when twcnt}^ j'ears of age, he 
 entered the volunteer service for the late war, as a 
 member of the Third Iowa Cavalry, was taken 
 prisoner December 4, of the same year, and for 
 four months was held in captivity, a p.art of the 
 time being confined in Andcrsonville prison, one of 
 the most terrible places of captivity', by the Con- 
 federates during the war. He was released in 
 Aftril, 18C5, but shortly afterward the war closed. 
 During his confinement he was promoted to be Ad- 
 jutant of his regiment, but owing to the cessation 
 of hostilities at about the time he regained his 
 liberty, he w.as not mustered in as such. 
 
 On returning from the army, Mr. Wright en. 
 tered the Iowa Law School, in 18G5, and after 
 pursuing a thorough course of study was admitted 
 
 to the bar in .Tanuary, 1867. He began (iracticc 
 in Des Moines as a member of the firm of Withrow 
 & Wright, and continued in practice in that city 
 until April 1, 1889. During the last five j-ears of 
 that time he served as Divison Solicitor for the 
 Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway Compan3-. 
 On the 1st of April, 1889, he removed to Chicago, 
 to acco[)t his present position, that of General At- 
 torney of the same conipan}-. The promotion was 
 well meritcil, for he is every w.ay capable of filling 
 the position. From 1881 until 1H9() he w.as a 
 member of the llonid of Regents of the State Uni- 
 versity of Iowa. 
 
 Mrs. Wright was forinci-l\' JMiss Mary K. Tuttle, 
 and her marriage with our subject occurred on th(^ 
 19th of October, 18G8. She is a daughter of Gen. 
 .lames M. Tuttle of Des Moines, and was born in 
 the State of Ohio, in July, 1844. 
 
 Mr. Wright was engaged in the active practice 
 of his profession in Des Moines for twenty-three 
 years, and is the acknowledged peer of the ablest 
 of his brethren of the Capital City bar, which com- 
 prises much of the best legal talent of the State. 
 For the past few years he has made a special study 
 of law relating to railwaj' corpfn-ations, and to 
 such i)urpose that his al)ility and legal acquire- 
 ments have won for him the general attorneyship 
 of one of the most important railway corporations 
 in the country. 
 
 AMUEL IIEDRICK, who is now living a 
 retired life, has been a resident of Mitehell- 
 ville for st)me twelve years. He was born 
 in Sangamon County, III., December 25, 
 1828. and is a son of John K. Iledriek. His father 
 was born in Washington Coui'.ty, Tenn., in 1807, 
 and his grandfather, Samuel Hedrick, was a native 
 of the same State. John E. married Miss Ruth 
 Dunlap, who was also born in Washington County, 
 and they became the parents of a large family of 
 children, of whom our subject was the eldest. The 
 living are as follows: Margaret, wife of .lames IS. 
 Dunlap, of Sullivan, ]\[o. ; S.alina 'I'., wife of .lolin 
 
832 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 R. Johnson, who resides near Welcli, La.; Rev. 
 Calvin A., of the Christian Church. S.aline Count}', 
 Mo.: Melissa, wife of George Spader, of Mitehell- 
 ville; and William, who resides in Southeastern 
 California. Those deceased are John 1^., who en- 
 listed in an Iowa regiment and died wliile in the 
 service at Burlington, Iowa; Thomas ^'., a member 
 of the Twelfth Missouri Cavalry, .served three 
 years and then followed farming in Jasper County, 
 Iowa; George W., who served three years in the 
 Fourth Iowa Infantr}- and was wounded at Chicka- 
 saw liayou, became a resident of Ft. Dodge, Iowa; 
 Andrew, who served in an Illinois regiment, died 
 ill Sangamon County, that State, soon after the 
 close of the war. Of the sons, five donned the 
 blue and were numbered among the brave defend- 
 ers of the old flag. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Iledrick came to Iowa in 1.S57, lo- 
 cating in Decatur County, whence ttiey removed to 
 Sullivan County, Mo., in 1850. In 1870, they be- 
 came residents of Mitchellville. where the mother 
 died in 1871, the father in 1888, at the ripe old aga 
 of eighty-one j-ears. Both were devoted members 
 of the Christian Church. 
 
 Samuel Iledrick passed the d.ays of his boyhood 
 and youth upon his father's farm and received 
 such educational advantages as the district schools 
 of that day afforded. On approaching man's estate 
 he left the parental roof and started out in life for 
 himself. He began his business career as a farm 
 hand, working by the month, and in ISal chose as 
 a helpmate on life's journey Miss Martha Rice, but 
 after one year of hai)p>- wedded life she was called 
 to her final home. In 185G, he wedded Miss Mav- 
 garet E. Rice, sister of his first wife and a daughter 
 of George R. and Nancy A. Rice. They began 
 their domestic life in Illinois where Mr. Hedrick 
 continued his farming operations until 1857, when, 
 with the hope of bettering his financial condition 
 he removed to Decatur County. Iowa, where he 
 followed various occupations. The year 1859 wit- 
 nessed the removal of himself and family to Sullivan 
 County, Mo., where he rented a farm and devoted j 
 himself to its cultivation until December, 1861. 
 
 Realizing the dangerous position in which the 
 country was then placed he believed he saw his 
 duty at the front and responded to the call for 
 
 three years' men, enlisting in Company A, Twenty- 
 third I\[issouri Infantry. After being equipped for 
 dut}- at Ciiillicothe, Mo., the troops were sent to 
 Benton Barracks, at St. Louis, where the Twenty- 
 third was organized and at once marched to the 
 scene of conflict. At Pittsburg Landing the regi- 
 ment was assigned to Gen. Prentice's Division and 
 participated in the great Ijattleof Shiloh.on Sundnj', 
 April G, 1862. All day long Mr. Hedrick fought 
 under a galling fire until five P. JI., when he was 
 captured and with other prisoners of war was 
 marched through the swamps to Corinth, Miss., 
 thence to Memphis, Tenn., and on to Jackson. They 
 were packed in box cars like stock and suffered all 
 the hardships and cruelty of prison life. From 
 Meridan, Miss., they were taken to ISIobile, Ala., 
 and up the Jlobile River to Montgomerj', where 
 they were kept in confinement until Ma\-, 1862. 
 They were then paroled and sent to Chattanooga, 
 Tenn., with the expectation of being exchanged 
 but the order was countermanded and they were 
 again taken to jirison, where they remained until 
 October, 1862, when once more they were loaded 
 in box ears and sent to Richmond, Va. After 
 spending one night in Libb}' Prison thej' were taken 
 to Akins' Landing, Va., on the James Rivtr, where 
 they wiere exchanged and subsequently sent to 
 Washington. D. C. Afterwards Mr. Iledrick was 
 sent to a hospital at I'ortsmouth Grove, R. I., where 
 he remained until December, 1862, his health hav- 
 ing been broken down by long confinement. He 
 once more reported to his regiment at St. Louis, 
 but being still unable for duty was sent to the hos- 
 pital in Fianklin, Mo. Not content to remain 
 there while his comrades were in the field, Mr. He- 
 drick sought and obtained permission to rejoin his 
 command which he did at St. Louis. In IMarch, 
 186."i, he was again returned to the hospital in 
 Franklin, where ho was forced to spend the sunimer. 
 Once more he joined his regiment at McMinnviUe. 
 Tenn., where the troops remained until the spring 
 of 1861, when thej' were sent South, joining the 
 Fourteenth Army Corps under the command of 
 Gen. Thomas and participated in the battle of 
 Peach Tree Creek. Charging upon the rebels the 
 eneni}' at length retreated and (Jen. Thomas with 
 his forces advanced to Atlanta and after partici- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 833 
 
 pating in the seige and capture of that city moved 
 south to .Tonesboro, where a hotly contested engage- 
 ment was brought on. The Twenty-tliird regiment 
 was actively engaged in that struggle in which the 
 enem}' lost heavily. The Sixteenth Corps charged 
 the fort while the Twent^'-third regiment with a 
 part of the Fourteenth Corps fell back to Atlanta 
 and made preparations for the campaign throngh 
 Georgia. The Fourteenth Corps starting for Mil- 
 ledgeville, they burned and destroj'ed all railroads 
 and bridges behind them, thus preventing the 
 enemy from following and on re»c-hingMilledgeville 
 burned the penitentiary, freeing some thirty pris- 
 oners, including a young lady "ho had been in- 
 carcerated for shooting a rebel captain for insults 
 offered her, and after giving her liberty, theTwenly- 
 third Regiment conducted her to her home in Sa- 
 vannah, Ga., where the Fourteenth Army Corps 
 remained for Qve days waiting for the arrival of 
 the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Corps ere they be- 
 gan the work of capturing the fort and city. In 
 Savannah on the 30th of IJecember, 1864, INIr. 
 Hedrick was discharged from the service and made 
 his way to Linn County, Mo., whence he continued 
 his journey on foot to his home in Sullivan County, 
 where his famil)' awaited him. One little face, 
 however, was missed from tlie family circle, Thomas 
 B., who had died while his father was gallantly <le- 
 fending the country at the South. 
 
 In 1865, Mr. Hedrick left Missouri and removed 
 to Jasper County, Iowa, locating near Newton, 
 where he made his home until 186G, when he re- 
 moved to near Greeneastle in the same county. 
 In 1870, became to I'olk County, and for tlie past 
 twelve years has been a resident of Mittliellville. 
 F<)r some time he engaged in bi-ick making until 
 ill health forced him to abandon all manual labor, 
 since which time he has lived a retired life. His 
 constitution was broken down by his arduous ser- 
 vice but the (iovernment. repaying as far as pos- 
 sible his injuries, has granted him a pension. 
 
 To Mr. and Mrs. Hedrick have been born six 
 children : James A., the eldest, who is engaged in 
 the carpentering business in Mitchcllville, wedded 
 Miss Georgie Peck, and they have one child, Edith ; 
 Mary is the wife of J. 1"'. Bowman of .Mitchellville, 
 by whom she has two children : Clyde and Arley. 
 
 Elizabeth and John C. both died at the nge of eleven 
 years. Martha J. died in infancy, and Thomas B. 
 died in Missouri as aliove mentioned. 
 
 In politics, Mr. Hedrick is a Republican an<l so- 
 cially is a member of Warr Post, No. 17, G. A. R., 
 of Mitchellville. True to the lessons taught him 
 in early childhood he has lived an upright and 
 honorable life and he and his wife are numbered 
 among the earnest and faithful members of the 
 Christian Church. They arenotonly found at their 
 places in the house of worship but make their reli- 
 gion a part of their lives and are faithful workers 
 for the advancement of the cause. 
 
 ^^ 
 
 "tfJOSElTl KUHN, a retired merchant and cap- 
 II italist ai 
 
 dl|| italist and a prominent early settler of Des 
 1; Moines, was born in Weiesenheim, Bavaria, 
 /'' in 1828. His parents. Jacob and (lersgl 
 (Schmidt) Kuhn, were also natives of Bavaria. His 
 father died when the son was but thirteen years 
 old and the mother departed this life in 1861. 
 Jo9ei)h received his education in his native country 
 and at the age of twenty years, in 1848, emigrated 
 to America. After spending a few years in the 
 East, he came to Ft. Des Moines, reaching this city 
 October 11, 1854, and soon after embarked in busi- 
 ness in company vvitli his brother Isaac, as a dealer 
 in clothing and mens' furnishing goods. Early in 
 1861 he went to j;uro()e and after his return in the 
 autumn of the same year greatly enlarged and ex- 
 tended his business and in the fall of 1862, added 
 dry goods to his stock. They also had several no- 
 tion wagons on the road and did a general jobbing 
 and wliolcsale trade. The firm bought largely at 
 the beginning of the war on a rising market and 
 ma<]c money rapidly. He left the city in the spring 
 of 1864 and went to New Vork, wheie in com))any 
 with his brol.lier he engaged in the manufac'liire of 
 clothing on a large scale, at the same lime continu- 
 ing the business in Des ,AIoiues. They carried on 
 operations in New York until the fall of 1868, 
 when they closed out their liusiness and concen- 
 trated tluMr ca]iital in this city. Shorlly afterw.-uds, 
 however, they dissolved |)artnersliip and ran separ- 
 
834 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 ate stores. Jose|)h Kubn, our subject, contiuued 
 in the mercantile business until the spring of 1871, 
 wlien he sold out, turning his attention to the ciire 
 of his property, which now occupies liis whole 
 time. Having a large amount of city property 
 and several good farms, he has done a real-estate 
 and broker's business witli his own capital and 
 landed possessions. 
 
