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History  Johnson  County  Iowa 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


THKl^EW.YOEK 
PUBLIC  LIBRARY 


ID 


/VSTOR.  UENOX 
TILDcN   FOUNDATIONS 


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^^mJCEat  J^,  f^L^AJU 


LEADING  EVENTS  IN 

JOHNSON  COUNTY 

IOWA  HISTORY 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


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CEDAR  RAPIDS  IOWA 

WESTERN  HISTORICAL  PRESS 

NINETEEN  THIRTEEN 


JA 


THE  NEW  YOrK 
PUBLIC  LIBRARY 

731640 

ASTOR,  LENOX  AND 
TILDE.N  FOUNDATIONS 

R  1916 


THE   TORCH    PRESS 

CEDAR     RAPIDS 

IOWA 


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BIOGRAPHIES 

PETER  ANTHONY  DEY 

The  ranks  of  the  Old  Guard,  pioneers  of  a  great  civilization 
which  blazed  the  way  across  the  prairies  when  Iowa  was  a 
wilderness,  are  fast  giving  way  to  Time's  decree,  and  one  by 
one  the  members  are  passing  out  through  the  gateway  of  com- 
mon departure. 

We  know  the  sound  of  the  pioneer's  axe  has  ceased;  that 
the  warwhoop  of  the  Indian  has  long  since  become  a  memory. 
We  know  that  human  progress,  accelerated  by  the  greatest  of 
civilizers,  the  steel  horse,  has  reclaimed  the  empire  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi from  the  virgin  waste  of  the  aborigine;  that  prosper- 
ous farms,  with  their  golden  grain  and  unnumbered  herds, 
cities  vibrant  with  industry  and  the  rush  of  commercialism,  a 
people  contented  and  ever  with  their  faces  to  the  goal  of  suc- 
cess, occupy  the  territory  where  but  a  few  short  years  ago  land 
could  be  had  for  the  asking,  the  requisite  being  but  the  hardy 
service  of  the  pioneer  willing  to  face  danger  as  a  part  of  his 
daily  life  and  accept  hardship  as  his  portion,  without  shrink- 
ing or  complaint. 

It  was  during  the  period  of  early  railroad  building,  and  in 
connection  with  some  of  these  important  transportation  enter- 
prises, that  Peter  Anthony  Dey  first  became  a  factor  in  the' 
development  of  the  Hawkeye  state.  Mr.  Dey  was  peculiarly 
fitted  by  education,  temperament,  and  training  for  constructive 
railway  work.  When  but  twenty-one  years  of  age,  two  years 
subsequent  to  his  graduation  from  Geneva  (now  Hobart)  col- 
lege, Geneva,  New  York,  he  entered  the  employ  of  the  New 
York  and  Erie  Railroad  Company  as  civil  engineer,  and  de- 
voted three  years  to  engineering  along  the  Delaware  and  Sus- 
quehanna rivers  in  Orange  county.  New  York,  and  in  Pike  and 
Susquehanna  counties,  Pennsylvania.  In  1849  he  went  into 
the  employ  of  the  state  of  New  York  on  the  Cayuga  &  Seneca 
canal,  building  locks  at  Seneca  Falls.     Following  this,  ho  Avas 


6  HISTOKY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

engaged  in  tlie  same  line  of  work  and  for  nearly  the  same 
length  of  time  on  the  Erie  canal  at  Port  Byron.  In  the  fall  of 
1850  he  began  work  with  the  Michigan  Southern  Railroad,  and 
remained  with  this  road  until  it  was  completed  to  Chicago, 
having  charge  of  construction  of  a  division  in  the  \icinity  of 
La  Porte,  Indiana.  In  the  fall  of  1852  he  became  connected 
with  the  Chicago  &  Rock  Island  Railroad,  being  in  charge  of 
division  work  from  Peru  to  Sheffield,  Illinois.  While  making 
his  headquarters  at  Tiskilwa,  Illinois,  he  became  acquainted 
with  Grenville  M.  Dodge,  then  a  young  man,  who  afterward 
became  famous  as  a  general  in  the  Civil  War  and  prominent  in 
railway  construction.  Mr.  Dey  gave  General  Dodge  his  first 
employment  in  railroad  work.  This  was  the  beginning  of  a 
long  association  between  these  men,  which  ripened  into  a  last- 
ing friendship. 

Mr.  Dey  was  engaged  in  various  railway  construction  enter- 
prises in  Illinois  until  1853,  when  he  came  to  Iowa  City,  bring- 
ing with  him  General  Dodge.  With  that  place  as  headquarters, 
he  made  the  surveys  for  the  Rock  Island  road  from  Davenport 
to  Council  Bluffs  via  Iowa  City  and  Des  Moines.  After  two 
years  with  the  company  in  Chicago,  in  the  winter  of  1856  he 
again  came  west,  remaining  with  the  Rock  Island  road  in  Iowa 
until  1863.  He  left  the  employ  of  the  road  when  it  was  com- 
pleted to  Kellogg.    In  1860  he  was  elected  mayor  of  Iowa  City. 

Mr.  Dey's  greatest  service  to  the  nation  was  in  connection 
with  the  first  survey  and  construction  work  of  the  Union  Pa- 
cific Railroad,  the  outcome  of  his  association  with  this  famous 
enterprise  establishing  his  remarkable  and  indomitable  integ- 
•rity  as  a  man  and  a  public  servant.  In  September,  1862,  he 
was  employed  by  Henry  Farnum,  a  railroad  contractor,  to  go 
over  the  line  of  the  newly  organized  Pacific  Railroad  Company 
and  make  a  reconnaissance  from  the  Missouri  River  to  the  Salt 
Lake  Basin,  with  a  view  to  ascertaining  a  practicable  route  and 
the  probable  resources  of  the  country  to  be  developed.  In 
pursuance  of  his  great  task,  he  went  carefully  over  the  country 
from  Omaha  to  Salt  Lake.  A  thorough  investigation  of  the 
proposed  route  via  Denver  convinced  him  that  the  line  was  not 
practicable,  and  he  so  reported.  Crossing  the  Black  Hills  at 
Cheyenne  Pass,  minute  examination  of  the  range  satisfied  him 
of  the  availability  of  that  route,  and  he  so  recommended.    The 


BIOGRAPHICAL  7 

correctness  of  Ms  judgment  was  afterwards  affirmed  by  the 
adoption  of  this  route  as  the  line  of  the  nation's  first  trans- 
continental railway.  In  1863,  in  company  with  John  A.  Kas- 
son,  Thomas  C.  Durant,  and  T.  J.  Carter,  he  went  to  Washing- 
ton to  ask  the  president  to  fix  the  eastern  terminals  of  the 
proposed  road.  Mr.  Dey  had  carefully  prepared  a  map  sliow- 
ing  the  approaches  of  the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy,  the 
Chicago  &  Northwestern,  and  the  Chicago,  Rock  Island  &  Pa- 
cific railways.  From  this  map  Mr.  Lincoln  decided  that  Oma- 
ha, Nebraska,  was  the  proper  terminal  for  the  western  road. 
The  same  year,  while  in  the  employ  of  Thomas  C.  Durant,  Mr. 
Dey  ran  some  preliminary  lines  of  survey  over  the  Cheyenne 


EESroENCE  OF  THE  LATE  PETER  A.  DEY 


Pass  and  the  Bridger  Pass,  also  between  Omaha  and  the  Platte 
valley,  and  between  Belleview  and  the  Platte  valley,  and  at 
other  points.  This  work  was  finished  early  in  the  fall  of  1863, 
and  on  December  30th  of  that  year  he  was  appointed  chief  en- 
gineer of  the  road  by  the  executive  committee. 

Perhaps  the  best  way  to  close  this  momentous  experience 
in  the  professional  career  of  this  remarkable  man  will  be  to 
quote  from  the  History  of  loiva,  by  B.  F.  Gue,  Vol.  iv,  pages 
72-73 : 

"It  was  while  in  the  line  of  his  profession  that  a  supreme 
test  of  the  character  of  the  man  [Peter  Dey]  was  made.    The 


8  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

notorious  'Credit  Mobilier  of  America'  had  been  organized  by 
Thomas  C.  Unrant,  Oliver  Ames,  Oakes  Ames,  and  other  capi- 
talists for  the  purpose  of  constructing  the  Pacific  Railroad. 
The  government  subsidies  granted  for  the  construction  of  the 
road  amounted  to  the  enoiTnous  sum  of  $6J:,000  a  mile  for  a 
part,  and  $96,000  a  mile  for  the  remainder.  Peter  A.  Dey  was 
the  chief  engineer  of  the  construction,  and,  having  made  a  sur- 
vey of  the  first  hundred  miles,  reported  that  it  could  be  con- 
structed for  $30,000  per  mile.  The  government  was  offering 
$32,000  and  an  enormous  land  grant  in  addition  for  this  \)oy- 
tion  of  the  road.  An  article  in  Scrihner's  Monthly  for  March, 
1874,  tells  the  story  of  how  the  Credit  Mobilier  made  a  profit 
of  $5,000,000  in  building  246  miles  of  the  road.  The  following 
illustrates  the  stern  integrity  of  the  Iowa  man  who  was  the 
cliief  engineer : 

''  'AVTien  his  estimate  was  made  to  the  directors,  it  was  re- 
turned to  him  with  orders  to  retouch  it  with  higher  colors,  to 
put  embankments  on  paper  ivhere  none  existed  on  earth,  to 
make  the  old  embankments  heavier,  to  increase  the  expenses 
generally,  and  he  ivas  requested  to  send  in  his  estimate  that 
it  would  cost  $50,000  per  mile.    AVhen  Mr.  Hey  was  informed 

that  this  part  of  the  road  was  let  to  — — — , 

at  $50,000  per  mile,  which  he  knew  could  be  done  for  $30,000, 
this  difference  amounting  to  $5,000,000  on  the  two  hundred 
and  forty-six  miles,  he  resigned  his  position  as  chief  engineer 
in  a  noble  letter  to  the  president  of  the  road.  He  closed  that 
letter  with  this  statement :  "My  views  of  the  Pacific  Road  are 
perhaps  peculiar.    I  look  upon  its  managers  as  trustees  of  the 

bounty  of  Congress You  are  doubtless  informed 

how  disproportionate  the  amount  to  be  paid  is  to  the  work  con- 
tracted for.  I  need  not  expatiate  on  the  sincerity  of  my  course, 
when  you  reflect  upon  the  fact  that  I  have  resigned  the  best  po- 
sition in  my  profession  this  country  has  offered  to  any  man." 

"This  fidelity  to  public  interest  is  the  one  bright  spot  in 
that  disgraceful  era  of  corruption  which  reached  into  Congress 
and  blackened  the  reputation  of  scores  of  public  officials.  It 
is  not  strange  that  Peter  A.  De^^,  whose  stern  integrity  was 
thus  tested,  should  have  been  chosen  as  the  democratic  mem- 
ber of  the  commission  which  built  the  (Iowa)  State  House, 
a  work  which  for  all  time  will  stand  as  a  inonumeut  to  tl^e 


BIOGRAPHICAL  9 

ability  and  integrity  of  Eobert  S.  Finkbine,  Peter  A.  Dey,  and 
JolinG.  Foote." 

Following  his  resig-nation  as  chief  engineer  of  the  Pacific 
Railroad,  Mr.  Dey  returned  to  Iowa  City,  and  from  that  point 
was  engaged  in  making  surveys  for  a  north  and  south  road, 
until  the  close  of  1868,  when  he  severed  his  connection  with 
the  Rock  Island  Company.  In  1869  he  was  elected  president 
of  ithe  First  National  Bank  of  Iowa  City,  which  office  he  held 
until  1878,  when  he  was  appointed  railway  commissioner  for 
the  state  of  Iowa  by  Governor  Gear.  He  was  re-appointed 
to  this  office  by  Governors  Gear,  Sherman,  and  Larrabee  re- 
spectively. In  1888  the  office  became  elective,  and  he  was  three 
times  elected  to  the  position,  suffering  one  defeat,  in  an  over- 
whelming republican  year,  his  tenure  of  service  bringing  him 
up  to  the  year  1895.  In  1872  he  was  appointed  by  the  legisla- 
ture as  one  of  the  commissioners  to  build  the  new  ca]iitol  of 
Iowa  at  Des  Moines,  remaining  on  the  commission  until  1884, 
when  the  building  was  comj^leted.  Declining  being  again  a 
candidate  for  railwaA^  commissioner,  in  1895  he  succeeded  Mr. 
Parsons  as  president  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Iowa  City, 
which  office  he  held  until  his  death.  In  all,  during  his  two 
terms,  he  served  twenty-six  years  as  president  of  that  bank. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Iowa  State  Historical  Society  for 
twenty  four  years,  and  was  its  president  for  twelve  years. 

On  the  23d  day  of  October,  1856,  Peter  Anthony  Dey  and 
Miss  Catherine  Thompson,  youngest  daughter  of  Harry  and 
Myra  (Hull)  Thompson,  natives  of  Connecticut,  were  united 
in  n\arriage  at  Trinity  church  in  Buffalo,  New  York,  the  Rev. 
William  Shelton,  D.  I).,  LL.D.,  F.  R.  S..  officiating.  On  the  11th 
day  of  September,  1857,  the  young  couple  moved  into  the  howse 
on  North  Clinton  street,  Iowa  City,  which  has  been  the  family 
home  since  that  time.  Mr.  -Dey  selected  and  purchased  the 
beautiful  site  for  this  home  when  it  was  covered  with  hazel 
brush  and  a  very  slight  growth  of  small  trees.  Today  it  mn- 
tains  numbers  of  great  oaks,  elms,  and  hickories,  and  is  famous 
as  one  of  the  scenic  beauty-spots  of  the  University  City.  In 
this  home,  on  July  11,  1911,  this  venerable  and  respected  citi- 
zen passed  away,  after  a  brief  illness.  He  was  in  full  posses- 
sion of  his  mental  faculties  to  the  last,  and  sat  at  the  table  with 
the  familv  at  meals  until  the  last  day.    The  funeral  took  place 


10  HISTOBY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

from  the  home  on  July  13th,  and  the  service  was  the  simple 
ritual  of  the  Episcopal  church,  of  which  he  had  been  a  member 
from  childhood.  A  great  lover  of  scientific  thought,  he  was 
much  in  the  company  of  the  masterminds  of  history,  literature, 
and  science.  His  private  library  was  large  and  carefulh'  se- 
lected, and  he  spent  much  time  in  the  perusal  of  his  books.  It 
has  been  said  of  him  that  he  "not  only  read  his  books,  but  he 
knew  them,"  and  frequently  verified  his  memory  in  verbatim 
quotations  therefrom.  One  of  his  last  tasks  during  the  winter 
of  1910-11  was  to  write  his  name  in  every  volume  of  his  library. 

His  beloved  wife  preceded  him  to  the  Great  Beyond  by 
about  twelve  years,  having  died  in  the  family  home  June  12, 
1899. 

Six  children  were  born  to  Peter  Anthonv  Dev  and  Catherine 
Thompson,  as  follows :  Harry  Thompson,  died  in  1873,  aged 
sixteen  years ;  Anthony,  died  July  -4,  18G4,  at  Omaha,  Nebras- 
ka, aged  four  years ;  Marvin  Hull,  married  to  Plarriet  Adaline 
Martin  of  Bed  Hook,  N.  Y.,  residing  in  Iowa  City;  Myra 
Thompson,  now  Mrs.  Craig  T.  Wright,  of  Des  Moines,  Iowa ; 
Curtis  Thompson,  married  to  Urania  Susan  Coldren,  residing 
at  Iowa  City;  Ann  Hull,  now  Mrs.  Clarence  W.  Eastman,  of 
Amlierst,  Massachusetts. 

Peter  Anthony  Dey  lacked  only  sixteen  days  of  being  eighty- 
six  and  one-half  years  old  at  liis  death.  His  advanced  age,  in 
view  of  the  vigor  and  strength  of  mind  and  memory  which 
reached  back  across  the  years,  was  hardly  conceivable  to  those 
who  were  intimate  with  this  valiant  member  of  the  Old  Guard. 
Eighty-six  years  battling  with  men  and  the  world,  he  lived 
during  a  period  of  time  that  marks  the  greatest  progress  in 
the  world's  history;  he  witnessed  the  entire  growth  and  de- 
velopment of  Iowa  as  a  state  and  of  Johnson  county  from  a 
small  pioneer  settlement  to  a  teeming,  prosperous  community ; 
he  saw  the  expanse  of  broad  prairies,  where  houses  were  forty 
miles  apart,  covered  with  cities  and  homes,  with  fields  of 
golden  grain  and  herds  of  cattle ;  he  saw  the  locomotives  climb 
chamois-like  over  cliffs  and  to  the  very  crest  of  the  Bocky 
Mountains,  and  a  web  of  steel  spread  over  the  wilderness  by 
the  great  spiders  of  commerce;  he  saw  the  Indian's  camping 
grounds  covered  with  churches  and  beautiful  homes  and 
abounding  with  commerce  and  education.     Todav  a  line  of 


BIOGEAPHICAL  11 

steel  marks  the  first  invasion  into  a  new  country,  and  the  pio- 
neer seeking  an  unsettled  region  may  ride  there  in  a  palace 
car.  But  the  old  days  of  the  stage  coach,  of  the  ox  team  and 
the  covered  wagon,  should  not  be  forgotten.  Their  memories 
are  and  shall  be  precious  to  men. 

GENEALOGY 

Peter  Anthony  Dey  was  a  member  of  the  seventh  genera- 
tion of  the  Dey  family  in  America.  The  founder  was  Richard 
(Dirck  Jansen)  Dey,  who  came  from  Amsterdam  at  an  early 
date  and  settled  in  New  Amsterdam  (New  York  City),  where 
he  married,  December  2,  1641,  Jannetje  Theunis,  also  of  Am- 
sterdam. From  Richard  Dey  (first  generation)  the  line  of 
direct  descent  is  as  follows : 

Second  generation  —  Theunis  Dircksen  Dey,  of  Staten  Is- 
land, New  York,  baptized  September  24, 1656. 

Third  generation  —  Dirck  Theunis  Dey,  of  Bergen  county. 
New  Jersey,  baptized  March  27, 1687. 

Fourth  generation  —  Colonel  Theunis  Dey,  born  1725  near 
Preakness,  New  Jersey. 

Fifth  generation  —  Dr.  Philip  Dey,  born  July,  1754,  at 
Preakness,  New  Jersey. 

Sixth  generation  —  Anthony  Dey,  of  Geneva,  New  York, 
born  February  6,  1781. 

Seventh  generation  —  Peter  Anthony  Dey,  born  January 
27,  1825,  at  Romulus,  Seneca  county.  New  York,  one  mile  east 
of  Seneca  Lake. 

The  first  ancestor  of  the  Dey  family  of  whom  we  have  any 
knowledge,  was  Count  Isam  de  Die,  Grand  Maitre  De  L'Ordre 
Teutonique  Seigneurs,  in  France,  Premiere  Croisade,  1096, 
whose  descendants  left  France,  after  the  revocation  of  the 
Edict  of  Nantes,  and  settled  in  Scotland,  England,  and  Hol- 
land. 

Richard  Dey,  the  founder  of  the  family  in  America,  owned 
property  in  New  Amsterdam  (New  York  City)  and  established 
a  mill  and  ferry  at  the  foot  of  what  is  now  Dey  street,  running 
from  Broadway  west  to  the  Hudson  river.  He  resided  on 
Broadway,  at  a  point  which  is  now  the  head  of  Dey  street. 

Theunis  Dircksen  Dey,  son  of  Richard,  ''owned  at  his  death 
the  fee  of  a  lot  of  land  lying  without  the  City  land  gate,  on 


12  HISTOEY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

the  west  side  of  the  highway  (now  Broadwa}',  New  York  City) , 
having  to  the  north  the  farm  of  His  Royal  Highness,  after- 
wards called  the  King's  Farm,  and  to  the  sonth  the  land  of 
Olof  Stevenson  (Van  Courtlandt)  "  —  containing  five  and  one- 
half  acres,  309  feet  front  on  Broadway  and  800  feet  deep  to 
the  Hudson  river.  In  1750  Dey  street  was  laid  ont  through 
these  premises. 

Dirck  Theunis  Dey  succeeded  to  the  estate.  He  conveyed, 
March  25,  1758,  to  Trinity  church,  a  lot  of  land  lying  west  of 
Broadway,  near  the  present  Canal  street.  In  this  deed  he  is 
styled,  "Eichard  Dey,  Gentleman,  grandson  and  heir-at-law 
of  Eichard  Dey."  His  residence  was  in  Bergen  county.  New 
Jersev. 

Colonel  Theunis  Dey  was  a  colonel  of  the  Bergen  County 
Eegiment,  177G.  He  built  some  years  before  the  Dey  House 
at  Preakuess,  New  Jersey,  which  house  was,  for  three  months 
during  1780,  the  headquarters  of  General  Washington.  Ac- 
cording to  de  Chastellux,  Washington  occupied  four  rooms  in 
the  Dey  house.  It  is  said  he  had  them  papered  at  his  own 
expense,  and  that  the  paper  then  put  on  remained  until  about 
twenty  years  ago.  The  Dey  estate  at  Preakuess  originally 
consisted  of  600  acres,  but  this  has  gradually  been  reduced  in 
size  during  the  past  l-tO  years,  until  hardly  anything  is  left 
of  the  wide  acres  of  field  and  wood  which  the  family  once  held. 
But  the  old  house  still  stands  in  as  good  condition  (seemingly) 
as  when  it  was  built,  and  is  pointed  to  with  pride  l)y  the  anti- 
quarians of  the  neighborhood  as  the  house  which  was  for 
months  Washington's  headquarters.  Colonel  Theunis  Dey 
died  in  1787. 

Dr.  Pliilij)  Dey,  Peter  A.  Dey's  grandfather,  was  a  physi- 
cian, and  practiced  in  the  region  west  of  Paterson,  New  Jersey, 
for  many  years.    He  died  August  2,  1810,  at  Little  Falls. 

Anthony  Dey,  father  of  Peter  A.,  was  a  tanner  by  trade, 
and  died  November  14,  1851,  at  Seneca  Falls,  New  York.  He 
resided  formerly  at  Geneva,  New  York.  On  January  14,  181 G, 
he  married  Hannah  Dey,  who  was  born  June  12,  1787.  She 
died  March  17,  1841.    Their  children  were: 

Eleanor,  born  October  30,  1816;  unmarried;  died  August 
22,  1861,  Iowa  City. 

Phili]^,  born  Octolier  9,  1818;  died  December  21,  1822. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  13 

Jane,  born  Jnne  5,  1820;  died  January  11,  1837. 

Mary,  born  April  30, 1822 ;  died  vingnst  10,  1837. 

Peter  Anthony,  born  January  27,  1825;  died  July  11,  1911. 


WILLIAM  PETER  HOHENSCHUH 

The  honor  of  being  the  home  town  of  "the  best  funeral 
director  in  America"  belongs  to  Iowa  City,  Johnson  county, 
Iowa,  and  William  Peter  Hohenschuh  is  the  native  son  whose 
extraordinary  work,  educationally  and  practically,  has  secured 
this  distinction.  Hohenschuh  is  reckoned  by  his  profession  as 
a  living  encyclopedia  of  information  on  mortuary  matters  from 
cadaver  to  coffin.  His  fame  as  an  author,  lecturer,  and  dem- 
onstrator is  international.  The  Embalmers'  Monthly,  of  Chi- 
cago, on  the  eve  of  his  retirement  from  the  lecture  platform  in 
1910,  among  many  splendid  statements  of  his  activities  cover- 
ing a  period  of  thirty  years,  said:  "Mr.  Hohenschuh  retires 
with  all  the  pulilic  honors  the  profession  can  give  him.  He 
organized  the  Iowa  Funeral  Directors'  Association  in  1881 
and  was  its  first  delegate  to  the  National  Association,  in  whose 
councils  he  has  been  a  power  from  that  day  to  this.  He  was 
elected  president  of  the  national  organization  in  St.  Louis 
in  189-1,  and  reelected  to  another  term  at  the  next  year's  con- 
vention in  Atlanta.  His  expert  knowledge  of  emlialming  and 
sanitation  has  made  him  of  unusual  service  to  these  organ- 
izations. In  perfecting  advanced  legislation  along  the  lines 
of  embalming  and  public  sanitation  he  has  been  of  the  highest 
service  both  in  his  home  state  and  in  the  national  organiza- 
tion. The  present  regulations  for  the  transportation  of  the 
dead  have  resulted  in  a  great  measure  from  his  efforts.  As 
an  educator  in  the  scientific  side  of  his  profession  Mr.  Hohen- 
schuh holds  his  highest  honors,  and  no  man  holds  more.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  faculty  of  the  Chicago  College  of  Em- 
balming, and  later  established  the  Hohenschuh-Carpenter  Col- 
lege of  Embalming  at  Des  Moines,  which  still  holds  two  well- 
attended  sessions  each  year  for  the  education  of  the  Iowa 
funeral  directors  and  embalmers.  When  the  University  of 
Minnesota  established  a  school  of  embalming  in  1908,  Mr. 
Hohenschuh  was  selected  to  fill  the  chair  of  practical  embalm- 


14  HISTOEY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

ing.  He  has  been  a  prolific  writer  on  educational  topics  in 
all  of  the  journals  devoted  to  the  undertaking  profession,  and 
is  the  author  of  The  Modern  Funeral  —  Its  Management^  a 
book  of  some  400  pages  that  is  recognized  as  the  standard 
work  of  its  class  both  in  this  country  and  in  England." 

In  one  of  the  apartments  over  the  storeroom  at  20  South 
Dubuque  street,  Iowa  City,  where  his  furniture  store  is  locat- 
ed, William  Peter  Hohenschuh  was  born  November  10,  1858. 
At  that  same  location,  in  1855,  Frank  Hohenschuh,  his  father, 
a  cabinet  maker  by  trade,  started  in  the  furniture  business, 
making  by  hand  much  of  the  goods  sold  in  the  course  of  a 
growing  trade.  Directly  across  the  street,  at  No.  19,  is  located 
the  Hohenschuh  undertaking  establishment,  which  The  Em- 
balmers'  Monthly  says  is  ''faultlessly  kept  and  faultlessly 
managed."  This  is  high  praise,  but  fully  deserved,  as  every 
citizen  of  Iowa  City  acquainted  with  the  high  class  modem 
institution  maintained  by  Mr.  tlohenschuh  can  testify. 

Frank  Hohenschuh  and  Teressa  Statzer,  parents  of  Wil- 
liam P.,  were  natives  of  Germany.  The  former  was  born 
April  23,  1824,  at  W^esel,  a  fortified  city  on  the  Rhine;  the 
latter,  November  8,  1827,  at  Knittelstheim,  Bavaria,  a  small 
German  village.  Frank  came  to  America  and  to  Iowa  City 
in  1852  and,  as  previously  stated,  engaged  in  the  furniture 
business  and  cabinet  work  on  South  Dubuque  street.  Teresa 
Statzer  came  to  Iowa  City  with  her  parents  in  1842,  and  in 
1858  was  married  to  Frank  Hohenschuh.  The  latter  died 
December  13,  1876,  but  Mother  Hohenschuh  is  still  living  at 
her  old  home,  318  Bloomington  street. 

When  a  boy  William  Peter  Hohenschuh  attended  St. 
Joseph's  Institute  at  Iowa  City,  conducted  by  Rev.  Father 
Emonds,  during  whose  pastorate  St.  Mary's  church  was  built. 
In  the  spring  of  1877,  following  the  death  of  his  father,  young 
Hohenschuh  took  up  the  business  left  by  the  former  and  has 
conducted  the  same  without  interruption  to  the  present  time. 
What  greater  proof  of  the  rewards  of  constancy,  energ\^,  and 
faithfulness  in  business  could  be  cited  than  the  success  that 
has  attended  William  P.  Hohenschuh? 

On  February  4,  1880,  Mr.  Hohenschuh  was  married,  at 
Morris,  Illinois,  to  Miss  Nena  C.  Crawford,  a  native  of  that 
state,  whose  parents  were  descended  from  one   of  the  old 


BIOGRAPHICAL  15 

families  of  New  York  state.  Altlioug-li  not  blessed  with  chil- 
dren, the  relations  of  the  Hohenschnhs  have  been  most  happy, 
and  their  home  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful  in  the  city. 

In  politics  Mr.  Hohenschuh  is  a  democrat.  Never  an  office 
seeker,  he  nevertheless  was  honored  by  his  constituents  with 
the  position  of  coroner  of  Johnson  county  for  fifteen  years  — 
an  indication  of  the  confidence  of  his  fellow  citizens  and  a 
strong  commentary  upon  his  ability.  His  only  other  public 
official  position  is  that  of  member  of  the  Iowa  City  Public 
Park  Commission,  an  office  which  he  has  held  for  six  years, 


RESIDENCE  OF   W.    P.   HOHENSCHUH 

being"  now  secretary  of  the  commission.  Mr.  Hohenschuh  is 
a  member  of  St.  Mary's  Roman  Catholic  church,  Iowa  City; 
Past  Grand  Knight  of  Knights  of  Columbus,  local  council  No. 
842;  Past  Exalted  Ruler  B.  P.  0.  E.  No.  590,  and  a  member 
of  the  grand  lodge  of  the  order. 

Peter  Statzer  and  wife  (nee  Miss  Margaret  Bishop), 
parents  of  Mrs.  Frank  Hohenschuh,  our  subject's  mother, 
came  with  their  five  cliildren  to  America  in  1841  from  Bavaria, 
Germany,  the  voyage  being  made  by  sailing  vessel  and  occupy- 
ing eight  weeks.     Peter  Statzer  gave  as  his  principal  reason 


16  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

for  leaving  Germany  the  desire  that  his  three  sons,  Jacob, 
John  and  Ferdinand,  should  not  be  compelled  to  go  to  war 
through  association  with  the  German  army.  His  heart  was 
gratified  in  this,  though  two  of  his  beloved  boys,  Jacob  and 
John,  and  a  daughter,  Frances  (married  to  John  Stenz  at 
Iowa  City),  have  joined  him  in  the  Great  Beyond.  Teresa 
Hohenschuh  and  her  brother  Ferdinand  Statzer  (aged  76)  are 
the  sole  survivors  of  their  father's  family.  Happily  they  have 
the  comfort  of  each  other's  presence  in  their  declining  years, 
being  residents  at  the  same  house  in  Iowa  City. 

Peter  Statzer  had  a  brother  in  America  who  constantly 
urged  him  to  emigrate,  representing  to  him  that  he  could  get 
good  land  at  $1.25  per  acre  in  the  United  States.  On  arrival 
in  Iowa,  Mr.  Statzer  looked  over  a  proposed  location  on  the 
Cedar  Rapids  road  between  Ely  and  Salem,  six  miles  north 
of  Salem,  but  not  being  exactly  suited,  came  on  to  Iowa  City 
(1842)  and  purchased  from  a  German  named  "Nick"  for 
$300  the  property  where  Mrs.  Frank  Hohenschuh  now  resides. 
A  one-room  frame  house  then  stood  within  ten  feet  and  a  log 
house  occupied  the  site  of  the  present  residence  of  the  widow. 
Adjoining  was  also  a  log  house  fronting  on  East  Blooming- 
ton  street.  The  same  year  Mr.  Statzer 's  mother  (his  parents 
having  accompanied  him  to  the  new  world)  died  and  was 
buried  between  Linn  and  South  Gilbert  streets  on  a  tract  of 
land  near  the  present  railway  track.  This  was  simply  fol- 
lowing the  usual  custom  in  that  early  day,  cemeteries  being 
unknown.  Grandfather  Statzer  survived  his  wife  thirty- 
eight  years,  dying  in  1880. 

Frank  Hohenschuli,  in  1875,  erected  the  brick  building  on 
South  Dubuque  street  where  Sueppel's  grocery  store  now 
stands.  Across  the  street  from  where  his  widow  now  resides 
in  the  early  days  there  was  a  large  slough.  This  she  saw  all 
filled  in  and  graded,  for  Mrs.  Hohenschuh  has  resided  con- 
tinuously at  318  East  Bloomington  street  for  sixty-nine  years, 
with  the  exception  of  a  short  period  after  her  marriage  in 
1858,  when  the  family  lived  in  one  room  in  a  brick  building 
on  East  Market  street  while  the  husband  erected  a  frame 
building  for  his  furniture  store,  after  which  they  occupied 
the  up-stairs  of  the  store  building  for  a  time  —  that  being  the 
birthplace,  as  previously  stated,  of  William  P.  Hohenschuh. 


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BIOGRAPHICAL  17 

Mother  Hohenschiih  has  a  remarkably  retentive  memory  and 
can  recall  many  interesting  incidents  of  the  early  days.  One 
of  the  epochal  events  of  her  young  life  was  attending  mass  in 
the  first  place  of  worship  of  the  Catholic  church  in  Iowa  City, 
when  services  were  held  in  the  dining  room  of  Ferdinand 
Haberstroh's  boarding  house  opposite  the  present  campus  of 
the  State  University  of  Iowa  on  East  Jefferson  street,  now 
the  site  of  the  residence  of  Mrs.  Martha  Marshall.  Always  a 
consistent  Catholic,  Mrs.  Hohenschuh  was  a  charter  member 
of  what  was  known  as  The  Rosary  Society  of  St.  Mary's  Cath- 
olic church;  other  charter  members  of  this  society  whose 
names  she  recalls  were  Mrs.  Catherine  Sueppel  and  Mrs.  Bar- 
bara Hotz. 

The  children  of  Frank  Hohenschuh  and  Teresa,  Statzer  are : 
William,  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  Mary  (deceased  May, 
1890)  ;  Katie  (deceased  1909) ;  Christian,  of  Iowa  City;  and 
Dr.  Frank  C.     The  grandchildren  of  the  family  number  six. 

Of  the  above  children,  perhaps  some  particular  mention 
should  be  made  of  Christian  Hohenschuh,  engaged  in  the  book 
and  stationery  business  on. South  Clinton  street,  adjoining 
the  old  St.  James  Hotel.  Bom  in  1865  in  Iowa  City,  follow- 
ing his  education  at  the  public  and  parochial  schools.  Chris- 
tian entered  at  once  upon  a  business  career,  and  in  spite  of  the 
fact  that  he  has  been  in  delicate  health  and  his  life  despaired 
of  on  several  occasions,  he  has  made  a  marked  success.  Sev- 
eral trips  to  Denver,  Colorado,  have  been  necessary  to  give 
Mr.  Hohenschuh  renewed  vigor.  Mother  Hohenschuh  very 
pathetically  refers  to  the  filial  affection  and  interest  man- 
ifested by  her  son  Christian,  which,  she  says,  has  been  espe- 
cially solicitous  since  the  sad  death  of  Katie  in  1909.  Every 
day,  in  his  journeys  from  his  business  to  his  home.  Christian 
has  been  a  caller  at  his  mother's  residence  to  pay  her  the 
honor  of  a  son's  love  —  a  trait  which  honors  both  the  object 
of  his  atfection  and  himself. 

The  wife  of  Christian  Hohenschuh  was  Clara  Dostal, 
daughter  of  John  P.  Dostal,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Iowa  City. 
Two  children  have  blessed  their  union,  Marian  and  Loretta. 

Mr.  Hohenschuh  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  Marquette 
Council,  Knights  of  Columbus,  being  one  of  the  original  nine 


18  HISTOBY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

eliarter  meml)er8.     He  is  a  member  of  St.  Mary's  Catholic 
clmrcli  and  of  the  Gentlemen's  Sodality, 

We  cannot  close  this  sketch  more  fittingly,  we  think,  than 
by  transcribing  the  following  extract  from  an  article  on  the 
retirement  of  William  Peter  Hohenschiih  ]nil)lished  in  The 
Casket,  Kochester,  N.  Y.,  July,  1910:  "Professor  Hohen- 
schiih has  always  stood  for  that  which  is  best,  and  has  won  the 
confidence  and  esteem  of  all  who  have  come  in  touch  with  him. 
His  effort  has  been  to  make  better  funeral  directors  and  em- 
balmers  of  his  fellow  professionals,  and  not  to  exalt  himself 
at  the  cost  or  by  the  disparagement  of  others.  He  has  won 
for  himself  a  name  and  fame  in  the  profession  which  will  long- 
endure,  and  his  many  friends  will  w^ish  for  him  long  years  of 
happiness  and  usefulness,  by  personal  influence,  in  the  sphere 
which  he  has  lioth  honored  and  adorned." 


JOB  TUBES  TURNER 

That  branch  of  the  Turner  family,  of  which  Job  Tubbs  is  a 
representative,  figured  quite  largely  in  the  early  history  of  the 
American  Colonies.  The  line  is  of  English  descent,  the  first 
emigrants  having  come  to  the  new  world  in  the  seventeenth 
century.  Jacob  Turner,  great  grandfather  of  our  subject, 
was  born  at  Killing-worth,  Connecticut,  in  1731.  William,  the 
grandfather,  was  a  native  of  the  same  town,  born  in  1765 ;  as 
was  also  Captain  Almerin  Turner,  our  subject's  father,  the 
date  of  whose  birth  was  January  10,  1780.  William  Turner 
was  a  soldier  of  the  Revolution  and  fought  at  the  battle  of 
White  Plains,  which  occurred  in  October,  1776.  He  was  bad- 
ly wounded  by  a  bayonet  thrust  in  the  knee,  which  crippled 
him  for  life;  but  the  Hessian  soldier  who  made  the  thrust  was 
killed  by  a  Yankee  comrade  of  Turner's  who  was  just  behind. 
The  latter  pulled  the  bayonet  from  Turner's  knee  and  slew 
the  Hessian  with  the  same  weapon. 

W^illiam  Turner  married  Hannah  Williams,  who  was  of 
Welsh  descent.  Thev  raised  ten  children,  seven  sons  and 
three  daughters.  Three  of  the  sons  became  sea  captains,  Al- 
merin, our  subject's  father,  Reuben,  and  William.  Our  sub- 
ject knows  little  of  his  grandfather's  family,  having  never 


BIOGRAPHICAL  19 

seen  any  of  his  nncles  except  Reuben.  He  was  once  told,  how- 
ever, that  his  nncles,  Ephraim  and  Sorenus,  left  the  Con- 
necticut home  at  an  early  day  and  settled  in  Texas  while  it 
was  yet  Mexican  territory,  and  later  fought  for  its  independ- 
ence. Reuben,  the  fourth  son,  he  met  a  number  of  times.  He 
was  a  sea  captain,  and  lived  for  a  few  years  after  his  mar- 
riage at  Saybrook,  Connecticut.  Later  he  removed  to  Roches- 
ter, New  York,  and  thence  to  Cleveland,  Ohio,  in  the  thirties. 
He  had  four  sons,  who  were  all  lake  captains.  Captain  Reu- 
ben Turner  died  in  Cleveland,  and  our  subject  is  of  the  opin- 
ion that  his  four  sons  also  have  passed  away.  Another  uncle, 
Elislia  Turner,  it  was  said,  lived  at  Rochester,  New  York,  for 
some  years  prior  to  his  death.  Several  of  his  sons  went  to 
Grand  Rapids,  Michigan,  where  they  engaged  in  manufactur- 
ing. Captain  William  Turner  lived  and  died  in  Baltimore. 
Of  the  remaining  uncles  and  his  aunts  our  subject  heard  and 
knew  little,  but  he  does  remember  that  the  only  time  he  ever 
saw  his  father  weep  was  uj^on  the  receipt  of  a  letter  announc- 
ing the  death  of  one  of  his  sisters. 

The  early  experiences  of  Captain  Almerin  Turner  were 
characteristic  of  his  day.  School  privileges  and  opportunities 
were  few  and  far  between,  but  with  all  the  local  drawbacks 
he  managed  to  get  a  term  of  three  days  in  school.  At  the  age 
of  fifteen  he  obtained  the  position  of  cabin  boy  on  board  a 
merchant  vessel  bound  to  the  West  Indies.  He  was  soon  ad- 
vanced to  the  position  of  sailor,  learned  navigation  and  the 
practical  sailing  of  the  merchant  ships  of  that  day.  Being- 
active,  temperate,  and  understanding  navigation,  he  soon  ad- 
vanced to  the  place  of  captain's  or  master's  mate,  and  soon 
after  reaching  his  majority  he  was  given  command  of  a  mer- 
chant vessel,  to  sail  and  trade  in  our  southern  waters,  the 
West  Indies  and  South  America.  Thus  he  became  a  full- 
fledged  sea  captain.  A  hundred  years  ago  the  common  out- 
ward cargo  of  the  Atlantic  sailing  vessel  was  New  England 
rum,  sometimes  a  few  nmles,  chickens,  turkeys,  etc.,  and  her 
return  cargo  was  sugar,  sometimes  a  little  coffee,  and  tropical 
fruit.  Notwithstanding  Captain  Almerin  Turner's  early  edu- 
cational disadvantages,  he  came  to  be  a  reading  man,  well 
posted  in  modern  history,  and  full  of  general  information; 
he  knew  his  bible  well,  was  posted  in  his  church  matters,  was 


20 


HISTOEY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 


a  good  talker,  and  often  addressed  his  neighbors  and  friends 
to  their  edification.  He  led  a  sailor's  life  at  a  time  when 
Yankee  seamen  had  a  hard  time  of  it.  From  1795  to  1815 
the  French,  under  Napoleon,  were  at  perpetual  war  with  the 
English  both  on  sea  and  land.  The  English  had  their  orders 
in  Council  by  which,  if  an  American  ship  was  captured  when 
bound  for  a  French  port,  she  was  subject  to  trial  by  the  Brit- 
ish Court  of  Admiralty,  and  if  condemned,  the  vessel  and 
cargo  were  confiscated.  The  Yankee  had  no  remedy,  simply 
because  we  were  a  weak  nation,  and  in  those  days  might  made 
right.     This  ver>^  thing  happened  to  one  of  Captain  Turner's 


EESIDENCE  OF  JOB  T.  TUPtNER 


vessels  when  he  was  acting  as  mate.  An  English  man-of-war 
captured  the  ship,  tried  her  before  a  Court  of  Admiralty,  and 
condemned  her  and  the  cargo,  not  even  allowing  the  captain, 
mate,  and  crew  sufficient  funds  to  pay  their  passage  back  to 
New  York.  On  another  trip,  bound  for  an  English  port  in 
the  West  Indies,  they  were  captured  by  a  French  man-of-war. 
All  the  men,  except  Almerin,  who  was  mate,  his  brother  Keu- 
ben,  and  the  sick  captain,  were  taken  otf.  Almerin  was  left 
on  board  because  he  understood  navigation.  The  French 
man-of-war  put  five  of  its  men  aboard  the  American  vessel 


BIOGRAPHICAL  21 

to  take  her  to  a  French  port.  The  men  were  composed  of  an 
officer  termed  the  ''Prize  Master,"  and  four  seamen.  The 
Prize  Master  told  liis  men  to  obey  Captain  Turner,  as  he  was 
the  navigator.  One  fine  day  the  Yankee  took  advantage  of 
the  situation,  and  ordered  the  four  French  sailors  to  go  down 
into  the  hold  to  do  some  work.  Three  of  them  obeyed  the 
order,  but  the  fourth,  smelling  a  rat,  refused.  Captain  Tur- 
ner gave  his  boy  brother  Reuben  an  axe,  telling  him  to  knock 
the  three  men  in  the  head  should  they  attempt  to  come  out 
of  the  hold.  The  man  who  had  refused  to  go  down  Captain 
Turner  knocked  overboard  very  promptly,  and  then  went  to 
look  after  the  Prize  Master,  who  was  engaged  in  a  rough  and 
tumble  fight  with  the  captain  of  the  vessel.  Captain  Turner 
took  a  hand  in  the  combat,  and  the  Prize  Master  was  soon 
overcome  and  bound  hand  and  foot.  The  three  prisoners  in 
the  hold  were  called  up  one  at  a  time  and  also  bound.  The 
fifth  recalcitrant,  who  had  been  thrown  overboard,  was  found 
bleeding  profusely  but  clinging  to  a  rope  and  pleading  for 
his  life.  He  was  pulled  up  and  bound  with  his  fellows.  The 
five  were  carefully  guarded  and  taken  into  an  English  port 
as  prisoners  of  war.  On  bidding  good-bye  to  his  captor,  the 
Prize  Master  said:  "Captain  Turner,  I  am  never  going  back 
to  France." 

Captain  Turner  was  obliged  to  surrender  seafaring  owing 
to  two  attacks  of  yellow  fever.  Following  his  retirement,  he 
spent  a  year  or  two  at  his  home  in  Saybrook,  Connecticut, 
resting  and  recuperating.  About  the  year  1816  he  sold  his 
Connecticut  home  and  with  his  family  journeyed  into  the  then 
wilderness  of  northern  Pennsylvania,  where  he  bought  about 
three  hundred  acres  of  land  of  Dr.  Robert  H.  Rose,  located  in 
the  township  of  Silver  Lake,  Susquehanna  county.  There  he 
carved  out  a  productive  farm  from  the  tangled  forest  and 
raised  a  family  of  ten  sturdy  little  Turners,  whose  names  and 
places  and  dates  of  birth  are  as  follows :  Eliza  Maria,  born  in 
Saybrook,  Connecticut,  1810 ;  Almerin  W,,  born  in  same  place 
in  1812;  Juliette,  ditto,  in  1814.  The  remaining  seven,  all 
born  at  Silver  Lake,  Pennsylvania,  were:  John  Tubbs,  bom 
1817 ;  Caroline  A.,  born  1819 ;  Job  Tubbs,  our  subject,  born 
1821;  Angeline,  born  1823;  Edwin  M,,  born  1825;  William, 
bom  1827 ;  Albert  D.,  born  1829.     The  mother  of  this  interest- 


22  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

ing  group  was  Hannah  Tubbs,  bom  at  East  Lyme,  Con- 
necticut, in  1788.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Johji  Tubbs,  whose 
English  ancestors  came  over  in  1635  and  became  freehoklers 
at  Duxbury,  Massachusetts.  Hannah  Tubbs  married  Captain 
Almerin  Turner  about  the  year  1809.  The  couple  lived  at 
Saybrook,  Connecticut,  for  about  seven  years  and  then  re- 
moved to  Pennsylvania, 

Our  subject  recalls  that  his  mother  "was  a  godly  woman, 
the  best  of  wives,  the  best  of  mothers,  the  tenderest  of  friends" 
(we  are  quoting  from  his  written  statement).  "She  always 
held  me  as  long  as  possible  when  I  went  home  for  a  visit,  al- 
ways hugging,  crying,  kissing,  and  blessing  me  when  I  came 
to  leave.  The  visits  were  very  pleasant;  the  i)artings  very 
trying.  She  passed  awa}^  at  the  old  home  in  1854.  I  spent 
a  week  with  Jier  just  before  her  death.  She  was  buried  in 
the  old  home  cemetery  at  Choconut,  located  one  and  a  half 
miles  from  our  old  home.  She  bad  ])etter  earlier  advantages 
than  my  father.  Was  a  good  speller,  a  good  reader,  could 
repeat  many  of  the  old  Watts  hymns,  and  was  always  able 
and  willing  to  help  me  out  in  the  si)elling  lessons.  She  often 
wrote  me  letters  full  of  motherly  affection  after  I  left  home. 
Mother  visited  her  old  Connecticut  home  once  after  she  came 
to  Pennsylvania;  my  father,  I  believe,  never  revisited  tlie  old 
home.  I  have  endeavored  to  follow  my  mother's  teachings, 
and  do  so  today." 

A  brief  recital  of  the  lives  and  activities  of  the  children  of 
Captain  Almerin  Turner  and  Hannah  Tubbs  will  make  an 
important  chapter  in  the  family  history. 

Eliza  M.,  the  oldest  child,  married  William  House,  of  Little 
Meadows,  Pennsylvania,  in  1838;  had  two  daughters,  Eliza- 
beth and  Caroline,  and  a  son,  William  A.;  Elizabeth  married 
Henry  A.  House,  a  cousin;  Caroline  married  Judge  A.  B. 
Beers,  of  Bridgeport,  Connecticut;  William  A,  married  Eliza 
Chubbock,  daughter  of  a  Methodist  minister,  and  a  bright  and 
good  woman.  Eliza  taught  school  in  her  younger  days.  She 
died  and  was  buried  in  Vineland,  New  Jersev,  in  September, 
1881. 

Almerin  W.,  the  oldest  boy,  soon  after  his  majority,  went 
to  Seneca  Falls,  New  York,  studied  medicine  with  Dr.  J.  R. 
Brown,  and  soon  after  receiving  his  degree  of  M.  D.  removed 


BIOGRAPHICAL  23 

to  Cleveland,  Ohio.  He  liad  a.  number  of  sons  and  daughters 
and  died,  it  is  believed,  in  Rockford,  Illinois,  in  1865. 

Juliette,  after  teaching  school  a  term  or  two,  married 
George  W.  Ross,  in  1836.  She  bore  live  boys,  three  of  whom 
are  living :  Charles  P.  Ross,  of  Newark,  New  Jersey ;  Kennard 
J.,  of  Pittston,  Pennsylvania;  and  George  W.,  of  Morristown, 
New  Jersey.     She  died  in  Rockaway,  New  Jersey,  in  1870. 

Jolm  Tubbs,  until  about  the  age  of  nineteen,  remained  on 
the  old  Pennsylvania  fami.  Thereafter  he  attended  tlie  Sen- 
eca Falls  academy.  He  taught  school  and  kept  up  his  acad- 
emy course  both  smnmer  and  winter.  He  linally  decided  to 
study  medicine.  In  pursuance  of  this  purpose,  according  to 
the  custom  of  the  day  he  "read"  medicine  with  Dr.  Bellows, 
of  Seneca  Falls,  New  York.  Later  he  attended  medical  lec- 
tures at  Geneva  college  (now  Hobart),  Geneva,  New  York, 
for  two  or  three  seasons,  and  finally  graduated  at  a  Vermont 
school  of  medicine.  Dr.  Turner  was  successful  in  his  i)ractice 
from  the  start.  His  surgical  operations  were  the  marvel  of 
his  day.  Unfortunately,  in  the  winter  of  1848,  he  met  with 
an  accident  while  returning  from  a  visit  to  a  patient  which 
resulted  in  breaking  several  ribs  and  otherwise  injuring  him. 
From  the  cold  contracted  on  the  occasion  he  never  recovered, 
and,  although  unfit  to  leave  his  house,  would  insist  on  making- 
long  trips  to  administer  to  his  patients.  His  self  sacrifice 
cost  him  his  life,  and  he  died  a  year  and  a  half  after  the  acci- 
dent, a  martyr  to  his  profession.  He  was  buried  at  East 
Cayuga,  New  York,  the  latter  part  of  May,  1850,  at  the  age 
of  thirty-six.  He  left  one  son,  Frederick.  His  wife  was 
Laura  Marsh,  daughter  of  Daniel  Marsh,  of  Cayuga  Bridge, 
New  York.     She  only  survived  her  husband  four  years. 

Caroline  A.  lived  at  the  old  home  at  Silver  Lake  till  she 
was  over  thirty  years  of  age,  then  married  a  Methodist  min- 
ister, Rev.  Walter  B.  Thomas,  an  Englishman.  She  died  at 
Athens,  Pennsylvania,  some  time  in  the  eighties.  Her  hus- 
band survived  her  several  years.  They  left  one  son,  Arthur, 
a  music  teacher,  residing  at  Carbondale. 

Angeline  married  C.  D.  Virgil  in  1843  and  bore  two  sons 
and  a  daughter.  Father,  mother  and  daughter  all  died  young. 
The  whereabouts  of  the  sons  is  unknown. 

Edwin  M.  was  a  lawyer  by  i)rofession.     Aft(  i'  tlie  sale  of 


24  HISTOKY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

the  old  Pennsylvania  farm,  he  and  his  father  removed  to 
Vineland,  New  Jersey,  where  he  practiced  his  profession.  He 
married  Martha  L.  Ellis,  in  1855,  and  died  in  Leadville,  Colo- 
rado, some  five  or  six  years  ago.  His  wife  survives  him. 
They  have  eight  children,  three  boys  and  five  girls.  Henry, 
the  oldest  son,  and  Willis  Tubbs,  the  third  son,  are  engaged  in 
the  United  States  Geological  Survey  in  California  and 
Nevada;  Edwin  Job  is  in  trade  at  Leadville,  Colorado; 
Amanda  is  a  kindergarten  teacher  at  Pittsfield,  Massachu- 
setts ;  Hannah  is  married  to  Arthur  Hobart,  of  Boston ;  Edna 
is  the  wife  of  William  C.  Appleton,  of  Boston ;  the  remaining 
two  girls  are  unmarried  —  one  is  doing  newspaper  work  in 
Denver  and  the  other  is  a  typewriter  in  Boston. 

Albert  D.,  the  youngest  son,  is  a  dentist  at  Binghamton, 
New  York,  successful  and  prosperous. 

Job  Tubbs  Turner,  our  subject,  as  hitherto  stated,  was  bom 
on  the  Silver  Lake  farm  in  Pennsylvania.  He  first  saw  day- 
light in  the  little  log  cabin  on  April  6,  1821.  He  was  raised 
on  the  farm,  and  attended  the  district  school  at  Choconut,  a 
mile  and  a  half  distant  from  the  farm.  At  the  age  of  seven- 
teen he  was  a  student  at  Union  academy,  in  the  western  part 
of  Broome  county.  New  York,  continuing  for  two  terms.  Fol- 
lowing this  he  taught  two  terms  of  school  near  his  old  home, 
and  later  became  a  student  and  teacher  in  the  Friendsville 
academy,  Friendsville,  Susquehanna  county,  Pennsylvania,  for 
nearly  two  years,  acting  for  the  last  year  as  assistant  to 
Professor  Thurston,  a  graduate  of  Bowdoin.  In  the  fall  of 
1884  he  removed  to  Seneca  Falls,  New  York,  in  which  neigh- 
borhood he  taught  school  for  several  years.  Reciting  his 
pedagogic  experience,  Mr.  Turner  recalls  that  his  first  term 
of  teaching  near  his  old  home  brought  him  'Hhe  munificent 
sum  of  ten  dollars  a  month,  with  the  privilege  of  boarding 
around  among  the  patrons."  Finally,  after  having  become 
quite  proficient,  he  was  asked  to  continue  at  his  last  place  at 
the  salary  of  twenty-five  dollars  per  month,  a  raise  of  five 
dollars  per  month.  But,  having  determined  to  seek  a  more 
stable  employment  Mr.  Turner  declined.  Later  he  obtained 
a  clerkship  in  a  general  merchandise  store  in  Seneca  Falls, 
where  he  worked  three  years  behind  the  counter.  His  salary 
for  the  first  j^ear  was  one  hundred  dollars  and  board ;  for  the 


CLINTON  STREET,  IOWA  CITY,  IN  1854 


BIOGRAPHICAL  25 

second  year  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  dollars  and  board; 
and  for  the  third  year  one  hundred  and  eighty-five  dollars  and 
board.  At  the  end  of  the  third  year  he  was  offered  a  partner- 
ship in  the  store  by  his  employer,  Mr.  S.  S.  Gould,  which  he 
accepted.  Mr.  Turner  describes  this  transaction  and  his  ex- 
perience with  Mr,  Gould  as  follows :  "I  accepted  the  offer 
and  became  a  partner  in  a  well  established  trade.  Mr.  Gould 
was  worth  about  twenty  thousand  dollars.  I  had  saved  about 
four  hundred  dollars  from  wages  received  in  teaching  and 
clerking.  In  the  meantime  I  had  made  myself  so  useful  that 
Mr.  Gould  did  not  wish  me  to  quit.  I  did  not  fish,  hunt,  or 
attend  places  of  amusement  like  most  of  the  clerks  and  young 
men  of  that  day,  but  stayed  by  the  stuff.  So  the  house  of 
Gould  &  Turner  began  trade  on  April  1,  1850.  I  paid  Mr. 
Gould  the  four  hundred  dollars  and  gave  my  notes  for  the 
balance  of  the  one-half  of  the  stock  on  hand,  payable  in  one, 
two,  and  three  years.  Mr.  Gould's  family  trade  exceeded 
mine  to  more  than  cover  my  notes  from  year  to  year,  so  that 
at  the  end  of  three  years  Mr.  Gould  was  in  my  debt. ' ' 

At  the  end  of  seven  years  Mr.  Turner  sold  his  interest  in 
the  Seneca  Falls  store  and  came  to  Iowa  City,  where  he  ar- 
rived October  22,  1857,  with  his  wife  and  son.  He  had  mar- 
ried Jane  S.  Coleman  at  Seneca  Falls  on  June  20,  1850.  She 
was  born  near  Morristown,  New  Jersey,  June  30,  1822.  Their 
son,  Edgar,  was  born  June  23,  1851,  in  Seneca  Falls.  He 
died  in  Iowa  City  August  28,  1860.  Because  of  the  hard 
times  and  the  demoralized  state  of  the  currency  and  the  wild- 
cat money,  so-called,  in  circulation,  Mr.  Turner  did  little  bus- 
iness during  his  first  three  years  in  Iowa  City.  However,  he 
served  one  term  on  the  school  board  and  two  terms  as  city 
councilman.  In  1862  he  opened  up  a  farm  implement  store 
and  continued  the  business  for  thirteen  years  with  what  he 
states  was  ^'a,  fair  degree  of  success."  He  disposed  of  the 
business  in  the  latter  part  of  1874,  investing  a  portion  of  the 
proceeds  in  bank  stock  and  the  balance  in  merchandise.  One 
of  his  first  bank  stock  investments  was  in  the  First  National 
of  Iowa  City.  In  January,  1870,  he  was  elected  a  director  in 
said  bank  and  has  continued  to  be  one  of  its  directors  ever 
since,  a  period  of  over  thirty-one  years.  He  was  one  of  the 
founders  of  the  Farmers  Loan  &  Trust  Company,  of  Iowa 


26  HISTOKY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

City,  in  1880,  and  has  been  a  trustee  of  the  same  from  its  be- 
ginning to  the  present  day.  In  the  fall  of  1862  Mr.  Turner 
was  appointed  by  Governor  Kirkwood  as  one  of  the  commis- 
sioners of  the  state  of  Iowa  to  take  the  vote  of  her  soldiers 
in  the  field.  He  was  assigned  to  take  the  vote  of  the  Twenty- 
second  Regiment  Iowa  Infantry,  wherever  he  found  them. 
The  vote  of  the  soldiers  in  the  field  was  to  be  taken  at  the 
same  date  as  that  of  the  home  election  in  October.  He  found 
the  regiment  near  Rolla,  Missouri.  The  election  was  a  quiet 
one,  the  vote  being  mostly  republican.  In  due  time  Mr.  Tur- 
ner delivered  the  result  of  the  election  to  the  secretary  of 
state  at  Des  Moines.  In  the  fall  of  1863  he  was  reappointed  to 
take  the  vote  of  the  same  regiment.  The  Twenty-second  was 
comi)Osed  of  men  largely  from  Johnson  county.  In  October 
of  that  year  he  found  the  regiment  some  two  hundred  miles 
northwest  of  New  Orleans,  in  western  Louisiana,  a  long  and 
tiresome  journey  by  rail  and  water.  We  think  no  better  de- 
scription could  l)e  given  of  this  interesting  trip  than  in  the 
words  of  Mr.  Turner  himself.  In  recounting  his  experiences 
to  a  nephew  at  Salem,  Oregon,  he  tells  of  his  Louisiana  jour- 
ney in  the  following  language : 

"General  Banks  was  then  in  command  of  the  department, 
with  headquarters  at  New  Orleans.  General  Butler  had  been 
in  command  of  this  department  i)reviously  and  had  cleaned 
u|)  the  city  very  thoroughly.  I  have  often  been  in  New  Or- 
leans since,  but  have  never  seen  it  so  clean  as  in  October,  1863. 
General  Butler  not  onlv  cleansed  the  citv,  but  he  made  the 
rebels  toe  the  mark  and  pay  respect  to  the  flag.  Our  regiment 
formed  a  part  of  the  Thirteenth  Army  Corps.  General  Banks 
went  with  us  to  the  Teche  country  and  we  overtook  the  Thir- 
teenth Corps  near  New  Iberia,  Louisiana,  late  in  the  after- 
noon of  the  second  day  out  from  New  Orleans.  The  next  day 
after  reaching  New  Iberia,  we  marched  all  day  up  the  Teche 
towards  Martinsville,  camped  near  nightfall  beside  a  field  of 
sweet  potatoes,  a  few  cabins  or  small  houses  being  in  the 
neighlwrhood.  Our  soldier  boys,  digging  the  potatoes  with 
their  bayonets,  using  the  fence  rails  for  their  fires,  appro- 
priating all  the  pigs  and  chickens  in  sight  to  their  own  use, 
seemed  to  enjoy  their  feast  hugely.  Early  the  next  morning 
we  took  the  road  again,  had  a  skirmish  with  the  rebels  at  a 


BIOGRAPHICAL  27 

crossing  of  the  Teche,  captured  a  buslnYhacker  and  came  into 
camp  early  in  the  afternoon,  our  Twenty-second  taking  pos- 
session of  rebel  Ex-Governor  Monton's  plantation,  in  sight 
of  the  church  steeples  of  VermillionvilJe.  The  Twenty-second 
took  charge  of  Governor  Monton's  sugar  and  corn  mill  and 
ground  corn  for  our  regiment  and  for  the  Thirteenth  Corps 
as  well.  General  Ord  was  in  command  of  the  Thirteenth  in 
the  held.  Generals  Banks  and  Ord  both  appeared  well  on 
their  horses.  After  two  or  three  days  spent  in  re\dews  and 
inspection,  General  Banks  returned  to  New  Orleans.  I  was 
in  camp  there  for  nearly  two  weeks,  when  the  proper  day 
came  to  take  the  vote,  and  soon  after  was  notitied  by  General 
Ord  that  a  lot  of  prisoners  under  guard  were  to  be  sent  to 
New  Orleans  and  that  it  would  be  a  good  opportunity  for 
the  Iowa  commissioners  to  take  the  back  track,  especially  as 
the  army  was  soon  to  move  north  following  the  retreating- 
rebel  army.  We  took  his  advice  and  left,  the  government 
furnishing  us  transportation  and  suitable  guard.  Secretary 
Stanton  had  issued  orders  directing  quartermasters  to  fur- 
nish us  transportation,  and  all  government  officials  to  aid  us 
and  facilitate  our  mission  in  every  possible  way.  The  com- 
missioners each  had  a  copy  of  this  order,  and  when  presented 
to  an  army  officer,  it  commanded  respect  and  ])rompt  action. 
We  left  camp  early  in  the  morning  and  marched  all  day,  or 
at  least  the  prisoners  and  a  portion  of  the  guard  marched; 
the  commissioners  and  rebel  officers  were  provided  with  am- 
l)ulances.  The  officer  in  connnand  of  the  guard  and  his  aides 
were  on  horseback.  Late  in  the  evening  we  reached  an  old 
camp  at  New  Iberia.  Our  ])risoners  numbered  about  eighty, 
one.  General  Pratt,  an  old  man,  a  native  of  Saybrook,  Con- 
necticut. He  had  gone  south  many  years  before,  married  a 
woman  who  had  a  large  plantation  and  a  goodly  su]:)ply  of 
woolly  heads,  commonly  called  slaves.  General  Pratt  be- 
longed to  the  same  family  as  Captain  Pratt,  with  whom  my 
father  sailed  a  hundred  years  ago.  Another  noted  prisoner 
was  Albert  Voorhees,  a  cousin  of  Dan  Voorhees,  a  statesman 
of  Indiana.  He  had  been  the  rebel  attorney-general  of  Louis- 
iana. The  same  night,  near  midnight,  I  took  steamer  on 
Bayou  Teche,  reaching  Brashear  City  next  night  at  midnight. 
We  showed  Stanton's  order,  and  the  officials  hustled  us  out 


28  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

three  or  four  freight  cars  and  a  sickly  engine  to  haul  us.  We 
reached  Algiers  at  sunrise  on  Sunday  morning.  Our  palace 
cars  had  no  seats  except  one  long  bench  with  no  back.  As  I 
had  not  slept  for  thirty-six  hours,  I  was  sick  and  very  weak. 
I  had  about  five  thousand  dollars  in  my  old  satchel  belonging 
to  the  soldiers,  to  be  brought  home  and  delivered  to  their 
families.  I  had  on  my  overcoat,  wrapped  my  shawl  about  me, 
laid  my  satchel  on  the  floor,  stretched  myself  alongside  it, 
using  the  satchel  for  a  pillow  and  slept  soundly  all  night. 
Being  surrounded  by  a  crowd  all  the  time,  composed  of  all 
sorts  of  people,  I  ran  a  great  risk,  and  would  not  like  to 
repeat  it.  I  was  careful  not  to  reveal  m^^  fix,  not  even  to 
any  of  the  Iowa  commissioners.  We  crossed  over  the  big 
river  to  New  Orleans,  went  to  the  City  Hotel,  where  I  have 
often  stopped  since,  took  breakfast,  and  went  to  bed.  I  had 
slept  only  an  hour  or  two  when  word  came  that  a  government 
transport  was  just  ready  to  start  up  the  river  —  'All  aboard.' 
So  we  started  for  Cairo  on  a  Sunday  morning.  The  deck  of 
the  transport  was  packed  almost  like  sardines  with  sick  and 
wounded  soldiers,  and  there  were  many  deaths  en  route.  It 
was  a  common  thing  to  hear  a  soldier  say,  'Well,  poor  Tom 
played  out  last  night.'  If  not  'Tom,'  it  was  'Jake,'  or  'Mose,' 
or  'Jim.'  A  sad  sight  and  an  unpleasant  trip.  From  what 
I  saw  and  heard  during  this  trip,  I  came  to  the  conclusion 
that  there  is  little  sunshine  in  war.  I  reached  home  after  a 
fatiguing  trip  of  six  weeks  via  river  and  rail.  Eesting  a 
few  days,  I  went  to  Des  Moines  and  delivered  the  ballots  to 
the  secretary  of  state.  The  soldiers  this  time  gave  an  almost 
unanimous  vote  for  the  republican  ticket." 

Mr.  Turner  states  that  he  was  once  asked  bv  a  friend, 
"What  brought  you  to  Iowa!"  This  set  him  to  thinking,  and 
he  answered  the  question  as  follows:  "In  September,  1856, 
I  went  as  usual  to  New  York  city  to  stock  up  for  the  fall  and 
winter  trade.  My  trade  was  in  general  merchandise,  and  this 
proved  to  be  my  last  trip  to  New  York  for  this  purpose.  My 
custom  was  to  \dsit  the  great  city  by  our  eastern  sea  twice  a 
year  to  lay  in  my  supplies,  in  April  and  September.  In  those 
days  I  took  the  morning  train  at  Seneca  Falls,  reaching  Al- 
bany in  time  for  the  night  steamer  for  New  York,  usually 
reaching  that   city   soon   after   daylight.     After  purchasing 


BIOGRAPHICAL  29 

stock,  wliicli  usually  took  about  ten  days,  I  would  take  the 
night  boat  for  Albany,  reaching  its  destination  at  daybreak. 
These  passenger  steamers  were  large  and  elegant  and  always 
gave  us  a  good  supper.  On  this  particular  trip  up  the  river 
we  had  about  1,200  steerage  passengers  on  the  lower  deck. 
On  the  trip  in  question  I  went  on  board  the  steamer  before 
sunset,  secured  my  stateroom  and  took  a  seat  in  the  ladies' 
cabin.  A  little  later  there  came  aboard  a  couple  apparently 
of  my  own  age,  preceded  by  a  little  miss  of  perhaps  five  years. 
The  little  maid  came  close  to  me,  and  I  extended  her  my  hand. 
She  took  it  and,  coming  nearer,  gave  me  a  hearty  kiss.  This 
seemed  to  amuse  and  please  the  father  and  mother.  They 
took  seats  near  me,  and  our  tongues  soon  loosening,  we  had 
a  pleasant  evening,  taking  supper  together.  The  next  morn- 
ing we  took  the  train  at  Albany  for  the  west,  and  taking  seats 
near  each  other,  we  had  a  pleasant  visit.  They  told  me  of 
their  old  New  Bedford  home  and  of  their  new  home  at  Daven- 
port, Iowa.  They  spoke  in  the  highest  terms  of  Davenport 
and  of  Iowa  and  its  prospects,  making  it  emphatically  the 
land  of  promise.  Well,  it  came  about  that  in  the  spring  of 
1857,  when  I  sold  my  interest  at  Seneca  Falls,  and  was  look- 
ing for  a  new  location,  I  remembered  the  words  of  New  Bed- 
ford friends  and  naturally  turned  my  eyes  towards  beautiful 
Iowa.  Landing  at  Dubuque  on  the  4tli  day  of  July,  1857,  I 
boarded  a  steamer  bound  for  Davenport  and  reached  the 
latter  city  near  sunset  of  the  same  day.  I  tarried  there  for 
a  day  or  two,  called  upon  my  New  Bedford  friends,  looked 
over  the  town  a  bit,  and  on  the  morning  of  July  8tli  took 
passage  on  the  railroad  for  Iowa  City,  then  the  terminus  of 
the  only  railroad  in  Iowa.  Liking  the  appearance  and  gen- 
eral location  of  Iowa  City,  I  here  concluded  to  stick  my  stake 
and  make  my  new  home,  provided  my  wife  was  pleased  with 
the  new  plan.  Returning  to  my  eastern  home,  I  submitted 
the  case  to  her,  and  she  decided  favorably.  Closing  up  my 
affairs  at  Seneca  Falls,  I  took  my  wife  and  boy  and  started 
for  the  great  valley  of  the  west,  landing  in  Iowa  City  October 
22,  1857.  Now,  what  was  the  moving  cause  of  my  coming  to 
Iowa?  Was  it  my  kismet"?  Or  was  it  the  kiss  of  the  little 
maid  of  New  Bedford  ?     Tell  me  if  you  can. ' ' 

Mr.  Turner  has  been  a  religious  man  all  his  life.     His  asso- 


30  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

ciatiou  iu  New  York  was  with  the  Presbyterian  church,  but 
on  arriving  at  Iowa  City  he  and  his  wife  united  with  the 
Congregational  church  by  letter  from  the  First  Presbyterian 
church  of  Seneca  Falls.  On  the  dissolution  of  the  Congrega- 
tional church  of  Iowa  City,  in  1864-65,  the  couple  united  by 
letter  with  the  First  Presbyterian  church,  with  which  they 
have  been  associated  until  this  writing.  Mr.  Turner  was  a 
trustee  of  the  latter  church  for  ten  years.  He  was  trustee  of 
the  Iowa  Deaf  and  Dumb  asylum  when  it  was  located  at  Iowa 
City  and  after  its  removal  to  Council  Bluffs.  He  has  all  his 
life  been  devoted  to  his  home,  and  gives  it  as  his  emphatic 
opinion,  based  on  a  lifetime  of  experience,  that  "a  good  home 
is  next  door  to  heaven." 


WILLIAM  CHRISTIAN  FREDERICK  ZIMMERMAN 

The  name  of  Zimmerman  is  inextricably  interwoven  in  the 
fabric  of  southern  Johnson  county  history.  If  the  question 
were  asked,  what  is  the  most  unicpie  enterprise  in  Johnson 
county,  or  for  that  matter  in  the  state  of  Iowa,  the  answer 
would  be, '  *  Zimmerman. ' '  If  the  further  question  were  asked, 
what  is  the  particular  object  most  famous  in  the  prairie 
region  of  eastern  Iowa,  the  answer  would  l)e,  "the  Lone  Tree 
on  the  Zimmerman  farm."  If  the  biographer  should  ask, 
what  family  is  most  remarkable  as  an  example  of  industrial 
cooperation  and  parental  loyalty  in  Johnson  county,  the 
answer,  we  believe,  would  be,  "the  Zimmerman."  Remark- 
able facts  are  involved  in  the  affirmative  answers  to  these 
questions,  but  the  Zimmerman  family  is  a  remarkable  family, 
its  history'  a  remarkable  history,  and  its  accompaniments  are 
of  a  remarkable  order. 

The  student  of  domestic  relationships  would  be  attracted 
at  once  bv  the  evidences  of  affection,  unitv,  and  confidence  in- 
volved  in  the  social  and  business  affairs  of  this  family.  Seek- 
ing for  a  reason,  he  would  not  have  far  to  go.  The  wholesome 
German  principle  of  respect  for  parental  authority,  inculcated 
under  the  law  of  love,  provides  the  solution.  William  C.  F. 
Zimmerman  is  a  father  to  his  children,  but  he  is  more  than 
that,  he  is  their  friend,  their  most  beloved  companion,  their 


!^ 
O 

Q 

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N 


BIOGRAPHICAL  31 

most  trusted  advisor,  and  their  faithful  co-worker.  The  in- 
gredients of  his  character  most  active  in  his  conduct  towards 
his  family  came  by  the  law  of  heredity  and  example  direct 
from  the  German  ancestry,  with  whom  kindness  seasoned 
with  the  grace  of  firmness  was  an  invariable  rule  of  action. 
It  will,  of  course,  be  inferred,  and  rightly,  that  in  the  social 
life  of  this  family  there  is  the  gentle  spirit  of  motherhood 
which  has  wrought  a  mighty  work  in  weaving  the  strands  of 
affection  that  bind  so  firmly  these  sons  and  their  father  in 
manhood's  estate.  It  would  be  hard  to  estimate  the  force  of 
this  factor  in  the  general  destiny  of  families,  but  in  the  Zim- 
merman household  we  have  a  concrete  and  striking  example  of 
its  results  at  their  best. 

Johan  Zimmerman,  father  of  William  C.  F.,  was  one  of  ten 
sons,  and  he  stated  many  times  with  great  pride  and  tender- 
ness that  his  father  had  never  touched  one  of  his  children 
except  in  kindness.  This  rule  he  observed  with  his  own  fam- 
ily of  three  daughters  and  two  sons,  and  the  same  rule  by  in- 
evitable momentum  and  habit  governed  his  youngest  son, 
William  C.  F.  Thus  the  cohesiveness  of  the  Z.inunerman  fam- 
ily fabric  is  explained.  It  is  a  subject  worthy  of  an  essay 
in  itself,  but  we  must  pass  it  to  consider  the  homelier  facts  of 
the  family  history. 

The  founder  of  this  branch  of  the  Zimmermans  in  the 
United  States  was  Johan,  born  in  Germany  in  1800.  The  date 
of  his  birth  was  contemporary  with  the  stirring  events  of  the 
First  Empire,  and  necessarily  young  Zinmierman  was  to  some 
extent  involved  in  the  opposition  to  Bonaparte  which  finally 
became  militant  and  decisive  under  Bliicher.  An  example  of 
his  prowess  and  strategy  is  shown  by  the  fact  that  a  number 
of  Napoleon's  soldiers  one  day  came  to  the  Zimmerman  home 
and  ordered  young  Johan  to  hitch  up  a  team  and  convey  them 
to  a  given  point.  Reluctantly,  but  with  discretion,  the  young 
man  complied  with  their  demands ;  but,  after  he  had  conveyed 
them  to  the  cover  of  a  neighboring  wood,  he  suddenly  attacked 
them  unawares  and  overcame  them,  putting  them  to  flight. 
He  then  returned  home,  warned  the  family,  and  the  entire 
household  hid  themselves  until  the  invaders  had  left  that  part 
of  the  country. 

Johan  Zimmerman  and  his  nine  brothers,  l)eing  faithful 


32 


HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 


adherents  of  the  Lutheran  faith,  invariably  liegan  each  day 
by  saying  their  prayers  before  breakfast.  This  was  one  of 
the  requirements  of  Ludwig  Zimmerman,  their  father,  who, 
practising  the  rule  of  kindness  in  all  things,  believed  that 
due  acknowledgement  should  be  regularly  made  to  the  Cre- 
ator. The  introspective  value  of  this  habit  may  not  be 
doubted. 

In  1835  Johan  Zimmerman  married  Louise  Bornholtz,  a 
native  of  Hamburg,  born  May  7,  1804.  The  marriage  took 
place  in  Klein  Grabo,  where  the  couple  resided  until  1865, 


the  husband  being  engaged  for  many  years  as  time-keeper  and 
steward  for  a  crew  of  day  workers  in  that  city.  Louise  Born- 
holtz's  father  was  a  cattle  drover  by  occupation,  and  was 
accustomed  to  collect  large  sums  of  money  from  the  sales  of 
stock.  Frequently  he  carried  on  his  person  in  a  belt  as  much 
as  $10,000  at  a  time,  and  his  daughter  remembers  that  some- 
times he  would  toss  gold  coins  to  his  children  for  playthings 
in  the  home.  Of  course,  the  habits  of  the  wealthy  drover 
became  known,  and  on  one  of  his  journeys,  after  having  col- 
lected a  considerable  sum,  he  was  murdered  and  robbed.  The 
perpetrators   were   never   cliscoverfed.     Louise   was   a   small 


'^J.-n-n^-  7  ^--z^//<^^  ^^ 


THE  NEW  YORK 
pDBUCUBRARYl 


BIOGRAPHICAL  33 

child  when  this  tragedy  occurred,  and  her  mother  having  re- 
married to  a  man  named  Treiiman,  she  became  a  ward  of 
Emperor  William  I.,  with  whom  she  was  a  great  favorite. 
Her  abilities  as  a  cook  brought  her  especially  to  the  attention 
of  the  Emperor  and  many  times  he  made  special  request  that 
''my  little  ward  shall  prepare  me  something  nice  to  eat." 
Her  mother  died  in  Berlin  in  1830. 

On  Thanksgiving  day,  1865,  Jolian  Zimmerman,  accom- 
panied by  his  wife  and  three  children,  took  voyage  in  an  old- 
fashioned  sailing  vessel,  the  Humboldt,  from  Hamburg  for 
New  York.  A  daughter,  Mary,  wife  of  Fred  Jahnke,  of  Iowa 
City,  preceded  the  family  to  America  several  years,  and  one 
son,  John,  remained  in  Gennany  in  the  army  service  until 
1869,  the  end  of  his  five-year  term,  when  he  came  also,  being 
now  a  resident  of  Lone  Tree,  Iowa.  Of  the  three  children 
who  came  on  the  Humboldt,  Minnie,  wife  of  Fred  Lemke,  of 
Lone  Tree,  died  in  1905,  Sophia,  wife  of  John  Joens,  now  re- 
sides near  Lone  Tree,  Iowa,  and  William  C.  F.,  with  his  fam- 
ily, is  a  resident  of  Lone  Tree.  The  date  of  the  latter 's  Inrth 
was  September  9,  1849,  and  his  birthplace  was  Staat  Bellin, 
Mecklenburg,  Germany.  Being  just  past  fifteen  years  of  age 
at  the  time  of  the  departure  from  Hamburg,  AVilliam  C.  F. 
well  remembers  the  incidents  of  the  voyage,  which  was  tem- 
pestous  and  long  delayed.  In  the  early  part  of  its  journey 
the  vessel  was  wrecked  in  the  North  Sea  and  was  taken  to 
Plymouth,  England,  for  repairs;  the  result  of  this  accident 
was  not  only  a  long  delay  but  much  loss  of  baggage  on  ac- 
count of  careless  lighterage.  The  further  voyage  was  char- 
acterized by  severe  storms  and  high  winds.  The  vessel's 
masts  were  blown  away  in  sight  of  New  York  harbor,  causing 
a  delay  of  seventeen  days.  The  entire  journey  consumed  six 
months. 

The  storm-tossed  family  reached  New  York  city  May  17, 
1866,  and  proceeded  direct  to  Davenport,  Iowa,  by  rail,  where 
they  resided  for  three  years,  thereafter  removing  to  Johnson 
county,  near  Lone  Tree.  There  Johan  Zimmerman  was  a 
respected  citizen  until  his  death. 

He  was  noted  for  his  quiet,  retiring,  peaceable  disposi- 
tion. A  member  of  the  Lutheran  church,  he  aimed  to 
practice  his   religion  without  ostentation.     His   children  re- 


34  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

member  to  have  heard  him  say,  "If  a  man  insults  yon,  do 
not  resent  it,  and  the  next  time  he  meets  you  he  will  be 
ashamed."  Mother  Zimmerman  died  May  21,  1901,  and  the 
remains  of  herself  and  her  devoted  husband  are  interred  in 
Lone  Tree  cemetery. 

William  C.  F.  Zimmerman  removed  from  Davenport  to 
Johnson  county  with  his  father's  family  in  1869.  The  family 
first  rented  240  acres  on  which  they  engaged  in  general  farm- 
ing for  two  years.  They  then  bought  480  acres  of  Dr.  Tillot- 
son,  which  they  farmed  for  about  ten  years.  In  1880  William 
C.  F.  came  to  Lone  Tree  town,  where  he  engaged  in  business 
for  four  years.     Catching  the  western  fever,  in  the  spring  of 

1884  he  went  to  Washington  territory  with  his  wife  and  two 
small  sons.  He  reached  Spokane  shortly  after  the  great  fire 
which  had  devastated  the  city,  and  now  relates  with  a  smile 
how  he  was  at  that  time  offered  property  for  a  few  hundred 
dollars  which  today  is  worth  millions.  But,  having  the  spirit 
of  investigation  upon  him,  he  pressed  on  from  Spokane  to 
Cheney,  and  from  that  point  made  a  complete  circuit  of  the 
Big  Bend  country,  the  Coeur  d'Alene  mines,  and  other  points. 
While  in  Cheney  his  third  son,  John  Ernest,  was  born  June 
19,  1884.  This  lustv  infant  established  a  record  for  earlv  and 
arduous  traveling,  making  the  journey  from  Cheney,  Wash- 
ington, to  Baker  City,  Oregon,  when  two  weeks  old.  The 
major  part  of  the  trip,  from  Umatilla  to  Baker  was  made  by 
stage.     The  family  remained  in  Baker  City  until  February, 

1885  —  again  facing  the  possibilities  of  a  great  fortune,  for 
that  citv  has  become  a  large  and  wealthv  communitv.  At 
that  time,  however,  the  desire  to  return  to  Iowa  being  strong 
in  their  hearts  and  the  health  of  Mrs.  Zimmerman  being  poor, 
they  made  the  backward  trip  to  Lone  Tree.  About  two  years 
were  spent  on  the  farm,  after  which  the  family  removed  to 
Lone  Tree,  where  Mr.  Zimmerman  engaged  in  the  hardware, 
implement,  and  lumber  business  for  about  four  years.  In  the 
fall  of  1890  he  bought  the  celebrated  Lone  Tree  Farm,  con- 
sisting of  113  acres  in  the  edge  of  the  town  of  Lone  Tree,  on 
which,  within  fifty  feet  of  the  present  Zimmerman  residence, 
stands  the  famous  "lone  tree,"  known  to  every  Indian  and 
emigrant  of  early  days  in  this  section  of  eastern  Iowa.  This 
tree,  an  elm,  was  the  only  tree  or  shrub  of  any  description 


THE  LONE  TREE,  FREMONT  TOWNSHIP 


BIOGRAPHICAL  35 

visible  in  early  days  in  that  part  of  the  state,  and  served  as 
a  landmark  for  Indians,  emigrants,  and  surveyors.  The 
prairie  fires  of  those  days  swept  the  country  clean  for  many 
miles,  and  the  preservation  of  the  "lone  tree"  is  only  ac- 
counted for  on  the  hypothesis  that  the  cattle  and  horses  of 
the  Indians,  using  it  for  shade,  kept  the  grass  around  it 
trampled  down  to  such  an  extent  that  the  fires  could  not  take 
effect.  This  tree  is  an  object  of  curiosity  to  old  settlers  and 
strangers  alike.  The  reader  will  have  a  correct  idea  of  its 
present  appearance  from  the  engraving  published  on  another 
page.  The  entire  Lone  Tree  Farm  is  embraced  within  the 
city  limits  of  Lone  Tree,  and  a  small  part  of  it  has  been  laid 
out  into  lots  for  city  residences.  On  this  farm  William  C.  F. 
Zimmerman  has  resided  continuously  from  March,  1891,  to 
the  present  time,  a  period  of  over  twenty  years.  General 
farming  has  been  the  program,  and  the  place  is  now  in  a  thor- 
ough state  of  cultivation  under  the  active  management  of 
Herman  Walter  Zimmerman,  a  young  man  (unmarried)  twen- 
ty-two years  of  age,  who  is  also  a  director  in  the  Zimmerman 
Steel  Company. 

William  C.  F.  Zimmerman  constantly  felt  the  desire  for  a 
business  or  manufacturing  life,  and  so,  in  1893,  he  yielded  to 
this  impulse  and  began  the  manufacture  of  windmills  and 
tanks  under  the  firm  name  of  Zimmerman  &  Bennett,  con- 
tinuing until  189-I-,  when  the  firm  was  incorporated  under  the 
name  of  the  Jewel  Manufacturing  Company.  In  1895  this 
company  erected  a  factory  on  the  site  of  the  present  Zimmer- 
man Steel  Company.  A  full  description  of  the  latter,  its 
origin,  progress,  and  present  prosperity,  will  be  found  in  the 
first  volume  of  this  work.  It  is  enough  for  the  purpose  of 
this  biography  to  say  that  in  this  enterprise  the  family  of 
William  C.  F.  Zimmerman  have  found  opportunity  for  the 
expression  of  their  remarkable  individual  talents  and  for  the 
demonstration  of  those  traits  of  cooperation  which  have 
brought  them  into  prominence  and  distinction  both  at  home 
and  abroad.  The  Zimmerman  Steel  Company  is  unique  in 
its  personnel,  being  not  a  corporation  but  a  firm  composed 
entirely  of  members  of  the  Zimmerman  family,  with  one  ex- 
ception, Mr.  H.  V.  McCluskey,  and  he  is  a  son-in-law,  having 
married  Bertha,  the  oldest  daughter ;  hence  the  reader  is  able 


36  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

to  understand  the  following  remarkable  roster  of  officers : 
William  C.  F.  Zimmerman,  president  and  secretary;  H.  L. 
Zimmerman,  vice  president  and  treasurer ;  F.  W.  Zimmerman, 
J,  E.  Zimmerman,  H.  W.  Zimmerman,  and  William  C.  F.  Zim- 
merman, Jr.,  directors  and  managers ;  and  H.  V.  McCluskey. 
correspondent  and  sales  manager.  And  the  gTowth  and  pres- 
ent business  standing  of  this  company  are  as  remarkable  as 
its  persomiel,  a  fact  which  the  reader  will  recognize'  after 
reading  the  historical  sketch  before  referred  to. 

The  marriage  of  William  C.  F.  Zimmerman  to  Rosa 
Amanda  Fredericka  Kranel  (nee  Nagel)  took  place  at  Lone 
Tree,  Iowa,  November  15,  1882.  The  parents  of  Mrs.  Zim- 
merman were  Thies  Nagel  and  Wepka  Katherine  Haas,  both 
natives  of  Schleswig-Holstein,  Germany.  The  daughter  was 
born  January  9,  1863,  in  Fredericks  county,  Schleswig-Hol- 
stein, and  came  with  her  parents  to  America  in  1869.  The 
family  settled  at  Davenport,  Iowa,  thence  removing  to  Rock 
Creek  Mills,  and  thence  to  Nichols,  Iowa,  in  1880.  The  Nagels 
were  flour  millers  by  trade. 

To  William  C.  F.  Zimmerman  and  Rosa  Nagel  were  born 
the  following  children :  Henry  Ludolph,  at  Davenport,  Iowa, 
July  25,  1879;  Frederick  William,  at  Lone  Tree,  April  23, 
1883;  John  Ernest,  at  Chenej^,  Washington,  June  19,  1884; 
Bertha  Louise,  at  Lone  Tree  (on  Tillotson  farm),  November 
30,  1885 ;  Herman  Walter,  at  Lone  Tree,  July  6,  1889 ;  Lillian, 
at  Lone  Tree,  April  9,  1897 ;  William  C.  F.,  Jr.,  at  Lone  Tree, 
November  12,  1899. 

A  brief  reference  to  each  member  of  the  family  may  not 
be  amiss. 

Henry  Ludolph,  the  eldest  son,  remained  in  the  parental 
home  until  his  marriage.  May  22,  1907,  to  Isabella  William- 
son, of  Mt.  A^ernon,  Georgia,  after  which  he  took  up  his  resi- 
dence in  the  town  of  Lone  Tree,  where  he  now  resides.  Three 
children  have  been  born  into  his  family,  two  dying  in  infancy 
and  one,  Teresa  Louise,  dying  at  the  age  of  fourteen  months. 
As  vice-president  and  treasurer  of  the  Zimmerman  Steel 
Company,  Henry  L.  has  displayed  marked  ability  and  apti- 
tude. He  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  of 
Lone  Tree ;  past  master  of  the  local  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  lodge  and 


BIOGRAPHICAL  37 

past  patron  of  the  Lone  Tree  Eastern  Star.  He  was  a  mem- 
ber of  Lone  Tree  city  council  for  six  years. 

Frederick  William  resides  on  the  home  farm,  is  unmarried, 
a  member  of  the  Reformed  church,  assistant  chief  of  the  Lone 
Tree  fire  department,  and  manager  of  the  foundry  of  the 
Zinnnerman  Steel  Company.  He  is  senior  warden  of  the 
Lone  Tree  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  a  member  of  the  local  I.  0.  0.  F. 
and  of  the  K.  of  P. 

John  Ernest  was  married  October  1,  1908,  to  Miss  Alma 
May  Kallous,  of  Lone  Tree.  He  is  a  member  of  the  board  of 
directors  of  the  Zimmerman  Steel  Company,  and  is  a  design- 
ing engineer  of  the  company.  He  took  a  special  course  in 
chemistry  at  Iowa  State  University  to  fit  himself  for  technical 
work  at  the  steel  plant. 

Bertha  Louise  graduated  from  the  Irish  Business  College 
at  Iowa  City  at  the  age  of  thirteen,  and  was  the  first  stenog- 
rapher and  typewriter  for  the  Monarch  Grubber  Company, 
the  predecessor  of  the  Zimmerman  Steel  Company.  On  her 
marriage,  June  29,  1910,  to  H.  V.  McCluskey,  she  retired  from 
active  comiection  with  the  company. 

Herman  Walter,  unmarried,  though  a  director  in  the  steel 
company,  devotes  his  attention  to  the  management  of  the  Lone 
Tree  farm,  where  he  resides. 

Lillian,  fourteen  years  of  age,  resides  on  the  home  farm 
and  attends  public  school  at  Lone  Tree.  Her  talents  for  in- 
strumental music  are  being  developed  under  careful  training, 
William  C.  F.,  Jr.,  thirteen  years  old,  is  a  student  of  the  Lone 
Tree  public  schools.  Although  of  tender  years,  he  has  an 
aptitude  for  business  and  enters  seriously  upon  the  discharge 
of  his  duties  as  a  director  of  the  steel  company.  He  is  an 
enthusiastic  automobilist,  and  manages  the  big  family  touring 
car  with  the  ease  of  an  accomplished  chaffeur. 

Every  male  member  of  the  Zimmerman  family,  with  the 
exception  of  William  C.  F.,  Jr.,  is  a  32d  degree  Mason,  and 
all  are  Shriners  except  Herman  Walter  —  members  of  Kaaba 
TemjDle,  Davenport.  William  C.  F.,  Sr.,  is  a  member  of  Iowa 
City  Commandery,  Knights  Templar.  He  has  been  secretary 
of  Lone  Tree  lodge  No.  535,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  since  the  first  elec- 
tion after  organization,  and  was  the  first  candidate  initiated 
by  the  lodge,  August  14,  1894.     He  and  his  sons  are  members 


38  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

of  Zarephath  Consistory,  Davenport.  Mr.  Zimmerman  and 
his  eldest  sons  are  members  of  the  I.  0.  0.  F.  of  Lone  Tree, 
and  all  are  members  of  the  local  order  of  the  Eastern  Star, 
including*  Mother  Zimmerman  and  the  wives  of  Henry,  John, 
and  H.  V.  McCluskey. 

Following  in  the  footsteps  of  their  father,  who  was  edu- 
cated in  the  high  school  of  Germany,  the  adult  children  of 
William  C.  F.  Zimmerman  have  obtained  their  educations  in 
the  public  schools.  Two  only  have  taken  supplementary 
courses.  Bertha,  at  Irish  Business  College,  and  John  Ernest, 
at  Iowa  State  University. 

Some  of  the  incidents  in  the  life  of  Mr.  Zimmerman  illus- 
trate the  rapid  shaping  of  events  even  in  the  lifetime  of  a 
man  of  sixty-two.  For  instance,  he  bought  and  operated  the 
first  traction  steam  engine  ever  used  in  Iowa;  he  introduced 
the  first  wire  binder  into  Johnson  county;  also  the  first  twine 
binder. 

Mr.  Zimmerman  is  a  democrat  in  politics,  and  without 
question  time  and  time  again  could  have  had  the  choice  of 
any  office  within  the  gift  of  his  fellow  citizens  of  Lone  Tree. 
The  only  political  i:)ositions  he  has  consented  to  fill,  however, 
were :  1st,  school  director  of  Lone  Tree,  a  position  he  has  held 
for  about  fourteen  years,  being  recognized  as  the  father  of 
the  local  public  school  system ;  and,  2d,  city  councilman  of 
Lone  Tree  for  two  years,  1896-97.  Mr.  Zimmerman's  religi- 
ous affiliations  are  German  Lutheran,  and  every  member  of 
the  family  has  been  confirmed  in  that  church. 

The  business  of  the  Zimmerman  Steel  Company  extends 
to  all  parts  of  the  United  States  and  to  many  sections  of 
South  America,  Europe,  and  Asia.  Its  output  is  under  the 
direct  management  of  the  family,  aided,  of  course,  by  a  corps 
of  competent  workmen.  The  details  given  in  our  general  his- 
tory volume  will  tell  of  the  technical  responsibilities  resting 
upon  each  active  member  of  the  family  in  the  affairs  of  the 
Zimmerman  Steel  Company.  We  submit  that  the  situation 
is  unique  in  industrial  annals.  Add  to  this  fact  the  perfect 
family  harmony  of  the  partners  and  the  universal  esteem  in 
which  they  are  held  by  their  neighbors  of  many  years,  and 
the  case  becomes  astonishing.  It  is  an  example  of  remark- 
able success  growing  out  of  proper  home  relationships  and 


BIOGEAPHICAL  '  39 

training,  perfect  personal  confidence,  marked  aptitude  for  the 
work  in  hand,  and  business  ability  of  a  high  order.  It  is  with 
some  degree  of  pride  that  the  publishers  of  this  history  invite 
the  attention  of  their  readers  to  the  Zimmerman  family,  of 
Lone  Tree,  Iowa. 


WILLIAM  PHILIP  COAST 

The  name  of  Coast  figures  prominently  in  the  business  and 
social  annals  of  Iowa's  university  city.  Since  the  spring  of 
1854,  the  year  of  the  arrival  of  Craft  Coast  and  his  family 
from  Ohio,  members  of  the  family  have  been  actively  identi- 
fied with  the  development  of  the  city.  Craft  Coast  and  his 
wife,  Nancy  Regan,  were  residents  of  Youngstown,  Ohio, 
where  William  Philip  Coast  was  born  May  5, 1841.  The  latter 
was  therefore  thirteen  years  of  age  when  he  came  with  his 
parents  to  Johnson  county.  The  elder  Coast,  upon  arrival  at 
Iowa  City,  entered  the  real  estate  and  brokerage  business. 
He  bought  and  sold  land  and  loaned  money.  He  took  a  great 
interest  in  the  improvement  of  all  conditions  in  Johnson  coun- 
ty, and  the  effect  of  his  vigorous  personality  and  his  timely 
activities  is  manifest  to  the  jjresent  time.  He  was  a  man 
greatly  beloved  by  a  large  circle  of  personal  friends,  who  ex- 
pressed their  sorrow  on  the  occasion  of  his  death  at  Iowa  City, 
in  January,  1864.  His  wife  survived  him  three  years,  dying 
in  1867. 

Craft  Coast  and  Nancy  Regan  were  the  parents  of  two 
other  children  besides  William  Philip,  namely,  Oscar  Regan, 
and  Mary  Elizabeth,  both  born  in  Ohio,  where  their  childhood 
days  were  spent.  Both  were  educated  at  Iowa  City.  Oscar 
Regan  Coast  is  an  artist  by  profession,  who  spends  his  win- 
ters in  the  mountains  of  the  west  and  his  summers  in  the  east. 
In  spite  of  the  fact  that  his  time  is  chiefly  occupied  by  travel, 
he  calls  Johnson  county  his  home.  The  sister,  Mary  Eliza- 
beth, became  Mrs.  Geo.  Henry  Yewell.  Her  death  occurred 
in  1880.  Her  husband  is  also  an  artist,  who  spends  his  time 
in  New  York  city  and  Europe. 

William  Philip  Coast  attended  the  public  schools  of  Iowa 
City,  and  was  one  of  the  first  students  who  entered  the  State 


40  HISTOKY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

University  of  Iowa.  Later  he  attended  college  at  Oberlin, 
Ohio,  He  began  his  business  career  at  the  age  of  twenty-one, 
and  was  engaged  in  different  lines  until  the  death  of  his 
father,  when  he  took  full  charge  of  the  estate.  About  1890  he 
entered  the  clothing  business,  with  which  he  has  been  actively 
identified  until  the  present.  The  firm  is  now  known  as  Coast 
&  Sons. 

Mr.  Coast  was  married  in  October,   1864,  to  Miss  Mary 
Ellen  Bradshaw,  who  was  born  in  Indiana  in  May,  1842,  and 


RESIDENCE   OF   W.   P.   COAST 


came  to  Johnson  county  with  her  i3arents  when  three  months 
old.  She  has  resided  here  ever  since.  Her  father,  James  P. 
Bradshaw,  was  a  native  of  Kentucky,  and  her  mother  of  Vir- 
ginia. This  excellent  couple  were  among  the  earliest  pioneers 
of  Johnson  county,  Mr.  Bradshaw  being  one  of  the  first  mer- 
chants of  the  county.  At  the  time  of  his  death,  in  1851,  he 
was  postmaster  of  Iowa  City.  Both  husband  and  wife  were 
very  prominent  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  did 
all  in  their  power  to  advance  the  interests  and  influence  of 
the  church  in  what  was  then  a  primitive  community.  One 
other  daughter  besides  Mrs.  Coast  was  born  to  them,  Narcissa 
J.,  who  married  Carson  L.  Mozier,  at  one  time  a  prominent 
dry  goods  merchant  of  Iowa  City.  Mr.  Mozier  died  in  June, 
1908,  and  his  wife  one  year  later. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  41 

Two  sons  were  born  to  "William  Philip  Coast  and  Ellen 
Bradshaw,  namely,  Preston  Craft,  and  William  Oscar.  The 
former  was  born  April  11,  1870,  and  was  married  in  1894  to 
Miss  Grace  M.  McGee,  of  Iowa  City,  Iowa.  They  have  two 
children,  Marjory  E.  and  Alice  Bradshaw.  William  Oscar 
Coast  was  born  September  5,  1880,  and  was  married  to  Miss 
Maude  Cleaveland  Kingsbury  October  24,  1904.  They  have 
one  daughter,  Louise  Cleaveland,  born  April  13,  1910. 

William  Philip  Coast  and  family  are  attendants  and  mem- 
bers of  the  First  Presbyterian  church.  Practically  all  their 
lives  have  been  lived  in  Johnson  county,  and  the  record  of 
their  activities  is  an  open  book,  without  blot  or  erasement. 
Lives  like  these  are  an  honor  to  any  community,  and  furnish 
conspicuous  examples  for  emulation.  It  is  a  sufficient  en- 
comium for  any  couple  to  write  of  them:  "Sixty  years  resi- 
dents of  Iowa  Citv,  and  beloved  bv  all  who  know  them."  That 
is  particularly  true  of  William  Philip  and  Mary  Ellen  Brad- 
shaw Coast. 


CAPT.  SAMUEL  DAVID  PRYCE 

Samuel  David  Pryce  was  bom  and  reared  in  Ebensburg, 
Cambria  county,  Pa.,  near  the  head  waters  of  the  Conemaugh, 
the  scene  of  the  Johnstown  flood.  It  was  also  near  Cresson, 
where  the  loyal  governors  met  during  the  Civil  War,  and 
only  six  miles  from  the  summit  of  the  Allegheny  mountains. 
His  father  was  born  and  reared  in  the  same  county,  of  Welsh 
parents  wfio  emigrated  to  this  mountain  district  of  the  state 
near  the  close  of  the  eighteenth  century.  His  mother,  Eliza- 
beth (Jones)  Pryce,  was  born  in  Llanfair,  Montgomeryshire, 
North  Wales,  and  came  to  this  country  with  her  parents  in 
her  eighteenth  year.  Seven  children  were  born  to  this  fam- 
ily. Three  sons  died  in  early  life,  and  were  buried  in  the  old 
mountain  home. 

With  only  a  limited  education  in  the  public  schools,  and 
just  about  a  year  preceding  the  Civil  War,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch  took  the  advice  of  Horace  Greeley,  and  resolved 
to  trj^  his  fortune  in  the  west.  He  went  to  Pittsburg,  and 
from  this  point  worked  liis  way  down  the  Ohio  river  on  a 


42  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

steamboat  to  Cairo,  then  up  the  Mississippi  river  to  Burling- 
ton, Iowa,  and  from  there  walked  to  Iowa  City.  He  worked 
for  his  board  for  several  weeks  and  then  taught  school  in 
Sharon,  Union,  and  Liberty  townships.  He  returned  to  Iowa 
City  in  the  summer  of  1862,  to  matriculate  in  the  State  Uni- 
versity, but  yielding  to  the  patriotic  impulse  of  the  times,  en- 
listed in  a  company  being  recruited  by  Captain  Harvey  W. 
Grraham  which  was  assigned  to  the  18th  regiment,  then  in  ren- 
dezvous at  Clinton,  Iowa. 

This  company  was  later  transferred  to  the  22d  Iowa,  at 
Camp  Pope,  Iowa  City.  It  became  one  of  the  fighting  regi- 
ments of  the  war,  having  campaigned  in  nearly  every  southern 
state  from  Virginia  to  the  mouth  of  the  Rio  Grande  river. 
It  made  a  complete  circuit  of  the  southern  confederacy  and 
traveled  by  land  and  sea  more  than  fifteen  thousand  miles. 
The  regiment  served  under  Curtis  in  southwest  Missouri  in 
the  winter  of  1862-3  and  marched  250  miles  through  the  Ozark 
mountains.  It  was  the  first  engaged  in  the  midnight  march 
to  Port  Gibson.  It  participated  in  the  battles  of  Champion 
Hills  and  Black  River  Bridge,  and  led  the  assault  on  Vicks- 
burg,  May  22,  1863.  The  regiment  had  been  greatly  deci- 
mated by  sickness,  disease,  and  death.  Out  of  the  200  en- 
gaged in  this  charge  it  lost  170  - —  an  average  of  85  per  cent  — 
which  stands  without  a  parallel  in  modern  times.  The  orig- 
inal report  was  164,  but  six  more  were  traced  to  remote  hos- 
pitals. Nearly  half  of  the  number  were  either  killed  outright 
or  mortally  wounded,  and  many  died  within  a  few  days. 

Col.  E.  W.  Fox  in  his  Regimental  Losses  in  the  Civil  War, 
places  the  22d  Iowa  at  Vicksburg,  the  First  Minnesota  at 
Gettysburg,  and  the  First  Texas  at  Antietam,  as  having  suf- 
fered the  heaviest  losses  in  any  one  battle  in  the  war  of  the 
rebellion  on  either  side  —  an  average  of  a  fraction  more  than 
eighty-two  per  cent.  Gen.  Grant  says  in  his  report  to  the  war 
department,  "the  22d  Iowa  planted  its  flag  on  the  parapet, 
took  twelve  prisoners,  and  marched  them  out  into  the  ditch. 
No  other  troops  succeeded  in  entering  the  enemy's  works." 
It  held  the  fort  for  nine  hours,  begging  for  reenforcements. 
Twelve  of  the  22d  Iowa  were  killed  inside  the  fort.  For  con- 
firmation of  this  record  see  the  official  reports.  After  the 
Vicksburg  campaign  the  regiment  was  sent  to  New  Orleans 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


43 


and  then  participated  in  the  campaign  np  the  Teche  valley  in 
Louisiana.  It  was  then  sent  to  Texas,  then  up  the  Red  river, 
Arkansas,  and  was  then  transferred  to  the  east,  via.  the  Flor- 
ida Keys,  and  served  in  the  trenches  at  Petersburg  —  the  only 
Iowa  regiment  on  the  entire  line  of  investment.  It  then  par- 
ticipated in  the  battles  of  Winchester,  Fisher's  Hill,  and 
Cedar  Creek  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley.  Then  it  went  to 
Georgia  and  North  and  South  Carolina.  These  facts  are  re- 
ferred to  in  this  sketch  because  seven  companies  were  from 
Johnson  county.     It  is  a  part  of  its  gallant  record  in  the  war. 


HOME  OF  CAPT.  SAM.  D.  PRYCE 


Mr.  Pryce  participated  in  all  the  battles  and  campaigns  of 
this  regiment  and  never  missed  a  day's  service  during  its 
term  of  enlistment.  He  served  for  nearly  two  years  as  regi- 
mental adjutant,  was  promoted  to  the  captaincy  of  his  com- 
pany, and  served  on  the  staff  of  Gen.  Molineux  as  brigade 
adjutant  general  —  one  of  the  youngest  officers  of  this  rank 
in  the  volunteer  service.  He  was  mentioned  in  general  orders 
for  conspicuous  gallantry  at  the  battle  of  Winchester.  Sergt.- 
Major  Geo.  Remley,  who  was  killed  in  this  battle,  was  named 


44  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  lOAVA 

in  the  same  order.  (See  register  of  Union  and  Confederate 
armies,  series  1,  vol.  43,  part  i,  page  331.) 

He  met  and  talked  to  Sheridan  on  his  famous  ride 
from  Winchester  to  Cedar  creek.  He  was  in  charge  of  a 
scouting  party  to  reconnoitre  Fisher's  Hill,  and  spent  the  en- 
tire night  inside  of  the  confederate  lines.  At  "Camp  Rus- 
sell," A^irginia,  he  wrote  the  history  of  the  regiment  pub- 
lished in  the  adjutant  general's  reports.  AVith  some  additions 
it  is  to  be  used  in  the  new  history  of  Iowa  soldiers.  He  has 
also  written  a  history  of  the  22d  Iowa  of  five  or  six  hundred 
pages,  with  complete  roster,  and  list  of  casualties. 

At  the  close  of  the  war  Air.  Pryce  was  elected  county 
superintendent  of  schools,  but  resigned  to  accept  a  position  in 
Chicago,  where  he  remained  two  years.  Returning  to  Iowa 
City  he  was  a  member  of  the  mercantile  firm  of  Donaldson, 
Pryce  &  Lee.  From  1868  to  1872,  he  served  on  the  staff  of 
Gov.  Samuel  Alerrill,  with  the  rank  of  lieutenant-colonel  of 
cavalry.  In  1874  he  purchased  an  interest  in  the  Iowa  City 
Republican  and  was  associated  with  Col.  J.  H.  C.  AVilson  in 
the  editorial  management  of  this  paper.  Piyce  and  AVilson 
established  the  present  Iowa  City  Daily  Repuhlican,  June  6, 
1876.  He  was  chairman  of  the  county  central  committee  at 
this  time,  and  succeeded  in  the  election  of  the  entire  repub- 
lican representative  ticket,  for  the  first  and  last  time  in  the 
history  of  the  county.  It  was  then  entitled  to  one  senator  and 
two  representatives.  He  also  served  eight  years  on  the  state 
central  committee. 

After  liis  retirement  from  the  active  management  of  the 
Republican,  he  was  president  and  one  of  the  organizers  of  the 
Republican  Printing  Co.,  and  also  president  of  the  Iowa  City 
Cutlery  AYorks,  which  gave  emplo^nnent  to  one  hundred  per- 
sons. It  was  destroyed  by  lightning  in  1880.  He  was  also 
financially  interested  in  the  glucose  works,  the  glass  works, 
and  the  Iowa  City  Packing  Company.  He  was  also  one  of  the 
founders  of  the  present  Central  Alanufacturing  Co.  He  was 
president  of  the  board  of  trade,  the  Iowa  City  Improvement 
Co.,  and  of  the  Johnson  County  Fish  and  Game  Protective 
Association.  He  was  senior  member  of  the  firm  of  Pryce  & 
Schell,  in  the  hardware  and  fami  machinery  business.     He 


BIOGRAPHICAL  45 

also  takes  pride  in  the  fact  that  he  has  erected  ten  buildings 
in  Iowa  City,  more  than  any  single  individual,  except  tlie 
contractors  themselves. 

In  1881  he  was  nominated  by  the  republican  party  for  rep- 
resentative, but  declined  for  business  reasons.  He  was  a  del- 
egate to  the  first  national  encampment  of  the  Grand  Army  of 
the  Eepublic,  soon  after  the  close  of  the  war,  and  with  Gen- 
eral Vandever  of  Dubuque  represented  the  state.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  committee  on  constitution  and  by-laws,  and 
with  Colonel  Lester,  of  Wisconsin,  was  the  joint  author  of 
the  laws  for  the  future  government  of  the  order.  For  years 
he  was  a  leading  contributor  to  the  press  of  the  state  in  favor 
of  permanent  public  highways.  He  was  also  a  leading  con- 
tributor to  the  press  against  the  discrimination  in  favor  of 
living  persons  on  the  Iowa  soldier's  monument.  These  dis- 
tinctions should  be  made  in  favor  of  the  brave  men  who  met 
the  supreme  test  of  courage  on  the  battlefield. 

Mr.  Pryce  is  a  member  of  Iowa  City  lodge  No.  4,  A.  F.  & 
A.  M.,  the  Royal  Arch  chapter,  the  Palestine  Commandery  of 
Knights  Templar.  He  is  also  a  charter  member  of  Corinth 
Lodge,  Knights  of  Pythias,  and  Kirkwood  Post,  Grand  Army 
of  the  Republic.  He  has  held  but  one  public  office,  that  of 
township  trustee  being  the  full  measure  of  his  political  ambi- 
tion. He  is  a  veteran  of  the  fire  department  and  served  ten 
years  in  Rescue  Hook  and  Ladder  Co. 

There  is  a  law  that  takes  the  waters  of  the  river,  and  bears 
them  away,  and  lays  them  at  rest  upon  the  bosom  of  the  sea. 
So  there  is  a  law  that  compensates  patriotism  and  sacrifice, 
integrity  of  purpose  and  well  directed  effort,  and  makes  full 
and  complete  a  well  rounded  life.  Mr.  Pryce  as  he  appears 
today  is  in  the  very  prime  of  manhood ;  strong  and  vigorous 
in  mind  and  body.  Blessed  with  all  the  comforts  of  life  that 
health  and  wealth  can  give,  he  can  look  back  across  the  busy 
years  and  contemplate  the  past  with  a  satisfaction  which 
comes  only  from  having  lived  a  life  of  accomplishment,  of 
duty  well  performed. 

The  long  weary  marches  under  southern  skies  have  long 
since  ended,  the  bugle  call  resounds  no  more,  the  danger,  the 
strife,  the  struggle,  and  smoke  of  battle  are  only  memories 


46 


HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 


now,  but  the  brave  deeds  performed  by  the  gallant  heroes  in 
defence  of  freedom,  home  and  country  shall  not  be  forgotten, 
they  shall  live  forever. 


JOHN  L.  THEOBALD,  Jr. 

John  L.  Theobald,  Sr.,  father  of  our  subject,  is  one  of  the 
eldest  members  of  the  printing  craft  in  Iowa.  For  upwards 
of  fifty  years  he  has  been  a  disciple  of  Gutenberg  and  Faust. 
He  is  one  of  the  vanishing  army  of  old-time,  all-round  printers, 
whose  knowledge  of  the  art  preservative  runs  from  "type- 
lice"  to  web-perfecting  press;  from  "italic  spaces"  to  Mer- 
ganthaler.    It  was  a  grand  army,  that  old-time  company  of 


EESIDENCE   OF  JOHN  L.  THEOBALD,  JR. 


compositors,  whose  "chapels"  extended  from  the  Atlantic  to 
the  Pacific.  Its  feasts  of  "fat  takes"  and  "standing  matter" 
are  but  memories,  and  its  "jeffing"  contests  have  passed  into 
history.  Most  of  its  members  have  gone  to  meet  the  "Father 
of  the  Chapel,"  where  "double-price"  is  their  reward  and 


BIOGRAPHICAL  47 

"distribution"  is  no  more.  Their  "forms  are  closed"  and 
the  "last  edition  has  gone  to  press." 

Theobald,  Sr.,  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  the  home  of  Frank- 
lin. His  parents  removed  to  lawa  in  1855,  and  he  came  with 
them.  The  family  settled  in  Johnson  county.  There  he 
learned  the  printer's  trade,  and  there  he  met  and  married 
Mary  Karetz,  of  Bohemian  birth,  in  1863.  One  of  their  four 
children  died  in  infancy ;  three  are  now  living :  William,  mar- 
ried, residing  in  Iowa  City ;  Emma,  now  Mrs.  George  L.  Far- 
well,  residing  in  Minneapolis,  Minnesota;  and  our  subject. 
The  elder  Theobald  always  adhered  to  the  democratic  faith. 
Mother  Theobald  died  in  1898. 

John  L.  Theobald,  Jr.,  was  born  in  Iowa  City,  June  20,  187-1:, 
attended  the  public  schools  of  Iowa  City,  subsequent  to  which 
he  worked  for  the  Pioneer  Knitting  Works  for  six  years. 
Thereafter  he  took  up  the  restaurant  business,  in  which  he  has 
been  engaged  for  sixteen  years.  For  the  past  six  years  he 
has  been  proprietor  of  the  Bon  Ton  Cafe,  of  Iowa  City. 

Our  subject  was  married  in  1902  to  Miss  Mary  Ellen  Burns, 
a  native  of  Iowa  City.  They  have  five  children,  all  living  at 
home :  Mary  Helen,  Marguerite,  John,  Lucille,  and  William. 
Politically  Mr.  Theobald  has  always  been  a  democrat.  The 
f amilv  are  members  of  the  St.  Patrick 's  Catholic  church. 


FRANK  E.  AYERS 

Much  of  the  vim,  intelligence,  and  practical  usefulness  for 
which  the  Commercial  Club  of  Iowa  City  is  noted  is  charge- 
able to  the  sterling  common  sense  and  direct  business  methods 
of  its  president,  Frank  E.  Ayers,  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 
During  his  eight  years  residence  in  the  University  City,  Mr. 
Ayers  has  been  a  recognized  factor  in  its  lousiness  life,  and 
his  election  to  the  chief  executive  office  of  its  representative 
commercial  organization  was  both  timely  and  fitting.  Under 
his  able  administration,  coupled  with  the  hearty  cooperation 
of  as  thorough  a  set  of  boosters  as  ever  got  together  for  pro- 
motion and  publicity  in  eastern  Iowa,  the  Iowa  City  Com- 
mercial Club  ranks  with  the  best  in  the  middle  west,  and  is 
bringing  to  the  attention  of  the  business  world  far  and  near 


48 


HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 


the  distinct  advantages  of  this  famous  old  city  as  a  center  for 
industrial  and  commercial  enterprises  and  for  home  life  of  a 
high  order. 

Frank  E,  Ayers  has  been  a  business  man  and  a  quasi-public 
official  from  boyhood.  At  fourteen  years  of  age  he  entered 
upon  a  commercial  career  in  Chickasaw  county,  his  native 
heath,  and  at  twenty-six  was  made  deputy  treasurer  of  the 
county,  an  office  which  he  filled  for  two  years.  Removing  to 
Lawler  in  1887,  he  entered  the  lumber  business,  and  that  has 
been  his  occupation  continuously  until  the  present  time.  He 
came  to  Iowa  City  in  1903.  While  a  resident  of  Lawler  he  was 
continuously  a  member  of  the  city  council,  part  of  the  time  be- 


RESIDENCE  OF  F.  E.  AYEES 


ing  mayor  of  the  city.  He  was  also  a  member  of  the  28th  Gen- 
eral Assembly  of  Iowa  for  two  years,  and  was  vice  president 
and  a  director  of  the  Citizens  Loan  &  Trust  Company,  of  Iowa 
City,  but  retired  from  the  duties  of  this  last-named  position  on 
account  of  pressure  of  business.  It  will  thus  be  seen  that  his 
training  has  fitted  him  for  the  responsibilities  of  commercial 
life,  a  fact  which  accounts  in  some  measure  for  his  aptitude 
as  chief  officer  of  the  Iowa  City  Commercial  Club. 

As  before  stated,  Mr.  Ayers  was  born  in  Chickasaw  county. 
His  parents  were  David  Judson  Ayers  and  Malissa  F.  Grey. 
The  former  was  a  native  of  New  York  and  the  latter  of  Penn- 


'    '"'"- >{EW  YORK 
:  Lie  LIBRARY 


ASTOR-  lenoX 
,  O    N   FOUNDATtONS;^ 


MRS.  JAMES   M^   COL1-.ISTER 


THE  l^EW  YORK 
PUBLIC  LIBRARY! 


ASTOR.  LENOX 
TILDEN   FOUNDATIONS 


BIOGRAPHICAL  49 

sylvania.  The  couple  were  married  at  the  wife's  old  home  in 
Scranton,  Pennsylvania,  and  came  to  Iowa  in  1857,  settling  in 
Chickasaw  county,  where  the  elder  Ayers  pursued  the  occupa- 
tion of  farming  until  his  death.  The  mother  died  at  the  resi- 
dence of  her  son  in  Iowa  City,  David  Judson  Ayers  was  of 
German  and  Irish  descent,  and  his  wife  of  English,  her  lineage 
being  traceable  to  the  Jennings  family  of  England.  She  was 
a  relative  of  Judge  Grey,  of  Indiana. 

The  date  of  Frank  E.  Ayers 's  birth  was  April  13,  1859.  He 
was  educated  at  Decorah,  Iowa,  and  at  the  Breckenridge  In- 
stitute, and,  as  heretofore  stated,  left  home  at  fourteen  years 
of  age  to  begin  his  business  career.  In  1887  he  was  married 
to  Miss  Alice  F.  Sheldon,  and  two  children  have  blessed  the 
union,  Roscoe  B.,  and  Lucille  V. 

Mr.  Ayers  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  order,  the  Knights 
of  Pythias,  and  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America.  His 
place  of  business  is  at  223  South  Dubuque  street,  and  his  resi- 
dence at  430  South  Sunmiit  street,  Iowa  Citv. 


JAMES  McCOLLISTER 

The  ''Old  Philip  Clark  farm,"  situated  one  and  one-half 
miles  south  of  Iowa  City,  on  the  River  Road,  is  famous  as 
the  scene  of  the  first  court  house  in  Johnson  county,  wherein 
the  earlv  legal  histor\^  of  the  countv  took  form.  This  house 
was  the  residence  of  James  McCollister  for  some  time  after 
his  purchase  of  the  farm  in  1864,  and  therein  his  only  daugh- 
ter Mrs.  A.  G.  Showers,  of  Iowa  City,  was  born.  The  legends 
of  court  life  in  Johnson  county  recite  that  juries,  after  re- 
ceiving the  evidence,  left  the  old  building  and  made  their 
deliberations  on  the  open  prairie  on  account  of  lack  of  room 
for  privacy  in  the  court  house.  James  McCollister,  soon 
after  purchasing  the  farm  in  18G4,  began  the  erection  of  a 
new  brick  residence,  which  he  has  added  to  from  time  to  time 
until  it  has  reached  very  large  proportions,  being  one  of  the 
most  statel}''  mansions  in  Johnson  county,  with  every  modern 
improvement.  The  great  farm  of  eight  hundred  acres  has 
been  improved  until  it  is  easily  one  of  the  finest  estates  in 
Iowa.     In  addition  to  the  family  mansion,  the  farm  contains 


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BIOGRAPHICAL  5] 

judge  of  the  court  of  common  pleas,  remaining  on  the  bench 
for  ten  years.     He  was  a  lifelong  democrat,   and  the  only 
defeat  he  ever  suffered  was  at  the  hands  of  the  know-nothing 
party  in  1854.     The  following  year  he  removed  to  Johnson 
county,  Iowa,  and  settled  five  miles  south  of  Iowa  City  on 
the  farm  known  as  the  "Judge  Coleman  Farm,"  consisting 
of  1,000  acres,  which  he  purchased.     Under  his  management 
this  place  became  one  of  the  best  cultivated  and  most  pro- 
ductive farms  of  eastern  Iowa.     His  agricultural  interests 
were  of  such  extent  that  he  never  took  an  active  part  in  pol- 
itics in  Iowa.     He  was  an  active  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal    church,    though    formerly    a    Presbyterian.     His 
death  in  1876  was  universally  regretted.     His  wife,  our  sub- 
ject's mother,  was  Mary  Stinson,  born  in  Ross  county,  Ohio, 
in  1802,  her  fatlier  being  James  Stinson,  a  native  of  New 
Jersey  and  a  veteran  of  the  War  of  1812.     She  died  at  the 
advanced  age  of  eighty-eight  years  in  1890,  having  survived 
her  husband  fourteen  years.     This  excellent  couple  were  the 
parents  of  eleven  children,  all  of  whom  reached  maturity  and 
reared  families  of  their  own.     Their  names  are  as  follows: 
Jacob,  of  Oklahoma  City;  Malinda,  wife  of  Samuel  Maneir; 
Robert,  deceased,  married  to  Malinda  Stinson ;  Mary,  wife  of 
the  late  Le  Grande  Byington,  of  Iowa  City;  Lydia,  wife  of 
George  Corwin,  of  Carthage,  Missouri; 'Martha,  wife  of  M, 
Dunlop,  of  Ross  county,  Ohio,  both  deceased;  EUzabeth,  wife 
of  G.  W.  Nelson,  of  Johnson  county,  Iowa ;  James,  our  sub- 
ject; Sarah,  wife  of  William  E.  Moon,  of  Spring-field,  Mis- 
souri ;  Ellen,  wife  of  James  Stevens,  of  Johnson  county,  Iowa ; 
and  Emma,  widow  of  James  Anderson,  of  Johnson  county, 
Iowa. 

James  McCollister  received  a  common  school  education  iu 
Pike  county,  Ohio,  his  ''schooling"  being  obtained  in  one  of 
the  log  cabin  school  houses  of  the  day,  where  the  methods 
and  facilities  were  of  the  most  primitive  sort.  School  teach- 
ers were  poorly  paid,  the  highest  salary  received  being  only 
$20.00  per  month.  Perseverance  and  ambition  were  essential 
on  the  part  of  the  student  in  those  days  to  cover  the  handicap 
of  short  terms  and  limited  curriculum,  in  striking  contrast 
to  the  advantages  of  the  twentieth  century,  which  ''Dad's 
pocketbook"  can  place  within  the  reach  of  every  child.    Young 


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BIOGRAPHICAL  53 

deep  conviction,  and,  while  not  an  offensive  partisan,  he  has 
been  active  in  the  work  of  his  party  and  has  served  it  when- 
ever occasion  demanded.  He  has  been  identified  with  every 
important  enterprise  in  Johnson  county  which  his  judgment 
approved,  his  opinion  being  law  in  many  instances  in  the 
settlement  of  business  propositions.  Having  amassed  large 
wealth,  he  has  felt  himself  to  be  in  a  sense  a  steward  of  his 
possessions  and  his  pocketbook  has  always  been  available 
for  the  promotion  of  the  best  interests  of  his  county  and  his 
fellow  men.  He  is  a  member  of  the  I.  0.  0.  F.  and  the  Legion 
of  Honor,  having  held  prominent  positions  in  both  orders.  At 
seventy-six  years,  he  is  in  stalwart  health  and  is  regarded 
as  one  of  the  progressive  representative  citizens  of  the  county. 


KATZENMEYER  BROTHERS 

The  name  of  Katzenmeyer  is  largely  interwoven  with  the 
business  development  of  Johnson  county  and  Iowa  City. 
Phillip  Katzenmeyer,  Sr.,  father  of  George  and  Phillip,  Jr., 
was  a  pioneer  of  Iowa  and  was  the  founder  of  the  flour  and 
feed  enterprise  which  now  bears  the  name  of  Katzenmeyer 
Brothers.  The  elder  Katzenmeyer  was  a  native  of  Hesse- 
Darmstadt,  Gennany,  where  he  was  born  in  1831.  He  came  to 
America  with  his  parents  in  1850.  The  family  landed  at  New 
Orleans,  and  from  that  point  went  direct  to  LTpper  San- 
dusky, Ohio,  where  they  joined  other  relatives  who  had  pre- 
ceded them.  In  1853  Mr.  Katzenmeyer  decided  to  seek  a  home 
in  the  great  west.  In  pursuance  of  this  purpose,  he  and  two 
companions,  one  his  brother,  walked  from  the  then  railway 
terminus  thirty  miles  west  of  Chicago  to  Iowa  City,  a  distance 
of  about  two  hundred  miles.  The  travelers  carried  their 
earthly  possessions  in  a  grip,  and  were  provided  with  fire- 
arms with  which  to  shoot  game  for  their  meals  en  route. 
They  made  as  high  as  thirty  miles  a  day,  and  enjoyed  every 
moment  of  the  journey.  Game  was  plentiful,  and  their  larder 
was  well  supplied  as  a  result  of  their  marksmanship.  Mr. 
Katzenmeyer 's  first  employment  on  reaching  Iowa  City  was 
on  a  proposed  railroad  line  running  north  of  the  city.  This 
project  being  abandoned,  he  was  afterwards  employed  by  the 


54 


HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 


Chicago,  Eock  Island  &  Pacific  Railroad.  Mr.  Katzenmeyer 
was  married  in  1854  to  Miss  Ursula  Kempher,  wlio  was  a 
faithful  companion  and  helpmeet  until  the  day  of  her  death  in 
1907.  Nine  children  were  born  to  them,  eight  of  whom  are 
living.  The  first  business  venture  of  Phillip  Katzenmeyer, 
Sr.,  was  his  purchase  of  the  Jacob  Sam  mill,  including  a  flour 
and  feed  store.  Mr.  Katzenmeyer  had  been  employed  in  this 
establishment  for  some  time;  first  under  Jacob  Sam,  later 
under  Dietz  S.  Hemmer,  and  lastly  under  Mr.  Johnson,  from 


OFFICE  OF  KATZENMEYER  BROS. 


whom  he  purchased  the  business.  He  conducted  this  business 
successfully  for  twenty-four  years,  when,  on  account  of  fail- 
ing health,  and  age,  he  retired,  selling  the  business  to  his  two 
sons,  Phillip,  Jr.,  and  George,  the  present  proprietors,  doing 
business  under  the  firm  name  of  Katzenmeyer  Bros.  Mr. 
Katzenmeyer  died  in  the  summer  of  1911,  his  demise  being- 
greatly  regretted  by  hosts  of  personal  friends  who  had  come 
to  know  him  intimately  during  the  long  period  of  his  resi- 
dence in  Iowa  Citv.     Deceased  was  one  of  the  charter  mem- 


BIOGRAPHICAL  55 

bers  of  the  German  Aid  Society  of  Iowa  City,  in  the  affairs  of 
which  he  took  an  active  interest.  His  remains  were  buried 
by  the  side  of  his  wife  in  Oakland  cemetery.  The  funeral 
was  conducted  by  Rev.  J.  G.  Hoerline  from  the  Gennan 
Lutheran  church. 


PHILLIP  KATZENMEYER,  JR.,  was  born  in  Iowa  City 
in  1862,  and  received  a  thorough  education  in  the  common 
schools  of  his  native  town.  Prior  to  his  partnership  with  his 
brother  George  he  worked  at  the  printer's  trade  and  various 
other  occupations.  He  is  unmarried  and  lives  at  the  old 
home. 

GEORGE  KATZENMEYER  was  born  in  Iowa  City  in 
1875,  and  is  the  youngest  of  nine  children.  He  attended  the 
public  schools  of  Iowa  City,  but  at  the  age  of  fifteen  withdrew 
frbm  school  life  to  assist  his  father  in  the  flour  and  feed  bus- 
iness, with  which  he  was  identified  for  twenty  years,  having 
grown  up  in  the  business,  working  in  every  department.  He 
and  his  brother  Phillip  purchased  the  father's  interest  in  the 
business  March  3,  1907,  and  have  conducted  the  same  with  in- 
creasing success  to  date.  The  enterprise  is  located  at  No.  10 
South  Dubuque  street.  The  firm  handles  Minnesota,  Kansas 
and  Nebraska  flour,  and  does  a  large  trade,  mostly  local.  The 
building  is  owned  by  the  firm. 

George  Katzenmeyer  was  married  to  Ellen  Schilling,  of 
Iowa  City.  They  have  two  children,  George  Katzenmeyer, 
Jr.,  and  Cyril.  Our  subject,  as  was  his  venerable  father,  is  an 
active  member  of  the  German  Aid  Society. 


ROBERT  BANKISON  SMITH 

Twelve  hundred  men  mustered  in  at  Davenport,  Iowa,  in 
1861,  in  the  Second  Iowa  Cavalry,  of  which  Company  G,  under 
Captain  Lundy,  was  a  part.  In  that  company  was  Robert 
Bankison  Smith,  now  the  sole  survivor  in  Iowa  City  of  the 
numerous  members  who  enlisted  from  this  city.  The  Second, 
recruiting  from  time  to  time,  during  its  service,  contained  in  all 
3,500  men  on  its  roster.    When  it  was  mustered  out  in  Ala- 


56 


HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 


bama,  September  19,  1865,  it  contained  800  men.  Between 
these  maximum  and  minimum  totals  of  membership  lies  a  his- 
tory of  courage,  sacrifice,  patriotism,  and  bravery  which  the 
world  may  never  read.  It  is  one  of  the  chapters  of  the  Ameri- 
con  Conflict  which  finds  worthy  companionship  with  its  im- 
mortal fellows  in  the  nation's  book  of  heroic  remembrance.  A 
line  or  two  from  that  chapter  will  give  the  index  of  its  con- 
tents. In  one  episode  in  one  battle  in  Mississippi  known  as 
Farming-ton  Charge,  the  Second  lost  sixty-five  men  and  one 
hundred  horses  in  ten  minutes.  This  intrepid  regiment  saw 
sixty-five  days  of  battle  with  General  Hood  in  the  Nashville 


KESmENCE  OF  KOBERT  B.  SMITH 


campaign.  Throughout  the  war  it  engaged  in  over  one  hun- 
dred battles  and  skirmishes.  During  the  hostilities  at  Nash- 
ville the  boys  were  out  in  all  kinds  of  weather,  and  not  a  tent 
was  pitched.  The  regiment  captured  two  redoubts  in  that 
struggle,  and  marched  after  night  with  one  thousand  prison- 
ers to  the  Tennessee  capital. 

Robert  Bankison  Smith  was  twenty-two  when  he  joined  his 
fellow  troopers  at  Davenport.  He  was  twenty-six  when  he  re- 
turned with  the  rank  of  third  corporal  and  an  honorable  dis- 
charge in  his  pocket.  It  is  fitting  that  his  mihtarj'  record  be 
here  included  as  a  part  of  this  statement :  Enlisted  September 
21,  1861 ;  mustered  in  October  11,  1861 ;  re-enlisted  and  re- 


BIOGRAPHICAL  57 

mustered  Marcli  28,  1864 ;  promoted  seventh  corporal  Novem- 
ber 1,  186-4;  promoted  fifth  corporal  February  12,  1865;  pro- 
moted third  corporal  August  1 ,  1 865 ;  mustered  out  September 
19,  1865,  at  Selma,  Alabama.  In  his  whole  military  career 
Corporal  Smith  was  always  found  at  his  post  at  the  sound  of 
the  bugle  as  well  as  at  taps.  He  never  lost  a  day  in  his  four 
years'  service.  He  is  now,  at  seventy- two,  the  senior  vice  com- 
mander of  Kirkwood  Post,  Gr.  A.  E.,  Iowa  City,  honored  by  his 
fellow  citizens  and  beloved  by  his  comrades. 

The  paternal  ancestors  of  our  subject  were  Scotch;  the 
maternal,  English.  His  parents  were  Daniel  Smith  and  Ann 
Musgrave.  The  former  was  born  in  Columbia  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, in  1763,  and  was  a  Quaker.  In  1853,  with  a  company  of 
Friends,  he  and  his  family,  consisting  of  wife  and  nine  chil- 
dren, started  overland  for  the  west  with  a  herd  of  standard- 
bred  horses.  They  had  two  covered  wagons  and  the  family 
carriage.  The  trip  lasted  over  six  weeks,  the  company  camping 
out  at  night.  With  the  rest  of  the  Society  of  Friends,  they 
settled  in  Springdale  township,  Cedar  county,  Iowa.  Daniel 
Smith  lived  to  the  advanced  age  of  ninety-three,  retaining  his 
faculties  to  the  last.  He  left  the  Friends  Society  when  they 
began  to  have  church  troubles. 

Our  subject  received  a  good  common  school  education  in 
Pennnsylvania,  which  he  supplemented  after  arrival  in  Iowa 
by  attendance  at  the  Friends'  Seminary.  At  the  age  of  twenty- 
one  he  rented  his  father's  and  brother's  farms  and  began  op- 
erations for  himself.  Just  then,  however,  the  Civil  War  broke 
out  and  the  father  was  compelled  to  look  after  the  growing- 
crops  so  his  son  could  respond  to  his  country's  call.  On  his 
return  from'1;he  front  in  1865,  he  again  took  up  the  business 
of  agriculture,  renting  for  one  year.  In  1866  he  bought  his 
present  fine  farm,  then  raw  prairie,  at  $10.00  per  acre.  The 
place  is  now  known  as  '^ Maple  Hill  Farm,"  and  contains  320 
acres  of  as  fine  land  as  can  be  found  in  the  state,  under  a  high 
state  of  cultivation,  with  the  finest  improvements,  consisting 
of  splendid  residence  and  barns,  well-water  piped  to  all  parts 
of  the  farm,  woven  wire  fence  enclosing  the  entire  tract,  a 
grove  of  maple  trees  four  rods  wide  by  forty  rods  long,  planted 
in  1868,  and  other  improvements.  A  conservative  estimate 
places  the  value  of  the  place  at  $200.00  per  acre.    In  addition 


58  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

to  this  luagTiiiicent  estate,  Mr.  Smith  is  the  owner  of  rice  laud 
in  the  south,  timber  laud  in  Oregon,  and  a  splendid  city  resi- 
dence at  634  Summit  avenue,  Iowa  City.  The  latter  is  modern 
throughout,  contains  electric  lights,  polished  floors,  outside 
screened  sleeping  rooms,  and  the  latest  patterns  in  furniture. 
Surely  the  determination  which  carried  him  through  four  years 
of  war  and  one  hundred  engagements  has  served  him  well  in 
the  battle  for  home  and  material  substance. 

On  February  25, 1868,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Ann  B.  Smith 
in  Cedar  county,  Iowa.  She  was  a  daughter  of  John  S.  and 
Rachel  (Beason)  Smith,  the  latter  a  daughter  of  Richard  Bea- 
son.  John  Smith  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  and  emigrated  to 
Cedar  county,  Iowa,  in  the  fall  of  1863.  There  were  six  chil- 
dren in  his  family,  including  Ann,  the  wife  of  our  subject. 
Mrs.  Smith  is  a  woman  of  culture  and  refinement,  and  has  been 
a  faithful  helpmate  throughout  life's  journey.  Seven  children 
were  bom  to  Robert  Bankison  and  Ann  B.  Smith.  The  names 
of  the  living  are:  Ralph  J.,  an  attorney  at  Montezuma,  Iowa, 
alumnus  of  S.  U.  I.,  married  to  Miss  Addie  Graj^,  of  West 
Liberty,  an  artist  of  recognized  ability,  who  has  secured  sev- 
eral premiums  for  crayon  work  and  cliina  painting  —  they 
have  one  daughter,  ^Nlary  Frances ;  Horton,  civil  engineer, 
alumnus  S.  U.  I.,  married  Miss  Alice  Hepburn,  of  Des  Moines, 
Iowa,  May  27,  1911 ;  Dr.  Oakley,  alumnus  S.  U.  I.,  and  gradu- 
ate of  Naprapathy,  head  of  American  School  of  Naprapathy, 
Chicago,  with  offices  at  126  State  street. 

Both  Mr.  Smith  and  his  wife  are  direct  descendants  of 
Quaker  ancestry,  and  both  are  Quakers  in  religion.  Our  sub- 
ject takes  pride  in  the  fact  that  neither  he  nor  his  sons  have 
ever  used  liquor  or  tobacco.  An  old  Quaker,  on  Corporal 
Smith's  return  from  the  war,  asked  him  whether  he  drank  or 
used  tobacco  during  service,  and  expressed  great  surprise  on 
receiving  a  negative  answer. 

One  brother,  Isaac,  was  also  a  soldier  in  the  CivilWar,  but 
died  in  the  army  from  sickness  contracted  during  service.  Our 
subject  had  to  secure  a  permit  to  visit  his  brother  in  a  hospital, 
forty  miles  distant.  Thanks  to  a  good  horse  he  made  the  trip 
in  time  to  see  his  brother  before  death.  He  attended  to  his 
burial,  and  afterwards  secured  the  re-interment  of  his  remains 
with  the  rest  of  his  comrades  in  the  National   Cemeterv  at 


BIOGEAPHICAL  59 

Corinth,  Mississippi.    The  mother  of  our  subject  died  in  1862, 
the  same  year  as  her  son  Isaac,  above  mentioned. 


LEMUEL  HUNTER 

The  crowning  glory  of  Iowa  is  its  vast  acreage  of  cultivated, 
productive  farms  —  at  once  the  foundation  of  the  state's 
wealth  and  the  distinctive  charm  of  its  matchless  landscapes. 
The  stranger  entering  the  portals  of  the  commonwealth  is  im- 
mediately impressed,  and  his  mind  unconsciously  reviews  the 
procession  of  persistent,  orderly  industry  which  has  brought 
into  being  this  agricultural  fabric  so  delightfully  interwoven 
with  the  warp  and  woof  of  production  and  idealism.  In  this 
procession  the  plain,  purposeful  farmer  takes  the  lead  and 
carries  the  flag  of  progress.  His  is  the  heart  that  has  throbbed 
continually  with  the  love  of  Mother  Earth  and  his  is  the  spirit 
that  has  passionately  wooed  and  won  his  goddess  amid  the 
passing  seasons  of  blossom  and  harvest.  Write  high  on  the 
pages  of  the  state's  annals  the  names  of  its  agriculturists  who 
have  so  nobly  wrought. 

Lemuel  Hunter's  name  should  occupy  an  honorable  place  in 
these  annals.  From  the  time  when  he  first  entered  the  state  in 
1850  (then  a  lad  of  five  years)  until  the  date  of  his  retirement 
in  1905  he  lived  and  labored  on  the  homestead  originally  lo- 
cated by  his  father  and  mother  in  the  northwestern  part  of 
Scott  township.  There  he  secured  a  practical  education  at  the 
rural  school ;  there  he  learned  those  priceless  lessons  of  thrift 
and  industry  essential  to  the  highest  success ;  there  he  wedded 
the  companion  of  his  life  and  labors  and  rejoiced  with  her  amid 
the  happy  shouts  of  their  children.  There  also  he  witnessed 
the  departure  of  Father  and  Mother  Hunter,  full  of  years 
and  good  works,  and  gave  them  the  benediction  of  a  strong 
man's  tears. 

But  all  these  years  Lemuel  Hunter  and  his  wife  were  mind- 
ful of  the  obligations  of  life,  and  while  they  gave  to  their  chil- 
dren the  precious  ministry  of  parenthood  and  to  their  relatives 
the  homage  of  their  love  and  respect,  they  rememl)ered  their 
duties  to  their  neighborhood  and  to  their  state.  Therefore 
they  were  found  active  in  the  work  of  their  church  (the  Pres- 


60 


HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 


byterian)  and  faithful  in  the  discharge  of  the  social  obliga- 
tions of  their  community.  Being  a  stanch  democrat,  Mr. 
Hunter  religiously  exercised  his  franchise  in  the  interest  of 
good  government  as  he  understood  it. 

The  Lemuel  Hunter  family  is  marked  by  strong  ancestral 
characteristics  in  both  its  principal  branches.  Adam  Hunter, 
father  of  Lemuel,  was  an  Irishman,  born  in  1796  in  County 
Antrim,  Balatratic  Balamony,  Ireland.  At  the  age  of  eighteen 
he  removed  to  America,  and  ten  years  later  was  married  to 
Elizabeth  Morrison  at  Little  York,  Pennsylvania.  Following 
his  marriage  he  located  in  Baltimore,  Md.,  and  was  engaged 


RESIDENCE  OF  LEMUEL  HUNTER 


for  about  three  years  in  merchandising.  In  1827  he  removed 
to  Trumbull  county,  Ohio,  and  soon  after  to  Mahoning  county, 
Ohio,  where  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  bom  July  19,  1845. 
In  1850  the  elder  Hunter  settled  with  his  young  family  on  the 
homestead  in  Scott  to^Tiship,  Johnson  county,  Iowa,  where  he 
lived  until  December  ]8,  1876,  when  he  was  gathered  to  his 
fathers.  His  wife  survived  until  February  6, 1890.  Seven  sons 
and  four  daughters  crowned  this  faithful  couple  —  all  of  whom 
grew  to  maturity:  J.  C,  who  died  in  May,  1908,  formerly 
lived  in  Graham  township;  Andrew  J.;  William,  a  member  of 
the  1st  Iowa  Cavalry,  enlisting  under  Captain  Carr,  he  was 


BIOGRAPHICAL  61 

wounded  at  Chalk  Bluff  and  died  in  the  hospital  at  Cape  Gi- 
rard;  James,  living  in  Boone,  Iowa;  Joseph,  who  died  in  Ida- 
ho in  the  winter  of  1911 ;  George ;  Lemuel ;  Nancy,  married  to 
Julius  Hill;  Rachel;  Margaret,  married  to  Wm.  Ten  Eick; 
Mary,  married  to  W.  W.  Smith.  One  son,  Andrew,  gave  his 
life  on  the  wild  western  plains  in  defense  of  his  pack  train  and 
was  buried  on  a  bleak  mountain  side  in  Idaho. 

In  his  marriage,  June  6,  1872,  to  Elizabeth  A.  McCrory, 
Lemuel  Hunter  was  doubly  blessed  —  he  gained  a  loving, 
faithful  helpmate  and  companion  and  united  with  his  own 
blood  the  strong  characteristics  of  a  remarkably  virile  family. 
Hon.  Samuel  H.  McCrory,  father  of  Mrs.  Hunter,  was  a  Vir- 
ginian (born  August  6,  1807)  and  combined  the  native  graces 
of  his  famous  state  with  the  advantages  of  a  splendid  educa- 
tion. Prior  to  his  settlement  in  the  territory  of  Iowa  in  the 
spring  of  1837,  Mr.  McCrory  achieved  prominence  at  Peoria, 
Illinois,  by  establishing  the  first  newspaper  of  that  city,  the 
Register.  On  arrival  in  Johnson  county  he  located  on  govern- 
ment land  in  Section  13,  East  Lucas  township.  Here  he  erect- 
ed a  log  cabin,  which  in  time  was  displaced  by  substantial 
buildings.  This  homestead,  which  he  named  Virginia  Grove 
in  honor  of  his  native  state,  he  transformed  into  a  veritable 
garden,  famous  far  and  near  for  its  beauty  and  productive- 
ness. In  the  activities  and  management  of  this  ideal  home, 
Mr.  McCrory  had  an  able  companion  in  Elizabeth  P.  McCloud, 
to  whom  he  was  married  at  Iowa  City,  in  1841.  (Miss  McCloud 
was  born  near  Worthington,  Ohio,  and  reared  there,  removing 
to  Iowa  City  when  a  young  lady.)  Mr.  McCrory  occupied 
some  positions  of  great  trust.  He  was  the  first  postmaster  of 
Iowa  City,  and  sometimes  referred  laughingly  to  the  time  when 
he  carried  the  mail  from  Muscatine  to  Iowa  City  in  his  hat. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  convention  which  framed  the  first 
constitution  of  Iowa,  and  in  1855  was  a  member  of  the  state 
legislature.  He  was  register  of  the  Claim  Association,  and 
drafted  the  first  code  of  laws.  He  was  appointed  by  Judge 
Erwin  as  clerk  of  Wisconsin  territory,  but  never  served.  One 
of  the  exploits  of  his  early  manhood  to  which  he  proudly  re- 
ferred was  that  of  assisting  to  lay  out  the  road  from  Musca- 
tine to  Iowa  City.  He  was  a  stanch  Presbyterian,  and  a  good 
supporter  of  the  church.    In  politics  he  was  formerly  a  whig 


62  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

and  later  a  democrat,  Mr.  McCrory  was  the  father  of  thirteen 
children,  eleven  of  whom  survived  to  mature  years.  Their 
names  are :  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Lemuel  Hunter ;  John,  of  Law- 
rence, Kansas ;  Virginia,  wife  of  L.  H.  Jackson,  Denver ;  Es- 
ther, wife  of  George  Himter  (brother  of  Lemuel) ;  Georgia, 
wife  of  C.  H.  Lee,  Boise,  Idaho;  Charles  E.,  of  Ireton,  Iowa; 
Carrie  P.,  residing  at  the  old  home,  Virginia  Grove ;  Lucy  S., 
now  Mrs.  Thos.  Hitchcock,  of  Tacoma,  Wash.;  Hortense  G., 
now  Mrs.  J.  H.  Grover,  of  St.  Paul,  Minn.;  Geo.  W.,  of  Atlan- 
tic, Iowa;  Glenn  W.,  li\T,ng  also  at  the  old  homestead.  Mr. 
McCrory  died  March  11, 1878.  His  wife  survived  him  twenty- 
three  years. 

The  six  children  of  Lemuel  and  Elizabeth  (McCrory)  Hun- 
ter are  living,  with  the  exception  of  Lemuel  A.,  an  alumnus  of 
the  University  of  Iowa,  who  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-two. 
The  sur\dving  sons  are  Charles  R.,  William  li.,  Samuel  A.,  and 
Bion  P.,  the  three  youngest  of  whom  are  married  and  reside  in 
Johnson  county.  Elizabeth  A.,  the  only  daughter,  resides  at 
home. 

On  a  beautiful  site  on  North  Linn  street,  in  Iowa's  Uni- 
versity City,  stands  the  residence  of  this  honored  retired  farm- 
er. The  past,  redolent  with  the  records  of  home,  love,  and 
duty,  is  an  open  book  sacred  and  cherished ;  the  future  bears 
no  cloud  before  the  vision  of  this  honored  man  and  wife  as, 
amid  the  charms  of  the  home  of  their  golden  years,  they  look 
forward  to  catch  a  glimpse  of  the  faces  long  gone,  framed  in 
the  purple  memories  of  the  yesterdays. 


FREDERICK  HILLMAN  POWELL  EDWARDS 

Dr.  F.  H.  P.  Edwards  came  to  America  from  his  native  city 
of  Liverpool,  England,  when  twenty-two  years  of  age.  His 
father  was  Alex.  Cahoun  Edwards,  of  Liverpool.  The  date  of 
his  birth  was  October  28,  1865,  and  he  left  Liver|30ol  in  De- 
cember, 1887,  arriving  in  Iowa  City  in  1888.  So  far  as  he 
knows  he  is  the  only  representative  of  his  family  in  the  United 
States.  Dr.  Edwards  was  educated  at  Farndon  Hall  Academy, 
Chester.  On  arrival  in  America,  he  supplemented  his  classical 
attainments  by  a  course  in  the  Ontario  Veterinary  College,  of 


BIOGEAPHICAL 


63 


Toronto,  Ontario,  graduating  in  the  class  of  1889.  Since  that 
time  he  has  been  actively  engaged  as  a  veterinary  physician 
and  surgeon  in  Iowa  City.  He  is  recognized  as  one  of  the 
leading  veterinarians  in  the  state,  and  his  judgment  of  horses 
and  diagnoses  of  disease  are  considered  invaluable.  His  ser- 
vices are  frequently  in  demand  for  consultation. 

Dr.  Edwards  owns  one  of  the  best  equipped  barns  and  hos- 
pitals for  veterinary  purposes  in  the  state.  His  plant  is  lo- 
cated on  the  rear  of  the  lot,  corner  East  Burlington  and  South 
Dubuque  streets,  on  which  his  family  residence  stands.  The 
equipment  is  complete  in  every  respect  for  the  proper  care  and 


EESmENCE  OF  F.  H.  P.  EDWAllDS 

treatment  of  sick  or  injured  animals.  The  doctor  is  a  member 
of  the  Veterinary  Medical  Association  of  Iowa,  and  served  as 
its  president  one  term.  He  is  assistant  state  veterinarian  also. 
Dr.  Edwards's  wife  was  formerly  Miss  Katie  Emma  Jones, 
daughter  of  George  E.  Jones,  of  Iowa  City.  The  latter  was 
born  July  5,  1843,  at  Herefordshire,  England,  and  was  one  of 
fifteen  children  of  James  and  Sarah  Jones.  Mr.  Jones  was 
educated  at  Herefordshire  and  taught  in  the  pulilic  schools  of 
his  native  place.  In  January,  1869,  he  started  for  the  United 
States  with  his  young  wife,  Ann  Jones,  a  native  of  Shropshire, 


64  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

to  whom  he  was  married  October  24,  1868.  The  young  couple 
came  direct  to  Iowa  City,  where  Mr,  Jones  immediately  secured 
employment  with  the  Rock  Island  railroad  as  a  car  repairer. 
He  continued  in  this  business  for  twenty  j^ears.  Thereafter, 
in  1889,  he  took  up  gardening,  a  favorite  occupation.  He 
bought  one  acre  and  made  a  specialty  of  raising  vegetables, 
especially  cauliflower  and  tomato.  In  a  single  season  he  has 
transplanted  as  many  as  20,000  plants.  On  this  one  acre  he  has 
cherry,  plum,  and  apple  trees  and  300  grape  vines  representing 
eight  varieties.  It  is  a  common  thing  for  Mr.  Jones  to  aver- 
age $1,500  a  year  profit  from  his  acre  of  garden.  He  has  been 
engaged  continuously  on  the  same  place  for  twenty-two  years, 
and  is  proud  of  the  fact  that  he  has  been  a  resident  of  the  fifth 
ward  of  Iowa  City  for  forty-two  years,  in  which  also  he  is  a 
voter,  having  taken  out  his  naturalization  papers  two  years 
after  his  arrival  in  Iowa  City.  Dr.  Edwards's  wife  is  the 
only  daughter  of  Ann  Jones,  the  first  wife  of  George  E. 
Jones.  Her  mother  died  October  22,  1900,  from  diphtheria, 
contracted  while  on  a  visit  in  Chicago.  Mr.  Jones  married 
again,  choosing  as  his  second  wife  Miss  Minnie  E.  Saunders, 
daughter  of  Theodore  and  Mary  E.  Saunders,  of  Chicago.  One 
son  is  the  first  fruit  of  this  marriage,  George  Jones,  Jr.,  born 
December  11,  1908. 

The  children  of  Dr.  Edwards  and  Kate  Emma  Jones  are 
two  in  number :  Adalaide,  and  Mav.  The  familv  reside  verv 
happily  in  the  doctor's  beautiful  home,  southeast  corner  of 
South  Dubuque  and  East  Burlington.  They  are  attendants  at 
the  Protestant  Episcopal  church. 

Dr.  Edwards  is  past  exalted  ruler  of  the  B.  P.  0.  E.,  1905- 
06,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America. 
He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Masonic  order.  Blessed  with  a 
beautiful  family,  honored  by  the  respect  and  confidence  of  his 
fellow  citizens,  and  in  possession  of  a  splendid  practice  in  his 
profession,  he  is  entitled  to  rank  as  one  of  the  successful  men 
of  Iowa  Citv. 


MAJOR  GEORGE  W.  BALL,  JR. 

George  W.  Ball,  Jr.,  was  born  in  Iowa  City,  Iowa,  February 
16,  1881.    He  has  always  been  a  resident  of  this  place.    He 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


65 


attended  the  public  schools,  graduated  from  the  high  school 
in  the  class  of  1897,  and  entered  the  Liberal  Arts  Department 
of  the  State  University  of  Iowa,  graduating  in  1901.  He  con- 
tinued his  study  in  the  Department  of  Law,  graduating  with 
the  class  of  1903.  In  1905  he  associated  with  his  father  in  the 
firm  of  Baker,  Ball  and  Ball.  Since  the  death  of  Mr,  Baker, 
in  1910,  the  firm  has  been  constituted  as  Ball  and  Ball,  father 
and  son. 

Mr.  Ball's  father,  George  W.  Ball,  Sr.,  was  born  near  Fair- 
field, Jeft'erson  county,  Iowa,  June  7,  1847.  His  mother,  Es- 
tella  E.  (Walter)  Ball,  was  born  in  Henry  county,  Iowa.  Both 
parents  reside  in  Iowa  City,  Iowa.    He  has  two  brothers  and 


RESIDENCE  OF  GEORGE  W.   BALL,  JR. 


one  sister,  he  being  the  eldest  of  the  family.  One  brother, 
Henry  Moffett,  was  born  in  Iowa  City,  February  23,  1883.  He 
attended  the  high  school  in  Iowa  City,  and  the  iVcademy  for 
two  years,  and  for  two  years  studied  ci\dl  engineering  in  the 
State  University. 

He  is  at  present  conducting  a  ranch  in  Montana.  The  other 
brother,  Walter  McDowell,  is  a  twin  of  the  former.  He  gradu- 
ated from  the  Academy,  spent  two  years  in  the  Liberal  Arts 
Department  of  the  State  University,  and  comjjleted  the  course 
in  law  in  the  Law  School  of  the  sam_e  institution.  He  is  now 
located  at  Fort  Benton,  Montana,  where  he  practices  his  pro- 


66  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

fession  and  in  addition  conducts  a  title  and  abstract  office.  His 
sister,  Edith  B.  Macbride,  was  born  November  29,  1887.  She 
graduated  from  the  high  school  and  from  the  State  University, 
and  was  instructor  in  public  speaking  in  the  State  University. 
She  is  residing  in  Seattle,  Washington.  Her  husband  is  the 
son  of  Professor  T.  H.  Macbride,  of  Iowa  City. 

George  W.  Ball,  Jr.,  was  married  June  29,  1905,  to  Maude 
H.  Young,  who  was  born  in  Johnson  county,  Iowa,  December 
6,  1881.  She  attended  the  State  University  of  Iowa  and  was 
also  a  student  in  Oberlin  college.  Her  father.  Dr.  Miller 
Young,  is  now  residing  at  Young's  Crossing,  Iowa.  He  is  a 
graduate  of  three  medical  colleges.  Her  mother,  Iowa  M.  Ray, 
was  born  in  Johnson  county,  Iowa,  and  was  one  of  the  pioneer 
residents  of  the  county.  She  died  October  27,  1909.  Her 
brothers  and  sisters  are :  William  AY.,  born  on  the  old  home- 
stead, in  Johnson  county ;  Henry  M.,  born  at  the  same  place, 
both  residing  in  Madison  township,  on  parts  of  the  home 
place ;  Blanche  Myers,  born  on  the  same  place,  residing  at 
Blessing,  Texas ;  Iowa  Madge  Macy,  born  on  the  old  homestead, 
residing  at  Adel,  Iowa,  married  Clarence  S.  Macy.  All  at- 
tended the  State  University  of  Iowa. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ball  have  been  born  one  daughter,  Virginia 
H.  Ester,  January  27,  1907,  and  one  son,  George  W.  Ill,  born 
Januarv  4, 1910. 

In  politics  Mr.  Ball  is  a  democrat. 

Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ball  are  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  at  Iowa  City.  He  owns  a  home  in  Iowa  City 
at  325  Summit  street. 

Mr.  Ball  is  major  in  the  54th  Inf.  I.  N.  G.  His  past  record, 
a  captain  of  the  State  University  of  Iowa  Cadets  in  1900,  sec- 
ond lieutenant  of  Company  I  of  the  50th,  in  1900-1903,  first 
lieutenant  of  Company  I  of  54th,  in  1903-1904,  captain  from 
May  9,  1904,  until  March  18, 1909,  major,  March  18, 1909,  until 
the  present  date.  He  was  a  private  in  Company  I,  50tli  I.  N. 
G.,  previous  to  this  time. 

He  is  a  member  of  Iowa  City  lodge  No.  4,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  of 
Corinth  No.  24,  K.  P.,  of  Iowa  City,  and  of  the  M.  AY.  A.,  Camp 
No.  189,  of  Iowa  City,  and  also  of  the  Phi  Delta  Theta  Fra- 
ternity, of  Iowa  City,  and  of  the  B.  P.  0.  E.  No.  590,  of  Iowa 


BIOGRAPHICAL  67 

City.    He  is  also  a  member  of  the  F.  0.  E.,  No.  695,  of  Iowa 
City. 

Mr.  Ball  is  a  young  man  of  sterling-  qualities.  He  has  been 
successful,  first  as  a  student,  second  as  a  practitioner,  and  last 
as  a  citizen,  one  who  is  ever  ready  to  aid  in  any  1)eneficent  pub- 
lic enterprise. 


PAUL  A.  KORAB 


The  subject  of  this  sketch,  Paul  A.  Korab,  is  a  native  of 
Linn  county.  Iowa,  where  he  was  born  Jul}^  30,  1857.  His 
parents,  Paul  and  Katherine  (Makovsky)  Korab,  were  both 
natives  of  Bohemia  and  left  their  native  land  for  the  new 
world  in  1854.  Their  first  stopping  place  was  in  Chicago, 
then  a  small  frontier  town.  After  a  short  stay  tliere,  they 
journeyed  on  to  Racine,  Wisconsin,  where  the  father  was 
taken  sick  and  they  were  delayed  until  his  recovery  when 
they  bought  an  ox  team  and  drove  through  to  Cedar  Rapids, 
Iowa.  The  journey  was  slow  and  tedious  and  in  great  con- 
trast to  present  means  of  travel.  They  settled  first  in  the 
northern  part  of  Linn  county  half  a  mile  east  of  Western 
college  where  they  remained  until  1866  when  they  removed 
into  Jefferson  township,  in  Johnson  county.  The  father  died 
February  2,  1877,  aged  58  years.  The  mother  remained  on  the 
farm  until  1905.  She  is  now  living  at  Western,  Iowa,  at  the 
age  of  eighty-one  years. 

Paul  A.  Korab  grew  to  manhood  on  the  old  homestead 
farm,  attended  the  common  schools  and  was  a  student  at  the 
United  Brethren  college  at  Western,  Iowa,  where  he  fitted 
himself  for  teaching"  school  and  for  some  time  he  was  engaged 
in  teaching  schools  in  the  northern  part  of  the  county.  He  was 
elected  township  clerk  and  trustee  for  Jefferson  township  and 
served  in  these  offices  for  several  years.  In  1883  he  came  to 
Iowa  City  and  was  appointed  deputy  clerk  of  the  district  and 
circuit  courts  of  Johnson  county,  remaining  in  that  position 
for  seven  years.  In  November,  1892,  he  was  elected  clerk  of 
the  courts,  which  office  he  held  for  four  years.  Previous  to 
this,  or  in  1891,  he  had  entered  the  law  department  of  the 
State  University  of  Iowa,  from  which  he  graduated  and  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  of  Iowa  in  1893.    In  1893,  while  pursuing 


68 


HISTOEY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 


his  studies  in  the  law  department,  he  assumed  the  duties  of  his 
office  as  clerk  of  courts,  holding  the  office  through  his  term  in 
college.  To  do  this  required  long  hours,  working  much  of  the 
time  over  twenty  hours  per  day.  This,  of  course,  was  a  severe 
strain  and  sometimes  it  seemed  to  him  that  he  would  be  com- 
pelled to  give  up  his  studies,  hut  with  a  determination  that 
knew  no  turning  he  fought  his  way  through.  He  served 
two  terms  as  clerk  of  courts,  and  remained  one  year  in  the 
office  assisting  his  successor  after  his  last  term  had  expired. 
In  September,  1897,  he  started  into  the  practice  of  law,  and  in 


RESIDENCE  OF  PAUL  A.  KORAB 


1898  became  cashier  of  the  Iowa  City  State  bank  which  posi- 
tion he  has  held  ever  since. 

He  served  three  years  as  member  of  the  Board  of  Education 
in  Iowa  City,  holding  the  important  post  as  chairman  of  build- 
ing and  grounds  committee,  during  which  time  the  present  high 
school  building  was  erected.  He  also  served  for  two  terms  as 
member  and  secretary  of  the  first  Board  of  Park  Commission- 
ers of  Iowa  City,  during  which  time  funds  were  raised  and  tlie 
present  city  park  was  selected  and  purchased.  He  is  now  the 
treasurer  of  The  State  Historical  Society  of  Iowa  and  also 


BIOGRAPHICAL  69 

treasui'er  of  the  Alumni  Bureau  of  Information  of  the  State 
University. 

Mr.  Korab  was  married  April  26, 1886,  to  Mary  A.  Dobrov- 
sky,  whose  parents  came  to  America  from  Bohemia  at  an  early 
day.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Korab  are  the  parents  of  one  son,  Edward 
P.  Korab,  born  June  24,  1888,  now  a  student  in  the  liberal  arts 
department  of  the  State  University. 

In  his  social  connections  Mr.  Korab  is  a  member  of  the  C.  S. 
P.  S.  Society,  a  Bohemian  fraternal  order.  He  votes  the  demo- 
cratic ticket.  His  residence  at  729  North  Linn  street  is  a  cozy, 
comfortable  home. 

Mr.  Korab  is  an  example  of  what  can  be  accomplished  by 
persistent  energy  and  determination,  and  demonstrates  the  fact 
that  any  young  man  of  fixed  purposes,  honesty,  and  self-reli- 
ance can  make  his  way  in  the  world  and  attain  success  and 
respectability. 


ALBERT  M.  GREER 

Among  the  old  and  respected  families  of  Iowa  City  is  that 
of  Albert  M.  Greer,  son  of  Patrick  and  Emily  E.  (Guffin) 
Greer,  the  latter  being  pioneers  of  Johnson  county.  Patrick 
Greer  emigrated  to  the  United  States  when  a  boy  of  twelve, 
making  the  voyage  in  an  old  sailing  vessel,  and  landing  at 
New  York  City,  where  he  learned  the  tailor's  trade.  He 
worked  as  a  journeyman  about  seven  years,  and  then  em- 
barked in  business  for  himself  in  New  York  City.  Later  he 
was  associated  with  parties  in  Albany,  New  York.  During 
his  residence  in  the  latter  city  he  took  a  course  in  the  public 
schools.  He  there  met  Miss  Emily  E.  Guffin,  who  became  his 
wife,  the  ceremony  being  performed  in  Albany.  In  1855  Mr. 
Greer  and  his  young  wife  came  west  to  Iowa  City,  and  as  that 
was  prior  to  the  railroad,  the  journey  was  made  in  part  by  the 
primitive  methods  of  transportation.  Mr.  Greer  opened  his 
first  store  two  doors  north  of  the  present  location  of  Albert 
M.  Greer's  jewelry  store.  He  erected  a  building  on  the  site 
and  began  business  as  a  merchant  tailor.  He  continued  in  this 
business  until  his  death  in  1894.  He  occupied  an  honorable 
place  in  the  estimation  of  his  friends,  being  accounted  one  of 


70  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

the  foremost  pioneer  business  men  of  Iowa  City.  In  a  recent 
discourse  the  pastor  of  the  First  Presbyterian  church,  of 
which  the  deceased  was  a  deacon,  referred  to  the  fact  of  Mr. 
Greer's  advocacy  of  temperance  and  paid  a  glowing  tribute  to 
his  memory.  Mr.  Greer  was  a  Scotchman  by  birth,  and  pos- 
sessed the  sterling  Scotch  characteristics  which  made  for 
honesty  and  morality  in  his  life.  His  wife  was  of  Irish  an- 
cestry, a  woman  of  rare  sweetness  and  nobility  of  character. 
She  survived  her  husband  two  years,  dying  in  1886.  ]\Ir.  and 
Mrs.  Greer  raised  a  family  of  nine  children,  of  whom  five  sur- 
vive: Franklin  C,  born  in  New  York  state  in  1854;  Ed.  B., 


SALESKOOM,   A.    M.   GREEE 

farmer  of  Scott  township,  born  in  Iowa  City;  Albert  M.,  our 
subject,  born  in  Iowa  City;  Ida  M.,  born  in  Iowa  City,  widow 
of  Dr.  Charles  Fuller,  a  graduate  of  S.  U.  I.,  resides  at  Water- 
town,  New  York;  Irving  E.,  born  in  Iowa  City,  resides  at 
Cedar  Eapids,  Iowa. 

The  date  of  Albert  M.  Greer's  birth  was  December  13,  18G1, 
His  entire  life  has  been  spent  in  his  native  city,  where  he  is 
today  one  of  its  most  honored  citizens.  He  received  his  edu- 
cation in  the  public  schools,  being  a  graduate  of  the  Iowa  City 
high  school.  He  has  been  in  business  since  1887,  being  a  dealer 
in  jewelry,  pianos,  and  musical  instruments  of  all  kinds.    His 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


71 


first  store  was  on  the  present  site  of  the  Johnson  County  Sav- 
ings bank,  being  one-half  block  north  of  his  present  location 
in  the  Webb  building,  128  South  Clinton,  which  he  has  occu- 
pied since  1900.  Mr.  Greer  handles  pianos  by  the  car  load. 
He  has  sold  over  500  Kimball  pianos  in  Iowa  City  and  vicinity, 
and  500  of  other  makes.  The  State  University  has  just  bought 
two  grand  pianos  of  the  Kimball  make. 

Mr.  Greer  chose  for  his  wife  Miss  May  Jewett,  daughter  of 
Joseph  Jewett,  and  a  neice  of  former  Governor  Samuel  J. 
Kirkwood.  Their  children  are :  Mildred  Emilj^  and  Gertrude. 
Mrs.  Greer  and  children  are  members  of  the  Christian  church. 
The  family  residence  is  at  15  East  Market  street. 


MAX  MAYER 


One  of  the  successful  merchants  of  Iowa  City,  whose  name 
and  methods  have  stood  for  probity  and  square  dealing,  is 
Max  Mayer,  a  native  son  of  Iowa  and  identified  all  his  life 
with  the  advancement  of  its  general  interests.  Our  subject 
was  born  January  13,  1858,  at  Washington,  Iowa,  and  there 


EESIDENCE  OF  MAX  MAYER 


lie  received  his  primary  education  in  the  public  schools,  add- 
ing thereto  a  classical  course  in  New  York  city.  His  parents 
were  Leon  Mayer  and  Teresa  Lippman,  both  natives  of  Ger- 
many, who  came  to  America  when  quite  young.     They  were 


72  HISTORY  OF  JOHXSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

educated  in  the  east,  and  were  united  in  marriage  in  the  city 
of  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mayer  came  to 
Washington,  Iowa,  in  1855,  where  the  husband  engaged  in  the 
clothing  business. 

Max  Mayer's  first  mercantile  undertaking  was  in  his  native 
town  of  Washington,  where  he  followed  in  the  footsteps  of 
his  father  and  embarked  in  the  clothing  business.  This  was 
in  1882,  and  he  continued  in  the  same  line  at  the  same  location 
until  1886,  when  he  removed  from  Washington  to  Iowa  City. 
Mr.  Mayer  is  a  believer  in  the  business  maxim,  '' master  of 
one,  master  indeed,"  and  therefore  he  continued  his  chosen 
occui3ation  of  clothing  merchant  in  his  new  home,  remaining 
therein  to  the  jDresent  time,  and  always  with  success  and  pop- 
ularity. 

On  February  18,  1885,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Laura  Bloom,  daughter  of  Senator  Bloom,  of  Iowa  City.  Two 
children  were  born  of  this  union,  Florence  and  Lawrence. 
Mrs.  Mayer  died  November  10,  1889,  and  was  buried  in  Cin- 
cinnati, Ohio.  Six  years  later,  in  March,  1895,  Mr.  Mayer 
married  Miss  Julia  Bloom,  sister  of  his  first  wife,  and  they 
have  been  blessed  with  one  son,  Edward. 

The  family  are  members  of  the  Hebrew  church,  and  Mr. 
Mayer  is  affiliated  with  the  Masonic  order  and  the  B.  P.  0.  E. 
The  family  residence  is  at  714  East  College  street. 


JOHN  HERBERT  WHETSTONE 

It  has  been  the  endeavor  of  the  publishers  of  these  volumes 
to  place  in  enduring  form  a  history  of  the  lives  of  those  who 
have  aided  in  the  growth  and  development  of  this  part  of 
Iowa,  and  who  from  their  activity  and  long  residence  here 
have  become  component  factors  of  the  community  in  which 
they  live.  Years  roll  by  so  rapidly  that  time  is  already  thin- 
ning the  ranks  of  those  who  were  participants  in  the  events 
of  the  earlier  days,  and  it  is  only  by  getting  a  true  story  of 
their  lives  that  we  can  hope  to  have  an  authentic  record.  We 
sometimes  wonder  if  the  persons  who  have  lived  here  during 
the  past  forty  years  do  not  pinch  themselves  as  they  look 
back  over  that  period  and  realize  the  transformation,  to  a  seer- 


BIOGRAPHICAL  73 

tain  if  it  is  not  all  a  dream.  And  yet  it  is  not  so  different : 
men  had  the  same  hopes  and  anticipations  then  as  now;  they 
had  successes  and  reverses,  joys  and  sorrows,  the  same  pas- 
sions and  impulses.  Their  surroundings  were  as  natural  to 
them  as  ours  are  to  the  present  generation,  and  they  have 
adjusted  themselves  to  constantly  changing  conditions  that 
have  come  so  gradually  as  to  be  scarcely  noticeable. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  John  Herbert  Whetstone,  is  a 
nativfe  of  Bedford  county,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  was  born 
September  18,  1844.  His  parents  were  John  and  Katherine 
(Horn)  Whetstone,  both  natives  of  Pennsylvania.  The 
father's  family  consisted  of  ten  children.     Of  the  family  only 


EESmENCE   OF  JOHN  HERBERT  WHETSTONE 

two  are  now  living,  J.  H.  and  brother,  Albert  H.  Whetstone. 
The  parents  passed  their  entire  lives  in  their  native  state  and 
died  in  Bedford  county,  the  mother  at  the  age  of  fifty-five  and 
the  father  at  the  age  of  eighty-five.  Grandfather  Whetstone 
moved  to  Michigan,  then  a  territory,  and  was  one  of  the  pio- 
neers in  that  country.     He  died  there. 

Our  subject  grew  to  manhood  at  the  old  home  in  Bedford 
county,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  received  all  the  advantages 
of  the  common  schools  and  also  of  a  normal  school  at  Bed- 
ford. He  later  attended  Mt.  Pleasant  college  in  Westmore- 
land county,  Pennsylvania.     Many  worthy  traits  of  character 


74  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

were  eonspicious  in  the  early  life  of  Mr.  Whetstone  which 
have  so  creditably  marked  his  later  years  —  those  of  eager 
ambition,  strict  honesty,  and  untiring  perseverance  —  anxious 
to  progress  financially,  and  at  the  same  time  make  a  record 
and  position  for  himself  in  the  world.  After  leaving  college 
he  taught  school  through  the  day  and  at  night  studied  medi- 
cine and  pharmacy.  He  continued  in  this  practice  until  he  had 
saved  a  small  amount  of  money  and  had  become  master  of  his 
profession. 

In  1868  he  came  to  Iowa  and  settled  in  Cedar  Rapids  where 
he  taught  school  for  about  one  year.  In  spring  of  1869  he  en- 
gaged as  clerk  in  William  A.  Morrison's  drug  store  in  Iowa 
City  and  remained  in  that  i30sition  for  five  years.  During  his 
emplojTiient  with  Mr.  Morrison  he  saved  enough  money  to 
start  into  business  for  himself,  and  in  1874  he  established  a 
drug  trade  which  has  continued  ever  since.  His  first  place  of 
business  became  known  in  town  and  country  as  "The  Little 
Drug  Store  around  the  Corner." 

In  January  1880  he  moved  to  the  present  location  and  the 
firm  is  known  as  the  Whetstone  Pharmacy,  the  members  being 
J.  H.  and  Robert  Reed,  his  son. 

He  was  appointed  post  master  under  President  Harrison's 
administration  and  held  that  office  for  four  years. 

Mr.  Whetstone  was  married  September  8,  1880,  at  Iowa 
City,  to  Miss  Mahaska  Bjdngton  who  was  born  in  Johnson 
county,  and  in  the  same  house  where  they  now  live.  In 
another  part  of  this  volume  is  an  engraving  of  the  old  Bying- 
ton  home,  one  of  the  few  landmarks  of  the  earlier  times  now 
remaining.  It  seems  almost  incredible  when  we  contemplate 
the  many  footsteps  that  have  passed  over  the  threshold  of 
this  home  which  has  withstood  the  changing  years.  The  play- 
ful patter  of  childhood  has  gradually  changed  to  the  dignified 
tread  of  men  and  women  who  have  passed  out  into  the  world 
to  meet  life's  conflicts,  and  in  turn  children  and  children's 
cliildren  have  been  inmates  under  the  old  roof  tree. 

Mrs.  Whetstone's  father  was  a  veiy  prominent  character  in 
the  earlier  history  of  Johnson  county  —  lawyer,  politician  and 
newspaper  man.     (See  sketch  of  Robert  W.  Byington.) 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Whetstone  are  the  parents  of  two  children: 


BIOGRAPHICAL  75 

Eobert  Reed,  who  attended  the  schools  of  Iowa  City  and  grad- 
uated from  the  College  of  Pharmacy  in  1904.  Edith,  who 
died  when  seventeen  years  of  age. 

In  politics  Mr.  ^Mietstone  is  a  republican,  takes  an  active 
interest  in  public  affairs  and  is  broad,  liberal  and  progressive. 
He  is  active  in  Masonry,  a  member  of  Palestine  Commandery 
No.  2  and  Blue  Lodge  No.  4. 

Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Whetstone  are  members  of  the  Presby- 
terian church  and  take  great  interest  in  church  matters. 


OTTO  HENRY  FINK 

On  the  roster  of  the  honorable,  progressive  business  men  of 
Iowa  City  stands  the  name  of  Otto  Henry  Fink,  a  native  of 
the  university  city,  whose  entire  life  has  been  lived  within 
the  borders  of  his  native  state,  and  for  the  most  part  within 
the  county  of  his  birth.  Mr.  Fink  comes  of  sturdy  German 
stock,  both  his  father  and  mother  being  natives  of  the  Father- 
land, the  former  being  born  in  Hamburg  and  the  latter  in 
Bavaria.  J.  G.  Fink,  our  subject's  father,  came  to  America 
in  an  early  day  and  shortly  thereafter  settled  in  Johnson 
county.  He  was  first  employed  as  a  traveling  salesman,  but 
later,  in  1864,  engaged  with  G.  W.  Marquardt  in  the  jewelry 
business.  The  partnershij)  continued  until  1865,  when  Mr. 
Fink  retired  and  took  up  the  tobacco  and  cigar  trade.  He 
died  in  1873.  Mother  Fink's  maiden  name  was  Anna  Weigle. 
She  came  from  Bavaria  to  Maryland  with  her  parents  when 
three  years  of  age  and  to  Johnson  county  when  a  young  wo- 
man. Her  marriage  to  Mr.  Fink  took  place  in  this  county. 
She  is  still  living  and  enjoys  the  companionship  of  her  chil- 
dren, with  whom  she  resides. 

Otto  Henry  Fink  attended  the  public  schools  of  Iowa  City, 
and  later  was  a  student  for  one  year  at  the  German  college 
in  Mt.  Pleasant,  Iowa.  Following  this  he  attended  the  Wes- 
leyan  university  at  Mt.  Pleasant  for  one  year.  His  first 
choice  of  occupations  was  farming,  a  business  in  which  he 
engaged  in  Johnson  county  for  four  years  following  his  school 
work.  At  the  end  of  that  time  he  removed  to  Cedar  county, 
where  he  spent  three  years  in  mercantile  business,  one  year 
in  operating  a  creamery,  and  three  years  running  a  meat 


76 


HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 


market.  Tliereaf ter  he  again  took  up  farming,  continuing  for 
twelve  years.  He  then  returned  to  Iowa  City,  and  six  years 
ago  bought  the  cigar  store  at  the  St.  James  Hotel,  in  the  oper- 
ation of  which  he  is  at  present  engaged. 

Mr.  Fink  was  married  in  1888  to  Miss  Margaret  M.  Albaugh 
of  Cedar  county,  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Mary  (Parsons)  Al- 
baugh and  granddaughter  of  Baldwin  Parsons,  early  settlers 
of  Cedar  county.  Mrs.  Fink's  father  was  a  pioneer  of  the 
county  and  a  farmer  by  occupation.  He  and  his  wife  died 
when  Mrs.  Fink  was  a  child.  The  family  came  from  Ohio  to 
Iowa.     Mrs.  Fink  has  two  sisters  living:  Mrs.  Wash  Sailer 


RESmENCE  OF  OTTO   HENRY  FINK 


and  Mrs.  Bertram  Hunter,  of  Chicago.     Daniel  Albaugh,  of 
Cedar  county,  is  her  step-uncle. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fink  have  two  sons :  John  George,  married, 
and  living  in  Iowa  City,  where  he  is  associated  with  his 
father  in  business;  Guy  Samuel,  attending  Iowa  City  high 
school. 

In  politics  Mr.  I'ink  has  always  been  a  democrat.  He  was 
township  trustee  for  nine  years  in  Cedar  county.  He  is  a 
member  of  Eureka  lodge  No.  44,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  Good  Samaritan 
Encampment  No.  5,  Iowa  City  lodge  No.  590,  B.  P.  0.  E., 
Camp  No.  89,  M.  W.  A.,  the  K.  of  P.  No.  24  of  Iowa  City, 
and  Wapeshiek  Tribe  No.  122,  Red  Men. 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


77 


JOHN  W.  METZINGER 

A  plain  tale  of  success  amid  the  ordinary  routine  of  life  is 
the  career  of  John  W.  Metzinger,  a  native  of  Iowa  City,  whose 
entire  life  and  business  relations  have  been  confined  to  the 
city  of  his  birth.  Mr.  Metzinger  was  born  on  Christmas  day, 
1854,  and  was  therefore  an  infant  when  the  final  scenes  in  the 
removal  of  the  state  capital  from  Iowa  City  to  Des  Moines 
were  enacted.  But  he  has  seen  his  native  town  develop  into 
one  of  the  most  beautiful  of  the  great  university  centers  of  the 
west,  and  has  himself  become  an  honored  factor  in  its  growth 
through  a  life  of  faithful  devotion  to  the  homely  daily  tasks 
of  citizenship. 


EESIDENCE  OF  JOHN  W.  METZINGER 

Mr.  Metzinger 's  father  was  a  native  of  Alsace,  Germany, 
formerly  a  part  of  France,  and  his  mother  was  born  in  Penn- 
sylvania. The  couple  met  and  were  married  in  Iowa  City, 
where  Mr.  Metzinger  settled  shortly  after  his  arrival  in 
America  in  1836.  He  was  a  carpenter  by  trade,  and  for  many 
years  worked  at  that  business  in  Iowa  City.  Later  he  removed 
to  Sydney,  Nebraska,  where  he  died  at  the  age  of  sixty-four 
years.  His  wife  survived  him,  and  died  at  Iowa  City  at  the 
age  age  of  sixty-seven. 

Our  subject  began  his  apprenticeship  at  the  carpenter's 
trade  on  July  5,  1871,  and  has  followed  that  vocation  to  the 


78  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

present  time.  He  enlarged  his  sphere  of  operations  in  1883 
by  taking  contracting,  a  work  in  which  he  has  been  contin- 
uously successful. 

In  1875  Mr.  Metzinger  was  married  to  Miss  Maggie  Rick- 
stine,  who  was  born  in  Bohemia  in  February,  1853,  and  who 
came  with  her  parents  to  America  at  the  age  of  eleven  years. 
Three  children  have  blessed  their  union,  two  of  whom  are  liv- 
ing, one  having  died  when  four  years  of  age.  The  oldest, 
John  Joseph,  now  thirty-four  years  of  age,  is  located  at  Fre- 
mont, Nebraska,  where  he  is  a  practicing  physician,  making  a 
specialty  of  diseases  of  the  eye  and  ear.  Lillian  is  married 
to  C.  M.  Sulser,  and  resides  at  Iowa  City. 

Mr.  Metzinger  is  the  owner  of  considerable  property,  among 
which  is  his  home  residence,  his  place  of  business,  and  other 
town  property. 


ALBERT  J.  BORTS 

Nearly  twenty  years  continuous  service  in  the  United  States 
mail  service  in  Iowa  City  is  the  record  of  Albert  J.  Borts,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch.  In  the  faithful  discharge  of  his  duty 
as  a  public  servant  Mr.  Borts  has  expended  the  prime  of  his 
manhood,  his  work  having  beg-un  at  the  age  of  twenty-eight. 
For  twelve  years  prior  to  this  time  he  was  engaged  in  the 
brick  lajang  business  with  his  father.  Born  in  Iowa  City, 
February  26,  1863,  practically  his  whole  life  has  been  spent 
in  Johnson  county. 

Mr.  Borts 's  father,  David  Borts,  born  in  Pennsylvania  in 
1833,  came  to  Johnson  county  in  1855.  He  was  a  brick  and 
stone  contractor,  and  followed  that  business  until  his  retire- 
ment in  1905.  Some  of  the  principal  buildings  of  the  city 
contain  the  evidence  of  his  skill  as  a  craftsman,  among  the 
number  being  the  high  school  and  grammar  school  buildings, 
I.  0.  0.  F.  hall,  St.  Patrick's  church.  Old  Science  Hall,  Chemi- 
cal building,  and  many  others.  David  Borts  married  Miss 
Mary  Kemble,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  born  in  1836.  Six 
children  were  born  to  them :  Ella  M.,  now  Mrs.  J.  C.  Stouffer, 
of  Iowa  City ;  Albert  J. ;  Nettie  J.,  of  West  Liberty ;  Emma  L., 
married  to  Ezekiel  Clark,  Jr.,  died  in  1891 ;  Charles  W.,  mar- 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


79 


ried  and  living  in  Iowa  City;  Lillian  L,,  now  Mrs,  S.  W. 
Hormel,  living  at  West  Liberty.  Mother  Borts  came  to  John- 
son connty  with  her  parents  when  three  years  of  age,  and  re- 
sided here  continuously  until  her  death  in  March,  1898. 

Albert  J.  Borts  was  married  in  1891  to  Miss  Alice  E.  Smith, 
of  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  whose  parents  were  also  natives  of  Ohio. 


RESIDENCE    OF   ALBERT    J.    BORTS 

Six  children  have  blessed  their  union :  Bessie  M.,  Wallace  A., 
Howard  D.,  Irving  H.,  Edna  E.,  and  Ethel  A.  All  are  attend- 
ing school  in  Iowa  City.  Mrs.  Borts  passed  away  March  23, 
1906. 

The  family  are  members  of  the  English  Luthern  church. 
Mr.  Borts  is  a  member  of  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  No.  4,  of  Iowa  City. 


WILLIAM  ROBERT  GRAF 

Johnson  county  is  one  of  the  most  progressive  and  produc- 
tive portions  of  the  great  commonwealth  of  Iowa.  Iowa  City, 
her  county  seat  town,  teams  with  industry,  and  her  broad 
valuable  acres  are  aglow  with  bountiful  productiveness.  In 
fact,  her  people  enjoy  rare  achievement,  morally,  education- 
ally, and  financially.  This  existing  condition  has  been 
brought  about  by  her  representative  citizens,  and  cannot  live 
on  without  the  influence  and  assistance  of  this  same  class. 


80 


HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 


Numbered  in  this  class  is  the  sound  minded,  honest-spirited 
young  business  man,  William  R.  Graf.  He  stands  ever  ready 
to  protect  the  best  interests  of  business  man,  fanner,  and 
laborer  alike. 

William  Robert  Graf  was  born  in  Johnson  county,  at  Iowa 
City,  January  28,  1882.  His  parents  were  Conrad  J.  and 
Anna  (Hotz)  Graf.  His  father  was  born  in  Germany,  October 
9,  1849.  He  came  to  America  when  eighteen  years  old,  land- 
ing in  New  York  cit3^  He  came  to  Iowa  City  in  1874;  and, 
being  a  brewer  by  trade,  engaged  in  that  business.  Later  he 
became  proprietor  of  the  Union  brewery,  located  on  the  corner 
of  Linn  and  Market  streets.     This  business  was  started  by  his 


EESIDENCE   OF    WILLIAM    ROBERT   GRAF 


father-in-law,  Simon  Hotz,  in  1868.  He  married  Miss  Anna 
Hotz,  June  18,  1875.  Mr.  Graf  had  one  sister,  Katherine,  who 
married  Mr.  Snyder,  and  resides  in  Kansas;  also  four 
brothers,  Nicholas,  Philip,  Christian,  and  Joseph.  Mr.  Graf 
died  November  17,  1894. 

Mrs.  Graf  was  the  daughter  of  Simon  Hotz.  She  was  born 
in  Iowa  City,  January  27,  1859.  Her  parents  were  both  na- 
tives of  the  province  of  Bavaria,  in  Germany.  Her  father 
came  to  America  in  the  spring  of  1850,  and  settled  in  Iowa 
City  in  1857. 

Mr.  Hotz  was  married  on  December  26,  1852,  to  Miss  Bar- 
bara Williams.     They  had  seven  children,  two  of  whom  died 


BIOGEAPHICAL  81 

in  infancy;  five  daughters  grew  to  womanliood.  They  are 
Barbara,  who  married  Benjamin  Hugel,  and  died  at  Marshall- 
town,  January  28,  1886;  Caroline,  who  married  Herman 
Strub  of  Iowa  City,  and  died  in  June,  1903 ;  Anna,  mother  of 
our  subject;  Ella,  now  Mrs.  Dr.  Emmons,  living  in  Seattle, 
Washington ;  Julia,  now  Mrs.  Murray,  living  in  Iowa  City. 

Mr.  Hotz  died  November  26,  1891.  His  wife  died  on  March 
18,  1904. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Conrad  Graf  were  the  parents  of  four  child- 
ren: Simon,  who  died,  November  4,  1910;  George,  who  died 
January  22,  1879;  Otto,  married  and  living  in  Denver,  Colo- 
rado ;  and  William,  who  is  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

William  Robert  Graf  attended  the  schools  of  Iowa  City,  and, 
after  completing  his  education  therein,  entered  the  brewing 
business,  April  1,  1903,  in  company  with  his  two  brothers, 
Simon  and  Otto.  The  firm  was  known  as  Graf  Brothers,  and 
is  still  known  as  such,  although  the  brother  Simon  has  died 
since  the  partnership  was  formed. 

Our  subject  married  Miss  Emma  Tesor  in  June,  1905.  Mrs. 
(Tesor)  Graf  was  born  in  Iowa  City,  of  Bohemian  parentage, 
both  parents  living  at  present  in  Iowa  City.  They  have  two 
sons:  Robert,  born  July  15,  1906;  and  Carl,  born  June  24, 
1908. 

Mr.  Graf  is  a  member  of  the  Eagles,  Iowa  City  lodge,  No. 
695 ;  also  a  member  of  the  Order  of  Owls,  Nest  No.  1002,  Iowa 
City,  Iowa. 

Mr.  Graf  is  enterprising  and  progressive.  He  takes  a  live 
interest  in  every  commendable  Johnson  county  enterprise,  and 
stands  ever  ready  to  support  the  same  financially  and  other- 
wise. He  enjoys  the  respect  of  all  his  neighbors,  friends,  and 
business  associates.  He  is  looked  upon  as  one  of  the  stanch, 
intelligent  business  men  of  the  county. 


CALVIN  WALDO  HARNED,  M.  D.,  D.  D.  S. 

Dr.  Calvin  Waldo  Harned  is  unique  and  stands  practically 
alone  in  his  specialty  of  facial  surgery  in  Iowa.  His  practice 
is  widely  distributed,  and  within  one  year  he  was  called  pro- 
fessionally to  eighty-six  towns.     His  combined  knowledge  of 


82 


mSTOEY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 


dentistry  and  materia  medica,  together  with  his  technique  of 
surgery,  give  him  recognized  leadership  in  his  profession. 
At  the  National  Dental  Association  convention,  held  in  Den- 
ver in  1910,  in  which  body  Dr.  Harned  was  a  delegate  from 
the  Iowa  State  Dental  Society,  he  gave  three  days'  clinics  in 
facial  surgery,  including  operations  on  palates,  hair-lips,  etc. 
He  was  again  invited  in  July,  1911,  to  Cleveland,  Ohio,  to 
conduct  similar  clinics  before  the  National  Dental  Association. 
The  value  of  his  instruction  was  generally  recognized  by  his 
fellow  dentists. 

Calvin  Waldo  Harned  is  a  son  of  Luther  William  and  Anna 
(Whelpley)  Harned.     He  was  born  in  Macon  county,  Illinois, 


RESIDENCE  OF  CALVIN  WALDO  HAENED,  M.  D.,  D.  D.  S. 


in  1879.  His  academic  education  was  received  in  the  public 
schools  of  Sullivan,  Moultrie  county,  Illinois,  and  he  was  a 
graduate  of  the  high  school  of  that  city  in  the  class  of  1897. 
This  he  supplemented  by  courses  in  the  dental  and  medical 
departments  of  the  State  University  of  Iowa,  graduating  from 
the  former  in  the  class  of  1903  and  from  the  latter  in  the  class 
of  1906.  He  began  the  practice  of  dentistry  at  Solon,  Iowa, 
and  continued  for  parts  of  two  years,  1903-04.  He  was  an 
instructor  of  dental  surgery  in  the  S.  U.  I.  from  the  latter 
part  of  1903  to  1908  inclusive.  He  is  a  member  and  secretary 
of  the  Alumni  Association  of  the  College  of  Dentistry,  S.  U.  I. ; 


BIOaRAPHICAL 


83 


a  member  of  the  Iowa  State  Dental  Society  and  of  the  Na- 
tional Dental  Association.  He  is  a  member  also  of  the  John- 
son County  Medical  Society,  State  Medical  Society,  and  the 
American  Medical  Association.  Dr.  Harned  has  made  val- 
uable contributions  to  the  Dental  Journal  and  delivered  papers 
before  the  American  Medical  Association.  Fraternally  he  is 
affiliated  with  the  I.  0.  0.  F.  of  Iowa  City. 

Dr.  Harned  married  Miss  Dorothy  Heinsius,  of  Johnson 
county,  daughter  of  J.  0.  Heinsius.  The  latter 's  father  was 
one  of  the  oldest  physicians  of  Solon,  Iowa.  Dr.  and  Mrs. 
Harned  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  of 
Iowa  City. 


MRS.  WILLIAM  MARSHALL 

The  maiden  name  of  Mrs.  William  Marshall  was  Martha 
Ward.  She  was  born  in  Bridgewater,  Michigan,  July  30,  1838, 
Her  father  was  Jacob  Ward,  born  in  Saratoga  county.  New 
York,  in  1806,  and  her  mother  was  Eleanor  Lockerby,  born  in 
Schuyler  county.  New  York.     Mrs.  Marshall  came  westward  in 


KESIDENCE  OF  MRS.  WILLIAM  MARSHALL 

1856  and  settled  in  Iowa  City.  She  entered  the  normal  de- 
partment of  the  State  University  there,  that  being  the  only 
department  in  operation  at  that  time.  Following  her  normal 
training,  she  became  a  teacher  in  the  public  schools  of  Musca- 
tine and  Johnson  counties,  and  of  Iowa  City. 


84  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

In  1869  Miss  "Ward  was  married  to  William  Marshall,  a 
native  of  Scotland,  at  one  time  engaged  in  the  grocery  busi- 
ness in  Iowa  City.  Later  he  entered  the  real  estate  business, 
in  which  he  continued  for  about  forty  years.  Mr.  Marshall 
died  September  3,  1906,  Since  that  time  his  widow  has  con- 
tinued to  reside  in  the  old  home,  which  has  been  her  dwelling 
place  for  upwards  of  forty-one  years.  Two  daughters  of  the 
couple,  born  in  Iowa  City,  reside  at  present  in  Scotland.  The 
family  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church. 

The  house  in  which  Mrs.  Marshall  resides  is  famous  as  the 
scene  of  the  celebration  of  the  first  mass  of  the  Roman  Catholic 
church  in  Iowa  City.  The  room  in  which  this  service  took 
place  remains  just  about  as  it  was  during  the  celebration  of 
the  mass. 


CHARLES  ALBERT  WEBBER 

Charles  Albert  Webber,  president  of  the  C.  A.  Webber 
Printing  Co.,  of  Iowa  City,  was  born  April  30,  1872,  at  Fer- 
ris, Illinois.  He  is  a  son  of  William  J.  and  Mary  A.  (Pilking- 
ton)  Webber,  the  first-named  a  native  of  Maryland  and  the 
latter  of  Illinois.  William  J.  Webber  came  with  his  parents 
to  Keokuk,  Iowa,  in  1852.  His  father  was  a  tailor  by  trade. 
The  family  later  removed  to  Missouri,  and  thence  back  to 
Illinois  in  1858,  settling  on  a  farm  near  Nauvoo,  the  old  Mor- 
mon town,  where  they  made  their  permanent  residence. 

Our  subject  attended  the  country  schools  of  Hancock  coun- 
ty, supplementing  his  common  school  education  with  a  course 
in  the  Gem  City  Business  College,  of  Quincy,  Illinois,  from 
which  he  graduated  in  April,  1892.  In  1894  he  entered  Car- 
thage college,  remaining  until  1898,  when  he  became  a  student 
at  the  University  of  Illinois.  He  removed  to  Iowa  City  in 
1899  and  entered  as  a  junior  in  the  State  University  of  Iowa, 
graduating  therefrom  in  June,  1900.  Following  his  gradua- 
tion, Mr.  Webber  took  the  position  of  assistant  to  the  prin- 
cipal of  the  Iowa  City  grammar  school.  He  became  principal 
of  the  school  in  1901  and  continued  in  that  position  until 
June,  1904,  when  he  resigned  and  entered  the  business  of  pub- 
lishing, in  which  he  is  now  engaged. 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


85 


The  marriage  of  Mr.  Webber  to  Miss  Neta  Cutler,  of 
Carthage,  Illinois,  took  place  in  1899.  Miss  Cutler's  father 
was  a  native  of  New  York  and  a  direct  lineal  descendant  of 
Governor  Cutler,  who  made  the  first  settlement  in  Ohio.  Her 
father's  mother  was  a  descendant  of  the  old  Lillybridge  fam- 
ily of  Massachusetts.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Webber  have  two  chil- 
dren :  Russell  L.,  aged  nine  years,  and  Charlotte  A.,  aged  four. 
The  family  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 


KESmENCE  OF   CHARLES  ALBERT   WEBBER 

Mr.  Webber  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  Blue  Lodge,  the 
Knights  of  Pythias,  and  the  Red  Men. 

Hon.  John  F.  Webber,  of  Ottumwa,  state  senator  from  the 
Thirteenth  district  of  Iowa,  a  graduate  of  the  S.  U.  I.  and  a 
prominent  lawyer,  is  a  brother  of  Charles  Albert  Webber. 
He  is  accounted  one  of  the  influential  lawyers  of  Ottumwa. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  C.  A.  Webber  reside  at  Ridgeway,  Manville 
Heights,  where  he  has  but  recently  erected  a  commodious 
house  having  all  modern  conveniences. 


WILLIAM  ELLERY  CHANNING  FOSTER 

William  Ellery  Channing  Foster  is  the  only  sou  of  Silas 
Foster  and  Anna  B.  Williams,  and  was  born  May  15,  1851, 
at  Iowa  City.     His  father  was  a  native  of  New  Hampshire 


86  HISTOEY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

and  Ms  mother  of  Ohio.  Silas  Foster  settled  near  Iowa  City 
in  the  forties.  Miss  Williams,  afterwards  his  wife,  also 
settled  in  Johnson  connty,  where  the  couple  became  acquainted 
and  were  married.  In  1854,  when  our  subject  was  three  years 
of  age,  his  mother  died.  The  father  survived  until  1880,  pass- 
ing away  at  Colorado  Springs,  Colorado. 

Mr.  Foster  received  his  education  in  the  public  schools  of 
Iowa  City.  His  first  business  venture  for  himself  was  in  1871 
at  Sigourney,  Iowa,  when  he  engaged  in  the  livery  business. 
This  enterprise  he  continued  for  three  years,  when  he  re- 
turned to  Iowa  City,  taking  up  the  same  line  of  business  here. 
He  carried  on  that  business  for  thirty  years,  and  became  one 


RESIDENCE  OF  WILLIAM  ELLERY  CHAINING  FOSTER 

of  the  best  known  men  in  his  line  in  this  part  of  the  state. 
Upon  his  retirement  from  the  livery  business,  he  took  up 
transfer  and  dray  work,  continuing  for  about  two  years,  when 
he  engaged  in  the  coal  business  under  the  firm  name  of  Foster 
&  Lindsay  for  about  three  years.  Thereafter  he  associated 
himself  with  Lowe  Manufacturing  Company,  manufacturers 
of  jewelry,  as  manager.  He  held  this  position  for  three 
years.  He  was  associated  with  Otis  L.  Davis  in  the  manu- 
facture of  pearl  buttons  under  the  name  of  Davis  Button  Co. 
On  September  12,  1877,  Mr.  Foster  was  married  to  Miss 
Laura  E.  Miller,  a  native  of  Johnson  county,  daughter  of 


THE  NEW  YORK 
PUBLIC  LIBRAR 


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BIOGEAPHICAL  87 

Abraham  Miller,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  a  volunteer  in 
Company  G  of  tlie  Twenty-second  Iowa  during  the  Civil  War. 
Miss  Miller's  mother  was  a  native  of  Ohio.  Two  girls  and 
one  boy  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Foster :  Maybelle  Marcelli ; 
Charles  Clarence,  married  and  living  at  St.  Paul;  Florence 
Irene. 

Mr.  Foster  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  and  Odd  Fellows 
fraternities,  a  republican  in  politics,  and  an  attendant  at  the 
Presbyterian  church. 


JACOB  J.  HOTZ 


The  national  fabric  of  America  is  made  strong  and  glori- 
ous by  the  warp  and  woof  of  the  international  threads  that 
enter  into  its  weaving.  Its  textile  components  have  been 
drawn  from  every  country  and  every  clime,  and  into  its  mar- 
velous hues  are  limned  the  sunshine  and  the  shadows  of  the 
continents  of  earth.  The  master  design  of  the  American  gar- 
ment, to  the  specifications  of  which  every  thread  and  chain, 
every  battledore  and  shuttlecock  conforms,  is  Liberty  —  polit- 
ical, religious,  industrial.  Under  the  skies  of  Freedom  the 
earth's  toiling  millions  have  found  their  industrial  aegis,  and 
the  inexhaustible  fields  have  beckoned  them  to  action.  No  stu- 
dent of  history  will  fail  to  note  the  part  taken  by  the  children 
of  the  nations  in  the  making  of  America's  royal  robes  of 
power,  peace,  progress,  and  prosperity.  In  this  correlation 
the  sons  and  daughters  of  Germany  are  distinctly  prominent ; 
their  native  worth,  virility,  and  integrity  have  made  them  in- 
valuable material  for  the  loom  of  democracy.  In  every  fold 
of  the  American  raiment  the  enduring  strands  of  Teutonic 
character  are  interwoven,  giving  textual  strength  and  firmness 
to  the  whole. 

The  state  of  low^a  has  afforded  an  imdting  field  for  German 
thrift  and  energy,  and  here  the  children  of  the  Fatherland 
have  prospered  beyond  measure.  Under  the  very  eyes  of 
those  who  could  not  or  would  not  see  the  opportunities  for 
progress,  the  provident,  plodding  Teuton  has  risen  from  pov- 
erty to  wealth.  Broad  acres  and  humming  industries  are  his, 
and  the  marts  of  trade  are  full  of  his  footprints.     But  better 


88 


HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 


than  his  material  successes  are  the  elements  of  essential  good 
citizenship  which  dominate  his  character.  He  is  a  depend- 
able integer  in  the  settlement  of  delicate  questions  in  states- 
manship and  commerce,  and  Iowa  is  today  politically  and  in- 
dustrially comme  il  faut  because  of  his  leavening  presence. 
Johnson  county  contains  many  representatives  of  this  sterling- 
race,  as  the  pages  of  this  history  will  bear  witness.  The  re- 
cital of  their  deeds  is  so  uniformly  creditable  that  it  is  ap- 
parently an  honor  to  any  citizen  to  be  able  to  ' '  claim  relation- 
ship" with  them. 

Jacob  J.  Hotz,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  got  a  good  start 
for  success  by  being  born  of  German  parents  under  the  skies 


RESmENCE  OF  JACOB  J.  HOTZ 


of  America,  thus  combining  the  advantages  of  ancestry  \\Ai\\ 
the  opportunities  of  freedom.  His  father,  Jacob  Hotz,  and 
his  mother,  Agnes  Rosenstein,  were  born  in  Germany,  the 
former  in  February,  1826,  and  the  latter  August  4,  1825. 
They  were  married  in  their  native  country  in  the  spring  of 
1851,  and  thereafter  emigrated  to  the  new  world,  living  for 
a  time  in  New  York  city,  where  Jacob  H.  was  born  July  3, 
1853.  Two  years  later,  in  1855,  they  removed  to  Johnson 
county,  Iowa,  where  the  remainder  of  their  lives  was  spent. 
Father  Hotz  died  April  1,  1870,  and  his  wife  November  26, 
1908.  Seven  children  were  born  to  them,  of  whom  four  grew 
to  maturity.     Our  subject  and  ISfrs.  Herman,  a  widow,  both 


BIOGRAPHICAI.  89 

residents  of  Iowa  City,  and  Frank,  living  in  Portland,  Oregon, 
survive.  Another  son  lived  to  manhood  and  was  an  honored 
citizen  of  Iowa  City,  where  he  died,  having  held  various  posi- 
tions of  trust  in  Johnson  county. 