 In January, 1863. in Cincinnati. Ohio. IMr. Kuhn 
 was united in marri.age witli Miss Bertha Wolf, 
 daughter of. Joseph Wolf. She was born in Durk- 
 heim, Rhine, Bavaria, and died in Des Moines in 
 December, 1876, leaving two sons. Julius, the 
 elder, is now engaged in tiie mercantile business in 
 New York City, while August, the younger, a 
 graduate of the Harvard Law .School, is engaged 
 in the practice of tiie legal profession. 
 
 Mr. Kuhn is a Democrat in politics Init has never 
 cared to serve in pulilic ollice, preferring to devote 
 his entire energies to business pursuits, wliich ho 
 has done with marked success. He came to Des 
 Moines in 1854 in very moderate circumstances, 
 but liy the exercise of sui)crior business ability and 
 hv dose ap])lication to details in all his affairs, he 
 has acquired a large i>roperty and for many j-ears 
 has been classed as one of the substantial business 
 men of Des Moines. 
 
 |;()BERr W. CLAKKK of East Des Moines 
 ^i^ is one of the honored pioneers of I'olk 
 '-s> Jj^^ County, dating his residence in the commu- 
 nity from 1H55. He was born in Westmore- 
 land County, Pa., February 5, 1816, and is a son 
 of -lames -and Jane Clarke, l>oth of whom were 
 also natives of the Keystone State. Ills f.ather was 
 a man of prominence and inlluence in Pennsylvania 
 and lield many im|)(irtant positions of i)ublic trust. 
 He served in the State Legislature; for nineteen 
 j-ears he served as Commissioner, having charge of 
 canals and railroads, and after two years retirement 
 was again called to public life, becoming a Com- 
 missioner of Public Improvements. He had a 
 State-wide reputation and only laid aside his public 
 duties when old age had nnlitted him for disch.arg- 
 
 ing the arduous tasks accompanying the same. His 
 death occurred in 18G7 and his wife died in 1857. 
 Both were consistent members of the I'nited Pres- 
 byterian Church and well deserve mention in this 
 volume. Their family consisted of three sons and 
 three daughters: James P. is in a typo writer man- 
 ufactor}' in Xew York City; Thomas K. resides on 
 Cottage firove Avenue, Des Moines, and is en- 
 gaged in the real-estate I>usiness; Robert AV. is the 
 next younger; Mary is the wifi; of Rev. A. H. 
 Young, of Pittsburg, Pa.; Jennie is married and 
 lives in Des Moines and Sarah is at home. 
 
 In his native State our subject received a com- 
 mon school education and at the age of sixteen 
 years he joined a corps of civil engineers engaged 
 in the construction of the old Portage Railroad, 
 which was one of the first roads constructed in 
 IVnnsylvania. The manner of building roads in 
 that day differs greatly from the present. They 
 never dreamed that a si.xteen foot rail could be 
 bent so as to make a curve, but they built their 
 curves of three foot rails which they obtained 
 from England and the effect in riding over one of 
 these curves was simil.ar to that produced in riding 
 in a wagon over an old corduroy road. Mr. Clarke 
 continued his work of civil engineering in the East 
 for several years but at length decided to try his 
 fortune upon the broad jjrairies of the Western 
 frontier and started to seek a location. Hearing 
 favorable re])orts of Des Moines he made choice 
 of the capital city of Iowa, and after traveling by 
 rail to Iowa Cit^', he procured a carriage and con- 
 tinued on to his destination. He made his iierma- 
 nent location in 1856 when, accompanied by his 
 wife, he procured for himself a home and gave his 
 attention to business enterprises in the West. 
 
 On the 9th of December, 1840, in the Keystone 
 .State, Mr. Clarke was united in marriage with Miss 
 Caroline King, daughter of Thomas King of Erie, 
 I'a. After seeing his family comfortably settled 
 in their new home he cng.aged in lancl speculation 
 for a time, but afterward changed lii» business 
 pursuits, giving his attention to milling. He re- 
 turned to Ohio, where he ])urcliased a sawmill 
 wliich he shipped to Des Moines and put in opera- 
 tion about one-third of a mile above the floating 
 bridge. This mill will be remembered by many of 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBLM. 
 
 835 
 
 the old settlers of Dcs Moines. Not long after- 
 wiinls, iiowever, the financinl panic of 1S57 came 
 upon llie people and lluMlvin;;- that in'ohably he 
 could better his condition l>y removing' further 
 westward, Mr. t'larke shipped his mill and went to 
 Atchison Count}', Mo., but he now considers that 
 one of the mistakes of his life. He did not meet 
 witii the success he anticipated and sold out. After- 
 wards, in company with W. A. Scotti he rigged up 
 a [)ortable sawmill, and with provisions for a dozen 
 men started for Pike's Peak. Mr. Scott was taken 
 sick and died on the way and was buried at Ft. 
 Scott, Kan. Mr. Clarke proceeded on his way to 
 (Jolden City, Col., where he engaged in business 
 for a time and in ISoO moved his mill to what was 
 known as Eureka Gulch, (loing to St. Louis he 
 purchased a quartz mill which he attached to the 
 sawmill. He then gave his attention to crushing 
 quartz during the day and at night sawed lumlx'r. 
 He associated with him three partners, J. W. Stan- 
 ton, J. B. Fitzpatrick and F.dwiu Sanford, and the 
 business was managed with such ca|)ability that the 
 partners were rapidly acquiring wealth when Mr. 
 Clarke was called home by the sickness of his wife. 
 His partners promised to continue the business in 
 the way it bad before been conducted, but trouble 
 arose between them, and in consequence sales fell 
 off and business declined. When Mr. Clarke re- 
 turned he found affairs in such a shape that he 
 could hardly summon energy enough to make an 
 effort to bring about the old order of things, but 
 after a while prospects brightened and prosperity 
 was again beginning to dawn upon him when he 
 was once more called home by the serious illness of 
 Mrs. Clarke and the Doctor gave him to understand 
 that his presence was there needed. He then sold 
 out his Colorado interests and once more turned 
 his attention to civil engineering. In 1868 he 
 hclpetl to locate the Chicago, Hock Island & Coun- 
 cil Bluffs Railroad and in many other ways he has 
 aided in the work of public improvement. He 
 platted one of the additions to the city, gave freely 
 of his lime and means for the advancemer.t of any 
 worthy cnteriirise and deserves not a little credit 
 for his share in the advancement and progress made 
 by Des Moines. He has witnessed almost the en- 
 tire growth of the city and feels a just pride in the 
 
 position to which it has attained through the labors 
 of its Worthy pioneers. His friends on learning of 
 his selection of a site for a home asked him wh}' he 
 was going way out into the country. He replied 
 that he would have neighbors in due time and the 
 years have witnessed the truth of his words. The 
 little hamlet has increase<l to a city of sixty thou- 
 sand, the metropolis of the State and one of the 
 leading commercial centers of the West. 
 
 Although he has met with some reverses. Mr. 
 Clarke's life on the whole has been a successful and 
 prosperous one, little coming to mar his hap|iiness. 
 The greatest shadow which has fallen n|)on his home 
 came upon him October 30, 1880, when he was 
 called u|)on to givt^ up the loved wife to her Maker. 
 Mrs. Clarke was :i devoted member of the Associa- 
 tion Reform I'resbyterian Church and was a most 
 estimable lady, greatly beloved by many friends. 
 In politics, Mr. Clarke has always acted with the 
 Republican party and has always been numbered 
 atnong the useful and valued citizens of the county 
 where he has now made his home for the long 
 period of thirty-five years. 
 
 ■^EORGE W. RANDALL. Among those 
 who have done much to build up the busi- 
 Ss^Jf^ ness interests of Des Moines City, should be 
 mentioned George W. Randall, of the firm of Ran- 
 dall & Dickey. The settlement Of his family in 
 America antedates the Revolution. As early as 1780 
 AVilliam Randall emigrated from Cranston, Provi- 
 dence County, R. I., to Chesterfield Townsldp, 
 Cheshire County, N. H., vvhich continued to be the 
 home of the family for many years. His oldest child, 
 Eleazer, married Martha Staples, settled on a part 
 of his father's estate, and reared a famil}^ of five 
 children. The fourth child, Nathan, the futher of 
 Mr. Randall, was born on the old homestead. May 
 10, 1701. For his first wife he chose Elizabeth, 
 daughter of Washington Farr, who bore him three 
 daughters, and died in 1831. April 18,1842, he 
 wedded Mrs. Catherine Deddrick, by whom he had 
 two children — Eliza W., wife of Ei)hraim Thomas, 
 of Des Moines; and George Washington. Nathan 
 
836 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM, 
 
 Randall and family removed to Penn Yan, Yates 
 
 County, N. v., where he died June ',), 185'J. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was boru in Penn 
 Yan, September 3, 184G. Having receive<l an 
 academic education he, !it the age of sixteen 
 years, began the moulder's trade in an iron foun- 
 dry'. In 18CC he decided to make his home in the 
 West, and wiili his mother started for Des Moines. 
 From Kellogg tliey had to come by stage. Having 
 followed his tr.ade about three and one-half years, 
 after coming to this city he went to work for N. T. 
 Vorse,who was running an implement establishment. 
 Elliott & .Sibley succeeded Vorse, and in 1877 he 
 bought Sible3''s interest. Two years later Mr. A. 
 Dickey acquired Elliott's share in the business, and 
 since then the firm has been Randall iV Dickey. 
 They do the most extensive business of the kind in 
 the State, having fine branch houses at the following 
 towns: Winlerset, Guthrie Center, Atlantic, Audo- 
 ban and Griswold. 
 
 Mr. Randall is a Republican, and a Knight 
 Templar Mason. November 2u, 1873, he married 
 Miss Frances A. Edwards, a native of Louisville, 
 Ky., and an accomplished lady. They have one 
 daughter, Ida. Mrs. Randall is a member of the 
 Presbyterian Church. Mr. Randall is numbered 
 among tjje old settlers of Des Moines, and is ac- 
 counted one of its best business men. By close 
 attention to business, and husbanding his resources 
 he has become well off, notwithstanding the fact he 
 began as a da3'-laborer. 
 
 
 ilr 
 
 
 'W — ^ ENRY C. HARGIS, who is numbered among 
 if J/} ''''^' '^'■'''y settlers of the county, is now en- 
 '•^^ a-'iged in general farming .and stock-raising 
 f^ on section 35, Hloomfield Township, where 
 he owns a fine farm of three hundred and twenty 
 acres, conveniently situated about two miles from 
 tlie city of Des Moines. He lias been prominently- 
 connected with the agricultural interests of the 
 county for many ^-ears and is regarded as one of 
 the best farmers in the community where he makes 
 his home. 
 - In Pulaski County, Ky., on the 21st of February, 
 
 1820, Mr. Hargis was born. His father, Thomas 
 Ilargis, was a native of the same State, but his par- 
 ents were Mrginiaiis, born of Welsh ancestry-. He 
 grew to manhood in his native State and there be- 
 came acquainted with and wedded Naomi Barnes, 
 an estimable lady of English origin. They became 
 the parents of a family of fourteen children, but 
 only five of that number are now living — Henry C, 
 whose name heads this sketch ; Stephen M.. a resi- 
 dent of Warren County, Iowa; David P., who is 
 living in Nebraska; Elvira, wife of Mark Rambo 
 of Red Bluffs, Cal., and .las[)er N., who is Super- 
 intendent of tiie Poor Farm of Warren County. 
 During the War of 1812, Thomas Hargis served 
 three months under Gov. Isaac Shelby. He after- 
 ward participated in the "tearless battle," the battle 
 of New Orleans, which ended the war, and then 
 walked from the Crescent City to his home in Pu- 
 laski County, K}'. Farming was his chosen occu- 
 pation and he followed that business in his native 
 State until 1829, when he removed with his family 
 to pjdgar County, 111., where they resided about a 
 year. As the county was then newly settled, nearly 
 all of the people were afflicted with chills and Mr. 
 Hargis and his family- fell a victim to the same, 
 which determined them to seek a home elsewhere. 
 They renioyed to Clay County, Ind., but did not 
 make a })ermanent location until 1838, when the^' 
 became residents of Macon County, Mo., where the 
 death of the father occui'red in 184C. His wife sur- 
 vived him about eight ^-ears and passed to her final 
 rest irvSWy, 1854. 
 
 Our subjeqjt remaine;! with his family in their va- 
 rious pl.aces of residence during his earlier 3'ears and 
 in the common schools of the community in which 
 they made their home acquired a good eilucation in 
 the rudimentary branches. When fifteen 3' ears of 
 .age he was apprenticed to the tanner's trade and on 
 the ex|)iration of his term of service remained with 
 his em))loyer, with whom he continued to work for 
 five years. The following winter he taught school 
 and in Juh' of the next j'car, 1840, matle arr.ange- 
 ments to carrj' on a tannery with the following 
 conditions. He w.as to furnish the bark and ma- 
 terial, while his parents furnished the capital and 
 was to receive half of the u[iper leather and one- 
 third of the sole leather for his work. He did busi- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 837 
 
 ness in that way for tliree years, when in the win- 
 tor of 1.S41. hf built :i t;ninery nf ills iiwn in Siielby 
 County, Inil., where lie operutod successfully for 
 nine years. During tliat period tlie country round 
 Mliout became quite thickly populated and the lands 
 were so rapidly cleared that it was almost impossi- 
 ble to procure bark for his business. In conse- 
 quence he gave up tanning in 1853, and luiving 
 purchased a farm two years previous in the same 
 ciiunty, turned his attention to the development of 
 his laud. After raising two crops, he sold out with 
 the determination to try his fortune in the West 
 and chose I'olk County, Iowa, as the scene of his 
 future labors. He purchased three hundred and 
 twenty .acres of laud on which he now rosiiles and 
 also entered forty .acres of timber land. jMoving 
 his family into a small frame house which had been 
 erected and which at that time was almost the only 
 improvement, he began the arduous task of clear- 
 ing, breaking and developing the land and in his 
 labors has met with excellent success. He possesses 
 the esientials necessary to a prosperous career — in- 
 dustry, enterprise, good man.agement and business 
 ability and ji}' the exercise of those qualities has 
 steadily worked his w.ay upward to a position of 
 atUuence. At one time he owned tivi> hundred and 
 thirty acres of valuable laud, but has since given 
 two hundred acres of that amount to his son. His 
 own fai-m, as before stated, is one of the best in the 
 eonntj-, wliere can be ff)und an excellent grade of 
 stock, gooil barns and outbuildings, the latest ma- 
 "chinery and all necessary improvements. 
 
 A marri.age ceremony performed on the 22nd of 
 December, 1<SI2, united tli(> destinies of Henry C. 
 Hargis and Miss Elizabeth Kennedy, a daughter of 
 Robert and Margaret (Flemming) Kennedy. Her 
 father, a native of \'irginia, was of Scotch-Irish de- 
 scent, and her mother, who was born in Washington 
 County, I'a.. was of Scotcli origin. The death of 
 Mr. Kennedy occurred in 1833, but his wife sur- 
 vived him inau}' years, passing to her linal rest in 
 M.ay, 188',l, at the advanced age of ninety-nine 
 years and eight months. This worthy couple were 
 parents of eleven children, six of whom are yet liv- 
 ing; Sarah, widow of W. Updegraff, of Walnut, 
 Pottawattamie County. Iowa; Peter, a resident of 
 Plielby County, Ind.; Eli/,abeth, wife of our sub- 
 
 ject; Mary, wife of J. Flemming of Linn County, 
 Kail., and George W. of Shelliy ville, Ind. 
 
 Mr. and ]\Irs. Hargis have siient nearly their en- 
 tire married lives in their present home in Polk 
 County, where their children, three in number, were 
 reared. All, however, have left the parental roof 
 — Thomas F. is a resident of Bloomfield Townshiit; 
 Zachary T. is engaged in farming near the old 
 homestead; and John H. is a farmer of Warren 
 County, Iowa. When the parents settled in Polk 
 County, their nearest neighbor west was twenty 
 miles away. The now beautiful and prosperous 
 cit^' of Des Moines, of which the people of Iowa 
 are so justly' proud, was but a mere hamlet contain- 
 ing about four hundred inhabitants. They have 
 witnessed almost the entire growth which has taken 
 place since that time, have seen countless manufac- 
 tories and industries introduced, elegant churches 
 and schools have been built, cities and towns have 
 sprung up and the wilderness has been m.ade to blos- 
 som .as the rose. It is certainly an honor to have 
 been an active participant in these changes as Mr. 
 Hargis h.as been and we t.ake great pleasure in thus 
 mentioning him in this volume. In politics, he is 
 an Independent and has taken quite an active part 
 in [lolitical affairs. He attended the first Republi- 
 can convention ever held in Polk Coimty. and has 
 been candidate for many iin|)ortant offices, but w.as 
 not elected on account of his party being in the 
 minority. He was the nominee for State Treasurer 
 in 1872, and for .State .Senator in 1883 on the Green- 
 back ticket and for Representative in 1885 on an 
 independent ticket. He wa-- an elector on the G reen- 
 back Presidential ticket in 187C. He is a popular 
 citizen, highly esteemed for his worth and abilitj' 
 and has led an upright, honorable life. 
 
 ♦^^ 
 
 ^ 
 
 A FAYI:TTK HARTKK, who since April, 
 185 1. has made his home in Des Moines 
 claims Ohio as the .State of his nativity. He 
 was born in Mansfield, Richland C^ounty, December 
 21, 1827, and is a son of John W. and Cordelia 
 (SutlitT) Harter. His father was liorn near Ila- 
 gerstown, Md., in 1791', of German parenttige, 
 
838 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 while his mother was a native of Connecticut and 
 was descended from uhl Puritan ancestry. In his 
 young manhood, John W. llarter removed to Rich- 
 land County, Ohio, where he married and after- 
 wards went to Lucas County, of the same State in 
 1835, and in 1854, accompanied hy his wife and 
 children came to Iowa, settling in S.aylor Town- 
 sbii>, Polk County. Tliere were five children in 
 the family, two sons and three daughters, but one 
 daughter, Mary Ann, died soon after their emigra- 
 tion to Iowa. Eben S., the eldest, married Miss 
 Charlotte C. Howell, and is now President of the 
 American Savings Bank of IJes Moines; La Fayette 
 is the next younger; Deborah is the wife of A. ('<. 
 Ta3'lorof this city; and Elizabeth is the wife of 
 David M. Ayers of San Jose County, Cal. The 
 father died in 1807, the mother in 1883. 
 
 Our subject was reared and educated in Lucas 
 County. Oliio, acquiring a knowledge of the com- 
 mon branches in the district school. Ere he left 
 the Buckeye Slate, on the 12tli of October, 1851, he 
 was joined in wedlock with IMiss Martha Spaulding, 
 daughter of "William and Rcltecca Spaulding. Tiie 
 lady w.as born in Maine, and removed witji her par- 
 ents to Ohio in childhood. Li the siiring of 1854, 
 they came to Des Moines and soon afterward Mr. 
 Harter engaged in furniiiig in Sayior Township, 
 Polk Count}', which he continued until the fall of 
 1864, when he sold out and returned to lliis city. 
 'the succeeding year he was engaged in the grocery 
 business, following which he operated a sawmill 
 and carried on a wood yard for several years. lu 
 1876, he closed out in those lines and resumed 
 farming in Delaware Townsliii). successfully engag- 
 ing in agricultural pursuits until 1886, when he re- 
 turned to Des Moines. In the meantime, in 1882, 
 he went to Florida and purchased an orange grove 
 of ten acres iu extent situated in Sumter County, 
 where he has spent four winters. The trees are 
 just beginning to bear and a part of the carload of 
 oiangcs just brought by him from Florida to Des 
 ISloines was gathered from his own grove. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Harter have three children, a son 
 and two daughters — Mary is the wife of Z. T. Reed 
 of Des Moinea, Iowa; Cordia is the wife of Charles 
 Rossiter and resides in Des INIoincs; (jcorge W. 
 married Alice Arthur and is a farmer of Delaware 
 
 Township, owning a farm .adjoining his father's 
 laud. Both Mr. and Jlrs. Harter are members of 
 the Methodist Ei)iscopal Church and have been 
 connected with that society since early life. He is 
 a Republican in politics and has filled various offi- 
 cial positions, having represented Haylor Township 
 one term in the County Board of Supervisors, 
 served as Township Trustee and in other olFices of 
 lesser importance. During his residence of thirty- 
 six years in Polk County, he has alw.aj^s been rec- 
 ognized as an honorable, fair dealing man, of Indus 
 trious habits and good business ability. His record 
 has been such as to command the respect and es- 
 teem of a wide circle of acquaintances. 
 
 •>) DWARD I. McCOY, attorney and counsel- 
 or-at-law and also a real-estate dealer of 
 / Des Moines, is a recent .ic(piisition to the 
 bar of Polk Count}-, having resided in tliis city 
 only since September, 1889. However, he has been 
 a practicing attorney of Iowa since Septenilier, 
 1877. in which year he located in Tipton, where he 
 continued the practice of his i)rofcssion until com- 
 ing to Des Moines. 
 
 Mr. McCoy is a native of Pennsylvania, his birth 
 occurring in Huntington County, in 1817. He was 
 liberally educated and is a graduate of the Franklin 
 and Marshall College of Lancaster, completing the 
 course with that institution in the cl.ass of 1874. 
 AVliile still a student in college, in 1873, he began 
 the slud\' of law and in 1875 was admitted to the 
 bar in Huntington, Pa. Shortly afterwards he en- 
 tered upon his i)rofessional career in Wilkes Barre 
 in his native State, but believing that the West 
 offered belter advantages for young men just start- 
 ing out in life as he was doing, he decided, after a 
 year and a half sjient in Wilkes Barre, to cast his 
 lot with the people of Iowa and as before stated 
 opened an oflice in TijUon in 1877. Mr. .McCoy 
 secured a good practice in Cedar County and also 
 served in a capable ami acceptable manner as 
 County Attorney. He was first appointed by the 
 County Board, by virtue of which appointment he 
 
^ :■. . 
 
 (f%U.-62j(D'e 
 
 ^^^t{U/^U, 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 841 
 
 served one year; and when the new law, regulating 
 the election of County Attorneys went into effect, 
 he was elected and served two years longer. 
 
 Mr. McCoy h;is been twice married, his lirst wife 
 having been Miss Mary Moreland of Tipton, who 
 died at her home in that town in 1880, leaving one 
 daughter, Susie, who is still witii her father. His 
 present wife was formcrally Miss Maria Cheney oi 
 Topeka, Kan. 
 
 Mr. McCoy is a gentleman of good education, 
 courteous and affable in manner and a lawyer of 
 excellent ability. He combines the dealing in real 
 estate with the legal profession and in that is alike 
 successful. In politics he affiliates vvitli the Repub- 
 lican part}' and is esteemed as a worth}' and useful 
 citizen. 
 