Jacob  J.  Hotz  was  seventeen  years  of  age  when  his  father 
died.  Having  secured  a  fundamental  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  Iowa  City,  and  feeling  a  desire  to  add  to  his  book 
knowledge  the  valuable  education  of  travel  and  experience 
he  devoted  seven  years  to  an  itinerary  including  Chicago,  St. 
Louis,  Memphis,  Cincinnati,  Pittsburgh,  Baltimore,  Boston, 
and  New  York  city..  Four  years  of  the  seven  were  devoted 
to  carpentering  and  contracting  in  the  seven  cities  last  men- 
tioned, and  the  concluding  three  years  to  newspaper  work  in 
Chicago.  Mr.  Hotz  places  great  value  upon  the  training  and 
knowledge  of  men  and  affairs  which  he  obtained  during  these 
years  spent  in  the  great  commercial  cities  of  the  nation ;  they 
gave  him  the  enlarged  vision  and  the  broad  understanding  of 
affairs  which  w^ere  a  distinct  advantage  in  after  years. 

On  his  return  to  Iowa  City,  in  1878,  he  took  up  the  busi- 
ness of  contracting,  but  in  1882  was  persuaded  to  relinquish 
his  avocation  temporarily  in  order  to  fill  the  position  of  re- 
corder of  Johnson  county,  to  which  he  had  been  elected.  This 
office  he  held  four  years.  At  the  expiration  of  his  term  he 
again  took  up  the  business  of  contracting,  in  which  he  has 
continued  to  the  present,  and  which  he  regards  as  his  life's 
work.  He,  however,  intermingles  in  profitable  side  lines 
when  advisable ;  for  example,  the  Coralville  ice  fields,  of  which 
he  is  the  owner  and  active  director  —  a  business  which  reaches 
an  exceedingly  strenuous  stage  in  midwinter,  at  which  time 
extensive  storage  of  ice  is  made  and  large  shipments  are  sent 
to  various  points. 

While  a  resident  of  Chicago,  in  1875,  Mr.  Hotz  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Dehlia  Crawford,  who  only  survived  her  mar- 
riage nine  years,  dying  in  November,  1884.  Four  sons  were 
born  of  this  marriage,  Charles  C,  Frank  W.,  Guy  J.,  and  J. 
Walter,  all  living  except  the  first  named.  Mr.  Hotz  married 
again  in  November,  1886,  his  bride  being  Miss  Frances  A. 
Englert,  daughter  of  Louis  Englert,  of  Iowa  City.  Of  this 
union  there  were  bom  five  sons  and  one  daughter,  as  follows : 


90  HISTOEY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

Louis  Lee,  born  September  12,  1887;  Jolin  Jacob,  born  July 
3,  1889;  Arthur  Melville,  born  May  26,  1893;  Henry  Joseph, 
born  June  7,  1896;  Margaret,  born  February  18,  1899;  and 
Ralph,  born  December  23,  1902. 

Mr.  Hotz  is  the  owner  of  considerable  business  property  in 
Iowa  City,  as  well  as  of  ''Idlewild  Park,"  a  beautiful  tract 
of  ten  acres  near  the  city.  His  home  at  630  North  Dubuque 
street  is  one  of  the  finest  in  the  city.  Catholics  in  faith,  his 
family  and  himself  are  faithful  adherents  of  St.  Mary's 
church.  In  politics  he  is  a  democrat,  and  has  represented 
the  Second  ward  in  the  city  council  since  1892.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  B.  P.  0.  E.,  and  the  German  Aid  Society,  F.  0.  E., 
and  Fraternal  Bankers.  He  is  at  present  chairman  of  the 
park  commissioners  of  Iowa  City. 

Mr.  Hotz's  strenuous  character  and  grit  seem  to  have  de- 
scended upon  his  eldest  son,  Frank,  who  holds  the  distin- 
guished honor  of  being  the  only  boy  from  the  schools  of  Iowa 
City  to  enlist  in  the  Spanish- American  war.  At  the  age  of 
eighteen  he  was  enrolled  in  Company  I,  Fifty-first  Regnilars. 
The  young  man  endured  the  dangers,  privations,  and  hard- 
ships of  the  soldier's  life,  emphasizing  the  courage  and  stay- 
ing powers  of  young  America.  A  noteworthy  circumstance 
connected  with  his  military  service  was  the  fact  that  his  class- 
mates kept  his  seat  in  the  school  room  decorated  with  choice 
flowers  throughout  the  campaign,  and  until  his  return  at  the 
conclusion  of  the  war.  This  was  a  touching  tribute 
both  of  respect  and  admiration,  and  is  an  index  of  the  patri- 
otic ardor  of  his  schoolmates  as  well  as  of  his  place  in  their 
affections. 


MAHLON  K.  WOLFE 

It  was  Solomon  who  said  that  ''A  good  name  is  more  to 
be  desired  than  riches."  By  this  measurement  the  descend- 
ants of  Louis  R.  Wolfe  and  Elizabeth  Lindsley  may  be  ac- 
counted wealthy,  and  these  ''true  riches,"  added  to  their  pos- 
sessions of  lands  and  houses  and  moneys,  entitled  them  to 
rank  among  the  leading  families  of  Iowa  and  Johnson  county. 
At  four  0  'clock  on  Wednesday  afternoon,  September  16,  1903, 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


91 


at  Selden,  Kansas,  Captain  Louis  R.  Wolfe,  while  driving  a 
team  with  a  load  of  grain  from  his  farm  to  the  elevator,  was 
seen  to  suddenly  throw  up  his  arms  and  then  slowly  sink  to 
the  ground  at  the  side  of  his  wagon.  When  friends  reached 
his  side  he  was  dead.  Thus,  tragically,  passed  out  a  pioneer 
of  Johnson  county,  Iowa,  an  honored  man,  of  whom  Judge 
M.  J.  Wade,  in  a  eulogy  on  his  life  and  usefulness,  said :  "He 
never  performed  a  deed  that  could  bring  the  blush  of  shame 
to  any  citizen  of  the  state."  Thursday,  May  17,  1906,  Eliza- 
beth Lindsley,  the  widow  of  Captain  Wolfe,  at  her  home  in 
Oxford,  Iowa,  died  peacefully  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty- 
five.  The  Rev.  R.  D.  Poole,  in  a  tender  address  at  her  funeral, 
said  of  her:     ''Her  life  has  been  a  kind  one,  more  than  is 


RESIDEJSrCE  OF  MAHLOIST  K.  WOLFE 


common,  as  her  many  friends  can  testify.  .  .  She  has  put  in 
practice  those  christian  virtues  we  can  all  well  imita'te."  And 
the  remains  of  this  beloved  woman  and  her  honored  husband 
lie  side  by  side  in  the  old  Babcock  cemetery,  Madison  town- 
ship, nigh  unto  the  old  farm  where  in  their  younger  days  they 
began  their  career  as  pioneers  of  Iowa. 

These  are  the  parents  of  Mahlon  K.  Wolfe,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  who,  with  his  brother  C.  D.  and  his  sister,  Mrs. 
William  Hardy,  survive  to  perpetuate  the  name  and  lineage 
of  an  honorable  family. 

Captain  Louis  R.  Wolfe  was  the  son  of  honored  pioneers 
of  Ohio,  and  was  born  in  Knox  county  in  that  state  April  22, 


92  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

1825.  Early  practicing  the  principle  of  honoring  father  and 
mother,  young  Wolfe  remained  at  home,  where  he  was  a  faith- 
ful worker,  until  his  25th  year.  Meantime,  April  29,  1846, 
he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Lindsley,  a  wo- 
man of  superior  culture  and  refinement,  who  was  also  a  native 
of  Ohio.  In  1854  the  young  couple  made  the  overland  trip  to 
Johnson  county,  Iowa,  where  they  settled  in  Madison  town- 
ship on  a  farm,  twelve  miles  northwest  of  Iowa  City.  They 
continued  on  this  farm  until  1862,  when  young  Wolfe  enlisted 
in  Company  E,  Twenty-eighth  Iowa  Infantry,  expecting  to 
take  part  in  the  Civil  War.  Instead,  however,  he  was  re- 
quested to  raise  a  company  of  the  Sixth  Iowa  Cavalry  for 
service  in  the  Indian  wars  in  the  west.  This  he  did,  and  was 
elected  captain.  He  participated  in  many  hard-fought  battles 
with  the  Indians,  and  became  renowned  throughout  the  west 
as  one  of  the  best  shots  of  his  day.  It  was  said  of  him  that 
he  never  missed  bringing  down  every  buffalo  that  he  "sight- 
ed." At  the  close  of  the  war,  after  having  seen  three  years 
of  service,  he  returned  to  his  family  and  resumed  the  occupa- 
tion of  fanning.  In  1887  Captain  Wolfe  sold  the  old  home- 
stead to  his  son  Malilon  and  moved  into  Oxford  township, 
where  he  continued  to  farm  actively  for  a  number  of  years. 
Deciding  to  retire  from  farm  life,  he  moved  into  the  village 
of  Oxford,  where  he  dealt  in  stock  and  real  estate.  Some  of 
his  extensive  land  operations  were  in  Kansas,  and  it  was 
while  on  a  business  trip  to  Selden,  Kansas,  looking  after  his 
agricultural  interests,  that  his  sudden  death  occurred.  Polit- 
ically, Captain  Wolfe  was  a  pronounced  democrat  of  the  best 
type.  He  was  elected  to  the  eighteenth  and  nineteenth  general 
assemblies  of  Iowa,  1880-82.  For  three  terms  he  filled  the 
office  of  township  supervisor,  and  for  two  years  was  a  member 
of  the  county  board  of  supervisors.  He  was  also  a  trustee 
of  the  precinct.  He  assisted  in  the  promotion  and  establish- 
ment of  the  Oxford  State  bank,  of  which  he  was  a  director  and 
a  member  of  the  executive  committee. 

The  house  of  representatives  of  the  state  of  Iowa,  on  Feb- 
ruary 9, 1904,  adopted  the  following  resolutions  in  his  memory : 

"Whereas,  The  Honorable  Louis  R.  Wolfe,  an  honorable 
member  of  this  house  in  the  eighteenth  and  nineteenth  gen- 
eral assemblies,  a  gallant  soldier  of  the  Civil  War,  and  a 


L.  R.  WOLFE 
(FATHER  OF  M.  K.  WOLFE) 


BIOGKAPHICAL  93 

most  highly  respected  citizen  in  the  county  in  which  he  re- 
sided, passed  from  his  earthly  labors  on  the  16th  day  of  Sep- 
tember, 1903; 

"Whereas,  The  life  and  character  of  the  deceased  were 
such  as  to  entitle  him  to  the  respect  and  esteem  of  all  who 
knew  him,  and  his  services  to  the  state  and  nation  were  of 
such  a  character  as  to  command  the  confidence  and  gratitude 
of  his  fellow  citizens  ; 

"Resolved,  That  in  the  death  of  this  patriotic  citizen,  sol- 
dier and  legislator,  this  state  has  lost  an  influential  and  up- 
right citizen,  his  family  is  bereft  of  a  kind  and  loving  father, 
his  friends  of  an  honored  and  esteemed  man ; 

"Resolved,  That  we  extend  to  his  children  and  to  those 
nearest  to  him,  whose  sorrow  is  so  much  greater,  our  sincere 
sympathy  in  their  sorrow  and  affliction ;  and  the  clerk  of  this 
house  is  hereby  instructed  tO'  transmit  an  engrossed  copy  of 
these  resolutions  to  the  bereaved  family  and  to  enter  the  same 
upon  the  Journal  of  the  house. 

(Signed)    "G.  W.  Koontz, 
"C.A.Wise, 
"E.  J.  C.  Bealer, 

"Committee. 
"Adopted  by  the  House  February  9th,  1904. 

"C.  R.  Benedict, 
"Chief  Clerk  of  House. 
"Geo.  W.Clarke, 
"Speaker  of  the  House." 
The  Johnson  county  democratic  convention  of  1903,  held  at 
Iowa  City,  also  adopted  resolutions  setting  forth  their  esti- 
mate of  Captain  Wolfe's  character  as  a  citizen,  a  partisan, 
and  a  public  man. 

Mahlon  K.  Wolfe,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  in 
Ohio  January  29,  1848,  and  removed  with  the  family  to  John- 
son county  in  1854.  He  attended  the  public  schools  of  the 
county,  and  on  the  completion  of  his  school  work  began  work 
on  his  father's  farm.  In  1887  he  bought  the  old  homestead 
from  his  father  and  continued  to  live  on  and  operate  the  same 
until  1902,  when  he  retired  from  active  farm  work  and  re- 
moved to  Iowa  City,  where  he  now  resides  (1911). 

Mr.  Wolfe  was  married  in  1872  to  Miss  Marv  E.  Babcock, 


94  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

born  and  raised  in  Johnson  county.  Her  father  was  a  native 
of  Erie  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  came  to  Johnson  county 
among  its  very  first  settlers.  Her  mother  was  a  native  of 
Indiana,  and  also  came  to  Johnson  county  with  her  parents  at 
an  early  day.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Babcock  were  married  in  John- 
son county,  and  lived  near  Greencastle,  in  Madison  township. 
They  were  the  parents  of  twelve  children,  of  whom  ten  are 
living  at  this  writing :  John,  married,  engaged  in  real  estate 
business  at  Denver,  Colorado;  Mrs.  Mahlon  K.  Wolfe; 
Amanda,  now  Mrs.  C.  F.  Doty,  of  Oxford,  Iowa;  Alice,  now 
Mrs.  Albert  Drake,  living  in  Iowa  City ;  William,  farmer,  liv- 
ing in  Kansas;  Charles  W.,  farmer,  living  near  Walford, 
Iowa;  James,  living  near  Lisbon,  Iowa;  Daniel,  living  near 
Fairfax,  Iowa;  Ella,  now  Mrs.  Arthur  Colony,  living  near 
Tiffin,  Iowa;  Hattie,  now  Mrs.  Charles  Falker. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wolfe  have  seven  children,  as  follows:  Or- 
ville  L.,  farmer,  married,  and  living  west  of  North  Liberty, 
Iowa;  Christopher  B.,  farmer,  married,  and  living  in  Oakland, 
Iowa;  Melvine,  married,  and  living  on  a  farm  adjoining  North 
Liberty,  Iowa;  R.  A.  M.,  living  on  a  big  ranch  in  Simeon  coun- 
ty, Oklahoma,  was  at  one  time  connected  with  his  grandfather 
in  the  banking  business  at  Selden  and  Goodin,  Kansas ;  Clar- 
ence, married,  and  living  on  the  old  farm;  Edith  Pearl,  now 
Mrs.  Dr.  Albert  Brock,  living  at  Grinnell,  Iowa;  Glea  lona, 
now  Mrs.  Dr.  E.  J.  Schultz,  residing  at  Stonn  Lake. 

Mr.  Wolfe  is  the  owner  of  595  acres  of  rich  land  all  in  one 
body  in  Johnson  county,  800  acres  at  Selden,  Kansas,  and  a 
beautiful  residence  in  Iowa  City  at  1011  Sheridan  avenue.  He 
is  a  democrat  politically,  adhering  to  the  faith  of  his  father. 
The  family  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church 
at  Iowa  City. 


BERNARD  A.  WICKHAM 

The  attractive  architecture  of  Iowa  City,  residential  and 
business,  as  well  as  the  general  architecture  of  the  state,  is 
greatly  indebted  to  the  genius  for  design  and  construction  of 
Bernard  A.  Wickham,  of  Iowa  City,  a  designing  and  super- 
vising architect  and  builder  whose  entire  life  from  the  age 


B.   A.   WICKHAM 


BIOGEAPHICAL 


95 


of  ten  years  lias  been  spent  in  the  University  city.  Some  of 
the  striking  residences  of  the  city  are  the  handiwork  of  Mr. 
Wickham.  Among  these  we  may  mention  the  University  pres- 
ident's house,  the  finest  in  the  city,  F.  E.  Ayer's  residence, 
F.  L.  Stevens's  residence.  Prof.  Ford^s  residence,  and  the 
Delta  Delta  Delta  sorority  house,  besides  numerous  fine  build- 
ings throughout  the  county  and  state.  Mr.  Wickham 's  widely 
known  ability  has  brought  him  many  calls  for  articles,  and  as 
a  result  he  has  contributed  to  several  of  the  leading  archi- 
tectural magazines.     He  has  also,  in  response  to  direct  de- 


EESIDENCE   OF  BERNARD  A.    WICKHAM 


mands,  furnished  plans  for  buildings  in  many  parts  of  the 
United  States. 

Mr.  Wickham  was  born  November  26,  1868,  at  Southamp- 
ton, England,  and  came  with  his  parents,  George  and  Sarah 
(Light)  Wickham,  to  America  when  two  years  of  age.  The 
family  settled  at  Iowa  City  in  1870.  Besides  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  there  are  four  sons,  namely:  Charles  E.,  civil  en- 
gineer with  the  Lackawanna  railroad ;  William  G.,  contractor 
at  Albuquerque,  New  Mexico ;  H,  F.,  professor  of  zoology  in 


96  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

the  State  University  of  Iowa;  and  E.  F.,  member  of  the  Iowa 
Glove  Company,  of  Iowa  City. 

George  Wickham  was  a  carpenter,  cabinet  maker,  and  stair 
builder  by  trade,  and  worked  in  his  shop  practically  until  the 
day  of  his  death,  five  years  ago.  He  was  the  only  stair  build- 
er in  Iowa  City  during  the  greater  part  of  his  residence. 
Mother  Wickham  is  still  living. 

Bernard  A.  attended  the  public  schools  of  Iowa  City  and 
then  learned  the  carjDenter  trade  of  his  father,  working  with 
his  tutor  for  some  years.  In  1897  he  formed  a  partnership 
with  his  brother  E.  F.  and  commenced  a  general  contracting 
business.  Two  years  later  he  bought  the  interest  of  his 
brother  and  since  then  has  conducted  the  business  alone.  An 
idea  of  the  growth  of  the  enterprise  may  be  formed  from  the 
fact  that  thirteen  years  ago  Mr.  Wickham  had  three  men  in 
his  employ;  now,  during  the  busy  season,  he  employs  about 
100  men.  From  very  humble  quarters  he  has  come  to  occupy 
modern  offices  in  an  up-to-date  firej^roof  office  building,  with 
all  the  latest  equipment  for  facilitating  work  in  his  line. 

On  July  13, 1893,  Mr.  Wickham  was  married  to  Miss  Emma 
Weber,  a  native  of  Iowa  City,  whose  parents  (natives  of  Ger- 
many, and  now  both  deceased)  came  to  the  city  in  the  early 
sixties.  Three  children,  Florence,  Edna,  and  Euth,  are  the 
jewels  of  the  home. 

Mr.  Wickham  is  a  member  of  the  Iowa  City  Commercial 
club.  Modern  Woodmen  of  America,  Camp  189,  an  enthusiastic 
member  of  the  Iowa  City  Automobile  club,  and  an  enter]Dris- 
ing,  hustling  business  man  —  a  striking  type  of  the  progres- 
sive citizenship  which  has  put  Iowa  City  on  the  map  of  pros- 
perity and  proposes  to  keep  her  there 


MR.  AND  MRS.  JAMES  McKRAY 

The  people  in  Johnson  county  of  the  present  day  and  their 
posterity  owe  many  debts  of  gratitude  to  the  early  settlers. 
Few  of  us  at  the  present  time  realize  the  dangers,  hardships, 
and  privations  incident  to  a  new  country,  nor  do  we  fully  ap- 
preciate the  courage  and  the  self-denial  practised  by  the  pio- 
neer.    And  in  showing  our  appreciation  the  least  that  we,  the 


JAMES  MCKEAY 


MRS.   LVDIA    MC  KRAY 


IMOGIiAPHICAL  97 

])eo])le  of  Johnson  connty,  maj'  do  is  to  arrange  some  authentic 
record  of  the  lives  of  the  ])ioneers  tliat  it  may  he  handed  down 
to  posterity,  in  memory  of  which  "all  hail  and  farewell  to  the 
old  times."  AVe  will  cherish  the  years  that  remain  as  each 
antmnn  returns  in  its  l)eanty.  Please  heaven,  we  will  all  meet 
again.  Let  us  rememher  that  printer's  ink  outlasts  the  granite 
shafts  and  tells  more  than  name,  date  of  hirth,  and  date  of 
death. 

The  men  and  women  who  made  Johnson  county,  who  shaped 
events,  formulated  its  government,  and  forecast  its  prosperity, 
deserve  a  larger  rememhrance  than  an  unmeaning  line  cut 
into  the  face  of  a  monument.  For  men's  lives,  and  the  deeds 
they  have  done,  are  worthy  of  comprehensive  record.  And  in 
writing  the  history  of  Johnson  county  it  is  a  pleasure  to  the 
l)iographer  to  record  the  history  of  those  who  were  factors  in 
the  growth  and  develo^jment  of  this  part  of  the  great  com- 
monwealth of  Iowa.  And  in  such  a  record,  no  residents  of 
the  county  are  more  worthy  of  appropriate  mention  than  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  James  McKray,  who  settled  on  a  farm  in  this  county 
when  it  was  a  vast  wilderness  of  forest  and  prairie.  They 
lived  on  this  same  farm  for  half  a  century,  devoting  their 
lives  to  the  improvement  and  u])l)uilding  of  the  community, 
where,  trusting  in  each  other's  love  and  confidence,  they 
reared  a  respectable  and  respected  family.  And  in  looking 
into  each  other's  countenance  on  their  golden  wedding  day, 
we  seem  to  hear  them  l)espeak :  "Thy  will  be  done  on  earth 
as  it  is  in  heaven."  ^ 

James  McKray  was  born  in  Meacleville,  Crawford  county, 
Pennsylvania,  November  9,  1817.  He  was  a  son  of  James  and 
Esther  (Moore)  ]\[cKray.  His  father  was  a  native  of  Dela- 
ware, and  his  mother  of  Connecticut.  His  parents  came  to 
Iowa  in  1838,  and  spent  some  little  time  in  Burlington.  Later 
they  settled  in  Iowa  county,  where  they  died,  —  the  father  in 
1S49,  and  the  mother  in  1846,  James  McKray 's  parents  had 
a  family  of  10  children,  —  Wesley,  Thomas,  Jane,  James, 
Festus,  Henry,  Elizabeth,  Lester,  John,  and  Mary.  Of  these 
Lester  and  Mary  are  living. 

Mr.  McKray  was  married  in  1844  to  Miss  Christina  Roup, 
born  in  Alleghany  county,  New  York,  July  31,  182L  Her 
l)arents    were    (Miristian    and    Ruth    (Mitchell)    Rou]).     Her 


98  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

father  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  born  in  Northampton 
county.  Her  mother  was  born  in  New  Jersey.  Her  parents 
were  married  in  New  York,  and  lived  in  Alleg-liany  county 
until  Mrs.  McKray  was  seven  years  old.  They  then  moved  to 
Pennsylvania,  where  the  family  lived  until  she  was  20  years 
of  age.  In  1841  the  family  emigrated  to  Iowa.  This  was 
in  the  month  of  December,  and  the  family  spent  the  winter 
in  Burlington.  Then,  in  the  spring  of  1842,  the  family  came 
to  Johnson  county,  and  settled  in  what  is  now  called  Washing- 
ton township,  where  the  father  took  up  a  claim  from  the  gov- 
ernment. The  parents  spent  the  remainder  of  their  lives 
upon  this  homestead.  The  father  died  in  August,  1848,  at 
the  age  of  77  years,  and  the  mother  in  July,  1859,  at  the  age 
of  77  years.  Her  parents  had  four  children :  Samuel  C,  Ed- 
sell,  Christiana,  and  Robert.  Mrs.  McKray  is  the  only  mem- 
ber of  her  family  now  living. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  James  McKray,  after  their  marriage  on  Junr> 
23,  1844,  settled  on  a  farm  in  Washington  township,  and  lived 
on  this  same  farm  until  1886.  Then  they  retired  from  farm 
life,  and  moved  to  Iowa  City,  at  their  present  home.  Their 
children  were  all  born  on  the  old  homestead.  They  are : 
Lydia,  who  is  living  at  home  with  her  parents;  J.  W^.,  liv- 
ing in  Washington  township;  Meh^u,  living  in  Pottawatamie 
county;  James,  living  in  Dallas  county;  Millard  Filmore,  liv- 
ing in  Madison  county;  Frank,  who  died  at  the  age  of  three 
years. 

Mr.  McKray  was  an  important  factor  in  the  early  growth 
of  his  part  of  our  coimty,  assisting  materially  in  the  building 
of  roads,  school-houses,  etc.  He  held  many  local  offices  in 
his  time,  fulfilling  the  duties  of  each  to  the  full  satisfaction 
of  all.  His  family  attend  the  Christian  church.  Mr.  McKray 
died  in  May,  1907 ;  and,  as  the  lamp  of  life  went  out,  a  divine 
light  spread  o'er  his  countenance  —  evidence  of  the  life  to 
come,  and  reward  for  a  life  so  lived,  that  we  may  say:  ''0 
Death,  where  is  thy  sting?" 


AUGUST   HAZELHORST 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


99 


AUGUST  HAZELHORST 

Among  the  numerous  sons  of  the  Fatherland  who  have 
adopted  Iowa  as  their  home  none  has  made  a  more  clear-cut 
success,  from  the  standpoint  of  business  and  citizenship,  than 
August  Hazelhorst,  of  Iowa  City.  His  parents  were  Freder- 
ick Hazelhorst  and  Mary  Yager,  of  Gottenstadt,  in  the  prov- 
ince of  Hanover,  Germany,  in  which  place  our  subject  was 
born  Marcli  28,  1828.  His  father  was  a  miller  by  trade,  and 
engaged  extensively  in  the  manufacture  of  flour  and  cereals. 

Leaving  his  native  country  in  1854,  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
six,  our  subject  came  to  America  and  first  settled  in  Rock 
Island,  Illinois,  where  for  about  a  year  he  engaged  in  carpen- 


RESIDENCE  OF  AUGUST  HAZELHORST 

tering,  his  trade  combining  also  the  work  of  bridge  building. 
In  1855  he  removed  to  Iowa  City,  in  which  place  he  has  lived 
ever  since.  He  continued  working  at  his  trade  until  1867, 
when  he  began  the  contracting  business  for  himself.  In  this 
he  was  remarkably  successful,  so  much  so  that,  in  1900,  he  was 
able  to  retire  from  active  business  to  enjoy  the  fruits  of  his 
toil. 

In  1859  Mr.  Hazelhorst  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Theresa  Sliump,  a  native  of  Baden,  Germany,  who  came  to 
America  when  a  3"oung  woman.  The  wedding  took  place  at 
Iowa  City.     One  daughter  has  been  born  to  ^Ir.  and  Mrs. 


4 


•?> 


iy^ 


100         HISTOEY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

Hazelhorst,  Emma,  married  to  Frank  Kane,  a  l)iisiness  man 
of  Iowa  City. 

Mr.  Hazelhorst  is  an  extensive  property  owner  in  Iowa 
City  and  Johnson  connty,  and  is  rated  as  one  of  the  well-to-do 
men  of  the  connty.  Thongh  advanced  in  years,  being  at  this 
writing  in  his  eighty-fonrth  year,  Mr.  Hazelhorst  is  still  vigor- 
ous and  looks  forward  to  a  considerable  lease  of  life,  a  boon 
which  his  numerous  friends  will  rejoice  to  see  granted. 

Mr.  Hazelhorst  was  in  company  with  Mr.  Scliets  for  twenty- 
five  years  or  more.  He  built  all  the  churches  in  Iowa  City, 
except  the  English  Lutheran,  the  Clark  residence,  the  Close 
residence,  the  opera  house,  and  a  great  many  other  buildings. 


DAVIT)  BORTS 


In  writing  the  history  of  Johnson  comity  the  biographer's 
mind  goes  back  to  the  conditions  existing  upon  the  arrival 
of  the  first  white  settlers.  Then  Iowa  City  was  not  mentioned 
upon  the  map,  and  the  county  was  a  broad  ex])anse  of  dense 
timber  and  unsettled,  uncultivated  prairie.  What  a  compar- 
ison to  the  present  day!  Iowa  City  is  now  one  of  the  beauti- 
ful university  centers  of  the  west,  surrounded  I)y  fertile,  well- 
tilled  acres,  dotted  o'er  with  comfortable  and  connnodious 
farm  dwellings.  What  wrought  these  changes  of  time  I  Many 
agencies  took  i)art  in  all  this  im^n^ovement,  but  none  more  im- 
portant than  the  influence  of  the  builders;  and  in  this  case 
none  ranks  higher  than  ])avid  Borts,  who  has  devoted  more 
than  half  a  century  to  the  building,  improving,  and  beautify- 
ing of  Iowa  City  and  the  surrounding  country.  He  has  erect- 
ed more  buildings  in  Iowa  City  than  any  other  man ;  and  it 
is  with  pride  that  her  people  i)oint  to  the  achievement,  and 
cherish  the  memory  of  the  veteran  mason  of  Johnson  county. 

David  Borts  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  Westmoreland  coun- 
ty, August  15,  1833.  He  was  the  son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Michael 
Borts.  His  parents  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  where  the 
father  engaged  in  farming  and  weaving.  His  i)arents  never 
left  their  native  state,  but  alwavs  lived  in  Pennsvlvania,  whei'e 
they  reared  a  family  of  twelve  children :  Betsy,  George,  ]\Ii('h- 
ael,  Lydia,  Solomon,  William,  John,  Barbara  Ann,  David, 
Jacob,  Simon,  and  Isaiah.     The  last  two  died  in  infancy. 


^a^(o(  )di^ 


BIOGEAPIIICAL 


101 


Mr.  Borts  came  to  Iowa  City  from  his  native  state  in  the 
spring  of  1855,  He  had  previously  served  an  apprenticeship 
at  blacksmitliing,  and  had  also  learned,  while  living  in  Penn- 
i^ylvania,  the  art  of  bricklaying  and  masonry.  After  his  ar- 
rival in  Iowa  City  he  worked  at  the  mason's  trade  summers 
and  at  blacksmitliing  winters.  He  continued  working  in  this 
way  for  a  number  of  years,  but  later  engaged  in  the  con- 
tracting business. 

He  has  built  more  buildings  in  Iowa  City  than  any  other 
man.  Among  the  most  important  ones  are  the  Old  Science 
building,  formerly  located  on  the  Old  Campus,  and  later  moved 
across  the  street;  the  Chemical  building;  the  Furbish  block, 


RESIDENCE  OF  DAVID  DOKTS 


where  the  Johnson  C'ounty  Bank  is  now;  the  English  Lutheran 
church;  and  a  great  many  others.  Over  fifty  yea'rs  of  his 
life  have  been  given  to  the  service  of  the  public  as  a  builder. 
He  retired  from  activity  in  business  during  the  year  1906. 

In  A]iril,  1S57,  he  was  married  to  ]\[iss  Maiy  Kimball.  She 
was  born  in  Pennsylvania  also,  and  came  to  this  county  with 
her  parents  in  an  eaily  day.  Mi-,  and  Mrs.  Borts  have  had 
seven  children,  five  of  whom  are  now  living.  Ella  ^Vlay,  now 
Mrs.  J.  (\  Stoufter,  living  in  Iowa  City;  Albert  .1.,  living  in 
Iowa  City  (see  his  sketch);  Xettie,  living  at  A\'est  Liberty; 
Emma  Lea,  who  died  about  twenty-one  years  ago;   Charles 


102         HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

W.,  living  at  Iowa  City;  Lilliau,  now  Mrs.  Harmel,  living  at 
West  Liberty. 

Mrs.  Borts  died  in  1899. 

Mr.  Borts  is  a  member  of  the  English  Lutheran  church, 
and  has  been  an  active  worker  for  over  fifty  j^ears.  In  trac- 
ing the  life  stoiy  of  Mr.  Borts  we  find  an  example  of  what 
may  be  accomplished  by  integrity  of  puri)Ose,  industry,  tenac- 
ity of  will,  and  strict  honesty.  He  began  his  career  in  life 
with  only  a  pair  of  willing  hands  and  an  honest  determina- 
tion, and  has  steadily  progressed  until  he  has  secured  not 
only  a  competency,  but  an  unblemished  name  and  character,  a 
heritage  of  honor,  and  the  fragrance  of  a  life  well  lived  and 
days  well  spent. 


LUCY  ANNA  MARIA  HEMPSTEAD 

The  wives  and  daughters  of  the  jnoneers  of  any  region  play 
an  important  part  in  the  lives  of  the  men  who  bring  about 
early  improvement  and  development.  Among  the  women  of 
Johnson  county  who  have  borne  their  full  share  in  helping  for- 
ward various  movements  for  the  best  interests  of  the  com- 
munity where  they  lived  may  be  mentioned  Lucy  Anna  Maria 
Hempstead,  one  of  the  best  known  persons  in  the  county.  She 
has  spent  almost  her  entire  life  in  Graham  township,  which 
was  not  organized  at  the  time  the  family  located  there.  She 
was  born  in  Franklin,  Ohio,  in  18 — ,  daughter  of  Frederick 
William  and  Elizabeth  (Akers)  Hempstead,  the  father  a  na- 
tive of  York  count}",  Pennsylvania,  born  March  21-,  1814,  and 
her  mother  born  in  the  same  state  March  7,  181L  They  were 
married  October  7,  1833,  and  spent  the  first  few  j^ears  of  their 
married  life  in  the  state  of  Pennsylvania,  then  lived  six  years 
in  Ohio,  where  their  daughter  Lucy  A.  M.  was  born. 

Mr.  Hempstead  and  his  wife  brought  their  family  to  John- 
son county,  Iowa,  in  November,  1844,  and  spent  the  first  year 
in  Iowa  City.  The  father  had  begim  learning  the  blacksmith 
and  wagon-maker's  trade  at  the  age  of  fourteen  years,  and 
followed  the  same  when  he  first  came  to  Johnson  county.  At 
the  end  of  one  year  they  moved  to  a  farm  in  what  is  now  Gra- 
ham township,  remaining  there  until  1870,  when  thev  came  to 


F,  W.  HEMPSTEAD 


BIOGEAPHICAL  103 

the  farm  in  Newport  township,  which  is  now  occupied  by  the 
subject  of  this  sketch.  The  father  became  interested  in  various 
local  enterprises  and  was  well  known  in  business  circles.  He 
was  a  republican  in  politics  and  voted  that  ticket  from  the  thne 
of  the  inception  of  the  party,  and  was  prominent  in  its  coun- 
cils. He  held  several  offices,  was  a  member  of  the  first  board 
of  supervisors  in  the  county,  holding  this  office  many  years, 
and  fulfilled  his  public  duties  with  due  regard  to  the  interests 
of  all.  He  was  most  highly  respected  as  a  man  of  strict  honor 
and  integrity  in  all  the  relations  of  life,  and  was  sincerely 
mourned  by  the  entire  connnunity  at  his  demise,  which  oc- 
curred May  7,  1909.  His  wife  had  died  many  years  previous, 
Februarv  21,  1883. 


EESmENCE  OF  LUCY  ANNA  MAKIA  HEMPSTEAD 

Mr.  Hempstead  became  a  successful  farmer  and  in  his  later 
life  became  a  practical  fruit  raiser  and  gardener.  He  also 
kept  some  fine  stock  and  showed  good  judgment-  in  all  his 
operations  and  dealings.  His  first  farm  consisted  of  but  forty 
acres  of  land,  but  he  kept  adding  to  it  from  time  to  time  as  he 
was  able,  urtil  at  one  time  he  was  the  owner  of  over  700  acres. 
He  and  his  wife  had  thirteen  children,  of  whom  three  died  in 
infancy,  the  others  being:  Mary  Ann,  William  Franklin,  Sam- 
uel Harrison,  Cel ester  Emeline,  Caroline  Elizabeth,  Lucy  A. 
M.,  Adeline  Louisa,  John  C,  James  B.,  and  Dexter  T.  Miss 
Hempstead  has  continued  to  live  on  the  home  place  since  the 
death  of  her  father,  whose  last  days  were  made  happy  by  her 


104         HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

loving  care.  She  is  held  in  liigli  esteem  for  lier  many  fine 
qualities  of  mind  and  heart  and  is  a  worthy  representative  of 
her  family.  She  has  a  large  nmnl)er  of  friends  and  enjoys 
their  com])anionship. 


JAMES  B.  KASPEK 

James  B.  Kasper  is  a  well-known  and  substantial  citizen  of 
Newport  township  and  has  lived  in  Johnson  county  since  1865. 
He  is  a  native  of  Austria,  born  Se])tem])er  28,  1862,  son  of 
Frank  and  Helen  (Svatoes)  Kasi)er,  who  came  to  America 
when  he  was  three  years  of  age  and  at  once  located  in  Johnson 
county.  They  spent  a  short  time  in  Iowa  City,  then  located 
Ijennanently  on  a  farm  in  Newport  township,  where  they  spent 
their  entire  lives.  There  were  five  diildren  in  the  family: 
Helen,  Mrs.  Thomas  AVhitacre  of  Iowa  (Hty;  Katherine,  mar- 


EESmENCE    OF    JAMES    B.    KASPER 

ried  Michael  Dvorsky,  and  died  in  1883 ;  James  B. ;  John  F., ; 
and  J.  J.,  of  Newport  township.  The  father  died  about  1881 
and  the  mother  survived  until  1903. 

Since  early  boyhood  James  B.  Kasper  has  lieen  working  at 
farming,  for  his  assistance  was  needed  on  the  home  farm  at 
that  time.  He  received  his  education  in  the  schools  of  New- 
port townshi]^,  and  when  he  was  nineteen  years  old  began  work- 
ing on  his  own  account.    He  purchased  his  first  farm,  a  tract 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ]05 

of  eighty  acres,  in  188:2,  and  six  years  later  sold  it  and  bought 
the  220-aere  farm  which  is  still  his  home.  He  married  Annie 
Bnchmayer  in  1888,  and  they  have  had  four  children:  Beatrice 
died  in  infancy ;  J>lanch  is  teaching  her  fourth  year  in  the  home 
district;  Frank  J.  is  at  home,  and  John  Stanley  attends  school. 
^Irs.  Kasper  is  a  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Anna  Buchmayer, 
and  was  bo-rn  in  Austria,  and  came  to  America  in  1874. 

The  family  attend  the  Catholic  church,  being  members  of  St. 
Mary's  church  at  Newport.  Mr.  Kasper  is  a  democrat  in 
viiational  politics,  but  in  local  ai^'airs  votes  for  men  and  mea- 
sures rather  than  for  party.  He  has  served  seven  years  as 
township  trustee,  four  years  as  assessor,  and  is  now  treasurer 
of  the  school  board  of  Newport  township.  He  is  keenly  inter- 
ested in  everything  affecting  the  general  welfare  and  is  con- 
sidered a  useful,  ])ub]ic-spirited  citizen  and  an  upright,  honor- 
able man.  His  dealings  with  his  fellows  are  pleasant  and 
amicable,  and  he  has  many  friends. 


AVJLLIAM  J.  VOGT 

The  late  William  J.  A^ogt,  a  native  son  of  Johnson  county, 
was  a  representative  citizen  and  highly  esteemed  for  his  many 
good  points.  He  enjoyed  the  regard  of  a  large  circle  of 
friends,  being  wed  known  among  the  early  settlers,  and  his  loss 
was  deeply  deplored  by  the  whole  connuunity.  He  was  born 
in  Iowa  City,  February  17,  1858,  a  son  of  Charles  A.  and 
Bridget  (Mclnerny)  Yogi,  the  father  a  native  of  Germany  and 
the  mother  of  County  Kerry,  Ireland.  The  father  came  to 
America  in  1851  and  soon  thereafter  settled  in  Johnson  county. 
He  conducted  a  drug  store  in  Iowa  (Jity  for  many  years  and 
died  there  in  1890.  Mrs.  Vogt  came  to  America  in  the  forties, 
lived  in  ]\Iaine  many  years,  and  removed  to  Iowa  (Jity  in  1851. 
There  were  five  children  born  to  them:  William  J.,  Louise, 
Albert,  Charles,  and  Minnie.  The  mother  still  resides  in  Iowa 
City. 

Mr.  Vogt  has  been  engaged  in  farming  since  he  was  old 
enough  to  select  a  career,  and  when  about  twenty-six  years  of 
age  located  in  New]iort  township.  He  married  Josephine 
Aicher,  a  daughter  of  Cy])rian  and  Elizabeth  Aicher,  born 


106         HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

in  Iowa  City,  and  seven  children  were  born  of  their  union. 
The  eldest,  Helen,  graduated  from  the  high  school  at  Iowa 
Citv  in  1905  and  from  the  Iowa  State  University  in  1908; 
taught  in  the  Muscatine  high  school  two  years,  and  is  now  in  a 
convent  in  Dubuque,  Iowa.  The  eldest  son,  Albert,  graduated 
from  the  Irish  Business  College,  was  employed  two  years  by 
the  Iowa  City  Electric  Light  &  Power  Company,  and  is  now 
attending  St.  Ambrose  College  at  Davenport.  The  other  chil- 
dren are  as  follows :  Caroline  is  teaching  the  home  school ; 
Edward  is  attending  high  school  in  Iowa  City;  Harry  is  at- 
tending St.  Ambrose  (^ollege ;  Robert  is  at  home  with  his 
mother;  Leo  is  attending  the  district  school.    Mr.  Yogt  was  a 


KESmEXCE  OF  JOSEPHINE  VOGT 

devout  Catholic  and  all  the  members  of  the  family  are  mem- 
bers of  St.  Wenceslaus  church,  of  Iowa  City.  Mr.  Yogi 
was  a  democrat  in  politics  and  much  interested  in  the  welfare 
of  his  township  and  county.  He  was  clerk  of  the  township  as 
long  as  he  lived  in  Newport  township,  and  for  many  years 
served  as  president  of  the  school  board.  He  died  May  29, 
1906,  and  his  widow  still  lives  on  the  home  farm.  He  was 
prominent  in  many  circles,  where  he  was  sadly  missed.  Fra- 
ternally he  belonged  to  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America. 
Mrs.  Yogt  has  devoted  herself  to  the  rearing  and  education  of 
her  children  since  the  death  of  her  husband  and  has  managed 
her  financial  affairs  ablv  and  wisely. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  107 

SAMUEL  ELWOOD  YABBROUGH 

Mr.  Yarbroiigii  was  one  of  the  earliest  farmers  of  Newport 
township,  Johnson  connty,  where  he  is  the  owner  of  a  large 
tract  of  excellent  farming  land  and  has  been  very  successfnl. 
He  began  operations  in  a  modest  way,  and  by  indnstry  and 
thrift  was  able  to  add  to  his  possessions  a  little  at  a  time,  nntil 
he  is  one  of  the  largest  landowners  of  his  part  of  the  connty. 
He  was  born  in  North  Carolina,  July  29,  1842,  son  of  Zacha- 
riali  and  Hannah  (Stout)  Yarbrough,  also  natives  of  that  state. 
The  father  died  there  in  comparatively  early  manhood,  and 
the  mother  brought  her  children  to  Johnson  county,  arriving 
at  her  destination  November  19,  1846.  The  family  spent  sev- 
eral years  on  a  farm  in  Newport  township,  then  moved  to 
Pleasant  Valley  township,  but  at  the  end  of  two  years  there 
returned  to  Newport  township  and  located  permanently  there. 
The  mother  died  January  20,  1872.  She  and  her  husband  had 
eight  children:  William  T.,  Jemima  A.,  Rachel  Elizabeth, 
Jane,  who  died  at  the  age  of  six  years ;  Susanna  Abigail,  Sarah 
M.,  Barbara  A.,  and  Samuel  E. 

Mr.  Yarbrough  spent  all  his  active  years  in  Newport  town- 
ship, and  was  one  of  its  best-known  and  most  popular  citizens. 
He  is  considered  a  man  of  strict  integrity  and  honesty  and  can 
be  depended  upon  to  use  his  influence  on  the  right  side  of  any 
public  question.  His  first  farm,  which  he  purchased  in  1869, 
consisted  of  forty  acres  of  land,  but  he  now  owns  300  acres  in 
New]3ort  township,  which  he  brought  to  a  fine  state  of  pro- 
ductiveness. He  operated  this  ])lace  until  1902,  since  which 
time  he  has  been  retired  from  active  life  and  in  the  enjoyment 
of  the  ease  and  comfort  he  has  so  surely  earned.  He  has  a 
pleasant  home  in  East  liucas  township,  not  far  from  Iowa 
City,  where  he  is  able  to  enjoy  rest  and  quiet  and  is  yet  within 
reach  of  the  many  advantages  of  city  life. 

Mr.  Yarbrough  was  married  in  March,  1871,  to  Eliza  Tip- 
penhauer,  who  was  born  in  AVilkesbarre,  Pennsylvania,  June 
19,  1844,  daughter  of  Conrad  and  Sarah  (Greenwald)  Tippen- 
hauer.  Her  father  was  born  January  14,  1807,  in  Frankfort, 
Germany,  and  came  to  America  about  1839.  He  landed  in 
Philadelphia  and  six  months  later  moved  to  Wilkesbarre, 
where  he  was  married  and  resided  four  vears.     In  1844  he 


108         HISTORY  OF  JOHxXSOX  COUNTY,  IOWA 

came  to  Iowa,  spent  the  iirst  winter  in  Iowa  City,  tlien  located 
on  a  quarter-section  of  land  in  Graham  township,  Johnson 
coimty,  which  he  entered  from  tlie  government.  After  spend- 
ing ten  years  there  he  moved  to  Pennsylvania  and  spent  one 
3^ear  there,  after  which  he  returned  to  Johnson  county  and  lo- 
cated on  the  farm  now  owned  and  occu])ied  1)y  his  son-in-law, 
Mr,  I'arbrough.  Mv.  Tippenhauer  enlisted,  in  August,  1862, 
in  Company  D  of  the  ''Graybeard  liegiment,"  the  Tliirty- 
seventh  Iowa,  in  which  he  served  three  years. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Yarbrough  have  had  four  childi'en:  Minnie, 
Avho  died  at  the  age  of  six  years;  A  Ida,  Mrs.  AVilliam  Rarick, 
living  near  Plato,  Iowa,  has  three  children:  Lillian  E.,  Alda 
Louise,  and  Malvin  Elwood ;  Charles,  of  Solon,  had  three  chil- 
dren: Charles,  Elwood,  and  ]\[ildred,  of  whom  Elwood  is  de- 
ceased; Sadie,  married  John  F.  Allen,  of  Lebanon,  Indiana, 
and  they  have  three  children:  John  F.,  Thelmn,  and  Carl. 
The  family  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church.  Mr.  Yar- 
brough has  always  been  a  republican  and  is  a  member  of  Kirk- 
wood  lodge  Xo.  21:,  M.  B.  A.,  of  Iowa  City. 


HENRY  JOHN  AICIIER 

Henry  J.  Aicher  belongs  to  the  old  and  honored  family  of 
Newport  township,  Johnson  county,  where  his  entire  life  has 
been  spent.  He  was  born  on  a  farm  in  the  township  January 
14,  1871,  son  of  Cyprian  and  Elizabeth  (Englebert)  Aicher, 
natives  of  Germanv.  The  father  came  to  America  as  a  voung 
man  and  was  married  in  this  country,  settling  on  a  small  farm 
in  New^port  township,  to  which  he  was  able  to  add  from  time 
to  time,  until  he  became  one  of  the  successful  farmers  and 
large  landholders  of  the  region.  He  is  given  more  extensive 
mention  in  connection  with  the  sketch  of  Frank  Aicher,  his 
elder  son,  which  is  to  be  found  in  these  pages.  Of  the  six  chil- 
dren but  two  sons  and  a  daughter  now  survive.  The  family 
was  prominently  connected  with  the  early  history  of  Newport 
township  and  did  its  full  share  in  its  growth  and  development. 
The  parents  retired  from  active  life  in  their  later  years  and 
died  in  Iowa  City,  the  father  in  1900  and  the  mother  in  1901. 

As  a  bov  Henrv  John  Aicher  attended  the  schools  near  his 


HENRY  AICHER 


BIOCxRAPHICAL 


109 


birthi)la('e,  and  was  engaged  in  lielping  the  ])arenl,s  ni)on  {lie 
home  farm,  where  he  has  always  lived.  Tie  commenced  farm- 
ing on  his  own  account  in  March,  3  893,  on  the  place  wliere  his 
father  settled  about  1855,  and  has  since  continued  in  iliis  occu- 
pation. TTe  is  an  energetic  and  enterprising  farmer,  following 
modern  methods  and  ideas  in  his  operations,  and  has  added 
much  to  the  ap])earance  and  productiveness  of  the  farm  since 
taking  charge  of  it.  He,  like  other  members  of  the  family,  be- 
longs to  St.  WencesJaus  Catholic  church,  at  Iowa  City,  and  is 
active  in  its  various  movements.  lie  is  a  democrat  in  politics 
and  keenly  interested  in  local  events  and  affairs.  Tie  has  held 
various  townshi])  offices  with  ability  and  honor  and  is  looked 


RESmENCE  OF  HENRY  JOHN  AlCHER 

upon  as  a  substantial  citizen.  He  has  a  good  standing  in  liis 
neighborhood,  where  he  has  many  friends.  Having  lived  in  the 
community  always,  he  is  very  well  known,  and  in  turn  has  a 
large  number  of  acquaintances  there.  He  has  had  the  most 
pleasant  dealings  with  all,  being  a  man  of  integrity  and  single- 
ness of  purpose. 

Mr,  xVicher  was  married  AjU'il  1 1,  1893,  to  Fannie,  daughter 
of  Josepii  and  Josephine  (Kriz)  Selek,  who  'was  born  in  Bo- 
hemia in  1871  and  was  brought  ])y  her  parents  to  Johnson 
county  when  she  was  ten  years  of  age.  The  family  located  on 
a  farm  in  Newport  townshi]^.  '^Phe  father  died  in  1!)1 1,  but  the 
mother  survives.  They  had  two  daughters,  the  other  being 
Mary,  wife  of  Ed  Dvorsky,  of  Gi'aham  townshij).     ]Mr.  and 


no         HISTOEY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

Mrs.  Aiclier  have  two  children,  Harry  Albert  and  Helen,  both 
attending  school  and  living  at  home. 


FEANK  AICHEE 


Frank  Aicher  belongs  to  one  of  the  older  families  of  New- 
port township,  Johnson  connty,  and  has  always  been  identified 
with  the  highest  interests  of  the  region.  He  was  born  on  a 
farm  there,  Febrnary  10,  1862,  son  of  Cyprian  and  Elizabeth 
(Englebert)  Aicher,  natives  of  Germany.  The  father  came  to 
America  as  a  young  man,  lived  in  Pennsylvania  for  a  period 
of  some  three  years,  then  came  to  Iowa  City  and  purchased 
forty  acres  of  land,  upon  which  he  settled.  He  was  married 
about  this  time  to  Miss  Englel^ert,  who  came  to  the  United 
States  in  young  womanhood.    Six  children  were  born  of  their 


RESmEXCE    OF    FEANK   AICHER 


union:  Josephine,  married  William  Vogt,  who  died  in  1907, 
and  she  resides  in  Newport  township;  Frank,  the  eldest  son; 
Henry,  who  died  at  the  age  of  one  year ;  Adelia,  also  died  in 
infancy,  as  did  Hilary;  Henry,  of  Newport  township.  The 
parents  lived  upon  the  old  homestead  until  1896,  when  they 
retired  from  active  life  and  went  to  live  in  a  pleasant  home  in 
Iowa  City. 

The  father,  Cyprian  Aicher,  started  farming  on  his  forty- 
acre  tract  about  1855,  and  added  to  his  holdings  from  time  to 


BIOGKAPHICAL  111 

time  as  he  was  able,  until  before  liis  death  he  was  one  of  the 
largest  landholders  in  the  county,  having  over  500  acres  of 
choice  farm  land.  He  passed  away  in  1900  and  his  widow  one 
year  later. 

Frank  Aiclier  has  spent  his  entire  active  life  in  agricultural 
pursuits,  and  has  been  engaged  in  this  occupation  on  his  own 
account  since  he  reached  the  age  of  twenty-three  years,  when 
he  began  operations  in  Monona  county,  Iowa.  Five  years 
later,  in  1890,  he  returned  to  Johnson  county  and  purchased 
his  present  home.  At  that  time  it  consisted  of  sixty  acres  of 
land,  but  he  has  added  to  it  by  purchase  from  time  to  time, 
until  he  now  has  165  acres,  which  he  devotes  to  general  farm- 
ing and  stock  raising,  with  excellent  success. 

Mr.  Aicher  was  married  in  1885  to  Miss  Laura  Rummelhart, 
bom  in  Iowa  City,  daughter  of  Devault  and  Anna  (Scherer) 
Rummelhart.  Her  father,  who  was  of  German  descent,  was 
born  in  Ohio,  and  her  mother  was  born  at  Alsace,  Germany,  of 
French  parentage.  Four  children  have  been  born  to  Mr. 
Aicher  and  wife :  Clara,  wife  of  Josei^h  Hotka  ;  Gertrude,  Ma- 
tilda, and  Edith,  living  at  home.  The  family  belong  to  St. 
Wenceslaus  church,  of  which  Mr.  Aicher  has  been  a  trustee  for 
the  past  seven  years.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Knights  of 
Columbus  of  Iowa  City  and  St.  Josejih's  Society.  He  has  be- 
longed to  the  Iowa  City  Mutual  Life  Insurance  Company  for 
twenty-seven  years,  having  joined  it  the  second  year  after  it 
was  organized  by  Father  Emmons.  He  is  active  in  these  va- 
rious societies  and  is  well  known  and  popular  in  various 
circles.  He  is  held  in  high  esteem  by  his  many  friends,  for  liis 
upright  character  and  straightforward,  pleasant  demeanor. 


IRA  E.  TULLOSS 


One  of  the  tirst  graduates  from  the  Medical  Department  of 
the  State  University  of  Iowa  was  Dr.  N.  H.  Tulloss,  father  of 
the  subject  of  this  sketch.  Dr.  Tulloss  was  a  dentist,  having 
graduated  in  the  dental  schools  of  Philadelphia  and  been  en- 
gaged in  practice  for  some  years  in  Tipton,  Iowa,  but  he  sui)- 
plemented  his  dental  training  by  a  course  in  materia  medica  in 
the  S.  U.  L,  though  he  practiced  dentistry  until  his  death.    Dr. 


112         HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  JOWA 

Tulloss  was  a  native  of  Ohio,  and  came  overland  to  Iowa  in 
1851  in  company  with  his  yonn^-  wife,  formerly  Miss  Amy 
Williamson,  also  a  native  of  Ohio,  in  which  state  they  were 
married.  He  located  in  Tipton  and  resided  there  nntil  18()0, 
when  he  removed  to  Iowa  Oity.  There  he  remained  nntil  his 
death,  in  A]n'il,  1882.  He  was  a  imhlic  spirited  man,  and  took 
an  active  part  in  hnsiness  interests  aside  from  his  profession, 
among  the  nmnher  of  his  interests  being  the  Hawkeye  Fonndry 
&  Macliine  Co.,  established  by  onr  snbject  and  his  brother  in 
1875.  Dr.  and  :\lrs.  Tnlloss  had  two  children,  onr  snlrject  and 
his  elder  brother,  J.  F.,  who  resides  with  his  wife  in  north- 
western Nebraska,  where  he  is  a  large  land  owner. 


RESroENCE  OF  ]RA   K.   TULLOSS 


Ira  IC.  Tulloss  was  born  in  Cedar  county,  Iowa,  January  10, 
1855,  and  came  with  his  i)arents  to  Iowa  City  in  1860,  when  five 
years  of  age.  He  attended  the  ])ub!ic  schools  of  the  city  nntil 
1869,  when  he  went  to  Salem,  Ohio,  and  learned  tlie  monldej-'s 
trade.  He  remained  in  Salem  until  1875,  returning  in  that 
year  to  Iowa  City  and,  in  connection  with  his  father  and 
brother  established  the  Hawkeye  Foundry  &  Machine  Co.,  lo- 
cated on  Gill)ert,  between  Bowery  and  Court.  This  enter]irise 
continued  until  18P0,  when  the  shop  was  burned.  Thereafter 
our  subject  worked  for  the  government  at  the  Rock  Island 
Arsenal  and  in  the  citv  of  Rock  Island  until  1902,  when  he  re- 


L 


^f^T^^^'J'^TT^T-t,*^^ 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


113 


turned  to  Iowa  City  and  established  the  Hawkeye  Foundry,  in 
which  he  is  now  engaged, 

Mr.  Tnlloss  was  married  in  December,  1874,  to  Miss  Belle 
McMillan,  a  native  of  Davenport,  Iowa.  Their  only  daughter, 
Carolyn,  is  now  Mrs.  S.  E.  Rice,  residing  at  Masillou,  Ohio. 
She  has  one  daughter,  Isabella.  Our  subject  is  a  republican, 
and  served  eight  years  in  the  Iowa  City  council. 


FREDERICK  ZIMMERLI 

Frederick  Zimmerli,  the  well  known  cigar  manufacturer  of 
Iowa  City,  came  to  the  United  States  with  his  father  from 
Switzerland  in  June,  1864,  his  mother  having  previously  died 
in  that  country,  which  was  the  birthplace  of  the  entire  family, 
our  subject  being  born  in  1847.  The  father  and  son  located  in 
New  York  City,  where  they  remained  three  and  one-half  years. 
Young  Zimmerli  learned  the  cigarmaker's  trade  in  that  city. 


RESIDElSrCE  OF  FREDEEICK  ZIMMERLI 

After  a  year  spent  at  Cromwell,  Connecticut,  father  and  son 
came  to  Iowa  City,  where  the  latter  still  lives,  the  father  hav- 
ing died  about  twenty- six  years  ago. 

Mr.  Zimmerli  worked  at  his  trade  for  about  ten  years  and 
then  started  in  the  cigar  business  for  himself  in  Iowa  City. 
He  has  continued  therein  until  the  present  time,  and  operates 
an  extensive  establishment  at  213U,  South  Clinton  street. 


114         HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

Mr.  Zimmerli  chose  as  his  wife  Miss  May  Ahlers,  a  native 
of  Germany,  who  came  to  America  with  her  parents  wlien 
quite  young-.  Her  mother  died  in  the  old  country,  and  her 
father  in  1909.  Eight  children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Zimmerli:  Louise,  Herman,  Elizabeth,  Matilda,  Dorothy, 
Fred,  Marie,  and  Christian.  All  are  living  at  this  writing,  of 
whom  four  are  married.  Louise  is  Mrs.  A.  Horrabin ;  Eliza- 
beth ds  now  Mrs.  Alex  Garsite,  living  in  Missouri ;  IMatilda  is 
now  Mrs.  Roscoe  Breece,  living  at  Iowa  City;  Fred  married 
Miss  Kane,  living  at  Iowa  City. 

Mr.  Zimmerli  is  a  democrat  in  politics  and  attends  the 
Geiinan  Lutheran  church.  The  family  residence  is  at  324 
Church  street. 


JOHN  W.  MILLER 

The  Iowa  City  ^larine  band  is  a  musical  organization  fa- 
mous throughout  the  state  for  its  excellence.  For  one  year  it 
furnished  the  martial  melodies  for  the  Iowa  National  Guard. 
On  two  contest  occasions,  once  at  Marengo  and  again  at  Musca- 
tine, it  took  tirst  prize  in  competition  with  the  best  in  the 
state.  The  ability  of  the  organization  is  of  state-wide  knowl- 
edge from  the  fact  that  it  has  i)layed  engagements  at  tourna- 
ments and  other  public  functions  all  over  the  commonwealth. 
It  is  one  of  the  institutions  of  which  Iowa  City  is  particularly 
proud.  John  W.  Miller,  the  incumbent  chief  of  police  of  Iowa 
City,  is  the  founder  of  this  organization  in  connection  with  its 
first  leader,  Milt  Hess ;  he  has  also  been  its  manager  for  five 
years.  In  this  connection  it  is  interesting  to  note  that  the  first 
band  was  composed  of  eighteen  pieces,  and  that  among  the 
early  members  were  Jim,  John,  and  Joe  Farizek,  accomplished 
musicians.  It  goes  without  saying  that  John  W.  Miller  ]K)ints 
to  this  famous  band  as  one  of  the  monuments  of  his  citizen- 
ship in  Iowa  City. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Des  Moines,  Iowa,  Aiiril  26,  1862. 
He  is  the  second  son  of  John  B.  Miller,  l)orn  in  Baltimore, 
Maryland,  in  1839,  who  was  a  settler  in  Iowa  City  in  1854  and 
conducted  a  stove  and  tin  shop.  Later  he  linilt  the  Schrader 
drug  store  corner  and  conducted  a  grocery  business,  continu- 
ing until  1878.    He  died  at  Iowa  Citv  in  1886.    His  wife  was 


JOHN   W,   MILLER 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


115 


Josephine  Rabas,  a  native  Bohemian.  She  died  at  Iowa  City 
in  1889.  Tlie  Miller  family,  on  its  paternal  side,  was  descended 
from  Bavaria,  Germany.  Three  children  were  born  to  John 
B,  and  Josephine  (Kabas)  ]\liller:  AVilliam  H.,  John  W.,  our 
subject,  and  Charlotte,  wife  of  \V.  F.  Burger,  all  residing  in 
Iowa  City. 

Our  subject  was.  educated  in  Iowa  City,  being  a  graduate 
from  the  high  school  and  the  business  college.  He  learned  the 
trade  of  painting  and  decorating,  and  later  became  a  contrac- 
tor in  that  line.     He  was  also  for  ten  years  the  proprietor  of 


RESmENCE  OF  JOHN   W.  MILLER 

the  Iowa  City  Bottling  Works,  a  manufactory  of  specialty 
carbonated  drinks  of  all  kinds.  ^^Ir.  ]\liller  was  alderman  from 
the  fourth  ward  of  Iowa  City  for  two  years,  and  has  given 
twelve  years'  service  in  the  volunteer  fire  department.  April 
6,  1909,  he  was  elected  chief  of  police  of  Iowa- City,  being  re- 
elected in  1911.  Pie  has  been  chairman  of  the  democratic  city 
central  committee  for  five  years. 

Chief  Miller  chose  for  his  wife  Miss  Mary  Jane  Unash, 
daughter  of  Joseph  and  Anna  Unash.  The  wife's  family 
were  talented  musicians  and  prominent  in  musical  circles  in 
Iowa  City.  Children  and  grandchildren  have  blessed  the  home 
of  John  AV.  Miller  and  wife.  The  list  is  as  follows :  Lottie, 
wife  of  J.  I).  Rununelhart,  has  two  children,  Matilda  and  Lo- 
retta ;  Florence,  wife  of  Leo  V.  Beaulieu,  has  two  sons,  Francis 
and  Charles,  resides  at  Havre,  Afontana ;  Estella,  resides  at 
home. 

One  of  the  delightful  informal,  social  events  of  the  earlv 


116        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

spring  of  1911  was  plauiied  and  executed  as  a  surprise  by  the 
fellow  card  club  members  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Miller  on  the  even- 
ing of  April  26.  The  function  marked  the  forty-ninth  birthday 
anniversary  of  the  chief  of  police  and  the  forty-seventh  anni- 
versary of  Mrs.  Miller,  the  couple  having  been  born  on  the 
same  day  of  the  month.  A  local  Iowa  City  newspaper,  in 
speaking  of  the  occasion,  said:  "Card  phiying  and  feasting 
were  on  the  program,  with  handsome  reminders  of  the  night 
for  the  surprised  host  and  hostess." 

WILLIAM  ROBERT  WHITEIS,  M.  D. 

Among  the  alumni  of  tlie  State  University  of  Iowa  who 
have  passed  under  the  wire  of  success,  the  name  of  William 
Robert  Whiteis,  M.  D,,  is  entitled  to  a  prominent  place  on  the 
score  sheet.  Born  in  Benton  county,  Iowa,  in  1869,  he  received 
his  iDrimary  educational  training  in  the  ]mblic  schools  of  Ur- 
bana,  graduating  from  the  high  school.  Thereafter  he  gradu- 
ated from  the  Til  ford  academy.  In  1892  he  graduated  from 
the  College  of  Ijiberal  Arts,  State  University  of  Iowa,  with 
the  degree  of  B.  S.  In  1895  he  graduated  from  the  Medical 
Department,  S.  U.  L,  with  the  degrees  of  M.  D.  and  M.  S.  He 
followed  his  university  training  with  a  post-graduate  course 
abroad  at  A^ienna  and  Leipsic,  and  attended  all  important 
clinics  at  London,  1895-96-97.  His  actual  practice  as  a  physi- 
cian began  on  his  return  from  Europe  to  Iowa  City  in  1897. 
In  1903-04  he  filled  the  chair  of  obstetrics  and  gynecology  in 
the  College  of  Medicine,  S.  U.  I.  University  Hospital.  In  1895 
he  was  professor  of  histologv  and  embrvolog^^  of  the  same  in- 
stitution.  Dr.  Whiteis  has  been  on  the  State  University  hos- 
pital staff  from  1898 ;  in  1896  he  was  made  a  director  thereof, 
and  in  1911  was  elected  its  president.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
American  Medical  Association,  of  the  Iowa  State  Medical 
Association,  and  of  the  Johnson  County  Medical  Association. 

Dr.  Whiteis  was  married  August  10,  1892,  to  Alice  Fern- 
strom,  who  resided  on  her  father's  farm  in  Johnson  county. 
She  was  a  graduate  of  the  Iowa  City  high  school  in  the  class  of 
1896 ;  spent  three  years  in  S.  U.  I.  and  two  years  in  Europe, 
during  one  of  which  she  was  a  student  at  the  Girls'  high  school 
of  Leipsic,  taking  special  courses  in  German.  Dr.  and  Mrs. 
Wliiteis  have  one  son,  William  Robert  Whiteis,  Jr.,  born  in 
September,  1901.  A  daughter,  Helen,  born  August  16,  1898, 
died  October  20,  1907. 

Dr.  Wliiteis 's  parents  were  Dr.  William  Bovd  Whiteis  and 


SCENES  AT  SUMMER  RESIDENCE  OF  DR.  WHITEIS,  DETROIT,  MINN. 


118        HISTUKV  OF  JOHNiSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

Miss  Emeline  Sprott,  daughter  of  John  and  Tanizen  (Flem- 
ing) Sprott.  The  latter  was  one  of  twelve  chiklren.  Dr. 
Whiteis's  father  was  a  physician,  born  in  Ohio  in  1830,  and 
died  in  January,  1903,  at  Urbana,  Iowa,  where  his  widow  still 
survives.  He  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  Ohio, 
University  of  Michigan,  Ann  Arbor,  Keokuk,  Iowa,  and  Chi- 
cago; graduated  in  the  first  class  of  Northwestern  University, 


RESIDEXCE    OF    WILLIAM   ROBERT    WHITEIS,    M,    D. 

Chicago,  in  1860,  and  took  post-graduate  course  in  Chicago. 
He  practiced  at  Rockford,  Ohio,  and  for  many  years  at  Urbana, 
Iowa.  He  was  one  of  the  nine  children  of  Thomas  and  Hannah 
Whiteis,  among  the  first  luoneers  of  Ohio. 

ANTHONY  J.  HANLEY 

Anthony  J.  Hanley,  for  seven  years  city  councilman  of 
Iowa  City  and  deputy  sheriff  of  Johnson  county  for  two  terms, 
was  born  in  Iowa  county,  Iowa,  in  18(n.  His  parents  were 
Bartlett  and  Julia  (Karney)  Hanley.  Bartlett  Hanley  was  a 
native  of  Ireland,  and  came  to  America  with  his  parents.  The 
family  resided  in  Ohio  for  a  number  of  years.  In  1841  they 
removed  to  Iowa  count.\-,  where  Bartlett  Hanley 's  father  took 
up  land  from  the  government.  In  that  county  the  marriage  of 
Bartlett  Hanley  and  Julia  Karney,  also  a  native  of  Ireland, 
took  ])lace,  and  there  for  a  number  of  years  Mr.  Hanley  en- 
gaged in  farming.  In  1870  he  removed  to  Johnson  county^ 
where  he  was  engaged  in  the  hotel  Imsiness  until  his  death, 
about  seventeen  years  ago.  Julia  Karney 's  parents  were 
natives  of  Ireland,  and  hor  familv  also  lived  in  Oliio.     Tlie 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


119 


family  came  to  Iowa  county  in  the  early  '50 's,  where  her  father 
located  on  a  farm  on  which  he  resided  until  his  death  in  1885. 
Our  subject  came  to  Iowa  City  with  his  parents  in  1870. 
He  had  previously  attended  the  country  schools  in  Iowa  coun- 
ty and  continued  his  education  in  the  Iowa  City  schools.  He 
started  in  business  for  himself  at  the  early  age  of  sixteen, 
learning  the  trade  of  marble  and  stone  cutting.  This  work  he 
continued  for  about  five  years,  when  he  took  up  the  livery  busi- 
ness. He  has  been  engaged  in  this  line  in  different  enterprises 
ever  since,  and  at  this  writing  is  proprietor  of  the  Iowa  City 
Bus  and  Hack  line,  doing  a  general  transfer  business. 


EESmENCE  OF  ANTHONY  J.  HANLEY 


Mr.  llanley  married  Aliss  Sarah  Thomas,  a  native  of  Wales, 
who  came  with  her  parents  direct  from  Wales  to  Johnson 
county.  Her  father  was  a  grocer  in  "Wales,  and  engaged  in  the 
grocery  business  for  a  time  after  his  arrival  here.  Both  of 
Mrs.  Hanley's  parents  are  dead.  Mr.  Hanley's  mother  is 
alive  at  this  writing  (1911).  ^,h\  and  Mrs.  llanley  have  three 
children:  George  K.,  born  June  19,  3  884,  married,  and  living 
on  his  father's  farm  in  Johnson  county;  Maybelle,  born 
March  5,  1887,  now  Mrs.  Bernard  Davis,  graduate  of  the  S.  IT. 
I,  1911;  Mr.  Davis  is  a  graduate  of  vS.  IT.  I.  in  Pharmacy  De- 
])artment,  class  of  1908;  they  reside  at  Onawa,  Iowa,  where 
Mr.  Davis  is  engaged  in  the  drug  business;  Euth  S.,  born  Jan. 
1,  1890,  student  in  the  S.  U.  I.,  will  graduate  in  1913. 


120         HISTOEY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  lOAVA 

Mr.  Hanley  owns  a  farm  of  540  acres  in  Johnson  county, 
and  several  business  blocks,  residences,  and  other  property  in 
Iowa  City.  He  is  a  member  of  the  repulilican  party,  and  active 
in  its  councils. 


HENRY  HALL  RATE 

Steering  a  flatboat,  14x28,  down  the  rushing  waters  of  the 
Allegheny  river,  shooting  dangerous  rapids,  dodging  conceal- 
ed rocks  and  battling  with  snags  and  sandbars,  is  the  experi- 
ence which  William  S.  Rate,  the  grandfather  of  Henry  Hall 
Rate,  endured  in  the  first  stage  of  his  journey  from  Pennsyl- 
vania to  Iowa.  The  flatboat  above  mentioned  was  built  es- 
pecially for  the  voyage,  and  contained  the  movable  effects  of 
the  navigator,  then  a  young  man  about  twenty  years  of  age. 
A  partial  wreck  on  the  rapids  of  the  Clarion  river,  a  tributary 
of  the  Allegheny,  delayed  the  intrepid  sailor,  but  he  was  soon 
righted  and,  once  fully  into  the  current  of  the  lower  Allegheny, 
attached  his  boat  to  a  raft  and  got  safely  through  to  the  Ohio 
at  Pittsburg.  From  that  point  to  a  landing  in  Indiana  the 
journey  was  continued  on  an  Ohio  river  steamboat.  The 
Whitewater  canal  being  in  course  of  construction  at  that  time, 
young  Rate  secured  employment  thereon  and  worked  with  the 
construction  crew  for  about  a  year  and  a  half.  William  Page 
Rate,  father  of  William  S.,  had  settled  a  short  time  previously 
in  Knox  county,  Illinois,  and  there  our  traveler  journeyed. 
He  met  and  married  in  that  county  ]\[iss  Margaret  Ditto,  a 
native  of  Germany.  Observing  an  advertisement  in  a  St. 
Louis  newspaper  for  workmen  to  aid  in  the  construction  of 
the  new  state  capitol  at  Iowa  City,  Iowa,  he  went  to  the  latter 
city  and  was  engaged.  This  brought  him  first  into  Iowa.  His 
father  joined  him  there,  and  the  two  worked  together  on  the 
Iowa  state  capitol  building  for  one  and  one-half  years.  There- 
after both  returned  to  the  Wliitewater  canal  project  in  In- 
diana, where  they  worked  together  for  two  years.  In  1848 
William  Page  Rate  removed  from  Knox  county,  Illinois,  to 
Johnson  county,  Iowa,  where  he  settled  on  a  farm  in  Cedar 
township.  This  claim  was  the  same  which  he  had  selected  on 
a  former  trip  and  sojourn  in  Iowa  in  1840.     Thereon  he  erect- 


BIOGRAPHICAL  121 

ed  a  log  house,  16x20,  built  of  round  logs.  He  resided  on  that 
farm  until  his  death,  about  1857.  His  son,  William  S.,  accom- 
panied him  to  Iowa  and  labored  with  him  on  this  farm. 

Our  subject's  father  was  Edward  Francis  Rate,  son  of  Wil- 
liam Page,  and  was  born  in  London,  England,  November  5, 
1829.  He  was  four  years  of  age  when  he  emigrated  with  his 
mother  and  her  family  to  the  United  States,  whither  the  father 
had  gone  two  years  previously.  The  elder  Rate,  William 
Page,  first  settled  in  New  York  state,  but  later,  about  1835, 
removed  to  a  point  near  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania,  where  lie 
became  a  large  land  owner.  About  1840  he  went  westward 
getting  his  first  view  of  Iowa  about  that  time.  There  were 
five  children  in  AVilliam  Page  Rate's  family:  William  S., 
mentioned  above;  our  subject's  father,  Edward  Francis; 
John;  Elizabeth,  married  to  Isaac  Sailor;  Mary,  married  to 
Frank  Kestor.  Of  these,  William  S.  and  John  are  deceased. 
The  two  daughters  reside  in  Linn  county,  Iowa.  Edward 
Francis,  still  active,  lives  at  Iowa  City.  The  mother  died 
about  1880  at  the  home  of  her  son,  Edward  Francis,  in  Cass 
township,  Cedar  county. 

Edward  Francis  Rate  secured  only  a  limited  education, 
much  of  his  schooling  being  under  a  private  tutor.  In  his 
twentieth  year  he  began  breaking  prairie  land  in  Cedar  county, 
and  continued  at  farming  for  about  seven  years.  In  1880  he 
began  the  manufacture  of  gloves  in  his  factory  at  Davenport, 
Iowa.  Two  years  later  he  sold  out  and  removed  to  Chicago. 
In  1890  he  disposed  of  his  interests  there  and  came  to  Iowa 
City,  where  he  bought  out  the  old  glass  factory  and  established 
therein  a  glove  factory,  equipped  with  ])roper  machinery,  em- 
ploying about  thirty  girls  and  a  few  men.  The  establishment 
was  burned  down  in  1898.  Business  was  immediately  resum- 
ed, however,  in  a  building  just  north  of  the  destroyed  struc- 
ture. The  enterprise  prospered,  and  a  tannery  was  estab- 
lished in  1903.  Shortly  thereafter  fire  again  destroyed  the 
factory,  with  a  total  loss  of  $25,000,  there  being  no  insurance. 
The  business  was  reestablished,  and  the  firm  took  the  name 
of  E.  F.  Rate  &  Sons,  becoming  well  known  as  manufacturers 
of  fine  grades  of  gloves,  owning  and  operating  their  own  tan- 
nery, with  a  trade  including  both  local  and  distant  customers. 
For  several  years  the  business  has  been  virtually  conducted  by 


122         HISTOEY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

our  subject,  Henry  Hall  Rate,  and  his  two  brothers,  Albert 
F.  and  Robert  G.  (Note — Since  this  data  was  obtained  this 
establishment  was  for  the  third  time  completely  burned  to  the 
ground.  Details  as  to  rebuilding  have  not  been  made  known 
at  this  writing. — Ed.) 

Edward  Francis  Rate  was  married  in  February,  1856,  at 
Potosi,  Wisconsin,  to  Lyclia  F.  Hall,  born  ^larcli  31,  1835,  in 
Connecticut,  and  removing  with  her  parents  when  fjuite  young 
to  Linn  county,  Iowa.  She  is  a  well  educated  woman  and  a 
most  interesting  conversationalist.     There  were  five  children 


EESIDEXCE   OF  HENKY  HALL  RATE 


in  the  family,  as  follows:  Amelia  E.,  wife  of  Ezra  Helm,  of 
Michigan ;  our  subject ;  Ab])ie,  wife  of  John  Bickett,  of  Iowa 
City;  Albert  F.,  of  Iowa  City;  and  Robert  Gower,  of  Iowa 
City.     All  are  married  and  have  families  except  Robert  G. 

Our  subject  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Iowa  City. 
From  the  inception  of  the  Iowa  City  glove  factory  lie  has  been 
inseparably  connected  therewith,  and,  as  he  puts  it,  ^' knows 
nothing  else  but  glove  making."  In  his  leisure  moments, 
however,  he  has  found  time  to  read  good  literature,  especially 
historical  works,  and  is  particularly  well  posted  on  the  history 
of  the  Civil  "War  from  the  standi)oint  of  both  north  and  south. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  123 

He  was  married  at  Iowa  City  to  Miss  Calista  Tranter,  born, 
educati^d,  and  raised  in  the  first  ward,  ]\[aiden  Lane,  Iowa 
City.  She  is  a  gradnate  of  tlie  high  school,  class  of  1884; 
taught  the  Oxford  township  school  and  third  ward  grammar 
school  of  Iowa  City;  in  all  teaching  abont  ten  years.  Two 
children  have  blessed  this  nnion :  Henrietta,  aginl  fourteen, 
born  in  the  old  Tranter  home  where  her  mother  was  born,  is 
now  in  the  second  year  at  high  school ;  Edward  Francis,  Jr., 
will  complete  the  grammar  department  in  1911.  The  first 
named  is  a  girl  of  artistic  genius,  as  her  original  paintings^ 
hung  in  the  library  of  her  home,  will  testify. 

Mrs.  Henry  Hall  Rate  is  a  fancier  of  heirlooms  and  bric-a- 
brac.  She  has  kept  all  of  her  own  samples  of  school  draw- 
ings, including  her  first  painting  at  school  and  many  little 
mementoes  of  her  childhood.  Her  heirlooms  include  manv 
specimens  brought  from  England  by  her  parents,  such  as 
pewter  plates,  hand-painted  china  ware,  an  apple  ''scoop," 
made  of  ivory,  an  ivory  spoon  for  eating  boiled  eggs,  blue  an- 
tique decorated  plates,  an  old  "grease"  lamp  with  cup  and 
wick,  used  before  the  days  of  "lucifer"  matches,  when  neigh- 
bors had  to  borrow  "fire."  She  also  owned  an  old-fashioned 
4-posted  mahogany  bedstead,  from  which  she  took  the  posts, 
making  therefrom  legs  for  a  fine  table. 

The  parents  of  Calista  Tranter  were  John  Tranter  and  Har- 
riet Shinn.  The  former  was  born  at  Linton,  Herfordshire, 
England,  Mi\y  1,  1820,  and  died  at  Iowa  City  March  3,  1902. 
The  latter  is  the  daughter  of  Joseph  Shinn  of  Iowa  City,  whose 
wife  was  a  glove  maker  at  the  time  when  the  hand  needle  was 
used  entirely  in  the  manufacture  of  gloves  and  expert  needle- 
women were  in  demand.  John  Tranter's  parents  were  Ed- 
ward Tranter  and  Mary  Caruthers.  The  former  came  of  a 
family  of  briclaiiakers,  and  the  couple  emigrated  to  America 
in  a  sailing  vessel  in  1856,  landing  after  a  six-weeks  voyage. 
John  Tranter  was  a  natural  mechanic,  a  genius  in  wood  and 
metal  working.  Some  of  the  relics  in  Mrs.  Rate's  possession 
were  of  his  making.  He  died  in  Iowa  City  in  1862.  His  wife 
died  the  same  jear  in  Utah.  The  couple  crossed  the  plains 
with  an  ox  team  and  settled  in  Salt  Lake  City.  They  remained 
there  about  a  year,  when  they  returned  to  Iowa  City,  where 


124         HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

he  followed  engineering  for  many  years  in  the  employ  of  the 
Close  oil  mill. 

The  entire  Eate  family,  from  the  first  pioneer,  were  and 
are  strong  temperance  advocates. 


GEORGE  L.  FALK 

The  reader  of  the  biographies  embraced  in  this  volume  of 
Johnson  County  history  will  be  impressed  with  the  fact  of  the 
remarkable  number  of  native  born  sons  who  have  side-stepped 
the  temptation  to  remove  to  newer  states  and  have  remained 
at  the  old  home,  there  to  make  good  in  the  business  and  pro- 
fessional life  of  their  birthplace.  That  this  is  a  general  and 
not  a  special,  or  unusual  fact,  is  proven  by  the  recorded  suc- 
cesses of  native-born  farmers,  native-born  merchants,  native- 
born  lawyers,  schoolmen,  physicians,  craftsmen,  manufactur- 
ers, and  financiers.  Under  this  exhibit  of  its  home-product 
of  universal  workers  Johnson  county  may  well  claim,  with 
pride,  that  it  does  not  need  to  go  beyond  its  own  borders  to 
keep  its  commercial  and  industrial  ranks  full  of  competent 
laborers  who  are  worthy  of  their  hire.  This  condition  is  com- 
plimentary both  to  the  field  of  action  and  to  the  actors.  It  is 
usually  reckoned  that  the  newer  states  and  territories  to  the 
westward  in  the  very  nature  of  things  offer  the  more  attrac- 
tive inducements  and  opportunities  for  the  culture  and  vigor 
of  youth ;  hence  the  competent  young  man  who  elects  to  exer- 
cise his  abilities  in  the  home  field  by  that  very  act  pays  his 
native  heath  the  high  comjiliment  of  his  affection  and  ])ride. 
On  the  other  hand,  the  home  field  which  provides  ambitious 
youth  with  the  opportunities  for  the  exercise  of  its  talents  and 
energies  may  be  rightly  considered  a  worthy  mother  of  men. 

George  L,  Falk  is  one  of  the  native  sons  of  Iowa  City  who 
elected  to  identify  his  abilities  with  the  town  of  his  birth  and 
training.  His  present  position  of  cashier  of  the  Johnson 
County  Savings  bank,  one  of  the  important  financial  institu- 
tions of  eastern  Iowa,  is  the  reward  which  his  native  city  be- 
stows upon  him  for  his  loyalty;  and,  reciprocally,  the  ability, 
probity,  and  integrity  with  which  he  discharges  the  duties  of 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


125 


tliis  responsible  office  represent  his  return  in  good  measure 
of  value  received. 

Mr.  Falk  is  of  direct  German  descent  on  both  his  paternal 
and  maternal  side.  His  parents,  John  and  Minnie  (Werner) 
Falk,  were  natives  of  Hessen,  Germany.  John  Falk,  an  emi- 
grant, was  among  the  forty-niners  who  crossed  the  Isthmus  of 
Panama  during  the  California  gold  excitement  and  mingled 
with  the  Argonauts  "in  the  days  of  old,  in  the  days  of  gold" 
in  the  fields  of  the  new  El  Dorado.  He  was  successful  during 
his  three  years'  sojourn  in  the  Sierras,  and  when  he  arrived 
in  Iowa  City  after  a  long  journey,  via  the  Isthmus  and  New 
York,  he  was  among  the  first  substantial  depositors  of  the 


Wt 

M 

w^'  ~~  "^^^^H^^^^^^^^l 

HO 

tii'..:>;-"^      --.                :   .,      .    ;.,;,^             -^^^K       " 

'  spH 

KESIDENCE    OF    GEORGE  L.    FALK 


bank  of  which  his  son  is  now  the  cashier.  Pie  brought  his 
fortune  in  gold  in  a  strong  belt  girded  to  his  waist,  and  it  was 
the  production  of  this  belt,  with  its  yellow  contents  for  de- 
130sit,  which  gave  him  the  sobriequet  of  the  "gold  belt  man  of 
California,"  a  nickname  which  clung  to  him  for  many  years. 
By  trade  the  elder  Falk  was  a  shoemaker  and  in  connection 
with  his  craft  he  established  a  retail  shoe  store.  His  death, 
which  occurred  in  1870,  was  widely  regretted.  His  widow,  our 
subject's  mother,  still  survives  and  lives  at  319  Iowa  avenue. 
Young  Falk  received  his  primary  education  in  the  Iowa  City 
public  schools.  This  he  supplemented  by  a  course  at  the  Iowa 
City  Academy,  completing  his  commercial  training  by  grad- 
uating from  the  Business  College  of  Iowa  City  in  the  class  of 


126         HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

1885.  The  first  position  lie  secured  was  with  the  American 
Glucose  ComiDany,  where  he  held  the  position  of  shipping- 
clerk  for  three  j^ears.  Subsequently  he  accepted  a  position 
in  the  Iowa  City  postoffice  as  general  delivery  clerk  under 
President  Cleveland's  administration.  During  his  two  and 
one-half  years'  incumbency  in  this  office  he  became  widely 
popular.  From  Uncle  Sam's  window  lie  stepped  to  the  desk 
of  assistant  cashier  of  the  Johnson  County  Savings  bank  in 
1889.  The  best  commentary  on  his  ability  as  a  banker  is  the 
fact  that  at  the  annual  meeting  in  Januarj',  1907,  he  was  elect- 
ed cashier,  a  position  which  he  now  occu})ies,  being  also  a  mem- 
ber of  the  board  of  directors  of  the  bank. 

Combined  with  his  proven  abilities  as  a  l)usiness  man  and  a 
banker,  Mr.  Falk  possesses  the  winning  grace  of  geniality,  a 
gift  which  has  won  him  hosts  of  friends.  His  business  habits 
are  methodical  and  thorough,  and  his  executive  grasp  is 
strong.  He  is  an  active  member  of  the  B.  P.  0.  E.  and  the 
Iowa  City  Commercial  club.  His  religious  association  is  with 
the  German  Lutheran  Zion  church  of  Iowa  City. 


DAVID  A.  REESE 


A  moral  lesson,  inculcated  in  an  adroit  wav  bv  his  father, 
left  a  lasting  impression  on  the  mind  of  David  A.  Reese  and 
was  a  girdle  of  strength  throughout  all  his  business  career. 
When  young  Reese  determined  to  leave  the  parental  roof  at 
the  age  of  twenty-one  and  cast  his  fortunes  with  the  great 
west,  his  father,  unknown  to  the  son,  placed  a  thick  brown 
paper  containing  writing,  with  the  writing  face  down,  in  the 
bottom  of  a  trunk  the  mother  was  packing  for  her  son's  jour- 
ney. This  was  not  discovered  for  several  years  after  the  son 
had  become  a  resident  of  Iowa  and  had  been  engaged  quite  a 
while  at  his  trade,  that  of  carpentering.  One  day  he  was  over- 
hauling the  contents  of  the  trunk  and  making  a  clean-up  of  the 
rubbish,  when  he  chanced  to  notice  the  writing  on  the  back  of 
the  brown  ])aper  and  recognized  the  penmanship  as  his  fath- 
er's. Careful  perusal  of  the  inscription,  of  course,  followed 
and  it  was  found  to  be  an  earnestly-written  series  of  rules  for 
moral  conduct.    -These  made  a  wonderful  impression  on  the 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


127 


mind  of  tlie  son  and  proved  to  be  of  great  value  to  liim  in  after 
years.  Two  precepts  were  particularly  impressive:  "Keep 
up  your  credit,"  and,  "Be  honest."  The  business  career  of 
David  A.  Reese  i)roves  that  this  advice  was  well  followed. 

Thomas  D.  and  Jane  Reese,  of  Pennsylvania,  were  the  par- 
ents of  our  subject,  who  is  one  of  six  living  children.  Both 
parents  are  deceased.  David  A.  was  born  in  Cambria  county, 
Pennsylvania,  in  1854,  and  was  raised  and  educated  in  his 
native  state.  He  attended  the  public  schools  of  his  county  and 
the  Commercial  college  at  Pittsburgh.  His  training  at  the 
latter  institution  was  thorough,  and  fitted  him  ably  for  the 


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business  career  in  wliich  he  has  achieved  distinction.  Follow- 
ing his  school  life  he  worked  for  a  number  of  years  in  a  lum- 
ber yard  at  Eliensville,  Pennsylvania,  securing  a  practical 
knowledge  of  lumber  which  served  him  well  in  later  years. 
He  also  learned  the  carpenter  trade.  This,  as  before  indicat- 
ed, he  took  up  on  his  arrival  at  Iowa  City  in  1875,  working  for 
a  time  in  the  country.  He  continued  the  business  of  carpent- 
ering and  contracting  until  the  year  1889,  when  he  was  offered 
a  position  in  its  lumber  yard  by  the  Musser  Lumber  Company 
of  Iowa  City.  This  |)lace  was  entirely  unsought  by  Mr.  Reese 
and  the  offer  came  as  a  surprise.  Mr.  Musser  had  become 
impressed  with  ]\[r.  Reese's  aptitude  in  checking  up  his  own 
personal  l)ills  of  lumber  obtained  from  the  company  for  his 


128         HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

contracting  and  carpenter  business  and  greatly  desired  him 
for  the  exacting  work  of  the  yards.  At  that  time  Mr.  Eeese 
had  about  fourteen  contracts  on  hand  and  a  number  of  men 
in  his  employ.  So  earnest  was  Mr.  Musser  in  his  olfer  that 
he  placed  Mr.  Reese  immediately  on  his  payroll  and  allowed 
him  two  weeks  latitude  in  which  to  dispose  of  his  contracts 
properly  to  other  builders.  His  acceptance  of  this  position 
brought  Mr.  Reese  to  Iowa  City  to  reside,  and  he  remained  in 
the  employ  of  the  Musser  Lumber  Company  for  thirteen  years. 

On  January  1,  1902,  Mr.  Reese  took  up  the  duties  of  county 
treasurer  of  Johnson  county,  a  position  to  which  he  had  been 
unanimously  nominated  on  the  republican  ticket,  his  majority 
at  election  being  very  marked  in  spite  of  the  fact  that  the 
county  normally  was  overwhelmingly  democratic.  During  his 
incumbency  in  this  office  Mr.  Reese  handled  about  $3,000,000 
of  joublic  money.  On  retiring  from  office,  he  engaged  in  the 
real  estate  business  for  about  a  year,  when  he  entered  the 
employ  of  the  Citizens  Savings  &  Trust  Company,  of  Iowa 
City,  as  assistant  cashier,  the  position  which  he  occupies  at 
present. 

Mr.  Reese  is  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Iowa  City  Electric 
Railway  Company  and  is  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  com- 
pany. He  is  also  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  Rundell  Land 
&  Improvement  Company,  which  controls  270  city  lots  located 
between  the  Kelly  factory  and  East  Iowa  City,  with  a  capital 
stock  of  $25,000.' 

In  fraternal  circles  Mr.  Reese  is  recognized  as  an  active 
factor.  He  is  a  trustee  of  Kosciusko  lodge  No.  6,  I.  0.  0.  F., 
of  which  he  has  been  a  member  since  1887,  and  is  Past  Noble 
Grand  of  the  lodge.  He  is  a  member  of  the  M.  W.  A.,  and  the 
B.  P.  0.  E.  He  is  trustee  of  the  Heath  estate  and  a  trustee  of 
the  Congregational  church  of  Iowa  City.  For  six  years  he 
has  been  an  alderman  from  the  fourth  ward  in  the  city  council, 
and  was  the  republican  nominee  for  mayor  of  Iowa  City  in 
1911  against  Hon.  George  W.  Koontz,  the  successful  candidate. 

Mr.  Reese  married  Miss  Mary  Reese,  of  Union  township, 
Johnson  county,  daughter  of  Rolland  Reese,  a  pioneer  of  the 
county.  She  was  a  babe  six  months  old  when  her  parents  set- 
tled in  Johnson  county.  Her  birthplace  is  Cincinnati,  Ohio. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Reese  are  members  of  the  Congregational  church 
and  reside  at  24  North  Van  Buren  street,  Iowa  City. 


BIOGEAPHICAL  129 

JOSEPH  ARTHUR  VALENTA,  M.  D. 


"? 


Perhaps  no  subject  could  more  worthily  engage  the  research 
and  sustained  effort  of  the  real  lover  of  his  fellow  man  than 
that  of  the  public  health  as  involved  in  the  fundamental  essen- 
tials of  hygiene,  sanitation,  and  quarantine.  To  the  violation 
of  the  recognized  principles  of  these  factors  of  modern  civiliz- 
ation may  be  traced  nine-tenths  of  the  ailments  to  which  flesh 
is  heir.  Amplification  of  this  statement  would  involve  unlim- 
ited discussion  and  exploitation  of  grewsome  facts  in  city  and 
rural  life,  reflecting  upon  us  as  individuals  and  as  a  body  poli- 
tic in  no  complimentary  manner.  Mindful  of  the  strong  un- 
dercurrents of  anti}uithy  which  flow  in  the  common  mind 
against  what  some  of  the  less-informed  might  term  an  inva- 
sion of  individual  libertv,  to  the  credit  of  mankind  be  it  said 
that  there  have  arisen  from  time  to  time  in  every  community 
heroic  souls  who  have  braved  such  public  opposition  by  making 
it  their  business  to  investigate  and  overhaul  in  behalf  of  the 
general  good  the  conditions  surrounding  private  homes  and 
habits,  as  well  as  community  methods,  involving  the  public 
health.  Gratifying  results  have  come  from  some  of  these  ef- 
forts; indeed,  the  aggregate  accomplished  gives  earnest  of 
the  final  happy  solution  of  the  problem  of  gregarious  living. 
The  city-sanitary,  as  well  as  the  city-busy  and  the  city-beauti- 
ful, is  outlined  clearly  on  the  horizon  of  metropolitan  develop- 
ment —  to  the  delight  of  those  earnest  citizens  who  have  borne 
the  obloquy  and  burden  of  original  investigation. 

Among  the  names  entitled  to  high  place  in  the  Blue  Book  of 
''Who's  Who  in  Hygiene"  properly  should  be  written  that  of 
Joseph  Arthur  Valenta,  M.  D.,  of  Iowa  City,  whose  efforts  and 
practical  accomplishments  in  the  lines  of  the  promotion  of  the 
public  health  are  of  no  mean  order. 

At  the  first  annual  meeting  of  the  Iowa  health  officers  and 
city  physicians,  held  at  Des  Moines  June  16  and  17,  1903,  Dr. 
Valenta,  who  organized  the  society  in  1902  and  was  its  first 
president  (being  at  the  time  health  officer  of  Iowa  City),  read 
a  paper  bearing  on  the  general  matters  under  consideration. 
This  paper,  which  was  greatly  appreciated,  was  published  in 
full  in  the  twelfth  biennial  report  of  the  board  of  health  of  the 
state  of  Iowa,  June,  1903.     The  salient  features  of  the  address 


130         HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

will  be  indicated  by  the  following  excerpts  taken  from  tlie 
printed  report: 

1st.  A  more  imited  cooperation  between  the  township  trus- 
tees and  the  city  boards  of  health, 

2nd.  Uniformity  in  the  regulation  of  ciuarantine  and  the 
management  of  the  same  in  the  state. 

3rd.  Eepeal  of  the  regulation  by  the  board  of  health  com- 
pelling the  removal  of  wall  paper  in  cases  of  smallpox  and 
scarlet  fever,  and  leaving  the  question  to  the  judgment  of  the 
health  officer. 

4th.  Taking  the  health  officership  out  of  politics  and  sub- 
stituting qualification,  irrespective  of  partisanship. 

5th,  More  compliance  with  the  rules  of  health  by  the  health 
officers  and  the  city  physicians  themselves. 

6th.  Enlightenment  and  education  of  the  rural  districts  in 
the  regulations  and  rules  of  the  board  of  health. 

7tli.  Election  of  a  board  of  health  in  a  township  for  a 
period  of  three  or  five  years. 

8th.  A  better  and  united  means  of  reporting  deaths,  births, 
contagious  diseases,  etc. 

9th.  Better  appreciation  by  the  public  of  the  work  of  the 
health  department. 

10th,  A  detention  hospital  for  every  city  and  township, 
with  proper  accommodations  and  nurses. 

11th.  A  good  organization  of  Iowa  health  officers  and  city 
physicians,  whose  members  will  work  for  the  good  of  the 
cause. 

12th.  A  practical  way  to  be  devised  for  disposing  of  garb- 
age, etc. 

13th.  Making  public  service  corporations  responsible  for 
the  purity  of  their  water  supply. 

lltli.     A  state  sanitarium  for  consumptives. 

15tli.  Anti-expectoration  ordinances,  with  strict  enforce- 
ment. 

16th.  Careful  guarding  of  fellow  practitioners 's  interests 
in  assuming  control  of  cases  we  are  called  upon  to  investigate. 

Ivtli.  A  more  united  effort  to  stamp  out  smallpox  by  in- 
sistence on  calling  it  by  its  right  name, 

18th.     An  information  bureau  or  svstem  of  communication 


BIOGRAPHICAL  131 

between  bealtli  officers,  giving  notice  to  each  other  of  epidem- 
ics. 

19th.  An  official  publication  for  the  Iowa  liealth  officers 
and  city  physicians,  with  a  chief  editor  and  subordinate  staff, 
with  several  departments. 

20tli.  A  national  union  association  of  liealth  officers  and 
city  physicians. 

In  closing  his  paper.  Dr.  Valenta  said:  "Now  there  are 
many  other  needs  in  the  department  of  health,  but  I  have  en- 
deavored to  bring  the  most  important  to  your  consideration. 
That  these  needs,  if  supplied,  would  prove  a  blessing,  few  of 
you  will  probably  doubt,  but  as  to  the  best  ways  and  means  to 


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KESIDENCE    OE    JOSEPH    AKTHUR   VALENTA,    M.    D. 

accomplish  the  end  desired  we  may  differ.  If  each  of  us,  how- 
ever, will  strive  to  pick  out  the  method  which  lias  been  shown 
to  be  the  best,  as  accepted  by  the  majority,  and  work  out  that 
method  regardless  of  our  own  personal  opinion,  success  will 
crown  our  efforts.  May  we  radiate  outward  our  labors  from 
this  center  city,  the  capital  of  Iowa,  into  every  nook  and  cor- 
ner of  this  commonwealth,  and  before  another  year  ymsses 
by  reap  the  fruits  of  labor  performed  by  the  faithful  few  for 
the  perfect  happiness  of  humanity." 

Another  notable  paper  by  Br.  Yalenta  was  read  before  the 
Johnson  county  normal  institute  in  July,  1903,  and  was  pub- 


132         HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

lished  in  the  ^'lowa  Normal  Monthly,"  Volume  XXVII.  The 
essay  was  entitled, ' '  Hygiene  in  Rural  Schools. ' '  Dr.  Valenta 
covered  the  ground  ably,  and  the  paper  attracted  unusual  at- 
tention. An  outline  will  not  be  out  of  place:  ''Hygiene," 
said  the  speaker,  "may  be  divided  into  three  classes: 

"1.     Individual  or  personal. 

"2.     Family  or  domestic. 

"3.     Municipal  or  state   (public  hygiene)." 

Commenting  quite  fully  under  each  of  these  heads,  the  doc- 
tor classified  "school  hygiene"  as  properly  coming  partly  un- 
der each  of  the  above  divisions.  Entering  more  elaborately 
into  the  subject,  the  speaker  touched  upon  the  elementary 
elements  of  air,  water  supply,  clothing,  study,  exercise,  rest 
or  recreation,  food,  contagious  disease,  heating,  emergencies. 

Insisting  that  soil  upon  which  the  school  house  stands  has 
much  to  do  with  the  health  of  the  pupils,  the  doctor  elaborated 
upon  that  point  and,  in  further  elucidation  of  proper  school 
conditions  recommended : 

1.  A  site  that  is  dry  and  not  malarious  and  an  aspect  which 
gives  light  and  cheerfulness. 

2.  A  pure  supply  and  proper  removal  of  water,  by  means 
of  which  perfect  cleanliness  of  all  parts  of  the  house  can  be 
secured. 

3.  A  system  of  immediate  and  ]5erfect  sewerage  removal, 
which  renders  it  impossible  that  the  air  or  water  shall  be  con- 
taminated from  excreta. 

4.  A  system  of  ventilation  which  carries  off  all  respiratory 
impurities. 

5.  A  condition  of  house  construction  which  insures  perfect 
dryness  of  the  foundation  walls  and  roof.  As  the  air  in  a 
school  house  is  almost  always  warmer  than  the  outside  air,  it 
has  a  tendency  to  draw  up  the  more  or  less  impure  air  from 
the  soil  into  the  building. 

Other  important  addresses  delivered  by  Dr.  Valenta  were 
before  the  Johnson  County  Teachers'  Institute  in  September, 
1904  (published  in  Iowa  State  Normal  Monthly,  Volume 
XXVIII),  on  the  topic  of  "School  Hygiene,"  dwelling  upon 
the  physical  and  mental  development  of  the  child,  and,  in  June, 
1904,  before  the  Leagiie  of  Iowa  Municipalities,  published 
in   the   "^Midland    Municipalities    Magazine"    for    Aug-ust, 


BIOGRAPHICAL  133 

1904)  on  the  topic  of  '^ Consumption  and  Its  Danger," 
insisting  on  the  duty  of  teachers  to  be  equipped  with  exact 
knowledge  on  this  subject  and  to  teach  it  to  their  pupils.  One 
of  the  most  timely  papers  written  by  Dr.  Valenta  w^as  on  the 
''Garbage  System,"  and  he  also  recommended  the  establish- 
ment of  a  state  bacteriological  laboratory  to  be  controlled  by 
the  state  board  of  health  in  connection  with  the  State  Univer- 
sity of  Iowa,  through  which  any  city  or  town  could  be  exam- 
ined without  charge.  Also  at  the  famous  Institute  in  1906 
he  delivered  a  lecture  on  rural  hygiene  and  sanitation. 

Dr.  Valenta  is  a  native  of  Johnson  county,  his  birth  occur- 
ring in  Big  Grove  township  in  1871.  His  parents  were  Wes- 
ley and  Anna  (Kuncl)  Valenta,  the  latter  deceased  in  1907. 
He  was  a  public  school  student  and  a  graduate  of  Iowa  City 
Academy  in  1889.  He  attended  the  Liberal  Arts  department 
of  the  State  University  of  Iowa  and  graduated  from  the  Med- 
ical Department  in  1896. 

The  doctor's  first  practice  was  in  Solon  in  1896,  and  his 
general  practice  began  in  Iowa  City  in  1901.  He  held  the 
position  of  city  health  officer  from  1902  to  1909.  In  1902  he 
organized  the  Iowa  Health  Officers  Association  and  was  its 
first  president.  His  connection  as  examining  physician  relates 
to  the  following  societies:  Fraternal  Bankers  Eeserve, 
Brotherhood  of  American  Yeomen,  Homesteaders,  Eo^-al 
Neighbors,  Modern  Woodmen  of  America,  Slovanska  Lipa, 
C.  S.  P.  S.  and  Catholic  Workmen;  also  to  the  National  Union 
and  Metropolitan  Life  Insurance  companies.  The  doctor  is 
a  member  of  St.  Wenceslaus  Catholic  church  and  secretary  of 
its  board  of  trustees.  His  j:>rofessional  relations  are  with  the 
Johnson  County  Medical  Society,  Iowa  State  Medical  Society, 
and  the  American  Medical  Association.  During  the  year  of 
1901  he  was  editor  of  "Midland  ]\[unicipalit:ies  Magazine," 
the  official  publication  of  the  League  of  Iowa  Municipalities. 


CHRISTIAN  GAULOCHER 

At  twenty-three  years  of  age  Christian  Gauloclier  left  his 
native  land.  Prussia,  and  came  to  New  Jersey,  U.  S.  A.  His 
birthday  was  November  20,  1840,  and  his  parents  were  Simon 


134         HISTOEY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

and  Josephine  (Rnff)  Ganloelier.  The  yonng  emigrant  re- 
mained in  New  Jersey  only  two  years.  Then  he  came  west- 
ward to  Iowa  City,  where  he  at  once  engaged  in  the  mannfac- 
ture  of  brick.  That  was  in  1865,  and  from  that  time  to  the 
present,  a  period  of  forty-six  years,  he  has  continued  in  the 
same  business.  The  firm  of  Christian  Gaulocher  &  Son,  brick 
manufacturers,  722  North  Lucas  street,  Iowa  City,  is  kno^vn 
far  and  near  throughout  Johnson  county  and  the  state  of 
Iowa.  The  Gaulocher  product  has  entered  into  the  construc- 
tion of  most  of  the  business  houses  aud  residences  of  Iowa 


RESIDENCE    OF    CHRISTIAN    GAULOCHER 


City  and  into  many  structures  throughout  the  couuty  aud 
state.  Gaulocher  brick  enters  into  the  pavements  and  via- 
ducts and  sewers  of  Iowa  City.  Christian  Gaulocher  has  liter- 
ally covered  his  community  with  the  evidences  of  his  handi- 
craft. 

In  the  year  1873  our  subject  was  married  to  Miss  Teresa 
Drews,  a  resident  of  Johnson  county  but  a  native  of  Germany. 
She  came  to  America  with  her  parents  in  1866,  and  settled  in 
Iowa  City,  where  she  has  lived  ever  since.  Her  father  was 
a  tailor  by  trade,  and  he  carried  on  his  business  in  Iowa  City 


BIOGRAPHICAL  135 

until  his  death.  Both  the  parents  of  Teresa  Drews  are  buried 
at  Iowa  City.  Mr.  and  ^Vfrs.  Gaulocher  have  had  nine  children, 
seven  of  whom  are  dead:  Emma,  born  December  31,  1872, 
died  when  a  baby;  Elizabeth,  born  in  1874,  died  in  young- 
womanhood  in  March,  1897;  Hulda,  born  May  6,  1875,  died 
April  6,  1893;  Harry,  born  in  1877,  died  November  12,  1896; 
Edward,  born  May  G,  1878,  died  March  9,  1879 ;  Hattie,  born 
December  14,  1879,  died  January  19,  1894;  Carl,  the  only  liv- 
ing* son,  born  in  Iowa  City  June  23, 1881,  associated  in  business 
with  his  father,  married  February  6,  1907,  to  Miss  Rosa  Ebert, 
a  native  of  Iowa  City,  has  one  daughter,  Mary  Gretchen.  He 
is  now  councilman  from  the  third  ward.  Clara,  the  only  liv- 
ing daughter,  now  Mrs.  C.  I.  Potter,  she  and  her  husband  liv- 
ing with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gaulocher,  have  twin  daughters,  Ruba 
and  Ruth,  born  September  15,  1910. 

Mr.  Gaulocher  was  elected  councilman  on  the  democratic 
ticket  for  two  terms  from  the  third  ward,  and  has  held  other 
positions  of  trust  in  local  affairs.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Ger- 
man Aid  Societv,  of  which  he  was  treasurer  for  a  good  manv 
years.  The  family  are  members  and  attendants  of  the  Ger- 
man Lutheran  church. 

In  tracing  the  life  story  of  Mr.  Gaulocher  we  find  an  exam- 
ple of  what  may  be  accomplished  by  integrity  of  purpose,  in- 
dustry, tenacity  of  will,  and  strict  honesty.  He  began  his 
career  in  life  with  only  a  pair  of  willing  hands  and  an  honest 
determination  and  has  steadily  progressed  until  he  has  secured 
not  only  a  competency  but  an  unblemished  name  and  char- 
acter, a  heritage  of  honor,  and  the  fragrance  of  a  life  well 
lived,  and  days  well  spent. 


STEPHEN  BRADLEY 

Stephen  Bradley  was  born  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  December 
26,  1850.  His  parents  were  Timothy  and  Mary  Bradley,  both 
of  whom  were  born  in  Ireland.  Mr.  Bradley's  father  died  a 
few  years  ago  at  the  age  of  84  and  his  mother  died  fifteen 
years  ago,  aged  72. 

With  his  parents  he  came  to  Iowa  City  July  4,  1856,  where 
he  lived  until  April  1,  1869,  when  he  moved  to  Hardin  town- 


136         HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  TOWA 

ship,  Johnson  county,  Iowa.  Here  lie  farmed  and  taught 
school  until  January  1,  1881.  In  the  November  election  of 
1880  he  was  elected  clerk  of  courts  of  Johnson  County  and 
served  three  terms,  until  January  1,  1887,  and  as  deputy  clerk 
until  August,  1888,  when  he  began  the  practice  of  law  in  Iowa 
City,  in  which  he  has  been  engaged  ever  since. 

Mr.  Bradley  is  affiliated  with  the  democratic  party  and  al- 
though he  has  never  considered  himself  in  the  political  field, 
yet  he  has  received  many  political  honors.  While  living  in 
Hardin  township  he  was  elected  clerk  and  assessor,  and  sec- 
retary and  treasurer  of  the  school  board  of  the  township,  and 


RESIDEKCE  OF  STEPHEN  BRADLEV 


has  since  been  councilman  of  the  first  ward  of  Iowa  City  for 
two  terms. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  A.  0.  H.  No.  1,  of  Iowa  City,  and  of 
the  B.  P.  0.  E.  592,  of  Iowa  City.  He  is  a  member  of  St.  Pat- 
rick's Catholic  church,  of  Iowa  City. 

In  March,  1878,  Mr.  Bradley  was  married  to  Mary  Cusack. 
Mrs.  Bradley  was  born  August  15,  1858,  in  Johnson  county, 
Iowa.  Her  parents  were  Lawrence  and  Katherine  Cusack, 
both  of  whom  were  natives  of  Ireland  and  came  to  this  country 
with  their  parents  when  small  children. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cusack  were  married  in  Chicago  and  came 


BIOGEAPHICAL  137 

to  Johnson  county  in  1855  and  lived  in  Oxford,  wliere  Mr. 
Cusack  died  and  where  Mrs.  Cusack  is  still  living. 

Mr.  Bradley  is  now  associated  in  the  practice  of  the  law  with 
Judge  John  J.  Ney. 


ROBERT  B.  GRAHAM 

There  is  always  a  peculiar  connection  between  a  man's 
name  and  his  occupation  or  the  business  he  is  engaged  in. 
Especially  is  this  true  when  the  business  has  been  long  estab- 
lished under  the  same  management.  For  instance,  the  name 
of  Graham  and  livery.  The  ' '  Graham  Livery  "  is  so  thorough- 
ly identical  with  the  business  interests  of  Iowa  City  that  it  is 
almost  impossible  to  think  of  one  without  the  association  of 
the  other.  To  think  of  Graham  it  is  so  very  natural  to  imme- 
diately think  of  the  livery  business,  and  if  one's  attention  is 
called  to  the  livery  business  it  is  at  once  associated  with  the 
name  of  Bob  Graham.  Proliably  no  other  man  in  the  county 
is  better  or  more  favorably  known  than  Mr.  Graham. 

Robert  B.  Graham  was  born  in  Coshocton  county,  Ohio, 
August  8,  18-1-5.  His  parents  were  Benjamin  and  Jane  (Love) 
Graham.  Benjamin  Graham  was  born  in  Ireland,  and  came  to 
America  with  his  parents  when  three  weeks  old.  He  used  to 
remark  that  "he  began  life  at  an  early  age."  The  family  set- 
tled first  in  Pennsylvania;  afterwards  moving  to  Ohio,  and  on 
October  1, 1819,  the  young  couple  left  their  Buckeye  home  and 
started  for  Iowa,  taking  with  them  young  "Bob,"  age  two,  and 
Caroline,  then  just  past  four  years  of  age.  They  landed  at  Du- 
buque thirty-one  days  later.  Prior  to  their  arrival  in  Illinois, 
the  family  made  a  tour  of  Wisconsin,  but  not  being  satisfied 
with  conditions  in  the  Badger  state,  came  to  Iowa  and  stopped 
for  awhile  at  Vinton,  where  they  had  friends.  Thence  they 
came  on  to  Iowa  City,  arriving  in  the  month  of  November, 
1849.  From  that  time  to  the  present ' '  Bob ' '  Graham  has  never 
been  outside  of  Johnson  county  at  any  one  time  longer  than 
three  and  one-half  months.  This  proves  that  the  county; 
"looked  good  to  him"  from  the  beginning  and  all  the  way 
through. 

Benjamin  Graham  was  an  influential  man  in  the  county  in 


138         HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

his  day,  being  one  of  the  largest  land  owners  and  most  public 
spirited  men  of  his  time.  Everything  relating  to  the  welfare 
of  the  county  and  the  betterment  of  conditions  enlisted  his 
cooperation.  At  the  time  of  liis  death,  April  18, 1882,  he  owned 
1,013  acres  of  land  in  Johnson  county.  Six  children  were 
born  to  Benjamin  and  Jane  Graham,  our  subject  being  the 
oldest.  The  others  are:  Caroline  S.,  now  Mrs.  A.  W.  Bradley, 
of  Chicago:  James  K.,  residing  in  Iowa  City;  xVnnie  E.,  now 
Mrs.  Ed  Long,  of  Cedar  Eapids ;  Josephine  and  Louise,  twins, 
the  former  now  Mrs.  J.  F.  Hill,  of  Iowa  City,  and  the  latter 
Mrs.  F.  J.  Long,  of  Iowa  City.  ]\Iother  Graham  died  April 
1, 1904. 

After  securing  a  good  fundamental  education  in  the  country 
schools,  our  subject  engaged  in  farming  in  Scott  township, 
and  continued  therein  until  1883.  In  that  year  he  moved  to 
Iowa  City.  In  1885,  however,  he  returned  to  the  farm,  where 
he  remained  for  fourteen  years.  November  9,  1899,  he  bought 
the  livery  and  stock  business  where  he  was  located  until  March 
6,  1912,  217-221  East  Washing-ton  street.  His  son,  Harry  L., 
is  now  associated  with  him  in  the  business  under  the  firm  name 
of  Graham  &  Son. 

On  December  14,  1871,  Mr.  Graham  was  married  to  Miss 
Nancy  A.  Pringey,  a  native  of  Virginia,  who  came  to  Iowa  with 
her  parents  when  a  child.  The  Pringeys  settled  in  Muscatine 
county,  where  the  mother  died  in  1868.  The  father  died  No- 
vember 25,  1911,  at  the  age  of  ninety-three.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Graham  have  five  children :  Luella,  residing  at  home ;  Harry  L., 
in  business  with  his  father;  Albert  B.,  associated  with  C.  R. 
Owen  in  the  C.  0.  D.  laundry  in  Iowa  City;  Leroy,  a  student  in 
the  Dental  Department  S.  U.  I;  Laura  Elsie,  living  at  home, 
graduate  of  the  Iowa  City  Commercial  college. 

Our  subject  is  liberal  as  to  local  politics  and  republican  on 
national  issues.  He  is  a  Knight  Templar  and  a  member  of 
the  B.  P.  0.  E.  of  Iowa  City.  ]\[rs.  Graham  and  daughter  Lu- 
ella are  members  of  the  Eastern  Star. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  139 

JOHN  ALFRED  ALMA  PICKERING 

John  A.  A,  Pickering  was  a  child  two  years  of  age  when  he 
arrived  in  Iowa  City  in  the  spring  of  1857  in  company  with 
his  parents,  George  and  Mary  A.  (Watson)  Pickering,  natives 
of  Warwickshire,  England.  He  was  an  infant  in  arms  when 
the  family  left  their  native  conntry  for  the  tedions,  six-weeks' 
voyage  by  sailing  vessel  for  New  York.  After  arrival  at  the 
new  world  metropolis  the  family  remained  there  for  three 
months,  at  the  end  of  which  time  they  went  to  Rahway,  New 
Jersey,  and  resided  one  and  one-half  years  in  that  state.  Then 
they  made  the  westward  move  which  brought  them  to  Iowa 
City,  where  the  father  and  mother  and  one  of  their  three 
children  (our  subject)  still  reside.  Father  and  Mother  Pick- 
ering have  both  reached  the  venerable  age  of  eighty  years, 
but  are  alert  and  active,  and  take  great  comfort  in  their  beau- 
tiful pioneer  home  at  518  South  Gilbert  street.  The  garden 
and  lawn  of  George  Pickering  are  famous  for  their  beauty; 
their  care  and  oversight  are  matters  of  extreme  pride  on  his 
part. 

George  Pickering  was  born  in  Warwickshire,  England,  ^lay 
9, 1831.  His  parents  were  John  and  Anna  Pickering,  also  na- 
tives of  Warwickshire,  who  removed  to  America  and  died  and 
were  buried  at  Salt  Lake  Citv,  Utah.  Three  sons  and  three 
daughters  were  born  to  John  and  Anna  Pickering,  of  whom 
two  survive,  George,  and  Jane,  wife  of  John  Segar,  of  Salt 
Lake  City.  The  marriage  of  George  Pickering  to  Mary  A. 
Watson  took  place  at  Stratford-on-Avon,  England,  June  6, 
1853.  His  wife  is  the  daughter  of  Jolm  Watson  and  Mary  A. 
Harrison,  and  was  born  March  23,  1831.  Three  children  were 
born  to  George  and  Mary  Pickering :  John'  A.  A.,  our  sub- 
ject; Mary  Louise,  wife  of  Dr.  J.  A.  Williams,  of  Wayne,  Ne- 
braska ;  William  James,  married  to  Elizabeth  Benton,  residing 
at  Seattle,  Washington,  father  of  two  children.  May  and  Nina. 
Reference  has  already  been  made  to  the  removal  of  the  family 
from  England  to  America.  Grandmother  Pickering,  who  is 
also  a  great-grandmother,  takes  pride  in  the  fact  that  she  is 
one  of  the  original  charter  members  of  the  Protestant  Epis- 
copal church  of  Iowa  City.     Father  Pickering,  in  his  early 


140        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

days  in  Iowa  City,  was  employed  by  the  old  Cannon  family 
and  by  the  Morgan  family. 

John  A.  A.  Pickering  was  born  March  2,  ]  855,  at  Leaming- 
ton, "Warwickshire,  England.  His  education  was  received  in 
the  ward  schools  of  Iowa  City.  xVfter  mastering  the  common 
branches  he  began  clerking,  at  the  age  of  thirteen,  for  C.  M. 
Reno,  who  had  just  opened  a  queensware  business  on  East 
Washingion  street  at  what  is  now  the  site  of  the  Western 
Union  Telegraph  office.  After  clerking  for  Mr.  Reno  ten 
years,  young  Pickering  bought  out  his  employer  and  after 


EESIDENCE  or  THE  LATE  JOHN  ALFRED  ALMA  PICKERING 

three  years  removed  the  store  to  the  corner  of  South  Dubu- 
que and  East  College  streets,  the  present  site  of  the  Citizens 
Savings  and  Trust  Company.  At  that  location  Mr.  Pickering- 
branched  out  into  a  department  store  and  became  a  wholesaler, 
retailer,  and  importer  of  china,  glass,  and  fancy  goods,  toys, 
etc.  For  twenty-six  years  he  continued  at  the  last  named  lo- 
cation and  then  removed  to  119-121  East  College  street,  where 
he  occupied  two  floors  22x80  and  carried  on  a  trade  unsur- 
passed in  popularity  by  any  store  of  the  city.  The  business 
was  originally  known  as  ''China  Hall,"  and  this  name, 
through  long  association,  still  clings  to  the  store  and  its  pro- 
prietor. 

Mr.  Pickering  was  the  father  of  six  children.     Tlie  names  of 


BIOGRAPHICAL  141 

the  children,  in  the  order  of  birth,  are :  John  Cleveland  (named 
for  President  Cleveland)  ;  Geneva,  wife  of  George  Ellis  Kenny, 
mother  of  two  children,  John  J.  and  William  Harold ;  George 
W.  E.,  his  father's  assistant  in  the  store;  Arthur  A.,  married, 
father  of  one  child ;  Mar jorie  Louise,  and  Dorothy,  residing  at 
at  home.     The  family  are  members  of  the  Episcopal  church. 

The  Pickering  family  home  is  located  at  610  Brown  street, 
and  is  the  old  homestead  of  Banker  Downey,  deceased,  one  of 
the  pioneer  financiers  of  Johnson  county.  The  place  is  one 
of  the  landmarks  of  Iowa  City  and  occupies  ten  acres.  The  old 
timbers  which  were  hewn  for  the  residence  are  still  intact; 
indeed,  except  for  the  replacing  of  the  small  window  lights 
with  modern  patterns,  the  house  looks  the  same  as  of  yore. 
Mrs.  Downey,  who  revisited  the  old  home  recently,  declared 
that  everything  looked  quite  familiar  to  her.  Two  of  the  old 
fruit  trees  set  out  by  Banker  Downey  still  bear  fruit.  As  high 
as  twenty -two  bushels  of  pears  in  a  single  season  have  been 
taken  therefrom.  The  excellence  of  the  ''Pickering  pears"  is 
well  known  by  all  the  neighbors,  old  and  new.  Our  subject 
died  December  15,  1911,  and  was  buried  in  Oakland  cemetery. 


JOHN  SUEPPEL,  SR. 
Deceased 

^'His  life  was  gentle  and  all  the  elements 
So  mix' din  him  that  Nature  might  stand  up 
And  sag,  This  was  a  man." 

The  greatest  monument  to  the  memory  of  any  human  life 
is  a  record  of  worthy  character,  of  good  deeds  accomplished. 
No  granite  shaft  can  tell  the  story :  it  must  be  engraved  upon 
the  page  of  history  as  recorded  in  the  hearts  and  minds  of 
men. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  a  person  whose  character  left 
a  deep  impression  upon  the  community  in  which  he  moved 
and  his  departure  from  the  scenes  of  active  life  leaves  a  va- 
cancy that  must  long  be  realized.  His  watchful  care  and  zeal 
and  good  faith  in  every  official  position  of  life  won  for  him 
the  confidence  and  respect  of  all  who  knew  him.  His  loyalty 
to  home,  friends,  and  fraternal  relations  displayed  his  great 


142         HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

moral  worth  and  won  him  the  admiration  and  love  of  these 
associates  with  him.  He  never  sowed  to  the  wind,  neither  did 
immorality  of  any  kind  find  lodgment  in  his  pure  mind.  Noth- 
ing dishonorable  or  untruthful  was  ever  charged  against  him, 
but  in  every  department  of  life  he  walked  uprightly  before  God 
and  man,  squaring  his  actions  by  the  square  of  justice,  ever 
remembering  that  he  was  traveling  upon  a  level  of  time  to  a 
brighter,  purer  sphere  than  this. 

John  Sueppel  was  born  October  8,  1836,  at  Muersbach, 
Landgericht  Bannach,  Koeigriech  Bacom.  With  his  parents 
he  came  to  America  in  1853,  and  the  family  settled  at  Erie, 
Pa.  Three  years  later,  being  then  nineteen  years  of  age,  he 
became  imbued  with  a  desire  to  try  his  fortune  in  the  farther 
west  and  in  a  newer  country,  so  bidding  adieu  to  the  paternal 
home  he  came  to  Iowa  City.  He  arrived  there  on  New  Year's 
day,  1855,  and  soon  became  identified  with  the  business  in- 
terests of  the  pioneer  town,  and  for  forty  years  conducted  suc- 
cessfully different  commercial  enterprises,  part  of  the  time  dry 
goods  and  later  the  grocery  business.  Forty  years  in  business 
in  Iowa  City  is  a  long  record  for  any  man,  but  the  career  of 
Mr.  Sueppel  did  not  comprise  the  accumulation  of  wealth 
alone  but  embraced  a  desire  to  benefit  mankind  and  advance 
the  welfare  of  the  community.  He  was  public  spirited  in  every 
sense  of  the  word,  anxious  to  aid  and  encourage  the  growth 
and  upbuilding  of  his  city.  He  was  proud  of  his  state,  his 
county,  and  of  Iowa  City  and  her  educational  institutions, 
parochial  schools  and  hospitals. 

He  was  city  treasurer  from  1876-1877  and  in  1877  was  elect- 
ed county  treasurer,  whicli  office  he  held  for  four  years.  He 
was  one  of  the  leading  citizens  instrumental  in  securing  the 
fine  Carnegie  library.  He  was  one  of  the  principal  founders 
of  the  Roman  Catholic  Mutual  Protection  Society,  which  from 
a  small  beginning  has  grown  into  a  state-wide  organization 
with  over  4,000  members,  including  also  a  number  of  l)ranches 
in  adjoining  states,  and  which  by  securing  protection  and  sup- 
port to  the  widows  and  children  of  its  beneficiaries  is  doing  a 
noble  work  of  charity  and  blessing  that  not  only  brings  a  great 
reward  upon  its  founders  and  supporters,  but  is  of  incalculable 
value  and  benefit  to  humanity.  So  great  was  the  esteem  of  the 
members  of  the  society  for  his  financial  abilitv  that  thev 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


143 


elected  liiiii  one  of  the  directors  of  the  state  board  and  re- 
tained him  in  that  position  nntil  his  death,  when  he  was  then 
in  the  beginning  of  his  fifteenth  year  of  service.  In  1881  Mr. 
Sueppel  was  elected  treasurer  and  secretary  of  the  R.  C.  ^\. 
P.  S.,  and  held  that  office  for  ten  years. 

For  over  thirty  years  he  held  some  responsible  office  in  the 
management  of  the  Catholic  church.  He  was  an  active  mem- 
ber of  St.  Mary's  Gentlemen's  Sodality  and  never  missed  a 
communion  Sunday  while  able  to  attend.  He  was  a  member 
of  St.  Joseph's  Benevolent  Society  and  the  Knights  of  Colum- 


RESIDENCE  OF  JOHN   SUEPPEL,  SE. 

bus,  and  was  ever  devoted  to  the  noble  principles  of  fraternity 
and  Catholicy  which  that  order  inculcates.  His  wife  was  a 
charter  member  of  Rosary  Society. 

Mr.  Sueppel  was  married  September  '12,  1859,  to  Miss 
Catherine  Robert,  daughter  of  Wolfgang  and  Katlierine 
(Shellhorn)  Robert,  natives  of  Bavaria,  who  came  to  America 
on  a  sailing  vessel,  and  after  an  eight  week's  voyage  landed 
at  Baltimore,  Maryland,  July  4.  From  Baltimore  they  came 
by  rail  and  canal  to  Havre  de  Grace,  and  then  over  the  Alle- 


144         HISTOEY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

gheny  MouDtains  by  elevated  railway  to  Pittsburg  and  then 
down  the  Ohio  river  by  steamer  to  Cincinnati  and  St.  Lonis. 
From  St.  Lonis  they  proceeded  by  steamer  up  the  Mississippi 
river  to  Burlington,  Iowa,  and  then  across  the  wild  prairie 
country  ynih  an  ox  team  to  Johnson  county.  They  crossed 
the  English  river  at  the  present  site  of  Riverside,  and  finally 
arriving  at  Old  Man's  creek  in  Sharon  township  they  estab- 
lished their  pioneer  habitation  in  the  woods.  They  first  located 
on  section  Hi,  and  lived  for  a  time  in  true  pioneer  style  in  a  log 
house  made  of  big  round  logs  put  tog-ether  with  wooden  pegs  in 
place  of  nails.  They  lived  here  on  a  small  farm  of  fifty  acres 
for  about  two  years.  They  then  moved  to  a  difl^erent  location 
on  the  same  section  where  they  built  a  larger  house  and  here 
they  made  their  home  for  fifteen  years.  During  some  part  of 
this  time  Wolfgang  Robert  and  his  son  Adam  worked  on  the 
state  capitol  then  building  and  walked  from  the  farm  back  and 
forth  to  their  work,  a  distance  of  ten  miles. 

On  September  12,  1901,  Mr,  and  Mrs.  John  Sueppel  cele- 
brated their  forty-second  anniversary.  The  following  notice 
regarding  the  event  appeared  in  a  local  paper : 

"There  were  no  demonstrations  and  no  formal  observance 
of  the  happy  event  but  the  bride  and  groom  received  many 
congratulations  from  the  many  warm  friends  who  recalled  the 
fact  that  the  veteran  grocer  and  his  estimable  wife  had  been 
pronounced  one  September  12,  1859.  The  bride  resided  then 
at  Old  Man's  Creek,  and  the  young  groom,  though  not  an  im- 
personator of  Leander,  who  swam  the  Hellespont  for  his  loved 
one  or  Lochinvar  who  bore  his  bride  away  on  the  fleet  steed, 
Mr.  Sueppel  in  claiming  his  bride  called  to  mind  both  the  an- 
cient and  modern  gallant.  To  bring  Miss  Robert  to  Iowa  City 
where  Rev.  Father  Emmons  might  pronounce  the  words  that 
made  the  couple  husband  and  wife  it  was  necessary  for  the 
prospective  groom  to  ford  the  Iowa  river,  and  of  course  the 
ever  ready  friend  at  hand  played  an  important  part  in  that 
journey  to  the  west  side.  The  lower  river  bridge  was  then 
building  and  the  abutments  going  into  place.  The  contractor 
was  a  former  sheriff  of  Johnson  county  —  Marshal  Scott 
Wilson's  father,  by  the  way.  Thus  the  young  man  found  it 
incumbent  upon  him  to  drive  thru  the  rolling  waters  of  the 
Iowa  and  he  accomplished  this  feat  without  hesitation.     He 


BIOGRAPHICAL  1-15 

brought  his  sweetheart,  the  priest  was  summoned  and  the 
young  woman  now  a  noble  wife  and  mother  became  Mrs. 
Sneppel." 

Mr.  Sueppel  was  a  man  of  strong  purpose,  high  minded,  the 
essence  of  honor,  with  a  strengtli  and  warmth  of  sjnipathy 
that  made  kindred  and  friendly  ties  especially  strong.  His 
life  was  one  of  vigor.  Activity  was  as  essential  to  him  as  the 
air  he  breathed.  All  who  knew  him  will  bear  testimony  to 
his  memory.  A  man  of  strong  mental  force,  his  unerring 
.judgment  marked  him  from  his  fellows  and  only  good  motives 
actuated  his  conduct.  His  life  of  fortitude  stands  as  a  model 
of  worthy  emulation  by  a  rising  generation. 

On  Thursday,  February  23,  1905,  he  laid  down  the  burdens 
and  cares  of  earthly  life  and  his  soul  passed  out  through  the 
gateway  of  immortality  to  his  eternal  rest.  The  funeral  cor- 
tege from  the  church  to  the  cemetery  was  a  long  and  impres- 
sive procession.  The  four  societies  of  which  the  deceased  was 
a  member  attended  the  obsequies  in  a  body.  Court  had  been 
adjourned  as  a  mark  of  respect  for  the  departed  former  pub- 
lic official  and  the  city  and  county  authorities  assisted  at  the 
services.  So  great  were  the  throngs  of  people  that  sought 
entrance  that  the  big  church  edifice  was  quickly  filled  to  over- 
flowing so  that  many  could  not  obtain  admittance.  The  dense- 
ly crowded  auditorium  and  array  of  prominent  priests  in  the 
sanctuary  with  Et.  Rev.  James  Davis,  D.  I).,  coadjutor  bishoj) 
of  Davenport,  made  an  impressive  scene,  a  silent  but  forceful 
demonstration  of  the  high  regard  of  clergy  and  laymen  for  the 
lamented  departed.  It  was  the  largest  funeral  seen  in  Iowa 
City  for  many  years.  The  sanctuary  rail  and  the  casket  were 
covered  with  a  profusion  of  magnificent  floral  tributes  from 
the  familv  and  friends. 


RALPH  OTTO 


The  centennial  year  and  month  of  American  independence 
witnessed  the  birth,  in  Iowa  City,  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 
It  was  fourteen  days  subsequent  to  the  national  anniversary 
however,  that  the  hearts  of  Max  Otto  and  Katherine  Mcln- 
nery  were  gladdened  b}^  the  arrival  of  their  first  son,  Rali)h, 


146         HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

who  was  the  fourth  child  of  the  family,  three  daughters, 
Agnes,  Clementine,  and  Mary,  having  preceded  him.  Later 
the  stork  made  three  visits  to  the  liousehold  bearing  Joseph, 
Lucia,  and  Helen.  These  seven  children  had  a  worthy  father 
and  mother  in  Max  and  Katherine  Otto,  a  happy  union  of  Ger- 
man and  Irish  blood  which,  under  the  favorable  conditions 
existent  in  the  American  great  west,  is  productive  of  progres- 
sive progeny. 

Max  Otto  was  a  native  of  Germany,  and  saw  the  light  of 
day  on  Christmas,  1842,  near  Dusseldorf.     Katherine  Mcln- 


EESIDENCE  OF  EALPH  OTTO 


nery,  his  wife,  was  born  in  Ireland,  August  13,  ]843,  and  came 
to  Iowa  in  1854.  The  former  received  a  liberal  education  in 
Dusseldorf,  and  when  twenty-four  years  of  age  came  to  Amer- 
ica, reaching  Iowa  City  in  the  latter  part  of  1866,  where  he  at 
once  entered  upon  active  work  as  a  school  teacher  in  the  build- 
ing in  the  northern  part  of  the  city,  which  afterwards  was 
known  as  the  Convent  School,  corner  of  Brown  and  Johnson 
streets.  Five  years  later  he  began  business  as  a  dealer  in 
musical  instruments  and  taught  music  in  connection  therewith. 
His  classical  German  education  had  fitted  him  for  the  work  of 


BIOGRAPHICAL  147 

instruction,  and  coupled  with  this  he  possessed  the  most  deli- 
cate and  discriminative  natural  taste,  the  whole  combining  to 
make  him  one  of  the  most  competent  and  popular  instructors 
of  the  west.  Throughout  his  life,  though  in  after  years  active 
in  other  lines,  his  love  and  taste  for  music  were  preserved. 
Perceiving  the  necessity  for  a  German  newspaper  in  this  sec- 
tion of  Iowa,  in  1881  he  established  the  Iowa  City  Post,  which 
he  conducted  with  ability  until  his  death  twelve  years  later. 
Mr.  Otto  was  called  to  the  responsibilities  of  public  office  in  the 
spring  of  1882,  when  he  was  elected  city  clerk,  an  office  to 
which  he  was  re-elected  in  1883,  '84,  '85,  and  '86,  making  a 
consecutive  term  of  office  longer  than  that  of  any  previous  in- 
cumbent. In  1887  he  was  elected  to  the  office  of  clerk  of  the  dis- 
trict court  of  Johnson  county,  being  re-elected  to  second  and 
third  terms  without  opposition,  and  receiving  the  nomination 
of  his  party  by  acclamation.  In  addition  to  discharging  the 
duties  of  the  two  offices  above  mentioned,  Mr.  Otto  served  as 
a  member  of  the  Iowa  City  school  board.  His  marriage  to 
Miss  Mclnnery  took  place  April  4,  1869.  She  was  a  school 
teacher  in  Iowa  City  for  six  years,  doing  her  work  in  a  two- 
story  brick  building,  which,  on  being  burned  in  1869,  was  re- 
placed by  a  new  brick,  and  the  school  work  continued  therein 
by  Mrs.  Otto  until  1871.  Max  Otto  died  March  14,  1893,  and 
the  Johnson  County  Bar  Association  adopted  very  complimen- 
tary resolutions,  reciting  his  sterling  character  and  invaluable 
public  services  as  clerk  of  the  district  court.  Mrs.  Otto  is 
still  living. 

Ralph  Otto  is  a  graduate  of  the  Iowa  City  high  school  and 
of  the  Department  of  Liberal  Arts,  S.  U.  L,  1898,  and  the  De- 
partment of  Law,  1900.  The  year  of  his  graduation  he  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  and  began  the  practice  of  law  in  his  native 
city,  continuing  without  interruption  until  the  present  time. 
That  he  is  a  worthy  son  of  a  worthy  sire  is  proven  by  the  fact 
that  he  was  chosen  as  mayor  of  Iowa  City  and  filled  that  office 
and  professor  of  law  at  his  alma  mater.  His  legal  practice 
is  very  large,  and  his  property  holdings  in  the  city  and  county 
are  extensive. 

His  marriage  to  Miss  Alma  Moffitt,  of  Iowa  City,  took  place 
July  29,  1903.  The  bride  was  born  in  this  city  November  9, 
1878,  her  parents  being  of  English  descent.     One  daughter, 


148         HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

Gretelien,  four  years  of  age,  brightens  the  home  at  415  East 
Brown  street. 

Joseph  M.  Otto,  the  second  son,  brother  of  Ralph,  was  born 
at  Iowa  City  September  29,  1878.  He  graduated  from  the 
Iowa  City  high  school  in  1894  and  from  the  Department  of 
Liberal  Arts,  S.  U.  I.  in  the  class  of  1898.  He  served  as  dep- 
uty clerk  of  the  district  court  until  1901,  when  he  became  dep- 
uty count}^  auditor,  serving  for  about  one  year.  Thereafter 
he  became  assistant  cashier  of  the  Citizens  Savings  &  Trust 
Company,  holding  this  position  until  1908.  He  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  in  1906,  and  has  been  an  active  practitioner  ever 
since.  He  is  a  member  of  B.  P.  O.  E.  and  Knights  of  Colum- 
bus. 

Of  the  five  daughters  of  Max  Otto,  Agnes  is  supervisor  of 
drawing  in  the  Iowa  City  public  schools  and  Lucia  is  a  teacher 
in  the  high  school. 

The  student  of  biography  cannot  fail  of  being  impressed 
by  the  rise  and  progress  of  this  family  in  America.  The  sit- 
uation is  one  fraught  with  compliment  alike  to  the  talented 
and  energetic  German  father  and  his  no  less  talented  and  vig- 
orous Irish  wife  and  to  the  gifted  children  who  have  brought 
honor  and  further  distinction  to  the  name  of  Otto;  but  it  is 
also  a  significant  commentary  upon  the  great  country  of  lib- 
erty, where  the  social,  educational,  and  economic  conditions 
make  such  successes  possible.  "A  Lesson  in  American  Fam- 
ily Development"  miglit  fittingly  be  the  title  of  this  brief  story 
of  Max  Otto  and  his  descendants. 


ALBERT  HE]^IMER 

One  of  the  honored  retired  merchants  of  Iowa  City  is  Al- 
bert Hemmer,  who  for  twenty  years,  from  1881  to  1902,  was 
engaged  in  the  dry  goods  business  in  the  University  City.  x\t 
that  time,  though  only  fifty  years  of  age,  he  withdrew  from 
active  business,  and  today,  in  the  prime  of  life,  resides  at  his 
home,  430  East  Bloomington  street.  Mr.  Hemmer  is  a  native 
of  Peoria,  Illinois,  the  date  of  his  birth  being  November  12, 
1855.  His  parents  were  Joseph  and  Margaret  TIemmer,  both 
of  whom  were  natives  of  German  v.     Thev  died  in  Illinois  and 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


149 


are  buried  there.  The  elder  Hemmer  was  by  trade  a  mill- 
wright, having  secured  a  thorough  knowledge  of  the  business 
in  Germany,  where  he  pursued  the  calling  prior  to  removing 
to  America.  Albert  also  was  an  expert  miller,  having  learned 
the  trade  in  Cresent  Flour  Mills,  Davenport,  in  1870,  and  when 
he  came  to  Johnson  county  in  1875  he  engaged  in  that  trade, 
continuing  in  the  same  line  for  ten  years. 

In  1877  Mr.  Hemmer  was  married  to  Miss  Marie  S.  Rupert^ 
a  native  of  Iowa  City,  whose  parents,  born  in  Germany,  were 
pioneers  of  Johnson  county,  having  located  in  1855.  Mr. 
Rupert  died  in  3874.  Tlie  mother  died  August  2(3,  1911,  at 
an  advanced  age  of  89  and  both  are  buried  in  Iowa  Citv. 


KESIDENCE  OF  ALBEET  HEMMEE 


Albert  Hemmer  and  wife  are  the  parents  of  three  children : 
Amelia,  born  August  17,  1878,  is  married  to  J.  S.  Mutchler 
and  resides  at  Harvard,  North  Dakota;  Mary,  born  July  5, 
1880,  is  married  to  A.  E.  ]\larquardt  and  resides  at  Lombard, 
Illinois;  Amil  John  G.,  born  December  24,  1882,  is  a  civil  en- 
gineer and  a  resident  of  Chicago. 

Mr.  Hemmer 's  business  life  has  always  been  characterized 
by  conservatism,  strict  integrity,  and  straightforwardness, 
though  his  methods  were  not  lacking  in  vigor  and  aggressive- 
ness, as  must  be  evident  from  his  long  continuation  as  one  of 
the  leading  merchants  of  Iowa  Citv.  The  inherent  honestv 
and  aliiJity  of  the  German  and  the  push  of  the  American  were 


150         HISTOEY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

happily  combined  in  him  in  the  making  of  a  sane,  responsible 
citizen.  In  politics  nationally  he  is  a  democrat,  though  he  has 
always  placed  citizenship  above  partisanship.  He  and  his  wife 
attend  the  German  Lutheran  church,  of  which  she  is  a  member. 
At  fifty-six,  conscious  of  having  wrought  well  in  the  years 
of  active  life,  he  is  in  that  state  of  mind  and  physical  health 
to  enable  him  to  thoroughly  enjoy  existence  and  take  an  active 
interest  in  the  current  affairs  of  his  city,  state,  and  nation. 
Among  his  neighbors,  who  are  unanimously  numbered  in  the 
category  of  his  personal  friends,  he  is  highly  esteemed — an 
indorsement  to  which  no  man  can  be  indifferent,  for  there  can 
be  no  better. 

Our  subject  served  efficiently  on  the  school  board  of  Iowa 
City  for  nine  years,  and  was  one  of  the  directors  of  the  old 
Iowa  City  National  bank.  He  was  assistant  assessor  of  Iowa 
City  for  eight  years  up  to  the  close  of  1911. 


SAMUEL  F.  LE  FEVRE 

Few  men  were  better  known  or  more  widely  respected  in 
Johnson  county  than  Samuel  Le  Fevre,  who,  while  a  capitalist, 
was  every  inch  a  man  of  .affairs  and  aggressive  in  his  efforts  to 
develop  the  city  and  county  of  his  adoption.  Mr.  LeFevre 
was  born  at  Paradise,  Lancaster  county,  Pennsylvania,  in 
1846.  His  death  occurred  at  his  residence  in  Iowa  City  on 
June  15, 1900.  Mr.  LeFevre,  though  strictly  speaking  a  finan- 
cier, had  a  great  fondness  for  agriculture,  and  though  not 
personally  an  adept  at  farming,  he  owned  a  large  farm  south- 
east of  Iowa  City,  which  he  took  great  pleasure  in  supervising. 
In  connection  with  T.  C.  Carson,  who  was  president  of  the 
Johnson  County  Savings  bank,  he  formed  a  partnership  in  a 
carriage  repository.  For  a  number  of  years  Mr.  Le  Fevre 
represented  his  ward  in  the  city  council  of  Iowa  City,  in  the 
affairs  of  which  he  exercised  a  distinctive  influence.  It  was 
his  invariable  rule  to  put  into  the  administraton  of  public 
business  the  same  industry  and  care  which  he  exercised  in  the 
management  of  his  private  interests.  This  trait  of  character 
brought  him  the  confidence  and  respect  of  his  fellow  citizens 
universally.     Fraternally  Mr.  Le  Fevre  was  a  member  of  the 


SAMUEL  LEFEVRE 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


151 


A.  F.  &  A.  M.  of  Iowa  City.     The  family  were  members  of  the 
Congregational  church. 

Mr.  Le  Fevre's  marriage  to  Miss  Anna  Lord  took  place  at 
Iowa  City.  The  latter  is  a  native  of  Maine,  and  came  with 
her  parents  to  Johnson  comity  in  .1870.  Her  family  settled 
in  Scott  township  on  a  farm  purchased  by  her  father.  This 
homestead  is  still  farmed  by  Mrs.  Le  Fevre's  only  brother, 
Frank  Lord.  Her  parents  spent  their  declining  years  at  the 
home  of  their  daughter  in  Iowa  City,  receiving  every  comfort 
that  could  be  provided  in  a  palatial  home.  Mrs.  Lord  died  in 
1886  and  Mr.  Lord  in  1893. 


RESIDENCE  OF  MRS.  ANNA  LEFEVRE 


One  son  was  born  to  Samuel  and  Anna  Le  Fevre,  Samuel 
Lord  Le  Fevre,  in  1886,  a  young  man  of  great  promise.  He 
was  a  graduate  of  the  Iowa  City  high  school,  and  at  his  death, 
in  his  nineteenth  year,  he  had  just  completed  the  freshman 
year  in  the  State  University  of  Iowa.  His'death  was  a  great 
sorrow  to  the  devoted  mother,  who  only  five  years  previously 
had  been  called  to  mourn  the  departure  of  her  beloved  husband. 

Samuel  Lord,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Le  Fevre,  was  born  in  Han- 
cock county,  Maine,  September  1,  1826.  Attracted  by  the  gold 
excitement  on  the  Pacific  coast,  he  went  to  California  in  1850, 
but  returned  to  Maine  in  1852  and  engaged  in  the  lumber  busi- 
ness. In  1857  he  removed  to  the  province  of  New  Brunswick, 
continuing  in  the  same  line  of  business  until  1860,  when  he 


152         HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

again  returned  to  the  bosom  of  bis  native  state.  His  next  and 
final  move  was  to  Jobnson  county,  Iowa,  in  1870,  in  company 
witb  bis  wife  (Emma  Smitb,  to  wbom  he  was  married  in  Maine 
in  1855)  and  bis  two  children,  Anna  and  Frank.  His  occupa- 
tion in  Jobnson  county,  until  bis  retirement,  was  farming,  a 
business  which  he  enjoyed. 


HERBERT  M.  THOMPSON 

From  the  schoolmaster's  desk  to  the  editorial  sanctum  is  an 
easy  and  natural  step.  There  is  no  better  post-graduate  course 
on  earth  than  the  newspaper  forum,  and  the  curriculum  of  this 
institution  is  peculiar  in  that  it  provides  for  no  day  of  gradu- 
ation; hence  in  the  great  College  of  Journalism  there  are  no 
alumni,  barring,  of  course,  those  fellows  who  have  become 
smitten  witb  the  extreme  unction  of  old  age.  Herbert  M. 
Thompson  was  a  successful  school  teacher  in  Iowa  for  thirteen 
years,  being  an  instructor  in  the  towns  of  Palo,  Shellsburg, 
Mondamin,  Thornton,  and  Solon.  In  the  latter  town  be  has 
been  principal  for  the  past  three  years,  and  for  the  year  1911, 
the  date  of  this  biography,  continues  to  bold  that  office.  On 
April  1,  1911,  however,  he  purchased  the  Solon  Economy,  the 
local  newspaper,  and  became  at  once  its  editor,  thus  making 
the  change  from  Three  R's  to  Fourth  Estate  without  undue 
shock.  In  connection  witb  bis  regular  school  work,  Mr.  Thomp- 
son spent  one  year  upon  the  lecture  platform,  and  for  a  num- 
ber of  years  was  an  instructor  at  teachers'  institutes  in  various 
places.  His  editorship  of  the  Economy,  with  the  injunction  of 
its  name  constantly  in  mind,  ought  to  give  him  the  opportunity 
for  extensive  usefulness. 

Our  subject  was  born  at  Shellsburg,  Iowa,  May  7,  1879,  and 
received  bis  fundamental  education  in  his  native  village, 
graduating  from  the  high  school.  Thereafter  be  took  up  the 
active  work  of  teaching,  adding  to  bis  store  of  practical  and 
technical  knowledg*e  by  attendance  at  summer  schools  in  sev- 
eral different  institutions.  His  parents  are  Rev.  J.  AY.  and 
Mary  (Sinnnons)  Thompson.  The  former  was  born  in  Tennes- 
see and  the  latter  in  Illinois.  Rev.  Mr.  Thompson  received  bis 
education  and  spent  the  early  part  of  bis  life  in  bis  native 


BIOCxRxVPHICAL  153 

state.  He  began  his  ministry  there.  Later  he  removed  to 
Illinois,  where  he  met  and  married  Mary  Simmons,  wlio  was  a 
native  of  Dallas.  Her  father,  Saninel  Simmons,  was  a  soldier 
in  the  Civil  War,  serving  three  and  one-half  years,  retiring 
from  active  service  on  account  of  a  serious  wound,  from  the 
effects  of  whicli  he  died  in  later  years.  Reverend  Thompson 
and  wife  removed  to  Iowa  about  thirtv-five  vears  ago  and  set- 
tied  at  Shellsburg.  Their  family  consisted  of  ten  children: 
Ollie,  now  Mrs.  W.  0.  Penrose,  of  Marshalltown,  Iowa;  Ed- 
ward S.,  engaged  in  boot  and  shoe  business  at  Omaha,  Nebras- 
ka ;  Mary  L.,  chief  buyer  for  Benson  &  Thorne,  retail  dealers 
in  ladies'  and  children's  furnishings,  at  Omaha;  Shirley  M., 
manager  of  the  Shellsburg  Lumber  Co.,  Shellsburg,  Iowa ;  our 
subject;  Maybelle  R.,  now  Mrs.  R.  E.  Browne,  whose  husband 
is  manager  of  the  S.  H.  Knox  5  and  10  cent  store  at  Buffalo, 
New  York;  Clifford  H.,  a  farmer,  residing  near  Shellsburg, 
Iowa ;  Maude,  who  died  at  the  age  of  nine  years ;  Grace  L.,  now 
Mrs.  C.  C,  Miller,  her  husband  being  a  representative  of  the 
International  Harvester  Co.,  residing  at  Shellsburg,  Iowa ; 
Winmfred,  wife  of  Lee  Cheney,  a  barber,  of  Cedar  Falls,  Iowa. 
Our  subject  was  married  in  1904  to  Miss  Alta  A.  Barlow, 
daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Barlow,  of  Palo,  Iowa.  Mrs. 
Thompson  is  a  native  daughter  of  Neliraska.  JMr.  Thompson 
is  of  the  democratic  political  faith,  and  being  a  man  of  intelli- 
gence, of  course  speaks  his  mind.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church. 


DR.  MARTIN  OSCAR' STAUCH 

A  graduate  of  the  Medical  Department  of  the  State  Uni- 
versity of  Iowa  in  the  class  of  1911,  Dr.  Martin  Oscar  Stanch, 
of  Solon,  Iowa,  is  just  entering  upon  the  practice  of  his  chosen 
profession.  His  friends,  having  in  mind  the  carefulness  of  his 
preparation  and  his  natural  fitness  for  the  work,  predict  for 
the  young  physician  a  career  of  great  usefulness,  and  to  this 
end  they  will  aid  him  by  an  abundance  of  good  wishes— -a 
valuable  asset  on  the  balance  sheet  of  any  young  man. 

Dr.  Stauch  is  a  native  lowan,  born  March  1,  1890,  in  Battle 
Creek,  Ida  county.    He  comes  of  fighting  stock.    His  father, 


154        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

Andrew  Stauch,  born  in  Germany  in  1850,  came  to  America  in 
1867,  making  the  voyage  in  a  sailing  vessel,  sixty  days  being 
consumed  in  the  journey.  His  first  stop  for  any  length  of  time 
was  in  Ohio,  from  which  state  he  enlisted  in  the  regular  army 
for  a  period  of  five  years.  Having  completed  his  term,  he  re- 
enlisted  for  another  five  years,  which  he  completed,  making  ten 
years  of  continuous  service  in  the  army.  During  this  period  he 
traveled  all  over  the  west  and  was  engaged  in  numerous  cam- 
paigns against  the  Indians,  having  many  miraculous  escapes. 
On  his  discharge  from  the  army,  he  settled  in  Ida  countj^,  Iowa, 
where  he  engaged  in  the  furniture  and  undertaking  business 
at  Battle  Creek,  continuing  therein  until  his  death,  January  22, 


HOME   OF   DR.    M.    O.    STAUCH 


1901.  He  married  Miss  Ameta  Peper,  who  bore  him  three  chil- 
dren :  our  subject ;  Elsie,  who  died  at  the  age  of  sixteen ;  and 
Marie,  who  is  now  attending  school  at  Battle  Creek  and  living 
with  her  widowed  mother. 

Our  subject  graduated  from  the  Battle  Creek  high  school  in 
1907,  thereafter  entering  the  Medical  Department  of  the  State 
University  of  Iowa,  graduating  in  1911,  as  before  stated.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Nu  Sigma  Nu,  an  international  medical  fra- 
ternity. For  three  years  he  was  a  member  of  the  second  de- 
tachment of  the  hospital  corps  of  the  Iowa  National  Guards, 
and  was  a  first  sergeant  when  he  received  his  discharge  in  Mav, 
1911. 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


155 


CHAELES  H.  SHIECLIFF 

''Once  a  postmaster,  always  a  postmaster,"  may  not  be  a 
postal  truism,  but  in  the  case  of  Charles  H.  Shircliff,  of  Solon, 
Iowa,  it  applies  almost  literally.  Beginning  as  a  young  man  in 
the  postoffice  at  Newark,  Ohio,  as  clerk,  Mr.  Shircliff  held  the 
position  of  "Nasby"  for  a  period  of  nearly  forty  years,  or 
until  his  retirement  eight  years  ago  to  reside  upon  his  farm 
near  Solon.  His  term  at  Newark  was  two  years  prior  to  1853, 
in  which  year  he  removed  with  his  father's  family  to  Johnson 
county,  Iowa.  On  arrival,  our  subject  entered  the  general 
store  of  Mr.  McCune,  at  Solon,  in  which  the  postoffice  was  then 
located,  and,  of  course,  his  knowledge  of  the  mail  service  was 
put  into  immediate  practical  use  in  his  new  position.    He  con- 


EESIDENCE  OF  CHAELES  H.  SHIKCLTFF 


tinued  in  the  employ  of  Mr.  McCune  about  five  years,  at  the  end 
of  which  time  he  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  for  him- 
self, eventually  securing  the  postmastership,  which  he  retained 
for  about  thirty  years.  His  retirement  from  active  mercantile 
life  took  out  of  the  business  ranks  of  Johnson  county  one  of 
the  most  widely  known  citizens  of  Big  Grove  township. 

Charles  H.  Shircliff  was  born  in  Fairfield  county,  Ohio,  Au- 
gust 5,  1836.  He  is  the  son  of  Lewis  and  Mary  (Conley)  Shir- 
cliff, the  former  a  native  of  Maryland  and  the  latter  of  Vir- 
ginia. The  parents  were  married  in  Maryland,  and  directly 
after  their  union  emigrated  to  Ohio,  where  they  resided  for 


156         HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

about  forty  years,  their  children  being  all  born  in  that  state. 
In  November,  1853,  they  removed  to  Johnson  county,  settling 
on  a  farm  near  the  present  town  of  Solon.  The  elder  Shircliff 
pursued  the  occupation  of  farming  until  his  death,  January  19, 
1881.  His  wife  died  July  8, 1878.  Lewis  Shircliff 's  father,  our 
subject's  grandfather,  was  a  soldier  in  the  revolution,  and  was 
a  participant  in  the  famous  battle  of  Brandywine.  Lewis  was 
himself  a  soldier  in  the  AYar  of  1812  from  the  beginning  to  the 
end.  Eight  children  were  born  to  Lewis  and  Mary  Shircliff: 
Edward,  Harriet,  Anna,  William,  Charles  II.,  Michael,  Har- 
riet, and  Margaret.  All  are  dead,  with  the  exception  of  our 
subject  and  Michael,  who  lives  in  Solon,  and  Harriet,  residing 
in  Kansas. 

Our  subject  took  for  his  wife  Miss  Eliza  Fisher,  a  native  of 
Solon,  whose  parents  were  early  settlers  in  the  townshi]^.  Two 
children  have  blessed  their  union :  Margaret  and  Lucille,  both 
living  at  home.  Mr.  Shircliff  is  a  democrat,  and  has  held  many 
local  offices.  He  is  widely  known,  honored,  trusted,  and  re- 
spected. 


ANTHONY  WAYNE  BEUTER 

Since  he  was  a  young  man  twenty-three  years  of  age,  An- 
thony Wayne  Beuter  has  farmed  the  old  homestead  taken  up 
by  his  father,  Joseph  Beuter,  in  Big  Grove  township,  in  1843. 
Five  years  later,  or  in  1848,  the  family  located  upon  this  home- 
stead, a  period  of  sixty-four  years  of  continuous,  faithful,  and 
intelligent  effort  as  an  agriculturist.  Mr.  Beuter  is  now 
seventy-five  years  of  age,  vigorous,  active,  alert  —  a  splendid 
type  of  the  Iowa  farmer.  It  is  upon  the  citizenship  represent- 
ed by  such  men  as  he  that  the  progressive  commonwealth  of 
Iowa  rests  —  secure  in  its  position  in  the  front  ranks  of  the 
great  sisterhood  of  American  states,  an  abiding  place  for  an 
industrious,  loyal,  intelligent,  prosperous  people.  The  posses- 
sions of  such  men  as  Anthony  AYayne  Beuter  extend  ])eyond 
the  metes  and  bounds  of  their  original  homesteads  —  they 
overlap  and  intertwine  with  the  aggregate  wealth  of  the  state ; 
that  wealth  of  public  institutions  and  utilities,  including  the 
school  house,  the  university,  the  church,  ^he  railway,  the  elec- 
tric energies,  the  network  of  good  roads,  the  manufactories, 


■ 

V^l 

■mm--      '^m  iisH^^^I 

■lliim 

|3|^^^^-\              ^XU^^^H^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^H 

f 

^^^^^m 

A.    \V.    BEUTER 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


157 


and  all  tlie  elements  of  trade  and  indnstiy.  For  the  elforts 
and  ambitions  and  sacrifices  of  such  men  as  he  have  made  pos- 
sible the  completed  structure  of  statehood  which  is  the  admira- 
tion of  the  nation  and  the  proud  possession  of  the  sons  and 
daughters  of  Iowa,  The  rewards  of  their  etforts  are  all 
around  these  valiant  builders  of  the  commonwealth  —  they 
share  with  their  posterity,  and  rightfully,  the  peaceful  fruits 
of  progressive  statehood. 

Anthony  Wayne  Beuter  is  a  native  of  Taylorsville,  Mus- 
kingum county,  Ohio.  The  date  of  his  birth  was  May  16,  1836. 
His  parents  were  Joseph  and  Anna  (Staasy)  Beuter,  born  in 
G-ermany,  and  married  in  their  native  country.     They  settled 


RESIDENCE  OF   ANTHONY  WAYNE   BETTTER 


in  Taylorsville  in  1833.  The  elder  Beuter  was  a  cooper,  and 
worked  at  that  trade  for  fifteen  years.  In  1843  he  made  a  trip 
of  investigation  to  Johnson  county,  Iowa,  at  which  time  he 
purchased  120  acres  of  land.  'He  then  returned  to  Ohio,  where 
he  remained  five  years,  at  the  end  of  which  time  he  removed 
with  his  family  overland  to  Johnson  county  and  settled  per- 
manently upon  the  farm  which  he  had  previously  purchased. 
This  farm  he  lived  upon  until  his  death,  January  23,  1873. 
His  active  work  thereon  ceased,  however,  in  1861.  Mother 
Beuter  survived  until  1888.  Six  cliildren  were  born  to  this 
couple:  A.  J.,  married,  and  lived  in  Solon  a  good  many  years, 
now  deceased;  Lucy,  married  to  John  Eckler,  of  Iowa  City, 
both  deceased;  Nicholas  L.,  a  volunteer  in  the  Civil  War,  killed 


158         HISTOEY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

in  Arkansas;  our  subject;  Genevieve,  now  Mrs.  Edward  Lilly, 
living  in  Pocahontas  county,  Iowa. 

In  1859  our  subject  took  active  charge  of  the  work  on  the  old 
homestead.  Eleven  years  later  (1870)  he  decided  that  it  was 
not  well  to  be  alone  and  took  as  a  life  companion  Miss  Marga- 
ret Williams,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  whose  parents  came  to 
Big  Grove  township  in  the  early  sixties.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Beuter 
have  three  children  living:  Wayne,  married  to  Miss  Rose 
Kroma,  father  of  eight  children,  Marie,  Harvey,  Nicholas, 
Charles,  Genevieve,  Bernard,  Joseph,  and  Anna —  his  wife 
died  December  3,  1910;  he  was  married  to  Margaret  J. 
Kroma,  November  8,  1911;  Mary,  now  Mrs.  Thomas  Eggen- 
berg,  living  on  a  farm  near  Coralville,  has  one  daughter, 
Clara ;  Ray,  married  to  Miss  Caroline  Brecht,  living  in  Benton 
county. 

Anthony  Beuter  has  always  been  a  consistent  democrat. 
He  held  the  position  of  township  trustee  for  iifteen  years  and 
secretary  of  the  school  board  for  over  twenty-five  years,  be- 
sides other  offices  in  the  countv.  His  life  has  been  that  of  a 
typical  American  citizen,  his  interest  in  all  proper  public  en- 
terprises being  keen  and  practical.  He  is  among  the  oldest 
settlers  of  the  county  living  today,  is  one  of  the  best  known  of 
its  citizens,  and  commands  universal  respect.  No  man  could 
ask  or  receive  a  greater  reward  for  the  labors  of  a  well-spent 
life. 


MICHAEL  S.  SHIRCLIFF 

The  history  of  the  Shircliff  family  has  been  quite  fully  set 
forth  in  the  biographical  sketch  of  Charles  H.  Shircliff,  printed 
in  this  volume,  to  which  the  attention  of  the  reader  is  directed. 
Michael  S.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  is  the  only  surviving 
brother  of  Charles  H.,  and  is  a  respected  citizen  of  Solon, 
Iowa,  having  retired  from  active  business  about  ten  years  ago. 
He  was  born  in  Fairfield  county,  Ohio,  February  29,  1842,  and 
removed  to  Johnson  county,  Iowa,  with  the  family  in  1853. 
Our  subject  was  eleven  years  of  age  when  he  reached  Big 
Grove  township,  and  for  some  time  thereafter  attended  the 
public  schools  of  the  neighborhood.  On  leaving  school,  he 
entered  the  mercantile  business  in  company  with  his  brother 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


159 


Charles,  and  continued  therein  up  to  the  time  of  his  retire- 
ment from  active  business  life  in  1901. 

Mr.  Shircliff  was  married  in  1870  to  Miss  Helen  McCune,  a 
daughter  of  one  of  the  pioneer  merchants  of  Solon.  She  died 
in  1885,  and  our  subject  remarried  in  1888,  taking  for  his  sec- 
ond wife  Miss  Addie  Pratt,  daugliter  of  D.  A.  and  Rachel 


EESIDENCE  OF  MICHAEL  S.  SHIKCLTFP 

Pratt,  who  came  to  Johnson  county  in  1840,  in  which  county 
Miss  Addie  was  born.  Mr.  Shircliff  has  one  child  by  his  second 
wife,  Lois  H.,  now  Mrs.  G.  I.  Fleming,  residing  on  a  farm  near 
Ely,  Iowa. 

Our  subject,  though  near  the  three  score  and  ten  limit,  is 
still  an  active  factor  in  the  social  life  of  his  community.  He 
is  a  democrat  in  politics. 


DR.  LEAVIS  WILLIAM  HANDING 

One  of  the  most  respected  medical  practitioners  of  Johnson 
county  is  Dr.  Lewis  William  Harding,  of  Solon.  For  twenty- 
one  years  the  doctor  has  administered  to  the  sick  and  the  in- 
jured of  his  neighborhood,  adhering  religiously  to  the  ethics 
of  his  noble  profession ;  in  readiness  at  morning,  noon  or  night, 
in  storm  or  sunshine,  in  heat  or  cold,  to  respond  to  the  call  of 
need ;  to  face  danger  of  tempest,  or  flood,  or  contagion. 

Dr.  Harding  was  born  June  8,  1866,  in  Washington  county, 


160         HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

Iowa,  and  there  his  aged  parents,  Thomas  and  Alvina  (Sears) 
Harding,  are  still  living  at  the  advanced  ages  of  eighty-three 
and  eighty-one  respectively,  having  enjoyed  together  sixty-one 
years  of  wedded  life.  The  father  and  mother  are  natives  of 
Ohio  and  were  married  in  that  state.  Soon  after  their  mar- 
riage they  removed  to  Rock  Island  county,  Illinois,  where  they 
resided  two  years,  thence  removing  to  Washingion  county, 
Iowa,  where  they  have  since  continuously  resided.  Both  are 
in  excellent  health  at  this  writing  ( 1911 ).  Seven  children  were 
horn  to  Thomas  and  Alvina  Harding.  In  the  order  of  birth 
they  are:  B.  H.,  married  and  living  at  What  Cheer,  Iowa,  en- 


PAI.MER  HOUSE 


gaged  in  railroad  work;  ]\Jary,  wife  of  Dr.  J.  T.  Glaze,  died  in 
Solon  about  twenty-two  years  ago;  Minnie,  now  Mrs.  F.  B. 
Jackson,  living  in  Washington  county;  Charles,  who  died  in 
infancy;  Ella,  now  Mrs.  A.  E.  Hefer,  living  in  Solon;  our  sub- 
ject; Margaret,  now  Mrs.  Dr.  J.  T.  Hay,  living  in  liincoln, 
Nebraska. 

Our  su1)ject  received  his  pu])lic  school  education  in  AVash- 
ingion  county,  graduating  from  the  Ainsworth  high  school. 
Thereafter  he  entered  the  Medical  Department  of  the  State 
University  of  Iowa,  graduating  therefrom  in  1898.  He  imme- 
diately began  the  practice  of  medicine  at  Solon,  Iowa,  where 
he  has  resided  continuously.  On  April  6,  1892,  Dr.  Harding 
was  married  to  Miss  Anna  Grace  Beuter,  daughter  of  A.  J. 


BIOGRAPHTCAL  161 

Beiiter,  who  was  an  important  factor  in  the  early  history  of 
Solon,  having  owned  at  one  time  all  the  land  whereon  the 
southern  part  of  Solon  is  now  located.  This  land  he  platted 
and  sold  ont  in  lots.  Mr.  Beuter  was  county  supervisor  for  a 
number  of  years,  was  very  influential  in  politics  and  business, 
and  was  regarded  as  one  of  the  stanch  men  of  the  county. 

Dr.  and  Mrs.  Harding  have  two  children :  Meryle  Cleone, 
attending  Cornell  college  at  Mt.  Vernon,  Iowa,  having  gradu- 
ated from  the  Solon  high  school  in  1909;  Donnan  Beuter,  now 
fifteen  years  old,  a  graduate  of  the  Solon  high  school,  class 
of  1911 . 

In  politics  Dr.  Harding  is  a  republican;  in  religion,  a  Metho- 
dist. He  is  a  member  of  the  Johnson  County  Medical  Society, 
the  Eastern  Iowa  Medical  Society,  the  Rock  Island  Railroad 
Surgical  Association,  the  Iowa  State  Medical  Association,  and 
the  American  Medical  Association. 


JACOB  Y.  STOVER 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  one  of  the  few  now  I'emaining 
who  were  among  tlie  first  of  the  pioneers  of  Johnson  county. 
Seventy-three  years  have  passed  since  the  Stover  family  first 
set  foot  in  Iowa  and  located  on  the  site  of  the  old  homestead, 
which  is  still  in  possession  of  the  family. 

Jacob  Stover  was  then  fifteen  years  of  age,  and  it  is  dififilult 
to  realize  that  during  his  lifetime  this  area  which  now  com- 
prises the  county  has  emerged  from  one  unbroken  wilderness 
to  a  proud  position  among  the  foremost  commonwealths  of 
the  United  States ;  that  men  are  now  living  who  have  witnessed 
this  entire  transformatioii  seems  almost  incredible. 

Mr.  Stover  was  born  in  Wayne  county,  Indiana,  August  4, 
1823.  His  parents,  Joseph  and  Ester  (Yount)  Stover,  were 
natives  of  Virginia  and  Tennessee  respectively.  At  an  early 
day  they  settled  in  Ohio,  but  after  a  short  stay  there  they  re- 
moved to  Hagerstown,  Wayne  county,  Indiana,  where  they 
lived  for  about  thirty  years.  In  1836  they  removed  to  St.  Joe, 
Indiana,  and  about  one  year  later,  or  in  1837,  the  father  made 
a  trip  to  Iowa  and,  after  looking  the  country  over  to  some  ex- 
tent, he  returned  to  Indiana  and  in  1838  he  removed  with  his 


162         HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

family  to  Joliiison  coiiuty,  arriving  there  after  a  long  and 
tedious  journey  on  the  6th  of  May,  1838.  It  was  the  time  of 
year  when  the  new  country  possessed  a  peculiar  charm,  when 
earth  and  sky  combined  to  make  delightful  to  the  eye  the 
grandeur  and  majesty  of  the  rolling  prairies  covered  with  wild 
flowers  and  waving  grasses.  The  Iowa  river  and  smaller 
streams  were  heavily  timbered  and  it  was  in  the  wooded  por- 
tions that  the  new  settler  usually  established  his  home.  South 
of  what  is  now  Iowa  City  and  in  Pleasant  Valley  township, 
not  far  from  the  Iowa  river,  the  Stovers  selected  the  location 
for  their  future  dwelling.    That  was  two  years  previous  to  any 


RESroENCE  OF  JACOB   Y.  STOVER 


appearance  of  the  town  of  Iowa  City.  They  lived  there  two 
years  and  then  removed  to  a  farm  they  had  purchased  within 
one  mile  of  Iowa  City,  and  this  became  the  old  family  home- 
stead and  is  still  in  possession  of  Mr.  Stover.  Here  on  the  old 
farm  Mr.  Stover  grew  to  manhood,  assisting  in  the  labor  of 
home  building  and  in  bringing  the  soil  into  cultivation,  expe- 
riencing the  usual  lot  of  pioneer  settlers. 

Ten  years  later,  Mr.  Stover  began  to  hear  some  of  the 
stories  of  the  wonderful  countrv  Iviug  far  towards  the  setting 
sun,  and  in  response  to  the  lure  of  gold  and  wild  adventure  he, 
in  company  with  some  others,  set  out  for  California.    After  a 


BIOGRAPHICAL  163 

long-  journey  across  the  plains  and  meeting-  with  many  strange 
adventures,  he  finally  reached  his  destination.  He  remained 
there  for  three  years,  where  he  had  a  varied  and  interesting- 
experience,  some  of  which  is  told  in  the  first  volume  of  this 
work.  Returning-  home,  he  remained  on  the  farm  for  about 
one  year  and  then  engaged  in  the  wholesale  grocery  business 
in  Iowa  City.  It  was  during-  the  time  of  ''wild  cat"  money, 
when  a  person  could  go  to  bed  at  night  with  a  roll  of  bank 
notes  that  were  good  and  wake  up  in  the  morning  to  find  them 
worthless,  owing  to  the  uncertain  and  precarious  conditions 
of  the  country's  finance,  and  unstable  banking  system,  all  of 
which  caused  a  loss  in  the  enterprise  of  about  $20,000. 

In  1859  Mr.  Stover  made  the  second  trip  to  California.  The 
journey  was  eventful  in  many  ways,  and,  after  encountering 
many  dangers  and  enduring  many  hardships,  found  himself 
again  in  the  ''golden  west."  It  was  his  intention  to  remain  in 
that  country,  but  after  three  years'  residence,  during  which 
time  he  had  prospered  very  well,  he  received  word  from  his 
father,  who  was  getting  very  old,  and  in  November,  1862,  he 
returned  to  the  old  homestead  in  Johnson  county,  where  he 
remained  until  1896.  He  then  retired  from  the  farm  and  re- 
moved to  Iowa  City,  where  he  now  resides  on  Court  street  in  a 
very  comfortable  home. 

Mr.  Stover  was  married  July  12,  1863,  to  Susan  R.  Switzer, 
daughter  of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Wolfe)  Switzer,  both  natives 
of  Maryland.  (See  sketch  of  Switzer  family.)  To  this  union 
were  born  eight  children,  six  of  whom  are  now  living:  U.  S. 
Grant,  married  to  Miss  Eva  Allen,  of  Lone  Tree,  and  residing 
in  Burling-ton,  Iowa;  Chas.  C.  Switzer,  married  to  Miss  Annie 
Zimmerman,  of  Wellman,  Iowa,  they  reside  in  Minneapolis ; 
Sarah  Ennna  resides  at  Iowa  Citv  and  is  emploved  in  Citizens 
Bank;  Jacob  Edwin,  postal  clerk  on  C.  M.  &,  St.  P.  R.  R.,  re- 
sides at  Davenport ;  Bessie  E.  Stover,  librarian  in  the  Univer- 
sity library,  resides  at  home ;  Samuel  K.  resides  in  Minneapo- 
lis, where  he  is  an  electric  engineer. 

Mr.  Stover  votes  the  republican  ticket,  and  both  he  and  his 
wife  are  consistent  members  of  the  ]\I.  E.  church. 


164         HISTOKY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

SAMUEL  DANUORTH  WHITING 

Samuel  Danfortli  Wliiting,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  is  en- 
titled to  write  his  name  among  the  first  families  of  New  Eng- 
land. His  ancestors  were  among  the  founders  of  Boston,  and 
Lowell,  Massachusetts,  is  located  on  the  Whiting  farm.  His 
father's  ancestry  dates  back  to  the  seventeenth  century  in 
Massachusetts.  Timothy  Whiting  and  Mary  A,  Ihidley,  his 
parents,  however,  are  natives  of  New  York  state,  both  being- 
born  in  Jefferson  county.  Happily,  both  are  now  living,  the 
father  in  honorable  retirement,  at  Iowa  Citj^  with  our  subject. 
The  mother  is  a  practicing  physician  at  Los  Angeles,  Califor- 


RESTDENCE  OF  SAMUEL  DANFORTH  WIIITTNG 


nia.  Timothy  Whiting,  in  early  life,  was  a  railroad  engineer 
(civil),  but  later  took  up  in  connection  with  his  profession  the 
business  of  brick  and  tile.  He  is  well  and  favorably  known 
throughout  Iowa,  having  done  a  large  amount  of  surveying  in 
the  state.  He  was  at  one  time  in  company  with  Ex-Governor 
Larrabee  in  the  brick  and  tile  business  at  Clermont,  Iowa.  The 
AVliiting  family  came  west  to  Fayette  county,  Iowa,  about  1861, 
at  the  beginning  of  the  Civil  War,  and  resided  in  that  county 
until  1885,  where  Mr.  Whiting  was  county  supervisor,  when 
they  removed  to  Iowa  City  in  order  that  the  children  might 
have  the  educational  advantages  of  the  University  citv.    Five 


BIOGRAPHICAL  165 

children  were  born  to  this  excellent  couple,  all  of  whom  are 
living  at  this  writing. 

Samnel  Danforth  Whiting,  the  third  in  order  of  birth,  was 
born  in  1875  in  Clermont,  Payette  connty,  Iowa,  and  came  with 
his  parents  to  Iowa  City  when  he  was  ten  years  of  age.  Here 
he  grew  to  manhood,  was  edncated,  entered  bnsiness,  and  still 
resides.  He  gradnated  from  the  Iowa  Citv  liigli  school  in  the 
class  of  1892,  and  from  the  State  University  of  Iowa  in  the 
class  of  1896,  with  the  degree  of  A.  B.  Following  his  gradua- 
tion he  became  principal  of  the  Jefferson  Township  high 
school,  Slmeyville,  Iowa,  for  one  year.  He  was  then  elected 
county  school  superintendent  and  served  from  1898  to  1902. 
Thereafter  Mr.  Whiting  entered  the  Law  Department  of  the 
S.  U.  L  and  graduated  in  the  class  of  1904,  with  the  degree  of 
LL.B.  He  immediately  put  out  his  '^ shingle"  and  began  the 
practice  of  law.  Being  an  expert  French,  German,  and  Bo- 
hemian scholar,  his  pathway  to  professional  success  has  been 
uniformly  ]n'ogressive,  and  he  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  suc- 
cessful members  of  the  Johnson  County  Bar  Association. 

Mr.  Whiting  married  Caroline  Buresh,  of  Slmeyville, 
daughter  of  Joseph  and  ]\[ary  (Kalioun)  Buresh,  both  de- 
ceased. Mr.  Buresh  was  a  farmer  of  Jefferson  township.  He 
was  a  native  of  Boliemia,  born  in  April,  1838,  and  came  to 
America  in  1864.  He  accidentally  shot  and  killed  himself 
while  hunting,  in  1883.  His  marriage  to  Miss  Kahoun  took 
place  in  Cleveland,  Ohio,  December  25,  1869,  where  he  lived 
for  ten  years  and  was  employed  by  a  glass  company.  Miss 
Kahoun  was  a  native  of  Bohemia,  and  came  to  America  when 
sixteen  years  old.  She  was  the  fifth  child  in  her  father's 
family. 

Four  children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Whiting: 
Nathan,  Samuel,  ^fary,  and  Joseph.  The'  family  resides  on  a 
forty-acre  tract  north  of  the  Kimball  road,  facing  Nortli  Sum- 
mit avenue,  a  sightly,  beautifully  shaded  place,  famous  for  its 
products  of  fruits.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Whiting  are  members  of  the 
Congregational  church. 


STEPHEN  ALFRED  SWISHER 

The  name  of  Swisher  bulks  largelv  in  the  historv  of  John- 
son  county.    It  is  one  of  the  earlv  names  of  this  section  of  the 


166         HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

state,  and  figures  prominently  in  the  financial,  educational,  and 
religious  development  of  the  commonwealth.  No  name  is 
more  honored  in  Iowa  City,  where  prominent  members  of  the 
family  reside.  Wilson  Swisher,  a  deceased  brother  of  our 
subject,  had  the  honor  of  being  the  first  male  white  child  born 
in  Jefferson  township.  His  father  and  mother  were  distin- 
guished as  the  first  couple  to  be  married  in  that  to^vnship. 
Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  the  origin  of  the  family  dates  back  to 
the  beginnings  of  civilization  in  Iowa.  The  fact  that  it  has 
kept  pace  with  the  development  of  the  state,  identifying  itself 
with  the  affairs  thereof,  and  today  occupies  a  prominent  and 
important  place,  speaks  more  loudly  than  words  of  the  sterling 
worth  of  the  Swisher  household. 

Our  subject  is  the  youngest  of  the  eight  children  of  Benja- 
min and  Elizabeth  Smith  Whitemore,  six  of  whom  reached 
maturity.  Benjamin  Swisher  was  born  in  Piqua  county,  Ohio, 
April  2,  1817,  and  died  a  resident  of  Johnson  county  in  1885. 
He  was  a  son  of  John  and  Catherine  Swisher,  and  was  left 
fatherless  at  four  and  motherless  at  seven  years  of  age.  On 
the  death  of  his  parents,  the  orphan  boy  went  to  live  with  his 
uncle  Leeds^  and  remained  with  him  until  he  reached  his  ma- 
jority. In  1840  he  turned  his  face  westward  and  became  a 
resident  of  Van  Buren  county,  Iowa,  then  a  territory.  In 
March,  1841,  he  removed  to  Monroe  township,  Johnson  county, 
where  he  resided  until  1844,  when  he  settled  in  Jefferson  town- 
ship in  Section  7.  In  this  township  he  became  a  large  land 
owner,  accumulating  over  400  acres.  On  May  16,  1841,  he  was 
married  to  Mrs.  Elizabeth  (Smith)  Whitemore,  a  widow,  their 
marriage,  as  stated  previously,  being  the  first  to  be  celebrated 
in  the  township.  The  homestead  established  by  Benjamin  and 
Elizabeth  Swisher  is  one  of  the  best  known  and  most  cele- 
brated in  this  section  of  the  state.  It  was  "dedicated  by  the 
father  and  mother  to  their  country  and  their  God. ' '  A  writer, 
in  speaking  of  it,  says:  ''No  home  has  done  more  for  John- 
son county  and  Iowa  than  this  old  farm  in  the  hills,  and  its 
influence  shall  al)ide  when  the  waves  of  another  ocean  surge 
above  it."  The  country  was  sparsely  settled  in  those  early 
days.  Only  one  dwelling  stood  in  all  the  country  between  the 
Swisher  home  and  Cedar  Rapids,  while  but  three  or  four  had 
been  built  between  it  and  the  then  little  village  of  Iowa  City. 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


167 


In  spite  of  the  social  isolation,  however,  the  home  was  the 
scene  of  ideal  fellowship,  in  which  the  comradeships  of  par- 
ents and  children  were  wrought  ont  in  an  atmosphere  of  per- 
petual sunshine.  Strong  family  attachments  were  therefore 
inevitahle,  and  these  are  a  distinctive  characteristic  of  the 
Swisher  family. 

In  this  old  "home  in  the  hills"  the  eight  children  of  Benja- 
min and  Elizaheth  Swisher  were  born.  Wilson,  the  eldest, 
died  in  chiklliood  ;  Abraham  E.,  died  in  August,  1909 ;  John  P., 
died  in  February,  18S1;  Catherine  Bollard,  died  September  9, 
1885.  The  names  of  the  survivors  are :  Lovell  A.,  cashier  of 
the  First  National  bank  of  Iowa  City;  Benjamin  F.,  Stephen 


RESIDENCE   OF  STEPHEN   ALFRED  SWISHER 


Alfred,  our  subject.     The  eighth  child  died  in  infancy.     The 
mother  died  August  9,  1875. 

Stephen  Alfred  Swisher  was  born  February  4,  1856,  in  the 
log  cal)in  home  in  Jefferson  township.  He  was  raised  on  the 
old  homestead,  and,  of  course,  took  part  in  the  farm  work  in 
his  younger  days.  His  education,  begun  in  the  common 
schools  of  the  county,  was  continued  in  the  Iowa  City  Academy 
and  the  State  University  of  Iowa.  In  October,  1879,  he  began 
the  business  of  general  insurance,  in  which  he  has  continued 
until  the  present  time.  He  represents  the  following  compan- 
ies :  Aetna ;  Hartford  ;  Home ;  Franklin ;  Insurance  Company 
of  North  America;  Liverpool,  London  &  Globe;  Connecticut 


168        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

Insurance  Company;  Iowa  Manufacturers ;  Travelers  of  Hart- 
ford; Mutual  Benefit  of  Newark,  New  Jersey;  Metropolitan 
Casualty  Company;  Maryland  Casualty  Company.  He  has 
been  signally  successful  in  liis  chosen  avocation,  and  ranks  as 
one  of  the  best  informed  men  in  the  insurance  line  in  the  state 
and  has  been  the  leading  man  in  his  profession  for  28  years. 
A  remarkably  retentive  memory  has  been  a  distinct  advantage 
to  him  in  his  business  relations. 

Mr.  Swisher's  interest  in  educational,  commercial,  and  so- 
cial matters  has  always  been  pronounced.  At  the  sixteenth 
session  of  the  Iowa  Societv  of  Colonial  AYars  he  was  reelected 
governor  for  1911-12.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Sons  of  the  Rev- 
olution, securing  his  eligibility  in  this  order  from  his  mother's 
descent  from  Thomas  Rose  of  Rbode  Island,  who  was  the  first 
member  of  the  Rose  family  in  this  country  and  traces  back  to 
the  old  Red  Rose  family  of  England,  seven  generations  dis- 
tant. He  is  an  active  member  of  the  Country  Club  of  Iowa 
City  and  of  the  Iowa  City  Commercial  Club.  His  standing  in 
the  Metbodist  Episcopal  church  of  Iowa  City  is  indicated  by 
the  fact  that  he  is  secretary  of  the  board  of  trustees  and  has 
been  secretary  of  the  Sunday  school  since  1882. 

On  September  14,  1886,  he  was  married  to  AEiss  Nell  G. 
Custer,  daughter  of  Paul  and  Gabriella  (AVallingford)  Custer, 
who  were  natives  respectively  of  New  York  and  Kentucky. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Swisher  have  five  children:  Pauline,  wife  of 
])r.  Lester  A.  Royal,  of  West  Liberty,  Iowa;  Stephen  A.,  Jr.; 
John  Custer:  Thomas  Rose:  Gretchen  Eleanor.  Tlie  familv 
reside  at  120  Fairchild  street,  Iowa  City. 

ABRAHAM  E.  SWISHER,  deceased,  brother  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  a  prominent  factor  in  Iowa  City.  His  death,  in 
August,  1909,  was  widely  deplored.  He  was  one  of  the  or- 
ganizers of  the  Citizens  Savings  &  Trust  Company  of  Iowa 
City,  and  was  elected  its  first  cashier,  later  being  made  its 
president.  Born  on  the  old  homestead  in  Jefferson  township 
March  6,  1855,  his  early  days  were  devoted  to  agriculture.  He 
was  a  student  in  the  common  schools,  a  graduate  of  the  S.  U.  I. 
class  of  1872,  also  of  the  law  department,  class  of  1874,  at 
which  time  he  received  the  degree  of  M.  A.  He  began  the 
practice  of  law  in  Iowa  City,  and  later  was  made  local  attor- 
ney for  the  Chicago,  Rock  Island  &  Pacific  Railwav,  the  Bur- 


BIOGRAPHICAL  169 

lington,  Cedar  liapids  &  Northern,  and  the  Chicago,  Mil- 
waukee &  St.  Paul.  His  wife  was  Miss  Ida  F.  Ingalls,  daugh- 
ter of  Rev.  P.  P.  Ingalls,  a  prominent  minister  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  church.  The  marriage  took  place  in  Des 
Moines  in  June,  1879.  Four  children  were  born:  Esther, 
Alice,  Helen,  and  Ingalls.  Mr.  Swisher  was  a  man  in  whom 
his  business  associates  and  the  public  reposed  implicit  confi- 
dence. As  an  illustration,  on  the  death  of  Charles  T.  Rankin, 
the  first  president  of  the  Citizens  Savings  &  Trust  Company, 
Mr.  Swisher  was  made  administrator  without  bond  of  the 
large  estate.  He  was  honored  by  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  of  which  he  was  a  member  from  boyhood,  in  every 
lay  office  within  its  gift,  from  teacher  in  the  Sunday  school  to 
delegate  to  the  General  Conference,  the  highest  representative 
body  of  the  church.  His  pastor  said  of  him,  in  an  address 
delivered  at  his  funeral,  September  1,  1909:  "This  confer- 
ence has  always  held  him  in  the  highest  esteem,  and  he  was 
nearly  as  well  known  as  the  best  known  jireacher  among  us. 
In  fact  he  has  attended  every  annual  conference  for  fifteen 
years  save  one." 


HARL  VOLNEY  McCLUSKEY 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Harl  Volney  McCluskey,  on  June  29, 
1910,  to  Miss  Bertha  Louise  Zimmerman  made  him  by  legal 
relationshii?  a  member  of  the  Zimmerman  family.  He  was 
already  a  member  of  the  industrial  household,  having  entered 
the  employ  of  the  Monarch  Grubber  Company  on  March  2, 
1906,  and  continuing  on  the  change  of  the  name  of  the  enter- 
prise to  Zimmerman  Steel  Company  in  1908.  The  marriage 
of  these  two  young  people  seemed  a  logical  outcome  of  their 
association  together  day  after  day  in  the  business  office  of 
the  steel  company,  and  the  consummation  of  their  nuptials 
was  the  occasion  of  widespread  felicitations  from  hosts  of 
friends.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  McCluskey  were  the  recipients  of 
hearty  congratulations  on  July  2,  1911,  when  their  first  child, 
a  stout,  sturdy  boy,  was  born.  Thus  the  steel  business  at 
Lone  Tree  promises  to  be  su})iilied  with  future  directors  and 
managers. 


170         HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

Mr.  McCluskey  is  a  native  of  Iowa,  and  his  birthplace  was 
Riverside,  Washington  county.  The  date  of  his  birth  was 
December  29,  1881.  His  father,  John  Pierre  McChiskey,  was 
born  near  Farniingdale,  New  Jersey,  April  25,  1852 ;  and  his 
father's  father  came  to  America  from  Ireland  at  the  age  of 
twelve  years.  The  latter  married  an  American  girl  and  lived 
and  died  in  New  Jersey.  Three  children  were  born  to  this 
couple,  John  Pierre,  George  M.,  residing  at  Pleasant  Point, 
New  Jersey,  and  Margaret  (now  Mrs.  Conine),  residing  in 
New  Jersey. 

John  Pierre  McCluskey  was  married  on  May  13,  1880,  to 


EESIDENCE  OF  HARL  VOLNEY  M  CLUSKEY 


Miss  Eldora  Fesler,  a  native  of  Liberty  township,  Johnson 
county,  Iowa  (born  March  3,  1855).  To  them  were  born  the 
following  children:  Harl  V.,  George  Sanford,  Bertha  May, 
and  Jesse  Walter.  The  three  last  named  reside  with  the 
parents  at  Waterloo,  Iowa. 

The  Fesler  family  were  early  settlers  of  Liberty  township. 
Jacob  Fesler,  the  father,  was  born  in  Virginia  and  moved  to 
Johnson  county  some  time  in  the  forties.  His  wife's  name 
was  Mary  Slife.  The  names  of  their  family  are:  John, 
Daniel,  Albert,  Charles,  Eldora  L.,  and  E.  Sandford;  one 
child,  Rufus,  died  in  infancy. 

Daniel  A.  Fesler  and  his  son  carried  on  a  furniture  busi- 


BIOGRAPHICAL  171 

ness  for  some  time  together  at  Lone  Tree.     The  business  is 
still  being  conducted  by  the  son. 

Harl  V.  McCluskey  was  formerly  a  school  teacher  in  Wash- 
ington and  Jolmson  counties,  and  was  at  one  time  principal 
of  the  Sharon  Center  high  school.  Upon  entering  the  employ 
of  the  Monarch  Grubber  Company,  in  1906,  he,  of  course, 
abandoned  pedagogy.  Mr.  McCluskey  has  been  clerk  of  the 
city  of  Lone  Tree  since  1909;  is  Chancellor  Commander  of 
Lone  Tree  lodge  K.  of  P.;  Patron  of  local  Eastern  Star;  is  a 
32d  degree  Mason,  and  member  of  Zarephath  Consistory,  of 
Davenport;  is  a  member  of  local  lodge  I.  0.  0.  F.,  and  Past 
President  M.  B.  A.  of  Lone  Tree.  With  the  exception  of  four 
years  of  his  boyhood  spent  in  Florida,  where  he  assisted  his 
father  on  a  tomato  farm,  his  entire  life  has  been  lived  in  Iowa. 


C.  E.  CLIFFORD 


One  of  the  most  prosperous  and  highly  esteemed  farmers 
of  Scott  township  is  C.  E.  Clitford,  whose  life  and  activities  are 
an  open  book.  Few  abler  or  more  energetic  men  have  taken 
part  in  the  agricultural  development  of  Johnson  county.  From 
the  time  of  his  first  sojourn  in  the  county,  in  1858,  when  lie 
worked  out  by  the  month  on  a  farm,  until  his  settlement,  with 
his  young  wife,  in  1862,  in  Union  township,  followed  four 
years  later  by  his  permanent  location  in  Scott  township,  Mr. 
Clitford  has  been  an  advocate  of  the  best  methods  of  agricul- 
ture and  stock  raising.  That  he  is  a  man  of  ability  is  attested 
by  the  condition  of  the  splendid  farm  of  three  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  in  Section  28,  which  has  been  his  home  for  forty- 
five  years,  with  the  exception  of  the  past  ten  years  spent  in 
retirement  at  Iowa  City. 

Mr.  Clifford  was  born  in  Rensselaer  county.  New  York, 
December  6,  1836,  and  at  three  years  of  age  removed  with  his 
parents  to  Oneida  couiity,  where  he  was  reared  upon  a  farm 
and  educated  in  the  district  school.  At  twenty-one  years  of 
age  he  concluded  to  look  over  the  great  west  with  a  view  of 
selecting  a  location  for  a  i)ermanent  home.  In  pursuance  of 
this  purpose,  he  first  visited  Michigan,  Ohio,  and  Illinois,  and 


172         HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

lastly  Iowa,  with  the  result  that  the  Hawkeye  state  and  John- 
son county  were  given  the  decision.  Having  settled  the  mat- 
ter of  location,  Mr.  Clifford  proceeded  to  return  to  the  east 
and  take  unto  himself  a  partner  for  the  journey  of  life.  The 
woman  thus  honored  was  Miss  Arethusa  Hartsook,  born  in 
Green  county,  Illinois,  January  28,  1842.  After  their  mar- 
riage, October  18,  ISfiO,  the  3"oung  couple  remained  in  Oneida 
county,  New  York,  for  a  year  and  a  half,  after  which  they 
carried  out  their  purpose  to  settle  in  Johnson  county,  Iowa,  as 
indicated  in  the  first  paragraph  of  this  sketch.  The  children 
of  Mr.  and  Mrs.   Clifford  are:     Charlotte  E.,  died  July  24, 


RESIDENCE    OF    C.    E.    CLIFFORD 


1884;  Belle,  wife  of  Arthur  B.  Hall,  Emporia,  Kansas;  Alice 
M.,  wife  of  Charles  M.  Ilollingsworth ;  Oneida  A.,  wife  of 
John  E.  Mosby,  Oklahoma  City;  Edwin  C,  at  home;  Myra  A., 
wife  of  Samuel  Maxwell,  M.  D.,  Emporia,  Kansas. 

The  paternal  ancestors  of  C.  E.  Clifford  were  (lermans,  his 
great  grandfather,  John  Clifford,  having  been  born  in  Hesse- 
Cassel,  Germany,  where,  enlisting  in  the  German  army,  lie 
served  seven  years,  and  during  that  time  was  hired  out  to  the 
Hessians  and  came  to  America.  Having  served  his  seven 
years,  he  was  discharged  in  the  West  Indies,  and  then  came  to 
Charleston,  South  Carolina,  and  enlisted  in  the  American 
cause,  bravely  assisting  the  Colonists  in  their  struggles  foi- 


BIOGRAPHICAL  173 

independence^  and  engaging  for  five  years  more  in  military 
duty.  At  the  close  of  the  Revolutionary  AVar  he  married  an 
American  woman,  and  settled  in  Rhode  Island.  Christopher 
A.,  their  son,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  born  in 
Rhode  Island,  and  died  in  Oneida  county,  New  York,  but  at 
one  time  lived  in  Renssalaer  county.  New  York,  where  the 
father  of  our  subject,  Peter  C.  Clifford,  was  born.  The  ma- 
ternal great  grandfather  of  Mr.  Clifford  was  Major  Daniel 
Brown,  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  War.  He  was  a  native 
of  New  England,  and  died  in  Renssalaer  county,  where  the 
paternal  grandfather,  Daniel  Brown,  was  born.  His  daughter, 
Charlotte  L.,  was  also  a  native  of  Renssalaer  county,  and 
afterwards  became  the  mother  of  our  subject. 

The  paternal  grandfather  of  Mrs.  C.  E.  Clifford  was  Henry 
Hartsook,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  who  died  in  Green  county, 
Illinois.  The  father  of  Mrs.  Cliiford,  Stephen  Hartsook,  was 
born  in  Pennsylvania,  and  later  removed  to  Johnson  county, 
Iowa,  where  he  became  widely  known  as  an  industrious,  use- 
ful citizen.  He  died  much  regretted  by  all  who  knew  him.  Q'^he 
maternal  great  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Cliiford  was  Simon  Van 
Arsdale,  who  was  born  in  Holland,  emigrated  to  America  in 
an  early  day,  and  located  in  Pennsylvania,  there  founding  his 
branch  of  the  family  in  the  United  States.  His  son  Simon 
was  the  father  of  Mrs.  Clifford's  mother,  Ellen  J.  Van  Ars- 
dale, who  was  born  in  Mercer  county,  Kentucky. 

Politically  Mr.  Clifford  is  emphatically  a  democrat,  having 
always  taken  an  active  interest  in  party  organization.  He 
served  as  justice  of  the  peace  two  years,  trustee  of  Scott  town- 
ship, school  director,  and  road  supervisor.  He  and  his  wife 
have  been  active  in  religious  work  in  the  Presbyterian  church, 
of  which  they  are  honored  members. 

Mr.  Clifford  was  one  of  the  pall-bearers  at  the  funeral  of 
his  intimate  friend  and  neighbor,  Gilbert  R.  Irish,  one  of  the 
associate  editors  of  this  history,  Mr.  Clifford  died  August 
21,  1911,  and  is  buried  at  Oakland  cemetery,  Iowa  City,  Iowa. 


174        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 
SAMUEL  TURNER  MORRISON 

Four  generations  of  the  Morrison  family  have  been  native- 
born  Americans,  though  the  ancestry  on  the  paternal  side  of 
the  house  is  Scotch-Irish  and  on  the  maternal  French.  The 
great  grandfather  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  John  S.  Mor- 
rison, emigrated  from  Ireland,  his  native  country,  and  settled 
in  Pennsylvania,  in  which  state  elohn  H.  Morrison,  our  sub- 
ject's grandfather,  was  born.  The  latter  married  Isabel  W. 
Dickey,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania  (Franklin  county),  and  the 
couple  removed  to  Tazewell  county,  Illinois,  where  they  re- 
sided for  a  great  many  years  and  where  William  A.  Morrison, 
our  subject's  father,  was  born,  March  10,  1838,  he  being  fifth 
in  a  family  of  seven.  Grandfather  Morrison  was  an  old  line 
whig  and  held  office  for  twenty-four  years  in  Tazewell  county. 
He  died  in  Mt.  Pleasant,  Iowa,  in  1870,  and  his  wife  at  Albia, 
in  1879.  Both  are  buried  at  Iowa  City.  William  A.  Morrison 
assisted  his  father  on  the  old  home  farm  in  Tazewell  county 
until  he  was  sixteen  years  of  age,  at  which  time  (1854)  liis 
parents  removed  to  Marshalltown,  Iowa,  and  he  accompanied 
them.  In  1856  the  family  went  to  Missouri,  l)ut  remained  for 
only  a  short  time  when  they  returned  to  the  Hawkey e  state 
and  settled  in  Johnson  county.  AVilliam  A.,  with  his  brothers, 
James  and  Crawford,  ojiened  a  drug  store  in  Iowa  City,  to 
which  in  later  years  jewelry  and  stationery  lines  were  added. 
After  a  few  vears  William  A.  bought  out  the  interest  of  his 
brothers  and  continued  the  business  alone,  building  up  an  es- 
tablished trade  on  the  corner  of  l)ul)uque  and  Washington 
streets,  now  the  site  of  the  Morrison  block  and  the  Commer- 
cial Savings  bank.  Mr.  jMorrison  was  formerly  vice  president 
of  the  Iowa  State  bank:  was  four  vears  an  alderman  from  the 
fourth  ward  of  Iowa  City,  and  was  mayor  of  the  city  in  1880- 
81.  He  was  the  owner  of  the  Morrison  block,  of  which  our  sub- 
ject is  now  the  manager.  A  democrat  in  politics,  he  was  ac- 
counted a  man  of  sterling  honesty  in  pul^lic  as  well  as  in  pri- 
vate life,  and  until  bis  death  lie  wielded  a  large  influence  in 
the  affairs  of  Iowa  City.  He  was  a  member  of  Iowa  City  lodge 
No.  4,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  the  Royal  Arch  Masons  and  of  Pales- 
tine Commandery  No.  2,  Knights  Templar.  He  was  married 
in   1863   to    Elizabeth    Fanny    Jones,    daughter    of    Wesley 


HON.  \VM.  A.  MORRISON 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


175 


Jones,  a  merchant  of  Burlington,  Iowa.  Mr.  Wesley 
Jones,  grandfather  of  our  subject,  erected  the  first  frame 
building  in  Johnson  county,  and  was  the  first  real  mer- 
chant to  locate  in  Iowa  City.  Mr.  Jones  had  seven  stores 
at  different  places  in  Iowa  and  Illinois  at  that  time. 
Four  children  were  l)orn  to  them :  Wesley  Jones  Morrison,  M. 
D.,  a  graduate  of  S.  U.  I.,  also  of  State  University  of  Pennsyl- 
vania in  Medical  Department;  Cora  B. ;  Samuel  T.,  our  sub- 
ject ;  and  Captain  William  F.,  graduate  of  West  Point  in  1902. 
Mr.  Morrison  and  his  wife  were  active  members  of  the  Pro- 


EESmENCE   or   SAMUEL  TURNER   MORRISON 


testant  Episcoj^al  church ;  in  fact,  the  widow  is  still  one  of  the 
prominent  workers  in  that  society. 

Samuel  Turner  ]\forrison  received  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  his  birthplace,  Iowa  City.  He  attended  the 
State  University  of  Iowa,  and  took  a  special  technical  course 
in  New  York  City.  He  chose  for  his  occupation  the  jewelry 
business,  and  in  1908  began  his  present  enterprise  in  the  old 
stand  in  the  Morrison  block,  confining  himself  to  the  exclusive 
trade  of  jewelry  and  diamonds  and  its  associated  lines.  It  is 
Mr.  Morrison's  proud  claim  that  he  has  the  most  elegantly 
and  completely  equipped  establishment  in  his  line  in  Iowa  City, 
and  this  claim  an  inspection  of  the  store  would  seem  to  justi- 
fy.    The  show  cases  and  fixtures  are  of  mahogany  and  cut 


176         HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

glass  in  the  latest  designs,  and  every  device  and  compartment 
for  storage  and  display  is  of  the  most  np-to-dato  pattern. 
The  cnt-glass  display  in  a  room  adjoining  the  main  store  is 
provided  with  electric  bnlbs  so  that  the  lines  of  the  ware  are 
illuminated  for  the  convenience  of  the  customer  in  making 
selections.  A  desk  equipped  with  writing  materials  and  tele- 
phone for  the  use  of  patrons  is  provided.  At  the  rear  of  the 
main  office  is  a  fine  vault  of  steel  and  within  this  is  a  burglar- 
proof  safe  for  the  storage  of  jewelry.  First-class  watch- 
makers and  an  optician  are  important  adjuncts  to  the  estab- 
lishment. Mr.  Hugo  Eohwedder,  a  graduate  optician,  late  of 
Davenport,  who  joined  the  force  in  March,  1905,  has  charge  of 
the  optical  department.  This  store,  in  construction,  equip- 
ment and  stock,  will  compare  favorably  with  any  of  the  larger 
cities. 

Our  subject  is  married  to  Miss  Hazel  Frisbie,  of  Iowa  City, 
who  is  of  English  and  German  ancestrv.  Thev  have  one 
daughter,  Cora  Adelaide.  Mr.  Morrison  is  a  director  of  the 
Commercial  Savings  bank;  member  of  the  Sons  of  the  Revolu- 
tion, the  Society  of  Colonial  AYars,  the  B.  P.  0.  E.,  the  Iowa 
City  Automo])ile  Club,  and  the  Iowa  City  Country  Club,  and 
Iowa  Citv  Commercial  Club,  in  all  of  which  he  takes  an  active 
interest. 


OSCAR  CLAY  YAN  METER 

Ever  siuce  the  dawn  of  civilizatio]i,  and  that  dates  from  the 
time  when  men  began  to  travel,  the  inn,  or  hotel,  has  been 
celebrated  as  ''The  Stranger's  Home."  At  its  fireside  the 
weary  wayfarer  has  found  a  welcome  and  companionship;  at 
its  table  he  has  found  refreshment  and  good  cheer;  in  its 
chambers  he  has  found  security  and  sweet  repose.  Some  ap- 
preciative disciple  of  Morpheus  once  said,  "Blessiugs  on  the 
man  who  mvented  sleep."  He  might  have  added  a  companion 
by  saying,  "Blessings  also  on  the  man  who  established  the 
first  hotel."  From  the  days  when  in  his  tents  at  Mamre,  the 
Hebrew  Abraham  "entertained  angels  unawares,"  and  the 
years  of  chivalry,  when  kings  aud  knights  made  merry  at  the 
wayside  inn,  down  to  the  time  of  the  Cecil,  the  Waldorf- 


BIOGRAPHICAL  177 

Astoria,  the  La  Salle,  and  the  Palace,  the  descendants  of  the 
Nomads  have  been  hail  fellows  with  the  innumerable  mine 
hosts  of  the  caravanseries  of  the  centuries.  The  idea  was  born 
of  the  inherent  hospitality  of  the  human  heart.  "Brother- 
hood" was  the  first  motto  ])laced  upon  the  walls.  Every  com- 
fort at  the  command  of  the  host  and  his  servants,  even  to  the 
discomfiture  of  themselves,  was  given  to  the  stranger,  who 
was  esteemed  the  guest  of  honor,  by  the  bonifaces  of  those 
elder  days.  A  study  of  successful  hotels  and  hotel  keepers 
will  reveal  the  fact  that  just  in  proportion  as  the  business  has 
been  cast  on  its  original  lines  of  fellowshi]^,  brotherhood,  hos- 
pitality, comfort,  and  the  careful  entertainment  of  the  guest, 
just  so  far  has  prosperity  blessed  it  and  popularity  acclaimed 
it.  A  splendid  motto  for  a  born  hotel-keeper  would  be,  "Care 
for  the  guest  in  the  inn  with  the  same  consideration  you  would 
care  for  the  friend  in  the  home."  The  inn-keepers  who  have 
endeavored  to  observe  this  principle  in  spirit  and  practice 
have  not  failed  to  achieve  distinction  in  their  calling. 

In  Iowa  City,  Iowa,  the  emphasis  on  the  hotel  as  the 
"Home  of  the  Traveler"  is  distinctive.  A  peculiar  local 
condition  growing  out  of  the  presence  of  a  great  university 
with  a  large  student  body  makes  it  practically  impossible  for 
the  transient  American  to  secure  desirable  private  accommo- 
dations during  the  nine  months  of  the  "school  year,"  unless 
he  "vdelds  to  the  demands  of  the  thriftv  housewife  and  takes  a 
lease  for  that  length  of  time.  It  follows,  therefore,  that  a 
measure  of  patronage  and  popularity  in  unusual  degree  is 
given  to  those  hotels  which  aim  to  provide  home  comforts  and 
the  simple  good  cheer  of  life  for  those  Americans  who  desire 
to  remain  in  Iowa  Citv  for  indefinite  davs,  or  weeks,  or 
months.  This  is  one  of  the  factors  entering  into  the  success 
and  popularity  of  the  Hotel  Van  Meter,  c'onducted  by  Oscar 
Clay  Van  Meter  and  his  estimable  wife,  Sarah  Beck  Van 
Meter. 

Mr.  Van  Meter  got  into  the  hotel  business  in  Iowa  City, 
paradoxical  to  say,  through  the  necessity  for  a  "students' 
boarding  house,"  and  his  first  enterprise  w^as  established  in 
the  old  home  of  his  parents,  Jacob  and  Elizabeth  Van  Meter, 
on  North  Capitol  street.  His  former  experience  with  his 
father  in  hotel  keeping  at  Rose  Hill,  Iowa,  together  with  his 


178         HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

knowledge  of  farm  products  and  tlie  handling  and  buying  of 
stock,  stood  liim  well  in  hand  in  his  new  enterprise.  The  ' '  stu- 
dents'  boarding  house"  prospered  and  became  popular.  Six 
years  Mr.  Van  Meter  continued  as  the  ^'man-on-the-job." 
That  brought  him  up  to  the  good  year-of-our-Lord  and  the 
inauguration  of  William  McKinley,  1897,  when  he  sold  out  his 
under-graduate  happy-home  to  Walter  Pratt  and  bought  from 
William  Buck  the  ]iroperty  on  the  southeast  corner  of  Iowa 
avenue  and  Linn  street,  where  the  present  Hotel  Van  Meter 
stands.  The  new  venture  was  a  success  from  the  beginning. 
It  became  a  "home"  for  transients  who  for  various  reasons 


VAX    METER  HOTEL 

desired  to  sojourn  for  a  time  in  the  Athens  of  Iowa.  These 
embraced  the  peoi)le  of  ordinary  means,  whom  Abraham  Lin- 
coln said  God  must  have  loved.  Friends,  tarrving  for  a  time 
to  care  for  dear  ones  under  hospital  treatment ;  farmers,  re- 
maining in  town  on  jury  work  and  other  business ;  theatrical 
people,  playing. the  local  houses  for  split-weeks;  and  the  gen- 
eral line  of  commercial  men,  people  "looking  around,"  and 
historical  writers  even.  Students  also,  to  a  limited  number, 
were  made  welcome,  and  a  vast  multitude  of  people  employed 
about  town  who  were  without  regular  homes.  "Table  board" 
was  provided  practically  without  limit  to  all  comers.  And  so, 
the  Hotel  Van  Meter  grew  from  a  modest  building  in  1897  to 
a  large  main  building,  an  annex,  two  cottages,  and  a  store- 


BIOGRAPHICAL  179 

room  in  1911,  \Yitli  full  (•M))cU'ity  taxed  and  further  improve- 
ments and  enlargements  made  necessary.  It  has  a  capacity 
for  seventy-five  regiilar  guests;  a  dining  room  seating  eighty- 
five  ;  a  wide,  cozy  porch  fronting  the  finest  avenue  in  the  city ; 
an  inviting  green  lawn,  with  great  elms  and  ma])les.  Its 
popularity  may  he  measured  b}'  the  fact  that  for  the  i)ast  five 
years  the  daily  average  number  of  meals  provided  has  been  in 
excess  of  three  hundred.  Mine  Host  Van  Meter  still  continues 
to  branch  out,  and  just  prior  to  this  writing  has  bought  from 
P.  M.  Taylor  the  property  on  East  Washington  street,  near 
Linn,  80x150  feet,  with  two-story  brick  mansion  and  fine  barn, 
which  it  is  his  intention  at  an  early  date  to  transform  either 
into  a  high-class  familv  hotel  or  a  fraternitv  home. 

On  both  sides  of  his  family  Air.  "^^an  Meter  descended  from 
Dutch  ancestry.  His  father,  Jacoli  Wilson  A^an  Aleter,  a  son 
of  Solomon  Van  Meter,  was  of  direct  Holland  descent.  His 
mother,  Susan  Elizal)eth  AFoore,  daughter  of  David  E.  Moore 
and  Mary  Marshall,  was  of  "Pennsylvania  Dutch"  descent. 
Both  of  Air.  Van  Meter's  parents  were  l)orn  near  Xenia, 
Ohio  —  the  father  on  Alay  14,  1819,  and  the  mother  on  Febru- 
ary 4,  1829.  The  Van  Meter  and  the  Moore  families  made 
practically  the  same  removals  in  early  days  —  first  settling  in 
Ohio  and  thereafter  in  Illinois,  reaching  the  latter  state  in 
1849.  Jacob  Wilson  Van  Afeter  and  family  located  in  Rock 
Island  county  on  a  farm  of  .'>20  acres,  which  they  farmed  for 
about  twenty-eight  years.  Then  they  removed  to  Washington, 
Washington  county,  Iowa,  where  Air.  Ymi  Meter,  Si-.,  took  up 
the  livery  and  meat  business,  in  connection  with  which  he 
bought  and  handled  stock  and  ran  a  hack  line.  After  a  resi- 
dence of  nearly  three  years  at  Washington,  the  family  re- 
moved to  Rose  Hill,  Mahaska  county,  where  the  father  en- 
gaged in  hotel  keeping.  The  next  move  was  to  Iowa  City, 
where  the  elder  Van  Aleter  died  one  year  after  his  arrival. 
Mother  A^an  Aleter  survived  her  husband  ten  years.  Both 
are  buried  at  Iowa  City.  Seven  children  were  born  to  this  de- 
voted couple,  as  follows:  Alary  Jane,  married  to  Bruce  Pat- 
terson, resides  in  AVashington  township;  Caroline  Ann,  mar- 
ried to  John  AVagner,  resides  in  AVashingion  township; 
Alarshall  AV.,  married  to  Annie  Burge,  resides  at  Alinneapolis, 
Alinnesota;  Thomas  Babl),  died  at  the  age  of  ten  years  in 


180         HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

Illinois ;  Oscar  Clay,  our  subject ;  Etta,  died  at  the  age  of  five 
years  in  Illinois;  Susan  Josephine,  married  to  Prof.  A.  T. 
Hukill,  of  Waterloo,  Iowa. 

Oscar  Clay  Van  Meter  was  born  in  Rock  Island  county, 
Illinois,  February  15,  1857.  The  first  eighteen  years  of  his 
life  were  spent  on  the  home  farm,  where  he  assisted  his  father. 
His  education  was  received  in  the  public  schools  of  the  neigh- 
borhood. He  removed  with  the  family  to  Washington,  Iowa, 
where  he  still  continued  to  assist  his  father  in  his  livery,  stock 
buying  and  shipping,  and  meat  business.  AVhen  the  family 
removed  to  Rose  Hill,  Iowa,  he  became  his  father's  assistant 
in  the  hotel  business.  It  was  only  after  the  family  settled  in 
Iowa  City  that  he  decided  to  "see  some  of  the  world  for  him- 
self," and  in  pursuit  of  this  purpose  he  went  to  Minneapolis, 
Minnesota,  where  he  was  associated  for  two  years  with  his 
brother,  Marshall  W.  Following  this  he  returned  to  Iowa 
City,  where  he  was  engaged  for  about  four  years  as  foreman 
of  a  gang  of  workmen  for  the  American  Sugar  Company. 
After  that  he  entered  the  employ  of  J.  Walter  Lee  as  salesman 
in  his  grocery  store,  continuing  for  about  four  and  a  half 
years.  Thereafter  he  opeued  the  "students'  boarding  house" 
heretofore  mentioned,  which  was  the  real  beginning  of  his 
business  career  and  his  success  as  a  hotel  keeper. 

On  September  9, 1889,  Mr.  Van  Meter  was  married  to  Miss 
Sarah  Beck,  daughter  of  John  and  Sarah  (Atkinson)  Beck, 
natives  of  Ontario,  Canada,  where  the  Beck  and  Atkinson  fam- 
ilies were  well  known.  John  Beck  and  Sarah  Atkinson  were 
married  in  Ontario,  and  lived  for  some  time  on  a  farm  there. 
The  Beck  family  are  celebrated  for  longevity.  Grandfather 
Beck  being  in  his  100th  year  at  death,  and  Grandmother  Beck 
in  her  98th  year.  Mrs.  Van  Meter's  parents  removed  from 
Canada  and  settled  near  North  Liberty,  Iowa,  where  she  was 
l3orn  January  10,  1870.  Her  marriage  to  Mr.  Van  Meter  took 
place  in  Iowa  City.  Father  Beck  died  some  years  ago,  but 
the  mother  still  survives  at  the  age  of  eighty-four,  at  Windom, 
Iowa.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Van  Meter  are  happily  mated,  and  are 
earnest  co-workers  in  the  battle  of  life.  "Van"  is  frequently 
told  by  his  boarders  that  his  wife  is  "the  best  man  of  the  two," 
a  witticism  which  he  receives  with  a  smile  of  appreciation  and 
a  nod  of  approval  in  the  direction  of  Mrs.  "Van."     Two 


BIOGRAPHICAL  181 

cliarming-  daughters  have  been  born  to  them:  Zoe  A  Hie,  born 
in  Iowa  City  Augiist  1,  1893,  and  Eula  Marie,  born  in  Iowa 
City  July  13,  1897.  Both  are  earnest  students  in  the  Iowa 
City  high  school. 

While  a  lifelong  republican,  Mr.  Van  Meter  has  always  held 
to  liberal  political  views  and  has  sought  to  secure  the  election 
of  men  pledged  to  public  improvements  and  political  honesty. 
He  was  himself  honored  by  election  to  the  city  council  of  Iowa 
City  for  a  term  of  two  years  in  1906-07  on  a  platform  of 
public  improvements.  His  redemption  of  his  pledges  at  that 
time  is  proven  by  the  creation  of  Iowa  avenue  —  once  one  of 
the  most  impassable  thoroughfares  of  the  city,  now  the  finest 
hard-surfaced,  parked  avenue  in  eastern  Iowa  —  Mr.  Van 
Meter  being  one  of  the  prime  factors  in  the  pushing  of  this 
improvement.  While  his  people  were  Methodists,  Mr.  Van 
Meter  himself  takes  the  liberal  view,  though  he  is  extremely 
friendly  to  the  churches.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows, 
Knights  of  Pythias,  and  Benevolent  Protective  Order  of  Elks 
of  Iowa  City.  In  the  first  named  order  he  has  occupied  all  the 
chairs  and  in  the  K.  of  P.  he  was  elected  Chancellor  Com- 
mander, but  was  compelled  to  decline  the  office  on  account  of 
pressure  of  business. 

In  addition  to  the  property  interests  already  mentioned, 
our  subject  owns  ten  acres  in  east  Iowa  City,  several  town  lots 
in  Marine  View,  California,  Guthrie,  Oklahoma,  and  points  in 
Texas.  He  holds  interests  in  Colorado  mines,  and  is  asso- 
ciated with  his  brother  IMarshall  W.  in  the  i:)romotion  of  a 
valuable  invention  for  smoke  protection  for  the  use  of  firemen, 
insurance  companies,  etc.  Perhaps  no  man  is  better  known 
in  Iowa  City  and  most  parts  of  Iowa  than  Mr.  Van  Meter,  and 
he  numbers  his  personal  friends  by  the  hundreds. 


LEWIS  GRANT  LAWYER 

Another  of  the  native  sons  of  Iowa  who  has  achieved  dis- 
tinction within  the  shadow  of  his  alma  mater  is  Dr.  Lewis 
Grant  Lawyer,  the  popular  dentist  of  Iowa  City.  Reference- 
has  been  made  in  biographies  of  other  citizens  of  Johnson 
county  to  the  remarkable  j^ercentage  of  graduates  of  the  S.  U. 


182         HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

I.  who  remain  witliin  tlie  borders  of  tlie  state,  largely  within 
the  borders  of  the  county,  of  which  this  great  institution  of 
learning  is  so  signally  a  factor.  This  notable  fact  is  both  a 
compliment  to  the  alma  mater  and  to  the  state,  and  in  some 
sense  is  a  foil  to  the  charge  of  former  United  States  Senator 
Lafayette  I'oung  that  lowans  are  inclined  to  run  after  strange 
gods  of  other  states.  Probably  in  no  state  of  tlie  Union,  cer- 
tainly in  no  county  thereof,  can  be  found  a  greater  percentage 
of  alumni  who  have  remained  within  earshot  of  their  gradua- 
tion halls  and  made  recognized  progress  in  the  manifold  pur- 
suits of  life  than  in  Iowa  and  Johnson  onnnty.     A  directory  of 


RESIDENCE  OF  LEWIS  GRANT  EAWYKK 


the  leading  professional  and  Inisiness  men  of  Johnson  county 
would  in  large  measure  doubtless  prove  a  "deadly  ])arallel'^ 
to  the  roll  of  alumni  of  the  State  University  of  Iowa.  Thus 
the  value  of  the  University,  both  as  a  coach  for  practical  busi- 
ness and  as  a  steadier  of  men's  spirits  for  the  responsibilities, 
of  life,  is  made  manifest.  The  charge  that  such  influence  leads 
to  provincialism  is  disproven  in  Johnson  county,  for  nowhere 
do  the  tides  of  national  patriotism  run  higher  nor  the  broad 
views  of  the  "Big  American"  more  forcefully  prevail  than 
here.  The  alumni  of  S.  U.  I.  are  men  of  the  wide  vision,  and 
their  eyes  are  steadied  for  the  sight  of  things  by  the  quieting 


L.  G.  LAWYER,  D.  D. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  18 


o 


shades  of  the  campus  and  tlie  peaceful  presence  of  tlieir  fel- 
lows of  the  school  room. 

Dr.  Lawyer  is  a  native  of  Solon,  Iowa,  and  tlie  date  of  his 
birth  was  October  18,  1869.  He  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  his  native  village,  and  afterwards  took  a  course  in 
the  Iowa  City  Connnercial  College.  This  he  supplemented  by 
matriculation  in  tlie  Dental  College  of  the  State  University  of 
Iowa.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  he  learned  the  printer's  trade, 
afterwards  forming  a  partnership  with  V.  L.  Becter  in  the 
publication  of  the  Solon  Reporter.  He  began  the  practice  of 
dentistry  in  Iowa  City  in  March,  1895,  and  has  built  up  a  prac- 
tice which  he  admits  is  ''of  average  size,"  but  which  is  well 
known  as  one  of  the  best  in  the  city,  the  doctor's  modest}'  to 
the  contrary,  notwithstanding.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Iowa 
State  Dental  Society. 

Dr.  Lawyer  is  hai)py  iu  his  domestic  relations,  having  for 
his  wife  Miss  Mae  E.  Talbott,  daughter  of  L.  AV.  and  Laurana 
Talbott,  to  whom  he  was  married  Septeml)er  12,  1894,  at  Iowa 
City.  The  Talbott  family  came  to  Iowa  City  from  Indiana  in 
1851.  Mr.  Talbott  was  a  volunteer  in  the  Civil  War.  He  was. 
formerly  city  marshal  and  a  trustee  of  the  poor  farm.  He  has 
been  prominent  in  the  work  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church 
of  Iowa  City. 

The  parents  of  Lewis  Grant  Lawyer  were  Lewis  Alathias 
and  Nancy  Jane  Lawyer,  the  former  a  native  of  ]\taryhind, 
and  the  latter  of  Pennsylvania.  Lawyer,  Sr.,  was  a  general 
merchant,  and  carried  on  his  business  at  Solon  following  his 
arrival  in  Iowa  in  1855.  For  several  years  he  hauled  all  his 
merchandise  from  jMuscatine  and  Iowa  City  by  wagon.  He 
was  formerly  postmaster  at  Solon.  In  1862  he  took  up  a  gov- 
ernment claim  in  Kansas,  but  was  compelled  to  relinquish  it  on 
account  of  ill  health  and  return  to  Solon.. 

Dr.  Lawyer  is  an  active  worker  in  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal church  of  Iowa  City,  having  united  with  that  denomination 
at  the  age  of  seventeen  at  Solon.  lie  has  one  child,  Laura 
Jeanette,  born  November  15,  1900.  The  family  reside  at  -102 
South  Linn  street. 


184         HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

JOSEPH  L.  WILKINSON 

The  strength  of  the  American  republic  rests  in  the  native 
good  sense,  honesty,  and  integrity  of  its  great  connnon  people, 
whose  name  is  legion.  Abraham  Lincoln,  remarking  on  the 
number  of  these,  gave  it  as  his  quaint  opinion  that  "the  Lord 
must  love  the  common  people,  for  He  made  so  many  of  them." 
In  this  country  of  matchless  opportunity,  where  the  springs  of 
power  have  their  source  in  the  hearts  and  initiative  of  the 
electorate,  men  are  ofttimes  tempted  to  lay  aside  the*  homely 
garments  of  the  commonplace  and  take  on  the  habiliments  of 
political  preferment  and  power.  Thus  it  has  passed  into  an 
aphorism  that  "many  a  good  citizen  has  been  spoiled  in  the 
making  of  an  indifferent  statesman."  In  view  of  the  number- 
less instances  of  such  "indifferent"  creations,  it  seems  fitting 
to  give  a  just  meed  of  praise  to  those  members  of  the  com- 
monwealth who  have  had  the  inherent  good  judgment  to  live 
their  lives  in  the  simple  environments  of  home  and  occupation, 
expressing  their  citizenship  in  terms  of  good  fellowship,  right 
living,  and  honest  suft'rage. 

Joseph  L.  Wilkinson,  a  native  of  Union  township,  Johnson 
county,  Iowa,  is  known  among  his  neighbors  as  a  man  of 
straightforward  character,  transparent  honesty,  and  plain, 
common  sense.  Born  of  native  Irish  parents,  he  was  given  by 
inheritance  the  primary  elements  of  success;  and  that  he  has 
"made  fine  capital  of  his  birthright"  his  honorable  life  of 
forty-two  years  in  Iowa  City  and  vicinity  abundantly  attests. 

The  parents  of  Joseph  L.  were  Robert  Wilkinson  and  Anna 
Murphy.  The  former  was  born  in  the  County  of  Antrim  and 
the  latter  in  the  County  of  Kildare,  Ireland,  in  the  year  ]824. 
Emigrating  to  America,  Wilkinson,  senior,  landed  at  Quebec, 
near  which  for  a  time  he  was  engaged  in  burning  charcoal.  In 
1855  the  couple,  with  their  four  children,  came  west,  settling 
in  Johnson  county,  Iowa.  The  trip  from  Dubuque  to  Iowa 
City  was  made  by  wagon.  For  about  ten  years  subsequent  to 
his  arrival  Robert  Wilkinson  pursued  the  business  of  draying 
at  Iowa  City;  thereafter  living  on  a  farm  south  of  the  city. 
In  1868  he  purchased  240  acres  of  land  west  of  Iowa  City,  in 
Union  township,  at  the  low  price  of  $1.25  per  acre.  There  he 
remained,  with  his  growing  family,  developing  his  homestead. 


J.  L.   WILKINSON 


/ 


BIOGRAPHICAL  185 

until  1896,  when  he  died.  His  beloved  wife  survived  until 
September  1,  1910. 

Anna  (Murphy)  Wilkinson  was  the  mother  of  ten  children, 
seven  of  whom  are  living.  They  are,  in  the  order  of  their 
birth:  James,  of  Iowa  City;  Mary  J,  Weeks,  of  Iowa  City; 
Robert,  of  Iowa  City;  Frank  and  Thomas,  of  Scott  township; 
Charles,  of  Iowa  City;  and  Joseph  L.,  of  Penn  township. 

Father  and  Mother  Wilkinson  were  faithful  members  of  St. 
Patrick's  Roman  Catholic  church,  Mr.  Wilkinson  being  one  of 
the  actual  builders  of  the  church  edifice. 

Joseph  L.  Wilkinson  was  raised  on  the  home  farm  in  Union 
township,  where  he  remained  until  twenty-seven  years  of  age. 
He  received  his  education  at  the  public  schools  and  the  Iowa 
City  Academy.  His  attention  was  given  to  farming  until  ]898, 
when  he  opened  a  retail  grocery  store  on  South  Dubuque 
street,  between  College  and  Washington,  Iowa  City.  A  splen- 
did, prosperous  business  is  the  outcome  of  his  careful  efforts. 

His  marriage  to  Miss  Margaret  Kenny,  a  native  of  Plato 
township.  Cedar  county,  Iowa,  has  been  ratified  by  the  birth 
of  seven  children,  named  respectively:  Thomas,  Mary,  Anna, 
Edward,  Paul,  Alice,  and  Bernard.  The  family  reside  upon 
the  farm  in  Penn  township,  which  j\[r.  W^ilkinson  owns  —  his 
time  being  happily  divided  between  the  prosperous  business  in 
Iowa  City  and  the  attractive  home  in  the  country. 

In  politics  Mr.  W^ilkinson  is  a  democrat  and  the  family  are 
members  of  St.  Patrick's  Roman  Catholic  church. 

The  introductory  statements  of  this  article  apply  with 
singular  fitness  to  Joseph  L.  Wilkinson.  He  is  an  honored 
member  of  the  great  American  majority,  who  find  their  chief 
delight  in  discharging  the  multiplied  duties  of  life  without 
ostentation,  in  the  spirit  of  true  neighborliness  and  patriot- 
ism. 


JOHN  T.  JONES 


It  is  a  natural  desire,  common  to  all  who  look  beyond  mere- 
ly the  needs  of  the  passing  hour,  to  know  something  of  our 
kin  and  also  to  leave  some  recorded  story  of  our  lives  that 
those  who  live  after  us  may  know  something  more  of  their  an- 
cestry than  is  carved  on  some  marble  shaft  or  pediment.     A 


186         HISTORY  OF  JOHxYSON  COUNTY,  lOAVA 

genealogy  is  a  kind  of  an  analysis  of  our  particnlar  tribe,  so 
that  we  may  consider  the  elements  of  which  we  are  composed. 
Printer's  ink  outlasts  the  granite  shaft  and  tells  more  than 
name,  date  of  birth,  and  day  of  death.  The  men  and  women 
who  made  Johnson  county,  who  labored  and  waited,  who 
shaped  events,  formulated  its  government  and  forecast  its 
prosperity,  deserve  a  larger  remembrance  than  an  umneaning 
line  cut  into  the  facet  of  a  monument,  for  men's  lives  and  the 
deeds  they  have  done  are  worthy  of  comprehensive  record,  and 
in  writing  the  commemorative  history  of  Johnson  county  it  is 
a  pleasure  to  the  biographer  to  recor<l  the  history  of  those 


RESIDENCE    OF    JOHX    T.    JONES 

who  were  factors  in  the  growth  and  develo]mie]it  of  this  part 
of  the  great  commonwealth  of  Iowa. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  .John  T.  Jones,  is  of  Welsh 
parentage.  He  was  born  in  Wales,  December  10,  1845.  AVhen 
he  was  ten  years  of  age  he  came  with  his  parents,  Thomas  H. 
and  Ann  (Bruce)  Jones  to  America.  These  parents  were  of 
the  sturdy  Welsh  type  which  has  found  many  representatives 
in  the  New  World  and  is  one  that  has  ever  been  found  fore- 
most in  giving  impetus  to  the  march  and  progress  of  events 
and  in  directing  affairs  along  safe  and  conservative  lines. 
America  owes  much  to  this  hardy  Welsh  stock  and  has  hon- 
ored and  been  honored  by  nol>le  men  and  women  of  this  ex- 
traction. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  187 

Upon  the  arrival  of  the  family  in  Johnson  county,  tlie 
father  secured  a  tract  of  land  and  immediately  engaged  in 
farming-  and  continued  in  that  pursuit  until  his  death  in  1885. 
The  mother's  death  occurred  in  1880. 

John  T.  Jones  grew  to  manhood  on  the  old  homestead  and 
attended  the  public  schools  of  the  county  until  ten  years  of 
age,  when  he  conmienced  farm  work  and  was  employed  at 
different  places  in  the  neighborhood  for  a  period  of  aliout 
eight  years.  In  the  spring  of  1863  he  answered  the  call  of  his- 
adopted  country,  then  in  the  midst  of  a  civil  war,  and  enlisted 
in  Co.  K,  of  the  8th  Iowa  Cavalry,  and  remained  in  the  service 
until  the  close  of  the  war.  In  the  winter  of  18(io-4  when  his 
regiment  was  in  Tennessee,  he  had  some  very  thrilling  expe- 
riences with  "bushwhackers."  He  was  engaged  in  skirmish- 
ing at  Lookout  Mountain  and  at  Chattanooga  and  Rosque. 
Later  he  was  with  Sherman  on  his  eventfnl  "march  to  the 
sea."  He  was  in  the  battles  of  Lost  Mountain,  Tilton,  Al- 
toona,  and  many  others.  At  Neuman,  Georgia,  July  30,  1864, 
he  was  taken  prisoner  and  conveyed  directly  to  Andersonville, 
where  he  remained  nine  months,  suffering  the  ui]describal)le 
tortures,  starvation,  and  hardships  of  that  infernal  hades, 
the  cruelties  of  which  bore  the  stamp  and  approval  of  the 
l)resident  of  the  Southern  Confederacy.  On  March  30,  1865, 
after  long  days  and  nights  of  suffering  and  waiting,  when 
hope  had  almost  fled,  one  can  easily  imagine  the  joy  which 
must  have  tilled  his  weary  heart  when  he  found  he  was  to  be 
exchanged  and  released  from  that  awful  in'ison.  On  June  30, 
]8()5,  he  was  discharged  from  further  service  and  returned  to 
his  home. 

In  April,  1872,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Ruth 
Baxter,  who  was  born  in  Ebensburg,  Cambria  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, July  16,  1849.  She  was  but  six  years  of  age  when  her 
l)arents  removed  to  Johnson  county  and  settled  on  a  farm  in 
Sharon  township.  She  remained  on  the  old  farm  until  their 
death.  The  father  died  December  8,  1898,  aged  ninety-five; 
the  mother  died  August  13,  1873,  aged  sixty-two.  They  are- 
l)otli  laid  at  rest  side  by  side  in  the  old  churchj^ard. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jones  are  blessed  with  three  children :  P^liza- 
beth  Grace,  born  September  3,  1875,  who  married  A.  F. 
Weeber,  and  they  are  living  on  a  farm  in  Sharon  township,. 


188         HISTOEY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

Jolmsoii  county;  E.  B.  Jones,  born  September  7,  1877,  who 
married  Annie  Weaver  and  is  living  on  tlie  old  homestead 
south  of  Iowa  City;  Margarette  Ann,  born  July  13,  1881,  now 
Mrs.  L.  C.  Yoder,  and  resides  with  her  parents  in  Iowa  City. 

Mr.  Jones  is  a  republican  and  has  served  three  years  as 
supervisor  of  the  county. 

In  his  social  relations  Mr.  Jones  is  a  member  of  A.  F.  &: 
A.  M.,  Iowa  City  lodge  No.  4,  Iowa  City  No.  2  of  Eoyal  Arch 
Chapter,  Palestine  Com.  No.  2  of  Iowa  City,  and  of  I.  0.  0.  F. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jones  are  both  members  of  the  Congregational 
church  and  are  held  in  high  esteem  l)y  all  who  know  them. 

In  tracing  the  life  story  of  Mr.  Jones  we  find  an  example 
of  what  ma  J"  be  accomplished  by  integrity  of  purpose,  indus- 
try, tenacity  of  will,  and  strict  honesty.  He  began  his  career 
in  life  with  only  a  pair  of  willing  hands  and  an  honest  deter- 
mination and  has  steadily  progressed  until  he  has  secured  not 
only  a  competency,  but  an  unblemished  name  and  character, 
a  heritage  of  honor,  and  the  fragrance  of  a  life  well  lived  and 
days  well  spent. 


ALBEET  J.  HEETZ 

One  of  the  most  faithful,  painstaking,  and  efficient  public 
servants  of  Iowa  City  in  his  generation  is  Albert  J.  Hertz,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch.  Probably  no  man  has  a  more  complete 
knowledge  of  the  general  conditions  of  both  city  and  county, 
and  certainly  none  has  a  more  thorough  grasp  of  the  public 
school  system  of  the  city  or  of  matters  affecting  the  welfare  of 
the  youth  of  Iowa  City.  He  also  has  special  knowledge  of  as 
well  as  long  experience  in  the  subject  of  fire  protection  for  the 
city,  having  served  actively  twenty-five  years  as  a  volunteer 
fireman  and  three  years  as  chief  af  the  fire  department.  For 
sixteen  years  Mr.  Hertz  has  been  secretary  of  the  board  of 
education  of  the  public  schools  of  Iowa  City,  and  for  the  past 
two  years  has  devoted  his  entire  time  to  that  work.  The  po- 
sition involves  supervision  of  the  janitors  of  the  various  school 
buildings,  as  well  as  of  the  buildings  and  grounds,  and  the 
duties  of  truant  officer.  To  the  discharge  of  his  various  duties 
Mr.  Hertz  applies  the  power  of  practical  and  conscientious 
effort. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  189 

Tlie  parents  of  our  subject  were  Henry  Hertz  and  Anna 
Tilton.  The  former  was  a  native  of  Darmstadt,  Germany,  and 
was  born  January  9, 1824.  His  parents  were  Daniel  and  Chris- 
tina Hertz,  natives  of  Germany,  who  settled  in  Easton,  Penn- 
sylvania, in  1827,  making  the  voyage  from  the  Fatherland  in 
an  old  sailing  vessel,  a  journey  requiring  aliout  nine  weeks. 
At  the  age  of  eighteen  Henry  Hertz  went  to  Philadelphia, 
where  he  became  an  apprentice  at  coach  blacksmithing  for  two 
years,  afterwards  serving  as  a  journeyman  for  fifteen  years. 
In  1857  he  came  west  to  Johnson  county,  where  he  resided 
until  his  death,  April  24,  1904.    His  wife,  Anna  Tilton,  was  a 


RESIDENCE   OF  ALBERT   J.  HERTZ 

native  of  Easton,  Pennsylvania.  She  died  soon  after  the  birth 
of  her  fourth  child.  The  names  of  the  children  of  Daniel  and 
Christina  Hertz  are :  Henry,  William,  George,  Jacob,  Gustave, 
Dehlia,  Lena,  Mary,  and  Sarah.  The  three  children  of  Henry 
Hertz  and  Anna  Tilton  were:  Albert  J.,  our  subject;  Harry 
F. ;  Cordelia,  wife  of  G.  Blessin.  Mr.  Hertz  was  a  man  of 
affairs  in  Johnson  county,  serving  in  many  positions  of  trust 
in  his  township. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania,  No- 
vember 13,  1848.  He  accompanied  his  father  to  Johnson 
county  in  1857  when  nine  years  of  age.  His  education  was 
secured  in  the  public  schools  of  Iowa  City.    In  the  spring  of 


190         HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

1880  lie  entered  business  for  himself  in  tlie  dry  goods  trade, 
and  continued  therein  for  sixteen  years,  when  he  sold  out  and 
went  into  the  employ  of  Denecke  &  Yetter  as  a  salesman.  He 
remained  with  this  firm  for  three  years,  after  which  he  en- 
tered the  employ  of  H.  A.  Strub  &  Co.,  with  whom  he  contin- 
ued as  a  salesman  for  ten  years.  For  the  past  two  years,  as 
heretofore  stated,  he  has  devoted  his  entire  time  to  the  duties 
of  secretary  of  the  board  of  education. 

Mr.  Hertz  has  a  worthy  wife  in  the  person  of  Miss  Sai'ali  E. 
Gobin,  a  native  of  Iowa  City,  Her  parents  were  natives  of 
Pennsylvania  and  came  to  Johnson  county  in  1849.  They  were 
among-  the  well-known  pioneer  settlers  and  were  identified 
with  the  early  growth  and  development  of  the  county.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Hertz  have  six  children :  Charles,  Henry,  George, 
Sophia,  Ada,  and  Elsie. 

The  family  are  all  members  of  the  English  Lutheran 
church.  Although  a  large  part  of  Mr.  Hertz's  time  has  been 
spent  in  the  service  of  the  public,  he  has  been  accumulating  a 
modest  fortune,  which,  with  the  l)eautiful  home  which  he  owns, 
guarantees  him  a  competence  for  the  years  of  retirement,  to 
which,  though  considerablv  removed  as  vet,  he  naturallv  looks 
forward  with  expectation  of  comfort  and  the  consciousness  of 
dutv  well  performed.  The  familv  residence  is  at  624  Summit 
street,  Iowa  City. 


WILLIAM  E.  PEATT 

The  founder  of  this  branch  of  the  Pratt  family  in  the  United 
States  was  William,  one  of  the  passengers  of  the  pilgrim  ship 
Aiavflower,  who  settled  near  the  old  town  of  Boston,  Massa- 
chusetts.  The  heads  of  the  generations  in  direct  succession 
of  William  are  James,  Robert,  Edward,  James,  Cotton,  James 
C,  Edward,  and  William  Edward,  our  subject,  the  latter  be- 
ing the  ninth  generation  of  his  family  in  America.  Edward, 
the  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  in  Massachusetts  and  re- 
moved to  Pennsylvania.  He  married  Malinda  Davidson,  a 
native  of  Massachusetts,  who  was  the  mother  of  our  subject. 

William  Edward  Pratt  was  born  June  30,  1837,  at  Mead- 
ville,  Crawford  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  educated  in  the  dis- 
trict schools  of  Trumbull  county,  Ohio.    He  took  up  the  car- 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


191 


penter  trade  as  an  occupation,  and  on  reacliing  Johnson 
county,  Iowa,  in  185-1-,  was  employed  at  his  trade  until  ]86o. 
Immediately  upon  his  arrival,  however,  he  became  a  laud 
owner,  and  during-  his  long  residence  in  the  county  has  owned 
farms  in  East  Lucas,  Scott,  and  Graham  townships.  For  many 
years  he  has  been  a  practical  farmer,  and  at  this  writing  re- 
sides on  the  old  Muscatine  road,  near  Iowa  City,  in  honorable 
retirement.  His  present  farm  is  recognized  as  a  model,  and 
contains  everything  essential  to  up-to-date  farming,  with 
splendid  residence  and  com])lete  fences. 

Mr.  Pratt  was  married  October  2G,  ISiVS,  to  Miss  Emma  D. 
Trotter,  boi'n   in   Johnson   county,   Se];)tember   25,  1842,  and 


RESIDENCE  OF  WILLIAM  E.  PRATT 


raised  and  educated  in  Johnson  county.  She  is  the  daughter 
of  Samuel  B,  and  Martha  G.  (Sanford)  Trotter,  Johnson 
county  pioneers  of  1839.  Mrs.  Trotter  was  among  the  tirst 
white  women  of  the  Iowa  frontier,  and  endured  many  of  the 
l^rivations  of  pioneer  life.  She  was  born  in  New  York  state, 
Mr.  Trotter  being  a  native  of  Oliio.  The  children  of  William 
E.  Pratt  and  Emma  I).  Trotter  are:  Elmer  G.,  n)arried  to 
Henrietta  Stevenson;  ^Martha  E.,  now  Mrs.  E.  G.  Ten  Eyck, 
living  in  Oklahoma ;  Calista  L.,  living  at  home ;  and  Sanford  J., 
married  Mable  Eice,  living  in  Nebraska. 

Mr.  Pratt  has  held  many  positions  of  trust,  and  has  always 
evinced  a  strong  interest  in  local  and  national  ])()litical  issues. 


192         HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 
SAMUEL  EDGAR  CARRELL 

Samuel  Edgar  Carrell  was  born  near  Aledo,  Mercer  county, 
Illinois,  Aj^ril  1,  1862,  He  is  a  son  of  E.  L.  Carrell  and  Mrs. 
Eliza  (Cowgill)  Carrell.  E.  L.  Carrell  was  born  in  Logan 
comity,  Oliio,  in  1830,  and  Mrs.  Carrell  was  born  in  Cham- 
paign county,  Ohio,  the  same  year.  He  was  a  carpenter  by 
trade,  as  was  his  father  before  him,  and  the  first  years  of  his 
life  were  spent  in  pursuit  of  this  vocation.  Later  he  became 
interested  in  land  ownership  and  farming,  and  the  last  years 
of  his  business  life  were  spent  in  the  grain  and  coal  business 
at  Adel,  Iowa.    He  has  now  retired  from  active  duties  and  he 


EESIDENCE  OF   SAMUEL  EDGAR   CARRELL 


and  his  wife  are  pleasantly  spending  their  declining  years  in 
a  comfortable  residence  at  that  place. 

Mrs.  E.  L.  Carrell 's  parents  were  early  pioneers  of  Cham- 
paign county,  Ohio,  and  endured  all  the  privations,  hardships, 
and  dangers  of  a  new  and  wild  country,  and  it  was  here  in  this 
community  in  its  primitive  state  that  Mrs.  Carrell  was  reared 
and  grew  to  womanhood. 

Samuel  Edgar  Carrell  came  to  Washington,  Iowa,  with  his 
parents  in  1865  and  from  there  went  to  Des  Moines,  Iowa,  in 
1870  and  shortly  afterward  moved  onto  a  farm  in  Dallas 
county,  Iowa.     Here  he  attended  countrv  school  and  taught 


BIOGEAPHICAL  193 

school  ill  that  county  for  some  time,  finally  moving  to  Adel, 
Iowa,  where  he  graduated  from  the  high  school. 

In  1883,  at  the  age  of  twenty  years,  he  started  in  tlie  news- 
paper business  as  part  owner  of  The  Dallas  County  Demo- 
crat. Here  he  remained  as  proprietor  and  editor  of  this  publi- 
cation for  eight  years,  during  four  years  of  which  time  he  was 
postmaster  of  Adel.  From  here  he  went  to  l)es  Moines  and 
for  a  year's  time  was  city  editor  and  editorial  writer  on  the 
Des  Moines  Leader. 

In  1891  he  moved  to  Perry,  Iowa,  buying  the  Perry  Adver- 
tiser. Soon  after  this,  in  order  to  be  in  better  position  to  take 
care  of  his  new  acquisition,  he  sold  his  interest  in  the  Adel 
paper  and  for  thirteen  years  his  life  was  coincident  with  the 
development  of  Dallas  county  and  the  welfare  of  its  people, 
spent  in  the  jniblication  of  its  official  newspaiJer. 

He  sold  the  Perry  Advertiser  in  1904  and  came  to  Iowa 
City,  where  he  has  been  engaged  in  publishing  and  editing  the 
Iowa  City  Daily  Press  ever  since. 

Mr.  Carrell  was  married  to  Miss  Rachel  Diddy  in  1883,  at 
Adel,  Iowa.  Her  parents  were  Levi  and  Sarah  Diddy,  who 
were  natives  of  Indiana  and  who  came  to  Dallas  county  in 
1849.  Here  they  outlived  all  the  newness  of  the  times,  gained  a 
comfortable  competence,  and  died  a  few  years  ago. 

Three  children  came  to  gladden  the  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Carrell,  two  sons,  who  are  still  living,  and  one  daughter  who 
died  when  a  baby.  The  older  son.  Dale  E.,  was  born  January 
19, 1885,  and  Clarence  C,  the  younger,  on  July  31,  1891.  Both 
are  working  with  their  father  in  the  newspaper  office. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Carrell  are  members  of  the  Christian  church. 

Mr.  Carrell  is  a  democrat  and  has  held  numerous  positions 
of  distinction,  honor,  and  trust  conferred  by  his  party.  Dur- 
ing much  of  the  time  he  lived  at  Adel  he  w^s  chairman  of  the 
central  committee. 


WILLIAM  J.  DUNKEL 

The  distinction  of  being  the  first-born  male  white  child  of 
Iowa  Cit}^  belongs  to  AVilliam  J.  Dunkel,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  whose  birthday  was  October  9, 1840.  He  also  bears  the 
honor  of  being  the  first  child  baptized  in  Iowa  City  in  the 


11)4         HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

Catholic  religion,  this  rite  being  performed  by  the  first  priest 
who  ever  came  to  Iowa  City.  The  fact  that  he  is  now  a  citizen 
of  his  native  city,  retired  at  tlie  age  of  seventy-one,  proves 
that  he  is  satisfied  with  the  place  of  his  birth  and  consecration. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  Caspar  Dunkel  and  Mary 
Axnor,  both  natives  of  Bavaria,  Germany.  The  former  was 
born  in  1809  and  the  latter  in  1817.  Caspar  Dunkel  emigrated 
to  America  in  1836  and  settled  at  Boston,  remaining  there  for 
about  two  years.  There,  in  September,  18o7,  he  married  Mary 
Axnor,  who  came  to  America  with  her  parents  and  settled  at 
Roxbury,  Massachusetts.  In  the  spring  of  1838  the  young- 
couple  went  to  Natchez,  ^lississippi,  and  in  July  two  years 
later  continued  their  journey  to  Iowa  City,  where  the  husband 
took  up  work  at  his  trade,  carpentering.  AYm.  J.  Dunkel  and 
his  wife  were  among  the  original  members  of  St.  Marv's 
Eoman  Catholic  church.  ISIrs.  Dunkel  died  of  cholera  in  Iowa 
City  in  August,  1855;  the  father  survived  until  1898.  Both 
were  excellent  people,  highly  esteemed.  The  old  family  resi- 
dence at  125  North  Linn  street,  built  by  Caspar  Dunkel  in  1853, 
is  one  of  the  landmarks  of  Iowa  City. 

Our  subject  is  the  second  of  the  seven  children  of  Caspar 
and  Marv  Dunkel,  onlv  three  of  whom  survive,  namelv:  Hen- 
ry,  a  dentist,  residing  at  Gunnison,  Colorado ;  our  subject,  and 
Frank  P.,  proprietor  of  the  Dunkel  Hotel,  Iowa  City. 

William  J.  Dunkel  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of 
Iowa  City.  At  the  age  of  seventeen  he  went  south  to  Natchez, 
Mississippi,  where  he  learned  the  cabinet  maker's  trade.  He 
resided  there  three  and  one-half  years  and  then  returned  to 
Iowa  City,  where  he  attended  Professor  Brownson's  high 
school  for  one  year.  For  a  time  he  held  a  position  in  a  gen- 
eral store.  In  1865  he  went  to  Chicago,  where  he  remained 
five  years.  This  time  was  spent  in  the  pursuit  of  different  vo- 
cations. His  purpose  in  going  to  Chicago  was  to  attend 
business  college,  which  he  did  for  the  first  year  of  his  sojourn 
in  the  city.  Later  he  was  engaged  in  a  gent's  furnishing 
store.  The  last  two  3^ears  were  spent  in  the  pursuit  of  his 
trade.  During  this  time  he  was  identified  with  one  of  the 
large  planing  mills  of  Chicago,  holding  a  very  important  po- 
sition. In  1870  he  returned  to  Iowa  City  and  took  a  clerkship 
in  John  Brosshart's  store,  remaining  four  vears.    Beginning 


BIOGRAPHICAL  195 

with  April  G,  1875,  lie  clerked  for  one  year  for  Frederick 
Kriz,  and  for  something  over  one  year  following  was  in  the 
employ  of  the  Union  Brewing  Company.  He  started  in  the 
grocery  business  for  himself  in  the  fall  of  1877,  continuing 
therein  until  May,  1910,  when  he  retired. 

In  1875  Mr.  Dunkel  was  married  to  Miss  Rosa  Lutter,  of 
Richmond,  Iowa,  who  was  born  in  New  York  of  German 
parentage.  Mrs.  Dunkel  died  July  15,  1889,  at  the  age  of 
thirty-three.  Three  sons  and  one  daughter  were  born,  the  lat- 
ter dying  in  infancy.  The  sons  are :  Eugene  W.,  born  Febru- 
ary 25,  1877,  a  railway  mail  clerk  on  the  Northwestern  between 
Chicago  and  Omalui;  George,  born  July  20,  1879,  married  to 
Miss  Ida  Hemstead,  of  Newport,  Iowa,  is  a  practicing  physi- 
cian at  Fairfield,  Iowa ;  William  Benedict,  born  February  22, 
1881,  married  to  Miss  Emma  Mintzer,  resides  at  Iowa  City, 
and  is  also  a  railway  mail  clerk,  operating  on  the  Rock  Island 
between  Chicago  and  Omaha. 

As  stated  before,  Mr.  Dunkel  enjoys  the.  honor  and  dis- 
tinction of  being  the  first  male  child  born  in  Iowa  City.  He 
first  saw  the  light  of  day  in  the  autumn  of  1840,  in  a  little  log 
cabin  then  located  on  the  corner  of  College  and  Linn  streets. 
When  our  subject  was  two  years  old  his  father  built  a  frame 
dwelling  just  west  of  the  log  cabin  on  the  corner,  where  our 
subject  lived  until  he  was  thirteen  years  old.  It  was  at  this 
time  that  his  father  built  the  old  landmark  at  125  North  Linn 
street,  where  our  subject  has  lived  the  greater  part  of  his  life. 

Mr.  Dunkel  has  l)een  identified  with  the  affairs  of  Johnson 
county  all  his  life,  and  has  always  taken  a  prominent  part.  In 
the  school  days  of  his  boyhood  he  always  excelled  in  the  ath- 
letic sports  i)articipated  in  by  the  young  men  at  that  time. 
He  became  an  expert  swimmer  and  diver.  .It  was  known  and 
conceded  far  and  wide  that  there  was  no  one  in  his  vicinity 
who  could  surpass  him  in  this  sport.  Many  of  the  old  resi- 
dents of  Iowa  City  recall  the  athletic  victories  of  Mr.  Dunkel's 
boyhood.  In  later  years,  amid  the  grave  cares  and  responsi- 
bilities of  life,  he  has  been  equally  successful.  For  thirty-five 
years  he  was  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  in  Iowa  City. 
During  all  this  time  he  made  and  kept  a  host  of  friends  who 
admire  and  respect  him  for  his  adherence  to  the  principles  of 


196         HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

strict  honesty.    He  is  now  enjoying  the  well  earned  fruits  of  a 
life  well  spent  in  conscientious  toil. 

Mr.  Dunkel  had  a  narrow  escape  from  drowning  in  the 
Iowa  river  when  nine  years  of  age.  He  was  rescued  by  Peter 
Hepburn,  former  congressman,  and  John  Gower. 


JOSHUA  HUNT  SECKFST 

The  advanced  march  of  civilization  from  east  to  west,  coin- 
cident with  the  inflow  of  immigration  to  Iowa,  brought  to 
Johnson  county  one  of  her  most  useful,  successful,  and  hon- 
ored sons.  To  write  the  history  of  this  county  in  all  its  phases, 
to  tell  of  its  improvement  from  the  raw  prairie,  of  its  advance- 
ment morally,  educationally,  and  financially,  without  proper 
mention  of  the  assistance  and  influence  of  Joshua  Hunt  Se- 
crest,  would  be  utterly  an  impossibility,  as  well  as  an  unpar- 
donable injustice  to  a  man  who  plainly  demonstrated  the  value 
of  the  rare  qualities  of  character,  ambition,  perseverance,  and 
honesty. 

Mr.  Secrest  most  assuredly  did  possess  these  precious  gifts 
of  nature.  His  comfortable  fortune,  his  beautiful  home,  his 
honored  and  respected  widow,  his  talented  children,  all  are 
evidences  of  a  spotless  character  and  a  life  well  spent;  in 
memory  of  which  his  host  of  friends  bespeak,  "Thou  hast  not 
lived  in  vain." 

Mr.  Secrest  was  born  near  Hartford  in  Guernsey  county, 
Ohio,  August  9,  1848.  His  father,  Michael  Secrest,  was  born 
at  Capron  Springs,  Virginia,  January  22,  1822.  His  mother's 
maiden  name  was  Mary  Hunt.  She  was  born  September  10, 
1828,  at  Kimbalton,  Ohio.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Michael  Secrest  were 
married  at  Hartford,  Ohio,  in  1844.  In  1852  they  moved  to 
Warren  county,  Ohio,  and  a  year  later  to  Mercer  county,  Ohio, 
which  at  that  time  was  an  unbroken  wilderness  of  timber  and 
swamp.  The  family  lived  in  the  covered  wagon  until  a  log 
cabin  could  be  built.  There  was  no  railroad  for  miles,  nor  any 
schoolhouse  in  that  locality. 

In  1854  the  first  school  house  was  built  in  Mercer  county, 
and  it  was  here  that  our  subject  attended  one  term,  the  first 
and  only  schooling  he  had  for  several  years.  About  this  time 
our  subject  lost  his  mother.    Her  death  was  caused  from  ex- 


BIOGRAPHICAL  197 

cessive  hardship  incident  to  pioneer  life,  and  a  decidedly  un- 
healthy condition  existing  in  that  country  at  that  time.  The 
loss  of  the  mother,  experienced  in  that  pioneer  region  by  the 
father  and  six  small  children,  can  never  be  told. 

The  children  were  Rebecca  Elizabeth,  Joshua  Hunt,  Rachel 
Marie,  Amanda  Melissa,  David  Elwood,  and  Samuel  Filmore. 

Our  subject  continued  to  live  in  his  native  state  until  1869, 
when  he  came  to  Johnson  county,  arriving  on  the  25th  day  of 
February.  At  this  time  his  only  assets  were  a  rugged  consti- 
tution, an  honest  spirit,  and  a  determination  to  be  somebody. 

On  January  15,  1873,  he  married  Esther  J.  Hollingsworth. 
She  was  born  in  Warren  county,  Ohio,  January  27,  1854.    Her 


EESmENCE    OF    JOSHUA    HUNT    SECREST 

parents  were  Mahlon,  who  was  born  February  24,  1821,  and 
Mary  T.  (Whitacre)  Hollingsworth,  born  in  January,  1824. 
Her  parents  were  both  natives  of  Ohio,  were  married  there, 
and  moved  to  this  countv  when  Mrs.  Secrest  was  five  months 
old.  They  had  eight  children,  two  of  whom  died  in  childhood. 
The  children  are  Edward  W.,  living  in  Missouri  Valley,  Har- 
rison county,  Iowa;  James  H.,  who  now  resides  in  Muscatine 
county,  Iowa ;  Rebecca,  who  died  at  the  age  of  five  years ; 
Rachel,  now  Mrs.  Meade,  residing  at  West  Liberty,  Iowa; 
Aquila  W.,  who  is  living  in  Colorado;  Esther  J.,  now  Mrs. 
Joshua  H.  Secrest ;  and  Harriet,  who  died  when  about  five 
years  old.  Mr.  Hollingsworth  died  February  21,  1901,  his 
wife  on  February  24,  1883. 


198         HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Joslma  H.  Secrest  have  been  blessed  with 
seven  children. 

Gruy  E.  was  born  April  14,  1874.  He,  as  a  boy,  attended  the 
county  schools,  and  later  the  x^cademy  at  Iowa  City,  from 
which  he  graduated  in  1892.  He  then  took  up  farming  on  the 
old  homestead  in  Scott  township,  and  has  been  thus  engaged 
since.  On  October  12,  1895,  he  married  Miss  M.  Rose  Wilson. 
She  was  born  in  Millville,  Pennsylvania,  April  20,  1884.  She 
came  to  Johnson  county  with  her  parents  a  few  years  before 
her  marriage.  Her  mother  died  in  the  fall  of  1910.  Her  father 
is  still  living.  They  have  two  children:  Walter  AVilson,  born 
December  19,  1905;  and  William  Staddon,  born  May  6,  1909. 

Mr.  Guy  R.  Secrest  is  a  republican.  His  family  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  church.  He  is  a  member  of  the  I.  0. 
0.  F.,  of  the  Modern  AVoodmon  of  the  World,  also  the  Masonic 
order  at  West  Branch. 

Walter,  the  second  son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Joshua  Secrest, 
was  born  December  25,  1878,  and  died  August  23,  1898. 

Alary  A.  was  born  May  5,  1883.  She  is  now  Mrs.  John  Fi. 
Dunn.  Dr.  Dunn  received  his  degree  of  M.  D.  from  the  State 
University  of  Iowa  in  1904.  They  were  married  September 
25,  1905.  Their  children  are  John  E.,  Robert,  and  Esther  S. 
They  are  located  at  Stratford,  South  Dakota. 

Edna  R.,  born  June  10,  1885,  is  now  Mrs.  E.  S.  Ney.  Their 
children  are  Ethelyn  and  Edwin  E.  They  reside  at  West 
Liberty,  Iowa. 

Charles  M.  was  born  February  12,  1887.  He  attended  the 
county  schools,  also  the  Academy  at  Iowa  City,  from  which  he 
graduated  in  1904.  He  then  attended  the  S.  U.  I.,  graduating 
from  the  electrical  engineering  department  in  1909.  He 
worked  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  one  year,  after  which  he  engaged 
in  the  automobile  business  in  Iowa  City.  He  was  married 
xlugust  31,  1910,  to  Miss  Pearl  Jenkinson,  of  Downey,  Iowa. 
Her  father  was  a  native  of  Ohio,  and  a  ]:>rominent  pioneer  of 
Cedar  county. 

Charles  M.  Secrest  is  a  republican  as  to  national  politics, 
and  liberal  in  respect  to  local.  He  is  an  associate  member  of 
the  American  Institute  of  Electrical  Engineers ;  also  a  mem- 
ber of  the  fraternity  Sigma  Xi. 

Carrie  B.  was  born  October  11,  1888,  and  Florence  E.  born 


BIOGRAPHICAL  lU;) 

December  26, 189.3.    Both  are  living  at  borne  witli  tbeir  motber. 

For  twenty  years  after  tlieir  marriage,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Josbiia 
Secrest  farmed.  Tben  Mr.  Secrest  engaged  in  tbe  luml)ei-  l)nsi- 
ness  for  tbe  B.,  C.  R.  &  N.  Railroad  Company,  on  tbe  Cedar 
river  near  Conesville,  Iowa.  In  189G,  and  for  four  years 
thereafter,  be  engaged  in  the  stock  business,  and  during  that 
period  be  handled  over  forty  thousand  sheep  and  many  hun- 
dreds of  cattle.  His  last  business  was  that  of  real  estate, 
mostly  in  the  province  of  Saskatchewan,  Canada,  where,  at 
one  time,  he  owned  ten  sections  of  land.  He  engaged  in  this 
business  for  five  years  or  more,  in  the  above  named  locality, 
and  bought  and  sold  many  thousands  of  acres  there.  All  of 
this  time  be  retained  possession  of  tbe  old  homestead,  which 
contained,  at  the  time  of  his  death,  February  20,  1911,  520 
acres  in  Scott  townsbip. 

In  national  politics  ]\Ir.  Secrest  was  always  a  republican. 
In  local  matters  he  sought  to  support  the  best  man.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Ancient  Order  of  Royal  Arch  Masons,  and  took 
great  pride  in  bis  connection  with  tbis  order.  While  not  a 
fanatic  u])on  any  question,  j\[r.  Secrest  was  an  advocate  and 
an  upholder  of  all  institutions  for  tbe  betterment  of  society,^ 
and  for  the  advancement  and  education  of  bis  fellow-men. 


GEORGE  S.  CARSON 

One  of  the  passengers  on  the  first  passenger  train  wbicli 
entered  Iowa  City  over  the  Rock  Island  Railway  in  January, 
1856,  was  Thomas  C.  Carson,  father  of  the  subject  of  tbis 
sketch.  The  traveler  was  a  young  man  twenty-two  years  of 
age,  and  bad  come  all  the  way  from  Philadelphia,  bis  native 
city,  to  identify  himself  with  the  new  arid  wonderful  west. 
He  brought  with  bim  tbe  Philadelphia  idea,  "Everlastingly 
at  it  brings  success,"  and  the  application  of  tbat  idea,  togetb- 
er  with  the  exercise  of  the  dominant  principle  of  honesty, 
made  him  one  of  tbe  most  important  factors  in  the  develop- 
ment of  Iowa  City  and  a  leader  among  its  great  financiers. 
Mr.  Carson  was  unmarried  when  he  reached  Iowa  City,  but 
there  was  a  fair  young  woman  back  in  the  city  of  Pbiladelphia 
who  somehow  exercised  a  strong  drawing  attraction  over  tbe 


200         HISTOEY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

long-distance  telepathic  route,  and  we  are  therefore  not  sur- 
prised to  learn  that  one  year  later  this  young  adopted  son  of 
Iowa  returned  to  Philadelphia  and  joined  his  heart  and  hand 
with  Miss  Mary  Josephine  Reiff,  horn  in  Philadelphia,  Penn- 
sylvania, in  1835.  The  honeymoon  trip  of  these  two  young 
Pennsylvanians  was  a  westward  journey  to  their  new  home 
in  the  beautiful  university  city  of  the  Hawkeye  state,  ' '  where 
they  lived  happily  forever  afterwards."  This  happy  bride 
of  1857  survives  her  beloved  husband,  who  died  in  October, 
1905,  and  at  the  advanced  age  of  seventy-six  resides  at  the 
old  home,  906  East  College  street. 

Thomas  C.  Carson  had  been  engaged  one  year  in  the  hard- 
ware business  when  he  brought  his  bride  to  Iowa  City.  He 
was  among  the  first  of  the  progressive  merchants  of  the  city. 
His  operations  in  the  hardware  trade  continued  until  January 
1,  1860,  when  he  enlarged  the  scope  of  his  business  and  began 
to  handle  agricultural  implements.  In  all  his  business  rela- 
tions Mr.  Carson  was  a  man  of  scrupulous  honesty  and  up- 
rightness, and  on  that  account  he  inevitably  won  the  respect 
and  confidence  of  his  fellow  citizens.  His  business  judgment 
was  essentially  sound,  and  was  frequently  sought  by  his  asso- 
ciates in  the  settlement  of  enterprises  and  questions  of  im- 
portance. For  a  half  century  he  was  closely  identified  with 
the  commercial  development  of  Iowa  City  and  Johnson  county. 
In  1874  he  became  vice  president  of  the  Johnson  County  Sav- 
ings bank  which  position  he  held  three  years.  Three  years 
later  he  succeeded  to  the  position  of  president,  being  identified 
with  this  institution  for  a  period  of  over  thirty  years.  It  is 
scarcely  necessary  to  recite  the  fact,  well  known  to  all  his  con- 
temporaries, that  the  high  standing  of  this  bank  among  the 
financial  institutions  of  Iowa  is  attributable  in  great  measure 
to  the  integrity  and  ability  of  Thomas  C.  Carson. 

Six  sons  were  born  to  Thomas  C.  Carson  and  Mary  Jose- 
phine Eeiff,  five  of  whom  are  living  at  this  writing,  the  eldest 
(Chas.  Reiff  Carson)  having  died  in  December,  1866.  Their 
names  in  the  order  of  birth  are :  Chas.  R.,  Thomas  B.,  residing 
at  Davenport,  Iowa,  secretary  of  the  Bettendorf  Wheel  Com- 
pany, with  which  enterprise  he  has  been  identified  for  twenty- 
five  years ;  George  S.,  our  subject ;  Frank  C,  secretary  of  the 
Iowa  City  Gas  &  Electric  Company  and  a  director  and  presi- 


BIOGRAPHICAL  201 

dent  of  the  Johnson  County  Savings  bank ;  Hayes  H.,  engaged 
in  the  live-stock  business  at  Iowa  City ;  Robert  N.,  treasurer  of 
the  Iowa  City  Gas  &  Electric  Company  and  president  of  the 
Iowa  League  of  Comniercal  chibs. 

George  S.  Carson,  our  sul^ject,  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  Iowa  City,  his  native  town,  and  spent  one  year  in 
the  State  University.  He  entered  the  implement  business  in 
1882  and  continued  therein  for  ten  years,  when  he  became  ac- 
tively associated  with  the  Iowa  City  Electric  Light  Company, 
which  afterwards  was  consolidated  with  tlie  Iowa  City  Gas 
Company  under  the  name  of  the  Iowa  City  Gas  &  Electric 
Company,  of  wliicli  latter  concern  he  has  been  president  and 
active  manager  for  over  five  years.  The  plant  of  the  Iowa 
City  Electric  Light  Company  was  first  started  in  1886  by  M. 
T.  Close  with  the  modest  capital  of  $3000,  and  its  operations 
were  carried  on  in  a  simple  way,  Jack  Paintin,  of  Coralville, 
walking  back  and  forth  to  attend  to  the  lights.  The  consoli- 
dated company  is  now  one  of  the  most  completely  equipped 
in  the  state,  and  is  provided  with  every  modern  appliance, 
both  in  machinerj'-  and  supplies,  for  the  production  of  elec- 
tricity and  gas  for  lighting,  fuel,  and  power, 

Mr.  Carson  was  married  in  1904  to  Miss  Celia  Namur,  a 
native  of  Iowa  City,  educated  at  the  State  University.  Her 
father  was  born  in  France  and  her  mother  in  Germany.  Three 
sons  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  ]\rrs.  Carson:  Thomas  C, 
born  October  20, 1905 ;  George  S.,  born  June  1, 1907 ;  Burke  N., 
born  May  20,  1909.  The  family  reside  at  103  South  Governor 
street,  Iowa  City. 


CHRISTIAN  SENNER 

After  three  years'  service  in  the  GeYman  army.  Christian 
Senner  (born  in  Germany,  February  11,  1858)  came  to  Amer- 
ica. He  was  a  voung  man  of  twentv-tbree  when  he  landed  in 
New  York,  and  he  had  the  strong  good  sense,  after  looking 
over  the  new  world  metropolis  for  about  two  months,  to  turn 
has  face  westward  to  the  land  which  Horace  Greeley  immor- 
talized. His  first  location  was  at  Iowa  City,  where  he  re- 
mained seven  years.  Thereafter  he  spent  eight  years  in  the 
state  of  Washington.    This  brought  him  up  to  the  year  1896, 


202         HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

when  he  returned  to  Iowa  City.    He  has  been  a  resident  of  the 
University  city  continnally  since  that  time. 

Mr.  Senner  was  employed  at  Simon  Hotz's  Brewery,  and 
when  that   establishment  passed  into  the  hands  of  Conrad 


REsmENCE  OF  CHRISTIAN  SENNER 

Graf  and  then  later  the  Graf  Brothers,  Mr.  Senner  remained 
in  connection  with  the  estal)lishment. 

On  September  16,  1896,  our  subject  was  married  at  Iowa 
City  to  Mrs.  Anna  M.  Graf,  a  native  of  tJiat  city.  Her  par- 
ents were  natives  of  Germany,  Her  father  came  to  Johnson 
county  at  an  early  day  and  was  oue  of  the  pioneer  business 
men  of  Iowa  City.  Her  mother  came  in  1840.  Both  parents 
are  buried  at  Iowa  City. 

Mr.  Senner  is  a  democrat.  His  religious  faith  is  Catholic, 
and  he  is  a  member  of  St.  Mary 's  church.  He  takes  an  active 
interest  in  the  work  of  the  Fraternal  Order  of  Eagles  and  the 
German  Aid  Society,  being  an  honored  member  of  l)oth  organ- 
izations. 


WILLIAM  LE  CLAIRE  BYWATER 

The  state  of  Iowa  is  conspicuous  because  of  the  great  num- 
ber of  her  native  sous  who  have  received  the  fundamentals  of 
classical  and  scientific  education  within  her  borders,  added 


BIOGRAPHICAL  203 

thereto  both  at  home  and  abroad  by  post-graduate  attain- 
ments, and  settled  within  the  bosom  of  their  mother  state  to 
bring  honor  to  themselves,  their  almae  materae  and  their  com- 
monwealth. The  pages  of  this  histor^^  are  crowded  with  such 
examples,  and  the  gamut  of  their  services  touches  every  ac- 
tivity of  their  times.  The  Home  Successes  of  the  Native  Sons 
and  Daughters  of  Iowa  would  furnish  the  text  for  a  stirring 
chapter  of  the  state's  history.  It  is  to  the  eternal  credit  of  a 
commonwealth  that  within  her  borders  her  sons  and  daughters 
find  congenial  conditions  for  the  exercise  of  their  talents,  and 
remain  to  become  weavers  of  her  garment  of  destiny  rather 
than  emigrants  to  other  states  and  toilers  in  other  workshops. 
Iowa  City  and  Johnson  county  furnish  many  prominent  ex- 
amples of  such  sons  and  daughters.  Whether  the  attachments 
for  alma  mater  and  the  friends  of  the  University  days,  or  the 
natural  charm  of  the  University  City  and  the  University  coun- 
ty, account  for  this  evident  condition,  is  not  known ;  but  tlie 
sons  and  daughters  are  here,  marching  on  to  success  and  re- 
joicing in  the  facts  of  success  already  achieved. 

William  Le  Claire  Bywater,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  is 
one  of  such  conspicuous  examples  above  recited.  Born  in 
Tama  county,  Iowa,  in  18f)7,  his  preliminary  education  was 
obtained  in  the  pul)lic  schools  of  his  native  county.  He  grad- 
uated from  the  Gladbrook  high  school  in  1883,  after  which,  in 
preparation  for  the  work  of  teaching,  he  attended  the  State 
Normal  and  AVestern  college.  He  entered  the  State  Univer- 
sity of  Iowa  in  1894,  and  graduated  from  the  Medical  Depart- 
ment (Homeopathy)  in  1897.  He  supplemented  this  with  a 
post-graduate  course  in  ophthalmics  in  1899-1900  at  New  Vork 
City  and  took  also  special  degrees  in  ear,  nose,  and  tliroat. 
His  attainments  were  given  recognition  in  1902,  when  he  was 
elected  vice  dean  and  chosen  to  succeed  Professor  Gilchrist 
as  secretary  of  the  faculty  of  Homeopathy,  S.  U.  I.  In  1903 
he  was  made  a  director  of  the  University  Homeopathic  Hos- 
pital and  professor  of  eye,  ear,  nose  and  tliroat,  succeeding  in 
that  chair  Professor  F.  J,  Newberry.  As  a  clinical  operator 
Dr.  Bywater  demonstrates  the  value  of  his  pedagogic  educa- 
tion and  training,  his  lectures  being  lucid,  practical,  and  in- 
structive.    Dr.  Bywater  is  a  member  of  the  medical  and  sni-- 


204         HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

gical  societies  of  Ms  school  in  Johnson  county,  as  well  as  of  the 
state  association.  He  is  a  member  of  the  American  Institute 
of  Homeopathy  and  of  the  American  Ophthalmological,  Onto- 
logical  and  Laryngological  Society.  A\lnle  a  resident  of  Tama 
county,  Dr.  Bywater  had  as  preceptor  Dr.  C.  M.  Morford,  a 
distinguished  practitioner. 

Reference  has  been  made  to  the  pedagogic  experience  of 
our  subject.  This  relates  to  his  election,  on  the  democratic 
ticket,  to  the  office  of  county  school  superintendent  of  Tama 
county,  and  his  service  of  four  years  (1890-94)  in  that  capac- 
ity. It  was  this  position  which  the  doctor  states  gave  him  his 
greatest  opportunity  for  the  "  study  of  humanity." 

Dr.  Bywater 's  ancestors  were  Welsh  and  Irish.  His  par- 
ents were  Napoleon  and  Sarah  (Fitzgerald)  Bywater,  who 
reside  at  Garwin,  Tama  county,  Iowa. 

In  the  county  of  his  nativity,  Tama,  Dr.  Bywater  found 
his  wife  and  was  united  to  her  in  wedlock.  Her  name  was 
Miss  Jessie  M.  Cannon,  daughter  of  Erasmus  J.  and  Harriet 
(Collins)  Cannon.  The  father  is  a  distant  relative  of  "Uncle 
Joe"  Cannon,  the  famous  ex-speaker  of  the  United  States 
house  of  representatives.  One  daughter,  Ruth  Elizabeth,  has 
blessed  the  union  of  Dr.  Bywater  and  Jessie  M.  Cannon. 

Dr.  Bj^water  is  a  32nd  degree  Mason  and  a  member  of  the 
K.  of  P.  and  M.  W.  A.  He  is  a  memlier  of  and  takes  an  active 
interest  in  the  Country  Club.  Mrs.  Bywater  and  he  are  both 
active  members  of  the  Christian  church.  They  reside  at  316 
East  Brown  street,  Iowa  City,  and  are  held  in  high  esteem  by 
a  large  circle  of  friends. 


JUDGE  0.  A.  BYINGTON 

Judge  Byington  is  a  lawj'er  by  inheritance,  education,  and 
training.  No  natural  gifts,  it  is  well  understood,  will  com- 
pensate for  a  lack  of  definite  knowledge  of  the  law  books  in 
the  practice  of  the  legal  profession,  and  yet,  all  things  being 
equal,  it  will  be  conceded  that  the  born  lawyer,  like  the  born 
poet,  has  a  distinct  advantage  in  the  forum.  There  came  to 
Judge  Byington,  through  his  father,  the  Honorable  Le  Grande 


BIOGRAPHICAL  205 

Byington,  the  indefinable  momentum  or  swing  of  heredity 
which  gave  him  his  liking  for  the  law.  ''Fra  Elbertus,"  in 
his  quaint  terminology  declares  that  "Art  is  the  expression 
of  a  man's  joy  in  his  work."  Even  so,  a  liking  or  bent  for 
Justinian  discipleship  may  properly  constitute  "Exhibit  A" 
in  the  curriculum  of  the  courts.  But  Judge  Byington  supple- 
mented Folio  1  of  his  chosen  Brief  with  Nos.  2  and  3,  namely, 
graduation  in  liberal  arts  in  the  State  University  of  Iowa  in 
1880  and  matriculation  in  the  law  department  of  his  alma 
mater  in  1881.  Then,  to  add  to  his  faith  a  knowledge  of  hu- 
man nature,  he  accepted  the  superintendency  of  schools  of 
Johnson  county  from  1886  to  1890;  and  to  further  coach  him- 
self in  the  intricacies  of  law,  became  a  member  of  the  2()th 
general  assembly  of  Iowa  and  worked  with  his  colleagues  in  a 
revision  of  the  Iowa  Code.  From  this  point  the  step  to  the 
bench  seemed  both  easy  and  natural,  and  he  became  judge  of 
the  district  court  on  January  1,  1903,  and  served  to  January 
1,  1907.  Today  he  is  a  regular  practitioner  in  all  courts  and 
has  further  widened  his  sphere  of  activity  by  becoming  presi- 
dent of  the  Citizens  Savings  bank,  of  Iowa  City. 

Reference  has  been  made  to  Judge  Byington 's  father.  ( )tlier 
details  of  this  able  man  and  late  respected  citizen  of  Iowa 
City  may  be  appreciated.  LeGrande  Byington,  born  March 
24, 1816,  in  New  Haven  county,  Connecticut,  was  the  youngest 
of  eight  children.  His  career,  from  early  orx)hanage  and  com- 
parative poverty  to  influence  and  prominence  socially  and  po- 
litically, is  most  striking.  In  1831,  at  the  age  of  fifteen,  he 
entered  a  printing  office  as  an  apprentice,  and  his  aptitude 
may  be  guaged  by  the  fact  that  three  years  later  he  was  the 
publisher  of  a  newspaper.  While  the  venture  from  a  financial 
standpoint,  following  the  accepted  standards  of  rural  journal- 
ism, was  not  a  gold  mine,  still  the  training  and  experience  were 
of  great  value  to  the  young  i^ubli slier  and  stood  him  well  in 
after  years.  In  1836  he  settled  at  Elyria,  Ohio,  and  edited 
the  Repuhlicau,  a  democratic  organ.  While  thus  engaged  he 
took  up  the  study  of  law.  Two  years  later  found  him  at  Ra- 
venna, Ohio,  engaged  on  a  salary  as  editor  and  publisher  of 
The  Buckeye  Democrat.  In  1839  he  started  westward  with 
the  intention  of  locating  at  St.  Louis,  but  en  route  he  met  Sen- 


206 


HISTORY  OP  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 


ator  William  Allen  ('vBill"  Allen,  of  Ohio),  at  Cliillicotlie,  and 
was  induced  to  stop  off  and  take  temporary  charge  of  a  news- 
paper. This  stop  marked  the  beginning  of  his  legal  and  po- 
litical career.  The  first  case  of  prominence  in  which  he  fig- 
ured was  the  prosecution  of  a  homicide.  Judge  Allen  G.  Thur- 
man  and  Thomas  Ewing  appeared  for  the  defense,  and  Mr. 
Byington's  victory  in  securing  a  conviction  was  on  that  ac- 
count the  more  notable.  The  advance  of  the  lawyer-journalist 
was  rapid  from  that  time.  During  the  fall  of  1841  he  was 
elected  to  the  40tli  general  assembly  of  Ohio,  and  was  honored 


RESIDENCI-:  OF  JUDGE   O.  A.  BYINGTOX 


by  the  chairmanshii)s  of  the  judiciary  committee  and  the  com- 
mittee on  corporations.  He  was  reelected  to  the  next  legisla- 
ture of  Ohio,  and  later  became  a  candidate  for  Congress. 

Hearing  the  "Call  of  the  West,"  Mr.  Byington  resolved  to 
carry  out  his  impulses  of  former  years  to  identify  himself 
with  the  region  west  of  the  Mississippi,  and  in  1849  removed 
to  Iowa  City.  Land  operations  first  engaged  his  attention, 
and  he  became  an  extensive  dealer.  His  success  was  such  that 
great  wealth  was  assured  him.  The  adherence  to  his  concep- 
tion of  right  characterized  all  the  acts  of  the  elder  Byingion. 
His  opinions  respecting  the  liquor  question  were  emphatic, 
and  he  was  a  lifelong  temperance  advocate  and  opponent  of 
the  saloon.  For  nearly  sixty  years  he  was  a  prominent  and 
infiuential  factor  in  Jolmson  county,  a  leader  among  men,  re- 


BIOGRAPHICAL  207 

spected  by  all  as  an  honest  man  and  beloved  l)y  a  host  of  per- 
sonal friends.  His  death,  November  23,  1907,  at  Iowa  City 
occasioned  universal  regTet.  His  estimable  wife  died  at  the 
old  home  September  1,  1911. 

Le  Grande  Byington's  wife  was  Miss  Mary  McCollister, 
and  the  dale  of  their  marriage  was  1845.  The}^  enjoyed  the 
imi(]ue  privilege  of  celel)rating  together  the  sixty-second  anni- 
versary of  their  wedding.  They  were  survived  by  three  chil- 
dren:  Judge  0.  A.  Byingion,  Mrs.  Iowa  B.  Reed,  of  Coral- 
ville,  and  Mrs.  J.  H.  Whetstone,  of  Iowa  City.  Four  grand- 
children gladdened  their  declining  years:  Miss  Nellie  By- 
ington,  of  Chicago,  and  Robert  Whetstone,  William  and  Le 
Grande  Byington,  of  Iowa  City. 

Judg'e  0.  A.  Bying'ton  was  married  on  June  1,  1887,  to  Miss 
Frances  Bremner,  of  Marsh alltown,  who  is  a  native  of  Iowa. 
Her  grandparents,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hampton,  were  residents  of 
Iowa  City.  Mr.  Hampton  was  clerk  of  the  supreme  court  at 
an  early  day.  Two  sons  are  the  offspring  of  this  union :  Le 
Grande,  aged  sixteen,  and  William  IL,  ag'ed  twelve  years.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Byington  are  most  ha|)py  in  their  domestic  relations 
and  have  a  beautiful  home  on  the  west  side  of  the  city,  over- 
looking the  picturesque  Iowa  river. 

The  judge,  in  politics,  is  a  democrat;  is  a  member  of  the 
Masonic,  Odd  Fellows,  and  Knights  of  Pythias  fraternities, 
and  an  attendant  at  the  Presbvterian  church.  His  integritv 
is  unquestioned,  his  a])ility  has  been  demonstrated  by  the  ac- 
tivities of  a  successful  life,  in  the  midst  of  which  he  is  at  this 
writing  most  strenuous  and  useful,  and  his  place  is  secure  in 
the  affections  of  a  wide  circle  of  friends,  embracing  the  pion- 
eers and  their  descendants  and  the  general  citizenship  of  John- 
son county  and  vicinity,  as  well  as  numerous  residents  of  the 
state  and  nation. 


ROBERT  LIVINGSTON  DUNLAP 

The  ancestry  of  the  Dunlap  family  of  Iowa  City,  so  far  as 
its  record  in  America  is  concerned,  dates  from  William  Dmi- 
lap,  a  native  of  Scotland,  who  emigrated  from  the  north  of 
Ireland  to  tlie  Ignited  States  in  the  latter  part  of  the  eigh- 


208         HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

teentli  century.  John  W.  Dunlap,  a  son  of  William,  was  an 
officer  in  the  New  York  Militia  during  the  Revolutionary  War, 
and  he,  with  his  three  brothers,  was  a  particii:>ant  in  the  bloody 
battle  of  Orriskany,  where  the  commander,  General  Herkimer, 
was  killed,  and  one  of  the  Dunlap  boys  lost  his  life.  John 
W.'s  son,  William,  was  the  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 
His  wife  was  Margaret  Lane,  whose  ancestors  were  of  German 
descent.  They  we^e  residents  of  New  York  state,  and  were 
engaged  in  agriculture.  In  1836,  when  our  subject  was  thir- 
teen years  of  age,  the  family  removed  to  Illinois,  the  journey 
from  New  York  being  made  in  a  lumber  wagon.  Their  first 
location  was  in  La  Salle  county,  wdiere  they  remained  until 
1852,  when  they  removed  to  Champaigii  county.  Mrs.  Dunlap 
died  in  that  county  in  1854. 

The  date  of  Robert  L.  Dunlap 's  birth  in  New  York  state 
was  June  6,  1823,  and  his  birthplace  was  Cherry  Valley,  Otse- 
go county.  His  primary  education  was  received  there.  This 
he  supplemented  by  a  further  course  in  the  public  schools  of 
La  Salle  and  Champaigii  counties,  Illinois,  completing  his 
education  at  the  Warrenville  Institute,  Warrenville,  Du  Page 
county.  About  this  time  he  removed  to  Cook  county,  Illinois, 
and  was  engaged  in  farming  until  1853  about  eighteen  miles 
northwest  of  Chicago.  Thereafter  he  became  interested  in 
the  lumber  business  at  Green  Bay,  W^isconsin,  and  for  the  two 
years  following  was  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  pine  lum- 
ber. From  Green  Bay  he  went  to  Virginia,  where  he  built 
and  operated  a  dredging  machine,  the  first  ever  operated  in 
the  Appomattox  river.  This  he  afterward  sold  to  Peters- 
burgh  parties  and  returned  to  Cook  county,  Illinois,  where 
he  operated  the  first  dredging  machine  in  the  Chicago  river. 
There  he  remained  several  years,  engaging  in  the  manufac- 
ture of  sash,  doors,  and  blinds.  This  business  he  sold  in  the 
fall  of  1857,  and  in  1858  removed  to  Iowa  City.  There  he  en- 
gaged in  buying  grain  and  hogs,  which  business  he  continued 
until  1863.  As  a  portion  of  that  j^eriod  was  the  time  of  the 
Civil  War.  his  operations  were  often  very  extensive.  In  the 
year  last  mentioned  he  began  handling  agricultural  imple- 
ments, including  heavy  farm  machinery  of  all  descriptions. 
His  two  business  houses  were  located  at  220  Washington 


BIOGKAPIIICAL 


209 


street,  near  the  present  city  hall  site,  and  at  the  corner  of 
Capitol  and  Washington  streets,  now  the  site  of  tlie  Univer- 
sity engineering  linilding.  At  one  time  he  had  one  of  the 
largest  farm  implement  trades  in  the  state,  selling  within  a 
single  year  on  the  last  named  corner  200  reai)ers  and  movers, 
25  threshing  machines,  300  wagons,  60  corn  plan.ters,  70  sulky 
hay  rakes,  300  cultivators,  300  plows,  and  everything  else  in 
])roportion.  Mr.  Dunlap  was  a  man  of  one  work,  it  being  a 
fixed  policy  of  his  business  life  to  devote  his  entire  attention 
to  the  business  in  hand;  he  therefore  never  had  any  financial 
interest  in  other  enterprises. 


RESmENCE  OF  ROBEET  LIVINGSTON  DUNLAP 


Mr.  Dunlap  was  twice  married.  His  first  wife  was  Miss 
Alma  L.  Wiley,  daughter  of  Calvin  and  Jeannette  Strong 
Wiley,  natives  of  A^ermont,  to  whom  h^  was  wedded  June  15, 
1847,  in  Cook  county,  Illinois.  She  died  December  5,  1858, 
having  l)orne  two  chihlren,  Afarcus  F.  and  Fanny  H.  Mr. 
Dunlap  was  again  married,  April  23,  18(i6,  to  Mrs.  Orlando  S. 
Cole,  a  native  of  Ohio.  Two  children  were  the  fruit  of  this 
union,  Roliert  0.  and  Ralph  L.  The  former  died  in  1900,  and 
the  latter  resides  in  Iowa  City,  where  he  is  engaged  in  the  lum- 
ber business,  under  the  firm  name  of  R.  L.  Dunlap  Lumber 
Company.     Marcus  F.,  residing  in  St.  Charles  county.  Mis- 


210         HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

sonri,  is  married  to  Sadie  Ellen  Woods,  of  Fairfield,  Iowa, 
and  Fannie  H.  to  M.  A.  Lumbard,  of  Des  Moines.  Mrs.  Dmi- 
lap  survives  her  husband,  who  died  February  6,  1898,  and 
lives  at  the  residence  he  established  at  114  East  Market  street, 
Iowa  City. 

In  politics  Mr.  Dunlap  was  originally  a  know-nothing,  af- 
terwards becoming-  a  republican.  He  was  never  an  office  seek- 
er, but  always  took  an  active  interest  in  the  public  welfare, 
especially  in  the  temperance  cause.  While  living  in  Chicago 
he  became  a  member  of  the  Sons  of  Temperance,  and  on  locat- 
ing in  Iowa  City,  assisted  in  the  organization  of  Eagan  lodge, 
in  which  he  filled  all  the  higher  chairs.  This  lodge  was  a 
noted  factor  and  at  one  time  quite  aggressive  in  its  work 
against  the  saloons  in  Iowa  City.  So  great  was  Mr.  Dunlap 's 
interest  in  this  reform  that  at  one  time  he  imdertook  single- 
handed  the  prosecution  of  the  liquor  interests  in  the  city,  with 
the  result  that  his  house  was  mobbed  by  extremists  of  the  lat- 
ter class.  In  church  work  both  he  and  his  wife  were  always 
active  participants,  being  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcox)al 
denomination.  Mr.  Dunla])  was  an  officer  of  the  First  M.  E. 
church  of  Iowa  City  for  many  years,  being  superintendent  of 
the  Sunday  school  and  one  of  the  three  members  of  the  build- 
ing committee  which  supervised  the  construction  of  the  church 
edifice  preceding  the  present  structure. 

Mr.  R,  L.  Dunlap  has  been  twice  married,  first  on  Septem- 
ber 1, 1898,  to  Miss  Mary  E.  Carroll,  who  died  October  4, 1904. 
then  on  April  21, 1909,  to  Jeannette  Melchert  of  Clinton,  Iowa. 
They  have  one  daughter,  Muriel,  born  August  18,  1911.  He 
is  a  member  of  Iowa  City  lodge  No.  4,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  Iowa 
City  Chapter  No.  2,  R.  A.  M.,  Palestine  Commandery  No.  2,  K. 
T.  Zarephath  Consistory  No.  4,  Kaaba  Temple,  A.  A.  0.  N.  M. 
S.,  Eastern  Star  Jessamine  Chapter  No.  135.  He  was  worship- 
ful master  of  lodge  No.  4  in  1909  and  worthv  patron  of  the 
Star  in  1910. 

Ralph  L.,  the  youngest  son,  as  heretofore  stated,  is  one  of 
the  proprietors  of  the  R.  L.  Dunlap  Lumber  Co.,  at  Iowa  City. 
He  is  a  graduate  of  the  State  University  of  Iowa,  and  is  one 
of  the  successful  business  men  of  his  native  city,  where  he  is 
universally  respected.  He  resides  at  the  old  home,  114  East 
Market  street.  His  place  of  business  is  at  120  W^est  Burling- 
ton street. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  211 

FRANK  PAUL  BURKLEY 

The  Burkley  Imperial  Hotel,  of  Iowa  City,  is  known  as  one 
of  tlie  first-class  hostelries  of  the  Hawkeye  state.  Its  historj^ 
dates  from  1863,  when  Frank  Paul  Burkley,  father  of  the 
present  manager,  Albert  Burkley,  after  two  years'  experience 
as  proprietor  and  manager  of  the  Union  bakery,  launched  out 
in  the  hotel  business  under  the  name  of  The  Burkley  House 
on  the  site  now  occupied  by  the  Burkley  Imperial.  The 
growth  of  the  enterprise  was  in  response  to  the  increasing 
demands  of  its  patronage.  It  is,  paradoxically,  the  etfect  of 
its  own  cause  and  the  cause  of  its  own  effect.  The  effect  of 
maintaining  an  always  satisfactory  hotel  has  been  the  creation 
of  a  large  constituency,  and  the  demands  of  that  constituentcy 
have  necessitated  the  enlargement  and  improvement  of  the 
caravansarv.  Thus  the  Bnrklev  enterin-ise  has  literallv  lifted 
itself  over  the  fence  of  progress  by  its  own  bootstraps,  a  feat 
ordinarily  deemed  impossible. 

But,  in  the  vocabulary  of  the  American  business  man,  de- 
termined to  win  the  good  will  and  ])atronage  of  his  fellows, 
there  is  no  such  word  as  impossible.  The  register  of  the 
Burkley  never  had  such  a  word  written  on  its  pages. 

Frank  Paul  Burkley  came  from  the  Black  Forest  of  Ger- 
many, where  he  was  born  April  2,  1827,  in  the  village  of 
Svendi,  thus  wisely  side-stepping  the  romances  of  All-Fools' 
Day,  and  beginning  life  with  the  fundamental,  straightfor- 
ward good  sense  which  gave  him  a  big  start  on  the  highway 
of  success  in  America,  to  which  he  emigrated  just  as  soon  as 
he  reached  his  majority.  He  elected  to  begin  at  the  Hub,  and 
so  Boston,  Massachusetts,  was  his  home  for  the  first  thirteen 
years  of  his  life  in  the  new  world.  In  1861  he  raised  the  cry 
of  ''Westward,  ho !"  and  landed  in  Iowa  City  that  vear.  Two 
years  saw  him  devoted  to  the  bakery  business  (not  a  bad  train- 
ing for  a  boniface),  and  1863  witnessed  the  launching  of  The 
Burkley  House,  as  before  stated.  In  this  enterprise  Frank 
Burkley  met  his  destinv.     The  rest  is  matter  of  historv. 

A  few  bristling  sentences  tell  the  tale  of  enlargement :  In 
1870  ten  rooms  were  added;  in  1876,  fifteen  more;  in  1892,  re- 
modeled and  enlarged,  twenty  rooms  added  and  the  name 
changed  to  The  Kirkwood;  in  IDOl  extensive  alterations  and 


212 


mSTOEY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 


improvements  made,  thirty  rooms  a(l(le<l,  the  name  switched 
to  Burkley  Imperial,  American  and  Enropean  systems  adopt- 
ed, Frank  Panl  Burkley  retired,  and  his  son,  Alliert  Burkley 
installed  as  proprietor  and  manager. 

For  ten  years,  under  the  management  of  this  worthy  suc- 
cessor of  a  worthy  sire,  the  Burkley  Imperial  has  stood  in  the 
front  ranks  of  popular  Iowa  hotels,  with  the  recommendation 
of  every  guest  who  has  passed  its  doorway.  Its  picturesque 
hanquet  hall  is  known  throughout  Iowa  as  "The  Gothic  Ban- 
([uet  Hall,"  its  cuisine  is  a  precious  memory  on  the  tongues 
of  epicures,  and  its  sleeping  suites,  with  private  baths,  are 
famous  for  their  comfort.     Thus  again  the  venerable  commer- 


THE  BURKLEY  IMPERIAL 


cial  adage  is  justified  of  its  sapience,  "Nothing  succeeds  like 
success." 

The  Burkle}'-  Imperial  has  l)een  the  scene  of  many  notable 
l>anquets,  and  will  beyond  question  be  the  scene  of  many  more, 
as  it  is  the  only  house  in  the  University  City  suital)ly  equipped 
for  such  functions. 

While  a  resident  of  Boston,  Frank  Paul  Burkley  was  mar- 
ried in  1850  to  ]\Iiss  Genevieve  Muchenburger,  who,  in  after 
life,  became  known  far  and  near  for  her  benevolence.  To 
them  were  born  seven  children,  of  whom  five  are  living,  name- 
ly: Mrs.  G.  A.  Mullin,  of  Cedar  Rapids;  Mrs.  J.  McManus, 
of  Iowa  City;  Miss  Anna,  proprietor  of  Svendi  Hall,  Iowa 


F.   P.   BURKLEY 


BIOGRAPHICAL  21 


o 


City;  Otto,  of  Chicago,  and  Albert,  profjriotoi'  of  tlie  Biirkley 
Imperial,  of  Iowa  CUty.  Mr.  Biirkley  died  at  Io\ya  City  at 
(;  :30  a.  m.  on  Sunday,  December  20,  1908. 

The  old  Park  lionse,  to  which  reference  is  made  in  the 
general  history  section  of  this  work,  which  was  formerly  sold 
to  the  Sisters,  was  repnrchased  by  Albert  Bnrkley  in  1909, 
and  is  now  known  as  Svendi  Hall,  a  dormitory  for  women, 
managed  by  Miss  Anna  Bnrkley.  It  has  a  ca])acity  for  seven- 
ty-live people. 

The  Bnrkley  family  are  members  of  the  Catliolic  ehnrcli  of 
Iowa  Citv. 


ARTHUR  JOHN  COX 

Arthur  John  Cox  is  today  living  in  the  same  house  in  Iowa 
City  in  which  he  was  born  January  14,  1870,  the  old  home  of 
his  parents  at  10-4  East  Market  street.  But  this  fact  does  not 
give  the  key  to  the  dominant  note  of  Mr.  Cox's  character. 
While  possessed  of  sentiment  sufficient  to  give  him  keen  ap- 
preciation of  the  romance  of  residing  in  the  house  of  his  birth, 
Mr.  Cox  is  essentially  a  practical  man  of  affairs,  and  his  activi- 
ties and  connections  conunerciallv,  financially,  fraternally,  and 
socially  may  be  best  described  by  tlie  Rooseveltian  term, 
"strenuous." 

Educationally,  ]\lr.  Cox  is  pi'imarily  a  product  of  Jowa  C*ity 
schools,  having  taken  the  complete  course  of  the  graded  schools 
and  graduated  from  the  high  school  in  1887.  In  1891  he  grad- 
uated from  the  State  University  of  Iowa  with  the  degree  of 
Civil  Engineer,  and  in  1895  from  the  dei)artment  of  law  witli 
the  degree  of  LL.  B.  Having  decided  upon  civil  engineering 
as  his  profession,  he  secured  employment  immediately  follow- 
ing his  graduation,  in  1891,  as  assistant  city  engineer  of  Iowa 
City.  The  following  year  he  was  made  city  engineer,  and 
again  in  189(5.  This  was  followed  by  election  to  the  office  of 
county  surveyor  of  Johnson  county  in  1896-97. 

In  1893,  in  company  with  Charles  P.  Chase,  of  Clinton, 
Iowa,  he  formed  the  Iowa  Engineering  Company,  with  head- 
quarters at  Clinton,  for  the  purpose  of  carrying  on  civil,  sani- 
tary, and  hydraulic  engineering.  This  company  was  later  in- 
corporated and  Mr.  Cox  has  been  its  secretary-treasurer  and 


214         HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

consulting  engineer  to  date.  In  1901-02  he  spent  fourteen 
months  in  Europe,  making  a  special  study  of  sewage  disposal 
methods.  Mr.  Cox  is  a  stockholder,  director,  and  chief  en- 
gineer of  Eastman,  Gardiner  &  Co.,  manufacturers  of  Long- 
leaf  Yellow  Pine  lumber.  Laurel,  Mississippi,  and  is  interested 
with  the  same  firm  in  timber  lands  in  Simpson  county,  Mis- 
sissippi.    He  is  also  a  director  of  the  Laurel  Cotton  Mills. 

In  fraternal,  scientific,  and  social  organizations  Mr.  Cox 
has  taken  a  prominent  part.  He  is  a  member  of  Beta  Theta 
Pi,  1887;  Phi  Delta  Phi,  1894;  Sigma  Xi,  1908;  University 
Club,  Chicago,  Illinois;  Triangle  Club,  Iowa  City;  Iowa  En- 


EESmENCE  OF  AETHUE  JOHN   COX 


gineering  Society,  being  its  secretary  in  1906,  its  vice  presi- 
dent in  1907,  and  its  president  in  1908;  member  and  vestry- 
man Trinity  Parish  Protestant  Episcopal  church,  Iowa  City; 
member  of  Board  of  Curators  Iowa  State  Historical  Society, 
1908-09-10-11;  thirty-second  degree  Mason,  Clinton  Consis- 
tory; Knight  Templar,  Iowa  City;  Mystic  Shrine,  Meridian, 
Mississippi.  He  was  Cadet  Captain  S.  U.  I.  Battalion  1890- 
91,  and  was  recommended  to  the  war  department  at  Washing- 
ton in  1891. 

Mr.  Cox  was  married  at  Clinton,  Iowa,  on  November  14, 
1895,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Louisa  Gardiner,  daughter  of  Silas. 


BIOGBAPHICxVL  215 

W.  Gardiner^  the  eighth  descendant  of  John  Lyon  Gardiner, 
of  Gardiner's  Island,  New  York.  The  hitter  landed  in  Ameri- 
ca in  1635,  and  in  payment  for  distingnislied  services  prev- 
iously rendered  the  British  king  was  given  the  island  contain- 
ing 3,300  acres,  situated  east  of  Long  Island,  now  known  as 
Gardiner's  Island.  Silas  Wright  Gardiner,  Mrs.  Cox's  fath- 
er, was  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Gardiner,  Batchelder  &  Wells, 
lumbermen,  of  Lyons,  Iowa,  and  treasurer  of  Eastman,  Gard- 
iner &  Co.,  Laurel,  Mississippi.  He  was  state  senator  in  the 
Iowa  General  Assembly  of  1891,  a  thirty-second  degree  Mason 
and  member  of  the  Sons  of  Colonial  War.  He  died  in  1907. 
Her  mother  was  Louisa  Catherine  Henkel,  a  native  of  Goshen, 
Indiana.  Four  children  have  been  born  to  Arthur  John  Cox 
and  Elizabeth  Louisa  Gardiner,  namely:  Frederick  Gardin- 
er, October  28,  1896;  Sarah  Elizabeth,  May  27,  1903;  Thomas 
Gardiner,  December  12,  1905,  and  Louisa  Catherine,  January 
3,  1910  —  all  born  in  the  old  home  at  104  East  Market  street, 
Iowa  City. 

Mr.  Cox's  paternal  ancestry  dates  from  England,  the  found- 
er of  the  family  in  the  United  States  being  James  Cox,  who 
settled  at  Oyster  Bay,  Long  Island,  in  1763.  Thomas  Jeffer- 
son Cox,  our  subject's  father,  was  born  at  Hayesville,  Ohio, 
in  1827,  and  first  came  to  Iowa  in  1849.  He  went  back  to  Ohio, 
but  returned  to  Iowa  City  in  1854,  and  served  several  years  in 
the  United  States  land  office.  During  the  Civil  War  he  was 
clerk  and  auditor  of  Johnson  county,  the  two  offices  at  that 
time  being  combined.  He  was  the  first  cashier  of  the  Iowa 
City  Branch  State  bank,  holding  the  position  until  1877,  after 
which  he  was  associated  with  Samuel  J.  Kirkwood  under  the 
firm  name  of  Cox  &  Kirkwood,  real  estate  and  loan  business. 
Sarah  Eliza  Ilersliisor,  his  wife,  mother  of  our  subject,  was 
born  at  Bedford  Springs,  Pennsylvania,  in  1830,  and  came  to 
Ohio  with  her  parents  at  an  early  date  and  thence  to  Iowa  in 
1855.  The  couple  were  married  at  Iowa  City  in  1856.  Father 
Cox  died  April  25,  1897. 


216         HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

JOHN  ^y.  MOEFORI) 

Living  in  comfortable  retirement  at  his  home,  802  East 
Bloomington  street,  Iowa  City,  is  John  W.  Morford,  a  native 
son  of  Iowa  and  former  prosperous  farmer  of  Graham  town- 
ship. The  sharer  of  his  home  and  fortune  is  his  beloved  wife, 
formerly  Miss  Stella  Mae  Colt,  daughter  of  William  and  Eliza 
(Trimble)  Colt,  to  whom  he  was  married  March  18,  1878,  in 
River  Junction,  Fremont  township.  Mrs.  Morford 's  mother, 
Eliza  Trimble,  is  a  daughter  of  Judge  Trimble,  a  prominent 
man  of  his  day,  formerly  of  Iowa  City.  Mrs.  Colt  now  resides 
at  Columbus  Junction.  She  was  born  at  Iowa  City  in  1841. 
Judii'e  Trimlile  settled  in  Iowa  in  1840. 


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KESTOENCE  OF  JOHN  W.  MORFORD 


John  Vr.  Morford  was  born  in  Rleasant  \'alley  township, 
April  22,  1852.  His  father  Avas  Reason  Morford,  who  was 
born  in  Pennsylvania  December  13,  1822,  and  died  in  Pleasant 
^'alley  township  May  2(i,  188().  His  wife,  the  mother  of  our 
subject,  was  Miss  Sarah  Yarbrough,  born  in  North  Carolina 
August  11,  1835,  and  died  in  Newi)ort  township  December  5, 
1867.  Of  the  six  children  of  this  couple  three  survive,  as  fol- 
lows:  John  AY.,  our  subject;  Thomas  Henry,  superintendent 
of  parks,  Iowa  City;  Alaiy  Hannah,  died  when  four  years  of 
age ;  Elizabeth  who  died  in  infancy ;  Elwood,  a  resident  of 


BIOGEAPHICxVL  217 

North  Dakota,  and  Slieridan,  died  September  12,  188G,  at  tlie 
age  of  twenty-one. 

Onr  snbject,  prior  to  his  retirement,  was  always  a  farmer. 
He  was  raised  on  bis  father's  farm,  and  his  education  was  re- 
ceived in  the  hrst  log  school  honse  in  Pleasant  Valley  town- 
ship. At  tlie  age  of  sixteen  bo  worked  l)y  the  month  at  farm- 
ing, an  oecnpation  which  be  continued  for  eight  years,  most 
of  bis  work  being  done  on  bis  uncle's  farm  east  of  the  village 
of  Hills.  Having  saved  up  his  money,  our  subject  bought  a 
part  of  the  old  Byington  place,  1 18  acres  at  $25  yjer  acre.  This 
be  sold  some  time  after  at  $50  per  acre.  He  then  bought  13.'> 
acres  in  Graham  township  at  $55  per  acre,  and  after  nine 
years  sold  100  acres  of  this  for  $129  per  acre.  To  bis  remnant 
of  33  acres  he  added  four  acres  and  sold  the  entire  thirty-seven 
acres  for  $3,800.  His  last  purcbase  was  a  farm  near  Oasis. 
During  bis  residence  in  Pleasant  Valley  township,  Mr.  Mor- 
ford  occupied  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace  for  nineteen 
years  and  assessor  two  years.  He  was  also  president  of  the 
literary  association  of  Pleasant  A^alley  township.  He  has 
always  been  a  republican. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Morford  are  the  parents  of  four  children: 
Grace,  wife  of  William  Doan,  has  six  children,  AMIliam,  Hazen, 
Alden,  Marie,  Etbel,  and  Edna;  William  Ray,  married  to  Petn 
Hagerman,  has  one  daughter,  Mabel ;  (diaries  E.,  married  to 
Ada  Manasmith,  of  Iowa  Cit\%  has  one  son,  Loraine;  Tlla,  re- 
siding at  home,  a  graduate  of  the  Iowa  City  high  school. 

The  family  are  members  of  the  JMetbodist  Episcopal  cburcli 
of  Iowa  City.  Mr.  JMorford  has  taken  an  active  part  in  church 
work,  having  been  superintendent  of  the  Sunday  school  of  the 
M.  E.  cburcli  in  Pleasant  Valley  townsbi}). 


CHARLES  M.  DUTCHER 

The  firm  of  Wade,  Dutcher  &  Davis,  of  Iowa  City,  is  recog- 
nized by  the  legal  fraternity  of  the  state  as  one  of  the  repre- 
sentative law  partnerships  of  the  central  Mississippi  Valley. 
The  reason  for  this  reputation  is  not  far  to  seek.  The  firm 
contains  elements  of  character,  ability,  and  strengtb  within 
itself  of  more  than  ordinarv  mould.     Tbis  will  be  manifest  to 


218         HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

the  reader  in  perusing  the  individual  biographies  of  the  part- 
ners as  set  forth  in  this  volume.  The  attainments  and  partic- 
ular talents  of  each  seem  to  be  a  fitting  complement,  so  that 
the  combination  is  essentially  unique.  The  strength  of  the 
organization  is  proven  by  its  large  clientele  and  extensive 
business  interests. 

Charles  M.  Dutcher,  the  second  member  of  the  firm,  while 
a  native  of  Kansas  (born  in  Allen  county  April  29,  1869),  is 
by  early  transphmting,  education,  and  residence,  an  lowan; 
for  in  1877,  when  eight  years  of  age,  he  settled  in  Iowa  county, 
on  a  farm  near  Ladora ;  after  a  residence  there  of  one  year,  the 
family  removed  to  Iowa  City,  where  Mr.  Dutcher  has  since 


EESmENCE  OF  CHAELES  M.  DUTCHEE 

continuously  resided.  There  he  received  his  education  and 
his  legal  equipment,  being  a  graduate  of  the  law  department 
of  the  State  University  of  Iowa  in  the  class  of  1894.  The 
following  year,  he  formed  a  law  partnership  with  Charles  H. 
Burton,  which  continued  until  1900,  when  he  became  asso- 
ciated with  Walter  ]\I.  Davis,  the  firm  being  known  as  Dutcher 
&  Davis.  In  1905  the  present  tripartate  was  effected  by  the 
entrance  of  Judge  M.  J.  Wade,  a  man  of  strong  personality, 
and  an  able  and  popular  lawyer.  The  firm  now  occupies  a 
fine-  suite  of  offices  at  105Vo  South  Clinton  street,  with  com- 
plete library  and  every  equipment  of  the  modern  law  office. 
Charles  M.  Dutcher 's  parents  were  Daniel  N.  Dutcher,  bora 


A 


BIOGBAPHICAL  219 

in  New  York  January  18,  1833,  and  Sarah  A.  Beattie,  born  in 
Uniontown,  Pennsylvania,  November  22,  1833,  Father  Butch- 
er died  in  Iowa  City  August  24,  1902,  and  the  mother  resides 
with  her  son,  Charles  M.,  in  the  same  city.  There  are  two 
sons  in  the  family  besides  the  subject  of  this  sketch:  Louis 
W.,  born  April  24,  1870,  residing  at  Helena,  Montana,  and 
George  B.,  born  April  24,  1871,  living  in  Iowa  City. 

The  marriage  of  Charles  M.  Butcher  to  Miss  Marie  B. 
Campbell  took  place  July  24, 1907.  Miss  Campbell  is  a  daugh- 
ter of  Melvin  Campbell  and  Etta  Brooks,  whose  family  con- 
sisted of  four  daughters  and  one  son. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Butcher  one  son  has  been  born:  Baniel 
Campbell,  Augaist  1,  1908,  and  one  daughter  Jane  Elizabeth 
on  June  9,  1911. 

Charles  M.  Butcher  is  a  republican,  and  was  honored  by 
his  party  with  the  office  of  county  attorney  in  1897-98.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  board  of  education  of  Iowa  City  for  six 
years ;  is  a  member  of  Iowa  City  lodge,  No.  4,  A.  F.  &  A.  M,,  of 
which  he  was  Master  in  1898-99;  is  a  meml)er  of  Iowa  Citv 

7  «/ 

Chapter  No.  2,  Royal  Arch  Masons;  Palestine  Commandery 
Knights  Templar  and  Kaaba  Temple  Mystic  Shrine,  of  Bav- 
enport„  He  is  a  Knight  of  Pythias,  Corinth  lodge  No.  24, 
Iowa  City;  member  of  Camp  No.  189,  M.  W.  A.,  of  Iowa  City, 
and  a  member  of  0.  E.  S. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Butcher  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church  of  Iowa  City.  Their  home  is  at  909  East  Bur- 
ling-ton  street. 

Surely,  at  forty-two,  with  the  blessing  of  x)erfect  health, 
happy  home,  prosperous  business  and  the  universal  respect 
and  confidence  of  his  fellow  citizens,  Charles  M.  Butcher  is 
entitled  to  congratulations.  His  frieuds  rejoice  with  him  in 
the  brightness  of  his  horizon,  and  tvisli  him  the  full  fruition 
of  all  his  hopes. 


GEOEGE  WILLIAM  SCHMIBT 

At  the  date  on  which  this  biography  is  written  (September 
20,  1911)  the  subject  thereof  has  just  passed  one  day  beyond 
the  fifty-first  aimiversary  of  his  birth.  He  was  able  yesterday 
to  look  backward  through  the  half  century  of  residence  in 


220         HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

Iowa  City,  his  native  town,  with  the  consciousness  that  he  had 
endeavored  to  live  the  life  of  a  trne  man  and  to  perform  the 
duties  of  a  patriotic  citizen.  ^Moreover,  lie  had  the  satisfac- 
tion of  feeling  that  his  career  had  been  one  of  success,  both 
socially  and  financially,  and  that  in  the  catalogue  of  citizen- 
ship he  had  the  honor  of  being  placed  on  the  page  of  the  self- 
made  men  of  Johnson  county,  who,  while  carving  out  their 
own  characters  and  destinies,  have  l)een  active  factors  in  the 
development  of  the  institutions  of  which  this  county  so  proud- 
ly, and  rightfully,  boasts. 

The  parents  of  George  William  Schmidt,  who  occupy  a  high 
place  in  his  affections,  were  John  Schmidt  and  Frances  Zera- 


RESIDEXCK   OF  OKOROE   WILLIAM   SCHMIDT 


bek,  both  natives  of  (lennany,  who  were  among  the  pioneers 
of  Johnson  county  and  took  an  active  ]>art  in  the  homely,  exact- 
ing work  of  the  early  days.  The  father  emigrated  to  America 
in  1855,  landing  at  Philadelphia,  whence  he  came  to  Daven- 
]iort,  Iowa,  by  rail,  and  from  the  latter  point  overland  to  Iowa 
City.  The  mother  came  direct  from  (lermany  to  Johnson 
county  m  1856,  and  the  couple  were  married  the  same  year  at 
Iowa  City.  John  Schmidt  was  a  wagonmaker  by  trade  and 
worked  at  that  calling  in  Iowa  City  nntil  his  death  in  Decem- 
ber, 1889.     Frances  Zerabek  bore  twelve  children,  and  that 


GEORGE   \V.    SCHMIDT 


BIOGEAPHICAL  221 

tells  the  tale  of  a  mother's  affection  and  self  sacrifice.  Six  of 
these  children  snrvive:  John  C,  residin.i^-  at  Kansas  City, 
Missouri;  Mary,  living  at  Kearney,  Nebraska;  G.  W.,  onr  sub- 
ject ;  F.  J.,  residing  at  Iowa  City ;  C.  A,,  residing  at  Iowa  (^ity ; 
Lonise,  now  Mrs.  William  Kurz,  of  Iowa  C^ity. 

At  the  age  of  twelve  years  onr  subject  was  compel  1p(]  to 
leave  school  in  order  to  enter  the  world  of  work,  and  from  that 
time  to  the  present  he  has  been  a  strenuous  factor  therein.  At 
the  age  of  fifteen  he  became  an  apprentice  at  the  blacksmith 
and  machinist  trade  in  the  sho]is  of  N.  IT.  Tnlloss  &  Co.,  where 
he  remained  for  three  years,  mastering  tlie  trade.  Thereafter 
he  spent  one  year  at  farm  work  and  then  returned  to  take 
regular  employment  with  N.  H.  Tnlloss  &  Co.,  with  wlioni  he 
remained  for  eight  years.  He  then  went  into  the  laundry 
business,  starting  the  first  steam  laundry  in  Iowa  City  in  con- 
nection w^ith  A.  T.  Calkins,  to  whom  he  sold  his  interest  in  the 
business  at  the  expiration  of  a  year  and  a  half.  In  company 
with  N.  Dalsheid  he  then  launched  a  machine  shop.  After  a 
few  years  Mr.  Dalsheid  retired  and  Mr.  Schmidt  has  continued 
the  business  to  the  present  time,  wliich  has  ])roven  very  suc- 
cessful. Our  subject  is  now  president  of  the  Schmidt- Kurz 
Improvement  Company,  which  built  and  owns  the  Paul-Helen 
building,  one  of  the  finest  structures  in  Iowa  City. 

Mr.  Schmidt  chose  for  his  wife  Miss  Augusta  Strut),  a 
native  of  Iowa  City,  l)orn  December  18,  18()3.  They  have  one 
son,  Paul  G.,  who  is  associated  in  business  with  his  father. 
The  family  residence  is  at  225  Fairchild  street.  They  are 
communicants  of  St.  Mary's  Catholic  church. 

Mr.  Schmidt  takes  the  liberal  view  in  politics,  lie  is  a 
member  of  Iowa  City  lodge  No.  590,  P>.  P.  0.  E.,  of  which  he 
was  exalted  ruler  for  the  years  1909-10.  During  his  incum- 
bency he  had  the  honor  of  dedicating  the  new  Elks  Temple  at 
Iowa  City.  Mr.  Schmidt  is  also  a  member  of  the  Knights  of 
Columbus,  and  was  a  trustee  of  the  order  for  six  years.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  German  Aid  Society,  and  a  charter  member 
of  the  Iowa  City  Country  Club,  in  whicli  latter  organization 
he  has  always  held  an  office.  In  March,  1911,  he  was  elected 
alderman  from  his  ward  ])y  the  largest  democratic  majority 
ever  given  in  the  second  ward. 


222         HISTOEY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 
THEODORE  FREDERIC  SANXAY 

The  prominent  part  wliich  the  Sanxay  family  has  taken 
(still  takes,  for  that  matter)  in  the  history  of  Iowa  City  and 
Johnson  county  may  be  gathered  by  the  reader  from  a  peru- 
sal of  volume  one  of  this  history.  One  of  the  distinguished 
representatives  of  this  family,  Theodore  Frederic  Sanxay,  is 
now  and  has  been  for  a  niunber  of  years  a  resident  of  New 
York  City.  A  sketch  of  his  life  and  activities  will  properly 
suiDplement  the  reference  which  has  already"  been  made  to  his 
family  in  the  preceding  volume.  Mr.  Sanxay  has  never  lost 
active  interest  in  the  old  town  of  his  birth.  He  reckons  him- 
self as  one  of  her  sons  —  gone  out,  it  is  true,  to  other  and  per- 
haps larger  fields,  but  alive  with  affection  for  the  home  scenes 
and  the  home  faces  of  the  long  ago. 

Theodore  Frederic  Sanxay  is  the  eldest  son  of  Theodore 
Sanxay  and  Hetty  A.  Perry,  and  is  of  the  eighth  generation 
in  the  line  of  descent  from  Pierre  Sanxay,  Huguenot-pastor 
of  the  Reformed  church  at  Saintes,  in  the  old  Province  of 
Saint  Onge,  France,  from  1570  to  1576.  Our  subject  was  born 
March  12,  1843,  at  Iowa  City,  Iowa.  He  attended  the  schools 
of  his  native  city,  including  that  of  Dr.  William  Reynolds,  and 
finally  became  one  of  the  students  of  the  State  University  on 
its  opening.  In  1858  he  went  to  Cleveland,  Ohio,  and  attended 
the  Cleveland  Institute,  situated  on  University  Heights,  and, 
although  a  new  pupil,  was  selected  as  the  Fourth  of  July  ora- 
tor of  the  school  on  the  occasion  of  the  celebration  of  that  clay 
in  1860.  He  also  received  private  instruction  from  Professor 
Carl  Ruger,  the  eminent  teacher  of  the  classical  languages  in 
that  city.  In  1861  he  entered  as  a  freshman  in  the  Western 
Reserve  college  at  Hudson,  Ohio.  Among  his  classmates  were 
Samuel  E.  Williamson,  who  became  eminent  at  the  bar  of 
Ohio,  and  George  Trumbull  Ladd  and  Thomas  II.  SejTnour, 
afterwards  distinguished  professors  at  Yale  University.  The. 
year  following  Mr.  Sanxay  entered  as  a  sophomore  at  Prince- 
ton University,  New  Jersey,  and  graduated  therefrom,  A.  B., 
in  1864.  While  at  Princeton  he  was  chosen  by  vote  of  the  stu- 
dents as  junior  orator  to  represent  Clio  Hall,  one  of  the  liter- 
ary societies,  on  the  junior  orator  stage  at  the  commencement 
of  1863.  He  received  the  degree  of  A.  M.  from  Princeton  in 
1867. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  223 

After  his  graduation  from  Princeton,  onr  subject  took  np 
the  study  of  law,  and  after  a  time  s]3ent  in  Cincinnati  as  a 
student  in  the  law  office  of  Vacliel  Worthington,  son-in-law  of 
Judge  Jacob  Burnet,  he  left  that  city  for  Chicago  and  entered 
the  office  of  Walker  and  Dexter,  leading-  lawyers  of  that  city, 
the  former  being  counsel  for  the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy 
Railroad  Company.  Failing  to  recover  his  health,  impaired 
by  a  severe  illness  during  his  last  term  at  Princeton,  he  took 
a  trip  to  Europe,  and  returning  in  the  fall  of  18(i4,  he  entered 
the  law  school  at  Albany,  New  York,  where  he  continued  his 
studies  for  two  years,  during  a  part  of  which  x^eriod  William 
McKinley,  the  late  president,  was  also  there  as  a  student.  In 
1866  he  took  his  degree  of  LL.B.  and  was  admitted  to  practice 


OLD  SANXAY  HOMESTEAD 

at  the  bar  of  the  state  of  New  York ;  but  he  remained  one  year 
longer,  continuing  his  studies  until  1867.  During  his  stay  in 
Albany  his  services  were  utilized  for  campaign  speeches  by 
the  republican  local  committee  for  that  county. 

In  the  spring  of  1867  Mr.  Sanxay  went  to  the  city  of  New 
York  and  entered  upon  the  practice  of  law,  connecting  himself 
with  the  office  of  his  cousin,  the  late  Skeffingion  Sanxay,  who 
died  shortly  thereafter.  Mr.  Sanxay  has  been  a  resident  of 
New  York  City  continuously  ever  since.  He  was  actively  en- 
gaged in  the  practice  of  law  in  the  nation's  metropolis  for 
twenty-six  years,  and  until  1898,  when  by  reason  of  failing 
health  (his  health  always  having  been  delicate)  he  was  com- 


224         HISTOEY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

pelled  to  relax,  and  ultimately  lie  retired  altogether  therefrom. 
His  practice,  which  he  conducted  singly,  having  entered  into 
no  partnership  relations,  was  general,  covering  most  of  the 
leading  branches  of  the  law.  He  was  especially  active  in  liti- 
gated business  and  in  the  trial  of  cases.  While  thus  engaged 
in  f)ractice,  and  especially  dui'ing  the  early  part  of  the  period 
aforesaid,  he  was  also  active  in  the  duties  of  citizenshij).  He 
engaged  in  the  campaigns  as  a  republican  speakei-  in  his  home 
citv  and  New  Jersev,  and  when,  about  the  vear  187o,  the  move- 
ment  was  organized  to  de-Tammany-ize  the  republican  ])arty 
in  the  city  of  New  York,  by  re-enrollment  and  re-organization 
pursuant  to  a  resolution  of  the  republican  state  convention, 
he  entered  actively  into  the  movement,  and  was  among  the 
delegates  chosen  to  represent  the  Twentieth  Assembly  dis- 
trict in  the  re-organized  republican  county  committee  —  said 
committee  having  charge  of  the  management  of  the  republican 
party  In  the  city  of  New  York.  Tfe  has  always  continued  to 
be  a  republican,  though  with  indeitciidcnl  views,  wiiicli  became 
more  pronounced  as  he  withdrew  from  yjarty  activity,  his  re- 
tirement being  made  necessary  from  the  lack  of  strong  heaith 
and  in  view  of  the  exacting  demands  of  professional  practice. 
He  has  never  held  or  sought  a  ])olitical  office. 

Since  retiring  from  business  activity,  ^ir.  Saiixay  has  de 
voted  himself  to  the  management  of  his  private  affairs,  and 
to  a  considerable  extent  the  affaii-s  of  others  which  seemed 
to  fall  on  him,  or  which,  his  former  i)ractice  entail(Ml.  Tfe  has 
devoted  much  study  to  political  questions,  for  which  lie  has  a 
natural  fondness,  and  is  also  the  author  of  a  liistcn-ical  and 
genealogical  work  in  which,  in  connection  with  the  records  of 
his  ancestors,  and  by  means  of  la])orious  investigations  and 
researches,  and  by  extensive  correspondence  with  Huguenot 
savants  and  others  in  Euro])e,  he  has  been  able  to  contribute 
to  Huguenot  history  a  hitherto  un])ul)lished  chapter.  Mr. 
Sanxay  has  been  active  in  hospital  affairs,  and  has  been  a 
member  of  the  board  of  directors  of  the  New  York  Ophthalmic 
Hospital  for  eighteen  years,  being  now  the  president  of  th.e 
hospital.  He  personally  drafted  and  secured  the  i)assage  by 
the  New  York  legislature  of  a  law  exempting  hospital  pro])- 
erty  from  taxation,  even  though  not  in  use  for  hospital  pur- 
poses, when  the  rental  income  therefrom  was  necessary  for 


SAMUEL  J.   KIRK  WOOD 


BIOGRAPHICAL  225 

and  used  in  the  maintenance  of  tlie  hospital  and  its  work.  Our 
subject  was  connected  witli  the  old  First  Presbyterian  churcli, 
corner  Piftli  avenue  and  Eleventh  street,  at  the  time  of  the 
pastorate  of  the  late  Br.  AYilliam  M.  Paxton,  and  organized 
for  it  a  Young-  People's  Association.  He  was  later  connected 
with  the  Collegiate  Dutch  Reformed  church,  Fifth  avenue  and 
Forty-eighth  street,  and  for  several  years  was  superintendent 
of  its  Sunday  school. 

Mr.  Sanxay  has  traveled  consideralily,  several  trips  to 
Europe  being  included  in  his  itinerary.  He  makes  annual 
visits  to  his  old  home  in  Iowa  CUty,  in  the  welfare  of  which 
city  he  retains  a  feeling  of  dee])  interest.  He  has  been  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Union  League  club  of  New  York  for  over  forty 
years.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Princeton  club  of  New 
York,  the  New  York  Historical  Society,  the  Hugnenot  Society 
of  America,  Iowa  Society  of  New  York,  Sons  of  the  American 
Revolution,  and  The  State  Historical  Society  of  Iowa.  He  has 
never  married. 


MRS.  JANE  KIRKAYOOl) 

At  the  a(.l\anced  age  of  ninety  years,  Jane  (Clark)  Kirk- 
wood,  widow  of  Hon.  Samuel  J.  Kirlnvood,  Iowa's  honored 
war  governor,  and  former  secretary  of  the  interior  under 
President  Gartield,  resides  in  the  family  mansion  at  1028  Kirk- 
wood  avenue,  Iowa  City.  It  is  needless  to  state  that  no  resi- 
dent of  thiC  University  city  is  more  highly  esteemed  or  held  in 
more  universal  and  tender  respect  l)y  its  citizens  than  this 
aged  relict  of  Iowa's  once  foremost  citizen.  The  memory  of 
the  stirring  days  in  which  she  stood  by  the  side  of  her  loyal 
husband  when  his  heart  and  brain  nvere  occupied  with  affairs 
of  momentous  interest  to  the  nation  lingers  about  her  head 
like  a  halo.  A  touch  of  the  i)athetic  past  is  graven  upon  her 
noble  face,  and  the  unforgotten  visions  of  the  vesterdavs  of 
the  nation's  travail  lie  in  the  dei)ths  of  her  tender  eyes.  Her 
friends  gather  about  her  and  esteem  her  l)eloved.  How  could 
it  be  otherwise  when  her  life  and  character  compass  so  mncli 
that  is  priceless  in  the  history  of  hei-  state  and  nation  f 

Jane  ((Mark)  Kirkwood  is  the  eldest  of  the  two  surviving 


226         HISTORY  OF  eTOHNSON  COUNTY,  TOWA 

daughters  of  Ichabod  Clark  and  Isabel  MeQiiade,  wlio  were 
married  in  Washington  connty,  Pennsylvania,  in  1812.  She 
was  born  September  1,  1821,  in  Richland  county,  Ohio.  Her 
surviving  sister  is  Mrs.  Joseph  Jewett,  born  in  October,  1826. 
Ichabod  Clark  and  wife,  soon  after  their  marriage,  moved  to 
Richland  county,  Ohio,  where  the  father  resided  until  his 
death  at  the  age  of  sixty-three.  He  was  a  farmer  and  a  miller, 
and  a  veteran  in  the  War  of  1812.  After  the  death  of  her 
husband,  Mrs.  Clark  (in  1851)  removed  to  Johnson  county, 
Iowa,  and  located  at  Iowa  City,  where  she  died  at  the  age  of 
seventy-six.  She  was  the  mother  of  ten  children.  Jane  (Mrs. 
Kirkwood)  was  educated  in  Richland  county,  Ohio,  and  at- 
tended the  Seminary  at  Grantville.  She  was  a  school  teacher 
for  a  few  summers  in  her  old  home  county.  On  the  27th  of 
December,  1843,  she  was  married  to  Samuel  J.  Kirkwood,  then 
a  young  man  of  thirty,  just  beginning  the  practice  of  law  at 
Mansfield,  Ohio.  With  her  husband  she  removed  to  Iowa  in 
1855.  The  historic  mansion  in  which  she  now  resides  was  built 
in  1861.  Mrs.  Kirkwood  recalls  that  one  of  lier  first  tasks 
after  her  marriage  was  the  weaving  of  a  carpet  with  her  own 
hands,  the  wool  for  which  she  had  herself  spun  and  had  dyed. 
Soon  after  her  marriage  she  nnited  with  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church,  of  which  she  has  ])eeu  a  consistent  and  useful 
member  all  these  nearly  seventy  years. 

GOA'ERNOR  SAMUEL  J.  KIRKWOOD  was  of  Scotch- 
Irish  descent.  His  grandfather,  Robert  Kirkwood,  was  born 
in  the  north  of  Ireland,  and  came  with  his  widowed  mother  to 
America  in  1731.  The  mother  settled  in  New  Castle,  Delaware, 
where  Robert  grew  to  man's  estate  and  became  the  father  of 
five  sons  and  one  daughter,  the  youngest  of  the  sons,  Jabez, 
being  the  father  of  Samuel  Jordan  Kirkwood,  our  subject.  A 
former  biographical  sketch  of  Governor  Kirkwood  recites  that 
"Captain  Robert  Kirkwood  (a  cousin  of  the  aforesaid  Robert) 
was  a  valiant  soldier  in  the  Revolution.  He  was  successively 
in  the  battles  of  Long  Island,  Trenton,  Camden,  Eutaw 
Springs,  Ninety-six,  and  Ilobkirk's  Hill.  The  regiment  to 
which  he  belonged  was  so  badly  reduced  in  the  latter  battle, 
that  only  enough  for  one  company  was  left,  when  it  was  re- 
organized as  a  single  company  and  its  command  given  to  Cap- 
tain Kirkwood.    For  his  valor  and  meritorious  services,  he  was 


BIOGRAPHICAL  227 

advanced  by  General  Washington  from  a  captaincy  to  the 
office  of  Brigadier-General,  without  filling  any  intervening 
office.  He  was  killed  in  the  battle  between  St.  Clair's  troops 
and  the  Indians  on  the  Wabash  in  1791,  in  a  bayonet  charge 
against  the  enemy. ' ' 

Jabez  Kirkwood  was  born  in  Harford  connty,  Maryland, 
in  the  year  1776,  and  he  married  for  his  second  wife  a  widow, 
Mrs.  Wallace,  whose  maiden  name  was  Mary  Alexander, 
who  was  born  in  Scotland.  One  of  the  fruits  of  this  second 
marriage  was  Samuel  Jordan,  who  was  born  in  Harford  coun- 
ty, Maryland,  December  20,  1813.  His  father  was  both  a 
farmer  and  a  blacksmith,  and,  like  most  of  the  Kirkwoods  of 
that  time,  was  a  man  of  more  than  ordinary  ability,  and  took 
a  leading  and  active  part  in  atfairs  of  both  church  and  state. 
Samuel's  education  was  begun  at  a  very  early  age,  as  there 
was  a  log  school  house  on  his  father's  farm,  and  so  apt  was  he 
that  he  cannot  remember  when  he  could  not  repeat  the  multi- 
plication table,  and  he  was  always  in  advance  of  the  scholars 
of  his  years.  At  the  age  of  ten  he  went  to  Washington  City 
and  entered  a  school  kept  by  John  McCloud,  in  which  his  half- 
brother,  Robert,  an  excellent  classical  scholar,  was  an  assist- 
ant teacher.  After  spending  four  years  in  this  school  he  en- 
tered a  drug  store  as  clerk,  and  a  j^ear  afterwards,  at  the  age 
of  seventeen,  went  to  Pennsylvania  and  engaged  in  school 
teaching.  At  the  close  of  several  terms  of  teaching  he  re- 
turned to  Washington,  and  spent  two  years  as  clerk  in  the 
drug  store  of  his  brother  Wallace.  Then  returning  home,  he 
spent  a  year  in  completing  his  classical  studies. 

In  1835,  when  he  was  twenty-one  years  of  age,  his  father 
removed  to  Richland  county,  Ohio,  and  there  opened  a  farm  in 
the  wilderness.  Samuel  worked  on  this  farm  in  the  summer 
and  in  the  winter  taught  school.  In  the  year  1840,  as  deputy 
assessor,  he  did  the  work  of  assessing  thirteen  townships  in 
the  county.  Then  he  engaged  for  a  year  as  clerk  in  a  store 
and  tavern  kept  by  his  principal.  Relinquishing  this,  at  the 
age  of  twenty-eight,  he  went  to  Mansfield,  entered  the  law 
office  of  Judge  T.  W.  Bartley,  and  commenced  a  two  years' 
study  of  the  law,  being  afterward  admitted  to  the  bar.  He 
spent  twelve  years  in  practice  at  Mansfield,  being  in  1850 
elected  a  member  of  the  Constitutional  convention  to  revise 


228         HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  lOAVA 

the  constitution  of  Ohio.  In  the  deliberations  of  this  body  lie 
took  an  active  part,  and  thongli  it  was  composed  of  some  of 
the  ablest  men  Ohio  then  possessed,  he  took  a  prominent  po- 
sition among  them.  During-  his  law  practice  he  was  engaged  in 
an  important  murder  trial,  in  which  were  employed  as  oppos- 
ing counsel  Thomas  Ewing  and  Columbus  Delano.  It  is  a 
remarkable  coincidence  that  these  three  men,  Kirkwood, 
Ewing,  and  Delano,  were  afterwards  in  presidential  cabinets, 
each  as  secretary  of  the  interior. 

In  1855  jMr.  Kirkwood  abandoned  the  practice  of  law,  bade 
good-by  to  Ohio,  and  joined  the  then  surging  throngs  that  in 
vast  numbers  were  seekini>'  new  homes  on  the  fortih^  soil  and 


RESroENCE  OF  MRS.    JANE  KIRKWOOD 


in  the  gdiial  (^lime  of  Iowa.  On  his  arrival  in  Iowa  (^ity,  he 
entered  into  i)artnership  with  ins  brother-in-law,  Hon.  Ezekiel 
Clark,  and  engaged  in  the  farming,  milling  and  merchandise 
business.  The  firm  owned  a  large  farm  of  twelve  hundred 
acres,  and  a  large  grist  and  flouring  mill  at  Coralville,  on  the 
Iowa  river,  about  two  miles  al)ove  Iowa  City.  Their  store  was 
located  in  the  latter  city. 

Though  in  early  years  a  democrat,  the  repeal  of  the  Mis- 
souri Compromise  and  accompanying  legis'ation  drove  Mr. 
Kirkwood  tnit  of  that  party,  and  tliongh  avoiding  rather  than 
seeking  political  preferment,  the  republicans  of  the  senatorial 
district  composed  of  Johnson  and  Iowa  counties,  in  1856,  sent 


BIOGRAPHICAL  229 

liim  to  tlie  state  senate  foi'  a  term  of  two  years,  and  soon  after 
its  close,  in  1859,  he  was  nominated  ])y  the  republicans  for 
governor.  He  made  a  canvass  of  the  state  with  his  competi- 
tor, Hon.  A.  C  Dodge,  in  one  of  the  most  inemorable  political 
contests  ever  held  in  the  state,  they  both  alternately  address- 
ing the  same  audiences  from  the  same  rostrnm.  Mr,  Kirkwood 
was  elected  l)v  three  thousand  maioritv.  Oarino-  his  first  vear 
as  governor,  he  had  a  controversy  with  Governor  lietcher,  of 
A'irginia,  in  re^gard  to  the  return  to  that  state  of  Barclay  Cop- 
poc,  one  of  John  Brown's  men  engaged  in  the  raid  on  Harper's 
Ferr}^.  The  requisition  was  defective,  and  Co])poc  was  not 
returned.  Huring  the  second  year  of  his  first  term,  the  Civil 
War  broke  out,  and  from  that  time  until  the  close  of  his  sec- 
ond term  as  governor,  W  was  the  busiest  and  hardest  worked 
man  in  the  state  of  Iowa. 

When  the  call  was  made  on  him  for  a  r(\giment  of  men  for 
United  States  service,  it  was  found  that  the  state  had  com- 
parative! \'  no  complete  military  organization  (a  few  com- 
Xmnies  only),  no  arms,  no  funds,  and  but  little  cj'edit.  He 
went  to  the  state  banks  and  on  his  own  individual  responsi- 
bility borrowed  money  by  the  tens  of  thousands  of  dollars  to 
raise  arms  and  equip  tlie  ti'oops,  and  before  the  close  of  his 
second  term  raised  and  sent  to  the  front  without  draft  all  the 
troops  called  for.  No  man  ever  looked  after  the  welfare  of  his 
own  children  with  more  interest  and  untiring  zeal  than  did  he 
after  the  welfare  of  the  Iowa  soldiers,  from  the  time  they 
were  mustered  into  the  service  until  they  were  mustered  out 
and  returned  to  their  homes.  Mr.  Kirkwood  was  one  of  the 
body  of  loya!  governors  that  held  a  consultation  at  Altoona, 
Pennsylvania,  in  September,  1862,  to  consult  in  regard  to  a 
more  vigorous  prosecution  of  the  war,  and  these  governors 
presented  their  views  to  the  i)resident,  visiting  him  in  ]ierson. 
Governor  Kii'kwood  being  one  of  the  speakers  on  that  occa- 
sion. 

Before  the  close  of  the  second  gubernatorial  term  he  was 
offered  the  position  of  minister  to  Uemnark  by  President  Lin- 
coln, and  though  he  at  first  hesitated  to  accept  it,  the  appoint- 
ment was  held  several  months  for  his  acceptance,  when,  owing 
to  the  pressure  of  other  duties,  he  finally  declined  it.  In  1S(')C) 
lie  was  elected  to  fill  the  unex})ired  term  of  Senator  Harlan  in 


230         HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

the  United  States  senate.  Soon  after  tlie  expiration  of  his 
term  in  the  senate  lie  was  elected  to  the  presidency  of  the 
leading  bank  in  Iowa  City,  and  when  the  Iowa  City  National 
bank  was  organized  he  became  its  president  and  hekl  the  office 
for  several  years. 

In  1875  Mr.  Kirkwood  was  again  elected  governor  of  the 
state  by  a  majority  of  over  thirty  thousand.  Before  the  close 
of  his  last  term  he  was  reelected  to  a  seat  in  the  United  States 
senate.  On  the  21st  of  January,  1879,  he  made  in  the  senate 
a  speech  on  the  army  appropriation  bill,  in  which  he  discussed 
the  relative  powers  of  the  states  and  the  general  government. 
This  speech  received  the  commendation  of  members  of  both 
parties  in  the  senate,  and  was  favorably  commented  upon  by 
the  leading  papers  of  the  country,  and  especially  by  the  New 
York  Tribune.  In  no  speech  ever  made  in  the  senate  was  this 
question  more  ably  discussed,  or  the  relations  of  the  states  to 
the  general  government  more  clearly  stated  and  delineated. 

In  forming  his  cabinet.  President  Garfield  gave  to  Governor 
Kirkwood  the  position  of  secretary  of  the  interior,  an  office 
which  he  held  until  the  April  succeeding  the  President's 
death,  when  he  resigned  and  retired  from  official  and  political 
life,  but  he  was  recalled  to  lead  a  forlorn  hope  in  the  race  for 
congress  on  the  republican  ticket  in  1886,  when  there  were  two 
other  candidates,  democratic  and  union  labor,  in  the  field,  and 
in  which  the  democrat.  Judge  Hayes,  was  elected. 

The  governor  was  always  a  great  friend  to  both  common 
school  and  higher  education,  having  served  many  years  on  the 
school  board  of  his  own  township,  on  the  board  of  regents  of 
the  State  University,  and  as  a  trustee  of  the  State  Agricul- 
tural college.  He  never  shirked  any  public  duty  which  the 
people  called  him  to  perform,  filling  even  the  humble  office  of 
road  supervisor  in  his  road  district,  after  serving  in  the  United 
States  senate. 

Perhaps  the  proudest  and  happiest  time  of  the  governor's 
life  was  when,  on  one  of  the  balmy  days  of  September,  1892, 
a  party  of  some  thirty  of  his  old  friends  and  former  associates 
in  political  and  official  life,  of  both  parties,  including  judges 
and  ex-judges  of  the  supreme  and  district  courts,  ex-gover- 
nors, ex-members  of  congress,  ex-state  officers,  ex-army  offi- 
cers and  others,  made  him  a  call  and  spent  a  social  afternoon 


BIOGRAPHICAL  231 

ill  liis  house  and  on  liis  lawn,  and  wlien  a  score  or  more  of  liis 
friends  sent  their  regrets  at  not  being  able  to  be  present.  No 
event  could  have  happened  that  would  have  shown  more  em- 
phatically the  esteem  in  which  he  was  held  in  his  declining 
years  than  this. 

Governor  Kirkwood  was  an  American  prince  of  the  royal 
blood,  and  whether  in  the  overalls  of  the  rusty  farmer,  the 
dusty  coat  of  the  country  miller,  filling  the  office  of  governor, 
sitting  in  the  United  States  senate,  or  performing  the  duties 
of  cabinet  minister,  he  has  always  belonged  to  the  nobility  of 
American  manhood.  To  his  widow,  sitting  in  the  mellow  rays 
of  life's  glorious  sunset,  the  loyal  sons  and  daughters  of  Iowa 
offer  affectionate  salute.  Theirs  is  the  heritage  of  his  glo- 
rious career ;  theirs  the  pride  of  her  dower  of  Ijonor.  Who  can 
doubt  that  in  the  resplendent  courts  of  Tomorrow  her  knight 
and  lover  awaits  the  coining  of  his  bride  of  Yesterday! 


CALVIN  "WILLIAMSON 

"When  three  years  of  age,  Calvin  AVilliamson,  a  fatherless 
boy,  made  the  trip  from  Pennsylvania  to  Missouri,  and  passed 
under  the  care  of  an  uncle.  Two  years  later  he  accompanied 
that  uncle  and  his  family  to  Johnson  county  and  has  resided 
here  ever  since.  He  is  now  a  man  of  sixty- six,  a  retired  far- 
mer, living  in  Iowa  City,  well  off  in  this  world's  goods  and  has 
a  wife  and  three  children,  all  married  and  doing  well.  It  is 
the  old,  old  story  of  a  life  devoted  to  an  honest  purpose 
crowned  with  success  in  the  fruitful  fields  of  the  great  com- 
monwealth of  Iowa. 

Mr.  Williamson  was  born  in  Somerset  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, May  6,  1845.  His  parent;?  were  David  and  Commilla 
(Shaver)  Williamson,  the  former  a  native  of  Connecticut  and 
the  latter  of  Pennsylvania.  The  father  died  when  our  subject 
was  an  infant,  and  the  little  boy  passed  into  the  custody  of 
the  uncle  aforementioned.  His  education  was  received  in  the 
country  schools.  When  twenty-one  years  of  age  he  began 
farming  for  himself.  That  was  in  1866,  and  one  year  later  he 
bought  a  farm  in  Washingion  township.  Indefatigable  in- 
dustry and  frugalitv  have  enabled  him  to  increase 'his  hold- 


232 


HISTORY  OP  JOHNSON  COUNT T,  IOWA 


ings,  so  tliat  liis  realty  posscessions  in  Johnson  county  are  at 
this  writing  of  considerable  proportions.  In  1898  he  retired 
from  active  Inisiness  and  removed  to  Iowa  Oity.  where  he  now 
resides. 

His  marnage  to  Miss  Matilda  Fry  took  place  in  1870.  Miss 
Frv  was  born  in  Johnson  countv  January  13, 1848.  Her  father 
was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania  and  her  mother  of  Ohio.  They 
were  pioneers  of  Johnson  county,  having  settled  here  in  the 
thirties.  Both  reached  a  ripe  old  age,  Father  Fry  dying  at  the 
age  of  ninety-four  and  his  wife  at  eightv-four. 


RESIDENCE   OF    CALVIX    WILLIAMSON 


Mr.  and  Mrs.  Williamson  have  three  chihlren:  Samuel, 
born  October  15,  1875,  is  married  and  resides  on  a  farm  in 
Johnson  county;  Ealph  C,  born  August  3,  1878,  is  a  lawyer, 
practicing  at  Davenport,  Iowa;  Nellie,  born  October  22,  1880, 
is  married  and  living  in  Franklin  county,  Iowa. 

Mr.  Williamson  is  a  republican.  His  life  has  been  an  open 
book,  with  no  blotted  pages.  His  many  friends  hold  him  in 
respectful  esteem,  and  he  is  accounted  one  of  the  substantial 
citizens  of  the  county. 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


FKEl^  W.  KEMMERLE 

Fred  W.  Kemmerle  has  l)ecome  widely  known  tlirongliout 
Iowa  as  the  president  of  the  Iowa  Brewing  Company.  He  is 
well  known  as  a  free-handed,  open-hearted  man,  ever  ready  to 
help  the  needy,  and  pnblie  si)irited  to  a  degrees  He  entered 
the  brewing  business  at  Anrora,  Illinois,  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
one  years,  and  that  has  been  his  chosen  occupation  ever  since. 
The  power  of  his  personality  and  his  aliility  as  a  business  man 
are  demonstrated  in  the  large  manufacturing  enterprise  of 
which  he  is  tlie  head. 

Mr.  Kemmerle  was  born  in  Philadelpliia,  Pennsylvania. 
November  2-1,  1871.  His  parents,  Chris,  and  Catherine  Kem- 
merle, were  natives  of  Germany,  and  came  to  America  in  1861, 


RESIDENCE   OF    FRED   W.    KEMMERLE 

settling  at  Pliiladelplua.  In  1876  they  went  westward  to  Au- 
rora, Illinois,  where  they  died,  tlie  fatlier  in  1892  and  the 
mother  in  1896.  Chi-is.  Kemmerle  was  engaged  in  the  mer- 
cantile business.  Fred  AV.,  as  stated  before,  began  tlie  brew- 
erv  trade  at  Aurora  in  his  twentv-llrst  vear.  Pie  continued  in 
that  business  in  the  same  city  for  ten  years,  when  he  came  lo 
Iowa  City.    Brewing  has  been  his  occui)ation  ever  since. 

In  1895  Mr,  Kemmerle  was  married  to  Miss  Anna  Wis- 
brook,  a  native  of  Aurora,  Illinois,  whose  ])arents  were  natives 
of  Germany.  They  have  two  children:  Hazel,  boi-n  December 
19,  1897,  and  Irene,  born  ^Nlay  -I-,  189J).  The  family  residence 
is  at  21-1  Church  street. 


234 


HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  LOWA 


WIOTR.  HINKLEY 

The  New  York  family  of  Hinkleys  lias  a  wortliy  descendant 
in  the  person  of  AViot  E.,  son  of  Samnel  Hinkley  and  Adaline 
Perkins,  who  was  born  in  Johnson  conntj^,  Iowa,  December  14, 
1866.  Saimiel  Hinkley  was  a  native  of  Aladison  county.  New 
York,  and  came  to  Johnson  county  in  1855  in  company  with 
his  brother,  Henry  L.,  where  he  settled  on  a  farm  in  Fremont 
township.  There  he  lived  until  his  death,  January  30,  1908,  at 
the  age  of  eighty-nine  years.  His  wife  is  still  living.  (For  a 
more  com^jlete  account  of  the  ancestry  and  activities  of  the 
Hinkley  family,  see  the  biography  of  Henry  Luther  Hinkley, 
published  elsewhere  in  this  volume  —  Editor.) 


SAMUEL  HINKLEY  HOMESTEAD 


Two  children  were  ))orn  to  Samuel  Hinkley  and  wife: 
Julia,  now  Mrs.  Jesse  Holdeman,  residina-  at  Lone  Tree,  and 
the  subject  of  this  sketch.  The  former  is  the  mother  of  an 
interesting  family  (see  biography  of  Jesse  Holdeman),  while 
the  latter  is  the  father  of  six  children,  tive  of  whom  are  living. 

Following  in  the  footsteps  of  his  progenitors,  Wiot  E. 
Hinkley  has  devoted  his  energies  to  farming.  ()\\  leaving 
school,  he  began  work  upon  the  old  homestead  of  his  parents. 
His  first  independent  efforts  were  inaugurated  in  his  twentieth 
year.  When  twenty-three  he  bought  his  first  farm,  upon 
which  he  lived  for  four  years.    On  account  of  the  ill  health  of 


BIOGRAPHICAL  235 

his  parents,  lie  sold  this  place  and  moved  back  upon  the  old 
farm  to  care  for  them.  After  his  father's  death  he  purchased 
the  old  Alva  Hinkley  farm,  near  the  old  home.  This  he  im- 
proved, and  sold  in  December,  1911.  He  is  at  present  living 
in  Lone  Tree,  Iowa. 

The  marriag'e  of  Wiot  R.  Hinkley  and  Miss  Lida  Douglas 
took  place  in  1886.  His  ^dfe  was  born  and  bred  in  Johnson 
county,  being  a  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  L.  Douglas. 
As  previously  stated,  six  children  have  blessed  their  home. 
Their  names  in  the  order  of  birth  are:  Ellen  Eunice;  Frankie 
Douglas,  who  died  at  the  age  of  five  years ;  Myrtle  May ;  Mary 
Jane ;  Hazel  Pearle ;  Harry  Samuel. 

Mr.  Hinkley  is  a  republican.  The  family  have  been  mem- 
bers of  the  Christian  church  for  fifteen  vears.  Mr.  Hinklev  is 
one  of  the  first  members  of  Lone  Tree  lodge  No.  160,  M.  B.  A., 
and  is  active  in  the  work  of  the  order.  In  his  forty-fifth  year, 
he  is  a  sturdy  example  of  the  Iowa  farmer  at  his  best.  It  is  a 
trite  thing  to  say  that  he  and  his  kind  are  the  enduring  and 
admirable  foundation  of  the  American  republic.  All  thought- 
ful men  will  say,  ''may  their  like  increase." 


ANTON  FISHER 


No  further  proof  of  the  fact  that  America  affords  matchless 
opportunities  for  individual  success  is  needed  than  the  ex- 
perience of  some  of  the  foreign -born  residents  of  Johnson 
county,  Iowa.  The  time-worn  epigram  that  "nothing  succeeds 
like  success"  is  given  an  explanatory  setting  in  this  section  of 
the  great  western  state  of  Iowa.  Undoubtedly  individual 
ability  and  persistent  application  are  essential  factors  in 
financial  victories,  but  it  is  a  furtlier  fact  that  a  fruitful  field 
for  the  exercise  of  these  qualifications  enters  largely  into  the 
final  solution.  Many  wealthy  citizens  of  southeastern  Iowa 
came  from  sections  of  the  old  world  where  the  earnest  exercise 
of  individual  talents  and  industry  availed  small  returns  after 
many  years  of  application.  Transplanted  to  the  fecund  re- 
gions of  the  new  world,  these  same  talents  and  industry  ac- 
cumulated within  a  generation  ample  fortunes  for  their  pos- 
sessors.   In  the  final  analvsis  of  the  matter  the  most  that  can 


236 


HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  JOWA 


be  said  as  between  the  individual  and  the  scene  of  his  efforts 
is  that  "lienors  are  easy."  Nor  are  the  "honors"  so  inferior 
that  abundant  glory  may  not  be  given  to  both  factors.  Suc- 
cess, real  and  honorable,  is  a  fitting  crown  for  any  man  even  in 
the  midst  of  the  congenial  conditions  of  southeastern  Iowa. 
The  fact  that  many  fail  under  seemingly  identical  advantages 
only  serves  to  emi)hasize  the  worth  of  the  one  who  succeeds. 
It  mav  be  trulv  said  of  Johnson  countv  that  its  historv  is 
glorious  with  the  tales  of  individual  successes,  and  these, 
taken  in  connection  with  the  famous  richness  of  its  soil  and 
favorable  conditions  of  its  climate,  cannot  but  impress  the 


RESIDENCE    OP   AX  TON    FISHER 

student  of  history  with  the  claims  of  that  county  to  distinction 
as  one  of  the  regions  of  American  prosperity. 

Anton  Fisher  is  a  Bohemian  whose  parents  wisely  brought 
him  to  America  and  to  soutlieastern  Iowa  when  he  was 
young  —  thirteen  years  of  age,  to  be  exact.  Today,  at  the  age 
of  fifty  three,  after  forty  years  of  effort,  Anton  Fisher  is  ac- 
counted one  of  the  wealthiest  men  of  I.one  Tree,  esteemed  by 
his  neighbors  and  honored  by  his  fellow  citizens  with  positions 
of  pulilic  trust  and  res]ionsibility.  j^ut  ])etween  the  Bohemian 
boy  of  thirteen  and  the  American  citizen  of  fifty-three  there 
lies  a  hretory  of  earnest,  persistent  effort  which  tells  the  story 
of  success.  Martin  and  Mary  (Shebek)  Fisher  were  the  names 
of  our  subject's  parents,  and  they  registered  his  birth  as  June 


ANTON  FISHEK 


BIOGRAPHICAL  237 

24,  1857.  In  1870  tlie  Fislior  family  settled  in  A¥aslnni>-ton 
county,  Iowa,  where  the  elders  resided  for  about  ten  years, 
thereafter  removing-  to  Nebraska.  P^'atbei-  Fisher  died  in  Ne- 
braska, but  the  mother  still  lives  in  that  state. 

Anton  Fisher  spent  five  years  at  home  on  the  Washin.gton 
county  farm.  At  eighteen  years  of  age  he  determined  to  learn 
the  harness-makers'  trade  and  for  that  jnirpose  located  at 
Iowa  City  and  worked  two  years.  Having  liecome  a  proficient 
workman,  he  removed  to  Lone  Tree,  where  he  labored  at  his 
trade  for  ten  years.  In  1890  he  changed  from  harness-making 
to  the  hardware  and  implement  business,  and  this  occupatioix 
he  pursued  for  fifteen  years,  retiring  about  five  years  ago. 
Since  his  retirement  Mr.  Fisher  has  held  the  office  of  county 
supervisor,  the  duties  of  which,  with  the  care  of  his  large 
property  interests,  have  occupied  his  time.  The  day  that  An- 
ton Fisher  arrived  at  Lone  Tree  he  possessed  $75.00  in  cash, 
which  constituted  his  entire  wealth.  Today  he  owns  one  of  the 
most  beautiful  homes  in  the  town,  a  block  of  brick  business 
buildings,  and  numerous  farms  and  other  property  in  Fi-e- 
mont  township,  besides  cash  in  abundance.  A  simple  story  of 
thrift  and  success  —  it  looks  easy,  and  it  /'n,  to  tlie  man  wlio 
iriU. 

The  family  of  Martin  Fisher  and  Mary  8hel)ek  was  of  the 
okl-fashioned  variety  —  that  is,  it  was  large.  There  arc  nine 
children  living  at  this  writing,  namely,  in  the  order  of  tiicir 
birth:  John  (with  a  family),  residing  in  Nebraska;  Wytonie 
(now  Mrs.  James  Hoolek),  living  in  Nebraska;  Anton;  Fannie 
(Mrs.  Blair),  a  resident  of  Los  Angeles,  California;  James, 
residing'  in  Nebraska;  Mary  (now  Mrs.  Shelton),  living  in 
Kansas;  Frank,  living'  in  Nebraska;  Annie  (now  Mrs.  Kicliard- 
son),  living  in  Nebraska;  Joseph,  residing  in  Nebraska. 

Anton  Fisher  was  married  in  1875  to  Miss  Rosa  Tornietz, 
a  native  of  Bohemia,  who  came  to  America  with  lier  sister 
when  fourteen  years  of  age.  Two  children  were  the  fruit  of 
this  union  —  Otto,  who  died  five  years  ago  at  the  age  of 
twenty-six  years,  and  Ada,  who  is  living  at  honie.  The  family 
are  members  of  the  Roman  Catholic  church. 

As  hitherto  indicated,  Anton  Fisher  has  held  ))ul)lic  office 
considerably.  For  twelve  yeai's  he  was  township  trustee;  for 
ten  years  city  councihnan  of  liOne  Tree;  and  for  tlie  ])ast  five 


238         HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

years  county  supervisor.  Unquestioned  integrity  and  ability 
have  characterized  his  administration  of  these  positions  of 
public  trust.  He  is  a  member  of  the  local  Lone  Tree  lodges  of 
I.  0.  0.  F.  and  M.  W.  of  A.,  and  of  Iowa  City  B.  P.  0.  E. 

Near  by  to  the  mausoleum  of  David  Kirkpatrick  in  Lone 
*  Tree  cemetery  stands  that  of  the  Anton  Fisher  family.  Both 
are  imposing  specimens  of  the  tombinakers'  art.  One  of  the 
marble  tablets  of  the  Fisher  crypt  contains  the  name  of  Otto, 
son  of  Anton  and  Rosa  Fisher,  aged  twenty-six  years  and  10 
months.  Three  companion  tablets  await  the  coming  of  the 
Grim  Reaper  to  receive  the  inscriptions  reciting  the  names 
and  ages  of  the  surviving  members  of  the  family.  Thus,  even- 
tually, in  the  neighborly  silence  of  "God's  acre"  will  repose 
the  dust  of  two  of  the  wealthiest  and  most  prominent  house- 
holds of  Lone  Tree.  But  every  friend  of  the  families  (and 
their  name  is  legion)  will  wish  that  that  day  of  silence  may  be 
long  delayed. 


ALBERT  J.  STONEBARGER 

The  agriculturists  of  Johnson  county,  Iowa,  as  well  as  the 
dealers  in  some  of  the  great  stock  centers  of  the  country,  are 
indebted  to  Albert  J.  Stonebarger  for  his  unremitting  care 
and  labor  in  the  breeding  of  pure-bred  Percheron  horses  dur- 
ing more  than  twenty  years  past.  Nearly  a  score  of  magnifi- 
cent specimens  of  these  kings  of  draft  horses  may  be  seen  at 
this  writing  on  Mr.  Stonebarger 's  farm  in  Fremont  township, 
where  our  subject  has  been  engaged  in  farming  for  the  past 
thirty-five  years.  The  work  of  Luther  Burbank  in  breeding-up 
magnificent  species  of  vegetables,  fruits,  and  flowers  is  not 
more  valuable  in  its  way  than  the  efforts  of  men  like  Mr. 
Stonebarger  to  produce  perfect  specimens  of  horse  flesh. 
Such  work,  whether  in  the  conservatory,  the  orchard,  or  the 
stock  ranch,  is  of  vast  importance,  and  is  worthy  of  commen- 
dation, 

Mr.  Stonebarger 's  parents,  Jacob  and  Mary  (Peebles) 
Stonebarger,  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  but  our  subject 
was  born  in  Ohio  May  30,  1856,  to  which  state  his  parents  re- 
moved at  an  early  day.  The  elder  Stonebarger  engaged  in  the 
furniture  business  in  the  Buckeye  state,  but  became  di scour- 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


2.39 


aged  on  account  of  losses  by  fire,  and  decided  to  seek  a  change 
of  fortune  in  Iowa.  The  trip  was  made  overland  by  wagon  in 
1857,  our  subject  being  then  about  one  year  old.  The  settlers 
located  on  the  homestead  now  occupied  by  our  subject  and 
lived  and  died  there.  Of  the  children  born  to  them  five  are 
living,  as  follows:  Frank,  living  in  South  Dakota;  our  sub- 
ject; George,  living  in  Lone  Tree;  Jacob,  liviug  in  South  Da- 
kota; Sarah,  now  Mrs.  E.  C.  Lee,  living  at  Grinnell,  Iowa. 

Our  subject  was  twenty  years  of  age  when  he  began  farming 
on  his  own  account  on  the  old  homestead  of  his  parents.    He 


RESroENCE  OF  A.  J  .  STONEBARGEK 


has  established  a  record  for  continuitv  bv  remaining  on  the 
same  place  to  date.  In  1886  he  took  as  his  life's  companion 
Miss  Mary  Hill,  a  native  of  Ohio.  Four  children  have  been 
born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stonebarger:  Vara,  Ethel,  Harry,  and 
Wayne,  all  living  at  home. 

Mr.  Stonebarger  is  a  republican  and  a  member  of  the  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  He  stands  high  in  the  esti- 
mation of  his  neighbors,  and  being  just  past  fifty-five  years 
of  age,  is  in  the  prime  of  life,  with  many  years  of  usefulness 
before  him. 


240         HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

JOSEPH  R.  CORBETT 

Old  Ireland  has  laid  Iowa  under  indebtedness  in  her  contri- 
bution of  the  Corbett  family  to  Johnson  county.  Both  parents 
of  Joseph  R.  were  natives  of  the  Emerald  Isle.  Reference  is 
made  to  Alexander  Corbett  and  Henrietta  Ilanley,  who  were 
married  in  their  native  land  and  came  to  Johnson  countv, 
Iowa,  in  1862,  with  their  growing  family.  Nine  children  were 
born  to  this  estimable  couple,  now  deceased,  of  whom  seven 
are  living.  Joseph  was  the  sixth  child,  being  born  in  Johnson 
county  August  21,  1865.  The  other  children,  in  the  order  of 
their  birth,  are  as  follows:  Elizabeth,  now  Mrs.  Fred  Palmer, 


REsmENCE    OF   JOSEPH    R.    CORBETT 


residing  at  Lyons,  Iowa;  Edith,  now  Airs.  Alinor  Swink,  living 
in  Calhoun  county,  Iowa;  John  A.,  married  to  Miss  Anna  Mc- 
Kain,  died  in  September,  1896,  being  the  father  of  two  chil- 
dren, Guy  and  Grace;  Anna,  now  Mrs.  Jake  Ilildebrand,  liv- 
ing at  Manhattan,  Kansas;  Belle,  who  died  at  the  age  of  ten 
years;  Margaret,  now  Mrs.  William  Wolford,  living  in  Louisa 
county,  Iowa;  Mary,  now  Mrs.  J.  M.  McC-lennan,  living  in 
Oskaloosa,  Iowa,  Mr.  McClennan  l)eing  a  Methodist  minister; 
Sarah,  now  Mrs.  Clarence  Forbes,  residing  in  Louisa  county, 
Iowa. 

Alexander  Corliett  was  a  farmer.    He  lived  until  his  death, 


BIOGEAPHICAL  241 

October  4,  1908,  on  the  farm  which  he  purchased  in  Fremont 
township.    His  wife's  death  took  place  June  21,  1898. 

Joseph  R.  Corbett  lived  upon  a  farm  until  he  was  twenty- 
seven  years  of  age.  Having  been  well  educated,  he  took  up  the 
profession  of  a  schoolmaster,  and  in  this  work,  coupled  with 
the  business  of  carpentering  and  contracting,  he  engaged  from 
1892  to  1902,  when  he  entered  the  lumber  business  and  estab- 
lished the  enterprise  in  which  he  is  engaged  at  present,  at 
Lone  Tree,  Iowa.  He  has  demonstrated  his  ability  as  a  busi- 
ness man,  and  is  accounted  one  of  the  wealthiest  men  of  Fre- 
mont township. 

Miss  Dora  Wolford,  a  native  of  Louisa  county,  Iowa,  cap- 
tured the  heart  of  this  mature  Irish- American,  and  the  couple 
were  married  January  1,  1901,  Mr.  Corbett  being  at  tliat  time 
thirty-six  years  of  age.  A  girl  and  a  boy  have  been  born  into 
the  home  :  Irene,  aged  nine,  and  Bernard,  aged  five  years.  No 
couple  could  be  more  happily  mated.  Their  home,  one  of  the 
most  modern  and  attractive  in  Lone  Tree,  is  made  wholesome 
by  the  presence  and  ministrations  of  a  queenly  wife  and  the 
strong,  inspiring  companionship  of  a  manly,  successful  hus- 
band. 

Mr.  Corbett  is  a  rei^ublican.  He  is  a  member  of  the  local 
lodge  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  of  Lone  Tree,  of  the  T.  0.  0.  F.,  M.  W.  A., 
and  the  K.  of  P.  of  the  same  place.  He  and  his  wife  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  of  Lone  Tree. 


JESSE  HOLDEMAN 

It  would  be  hard  to  imagine  a  more  interesting  occupation 
than  that  of  the  construction  of  the  various  edifices  which  com- 
pose one  of  the  picturesque  villages  of  eastern  Iowa.  Aside 
from  the  mere  fascination  of  seeing  the  structures  one  after 
another  take  form,  there  is  the  relationship  of  buildings  af- 
fecting the  general  scheme  and  grouping  of  the  town,  which 
invariably  appeals  to  the  artistic  workman.  It  is  said  that 
''a  man  is  made  by  his  tailor,"  and  if  this  is  true  of  men,  may 
it  not  be  said  with  equal  force  that  a  town  is  made  by  its  archi- 
tect and  builder?  Necessarily  every  workman  leaves  the  im- 
press of  his  personality  upon  the  products  of  his  hands  and 
brain.    "The  thumb-marks  of  the  potter  are  on  every  vessel 


242         HISTORY  OF  J0HN80X  COUNTY,  lOAVA 

of  his  craftsliip."  Logically,  thorefore,  the  charaotor  of  tho 
builder  of  a  city  is  written  upon  its  edifices  and  carved  upon 
its  doorposts.  Following  tliis  reasoning,  it  may  be  said  with 
exactness  that  the  town  of  Lone  Tree,  Iowa,  bears  tlie  impress 
of  the  intelligence  of  Jesse  Holdeman,  for  he  has  l^een  its  lead- 
ing constrnctive  genius.  A  list  of  his  work  would  embrace  the 
High  School  building,  the  Kirkpatrick  Opera  House  block,  the 
Fisher  Opera  House  block  and  adjoining  buildings,  the  City 
Hall,  together  with  numerous  other  public  Iniildings  and  many 
dwellings.  Lone  Tree  is  pronounced  "an  attractive  little  city'.' 
by  strangers  who  enter  its  gates.  A  generous  share  of  this 
compliment  must  fall  ujjon  the  work-table  of  Jesse  Holdeman. 

Jesse  Holdeman,  by  birth,  is  a  son  of  old  Michigan,  but  by 
residence,  education,  and  experience  he  is  a  son  of  Iowa.  Born 
in  Berrien  county,  Michigan,  ]\[arch  II,  18G2,  he  removed  at 
the  age  of  four  years  with  his  ])arents  to  Iowa  and  settled 
with  them  near  Independence  in  1866.  His  father  was  Lewis 
Z.,  a  native  of  Ohio,  and  his  mother  Sarah  Mangus,  a  native  of 
Michigan.  The  family  went  to  Iowa  City  in  1SS4,  where  the 
father  died  in  the  fall  of  the  same  year.  The  motlier  remained 
at  Iowa  City  for  sevei'al  years,  when  she  removed  with  her 
family  to  Peoria,  Illinois,  there  residing  for  (juite  a  lengthy 
period.  At  present  she  resides  with  a  daughtei-  at  Hanunond, 
Louisiana. 

Eleven  children  were  boi-n  to  Lewis  Z.  Holdeman  and 
Sarah  Mangus,  seven  of  whom  reached  maturity,  four  dying 
in  infancy.  The  names  of  the  seven,  in  the  order  born,  are  as 
follows : 

Mary  E..  living  in  Canton,  Illinois  ;  Jesse,  Lone  Tree,  Iowa  ; 
Frank  A.,  who  died  at  Cedar  Rapids,  Iowa,  ^May,  11)00;  Fred, 
whose  home  is  at  Peoria,  Illinois;  Florence,  now  ]\Irs.  George 
Piper,  residing  at  Canton,  Illinois:  Fannie,  now  Mrs.  T.  Les- 
ter Smythe.  living  at  Hammond,  Louisiana  ;  Lewis  ]\1.,  residing 
at  or  near  Elkhart,  Indiana. 

Jesse  Holdeman  has  followed  faithfully  the  conjugal  ex- 
ample of  his  father.  He  is  the  father  of  twelve  children,  eleven 
of  whom  are  living.  ^liss  Julia  Z.  Hinkley,  daughter  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Samuel  Hinkley,  whom  he  married  in  Octol)er,  1885, 
is  the  mother  of  this  interesting  group.  AVe  use  the  term  "in- 
teresting" advisedly,  for  among  the  neighl)ors  at  Lone  Tree 


BIOGRAPHICAL  243 

it  is  coiniiioii  talk  that  tliere  are  no  more  attractive  young- 
people  in  tlie  commnnity  tlian  the  boys  and  girls  of  the  Holde- 
nian  household,  in  the  older  of  whom  splendid  character  and 
wliolesome  accomplishments  are  delightfully  intermingled. 

The  following  is  the  roster  of  the  cliihlren  of  Jesse  and 
Julia  Holdeman : 

Glen,  now  Mrs.  Roy  Huffman,  residing  at  Lone  Tree: 
Berna,  a  graduate  of  Wesleyan  College,  Mt.  Pleasant,  Iowa, 
assistant  principal-elect  of  Lone  Tree  public  school,  residing 
at  home;  Lillian,  now  Mrs.  Glen  Burr,  living  on  a  farm  in 
Johnson  county;  Harley  Z.,  employed  at  the  T^one  Tree  Be- 
porter  office  (the  four  just  named  are  graduates  of  the  Lone 
Tree  high  school) ;  Bessie,  graduate  of  class  of  1911  of  the 
Lone  Tree  high  school;  Elsie,  in  class  of  1912;  Lucy;  Perry; 
Vernon;  Leslie;  Kenneth  (the  last  seven  residing  at  home). 

Julia  Z.  Hinkley,  wife  of  Jesse  Holdeman,  is  the  daughter 
of  Samuel  Hinkley  and  Adelaide  Perkins.  Her  father  was  a 
son  of  Luther  Hinkley  and  Eunice  Burdick,  and  was  born  in 
Brookfield,  New  York.  His  grandfather,  Wiot  Hinkley,  emi- 
grated from  Connecticut  to  lii-ookfield.  New  York,  by  ox-team 
in  1796,  cutting  his  way  through  the  heavy  timbci-  to  locate  his 
farm.  He  died  on  his  farm  there  September  'I'l,  1815,  aged 
seventy-six  years.  Luther,  his  son,  succeeded  him  07i  the  same 
farm  and  there  died  September  26,  1859.  Samuel  Hinkley  and 
his  brother  Henry  L.  came  together  to  Johnson  county,  Iowa, 
in  1855.  The  former  died  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety  years  ; 
the  latter  resides  at  Lone  Tree.  Another  brother,  Alva,  who 
spent  the  greater  ])art  of  his  life  in  the  east,  cnme  to  Johnson 
county  in  18(i(),  acquired  jn-opert}'  in  the  county  and  died  there. 
Two  childi-en  were  born  to  Samuel  Hinkley  and  Adelaide 
Perkins,  viz:  Julia  Z.  and  AViot  R.,  the  lattei-  now  living  on  the 
old  Alva  Hinkley  farm.  A  more  extended  history  of  the 
Hinkley  family  will  lie  found  elsewhere  in  this  volume. 

Jesse  Holdeman  is  now  sei'ving  his  third  term  as  mayor  of 
Lone  Tree.  His  familiarity  with  the  affairs  of  the  city,  ac- 
quired during  two  terms'  service  as  city  clerk,  stands  him  well 
in  hand  as  chief  executive.  In  politics  he  is  a  republican.  He 
is  a  member  of  Omega  lodge  No.  728,  I.  0.  0.  F..  of  Lone  Tree. 


244         HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 
ANDEEW  McCONCHIE  CRAWFOED 

Andrew  McConcliie  Crawford  was  born  in  Creetown,  Scot- 
land, May  11,  1838.  He  was  the  hahy  of  the  family  when  Ids 
parents,  Hugh  and  Jeanette  (McConehie)  Crawford,  left  bon- 
ny Scotland  for  America.  Fifteen  years  after  their  arrival 
the  family  decided  to  locate  in  Iowa,  so  in  1854  they  landed  in 
Johnson  county.  The  father  settled  upon  a  farm  in  the  bounds 
of  what  is  now  Lincoln  township,  and  carried  on  agriculture 
until  18(37,  when  he  moved  to  Iowa  City,  spending-  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life  there.  Andrew,  in  1862,  when  twenty-four 
years  of  age,  settled  on  a  farm  in  Fremont  township.     In 


RESIDENCE    OF    ANDREW    m'CONCHIE    CRAWFORD 

1866  he  removed  to  the  farm,  which  has  been  his  home  ever 
since. 

Six  children  were  born  to  Hugh  Crawford  and  Jeanette 
McConehie :  Hugh,  married,  raised  a  family  and  lived  until  his 
death  in  1907  on  a  farm  in  Johnson  county ;  William,  came  to 
Johnson  county  with  the  family,  was  married  here,  moved  to 
Cedar  county  in  1877,  was  a  soldier  of  the  Civil  War  in  the 
Twenty-second  Iowa  from  1862  to  1865,  died  about  1900,  and 
is  buried  at  Lisbon,  Iowa ;  our  subject ;  Robert,  died  in  1856, 
aged  fourteen ;  Margaret,  married  J.  K.  Corlett,  of  Iowa  City, 
died  in  June,  1911 ;  Jessie,  who  died  in  the  spring  of  1864,  aged 
twelve  years.  Both  Father  and  Mother  Crawford  are  buried 
at  Iowa  City. 


ASTOR.  LENOX 
TILDtN   FOUNDATIONS 


BIOGRAPHICAL  245 

Andrew  McConchie  Crawford  was  married  January  8, 1867, 
to  Miss  Jeanette  Allison,  a  native  of  Ontario,  Canada,  in 
which  province  the  marriage  took  place.  They  have  four  living- 
children  :  William,  married,  residing  in  Lone  Tree ;  Jessie,  now 
Mrs.  Horace  Klotz,  of  Muscatine  county;  Thomas,  married 
and  living  on  a  farm  in  Muscatine  county ;  Walter,  a  retired 
farmer,  married  and  living  in  Lone  Tree.  Mrs.  Crawford 
died  in  May,  1909. 

Mr.  Crawford  took  for  his  second  wife  Mary  Steel  Russell, 
a  native  of  Scotland,  to  whom  he  was  married  in  March,  191L 
Mr.  Crawford  has  been  a  lifelong  republican,  and,  as  may 
be  inferred,  was  born  and  raised  a  Presbyterian.  He  has  al- 
ways been  identified  with  farm  life.  His  home  farm,  which  is 
one  of  the  most  beautiful  in  the  county,  he  developed  from 
raw,  wild  prairie.  For  years  he  has  been  an  extensive  im- 
porter of  Clydesdale  horses,  and  has  all  his  life  taken  a  great 
interest  in  the  development  of  good  stock,  both  cattle  and 
horses.  His  latest  importation  of  Clydesdales  was  in  May, 
1911.  The  public  spirit  of  Mr.  Crawford  has  led  him  to  active- 
ly cooperate  with  every  movement  tending  towards  the  public 
good. 


DAVID  JAYNE 


David  Jayne,  from  both  the  main  branches  of  his  family, 
came  from  fighting  stock.  His  mother  was  Katherine  Gar- 
dener, great-granddaughter  of  Captain  Gardener,  of  Revohi- 
tionary  fame ;  her  grandfather  fought  also  in  the  Revolution 
in  the  company  of  his  father.  John  W.  Jayne,  his  father,  en- 
listed in  the  fall  of  1861  in  Company  B,  8th  Iowa  Infantry,  and 
served  in  the  Civil  War  until  the  battle  of  Shiloh,  when  he  and 
his  entire  regiment  were  capturecf  and  imprisoned;  when  re- 
leased, in  1862,  he  was  unfit  for  service  and  was  honorably 
discharged.  His  father  (our  subject's  grandfather)  was  a 
soldier  in  the  War  of  1812,  and  his  grandfather  a  soldier  of  the 
Revolution. 

David  Jayne  was  born  in  Wayne  county,  Pennsylvania, 
April  24,  1845,  near  the  Delaware  river,  just  across  the  line 
from  where  his  father  was  born  in  Broome  county,  New  York, 


246         HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  lOAVA 

January  28,  1820.     His  mother  was  horn  in  Cooperstown,  in 
the  Mohawk  valley,  New  Y'ork,  November  29,  1813. 

In  1854  the  family  removed  to  Scott  conntv,  Iowa,  where 
they  resided  for  two  years,  after  which  they  estal)lished  a  home 
on  a  farm  in  Afnscatine  connt}^  The  father  devoted  his  sum- 
mers to  agriculture  and  his  winters  to  teaching  school  until 
the  beginning  of  the  Civil  War.  On  his  returii  from  service 
he  was  elected  clerk  of  the  courts  of  Muscatine  county  and 
served  in  that  capacity  for  six  years.  In  the  si:)ring  of  1870  he 
settled  in  Johnson  county  on  a  large  farm,  upon  a  part  of 
which,  in  1872,  he  laid  out  a  portion  of  the  town  of  Lone  Tree. 
He  continued  the  ])usiness  of  farming  until  1889,  when  he  re- 


KESIDENCE  OF    DAVID  .lAVNE 


tired.  At  that  time  he  was  appointed  postmaster  of  Lone 
Tree,  imder  President  Harrison,  and  served  four  years.  Fol- 
lowing his  term  as  postmaster  he  took  up  the  business  of  fire 
insurance,  which  he  followed  successfully  until  July  23,  1908, 
when  he  was  injured  bv  a  runaway  team,  dying  from  his  in- 
juries  on  the  26tli  of  the  same  month.  Mother  Javne  died 
March  29,  1898. 

Our  subject  first  engaged  in  farming  in  Muscatine  county, 
and  thereafter  in  Johnson  county  on  the  old  homestead  of  his 
father.  He  now  resides  in  the  house  which  was  the  old  farm- 
house. Ptetiring  from  farming  in  1892,  he  served  as  assistant 
postmaster  of  Lone  Tree  during  1892-3;  thereafter  he  wrote 
bre  insurance  with  his  father  until  the  bitter's  death,  since 


DAVID   JAYNE 


BIOGRAPHICAL  247 

which  time  he  has  continued  the  business.  His  adaptabilitx  to 
his  particular  work  is  sliown  liy  tlie  fact  that  he  wrote  during 
the  month  of  April,  1911  (figures  taken  by  ourselves),  over 
$80,000  in  fire  insurance. 

David  Jayne  was  married  June  2,  1897,  to  Hebecca  Satter- 
thwaite,  a  native  of  Ohio,  who  came  to  iMuscatine  county  with 
her  parents  when  about  fifteen  montlis  of  age.  The  couple 
were  classmates  thirty  years  before  tlieir  marriage,  and,  as 
may  be  inferred,  tlieir  domestic  relations  have  been  most 
pleasant. 

Although  a  repul)lican  in  national  ])olitics,  Mr.  Jayne  has 
pursued  a  liberal  policy  with  respect  to  local  government.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  order  aud  the  Knights  of  Pythias. 


HENKY  LUTHER  HIXKLEY 

About  thirty  miles  due  south  of  Utica,  New  York,  is  the 
village  of  Brookfield,  Madison  countv.  There,  in  the  vear 
]  79(5,  Wiot  Hinkley  emigrated  from  Connecticut  with  his  fam- 
ily. The  journey  was  an  arduous  one  and  fraught  with  some 
danger.  An  ox  team  was  the  means  of  locomotion,  and  the 
travelers  frequently  had  recourse  to  tlieir  sturdy  axes  to  cut 
a  pathway  through  the  ])rimeval  forest.  But  the  anticipation 
of  a  home  of  their  own,  with  the  blessings  of  lil)erty,  coupled 
with  the  irresistible  urge  of  the  frontier  and  the  American  am- 
bition for  action,  spurred  them  on  in  spite  of  obstacles  to 
their  destination.  Near  Brookfield,  \Vot  Hinkley,  then  a 
man  of  (i7,  selected  his  homestead  and  liegan  operations  as  a 
farmer.  There  he  lived,  loved,  and  labored  for  nine  years, 
when  he  died.  His  son  Luther  succeeded  him  on  the  farm, 
and,  following  in  the  footstei)s  of  his  father,  lived  on  the  old 
homestead  for  forty-four  vears,  .dving  tliere  September  2(i, 
1859. 

Luther  Hinkley  and  his  wife,  Eunice  Burdick,  were  natives 
of  Connecticut,  and  never  knew  any  life  Init  that  of  the  farm. 
Little  wonder  it  is  that  their  youngest  son,  looking  back  o^  (m- 
his  life's  occupation  at  the  age  of  eighty-nine  years,  says  of 
himself  that  he  has  "been  a  steady  farmer."  And  there  is 
no  more  honorable  occupation,  and  the  Hinkley  family  of 
Johnson  county,  direct  descendants  of  the  intrepid  AYiot,  ac- 


248         HISTOBY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

cording  to  the  judgment  of  their  neighbors  of  half  a  century, 
are  a  credit  to  the  profession. 

Five  children  were  born  to  Luther  Hinkley  and  Eunice  Bur- 
dick:  Amila,  born  in  1S05,  married  a  Mr.  Clark  and  raised  a 
family  in  New  York,  but  died  in  Kansas,  where  she  had  gone  to 
visit  relatives ;  Alva,  lived  in  the  east  until  1860,  when  he  came 
to  Johnson  county,  Iowa,  acquired  property  and  finally  died ; 
Lucy,  who  lived  and  died  in  New  York;  Samuel,  who  came  to 
Johnson  county,  Iowa,  with  his  brother  Henry  L.,  married, 
raised  a  family,  and  died  at  the  ripe  old  age  of  ninety,  being  at 
that  time  the  oldest  person  in  Fremont  township;  Henry 
Luther,  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 


RESIDENCE  OF  HENRY  LUTHER  HINKLEY 

It  was  near  the  Christmas  season  in  1855  that  Henry  L. 
Hinkley  and  his  brother  Samuel  arrived  in  Johnson  county 
from  their  old  boj^hood  home  in  Madison  county,  New  York. 
Henry  was  also  accompanied  by  his  newh^-wedded  wife.  Miss 
Hannah  Collins,  a  native  of  New  York.  As  soon  after  arriving 
as  practicable,  he  settled  on  a  farm  in  Fremont  township,  and 
there  the  couple  resided  continuously  until  about  three  years 
ago,  when  they  retired  and  removed  to  Lone  Tree,  their  pres- 
ent place  of  residence. 

Mr.  Hinkley  states  that  he  paid  $880.00  for  160  acres  of 
land,  and  in  the  spring  of  1856,  when  he  began  farming,  not  a 


MR.  AND  MRS.  SAMUEL  HINKLEY 


BIOGRAPHICAL  249 

bush  or  tree  of  any  kind  as  high  as  his  head  could  be  seen  on 
the  place;  now  there  are  willow  trees  fifteen  feet  in  circum- 
ference, and  Cottonwood,  elm,  and  maple  trees  four  feet  in 
diameter.  His  training  as  a  practical  farmer  in  New  York  en- 
abled him  to  take  hold  on  his  new  place  with  intelligence,  and 
this  fact,  coupled  with  great  energy,  persistence,  and  economy, 
gave  him  the  right  start  in  his  new  home.  He  states  that  he 
began  by  ''raising  a  few  horses,  cattle,  sheep,  swine,  and  chick- 
ens, getting  a  little  ahead  by  economy  and  laying  it  out  in 
improvements."  Today  the  farm  is  fully  equipped  with  every 
necessary  building  and  has  "three  miles  of  woven-wire,  hog- 
tight  fence  in  the  best  of  condition."  The  first  activities  on 
the  new  place  were  of  pioneer  character.  There  being  no  trees 
on  the  farm,  Mr.  Hinkley  bought  eight  and  one-half  acres  of 
timber  land,  from  which  he  hewed  logs  for  a  house  15x24;  the 
rafters,  sheeting,  and  flooring  being  sawed  from  logs  cut  on 
his  timber  tract.  A  iournev  of  twentv  miles  to  Muscatine  was 
necessary  to  obtain  the  shingles  and  flooring.  The  young 
couple  moved  into  their  new  house,  all  completed,  on  April  2, 
1856.  The  building  has  been  in  daily  use  ever  since  and  today 
seems  to  be  in  as  good  condition  as  ever.  In  1875  a  new  resi- 
dence 26x30,  two-story,  with  a  kitchen  annex  16x16,  was  built. 
As  land  is  now  selling  in  the  vicinity,  Mr.  Hinkley  estimates 
the  value  of  his  farm  at  $200.00  per  acre. 

Hannah  C.  Collins,  wife  of  Henry  L.  Hinkley,  is  the  daugh- 
ter of  Hoxie  and  Deborah  Collins,  and  was  born  at  Brookfield, 
New  York,  June  1,  1829,  being  married  at  Waterville,  same 
state,  on  September  27,  1855.  Hoxie  Collins  was  born  Novem- 
ber 7,  1796,  and  his  wife  Deborah  May  9,  1800.  Both  were 
Americans,  and  were  farmers  by  occupation,  making  a  special- 
ty of  dairying.  Father  Collins  died  at  Brookfield,  New  York, 
July  14,  1873,  and  his  wife  at  the  same  place  March  29,  1860. 
Father  Collins 's  grandfather,  Stephen  Hoxie,  was  one  of  the 
first  settlers  and  the  first  justice  of  the  peace  in  the  Unnidilla 
valley,  New  York.  He  died  at  the  remarkable  age  of  101. 
Father  Collins'  family  of  eleven  have  all  passed  to  the  be- 
yond with  the  exception  of  Mrs.  Hinkley  and  her  youngest 
brother,  who  lives  at  Poolville,  Madison  county.  New  York. 
On  September  27,  1905,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hinkley  celebrated  their 


250         HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

golden  wedding-  anniversary,  with  all  their  living  children  and 
many  friends  present, 

Tlie  children  of  Henry  L.  and  Hannah  C.  Hinkley  are  eight 
in  nnmber,  and  all  were  horn  on  the  home  farm,  near  Lone 
Tree,  Iowa.    Their  names  are  as  follows: 

Henry  Hnane  and  Hoxie  Engene,  twins,  the  former  horn 
May  l-l:  and  the  latter  May  15,  1858.  Hoxie  Engene  died  An- 
gust  2,  1878,  Henry  Dnane  was  educated  at  the  State  Uni- 
versity of  Iowa,  graduating  from  the  School  of  Law  in  1888, 
and  is  a  prosperous  lawyer  at  Sterling,  Colorado.  He  lias 
held  the  offices  of  deputy  district  attorney,  city  attorney, 
county  judge,  and  county  attorney,  and  is  now  Grand  Master 
of  the  Odd  Fellows  of  his  state.  He  was  married  to  Georgia 
A.  Olds  January  1,  1891,  at  Moorhead,  Minnesota.  They  have 
three  children,  Lelia  May,  Tracy,  and  Henry  Lawrence. 

Iloliart  DeLoss,  born  March  2(5,  1860,  attended  the  commer- 
cial college  at  Iowa  City  and  graduated ;  then  entered  the 
State  University  and  took  a  dental  course;  is  now  practicing 
at  Williamsburg,  Iowa.  He  married  Carolyne  L.  Thompson 
October  17,  1893. 

Ellen  Henrietta,  born  December  8,  1862,  w^as  educated  at 
Iowa  City  and  taught  school  several  years.  AYas  married  to 
Dr.  L.  B.  Oliver  June  27,  1888,  and'  died  Alay  10,  1895,  at 
Sigourney,  Iowa.  Three  children  were  born  to  them,  Ervin, 
Earl  and  Pearl  (twins).  Ervin  is  attending  the  S.  U.  1., 
studying  for  a  physician. 

Hannah  Jane,  born  November  15,  1864;  died  Novemlx'r  11, 
1891,  at  Sigourney,  Iowa. 

Luther  Harley,  born  July  28,  1866,  attended  the  S.  V.  I., 
taking  a  dental  course ;  he  located  at  Sigourney,  Iowa,  where 
he  practiced  until  June,  1911,  when  he  was  appointed  post- 
master at  Sigourney.  He  was  married  to  Bertha  O.  Stuck 
.Tune  16,  1897.    She  died  December  6,  1911. 

Harminia  Deborah,  born  July  8,  1868,  was  married  to 
Charles  E.  Cipperly  March  25,  1896.  They  resided  on  a  farm 
for  several  years,  and  he  is  now  a  hardware  merchant  at  Lone 
Tree. 

Howard  Collins,  born  August  15,  1870,  was  married  to  Effie 
Patten  October  30,  1901.  They  live  on  the  home  farm.  Four 
children  were  born  to  them,  all  dvinu-  in  infancv. 


H.  L,  HINKLEY 


MR^.    H.   L.    HTXKLFA' 


BIOGRAPHICAL  251 

]\[rs.  Pliiikley  lias  been  a  member  of  tbe  Keformed  chinch  of 
the  United  States  for  a  nnmber  of  years,  holding-  affiliation  at 
Lone  Tree.  Several  of  the  children  are  members  of  the  same 
clmrch,  and  Mr.  Hinkley  attends  there. 

In  the  twilig-ht  of  life  this  beloved  couple,  conscious  of  duty 
well  done,  await  the  sunmions  of  the  Pilot  Eternal.  The  dear 
ones  gone  over  the  tideless  sea  beckon  with  love's  gleaming 
hands,  while  the  cherished  children  of  earth  cling  with  fond 
affection  to  the  garments  of  their  sires. 

''In  the  Silent  Sea  of  the  Silent  West 

We  will  all  sail  out  some  day; 
We  will  cruise  'mid  the  Isles  of  Eternal  Pest 

In  the  Sunset  Sea  for  aye ; — 
In  the  Sunset  Sea  —  Time's  evening  time. 

But  Eternity's  morning  sky; — 
We  shall  hear  forever  Love's  golden  chime 

And  the  answer  to  our  cry." 


FREDERICK  T.  CARL 

In  one  grave  in  l^one  Tree  cemetery,  Fremont  township, 
lie  the  remains  of  (leorge  Carl  and  Cordelia  Wright,  his  wife. 
They  are  the  mortal  renniants  of  the  father  and  mother  of 
Frederick  T.  Carl.  Five  children  remain  to  honor  the  memory 
of  the  deceased ;  five  others  have  accompanied  their  yjarents  to 
the  great  beyond.  The  silent  occupants  of  this  twin  toml) 
were  a  part  of  the  great  tide  of  iuunigration  which  settled 
Iowa  in  the  '30s  and  '40s  of  the  nineteenth  century.  Boni  in 
New  York  state,  George  Carl  went  with  his  parents  to  ()lii() 
when  five  years  of  age.  There  he  met  and  married  Cordelia 
Wright,  a  native  of  the  Buckeye  state.  When  about  twenty- 
three  years  of  age,  Afr.  Carl  aijd  his  young  wife  went  to 
Indiana,  where  Frederick  T.  was  boi-n  in  Le  Grange  county 
April  18,  1837.  Three  years  later,  hearing  the  ca'l  of  the 
west,  he  joined  the  caravans  bound  for  the  l)road  prairies  of 
Iowa.  The  family  settled  in  Cedar  county,  near  Tipton,  wliere 
thev  lived  until  1867,  when  thev  sold  out  and  went  to  Kansas. 
They  only  resided  one  year  there,  when  they  came  back  to  Iowa 
and  settled  in  Lone  Tree,  where  they  lived  one  and  one-half 
vears. 


252 


HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 


The  names  of  the  ten  children  of  George  Carl  and  Cordelia 
Wright  are  as  follows : 

Elizabeth,  born  in  April,  1831,  married  Andrew  J.  Craw- 
ford, of  Cedar  county;  both  are  now  dead. 

E.  Y.,  born  in  1833,  was  a  Methodist  minister;  he  died  in 
Appanoose  connty  and  was  buried  at  Centerville,  Iowa. 

J.  W.,  born  1835,  was  a  farmer ;  died  February  4,  1876. 

Frederick  T.,  residing  at  Lone  Tree,  Iowa. 

Mary  Ann,  married  to  James  Nelson;  living  in  California. 

George  W.,  born  1843 ;  died  in  state  of  Washington  Novem- 
ber 10,  1910. 


RESIDENCE  OF  FREDERICK  T.   CARL 

Henry  L.,  born  in  1846 ;  living  at  Portland,  Oregon. 

Amanda,  born  in  1847,  now  Mrs.  A.  M.  Leonard;  resides  at 
Lone  Tree,  Iowa.    Mr.  Leonard  died  in  1896. 

Sophia,  born  in  1855,  now  Mrs.  Nute  Eoberts;  lives  in 
North  Dakota. 

Joseph,  born  in  Cedar  county,  Iowa,  in  1857 ;  died  in  1897 
and  is  buried  at  Iowa  City. 

Frederick  T.  Carl  commenced  farming  for  himself  in  Cedar 
county  when  eighteen  years  of  age  and  continued  to  farm  there 
for  twenty  years,  when  he  removed  to  Johnson  county  and 
settled  on  a  farm  one  and  one-half  miles  north  of  Lone' Tree. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  253 

There  lie  made  another  record  of  twenty  years  farming,  when 
he  retired  and  entered  the  clothing  business  at  I.one  Tree. 
This  occupation  he  followed  for  thirteen  years,  when  he  per- 
manently withdrew  from  active  business,  the  date  of  his  re- 
tirement being  January  5,  1909. 

In  1855  Mr.  Carl  was  married  to  Miss  Emiline  Soper,  a 
native  of  New  York,  who  came  to  Iowa  when  she  was  twelve 
years  of  age.  She  died  in  October,  1880.  Eight  children  were 
born  of  this  union,  as  follows  : 

Minerva,  now  Mrs.  William  Dunham;  living  in  Muscatine 
county,  Iowa. 

James  R.,  living  in  Fremont  county,  Iowa. 

Dr.  F.  F.  Carl,  a  physician,  practicing  at  Nichols,  Iowa. 

Lucina,  now  Mrs.  Henry  Colbert;  living  in  Fremont  town- 
ship. 

Addie,  now  Mrs.  G.  W.  Baker;  living  in  Fremont  township. 

Elard,  living  in  Elk  county,  Kansas. 

E.  D.,  engaged  in  clothing  business  at  Lone  Tree. 

In  1887  Mr.  Carl  was  again  married,  to  Ava  C.  Farnum, 
who  was  a  native  of  Maine.  Two  children,  both  deceased,  hal- 
lowed this  union.  The  mother  is  also  dead,  expiring  Septem- 
ber 23,  1890. 

On  May  3,  1898,  Mr.  Carl  was  married  to  Lily  A.  Brown,  a 
native  of  England,  born  September  IG,  1864.  One  daughter, 
Marian,  has  been  born  to  them. 

Mr.  Carl  has  established  a  reputation  as  a  good  business 
man,  a  kind  neighbor,  and  a  true  friend.  He  is  of  a  very 
happy  disposition,  being  always  jolly,  with  a  cheery  word  for 
everyone  —  a  trait  of  character  worthy  of  wide  emulation. 
A  democrat  in  national  politics,  he  is  liberal  in  local  govern- 
ment. 


ZEPHANIAH  STOUT  CRAY 

The  Civil  War  drew  its  heroes  from  every  rank  and  pro- 
fession. The  stock  broker  on  'change,  the  merchant  behind 
the  counter,  the  lawyer  in  the  court  room,  the  minister  in  the 
pulpit,  the  farmer  in  his  field,  all  heard  the  nation's  call  to 
arms.  What  pen  can  portray  the  emotions,  the  enthusiasm, 
the  patriotism  of  the  days  of  '61- '65?    The  issue  was  the  su- 


254         HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

preme  climax  in  tlie  nation's  life;  the  test  the  touchstone  of 
citizenship.  There  were  other  factors  than  the  mere  exercise 
of  courage  and  self-sacrifice.  There  were  the  conflicting  opin- 
ions of  the  clay,  for  the  words  of  the  great  orators  and  the 
great  editors  had  strewn  the  arena  of  discussion  with  interro- 
gation marks  as  thicklv  as  the  leaves  of  Vallambrosa.  What 
is  right,  what  is  wrong?  These  were  the  questions  with  which 
patriots  wrestled.  And  then,  the  family  question.  Must  it 
be  brother  against  brother,  father  against  son,  friend  against 
friend '!  Ah !  the  heart-tugs  had  to  be  reckoned  with  also.  It 
was   a  time  of  tremendous  wrestling,  not  witli  the  physical 


RESmENCE    OF    ZEPHAXIAH    STOUT    CKAV 

fears  of  combat,  but  with  the  moral  fears  of  mistake.  It  was 
a  time  of  hesitation,  not  through  lack  of  unflagging  love  for 
one's  country,  but  through  dread  of  entering  ui)on  a  program 
fraught  with  possibilities  of  disaster.  Surely,  we  who  are 
privileged  to  read  the  complete  history  of  that  conflict  are 
ready  to  say  that  the  men  who  grappled  with  its  perplexing 
problems,  found  the  difficult  pathway  of  duty  amid  the  laby- 
rinth of  discussion,  and,  having  decided,  mounted  with  courage 
long  held  in  leash  the  black  steeds  of  war,  were  heroes  worthy 
of  a  nation's  gratitude.     Out  of  the  roar  and  the  smoke  and 


BIOGRAPHICAL  255 

the  blood  and  the  iinprisoumeiits  of  that  conflict  thousands  re- 
turned again  to  the  exchange,  to  the  store,  to  tJie  office,  to  the 
farm  —  there  to  take  np  the  homely  duties  of  life.  Their 
names  should  be  held  in  eternal  remem])rance. 

Zephaniah  Stout  Cray  was  one  of  the  young  farmers  of 
Iowa  who  grappled  with  that  problem  and  decided  to  stand  by 
the  old  flag.  The  ])runing  hook  and  the  plowshare  had  been  his 
weapons  from  boyhood,  bnt  he  g-rasj^ed  the  grim  sword  of 
conflict  and  went  out  as  a  volunteer  in  the  famous  Second  Iowa 
Cavalry,  a  member  of  Com])any  G.  He  enlisted  in  1861,  and 
he  saw  three  years  of  the  hell  of  war,  including  exposure, 
hunger,  battle,  and  suffering.  He  was  in  his  twentieth  year 
when  he  was  mustered  in:  he  was  twenty-four  when  he  again 
took  up  the  pursuits  of  peace,  with  an  honorable  discharge  in 
his  pocket.  Since  that  time  he  has  been  an  honored  farmer  of 
Page  county,  Iowa,  until  three  years  ago,  when  lu>  returned  to 
Johnson  county. 

Mr.  Cray's  parents  were  Christoplier  Cray  and  Priscilla 
Ulich,  both  natives  of  New  Jersey,  in  which  state  our  subject 
also  was  born  October  1!),  1S41.  The  family  came  to  Johnson 
county  in  185(i,  the  father  surviving  only  about  one  year  after 
his  arrival.  The  mother  died  about  twelve  years  ago  at  the 
age  of  eighty-four.  Nine  chi'di-en  were  born  to  them:  Lydia, 
deceased  about  twenty  yeai's  ago,  was  the  wife  of  C.  Ricket; 
John,  died  about  eight  years  ago;  Ze])haniah,  our  subject: 
Elizabeth,  wife  of  J.  Brown,  residing  in  St.  Charles,  Illinois; 
Abraham,  a  farmer  in  Johnson  county,  died  in  1875;  Jerry,  a 
farmer  in  Johnson  county,  died  in  January,  1911;  Jane,  now 
Mrs.  Dexter  Fowls,  resides  at  Newton,  Iowa;  Mary,  wife  of 
John  St.  Clair,  resides  in  ^Missouri;  Hattie,  died  when  voung 
in  1875. 

Our  subject  was  married  in  187()  to  Miss  Louisa  Sweet,  a 
native  of  Iowa  (born  October  21,  1839),  whose  ])arents,  David 
and  Lydia  R.  Sweet,  were  among  the  oldest  settlers  of  Jolm- 
son  county,  having  arrived  in  1838.  The  children  of  the  Sweet 
family  were:  Caleb  Joshua,  born  February  12,  1835;  Martha 
Jane,  born  December  10,  1837;  Louisa  Ann,  born  October  21, 
1839;  Ang-eline,  born  September,  1842.  Father  Sweet  died 
September  19,  1845.    His  wife  survived  until  January  3,  1884. 

Mr.  Cvixy  is  a  man  of  ((uiet  manners,  delights  in  his  chosen 


256         HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

occupation  of  farming,  and  is  liiglily  esteemed  among  his 
neighbors  of  Fremont  township.  Escaping  the  fatalities  of 
war,  though  in  peril  often,  he  is  enjoying  the  sweets  of  a  peace- 
ful life  among  the  friends  and  neighbors  of  a  lifetime,  who  wish 
him  long  lease  of  life  and  happiness  withal. 


HONORABLE  THOMAS  HUGHES 

The  honor  of  establishing  the  second  newspaper  in  Iowa 
City,  which,  by  reason  of  the  early  death  of  its  senior  con- 
temporary, is  really  entitled  to  rank  as  the  first  newspaper, 
belongs  to  Honorable  Thomas  Hughes  and  General  Verplanck 
Van  Antwerp.  The  paper  was  known  as  the  Iowa  Capital  Re- 
porter, and  is  still  published  under  the  name  of  the  Press. 
General  Van  Antwerp  was  a  protege  of  President  Van  Buren 
(who  was  his  personal  as  well  as  political  friend),  and  had 
been  appointed  in  1838  to  the  position  of  receiver  of  public' 
moneys  in  the  United  States  Land  Office  at  Burlington,  Iowa. 
He  and  Mr.  Hughes  became  acquainted  at  Bloomington  (now 
Muscatine),  Iowa,  about  1840,  in  which  year  (October  27th) 
Mr.  Hughes,  in  connection  with  John  B.  Russell,  formerly  of 
Dubuque,  began  the  publication  of  the  Bloomington  Herald, 
the  seventh  newspaper  established  in  Iowa.  The  acquaintance 
formed  ripened  into  friendship,  and  so,  when  the  establishment 
of  the  territorial  capital  at  Iowa  City  made  that  field  an  invit- 
ing one  for  newspaper  enterprise,  Messrs.  Van  Antwerp  and 
Hughes  associated  themselves  together  as  partners,  shipped 
their  material  from  Burlington  via  Blooming-ton  (Muscatine) 
to  Iowa  City  and  began  the  i)ublication  of  the  Iowa  Capital 
Reporter  just  prior  to  the  assembling  of  the  territorial  legis- 
lature on  December  6,  1841.  A  lively  contest  was  on  between 
the  Argus,  a  contemporary  started  in  x\.ugust,  1841,  and  the 
Reporter  for  the  ''public  printing,"  the  plum  for  which  in  fact 
both  papers  had  been  started.  The  latter  was  successful  in 
this  competition,  and  the  Argus,  having  insufficient  support  to 
justify  its  publication,  was  discontinued. 

Thomas  Hughes  was  born  in  Catawissa,  Montour  county, 
Pennsylvania,  September  22,  1814.  His  parents  were  Ellis 
and  Wilhelmina  Hughes,  Quakers,  whose  ancestors  had  at  an 


€!^^^.     ^^ 


MRS.    LOUISA   HUGHES 


BIOGEAPHICAL 


257 


early  day  settled  in  the  colony  of  William  Penn,  and,  like  their 
great  leader,  were  of  English  and  Welsh  origin.  Young 
Hughes'  boyhood  was  passed  among  the  foothills  of  the  AUe- 
ghenies  on  one  of  the  picturesque  tributaries  of  the  Susque- 
hanna. Later  the  family  removed  to  Danville,  the  county  seat 
of  Montour  county,  and  there  Thomas  Hughes  attended  the 
village  school  taught  by  his  father,  acquiring  a  good  knowledge 
of  the  English  branches.  Our  subject,  however,  was  wont  to 
attribute  to  the  printing  office  the  greater  credit  for  the  practi- 
cal education  he  acquired,  and  always  looked  back  to  his  first 
day  in  the  local  newspaper  office  at  Danville  as  the  beginning 
of  his   ''higher  education."     Danville  was  near   enough   to 


LvoMwh^ 


iite^t 


EESIDENCE  OF  MISS  ANNA  HUGHES 


Harrisburg,  the  cai)ital  of  the  state,  to  receive  a  decided  liter- 
ary and  political  advantage,  and  so  the  conditions  surround- 
ing the  young  apprentice  were  such  as  to  incite  and  spur  him 
on  to  industrious  efforts.  Needless  to  say,  he  became  a  master 
in  the  art  preservative,  with  an  unusual  knowledge  of  books, 
men,  and  affairs.  With  his  increase  of  knowledge  came  an 
increase  of  ambition,  and  a  few  years  later  found  young- 
Hughes  in  Harrisburg  and  Philadelphia,  in  both  of  which 
cities  he  worked  as  a  "journeyman  printer."  In  1838  he 
caught  the  western  fever,  and,  although  Horace  Greeley  had 
not  yet  uttered  his  historic  advice  to  young  men,  Mr.  Hughes 


258         HISTORY  OF  JOHNSQN  COUNTY,  IOWA 

turned  liis  face  to  the  setting  sun  and  reached  Iowa  territory 
in  the  fall  of  the  year  last  mentioned. 

A  most  interesting  chapter  of  Iowa  newspaper  history 
opens  coincidentally  with  the  arrival  of  Mr.  Hughes.  We  be- 
lieve we  cannot  do  better  than  to  reproduce  verbatim  an  ac- 
comit  of  these  early  conditions  as  set  forth  by  Mr.  T.  S.  Parvin, 
now  deceased,  a  warm  personal  friend  of  our  subject,  and 
published  in  the  Iowa  Historical  Record  for  April,  1890.    Mr. 

Parvin  says : 

"Iowa  had  been  organized  as  a  territory  in  July  (4),  1838, 
at  which  time  there  was  published  at  Dubuque  the  News  (by 
W.  W.  Corriell),  the  successor  to  the  Dubuque  Visitor  (by 
Judge  King),  the  tirst  newspaper  published  in  Iowa,  while  it 
was  Wisconsin,  in  1836.  The  lona  Territorial  Gazette  was 
published  at  Burlington,  being  also  in  its  second  year,  by 
James  Clarke,  afterward  the  third  and  last  territorial  gover- 
nor. The  Fort  Madison  Patriot,  which  in  the  fall  of  1838  was 
removed  to  Burlington  and  became  the  Hawkeye,  was  pub- 
lished by  James  G.  Edwards,  its  founder. 