 ^*^^IIIL() C. KENYON, proprietor of one of 
 the leading printing establishments of Des 
 Moines, is a native of tiie Empire State, and 
 \ a son of William F. and Susan E. (Allen) 
 Kenyon. He was born in Oxford, Chenango 
 County, June 28, 1845, and with his parents came 
 to Des Moines in September, 1855, wiien little 
 more than ten years of age. He here attended the 
 public schools, and was one of the first newslioys 
 of the citj\ In the winter of 1856-57 he began 
 working in a (irinting-oUice, and in April, 18613, 
 commenced a regular apprenticeslu|) to the l)usi- 
 ness in the office of the SluU' RcijiatiT. which was 
 then published by F. W. Palmer, now the Govern- 
 ment Printer at Washington. Mr. Kenyon s|)ent 
 four years in the Register office, and six years as a 
 journeyman printer in the office of Mills & Co., 
 general job and book printers. Later he was in 
 the employ of Carter, Ilussey & Curl, printers and 
 blank book manufacturers, with whom he continued 
 three years. In Ju\y, 1875, he began business for 
 himself. Soon after starting ho admitteti to part- 
 nership R. J. Pearson, or rather made a contract of 
 partnership with liim, but no capital was furnislied 
 by that gentk;niaii, and in consequence the connec- 
 tion only continued fifteen months, since which 
 time Mr. Kenyon has carried on the business alone. 
 He started with only one press, but gradually en- 
 
 larged his facilities as the increased volume of 
 business demanded until now he has live [iresses 
 operated by electric power, and employs about 
 sixteen men. He makes a specialty of the better 
 class of work, law printing, and does a general job 
 printing business. Mr. Kenyon is one of the old- 
 est job printers in the city, and is a thorough mas- 
 ter of his business, and the good feeling existing 
 between himself and employes (and printers gener- 
 ally) is shown by the fact that his hands have 
 continued in his service for an average length of 
 time of about six years. He believes that to be a 
 good printer one must needs be a reliable man, and 
 has always done eveiylliing in his power to en- 
 courage those working under him to avoid dissi- 
 pation, believing that to Ije jirolitable, cm|iloyes 
 must grow in moral character as well as in the 
 knowledge of their trade. 
 
 On the lOth of November, 1865, Rlr. Kenyon 
 was married, in Des Moines, to Miss Lida Chad- 
 wick, a daughter of ,]. 15. and Eliza Chadwick. 
 She was born in NewQeld, Tompkins County, N.V., 
 and came to Des Moines in 1804. A woman of 
 many estimable qualities, she has proved a wise 
 counselor and loving helpmate to her husband, and 
 to her sound advice and practical encouragement 
 he is indebted for much of the success that has 
 crowiietl his efforts on the road to prosperity. jMr. 
 Kenyon is a Re|)ublican in politics, but has never 
 been active in political affairs, his business matters 
 requiring his full time. He is a member of Capi- 
 tal Lodge, No. 1 10, A. F. & A. M., and of Capital 
 City Lodge, No. 29, K. P., an<l is popular in social 
 and business circles. 
 
 HARLES HOLM DALE, I'roprietor of the 
 Sabiii House, corner of Fourth and Chestnut 
 i^ Streets, Des Moines, and one of the most 
 popular landlords in Iowa, is a native of Gotten- 
 berg, Sweden, and was Itorn November 15, 18.'i5. 
 His parents, Charles (t. and Sarah (Johnson) Holm- 
 dale, were also natives of Sweden. 
 
 Our subject was educated at Gottenberg College 
 and was graduated in the class of 1852, taking a 
 
812 
 
 PORTllAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 scientific and lilerarj' course. He began his busi- 
 ness c:ireer as mercliant's clerk, and learned the 
 uicrcanlile business. In 1857 he came to America 
 and located at Chicago, wliere he engaged as mer- 
 chant's clerk, and continued until 1839, when he 
 removed to St. Louis. On arriving in that citj- he 
 secured the position of clerk of the well-known 
 Planters' House of that iil\ , which place he lield 
 for six years. He then received the appointment 
 of Forage and Fuel Master at Benton Barracks, 
 under Quartermaster (^en. Me3'ers. Six months 
 later he was made Quartermaster's Agent, under 
 Col. Boernel, which position he held until the close 
 of the war. While in Benton Barracks, June 1, 
 1865, he was commissioned First Lieutenant of 
 Benton Barracks Battalion, which rank he held until 
 November I, 18G5. He left St. Louis and wont to 
 Sterling, HI., where he engaged in mercantile busi- 
 ness, continuing there until 1875, when he removed 
 to Marshalllown, Iowa. Tiiere he was engaged in 
 the wholesale grocery business for ten years, and 
 was very successful. In 1885 he came to Des 
 Moines and leased the Aborn House, one of the 
 leading hotels of the city, which he conducted for 
 four years. In the summer of 1889 he ke|)t the 
 Hotel Colfax, at Colfax Springs, Iowa, the Saratoga 
 of the West. On the 25th of November following 
 he returned to Des IMoines and became the lessee 
 of the Sabin House, which he is now operating 
 with marked success. 
 
 While a resident of Illinois Mr. Holmdalc was 
 commissioned by Gov. Palmer as First. Lieutenant 
 of the Sterling Cit}' Guards, his commission dating 
 August 27, 1871. He was promoted to be Captain 
 June 2(), 1872, and continued his connection willi 
 the company until his removal from Sterling to 
 Marshalllown, Iowa. 
 
 Mr. Uolmdale was married at St. Louis, March 
 4, 1 862, to Miss Ellen Foster, a daughter of William 
 Foster. Mrs. Holmdale was born in Cheshire. 
 Fngland, of iMiglish i)ai'ents. Mr. and iMrs. llolm- 
 tlale have had nine children, of whom three sons 
 and three daughters are living, one daughter and 
 two sons are deceased. Christina Louise is the 
 eldest. Jlary died August 9, 1863; Elizabeth is 
 the wife of F. W. Thomjjson of Des Moines; Carl 
 G. died November 11, 1889, ageU twenty-three 
 
 3'ears; Ellen Sarah is the wife of A. W. Wright, 
 ^Manager of the Continental Clothing House of 
 Des Moines; Otto William, Gustav Adolph; Clara 
 Loui.se and Julius Foster. William died at the age 
 of eleven years. Mr. and IMrs. Holmdale are mem- 
 bers of the Episco[)al Church. In |)olitics Mr. 
 Holmdale is Republican. While a citizen "of 
 Marshalllown he served as a member of the City 
 Council. 
 
 ANIEL O. FINCH is one of the most 
 prominent members of the bar of Polk 
 (jgJ^^ County, and one of the oldest and best 
 known attorneys of Des Moines. He was 
 liorn in I'nadilla, Otsego County ,N. Y., on the 6th 
 of June, 1829, and his parents, David and l^uth Ann 
 Finch were born in Connecticut. His maternal 
 grandfather. Ransom Mallory, served as Captain 
 in the War of the Revolution and soon after the 
 close of that struggle married Ruth Ann Wooster. 
 At the age of el(;ven years Mr. Finch was deprived 
 by death of his father. Previous to that time he liad 
 attended the public schools of his neighboriiood, 
 but shortly afterward was sent by his mother to 
 the Delaware Institute, in P'rauklin. Delaware 
 County, where he remained four jears, when he 
 became a student of theOxforil Academy of Chen- 
 ango County, there [lursuing a complete prepara- 
 tory course. When hi' left that school he was 
 lilted to enter the Soi)homort' cla.^s in college, but 
 abandoned his intention of pursuing a collegiate 
 course and entered upon the study of law with 
 Judge C. C. Noble, of ru.idilla, in whose olllce he 
 remained two years. In the fall of IfS 17, he entered 
 the law school in Cherry Valle}', and grailuated 
 from tiiat institution in the fall of 1818. The same 
 year he left for the West, believing that it fur- 
 nished better opportunillus for young men than 
 the older anil more thickly settled States of the 
 East. He chose Monroe, Greene County, Wis., as 
 the scene of his future labors, and was there ac- 
 tively engaged in [iractice until thi' spring of 1851, 
 when he came to Iowa, locating in Cedar Rapids. 
 Since that time he has been prominently connected 
 with some of the leading business interests of the 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 813 
 
 State. In Cedar Rapids he became a member of 
 tlie banking firm of Wear, Finch & Co., and at 
 the same time was engaged in the practice of Iiis 
 profession. Jndge George Green was a member of 
 the banking firm above mentieued and a gentle- 
 man of rare legal attainments .ind business ability. 
 He was the author of "Green's Reports," the first 
 law book published in Iowa. 
 
 In the spring of 18.53, Mv. Finch closed his lius- 
 iness affairs in Cedar Rapids, and the following 
 summer came to Dcs JMoines, then a village of 
 about four hundred and fifty inhabitiuits. He at 
 once engaged in the practice of law, having been 
 associated with Judge Curtis Bates, lie also be- 
 came interested in a banking enterprise and for 
 some time ofliciated as editor of the Iowa Star, 
 prosecuting all branches of his business with good 
 success. In 185,5, the firm of ISates & Finch was 
 dissolved, the .Tudge withdrawing and was suc- 
 ceeded by Gen. I\I. M. Crocker, since which time 
 Mr. Finch has been successively associated with 
 Judge Mitchell, Hon. John A. Kasson,George Clark 
 Esq., Byron Rice, John 1). River and W. S. Sick- 
 man. Uuring the campaign of 18,5t!, he was on the 
 I'juchanan eleclorial ticket and canv.assed one-half 
 of the counties in tlie State. In 1860, he was a 
 delegate to the National Democratic Convention, 
 held in Charleston, S. C, and took an active part 
 in the nomination of Stephen A. Douglas, and in 
 18G2 was a candidate for congress in the Fifth Dis- 
 trict, but was di'feated b}' a small majority. Two 
 years later he was a member of the National Dem- 
 ocratic convention held in Chicago and supported 
 George 1!. McClellan for the presidency. When 
 the convention w.as held in New ^'ork in 1868, Mr. 
 Finch was again a delegate and an earnest sup- 
 porter of Horatio Seymour, and in 1876, was chair- 
 man of the Iowa delegation in the National Con- 
 vention that met in St. Louis and was President of 
 of the Democratic State Convention of 1877, and 
 headed the electorial Democratic State ticket at the 
 National election of 1884, which resulted in the 
 election of G rover Cleveland for President. On 
 the 26th of September, 1885, he was appointed at- 
 torney for the Southern District of Iowa and held 
 that office till November 27, 188'J. 
 
 Mr. Fiucb was united in marriage on the n;th 
 
 of September, 1881, with Miss Ellen Maria Calder, 
 daughter of Joseph Calder, formerly of New York. 
 The parents of Mrs. Finch were luitives of Eng- 
 land but were married after coming to America. 
 The mother's maiden name was Keeling. Her father 
 attained to the advanced age of ninety years and 
 was then accidentally killed by the falling of a tree. 
 He was a man of much influence and was the pos- 
 sessor of one of the finest farms on the shores of 
 Otsego Lake, in New Yo'k. Mr. and Mrs. Finch 
 have long been faithful and consistent members 
 of the Episcopal Church, and having carefully 
 reared their children to habits of usefulness and 
 ui)rightness. Their fusl-born, Willie, died at the 
 age of four years. Joseph Calder, the second son, 
 was born Januaiy 8, 1855, gr.aduated from the law 
 department of Simpson College in 1876, and is 
 now practicing his profession in Chicago. He mar- 
 ried Miss Julia Finch of Des Moines. Daniel Mal- 
 lory who was born JNIay 17, 1858, married Miss 
 Emma Tlion)as of this city, and is now engageil in 
 the real-estate business. Edward Douglas, who 
 stuilied law with his father and was graduated from 
 the law department of the Iowa Stale University 
 in July, 1878, is now located in Whatcorae, Wash.; 
 Charles Marcus, who was married in 18.Si), to Miss 
 Luella McClellan of Mt. A'ernon, Iowa, is a whole- 
 sale and retail furniture dealer in Seattle, Wash. 
 Mr. and Mrs. Finch have two bright and interest- 
 ing giandcliildrcn, sons of Daniel F., Paid and 
 D. O.. the latter being so called for his grandfather. 
 The high rank which lie hold.s among his profes- 
 sional lircthren, is well-merited by Mr. Finch, for 
 he has worked his way ujiwards l)y studious habits, 
 untiring zeal and strict attention to his Imsiness. 
 