*'At  the  time  of  Mr.  Hughes'  arrival  in  Iowa,  which  was  at 
Davenport  the  27th  of  October,  1838,  there  was  published  by 
Mr,  Logan  the  loiva  Sun,  and  the  Davenport  and  Rock  Island 
Neivs.  All  these  papers  were  edited  by  the  publishers,  and  all 
except  Mr.  Edwards,  who  was  a  whig,  were  democrats  of  the 
Jacksonian  school.  The  Swn  was  founded  in  the  August  (15) 
preceding  Mr.  Hughes'  arrival  in  Davenport.  The  'Rock 
Island'  in  the  title  had  reference  to  the  island  on  which  stood 
the  ruins  of  Fort  Armstrong,  and  not  to  the  present  city  of 
that  name,  which  was  then  called  Stephenson,  and  the  paper 
purported  to  be  published  'simultaneously'  at  both  places, 
country  villages  of  that  day. 

"Mr.  Hughes  entered  the  office  of  the  Swn  as  a  journeyman, 
bringing  with  him  but  little  capital  other  than  a  strong  deter- 
mination to  succeed  in  his  business.  He  worked  in  this  office 
with  Mr.  Logan  and  his  sons  till  in  November,  when  the  con- 
vening of  the  legislature  (the  first  territorial)  promising  a 
better  prospect  in  the  printing  business,  he  went  to  Burlington, 
the  territorial  capital,  and  engaged  with  Mr.  Clarke,  also  a 
Pennsylvanian,  upon  the  Gazette.  In  that  office  Mr.  Paul  (city 
postmaster,   1890)    also  worked   that   winter,   and  like    Mr. 


BIOGEAPHICAL  259 

Hughes  later  removed  to  this  (Iowa)  City  and  engaged  in  the 
newspaper  business.  In  the  spring  of  '39,  when  the  legislature 
had  adjourned,  and  the  river  opened,  Mr.  Hughes  moved  to 
Dubuque  and  entered  the  office  of  the  Dubuque  News,  upon 
which  he  worked  until  his  removal  to  Bloomingion  (Musca- 
tine), in  October,  18-iO.  The  Express  is  still  published  at  Du- 
buque under  the  name  of  the  Herald  —  the  Gazette  and  Hawk- 
eye  at  Burlington,  under  their  old  names.  The  Sun,  previous- 
ly mentioned,  was,  in  1842,  sold,  removed  and  became  a  Mor- 
mon paper  under  the  significant  title  of  The  Bride  and  the 
Lamb's  Wife.  As  its  title  was  in  the  singular  number,  it  is 
presumed  that  polygamy  had  not  then  become  engrafted  upon 
the  Latter  Day  Saints '  church  policy.  .  .  While  at  work  in 
Dubuque,  if  not  before,  jVIr.  Hughes  became  acquainted  with 
John  B.  Russell,  also  engaged  in  the  News  office,  and  the  two 
agreed  to  go  into  business  for  themselves,  and  established  a 
paper  at  Bloomington.  Mr.  Hughes,  in  1840,  returned  to 
Pennsylvania,  purchased  the  material  and  forwarded  it  by 
boat  from  Pittslnirgh  to  Bloomington,  where,  under  the  firm 
name  of  Hughes  &  Russell,  they  published,  on  the  27th  of  Oc- 
tober, 1840,  the  Bloomington  Herald,  the  seventh  paper  pub- 
lished in  Iowa. 

''The  Herald  had  been  preceded  four  days  by  the  publica- 
tion of  the  Iowa  Standard,  at  Bloomington,  Iw  Messrs.  Crum 
and  Bailey,  from  Pennsylvania  also,  whose  first  number  had 
made  its  appearance  on  the  23rd  of  Octol)er.  The  publication 
of  the  Herald  had  been  delayed  over  a  week,  awaiting  the  com- 
pletion of  a  room  they  were  to  occupy,  but  they  had  tempo- 
rarily set  up  their  press  and  printed  the  tickets  for  the  demo- 
cratic party,  at  that  October  election.  .  .  Messrs.  Hughes 
&  Russell  were  democrats  and  published  a  democratic  paper, 
while  the  Standard  was  whig  -in  its  politics.  A  few  months 
later  the  Standard  was  removed  to  Iowa  City  and  issued  under 
the  name  of  the  Iowa  City  Standard,  and  for  a  time  it  pur- 
ported to  be  issued  'simultaneously'  at  Iowa  City  and  Bloom- 
ington, until  a  wag  of  a  devil  in  the  office  changed  it  to  'spon- 
taneously,' when  it  was  dropped.  In  the  fall  (November  20) 
of  1840,  Mr.  Hughes,  having  sold  his  interest  in  the  Herald  to 
his  partner,  Mr.  Russell,  also  removed  to  Iowa  City." 

In  October,  1842,  Colonel  Jesse  Williams,  who  had  been  a 


260         HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

clerk  in  Governor  Lucas'  office  in  1838,  and  later,  in  1846,  be- 
came the  secretary  of  the  territory,  purchased  General  Van 
Antwerp's  interest  in  the  Iowa  Capital  Reporter  and  became 
a  partner  with  Mr.  Hughes  and  joint  editor  and  publisher. 
Later,  Mr.  Hughes  retired,  having  sold  his  interest  to  Colonel 
Williams,  who  became  sole  editor  and  proprietor.  This  was 
Mr.  Hughes'  last  venture  in  the  newspaper  business  as  editor 
and  publisher.  j\Ir.  Parvin,  however,  recalls  that  ''some  years 
later  (after  the  war)  he  returned  to  the  case  and  worked  for  a 
season;"  also,  that,  "during  the  war,  while  the  Twenty- 
eighth  Kegiment,  of  which  Mr.  Hughes  was  quartermaster, 
was  stationed  at  Alexandria,  Louisiana,  Colonel  Connell,  its 
commander,  confiscated  the  rebel  press  of  that  town.  Mr. 
(now  Lieutenant)  Hughes,  being  a  practical  printer,  opened 
the  office  and  issued  for  awhile  a  'live'  daily  journal  from  the 
abandoned  office,  in  the  interest  of  the  Union  and  the  Union 
Army  of  Occupation." 

Iowa  having  in  the  winter  of  1846  (December  27th)  become 
a  state,  Mr.  Hughes  was  elected  a  senator  to  the  first  state 
legislature  from  Muscatine  and  Iowa  counties,  which  then  in- 
cluded the  present  territory  of  Johnson  county,  and  took  his 
seat  as  a  democrat,  which  party  had  a  majority  in  lioth  houses. 
Mr.  Hughes  was  honored  as  chairman  of  the  connnittee  on 
incorporations  and  the  committee  on  enrolled  bills.  He  took 
an  active  interest  in  schools  and  school  lands,  but  made  no 
pretensions  as  a  public  speaker.  An  extra  session  was  held 
January  3,  1848,  at  which  Senator  Plughes  was  elected  presi- 
dent of  the  senate.  A  singular  coincidence  was  that  his  old 
partner  at  Bloomington,  John  B.  Russell,  was  elected  secre- 
tary of  the  senate  at  both  these  sessions. 

In  1856  Mr.  Hughes,  in  company  with  Samuel  J.  Kii-kwood 
and  many  other  democrats,  swung  away  from  the  democratic 
party  on  the  slavery  question  involved  in  the  Kansas-Nebras- 
ka bill,  and  thenceforth  acted  with  the  republican  party.  From 
1869  to  1872  and  again  from  1878  to  1880  he  served  by  annual 
and  successive  elections  as  city  clerk  of  Iowa  City,  a  position 
which  he  filled  at  the  time  of  his  death  in  1 881.  For  two  terms, 
1856-60,  he  served  as  county  treasurer  of  Johnson  county,  and 
was  an  efficient  and  faithful  officer.  Senator  Hughes  was  an 
active  and  prominent  Odd  Fe'low,  having  joined  the  order  at 


BIOGRAPHICAL  261 

Miiscatiiie  al)ont  1845,  In  1846  he  became  a  charter  member 
and  was  one  of  the  leading  fonnders  of  Koscinsco  lodge  No.  6, 
at  Iowa  City,  To  his  intlnence,  personal  efforts,  and  worthy 
example  this  old  and  popnlar  lodge  owes  much  of  its  reputa- 
tion and  high  standing  in  the  order  and  in  the  Grand  Lodge  of 
the  state.  That  his  worth  and  services  were  duly  appreciated 
is  evidenced  by  the  fact  that  he  was  called  successively  to  fill 
the  position  of  Noble  Grand  at  home,  and  of  Grand  Treasurer 
and  Grand  Master  of  the  state  body  as  well  as  of  Grand  Rep- 
resentative in  the  National  or  Supreme  Grand  Lodge  of  the 
Order.  In  April,  1877,  by  election  of  the  board  of  curators,  he 
became  the  secretary  of  The  State  Historical  Society,  holding 
the  office  till  July,  1881.  In  this  position  he  rendered  valuable 
services  in  arranging  and  caring  for  the  large  collections  of 
the  society. 

August  15,  1862,  Senator  Hughes  was  commissioned  quar- 
termaster of  the  Twenty-eighth  Regiment,  Iowa  Volunteer  In- 
fantry, which  rendezvoused  at  Iowa  City.  Of  this  regiment 
William  E.  Miller,  a  fellow  townsman,  was  the  first  colonel. 
He  was  succeeded  upon  his  resignation,  March,  1863,  by  John 
Connell,  of  Toledo,  who  led  his  regiment,  as  a  y:>art  of  the  third 
division  of  the  army  under  General  Baidxs,  in  the  famous  Red 
River  expedition  in  the  spring  of  186-1,  At  the  bloody  battle 
of  Sabine  Cross-roads  General  Banks  was  defeated,  and  Colo- 
nel Connell  was  wounded  (losing  his  right  arm)  and  captured. 
Quartermaster  Hughes  was  captured  also  and  carried  by  the 
rebel  forces  under  General  Dick  Taylor  (son  of  old  Zach.)  to 
Tyler,  Texas,  where  he  languished  fourteen  months  in  the  rebel 
prison.  AVhen  released  in  July,  1865,  enfeebled  by  long  con- 
finement and  prison  hardships,  he  returned,  broken  in  health 
if  not  in  spirit,  to  his  Iowa  home.  The  result  of  exposure  on 
the  march  and  his  sufferings  in  prison  caused  him  the  partial 
loss  of  an  eye,  and  this  was  supplemented  by  two  paralytic 
strokes,  from  the  last  of  which  he  never  recovered. 

The  marriage  of  Senator  Hughes  to  Miss  I^ouisa  Catherine 
Frances  King,  born  in  Baltimore  in  182o,  took  place  at  Du- 
buque September  15,  1841.  Their  acquaintance  began  during 
Mr.  Hughes'  residence  in  Dubuque,  in  which  city  Miss  King 
^as  an  assistant  to  her  mother  in  teaching  the  first  female 
school  of  the  higher  grade  in  Iowa.    AVhen  Mr,  Hughes  had 


262         HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

become  settled  in  Blooming-ton  as  the  jjnblislier  of  the  Herald, 
he  retnrned  to  Dubuque  and  married  tlie  lady  of  his  choice, 
who  became  the  mother  of  his  children  and  proved  a  helpmeet 
indeed  in  all  the  qualities  of  a  most  estimal)le  and  devoted 
wife.  To  Senator  and  Mrs.  Hughes  were  born  four  children: 
Delia,  wife  of  Professor  James  Gow,  formerly  of  the  State 
University,  and  later  a  large  stock  raiser  and  farmer  of 
Greenfield,  Adair  county,  Iowa ;  Ellis  G.,  deceased,  a  promi- 
nent attorney  and  leading  citizen  of  Portland,  Oregon ;  Anna 
G.,  the  prop  and  stay  of  her  mother  in  her  declining  years,  re- 
siding at  the  old  home  in  Iowa  City;  Louise  E.,  long  time 
principal  of  the  Iowa  City  high  school,  later  of  the  high  school 
of  Des  Moines. 

Senator  Hughes  died  March  11,  1881.  Though  his  last 
years  were  filled  with  the  heavy  burdens  of  life,  he  bore  his 
lot  uncomplainingly  and  l)ravely  battled  to  provide  a  compe- 
tence for  those  dependent  upon  him.  His  faithful  companion 
survived  until  August  31,  1902,  when  she  followed  her  husband 
into  the  great  lieyond.  Side  by  side  this  devoted  couple  lie  in 
the  beautiful  cemetery  overlooking  the  Iowa  Eiver.  AVho  of 
their  numerous  friends  that  survive  does  not  wish  for  them 
the  joy  of  a  blessed  reunion  in  the  life  everlasting?  Both  were 
devout  members  of  the  Presl)yterian  church,  and.  while  in 
health,  served  in  religious  work  with  a  zeal  that  knew  no 
abatement. 

Miss  Annie  Hughes,  who  was  the  faithful  minister  to  lier 
father  and  mother  in  their  infirmities,  resides  at  the  old  home- 
stead, 122  North  Capitol  street,  Iowa  City.  This  historic  old 
home  dwells  in  the  memories  of  many  of  the  first  students  of 
the  State  University  of  Iowa,  who  found  under  its  roof  a  wel- 
come and  good  cheer  in  the  years  long  gone.  The  faces  of  the 
kindly  host  and  hostess  will  never  be  effaced  from  their  vision 
of  those  "days  that  are  no  more." 

Ellis  G.  Hughes  was  a  man  amongst  men  in  Portland,  Ore- 
gon, where  he  accumulated  au  independent  fortune  and  was 
foremost  in  promoting  the  material  welfare  of  the  city  of 
Portland  and  the  great  empire  of  which  it  is  the  metropolis. 
At  the  time  of  his  death  he  was  actively  a  factor  in  publicity 
work,  and  his  death,  which  was  sudden  and  unexpected,  caused 
universal  regret  among  the  influential  citizens  of  that  city,  to 


JOHN  STOCK  AND  WIFE 


BIOGRAPHICAL  263 

most  of  whom  he  occupied  the  place  of  personal  friend.  He 
was  an  able  attorney  and  enjoyed  a  very  lucrative  practice. 
He  took  delight  in  writing  pam])hlets  and  articles  upon  the 
resources  of  the  Pacific  Northwest,  and  was  one  of  the  original 
board  of  directors  of  the  Oregon  state  board  of  immigration, 
in  the  great  work  of  which  he  was  an  active  factor.  His  most 
useful  public  service  probably  was  in  connection  with  the  Port 
of  Portland  Commission,  of  which  for  many  years  he  was  the 
chairman  and  executive  head. 


JOHN  STOCK 


Among  the  retired  farmers  whose  aggregate  presence  and 
wealth  have  served  to  make  Lone  Tree,  Iowa,  one  of  the  most 
prosperous  and  progressive  of  the  villages  of  Johnson  comity, 
none  stands  higher  in  the  esteem  of  his  old  neighbors  and 
friends  than  John  Stock,  the  subject  of  this  biographical 
sketch.  His  home,  which  is  one  of  the  coziest  among  the  many 
comfortable  homes  of  Lone  Tree,  is  headquarters  for  good 
cheer  and  genuine  neigliborliness,  and  therein,  in  the  peace 
and  quietness  of  the  sunset  side  of  life,  our  subject  and  his. 
lovable  helpmate  are  enjoying  the  proper  restfulness  which 
is  the  due  of  a  couple  that  have  faithfully  l)orne  the  burdens 
and  responsibilities  of  a  busy  life. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  John  and  Sarah  (Samp- 
son) Stock,  residents  of  Bedfordshire,  England,  in  which  coun- 
ty our  subject  was  born  in  the  year  1833.  At  the  age  of  twen- 
ty-one, young  John  came  to  America,  landing  at  New  York 
City.  He  spent  one  year  in  the  Empire  state,  and  then  re- 
moved to  Ohio,  where  he  resided  two  years.  His  next  move 
was  to  Johnson  county,  Iowa,  and  his  first  residence  in  the 
Hawkeye  state  was  at  Iowa  City.  About  the  close  of  the 
Civil  War  he  bought  a  farm  of  100  acres  in  Lincoln  township, 
settling  upon  it  one  year  later.  This  farm,  which  now  con- 
tains 200  acres,  was  the  family  home  until  1907,  in  which  year 
Mr.  Stock  retired  from  active  agricultural  work  and  removed 
to  Lone  Tree.  In  addition  to  his  old  homestead  in  Lincoln 
township,  Mr.  Stock  owns  the  southeast  one-half  of  the  north- 
east one-fourth  of  section  nine,  containing  130  acres,  a  part 
of  which  is  within  the  corporate  limits  of  Lone  Tree;  also  the 


264         HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

northwest  quarter  of  section  seventeen  in  Fremont  township, 
containing  160  acres. 

Mr.  Stock's  wife  was  formerly  Miss  Emma  Reynolds,  born 
in  Nottinghamshire,  England,  April  17,  1813.  Her  parents 
came  to  America  when  she  was  a  baby  and  settled  in  Living- 
ston county,  New  York,  where  they  resided  until  1856,  when 
they  removed  to  Johnson  county,  Iowa,  where  they  remained 
until  their  death.  The  marriage  of  John  Stock  and  Emma 
Reynolds  took  place  in  Johnson  county  in  1862.  They  have 
been  blessed  with  nine  children,  six  of  whom  have  grown  to 
manhood  and  womanhood.     Their  names  in  the  order  of  birth 


RESmENCE  OF   JOHN  STOCK 

are:  Anna  Mary,  born  October  17,  18():>,  now  Mrs.  John  P. 
Burr,  residing  in  Lincoln  township;  William  Franklin,  born 
March  25,  1865,  died  January  27,  1871;  David  Henry,  born 
July  8,  1868,  died  January  15,  1871 ;  George  A.,  born  January 
7, 1871,  living  on  farm  in  Fremont  township;  William  F.,  born 
December  15,  1873,  living  near  Lone  Tree  in  Fremont  town- 
ship; John  Tilden,  born  June  23,  1876,  died  October  27,  1883; 
AValter  Howard,  born  March  26,  1879,  living  at  home;  Elmer 
Lee,  born  September  19,  1881,  living  in  Lincoln  township  on 
the  old  homestead;  Alfred,  born  March  9, 1883,  living  at  home. 
Mr.  Stock  is  a  democrat.  He  was  assessor  of  Lincoln  town- 
ship for  a  good  many  years,  and  has  held  other  important 
local  offices.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Reformed 
church  at  Lone  Tree. 


WILLIAM  SWEET 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


265 


WILLIAM  THOMAS  SWEET 

It  required  six  months  for  WiJliaiii  Thomas  Sweet  to  make 
the  joiirney  overland  from  Johnson  county  to  the  California 
gold  fields  in  1852.  He  made  the  return  trip  in  six  days  in 
1869.  The  difference  in  time  represents  the  ratio  of  the  ox  to 
the  locomotive.  Mr.  Sweet  was  a  youth  of  twenty  when  he 
started  westward.  When  he  returned  he  was  a  bronzed,  ma- 
ture man.  The  vicissitudes  of  the  miner's  life  had  whetted  his 
appetite  for  the  homely  farm  life  of  his  youth,  and  he  at  once 
took  up  agriculture,  a  ]nirsuit  he  has  continued  to  this  day. 

AVilliam  Thomas  Sweet  is  a  son  of  David  Sweet  and  Lydia 
Russell,  and  was  born  in  Champaign  county,  Ohio,  March  29, 


EESTDENCE    OF   WILLIAM    THOMAS   SWEET 


1832.  He  came  with  his  parents  to  Johnson  county  in  1838. 
(For  further  details  of  ]^avid  and  Lydia  Sweet  and  their  chil- 
dren, see  biogra})hy  of  Zephaniah  Stout  Cray,  in  this  volume. 
— Ed.)  The  family  settled  on  the  farm  in  Fremont  township, 
and  there  our  subject  worked  with  his  parents  until  1852. 

In  1875  Mr.  Sweet  was  married  to  Miss  Marv  E.  Hillhouse, 
a  native  of  Illinois,  who  came  to  Iowa  with  her  parents  in  the 
'60s.  The  couple  have  been  blessed  with  six  children:  David; 
William  C,  married  to  Miss  Floy  Parkins,  father  of  three 
children,  Genevieve,  Lucille,  and  William  Thomas;  Louisa 
Ann,  now  Mrs.  J.  II.  A\niliams,  living  in  the  state  of  Washing- 
ton; Joshua  Franklin,  living  at  home;  Florella  May,  now  Mrs. 


266         HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

W.  L.  Edwards,  residing  in  Louisa  connty,  mother  of  three 
children,  Paul,  Aleda,  and  Lyle;  Caleb  Benjamin,  living  in  the 

west. 

Mr.  Sweet  is  a  pronounced  republican,  and  takes  an  active 
interest  as  a  citizen  in  political  matters.  The  family  are 
affiliated  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 


WILLIAM  ARN 


William  Arn,  well  known  for  many  years  as  the  proprietor 
of  the  dray  line  in  Iowa  City,  succeeded  to  the  same  at  the 
death  of  his  father  in  1880.  Michael  and  Christina  Arn,  our 
subject's  parents,  were  natives  of  Germany.     They  came  to 


y^^r_ 

1       ^  till 

^■E^ 

^HHI^^^^^HBiiV'--       -^^1 

HJH^MHHJH 

RESIDENCE  OF  WILLIAM  ARN 

America  in  the  early  fifties  and  settled  in  Johnson  county. 
William  Arn  was  born  in  Iowa  City  September  9,  1854.  So 
also  was  his  brother  Charles,  who  was  tw^o  and  one-half  years 
younger.    He  is  at  present  living  at  Richmond,  California. 

When  Michael  Arn  first  started  in  the  dray  business  in  Iowa 
City  there  was  no  railroad,  and  the  greater  x)art  of  the  mer- 
chandise had  to  be  hauled  from  ]\ruscatine  by  team.  Mr.  Arn 
did  a  great  deal  of  this  kind  of  work,  and  he  was  a  familiar 
figure  in  those  pioneer  days,  well  known  to  every  old  citizen 
and  newcomer  as  well.    He  developed  a  fondness  for  the  busi- 


BIOGRAPHICAL  267 

ness  and  contiiiiieci  therein  activelj'  until  liis  death.  Mrs.  Am 
survived  her  husband  five  years,  dying  in  September,  1885. 

After  completing  his  schooling  in  the  public  schools  of  Iowa 
Citv,  William  Arn  commenced  work  for  Jiis  father  in  the  drav 
business,  succeeding,  as  stated  above,  on  the  death  of  the 
elder  Arn  in  1880.  He  continued  the  business  until  a  few  years 
ago,  when  he  retired. 

Mr.  Arn  was  married  in  j\Iay,  1877,  to  Miss  Elizal)eth 
Kroenline,  who  was  born  in  Iowa  county,  Iowa.  Her  parents 
were  natives  of  Germany.  Four  children  have  been  born  to 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Arn :  Amelia,  now  Mrs.  Jerrj^  Miller,  living  in 
Iowa  City;  William,  Jr.,  married  and  living  in  Iowa  City; 
Mary,  who  died  two  years  ago ;  John,  married  and  living  in 
Iowa  City.  Mr.  Arn  is  a  democrat  politically.  The  family 
reside  at  718  South  Dubuque  street. 


JOHN  DOERRES 


An  honored  name  in  the  annals  of  Fremont  township  is 
that  of  John  Doerres,  who  was  born  in  Edgington,  Illinois, 
January  16,  1847,  and  died  on  his  farm  in  Fremont  township 
June  2,  1905.  His  parents  were  John  K.  and  Mary  (Walkale) 
Doerres,  natives  of  Bavaria,  who  came  to  iVmerica  several 
years  prior  to  the  birth  of  our  subject.  There  were  three 
children  in  the  family :  Christina,  Henry,  and  John.  Parents 
and  children  are  now  all  deceased. 

John  Doerres  came  to  Johnson  county  from  Illinois  when 
he  was  a  small  boy,  and  as  soon  as  old  enough  began  work  on 
a  farm.  This  occupation  he  followed  all  his  life.  At  the  time 
of  his  death  he  was  the  owner  of  280  acres  of  choice,  cultivated 
land.  In  1875  he  was  married  to  Miss  Louisa  Miller,  a  native 
of  Rock  Island,  Illinois.  Miss  Miller's  parents  were  Carl 
Mueller  and  Elizabeth  Traessle.  The  names  of  their  children 
are:  Henry,  John,  Chris,  Katherine,  ]\[argaret,  Mary,  Louisa, 
Barbara,  Lena,  and  Elizabeth. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Doerres  had  six  children  :  Caroline,  now  Mrs. 
Charles  Green,  living  in  San  Francisco,  California;  Carl,  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Amelia  Ryrners,  of  Moline,  Illinois,  living  on  the 
old  homestead;  William,  a  carpenter,  living  at  Ijone  Tree; 


268         HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

John,  in  stock,  feed,  and  ponltry  business  at  Lone  Tree;  Al- 
bert, residing-  at  Lone  Tree;  Enid,  living-  with  her  mother  at 
Lone  Tree. 

In  polities  Mr.  Doerres  was  a  life-long-  democrat.     He  was 


RESIDENCE    OF    MRS.   JOHN    DOERRES 

called  to  the  position  of  townsliip  trnstee  for  a  Jiumber  of 
years,  and  held  the  position  of  county  supervisor  for  six  years. 
The  record  which  he  left  behind  was  tliat  of  a  thoroughly  hon- 
est man  and  a  good  neighbor.  His  widow  survives  him,  and 
lives  in  comfort  at  her  residence  in  Lone  Tree. 


DR.  HORATIO  U.  BAKER 

The  parents  of  Dr.  Horatio  U.  Baker,  of  Lone  Tree,  were 
natives  of  Iowa.  Marion  Baker,  his  father,  was  born  in 
Cedar  county  and  Ellen  Harding,  his  mother,  in  Keokuk  coun- 
ty. The  marriage  of  his  parents  took  place  in  the  latter  coun- 
ty. Our  subject  was  born  in  Cedar  county  September  20, 
1868.  After  their  marriage  Marion  Baker  and  wife  lived  for 
a  number  of  years  in  Cedar  county.  The  family  removed  to 
Johnson  county  in  1878,  and  the  father  engaged  in  the  general 
merchandise  business  at  Lone  Tree.  He  continued  in  this 
line  until  1901,  when  he  sold  out  and  moved  to  Wichita,  Kan- 
sas, where  he  took  up  the  special  line  of  agricultural  imple- 
ments.    He  is  now  retired  from  active  business,  having  sur- 


BIOGRxlPHICAL 


269 


vived  liis  wife,  who  died  in  the  spring  of  1886.  Seven  chiklren 
were  born  to  Ellen  Harding  Baker,  namely:  Horatio  U.,  onr 
subject;  Carrie  R.,  now  Mrs.  H.  B.  Hill,  residing  at  West 
Liberty,  Iowa ;  Proctor  T.,  a  resident  of  Davenport,  Iowa,  in 
the  employ  of  the  International  Harvester  Company;  Preda 
Margaret,  living  at  West  Liberty,  Iowa ;  Cecil  H.,  a  resident 
of  Wichita,  Kansas ;  Marion  Be  Witt,  also  a  resident  of  Wich- 
ita ;  Ellen  D.,  died  in  infancy. 

Dr.  Baker  secnred  his  early  educational  training  in  the 
schools  of  Iowa  City,  and  thereafter  for  a  time  was  in  the  em- 
ploy of  his  father  in  the  general  merchandise  business.     Fol- 


RESIDENCE  OF  DR.  HORATIO  F.  BAKER 

lowing  this  he  was  engaged  with  the  International  Harvester 
Company  for  two  years.  He  then  decided  to  take  up  the  study 
of  osteopathy,  and  in  pursuit  of  this  purpose  attended  Dr. 
Still's  College  of  Osteopathy  and  the  American  School  of 
Osteopathy  at  Kirksville,  Missouri,  where  he  completed  his 
course.  In  January,  1906,  he  returned  to  Tjone  Tree  and  took 
up  the  practice  of  his  profession,  and  has  been  engaged  there- 
in ever  since. 

On  May  25,  1891,  Dr.  Baker  was  married  to  Miss  Lynda 
Margaret  Robinson,  liorn  in  Muscatine,  Iowa,  January  26, 
1869.     The   names  of  their  children   are :     Robert  R.,  Don- 


270         HISTOEY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

aid  D.,  Eva  E.,  Marion  M.,  Ellen  D.,  Merle,  and  Walter  P. 
The  three  last  are  deceased. 

Dr.  Baker  is  a  democrat,  and  a  member  of  the  German  Re- 
formed church. 


JACOB  CHESTER  LOEHR 

The  founder  of  the  Loelir  family  in  the  United  States  was 
Johan  Heinrich  Loehr,  born  September  24,  1753,  in  Wallahal- 
ben,  or  Wallahansen,  a  town  of  Prussian  Saxony,  on  the 
Helme,  in  the  Principality  of  Leiningen,  who  came  to  America 
in  1774  and  settled  in  Bedminster  township,  Bucks  county, 
Pennsylvania.  Later  he  removed  to  Northampton  county, 
Plainfield  township,  and  located  on  a  farm  southwest  of 
Argyl.  He  died  December  25,  1834,  and  was  buried  at  Plain- 
field  church  cemetery.  His  occupation  was  that  of  school 
teaching,  and  he  was  a  good  musician  and  singer.  For  many 
years  he  led  the  singing  in  his  local  school  house  and  church. 
His  wife  was  Margaret  Elizabeth  Young,  born  in  Germany, 
December  31, 1760.  After  her  husband's  death,  Mother  Loehr 
removed,  with  her  son  Jacol)  and  his  family  and  her  oldest 
daughter  Elizabeth,  to  Ohio,  where  she  died  July  20,  1844. 
Her  remains  are  buried  in  Pleasant  Hill  cemetery,  four  miles 
southwest  of  Van  Buren,  Ohio. 

Johan  Heinrich  Loehr  and  Margaret  Elizabeth  Young  were 
the  parents  of  six  children,  and  all  lived  to  a  good  old  age. 
Some  of  the  children  and  grandchildren  dropped  the  "o" 
from  the  name  and  they  now  spell  it  Lehr. 

John  Loehr,  the  great-grandfather  of  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  was  a  son  of  Johan  Heinrich  and  Margaret  Elizabeth 
Loehr.  He  was  born  in  Bedminster  township,  Bucks  county, 
Pennsylvania,  January  7,  1778.  He  married  Elizabeth  Bar- 
tholomew in  1812,  who  was  born  April  22,  1792.  They  had 
seven  children,  all  born  at  Plainfield  church,  where  he  taught 
school  and  led  the  choir  for  nineteen  years.  The  family  then 
removed  to  Moorstown  church,  where  he  taught  school  and 
led  the  choir  for  ten  years.  John  Loehr  died  November  11, 
1877,  and  his  wife  October  28,  1877.  Both  are  buried  at  Naza- 
reth, Pennsylvania. 

One  of  the  seven  children  of  John  and  Elizabeth  Loehr  was 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


271 


Jacob  H.,  the  father  of  our  subject,  who  was  born  October  20, 
1819,  He  married  Lovina  Hoch,  and  kept  store  in  Plainfield, 
Pennsylvania,  for  some  time  after  his  marriage.  In  1853,  with 
his  family,  he  removed  (by  horses  and  wagon)  to  a  point  near 
Van  Buren,  Ohio,  on  a  farm.  His  wife  died  March  21,  1886, 
and  he  followed  her  May  29,  ]899,  both  lieing  buried  in  the 
cemetery  near  the  old  home.  The  birthplace  of  Lovina  Hoch 
was  Northamptori  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  tiie  year  of  her 
birth  1821.    Her  parents  were  Jacob  and  Catherine  Hoch. 

Seven  children  were  born  to  Jacob  H.  and  Lovina  Loehr. 
Of  this  number  Jacob  Chester,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was 
born  September  15,  1843,  in  Plainfield  townshi]^,  Northamp- 


EESIDENCE  OF  JACOB  CHESTER  LOEHR 


ton  county,  Pennsylvania,  not  far  from  the  Blue  Ridge  moun- 
tains and  about  ten  miles  from  Easton,  Pennsylvania.  In  re- 
counting his  boyhood  days,  Jacob  C.  states  that  he  has  not 
much  recollection  of  Pennsylvania  —  only  remembers  seeing 
the  mountains  and  being  in  Easton  with  his  father.  He  was 
about  nine  years  of  age  when  the  family  removed  to  Ohio. 
His  early  life  was  spent  on  the  farm  near  Van  Buren.  Desir- 
ing to  give  his  children  a  good  education,  Jacob  H.  Loehr  sup- 
plemented the  common  school  education  of  his  son  Jacob  C.  by 
entering  him  in  Heildelberg  college,  at  Tiffin,  Ohio.  The  date 
of  his  entrance  was  in  1860,  the  year  in  which  Lincoln,  Doug- 
las, and  Breckenridge  made  their  memorable  campaigns  for 


272         HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

the  presidency  of  the  United  States.  Our  subject  says  he  re- 
members seeing  the  "little  giant,"  as  Stephen  A.  Douglas  was 
called,  in  the  fall  of  1860  in  Tiffin,  where  he  made  a  speech  at 
the  fair  grounds.  The  incidents  of  the  campaign  are,  of 
course,  indelibly  impressed  upon  his  mind,  he  being  then  a  lad 
of  seventeen.  In  reviewing  the  matter,  he  states  that  he  recalls 
the  peculiarities  of  the  marching  organizations  and  sym])ols  of 
the  leading  parties.  "The  republicans,"  he  says,  "had  an 
organization  called  the  'Wideawakes,'  who  marched  at  night 
with  tin  lamps  on  poles  about  six  feet  long.  Linn  poles  repre- 
sented the  republicans,  and  hickory  poles  the  democrats.  The 
northern  democrats  were  almost  unanimous  for  Douglas,  and 
in  politics  the  students  of  Heidelberg  were  about  evenly  di- 
vided. I  remember,  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  war,  liow  we 
students  went  to  the  timber  and  cut  a  pole  and  raised  it  with  a 
flag  on  top  of  the  college  building.  Many  of  the  students  en- 
listed and  went  to  the  front." 

Young  Loehr  spent  nearly  six  terms  at  Heidelberg,  when, 
on  the  8tli  of  May,  1862,  he  took  sick  with  brain  fever  or  spinal 
meningitis,  and  lost  his  hearing.  He  thinks  the  cause  of  this 
affliction  was  an  injury  to  the  back  part  of  his  head  resulting 
from  two  bad  falls.  Tlie  loss  of  bis  hearing,  of  course,  changed 
his  plans  entirely,  and  be  returned  home  to  his  parents,  re- 
maining with  them  mostly  thereafter  until  the  spring  of  1868, 
when  he  came  to  Johnson  county,  Iowa,  for  the  purpose  of 
assisting  his  brother-in-law,  N.  R.  Richey,  on  a  new  farm  of 
240  acres.  He  worked  on  this  farm,  in  the  employ  of  Mr. 
Richey,  until  1874,  when  he  ventured  to  buy  160  acres  of  wild 
land  for  himself.  By  steady  work  and  economy,  in  due  time 
he  paid  for  the  land  and  added  considerably  to  his  holdings. 

On  October  24, 1877,  our  subject  was  married  to  Miss  Emma 
Faulkner,  at  Bucklin,  Missouri.  Miss  Faulkner's  family 
have  an  interesting  history.  Her  parents  were  Hugh  White 
Faulkner  and  Filena  Reynolds,  and  her  father's  occupation 
was  that  of  farmer  and  carpenter.  Mr.  Faulkner's  Civil  War 
record  was  most  honorable.  He  enlisted  in  the  144th  New 
York  regiment  in  August,  1864,  but  was  rejected.  November 
11th  of  the  same  year,  however,  he  was  drafted  into  the  67th 
Pennsylvania,  Company  C,  Third  Brigade  Second  Division  of 
the  Sixth  Army  Corps.     He  served  under  General  Wright, 


BIOGEAPHICAL  273 

General  Kickets  being  corps  commander  and  Hiram  Stark  liis 
captain.  He  was  in  the  picket  line  at  Petersburg  and  in  the 
battle  to  the  left  of  Petersburg  on  April  2,  1865 ;  then  followed 
General  Lee  to  the  battle  of  Sailor's  Eun  on  Thursday,  and 
continued  on  Friday  to  follow  him  to  the  Farms  River,  where 
Phil.  Sheridan  cut  oft'  his  supply  train.  Next  day  Lee  sent  a 
white  flag  and  surrendered.  Mr.  Faulkner  was  honorably  dis- 
charged August  17,  1865.  All  four  of  the  brothers  of  Mrs. 
Faulkner's  mother  served  in  the  war,  one  being  a  minister. 
Her  mother  was  an  orphan  when  she  married  Mr.  Reynolds, 
but  was  a  woman  of  great  vigor  of  character.  The  Reynolds 
family  were  intensely  musical  and  were  prominent  in  Chris- 
tian work  in  the  Baptist  church. 

Following  in  the  footsteps  of  his  father  and  grandfather, 
Jacob  C.  Loehr  is  the  father  of  seven  children.  In  the  order 
of  their  birth  they  are  as  follows : 

Lena  May,  born  February  17, 1879 ;  educated  at  high  school ; 
married,  November  16,  1898,  to  Frederick  C.  Jalinke,  a  pro- 
duce dealer;  resided  for  a  time  at  Lone  Tree,  but  now  resides 
at  Muscatine ;  is  the  mother  of  four  children :  Lovell  Freder- 
ick, born  November  20,  1899;  Helen  Winnifred,  born  April  3, 
1902;  Willis  Ernest,  born  September  28,  1905;  and  Minnie 
Myrtle,  born  August  4,  1910. 

Second  child,  a  son,  died  at  birtli,  September  1,  1880. 

Frank  Elmer,  born  November  13,  1881;  railway  mail  clerk; 
residence  Albert  Lea,  Minnesota ;  married  November  25,  1903, 
to  Maud  Furniss  Siverley;  is  the  father  of  three  children: 
Lauren  Dale,  born  October  24,  1905 ;  Rodney  Clement,  born 
November  16, 1907 ;  and  Ardeth  Maude,  born  May  31, 1909. 

Mertie  Ellen,  born  Augiist  6,  1883;  high  school  graduate 
and  school  teacher ;  married  September  26,  1905,  to  Rev.  Blan- 
chard  Allen  Black ;  residence  for  a  time.  Lone  Tree ;  removed 
to  Louisville,  Ohio,  in  1908 ;  is  ihe  mother  of  three  children : 
Margaret  Ellen,  born  July  12,  1906;  Frances  Marian,  born 
June  21,  1907 ;  and  Florence  Emma,  born  June  20,  1910. 

Clement  Leslie,  born  October  7, 1885 ;  bachelor  of  arts  of  the 
State  University  of  Iowa,  1909;  studying  for  the  ministry  in 
the  Reformed  Church  Theological  Seminary  at  Lancaster, 
Pennsylvania;  married  December  20,  1910,  to  Grace  Margaret 
Davidson,  an  alumnus  of  S.  IT.  I.,  at  Stanwood,  Iowa. 


274         HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

Katlierine  Lavina,  born  March  19,  1887;  higli  school  gradu- 
ate and  school  teacher ;  married  September  22, 1908,  to  Guy  C. 
Black,  D.  D.  S.,  who  practiced  three  years  at  Delta,  Iowa,  and 
then  removed  to  Mason  City,  Iowa;  mother  of  one  child  :  Alice 
Laurine,  born  Ayjril  19,  1910. 

Emma  x\lice,  born  January  12,  1891  ;  high  school  graduate; 
married  March  19,  1911,  to  William  H.  Yakish,  Rock  Island 
R.  R.  station  agent  at  Lone  Tree. 

The  residence  of  Mr.  Loehr  is  at  Lone  Tree,  Iowa,  where 
the  family  is  universally  respected  and  beloved. 


AUGUST  KRANZ 


The  sons  of  Germany  have  found  in  Iowa  congenial  condi- 
tions for  the  exercise  of  the  thrift  and  industry  inbred  from 
time  immemorial  in  the  ''Faderland."  Scores  of  rich,  well- 
tilled  farms  throughout  the  state  attest  the  enterprise  and 
staying  qualities  of  their  German  owners.  It  has  passed  into 
a  proverb  that  where  a  German  gets  a  foothold,  ''there  he 
sticks."  Conspicuous  examples  of  this  truism  may  be  found 
in  Johnson  county,  where  in  every  township  in  great  abun- 
dance names  whose  orthograi)hy  attest  their  Teutonic  origin 
are  written  across  prosperous  farms  in  tlie  county  maps  and 
plats. 

On  a  280-acre  farm  in  the  northeast  part  of  Fremont  town- 
ship in  the  above  mentioned  county  is  written  \n  the  latest 
county  map  the  name  of  Augaist  Kranz.  On  that  farm  for 
about  twenty-eight  years  the  subject  of  tJiis  sketch  pursued 
the  peaceful  occupation  of  a  farmer.  His  first  purchase  of 
land  was  in  1881,  when  he  took  possession  of  the  160  acres 
where  the  old  home  stands.  He  gradually  added  to  his  hold- 
ings till  at  one  time  he  owned  in  Johnson  county  420  acres  and 
in  Louisa  county  137  acres.  In  1909  he  retired  and  moved  to 
Lone  Tree,  where  he  has  a  beautiful  residence  at  the  time  of 
this  writing. 

August  Kranz  was  born  in  Germanv  Februarv  -t,  1848,  and 
is  the  sou  of  Frederick  and  Sophia  (Freilasky)  Kranz.  He 
came  to  America  with  his  parents  when  twelve  years  of  age. 
The  family  landed  at  New  York  city,  and,  after  spending  three 
months  in  the  Empire  state,  removed  to   Muscatine,  Iowa, 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


275 


where  tliey  resided  between  three  and  four  years.  The  next 
move  was  to  Rock  Island  county,  where  the  parents  remained 
until  their  death.  At  the  age  of  twenty-one,  in  Rock  Island 
county,  xVugust  Kranz  began  business  as  a  farmer  on  his  own 
account.  His  entire  residence  in  that  county  covers  a  period 
of  about  ten  years.  In  1879,  as  above  stated,  he  removed  to 
Fremont  townshi]),  Johnson  county. 

Six  children  were  born  to  Frederick  and  Sophia  Kranz,  of 
whom  four  reached  maturity,  two  having  died  in  infancy. 
Only  two  now  remain  —  Mary  (now  Mrs.  John  Collnar,  of 
Rock  Island),  and  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

Mr.  Kranz  was  married  September  5,  1872,  to  Miss  Kath- 


RESroENCE  OF  AUGUST  KRANTZ 


erine  Stamm,  a  native  of  Rock  Island  county,  of  German  par- 
entage. Miss  Stamm 's  parents  came  to  Rock  Island  county 
at  a  very  early  day,  were  married  there  and  resided  continu- 
ously in  the  county  until  the  death  of  the  father,  about  twenty - 
two  years  ago.  Thereafter  the  Widow  Stamm  removed  to 
Muscatine,  residing  there  about  ten  years,  after  which  she  went 
to  Davenport,  where  she  died  in  the  fall  of  1910.  Mrs.  Kranz 
had  four  brothers  and  five  sisters  :  Maggie,  George,  Michael, 
Mary,  Elizabeth,  Adam,  Ara,  Nicholas,  and  Louisa.  All  are 
living  except  Maggie,  who  died  when  two  years  of  age,  and 
Michael,  who  died  at  eighteen. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kranz  have  six  children,  all  of  whom  are 


276         HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

living.  Of  these  George,  married,  resides  at  Iowa  City ;  Mary 
(Mrs.  Fred  Lentz)  lives  on  a  farm  in  Lincoln  township ;  Emma 
(Mrs.  Joseph  Krai)  resides  in  Lincoln  township;  Louisa  (Mrs. 
Frank  Krai)  lives  in  Louisa  county;  Minnie  (Mrs.  John 
Jones)  lives  in  Muscatine  county,  and  Clarence,  married,  re- 
sides on  the  old  home  farm  in  Lincoln  township. 

Mr.  Kranz  is  a  republican,  a  member  of  the  Reformed 
church  and  of  Omega  lodge  No.  728,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  of  Lone  Tree. 
Still  in  the  prime  of  life,  he  daily  enjoys  the  association  of 
lifelong  friends  and  enters  heartily  into  the  activities  of  his 
residence  city. 


HENRY  WALKER 

In  numerous  places  on  the  township  map  of  Johnson  county, 
Iowa,  may  be  seen  the  name  of  Henry  Walker.  In  all,  accord- 
ing to  the  latest  deeds  of  record,  1,100  acres  are  included  in 
the  ownership  of  this  successful  farmer.  These  represent,  in 
part,  the  accumulations  of  fifty-eight  5^ears  of  industry  and 
frugality  as  an  agriculturist  in  eastern  Iowa.  If  further  proof 
is  needed  that  an  energetic  American  citizen,  under  the  favor- 
able conditions  of  rural  life  in  the  great  west,  may  become 
wealthy,  the  reader  is  cited  to  the  accomplishments  of  num- 
bers of  Mr.  Walker's  neighbors  in  that  productive  section  of 
the  Hawkeye  state  known  as  Johnson  county.  Scores  of 
bronzed  farmers  in  Fremont,  Lincoln,  and  Pleasant  Valley 
townships  can  write  their  wealth  in  six  figures,  and  yet  other 
scores  can  crowd  five  figaires  to  the  limit.  The  advocates  of 
the  ''back-to-the-farm"  movement  need  look  no  further  than 
this  region  for  arguments  that  are  convincing  of  the  profit- 
able nature  of  agriculture  at  its  best. 

Henry  Walker  took  his  elementary  education  in  farming 
in  Indiana,  to  which  state  his  father  and  mother  removed  from 
Portage  county,  Ohio,  which  was  his  birthplace,  when  he  was 
four  years  of  age.  That  was  in  1833,  and  seven  years  later,  in 
1840,  the  family  settled  in  Johnson  county,  Iowa.  James 
Walker,  the  father  (a  native  of  Virginia),  and  his  wife,  Betsey 
Burnett,  determined  to  have  a  home  of  their  own  in  the  new 
west,  and  so  the  head  of  the  family  visited  the  government 
land  office  at  Dubuque  and  entered  his  application  for  a  home- 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


277 


stead  in  Joliiison  county.     The  couple  spent  the  remainder  of 
their  days  in  this  county. 

Henry  (born  March  9,  1829,  twenty  miles  east  of  Cleveland, 
Ohio)  is  the  sole  survivor  of  his  father's  family  of  nine  chil- 
dren. The  birth  roster,  which  (pathetic  indeed)  is  also  a 
death-roll,  is  as  follows :  Robert,  married  and  died  years  ago  ; 
Nancy,  dead  many  years;  Samuel,  married,  and  a  successful 
farmer  near  River  Junction  for  years,  dead ;  Eliza,  died  in 
Indiana;  Amos  Wortinger,  dead;  James,  Joseph,  Laura,  and 
Fannie  —  all  dead;  Henry,  alone  of  all  his  father's  household, 


EESIDENCE  OF   HENRY  WALKER 


survives  at  the  age  of  eighty-three.  There  must  inevitably  be 
a  last  man  in  every  family.  Comforting  the  thought  to  the 
survivor  (as  in  this  case)  that  old  age  has  brought  peace  and 
prosperity,  with  honor  and  a  good  conscience. 

At  twenty-four  years  of  age  Henry  Walker  bought  his 
first  farm,  which  is  now  his  old  homestead.  His  purchase  con- 
sisted of  200  acres,  and  his  deed  bears  date  of  1853.  Additions 
from  time  to  time,  as  stated  in  the  first  i)aragrapli  of  this 
article,  have  swelled  his  holdings  to  1,100  acres  in  Fremont 
and  Pleasant  Valley  townships.     A  rich  man  in  the  midst  of 


278        HISTOEY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

his  acres,  there  is  no  man  in  all  the  region  of  River  Junction 
and  vicinity  who  is  more  thoroughly  respected  and  esteemed 
than  Henry  Walker.  Hard  by  the  village  of  River  Junction 
stands  the  modest  little  Methodist  chapel  with  its  beautiful, 
well-kept  ''God's  acre"  adjoining.  Henry  Walker  donated 
the  land  for  both,  and  his  active  membership  of  many  years 
in  the  church  has  added  to  his  beneficence  the  benediction 
of  his  faith.  Mrs.  Walker  was  a  member  of  the  Unitarian 
church. 

On  Friday,  June  30,  1911,  the  old  settlers  of  Johnson  coun- 
ty held  their  annual  picnic  in  the  beautiful  grove  adjoining 
the  River  Junction  M.  E.  chapel,  and  the  speakers  on  that  oc- 
casion made  reference  in  their  encomiums  to  the  generosity 
and  thoughtfulness  of  Henry  Walker  in  donating  for  the  per- 
manent use  of  the  organization  the  picturesque  three  acres 
where,  under  the  shade  of  the  great  oaks,  maples,  and  hicko- 
ries, the  first  fathers  of  Johnson  county,  with  their  wives  and 
descendants,  could  fittingly  celebrate  the  anniversaries  of  their 
yesterdays  and  meet  together  in  neighborlj^  feasting  and  con- 
versation. Henry  Walker  was  present  on  that  occasion,  and 
he  was  one  of  the  ''young  men"  of  the  company  —  several 
pioneers  being  there  who  had  passed  their  ninetieth  year. 

The  marriage  of  Henry  Walker  to  Miss  Harriet  McComas, 
a  native  of  Indiana,  who  came  to  Johnson  county  with  her 
parents,  took  place  in  1854.  The  couple  were  blessed  with  two 
children:  Laura,  married  to  William  Fairall,  of  Iowa  City, 
died  in  1909 ;  Mary,  now  Mrs.  Charles  Shellady,  of  Fremont 
township.  Harriet  McComas  Walker  died  in  1880.  Mr. 
Walker  was  married  again  to  Miss  Martha  Sweet,  daughter  of 
David  and  Lydia  Sweet,  who  died  April  26, 1911,  aged  74  years. 
Primitive  democracy  and  fundamental  honesty  go  hand  in 
hand;  it  is  therefore  not  surprising  that  Henry  Walker  is  an 
old-fashioned  democrat.  He  is  one  of  the  "undaunted  mi- 
nority" which  holds  the  balance-wheel  of  the  republic  true. 

It  is  a  far  look  backward  across  the  years  when  the  children 
made  merry  at  the  fireside  of  James  Walker.  In  that  time  the 
Rocky  Mountain  Limited  has  displaced  the  patient  oxen ;  the 
traction  thresher  has  crushed  the  flail  to  a  pulp;  the  loyal 
blood  of  the  north  has  washed  the  black  stain  of  slavery  from 
the  nation's  escutcheon;  and  everywhere  that  men  once  crept 


HENRY  WALKER 


BIOGRAPHICAL  279 

in  arduous,  footsore  journeyiiigs  their  descendants  are  chasing 
the  eagle  in  his  native  air,  looking  down  on  the  primitive  paths 
of  their  fathers;  electricity,  speaking  daily  of  a  world's  ac- 
tivities, has  long-time  flashed  across  the  post-horse's  grave, 
and  the  hastening  feet  of  a  great  procession  of  Americans 
pestle  the  dust  in  the  mortar  where  the  forefathers  sleep. 
Henry  Walker  has  lived  in  remnants  of  two  great  centuries, 
and  his  soul  is  big  with  memories;  but  who  doubts  that  in  the 
eventime  of  life  his  eyes  feast  in  reverie  on  the  faces  of  the 
brothers  and  sisters  and  the  father  aud  mother  of  the  years 
ago,  while  mystic  voices  echo  from  the  ingieside  whose  embers 
have  died  and  grown  cold?  ''At  eventime  it  shall  be  light," 
and  the  torch  of  faith  shall  blazen  the  pathway  of  the  surviv- 
ing member  of  James  Walker's  family  to  reunion  with  his  own. 


GEORGE  ^y.  JOHNSTON 

One  of  the  successful  farmers  of  Fremont  township  is 
George  W.  Johnston,  who  has  been  engaged  in  business  for 
himself  since  1876.  With  the  exception  of  a  few  years  spent  in 
Nebraska,  his  entire  agricultural  experience  has  been  confined 
to  Johnson  county.  Our  subject  was  born  in  f^ouisa  county^ 
Iowa,  in  October,  1853.  His  parents,  who  were  natives  of 
Tennessee,  came  to  Iowa  in  1851  and  settled  in  Louisa  county, 
where  the  father  engaged  in  farming.  There  were  ten  children 
in  the  family,  all  of  whom  reached  maturity.  P^ither  Johnston 
died  in  1898,  his  wife  having  preceded  him  two  years.  The 
names  of  the  children  in  the  order  of  birth  are  as  follows: 
A.  I).,  married  and  living  in  Taylor  county,  Iowa,  was  a  sol- 
dier in  the  Civil  War,  having  enlisted  in  the  fall  of  1801  in 
Company  C,  Eleventh  Iowa,  and  served  until  honorabh^  dis- 
charged in  the  summer  of  1865^  Kisia,  deceased  wife  of  J.  C. 
W^ilcox;  Anne,  now  Mrs.  J.  C.  Duncan,  living  in  California; 
J.  C,  living  in  Valley,  Oregon;  Margaret,  now  Mrs.  Jasper 
Cox,  residing  at  Seattle,  Washington;  our  subject;  Belle,  now 
Mrs.  L.  L.  Siverly,  living  near  Diagonal,  Iowa;  Samuel  H., 
living  at  Se>Tiiour,  Missouri;  Arvilla,  deceased  wife  of  C.  C. 
Blake,  of  Oklahoma;  Elizabeth,  now  Mrs.  W.  M.  Blake,  living 
in  Oklahoma. 

George  W.  Johnston  was  mai'ried  in  September,  1880,  to 


280         HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

Miss  Amanda  Edmonds,  a  native  of  Johnson  county.  Slie  was 
a  daughter  of  William  and  Hannah  (Evens)  Edmonds,  former- 
ly of  Ohio.  There  were  two  children  in  the  father's  family, 
wife  of  our  subject  and  Even,  now  married  and  living  at  Can- 
yon City,  Texas.  When  a  child  of  about  three  years  her  father 
died,  and  later  her  mother  married  Mr.  Westfall,  who  enlisted 
in  an  Iowa  regiment  and  died  in  the  service  of  his  country. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Westfall  had  one  son,  George,  living  in  Fremont 
township.  After  the  war  Mrs.  Westfall  married  Wm.  Shep- 
pard.  They  were  parents  of  two  sons,  both  now  deceased. 
Mrs.  Sheppard  died  about  1885,  Mr.  Sheppard  in  the  fall  of 
1911. 

The  names  of  their  seven  children  are:  Alta,  now  Mrs. 
Charles  Miller,  of  Pleasant  Valley  township ;  Roy  M.,  residing 
in  Pleasant  Valley  township ;  Edgar  E.,  a  veterinary  surgeon, 
practicing  at  Centerville,  Iowa ;  Bessie,  a  trained  nurse  in  the 
Methodist  Hospital  at  Des  Moines ;  Leota,  keeping  house  for 
her  brother  Roy  M.  in  Pleasant  Valley  township;  Glenn  and 
Holly,  both  living  at  home. 

Mr.  Johnston  has  been  honored  by  his  fellow  citizens  with 
numerous  township  offices,  all  of  which  he  has  administered 
with  ability  and  satisfaction.  He  is  one  of  the  straightfor- 
ward, four-square  men  of  Johnson  county,  who  can  be  de- 
pended on  three  hundred  and  sixty-five  days  of  every  year.  In 
politics  he  is  a  democrat.  His  family  belong  to  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church. 


WILLIAM  FRANKLIN  LUTZ 

One  of  the  well  known  business  men  of  Lone  Tree,  Iowa,  is 
William  Franklin  Lutz,  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  Born  in 
Fayette  county,  Pennsylvania,  November  7, 1856,  he  came  with 
his  parents,  John  Lutz  and  Margaret  Huskins,  direct  from  his 
native  state  to  Johnson  county,  when  four  years  of  age.  There 
he  has  resided  continuously  ever  since,  with  the  exception  of 
two  short  periods.  A  residence  of  forty  years  in  any  com- 
munity is  sufficient  test-furnace  for  any  character,  and  the 
fact  that  William  F.  Lutz  today  is  universally  respected  and 
esteemed  by  his  neighbors  proves  his  worth  as  a  citizen,  neigh- 
bor, and  friend. 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


281 


John  Lutz  and  Marg'aret  Iluskins  were  the  parents  of  three 
children,  our  subject  being  tlie  second  child.  The  others  were: 
Georgia  Anna,  now  Mrs.  W.  S.  Potter,  of  Lone  Tree,  and  John, 
living  at  Lone  Tree. 

John  Lutz  died  in  1859,  and  his  widow  remarried  in  1862, 
her  second  husband  being  S.  J.  Devoe,  one  of  the  prominent 
early  settlers  of  Johnson  county.  Mr.  Devoe  made  his  en- 
trance to  the  county  on  the  first  railroad  train  that  came  into 
Iowa  City.  In  company  with  a  few  others  he  laid  out  the 
original  townsite  of  Lone  Tree.  His  business  was  that  of 
general  farming  and  stock  raising,  and  he  was  always  a  quiet. 


RESIDENCE   OF   WILLIAM  FRANKLIN  LUTZ 

industrious  man  and  a  good  citizen.  Both  he  and  his  wife  are 
now  dead. 

Seven  children  were  born  to  S.  J.  Devoe  and  Margaret  Lutz, 
their  names  being  Richard,  Henry,  Elizabeth,  Alfred,  Mar- 
garet, Julia,  and  Mary  —  all  of  wh£)m  are  living  except  the  last 
two  mentioned. 

William  F.  Lutz  began  farming  on  his  own  account  when 
twenty-three  years  of  age,  and  continued  for  eleven  years, 
after  which  he  entered  the  employ  of  M.  Baker,  of  Lone  Tree, 
a  storekeeper.  At  the  expiration  of  five  years  of  service  with 
Mr,  Baker,  he  began  the  general  mercantile  business  for  him- 
self, which  business  he  has  continued  until  the  present  time. 

On  February  1,  1884,  our  subject  was  married  to  Miss  Mae 
Buser,  a  native  of  Oskaloosa,  Iowa. 


282         HISTORY  OF  JOHxNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

Mr.  Lutz  is  a  democrat,  and  lias  occupied  the  position  of 
city  councilman  of  Lone  Tree  for  eight  years;  also  that  of 
township  trustee  for  four  years,  as  well  as  other  positions  of 
trust.  He  is  a  member  of  the  local  Masonic  lodge  of  Lone 
Tree,  of  which  he  has  heen  master. 


THOMAS  JEFFERSON  McGOLLISTER 

The  ancestry  and  genealog\^  of  the  McCoUister  family  is 
quite  fully  set  forth  in  the  sketch  of  James  McCoUister,  the 
father  of  our  subject,  which  appears  elsewhere  in  this  volume. 
The  reader's  attention  is  called  to  this  in  connection  with  the 


RESTDE^^CE  OF  TH0MA>  J  .  M  C  COLLISTER 

present  biogTajihy  of  Thomas  Jefferson  Mc(Jo Ulster,  of  Lone 
Tree,  Iowa. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  .loJnison  county  December  4,  1862. 
He  attended  the  pul)lic  schools  of  the  county,  receiving  there- 
from a  good  fundamental  education.  This  he  supplemented 
by  courses  at  the  Iowa  City  Academy  and  the  AVilliams  Com- 
mercial College,  graduating  from  the  latter  institution  in  1884. 
Thereafter  he  took  up  the  business  of  farming  on  the  old  home- 
stead below  Iowa  City  in  connection  with  his  father.  When  he 
was  twenty-two  years  of  age  he  moved  to  his  ])resent  location, 
near  Lone  Tree,  and,  with  the  exception  of  five  years  spent  at 
Iowa  City,  has  resided  there  ever  since.     For  several  years 


BIOGRAPHICAL  283 

past  Mr.  McCollister  has  made  a  specialty  of  raising  pure- 
bred Aberdeen  Angais  cattle,  and  bis  name  stands  bigli  among 
stock  men  and  cattle  buyers  for  the  excellence  of  his  product. 

Mr.  McCollister  has  been  married  twice.  His  first  wife  was 
Miss  Lettie  Briggs,  a  native  of  Johnson  county,  Iowa.  Three 
children  were  born  to  this  union :  Oscar,  married  and  living 
in  Rock  Island,  111. ;  James  and  Glenn.  The  latter  married  and 
living  in  Dubuque,  Iowa.  Mr.  McCollister  was  married  again, 
1901  to  Miss  Julia  E.  Hynes,  a  native  of  Louisa  county,  Iowa. 
Their  only  child  a  bright  winsome  little  boy  died  May  19,  1913, 
aged  5  years,  1  month  and  20  days. 

Mrs.  McCollister  is  a  daughter  of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Eden) 
Hynes,  natives  of  Ireland  and  England,  respectively.  The 
father  was  born  in  County  Clare,  Ireland,  September  29, 1821, 
and  came  to  America  when  17  years  of  age  and  died  in  Johnson 
county,  April  9, 1907.     He  was  the  parent  of  nineteea  children. 

The  home  life  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  McCollister  is  filled  with 
comfort  and  good  cheer,  and  is  typical  of  the  prosperous  sec- 
tion of  Johnson  county  in  which  they  reside. 

Politically,  like  his  father,  Mr.  McCollister  has  always  been 
a  democrat.  He  is  a  member  of  the  M.  W.  A.  of  Lone  Tree, 
Camp  2505.  Is  a  member  of  the  Episcopal  church.  His  wife 
is  a  member  of  the  Catholic  church. 


ALBERT  H.  DELANO,  M.  D. 

One  of  the  objects  most  frequently  seen  on  the  streets  and 
highways  of  Lone  Tree,  Iowa,  and  vicinity  is  a  gasoline  run- 
about directed  by  a  man  of  middle  age,  whose  speed  invariably 
is  that  of  an  individual  who  has  some  place  to  go  quickly  and 
knows  just  where  he  is  going.  That  is  the  machine  of  Dr. 
Albert  H.  DeLano,  and  the  driver  is  the  doctor  himself.  Were 
the  doctor  a  young  medico,  just  entering  the  practice  of  medi- 
cine, this  activity  might  in  part  be  attributed  to  a  desire  for 


284        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

pleasure-riding  or  an  effort  to  counterfeit  a  condition  of  heavy 
patronage;  but  in  the  present  instance  the  runabout  journeys 
are  in  every  case  the  response  to  a  practice  extending  to  all 
sections  of  Johnson  and  adjoining  counties,  for  Dr.  DeLano 
has  been  a  successful  practitioner  in  Lone  Tree,  Iowa,  for  up- 
wards of  twenty-four  years. 

Dr.  DeLano,  by  birth,  is  a  ''way  down  east  yankee,"  being 
born  in  Bath,  Maine,  March  13,  1854.     His  "yankee"  compo- 


RESIDENCE  OF   .U.BERT    H.   DELANO,   .M .   D. 


sition  is  further  emphasized  by  the  fact  that  both  his  father 
and  mother  were  natives  of  the  same  state,  their  birthplace 
being  Huron  county.  The  mother  (Mary  Ann  Norton)  died 
when  Dr.  DeLano  was  a  baby;  his  father  (H.  M.  DeLano)  re- 
moved to  Ohio  in  1865  and  remained  there  until  his  death, 
March  26,  1910.  Our  subject  and  a  sister,  Ella  G.,  now  Mrs. 
H.  S.  A^aughn,  of  Denver,  Colorado,  were  the  only  children. 

Dr.  DeLano  attended  high  school  at  Norwalk,  Ohio.  He 
supplemented  his  common  school  education  by  a  course  at  the 
State  University  of  Iowa,  graduating  from  the  Medical  De- 
partment March  2,  1887.  In  1903  he  completed  a  short  course 
at  the  Post  Graduate  JMedical  School  and  Hospital  at  Chicago. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  285 

He  first  liuiig  out  bis  shingle  at  Lisbon,  Iowa,  in  Marcli,  1887; 
but  in  July,  1888,  he  removed  to  Lone  Tree. 

Aj^ril  2,  1879,  he  married  a  charming  young  woman.  Miss 
Elsie  S.  Goodsell,  a  native  of  Ohio,  who  is  the  honored  queen 
of  the  doctor's  beautiful  home  at  Lone  Tree,  an  active,  useful 
factor  in  social  and  church  life,  beloved  by  all  who  know  her. 
Two  children  are  the  fruit  of  this  marriage:  Courtland  A.,  a 
graduate  of  the  dental  department  of  the  S.  U.  L,  now  prac- 
ticing at  Lone  Tree,  and  Mildred  L.,  residing  at  home. 

The  doctor  is  a  republican;  a  member  of  the  Masonic  order, 
Knights  of  Pythias,  and  the  Odd  Fellows.  His  church  connec- 
tion and  that  of  his  family  is  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal,  of 
Lone  Tree.  He  has  several  times  filled  important  offices  at 
the  behest  of  his  fellow  citizens,  and,  in  the  prime  of  manhood, 
commands  the  universal  respect  of  his  neighbors  and  the 
members  of  his  profession.  Able,  alert,  and  energetic,  he  has 
reason  to  look  forward  expectantly  to  many  years  of  useful- 
ness in  Johnson  county  and  vicinitA'. 


CHARLES  BYRON  SHELLADAY 

Among  the  prosperous  and  successful  farmers  of  Johnson 
county  is  Charles  Byron  Shelladay,  whose  entire  active  life  has 
been  devoted  to  this  pursuit.  He  belongs  to  the  best  type  of 
citizen  and  has  always  evinced  great  interest  in  the  welfare 
and  development  of  his  community,  having  filled  various  of- 
fices of  public  honor  and  trust.  He  is  well  known  in  many 
circles  and  has  friends  in  all.  He  is  a  native  of  the  county, 
born  AugTist  10,  1861,  son  of  Robert  and  Isabelle  (Russell) 
Shelladay.  The  father,  a  son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Samuel  Shel- 
lady,  was  born  in  Ireland,  and  came  to  America  with  his 
parents  when  a  young  man.  The^'  settled  at  Iowa  City,  where 
they  lived  a  number  of  years.  Robert  Shelladay  was  a  farmer 
of  Johnson  county  until  1865,  when  he  sold  his  farm  near  Iowa 
City  and  moved  to  Washington  county,  buying  a  farm  there 
and  residing  on  it  until  his  death  in  IS^^S.  His  widow  survived 
until  1904.  They  were  the  parents  of  seven  children :  George, 
died  in  Oklahoma  in  1910;  Sarah  Jane,  died  in  1889:  Samuel, 
died  in  Iowa  City  in  1901 ;  Katherine  is  the  wife  of  Neal  Mg- 


286         HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

Ewen,  of  Formoso,  Kansas;  Robert,  of  Washington  comity; 
Charles  Byron,  of  this  sketch ;  Isabelle,  Mrs.  John  Wallace,  of 
Monte  Vista,  Colorado. 

Mr.  Shelladay's  first  enterprise  on  his  own  account  was  in 
the  line  of  farming,  and  his  active  career  has  been  spent  on 
the  farm  he  now  occnpies,  which  he  has  improved  and  de- 
veloped in  a  high  degree.  In  1893  his  house  was  destroyed  by 
fire,  and  soon  afterwards  he  erected  the  comfortable  and  con- 
venient farm  residence  the  family  now  occupies,  a  cut  of  which 
appears  in  this  publication.  In  1881  he  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Marv  Walker,  daughter  of  Henry  Walker  and  wife. 


EESIDENCE  OF 'CHARLES  BYRON  SHELLADAY 


The  Walker  family  are  mentioned  at  length  elsewhere  in  these 
pages.  Four  children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shel- 
lady :  Georgia  Harriet  is  attending  school  at  Glenwood,  Iowa ; 
Effie  Meryl,  wife  of  Gilbert  Matthews,  lives  at  River  Junction, 
where  she  is  acting  as  agent  for  the  Rock  Island  Company,  has 
one  son.  Marsh  Earl;  Cecil  Henry,  living  on  a  farm  adjoining 
that  of  his  father,  married  Nora  Crim,  and  they  have  one  son, 
LeRoy  Charles  ;  Walker  Day,  now  twelve  years  of  age. 

Mr.  Shelladay  is  a  democrat  in  political  faith  and  is  now 
serving  his  third  term  as  township  trustee.  He  is  president  of 
the  Palestine  Telephone  Company  and  has  been  identified 
with  various  other  local  enterprises.    He  is  a  member  of  the 


BIOGRAPHICAL  287 

Christian  cliiircli  and  fraternally  is  connected  with  Omega 
lodge  No.  728,  I.  0.  ().  F.,  of  Lone  Tree,  and  his  wife  belongs 
to  Lone  Tree  lodge  No.  ]60,  M.  B.  A.  Botli  are  wholesouled, 
generous,  and  hospitable,  being  model  neighbors  and  having  a 
host  of  friends.  Althongh  qniet  and  unassuming  in  manner, 
they  have  been  most  influential  in  the  life  of  the  community 
and  spare  no  pains  to  entertain  their  guests.  They  take  es- 
pecial pleasure  in  being  kind  and  s\anpathetic  to  all,  believing 
in  the  worth  of  the  golden  rule,  to  "do  unto  others  as  ye  would 
that  thev  should  do  unto  vou." 


CALEB  JOSHUA  SWEET 

Probably  no  family  has  figured  more  prominently  in  the 
early  history  of  Johnson  county,  Iowa,  than  that  of  David  and 
Lydia  Sweet.  Five  children  were  borji  to  this  honored  couple, 
and  each  one  has  written  a  wortliy  i^age  upon  the  historical 
record  of  the  county  and  state.  Four  of  the  five  have  left  the 
impress  of  their  personalities  upon  Fremont  township,  and 
three  of  tliem  still  reside  therein,  respected  and  esteemed. 
David  Sweet  lived  only  seven  years  after  his  settlement  in  the 
county  in  1838,  but  his  memory  is  green  to  this  day  among  his 
offspring  and  the  friends  of  his  youth  who  survive.  Mother 
Sweet  departed  January  3,  1884,  luit  those  who  knew  and 
loved  her  remember  and  love  her  still.  Who  can  forget  the 
saintly  character  of  Martha  Jane,  the  departed  wife  of  Henry 
W^alkerf  Louisa  Ann  is  the  helpful  companion  of  Zephaniah 
Cray,  of  Lone  Tree.  William  Thomas  is  a  respected  farmer 
of  the  same  neighborhood.  Angeline  is  the  wife  of  George  W. 
Maxwell,  of  Cambridge,  Iowa,  and  our  subject,  crippled  for 
years  by  rheumatism  resulting  from  exx)0sure  during  the  Civil 
War,  lives  in  honorable  old  age  on  the  original  homestead  of 
his  parents  in  Fremont  township.  Thus  the  name  and  the 
blood  of  David  and  Lydia  Sweet  are  mingled  with  the  memo- 
ries and  the  activities  of  the  state  of  their  adoption. 

David  Sweet  was  a  native  of  Kentucky,  but  he  removed 
when  a  child  with  his  parents  to  Ohio.  Later  he  resided  in  In- 
diana. He  married  in  Champaign  county,  Ohio.  In  May, 
1838,  as  above  stated,  the  couple  settled  in  Iowa.  They  lived 
and  died  upon  the  old  homestead  near  Lone  Tree,  now  occu- 


288         HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

pied  by  our  subject.    Their  remains  are  interred  in  the  quiet 
cemetery  at  Eiver  Junction. 

Caleb  Sweet  contracted  the  gold  fever  in  1853,  and  went  to 
California  in  quest  of  the  yeliow  metal.  He  mingled  with  the 
argonauts  for  six  years,  and  came  back  to  the  old  home  in  Fre- 
mont township  just  in  time  to  catch  the  spirit  of  the  Lincoln- 
Douglas  debates  and  the  ante-bellum  campaign  of  1860.  For 
about  a  year  he  labored  as  a  farmer  on  the  okl  homestead^  and 
then  the  frenzy  of  conflict  swept  over  him  and  he  united  with 
his  brother-in-law,  Zephaniah  Cray,  and  enlisted  in  Company 
G  of  the  famous  Second  Iowa  Cavalry.  Three  years  and  two 
months  he  devoted  to  the  service  of  his  country.  He  took  part 
in  many  hard-fought  battles,  among  them  being  the  memorable 


feiJ-;/--^( 

t'^^  "■'■  ..^ 

H^g 

'jB^HHiiHl^H^^^BlK 

_^MI 

EESTDENCE  OF  CALEB   JOSHUA  SWEET 

charge  at  Farmington.  In  May,  1862,  he  was  taken  prisoner 
at  Booneville,  Mississip])i,  and  confined  for  four  months  and 
twenty  days  in  a  rebel  prison.  He  was  held  in  Mobile,  Ala- 
bama, Macon,  Georgia,  Libby,  Richmond,  Virginia,  and  signed 
his  parole  in  Libby  prison.  After  his  honorable  discharge  in 
October,  1864,  he  returned  to  the  old  farm,  where  he  has  re- 
sided ever  since. 

In  1888  he  was  married  to  :\Iiss  Margaret  S.  Hanthorne,  a 
native  of  Iowa,  who  has  been  a  true  companion  and  helpmeet. 
Politically  he  has  always  been  a  republican.  He  is  a  member 
of  Kirkwood  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  of  Iowa  City.     No  man  stands 


CALEB   SWEET 


290 


HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 


beth,  wife  of  J.  D.  ]\[nsser,  both  dead;  William,  residing  at 
Lone  Tree;  Frank,  a  farmer,  married  and  living-  in  Fremont 
township. 

Joseph  Raynor,  our  subject,  was  married  in  1864  to  Aliss 
Jemima  J.  Miisser,  a,  native  of  Pemisylvania.  Their  children 
are:  Chris,  engaged  in  brick  and  tile  business  at  Marengo, 
Iowa ;  Elizabeth,  now  ]\Irs.  A.  H.  Hinkley,  living  in  Fremont 
township ;  Jemima  Jane,  now  Mrs.  Kline,  living  in  Hills,  Iowa ; 
Clara,  now  Mrs.  Cecil  Mull  in ix,  living  in  Fremont  township. 

Mr.  Raynor  is  a  republican  and  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church. 


AVILLIAM  EDEN 


''Their  furrow  oft  the  stubborn  glebe  hath  broke"  was 
literally  true  of  the  parents  of  William  Eden,  for,  following 
his  settlement  in  Johnson  county  in  1859,  Charles  Eden,  the 
father,  engaged  for  a  number  of  years  in  the  business  of 
"breaking"  the  virgin  Iowa  prairies.    Both  the  parents  of  onr 


EESmElSrCE    OF    WILLIAM    EDEN 

subject,  Charles  Eden  and  Jane  x\llen,  were  natives  of  Eng- 
land. They  emigrated  to  Wisconsin  in  ^S^6,  in  which  state  our 
subject  was  born  November  21,  1852.  The  latter  was  therefore 
seven  years  old  when  the  family  removed  to  Johnson  county. 
There  were  twelve  children  in  all:  Betsey,  Mary,  Emma,  AVil- 
liam,  Albert,  Alfred,  John,  Sarah,  Charles,  George,  Thomas, 


JOHN  LUTZ 


BIOGRAPHICAL  291 

and  Rosette.  All  are  living  except  Emma,  Sarah,  and  Albert. 
Father  Eden  still  snrvives  and  resides  upon  the  old  farm. 
The  mother  died  in  1906. 

William  Eden  chose  the  bnsinesp  of  farming  and  began  ''on 
his  own  hook"  in  1886.  He  has  continued  in  the  same  line  ever 
since,  and  has  made  a  success.  On  February  25,  1886,  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Mary  A I  cock,  a  native  of  England,  born  May 
31, 1855.  They  have  been  blessed  with  seven  children,  three  of 
whom  died  in  infancy.  The  names  of  the  survivors  are :  Eliza 
Jane,  Mary  Rose,  Charles  Thomas,  and  Frank  Edwin,  all  re- 
siding at  home.  The  family  are  members  of  the  Reformed 
church. 

Thomas  Alcock  and  his  wife,  Eliza  Brothers,  parents  of 
Mrs.  William  Eden,  came  from  England  to  America  in  1879, 
and  settled  upon  the  farm  now  the  property  of  Mrs.  Eden. 
They  both  died  on  this  farm  in  1900,  and  are  buried  in  the  little 
cemetery  adjoining  the  Union  church.  Their  children  were: 
Joseph  P.,  Charles  T.,  and  Mary  B.    Charles  T.  died  in  1875. 


JOHN  LUTZ 


John  Lutz  is  one  of  the  best-known  farmers  of  Johnson 
county,  where  most  of  his  life  has  been  spent.  He  was 
brought  there  by  his  parents  when  but  two  years  old,  and  there 
became  interested  in  agricultural  pursuits  at  an  early  age. 
He  is  a  member  of  one  of  the  pioneer  families  —  one  that  has 
always  been  identified  with  the  best  interests  of  the  region, 
and  has  a  strong  affection  for  his  home  county.  He  was  born 
in  Fayette  county,  Pennsylvania,  July  15,  1859,  the  elder  of 
the  two  sons  of  John  and  Margaret  (Huskins)  Lutz,  natives  of 
Pennsylvania.  There  were  two  other  children  born  of  this 
union :  William  Franklin,  a  successful  merchant  of  Lone  Tree, 
Iowa,  a  sketch  of  whom  appears  in  this  volume,  and  Georgia 
Anna,  wife  of  W.  S.  Potter,  also  of  Lone  Tree. 

John  Lutz  died  in  1859  and  his  widow  afterwards  became 
the  wife  of  S.  J.  Devoe,  of  an  old  Johnson  county  family,  who 
was  among  the  number  to  lay  out  the  townsite  of  Lone  Tree. 
He  was  prominent  in  local  affairs  and  by  occupation  was  a 
farmer  and  stock-raiser.  He  was  a  worthv  man,  a  good  citizen 
and  highly  respected.    Five  children  were  born  of  this  union: 


292         HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

Richard,  Henry,  Elizabeth,  Alfred,  and  Margaret.  AH  of  these 
children  snrvive,  but  both  parents  are  now  deceased. 

John  Lntz  was  reared  to  farm  work  and  educated  in  the 
schools  near  his  boyhood  home.  When  he  was  twenty-four 
years  old  he  began  farming  on  his  o^ti  account,  and  since  that 
time  he  has  successfully  continued  in  this  line.  He  makes  a 
specialty  of  handling  and  raising  pure-bred  Percheron  horses, 
and  has  been  engaged  in  this  line  for  the  past  twenty  years. 
He  is  an  influential  man  in  his  community  and  stands  well  with 
his  friends  and  associates.  He  is  a  democrat  in  politics  and 
fraternally  belongs  to  Omega  lodge  No.  728,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  of 
Lone  Tree,  and  to  Lone  Tree  lodge  No.  160,  M.  B.  A. 

In  1886  Mr.  Lutz  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Ada 


RESIDENCE  OF    JOHN   LUTZ 

Dunham,  whose  parents  were  early  settlers  of  Johnson  county, 
having  come  there  from  Illinois  and  settled  on  a  farm  in  Fre- 
mont township.  Mrs.  Lutz  died  about  1895-96.  She,  like  her 
husband,  was  well  known  in  Johnson  county,  and  had  a  large 
number  of  firm  friends,  who  sincerely  mourned  her  loss.  In 
December,  1911,  Mr.  Lutz  married  Margaret  Aun  Carter,  a 
native  of  Champaign  county,  Illinois. 


CHARLES  EDEN 


The  township  of  Eden  in  Buena  Vista  county,  Iowa,  is 
named  in  honor  of  Charles  Eden,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  he 


BIOGRAPHICAL  293 

having  built  the  first  wooden  house  in  that  township.  Mr. 
Eden  was  twenty-one  years  of  age  when  he  left  his  native  place 
of  Oxfordshire,  England,  and  came  to  America  in  1846.  He 
first  sojourned  for  a  time  in  Wisconsin,  and  then,  hearing  of 
land  for  entry  in  Iowa,  came  to  Iowa  City  in  Johnson  county. 
He  purchased  his  present  home  in  Johnson  comity  in  1870, 
where  he  has  lived  continuously  since.  He  now  owns  a  con- 
siderable body  of  land  in  Johnson  county, 

Mr.  Eden  was  married  in  England  to  JMiss  Jane  Allen,  a 
native  of  that  country.  They  were  blessed  with  twelve  chil- 
dren: Betsey,  Mary,  Emma,  Sarah,  Rose,  William,  Alfred,  Al- 


RESIDENCE  OF  CHARLES  EDEN,  SR. 

bert,  John,  Charles,  George  W.,  and  Thomas.    Of  these  Emma, 
Sarah,  and  Albert  are  deceased. 

Mr.  Eden  has  always  adhered  to  the  democratic  political 
faith.    He  and  his  mfe  are  members  of  the  Episcopal  church. 


ROBERT  SWANK 


Robert  Swank  is  a  prosperous  farmer  of  Fremont  township, 
who  was  born  in  Ohio  October  4,  1845,  and  came  with  his 
father  to  Louisa  county,  Iowa,  in  1864.  His  parents, 
George  and  Margaret  (Moore)  Swank,  were  both  natives  of 
Ohio.  The  mother  died  when  Robert  was  a  small  boy.  There 
were  two  other  children  in  the  family:  Katherine,  now  Mrs. 


294         HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

F.  J.  Hank,  living  in  Ohio,  and  Miria,  wife  of  Mr.  Dickinson, 
died  about  twenty  years  ago.  George  Swank  and  family  re- 
sided in  Louisa  county  about  four  years  and  then  moved  into 
Johnson  county,  where  they  lived  twenty  years.  The  father 
then  removed  to  Kansas  and  later  to  Indian  Territory,  where 
he  died. 

Mr.  Swank  took  up  farming  as  his  occupation  at  an  early 
age,  and  has  followed  it  continuously  until  the  present.  He 
was  married  in  1878  to  Miss  Mary  C.  Elliott,  a  native  of  Ohio, 


RESIDENCE    OF   ROBERT    SWANK 

who  has  borne  him  three  children:  Edward,  married  and  liv- 
ing in  Lone  Tree ;  Alma  and  Earl,  both  living  at  home. 

Mr.  Swank  is  a  republican.  He  is  a  member  of  Omega 
lodge  No.  728, 1.  0.  0.  F.,  and  Lone  Tree  lodge  No.  160,  M.  B. 
A.,  of  Lone  Tree.  His  standing  and  character  as  a  citizen  are 
unimpeachable. 


GEORGE  W.  EDEN 

Fruit  trees  grown  in  the  nurseries  of  George  W.  Eden,  of 
Fremont  township,  are  shipped  to  all  parts  of  the  United 
States  and  Canada.  Mr.  Eden  has  originated  several  new  and 
popular  varieties  of  fruit,  among  which  are  the  Lone  Tree 
peach,  which  is  grown  all  over  the  state  of  Iowa  and  in  many 
other  states,  the  Eden  plum,  and  the  Red  Wild  crab-apple.    Mr. 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


295 


Eden  grows  fruit  trees  by  the  thousands.  His  nursery  enter- 
prise dates  from  190U,  and  his  farm  in  Fremont  township  has 
been  transformed  into  a  fruit  paradise,  for  in  addition  to  pro- 
ducing stock  for  transplanting  Mr.  Eden  has  developed  im- 
portant fruit  orchards.  He  has  forty  acres  in  bearing  apple 
trees,  besides  many  other  varieties  of  fruit.  Our  subject  began 
farming  when  he  was  twenty-one  years  of  age,  and  has  con- 
tinued on  the  old  farm  in  Fremont  townsliip  ever  since.  Aside 
from  his  abilities  as  a  nurseryman  and  horticulturist,  he  takes 
great  pleasure  and  pride  in  antiquarianism.  He  has  a  re- 
markable collection  of  pre-historic  Indian  relics  made  of  stone ; 
also  a  collection  of  old  tools  of  all  kinds.    In  numismatics  he 


RESIDENCE   OF   GEO.    W.   EDEN 


has  made  considerable  progress,  having  a  very  complete  and 
valuable  collection  of  old  and  rare  coins. 

George  W.  Eden  is  the  eleventh  child  of  Charles  and  Jane 
(Allen)  Eden,  and  was  born  in  Iowa  City  February  22,  1864 
(see  sketch  of  Charles  Eden  —  Ed.).  He  was  married  in  1885 
to  Miss  Frances  L.  Gould,  a  native  of  Louisa  county,  Iowa, 
daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  George  Gould,  who  came  from  Ohio 
at  an  early  day  and  settled  in  Louisa  county.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Eden  have  eleven  children.  Large  families  are  a  character- 
istic of  the  Eden  line,  Charles,  the  father  of  our  subject,  being 
the  father  of  twelve  children.    The  names  of  George  W.  Eden 's 


296         HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

children  are:  Arthur  L.,  Oscar  A.,  George  W.,  Jr.,  Clem  W., 
Otto  M.,  Homer  E.,  Dayton,  Clayton,  Lorena  M.,  Lucy,  and 
Frances  L.  The  first  named,  Arthur  I^.,  is  prominent  in  the 
Odd  Fellows  order. 

George  W.  Eden  is  a  democrat,  and  has  taken  a  prominent 
part  in  the  councils  of  his  party.  In  1904  he  was  an  alternate 
delegate  to  the  democratic  national  convention  at  Kansas  City. 
In  1908  he  was  official  usher  of  the  democratic  national  con- 
vention at  Denver.  He  has  filled  the  office  of  assessor  of  Fre- 
mont township.  His  religious  affiliation  is  with  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church.  He  takes  an  active  interest  in  fraternal 
orders,  being  a  member  of  Middle  Link  lodge  No.  245,  I.  0.  0. 
F.,  Riverside,  Iowa,  Encampment  No.  .112,  Columbus  Junction 
I.  0.  0.  F.,  also  Rebecca  lodge  416,  of  Iowa  City;  M.  B.  A.,  No. 
160,  Lone  Tree.  Mrs.  Eden  is  also  a  member  of  the  latter 
order. 


JOHN  BELL 


The  centennial  year  of  American  independence  witnessed 
the  arrival  in  Boston,  Massachusetts,  of  a  young  Irishman 
twenty-four  years  of  age  named  John  Bell,  a  native  of  County 
Down.  He  was  a  stranger  in  a  strange  land,  but  his  heart  was 
filled  with  the  love  of  lil)erty  and  in  his  soul  burned  the  prin- 
ciples of  true  patriotism.  He  had  the  right  stutf  out  of  which 
to  make  a  good  American.  For  four  years  he  worked  in  the 
city  containing  Faneuil  Hall,  and  his  daily  view  of  Bunker  Hill 
monument  gave  streng-th  to  his  purposes  of  patriotism  and 
-warmed  his  heart  towards  the  country  of  the  oppressed.  Hav- 
ing worshipped  at  Liberty's  cradle,  he  determined  to  journey 
to  the  heart  of  the  great  west,  and  in  March,  1880,  came  to 
Johnson  county,  Iowa,  where  he  bought  and  settled  upon  a 
farm  of  eighty  acres.  His  present  home  stands  upon  those 
eighty  acres,  but  he  has  added  to  his  holdings  yet  other  three 
hundred  and  forty  acres,  so  that  today  he  is  the  possessor  of 
four  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  as  fine  land  as  the  sun  shines 
on  in  the  Mississippi  valley.  From  this  it  will  be  rightly  in- 
ferred that  the  young  Irishman  of  1856  has  made  good  in  the 
land  of  Liberty. 

John  Bell  liked  farming  from  the  beginning,  and  in  addi- 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


297 


tion  to  the  ordinary  work  of  tilling  the  soil  lie  took  up  the 
special  business  of  stock  raising.  In  this  he  was  eminently 
successful.  Today  he  is  rated  as  one  of  the  wealthy  farmers 
of  Johnson  county.  But  in  addition  to  making  money  and 
acquiring  property,  he  has  also  made  friends.  Always  a  good 
fellow,  he  has  not  been  spoiled  by  the  increase  of  wealth,  and 
he  is  held  in  high  esteem  by  those  who  have  the  good  fortune 
of  his  acquaintance,  and  their  name  is  legion. 

In  1879,  in  Boston,  a  romance  of  the  young  Irishman's 
former  residence  there  was  revealed  in  his  marriage  in  Novem- 
ber of  that  year  to  Miss  Susan  Kane,  who,  be  it  known,  is  also 
a  native  of  Ireland  and  came  to  America  in  that  same  centen- 


EESIDENCE   OF    JOHN    BELL 


nial  year,  being  then  a  young  lady.  The  union  of  John  Bell 
and  Susan  Kane  was  the  joining  of  two  faithful  hearts  that 
have  beat  true  as  steel  during  all  these  thirty-five  years. 
Eleven  children  have  made  glad  their  fireside,  eight  of  whom 
are  living:  James  II.,  married  and  living  on  a  farm  in  Fre- 
mont township;  John  A.,  died  when  seventeen  years  old; 
Mary  E.,  now  Mrs.  Chester  M.  Estel,  living  in  Muscatine 
county  on  a  farm ;  Susan  Jane,  now  Mrs.  Ben  Keeler,  living  in 
Fremont  township;  Charles  S.,  residing  at  home,  but  he  has 
recently  purchased  a  farm  in  Fremont  township ;  William,  re- 
siding at  home;  Anne  R.,  attending  high  school  and  residing 


298         HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

at  home;   Margaret,   attending   school   and   living  at  home; 
Rohert  John,  living  at  home;  two  others  died  in  infancy. 

In  politics  Mr.  Bell  is  a  repnblican.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Reformed  chnrch  of  the  United  States.  He  still  resides  on  the 
original  eighty  acres  which  he  honght-  in  1880,  in  Fremont 
township. 


GLAUS  LUTZE 


Motherless  at  three  years  and  fatherless  at  thirteen  years 
of  age,  Clans  Lutze  was  left  to  face  the  realities  of  life's  bat- 
tle in  his  native  German  v. 


At  the  age  of  twenty-one  he  decid- 


KESmENCE  OF  CLAUS  LUTZE 


eel  to  cast  his  fortnnes  in  America.  He  left  Hoi  stein,  his 
birthplace,  in  1855,  and  came  direct  to  Davenport,  Iowa,  where 
he  resided  eleven  years.  Then  he  made  a  visit  to  his  native 
land,  remaining  one  year,  when  he  retnrned  to  Davenport, 
where  he  resided  another  year.  In  1869  he  sold  his  farm  of 
eighty  acres  near  Davenport  and  moved  to  Lincoln  township 
in  Johnson  connty.  There  he  settled  npon  the  farm  npon 
which  he  now  lives.  He  takes  great  interest  in  agricultnral 
matters,  to  which  he  is  devoted  by  natnral  inclination  as  well 
as  training.  He  retired  from  active  business  in  1891,  and  has 
since  devoted  his  time  in  looking  after  property  interests.  He 
continues  to  live  at  the  old  homestead. 


CLAUS  LUT^ 


BIOGRAPHICAL  299 

Our  subject's  parents  were  John  and  Ida  (Kleinwortli) 
Lutze,  natives  of  Germany.  They  had  three  children  besides 
Glaus,  namely:  Henry,  who  now  resides  on  his  father's  old 
homestead  in  Germany;  Wibke,  wife  of  Claus  Behrens,  died 
ten  years  ago;  Anna,  wife  of  Henry  Kruse,  died  about  six 
years  ago.    Neither  of  the  deceased  sisters  ever  left  Germany. 

Mr.  Lutze  was  married  in  1868  to  Miss  Anna  Dieckmann, 
born  in  the  same  i.)lace  in  Germany  as  himself.  They  have  had 
five  children,  two  of  whom  died  in  infancy.  The  names  of  the 
others  are :  Annie,  living  at  home ;  Clare,  who  died  in  1900  at 
the  age  of  twenty-three ;  Minnie,  living  at  home. 

Mr.  Lutze  is  a  republican,  and  has  occupied  the  position  of 
township  trustee  for  six  years.  He  and  his  family  are  mem- 
bers of  the  German  Lutheran  church.  This  German  orphan 
boy,  by  the  exercise  of  industry  and  economy,  coupled  with 
scrupulous  honesty,  has  become  one  of  the  prosperous  farmers 
of  Johnson  county;  he  bears  an  untarnished  reputation,  and 
numbers  his  friends  as  lei'ion. 


WILLIAM  JOHN  KIRKPATRTCK 

.The  American-born  Irishman  takes  as  naturally  to  the  in- 
stitutions of  free  government  as  "a  young  duck  to  water." 
Breathing  the  atmosphere  of  liberty  and  educated  amid  the 
progressive  mentality  of  the  American  public  schools,  all  those 
instincts  of  the  Irishman  tending  to  generosity,  neighborliness, 
integrity,  patriotism,  and  intellectual  progress  are  fully 
aroused  and  given  free  rein  for  development  and  expression. 
It  has  been  quaintly  said  of  the  American  Celt  that  "he  is  not 
a  chip  off  the  old  block  —  he  is  a  new  tree  throughout."  Cer- 
tain it  is  that  the  world  has  come  to  recogiiize  in  the  true 
Irishman,  born  on  American  soil,  a  type  of  rare  citizenship 
\\^orthy  of  the  sacred  name  American.  Almost  without  excep- 
tion such  men  rise  to  distinction  in  their  communities  and  be- 
come moving  factors  in  intellectual,  social,  and  political  life. 

William  John  Kirkpatrick  is  an  American  of  pure  Irish 
blood.  His  father,  David  Kirkpatrick,  and  his  mother,  Eliza 
Jane  Corbett,  were  born  on  the  "ould  sod."  The  history  of 
both  these  honored  children  of  Ireland  has  been  told  in  the 
biography  of  David  Kirkpatrick,  published  elsewhere  in  this 


300         HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

volume.  It  is  a  record  to  inspire  pride  and  satisfaction  in  the 
niinds  of  their  descendants.  Next  to  the  fact  of  his  Irish  par- 
entage the  matter  which  gives  William  John  Kirkpatrick  the 
greatest  feeling  of  pleasure  is  the  fact  that  he  was  born  in 
Fremont  township,  Johnson  county,  Iowa,  on  the  old  farm 
which  was  the  scene  of  his  father's  early  struggles  and  victo- 
ries.   This  event  occurred  February  13,  1866. 

Mr.  Kirkpatrick  had  the  advantages  of  an  academic  educa- 
tion, coupled  with  the  business  training  of  a  thorough  course 
in  the  Iowa  City  Academy  and  Commercial  College,  from 
which  he  graduated  in  1893.     Possessing  fine  qualities  as  a 


EESroENCE  OF  W.   J-.   KIRKPATRICK 

business  man,  the  love  of  the  farm  predominated,  and  William 
John  today  resides  upon  his  farm  southeast  of  Lone  Tree,  a 
prosperous  man,  happy  in  the  possession  of  a  most  estimable 
wife  and  five  bright  children.  His  marriage,  in  1905,  to  Miss 
Anna  McCabe,  a  native  of  Seymour,  Iowa,  daughter  of  William 
McCabe  and  Elizabeth  Lowry,  pioneers  of  Appanoose  county, 
was  most  fortunate.  Five  children,  as  above  indicated,  have 
blessed  the  union:  William  David,  born  June  30,  1906;  Eliza- 
beth Margaret,  born  November  30,  1907;  Annabelle,  born 
March  30,  1909;  Maybell  Eula,  born  July  23,  1910;  Helen 
Gladys,  born  February  7,  1912. 


W*4.U.    K.lR.KP^«vT  Fll  C  K 


KE  NEW  YORK 
'  IBRARY 


PUBLIC  i. 


ASTOR.  LFNOX 
TILD    N   FOU\DA.  IONS 


BIOOBAPHICAL  301 

Mr.  Kirkpatriek's  first  experience  at  farming  was  with  bis 
father,  an  occupation  which  he  renewed  after  his  graduation. 
With  the  exception  of  a  period  following  1895,  when  he  en- 
gaged in  the  grain  business  at  Lone  Tree,  practically  his  en- 
tire life  has  been  spent  as  a  tiller  of  the  soil.  And  tliere  is  no 
more  honoral)le  occupation.  While  a  resident  of  Lone  Tree 
Mr,  Kirkpatrick  was  honored  by  the  election  to  the  position  of 
city  councilman,  a  place  which  he  filled  with  credit.  In  politics 
a  republican,  he  has  stood  always  for  good  government  and 
progress. 

Mr.  Kirkjiatrick  is  an  honored  member  of  the  Masonic  fra- 
ternity. His  local  lodge  is  Abner  No.  535,  of  Lone  Tree,  but 
he  is  also  a  member  of  West  Liberty  Chapter,  Iowa  City 
Knights  Templar,  and  Davenport  Consistory  Scottish  Kites. 
He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Mystic  Shrine  of  Davenport.  He 
is  a  member  of  Eureka  lodge  No.  44, 1.  O.  0.  F.,  Iowa  City,  and 
of  the  Modern  AVoodmen  of  America,  Lone  Tree. 

The  traits  peculiar  to  a  true  American  Irishman  predomi- 
nate in  William  Jolni  Kirkpatrick.  Love  of  country  (which 
involves  pride  of  birth),  love  of  home,  generosity,  loyalty  to 
friends  —  these  are  the  attributes  which  have  made  him  a 
popular,  beloved  citizen  of  I'remont  township.  Some  day  the 
mantle  of  his  honored  father  will  fall  upon  this  only  su.rviving 
son.  That  it  will  lie  borne  unsullied  and  with  distinction  is 
without  question.  The  name  and  the  honor  of  the  Kirkpat- 
ricks  will  rest  secure  under  the  roof-tree  of  William  John,  of 
Fremont  township. 


JACKSON  CORBETT 

Jackson  Corbett  is  an  Irishman  who  has  thrived  in  the  con- 
genial atmosphere  of  American  institutions.  Like  multitudes 
of  his  countrymen,  he  only  needed  the  boon  of  civil  and  relig- 
ious liberty  and  the  virgin  soil  of  ojiportunity  to  enalile  him  to 
reach  the  terminal  of  success.  His  life,  since  he  landed  in 
Johnson  county  in  1875,  then  a  lad  of  eight  years,  has  been 
spent  in  the  neighborhood  of  Lone  Tree,  and  is  an  o]ien  book. 
The  fact  that  he  numbers  his  friends  by  scores  and  that  his 
reputation  for  integrity  in  every  walk  of  life  is  unimpeach- 
able, tells  the  story  of  the  progress  of  the  Irish  lad  in  Iowa. 


302        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

Robert  Corbett,  the  father  of  Jackson,  came  to  America  in 
1865  and  settled  in  Johnson  county  npon  a  farm.  AMien  he 
had  gotten  the  enterprise  well  nnder  way,  he  sent  for  his  fam- 
ily, and  in  1873  his  wife,  Jane  ]McMullin,  and  our  subject  came 
over  and  joined  the  father  in  the  new  home.    There  the  family 


EESmENCE  OF  JACKSON  CORBETT 

has  continued  to  reside  until  the  present.    Father  Corbett  died 
in  1896,  but  the  mother  is  still  living. 

Jackson  Corbett  is  a  republican ;  a  member  of  the  Knights 
of  Pythias  and  of  the  Odd  Fellows  of  Lone  Tree.  His  church 
membership  is  with  the  Reformed  congregation  of  Lone  Tree. 


JOSEPH  R.  GUTHRIE 

Joseph  R.  Guthrie  has  continued  the  business  of  farming  on 
the  old  homestead  taken  up  by  his  father  and  mother  in  Fre- 
mont township  in  1865.  In  this  particular  he  gives  an  example 
of  continuity  worthy  of  emulation  by  the  young  men  of  this 
generation,  and  the  success  which  has  crowned  his  efforts  and 
faithfulness  would  seem  to  be  sufficient  reward  for  almost  any 
ordinary  ambition.  Mr.  Guthrie  was  born  in  Boston,  Massa- 
chusetts, August  25, 1864.  His  parents  were  Andrew  and  Isa- 
bella (Corbett)  Guthrie,  the  former  a  native  of  Scotland  and 
the  latter  of  Ireland.  The  father  and  mother  came  to  America 
about  the  same  time  (1860)  and  were  married  in  this  countrv. 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


303 


(See  sketch  of  the  Kirkpatrick  family.  —  Ed.)  J.  li.  Guthrie's 
parents  came  direct  from  Boston  to  Fremont  township  in  1865, 
he  being  then  about  one  year  old,  and  settled  on  a  part  of  the 
present  farm,  owned  and  operated  by  their  son.  They  had 
two  children :  Joseph  B.,  and  Elizabeth,  teacher  in  the  public 
schools  of  Lone  Tree.    The  father  and  mother  are  both  dead. 


RESmENCE  OF  J.  R.  GUTHRIE 


Mr.  Guthrie  married  Miss  Nellie  Babbitt,  a  native  of  Appa- 
noose county,  Iowa.  They  have  six  children:  Andrew  S., 
Alida  Grace,  Isabella,  May,  John  Wesley,  and  Margaret  Jane. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  ]\lethodist  Episcopal  church,  and  is  a 
republican  in  politics.  His  fraternal  affiliation  is  with  the 
Knights  of  Pythias,  Odd  Fellows,  M.  B.  A.,  and  ^\.  AV.  A.,  be- 
ing a  member  of  the  local  lodges  of  Lone  Tree,  Iowa. 


LEVI  P.  BURR 


A  statement  of  the  history  of  Nelson  and  Lydia  Burr,  the 
parents  of  Levi  P.  Burr,  will  be  found  in  the  biography  of 
John  P.  Burr,  youngest  brother  of  Levi  P.  Burr,  published  in 
this  volume.  The  attention  of  the  reader  is  called  thereto  in 
connection  with  this  sketch.  Levi  P.  Burr  is  the  oldest  sur- 
\dving  child  of  Nelson  and  Lydia  Burr,  and  was  born  in  the 
native  state  of  his  parents,  Massachusetts,  December  9,  1846, 
in  Berkshire  county.    He  attended  the  ''village  school  not  far 


304       HISTOKY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

away  'mid  Berkshire  bills,"  and  devoted  bis  first  practical 
energies  industrially  in  assisting  bis  father,  who  was  a  farmer. 
He  accompanied  his  parents  to  Rock  Island  county,  Illinois, 
in  1860,  where  he  continued  the  business  of  farming  until  1865. 
On  April  5th  of  that  year  be  enlisted  in  Company  H  of  the 
Forty-fifth  Illinois  Regiment  of  Veteran  Volunteers,  answer- 
ing Abraham  Lincoln's  last  call  for  volunteers  ''for  one  year, 
or  until  the  close  of  the  war."  The  surrender  of  Lee  on  April 
9th  virtually  closed  the  rebellion,  and  Mr.  Burr  was  honorably 
discharged  on  July  12tb  of  the  same  year.  He  immediately 
returned  to  the  old  home  in  Rock  Island  county,  Illinois,  and 


RESIDENCE  OF  T.KVI    P.   BURR 


again  took  up  the  business  of  farming.  This  be  continued  until 
1872,  when  he  went  to  Nebraska  and  took  up  a  homestead  of 
160  acres,  remaining  thereupon  until  1882,  when  he  sold  ]iis 
homestead  and  bought  the  farm  in  Lincoln  townshi]i  where  be 
now  resides.  This  he  has  farmed  continuously  until  the  pres- 
ent time. 

In  1882  Mr.  Burr  was  married  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Matthie- 
son,  a  native  of  Germany,  who  came  to  America  with  her  par- 
ents when  seven  years  of  age.  They  have  three  sons :  Clar- 
ence N.  and  Charles  H.,  living  at  home ;  Glenn  W.,  married,  to 
Miss  Lilian  Holdeman  of  Lone  Tree,  and  residing  on  a  farm 
near  Iowa  City.  (Fee  sketch  of  Jesse  Holdeman  in  this  vol- 
ume.— Ed.) 


BIOGRAPHICAL  305 

Mr.  Burr's  first  purchase  of  land  in  Lincoln  township  con- 
sisted of  120  acres.  This  is  his  present  hon^e.  He  has  added 
to  his  holdings,  and  now  owns  -t50  acres  in  Johnson  councy  and 
fifty  acres  in  Washington  county.  He  is  a  stockholder  in  the 
River  Junction  Lumber  company  and  the  Lone  Tree  Savings 
bank.  This  l)ank  was  the  first  one  organized  at  Lone  Tree. 
Mr.  Burr  is  one  of  its  directors.  Of  late  years  he  has  been 
directing  his  attention  to  the  feeding  and  shipping  of  cattle 
for  the  market,  the  shipments  from  his  farms  annually  lieing 
in  excess  of  one  hundred  head.  Mr.  Burr  may  be  fairly  said 
to  be  a  typical  successful  Iowa  farmer.  He  is  a  fine  type  of 
manhood,  an  example  to  young  men  of  what  can  be  accom- 
plished by  industry  and  honesty. 

His  political  convictions  have  aligned  him  with  the  repub- 
lican party,  and  he  has  been  honored  with  numerous  local 
offices.     The  familv  attend  the  Reformed  church  of  Lone  Tree. 


DAVID  H.  THOMAS 

David  H.  Thomas,  deceased,  late  of  Lone  Tree,  Iowa,  was 
a  carpenter  by  trade  and  worked  at  that  occupation  until  al)out 
eight  months  prior  to  his  death,  July  4,  1903.  He  was  a  native 
of  Marcy,  New  York,  where  he  was  born  in  i\ugust,  1833.  His 
father.  Even  D.  Thomas,  was  a  native  of  Wales,  and  was 
twelve  months  of  age  when  his  parents  came  to  America.  Our 
subject's  mother,  Sarah  Owens,  was  a  native  of  Rhode  Island. 
Following  their  marriage,  this  excellent  couyile  settled  at 
Marcj^,  New  York,  where  they  resided  until  their  death.  They 
had  seven  children,  John,  William,  Jesse,  Even,  our  subject, 
Benjamin,  and  Sarah  Ann.  All  are  now  deceased^  except 
Even  who  is  residing  in  LTtica,  New  York. 

David  H.  Thomas  married  Mi§s  Elisa  Bemister  on  Decem- 
ber 30,  1856,  who  was  born  June  1, 1839,  at  Wilshire,  Englt-nd, 
and  came  with  her  parents  to  America  when  she  was  eleven 
years  of  age.  The  Bemister  family  also  settled  at  Marcv, 
New  York,  and  the  parents  lived  and  died  there.  There  were 
nine  children  in  the  family,  of  whom  three  died  in  infancy. 
The  survivors  are:  Ann,  Eliza,  Harriet,  Emma,  Alfred,  and 
Nettie.  David  H.  and  his  wife  had  eight  children :  Edward 
L.,  married  and  living  in  Lone  Tree;  Clara,  now  ^Frs.  C.  B. 


306 


HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 


Andrews,  living  at  Oakland,  California;  Frederick,  marrietl 
and  living-  in  Fremont  township ;  Artlinr  and  Alfred,  living  at 
liome ;  Louisa,  the  oldest,  died  when  she  was  three  and  one-half 
years  old ;  Cornelia,  died  at  the  age  of  four  and  one-half  years ; 
Jennie,  died  when  three  and  one-half  years  of  age. 

Mr.  Thomas  was  a  strong  repnl)]ican.  He  was  lieutenant 
and  captain  of  the  New  York  National  Guards  at  Utica,  New 
York,  for  about  thirty  years.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Knights 
of  Pythias  at  Lone  Tree,  and  was  honored  with  the  highest 
office  in  his  lodge.    His  character  was  unim))oachabie.  and  the 


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RESIDENCE   OF   MRS.   DAVID   H.   THOMAS 

universal  verdict  at  this  death  was  that  Lone  Tree  had  lost 
one  of  its  best  citizens.  His  widow,  beloved  by  her  children 
and  friends,  is  a  resident  of  Fremont  township. 


HARRIS  CIIILDS  BUELL 

On  February  29, 1904,  the  cashier  of  the  Lone  Tree  Savings 
bank,  at  Lone  Tree,  Iowa,  committed  suicide,  and  the  question 
of  a  competent  successor  for  this  important  position  became 
at  once  important.  The  president  of  the  Lone  Tree  bank  tele- 
graphed to  the  Cedar  Rapids  National  bank  for  its  advice  as 
to  a  candidate  for  the  vacancy.  The  latter  institution  replied 
by  sending  at  once  one  of  its  trusted  employes,  Harris  Cliilds 
Buell,  who  had  been  in  its  service  three  years  under  the  tutor- 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


307 


ship  of  that  able  banker,  Rali^h  Van  Vechten,  who  is  now  vice- 
president  of  the  Continental  &  Commercial  National  bank,  of 
Chicago,  the  largest  bank  of  that  city.  Mr,  Bnell  ajjpeared  at 
Lone  Tree  the  next  day,  and  was  at  once  engaged  for  the  posi- 
tion. The  judgment  of  his  sponsors  has  been  abmidantly  vin- 
dicated, for  he  is  now  in  his  ninth  year  of  service  as  cashier, 
and  during  his  incumbency  the  deposits  of  the  Lone  Tree  bank 
have  increased  fourfold  and  the  stock  has  doubled  in  value. 

Harris  Childs  Buell  is  a  native  son  of  Iowa:  born  at  Mar- 
shalltown,  July  10,  1879.     He  received  his  education  in  his 


KESIDENCE  OF   HARRIS  CHILDS  BUELL 


native  town  and  at  Mechanicsville,  graduating  from  the  high 
school  at  the  latter  place  in  1897.  The  fall  following  his  gradu- 
ation he  began  teaching  in  the  public  schools  of  Jones  county, 
an  occupation  which  he  continued  in  the  same  neighborhood 
for  three  years.  In  1900  he  entered  the  employ  of  the  Cedar 
Rapids  National  bank,  Cedar  Rapids,  Iowa,  with  the  result 
above  stated. 

Samuel  Thompson  Buell,  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  at 
Detroit,  Michigan,  May  4,  1838,  and  Bella  Henrietta  Childs, 
his  mother,  was  born  at  Suffield,  Connecticut,  October  26,  1848. 
The  elder  Buell  heard  and  responded  to  the  first  call  of  Abra- 
ham Lincoln  for  75,000  volunteers  to  serve  three  months  in 
defense  of  the  Union,  and  enlisted  as  a  private  in  Captain 
Ripley's  Tenth  Company,  First  Vermont  Regiment  of  Volun- 


308        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

teers,  serving  the  full  time.  Afterwards  lie  enlisted  for  three 
years  in  tlie  Seventh  Vermont  Regiment  of  Volunteer  Infan- 
try, and  served  as  quartermaster  sergeant  and  lieutenant  in 
Company  D.  At  the  close  of  the  war  he  came  to  Iowa  and 
engaged  in  merchandising  at  Mechanicsville  and  Marshall- 
town. 

The  genealogy  of  the  Buell  family  in  America  dates  from 
William  Buell,  "the  immigrant,"  who  was  horn  in  Chesterton, 
Huntingdonshire,  England,  in  1610,  and  came  to  America  in 
1630,  settling  at  Dorchester,  Massachusetts.  In  1635  he  re- 
moved to  Windsor,  Connecticut,  where  he  died.  His  wife, 
Mary,  died  at  Windsor,  Septemher  1,  168-1-.  From  William 
Buell  the  line  of  descent  is  as  follows : 

Samuel  Buell  and  Deborah  Griswold. 

Captain  Peter  Buell  and  second  wife,  Martha  Huntington, 
widow  of  Noah  Grant. 

Major  Elias  Buell  and  Sarah  Turner. 

Elias  Buell  and  Catherine  Thompson. 

Samuel  Thompson  Buell  and  Jane  Briggs. 

Samuel  Thompson  Buell  and  Delia  Henrietta  Childs. 

On  March  11,  1906,  Harris  Childs  Buell  and  Miss  Gladyce 
Elizabeth  Stoffel  were  married  at  Mechanicsville,  Iowa.  The 
bride  is  a  daughter  of  Henry  P.  Stoifel,  born  in  Prussia  June 
30,  1846,  and  Louisa  Elizabeth  Jennings,  born  in  Licking 
county,  Ohio,  December  12,  1850.  Gladyce  Elizabeth  was  born 
at  Mechanicsville,  Iowa,  October  28,  1884.  Mr.  Stoftel  came  to 
America  with  his  parents  in  1855,  and  settled  at  Racine,  Wis- 
consin; thence  came  to  Iowa  in  1866  and  engaged  in  the  boot 
and  shoe  business. 

One  child,  Louise  Gladyce,  born  at  Lone  Tree,  July  11,  1907, 
is  the  fruit  of  the  marriage  of  Harris  Childs  Buell  and  Gladyce 
Elizabeth  Stoffel.  The  couple  are  now  occupying  a  modern 
new  home  in  Lone  Tree,  to  which  the)^  removed  in  December, 
1911,  from  the  residence  which  Mr.  Buell  purchased  at  the  time 
of  his  marriag'e. 

Mr.  Buell  has  a  brother,  Samuel  Kenneth,  who  is  married 
and  residing  at  Independence,  Iowa.  They  are  the  only  chil- 
dren. On  both  sides  of  the  Buell  household  the  ancestors 
were  participants  in  the  Revolutionary  War.    Samuel  Thomp- 


BIOGRAPHICAL  309 

son  Biiell  is  a  member  of  the  Sons  of  the  American  Revolution, 
as  well  as  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic. 

Our  subject  is  a  stockholder  in  the  Lone  Tree  Savings  liank 
and  owns  considerable  real  estate  in  the  village.  He  has  been 
honored  with  pul)lic  otlice,  having  been  elected  treasurer  of 
the  town  of  Lone  Tree,  Iowa,  in  1912,  to  serve  for  two  years. 
He  joined  the  Masonic  fraternity  in  1904,  and  has  held  the 
office  of  treasurer  in  his  lodge  for  four  years.  In  1903  he 
united  with  the  Modern  Brotherhood  of  America,  and  has 
served  as  secretary  of  his  lodge  for  seven  years ;  was  elected 
a  delegate  to  the  supreme  convention  of  this  order,  held  in 
Denver  in  August,  1911.  He  joined  the  Knights  of  Pj^thias  in 
1905,  has  attained  the  Past  Chancellor's  degree  and  is  at 
present  Keeper  of  Records  and  Seal.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Royal  Arch  Masons  at  Iowa  City.  Mr.  Buell  and  his  family 
are  attendants  at  the  Reformed  church.  He  is  universally 
respected,  and  takes  a  pardonable  pride  in  his  home  and  home 
town. 


JAMES  W.  LUX 


One  of  the  successful  young  business  men  of  Ijone  Tree, 
Iowa,  is  James  W.  Lux,  luml)er  merchant,  who  was  born  in 
Germany  June  18,  1877.  His  parents,  John  and  Mary  (Kubi- 
chek)  Lux,  came  to  America  when  he  was  eight  years  of  age 
and  went  direct  to  Johnson  county,  Iowa,  where  they  located 
at  Iowa  City.  The  father  was  a  cabinet  maker,  and  secured 
immediate  employment  at  his  trade  in  the  State  University, 
where  he  worked  for  thirteen  years.  Thereafter  he  took  up 
carpenter  work.  In  his  childhood  days  young  James,  who  was 
the  only  child,  attended  the  ]niblic  schools  of  Iowa  City.  When 
he  had  grown  to  sturdv  vouth  he  worked  in  a  grocerv  store 
in  that  city.  Thus  he  early  imbibed  the  principles  of  merchan- 
dising which  have  enabled  him  to  make  a  success  as  a  business 
man.  Concluding  that  knowledge  of  craftsmanship  would  be 
a  distinct  advantage,  he  learned  the  moulder's  trade,  working 
thereat  for  six  years.  An  opportunity  presenting  for  entering 
the  lumber  business  at  Lone  Tree,  he  took  up  this  line  and  has 
been  engaged  therein  ever  since,  doing  a  thriving  and  prosper- 
ous business. 


310        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

In  1899  Mr.  Lux  was  married  to  Miss  Clara  B.  Syble,  a 
native  of  Iowa  City,  dangbter  of  Michael  and  Barbara  Syble. 
Their  pleasant  home  life  attests  the  happiness  of  their  union. 

Politically  Mr.  Lux  is  a  democrat  and  takes  a  true  citizen's 
interest  in  matters  affecting  the  welfare  of  government,  both 


EESIDENCE   OF    JAMES    \V.   LUX 

local  and  general.  He  is  an  active  worker  in  the  fraternal 
orders  of  Lone  Tree,  being  a  member  of  Omega  lodge  No.  728, 
I.  O.  0.  F.,  Lone  Tree  lodge  No.  334,  K.  of  P.,  and  Wapashiek 
tribe  No.  122,  Imp.  Order  Eedmen,  Iowa  City.  Socially  and 
commercially  he  stands  high  in  his  community,  being  esteemed 
and  respected  by  all. 


JOHN  MUMM 


One  of  the  sons  of  Germanv  who  has  made  good  in  America 
is  John  Mumm,  son  of  Henry  and  Christina  (Rague)  Mumm. 
He  was  born  June  1,  1826,  and  left  the  Fatherland  for  the  new 
world  when  twenty-four  years  of  age.  Both  his  parents  died 
in  Germany.  John  Mumm  first  settled  near  Chicago,  Illinois, 
and  later  in  Rock  Island  countv,  Illinois.  He  lived  in  the  lat- 
ter  county  about  twenty  years.  In  1872  he  removed  to  John- 
son county  and  purchased  a  farm  of  eighty  acres.  This  he 
cultivated  for  ten  years,  when  he  sold  it,  immediately  buying 
another  farm  of  276  acres. 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


311 


In  1866  he  was  married  to  Margaret  Mesfser,  a  native  of 
Germany,  who  bore  him  eleven  children,  two  of  whom  died  in 
infancy.  The  surviving-  cliildren  are :  Minnie,  now  Mrs.  Ed- 
ward Price,  living  in  West  Liberty;  Edward,  married  and  liv- 
ing in  Lone  Tree;  John,  married  and  living  in  St.  Paul,  Min- 


RESIDENCE  OF  JOHN   MUMM 

nesota,  where  he  has  a  government  position,  was  a  soldier  in 
the  Spanish- American  war;  Louis,  living  in  Moline,  Illinois; 
May,  now  Mrs.  Gustaf  Herring  of  Lone  Tree,  Iowa;  Emma, 
living  at  home;  Nellie,  living  at  home;  liarry^  living  in  Can- 
ada ;  Gertrude,  a  teacher  for  four  years  in  West  Liberty. 

Mrs.  Mumm  died  in  1895.  Her  husband,  at  the  advanced 
age  of  eighty,  is  a  resident  of  Lone  Tree,  respected  by  all  who 
knoAv  him  and  beloved  by  his  children. 


CHARLES  PETRU 

Charles  Petru,  a  retired  farmer  of  Lincoln  township,  now 
•  residing  at  Lone  Tree,  was  born  in  Bohemia,  in  October,  1857. 
He  is  a  son  of  John  and  Katherine  (Thomas)  Petru,  natives 
of  Bohemia,  and  caiiie  with  his  parents  to  America  when  a  lad 
of  fourteen.  The  family  first  settled  in  Chicago,  where  they 
resided  something  over  two  years.  There  the  elder  Petru 
worked  at  his  trade  of  cabinet  making.  This  occupation  he 
also  continued  a  few  years  later  when  the  family  removed  to 


312 


HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 


Iowa  City.  Tiring  of  town  life  and  feeling  a  desire  to  pursue 
the  business  of  agriculture,  John  Petru  bought  a  farm  in  New- 
port township  and  moved  thereu]ion.  There  he  and  his  good 
wife  spent  the  remainder  of  their  lives,  he  dying  in  1907  and 
she  in  1908.  They  had  five  children :  John,  living  in  Chicago ; 
Frank,  living  in  Chicago ;  our  subject ;  James,  who  was  acci- 
dentally killed  upon  the  farm  in  Newport  township  a  good 
many  years  ago;  Mary,  now  ]\Irs.  Jake  Schonfelder,  living  in 
Graham  township. 

When  a  lad  our  subject  learned  the  watchmaker's  trade. 
He  worked  at  this  business  two  years  in  Chicago,  but  ori  his 
arrival  at  Iowa  City  worked  at  the  gunsmith  trade  temporari- 


r- 

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^^  '"^  "^^tfr 

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RESIDENCE   Ui    CHARLEr?   PETKU 


ly.  Later  he  took  to  farm  life,  and  worked  at  that  lousiness 
until  he  retired  in  the  s))ring  of  1911.  He  bought  his  home 
farm  in  Lincoln  township  in  1888,  which  he  still  owns.  In 
July,  1887,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  Parezek,  born  in 
Johnson  county  in  October,  1871,  daughter  of  Joseph  and 
Annie  (Hradek)  Parezek,  l)oth  natives  of  Bohemia.  Mrs. 
Petru 's  parents  both  came  direct  to  Iowa  City  on  landing  in 
America  from  their  native  country.  They  at  once  settled  upon 
a  farm  in  Newport  township,  where  they  lived  about  twelve 
years  and  then  bought  a  farm  in  Lincoln  township.  They  re- 
sided on  the  latter  place  until  1906,  when  they  removed  to 
Iowa  City,  where  they  now  reside.    Mr.  and  Mrs.  Parezek  had 


BIOGRAPHICAL  313 

nine  children:  Josepii,  living  on  a  farm  in  Pleasant  Valley 
township;  Frank,  living  on  a  farm  in  Big  drove  township; 
Charles,  living  on  a  farm  in  Lincoln  township;  James,  living 
on  a  farm  in  Scott  township;  Emil,  living  on  a  farm  in  Lin- 
coln township;  John,  living  on  a  farm  in  Scott  township; 
Mary,  wife  of  our  subject;  Annie,  now  Mrs.  John  Nnizel,  liv- 
ing about  seven  miles  northwest  of  Iowa  City;  Anna,  now  Mrs. 
Fred  Timmerman,  residing  with  her  i)arents  at  Iowa  City, 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Charles  Petru  have  five  children:  Charles, 
living  on  his  father's  farm  in  Lincoln  township;  George,  Bes- 
sie, Ernest,  and  Arthur,  all  living  at  Iiome.  Mr.  Petru  is  a 
member  of  the  democratic  party.  Fraternally  he  is  affiliated 
with  the  M.  W.  A.  of  Lone  Tree.  The  family  are  members  of 
St.  Wenceslaus  Catholic  church.  Mr.  Petrie  is  the  owner  of  a 
beautiful  residence  at  Lone  Tree,  and  is  enjoying  the  fruits  of 
his  toil  while  yet  in  the  noonday  of  life. 


PEOF.  WILLIAM  A.  WILLIS 

Professor  William  A.  Willis,  princii)al  of  the  Iowa  CUty 
Academy,  has  had  wide  experience  as  a  principal  and  sujjerin- 
tendent  of  public  schools  in  addition  to  his  long  service  as  the 
administrative  head  of  Iowa  City's  famous  preparatory 
school.  He  is  an  alumnus  of  Beloit  College,  A.  B.  1862,  A.  M, 
1865,  and  began  his  public  school  work  at  La  Salle,  Illinois,  in 
186-1-,  where  he  was  superintendent  of  city  schools  from  186-1- 
to  1868.  From  1868  to  1870  he  was  principal  of  West  Des 
Moines  schools,  and  from  1873  to  1884  (11  years)  was  superin- 
tendent of  schools  at  Baraboo,  Wisconsin.  In  1884  he  became 
superintendent  of  schools  of  Iowa  City,  an  office  which  he  held 
until  1891,  when  he  became  i)rincipal  of  the  Iowa  City  Acad- 
emy, a  position  which  he  now  holds,  having  just  entered  upon 
his  twenty-first  year  of  service.  Professor  Willis  is  widely 
known  and  esteemed  as  a  schoolmaster ;  he  is  a  member  of  the 
Johnson  Countv  and  the  State  Teachers  Associations,  in  both 
of  which  lie  takes  an  active  interest,  and  is  a  life  member  of 
the  National  Educational  Association. 

Professor  Willis  was  born  in  Madison  county,  New  York. 
He  is  the  son  of  Rev.  E.  D.  Willis,  who  was  a  Presbyterian 


314        HISTOEY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

minister.  His  father  removed  to  Eockford,  Illinois,  in  1851, 
where  our  subject  spent  his  boyhood  days.  Following  his 
graduation  at  Beloit  in  1862,  young  Willis  enlisted  in  August 
of  that  year  in  Company  K,  Seventy-fourth  Eegunent  Illinois 
Volunteer  Infantry.  He  went  to  the  front,  but  was  discharged 
in  1863  on  account  of  disability.  This  was  a  great  disappoint- 
ment to  him,  for  his  heart  was  set  on  serving  his  country  in 
that  great  struggle  for  freedom  and  the  preservation  of  the 
Union.  However,  his  friends  who  have  taken  note  of  his  great 
services  and  usefulness  as  an  educator  are  inclined  to  the 
opinion  that  nowhere  else  could  (uir  subject  have  performed  a 
greater  work  for  his  country  or  his  fellow  men  than  he  has 
been  permitted  to  perform  during  his  long  service  in  the 
schoolroom.  With  no  purpose  of  jest,  they  insist  that  his  long 
training  of  the  ''young  idea  how  to  shoot"  has  done  more  to 
preserve  the  citadel  of  liberty  than  he  possibly  could  have  done 
by  observing  the  manual  of  arms  on  a  southern  Ijattlefield. 

Professor  Willis  married  Miss  Laura  E.  Eehkopf,  a  sister 
of  the  Grand  Eecorder  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W.  of  Iowa.  Seven  chil- 
dren have  blessed  their  home,  all  living  at  this  writing.  Six 
are  graduates  of  the  State  University  of  Iowa.  One  daughter 
is  the  wife  of  Professor  Nutting  of  the  S.  U.  I.  Three  sons 
are  professional  men,  one  an  electrical  engineer,  another  a 
civil  engineer,  and  a  third  a  physician.  Miss  Bertha  Willis, 
B.  S.,  assists  her  father  as  a  teacher  of  botany,  zoology,  his- 
tory, and  economv  in  the  Iowa  Citv  Academv. 

Our  subject  is  the  only  descendant  of  his  parents,  both  of 
whom  died  in  Baraboo,  Wisconsin.  Like  his  father,  he  chose 
the  Presbyterian  church.  His  interest  in  religious  work  is 
proven  by  the  fact  that  he  is  an  elder  of  the  First  Presbyterian 
church  of  Iowa  City,  of  which  he  has  been  a  member  since  his 
arrival  in  the  city.  Professor  Willis  resides  at  308  Church 
street,  which  has  been  his  home  for  a  number  of  vears. 


MALCOLM  GLENN  WYEE 

The  present  efficient  librarian  of  the  Iowa  State  University, 
at  Iowa  City,  has  been  prepared  by  years  of  study  and  expe- 
rience to  fill  his  present  responsible  position.  He  holds  the 
degree  of  B.  L.  S.,  which  he  received  in  1903,  upon  completing- 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


315 


a  course  in  the  New  York  State  Library  Scliool  at  Albany,  one 
of  the  best  institutions  of  its  kind  in  the  United  States.  Tie 
had  previously  received  other  degrees,  having  won  that  of 
B.  A.  when  he  graduated  from  the  State  University  of  Minne- 
sota in  1899,  and  that  of  M.  A.  from  that  institution  in  1901. 
For  two  years  after  completing  his  classical  education  he  held 
a  position  in  the  First  State  Bank  at  Red  Lake  Falls,  Minne- 
sota, but  did  not  feel  satisfied  with  his  environments  and  fu- 
ture prospects,  so  decided  to  take  up  the  library  course,  in 
which  he  felt  a  strong  interest,  and  for  which  line  of  work  he 
has  proven  himself  peculiarly  well  fitted.    He  has  thus  gravi- 


RESIDENCE    OF    M.\L,C0LM    GLENN    WYER 


tated  to  the  class  of  work  for  which  his  personal  gifts  and 
abilities  have  given  him  a  strong  attraction,  and  for  which  he 
has  received  the  most  thorough  training.  During  1903  and 
1904  he  was  librarian  of  Colorado  College  at  Colorado 
Springs,  and  assumed  the  duties  of  his  present  position  in  Sep- 
tember, 1904,  through  api)ointment.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
American  Library  Association,  the  Iowa  Library  Association, 
of  which  he  was  elected  president  in  October,  1910;  of  The 
State  Historical  Society,  and  of  the  Beta  Theta  Pi,  a  univer- 
sity fraternity.  He  has  a  good  standing  with  the  community 
and  is  highly  regarded  among  members  of  university  circles. 


316        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

Mr.  Wyer  is  a  native  of  Concordia,  Kansas,  born  Ang-ust  21, 
1877,  son  of  James  I.  and  Ella  E.  (Glenn)  Wyer,  now  living 
at  Excelsior,  on  Lake  Minnetonka,  ^linnesota,  AVlien  lie  was 
abont  fonr  years  of  age  bis  parents  moved  to  Red  Lake  Falls, 
wbere  tbey  lived  from  1881  nntil  1890,  tben  went  to  Minne- 
apolis. Malcolm  (1.  Wyer  attended  tbe  public  schools  in  the 
latter  city  and  graduated  from  Central  high  school  in  1895. 
The  parents  have  lived  at  Excelsior  some  seventeen  years. 
The  father  was  formerly  engaged  in  banking,  having  spent 
the  larger  part  of  his  life  in  this  occupation,  but  is  now  a  hard- 
ware merchant.    There  were  seven  children  in  the  family. 

In  1906  Mr.  Wyer  was  married,  in  Wisconsin,  to  Miss  Char- 
lotte M.  Spalding,  of  Lincoln,  Nebraska,  daughter  of  F.  M.  and 
Julia  (Kingman)  Spalding,  the  former  a  son  of  Dr.  Phineas 
Spalding,  a  noted  physician  of  New  Hampshire.  Dr.  Phineas 
Spalding  practiced  many  years  in  New  Hampshire,  and  be- 
came one  of  the  leading  physicians  of  his  part  of  New  Eng- 
land. F.  M.  Spalding  was  born  at  Haverhill,  New  Hampshire, 
and  his  wife  in  Vermont.  One  daughter  has  been  born  to 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wver,  Madeline.  Thev  are  members  of  the  First 
Presbyterian  church,  Mr.  W^yer  being  superintendent  of  the 
Sunday  school.  They  are  well  known  in  various  circles  and 
have  won  many  warm  friends  in  the  city.  ]Mr.  Wyer  is  much 
interested  in  matters  of  a  historical  or  literary  nature,  being 
especially  mindful  of  the  work  of  The  State  Historical  So- 
ciety, which  has  done  much  to  preserve  and  perpetuate  early 
history  which  is  of  great  value  to  present  and  future  genera- 
tions. 


JOSEPH  A.  SHALLA 

It  has  passed  into  a  proverb  that  the  Bohemian-Americans 
of  eastern  Iowa  are  setting  the  pace  of  success.  On  the  farm, 
in  the  storeroom,  in  the  counting  house,  in  craftsmanship,  in 
manufacturing,  in  the  arts,  in  education,  the  story  is  the 
same  —  unceasing,  exceptional,  unanimous  success.  It  is  a 
situation  commanding  the  attention  of  economists  and  their 
admiration  likewise.  Historians  of  racial  characteristics  and 
the  congenial  influences  of  American  conditions  thereupon 
will  find  data  for  interesting  theses  in  the  rise  and  progress  of 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


317 


tlie  Bohemian  people  in  Iowa.  It  is  not  within  the  province  of 
the  biographical  writer  to  enter  npon  a  discussion  of  the  sub- 
ject. He  can  only  wonder  at  its  aspects  in  passing'.  For  pur- 
poses of  timely  illustration  it  is  sufficient  to  refer  to  the  several 
biographical  sketches  of  successful  Bohemians  contained  in 
this  History  of  Johnson  county.  The  histories  of  adjacent, 
counties  will  be  found  to  illumine  the  subject  still  further. 

Joseph  A.  Shalhi  is  a  native  of  Iowa  City,  and  is  proud  of 
the  fact;  but  it  is  iuconceivable  that  he  is  not  also  proud  of  the 
companion  fact  that  his  parents  were  born  in  Bohemia.    In  his 


RESmENCE  or  JOSEPH  A.   SHALLA 


own  person  he  combines  the  elemental  ingredients  of  the  suc- 
cess of  his  race  above  referred  to  —  Iowa  and  Bohemia.  The 
working  out  of  his  life  story,  after  this  first  statement,  be- 
comes essentially  mere  detail.  It  is  like  a  simple  deduction  in 
logic:  Bohemians  are  successful;  Iowa  is  the  place  of  their 
success ;  therefore,  a  Bohemian  born  in  Iowa  must  become  a 
success.  Enough  for  deductive  reasoning.  Back  of  the  pre- 
mise, the  sequence,  and  the  conclusion,  however,  there  must 
stand  the  personal  equation,  and  that  takes  us  from  logic  to 
algebra  in  the  analysis  of  our  subject,  which  is  changing  text- 


318        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IO^VA 

books  in  the  middle  of  our  biograpliical  semester  witli  a  ven- 


geance. 


Joseph  A.  Shalla  is  worthy  of  this  rhetorical  flourish.  He 
is  one  of  the  really  self-made  young  men  of  Iowa  City.  The 
comparison  is  commonplace,  but  not  odious.  There  is  no  point 
of  shame  along  the  highway  of  honorable  success  through  self 
effort.  The  purpose  of  every  original,  ambitious,  dynamic 
man  is  to  achieve  victory  —  and  the  way  is  open,  the  pathway 
clear,  the  honors  transparent  —  just  as  certainly  today  as 
thev  have  ever  been  in  the  vesterdavs.  Mr,  Shalla  has  trod  a 
beaten  path,  but  his  footsteps  are  discernible,  because  like 
every  other  traveler  on  that  highway,  he  has  walked  alone. 

The  parents  of  Mr.  Shalla  are  Anthony  and  Mary  (Maley) 
Shalla,  humble  but  honest  and  industrious  natives  of  Bohemia. 
The  father  has  pursued  the  blacksmith  trade  in  Iowa  City  dur- 
ing all  his  residence  here.  The  mother  came  overland  in  a 
wagon  from  Burlington,  Iowa,  with  her  i)arents.  Three  sons 
and  one  daughter  constitute  the  family  of  Anthony  and  Mary 
Shalla,  all  born  in  Iowa  City.  Joseph  A.  received  his  educa- 
tion in  the  Iowa  City  i)ublic  schools,  and  supplemented  this 
with  a  conunercial  course  in  the  Business  college,  graduating 
in  the  class  of  1886. 

Mr.  Shalla  began  and  has  continued  his  career  as  a  banker 
in  the  Johnson  County  Savings  bank.  His  first  position  was 
that  of  clerk  of  collections,  from  which  he  was  promoted  to 
bookkeeper.  January  1,  1907,  he  was  further  promoted  to  the 
position  of  assistant  cashier,  which  office  he  now  occupies. 
His  constituents  in  the  democratic  party  saw  fit  to  select  him 
as  their  nominee  for  the  office  of  city  treasurer.  He  was 
elected  and  served  from  1905  to  1909,  two  terms. 

Mr.  Shalla  is  hapi^ily  married  to  Miss  Anna  M.  Parizek,  of 
Iowa  City,  of  which  union  one  daughter  has  been  born,  Edna 
Mildred.  The  Shalla  family  are  members  of  the  Catholic 
church  of  Iowa  City.  Our  sul)ject  owns  his  beautiful  residence 
on  Church  street.  Young,  energetic,  resourceful,  the  future  is 
before  him  with  inviting  possibilities.  He  is  on  the  highway, 
the  end  of  which  is  competence,  peace,  and  honorable  old  age. 
Every  friend  of  his,  and  they  are  legion,  will  wish  him  God- 
speed to  the  terminus. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  319 

DANIEL  CORLETT 

Among  the  liardy  band  of  pioneers  who  "beat  the  railway 
builders  into  Iowa  City"  was  Daniel  Corlett,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch.  Mr.  Corlett  utilized  the  iron  horse  in  his  west- 
ward journey  from  Ohio  to  Davenport,  Iowa,  in  1855,  as  far  as 
the  steed  traveled  at  that  time ;  but  from  Davenport  to  Iowa 
City  lie  was  compelled  to  continue  his  journey  by  wagon.  Even 
this  was  a  great  improvement  on  the  round-about  steamboat 
rides  and  ox-team  journeys  of  the  first  settlers,  and  Mr.  Cor- 
lett reckoned  himself  quite  an  up-to-date  traveler  in  his  day. 
But,  even  with  all  the  modern  prestige  of  a  railway  journey 
from  Ohio  to  Davenport,  ]Mr.  Corlett  reached  Iowa  in  time  to 
be  registered  among  its  pioneers  and  to  write  his  name  in 
honorable  letters  upon  the  ])age  of  its  history.  The- briefness 
of  duration  when  expressed  in  terms  of  development  seems 
amazing.  Mr.  Corlett  outran  the  iron  horse  in  the  race  to 
Iowa  City  by  a  year,  and  yet  in  the  fifty-six  years  intervening 
between  his  arrival  and  the  (hite  of  this  writing,  the  entire 
continent  has  been  s}>un  over  with  the  "unl)reakable  webs  of 
steel,"  and  the  most  distant  outposts  of  what  was  in  his  day 
the  dim  frontier  of  the  nation  have  became  mighty  cities, 
shrieking  with  the  clamor  of  the  descendants  of  the  first  loco- 
motive. It  seems  fortunate  that  Pioneer  Corlett  and  his  brave 
compatriots  reached  the  safe  and  solid  ground  of  Iowa  City 
when  they  did ;  for  in  view  of  the  wonderful  speed  with  which 
the  mighty  railway  giant  lias  stretched  his  tentacles  across  the 
continent,  it  seems  marvelous  that  they  were  not  run  over  and 
obliterated. 

Daniel  Corlett  was  born  on  a  farm  near  Cleveland,  Ohio,  in 
1833,  and  was  the  fifth  in  the  order  of  birth  of  the  seven  chil- 
dren of  William  Corlett  and  Ann  Kinley,  all  of  whom  grew  to 
maturitj'.  His  early  education  and  training  were  received  in 
Ohio,  Mr.  Corlett  left  the  farm  when  seventeen  years  of  age. 
He  spent  two  years  in  Cleveland,  where  he  learned  the  car- 
riage-making trade.  He  worked  a  year  as  a  journeyman  that 
he  might  earn  enough  to  pay  his  way  to  Iowa.  Young  Corlett 
became  an  expert  carriage  maker  in  connection  with  his  at- 
tainments at  the  district  school.  This  knowledge  stood  him  in 
good  play  on  his  arrival  at  his  new  Iowa  home,  and  for  a  good 


320        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

many  years  lie  plied  his  trade  in  the  construction  of  vehicles 
and  the  maintenance  of  a  carriage  and  wagon  repair  shop. 
Those  were  the  days  when  wagons  were  made  by  hand,  and  it 
goes  without  saying,  he  being  a  true  son  of  Ohio,  that  Daniel 
Corlett  made  substantial  veliicles.  Some  of  his  former  pat- 
rons are  still  living  to  bear  witness  to  the  excellence  of  his 
workmanship.  With  the  introduction  of  factory-made  ve- 
hicles, Mr.  Corlett  concluded  to  give  up  the  trade  of  carriage 
making,  but  his  association  with  the  buggy  family  led  him  to 
take  up  the  related  business  of  livery,  and  in  this  he  continued 
for  a  number  of  years.  He  also  purchased  and  operated  a 
farm.    For  a  considerable  time  prior  to  his  death,  however,  he 


THE   OLD   CORLETT    HOMESTEAD 

lived  in  peaceful  retirement,  enjoying  the  companionships  of 
the  friends  of  his  youth  and  the  association  of  his  family. 

Mr.  Corlett  was  most  fortunate  in  his  domestic  relations. 
June  3,  1859,  he  was  united  in  marriage  at  Iowa  City  to  Miss 
Nancy  McDonald,  who  had  reached  Johnson  county  in  1856, 
the  year  preceding  her  future  husband's  arrival.  Miss  Mc- 
Donald was  born  near  Quebec,  Canada,  May  22,  1829,  and  was 
the  daughter  of  Angais  and  Mary  (Andrews)  McDonald,  l)oth 
natives  of  Scotland,  who  emigrated  to  Canada  in  the  early 
twenties,  settling  near  Quebec.  Later  they  removed  to  To- 
ronto, Ontario,  and  in  1843  decided  to  locate  in  the  United 
States,  settling  in  Lockport,  New  York.    There  Mr.  :\rcDonald 


BIOGRAPHICAL  321 

died  in  1852.  Mrs.  Corlett  still  lives  in  the  pioneer  residence, 
northeast  corner  of  Conrt  and  Sonth  Dubuque  streets,  which 
she  and  her  husband  occupied  immediately  after  their  mar- 
riage. Of  the  five  children  born  to  this  couple,  three  are  liv- 
ing: Albert,  of  Colebrook  River,  Conn.;  Clara,  of  Iowa  City; 
Jessie,  residing  in  Montana. 

Mr.  Corlett  was  one  of  the  early  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  of  Iowa  City.  His  widow  is  also  a  memlier 
of  that  church  and  one  of  the  active  workers  therein.  Fra- 
ternally he  was  a  member  of  the  I.  0.  0.  F.  of  Iowa  City. 

MISS  CLARA  CORLETT,  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Nancy 
Corlett,  the  well  known  and  popular  pharmacist  at  the  Boerner 
Pharmacy,  Iowa  City,  was  educated  and  raised  in  her  native 
city,  where  she  has  always  resided.  She  is  a  graduate  of  the 
Iowa  City  Academy  and  was  a  student  in  the  Liberal  Arts  de- 
partment of  the  State  University  of  Iowa,  graduating  in  pbar- 
macy  with  the  class  of  1904.  She  is  recognized  as  an  expert 
prescriptionist,  and  her  knowledge  of  the  retail  drug  trade  is 
beyond  the  ordinary. 


PROFESSOR  THOMAS  HUSTON  MACBRIDE, 

M.  A.,  Ph.  D. 

In  the  science  of  botany,  which  has  been  his  special  field  of 
investigation  and  activity  for  nearly  forty  years,  no  man 
stands  higher  among  his  fellow  scientists  and  educators  of  the 
nation  than  Thomas  Huston  Macbride,  professor  and  head  of 
the  department  of  botany,  State  University  of  Iowa.  His  asso- 
ciation with  this  department  of  natural  science  was  born  of 
inherent  devotion  from  youth,  but  to  the  inclination  of  taste 
he  has  added  the  sinews  of  careful  training  and  critical  re- 
search,  so  that  his  prowess  in  his  mature  years  is  that  of  the 
fully-developed  mental  athlete.  The  strength  of  Professor 
Macbride,  both  as  a  devotee  and  student  of  cryptogamic  flora, 
is  manifest  to  all  who  have  come  under  his  tutelage  or  shared 
in  his  fellowship.  But  Professor  Macbride  is  more  than  a 
specialist  —  he  is  a  scientist,  and  this  involves  a  love  of  kin- 
dred topics  dear  to  the  heart  of  the  student  of  nature.  Ge- 
ology, the  graveyard  of  the  flora  and  fauna  of  the  ages,  in- 


322        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

evitably  fascinates  liim  with  its  epitaphs.  Of  both  tliese 
departments  of  physical  science  Professor  Macbride  is  an  ex- 
pert and  critical  student. 

Professor  Macbride 's  connection  with  the  State  University 
of  Iowa  dates  from  1878,  when  he  was  elected  to  the  chair  of 
botany.  He  was  at  this  time  thirty  years  of  age,  and  it  will 
therefore  be  apparent  that  he  has  given  largely  of  the  best 
years  of  his  life  to  the  ministry  of  education.  Vigorous  ser- 
vice and  ripe  experience  yet  remain  to  him,  however,  with 
which  fittingly  to  crown  on  octogenary  of  devoted  effort,  a 
point  on  the  Hills  of  Athens  which  every  friend  of  his  hopes  to 


RESmENCE  OF  PROFESSOE  THOMAS  HUSTON  MACBRIDE,   M.   A.,  PH.   D. 


see  him  reach  "with  eyes  undimmed  and  natural  vigor  un- 
abated. ' ' 

Thomas  Huston  Macbride  was  born  in  Tennessee  in  1848. 
His  parents  were  James  and  Sarah  (Huston)  Macbride.  Like 
scores  of  fellow  men  of  aifairs  in  Iowa,  he  received  his  pri- 
mary and  classical  education  in  the  public  schools  and  colleges 
of  his  adopted  state.  Following  his  graduation  from  the  first 
named,  he  matriculated  at  Lenox  College,  Hopkinton,  Iowa. 
In  1869,  Monmouth  conferred  upon  him  the  degree  of  A.  B., 
and  in  1873  his  alma  mater  gave  him  the  des'ree  of  A.  ^I.    Fol- 


BIOGRAPHICAL  323 

lowing  his  graduation  at  Lenox,  he  became  an  instructor  there, 
and  later  at  Monmouth,  Illinois,  and  in  the  public  schools  of 
Kansas  and  Scott  county,  Iowa.  Eegiilarly  since  1887  he  has 
delivered  public  addresses  on  scientific  subjects,  including  sev- 
eral addresses  annually  at  Davenport,  Iowa.  lie  is  the  author 
of  the  text-book,  "Slime  Moulds,"  and  many  other  scientific 
publications,  and  his  magazine  articles  are  voluminous.  His 
botanical  research  extends  to  the  division  of  forestry,  in  which 
he  is  rated  as  an  expert.  His  attainments  have  been  given 
substantial  recognition  in  his  election  to  the  presidency  of  the 
Iowa  Academy,  State  Conservation  Commission,  Botanical 
Section  of  the  American  Association.  Professor  Macbride  is 
director  of  University  Extension  S.  U.  I.  He  was  at  one  time 
dean  of  the  Graduate  College  of  the  University.  He  has  long 
been  fellow  of  the  American  Association  for  the  Advancement 
of  Science ;  is  a  fellow  of  the  American  Botanical  Society;  ^dce 
president  Sig*ma  Xi;  member  Washington  Academy  of  Sci- 
ence; member  of  the  Board  of  Park  Commissioners  of  Iowa 
City ;  one  of  the  promoters  of  the  Triangle  Club ;  member  of 
the  Baconian  Club,  of  Iowa  City. 

Dr.  Macbride 's  wife  was  formerly  Miss  Harriet  Diffen- 
derfer,  and  the  domestic  relations  of  the  couple  are  most 
happy.  They  have  been  blessed  with  two  children:  Jean, 
graduate  of  S.  U.  I.,  class  of  1905,  and  Philip,  graduate  S.  U. 
L,  class  of  1906.  The  latter  is  married  and  a  resident  of  Se- 
attle, Washington,  where  he  is  engaged  in  the  practice  of  law. 

Dr.  Macbride  spent  the  summer  of  1911  at  the  research  sta- 
tion on  the  west  bank  of  Okol)oji  lake,  where  prominent 
students  of  botany,  geology,  zoology,  and  physical  geography 
were  assembled.  He  is  an  enthusiast  on  the  Spirit-Okoboji 
group  of  Iowa  lakes,  and  predicts  that  they  will  become  the 
mecca  for  scientists  of  the  entire  Qountry,  because  of  their  un- 
usual and  varied  opportunities  for  science  study  and  investi- 
gation. Just  as  the  natural  beauty  of  the  lakes  makes  them 
the  favorite  playground  for  the  people  of  the  middle  west,  so, 
he  insists,  their  topography  and  surroundings  make  them  es- 
pecially attractive  to  men  of  science.  Already,  he  states,  a 
movement  is  under  way  to  establish  there  a  great  telescope  on 
"the  highest  point  in  Iowa"  to  study  astronomy.  On  account 
of  the  great  natural  beauty  of  watercourse  and  landscape  at 


324        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

these  resorts,  Dr.  Macbride  gives  it  as  his  opinion  tliat  art  as 
well  as  science  will  claim  them  as  favorites. 


WALTER  MORTON  DAVIS 

In  the  regions  celebrated  for  the  production  of  the  world's 
premier  fruits  it  is  oftentimes  remarked  that  the  choicest 
specimens  are  shipped  far  away  to  the  centers  of  consumption 
and  that  which  remains  at  the  home  market  is  of  secondary 
quality.  To  the  "home  folks"  this  fact  is  sometimes  the 
source  of  humiliation  when  confronted  by  the  demands  of  in- 
quisitive guests  for  a  sight  of  the  wonderful  products  whose 
fame  has  filled  the  marts  of  the  distant  cities.  In  "brain- 
training"  cities  also  this  condition  is  frequently  prevalent. 
The  vigorous  and  progressive  alumni  wave  farewell  to  the 
stately  elms  and  classic  halls  of  alma  mater  and  are  absorbed 
by  the  ever-yawning  maw  of  insatiate  progress  in  the  great 
metropolis  or  lured  by  the  "call  of  the  wild"  to  the  frontiers 
of  the  romantic  west.  It  is  the  exception  when  the  gifted 
native  son  settles  among  the  scenes  of  his  childhood  and  dem- 
onstrates by  an  honorable,  successful  career  the  coaching  pow- 
er of  his  home  university. 

Disclaiming  any  flattering  purpose  to  "point  with  pride" 
to  Walter  Morton  Davis  or  to  catalogue  him  in  the  awesome 
list  of  "the  man  who,"  it  is  proper  to  recite  the  plain  story 
of  his  life  and  let  the  reader  draw  his  conclusions  of  its  moral. 

It  has  been  already  indicated  by  inference  that  he  is  a  na- 
tive of  Johnson  county.  The  date  of  his  birth  was  November 
30, 1868,  and  the  scene  of  it  was  the  farm  of  his  father,  Thomas 
R.  Davis,  six  miles  west  of  Iowa  City.  Davis,  senior,  bo  it 
known,  was  one  of  those  plain,  heroic  products  of  the  nine- 
teenth century  (born  January  11,  1825)  who,  with  his  numer- 
ous fellows,  carved  a  matchless  civilization  out  of  the  territory 
of  Louisiana.  He  settled  in  Johnson  county  in  1852  and  hon- 
ored himself  by  selecting  as  his  wife  Elizabeth  Thomas,  daugh- 
ter of  Oliver  Thomas,  a  prominent  pioneer  of  Johnson 
county  of  the  early  '40s.  Elizabeth  was  born  in  Montgomery 
county,  Wales,  January  12,  1828,  and  came  to  this  country 
with  her  parents  when  seven  years  of  age.  A  coincidence  in 
family  acquaintance  is  the  fact  that  for  a  short  time  after  their 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


325 


arrival  in  America  Oliver  Thomas  and  family  lived  at  Ebens- 
burg,  Pennsylvania,  where  the  paternal  grandparents  of  Wal- 
ter Morton  Davis  resided.  As  the  latter  were  of  Welsh  an- 
cestry, it  is  not  difficnlt  to  trace  the  racial  attraction  which 
drew  the  families  ultimately  more  closely  together.  Oliver 
Thomas  made  the  journej^  from  Pennsylvania  to  Iowa  in  1841 
on  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  rivers  via  St.  Louis  to  Muscatine, 
thence  overland  to  destination,  an  arduous  trip  considering 
the  primitive  methods  of  transportation. 

This  worthy  pioneer  and  his  wife  located  on  a  farm  four 
miles  southwest  of  Iowa  City  where  thev  reared  to  manhood 


RESIDENCE  OF  WALTER  MORTON  DAVIS 


and  womanhood  a  family  of  boys  and  girls  who  later  on  con- 
tributed largely  to  the  agricultural  development  of  the  county. 
Thomas  R.  Davis  and  Elizabeth  Thomas  were  married  March 
20,  1856,  and  four  children  were  born  to  them :  Ilattie  Davis 
Reese,  who  died  September  18,  1893;  Clara  Davis,  now  Mrs. 
E.  F.  Kerr,  of  Fort  Collins,  Colorado;  Edwin  T.  Da\is, 
a  prominent  stockman  of  Johnson  county,  and  Walter  M. 
Davis. 

For  almost  half  a  century  the  elder  Davis  resided  on  the 
farm  developed  by  his  own  thrift  and  industry  in  University 
township.  In  the  fall  of  1904  the  parents  moved  to  Iowa  City 
and  made  their  home  for  a  time  with  their  son,  Walter  M., 


326        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

where  the  father  died  the  following  spring,  on  March  U,  1935, 
at  the  ripe  age  of  80  years.  The  mother,  Elizabeth,  contin- 
ued to  make  her  home  with  her  two  sons  and  on  January  18, 
1911,  she  too  went  to  her  reward  after  having  passed  the  83rd 
milestone  on  the  highwav  of  years. 

To  the  honesty,  integrity  and  industry  of  these  two  worthy 
pioneers  and  their  great  devotion  to  the  welfare  of  their 
children  the  subject  of  this  sketch  attributes  the  greater  por- 
tion of  whatever  success  he  may  have  attained. 

The  sturdy  stuff  of  the  Davis  stock  is  well  illustrated  by 
the  case  of  Robert  R.,  a  brother  of  Thomas  R.,  who  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Twelfth  U.  S.  Infantry,  participated  in  the  battles  of 
Antietam  and  Gettysburg  and  later  on  was  taken  prisoner  at 
the  battle  of  the  Wilderness  and  confined  to  Andersonville 
prison  for  eleven  months,  his  period  of  enlistment  having  ex- 
pired several  months  prior  to  his  release  from  prison. 

Walter  M.  Davis  received  his  early  education  at  the  country 
schools  followed  by  graduation  from  the  Iowa  City  Academy 
in  1891.  Four  j^ears  later  he  received  his  diploma  from  the 
department  of  liberal  arts  of  the  great  Iowa  University.  Hav- 
ing in  mind  the  legal  profession,  he  completed  one  year  of  the 
university  law  course  prior  to  graduation ;  but  was  interrupt- 
ed for  two  years  by  the  power  of  the  press,  which  adopted  him 
as  a  disciple  of  Franklin  and  placed  him  in  the  editorial  chair 
of  the  Iowa  City  Daily  Republican  from  June,  1895,  to  Febru- 
ary, 1897.  On  the  latter  date  he  resumed  the  study  of  law  in 
the  State  University,  and,  graduating  in  1898,  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  and  began  practice  the  same  year  in  the  office  where 
he  is  now  located. 

In  1900  Mr.  Davis  formed  a  partnership  with  Charles  M. 
Dutcher,  and  in  the  spring  of  1906  the  firm  name  was  changed 
to  Wade,  Dutcher  &  Davis  by  the  addition  of  Hon.  jM.  J.  Wade. 
It  is  no  detraction  from  other  law^^ers  of  central  Iowa  to  sav 
that  this  firm  is  one  of  the  ablest  and  most  popular  in  the 
state. 

Two  years  after  his  induction  into  the  practice  of  law, 
namely,  on  September  16,  1902,  Mr.  Davis  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Elsie  Carpenter,  of  Burlington,  Iowa,  a  daugh- 
ter of  G.  B.  P.  and  Ella  Carpenter,  both  natives  of  Iowa  and 
residents  of  Burlington.     Miss  Carpenter  was  born  July  27, 


BIOGRAPHICAL  327 

1873.  Her  father  was  a  jeweler  at  Burlington  and  died  a 
number  of  years  ago,  Mrs.  Carpenter  is  now  living  with  her 
(laughter  at  Iowa  City.  Mrs.  Davis  attended  the  Burlington 
high  school  and  later  was  a  student  at  the  University,  Oberlin, 
Ohio.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Davis  have  been  blessed  with  three  sons, 
Thomas,  who  died  in  infancy ;  Richard,  liorn  January  14,  1907, 
and  Edwin,  born  January  15,  1909. 

Mr.  Davis  has  large  real  estate  interests  around  Iowa  City, 
and  this  current  year  (1911)  was  elected  president  of  the 
Johnson  Count}^  Savings  bank.  He  is  recogiiized  as  one  of 
the  influential  republicans  of  the  state  and  was  a  member  of 
Governor  Cummins'  staff  during  the  two  terms  of  his  office. 
Mr.  Davis  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church  and  of  the 
three  Masonic  bodies  of  Iowa  City — the  Commandery,  the 
Chapter,  and  the  Blue  Lodge  No.  4.  While  in  college  he  was 
a  member  of  the  Phi  Kappa  Psi  fraternity,  and  of  McLain 
chapter  Phi  Delta  Phi. 


REV.  ALOYS  JOSEPH  SCHULTE,  DEAN 
Rector  St.  Mary's  Catholic  Church 

Perhaps  to  no  man  more  than  the  pastor  of  a   popular, 
prosperous  church  does  the  opportunity  come  to  write  the 
impress  of  his  personality   and  genius   upon   a  community. 
The  church,  by  reason  of  its  venerable  claims  of  divine  author- 
ity and  its  long  ministrations  in  the  interest  of  humanitv, 
both  spiritual  and  temporal,  receives  the  attention,  the  con- 
fidence, and  the  cooperation  of  mankind.     It  therefore  follows 
that  its  accredited  servants,  and  particularly  its  clergy,  have 
the  open  sesame  to  the  hearts  and  the  minds  of  its  communi- 
cants and  hold  a  general  voucher  for  the  respect  and  trust  of 
the  people.     Armed  with  the  credentials  of  priesthood,  sup- 
plemented by  an  individual  personality  of  culture  and  origin- 
ality, the  pastor  of  an  influential  church,  as  stated  above,  is 
in  a  position  to  wield  tremendous  influence  both  in  the  spirit- 
ual and  the  secular  affairs  of  his  community.     Add  to  his 
advantage  the  elements  of  a  pure  life,  a  quick  conscience,  and 
exhaustless  energy  in  the  discharge  of  dut}^  and  such  a  pastor 
becomes  a  leader  among  his  fellow  men  and  a  person  of  place 
and  power. 


328        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

The  essential  elements  of  priestly  success  recited  above 
find  concrete  expression  in  the  person  of  Rev.  Aloys  Joseph 
Schnlte,  Dean,  rector  of  St.  Mary's  Roman  Catholic  church, 
of  Iowa  City,  Iowa.  For  twenty  years  following  September 
17,  1891,  Father  Schulte  has  served  as  pastor  of  this  well 
known  church,  and  for  four  years  dating  from  February  6, 
1907,  he  has  served  as  dean  of  the  Iowa  City  Deanerv,  one  of 
the  most  important  in  the  Diocese  of  Davenport.  During  the 
years  of  his  pastorate  and  deanship,  which  involved  the  priest- 
ly offices  of  the  parish  of  St.  Mary's,  the  superintendency  of 
St.  Mary's  school,  and  the  advisory  oversight  of  twenty-four 
pastors  and  churches  of  the  deanery.  Father  Schulte  has 
grown  constantly  in  the  estimation  and  atfection  of  his  people, 
his  fellow  priests  and  the  general  public,  and  today  it  may  be 
truthfully  said  of  him  that  no  man  in  eastern  Iowa  stands 
higher  among  the  Catholic  clerg^^  than  he.  In  appreciation 
of  this  fact  we  think  that  we  cannot  do  lietter  than  to  quote 
here  the  words  of  Rev.  John  F.  Kempker,  of  Davenport,  form- 
er pastor  of  St.  Mary's  church.  Father  Kempker,  in  a  chap- 
ter of  the  forthcoming  History  of  ike  Catholic  Church  of 
Iowa,  says  of  Dean  Schulte: 

''As  a  boy  in  school,  a  student  at  college,  as  seminarian 
and  as  a  young  professor  of  a  new  seminary.  Father  Schulte 
had  always  displayed  a  most  charming  disposition;  gifted, 
talented,  sanguine,  the  pink  of  propriety,  a  model  of  good 
example,  apt  in  his  studies,  diligent  in  application;  adding  a 
fine  mind  to  an  exquisitely  good  character,  he  evinced  that 
rarest  of  all  acquisitions,  sagacity  and  good  common  sense. 
It  was  owing  to  those  qualifications  and  his  persistent  appli- 
cation that  the  St.  Ambrose  Preparatory  Seminary  had  grown 
with  such  unexampled  prosperity.  .  .  From  his  college 
presidency,  and  heralded  with  the  l)est  record,  he  came  to  St. 
Mary's  church,  where  he  was  received  with  unfeigned  gratifi- 
cation and  with  the  fullest  measure  of  confidence  in  his  pro- 
bity and  competence.  .  .  In  this  he  did  not  give  disappoint- 
m^ent.  .  .  Father  Schulte  has  shown  himself  unusually 
strong,  and  possessing  abilities  which  might  well  be  envied  by 
anyone.     .     .     He  boasted  not,  but  accomplished  his  work." 

This  is  high  praise  from  a  predecessor,  and  will  be  appre- 
ciated by  the  legions  of  friends  of  the  popular  Iowa   Citv 


BIOGRAPHICAL  329 

priest,  who  are  prepared  to  add  their  voices  in  approvah 
Seldom  a  man  wins  so  universally  the  cordial  esteem  of  his 
cotemporaries  and  the  public  as  has  Dean  Schulte.  His  mod- 
esty in  the  midst  of  success  confirms  the  quality  of  his  char- 
acter. 

The  Schulte  family,  of  which  our  Dean  Schulte  is  a  descend- 
ant, came  originally  from  Meppen,  Province  of  Hanover,  Ger- 
many. Grandfather  Schulte  reached  America  about  1790  and 
settled  in  New  York.  Thence  he  removed  to  Cincinnati,  where 
the  father  of  the  dean  was  born.  The  mother  of  Dean  Schulte 
was  born  in  St.  Mary's,  Ohio,  and  removed  with  her  parents 
to  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  where  she  was  married.  Six  children 
were  born  to  this  couple,  of  whom  two  died  in  infancy.  Dean 
Schulte  is  now  the  sole  survivor  of  his  family.  Two  of  his 
sisters  entered  Notre  Dame,  of  Milwaukee,  namely.  Sister 
Mary  Amanda,  and  Sister  Mary  Clotilde.  The  former  had 
been  a  religieuse  eighteen  years  and  the  latter  forty-eight 
years  prior  to  her  death.  Sister  Mary  Clotilde  opened 
schools  under  the  Notre  Dame  sisters  in  Canada,  at  Berlin, 
Waterloo,  Walkerton,  Mildmay,  and  other  towns,  and  was  a 
Sister  Superior  for  thirty  3^ears.  A  third  sister  was  married. 
One  brother  died  when  quite  young. 

Dean  Schulte 's  parents  were  H.  Joseph  and  Mary  Helena 
Schulte,  whose  birthplaces  are  noted  in  the  preceding  para- 
graph. Subsequent  to  their  marriage  in  St.  Ijouis  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Schulte  resided  in  that  city  for  twenty  years.  They  were 
pioneers  of  Missouri.  In  1854  they  removed  to  Fort  Madison, 
Iowa,  where  they  resided  until  their  death.  Dean  Schulte  was 
born  in  Fort  Madison  September  17,  1858.  He  declares  that 
his  boyhood  days  were  just  like  those  of  ordinary  children, 
and  he  remembers  them  with  pleasure.  From  early  life,  how- 
ever, he  was  religiously  inclined,  and  this  feeling  was  given 
additional  impulse  by  his  educational  training,  the  primary 
portion  of  which  was  received  in  the  parochial  schools  of  Fort 
Madison.  Upon  graduation  from  the  Fort  Madison  schools 
he  entered  St.  Francis  Seminary,  Milwaukee,  Wisconsin, 
where  he  took  a  four  years'  classical  course.  This  was  fol- 
lowed by  a  two  years '  classical  course  at  St.  John 's  L^niversity, 
Collegeville,  Minnesota,  under  the  Benedictine  Order.  From 
the  latter  he  received  the  degrees  of  A.  B.  and  A.  M. 


330        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

Having  decided  to  devote  his  life  to  the  priesthood,  Dean 
Schulte  entered  St.  Joseph's  College,  Duhnque,  Iowa,  and  took 
a  complete  theological  course,  graduating  with  honor.  He  was 
ordained  to  the  priesthood  December  28,  1881,  at  Davenport, 
Iowa,  by  Eight  Reverend  John  McMullen,  D.  1).,  first  bishop 
of  the  diocese  of  Davenport.  Father  Schulte  had  the  dis- 
tinguished honor  of  being  the  first  priest  ordained  by  Bishop 
McMullen  in  the  diocese  of  Davenport.  Following  his  ordina- 
tion, he  was  appointed  (January,  1882),  assistant  to  Very 
Reverend  H.  Cosgrove,  D.  D.,  who  later  became  bishop  of  Dav- 
enport. In  the  succeeding  September  the  young  priest  was 
appointed  president  of  St.  Ambrose's  Preparatory  Seminary, 
Davenport,  now  St.  Ambrose  College.  In  this  work  he  was 
eminently  successful.  From  the  modest  school  conducted  in 
two  rooms  of  St.  Marguerite's  Parochial  school  building  the 
seminary  advanced  until,  in  1884,  ground  was  broken  for  the 
splendid  new  college  building  now  standing  on  North  Locust 
street.  The  school  was  conducted  as  a  day  school  only  until 
1886,  when  a  boarding  school  was  added.  Father  Schulte  con- 
tinued in  charge  as  president  until  September  17,  1891,  when 
he  was  transferred  by  Right  Reverend  H.  Cosgrove,  D.  D., 
successor  of  Bishop  McMullen  as  bisho])  of  Davenport,  to  take 
charge  pro  tem  for  one  year  at  St.  Mary's  church,  Iowa  City. 
The  same  day  he  arrived  in  Iowa  City  and  took  up  the  work 
as  successor  to  Rev.  J.  F.  Kemper,  known  as  a  zealous  priest 
and  popular  worker. 

Pastor  Schulte 's  administration  of  the  affairs  of  St.  Mary's 
is  known  far  and  wide.  From  the  day  of  his  arrival  to  the 
present  writing  the  church  and  the  community  have  felt  the 
impulse  of  his  zeal,  consecration,  and  character.  Among 
Catholics  and  Protestants  alike  he  is  esteemed  as  a  manly 
man  and  a  square  citizen,  while  within  his  own  congregation 
he  is  generally  beloved  as  a  religious  teacher  and  pastor.  His 
appointment  as  dean  on  February  6,  1907,  ''in  recogiiition  of 
services  rendered,"  was  recognized  by  all  his  friends  as  a 
fitting  sequel  to  the  celebration  of  his  twenty-fifth  anniversary 
of  ordination  to  the  priesthood.  At  various  times  since  this 
appointment  he  has  been  a  counsellor  of  the  bishop,  and  has 
performed  the  duties  pertaining  to  the  Deanery  with  ability 
and  wisdom.    The  cities  embraced  in  the  Iowa  Citv  Deanerv 


BIOGRAPHICAL  331 

under  Father  Scliulte's  administration  are:  Iowa  City,  era- 
bracing  three  churches  and  Mercy  Hospital ;  Oxford,  North 
English,  Marengo,  Brooklyn,  Victor,  Cosgrove,  What  Cheer, 
Anna,  Kinross,  Colfax,  Newton,  Valeria,  Nichols,  Eichniond, 
Riverside,  Hills,  Morse,  Nolan's  Settlement,  Newport,  and 
Solon,  with  one  church  each,  and  each  having  a  resident  pas- 
tor, Solon  having  an  out-appointment  known  as  Saints  Peter 
and  Paul.  St.  Mary's  church,  Iowa  City,  is  the  largest  in  the 
Deanery,  having  a  membership  of  over  two  hundred  families 
and  a  parochial  school,  St.  Mary's,  with  an  average  attend- 
ance of  two  hundred  pupils,  including  a  high  school  with  about 
sixty  pupils  and  four  teachers. 

Under  Father  Schulte's  vigorous  pastorate  St.  Mary's 
school  was  reorganized  September  11,  1892,  and  on  its  reopen- 
ing in  1893  the  Sisters  of  St.  Francis  of  Milwaukee  took 
charge,  who  conducted  it  for  three  years.  They  were  fol- 
lowed by  the  Sisters  of  Charity,  B.  V.  M.,  of  Dul)uque,  Iowa, 
in  1896,  and  the  latter  have  continued  in  charge  ever  siiice 
with  great  success.  In  1897  the  first  steps  were  taken  for  the 
organization  of  St.  Mary's  high  school,  and  its  first  class 
graduated  in  1900.  The  old  addition  to  St.  Mary's  school,  used 
for  school  purposes  and  living  rooms  for  the  Sisters,  was  torn 
down  in  April,  1911,  to  make  way  for  the  new  and  modern 
building,  costing  $30,000,  completed  and  occupied  by  Thanks- 
giving, 1911.  This  building  is  one  of  the  finest  of  its  class  in 
the  diocese.  It  is  equipped  with  living  rooms  for  the  Sisters, 
an  auditorium  for  the  meetings  of  the  societies,  and  a  chapel 
for  the  church  services  and  the  week-day  church  meetings  in 
the  winter  months.  Dean  Schulte  naturally  looks  upon  this 
edifice  and  the  activities  associated  therewith  as  one  of  the 
crowning  successes  of  his  pastorate. 

In  1892  the  priest's  residence  of  St.  Mary's  was  built,  and 
in  1908  St.  Mary's  church  building  was  remodeled  at  an  ex- 
pense of  $16,000.  This  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful  church  edi- 
fices in  Iowa.  Its  interior  is  a  marvel  of  architecture,  and  its 
statuary  is  not  excelled  anywhere.  Harmony  and  dignity  in 
its  construction  mark  the  hand  of  the  accomplished  artist.  In 
addition  to  the  main  auditorium  there  is  a  commodious  chapel 
in  the  basement  for  the  accommodation  of  the  week-day  meet- 
ings of  the  church  in  the  winter  time.     The  societies  of  the 


332        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

church  are:  Gentlemen's  Sodality,  Altar  Society,  Young 
Ladies'  Sodality,  Children's  Sodality,  League  of  the  Sacred 
Heart,  St.  Joseph's  Benevolent  Society  and  the  Roman  Catho- 
lic Mutual  Protective  Society,  Branch  No.  3,  Alumni  Associa- 
tion. 

As  a  preacher  Dean  Schulte  ranks  among  the  leading  pul- 
piteers of  his  church.  His  sermons  are  practical  expositions 
of  the  Christian  faith,  given  with  the  charm  of  the  orator  and 
the  zeal  of  an  evangelist.  He  is  foremost  among  his  brethren 
as  an  exponent  of  the  doctrines  of  Catholicism.  Following  the 
purposes  formed  when  a  mere  youth,  he  has  given  his  life  in 
devotion  and  self-sacrifice  to  the  cause  of  religion  and  hu- 
manity. At  fifty-three  he  is  in  the  prime  of  life,  vigorous, 
alert,  able,  active.  Surely  he  is  to  be  congratulated  upon  the 
\dctories  he  has  achieved  and  the  friendships  he  has  won. 
The  affections  of  a  devoted  people  are  the  visible  evidence  of 
his  character. 


FREDERICK  THEOBALD 

Frederick  Theobald  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  Pennsyl- 
vania, June  11,  1838.  He  was  the  eighth  child  in  a  family  of 
nine  of  William  and  Jane  (Yager)  Theobald,  natives  of  Ger- 
many, who  came  to  America  in  1833,  locating  first  at  New 
York  and  thence  removing  to  Philadel])hia,  where  the  family 
resided  eleven  years.  From  Philadelphia  they  removed  to 
Wyoming,  Luzerne  county,  and  afterwards  to  Wilkesbarre  in 
the  same  county.  Mr.  Theobald  was  a  shoemaker  by  trade  and 
established  a  profitable  business  as  a  dealer  in  boots  and  shoes. 
He  removed  with  his  family  to  Iowa  City  in  1855,  where  he 
continued  in  the  shoe  manufacturing  business  to  1862.  Wil- 
liam Theobald  was  born  in  Germany  May  25, 1802,  and  died  at 
Iowa  City  July  16,  1882.  His  wife  was  born  in  Germany  in 
1798  and  died  at  Iowa  City  in  April,  1883.  The  children  of 
this  excellent  couple,  in  the  order  of  birth,  are:  William,  died 
in  infancy  in  Germany;  William  II,  born  in  Germany  in  1827, 
died  in  Johnson  county,  Iowa,  October  21,  1875  ;  Mary,  born  in 
Germany  in  1832;  Bernhard  and  Fiesler,  both  deceased; 
Philip,  born  in  the  United  States  in  1834;  Jane,  widow  of 
August  Schmidt,  residing  with  Frederick;  our  subject;  John 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


333 


L.,  Sr.,  printer,  resides  in  Iowa  Citj^  (see  sketch  in  anotlier 
part  of  volume). 

Frederick  Theobald  first  engaged  in  the  retail  shoe  business 
in  Iowa  City  in  1862.  He  continued  therein  for  forty  vears, 
retiring  from  business  life  in  1902.  He  has  taken  a  prominent 
part  in  the  affairs  of  Iowa  City.  He  was  mayor  of  Iowa  City 
in  1877,  and  served  as  alderman  from  the  third  ward  for 
twelve  years,  being  first  elected  in  1874.  He  is  a  democrat  in 
politics,  and  was  member  of  the  central  committee  and  also 
served  as  chairman.  Fraternally  he  is  associated  with  Kos- 
kiusco  lodge  No.  6,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  of  Iowa  City,  having  passed 


EESIDEISrCE  OF  FREDERICK   THE0B.y:.D 

through  all  the  chairs,  and  in  1874  represented  the  lodge  in 
the  Grand  Lodge  at  Des  Moines. 

The  long  business  career  of  Mr.  Theobald  is  emphasized 
by  the  fact  that  not  a  single  man  now  in  business  in  Iowa  City 
was  here  when  he  came.  His  father's  old  home  was  on  North 
Dodge  street,  above  the  church.  The  beginning  of  this  place 
of  business  was  in  a  small  frame  building,  30  feet  deep,  until 
1866,  when  a  brick  replaced  the  frame,  he  ha^dng  remodeled  the 
front.  In  1892  the  business  demanded  more  room,  and  he 
made  the  building  60  feet  deep,  again  remodeling  and  putting 
in  a  metallic  front.  In  1911  he  again  remodeled  the  block  with 
an  addition  of  20  feet  more,  an  entire  new  front,  with  plate 


334        HISTORY  OP  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

« 

glass  windows.     The  Theobald  block  now  is  strictly  modern 
with  an  up-to-date  shoe  store. 

Mr.  Theobald  is  a  member  of  the  Old  Settlers  Association 
of  Johnson  county.  He  is  a  man  well  and  favorably  known 
throughout  Johnson  and  Iowa  counties,  a  man  of  retentive 
memory,  and  has  lived  to  see  Iowa  City  develop  and  has  helped 
materially  in  its  building.    His  home  is  on  Church  street. 


THOMAS  EDGAR  MURPHY 

The  name  of  Murphy  is  derived  from  Flaithbheartach 
O'Murchadha,  chief  of  Cinel,  Boghaine,  who  was  slain  A.  D. 
1030,  and  comes  down  in  its  various  forms  as  Murchadha, 
O'Murchadha,  0 'Murphy,  Murphy.  Patrick  Murphy,  the 
father  of  Thomas  Edgar  Murphy,  w^as  a  native  of  County  Kil- 
kenny, Ireland,  who  emphasized  his  Celtic  origin  by  beiHg 
born  on  St.  Patrick's  Day,  1810.  But,  while  proud  of  his  na- 
tive land  and  the  ancient  history  of  his  family,  Patrick  Mur- 
phy longed  for  the  atmosphere  of  political  and  industrial 
freedom,  and  came  to  America  when  a  young  man  a  little  past 
his  majority,  and  cast  his  lot  for  a  time  in  the  state  of  Pennsyl- 
vania. There,  in  1846,  in  Monroe  county,  he  married  Anna 
Eilenberger,  born  in  that  county  May  ],  1831  —  a  daughter  of 
one  of  the  prominent  German  families  of  Penn's  common- 
wealth. Her  father,  Jacob  Eilenberger,  and  his  wife,  Anna 
Brown,  were  the  parents  of  a  large  family,  of  wdiich  Mrs.  Pat- 
rick Murphy  is  the  sole  sur^dvor.  The  Eilenbergers  were 
farmers,  and  Jacob  and  his  wife  lived  and  died  in  Monroe 
county,  Pennsylvania.  Patrick  Murphy,  after  his  marriage  to 
Anna  Eilenberger,  resided  for  a  short  time  in  Pennsylvania, 
and  then  removed  with  his  wife  to  New  Jersev,  where  he 
worked  as  a  miner  for  a  brief  period ;  thence  he  went  to  War- 
ren county,  Illinois,  where  he  pursued  his  chosen  calling  of 
farming.  In  1857  he  settled  at  North  Liberty,  Iowa,  buying 
an  improved  farm,  with  a  double  log  cabin.  The  following 
year  he  built  a  substantial  home.  In  early  life  Mrs.  Murphy 
was  a  Presbyterian,  but  she  was  converted  to  the  Catholic 
faith  at  Monmouth,  Illinois.  Mr.  Murphy  was  one  of  the 
charter  members  of  St.  Patrick's  church,  of  Iowa  City.  Thir- 
teen children,  two  of  whom  died  in  infancy,  were  born  to 


X  ^. 


334        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

glass  windows.     The  Theobald  block  now  is  strictly  modern 
with  an  np-to-date  shoe  store. 

Mr.  Theobald  is  a  member  of  the  Old  Settlers  Association 
of  Johnson  county.  He  is  a  man  well  and  favorably  known 
throughout  Johnson  and  Iowa  counties,  a  man  of  retentive 
memory,  and  has  lived  to  see  Iowa  City  develop  and  has  helped 
materially  in  its  building.    His  home  is  on  Church  street. 


THOMAS  EDGAR  MURPHY 

The  name  of  Murphy  is  derived  from  Flaithbheartach 
O'Murchadha,  chief  of  Cinel,  Boghaine,  who  was  slain  A.  D. 
1030,  and  comes  down  in  its  various  forms  as  Murchadha, 
O'Murchadha,  0 'Murphy,  Murphy.  Patrick  Murphy,  the 
father  of  Thomas  Edgar  Murphy,  was  a  native  of  County  Kil- 
kenny, Ireland,  who  emphasized  his  Celtic  origin  by  being 
born  on  St.  Patrick's  Day,  1810.  But,  while  proud  of  his  na- 
tive land  and  the  ancient  history  of  his  family,  Patrick  Mur- 
phy longed  for  the  atmosphere  of  political  and  industrial 
freedom,  and  came  to  America  when  a  young  man  a  little  past 
his  majority,  and  cast  his  lot  for  a  time  in  the  state  of  Pennsyl- 
vania. There,  in  1846,  in  Monroe  county,  he  married  Anna 
Eilenberger,  born  in  that  county  May  1,  1831  —  a  daughter  of 
one  of  the  prominent  German  families  of  Penn's  common- 
wealth. Her  father,  Jacob  Eilenberger,  and  his  wife,  Anna 
Brown,  were  the  parents  of  a  large  family,  of  which  Mrs.  Pat- 
rick Murphy  is  the  sole  sur\dvor.  The  Eilenbergers  were 
farmers,  and  Jacob  and  his  wife  lived  and  died  in  Monroe 
county,  Pennsylvania.  Patrick  Murphy,  after  his  marriage  to 
Anna  Eilenberger,  resided  for  a  short  time  in  Pennsylvania, 
and  then  removed  with  his  wife  to  New  Jersev,  where  he 
worked  as  a  miner  for  a  brief  period ;  thence  he  went  to  War- 
ren county,  Illinois,  where  he  pursued  his  chosen  calling  of 
farming.  In  1857  he  settled  at  North  Liberty,  Iowa,  buying 
an  improved  farm,  with  a  double  log  cabin.  The  following 
year  he  built  a  substantial  home.  In  early  life  Mrs.  Murjihy 
was  a  Presbyterian,  but  she  was  converted  to  the  Catholic 
faith  at  Monmouth,  Illinois.  Mr.  Murphy  was  one  of  the 
charter  members  of  St.  Patrick's  church,  of  Iowa  Citv.  Thir- 
teen  children,  two  of  whom  died  in  infancy,  were  born  to 


y:  ^. 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


335 


Patrick  Murphy  and  Anna  Eilenberger,  namely:  Marietta, 
wife  of  James  White,  residing-  on  the  ohl  Phil  Clark  farm  in 
Newport  township;  Anna,  wife  of  Mat  J.  Rhea,  Iowa  City; 
William  F.,  attorney,  member  of  law  firm  of  Mur])iiy  &  Bailey, 
Iowa  City;  Charles  A.,  married  to  Emma  Bishop,  residing  at 
Iowa  City;  our  subject,  Thomas  Edgar,  of  Iowa  City;  James, 
a  prominent  physician  of  Iowa  City,  who  died  March  12, 1902; 
Catherine,  deceased,  wife  of  James  Denneny;  Miss  Nell,  liv- 
ing at  home;  Elizabeth,  deceased,  wife  of  John  Nolan,  of 
Sioux  City;  Maurice,  wife  of  D.  P.  Fitzpatrick,  health  officer 


RESIDENCE  OF  THOMAS  E.   MURPHV 


of  Iowa  City;  and  Miss  Bertilla  Murphy,  residing  at  home. 
The  venerable  father  passed  away  December  18,  1887,  but  the 
mother  survives,  and  has  been  permitted  to  look  into  the  faces 
of  grandchildren  and  great-grandchildren.  She  reached  her 
eighty-first  year  in  1912. 

Thomas  Edgar  Murphy  was  born  on  the  farm  at  North 
Liberty,  Iowa,  May  25, 1860.  One  of  the  picturesque  homes  of 
Penn  township  has  since  been  erected  on  that  pioneer  loca- 
tion. By  lineal  descent  an  Irish-German,  and  by  birth  an 
American,  a  mixture  of  national  characteristics  which,  under 
the  genial  conditions  of  freedom  and  opportunity  in  the  great 


336        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

west,  make  for  citizensliip  of  the  first  order,  Thomas  Edgar 
is  a  direct  descendant  of  the  original  Murphy  family  through 
his  father,  Patrick  jMnrphy  and  Anna  (Eilenberger)  Murphy, 
as  above  stated.  On  the  death  of  his  father,  December,  1887, 
having  always  lived  on  the  old  home,  he  succeeded  his  father, 
continuing  the  farm  until  1907.  The  ill  health  of  his  wife 
caused  him  to  quit  farming  and  move  to  Iowa  City,  but  he  still 
retains  his  residence  on  the  old  homestead  where  he  first  saw 
the  light  of  day  fifty-two  3'ears  ago. 

While  farming  he  served  as  township  clerk  of  Penn  town- 
ship, and  was  also  justice  of  the  peace  for  several  years.  He 
was  director  and  vice  president  of  the  North  Liberty  Savings 
bank,  of  North  Liberty,  Iowa.  In  connection  with  his  land 
interests  in  Penn  township  he  owns  a  fine  farm  of  162  acres  in 
Scott  township,  in  all  over  600  acres  in  Johnson  county.  He 
has  also  been  engaged  in  the  real  estate  and  insurance  busi- 
ness a  number  of  years  with  offices  at  129"!/1>  East  College 
street,  Iowa  City. 

He  was  married  on  the  old  farm  at  North  Liberty,  April  12, 
1899,  to  Miss  Josephine  Zeithamel,  daughter  of  Joseph  and 
Mary  Zeithamel.  The  former  died  in  September,  1887;  the 
latter  still  survives. 

Two  bright  children  have  blessed  this  union,  Helen  Murphy, 
born  February  16,  1900,  and  James  Emmet,  born  March  9, 
1902.  We  are  sorry  to  record  that  Mrs.  Murphy  has  been  an 
invalid  for  a  number  of  years.  The  children  attend  the  Pa- 
rochial school  of  St.  Patrick's  parish,  Iowa  City.  The  family 
are  members  of  St.  Patrick's  Catholic  church. 

He  is  now  serving  his  second  term  as  county  chairman  of 
the  Johnson  county  democratic  central  committee ;  was  candi- 
date for  nomination  under  the  primary  law  for  sheriff  of 
Johnson  county  and  was  defeated  by  the  narrow  margin  of 
twenty-four  votes,  his  own  township  giving  him  every  vote  but 
one,  and  Madison  and  adjoining  townships  every  vote  ex- 
cept two.  He  was  chairman  of  the  democratic  central  com- 
mittee during  the  Parker-Roosevelt  campaign,  and  this  was 
the  only  county  in  Iowa  that  gave  Parker  a  majority;  also  it 
was  the  only  campaign  in  which  every  candidate  on  the  local 
democratic  ticket  was  elected.  He  has  been  a  delegate  of  his 
party  to  state  and  congressional  conventions,  and  has  served 


BIOGRAPHICAL  337 

efficiently.  He  has  never  been  a  volnntary  candidate  for  anv 
office.  His  strength  and  ability  have  been  manifest  in  the 
management  of  campaigns.  He  has  taken  an  active  interest 
in  North  Liberty. 

Dr.  James  Murphy,  who  died  Marcli  12,  1902,  at  Mercy 
Hospital,  Iowa  City,  was  a  l)rother  of  onr  snliject,  and  a  man 
of  prominence  in  the  medical  profession.  Born  on  the  old 
homestead  near  North  Liberty  Angnst  5, 1863,  he  was  educated 
in  the  Johnson  county  public  schools.  On  reaching  manhood, 
he  entered  the  State  University  of  Iowa  and  graduated  from 
the  Medical  Department  in  the  class  of  1888.  Through  the  in- 
fluence of  his  friend,  Dr.  W.  F.  Peck,  he  was  appointed  physi- 
cian and  surgeon  for  the  Chicago,  Rock  Island  &  Pacific  Rail- 
road in  Kansas  and  Colorado,  where  the  road  was  under  r-on- 
struction.  Five  hundred  men  were  under  his  oversight,  and  he 
continued  in  charge  of  that  large  force  until  his  return  to  Iowa 
City.  His  death  was  widely  deplored.  Hundreds  of  men, 
women  and  children  felt  a  personal  loss  in  his  passing,  and 
every  city  newspaper  paid  a  glowing  tribute  to  his  ability  and 
manhood.  A  devout  Catholic,  he  died  in  the  faith  of  his 
father,  his  funeral  being  held  from  St.  Patrick's  church, 
March  14,  1902. 


LOVELL  SWISHER 

Some  one  has  said  that  the  best  historv  of  anv  countrv  is  a 
history  of  the  lives  of  its  people.  It  would  be  impossible  to 
write  a  true  history  of  Johnson  county  and  pass  over  the 
names  of  persons  who  were  important  factors  in  the  home- 
spun drama  and  have  been  identified  with  the  growth  and  de- 
velopment of  the  county.  Of  that  courageous  company  known 
as  early  settlers  in  Johnson  county,  many  forms  stand  out  in 
clearly  defined  outline,  compelling  the  present  generation  to 
recognize  their  lives  and  characters,  and  through  the  passing 
years  there  filters  to  us  something  of  their  steadfastness  which 
enabled  them  to  conquer  the  wilderness  and  convert  its  re- 
sources to  the  betterment  of  mankind. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  a  native  of  Johnson  county, 
born  October  11,  ^SVS,  and  a  son  of  pioneer  parents.  The 
name  of  his  father,  Benjamin  Swisher,  after  whom  the  town  of 


338        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

Swisher  is  named,  will  always  be  associated  with  the  earlier 
history  of  the  county,  for  he  was  of  tliat  type  of  men  "who, 
amid  wild  surroundings,  helped  to  pave  the  way  for  a  greater 
civilization. 

Benjamin  Swisher  was  horn  in  Pickaway  county,  Ohio, 
April  2,  1817,  son  of  John  and  Catherine  Swisher.  When  but 
four  years  old  his  father  died,  and  three  years  later  his 
mother  passed  away.  He  was  then  seven  years  old,  and  for 
the  next  fourteen  years  lived  with  his  uncle.  In  1840  he  came 
to  Iowa  and  for  about  one  year  remained  in  Van  Buren 
county,  and  in  March,  1841,  he- came  to  Johnson  county.  Dur- 
ing the  first  two  years  of  his  residence  in  the  county  he  lived 
on  what  was  known  as  the  Iowa  Ijottoms  in  what  is  now  Mon- 


RESIDENCE  OF  LOVELL  SWTSHER 


roe  township.  He  then  bought  out  one  who  about  one  year 
previous  had  taken  up  a  claim  and  built  a  house  and  black- 
smith shop,  but  becoming  sick  and  discouraged,  was  very  glad 
to  exchange  it  for  a  team  of  horses  and  what  belongings  he 
could  load  on  his  wagon.  This  was  prior  to  any  government 
survey  and  all  claims  were  made  in  a  general  way  and  after- 
wards made  to  conform  with  boundary  lines  and  section  cor- 
ners. It  was  not  until  a  survey  had  been  made  that  the  lands 
were  placed  on  the  market,  and  Mr.  Swisher  had  to  wait  until 
that  time  before  securing  full  title  from  the  government  for 
the  land  he  occupied. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  339 

There  was  an  unwritten  law  among  the  earlier  settlers 
which  was  ofttimes  more  forcible  than  that  of  the  courts.  An 
experience  which  Mr.  Swisher  had  soon  after  acquiring  his 
claim  demonstrated  that  fact.  It  seems  that  some  person,  a 
newcomer,  had  taken  some  advantage  of  the  law  and  by  an 
underhanded  way  had  attempted  to  deprive  Mr.  Swisher  of  a 
portion  of  his  claim  and  had  the  papers  recorded  in  advance. 
The  news  of  the  transaction  soon  spread  around  the  little 
neighborhood  and  in  a  short  time  the  settlers  had  assembled 
and  informed  Mr.  Swisher  that  if  he  said  the  word  they  would 
see  that  the  land  should  not  be  occupied  by  the  newcomer.  Mr. 
Swisher  said  that  he  did  not  want  to  cause  any  trouble,  but 
that  he  thought  he  was  entitled  to  at  least  15  acres  adjoining 
and  which  he  had  partly  improved.  It  was  only  a  few  days 
later  that  Mr.  Swisher  was  presented  with  a  deed  for  the  15 
acres. 

As  time  went  by  Mr.  Swisher  gradually  added  adjoining- 
lands  to  the  original  tract  until  he  possessed  437  acres  situ- 
ated on  section  seven  in  Jetferson  township. 

Mr.  Swisher  was  married  May  16,  1841,  to  Mrs.  Elizabeth 
Whitmore,  formerly  from  Newport,  Rhode  Island.  This  was 
the  first  wedding  in  Jefferson  township,  Johnson  county.  To 
them  were  born  eight  children :  Lovell  A .,  Abe  E.,  John  P., 
Benjamin  F.,  Catherine  Ballard,  Stephen  A.,  and  two  de- 
ceased. 

Lovell  Swisher,  Sr.,  grew  to  manhood  on  the  home  farm, 
remaining  there  until  1868  when  he  engaged  in  civil  engineer- 
ing and  for  about  one  year  was  emi^loyed  by  the  government 
on  surveys  in  the  Lake  Superior  region.  He  was  also  employed 
on  government  surveys  for  a  ship  canal  between  Chicago  and 
Rock  Island,  and  on  the  Mississippi  river.  His  last  position 
was  for  the  government  improvements  in  the  building  of  the 
canal  around  the  rapids  at  Keokuk,  Iowa,  on  the  Mississippi 
river,  where  he  met  with  an  accident.  He  was  compelled  to 
abandon  the  work  and  then  returned  to  the  old  homestead.  In 
1873  he  was  elected  treasurer  of  Johnson  county  and  on 
January  1, 1874,  he  commenced  his  first  terra  of  office.  He  was 
reelected,  and  upon  the  termination  of  his  second  term  he  be- 
came associated  with  the  Clark  &:  Coldren  bank,  afterwards 
changed  to  Iowa  City  State  bank.    In  1884  he  was  selected  as 


340        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

cashier  of  the  First  National  bank,  which  position  he  held 
until  December  1,  1911.  At  present  he  is  a  money  loaner,  sec- 
ond floor  First  National  Bank  bnilding. 

Mr.  Swisher  was  married  August  31,  1870,  to  Elizabeth 
Leonard,  daughter  of  C.  P.  and  Diana  (Davis)  Leonard, 
natives  of  Tennessee.  C.  P.  Leonard  and  Diana  (Davis) 
Leonard  came  to  Johnson  county,  Iowa,  settling  in  Monroe 
township,  where  he  followed  farming.  He  now  lives  in  Cali- 
fornia; his  wife  is  deceased. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Swisher  are  the  parents  of  the  following  chil- 
dren: Abraham  W. ;  Arthur  E.,  who  resides  in  Iowa  City  and 
was  assistant  in  the  First  National  bank,  assists  in  looking 
after  his  father's  personal  affairs;  Leonard  A.,  ^lethodist 
minister  at  AYest  Union,  Iowa ;  Benjamin  F.,  attorney  at  law, 
located  at  Waterloo,  Iowa;  Mabel  A.,  living  at  home;  Lovell 
Swisher,  Jr. 

The  old  Swisher  homestead  still  remains  in  possession  of 
the  family,  Lovell  Swisher,  Sr.,  being  trustee  for  the  estate. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Swisher  are  members  of  the  M.  E.  church. 
For  many  years  Mr,  Swisher  affiliated  with  the  democratic 
party,  but  now  votes  independently.  He  was  treasurer  of  the 
State  Universitv  of  Iowa  from  1S90  to  1911. 


SAMUEL  KIRKWOOD  STEYENSON 

The  archives  of  biography  are  brilliantly  illuminated  here 
and  there  by  recitals  of  the  activities  of  that  large  company 
of  the  world's  workers  catalogTied  under  the  caption,  "To  the 
manor  born."  There  is  beyond  question  a  distinct  emphasis 
bearing  upon  these  persons  who,  spite  of  the  "prophet-not- 
without -honor"  handicap,  have  risen  to  distinguished  success 
in  "their  own  country  and  their  own  house."  This  statement 
takes  on  peculiar  force  in  connection  with  the  name  and  record 
of  Samuel  Kirkwood  Stevenson,  native  son  of  Johnson  county, 
Iowa,  pupil  of  its  district  school,  student  in  Iowa  City  Acad- 
emy, alumnus  of  State  University  of  Iowa  and  graduate  of  its 
Law  Department,  a  chosen  orator  of  its  commencement,  a 
winner  of  competitive  debates  with  rival  universities,  educa- 
tional organizer,  ex-su]ierintendent  of  city  and  county  schools, 
editor,  lawyer,  and  man  of  affairs.     Readers  of  this  brief 


BIOGRAPHICAL  341 

sketch  of  the  life  of  Mr.  Stevenson  will  he  impelled  to  declare 
that  the  handicap  of  local  familiarity  has  not  been  apparent 
in  his  winning  race  for  success. 

Mr.  Stevenson  was  fortunate  in  that  mysterious  divine 
lottery,  parentage,  being  endowed  with  a  heritage  of  virility 
from  both  mother  and  father  —  the  former  dying  at  the  ad 
vanced  age  of  eighty-four  and  the  latter  on  December  12, 1911, 
at  the  age  of  ninety.  John  A.  Stevenson  and  Henrietta  Grif- 
fith were  the  parents  of  eight  children,  of  whom  Samuel  Kirk- 
wood  is  the  youngest.  John  A.  Stevenson,  father  of  S.  K., 
settled   in   Scott  township,   Johnson   county.   Iowa,   in    1856, 


RESIDENCE  OF  SAMUEL  KIRKWOOD  STEVENSON 

where  he  pursued  the  occupation  of  farming,  Samuel  K,  was 
born  and  raised  on  this  farm  and  secured  his  primary  educa- 
tion in  the  district  school  of  his  Jioine  township.  The  elder 
Stevenson  was  essentially  a  farmer  and  devoted  to  home  and 
family,  but  his  interest  in  public  matters  led  him  to  accept  the 
position  of  member  of  the  county  board  of  supervisors  on  two 
different  occasions  —  first  when  the  board  was  composed  of 
one  representative  from  each  township  and  lastly  when  the 
number  of  members  was  limited  to  five. 

The  date  of  Samuel  Kirkwood  Stevenson's  birth  was  March 
1,  1867,  and  twenty-two  years  later  he  graduated  with  honor 
from  the  Iowa  City  Academy.     June  ]5,  1893,  he  graduated 


342        HISTOEY  OF  JOHXSOX  COUNTY,  IOWA 

from  the  collegiate  department  of  the  Iowa  State  University 
and  was  given  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Philosophy.  On  the 
third  of  the  same  month  he  was  appointed  a  first  lieutenant  of 
the  Iowa  State  National  Battalion.  During  his  graduation 
year  he  was  elected  a  ruling  elder  of  the  First  Presbyterian 
church  of  Iowa  City,  and  has  been  actively  identified  with  the 
work  of  this  church  ever  since,  serving  meanwhile  as  its  Sun- 
day school  superintendent  and  extending  his  influence  to 
county  Sunday  school  affairs  as  secretary  of  the  Johnson 
County  Sunday  School  Union.  To  further  emphasize  the  year 
1893  as  an  epochal  twelvemonth  in  his  career,  Mr.  Stevenson 
was  interrupted  in  his  studies  in  the  Law  Department  of  the 
Iowa  State  University  by  election  in  November  to  the  office  of 
superintendent  of  schools  of  Johnson  county  on  the  republican 
ticket  by  the  handsome  majority  of  725  in  a  strongly  demo- 
cratic county.  He  was  reelected  to  this  office  in  1895,  being 
the  only  member  of  his  political  party  honored  by  the  electo- 
rate that  year. 

His  interjection  into  the  educational  field  (while  an  unwel- 
come interruption  of  his  congenial  legal  studies)  seems  to  have 
opened  a  period  of  unusual  usefulness  to  Mr.  Stevenson  and 
gave  opportunity  for  the  exercise  of  exceptional  talents  as  a 
school-man.  His  genius  for  organization  was  manifested  im- 
mediately, and  with  \agor.  Educational  meetings  were  held 
under  his  direction  in  every  township  of  the  county,  a  move- 
ment which  quickened  the  interest  of  both  patrons  and  teach- 
ers. The  formation  of  the  Johnson  County  Teachers'  Asso- 
ciation followed  as  a  logical  sequence.  This  organization  now 
holds  four  meetings  yearly  and  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  live 
public  school  factors  of  the  state.  Mr.  Stevenson  also  pro- 
moted the  organization  of  the  Johnson  County  School  Officials' 
Association,  the  usefulness  of  which  has  been  signally  demon- 
strated. One  of  the  first  of  its  kind  in  the  state,  its  timeliness 
and  utility  have  been  proven  by  its  large  membership  and 
activity.  A  marked  feature  of  Superintendent  Stevenson's 
administration  was  the  introduction  of  the  school  library 
movement  in  Johnson  county.  During  the  last  two  years  of 
his  term  ninety-five  school  libraries  were  established.  The 
value  of  these  as  aids  to  both  teachers  and  pupils  is  unques- 
tioned.   Seeking  always  for  the  highest  efficiency,  Mr.  Steven- 


BIOGEAPHICAL  343 

son  raised  tlie  standard  of  qualification  for  teachers  so  that 
the  grading  of  Jolmson  county  school  instructors  now  stands 
second  to  none  in  Iowa.  Coincident  with  his  general  work,  he 
was  editor  of  the  Johnson  County  Teacher,  a  monthly  paper 
published  in  the  interest  of  education.  In  the  spring  of  ]897 
Mr.  Stevenson  organized  the  Jolmson  County  School  of 
Methods,  which  was  largely  attended  by  the  progressive  teach- 
ers of  eastern  Iowa  because  of  the  high  quality  of  instruction 
given.  At  the  initial  meeting  resolutions  were  unanimously 
passed  by  the  teachers  and  others  expressing  their  commenda- 
tion and  appreciation  of  Superintendent  Stevenson  for  making- 
possible  for  them  this  most  excellent  institute  of  methods. 

During  the  last  four  months  of  his  final  term  as  county 
superintendent,  from  August  to  November,  1897,  Mr,  Steven- 
son did  dual  work  as  superintendent  of  schools  of  Iowa  City, 
having  been  elected  to  the  latter  office  April  28  of  that  year. 
This  latter  office  he  held  continuously  for  nine  years,  his  ad- 
ministration being  characterized  by  the  well-known  originality 
and  vigor  peculiar  to  his  work  as  a  schoolmaster,  ■  It  is  not  too 
much  to  say  that  under  Mr,  Stevenson's  master  hand  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  Iowa  Qiij  have  been  put  into  the  very  first  ranks 
of  the  American  school  system. 

In  the  year  1898  Mr.  Stevenson  acknowledged  the  foi'ce  of 
the  scriptural  wisdom  that  ''it  is  not  good  for  man  to  be 
alone,"  'and  invited  Miss  Marcia  J.  Jacobs  to  become  his  life's 
companion.  The  consummation  of  this  happy  arrangement 
was  effected  August  2,  and  the  simplest  commentary  on  their 
union  is  to  say  that  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stevenson  have  enjoyed 
thirteen  years  of  comradeship  in  the  sacred  ministry  of  matri- 
mony, unmarred  and  unalloyed. 

Upon  the  termination  of  his  long  administration  as  super- 
intendent of  Iowa  City  schools,  Mr.  Stevenson  was  free  to 
carry  out  his  fondly-cherished  'ambition  to  enter  upon  the 
practice  of  law.  Having  already  completed  a  large  part  of  the 
legal  curriculum  of  the  S.  IT.  I.,  it  was  easy  for  him  to  finish 
the  required  course,  and  on  June  7,  1907,  he  was  graduated 
from  the  Law  Department  of  the  State  University  M'ith  the 
degree  of  Bachelor  of  Laws.  Believing  in  striking  while  the 
iron  is  hot,  Mr.  Stevenson  lost  no  time  in  candidating  for  ad- 
mission to  the  bar,  and  five  days  after  his  graduation  (June 


3U       HISTOEY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

12,  1907)  he  was  licensed  to  practice  by  the  supreme  court  of 
the  state  of  Iowa.  He  immediately  united  with  the  State  Bar 
Association  and  hung  out  his  shingle  in  the  city  of  his  alma 
mater. 

Mr.  Stevenson's  collegiate  career  was  characterized  l)y  dis- 
tinct evidences  of  proficiency.  Eecognition  was  given  this  by 
his  selection  as  one  of  six  out  of  a  class  of  forty-eight  to  de- 
liver an  address  on  Commencement  Day.  He  was  also  chosen 
as  one  of  three  speakers  in  the  first  joint  debate  between  the 
State  University  of  Iowa  and  the  University  of  ^Minnesota, 
held  at  Minneapolis,  the  result  of  which  was  a  unanimous  de- 
cision for  Iowa.  While  in  student  life  at  S.  U.  I.,  Mr.  Steven- 
son constantly  took  an  active  interest  in  the  affairs  of  the 
student  body.  He  was  president  of  the  Zethagathian  literary 
society  during  the  fall  term  of  1892 ;  business  manager  of  the 
Vidette  Reporter,  the  university  paper,  in  1892-93;  and  trea- 
surer and  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  University  I^ecture 
Bureau. 

While  serving  as  school  superintendent  ^Iv.  Stevenson  read 
several  papers  on  educational  themes  before  the  State  Teach- 
ers' Association,  the  most  notable  being  "School  Libraries, 
How  to  Establish  and  Maintain  Them,"  and  "School  Exhi- 
bitions —  Are  They  Beneficial  ? ' '  The  data  as  well  as  the  logic 
for  these  practical  papers  were  undoubtedly  the  outcome  of 
his  personal,  successful  experience.  Reference  has  already 
been  made  to  his  valuable  work  in  establishing  school  libraries. 
His  views  on  "School  Exhibitions"  were  most  likely  crystal- 
lized by  his  personal  efforts  in  organizing  and  holding  school 
exhibitions  at  the  Johnson  county  fairs. 

The  activities  of  a  strenuous  life  have  not  ])revented  ^Iv. 
Stevenson  recognizing  his  fraternal  and  political  obligations, 
evidenced  by  his  active  membership  in  the  Masonic  order,  the 
Woodmen  of  the  World,  and  the  Improved  Order  of  Red  Men ; 
as  well  as  by  practical  work  in  the  membership  of  the  state 
central  committee  of  the  republican  party,  extending  into  the 
current  year  of  1911. 

And  so,  at  the  age  of  forty-four,  in  the  full  vigor  of  healthy, 
hopeful  manhood,  this  strenuous  son  of  Johnson  county  is  "a 
prophet  not  without  honor  in  his  own  country  and  in  his  own 
house"  —  bringing  credit  to  the  illustrious  name  of  the  great 


BIOGRAPHICAL  345 

Iowa  statesman,  and  fairly  started  on  the  highwav  of  success, 
the  further  stretches  of  which  may  give  him  opportunity  of 
vet  2Teater  service  in  the  interest  of  the  mightv  commonwealth 
of  his  nativitv. 


DAVID  KIRKPATRICK 

The  history  of  the  Mississippi  A^alley  would  l)e  a  dull  and 
spiritless  tale  were  it  not  for  the  recounted  deeds  of  a  long 
line  of  hardy,  indomitable  men  who  literally  carved  victories 
out  of  defeats  and  defied  misfortune  by  carrying  to  the  heights 
of  success  the  brave  flag  of  excelsior.  Pitiful  is  the  fact  that 
numbers  of  heroes  entitled  to  places  of  honor  in  the  pages  of 
courageous  story  have  passed  into  oblivion,  "unwept,  unhon- 
ored  and  unsung"  —  their  graves  unknown  and  the  memories 
of  their  chivalry  hidden  among  the  shadows  of  the  world's 
yesterdays.  History,  at  best,  is  but  a  remnant  of  the  tale  of 
humanity  —  the  tardy,  fractional  tribute  of  the  world  at  the 
shrine  of  its  forbears.  It  is  a  gratifying  privilege  for  the 
present-day  chroniclers,  and  i)articu]arly  for  the  writers  of 
this  current  history  of  Johnson  county,  to  be  able  to  preserve 
in  the  transparent  amber  of  their  tliought  the  recital  of  the 
lives  and  activities  of  some  of  the  men  whose  names  are  worthy 
of  record  in  the  state's  book  of  remembrance;  and  perhaps 
there  is  comfort  in  tbe  thought  that  the  recounting  of  the  deeds 
of  a  few  of  the  host  of  worthy  ones  may  shed  a  measure  of 
lustre  over  their  countless  nameless  contemporaries. 

In  the  beautiful  hillside  cemetery  overlooking  the  town  of 
Lone  Tree,  Iowa,  at  this  writing  stands  a  cut-stone  mausoleum, 
bearing  tbe  name  of  "Kirkpatrick."  It  is  no  discredit  to  the 
lifelong  thrift  and  forethought  of  its  Iniilder  to  say  that  this 
"mute  mansion"  is  a  fitting  kevstone  to  the  life- arch  of  David 
Kirkpatrick,  whose  remains  and  those  of  his  wife  it  is  in- 
tended to  sepulchre.  Being  constructed  under  the  personal 
supervision  of  its  future  occupant,  this  "storied  urn"  indeed 
points  the  final  moral  of  a  life  story.  For  what  more  fitting 
than  that  a  man  who  has  carved  a  pathway  of  success,  self- 
aided,  from  boyhood  to  old  age,  should,  at  the  eventime  of 
life,  erect  his  own  final  mortuary  temple f 

"Self -aided"  describes  aptly  the  career  of  David  Jvirkpat- 


346        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

rick,  of  Lone  Tree.  Deprived  of  a  father  in  babyhood  and  of 
a  mother  at  the  infant  age  of  six  years,  tliis  orphan  son  of  the 
Emerald  Isle  virtually  was  thrown  upon  his  own  resources 
from  birth.  Fortunately  the  young  Celt  yielded  to  the  prompt- 
ings of  the  spirit  of  liberty  which  burns  in  every  true  Irish- 
man's soul  and  early  came  to  America,  landing  at  Boston, 
under  the  shadow  of  Bunker  Hill  and  Plymouth,  at  the  age  of 
twelve  years.  He  remained  at  the  American  Athens  for  fifteen 
years,  during  ten  of  which  he  served  as  coachman  for  a  rich 


RESroEXCE  OF  DAVm  KIRKPATRICK 


widow.  But  the  spirit  of  David  Kirkpatrick  was  not  to  be 
satisfied  with  the  place  of  a  servant.  He  longed  for  inde- 
pendent, initiative  effort,  and,  having  heard  of  the  opportuni- 
ties of  the  great  west,  in  1860  he  bade  good-by  to  his  friends 
of  the  Atlantic  coast  and  started  for  Johnson  county,  Iowa. 
Among  the  number  from  whom  he  parted  in  Boston  was  a  cer- 
tain winsome  young  lady,  Eliza  Jane  Corbett,  with  whom  his 
troth  had  been  pledged  —  the  understanding  being  that  young 
Kirkpatrick  should  first  test  out  the  opportunities  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi A^alley  and  later  return  to  claim  his  bride.    Tarrying 


BIOGRAPHICAL  347 

in  Ohio  for  a  time  at  the  farm  of  an  elder  brother,  who  had 
preceded  him  to  the  new  world,  David  got  his  first  taste  of  the 
western  spirit,  and  the  brother  being  the  owner  of  eighty  acres 
of  land  about  six  miles  southeast  of  Lone  Tree,  the  young  man 
concluded  he  would  push  out  to  Iowa  and  make  a  start  for 
himself.     Arriving  in  Johnson  county,  he  bought  a  yoke  of 
oxen  with  borrowed  money  and  began  operations  on  the  eighty 
acres  belonging  to  his  l)rother,  which  he  afterwards  purchased. 
Discouraging    results    followed    the    young   Irishman's    first 
farming  etforts.    Having  "broken"  with  his  ox  team  twenty 
acres  of  prairie,  he  sowed  it  to  wheat,  only  to  have  the  grain 
largely  destroyed  and  overrun  by  chinch  bugs.     Hoping  to 
profit  by  the  residue,  he  bought  a  drove  of  hogs  and  fed  them 
with  the  smitten  wheat  crop.    The  hogs  contracted  the  cholera 
when  in  marketable  condition  and  to  a  ]iorker  died  or  became 
unsaleable.    Undiscouraged,  the  young  farmer  ventured  into 
cattle  raising,  again  borrowing  money  with  which  to  make  the 
investment.    In  the  hard  winter  which  followed,  his  stock,  with 
the  exception  of  two  head,  were  smothered  by  the  deep  snow 
covering  the  shed  built  for  their  protection,  and,  as  Mr.  Kirk- 
patrick  expressed  it,  all  he  had  left  was  a  "fine  lot  of  hides." 
Undaunted,  however,  he  again  borrowed  money  and  continued 
his  farming  operations  and  stock  raising  —  all  the  time  during 
these  varied  experiences  working  by  the  day  for  neighbor 
farmers  and  making  good  his  financial  obligations.    Need  it  be 
written  that  final  success  crowned  his  persevering  efforts? 
Year  after  year  he  added  to  his  original  purchase,  until  at  tlie 
time  of  this  writing  he  owns  in  Johnson,  Muscatine,  Washing- 
ton, and  Louisa  counties,  Iowa,  2,500  acres  of  the  best  farming 
land  in  the  state,  besides  farms  in  other  states  and  valuable 
business  blocks  and  residence  property  in  Lone  Tree.     IMr. 
Kirkpatrick   attributes    his   business    success   to   his   ability 
properly  to  iTse  borrowed  money,'  and  he  has  made  it  a  rule  of 
his  life  to  make  "his  word  as  good  as  his  bond."    With  unim- 
peachable credit  at  the  banks,  he  broadened  his  operations 
from  time  to  time,  engaging  in  cattle  raising  on  a  large  scale 
and  buying  and  selling  farm  property  and  dealing  in  lumber 
and  grain.    Today  he  is  reckoned  one  of  the  wealthiest  citizens 
of  his  community  and  is  credited  with  a  display  of  public 
spirit  worthy  of  emulation. 


348        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  TOWA 

David  Kirkpatrick  did  not  lose  sight  of  that  "winsome 
colleen"  in  Boston.  Early  in  June,  1861,  he  made  the  back- 
ward trip  to  his  former  New  England  home,  and  when  he  re- 
turned to  Johnson  county  Miss  Pjliza  Jane  Corbett  accompan- 
ied him  as  Mrs.  David  Kirkpatrick.  For  a  little  time,  or  until 
he  could  erect  a  house  for  their  shelter,  he  left  his  wife  in  Iowa 
Citv.  That  first  house,  bv  the  way,  was  a  small  atfair,  the 
lumber  for  it  being  hauled  by  ox-team  at  one  load  from  Musca- 
tine by  David  himself.  The  structure  was  only  one-story 
12x14  feet,  vet  it  was  the  abode  of  two  hearts  of  love  and  in  its 
one  plainly  furnished  room  two  children  of  their  family  of 
four  came  to  gladden  the  home. 

Herself  a  native  daughter  of  Ireland,  Eliza  Jane  Corbett 
jjossessed  those  qualities  of  mind  and  heart  that  hav^e  made 
her  a  worthy  wife  and  true  mother.  Constant  in  her  affections 
and  untiring  in  her  efforts,  she  wears  today  the  crown  of  old 
age  glorious  in  the  love-light  of  four  score  years  and  six.  Her 
birthplace  was  near  Castlewellan,  County  Downe,  Ireland,  and 
the  date  of  her  birth  February  12,  1825.  She  emigrated  to 
America  in  1856  and  June  30,  1861,  was  married  to  David 
Kirkpatrick.  The  young  couple  came  together  to  Iowa  July 
5,  1861.  On  Friday,  June  30,  1911,  this  venerable  couple  cele- 
brated at  Lone  Tree  the  fiftieth  anniversary  of  theii"  marriage 
in  the  presence  of  beloved  relatives.  Automobiles  in  waiting 
on  the  occasion  emphasized  the  far  cry  from  the  ox-team  which 
marked  the  locomotion  of  their  early  life. 

The  date  of  David  Kirkpatrick 's  birth  was  March  15,  1832. 
His  parents  were  Archie  L.  Kirkpatrick  and  Sarah  Ann  Kel- 
ley,  whose  home  at  the  time  of  David's  birth  was  ouly  a  short 
distance  from  the  birthplace  of  the  latter 's  wife. 

Four  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kirkpatrick, 
namely:  David,  who  died  in  infancy;  Jackson,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  nineteen ;  William  John,  married  and  the  father  of  four 
children,  residing  on  a  farm  in  Muscatine  county ;  and  Eliza- 
beth Mary,  unmarried,  residing  at  home  with  her  parents  and 
ministering  to  their  comfort  in  their  declining  vears. 

In  politics  Mr.  Kirkpatrick  is  a  republican.  His  church 
membership  is  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  of  Lone  Tree. 

To  thus  struggle  through  adversity  to  success,  and  all  the 
time  to  keep  his  honor  pure;  to  live  and  mingle  among  the 


DAVID    KIRKPATRICK 


T.ME  NEW  YORK    f 
UBLIC  LIBRARY 


ASTOR.  LENOX 
I    TILD£N   FOUNDATIONS 


BIOGRAPHICAL  349 

same  neighbors  for  fifty  years,  and  in  the  end  have  the  heart's 
affection  of  them  all;  to  bask  in  the  snnshine  of  a  true  wife's 
love  for  half  a  century  and  gaze  into  her  eyes  on  a  golden  wed- 
ding day  with  a  heart  beating  loyal  and  true ;  to  stand  at  the 
threshhohl  of  the  Evermore  undismayed,  prepared  to  leave 
with  posterity  the  mantle  of  a  character  unsullied  —  this  is  a 
record  worthy  of  inscription  in  the  history  of  his  day.  And 
across  the  top  of  this  page  of  biography  of  Johnson  county  let 
the  name  of  David  Kirkpatrick  be  written. 


JOHN  CHESLEY  WARNER 

On  December  22,  1904,  John  Chesley  Warner  took  the  posi- 
tion of  night  operator  on  the  Cedar  Rapids  &  Iowa  City  Rail- 
way (the  Interurban  Ijine),  under  Frank  D.  Lindsley,  the 
agent  for  the  company  at  Iowa  City.  This  position  he  held  for 
six  months,  after  which  he  became  Mr.  Lindsley 's  chief  clerk. 
On  September  17,  1909,  Mr.  Lindsley  died,  and  Mr.  Warner 
was  appointed  acting  agent,  serving  in  this  capacity  until 
January  1,  1910,  when,  in  recognition  of  his  aiiilities  and 
knowledge  of  the  office,  he  was  appointed  agent  for  the  com- 
pany at  Iowa  City.  (A  full  account  of  the  Interurban  Line 
will  be  found  in  the  general  historv  in  Volume  I  of  this  work. — 
Ed.)  The  steady,  speedy  advancement  of  Mr.  Warner  to  this 
responsible  position  marks  him  as  a  man  of  ability  and  action, 
characteristics  which  his  friends  are  free  to  say  are  dominant 
in  him. 

Mr.  Warner  is  a  native  son  of  Johnson  county,  and  his 
progenitors  on  both  sides  were  pioneers  of  Iowa.  John  Ardery 
Warner,  his  great-grandfather,  and  William  Ardery  Warner, 
his  grandfather,  were  Maryland  farmers,  the  latter  being  born 
in  Marvland  in  1809.  Grandfather  Warner  came  to  Iowa  in 
1853,  and  settled  on  a  farm  in  Washington  county.  From 
there  he  removed  to  Iowa  City,  and  after  a  brief  stay  pur- 
chased a  farm  in  Pleasant  Valley  township,  where  he  died  in 
September,  1862.  jMr.  Warner  Avas  a  widower  when  he  came 
to  Iowa,  his  wife,  whom  he  married  in  Baltimore,  having  died 
in  that  city.  John  Ardery  Warner,  the  father  of  John  C,  is 
the  only  survi^dng  member  of  William  Ardery  Warner's  fam- 
ily.   He  was  born  in  the  city  of  Baltimore,  Marjdand,  in  1846, 


350        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

being  at  this  writing  (1911)  in  his  sixty-fifth  year.  He  was 
seven  years  of  age  when  he  came  to  Iowa  with  his  father.  His 
early  life  was  spent  on  the  farm,  and  his  education  was  re- 
ceived in  the  Iowa  City  schools.  John  A.  Warner  married 
Martha  B.  Loan,  a  daughter  of  William  lioan  and  Mary  Bash- 
ford,  the  latter  born  June  21,  1806,  and  married  to  William 
Loan  March  27,  1823.  Mrs.  Warner  is  the  youngest  of  twelve 
children.  William  Loan  was  a  farmer  and  well-to-do.  Mrs. 
Loan  herself  entered  1,680  acres  of  land  in  Chickasaw  and 
Floyd  counties,  Iowa,  her  object  being  to  leave  her  children 


KESIDENCE    OF   JOHN    CHESLEY   WAENER 


well  provided  for.    She  died  at  the  home  of  her  daughter,  our 
subject's  mother,  December  28,  1884. 

John  Ardery  Warner  was  a  corporal  in  Company  A  of  the 
famous  Twenty-second  Iowa,  and  served  mtli  this  gallant 
fighting  regiment  during  the  Civil  War  in  nearly  every  south- 
ern state  from  Virginia  to  the  mouth  of  the  Rio  Grande.  The 
Twenty-second  made  a  complete  circuit  of  the  Confederacy 
and  traveled  by  land  and  sea  more  than  fifteen  thousand  miles. 
Corporal  Warner  enlisted  in  1862,  and  the  following  winter 
marched  under  General  Curtis  in  southwest  Missouri  two  hun- 
dred and  fifty  miles  through  the  Ozark  Mountains.    His  first 


BIOGRAPHICAL  351 

serious  taste  of  the  realities  of  war  was  in  the  midnig'ht  march 
to  Port  Gibson.  His  regiment  was  in  the  battles  of  Champion 
Hills,  Black  River  Bridge,  and  led  the  assault  on  Vicksbnrg 
May  22,  1863.  In  this  last  engagement  the  regiment  lost  170 
men  out  of  200,  an  average  of  eighty-five  per  cent,  which 
stands  without  a  parallel  in  modern  warfare.  The  time  con- 
sumed in  these  fatalities  was  less  than  ten  minutes  and  the 
ground  covered  in  the  engagement  not  more  than  one-half 
acre.  Corporal  Warner  was  in  the  very  midst  of  the  enemy  at 
this  time,  being  in  company  with  Captain  Samuel  David  Pryce, 
scouting  within  the  rebel  lines.  Corporal  Warner  served  three 
years  and  three  months,  being  honorably  discharged  Septem- 
ber, 1865.  (For  further  particulars  of  this  memorable  regi- 
ment, see  sketch  of  Captain  Samuel  David  Pryce. — Ed.) 

On  his  return  to  Iowa  in  1865,  Corporal  Warner  rented  a 
farm  in  Pleasant  Valley  township,  which  he  farmed  for  sev- 
eral years.  Thereafter  he  engaged  in  the  grocery  business  in 
Iowa  City,  and  up  to  1882  was  more  or  less  engaged  in  farm- 
ing operations  in  connection  with  his  other  business  interests 
in  Liberty  township.  His  last  enterprise  in  Madison  township 
was  a  general  merchandise  store  at  North  Liberty,  from  which 
he  removed  in  1909  to  Hills,  where  he  purchased  the  general 
merchandise  store  of  Jess  Sydell,  which  he  conducted  in  con- 
nection with  his  son,  George  C.  Warner,  as  associate  partner, 
until  April  15,  1911,  when  he  sold  the  enterprise  to  the  latter. 
He  has  since  been  incapacitated  for  active  work,  and  lives  in 
retirement  at  his  home  in  Hills.  Although  quite  ill  at  this 
writing,  he  conducts  all  his  own  affairs.  For  three  years  fol- 
lowing 1889  Corporal  Warner  was  deputy  sheriff  of  Johnson 
county  under  Sheriff  John  Englert.  For  a  time  he  also  held 
the  position  of  special  deputy  for  the  Chicago,  Rock  Island  & 
Pacific  Railroad  at  Iowa  City.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
and  Odd  Fellows  orders  at  Iowa  City.  He  has  taken  an  active 
interest  in  politics  in  the  democratic  party,  and  has  repre- 
sented the  party  in  county,  state,  and  congressional  conven- 
tions. By  his  marriage  to  Martha  B.  Loan,  Mr.  Warner  had 
five  children  :  William  Edward,  residing  in  Wyoming;  George 
Clinton,  residing  in  Hills,  Iowa ;  Charles  Henry,  a  farmer  of 
Pleasant  Valley  township ;  James  Everett ;  and  John  Chesley, 


352        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

our  subject.  Six  gTandcliildreii  liave  gladdened  his  declining 
years. 

John  Cliesley  Warner  was  educated  in  the  jniblic  schools  of 
Iowa  City,  graduating  from  the  high  school.  He  assisted  his 
father  in  farming  in  Pleasant  Valley  township  until  the  spring 
of  1902.  In  1903,  in  connection  with  his  father,  he  opened  a 
grocery  store  in  Iowa  City.  This  he  sold  in  1904,  and  entered 
the  employ  of  the  Interurban  Railway,  as  hitherto  stated.  On 
February  19,  1901,  he  was  married  in  Iowa  City  to  Miss  Mamie 
S.  Ruppert,  daughter  of  George  L.  and  ^lary  Ruppert,  the 
latter  now  liviiig  in  retirement  on  the  west  side  of  Iowa  City, 
near  the  city  park.  ]\Ir.  and  Mrs.  Warner  own  their  own  home 
at  419  South  Capitol  street.  Mr.  Warner  is  a  member  of  the 
A.  F.  &  A.  M.  and  I.  0.  0.  F.  of  Iowa  City. 

Since  this  biography  was  prepared  the  father  of  our  subject 
passed  away,  fie  died  in  Hills,  Iowa,  at  his  residence,  Oc- 
tober 24,  1911. 


WILLIAM  J.  BO  WEN 

William  J.  Bowen,  a  veteran  of  the  Civil  War,  former  city 
clerk,  and  for  the  past  fifteen  years  assistant  postmaster  of 
Iowa  City,  comes  of  pure  American  stock  of  Maryland  and 
Ohio  nativity.  His  parents  were  Isaac  Bowen  and  Miss  Susan 
P.  Williams,  the  former  born  in  Ross  county,  Ohio,  August  23, 
1812,  and  the  latter  at  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  August  27, 1824.  Their 
marriage  took  place  in  Johnson  county,  Iowa,  November  25, 
1841.  Isaac  Bowen 's  parents  were  Jesse  and  Priscilla  Bowen, 
both  natives  of  Maryland,  who  are  descrilied  in  an  old  histori- 
cal sketch  as  "honest.  God-fearing  people,  .  .  .  who  made 
their  lifetime  home  in  Ross  county,  Ohio,  where  they  passed 
away  at  a  good  old  age,  respected  and  beloved  by  all  who  knew 
them."  Susan  P.  Williams's  parents  were  John  Williams  and 
Elizabeth  Ferry,  and  the  father  died  in  Hamilton  county, 
Ohio,  when  Susan  was  ten  years  of  age.  Following  his  death 
she  was  placed  in  the  custody  of  her  uncle,  AVilliam  B.  Snyder, 
with  whom  she  came  to  Iowa  in  1839.  When  twenty-four 
years  of  age  Isaac  Bowen,  having  resided  up  to  that  time  with 
his  parents  on  the  old  homestead  in  Ross  county,  Ohio,  deter- 
mined to  make  a  start  for  himself  in  the  great  west  which  was 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


)3 


then  the  objective  point  of  many  hundreds  of  active,  ambitions 
3^ouno-  Americans,  and,  in  1836,  performed  the  first  stage  of  his 
jonrney  by  removing  to  Indiana,  where  lie  remained  for  three 
years.  In  iVpril,  3839,  he  departed  from  the  Hoosier  state, 
and,  with  his  face  to  the  setting  snn,  pursued  his  quest.  He 
arrived  in  Johnson  county,  Iowa,  May  5,  1839,  and  in  a  brief 
time  had  purchased  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in 
Scott  townsliip.  Witli  the  exception  of  eighteen  acres,  the 
land  was  entirely  unimproved.  Its  owner  lived  to  see  it  one 
of  the  most  highly  cultivated  farms  of  the  county,  and  very 
valuable. 

The  names  of  the  children  of  Isaac  Bowen  and  Susan  P. 


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RESmENCE    OF    WILLIAM    J.    BOWEN 


Williams  are :  AVilliam  J. ;  Mary  Eliza,  wife  of  Emory  Weseott ; 
Elizabeth  E.,  wife  of  LaFayette  Strahl ;  Maria  J.,  wife  of 
Smith  Bradley;  Isaac  N.,  married  to  Miss  Clara  Thomas; 
George  E.,  married,  first  wife  Fannie  Meriden,  who  died;  sec- 
ond wife  Grace  AVhitaker ;  Susan  Z.,  wife  of  Charles  Westen- 
haver;  Anna  P.,  deceased,  wife  of  Thomas  Faucett,  of  Kan- 
sas ;  two  others  died  in  infancy. 

Isaac  Bowen  was  active  in  the  advancement  of  education, 
and  gave  long  and  valuable  service  as  school  director  in  John- 
son county.  He  also  served  as  justice  of  the  peace,  and  was 
noted  for  his  impartial  justice.  In  both  public  and  private  life 
he  "has  been  distinguished  for  his  keen  sagacity,  excellent 


354        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

judgment,  and  sterling-  integrity  of  character. "  He  and  his 
beloved  wife  were  lifelong  members  of  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal church,  and  were  active  workers  therein.  They  have  been 
gathered  to  their  fathers,  and  tlie  memory  of  their  lives  and 
deeds  is  a  precious  heritage  to  their  children. 

William  J.  Bowen  was  born  on  the  home  farm  in  Scott  town- 
ship April  13,  1843,  l)eing  the  first  born  of  a  large  family.  His 
early  life  was  spent  upon  the  farm,  where  he  assisted  his 
father  in  the  g-eneral  work  of  agriculture.  He  was  educated  in 
the  district  schools  of  the  country  and  later  took  a  course  in 
the  schools  of  Iowa  City.  When  a  lad  of  eighteen  he  heard  his 
country's  call  for  volunteers,  and  on  June  33,  1861,  enlisted  in 
Company  F  of  the  First  Iowa  Cavalry,  being  mustered  in 
July  29  of  the  same  year.  His  regiment  engaged  in  numerous 
skirmishes  with  bushwhackers  and  guerillas  in  Tennessee  and 
adjoining  states  during  the  fall  and  winter  of  1861-62,  the 
dangerous  character  of  which  is  known  to  all  students  of  the 
Civil  War,  and  so  it  is  not  surprising  that  he  was  dang-erously 
wounded  in  engagement  with  these  outlaws.  On  May  6,  1862, 
he  was  discharged  on  account  of  his  injuries,  but  his  intrepid 
spirit  could  not  be  quenched,  and,  when  fully  recovered  from 
his  wounds,  he  re-enlisted  January  5,  1864,  in  Company  F, 
Twenty-second  Iowa  Infantry.  This  regiment  saw  the  grim 
horror  of  war  in  the  battles  of  Winchester,  A^irginia,  and 
Fisher's  Hill  and  Cedar  Creek  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley  un- 
der the  intrepid  Sheridan,  in  all  of  which  Mr.  Bowen  took 
part.  On  July  25, 1865,  he  was  finally  discharged  at  Savannah, 
Georgia,  and  was  mustered  out  and  paid  off  on  August  3rd  of 
the  same  year. 

Returning  to  the  old  home  farm  in  Scott  township,  he  con- 
tinued to  work  thereon  for  a  few  years.  Feeling  a  desire  to 
engage  in  business  for  himself,  he  removed  to  Omaha,  Ne- 
braska, where,  in  1869,  he  began  the  sale  of  household  goods 
and  woodenware.  He  continued  in  this  line  until  1875,  when 
he  returned  to  Johnson  county  and  engaged  in  farming  near 
Iowa  City.  While  a  resident  of  Omaha,  he  was  married,  Oc- 
tober 7,  1869,  to  Miss  Ruth  B.  Strickland,  a  native  of  Ohio, 
who  had  moved  to  Nebraska  with  her  parents  in  the  early  six- 
ties. In  1882  Mr.  Bowen  left  the  farm  and  removed  to  Iowa 
City,  where  for  several  years  he  was  engaged  in  carpenter 


BIOGRAPHICAL  355 

work.  Later  lie  was  made  city  clerk,  and  afterwards  received 
the  appointment  of  assistant  postmaster  of  Iowa  City,  a  posi- 
tion which  he  held  until  April  1,  1912. 

Seven  children  have  blessed  the  union  of  William  J.  Bowen 
and  Ruth  B,  Strickland,  namely:  Jesse  B.,  Ada  C,  Fannie 
H.,  Royal,  Angus,  William  L.  and  Richard  G.  In  the  natural 
line  of  increase  thej  are  the  proud  grandparents  of  sixteen 
descendants,  and  look  with  comparative  assurance  to  the  per- 
petuity of  the  name  and  blood  of  Bowen  in  the  annals  of  Iowa. 

In  politics  Mr.  Bowen  is  a  republican,  and  has  been  repeat- 
edly honored  by  his  party,  both  in  its  councils  and  by  public 
office.  He  is  an  honored  member  of  the  G.  A.  R.,  and  is  a  com- 
municant of  the  Congregational  church  of  Iowa  City.  Ap- 
proaching the  years  of  three  score  and  ten,  he  is  a  man  of 
vigor  and  activity,  and  looks  forward  confidently  to  a  liberal 
lease  of  life.  His  long  residence  in  Johnson  county,  coupled 
with  his  services  to  his  country  and  his  state,  have  endeared 
him  to  the  hearts  of  great  numbers  of  personal  friends,  who 
on  the  western  pathway  of  life  bid  him  good  cheer  and  God- 
speed. The  family  residence  is  at  South  Governor  street,  be- 
low Bowerv  street,  Iowa  Citv, 


AUSTIN  ABRAHAM  HINES 

One  of  the  recognized  factors  in  business  circles  at  Lone 
Tree,  Iowa,  is  Austin  Abraham  Hines,  a  son  of  Abraham  Lin- 
coln nines  and  Elisa  S.  Carl,  born  in  Fremont  township  Sep- 
tember 25,  1883.  The  father  of  Mr.  Hines  was  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania ;  his  mother  was  born  in  Iowa.  The  former  came 
with  his  parents  from  Pennsylvania  to  Iowa  when  two  years 
of  age,  and  grew  to  manhood  on  the  farm  where  his  father 
settled.  His  early  life  was  devoted  to  farming,  but  later  he 
engaged  in  the  harness  business,  a  calling  which  he  followed 
until  about  twelve  years  ago,  when  he  again  took  up  farming, 
this  time  in  Louisa  county,  where  he  now  resides.  Seven 
chihlren  were  born  to  Abraham  Lincoln  Hines  and  Elisa  S. 
Carl ;  one  of  these  died  in  infancy,  and  the  names  of  those  liv- 
ing are:  Austin  Abraham,  our  subject;  Mary  L.,  now  Mrs. 
N.  E.  Townsley,  residing  at  Iroquois,  South  Dakota ;  Etta  M., 
now  Mrs.  W.  R.  Rhoads,  residing  at  Muscatine,  Iowa ;  Martha 


356        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

E.,  Yiving  in  Muscatine,  Iowa  ;  Ernest  A.  and  I.  Manilla,  single 
and  living  at  home. 

Wlien  he  was  just  past  nineteen  years  of  age,  in  November, 
1902,  Mr.  Hines  took  up  the  real  estate  and  insurance  busi- 
ness in  connection  with  S.  C.  Carl  at  Lone  Tree.  He  remaiued 
in  this  position  until  February,  1903,  when  he  removed  to  ]\Ius- 
catine,  Iowa,  continuiug  in  the  same  business.  He  was  six 
years  in  that  city.  In  ]\farch,  3909,  he  returned  to  Lone  Tree 
and  again  engaged  with  his  former  partner,  S.  C.  Carl,  with 
whom  he  is  associated  at  present. 

Mr.  Hines  was  married  September  8, 1909,  to  Miss  Florence 


i.|B^j.;^, 


RESIDENCE   OF   AUSTIN    ABRAHAM    HINES 


B.  Longstreth,  of  Letts,  Iowa.     One  son,  Howard   TL,   has 
blessed  their  union. 

Mr.  Hines  is  a  member  of  Omega  lodge  No.  728, 1.  O.  0.  F., 
of  Lone  Tree,  and  at  this  writing  is  Noble  Grand  of  his  lodge. 
He  is  also  a  member  of  Lone  Tree  lodge  No.  304,  Knights  of 
Pythias,  and  of  Company  18,  Uniform  Rank,  K.  of  P.,  of  Ce- 
dar Rapids. 


JULIUS  OTTO  SCPIULZE 

Our  subject's  father,  Joseph  Schulze,  son  of  Frank  and 
Teresa  Schulze,  was  born  in  Prussia  March  24,  1826,  that  day 
being  Good  Friday.     Of  the  six  children  of  Frank  Schulze 


BIOGRAPHICAL  357 

four  came  to  x^merica,  the  journey  being  made  in  sailing  ves- 
sels at  different  times.  Of  these,  two  now  survive,  Joseph, 
our  subject's  grandfather,  and  John,  of  Chicago.  Joseph 
emigrated  to  the  United  States  in  1852,  and  the  voyage  occu- 
pied fifty-six  days.  He  landed  at  Baltimore  and  immediately 
located  in  Cumberland,  Maryland,  where  he  resided  three 
years.  In  1855  he  came  west  to  Iowa  City,  making  the  journey 
by  rail  to  Rock  Island,  thence  by  steaml)oat  to  Muscatine, 
thence  by  stage  to  Iowa  City.  His  first  occupation  in  his  new 
field  was  day's  work  as  a  harvest  hand,  followed  by  employ- 
ment with  the  stage  company  in  their  blacksmith  sho)i.  Sub- 
sequentl}^  he  engaged  in  the  grocery  business  in  a  l)uilding  ad- 
joining the  present  site  of  William  Hohenschuh's  undertaking- 
parlors.  He  disposed  of  this  business  in  18G6,  and  built  a 
boarding  house  for  the  workers  in  the  Coralville  Woolen  mills, 
which  he  conducted  for  two  years.  Following  this  he  became 
a  member  of  the  brewing  firm  of  Schulze  &  Graf.  I^ater  he 
entered  the  shoe  business  in  what  was  known  as  the  Blue  Front 
Shoe  store,  located  on  South  Clinton  street.  There  he  con- 
tinued for  eighteen  years,  retiring  from  business  about  1898. 
He  was  married  in  St.  Mary's  church,  Iowa  Cit}^,  in  Septem- 
ber, 1862,  to  Miss  Mary  Williams,  a  native  of  Iowa  City, 
daughter  of  George  Williams.  She  died  in  Muscatine  July 
4,  1882,  after  the  birth  of  Mary,  their  last  child,  who  died  at 
the  age  of  five  weeks,  after  his  return  from  a  trip  across  the 
plains.  Ten  children  were  born  of  this  union:  Frank,  of 
Cedar  Rapids;  Helen,  wife  of  Charles  Morrow;  Albert,  re- 
siding in  Liberty  township,  Johnson  county;  William,  living 
in  California;  Lizzie,  now  Mrs.  W.  Karresel,  of  Iowa  City; 
Clara,  of  Cedar  Rapids;  Julius  Otto,  our  subject;  Peroy  Irv- 
ing, of  Texas ;  Laura,  Mary. 

Joseph  Schulze  is  the  owner  of  considerable  business  and 
residence  property  in  Iowa  City,  including  his  fine  home  at 
31  North  Van  Buren  street,  corner  of  Jetferson  street.  He 
is  a  member  of  St.  Mary's  Catholic  church,  St.  Joseph's  Be- 
nevolent Society  and  the  Elks.  He  held  the  position  of  town- 
ship trustee  in  early  days  and  was  an  alderman  for  four  years 
from  the  third  ward,  Iowa  City.  Fourteen  grandchildren 
give  him  lively  promise  of  the  perpetuity  of  his  name  and 
blood. 


358        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

Julius  Otto  Sclnilze,  seventh  child  in  regular  order  of  birth, 
was  born  in  Iowa  City  in  1875,  and  received  his  primary  edu- 
cated in  the  Catholic  parochial  schools.  He  graduated  from 
the  high  school  in  1893  and  from  the  engineering  department 
of  the  S.  U.  I.  in  1897.  Some  of  his  first  work  was  in  connec- 
tion with  the  construction  department  of  the  Rock  Island  sys- 
tem, on  the  extension  of  that  road  between  Dallas  and  Fort 
Worth,  Texas.  He  was  also  engaged  upon  the  St.  Louis  & 
San  Francisco  and  the  Trinity  &  Brazos  Valley.  In  1907-08 
he  was  city  engineer  of  Iowa  City,  and  in  1909  became  secre- 
tary of  the  Iowa  City  Commercial  club. 

Technical  training  as  an  engineer,  led  him  to  make  proper 


RESIDENCE  OF  JULIUS  OTTO  SCHULZE 


investigation  and  through  him  Iowa  City  can  feel  thankful  for 
the  launching  of  the  first  street  railway  in  Iowa  City  together 
with  the  cooperation  of  the  substantial  board  of  directors. 
Beginning  with  one  mile  of  track  its  completion  in  1912  will 
give  to  the  city  four  miles  of  street  railway  passing  through 
the  principal  streets,  intersecting  the  thickly  populated  por- 
tions of  the  city,  a  long  felt  want  in  Iowa  City.  Mr.  Sehulze 
is  also  president  of  the  Rundell  Land  and  Improvement  com- 
pany, which  controls  270  city  lots  located  between  the  new 
canning  factory  and  east  Iowa  Citv,  with  a  capital  stock  of 
$25,000. 

He  married  Miss  Agnes  E.  Sueppel,  daughter  of  John  and 


BIOGRAPHICAL  359 

Catherine  (Roliret)  Siieppel,  of  Iowa  City.  Two  children, 
Mary  Catherine  and  Mary  Lonise,  liave  been  born  to  him. 
Mr.  Schnlze  is  a  member  of  the  St.  Mary's  Catliolic  church. 
On  the  17th  of  November,  1909,  Mr.  Schulze  as  president 
of  the  Iowa  City  Electric  Railway  company,  had  the  pleasure 
of  driving  the  silver  spike  which  marked  the  completion  of 
tracklaying  on  Iowa  City's  first  street  railway  system.  The 
ceremony  took  palce  in  the  presence  of  an  immense  throng  of 
citizens  at  the  corner  of  Clinton  and  College  streets,  the  ter- 
minus of  the  line.  Since  that  time  extensions  have  been  com- 
pleted and  the  line  put  in  operation.  In  addition  to  his  Iowa 
City  interests,  Mr.  Schulze  has  large  lumber  interests  in  Tex- 
as and  is  associated  with  extensive  townsite  and  land  enter- 
prises in  Texas. 


MILLARD  W.  DAVIS 

In  the  death  of  the  late  Millard  W.  Davis  Johnson  county 
lost  one  of  its  earliest  settlers  and  Iowa  City  its  oldest  mer- 
chant. He  had  occupied  his  place  of  business  for  more  than 
fifty-four  years  and  was  one  of  the  best  known  men  in  tlie 
entire  county,  where  his  interests  had  been  centered  for  so 
many  years.  He  was  the  pioneer  of  pioneers  in  the  city,  hav- 
ing come  there  when  it  was  a  handet,  with  the  first  trains,  and 
having  seen  it  grow  and  become  a  great  educational  center. 
He  lived  to  feel  the  stir  of  the  business  life  which  had  come 
to  the  city  and  community,  and  always  kept  in  tune  with  the 
various  changes  that  had  lieen  transpiring.  He  was  born  in 
Pickaway  county,  Ohio,  son  of  Ebenezer  S.  and  Susan  (Mc- 
Farland)  Davis,  natives,  respectively,  of  Virginia  and  Penn- 
sylvania. His  grandfather,  also  named  Ebenezer  Davis,  was 
born  in  Wales,  came  to  Virginia  in  an  early  day,  and  in  180-t 
settled  in  Ohio. 

On  January  1,  1858,  Mr.  Davis  took  possession  of  the  build- 
ing in  which  he  was  located  so  many  years,  and  his  record  is 
perhaps  unequalled  in  the  state  of  Iowa.  He  witnessed  great 
changes  during  his  life  in  Iowa  City,  and  his  description  of 
conditions  there  in  1857  were  lifelike  and  interesting,  showing 
the  primitive  life  led  by  its  inhabitants  at  that  time.  Between 
the  Metropolitan  block,  the  building  which  he  chose  for  the 


360        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

location  of  his  business,  and  the  Johnson  County  Bank  corner 
there  were  nothing  but  frame  building's  and  shacks,  and  the 
same  held  true  of  the  other  side  of  the  street.  The  only  build- 
ing in  the  neighborhood  of  any  pretensions  was  a  long  build- 
ing reaching  to  the  alley,  occupied  by  the  firm  of  Daniels  & 
Company,  on  the  present  site  of  the  place  where  Maresh 
Brothers  later  had  their  establishment,  but  at  that  date  this 
location  was  considered  to  be  outside  of  the  business  district 
of  the  town.  Ten  or  twelve  teams  a  day  came  from  the  coun- 
try within  a  radius  of  some  150  miles,  to  get  a  load  of  dry 
goods  or  provisions  from  the  Daniels  store.  Being  then  the 
terminus  of  the  Rock  Island  road,  Iowa  City  had  a  large  trade 
from  the  surrounding  country.  Dulmque  street  was  a  line  of 
mere  shacks,  and  the  business  center  was  then  located  near  the 
St.  James  hotel.  Communication  with  every  direction  except 
the  east  was  l)y  means  of  stage  coaches,  the  Western  Stage 
Company  having  a  barn  and  s1io]j  on  Jefferson  street.  There 
were  a  dozen  stage  coaches  in  the  town  at  a  time,  which  car- 
ried passengers,  mail,  and  express.  John  M.  Carleton  was 
mayor  in  the  year  mentioned.  Dulmque  street  was  a  residence 
section  but  contained  a  few  business  buildings,  among  them 
the  Uepuhlicayi  office.  This  was  memorable  as  the  year  in 
which  the  state  capital  was  removed  to  Des  Moines,  and  also 
as  the  year  in  which  the  State  University  was  located  at  Iowa 
City. 

Before  moving  to  the  Metropolitan  block,  ^Fr.  Davis  had 
occupied  the  Brossart  building  on  Clinton  street,  halfway  be- 
tween AVashing-ton  street  and  Iowa  avenue.  He  came  to  the 
city  in  1856  and  spent  his  first  night  at  the  old  Park  Hotel  on 
Dubuque  street,  which  later  became  a  school,  and  still  later 
a  rooming  house.  On  the  morning  after  his  arrival  he  looked 
out  and  saw  the  Presbyterian  church  burning.  He  engaged 
in  the  drug  business,  which  he  continued  for  a  period  of  fifty- 
five  years.  During  his  earlier  years  in  the  city  he  was  active 
in  public  life,  and  in  1866  served  as  a  member  of  the  city 
council  from  the  old  Fourth  Ward.  He  was  at  one  time  cur- 
ator of  The  State  Historical  Society  and  always  felt  keen  in- 
terest in  perpetuating  the  history  of  early  days.  He  was 
quiet  and  unassuming,  fond  of  the  companionship  of  his 
friends,  and  taking  great  pride  in  his  business.     For  some 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


361 


time  prior  to  liis  death  he  had  been  in  i)oor  liealth,  but  went  to 
his  store  daily,  almost  up  to  the  day  of  his  demise.  His  death 
occurred  at  his  home  on  East  College  street,  August  18,  191], 
at  the  age  of  seventy-eight  years,  he  having  been  born  Decem- 
ber 2-1:,  1833,  at  Williamsport,  (3hio.  Rev.  John  Arthur,  of 
Cedar  Rapids  Episcopal  church,  officiated  at  the  funeral  at 
Iowa  City.  The  remains  were  shipped  to  the  old  birth  place, 
Williamsport,  Ohio,  on  the  morning  of  August  21. 

Mr.  Davis  is  survived  by  a  widow  and  two  sons,  all  of  whom 
were  at  his  bedside  at  the  time  of  his  death.  The  two  sons 
are :  Harry  C,  of  Chicago,  and  Charles  P.,  of  St.  Louis.  The 
former  is  a  traveling  salesman  for  a  wholesale  drug  house. 


RESIDENCE  OF  THE  LATE  MILLARD  W.  DAVIS 


The  latter  is  a  professor  at  the  Art  School  of  the  Washing-ton 
University,  St.  Ijouis,  Missouri,  is  an  artist  and  educator. 

Mr.  Davis  was  a  prominent  member  of  the  Old  Settlers  So- 
ciety and  took  keen  interest  in  its  proceedings.  He  was  thor- 
oughly in  sympathy  with  the  cause  and  was  helpful  in  many 
ways.  He  has  been  sadly  missed  in  many  circles.  Llis  busi- 
ness has  been  discontinued. 

The  death  summons  came  at  11:30  at  night  when  all  was 
quiet  and  peaceful,  at  the  hour  the  genial  old  man  Millard  W. 
Davis,  Iowa  City's  pioneer  druggist  and  oldest  merchant, 
passed  away  into  that  sleep  that  bears  him  to  his  maker  to 
receive  his  eternal  reward.     The  beautiful  birds,  the  martins 


362        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

that  used  to  build  their  nests  around  that  famihar  mortar  and 
pestle  annually  lay  their  eggs  and  rear  their  young,  Mr.  Davis 
always  gave  them  a  welcome  and  one  of  the  windows  was  a 
veritable  old  curiosity  shop,  and  was  a  noted  place  for  visitors. 
The  old  man  was  a  naturalist,  objects  of  historic  value  in  con- 
nection with  Iowa  history  and  the  world  at  large  were  on  ex- 
hibition from  time  to  time,  and  his  collection  of  curios  was 
among  the  finest  and  most  interesting  in  the  state,  outside  of 
the  University  museum.  He  served  as  secretary  of  The  State 
Historical  Society  in  former  years,  and  was  always  a  member 
of  the  board  of  curators.  Shortly  before  he  died  the  honor- 
able board  held  their  meeting  in  his  store  to  save  his  streng'th 
climbing  the  stairs  leading  to  Liberal  Arts  hall,  their  regular 
office.    He  naturally  was  a  lover  of  history  in  general. 


SAMUEL  CALVIN,  A.  M.,  LL.  D.,  PH.  D.,  F.  G.  S.  A. 

In  the  death  of  Samuel  Calvin,  professor,  and  head  of  the 
department  of  geologj^  of  the  State  University  of  Iowa,  the 
state  lost  one  of  its  best-beloved  citizens  and  educators  and 
the  nation  probably  its  greatest  geologist.  The  biographer 
is  overwhelmed  with  the  quantity  and  the  quality  of  the  data 
affecting  the  life  and  the  activities  of  this  remarkable  man. 
The  opinions  of  his  fellows,  expressed  in  tender  encomium, 
no  less  than  the  manifest  affection  of  his  friends,  afford  volum- 
inous material  for  the  memorialist.  It  seems  to  be  literally 
true  that  Professor  Calvin  is  embalmed  in  the  love  and  ap- 
preciation of  his  countrymen,  and  there  can  ))e  no  nobler 
sepulcher  this  side  of  divinity. 

Three  dominant  traits,  in  the  estimation  of  Dean  W.  G. 
Wilcox,  of  the  State  University  of  Iowa,  were  manifest  in  the 
life  of  Professor  Calvin :  First,  his  "power  of  personal  char- 
acter in  academic  life;"  second,  his  "kindly  consideration  for 
other  people,"  and,  third,  his  "accomplishment  of  the  best 
results  with  the  least  effort."  Professor  L.  G.  Weld  esti- 
mates him  as  possessing  "a  standard  of  scholarship,  of  gen- 
tle manliness  and  Christian  honor."  Professor  Shimek  sums 
up  a  graceful  tribute  with  the  words,  ' '  He  was  a  Man. ' '  Ex- 
President  George  E.  MacLean  states  that  "he  was  the  most 


■lao 


BIOGRAPHICAL  36 

valued  counsellor  of  the  president."  His  friend  and  pastor, 
Rev.  D.  W.  Wylie,  T).  1).,  says,  "In  his  life  he  revealed  those 
Christian  qualities  of  character  which  endeared  him  to  every 
one  and  which  were  the  secret  of  his  influence."  Sentiments 
similar,  but  varying-  in  their  touch  and  (juality  of  expression, 
might  be  multiplied — from  press,  from  colaborers,  from  stu- 
dents, from  fellow  citizens.  It  is  an  aggregate  memorial 
worthy  of  its  place  on  a  great  man's  grave. 

Professor  Calvin  entered  the  University  of  Iowa  as  an  in- 
structor in  1874,  accepting  the  professorship  of  natural  sci- 
ences, the  chair  being  general  at  that  time.  He  taught  phy- 
siology, botany,  and  geology.  Later,  when  the  division  took 
l)lace,  he  was  made  professor  of  geology,  which  position  he 
lield  until  his  death,  bringing  to  his  university  and  himself 
honor  and  world-wide  recognition.  His  scientific  accomplish- 
ments were  voluminous.  A  statement  of  the  honors  bestowed 
upon  him  and  some  of  the  societies  with  which  he  was  con- 
nected in  scientific  research  will  give  a  hint  of  his  attainments 
and  activities.  He  received  the  degree  of  Master  of  Arts  from 
Cornell  college  in  1875 ;  the  degree  of  Ph.  I),  from  Lenox  col- 
lege in  1888 ;  and  the  degree  of  LL.  D.  from  Cornell  in  1904. 
He  was  the  editor  and  associate  editor  of  the  American  Geol- 
ogist, the  principal  publication  in  that  fiekl  in  the  United 
States,  from  1888  to  1905,  when  he  retired  on  account  of  the 
great  pressure  of  his  work  in  other  lines.  He  was  a  Fellow 
in  the  American  Association  for  the  Advancement  of  Science, 
and  was  honored  with  its  presidency  in  1894.  He  was  a  Fel- 
low in  the  Geological  Association  of  America,  which  is  the 
leading  society  of  geologists  in  America,  and  was  elected  its 
president  in  1908.  He  was  recognized  as  the  leading  and  dom- 
inant spirit  in  the  Iowa  Academy  of  Science,  and  held  many 
positions  and  offices  in  this  body,  including  its  presidency  in 

ft '     

1909.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Paleontological  Society  and 
the  National  Geographical  Society.  He  was  made  State  Geol- 
ogist of  Iowa  in  1892,  and  held  that  office  until  his  death,  with 
the  exception  of  a  period  from  1904  to  1906,  when  other  work 
compelled  his  temporary  resignation.  Twenty  volumes  of  re- 
ports of  the  State  Geological  Surveys  attest  the  vigor  of  his 
administration  of  this  important  office.  He  was  given  national 
recognition  and  honor  by  President  Roosevelt  in  1908  when 


364        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

he  was  chosen  as  one  of  the  members  of  the  White  House  con- 
ference on  the  conservation  of  tlie  natnral  resources  of  the 
United  States.  Recognizing  his  authority  in  geological  work, 
the  government  advised  with  him  as  occasion  demanded.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  government  advisory  board  on  fuels  and 
structural  materials,  and  wrote  many  articles  of  practical 
scientific  value  on  these  subjects.  He  was  an  extensive  writer 
on  the  pleistocene  geological  period  in  Iowa,  and  was  consid- 
ered the  authority  on  this  subject.  Paleontology  received  his 
detailed  and  com]5rehensive  attention  and  has  made  him 
known  the  world  over. 


EESTDENCE  OF   MRS.    SAMTJEIi  CALVIN 

Professor  Thomas  H,  Macbride  states  that  "as  a  student 
of  paleontology  and  geology  Professor  Calvin  was  the  legiti- 
mate and  direct  successor,  in  this  fiekl  of  research,  of  Hall 
and  Whitfield,  men  long  ago  famous  throughout  the  scientific 
world.  .  .  These  were  distinguished  men,  among  the  great- 
est geologists  of  the  world;  but  their  work  was  preliminary 
only,  incomplete  and  necessarily  imperfect.  .  .  When  Pro- 
fessor Calvin  came  to  the  field,  since  especially  his  own,  the 
geology  of  Iowa  was  still  largely  an  unwritten  volume.  The 
paleontology  of  the  state  had  long  been  studied  simply  as  a 
matter  of  presentation  to  the  Universitv  classes.     .     .     In  the 


BIOGRAPHICAL  365 

prelimiuary  work  of  Hall  and  Whitfield  an  attempt  was  made 
to  correlate  the  several  Iowa  horizons  with  those  of  the  state 
of  New  York.  Professor  Calvin  has  shown  that  this  may  be 
done  with  the  exactness  once  supposed  impossible.  .  .  But 
in  geology,  Professor  Calvin's  most  conspicuous  service  has 
been  effected  within  recent  years,  in  fact,  since  he  assumed 
charge  of  the  re-established  geological  surve}".  In  this  his 
genius  for  organization  as  well  as  for  detail  work  has  had 
full  sway.  .  .  While  in  the  conduct  of  research  so  extended 
the  activity  of  many  collaborateurs  must,  of  course,  appear, 
nevertheless  the  plan  of  the  work  entire  belongs  to  Professor 
Calvin,  and  of  almost  every  volume  (of  the  official  survey)  his 
own  personal  contributions  constitute  a  very  extended  part. 
In  this  survey,  the  disposition  and  sequence  of  the  pleistocene, 
or  latest  deposits,  of  the  state  have  received  special  attention 
and  have  been  so  successfully  worked  out,  delimited,  and  de- 
scribed, as  to  make  Iowa  henceforth  classic  ground  for  pleisto- 
cene geology  for  all  the  world.  In  the  meantime,  our  general 
knowledge  of  the  state,  our  information  relative  to  waters, 
drainage,  clays,  rocks,  and  coal,  has  been  so  greatly  and  so 
advantageously  increased,  that  all  these  things  today  are  a 
matter  of  easy  knowledge  to  such  as  choose  to  read." 

Professor  S.  AV.  Williston,  of  the  University  of  Chicago,  in 
an  address  delivered  at  the  Calvin  memorial  exercises  held  in 
the  Natural  Science  auditorium.  State  University  of  Iowa,  on 
May  3,  1911,  said:  "I  have  asked  several  eminent  geologists 
what  their  impressions  were  of  Calvin  as  a  man  and  as  a  geo- 
logist. Unanimous  have  been  their  replies  that  he  was  a  man 
of  most  winning  personal  character,  a  man  whom  all  his  col- 
leagues liked;  that  he  was  a  geologist  of  ability  whose  work 
was  characterized  by  sound  judgment,  honesty,  sanity,  and 
thoroughness.  .  .  It  was  Professor  Calvin  who  began  a 
new  epoch  in  the  pleistocene  paleontologj''  of  North  America. 
In  his  analysis  of  the  Aftonian  fauna,  he  for  the  first  time 
definitely  located  in  time  and  place  an  American  pleistocene 
fauna.  I  doubt  if  any  one  else  in  America  could  have  done  it 
as  well  as  he,  if  at  all.  I  think  that  I  am  safe  in  saying,  that, 
outside  of  his  adopted  state,  Professor  Calvin  will  be  longest 
known  for  this,  his  last  scientific  work,  and  the  paleontologist 
can  only  regret  that  as  a  scientist  he  was  not  spared  for  an- 


366        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

other  ten  years  to  continue  liis  researches  in  pleistocene 
paleontology.  Though  he  had  passed  his  three  score  years 
and  ten,  he  showed  no  abatement  of  his  zeal  or  of  his  ability, 
nor  would  he,  I  am  assured,  had  he  reached  four  score  years." 

Prof.  Calvin  was  also  versed  in  law.  He  attended  Ann 
Arbor,  Michigan,  a  short  time  before  coming  to  Dubuque, 
Iowa.  Providing  himself  with  a  good  law  lilirary  on  his  ar- 
rival in  Dubuque,  he  read  law  with  Judge  Shiras.  AMiile  in 
Dubuque  he  instructed  a  class  and  gave  a  course  of  lectures 
on  geology. 

He  was  employed  by  the  city  as  a  lecturer  prior  to  entering 
the  State  University.  Prior  to  the  division  of  the  university, 
in  former  periods  Professor  Calvin  taught  in  the  Medical  De- 
partment a  class  including-  such  eminent  men  as  Professor 
Nutting,  Professor  Houser,  Dr.  Dean,  Dr.  Whiteis,  and  others 
their  first  lessons  in  biology,  histology,  and  anatomy. 

Samuel  Calvin  was  born  February  2,  1840,  in  Weg-tonshire, 
Scotland,  and  died  xVpril  17,  1911,  at  his  residence  in  Iowa 
City,  Iowa.  He  was  the  son  of  Thomas  and  Elizabeth  Calvin, 
natives  of  Scotland,  who,  with  their  family,  left  their  native 
land  in  1852  and  settled  in  America,  residing  first  in  Saratoga 
county.  New  York  state,  where  they  remained  three  years. 
Samuel  was  twelve  years  of  age  when  he  left  Scotland.  In 
1855  the  family  removed  to  Buchanan  county,  Iowa,  where 
they  made  their  permanent  home.  On  the  home  farm  young- 
Samuel  laid  the  foundation  of  the  strong,  vigorous,  and 
healthy  bodv  which  stood  him  so  well  in  hand  in  his  strenuous 
after  life.  His  course  at  Lenox  college,  Hopkinton,  Iowa,  was 
interrupted  bj"  the  Civil  War,  in  which  he  enlisted  in  the 
spring  of  1864.  After  his  service  in  the  army  he  was  secured 
by  Lenox  college  as  a  professor  of  science.  It  was  while  en- 
gaged at  Lenox  as  an  instructor  that  Professor  Calvin,  in 
September,  1865,  was  married  to  Miss  Louise  Jackson,  of 
Hopkinton.  In  1869  the  couple  removed  to  Dubuque,  Iowa, 
where  Professor  Calvin  accepted  the  principalship  of  one  of 
the  ward  schools  of  the  city.  This  position  he  occupied  until 
1874,  when  he  was  elected  to  the  chair  of  natural  science  at  the 
Iowa  State  University. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  367 

Samuel  Calvin  and  Louise  Jackson  are  tlie  parents  of  two 
children:  Alice,  wife  of  Dr.  Willis  Lomas,  of  Villisca,  Iowa; 
AVilliam  John,  residing  with  his  family  at  Sacramento,  Cali- 
fornia. The  latter  is  a  graduate  of  S.  U.  I.,  is  a  civil  engineer, 
and  is  now  holding  the  position  of  division  superintendent  of. 
the  Western  Pacific  Railroad.  The  daughter  was  at  her 
father's  bedside  during  his  last  illness  and  death.  He  has  one 
brother,  John,  who  resides  at  Kansas  City. 

Professor  Calvin  was  active  in  the  work  of  the  Grand  Army 
of  the  Republic.  At  the  time  of  his  death  he  was  commander 
of  Kirkwood  Post,  having  been  elected  to  that  position  after 
the  death  of  Commander  J.  E.  Jayue  in  January,  1911.  The 
members  of  the  post  were  proud  to  have  such  a  man  in  their 
executive  chair  and  deeply  regret  that  he  was  permitted  to 
preside  only  once  over  their  deliberations.  The  military  rec- 
ord of  Comrade  Calvin  is  brief,  but  complete:  "Samuel  Cal- 
vin, Newton  township,  Buchanan  county.  24.  Scot.  Enlisted 
April  30,  186-1,  Company  C,  44th  Regiment,  Iowa  Infantry. 
Mustered  in  June  1,  1864.  Mustered  out  at  the  close  of  the 
war."  The  excessive  heat  of  the  summer  in  Tennessee,  where 
his  regiment  was  engaged  in  garrison  duty,  caused  extensive 
sickness  among  the  troops,  and  when  Comrade  Calvin  reached 
Davenport,  Iowa,  on  the  homeward  trip,  he  was  compelled  to 
enter  a  hospital  for  treatment. 

The  death  of  Professor  Calvin  was  sudden,  the  result  of 
valvular  heart  trouble.  His  affliction  was  know^n  to  him,  and 
he  remarked  to  a  representative  of  this  jnililication  who  ob- 
tained from  him  personally  a  portion  of  the  data  for  this 
sketch  a  few  weeks  before  his  death,  "I  have  only  a  short  time 
to  stay."  The  funeral  services,  impressive  in  their  utter  sim- 
plicity, were  held  at  2  p.  m.,  April  21,  1911,  in  the  First  Pres- 
byterian church,  Iowa  City,  of  which  he  was  an  active,  useful 
member  for  many  years.  Dr.  AVylie.  the  pastor,  officiated, 
and,  in  closing  a  timely  sermon,  said:  "His  service  in  pro- 
moting the  coming  of  the  kingdom  of  God  was  as  great  as  his 
work  in  the  realm  of  science."  The  services  were  attended  by 
a  very  large  number  of  the  old  friends  of  the  deceased,  many 
being  present  from  other  cities  and  particularly  from  other 
colleges  in  Iowa.     Kirkwood  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  attended  in  a 


368        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

body.     The  remains,  in  the  bowed  presence  of  a  linshed  com- 
pany, were  interred  in  Oakland  cemetery. 

"The  wisdom  that  we  strive  for  he  won  abundantly; 
The  noble  character  we  praise  was  also  his; 
Bnt  Death  distinguished  not  the  beauty  and  the  prize. 
The  lessons  of  his  life  are  with  us  still ; 
The  lesson  of  his  death  is  for  the  work!  — 
That  whatso'er  our  gains  may  be,  they  perish  with  us, 
But  light  we  give  to  others  leads  on  a  race,  to  praise 
and  glorify 


J  ? 


JOHN  KOZA 


John  Koza  left  his  native  land,  Bohemia,  when  nineteen 
years  of  age,  determined  to  apply  the  factors  of  industry, 
thrift,  and  honesty  towards  the  solution  of  the  problems  of 
life  in  the  new  world.  He  wisely  came  direct  to  Iowa  City, 
where  he  immediately  secured  emplojTiient  with  J.  K.  Corlett 
as  a  carriage  painter.  This  position  he  retained  for  five 
years,  at  the  end  of  which  he  formed  a  partnership  with  his 
lu'other  Joseph  in  the  meat  market  business.  The  lirothers 
carried  on  a  successful  business  for  fourteen  years,  and  then 
John  purchased  Joseph's  interest  and  continued  to  carry  on 
the  enterprise  single  handed  for  over  ten  years.  He  had  then 
achieved  pronounced  success,  and  retired  from  the  meat  busi- 
ness in  order  to  give  his  entire  attention  to  his  personal  prop- 
erty interests  in  Iowa  City  and  Johnson  county.  (See  biog- 
raphy of  Joseph  Koza.) 

Mr.  Koza  was  married  in  187-1-  to  Miss  Barbara  Pechman, 
a  native  of  Bohemia,  who  came  to  Iowa  City  in  1857  with  her 
parents,  when  four  years  of  age.  Her  father  was  a  prosper- 
ous farmer  in  Lincoln  township,  and  shortly  before  his  death, 
in  1909,  retired  and  removed  to  Iowa  City,  where  his  widow 
resided  until  her  death  on  May  11,  1912. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Koza  have  five  children:  Abigail,  now  Mrs. 
John  H.  Sunier,  the  jeweler;  M.  J.,  of  Texas;  William,  mar- 
ried Miss  May  Baker,  living  in  Iowa  City;  Anna,  living  at 
home;  Carrie,  clerk  in  Sunier 's  store. 

Mr.  Koza  is  a  member  of  the  C.  S.  P.  S.  and  the  P.  J. 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


369 


Safarik  lodges  of  Iowa  City.  He  was  one  of  the  founders  of 
the  latter  lodge,  and  takes  a  great  interest  in  fraternal  mat- 
ters. In  1902  he  erected  a  business  block  on  East  College 
street  and  in  190G  his  modern  home  at  619  North  Linn. 

At  sixty-one  years  of  age,  this  son  of  Bohemia  is  a  repre- 
sentative and  prominent  citizen  of  his  adopted  city,  having 
proven  to  his  friends  and  the  world  the  power  of  honest  pur- 
pose in  the  activities  of  life,  and  the  possibilities  of  success 
under  the  favorable  conditions  of  a  leading  American  com- 
monwealth.    With   ample  means  in  his  possession,  he  may 


rp:sidence  of  joiin  koza 


look  confidently  forward  to  many  years  of  peace  and  useful- 
ness, with  the  comforts  of  wife,  children,  and  friends,  and  the 
respect  of  neighbors  and  fellow  citizens. 


F.  B.  VOLKKINGER 

Many  native  sons  of  Johnson  county  have  spent  their  en- 
tire lives  within  its  limits,  and  of  these  none  has  won  a  more 
honorable  record  than  Frank  B.  Volkinger,  who  has  been 
honored  by  election  to  the  office  of  county  clerk,  and  who  has 
lilled  the  duties  of  his  responsible  post  with  credit  to  himself 
and  to  the  satisfaction  of  all.     He  was  born  October  2,  1864, 


370 


HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 


son  of  Frank  and  Josephine  (Meyer)  Volkringer,  the  father 
a  native  of  Alsace,  Germany,  and  the  mother  of  Strasberg, 
Germany.  Frank  A^olkringer  came  with  his  parents  to  the 
United  States  at  the  age  of  tliree  years  and  was  educated  in 
tliis  country.  He  came  to  Iowa  City  in  1856,  walking  in  from 
the  edge  of  the  town,  as  the  railroad  had  but  just  been  com- 
pleted to  Iowa  City  and  had  not  yet  entered  the  town  jiroper. 
He  later  engaged  in  lousiness  in  Iowa  City  and  liecame  a  prom- 
inent citizen.  He  died  there  April  11,  188 J.  He  and  his  wife 
had  two  sons  and  six  daughters,  of  whom  all  survive  except 
one  son.  The  mother  of  Mr.  Volkringer,  Mrs.  Josephine 
(Meyer)  Volkringer,  died  in  Chicago,  111.,  March  5,  1900,  and 


-'.i\.  :-f\v.    \  "  •  iv    •    v.r      V 


RESIDENCE  OF  F.  B.  VOLKRINGER 


her  remains  were  brought  to  Iowa  City  accompanied  liy  her 
son,  Frank  B.  Services  were  held  at  St.  Mary's  church  of 
which  she  was  a  member  and  she  was  laid  at  rest  beside  her 
husband  in  St.  Joseph's  cemetery  March  7,  1909.  The  sur- 
viving children  are  Lilly,  wife  of  John  English  of  Iowa  City; 
Louisa,  widow  of  Robert  Lorenz,  Iowa  City;  Catherine  or 
Kate,  wife  of  William  Yokes,  of  Chicago;  Annie,  wife  of 
George  Reasor,  Iowa  City;  Frank  B.,  of  this  review;  Ella, 
wife  of  George  Wise ;  Emma,  wife  of  Frank  Glennon. 

Frank  B.  Volkringer  received  his  early  education  in  St. 
Joseph's  Institute,  estabUshed  by  Rev.  F.  Emonds,  and  later 
graduated  from  Iowa  City  Business  College.     In  his  seven- 


BIOGRAPHICAL  371 

teenth  year  he  entered  the  Johnson  comity  court  house  in  the 
capacity  of  deputy  recorder  to  assist  Recorder  Weden.  He 
was  appointed  to  tlie  office  for  four  years  by  J.  J.  Hotz; 
served  two  years  under  J,  J.  Novak  in  the  same  position,  and 
six  months  under  Joseph  Cerny.  His  next  appointment  to 
office  was  in  the  county  auditor's  office  under  Hon.  George 
Koontz,  present  mayor  of  Iowa  Cit}".  He  next  entered  the 
county  clerk's  office  as  assistant  to  William  Hotz,  and  upon 
leaving  this  position  became  deputy  for  County  Treasurer 
A.  R.  Cherry,  in  which  place  he  remained  two  years,  then  re- 
mained there  four  years  under  Ed.  Kozer.  He  was  first  elect- 
ed to  the  office  of  county  clerk  in  1906,  and  has  held  it  ever 
since,  having  been  reelected  in  1910. 

Fraternally  Mr.  Volkringer  is  a  member  of  the  Maccabees, 
Modern  Woodmen  of  America,  the  Elks,  the  Knights  of  Col- 
umbus, the  German  Aid  Society,  and  Catholic  Order  of  For- 
esters. He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  St.  Wenceslaus  Bo- 
hemian Catholic  church,  of  Iowa  City,  and  are  much  inter- 
ested in  the  various  branches  of  the  work.  Mrs.  Volkringer 
is  especially  active  and  interested  in  all  Christian  endeavor 
and  affairs  of  the  church. 

Mr.  Volkringer  w^as  married  in  Iowa  City  to  Miss  Tonic 
Strand,  native  of  Bohemia,  who  came  to  Johnson  county  when 
a  child.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Mary  Strnad. 
Joseph  Strnad  died  1894.     Mary  Strnad  died  1896. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Volkringer  are  well  known  in  social  circles 
and  both  are  much  interested  in  everything  pertaining  to  the 
welfare  of  the  community.  Having  spent  all  his  life  in  John- 
son county,  ]\Ir.  Volkringer  has  many  friends  and  is  one  of 
the  most  popular  men  within  its  limits.  His  friends  often  re- 
fer to  him  in  a  familiar,  friendly  way  as  '^Frenchy 


?  > 


JAMES  L.  LIJSCOMBE 

Among  the  self-made  of  Iowa  City,  Iowa,  may  be  count- 
ed James  L.  Luscoml)e,  who  has  been  a  resident  of  the  city 
since  infancy.  He  is  a  native  of  London,  England,  born  July 
25,  1868,  son  of  James  and  Mary  (Liddle)  Luscombe,  who 
were  born,  reared,  and  married  in  that  comitry.     The  father 


372        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

was  born  in  March,  1843,  and  the  mother  during  the  same 
year.  They  came  to  America,  direct  to  Iowa  City  in  1871, 
and  there  located  permanently.  James  Lnscombe  was  a  car- 
penter who  made  a  specialty  of  indoor  work,  and  he  became 
one  of  the  first  professional  stair-builders  of  Iowa.  He  was 
an  enterprising  and  successful  workman,  being  well  skilled  in 
his  particular  line  of  the  trade.  He  died  in  1875.  His  widow 
survives.     They  became  the  parents  of  three  children. 

James  L.  Luscombe  graduated  from  the  Iowa  City  high 
school  with  the  class  of  1885,  and  after  following  various  lines 
of  work,  in  1892  engaged  in  business  on  his  own  account,  as 
a  photographer.  He  has  since  continued  in  this  line  and  has 
built  up  a  high  reputation  for  the  excellence  of  his  work. 
He  is  a  true  artist  and  keeps  in  touch  with  modern  ideas.  He 
takes  an  active  interest  in  the  welfare  of  the  city  where  almost 
his  entire  life  has  been  spent,  and  can  remember  no  other 
home.  He  is  affiliated  with  the  republican  party.  He  and  his 
family  attend  the  English  Lutheran  church,  of  which  they  are 
members.  He  is  ready  to  forward  any  object  atfeeting  the 
general  welfare  and  is  regarded  as  a  public-spirited  citizen. 
He  is  well  known  in  various  circles  in  Iowa  City  and  vicinity 
and  has  a  host  of  friends.  He  has  patronage  from  a  wide 
territory. 

On  January  1,  1893,  Mr.  Luscombe  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Minnie  E.  Hartle,  a  native  of  Iowa  county,  Iowa, 

and  daughter  of  Geo.  Hartle  and Hartle,  the 

former  a  native  of  Pennsylvania  and  the  latter  of  Virginia. 
Two  sons  have  blessed  this  union:  Donald  A.,  born  in  1897, 
and  Robert,  born  in  1902,  bright  young  people,  and  students 
in  the  Iowa  City  schools. 


WILLIAM  MARESH 

It  is  probably  not  generally  known  that  the  use  of  copper 
in  cornice  construction  was,  if  ;iot  actually  conceived  by 
Vaclav  W.  Maresh  of  Iowa  City,  at  least  first  put  into  general 
favor  by  him  through  the  product  of  his  factory  in  this  city. 
His  was  the  first  manufactory  of  the  sort  west  of  Chicago, 
and  it  is  conceded  that  he  is  one  of  the  oldest  operators  in 
this  line.     His  plant  has  furnished  material  for  many  of  the 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


373 


principal  Iniildings  of  Cliicag'o,  Denver,  and  other  western 
cities,  and  the  manufactory  established  by  him  and  now  oper- 
ated by  his  two  sons,  William  and  Stanley  E.,  is  among  the 
best  in  the  country  in  the  line  of  ornamental  copper  work. 

Vaclav  W.  Maresli  became  an  artificer  in  copper  in  his 
native  country,  Bohemia,  whence  he  came  direct  to  Iowa  City 
when  a  young  man.  In  his  adopted  home  he  met  Antoinette 
Miller,  who  became  his  wife,  the  couple  being  married  in  this 
city.  Miss  jMiller  came  to  America  with  her  parents,  who 
located  at  Iowa  City.  Seven  children  were  born  to  them: 
Emma,  living  with  her  parents  ;  Stanley  E,,  associated  in  busi- 
ness with  our  subject;  Lillian  Choate,  living  at  home;  Delia, 


RESIDENCE  OF  WILLIAM  MARESH 


now  Mrs.  Thomas  Chadima,  of  Cedar  Rapids;  William  our 
subject;  Dr.  George,  practicing  medicine  at  Riverside,  Iowa; 
Dr.  Reginald,  practicing  dentistry  at  Cedar  Rapids.  Both 
parents  are  living  and  residing  at  530  East  Market  street, 
Iowa  City,  the  father  being  seventy-two  years  of  age. 

William  Maresh  was  a  student  in  the  public  schools  of  Iowa 
City,  and  took  a  course  in  the  Iowa  City  Business  College. 
This  he  later  supplemented  by  a  course  in  architectural  design- 
ing and  drawing,  and  then  served  a  full  apprenticeship  at  the 
coppersmith  trade.     In  March,  1900,  he  became  associated 


374        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

with  his  brother,  Stanley  E.,  in  tlie  galvanized  iron  works  and 
stoves  and  tinware  business  at  212-214  East  Washington 
street,  in  which  he  is  still  engaged. 

Mr.  Maresh  was  married  September  10,  1902,  to  Miss  Ella 
Hnrka,  of  Cedar  Rapids,  a  native  of  Iowa,  whose  parents 
were  born  in  Bohemia.  The  family  residence  is  at  312  East 
Davenport  street. 

Mr.  Maresh  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  includ- 
ing the  degrees  to  Knight  Templar  of  Palestine  Commandery 
of  Iowa  City.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  B.  P.  0.  E.,  of 
Iowa  City. 


FRANCIS  LEONARD  LOVE,  M.  D. 

One  of  the  most  popular  young  physicians  of  Johnson  and 
adjoining  counties  is  Francis  Leonard  Love,  M.  D.,  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch.  His  first  general  joractice  began  in  1906 
and  his  work  as  a  specialist  in  1908,  his  clientage  extending 
to  all  parts  of  Johnson,  Iowa,  and  Washingion  counties. 
Probably  no  j^hysician  in  Iowa  City  has  finer  equipped  of- 
fices or  accommodations  for  patients  than  Dr.  Love.  He  oc- 
cupies eleven  rooms  in  the  new,  modern  Paul-Helen  lilock, 
furnished  with  every  possible  convenience.  Included  in  the 
equipment  are  an  operating  room  and  a  lal)oratory,  with 
every  modern  appliance.  The  doctor's  specialty  is  diseases 
of  the  eye,  ear,  nose,  and  throat.  He  is  assistant  in  surgery 
in  the  State  University  of  Iowa. 

Dr.  Love  is  a  native  of  Iowa,  being  born  in  Calhoun  county 
in  1879.  His  parents  are  Horace  A.  and  Annie  M.  (Sullivan) 
Love,  of  Manson,  Iowa.  He  was  a  graduate  of  the  high 
school  of  Manson  in  the  class  of  1897.  In  1897-98  he  enlisted 
in  the  Spanish- American  War  and  served  with  52d  Iowa  vol- 
unteer infantry  until  the  regiment  was  mustered  out  of  ser- 
vice. He  attended  the  University  of  Chicago.  He  graduated 
from  the  medical  department  of  the  State  University  of  Iowa 
June  18,  1906.  He  took  a  post  graduate  course  in  eye,  ear, 
nose,  and  throat  at  the  Polyclinic,  Chicago. 

Dr.  Love  is  a  member  of  the  American  Medical  Associa- 
tion, of  the  Iowa  State  Medical  Society  and  the  Johnson 
County  Medical  Society.     He  was  honored  bv  the  last  named 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


375 


society  with  the  office  of  president  in  1910.  His  fraternal 
affiliations  are  with  the  Knights  of  Colmiihns,  B.  P.  0.  E., 
M.  W.  A.,  and  W.  0.  AV.,  of  Iowa  City.  His  family  and  he 
are  members  of  St.  Patrick's  Eoman  Catholic  chnrcli. 

Dr.  Love's  wife  is  Miss  Frances  Mullen,  daughter  of  AYil- 
liam  Mullen,  one  of  the  prominent  citizens  of  Johnson  county. 
They  have  one  daughter,  Mary  Catherine. 

WILLIAM  MULLEN,  father  of  Mrs.  F.  L.  Love,  is  living 
in  retirement  with  his  son-in-law  at  the  family  residence,  9'2'2 
East  College  street.  He  is  a  native  of  Queen's  county,  Ire- 
land, where  he  was  born  August  2,  1841.  On  December  14, 
1863,  he  left  his  native  country  for  the  United  States,  reach- 


RESIDENCE  OF  FRANCIS  LEONARD  LOVE,  M.  D, 


ing  New  York  December  28.  In  January,  1864,  he  moved  to 
Rockford,  Illinois,  and  on  April  18,  1868,  located  at  Iowa  City. 
For  eleven  and  one-half  years  he  was  associated  with  the  Iowa 
City  Gas  Company.  In  March,  1880,  he  was  ai)pointed  super- 
intendent of  the  county  poor  farm  by  the  supervisors  of 
Johnson  county,  a  position  which  he  held  until  his  retirement 
from  active  business.  One  year  prior  to  his  removal  from 
Ireland  Mr.  Mullen  was  married  to  Miss  Katherine  Whalen, 
also  a  native  of  Queen's  county.  They  have  seven  children: 
John  P.,  Annie  S.,  Joseph,  James,  Mary,  Katie,  and  Frances, 
wife  of  Dr.  Love.     In  politics  Mr.  Mullen  is  a  democrat.     Al- 


376        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

though  in  favor  of  temperance,  he  declares  he  felt  it  to  he  his 
duty  to  vote  against  the  constitutional  prohibition  amend- 
ment, and  did  so. 


JOSEPH  KOZA 


Joseph  Koza  is  two  years  the  senior  of  his  brother,  John, 
whose  biography  appears  in  this  volume,  and  much  that  has 
been  said  respecting  his  younger  brother  is  equally  applicable 
to  him.  The  reader  is  respectfully  referred  to  the  biography 
of  John  Koza  for  additional  facts.  In  one  respect  the 
brothers  repeated  his  story  —  they  both  left  their  native 
land,  Bohemia,  at  the  age  of  nineteen.  Joseph  preceded 
James  in  his  westward  journey  by  two  years.  Both  settled 
in  Iowa  City,  and  both  have  acquired  financial  independence. 

The  date  of  Joseph  Koza's  birth  was  September  21,  1848. 
His  parents  are  Joseph  and  Josephine  (Balat)  Koza.  He 
reached  Iowa  City  in  1868  and  entered  the  meat  market  l)usi- 
ness.  In  this  he  was  successful,  being  associated  for  about 
fourteen  years  in  partnership  with  his  brother  John.  In  1900 
Joseph  sold  out  the  business  to  his  brother  and  retired,  since 
which  time  he  has  been  enjoying  ease  and  rest,  his  property 
interests  being  sufficient  to  occupy  his  attention. 

On  June  12,  1870,  Mr.  Koza  was  married  to  Miss  Mary 
Pechman,  a  native  of  Bohemia,  who  came  direct  to  Johnson 
county  with  her  parents  in  1857.  Again  the  Koza  brothers 
repeated  history,  both  having  married  daughters  of  the  same 
parents,  as  stated  in  the  biography  of  John  Koza.  Mr. 
Pechman  died  in  1909,  and  his  widow  lived  at  Iowa  City, 
where  she  died  May  11,  1912.  Three  children  were  born  to 
Joseph  and  Mary  Koza :  F.  Joseph,  married  Miss  Dela  Gris- 
sel,  and  living  at  Chicago;  Emma  J.,  now  Mrs.  J.  D.  Nad- 
herny,  living  at  Chicago;  E.  G.,  married  Emma  Duker,  and 
living  at  Quincy,  Illinois.  Mrs.  Koza  died  September  30, 
1910. 

Mr.  Koza  is  a  member  of  St.  AVenceslaus  Bohemian  Catho- 
lic church. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  377 

EDWARD  SULEK 

Rising,  by  persistent  application,  from  an  ol)scure  farmer 
boy  to  a  successful  place  as  an  honored  member  of  the  legal 
profession  of  Iowa  City,  Edward  Sulek  stands  as  an  example 
to  the  young  men  of  Johnson  county.  Born  on  a  farm  in 
Johnson  county;  working  steadily  thereon  in  his  youth  and 
attending  school  in  the  winter  and  spring;  graduating  in  the 
high  school ;  teaching  country  school ;  studying  the  elementary 
principles  of  law-  l)y  correspondence ;  graduating  in  the  law 
department  of  the  State  University  of  Iowa ;  undertaking  his 
first  law  practice  with  the  old  farm  for  his  office;  then  remov- 
ing to  Iowa  City  and  entering  actively  into  practice  with  a 
splendid  clientage  —  all  this  reads  ahnost  like  a  romance. 
Yet  this  is  briefly  the  life  sketch  of  Edw^ard  Sulek.  This 
simple  recital  of  facts  discloses  at  once  the  stuff  of  which  he 
is  made.  Men  made  of  this  material  have  no  such  word  as 
failure  in  their  lexicon. 

The  founders  of  the  Sulek  family  in  this  county  were  An- 
thony and  Barliara  (Sladek)  Sulek,  natives  of  Bohemia,  Aus- 
tria, who  settled  in  Jefferson  township  in  1853.  After  a 
residence  there  of  fifteen  years,  they  removed  to  Linn  county, 
and  thence  in  old  age  removing  to  Ely,  low^a;  finally  back  to 
the  old  home  in  Johnson  county,  where  Grandfather  Sulek 
lived  wdth  our  subject's  mother  until  his  death.  Frank  Sulek, 
son  of  Anthony  and  father  of  Edw^ard,  w^as  born  in  Bohemia 
in  1843  and  came  to  Johnson  county  with  his  parents  at  the 
age  of  ten  years.  The  farm  on  which  the  family  settled  in 
1853  is  still  in  the  possession  of  the  family  name,  being  now 
owned  by  Frank  Sulek,  brother  of  our  subject.  The  elder 
Frank  Sulek  died  in  1893  at  the  age  of  fifty  years.  He  was  a 
successful  farmer  and  w^as  appreciated  by  everybody  who 
knew  him  for  his  efficiency  and  honesty.  He  served  Johnson 
county  for  six  years  as  a  member  of  the  board  of  supervisors. 
His  wife  was  formerly  Anna  Besk,  a  native  of  Bohemia,  who 
came  with  her  parents  to  America  when  seventeen  years  of 
age.  She  was  born  in  18-19.  Her  father.  Vac.  Besk,  died  in 
March,  1912,  at  the  age  of  eighty-five  years.  The  parents  of 
Barbara  Sulek,  Grandfather  and  Grandmother  Sladek,  ac- 
companied Anthony  and  Barbara  Sulek  to  this  country  and 


378        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

died  at  an  extreme  old  age,  Grandfather  Sladek  having 
reached  his  ninety-sixth  year. 

There  were  two  sons  in  Anthony  Snlek's  family:  Frank, 
father  of  Edward;  and  Anton.  Edward  Sulek  was  the  fifth 
child  in  a  family  of  ten,  of  whom  seven  now  survive,  four 
boys  and  three  girls. 

As  heretofore  stated,  Edward  Sulek  was  born  and  raised 
on  his  father's  farm.  The  date  of  his  birth  was  July  29, 
1874.  After  attendance  at  the  district  schools  of  Jefferson 
township,   he   entered   the    Shueyville   high   school   in    1888. 


RESIDENCE    OF    ED^^'AKD    SULliK 


From  there  he  went  to  Cedar  Rapids  high  school,  where  he 
graduated  in  1895.  He  entered  the  Law  Department  of  the 
State  University  in  1904,  graduating  in  1906.  His  first  em- 
ployment, aside  from  agriculture,  was  teaching  the  Sulek 
school  near  his  home  farm.  Today  he  is  a  resident  of  Iowa 
City,  where  he  is  accounted  one  of  the  successful  lawyers  of 
the  city. 

Mr.  Sulek  was  married  November  1,  1910,  at  Cedar  Rapids, 
Iowa,  to  Stella  Novak,  daughter  of  Frank  J.  and  Aloyzina 
Novak,  both  natives  of  Bohemia.     The  parents  of  Mrs.  Sulek 


BIOGRAPHICAL  379 

came  to  America  in  poor  circumstances,  and  by  industry  and 
frugality  have  become  well-to-do.  One  daughter,  Stella 
Ivenka,  was  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sulek,  at  Iowa  City,  Feb- 
ruary 1,  1912.  All  the  responsible  duties  of  the  sheriff's 
office  is  looked  after  by  Mr.  Sulek,  he  being  special  deputy 
sheriff  with  all  the  authority  of  that  office.  He  is  a  candidate 
on  the  democratic  ticket  for  the  office  of  county  clerk,  of  John- 
son county,  at  the  1912  election. 


ALBERT  HUSA 


Among  the  representatives  of  iVustria-Hungary  who  have 
played  an  important  part  in  the  development  of  southeastern 
Iowa  no  people  have  shown  greater  aptitude  for  assimilation 
with  our  American  institutions  than  the  children  of  Bohemia. 
It  is  undeniable  that  these  people  of  the  upper  tributaries  of 
the  Elbe  have  brought  to  this  new  world  habits  of  industry, 
frugality,  honesty,  and  good  citizenship  that  entitle  them  to 
the  respect  of  mankind.  From  the  Prague  we  have  the  ob- 
ject lessons  of  virtue,  loyalty,  respect  for  parents,  and  com- 
munity fellowship  which  invite  our  admiration  and  respect. 
Schleswig-IIolstein,  Hanover,  Brandenburg,  or  the  Nether- 
lands, have  brought  us  no  better  examples  of  thrift  and  native 
ability.  The  Bohemian  in  Iowa,  and  noticeably  in  Linn  and 
Johnson  counties,  is  in  evidence  as  a  sample  of  citizen-trans- 
planting of  the  first  order.  Scores  of  farms  in  a  high  state 
of  cultivation  in  all  parts  of  Johnson  county  attest  the  activity 
of  their  Bohemian  owners,  wdiile  the  cities  and  villages,  the 
store,  the  shop,  the  factory  no  less  tell  the  story  of  their  ad- 
vance. The  Bohemians  are  essentially  a  humble  jjeople,  ready 
to  do  the  fundamental  tasks  of  life;  and  therefore  they  may 
be  found  in  all  the  ordinary  activities,  toiling  unceasingly  and 
uncomplainingly  —  but  day  by  day  and  year  by  year  climbing 
higher  in  the  scale  of  success,  until  today  in  astonishing  num- 
bers they  occupy  the  places  of  industrial  and  financial  power 
in  eastern  Iowa.  And  thus  are  the  former  subjects  of  Francis 
Joseph  justified  of  their  exodus. 

Among  the  Bohemian-Americans  of  Iowa  City,  Albert 
Husa  occupies  an  honorable  place.     He  has  been  a  resident  of 


380 


HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  lOAYA 


tlie  city  for  seventeen  years,  and  in  that  time  has  bnilt  up  a 
profitable  business  as  a  merchant  tailor.  His  success  is  ex- 
plained by  two  factors :  First,  his  honesty  and  square  deal- 
ing, and,  second,  his  expert  knowledge  of  his  trade.  The 
former  is  inherent ;  the  latter  is  the  result  of  careful  training 
and  long  practice.  At  the  age  of  twelve  years  he  became  a 
tailor's  apprentice  at  Vienna,  serving  four  years,  and  follow- 
ing this  he  worked  as  a  journeyman  three  years.  At  the  age 
of  nineteen,  in  1883,  he  came  to  America,  locating  in  Chicago, 
where  he  followed  his  trade  for  eleven  years,  and  in  1893 
added  to  his  educational  equipment  by  graduating  from  the 
cutting  department  class  of  the  Garment  Workers  Associa- 


KESlDE2vCE  OF  ALBEiri'  HUSA 


tion.  He  left  Chicago  in  1894  and  located  in  Iowa  City.  His 
first  i)lace  of  business  was  on  South  Dubuque  street,  where  he 
remained  until  1908,  when  he  relocated  at  203  East  College 
street,  his  present  shop.  There  he  has  an  established  trade 
which  is  constantly  growing.  He  is  assisted  in  his  work  by 
his  son,  who  has  served  five  years  under  his  father. 

Albert  Husa  was  born  April  24,  1864,  his  parents  being- 
John  Husa  and  Elizabeth  Hrubec,  who  followed  the  occupa- 
tion of  farming  and  lived  and  died  in  Bohemia.  Our  subject 
was  educated  in  the  schools  of  his  native  land ;  his  school  life 
extended  to  Vienna  during  the  time  he  was  serving  his  tailor's 
apprenticeship.     He  was  married  in  Chicago  to  Miss  Eleanor 


BIOGRAPHICAL  381 

Scliomfelder,  a  native  of  Bohemia.  Four  cliildren  have  lieen 
l)orn  to  them:  Catherine,  at  home;  John  P.,  assisting  his 
father  in  the  tailor  shop ;  William  J.,  attending  high  school ; 
Albert,  a  student  in  the  public  schools.  Mr.  Husa  is  a  member 
of  several  fraternal  societies,  including  the  I.  0.  0.  F.,  C.  S. 
P.  S.,  Slovanska  Lipi,  a  pioneer  order,  Zabadny  Jednota  So- 
ciety, Branch  Iowa  City  Sokol,  the  Bohemian  Turner  Society. 
The  familv  residence  is  at  326  Fairchild  street. 


JASPER  S.  POTTER,  V.  S. 

In  comparatively  recent  years  the  treatment  of  sick  and 
injured  domestic  animals  has  passed  from  the  grasp  of  "old 
grannies"  into  the  hands  of  trained  professionals,  equipped 
by  education  and  practice  for  the  performance  of  the  neces- 
sary ministrations  to  the  ''dumb  friends  of  man."  Adequate 
education  has  been  supplemented  also  with  modern  appliances 
and  sanitary  quarters  for  the  handling  of  horses,  cattle,  and 
other  members  of  the  brute  creation  whose  ailments  place 
them  in  the  category  of  "patients."  The  old  barbarous  prac- 
tice of  shooting  a  sick  or  injured  animal  is  being  largely 
eliminated  by  the  successful  work  of  veterinarians,  who  l)ring 
scientific  medicine  and  surgery  into  the  practical  treatment 
of  the  sick  and  afflicted  among  our  four-footed  friends.  It 
can  hardly  be  denied  that  such  service  is  of  the  highest  value. 
The  extent  of  suffering  hitherto  entailed  upon  the  horse,  for 
example,  prior  to  the  introduction  of  modern  veterinary 
science,  is  scarcely  conceivable.  The  department  of  animal 
dentistry  alone  covers  a  multitude  of  ills,  for  the  horse,  as  the 
human,  suffers  from  decay  and  malformation  of  his  teeth, 
as  well  as  affections  of  his  gums  and  mouth.  An  hour's  ex- 
perience with  the  dental  clamps 'off times  "makes  a  new  man 
out  of  him,"  and  causes  him  to  whinny  in  his  appreciation. 
Equally  gratifying  results  come  from  scientific  treatment  of 
the  hoofs,  the  joints,  the  epidermis,  and  other  affected  parts 
of  the  animal ;  while,  in  the  case  of  fracture  or  severe  strain 
of  limbs  or  jaw,  the  science  of  the  veterinary  in  nearly  every 
case  precludes  the  use  of  the  pistol  or  the  ax.  The  list  of 
common  ills  of  animals  which  yield  to  expert  hospital  treat- 


382        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

ment  is  sufficient  to  fully  establish  the  claim  of  the  veterin- 
arian to  the  gratitude  both  of  the  animal  creation  and  of  the 
business  world.  The  place  of  the  veterinary  surgeon  in  the 
economy  of  modern  science  is  secure  and  unassailable. 

In  his  profession  in  Iowa  City  Jasper  S.  Potter,  D.  V.  S., 
stands  at  the  head.  His  equipment,  from  the  school  room 
to  the  laboratory  and  hospital,  is  of  the  first  order.  He  sup- 
plemented a  fundamental  common  school  education  by  a  com- 
plete course  in  the  Chicago  Veterinary  College,  from  which 
he  graduated  in  the  class  of  1892,  while,  in  connection  with  his 
membership  in  the  Iowa  State  Veterinary  Association  and  the 


EESIDENCE  OF  JASPER  S.  POTTER,  V.  S. 

American  (National)  Veterinary  Association,  he  keeps  pace 
with  the  progress  and  thought  of  his  profession. 

Dr.  Potter  was  born  in  Muscatine  countv,  Iowa,  Mav  28, 
1869.  His  parents  were  John  D.  and  Kate  (Scott)  Potter, 
pioneer  settlers  of  Cedar  county,  Iowa,  in  1839,  now  residents 
of  Rochester,  Iowa.  Dr.  Potter's  wife  was  formerly  Miss 
Fannie  Maguire,  a  native  of  Iowa,  and  their  marriage  took 
place  in  Cedar  county.     They  have  one  son,  Lawrence. 

The  doctor  takes  a  great  interest  in  fraternal  matters.  He 
was  Exalted  Ruler  of  the  B.  P.  0.  E.  for  one  year,  and  is  a 
member  of  the  M.  W.  A.,  Yeomen,  Homesteaders,  and  Red 
Men.  His  residence  and  hospital  are  located  at  226  South 
Capitol  street,  Iowa  City. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  383 

JOSEPH  WALKER 

Joseph  Walker  is  one  of  the  extensive  landholders  of  John- 
son connty  and  is  one  of  its  most  successful  business  men  as 
well.  He  belongs  to  an  old  pioneer  family,  one  that  has  al- 
ways been  held  in  high  regard  by  all.  He  was  born  in  John- 
son county,  June  29,  1858,  son  of  Joseph  Walker.  Joseph 
Walker,  Sr.,  was  liorn  in  Portage  county,  Ohio,  in  1819,  son 
of  James  Walker.  James  Walker,  who  was  a  native  of  Vir- 
ginia, moved  to  Ohio  when  it  was  still  a  territory,  and  there 
married  Miss  Mary  Burnett,  a  native  of  Ohio.  The  nine  chil- 
dren born  of  this  union  were :  Robert,  Nancy,  Samuel,  James, 
Eliza,  Joseph,  Laura,  Fannie,  and  Henry,  Nancy  married 
James  Penwell,  of  Ohio ;  Eliza  married  Benjamin  Wortinger, 
of  Ohio ;  Laura  married  Henry  Welsh,  of  Johnson  county, 
Iowa,  and  they  moved  to  Kansas;  Fannie  married  George 
Walker,  formerly  of  New  York,  and  they  settled  in  Johnson 
county. 

Joseph  Walker,  Sr.,  whose  education  was  limited  to  a 
month  in  Ohio  came  to  Johnson  county,  Iowa,  in  the  fall  of 
1837,  one  of  the  first  pioneers  to  arrive  in  the  settlement  of 
this  region.  In  June,  1847,  he  married  Jane  Powelson,  and 
they  became  parents  of  seven  children :  Mary,  married  Mar- 
tin Burge  (see  sketch) ;  Henry,  of  Iowa  City;  Joseph,  whose 
name  stands  at  the  head  of  this  review;  Callie,  wife  of  John 
McCollester,  of  Iowa  City ;  Emma,  wife  of  I.  R.  Thompson,  of 
Des  Moines;  and  Minnie  Belle,  died  when  very  young.  The 
father  of  these  children  took  an  honorable  part  in  local  affairs 
and  always  upheld  the  best  interests  of  his  community.  He 
was  one  of  the  first  farmers  to  feed  stock  in  Pleasant  Vallej" 
township.  He  was  active  to  his  last  illness.  He  passed  away 
August  13,  1893,  and  his  wife  in 'April,  1890.  He  was  a  Uni- 
versalist. 

At  the  time  the  fort  was  constructed  for  the  Indians  in 
Tama  county  he  and  Governor  Kirkwood  helped  to  make  it. 
He  was  an  extensive  stoclmian  and  loved  to  be  among  his 
herds.  Although  not  having  much  schooling  he  was  a  careful 
man  at  figures,  was  very  active,  and  a  successful  farmer.  He 
was  at  work  in  the  hay  fields  where  he  was  taken  sick  with  his 


384        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

last  illness.     He  began  with  a  small  capital  and  acqnired  a 
competence  for  liis  children. 

James  Walker,  grandfather  of  Joseph,  came  to  Johnson 
county  in  1840  and  located  in  Pleasant  Valley  township,  where 
he  died  in  1847,  having  spent  but  a  few  years  in  the  new 
home.  His  widow  died  in  1848.  He  was  an  industrious 
farmer  and  a  successful  business  man,  a  kind  friend  and  good 
neighbor,  and  popular  with  all  who  knew  him.  He  was  a 
stanch  democrat  in  politics.  He  left  his  descendants  the  ex- 
ample of  a  well-spent  life,  and  made  his  impress  on  the  com- 
munity. 

Third  in  the  family  of  seven  children,  Joseph  Walker,  of 
this  review,  was  reared  to  farm  work  and  upon  reaching  ma- 
turity continued  this  line  of  endeavor  for  some  years.  He 
carried  on  agricultural  operations  in  Pleasant  A^'alley  town- 
ship until  he  moved  to  Hills  to  take  charge  of  Hills  Savings 
Bank.  He  lived  there  about  seven  and  one-half  years,  and 
was  identified  with  the  progress  of  Hills.  In  1911  he  retired 
from  active  life  and  came  to  Iowa  City  to  live.  He  is  well- 
known  throughout  Johnson  county  and  to  financial  institu- 
tions, recognized  as  an  able  business  man  and  an  enterprising, 
useful  citizen.  He  has  various  interests  in  Johnson  county 
banking  circles,  and  is  a  fit  representative  of  one  of  the 
oldest  and  most  respected  families  in  his  community.  He  was 
president  of  Lone  Tree  Savings  Bank  for  seven  years  and  a 
director  of  the  same. 

February  22,  1883,  ]\Ir.  Walker  married  Cora  Adams,  a 
former  school  teacher  of  Johnson  county.  They  are  parents 
of  three  sons  and  one  daughter:  Fred  M.  AYalker,  deceased; 
Bernice;  Myron  J.;  Ralph  E.  Mrs.  Walker  is  a  daughter  of 
Moses  Adams,  now  deceased,  formerly  living  on  Oak  Grove 
farm,  on  Section  22  Cedar  township,  Johnson  county,  and  a 
native  of  Oxford  county,  Maine,  born  November  2,  1815.  He 
was  the  sixth  of  nine  children  born  to  his  parents  and  l)ecame 
an  expert  farmer  in  his  earlier  years,  coping  with  pioneer  con- 
ditions and  in  his  later  years  taking  advantage  of  the  labor- 
sa^dng  devices  which  had  been  brought  into  more  general  use. 
His  father  John  E.  Adams,  also  a  native  of  Maine,  moved  to 
Cuyahoga  county,  Ohio,  in  1826,  bought  a  homestead  near 
Cleveland,  which  he  cleared  and  improved.     He  died  in  1850, 


BIOGRAPHICAL  385 

at  the  age  of  fifty-nine  years,  while  on  a  visit  to  Iowa.  His 
wife,  Sarah  (Moody)  Adams,  was  of  English  descent  and  born 
in  Massachnsetts.  She  died  several  years  prior  to  her  hns- 
l)and.     John  E.  Adams  participated  in  the  War  of  1812. 

Moses  Adams  received  a  limited  edncation  in  the  district 
school,  moving  with  his  parents  to  Ohio  when  a  boy,  in  1826. 
In  1838  he  started  in  life  for  himself,  and  in  the  antumn  of 
that  year  started  for  Iowa.  He  went  south  by  canal  to  the 
Ohio  river,  then  on  down  the  river  and  up  the  Mississippi 
river  to  Burlington,  where  he  attended  a  land  sale.  He  then 
came  on  to  Johnson  county.  He  rented  land  there  for  a  time 
and  in  1845  entered  land  in  Cedar  township,  erecting  a  log- 
house  in  the  wilderness,  his  nearest  neighbors  being  Indians. 
i^eer  and  other  game  were  plentiful,  and  he  found  the  condi- 
tions such  as  are  described  in  the  first  volume  of  this  work. 
He  used  five  or  six  yoke  of  oxen  to  break  soil,  for  himself  and 
also  for  others.  For  the  first  corn  he  sold  he  received  twelve 
and  one-half  cents  per  bushel,  and  Muscatine  (then  known  as 
Bloomington)  was  his  nearest  trading  point  for  some  time. 
In  1856  he  married  Sarah  Keisler,  a  native  of  Ohio,  who  came 
to  Iowa  with  her  parents  in  1851.  Her  father,  Josiali  Keisler, 
was  born  in  Greensboro  (or  Greensburg?),  Pennsylvania,  in 
1802,  and  died  in  1881;  his  father  having  been  killed  by  In- 
dians, as  a  boy  Josiali  Keisler  was  ''bound  out"  to  a  Quaker 
family.  After  coming  to  Iowa  he  became  an  expert  marks- 
man and  noted  hunter.  In  1861  he  enlisted  for  service  in  the 
Civil  War.  He  married  Mary  Regesteer,  a  native  of  Wash- 
ington county,  Pennsylvania,  and  died  in  1868.  Six  children 
were  born  to  them. 

Moses  Adams  and  wife  had  three  sons  and  three  daughters, 
of  whom  Miss  Cora  became  the  wife  of  Joseph  Walker,  as 
above  mentioned.  She  was  formerly  a  school-teacher  in 
Johnson  county.  Her  father  held  various  positions  of  trust 
in  Cedar  township  and  was  a  republican  in  politics.  He 
passed  away  on  the  home  farm.  Mrs.  Adams  survives  at  the 
home  of  our  subject.  His  loss  was  sadly  mourned  by  many 
friends. 

Mrs.  Joseph  Walker,  of  this  review,  is  well  educated. 
She  was  one  of  the  first  teachers  employed  to  teach  high 
school  in  Lone  Tree,  Iowa.     When  her  husband  took  charge 


386        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

of  the  Hills  Savings  Bank  slie  took  right  hold  with  him.  Her 
thorough  business  training  in  her  school  work  proved  her  a 
valuable  assistant  cashier  in  the  bank,  a  lady  of  true  culture 
and  refinement  and  executive  al)ility.  She  was  a  very  active 
worker  of  the  Presbyterian  church  at  Hills  while  living 
there.  Of  their  two  sons  living,  Myron  J.  is  a  graduate  of 
Iowa  City  high  school  and  was  a  junior  of  the  S.  U.  I.  prior 
to  entering  the  Naval  Acadamy  at  Annapolis,  Maryland, 
where  he  is  midshipman.  The  other  son,  Rali)h  E.,  is  a  stu- 
dent of  the  Iowa  City  high  school.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Walker  can 
feel  justly  proud  of  these  boys.  Having  received  a  Christian 
training,  Mrs.  Walker  is  a  lady  of  many  accomplishments  and 
traces  her  lineage  to  President  John  Quincy  Adams.  Mr. 
Walker  is  one  of  the  capitalists  of  Johnson  county,  the  owner 
of  1,600  acres  of  good  farming  lands  in  the  county  and  in 
Macon  county,  Missouri.  He  is  trustee  in  a  very  large  tract 
of  land  in  Missouri. 

The  Walker  family  has  traveled  extensively,  north,  east 
and  south,  but  are  glad  to  call  Iowa  their  home. 


WILLIAM  LEE  AND  FAMILY 

Old  residents  of  Iowa  City  will  remember  the  Pioneer  Book 
Store,  which  formerly  occupied  the  east  half  of  the  present 
site  of  Bennison's  dry  goods  store  on  East  Washington  street. 
Until  the  year  1862  it  was  the  only  book  store  in  the  city. 
Its  founder,  William  Lee,  was  one  of  the  best  known  among 
the  pioneer  business  men  of  the  L^niversity  City,  and  his  ac- 
tivities reached  l)ack  to  the  years  when  Iowa  City  was  the 
capital  of  the  Hawkeye  state.  In  fact,  his  bookbinding  estab- 
lishment, lirst  opened  in  1852,  in  connection  with  the  state 
})rinting,  was  the  only  institution  of  its  kind  in  the  entire 
state  fully  equipped  for  the  handling  of  legis'ative  reports, 
legal  codes,  and  the  various  publications  required  for  the 
transaction  of  public  business. 

William  Lee  was  a  practical  l)ook]nnder  of  thorough  train- 
ing and  experience.  A  native  of  Glasgow,  Scotland  (born  in 
1809),  after  a  fair  education  under  Scotch  tutors,  he  was,  at 
the  age  of  fourteen,   ai)prenticed  by  bonded  indenture   for 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


387 


seven  years  to  Fisher  &  Brothers,  an  extensive  i)ublishing' 
firm  of  his  native  city,  to  learn  the  bookbinding-  trade.  He 
mastered  the  business  in  every  department,  including  folding, 
stitching,  paper  ruling,  and  pressing.  Having  completed  his 
apprenticeshi]),  he  removed  to  London,  where  he  secured  em- 
ployment at  his  trade,  working  uninterruptedly  until  1845, 
when,  at  the  age  of  thirty-six,  he  set  sail  for  New  York  from 
London  on  the  good  ship,  "Prince  Albert."  The  voyage  oc- 
cupied thirty  days.  In  July  of  the  same  year,  having  reached 
the  new  world,  he  pushed  westward  by  way  of  the  Erie  canal 
and  the  great  lakes  to  Milwaukee,  Wisconsin,  where  he  re- 


REsmENCE   OE    MISS    MARGARET   LEE 


maiued  until  1848.  He  then  removed  to  St.  Louis,  Missouri, 
and  became  foreman  in  the  bookbindery  of  James  Hogan,  his 
term  of  employment  extending  to  185L  In  the  last  named 
year  he  first  settled  in  Iowa  City^  At  that  time  Hon.  George 
Paul  and  Major  Garrett  Palmer,  proprietors  of  The  Capital 
Reporter,  were  the  state  printers  and  binders,  Imt  they  had  no 
practical  knowledge  of  binding,  and  theirs  being  the  only 
bindery  then  in  the  state,  they  were  compelled  to  send  that 
class  of  work  to  St.  Louis.  As  may  be  supposed,  Mr.  Paul 
was  in  search  of  a  competent  book-binder  who  would  locate  in 
Iowa  City  and  take  charge  of  binding  the  legislative  journals 
and  acts  and  the  state  code,  seven  thousand  copies  of  the  lat- 


388        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

ter  having  lieen  ordered  by  the  General  Assembly.  His  in- 
quiries brought  him  in  contact  with  Mr.  William  Lee,  and  the 
twain  returned  together  to  Iowa  City.  One  year  later,  as 
above  stated,  Mr.  Lee  established  the  Pioneer  Book  Store  in 
connection  with  the  state  bindery.  The  work  turned  out  of 
his  bindery,  under  the  contract  of  Palmer  &  Paul,  was  most 
satisfactory,  so  much  so  that  the  Code  of  1851  is  referred  to, 
to  this  day,  as  the  most  durable  specimen  of  book  binding 
ever  done  in  the  state.  For  some  time  Mr.  Lee  continued  to 
do  the  state  binding,  and,  on  the  inauguration  of  the  State 
University,  he  did  the  work  for  that  institution. 

The  first  building  erected  by  Mr.  Lee  for  the  housing  of 
the'  Pioneer  Book  Store  was  of  frame  construction,  and,  as 
hitherto  stated,  fronted  Washington  street  on  the  aHey  east 
of  Dubuque  street.  This  was  afterwards  superseded  by  a 
brick  structure.  William  Lee  conducted  this  business  until 
his  death,  April  23,  1871,  when  the  management  passed  to  his 
son,  James.  The  latter  died  May  18,  1888,  after  which  the 
business  was  carried  on  by  Miss  Margaret  Lee,  the  only 
daughter  of  William  Lee,  who  still  lives  at  this  writing  in  the 
old  brick  mansion,  built  by  her  father,  corner  of  South  Capitol 
and  Court  streets,  facing  the  county  court  house. 

William  Lee  was  marked  in  his  knowledge  of  human  nature. 
One  of  his  business  maxims  was,  "Take  people  as  they  are, 
not  as  you  wish  them  to  be."  His  character  for  probity, 
benevolence,  and  scrupulous  business  exactness  was  of  the 
highest.  He  was  very  attentive  to  his  patrons.  In  his  latter 
years  he  was  usually  found  sitting  in  the  rear  part  of  his 
store  entertaining  his  pioneer  friends;  and  even  while  thus 
engaged,  if  a  customer  was  left  unnoticed  by  the  clerical  force, 
he  was  up  and  looked  into  the  matter  at  once.  The  simplicity 
of  his  business  methods  was  noticeable  to  the  last.  As  his 
final  end  was  approaching  he  sunmioned  his  old-time  personal 
friend,  Hon.  George  Paul,  to  his  bedside,  and  to  him  and  the 
assembled  children  he  gave  verbal  instructions  for  the  dis- 
position of  his  independent  fortune,  discarding  the  written 
form  of  will.  He  also  laid  upon  his  children  certain  injunc- 
tions, one  of  which  was  to  decline  any  public  office.  He  for- 
bade the  least  ostentation  at  his  funeral  or  any  inscription  on 
his  tomb,  both  of  which  he  deemed  vanity.     In  religion  his 


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TILUEN  V-L 


BIOGRAPHICAL  aSO 

association  was  with  the  Protestant  Episcopal  church.  He 
was  an  Odd  Fellow. 

The  paternal  ancestors  of  William  Lee  were  Scotch;  the 
maternal,  English.  His  wife  was  Miss  Jean  IMurray,  of 
Edinburgh,  Scotland.  The  marriage  ceremony  was  per- 
formed on  November  28,  1830,  in  London,  England,  by  the 
Eev.  I.  T.  Connell,  a  minister  of  the  Church  of  England.  The 
marriage  took  place  in  St.  Margaret's  Chapel,  an  appendage 
of  Westminster  Abbey.  Years  afterward  the  faithful  wife 
and  mother  was  buried  from  the  same  chapel.  Her  youngest 
son,  Robert,  lies  beside  his  mother. 

The  children  of  William  Lee  and  Jean  Murray  are:  Mar- 
garet Lee,  born  in  London,  England,  living  in  the  old  home, 
Iowa  City;  William,  husband  of  Jane  McBride,  buried  in  the 
Crown  Hill  cemetery,  near  Denver,  Colorado ;  James,  died  in 
Denver,  Colorado,  at  the  residence  of  his  brother  Henry,  May 
8,  1888;  Henry,  married  to  Jennie  Paul,  has  resided  in  Den- 
ver, Colorado,  since  1865 ;  Robert,  died  very  young  at  London, 
England.  All  the  children  of  William  Lee  were  born  in  Lon- 
don. 

Concerning  the  death  of  William  Lee,  the  eldest  son,  the 
Colorado  Transcript,  of  Golden,  Colorado,  says:  "Mr.  Lee 
was  one  of  the  verv  first  settlers  in  Jefferson  countv,  having 
in  '59  taken  up  a  homestead  a  few  miles  east  of  Golden.  He 
resided  there  continuously  until  his  death,  having  reached 
the  age  of  seventy-four.  Mr.  Lee  represented  this  county  at 
the  constitutional  convention,  and  before  and  after  that  mem- 
orable event  was  prominent  in  the  affairs  of  the  county.  He 
was  the  very  first  man  in  Colorado  to  plant  fruit  trees,  bring- 
ing a  load  of  young  apple  trees  all  the  way  from  Iowa  City, 
Iowa,  in  an  ox-cart.  These  trees  were  his  especial  pride,  and 
he  never  failed  to  point  them  out  to  visitors  at  his  farm.  Mr. 
Lee's  place,  which  is  about  midway  between  Golden  and  Den- 
ver, is  one  of  the  finest  farms  in  the  Clear  creek  valley.  Mr. 
Lee  was  a  member  of  the  Colorado  Pioneer  Society,  and  the 
members  of  that  organization,  accompanied  by  the  pioneer 
ladies,  attended  the  funeral  in  a  body." 

James  Lee,  the  second  son,  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  and  Iowa  City,  Iowa.  In  1851 
he  removed  with  his  father  to  Iowa  City,  where  he  began  his 


390        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

first  work  for  the  Capital  Reporter,  remaining  in  the  employ 
of  that  paper  until  1859,  when  he  started  with  his  brother 
William  on  a  proposed  jonrne}^  to  Pike's  Peak.  However, 
after  penetrating  the  wilds  of  Nebraska  a  distance  of  forty 
miles  beyond  Omaha,  then  infested  by  hostile  Indians,  they 
met  the  returning-  tide  of  disappointed  emigrants,  and,  aban- 
doning their  journey,  returned  to  Iowa  City.  It  was  his  de- 
sire the  following  year  to  renew  the  attempt,  l)ut  the  elder 
Lee  forbade,  and  the  enterprise  was  abandoned.  About  this 
time  an  association  founded  on  friendship,  mutual  confidence, 
and  a  community  of  tastes  was  formed  between  James  Lee, 
Charles  Reiff,  and  George  P.  Plmnley,  which  endured  for 
many  years.  In  fact,  until  death  intervened  to  separate  these 
companions,  they  were  practically  inseparable.  William 
Reiff,  being  the  senior,  was  named  "Dad,"  and  his  decisions 
were  law.  These  three  bachelors  were  prominent  and  orig- 
inal members  of  the  Riverside  Boat  club,  of  which  "Dad" 
Reiff  was  the  caterer.  Other  original  nieml)ers  were:  John 
P.  Irish,  Greene  Choate,  M.  AV.  Davis,  S.  J.  Hess,  H.  0. 
Hutchinson,  and  Ed.  Clinton. 

Between  1873  and  1888,  the  year  of  his  death,  James  Lee 
made  several  trips  to  Colorado  and  westward;  first  on  busi- 
ness, and  latterly  in  search  of  health.  In  1882,  in  company 
with  Mayor  George  AY.  Koontz  and  others,  he  visited  Pelican 
lake,  in  Palo  Alto  county,  Iowa,  on  a  hunting,  fishing,  and 
camping  trip.  During  his  last  visit  to  his  brother,  Henry 
Lee,  at  Denver,  Colorado,  he  was  overtaken  by  his  fatal  ill- 
ness, and  on  May  18,  1888,  died  at  the  latter 's  residence.  His 
remains  were  brought  to  Iowa  City  by  his  devoted  sister  and 
brothers,  and  on  May  22d  interred  in  Oakland  cemetery  by 
the  side  of  his  father.  Fitting  resolutions  concerning  his 
death  were  adopted  by  the  board  of  curators  of  The  Iowa 
State  Historical  Society,  of  which  he  was  a  member. 

James  Lee's  religious  connections,  like  his  father's,  were 
with  the  Protestant  Episcopal  church.  He  took  an  active 
part  in  public  affairs.  He  was  a  member  of  the  city  council  of 
Iowa  City  for  two  years  from  March,  1873,  and  of  the  board 
of  supervisors  of  Johnson  county  for  three  years  from  March, 
1877.  His  membership  in  The  State  Historical  Society  cov- 
ered twenty  years,  during  seventeen  of  which  he  was  an  active 


BIOGRAPHICAL  391 

member  of  the  hoard  of  curators.  He  presented  a  large  ])uf- 
falo  head  to  the  State  University  Museum,  and  his  sister  Mar- 
garet, on  his  behalf,  gave  to  The  Iowa  State  Historical  Soci- 
ety an  oil  painting  of  the  first  jndges  of  Iowa.  James  Lee 
was  a  Mason. 

Margaret  Lee,  residing  at  Iowa  City,  and  Henry  Lee,  of 
Denver,  Colorado,  are  the  sole  snrvivors  of  the  family.  The 
latter  is  a  leading  merchant  in  the  Colorado  metropolis. 
Margaret,  as  before  stated,  occupies  the  old  family  mansion 
in  Iowa  City.  She  is  held  in  high  esteem  by  a  large  circle  of 
friends  and  acquaintances  in  the  city  which  has  been  the  scene 
of  her  life's  activities. 


FRANK  J.  FLOERCHINGER 

Frank  ,].  Floerchinger  is  a  son  of  George  Floerchinger  and 
Katie  Worf,  both  natives  of  Germany.  He  was  born  in  Ox- 
ford township,  Johnson  county,  Iowa,  in  1877.     He  was  raised 


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RESIDENCE   OF   FRANK    J.    FLOERCHINGER 

in  Oxford  and  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  that  town. 
His  first  emplojanent  was  as  a  farm  hand  for  three  years  on 
the  old  home  farm,  which  he  afterwards  rented  and  fanned 
for  eight  years.  Thereafter  he  went  to  Neodosha,  Kansas, 
where  he  carried  on  a  furniture  and  undertaking  establish- 
ment for  three  years.     Returning,  he  entered  the  employ  of 


392        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

the  Oxford  Furniture  Company  for  a  year  and  a  half,  after 
which  he  moved  to  Tama,  Iowa,  where  he  continued  in  the 
same  line  for  about  eight  months.  He  then  returned  to  Ox- 
ford and  became  permanently  connected  with  the  Oxford  Fur- 
niture Company  as  undertaker  and  embalmer,  holding  licenses 
as  an  embalmer  from  Kansas  and  Iowa. 

Mr,  Floerchinger  married  Miss  Teresa  Ellen  Grabin, 
daughter  of  William  and  Annie  (Tomash)  Grabin,  old  settlers 
of  Johnson  county.  (See  sketch  of  the  Grabin  family  for 
further  particulars.  —  Ed.)  Miss  Grabin  was  born  and 
raised  in  Oxford  township.  They  have  one  son:  William 
George,  named  after  ])oth  grandfathers,  aged  ten  years,  at- 
tending school  at  Oxford. 

Mr.  Froerchinger  is  a  member  of  the  M.  W.  A.,  and  B.  P. 
0.  E.,  of  Iowa  City.  He  is  a  member  of  St.  Mary's  Catholic 
church.  In  this  church  he  was  baptized,  and  made  his  first 
communion,  and  was  confirmed.  His  son  was  also  baptized 
in  the  same  church. 


JAMES  H.  NESMITH 

Serving  three  years  and  taking  an  active  part  in  forty-five 
engagements  of  the  Civil  AVar  and  yet  never  receiving  so 
much  as  a  scratch  is  the  remarkable  record  of  James  H. 
Nesmith,  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  If  Comrade  Nesmith 
had  been  fighting  against  Indians,  he  would  have  been  credit- 
ed by  the  superstitious  red  men  with  the  possession  of  a 
charmed  life,  and  their  medicine  men  would  most  probably 
have  sought  his  acquaintance  to  learn  the  marvelous  secret 
of  his  immunity.  Alert  and  vigorous  today  at  the  age  of 
seventy-six,  Mr.  Nesmith  is  himself  given  to  wonder  at  his 
experience,  and  counts  it  as  a  part  of  the  remarkable  chances 
of  war  unexplainable  except  on  the  score  of  sheer  good  luck 
or  the  guiding  hand  of  a  good  providence  which  led  him 
always  just  the  narrow  distance  away  from  the  fatal  point, 
while  comrades  just  as  good  as  he  fell  wounded  to  the  death 
on  the  right  hand  and  the  left.  He  was  witness  of  the  fall, 
mortally  wounded,  from  their  horses  of  several  sergeants  of 
his  company,  and  personally  helped  to  catch  two  poor  fellows 
in  their  descent  of  death. 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


393 


Mr.  Nesmitli  enlisted  August  20,  1862,  in  Company  F, 
Fourteenth  Pennsylvania,  Staunton  Light  Cavalry,  and  was 
honorably  discharged  at  Alexandria,  Virginia,  May  30,  1865, 
taking  part  in  the  final  grand  review  at  Washington,  D.  C,  in 
which  he  had  the  privilege  of  being  both  a  participant  and  a 
spectator,  his  personal  friend,  the  provost  marshal,  having 
secured  him  a  permit  to  witness  the  review  after  his  own  com- 
pany had  passed.  Mr.  Nesmith  has  kept  a  daily  diary  of  the 
events  of  his  life,  including  the  experiences  of  his  company  in 
the  Civil  War.     From  this  we  have  been  permitted  to  make 


KESmENCE  OF  JAMES   H.   NESMITH 


the  following  schedule  of  the  engagements  in  which  he  took 
part : 

Lynchburg,  "S^irginia,  January  18,  1863;  Buckingham,  Vir- 
ginia, June  13,  1863;  Beverly,  West  Virginia,  July  3,  1863; 
Huntsville,  West  Virginia,  July  4,  1863;  Hedgeville,  West 
Virginia,  July  19,  1863;  Union  Springs,  West  Virginia, 
August  24,  1863;  Rocky  Gap,  West  Virginia,  August  26-27, 
1863 ;  Sa^em  Raid,  December  8, 1863 ;  W>theville,  May  10, 1864 ; 
Union,  May  13,  1864;  Lynchburg,  June  17-18,  1864;  Liberty, 
June  19,  1864;  Bunker  Hill,  June  26,  1864;  Darksville,  July  2, 
1864;  Snicker  Gap,  July  18,  1864;  Newtown,  Virginia,  July 
22,  1864;  Kernstown,  A^irginia,  July  24,  1864;  Martinsburg, 


394        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IO\VA 

Virginia,  July  25,  1864;  Clear  Springs,  Mrginia,  July  29, 
1864;  McConnelsbnrg,  Pennsylvania,  July  31,  1864;  Sliepards- 
town,  August  3,  1864;  Antietam  Ford,  August  4,  1864;  Mor- 
field,  West  Virginia,  August  7,  1864;  Winchester,  August  11, 
1864;  White  Post,  August  12,  1864;  Martinsburg,  Augiist  31, 
1864;  Darksville,  September  3,  1864;  Bunker  Hill,  September 
5,  1864;  Darksville,  September  10,  1865;  Stone  Bridge,  Sep- 
tember 18,  1864;  Opaquan,  September  19,  1864;  Fishers  Hill, 
September  21-22,  1864;  Forestville,  September  24,  1864;  Mt. 
Crawford,  September  25,  1864;  Wyers  Cave,  September  26- 
27,  1864;  Mt.  Jackson,  October  3,  1864;  Cedar  Creek,  October 
19,  1864;  Milford,  Duray  Valley,  October  26-Nov.  12,  1864; 
Ninevah,  November  12,  1864;  Mt.  Jackson,  November  22, 
1864;  Milwood,  December  17,  1864;  Madison  Lt.  House, 
December  21-22,  1864;  Liberty  Mills,  December  27,  1864;  Mt. 
Carmel  Church  and  Ashby  Gap,  February  17,  1865.  In  the 
latter  engagement  his  lirother,  John  H.  Nesmith,  was  severely 
wounded. 

James  H.  Nesmith  is  a  native  of  Fayette  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, his  birthday  being  November  5,  1835,  He  was  well 
educated  in  the  common  schools  of  the  day,  and  on  reaching 
his  majority  took  up  the  trade  of  shoemaking.  This  business 
he  has  followed  the  major  portion  of  his  life.  In  1856  he  and 
a  companion  left  Mansfield,  Ohio,  in  a  covered  wagon  drawn 
by  two  stout  horses,  en  route  to  the  new  state  of  Iowa.  They 
passed  through  Iowa  City,  and  on  the  night  of  November  4th 
camped  near  Fort  Dodge.  Coincidentally,  this  was  the  eve 
of  our  subject's  twenty- first  liirthday  anniversary  and  also 
the  eve  of  the  presidential  election.  ^Ir.  Nesmith  was  al- 
lowed to  cast  his  first  presidential  vote  in  the  little  town  of 
Homer,  Iowa,  the  law  not  then  specifying  any  fixed  time  of 
prior  residence.  This  first  vote  of  the  future  soldier  of  the 
Union  was  cast  for  General  John  C.  Fremont,  the  leader  of 
the  anti-slavery  forces,  who,  in  spite  of  his  popular  majority 
of  115,868,  was  beaten  in  the  electoral  college  by  James 
Buchanan.  Mr.  Nesmith  remained  one  year  in  Iowa  and  in 
the  winter  of  1857  returned  to  Pennsylvania,  where  he  fol- 
lowed his  trade  until  the  breaking  out  of  the  great  Civil  AYar. 
At  the  close  of  the  rebellion  he  returned  to  Pennsylvania, 
where  he  continued  working  at  his   trade   until    1869.     The 


BIOGRAPHICAL  395 

memory  of  tliat  one  year  spent  in  the  virgin  state  of  Iowa, 
however,  still  lingered  seductively  with  him,  and  this,  couped 
with  the  fact  that  his  brother  John  H.  had  removed  thence 
and  become  a  prosperous  farmer  in  York  townsliip,  Iowa 
county,  decided  him  once  more  to  cast  his  fortunes  with  tlie 
Hawkeye  state.  He  became  a  farmer  in  York  township, 
where  lie  resided  until  1876,  when  he  removed  to  the  town  of 
(Jxford,  where  he  became  interested  in  town  property  and 
where  he  has  acquired  a  comfortable  competence  for  his  de- 
clining years.  He  still  works  at  his  trade,  however,  during 
the  fall  and  winter.  A  view  of  his  cozy  residence  near  the 
high  school  appears  in  connection  with  this  sketch.  He  re- 
calls, with  some  pride,  the  fact  that  he  has  seen  this  beautiful 
high  school  building  develop  from  a  two-room  frame  and  a 
four-room  brick  to  its  present  capacity  of  six  rooms  and  every 
modern  appliance.  Mr.  Nesmith  has  taken  an  active  in- 
terest in  educational  matters  in  (Jxford,  having  served  on  the 
board  of  education  for  thirteen  years,  a  period  of  most  pleas- 
ant memories.  In  connection  with  his  humble  work  of  shoe- 
making,  Mr.  Nesmith  performs  the  duties  of  notary  public 
and  hre  warden.  He  has  always  taken  an  active  interest  in 
the  development  of  Oxford,  the  growth  of  which  from  the 
date  of  its  laying-out  to  the  current  year  he  has  witnessed. 
His  first  office  in  the  town  was  that  of  constable,  and  his  next 
that  of  marshal.  At  the  time  of  his  incumbency  in  the  latter 
office  there  were  nine  saloons  in  the  town,  and  much  roughness 
prevailed  owing  to  a  floating  foreign  population.  At  the  end 
of  June,  1911,  the  town  became  dry.  In  politics  Mr.  Nesmith 
is  a  '' stand-pat"  rejmblican.  He  has  served  as  a  delegate  to 
county  conventions  and  is  a  member  of  the  county  central 
committee.  His  knowledge  of  military  affairs  has  made  hhn 
a  valual)le  man  in  the  settlement  of  pensions  for  most  of  the 
old  soldiers  of  his  section.  He  has  a  complete  record  of  all 
vouchers,  taken  from  the  official  record.  Mr.  Nesmith  holds 
the  record  for  membership  in  the  Masonic  lodge  of  Oxford,  in 
which  he  is  an  able  worker  and  greatly  respected.  He  was 
commander  and  secretary  of  George  A.  Remley  Post,  G.  A.  P., 
which  is  now  disbanded,  owing  to  de])letion  in  membership. 
His  church  affiliation  is  with  the  Methodist  Protestant  denom- 
ination. 


396        HISTOEY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

Mr.  Nesmith  was  married  in  Fayette  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, to  Miss  Sarali  J.  AVyatt,  daugliter  of  Aaron  Wyatt. 
Eight  children  were  born  to  them,  of  whom  six  are  living. 
Thirteen  grandchildren  and  one  great  grandchild  swell  the 
number  of  his  posterity.  The  names  of  the  surviving  chil- 
dren are :  Nancy,  widow  of  John  Nesmith,  resides  at  AVilmar, 
Iowa ;  James,  Jr.,  unmarried,  resides  at  Oxford,  employed  in 
steam  shovel  department  C,  E.  I.  &  P.  E.  E. ;  Mary,  wife  of 
Ed.  Linkhardt,  a  prominent  farmer  of  Oxford  township; 
Thomas,  married  to  Flora  Schmidt,  of  Kellogg,  Iowa ;  Libbie. 
wife  of  Bobert  Sherlock,  son  of  the  county  supervisor  of  Iowa 
county. 

THOMAS  J.  NESMITH,  father  of  James  H.,  was  born  in 
Washington,  1).  C,  during  the  first  administration  of  Presi- 
dent AVashing-ton.  He  received  a  practical  education  and  in 
earlv  life  was  a  comb-maker  bv  trade.  He  took  a  great  in- 
terest  in  rehgious  matters,  and  during  tlie  greater  part  of 
his  life  was  an  exhorter  and  local  j^reacher  in  the  ]\Iethodist 
Protestant  church  of  Pennsylvania.  He  lived  to  see  his  large 
family  grown  to  manhood  and  womanhood.  His  wife  was 
Nancy  Hiblnns,  })orn  near  Harper's  Ferry,  A'irginia,  their 
marriage  taking  place  at  Uniontown,  Pennsylvania.  This 
veneral)le  couple  removed  to  Illinois,  and  both  are  buried  in 
Putnam  county,  having  left  the  heritage  of  a  well-spent  and 
useful  life.  Father  Nesmith  lived  to  the  age  of  ninety,  his 
mental  faculties  bemg  clear  to  the  last.  An  estimate  of  the 
esteem  in  which  he  was  held  by  his  neighbors  is  shown  by  the 
fact  that  he  was  justice  of  the  peace  of  South  Union  township, 
Favette  countv,  Pennsvlvania,  for  fortv  vears  consecutivelv. 
He  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  when  the  Civil  War 
laid  claim  upon  the  patriotism  of  the  North,  three  of  his  sons 
enlisted  to  fight  for  the  preservation  of  the  Union.  These 
were:  William  D.  Nesmith,  of  the  Eighth  Pennsylvania,  who 
died  in  the  service  at  Alexandria,  Virginia ;  John  H.  Nesmith, 
formerlv  with  the  Pennsvlvania  Eeserves  1861-62,  and  after 
discharge  reenlisted  in  the  Fourteenth  Cavalry,  serving  with 
his  brother,  our  subject,  until  severely  wounded  at  Mt.  Carmel 
church,  Ashby  Gap,  February  17,  1865;  James  H.  Nesmith, 
whose  war  record  has  been  already  given.  Mary  E.  Nesmith, 
a  daughter,  was  the  wife  of  a  Civil  War  veteran,  and  she  her- 


BIOGRAPHICAL  397 

self  did  service  at  Camp  Douglas.  In  all  our  subject  had 
five  brothers-in-law  and  two  nephews  in  the  Union  army, 
which  places  the  family  unquestionably  in  the  ranks  of  the 
nation's  warriors.  The  three  sur\iving  members  of  this  fam- 
ily of  eight  are:  Mary  E.,  widow  of  the  veteran  William  G. 
Bardsley,  residing  at  Tonika,  Illinois;  Dorcas,  widow  of  Rev. 
Brown,  residing  at  Confluence,  Pennsylvania ;  and  James  H., 
the  subject  of  this  sketch.  The  ancestry  of  the  family  is  pure 
American,  and  that  they  have  worthily  honored  the  country 
of  their  birth  will  not  be  denied.  Their  place  in  the  annals 
of  the  nation's  historv  is  assured. 


DR.  ELMER  AUSTIN  DOTY 

James  Doty,  the  paternal  grandfather  of  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  was  born  near  AVheeling,  West  Virginia,  in  1802, 
and  was  of  Scotch-Irish  descent,  his  ancestors  having  settled 
in  that  region  prior  to  the  close  of  the  American  Revolution. 
His  father  was  Abraham  Doty,  who  moved  with  his  family 
in  1815  to  Milton  township,  Richland  (now  Ashland)  county, 
Ohio.  In  1834  James  Doty  married  Miss  Sarah  Croninger. 
Ten  children  were  born  of  this  union,  eight  of  whom  (five 
sons  and  three  daughters)  survived  uj)  to  1880.  James  Doty 
died  January  4,  1879,  aged  seventy-seven  years.  Lewis  Mar- 
tin Doty,  the  father  of  our  sul)ject,  was  born  May  18,  1825,  in 
Ashland  county,  0.,  and  died  at  Oxford,  Iowa,  September  26, 
1901.  He  made  the  trip  from  Ohio  to  Iowa  in  1849  on  horse- 
back and  located  land  in  Oxford  township,  Johnson  county, 
taking  up  two  quarter  sections,  purchasing  one  with  Mexican 
land  warrants.  The  region  was  raw  prairie  at  that  time, 
Iowa  City  being  the  postoffice.  for  the  entire  district.  The 
nearest  neighbor  was  three  miles  and  others  from  seven  to 
ten  miles  distant.  Indians  were  nmnerous.  Mr.  Doty's  first 
dwelling  was  a  rude  structure  built  of  round  logs  without  the 
use  of  a  nail  in  its  construction.  Game  was  plentiful,  the 
prairies  being  literally  filled  with  wild  turkeys  and  prairie 
chickens,  with  occasional  deer.  Lewis  M.  Doty  was  a  citizen 
of  progressive  and  public  spirited  ideas.  One  of  his  first  en- 
terprises was  the  erection  of  a  sawmill  in  Oxford  township. 


398        HISTOKY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

from  which  he  supplied  the  settlers  with  lumber  —  a  greatly- 
needed  commodity.  Later  he  owned  a  sawmill  at  Boone, 
Iowa.  Mr.  Doty  is  on  record  as  one  of  four  settlers  who,  in 
the  fall  of  1852,  erected  a  school  house  on  the  site  of  what  was 
known  as  "AYolf  Corner,"  west  of  the  residence  of  L.  R. 
Wolf.  The  house  was  a  small  log  affair,  and  in  addition  to 
its  use  for  school  purposes  was  used  as  a  place  of  worship 
until  1861.  Up  to  the  latter  date  no  regular  organization  had 
been  perfected.  In  that  year,  1861,  school  house.  District 
No.  2,  was  built.  Mr.  Doty  interested  himself  in  the  cause  of 
religion  also,  and  was  among  the  original  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church  in  the  township.  Lewis  M.  Doty 
was  married  to  Hannah  ^lason,  daughter  of  Martin  and  Mary 
Mason,  born  in  Ashland  county,  Ohio,  March  19,  1828.  Mrs. 
Doty's  sister,  Anna  Mason,  wa3  a  pioneer  school  teacher  in 
Oxford  township  in  1851.  For  two  winters  she  taught  in  a 
room  of  Mr.  Williams's  residence.  Mrs.  Doty  reached  Ox- 
ford township  with  her  son,  Elmer  A.,  in  1851,  having  re- 
mained in  Ohio  during  her  husband's  preliminary  work  in 
the  new  west.  The  other  children  of  the  family  are :  Charles 
F.,  auctioneer,  Oxford,  Iowa;  Yilda  Ann,  wife  of  Dr.  F.  R, 
Ward,  Omaha,  Nebraska,  at  whose  home  Mrs.  Lewis  M.  Doty 
now  resides;  Ida  C,  wife  of  Charles  E.  Frost,  Wapello, 
Iowa;  Arta  ]\[.,  deceased.  All  these,  with  the  exception  of 
Elmer  A.,  were  born  in  Oxford  township. 

Charles  F.  Doty,  our  subject's  only  brother,  was  l)orn  in 
the  original  log  cabin  on  the  homestead  in  Oxford  township, 
November  2,  1852.  He  was  raised  a  farmer  and  educated  in 
the  dietrict  schools  and  the  Iowa  City  Academy.  In  1876  he 
began  business  as  an  auctioneer  and  has  been  engaged  therein 
ever  since.  He  was  married  in  1875  to  Miss  Amanda  Bab- 
cock,  daughter  of  Orville  G.  and  Julia  (Steele)  Babcock,  of 
North  Libertv,  l)oth  deceased.  IMr.  and  Mrs.  C.  F.  Dotv  have 
one  son,  Fred  E.,  living  at  San  Diego,  California,  and  an 
adopted  daughter.  Belle,  graduate  of  the  Oxford  high  school 
and  the  Capital  City  Commercial  College,  of  Des  Moines,  who 
is  now  a  stenographer  at  Portland,  Oregon.  Mr.  Doty  is  a 
member  of  the  I.  0.  0.  F. 

Dr.  Elmer  A.  Doty,  our  subject,  was  born  in  Ashland  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  in  1850,  and,  as  heretofore  stated,  came  with  his 


BIOGRAPHICAL  399 

mother  to  Johnson  county  in  1S51,  his  father  having  left  for 
the  west  before  the  birth  of  his  first  son  in  order  to  provide  a 
homestead.  The  early  life  of  yonng  ])oty  was  spent  upon 
the  farm.  His  education  was  received  in  the  common  schools. 
He  graduated  from  the  high  school  and  entered  the  medical 
department  of  the  State  University  of  Iowa,  from  which  he 
graduated  in  1885.  The  same  year  he  began  his  practice  and 
since  that  time  has  been  a  general  practitioner  in  Oxford. 
He  established  a  drugstore  in  connection  with  his  practice, 
which  has  developed  into  one  of  the  prosperous  institutions 
of  the  town.  The  Doty  building,  a  fine  two-story  structure, 
is  the  outgrowth  of  Dr.  Doty's  thirty-six  years  of  honest,  in- 
dustrious effort.  The  first  floor  of  this  building  contains  the 
drug  store,  while  on  the  second  floor  are  located  the  doctor's 
offices.  Dr.  Doty  is  also  the  owner  of  a  fine  residence  on 
"Quality  Hill,"  Oxford,  and  rich  farm  lands  near  the  town. 
He  is  a  director  of  the  Oxford  State  l)ank.  He  has  held  many 
positions  of  trust  in  his  township,  and  was  health  officer  for 
ten  consecutive  years.  PoliticaDy  he  is  a  republican,  and  has 
taken  an  active  interest  in  the  affairs  of  his  party  as  delegate 
to  county,  state,  and  congressional  conventions.  Dr.  Doty 
is  a  member  of  the  Iowa  State  and  Johnson  County  Medical 
Societies  and  the  Cedar  A^alley  Medical  Association.  He  has 
read  papers  before  the  first  two  societies  on  the  subject  of 
"Diabetes"  and  kindred  topics.  The  doctor  is  a  trustee  of 
the  Oxford  lodge  of  Odd  Fellows,  in  which  his  father  was  also 
an  officer;  is  an  active  worker  in  the  M.  E.  church  and  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Lincoln  Farm  Association.  Dr.  Doty  was  married 
in  Boone  county  in  1871  to  Nancy  A.  Myers,  born  in  Indiana, 
daughter  of  Michael  and  Sarah  (Latham)  Myers,  and  is  the 
father  of  two  children :  Lewis  M.,  married  to  Lucy  McDonnell, 
father  of  two  daughters,  Esther  and  Ruth ;  Nellie  B.,  wife  of 
Daniel  McCleery,  of  South  Dakota. 


THE  RE\\  GEORGE  BENNETT 

The  minister  of  the  United  Brethren  church,  Shueyville, 
the  Rev.  George  Bennett,  was  born  at  Carlean  Farm,  Cam- 
borne, county  of  Cornwall,  England,  on  January  19,   1852. 


400        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

Carlean  is  on  the  wild  and  precipitous  sea-coast  that  forms 
the  northern  boundary  of  Cornwall,  where  from  dizzy  heights 
one  looks  down  on  the  incoming  waters  of  the  Atlantic,  as 
they  are  churned  to  foam  and  hurled  hither  and  thither  from 
rock  to  rock,  or  dashed  high  up  the  grim  cliffs  that  stand  as 
sentinels  keeping  eternal  watch  over  nature  in  one  of  her 
grandest  domains.  His  father  also  bore  the  name  of  George, 
and  grandfather,  too,  in  addition  to  three  previous  genera- 
tions, the  same  name  coming  down  from  father  to  son  for  a 
long  series  of  years  and  through  a  number  of  individual 
families. 

The  father  was  the  eldest  son  of  his  family  and  was  also 
born  at  the  Carlean  homestead,  which  his  father  farmed. 
His  mother  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Mary  Kendall,  and  there 
were  many  brothers  and  sisters.  Among  the  former  two  died 
in  childhood,  Samuel  and  James  settled  in  Australia,  while 
William  and  Alfred  made  their  home  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
old  birth-place.  The  eldest  brother,  George,  the  father  of 
the  subject  of  our  sketch,  after  moving  to  the  eastern  section 
of  the  county  of  Cornwall,  where  he  lived  several  years,  left 
England,  accompanied  by  his  wife  and  joined  a  son  in 
Cheshire,  Connecticut,  U.  S.  A.  He  had  been  a  preacher  from 
early  manhood  among  the  Wesleyan  jMethodists  in  England, 
and  after  coming  to  Cheshire  rendered  effective  service  in  the 
ministry  of  the  New  l^ork  East  Conference  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church.  He  died  in  Cheshire,  Connecticut,  on  the 
31st  of  March,  1911,  having  reached  the  good  age  of  86.  Of 
the  two  sisters,  one,  Catherine,  passed  away  in  girlhood,  while 
Mary,  who  married  Stephen  Polkinghorne  of  Gonwin  Farm, 
Cornwall,  England,  is  a  resident  of  Portreath,  in  the  same 
county,  and  the  sole  survivor  of  the  family. 

The  mother  of  the  subject  of  our  sketch  bore  the  maiden 
name  of  Emma  Edmonds,  and  was  the  eldest  daughter  of 
Richard  Edmonds  of  Treswithan  Farm,  Cornwall.  Her 
mother's  maiden  name  was  Mary  Lanyon.  She  had  a  brother, 
Alfred,  and  a  younger  sister,  Susan.  The  former  married 
Mary  G.  Hoslring  of  Birkenhead,  England,  and  the  latter, 
Josiah  Hosking  of  the  same  place,  the  two  last  named  being 
brother  and  sister.  Another  sister  died  in  early  life.  This 
family  was  related  to  Charlotte  Bronte,  the  famous  writer. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  401 

Mrs.  Emma  Bennett  died  at  Polstrong  Farm,  Camborne, 
at  the  age  of  33,  leaving  a  husband  and  five  young  boys.  The 
previous  March  a  little  1)aby  girl,  ]Mary  Emma,  an  only  daugh- 
ter, had  })assed  away.  The  father  afterwards  married  Ellen 
Vivian,  of  Pengegon,  Camborne,  who  lived  but  a  brief  year 
or  two  following  her  wedding-day.  He  was  subsequently 
again  united  in  marriage  to  1'hyrza  Hieks,  of  St.  Kew,  Corn- 
wall, England,  who  survives  him  and  is  a  resident  of  Cheshire, 
Connecticut. 

Air.  Bennett  of  our  sketch  was  the  eldest  of  the  five  boys 
mentioned.  The  second  brother,  Richard  Edmonds,  married 
Jane  Martyn  of  St.  Columb  Porth,  Cornwall,  England,  and  is 
a  minister  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  church  in  Mobile,  Ala- 
bama; the  third,  William  Lanyon,  is  a  minister  of  the  AVes- 
leyan  Methodist  church  and  stationed  at  Budleigh  Salterton, 
Devonshire,  England,  his  wife  being  formerly  Clara  James, 
of  Camborne,  England ;  Alfred  Samuel  is  the  fourth  brother. 
He  married  Annie  Cleave  of  St.  Kew,  Cornwall,  England,  and 
is  engaged  in  business  in  Cheshire,  Connecticut;  the  youngest 
of  the  five,  James,  is  a  citizen  of  South  Meriden,  Connecticut, 
where  he  also  is  established  in  business;  his  wife  bore  the 
name  of  Julia  Andrew,  her  parents  having  been  residents  in 
the  neighborhood  of  his  home  town.  Boys  and  girls  have 
been  born  into  each  of  five  families  of  the  five  brothers. 

After  a  course  of  education  in  private  schools,  and  some 
years  of  life  on  the  farm,  Mr.  Bennett  took  up  business  i)ur- 
suits,  during  which  period  he  lived  in  various  parts  of  Eng- 
land. In  the  spring  of  1893  he  left  the  mother  country  for 
the  state  of  (Connecticut,  where  his  father  and  two  younger 
brothers  had  preceded  him.  He  had  been  from  young  man- 
hood a  ]n'eaclier  in  the  Wesleyan  Methodist  church  in  Eng- 
land, and  a  few  months  after  reaching  America  entered  tlic 
active  work  of  the  pastorate,  being  stationed  at  West  Hart- 
land,  a  methodist  appointment  in  Connecticut.  It  is  a  note- 
worthy fact  that  his  ancestry  were  distinctly  of  a  preaching 
stock  and  of  a  strong  Methodist  type.  They  were  identified 
with  the  early  history  of  John  Wesley's  remarkable  work,  as 
Cornwall,  the  native  county,  was  the  scene  of  some  of  his 
ardent  and  devoted  efforts  and  the  territory  today  bears  abid- 
ing evidence  of  this. 


402        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  lO^AA 

Various  pastorates  in  the  state  were  filled  till  Stamford 
was  reached,  where  Mr.  Bennett  spent  a  number  of  years,  his 
time  being-  divided  there  between  the  pnlpit  and  other  pur- 
suits. It  was  at  this  period  that  he  took  a  special  interest  in 
the  country  sections  outside  the  city,  and  promoted  a  move- 
ment and  organization  which  brought  these  together  in  united 
elfort  towards  what  tended  to  advance  all  along  social  and 
civic  lines.  Various  village  improvement  associations  were 
formed,  and  the  whole  affiliated  in  a  central  body  that  bore 
the  name  of  "Stamford  Rural  Association."  He  served  for 
vears  as  secretarv  of  this  movement,  contributed  much  to  the 
press,  and  was  also  active  in  grange  circles  in  the  community, 
being  both  a  member  of  subordinate,  county  and  state  organ- 
izations. 

He  became  identified  with  religious  effort  in  the  village  of 
Turn-of-River,  Stamford,  and  after  ministering  to  a  congTe- 
gation  there  for  several  years,  a  church  was  organized  on  a 
union  basis,  embracing  all  denominations,  Mr.  Bennett  being 
the  officiating  clerg-^inan  and  its  first  pastor.  The  mutual  re- 
gard characterizing  people  and  pastor  was  most  cordial,  and 
when  the  latter  at  the  close  of  1909  resigned  his  work  pre- 
paratory to  leaving  for  the  west,  he  was  made  Pastor  Emer- 
itus of  the  church  by  unanimous  vote. 

On  January  3,  1882,  Mr.  Bennett  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Alice,  the  youngest  daughter  of  Joseph  Wilson,  of  Hull, 
England,  who  was  a  well-known  Imsiness  man  in  the  eastern 
section  of  that  city  for  a  period  of  more  than  fifty  years. 
Her  mother's  name  was  Ann  Kirk;  she  was  a  native  of  Hull 
and  died  at  the  age  of  sixty-eight.  Her  husband  outlived  her 
eighteen  years  and  passed  away  at  the  ripe  age  of  ninety. 
Besides  Mrs.  Bennett  there  were  two  sons  and  three  daugh- 
ters. Joseph,  the  eldest,  passed  away  in  early  life  and  un- 
married, while  the  younger,  William  Henry,  also  died  com- 
paratively young  and  unmarried.  The  eldest  daughter,  Ellen, 
is  Mrs.  Henry  Rippon,  of  Hull,  while  Emma  is  the  other  sur- 
viving sister.  Annie,  who  never  had  been  strong,  died  some 
years  ago. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bennett  have  had  six  children,  five  of  whom 
are  living.  The  eldest  boy,  George  Bronte,  did  not  outlive 
infancy,  and  his  twin  sister,  Mary  Ellen,  thus  leads  the  fam- 


BIOGRAPHICAL  403 

ily.  The  second  daughter  is  Alice  Mabel.  A  son,  George, 
who  is  the  seventh  generation  to  bear  his  name  in  direct  line, 
comes  next;  he  was  married  on  August  21,  1911,  to  May, 
the  eldest  daughter  of  the  Rev.  Thomas  and  Mrs.  Booth  of 
Hamilton,  Texas.  Muriel  Kathleen  is  the  third  daughter, 
while  the  last  of  the  five  is  Henry  Arnold,  the  only  child  of 
the  family  born  in  the  United  States. 

As  a  christian  minister  Mr.  Bennett  realizes  his.  supreme 
privilege  and  duty  to  be,  to  focus  the  individual  aspiration  on 
the  greatness  and  glory  of  personal  service  for  the  Creator, 
but  he  recogiiizes  life  to  be  a  sacred  thing  in  its  material  as 
well  as  moral  aspects.  He  believes  acceptable  service  with 
God  to  consist  not  onlv  in  reverent  obedience  to  the  teachings 
of  the  Book  of  Books,  but  in  filling  well  one's  allotted  place 
in  life,  whatever  the  legitimate  vocation  may  be.  Hence,  he 
contends  the  preacher  should  be  a  leader  in  the  community  at 
large,  and  while  intelligently  presenting  the  message  of  in- 
spired truth,  at  the  same  time  should  aid  the  cause  of  progres- 
sive culture,  civic  government,  community  improvement,  and 
general  uplift,  as  opportunity  ])resents  itself.  And  that  is 
just  the  i)rogTani  he  has  outlined  for  himself  and  others 
in  his  rural  charge  in  Johnson  county.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Iowa  State  Conference  of  the  United  Brethren  church  and 
came  to  Shueyville  October  24,  1910,  in  accordance  with  the 
appointment  assigned  to  him  by  that  body  on  the  previous 
day,  at  its  annual  session  convened  in  Toledo. 


REVEREND  HENRY  ALOYSIUS  KNEBEL 

Rev.  Henry  Aloysius  Knebel  is  well  known  for  his  activity 
in  behalf  of  the  interests  of  St.  Mary's  church,  of  Tipton, 
Iowa.  He  is  a  native  of  Sharon  township,  Johnson  county, 
born  May  12,  1873,  tenth  of  the  thirteen  children  of  Rochus 
and  Elizal)eth  (Wumbacher)  Knebel,  now  living  retired,  at 
Hills.  They  were  emigrants  from  Germany,  and  early  settlers 
of  Johnson  county,  coming  there  about  1850.  Their  trip  across 
the  ocean  was  made  in  a  sailing  vessel,  whicli  took  thirteen 
weeks  to  make  the  trip.  They  became  highly  respected  and 
successful  farmers  and  reared  a  fine  faniilv  of  children  to  do 


404        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

them  credit,  and  who  remember  witli   ])leasiire  the  pleasant 
life  in  their  childhood  home. 

To  Eochus  and  Elizabeth  Knel^el  the  following  children 
were  born:  Lonis,  married  Walluirger  Hise,  and  they  have 
one  son,  Charles,  who  married  Mary  Dalmage,  who  have  three 
children,  Ambrose,  Earl,  and  Ralph  —  was  the  first  blacksmith 
of  Hills,  Iowa,  where  he  still  resides;  James,  of  Richmond, 
Iowa,  married  Anna  Dantremont,  and  their  children  are  Wini- 
fred and  Robert;  Mary,  who  became  the  wife  of  Frank  Dantre- 
mont, and  died  at  her  residence  at  Monticello,  Iowa,  at  the  age 
of  forty-nine  years,  on  Augnst  9,  1907,  left  ten  children  — 
Adelbert,  Gertrnde,  Margaret,  Clotilde  (Mrs.  Mnrphy,  who 
has  two  sons),  Frank,  Jr.,  Lillian,  Leona,  Leroy,  Lorraine, 
and  Verena,  the  last  of  whom  was  al)ont  four  or  five  years  old 
when  the  mother  died;  Lavina,  who  married  Joseph  N.  Schnoe- 
l>elen,  a  farmer  living  near  Riverside,  AYashington  county,  and 
their  thirteen  children,  who  form  a  part  of  the  congregation  of 
St.  Mary's  Catholic  church  at  Riverside,  are  Linus,  Hubert, 
Guy,  Stella,  Hilda,  Louis,  Oswald,  Bernadette,  Verodina, 
Mello,  Percy,  Urban,  and  Rita;  John,  of  Liberty  township,  a 
separate  sketch  of  whom  will  be  found  in  this  work;  Miss 
Anna  lives  with  her  parents  at  Hills  and  looks  out  for  their 
comfort  and  welfare;  George,  a  successful  farmer  of  Liberty 
township,  married  Mary  Hise,  a  sister  of  Mrs.  Louis  Knebel ; 
Frank,  formerly  a  partner  of  his  brother  liouis,  has  a  lunch 
room  at  Hills,  attends  St.  Joseph's  Catholic  church,  Hills, 
married  Elizabeth  Gringer,  and  they  have  three  children— - 
Zeno,  Mary,  and  Amelia;  Amelia,  ninth  in  order  of  birth,  be- 
came a  member  of  the  order  of  Franciscan  Sisters  of  Perpet- 
ual Adoration,  of  St.  Rose  Convent,  LaCrosse,  AVisconsin, 
assumed  the  name  of  Sister  Mary  Amanda,  and  is  at  present 
a  teacher  in  St.  Angelus  Institute,  Carroll,  Iowa;  Rev.  Henry 
A.  is  the  tenth  child,  as  mentioned  above;  Jose])h  Kneliel  is  a 
prosperous  farmer  three  miles  southeast  of  Riverside,  mar- 
ried Catherine  Bauer,  and  they  became  parents  of  twins,  Lo- 
retta  and  Claretta,  the  latter  of  whom  is  deceased,  and  two 
other  daughters  living.  Celeste  and  Norma:  Linus,  married 
Adaline  Beatsch,  and  they  became  parents  of  two  sons,  Clem- 
ent and  Edward,  who  live  on  the  old  farm  in  Sharon  town- 


BIOGRAPHICAL  405 

sliip;  the  thirteenth  and  vonngest  of  this  hirge  family  is  Wil- 
liam Knebel,  who  married  Nellie  Bauer,  sister  of  the  wife  of 
his  brother  Joseph,  and  they  have  a  daughter,  Bertha. 

The  Knebel  family  became  identified  with  the  best  interests 
of  Johnson  county  and  were  active  in  joromoting  the  general 
welfare  and  progress.  They  played  an  important  part  in  the 
early  history  of  the  region  and  all  members  of  this  large  fam- 
ily are  devout  members  of  the  Catholic  church  and  are  earnest 
workers  in  the  cause.  As  shown  above,  some  of  them  have  de- 
voted their  lives  and  energies  to  the  service  of  the  beloved 
cause,  and  have  done  important  work  in  this  connection. 

Reverend  Knel)el  was  raised  on  the  home  farm  and  re- 
ceived his  preliminary  education  in  the  district  schools  of 
Sharon  townshi]).  At  the  age  of  twenty-one  he  entered  St. 
Ambrose  College,  Davenport,  where  he  remained  six  years, 
four  of  which  were  devoted  to  the  classical  course  and  two  to 
the  philosophical.  One  of  his  tutors  was  the  Reverend  R.  J. 
Renihan,  the  present  rector  of  Oxford,  Iowa.  In  1900  he  en- 
tered the  famous  Kenrick's  Seminary  at  St.  Louis,  where  he 
took  a  three  year's  course  in  theology,  being  ordained  to  the 
priesthood  June  13,  1903,  by  the  Rt.  Rev.  J.  J.  Glennon,  I).  D. 
He  received  his  first  appointment  from  Rt.  Rev.  Henry  Cos- 
grove,  Bisho])  of  Davenport,  on  July  18,  1893,  being  made  as- 
sistant to  Rev.  J.  P.  Ryan,  rector  of  St.  Mary's  church,  Dav- 
enport, Iowa.  He  remained  in  that  parish  six  years  and  three 
months.  On  October  27,  1909,  he  was  appointed  regular  pastor 
at  St.  Mary's  church,  Tipton,  to  succeed  Rev.  Thomas  Francis 
Galligan,  the  appointment  being  made  l)y  Bishop  Davis,  of 
Davenport,  successor  to  Bishop  Cosgrove. 

June  18,  1903,  was  a  memorable  occasion  in  the  Catholic 
church  at  Riverside,  Iowa,  that  being  jointly  the  celebration  of 
Father  Knebel's  first  mass  and  the  golden  wedding  anniver- 
sary of  his  aged  parents.  The  wedding  anniversary  should 
properly  have  occurred  sooner,  but  the  parents  desired  to 
have  it  occur  jointly  with  the  celebration  ])y  their  son  of  his 
first  mass  as  a  Catholic  priest.  The  church  edifice  was  filled 
by  the  relatives  and  friends  of  the  young  priest  and  his  fam- 
ily, and  it  is  said  that  the  reception  and  dinner,  taken  in  con- 
nection with  the  religious  ceremony,  constituted  an  occasion 


406        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

long  to  be  remembered.  It  was  the  first  time  in  eighteen  years 
that  the  members  of  the  Knebel  family  had  all  met  together, 
and  these,  with  the  classmates  of  the  young  priest,  made  a 
memorable  company. 

In  addition  to  his  offices  as  priest  of  the  important  charges 
of  Tipton  and  Cedar  Valley,  Father  Knebel  is  a  member  of  the 
Western  Catholic  Union  and  of  the  Knights  of  Cohimbns. 
While  in  Davenport,  Iowa,  he  was  chaplain  of  the  court  of  the 
Knights  of  Father  Matthew.  He  takes  a  very  active  interest 
in  the  societies  of  his  church,  which  are :  Rosary  and  Altar  So- 
ciety, Willing  Workers  Society  and  the  League  of  the  Sacred 
Heart.  In  his  religious  work  he  is  characterized  by  great  zeal 
accompanied  liy  extreme  modesty,  insisting  that  all  the  glory 
of  his  work  shall  be  given  directly  to  Almighty  God.  His  con- 
gregation at  Tipton  consists  of  forty-live  families  and  that  at 
Cedar  Valley  of  thirty  families.  Both  churches  are  making 
marked  progress  under  his  vigorous  and  efficient  administra- 
tion. 

ROCHUS  KNEBEL,  father  of  Reverend  Henry  A.  Knebel, 
was  born  in  Baden,  Germany,  and  at  the  age  of  fourteen  years 
with  his  parents  sailed  for  America.  They  sailed  from  Havre 
in  the  early  part  of  1843,  and  crossed  the  ocean,  then  through 
the  Gulf  of  Mexico  to  New  Orleans,  thence  up  the  Mississii)pi 
river  to  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  where  a  stop  of  three  months  was 
made.  At  the  end  of  three  months,  accompanied  by  his  par- 
ents, Rochus  went  to  Centerville,  Illinois  (now  called  Mild- 
stadt),  St.  Clair  county.  He  remained  here  for  nearly  seven 
years,  then  came  to  Iowa  at  the  age  of  twenty-one  years.  The 
first  stop  was  at  Bloomingion  (now  Muscatine).  From  there 
he  came  to  Sharon  township,  Johnson  county,  where  he  bought 
the  "old  homestead"  of  120  acres  from  the  government  at 
$1.25  per  acre.  After  remaining  in  Iowa  six  months  he  re- 
turned to  Centerville,  Illinois,  where  he  remained  for  nearly 
two  years.  He  then  returned  again  to  Iowa,  where  he  still 
lives. 

One  year  after  his  second  trip  to  Iowa  he  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Elizabeth  W^ombacher,  by  Father  McCormick  at 
Iowa  Citv,  Iowa. 


BIOGKAPHICAL  407 

ELIZABETH  (WOMBACHER)  KNEBEL  was  born  in 
Bavaria,  Germany,  and  came  to  America  with  her  parents 
when  she  was  five  years  okl.  Sailing  from  Bremen,  Germany, 
they  landed  at  Baltimore,  Maryland,  in  1838,  being  on  the 
ocean  six  weeks.  She  and  her  parents  remained  at  Baltimore 
three  years,  then  they  moved  to  Cumberland,  Maryland,  where 
they  lived  for  eight  years.  Their  next  move  was  to  Wheeling, 
West  Virginia,  where  they  resided  a  short  time,  then  took 
l)assage  on  a  boat  down  the  Ohio  river  and  up  the  Mississippi 
river  to  Burling-ton,  Iowa.  From  Burlington  to  Washington, 
Iowa,  the  trip  was  made  overland  by  team.  During  three 
years  Elizabeth,  with  her  parents,  lived  just  a  short  distance 
south  of  Washington,  Iowa.  Later  they  moved  to  the  farm 
that  is  known  as  the  F.  Heitzman  farm,  about  four  miles  north 
of  Riverside,  Iowa.  Finally  her  parents  bought  the  farm 
which  is  now  owned  by  Niclaus  Sueppel.  Part  of  this  farm  is 
in  Johnson  county  and  part  in  Washing-ton  county.  This  farm 
was  purchased  from  the  government  at  $1.25  per  acre,  and 
Elizabeth  Wombacher  lived  here  until  her  marriage  to  Roehus. 
Knebel. 


RALPH  K.  LUSE 


The  Luse  family  were  early  identified  with  Johnson  county 
interests,  and  played  an  important  part  in  pioneer  days,  in  the 
affairs  of  the  newly  settled  community.  Ralph  K.  Luse  is  a 
son  of  Stephen  and  Mary  Ellen  (Kepford)  Luse,  the  worthy 
pioneer  couple,  and  was  born  in  F.ett  township,  Washington 
county,  Iowa,  in  18 — .  Stephen  Luse  was  born  in  Butler 
county,  Pennsylvania,  March  4, 1823,  and  his  wife  was  a  native 
of  the  same  state.  They  were  of  Pennsylvania  Dutch  ancestry, 
and  were  married  in  November,  1878,  in  Iowa.  She  had  come 
to  Johnson  county  in  early  youth,  and  prior  to  her  marriage 
was  a  school  teacher.  She  was  a  daughter  of  John  Kepford, 
of  North  Bend  district,  near  North  Liberty.  Mr.  Luse  came 
west  to  Johnson  county  in  1851,  remained  there  but  a  short 
time,  then  crossed  the  plains,  in  company  with  Jacob  Wenn, 
Thomas  Combs,  and  James  II.  Windrem,  as  will  be  mentioned 
in  the  sketch  of  the  last  named  gentleman,  to  be  found  in  this 
work.     Mr.  Luse  and  the  others  of  his  party  endured  many 


408 


HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 


hardships  and  dangers  on  this  tri}).  Tliey  started  with  ox 
teams  and  provisions  from  Council  Hhiffs,  wliere  they  joined 
a  large  party,  and  upon  arriving  at  Salt  Lake  Mr.  Luse  left 
his  ox  team  and  walked  tlie  remainder  of  the  way  to  California. 
He  spent  twelve  years  mining  for  gold  and  then  returned  to 
Iowa,  where  he  hecame  interested  in  farming  and  became  the 
owner  of  land  in  Oxford  township.  He  and  his  wife  had  two 
children:  Ralph  Kepford,  of  this  sketch,  and  Clare  V.,  baby 
girl,  deceased.  This  worthy  couple  won  the  highest  respect 
and  esteem  from  their  neighbors  and  associates,  and  were  im- 
portant factors  in  the  life  around  them.     Tliey  are  remem- 


RESmEXCE  OF  RALPH   K.  LUSE 


bered  whenever  attention  is  drawn  to  the  early  history  of 
Johnson  county,  and  to  the  heroic  lives  of  the  pioneers. 

Ralph  Kepford  Luse  was  ])rouglit  to  Johnson  county  in 
infancy  and  received  his  education  in  the  common  and  high 
schools  of  Oxford,  which  is  still  his  home.  He  has  alwavs  ])een 
more  or  less  interested  in  agricultural  operations,  and  has  be- 
come owner  of  some  seven  hundred  acres  of  the  best  Iowa 
farm  land.  He  is  a  stockholder  in  Oxford  State  Bank,  and  in 
the  Eastern  Iowa  Telephone  Company.  He  is  prominent  in 
fraternal  atfairs,  being  a  member  of  the  Masonic  order.  He  is 
affiliated  with  the  Knights  Templar  of  Iowa  City  and  the  Con- 
sistory and  Shrine  at  Davenport.    He  has  taken  an  active  in- 

l 


BIOGRAPHICAL  409 

terest  in  political  and  pnl)lic  matters  and  in  1905-06  served  as 
mayor  of  Oxford,  He  has  also  served  as  a  member  of  the 
council.  In  public  life  he  has  stood  for  clean  government  and 
in  his  private  life  has  been  upright  in  his  dealings  with  his  fel- 
lows. He  has  taken  a  ]n'ominent  place  as  one  of  the  most 
enterprising  and  popular  citizens  in  Oxford  township. 

Mr.  Luse  was  married  November  8,  1905,  in  Davenport, 
Iowa,  to  Mabel  Gould,  of  Washington  county,  Iowa,  daughter 
of  George  Gould,  now  of  Johnson  county,  and  two  chihlren 
have  blessed  this  union,  Harold  C.  and  Clare. 


JACOB  A.  GEORGE 

Among  the  most  prosperous  of  the  native  sons  of  Johnson 
county  may  be  mentioned  Jacob  A.  George,  who  has  been  in- 
terested in  a  number  of  Inisiness  enterprises  and  has  been  an 
industrious  and  successful  farmer  for  many  years.  He  was 
l)orn  October  2,  1848,  and  is  a  son  of  Martin  and  Nancy  (Bow- 
man) George,  highly  respected  as  early  pioneers  and  active  in 
promoting  the  early  growth  and  upl)uilding  of  their  com- 
munity. The  father  was  born  in  Cumberland  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, January  1,  1811,  and  died  June  17, 1872,  and  the  mother, 
who  was  born  January  G,  1814,  died  March  26,  1882.  Botli  are 
buried  in  North  Ijilierty  cemetery.  Both  were  devout  mem- 
bers of  the  Lutheran  church  and  keenly  interested  in  church 
work.  The  father  was  a  blacksmith  in  early  life  and  in  1846 
came  to  Iowa,  spending  a  short  time  in  Iowa  City,  after  which 
he  returned  to  his  old  home  in  Pennsylvania,  having  mean- 
while taken  up  a  farm  on  Section  20,  Pciiu  township.  After 
spending  six  months  in  his  native  place,  lie  again  came  west, 
sold  his  farm  to  Samuel  Miller  (father  of  Judge  Miller),  and 
bought  another  place  in  East  Lucas  township,  also  the  stone 
mill  in  Iowa  City,  which  he  conducted  for  a  time.  He  sold  this 
property  and  purchased  property  in  North  Liberty,  where  he 
embarked  in  business  as  a  merchant.  He  eventually  sold  out 
there  and  purchased  a  farm  in  Section  7,  where  he  spent  his 
declining  years.  Of  the  eight  children  born  to  this  family  but 
four  now  survive :  Jacob  A.,  Nancy  V.,  ^Martha  E,,  and 
Emma  M. 


410        HISTOEY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 


After  the  death  of  his  father,  Jacob  A.  George  rented  the 
home  farm,  which  he  later  purchased,  and  still  occupies.  On 
December  25,  1877,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Martha 
Zellar,  daughter  of  Nicholas  Zellar,  8r.  The  children  born  to 
this  union  were:  Cadence  0.,  born  August  23,  1879,  who  mar- 
ried Jesse  Ham  and  lives  in  Iowa  City;  Martha  E.,  born  Janu- 
ary 28,  1881;  and  Grace  Ellen,  born  February  10,  1889,  at 
home. 

In  company  with  J.  F.  Price,  Jacob  A.  George  bought  the 
steam  saw  mill  of  L.  W.  Chamberlain  (known  as  the  George 
and  Andrle  Mill)  and  moved  it  to  North  Liberty,  where  they 


RESIDENCE  OF   JACOB  A.   GEORGE 

used  an  engine  to  operate  it  and  conducted  it  as  a  saw  mill, 
cane  mill,  and  feed  grinder.  He  has  planted  every  tree  in  his 
orchard,  and  also  every  tree  on  his  place  and  has  erected  all 
of  the  buildings  on  the  place  excepting  the  kitchen  of  the  old 
home.  He  has  put  up  good  fences  and  several  hundred  rods  of 
tiling.  In  1892  he  erected  a  handsome  farm  residence.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church,  of  which  he  is  an  elder,  and 
in  politics  is  a  democrat.  Lie  operates  188  acres  of  land,  which 
constitute  one  of  the  fertile  farms  of  the  township,  and  also 
owns  other  fine  farms,  which  he  rents  out.  His  property  is 
located  on  Sections  18,  20,  and  7  of  Penn  township,  and  com- 
prises about  450  acres  altogether. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  411 

Mr.  George  is  a  most  enterprising  farmer  and  is  an  excel- 
lent bnsiness  man  as  well.  He  is  vice  president  of  the  North 
Liberty  Savings  Bank,  the  other  officers  being:  R.  H.  Wray, 
president,  and  Dr.  David  Stewart,  first  vice  president.  His 
danghter,  Miss  Eda  George,  served  nearly  ten  years  as  the 
deputy  clerk  of  Johnson  county,  filling  the  position  with  abil- 
ity and  faithfulness.  She  spent  four  years  under  Ed  Koser, 
two  under  J.  J.  Warner,  and  nearly  five  under  F.  B.  Volk- 
ringer.  She  was  a  favorite  among  the  employes  at  the  court 
house,  well  known  for  her  accuracy  and  careful  handling  of 
the  county  records,  and  her  presence  there  is  missed  by  many. 
She  is  now  in  Colorado  Springs. 

Below  we  give,  somewhat  in  detail,  the  maternal  ancestry 
of  Jacob  A.  George.  Nancy  Bowman  was  a  daughter  of  Abra- 
ham and  Martha  (Messner)  Bowman,  and  was  born  January 
6,  1814.  Abraham  Bowman  was  born  December  12,  1788,  and 
died  April  21,  1846,  and  his  wife,  who  was  born  April  26,  1788, 
died  January  9,  1855.  Children  were  born  to  them  as  follows : 
Jacob  and  Nancy,  twins;  Martha,  Mrs.  Fred  Mentzer,  born 
October  23,  1815;  Samuel,  born  Aug-ust  31,  1817,  and  Francis, 
April  8,  1819 ;  John ;  Abraham  ;  Catherine ;  Mary. 

Mr.  Bowman  broke  his  land  with  oxen  and  did  this  work 
for  several  of  his  neighbors,  also  made  many  trips  to  Bloom- 
ington  and  exchanged  grain  for  needed  commodities.  When 
he  first  came  to  Johnson  county  deer,  wild  turkeys,  and  prairie 
chickens  were  still  plentiful.  He  was  a  typical  pioneer.  He 
was  a  public-spirited  and  useful  citizen,  and  when  he  bought 
part  of  the  Samuel  Miller  and  Allbright  places,  he  made  a 
public  highway  and  gave  the  same  to  the  county.  In  1847  he 
erected  a  log  house,  which  he  weather-boarded  and  made  warm 
and  tight.  He  improved  his  farm  of  280  acres,  set  out  a  fine 
orchard  and  put  up  substantial  buildings,  continuing  to  im- 
prove the  place  until  his  death.  This  place  is  now  occupied  by 
his  daughter,  Mrs.  J.  W.  Beecher.  He  and  his  wife  were  mem- 
bers of  and  helped  erect  the  Lutheran  church  edifice.  Three 
of  his  children  now  survive:  Catherine  E.,  John,  and  Ellen 
(Mrs.  Beecher). 

Jacob  Bowman  was  married  at  Newvale,  Pennsylvania,  De- 
cember 22, 1842,  to  Margaret  J.  Giffin,  Rev.  John  Heck,  officiat- 
ing, and  an  uncle,  John  McCrea,  and  Miss  Martha  Logan 


412        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

heing  witnesses.  They  began  housekeeping  in  Bloserville,  and 
in  1846  came  with  their  two  children  to  Johnson  county,  arriv- 
ing there  May  6th.  They  located  on  a  farm  two  miles  south- 
east of  North  Liberty,  where  there  was  a  double  log  cabin  and 
a  well.  Mrs.  Bowman  died  November  10,  1892,  and  Mr.  Bow- 
man in .     He  had  been  a  carpenter  and  blacksmith  in 

early  life,  and  in  1836  had  gone  to  Louisiana,  where  he  engaged 
in  bridge  Iniilding  and  carpenter  work  for  two  years,  then  re- 
turned to  Pennsylvania.  He  conducted  a  store  at  Bloserville, 
that  state,  for  a  time.  The  eldest  child  of  himself  and  wife, 
Martha  J.,  is  deceased ;  Catherine  E.  married  C.  H.  Bane,  of 
Cedar  Rapids;  John  F.  lives  at  Keokuk;  Mai'y  Ellen  is  Mrs. 
J.  W.  Beecher,  and  the  fifth  child  was  Emma  J). 


GEORGE  HUNTER 

A  volunteer  of  the  Civil  War  from  1S62  to  the  close  of  hos- 
tilities in  1865,  George  Hunter's  name  stands  honorably  u]:>on 
the  list  of  his  country's  defenders  ''in  the  times  that  tried 
men's  souls."  He  is  a  native  of  Ohio,  from  which  state  he 
removed  with  his  parents  to  Iowa  in  1850,  where  his  father 
bought  land  in  Johnson  county  and  continned  in  the  business 
of  farming  until  his  death  in  1876.  George  attended  school  in 
the  first  public  schoolhouse  built  in  the  townshi])  where  his 
father  resided,  and  also  for  a  time  in  the  Iowa  City  schools; 
but  his  educational  efforts  were  interrupted  by  President  Lin- 
coln's call  to  arms,  and  in  the  summer  of  1862  he  enrolled  his 
name  on  the  roster  of  Co.  F,  Twenty-second  Iowa  A^olunteer 
Infantry.  After  a  season  of  drill  at  Camp  Polk,  his  company 
went  to  St.  Louis,  thence  to  Raleigh,  Missouri,  then  in  battle 
at  Ft.  Nelson,  Champion  Hill,  where  his  company  had  charge 
of  prisoners  and  hospital,  in  all  400  prisoners,  and  in  1863 
joined  Grant's  army  in  the  siege  of  Vicksburg.  From  that 
point  they  were  ordered  to  Louisiana,  thence  to  Texas,  thence 
back  to  Louisiana,  and  finally  to  Washing-ton  to  check  Early's 
advance  on  the  national  capital.  Thereafter  this  veteran  com- 
pany operated  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley,  and  finally,  on  July 
22,  1865,  Mr.  Hunter  was  honorably  discharged  at  Savannah, 
Georgia,  whence,  with  the  consciousness  of  duty  well  done,  he 


S:'^^ 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


413 


came  back  to  the  old  farm,  where  he  is  now  located.  Between 
the  lines  of  this  brief  outline  might  be  written  unnnml)ered 
descriptions  of  weary  marches,  of  days  and  nights  of  hunger 
and  anxiety,  of  dreadful  combat,  of  the  grim  companionship 
of  death,  of  the  martial  obsequies  of  comrades,  and  all  the 
fearful  elements  of  war;  but  these  are  memories  that  lie  in  the 
subconscious  mind  of  every  veteran  of  that  mighty  conflict, 
and  George  Hunter,  like  the  rest,  is  mindful  of  their  horrors. 
On  the  ohl  farm  where  the  happy  days  of  childhood  were 
spent,  George  Hunter  took  up  the  homely  burdens  of  life  and 
was  glad  for  the  days  of  the  plowsliare  and  the  pruning  hook. 


RESmENCE   OF    GEOEGE   HUNTER 

In  September  of  the  year  followiug  his  return  (ISGH)  he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Estlier  E.  McCrory,  and  two  sons 
were  given  them  as  seals  to  their  union  :  Glenn  S.,  married  and 
living  near  Fort  Madison,  Iowa,  has  five  children,  Esther, 
Laura,  Elizabeth,  Glenu,  and  Bura;  and  George  M.,  married 
Minnie  Buck,  have  one  child,  Geneva  Estlier,  and  living  with 
his  father.  His  beloved  wife  died  November  1,  1909,  and  tlie 
veteran  saw  amid  his  tears  a  vision  of  the  shining  shore  and 
the  final  reunion. 

Adam  Plunter,  father  of  our  subject,  was  a  native  of  Ire- 
land, born  in  179G,  and  his  wife,  Elizabeth  Morrison,  was  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania.  When  seventeen  years  of  age  the 
elder  Hunter  came  to  America  and  entered  the  grocery  busi- 
ness in  the  citv  of  Baltimore,  Marvland.    In  1826  he  removed 


414        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

to  Ohio,  where  he  engaged  in  farming,  and  in  1850,  as  before 
stated,  came  to  Iowa  City.  Eleven  children  were  born  to  this 
pioneer  conple,  of  whom  only  four  are  now  living.  Their 
names  are:  James,  residing  in  Iowa;  George,  our  subject; 
Lemuel,  living  in  Iowa  City.    Mother  Hunter  died  in  1891 . 

George  Hunter  is  a  democrat;  was  county  supervisor  for 
six  years,  and  has  held  other  township  and  county  offices.  He 
attends  the  Presbyterian  church  and  is  a  member  of  the  G.  A. 
R.  He  has  just  joined  the  Masonic  order.  No  man  is  more 
thoroughly  respected.  His  declining  days  are  filled  with  the 
fruits  of  that  peace  he  fought  so  nobly  to  secure,  and  mankind 
whispers,  ''It  is  well." 


JAMES  BRTDENSTIXE 

James  Bridenstine,  now  living  retired  from  active  life,  at 
North  Liberty,  Iowa,  is  a  self-made  man  and  has  been  engaged 
in  several  different  enterprises  in  the  community  where  he 
still  resides,  having  been  successful  in  all  through  industry 
and  good  management.  He  was  born  in  Bedford  county, 
Pennsylvania,  March  3, 1829,  son  of  Jacob  and  Sophia  (Houck) 
Bridenstine,  and  the  only  survivor  of  the  family.  The  father 
was  born  February  7,  1799,  and  died  September  21,  J  836,  in 
comparatively  early  life.  He  and  his  wife  had  one  daughter, 
Rebecca,  born  July  14,  1827,  and  died  in  1828. 

Left  fatherless  at  an  early  age,  James  Bridenstine  early 
learned  the  habit  of  self-reliance.  He  spent  part  of  his  youth 
on  a  farm  and  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years  began  learning  the 
trade  of  wagon-maker.  After  he  had  served  his  apprentice- 
ship he  worked  for  a  few  years  at  his  trade,  and  also  became 
an  expert  carpenter.  In  1852  he  came  west,  bringing  his 
household  goods  from  HoUidaysburg,  Pennsylvania,  to  what 
is  now  Muscatine,  Iowa,  but  then  known  as  Bloomington.  They 
were  taken  by  a  team  to  the  railroad,  loaded  on  a  car  over  an 
inclined  plane,  later  put  on  a  canal  boat,  taken  tlience  to  Pitts- 
burg and  down  the  Ohio  on  the  steamer  "Persia"  to  Cairo, 
Illinois,  thence  up  the  Mississippi  river  to  St.  Louis,  where 
they  were  put  aboard  another  steamer  and  taken  to  Musca- 
tine.    Thence  they  made  the  rest  of  the  journey  by  wagon. 


MR.   AND   MRS.  JAMES  BRIDENSTINE 


4 


BIOGRAPHICAL  415 

Mr.  Bridenstine  had  relatives  and  friends  expecting-  his  ar- 
rival, and  for  the  first  year  he  worked  by  the  day,  then  worked 
at  the  trade  of  carpenter,  and  when  able  to  do  so  purchased 
forty  acres  of  land  as  a  start  towards  a  fann.  He  built  a 
house  and  shop  and  worked  at  the  trade  of  wag'on-maker,  and 
later  began  farming  on  his  forty  acres  and  rented  other  land. 
Later  he  purchased  sixty  acres  more,  subsequently  added  two 
tracts  of  eighty  acres  each,  in  Penn  and  Madison  townships, 
which  he  operated  until  retiring  from  the  farm  in  190L  There 
has  been  a  remarkable  increase  in  the  value  of  this  land  since 
it  was  purchased  by  Mr.  Bridenstine.  He  purchased  his  first 
forty  acres  for  $87.50,  and  other  farms  at  prices  varying  from 


KESIDKNCK  OF  JAMES  BRIDENSTINE 

$18  to  $30  per  acre.  The  last  of  this  land  which  he  sold  was 
sold  to  John  Lininger  for  $90  per  acre,  and  the  latter  sold  it 
to  George  Ranshaw,  the  present  owner,  for  $125  per  acre. 
Mr.  Bridenstine  proved  an  alile  and  industrious  farmer  and 
brought  his  land  to  a  high  state  of  development,  erecting  suit- 
able and  substantial  buildings  as  needed  and  carrying  on  his 
work  in  a  manner  to  insure  the  best  results. 

Mr.  Bridenstine  became  well  known  in  the  community 
where  he  lived  so  many  years  and  made  many  warm  friends 
there.  He  served  as  trustee  and  road  supervisor  of  Madison 
township,  and  was  active  in  church  work.  He  joined  the 
Church  of  God  in  1851  and  became  an  earlv  member  of  the 


416        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

Bethel  clmrcli  in  Penn  township,  which  in  earlier  years  he 
served  as  deacon  and  elder. 

On  March  4,  1851,  Mr.  Bridenstine  married  Snsan  Hoo\er, 
danghter  of  John  and  Anna  Hoover,  who  came  to  Iowa  in 
1852.  She  died  Angust  4,  1871,  having  borne  her  husband  six 
children.  She  was  born  July  25,  1827.  Mr.  Bridenstine  mar- 
ried again,  March  14,  1872,  Mrs.  May  J.  (Work)  Bane,  who 
was  the  widow  of  John  W.  Bane,  who  was  killed  in  the  army. 
The  second  wife  died  May  25,  1890,  having  borne  Mr.  Briden- 
stine five  children.  His  third  marriage  took  place  March  22, 
1894,  when  he  was  united  with  Mrs.  Cornelia  (Bntler)  Tncker, 
widow  of  James  S.  Tncker,  who  had  ten  children  l)y  her  for- 
mer marriage,  five  of  whom  survive.  By  his  first  wife  Mr. 
Bridenstine  had  children  as  follows:  Sylvester  J.,  of  Seattle, 
Washington,  has  one  living  child;  Martin,  of  Kalona,  Iowa, 
has  two  children;  John  William,  of  California,  is  married  and 
has  five  children;  James  S.,  married  and  living  in  California; 
Mary  Ellen  died  at  the  age  of  two  years ;  Elmer  H.  is  a  farmer. 
The  following  children  were  born  to  Mr.  Bridenstine  by  his 
second  marriage  :  Burton  Vance,  clerk  in  the  Citizens  Savings  «S: 
Trust  Com])any's  bank,  in  Iowa  City,  is  married  and  has  four 
children;  Minnie  Belle  is  the  wife  of  C.  E.  Myers,  of  Kansas: 
Nellie  Soyihia  is  the  wife  of  Albert  Hickle  and  they  also  reside 
in  Kansas;  Walter  L.  in  Madison  township,  and  Harvey  S. 
are  farmers  who  are  married  and  live  in  Clear  Creek  and 
Madison  townships. 


GILBERT  ROBINSON  IRISH 

Poetry,  thrilling  with  emotion,  places  her  sweetest  garlands 
on  the  mounds  of  the  pioneers,  while  history,  passionate  with 
the  facts  of  their  sacrifices,  carves  her  scrolls  upon  their 
shafts.  Out  of  the  hosts  of  the  world's  heroes  and  heroiiies 
the  sons  and  daughters  of  men  have  selected  the  pathfinders, 
and  on  their  brows  have  entwined  the  laurels  of  victory  with 
the  immortelles  of  remembrance.  No  student  of  progress  will 
doubt  the  justice  of  this  judgment.  From  the  closing  portals 
of  Eden  to  the  caravels  of  Genoa  the  generations  of  Adam  and 
Noah  have  gone  forth  to  "multiply  and  replenish  the  earth'' 


SYBEL  TILL 


BIOGRAPmCAL  417 

and  to  "subdue  and  have  dominion."  All  dangers  of  adven- 
ture, all  arts  of  peace,  all  conquests  of  war,  all  empires  of  dis- 
covery have  been  the  factors  of  their  (]uest.  Moses  and 
Joshua,  Alexander  and  Ca'sar,  Napoleon  and  Wellington, 
Washington  and  (Jrant  have  been  the  cai)tains  of  their  armies  ; 
the  Romans,  and  the  Britons,  and  the  Saxons,  and  the  Cava- 
liers, and  the  Puritans  have  been  the  vanguards  of  their  civi- 
lizations; the  Norseman,  and  the  Italian,  and  the  Portuguese, 
and  the  Frenchman,  and  the  Teuton,  and  the  Englishman,  and 
the  Yankee  have  been  their  navigators;  on  the  pages  of  their 
necrology  are  inscribed  the  names  of  Balboa,  and  I)e  Soto, 
and  Pizzaro;  of  Mar([uett(%  and  La  Salle,  and  Lewis,  and 
Clark,  and  Fremont,  and  Pike.  Who  can  challenge  the  pride 
of  the  families  entitled  to  wiitc  their  names  in  such  a  com- 
pany? The  world's  meed  has  been  placed  ni)on  the  heads  of 
its  conquerors;  but  })erhaps  the  tenderest  strains  in  the  gamut 
of  its  praises  have  been  sung  to  the  memory  of  its  partizans 
of  peace,  the  pion(MM-s.  In  America  their  names  have  been 
placed  in  the  niche  of  honor.  Thcii'  weapons  have  been  the 
plowshare  and  the  j)runing  hook;  their  pro|)aganda  the  school, 
house,  the  ))i-(^ss,  and  the  church  ;  their  fields  "the  orchard,  the 
meadow,  the  de(q)-tangled  wildwood."  The  dove-cote  has  dis- 
placed the  eagle's  eyrie,  and  the  lanil>  has  inherited  the  wolf'n 
pasture  under  their  a-gis.  Broad  commonwealths,  thriving 
cities,  hai)])y  homes,  ])rosperons  ])eople  attest  the  texture  or 
their  tasks.  Standing,  as  we  do,  on  civilization's  last  frontiei', 
awaiting  the  nn|)tials  of  the  Occident  and  the  Orient,  witnesM 
ing  the  realization  of  the  world's  dream  of  international  fra- 
ternity, we  are  bound  to  take  note  of  the  vast  bulk  of  the  ])io 
neers  in  the  fruitions  that  confront  us.  What  signiifies  it  that 
their  feet  are  on  the  world's  apex  and  that  their  ])rospect 
dwindles  into  the  sunset  perspectives?  They  are  the  conquis- 
tadores.  The  battle  is  won.  Tile  world  is  a  unit.  History 
will  be  their  memorial. 

Iowa,  in  the  midst  of  the  const(^llation  of  American  states, 
boasts  of  her  army  of  hardy  forbears  wdiose  hands  have  trans- 
formed her  i)rairies,  l)lackened  t)y  the  vagrant  fires  of  sav- 
agery, into  productive  farms,  emerald  groves,  and  industrious 
cities.  On  the  long  roll  of  the  regiments  are  written  many  il- 
lustrious names,  whose  original  bearers  have  hearkened  to  the 


418        HISTOEY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

call  of  the  Eternal  Captain.  Peace  be  to  their  memories. 
Their  posterity  have  risen  up  to  call  them  blessed.  Johnson 
county  claims  the  proud  honor  of  a  goodly  company  of  these 
immortals.  The  pages  of  this  history  will  bear  witness  to 
their  deeds.  Among  the  honored  names  therein  recorded,  how- 
ever, none  can  lay  claim  to  higher  principles  of  citizenship  or 
greater  merit  for  tasks  well  performed  than  that  borne  by  the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  Gilbert  Robinson  Irish.  As  a  family, 
the  Irish  household  plays  an  im])ortant  part  not  only  in  the 
local  history  of  the  county  and  state,  but  in  the  affairs  of  the 
nation  as  well.  The  object  of  this  and  the  series  of  sketches 
which  accompany  it,  is  to  present  the  relations  of  this  family 
with  the  events  of  its  time  for  historical  preservation. 


GILBERT    R.    IRISH    HOMESTEAD 


John  Irish,  of  Duxbury,  Plj^uouth  Colony,  who  came  from 
England  in  1631,  was  the  founder  of  the  family  in  the  United 
States.  He  was  one  of  the  volunteers  against  the  Pequods, 
and  for  that  service  was  granted  l)y  the  government  land  which 
he  located  at  Sacconett  Neck,  Rhode  Island,  in  1637.  John 
Irish's  wife  was  named  Elizabeth,  but  the  descendants  of  the 
family  in  Johnson  county  are  unable  to  recall  her  maiden 
name  or  any  facts  concerning  her  progenitors.  The  line  of 
descent  from  John  and  Elizalieth  Irish  to  our  subject  is  as 
follows :  1st,  John  Irish,  Jr.,  and  Deborah  Irish ;  2d,  Jedediah 
and  Mary  Irish;  3d,  Jedediah  and  Sarah  Irish;  4th,  Jedediah 
and  Susannah  Irish ;  5th,  Jonathan  and  Ruth  Irish  ;  6th,  Fred- 


FREDERICK  M.  IRISH 


BIOGRAPHICAL  419 

erick  M.  and  Elizabeth  Irish ;  the  latter  being  the  father  and 
mother  of  Gilbert  Robinson  Irish,  our  subject.  The  wife  of 
John  Irish,  Jr.,  was  Deborah  Church,  a  sister  of  Captain 
Church.  Both  families  were  natives  of  Rhode  Island.  The 
first  mill  for  grinding  English  and  Indian  corn  and  provided 
with  stamps  for  beating  the  latter  in  Plymouth  Colony  was 
built  on  Stony  Brook,  on  lands  of  John  Irish,  Sr.,  by  George 
Pollard  and  William  Hillier  in  1637 ;  and  it  was  provided  in 
their  charter  that  they  were  to  "take  one  pottle  for  grinding 
each  bushel,  and  that  no  other  mill  should  be  built  as  long  as 
they  continued  to  grind  all  the  grain  brought  to  them." 

Frederick  Macey  Irish,  the  father  of  Gilbert  R.,  was  born 
at  Hudson,  New  York,  March  13,  1801.  His  wife  was  Eliza- 
beth Ann  Robinson,  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Elizabeth  Robin- 
son, and  her  birthplace  was  Westchester.  Her  family  were 
Quakers,  descendants  of  Rev.  John  Robinson,  of  Leyden,  Hol- 
land. When  a  mere  lad  Frederick  Macey  Irish  went  to  sea 
from  Nantucket,  and  for  a  time  was  engaged  in  the  whale  fish- 
ing industry.  In  182G  he  had  extended  his  voyaging  to  the 
Sandwich  Islands.  Later  he  was  engaged  in  pilot  service  in 
New  York.  In  1834  he  removed  to  Terre  Haute,  Indiana,  and 
established  a  foundry  there.  In  1839  he  made  his  last  move, 
this  time  locating  near  Iowa  City,  Iowa,  where  he  pursued  the 
business  of  farming  until  his  death  in  1875. 

Gilbert  R.  Irish  was  born  at  Terre  Haute,  Indiana.  He 
was  a  very  small  boy  when  his  mother  took  him  to  New  York, 
where  both  remained  while  the  father  made  the  westward  trip 
to  locate  a  new  home  in  Iowa.  In  1840  mother  and  son  made 
the  long  journey  to  the  new  home,  where  they  safely  arrived 
after  the  usual  arduous  experiences.  Mr.  Irish's  first  tutor 
was  his  mother,  who  for  ten  years  gave  him  such  educational 
training  as  she  could;  thereafter  he  had  for  his  teacher  Dr. 
Reynolds,  a  popular  pioneer  educator  of  Iowa  City.  Mr.  Irish 
freely  acknowledged,  however,  and  with  some  pride,  that  his 
education  was  largely  the  result  of  his  own  efforts,  abetted 
by  the  experiences  of  his  early  days  —  a  training  which  fitted 
him  for  the  unique  position  which  he  has  occupied  in  Johnson 
county  history.  Answering  the  question  as  to  his  occupation, 
Mr.  Irish,  in  his  quaint  way,  declared:  ''Since  the  age  of 
eighteen,  first  and  alwavs  a  farmer."    His  agricultural  bent 


420        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  T()^^'A 

led  him  into  kindred  lines,  and  at  one  time  lie  took  up  liorti- 
cultnre  as  a  specialty  at  Peoria,  Hlinois.  In  tile  distribution 
of  his  stock,  Mr.  Irish  made  freqnent  trips  from  Peoria  to  St. 
Louis  by  boat.  He  is  credited  with  the  introduction  of  many  of 
the  fruit  trees  grown  in  the  vicinity  of  his  Peoria  enterprise. 
While  a  resident  of  Illinois,  from  the  latter  part  of  the  fifties 
up  to  1863,  he  taught  school.  His  knowledge  of  school  work 
led  to  his  election,  on  his  return  to  Iowa,  to  membership  in  the 
school  board  of  Lucas  township  from  district  numl^er  eleven. 
In  1867  he  was  chosen  secretary  of  the  board,  a  position  which 
he  held  for  many  vears. 

Prol^ably  Gilbert  R.  Irish  held  the  record  for  continuous 
service  as  justice  of  the  peace  in  Johnson  county.  Fie  held 
this  office  for  thirty-five  years.  In  the  administration  of  the 
affairs  of  this  position  he  acquired  a  unique  reputation.  He 
was  punctilious  in  rendering  his  annual  reports.  AVhen  the 
peaceable  character  of  his  constituents  practically  left  the  of- 
fice without  any  business  from  year  to  year,  he  would  discuss 
the  general  topics  of  the  day  in  his  annual  reports  with  char- 
acteristic humor.  An  incident  showing  the  ready  wit  as  well 
as  the  innate  sense  of  justice  of  th.e  man  is  told  by  some  of  his 
old  friends:  In  a  case  wherein  a  citizen  appeared  before  him 
charged  w^tli  a  certain  offense,  the  s^^upathies  of  the  court 
were  strongly  with  the  defendant  on  account  of  his  general 
reputation  for  honesty,  sobriety,  and  good  citizenship.  The 
counsel  for  the  prosecution  introduced  volume  after  volume  of 
state  and  supreme  court  rei)orts  to  establish  the  ruling  of 
other  judges  on  the  various  points  of  testimony,  and  to  wind 
the  matter  up  made  a  voluminous  plea  for  the  conviction  of 
the  defendant  on  the  authorities  quoted.  After  listening  to  it 
all  with  some  degree  of  impatience,  Justice  Irish  said  :  "This 
court  overrules  the  supreme  court  in  its  decisions  in  these  mat- 
ters and  declares  the  defendant  not  guilty." 

On  October  9,  1879,  Mr.  Irish  took  for  his  wife  ^Miss  Jose- 
phine Martha  Strawbridge,  daughter  of  Jesse  K.  Strawbridge, 
a  pioneer  of  Clraham  townshi]),  whom  he  had  known  from 
childhood.  The  couple  made  their  home  on  the  old  homestead 
of  Frederick  Macey  Irish,  in  the  outskirts  of  Iowa  Oity,  known 
as  "Rose  Hill."  This  place  is  celebrated  for  its  trees  and 
shrubs  and  flowers,  many  of  which  are  the  handiwork  of  Gil- 


J.   K.   STRAWBRIDGE 


BIOGKAPHICxVL  421 

l)ert  Irish  and  wife.  One  daughter,  Jane  Terril,  horn  in  Iowa 
City,  June  o,  1881,  was  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Irisli.  She  was 
educated  in  the  public  and  commercial  scliools  and  is  an  expert 
stenograi)her. 

Mr.  Irish,  in  his  eccentric  way,  said  :  "The  only  important 
thing'  in  my  life  is  that  1  have  always  been  a  democrat  in  poli- 
tics and  have  never  been  a  member  of  any  church,  society,  or 
club."  He,  of  course,  had  reference  to  secret  and  fi-aterna! 
orders,  for  he  was  a  ])rominent  member  of  the  Old  Settlers' 
Association  of  Johnson  county  for  many  years  and  its  secre- 
tary from  1899  to  his  death,  June  4,  1911.  His  father  was  one 
of  the  founders  of  the  organization,  wliich  dates  its  existence 
from  1861.  He  took  great  pride  in  the  records  of  this  society. 
His  presence  and  his  ministrations  will  he  gi-eatly  missed  by 
his  surviving  associates. 

One  beautiful  midsnnnner  afternoon  of  June,  li)ll,  out  at 
the  old  homestead  at  "Rose  Hill,"  \vhere  Mr.  Irish  had  lived 
for  nearly  half  a  century,  under  the  shadows  of  the  old  trees, 
many  of  which  his  hands  had  ])Iante<l  and  his  care  fostered, 
there  was  gathered  from  nearly  every  part  of  Johnson  county 
large  numbers  of  old  friends  and  neighbors  who  had  come  to 
pay  the  last  token  of  respect  to  the  remains  of  their  pioneer 
brother.  The  heat  of  the  summer  vibrated  in  the  air  and 
scarcely  a  leaf  rustled.  All  nature  seemed  to  have  paused, 
while  a  sense  of  (luiet  and  peace  and  rest  "brooded  like  a  gen- 
tle spirit  o'ei-  a  still  and  ]»nlseless  world."  Among  this 
gathering  were  many  men  and  woiikmi  who  had  traveled  along 
the  great  highway  of  life  and  were  nearing  its  terminus  — 
gray-haired  pioneers,  patriarchs  of  a  period  stretching  int(^ 
the  far-away  past  —  soon  each  one  of  them  to  pass  through 
the  portals  eternal,  while  a  new  and  bustling  generation  should 
take  their  |)lace.  Assembh^]  to  take  the  last  look  on  the  face 
of  their  de])arted  brother,  what  memories  must  have  swept 
the  minds  of  these  dear  old  friends  and  neighbors  —  the  mem- 
ories of  the  garnered  years,  fragrant  with  the  (lowers  that 
l)loom  in  the  beautiful  and  ever-growing  garden  of  God.  The 
day  of  the  i)ioneer  is  passing,  ainl  as  the  sun  setting  in  the 
west  calls  mankind  to  rest,  leaving  a  trail  of  twilight  to  guide 
the  loiterer  home,  so  these  human  "stars  of  empire,"  having 
labored  and  loved  and  wept,  having  sacrificed  and  saved  and 


422        HISTOEY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

builded,  linger  beyond  the  sunset  time  to  lighten  the  pathway 
of  the  romping,  laughing  children  who  are  even  now  entering 
the  citadels  which  their  sires  have  builded.  Many  of  them, 
though  dead,  yet  speak,  and  the  writing  angel  in  heaven 
through  all  the  yesterdays  has  written  and  written  and  in  the 
tomorrows  will  still  write  and  write  of  their  thoughts  and 
words  and  deeds.  It  may  be  true  that  the  bright  and  morning 
star  shall  burn  out  in  the  sky,  that  men  may  follow  the  seasons 
into  the  limbo  of  forgetfulness,  that  some  sad  day  in  the  com- 
ing years  the  names  of  these  pioneers,  devoted  men  and 
women,  may  be  erased  from  human  memory,  but  their  gospel 
of  brotherly  helpfulness  and  kindly  influence  shall  live  beyond 
the  wreck  of  worlds  and  the  dismal  crash  of  creeds. 

In  his  loyalty  to  home  and  friends,  Gilbert  R.  Irish  dis- 
played his  great  moral  worth  and  won  for  himself  the  admira- 
tion and  love  of  those  associated  with  him.  His  creed, ' '  What- 
soever a  man  soweth,  that  shall  he  also  reap,"  was  the  strong 
and  enduring  foundation  upon  which  he  builded  his  soulful 
and  manly  life.  He  never  sowed  to  the  winds,  neither  did 
immorality  of  any  character  ever  find  lodgment  within  his 
pure  mind.  Nothing  dishonorable  or  false  was  ever  truthfully 
charged  against  him,  but  in  every  department  of  life  he 
walked  uprightly  before  God  and  man,  guaging  his  actions  by 
the  square  of  justice,  remembering  that  he  was  traveling  upon 
the  level  of  time  to  a  better,  brighter,  and  purer  sphere  than 
this.  He  was  never  united  with  any  religious  society  or  secret 
organization,  yet  we  find  in  his  life  many  of  the  Christian  at- 
tributes and  virtues.  His  was  a  religion  of  works  and  deeds, 
rather  than  of  creeds  and  professions.  He  lived  and  died  a 
manly  life,  at  peace  with  God,  his  neighbors,  and  himself. 
These  are  all  striking  factors  of  immortality,  and  serve  to  re- 
mind us  of  that  imperishable  part  of  man  which  bears  the 
nearest  affinity  to  the  Supreme  Intelligence,  which  pervades 
all  nature  and  can  never,  never  die. 


MRS.  E.  J.  STRAWBRTDGE 


BIOGRAPHICAL  423 

ELIZABETH  IRISH 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  a  true  Ilawkeye,  and  was  born 
and  reared  in  Iowa  City,  Iowa.  The  institution  for  commer- 
cial training-,  Irish's  University  Business  College,  over  which 
she  presides,  is  an  excellent  testimony  to  an  Iowa  woman's 
ability  and  skill.  It  was  founded  in  1895  by  Miss  Irish,  who, 
having  just  returned  from  California,  saw  at  the  Athens  of 
Iowa  an  opening  for  a  good  business  college  and  at  once  set 
about  building  up  such  a  school.  Her  education  and  business 
experience,  combined  with  her  interest  in  the  welfare  of  young 
people,  particularly  fitted  her  for  such  an  undertaking.  With 
Miss  Irish,  to  plan  meant  to  execute,  and  to  execute  meant 
success,  so  after  nine  years  of  determined  and  efficient  work 
on  her  part,  the  modest  little  school  which  she  started  in  Au- 
gust, 1895,  had  grown  to  be  one  of  the  leading  colleges  of  the 
state,  drawing  students  not  only  from  our  own,  but  from  the 
sister  states.  This  college  now  has  a  commercial  department, 
preparatory  department,  and  a  department  of  shorthand  and 
typewriting,  and  in  all  these  Miss  Irish  has  had  a  business  ex- 
perience so  that  she  can,  when  conditions  require  it,  give  per- 
sonal attention  to  the  work  in  any  of  them.  Thereby  the  stu- 
dents receive  not  only  instruction  in  this  work,  but  have  also 
the  advantage  of  her  business  knowledge  along  these  lines. 
This  practical  handling  of  the  subjects  taught  is  one  of  the 
secrets  of  her  success  as  a  commercial  teacher.  The  other  is 
found  in  her  great  energy,  courage,  and  determination  to  suc- 
ceed. 

To  the  question,  how  she  came  to  found  such  a  school.  Miss 
Irish  responded:  ''During  my  service,  in  various  capacities, 
in  the  business  world  I  found  many  young  people  who  failed 
through  lack  of  thorough  training  in  their  line  of  work  which 
should  have  given  them  power -of  application  and  self-reliance 
and  also  that  high  moral  standard  which  should  obtain  in  bus- 
iness as  in  other  relations  of  life.  Therefore  I  concluded  to 
start  a  business  college  in  which  the  young  could  gain  an  edu- 
cation in  accordance  with  the  theories  I  hold." 

The  high  class  work  done  by  those  who  are  graduated  from 
her  college  fully  demonstrates  that  Miss  Irish  in  most  cases 
reaches  the  high  aim  set  by  her  theories,  for  whenever  her  stu- 


424        HISTOKY  OF  JOHXSOX  COUNTY,  IOWA 

dents  finish  their  course  they  go  fortli  fitted  to  begin  life's 
work  in  the  most  intelligent  and  hel})fnl  manner. 