 ^^ 
 
 ^^^ 
 
 pv U. NANCY A. FLKMINC; was born in Coii- 
 I j)j nersville, Ind., .luly 2!), 18i:i, and is of En- 
 k^ glish. Scotch and Welsh descent. Her father, 
 Sylvanus Scofield, was born in Connecticut, June 24, 
 1798, antl in early life took a great deal of interest 
 in the science of medicine becoming well informed 
 on that subject, though lie never engaged in medical 
 practice. At the age of twenty-two with his par- 
 
844 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 ents he removed to Central Inriiana, where he be- 
 came acquainted with iiiiil married Mrs. Klizabetli 
 .Shane. <laiigliter of .John Miller, .a soiilliern planter. 
 She was born in Fiankfort Ky., June 1 1, 1817, and 
 is of (jerman and Irish descent. When she was 
 seventeen years of ai^e she was married to W. II. 
 Shane, a southern gentleman who died a little less 
 than a year later. They had one child, Henry W., 
 born.Ianuary 1. 18.'i.^,and who was wounded in the 
 Civil War on December 1, and died on December 
 2-2, 1865. 
 
 IMr. Scotield and Mrs. Shane were married in 18;J7; 
 for a number of years Mr. Scolield eui>;aged in mer- 
 chandising in Conncrsville. In 18G1, lie removed 
 to Davis County, Iowa, and nine years later located 
 in Des Moines, where he died in 1877. His wife 
 still survives him making her home in Boston, Mass, 
 with her youngest daughter. In i)olitics, Mr. Seo- 
 field was a Whig until the dissolution of that party, 
 when he lieeame a Democrat. For many years 
 prior to his death he was a consistent member of 
 the Christian Cliurch, to which his wife also belongs, 
 and by their upright lives that worthy couple won 
 for themselves the high regard of all with whom 
 they came in contact. Their family numbered 
 three daughters, Sarah E. wife of Jonathan Hunter; 
 Nancy A. and Uuth K., wife of Frank W. Reynolds, 
 of Boston, Mass. 
 
 The literary education of Dr. Fleming was ac- 
 quired in the public schools. When seventeen 
 years of age she accompanied her parents to Davis 
 County, Iowa, where on the 3rd of A|)ril, 1866, 
 she became the wife of Barton Stone Fleming. 
 
 From the time she was seventeen years of .age. 
 Dr. Fleming has read medicine but not with the in- 
 tention of practicing tlie profession. She first de- 
 termined to engage in practice about ten years ago, 
 when she began a systematic course of study and 
 in 1883, graduated from the medical department 
 of Drake University, since which time she has done 
 a general practice. Having a special liking for sur- 
 gery she si)ent the summer of 1888 in the State 
 and city liospitals of Boston, Mass. She is a mem- 
 ber of the State and '^Jounty Medical Societies and 
 is a physician of acknowledged merit and ability. 
 Barton Stunc Fleming was born in Shell)}' County, 
 111., July 6, 1843, and when four years of age ac- 
 
 companied bis parents, Levi and Nancy (Kissler) 
 Fleming, to D*vis County, Iowa. At that time the 
 couniy was but sparsely settled and many were the 
 hardships of frontier life endured by the pioneers. 
 Levi Fleming, or Uncle Levi, as he was known to 
 all the country round, was a man that exerted a 
 wide Cliristian ioUuence and was respected and 
 loved by the entire community. For forty years 
 or more lie jireached the gospel as taugiit by the 
 Church of Christ, but dc[)ended upon his own res- 
 ources for the support of himself and family, his 
 ministerial labors being gratuitous. In earlier days 
 he was a tanner, but later in life engaged in farming 
 and stock-raising. About 185.5, his wife, who had 
 labored with him in the home and church, ably se- 
 conding his efforts, was called to her reward. He 
 spent his last days in Taylor County, Iowa, reach- 
 ing the ripe age of eighty-three year*. Of their ten 
 children only five are now living. Daniel H. served 
 three years in Company (i, of the Second Iowa Reg- 
 iment and arose to the rank of First Lieutenant, 
 serving until the close of the war, after which he 
 became a resident of Smith County, Kan., and for 
 two terms served .as County Superintendent of 
 Schools; Eleaser is Ex-County Clerk of Taylor 
 County, Iowa; Elijah P. is a resident of Des Moines, 
 and Nannie the j'Oungest and only surviving dau- 
 ghter, is the wife of A. Vtnordstrand. 
 
 Barton S. Fleming, from boyhood, displayed 
 considerable mechanical genius and his life work has 
 been in that direction, being a first cl.ass mechanic 
 and builder. As a loyal citizen, in 1862, he en- 
 listed in the service of his country and was assigned 
 to Company B, Thirtieth Iowa Infanlr}-, in which 
 he served until the close of the war. During that 
 time be participated in twenty-two battles, of which 
 only the most important we mention. These in- 
 cluded the engagements at Arkansas Post, \icks- 
 burg, Jackson, Lookout ^Mountain, Missionary Ridge 
 Kenesaw Mountain. Atlanta, Savannah and Colum- 
 bus, S.C. During the service [w was made First 
 Sergeant. Shortly after his return from the war 
 he was joined in wedlock with Miss Scoficld and in 
 1868, they removed to Des Moines, where they 
 have since made their home. Both he and his wife 
 have been members of the Church of Christ since 
 their sixteenth year and are earnest workers for 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 847 
 
 the interests of the congregation with which they 
 liold raembershii). Tlipy have an interesting fam- 
 ily of five childron. :is follows; i\Lary A., Elizai)etli 
 Lucilc, Sylvaniis l>., L.L. and Ruth K. 
 
 OSES A. ILLSLEY, who was for many 
 years one of the leading contractors and 
 builders of Des Moines, but has now laid 
 aside tlie greater part of his business cares, 
 lias been a resident of the city since 1862. With 
 all its pulilie enterprises he has been identified, and 
 has ever borne a part in the work of advancement 
 and progress. It is, therefore, meet that a sketch 
 of his life should be recorded in this work, and we 
 feel that it will be received will: interest by many 
 of our readers. 
 
 Mr. Illsley was bo''n in Slrathara, N. H., A()ril 
 4, 1822, and is a son of William Illsley, a native 
 of AVest, Newbury, Mass. The family is of English 
 origin and was established in America by two 
 brothers, .lonathan and William Illsley. The former 
 settled in P.angor, Me., and the latter, who is the 
 great-grandfather of our subject, became a resi- 
 dent of NewlHuy. Mass. His son, Jonathan Ills- 
 ley, s|ient the greater part of his life in West 
 Newbury, and at bis death Ijecpieathed the farm on 
 which he had lived so many years to his sons 
 .lonallian and William, the latter the father of our 
 subject. 
 
 William Illsley married Harriet (Goodrich, of 
 West Newbury, a lady of P^nglish descent and 
 a daughter of .Tereniiah (ioodrich. For many 
 years the Goodrich homestead property has been in 
 the possession of the family, descending from gen- 
 eration to generation. William Illsley and wife, 
 however, settled on the homestead which had come 
 to hitn through his father, and which is still owned 
 by members of the family, butabout 1815 they re- 
 moved to Newmarket, N. H., and after a short 
 time became residents of Stratham, in the .same 
 Stale, where Mr. Illsley engaged in the milling 
 business on the Winnepesaukee Hiver until his 
 death, which occurred in 1828. Soon afterwards 
 his wife removed with her family to Ilanipsted, 
 N. II., settling on a farm, but in 1832 they became 
 
 residents of Georgetown, Mass., where the mother 
 died in June, 1887, having survived her husband 
 many years. This worthy couple were the parents 
 of five children, three sons and two daughters, who 
 grew to mature years. Ann, the eldest, is the 
 widow of Charles Dunham, and lives at the home- 
 stead in Georgetown, Mass.; Mary died in early 
 childhood; Joseph was a contractor and builder by 
 occupation, and for a number of years was associ- 
 ciated in that business with Moses A., our subject, 
 in Newburyport, Mass. The partnership was dis- 
 solved in 1844. and in 1848 Joseph removed with 
 his family to Soinerville, near Boston, in which 
 city he continued business for many j-cars. He 
 afterward left the East and settled in Michi- 
 gan, where he resided at the time of his death. 
 Mary, the next child of the family, died at the age 
 of two j'ears; Jonathan Adams died at the old 
 homestead, in ( Jeorgetown, Mass., in .lanuary, 1890; 
 Eunice became the wife of George Morrill, of 
 Georgetown, but has long since been called to her 
 final rest; Jeremiah died in Hampstead, N. H.. at 
 the age of twenty j'cars; Moses A. is the next in 
 order of birth; and the youngest, Susan, liecame 
 the wife of Joseph Lombard, of Haverhill, Mass., 
 where she died many years ago. Our subject and 
 I\Irs. Dunham, the eldest of the family, are the 
 only ones now living. 
 
 The first business to which Moses A. Illsley de- 
 voted his energies was that of contracting and 
 building as a p.artner of his brother .loseph, but, as 
 before stated, he withdrew from the firm in 1844,and 
 removed to Chelsea, Mass. However, he carried on 
 business in the city of Boston until his removal to 
 the West in 18G1. Accompanied b}' his family, 
 he started for Iowa in the spiingof that year, 
 reaching Adams County on the Mth of .lune, but 
 the following year they came to Des Moines, which 
 has since been the home of Mr. Illsley and his wife. 
 Shortly after his arrival, he purchased several lots 
 of Frank Grimmel, on one of which he built a resi- 
 dence in i8()3, but sold it to John R. Barcroft in 
 18G.5. As soon as his family was comfortably set- 
 tled, with characteristic energy', he began business 
 as a eontr.actor and builder, and for many years 
 carried on operations in that line, having one of 
 the largest patronages in the city. Thoroughly 
 
848 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 understanding his work in all its details, and earn- 
 estly desiring to please ids i)atrons, lie liad no 
 trouble in securing work, hut soon built up an ex- 
 cellent trade, which yielded liim a good income. 
 He also for many jears dealt extensively in farm- 
 ing lands. 
 
 Mr. Illsley was married in Newliuryport, ]\Iass., 
 while engaged in business with his brother at that 
 place, to Miss Mary Ilarve3', a native of Epping, 
 N. II., and a daughter of Eben V,. Harvey, a rep- 
 resentative of one of tlie early families of the 
 Granite State. They liavc liad three children, one 
 of whom is deceased. Harvey J'., tlieir only son, re- 
 sides in I'ierre, S. Dak.; Leroy, their second 
 child, was born in Clielsea, Mass., and died at tiie 
 age of twenty months. The daughter, Helen 
 Iowa, who was born in Des i\Ioines, is the wife of 
 Prof. Charles Russell, now of Wichita, Kan. 
 
 Mr. Illsley is one of the well-known and repre- 
 sentative citizens of Des Moines, who for his pro- 
 gressive and p\iblic spirit, his integrit}' and upright 
 life is greatly respected 1)3' a wide cii'cle of friends 
 and acquaintances. In his political affiliations he 
 was formerly a AVhig, as wore all the male mem- 
 bers of his father's family, and like them, he be- 
 came a Republican on the organization of that 
 party. Another characteristic of the entire family' 
 is that none have ever used tobacco or alcolioiic 
 drinks of any kind, a fact that is as rare as it is 
 praiseworthy. Mr. Illsley is not identified witli any 
 religious denomination though he was reared in 
 accordance with the precepts of the Congregational 
 Church, of which his father's family and his own 
 family are members. He has been a successful 
 business man and has done his full share in the up- 
 building of Des Moines and tlie promotion of those 
 enterprises which are calculated to advance the 
 city's best interests. 
 