Miss  Irish  is  a  graduate  of  Prof.  \Vm.  MeCnaiirs  College, 
also  of  Prof.  Elden  Moran's  School  of  Shorthand  and  was  the 
first  woman  to  hold  a  position  of  bookkeeper  in  Iowa  City. 
She  was  the  business  manager  of  the  loica  State  Pres.s  for  a 
numl)er  of  years.  When  her  uncle,  Col.  John  P.  Irish,  re- 
moved to  California,  she  accompanied  him  and  l>ecame  the 
cashier  and  liookkeeper  for  the  Oakland,  California,  Ti)nes,  of 
which  he  was  editor.  Later  on  she  held  successfully  the  posi- 
tion of  bookkeeper  and  cashier  in  the  Alta  Califoniian,  which 
was  the  oldest  paper  on  the  Pacific  coast.  She  next  held  a 
responsible  position  in  the  U.  S.  Mint  at  San  Francisco,  from 
which  she  was  called  to  be  chief  clerk,  stenographer  and  book- 
keeper in  the  Ignited  States  Surveyor  General's  office  of  the 
state  of  Nevada.  Later  ]\[iss  Irish  traveled  for  the  U.  S.  Ir- 
rigation Commission.  Then  as  receiving  and  paying  teller  of 
the  money  order  department  of  the  Oakland  ])ost  office  she 
gave  a  fine  example  of  her  executive  ability,  and  later  estab- 
lished a  business  school  at  Reno,  Nevada.  One  season  was 
spent  at  Scagg's  Spring,  Sonoma  county,  California,  in  the 
capacity  of  bookkeeper,  assistant  ])ost  mistress,  and  AVells- 
Farg'o  agent.  This  record  of  faithful  and  efficient  and  vai'ied 
service  in  the  business  world,  prior  to  the  establishment  of  her 
University  Business  College  at  Iowa  City,  is  evidence  of  Miss 
Irish's  preparedness  for  her  work,  and  also  shows  why  her 
college  has  been,  from  the  start,  a  business  success. 

Truly  Miss  Irish's  career  in  the  business  world  is  one  in 
which  the  women  of  the  state  in  particular,  should  feel  justly 
proud.  The  Iowa  City  Commercial  Clul),  Kings  Daughters, 
Iowa  City  Improvement  League,  Central  Commercial  Teach- 
ers Association,  Western  Commercial  School  ^Sfanager's  As- 
sociation, Iowa  Court  Reporter's  Association  and  National 
Commercial  Teachers  Federation  all  know  her  as  an  interest- 
ed and  active  member  of  their  organization. 

The  story  of  such  a  busy  life,  is  truly  an  inspiration  to  the 
young  who  are  longing  to  meet  and  conquer  the  ])rol)lems  of 
the  worhh 

The  parents  of  Miss  Irish  were  General  Charles  W.  Irish 
and  Susannnah  Yarbrough,  the  latter  a  native  of  North  Car 


ELIZABETH  A.  IRISH 


BIOdRAPHICAL  425 

oliiia,  coming-  with  her  parents  to  Iowa  C'ity  when  ei^^lit  years 
old,  is  still  living'  in  this  eity  at  the  age  of  seventy-three.  Her 
father  died  in  1904.     (See  his  sketch  elsewhere  —  Ed.) 

Notwithstanding  her  strenuous  business  duties,  Miss  Erish 
takes  an  active  interest  in  the  work  of  the  Protestant  Episco- 
pal church,  of  which  she  is  a  member.  Slie  is  treasurer  of  the 
Daughters  of  the  King  and  a  member  of  the  J\ing's  Daughters 
Association,  an  organization  which  cares  for  the  poor.  In 
civic  matters  she  tigures  as  a  member  of  the  Improvement 
League  and  the  Iowa  City  Commercial  club,  being  distinguish- 
ed as  the  only  woman  member  of  tlie  latter  organization.  Her 
membership  in  the  Daughters  of  the  American  Revolution  was 
obtained  through  her  mother's  (Susannah  Yarbrough's)  an- 
cestry. 


JL'DGE  MARTIN  J.  WADE 

The  senior  meml)er  of  the  law  firm  of  Wade,  Dutcher  & 
Davis,  of  Iowa  City,  Iowa,  is  Hon.  Martin  J.  Wade,  former 
district  judge,  congressman,  Eniversity  pi'ofessor  and  lectui-- 
er,  Chautauqua  orator,  politician,  and  all-ai'ound  good  fellow. 
Judge  W^ade's  connection  with  this  ])Opular  firm  gave  it  great 
additional  strength,  dignity  and  public  favor.  His  natural 
ability,  education,  and  wide  legal  and  public  exi)erience  have 
proven  invaluable  factors  in  association  with  the  recognized 
attainments  of  ^Ir.  Dutcher  and  Mr.  Davis. 

Judge  Wade  is  a  native  of  Burlington,  Vermont,  where  he 
was  born  October  20,  1861.  His  parents  were  ^Michael  Wade 
and  Mary  Breen,  both  natives  of  Ireland,  who  came  to  ^Nfassa- 
chusetts  at  an  early  age.  The  cou])le  were  married  at  W^or- 
cester,  Massachusetts,  and  located  in  Burlington  soon  after- 
ward. 

Young  AVade  received  his  primary  education  in  the  public 
schools,  which  he  supplemented  by  a  classical  course  at  St. 
Joseph's  College,  Dubuque,  Iowa.  He  graduated  from  the 
Law  Department  of  the  State  University  of  Iowa  and  was 
given  the  degree  of  LL.  B.  in  1886.  He  began  practice  imme- 
diately after  matriculation  and  formed  a  law  partnership 
with  Hon.  C.  S.  Ranck  at  Iowa  City,  continuing  active  prac- 
tice until  1893,  when,  at  the  age  of  thirty-two,  he  was  appoint- 


426        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

ed  judge  of  the  eighth  judicial  district  of  Iowa.  He  remained 
on  the  bench  for  ten  years,  or  until  January  1,  1903.  In  1902 
he  was  elected  to  Congress,  in  which  body  he  served  until 
1905.  Thereafter  he  resumed  the  practice  of  law  in  connec- 
tion with  his  present  associates,  with  whom  he  had  formed  a 
law  partnership. 

Judge  Wade's  great  abilities  naturally  brought  him  kin- 
dred responsibilities  and  activities.  From  1890  to  1904  he 
was  lecturer  in  the  Law  Department  of  the  State  University 


RESIDENCE  OF  JUDGE  WADE 


of  Iowa,  and  from  1895  to  1907  professor  of  medical  jurispru- 
dence in  the  Medical  Department  of  the  same  University. 
The  growth  of  his  practice,  however,  compelled  him  to  forego 
his  engagements  at  his  alma  mater.  During  his  terms  upon 
the  bench  and  in  Congress  the  judge  was  in  constant  demand 
for  the  lecture  platform,  and  he  devoted  one  season  to  the 
circuit  of  the  Mutual  Lyceum  Bureau  of  Chicago.  At  another 
season,  under  the  direction  of  the  Redpath  Lyceum  Bureau,  he 
held  joint  debates  with  Congressman  Adam  Bede  at  Chautau- 
quas  in  Iowa,  ISFebraska,  and  Minnesota.  Needless  to  say,  as 
a  public  speaker,  he  was  an  ornament  both  from  a  literary  and 


BIOGRAPPIICAL  427 

oratorical  standpoint.     Few  men  excel  him  in  polemics,  in 
repartee,  and  the  elements  of  gifted  speech. 

Politically  Judge  Wade  is  a  democrat  of  the  highest  stand- 
ard. His  election  to  Congress  was  upon  that  ticket,  and  he 
is  at  present  an  active  member  of  the  National  Democratic 
Conunittee  from  Iowa.  His  fraternal  affiliation  is  with  the 
M.  W.  A.,  the  B.  P.  0.  E.,  and  the  Knights  of  Columbus.  In 
religion  he  is  a  Catholic.  He  is  a  member  of  both  the  Ameri- 
can and  the  Iowa  State  Bar  Associations,  and  has  served  as 
president  of  the  latter. 

On  April  4,  1887,  at  Iowa  City,  he  was  joined  in  wedlock 
to  Miss  Mary  McGovern,  daughter  of  Hugh  TvlcGovern,  for 
many  years  treasurer  of  Johnson  county.  Two  children  have 
hallowed  their  union :  Julia  Katheryn,  aged  14,  and  Eleanor, 
aged  8  years.  His  home  is  at  No.  115  North  Clinton  street, 
Iowa  City. 

Judge  Wade  is  in  the  prime  of  a  vigorous  manhood,  signally 
equip])ed  for  the  responsibilities  of  citizenship,  a  type  of  the 
well-rounded  American,  whose  presence  makes  for  the  preser- 
vation of  the  national  equilibrium,  civilly  and  politically.  He 
finds  his  greatest  satisfaction  in  the  activities  which  connect 
him  with  the  affairs  of  his  fellow  men,  in  the  service  of  whom 
he  levies  unsparingly  upon  his  remarkable  storehouse  of 
knowledge  and  his  abilities  of  speech  and  pen.  No  man  stands 
higher  in  the  estimation  of  his  neighbors,  and  for  none  does 
the  sky  of  the  future  give  brighter  omen. 


JOHN  W.  SCHELL 

John  W.  Scliell  is  a  prosperous  farmer  of  Scott  township 
and  the  father  of  eight  children,  all  of  whom  are  living.  Since 
1879  he  has  been  engaged  in  farming  in  Johnson  county,  and 
has  lived  upon  his  present  place  since  1896.  Owns  170  acres 
here.  He  has  held  the  office  of  township  clerk,  school  treas- 
urer, and  numerous  other  local  positions  in  his  community, 
and  is  a  man  highly  respected  and  trusted  by 'his  neighbors 
and  friends.  Mr.  Schell  was  born  in  Ohio  on  October  6,  1850. 
His  father  and  mother,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  William  P.  Schell,  were 
natives  of  Pennsylvania,  where  they  were  married.     She  died 


428        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 


in  Ohio  shortly  afterward.  They  settled  in  ()lii()  in  tiie  early 
forties,  where  they  resided  nntil  1856.  He  and  his  seeond 
wife  moved  to  Johnson  county,  Iowa,  where  they  spent  the 
remainder  of  their  lives.  Mr.  Seliell  had  six  sons  and  three 
daughters:  Joseph,  Mary,  Margaret,  AVilliam  1j.,  onr  sub- 
ject, were  of  the  first  marriage;  Heni-y  S.,  Aliraliam,  Charles, 
^Martha,  were  of  the  second  marriage,  their  mother  is  still 
living.  Mother  Schell  died  when  onr  subject  was  a  bal)y.  Tlte 
father  died  in  1867  and  was  buried  in  Oakland  cemetery. 

John  W.  Schell  was  educated  in  the  country  schools  near  his 
father's  farm.     Soon  after  reaching  his  majority  he  went  to 


RESIDENCE  OF  JOHN   W.   SCHELL 

Nebraska,  where  he  took  up  a  homestead  and  lived  five  years. 
In  1879  he  returned  to  Johnson  county  and  engaged  in  farm- 
ing. In  1896  he  bought  his  present  farm  home.  He  was  mar- 
ried December  6,  1876,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Townsend,  a  native 
of  Iowa.  The  marriage  was  performed  by  Hev.  Fellows.  His 
wife  died  in  1888,  leaving  five  children,  with  the  husband,  to 
mourn  her  loss.  The  childnm,  in  the  order  of  birth,  are: 
Alice,  born  December  6, 1877,  now  Mrs.  Wilton  AVest ;  William, 
born  September  18,  1890,  residing  in  the  state  of  Washington  ; 
Anna,  born  October  26,  1882,  at  home;  David,  l)orn  April  14, 
1886,  residing  with  his  brother  William  in  Washington;  Al- 
bert F.,  born  February  29,  1888,  living  in  California.  Mv. 
Schell  took  for  his  second  wife  Miss  Marv  E.  Stevenson  of 


BIOGRAPHICAL  4:29 

Iowa  City,  dangliter  of  John  A.  and  Henrietta  (Griffith)  Stev- 
enson. He  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  and  she  in  Ijondon, 
England,  were  farmers,  came  west  in  1856  to  Johnson  connty, 
where  l)otli  died  and  are  bnried  in  Oakland  cemetery.  He 
lived  to  be  over  90  years  of  age.  She  was  84.  They  were 
married  by  G.  H.  Hemingiv^ay  of  the  Presbyterian  cluucli. 
They  have  three  children:  Mary  H.,  born  October  8,  1891, 
Harold  W.,  ])orn  March  If),  1895,  and  Iio])ert  S.,  born  Decem- 
ber 27,  1896,  all  living  at  home. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Schell  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal church.  He  is  a  republican,  and  interested  in  all  matters 
atfecting  the  welfare  of  his  community  and  his  country.  He 
also  owns  320  acres  in  A.lberta,  Canada. 


JOSEPH  B.  DENISON  (Deceased) 

The  oldest  settler  at  North  Bend,  Penn  township,  Johnson 
county,  was  Joseph  B.  Denison,  who  arrived  in  what  is  now 
that  division,  in  1839,  being  one  of  the  few  to  live  there  when 
it  was  a  part  of  Wisconsin  territory.  Through  his  influence 
a  number  of  other  persons  left  Ohio  for  the  unsettled  wilds  of 
Iowa.  He  was  a  native  of  Muskingum  county,  Ohio,  born  De- 
cember 1,  1815,  and  died  at  his  home  in  Section  1,  Penn  town- 
ship, May  18,  1902,  after  only  a  short  illness.  His  loss  was 
keenly  felt  by  the  entire  community  and  was  a  shock  to  liis 
many  friends.  He  was  a  son  of  Gordon  and  Etherlinda 
(Slack)  Denison,  the  former  born  at  Stonington,  Massachu- 
setts, ]\Iay  3,  1781,  the  latter  a  brother  of  "William  Denison, 
who  lived  at  Zanesville,  Ohio,  and  had  a  family.  To  Gordon 
Denison  and  wife  were  born  children  as  follows:  Alonzo, 
Joseph  B.,  George  Slack;  ^laria  became  Mrs.  Hibbs,  died  in 
Ohio,  leaving  children;  Charles,  deceased.  Alonzo  C.  Deni- 
son moved  to  Kansas  and  died  near  Wichita,  leaving  one  son, 
who  has  also  ])assed  away,  as  the  result  of  disease  contracted 
in  the  army.  Alonzo  died  in  1900.  George  S,  Denison,  who 
had  a  claim  in  Clear  Creek  township,  was  born  in  1814  and 
died  October  31,  1883,  at  the  age  of  sixty-nine  years,  six 
months,  and  ten  days,  being  buried  in  North  Liberty  cemeter>'. 
The  other  children  of  Gordon  Denison  are  also  deceased,  and 


430        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

the  oulv  descendant  who  bears  the  name  of  Denison  is  the  son 
of  Joseph  B.,  who  is  thus  the  sole  living  representative  of  the 
venerable  pioneers  of  Ohio,  who  were  of  Revolutionary  stock. 

Gordon  Denison  made  several  trips  from  Ohio  to  Iowa  to 
visit  his  children,  bringing  them  wearing  apparel,  including 
shoes,  which  could  be  obtained  cheaper  and  of  better  quality  in 
the  former  state.  He  was  of  French  and  his  wife  of  Irish 
descent. 

Joseph  B.  Denison  was  one  of  the  band  of  pioneers  who 
walked  to  Dubuque  to  enter  a  claim  at  the  IT.  S.  land  office 
there.    In  early  days  he  had  to  go  to  Muscatine  to  dispose  of 


THE    OLD   DENISON    HOMESTEAD 


his  products  and  then  received  no  money,  but  was  obliged  to 
take  goods  in  exchange.  The  Indians  were  plentiful  along 
the  trail  when  he  first  came  to  Johnson  county,  but  he  soon 
grew  to  understand  their  langTiage  and  customs,  and  found 
them  friendly  enough.  He  used  breaking  teams  in  many 
places  in  his  part  of  Iowa  and  was  an  expert  in  his  use  of  oxen. 
It  is  often  remarked  by  different  persons  among  the  early 
settlers  that  "Joe  Denison  broke  this  piece  of  ground,"  and 
his  skill  in  this  line  of  work  made  him  a  popular  citizen.  He 
was  an  able  hand  in  the  grain  field  with  the  cradle  and  other 
primitive  tools. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  431 

Alonzo  C.  Denison,  mentioned  in  the  first  paragraph  of  this 
sketch,  removed  to  Kansas,  as  he  said,  "to  open  a  now  coun- 
try." He  was  a  valued  citizen  of  Johnson  county  and  an 
active  church  worker. 

Joseph  B.  Denison  began  farming  with  a  small  piece  of 
land,  which  he  earned  by  breaking  land  for  the  neighbors,  and 
continued  this  occupation  several  years,  using  sometimes  as 
many  as  thirteen  yoke  of  oxen.  At  the  time  of  his  death  he  had 
added  to  his  holdings  until  he  had  540  acres  of  choice  land. 
At  one  time  he  plowed  near  the  present  city  of  Chicago,  HHt 
nois.  Upon  locating  permanently  in  Iowa  and  securing  a 
farm,  he  brought  100  head  of  hogs,  cattle,  and  oxen  to  the  new 
country.  His  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Eliza])etli  Dig- 
gens,  was  a  daughter  of  Jesse  and  Catherine  (Fisher)  Diggens, 
She  came  to  Johnson  county  in  1852,  and  during  the  following- 
year  was  married  to  Joseph  Denison.  Those  of  their  chiklren 
who  now  survive  are :  Maria  and  David,  on  the  old  homestead  ; 
Julia  A.,  widow  of  Harlan  Sentman,  has  three  children;  Ma- 
tilda, widow  of  James  A.  Work,  of  North  Liberty,  has  one 
daughter.  The  parents  were  active  in  every  move  for  the  bet- 
terment of  conditions  in  their  community  and  were  highly 
respected  for  their  high  character  and  kindly  dispositions. 
Their  children  have  reason  to  be  proud  of  the  part  these  hardy 
pioneers  played  in  the  early  history  of  the  township  and 
county,  and  the  good  name  they  left  behind  them. 

David  Denison,  who  was  born,  reared,  and  educated  in  Penn 
township,  has  grown  up  with  the  development  of  the  neighbor- 
hood. He  is  one  of  the  most  popular  men  in  his  part  of  the 
county  and  his  many  friends  enjoy  his  hearty  manner  and 
kindly  ways.  He  is  a  man  of  strong  physique  and  good  health, 
and  enjoys  using  his  strength  in  moving  buildings,  at  which 
work  he  is  often  employed.  He  is  skilful  in  his  use  of  jack- 
screws  and  other  tools  used  in'this  connection,  and 'whenever 
anyone  in  his  portion  of  the  county  wishes  an  old  landmark 
removed  or  a  building  hauled  to  another  foundation,  he  is 
called  upon  to  perform  the  delicate  task.  He  has  keen  enjoy- 
ment in  using  his  skill  in  this  manner.  A  stone,  which  he 
removed  from  his  farm,  weighs  about  as  much  as  a  locomotive, 
and  now  stands  at  the  side  of  the  main  road  to  the  cemetery. 
This  cemetery  is  on  a  portion  of  the  old  home  farm,  and  from 


432        HIISTOKY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

the  pleasant  hill  contained  in  it  one  is  a))]e  to  got  a  i)aiioi'amic' 
view  of  the  surrounding  country  within  m  ]-adius  of  some  thirty 
miles,  Mr.  Denison  and  his  sister  occupy  one  of  the  best  farms 
in  the  county,  and  he  has  recently  erected  a  new  residence  and 
l)arn  on  a  portion  of  tlie  old  farm  at  Denison  Station  on  the 
Interurlian  line,  which  lie  rents.  He  is  unmarried.  Botli  par- 
ents are  l)uried  in  North  Bend  cemetery.  They  were  married 
at  the  home  of  James  Chamberlain,  April  10,  1853,  by  Rev. 
Jervis,  of  the  ^lethodist  church  of  Penn  township. 


REV.  C.  C.  TOAVNSEND,  ORGANIZER  OF  THE  FIRST 
EPISCOPAL  SOCIETY  IN  JOHNSON 
COUNTY,  IOWA 

BY  GENERAL  CHARLES  W.  IRISH,   GOLD  CREEK,    NEVADA 

Somewhere  in  the  early  fifties  I,  a  young  man  then,  met 
through  an  introduction  liy  my  father,  witli  a  clergyman  by  the 
name  of  C.  C.  Townsend.  He  was  just  out  from  New  York 
City  and  for  the  first  time  in,  or  on,  the  border  of  the  then  wild 
west.  His  journey  so  far  from  "the  center  of  civilization" 
was  an  errand  of  mercy.  He  was  an  upholder  of  the  Episco- 
])al  church  or  "The  Church  of  England,"  as  T  had  often  in  my 
youth  heard  it  spoken  of  derisively;  for  then  the  tierce  fires  of 
hatred  kindled  by  the  war  of  the  Revolution  and  the  swiftly 
following  AVar  of  1812  were  still  burning  as  ash-covered  em- 
bers upon  many  a  hearthstone,  and  were  fre(inently  fanned 
into  weak  and  flickering  flames  of  passion  against  Oreat  F>rit- 
ain  as  parents  related  stoi'ies  of  the  murders  and  woeful 
devastations  of  those  great  struggles  to  their  children  by  the 
winter  fire-sides. 

I  was  not  an  exception  to  the  rule  in  this  matter,  for  my 
forefathers  had  taken  a  hand  in  both  those  wars.  And  on  m>- 
father's  side  nearly  all  the  male  members  of  tlie  family,  born 
for  generations  on  the  New  England  coast  and  the  island  of 
Martha's  Mneyard,  had  been  sailors,  my  fatlier  among  the 
number.  Hence  the  long  winter  evenings  by  oni-  fire-sides 
<lrew  out  many  tales  of  the  nation's  struggle  for  independence 
and  many  stories  of  the  sea.  Thus  impressed  I  confess  now. 
looking  back  after  the  lapse  of  near  half  a  century,  to  a  veiy 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


433 


strong  dislike  in  my  youthful  days  for  anything  British ;  and 
this  in  a  shadowy  way  included  the  "Church  of  England." 

Imagine  my  surprise  when  the  Reverend  Townsend,  talk- 
ing with  me  soon  after  our  acquaintance  began,  proposed  that 
I  should  join  him  in  an  attempt  to  organize  a  society  of  that 
church  in  Iowa  City.  He  had  been  about  and  over  Johnson 
county  and  had  succeeded  in  finding  several  members  of  his 
church  —  not  above  three  or  four,  as  I  remember  —  and  now 
he  desired  my  help  and  that  of  some  other  young  folks  to 
make  the  organization  complete.  I  frankly  told  him  that  I 
could  not  grant  his  request  for  I  understood  that  he  desired 


me  to  become  a  member  of  the  congregation  about  to  be  or- 
ganized and,  further,  that  I  did  not  like  his  church  —  of  its 
creed  I  knew  nothing.  He  questioned  me  as  to  my  refusal  and 
dislikes  in  the  matter,  and  I  told  him  that  I  was  a  Quaker  after 
the  manner  of  my  fathers  and  that  I  disliked  everything  Eng- 
lish. He  commended  me  for  sticking  to  the  faith  of  my  fathers, 
pronouncing  that  faith  a  good  one  to  live  and  die  by,  and  then 
gave  me  a  history  of  the  Episcopal  church,  a  revelation  to  me. 
I  was  captivated  by  his  kindly  manner  and  the  bit  of  history 
of  the  church  given,  and  consented  to  assist  in  organizing  the 
first  congregation  of  the  Episcopal  church  at  Iowa  City. 


434        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

Mr.  Townsend  gave  me  a  book  of  prayer  and  instructed  me 
in  the  use  of  it.  He  started  me  out  on  a  proselyting  expedi- 
tion to  gather  in  some  of  my  boyhood  companions  to  help  swell 
the  embryo  congregation.  He  did  not  expect  at  first  very 
many  to  come  even  through  curiosity,  for  religious  jealousy 
ran  high  at  the  time  and  there  was  very  little  amity  or  comity 
between  the  various  religious  sects  then  organized  at  tlie  cap- 
ital of  Iowa. 

I  well  remember  our  first  meeting;  it  took  place  in  Dr.  Eey- 
nold's  school  room  in  the  second  story  of  the  old  Mechanics 
Academy.  I  can  now  recall  in  memory's  picture  only  that 
little  congregation,  five  or  six  in  number,  aside  from  the 
clergyman,  nevertheless  we  went  through  the  services  without 
a  hitch,  succeeding  even  in  the  singing. 

We  continued  to  meet  with  great  regularity  and  the  few 
regular  members,  all  of  whom  lived  at  various  distances  in  the 
country,  came  without  fail,  in  spite  of  the  severe  winter  weath- 
er which  soon  followed  upon  our  first  efforts,  and  the  congre 
gation  grew  slowly  in  numbers. 

Mr.  Townsend  was  a  tall,  slim  man,  his  face  x^leasing  and 
impressive ;  hair,  eyebrows,  and  beard  black ;  and  of  a  bilious 
temperament.  He  was  naturally  Idnd-hearted  and  his  manner 
was  of  the  most  friendly. 

I  have  said  that  this  trip  to  the  then  wild  west,  the  state  of 
Iowa,  was  on  an  errand  of  mercy.  He  had  observed  the  large 
number  of  children,  offspring  of  dissolute  parents  in  large 
proportion,  but  in  many  instances  waifs  from  once  well-to-do 
families  broken  up  by  business  failures  and  other  disappoint- 
ments, and  this  mass  of  infantile  humanity  turned  upon  the 
streets  of  the  great  maritime  cities  of  the  east  with  no  help, 
no  shelter,  nor  the  guidance  of  parents,  exposed  alike  to  the 
pitiless  storm  and  the  still  more  pitiless  world,  to  grow  up  in 
the  main,  felons,  prejdng  upon  the  heartless  society  which  had, 
in  its  heedlessness  of  the  pain  and  the  wrongs  heaped  upon 
these  defenceless  waifs,  brought  them  to,  and  forced  them  into 
the  great  schools  of  vice  to  be  found  on  every  hand  in  all  large 
cities. 

The  then  wild  west  of  Iowa  and  associated  states  was  al- 
most entirely  free  from  such  schools  of  vice  and,  moreover, 
being  par  excellence  a  farming  community,  it  offered  in  the 


BIOGHAPHICAL  435 

Reverend  Townsend's  opinion  the  very  best  school  for  the 
training  of  the  poor  little  friendless  street  arabs  of  New  York 
City,  not  only  leading  them  in  tlie  paths  of  virtue  and  good- 
ness, but  along  and  on  the  broad  way  of  industry  and  useful- 
nss  to  suitable  trades  and  callings,  through  the  learning  of 
which  they  might  become  independent  and  useful  members  of 
society.  Thus  his  mission  to  the  west  was  to  find  places 
among  its  farmers  and  tradesmen  for  cast  off  remnants  of 
eastern  civilization.  He  even  dreamed  of  the  founding  of  a 
home  and  school  for  them  and  hoped  against  hope,  and  most 
devoutly  jirayed  for  some  Good  Samaritan,  with  riches,  to 
arise  in  the  glorious  west,  who,  with  the  kindness  of  heart 
which  he  himself  yjossessed,  might  come  forward  with  an 
ample  endowment  for  such  an  institution.  He  sought  aid  in 
his  scheme  by  asking  even  small  donations,  and  ever  enthus- 
iastic, began  to  bring  as  many  of  the  destitute  children  west 
as  he  could  find  means  to  transport  and  maintain. 

For  many  of  these  he  found  good  homes,  where  kindly 
hands  and  hearts  undertook  their  guidance,  and  for  the  rest 
he  provided  the  best  and  cheapest  shelter  that  his  limited 
means  would  afford  until  fortune  should  open  more  friendly 
doors  for  the  little  members  of  his  charge.  I  am  glad  to  say 
that  so  far  as  my  knowledge  goes,  the  majority  of  the  poor, 
friendless  children,  placed  in  Iowa  homes  by  Mr.  Townsend, 
grew  up  to  be  good  and  useful  members  of  society,  some  even 
amassing  a  competence  with  which  they  entered  successfully 
into  business;  and  I  recall  instances  where,  with  the  means 
thus  attained,  parents  long  lost  were  hunted  up  and  taken 
from  public  refuges,  and  made  comfortable  and  hap])y  for  the 
remainder  of  their  lives.  On  the  other  hand  many  of  the 
waifs  were  found  to  be  unworthy  and  soon  liecame  criminals. 
It  was  noted  that  these  failures  were  among  those  who  had  at- 
tained several  years  of  intimacy  with  the  slum  life  of  the  great 
city  where  they  were  born,  being  in  all  cases  the  oldest  chil- 
dren brought  out  from  these  haunts  of  vice. 

As  from  the  beginning  of  human  society,  failures  have  at- 
tracted more  notice  than  have  successes,  so  it  was  with  the 
Reverend  Townsend's  efforts,  and  it  was  soon  noised  about 
that  he  was  importing  criminals  by  the  car-load  into  Iowa 
City  and  the  surrounding  country. 


436        HISTOKY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

These  rumors  grew  apace  and  soon  it  was  proposed  to  put 
a  stop  to  his  apparently  "criminal  behavior." 

To  this  end  a  criminal  prosecution  was  brought  against  him 
and  he  was  forced  to  appear  before  the  district  court  for  trial 
on  this  base  charge.  The  old  man,  full  of  years  and  good 
works,  came  under  bonds  for  trial  before  a  jury  on  a  penal 
charge  based  upon  his  work  of  mercy  and  goodness  which  I 
have  hastily  described.  The  trial  was  in  progress  in  the  court 
house  on  a  warm  smnmer  day,  and  Mr.  Townsend  was  sitting 
near  an  open  window  with  his  hand  on  the  sill,  when  without 
warning  the  heavy  sash  descended  upon  his  fingei's  and  so 
crushed  and  bruised  them  that  he  sickened  and  in  a  few  days 
thereafter  died  from  tetanus,  or  what  is  commonly  called 
lock-jaw. 

Thus  ended  a  life  devoted  to  charity  and  aiding  the  helpless 
in  the  most  unselfish  and  painstaking  manner.  He  sleeps,  I 
believe,  in  an  unmarked  grave;  but  let  the  good  which  he  did 
be  his  monument.  He  made  some  mistakes,  doubtless,  in  se- 
lecting the  little  ones  whom  he  sought  to  better  and  relieve, 
but  if  he  saved  even  one  of  them  to  a  life  of  usefulness  and 
virtue,  it  went  far  toward  compensating  for  all  such  errors. 


AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF  MRS.  CHARLES  W.  IRISH,  ONE 

OF  IOWA'S  PIONEERS 

I  am  now  in  my  seventy-fourth  year  and  as  I  wat(,'h  the 
automobiles  and  electric  cars  flash  past  my  window  and  read 
of  the  trips  made  in  actual  flying  machines,  I  can  but  wonder 
if  I  am  dreaming  or  am  lost  in  some  wonderful  Arabian  Nights 
tale,  so  different  does  this  world  of  1911  appear  from  that 
upon  which  my  eyes  first  gazed  in  1837. 

I  was  the  sixth  child  and  fifth  daughter  liorn  to  the  late 
Zachariah  Yarborough  and  his  wife,  Hanna  Stout.  My  birth- 
place was  near  Lexington,  North  Carolina.  My  parents  were 
natives  of  that  state  and  descendants  of  the  patriotic  pioneers 
that  helped  to  make  history  by  fighting  for  our  national  inde- 
pendence. My  paternal  great  grandfather  was  Benjamin 
Merrill,  captain  of  the  North  Carolina  Regiilators  who  bravely 
went  out  to  meet  Gov.  Tryon  and  his  force  of  British  soldiers 


^(GRAVED  S^  H£,-^py   T^ 


^    cA— ^'/(^, 


TUB  HEW  YORK 
PUBLIC  LIBRARY 


•  STOR.  LfNOX 


BIOGRAPHICAL  437 

who  were  laying  waste  the  plantations  and  homes  of  settlers 
along  the  Alamance.  My  father  was  a  man  of  that  boundless 
energy  and  ceaseless  activity  which  made  him  successful  in  his 
chosen  work,  that  of  planter  and  teacher.  His  life  was  brief, 
but  full  of  accomplishment  in  these  avocations.  After  his 
death,  my  mother  married  again  and  soon  thereafter  the  step- 
father disposed  of  our  plantations  and  moved  us — that  is 
mother  and  her  six  children  with  his  fiv^e  young  folks  —  to  the 
then  new  born  and  far  off  state  of  Iowa. 

On  the  18th  of  November,  1846,  we  arrived  at  our  destina- 
tion— a  cabin  home  three  miles  east  of  Iowa  City.  There 
were  fifteen  in  our  party  and  we  made  the  long  and  arduous 
trip  in  six  weeks.  We  had  only  two  teams  and  wagons ;  of 
course  the  prairie  schooners  were  crowded  and  as  the  children 
of  those  days  were  supposed  never  to  weary  we  were  coaxed 
and  cajoled  into  walking  much  of  the  way.  I  feel  sure  that  I 
did  my  full  share  of  treking,  and  can  yet  feel  the  blisters  and 
stone  bruises  on  my  heels,  when  I  recall  that  pioneer  journey. 
Bridges  were  scarce  in  those  days,  and  the  greatest  pleasure 
that  came  to  us  youngsters  on  the  trip,  was  that  derived  from 
crossing  shallow  streams  on  foot-logs  or  by  wading;  and  finest 
of  all  when  the  water  was  too  deep  for  our  childish  limbs — 
being  carried  over  on  the  shoulders  of  our  brother-in-law, 
James  Hill. 

When  I  first  saw  Iowa,  it  was  a  vast  expanse  of  brown  and 
blackened  prairie,  strewn  thickly  over  with  the  bones  of  many 
animals  that  had  been  victims  of  ])rairie-fires  that  had  recently 
consumed  them  while  burning  the  rank  grasses  of  the  prairie. 

The  deep  snows  of  that  winter  and  the  warm,  gentle  rains 
of  the  following  spring  obliterated  this  gruesome  scene  by 
scattering  beautiful  verdure  and  flowers  over  these  remains. 
The  beauties  of  spring  also  dispelled  my  homesick  longings 
for  my  old  plantation  home  in  "the  sunny  southland. 

Corn  and  hominy  were  the  chief  articles  of  diet  in  those 
first  years  of  our  pioneering  in  Iowa.  The  winter  of  '46  was 
so  cold  that  the  water  wheels  of  the  little  mill  on  the  Iowa  were 
frozen  up ;  therefore,  bread  was  a  luxury  to  the  settlers.  Corn 
sold  for  five  cents  a  bushel.  With  this  inexpensive  corn  meal, 
we  had  for  food  the  wild  game  and  fowls  that  were  so  abund- 
ant here  in  those  days.     Often  the  wild  fowls  were  so  hungry 


438        HISTOEY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  lOAVA 

that  large  flocks  of  tliem  came  to  the  barnyards  searching  for 
food,  and  the  farmers  set  traps  there  and  where  wild  turkeys 
roosted,  catching  them  in  plenty.  I  have  seen  a  dozen  turkeys 
secured  at  one  time  in  the  traps.  In  those  days  there  was  no 
need  for  anyone  to  go  hungry. 

In  my  eleventh  year  I  went  to  live  with  my  eldest  sister, 
Mrs.  James  Hill,  on  their  farm  about  five  miles  north  of  Iowa 
City.  While  living  here  I  attended  the  Rapid  Creek  school 
and  here  in  the  autumn  of  1854,  Mr.  Charles  W.  Irish,  of  Iowa 
City,  was  the  teacher,  and  I  was  one  of  his  pupils,  A  year 
later,  in  April,  we  decided  to  enter  the  great  school  of  life  to- 
gether, so  we  were  married  on  Easter  Sunday,  April  8,  1855. 
A  year  and  a  half  later  with  our  baby  daughter  we  left  Iowa 
City  for  our  new  home  at  Toledo,  Tama  county,  Iowa.  This 
location  was  then  on  the  edge  of  civilization  in  this  state.  So 
we  continued  as  pioneers,  and  a  ca'oin  home  on  the  edge  of  a 
clearing  was  deemed  a  luxury,  and  I  am  quite  sure  that  the 
hospitality  that  emanated  from  those  caliin  homes  carried 
more  genuine  friendships  than  the  hosi)itality  of  today,  that 
is  .served  out  in  such  dainty  precision  from  the  palatial  resi- 
dences which  have  in  so  many  instances  replaced  the  pioneer 
cabin. 

We  remained  in  Tama  county  about  nine  years ;  during  this 
time  Mr.  Irish  was  engaged  in  his  chosen  profession,  civil  en- 
gineering. He  also  taught  several  terms  of  school  in  the  coun- 
ty. The  latter  part  of  our  stay  here  was  marked  liy  the  hard- 
ships and  sorrows  of  our  great  Civil  War,  and  another  little 
girl  was  added  to  our  household.  As  ^h^.  Irish's  railway  work 
kept  him  much  from  home,  leaving  myself  and  little  daughters 
lonely  and  unprotected  in  our  country  home,  we  r(4urnf-d  to 
Iowa  City  in  1866,  so  that  we  could  be  near  relatives  and  also 
have  better  opportunities  for  the  education  of  our  daughters. 
From  1866  to  1876  Mr.  Irish  was  engaged  in  railwav  building 
in  Iowa  and  adjoining  states;  then  he  was  called  into  the 
Southwest,  helping  to  build  the  A.  T.  &  Santa  Fe  road  across 
Colorado,  New  Mexico,  and  xVrizona.  The  year  1879  found 
him  busy  in  the  great  northwest  extending  the  Chicago  & 
Northwestern  road  across  ]\rinnesota  and  Dakota.  AVhen  this 
railway  work  was  completed  in  1886,  Mr.  Irish  was  called  into 
the  state  of  Nevada  by  President  Cleveland,  who  ai:»]iointed 


BIOGRAPHICAL  439 

him  surveyor  general  of  that  state.  As  I  had  traveled  much 
with  him,  living  in  camp  on  the  Dakota  ])]ains  for  a  year  at  a 
time,  I  had  really  become  quite  a  frontiers-woman  and  now 
that  he  was  going  so  far  from  home  for  so  indefinite  a  period, 
our  Iowa  City  home  was  closed  and  I  went  with  him  to  his 
new  headquarters,  Reno,  Nevada.  Our  eldest  daughter,  Eliza- 
beth, now  proprietor  and  principal  of  Irish's  University  Bus- 
iness College,  was  at  this  time  living  in  California,  holding  a 
fine  position  in  the  IT.  S.  Mint  at  San  Francisco.  Our  other 
daughter,  Ruth,  now  Mrs.  C.  H.  Preston,  of  ])avenport,  was 
principal  of  the  third  ward  school  in  Iowa  City,  and  remained 
with  her  work. 

Seven  years  later,  Mr.  Irish  was  called  by  President  Cleve- 
land, again,  to  l)e  chief  of  the  Bureau  of  Irrigation,  with  head- 
(piarters  at  Washington,  D.  C.  This  change  necessitated  the 
giving  up  of  our  Nevada  home,  so  I  again  returned  to  Iowa 
City,  opened  u])  the  old  home,  and  there  the  hearth  fire  has 
been  kept  burning  ever  since. 

Mr.  Irish  and  I  had  become  by  this  time  good  travelers, 
birds  of  passage  as  it  were,  winging  our  flight  from  one  point 
to  another  across  the  United  States,  feeling  at  lionie  wherever 
our  camp  chanced  to  be  pitched,  be  it  in  the  wilderness  or  in 
the  center  of  civilization.  Now  that  his  work  called  him  to 
the  1)eautiful  capital  of  our  nation,  I  had  the  pleasure  of  re- 
tracing as  it  were  with  him  my  footsteps  to  the  sunny  South- 
land which  I  had  not  seen  since  my  childhood.  This  trip  was 
made  in  1895.  Together  we  visited  many  ])oints  of  interest 
in  and  about  the  capital  and  contrasted  its  l)eauty  and  life  with 
the  beauty  and  life  of  the  great  wilderness  of  the  west  which 
we  had  known  so  long  and  so  intimately.  Now"  after  an  a1)- 
sence  of  forty-nine  years  I  returned  to  the  old  Tar  state.  North 
Carolina,  and  visited  the  home  of  my  childhood,  Althougli  I 
still  fountl  some  of  the  neighbors  and  relatives  and  even  the 
<laugliter  of  the  old  Black  Mammy  that  had  given  us  young- 
sters such  careful  and  kindly  care,  still  great  changes  had 
come,  not  alone  to  the  "poor  colored  man"  but  to  the  entire 
South.  The  beautiful  country  so  cruelly  devastated  by  the 
Rebellion  was  even  then  beginning  to  feel  the  thrill  industrial- 
ly and  socially  that  was  the  forerunner  of  the  movement  that 
is  now  making  a  new  and  progressive  South.     I  w^as  happy  in 


440        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

the  contemplation  of  these  great  and  really  marvelous  chang- 
es, for  I  realized  that  the  life  of  the  New  South  would  rest  on 
a  more  just  and  sounder  foundation  than  had  the  old,  and  that 
Mr.  Irish's  labors  and  others  in  the  engineering  field  had  con- 
tributed largely  in  bringing  about  peacefully  the  new  and  pro- 
gressive age. 

When  I  had  left  the  South,  in  my  childhood,  travel  was 
mainly  by  team  over  rude  roads  or  by  water  if  one  chanced 
to  be  going  to  points  reached  by  the  navigable  rivers,  and  as  I 
before  stated,  I  practically  walked  most  of  the  way  to  Iowa; 
but  mv  return — how  different.  In  a  comfortable,  ves  luxur 
ious  palace  car,  I  was  speeded  along,  covering  in  thirty-six 
hours  the  distance  that  we,  as  emigrants,  forty-nine  years 
before,  had  wearily  accomplished  in  six  wrecks.  The  patient 
team  of  oxen  of  that  day  are  now  retired  and  steam  and  elec- 
tricity are  doing  their  work.  AVill  the  next  fifty  years  pro- 
duce as  great  changes  in  transportation  as  the  past  fifty  have 
I  often  ask  myself.  The  flying  machine  is  now  here — will  it 
be  practical?  What  a  boon  the  telephone  would  have  been  to 
the  isolated  frontiers-man  and  his  family  fifty  years  ago.  The 
rolling  prairies  of  Iowa  when  I  first  saw  them  were  pictur- 
esque with  the  wild  animals  and  Indians  roaming  at  will  across 
them,  and  we  had  great  fear  of  the  red-man,  especially  after 
the  massacre  of  Spirit  Lake  and  vicinity,  but  the  settlers  of 
that  day  were  not  perpetually  in  half  as  much  danger  at  the 
hands  of  Indians  and  wild  beasts,  as  the  citizens  of  today  are 
on  their  streets,  because  of  the  rapid  transit  of  electric  cars, 
automobiles,  and  the  like. 

Mr.  Irish  and  I  together  braved  many  dangers  on  the  Da- 
kota plains ;  experienced  severe  winters,  with  deep  snows  and 
famine — followed  by  floods  and  a  reign  of  terror  due  to  the 
attempt  of  desperadors  filled  with  bad  whisky  to  gain  control 
of  the  settlement  and  its  meager  supply  of  food  stuffs.  We 
knew  personally  many  of  the  foremost  Indian  chieftains  of  the 
Dakotas,  for  Mr.  Irish  had  to  meet  them  in  council  and  obtain 
the  right  of  way  across  their  territory  before  he  could  proceed 
with  the  building  of  the  railroad.  We  often  entertained  them 
in  camp.  When  Crow  Dog  was  seeking  the  life  of  Spotted 
Tail,  the  old  chieftain.  Spotted  Tail,  first  sought  protection 
in  Mr.  Irish's  camp.     In  Nevada  also  we  knew  intimately  the 


BIOGRAPHICAL  441 

leading  Indians  of  the  time,  Sarah  Winnenmcea,  the  noted  In- 
dian woman,  Scout  Pinte,  princess,  whose  father  had  guided 
Fremont  across  the  Sierras,  the  Pinte  chief  and  lawyer  Jolm- 
son  Sides,  also  Chief  Joseph,  of  Pyramid  lieservation,  and 
others. 

After  Mr.  Irish's  work  in  the  irrigation  bureau  was  com- 
pleted he  returned  to  the  state  of  Nevada  where  until  his  death 
in  Septeml)er,  1904,  he  was  busily  engaged  in  mining  engin- 
eering. I  am  now  past  my  three  score  years  and  ten,  but  have 
by  no  means  lost  my  interest  in  the  present  or  the  past,  and  as 
I  go  about  my  daily  duties,  for  I  still  love  to  keep  house,  I 
often  find  myself  in  reminiscent  mood,  and  in  company  with 
those  who  are  now  lost  to  sight  I  live  over  again  and  again  my 
pioneer  days. 


THOMAS  CROZIER 

About  the  time  the  United  States  of  America  were  crystal- 
lizing into  a  nation  under  the  federal  constitution,  a  young 
man  named  John  Crozier  was  united  in  matrimony  to  a  fair 
maiden  named  Jane  Lawson,  both  being  natives  of  the  county 
of  Arrnah  in  the  north  of  Ireland.  They  were  sturdy  Pro- 
testants by  conviction,  and  were  connected  with  the  Reformed 
Presbyterians,  commonly  known  as  *'the  Covenanters."  The 
family  were  originally  from  Scotland,  and  had  emigrated  to 
the  north  of  Ireland  in  search  of  land  and  liberty.  They  be- 
longed to  a  race  known  in  American  history  as  "Scotch-Irish" 
—  Scotch  in  origin  and  ancestrv  and  Irish  bv  choice  and  set- 

'--'  •■■■  ■ 

tlement ;  a  i)eople  honest  and  firm  in  purpose,  with  full  cour- 
age of  their  convictions,  haters  of  all  oppression,  and  the  un- 
shrinking friends  of  civil  and  religious  liberty.  Such  was  the 
stock  to  which  John  and  Jane  Crozier  belonged.  Soon  after 
their  marriage  the  young  couple  sailed  for  America.  The 
voyage  occupied  nearly  three  months.  They  landed  at  Phila- 
delphia and  soon  made  their  way  to  the  western  part  of  Penn- 
sylvania, settling  on  George's  Greek,  Payette  county,  about 
ten  miles  east  of  Uniontown,  the  county  seat.  By  combining 
his  trade  of  stone  masonry  with  the  work  of  farming,  John 
Crozier  earned  a  competence  for  his  rising  family  of  seven 
children,  all  of  whom  were  born  in  the  Pennsylvania  hills.    Of 


442        HISTORY  OP  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

these  children,  David,  father  of  Thomas  Crozier,  the  sul)ject 
of  this  sketch,  was  the  third  son  and  the  fifth  child  in  the  order 
of  birth.  Equipped  with  a  common  school  education  such  as 
those  primitive  times  afforded,  David  Crozier,  at  the  age  of 
sixteen,  left  the  parental  roof  and  learned  the  carpenter's 
trade  with  a  craftsman  named  Stephen  Campbell.  In  1819  he 
nourneyed  down  the  Ohio  river  with  his  l)rothers  James  and 
Thomas,  who  brought  a  boatload  of  produce  to  Cincinnati. 
David  refused  to  return,  and  went  out  to  West  Union,  county 
seat  of  Adams  county,  to  visit  some  distant  relatives,  and  there 
worked  at  his  trade.  While  there  he  was  engaged  by  Colonel 
John  ]\reans,  late  of  South  Carolina,  to  build  him  a  house  near 


RESIDENCE   OF   THOMAS   CROZIER 


Manchester.  Colonel  Means,  with  his  sons,  afterwards  de- 
veloped the  iron  interests  of  Brush  Creek,  Hanging  Rock,  and 
Ironton.  He  was  the  grandfatber  of  Hon.  William  Means, 
afterwards  mayor  of  Cincinnati.  In  the  fall  of  1821  David 
Crozier  was  united  in  marriage  to  Margaret,  eldest  daughter 
of  William  Means,  son  of  a  former  soldier  of  the  Revolution, 
and  an  elder  brother  of  Colonel  John  Means.  In  the  autumn 
of  1822  the  elder  Means,  with  all  his  family,  set  out  from  Man- 
chester to  remove  to  Illinois.  The  horses,  with  wagons  and 
flocks,  were  driven  through  by  land  while  the  heavier  freight 
and  moveables  were  placed  on  a  keel  boat  which  j\Ir.  Means 
bought  and  placed  under  the  command  of  David  Crozier.    The 


BI(  )GRAPHIC  AL  443 

human  cargo  of  this  boat  consisted  of  Mr.  Crozier,  wife,  and 
infant  son,  Adriel  Stont,  wife,  and  infant  daughter  (Mrs. 
Stout  being  a  sister  of  Mrs.  Crozier),  Eleven  Tucker  and  fam- 
ily, and  a  few  dockhands.  The  voyagers  sailed  from  Man- 
chester on  the  10th  of  October,  182l\  and  drifted  down  the 
Ohio  river,  past  Cincinnati,  past  the  falls  of  the  Ohio,  to  the 
mouth  of  the  Wabash ;  thence  up  the  Waliash,  over  the  grand 
rapids,  to  Terre  Haute,  Indiana.  By  this  time  the  winter  had 
set  in  and  put  an  end  to  navigation.  Messrs.  Crozier  and 
Stout  then  removed  to  '\^ermillion  county,  Indiana,  where  they 
joined  their  overland  party  and  moved  on  into  Edgar  county, 
Illinois.  Their  first  house  was  built  in  the  latter  part  of  the 
winter  about  one  mile  north  of  where  Paris  now  stands.  Early 
the  following  spring  three  commissioners.  Colonel  John  Hus- 
ton, and  Messrs.  Boyd  and  Kincaid,  appointed  by  the  Illinois 
legislature,  located  the  county  seat  of  Edgar  county  and  called 
it  Paris.  At  this  time  David  Crozier 's  carpenter  trade  was 
immediately  in  demand.  He  laid  the  foundation  for  the  first 
house  in  Paris  for  Nathaniel  Wayne,  and  therein  the  "Inn, 
by  N.  Wayne,"  was  kept  for  the  next  ten  years.  Mr.  Crozier 
also  built  the  county  jail  and  assisted  in  building  the  first  court 
house  and  the  first  grist  mill  in  the  county,  the  latter  being 
located  about  six  miles  northeast  of  Paris.  He  thus  continued 
to  advance  the  growing  interests  of  the  new  county  until  1S82, 
when  the  Black  Hawk  War  broke  out.  He  immediately  volun- 
teered, and  was  elected  first  sergeant  in  the  company  of  Cap- 
tain Jonathan  Mayo.  Though  this  war  was  a  mere  "squirrel 
hunt"  coni])ared  with  later  events.  Sergeant  Crozier  served 
with  ai'dor  until  its  close  and  demonstrated  that  he  had  the 
stuff  in  him  for  a  soldier.  Returning  to  the  bosom  of  his  fam- 
ily and  to  the  arts  of  peace,  Mr.  Crozier  continued  to  be  an 
active  factor  in  Paris  until  1835,  when,  in  company  with 
Thomas  Brock  and  Eleven  Tucker  and  their  families,  he  set 
out  for  the  new  and  growing  city  of  Chicago,  then  having  a 
population  of  about  4,000,  where  he  resided  for  a  time.  Later 
he  removed  to  Joliet,  living  there  five  years  and  working  at  his 
trade.  Just  about  that  time  the  country  suffered  from  a  great 
]ianic,  superinduced  by  wildcat  currency  and  speculation,  and 
to  add  to  his  personal  troubles  Mr.  Crozier  lost  three  of  his 
children  l)v  scarlet  fever.    As  a  result  of  it  all,  he  decided  to 


444        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  lOAVA 

make  an  exploring  trip  to  Iowa,  and  did  so  in  the  fall  of  1839. 
His  examination  of  the  country  in  the  vicinity  of  Wyoming, 
Iowa,  and  Edgington,  Illinois,  convinced  him  that  the  new 
region  was  worthy  of  a  fair  test,  and  the  following  year  he 
removed  with  his  family  from  Joliet  and  located  at  Edgington, 
Illinois,  determining  to  use  that  place  as  a  base  of  supplies 
from  which  to  investigate  the  Iowa  country  later  on.     After 
putting  in  crops  of  corn,  oats,  and  potatoes,  Mr.  Crozier,  with 
his  son  John,  a  lad  of  eighteen,  set  out  to  look  over  the  prairies 
of  Iowa.    They  landed  at  Wyoming  and  proceeded  inland,  iin- 
ally  reaching  Iowa  City.    Hearing  of  a  claim  west  of  the  Iowa 
river,  'Mr.  Crozier  made  an  examination  thereof,  and,  after 
submitting  the  matter  to  his  family  at  Edgingion,  proceeded  to 
purchase  from  Thomas  B.  Anthony  a  half  section  of  land  in 
the  bend  of  the  Iowa  river,  about  nine  miles  northwest  of  Iowa 
City,  the  consideration  for  Anthony's  relinquishment  being  a 
spotted  horse  named  'Moe,"  which  Mr.  Crozier  brought  with 
him  from  Edgington.     The  following  September  Mr.  Crozier 
and  his  family  moved  on  to  the  new  homestead  in  what  has  be- 
come known  as  "the  South  Bend."     The  Crozier  family,  as 
they  settled  in  the  fall  of  1840,  consisted  of  the  parents  and 
seven  children,  John,  Nancy,  Jane,  AVilliam  ]\reans,  James, 
Amanda,  and  Thomas,  the  latter  an  infant  of  six  months.    In 
1841  Mr.  Crozier  sold  the  Anthony  claim  to  Rev.  Launcelot 
G.  Bell,  of  Burlington,  the  pioneer  Presbyterian  minister  of 
the  territory,  and,  taking  up  a  half  section  of  prairie,  opened 
the  farm  where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  days,  dying  in 
his  seventy- seventh  year,  March  19,  1876.    His  wife  died  Oc- 
tober 12, 1869,  aged  seventy  years.    On  this  old  farm  last  men- 
tioned our  subject,  the  youngest  member  of  the  family,  was 
born  December  19,  1842. 

Thomas  Crozier  is  the  only  male  survivor  of  his  father's 
family.  There  is  one  other  survivor,  his  sister,  Amanda  Ress 
Rackett,  a  widow,  who  has  a  daughter  and  two  sons  residing 
at  Chicago.  Mr.  Crozier  was  educated  in  the  rural  schools  of 
his  township.  On  July  12,  1861,  at  the  age  of  nineteen,  he  fol- 
lowed the  example  of  his  father  in  the  Black  Hawk  War,  and 
enlisted  in  the  Sixth  Iowa  Volunteer  Infantry,  for  service  in 
the  Civil  War.  On  account  of  physical  disability  he  was  dis- 
charged, but  later,  when  recovered,  he  worked  in  the  subsist- 


BIOGRAPHICAL  445 

eiice  department  in  the  winter  of  1863-64.  He  re-enlisted  in 
Company  G,  Forty-seventh  Iowa  Infantry,  and  was  mustered 
out  at  the  close  of  the  war.  On  his  return  from  tlie  w^ar,  Mr. 
Crozier  spent  three  years  in  the  west  as  a  contractor  on  the 
Union  Pacific  Railroad.  During  liis  mother's  illness  in  3  869 
he  returned  to  the  home  farm,  which  he  farmed  and  subse- 
quently bought  from  the  heirs.  He  continued  in  active  work 
on  this  place  until  1910. 

Mr.  Crozier  was  married  in  the  fall  of  1868  to  Elizabeth 
Orris,  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Susan  Orris.  ]\[iss  Orris  was 
born  in  Mifflin  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  came  to  Johnson 
county  with  her  parents  when  a  child  in  1849.  Both  her  fjar- 
ents  died  in  Penn  township.  The  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Crozier  are:  Maggie,  widow  of  George  Hoover,  Iowa  City; 
Charley,  farmer  of  Penn  township;  Annie,  wife  of  Albert 
Northrup,  Iowa  City;  Ethel,  wife  of  Andy  Raup,  Madison 
township;  Edith,  wife  of  George  Green,  ^Madison  township; 
Ora,  wife  of  P.  E.  Ritz,  Waterloo ;  Geneva,  wife  of  Ray  Lenin- 
ger,  Madison  township. 

Mr.  Crozier  has  been  township  trustee  and  was  a  member 
of  the  board  of  school  directors  for  nine  years.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Masonic  fraternity  of  North  Liberty  and  of  the 
G.  A.  R. 


ISAAC  MEYERS 


One  of  the  prominent  retired  farmers  of  Johnson  county  is 
Isaac  Meyers,  who  in  1903  gave  up  the  active  work  of  the  farm 
and  in  1904  established  his  home  in  the  beautiful  town  of 
North  Liberty,  where  his  declining  years  are  being  spent  in 
the  enjoyment  of  the  friendships  which  he  has  formed  during 
his  half  century  of  residence  in  Penn  township.  Mr.  Meyers 
was  born  in  York  county,  Pennsylvania,  Se])tember  26,  1841, 
and  is  the  second  of  the  family  of  five  children  of  John  and 
Susanna  (Bair)  Meyers,  both  natives  of  the  Quaker  state. 
John  Meyers  'was  born  in  Lancaster  county,  Pennsylvania,  in 
1810,  and  died  at  Muscatine,  Iowa,  in  1849,  of  cholera,  while 
en  route  to  Johnson  county  with  his  wife  and  family.  Susanna 
Bair,  daughter  of  George  and  Catherine  Bair,  was  boru  in 
Pennsylvania,  June  17, 1818,  and  died  at  Baltimore,  Maryland, 


U6        HISTOKY  OF  JOHXSUX  COUNTY,  IOWA 


July  10,  1893,  being  buried  at  AYestminster.  Five  children 
were  born  to  this  couple  :  Elizabeth,  Isaac,  our  subject ;  Sam- 
uel ;  Louisa,  wife  of  Frank  March ;  and  David.  Immediately 
after  the  sudden  death  of  John  Meyers  at  Muscatine,  the 
widow  went  to  Penn  township,  and  there  remained  until  Se])- 
tember,  1849,  when  she  returned  with  her  children  to  the  old 
home  in  Pennsvlvania.  Later  she  removed  to  Marvland, 
where  she  was  married  to  John,]\Ialehoru,  dying  in  Baltimore, 
as  stated  above.  Abraham  Meyers,  the  paternal  grandfather 
of  our  subject,  came  to  Johnson  county  in  the  fall  of  1848  and 
bought  four  farms  in  Penn  township  —  one  for  himself  and 
one  for  each  of  his  children  —  paying  therefor  the  sum  of 


RESroEXCE    OF    ISAAC    MEYEBS 

$2,400.00.  He  resided  in  that  township  until  his  death  in  186:]. 
His  wife  survived  until  1873,  dying  at  the  age  of  eighty-two. 
Her  maiden  name  was  Elizabeth  Erb,  The  children  of  Abra- 
ham and  Elizabeth  Meyers  were:  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Aldinger; 
John,  father  of  our  subject;  xYnna,  wife  of  ^lathias  Albright. 
Isaac  Meyers,  our  subject,  returned  to  Penn  township  at  the 
age  of  eighteen  in  1859.  His  early  life  was  filled  with  mis- 
fortunes. When  a  boy  his  arm  was  broken  twice  within  two 
weeks ;  before  his  marriage,  his  team  ran  away  with  him  near 
Iowa  City,  crushing  his  ankle  and  injuring  one  of  the  horses 
so  that  it  had  to  be  killed ;  the  same  year  his  residence  and 
contents  were  burned,  being  a  total  loss ;  in  1875  he  was  burned 
out  again,  as  was  a  saw  mill  owned  by  his  brother-in-law,  and 


BIOGRxlPHICAL  447 

the  same  year  his  brother  Saiiiiiel  was  drawn  into  a  cireidar  saw 
at  a  mill  on  his  farm,  recovering  from  his  injuries.  However, 
our  subject  has  survived  misfortune,  and  now  lives  in  Iowa 
City  in  comfort  and  peace,  respected  and  honored  by  his  fam- 
ily and  friends. 

August  19,  1861,  our  subject  enlisted  in  Company  H,  Sec- 
ond Iowa  Cavalry,  under  Major  PI.  W.  Ijove  of  Iowa  City, 
taking  part  in  numerous  battles  as  follows :  Siege  of  Corinth, 
Farmington,  Booneville,  Rienze,  Iiika,  (Jorinth,  C-offeville, 
Palo  Alto,  Birmingham,  Jackson,  Grenada,  Collierville,  Mos- 
cow, Pontotoo,  Tupelo,  Old  Town,  Oxford,  and  engagements 
against  Hood's  march  on  Nashville,  battle  of  Nashville,  and 
close  skirmishes  of  the  Civil  War,  remaining  in  active  service 
until  September  22,  1865,  when  he  was  mustered  out  at  Selma, 
Alabama.  During  a  fierce  engagement  at  Franklin,  Ten- 
nessee, he  was  shot  by  a  minie  ball  through  the  left  thigh  and 
was  confined  to  the  hospital  for  about  four  and  a  half  months. 
The  war  ended,  our  subject  returned  to  Johnson  county  with 
impaired  health,  and  for  nearly  one  year  was  unable  to  en- 
gage in  any  labor. 

Mr.  Meyers  was  married  in  Penn  township,  February  20, 
1868,  to  Miss  Sarah  E.  Moreland,  by  Rev.  Joseph  Buzzard. 
She  was  the  daughter  of  John  L.  and  ]Mary  (Hetrick)  More- 
land,  natives  of  Pennsylvania.  The  ]\Iorelands  came  from 
Pennsylvania  to  Penn  townslii])  in  1844,  where  they  resided 
until  their  death.  Mrs.  Meyers  is  the  youngest  of  six  children, 
and  was  born  in  Penn  township,  on  the  old  homestead,  Janu- 
ary 13,  1847.  Immediately  following  their  marriage,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Meyers  settled  upon  the  old  Meyers  farm,  and  in  1882 
moved  onto  the  old  Moreland  farm.  The  names  of  tlieir  chil- 
dren are:  Mary  Ellen,  wife  of  J.  B.  Hemphill;  Anna  Eliza- 
beth, wife  of  Samuel  A.  Myers,  of  North  Liberty;  Iowa  Elmira, 
wife  of  L.  L.  Lentz;  John  G.,  of  Texas,  married  to  Blanche 
Young,  daughter  of  Dr.  Miller  Young:  Isaac  B.  (see  sketch), 
married  to  Ivy  Anderson;  Lewis,  married  to  Faye  Anderson, 
sister  of  Ivy,  both  daughters  of  George  A.  Anderson,  of 
North  Liberty ;  Sarah  Edna,  wife  of  Frank  Zellar,  of  Winter- 
set,  Iowa. 

Our  subject  is  a  pronounced  republican  (standpatter),  and 
has  taken  an  active  interest  in  local  and  general  politics,  hav- 


448        HISTOEY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

ing  occupied  the  offices  of  trustee,  clerk,  aud  assessor  in  his 
township.  He  is  a  member  of  the  G.  A.  R.,  and  has  never 
missed  a  reunion  of  his  old  company;  in  this  respect  he  stands 
alone.  He  is  an  honored  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity  — 
White  Marble  lodge,  No.  238,  of  North  Liberty,  and  Iowa  City 
chapter  No.  2,  Iowa  City.  The  famih'  are  associated  with  the 
Evangelical  church,  in  which  Mrs.  Meyers  has  been  a  most  ac- 
tive and  valuable  worker. 

If  any  early  facts  are  wanted  by  the  settlers  they  always  call 
on  Isaac  Meyers  and  his  cousin,  Abraham  Albright,  two  pio- 
neers with  retentive  memories.  ]Mr.  Meyers  keeps  a  record  of 
events  as  they  transpire,  and  this  is  an  encyclopedia  for  his- 
torical data. 


ALEXANDER  LEMON  ^MORELAND 

The  Morelands  were  prominent  among  the  early  pioneers 
of  eastern  Iowa  and  have  been  representative  of  the  best  in- 
terests of  the  region.  The  farm  in  Penn  township,  Johnson 
countv,  now  owned  bv  Alexander  L.  ^NForeland,  is  one  of  the 

•,7  •'  ' 

finest  in  the  neighborhood,  being  well  drained  and  containing 
substantial  luiildings.  Mr.  Moreland,  who  is  a  veteran  of  the 
Civil  War,  has  lived  retired  from  active  life  for  several  years, 
but  continues  to  reside  on  his  farm,  and  takes  an  active  interest 
in  the  affairs  and  issues  in  his  locality.  He  is  one  of  the  most 
substantial  and  best-known  citizens  of  his  county,  and  has  been 
identified  with  various  enterprises  besides  his  farming  opera- 
tions. He  is  president  of  the  North  Liberty  Savings  Bank, 
with  which  he  has  been  connected  for  some  years.  Mr,  More- 
land  is  a  native  of  Perry  county,  Pennsylvania,  born  February 
20,  1842,  son  of  John  L.  and  Mary  (Hetrick)  Moreland,  and 
grandson  of  Captain  David  Moreland,  the  latter  a  soldier  in 
the  War  of  1812  and  a  native  of  Ireland. 

John  L.  Moreland  was  born  March  3,  1807,  and  died  July  3, 
1878.  His  wife  survived  him  many  years,  passing  away  Janu- 
ary 1,  1900.  They  left  Pennsylvania  in  1843,  with  their  five 
children,  going  west  in  search  of  a  desiralile  location  for  a 
home.  They  made  the  trip  in  a  prairie  schooner,  with  four 
horses,  and  camped  out  on  the  way,  finally  locating  in  Illinois. 
There  were  no  bridges  and  it  was  witli  difficulty  they  crossed 


^./^U^ct^yz^^^^   7^     /^Cr7r£^^^2^^ 


(MRS.   AL?:XANDER    M.) 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


449 


many  of  the  streams  on  the  way.  After  remaining  in  Illinois 
two  years,  in  181-5  they  came  on  to  Johnson  county,  Iowa,  and 
there  made  a  permanent  home.  The  father  had  been  reared 
on  a  farm  and  in  youth  had  learned  the  trade  of  fuller,  which 
he  followed  for  a  time.  On  March  28,  183.'),  lie  married  ]\lary 
Hetrick,  who  bore  him  six  children,  three  of  whom  now  sur- 
vive. The  eldest  child,  David  Semern,  was  killed  at  the  battle 
of  Shiloh.  The  survivors  are:  Alexander  J^.;  William  S.,  of 
Audubon  county,  Iowa;  Sarah  E.,  wife  of  Isaac  Myers.  The 
family  located  on  Section  12,  Penn  townshi]),  where  they  im- 
proved land  and  developed  a  fine  farm,  of  which  the  two  sur- 
viving   sons    eventually   took    charge.      The    father   was    an 


RESIDENCE   OF   ALEXANDER    L.    MORELAXD 


industrious  and  energetic  farmer  and  became  influential  in  the 
life  of  the  community.  In  early  days  money  was  very  scarce, 
as  trade  was  carried  on  by  the  method  of  exchange.  At  one 
time  the  father  took  a  load  of  potatoes  to  Iowa  City  and  traded 
them  for  a  pair  of  boots,  which  instance  illustrates  the  com- 
parative value  of  the  commodities  in  those  days. 

Alexander  L,  Moreland  was  reared  on  the  home  farm  in 
Penn  townshij)  and  educated  in  the  scliool  near  his  boyhood 
home.  Later  he  engaged  in  farming  on  his  owti  account,  in 
which  he  has  been  most  successful.  In  186S  he  married  Miss 
Mary  Zeller,  a  native  of  Franklin  county,  Pennsylvania, 
daughter  of  Nicholas  and  Catherine  Zeller,  early  settlers  of 


450        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

Johnson  county.  She  was  a  popular  school  teacher  before  her 
marriage  and  her  family  was  prominently  identified  with 
various  interests  in  pioneer  times.  Her  father  secured  land 
and  developed  a  fine  farm,  which  is  the  property  of  Mr.  More- 
land,  so  that  Mrs.  Moreland  now  resides  on  the  place  where 
her  girlhood  was  spent.  Mr.  Moreland  purchased  the  More- 
land  home  in  1876.  In  1876  he  had  purchased  the  David  S. 
Miller  place,  which  he  improved  in  various  ways,  remodeling 
the  house  and  building  a  new  barn,  etc.  He  purchased  187 
acres  of  the  present  home,  the  Zeller  and  Moreland  farms 
later.  He  also  owns  217  acres  of  fine  pasture  land  near  his 
home.  He  has  a  good  tenant  on  his  farm  on  Section  12,  who 
rents  the  land  by  the  year.  The  land  has  been  brought  to  a 
high  state  of  cultivation  and  produces  80  bushels  of  corn  and  50 
bushels  of  oats  to  the  acre. 

Mr.  Moreland  enlisted  in  Company  E,  Twenty-eighth  Regi- 
ment Iowa  Volunteer  Infantry,  which  was  mustered  in  October 
10,  1862,  and  mustered  out  at  Savannah,  Georgia,  July  31, 
1865.  This  company  was  organized  at  Iowa  City  and  was  com- 
posed of  Johnson  county  men.  They  were  under  the  command 
of  Colonel  "William  E.  Miller,  Major  C.  B.  Lynch,  and  Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel John  Connell,  of  Toledo,  and  the  captain  of 
their  company  was  Captain  David  Stewart.  They  participated 
in  the  battles  of  Fort  Gibson,  Clmmpion  Hills,  Jackson,  and 
siege  of  Vicksburg;  took  part  in  General  Banks's  Red  River 
Expedition ;  and  were  engaged  at  Sabine  Cross  Roads,  in  Shen- 
andoah Valley,  Winchester,  Fisher's  Hill,  and  Cedar  Creek. 
Mr.  Moreland  was  wounded  at  Winchester,  Virginia,  Septem- 
ber 19,  1864,  when  he  sustained  an  injury  to  his  leg.  His 
cousin,  Amos  Yloreland,  was  captured  at  Sabine  Cross  Roads, 
April  8, 1864,  sent  to  Tyler,  Texas,  and  held  until  the  close  of 
the  war.  He  was  also  engaged  in  many  skirmishes.  At  the 
close  of  his  service,  during  which  he  had  won  a  most  honorable 
record,  Alexander  L.  Moreland  returned  home  and  took  up 
private  life,  turning  his  attention  again  to  farming.  He  is  an 
active  member  of  G.  A.  R.  Post  No.  8  at  Iowa  City. 

Children  as  follows  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Moreland: 
Mary  C,  wife  of  Charles  Colony,  Jr.;  Clara  died  young;  Cora 
E.,  wife  of  W.  W.  Y'oung;  Florence  A.,  wife  of  Orville  Wolf 
(see  Wolf  and  Y^'oung  sketches).     Mr.  Moreland  retired  from 


1911 


THANKSGIVING   REUNION    OF   A.    L.    AND    MRS,    MORELAND,    CHILDREN 

AND  GRANDCHILDREN 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


451 


active  work  in  1903  and  has  since  had  leisnre  to  enjoy  the 
fruits  of  his  toil  and  take  a  more  active  part  in  other  affairs. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Old  Settlers'  Association  and  actively 
interested  in  its  activities.  He  and  his  wife  have  reared  a  fine 
family  to  be  a  credit  to  them  and  to  the  commnnity.  They 
have  fourteen  grandchildren. 

The  reunion  of  this  family  annually  on  Thanksgiving  Day, 
will  always  live  in  the  memory  of  their  children  and  grand- 
children. 


IRVY  ERR  A^T:LLIAMS 

Irvy  Err  Williams  removed  from  Carroll  county,  Maryland, 
to  North  Liberty,  Iowa,  in  1899.  At  that  time  he  was  thirty- 
one  years  of  age  and  unmarried.  Previous  to  his  location  in 
Iowa  Mr,  Williams  had  been  engaged  in  farming  in  Maryland, 
his  entire  efforts  up  to  the  age  of  twenty-four  being  expended 


EESIDENCE    OF   I.    E.    WILLIAMS 


on  the  home  farm  of  his  father  in  Carroll  county.  When 
twenty-four  years  of  age,  in  1892,  he  began  business  for  him- 
self as  a  farm  hand,  and  continued  in  that  line  until  1899,  the 
date  of  his  removal  to  Iowa.  Mr.  Williams'  parents  were 
farmer  folks,  and  were  for  a  considerable  period  of  their  lives 


452        HISTOEY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

residents  of  Pennsylvania.  It  was  in  Adams  county,  in  the 
.Quaker  state,  that  our  subject  was  born,  January  26,  1868.  In 
1875  he  removed  with  his  parents  to  Maryland.  Henry  Tritt 
Williams,  his  father,  died  in  Maryland  in  June,  191],  at  the 
advanced  age  of  eighty-four.  The  mother,  Amanda  Jane  Hum- 
mer, died  in  August,  1910,  at  the  age  of  sixty-eight.  Our  sub- 
ject is  the  third  child  in  a  family  of  nine,  all  of  whom  reached 
maturity  and  all  of  whom  were  married  with  one  exception. 
Mr.  Williams  was  seven  years  of  age  when  he  removed  to 
Maryland  with  his  parents,  and  his  education  was  received  in 
the  public  schools  of  that  state. 

In  1900  Mr.  Williams  began  working  in  the  Linebaugh 
Lumber  yard  at  Iowa  City,  where  he  continued  for  five  years, 
thereafter  removing  to  North  Ijiberty  and  continuing  work  in 
the  same  yards  at  that  point.  In  1910  he  purchased  the  North 
Liberty  yards  of  Mr.  Linebaugh  and  changed  the  name  of  the 
enterprise  to  North  Liberty  Lumber  Company.  The  business 
has  developed  into  an  important  enterprise,  including  coal, 
cement,  building  supplies,  and  wire  fencing. 

Mr.  Williams  was  married  in  1907,  at  Iowa  City,  to  Miss 
Rebecca  Paulus,  daughter  of  John  and  Henrietta  (Detwiler) 
Paulus.  They  have  one  child,  Florence  Mildred,  born  April 
28, 1909.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Williams  are  members  of  the  liutheran 
church. 


SAMUELRANSHAW 


Among  the  many  beautiful  homes  for  which  North  Liberty, 
Iowa,  is  noted,  probably  the  most  modern,  up-to-date,  and  com- 
plete in  every  respect  is  that  of  Samuel  Ranshaw,  the  subject 
of  this  isketch.  The  fine  copper-plate  view  of  this  residence, 
accompanying  this  sketch,  will  give  the  reader  a  good  idea  of 
the  exterior  appearance  of  this  cozy  home.  Samuel  Ranshaw 
paid  for  the  ten  acres  upon  which  this  residence  stands  the 
flat  sum  of  $300.00  per  acre,  and  the  property,  with  the  cost  of 
house  and  improvements  added,  represents  a  cash  investment 
of  $12,000.00.  The  house  is  completely  plumlied  for  hot  and 
cold  water,  both  hard  and  soft,  pumped  by  gasoline  engine, 
and  is  also  provided  throughout  with  gasoline  gas  system  for 
lighting.     The  interior  finish  is  of  the  latest  pattern  and  in 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


453 


keeping  with  the  splendid  exterior.  Surely,  its  owner  and  his 
family  are  to  be  congratulated  upon  the  possession  of  such  a 
home  as  this.  That  it  is  the  outcome  of  careful  industry  and 
management  through  years  of  toil  goes  without  saying,  for  he 
it  known  that  such  homes  do  not  grow  on  sluggard  hushes  nor 
spring,  unhidden  like  mushrooms,  from  the  soil  of  inactivity. 
Samuel  Kanshaw  is  a  farmer  with  a  business  education. 
This,  plus  native  ability  of  a  high  order,  accounts  in  part  for 
his  success.  He  had  a  humble  beginning,  however.  His  birth- 
place was  a  log  house,  formerly  a  log  barn  of  the  famous  old 
stage  hostelry,  the  Bond  Hotel,  known  to  all  early  settlers  of 
Johnson  county,  which  his  father  began  to  use  as  residence 


KESIDEXCE  OF  SAMUEL  KAXSHAW 


when  he  first  took  up  government  land  in  Madison  township. 
This  old  log  house  still  stands  on  the  home  place  and  is  used 
l)y  Samuel  Ranshaw  as  a  machine  shed.  Dropping  corn  by 
hand  and  covering  it  with  a  hoe* in  tlie  old-fashioned  way  was 
a  sample  of  the  humble  work  of  our  subject  in  his  boyhood 
days.  He  made  a  "hand"  in  the  daily  work  of  his  father's 
farm  and  learned  the  homely  lessons  of  industry  and  frugality. 
His  common  school  education,  received  in  the  district  schools 
of  his  township,  was  supplemented  by  a  course  at  the  Iowa 
City  Academv.  Following  this,  he  took  up  the  occupation  of 
farming  in  Madison  township,  a  business  which  he  continued 


454        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

until  he  retired  to  North  Liberty  March  10,  1908.  During  his 
farming  operations  he  became  the  owner  of  the  original  quar- 
ter section  which  his  father  entered  as  a  homestead.  To  this 
he  has  added  from  time  to  time  until  he  now  possesses  over 
five  hundred  acres  of  the  best  land  in  Johnson  county.  The 
old  house  on  the  home  farm  has  been  remodeled,  new  stock 
barns  have  been  built,  and  many  extensive  improvements 
made.  The  date  of  his  birth  was  August  24,  1863.  Today,  at 
the  age  of  forty-nine  years,  he  is  accounted  one  of  the  wealth- 
iest and  most  progressive  citizens  of  the  county. 

Mr.  Ranshaw  took  for  his  wife  Miss  Emma  A.  Stauffer, 
sister  of  Joseph  Stauffer,  retired,  of  Iowa  City.  (See  sketch 
of  the  Stauffer  family  for  further  data).  They  were  married 
by  Rev.  J.  H.  Becorc.  The  names  of  tlieir  five  living  chil- 
dren are:  S.  Ra^anond,  graduate  of  the  Irish  Business  Col- 
lege ;  May,  a  graduate  of  the  North  Liberty  school ;  Ruth  and 
Elsie,  attending  North  Liberty  high  school ;  and  T^aura,  also  at 
school.  They  had  one  son,  John  A.,  who  died  at  the  age  of  16 
months.  Mr.  Ranshaw  is  a  deacon  of  the  Church  of  God  of 
Madison  township,  of  which  the  family  are  members.  He  has 
been  a  member  of  the  school  board  of  this  township,  and  takes 
an  active  part  in  the  cause  of  education. 

JOHN  RANSHAW,  father  of  Samuel  Ranshaw,  was  born 
in  1827  in  Lancashire,  England.  He  came  to  America  about 
1850,  and  for  a  time  pursued  the  occupation  of  gardening  in 
New  York  City.  He  w^as  well  educated  and  a  splendid  work- 
man in  his  line.  In  1854  he  came  west  by  rail  as  far  as  Rock 
Island,  Illinois,  and  thence  by  stage  to  Iowa  City.  The  first 
piece  of  land  he  purchased  was  twenty  acres  from  Nathaniel 
Scales,  an  old  settler.  In  a  little  while  he  disposed  of  this  and 
took  up  a  quarter  section  from  the  government  in  Madison 
township,  paying  therefor  $1.25  per  acre.  On  this  he  moved 
the  old  log  barn  heretofore  mentionerl,  which  he  transformed 
into  a  residence.  John  Ranshaw  added  to  his  holdings  until 
at  one  time  he  owned  four  hundred  acres.  His  early  work  was 
characterized,  of  course,  by  the  use  of  primitive  tools  and 
methods,  but  during  his  entire  life  he  was  known  as  a  man  of 
great  executive  ability.  His  early  market  town  was  Musca- 
tine, and  his  trips  thereto  with  produce  occupied  from  two  to 


I 


^ 


^ 


456        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

photographer  in  Cedar  Rapids,  and  Carrie  J.  Rnnkle  McCul- 
longh,  born  in  Iowa  City,  Iowa,  October  ]I,  1871. 

Mr.  Runkle  became  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity  by 
joining  Iowa  City  lodge  No.  4,  in  the  spring  of  1868. 


ISAAC  B.  MEYERS 

The  business  of  stock  raising  is  becoming  more  popular 
every  year  with  the  farmer  of  today,  as  this  line  of  enterprise 
brings  the  best  financial  results.  Among  those  who  are  thus 
engaged  in  Johnson  county,  may  be  mentioned  Isaac  B. 
Meyers,  of  Section  6,  Penn  township.  He  has  a  quarter  sec- 
tion of  some  of  the  best  farm  land  in  the  county.  All  the 
buildings  on  the  place  were  erected  1)y  his  father,  Isaac  Mey- 
ers, Sr.,  a  pioneer  in  Johnson  county,  a  sketch  of  whom  is  given 


RESIDENCE  OF  ISAAC  B.  MEYERS 


in  this  work.  He  is  an  extensive  feeder  and  shipper  of  cattle 
and  hogs  for  the  Chicago  market.  He  has  some  70  head  of  the 
latter  besides  young  pigs,  and  ships  from  North  Liberty.  He 
raises  horses  with  which  he  carries  on  the  farm  and  he  is  ener- 
getic and  up-to-date  in  his  method  of  operation.  In  1911  he 
erected  a  silo  with  a  capacity  of  140  tons,  which  is  a  model  of 
of  this  class  of  buildings.  He  averages  a  crop  of  50  bushels  of 
oats  to  the  acre,  and  endeavors  to  get  the  highest  results  from 


BIOGRAPHICAL  457 

all  his  operations,  liaving  a  high  opinion  of  the  possibilities 
of  land  and  conditions  with  which  he  has  to  deal. 

Isaac  B.  Meyers  was  born  in  Penn  township,  on  Octolier  10, 
1880,  son  of  Isaac  and  Sarah  (Moreland)  Meyers. 

Isaac  B.  Meyers  and  wife,  who  is  a  daughter  of  George  and 
Sarah  (Green)  x\nderson,  became  parents  of  three  children: 
Ernian,  born  January  15,  1901;  Siebert,  l)orn  January  21, 
1904;  and  Ceola,  born  February  22,  1909.  Mr.  Meyers  is  ac- 
tive in  the  affairs  and  interests  of  his  community  and  is  highly 
esteemed  for  his  sterling  qualities  as  a  citizen.  He  is  now  a 
member  of  the  school  board,  and  fraternally  is  a  member  of  the 
Masons  and  the  Odd  Fellows.  He  is  one  of  the  best  knowu 
men  of  Penn  township  and  has  a  host  of  friends. 


GEOPGE  E.  JA^^IES 

One  of  the  representative  and  prosperous  farmers  of  Lin- 
coln townshij)  is  George  E.  James,  who  was  born  in  Muscatine 
county,  Iowa,  September  7,  1867,  his  ]3arents  being  Gad  and 
Harriet  (Kile)  James,  the  former  a  native  of  Wales  and  the 
latter  of  Indiana.  Gad  James  came  to  America  with  his 
father  in  1854,  being  then  a  small  boy  and  motherless,  the 
mother  having  died  when  lie  was  four  years  old.  The  widower 
and  his  small  family  (there  were  four  boys  and  one  sister) 
settled  first  in  New  York  state  for  a  few  years,  thence  remov- 
ing to  Cedar  county,  Iowa,  where  they  remained  a  short  time, 
and  thereafter  to  Louisa  county  for  a  few  years.  Finally  he 
settled  in  Missouri,  where  he  resided  until  his  death.  Gad 
James  remained  in  Muscatine  county,  where  he  was  married 
to  Harriet  Kile,  and  engaged  in  farming  in  that  county.  This 
always  was  his  occupation.  He  died  Se])tember  15,  1912,  and  is 
buried  at  West  Liberty,  Iowa.  Gad  James  and  Harriet  Kile 
had  ten  children  :  George  E. ;  Curtis  W.,  married  to  Nettie  Ris- 
ley,  of  Nichols,  Iowa,  father  of  four  children,  Harriet,  Evelyn, 
Janet  Ruby,  and  Curtis  Ripley;  May,  now  Mrs.  Vincent  Bir- 
kett,  living  at  West  Liberty,  mother  of  six  children,  Blanch 
Lilly,  Thomas,  Dorothy  May,  James  Vincent,  Edith  Leota, 
and  Ethel  Marie;  Edwin  G.,  living  on  a  farm  in  Lincoln  town- 
ship (see  his  sketch)  ;  Bertha,  now  Mrs.  Benjamin  Bigsby,  liv- 


458        HISTOEY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 


ing  in  Cedar  county,  Iowa,  mother  of  three  children,  Herbert, 
GjTiith,  and  Grace  —  Mr.  Bigsby  died  September  20,  1912; 
Jesse  K.,  living  in  Muscatine  county,  married  to  Miss  Edith 
Nichols,  of  the  same  county;  Clayton  S.,  also  of  Muscatine 
county,  married  to  Miss  Bessie  Heath,  daughter  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Charles  Heath,  has  one  son,  Raymond  Heath ;  Leota,  now 
Mrs.  Chas.  AVaite,  residing  in  West  Liberty;  Harry,  who  died 
when  two  years  old ;  Warren  W.,  living  in  Muscatine  county, 
married  to  Beulah  May  Ayers,  of  West  Liberty.  All  of  our 
subject's  brothers  are  farmers,  who  possess  their  own  homes 
within  a  radius  of  a  few  miles  of  his  own  residence  in  Lincoln 
township. 


EESIDENCE  OF  GEORGE  E.    JAMES 

George  E.  James  has  always  been  a  farmer.  In  1897  he 
bought  his  present  farm,  containing  160  acres,  which  is  now 
one  of  the  finest  in  the  county.  He  was  married  March  18, 
1891,  to  Miss  Martha  Hanna,  who  was  born  in  Preston  county, 
W^est  Virginia,  October  21 ,  1866,  and  came  to  Muscatine  county 
with  her  parents,  James  and  Ellen  Hanna,  in  1875.  Mr.  Hamia 
was  born  and  raised  in  Pennsylvania.  He  enlisted  from  his 
native  state  and  served  three  years  in  the  Civil  War.  Mi-,  and 
Mrs.  Hanna  had  seven  children,  three  of  whom  died  in  infancy. 
Those  who  reached  maturity  were  :  Martha,  wife  of  George  E. 
James ;  William,  married  to  Lottie  Wells,  and  he  died  in  June, 
1901,  father  of  two  children,  Elsie  and  James,  the  latter  dying 
at  six  years  of  age ;  Lucinda,  now  :^rrs.  Lewis  Leach,  of  Lu- 


GEORGE   E.   JAMES 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


459 


verne,  Minnesota,  mother  of  three  children,  Albert,  Harry,  and 
Vera;  Mary  Delia,  now  Mrs.  Ernest  Wells,  of  Lincoln  town- 
ship, Johnson  connty. 

Mr.  James  lost  his  wife  by  death  July  28,  ]908.  She  left 
one  danghter,  Alverda  Fern,  born  October  11,  1899.  George 
E.  James  has  always  been  a  rex^nblican.  He  has  been  town- 
ship trustee  for  six  years  and  has  held  other  local  offices.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  M.  P.  church. 


HENRY  M.  COLBERT 

Henry  M.  Colbert,  of  Fremont  township,  is  a  farmer  and 
the  son  of  a  farmer.  Moreover,  he  is  proud  of  both  facts.  At 
twenty-one  years  of  age  he  determined  upon  agriculture  as 
his  chosen  occupation  and  began  work  on  his  own  account. 
Seventeen  years  ago  he  bought  160  acres  at  his  present  loca- 
tion and  from  A^ear  to  vear  added  thereto  until  todav  he  has 


^3^^^^f^i" 


EESIDENCE    OF    II.    M.    COLBERT 


390  acres  of  as  nicely  improved  land  as  can  be  found  in  south- 
ern Johnson  county  and  has  one  of  the  coziest  homes  in  the 
county. 

Mr.  Colbert  is  a  son  of  Luther  and  Phoelie  (Kiser)  Colbert, 
and  was  born  in  Louisa  county  July  28,  ]863.  His  father  was 
born  in  Indiana  and  his  mother  in  Iowa.     The  father  came  to 


460        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

Iowa  in  1854,  and  settled  npon  a  farm  in  Lonisia  county.  There 
he  was  married  in  1861  to  Miss  Phoebe  Kiser,  who  bore  liim 
five  children,  two  of  whom  died  in  infancy.  The  snrviors  are : 
Jacob  H.,  married  and  living  in  Ottnmwa,  Iowa;  :Addie,  now 
Mrs.  J.  P.  Teeter,  living  in  Muscatine  county;  our  subject. 
Father  Colbert  died  January  8,  1908.  The  mother  is  still  liv- 
ing. 

Mr.  Colbert  was  married  November  16,  1887,  to  Miss  Lu- 
cina  Carl,  daughter  of  F.  T.  Carl,  of  Lone  Tree,  Iowa.  (See 
sketch  of  Mr.  Carl  elsewhere. — Ed.)  They  have  two  daugh- 
ters, Maybelle  E.,  and  Elda  Merle,  both  living  at  home. 


HIKAM  HEATH   (Deceased) 

At  the  time  of  his  death  in  Iowa  City,  January  21,  1907, 
Hiram  Heath  had  just  completed  a  continuous  term  of  thir- 
ty-four years  as  secretary  of  the  Lincoln  Mutual  Lisurance 
Company,  with  which  corporation  he  had  been  identilied  since 
its  organization  in  1873.  This  long  term  of  service  is  illus- 
trative of  the  persistency  and  faithfulness  which  were  domi- 
nant traits  of  his  character.  His  life  was  marked  by  consist- 
ent, continuous  attention  to  the  duties  and  obligations  of  the 
citizen,  the  father,  and  the  neighbor.  His  place  in  the  con- 
f  deuce  and  alfection  of  his  family  aud  friends  was  unshak- 
able. It  was  the  universal  verdict  at  his  death  that  a  good 
man  had  gone  to  his  reward.  This  judgment  of  his  fellows 
and  his  friends  should  temper  the  grief  of  his  loved  ones  and 
crystallize  their  veneration  for  the  departed.  If  the  "good 
that  men  do  lives  after  them,"  then  the  influence  of  Hiram 
Heath  will  unquestionably  be  a  factor  for  righteousness  for 
many  years  to  come  in  the  memories  and  consciousness  of  his 
family,  his  business  associates,  and  his  neighbors. 

New  Jersey  was  the  birthplace  of  Hiram  Heath,  April  lo, 
1836.  His  parents,  John  and  Rachel  (Norman)  Heath,  were 
also  natives  of  New  Jersey.  The  family  removed  to  Ohio 
when  Hiram  was  a  small  child.  They  remained  there  until 
Hiram  was  eighteen  years  of  age,  when  they  pushed  further 
westward  to  Iowa  county,  Iowa.  From  that  county,  in  1861, 
at  the  age  of  twenty-five,  young  Heath  enlisted  in  Company 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


461 


D  of  the  Tliirty-fiftli  Iowa.  He  devoted  three  years  to  tlie 
service  of  his  country,  one  of  which  was  in  active  combat, 
during  which  he  took  part  in  the  siege  of  Vicksburg,  His 
health  failed,  however,  and  he  was  assigned  to  the  position 
of  clerk  in  the  government  hospital  at  Davenport,  Iowa,  which 
place  he  held  for  two  years.  On  receiving  his  discharge  he 
settled  upon  a  farm  in  Muscatine  county,  Iowa,  where  he  re- 
mained until  1869  when  he  moved  to  a  farm  in  Johnson  county. 
He  resided  upon  this  latter  place  until  1891,  when  he  went  to 
Iowa  City,  there  remaining  until  his  death. 

Mr.  Heath  was  married  in  September,  1861,  to  Flora  A. 
Taylor,  who  shared  with  her  young  husband  the  anxieties  of 
the  Civil  War.     She  was  born  May  22,  1836,  in  Ohio.     Her 


RESIDENCE  OF  THE  LATE   HIRAM  HEATH 


parents  were  of  Scotch  descent.  Her  father  died  when  slie 
was  five  years  of  age  and  her  mother  many  years  ago.  She 
is  the  only  surviving  member  of  her  fatiier's  family  of  eight; 
the  names  of  the  deceased  are  :  John,  Mary,  Archibald,  Doug- 
las, Margaret,  Daniel,  and  Jane.  One  l)rotlipr  and  two  sis- 
ters of  Mr.  Heath  survive  him :  John,  living  in  Idaho  ;  Naoma, 
living  at  Tacoma,  Washington;  and  Sarah,  living  at  Platte, 
South  Dakota. 

The  family  of  Hiram  and  Flora  Heath  are:  Edna,  now 
]\[rs.  T.  E.  Fountain,  living  in  Cedar  county,  Iowa,  has  one 
daughter,  Dorothea;  Mac,  who  died  in  1891  at  the  age  of 
twenty-two;  Myrtle,  new  jMrs.  0.  R.  Reeves,  living  on  the  old 


462        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

homestead,  has  six  children,  Teresa,  Raymond,  Helen,  Wil- 
liam, Lois,  and  A^ernon ;  May,  now  Mrs.  Dr.  F.  W.  Beets,  liv- 
ing at  Hanover,  Illinois,  has  two  children,  jNIargaret  and  Paul. 
Mr.  Heath  was  a  pronounced  republican  in  politics,  and  was 
honored  by  his  party  and  fellow  citizens  by  election  to  a  num- 
ber of  local  offices.  He  and  his  wife  were  identified  with  the 
membership  and  work  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 
Comrade  Heath  was  a  member  of  the  (1.  A.  R.  of  Iowa  Citv. 


JOSEPH  PRIZLER 

Joseph  Prizler  resides  upon  the  old  homestead  of  his  par- 
ents in  Lincoln  township,  where  he  was  born  April  11,  1873, 
and  where  his  entire  life  has  been  spent.  He  takes  pride  in 
this  place,  and  esteems  it  the  highest  privilege  of  his  life  to 
have  been  able  to  buy  and  to  maintain  the  reputation  of  the 
old  family  home  for  productiveness  and  good  cheer.     Careful 


EESmEXCE   OF   JOSEPH   PRIZLER 

management  and  constant  industry  have  given  Mr.  Prizler 
a  goodly  quota  of  this  world's  goods,  and  the  farm,  well-kept, 
productive,  and  attractive,  is  a  credit  to  its  owner  and  to  his 
capable  wife,  who  has  been  his  companion  and  help-mate  for 
ten  years. 

Joseph  Prizler  is   the  son  of  Nerbet  and  Mary   (Kezak) 


ME.  AND  MRS.  JOE  PRIZLER 


BIOGRAPHICAL  463 

PrizJer,  natives  of  Bohemia,  who  were  married  in  their  na- 
tive land,  and  in  1S66  came  directly  therefrom  to  Iowa  City, 
soon  after  settling  on  the  farm  in  Lincoln  township,  which  is 
the  present  home  of  our  subject.  The  mother  died  in  1890, 
but  the  father  is  still  living  in  Iowa  City  at  the  advanced  age 
of  eighty-one.  Of  the  eight  children  born  to  this  couple,  six 
now  survive,  one  having  died  in  infancy  and  one,  John,  at  the 
age  of  forty.  The  survivors  are :  Frony,  widow  of  Mr.  Slaby, 
residing  at  Davenport ;  Peter,  living  in  Iowa  City ;  May,  now 
Mrs.  Frank  Zeithammel,  living  in  Iowa  City;  our  subject; 
Frank,  residing  in  Pleasant  Valley  township ;  Charles,  resid- 
ing in  Colorado ;  and  Kate,  now  Mrs.  Albert  Tauber,  living 
at  Iowa  City. 

Mr.  Prizler  was  married  in  October,  1901,  to  Miss  Mary 
Kanek,  a  native  of  Bohemia,  who  came  with  her  parents  to 
Iowa  City  about  1891.  The  Kanek  family  settled  at  Iowa 
City,  where  they  have  since  resided,  the  father,  Frank  Kanek, 
being  a  merchant  tailor  at  126  South  Dubuque  street.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Prizler  have  four  children :  George,  Ernest,  Edna, 
and  Melvin. 

Mr.  Prizler  is  in  every  respect  a  self-made  man,  having 
by  frugality,  industry,  and  intelligence  worked  his  wa^^  up 
step  by  step  to  his  present  standing.  He  is  bright,  enter- 
prising, and  progressive,  a  type  of  the  ideal  young  Iowa 
farmer.  He  is  a  democrat  in  politics,  and  well  informed  con- 
cerning the  vital  issues  of  the  day. 


GEORGE  WASHINGTON  BALL 

A'ery  few  men  in  Iowa  (^ity  have  witnessed  more  material 
changes  in  Johnson  county  than  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
who  was  born  near  Fairfield,  Jefferson  county,  Iowa,  June  7, 
1847.  His  parents  were  pioneers,  having  settled  in  this  coun- 
ty during  the  spring  of  1840.  George  W.  remained  on  the 
farm  assisting  his  father,  and  attending  the  rural  schools. 
At  the  age  of  twenty-three  he  removed  to  Des  Moines  where 
he  remained  about  four  years. 

November,  1874,  he  removed  to  Iowa  City,  and  established 
himself  in  law  and  has  been  in  active  practice  since  that  time. 


i64        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

He  formed  a  partnership  with  Mr.  Baker  and  their  firm  con- 
tinued as  such  uutil  3905,  wlien  George  W.  Ball,  Jr.,  was  ad- 
mitted. The  death  of  Mr.  Baker  occurring  July  1,  1910,  the 
father  and  son  continue  the  business,  their  offices  being  in  the 
Crescent  block. 

After  attending  the  rural  schools,  Ylr.  Ball  continued  his 
studies  for  some  time  at  Fairtiehl  college,  one  year  at  Iowa 
Wesleyan  college  at  Mt.  Pleasant,  and  then  completed  the 
law  course  of  the  State  University  of  Iowa,  graduating  with 


RESIDENCE  OF   GEORGE   W.   BALL 


the  class  of  1870.     He  immediately  took  up  the  practice  of  law 
in  Des  Moines,  Iowa. 

The  Ball  family  are  direct  descendants  of  one  of  the  earliest 
Colonial  families  of  Virginia.  Smith  Ball,  father  of  George 
AV.,  was  born  in  Madison  county,  Ky.,  July  29,  1810,  and  died 
at  Fairfield,  Iowa,  December  ]3,  1890;  his  mother,  Rebecca 
(Moffitte)  Ball,  was  1>orn  in  Fayette  county,  Kentucky,  Feb- 
ruary 25,  181-1-,  and  died  in  Jefferson  county,  Iowa,  October 
3,  1902.  There  were  seven  children  in  the  family:  Fmily 
Ann  Case,  born  in  Sangamon  county,  Illinois,  March  27,  1S.38, 
died  in  Jefferson  county,  Iowa.  November  18,  1895;  Mary 
Melissa  Phillips,  born  March  25,  1849,  resides  in  Birmingham, 


BIOGRAPHICAL  465 

Iowa;  Sarah  Frances,  born  March  10,  184-5,  died  1895 ;  the  sub- 
ject of  this  slietch ;  Margaret  Cassander  Fisher,  born  Decem- 
ber 10,  1849,  died  August  20,  1905 ;  Lewis  Cass,  born  January 
18,  1852,  resides  in  Fairfield,  Iowa;  Frank  Pierce,  born  Feb- 
ruary 25,  1854,  resides  in  Jefferson  county,  Iowa. 

Mr.  Ball  was  married  January  1,  1880,  to  Estella  E.  Walker, 
who  was  born  in  Henry  county,  Iowa,  April  29,  1854.  Miles 
Walker,  her  father,  was  born  in  Indiana,  February  22,  1827 ; 
died  September,  1895.  Her  mother,  Jane  (McDowell)  Walk- 
er, was  born  in  Mercer  county,  Peimsylvania,  October  27, 
1822,  and  at  present  resides  with  her  daughter,  Mrs.  Ball,  in 
Iowa  City.  The  grandfather,  William  Walter,  was  an  Iowa 
pioneer,  settling  in  the  state  in  1834.  Mrs.  Ball  had  one  broth- 
er and  three  sisters ;  Joseph  P.,  born  in  Henry  county,  Iowa, 
April  2,  1852,  resides  in  Putnam  county,  Missouri ;  Dora  Dell 
Dean,  wife  of  Henry  Clay  Dean,  born  at  Mount  Pleasant,  Sep- 
tember 16,  1856,  died  in  Putnam  county,  Missouri,  January  2, 
1911 ;  Mrs.  Luella  Porter,  born  in  Mount  Pleasant,  Henry 
county,  Iowa,  October  23,  1858,  resides  in  Putnam  county, 
Missouri ;  Mrs.  Lavanda  Helene  Babcock,  born  October  23, 
1861,  resides  in  Custer  county,  Nebraska. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ball  liave  l)een  born  three  sous  and  one 
daughter:  George  Washington,  eir.  (see  sketch),  born  Feb- 
ruary 16,  1881,  associated  with  his  father  in  the  practice  of 
law  in  Iowa  City;  graduated  from  Iowa  City  high  school,  class 
of  1897,  from  the  Liberal  Arts  Department  of  the  State  Uni- 
versity of  Iowa  in  1901,  and  from  the  Law  Department  in 
1903;  he  is  major  in  54th  Regiment,  I.  N.  G. ;  Henry  Moffitte, 
born  February  23, 1883,  attended  high  school,  two  years  in  the 
Academy,  and  two  vears  in  civil  engineering  in  the  University 
and  is  now  conducting  a  ranch  in  Montana;  AA^alter  McDowell, 
born  February  23,  1883  —  twin  of  the  former — ^  graduated 
from  the  Academy,  three  year«  in  the  Liberal  Arts  Depart- 
ment of  the  State  University  of  Iowa,  completed  the  course  in 
the  law  school  of  the  same,  graduating  in  1909,  practicing  law, 
and  conducts  an  abstract  office  at  Fort  Benton,  Montana; 
Edith  B.  Macbride,  born  November  29,  1887,  wife  of  Philip  D., 
resides  in  Seattle,  Washington.  There  are  two  grandchildren: 
Virginia  Hester  Ball,  and  George  W.  Ball  III. 

In  politics  Mr.  Ball  is  a  democrat.     He  was  a  memlier  of 


466        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

the  city  council  from  1881  to  1883,  and  representative  from 
Johnson  county  in  the  21st  General  Assembly,  1886-87. 

He  was  state  senator  in  28th-21)tli  General  Assemblies, 
1900-04,  and  mavor  of  Iowa  City  two  terms,  1905-09.  Mr.  Ball 
is  a  member  of  board  of  directors,  and  vice  president  of  the 
First  National  Bank  of  Iowa  City.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
board  of  curators  of  the  State  Historical  society,  , 

In  his  social  relations  he  is  a  member  of  Iowa  City  lodge 
No.  4,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  Iowa  Chapter  No.  2,  Palestine  Com- 
mandery,  K.  T.,  member  of  De  Molay  Consistory  No.  1,  of 
Clinton,  32nd  degree,  member  of  El  Kahir  Temple,  A.  A.  O. 
N.  M.  S.  (Mystic  Shrine),  of  Cedar  Rapids,  Iowa.  He  has 
been  W.  M.  of  Iowa  City  lodge  No.  4,  H.  P.  of  Iowa  City 
Chapter  No.  2,  Eminent  Commander  of  Palestine  Commandery 
No.  2,  Grand  Master  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Iowa  for  two 
terms,  and  of  a  sequence  Past  Grand  Master,  Grand  High 
Priest  of  Grand  Chapter  of  Iowa,  and  Grand  Prelate  of  the 
Grand  Commandery  of  Iowa. 

Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ball  are  members  of  the  ]\Ietliodist  Epis- 
copal church  of  Iowa  City.  They  reside  in  a  modern  home  at 
429  N.  Clinton  street.  Their  children  were  all  educated  in 
institutions  of  Iowa  City.  Mrs.  Ball  attended  Simpson  col- 
lege at  Indianola,  Iowa,  completing  the  course  and  graduating 
in  the  class  of  1876.  She  is  a  member  of  the  O.  E.  S.,  No.  35, 
and  is  also  a  member  of  the  Beta  Chapter  of  the  Phi  Beta  Phi 
at  Simpson,  transferred  to  the  Zeta  Chapter,  of  Iowa  City. 


JOHN  J.  KADERA 


One  of  the  notable  examples  of  self-made  men  who  have  won 
success  in  Johnson  county  is  John  J.  Kadera,  a  well-known 
and  popular  citizen  of  Graham  township.  He  was  born  in 
Bohemia,  April  1,  1858,  son  of  Joseph  and  Kate  (Cervenk) 
Kadera,  the  former  of  whom  died  February  13,  1879,  as  a  re- 
sult of  being  overheated  in  the  harvest  fields  some  time  prev- 
ious. The  mother  now  resides  with  her  daughter,  Mrs.  Krock, 
in  Cedar  county,  Iowa,  at  the  age  of  seventy-four  years.  John 
J.  was  the  first  born  of  their  eight  children,  and  the  responsi- 
bility of  caring  for  his  mother  and  some  of  the  vounger  chil- 


BIOGEAPIIICAL  467 

(Iren  devolved  upon  him  for  some  years  after  the  father's 
death.  Of  the  children  born  to  this  couple  four  now  survive, 
namely :  John  J.,  of  this  sketch  ;  Wesley  is  a  farmer  of  Cedar 
township;  Jacob  W.,  lives  in  Union  township,  and  Mary,  the 
only  surviving  daugliter,  married  Nicholas  J.  Krock,  and  they 
reside  in  Cedar  county.  The  other  four  children  died  in  child- 
hood. 

At  the  age  of  eighteen  years,  in  1876,  John  J.  Kadera  came 
to  America,  landing  in  Baltimore  and  going  at  once  to  Cedar 
Rapids,  where  he  had  an  uncle.  He  worked  by  the  month 
at  farming  for  the  first  seven  years  and  at  odd  times  was  en- 


RESIDENCE   OF   JOHN   J.   KADERA 

gaged  at  the  trade  of  mason.  His  parents  came  to  America 
with  the  other  children  in  1877.  Upon  his  father's  death  John 
Kadera  was  the  mainstav  of  his  mother,  who  was  left  with 
several  small  children,  and  those  were  trying  times  for  all. 
He  received  six  dollars  a  month  for  his  first  month's  work, 
thirteen  the  second  month  and  in  the  second  year  eighteen 
dollars  per  month,  and  sixteen  the  third  year,  on  account  of 
hard  times,  and  this  was  considered  good  pay  for  a  youth  at 
that  time.  During  the'se  years  he  was  learning  the  lessons  of 
economy  and  thrift  which  enabled  him  to  get  so  good  a  start 
in  life  afterwards.  By  his  twenty-fifth  year  he  had  been  re- 
lieved of  the  care  of  the  other  members  of  the  family  and 
had  been  able  to  save  $800,  so  he  felt  justified  in  marrying  and 
starting  to  farm  on  his  own  account.     He  had  landed  in  Cedar 


468        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

Rapids  on  May  27,  1876,  with  a  capital  of  but  ten  cents,  and 
had  need  of  his  store  of  energy  and  ambition  to  enable  him 
to  see  brighter  days  ahead.  He  has  justitied  his  faith  in  his 
own  ability  to  get  on  and  in  the  opportunities  to  be  found  in 
the  land  of  his  adoption. 

Upon  his  marriage  Mr.  Kadera  purchased  forty-five  acres 
of  land  and  soon  afterwards  added  another  twenty-five  acres, 
in  Cedar  county,  and  occupied  that  farm  fifteen  years,  during 
which  time  he  had  greatly  developed  it  and  land  had  increased 
in  value  there  to  such  an  extent  that  he  was  able  to  sell  it  for 
a  good  price.  He  then  purchased  a  farm  of  160  acres  in  Sec- 
tion 23,  Graham  township,  which  is  a  most  desirable  location 
for  general  farming  and  stock  raising.  The  place,  which  was 
known  as  the  old  Harrison  estate,  was  transferred  to  him  on 
February  22  (Washington's  Birthday),  1898,  he  being  the 
third  person  to  whom  the  deed  was  transferred.  There  were 
several  buildings  there,  and  in  1908  he  erected  a  fine  modern 
residence,  and  during  three  years  expended  $8,000  in  improv- 
ing the  place.  In  1911  he  erected  a  fine  barn,  50  x  54  feet,  with 
a  capacity  of  120  tons  of  hay ;  his  fields  are  well  fenced,  and  he 
has  put  tiling  wherever  it  would  add  to  the  value  and  produc- 
tiveness of  the  land.  He  has  raised  sixty-five  bushels  to  the 
acre,  average  on  fifty  acres  of  corn,  and  forty  bushels  to  the 
acre  of  oats  and  other  grains.  He  has  set  out  a  fine  orchard, 
and  the  500  catalpa  trees  which  he  set  out  are  the  first  of  the 
kind  in  fhe  neighborhood  and  give  the  place  the  name  of  Ca- 
talpa Farm.  Mr.  Kadera  is  interested  in  local  matters  and 
in  politics  is  a  democrat.  He  is  affiliated  with  Camp  No.  5059, 
M.  W.  A.,  of  Oasis.     His  religious  views  are  liberal. 

In  1883  Mr.  Kadera  was  united  in  marriage  with  Mary 
Zenisek,  by  Father  Emmons.  She  was  born  in  Johnson  coun- 
ty March  25,  1864,  of  a  prominent  family.  She  is  a  daughter 
of  Albert  and  Anna  (Kodl)  Zenisek.  Her  father  died  in  Ce- 
dar township  and  her  mother  resides  with  her  son,  Mika  A. 
Zenisek,  in  Cedar  township.  Of  their  eleven  children  seven 
are  living  and  have  families.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kadera  seven 
children  were  born,  and  six  of  them  survive:  Emma,  born 
November  8,  1883,  is  the  wife  of  Frank  J.  Grezel,  a  farmer  of 
Scott  township,  Johnson  county,  and  they  have  one  son,  Leo 
Frank,  born  June  2, 1910 ;  Joseph,  born  July  16,  1885,  helps  his 


J.  .1.    KADKUA  AND  WIFH 


.    TT^V  l^EW  VOKK 

pSbucubr^wI 


ASTOR.LFNOX 
TlLDtNFOU^lB^  •■ 


\ONS 


BIOaRAPHICAL  460 

father  on  the  home  farm;  Marie,  born  September  8,  1889,  mar- 
led Joseph  J.  Hora,  they  reside  in  Pleasant  Valley  township; 
Clara  A.,  born  May  28,  1897;  Lilly  Blanche,  born  August  8, 
1899,  and  Charles,  born  March  20,' 1901.  Lilly  B.  died  in  in- 
fancy. 


1 


WILLIAM  HENRY  DROLL 

William  Henry  Droll  is  the  first  child  of  the  twelve  children 
of  Charles  Droll  and  Magdaline  Birrer.  The  family  is  re- 
markable from  the  fact  that  three  pairs  of  twins  were  included, 
the  first  pair  being  a  bo}^  and  a  girl,  the  second  pair  two  girls, 
and  the  third  pair  two  boys.  Of  this  trio  of  twins  the  first- 
born of  each  pair  now  survives.  Charles  Droll  is  a  native  of 
Germany,  born  November  29,  1832;  his  wife,  Magdaline  Bir- 
rer, is  a  native  of  Alsace,  Germany.  The  couple  were  mar- 
ried in  Johnson  county.  Father  Droll  was  raised  and  edu- 
cated in  Germany,  and  emigrated  to  America  at  the  close  of 
the  Civil  War,  landing  at  New  York.  He  almost  inmiediately 
came  west  and  settled  in  Liberty  township,  where  he  still  re- 
sides with  his  estimable  wife.  The  father  of  Cliarles  Droll 
was  William  Droll,  who  was  born  and  died  in  the  Fatherland. 
(For  further  data  of  the  Birrer  family,  see  the  Birrer  sketch 
elsewhere  in  this  volume.  —  Ed.)  The  twelve  children  of 
Charles  and  Magdaline  Birrer  are:  William  Henry,  our 
subject;  Leo,  married,  father  of  one  child;  Frank,  accidentally 
drowned  at  the  age  of  three  years ;  Elizabeth,  now  Mrs.  Vic- 
tor Schnoebelen,  of  Kansas ;  Frank  and  Mary,  twins,  the  latter 
died  when  young;  Mary,  now  Mrs.  R.  Knittel,  of  Riverside, 
Iowa;  Philomena  and  Annie,  twins,  the  latter  died  August  5, 
1909;  Philomena  became  Mrs.  William  Scott,  of  Riverside; 
Cyril  and  Linus,  twins,  the  latter  died  April  7,  1911.  Cyril  is 
now  farming  the  home  place.  '(See  separate  sketch  of  Linus. 
—  Ed.)  Mother  Droll  has  suffered  much  for  her  children, 
and  passed  through  many  ordeals  In^  sickness  and  death  of  her 
loved  ones.  The  death  of  her  son  Linus  particularly  affected 
her.  He  was  a  fine  character  and  a  devout  Christian.  This 
venerable  lady  is  known  far  and  near  as  a  kind  and  loving 
neighbor,  devoted  to  her  children  and  grandchildren  and  to 
her  church,  the  Catholic. 


470        HISTOKY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 


William  Henry  Droll  was  born  in  Johnson  county,  Liberty 
township,  in  1870.  He  was  raised  on  a  farm  and  educated  in 
the  district  schools  of  his  township.  From  the  age  of  sixteen 
to  twenty-three  he  worked  on  farms  in  Liberty  township,  hav- 
ing assisted  M.  Sydell  to  plant  corn  in  1891  on  the  present 
town  site  of  Hills.  In  the  fall  of  1893  he  rented  the  farm 
of  Burdette  Cline  and  began  the  business  of  farming  for 
himself,  continuing  until  the  close  of  1900.  In  1901  lie 
opened  a  general  store  in  Hills,  which  he  conducted  for  one 
year  and  then  sold.  In  1902-08  he  again  engaged  in  farming 
on  rented  places.  He,  however,  had  acquired  a  taste  for  mer- 
chandising, and  in  1904  began  the  business  of  grain  and  stock 


RESmEXCE   OF   W.   II.   UROLL 


dealing,  in  which  he  is  now  engaged.  During  1904-05  he  con- 
ducted the  business  alone,  but  in  1906-07  the  firm  was  known 
as  Droll  &  Riley,  Philip  Riley  having  ]nirchased  an  interest. 
During  those  years  an  elevator  of  12,000  bushels  capacity  was 
built.  In  1909  the  name  of  the  firm  was  changed  to  Droll  «fc 
Fitzpatrick  Bros.,  and  later  in  1910  Frank  Krai  bought  a  half 
interest  in  the  stock  business.  The  volume  of  business  of  the 
firm  may  be  estimated  from  the  fact  that  during  the  year  1910 
there  were  shipped  140  cars  of  hogs  and  from  8  to  10  cars  of 
cattle;  from  July  1,  1910,  to  July  1,  1911,  the  firm  shipped  103 
cars  of  wheat,  oats,  and  corn,  and  during  the  month  of  Septem- 
ber, 1910,  65  cars  of  hay  and  straw.  This  will  be  accounted  a 
fine  record  for  a  town  of  200  people. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  471 

Mr.  Droll  has  been  a  witness  to  the  entire  growth  of  Hills, 
from  a  farm,  with  a  donble  hedge  fence  along  the  road  now 
known  as  Main  street,  to  its  present  prosperous  proportions, 
with  himself  as  its  mayor.  The  first  resident  of  Hills  was 
Dr.  F.  W.  Lloyd,  a  graduate  of  the  State  University  of  Iowa, 
who  bnilt  the  first  house  in  1891.  This  small  frame  structure 
is  now  standing  on  the  west  side  of  the  depot.  The  lumber 
contained  in  it  was  hauled  from  Iowa  City.  Dr.  Lloyd  carried 
on  a  drugstore  with  a  small  line  of  general  merchandise.  He 
was  succeeded  in  1893  by  Burdette  Cline,  and  it  was  during 
that  year  that  William  Droll  farmed  Mr.  Burdette 's  place.  In 
1904  Louis  Kneble  opened  his  blacksmith  shop,  which  he  still 
continues.  The  town  of  Hills  was  incorporated  in  1906,  the 
incorporators  being  Fred  C.  Hirt,  William  H.  Droll,  Jess  Sy- 
dell,  Charles  Mentzer,  Joseph  Walker,  and  Albert  Frantz. 
The  first  mayor  of  Hills  was  Dr.  George  J.  Wenslick,  and  on 
his  removal  William  H.  Droll  was  appointed  to  fill  the  unex- 
pired term.  On  the  conclusion  of  the  term  he  was  nominated 
and  elected  mayor  and  is  now  serving  the  town's  second  term 
as  its  chief  magistrate.  In  addition  to  this  office,  Mr.  Droll 
has  served  as  school  director  for  Liberty  township  for  one- 
term.  Under  his  administration  as  mayor  many  improve- 
ments have  been  carried  on,  and  Hills  is  looked  upon,  as  one  of 
the  progressive  communities  of  Johnson  county.  In  addition 
to  his  business  establishment  and  elevator.  Mayor  Droll  owns 
several  lots  and  a  fine  residence.  He  is  a  republican  in  poli- 
tics ;  a  member  of  the  Eagles,  and  an  adherent  of  the  Roman 
Catholic  church. 

On  June  16,  1897,  Mr.  Droll  was  joined  in  wedlock  to  Miss 
Ella  Burger,  a  native  of  Iowa  City,  daughter  of  William 
and  Catherine  (Ilelmer)  Burger.  The  ceremony  was  per- 
formed in  St.  Mary's  church,  by  the  pastor,  Dean  A.  J.  Schulte. 
(For  data  respecting  the  Burger  family,  see  sketch  elsewhere 
in  this  volmiie.  —  Ed.) 

The  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Droll  are :  Genevieve,  Cath- 
erine, William  Edwin,  Albert,  Margaret  Helen,  and  Blanche, 
the  first  three  named  being  in  attendance  at  the  Sisters'  school 
in  Hills. 


472        HISTOEY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

JOSEPH  FUHEMANN 

Joseph  Fuhrmann  is  a  retired  teacher  of  the  Parochial 
schools  of  Iowa.  Incidentally,  also,  he  has  been  an  extensive 
traveler,  not  only  over  this,  but  over  most  of  the  states  of  the 
Union,  Incidentally,  also,  he  is  a  booster  for  Iowa  City,  John- 
son county,  and  the  state  of  Iowa.  In  the  early  seventies 
Fuhrmann  rode  on  horseback  from  Keokuk  to  the  north- 
western corner  of  ;Iowa.  Being  a  close  observer,  he  is  quite 
familiar  with  a  large  portion  of  the  United  States,  and,  in 
summing  it  all  up,  he  says  :  "I  found  that  almost  every  local- 
ity has  a  certain  charm  and  advantage  peculiarly  its  own ;  but 
in  all  my  travels  I  have  never  found  a  city  cleaner  and  neater 


1 

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V  1  -  MSSf^tt^^^^^ 

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1 

RESIDENCE  OF  JOSEPH  FUHRMANN 


in  every  respect  than  Iowa  City,  and  I  ))elieve  there  is  as  good 
a  chance  to  succeed  here,  both  in  city  and  country,  in  business 
and  in  farming,  as  in  any  of  the  much-lauded  locations  else- 
where." It  follows  as  a  natural  sequence  that  the  author  ©f 
these  sentiments  is  a  respected  and  popular  resident  of  the 
University  City. 

Joseph  Fuhrmann  was  boril  October  9, 1851,  in  Kaifenlieim, 
Rhine  Province,  Germany.  He  came  to  America  with  his  par- 
ents (Peter  and  Anna  M.  Fuhrmann)  and  five  brothers,  ar- 
riving May  1,  1868,  and  settled  on  a  farm  near  Baden  (now 
Harper),  Keokuk  county,  Iowa.  In  1873  he  removed  from 
Harper  to  Marathon  county,  Wisconsin,  where  he  taught  the 


BIOGRAPHICAL  473 

parochial  school  in  Marathon  City  until  May  1,  1874,  when  he 
went  to  Richmond,  Washington  county,  Iowa.  There  for  ten 
years  in  succession  he  taught  in  Trinity  school.  In  1884  he 
settled  on  a  farm  one  mile  east  of  Richmond,  and  resided  there 
until  1881,  when  he  removed  to  a  farm  one  and  one-half  miles 
southeast  of  Iowa  City,  on  the  lower  Muscatine  road,  in  East 
Lucas  township.  In  1908  he  moved  into  Iowa  City  to  his 
present  residence  at  114  South  Lincoln  street,  having  rented 
his  farm  to  his  sons. 

While  living  on  his  farm  near  Richmond,  Mr.  Fuhrmann 
held  various  township  offices  and  other  positions  of  trust. 
He  was  township  clerk  four  years,  justice  of  the  peace  five 
years,  and  townhip  assesser  for  ten  years  in  succession.  He 
was  school  director  and  secretary  of  the  school  board  for  a 
number  of  years;  also  a  director  in  the  Washington  County 
Mutual  Insurance  Comjjany.  While  living  on  his  farm  near 
Iowa  City  he  also  held  township  office  and  other  positions  of 
trust.  He  was  fundamentally  a  democrat  from  principle,  be- 
lieving that  the  democratic  party  could  and  would  do  more 
for  the  common  people  at  large  than  any  other  political  or- 
ganization; but  he  always  had  a  profound  respect  for  those 
who  differed  from  him  in  their  views,  and  frequently  cooper- 
ated with  them  when  he  believed  it  to  be  for  the  welfare  of 
the  public. 

Mr.  Fuhrmann 's  educational  attainments  were  cumulative 
and  practical.  After  graduating  from  his  parish  school  in 
Germany,  he  entered  high  school  to  prepare  himself  for  the 
work  of  teaching,  but  being  interrupted  by  his  removal  to 
America,  on  arriving  in  this  country,  he  worked  in  summer 
on  the  farm  and  in  the  winter  attended  ])ublic  and  private 
schools,  mostly  in  order  to  master  the  English  language.  Af- 
ter three  years  of  study  he  received  a  first-class  certificate 
from  the  county  school  superintendent  and  taught  the  public 
and  parish  schools  at  Baden  (Harper)  for  two  years.  He 
also  taught  two  years  at  Riverside,  Iowa. 

Mr.  Fuhrmann  has  always  been  deeply  religious  in  his  con- 
victions and  practice.  Raised  by  good  and  pious  parents,  who 
instilled  in  him  at  an  early  date  an  ardent  faith  in  their  moth- 
er church,  the  Catholic,  he  endeavored  always  to  be  a  faithful 
member,  and,  wherever  located,  took  an  active  part  in  the 
affairs  of  his  congregation.     He  is  at  present  a  member  of  St. 


474        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

Mary's  'cliiircli  of  Iowa  City;  belongs  to  the  Gentlemen's  So- 
dality and  also  to  St.  Joseph's  Benevolent  Society,  of  which 
latter  body  he  has  been  president  for  five  years. 

On  January  19,  1875,  he  married  Catherine  E.  Strabala, 
daughter  of  Balthasar  and  Josepha  Straliahi,  of  Richmond, 
Iowa.  Miss  Strabala  was  born  May  24,  1851,  in  Columbiana 
county,  Ohio,  and  came  to  Washington  county,  Iowa,  with  her 
parents,  seven  brothers  and  six  sisters,  in  April,  1864.  Of 
this  union  eleven  children,  three  boys  and  eight  girls,  were 
born,  as  follows:  Mary  Caecilia,  born  July  o,  1876;  Rosa  C, 
born  September  28,  1877;  Agnes  C,  born  July  30,  ]879;  Aloy- 
sius  J.,  born  April  5,  1881;  Stanislaus  K.,  born  July  23,  1883; 
Angela  R.,  born  in  1885;  Victor  B.,  born  March  2, 1887;  Mary 
E.,  born  August  15,  1888;  Oliva  C,  born  September  17,  1801  ; 
Celesta  M.,  born  September  26,  1894;  Zita  A.,  born  July  26, 
1899. 

Mary  Caecilia  went  to  the  Convent  of  the  Franciscan  Sis- 
ters of  P.  A.,  at  La  Crosse,  Wisconsin,  July  8,  1895,  and  is 
known  as  Sister  M.  Celeste  F.  S.  P.  A.  She  is  a  competent 
member  of  their  teaching  force.  Rosa  C.  also  went  to  the 
same  convent  July  12,  1896,  and  was  known  as  Sister  ]M. 
Clarett  F.  S.  P.  A.  She  was  mostly  employed  in  the  various 
hospitals,  and  died  March  7,  1908.  The  rest  of  the  children 
are  all  living  at  home. 


WESLEY  NO^^OTNY 

Wesley  Novotny  is  one  of  the  native  sons  of  Johnson  county 
who  have  had  so  large  a  share  in  its  development  during  the 
last  quarter  century.  He  is  a  wide-awake  business  man  and 
an  intelligent,  enterprising  citizen.  He  was  born  in  Jefferson 
township,  November  23,  1869,  son  of  Joseph  and  Anna  No- 
votny, the  latter  of  whom  is  deceased,  but  the  father  survives 
and  lives  in  Jefferson  township,  at  the  home  of  his  daughter 
Anna,  Mrs.  Verhotsln^,  being  now  eighty-three  years  old.  Jo- 
seph Novotny  was  born  in  Bohemia  and  came  to  America  in 
1858,  soon  afterward  selecting  Jefferson  township  as  his 
future  liome.     He  and  his  wife  had  six  sons  and  one  daughtei'. 

In  bovhood  Weslev  Novotnv  attended  the  countrv  schools 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


475 


and  was  reared  like  many  another  farmer's  son  of  the  region, 
taking  part  in  tlie  work  of  the  home  farm  at  a  tender  age.  At 
the  age  of  twentv-one  years  he  began  farming  on  his  own  ac- 
count and  in  1891  moved  just  across  the  river  into  Madison 
township  and  located  at  his  present  place.  He  engaged  in  the 
butcher  business  for  two  years,  driving  a  wagon  through  the 
country.  In  1893  he  retruned  to  Jefferson  township,  wliere  he 
continued  farming  until  1898,  when  he  moved  back  to  his  for- 
mer location  and  opened  a  store,  which  he  has  conducted  ever 
since.  The  little  village  where  he  is  in  bsuiness  is  known  as 
Curtis,  formerly  a  post-ofifice,  but  since  rural  delivery  was 
installed  in  the  countv  the  office  has  been  discontinued.     For 


RESIDENCE  OF  WESLEY  NOVOTNY 


ten  years  Mr.  Novotny  served  as  postmaster.  His  store, 
which  is  30  x  20  feet,  is  well  known  in  the  vicinity.  He  carries 
a  high  class  general  line  of  goods.  He  has  a  good  trade,  not- 
withstanding the  discontinuance  of  the  postoffice  at  Curtis, 
and  has  a  good  standing  with  all  who  have  had  business  or 
social  dealings  with  him.  In  190()  he  ])urchased  the  Roberts 
farm,  comprising  about  seventy-three  acres,  in  Section  27, 
]\[adison  township,  a  ])ortion  of  it  government  land.  Mr.  No- 
votny takes  a  commendable  interest  in  local  affairs  and  has 
served  as  constable  in  both  Jeffersoii  and  Madison  townships. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  M.  B.  A.,  of  Swisher,  and  of  the 
]\r.  W.  A.,  at  Shueyville. 


476        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

On  August  8, 1891,  Mr.  Novotny  was  united  in  marriage,  by 
Mayor  Reno  of  Iowa  City,  with  Fannie  Machovets,  daughter 
of  Frank  and  Christina  Machovets,  the  latter  of  whom  died 
February  2,  1905,  having  had  nine  children,  all  of  whom  now 
survive  save  one.  Mr.  JNIachovets,  who  was  an  old  resident  of 
Jefferson  township,  passed  away  at  the  home  of  Mrs.  Novotny, 
on  December  l-t,  1911,  and  was  buried  from  the  United  Breth- 
ren church,  interment  being  made  in  the  Shueyville  cemetery. 
He  was  seventy  years  of  age,  and  his  death  was  caused  by 
heart  failure.  He  was  survived  by  the  following  children : 
Mrs.  ''Wesley  Novotny,  of  Curtis ;  Mrs.  John  Lorack,  of  Iowa 
City ;  Mrs.  Anthony  Novotny,  of  Cedar  Rajiids ;  Mrs.  Antone 
Notolicky,  of.Mt.  Vernon;  Frank,  of  Cedar  Rapids;  Adolph, 
of  Roswell,  South  Dakota;  Antone,  of  Pocahontas,  Iowa; 
Joseph,  of  Roswell,  South  Dakota;  Bhmche,  now  Mrs.  Koss, 
of  Ely,  Iowa.  To  Wesley  Novotny  and  wife  one  son  was  born, 
William  Lester,  November  25,  1895,  now  in  his  second  year  in 
the  high  school  at  Shue^^alle,  a  promising  youth,  who  is  a 
source  of  pride  to  his  parents. 


ENOCH  H.  HOPE 


Enoch  H.  Hope  is  one  of  the  most  enterprising  and  success- 
ful farmers  of  Graham  township,  Johnson  county,  of  which 
township  he  is  a  native.  He  is  of  English  descent,  his  father, 
Thomas  Hope,  having  been  born  in  Yorksliire,  England,  May 
19,  1819,  and  his  mother  in  Hull,  Yorkshire,  England,  May 
12,  1832.  Thomas  Hope  came  to  the  United  States  in  1852  on 
a  sailing  Vessel,  the  voyage  lasting  eleven  weeks.  He  landed 
in  New  York,  went  on  to  Detroit,  Michigan,  and  thence  to  La 
Salle,  Illinois,  whence  he  continued  his  journey  by  wagon  to 
Johnson  county.  He  settled  on  a  farm  northeast  of  Morse, 
where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life,  passing  away  Febru- 
ary 12,  1875.  At  the  time  of  his  demise  he  was  the  owner  of 
a  quarter  section  of  land.  Upon  coming  to  the  newly  opened 
country  he  purchased  eighty  acres  of  land  from  the  govern- 
ment, paying  therefor  seventy-five  cents  per  acre.  For  some 
years  the  nearest  trading  point  was  Muscatine,  then  known 
by  the  name  of  Bloomington,  and  the  trip  to  market  with  grain 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


477 


or  other  produce  was  made  with  oxen.  He  and  his  wife  were 
compelled  to  undergo  all  the  hardships  and  trials  of  frontier 
life  and  worked  very  hard  to  get  their  start  in  the  new  home, 
but  became  owners  of  a  valual^le  farm.  Mrs.  Hope's  maiden 
name  was  Annie  tiarrison.  She  died  June  8,  1895,  at  the  age 
of  sixty-three  years.  There  were  four  children  born  lin  this 
family :  John,  died  in  infancy ;  Mary,  died  at  the  age  of  thir- 
teen years;  Enoch,  of  this  sketch;  and  John  Sherman,  who  is 
a  mute.     The  two  last-named  live  together. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  on  his  father's  farm, 
about  two  miles  from  Morse,  in  1862,  was  reared  on  the  place, 
and  received  his  earlv  education  in  this  district  school.     Later 


RESIDENCE    OF    ENOCH   H.    HOPE 

he  attended  Iowa  City  Academy.  As  he  grew  up  he  became 
the  mainstay  of  his  parents,  remaining  with  his  mother  until 
1889,  when  he  bought  the  Westenhaver  farm,  also  in  Graham 
township.  This  place  consisted  of  a  half  section  of  land  on 
Section  13,  and  two  years  after  coming  to  live  on  it  Mr.  Hope 
added  eighty  acres  more.  This  is  one  of  the  best  farms  in 
his  part  of  the  county  and  he  has  brought  it  to  a  high  state  of 
productiveness  and  attractiveness.  There  were  only  log 
buildings  on  the  place  at  first,  and  he  has  replaced  these  from 
time  to  time  with  modern  ones.  He  has  erected  two  barns,  70 
by  56  feet  in  size,  one  for  cattle  and  one  for  horses,  and  has 
room  for  one  hundred  tons  of  hay.  In  1911  he  had  a  yield  of 
60  bushels  to  the  acre  from  seventy  acres  of  corn,  and  he  also 


478        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

had  forty  acres  of  land  in  small  grain,  which  yielded 
well.  He  has  a  fine  herd  of  Shorthorn  cattle,  and  about 
ninety  head  of  pure  bred  Poland  China  hogs.  In  1910  he 
shipped  a  number  of  yearling  cattle,  averaging  1,300  pounds 
per  animal.  He  raises  a  quantity  of  line  timothy  seed  each 
year,  having  a  yield  of  between  two  and  three  hundred  bushels 
in  1911,  and  has  raised  as  much  as  650  bushels  in  one. year. 
He  has  his  farm  well  fenced,  most  of  it  hog-tight,  and  all  that 
requires  it  is  well  drained.  Mr.  Hope  carries  on  his  opera- 
tions in  accordance  with  modern  methods  and  ideas  and  dis- 
plays excellent  judgment  in  his  work.  He  takes  an  active  in- 
terest in  local  affairs  and  has  served  some  time  as  school 
director  of  Grant  school  No.  6.  Besides  his  farm  he  owns 
some  city  property  on  Washing-ton  street,  near  Dubuque,  Iowa 
City,  that  is  occupied  by  the  popular  millinery  emporium 
owned  by  Adams  Sisters.  Mr.  Hope  is  influential  in  the  coun- 
cils of  the  republican  party  and  in  religious  faith  is  affiliated 
with  the  Christian  church,  as  is  his  wife.  In  October,  1889, 
in  Chicago,  Mr.  Hope  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Cath- 
erine Adams,  by  Rev.  J.  W.  Allen  of  the  West  Side  Christian 
church,  whose  sisters  are  successfully  engaged  in  the  millinery 
business  in  Iowa  City,  as  above  mentioned.  She  is  a  daughter 
of  Frank  and  Elizabeth  (Edwards)  Adams,  the  former  a 
descendant  of  Enock  Adams,  a  tanner  by  trade,  who  was  born 
in  Massachusetts  and  participated  in  the  Revolutionary  War. 
The  latter  was  descended  from  an  old  New  England  family, 
the  progenitor  having  come  to  America  in  the  Mayflower. 
Members  of  the  family  moved  from  Massachusetts  to  Maine 
in  an  early  day,  and  became  farmers  and  pioneers.  Frank 
Adams  was  born  September  18,  1819,  and  died  in  Johnson 
county  February  25,  1883.  His  wife,  a  native  of  England, 
born  in  England  November  4,  1834,  died  in  Chicago  June  oO, 
1897.  The  father  of  Frank  Adams,  John  E.  Adams,  was  a 
pioneer  of  Ohio.  He  came  thence  to  Johnson  county,  Iowa, 
in  1837,  and  returned  to  Ohio,  but  in  1861  came  again  to  John- 
son county,  where  he  settled  permanently  and  where  his  chil- 
dren were  reared.  Mrs.  Hope  is  one  of  six  children  1)orn  to 
Frank  Adams  and  wife,  namely:  Francis  M.,  Fred,  Matilda, 
Catherine,  W^illiam,  and  Catherine.  The  first  two  were  twins 
and  both  died  in  infancy.  ]\lr.  and  ^Frs.  Hope  have  no  children. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  479 

WILLIAM  ANDREAVS 

William  Andrews  is  a  representative  business  man  of  Morse, 
Johnson  connty,  and  has  been  residing  in  the  vicinity  the  past 
forty  years.  He  came  to  Graham  township  with  his  parents 
in  1860,  just  prior  to  the  Civil  War,  and  since  reaching  man- 
hood has  been  actively  interested  in  the  general  progress  and 
prosperity  of  the  region.  He  was  born  in  Chester  county, 
Pennsylvania,  July  23,  1849,  son  of  Joseph  and  Joanna  (Gar- 
rett) Ajidrews,  the  former  a  native  of  Allegheny  county  and 
the  latter  of  Chester  county,  he  born  March  4,  1820,  and  she 
January  10,  1817.  The  mother  died  in  Graham  township  Au- 
gust 1,  1889,  and  the  father  June  3,  1911. 

The  Andrews  family  came  to  Johnson  county  in  18(31),  locat- 
ing in  Graham  township,  William  Andrews  being  then  in  his 
eleventh  year,  and  he  linished  his  education  in  the  common 
branches  in  the  local  schools.  Later  he  attended  the  State 
University  of  Iowa  a  year  and  a  half,  preparing  for  the  pro- 
fession of  teaching.  He  spent  two  years  in  Madison  county, 
being  engaged  in  teaching  one  year,  but  aside  from  this,  has 
lived  in  Johnson  county  since  first  coming  here.  At  the  time 
the  Rock  Island  railroad  was  built  to  Morse,  he  came  to  the 
town,  where  he  has  since  been  a  leading  business  man.  In 
the  early  seventies,  when  a  railroad  was  completed  between 
Cedar  Rapids  and  Iowa  City,  he  entered  the  employ  of  a  Bur- 
lingion  firm,  buying  and  shipping  grain,  with  headciuarters  at 
Morse,  and  at  the  expiration  of  his  contract  yith  this  company 
formed  a  partnership  with  E.  K.  Morse,  a  prominent  pioneer. 
He  spent  two  years  in  the  stock  and  lumber  business,  and  at 
the  time  of  dissolving  partnership  with  Mr.  Morse,  he  con- 
tinued alone  a  short  time,  but  on  ]May  7,  1876  (Centennial 
Year),  took  Alfred  R.  Ohl  as  a  partner,  the  style  of  the  firm 
being  Andrews  &  Ohl  until  September  1,  1880.  Later  the  firm 
became  known  as  Andrews,  Ohl  &  Company,  when  Samuel  H. 
Hempsted  liecame  a  partner.  Mr.  Hempsted  was  the  father 
of  Mrs.  Ed  Graham,  and  a  sketch  of  his  career  may  be  found 
in  these  pages.  The  concern  dealt  in  stock,  grain,  lumber, 
seeds,  wagons,  farm  implements,  buggies,  harness,  coal,  and 
rock  salt.  They  won  a  wide  reputation  in  eastern  Iowa  for 
the  fairness  of  their  dealings  and  for  the  strict  integrity  of 


480        HISTOKY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 


the  men  interested  in  the  enterprise.     The}^  bnilt  np  a  sub- 
stantial business. 

For  some  years  ])ast  Mr.  Andrews  has  carried  on  a  hunber 
business  on  his  own  account,  also  dealing  in  other  building 
material,  coal,  salt,  and  other  commodities  and  devotes  much 
of  his  fcttention  to  his  business  at  Morse.  He  has  other  in- 
terests, however,  and  is  a  man  of  large  affairs,  farming  on 
quite  an  extensive  scale.  His  farms  are  stocked  with  a  line 
grade  of  Polled  Hereford  cattle.  His  herd  has  taken  a  state 
premium  and  he  takes  great  pride  in  the  reputation  he  has 
in  this  line.  In  the  vear  1911  his  corn  vield  varied  from  85 
to  90  bushels  per  acre,  one  of  the  best  records  in  his  part  of 
the  state.     His  land  is  well  tiled  and  fenced  "hog-tight,"  and 


RESIDENCE  OF  WILLIAM  ANDREWS 

lie  has  the  most  modern  and  substantial  buildings  possible. 
In  1911  he  erected  a  concrete  foundation  to  his  barn,  and  his 
splendid  farm  residence,  located  just  outside  of  the  town 
of  Morse,  stands  on  a  most  pleasant  eminence,  so  that  it  over- 
looks the  surrounding  country  and  is  most  desirably  situated. 
The  house  is  surrounded  by  cement  walks  and  is  fitted  with 
everything  possible  to  add  to  the  comfort  and  pleasure  of 
the  inmates.  Mr.  Andrews  gives  emploj^nent  to  several  men 
on  his  place,  which  is  kept  in  fine  condition. 

On  May  25,  1876,  Mr.  Andrews  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Charlotte  L.  Morse,  daughter  of  a  pioneer,  E.  K.  Morse,  and 
a  native  of  Graham  townshi]^,  where  their  union  took  place. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  481 

Seven  children  have  blessed  this  union,  of  whom  three  died  in 
early  childhood,  the  others  being :  Alfred,  Lewis,  Frank,  and 
Ruth.  Mrs.  Andrews  is  prominent  in  church,  social  and  liter- 
ary circles,  and  influential  in  various  movements  in  Graham 
township.  They  were  among  the  founders  of  the  Christian 
church  at  Morse  and  have  always  been  active  in  its  support. 
Mr.  Andrews  is  a  member  of  the  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  He  is  one  of 
the  most  public-spirited  citizens  of  Johnson  county,  always 
ready  to  lend  a  helping  hand  to  those  in  distress  or  need,  who 
deserve  his  consideration,  and  helping  forward  every  worthy 
cause.  He  is  pleasant  and  genial,  but  modest  and  unostenta- 
tious, and  greatly  enjoys  the  society  of  his  friends,  of  whom 
he  has  a  large  number.  He  is  an  advocate  of  temperance  and 
at  the  time  of  the  incorporation  of  the  village  voted  to  keep 
out  intoxicants,  believing  it  to  be  for  the  best  interests  of  the 
community  to  ward  off  the  evils  which  would  be  likely  to  fol- 
low the  advent  of  a  saloon.  His  action  in  this  regard  has  been 
appreciated  by  the  best  element  in  the  township  and  identifies 
him  with  the  best  interests  of  all. 


ED  C.  GRAHAM 


The  Graham  family  was  one  of  importance  as  connected  with 
the  early  history  of  Johnson  county,  and  for  them  Graham 
township  received  its  name.  This  family  was  foremost  in  all 
measures  for  public  advancement  and  was  representative  of 
the  highest  interests  of  the  community.  It  has  several  worthy 
representatives  in  the  region  today,  jjrominent  among  whom 
is  Ed.  C.  Graham,  living  on  Section  25  of  Graham  township, 
who  was  born  on  the  farm  he  now  occupies,  January  3,  1865, 
just  prior  to  the  close  of  the  Civil  War.  He  is  a  son  of  Alex- 
ander and  Mary  E.  (Dyarmett)  Graham,  the  father  born  at 
Zanesville,  Ohio,  March  7,  1834,  and  died  in  Chicago,  Illinois. 
The  father  of  Alexander  was  the  noble  pioneer,  Andrew 
Graham,  who  died  January  19,  1870,  at  an  advanced  age,  and 
who  was  a  native  of  the  Emerald  Isle.  He  lirst  arrived  in 
Johnson  county  in  1849  and  located  land  from  the  govern- 
ment, but  did  not  settle  there  permaneutly  until  1854.  It  was 
for  this  emigrant  ancestor  of  the  familv  that  the  township  re- 


482        HISTOEY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

ceived  its  name.  He  was  foremost  in  the  affairs  of  his  com- 
munity and  held  many  positions  of  public  trust.  He  was  a 
useful  factor  in  the  Methodist  church  and  tlie  local  society, 
organized  in  1864,  was  known  as  the  Graham  church,  of  which 
he  was  trustee.  His  wife  died  three  years  prior  to  his  own 
demise.     She  was  a  native  of  Maryland. 

Alexander  Graham  received  a  good  education  in  the  schools 
of  Zanesville,  where  he  grew  to  manhood,  and  in  1850  came  to 
Johnson  county  with  his  father,  and  the  two  purchased  some 
900  acres  of  land  from  the  government,  at  a  price  of  $1,25  per 
acre.  He  returned  to  Zanesville  and  there  married,  April  16, 
1854,  Mary  E.  Dyarmett,  a  native  of  that  place.     Soon  after 


KESIDENCE  OF  E.   C.  GRAHAM 


marriage  the  young  couple  took  up  their  permanent  home  in 
Iowa,  on  the  place  where  the  subject  of  this  sketch  now  resides. 
He  had  made  several  trips  to  Iowa  to  look  after  his  land  in- 
terests and  became  highly  successful  in  his  operations.  Seven 
children  were  born  to  him  and  his  wife,  of  whom  the  following- 
four  now  survive:  Hattie,  the  wife  of  E.  C.  Shankland,  a 
meml)er  of  the  Subway  Commission,  of  Chicago ;  Andrew  D., 
of  Chicago;  Cora  I.,  and  Eddie  C.  Andrew  and  Cora  are 
graduates  of  Cornell  college,  Mount  Vernon,  Iowa.  Three 
children  died  in  infancy.  The  parents  of  these  children  were 
active  in  the  Methodist  church  at  Oasis  and  the  father,  who 
was  a  republican  in  politics,  held  many  township  offices  and 
served  one  term  as  deputy  sheriif.     He  was  interested  in 


BIOGRAPHICAL  483 

various  financial  enterprises  and  was  one  of  the  founders  and 
served  as  president  of  West  Branch  State  Bank.  He  was  ac- 
tive in  securing  the  services  of  the  best  teachers  in  the  local 
schools.  His  fine  farm  of  -tOO  acres  spoke  volumes  for  his 
thrift,  good  management,  and  energy,  and  his  beautiful  home, 
which  is  modern  throughout,  is  a  lasting  monument  to  his 
pride  in  his  home.  The  lumber  was  all  milled  on  the  place, 
materia]  being  hauled  from  Iowa  City.  He  was  popular  in 
fraternal  circles,  being  a  loyal  member  of  the  Masonic  order. 
The  good  work  which  is  so  ably  begun  has  been  continued 
through  the  efforts  of  his  son  Ed,  who  has  the  advantage  of 
many  late  inventions  and  methods. 

Ed.  C.  Graham  received  his  early  education  in  the  district 
school,  and  later  attended  Iowa  City  x\cademy  and  Commer- 
cial college.  With  the  exception  of  eighteen  months,  which 
he  spent  in  railroad  work,  he  has  made  this  place  his  home 
during  his  entire  life,  and  takes  peculiar  pride  in  his  estate. 
He  has  made  general  farming  his  occupation,  but  has  paid 
especial  attention  to  cattle  feeding,  and  also  has  200  hogs  on 
his  place.  He  has  many  land  interests  aside  from  his  home 
farm,  having  an  interest  in  three  horse  ranches  in  Sully  coun- 
ty. South  Dakota,  a  quarter  section  of  wheat  land  in  Brown 
county,  in  the  same  state,  and  a  quarter  section  in  O'Brien 
comity,  Iowa.  In  1911  his  corn  crop  averaged  65  bushels  to 
the  acre  on  fortv-eight  acres,  and  he  has  ever  been  successful 
in  other  lines.  He  ships  from  three  to  six  car  loads  of  cattle 
annually.  He  purchased  the  old  homestead  of  400  acres  in 
1906,  but  has  since  disposed  of  part  of  the  land.  He  has  made 
a  number  of  notable  improvements,  having  erected  barns  and 
an  auto  garage.  He  has  a  very  fine  concrete  cave,  which  he 
constructed  himself,  which  he  uses  as  a  vegetable  and  fruit 
cellar,  and  in  case  of  a  cyclone  he  thinks  it  would  be  a  con- 
venient refuge.  In  his  concrete  wash-house  he  has  installed 
a  machine  that  is  run  by  a  gasoline  engine.  He  has  procured 
every  convenience  possible  for  his  home.  He  is  a  natural 
mechanic,  and  underneath  the  ice  houses  he  has  constructed  a 
meat  room,  with  a  refrigerator  which  will  hold  a  large  amount, 
and  which  has  been  found  most  useful  and  convenient. 

Mr.  Graham  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Lillian  Hem- 
sted,  of  Graham  township,  daughter  of  Samuel  H.  and  Mary 


484        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 


J.  (Haddock)  Hemsted,  the  latter  of  whom  died  in  the  spring 
of  1879.  The  grandparents  of  Mrs.  Graham,  Frederick  and 
Elizabeth  (Akers)  Hemsted,  came  to  Johnson  county  from 
Ohio  in  1844.  Mrs.  Graham  presides  over  her  modern  home 
gracefully  and  efficiently,  and  she  and  her  husband  gladly 
welcome  their  many  friends  there.  She  is  the  mothoi-  of  four 
children:  Helen  and  Carl,  students  in  the  Iowa  City  high 
school;  Archer,  attending  school;  Harriet.  Mr.  Graham  is  a 
republican  in  politics  and  has  been  a  delegate  to  the  county 
convention.  He  is  president  of  the  AYest  Branch  Telephone 
Company  and  his  business  ability  and  sagacity  are  well  recog- 
nized. Fraternally  he  is  a  member  of  the  A.  F.  «&  A.  M.,  being 
a  Shriner  of  Davenport  Consistory,  and  also  is  affiliated  with 
Camp  No.  5059,  M.  W.  A.,  of  Oasis. 


THOMAS  A.  EVANS 

The  Evans  family  is  one  of  the  oldest  in  Johnson  county 
and  its  members  have  been  prominently  identified  with  the 
progress  and  growth  of  the  region.  Thomas  A.  Evans  is  well 
known  as  a  successful  farmer,  the  son  of  a  pioneer,  and  a 
veteran  of  the  Civil  War.  He  is  a  native  of  Johnson  county, 
born  December  24,  1858,  son  of  Thomas  Albert  and  Nancy  A. 
(McAdams)  Evans,  who  came  to  Iowa  in  1842.  The  fatlier 
was  born  December  4,  18 — ,  and  was  a  farmer  by  occupation. 
He  brought  his  famih'^  to  Iowa  in  the  year  previously  men- 
tioned and  they  located  permanently  in  Newport  township, 
Johnson  county.  He  had  been  educated  in  the  district  schools 
of  Delaware  and  as  a  young  man  moved  to  Indiana,  where  he 
was  married  and  spent  the  first  years  of  his  married  life. 
Nancy  A.  McAdams  was  born,  reared,  and  educated  in  In- 
diana. By  this  union  there  were  eight  sons,  as  follows: 
Walter  J.,  of  Newport,  Iowa ;  Wesley  D.,  of  Humboldt,  Iowa ; 
John  H.,  of  Alburnett;  James  H.,  of  Creston;  Larkin  H.,  of 
Iowa  City;  Alexander  Isaac  died  in  infancy;  Alexander  Isaac 
the  second,  who  is  in  grocery  business  at  Mount  Vernon,  Iowa ; 
Thomas  Albert  is  the  immediate  subject  of  this  sketch.  This 
large  family  of  boys  received  as  good  an  education  as  their 
parents  were  able  to  give  them  and  were  given  valuable  home 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ,  485 

training,  which  influenced  their  subsequent  lives.  They  early 
learned  the  lessons  of  industry  and  self-reliance  and  learned 
the  details  of  farming  with  their  father. 

Thomas  Albert  Evans,  Jr.,  attended  school  in  the  neighbor- 
hood of  his  father's  home,  as  did  his  brothers,  and  at  the  age 
of  fourteen  began  doing  a  man's  work  in  the  harvest  field. 
The  first  land  he  purchased  on  his  own  account  was  eighty 
acres  in  Newport  township,  having  previously  worked  out  by 
the  month  until  he  was  able  to  save  eight  hundred  dollars,  then 
made  a  trip  to  Colorado.  However,  upon  returning  home,  he 
was  more  than  satisfied  that  in  his  native  county  and  state 
were  better  opportunities  for  a  young  farmer.  Later  he  pur- 
chased land  in  the  vicinity  of  West  Branch,  Cedar  county,  and 
Oasis,  Johnson  county,  and  now  owns  eighty  acres  in  Section 
26,  Graham  township,  in  the  latter  county.  About  1883  he 
moved  to  East  Lucas  township,  where  he  lived  twelve  years, 
and  then  purchased  150  acres  of  land  in  Newport  township. 
Two  years  later  he  moved  to  his  present  home  on  Section  26, 
Graham  township,  and  has  since  lived  in  the  vicinity  of  Oasis. 
He  also  owns  some  city  property.  He  has  owned  land  in 
various  parts  of  Johnson  county  and  has  been  successful  in 
his  operations  there,  but  has  lately  given  much  attention  to 
buying  and  selling  stock,  which  he  ships  from  Oasis. 

Having  spent  practically  his  entire  life  in  the  county,  Mr. 
Evans  is  one  of  the  best  known  men  within  its  limits,  and  has 
been  able  to  build  up  a  large  stock  business.  He  has  the  en- 
tire confidence  and  good  will  of  his  customers  and  looks  well 
to  their  interests.  While  living  in  Newport  township  he  filled 
several  local  offices,  such  as  trustee,  member  of  the  school 
board  and  road  supervisor.  His  father  has  a  good  war  rec- 
ord, although  not  quite  sixteen  years  of  age  at  the  time  he  en- 
listed, in  1864,  in  the  Twenty-second  Iowa  Volunteer  Infantry, 
under  Captain  Lucas,  and  served  in  the  battle  of  Cedar  Creek. 
(His  record  may  l)e  further  found  in  the  sketch  of  Captain 
S.  D.  Pryce,  which  appears  in  this  work.) 

On  December  10,  1899,  in  Iowa  City,  Mr,  Evans  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Miss  Julia  A.  Sponey,  born  July  26,  1862, 
daughter  of  Frederick  and  Theresa  (Hurin)  Sponey,  both  of 
whom  are  deceased.  All  eight  children  in  this  family  survive. 
Bv  this  union  three  children  were  born :     Harrv  B.,  now  in 


486        HISTOEY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

Minnesota,  born  June  5,  1881;  Frederick,  born  February  2, 
1883,  married  Miss  Flossa  Crawford,  daughter  of  Kev.  John 
Crawford,  a  minister  of  the  gospel,  and  they  have  two  sons, 
Eugene  Donald,  and  Eobert  Thomas,  the  only  grandsons  in 
the  family  of  the  father;  Miss  Grace,  born  February  2,  1887, 
a  graduate  of  West  Branch  and  Iowa  City  high  schools,  is  a 
popular  educator  of  Johnson  county  and  now  has  charge  of 
St.  James  League  of  the  M.  E.  church,  in  Chicago,  where  she 
is  doing  fine  work.  Mr.  Evans  has  a  comfortable  residence 
and  other  substantial  buildings  on  the  home  farm  and  has  it 
well  furnished  with  good  fences.  He  is  a  prominent  member 
of  M.  W.  A.  Camp  No.  5059,  of  Oasis,  which  he  served  as  bank- 
er two  years,  and  now  holds  the  office  of  advisor  in  the  organi- 
zation He  also  belongs  to  the  Odd  Fellows,  being  affiliated 
with  lodge. No.  508,  of  Morse,  in  which  he  has  passed  through 
the  chairs.  He  is  much  interested  in  the  good  work  of  these 
orders  and  does  his  share  to  forward  their  welfare.  He  is 
interested  in  general  affairs  in  the  community  and  upholds 
various  worthy  public  movements. 


OERIN  ANDREWS  (Deceased) 

Probably  no  couple  were  more  intimately  associated  with 
the  early  history  of  Johnson  county  than  Orrin  Andrews, 
who  passed  to  his  reward  January  11,  1902,  and  his  venerable 
widow,  who  is  so  widely  and  favorably  known  there.  They 
passed  through  many  years  of  hardship  and  privation  and 
enjoyed  the  fruits  of  their  early  toil  together,  being  among 
the  earlier  pioneers  to  locate  in  their  community.  Mrs.  An- 
drews well  remembers  the  early  years  when  wolves  were  fre- 
quently seen  in  front  of  their  cabin,  and  deer,  elk,  and  wild 
fowl  were  plentiful.  At  first  the  candles  used  for  lighting  the 
home  were  made  by  the  primitive  method  of  ''dipping,"  and 
later,  when  molds  came  into  the  market,  the  new  method  was 
considered  a  great  saving  of  time  and  work.  She  was  a  typi- 
cal pioneer  wife  and  mother,  and  was  always  most  solicitous 
of  the  comfort  and  welfare  of  her  family. 

Orrin  Andrews  was  born  in  Orange  county,  N.  Y.,  December 
8,  1825,  son  of  Nathan  and  Filena  (Ames)  Andrews,  and  died 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


487 


in  Johnson  connty,  Iowa,  the  same  day  that  his  son,  Charles 
M.,  was  called  to  rest,  a  severe  shock  to  the  widow  and  mother, 
tlins  doubly  bereaved,  and  one  from  which  it  seemed  difficult 
to  recover.  Mr.  Andrews  was  very  young  when  ho  removed 
with  his  parents  to  Oswego,  New  York.  Eight  years  later  he 
accompanied  them  to  Trumbull  county,  Ohio.  One  year  later 
removal  was  made  to  Erie  county,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  at- 
tended the  country  schools.  He  was  married  in  Crawford 
county,  Pennsylvania,  and  moved  to  Iowa  in  1854,  locating 
first  on  the  home  where  his  father  had  located,  the  latter  being 
a  pioneer  of  Graham  towTiship,  Johnson  county.  Later  he 
purchased  eighty  acres  of  land  in  Section  10  and  kept  adding 


THE  ANDREWS   HOMESTEAD 


to  his  holdings  until  he  had  300  acres.  He  took  an  active  and 
honorable  part  in  all  public  movements  and  was  one  of  the 
building  committee  who  erected  the  Christian  church  at  Morse, 
being  one  of  its  founders  and  an  elder  for  many  years.  His 
widow  is  still  an  active  and  useful  member.  He  served  as 
township  trustee  and  four  ye^trs  as  justice  of  the  peace,  also 
being  active  in  school  matters.  He  was  keenly  interested  in 
local  and  national  politics.  He  became  very  successful  as  an 
agriculturist  and  erected  good,  substantial  buildings  on  his 
farm.  He  also  made  other  improvements  and  installed  mod- 
ern machinery.  He  fenced  and  tiled  the  place  and  brought 
it  to  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  In  the  early  days  he  was 
obliged  to  use  the  crude  aud  primitive  tools  of  the  day,  such 


488        HISTOKY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

as  the  diamond  plow  and  the  cradle,  and  was  delighted  with 
modern  tools  for  lightening  labor  and  saving  time.  He  was  a 
most  highly  respected  member  of  society,  popular  in  many 
circles,  and  sincerely  mourned  by  his  multitude  of  friends. 
He  is  buried  in  the  Morse  cemetery  as  is  his  son,  as  this  is  the 
family  cemetery  with  many  members  buried  there. 

Mr.  Andrews  was  united  in  marriage  with  Sarah  Shepard  in 
Crawford  county,  Pennsylvania,  December  16,  1852,  married 
by  Justice  Finley,  and  they  made  their  first  home  in  Erie 
county,  Pennsylvania,  remaining  there  two  years  until  moving 
to  Iowa.  Sarah  Shepard  was  born  in  Erie  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, February  6, 1827,  daughter  of  Mason  and  Jane  (Smith) 
Shepard,  her  father  a  native  of  Vermont  and  a  farmer  by  oc- 
cupation. He  was  married  in  Erie  county  and  died  in  Craw- 
ford county,  Pennsylvania,  in  1866,  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
seven  years.  Mrs.  Shepard  was  born  in  Erie  comity  and  died 
in  Crawford  countv,  at  the  age  of  eightv-six  vears.  Mrs. 
Andrews,  the  eldest  of  their  eight  children,  is  now  in  her 
eighty-fifth  year,  and  in  full  possession  of  her  faculties.  She 
was  reared  on  her  father's  farm  and  well  educated  in  the 
public  schools  and  in  an  academy.  The  locality  where  she 
and  her  husband  settled,  soon  after  coming  to  Johnson  county 
in  the  spring  of  1854,  was  mostly  unbroken  prairie,  but  con- 
tained some  timber.  The  trip  to  the  new  home  was  fraught 
with  interest  to  the  young  couple.  They  came  by  wagon  to 
Erie  City,  thence  down  the  Ohio  by  steamer  and  on  to  Cleve- 
land, thence  by  rail  to  Chicago,  and  on  from  that  city  by  stage 
to  Tipton,  Iowa.  Arriving  at  Tipton,  they  crossed  the  Cedar 
river  at  Gower's  Ferry,  now  Cedar  Bluffs,  and  landed  in 
Newport  township,  their  final  destination.  Part  of  Newport 
was  later  included  in  Graham  township,  the  present  home  of 
Mrs.  Andrews. 

Mr.  Andrews  lived  for  a  time  on  his  father's  farm,  where 
their  first  children  were  born,  and  the  first  eighty  acres  of 
their  own  was  unimproved.  Their  hewed  log  cabin  was  of  fair 
size,  plastered  and  mortared  with  clay,  and  it  is  still  plainly 
remembered  by  Mrs.  Andrews.  The  location  was  formerly 
known  as  Picayune  Grove,  and  they  lived  there  nine  years. 
In  the  rugged  pioneer  cabin  Charles  M.  Andrews  first  saw  the 
light.     Their  three  children  were:     Jennie  I.,  wife  of  Arthur 


BIOGRAPHICAL  489 

E.  Pago,  a  farmer  of  Polk  county,  Wisconsin,  whose  postoffice 
addres  is  Frederick;  Jessie  I.,  married  James  Cozine,  M.  D., 
a  Chicago  physician,  died  November  27,  1911,  and  is  buried  in 
Oaliwoods  cemetery,  Chicago,  Illinois,  also  have  one  child  de- 
ceased; Charles  M.,  who  died  in  1902.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Page 
have  the  following  children:  Miss  Edna,  the  sole  companion 
and  comfort  of  her  grandmother ;  Ada,  married  Charles  John- 
son, lives  in  Frederick,  Wisconsin  ;  one  child,  Gladys  Leora,  the 
only  great  grandchild  of  Mrs.  Andrews ;  Arthur  0.,  Tracy  S., 
Bertha  S.,  and  two  deceased.  These  are  Jennie  Andrews' 
children.  Mrs.  Andrews  lives  in  the  old  homestead  in  Graham 
township.  Miss  Edna  is  a  bright  and  charming  young  woman 
and  brightens  the  days  of  her  aged  grandmother.  Mrs.  An- 
drews has  rented  all  her  land  and  is  relieved  from  its  care,  so 
that  she  is  able  to  enjoy  a  well  earned  rest  with  few  cares  to 
interrupt  her  ease  and  quiet.  She  has  a  vivivd  recollection 
of  early  days  and  her  account  of  her  earlier  life  is  most  inter- 
esting. This  is  one  of  the  rare  families  in  which  there  are 
four  generations  living. 


ELIZABETH  HRDLICKA 

Few  persons  have  been  more  closely  identified  wdth  the 
history  of  eastern  Iowa  than  Mrs.  Elizabeth  (Stone)  Hrdlicka, 
whose  father  was  the  first  white  man  in  Cedar  Rapids,  where 
he  had  a  claim  and  shanty  and  was  an  Indian  interpreter  at 
the  trading  house.  She  has  spent  many  days  in  active  farm 
work,  for  in  early  life  she  was  accustomed  to  help  with  husking 
corn  and  other  tasks  within  her  strength,  and  when  living  with 
her  grandparents  performed  numerous  household  tasks  and 
also  spent  many  hours  a  day  at  the  spinning  wheel.  She  is  a 
native  of  Johnson  county,  born  in  Oxford  township,  in  1845, 
daughter  of  James  Wilbert  and  Elizabeth  G.  (Brown)  Stone. 
James  W.  Stone  was  born  in  Providence,  Rhode  Island,  and 
died  at  Hudson,  St.  Croix  county,  Wisconsin.  His  wife  was 
a  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Mary  (Cruson)  Brown,  her  father 
from  Pennsylvania  and  her  mother  from  Virginia,  and  mar- 
ried in  Ohio. 

Elizabeth  Stone  was  a  babe  of  four  weeks  when  her  mother 


490        HISTOEY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

died  and  she  was  reared  by  lier  grandparents,  Joseph  Brown 
and  wife,  who  came  to  Johnson  eonnty  in  1841.  She  received 
her  early  education  in  the  country  schools  of  Monroe  township 
and  later  attended  school  at  Blairstown,  Benton  county.  She 
was  married,  on  Independence  Day,  July  4,  1865,  to  Maurice 
Hrdlicka,  Squire  Sulet  performing  the  ceremony.  (Mr.  Sulet 
is  father  of  Ed.  Sulet,  a  sketdi  of  whom  appears  in  these 
pages.)  After  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hrdlicka  lived  on  the 
Orville  Babcock  place  two  years,  then  purchased  sixty-five 
acres  of  land  where  the  son  noAv  lives.     It  was  nothing  but 


RESIDENCE  OF  ELIZABETH  HRDLICKA 


brush  and  prairie,  but  he  cleared  and  broke  it,  adding  to  it 
until  he  owned  240  acres  in  this  place.  It  was  partly  covered 
with  timber  in  1867,  and  bore  little  resemblance  to  the  well 
improved  farm  of  today.  Mr.  Hrdlicka  also  purchased  a 
twenty-two  acre  tract  of  land  for  his  wife,  which  was  not  to  be 
considered  a  part  of  his  estate,  but  set  aside  for  her  especial 
use  and  ownership. 

Mr.  Hrdlicka  was  born  in  Bohemia  September  22,  1843,  son 
of  Joseph  and  Theresa  Hrdlicka,  who  came  to  the  United 
States  when  he  was  a  boy.  They  came  to  Cedar  Rapids  and 
later  to  Johnson  county.  Maurice  Hrdlicka  gave  up  active 
work  in  1904  and  prepared  to  spend  his  remaining  years  in 


BIOGRAPHICAL  491 

comfort  and  ease.  He  erected  a  tine  home  in  1901  and  fitted 
it  with  modern  conveniences.  Their  first  home  had  been  a 
modest  one-room  dwelling  and  they  had  replaced  it  when  they 
began  to  prosper  in  their  operations.  They  worked  in  har- 
mony to  attain  success  and  both,  were  most  industrious  and 
ambitious.  They  won  the  entire  respect  and  esteem  of  their 
neighbors  and  found  time  to  enjoy  the  society  of  their  many 
friends.  Mrs.  Hrdlicka  is  a  woman  of  intelligence  and  good 
breeding  and  was  a  valualile  helpmate.  Mr.  Hrdlicka  passed 
away  while  on  a  visit  to  his  daughters  in  Cedar  Rapids,  Jan- 
uary 19, 1908,  and  his  loss  was  a  shock  to  the  entire  community, 
where  he  had  passed  the  latter  part  of  his  life. 

Eleven  children  are  now  living  of  this  couple  :  Joseph,  who 
married  Mary  Brown,  lives  on  a  part  of  the  home  place  and 
they  have  two  children,  Florence  and  Mary;  Catherine,  wife 
of  Elias  Brant,  of  Clear  Creek  township,  has  three  children, 
Raymon,  (Miss)  Georgie  E.,  and  Floyd;  Mary  Agnes,  married 
Paul  I)odt,  of  Madison  township,  and  their  two  children,  Beu- 
lali  Florence,  and  Maurice  Earl;  Charles,  married  Mary 
Hempsky,  of  Linn  county,  and  their  children  are  three  in  num- 
ber, Harold,  Lloyd  L.,  and  Dorothy  M. ;  Elizabeth,  wife  of 
Edward  Anderson,  of  Cedar  Rapids,  has  two  children,  Donald 
"W.,  and  Gladys;  Wilbert  A.,  married  Bessie  Dodd,  lives  in 
Cedar  Rapids,  and  they  have  two  children,  Irene  and  Wilma. 
All  these  children  have  been  well  educated  and  reared  to  take 
their  proper  places  in  life.  They  revere  the  memory  of  their 
father  and  honor  their  good  mother,  who  has  meant  so  much 
in  their  lives. 


MILTON  MELVIN  WOLFE 

Milton  M.  Wolfe,  of  an  old  and  well-known  Johnson  county 
family,  was  born  on  the  homestead  in  Madison  township, 
where  his  paternal  grandfather  settled  in  1854.  This  is  one 
of  the  oldest  farms  in  the  county  and  was  developed  and  im- 
proved by  successive  generations  of  the  Wolfe  family  until 
the  present  day,  when  it  is  one  of  the  best  in  the  region.  Mil- 
ton M.  is  a  son  of  Mahlon  K.  Wolfe,  a  sketch  of  whom  also 
appears  in  this  work,  and  the  family  is  given  further  mention 
in  connection  with  the  sketch  of  Clarence  K.  Wolfe,  also  to  be 


492        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

found  in  these  pages.  The  grandfather,  Captain  Louis  R. 
Wolfe,  was  born  in  Knox  county,  Ohio,  being  a  son  of  Christo- 
pher Wolfe,  a  native  of  New  Jersey  and  of  German  descent. 
Mahlon  K.  Wolfe  now  lives  retired  from  active  life,  in  Iowa 
City,  the  old  home  having  been  sold  to  his  son  Clarence  K. 

Mr.  Wolfe  of  this  sketch  was  educated  in  the  public  schools 
and  reared  to  farm  work.  After  attaining  his  majority  he 
carried  on  farming  near  Fairfax,  Iowa,  seven  years,  then  sold 
out  there.  In  1909  he  purchased  the  Zeller  farm  of  108  acres 
on  Section  13  of  Penn  township.  He  has  forty-five  acres  of 
corn  and  is  known  as  an  energetic,  able  farmer.  He  has  erect- 
ed a  modern  residence,  which  is  heated  by  a  furnace  and 


KESmENCE  OF  MILTON   M.  WOLFE 


furnished  with  modern  conveniences  in  every  possible  way. 
He  makes  a  specialty  of  Norman  horses  and  has  a  good  breed 
of  cattle  and  hogs  as  well.  Besides  this  place  he  owns  a  200- 
acre  farm  in  Sanborn  county.  South  Dakota,  which  is  cared 
for  by  a  tenant  and  is  growing  in  value  year  by  year.  Like 
the  others  of  his  family,  he  has  a  keen  business  instinct  and 
manages  his  affairs  with  good  judgment.  He  is  a  democrat  in 
politics  and  much  interested  in  local  affairs.  He  is  also  prom- 
inent in  fraternal  circles,  belonging  to  the  M.  B.  A.,  and  the 
A,  F.  &  A.  M.  of  North  Liberty.  He  and  his  wife  are  well- 
known  socially,  having  a  large  number  of  friends. 

In  1900  Mr.  Wolfe  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mae 


BIOGRAPHICAL  493 

Stoner,  daughter  of  William  Stoner,  of  North  Liberty,  and 
three  children  have  blessed  this  union:  Myrle,  Donald,  and 
Russell,  all  bright  young  folks  and  children  of  whom  their 
parents  are  justly  proud. 

WILLIAM  STONER,  deceased,  was  born  in  Pennsylvania, 
in  1847,  son  of  John  Stoner.  He  became  a  farmer  and  stock- 
man after  coming  to  Iowa  and  bought,  fed,  and  shijjped  cattle 
and  hogs  on  an  extensive  scale.  He  became  one  of  the  suc- 
cessful business  men  of  North  Libert}^  where  he  erected  a 
pleasauL  modern  home.  He  purchased  a  fine  240  acre  farm 
on  Sections  10  and  11  of  Madison  township,  and  this  place  is 
now  the  property  of  L.  0.  Wolfe.  He  became  known  through- 
out the  eastern  part  of  Iowa  for  his  activity  in  the  stock  busi- 
ness and  won  an  enviable  reputation  in  business  circles.  His 
death  occurred  December  22,  1901,  and  his  loss  was  sincerely 
mourned  by  all  who  had  known  this  estimable  business  man 
and  public-spirited  citizen.  His  wife's  maiden  name  was 
Alice  Markham,  and  their  union  took  place  in  1871.  She  was 
born  in  Pennsylvania,  daughter  of  Martin  and  Emeline  (Wat- 
erman) Markham,  natives  of  the  same  state,  who  came  to 
Iowa  when  she  was  four  years  old.  Mr.  Markham  was  a  car- 
penter in  early  life  but  later  became  a  farmer  in  Oxford,  Mon- 
roe, and  Madison  townships,  Johnson  county.  He  died  in 
Illinois  in  1894  and  was  buried  at  Glidden,  Iowa.  Mrs.  Ston- 
er was  the  eldest  of  nine  children.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stoner  be- 
came parents  of  eight  children:  Lester,  of  Madison  town- 
ship, married  Nellie  Wray,  who  died,  leaving  two  children, 
Gertrude  and  Richard;  Emma,  married  George  Ranshaw,  Pi 
sketch  of  whom  appears  within  these  pages;  Ollie,  died  in 
young  womanhood  in  1909 ;  May  is  the  wife  of  Mr.  W^olfe ; 
Martin  J.,  married  Mattie  Myers,  of  Madison  township,  have 
two  children,  Donald  and  Wendell ;  Adella,  married  E.  M. 
Wray  and  they  have  no  children,  live  in  Sanborn  county, 
South  Dakota,  where  they  have  a  farm;  Glenn,  married  Inez 
Cheadle  and  they  have  a  daughter,  Gladys,  and  live  on  a  farm 
in  Sanborn  county;  Feme  M.,  married  Oral  Ramsey  and  they 
live  at  North  Liberty.  Mrs.  Stoner  is  a  member  of  Bethel 
church  in  Madison  township  and  is  active  in  the  work  of  the 
King's  Daughters  and  other  worthy  causes.  She  has  a  Inice 
home  at  North  Liberty,  where  she  has  many  friends. 


494        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

EDWARD  B.  RINDA 

Edward  B.  Riiida,  proprietor  of  beautiful  Pine  Hill  Farm, 
operating  a  choice  half-section  of  land  in  Graham  township. 
Johnson  county,  is  a  representative  Bohemian- American  citi- 
zen, who  is  interested  in  all  that  relates  to  the  general  welfare 
and  prosperity  of  his  community.  He  was  born  August  26, 
1864,  at  a  time  when  the  country  of  his  future  adoption  was 
in  the  throes  of  civil  warfare.  He  is  a  son  of  Frank  and  Kate 
(Drastak)  Rinda,  natives  of  Bohemia,  the  former  of  whom 
now  resides  with  his  daughter,  Mrs.  George  Cole,  of  West 
Lucas  township,  and  the  latter  died  in  1908,  at  the  age  of 
seventy  years.  The  father  followed  the  trade  of  weaver  in 
early  life,  but  after  coming  to  America  followed  any  honest 
labor  by  which  he  could  make  a  living,  and  for  some  years  has 
lived  retired  from  active  life,  being  now  eighty-three  years  old. 
The  mother  died  as  the  result  of  an  operation  jjerformed  in 
Mercy  Hospital  at  Iowa  City.  Two  sons  and  one  daughter 
were  born  to  this  couple:  Edward  B.,  Anna,  and  Benjamin, 
who  died  in  infancy.  xVnna  Rinda  married  George  Cole,  a 
well-to-do  farmer,  and  they  live  on  the  County  Farm  road, 
two  and  one-half  miles  from  Iowa  City,  in  West  Lucas  town- 
ship. Mr.  and  MrSv  Cole  have  children  as  follows:  Ernest, 
George,.  Edna,  Edith,  and  W^ilma. 

At  the  age  of  sixteen  years,  having  received  a  good  educa- 
tion in  the  public  schools,  Edward  B.  Rinda  began  learning 
the  trade  of  carpenter,  which  he  followed  for  three  years,  dur- 
ing this  time  working  on  a  number  of  buildings  in  the  third 
ward  in  Iowa  City,  which  city  was  his  home  for  eighteen  years. 
He  was  married  in  New]oort  township,  in  1891,  to  Miss  Be- 
atrice Buchmayer,  the  ceremony  being  performed  in  the  Cath- 
olic church  by  Father  John  Zlebeik.  She  was  born  in  Bo- 
hemia February  7,  1871,  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Anna 
(Jelenak)  Buchmayer,  the  former  a  retired  farmer  of  New- 
port township.  He  had  four  children:  Frank,  of  Johnson 
county;  James,  lives  here  also;  Anna,  married  James  K.  Ras- 
per, lives  in  Newport  township;  and  Mrs.  Rinda.  She  is  a 
talented  artist,  whose  work  in  oil  colors,  especially,  has  been 
widely  admired  and  favorably  criticised.  She  has  natural 
genius  in  this  direction  and  has  given  play  to  her  ability  and 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


495 


skill.  She  decorated  tlie  interior  of  St,  Mary's  cliiirch,  of 
Morse,  and  the  beauty  of  tliis  work  has  l)een  greatly  praised. 
Five  cliildren  have  been  born  of  tliis  union:  Florence  E., 
born  Febraury  26,  1893,  who  has  inherited  her  mother's  talent 
and  is  f-.  gifted  artist,  has  furnished  many  beautiful  pictures 
for  the  family  home,  and  who  is  an  able  instructor.  She  took 
a  three  months  course  in  Cedar  Falls  State  college;  Eliza- 
beth, born  November  27,  1894,  and  Clara,  born  December  28, 
1898,  who  graduated  from  the  district  school  when  fourteen 
years  of  age,  and  the  latter  is  attending  the  Catholic  Sisters' 
school  in  Davenport;   Edward  H.,  born  July  14,  1899,   the 


RESmENCE   OF   E.   B.   RINDA 


fourth  child;  Marcolla,  born  December  20,  1905,  the  youngest, 
attends  the  home  school.  The  eldest  daughter,  Florence,  grad- 
uated fi'om  Grant  school,  near  her  home,  when  fourteen  years 
of  age,  then  took  a  course  in  St.  Agatha's  School  of  Iowa  City 
and  then  attended  the  Immacu>ate  Conception  Academy  at 
Davenport,  Iowa,  where  she  studied  art  and  music;  is  now 
teaching  in  the  home  district  No.  6.  This  is  a  home  where 
music,  art,  poetry,  and  song  abound.  The  mother  has  inherit- 
ed her  talent,  as  she  never  had  an  opportunity  to  study  art, 
and  the  children  have  all  inherited  her  tastes.  They  are  be- 
ing given  opportunities  to  develop  their  talents,  and  brilliant 
futures  may  be  predicted  for  at  least  one  of  their  number, 
although  all  are  yet  in  early  youth. 


496        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

Mr.  Rinda  began  farming  on  his  own  account  on  the  home 
place  in  Penn  township  in  1892,  and  fifteen  years  later  sold 
out  and  purchased  160  acres,  at  $65  per  acre,  on  Section  14, 
Graham  township,  where  he  now  lives.  In  1903  he  purchased 
160  acres  adjoining  this  place,  for  w^hich  he  paid  $69  per  acre, 
the  old  Sam  Hempstead  farm  the  first,  the  latter  the  old 
Ashorn  farm.  Since  1910  he  has  expended  $6,700  in  im- 
provements, and  has  a  beautiful  farm  home.  His  modern 
residence  is  surrounded  ("with  fine  concrete  walks  and  is  furn- 
ished with  concrete  porch  and  pillars.  His  barn,  108x60  feet, 
with  20  foot  posts,  has  a  capacity  of  125  tons  of  hay,  and  he 
has  in  same  barn  a  fine  place  for  his  horses,  38x60  feet,  with 
cement  floors.  He  keeps  a  herd  of  about  50  to  80  Hereford 
cattle,  100  hogs,  and  raises  a  high  grade  of  horses  for  himself. 
In  1911  he  planted  120  acres  with  corn,  and  the  yield  was  60 
bushels  to  the  acre.  Of  other  grains  he  averaged  45  bushels 
to  the  acre.  He  raises  timothy  seed  for  his  own  use.  He  has 
fenced  his  farm  so  that  it  is  hog  tight  and  has  tiled  much  of  it, 
He  has  fitted  it  with  modern  machinery  and  equipment,  and 
it  is  one  of  the  model  up-to-date  places  in  the  township. 
He  has  built  a  corn  crib  56x28  feet,  14  feet  high,  with 
an  elevator  to  take  in  his  corn.  He  has  a  fine  orchard  and 
has  in  all  possible  ways  added  to  the  beauty  and  value  of  his 
farm.  He  is  a  self-made  man  and  furnishes  a  good  example 
of  what  may  be  accomplished  by  earnest  effort  and  untiring 
energv.  He  is  a  devout  and  active  member  of  St.  Marv's 
Catholic  church  of  Morse,  to  which  the  other  members  of  the 
family  belong,  and  fraternally  belongs  to  Camp  No.  5059,  M. 
W.  A.,  of  Oasis.  He  is  a  democrat  in  politics.  He  is  school 
treasurer  in  District  No.  6.  His  wife  is  a  member  of  St. 
Mary's  Society  of  Morse. 


FRANKLIN  DAVID  LINDSLEY  (Deceased) 

The  boyhood  days  of  Franklin  David  Lindsley  were  spent 
on  the  farm  of  his  father,  John  B.  Lindsley,  near  Frederick- 
town,  Knox  county,  Ohio.  There  our  subject  was  born  De- 
cember 5,  1845,  being  the  second  of  four  children  of  John  B. 
Lindsley  and  Eliza  P.  Strong.  The  former  was  born  in  Ohio 
April  25,  1818,  ana  the  latter  January  15, 1820.     Motiier  Lind- 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


497 


sley  died  February  2,  1871,  at  Gait,  Illinois,  and  Fatiier  Lind- 
sley  at  West  Branch,  Iowa,  July  19,  1892.  Of  their  family  of 
four  children  only  one,  the  youngest,  now  survives.  Franklin 
David  received  a  good  common  school  education  in  Knox  coun- 
ty, and  when  the  family  removed  to  Whiteside  county,  Illinois, 
he  accompanied  them.  They  settled  at  Gait,  where  our  sub- 
ject maintained  his  residence  until  shortly  after  the  great 
Chicago  tire  of  1871,  when  he  came  west  to  Iowa.  He  was 
then  employed  by  Mr.  Whittmore,  of  Rockford,  in  the  insur- 
ance business.  Although  just  a  little  past  eighteen  years 
of  age,  young  Lindsley  determined  to  enlist  for  service  in  the 


RESIDENCE  OF  MRS.  F.  D.  LINDSLEY 


Civil  War,  and  so,  in  response  to  President  Lincoln's  call  for 
100-da>  volunteers,  he  mustered  in  at  Sterling,  Illinois,  as  a 
private  in  the  140tli  Regiment  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry. 
He  was  honorably  discharged  October  29,  186-1:,  and  returned 
to  Gait. 

Sooner  or  later,  however,  every  man  is  destined  to  take  up 
the  cal'ing  for  which  he  has  the  natural  talent.  In  the  case 
of  our  subject  it  was  railroading,  and  so  in  a  few  years  we  find 
him  taking  up  the  duties  of  an  agent  of  the  Chicago  &  North- 
western railroad  at  Gait.  Once  in  the  harness,  Mr.  Lindsley 
took  to  the  business  as  naturally  as  a  young  duck  to  water. 


498        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

and  when  lie  removed  to  Mt.  Auburn,  Benton  county,  Iowa,  he 
"checked  in"  as  agent  for  the  Burlington,  Cedar  Rapids  & 
Northern  railroad  at  that  point.  He  held  that  position  until 
he  came  to  Iowa  City  April  1,  1882,  when  he  took  up  a  similar 
position  with  the  same  road  at  that  point,  a  post  which  he  held 
until  the  absorption  of  the  B.,  C.  R.  &  N.  by  the  Rock  Island 
System,  thus  completing  twenty-one  years  of  service  with  the 
Rock  Island  road.  For  three  years  following  his  withdrawal 
from  railway  service,  Mr.  Lindsley  engaged  in  the  coal  busi- 
ness with  W.  E.  C.  Foster,  of  Iowa  City,  under  the  firm  name 
of  Foster  &  Co.  But  the  old  fever  was  still  in  his  veins,  and 
he  retired  from  the  coal  business  to  accept  the  agency  of  the 
Interurban  System  at  Iowa  City,  and  he  continued  with  that 
company  from  its  inception  until  his  death,  September  19, 
1909.     He  is  buried  in  the  Iowa  City  cemetery. 

Mr.  Lindsley  was  married  June  15,  1872,  at  Mt.  Auburn, 
Iowa,  to  Miss  Penena  Kile,  by  Rev.  M.  F.  Smedley,  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church.  The  latter  was  born  in  Lancas- 
ter county,  Pennsylvania,  May  7,  1853,  and  was  a  daughter  of 
Abraham  and  Susan  (Ginrich)  Kile.  The  parents  of  Miss 
Kile  were  "Pennsylvania  Dutch,"  both  being  born  in  Lancas- 
ter county,  Pennsylvania.  Mr.  Kile  was  born  August  5,  1826, 
and  his  wife,  April  10,  1827.  The  couple  were  married  in 
1852.  Mr.  Kile  died  on  his  farm  in  Benton  county,  Iowa,  No- 
vember 14,  1898,  and  Mrs.  Kile  at  Iowa  City,  December  24, 
1906.  They  had  twelve  children,  of  whom  six  are  living  at 
this  writing.  Mrs.  Kile  was  the  youngest.  Abraham  Kile 
and  wife  removed  from  Pennsylvania  to  Iowa  City  in  1856. 
where  for  three  years  Mr.  Kile  worked  at  his  trade  of  con- 
tracting and  building.  He  constructed  the  first  railway  pas- 
senger depots  at  Iowa  City  and  West  Liberty.  Being  a  man 
of  original  ideas,  he  always  drew  his  own  plans,  and  his  work 
included  bridge  and  miscellaneous  construction.  In  1859  the 
family  removed  by  ox-team  to  Benton  county,  where  they  set- 
tled on  a  farm  in  Cedar  township.  Vinton  was  their  trading 
point  until  Mt.  Auburn,  four  and 'one-half  miles  distant,  was 
established.  Prior  to  the  arrival  of  the  Kiles,  there  was  only 
one  house  between  Vinton  and  Blairstown,  a  distance  of  eigh- 
teen miles.  The  first  house  erected  by  Mr.  Kile  on  his  new 
farm  was  of  round  logs,  and  therein  nine  of  their  twelve  chil- 


BIOGRAPHICAL  499 

dren  were  born.  Mr.  Kile,  as  may  be  supposed,  was  prom- 
inent in  the  development  of  Benton  county.  He  was  township 
trustee  of  Cedar  township  for  five  years.  At  one  time  he 
owned  500  acres  of  fine  land  in  that  township  which  he  cleared 
with  his  oxen.  At  his  death,  in  1898,  he  owned  312  acres  of 
improved  land,  which  he  deeded  to  his  wife.  At  her  death  the 
land  was  sold  and  the  proceeds  divided  among  their  six  sur- 
viving children. 

Two  sons  of  Franklin  David  Lindsley  and  Penena  Kile  sur- 
vive :  Henry  A.,  born  May  22,  1873,  a  conductor  on  the  Chi- 
cago, Rock  Island  &  Pacific  railroad,  is  married  to  Miss  Vina 
Meggeson,  of  Cedar  Falls,  father  of  one  son,  Willard  LeRoy, 
born  June  23,  1907;  J.  Clarence,  born  April  4,  1876,  also  a 
conductor  on  the  Rock  Island  System,  married  to  Miss  Rachel 
B.  Branson,  of  Thornburg,  Keokuk  county,  Iowa,  father  of  one 
son,  Francis  Kenneth,  born  July  25,  190(3,  lives  in  Iowa  City. 

Mr.  Lindsley  was  an  active  member  of  the  Masonic  fratern^ 
ity,  being  a  Knight  Templar.  He  was  also  a  member  of  Kos- 
ciusco  lodge,  I.  O.  0.  F.,  and  of  the  G.  A.  R.  He  was  treasurer 
and  a  member  of  the  official  board  of  the  M.  E.  church  of  Iowa 
City  for  a  numl)er  of  years.  His  interest  in  education  is  shown 
by  the  fact  that  he  was  president  of  the  Iowa  City  board  of 
education  for  some  years,  also  director  in  the  Iowa  City  State 
Bank.  He  built  the  family  home  at  328  South  Clinton  street 
in  1906,  which  he  only  lived  three  years  to  enjoy.  He  was 
greatly  attached  to  his  home,  and  evinced  a  special  fondness 
for  his  two  grandchildren.  Mrs.  Lindsley,  who  survives  her 
husband,  is  an  active  worker  in  the  M.  E.  church,  and  is  a 
member  of  the  Foreign  and  Home  Missionary  Societies  of  the 
church.  As  'she  has  just  reached  middle  life,  she  may  confi- 
dently look  forward  to  many  years  of  usefulness  in  the  com- 
munity of  which  she  and  her  family  are  honored  members. 


500        HISTORY  OP  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

FREDERICK  ZIMMERMAN 

AmoiJg  the  self-made  successful  men  of  Johnson  county 
Fred  Zimmerman  deserves  prominent  mention.  He  is  a  na- 
tive of  the  count}^,  born  in  Newport  township),  March  13,  1856, 
son  of  Christian  and  Kate  (Boler)  Zimmerman,  the  former  of 
whom  was  born  in  German}^  in  1815,  and  died  in  Johnson  coun- 
ty in  1897.  The  mother,  who  was  l)orn  in  1823,  died  in  1908. 
The  father  began  life  as  a  farm  hand,  but  by  pef severance 
and  energy  won  success,  and  at  the  time  of  his  demise  owned 
100  acres  of  land  in  Newport  township,  his  residence  being  in 
Graham  township.  He  and  his  wife  had  four  children :  Fred- 
erick, whose  name  stands  at  the  head  of  this  sketch ;  Christ, 


EESIDENCE    OF    FREDEKICK    ZIMMERMAN 

died  at  Boise  City,  Idaho;  John,  lives  in  Butler  county,  Iowa; 
and  Sam,  lives  in  Boise  City,  where  Christ  is  buried.  The 
parents  were  respected  for  their  industry  and  integrity  and 
had  a  good  standing  in  their  commmiity. 

At  the  time  of  leaving  his  father's  home,  when  he  had 
reached  his  majority,  Frederick  Zimmerman  had  a  cash  capital 
of  but  eight  dollars,  and  subsequent  events  have  proven  that 
he  had  enough  pluck  and  ambition  to  bring  him  to  a  position 
of  independence  and  success  in  life.  He  had  but  meager  edu- 
cational advantages  and  learned  much  in  the  hard  school  of 
experience.  He  began  life  working  as  a  farm  hand,  which 
he  continued  eight  years,  receiving  sixteen  dollars  a  month  for 


BIOGRAPHICAL  501 

the  first  year.  He  then  purchased  a  threshing  inacliiDe,  which 
he  operated  for  several  years,  and  later  purchased  land  on 
which  to  begin  farming  for  himself.  His  first  eighty  acres 
was  comparatively  wild  land,  having  been  recently  broken  to 
the  plow.  His  first  plowing  was  done  about  half  a  mile  east 
of  his  present  home,  where  he  bought  land  at  $31.50  per  acre, 
but  which  is  now  worth  $175  per  acre.  Later  he  purchased 
the  eighty  acres  where  his  home  stands.  He  purchased  an- 
other 160  acres  at  $56  per  acre,  and  in  the  spring  of  1911 
bought  eighty  acres  of  improved  land  for  $150  per  acre.  He 
owns  a  total  of  400  acres  of  choice  land  on  Sections  11  and  11, 
Graham  township,  and  in  1906  erected  a  cozy  farm  residence. 
He  built  two  substantial  barns,  one  56x54,  with  capacity  for 
120  tons  of  hay,  and  the  other,  36x30  feet,  for  horses  and  cat- 
tle. He  has  75  fine  Hereford  cattle  and  160  hogs.  In  1911 
he  had  a  crop  of  corn  averaging  50  bushels  to  the  acre  on  75 
acres,  and  on  fifty  acres  of  hay  averaged  a  ton  and  a  half  to 
the  acre.  He  has  ninety  acres  of  pasture  land  and  meadow. 
On  twenty  acres  he  raised  three  Imshels  of  timothy  seed  to  the 
acre,  the  market  price  of  which  was  $5  per  bushel. 

Mr.  Ziimiierman  is  deserving  of  great  credit  for  the  success 
he  has  won  and  is  highly  regarded  in  many  circles.  In  po- 
litical views  he  is  independent  of  party  lines,  voting  for  men 
and  measures  regardless  of  party,  and  believes  this  is  the 
attitude  of  the  true  patriot.  He  served  a  short  time  as  school 
director  but  has  never  cared  for  public  office,  being  too  busy 
with  his  work  and  plans.  He  is  a  member  of  Camp  No.  5059, 
M.  W.  A.,  of  Oasis. 

In  1898  Mr.  Zimmerman  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Mary  Wyjek,  daughter  of  Frank  Wyjek,  a  blacksmith  of  New- 
port township.  Mrs.  Zimmerman  helped  her  husband  very 
materially  in  reaching  his  present  success  and  often  worked 
in  the  fields  with  him.  She  is  i-ndustrious  and  thrifty,  and  is  a 
good  wife  and  mother.  She  has  borne  seven  children :  Mabel, 
Clarence,  Annie,  Lauretta,  Marie,  John,  and  Luella,  the  last- 
named  a  sweet  baby,  who  was  born  in  1911.  Mrs.  Zimmerman 
was  born  of  German  parents,  and  was  reared  and  educated  in 
Newport  township,  being  well  and  favorably  known  in  the 
neighborhood.     Her  parents  came  to  Iowa  in  1876. 


502        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

MATTHEW  RUSSELL  COCHRAN  (Deceased) 

According  to  family  tradition,  James  Cocliran,  the  earliest 
known  ancestor  of  the  family  herein  described,  was  a  tailor 
by  trade,  born  in  Kilbarton,  Scotland,  and  who  lived  to  be  a 
centennarian.  His  son  James,  of  the  second  generation,  fol- 
lowed the  trade  of  weaver,  was  born  in  Kilbarton,  and  reached 
the  age  of  ninety-eight  years.  General  James  Cochran,  of  the 
third  generation,  was  born  in  the  same  place,  became  a  manu- 
facturer, removed  to  Ireland  in  1788,  and  died  in  Dublin,  at 
the  age  of  about  sixty  years,  being  the  father  of  three  sons  and 
four  daughters.  General  James  Cochran  (2),  son  of  the  last- 
named,  was  the  American  progenitor  of  the  family.  He  and 
Matthew  Cochran  returned  to  Scotland,  the  former  home  of 
the  family,  and  came  thence  to  America,  some  time  later. 

Matttiew  Russell  Cochran,  whose  name  stands  at  the  head  of 
this  sketch,  was  a  native  of  Glasgow,  in  "Bonnie  Scotland," 
born  March  6,  1828.  He  died  in  Johnson  county,  Iowa,  March 
22,  189o.  He  was  a  son  of  j\[atthew  and  Margaret  (Russell) 
Cochran.  The  father  was  born  September  23,  1793,  and  died 
in  Johnson  county  in  1866.  He  was  a  Presbyterian  in  reli- 
gious faith  all  his  life.  The  mother,  who  was  born  in  Scotland 
in  1798,  and  died  in  Johnson  county  in  1864,  was  a  Congrega- 
tionalist.  These  pioneers  of  Johnson  county  had  made  the 
voyage  from  the  old  world  to  the  new  in  a  sailing  vessel,  land- 
ing in  New  York  when  their  son  ]\Iatthew  was  a  babe  about 
six  mouths  old.  They  were  parents  of  seven  sons  and  two 
daughters,  all  of  whom  are  oiow  deceased.  They  arrived  in 
what  is  now  Johnson  county  in  1843  and  settled  in  Graham 
township.  They  made  this  interesting  trip  by  canal  and  down 
the  Ohio  river,  then  up  the  Mississippi,  finding  the  conditions 
in  the  new  home  to  be  the  same  as  so  ably  described  in  the  his- 
torical part  of  this  work. 

Mattliew  Cochran  was  some  fifteen  years  of  age  when  his 
parents  located  on  the  unsettled  prairie.  He  did  not  then  re- 
main with  them,  but  returned  to  St.  Louis  and  worked  with  his 
brother-in-law,  remaining  until  1855,  when  he  returned  to  make 
his  permanent  home  in  Johnson  county.  During  this  time  lie 
had  made  many  trips  back  and  forth  to  look  after  his  land  in- 
terests.   He  finally  took  up  as  a  homestead  the  place  now  occu- 


BIOGRAPHICAL  503 

pied  by  liis  widow,  Mrs.  Adeline  Oocliran.  He  erected  a  one 
story  and  a  half  log  house,  which  was  finished  by  his  brother- 
in-law,  D.  M.  Dixon,  now  of  West  Branch,  and  in  that  primitive 
home  he  and  his  bride,  whose  maiden  name  was  Adeline 
Douglass,  lived  for  a  number  of  years,  all  their  children  being 
born  there  with  tlie  exception  of  iiaymond  and  Grace.  He  had 
six  or  eight  yoke  of  oxen  and  in  partnership  with  his  next 
younger  brother,  William,  bi'oke  prairie  for  himself  and  many 
of  his  neighbors.  They  carried  on  their  farming  operations 
in  partnership  until  1876, 

Mattiiew  Cochran  kept  adding  to  his  holdings  from  time  to 
time  as  he  was  able,  and  improved  the  place  in  every  possible 


KESIDENCE  OF   MRS.  ADELINE  COCHRAN 

way,  becoming  one  of  the  able  and  enterprising  farmers  of  the 
county.  He  died  on  this  place  in  1896,  in  the  second  house 
which  was  erected  there,  being  then  the  owner  of  four  hun- 
dred acres  of  excellent  farm  land.  His  widow  has  200  acres  of 
land  under  cultivation  and  some  eighty  acres  of  timlier  land  on 
Rapid  creek.  This  is  one  of  tire  oldest  farms  in  the  county  and 
the  homestead  has  never  been  transferred  since  it  came  from 
the  government. 

Mrs.  Cochran  was  a  teacher  in  the  days  when  she  was  ex- 
pected to  make  quill  pens  for  her  pupils.  She  taught  the  Fair- 
view  school,  occupjang  a  building  erected  in  a  very  early  day, 
14  by  22  feet,  with  seven  foot  posts,  which  stood  just  west  of 
L.  Douglass's  farm  in  Section  26,  Graham  township.     This 


504        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

was  a  frame  building  and  Sunday  school  services  were  also 
held  therein,  under  the  auspices  of  the  Methodist  and  later  the 
Fairview  Presbyterian  church.  Church  services  were  also 
held  there  at  irregular  intervals,  from  May,  1855,  during  the 
ensuing  two  or  three  years.  The  location  was  selected  by 
James  Douglass,  Sr.,  and  there  the  people  of  the  neighborhood 
gathered  to  listen  to  the  preaching  of  Rev.  F.  A.  Shearer  and 
Rev.  Conklin,  a  s\aiodical  missionary.  While  Miss  Douglass 
was  a  teacher  in  this  school  she  met  Mr.  Cochran  and  they 
were  married  at  her  father's  house  in  Scott  township,  by  Rev. 
F.  A.  Shearer,  of  Iowa  City,  January  22,  1857,  after  which 
they  lived  together  nearly  forty  years.  They  were  both  char- 
ter members  of  Fairview  church,  Mrs.  Cochran  being  one  of 
the  four  charter  members  who  now  survive.  ^Ir.  Cochran  was 
a  man  of  superior  intelligence,  who  took  a  keen  interest  in 
everything  pertaining  to  the  general  welfare  and  prosperity, 
and  was  an  active  factor  in  promoting  the  best  interests  of  his 
community.  He  kept  well  informed  on  current  events  and 
issues  and  had  well  defined  opinions  on  subjects  of  public 
interest.  He  proposed  that  the  township  be  named  after  An- 
drew Graham,  and  this  suggestion  met  the  approval  of  his 
neighbors  and  fellow-citizens,  with  the  result  that  it  was  adopt- 
ed. He  was  a  farmer  in  primitive  times  and  then  often  swung 
a  cradk  and  used  a  single  shovel  plow.  He  also  carried  on 
agricultural  operations  in  times  when  he  was  able  to  enjoy  the 
advantages  of  modern  machinery,  and  availed  himself  of  them, 
for  he  was  always  the  friend  of  progress.  He  left  a  record  of 
a  well- spent  life  and  had  the  keen  satisfaction  of  knowing  that 
he  had  provided  well  for  his  family.  " 

Eleven  children  were  born  to  Mr.  Cochran  and  his  wife: 
The  eldest  died  in  infancy;  Mary  is  the  w^ife  of  Brewster  W. 
Gardner,  of  Graham  township;  James  A.,  of  Cedar  county, 
married  Essie  Spining;  Miss  Lura  is  housekeeeper  for  the 
brothei-  George  L. ;  Agnes  E.  is  the  wife  of  Sydney  Cozine ; 
Charles  D.  lives  near  Wellman;  George  carries  on  the  Lennox 
farm;  Grace  lives  with  her  brother  George  L. :  RajTiiond,  the 
youngest,  who  is  left  with  his  mother  and  sister.  The  one 
brothei-  and  two  sisters  who  live  together  near  Elmira  have  a 
pleasant  home.  George  L.  Cochran  has  had  this  place  since 
1901. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  505 

Mrs.  Matthew  Enssell  Cochran  is  the  only  survivor  of  pio- 
neer days  in  her  immediate  neigliborhood  and  is  a  person  of 
interest  to  all  her  neighbors.  Slie  has  a  host  of  friends  and  Is 
hekl  in  great  esteem  for  her  fine  qualities  of  mind  and  heart. 
Her  children  look  upon  her  with  love  and  reverence  and  appre- 
ciate her  care  and  solicitude  for  their  well-being.  She  remem- 
bers tiiat  when  the  family  used  to  start  for  church  they  loaded 
firewood  into  the  back  part  of  the  vehicle  for  heating  the  build- 
ing. The  sills  for  this  church  buihling  were  taken  from  the 
Matthew  Cochran  timber,  ^Matthew  and  his  brother  AVilliam 
hauling  the  same  May  23,  .1855.  Mr.  Cochran  and  his  Avife 
gave  the  land  for  the  site  of  the  station  at  Elmira,  comprising 
the  southeast  quarter  of  the  southeast  quarter  of  Section  22, 
Town  80,  Range  5,  and  this  gift  was  made  conditional,  with  the 
proviso  that  if  the  requirements  or  conditions  were  not  com- 
plied v/ith  the  land  should  revert  back  to  their  heirs.  The 
building  which  was  then  erected  was  removed  to  the  present, 
site  o;  the  Burling-ton,  Cedar  Rapids  &  Northern  Railroad, 
April  (J,  1870.  The  deed  making  the  gift  of  land  was  dated 
December  10,  1870,  signed  by  Matthew  and  Adaline  Cochran, 
before  William  Haddock,  Notary  Public,  and  witnessed  by  E. 
R.  Morse  and  W.  H.  O'Hare.  Mr.  Cochran  broke  the  land 
with  oxen  and  made  the  harness  from  hickory  bark.  Mr. 
Cochran  made  the  trip  up  the  Iowa  river  from  St.  Louis  by 
boat,  the  only  one  that  was  ever  made. 


DAVID  ALFRED  GOULD 

The  Goulds  were  among  the  earlier  settlers  of  Johnson 
county,  Iowa,  and  had  previously  been  pioneer  settlers  in 
central  Illinois.  They  are  one  of  the  oldest  families  iin  the 
countiT,  three  brothers  of  that'  name  having  settled  in  Massa- 
chusetts in  the  middle  of  the  seventeenth  century.  'The  latter 
were  Thomas,  John,  and  Nathan,  and  the  branch  of  the  family 
here  -.lescribed  are  descended  from  Nathan.  The  descent 
comes  through  Thomas,  Nathan,  Nathan  (3),  Samuel,  Christo- 
pher Moses,  Moses  Nathan  (4),  Samuel,  and  John,  to  John 
Gould,  great-grandfather  of  David  Alfred  Gould,  subject  of 
this  sketch. 


506        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

Henrv  S.  Gould,  eTandfather  of  Da\dd  A.  Gould,  and  son  of 
John  Gould,  was  born  in  Erie  county,  Pennsylvania,  May  10, 
1810,  and  died  in  Johnson  county,  Iowa,  December,  1872.  He 
was  tenth  of  the  eleven  children  born  to  his  parents,  and  this 
generation  comprises  professional  men  and  also  those  who  fol- 
lowed various  other  avocations,  several  of  them  and  their  de- 
scendants becoming  mechanics  and  moving  farther  west  to 
Ohio,  Indiana,  etc.  Henry  Scoville  Gould  learned  the  trade  of 
stone  cutter  in  Pennsylvania  and  worked  for  a  time  on  the 
locks  of  the  canal  at  Johnstown.  His  mother's  maiden  name 
was  Betsy  Scoville,  a  native  of  New  York  state. 

When  in  his  twenty-eighth  year  Henry  Scoville  Gould  settled 
in  what  later  became  Morgan  county,  Illinois,  and  there  en- 
gaged in  farming,  but  his  health  was  so  poor  there  that  he 
decided  to  move  farther  west,  where  he  hoped  to  escape  the 


EESmEXCE    OF   DAVID   A.    GOULD 


fever  and  ague  so  prevalent  in  that  climate,  and  five  years 
after  reaching  Illinois  came  on  with  a  team  and  wagon  to 
Johnson  county,  this  being  in  1843.  He  entered  land  on  Sec- 
tion 32,  Madison  township.  In  the  fall  of  the  year  he  erected 
a  house  of  round  logs,  with  a  stick  and  clay  chimney,  and  then 
returned  to  Illinois  for  his  family.  In  ]835,  in  Pennsylvania, 
he  had  married  Jemima  Simons,  who  was  a  native  of  New 
York,  born  September  28,  1814,  and  died  December  11,  1871. 
She  was  a  daughter  of  Isaac  Simons,  of  Clarencetown,  Erie 
countv.  New  York.  Thev  had  two  children,  William  and 
David,  born  in  Pennsylvania,  and  two  others,  Henry  and 
James,  born  in  Illinois.  Prior  to  the  birth  of  James  the  father 
had  gone  to  Iowa,  to  stake  out  his  claim,  and  upon  returning 
■v\atli  his  family  located  permanently  in  the  new  home.    Some 


BIOGRAPHICAL  507 

time  later  he  erected  a  story  and  a  half  liouse,  where  the  follow- 
ing children  were  born  to  him  and  his  wife:  John;  Henry* 
Harriet,  now  the  widow  of  VV^illiam  Black ;  Elizabeth  ;  James ; 
Martha  Ellen,  lives  near  Iowa  City ;  Eva,  wife  of  Michael  To- 
bin,  of  Colfax;  Nathan,  of  Madison  township.  Three  of  these 
children,  William,  Henry,  and  James,  served  in  the  Union 
army  in  the  Civil  War.  Henry  S.  Gould  joined  the  Methodist 
church  when  he  was  twenty-one  years  old  and  both  he  and  his 
good  wife  remained  faithful  to  its  teachings  all  their  lives, 
carrying  the  practical  deeds  of  their  faith  into  their  everyday 
lives,  and  becoming  highly  esteemed  ])y  all  for  their  piety  and 
uprightness.  He  was  an  exhorter  for  several  years,  served  as 
a  teacher  and  officer  in  the  Sunday  school,  and  gave  his  sup- 
port to  every  good  work.  He  became  the  owner  of  about  600 
acres  of  choice  farm  land,  which  he  improved  and  cultivated. 
He  split  rails  for  fencing  and  broke  the  land  with  ox  teams. 
In  early  days  he  and  his  wife  used  dipped  or  moulded  candles, 
and  the  first  lamp  they  had  was  a  receptacle  in  which  they  used 
lard  and  a  wick.  The  men  dressed  in  home  made  jeans  and 
the  women  wore  linsey  woolsey  dresses,  all  woven  in  the  homes. 
Their  nearest  market  for  some  time  was  Bloomington,  which 
later  became  known  as  Muscatine,  and  the  only  money  used  in 
trade  was  gold,  most  of  the  trading  being  carried  on  through 
an  exchange  of  commodities.  This  pioneer  family  took  a 
prominent  place  in  the  affairs  and  social  events  of  the  com- 
munity and  Mr.  Gould  was  a  member  of  the  first  board  of 
trustees  of  the  township  and  also  served  some  years  as  super- 
visor on  the  county  board.  In  early  days  the  prices  for  farm 
products  were  very  low,  and  Mr,  Gould  hauled  dressed  hogs  to 
Iowa  City  and  then  sold  them  for  less  than  two  dollars  per 
hundred  weight. 

David  Gould  was  the  eldest  child  of  Henry  S,  Gould  and  was 
born  in  Erie  county,  Pennsylvania,  May  4,  1S36,  and  died  on 
the  old  home  farm  in  Johnson  county,  February  11,  1902.  The 
other  children  in  the  family  were :  William,  born  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, March  9,  1839,  died  October  16,  1898,  being  a  veteran  of 
the  Civil  War,  where  he  served  in  Company  G,  Sixth  Iowa  Vol- 
unteer Infantry;  Henry  Harrison,  born  in  Illinois,  April  22, 
1841,  died  in  the  army,  January  12,  1862;  James,  born  in  Illi- 
nois, October  11,  1843,  formerly  lived  in  Johnson  county,  but 


508        HISTOEY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

is  now  a  resident  of  Calhoun  county,  Iowa ;  John,  l)orn  June 
17, 1847,  died  May  11, 1907 ;  Harriet  was  born  October  30,  1848, 
in  Iowa ;  Amanda  Elizabeth  was  born  September  10,  1850,  and 
died  October  11,  1852 ;  Martha  Ellen,  born  July  4,  1852 ;  Eva, 
born  September  25,  1854,  wife  of  Michael  Tobin,  of  Colfax; 
Nathan  C,  born  November  6,  1857,  is  given  further  mention  in 
a  succeeding  paragraph. 

William  Black  and  Harriet  Gould  were  married  in  1870  and 
settled  in  West  Lucas  township,  where  the  latter  still  resides. 
Mr.  Black  was  born  in  Auburn,  New  York,  and  died  in  1881. 
His  widow  resides  on  the  farm  of  300  acres,  which  she  manages 
with  the  assistance  of  her  son-in-law  and  nephew,  Charles,  son 
of  John  Gould.  She  and  her  husband  had  the  following  chil- 
dren: Eva  E.,  living  at  home;  Nellie  H.,  wife  of  Walter  Mc- 
Ginnis,  has  two  children,  John  and  Grace;  Katie  G.,  lives  at 
home;  Hattie  May  married  Emery  Gould,  of  Colorado,  and 
they  have  two  children,  Alice  and  ^Margaret. 

Nathan  Gould,  son  of  John  Gould  and  brother  of  David 
Gould,  started  in  life  on  his  own  account  at  the  age  of  nine- 
teen years,  having  received  a  common  school  education  in  the 
local  sdiools.  He  spent  two  years  with  his  brother  John,  then 
rented  the  James  Gould  farm,  and  later  bought  out  his  brother 
William,  who  had  a  farm  just  east  of  the  place  now  occupied 
by  his  nephew,  Thomas  Gould.  He  spent  eleven  years  on  that 
farm,  which  contained  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  land, 
when  he  lost  it.  He  then  rented  the  farm  of  ten  acres  where  ho 
now  lives,  and  which  is  part  of  the  farm  of  his  brother  John. 
He  is  an  intelligent  and  enterprising  citizen,  and  has  alwa^^s 
taken  great  interest  in  the  progress  and  well-being  of  the  com- 
munity. He  has  for  many  years  kept  a  diary  which  gives  the 
names  of  all  the  preachers  who  have  officiated  in  Greencastle 
Methodist  church,  and  which  gives  in  detail  events  of  the  big 
snow  and  floods  of  the  year  1881.  He  has  witnessed  some  very 
interesting  times  in  Johnson  county,  which  he  has  seen  develop 
from  a  thinly  settled  region  to  its  present  prosperity  and  pros- 
pects. He  is  well  liked  by  his  neighbors  and  ac([uaintances  and 
has  a  great  fondness  for  the  place  that  has  always  been  his 
home,  and  where  so  many  of  his  relatives  have  been  active  in 
affairs  for  more  than  half  a  century. 

David  Gould  was  married  in  1859  to  Anna  Ewing,  a  native 


BIOGRAPHICAL  509 

of  Pennsylvania,  wlio  died  January  15,  1882,  at  the  age  of 
fifty- tbree  years,  and  both  she  and  Mr.  Gould  are  buried  in 
Greencastle  cemetery.  She  was  one  of  the  early  educators  of 
Johnson  county,  and  for  many  years  taught  what  was  known 
as  Swan  Lake  school,  wliich  was  held  in  a  log  building.  Chil- 
dren were  born  to  this  couple  as  follows:  Thomas  Henry, 
James  Bailey,  David  Alfred,  and  Amy  Elizabeth,  all  living  on 
the  home  farm  except  David  A. 

David  Alfred  Gould  was  born  on  the  Gould  homestead  in 
Johnson  county  in  1868,  being  youngest  of  four  li\dng  children 
of  David  and  Ann  (Ewing)  Gould.  He  has  made  his  own  way 
in  life  since  sixteen  years  of  age,  and  for  several  years  worked 
at  farming  by  the  month,  after  which  he  rented  land  and  op- 
erated it  for  himself.  In  1909  he  purchased  his  present  farm 
of  seventy-one  acres,  of  Eobert  Myers,  paying  over  one  hun- 
dred dollars  per  acre  for  this  valuable  place.  This  was  former- 
ly part  of  the  Christian  Grabeen  estate  and  afterwards  the 
property  of  Mr.  Myers.  The  land  has  been  brought  to  a  high 
state  of  cultivation  and  Mr.  Gould  would  not  accept  a  price  of 
$150  per  acre  for  it. 

The  house  is  situated  on  a  pleasant  knoll,  from  which  one 
can  gain  a  view\of  the  surrounding  farms  for  miles  in  every 
direction,  giving  a  pleasant  sight  in  the  summer  of  green  fields 
or  golden  grain.  Mr.  Gould  has  worked  at  various  other  occu- 
pations, but  returned  to  farming,  as  he  en;joys  the  freedom  and 
open  air,  which  he  considers  make  a  healthful  condition.  He 
married  Miss  Emma  Parisek,  daughter  of  John  and  Katie 
Parisek,  and  they  have  three  children:  Charles  is  nine  years 
old ;  Harry,  the  second  son ;  Gladys  is  a  year  and  a  half  old. 

Mr.  Gould's  farm  was  improved  at  the  time  he  purchased  it, 
but  he  has  continued  to  add  to  its  appearance  and  value  as 
seemed  desirable.  He  has  added  some  fencing  and  has  kept 
the  liuildings  in  good  repair.  It  is  a  well  stocked  farm  and  he 
has  modern  machinery  for  carrying  on  Jiis  work.  He  stands 
well  in  the  community  and  is  popular  with  all. 


510        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

JOHN  D.  MUSSER 

John  D.  Musser,  Sr.,  at  the  time  of  his  death,  July  24,  1900, 
was  a  well  known  merchant  of  River  Junction,  Iowa.  His  son, 
John  D.,  our  suhject,  succeeded  his  father  and  is  at  present  en- 
gaged in  the  mercantile  business  at  River  Junction.  Formerly 
the  senior  Musser  was  a  farmer,  and  the  farm  which  he  occu- 
pied in  Fremont  township,  and  which  he  cultivated  until  1875, 
is  still  known  as  the  Musser  homestead.  John  D.  Musser,  Sr., 
was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  his  wife,  Elizabeth  Rayner, 
mother  of  our  subject,  was  a  native  of  England.  The  latter 
survived  her  husband  nearly  nine  years,  dying  January  18, 
1909.  The  elder  Musser  came  to  Johnson  county  with  his  par- 
ents when  a  child,  and  from  that  time  his  entire  life  has  been 
lived  in  this  county.  Six  children  were  born  to  John  D.  and 
Elizabeth  Musser:  Frank,  living  on  the  old  homestead  (see 
personal  sketch) ;  Sarah  G.,  now  Mrs.  J.  D.  Decker,  living  in 
Pleasant  Valley  township;  Jane  E.,  now  Mrs.  M.  S.  Maxim; 
Mary  R.,  now  Mrs.  IT.  W.  Hilton,  living  in  South  Dakota ;  Jos- 
eph R..  married  and  farming  in  Fremont  townsliip  (see  per- 
sonal sketch) ;  our  subject. 

John  D.  Musser,  Jr.,  was  born  in  Fremont  township  in  No- 
vember, 1874.  His  first  business  "was  farming,  an  occupation 
which  lie  followed  until  1900,  when  he  succeeded  his  father  in 
the  mercantile  business  at  River  Junction.  He  owns  a  beauti- 
ful farm  in  Pleasant  Valley  township,  and  is  interested  in 
farming  as  well  as  in  other  lines  of  business. 

Mr.  Musser  was  married  in  1897  to  Miss  Mary  J.  Fountain, 
a  native  of  Johnson  county,  whose  parents  were  pioneers  of 
the  county.  Six  children  have  blessed  their  union:  Harry, 
Josephine,  Gladys  (died  at  age  of  four  years),  Fay,  Willis,  and 
Neoma.  Our  subject  is  a  democrat  politically.  His  church 
affiliation  is  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal. 

FRANK  MUSSER,  brother  of  our  subject,  was  born  in  Fre- 
mont township  in  January,  1865.  He  began  farming  for  him- 
self when  twenty-two  years  of  age,  and  has  continued  in  the 
same  businesss  to  this  day.  About  nineteen  years  ago  he 
bough [  his  first  farm  in  Pleasant  Valley  township.  Two  years 
ago  he  bought  his  father's  old  homestead,  where  he  is  now  liv- 
ing.   In  June,  1892,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Velta  May  Wim- 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


511 


man,  a  native  of  Iowa,  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Whn- 
man.  The  couple  have  three  children :  Fred,  J  ohn,  and  Emma, 
all  living  at  home.  Mrs.  Musser  is  dead.  Mr.  Musser  is  a 
democrat  and  is  affiliated  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 


JOSEPH  R.  MUSSER 

Joseph  R.  Musser  belongs  to  a  well-known  family  of  John- 
son county  and  is  one  of  its  native  sons.  He  was  born  in  Fre- 
mont township,  February  20,  1873,  son  of  John  D.  and  Eliza- 
beth (Rayner)  Musser,  natives  of  England.  There  were  six 
children  in  the  family,  tbose  besides  Joseph  R.  being:  John 
D.,  a  sketch  of  whom  appears  in  this  work;  Frank,  also  given  a 
sketch  herein ;  Sarah  G.,  now  Mrs.  John  Decker,  of  Long  Beach, 


EESIDENCE  OF  JOSEPH  R.  MUSSER 


California;  Jane  E.,  now  Mrs.  M.  S.  ]\raxim,  resides  in  Em- 
metslmrg,  Iowa ;  Mary  R.,  now  Mrs.  Henry  Hilton,  of  Yale, 
South  Dakota. 

In  youth  Joseph  R.  Musser  spent  his  time  as  other 
farmers'  sons  of  the  region,  helping  with  the  work  on  his 
father's  farm  and  attending  the  local  schools.  He  has  alwavs 
had  a  taste  for  farming  and  began  this  line  of  work  on  his  own 
account  at  the  time  he  reached  his  majority.  He  has  since  con- 
tinued this  occupation  with  the  exception  of  a  time  spent  in 
mercantile  business,  in  company  with  his  brother  John  D. 


512        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

They  engaged  in  business,  in  River  Junction,  Iowa,  soon  after 
their  father's  death,  in  1900.  Josepli  R.  Musser  now  lives  on  a 
farm  in  Fremont  township  and  has  been  very  successful  in  his 
work.  He  is  an  industrious  and  useful  citizen,  much  inter- 
ested in  the  affairs  of  the  community  and  giving  his  influence 
for  the  best  interests  of  all.  He  is  independent  in  local  poli- 
tics but  in  national  affairs  votes  the  democratic  ticket. 

On  January  16,  1907,  Mr.  Musser  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Frances  Aubrecht,  a  native  of  Iowa,  and  one  child  has 
blessed  their  union,  a  daughter,  whom  they  have  named  ^U\- 
dred  May.  Mrs.  Musser  is  a  daughter  of  James  and  Katherine 
Aubrecht. 


ANTHONY  GALLAUGHER 

Though  now  residing  upon  and  cultivating  the  farm  in  John- 
son county  which  he  purchased  in  1894,  Anthony  Gallaugher 
has  had  wide  experience  as  an  engineer  and  machinist,  both  in 
his  native  state,  at  Davenport,  and  in  the  metropolis  of  tjie 
west,  Chicago.  His  first  introduction  to  manufacturing  came 
as  a  result  of  his  acquaintance  with  E.  F.  Rate,  on  whose  farm 
in  Johnson  county  he  had  been  engaged  as  a  laborer.  When 
Mr.  Rate  left  the  farm  and  took  up  the  manufacture  of  gloves 
at  Davenport,  Mr.  Gallaugher  went  with  him  as  his  mechanical 
engineer.  When  Mr.  Rate  left  Davenport,  our  subject  engaged 
with  Hall  &  Ross,  glove  manufacturers,  of  Chicago,  in  the  same 
capacity,  and  continued  with  that  firm  for  twenty  years.  In 
the  spring  of  1902  he  returned  to  Iowa  and  settled  upon  the 
farm,  where  he  now  resides. 

Mr.  Gallaugher  is  of  Irish  and  English  blood.  His  father 
was  a  native  of  Ireland,  and  his  mother  of  London,  Engian<I. 
The  father,  James  Gallaugher,  came  to  America  when  a  very 
young  man;  the  mother,  Lucy  Marshall,  arrived  in  the  fall  of 
1854.  James  Gallaugher  conducted  a  carpentering  and  con- 
tracting business  in  Iowa  City  for  a  number  of  years.  He 
died  in  1868,  when  our  subject  was  five  j^ears  of  age.  The 
mother  survived  until  the  fall  of  1902. 

Youjig  Anthony  began  work  on  the  farm  of  E.  F  Rate  at 
the  age  of  fourteen,  and  from  that  time  has  made  his  own  way 
in  the  world.     He  has  made  faithfulness  and  effectiveness  the 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


513 


cardinal  principles  of  his  industrial  work,  and,  of  course,  has 
made  good  in  the  battle  of  life.  In  the  prime  of  manhood,  he 
has  prospectively  many  years  of  usefulness  before  him, 

Mr.  Gallaugher  is  a  native  of  Iowa  City,  being  born  April 
27, 1863.  He  has  been  twice  married.  His  first  wife  was  Miss 
Elsie  M.  Akett,  of  Iowa  City,  who  died  in  December,  1892.  One 
child  was  born  of  this  union,  Sarah,  now  Mrs.  Fountain,  of 
Fremont  township.  His  second  wife  was  Miss  Selina  Fowl, 
who  is  the  mother  of  one  son,  Clarence.  The  latter  is  engaged 
in  the  manufacture  of  tools  and  special  machinery,  having  in- 
herited his  father's  aptitude  for  mechanics.  His  ability  and 
equipment  are  such  that  it  is  said  of  him  that  he  is  in  a  position 
to  produce  any  'kind  of  machinery. 


CHARLES  Y.  DOERRES 

The  history  of  the  Doerros  family  is  set  forth  in  the  sketch 
of  the  life  of  John  Doerres,  to  which  the  attention  of  the 
reader  is  directed  in  connection  with  this  account  of  Charles 
V.  Doorres,  who  is  a  son  of  John  and  Louisa  Doerres.     Our 


RESIDENCE  OF  CHARLES  V.  DOERRES 


subject  was  born  in  Fremont  township,  Johnson  county,  Iowa, 
February  14,  1879.  His  boyhood  was  spent  oii  the  home  farm 
of  his  father,  and  the  aptitude  displayed  for  agriculture  dur- 
ing these  years  decided  him  to  make  farming  his  life  work. 


514        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

He  has  therefore  coiitiiuied  in  this  ]iiie  of  business  ever  since, 
taking  up  in  connection  therewith  stock  raising  and  feeding. 
Mr.  Doerres  has  made  a  decided  success  of  his  life  work,  and 
stands  high  among  the  progressive  young  farmers  of  Johnson 
count  V. 

August  31,  1910,  Mr.  Doerres  was  married  to  Miss  Amelia 
Reime7:-s,  a  native  of  Moline,  Illinois,  and  together  they  look 
down  tiie  pathway  of  the  future  with  bright  anticipations  of 
prosperity  and  happiness.  Mr.  Doerres  is  a  democrat  and  a 
member  of  the  M.  B.  A.,  of  Lone  Tree,  Iowa. 


CONRAD  JEHLE 


Conrad  Jehle,  a  prominent  farmer  of  Fremont  township, 
settled  in  Johnson  county  in  1873,  and  has  continuously  resid- 
ed in  the  same  neighborhood  ever  since,  a  period  of  thirty- 
eight  years.  His  lifelong  occupation  has  been  farming,  and 
his  fatlier  before  him  was  a  farmer.     Mr.  Jelile  was  born  in 


EESmENCE    OF    CONRAD    JEHLE 


Germany  November  19,  1813.  His  parents,  Michael  and  Mary 
(Ristmeuller)  Jehle,  also  natives  of  Germany,  came  to  Amer- 
ica when  Conrad  was  nine  years  of  age  and  settled  in  Wiscon- 
sin. There  thev  remained  for  fifteen  vears,  when  thev  moved 
to  Muscatine  county,  Iowa.  From  Muscatine  county,  at  the 
end  of  six  years,  they  settled  in  Fremont  township.     Our  sul)- 


BIOGRAPHICAL  515 

ject's  residence  in  Fremont  township  dates  from  the  day  of 
the  family's  arrival  from  Muscatine  county. 

Mr.  Jehle  was  married  in  18G9  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Eaucli,  a 
native  of  Germany,  who  came  to  America  with  her  parents 
when  a  small  child.  They  have  been  blessed  with  five  chil- 
dren: William,  married,  and  residing-  in  Cedar  county;  Ja- 
cob, living  at  home;  Hannah,  now  Mrs.  Feltman,  living  upon  a 
farm  in  Muscatine  county;  Louisa, 'now  Mrs.  Henry  Sturgis, 
living  in  Muscatine  county;  Joseph,  living  at  home. 

Mr.  Jehle  is  a  member  of  the  Catholic  church,  and  is  a 
democrat  politically.  He  is  esteemed  by  his  neighbors  as  an 
honorable,  industrious  man  —  one  of  the  substantial  and  pro- 
gressive citizens  of  Fremont  township. 


RICHARD  WALLACE  HUSKINS 

Richard  Wallace  Huskins,  at  the  age  of  sixty-one,  is  still 
farming  the  old  homestead  which  his  parents  took  up  as  gov- 
ernment land  in  1856.  He  was  a  lad  six  years  old  when  the 
family  located  on  that  farm.  For  fifty-five  years,  therefore, 
he  lia^  resided  continuously  at  the  same  place,  and  at  this 
writing  fully  expects  to  spend  the  remainder  of  his  days  amid 
the  old  scenes  which  have  become  more  precious  to  him  with 
the  passing  years. 

''The  orchard,  the  meadow,  the  deep-tangled  wildwood,     .     . 
And  every  loved  spot  that  my  infancy  knew"  — 

Theec  are  the  elements  that  enter  deeply  into  the  conscious- 
ness of  this  sturdy  Iowa  farmer  and  l)ind  him  to  the  old  home- 
stead with  sinews  of  affection  unbroken  and  unbreakable.  The 
student  of  psychology  ^dll  not  doubt  that  there  are  influences 
and  sentiments  surrounding  sucji  old  family  homes  which  make 
for  peace  of  mind  and  gird  the  occupants  with  the  comfortable 
thought  of  companionships  long  gone  but  not  forgotten,  and 
these,  taken  in  connection  with  the  vital  ties  and  activities  of 
the  xjresent,  constitute  ideal  conditions  for  contentment,  which, 
with  the  scriptural  ingredient  of  godliness,  provide  "great 
gain"  for  their  fortunate  possessors. 

Richard  Wallace  Huskins  was  born  in  Uniontown,  Penn- 
sylvania, in  November,  1850.     His  parents,  Richard  and  Char- 


516        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

lotte  (^ Wells)  Huskins,  were  also  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  the 
former  being  born  in  Chester  county,  October  2,  1803,  and 
the  latter  in  Fayette  county,  February  28,  1807.  The  elder 
Huskins  was  married  in  Fayette  county,  and  moved  to  Fre- 
mont township,  Johnson  county,  Iowa,  in  1856,  where  he 
settled  upon  the  farm  which  is  the  present  home  of  our  sub- 
ject. Father  Huskins 's  business  originally  was  that  of  a 
paper  manufacturer.  His  election  to  the  position  of  clerk  of 
the  courts  in  Fayette  county,  Pennsylvania,  however,  gave 
him  the  agreeable  opportunity  of  cultivating  his  natural  taste 
for  the  law.  This  position  he  held  for  a  good  many  years. 
After  taking  up  his  homestead  in  Iowa  he  divided  his  time 
between  farming  and  the  practice  of  law.     For  a  number  of 


EESIDENCE    OF   E.   W.   HUSKINS 

years  he  was  justice  of  the  peace  in  Fremont  townshijj,  and 
held  numerous  local  offices  under  election  on  the  democratic 
ticket.  His  connection  with  public  affairs  made  him  an  im- 
portant factor  in  the  development  and  history  of  the  town- 
ship. He  died  September  11,  1885,  in  his  eighty-second  year. 
Mother  Huskins  survived  him  six  months,  dying  February  28, 
1886,  til  at  date  l)eing  sing-ularly  the  seveiity-ninth  anniversary 
of  her  birth.  This  excellent  couple  brought  into  the  world  a 
family  of  twelve  children  :  John,  Margaret,  Elizabeth,  James, 
Joseph,  Rachel,  Mary,  Rebecca,  William,  Bryan,  our  subject, 
and  Frank.  Of  these  only  four  survive:  Elizabeth,  Mary, 
our  subject,  and  Frank. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  517 

Firfel,  a  farmer ;  secondly,  a  farmer ;  finally,  a  farmer.  This 
describes  the  life  work  of  Richard  AVallace  Huskins.  He  has 
been  a  man  of  one  purpose  and  one  work.  His  reputation  and 
standing  in  the  business  world  and  among  his  neighbors  at- 
test his  success.  In  1879  he  took  to  wife  Miss  Sarah  France, 
who  was  born  in  Illinois  and  came  to  Johnson  county  with  her 
parents  in  1865.  The  elder  Frances  have  been  dead  a  good 
many  years.  She  had  five  brothers  and  two  sisters:  John, 
Andrew,  Henry,  Jacob,  James,  Barbara,  and  Minnie.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Huskins  have  five  children :  Carrie,  now  Mrs.  F.  M. 
Baker,  residing  in  Fremont  township  (see  sketch  of  Fred  M. 
Baker  elsewhere  in  this  volume.  —  Ed.)  ;  William,  married  to 
Mary  Janard  of  Fremont  township,  who  died, in  April,  1910, 
leaving  two  daughters,  Mildred  and  Vera  (William  is  now 
making  his  home  with  his  parents)  ;  Juliet,  now  Mrs.  George 
Crawford,  living  in  Lincoln  township;  Minnie,  now  Mrs.  C. 
Edmojids,  living  in  Rock  Island,  Illinois ;  Bessie,  living  at 
home. 

Our  subject  followed  the  example  of  his  father  politically  and 
allied  himself  with  the  democratic  party.  The  family  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 


JOSIAH  KINLEY  CORLETT 

Wil'iam  Corlett,  the  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was 
born  oa  the  Isle  of  Man  about  the  vear  1800,  and  died  near 
Oleveland,  Ohio,  in  1867.  His  wife,  Anna  Kinley,  also  a  na- 
tive of  the  Isle  of  Man,  was  born  in  1797  and  died  in  Ohio  in 
1868.  They  had  seven  children:  Jane  Clark;  William,  died 
in  Ohio ;  Thomas,  died  in  California ;  John,  deceased ;  Daniel, 
deceased;  Catherine,  residing  in  California;  Josiah  Kinley, 
our  subject.  William  Corlett  was  a  farmer,  and  pursued  that 
occupation  in  America  until  his  death. 

Josiah  Kinley  Corlett  was  born  in  Cuyahoga  county,  Ohio, 
near  Cleveland,  January  23,  1838.  He  came  to  Iowa  City  in 
1856  and  began  work  at  his  trade,  that  of  carriage  making. 
In  1860  he  spent  a  season  in  Colorado,  mining.  He  was  a 
soldier  of  the  Civil  War,  and  saw  three  years  of  hard  service, 
•enlisting  in  1861.     His  first  service  was  for  three  months  in 


518        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

Company  B  of  the  First  Iowa  Infantry  and  his  last  in  Com- 
pany I  of  the  Twenty-second  Iowa  Infantry.  He  was  hon- 
orably discharged  in  the  fall  of  1865.  Mr.  Corlett  took  part 
in  every  engagement  of  the  campaign  and  siege  of  Vicksburg, 
as  well  as  in  numerous  skirmishes.  He  was  with  Sheridan  in 
Shenandoah  Valley'  and  took  part  in  three  pitched  battles  iu 
that  camimign. 

At  the  close  of  the  war  he  returned  to  Iowa  City  and  took 
up  the  peaceful  work  of  carriage  making  at  his  shop  on  South 
Dubuque  street,  between  Washing-ton  and  College.  There  he 
was  in  business  many  years.  Later  he  sold  the  property  on 
South  Dubuque  and  removed  to  College  street,  between  Du- 
buque and  Linn.     He  has  lived  in  retirement  since  1905. 


^^     ^  w                               ^^ 

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1  ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^H^I^H^^^^^^HI  ^T           ^''^^^^^^^^^^1 

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EESmENCE  OF  J.  K.  CORLETT 

Comrade  Corlett  is  Past  Commander  of  Samuel  J.  Kirk- 
woocl  Post  No.  8  of  the  G.  A.  R. ;  is  a  member  of  Eureka  lodge, 
L  0.  0.  F.,  and  of  Iowa  City  Lodge  No.  4,  A.  F.  &  A.  M. 

Mr.  Corlett  was  married  in  1873  at  Iowa  City,  to  Miss  Mar- 
garet H.  Crawford,  a  native  of  Canada,  who  came  to  Iowa 
City  with  her  parents  in  1854.  Her  parents  were  Hugh  and 
Janet  ^^McConchie)  Crawford,  who  lived  on  a  farm  in  Johnson 
county  for  many  years. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Corlett  were  born  two  children:  Addie 
Belle,  who  died  in  infancy,  and  Robert  Kinley,  principal  of 
AVest  Hill  school,  Burlington,  Iowa.  Mrs.  Corlett  died  June 
26,  1911,  at  the  family  home,  418  South  Van  Buren  street. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  519 

Join]  Corlett,  a  brother  of  J.  K.,  came  to  Iowa  the  same 
year,  1856,  and  was  for  a  time  engaged  in  the  livery  business 
with  his  brother,  Daniel,  and  later  for  himself.  He  was  suc- 
ceeded by  his  brother,  Josiah,  who  conducted  the  business 
thereafter  for  many  years.  John  Corlett  also  was  a  soldier 
in  the  Civil  War,  having  enlisted  at  the  first  call  in  Company 
F,  First  Iowa  Cavalry.  He  died  in  Nebraska  in  1892,  leaving 
a  wife  and  six  children.  Mrs.  John  Corlett  now  resides  in 
Colorado  Springs,  Colorado. 


THE  BOERNER-FRY  COMPANY 

Probably  very  few  people  in  Iowa  City  really  know  the  ex- 
tent or  magnitude  of  the  business  transacted  by  the  Boerner- 
Fry  Comi)any  or  that  their  special  representatives  travel  the 
greater  portion  of  the  United  States.  While  this  company 
manufactures  every  kind  of  toilet  articles  their  specialty  is  a 
pure  vanilla  extract.  During  the  year  1910  there  were  sold 
from  this  plant  over  5,000  gallons  of  this  article  alone. 

It  is  only  by  a  visit  through  this  manufactory  that  one  can 
form  any  conception  of  the  amount  or  of  the  high  quality  of 
goods  liere  produced  or  of  the  amount  of  investment  required. 
Large  quantities  of  the  pure  vanilla  bean,  purchased  by  the 
Boerner-Fry  Company's  agents  direct  from  the  growers,  are 
constantly  on  hand.  Huge  tanks  hold  over  250  gallons  of 
vanilla  while  tiers  of  barrels  hold  in  storage  thousands  of 
gallons  of  this  valuable  extract  to  supply  the  constantly  in- 
creasing customers  of  this  company.  The  extraction  of  this 
delicate  flavor  from  the  vanilla  bean  is  an  interesting  process 
and  requires  special  machinery.  The  chemical  and  lalioratory 
equipment  is  probably  the  most  elaborate  and  complete  of  any 
plant  oi'  this  kind  in  the  country,  affording  every  facility  for 
the  production  of  the  highest  grade  of  goods  in  this  line.  The 
material  which  is  used  in  the  manufacture  of  these  goods 
comes  from  many  different  parts  of  the  world.  Copper  tanks 
most  securely  sealed,  battered  and  dented  from  transportation 
have  come  direct  from  far  away  Ceylon.  Costly  pomades  are 
brought,  from  the  great  flower  gardens  of  France  and  other 


520        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

places  in  Europe,  the  contents  of  only  a  tiny  dram  vial  being 
valued  at  $95.00. 

The  Boerner-Fry  Company  was  first  started  as  a  partner- 
ship concern  in  1897  by  E.  L.  Boerner,  druggist.  In  1906  it 
was  incorporated  under  the  state  laws  of  Iowa  as  The  Boern- 
er-Fry Company.  The  present  officers  are:  E.  A.  AVilcox, 
president ;  W.  J.  Teeters,  vice  president  and  consulting  chem- 
ist; W.  A.  Fry,  treasurer;  W.  H.  Conant,  secretary.  The 
above  named  officers  together  with  D.  A.  Harkness  and  Wil- 
lard  J.  Welch  comprise  the  board  of  directors. 

The  officers  and  directors  of  the  Boerner-Fry  Co.  are  men 
who  have  been  prominently  identified  with  the  business  and 
educational  interests  of  Iowa  City  for  a  number  of  years. 

E.  A.  AVilcox,  the  president,  is  a  professor  of  law  in  the  Law 
Department  of  the  State  University  of  Iowa. 

W.  J.  Teeters,  vice  president  and  consulting  chemist,  is 
Dean  of  the  Pharmacy  Department  of  the  State  University. 

The  chemical  laboratory  of  the  Boerner-Fry  Co.  is  under  the 
direct  charge  of  R.  A.  Kuever,  a  professor  in  the  Pharmacy 
Department  of  the  State  University. 

W.  .\.  Fry  was  for  a  long  time  cashier  and  president  of  the 
Johnson  County  Savings  Bank. 

W.  11.  Conant,  secretar}^  and  manager,  has  been  identified 
with  the  newspaper  and  business  interests  of  Iowa  City  for 
eighteen  years. 

D.  K.  Harkness  is  the  Iowa  representative  of  Reed,  Mur- 
dock  <Jc  Co.,  of  Chicago,  Illinois,  and  a  director  in  the  Com- 
merciaJ  Savings  Bank,  of  Iowa  City,  Iowa. 

Wiilard  J.  W^elch  is  a  prominent  capitalist  and  business  man 
of  Iowa  City  and  also  a  director  in  the  Johnson  County  Sav- 
ings Bank. 

The  business  of  the  Boerner-Fry  Co.  is  as  indicated  above, 
the  manufacture  and  sale  of  all  kinds  of  flavoring  extracts, 
butter  color,  perfumes,  and  toilet  preparations  and  their  pro- 
ducts are  shipped  to  every  point  in  the  Mississippi  Valley 
and  the  west. 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


521 


FRED  E.  MORRISON 

Fred  E.  Morrison  is  well  laiown  throughout  Johnson  and 
adjoining  counties  in  his  capacity  as  auctioneer.  He  was  born 
in  Adams  county,  Illinois,  September  29,  1870,  and  was 
brought  to  Louisa  county,  Iowa,  by  his  parents  when  he  was 
three  years  of  age.  The  family  came  to  Johnson  county  in 
1884  and  there  the  father  carried  on  farming,  as  he  had  prev- 
iously done.  The  parents,  Junius  B.  and  Angel ine  (McCoy) 
Morrison,  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania  and  Indiana,  respect- 
ively. 

In  boyhood  Fred  E.  Morrison  attended  the  common  schools 
and  helped  with  the  work  on  his  father's  farm.     When  he  was 


EESIDENCE  OF  FRED  E.  MOERISON 


ready  to  choose  an  occupation  for  himself  he  chose  farming 
and  continued  to  follow  this  occupation  with  success  until 
1906,  when  lie  took  up  that  of  auctioneer,  for  which  he  is  pe- 
culiarly fitted.  All  his  busiuess  career  has  been  spent  in 
Johnson  county  and  he  is  well  known  there.  He  has  estab- 
lished a  good  business  in  his  present  line  and  operates  in 
Johnson,  Louisa,  Muscatine,  and  Washington  counties,  where 
he  takes  complete  charge  of  various  kinds  of  sales. 


522        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

In  J 892  Mr.  Morrison  married  Miss  Delia  Siverly,  a  native 
of  Louisa  comity,  Iowa,  and  their  union  has  been  blessed  with 
seven  clnldren,  namely :  Frata  G.,  Ralph  F.,  Esther  M.,  War- 
ren F.,  Rnth  I).,  Dorothea  A.,  and  Beula  I.  The  family  oc- 
cupy a  pleasant  home  in  Fremont  township,  near  the  sonth 
county  line,  and  take  an  active  part  in  local  circles. 


REV.  FATHER  ALOYS  CIHAL  (Deceased) 

It  would  be  commonplace  to  say  that  the  ranks  of  the  Chris- 
tian ministry  contain  and  have  contained  uncrowned  heroes, 
whose  moral  deeds  of  valor  are  entitled  to  recital  in  the  annals 
of  state  and  nation ;  everyone  acquainted  with  the  history  of 
missionary  and  religious  effort  in  the  great  west  of  America 
is  fully  aware  of  this  fact.  What  is  more  to  the  point  is  the 
fact  that  there  are  living,  moving  religious  integers  in  Iowa 
City  and  Johnson  county  today  whose  consecration  and  work, 
both  in  results  accomplished  and  in  daily,  devoted  effort,  mark 
them  as  men  of  force  and  power  in  religious  circles,  entitled 
to  recognition  in  company  with  the  hundreds  of  other  citizens 
whose  deeds  emblazon  the  pages  of  local  history.  The  pas- 
tor, because  he  is  a  pastor,  need  not  therefore  be  relegated  to 
the  heavenly  historians  for  his  biographical  crown ;  it  is  neith- 
er out  of  order  nor  out  of  taste  to  recite  his  life  and  activities 
in  the  history  of  today. 

Rev.  Father  Aloys  Cihal,  pastor  of  the  St.  Wenceslaus  Bo- 
hemian Catholic  church,  of  Iowa  City,  Iowa,  is  a  former  Kan- 
sas missionary  and  a  man  of  culture  and  education.  He  was 
born  in  Moravia,  Austria,  in  18GG,  and  is  the  son  of  Thomas 
and  Mary  Cihal,  an  educator  who  taught  school  for  forty-nine 
years.  In  the  year  that  he  left  his  native  land  for  missionary 
service  among  the  Bohemians  of  Kansas,  Father  Cihal  was 
ordained  to  the  priesthood  by  the  Right  Reverend  Laurier,  a 
prelate  from  the  United  States.  Prior  to  his  ordination  he 
had  supplemented  his  elementary  education  received  at  home 
by  a  theological  course  at  the  University  of  Louvain,  Belgium, 
one  of  the  most  noted  schools  of  Europe,  from  which  he  grad- 
uated in  the  class  of  1891. 

Father  Cihal  began  his  work  in  his  new  field  from  Leaven- 


BIOGRAPHICAL  523 

wortli,  Kansas,  his  first  charge  being  near  the  Nebraska  line 
at  Hanover,  Kansas.  There  he  served  fourteen  years  as  a 
missionary,  when  he  removed  to  Everett,  Kansas,  remaining 
nine  years  before  coming  to  his  present  charge.  His  first 
circuit  extended  from  Hanover  to  Marysville  and  Marion,  a 
distance  in  all  of  thirty-five  miles,  which  he  covered  in  a  buggy 
or  on  horseback  every  third  Sunday,  besides  holding  services 
twice  a  month  at  the  Nebraska  line  and  often  witliin  that  state. 
Among  the  churches  organized  during  his  missionary  term 
in  Hanover,  Kansas,  were  Marrow  Station,  Ijanham,  Irving, 
Randolph,  Clara,  and  Clifton;  with  intervening  services  at 
Alma  and  Waumigo,  in  each  of  which  were  located  fine  church 
buildings.  During  his  pastorate  at  Everett  he  also  held  ser- 
vices at  Marak,  Kansas,  near  Hiawatha. 

Father  Cihal  has  proven  the  right  man  at  St,  Wenceslaus 
church,  of  Iowa  City,  which  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  repre- 
sentative parishes  of  the  Bohemian  Catholic  denomination  in 
Iowa.  His  culture,  experience,  and  withal  his  recognized  abil- 
ity as  preacher  and  educator,  have  enabled  him  to  minister 
most  acceptably  to  his  people.  Under  his  direction  the  church 
made  rapid  and  useful  progress. 

After  a  long  and  lingering  illness  he  died  February  13, 
1912,  He  was  taken  ill  with  his  last  sickness  on  Februarv  6, 
his  46tli  birthday.  The  funeral  took  place  February  13,  at  10 
o'clock,  a,  m,,  from  his  regular  church,  St,  Wenceslaus,  where 
the  body  lay  in  state  in  charge  of  a  guard  of  honor  from  the 
fourth  degree  members  of  the  K.  of  C.  The  funeral  was  very 
impressive.  It  was  in  charge  of  Rt.  Rev.  Bishop  Davis  and 
corps  of  assistants.  Two  sermons  eulogizing  the  reverend  pas- 
tor's  life  were  ably  presented,  one  in  English  and  one  in  Bo- 
hemian, showing  the  love  and  esteem  in  which  this  reverend 
priest  was  held  both  in  Kansas  and  Iowa. 


524        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

FRED  M.  BAKER 

Fred  M.  Baker  is  a  native  of  Fremont  township,  John- 
son county,  Iowa,  where  he  was  born  in  1881.  His  father, 
Solomon  Baker,  married  Amanda  Jane  Loehr,  who  is  Fred 
M.'s  mother.  From  early  life  Mr.  Baker  has  been  a  farmer  in 
his  home  township,  and  has  been  at  his  present  location  for 
nine  years.  He  has  a  laudable  ambition  to  make  his  farm  one 
of  the  attractive  and  most  productive  places  in  the  county. 


RESIDEISrCE   OF   FRED   M.    BAKER 

Mr.  Baker  was  married  in  190!2  to  Miss  Carrie  E.  Huskins, 
also  a  nativo  of  Fremont  township,  who  has  proven  to  be  an 
excellent  wife,  and  has  borne  children :  Pearl,  Esther,  Orville 
M.,  Richard,  and  Weslev.  The  familv  are  members  of  the 
Methodist  Epicsopal  church. 


JOHN  JOSEPH  NEY 

One  of  the  best-known  attorneys  of  Johnson  county  is  John 
Joseph  Ney,  who  has  been  a  resident  of  Iowa  for  about  twenty 
years  past.  He  is  a  native  of  Sanduslr^^,  Ohio,  born  June  8, 
1852,  son  of  Patrick  and  Ann  (Corcoran)  Ney,  natives  of  Ire- 
land. The  father  was  by  occupation  a  railroad  contractor, 
farmer,  and  soldier,  and  served  in  the  War  of  the  Rebellion. 
He  was  successful  in  a  business  way,  and  although  he  was 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


525 


away  ij'oiii  home  on  railroad  work  a  great  deal  of  the  tune, 
his  sons  were  reared  to  farm  work.  He  and  his  wife  had 
five  sons  and  two  daughters. 

John  J.  Ney  attended  the  village  school  at  Areola,  Allen 
county,  Indiana,  and  later  entered  a  Catholic  Brothers'  school 
at  Fort  Wayne.  He  soon  afterward  returned  to  the  home 
farm  ajid  later  went  with  his  father  on  railroad  work  for  a 
year,  after  which  he  took  a  course  at  Notre  Dame  University. 
Later  lie  read  law  in  an  office  at  Independence,  Iowa,  and  then, 


EESIDENCE  OF  J.  J.  NEY 


returning  to  Notre  Dame,  graduated  therefrom  in  1874.  He 
returned  to  the  college  for  the  next  year  after  graduation,  then 
began  practicing  at  Independence.  In  1875  he  became  a  mem- 
ber of  tJie  legal  firm  of  Lake,  Harmon  &  Ne}^,  upon  the  election 
of  M.  W.  Harmon  to  the  Iowa  state  senate.  Mr.  Ney  retired 
from  the  firm  upon  Mr.  Harmon's  return  from  the  session  of 
1876,  and  thereupon  formed  the  law  firm  of  Buckart  &  Ney 
in  the  same  year. 

Mr.  Ney  has  served  creditably  in  various  public  offices,  first, 
in  1877,  as  city  attorney  of  Independence,  and  the  following- 
year  oRSumed  his  duties  in  the  office  of  mayor.  Upon  his 
election  to  the  latter  office  he  dissolved  the  firm  of  Buckart  & 
Ney,  and  from  that  time  practiced  alone.  He  was  elected  cir- 
cuit judge  in  1884  to  fill  the  unexpired  term  of  B.  W.  Lacy,  re- 
signed.    He  was  twice  elected  as  district  judge  of  the  Tenth 


526        HISTOEY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

judicial  district  of  Iowa,  serving  in  tins  office  from  January 
1,  1887,  until  December,  1894,  at  which  time  he  resigned.  Mean- 
while, lie  had  removed  to  Iowa  City,  which  has  since  been  his 
home.  In  September,  1894,  he  became  resident  professor  of 
law  in  the  State  University,  whik^  at  the  same  time  he  con- 
tinued private  practice,  but  after  the  June  commencement  in 
1898,  he  ceased  his  connection  with  the  institution,  devoting  liis 
entire  time  to  his  large  and  growing  practice.  Since  that  time 
this  has  been  his  life  work,  and  he  is  known  as  one  of  the  most 
astute  and  successful  men  in  his  profession  in  his  part  of  the 
state.  He  is  popular  with  all  who  know  him  and  stands  well  in 
the  estimation  of  his  fellow  citizens.  He  has  proven  faithful  to 
every  trust  imposed  on  him  and  has  given  valuable  service  to 
the  public  in  every  office  he  has  filled.  In  religious  views  he  is  a 
Catholic  and  fraternally  he  was  a  member  of  the  old  Iowa  City 
Club  later  absorbed  by  the  Elks. 

Mr.  Ney  was  married  (first)  in  Chicago,  October  3,  1878,  to 
Emily  Frances  Colby,  daughter  of  Abram  Usher  and  Mary 
(Sautor)  Colby.  Mrs.  Ney  died  at  Independence,  September 
14,  1893,  leaving  four  children  surviving:  Frank  J.,  Philip 
E.,  Genevieve  F.,  and  John  J.,  Jr.  Mr.  Ney  was  married 
(second)  in  Iowa  City,  January  20,  1904,  to  Miss  Anastasia 
Mullin,  daughter  of  William  and  Margaret  (Phelan)  Mullin. 
They  liave  a  pleasant  home  in  Iowa  City. 


SAMUEL  P.  FEY 


The  name  of  Fry  has  been  identified  with  the  business  de- 
velopment of  Iowa  City  and  northern  Johnson  county  since 
1840,  in  which  year  Titus  and  Jane  (Preston)  Fry,  the  parents 
of  our  subject,  settled  in  Johnson  county  and  took  up  land 
from  tije  government,  a  part  of  which  is  the  site  of  the  present 
village  of  Frytown.  The  parents  were  natives  of  Ohio,  and 
Samuel  P.  Fry  was  also  born  in  the  P>nekeye  state  June  15, 
1840,  being  barely  six  months  old  when  his  father  and  mother 
made  the  westward  journey  to  Iowa.  Titus  Fry  was  by  trade 
a  carpenter,  but  took  up  farming  after  coming  to  Johnson 
county.  He  was  a  man  of  active  mind,  abreast  of  the  times, 
progressive  and  aggressive.    Though  he  resided  on  the  farm 


S.    p.    FRY 


MRS.  S.  P.  FRY 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


527 


in  Waslungton  township  until  1865,  tlien  moved  to  Iowa  City, 
lie  nevertheless  took  an  active  interest  in  all  matters  pertain- 
ing to  the  development  and  growth  of  Iowa  City.  Ho  filled 
the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace  in  his  township  for  a  number 
of  years  and  various  other  township  offices.  The  children  of 
Titus  and  Jane  Fry  were  eight  in  number:  our  subject;  Wil- 
liam A.,  president  of  the  Iowa  City  Water  Co.  and  treasurer  of 
the  Boerner-Fry  Co.,  Iowa  City,  and  was  president  of  the 
Johnson  County  Bank,  with  which  he  has  been  connected  for 
thirty-two  years ;  Mary  Jane,  now  Mrs.  Moore,  living  in  Iowa 
City;  Eachel,  now  Mrs.  Jacob  Patterson,  living  in  California; 


RESmENCE  OF  S.  P.  FRY 


Amanda,  married  to  Samuel  dinger,  she  now  deceased ;  Flor- 
ence ;  Samantha ;  Carrie,  deceased  wife  of  Bert  Wyman. 

Our  subject  attended  the  country  schools  of  his  home  neigh- 
borhood, and  early  in  life  began  to  farm.  This  business  he 
continued  for  a  number  of  years  after  leaving  school.  Feeling 
a  desire  for  work  in  the  city,  lie  removed  to  Iowa  City,  where 
he  engaged  in  the  grocery  business  for  two  and  one-half  years. 
Following  this,  he  took  up  the  livery  business  for  two  years. 
He  then  returned  to  the  farm  west  of  Iowa  City,  where  he 
resided  for  nineteen  years,  or  until  he  removed  to  his  present 
location  about  six  years  ago,  to  Iowa  City,  there  for  two  years, 


528        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

then  bought  142  acres  in  Elast  Lucas  township,  where  he  lived 
for  four  years,  then  moved  to  his  present  home  March  1,  1912. 

Mr.  Fry  was  married  on  September  30, 1875,  in  Iowa  City  by 
Rev.  D.  P.  Grosscup,  a  brotlier  of  Mrs.  Fry,  and  both  are 
cousins  of  Judge  Grosscup,  of  Chicago,  to  Miss  Fiauna  M. 
Grosscup,  a  native  of  Ohio.  She  has  borne  him  eight  children : 
Hayes  Allen,  born  October  10,  1876,  married  and  living  in 
Iowa  City,  one  child,  Margaret;  Edna  Grace,  born  February 
4,  1878,  now  Mrs.  Roscoe  Wilson,  of  Iowa  City,  one  child, 
Robert;  Jessie  May,  born  March  10,  1880,  now  Mrs.  Stoner, 
living  near  North  Liberty,  four  children,  Helen  F.,  Edna, 
Irma,  and  Samuel  F. ;  Mary  Edith,  born  ]\larch  1,  1882,  wife  of 
L.  B.  Beeson,  engaged  in  the  agricultural  department,  Wash- 
ington, D.  C,  two  children,  John  A.  and  Edith  V.;  Stella  B., 
born  September  25,  1885,  now  Mrs.  William  Rowland,  living- 
four  miles  west  of  Iowa  City,  two  children,  Mabel  and  Ger- 
trude; Annastatia,  born  ]\Iay  31,  1887,  now  Mrs.  Ward  Row- 
land, lives  near  her  sister  Stella,  west  of  Iowa  City;  Glenn  G., 
born  May  16,  1890,  unmarried,  residing  at  home ;  Ella  Leera, 
born  August  20, 1892,  now  Mrs.  L^mn,  of  Ann  Arbor,  Michigan, 
one  child,  Laurance. 

Our  subject  was  the  owner  of  a  fine  home  in  East  Lucas 
township,  west  of  Iowa  City,  wdiich  he  sold  in  the  fall  of  1911, 
an  engraving  of  which  is  given  in  connection  with  this  sketch. 
He  is  a  republican  politically  and  in  every  sense  a  citizen  of 
worth.  He  has  held  the  position  of  assessor,  and  has  been 
prominently  identified  wnth  the  Johnson  County  Agricultural 
Society.  He  and  his  entire  family  are  members  of  the  Chris- 
tian church. 


WILLIAM  HENRY  JAMES 

William  Henry  James,  born  in  Providence,  Rhode  Island, 
September  4,  1857,  is  a  son  of  John  and  Katherine  (Milward) 
James,  The  latter  was  a  native  of  England,  and  came  to 
Providence,  Rhode  Island,  in  1867.  Three  years  later  he 
remove  ([  to  Johnson  county,  Iowa,  where  for  a  time  he  carried 
on  the  business  of  a  contractor.  He  afterwards  took  up  pho- 
tograpjiy,  and  continued  in  this  line  until  his  death,  which 
took  place  at  Des  Moines  in  1882.     Mrs.  James  was  also  a 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


529 


native  of  England,  and  the  couple  were  married  in  that  coun- 
try.    She  died  in  1893. 

Our  subject  attended  the  public  schools  of  Iowa  City,  and 
when  old  enough  to  enter  business  took  up  his  father's  profes- 
sion of  photography,  in  which  occupation  he  continued  for 
thirty-five  years,  most  of  the  time  in  Iowa  City.  He  retired 
from  active  business  May  1,  1909,  and  since  that  date  has  de- 
voted ]iis  attention  to  his  property  interests. 


RESIDENCE  OF  W.   H.   JAMES 

Mr.  James  was  married  October  2,  1881,  to  Miss  Nancy  W. 
Fairall,  a  native  of  Iowa  City,  daughter  of  Judge  Pairall. 
They  have  no  children. 

His  brother,  Tom  James,  and  his  sister,  Nell,  reside  at  Des 
Moines,  Iowa. 


CLARENCE  K.  WOLFE 

Maple  Grove  Farm  is  one  of  the  oldest  farms  in  Madison 
township,  Johnson  county,  and  its  present  owner  and  operator, 
Clarence  K.  Wolfe,  belongs  to  the  third  generation  of  his  fam- 
ily who  have  occupied  it  and  added  to  its  value  and  productive- 
ness. His  grandfather.  Captain  L.  Wolfe,  located  on  this  place 
in  1854  and  took  part  in  the  pioneer  activities  of  the  region. 
The  father,  Mahlon  K.  Wolfe,  now  retired  from  active  life 
and  residing  in  Iowa  City,  was  formerly  the  operator  of  the 


530        HISTORY  (3F  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

farm  above  mentioned  and  has  taken  a  prominent  part  in  the 
life  of  the  county.    A  sketch  of  his  Jife  appears  in  this  work. 

Captain  L.  Wolfe  was  born  in  Knox  county,  Ohio,  April  22, 
1825,  and  was  a  son  of  Christopher  AVolfe,  who  was  a  native 
of  New  Jersey,  born  July  11,  1791.  Christopher  Wolfe  was  a 
farmer  by  occupation  and  died  in  1888,  when  in  his  ninety- 
fourth  year.  He  was  a  democrat  in  politics  and  served  as 
county  commissioner  and  justice  of  the  peace.  His  wife  died 
at  the  age  of  seventy-three  years.  Their  eigiit  children  were : 
John,  Mary  Ann,  George,  Captain  Louis  R.,  William,  Thomas 
J.,  Eliza,  and  Samuel  C.  liOuis  R.  was  the  fourth  child  and 
third  son  of  his  parents,  and  on  April  29,  1846,  married  Eliza- 


RESIDENCE   OF  C.   K.  WOLFE 

betli  Lindslev.  In  185-1  he  brought  his  familv  to  Iowa  and  lo- 
cated  on  Section  33  of  Madison  township,  on  the  farm  above 
mentioned.  The  region  abounded  in  wild  game  and  he  became 
well  known  as  a  successful  deer  hunter.  His  wife  was  a  sister 
of  the  mother  of  W.  S.  Files.  Mr.  Wolfe  recruited  a  company 
for  an  Indian  war  in  the  west,  was  elected  captain  of  the  same, 
and  served  until  1865.  He  and  his  wife  had  three  sons  and 
two  daughters,  of  whom  Mahlon  K.  was  the  eldest.  The  others 
were:  C.  Douglas,  Lewis  A.,  Phoebe,  wife  of  William  Hardy, 
Lucinda,  deceased.  Captain  Wolfe  was  highly  respected  by 
the  pioneer  settlers  in  Johnson  county  and  was  recognized  as 


BIOGRAPHICAL  531 

a  man  of  strong  character  and  high  principles.  His  fellow 
citizens  delighted  to  honor  his  ability  and  fitness  for  office  and 
he  was  given  several  local  positions  of  trust,  as  well  as  others 
of  more  importance.  He  served  three  terms  as  a  supervisor 
of  the  township  board  and  two  years  on  the  county  board.  He 
was  elected  to  the  general  assembly  of  the  state  in  1880  and 
reelected  two  years  later.  In  1887  he  moved  to  Oxford  town- 
ship. He  became  active  in  various  business  operations  and  was 
one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Oxford  State  Bank.  He  was  a 
strong  democrat  and  most  of  his  descendants  have  adhered  to 
the  princijjles  of  the  same  party  with  firm  conviction.  He  was 
outspoken  in  his  defense  of  the  right  as  he  saw  it,  and  was  a 
powerful  factor  for  good  in  his  township  and  county,  as  Avell 
as  in  the  affairs  of  the  state. 

To  Mahlon  K.  Wolfe  children  were  born  as  follows :  L.  0. 
of  Madison  township;  C.  B.,  of  Pottawatomie  county;  M.  M., 
of  Penn  township ;  M.  I.  is  the  owner  of  a  large  ranch  in  Okla- 
homa ;  Clarence  is  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  and  was  born  on 
the  home  farm  in  1881 ;  Edith  is  the  wife  of  Dr.  Albert  Brock, 
a  dentist  of  Grinnell ;  Glee  is  the  wife  of  Emerv  Schultz,  a  den- 
tist  at  Storm  Lake,  Iowa. 

Clarence  K.  Wolfe  is  the  youngest  son  of  his  parents  and 
remained  on  the  home  farm  until  attaining  his  majority.  He 
received  his  early  education  in  the  rural  schools  and  later  took 
a  course  in  Iowa  City  Academy  and  in  a  commercial  college 
of  Iowa  City.  After  he  was  twenty-one  years  old  he  began 
farming  on  his  own  account,  working  for  others  until  he  was 
able  to  buy  land  of  his  own.  In  1910  he  purchased  the  old 
home  farm  of  200  acres  in  Madison  township,  where  he  carries 
on  general  farming,  with  special  attention  to  stock  raising.  He 
furnishes  employment  to  some  three  or  four  men  throughout 
the  year  and  carries  on  his  agricultural  operations  in  a  scien- 
tific and  business-like  manner.  He  has  about  140  acres  in  corn 
and  has  considerable  land  in  pasture  for  his  cattle,  horses,  and 
other  stock.  He  keeps  some  200  head  of  hogs  and  finds  this 
branch  of  his  business  very  profitable.  In  1911  he  erected  a 
fine  modern  barn,  with  two  cupalos,  thirty-five  feet  high  inside, 
40x62  feet  in  ground  space,  with  cement  floors,  and  conceded  to 
be  one  of  the  finest  in  that  part  of  Johnson  county,  being 
planned  by  himself.    The  farm  is  well  supplied  with  water  and 


532        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

contains  a  handsome  mapJe  grove.  No  expense  lias  been 
spared  to  make  this  a  model  estate  and  modern  machinery  and 
appliances  are  in  use  wherever  they  will  facilitate  the  work. 
Mr.  Wolfe  is  a  keen  bnsiness  man  and  an  excellent  judge  of 
stock.  He  is  recognized  as  an  enterprising  farmer  and  an  up- 
right citizen,  interested  in  everything  appertaining  to  the  wel- 
fare of  his  community,  and  proud  of  the  name  he  bears. 

Mr.  Wolfe  was  married  in  Madison  township  to  Miss  Belle 
Wray,  daughter  of  David  W.  Wray,  a  sketch  of  whom  appears 
in  this  work.  She  was  the  recognized  belle  of  her  neighbor- 
hood, being  widely  known  for  her  beauty  and  estimable  quali- 
ties of  mind  and  heart.  One  child  has  blessed  this  union,  Miss 
Catherine  Wray  AVolfe,  born  on  March  1,  1909.  Mr.  Wolfe  and 
his  family  are  well  known  in  social  circles  and  he  is  a  member 
of  the  M.  W.  A.,  of  North  Liberty.  Like  his  father  and  grand- 
father, he  is  a  strong  democrat. 


LEWIS  ORVILLE  WOLFE 

Among  the  well-to-do  farmers  of  Johnson  county  who  have 
become  extensively  interested  in  stock-raising  is  L.  Orville 
Wolfe,  who  has  been  successful  in  his  operations  in  a  gratify- 
ing degree.  He  has  spent  his  entire  life  in  the  county,  having 
been  born  on  Section  33,  Madison  township,  in  1873,  seventh 
child  of  Mahlon  K.  and  :\Lary  Elizabeth  (Babcock)  Wolfe,  a 
sketch  of  whom  appears  in  this  work.  The  father  is  a  native 
of  Ohio  and  now  resides  in  Iowa  City,  and  the  mother  was  born 
in  Iowa.  They  have  been  residents  of  Johnson  countv  since 
1855. 

In  early  boyhood  Mr.  W^olfe  attended  the  district  schools  in 
Madison  township,  at  the  same  time  learning  the  details  of 
farm  work.  Upon  reaching  maturity  he  decided  to  make  farm- 
ing his  career  and  began  operations  on  his  own  account.  He 
has  always  been  interested  in  stock  and  is  a  good  judge  of  cat- 
tle and  hogs.  A  few  years  since  he  sold  his  farm  in  the  north- 
western part  of  Madison  township  and  bought  180  acres  in 
Penn  township,  which  he  sold  later  and  purchased  his  present 
farm  of  240  acres  in  the  same  townshi]^,  which  is  located  two 
miles  west  of  North  Liberty.     He  has  a  large  crop  of  corn  each 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


533 


year,  having  about  ninety  acres  planted  in  this  manner,  and 
also  has  about  eighty- three  acres  of  small  grain.  In  1911  he 
had  thirty  acres  planted  in  oats,  in  two  fields,  from  one  of 
which  he  had  a  yield  of  42  bushels  to  the  acre,  and  from  the 
other,  35  bushels.  Plis  fall  wheat  yielded  some  22  bushels  to 
the  acre.  He  has  a  high-grade  line  of  cattle  and  keeps  about 
150  head  of  hogs.  Pie  is  an  expert  judge  of  horses  and  has 
some  nineteen  head  of  high-grade  Norman  horses  and  colts, 
for  which  he  has  won  a  local  reputation.  He  is  a  man  of  ex- 
cellent business  judgment  and  manages  his  affairs  in  a  manner 
that  insures  his  financial  success.     He  is  active  in  the  councils 


KESIDENCE  OF  L.  ORVILLE  WOLFE 


of  the  democratic  party  and  takes  great  interest  in  the  affairs 
and  issues  of  the  township,  county,  and  state.  He  is  one  of  the 
best-known  men  in  his  township  and  is  popular  with  his  many 
friends.  The  family  have  a  high  standing  in  the  community, 
being  prominent  in  social  circles.  They  have  a  pleasant  home 
in  which  they  dispense  a  gracious  hospitality. 

Mr.  Wolfe  was  married  February  11, 1897,  by  Rev.  Hickman, 
of  the  Church  of  God,  to  Miss  Florence  Moreland,  ^^oungest 
daughter  of  Alexander  Moreland,  of  North  Liberty.  A  sketch 
of  Mr.  Moreland  appears  within  these  ])ages.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Wolfe  have  three  children :  Floyd,  born  September  12,  1902, 
Mary,  born  May  30,  1903,  and  Edith,  born  September  5,  1908, 


534        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

all  bright  young  people,  and  the  last  named  is  an  especially 
beautiful  child. 

Mrs.  Wolfe  is  a  member  of  Purcella  and  King's  Daughters. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  North  Liberty  Commercial  Club. 


CHAELES  ROBARTS 

The  man  who  has  the  distinction  of  being  the  oldest  continu- 
ous resident  of  Madison  township,  Johnson  county,  is  Charles 
Robarts,  who  has  lived  from  the  time  of  the  Hint  musket,  the 
tomahawk,  and  the  spinning  wheel,  to  the  day  of  the  automo- 
bile and  the  coming  aeroplane.  He  and  his  wife  have  a  beauti- 
ful home,  made  famous  throughout  the  county  by  the  culture 
of  rare  and  handsome  flowers,  in  which  she  takes  great  plea- 
sure. They  have  named  the  place  Robarts  Rest,  a  most  appro- 
priate cognomen  for  it.  This  is  part  of  the  home  farm  which 
his  father  began  to  cultivate  and  improve  in  1848.  Mr.  Robarts 
was  born  at  Black  Hawk,  Louisa  county,  Iowa,  July  9,  1844, 
son  of  Adolph  and  Elizabeth  (Crosby)  Robarts,  the  former  a 
native  of  Ohio. 

Adolph  Robarts  was  born  November  2,  1802,  and  died  in 
September,  1872.  He  was  the  second  child  born  to  Amos  Rob- 
arts, who  was  the  father  of  three  sons  and  three  daughters, 
all  of  whom  reached  maturity.  With  his  wife  and  seven  chil- 
dren, Adolph  Robarts  came  to  Iowa  in  1843,  spending  some  six 
weeks  on  the  way.  The  trip  was  made  in  a  covered  wagon 
drawn  by  horses.  They  first  went  to  Louisa  county,  and  in 
1844  removed  to  Linn  countv,  and  in  1849  came  to  Johnson 
county.  Cedar  Rapids  at  that  time  was  but  a  hamlet.  His 
wife,  who  was  born  in  1803  and  died  March  9,  1899,  was  a 
daughter  of  Edward  and  Phoebe  (Shreves)  Crosby.  She  and 
Mr.  Robarts  were  married  in  182fi.  Both  were  stanch  Metho- 
dists and  they  helped  to  build  a  church  at  Greencastle  and  later 
the  U.  B.  church  at  the  cross  roads  in  Madison  township. 
They  had  children  as  follows  :  John,  died  in  California ;  Isaac, 
lives  in  that  state ;  William,  lives  at  Bucyrus,  Kansas ;  Thomas, 
who  served  in  Company  E,  Twenty-eighth  Iowa  Infantry,  lives 
at  Bucyrus;  Phoebe,  married  William  H.  Morse,  who  was 
killed  in  the  battle  of  Mansfield,  during  the  Civil  W^ar ;  Mary, 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


535 


married  James  Paiiitiii,  lives  in  Kansas;  Daniel,  oJ'  Kansas. 
Jolm  crossed  the  plains  in  1851  and  William  and  Isaac  in  1854; 
Daniel  P.  served  in  Company  E,  Twenty-eighth  Iowa  Infantry, 
was  wonnded  at  the  battle  of  Champion  Hills,  May  16,  1863, 
now  lives  in  western  Kansas ;  and  Charles,  our  subject. 

Adolph  Robarts  entered  land  in  Section  3-1:  of  Madison  town- 
ship, in  1849.  This  comprised  the  southeast  quarter  of  the 
northwest  quarter.  The  Robarts  home  was  below  Robarts 
Ferry  and  the  iron  bridge,  the  first  cabin  being  southeast  of 
the  bridge,  being  some  thirt3^-five  rods  from  that  point.  In 
1851  the  high  water  rose  to  within  twenty  feet  of  the  cabin. 
Wild  turkeys  and  other  game  abounded.    The  home  was  erect- 


■Kliuj^  ..j^^juiii^    1 

\,";V'~  -^i^:^    ^.  ■;^  .-^      _  '    _  -^-^nBr 

"^^^1 

.11./ 

THE  OLD  ROBARTS  HOMESTEAD 


ed  of  round  logs,  was  16x24  feet  in  the  main  part,  with  a 
kitchen  eight  feet  wide  on  one  side,  one  story  high,  with  a 
puncheon  floor.  The  chimney,  of  atone  and  clay,  was  on  the 
west  side,  and  a  door  on  the  east  side,  and  in  each  of  the  two 
rooms  was  a  six-light  window.  The  iron  kettle  in  which  their 
baking  was  done  was  brought  from  Ohio.  About  1857-58  this 
building  was  replaced  by  a  frame  house  which  still  stands  and 
is  a  landmark  in  the  neighborhood. 

Mr.  Robarts  broke  the  prairie  ^\nth  four  or  six  yoke  of  oxen 
at  a  time,  using  a  20-inch  plow  for  the  former  and  a  28-incli 
one  for  the  latter.  He  also  helped  other  farmers  to  break  up 
their  land,  having  several  good  teams  for  this  work.    His  son 


536        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

Charles  helped  with  this  work  after  he  was  able,  and  was  al- 
ways much  interested  in  all  the  operations  which  were  going- 
forward  on  the  home  place.  Mrs.  llobarts  raised  flax,  which 
she  heckled,  spun,  and  wove,  making  linsey  dresses  for  her 
daughters  and  shirts  and  jeans  for  her  sons.  Bloomington, 
now  Muscatine,  was  their  nearest  trading  point.  They  went  to 
a  mill  at  Cedar  Rapids,  and  in  early  days  Mr.  Robarts  hauled 
dressed  hogs  to  Iowa  City  and  sold  them,  sometimes  as  low 
as  $1.50  per  hundred  weight.  He  also  sold  corn  sometimes  as 
low  as  fifteen  cents  per  bushel.  Money  was  scarce  and  trade 
was  carried  on  by  an  exchange  of  commodities,  except  in  rare 
instances.  In  the  fall  of  1853  he  established  Robarts  Ferrv, 
his  first  boat  iDeing  forty  feet  long  and  eighteen  wide,  fitted 
with  ropes  and  pulleys,  coupled  to  wire,  which  was  fastened  to 
trees  on  either  side  of  the  river.  He  made  his  first  fences  by 
splitting  rails,  and  by  this  work  paid  for  a  part  of  his  land. 
He  erected  a  weaving  shop  on  his  land,  which  is  still  standing 
on  the  farm  of  his  son  Charles.  There  a  daughter,  now  Mrs. 
Paintin,  of  Kansas,  became  the  weaver  for  the  neighborhood. 
These  noble  pioneers  deserve  praise  for  the  hardships  they 
endured  and  for  the  Christian  fortitude  with  which  they  made 
the  best  of  every  situation  and  helped  pave  the  way  for  future 
improvement  and  development.  They  reared  a  large  family 
to  honorable  manhood  and  womanhood  and  are  held  in  grate- 
ful remembrance  by  their  descendants  and  sun^iving  friends. 
In  early  boyhood  Charles  Robarts  attended  school  in  a  log 
building  in  Penn  township  and  later  attended  the  Wray  school, 
erected  in  1854.  In  later  years  Mr.  Robarts  liauled  the  latter 
building  to  his  home  place,  in  1892  having  made  the  purchase, 
and  it  is  now  a  part  of  his  cozy  home.  In  his  later  school  days 
he  attended  school  at  the  Cross  Roads,  where  a  building  was 
erected  in  1863.  He  remained  on  the  home  farm  until  one  year 
after  his  marriage,  in  1871,  when  he  brought  his  wife  and  one 
child  to  the  present  home  of  forty  acres.  He  remodeled  and 
added  to  the  old  house,  and  Robarts  Rest  is  one  of  the  most 
picturesque  spots  in  the  county.  When  his  father  moved  from 
the  original  location  in  Madison  township  to  Section  34,  he 
had  an  orchard  of  120  fine  trees,  arranged  in  twelve  rows  of 
ten  each,  and  a  portion  of  this  orchard  is  now  the  property  of 
the  son.    The  latter  now  has  nearly  every  fruit  for  which  local 


BIOGRAPHICAL  537 

conditions  are  suitable,  including  a  great  variety  of  apples. 
Tlie  estate  now  consists  of  forty  acres  and  was  first  cultivated 
in  1854,  tlie  first  crop  of  sod  corn  on  tlie  place  being  entirely 
destroyed  by  wild  game.  In  1911  Mrs.  Eobarts  says  her 
ground  cherries  were  eaten  by  quail,  of  which  there  were  many 
in  the  neighborhood. 

Mrs.  Robarts  has  many  visitors  who  come  to  view  her 
flowers,  and  they  are  a  source  of  much  pleasure  to  her,  growing 
profusely  under  her  ministrations.  She  has  a  natural  gift  for 
horticulture,  and  many  handsome  bouquets  from  her  garden 
have  found  their  way  to  a  sick-room  or  funeral.  She  has  a 
vegetable  garden  of  which  she  may  well  be  proud. 

In  1869  Mr.  Robarts  was  united  in  marriage  with  Anna 
Horak,  a  native  of  Bohemia,  who  crossed  the  ocean  when  she 
was  between  eight  and  nine  years  of  age.  She  is  a  daughter  of 
Wesley  Horak,  deceased,  who  died  while  on  the  voyage  to 
America,  and  one  of  her  l)rothers  had  the  plague  aboard  the 
ship.  Her  first  home  was  with  the  Swisher  family  in  Jeffer- 
son township,  after  reaching  Johnson  county.  The  first  child 
of  this  union,  Florence,  was  born  in  the  old  log  house,  but  the 
others  were  born  in  the  new  home.  She  married  Charles  W. 
Babcock,  of  Walford,  Iowa,  an  importer  of  fine  horses,  and 
they  have  six  children  :  Lee  Orville,  Jesse  Clarence,  James  Ar- 
thur, Irvin  Robarts,  Lucy  Ella,  and  Charles  Raymond.  The 
other  children  born  to  Mr.  and  J\lrs.  Robarts  are :  Ernest,  died 
in  infancy;  Esther  Adele,  married  Henry  Beyer,  of  Benton 
countv,  and  thev  have  two  children,  Flovd  and  Nellie  Isabel; 
Hortense  Isabel,  married  S.  L.  Myers,  living  near  Amana,  and 
they  have  three  children,  Robarts  Cree,  Cleo  Adele,  and  Otis 
Harry;  Nellie  Lee,  died  at  the  age  of  four  years. 

Mr.  Robarts  has  witnessed  remarkable  changes  and  remem- 
bers when  he  saw  as  many  as  thirteen  deer  at  a  time  near  the 
river  from  the  old  home  where  his  father  first  settled  in  John- 
son county.  What  was  known  as  I)eer  Lick  stood  at  the  place 
now  occupied  by  D.  A.  Gould's  crossing  on  the  Interurban 
line.  The  last  time  he  remembers  seeing  deer  in  the  neighbor- 
hood was  in  1870,  one  year  prior  to  his  locating  on  his  present 
farm.  One  of  his  lu'others  marked  on  an  elm  tree  the  high 
water  of  1851  and  in  1881  the  water  reached  apyjroximately  the 
same  height.    During  the  latter  season  of  high  water  it  backed 


538        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

east  of  Mr.  Robarts's  barn,  a  mile  and  a  quarter  from  the  river, 
a  half  mile  west  and  a  mile  and  a  quarter  south  of  the  old  home- 
stead in  Section  27.  In  early  da^^s  when  he  and  his  brother 
Daniel  were  ascending  a  hill  the  latter  heard  a  peculiar  noise 
behind  him  and  warned  Charles  that  a  hoop  snake  was  close  by 
and  they  had  better  seek  shelter.  The  snake  formed  itself  into 
a  hoop  and  struck  a  tree  near  where  they  were.  It  was  a  cur- 
ious fact  that  the  tree  died  soon  afterwards.  Mr.  Robarts  has 
seen  forest  fires  five  miles  in  lenglh.  In  early  days  he  wore 
jeans  and  other  homespun  garments.  His  sister,  Mrs.  Mary 
Paintin,  above  mentioned  as  the  neighborhood  weaver,  fash- 
ioned him  a  suit  when  he  was  in  his  teens,  the  sewmg,  which 
was  beautiful  hand  work,  testifying  most  eloquently  to  her  skill 
as  a  seamstress.  His  first  real  suit  was  his  wedding  suit  of 
clothes,  made  by  hand  by  his  sister. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Robarts  are  Methodists  and  in  politics  he  is 
a  strong  democrat.  He  was  one  of  the  best  road  supervisors 
who  ever  served  in  that  office  in  Madison  township.  His  work 
has  been  highly  satisfactory  and  has  been  of  much  greater  ex- 
tent than  usually  done  by  others.  He  and  his  wife  have  a  host 
of  friends,  being  very  well  known,  and  have  always  taken  an 
active  part  in  local  affairs.  They  are  much  interested  in  any- 
thing affecting  the  general  welfare  and  ready  to  give  their  in- 
fluence on  the  side  of  what  they  believe  to  be  right  and  just. 


MARTIN  VAN  BUREN  BUTLER 

Among  the  veterans  of  the  Civil  War  who  are  deserving  of 
more  than  passing  mention  may  be  included  the  name  of  Mar- 
tin Van  Buren  Butler,  who  served  in  the  gallant  Fifth  Iowa 
Volunteers.  He  was  born  in  Henderson  county,  Illinois,  Feb- 
ruary 14,  1837,  son  of  that  venerable  pioneer,  Walter  Butler, 
and  wife.  Walter  Butler  took  a  prominent  part  in  the  early 
history  of  Johnson  county,  being  the  man  who  erected  the 
first  Iowa  capitol  building,  and  who  is  given  somewhat  exten- 
sive mention  in  the  first  chapters  of  Volume  I,  of  this  work. 
He  was  a  native  of  Tennessee  and  in  that  state  was  married 
in  1823,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Galbreath,  soon  afterward  removing- 
to  Henderson  county,  Illinois,  with  horses  and  a  wagon.    In 


MARTIN  V.  BUTLER 


EMILY    P.    BUTLER 


BIOGRAPHICAL  539 

September,  1839,  they  moved  to  Iowa  City,  Iowa,  then  only  a 
hamlet,  and  his  death  occurred  in  that  place  in  January,  1844, 
in  a  log  house  in  front  of  the  Iowa  Milling  Company's  plant. 
Mr.  Butler  erected  the  capitol  building  in  1841,  the  timber  for 
its  stout  foundations  being  hand-hewed  in  the  forest  and  the 
liunber  laboriously  rip-sawed  by  hand.  The  building  was  lo- 
cated on  Washington  street,  Iowa  City,  on  the  space  between 
Whetstone's  drug  store  and  the  entrance  to  Murphy  Brothers' 
livery  stable.  Later  this  building  was  removed  to  Dubuque 
street  south  of  College  and  used  for  an  eating  and  lodging 
house.  In  the  Iowa  Capital  Recorder,  dated  December  11, 
1841,  was  i^rinted  an  article  written  by  General  Van  Antwerp, 
regarding  the  first  meeting  of  the  legislature  in  Iowa  City 
(then  containing  some  seven  or  eight  hundred  inhabitants),  in 
which  he  says:  "This  honorable  body  found  halls,  thanks  to 
the  public-spirited  fellows-citizen,  Walter  Butler,  ready  for  the 
assembly. ' '  He  was  thus  identified  with  very  important  events 
in  the  early  history  of  the  state  and  is  worthy  a  tribute  of 
respect  for  his  activity  in  this  regard. 

The  widow  of  Walter  Butler  survived  him  many  years  and 
passed  away  January  18,  1888,  at  the  stone  residence  at  But- 
ler's Landing,  where  she  had  removed  from  the  present  site  of 
Coralville,  having  occupied  a  double  log  house  at  the  latter 
place.  She  and  her  husband  were  among  the  very  early  set- 
tlers and  met  all  the  vicissitudes  of  pioneer  life  with  bravery 
and  unfaltering  faith  in  the  future  of  the  region.  Mr.  Gilbert 
R.  Irish,  who  has  written  the  pioneer  history  of  Johnson  coun- 
ty, has  given  this  venerable  woman  a  tribute  in  relating  her 
kindness  of  heart,  piety,  and  ready  s^aupathy  for  all.  To  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Butler  children  were  born  as  follows :  Newton,  was 
a  sawyer  in  the  Iowa  Company  mills  until  1850,  when  he,  with 
Joseph  K.  Hemphill  and  others  went  to  California,  leaving  his 
widowed  mother  and  her  other  three  children ;  AJary  Margaret, 
Mrs.  Ward,  of  Denver ;  Thomas,  John  W.,  and  Marion,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  twenty  years,  w^as  a  printer  on  the  loiva 
State  Reporter;  John  W.,  of  West  Branch,  Cedar  county; 
Martin  Van  Buren,  of  this  sketch. 

During  the  high  water  of  1851  Mrs.  Butler  and  her  daughter, 
Mary  Margaret,  had  to  climb  from  the  bed  through  the  door 
of  their  double  log  house  (being  occupants  of  the  north  half). 


540        HISTOBY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

and  into  a  boat.  They  got  out  of  bed  to  make  tlieir  escape,  and 
the  boat  had  drifted  across  a  field  and  was  caught  and  tied  to 
the  door  of  the  cabin  near  the  present  site  of  Coralville. 
Thomas  and  Martin  Butler  are  the  ones  who  made  the  rescue. 
Mrs.  Butler  kept  a  boarding  house  for  the  mill  hands  and  was 
married  (second)  to  Martin  Montgomery,  about  1853.  Mr. 
Montgomery  moved  the  south  half  of  the  log  house  opposite 
Ezekiel  Clark  and  the  Kirkwood  residence  in  Coralville,  in 
1854.  She  was  left  a  widow  the  second  time,  surviving  Mr. 
Montgomery  some  time.  The  old  stone  house  where  she  died 
is  now  standing"  (1912),  an  illustration  of  which  is  to  be  found 
in  this  work.  Mr.  Montgomery  owned  18  acres  where  the 
stone  house  was  located. 

Martin  V.  Butler  received  a  meager  education  in  the  public 
schools  and  at  an  earlv  age  learned  the  trade  of  shoemaker  in 
Iowa  City,  with  Thomas  Rickard.  He  has  been  successful  in 
this  work  and  is  a  skilled  workman.  On  his  bench  in  his  shop 
at  West  Branch  he  keeps  one  of  his  valued  i»ossessions  —  an 
old  flat  iron  he  picked  up  in  the  old  home  during  the  high  water 
of  1851,  when  all  their  belongings  went  adrift.  This  relic  of 
the  old  home  has  travelled  many  miles  with  him.  He  is  well 
informed  regarding  the  early  history  of  his  part  of  the  state 
and  is  one  of  the  best  read  men  in  his  community.  He  has  a 
practical  mind  and  is  useful  and  active  in  the  councils  of  the 
democratic  party.  He  has  been  delegate  to  county  and  con- 
gressional conventions  and  is  much  interested  in  public  affairs. 
He  has  reason  to  feel  proud  of  the  part  taken  by  his  family  in 
early  events  in  Johnson  comity.  Left  fatherless  at  an  early 
age,  he  early  learned  hal)its  of  self-reliance,  and  was  a  great 
help  to  his  mother  while  he  remained  with  her.  He  is  past 
commander  of  the  G.  A.  R.  post  at  West  Branch,  which  has 
been  his  home  since  1872,  and  where  he  has  a  great  many 
friends.  Mr.  Butler  commenced  to  work  at  this  trade  Septem- 
ber 7,  1850,  and  retired  January  1,  1912,  having  been  engaged 
in  it  for  sixty-two  years,  except  the  three  years  he  was  in  the 
army. 

On  January  30,  1861,  Mr.  Butler  was  united  in  marriage  by 
Rev.  James  Troy  in  Keokuk  county,  Iowa,  with  Miss  Emily  P. 
Bassey,  daughter  of  William  and  Rebecca  (Ayers)  Bassey,  na- 
tives of  New  Jersev.    Of  this  union  children  were  born  as  fol- 


BIOGRAPHICAL  541 

lows:  James  Thomas,  proprietor  and  manager  of  West 
Branch  Telephone  Company,  married  Helen  Yetter  and  they 
have  a  danghter,  Lilly;  Albertns,  head  billing-  clerk  with  the 
Southern  Pacific  Railroad  Company  since  1896,  is  married  and 
lives  at  Sacramento,  California;  Henry  W.,  is  deceased  and 
left  a  widow,  two  sons  and  a  dangliter,  Allen  M.,  Albert,  and 
Cora  W. ;  Newton  C,  manager  of  Albin  meat  market  at  West 
Branch,  is  married  and  has  three  daughters,  Orpha,  Dorothy, 
and  Winnifred ;  Cora  B.  is  the  wife  of  William  Ervin,  of  Gil- 
lespie, Illinois,  and  they  have  a  son  and  a  daughter,  Robert  S. 
and  Elizabeth;  Elma  May  is  the  wife  of  Frank  Horton,  of 
Fennimore,  Wisconsin,  they  have  an  adopted  son,  Frank  Shir- 
ley ;  Elizabeth  Evelyn  is  the  wife  of  Frank  Corbin,  editor  and 
proprietor  of  the  West  Branch  Times,  and  they  have  one  son, 
Frank  E. ;  Letha  Ann  is  the  wife  of  Carl  Orton,  of  Lancaster, 
Wisconsin,  and  they  have  one  son,  Richard  W. 


SIGN  HILL 


Sion  Hill  is  the  oldest  resident  of  Scott  township,  Johnson 
county,  in  point  of  years  spent  there,  and  is  familiar  with  every 
home  built  in  the  township  since  liis  coming  in  1838.  He  was 
born  in  North  Carolina,  October  15,  1820,  son  of  Green  and 
Nancy  (Sneed)  Hill,  his  parents  having  been  married  in  John- 
ston county,  that  state.  The  name  has  been  spelled  Hill  and 
Hills,  but  the  branch  of  the  family  herein  described  use  the 
former  spelling.  The  line  is  as  follows:  Scion,  James,  Jo- 
siali  C,  William  A.,  Narcissa,  Andrew  J.,  (2). 

When  Sion  Hill  was  about  ten  years  of  age  his  parents  re- 
moved to  Jefferson  countv,  Indiana.  He  was  the  eldest  of  six 
children,  of  whom  five  were  sons,  the  other  children  being: 
James,  buried  at  West  Liberty,  Iowa ;  Josiah,  buried  in  Scott 
township;  William  A.,  buried  in  Marshall  county;  Narcissa, 
the  only  daughter,  deceased  and  buried  at  West  Liberty;  An- 
drew Jackson,  the  only  child  born  in  Jefferson  county,  In- 
diana, died  in  Johnson  county,  Kansas,  where  he  is  buried. 
Being  the  eldest  son  in  the  family,  Sion  Hill  drove  four  yoke 
of  oxen,  which  were  hitched  to  a  large  wagon,  at  the  time  the 
family  came  to  Iowa  in  1838.    There  were  thirteen  wagons  in 


542        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

the  group,  as  nine  families  came  in  the  party  to  which  the  Hills 
belonged.  Among  them  were  the  following:  Joseph  Stover 
and  family;  Benjamin  Miller  and  family;  William  Kelso  and 
family;  David  Sweet  and  family;  the  Ralston  family:  William 
Ward  and  family;  the  John  Garner  family,  and  the  Witter 
family.  Of  the  above-mentioned  the  following  survive:  Jacob 
Stover,  of  the  Stover  family,  also  one  sister,  William  and 
Caleb  Sweet,  and  Sion  Hill,  of  whom  the  latter  is  the  eldest. 
Mr.  Hill  and  brother  went  to  the  mill  at  Nyetown  and  owing  to 
the  scarcity  of  water,  had  to  wait  two  days  for  it  to  rain  before 
they  could  get  meal  ground. 


KESIDENCE   OF  SION  HILL 


Green  Hill  was  the  first  white  man  to  bring  his  family  to 
what  is  now  Scott  township,  and  he  erected  the  first  log  cabin 
in  the  neighborhood,  the  same  being  16  by  20  feet  and  built  of 
hewed  logs.  They  occupied  this  cabin  until  1843,  when  they 
put  up  a  frame  house  about  four  rods  from  their  original 
dwelling.  There  he  and  his  wife  spent  their  remaining  lives 
and  both  are  buried  on  Rochester  Road,  between  Iowa  City 
and  West  Branch,  in  Brick  Chax)el  cemetery,  in  Scott  town- 
ship.   He  died  February  5,  1882,  and  she  about  1850. 

Soon  after  coming  to  the  new  home,  Sion  Hill  used  his  four 
yoke  of  oxen  to  drive  the  first  furrow  ever  broken  in  Scott 


BIOGRAPHICAL  543 

townsliip.  He  also  broke  the  first  lot  that  was  ever  plowed  in 
Iowa  City,  which  was  owned  by  Jesse  Berry,  now  the  lot  west 
of  the  Interurban  station.  He  began  life  for  himself  with  a 
cash  capital  of  fifteen  dollars  and  worked  ont  by  the  day,  at 
fifty  cents  per  day,  to  pay  for  his  first  forty  acres  of  land, 
which  he  entered  at  the  time  there  was  a  land  office  in  East 
Iowa  City,  on  the  Charles  Berryhill  property.  On  the  tract 
mentioned  his  grandson,  Jesse,  son  of  Oliver  C,  Hill,  resides. 
He  made  many  thonsand  rails  at  thirty-five  to  forty  cents  per 
hnndred.  When  he  and  his  parents  arrived  they  saw  about  one 
thou :i and  Indians  on  the  river  bottom,  but  they  did  not  bother 
the  white  people  in  any  way  and  were  very  qiiet.  There  were 
plenty  of  wild  turkeys,  prairie  chickens  by  the  thousand,  and 
also  wolves  and  deer  in  the  region.  The  mother  never  used  a 
sewing  machine,  but  spun  and  wove  wool  for  their  clothing, 
and  they  also  raised,  ''skatched^"  and  "heckled"  flax  for 
lighter  weight  clothing.  Sion  Hill  used  the  old  fashioned  mold- 
board  plow,  as  well  as  the  reaping  hook  and  cradle  for  many 
years,  and  has  lived  to  see  these  implements  many  times  suc- 
ceeded by  improved  devices  for  lightening  farm  work  and  add- 
ing to  its  profit. 

In  early  days  Mr.  Hill  made  many  trips  to  Muscatine,  the 
trip  consuming  several  days.  He  went  with  oxen,  carrying  a 
load  each  way.  He  carried  the  chain  when  the  Cyrus  Sanders 
Company  surveyor  made  his  first  surveys  from  the  Muscatine 
road  north  into  the  Matthew  Cochran  settlement.  He  added 
to  his  possessions  from  time  to  time  and  became  the  owner  of 
200  acres  of  land,  all  entered  at  Dubuque. 

Mr.  Hill  was  married,  January  18,  1842,  in  Scott  township, 
Rev.  James  L.  Thompson,  a  Methodist  preacher,  officiating,  to 
Phoebe  Jones,  daughter  of  Charles  and  Phoebe  (Workman) 
eJones,  who  was  born  in  Jackson  county,  Ohio,  and  died  in  1888. 
Her  parents  came  to  Johnson,  county  in  1839.  They  began 
housekeeping  on  tlie  same  farm  his  father  entered  from  the 
government.  He  followed  the  trade  of  carpenter  and  erected 
a  round  log  house,  where  he  and  his  wife  spent  some  time. 
Later  he  built  a  round  log  house  three  and  one-half  miles  from 
the  first  residence,  which  was  14  by  16  feet,  and  still  later  he 
erected  a  small  frame  one-story  house  nearly  the  same  size. 
Two  children  were  born  in  the  second  log  house  and  two  in 


544        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

the  frame.  Altogether  there  were  born  in  the  family  the  fol- 
lowing children:  Jesse,  born  March  16,  1843,  deceased  ;  Cath- 
erine M.,  born  June  4,  1844,  died  in  infancy;  Charles  W.,  born 
February  18, 1847,  died  in  service  in  1864 ;  Margaret  C,  now  of 
South  Dakota,  born  June  16,  1849 ;  Nancy  A.,  now  deceased, 
born  June  11,  1853 ;  and  Oliver  C,  born  March  10,  1857. 

Oliver  C.  Hill  married  Lucy  Stag-g  and  they  became  parents 
of  three  children,  of  whom  two  survive :  Jesse,  married  Pearl 
Ham  and  they  reside  on  the  Sion  Hill  homestead;  Thomas, 
who  married  Katie  Clark  and  lived  in  California,  now  with  his 
mother,  his  wife  having  died  May  12, 1912,  and  is  buried  in  the 
Brick  Chapel  cemetery.  One  child  survives,  Lucy,  born  April 
28,  1907.  Oliver  C.  Hill  is  a  carpenter  by  trade,  and  has 
a  comfortable  home  at  No.  728  Clark  street,  Iowa  City, 
in  a  pleasant  quarter  of  the  town.  His  father  resides 
with  him,  and  although  he  is  in  his  ninety-third  year,  he 
is  rugged  and  healthy  and  eats  and  sleeps  well.  He  has  a 
retentive  memory  and  was  alile  to  recall  the  main  facts  in  his 
life  history  without  a  break  in  his  line  of  thought.  He  carried 
on  farming  until  the  year  1909,  then  retired  from  active  life. 
He  has  fifteen  grandchildren  and  four  great-grandchildren. 
He  has  always  taken  an  active  interest  in  local  affairs  and  has 
held  various  offices.  He  served  one  term  as  school  director 
and  in  another  official  capacity  helped  run  Rochester  Road 
through  to  the  county  line.  Mr.  Hill  has  always  been  identi- 
fied with  the  foremost  beneficial  public  measures  in  the  county. 
He  has  always  had  many  friends,  l)oth  among  the  early  settlers 
and  the  later  comers. 

Mr.  Hill,  when  he  went  to  mill,  had  to  go  to  a  little  town  they 
called  Nyetown,  about  ten  miles  above  Muscatine.  Later  he 
went  to  Rochester,  on  the  Cedar  river,  also  to  Sugar  Creek, 
east  of  there  and  as  far  as  Cedar  Rapids,  then  on  the  English 
river  to  McClure's  mill. 


MRS.  DR.   WILLIAM  REYNOLDS 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


545 


GEORGE  WASHINGTON  KOONTZ 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Washington  county, 
Pennsylvania,  March  20,  1843.  His  parents,  Henry  and  Mary 
(Workman)  Koontz,  were  old  settlers  in  that  county  and  both 
died  wdien  George  W.  was  a  small  boy.  In  1855  he  came  with 
his  grandmother  Workman  to  Iowa  City.  Here  he  attended 
the  public  schools  and  grew  to  manhood.  His  first  employ- 
ment was  as  clerk  in  a  bookstore,  which  position  he  occupied 
until  the  commencement  of  the  Civil  War,  when  he  became 


cflBL^JE^SSSE^MMdEfl^ ' 


RESIDENCE  OF  GEORGE  W.  KOONTZ 


clerk  in  the  quartermaster's  department  of  the  Union  army, 
being  too  young  to  enlist  as  a  soldier.  Upon  his  return  to  Iowa 
City  he  was  again  employed  in  the  bookstore.  In  1870-73  he 
was  engaged  in  the  book  business  for  himself.  In  1874  he  re- 
tired from  the  book  business  and  entered  the  political  field. 
In  1872  he  was  a  candidate  for  county  office  but  was  defeated 
in  the  election.  In  1874  he  was  elected  clerk  of  Johnson 
county,  which  office  he  held  for  three  terms,  or  until  1881.  In 
1882  he  was  elected  county  au^^itor  and  held  that  office  for  two 
terms.  In  1886  he  was  selected  as  cashier  of  the  Citizens  Sav- 
ings Bank  of  Iowa  City,  which  position  he  held  until  1905, 


546        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

when  lie  was  selected  as  president  of  the  bank  to  till  the  va- 
cancy caused  by  the  death  of  the  president,  George  W.  Lewis, 
and  remained  in  that  position  nntil  j\Iarch,  1910.  In  1898  he 
was  elected  a  member  of  the  general  assembly  of  Iowa  to  till 
vacancy  caused  by  the  death  of  Joe  A.  Edwards  and  has  served 
continuously  as  a  member  thereof  to  the  present  time  and  is 
serving  now  as  member  of  the  34th  general  assembly. 

In  his  social  relations  Mr.  Koontz  is  a  member  of  K.  of  P., 
Legion  of  Honor,  and  Elks. 

Fel)ruary  2,  1869,  Mr.  Koontz  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Anna  Fyffe,  daughter  of  Harvey  Wilson  and  Mary  (Ser- 
vier)  Fyffe,  natives  of  Ohio  and  A'irginia  respectively.  But 
little  is  known  of  the  parental  family.  The  mother  came  with 
her  parents  in  an  early  day  to  Ohio  where  she  was  married 
(1845)  and  one  year  later  the  young  married  couple,  in  com- 
pany with  a  number  of  relatives  of  both  families,  removed  to 
Johnson  county  (184-6)  and  settled  in  Iowa  City.  The  father 
engaged  in  the  dry  goods  business  and  for  a  long  time  his 
store  was  located  on  College  avenue,  when  stores  were  few  and 
far  between.  His  death  occurred  in  Iowa  City  in  1884,  aged 
68  years.  The  mother  died  in  1896,  aged  79  years.  They  were 
of  Scotch  and  French  descent. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Koontz  have  two  children  now  living:  George 
Wilson,  who  is  a  civil  engineer.  He  married  Miss  Rachel 
Avery,  of  Eunice,  Louisiana.  They  have  one  child,  George  M., 
and  reside  in  Stemainer,  Nebraska. 

George  W.  Koontz  has  been  a  prominent  factor  in  the  af- 
fairs of  his  county  for  many  years  and  his  activities  touch  the 
varied  interests  of  society  and  constitute  a  stimulus  for  ac- 
tivity along  lines  which  work  for  the  benefit  of  the  individual 
and  the  betterment  of  the  community.  Possessing  a  genial, 
wholesouled  disposition  he  enjoys  a  wide  acquaintance  and  has 
hosts  of  friends  both  at  home  and  abroad.  Broad  and  liberal 
in  all  his  views,  in  matters  of  public  interest  he  looks  beyond 
the  heat  and  passion  of  the  hour  and  endeavors  to  determine 
if  possible  what  may  prove  the  greatest  good  to  the  greatest 
number,  and  his  desire  for  right  and  justice  to  each  and  all 
has  inspired  the  esteem  and  confidence  of  his  fellowmeu. 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


547 


V.  D.  BUMGAEDNER 

The  man  who  has  the  distinction  of  being  the  oldest  living- 
settler  of  Oasis,  Iowa,  in  point  of  years  of  his  residence  there, 
is  y.  D.  Bnmgardner.  He  has  always  taken  an  active  interest 
in  the  development  of  the  place  and  has  been  identified  with 
some  of  its  most  important  and  successful  business  ventures. 
He  is  a  native  of  Salem,  Illinois,  born  in  1859,  son  of  John 
and  Harriett  (DeArmett)  Bmngardner,  the  father  being  de- 
ceased. The  mother  now  resides  in  Taylor vi lie,  the  county 
seat  of  Christian  county,  Illinois.  There  were  six  children,  of 
whom  the  following  now  survive :  V.  I).,  of  this  sketch  ;  H.  CI., 
of  Toledo ;  D.  I).,  of  Pittsburg,  Pennsylvania ;  L.  T.  and  J.  K., 


RESIDENCE  AND  BUSINESS  PROPERTY  OF  V.   D.  BUMGARDNER 


of  Taylorville,  Illinois,  the  latter  being  incumbent  of  the  of- 
fice of  city  clerk.  The  father  was  by  occupation  a  merchant. 
Mr.  Bumgardner  received  his  education  in  the  pul)lic  schools 
of  Christian  county,  Illinois,  mosth^  at  Taylorville,  and  after 
reaching  maturity  engaged  in  farming  for  himself.  Later  he 
sold  his  farming  interests  and  engaged  in  mercantile  business 
at  Sharx)sburg,  Illinois,  but  after  spending  a  short  time  there 
again  sold  out  and  then  came  to  Iowa.  He  located  in  Graham 
township,  Johnson  county,  in  1882,  and  for  a  time  worked  for 
his  uncle,  Alexander  H.  Graham,  a  connection  of  his  mother, 
who  owned  a  good  farm  there.  He  afterwards  started  a  poul- 
try and  egg  business  on 'his  own  account  and  later  added  stock 


548        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

dealing.  The  company  was  formerly  known  as  Andrews,  Olil 
&  Company,  but. Mr.  Bmngardner  succeeded  to  the  business, 
which  became  known  under  the  firm  name  of  V.  D.  Bumgard- 
ner.  He  also  began  dealing  in  lumber,  grain,  tile,  and  coal, 
and  eventually  added  agricultural  implements,  for  which  there 
is  always  a  good  demand.  Mr.  Bmngardner  is  an  enterprising 
business  man  and  makes  the  most  of  his  opportunities.  He 
has  been  largely  successful  and  at  the  same  time  has  added  to 
the  prosperity  of  his  community. 

Mr.  Bmngardner  is  a  'democrat  in  politics  and  is  active  in 
the  councils  of  his  party.  He  has  served  as  delegate  to  county 
conventions  and  has  always  supported  the  cause  to  which  he 
gave  his  allegiance.  He  served  some  time  as  a  member  of 
the  school  board,  in  the  capacities  of  secretary  and  director, 
and  served  seven  years  as  postmaster  of  Oasis.  Fraternally 
he  is  a  member  of  the  M.  W.  A.,  being  affiliated  with  Camp  No. 
5059,  of  Oasis,  where  he  held  the  office  of  clerk  thirteen  years. 
He  is  one  of  the  community's  most  popular  citizens  and  may  be 
depended  upon  to  be  a  good  friend  and  kind  neighbor. 

Mr.  Bumgardner  was  married  in  1880  to  Miss  Virginia 
Bond,  their  union  taking  place  in  Indiana.  She  is  a  daughter 
of  Calvin  Bond  and  is  a  native  of  Indiana.  Four  children 
have  blessed  this  union :  A^.  W.,  John  Calvin,  Harry,  and 
Alice.  John  Calvin,  the  second  child,  is  station  agent  at  Oasis, 
and  does  a  thriving  business  in  the  store,  handling  groceries, 
clothing,  boots  and  shoes,  and  dry  goods.  He  married  Miss 
Marie  Rose,  of  Oasis.  He  is  a  thorough -going  business  man 
and  well  informed  on  general  topics.  He  has  been  postmaster 
since  1909.    He  is  a  member  of  Camp  No.  5059,  M.  W.  A. 

During  the  early  part  of  his  business  career  in  Johnson 
county,  Y.  D.  Bmngardner  drove  a  wagon  through  the  country 
and  thus  helped  gain  a  business  start.  His  enterprise  was 
begun  when  Oasis  was  a  new  town  and  his  patronage  has 
grown  with  the  growth  of  the  place  and  the  development  of 
the  surrounding  country. 


JAN  PKIZLER 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


549 


ANNA  PEIZLER 

Mrs.  Anna  Prizler,  widow  of  John  Prizler,  an  enterprising 
and  successful  farmer,  belongs  to  one  of  Johnson  county's 
pioneer  families,  and  has  lived  there  during  the  period  of 
greatest  development.  Mrs.  Prizler  has  shown  ability  and 
sagacity  in  managing  her  affairs  since  the  death  of  her  hus- 
band, and  has  devoted  herself  chiefly  to  rearing  an^i  educating 
her  children.  She  is  a  native  of  Bohemia,  born  in  1869,  daugh- 
ter of  AVesley  and  Anna  (Buline)  Hinek.  When  she  was  one 
year  old  her  parents  brouglit  her  to  America.  The  family 
spent  two  years  in  Iowa  City,  Iowa,  then  moved  to  a  farm  in 


EESIDENCE  OF  MRS.  ANNA  PRIZLER 


Washington  county,  where  they  resided  nine  years,  after  which 
thev  returned  to  Johnson  countv  and  located  on  a  farm  north 
of  Lone  Tree.  There  they  carried  on  farming  until  1890,  since 
which  time  they  have  lived  retired  from  active  life,  in  Iowa 
City.  They  had  four  children  w'ho  survive :  Mary,  Mrs.  Peter 
Prizler,  of  Iowa  City;  Frances,  Mrs,  James  V.  Buline,  a  sketch 
of  whose  husband  also  appears  in  this  work;  Mrs.  Anna  Priz- 
ler, subject  of  this  sketch ;  Emma,  Mrs.  Joseph  Nove^^ 

In  1889  Miss  Anna  Hinek  was  united  in  marriage  with  John 
Prizler,  a  native  of  Bohemia,  liorn  in  1859,  a  son  of  Norbert 
Prizler  and  wife,  and  a  brother  of  Joseph  Prizler,  a  sketch  of 
whom  appears  in  this  work.     Mr.  Prizler  was  a  farmer  by 


550        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

occupation  and  carried  on  his  work  with  industry  and  success 
in  Lincoln  township.  He  took  an  active  interest  in  the  affairs 
of  the  community  and  was  recognized  as  an  enterprising,  use- 
ful, citizen.  He  and  his  wife  won  many  warm  friends  in  the 
community,  who  sincerely  mourned  his  loss.  He  passed  away 
in  the  prime  of  life,  in  January,  1896,  and  his  widow  and  three 
of  the  children  now  live  in  Lincoln  township,  near  the  old 
homestead.  There  were  four  children  in  the  family:  Clara, 
Mrs.  William  Souchek,  of  Iowa  City;  Peter,  Norbert,  and 
Lillian. 


FEED  T.  ATKIN 


At  four  years  of  age  Fred  T.  Atkin  became  an  involuntary 
resident  of  the  United  States  by  the  removal  of  his  parents 
from  England  to  America.  He  has,  however,  never  cliided  his 
progenitors  for  the  expatriation,  but  has  confirmed  their  action 
by  becoming  a  citizen  of  his  adopted  country  and  entering 
heartily  into  its  affairs.  Our  subject's  native  heath  in  Eng- 
land was  Lincolnshire,  where  he  was  born  December  8,  1855. 
His  parents'  names  are  Robert  Atkin  and  Jane  (Barton)  At- 
kin. Soon  after  their  arrival  in  America,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Atkin 
settled  near  Kewanee,  Illinois,  where  they  resided  about  ten 
years.  Thereafter  they  removed  to  Henry  county,  Illinois,  and 
from  there  to  Johnson  county,  Iowa,  where  they  resided  mitil 
their  death.  Their  familv  consisted  of  seven  children,  all  liv- 
ing  at  this  writing.  Their  names  are :  Charles,  residing  at 
Lenox,  Iowa ;  Lucy,  married  to  George  Miller,  living  in  Lone 
Tree ;  Eliza,  now  Mrs.  CI.  W.  Hartman,  living  in  Stuart,  Iowa ; 
our  subject;  Jane,  widow  of  William  ]\Iiller,  residing  at  Cedar 
Rapids;  Miles,  a  resident  of  Pleasant  Valley  township,  John- 
son county;  George,  residing  near  Coneville,  Iowa. 

Mr.  Atkin  began  life  as  a  farmer  and  has  continued  in  that 
and  associated  lines  ever  since.  For  a  good  many  years  he 
has  been  engaged  in  operating  threshing  machines,  corn  shred- 
ders, ditching  machines,  etc.,  in  Johnson  county  and  vicinity. 
At  this  writing  he  has  just  completed  the  purchase  of  an  en- 
tirely new  outfit  with  which  to  thresh  the  crop  of  191L  His 
fame  as  an  expert  in  his  calling  is  established,  and  he  has  his 
hands  constantly  full  of  profitable  work. 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


551 


In  April,  1885,  Mr.  Atkin  was  niiited  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Clara  Loretta  Hawthorne,  who  was  ])orn  in  Fremont  township 
June  17,  1861.  She  died  Jnne  13,  1907,  leaving  four  children: 
Hattie,  now  Mrs.  John  Wasson,  residing  near  Fredonia,  Iowa ; 
Iva,  wife  of  Frank  Storm,  living  in  Fremont  township ;  Forest 
and  Hazel,  residing  at  home. 


RESmENCE    OF    FRED    T.    ATKIN 

In  politics  Mr.  Atkin  takes  the  liberal  view,  holding  his  vote 
as  an  independent  factor  to  be  administered  as  the  changing 
aspect  of  politics  may  demand.  Religiously  he  is  a  Methodist 
and  holds  his  meml)ersliip  in  that  denomination.  Honest, 
industrious,  and  faithful,  he  rejoices  in  the  friendsliip  of  many 
people  of  his  section  of  the  state,  who  will  wish  him  many 
years  of  prosperity  and  peace. 


SAMUEL  NEWTON  AI^EXANDER 

Samuel  Newton  Alexander  has  always  been  identified  with 
agricultural  interests  and  now  lives  on  a  farm  about  a  half 
mile  from  his  birthplace.  Besides  his  work  in  this  connection 
he  is  identified  with  the  telephone  company  at  Lone  Tree, 
Iowa,  and  is  a  keen  business  man.  He  was  born  in  Fremont 
township,  Johnson  county.  May  20, 1866,  and  is  a  son  of  James 
and  Sarah  (James)  Alexander,  natives  of  Pennsylvania.  The 
parents  came  west  to  Illinois  and  located  at  Polo  in  1855, 


552        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

where  they  kept  a  hotel.  Two  years  later  they  removed  to 
Iowa  and  settled  in  Fremont  township,  Johnson  county.  Mr. 
Alexander  died  November  3,  1866.  Mrs.  xYlexander  died  Oc- 
tober 12,  1899.  They  had  five  children:  Laura,  married 
Charles  Raymond,  lived  in  Washington  county,  and  died  in 
1881;  Imog-ene  died  in  infancy;  Samuel  Newton;  William  died 
in  infancy;  one  who  died  in  infancy;  and  our  subject. 

In  January,  1887,  Mr.  Alexander  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Gertrude  Alice,  daughter  of  Alexander  and  Sarah 
Lutes,  of  Stark  county,  Ohio,  where  Mrs.  Alexander  was  born. 
Three  daughters  have  blessed  this  union :  Edith  Belle,  Laura 
Mildred,  and  Ellen,  all  at  home. 

Mr.  Alexander  is  a  democrat  in  politics  and  is  serving  his 
third  term  as  assessor  of  Fremont  township.  The  family  are 
members  of  the  Church  of  God,  and  Mr.  Alexander  belongs  to 
the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  the  ^fodern  Brotherhood  of 
America  at  Lone  Tree.  The  family  have  a  pleasant  home  and 
are  well  known  socially,  having  many  friends. 


eTOHN  P.  BURR 


One  of  the  most  substantial  farmers  and  stock  raisers  of 
Lincoln  township  is  John  P.  Burr,  who  resides  on  the  farm 
north  of  Lone  Tree  which  was  formerly  the  property  of  his 
parents.  Nelson  and  Lydia  (Percival)  Burr,  deceased.  All  his 
life  long  Mr.  Burr  has  been  a  farmer,  and  the  inherent  inter- 
est which  he  has  always  taken  in  his  work  is  manifest  by  the 
splendid  condition  of  the  homestead  which  has  l)een  the  scene 
of  his  operations  for  nearly  forty  years.  Mr.  Burr  was  pro- 
vided with  fundamental  equipment  of  a  superior  character 
through  his  parentage,  which  was  of  sturd}^  New  England 
stock,  both  his  father  and  mother  being  natives  of  Massachu- 
setts. A  strong  common  school  education,  coupled  with  the 
industrial  training  of  farm  work  in  his  youth,  fitted  him  ade- 
quately for  the  successful  battle  which  he  has  waged  in  the 
arena  of  agriculture  in  Johnson  county.  As  a  farmer  and  as 
a  citizen  and  neighlior  no  man  stands  higher  in  the  countv 
than  John  P.  Burr.  At  fiftv-one  vears  of  age  this  is  a  suffi- 
cient  crown  to  anv  man's  career. 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


553 


The  birth  of  our  subject  took  place  near  Eclgington,  Rock 
Island  county,  Illinois,  November  22,  1860.  His  parents  re- 
moved from  Massachusetts  to  Rock  Island  county  about  fifteen 
years  after  their  marriage  and  settled  upon  a  small  farm. 
They  resided  there  about  twenty-five  years  and  then  removed 
to  Johnson  county  and  located  upon  the  farm  where  our  sub- 
ject now  resides.  There  they  resided  until  their  death.  They 
were  blessed  with  five  children :  Charles,  who  died  at  the  age 
of  eighteen  years ;  Levi  P.,  who  lives  on  his  farm  in  Lincoln 
township;  Abbie  M.,  now  Mrs.  S.  F.  Burrows,  residing  in 
Mercer  county,  Illinois ;  Benjamin,  living  near  Platte,  South 
Dakota ;  and  our  subject. 


RESIDENCE    OF    JOHN    P.    BURR 


At  the  age  of  twenty  years  Mr.  Burr  began  business  on  his 
own  account,  first,  last  and  always  a  farmer,  as  stated  above. 
On  February  20,  188-1,  he  chose  as  his  life's  partner  at  the 
matrimonial  altar  Miss  Anna  M.  Stock,  daughter  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  John  Stock,  of  Lincoln  township,  now  residents  of  Lone 
Tree.  (For  particulars  as  to  the  Stock  family  see  sketch  of 
John  Stock  published  elsewhere  in  this  volume.  —  Ed.)  To 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Burr  were  born  the  following  children  :  Enmia 
M.,  George  N.,  Vernon  E.,  Pearl,  Lloyd  F.,  and  Alice  L.,  all  of 
whom  are  living  at  home. 

Politically  Mr.  Burr  is  a  republican.  He  has  ahvays  taken 
a  marked  and  active  interest  in  educational  matters.    This  is 


554        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

shown  by  the  fact  that  for  fifteen  years  he  has  been  a  member 
and  treasurer  of  the  school  board  of  Lincohi  township.  He  is 
also  at  the  present  time  a  township  trustee.  The  family  are 
members  of  the  Reformed  church  at  Lone  Tree,  Mr.  Burr 
being  a  deacon  therein. 


MRS.  LENA  MEYER 

Mrs.  Lena  Meyer,  widow  of  the  late  Fritz  Meyer,  of  Lincoln 
township,  Ijohnson  county,  was  born  in  Scott  county,  Iowa, 
September  12,  1860,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Gottfried  and  Mary 
(Pries)  Herring,  natives  of  Germany.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Herring 
came  to  America  ^dth  their  parents  and  both  families  located 
in  Scott  county,  Iowa.  The  Herring  and  Pries  families  became 
well  known  there  and  were  prosperous  farmers.  Gottfried 
Herring  and  wife  came  to  Johnson  county  and  there  spent 
their  declining  years. 


\wmmmm^im^ 


EESmENCE  OF   MRS.  LENA  MEYER 


On  January  6,  1879,  Miss  Lena  Herring  became  the  wife  of 
Fritz  Meyer,  a  native  of  Holstein,  Germany,  born  in  1845.  He 
came  to  America  in  1875  and  located  permanently  in  Johnson 
county,  where  he  engaged  in  farming  operations.  In  1877  he 
purchased  the  farm  now  occupied  by  his  widow  and  carried  it 
on  until  his  death,  November  3,  1906.  He  !was  a  substantial 
and  industrious  citizen  and  won  the  good  will  and  respect  of 


Ut^^^A<y 


BIOGRAPHICAL  555 

his  neighbors.  He  was  successful  in  his  farming  and  he  and 
his  wife  took  a  prominent  part  in  the  social  life  of  the  com- 
munity. Since  his  death  Mrs.  Meyer  has  had  charge  of  the 
farm  and  has  managed  it  well,  with  the  assistance  of  her  chil- 
dren. 

Seven  children  were  born  to  Fritz  Meyer  and  wife :  Gott- 
fried and  Christian,  married  and  living  in  Muscatine  county, 
Iowa ;  Fritz,  who  died  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years ;  Christina, 
wife  of  Leo  Jale,  of  Muscatine  county;  Emal,  August,  and 
Erna,  at  home.  The  family  have  a  pleasant  and  well  situated 
home  and  have  a  large  number  of  friends.  They  are  members 
of  the  German  Lutheran  church.  Mrs.  Meyer's  farm  is  well 
improved  and  pelds  crops  that  compare  favorably  with  those 
of  neighboring  states.  Mrs.  Meyer  has  retired  from  farm 
duties  and  the  sons  are  in  charge. 


JAMES  M.  MAGRUDER 

James  M.  Magruder,  the  sole  surviving  brother  of  George 
W.  Magruder  (for  an  account  of  whose  pare"nts  see  the  sketch 
of  the  latter),  resides  on  the  old  homestead  of  his  father, 
James  Magruder,  in  Fremont  township,  the  saene  of  his  birth 
on  July  13,  1856.  There  he  has  lived  continuously,  with  the 
exception  of  three  years  spent  in  Muscatine  county. 

Miss  Millie  A.  Norris,  to  whom  he  was  married  on  January 
1,  1880,  was  born  in  Ohio  June  3, 1860,  and  came  with  her  par- 
ents to  Muscatine  county  when  four  years  old.  Her  residence, 
has  been  confined  to  that  county  and  Johnson. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Magruder  have  three  children  living:  Alice, 
now  Mrs.  A.  G.  Bowie,  residing  at  Chelan  Falls,  AVashing- 
ton  —  has  three  children.  Forest,  Everett,  and  Marteni ;  Edna, 
now  Mrs.  M.  Fountain,  residing  near  Iowa  City  —  has  three 
children,  Mildred,  Alice,  and  Robert;  Lloyd,  living  at  home. 

James  M.  Magruder  has  been  a  lifelong  farmer,  quiet,  in- 
dustrious, peaceable,  honest  —  one  of  the  world's  silent  work- 
ers without  whom  there  would  be  little  honey  in  the  hive.  He 
is  a  democrat  in  politics,  and  has  the  universal  respect  of  his 
neighbors. 


556        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

EMOKY  WESTCOTT 

Emory  Westcott,  a  prominent  and  well  known  citizen  of 
Iowa  City,  formerly  the  city's  postmaster,  is  a  native  of  Mil- 
ford,  Otsego  county,  New  York,  born  July  22,  1838,  twin  of 
Enuner  AVestcott.  The  parents,  Albert  and  Charlotte  (Bissell ) 
Westcott,  spent  their  declining  years  in  Johnson  county,  and 
lie  side  by  side  in  the  family  lot  in  the  cemetery,  where  a  fine 
monument,  lately  erected  by  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  marks 
their  last  resting  place.  The  grandfather,  John  Westcott,  was 
lost  at  sea,  February  2,  1807,  when  the  schooner  ''Iris,"  of 
which  he  was  commander  and  part  owner,  was  wrecked  off  the 
coast  of  Wilmington,  North  Carolina.  He  married  Catherine 
Arnold,  of  an  old  New  I]ngland  family,  eleventh  in  lineal  de- 
scent from  Roger  Arnold,  of  England,  who  married  Jean, 
daughter  of  Sir  Thomas  Gamage.  John  Westcott  and  wife 
had  five  children,  of  whom  the  third  was  Albert,  born  Decem- 
ber 5, 1798,  in  Warwick,  Rhode  Island,  where  the  parents  were 
married,  and  he  died  in  Iowa  City,  December  21,  1880.  Char- 
lotte Bissell  was  born  at  Hart\vick,  Otsego  county.  New  York, 
February  28,  1803,  and  died  October  31,  1885.  Both  are  held 
in  loving  memory  by  their  descendants. 

Albert  and  Charlotte  Westcott  became  parents  of  the  fol- 
lowing children:  Moses  A.,  Caroline  B.,  and  Eliza,  deceased; 
Jane,  of  Iowa  City;  Albert,  of  Johnson  county;  Edwin,  de- 
ceased ;  Emory  and  Emmer,  twins ;  Laura  S.,  and  Mortimer  T^., 
deceased ;  Catherine  E.,  of  Iowa  City.  The  three  sisters,  Jane, 
Emmer,  and  Catherine,  reside  together,  on  East  Court  street, 
Iowa  City. 

Emorv  Westcott  received  his  education  in  his  native  state, 
and  there  grew  to  manhood's  estate.  In  March,  1856,  he  left 
for  the  west,  passed  through  Ohio,  the  trip  to  that  state  occu- 
pying eight  days,  as  he  was  snowbound  at  Rochester,  New 
York.  He  went  on  to  Iowa  City,  reaching  there  during  the 
first  year  the  Rock  Island  railroad  ran  into  the  town.  His 
iirst  position  was  as  clerk  in  a  drug  store,  where  he  spent  two 
years.  He  then  lived  with  his  brother  x\lbert  on  a  farm  in 
Scott  township  until  1862,  and  then  was  among  the  first  to 
respond  to  the  call  for  troops  from  that  neighborhood.  He 
unlisted   on    September   10th  of  that   year   in   Company   F, 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


557 


Twenty-second  Iowa  Infantry,  nnder  Ca}3t.  A.  B.  Cree.  After 
spending  some  time  at  Camp  Pope,  tliey  went  to  Kaleigh,  Mis- 
souri, thence  down  tlie  Mississippi  river  to  Vieksbnrg,  took 
part  in  the  siege  of  that  town  and  in  the  Red  river  expedition, 
and  later  went  from  Savannah  to  Richmond.  They  fought 
during  the  campaign  in  Shenandoah  Valley  and  Mr.  Westcott 
was  wounded  in  the  battle  of  Winchester,  September  19,  1804, 
when  109  men  were  lost  from  the  regiment.  He  was  later  sent 
home  on  furlough,  at  the  end  of  which  he  joined  McClernand 
in  Texas.  He  then  returned  to  Savannah  with  General  Sher- 
man's army  and  subsequently  was  sent  to  Baltimore,  Pitts- 


KESIDENCE  OF  EMORY  WESTCOTT 


burg,  Chicago,  and  Davenport,  Iowa.  During  tlie  last  year  in 
which  he  served  his  regiment  went  eight  thousand  miles  by 
water  and  marched  only  about  fifty  miles.  They  were  mus- 
tered out  at  Davenport,  July  29,  1865,  Mr.  Westcott  then  re- 
ceiving his  honorable  discharj^e. 

Upon  returning  to  Johnson  county,  Mr.  Westcott  again 
engaged  ^in  farming  on  the  old  homestead  in  Scott  township. 
His  parents  had  come  to  Johnson  county  in  1860.  In  1895  he 
sold  his  interests  there  and  a  few  months  later  purchased  an- 
other farm  in  West  Lucas  township,  which  he  sold  in  1900,  at 
which  time  he  located  in  East  Iowa  City  and  there  remained 
until  appointed  to  his  present  office.     The  family  had  a  very 


558        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

pleasant  home  in  East  Iowa  City  and  made  many  friends. 
Mr.  Westcott's  appointment  to  tlie  office  of  postmaster  of 
Iowa  City  was  dated  February  12,  1907,  and  signed  l)y  Presi- 
dent Roosevelt.  Upon  its  receipt  he  sold  out  and  moved  to  the 
city  proper,  whicli  has  since  been  his  home.  After  four  years 
of  efficient  service,  he  retired  from  office.  He  has  erected  a 
handsome  and  comfortable  residence,  which  is  a  modern  home 
in  every  way,  just  east  of  East  Court  street  bridge,  where  the 
family  are  able  to  enjoy  every  convenience  of  the  city  and  the 
freedom  of  country  life  as  well,  on  the  ''River  to  River"  road. 
The  site  of  this  home  commands  a  good  view  of  the  surround- 
ing country  and  is  surrounded  by  a  nice  yjiece  of  land,  where 
Mr.  Westcott  enjoys  working  in  liis  fine  garden,  of  which  he 
may  well  be  proud. 

In  politics  Mr.  Westcott  is  a  republican  and  in  religious 
views  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  He  be- 
longs to  Kirlrwood  Post  No.  8,  G.  A.  R.,  and  his  wife  is  a 
valued  member  of  the  Women's  Relief  Corps.  Mr.  Westcott 
also  belongs  to  B.  P.  0.  E.,  lodge  No.  590,  of  Iowa  City. 

On  September  29,  1866,  Mr.  Westcott  married  Mary  Eliza, 
daughter  of  Isaac  and  Susan  (Williams)  Bowen.  A  sketch  of 
the  Bowen  family  is  to  be  found  in  this  work.  Children  were 
born  of  this  union  as  follows:  Arthur  Bowen,  July  21,  1867; 
Emory  Dana,  February  10,  1870;  Mortimer  Clarence,  Febru- 
ary 21,  1872;  Hortense  Emmer,  December  7,  1876;  Roscoe  Ed- 
win, July  1,  1879.  Arthur  B.,  of  Oklahoma  City,  married 
Nellie  Imogene  Crain,  born  September  6,  1874,  tlieir  marriage 
taking  place  September  6,  189-1,  and  they  had  children  as  fol- 
lows :  Clarence,  born  ]\rarch  6,  1897 ;  Maurice,  born  January 
16,  1899 ;  Arthur,  Jr.,  born  July  12,  1901.  ,Emory  Dana  and 
Mortimer  Clarence  live  in  AYaterloo,  Iowa.  Hortense  Emmer, 
of  Iowa  City,  was  married  June  18,  1902,  to  Thomas  Delano 
Kelly,  who  was  born  November  21,  1876,  and  their  children 
are:     Emorv   Lovelace,   born   October   21,   1905,   and    Marv 

*  7  7  7*. 

Louise,  born  March  26,  1908.  Roscoe  Edwin  married  May 
Sullivan,  in  ^Fay,  1906,  and  was  drowned  at  Toledo,  Ohio,  while 
bathing,  September  2, 1906. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  559 

ROLLIE  HARLAN  ALT 

The  parents  of  Rollie  Harlan  Alt  were  among  the  most 
prominent  and  highly  honored  pioneers  of  Johnson  county, 
where  they  founded  a  home  in  a  newly  settled  country  and 
endured  the  trying  privations  and  trihulations  of  the  frontier. 
Their  early  years  there  correspond  with  what  is  descrihed  in 
the  early  chapters  of  Volume  I,  of  this  work,  so  they  will  he 
but  briefly  mentioned  in  connection  with  this  sketch.  The 
choice  farm  which  has  been  developed  by  the  family,  now 
owned  by  Rollie  H.  Alt,  is  picturesquely  situated  on  a  slight 
elevation,  and  with  the  aid  of  a  field  glass  the  spires  of  the 
churches  in  Iowa  City  may  be  plainly  seen.  The  location  is 
a  happy  one  and  the  landscape  surrounding  it  is  a  source  of 
interest  and  pleasure  to  the  family  and  their  visitors.  Mr. 
Alt  was  born  on  this  farm,  June  23,  1864,  son  of  Joseph  and 
Eliza  (Kepford)  Alt. 

The  birth  of  Joseph  Abner  Alt  occurred  in  Jefferson 
county,  Virginia  (now  in  West  Virginia),  February  12,  1817, 
and  he  was  the  son  of  Jacob  and  Mary  (Drew)  Alt.  The  re- 
cord of  the  familv  as  given  in  the  familv  Bible,  which  has 
been  handed  down  in  the  family  several  generations,  and 
which  was  printed  in  Philadelphia  in  1815,  names  the  fol- 
lowing children  of  Jacob  and  Mary  Alt:  Elizabeth,  born  Jan- 
uary 15,  1810,  married  Howell  Hendricks ;  Sarah  Ann,  l)orn 
September  10,  1811,  married  AVilliam  Melvin;  Jacob  Henry, 
father  of  Charles  D.,  who  is  mentioned  at  some  length  in  a 
succeeding  portion  of  this  sketch,  was  born  April  19,  1813; 
John  William,  born  April  5,  1815;  Joseph  Abner,  born  Feb- 
ruary 12,  1817;  Maria,  born  March  19,  1819,  married  David 
Wrav ;  Marv  was  married  to  Carson  AVrav,  a  sketch  of  whom 
appears  in  this  work;  Abner  Thompson,  l)orn  xVugust  20, 
1822 ;  Margaret  Emily,  l)orn  "January  8,  1825,  died  in  young 
womanhood;  Eliza  Jane,  born  October  13,  1831. 

Joseph  Abner  Alt  became  a  typical  pioneer  of  the  region 
where  his  son  Rollie  now  lives,  and  as  active  participator  in 
early  events  in  the  history  of  Johnson  county,  became  in- 
fluential and  well  known.  When  he  was  three  months  old 
his  parents  moved  to  a  frontier  portion  of  the  Buckeye  State, 
where  he  was  reared  to  manhood.     His  mother  brought  him 


560 


HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 


from  his  birthplace  to  Ohio  on  horselmck.  He  attended  the 
subscription  schools  held  in  log  buildings  and  spent  his  days 
like  other  pioneer  farmers'  sons.  In  1839  when  about  twenty- 
two  years  of  age,  Joseph  A.  Alt  came  west  into  Iowa,  and 
took  up  his  claim,  which  he  entered  from  the  government 
when  it  came  into  the  market.  This  was  in  Section  8,  Town- 
ship 80,  Range  6,  in  what  became  Penn  township.  The  In- 
dians had  not  yet  left  the  neighborhood,  but  were  friendly 
to  the  settlers.  There  Mr.  Alt  took  up  a  life  of  single  bles- 
sedness in  the  timber,  but  a  few  vears  later  decided  to  take 
a  helpmate  to  share  his  joys  and  sorrows,  and  on  January  25, 


EESIDENCE   OF  R.    H.   ALT 


1848,  was  united  in  marriage  witli  Eliza  Kepford,  Rev.  Bush- 
nell  officiating  at  the  wedding.  Slie  was  born  in  Cum])erland 
county,  Pennsylvania,  December  6,  1825,  daughter  of  John 
and  Catherine  (Smith)  Kepford.  The  young  couple  began 
housekeeping  in  their  pioneer  home  and  Mr.  Alt  had  to  make 
the  long  trip  to  Muscatine  for  supplies. 

From  Clarke  county,  Ohio,  Joseph  A.  Alt  went  to  AYarren 
county,  Illinois,  in  1836,  and  soon  afterwards  to  Iowa,  spend- 
ing a  short  time  with  his  brother  Jacob  Henry,  who  had  pre- 
ceded him  there.  He  started  an  orchard  which  he  made  one 
of  the  finest  in  Johnson  county,  planting  seed  from  apples  he 
secured  on  a  steamboat.     This  orchard  became  the  source  of 


BIOGRAPHICAL  561 

pleasure  and  pride  to  him  and  his  famil}^,  and  one  tree  which 
he  set  out  is  now  sixty-eight  years  old.  From  the  present 
orchard  of  fifty  apple  trees  is  raised  an  abundance  of  fruit. 
He  became  the  owner  of  240  acres  of  choice  farming'  land 
and  one  of  the  most  prosperous  men  of  the  neigii])orhood.  He 
and  his  wife  were  prominent  members  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church.  He  died  January  27,  1904,  and  his  widow, 
who  never  recovered  from  the  shock  of  this  sad  event,  fol- 
lowed him  on  February  5th,  l)ut  a  few  days  later.  Following 
is  an  account  of  their  children :  Alice  M.,  born  November  17, 
1848,,  was  married  at  the  old  Alt  homestead,  by  Rev.  Dennis 
Murphy,  on  November  16,  1870,  to  Hon.  John  Alfred  Pickler, 
and  is  now  a  widow,  having  a  large  family;  John  Wesley, 
who  was  born  June  29,  1850,  died  in  August,  1851;  Albert 
Jacob,  born  April  6,  1852;  Eliza  Catherine,  born  December 
12,  1853,  was  married  May  16,  1885,  Rev  Douglass  officiating, 
to  William  G.  Faulkner,  and  they  reside  at  Faulkton,  South 
Dakota;  George  Joseph,  born  March  14,  1885,  was  married, 
November  9,  1882,  by  Rev.  Swartz,  to  Dora  Colony,  at  Tiffin, 
Iowa;  Ella  May,  born  May  14,  1859,  was  married  November 
28,  1894,  by  Rev.  T.  B.  Owen,  of  North  Liberty,  to  D.  H.  La- 
than;  RoUie  Harlan. 

Rollie  H.  Alt  received  his  education  in  the  district  school 
and  Iowa  City  Academy,  and  when  old  enough  assisted  his 
father  on  the  home  farm.  On  obtaining  his  majority  he 
worked  for  his  father  by  the  month  and  learned  the  lessons  of 
economy  and  thrift  which  have  served  him  well  in  later  life. 
'V\^ien  in  his  twenty-fifth  year  he  was  married,  December  4, 
1889,  in  Cedar  Rapids,  by  Rev.  Shaffer,  to  Miss  Emma  Stew- 
art, of  North  Liberty,  daughter  of  the  late  Dr.  David  Stewart, 
a  sketch  of  whom  appears  in  this  work.  After  marriage  Mr. 
Alt  entered  into  partnership  with  his  father  and  together 
they  conducted  the  large  farm  of  over  240  acres,  to  which 
additions  have  since  been  made,  so  that  the  son  now  owns 
290  acres,  of  which  150  acres  are  under  cultivation.  He  and 
his  wife  have  had  children  as  follows:  Milo  Stewart,  born 
April  21,  1891;  Cecil  Jay,  born  January  18,  1894,  Harlan 
McKinley,  born  June  20,  1895;  Hazel  Winnifred,  born  July 
10,  1897 ;  Joseph  Abner,  born  July  4,  1907 ;  Everett  Max,  born 
August  23,  1910. 


562        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

The  farm  where  Mr,  Alt  spent  his  entire  life  has  been 
highly  developed  and  in  1910,  he  produced  a  yield  of  50  bushels 
of  corn  to  the  acre  on  sixty  acres ;  of  oats,  40  bushels  to  the 
acre;  wheat,  35  bushels,  and  of  hay  2  tons  to  the  acre.  He 
does  general  farming  and  makes  a  specialty  of  feeding  and 
shipping  stock.  He  had  fifty  head  of  cattle,  sixty  hogs  and 
twelve  head  of  horses  and  colts.  He  has  a  pure-bred  im- 
ported stallion,  of  good  pedigree,  weight  1900  pounds,  which 
stands  seventeen  hands  high,  and  which  is  in  a  class  by  it- 
self. One  of  the  interesting  landmarks  on  this  farm  is  the 
hewed  log  corn  crib,  6x9  feet,  which  was  built  in  early  days 
and  with  primitive  tools.  The  old  log  house,  hewed  oak  tim- 
ber, 12  X  14  feet,  is  still  standing  and  is  used  for  a  wood  shed. 
The  old  kitchen,  built  in  1875,  a  year  prior  to  the  centennial, 
and  the  main  house,  about  1855,  with  its  original  fireplace, 
the  size  of  the  room  14  x  16  feet,  are  still  in  use.  Another 
old  relic  is  a  lantern,  entirely  of  tin,  with  a  socket  to  hold  a 
candle. 

Mr.  Alt  is  prominent  in  the  councils  of  the  republican 
party  and  is  influential  in  the  life  of  his  community.  He 
has  frequently  served  as  delegate  from  his  township  to  the 
county  convention  and  has  well  represented  the  interests  of 
the  people  in  every  position  of  public  trust  he  has  held.  He 
has  reason  to  be  proud  of  the  part  taken  by  his  parents  in  the 
development  of  the  township  and  county  and  is  a  fit  repre- 
sentative of  this  pioneer  family. 

Jacob  Henry  Alt,  an  uncle  of  Eollie  H.  Alt,  who  has  l>een 
previously  spoken  of  in  this  sketch,  married  Mary  Wein,  and 
of  this  union  the  follo^\^ng  children  were  born :  Maria,  born 
September  10,  1838,  married  Lemuel  G.  Wilson,  and  died 
January  28,  1881;  Eliza  J.,  born  January  29,  1843,  married 
A.  H.  Statler;  George  Wein,  born  December  13,  1844,  died 
March  25, 1855 ;  Amanda,  born  January  9, 1847,  married  H.  W. 
Berry;  Araminta,  born  May  28,  1847,  died  in  infancy,  June  1, 
1849 ;  Lewis  William,  born  December  15,  1850 ;  Henry  Milton, 
born  February  28,  1853;  Emily,  born  February  26,  1855; 
Charles  Duntin,  born  April  4,  1857;  Arthur  E.,  born  June  20, 
1859.  At  the  age  of  four  years  Jacob  H.  Alt  had  removed 
with  his  parents  from  Jetferson  county,  West  Virginia,  to 
Clark  county,  Ohio  this  being  about  1817.     In  1837  he  moved 


BIOGRAPHICAL  563 

to  Henderson  county,  Illinois,  locating  on  the  banks  of  the 
Mississippi  river.  In  November,  1840,  he  removed  to  Johnson 
county,  Iowa,  with  a  covered  wagon,  and  taking  his  two  eldest 
children.  He  put  up  a  log  house  and  returned  to  Illinois  for 
the  remainder  of  his  goods.  The  crude  log  house  let  in 
the  wind  and  while  he  was  gone  his  wife  mixed  clay  and  chink- 
ed the  cracks  and  plastered  the  outer  walls  of  the  dwelling.  He 
had  left  his  youngest  brother  with  her,  and  he,  being  a  cripple, 
was  of  little  assistance.  However,  he  rode  the  horses  in  a 
circle  and  in  this  way  helped  to  mix  the  mud  for  plaster.  On 
the  day  this  was  done  it  began  snowing,  and  the  father  and 
husband  returned  to  find  that  his  home  had  'been  plastered 
and  chinked  by  his  courageous  wife,  of  whom  he  had  reason 
to  be  very  proud.  She  was  a  typical  pioneer  mother  and 
helped  in  numerous  M^ays  to  lighten  the  Inirdens  of  her  hus- 
band. All  the  rest  of  their  children  were  born  in  this  primi- 
tive dwelling,  except  the  youngest,  Charles  D.,  whose  birth 
occurred  in  the  frame  house  which  now  stands  in  his  door 
yard,  which  was  erected  in  1856.  He  has  lived  on  the  farm 
for  fifty-four  years  and  has  purchased  a  part  of  the  home 
farm. 

Charles  D.  Alt  was  educated  in  the  schools  near  the  home 
place  and  the  public  schools  of  North  Liberty.  He  first  pur- 
chased 140  acres  of  land,  to  which  he  later  added  seventy 
acres,  aud  1901  erected  a  modern,  substantial  frame  house. 
The  barn  which  was  erected  by  his  father  in  1871  is  still  in 
use.  Besides  the  fine  orchard  which  his  father  planted,  he 
has  put  in  many  fine  trees  and  has  a  good  crop  of  fruit.  He 
was  married  December  18,  1889,  to  Mrs  Ann  (Wray)  Babcock, 
daughter  of  Carson  B.  Wray  of  Madison  township,  the  widow 
of  Milt  Babcock.  One  child  has  been  born  of  the  union,  Mary, 
who  married  D.  W.  Overbold.  Mr.  Alt  belongs  to  the  Blue 
Lodge  and  Chapter  of  the  A.  F.  and  A.  M.,  of  Iowa  City. 
His  farm  is  located  on  Section  17  of  Penn  township,  and  the 
log  house  thereon  was  among  the  first  built  in  the  county. 


564        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

JOSEPH  STEPANEK 

Joseph  Stepanek  is  descended  from  two  pioneer  families 
of  Jefferson  twonsliip,  Johnson  connty,  where  his  father  and 
maternal  grandparents  located  at  the  same  time,  ha\mg 
come  to  Amerca  from  Bohemia.  H  e  was  born  on  the 
old  homestead,  where  he  spent  his  entire  life,  on  February 
14,  1863,  son  of  Joseph  Sr.,  and  Mary  (Sulek)  Stepanek. 
The  father  was  twenty- three  vears  of  age  when  he  came  to 
America,  and  the  mother  accompanied  her  parents  on  the  trip, 
all  locating  in  Jefferson  township  soon  after  their  arrival. 


.%■ 


*^  -  ■—,—<*    - —        ~  ^ — 


EESIDENCE  OF  JOSEPH  STEPANEK 


There  the  parents  were  married,  shortly  afterwards,  and 
located  on  a  farm,  where  the  father  died.  Seven  of  their 
children  reached  maturity;  Emma,  Mrs  Vincent  Marek,  of 
South  Dakota;  Anna,  Mrs.  Tuyschek,  of  Nebraska;  Mary, 
Mrs.  Joseph  Lopata,  of  Jefferson  township;  Tillie,  Mrs. 
Anton  Tenecheck,  of  Nebraska ;  Joseph  Jr. ;  Theresa,  wife  of 
William  Miller,  of  Knox  county,  Nebraska;  Sedonia,  Mrs. 
Jerome  Wondracek,  of  Phoenix,  Arizona. 

The  boyhood  of  Joseph  Stepanek,  Jr.,  was  spent  like  that 
of  other  farmer  boys  of  the  neighl)orhood,  attending  the  local 
school  and  helping  with  the  work  on  the  farm  after  he  was 


BIOGRAPHICAL  565 

old  enough.  He  was  reared  to  habits  of  industry  and  self- 
reliance,  and  has  carried  on  the  home  farm  since  he  has  been 
farming  on  his  own  account.  He  was  married,  in  February, 
1893,  to  Miss  Katherine  Wostel,  who  was  born  in  Bohemia, 
September  11,  1871,  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Katie  (Horak) 
Wostrel.  Her  parents  brought  her  to  America  when  she  was 
but  two  years  old.  Seven  children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Stepanek:  Emma,  Sedonia,  Jarslov,  Edward,  Joseph, 
"William,  and  Emil. 

Mr.  Stepanek  is  a  democrat  in  politics  and  takes  a  com- 
mendable interest  in  what  is  atfecting  the  welfare  and  upbuild- 
ing of  the  community.  He  is  well  known  in  this  community 
where  his  entire  life  has  been  spent,  and  is  held  in  high  regard 
by  his  many  friends.  He  is  a  useful  and  active  member  of  the 
Bohemian  Reformed  Evangelical  church  and  ready  to  assist 
in  its  good  work.  He  is  one  of  the  substantial  citizens,  a  man 
who  may  be  depended  upon  to  do  his  duty  in  his  relatons  with 
his  associates  and  deal  fairlv  wth  all. 


JOHN  L.  ERUSHA 

Many  young  men  of  today  who  chose  farming  as  an  oc- 
cupation realize  that  in  this  career  are  to  be  found  great  pos- 
sibilites  for  individual  effort  and  enterprise.  This  line  of 
work  is  carried  on  more  in  accordance  with  scientific  methods 
from  vear  to  vear,  and  the  modern  farmer  is  an  able  business 
man,  carefully  planning  every  detail  of  his  operations.  One 
of  the  younger  farmers  of  Johnson  county  is  John  L.  Erusha 
who  has  spent  his  life  on  the  farm  in  Monroe  township,  where 
lie  was  born  March  13,  1889.  He  is  the  son  of  John  R.  and 
Frances  (Novatny)  Erusha,  the  former  a  native  of  Bohemia. 
John  R.  Erusha  came  to  America  with  his  parents  when  a 
child  and  the  family  located  permanently  in  Johnson  county. 
Frances  Novatny  was  born  in  Iowa  county,  her  parents  being 
natives  of  Bohemia,  who  came  to  Iowa  at  an  early  day.  John 
R.  and  Frances  Erusha  had  three  children : — John  L.,  on  the 
home  farm;  Edward,  not  at  home;  and  Melver,  attending 
.school. 

John  L.  Erusha  was  educated  in  local  schools  and  as  soon 


566        HISTOEY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

as  he  was  old  enough  helped  with  the  work  on  his  father's 
farm.  He  purchased  the  old  homestead  in  July,  1911,  and 
there  carries  on  general  farming  and  stock  raising.  He  has 
made  many  friends  in  the  community  and  has  a  good  standing 
with  his  neighbors  and  associates.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Catholic  church  and  is  independent  in  political  affairs,  pre- 
ferring to  vote  for  the  men  and  measures  he  believes  will  best 


RESIDENCE  OF   JOHN   L.   ERUSHA 

serve  the  interests  of  the  public  rather  than  be  bound  by  party 
rules.  He  is  popular  in  social  circles  and  active  in  various 
movements  for  the  improvement  of  conditions  in  the  com- 
munity, being  interested  in  the  work  of  the  church  and  in  lo- 
cal issues.  On  November  28,  1911,  Mr.  Erusha  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Miss  Barbara  Svoboda,  daughter  of  Andrew 
and  Barbara  (Jindrich)   Svoboda,  both  natives  of  Bohemia. 


MES.  CARL  PAULUS 

Mrs.  Carl  Paulus,  who  was  born  in  Lincoln  township,  John- 
son county,  Iowa,  in  December,  1879,  is  the  daughter  of  Ed- 
ward I  P.  and  Eliza  (Welch)  Whitacre,  the  former  of  whom 
was  born  in  Ohio  and  the  latter  in  Indiana.  Aquilla  Whitacre^ 
the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  at  one  time  owned  a  large 
amount  of  land  in  Johnson  county,  and  was  well  known  among 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


567 


the  old  settlers.  Edward  P.  Wliitacre  came  to  Johnson  county 
some  time  after  his  father.  There  were  five  children  in  his 
family,  of  which  our  subject  is  the  youngest.  One  child  died 
in  infancy.  The  other  three  survivors  are :  Edward,  living  at 
Hazwell,  Colorado ;  Br.  Charles,  living  at  Hot  Springs,  Arkan- 
sas; Grace,  now  Mrs.  George  Bowen,  living  at  Hazwell,  Colo- 
rado. 


KESIDENCE  OF   CARL  PAULUS 

Our  subject  was  married  in  1904  to  Mr.  Carl  Paulus,  who 
was  born  in  April,  1875,  in  Scott  township,  Johnson  county. 
His  parents  were  John  and  Henrietta  (Detwiler)  Paulus. 
She  is  the  mother  of  two  children,  Gertrude,  and  Edward 
Wliitacre  Paulus. 


GEORGE  CHARLES  CHADIMA 

Among  the  native-born  citizens  who  have  attained  success 
in  farming  in  Johnson  countyj  George  Charles  Chadima  holds 
a  prominent  place.  He  is  of  the  third  generation  to  live  in 
this  region  and  has  a  large  number  of  friends  and  acquaint- 
ances there.  He  was  born  in  Monroe  township,  April  5,  1875, 
and  has  spent  his  entire  life  on  the  old  homestead  there.  He 
is  a  son  of  George  and  Estella  (Chemlicek)  Chadima,  natives 
of  Bohemia.  The  father  was  brought  to  America  when  eight 
years  of  age,  by  his  parents,  who  came  direct  to  Iowa  City, 


568 


HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 


arriving  there  in  November,  1856,  They  located  in  Linn 
county,  about  three  miles  northeast  of  where  George  Charles 
Chadima  now  lives.  The  grandparents  remained  there  until 
the  death  of  the  grandfather,  after  which  his  widow  spent  her 
last  days  with  her  daughter  in  Cedar  Eapids.  They  have  the 
following  children :  John,  Joseph  and  Frank,  who  remained 
in  their  native  country;  Helen,  widow  of  William  Swab,  who 
is  living  in  Cedar  Rapids ;  Anna,  wife  of  John  Mnndil,  of  El- 
beron,  Iowa,  died  in  1905 ;  Wesley  died  at  his  home  at  Barn- 
ston,  Nebraska ;  George,  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch ; 


KESIDEXCE  OF  GEORGE  C.  CHADIMA 


Mary,  wife  of  F.  J.  Pudils,  of  Swisher,  a  sketch  of  whom  is 
given  in  this  work ;  Stephan  died  in  1890. 

Soon  after  his  marriage  to  Miss  Estella  Chemelicek,  George 
Chadima  purchased  ninety-two  acres  of  land,  part  of  the  place 
where  his  son  George  C.  now  lives.  He  engaged  in  farming 
and  has  spent  his  active  business  life  in  agricultural  pursuits, 
adding  to  his  possessions  until  he  owned  325  acres  of  good 
farming  land.  He  has  now  retired  from  active  operations, 
but  lived  on  a  100  acre  farm  in  Linn  county,  until  1912,  when 
he  removed  to  Cedar  Rapids.  For  many  years  he  was  a  di- 
rector of  the  American  Trust  &  Savings  Bank,  of  Cedar 
Rapids,  but  in  1910,  on  account  of  failing  health,  resigiied  from 


BIOGRAPHICAL  569 

business  connections,  and  now  spends  his  time  in  the  ease 
and  comfort  he  has  so  well  earned.  Four  children  were  born 
to  him  and  his  wife;  George  Charles,  whose  name  stands 
at  the  head  of  this  article;  William  H.,  who  now  resides  in 
Cedar  Rapids,  his  time  being  occupied  in  looking  after  his 
farms  and  other  business  interests ;  Estella,  who  died  in  1906, 
was  the  wife  of  Louis  Wokoun,  and  had  a  daughter,  Wilbma ; 
Grace,  Mrs.  Wokoun,  of  Cedar  Rapids.  The  parents  of  these 
children  have  taken  an  honorable  part  in  the  life  of  their 
community  and  have  ever  been  representative  of  its  best  in- 
terests. 

George  Charles  Chadima  spent  his  boyhood  in  helping  with 
the  farm  work  and  attending  local  schools.  He  received  a  good 
business  training  in  youth  and  has  managed  his  affairs  with 
sagacity  and  foresight  since  engaging  in  oxjerations  on  his 
own  account.  He  first  carried  on  farming  in  company  with 
his  brother  William,  and  they  were  thus  engaged  on  the  home 
place  from  November,  1899,  until  March,  1911.  At  the  latter 
date  they  purchased  the  homestead  of  325  acres,  also  an  ad- 
ditional twenty  acres  of  timber  land.  During  their  partner- 
ship they  had  already  purchased  fifty-five  acres,  making  400 
acres  altogether,  but  since  that  time  they  have  sold  ten  acres 
of  timber.  The  partnership  was  dissolved  in  March,  1911, 
and  since  that  date  George  C.  has  carried  on  farming  for 
himself  alone. 

On  September  5,  1906,  Mr.  Chadima  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Agnes  Zvacek,  a  native  of  Linn  county,  Iowa,  whose  par- 
ents were  born  in  Bohemia  and  came  to  Linn  county  in  1854. 
They  have  become  parents  of  three  children :  George  Milton, 
Viola  Estella,  and  Henry  Burton.  He  and  his  brother  are 
members  of  the  Bohemian  Reformed  Evangelical  church,  and 
both  are  republican  in  national  politics  and  independent  voters 
in  local  affairs.  They  are  enterprising  and  public-spirited 
citizens  and  actively  interested  in  everything  affecting  the  gen- 
eral welfare. 


570        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

CHARLES  PROBST 

Among  the  old  settlers  of  Monroe  township,  Johnson 
county,  Charles  Probst  deserves  prominent  mention.  He  has 
been  successful  in  his  farming  operations  and  is  well  known  as 
a  veteran  of  the  Civil  War.  He  was  born  at  Saxe-Weimar, 
Eisenach,  Germany,  in  1836,  and  is  the  son  of  Ludwig  and 
Mary  (Leser)  Probst.  The  father  died  when  Charles  Probst 
was  but  five  years  old,  and  he  early  learned  to  depend  upon 
himself.  When  in  his  eighteenth  year  he  came  to  America 
(in  1854),  accompanied  by  his  sister,  Amelia  Florentine,  now 
the  wife  of  Henry  Hertz,  of  Solon,  Iowa.     They  landed  in  New 


RESIDENCE  OF   CHARLES  PROBST 


York  City  and  soon  afterward  came  west  to  Chicago,  where 
Mr.  Probst  worked  for  four  years.  In  1858  he  came  to  John- 
son county,  being  his  home  ever  since.  For  the  first  two  years 
he  lived  in  Big  Grove  township,  and  in  1860,  came  to  Monroe 
township,  where  he  has  carried  on  farming  ever  since.  He  pur- 
chased his  first  farm  in  1861  and  sold  the  same  in  1864. 

From  Octboer  17,  1864,  until  July  25,  1865,  Mr.  Probst  ser- 
ved in  the  Union  Army,  as  a  member  of  Company  D  Fiftennth 
Iowa  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  participated  in  Sherman's  fam- 
ous ''March  to  the  Sea."  Returning  to  Johnson  county  at 
the  close  of  his  term  of  service,  in  1865,  he  purchased  his  pre- 


BIOGRAPHICAL  571 

sent  home.  He  lias  been  an  influential  and  public-spirited 
citizen  and  has  held  many  local  offices.  He  is  a  democrat  in 
polities  and  is  a  member  of  the  German  Lutheran  church,  in 
which  he  is  useful  and  active.  He  has  served  many  years 
as  township  trustee,  for  four  years  was  township  clerk,  and 
for  thirty  years  has  been  secretary  of  the  scliool  board. 

Mr.  Probst  has  been  married  twice,  the  first  time  in  1880 
when  he  was  united  with  Miss  Martha  Jane  Blalock,  by  whom 
he  had  four  children :  Laura,  wife  of  A.  D.  Thomas,  of  Cedar 
Rapids;  William  Henry,  also  of  Cedar  Rapids;  Elizabeth 
Jane,  wife  of  Albert  Berry,  of  Missouri;  Sarah,  Mrs.  Cole- 
man Putnam,  on  a  farm  near  Strawberry  Point.  The  mother 
of  these  children  died  November  7,  1872,  and  on  May  14,  1879, 
Mr.  Probst  married  Annie  Mary  Svoboda,  a  native  of  Bo- 
hernia,  who  came  with  her  parents  to  America  when  she  was 
about  16  years  old,  in  1874,  and  lived  in  Monroe  township 
before  her  marriage.  Four  children  were  l)orn  to  this  union : 
Selena  Sophia,  Mrs  W.  M.  Dussil,  on  a  farm  in  Ijinn  county; 
Charles  A.,  married  and  living  near  his  father  in  Monroe 
township ;  Mary  Annie,  Mrs.  Michael  Nunn,  of  Cedar  Rapids ; 
Adam  Jacob,  who  died  October  21,  1909,  a  promising  youth 
of  nineteen  years,  eleven  months  and  five  days,  and  who  is 
deeply  mourned  Iw  his  sorrowing  family  and  many  friends. 


WILLIAM  SERBOUSEK 

William  Serbousek  is  a  representative  native-born  citizen 
of  Johnson  county,  where  his  entire  life  has  been  spent.  He 
belongs  to  one  of  the  oldest  families  in  the  region  and  one 
that  has  been  prominently  indentified  with  its  progress  and 
development.  He  was  born  in  Jefferson  township,  in  Decem- 
ber, 1861,  son  of  Enos  and  Josephine  (Kopschy)  Serbousek, 
natives  of  Bohemia,  where  they  were  married.  The  family 
came  direct  to  Jefferson  township  after  emigrating  to  Am- 
erica, and  lived  on  a  farm  there  for  some  years.  When  the 
son  William  was  about  seven  years  old  they  moved  over  into 
Monroe  township  of  the  same  county,  and  there  the  parents 
spent  the  remainder  of  their  lives.  The  father  passed  away 
several  vears  a^o.     Thev  had  five  children  who  reached  ma- 


572        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

turity :  Annie,  widow  of  Joseph  Stepanek,  who  now  resides 
in  Cedar  Rapids ;  Mary,  Mrs.  Wesley  Slezak,  of  Linn  county ; 
Joseph,  of  South  Dakota;  William,  of  Monroe  township. 
Johnson  county;  Frank,  of  Monroe  township. 

Mr.  Serbousek  reached  manhood  on  his  father's  farm  and 
was  educated  in  local  schools.  Upon  reaching  his  majority 
he  engaged  in  farming  on  his  own  account,  upon  the  place 
which  is  still  his  home.  He  has  made  most  of  the  improve- 
ments on  this  farm  and  has  erected  all  the  present  buildings. 
He  is  a  farmer  of  recogiiized  ability  and  carries  on  his  work 
according  to  modern  approved  methods.  The  land  is  devoted 
to  general  farming,  wliich  yields  a  good  crop.     He  has  had 


EESmENCE  OF  WILLIAM  SERBOUSEK 


time  to  take  an  intelligent  interest  and  ])articipation  in  local 
affairs  and  has  held  various  minor  offices  with  credit  and 
ability.  He  is  a  meml)er  of  the  Catholic  church,  is  a  demo- 
crat politically,  and  fraternally  belongs  to  the  M.  W.  A.,  Wal- 
ford  Camp. 

In  1883,  Mr.  Serbousek  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Annie  Skala,  also  a  native  of  Johnson  county,  a  daughter  of 
Joe  and  Annie  (Horak)  Skala,  early  settlers  there.  Eight 
children  have  blessed  their  union :  William  lives  on  a  farm 
in  Benton  county,  Iowa ;  Tillie,  Mrs.  Joseph  Lopata,  of  Jef- 
ferson township,  Johnson  county;  Annie,  Mrs.  William  Shu- 
petor,  of  Johnson  county ;  Joseph,  Sylvia,  Benjamin,  Wesley, 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


573 


and  Charles,  at  home  with  their  parents.  The  family  is 
prominent  in  social  circles  in  the  community,  where  they  have 
many  friends. 


JOSEPH  F.  CERNY 

Josepli  F.  Cerny  is  the  owner  of  283  acres  of  fine  land  in 
Monroe  township,  Johnson  county.  He  made  his  start  by 
working-  out  upon  the  farms  of  his  neighbors.  His  success 
is  only  another  indication  of  the  opportunities  that  lie  before 
the  industrious,  frugal  citizen  in  eastern  Iowa.  Born  in  Bo- 
hemia in  1863,  he  came  to  America  with  his  mother  when 
twelve  years  of  age.     His  parents  were  Wesley  and  Mary 


RESIDENCE  OF  JOSEPH   F.  CERNY 


(Skala)  Cerny,  both  natives  of  Bohemia.  The  family  first 
located  in  Tama  county,  wher^  they  lived  for  two  years,  re- 
moving thence  to  Monroe  township.  There  were  six  children 
in  the  household :  Mary,  now  Mrs.  Framer,  residing  in  Tama 
county ;  Katherine ;  Martha,  who  died  about  forty  years  ago ; 
our  subject ;  Wesley,  who  died  some  years  ago ;  Anna. 

Mr.  Cerny  was  married  in  1893,  to  Miss  Frances  Stanek, 
who  was  born  in  Linn  county,  Iowa,  September  15,  1869. 
They  have  three  children :     Edward,  Jerry  and  Laura.     Our 


574        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

subject  is  a  democrat,  and  has  held  the  office  of  school  director 
of  his  district.  He  is  a  member  of  the  M.  W.  A.  of  Fairfax, 
Iowa. 


EMIL  DVORAK 


Emil  Dvorak  has  spent  his  entire  life  on  the  farm  which  he 
owns  and  operates,  having  been  born  there  in  January,  1887. 
He  was  educated  in  local  schools  and  is  one  of  the  best  known 
men  in  his  community,  his  parents  having  lived  there  many 
years  before  his  birth.  The  family  is  one  of  the  oldest  in 
Monroe  township,  and  its  members  have  borne  an  important 
part  in  the  upbuilding  of  the  region.  Emil  Dvorak  is  a  son  of 
Joseph  and  Rosa  (Pirkla)  Dvorak,  natives  of  Bohemia.  The 
father  came  to  America  as  a  young  man,  and  after  spending 


EESIDEXCE  OF  EMIL  DVORAK 


a  short  time  on  a  farm  in  Johnson  county,  moved  to  Cedar 
Rapids  and  worked  for  a  few  years  in  that  city,  then  de- 
cided there  were  better  results  to  l)e  ol)tained  from  farming 
and  returned  to  that  occupation.  He  came  to  farm  in  Jef- 
ferson township  in  1870,  and  some  time  later  sold  out  and 
went  to  live  on  the  farm  that  is  now  the  home  of  his  son  Emil. 
He  developed  it  and  added  necessary  buildings,  remaining  on 
the  place  until  1909,  when  he  and  his  wife  retired  from  active 
work,  and  moved  to  Swisher.     Thev  have  a  comfortable  home 


BIOGRAPHICAL  575 

there  and  are  prepared  to  spend  their  declining  years  in  the 
ease  and  comfort  they  have  earned  by  their  years  of  hard 
work.  They  became  parents  of  these  chiklren  :  Pauline  died 
in  infancy;  Blanche  married  Albert  Hoverka,  and  they  re- 
side in  Linn  county;  Joseph  lives  in  Cedar  Eapids;  Lowell 
lives  in  Swisher ;  Alexander,  also  of  Swisher ;  Emil,  immediate 
subject  of  this  sketch. 

After  completing-  his  education  Emil  Dvorak  confined  his 
energies  to  working  on  the  home  farm  and  has  since  continued 
in  this  line  of  endeavor,  being  very  successful  in  his  operations. 
He  is  familiar  with  the  possibilities  of  the  soil  with  which  he 
is  concerned  and  is  a  practical  business  man,  as  well  as  an 
industrious  and  thrifty  farmer.  He  is  actively  interested  in 
local  affairs  and  in  politics  is  a  democrat.  He  is  a  devout 
and  useful  member  of  the  Catholic  church  at  Walford. 

On  October  12,  1909,  Mr.  Dvorak  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Anna  Horak,  a  niece  of  Wesley  Horak,  of  Jefferson 
township.  Her  family  are  among  the  early  settlers  of  John- 
son county.  One  child  has  blessed  this  marriage,  a  daughter, 
Olga.     The  family  is  well  known  and  has  many  friends. 


JAMES  E.  BOWERSOX 

The  Bowersox  family  were  among  the  early  settlers  of 
Johnson  county  and  have  been  prominently  identified  with  the 
best  interests  of  the  region  since  coming  there  about  sixty 
years  ago.  The  journey  to  the  new  home  in  Iowa  was  fraught 
with  interest  and  adv^enture,  and  in  this  trip  the  family  was 
one  of  many  who  came  at  that  time,  a  large  number  having 
been  prominent  in  the  early  history  of  Johnson  county.  James 
E.  Bowersox  is  a  native  son  of  the  county  and  has  spent  his 
entire  life  on  his  present  farm  in  Jefferson  township,  where  he 
was  born  November  30,  1867,  son  of  James  E.  and  Mary  M. 
(Shuey)  Bowersox,  the  father  born  in  Carroll  county,  Mary- 
land, 1817,  and  the  mother  in  Augusta  county,  Virginia, 
January  26,  1825.  After  his  marriage,  in  1854,  James  E. 
Bowersox,  Sr.,  came  west  in  search  of  a  suitable  location  in 
which  to  settle,  and  purchased  l-tO  acres  of  land  in  Johnson 
county,  which  is  now  the  property  of  his  son  James.     He  re- 


576        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

turned  to  Virginia  the  same  year  and  in  1855,  bronght  his  wife 
to  the  new  home. 

The  long  trip  from  Virginia  to  Iowa  was  made  before  a 
regular  line  of  railroad  was  established  over  the  route,  and 
was  accomplished  with  a  covered  wagon  and  team.  They 
joined  what  was  known  as  a  ''wagon  train,"  consisting  of 
some  100  or  more  vehicles,  in  which  rode  many  of  the  families 
who  became  their  neighbors  in  Johnson  county,  including, 
among  others,  the  Shuey,  Graham,  and  Hodge  families.  Up- 
on arriving  in  Johnson  county,  Mr.  Bowersox  engaged  in 
farming  and  also  followed  the  trade  of  carpenter.  At  one 
time  most  of  the  buildings  which  were  standing  in  Shueyvile 


RESIDENCE  OF  JAMES  E.  BOWERSOX 


were  erected  by  him.  He  had  previously  been  a  circuit 
preacher  in  the  United  Brethren  church,  and  after  his  arrival 
in  Iowa,  continued  to  preach  in  local  pulpits  of  the  church,  the 
later  years  of  his  life  being  almost  entirely  spent  in  this  work. 
He  passed  away  August  20,  1880,  and  the  mother  November 
19,  1896.  He  had  three  brothers  and  two  sisters:  Louise, 
Jacob,  Ephraim,  Benjamin,  and  Annie.  All  remained  in  the 
east  except  Jacob  and  James  E.  After  the  latter  moved  to 
Iowa,  Jacob  went  to  Tiffin,  Ohio,  and  he  died  there  about  six- 
teen years  ago.  Mrs.  James  E.  Bowersox  belonged  to  the 
Shuey  family,  for  whom  the  town  of  Shuey ville  was  named, 
and  her  father  at  one  time  owned  the  land  on  which  the  town 
was  laid  out  and  several  hundred  acres  surrounding  it.     Her 


BIOGRAPHICAL  577 

parents  had  nine  children,  of  whom  William,  the  eldest,  was 
the  first  of  the  family  to  come  to  Johnson  county  to  live.  The 
remainder  of  the  family  came  a  year  later.  He  was  a  surveyor 
by  occupation  and  he  and  a  brother  laid  out  the  town  of  Shuey- 
ville.  He  enlisted,  October  2,  1862,  in  the  Fourteenth  Iowa 
Infantry,  becoming  captain  of  his  company,  and  serving  to  the 
close  of  the  war,  when  he  was  honorably  discharged.  The 
other  children  in  the  Shuey  family  were :  Bernard  L.,  at  one 
time  a  farmer  of  Johnson  county,  moved  to  Cleveland,  Illinois, 
w^here  he  served  as  postmaster ;  Mary  Margaret,  Mrs.  Bower- 
sox;  Katherine  Jane,  born  April  7,  1828,  died  June  22  of  the 
same  year;  Caswell  B.,  born  February  15,  1832,  was  a  school 
teacher,  owned  a  farm  in  Jefferson  township,  and  died  many 
years  ago;  Jacob  A.,  born  April  17,  1831,  lives  at  Red  Oak, 
Iowa ;  Jason,  born  June  29, 1840,  was  for  many  years  a  farmer, 
later  engaged  in  mercantile  business  at  Solon,  and  finally 
moved  to  Carroll  county,  where  he  died ;  Robert  G.,  born  Octo- 
ber, 1842,  lives  at  Cedar  Rapids ;  Virginia  C,  born  January  23, 
1848,  married  William  C.  Jackson,  and  they  live  at  Mt.  Pleas- 
ant, Iowa. 

At  the  age  of  twenty-one  years  the  subject  of  this  sketch  en- 
gaged in  farming  for  himself,  and  has  since  operated  the  home 
place,  as  he  has  always  remained  there.  In  addition  to  farm- 
ing he  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  sorghum  molasses,  in 
which  industry  he  became  very  successful,  and  an  engraving 
of  a  part  of  his  plant  is  shown  in  this  publication.  He  has 
been  active  in  all  measures  affecting  the  general  welfare  and 
prosperity  and  has  a  good  standing  in  his  community.  He 
has  reason  to  feel  proud  of  the  part  his  ancestors  and  relatives 
have  taken  in  the  early  history  of  Johnson  county,  and  of  the 
position  the}^  have  held.  He  is  a  republican  in  politics  and  a 
member  of  the  United  Brethren  church.  Fraternally  he  be- 
longs to  Camp  No.  5882,  M.  W.  'A.,  of  Shueyville.  He  has  held 
various  local  offices  and  is  now  president  of  the  school  board. 

In  1887  Mr.  Bowersox  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Fannie  Freud,  also  a  native  of  Johnson  county,  where  her  par- 
ents were  pioneers.  Six  children  have  been  born  of  this  union : 
George  E.,  John  H.,  Lucy  M.,  Annie  V.,  Edna  M.,  and  James 
Wilber. 


578        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

FRANK  MUSSER 

Frank  Musser  is  one  of  the  well-known  farmers  of  Fremont 
township,  and  is  a  native  of  Johnson  county,  where  he  has 
spent  nearly  his  entire  life.  He  was  born  in  Fremont  town- 
ship, in  January,  1865,  and  is  a  son  of  J.  D.  and  Ehzabeth 
(Raynor)  Musser.  The  family,  one  that  is  well  known  in  the 
county,  is  mentioned  at  some  length  in  connection  with  the 
sketch  of  John  D.  Musser,  a  brother  of  Frank.  Another 
brother,  Joseph  R.,  is  also  given  a  sketch  in  this  work.  The 
father  was  for  many  years  engaged  in  farming  in  Fremont 
township.  The  parents  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania  and 
England. 


EESmENCE   OF    FRANK    MUSSER 


Reared  to  farm  work,  Frank  Musser  has  followed  this  occu- 
pation all  his  life.  At  the  age  of  twenty-two  years  he  engaged 
in  farming  on  his  own  account  and  has  been  successful  in  a 
gratifying  degree.  About  1893  he  purchased  a  farm  at  Pleas- 
ant Valley,  and  in  1910  purchased  the  old  family  homestead  in 
Fremont  township,  which  he  now  occupies.  He  is  an  intelli- 
gent and  able  farmer  and  stands  well  \\dth  his  neighbors.  He 
has  many  friends  in  the  community  and  takes  an  active  inter- 
est in  local  affairs. '  In  political  views  he  is  a  democrat  and  in 
religious  views  he  is  a  Methodist.  He  belongs  to  the  church 
at  River  Junction.  The  family  are  well  known  socially  and 
have  a  pleasant  and  attractive  home. 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


579 


In  June,  1892,  Mr.  Musser  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Velta  May  Winman,  a  native  of  Iowa  and  daugliter  of  John 
Winman  and  wife.  There  have  been  three  children  born  of 
this  union :  Fred,  John,  and  Emma.  Mrs.  Musser  died  Jan- 
uary, 1909,  mourned  by  the  whole  communit}^  She  had  been 
a  loving  wife  and  mother  and  a  kind  neighbor  and  is  sadly 
missed  by  all  who  knew  her. 


WESLEY  HORAK 


For  forty-six  years  Wesley  Horak  has  resided  upon  and 
cultivated  the  farm  upon  which  he  now  resides  in  Jefferson 
township,  Johnson  county.  Farming  has  been  his  occupation 
from  boyhood.  He  came  to  America  when  twenty  years  of 
age  with  his  parents,  Daniel  and  Katherine  (Pakinoc)  Horak, 
natives  of  Bohemia.     Our  subject  was  born  in  Bohemia  in 


RESIDENCE   OF    WESLEY    HORAK 


September,  1810.  Daniel  Horak  and  wife  settled  upon  a  farm 
in  Jefferson  township  and  lived  thereon  until  their  death.  The 
mother  died  in  1899  and  the  father  in  the  spring  of  1904.  They 
had  seven  children,  as  follows  :  Our  subject ;  Daniel,  living  in 
Grinnell,  Iowa ;  John,  died  about  fifteen  years  ago ;  Katherine, 
married  to  Joseph  Stusak,  resided  in  Cedar  Rapids,  and  both 
died  several  years  ago ;  Annie,  married  to  Joseph  Skala,  resid- 


580        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

ed  on  a  farm  in  Linn  county,  where  both  died ;  Barbara,  now 
Mrs.  Frank  Skala,  Hving  in  Monroe  township  on  a  farm ;  Helen, 
now  Mrs.  John  Volesky,  living  in  Swisher,  Iowa ;  Anna,  mar- 
ried to  Frank  Volesky,  resided  in  Johnson  county  until  her 
death  in  1901,  the  husband  being  now  a  resident  of  South 
Dakota. 

Wesley  Horak  bought  his  first  farm  of  120  acres  in  1865. 
This  is  now  his  home  place.  He  has  added  eighty  acres  there- 
to, giving  him  200  acres  of  exceedingly  productive  land.  In 
1864  he  was  married  to  Miss  Katherine  Kucher,  a  native  of 
Bohemia,  who  came  to  America  with  her  parents  when  seven 
years  of  age,  and  settled  with  them  on  a  farm  in  Jefferson 
township.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Horak  have  nine  children :  Wesley, 
living  in  Cedar  Rapids ;  Frank,  a  resident  of  Cedar  Rapids ; 
Charles,  living  at  home;  Edward,  living  at  home  and  em- 
ployed as  U.  S.  mail  carrier  out  of  Swisher,  Iowa ;  Annie,  now 
Mrs.  Wesley  Karban,  living  in  South  Dakota ;  Tillie,  now  Mrs. 
Charles  Novak,  living  in  Chicago;  Carrie,  now  Mrs.  Joseph 
Underly,  living  in  Cedar  Rapids ;  Clara,  now  Mrs.  Lester  Bar- 
ta,  living  in  Linn  county  on  a  farm;  Emma,  deceased  w^fe  of 
William  Chehak. 

Mr.  Horak  gives  his  political  allegiance  to  the  democratic 
party.  His  family  and  himself  are  affliliated  with  the  Evan- 
gelical church. 

Mr.  Horak  has  just  completed  a  fine  new  residence  in  Swish- 
er, where  he  intends  to  make  his  home  in  retirement  from  his 
farm.  Having  worked  all  his  life  and  now  with  an  ample  com- 
petency he  is  entitled  to  the  rest  and  quiet  that  comes  from  a 
well  spent  life. 


FRANK  M.  PIRKL 

The  father  of  our  subject,  Frank  J.  Pirkl,  came  to  America 
from  his  native  country  of  Bohemia  when  thirty-five  years  of 
age  and  purchased  the  farm  of  137  acres  in  Jefferson  township 
on  which  our  subject  was  born  and  where  he  now  lives.  The 
parents,  Frank  J.  and  Helen  (Bis)  Pirkl,  were  married  on  this 
farm  and  always  resided  there  afterwards.  They  had  three 
children:     Mary,  now  Mrs.  Dolezal,  living  in  Cedar  Rapids, 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


581 


Iowa ;  Frank  M. ;  Katlieriiie,  now  Mrs.  Prank  Wisnorsky,  liv- 
ing in  Jefferson  township. 

Frank  M.  Pirkl  has  always  been  a  farmer  on  the  old  home- 
stead where  he  was  born.  He  was  married  in  September, 
1887,  to  Miss  Annie  Ludvechek,  a  native  of  Bohemia,  who  came 
with  her  parents  to  America  when  a  baby  six  weeks  old.     Mr. 


RESIDENCE   OF   FRANK   M.   PIRKL 

and  Mrs.  Pirkl  have  seven  children:  Westa,  now  Mrs. 
Joseph  Stancel,  living  in  Linn  county ;  Blanch ;  Callie,  now  Mrs. 
Frank  Benish,  living  in  Linn  county ;  Libby,  Emily,  Clara,  and 
Fred. 

Mr.  Pirkl  is  a  democrat.     The  family  are  members  of  the 
Catholic  church. 


CHARLES  J.  BISCUP 

John  F.  Biscup,  the  father  of  Charles  J.,  came  to  America 
from  his  native  country,  Bohemia,  when  he  was  nineteen  years 
of  age,  and  after  working  in  several  different  localities,  set- 
tled in  Cedar  Rapids,  Iowa,  where  he  worked  at  the  tailor's 
trade.  There  he  met  and  married  Miss  Josephine  Shieks,  also 
a  native  of  Bohemia,  who  came  with  her  parents  to  America 
when  a  child  and  settled  with  them  at  Cedar  Rapids.  Thirty- 
five  year  ago  the  father  purchased  a  farm  in  Jefferson  town- 


582        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

ship,  abandoned  the  tailor's  trade  and  became  a  farmer.  On 
this  farm  Charles  J.  Bisciip  was  born  September  11,  1877. 
There  were  two  other  children:  Frank  and  Mary,  both  of 
whom  died  in  infancy. 

Charles  J..  Biscup  began  business  for  himself  at  the  age  of 
twenty-one  as  a  farmer,  and  this  has  been  his  life-long  occupa- 


I  1     - 

^    !    ft 


RESIDENCE  OF  CHARLES  J.  BISCUP 

tion.  He  purchased  his  present  home  twelve  years  ago,  con- 
sisting of  170  acres  not  far  from  the  village  of  Coufal.  In 
1899  he  was  married  to  Miss  Libby  Louvar,  daughter  of  Frankis 
Lovar  (see  his  sketch).  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Biscup  have  no  chil- 
dren. 


ANTON  HORSKY 

One  of  the  representative  and  most  influential  citizens  of 
Jefferson  township  is  Anton  Horsky,  who  owns  a  fine  farm  of 
140  acres  in  that  township  upon  which  he  has  resided  since 
1881.  Mr.  Horsky  was  born  in  Bohemia  April  1,  1853.  His 
parents  were  Anton  and  Mary  (Konter)  Horsky,  both  natives 
of  Bohemia.  His  mother  died  Avhen  he  was  four  years  old,  and 
one  brother  older  than  himself  died  in  infancy.  The  father 
married  a  second  wife  (Miss  Katherine  Novotovig),  who  bore 
him  two  children :  Katherine,  married  to  Martin  Sour,  her  hus- 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


583 


band  dying  about  five  years  ago,  she  now  residing  at  Solon 
with  her  mother;  John,  Hving  in  Oregon.  Anton  Horsky,  Sr., 
came  to  America  with  his  second  wife  in  1877  and  settled  in 
Big  Grove  township.  He  died  there  a  good  many  years  ago. 
His  widow  is  now  Hving  at  Solon. 

Our  subject,  who  came  to  America  with  his  father,  being  then 
twenty-four  years  of  age,  immediately  took  up  the  business  of 
farming,  and  four  years  after  his  arrival  purchased  the  farm 
where  he  now  resides  in  Jefferson  township.  He  was  married 
in  1889  to  Miss  Annie  Buresh,  a  native  of  Bohemia,  who  came 
to  America  with  her  parents.     Six  children  were  born  of  this 


RESIDENCE    OF   ANTON    HORSKY 


union :  Anton,  who  is  employed  in  Johnson  county ;  Mary,  who 
died  in  infancy ;  Agnes,  Libby,  Henry,  Albert. 

On  general  political  issues  Mr.  Horsky  is  a  democrat,  though 
being  of  a  liberal  disposition,  -it  is  his  aim  always  to  vote  for 
the  best  man.  He  takes  an  active  interest  in  the  welfare  of  his 
community,  is  a  strong  temperance  advocate  and  much  opposed 
to  saloons  and  all  other  influences  that  tend  to  demoralize 
young  people.  Is  a  member  of  the  Evangelical  church  and  of 
the  M:.  B.  a.  of  Shueyville. 


584        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

JOHN  COUFAL 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Joseph  Coiifal,  the  parents  of  John  Coufal, 
came  from  their  native  country,  Bohemia,  in  1852,  and  settled 
on  a  farm  in  Jefferson  township,  where  they  lived  for  a  little 
while  and  then  bought  the  farm  where  our  subject  now  resides. 
There  they  lived  and  labored  until  the  death  of  Father  Coufal, 
June  15,  1904.  The  mother  is  now  residing  with  her  son,  our 
subject,  who  was  born  in  Jefferson  township  March  10,  1855. 
Joseph  Coufal  and  wife  had  three  children:  John;  Annie,  now 
Mrs.  John  M.  Louvor,  living  in  Jefferson  township;  Frank, 
who  died  when  nine  years  old.  At  the  time  the  elder  Coufal s 
settled  in  Jefferson  township  there  were  only  two  farms  occu- 
pied between  their  place  and  Cedar  Rapids. 


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EESIDENCE    OF    JOHN    COUFAL 

John  Coufal  has  been  a  farmer  on  the  old  homestead  of  his 
parents  since  he  was  large  enough  to  work.  It  has  been  a  de- 
light to  him  to  continue  the  work  so  well  begun  by  his  progen- 
itors, and  the  general  appearance  of  the  old  farm  attests  his 
ability  as  an  agriculturist.  He  was  married  in  1880  to  Miss 
Emma  Witoushek,  a  native  of  Johnson  county,  whose  parents 
came  from  Bohemia  to  this  county  in  1851.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Coufal  have  six  children :  Delia,  now  Mrs.  William  Zeithammel, 
of  Iowa  City,  whose  husband  is  engaged  in  the  mercantile  busi- 
ness at  the  village  of  Coufal,  named  for  our  subject ;  John, 
married  to  Naomi  Brown,  living  in  Iowa  county ;  Charles,  mar- 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


585 


ried  to  Fannie  Diisel,  living  in  Iowa  county ;  William,  married 
to  Lillian  Vecrska,  living-  in  Jefferson  township;  Annie,  died 
December  20,  1911 ;  and  Frank,  at  home. 

In  national  politics  Mr.  Coufal  allies  himself  with  the  demo- 
crats, but  takes  the  liberal  and  independent  attitude  in  local 
matters.  He  is  interested  in  all  public  enterprises,  and  is  a 
friend  of  churches  and  schools.  In  recognition  of  his  public 
spirit  the  town  of  Coufal  was  given  his  name. 


DANIEL  ROZEK 


Daniel  Rozek  was  born  in  Bohemia  in  Af)ril,  1841.  His 
parents  were  John  and  Marie  (Bartosh)  Rozek,  native  Bo- 
hemians. Mr.  Rozek  was  married  in  Bohemia  in  1868  to  Miss 
Rose  Schabel,  and  with  his  wife  and  young  family  emigrated  to 
America  in  1880,  settling  upon  the  farm  in  Jefferson  township 
which  is  his  present  home.     The  couple  have  been  blessed  with 


EESmENCE  OF  DANIEL  ROZEK 


eleven  children,  as  follows:  Marie,  now  Mrs.  William  Chase, 
living  in  Cedar  Rapids ;  Joseph,  living  on  a  farm  in  Jefferson 
township;  Rose,  now  Mrs.  Joseph  Emsh,  living  in  Amana, 
Iowa;  Anna,  living  in  Cedar  Rapids;  Frank,  married  and  liv- 
ing in  Oxford,  Iowa;  Emma,  now^  Mrs.  William  Vich,  living- 
near  Northwood,  low^a ;  Delia,  living  with  her  sister  at  North- 


586        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

wood,  Iowa ;  Matilda,  engaged  in  dressmaking  in  Cedar  Rap- 
ids ;  Clara  and  Adelina,  living  at  liome. 

Mr.  Rozek  is  the  owner  of  sixty  acres  of  well  tilled  land  in 
Jefferson  township,  and  is  in  comfortable  circumstances.  He 
began  with  no  capital  but  a  good  brain,  a  stout  heart,  and  will- 
ing hands.  He  is  a  democrat,  and  a  member  of  St.  Wenceslaus 
church.  Cedar  Rapids. 


JOHN  WESLEY  LAUGHERY 

John  Wesley  Laughery  was  born  in  Schuyler,  Illinois,  June 
15, 1848.  His  parents  were  Thomas  and  Mary  (Dean)  Laugh- 
ery, both  natives  of  Ohio,  where  they  were  married  in  1841. 
In  the  summer  of  1841  they  removed  to  Illinois  and  settled  at 
Pleasant  View,  where  the  father  worked  as  a  carpenter.  In 
1846  the  family  came  west  to  Wapello  county,  Iowa,  and  re- 


RESIDENCE  OF  JOHX  W.  LAUGHERY 


mained  one  year,  when  they  returned  to  Illinois.  In  1854, 
however,  they  moved  back  to  Iowa,  settling  this  time  in  Lee 
county.  In  the  fall  of  1861  Thomas  Laughery  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany A,  of  the  Nineteenth  Iowa  Volunteers,  serving  for  two 
vears  in  the  Civil  War.  He  was  honorablv  discharged  in  the 
fall  of  1863  on  account  of  physical  disability  incurred  from  ex- 


BIOGRAPHICAL  587 

posure  in  the  service.  In  1864  the  family  moved  to  Madison 
township  in  Johnson  county.  Ten  chiklren  were  born  to 
Thomas  and  Mary  Laughery  (one  dying  in  infancy)  :  Samuel 
Calvin,  member  of  Company  E,  Eighth  Iowa  Cavalry,  now  liv- 
ing in  South  Dakota ;  our  subject ;  Francis  Marion,  now  living 
at  Shueyville ;  Martacia,  now  Mrs.  John  Stanchfield,  of  Hink- 
ley,  Minnesota;  Martha  Jane,  now  Mrs.  J.  K.  Fardice  (see  his 
sketch)  ;  Nancy  Alice,  who  died  in  1907,  in  the  state  of  Wash- 
ington ;  Barbara  Ellen,  now  Mrs.  John  Proctor,  living  in  Los 
Angeles,  California ;  Mary  Lucinda,  now"  Mrs.  James  Hutson, 
living  in  Jefferson  township ;  Sarah  Margaret,  now  Mrs.  Kimm, 
of  Pine  City,  Washington. 

John  Wesley  Laughery  has  followed  the  occupation  of  farm- 
ing all  his  life.  He  bought  his  present  farm  in  1898,  and  has 
resided  thereon  ever  since.  In  1891  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Levema  Inbody,  who  was  born  in  Elkhart,  Indiana,  in  1851. 
Her  father  was  a  native  of  Martinsburg,  Virginia,  and  her 
mother  was  born  in  Pennsylvania.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Inbody  were 
married  in  Indiana,  and  came  to  Linn  county,  Iowa,  in  1853. 
There  they  entered  government  land  and  lived  and  died,  the 
father  in  1897  and  the  mother  in  1895.  They  w^ere  blessed 
wdth  thirteen  children,  twelve  of  whom  grew  to  manhood  and 
womanhood :  John,  Jesse,  Eli  who  died  in  infancy,  Jacob,  Caro- 
line, Levema,  now  Mrs.  Laughery,  George,  Malissa,  Alice,  and 
Thomas. 

Our  subject  is  a  republican  and  a  member  of  the  Evangelical 
church.  Mrs.  Laughery  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  church. 
When  a  child  she  was  afflicted  ^\dth  eye  trouble,  which  resulted 
in  the  complete  loss  of  her  sight  at  the  age  of  eleven  years. 
However,  in  spite  of  this  serious  handicap,  she  does  her  own 
housework,  raises  poultry,  and  attends  to  her  garden  and 
flowers,  seemingly  with  as  much  ease  as  one  who  sees.  She  has 
a  most  beautiful  collection  of  "flowers,  which  are  a  hobby  with 
her.  To  see  her  about  the  house  and  yard  one  would  never 
suspect  her  of  blindness.  She  is  in  many  respects  a  most  re- 
markable woman,  and  is  universally  respected  for  her  great 
strength  of  character  and  culture.  Needless  to  say  she  is  be- 
loved by  her  husband. 


588        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

JOSEPH  CASTEK 

Joseph  Castek  was  three  years  of  age  when  he  left  his  native 
country  of  Bohemia  with  his  parents  and  made  the  journey  to 
America  and  Johnson  county.  Joseph  and  Annie  (Coufal) 
Castek,  his  parents,  were  both  natives  of  Bohemia.  They 
started  for  America  in  August,  1862.  Arriving  in  Johnson 
county,  they  immediately  settled  on  a  farm  in  Jefferson  town- 
ship, where  they  resided  for  five  years,  then  removed  to  Cedar 
Rapids,  where  they  lived  four  years.  In  1871  they  moved  back 
to  the  old  homestead  in  Jefferson  township,  a  farm  of  120 
acres.  A  few  years  later  Frank  Castek  purchased  a  farm  of 
176  acres  in  Monroe  township  and  moved  thereon.     This  was 


KESIDENCE   OF   JOSEPH   CASTEK 


the  home  of  the  couple  until  the  death  of  the  mother,  following 
which  the  father  went  to  Cedar  Rapids  to  live  with  his  daugh- 
ter, Mrs.  Ruska,  in  whose  home  he  died.  Father  and  Mother 
Castek  had  eight  children :  Joseph ;  Frank,  who  died  in  Monroe 
township  on  his  farm  some  years  ago,  leaving  a  wife  and  three 
children ;  John,  living  in  Cedar  Rapids ;  Louis,  living  on  a  farm 
in  Monroe  township;  Annie,  now  Mrs.  Frank  Konigsmark, 
living  in  Cedar  Rapids;  Josephine,  now  Mrs.  William  Ste- 
panek,  of  Cedar  Rapids,  Mr.  Stepanek  being  an  alderman  in 
that  city;  Mary,  now  Mrs.  Louis  Ruska,  of  Cedar  Rapids,  at 


BIOGRAPHICAL  589 

whose  home  Father  Castek  died;  Frances,  now  Mrs.  Frank 
Dolezal,  living  on  a  farm  in  Linn  county. 

The  date  of  Joseph  Castek 's  birth  was  January  1,  1859,  and 
twenty-one  years  later,  namely,  in  1881,  he  began  business  for 
himself  at  farming.  In  1882  he  bought  his  first  farm  consist- 
ing of  120  acres.  He  resided  upon  this  farm  about  twenty 
years,  when  he  bought  the  farm  of  140  acres  where  he  now 
lives.  He  was  married  in  1882  to  Miss  Frances  Vaverka,  a  na- 
tive of  Johnson  county,  her  parents  being  among  the  early  set- 
tlers of  the  county.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Castek  have  eleven  children : 
Joseph  F.,  living  on  his  farm  in  Jefferson  township;  Frank, 
living  on  the  old  homestead;  Joseph;  Aldrich,  living  at  home; 
Otto,  also  residing  at  home;  Agnes,  now  Mrs.  Stanley  0. 
Marak,  living  on  a  farm  in  Jefferson  township;  Mary,  now 
Mrs.  Charles  Petrak,  living  in  Swisher,  where  Mr.  Petrak  is 
engaged  in  blacksmithing ;  Frances,  now  Mrs.  John  Kilberger, 
resides  in  Linn  county;  Emily,  Louisa,  and  Henrietta,  living  at 
home. 

Mr.  Castek  is  recognized  as  the  most  liberal  and  public  spir- 
ited men  of  Jefferson  township,  and  is  referred  to  generally  as 
one  of  the  best  and  kindest  of  neighbors.  He  was  assessor  of 
his  township  for  six  years,  and  has  held  other  important  local 
offices.  He  is  a  democrat.  He  belongs  to  Shueyville  Camp 
No.  5382,  M.  W.  A.,  also  to  C.  S.  P.  S.  of  Western,  Iowa.  The 
family  are  members  of  the  Catholic  church. 


ANTON  VERBA 


The  grandparents  of  Anton  Verba  came  to  America  from 
their  native  country,  Bohemia,  in  1851,  and  settled  on  a  farm 
in  Big  Grove  township.  There  they  built  a  brick  house,  burn- 
ing the  brick  themselves  for  its  construction.  This  house  is 
still  standing.  Anton  Verba,  Sr.,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  in  Bohemia  and  came  with  his  parents  to  America 
in  1851.  About  the  same  time  Frances  Kichmar,  who  after- 
wards became  his  wife,  came  to  America  with  her  parents  and 
settled  with  them  in  Cedar  Rapids.  In  1861  Anton,  Sr.,  and 
Frances  Kichmar  were  married.  They  lived  in  Cedar  Rapids 
two  years,  and  in  1863  purchased  a  small  tract  of  land  two 


590        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

miles  east  of  their  present  home,  where  they  lived  for  a  short 
time.  Thereafter  they  bought  and  moved  on  to  the  farm  in 
Jefferson  township  where  our  subject  was  born  in  March,  1870. 
This  farm  was  the  abiding  place  of  the  father  until  1895,  the 
year  of  his  death.  The  mother  is  still  li^dng■  with  her  son 
Anton  at  the  old  home.  This  farm  has  always  been  the  home 
of  our  subject,  and  thereon  he  has  worked  as  a  farmer  from 
boyhood.  Three  children  were  born  to  Anton  Verba,  Sr.,  and 
Frances  Kichmar:  Joseph,  residing  in  Schuyler,  Nebraska; 
our  subject,  and  one  who  died  in  infancy. 

The  old  farm  is  an  object  of  affection  for  our  subject,  and  he 
has  devoted  himself  to  the  work  of  making  it  productive  and 
attractive.  Six  acres  are  planted  in  orchard,  containing  a  fine 
variety  of  fruit.  The  widowed  mother  is  spending  her  de- 
clining years  in  peace  and  plenty  amid  the  old  home  acres.  She 
and  her  family  were  formerly  attendants  upon  the  Catholic 
church,  but  of  late  vears  thev  have  not  been  communicants  of 
any  church.  Anton  Verba  stands  Avell  among  his  neighbors, 
bearing  the  reputation  of  an  industrious  and  honorable  citizen. 


JACOB  SHUEY  BOWERSOX 

The  Bowersox  family  is  mentioned  at  considerable  length  in 
connection  ^^^.th  the  sketch  of  James  E.  Bowersox,  a  brother  of 
Jacob  S.,  which  is  to  be  found  elsewhere  in  these  pages.  The 
parents  were  among  the  very  early  settlers  of  Johnson  county, 
making  the  long  trip  from  Virginia  before  the  days  of  a  rail- 
road over  the  route  taken  by  them.  The  father  followed  the 
trade  of  carpenter  for  some  time  after  his  arrival,  in  1855,  and 
in  this  connection  erected  many  of  the  first  houses  in  Shuey- 
ville.  This  town  was  named  in  honor  of  the  family  of  his  wife, 
whose  maiden  name  was  Mary  M.  Shuey.  Mr.  Bowersox  was 
a  preacher  for  the  United  Brethren  church,  both  in  his  native 
state  and  after  coming  to  Johnson  county,  and  is  very  well  re- 
membered among  the  early  settlers  for  his  activity  in  various 
lines  of  endeavor.  He  spent  the  latter  years  of  his  life  chiefly 
in  this  calling  and  was  a  very  earnest  and  devout  Christian. 
He  and  his  wife  took  a  very  active  part  in  various  public  move- 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


591 


ments  and  were  closely  identified  with  the  material  and  moral 
improvement  and  development  of  their  part  of  the  county. 

Jacob  Sliney  Bowersox  was  born  in  Angaista  county,  Vir- 
ginia, May  13,  1846,  and  was  about  nine  years  old  when  the 
family  moved  to  Johnson  county,  Iowa.  He  attended  the 
schools  at  Shueyville,  and  later  the  college  at  Western,  one 
mile  north  of  that  town.  Upon  completing  his  education  he 
engaged  in  farming  during  the  summer  months  and  taught 
school  during  the  winters.  He  continued  in  this  manner  until 
he  reached  the  age  of  fifty  years,  since  which  time  he  has  de- 
voted his  whole  energies  to  farming.     He  has  found  this  a 


RESIDENCE  OF  JACOB  S.  BOWERSOX 


profitable  employment  and  is  one  of  the  successful  men  of  his 
neighborhood.  He  takes  an  intelligent  interest  in  local  affairs 
and  is  recognized  as  a  public-spirited,  enterprising  citizen. 
He  is  a  useful  member  of  the  'United  Brethren  church  and  in 
politics  is  a  republican.  Mr.  Bowersox  has  been  a  student  all 
his  life  and  looks  on  everything  with  liberal  views.  He  keeps 
abreast  of  the  times  on  the  issues  and  events  of  the  day  and  is 
able  to  converse  on  any  subject  in  an  interesting  manner,  being 
able  to  set  forth  his  views  in  a  forceful  and  concise  way.  He 
has  been  glad  to  give  his  children  a  good  education  and  favors 
any  movement  for  the  general  welfare  and  advancement. 


592        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

Mr.  Bowersox  was  married,  April  15,  1869,  to  Miss  Jane 
Elizabeth  Hiitson,  a  native  of  Illinois,  and  daughter  of  Joseph 
and  Polly  (Roe)  Hutson.  Five  children  have  blessed  this  mar- 
riage: Calvin  Eugene,  superintendent  of  schools  in  Chelan 
county,  Washington;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Robert  Smith,  on  a 
farm  near  Ely,  Iowa;  Ruia  Margaret,  Mrs.  LeRoy  Hurless, 
whose  husband  is  a  teacher  in  the  schools  at  Grandview,  Idaho ; 
Alta  Inez,  married  Roy  Yessler,  resides  in  Jefferson  township ; 
Frederick  Clay,  a  graduate  of  the  high  school  at  Shueyville, 
principal  of  Andrew  high  school,  at  Andrew,  Jackson  county, 
Iowa. 


FRANK  NOVOTNY 

The  Novotny  family  was  one  of  the  early  ones  to  locate  in 
Johnson  county,  where  the  birth  of  Frank  Novotny  occurred, 
in  1863.  He  is  a  son  of  Joseph  and  Annie  (Kuthony)  Novotny, 
natives  of  Bohemia,  who  were  reared  and  married  in  that 


RESIDENCE  OF  FRANK   NOVOTNY 


country  and  came  to  America  about  1860.  They  located  at 
once  on  a  farm  in  Johnson  county  and  remained  in  Jefferson 
township  until  the  father  enlisted  for  service  in  the  Civil  War. 
After  the  close  of  his  service  he  returned  and  resumed  farm- 
ing operations.     He  survives,  but  the  mother  passed  away  in 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


593 


1901.      They  were  parents  af  the  following  named  children : 
Joseph  lives  in  South  Dakota ;  John,  of  Jefferson  township ; 

,  of  Madison  township ;  Anton, 
Wesley  White ;  George,  of  Jef- 


Room. 


ime 


From 

ROOM   315G 

Local  History  and 

Genealogy  Room 

Please  return  at  your  earliest 

convenience 


cation  in  local  schools  and  when 
ork  engaged  in  farming  on  his 
rm  near  Shueyville,  and  in  con- 
lereon,  has  for  the  past  eight 
■  stock  in  that  town.  He  pur- 
iid  has  made  various  improve- 
ide-awake  and  hustling  farmer 
•eeded  in  a  gratifying  degree  in 
:n  to  be  a  man  of  good  character 
will  and  esteem  of  a  large  circle 

ny  married  Miss  Mary  Melsha, 
iiship,  Johnson  county,  of  Bo- 
family  were  among  the  early 
were  farmers.     Mrs.  Novotny 
Iren,  Delia  and  Emma,  both  at 
Novotny  is  a  member  of  the 
\  is  a  democrat.     He  belongs  to 
vith  Shueyville  Camp  No.  5382. 
en  in  his  part  of  the  county  and 


[  H.  PUDIL 

hnson  county  who  have  been  suc- 
ons  may  be  mentioned  William 
rrri  that  has  been  in  the  family 
in  1892.  He  has  demonstrated 
management  in  his  operations 
ffairs.  He  was  born  at  Shuey- 
^ovember  28,  1881,  son  of  P.  J. 
ppears  in  this  work, 
areer  as  a  farmer  on  the  home 
5  made  various  improvements  in 


592        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 


Mr.  Bowersox  was  married,  1 
Elizabeth  Hutson,  a  native  of  Illi 
and  Polly  (Roe)  Hutson.  Five  cl 
riage:  Calvin  Eugene,  superint( 
county,  Washington;  Elizabeth, 
farm  near  Ely,  Iowa;  Ruia  Mai 
whose  husband  is  a  teacher  in  the 
Alta  Inez,  married  Roy  Yessler,  r 
Frederick  Clay,  a  graduate  of  tl 
principal  of  Andrew  high  school, 
Iowa. 


Do  Not  Remove 
This  Slip 


FRANK  NO 

The  Novotny  family  was  one  o 
Johnson  county,  where  the  birth 
in  1863.     He  is  a  son  of  Joseph  an< 
natives  of  Bohemia,  who  were  i 


RESIDENCE  OF  FRAI^ 

country  and  came  to  America  ab 
once  on  a  farm  in  Johnson  county 
township  until  the  father  enlisted  \ 
After  the  close  of  his  service  he  r 
ing  operations.     He  survives,  but 


BIOGRAPHICAL  593 

1901.  They  were  parents  af  the  following  named  children: 
Joseph  lives  in  South  Dakota;  John,  of  Jefferson  township; 
Frank,  of  this  sketch ;  Wesley,  of  Madison  township ;  Anton, 
of  Linn  county ;  Annie,  wife  of  Wesley  AVhite ;  George,  of  Jef- 
ferson township. 

Mr.  Novotny  received  his  education  in  local  schools  and  when 
old  enough  to  choose  his  life  work  engaged  in  farming  on  his 
own  account.  He  has  a  fine  farm  near  Shuevville,  and  in  con- 
nection  with  his  operations  thereon,  has  for  the  past  eight 
years  been  buying  and  selling  stock  in  that  town.  He  pur- 
chased his  farm  about  1890  and  has  made  various  improve- 
ments on  it  since.  He  is  a  wide-awake  and  hustling  farmer 
and  business  man  and  has  succeeded  in  a  gratifying  degree  in 
all  his  enterprises.  He  is  known  to  be  a  man  of  good  character 
and  integrity  and  has  the  good-will  and  esteem  of  a  large  circle 
of  friends. 

On  June  27,  1887,  Mr.  Novotny  married  Miss  Mary  Melsha, 
who  was  born  in  Monroe  township,  Johnson  county,  of  Bo- 
hemian parents.  The  Melsha  family  were  among  the  early 
settlers  of  that  township  and  were  farmers.  Mrs.  Novotny 
died  in  1906,  leaving  two  children,  Delia  and  Emma,  both  at 
home  with  their  father.  Mr.  Novotny  is  a  member  of  the 
Catholic  church  and  in  politics  is  a  democrat.  He  belongs  to 
the  M.  W.  A.,  being  affihated  with  Shueyville  Camp  No.  5382. 
He  is  among  the  best-known  men  in  his  part  of  the  county  and 
influential  in  many  circles. 


WILLIAM  H.  PUDIL 

Among  the  native  sons  of  Johnson  county  who  have  been  suc- 
cessful in  agricultural  operations  may  be  mentioned  William 
H.  Pudil,  who  occupies  the  farm  that  has  been  in  the  family 
since  his  parents  settled  there  in  1892.  He  has  demonstrated 
his  business  ability  and  good  management  in  his  operations 
and  has  been  active  in  local  affairs.  He  was  born  at  Shuey- 
ville, in  Jefferson  township,  November  28,  1881,  son  of  F.  J. 
Pudil,  a  sketch  of  whom  also  appears  in  this  work. 

Mr.  Pudil  commenced  his  career  as  a  farmer  on  the  home 
place  January  1, 1906,  and  has  made  various  improvements  in 


594        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

its  appearance  and  productiveness.  He  purchased  this  place, 
which  contains  one  hundred  acres  of  land,  in  September,  1909, 
and  since  that  time  has  erected  all  the  buildings  thereon  with 
the  exception  of  the  dwelUng  house.  He  makes  a  specialty  of 
raising  Aberdeen  Angus  cattle,  of  which  a  few  are  pure-bred. 
He  has  recently  introduced  the  pure-bred  stock,  realizing  its 
superiority  to  common  stock,  and  hereafter  w^ill  spare  no 
trouble  or  effort  to  make  his  one  of  the  model  herds  in  his  part 
of  the  State.  In  this  he  is  following  the  lead  of  modern  farm- 
ers throughout  the  country,  as  stockmen  are  every  day  realiz- 
ing- more  fullv  that  much  better  results  can  be  obtained  in  this 
way.  Mr.  Pudil  is  a  democrat  in  politics  and  is  serving  his 
third  term  as  clerk  of  his  township. 


RESIDENCE  OF  WILLIAM  H.  PUDIL 


On  August  27,  1907,  Mr.  Pudil  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Frances  Jesina,  who  was  born  in  Bohemia,  and  came  to  Amer- 
ica in  1900,  and  direct  to  Johnson  county.  Her  parents  re- 
mained in  their  native  country,  but  two  brothers  of  Mrs.  Pudil 
also  came  to  Johnson  county:  Frank,  married  and  living  in 
Cedar  Rapids,  and  Charles,  also  of  that  city,  who  married  Miss 
Libby  Pudil.  Two  children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  Pudil  and 
wife,  namely:  Wilma,  born  January  1,  1909,  and  Franklin  W., 
January  3,  1911.  The  family  are  well  known  and  have  many 
warm  friends  in  the  communitv. 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


595 


JOHN  K.  FORDICE 

John  K.  Fordice,  well  known  as  a  substantial  farmer  and  a 
veteran  of  the  Civil  War,  has  lived  on  his  present  farm  in 
Jefferson  township,  Johnson  county,  for  the  past  thirty-five 
years,  and  during  that  time  has  brought  it  to  a  high  state  of  de- 
velopment. He  is  a  native  of  Morgan  county,  Ohio,  born  Sep- 
tember 11,  1831,  son  of  Stanton  and  Keziali  (Kennison)  For- 
dice, the  former  a  native  of  Ohio  and  the  latter  of  Vermont. 
The  parents  came  to  Bloomington,  McLean  county,  Illinois,  in 
1833,  and  located  on  a  farm  near  there,  where  they  spent  the 
remainder  of  their  lives,  both  dying  during  the  Civil  War.  The 
father  enlisted  in  the  army  during  the  latter  part  of  the  war 


RESIDENCE  OF  JOHN   K.   FORDICE 


and  lived  at  Little  Rock,  Arkansas.  The  mother  died  on  the 
home  farm  in  1862.  They  were  parents  of  eight  children: 
Charles,  who  always  lived  in  McLean  county,  enlisted  in  1862 
and  took  part  in  the  battle  of  the  Wilderness  and  the  battle  of 
Shiloh,  served  under  Grant  and  served  to  the  end  of  the  war ; 
John  K.,  of  this  sketch ;  Ruby  married  William  Couch  and  they 
live  in  Moline;  Susanna  married  a  Mr.  Hogan,  of  Missouri, 
who  enlisted  in  the  LTnion  Army  from  that  state ;  Annie  mar- 
ried William  Skinner  and  they  live  in  Missouri ;  James,  who 
went  to  California  in  1854,  enlisted  in  the  regular  army,  was 
engaged  in  fighting  Indians,  and  died  in  Grand  Ronde  Valley, 
Oregon. 