 ^ JUiAlIAM ASHWORTH, wlio is engaged 
 'MlUi in farming and stock-raising on section 8, 
 111 ^\■alnut Township, is of English birth, his 
 family having resided in (hat land for 
 more than eight centuries. He was born in Mill- 
 row, Lancastershire, December 27, I8.'}fi, and when i 
 
 a lad of ten j'ears accompanied his parents to this 
 country', landing at New York City, on the 13th 
 of Ma^-, 1840. The family settled in .Salem, N.H., 
 where Abraham attended school for a few years 
 and then removed to Waterville, Vt., where the3' 
 resided until their emigration to Polk Count3' in 
 1851. Our subject remained at home until the 
 oth of May, 1859, when he started with a party of 
 gold seekers for California, reaching his destination 
 after months of weary travel on the 8th of October 
 following. He located in the town of Eureka, 
 about forty miles from the Oregon line and en- 
 gaged in mining until 1861, when he returned tc 
 his home by wa3- of the Panama route. 
 
 On the 19th of August, 1862, Mr. Ashworth 
 again lefti'olk County, this time to aid his country 
 in her struggle for existence. lie enlisted as a 
 private of Company E, Twent3'-third Iowa Infantry 
 and participated in his first engagement at Port 
 Gibson, Miss., where the3' encountered and defeated 
 a portion of Gen. Pemberton's forces. This was 
 followed by the battles at Chami>ion Hills and 
 Black River Bridge, after which the regiment was 
 ordered to Memphis, Tenn., as guard to prisons. 
 A few hours after their arrival they were sent to 
 Young's Point, Ind., and later went to Millikens' 
 Bend, on the Mississippi River, where they [lartici- 
 pated in one of the hardest fought battles of the 
 war, the company entering with twenty-one men 
 and having onl3' ten at the close. The3- then joined 
 a brigade in the rear of N'icksburg and partici|)ated 
 in the siege of that cit3' until its surrender Jul3' 1. 
 1863. Mr. Ashworth was there taken sick and re- 
 mained in tent for four weeks. In the meantime 
 the compan3- participated in the battle of Jackson, 
 Miss., and then returned to Mcksburg, where he 
 joined his command as soon as his health would 
 permit. The last engagement in which he partici- 
 jiated was the siege and capture of Spanish Port. 
 He w:is mustered out of t'ue service at Harrisbnrg, 
 Tex., July 25, 1865, and received his discharge at 
 Davenport in August, following. 
 
 Inimedintel3' af ti r the close of the war Mr. Ash- 
 worth returned to his home and worked upon his 
 fathers farm until his marriage, which occurred 
 November 1, 1866, his unit)n being with Mary E. 
 Mott, a native of the Empire State, and a daughter 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 849 
 
 of Joseph H. and Marj' (Blanchaid) Mott, also of 
 New York Tlie^' have two children: Charles A., 
 born March 7, 1869; and Maggie Molt, born July 
 20, 1871. 
 
 Mr. Ashworth's first purchase of land consisted 
 of one hundred and sixty acres on section 8, AVal- 
 nut Township, since which time he has become 
 owner of one hundred acres in Pocahontas County, 
 and the one hundred and tweni3' acre tract on 
 which he now resides. Ills landed possessions now 
 aggregate three hundred and twenty acres, all of 
 which is suitable for farming purposes and is well 
 developed and improved, indicating that the owner 
 is a man of thrift and enteri)rise. He also gives 
 considerable attention to the breeding of Short-horn 
 cattle and Poland-China hogs and for fourteen 
 years has been a successful grain buyer. Politi- 
 cally, he is a Democrat and socially is a member 
 of .loe Hooker Post, O. A. R., of Des Moines. 
 Mr. Ashwouth was a loyal defender of his country 
 during tlie late war and is a worthy citizen and 
 early settler as well as a representative of one of 
 the honored families of the county. 
 
 ILLIAM F. KENYON, one of the honored 
 v^-y/' early settlers of Des Moines, was born in 
 Coventry, N. Y'., on the 7th of Se|)tembei-, 
 1820. He was apprenticed in boyhood to the 
 wagon-maker's trade in Bingliampton, N. Y., and 
 on attaining to manhood began business in that line 
 for himself at Oxford, Chenango Count3'. During 
 his residence in Oxford, in 1841, he united his 
 destiny with that of Miss Susan E. Allen, daughter 
 of Joseph Allen and a native of Oxford. Nine 
 cliildren, five sons and four daughters, were born 
 of their marriage — Philo C, the eldest, wedded 
 Miss Ijida Cliadwick, and is the proprietor of Ken- 
 yon's printing-ollice of Des Moines; William F., 
 Jr., is married and resides in Chicago; Charlie E., 
 a dealer in surgical appliances, makes his home in 
 Chicago; Albert T. is married and living in De- 
 troit; Otho J. is married and resides in Omaha, 
 
 Neb. He is the youngest of the sons. Of the 
 daughters Mary 1., who is second of the family in 
 order of birth, is the wife of James Skinner, of 
 Archer, Alachua County, Fla. ; Caroline is the 
 wife of D.St. Geyer, of Omaha, Neb.; Emeline, 
 twin sister of Caroline, died in infancy; and Ella 
 died at the age of tiiree years. 
 
 In 1855 Mr. Kenyon came to Des Moines and 
 engaged in tiie wagon and carriage business, one of 
 the early institutions of that kind in the town. He 
 carried on the business in this city until the spring 
 of 18G(;, when he removed to ( )maha, where he 
 was employed as manager of an extensive wagon 
 manufactory establishment. In November, 1889, 
 he removed with his wife to Chicago, where he 
 now resides. 
 
 Both Mr. and Mrs. Kenyon are members of the 
 Presbyterian Church, having been associated with 
 that denomination for many years, and have taken 
 an active part in its progress. In politics, he w.as 
 a Whig in early life, but has been a stauch sup- 
 porter of Republican principles since the organiza- 
 tion of tiiat party. Mr. Kenyon is a worthy 
 gentleman, of whom his old'nciglibors and business 
 associates of Des Moines speak in the highest 
 terms. 
 
 ^^'- 
 
 AI>DENI>.\. 
 
 ^S.VAC BRANDT. President Arthur, April :!, 
 1883, appointed Mr. Brandt one of three Rail- 
 
 i road Commissioners, to inspect the Northern 
 I'acilic Railroad, the division on Clark's fork of 
 the Columbia River, and May .3, of the same year, 
 he was appointed to inspect another twenty-five 
 miles of the same road. His :issociates were W. 
 P. Dean, of St. Paul, Minn., and Henry Kelly, of 
 Oregon. On the 21st d.ay of May, 18!»(), Mr. 
 Brandt was appointed Postm.aster of Des Moines, 
 by President Harrison, a position richly deserved. 
 
BI0GI^fI©]9l(9pIi. 
 
 Adams, John =3 
 
 Adams, John Quincy 39 
 
 Adams, J. W., M. t> ^51 
 
 Ames, H.S 47^ 
 
 Anderson. A 644 
 
 Anderson, Albert A., M. L)..ji6 
 
 A ndrcws, James 702 
 
 Andrews, L. F 563 
 
 A iidrews, Nathan 460 
 
 Ankeny, I'. V i77 
 
 Anl<cncy,\V. R 435 
 
 Arthur. Chester A gg 
 
 Ash worth, Abe 848 
 
 Ashworlli, James T 371 
 
 Ashvvorth. Richard 371 
 
 A nliiKinn. William 51a 
 
 Aylcswortli. Rarton O 255 
 
 B 
 
 Babb, William. 470 
 
 Bach man lit A 662 
 
 Kagg, W.G 310 
 
 Kagley, G. L., M. D 550 
 
 Bailey, John 734 
 
 Baiter. Gen. A. J 585 
 
 Baker, W.. M- D 401 
 
 Bannister, L. G 425 
 
 Barber, N. E 794 
 
 Barger. R. W 363 
 
 Barlow, Benjamin 799 
 
 Barlow. John .634 
 
 Barlow, Lewis 796 
 
 Barns. George W 392 
 
 Bartlett, Rev. E.P 214 
 
 iieardshear, W. M 241 
 
 Beck, Thomas 458 
 
 Bell. Albert 204 
 
 Bell, Hill M 319 
 
 Bcrgstroni, K. W 531 
 
 Bcrryhill. J^. G 360 
 
 Bird, Kev. T 553 
 
 Bird. W, K 654 
 
 Bishop, Hon. C. A 303 
 
 Bly, Abraham .696 
 
 Boganwrit;ht, George 304 
 
 Bois, Horace 159 
 
 BonJiirani, .\. C S28 
 
 Bottenlleld. Prof. L. S. 624 
 
 Bower, W. H 437 
 
 Bowman, M. '1'. V 5I5 
 
 Boyd, Thomas. .226 
 
 Brad way, W., M. D 468 
 
 Braiiiard , Don C 344 
 
 Brandt, Amos W 247 
 
 Brandt, Hon. Isaac 3^9 
 
 Branson, Samnel 658 
 
 Breeden, H. O b^q 
 
 Brennan, H ugh 798 
 
 Breudel, Lewis 442 
 
 Brew baker, John 510 
 
 Briggs, Ansel m 
 
 iirisco, Robertson M 825 
 
 Brooks, Stephen 784 
 
 Brubaker. Dr. I, P ....364 
 
 Buchanan, James 75 
 
 Bunker, A, E , 426 
 
 Burke, Hon. Tom 376 
 
 Butler, H.S 748 
 
 Campbell, James, M. D 349 
 
 Canfield, Jeremiah 735 
 
 Carey, Hon. P. V 491 
 
 Carlilc, Joseph 339 
 
 Caruthers, Francis S., M. t>-.474 
 
 Carpenter, C. C 139 
 
 Carpenter, George T ufty 
 
 Carpenter, William L 264 
 
 Carter, K. H, M. U 266 
 
 Carter. George A 631 
 
 Carter, Or. William H 489 
 
 Case, Farron 293 
 
 Cate, Lester 395 
 
 CattuU, J. W 337 
 
 Chatlee, Jesse M 480 
 
 Chamberlin, A. P 376 
 
 Cheek, Jesse W 807 
 
 Ch rist y , A rch ie 358 
 
 Christy, William 397 
 
 Clapp, E. R 321 
 
 Clark, Austin 287 
 
 Clark, Gen. G. W 218 
 
 Clark, Capt. J. S 325 
 
 Clark, Col. Whiting S 700 
 
 Clark, Capt. William T 715 
 
 Clarke, Robert W 834 
 
 Cleveland, S. Grover 103 
 
 Cole. Hon. C. C .-347 
 
 Coleman, R. M. J 632 
 
 Combs, W. J 470 
 
 Connor, Hon. W 320 
 
 Conrad, J. F 7'8 
 
 Conrad, W. F 385 
 
 Cook, Franklin B .599 
 
 Cook, John P 627 
 
 Cook, Zachariah 619 
 
 Cooley, N. B 461 
 
 Cooper, E.J 252 
 
 Cooper, John, M. D 309 
 
 Colburn, J. M 806 
 
 Coply. George W 824 
 
 Cottrell, Benjamin F 795 
 
 Cougblan,!-. G. 569 
 
 Co.t, Henry, M. D 350 
 
 Crosby, William B .469 ■ 
 
 Cross, D. H 762 
 
 Cross, E. M 178 
 
 Cruttenden, F. K.,M. D 215 
 
 Cummins, A. B 445 
 
 Curl. J. B 53- 
 
 Currie, C. E., M. D 604 
 
 D 
 
 Davis, Floyd 602 
 
 Davis, Frank L 292 
 
 l>avisson.G. G 383 
 
 Dawson, T. C 243 
 
 Day, J. A ... 540 
 
 Day, Hon. James G 271 
 
 iJay, J. P 457 
 
 Dean, Abram Stuart 493 
 
 Dean, James H 574 
 
 Dean, John S 428 
 
 Dearth. Allen 231 
 
 De Forrest, I. B 341 
 
 Dcwcy,Col.J. N 340 
 
 De Witt, R. M.. M. D 276 
 
 Dexter, T. C 530 
 
 Dicks, Edward F 497 
 
 Dickey, Adam 629 
 
 Dorr, J. L 473 
 
 Dorr, J. M 447 
 
 Drady, M ichael 473 
 
 Drake, William A 286 
 
 Dudley, C. A 606 
 
 Duncan, Thomas 786 
 
 Dungan, D. R 307 
 
 Dunlap. A. W., M. D 352 
 
 Dunlap, M. L., M. D 352 
 
 Dunshee, Prof. Norman .589 
 
 Eaton. C. W., M. D 253 
 
 Ebersole, Charles 448 
 
 Edingcr, William C 463 
 
 Edwards, Dr. Surry L 471 
 
 Eiboeck, Joseph 477 
 
 Elliott, FredericV E 501 
 
 Ellis, D. R 626 
 
 Ellwood.Col. J. M 570 
 
 Ensign, C. W 623 
 
 Field. A.G.,M, D 781 
 
 !• ilson, Lawrence T .237 
 
 Fillmore, Millard O7 
 
 Finch, D. O 84s 
 
 Finch. James H 462 
 
 Fink, W. W 801 
 
 Flavin, Rev. M 282 
 
 Fleming. N, A., M.D 843 
 
INDEX. 
 
 Flynn.John 453 
 
 Flynn, Mai tin 584 
 
 Klyiin, 'Iliomas 580 
 
 Fox. Col. I>. M 5og 
 
 Fraizer, William 6;o 
 
 Frederick, iJr. D. Mary 514 
 
 French, Jonathan P 176 
 
 Fry & Thomas 415 
 
 Fuller, Cory don K ...689 
 
 Fuller. Dr. Georse W 756 
 
 Fulton. Hon. A. R 431 
 
 G 
 
 Garberich. E W., M. D 272 
 
 ■ iar field. James A ^5 
 
 Garrison, W. F . ..483 
 
 Garver, Geortie 830 
 
 Gaston, Ernest IJ 596 
 
 Gaston, W. J 283 
 
 Gatch.Col.C H 201 
 
 Gear, J. H 147 
 
 Geil, Noah M 202 
 
 Gcneser, h'rancis 403 
 
 Genescr, J. W 595 
 
 (^iill. Da.hy 394 
 
 Gillctt, Benjamin T . 631 
 
 Gillette, Hon. E. H 232 
 
 Given, John H 614 
 
 (■lidden, M. K 263 
 
 Godfrey, Col. G. L 586 
 
 (iould, E. M., M. U 622 
 
 (•ruham. Sclh 331 
 
 Granger, Col. Harlow .... 211 
 
 Grant, U. S 87 
 
 Gray, Samuel 183 
 
 Green, S 478 
 
 Grefe, Albert, Sr 675 
 
 tircfe, Charles . . .675 
 
 Grefc, Theodore F. 675 
 
 Grcfc, William 675 
 
 Greirg, Capt. J. C ..flgo 
 
 (Griffith. Capt. Isaac W 171 
 
 . GrifTiih, K. A 325 
 
 :GrinUhs, Capt. H. H ...5S6 
 
 Griirillis,Col. J. M 579 
 
 Grimes, J. W ng 
 
 Grimmel, F. C, M. D 464 
 
 Grinstcad, James W 669 
 
 Gu<:, Gov. B F 173 
 
 H 
 
 Maines, Hon. T. E 369 
 
 Hall, James 254 
 
 Uallett.T. A.. M. I> 804 
 
 Hamilton. John J 504 
 
 Hamilton, L 391 
 
 Hammer, Or. I. A . 809 
 
 Hanawalr, Vr. (Jcorge P 181 
 
 Hani y, James 454 
 
 Harbach, F 643 
 
 Harbach, Louis 628 
 
 Hargis, Henry C 836 
 
 Harris. Dr. Nellie R ...422 
 
 Harris, Newton J 472 
 
 Harris, R. E 352 
 
 Harrison, Henjamin 107 
 
 Harrison, William Henry. , . 51 
 
 Harter, E. S 723 
 
 H.trter, La Fayette 847 
 
 Hasltins, A. A 246 
 
 Hatch, H. B -,'7 
 
 Hatch, Hon Joshua H 637 
 
 Ilatton, Dr. J. B 225 
 
 Hawkins, James N 440 
 
 Hawkins, W. L 440 
 
 Hays, John 757 
 
 Hayes, R. H 91 
 
 Heath, Henry R ... 408 
 
 Heaton, W. N , M. I> . ... 374 
 
 Hedrick, Samuel 831 
 
 Hempstead, Stephen . 115 
 
 Hendricks, W. H 518 
 
 Henry, G. F 326 
 
 Mickey, I'eter 527 
 
 Hierb, Joseph A. M 407 
 
 Hill. J. G., M. I) 274 
 
 Hitz. Paul 404 
 
 H oba ugh. John K ..771 
 
 Hoey. Patrick- -- 774 
 
 Holnidale, C 841 
 
 Holland, John H 3J6 
 
 Hume, James C 396 
 
 Hume, Jolm T 743 
 
 Hume, W. V 74a 
 
 H unnel, Fred 420 
 
 H ussey, Tacitus 370 
 
 Hutcliinson, Woods, M. I). ,.558 
 H ullenloclier, John C 655 
 
 lllsley, Moses A 847 
 
 Ingersoll, E. J 711 
 
 Jackson, Andrew 43 
 
 Janes, Eben D 665 
 
 Jarrett, G. L 817 
 
 Jeflcrson, 'J'homas 25 
 
 Jeffries, ileorge C 520 
 
 Johnson, Andrew , 83 
 
 Johnson, J. E 590 
 
 Johnson, R. C 483 
 
 Johnson, W. H . 677 
 
 Johnson, William 764 
 
 Johnston, C. W 359 
 
 Jordan, Hun. J . C 169 
 
 K 
 
 Kasson, Hon. J. A 810 
 
 Keclcy, Cyrus H 743 
 
 Kellehcr, T. F..M. D 258 
 
 Kennedy, J. F.,M. D 573 
 
 Kennedy, William 544 
 
 Kcnyon. Philo C 841 
 
 Kenyon,W. F 849 
 
 Kindred, A. P 782 
 
 King, Mrs. A. D, M. U 623 
 
 •^iiiK* M- H 537 
 
 Kingman, A. S 598 
 
 Kirkwood, S. J 127 
 
 Knadler. Jacob 607 
 
 Knight, John M 262 
 
 Kookcr, Rev. U. H 600 
 
 Kuhn. Joseph 8j3 
 
 Lamb, Newton . . 499 
 
 Lambert, Peter 791 
 
 Lane, Hon. B. B 767 
 
 Larrabce, William 15s 
 
 Lasell. J. W 81? 
 
 Lawson, M, H 608 
 
 Lcdcrer, Alex. . 558 
 
 Lehman, K. W 182 
 
 Lendrum, George 726 
 
 Lewis, <ieorge H 520 
 
 Lewis, John S03 
 
 Lincoln, Abraham 7y 
 
 Lock wood, F,. H.. M. O 216 
 
 Looby, flen. John H 301 
 
 1. 00 mis, C. C 726 
 
 Lord. U. T. C 783 
 
 I.ovejoy,H. R 375 
 
 Lowe, Thomas 233 
 
 Lowe, R. P 123 
 
 Lo wry, William 650 
 
 Loiighran, John U 521 
 
 Luiher, George A -492 
 
 Lyon, Harrison .tS 
 
 M 
 
 Macnmber, CM 184 
 
 Macomher, J. K 197 
 
 Madison, James 31 
 
 Mahin, Elijah L 686 
 
 Maine, James 656 
 
 Marmon, E. P 788 
 
 Maniuis, R. W .278 
 
 Marriott, Henry T 285 
 
 Martin, V. S 549 
 
 Martindale. Col. Edward. ..684 
 
 Martindatc, C. W 821 
 
 Mason, l''ilward R 565 
 
 Mason, J.;F 805 
 
 Mat his, A. J 324 
 
 Mattes, Paul 395 
 
 NLitthews, W. S. H.. M. l)...6o4 
 
 Mc.\neiH-y, H. l> 273 
 
 McCain, B. H 3S2 
 
 McCaU. John A 317 
 
 McClure, J. W 738 
 
 McCoy, E. I 8i8 
 
 Mcbiviit. W*illiam 672 
 
 Mv:Gorrisk. E. J , M. D 439 
 
 McHcnry, Hon.|M. D 446 
 
 Mc Henry, Walter 194 
 
 McHenry, Hon. W. H . . 772 
 McHenry, William H., Jr -.2^2 
 
 Ml. K eon, James 438 
 
 McVey, A. H 741 
 
 Mc Williams, J. C. 175 
 
 Meek. Fayette 650 
 
 Mcerdink, C.J 545 
 
 M eh an , J . M 935 
 
 Men nig, C W 410 
 
 Merrill, .Samuel 135 
 
 Merrill. Col. W. H 205 
 
 Merrill. E. S 577 
 
 Merritt, James A 243 
 
 Miller, A. M 316 
 
 Milicr, N. J 503 
 
 M iller, Lieut- Pclcr. 706 
 
 Miller, Hon. W. E 639 
 
 Mills, Col. N. W 728 
 
 Mills, P. J io2 
 
 M ilne, John 577 
 
 Mitchell, Edwin 814 
 
 M itchell, Hon. 1'homas 693 
 
 M oiler, J. K --733 
 
 Monroe, James 35 
 
 Montgomery, William 387 
 
 Montis, S. A 527 
 
 Morgan, Philip 731 
 
 Morris, (■ H 407 
 
 Morris, Hon. T. T 508 
 
 Miinn, C H 797 
 
 Miinsell, F. E 381 
 
 Murphy, H.C 542 
 
 Musson. William -373 
 
 N 
 
 Nash. John A.. D. D 647 
 
 Nelson, Otto 678 
 
 NewhoUl, J. G 143 
 
 Nicholson, Jonathan V 291 
 
 Noble, Samuel 661 
 
 Norris, David 264 
 
 Nourse, C- C 245 
 
 Nowlen, Arthur, M . I> 315 
 
 Nye, Alfred G 705 
 
 O 
 
 Oaks, Kihvin .513 
 
 O'Connt:!', John ^27 
 
 •HillicKI.Sainvicl J 766 
 
 I tklfk-KI, Silas 1' 722 
 
 OInistciI. Col. K 664 
 
 t>linstc.l, J. H., M. D 429 
 
 Osgooil , J oc 1 71a 
 
 Ollis, J. M 2tl 
 
INDEX, 
 
 I'aiiilcr, J. C 296 
 
 I'.ilmer, Dr. W. H 438 
 
 raicliin, R. A.. M. D 213 
 
 Pea rson , Jesse ■ ..8oq 
 
 Pearson, Oliver K 212 
 
 l*erciv.i!, K. A 657 
 
 Pcrclval, H. F 666 
 
 Pcilerscn, John J ■ •■ 663 
 
 I'cnn, John 539 
 
 Penn, Willi.im H 53a 
 
 Perkins, Rev. L S18 
 
 Perry, Frank H 393 
 
 Pcrsin^er, H. R 498 
 
 Peterson, O. C 318 
 
 I'hillips, Hon. William 560 
 
 Phillips. W. W 777 
 
 Pierce, Franklin 71 
 
 PInmmer, Frank E 815 
 
 Polk County Savings Bank .. 297 
 
 Polk, James K -. 59 
 
 Porler, I.. L., M. D 295 
 
 Porter, W. E 35^ 
 
 Porter, William 678 
 
 Pratt, W. J 373 
 
 Priestly, James T., M. D 746 
 
 Prouty, Capt. C. C 421 
 
 Q 
 
 ijui^k. \V. H.. 
 
 R 
 
 Randall, Geor-e W 835 
 
 Randolph, J. W 738 
 
 Kawson, A- Y . . . ■ 554 
 
 Rawson, Dr. A .. . .223 
 
 Rflwson, Dr. Charles H 413 
 
 Raymond, N. B 403 
 
 Read. G. M 188 
 
 Read, W. L 188 
 
 Redhead, Fred E 388 
 
 Rcilhcad, Wesley 751 
 
 Keed, W. G 3^5 
 
 Reed. W. A 319 
 
 Kccs, D. E 265 
 
 Reeve, H. D 246 
 
 Rcinig, Charles P 619 
 
 Richtcr, George , 556 
 
 Ricks, Andrew J 621 
 
 Rici^ehnan, Moritz ... -380 
 
 Kobertson, S. A 761 
 
 Rollins. J. R 343 
 
 Rollins, Richard 354 
 
 Rooker. William D 7'7 
 
 Rosen licrycr, R«v. H . C 724 
 
 Rosser, Joseph 367 
 
 Rothtrock, Amos 70^ 
 
 Rouse, A. M 430 
 
 Royal, George, M. D. 625 
 
 Royal. Nelson 528 
 
 Russell, John F 555 
 
 Ryden, Charles A 649 
 
 Saverv, James C 653 
 
 Saylor.C. F 436 
 
 Saylor, Thomas J 670 
 
 Schmidt, Rev. F. W 238 
 
 Schooler, Lewis, M . D 236 
 
 Schuster, John B 459 
 
 Scott, Alexander 248 
 
 Scott, James L 275 
 
 Seeberger, J. D 333 
 
 Sei her ling, Charles 792 
 
 Senteny, H.C 680 
 
 Shackelford, H. D 7S4 
 
 Shafer, Rev. A. H 532 
 
 SIiafTer. John R 687 
 
 Sharp, William 395 
 
 Sheriff, Alexander 187 
 
 Sheriff, (Jeorge .298 
 
 Sherman, B. R 151 
 
 Shipley. William H 664 
 
 Shope, George W 6ia 
 
 Sims, Lorenzo D 616 
 
 Sims, Wiley S 451 
 
 Skinner. J. G., M. D 559 
 
 Smith, Hon. H. Y s8x 
 
 Smith, J. L 313 
 
 Smith, Philander 207 
 
 Smouse, Hon.D.W 356 
 
 Sneer, George 467 
 
 Spieth, G, F 519 
 
 Springer, Sarah J., M. D .-.633 
 
 Stanton, James 237 
 
 Stark. Rev. A. W 603 
 
 Strauss, Moses 364 
 
 Stein, William 548 
 
 Sternberg, Lambert 683 
 
 Stcinriede, J. J.. M. U 820 
 
 Stetson, H. L., D. D 704 
 
 Stewart. A. K 342 
 
 Stewart, J. B 536 
 
 Stilwell, Thomas 775 
 
 Stiveis, Henry 489 
 
 Stohlgreen, L 182 
 
 Stone, K. O (01 
 
 Stone, W. M 137 
 
 Stout, James E 688 
 
 Stowe, Frederick V 765 
 
 Street! , J)avid 713 
 
 Stuart, R. L., M. D 679 
 
 Stutsman, Conrad . 605 
 
 Stutsman, Solomon. . 797 
 
 Swift, Jeremiah 823 
 
 Swearingen, J- B 763 
 
 Taskelt, Henry 754 
 
 Taylor, John 597 
 
 Taylor, Zachary 63 
 
 Tcrliune, Peter C 499 
 
 Terrell. C. W 488 
 
 1 hcmas, Dr. C 494 
 
 Tippic,S. R 43fl 
 
 Tisdale, Orlando 357 
 
 '1' it IIS, Henry A 217 
 
 Town, J. J 484 
 
 Towne, N. C 416 
 
 Tracy, Mrs. A. B 541 
 
 'I'rostel, John 353 
 
 Turby, Edward 526 
 
 Turner, M. P 755 
 
 Turner, Robert 564 
 
 Tuttle, Gen. J. M 193 
 
 Tuttle, S. E 557 
 
 I'wining, E. 'i'., M. D -S^S 
 
 Twining, L 198 
 
 Tyler, John 55 
 
 Tyler, Silas R 816 
 
 Vail. F.F 611 
 
 Van Biiren, Martin 47 
 
 Van Cleve, Samuel 53s 
 
 Van Ginkel, G 837 
 
 Vest, J. W. H.,M. U 22a 
 
 Voodry, Alva W 333 
 
 Vorse, N. T .^ 409 
 
 w 
 
 Walker, Samuel H 787 
 
 Ward, Dr. W. H 41, 
 
 Washington, (ieorge 19 
 
 Waters, M. F 567 
 
 Watts, IJros 44a 
 
 Watts, Dr. Jackson 66o 
 
 Weaver, Gen. James B , 651 
 
 Weaver, J. B., Jr 77* 
 
 Webb, J. A 575 
 
 Webb, Hon. Robert C 673 
 
 Weber,John 638 
 
 Weitz, Charles 487 
 
 Wells, I,. J 185 
 
 Wells, W. B 441 - 
 
 Wellslager, R. T 727 
 
 West, Capt. F. R 538 . 
 
 Whilcomb,E. B 529 
 
 Wliite, B. C 721 
 
 White, Uriah B 778 
 
 Whiting, Capt. Fred S 659 
 
 Whitman, H. L., M. D 593 
 
 Whitten, C. E., M. D 716 
 
 Wilcoxen, A. S 613 
 
 Wiley, E.D.,M. D 578 
 
 William, J. J. 251 
 
 Williams, Joseph 821 
 
 Wilkins, Hcsin 546 
 
 Wilson, S. I> 543 
 
 Windsor, J. M 79^ 
 
 Wingate, A { 36* 
 
 Wise, W. W 6ss 
 
 Wright, Carroll 284 
 
 Wright, Gen. Ed 196 
 
 Wright, Hon. George G 191 
 
 Young, Hon. R. F... , 244 
 
 Yonngcrman, Conrad 745 
 
 Voutz, R. J 257 
 
 _:.^^^ 
 
 '4®^^^^S^F^" 
 
INDEX. 
 
 > 
 
 Adams, John 22 
 
 • Adams, John Q 38 
 
 . Andrews. L. F .563 
 
 , Andrews, Mrs. Sophia M ... .562 
 
 ■^ Ankeny, W. R 434 
 
 .' Arthur, Chester A 98 
 
 - BaM.. William 378 
 
 4 Baker. William. M. D 400 
 
 ■J Bannister, L. G 424 
 
 - Barker, R. W 3*2 
 
 - Picardshear, W, M 240 
 
 ■" Bird, Rev, 'I'hompson 552 
 
 • Boies, Horace 158 
 
 < Brandt, Isaac 3uS 
 
 I'riuu*' Ansel no 
 
 - B. It ha nan, lames 74 
 
 -^ C.<r(enter, C. C 138 
 
 ^Cattcll.J.W 334 
 
 ■ Callell, Mrs. Deborah 335 
 
 ■ Clapp, K K 220 
 
 ' Cleveland, S. (.•rover ic2 
 
 -Conrad, W. F 384 
 
 ■-l Cole, C. C 346 
 
 Ciininiins, A. B 41)4 
 
 I'jtiiy, Mrs. R 456 
 
 D.iy, James C. 270 
 
 I'f.in, James H 574 
 
 - I>ean, Mrs. Sarah A 574 
 
 • i)e.nrt!i. Allen ..... .230 
 
 Ditks, E. F 496 
 
 Dudley, C. A 606 
 
 I)nngan, D. R 300 
 
 Kiboeck, Joseph 476 
 
 Field, A. O., M. D ;8o 
 
 Fillmore, Millard 66 
 
 Flynn. Martin 582 
 
 Klynn, 'I'liuinas 582 
 
 l-Jarfield, James A 94 
 
 Oatch,C. H 300 
 
 (jear, J. H 146 
 
 Godfrey. G. 1 586 
 
 Grander, Barlow 210 
 
 Grant. Ulysses S 86 
 
 Green, S 478 
 
 Grimes, J. W 118 
 
 Grimmcl, D. C 466 
 
 Grinslead. J. W .661 
 
 Grinstcad, Mrs. I-ucinda A . . 668 
 
 Haines, T. K 368 
 
 Haines, Mrs. Loretla 368 
 
 Hamilton, L<. .. . 300 
 
 H ana wait, George 1* 180 
 
 Harrison, Benjamin lod 
 
 Harrison, William H 50 
 
 Hatch, Mrs. Sarah A 6;,6 
 
 Hatch, Hon. Joshua H 636 
 
 Hayes, Kiitherford B ,.,. go 
 
 HcnipsteaJ, Stephen 114 
 
 Hierb, J. A. M. 406 
 
 Hobaugh,J. K 770 
 
 Hohaugh, M rs. Lucy 770 
 
 nUley.M. A 846, 
 
 Ingcrsoll, E. J 710 
 
 Jackson, Andrew 42 
 
 Jefferson, I'homas . 26 
 
 Johnson. Andrew. 82 
 
 Jordan. J. C 168 
 
 Kenyon,B. C 840 
 
 Kennedy, J. F 57a 
 
 Kirkwood, S. J 126 
 
 Lambert, Peter. 790 
 
 Larrabee. William : - '54 
 
 Lincoln, Abraham. 78 
 
 Looby, Gen. J, I! 300 
 
 Lowe, K. 1* 122 
 
 Madison, James 30 
 
 McVcy, A. H 740 
 
 McHenry, Judge W. H 772 
 
 Merrill, Saniucl 134 
 
 M iicliell, 'llioujas 692 
 
 Monroe. James 34 
 
 Morgan, Pliilip - . 730 
 
 Morgan, Mrs. ..Anna I> 730 
 
 Nash. Kev. J. A 646 
 
 Newbold, J. G 14a 
 
 N icholson, J . V 290 
 
 NichoK:»n, M rs. Sarah A ago 
 
 Nourse, C C 244 
 
 Otis, J. M 360 
 
 Pierce, Franklin 70 
 
 ^ 
 
 Polk, James K 58 
 
 Quick, W. H 506 
 
 Kawson, C. H., M.D 412 
 
 Redhead, Wesley 750 
 
 Robertson, S. A .7*0 
 
 Sccberger, J- D '. .322 
 
 Sherman, B. R 150 
 
 Smith. H. Y 380 
 
 Smith. Mrs. M. A -317 
 
 Smith, John L 312 
 
 Sneer, George . .466 
 
 Sternberg, Lambert 683 
 
 Sternberg, Mr« Riivina 682 
 
 Stone, W. M 130 
 
 Taylor , Zachary 62 
 
 Tisdalc, Orlando 356 
 
 Tyler, John 54 
 
 Vail. E. P 610 
 
 Vail, Mrs. M. A 610 
 
 Van Buren, Martin 46 
 
 Van Cleve, Samuel 534 
 
 Ward.W,H 418 
 
 Washington, George 18 
 
 Weitz, Charles 486 
 
 White, B.C 720 
 
 Whitman, Dr. H. L 59a 
 
 Wilkins, K 546 
 
 Wilkins, Mrs. Martha J 54A 
 
 Willi.mis, .Alex 250 
 
 Wright, George G . . ..190 
 
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
 /'IIIM'Mlfiii III II •. . . 
 
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