In  boyhood  John  K.  Fordice  attended  the  public  schools  near 


596        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

his  father's  home,  and  he  was  reared  to  farm  work,  engaging 
in  work  for  himself  after  he  reached  his  majority.  He  learned 
the  trade  of  carpenter,  at  which  he  w^orked  until  the  time  of  the 
Civil  War.  Following  the  second  call  for  troops,  for  a  term 
of  three  years,  on  August  27,  1861,  he  enlisted  in  Company  B, 
Thirty-ninth  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry,  proving  himself  a 
faithful  and  valiant  soldier.  The  first  hard-fought  battle  in 
which  he  participated  was  the  siege  of  Charleston,  in  1863, 
where  he  lost  his  left  leg  and  was  seriously  wounded  in  the 
right  side.  He  spent  four  months  in  a  hospital  at  New  York 
City,  was  transferred  thence  and  spent  another  four  months  in 
Central  Park  Hospital,  New  York,  and  later  was  transferred 
to  the  Mann  Hospital  in  Chicago,  Illinois.  On  June  10,  1864, 
he  was  discharged  on  account  of  disability,  and  in  September 
of  that  year  came  to  his  home  in  Jefferson  township,  Johnson 
county.  He  purchased  his  present  home  in  1877  and  has  estab- 
lished himself  in  the  good-will  and  esteem  of  the  community. 
He  is  a  useful  and  active  member  of  the  Evangelical  church 
and  belongs  to  the  G.  A.  R.  at  Cedar  Rapids.  He  has  always 
taken  an  interest  in  the  welfare  and  progress  of  his  community 
and  is  regarded  as  a  substantial  and  public-spirited  citizen. 

Mr.  Fordice  was  married  (first)  on  January  26,  1853,  to 
Mary  Jane  Fowler,  who  bore  him  three  children,  namely : 
James  M.  is  married  and  lives  in  Jefferson  township;  Ben- 
jamin is  married  and  lives  at  Shueyville ;  Mary  Elizabeth.  He 
was  married  (second)  April  23,  1886,  to  Martha  Jane  Lough- 
ery,  a  native  of  Schuyler  county,  Illinois,  and  four  children 
have  been  born  to  this  union  :  Harland  John  and  Alta  Anne,  at 
home ;  Alice  Pearl,  wife  of  Frank  Arthur  Eaton,  of  Cedar  Rap- 
ids ;  Linton  Arthur,  at  home. 


HENRY  CARSE 


''The  honest  blacksmith"  is  not  a  term  which  is  lightly  ap- 
plied to  Henry  Carse,  who  for  fifty-eight  years  has  toiled  at  his 
shop  in  Shueyville,  Iowa.  He  served  his  apprenticeship  in 
Geneseo,  Illinois,  then  came  to  Shueyville.  Mr.  Carse 's  dom- 
inant traits  of  character,  as  vouched  for  by  his  neighbors  of 
over  half  a  century,  are  truth,  honesty,  temperance,  and  in- 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


597 


diistry.  His  reputation,  confirmed  in  tlie  final  court  of  appeal, 
public  opinion,  entitles  him  to  a  high  place  in  the  citizenship  of 
Johnson  county.  Mr.  Carse  is  complete  Irish  and  complete 
American  —  Irish  by  blood  and  ancestry,  American  by  birth 
and  residence.  He  was  born  in  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  October 
25,  1832 ;  therefore,  at  this  writing,  he  has  just  entered  upon 
his  eightieth  year.  His  parents  were  William  Carse  and  Mary 
Ann  Finley,  both  natives  of  county  Down,  Ireland.  Both  were 
single  when  they  came  to  America.  William  Carse,  at  the  age 
of  eighteen,  left  his  native  land  and  settled  in  Wayne  county, 
Ohio.     There  he  met  and  married  Marv  Ann  Finlev,  who  had 


THE  HENRY  CAKSE   SHOP 


come  to  America  with  her  parents  and  settled  in  the  same 
county.  William  Carse  was  a  farmer,  and  followed  that  call- 
ing all  his  Ufe.  After  a  number  of  years  spent  in  Ohio,  he  and 
his  good  wife  removed  to  Henry  county,  Illinois,  where  they 
both  died,  after  having  lived  for  a  goodly  time  on  their  farm. 
They  were  blessed  with  eleven  children.  We  are  able  to  pre- 
sent the  names  of  but  nine :  J  ane,  now  Mrs.  William  Dersham, 
living  in  Whiteside  county,  Illinois ;  our  subject ;  Adam,  died  in 
1905 ;  Margaret,  now  Mrs.  William  Merriman,  living  in  Gen- 
eseo,  Henry  county,  Illinois ;  Nancy,  deceased ;  John,  living  on 
the  old  homestead  in  Illinois;  Sarah  Ann,  who  was  twin  to 


598        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

John,  residing  with  the  latter  on  the  old  homestead ;  Thomas 
B.,  living  in  Cleveland,  Illinois ;  Mary,  who  is  also  li\ing  on  the 
old  homestead  with  her  brother  and  sister  Sarah  Ann. 

Henry  Carse  learned  the  blacksmith  trade  when  he  was  about 
twenty  years  of  age.  At  that  time  he  launched  out  to  make 
his  own  way  in  the  world.  He  has  never  failed  to  'Sveld 
good"  in  the  battle  of  life.  A  blacksmith  he  was  at  twenty;  a 
blacksmith  he  is  at  eighty.  He  learned  the  trade  in  Geneseo, 
Illinois.  There  he  served  his  apprenticeship  of  three  years 
and  worked  as  a  journeyman  one  year.  Soon  after  that  he 
moved  to  Shueyville,  Iowa,  taking  ^yith  him  his  wife,  Miss  Mary 
Ann  Brown,  whom  he  married  in  Henry  county,  Illinois,  on  the 
5th  of  May,  1861.  During  his  half  century  of  residence  and 
activitv  in  Johnson  countv,  Mr.  Carse  has  had  business  deal- 
ings  with  many  hundreds  of  people.  Every  customer  and  ac- 
quaintance has  regarded  him  with  honor  and  respect. 

The  three  children  of  Henry  and  Mary  Ann  Carse  are: 
Henry  W.,  living  in  Pierce  county,  Nebraska;  Alice  A.,  now 
Mrs.  George  Graham,  residing  on  a  farm  in  Calhoun  county, 
Iowa;  Jennie  Alva,  now  Mrs.  Frank  Sherman,  living  at  North 
Yakima,  Washington. 

Mr.  Carse  is  a  democrat.  Mrs.  Carse  is  a  member  of  the 
United  Evangelical  church.  Needless  to  say  that  this  vener- 
able couple  are  held  in  high  esteem  by  their  neighbors  and 
friends  of  Shueyville. 


WESLEY  KADLEC 

Wesley  Kadlec  has  one  of  the  most  beautiful  farm  homes  in 
Johnson  county,  where  a  large  part  of  his  life  has  been  spent, 
and  has  always  used  his  time  and  influence  to  further  the  best 
interests  of  his  community.  His  farm  is  in  a  high  state  of  cul- 
tivation, contains  good  buildings,  and  is  operated  by  means  of 
modern  machinery  and  equipment.  Mr.  Kadlec  is  an  enter- 
prising and  up-to-date  farmer  and  believes  it  pays  to  follow 
the  latest  approved  methods  in  conducting  his  work.  He  has 
been  honored  by  his  fellows  in  being  elected  to  various  offices 
of  public  trust  and  has  performed  his  duties  in  a  satisfactory 
manner.  He  was  born  in  Bohemia,  October  14,  1857,  son  of 
Joseph  and  Anna  (Cevenka)  Kadlec,  who  brought  the  family  to 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


599 


America  in  1871  and  at  once  located  in  Johnson  county.  They 
came  by  rail  to  Iowa  City  and  thence  by  wagon  to  Solon,  Big 
Grove  township,  where  they  lived  on  a  farm  until  the  death  of 
the  mother  in  April,  1899.  The  father  died  December  19, 1909. 
They  were  parents  of  four  children :  Joseph,  lives  on  a  farm  in 
Scott  township ;  Katherine,  married  Wesley  Fremmel  and  they 
lived  in  Crawford  county,  where  she  died  a  few  years  ago ; 
Wesley,  of  this  sketch ;  John  J.,  of  Linn  county. 

After  coming  to  Johnson  county,  Wesley  Kadlec  helped  with 
the  work  on  his  father's  farm  until  old  enough  to  begin  opera- 
tions on  his  own  account.     He  received  most  of  his  education 


RESIDENCE   OF   WESLEY    KADLEC 

in  his  native  country  and  learned  the  details  of  his  future  work 
from  his  father.  In  1887  he  became  owner  of  his  first  farm, 
when  he  purchased  fifty-three  acres  of  land  in  Jefferson  town- 
ship. He  later  added  to  his  possessions  from  time  to  time  as 
he  was  able  and  eventually  became  owner  of  83  acres,  which  he 
sold  seventeen  years  after  his  first  purchase,  and  bought  his 
present  fine  farm  of  243  acres 'of  well  improved  land.  He  de- 
serves great  credit  for  the  part  he  has  taken  in  local  affairs 
and  for  his  attitude  on  public  questions.  He  has  always  been 
a  democrat  in  political  belief.  He  served  over  twenty  years  as 
justice  of  the  peace  in  Jefferson  township ;  served  four  terms, 
or  eight  years,  as  township  assessor ;  is  now  township  trustee, 
and  has  held  other  local  offices.  He  belongs  to  the  C.  S.  P.  S. 
at  Western,  and  to  M.  W.  of  America  Camp  No.  5382,  of  Shuey- 


/ 


600        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

ville.     He  has  many  friends  and  acquaintances,  among  wliom 
he  is  held  in  high  esteem. 

On  January  28,  1881,  Mr.  Kadlec  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Helen  Andrele,  of  Jefferson  township,  daughter  of 
John  and  Christena  (Bys)  Anderle.  The  family  is  mentioned 
at  some  length  in  connection  with  the  sketch  of  J.  M.  Anderle, 
of  North  Liberty.  Five  children  have  been  born  to  this  union : 
John  M.,  deputy  recorder  of  Johnson  county;  Wesley  J.,  mar- 
ried and  carr^-ing  on  a  farm  in  Linn  county;  Joseph  W.,  Alois 
F.  and  Edward  Frank,  at  home  with  their  parents. 


DR.  MILLER  YOUNG 

Many  men  who  retire  from  farm  life  continue  to  live  on  their 
farms,  as  in  these  modern  times  tliev  find  there  manv  of  the  ad- 
vantages  and  luxuries  that  were  formerly  only  to  be  enjoyed 
in  towns  and  cities.  In  this  respect  the  home  of  Dr.  Miller 
Young  is  most  desirable,  for  he  has  sold  a  right-of-way  to  the 
Iowa  City  &  Cedar  Rapids  Interurban  electric  road,  and  thus 
can  reach  either  city  in  a  short  time.  He  has  a  siding  from 
the  railway  track  and  a  chute  has  been  constructed  so  that  he 
can  load  his  cattle  and  hogs  for  shipment  on  the  freight  cars 
supplied  by  the  company,  and  they  are  delivered  in  Cedar  Rap- 
ids w^ithin  an  hour  and  a  half.  It  was  formerly  necessary  to 
haul  stock  to  the  city  in  wagons.  For  several  years  past  Dr. 
Young  has  been  retired  from  active  life,  and  but  for  the  fact 
that  he  is  able  to  enjoy  so  many  conveniences  where  he  is,  he 
would  probably  consider  it  pleasanter  to  live  in  some  nearby 
town  and  there  spend  his  declining  years.  He  has  lived  on  his 
present  farm  many  years  and  has  a  strong  affection  for  it,  so 
that  he  is  glad  to  be  able  to  find  so  much  enjoyment  there.  He 
was  born  in  Fulton  county,  Ohio,  March  6, 1846,  son  of  William 
Young. 

William  Young  was  a  native  of  County  Antrim,  Ireland,  born 
near  the  city  of  Belfast,  April  18, 1808,  and  died  on  his  seventy- 
third  birthday,  at  Mt.  Pleasant,  Henry  county,  Iowa.  He  is 
buried  by  the  side  of  his  wife.  He  was  descended  from  sturdy 
Scotch  forbears,  who  left  Scotland  for  Ireland  because  of  re- 
ligious persecution  and  intolerance,  so  that  the  subject  of  this 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


601 


sketch  is  of  Scotcli-Irisli  ancestry.  The  father  of  WiUiam 
Young  came  to  America  in  1818,  accompanied  by  his  two  sons 
WiUiam  and  Robert.  The  trip  was  made  in  a  saihng  vessel 
and  consumed  some  three  months,  according-  to  family  tradi- 
tion. They  located  first  at  Danville,  Pennsylvania,  and  there 
the  father  passed  away.  The  mother  was  a  Miss  Janet  McCuh 
loch.  William  Young  was  a  child  of  ten  years  when  he  reached 
the  United  States,  but  was  well-grown  and  active  and  led  in 
boyish  sports  and  pastimes.  He  made  the  most  of  his  oppor- 
tunities and  became  a  well-read  and  intelligent  man.  He  chose 
the  trade  of  miller  and  followed  tlie  same  in  his  young  man- 
hood.    He  removed  to  Ohio  and  spent  three  years  there,  after 


KESIDENCE  OF  DR.  MILLER  YOUNG 


which  he  located  in  Fulton  county,  where  in  1835  he  entered 
land  from  the  government.  This  region  was  then  covered 
with  heav}^  timber  and  he,  like  other  pioneers,  began  clearing 
his  farm,  redeeming  and  delevolping  it  from  an  unbroken  wil- 
derness to  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  The  country  was  sparse- 
ly settled  in  the  first  years  of  his  residence  there  and  wild 
game,  such  as  deer  and  turkeys,  abounded.  Some  years  later 
he  sold  his  homestead  there  in  October,  1855,  spending  the 
winter  in  Muscatine.  He  then  moved  to  Henry  county,  arriv- 
ing there  in  March,  1856,  and  there  he  spent  the  remainder  of 
his  life.     Like  most  boys  of  Scotch  families,  he  was  strictly 


602        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

reared  in  the  Presbyterian  faith,  but  after  coming  to  Ohio  he 
joined  the  United  Brethren  church.  He  was  a  man  of  sterling 
worth,  genial  and  pleasant  in  manner,  and  enjoyed  the  con- 
fidence and  esteem  of  a  large  number  of  friends.  He  had  high 
ability  in  business  matters  and  was  successful  in  life. 

William  Young  was  married  in  Danville,  Pennsylvania,  to 
Miss  Hester  Stott,  a  native  of  Sunbury,  Pennsylvania,  born 
April  18, 1808,  but  her  father  was  born  in  Germany,  Like  her 
husband,  she  lived  and  died  a  good  Christian,  being  a  member 
of  the  United  Brethren  church.  She  passed  away  in  1871. 
This  venerable  couple  made  the  trip  from  Ohio  to  Iowa  with  a 
prairie  schooner,  and  brought  some  stock  with  them.  They 
purchased  160  acres  of  land  on  the  military  road,  near  Mt. 
Pleasant,  which  they  improved  and  developed,  and  which  is 
still  in  the  possession  of  the  family.  They  had  nine  children, 
of  whom  but  three  now  sur\dve :  Dr.  Miller  Young  is  the 
youngest  of  those  surviving;  Robert,  and  William  Pitt. 

Dr.  Young  received  his  primary  education  in  a  log  school- 
house  in  Ohio,  near  his  father's  homestead.  In  later  years  he 
attended  the  district  school  in  Iowa  and  Howe's  Academy  at 
Mt.  Pleasant.  From  1864  to  1871  he  taught  school  intermit- 
tently. On  February  27,  1866,  he  graduated  from  Eastman 
Business  College  in  Chicago.  For  a  time  he  had  charge  of  the 
home  farm,  but  after  the  death  of  his  mother,  began  studying 
medicine  with  Dr.  Bird,  at  Mt.  Pleasant,  and  in  1871  he  entered 
Rush  Medical  School  in  Chicago,  arriving  two  weeks  before  the 
big  Chicago  fire  which  started  on  October  9th  of  that  year,  and 
burned  his  boarding  place.  Returning  to  Iowa,  he  entered 
Iowa  Medical  College,  a  part  of  the  State  University  at  Iowa 
City,  and  there  studied  under  several  eminent  professors, 
among  whom  were:  Dr.  Peck,  in  surgery;  Dr.  Ilwader,  who 
held  the  chair  of  obstetrics;  Dr.  Clapp  in  anatomy,  and  Dr. 
James  Boucher,  preceptor.  Dr.  Young  read  with  the  last- 
named  while  attending  lectures.  He  graduated  from  Jefferson 
Medical  College,  of  Philadelphia,  with  the  class  of  1873,  and 
soon  afterwards  engaged  in  active  practice  at  Iowa  City,  in 
partnership  \\-ith  Dr.  James  H.  Boucher.  His  partner  died 
soon  afterwards  and  in  1874  Dr.  Young  moved  to  North  Lib- 
erty.    Meanwhile  he  had  married. 

Dr.  Young's  wife.  Miss  Iowa  Wray,  was  born  in  a  log  house 


BIOGRAPHICAL  603 

where  Dr.  Young's  home  now  stands,  June  8,  1846,  and  died 
October  9,  1909,  having  borne  her  husband  several  children. 
She  was  deeply  mourned  by  the  entire  community,  having  been 
a  loving  wife  and  mother  and  having  made  her  influence  felt  in 
the  neighborhood.  She  was  held  in  high  esteem  by  all.  She 
was  a  daughter  of  David  and  Maria  (Ault)  Wray.  A  sketch 
of  the  Wray  family  appears  at  some  length  in  this  work,  and  is 
given  more  briefly  in  the  latter  part  of  this  review. 

In  1875  Dr.  Young  and  wife  moved  on  the  old  Wray  home- 
stead in  Section  2  of  Madison  township,  at  the  place  now  known 
as  Young's  Station.  There  Dr.  Young  devoted  his  energies 
to  farming  and  continued  to  make  improvements  on  the  estate 
where  he  had  located.  This  place  comprised  320  acres  of  land, 
100  acres  which  were  covered  by  good  oak  timber.  There  was 
a  good  house  and  a  barn,  which  he  remodeled,  and  the  fields 
were  mostly  divided  by  rail  fences.  He  has  since  erected  vari- 
ous new  buildings  and  has  developed  the  land  to  a  high  state  of 
cultivation.  He  has  added  land  from  time  to  time  and  the 
place  now  contains  some  600  acres,  operated  by  his  two  sons. 
To  each  of  these  two  sons,  Henry  and  William,  Dr.  Young  has 
deeded  eighty  acres  of  land,  and  each  has  a  home  of  his  own. 
He  is  an  excellent  business  manager  and  has  managed  his  af- 
fairs with  the  ability  which  assured  success.  At  the  same 
time  he  has  been  active  and  influential  in  local  affairs  of  the 
community  and  county.  He  has  held  various  township  offices, 
has  served  as  treasurer  of  the  school  board,  treasurer  of  the 
farmers'  insurance  and  district  telephone  companies,  and  has 
been  a  candidate  on  the  republican  ticket  for  the  office  of  rep- 
resentative in  the  legislature.  He  has  been  a  delegate  to  coun- 
ty, state  and  congressional  conventions.  He  has  borne  an  hon- 
orable part  in  all  these  relations  and  has  used  his  influence  for 
what  he  believed  to  be  the  best  interests  of  the  people  he  repre- 
sented. 

The  following  children  were  born  to  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Young: 
William  Wray,  married  Cora  Moreland  and  they  have  four 
children  —  Alexander,  Richard,  Dorothy,  and  LilUan;  Henry 
Miller,  married  Rose  Green  and  they  have  two  children  — 
Bernice  and  George  Henry;  Blanche,  married  John  Myers  (a 
son  of  Isaac  Myers,  a  sketch  of  whom  appears  in  this  work), 
and  they  have  three  children  —  Stewart,  Janet,  and  Carolyn ; 


604        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

Maud,  married  George  Ball,  Jr.,  a  sketcli  of  whom  appears  in 
this  work;  Madge,  married  Clarence  Macy,  and  she  and  her 
husband,  both  graduates  of  State  University  and  reside  in 
Adel,  Iowa,  have  two  children,  Robert  and  Eleanor.  Mr.  Macy 
was  prominent  as  a  member  of  the  University  football  team. 

Dr.  Young  has  been  identified  with  various  local  interests. 
He  is  a  member  and  trustee  of  the  Methodist  church  and  fra- 
ternally, belongs  to  White  Marble  Lodge  No.  238,  A.  F.  &  A.  M., 
of  which  he  was  an  early  member.  He  is  a  stockholder  in  the 
Iowa  City  State  Bank  and  in  the  Citizens  Savings  &  Trust 
Bank.  The  cars  run  by  his  door  often  and  regularly,  and  as 
mentioned  before,  he  can  easily  reach  the  city.  He  is  one  of 
the  best  known  men  in  his  community  and  is  a  genial,  pleasant- 
mannered  gentleman. 

David  Wray,  a  prominent  citizen  of  Johnson  county,  was 
born  in  Ohio,  October  8,  1815,  a  son  of  Richard  and  Catherine 
(Buford)  Wray,  and  died  in  Johnson  county,  Iowa,  September 
22,  1872,  the  year  of  the  great  Boston  fire.  He  came  to  what 
later  became  Johnson  county,  in  1840,  arriving  at  his  destina- 
tion December  10th.  During  that  year  he  married  Miss  Maria 
Ault,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Mary  Ault.  He  took  up  a  claim  in 
Madison  township,  a  half-mile  east  of  the  present  home  of  his 
nephew,  Joseph  C.  Wray,  where  he  erected  a  hut  of  round  logs, 
in  the  edge  of  the  timber.  His  brother  Carson  came  to  John- 
son county  one  year  later,  and  as  he  was  then  unmarried,  made 
his  home  with  David  Wray,  later  taking  up  a  claim  for  himself 
on  the  present  site  of  the  home  of  David  Wray,  Jr. 

David  Wray,  Sr.,  was  reared  on  an  Indiana  farm  and  re- 
ceived but  a  limited  education  in  the  primitive  schools  of  his 
neighborhood,  which  were  held  in  log  buildings.  He  removed 
to  Illinois  as  a  young  man  and  was  married.  His  wife  was  a 
sister  of  Jacob  and  Joseph  Ault,  jjioneers  of  Penn  township, 
Johnson  county,  now  deceased.  The  descendants  of  these  two 
worthy  brothers  hold  their  old  farms  on  Sections  8  and  17.  A 
sketch  of  the  Ault  family  appears  in  this  book.  David  Wray 
and  wife  had  four  children,  all  deceased,  and  the  eldest  became 
the  wife  of  Dr.  Miller  Young.  Mrs.  David  Wray  died  Novem- 
ber 5, 1848,  and  on  July  20, 1851,  Mr.  Wray  married,  as  his  sec- 
ond wife.  Miss  Eunice  H.  Holt,  of  Iowa  City,  who  died  March 
29, 1869,  having  borne  no  children. 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


605 


CHARLES  NOVE 

Charles  Nove  owns  one  of  the  choice  farms  of  Madison  town- 
ship, Johnson  county,  and  belongs  to  a  well-known  family  of 
the  county,  where  he  has  spent  his  entire  life.  He  is  the  sev- 
enth child  of  Joseph  and  Mary  Nove,  who  now  reside  on  a  farm 
five  and  one-half  miles  west  of  Solon  in  Big  Grove  township. 
The  parents  are  natives  of  Bohemia  and  own  a  large  and  pro- 
ductive farm,  which  has  been  their  home  for  a  number  of  years. 
They  have  had  children  as  folloM^s :  Frank  lives  in  Madison 
township ;  Annie  is  the  wdf e  of  West  Kroll,  of  Cedar  Rapids ; 
Barbara  lives  in  Cedar  Rapids ;  Joseph  lives  in  Madison  town- 
ship ;  John  lives  in  Big  Grove  township ;  Fannie  is  the  wife  of 


RESroENCE  OF  CHARLES  NOVE 


Joe  Buresh;  Charles,  born  in  1883,  and  Anton,  born  in  1886,  in 
partnership  on  the  farm  in  Madison  township ;  Mary  is  the  wife 
of  Caspar  Holetchek. 

In  boyhood  and  early  youth  Charles  Nove  attended  the 
school  near  his  father's  home  in  Big  Grove  township,  and  at  the 
age  of  seventeen  years  engaged  in  operations  on  his  own  ac- 
count. At  that  time  he  purchased  the  old  Babcock  estate  of 
249  acres  in  Section  31,  Madison  township,  where  he  and  his 
brother  Anton  are  highly  successful.  Both  are  young  men  of 
enterprise  and  ambition  and  have  a  high  ideal  of  the  quality 
of  their  work.  They  are  keen  judges  of  stock  and  have  a  fine 
grade  of  it  on  the  farm.     They  keep  a  fine  herd  of  Hereford 


606        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

cattle  and  a  number  of  good  horses.  Charles  Nove  is  one  of 
the  ablest  farmers  and  business  men  of  his  comnmnity  and 
reaps  the  maximum  of  profit  from  his  operations.  He  and  his 
brother  have  several  hundred  hogs  in  their  rich  pasture  land, 
and  find  a  good  maket  for  all  tlieir  stock  when  ready  for  sale. 
They  have  some  75  acres  of  land  in  corn,  wheat  and  rye;  55 
acres  in  oats,  and  a  good  acreage  of  hay.  They  harvest  on  an 
average  some  50  bushels  of  wheat  and  rye  and  some  50  to  75 
bushels  of  corn  to  the  acre. 

Mr.  Nove  possesses  a  great  natural  ability  as  a  farmer  and 
stockman  and  has  made  a  special  study  of  conditions  and  soil 
in  his  locality,  with  the  result  that  he  is  able  to  choose  the  most 
lucrative  branches  of  agriculture.  He  is  much  interested  in 
local  affairs  and  has  a  large  number  of  warm  friends  in  both 
Madison  and  Big  Grove  townships.  He  and  his  brother  are 
both  unmarried. 


DAVID  W.  WRAY 


David  W.  Wray  is  one  of  the  native  sons  of  Johnson  county 
who  have  won  success  in  life  in  that  locality.  He  was  born  on 
the  old  homestead  where  he  still  resides,  on  Section  2,  Madison 
township,  January  7, 1848,  son  of  Carson  Buford  Wray,  one  of 
the  earliest  settlers  of  Johnson  county,  who  became  one  of  its 
most  influential  citizens  and  extensive  landholders.  Carson 
Buford  Wray  was  born  in  Hamilton  county,  Ohio,  July  24, 
1819,  son  of  Richard  Wray,  a  Pennsylvania  farmer. 

Richard  Wray  was  a  pioneer  of  Hamilton  county.  His 
father  and  uncle  emigrated  to  the  United  States  from  Ireland, 
coming  in  a  primitive  sailing  vessel.  They  located  first  in 
Maryland,  where  they  separated,  Richard  Wray's  father  go- 
ing to  Pennsylvania  and  the  brother  never  being  heard  of  again 
by  his  family.  Richard  Wray  was  one  of  six  sons,  two  of 
whom  became  farmers,  two  blacksmiths,  and  two  tinners.  He 
moved  from  Pennsylvania  to  Ohio  and  thence  to  Indiana  in  a 
very  early  day.  He  met  his  death  by  accident,  at  a  horse  race, 
in  1825.  He  married  Catherine  Buford,  a  native  of  Maryland, 
who  lived  to  the  venerable  age  of  eighty -five  years.  They  be- 
came parents  of  eight  children. 

Carson  Buford  Wray  was  reared  on  a  pioneer  farm  and  re- 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


607 


ceived  his  education  in  a  primitive  log  school  house.  After  the 
death  of  his  father,  being  then  a  small  boy,  he  was  sent  to  live 
with  a  neighboring  farmer,  where  he  soon  began  life  for  him- 
self. He  worked  by  the  month  when  he  was  old  enough  to  do 
so,  and  after  reaching  his  majority,  ran  a  distillery  for  seven 
years.  In  1841  he  started  on  foot  and  alone  for  the  newly 
opened  and  unsettled  land  in  eastern  Iowa,  arriving  at  Iowa 
City  May  8th  of  that  year.  He  took  up  a  claim  in  the  spring 
and  about  the  same  time  (1842)  married  Miss  Mary  Ault,  a  na- 
tive of  Ohio.  A  sketch  of  the  Ault  family  appears  in  this  vol- 
ume. The  young  couple  began  housekeeping  in  the  primitive 
log  cabin  he  had  erected  for  them,  which  they  made  a  tem- 


KESmENCE   OF   D.    W.    WRAY 


porary  home.  This  shelter  was  replaced  by  a  frame  buildinj] 
on  the  same  site,  the  family  home  for  fifty-six  years.  Mr.  Wray 
went  a  long  distance  to  mill  and  was  thus  often  caught  in  blind- 
ing  snowstorms.  Many  of  the  farmers  of  the  neighborhood 
pulverized  their  own  corn  in  a  home-made  mortar  or  similar 
primitive  contrivance,  and  all  endured  many  inconveniences 
and  trials  in  the  early  days.  Mr.  Wray  was  for  many  years  an 
influential  member  of  the  school  board  of  his  district,  being 
much  interested  in  the  cause  of  education,  and  often  when  the 
other  members  failed  to  be  present  at  an  appointed  meeting, 
he  acted  for  them,  nominating  himself  as  chairman  and  secre- 
tary, after  which  he  would  nominate  a  neighbor  for  director 


608        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

and  vote  on  various  questions  in  the  regular  way.  He  filled 
out  a  certificate  of  membership  for  the  new  member  and  was 
always  careful  to  observe  the  rules  for  such  proceedings.  He 
was  a  stanch  democrat  in  politics  and  active  in  the  councils  of 
his  party,  representing  its  interests  at  various  township  and 
county  conventions.  He  was  many  times  selected  by  his  party 
for  offices  which  he  declined,  preferring  a  quiet  life.  However, 
he  was  many  times  elected  to  the  office  of  supervisor  and  took 
great  interest  in  anything  pertaining  to  local  affairs  up  to  the 
time  of  his  death.  He  also  served  as  township  trustee.  For 
many  years  he  made  a  specialty  of  stock-raising  and  handled 
some  of  the  best  bred  horses  in  the  state.  For  over  thirty 
years  he  shipped  his  stock  to  the  Chicago  market.  At  one 
time  he  owned  1,100  acres  of  rich  Iowa  farm  land,  which  he 
eventually  divided  among  his  children.  He  was  truly  a  self- 
made  man,  beginning  life  for  himself  with  a  capital  of  one 
hundred  dollars.  His  wife  was  a  most  valuable  helpmeet,  a 
good  business  manager  and  a  wise  advisor  in  affairs  in  general. 
At  the  time  of  the  Civil  War  and  afterwards  Mr.  Wraj^  con- 
tributed generously  to  the  help  of  the  unfortunate  families  of 
soldiers,  who  were  left  to  eke  out  a  living  as  best  they  might. 
Carson  B.  Wray  died  March  1,  1899,  only  twenty-four  hours 
after  the  death  of  his  beloved  daughter  Catherine,  who  had 
tenderly  cared  for  him  during  his  last  years.  Their  funeral 
was  one  of  the  saddest  ever  held  in  Johnson  county.  Of  the 
eight  children  born  to  Carson  B.  and  Mary  (Ault)  Wray,  but 
four  now  survive,  namely  :  Joseph  C.  and  David  W.,  both  given 
extensive  mention  in  this  review ;  Anna,  wife  of  Charles  Ault, 
of  Penn  township ;  Mrs.  C.  Custer,  of  Greene  county.  Cath- 
erine Wray  was  born  December  12,  1842,  and  died  February 
27, 1899.  She  had  been  ill  for  some  time  but  her  condition  had 
not  been  considered  serious,  and  her  death  was  a  great  shock  to 
her  many  friends.  Her  devotion  to  her  aged  father  was  touch- 
ing, and  on  account  of  the  close  attachment  betw^een  the  two, 
their  friends  found  the  occasion  of  the  double  funeral  very 
painful.  She  was  his  constant  companion  and  solace  in  his 
declining  days,  especially  after  the  death  of  the  wife  and 
mother,  w^hich  occurred  in  February,  1898,  and  her  beautiful 
character  will  be  remembered  as  long  as  her  friends  remain  on 
earth.     The  services  for  these  two  were  held  in  the  pioneer 


BIOGRAPHICAL  609 

home  on  Thursday  morning  at  ten  o'clock,  Rev.  W.  C.  Barclay, 
a  Methodist  divine,  officiating,  and  numerous  beautiful  floral 
offerings  were  sent  from  near  and  far  by  those  who  sym- 
pathized with  the  doubly  bereaved  family.  Mr.  Wray  had  been 
connected  with  many  affairs  and  incidents  of  pioneer  days  that 
are  creditable  to  him,  and  had  won  a  reputation  of  which  his 
children  are  proud.  In  the  'forties  he  had  helped  in  rafting 
down  rock  for  building  the  state  house  in  Iowa's  new  capital. 
The  rock  was  loaded  on  flat  boats,  which  were  propelled  down 
the  Iowa  river  by  means  of  poles.  He  and  his  wife  partici- 
pated in  many  movements  for  the  public  welfare  and  for  the 
development  of  the  community  and  both  were  held  in  high 
esteem  for  their  many  fine  qualities  of  mind  and  heart. 

David  W.  Wray  early  developed  a  taste  for  learning  and  has 
always  kept  abreast  of  the  times  as  to  current  events  and  is- 
sues, being  an  intelligent,  well-read  citizen.  He  has  been 
active  in  political  matters  and  is  a  recognized  power  in  the 
councils  of  his  party.  For  years  he  has  subscribed  for  the 
Commoner,  William  Jennings  Bryan's  periodical,  and  he  has 
great  confidence  in  the  sagacity  and  integrity  of  the  proprietor 
and  editor.  As  he  says,  he  is  a  democrat  "from  the  crown  of 
his  head  to  the  sole  of  his  foot,"  and  has  always  upheld  the 
principles  advanced  by  the  party's  leaders.  He  would  travel 
many  miles  to  hear  Mr.  Bryan  set  forth  his  views,  and  fully  be- 
lieves the  latter 's  predictions  that  the  republicans  will  be  com- 
pelled to  ' '  sit  up  and  take  notice, ' '  are  about  to  be  fulfilled.  He 
has  represented  his  party  in  county  and  state  conventions  and 
has  served  as  township  committeeman.  He  is  to  be  found  in 
the  front  ranks  whenever  the  party  is  in  action  and  is  a  leader 
in  all  measures  affecting  its  welfare  and  advancement.  He 
cares  little  for  public  office  for  himself,  though  he  has  served 
as  school  director,  following  his  revered  father  in  this  respect. 
He  rents  most  of  his  farm  land  at  the  present  time,  but  has 
large  herds  of  stock  and  keeps  abundant  pasture  for  them.  He 
and  his  brother  Joseph  C.  own  about  800  acres  of  land  in  part- 
nership. After  the  death  of  the  father  David  W.  moved  from 
his  own  home  to  the  old  homestead,  where  all  his  father's  chil- 
dren were  born. 

In  boyhood  and  young  manhood  Mr.  Wray  had  many  inter- 
esting and  exciting  adventures.     One  of  the  most  thrilling  and 


610        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

one  which  he  remembers  most  vividly,  was  connected  with  a 
trip  to  Chicago  when  he  was  in  his  seventeenth  year.  His 
father  had  fattened  a  herd  of  cattle  for  market,  and  in  company 
with  David  and  a  neighbor,  John  P.  Oakes,  started  to  Chicago 
with  the  stock.  (Mr.  Oakes  became  brother-in-law  of  David 
Wray  when,  on  October  11, 1865,  he  married  Isabel  Wray,  who 
died  December  17,  1875.)  The  trio  mentioned  above  started 
with  117  cattle,  going  over  the  prairie,  through  much  slough, 
with  a  yoke  of  oxen,  and  crossed  the  Mississippi  River  at  Rock 
River  Bridge,  this  particular  portion  of  the  journey  being  ac- 
complished on  July  4th.  All  went  well  until  they  had  pro- 
ceeded into  Illinois,  when  they  experienced  trouble  with  the 
farmers  living  along  the  route  of  their  journey.  While  they 
were  in  what  was  known  as  the  *' cat-tail"  sloughs,  the  cattle 
stampeded  and  were  lost  for  two  days.  Young  David  Wray 
took  off  his  trousers  and  waded  into  the  slough  after  the  cattle 
and  eventually  they  were  all  recovered  and  taken  to  Chicago. 
A  month  had  been  spent  on  this  trip.  The  party  camped  out 
at  night  and  had  many  interesting  experiences  during  this  time. 

David  W.  Wray  has  married  twice,  (first)  to  Martha  Vir- 
ginia Vonstein,  daughter  of  Philip  Vonstein,  who  was  killed 
in  the  Civil  War,  a  sketch  of  whose  brother,  Peter  Vonstein, 
appears  in  this  work.  The  widow  of  Philip  Vonstein  married 
John  Stoner,  of  North  Liberty.  Mrs.  Wray  was  born  October 
18, 1850.  Children  as  follows  were  born  of  this  union :  Carson 
Philip  married  Eva  Lentz,  lives  on  a  farm  in  Madison  town- 
ship, and  they  have  three  children,  Charley,  Pearl  Irene,  and 
Everett  William;  Miss  Lillie  Belle,  who  was  long  the  most 
noted  beauty  of  her  native  township,  married  Clarence  Wolfe, 
of  Iowa  City,  a  sketch  of  whom  appears  in  this  work,  and  they 
have  a  beautiful  little  daughter,  Catherine  Wray  Wolfe. 

David  Wray  was  married  (second)  on  December  17,  1893,  to 
Dora  Adeline  Milby,  a  native  of  Illinois,  and  they  have  one 
daughter,  Emma  Edith  (Burton)  Wray. 

Joseph  Cyrus  Wray  was  born  and  reared  on  his  father's  old 
homestead,  attended  the  district  school  in  boyhood  and  for  one 
term  studied  in  Iowa  City  Academy.  Like  his  brother,  men- 
tioned above,  he  is  well-read  and  wide-awake,  and  takes  an  in- 
telligent interests  in  the  issues  and  events  of  the  day,  being  a 
stanch  democrat.     He   is   active  in  party  councils   and   has 


BIOGRAPHICAL  611 

served  as  township  committeeman  and  delegate  to  county  and 
state  conventions.  He  rents  most  of  his  land  and  there  are 
about  300  acres  under  cultivation.  He  and  his  father  were  for 
some  time  in  partnership  in  raising  horses,  and  mau}'^  fine  ani- 
mals left  their  care.  He  married  rather  late  in  life,  being  in 
his  thirty-fourth  year  when  he  was  united  in  holy  matrimony 
with  Miss  Dora  Mansfield,  a  native  of  Danbury,  Connecticut, 
but  who  was  reared  in  Johnson  county.  Mrs.  Wray  is  a  gifted 
housekeeper  and  hostess  and  a  valuable  helpmate  to  her  hus- 
band, looking  out  for  his  interests  with  intelligence  and  ability. 
One  son  has  blessed  their  union,  Frederick,  who  is  married  and 
lives  in  Cedar  Rapids.  Frederick  Wray  and  wife  had  two 
children,  Frances  Thelma,  four  years  old,  who  has  been  adopt- 
ed by  her  father's  parents,  and  Dora  Elizabeth,  with  her 
mother  in  Cedar  Rapids. 

Joseph  C.  Wray  gave  a  right-of-way  through  his  place  to  the 
Interurban  Railway  Company,  operating  between  Cedar  Rap- 
ids and  Iowa  City,  and  his  farm  is  known  as  the  Joe  Wray 
Crossing.  Mid  River  Park,  a  popular  picnic  ground,  beauti- 
fully laid  out  and  illuminated  by  means  of  electricity,  is  lo- 
cated on  a  portion  of  this  farm,  tlie  place  formerly  occupied  by 
David  Wray,  Sr.  Mr.  Wray  and  his  brother  mentioned  above, 
are  fitting  representatives  of  an  old  and  honored  pioneer  fam- 
ily, and  are  accorded  the  cordial  respect  and  esteem  of  all  wdio 
know  them. 


JOSEPH  ZACK 


The  name  of  Zack  is  well  known  in  Johnson  county,  and 
stands  for  good  citizenship  and  honorable  dealing.  Joseph 
Zack  is  a  native  of  the  county,  born  in  February,  1866,  son  of 
Joseph  and  Frances  (Kosina)  'Zack,  natives  of  Bohemia,  who 
were  reared  and  married  there.  They  came  to  America  early 
in  1866  and  have  since  resided  there,  being  at  the  present  time 
on  a  farm  in  Monroe  township.  Six  of  their  childern  lived  to 
reach  maturity:  Nancy,  wife  of  John  Riha,  of  Monroe  town- 
ship, died  in  1902;  Anton,  died  in  Nebraska,  May  20,  1912; 
Annie,  Mrs.  Joseph  Koutny,  of  Linn  county;  Theresa,  Mrs. 
Wesley  Rayman,  of  Monroe  township ;  Joseph,  Jr.,  whose  name 


612        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

heads  this  sketch ;  William,  of  Monroe  township,  a  sketch  of 
whom  appears  in  this  w^ork. 

The  boyhood  of  Joseph  Zack,  Jr.,  was  spent  on  a  farm  in  his 
native  county  and  he  there  learned  the  details  of  farming  while 
living  with  his  parents.  He  chose  this  occupation  as  his  life 
work  and  has  never  had  reason  to  regret  it.  He  bought  his 
present  place  in  1891,  and  by  his  industry  and  perseverance  has 
added  much  to  its  appearance  and  productiveness.  He  has 
earned  and  enjoys  a  good  standing  in  his  community  and  is  in- 
j9uential  in  local  affairs  and  issues.  He  has  served  as  school 
director,  but  cares  little  for  public  office  for  himself.     In  pol- 


KESmENCE  OF  JOSEPH  ZACK 


itics  he  is  a  democrat.  He  is  a  devout  and  useful  member  of 
the  Reformed  Bohemian  Evangelical  church  located  in  Monroe 
township  and  helpful  in  various  movements  for  the  general 
welfare. 

In  1891  Mr.  Zack  was  united  in  marriage  wath  Miss  Annie 
RejTuan,  a  native  of  Johnson  county,  whose  parents,  Wesley 
and  Annie  Reyman,  were  born  in  Bohemia  and  came  to  Amer- 
ica at  an  early  date.  Eight  children  have  blessed  this  union : 
Annie,  Joseph,  George,  Milo,  Wesley,  Agnes,  Caroline,  and 
Eleanor.  This  is  a  fine  family  of  children  and  they  are  being 
educated  and  trained  in  a  way  to  make  them  useful  men  and 
women  and  a  credit  to  their  parents. 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


613 


MATHIAS  MACHULA 

Matliias  Macliiila  is  one  of  the  most  enterprising  farmers  of 
Madison  township,  Johnson  county,  where  he  has  a  well-devel- 
oped farm,  which  has  been  brought  to  its  present  condition 
largely  through  his  own  efforts.  He  has  modern  machinery 
for  carrying  on  his  operations  and  has  erected  suitable  sub- 
stantial buildings  where  they  were  needed.  He  has  spent  most 
of  his  life  in  the  vicinity,  where  his  father  located  in  1870,  and 
belongs  to  a  well  known  pioneer  family.  Mr.  Machula  has 
taken  an  active  part  in  various  local  affairs  and  has  always 
been  identified  with  the  best  interests  of  the  community.  He 
was  born  in  Bohemia,  August  10,  1861,  son  of  John  and  Mary 


RESIDENCE  OF  MATHIAS  MACHULA 


Vitek  Machula.  The  father  died  in  June,  1910,  at  the  age  of 
ninety-one  years  and  one  month,  and  the  mother  now  resides 
with  her  youngest  daughter,  Mrs.  Joseph  Hruby,  of  Oxford 
township.  In  1870  the  father  settled  on  a  small  farm  in  John- 
son county  and  three  years  later  bought  eighty  acres  of  land 
in  Monroe  township,  at  a  price  of  about  $30  per  acre,  where  he 
lived  until  1903,  then  sold  it  to  his  son-in-law,  Joseph  Hruby, 
who  made  arrangements  to  care  for  him  during  the  remainder 
of  his  hfe.  There  were  seven  children  in  the  family,  six  of 
them  born  in  Bohemia  and  one  in  Johnson  county :  Joseph,  of 
Linn  county ;  John,  died  on  Thanksgiving,  1910 ;  Mathias  and 


614        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

Frank,  twins,  the  latter  being  a  resident  of  Cedar  Rapids, 
Iowa ;  Mrs.  Mary  Kaplan,  of  Monroe  township ;  Mrs.  Kate  Re- 
bek,  of  Cedar  Rapids ;  Mrs.  Anna  Hruby,  of  Oxford  township. 

After  being  educated  in  the  district  schools  near  his  father's 
home,  Mathias  Machnla  rented  land  three  years,  then  for  five 
years  worked  for  farmers  by  the  day.  He  bought  a  small  farm 
of  30  acres  in  Big  Grove  township,  which  was  partly  improved, 
and  operated  it  for  nine  years,  then  sold  it  and  bought  the  Wil- 
liam Roberts  farm,  where  he  now  lives,  on  Section  34  of  Mad- 
ison township.  He  has  added  to  the  house  and  in  many  ways 
added  to  its  value  and  attractiveness.  This  farm  consisted  of 
122  acres  of  land,  to  which  he  has  added  twelve  acres  more. 
While  a  resident  of  Jefferson  Township  he  raised  800  bushels 
of  oats  on  twenty-five  acres  of  land.  He  is  recognized  as  an 
able  and  energetic  farmer  and  has  met  with  gratifying  success 
in  his  operations.  He  served  five  years  as  a  member  of  the 
school  board  and  two  years  as  township  trustee  while  a  resident 
of  Jefferson  township,  and  at  the  time  of  his  removal  thence 
was  holding  the  latter  office  and  was  chairman  of  the  board. 
It  was  necessary  for  him  to  resign  the  office  of  chairman  on  ac- 
count of  his  change  of  address.  For  the  past  two  years  he  has 
served  as  trustee  in  Madison  township.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Modern  Woodmen  of  America  and  is  connected  with  the  Farm- 
ers Bohemian  Insurance  Company,  of  Linn  county.  He  has 
made  many  friends  in  the  community  where  he  lives  and  the 
family  is  well  regarded. 

Mr.  Machnla  was  married  May  1,  1886,  to  Miss  Mary  Vorel, 
of  Monroe  township,  daughter  of  John  Vorel  and  sister  of 
John  Vorel,  Jr.  She  was  born  in  Bohemia  and  brought  to 
America  by  her  parents  at  the  age  of  three  years.  Children  as 
follows  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Machula :  Emma  mar- 
ried Frank  Louver,  of  Jefferson  township,  and  they  have  two 
children,  Amelia  and  Libbie ;  Mary  and  Mike,  at  home. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  615 

NICHOLAS  ZELLER 

In  the  town  and  neighborhood  of  North  Liberty,  Iowa,  no 
name  is  hekl  in  greater  respect  and  reverence  than  that  of 
Nicholas  Zeller,  Sr.,  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch.     His 
remains  and  those  of  his  beloved  wife  rest  in  the  cemetery  on 
the  hill  near  the  village,  and  a  monument  erected  by  his  own 
hands,  carved  from  slate  stone  taken  from  his  own  quarry, 
marks  the  graves  of  this  venerable  couple.     On  this  monolith 
is  inscribed  this  passage  from  St.  John  xvii,  17:  "Sanctify 
them  through  Thy  truth ;  Thy  word  is  truth."    This  quotation 
from  Scripture,  selected  by  the  deceased,  gives  the  index  of  his 
character,  which  was  that  of  a  conscientious,  consistent  Chris- 
tian and  useful,  upright  citizen.     Old  residents  of  Penn  town- 
ship recall  his  numerous  acts  of  kindness  and  charity.     It  is 
said  of  him  that  wherever  and  whenever  he  could  assist  the 
needy  it  appeared  to  be  a  delight  to  him.     It  was  his  custom  to 
seek  out  those  who  were  in  want  and  make  them  donations  of 
flour  and  provisions.      Benevolence   was  his  predominating 
trait.     He  believed  in  living  his  religion  in  the  open,  not  within 
closed  doors  and  cloisters.     His  conscientiousness  is  indicated 
by  the  fact  that,  when  converted,  although  he  had  been  pre- 
viously sprinkled  in  infancy,  he  decided,  after  careful  study 
(in  order,  as  he  said,  not  to  dishonor  his  parents)  that  im- 
mersion is  the  true  mode  of  baptism,  and  in  accordance  with 
this  conviction  was  immersed  in   the  Iowa   river.     He   was 
straighforward  in  his  expressions  of  his  religious  convictions. 
It  is  told  of  him  that  while  boarding  at  a  hotel  in  Keokuk  county 
he  met  a  very  profane  and  vicious  man,  whose  cursing  and 
swearing  in  the  dining  room  made  him  a  conspicuous  object. 
Although  the  offender  in  avoirdupois  was  three  times  the  size 
of  Elder  Zeller,  the  latter  made  bold  to  approach  him,  feeling- 
it  his  duty  to  rebuke  the  man  in  the  interest  of  his  own  soul. 
The  man  listened  attentively,  admitted  his  wrong-doing  and  re- 
spected Mr.  Zeller 's  advice  to  abstain  from  his  profanity.    Nu- 
merous acts  of  religious  service  of  a  similar  character  are  re- 
membered by  the  friends  of  the  deceased.    His  loved  ones  de- 
light to  think  of  him  as  ' '  among  the  chosen  of  his  Master, ' '  and 
cite  the  following  passage  of  Scripture  as  a  fitting  tribute  to 


616        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 


his  memory:     ''Mark  the  perfect  man;  behold  the  upright; 
for  the  end  of  that  man  is  peace. ' ' 

Nicholas  Zeller,  Sr.,  was  born  March  19,  1819,  in  Cumber- 
land county,  Pennsylvania,  and  died  in  May,  1885,  at  his  home 
in  Johnson  county.  His  parents  were  David  and  Mary  Zeller, 
who,  in  1836,  removed  with  their  family  from  Cumberland 
county  to  Franklin  county,  Pennsylvania.  In  1816,  at  the  age 
of  twenty-seven,  young  Nicholas  decided  to  go  west  and  seek 
land  for  a  homestead.  In  pursuance  of  this  purpose,  he  left 
his  Franklin  county  home  with  his  knapsack  on  his  back  and 
walked  alone  over  the  mountains  to  Pittsburgh.  His  religious 
convictions  were  in  evidence  even  at  this  early  day,  for  he 


RESIDENCE  OF  XICUOLAS  ZELLER 

chose  to  make  the  trip  alone  rather  than  to  start  on  Sunday 
with  four  others  who  were  bent  on  a  quest  similar  to  his  own. 
In  justification  of  his  position,  Mr.  Zeller  used  to  point  to  the 
fact  that  one  of  these  four  died  on  his  arrival  in  Johnson  coun- 
ty. The  journey  from  Pittsburgh  was  made  by  packet  steamer 
down  the  Ohio  and  up  the  Mississippi  to  St.  Louis ;  thence  by 
steamer  to  Muscatine  (then  Bloomington),  and  to  Penn  town- 
ship by  wagon.  The  young  emigrant's  first  purchase  in  John- 
son county  was  the  one-fourth  section  of  Robert  J.  Groff,  which 
is  now  the  site  of  the  residence  of  Mrs.  Alex.  L.  Moreland,  his 
daughter.  Some  improvements  had  been  made  upon  the  Groff 
place,  among  which  were  log  buildings.  Young  Zeller  incurred 
a  debt  of  $500.00  in  this  purchase,  and  after  a  trip  to  Dubuque 


BIOGRAPHICAL  617 

to  properly  make  his  entry  at  the  United  States  land  office,  he 
made  the  return  trip  to  Pennsylvania  in  order  to  earn  the 
money  with  which  to  pay  off  his  debt.     He  left  Iowa  with  $17.00 
in  his  pocket  and  worked  at  odd  jobs  on  the  way,  reaching 
Pennsylvania  with  only  40  cents.     Three  years  of  hard  work 
and  economy  enabled  him  to  extinguish  the  debt  on  his  Iowa 
homestead,  and  in  1849  he  returned  to  Johnson  county,  bring- 
ing with  him  a  wife  and  three  children,  Mary,  the  eldest,  now 
the  wife  of  A.  L.  Moreland;  Barbara,  wife  of  John  Bowman; 
and  Nicholas,  our  subject,  then  four  weeks  old.     His  wife  was 
Catherine  Sleichter,  to  whom  he  was  married  in  Pennsylvania 
in  184G.     The  return  journey  to   Iowa  Avas  made  by  canal, 
steamer,  stage  and  wagon.     On  reaching  the  homestead  in 
Penn  township,  the  little  family  took  up  their  abode  in  the 
primitive  log  cabin,  to  which  one  room  was  added  and  was 
called  "the  north  room."     This  cabin  was  their  residence  un- 
til 1865.     In  the  meantime  two  more  daughters  were  born, 
Martha,  wife  of  Jacob  (leorge,  of  Penn  township,  and  Sarah, 
wife  of  Frank  B.  Meyers,  of  Madison  township.     In  1865  Mr. 
Zeller  sold  his  farm  to  David  S.  Miller.     With  the  proceeds  he 
bought  a  quarter  section  from  Francis  Bowman  in  section 
twelve  and  also  a  quarter  section  in  Keokuk  county,  where  his 
daughter,  Mrs.  John  Bowman,  now  lives.     He  resided  on  the 
Francis  Bowman  place  until  failing  health  compelled  him  to 
forego  the  hard  work  of  the  farm,  whereupon  he  bought  thirty- 
six  acres  for  a  home  and  retired.     Mr.  Zeller  was  well  educated, 
having  in  his  earlier  years  taught  school.     He  always  took  a 
great  interest  in  educational  matters  of  his  township,  as  well 
as  pubhc  matters  in  general.     He  served  seven  years  on  the 
board  of  supervisors,  during  which  time  he  helped  to  save  the 
county  the  payment  of  $5,000.00  in  bonds  of  a  railway  project 
which  never  materiaUzed.     George  Paul,  J.  P.  Miller,  Mr.  Gay- 
man  and  Mr.  Stevenson,  fatlicH'  of  S.  K.  Stevenson,  of  Iowa 
City,  were  members  of  the  same  board  with  Mr.  Zeller  and 
helped  to  save  the  county  the  payment  of  these  bonds.     Mr. 
Zeller  also  served  as  township  clerk  and  trustee,  and  was  ad- 
ministrator of  several  important  estates,  among  them  being 
the  Orris,  Michael  Suavely  and  George  Hoover  estates.     In  his 
early  days  on  the  farm  he  was  a  hard  worker,  using  the  prim- 
itive tools  of  the  time.     He  dressed  his  hogs  for  the  market  and 


618        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

hauled  wheat  to  Muscatine,  selling  the  former  for  $2.00  per 
hundred  and  the  latter  for  40  cents  per  bushel.  Mr.  Zeller  died 
at  the  age  of  sixty-six  and  his  wife  at  sixty-seven.  Both  were 
members  of  the  Church  of  God,  having  united  w^tli  the  church 
at  revival  meetings  held  in  the  little  log  school  house  in  North 
Liberty.     Mr.  Zeller  was  for  years  a  ruling  elder  in  the  church. 

Nicholas  Zeller,  Jr.,  is  the  only  son  and  third  child  of  Nich- 
olas and  Catherine  Zeller.  He  Avas  born  in  Franklin  county, 
Pennsylvania,  April  18,  1849,  and  same  \\ith  his  parents  to 
Johnson  county  in  1849  when  four  weeks  old.  He  was  raised 
on  the  old  home  farm  in  Penn  township,  and  was  educated  in 
the  district  schools  of  the  township  and  the  high  school  of 
North  Liberty.  He  recalls  that  two  of  his  instructors  were 
Mattie  Bowman  alid  Lizzie  Hess,  and  speaks  of  them  as  ' '  profit- 
able teachers."  Mr.  Zeller  supplemented  his  high  school 
course  by  a  commercial  course  in  McLain's  Academy  at  Iowa 
City,  whereupon  he  returned  to  the  farm,  continuing  to  reside 
there  until  1908.  In  that  year  he  sold  the  home  farm  to  Sam 
Ranshaw  and  established  his  residence  in  North  Liberty. 

Mr.  Zeller  has  served  as  township  clerk  and  trustee  and  was 
school  treasurer  for  thirteen  years;  also  served  as  secretary  of 
the  school  board  twelve  years.  During  his  incumbency  he 
drew  the  contract  for  the  new  school  building  at  North  Lib- 
erty. He  takes  a  prominent  part  in  the  affairs  of  the  Church  of 
God,  of  which  he  is  a  member,  having  served  as  deacon,  elder 
and  Sunday  school  superintendent.  He  served  fifteen  years  as 
treasurer  of  the  Eldership  of  Iowa  for  the  church,  and  at  the 
end  of  that  time  was  given  a  unanimous  vote  and  complimen- 
tary bondsmen  for  his  sixteenth  term.  In  the  fall  of  1910  his 
report  as  treasurer  of  the  Eldership  of  Iowa  showed  that  thou- 
sands of  dollars  were  then  being  received  for  the  church  work 
instead  of  hundreds  as  it  was  wdien  he  took  hold.  Mr.  Zeller 
has  settled  two  large  estates,  and  has  been  the  custodian  at  one 
and  the  same  time  of  eight  different  funds. 

Mr.  Zeller  was  married  March  11, 1880,  to  Miss  Emma  Mey- 
ers, daughter  of  Valentine  Meyers,  of  Madison  township.  The 
couple  have  been  blessed  Avith  five  children :  Raymond  C,  mar- 
ried to  May  Koser,  of  Webster  county,  Missouri,  father  of  two 
children,  Clyde  H.  and  Marvin  L. ;  Okie,  graduate  of  the  Iowa 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


619 


City  Academy  and  Irish  Commercial  college,  married  to  Ogle 
Beacon,  now  residing  in  Chicago,  father  of  two  children,  Lane 
and  Margaret ;  Frank,  graduate  of  Iowa  City  high  school,  mar- 
ried to  Edna  Meyers,  daughter  of  Isaac  Meyers,  residing  at 
Winterset,  Iowa;  Mabel,  graduate  of  Iowa  City  high  school 
and  the  University  of  Iowa,  teacher  in  public  schools,  having 
secured  positions  in  six  different  towns  without  solicitation,  a 
girl  of  beautiful  character  and  fine  accomplishments,  with 
many  friends ;  Alton,  graduate  of  Iowa  City  high  school,  wil  h 
his  brother  Okie  in  the  wholesale  silverware  business  in  Chi- 
cago.    The  children  are  all  members  of  the  Church  of  God. 

The  greater  portion  of  the  town  of  North  Liberty,  part  of  the 
Zeller  farm,  has  been  platted  and  laid  out  by  Mr.  Zeller. 


FRANK  LOUVAR 


Frank  Louvar  is  the  owner  of  196  acres  of  well  cultivated 
land  in  Jefferson  township,  which  has  been  his  home  for  twen- 
ty-five years.  His  original  purchase  was  110  acres.  He  was 
born  in  Bohemia  in  June,  1848,  and  came  with  his  parents  to 


EESIDEXCE  OF  FRANK  LOUVAR 


America  at  the  age  of  nine  years.  His  father  was  Francis 
Louvar  and  his  mother  Francy  Netolecky,  both  natives  of  Bo- 
hemia.    The  parents  settled  in  Jefferson  township  on  a  farm, 


620        HISTOEY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 


where  they  resided  until  death.  They  had  two  children  be- 
sides our  subject,  namely :  J  ohn,  who  died  about  twenty  years 
ago,  and  Henry,  living  on  a  farm  in  Linn  county. 

Our  subject  has  always  been  a  farmer,  and  today  ranks  as 
one  of  the  best  agriculturists  of  his  township.  He  was  mar- 
ried in  1874  to  Miss  Mary  Febeker,  who  was  born  in  Jefferson 
township  in  1856.  Her  jDarents  w^ere  among  the  early  settlers 
of  Johnson  county.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Louvar  have  eight  children : 
Jerome  (see  his  sketch  elsewhere  in  this  volume) ;  Frank,  mar- 
ried and  living  in  Jefferson  township ;  Joseph ;  Greorge ;  Mary 
and  Annie,  living  at  home ;  Ijibby,  now  Mrs.  Charles  Biscup, 
living  on  a  farm  in  Jefferson  township;  Frances,  now  Mrs. 
Francis  Becicka. 

Mr.  Louvar  is  affiliated  with  the  republican  party,  and  has 
held  numerous  local  offices.  He  is  an  enterprising,  public 
spirited  man,  highly  esteemed  by  his  friends  and  respected  by 
his  neighbors. 


JOSEPH  ROZEK 


For  a  more  extended  account  of  the  family  of  Joseph  Rozek 
the  reader  is  referred  to  the  biography  of  Daniel  Rozek,  his 
father,  published  in  this  volume.  Our  subject  was  born  in  Bo- 
hemia, January  28,  1876,  his  parents  being  Daniel  and  Mary 
(Bartosh)  Rozek.  He  came  witli  his  parents  to  America  in 
1880.  When  twenty-one  years  of  age  he  began  business  for 
himself  as  a  farmer.  At  the  end  of  seven  years,  in  1904,  he 
purchased  his  present  farm  of  116  acres,  upon  which  he  has 
lived  andiabored  ever  since.  When  he  began  for  himself  four- 
teen years  ago,  our  subject  was  not  possessed  of  a  dollar,  hav- 
ing no  capital  but  brains,  brawn  and  energy.  Today  he  is 
worth  upwards  of  $10,000  —  a  fair  example  of  the  possibilities 
confronting  the  young  man  in  Iowa  who  is  willing  to  work  and 
save  his  money.  Mr.  Rozek  is  a  single  man,  and  devoted  to  his 
farm.  He  proudly  points  to  his  productive,  well-tilled  acres 
and  the  success  which  he  made. 

Mr.  Rozek  is  a  democrat,  and  is  a  member  of  St.  Wenceslaus 
Catholic  church,  of  Cedar  Rapids. 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


621 


THEODORE  DETERT 

Theodore  Detert  is  a  native  son  of  Jefferson  township,  John- 
son eonnty,  Iowa,  and  dnring  his  entire  life  from  boyhood  has 
been  a  farmer  by  occnpation.  He  was  born  in  March,  1868, 
and  is  the  third  son  of  Frank  and  Panline  (Bartosh)  Detert, 
who  were  born  and  married  in  Bohemia,  their  tw^o  oldest  sons 
being  born  there.  The  elder  Deterts  came  to  America  in  1866 
and  settled  on  a  farm  in  Jefferson  township,  where  they  lived 
for  thirty-nine  years,  or  until  1905.  The  names  of  the  three 
sons  of  Frank  and  Pauline  Detert  are :  Frank,  living  in  Ce- 
dar Rapids;  Joseph,  living  on  a  farm  in  Jefferson  township 
(see  his  -sketch),  and  our  subject. 


RESIDENCE  OF  THEODORE  DETERT 


In  1893  Theodore  Detert  purchased  his  father's  old  home- 
stead. He  lived  upon  and  farmed  this  place  until  1905,  when 
he  purchased  his  present  farm.  On  the  sale  of  the  old  home- 
stead, the  parents  came  to  hve  with  their  son  Theodore  and 
now  reside  on  a  portion  of  his  farm  in  a  house  of  their  own. 

Our  subject  w^as  married  May  18,  1895,  to  Miss  Mary  Stran- 
sky,  a  native  of  Johnson  county.  They  have  five  children: 
Jerome,  Louis,  Milver,  Romeo  and  Lizzie.  Mr.  Detert  is  a 
democrat,  a  man  of  great  industry,  and  is  held  in  universal  re- 
spect by  his  neighbors. 


622        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

JOSEPH  DETERT 

Joseph  Detert,  born  in  Boliemia  in  January,  1856,  came  with 
his  parents,  Frank  and  PauUne  (Bartosh)  Detert,  to  America 
in  1866,  and  settled  with  them  on  a  farm  in  Jefferson  township. 
(See  sketch  of  Theodore  Detert.)  The  parents  remained  on 
this  farm  for  thirty-nine  years,  ])ut  are  now  residing  near 
their  son  Theodore  on  his  farm  near  Shueyville.  There  were 
three  chiklren  in  the  family :  our  subject ;  Frank,  living  in  Ce- 
dar Rapids ;  and  Theodore,  residing  on  his  farm  in  Jefferson 
township. 


" -TT^BH^*iTOB. 


-  ~-^\ 


EESIDENCE    OF   JOSEPH    DETERT 


Our  subject  has  always  farmed,  having  lived  on  his  present 
farm  about  thirty  years.  He  was  married  in  1883  to  Miss  An- 
nie Dlouhy,  a  native  of  Bohemia.  Miss  Dlouhy  came  to  Amer- 
ica with  her  parents  when  less  than  a  year  old.  The  latter  set- 
tled on  a  farm  in  Jefferson  township,  where  they  resided  until 
1895,  when  Father  Dlouhy  died.  The  mother  is  now  living 
with  her  daughter,  Mrs.  Detert.  There  were  seven  children  in 
the  family:  Mary,  who  died  in  infancy;  William,  Charles, 
Emma,  Mary,  James  and  Frank. 

Mr.  Detert  is  a  democrat  politically,  and  he  and  his  family 
are  members  of  the  Evangelical  church. 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


623 


JOSEPH  LOPATA 

Lopata  is  a  familiar  name  in  Johnson  and  Linn  eonnties,  and 
the  family  bearing-  it  have  been  closely  identified  with  the 
growth  and  development  of  the  region  for  a  period  of  more 
than  half  a  century.  Joseph  Lopota  was  born  in  Bohemia  in 
1858,  son  of  John  and  Mary  (Spieral)  Lopata,  who  brought 
him  to  America  when  he  was  six  years  old.  The  family  settled 
first  in  Linn  county,  remained  there  thirty-four  years,  the 
father  passing  away  in  1901  and  the  mother  in  1893.  They  had 
the  following  seven  children :  Mary,  died  about  twenty  years 
ago;  Barbara,  Mrs.  John  Reolien,  of  Linn  county;  Annie,  died 


EESIDENCE  OF  JOSEPH  LOPATA 


in  1903 ;  John,  also  deceased ;  Joseph,  whose  name  stands  at  the 
head  of  this  sketch;  Louisa,  Mrs.  Frank  Novak,  of  Monroe 
township ;  Ernest,  of  Cedar  Rapids. 

Joseph  Lopata  was  reared  to  farm  work  and  has  been  en- 
gaged in  this  occupation  for  himself  since  early  manhood.  He 
first  began  operations  in  Linn  county,  where  he  purchased 
eighty  acres  of  land  when  he  was  twenty-two  years  old,  and  in 
1898  he  sold  out  and  purchased  his  present  farm  of  160  acres 
in  Jefferson  township,  Johnson  county.  He  was  married,  upon 
reaching  majority,  to  Miss  Mary  Stepanek,  daughter  of  Joseph 
and  Mary  (Sulek)  Stepanek.  Her  parents  were  born  in  Bo- 
hemia, Mr.  Stepanek  coming  to  America  when  about  twenty- 


624        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

tliree  years  old  and  the  mother  being  brought  to  this  country 
by  her  parents.  All  located  in  Jefferson  township,  Johnson 
county,  where  several  members  of  the  family  now  reside. 
There  w^ere  seven  children  who  reached  maturity,  and  who 
are  given  mention  in  connection  wdth  the  sketch  of  Joseph  Ste- 
panek,  Sr.,  which  is  given  place  in  these  pages.  Tliej  were 
pioneers  and  helped  materially  in  the  early  upbuilding  of  their 
part  of  the  county. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lopata  have  four  children:  Joseph  is  mar- 
ried and  lives  near  his  parents ;  Annie,  Mrs.  Louis  Castek,  lives 
in  Monroe  township ;  Sylvia,  Mrs.  Vonrocek,  lives  in  Arizona ; 
Leo  lives  at  home.  Mr.  Lopata  is  a  Catholic  in  religious 
views  and  in  politics  is  a  democrat.  Fraternally  he  belongs  to 
Fairfax  Camp,  Modern  Woodmen  of  America.  He  is  recog- 
nized as  an  able  and  enterprising  farmer  and  is  esteemed  be- 
cause of  his  fair  and  honest  dealings  with  his  fellows. 


JAMES  W.  BANE 


The  family  of  which  James  W.  Bane  was  a  member  was  one 
of  the  earliest  to  locate  in  Johnson  county,  where  it  now  has 
many  worthy  representatives.  His  parents  were  pioneers  of 
two  States  —  Illinois  and  Iowa  —  and  were  of  old  Virginia 
stock.  They  belonged  to  that  noble  band  of  men  and  women 
who  have  made  present-day  civilization  and  comforts  possible. 
James  W.  Bane  was  born  in  Mercer  county,  Illinois,  November 
11,  1838,  son  of  Robert  and  Sarah  G.  (Davidson)  Bane,  natives 
of  Rockbridge  county,  Virginia.  The  father  was  born  August 
25, 1805,  and  died  July  23, 1888,  and  the  mother  was  born  Octo- 
ber 3,  1807,  and  died  July  21,  1888,  within  thirty-six  hours  of 
the  death  of  her  husband,  both  passing  away  on  the  place  where 
their  son  lives,  in  Penn  township,  Johnson  county.  The  pa- 
rents were  married  in  their  native  State,  and  in  1836  came,  with 
covered  wagon  and  four  horses,  to  Mercer  county,  Illinois, 
bringing  their  two  children  :  John  D.,  who  was  a  member  of  the 
Twenty-second  Iowa  Volunteers  and  was  killed  at  the  battle  of 
Winchester,  Virginia ;  and  Elizabeth  G.,  who  died  in  Johnson 
county,  when  twenty  years  old. 

Two  children  were  born  to  Robert  Bane  and  wife  in  Mercer 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


625 


county :  John  W.,  whose  name  stands  at  the  head  of  this  sketch, 
and  Mary  Jane,  who  died  at  the  age  of  nineteen  years,  in  Iowa. 
In  October,  1842,  the  parents,  with  their  four  chiklren,  came 
west  into  Iowa,  bringing  some  cattle  and  horses  with  them,  and 
transporting  their  honsehokl  effects  in  a  covered  wagon,  drawn 
by  two  horses.  They  landed  at  Iowa  City  when  that  place  was 
a  small  village,  and  went  on  to  the  trading  post,  where  they 
spent  the  first  winter.  They  then  moved  to  the  Jacob  Stover 
farm  in  Pleasant  Valley  Township,  remaining  there  six  years, 
and  there  their  son  Calvin  was  born.  In  1848  they  moved  to 
the  old  Denton  place  east  of  Iowa  City,  which  Mr.  Bane  had 
purchased,  and  he  improved  some  of  the  land,  then  sold  out  to 


RESIDENCE    OF    JOHN    W.    BANE 


James  McCadden  and  lived  a  year  and  a  half  at  Iowa  City. 
Meanwhile,  he  had  bought  a  claim  which  was  jumped ;  120  acres 
of  land  was  entered  on  Section  17  of  Penn  township,  and  this 
he  purchased  at  $4.50  per  acre.  Later  he  entered  land,  in- 
cluding the  eighty  acres  where  his  son  James  W.  now  resides. 
He  bought  a  Mexican  War  soldier's  warrant,  and  the  esti- 
mated cost  of  this  per  acre  was  thirty-six  cents.  In  the  fall  of 
1849  he  erected  a  substantial  two-story  frame  house,  20x28 
feet,  which  is  still  standing.  Two  children  Avere  born  in  this 
home :  Samuel  R.  and  Narcissa  V.,  the  latter  of  whom  died  at 
the  age  of  sixteen  years. 


626        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNT Y,  IOWA 

Robert  Bane  made  trips  to  Muscatine  and  hauled  goods  for 
John  Powell,  a  pioneer  merchant  of  Iowa  City.  At  one  time 
he  sold  6,000  bushels  of  corn  at  twelve  cents  per  bushel,  loaded 
on  a  steamboat,  within  150  vards  of  the  river.  About  the  same 
time,  he  sold  dressed  pork  at  $1.50  per  hundred  pounds.  He 
was  noted  for  his  fine  crops  of  corn,  Avhich  were  the  best  in  the 
county  from  the  same  amount  of  land,  and  was  also  considered 
very  successful  in  raising  hogs.  He  was  very  fond  of  hunting 
and  his  son  James  remembers  when  the  two  men  counted 
twenty-two  deer  in  a  herd  on  the  home  farm.  There  were  also 
thousands  of  wild  turkeys,  pigeons  and  prairie  chickens  on  the 
farm.  The  father  was  a  fine  marksman  and  by  his  skill  added 
dainty  fare  to  the  family  larder.  He  was  proud  of  his  tine 
orchard,  which  was  the  result  of  his  care  and  hard  work.  He 
did  most  of  the  grafting  himself.  He  had  about  fourteen  acres 
of  land  in  it  and  sold  thousands  of  bushels  of  apples  in  Iowa 
City.  His  father,  Robert  Bane,  Sr.,  was  a  soldier  in  the  War 
of  1812.  But  two  sons  of  Robert  and  Sarah  G.  Bane  now  sur- 
vive :  James  W.,  the  elder,  and  Samuel,  a  farmer  of  Penn 
Township.  Mary  Jane  died  in  youth ;  Calvin  H.,  a  soldier,  in 
the  Civil  War,  died  in  Texas,  March  17, 1911. 

James  W.  Bane  received  his  education  in  the  district  school 
in  Penn  township  and  in  the  yjublic  schools  at  Iowa  City.  He 
has  lived  on  his  present  farm  since  1849,  with  the  exception  of 
three  years,  during  which  he  was  defending  his  country's  flag 
at  the  time  of  the  Civil  War.  He  enlisted  August  5,  1862,  in 
Company  I,  Twenty-second  Iowa  Volunteer  Infantry,  under 
Captain  James  Robertson,  being  mustered  out  at  Savannah, 
Georgia,  in  July,  1865.  His  brother  CaMn  first  enlisted  in 
Company  C,  Sixth  Iowa  Infantry,  in  1861,  a  short  time  later 
was  discharged  at  St.  Louis,  on  account  of  sickness,  and  in 
April,  1862,  enlisted  in  Company  A,  of  the  same  regiment 
where  his  brother  served,  and  remained  with  it  for  the  full 
time.  The  principal  battles  in  which  James  W.  participated 
were :  Champion  Hills,  Black  River  Bridge,  assault  on  Vicks- 
burg;  Winchester,  Va.,  in  which,  on  September  19,  1864,  his 
brother  John  D.,  of  Company  B,  was  killed;  Fisher's  Hill,  Ce- 
dar Creek,  siege  of  Vicksburg,  and  others.  He  was  slightly 
wounded  at  the  last  named  battle,  being  first  hurt  in  the  right 
shoulder,  and  later,  when  charging  the  enemy,  fell  in  jumping 


BIOGRAPHICAL  627 

a  ditcli  and  injured  liis  back.  He  won  an  honorable  record,  as 
did  bis  brothers,  and  has  reason  to  be  proud  of  the  part  he 
played  in  the  struggle. 

At  the  close  of  the  war  Mr.  Bane  returned  to  his  father's 
farm,  and  in  1868  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Nancy  J. 
Stewart,  daughter  of  Robert  Stewart,  deceased,  a  sketch  of 
whom  appears  in  this  publication.  After  marriage  Mr.  Bane 
lived  on  the  home  place  three  years,  occupying  the  old  house. 
In  the  fall  of  1873  he  erected  the  present  substantial  house, 
which  has  been  their  home  ever  since.  Children  as  follows 
have  blessed  this  union :  Robert  Davidson  and  Robert  Donald, 
twin  sons,  who  died  young;  Maud  is  the  wife  of  E.  Clark,  of 
Sioux  City,  and  they  have  two  sons  —  Clifton  B.  and  Marion 
Gail;  Albert  S.,  wdio  farms  the  old  place,  owns  all  except  forty 
acres  of  it  (there  being  163  acres  altogether)  and  also  operates 
two  other  farms;  Earl  G.,  of  East  Lucas  township,  married 
Miss  Millie  Mott,  and  they  have  four  children  —  Tyril,  Ivan, 
Newell  and  a  baby  daughter,  Solna  May;  Claud  J.,  who  op- 
erates the  William  Hanke  farm  near  Iowa  City  (in  East  Lucas 
township),  married  Alice  Drovsky,  and  they  have  two  sons  — 
Robert  L.  and  Harold  Albert;  Winifred,  married  Edward 
Zeithhamel,  formerly  taught  school,  resides  in  Cedar  Rapids. 

In  1907  Mr.  Bane  gave  up  active  farm  work  and  he  and  his 
wife  now  occupy  the  forty  acres  of  land  which  is  all  they  own 
of  the  home  farm,  and  which  is  very  dear  to  them,  for  on  it 
they  have  passed  many  happy  years  and  have  reared  a  fine 
family  of  children,  who  are  a  credit  to  them  and  to  the  com- 
munity. The  orchard  on  this  place  is  one  of  the  finest  in  the 
country,  being  one  of  the  largest  and  containing  a  large  variety 
of  apples.  There  are  thousands  of  bushels  of  cherries  picked 
there  yearly ;  a  good  crop  of  green  gage  and  other  plums,  and 
various  other  small  fruit.  Albert  S.  Bane  may  well  be  proud 
of  his  orchard,  which  is  so  productive  and  which  yields  so  good 
an  income. 

Like  his  neighbors,  Mr.  Bane  nsed  the  sickle,  scythe,  and 
cradle  for  harvesting  his  grain  in  his  early  operations  in 
Pleasant  Valley  township,  and  w^as  a  typical  pioneer.  He  has 
been  one  of  the  successful  men  of  his  region  and  has  been  vdl- 
ling  to  advance  any  movement  for  the  general  progress  and 
welfare,  at  the  same  time  developing  one  of  the  best  farms  in 


628        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  lOAVA 

his  part  of  the  county.  In  1905  he  erected  a  fine  barn  that  is 
one  of  the  best  in  the  neighborhood,  and  the  farm  is  well 
fenced  and  in  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  He  has  served  in 
various  local  offices  and  has  been  a  delegate  to  various  demo- 
cratic conventions.  He  has  been  trustee  and  road  super\dsor 
and  for  more  than  twenty-five  years  a  member  of  the  school 
board.  He  is  highly  respected  for  the  part  he  has  taken  in 
local  affairs  and  has  a  number  of  warm  personal  friends. 


FRANK  K.  SEDLACEK 

Mr.  Sedlacek  is  a  native  of  Bohemia,  but  has  spent  nearly  all 
his  life  in  Monroe  township,  Johnson  county,  where  he  has 
become  successful  as  a  farmer.  He  has  taken  an  active  part 
in  local  affairs  and  is  recognized  as  a  citizen  of  intelligent 
and  public  spirit,  ready  to  uphold  whatever  he  believes  will  be 
useful  and  beneficial  to  the  community.  He  was  born  in  1861, 
son  of  John  and  Dora  (Lenoch)  Sedlacek,  who  were  born, 
reared  and  married  in  Bohemia.  They  came  to  America  when 
Frank  K.  was  about  six  years  old  and  settled  on  the  farm  he 
now  owns  and  operates.  There  the  mother  died  in  1884,  and 
the  father  in  1897. 

Mr.  Sedlacek  was  reared  to  farm  work,  attending  the  schools 
near  his  father's  farm,  and  upon  reaching  manhood  he  chose 
farming  as  his  life  work.  He  remained  with  his  parents  and 
there  brought  his  wife  upon  his  marriage.  He  was  united 
with  Miss  Rose  Dvorak  in  1886.  She  is  also  a  native  of  Bo- 
hemia, and  came  to  America  when  eight  years  old  with  her 
parents.  Her  family  located  in  Monroe  township,  lived  there 
five  years,  then  moved  to  Oxford  township. 

Three  children  were  born  to  Mr.  Sedlacek  and  wife,  namely: 
Rose  C,  and  Joseph  H.,  at  home  with  their  parents;  Arnold, 
who  died  in  infancy.  Mr.  Sedlacek  is  a  democrat  in  political 
belief.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Reformed  Bohemian  Evangeli- 
cal church  and  is  useful  in  connection  with  its  operations. 
He  is  popular  and  well  known  in  various  circles,  and  he  and 
the  other  members  of  the  family  have  many  warm  friends. 
He  has  made  many  improvements  on  the  home  farm  and  its 
appearance  and  productiveness  are  a  credit  to  his  good 
management  and  ability  as  a  farmer. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  629 

JOHN  WAVRA. 

John  Wavra  is  a  member  of  the  third  generation  of  his 
family  to  live  in  Monroe  township,  Johnson  connty,  where  his 
birth  occnrred  December  19,  1867.  His  parents  and  grand- 
parents were  upright  and  useful  citizens  of  the  community 
and  were  held  in  high  regard  1)y  the  early  settlers  there. 
John  Wavra  is  a  son  of  John  and  Annie  (Zvecek)  Wavra, 
natives  of  Bohemia.  The  father  came  to  America  with  his 
parents  when  he  was  a  young  man  about  twenty-four  years 
old,  and  they  settled  on  a  farm  in  Monroe  township  —  the 
same  where  John,  Jr.,  was  born.  The  grandparents  died  on 
that  farm  and  the  parants  lived  there  until  retiring  from  ac- 
tive farming  in  1905,  when  they  moved  to  Cedar  Rapids,  and 
have  since  made  that  city  their  home.  The  father  was  married 
at  the  age  of  twenty-seven  years  and  brought  his  wife  to  the  old 
homestead.  Eleven  children  were  born  of  this  marriage,  two 
of  whom  died  in  infancy  and  nine  reached  maturity,  the  latter 
being :  John,  Jr. ;  Anna,  Mrs.  John  Stanek,  of  Cedar  Rapids  ; 
Joseph  lives  near  Fairfax,  Linn  county ;  Mrs.  Mary  Lawrence, 
living  near  Ely,  Linn  county;  Annie,  Mrs.  John  Melsha,  living- 
near  Cedar  Rapids ;  Prank,  engaged  in  a  grocery  business  in 
Cedar  Rapids;  Eliza1)eth,  lives  with  her  parents;  William  is 
associated  with  his  lu"other  Frank  in  the  grocery  business; 
Charles  is  employed  in  the  Cedar  Rapids  Savings  Bank. 

John  Wavra  Jr.  was  reared  to  farm  work  and  has  alwaj^s 
been  occupied  in  this  industry,  in  which  he  has  been  more  than 
ordinarily  successful.  At  the  time  of  his  marriage,  in  1892, 
he  purchased  his  present  farm  of  160  acres,  in  Monroe  town- 
ship. His  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Laura  Hach,  was 
born  in  Cedar  Rapids  and  is  of  Bohemian  parentage.  She  is 
the  daughter  of  Wencil  Hach  and  Tracy  (Prazek)  Hach. 
Two  children  have  lieen  born  of*  this  union :  John  U.  assists 
his  father  with  the  work  of  operating  the  farm,  and  Laura  H. 
is  attending  school. 

Mr.  Wavra  has  taken  an  active  and  intelligent  interest  in 
everything  affecting  the  progress  and  welfare  of  the  com- 
munity. He  is  a  useful  member  of  the  United  Brethren  church, 
and  in  politics  is  a  democrat.  Fraternally  he  belongs  to  Fair- 
fax Camp,  No  4196,  M.  W.  A.     He  has  served  as  township 


630 


HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 


assessor  for  the  jJast  six  years  and  is  treasurer  of  the  school 
board.  Every  public  measure  Dieets  with  his  ready  support 
and  he  has  many  personal  friends,  in  various  local  circles. 


JOSEPH  KONASEK 

Although  born  across  the  sea,  Jospeli  Konasek  is  a  typical 
American  citizen,  actively  interested  in  the  best  interests  of 
his  community  and  doing-  his  best  to  further  its  progress  and 
development.  He  is  recognized  as  an  enterprising  business 
man  and  has  the  good  will  of  all  who  have  been  associated  with 
him  in  any  way,  having  many  friends  and  acquaintances  in 
Johnson  and  adjoining  counties.  Most  of  his  active  life  has 
been  spent  in  farming,  but  he  retired  from  this  occupation  in 


KESIDENCE   OF  JOSEPH   KONASEK 


1910  and  since  then  has  devoted  his  energies  to  insurance  mat- 
ters. For  the  past  twenty  years  he  has  served  as  secretary  of 
the  Bohemian  Farmers'  Mutual  Insurance  Company,  and  has 
ably  fulfilled  the  duties  of  the  office.  Mr.  Konasek  was  born 
in  Moravia,  in  December,  1846,  son  of  Joseph  and  Annie  (Cu- 
hel)  Konasek.  The  parents  brought  their  children  to  America 
in  the  fall  of  1859  and  spent  the  first  winter  in  Wisconsin,  com- 
ing to  Monroe  township  in  the  spring  of  1860,  and  in  this  town- 
ship the  subject  of  this  sketch  hved  for  fifty  years.  The  four 
children  of  the  family  were  as  follows :    Joseph,  Jr. ;  Frank, 


BIOGRAPHICAL  631 

owns  a  nice  farm  near  Pendleton,  Oregon ;  Annie,  wife  of  Wes- 
ley Janko,  of  Jefferson  township,  Johnson  county;  Vincent, 
(lied  in  Oregon  in  1904.  The  father  died  some  thirteen  or  four- 
teen years  ago  and  the  mother  eighteen  years  ago. 

Upon  starting  out  in  life  for  himself  Joseph  Konasek  se- 
lected farming  as  an  occupation,  being  twenty -two  years  of  age 
when  he  began.  In  1869  he  secured  a  farm  of  eighty  acres  and 
ten  years  later  secured  eighty  acres  more.  In  1895  he  pur- 
chased 170  acres  nearer  Swisher,  being  at  one  time  possessed 
of  330  acres  of  excellent  farm  land,  in  Monroe  township. 

On  June  9,  1869,  Mr.  Konasek  married  Miss  Frances  Che- 
melicek,  a  native  of  Bohemia,  wlio  came  to  America  with  her 
parents  in  1866.  The  family  came  to  Johnson  county  in  1872. 
Six  children  have  been  born  of  this  union :  Joseph  W.,  lives 
on  the  old  home  farm  in  Monroe  township ;  Blanche,  Mrs.  Mit- 
volsky,  of  California ;  Carrie,  Mrs.  A.  J.  Rypka,  of  Cedar  Rap- 
ids; Poldey,  Mrs.  Anton  Kaleban,  of  Linn  county,  Iowa; 
Charles,  of  Linn  county ;  Otto,  of  Monroe  township. 

Mr.  Konasek  is  a  democrat  in  politics  and  has  held  all  the 
township  offices  in  Monroe  township,  of  which  he  was  assessor 
nineteen  years  and  supervisor  one  term.  Since  moving  to 
Swisher,  in  1910,  he  has  built  up  a  good  business  in  the  line  of 
insurance  and  has  taken  a  prominent  part  in  the  affairs  of  the 
town.  He  has  a  beautiful  home,  where  he  and  his  wife  dis- 
pense hospitality  to  their  many  friends. 


EDWIN  G.  JAMES 

Edwin  G.  James  was  born  in  Muscatine,  Iowa,  May  20,  1873. 
He  is  a  son  of  Gad  and  Harriet  (Kile)  James  and  a  brother  of 
George  E.  James.  (For  a  more  extended  description  of  the 
family  see  sketch  of  George  E.  Janies  pubhshed  herewith. 
—  EdI) 

At  twenty-five  years  of  age  Mr.  James  commenced  farming 
on  his  own  account  and  has  continued  in  the  business  until  the 
present  time.  He  bought  his  home  farm  of  160  acres  in  the  fall 
of  1903.  Under  its  owner's  careful  cultivation  and  manage- 
ment it  has  become  one  of  the  most  productive  and  attractive 
places  in  the  township  (Lincoln). 


632        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

Mr.  James  was  married  in  February,  1899,  to  Miss  Carrie  M. 
Herr,  daughter  of  Benjamin  and  Rebecca  (Wilson)  Herr,  of 
Muscatine  county,  Ttiere  were  four  children:  Fannie,  now 
Mrs.  Ed.  Wells,  living  in  Scott  township ;  George  and  Bertha, 
living  at  home ;  and  Carrie  M.,  wife  of  our  subject. 


RESIDENCE  OF   EDWIN   G.   JAMES 

Mr.  James  is  a  republican  in  politics  and  an  attendant  at  the 
M.  E.  church.  He  is  an  able  farmer  and  a  man  universally 
respected  by  his  neighbors. 

In  January,  1912,  he  left  the  farm  and  is  now  living  retired 
at  West  Lil)erty,  Iowa. 


JAMES  C.  COCHRAN 

John  Cochran,  the  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was 
born  in  Glasgow,  Scotland,  and  died  in  Iowa  City,  Iowa,  in 
1869.  His  wife  was  Jane  Gould,  born  in  Glasgow,  Scotland, 
in  1804,  and  died  at  Iowa  City  in  1884.  Seven  children,  sturdy 
Scots  every  one,  were  born  to  John  Cochran  and  Jane  Gould. 
The  family  is  pure  Scotch,  back  to  the  earliest  genealogical 
record,  the  first  known  ancestors  being  John  and  James  Coch- 
ran. Our  subject  was  born  May  20,  1834,  at  Glasgow,  Scot- 
land. He  left  his  native  heath  October  1,  1853,  with  his  pa- 
rents, bound  for  the  new  world.  He  has  a  perfect  recollection 
of  some  of  his  boyhood  experiences,  one  of  the  most  vivid  of 


FEED  COCHRAN 


.J.    C.    COCHRAN 


JAMES   CLARK   COCHRAN 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


633 


which  was  a  trip  with  his  father  and  a  man  named  Jolm  Rob- 
inson into  western  Ireland  in  1845.  That  was  the  year  of  the 
great  famine,  and  John  Cochran  and  John  Robinson  were  com- 
missioners from  Scotland  to  distribute  rations  among  the 
starving  people.  The  twelve-year-old  lad  witnessed  scenes 
which  he  can  never  forget.  The  potato  crop  that  year  and  for 
ten  years  thereafter  in  Ireland  was  a  failure,  and  that  being 
the  chief  article  of  food  of  the  poor  masses,  great  distress  was 
inevitable.  Thousands  died  of  absolute  starvation,  and  still 
other  thousands  of  combined  disease  and  destitution.  Gen- 
erous America   shipped  loads  of  provisions,  principally  oat 


RESIDENCE  OF  JAMES  C.  COCHRAN 


Hour  and  corn  meal.  Mr.  Cochran  recalls  a  one-story  house, 
100  feet  long,  in  the  famine  district,  where  mush  was  made  and 
distributed  in  rations  to  the  people.  They  carried  it  away  in 
noggons,  and  many  of  them  were  later  found  dead  in  their 
tracks,  having  gorged  themselves  with  the  mush.  Some  were 
found  dying  in  the  mountains.  Mr.  Cochran  also  recalls  that 
the  herring  catch,  a  staple  article  of  diet,  was  a  failure  these 
years,  and  to  make  matters  worse  poor  laws  were  established 
and  the  constabulary  confiscated  everything  they  came  in  con- 
tact with.  The  unfortunate  Irish  were  driven  from  their 
homes  and  compelled  to  seek  refuge  in  other  countries.     In 


634        HISTORY  OF  JOHXSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

County  Galway  the  people  planted  their  potatoes  in  the  bogs 
and  raised  good  crops,  which  in  a  measure  relieved  the  situa- 
tion there ;  but  altogether  the  conditions  were  most  deplorable. 
Mr.  Cochran  was  vividly  impressed  by  his  trip. 

On  October  1, 1853,  as  heretofore  stated,  Mr.  Cochran,  in  the 
company  of  his  parents,  left  Scotland  for  America.     The  com- 
pany took  a  sailing  vessel,  the  Glennmana,  by  way  of  Galway 
for  Dublin ;  thence  via  the  West  Indies,  the  Caribbean  sea  and 
the  Gulf  of  Mexico  to  New  Orleans.    The  voyage  occupied  nine 
weeks,  and  was  tempestuous  and  fraught  with  thrilling  experi- 
ences.    The  yellow  fever  broke  out  on  board  and  sixty-nine 
died  therefrom,  among  the  number  being  a  refugee  Swedish 
nobleman  and  his  wife.     A  daughter  survived.     John  Cochran 
was  named  by  the  captain  as  one  of  the  appraisers  of  the  noble- 
man's estate.     The  vessel  at  this  time  was  in  the  neighborhood 
of  San  Domingo,  where  it  had  been  driven  by  the  fierce  winds 
of  the  southern  route.     Crippled  by  its  combat  with  the  ele- 
ments, the  ship  began  to  drift,  and  John  Cochran,  being  a 
skilled  mechanic,  was  called  by  the  skipper  to  fix  the  compass. 
The  tempest-tossed  and  afflicted  company  at  last  reached  New 
Orleans  on  January  1, 1854,  after  weathering  a  fierce  gale  four 
days  out  from  port.     From  the  Crescent  City  passage  was 
taken  on  the  Great  Republic  to  St.  Louis.     January  4, 1854,  was 
spent  on  a  sandbar  in  the  Mississippi  river,  the  steamer  being 
entangled  for  two  days.     At  Natchez  the  first  ice  was  seen 
floating  down  the  Mississippi.     Arriving  at  Cairo,  our  subject 
was  sent  on  shore  to  procure  some  swine  meat.    The  carcasses 
of  two  bears  were  hanging  up  at  the  dealer's,  and  young  Coch- 
ran on  returning  to  his  father  declared  he  had  ''seen  two  New- 
foundland dogs  hanging  up."     This,  of  course,  put  the  laugh 
on  him,  much  to  his  chagrin.     At  Cairo  the  captain  refused  to 
risk  his  vessel  any  further  in  the  ice,  and  said  he  would  charge 
pro  rata  for  the  passage  to  that  point.     This  being  agreed  to, 
the  family  continued  their  voyage  to  St.  Louis  on  another  boat, 
which  they  reached  in  due  season.     The  trip  was  continued  to 
Muscatine,  which  was  then  a  port  of  entry,  where  they  arrived 
June  10, 1854.     Luckily,  on  arrival,  they  found  a  man  who  was 
just  returning  to  Iowa  City  by  wagon,  and  he  was  induced  to 
take  the  Cochrans,  eight  in  all,  to  their  destination,  seven  miles 
beyond  the  then  Capital  City,  to  the  home  of  Uncle  Matthew 


BIOGRAPHICAL  635 

Cochran  and  Margaret  (Russell)  Cochran,  in  Graham  town- 
ship, then  living  on  the  present  Chas.  Dingieberry  farm,  in 
their  log  house  (see  sketch  of  Adaline  Cochran). 

After  a  few  months  John  Cochran  and  his  son,  James,  se- 
cured employment  in  Iowa  City,  the  former  at  his  trade  of  tin- 
ning and  the  latter  running  a  sawmill.  Said  mill  was  a  prim- 
itive affair,  consisting  of  a  saw  and  sawbuck,  with  himself  as 
the  motive  power.  With  this  plant  he  sawed,  split,  and  piled 
up  cordwood  at  $1.00  per  cord.  The  elder  Cochran  was  em- 
ployed by  Hart  &  Love,  and  our  subject  was  soon  made  an  ap- 
prentice with  the  same  firm.  Hart  &  Love  soon  afterwards 
sold  out  to  J.  S.  Stafford,  and  our  apprentice  received  $6.00  per 
week  for  one  year,  during  which  time  he  acquired  a  good  in- 
sight into  the  trade.  The  business  then  passed  into  the  hands 
of  Mr.  Clioate,  and  our  subject's  wages  were  raised  to  $10.00 
per  week.  In  1860,  having  saved  up  $400.00  in  cash,  with  this 
amount  and  notes  running  for  1,  2,  and  3  years  at  10  per  cent, 
he  bought  out  Mr.  Clioate.  After  three  years  he  had  every- 
thing paid  up. 

The  natural  Scotch  thrift  of  young  Cochran  began  to  be 
manifest,  and  he  commenced  buying  dry  hides  at  5  cents  a 
pound  and  storing  them  in  a  warehouse  25x100  feet  which  he 
had  erected  on  the  present  site  of  Byron  Stillwell's  paint  shop, 
on  Washington  street.  In  1862  he  had  a  capital  of  $2,000.00 
invested  in  hides  at  5  cents  per  pound.  Mr.  Blackburn  oft"ered 
him  20  cents  per  pound,  and  he  finally  accepted  30  cents  per 
pound.  That  year  he  bought  the  Cochran  property  on  South 
Clinton  street,  where  his  son,  Frederick  J.  Cochran,  now  has 
his  office,  paying  therefor  the  sum  of  $3,000.00.  The  building 
has  been  entirely  remodeled  and  the  property  is  worth  today 
at  least  $20,000.00. 

James  Cochran  was  in  active  business  in  Iowa  City  thirty- 
seven  years.  He  has  invariably  been  a  money-maker.  At 
times  he  has  cleaned  up  an  average  of  $50.00  per  day  in  his 
chosen  business.  At  one  time  it  is  said  of  him  that  he  bought 
dressed  hogs  for  $2.00  and  $2.05  and  sold  them  at  a  large  profit. 
During  his  long  business  career  in  Iowa  City,  Mr,  Cochran  has 
been  associated  with  some  of  the  leading  enterprises  of  the 
city.  He  was  vice  president  of  the  Johnson  County  Savings 
bank  between  thirty  and  forty  years ;  was  a  director  and  the 


636        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

treasurer  of  the  Iowa  City  Publishing  company,  and  a  director 
in  the  Iowa  Packing  and  Provision  company. 

In  1862  he  was  married  to  Maria  E.  Doty  of  Penn  township, 
daughter  of  Theodore  and  Susan  (Bowen)  Doty,  pioneers  of 
Iowa.  Seven  children  were  born  of  this  union,  of  whom  only 
two  survive,  namely :  Mrs.  Charles  H.  Dayton,  residing  at  415 
South  Summit  street,  Iowa  City,  and  Frederick  J.,  married  to 
Gail  Huntsman  and  residing  in  Iowa  City  (see  his  personal 
sketch).  One  child,  Nellie,  died  in  her  twentieth  year.  She 
was  well  educated,  an  active  member  of  the  church  and  beauti- 
ful in  both  appearance  and  character.    Her  last  words  were, 

''Take  my  life  and  let  it  be,  conse . "     She  died  before  the 

sentence  was  finished. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cochran's  first  experience  at  household  work 
was  in  rented  housekeeping  rooms  on  Clinton  street,  east  of 
the  University  campus,  where  they  resided  eleven  months. 
Their  next  home  was  north  of  the  postoffice,  for  which  Mr. 
Cochran  paid  $1,125  and  later  sold  for  $3,500  in  government 
bonds.  There  Mrs.  Dayton  was  born.  Selling  the  property 
near  the  postoffice,  the  family  removed  to  another  home  across 
College  Hill,  for  which  he  paid  the  sum  of  $1,600.  This  he  sold 
for  $3,000  cash  and  two  lots,  on  one  of  which  he  realized  $1,000 
and  on  the  other  $1,500.  Thereafter  (in  March,  1869),  he  be- 
gan the  construction  of  his  present  brick  residence,  314  South 
Clinton  street,  into  which  the  family  moved  in  1870.  The  in- 
terior finish  of  this  house,  including  doors  and  casings,  is  black 
walnut.  Therein  all  the  children  were  born  except  Mrs.  Day- 
ton. There  our  subject  and  his  estimable  wife  live  in  the  con- 
sciousness of  well-spent  lives,  he  having  reached  the  advanced 
age  of  seventy-seven  years.  Though  of  limited  education  and 
brought  up  in  the  school  of  experience,  he  became  a  man  of  af- 
fairs and  of  influence  and  wealth.  Both  he  and  his  wife  are 
lifelong  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  he  being 
a  member  of  the  official  board.  First  Church,  Iowa  City.  He  is 
a  member  of  Eureka  lodge,  No.  44, 1.  0.  0.  F.  of  Iowa  City. 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


637 


G.  H.  VAN  PATTEN 

G.  H.  Van  Patten  lias  been  a  resident  of  Johnson  county 
since  1864  and  has  followed  the  trade  of  carpenter  all  his  active 
life.  He  has  worked  on  many  of  the  prominent  buildings  of 
the  region  and  is  well  known  for  the  high  quality  of  his  work. 
He  was  born  at  Wilma,  Jefferson  county,  New  York,  in  1832,  a 
son  of  Frederick  and  Eliva  (Campbell)  Van  Patten.  The 
father  was  born  in  southern  New  York  and  was  of  German  an- 
cestry and  the  mother  was  a  native  of  Connecticut.  In  1845, 
deciding  to  seek  the  larger  opportunities  of  the  West,  the  fam- 
ily removed  to  Wisconsin.     On  reaching  the  age  of  sixteen 


EESmENCE  OF  G.  H.  VAN  PATTEN 


years  G.  H.  Van  Patten  began  learning  the  trade  of  carpenter 
and  completed  his  apprenticeship  by  the  time  he  had  reached 
his  majority.  He  became  an  expert  workman  and  readily 
found  employment. 

In  1864  Mr.  Van  Patten  came  to  Johnson  county,  where  he 
continued  to  work  at  his  trade,  making  it  his  life  w^ork.  On 
January  1,  1860,  he  married  Miss  Harriet  Marian  Hardeng,  a 
native  of  Oneida  county.  New  York,  daughter  of  Charles  and 
Henriette  (Sedgwick)  Hardeng,  natives  of  the  same  state.  The 
family  came  to  Wisconsin  in  the  'fifties,  and  there  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Van  Patten  met  and  were  married. 


638        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

Mr.  Van  Patten  has  always  been  a  republican  in  politics  and 
he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Christian  church  at  Iowa 
City.  They  have  a  large  number  of  friends  and  have  a  pleasant 
home,  which  they  have  occupied  a  number  of  years.  Mr.  Van 
Patten  is  known  as  a  public-spirited  citizen  and  a  man  of  in- 
tegrity and  has  won  the  respect  of  all  who  know  him. 


FREDERICK  J.  COCHRAN 

Frederick  J.  Cochran,  son  of  James  C.  Cochran  and  Maria 
Doty,  was  born  July  9,  1870,  at  314  South  Clinton  street,  Iowa 
City.  He  was  educated  in  the  Iowa  City  public  schools,  and 
graduated  from  the  Iowa  Citv  Academv  in  1887.  He  then  en- 
tered  Williams  College  and  took  a  commercial  course.  Later 
he  entered  (in  1887)  the  Law  Department  of  the  S.  U.  L,  grad- 
uating in  1892.     For  a  number  of  years  he  practiced  his  pro- 


RESIDENCE  OF  F.  J.  COCHEAN 


fession,  but  of  late  his  time  has  been  occupied  with  the  legal 
work  of  his  father  and  the  business  of  real  estate  and  loans. 
He  was  married  in  March,  1892,  to  Gail  Huntsman,  daughter 
of  Dr.  A.  C.  Huntsman,  former  regent  of  the  State  University, 
and  a  successful  physician.  Mrs.  Huntsman  was  formerly  Ma- 
tilda Fulton.  Mr.  Cochran  and  his  wife  were  married  by  the 
president  of  Penn  College.     Their  union  has  been  blessed  with 


BIOGRAPHICAL  639 

four  children  :  Dorothy,  AHce,  Nell,  and  James  Clark.  They 
reside  in  their  new  home,  406  Summit  avenue,  Iowa  City.  Mrs. 
Cochran  is  a  native  of  Oskaloosa,  Iowa,  and  a  graduate  of  the 
public  schools  of  that  city.  She  is  an  active  member  of  social 
clubs  of  Iowa  City  and  a  prominent  worker  in  the  First  Con- 
gregational church,  of  which  both  husband  and  wife  are  mem- 
bers. 

Frederick  J.  Cochran  is  one  of  the  up-to-date  and  progres- 
sive business  men  of  the  University  City;  an  active  member  of 
the  Commercial  Club,  the  Automobile  Club,  and  the  Motor 
Club,  in  the  latter  two  of  which  he  takes  an  especial  interest. 
He  is  an  owner  and  fancier  of  good  driving  horses  also,  and 
takes  nobody's  dust  either  on  the  speeding  track  or  the  high- 
way. He  is  a  member  of  the  I.  0.  0.  F.,  K.  of  P.,  M.  W.  A., 
and  Royal  Arcanum.  In  the  prime  of  life,  well  educated,  ex- 
perienced, alert,  with  the  invisible  urge  of  a  long  line  of  canny 
Scot  ancestry  in  his  veins,  it  is  not  difficult  to  prophesy  for  him 
success  and  worthy  honors  in  the  city  and  state  of  his  birth. 


ALONZO  BROWN    (Deceased) 

The  Brown  family  were  early  pioneers  of  Johnson  county, 
and  the  late  Alonzo  Brown  bore  an  honorable  part  in  its  his- 
tory and  development.  He  is  a  lineal  descendant  of  Gen.  Dan- 
iel Brown,  who  in  1748  married  Rebecca  Cleveland,  of  the  same 
family  from  which  Grover  Cleveland  descended.  Daniel  was 
a  son  of  Western  Brown.  Daniel  and  Rebecca  (Cleveland) 
Brown  had  six  children,  of  whom  Daniel,  named  for  his  father, 
was  the  great-grandfather  of  Alonzo  Brown,  late  of  Iowa  City. 
The  latter  Daniel  was  born  in  1753  and  married  Martha  Rogers 
in  1780,  by  whom  he  had  eight  children.  One  of  these,  also 
named  Daniel  Brown,  and  the  youngest,  was  born  January  21, 
1781,  and  married  Miss  Hulda  Tanner,  February  8,  1803,  at 
Steventown,  New^  York.  He  died  March  16,  1826,  and  was 
buried  in  Rensselaer  county,  that  state.  His  widow  was 
buried  in  the  cemetery  at  Solon,  Johnson  country,  Iowa.  Fam- 
ily tradition  in  the  Brown  family  says  that  their  ancestors 
were  tillers  of  the  soil  and  worthy  Christians.  Edwin  Alonzo 
Brown  was  a  son  of  Daniel  and  Hulda  (Tanner)  Brown  and 


640        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

father  of  Aloiizo  Brown,  of  this  review.  Edwin  Alonzo  was 
born  in  Rensselaer  county,  in  the  Empire  state,  August  29, 
1819  (the  same  year  as  the  birth  year  of  Queen  Victoria),  and 
died  on  his  pioneer  farm  in  Cedar  tow^nship,  Johnson  county, 
May  22,  1888.  When  in  his  tenth  year  he  came  with  an  aunt 
(his  mother's  sister),  in  a  single  buggy,  from  Steventown, 
New  York,  to  Quincy,  Illinois.  Upon  their  arrival  in  Chicago 
it  was  surrounded  principally  by  corduroy  roads,  and  at  the 
spot  now  occupied  by  the  city  of  Quincy  was  but  a  small  settle- 
ment, to  which  mail  was  carried  on  horseback  and  later  by 
boats  on  the  Mississippi  river,  long  before  the  use  of  the  stage 
was  introduced  there.     A  letter,  without  an  envelope,  simply 


EESIUENCE  OF  MRS.  ALOXZO  BROWX 


folded  and  addressed  on  the  outside,  cost  twenty-five  cents  for 
postage.  Mr.  Brown  remained  in  Quincy  until  March,  1839, 
the  year  of  Henry  Walker's  arrival  in  Johnson  county,  and 
in  that  year,  with  a  close  friend,  staked  out  his  claim  in  Cedar 
township.  Like  the  other  early  pioneers,  he  kept  looking 
around.  He  removed  from  Quincy  to  Warren  county,  Illinois, 
and  later  on  to  Iowa,  where  he  lived  on  his  claim  through  the 
summer  and  in  winter  worked  in  the  lead  mines  at  Galena,  or 
cut  wood  for  the  steamers.  His  first  house  on  this  place  was 
erected  of  round  logs,  with  but  one  door  and  one  window,  and 
in  this  primitive  cabin  his  three  eldest  children  were  born, 


BIOGRAPHICAL  641 

namely :  Edna  B.,  widow  of  Thomas  K.  Wilson,  of  Iowa  City ; 
John  M.,  and  Alonzo.  The  pioneer  family  lived  in  this  dwell- 
ing some  eight  years,  dnring  which  time  their  nearest  trading- 
point  was  Iowa  City.  They  then  moved  into  a  more  substan- 
tial residence,  the  foundation  for  which  was  constructed  of 
stone  bv  masons,  but  the  remainder  of  the  house  was  built  bv 

••7  -  V 

the  hands  of  Mr.  Brown,  he  having  hauled  the  lumber  for  it 
all  the  way  from  Muscatine,  a  distance  of  some  thirty  miles. 
This  was  one-story  and  a  half  high  and  is  still  standing,  though 
it  has  been  several  times  remodelled  and  additions  have  been 
made  at  different  times.  It  is  still  standing  on  the  estate  and 
in  the  possession  of  the  family.  Mr.  Brown  was  a  most  suc- 
cessful farmer  and  a  good  judge  of  stock.  During  the  latter 
part  of  his  life  he  made  a  specialty  of  raising  tine  draft  horses. 

On  April  20, 1846,  Mr.  Brown,  father  of  Alonzo  Brown,  mar- 
ried Miss  Martha  McClain,  of  Scotch  descent,  and  a  native  of 
Maryland.  Her  father  emigrated  from  Scotland  to  Maryland 
in  an  early  day  and  there  she  was  born,  March  8,  1823.  She 
died  on  the  pioneer  homestead  which  she  had  helped  to  acquire, 
January  6,  1887.  The  last  child  of  Edwin  Alonzo  and  Martha 
Brown,  Cuyler,  was  born  in  their  second  home,  and  died  at  the 
age  of  seventy-four  years.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brown  were  active 
members  of  the  Universalist  church,  kindly  and  upright  in 
manner  and  dealings,  and  of  broad  and  liberal  views  upon  all 
subjects.  They  were  cheerful  and  hopeful  in  attitude,  and 
worked  hard  to  rear  their  children  and  give  them  their  start 
in  life. 

Alonzo  Brown  was  born  in  the  old  house  constructed  of 
round  logs,  on  the  old  family  homestead  in  Cedar  township, 
October  15,  1850,  and  died  at  his  residence  in  Iowa  City,  Jan- 
uary 17,  1905.  Like  his  father,  he  was  a  thrifty  and  success- 
ful farmer  and  also  a  lover  of  high-grade  stock.  Brown's  draft 
horses  being  known  far  and  near  as  the  finest  to  be  had  in  the 


'o 


region. 


Mr.  Brown  was  married  November  14,  1889,  to  Miss  Ethie 
L.  Adams,  daughter  of  John  E.  and  Jemima  Adams,  and  a 
native  of  Cedar  township,  Johnson  county.  A  sketch  of  Mr. 
Adams  is  to  be  found  elsewhere  in  this  volume.  Miss  Adams 
was  a  school-teacher  before  her  marriage  and  is  well  known 
in  the  county,  where  her  entire  life  has  been  spent.     Her  par- 


642        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

ents  were  natives  of  Cleveland,  Ohio,  and  she  was  one  of  six 
children.  Mr.  Brown  continued  farming  after  marriage,  but 
about  1904  retired  from  active  hfe  and  located  in  Iowa  City, 
where  his  remaining  years  were  spent.  He  was  one  of  the 
larger  stockholders  of  the  Citizens  Savings  &  Trust  Company, 
and  one  of  the  substantial  men  of  the  community.  His  word 
was  as  good  as  his  bond  and  he  was  everywhere  held  in  high 
regard  for  his  integrity  and  fair  dealing.  At  his  death  his 
widow  assumed  charge  of  his  affairs  and  has  managed  them 
successfully.  His  loss  was  widely  mourned  and  he  was  missed 
in  many  circles.  He  left  two  sons,  Arlo  Edwin  and  Vernon 
Adams,  who  were  born  on  the  farm  near  Solon  and  who  are 
now  attending  Rock  River  Military  Academy  at  Dixon,  Illi- 
nois. Mrs.  Brown  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  church.  She 
is  interested  in  various  local  affairs  and  has  a  large  circle  of 
friends.  Both  she  and  her  husband  belongs  to  old  and  hon- 
orable families  of  Johnson  county,  who  stood  high  among  the 
early  settlers  and  left  records  of  which  their  descendants  are 
proud. 


EDWIN  MORRIS  BROWN 

Edwin  Morris  Brown,  who  owns  one  of  the  prettiest  places 
in  Iowa  City,  is  a  native  of  Johnson  country,  born  in  a  log 
building  in  Clear  Creek  township,  a  short  distance  north  of  the 
town  of  Tiffin,  in  the  year  1860.  He  is  a  son  of  Morris  Brown, 
a  pioneer  of  that  region  and  for  many  years  known  as  the  Old 
Squire  of  Clear  Creek  township.  The  father  was  one  of  the 
following  nine  children:  Hugh,  deceased,  who  was  for  four 
years  foreman  on  the  work  of  erecting  the  capitol  building  at 
Des  Moines,  and  a  skilled  carpenter,  was  noted  as  a  stair  build- 
er; Sally,  Mrs.  Bowelns,  of  Port  Washington,  Wisconsin; 
Squire  Morris,  father  of  Edwin  M. ;  Charlotte,  Mrs.  Reed,  de- 
ceased ;  Nancy,  of  Portsmouth,  Iowa ;  William,  of  Shelby,  Iowa, 
also  an  expert  carpenter;  Jennie,  Mrs.  Wilson,  of  Chicago; 
Robert,  of  Pennsylvania,  a  fine  carpenter ;  Elizabeth,  married 
A.  J.  Runkle,  a  well  known  insurance  broker  of  Cedar  Rapids, 
a  sketch  of  whom  appears  in  this  work. 

Morris  Brown  came  of  a  family  of  carpenters,  and  was  born 
in  Pennsylvania  in  1828  and  died  near  Centralia,  Washington, 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


643 


in  August,  1909.  He  came  to  Iowa  from  his  native  state  be- 
fore the  railroad  was  built  to  Iowa  City.  He  came  by  rail  to 
Rock  Island,  crossed  the  ice  afoot  to  Davenport,  and  came  on  to 
Johnson  county,  where  he  purchased  the  farm  north  of  Tiffin 
which  is  now  the  home  of  his  son  William  Bruce  Brown.  His 
farm  was  unimproved  and  he  first  erected  a  small  log  dwelling, 
but  being  a  good  carpenter,  afterwards  built  a  fine  substantial 
home.  He  was  an  earnest  Baptist  and  a  strong  democrat  and 
served  his  township  as  trustee  and  justice  of  the  peace.  He 
also  held  school  offices.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
order.  About  1890  he  moved  to  the  Pacific  coast  and  pur- 
chased fine  coal  and  timber  land  near  Centralia,  where  he 


RESIDENCE  OF  EDWIN   MOEKIS  BROWN 


spent  the  remainder  of  his  life,  and  where  he  became  a  local 
preacher  for  the  Baptist  church.  He  was  a  good  business  man 
and  became  a  successful  capitalist.  He  was  married  in  Penn- 
sylvania to  Miss  Susan  Snider,  a  native  of  that  state,  born  in 
1829,  and  who  now  resides  on  the  old  home  farm  in  Clear  Creek 
township  w^ith  her  son  Bruce.  Children  as  follows  were  born 
of  this  marriage  :  Ella,  deceased ;  Gilbert,  living  in  the  south- 
western part  of  Missouri ;  Robert  Bruce,  now  deceased,  was 
the  first  of  their  children  born  in  Johnson  county ;  Elizabeth, 
married  Captain  Riley  Dennison,  son  of  George  Dennison,  a 
pioneer  settler  of  Johnson  county,  and  cousin  of  Dave  Denni- 
son, of  North  Liberty,  a  sketch  of  whom  appears  in  this  work; 


644        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

Edwin  Morris,  subject  of  this  sketch ;  William  Bruce,  on  the 
old  home  farm,  is  a  trustee  of  Clear  Creek  township ;  Clay,  is 
clerk  of  the  same  township. 

In  boyhood  Ed^\dn  Morris  Brow^n  attended  the  rural  schools 
and  learned  all  the  details  of  farming,  besides  becoming  a  car- 
penter. He  was  always  very  handy  with  tools  and  had  a  nat- 
ural taste  and  abihty  for  this  kind  of  work.  He  and  his  broth- 
er Bruce  carried  on  the  home  farm  one  year  and  later  he  pur- 
chased a  farm  nearby.  The  latter  he  brought  to  a  high  state 
of  cultivation  and  he  prospered  well  in  this  field  of  w^ork.  In 
1907  he  retired  from  farm  life  and  came  to  live  in  Iowa  City. 
He  purchased  the  old  Rev.  Clute  place  and  converted  it  into 
the  sightly  home  he  now  occupies,  opposite  the  Chautauqua 
grounds,  comprising  tw^o  acres  of  land,  well  improved.  It  was 
over-run  with  w^eeds,  but  Mr.  Brown  has  made  the  place  a  veri- 
table park,  with  a  handsome  lawn  and  suitable  flowers  and 
shrubs.  He  remodelled  the  house  himself  and  takes  great 
pride  in  the  result  of  his  painstaking  labors.  His  front  yard 
is  noted  for  its  handsome  flowers  and  the  place  is  located  in  one 
of  the  choicest  portions  of  the  West  Side. 

In  his  early  days  on  the  farm  Mr.  Brown  used  such  old  fash- 
ioned tools  as  the  cradle  and  scythe,  and  has  seen  the  region 
develop  to  a  wonderful  degree.  As  a  carpenter  he  erected 
barns  from  North  Liberty  to  Cosgrove,  in  Hardin  county,  and 
made  a  specialty  of  substantial  framework,  which  won  him  a 
high  reputation  for  the  quality  of  his  work.  Farmers  who 
wanted  something  they  knew  was  put  up  to  stand  the  strain  to 
w^hich  it  was  subjected  for  many  years  to  come,  employed  Mr. 
Brown  to  take  charge  of  their  work,  and  he  was  known  far  and 
near  for  his  conscientious  building.  He  had  a  good  standing 
among  his  neighbors  and  w^as  always  identified  with  public- 
spirited  movements  in  the  region.  He  served  as  clerk  and  as- 
sessor of  Clear  Creek  township  and  was  active  in  educational 
matters.  He  has  always  been  much  interested  in  the  Chautau- 
quan  movement  and  secured  grounds  for  the  purpose  at  Iowa 
City,  besides  forwarding  the  cause  in  other  Avays.  He  owns  a 
section  of  choice  South  Dakota  land  and  desirable  property  in 
Iowa  City.  He  is  a  democrat  in  politics  and  served  as  commit- 
teeman in  his  township.  He  holds  membership  in  the  M.  E. 
church  and  fraternally  is  afifihated  with  Lodge  No.  4,  A.  F.  & 


BIOGRAPHICAL  645 

A.  M.,  of  Iowa  City.     He  has  a  large  number  of  friends  in  tlie 
county  and  is  popular  wherever  known. 

Mr.  Brown  married,  in  Clear  Creek  township,  in  1887,  Miss 
Helen  Crupley,  daughter  of  James  and  Sarah  P.  (Summer- 
hayes)  Crupley,  a  pioneer  family  of  the  township.  Mrs.  Crup- 
ley lives  on  East  Lucas  street,  Iowa  City.  One  child  has  been 
born  of  this  union.  Miss  Edith  Margaret,  a  senior  in  Iowa  City 
hiali  school. 


JOHN  L.  ADAMS 


The  entire  life  of  John  L.  Adams,  covering  a  period  of  sixty- 
one  years,  has  been  lived  upon  the  homestead  in  Big  Grove 
township,  a  part  of  which  w^as  taken  up  by  his  grandfather, 
John  Lyon,  about  the  year  1834.  The  farm  now  aggregates 
500  acres  and  comprises  the  homestead  of  the  Lyons  family, 
of  which  the  mother  of  our  subject  was  a  member,  as  well  as 
additional  purchases  made  from  time  to  time  during  the  past 
fifty  years.  It  is  one  of  the  very  fine  farms  of  Johnson  county, 
the  pride  of  its  owner  and  the  object  of  admiration  by  the 
countryside. 

The  parents  of  John  L.  Adams  were  E.  M.  and  Henrietta 
(Lyon)  Adams,  the  former  a  native  of  Maine  (born  in  1811) 
and  the  latter  a  Pennsylvanian.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  Mr. 
Adams  removed  with  his  parents  from  Maine  to  Ohio.  He 
lived  in  the  Buckeye  state  eleven  years,  and  married  his  first 
wife  there.  Miss  Sarah  Gleason,  by  whom  he  had  one  son,  De- 
catur, now  living  in  southeastern  Kansas.  His  young  wife 
having  died,  Mr.  Adams  removed  to  Johnson  county,  Iowa, 
where  he  settled  upon  a  homestead  in  Pleasant  Valley  town- 
ship in  1838.  The  trip  to  Iowa  was  made  by  way  of  the  Ohio 
and  Mississippi  rivers.  On  reaching  Burlington,  he  found 
himself  comparatively  without  means.  He  was  fortunate  in 
securing  employment,  however,  and  soon  pushed  on  to  the 
township  in  which  he  elected  to  take  up  his  homestead.  There 
he  began  immediate  and  practical  work  as  a  farmer,  an  occupa- 
tion which  he  continued  until  his  death  at  the  ripe  age  of  eighty- 
nine  years.  Mr.  Adams  chose  for  his  second  wife  Miss  Henri- 
etta Lyon,  who  came  with  her  parents  from  Pennsylvania  to 
Iowa  in  1839.     Soon  after  their  arrival  at  Muscatine  the  Lyon 


646        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

family  were  all  taken  sick,  a  calamity  which  resulted  in  the 
death  of  the  father.  The  remaining  members  of  the  house- 
hold pushed  on  to  Johnson  county  and  located  upon  the  claim 
in  Cedar  township,  which  is  now  a  part  of  our  subject's  farm. 
Mother  Lyon  spent  the  remainder  of  her  life  on  this  farm.  It 
passed  into  the  hands  of  our  subject's  father  by  purchase  in 
1852,  and  he  and  his  w^ife  moved  thereon,  our  subject  being  at 
the  time  only  a  few  weeks  old.  There,  however,  he  has  re- 
sided ever  since.     Five  children  were  born  to  E.  M.  and  Henri- 


RESIDENCE  OF  JOHN  L.  ADAMS 


etta  Adams :  Frank,  who  died  when  twelve  years  old ;  Milo, 
died  at  age  of  four  years;  one  died  in  infancy;  our  subject; 
Lilly,  widow  of  H.  S.  Fairall,  residing  at  Superior,  Wisconsin. 
Barring  one  year  spent  in  the  gold  fields  of  California  in  1850, 
E.  M.  Adams  resided  on  his  farms  in  Cedar  township  from 
1838  to  1900,  the  year  of  his  death.  His  widow  died  in  her 
ninetieth  year  in  1906. 

John  L.  Adams  was  born  on  the  old  farm  in  Cedar  township, 
March  9,  1852.  Farming  has  always  been  his  occupation,  ;i 
business  in  wdiich  he  has  taken  delight.     His  education  was  re- 


BIOGRAPHICAL  647 

ceived  in  the  district  schools,  and  his  ahna  mater  is  the  uni- 
versity of  industry.  In  1876  he  was  married  to  Miss  Isabella 
Keen,  a  native  of  Indiana,  who  came  to  Johnson  county  witK 
her  parents  at  the  age  of  five  years.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Adams  have 
had  three  children :  Georgia,  wife  of  Dr.  A.  J.  Burge,  of  Iowa 
City,  died  in  Vienna,  Austria,  soon  after  her  marriage ;  R.  K., 
and  R.  P.,  both  living  at  home. 

Mr.  Adams  is  a  republican.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
order  of  Iowa  City.  The  family  is  affiliated  with  the  Christian 
church.  The  declining  years  of  this  worthy  couple  are  being 
spent  in  peace  on  their  beautiful  farm. 


DR.  CHARLES  EDMUND  STEWART 

The  Stewart  family  has  been  one  of  the  most  prominent 
among  the  early  settlers  of  Johnson  county,  which  has  been 
their  home  for  more  than  fifty  years.  They  have  been  closely 
connected  with  the  region  during  its  period  of  most  rapid  de- 
velopment and  settlement,  and  have  been  identified  with  the 
most  interesting  things  of  its  history.  Dr.  Charles  E.  Stew- 
art, a  native  and  lifelong  resident  of  the  county,  was  born  at 
North  Liberty,  April  6,  1863,  son  of  David  and  Winnifred 
(Duff)  Stewart.  The  father  was  born  in  Huntington  county, 
Pennsylvania,  March  24,  1830,  and  his  parents  were  na- 
tives of  the  same  county.  David  Stew^art  was  a  son  of 
Robert  Stewart,  who  was  born  in  Huntington  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, February  14,  1798,  and  died  in  Johnson  county, 
Iowa,  January  7,  1880.  He  was  of  Scotch-Irish  descent,  and 
his  father  lived  to  the  age  of  ninety  years.  The  Stewarts  were 
early  settlers  of  Pennsylvania  and  there  is  in  possession  of  the 
family  a  deed  signed  by  William  Penn,  which  has  been  handed 
down  from  one  generation  to  another.  Members  of  the  family 
still  occupy  the  old  home  in  Huntington  county,  Pennsylvania. 
They  owned  some  of  the  largest  woolen  mills  in  that  state, 
where  several  sons  of  the  family  of  Robert  Stewart  worked. 
The  plant  is  now  called  the  *'Gibony"  Factory. 

Mrs.  Robert  Stewart  was  born  in  Huntington  county,  Octo- 
ber 11,  1800,  and  died  in  Johnson  county,  Iowa,  at  the  age  of 
eighty-three  years,  nine  months,  and  twenty-nine  days.    Her 


648        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

maiden  name  was  Anne  MacDonald,  and  she  was  of  Scotch  an- 
cestry. Children  were  born  to  Robert  Stewart  and  wife,  as 
follows :  Jonathan,  James,  Dr.  David,  Macdonald,  Charles 
M. ;  Sarah  A.,  who  became  Mrs.  Osborne;  Mary  A.,  Mrs.  John 
Cunningham;  Nancy  J.,  Mrs.  Jam.es  Bane,  of  Penn  township, 
and  John  T.  In  1865  the  father  of  these  children  came  to 
Johnson  county,  selecting  North  Liberty  as  his  residence.  He 
kept  a  general  store  at  that  place  and  also  served  as  post- 
master. He  and  his  wife  had  two  children  at  the  time  they 
came  to  Iowa.     Two  of  their  children  now  survive :   John  T., 


RESIDENCE  OF  DK.   C.  E.  STEWART 


of  Penn  Township,  and  Nancy  J.,  wife  of  James  W.  Bane,  liv- 
ing on  the  old  Robert  Bane  farm  two  miles  southeast  of  North 
Liberty  in  Penn  township. 

Children  were  born  to  David  Stewart,  M.  D.,  and  wife,  as 
follows :  Mrs.  L.  W.  Alt,  Winnie,  Dr.  C.  E.,  William,  Alex- 
ander, (xuy,  and  one  who  is  deceased.  The  parents  of  these 
children  were  married  in  Huntington  county,  February  14, 
1856.  After  attaining  his  majority  David  Stewart  worked  for 
a  time  in  his  father's  woolen  mills,  and  later  read  medicine 
with  Dr.  J.  R.  Smith,  of  Pine  Grove,  Center  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania. He  also  attended  lectures  at  Jefferson  Medical  Col- 
lege, Philadelphia,  and  later  studied  for  a  time  at  Ann  Arbor, 


Michigan. 


Receiving  the  degree  of  M.  D.  in  1855,  he  began 


BIOGRAPHICAL  649 

practice  at  Colerain  Forge,  Pennsylvania,  but  a  short  time 
later  removed  to  Rock  Grove,  Stephenson  county,  Illinois,  and 
in  1857  moved  to  Pontiac,  that  state,  where  he  practiced  three 
years.  In  1860  he  came  to  Iowa,  then  being  rapidly  settled, 
and  for  more  than  fifty  years  his  home  was  in  Penn  township, 
Johnson  county.  During  this  time  he  was  a  leader  in  every 
movement  for  the  good  of  his  community.  He  was  most  influ- 
ential in  the  councils  of  the  republican  party,  and  served  a 
term  in  the  state  legislature,  taking  office  in  1869.  He  was 
again  nominated  for  this  post  in  1892,  but  as  this  was  a  strong- 
ly democratic  year,  he  was  defeated. 

Dr.  David  Stewart  was  a  soldier  of  the  Civil  War  and  one  of 
the  most  prominent  G.  A.  R.  men  in  Iowa.  He  enlisted  in 
Company  E  of  the  Twenty-eighth  Iowa  Infantry  and  held  the 
rank  of  captain  one  year,  after  which  he  was  promoted  to  the 
rank  of  regimental  surgeon,  where  his  skill  and  knowledge 
made  him  a  valuable  acquisition  to  his  regiment.  He  served 
one  year  as  army  surgeon,  then  on  account  of  ill  health  was 
obliged  to  return  home,  and  was  mustered  out  in  July,  1863. 
After  his  return  he  resumed  the  practice  of  his  profession. 
For  a  short  time  he  served  as  government  inspector  of  the 
alcohol  works  in  Iowa  City,  this  being  about  1876.  As  he  grew 
older  he  ceased  taking  so  active  a  part  in  local  affairs,  although 
alwavs  a  leader  in  manv  wavs,  and  influential  in  manv  circles 
up  to  the  time  of  his  demise.  He  w^as  one  of  the  most  prom- 
inent men  in  securing  the  building  of  the  Iowa  City  and  Cedar 
Rapids  Interurban  Railway,  to  Mdiich  he  gave  much  thought 
and  labor,  without  hope  of  return,  especially  in  the  way  of  ^vin- 
ning  the  assistance  and  cooperation  of  the  persons  who  lived 
along  the  route.  For  forty  years  he  was  one  of  the  leading 
practitioners  of  Johnson  county,  but  for  about  ten  years  prior 
to  his  death  he  lived  retired  from  active  life.  He  passed 
away  at  his  home  in  North  Liberty,  June  18,  1910,  at  the  age  of 
eighty  years,  having  been  in  failing  health  for  several  months. 
In  his  death  Johnson  county  lost  one  of  its  oldest  and  most 
valued  citizens.  He  had  won  many  firm  friends,  who  joined 
his  widow  and  family  in  grief  over  his  demise.  He  received  a 
Masonic  funeral  and  the  G.  A.  R.  attended  in  a  body. 

Dr.  Charles  Edmund  Stewart  moved  with  his  parents  to  a 
farm  in  Johnson  countv  in  1869,  and  there  worked  and  attended 


650        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

the  country  schools  until  the  fall  of  1879,  when  he  entered 
Iowa  City  Academy.  One  year  later  he  entered  the  medical 
department  of  the  State  University,  attending  lectures  for  two 
years,  after  which  he  entered  upon  the  practice  of  medicine  at 
Coffeyville,  Kansas.  Later,  having  decided  to  spend  some 
time  in  further  study,  he  returned  to  Iowa,  and  in  the  fall  of 
1886  entered  the  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons  of  Iowa, 
from  which  he  graduated  in  March,  1887.  In  May  of  the  latter 
year  he  formed  a  jjartnership  with  Dr.  J.  F.  Houser,  of  Iowa 
City,  and  was  actively  engaged  in  practice  until  1891.  In  1888 
and  again  in  1889  he  was  elected  county  physician  of  Johnson 
county,  filling  the  office  creditably. 


THE  STEWART  HOMESTEAD 


In  1891  Dr.  Stewart  accepted  a  position  with  the  United 
States  Government  as  railway  postal  clerk,  having  passed  a 
civil  service  examination  with  credit.  At  first  he  operated  be- 
tween Albert  Lea,  Minnesota,  and  BurUngton,  Iowa,  and  later 
was  transferred  to  the  main  line  of  the  Rock  Island  Road,  be- 
ing on  duty  between  West  Liberty  and  Council  Bluffs.  In  the 
early  part  of  1895  he  took  another  civil  service  examination, 
this  time  for  the  position  of  post  office  inspector,  and  received 
a  high  percentage  mark,  being  appointed  in  March  of  that  year 
as  inspector  for  Eastern  Iowa,  and  since  that  time  he  has  con- 
tinued in  the  service.     During  his  work  in  this  capacity  he  has 


BIOGRAPHICAL  651 

travelled  in  every  state  in  the  Union  and  lias  snccessfuUy 
helped  in  the  investigation  of  some  of  the  largest  jjostal  frauds 
ever  handled  by  the  department. 

Dr.  Stewart  has  always  given  his  loyal  support  to  the  repub- 
lican party.  He  attended  the  national  convention  held  at  Chi- 
cago, which  nominated  W.  H.  Taf t  for  president,  and  during  its 
session  held  the  position  of  sergeant  at  arms. 

On  November  8, 1899,  Dr.  Stewart  married  Miss  Sue  Meyers, 
who  was  born  in  York  county,  Pennsylvania,  December  3,  1866, 
and  came  to  Iowa  with  her  parents  in  1874.  She  is  a  daughter 
of  Samuel  B.  and  Barbara  E.  Meyers,  the  father  born  in  York 
county,  Pennsylvania,  August  23, 1843,  and  the  mother  born  in 
Carroll  county,  Maryland,  March  3,  1846.  They  were  married 
June  2, 1863,  and  came  to  Iowa  about  eleven  years  later.  Seven 
children  were  born  to  them.  The  mother  died  September  2, 
1907,  and  is  buried  at  North  Liberty  cemetery.  Samuel  B. 
Meyers  lost  one  of  his  legs  while  on  the  farm  in  the  mill  owned 
by  Meyers,  Chamberlain  &  Moseland.  Samuel  B.  Meyers  is  a 
brother  of  Isaac  Meyers.     He  now  resides  in  Iowa  City. 

No  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stewart.  They  have 
a  pleasant  home  at  North  Liberty,  wdiere  they  have  a  number 
of  friends  and  are  prominent  in  various  circles. 

The  paternal  ancestors  of  Mr.  Stewart  were  Scotch-Irish, 
and  the  maternal  ancestors  Scotch. 


HENRY  J.  WIENEKE 

Henry  J.  Wieneke  was  born  in  Monroe  county,  Ohio,  August 
30,  1837,  son  of  Christian  and  Johannah  (Muller)  Wieneke, 
natives  of  Germany,  who  came  to  America  in  1833  and  settled 
in  Monroe  county,  Ohio.  He  lived  there  until  1844  when  he 
came  to  Johnson  county  and  e'ntered  100  acres  of  land.  He 
remained  there  until  his  death  in  1846,  aged  52  years.  The 
mother  died  at  the  age  of  88  years.  In  the  father's  family 
there  were  six  children  of  whom  our  subject  is  next  to  the 
youngest.  Hannah  was  youngest  and  is  still  living  in  Pasa- 
dena, California.     All  are  deceased  except  Hannah  and  Henry. 

When  a  young  man,  in  company  with  his  brother,  Henry 
Wieneke  engaged  in  the  bakery  business  and  they  conducted 


652        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

one  of  the  very  first  bakeries  in  the  country  and  their  trade  ex- 
tended for  a  considerable  distance  around  Iowa  City.  He  re- 
mained in  the  bakery  business  for  seven  years  and  then  re- 
moved to  Cedar  Rapids,  where  he  started  the  first  bakery  in 
that  place.  Continuing  there  for  about  two  years  he  returned 
to  Iowa  City  and  engaged  in  the  cabinet  trade  but  soon  after 
he  again  engaged  in  the  bakery  business  and  continued  that 
until  the  fall  of  1861  when  he  enlisted  in  Company  B,  Four- 
teenth Iowa  Infantry.  In  1863  he  was  transferred  to  the  Sev- 
enth Regiment,  Iowa  Cavalry.  His  military  service  w^as  in 
the  northwest,  fighting  the  Indians.     He  was  in  the  big  battle 


EESIDENCE  OF  HENRY  J.  WIENEKE 


under  General  Sulley,  in  1864,  which  resulted  in  driving  the 
entire  Sioux  Indian  tribes  out  of  the  country  and  into  British 
America.  He  was  mustered  out  late  in  1864  at  Sioux  City, 
Iowa,  and  returned  home  to  Iowa  City.  From  the  exposure 
and  hardship  experienced  during  his  army  career  his  health 
was  much  impaired  and  in  seeking  some  business  that  would 
be  light  he  engaged  with  J.  G.  Fink  in  the  cigar  trade,  books, 
papers,  and  notions.  He  remained  in  this  employment  for 
forty  years  and  then  started  in  the  same  line  for  himself.  He 
has  been  in  the  present  location  six  years.  He  has  hosts  of 
friends,  is  popular  with  his  customers,  and  conducts  a  prosper- 
ous business. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  653 

Mr.  Wieneke  was  married  in  1857  to  Caroline  Kembel, 
daughter  of  Solomon  Kembel,  native  of  Pennsylvania,  who 
came  to  Iowa  in  1839,  From  this  nnion  there  were  eight  chil- 
dren: Caroline,  the  oldest;  Henry  C,  Wilhelmina,  Rosa  E., 
Chas.  S.,  George  A.,  Laura  A.,  and  Robert  S.  The  last  named 
is  a  resident  of  New  Orleans  in  the  employ  of  the  U.  S.  Express 
Company. 

In  his  social  relations  Mr.  Wieneke  is  a  member  of  G.  A.  R., 
Kirkwood  Post,  member  of  A.  F.  and  A.  M.  Iowa  City,  No.  4, 
and  of  I.  0.  0.  F.  Kosciusko,  No.  4,  member  of  the  Lutheran 
church.  He  votes  the  republican  ticket.  He  has  held  all  of- 
fices in  the  Johnson  County  Old  Settlers'  Association,  from 
president  down,  for  the  last  thirty-five  years.  He  is  treasurer 
and  secretary  at  the  present  time,  and  w^as  the  originator  in 
the  building  of  log  cabins,  the  first  one  on  the  fair  grounds,  and 
the  two  now  building  on  the  beautiful  city  park. 

His  wife,  Caroline  Kembel  Wieneke,  died  April  3, 1912,  after 
two  years'  illness,  aged  72  years,  5  months,  27  days. 


JACOB  ALBRIGHT 

The  Albright  family,  of  which  Mathias  Albright  and  Anna 
Meyers  were  the  founders  in  Iowa,  emigrated  from  Pennsyl- 
vania to  the  Hawkey e  state  in  1849.  It  was  a  journey  fraught 
with  strenuosity  and  variety  in  that  early  period.  By  wagon 
from  Hanover  to  York,  by  rail  from  York  to  Wrightsville,  by 
canal  packet  and  inclined  plane  to  Johnstown  and  over  the 
backbone  of  the  Alleghenies,  by  canal  to  Pittsburgh,  down  the 
Ohio  by  steamer  to  Cairo,  thence  by  steamer  to  St.  Louis  and 
Bloomington  (now  Muscatine),  Iowa,  and  thence  by  wagon  to 
Iowa  City  —  that  is  the  schedule  in  brief  of  the  trip  of  the  Al- 
bright and  the  Mever  families  from  the  land  of  Penn  to  the 
land  of  Black  Hawk's  Purchase.*  John  Meyer,  father  of  Isaac 
Meyer  (see  Meyer  sketch),  was  a  member  of  the  party,  with 
his  family,  and  died  at  Muscatine  of  cholera.  Mathias  Al- 
bright remained  at  Muscatine  to  bury  his  brother-in-law,  while 
his  oldest  son,  Abraham,  in  company  with  his  uncle,  continued 
the  journey  to  Iowa  City.  The  family  finally  settled  on  what 
is  now  the  Murphy  farm  in  section  seven,  Penn  township. 


654        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

This  was  formerly  a  frontier  farm  owned  by  one  Cliapman; 
Two  log  cabins,  built  as  one,  with  a  partition  dividing  them, 
were  occupied  jointly  by  the  Albrights  and  Dr.  Miller  until  the 
latter  had  prepared  another  house  for  the  accommodation  of 
his  family.  Amid  these  simple  surroundings  Mathias  Al- 
bright and  his  good  wife  began  the  battle  of  life  in  the  new 
west.  It  is  needless  to  recount  the  simplicity  of  the  farming 
methods  of  those  days ;  but  in  spite  of  primitive  tools  and  meth- 
ods the  newcomers  made  headway  and  carved  victory  out  of 
the  wilderness.  Later  Mathias  Albright  bought  a  farm  in  sec- 
tion thirteen,  which  he  brought  to  a  high  state  of  cultivation. 
He  lived  to  see  a  great  scope  of  country  transformed  into  rich 


EESIDENCE   OF   JACOB  ALBRIGHT 


farms,  villages,  and  cities.  As  previously  stated,  the  wife  of 
Mathias  Albright  was  Anna  Meyer.  She  bore  her  husband 
fourteen  children.  Their  names  are:  Abraham  (see  sketch)  ; 
Isaac,  died  in  the  Union  army;  George;  Catherine  Stetzel,  a 
widow,  mother  of  sixteen  children,  all  living,  mother  residing 
at  Audubon,  Iowa ;  Henry,  died  at  the  age  of  five ;  William,  of 
Story  county,  father  of  eight  children ;  Elizabeth  Haas,  widow, 
of  Baldwin,  Kansas ;  Martin,  of  Guthrie  county",  father  of  four 
children ;  Anna  Maria  Eberhart,  widow,  of  Lawrence,  Kansas ; 
Samuel,  of  Pennsylvania;  Jacob,  our  subject;  John,  of  Linn 
county ;  David,  of  Bellingham,  Washington ;  Charley,  of  Bald- 


BIOGRAPHICAL  655 

win,  Kansas.  Mother  Albright  died  in  August,  1888,  and 
Father  Albright  in  August,  1892.  Both  are  buried  in  North 
Liberty  cemetery.  Both  were  originally  members  of  the  Ger- 
man Lutheran  church  and  helped  to  organize  it.  Later  they 
joined  the  Evangelical  association.  Father  Albright  was  a  re- 
publican in  politics.  He  served  as  township  trustee  and  school 
director  in  Penn  township. 

Jacob  Albright  was  born  May  27,  1853,  in  Penn  township, 
and  was  raised  and  educated  in  that  locality.  He  also  attend- 
ed school  in  the  old  log  school  house  at  North  Liberty.  The 
farm  on  which  he  was  raised  is  now  the  property  of  Mrs.  Keene 
and  adjoins  his  own  farm  on  the  north.  After  his  marriage 
Mr.  Albright  farmed  the  home  place  about  a  year  and  then  re- 
moved to  Audubon  county,  Iowa.  There  he  bought  a  farm  and 
remained  nine  years.  Selling  that  in  1890,  he  returned  to 
Johnson  county,  and  the  family  took  up  their  residence  on  the 
farm  where  Mrs.  Albright  was  born,  Mr.  Albright  having 
bought  the  same  some  years  previously.  This  is  now  their 
place  of  residence,  and  is  one  of  the  fine  farms  of  the  county, 
provided  with  all  necessary  buildings  and  improvements,  com- 
pletely stocked  with  large  numbers  of  cattle,  horses,  hogs,  etc. 
Situated  on  the  Interurban  electric  line,  two  miles  from  North 
Liberty,  the  place  is  worth  today  upwards  of  $200  per  acre. 

In  1878  Mr.  Albright  was  married  to  Miss  Martha  E.  Cra- 
mer, a  native  of  Penn  township,  daughter  of  George  and  Anna 
(Green)  Cramer,  the  latter  a  daughter  of  David  Green,  one  of 
the  early  settlers  of  Johnson  county.  Misfortune  attended 
Mr.  Albright  and  his  family  in  Audubon  county.  Four  of  his 
children,  William,  Annie,  Lottie,  and  Raymond,  ranging  in 
ages  from  four  weeks  to  six  years,  were  taken  with  fever  and 
died  within  a  week.  Three  were  buried  in  one  grave.  The 
mother,  who  was  stricken  with  the  same  disease,  was  spared. 
The  surviving  children  are :  Carrie,  widow  of  Royal  Koser,  of 
North  Liberty,  mother  of  three  children;  Ada;  Bertha;  Leon- 
ard. These  have  all  been  given  the  best  educational  advan- 
tages. Mr.  Albright's  sons  now  farm  the  old  place,  but  he  is 
still  a  busy  man.  While  in  Audubon  county  he  served  as  trus- 
tee, and  in  Penn  township  has  been  director  of  the  Union  school 
for  many  years.  He  is  a  trustee  of  the  United  Evangelical 
church. 


656        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

Abraham  Albright,  the  oldest  son  of  Mathias  and  Anna 
(Meyers)  Albright,  and  brother  of  our  subject,  was  born  in 
York  county,  Pennsylvania,  July  21,  1838.  He  came  with  his 
parents  to  Johnson  county  in  1849  when  a  lad  of  eleven  years, 
and  put  in  his  youthful  days  working  on  the  old  home  farm  in 
Penn  township.  He  was  educated  in  the  old  log  school  house 
at  North  Liberty.  After  his  marriage  in  1862  he  settled  in 
Muscatine  county,  Iowa,  where  he  remained  two  years.  In 
1864  he  settled  in  section  nineteen,  Penn  township,  where  he 
brought  to  a  high  state  of  cultivation  a  farm  of  200  acres.  This 
he  continued  to  live  upon  until  his  retirement.  He  is  now 
spending  his  declining  years  at  North  Liberty,  having  taken 
up  his  residence  there  in  1907.  Mr.  Albright  was  township 
trustee  of  Penn  township  for  a  number  of  years,  a  position 
now  held  by  his  son  Aaron  S.  He  was  also  an  active  member 
of  the  school  board.  He  has  the  reputation  of  being  one  of  the 
best  posted  men  in  Johnson  county  concerning  pioneer  history. 
The  biographical  staff  of  this  work  are  indebted  to  him  for 
valuable  assistance.  Mr.  Albright  is  a  member,  trustee  and 
class  leader  of  the  Evangelical  association. 

On  March  19, 1862,  Mr.  Albright  was  married  to  Miss  Eliza- 
beth Kronmiller,  born  September  2, 1844,  in  Montgomery  coun- 
ty, Ohio.  When  an  infant  her  parents  removed  to  Woodford 
county,  Illinois,  where  she  was  partially  educated  in  the  com- 
mon schools.  At  the  age  of  twelve  years  she  removed  to  Linn 
county,  Iowa,  and  was  residing  on  Otter  Creek  at  the  time  of 
her  marriage.  The  children  of  Abraham  Albright  and  Eliza- 
beth Kronmiller  are :  Jacob  M.,  married,  father  of  two  chil- 
dren, Orville  and  Ethel,  the  former  married  Grace  Hardy  and 
has  one  son;  Anna  Maria,  wife  of  Charles  R.  Hardy,  brother 
of  Grace,  lives  in  Floyd  county,  has  eight  children  —  Fred, 
Vernon,  Burdette,  Lillian,  Edith,  Eva,  George,  and  Lois ;  John 
W.,  of  Humboldt  county,  married,  has  three  children  —  Cecil, 
Roy,  and  Grace;  Aaron  S.,  of  North  Liberty,  married  to  Miss 
Aldburn,  has  one  son,  Walter ;  Uriah,  of  Iowa  City,  married 
Miss  Maude  Lewis,  has  two  children  —  Forest  and  Bura ;  Al- 
ice J.,  married  to  Elmer  Simpson,  of  North  Liberty,  has  four 
children  —  Blanche,  Marie,  Wilma  and  Glenn ;  Margaret  E., 
married  to  Freburt  Wies,  lives  in  North  Dakota ;  Eva,  married 
to  .] .  W.  Pooley,  who  farms  the  home  place  in  Penn  township ; 


BIOGRAPHICAL  657 

Levi  A.,  died  at  the  age  of  nineteen ;  Milton  R.,  married  Ethel 
Smtzer,  resides  in  South  Dakota,  has  one  child  —  Kenneth 
Benjamin;  Ed.  S.,  died  in  August,  1890,  at  the  age  of  eighteen, 
in  vigorous  young  manhood. 


JOHN  COLDREN 


Opposite  the  beautiful  county  court  house  of  Johnson  coun- 
ty, Iowa  City,  there  stands,  at  No.  4'J6  South  Clinton  street, 
the  residence  of  John  and  Mary  Olive  (Stevens)  Coldren. 
This  house,  at  the  time  of  its  erection,  was  accounted  one  of  the 
finest  homes  in  the  university  city,  and  today  is  in  a  fine  state 
of  preservation  and  makes  a  most  favorable  appearance  along- 
side the  more  modern  residences  which  have  recently  been  con- 
structed in  that  section  of  the  city.  The  widow  of  John  Col- 
dren still  owns  this  homestead,  and,  except  when  visiting  or 
traveling  in  other  sections  of  the  country,  makes  it  her  home. 
It  is  one  of  the  old  rallying  points  of  this  historic  city,  well 
known  to  and  popular  with  the  pioneers  and  old  settlers  of 
Johnson  county,  to  most  of  whom  John  Coldren  and  his  wife 
have  been  personally  known. 

John  Coldren  was  born  December  4, 1839,  in  Lancaster  coun- 
ty, Pennsylvania.  He  first  began  business  as  a  clerk  in  a  store 
in  Rossville,  a  small  village  of  Lancaster  county,  in  1853. 
Three  years  later  he  removed  to  Summit  county,  ( )hio,  and  en- 
gaged in  farming  about  a  year  and  a  half,  after  which  he  re- 
turned to  his  old  home  in  Lancaster  county,  Pennsylvania. 
For  two  years  he  lived  at  Euphrata,  at  the  end  of  which  time 
he  opened  a  grocery  store  in  Rossville.  The  microbe  of  dis- 
content or  of  ill  luck  seemed  to  follow  him,  however,  and  in 
1865  he  sold  out  his  grocery  business  and  went  back  to  Ohio. 
In  May  of  the  same  year  he  decided  to  make  a  big  jump  west- 
ward and  came  on  to  Iowa  City.  There  he  remained  for  a 
year,  and  in  the  spring  of  1867  moved  to  Union  township  and 
farmed  until  1874.  While  thus  engaged  he  was  elected  presi- 
dent of  the  Johnson  County  Agricultural  Society,  and  also 
the  first  president  of  the  Farmers'  Mutual  Insurance  Company 
of  Union  township.  In  1875  he  took  up  his  residence  in  Iowa 
City,  continuing  the  business  of  farming.     In  October,  1877, 


658        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

he  was  elected  sheriff  of  Johnson  county  on  the  democratic 
ticket,  which  office  he  held  for  six  years. 

The  marriage  of  John  Coldren  and  Mary  Olive  Stevens  took 
place  March  26, 1868.  The  bride  at  that  time  was  a  teacher  in 
the  Third  ward  pubhc  school  of  Iowa  City.  Prior  to  that  she 
had  been  a  teacher  in  the  district  schools.  Some  of  those  who 
are  now  considered  old  settlers  were  her  pupils.  She  is  one 
of  the  earlier  daughters  of  the  State  University  of  Iowa,  and 
has  probably  as  wide  a  personal  acquaintance  among  the  repre- 
sentative families  of  Johnson  county  and  Iowa  City  as  any 
resident  of  the  city.  Mrs.  Coldren  was  born  in  Stark  county, 
Illinois,  in  1840.     She  is  a  daughter  of  Abel  and  Rosannah 


RESIDENCE  OF  MRS.  JOHN  COLDREN 


(Davis)  Stevens.  Her  father  was  born  at  Royalton,  Vermont, 
October  19,  1811,  and  her  mother  in  Washington  county,  Ten- 
nessee, May  1,  1811.  They  were  married  in  Stark  county,  Il- 
linois, July  8,  1839.  Both  died  in  Johnson  county,  Iowa.  The 
Stevens  family,  father,  mother,  and  child,  Mary  Olive,  came 
westward  to  Iowa  in  1841  in  wagons,  and  became  some  of  the 
first  settlers  of  what  is  now  'West  Lucas  township.  There  the 
rest  of  the  children  were  born,  as  follows :  Margaret  Frances, 
born  January  1,  1842,  married  to  Robert  Collins,  resides  in 
Brighton,  Colorado ;  John  Davis,  born  Novembei^'  17,  1843,  de- 
ceased, widow  resides  in  Scott  township;  Alfred  Davis,  born 
November  31,  1846,  died  in  Iowa  City  January  27,  1911 ;  EUas 


BIOGRAPHICAL  659 

McPlierson,  born  April  3,  1853,  farmer  in  West  Lucas  town- 
ship. 

The  children  of  John  and  Mary  Olive  Coldren,  in  the  order 
of  their  birth,  are  as  follows  :  Clymer  Abraham,  born  April  5, 
1870,  resides  at  Phoenix,  Arizona ;  Stevens  Abel,  born  August 
15,  1872,  resides  at  Kansas  City,  Missouri ;  Alfred,  born  Aug- 
ust 27,  1874 ;  Paul,     All  were  born  in  Johnson  county. 

Stevens  A.  Coldren,  of  Kansas  City,  Missouri,  is  a  large  and 
successful  land  dealer.  His  brother  Clymer  has  been  associ- 
ated with  him  in  some  of  his  most  important  deals.  Stevens 
A.  is  of  a  generous  disposition  and  has  aided  several  worthy 
charities.  Among  his  bequests  is  a  fine  building  for  the  Old 
Ladies '  Home  of  Iowa  City. 

The  death  of  John  Coldren  occurred  in  Iowa  City  on  Friday, 
October  12,  1894,  and  his  funeral  took  place  Sunday,  October 
14,  Rev.  E.  N.  Barrett,  D.  D.,  officiating.  The  A.  0*  U.  W.,  of 
which  deceased  was  a  prominent  member,  attended  in  a  body 
and  observed  the  ritual  of  the  order  at  the  cemeterv. 


LOUIS  WILLARD  MILLER 

Louis  Willard  Miller  belongs  to  one  of  Johnson  county's  old 
pioneer  families,  one  that  has  been  represented  in  the  com- 
munity by  four  generations.  He  is  well  known  and  has  served 
in  various  local  offices,  and  his  son  is  now  (1912)  holding  the 
important  county  office  of  superintendent  of  schools.  Mr.  Mil- 
ler was  born  in  Fremont  township,  Johnson  county,  May  11, 
1853,  a  son  of  Abraham  and  Elizabeth  (Barrett)  Miller,  and 
grandson  of  Benjamin  Miller.  Like  other  men  of  his  time, 
Benjamin  Miller  erected  a  log  cabin  from  native  timber,  and 
there  his  family  made  their  home  when  first  coming  to  Johnson 
county.  At  that  time  there  were  plenty  of  deer,  wild  turkeys, 
and  prairie  chickens.  He  was  a  native  of  West  Virginia,  and 
died  in  1839.  He  was  one  of  that  noble  band  who  braved  the 
trials  and  dangers  of  the  frontier  and  paved  the  way  for  a  later 
civilization.  There  were  nine  families  who  came  with  thirteen 
wagons  and  ox  teams,  from  Jefferson  county,  Indiana,  and 
reached  Iowa  river  May  10,  1838,  They  were  the  following: 
Green  Hill  and  family,  Joseph  Stover  and  family,  Benjamin 


660 


HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 


Miller  and  family,  William  Kelso  and  family,  David  Sweet  and 
family,  and  the  widow  Ralston,  who  remained,  and  the  follow- 
ing who  returned  the  same  fall :  Mr.  Witter  and  family,  Wil- 
liam Ward  and  family,  and  John  Yarner.  Of  their  descend- 
ants the  following  resided  in  the  community  in  1911:  Sion  Hill, 
of  Iowa  City,  aged  ninety-one  years ;  Jacob  Stover,  of  the  same 
place,  eighty-nine  years  old ;  William  and  Caleb  Sweet,  of  Fre- 
mont township ;  and  several  of  the  Miller  family,  all  of  whom 
are  given  mention  in  these  pages.  Benjamin  Miller  started 
the  first  ferry  in  Johnson  county  in  the  winter  of  1838-39,  just 
below  the  mouth  of  the  stream  known  as  Ralston  Creek,  a  little 
below  where  the  Rock  Island  railroad  crosses  Iowa  river.  This 


EESIDENCE  OF  L.  W.   MILLER 


place  was  at  or  near  the  upper  edge  of  the  old  town  site  of 
Napoleon.  Benjamin  Miller  and  wife  had  seven  children: 
William,  a  farmer  by  occupation,  lived  many  years  in  Mis- 
souri, where  his  death  occurred;  John  served  in  the  Union 
army,  became  an  attorney,  was  a  prominent  factor  in  early  af- 
fairs, served  as  county  judge,  married  Eunice  Hamilton,  and 
died  at  Eldorado,  Kansas,  at  the  age  of  seventy-three  years ; 
Thomas  moved  to  Cahfornia  and  died  there;  James  died  of 
yellow  fever  while  crossing  the  plains  in  1849;  Mary,  married 
George  Shell ;  Eliza,  married  Perry  Bozarth ;  Abraham,  father 
of  Louis  W.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  661 

Abraham  Miller  was  born  in  West  Virginia,  June  12,  1822, 
and  died  October  10,  1873.  He  was  buried  in  his  native  state. 
He  had  gone  to  Virginia  for  his  health  in  the  spring  and  died 
a  few  months  later.  He  was  a  well-grown  boy  in  his  sixteenth 
year  when  his  parents  brought  him  to  Iowa,  aiid  at  that  time 
the  Indians  were  rather  numerous  where  the  family  located. 
In  1849  he  crossed  the  plains  with  a  team  of  oxen  and  was  gone 
over  two  years.  Returning,  he  took  up  land,  comprising  160 
acres  in  Section  19,  Fremont  township,  going  to  Dubuque  to 
enter  his  land,  and  later  added  forty  acres  more.  He  thus  wit- 
nessed the  development  of  Johnson  county  from  a  wilderness 
to  a  thriving  farming  community.  In  early  days  their  trading 
post  was  Muscatine,  then  known  as  Bloomington,  and  it  took 
several  days  to  complete  the  round  trip.  He  drove  his  hogs 
or  hauled  his  grain  to  this  market  and  returned  with  necessary 
supplies.  He  used  such  primitive  implements  as  the  scythe, 
cradle,  reaping  hook,  and  the  like.  He  was  a  democrat  in  pol- 
itics and  held  such  minor  offices  as  school  director,  and  town- 
ship supervisor  when  one  of  the  latter  was  elected  from  each 
township.  He  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  Methodist 
church,  and  he  belonged  to  the  I.  O.  O.  F. 

Abraham  Miller  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Barrett,  who  was 
born  at  Kingwood,  Preston  county.  West  Virginia,  and  died 
in  June,  1864.  She  is  buried  in  Swank  cemetery  in  Fremont 
township.  They  were  married  in  Missouri  in  1848  and  became 
parents  of  the  following  five  children:  one  died  in  infancy; 
Virginia,  married  John  Kelso,  a  son  of  the  pioneer,  William 
Kelso,  who  came  to  Johnson  countv  in  1838,  and  thev  reside  in 
Lone  Tree  and  have  two  sons  and  three  daughters ;  Louis  W.  is 
the  second  in  order  of  birth  of  those  who  reached  maturity; 
Benjamin  A.  is  a  resident  of  Kansas ;  Ida,  married  Curtis  Cor- 
win,  of  Cedar  Falls. 

Louis  W.  Miller  was  reared  on  the  home  farm  and  educated 
in  the  district  schools.  He  has  always  been  engaged  in  farm- 
ing operations  and  began  life  on  his  ow^n  account  in  1877,  on 
the  home  farm  in  Fremont  township,  where  he  located  after 
his  marriage.  In  1881  he  |)urchased  a  farm  in  Pleasant  Val- 
ley township,  which  is  carried  on  by  his  eldest  son.  He  first 
purchased  102  acres  of  land  and  later  added  ninety  acres  more, 
all  in  Section  19  of  Pleasant  Valley  township.     In  1907  he  re- 


662        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

tired  from  active  life  and  came  to  live  in  Iowa  City,  his  present 
home  being  at  1035  East  Burlington  street.  He  has  always 
been  actively  interested  in  public  affairs  and  has  been  recog- 
nized as  a  substantial  citizen.  He  served  six  years  as  assessor 
and  four  years  as  clerk  of  Pleasant  Valley  township,  and  was 
for  seventeen  years  secretary  of  the  school  board.  In  1894  he 
w^as  elected  on  the  county  board  of  supervisors,  serving  until 
1900,  several  terms  acting  as  chairman.  He  is  active  in  the 
councils  of  the  democratic  party  and  has  often  been  a  delegate 
to  various  conventions.  He  belongs  to  Kosciusko  Lodge  No. 
6,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  and  has  taken  the  Rebekah  degree  in  the  order. 
He  also  belongs  to  the  Order  of  Elks. 

In  March,  1877,  Mr.  Miller  married  Wilhelmina,  daughter 
of  William  Shephard,  a  pioneer  of  Fremont  township,  and  they 
have  the  following  children :  Charles  L.,  who  farms  the  home 
place,  married  Alta  Johnston ;  Claude  M. ;  Mabel,  married 
Manly  Fountain,  a  farmer  of  East  Lucas  township,  and  they 
have  a  daughter,  Dorothy ;  Miss  Ethel  is  a  teacher  in  the  dis- 
trict schools. 

Claude  M.  Miller,  the  second  child  of  his  parents,  is  of  the 
fourth  generation  of  the  Miller  family  to  live  in  Johnson  coun- 
ty, and  was  born  on  the  old  home  farm  in  Fremont  township, 
November  27,  1879.  He  gained  his  education  in  the  country 
schools  and  in  the  Iowa  City  Academy.  He  completed  his  ed- 
ucation in  low^a  State  University  and  was  graduated  from  the 
Law  Department  in  1906  with  the  degree  of  LL.  B.  He  taught 
in  the  public  schools  and  in  1906  Avas  elected  to  the  office  of 
county  superintendent  of  schools,  serving  very  acceptably 
three  terms.  This  fact  indicates  the  esteem  and  confidence  in 
which  he  is  held  by  the  people  of  Johnson  county.  On  Febru- 
ary 1,  1913,  he  began  the  practice  of  law  in  Iowa  City  and  is 
building  up  an  excellent  practice. 

On  December  31, 1910,  Mr.  Miller  married  Miss  Ruth  Haney, 
a  native  of  McLean  county,  Illinois,  a  teacher  in  the  Iowa  City 
schools.  They  have  one  son,  Paul  H.  Miller,  born  July  10, 
1912. 

Mr.  Miller  is  a  member  of  the  Order  of  Elks  and  of  No.  4 
A.  F.  and  A.  M. 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


663 


WESLEY  SHEBETKA 

Wesley  Sliebetka  owns  one  of  the  best  farms  in  Monroe 
township,  Johnson  county,  and  is  a  self-made  man,  having 
acquired  his  present  success  by  years  of  hard  work  and  careful 
management.  He  is  one  of  the  useful  Bohemian-American 
citizens  who  have  done  so  much  to  develop  the  county  and  state, 
and  has  won  a  good  standing  among  his  neighbors  and  asso- 
ciates. He  was  born  in  September,  1864,  and  came  from  Bo- 
hemia with  his  parents  in  1870.  The  family  came  direct  to 
Johnson  county  and  located  on  a  farm  in  Jefferson  township. 


KESIDENCE  OF  WESLEY  SHEBETKA 


After  two  years  there  they  removed  to  Oxford  township,  and 
there  the  parents  jjassed  away,  the  father  June  5, 1895,  and  the 
mother  in  February,  1885.  Their  six  children  were  as  follows : 
Annie,  wife  of  Joseph  Hemsley,  of  Monroe  township ;  Joseph, 
a  farmer  of  Oxford  township ;  John,  retired  from  his  farm  and 
living  in  Oxford;  Victoria,  wife  of  Michael  Shubtar,  of  Craw- 
ford county,  Iowa ;  Frank,  now  occupying  his  farm  in  Oxford 
township,  will  shortly  remove  to  the  fine  residence  he  is  erect- 
ing at  Swisher ;  Wesley,  of  this  sketch. 

Mr.  Sliebetka  has  spent  his  time  in  farming  since  he  was  old 
enough  to  help  with  the  work  at  home,  and  after  reaching  ma- 
turity began  working  for  others.     He  continued  this  until  1888, 


664        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

when  he  purchased  his  first  farm,  which  he  sold  three  years 
later.  After  spending  two  years  in  Cedar  Rapids,  he  pur- 
chased his  present  farm,  which  then  contained  120  acres  of 
Jand.  By  subsequent  purchase  he  added  to  his  holdings,  and  is 
now  the  owner  of  220  acres  of  excellent  farm  land.  He  has 
been  successful  to  a  gratifying  degree  and  is  now  able  to  retire 
from  active  work  on  the  farm.  He  is  erecting  a  handsome  res- 
idence in  Swisher,  which  he  will  occupy  shortly. 

On  August  23,  1886,  Mr.  Shebetka  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Elizabeth  Wotroubek,  a  native  of  Monroe  township, 
whose  parents  came  to  Monroe  township  soon  after  coming  to 
America,  in  1867.  Three  children  have  been  born  to  this  cou- 
ple :  Frank,  William,  and  Elizabeth,  all  at  home.  Mrs.  She- 
betka has  been  a  great  sufferer  from  rheumatism  and  has  been 
an  invaUd  for  the  past  fourteen  years.  She  is  patient  and 
brave  in  her  affliction  and  has  the  high  regard  of  her  many 
friends.  Mr.  Shebetka  is  a  republican  in  politics  and  has  held 
the  various  township  offices  and  for  the  past  seven  years  has 
been  school  director.  He  has  at  heart  the  best  interests  of  the 
community  and  has  made  his  good  influence  felt  in  various  cir- 
cles. The  present  fine  condition  of  his  farm  is  due  to  his  enter- 
prise and  industry,  and  it  is  but  natural  to  suppose  he  will  be 
an  influential  factor  in  the  life  of  the  community  to  which  he 
purposes  removing. 


C.  M.  RENO 


C.  M.  Reno,  a  prominent  real  estate  dealer  of  Iowa  City,  is 
a  native  of  that  place,  born  June  1,  1846,  and  has  long  been 
closely  associated  with  atfairs  in  Johnson  county.  His  pa- 
rents, Morgan  and  Margaret  A.  Reno,  were  natives  of  Penn- 
sylvania, and  settled  in  Johnson  county  in  1839.  The  father 
was  a  lawyer  by  profession  and  for  a  number  of  years  prac- 
ticed in  Iowa  courts,  but  later  became  interested  in  banking 
business,  to  which  he  devoted  most  of  his  time.  He  served  as 
lieutenant  and  commissary  during  the  Civil  War,  his  commis- 
sion in  the  Sixth  Iowa  Cavalry  being  dated  October  21,  1862. 
He  served  as  mayor  of  Iowa  City  in  1857  and  was  previously 
active  in  the  atfairs  of  the  Commonwealth.  He  was  the  last 
territorial  treasurer  and  the  first  state  treasurer  of  Iowa,  and 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


665 


was  faitliful  to  his  trust  in  peace  as  in  war.  He  was  highly 
honored  for  his  sterling  qualities  in  the  matter  of  his  public 
life,  and  was  popular  with  his  many  friends  and  acquaintances. 
He  died  at  Iowa  City,  July  9,  1869,  and  his  widow  survived  him 
until  1899,  passing  away  at  the  age  of  seventy-four  years. 
They  had  a  son  and  a  daughter,  who  survived  them. 

C.  M.  Reno  was  educated  in  his  native  city,  attending  the 
public  schools,  and  later  Iowa  University.  He  also  took  a 
course  in  a  Chicago  business  college.  After  leaving  school  he 
spent  six  months  in  the  employ  of  Calhoun  &  Company,  bank- 
ers, of  St.  Joseph,  Mo.,  then  returned  to  Iowa  City  and  became 
associated  with  his  father  in  the  mercantile  l)usiness.    In  1868 


RESIDENCE  OF  C.   M.  RENO 


he  engaged  in  business  in  what  is  now  called  China  Hall,  on 
Washington  street,  where  he  sold  china,  glassware,  and  crock- 
ery, and  sold  this  business  in  1877  to  J.  A.  Pickering.  June  1, 
1882,  he  established  himself  in  the  coal  business  on  the  same 
street,  near  the  Burlington,  Cedar  Rapids  &  Northern  railroad 
depot,  and  continued  this  enterprise  many  years,  becoming  one 
of  the  substantial  business  men  of  the  city.  In  1884  he  started 
a  real  estate  business  and  this  now  occupies  his  entire  atten- 
tion. 

Mr.  Reno  has  always  taken  an  active  interest  in  public  af- 
fairs and  the  welfare  of  his  county  and  state,  as  well  as  in  local 
matters.  He  was  elected  secretary  of  the  city  school  board, 
served  acceptably  in  that  office,  and  later  was  elected  to  the 


666        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

city  council,  being  elected  city  treasurer  in  1877.  He  resigned 
the  latter  office  and  was  elected  county  treasurer,  serving  two 
terms  in  that  office.  He  was  elected  mayor  of  Iowa  City  in 
1884,  was  three  times  reelected,   serving  in  this  office  eight 

years. 

November  1,  1870,  Mr,  Reno  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Hattie  A.  Hartman,  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Abigail 
Hartman,  natives  of  Indiana.  The  following  children  were 
born  of  this  union:  Morgan  C,  a  dentist,  practicing  his  profes- 
sion at  Iowa  City ;  Abigail,  who  is  now  at  home ;  Sanf ord  H., 
graduated  from  Iowa  City  high  school  and  a  commercial  col- 
lege and  held  a  position  for  some  time  in  Chicago,  then  became 
ill  and  died  at  home  in  1893.  The  other  daughter,  Miss  Mar- 
garet, is  also  at  home. 


LEROY  RUNDELL  (Deceased) 

In  the  death  of  the  late  Leroy  Rundell,  Johnson  county  lost 
one  of  its  most  useful  and  well-known  citizens.  He  passed 
away  at  his  home  in  Iowa  City,  April  28, 1906,  after  a  long  and 
useful  life,  mourned  by  the  entire  community.  He  had  been 
most  active  in  advancing  the  interests  of  Johnson  county,  us- 
ing his  strength  and  finances  in  the  upbuilding  and  progress  of 
the  region.  He  was  born  in  Cayuga  county.  New  York,  Sep- 
tember 25,  1839,  son  of  Lockwood  and  Anne  (Beard)  Rundell, 
natives  respectively  of  Cayuga  county,  New  York,  and  of  Con- 
necticut, and  both  of  old  New  England  ancestry.  Both  passed 
away  in  their  home  in  New  York.  They  were  parents  of  six 
children,  of  whom  Leroy  was  the  fifth  in  order  of  birth. 

Mr.  Rundell  received  his  education  in  the  public  schools  of 
his  native  county  and  on  February  14, 1866,  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Alice  Avery,  a  native  of  the  same  county  and  state 
as  her  husband,  and  a  daughter  of  Ashbel  and  Emmeline 
(Miner)  Avery,  of  Cayuga  county,  both  of  whom  died  in  John- 
son county,  Iowa,  Mr.  Avery  at  the  home  of  his  daughter,  Mrs. 
Rundell,  April  29,  1870,  aged  66  years,  and  Mrs.  Avery  re- 
mained with  the  daughter  till  her  death,  February  16,  1893,  at 
the  age  of  eighty-four  years.  Soon  after  their  marriage,  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Rundell  came  to  Iowa,  arriving  in  Johnson  county  in 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


667 


1867.  After  spending  a  few  months  in  Iowa  City,  they  rented 
a  farm  in  East  Lncas  township,  and  a  year  later  located  in 
Scott  township.  Mr.  Rnndell  subsequently  sold  the  farm  there 
and  retired  from  active  life.  The  family  moved  to  Iowa  City 
at  this  time  and  made  their  home  premanently  on  East  Court 
street. 

Mr.  Rundell  was  most  successful,  both  as  a  farmer  and  a 
business  man,  and  always  kept  a  large  amount  of  high-grade 
stock  on  the  farm.  He  invested  in  many  manufacturing  enter- 
prises in  Johnson  county,  in  this  way  encouraging  local  in- 
dustries.    He  purchased  land  on  the  edge  of  the  city,  which 


THE    OLD    RUNDELL   RESIDENCE 


was  known  as  the  Rundell  Addition.  After  his  death  Mrs. 
Rundell  disposed  of  this  property  to  the  Rundell  Land  Im- 
provement Company  and  to  the  Iowa  City  Street  Railway 
Company,  as  is  mentioned  at  some  length  in  the  historical  de- 
partment of  this  publication.  In  1893  Mr.  Rundell  selected  a 
beautiful  site,  which  he  made  attractive  and  valuable,  with 
grounds  arranged  in  modern  style,  and  there  erected  a  com- 
modious residence,  into  which  the  family  moved  in  1894.  This 
place  was  well  kept  and  considered  one  of  the  finest  in  Iowa 
City.  While  living  on  his  farm  he  had  kept  his  substantial 
buildings  in  a  good  state  of  repair  and  the  place  always  gave 


668        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

evidences  of  careful  management.  He  was  one  of  the  prin- 
cipal promoters  of  the  Johnson  County  Agricultural  Society, 
which  he  served  as  president  for  several  years,  and  in  connec- 
tion with  this  movement  his  activities  were  most  beneficial  to 
all  the  residents  of  the  county.  He  gave  freely  of  both  time 
and  money,  as  well  as  his  influence,  to  make  the  society  what  it 
is  today,  being  largely  instrumental  in  securing  the  removal 
of  the  fair  grounds  to  their  present  fine  location.  In  many 
other  connections  he  proved  a  valubale  and  public-spirited  cit- 
izen and  one  who  has  left  a  lasting  and  honorable  record.  He 
was  well  known  as.  a  successful  cattle  dealer  and  well  under- 
stood the  care  and  feeding  necessary  to  prepare  stock  so  that 
it  commanded  a  high  price  in  the  market. 

Mr.  Rundell  was  actively  interested  in  j^ubhc  affairs,  taking 
a  prominent  part  in  many  worthy  movements.  He  served  as 
assessor  of  Scott  township  and  as  a  delegate  to  various  conven- 
tions of  his  poHtical  party  (the  republican),  holding  many  pos- 
itions of  public  trust  and  honor  in  addition  to  those  already 
mentioned.  He  was  liberal  in  religious  views  and  fraternally 
was  a  member  of  the  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  He  and  his  wife  had  one 
daughter,  Mabel  A.,  who  married  Keene  Abbott,  on  August 
29,  1905.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Abbott,  who  are  residents  of  Omaha, 
Nebraska,  are  both  well  known  for  tlieir  fiterary  labors.  Mrs. 
Rundell  may  be  found  during  the  summer  months  in  the  old 
home  but  spends  her  winters  at  the  home  of  her  daughter. 


WILLIAM  J.  FELKNER 

William  J.  Felkner  is  one  of  Johnson  county's  native  sons 
of  whom  it  may  well  be  proud.  He  comes  of  a  family  that 
has  won  distinction  in  pioneer  affairs,  his  father,  Henry  Felk- 
ner, having  been  associated  with  such  men  as  Philip  Clark  and 
Eli  Myers,  who  with  him  made  their  way  across  the  trackless 
prairie  to  the  neighborhood  of  the  western  line  of  the  Indian 
treaty  lands,  just  below  the  present  site  of  Iowa  City,  where  an 
Indian  town  then  stood,  its  inhabitants  awaiting  the  return  of 
a  war  party  that  had  gone  up  the  river  to  meet  the  Sioux  tribe. 
Henry  Felkner  was  a  noble  character  and  a  true  pioneer.  Tall 
and  powerful  in  physique,  he  had  a  kindly  manner  and  drew 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


669 


men  to  him  by  his  innate  honesty  and  upright  nature.  His 
father  was  a  native  of  Germany,  perhaps  in  the  Tyrol,  and  his 
mother  was  descended  from  that  Campbell  of  the  clan  that 
sprung  from  the  Norman  soldier,  her  father's  name  being  Mc- 
Callum  More.  The  parents  came  as  pioneers  to  America, 
locating  in  the  frontier  of  Ohio,  where  their  children  were 
born.  Henry  Felkner  was  born  in  Fairfield  county,  Ohio, 
April  18,  1810,  and  he  died  on  May  7,  1885.  His  father  died 
when  the  children  were  young  and  Henry,  being  the  eldest  of 
them,  took  the  place  of  head  of  the  family,  helping  the  mother 
to  care  for  the  younger  ones  and  remaining  at  home  until  he 
was  twenty-five  years  old.  Thinking  to  better  their  fortunes, 
the  family  moved  farther  west,  into  Indiana.     In  1837,  the 


RESIDENCE    OF    W.    ,1.    FELKNER 


other  children  having  reached  an  age  when  they  could  look 
out  for  themselves,  Henry  Felkner  came  west  to  the  part  of 
the  "Blackhawk  Purchase"  now  known  as  Iowa.  This  was 
then  known  by  the  Indian  name  of  "Ouisconsin,"  which  in- 
cluded part  of  Iowa  and  Wiscon'sin,  which  had  been  a  county  of 
Iowa  in  judicial  division.  When  Michigan  had  been  set  off, 
Burlington  was  the  capital  of  Wisconsin.  Ijater  Wisconsin 
was  set  off  by  itself  and  Iowa  took  shape.  Henry  Felkner  was 
one  of  the  band  of  brave  pioneer  spirits  who  came  all  the  way 
from  Indiana  to  Johnson  county,  Iowa,  on  foot,  starting  from 
his  home  at  Milford  in  the  former  state.  This  was  about  the 
time  Iowa  was  set  apart  from  Wisconsin  and  these  were  among 


670        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

the  earliest  white  settlers.  Upon  his  arrival  he  spent  some 
time  at  the  trading  post  with  Mr.  Gilbert  and  then  engaged  in 
running  a  sawmill  and  made  the  first  lumber  in  the  vicinity, 
from  which  many  of  the  early  buildings  were  constructed. 
Among  these  was  the  "Old  Capitol"  building.  Later  he  en- 
gaged in  ff^rming  and  also  took  a  prominent  part  in  pubUc 
affairs,  becoming  one  of  the  first  board  of  county  commission- 
ers when  Johnson  county  was  organized,  and  helping  to  lay 
the  foundation  of  the  state  government.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  third,  fourth  and  fifth  legislatures,  until  the  territory  be- 
came a  state;  he  then  turned  his  attention  to  his  private  af- 
fairs and  allowed  others  to  take  up  the  task  he  had  so  ably 
helped  to  begin. 

In  1843  Henry  Felkner  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of 
Enoch  and  Mourning  Le\\is,  who  was  born  in  the  neighbor- 
hood of  Columbus,  Ohio,  in  1820,  and  came  with  her  parents  to 
Iowa  in  1841.  The  family  located  at  North  Liberty  and  there 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lewis  established  a  home  which  was  remembered 
by  all  who  passed  its  threshold,  where  all  were  met  ^^'ith  the 
simple  ' '  Thou  art  welcome, ' '  from  the  host  and  hostess.  They 
were  Quakers  and  in  their  quiet  way  wielded  a  gentle  but  nev- 
ertheless strong  influence  in  their  community. 

Twelve  children  were  born  to  Henry  and  Elizabeth  Felkner, 
two  of  whom  died  in  infancy  and  ten  reached  maturity,  namely : 
Iowa,  Alma,  Clinton,  Mary,  Henry,  William  J.,  Smith,  Eliza- 
beth A.,  Milton,  and  Rachael.  Of  these  Elma,  Clinton,  Wil- 
liam J.,  Elizabeth,  and  Rachael  are  now  living.  The  father 
was  a  democrat  of  the  old  Jefferson  school  and  firmly  believed 
in  strict  honesty  in  political  as  in  all  other  affairs.  He  was 
one  of  those  who  helped  frame  the  laws  in  the  territorial  legis- 
lature which  met  at  Burlington,  and  he  was  also  a  member  of 
the  first  constitutional  convention,  but  he  was  fond  of  his 
home  and  did  not  care  to  spend  so  much  time  away  from  his 
family.  Later  he  served  as  supervisor  and  in  other  local 
offices.  In  1850  he  went  overland  to  California  and  spent  one 
year  there,  returning  by  sea  and  landing  at  New  Orleans.  He 
returned  to  the  old  homestead  and  lived  there  several  years 
longer,  but  in  1869  moved  to  the  vicinity  of  West  Liberty. 
There  he  and  his  wife  died,  he  at  the  age  of  seventy-five  and 
she  sixty  years. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  671 

William  J,  Felkner  was  born  near  Iowa  City,  July  18,  1852, 
and  was  reared  to  farm  work.  His  first  work  on  his  own  ac- 
count was  in  the  same  line.  Later  he  engaged  in  the  grain 
business  at  Dowmey  and  since  then  has  followed  this  occupa- 
tion. He  is  a  keen  and  successful  business  man  and  is  well 
known  in  the  region.  He  is  a  democrat  and  stanch  in  his  sup- 
port of  party  principles.  He  was  honored  by  his  fellow  citi- 
zens by  being  elected  to  the  Twenty-third  and  Twenty-fourth 
Legislatures,  from  Cedar  county,  being  the  second  democrat 
elected  from  the  district  in  thirty-six  years,  which  shows  his 
personal  popularity  and  the  people's  faith  in  him  to  be  high. 

In  1873  Mr.  Felkner  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Jessie 
H.  Work,  who  was  born  in  Massachusetts  and  came  to  Iowa 
with  her  parents  in  early  childhood.  Her  family  settled  near 
Downey,  where  her  father  engaged  in  farming  and  later  in 
buying  and  selling  stock.  Two  daughters  were  born  to  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Work,  Ida  and  Jessie.  Ida,  wife  of  Edwin  Dole, 
lives  in  California,  and  Jessie  is  Mrs.  Felkner.  William  J. 
Felkner  and  wife  had  seven  children,  of  whom  four  survive : 
John  died  at  the  age  of  nine  years ;  Jessie  died  at  the  age  of 
five ;  Iowa  died  in  infancy ;  Ida  is  Mrs.  H.  C.  Coffeen  and  lives 
in  Chicago;  Wilma,  who  graduated  at  St.  Luke's  Hospital  in 
New  York,  in  1905,  lives  in  that  city ;  Anna,  Mrs.  T.  E.  Hall,  is 
a  resident  of  Iowa  City ;  William  W.  lives  at  home  and  is  en- 
gaged in  business  at  Iowa  City.  The  family  are  affiliated  with 
the  Methodist  church.  They  have  a  very  pleasant  home  on 
Kirkwood  avenue.  Mr.  Felkner  is  much  interested  in  the  his- 
tory and  development  of  the  region  and  feels  proud  of  the  part 
taken  by  his  parents  in  the  early  struggles  of  the  pioneers,  for 
in  those  times  women  had  as  hard  work  to  perform  in  their  way 
as  the  men  and  performed  it  as  bravely  and  well. 


GEORGE  A.  FERNSTROM 

The  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  Charles  August 
Fernstrom,  a  native  of  Skara,  Sweden,  where  he  was  born 
August  22,  1833.  He  came  from  a  talented  family,  his  father, 
John  Fernstrom,  who  was  the  oldest  of  twelve  children,  being 
a  lawyer,  a  mathematician  of  ability,  and  an  expert  pipe  or- 
ganist, and  was  educated  in  the  classical  schools  of  Stockholm. 


672        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

Of  his  three  brothers,  two  were  civil  engineers  and  the  other  a 
mining  engineer.  The  latter  made  a  fortune  in  his  profession. 
Charles  August  Fernstrom  was  a  man  of  affairs  and  an  ex- 
tensive traveler,  having  visited  twenty-eight  states  of  the 
American  Union  and  sailed  the  Indian,  Pacific,  Atlantic,  and 
Arctic  oceans.  He  left  Sweden  when  fifteen  years  of  age  and 
came  to  America  on  a  sailing  vessel,  arriving,  after  a  long  voy- 
age, at  San  Francisco.  Three  years  were  spent  in  the  gold 
fields  of  California,  after  which,  in  1853,  he  went  to  Minnesota. 
In  company  with  Oscar  Roos  and  Oscar  Sandahl,  he  was  the 
first  Swede  to  land  in  Minnesota,  and  the  trio  were  the  first 
white  settlers  of  the  state.     He  located  at  Taylor's  Falls,  and 


KESIDEis'CE  OF  G.   A.   FERNSTROM 


remained  for  several  years.  Returning  to  Sweden,  he  re- 
mained for  about  a  year,  after  which  he  again  went  to  Cali- 
fornia, where  he  engaged  in  mining  for  about  eleven  years. 
Following  this,  he  came  to  Johnson  county,  Iowa,  where  he 
purchased  a  farm  of  about  400  acres  in  Fremont  township  and 
engaged  in  raising  blooded  stock  —  short  horn  cattle  and  Per- 
cheron  horses.  In  1876  he  removed  to  Oxford,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  the  mercantile  business.  In  1878  he  returned  to  the 
farm  in  Fremont  township,  where  he  remained  until  1890, 
when  he  moved  to  Lone  Tree.  There  he  engaged  in  the  bank- 
ing business,  and  was  elected  cashier  of  the  Lone  Tree  Savings 
bank,  the  first  bank  organized  in  the  town,  a  position  which  he 


FERNSTROM    MONUMENT 


BIOGRAPHICAL  673 

filled  until  1900,  when  lie  resigned  and  started  the  Farmers  & 
Merchants  Savings  bank.  He  was  connected  with  this  bank 
until  January  1,  1904,  when  he  resigned  the  position  of  cashier 
on  account  of  ill  health,  and  his  son,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
was  elected  to  take  his  place.  He  lived  in  almost  absolute 
business  retirement  until  his  death  July  3,  1905.  Near  the 
town  of  Scandia,  Minnesota,  where  he  first  took  up  a  govern- 
ment claim,  the  citizens  have  erected  a  monument  to  the  mem- 
ory of  Mr.  Fernstrom  and  his  associates,  Roos  and  Sandahl, 
with  the  following  inscription : 

CARL   FERNSTROM 

OSCAR  ROOS 
AUGUST  SANDAHL 

Erected  1900 


On  the  Site  of  his  Claim 
1850-1900 

Mr.  Fernstrom,  following  his  course  at  the  University  of 
Stockholm,  was  noted  for  his  Latin  scholarship,  and,  though 
but  a  boy  in  years,  served  as  an  interpreter  of  that  language. 
Prior  to  coming  to  America  he  kept  a  book  store. 

In  politics  Mr.  Fernstrom  was  a  republican,  and  took  an 
active  interest  in  county  affairs.  He  Avas  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  order  in  Lone  Tree,  of  the  Chapter  at  West  Liberty, 
the  Consistory  and  Kaaba  Temple  at  Davenport ;  also  of  Ome- 
ga lodge  No.  728, 1.  0.  O.  F.,  of  Lone  Tree.  His  membership 
was  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  of  Lone  Tree. 

On  January  4, 1870,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Mabel 
Evans,  daughter  of  John  Evans  and  Jane  Meredith.  Mr. 
Evans  was  a  native  of  Wales  and  his  wife  of  Madison  county. 
New  York.  Four  children  were  born  to  Charles  August  and 
Mabel  Evans  Fernstrom,  namely:  Alice  R.,  wife  of  Dr.  W. 
R.  Whiteis,  of  Iowa  City;  Charles  J.,  who  died  at  Amarillo, 
Texas,  July  8,  1900;  Helen  M.,  wife  of  Dr.  F.  H.  Gambel,  of 
Thief  River  Falls,  Minnesota;  and  George  A.,  of  Lone  Tree, 
Iowa.  Mother  Fernstrom  died  March  9,  1888,  on  the  farm  in 
Fremont  township. 

George  A.  Fernstrom  w^as  born  at  Oxford,  Iowa,  August  31, 
1878.  He  attended  the  public  schools  of  the  county  and  also 
Tilford's  Collegiate  Institute  at  Vinton,  Iowa.     He  was  asso- 


674        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

ciated  with  Ms  father  in  business  upon  the  farm,  and  upon  the 
latter 's  retirement,  on  January  1, 1904,  was  elected  to  the  cash- 
iership  of  the  Farmers  &  Merchants  Savings  bank,  of  Lone 
Tree,  Iowa. 

He  was  married  July  19,  1911,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  J.  Schaap- 
veld,  a  native  of  Johnson  county,  Iowa. 


ALEXANDER  SWENEY 

The  Sweney  family  are  among  the  older  settlers  of  Johnson 
county,  Alexander  Sweney  being  a  native  of  Pennsylvania, 
born  in  1847.  After  a  life  of  activity  and  success,  he  now  lives 
in  honorable  retirement.  His  father,  George  B.  Sweney,  was 
born  in  Washington  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  received  his 
education  at  Washington  college,  located  at  Washington,  Penn- 
sylvania, afterwards  engaging  in  the  dry  goods  business.  He 
subsequently  gave  up  mercantile  business  and  purchased  2,000 
acres  of  land  and  a  mill  site  in  the  northern  part  of  Pennsyl- 
vania. He  also  engaged  in  lumbering  and  made  flat-boats  to 
ship  coal  to  New  Orleans.  He  continued  in  these  various  oc- 
cupations in  his  native  state  until  1864,  the  date  of  his  removal 
to  Johnson  county. 

He  located  first  near  Higby  Grove  in  Scott  township,  and  in 
the  early  'seventies  sold  his  farm  there  and  bought  a  place 
known  as  Cave  Springs,  up  the  river  in  Lucas  township.  In 
1875  Mr.  Sweney  retired  from  farming  and  moved  to  what  is 
known  as  the  Parsons  place,  two  years  later  locating  on  the  old 
Charles  Berryhill  estate,  where  his  son  Alexander  and  his 
daughters  Elizabeth  and  Virginia  now  reside.  This  residence, 
which  stands  in  one  of  the  most  picturesque  parts  of  Iowa  City, 
was  purchased  in  1878.  The  pioneer  home  stands  on  a  two  and 
one-half  acre  tract  of  land,  comprising  an  entire  block.  This 
is  a  noted  pleasure  ground  and  the  house,  which  stands  on  an 
eminence,  is  situated  at  414  Brown  street.  A  view  of  it  is  to  be 
found  in  this  work. 

Mr.  George  B.  Sweney  was  married  to  Miss  Frances,  daugh- 
ter of  James  P.  Kerr,  M.  D.  Dr.  Kerr  was  a  graduate  of  Jef- 
ferson College,  when  it  was  located  at  Cannonsburg,  Pennsyl- 
vania, being  valedictorian  of  his  class,  and  later  from  Jefferson 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


675 


Medical  College  in  Pliiladelpliia.  He  was  the  first  resident 
physician  at  Claysville,  that  state,  and  married  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  Thomas  Miller,  at  that  time  justice  of  the  peace. 
He  was  the  son  of  Hon.  James  Kerr,  who  represented  his  dis- 
trict in  the  Pennsylvania  legislature  in  the  years  1801,  1803, 
1806,  1807,  1809,  and  1813. "  He  and  his  wife  are  buried  in 
Pennsylvania.  James  P.  Kerr,  Jr.,  a  son  of  Dr.  Kerr,  made 
his  home  with  his  sister,  Mrs.  George  B.  Sweney,  for  some 
eighteen  years.  He  w^as  at  one  time  of  the  staff  of  the  Wash- 
ington County  Reporter,  also  on  the  Commonwealth,  being  a 
printer  by  trade.  He  served  as  sergeant  of  Company  C  of  the 
One  Hundred  Fortieth  Pennsylvania  Volunteers  and  later  be- 


-4*  C~~IJ^^^^^^H^^^^^^^^^^^H[i^^l 

EESmENCE  OF  ALEXANDER  SWENEY 


came  a  member  of  the  G.  A.  R.  Post  of  Iowa  City.  He  lived  in 
Chicago  for  a  time  before  moving  to  Iowa.  He  and  Mrs. 
Sweney  were  two  of  a  family  of  twelve  children.  The  Kerr 
family  was  of  Scotch  descent. 

George  B.  Sweney  met  death  very  suddenly,  as  the  result  of 
an  accident,  while  he  was  coming  down  Smiley  Hill,  on  his  way 
home  from  his  farm,  when  his  team  ran  awav.  He  died  in 
August,  1879.  His  widow  lived  to  an  advanced  age  and  died 
in  1903,  in  her  eightieth  year.  Both  are  buried  in  Oakland 
cemetery,  in  Iowa  City.  Both  were  sincere  members  of  the 
Methodist  church  and  died  firm  in  that  faith.     They  were  wide- 


676        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

ly  missed  in  their  community  and  left  a  host  of  friends.  Four 
of  their  children  survive :  Miss  Elizabeth,  Alexander,  James 
Kerr  Sweney,  and  Miss  Virginia.  The  wife  of  James  Kerr 
Sweney,  Ella  (Dilly)  Sweney,  died,  leaving  a  son  and  a  daugh- 
ter. George  B.  Sweney  was  a  son  of  Alexander  Sweney,  of 
Irish  descent,  who  lived  to  be  eighty  years  old.  He  married 
Hannah  Camp. 

In  1878  Alexander  Sweney  bought  his  first  forty  acres  of 
land  in  East  Lucas  township  and  in  1879  bought  eighty  acres 
in  Washington  township,  which  he  farmed.  In  1891  he  pur- 
chased eighty  acres  in  Lucas  township  and  in  1895  bought  285 
acres  in  Newport  township.  In  1905  he  purchased  another 
tract  of  320  acres  in  South  Dakota,  two  years  later  selling  this 
and  bujdng  another  farm  of  the  same  size.  Shortly  after  this 
was  sold  and  he  returned  to  Iowa  City  and  built  two  houses  on 
North  Capitol  street,  retiring  from  active  life  in  1903. 

Mr.  Sweney  began  life  in  a  modest  manner,  having  but  little 
except  a  team  of  horses.  By  careful  management  he  was  final- 
ly able  to  buy  his  first  piece  of  land  and  saved  money  to  pur- 
chase more.  By  his  energy  and  foresight  he  attained  more 
than  ordinary  success  in  life  and  believes  that  a  man  should 
stand  on  his  own  feet  and  profit  by  his  own  exertions.  He  is 
a  self-made  man  and  the  secret  of  his  prosperity  is  the  fact  that 
he  was  ambitious  to  succeed,  always  saved  his  earnings  and  in- 
vested them  wisely.  He  gained  a  good  education  in  early  life 
and  is  fond  of  good  reading.  He  keeps  well  informed  on  the 
questions  of  the  day  and  takes  an  intelligent  interest  in  cur- 
rent events.  In  political  matters  he  votes  for  the  man  and  the 
principle  rather  than  for  party  interests.  He  is  a  Methodist 
in  religious  faith  and  endeavors  to  carry  out  his  behef  in  his 
everyday  fife.  He  is  proud  of  the  part  taken  by  his  ancestors 
in  the  early  history  and  devlopment  of  Johnson  county,  as  well 
as  of  other  parts  of  the  country,  and  in  all  respects  he  is  a 
worthy  representative  of  the  family. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  677 

WILLIAM  HORRABIN 

In  the  year  1871,  memorable  as  the  year  of  Chicago's  great 
baptism  by  fire,  William  Horrabiii,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
was  born  in  London,  England.  At  the  age  of  eight  years  he 
emigrated  wdth  his  parents  to  the  great  valley  of  which  the  im- 
perial city  of  the  lakes  is  the  metropolis  and  settled  with  them 
at  Des  Moines,  Iowa.  There  he  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  and  in  the  famous  "C.C.C.C. "  business  college,  and 
there  he  entered  the  employ  of  his  father,  James  Horrabin,  a 
manufacturer  of  and  dealer  in  building  materials  and  an  ex- 
pert in  pavement  and  concrete  construction.  William  Hor- 
rabin literally  grew  up  with  the  business,  and  understands 
every  branch  of  it,  from  sand-pit  to  construction  work.  James 
Horrabin,  the  father,  was  a  native  of  Liverpool,  England,  and 
married  there.  He  was  a  resident  of  Des  Moines  for  forty 
years,  his  death  occurring  there  in  1911.  He  was  one  of  the 
pioneer  contractors  of  the  state,  and  his  sons  have  attained  to 
even  greater  prominence  than  their  father  in  the  same  line  of 
work.  There  were  five  children  in  the  family :  James  Horra- 
bin, Jr.,  of  Des  Moines;  WiUiam  and  Alfred,  of  Iowa  City; 
Mrs.  John  WiUiams  and  Mrs.  J.  M.  Seaver,  of  Des  Moines. 
James  Horrabin  died  at  the  residence  of  his  daughter,  Mrs. 
Williams.  He  was  an  invalid  for  fifteen  years  prior  to  his 
death.  His  beloved  wife  had  preceded  him  to  the  Great  Be- 
yond. 

The  William  Horrabin  Paving  Company  and  The  William 
Horrabin  Sand  and  Material  Company  are  widely-known  en- 
terprises of  Iowa  City.  William  Horrabin  is  the  president  and 
general  manager  of  both  concerns,  the  headquarters  of  which 
are  located  at  15  East  College  street.  Ninety-five  per  cent  of 
the  brick  and  bitulithic  paving  in  Iowa  City  has  been  done  by 
the  Horrabin  company,  two  of  their  principal  contracts  being 
Iowa  avenue  and  Bloomington  street.  This  firm  did  a  large 
part  of  the  important  construction  for  the  Iowa  City  Water 
Works;  built  the  power  house  and  tunnel  work  of  the  State 
University  of  Iowa,  the  University  dam  across  the  Iowa  river, 
the  large  concrete  culvert  across  Iowa  avenue,  and  most  of  the 
concrete  sidewalks  of  Iowa  City.  The  plant  of  The  William 
Horrabin  Sand  and  Material  Company  is  located  at  Horrabin 


678        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

station,  on  the  Chicago,  Rock  Island  &  Pacific  railroad,  five 
mile  ssouth  of  Iowa  City,  and  is  completely  equipped  with 
modern  machinery  both  for  manufacture  and  for  loading  cars 
for  shipment.  It  has  a  capacity  of  two  thousand  cars,  and  in 
addition  to  sand  products  handles  Portland  cement  and  other 
concrete  construction  materials.  Our  subject  is  also  a  mem- 
ber of  the  James  Horrabin  Contracting  Company,  of  Des 

Moines. 

The  Iowa  City  company  has  done  street  paving,  sewer  and 
concrete  work  in  the  f  ollo^\ing  Iowa  towns :  Grinnell,  Newton, 
Perry,  Ames,  Estherville,  Marengo,  Atlantic,  Creston,  Clar- 
inda,  Des  Moines,  Waterloo,  Waverly,  Muscatine,  and  Bed- 
ford. The  various  industries  employ  about  600  men  and  in 
1910  did  $600,000  worth  of  business  in  paving  work  alone.  The 
origin  of  the  enterprise  was  in  1891,  in  which  year  the  first 
street  paving  was  done  in  Iowa  City. 

Mr.  Horrabin 's  wife  was  formerly  Miss  Nellie  Blowers,  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania.  The  couple  have  one  son,  William 
Richard  Horrabin.  The  family  are  members  of  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  church.  Mr.  Horrabin  is  a  member  of  the  Iowa  City 
Commercial  club  and  the  Knights  of  Pythias.  He  stands  high 
as  one  of  the  progressive,  substantial  citizens  of  the  state. 


VACLAV  N.  MARESH 

Vaclav  N.  Maresh  is  one  of  the  best  known  men  in  Iowa  City, 
where  he  has  made  his  home  many  years.  He  was  born  in  Bo- 
hemia, November  14,  1839,  son  of  John  and  Mary  (Bolart) 
Maresh,  and  spent  his  early  life  in  his  native  country,  where  he 
w^as  educated.  After  traveling  some  time  through  different 
parts  of  Europe,  Mr.  Maresh  decided  to  seek  his  fortune  in 
America,  and  in  the  latter  part  of  April,  1866,  landed  at  New 
York  City,  Avliere  he  remained  four  months  and  then  came  to 
Iowa  City,  his  home  since,  with  the  exception  of  a  few  months 
spent  at  Brooklyn,  Iowa. 

In  youth  Mr.  Maresh  learned  the  trade  of  tinner  and  followed 
it  in  his  native  country.  He  went  from  Bohemia  to  Upper  and 
Lower  Austria,  then  returned  home.  Later  he  went  to  Ba- 
varia, remained  there  eleven  months  and  then  went  to  Witten- 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


679 


burg".  He  went  from  Wittenburg  by  way  of  the  Boden  Sea  to 
Switzerland,  living  in  Basle  for  fourteen  months,  and  then  to 
Frankf  ort-on-the-Main,  and  then  on  to  Dusseldorf .  He  visited 
Cologne  and  took  pleasure  in  examining  the  great  cathedral 
there.  Later  he  went  via  Luebeck  and  the  North  Sea  to  St. 
Petersburg,  Russia,  where  he  spent  nearly  a  year  and  a  half. 
During  the  time  that  he  was  in  St.  Petersburg  he  put  in  his 
spare  time  in  seeing  the  things  of  interest  there  and  was  for- 
tunate enough  to  see  a  grand  ball  in  the  Imperial  Palace.  In 
returning  to  his  native  home  he  stopped  over  at  Berlin  and 


RESIDENCE  OF  VACLAV  N.  MARESH 


Dresden.  He  did  not  remain  long  there,  however,  but  returned 
to  Hamburg,  from  which  place  he  sailed  for  America  in  1866, 
being  then  about  twenty-seven  years  of  age. 

Upon  locating  in  Iowa  City  Mr.  Maresh  engaged  in  business 
for  himself  and  in  1870  established  a  store  in  company  with 
Joseph  Holubar,  under  the  firm  name  of  Maresh  &  Holubar, 
hardware  dealers,  in  Iowa  City.  At  that  time  tinware  and 
stoves  were  handled  in  hardware  stores,  and  the  tin  and  cop- 
per articles  for  sale  in  this  establishment  were  made  by  hand 
in  their  tin  shop.  Mr.  Maresh  also  became  the  largest  manu- 
facturer of  galvanized  iron  cornices  and  tin  and  slate  roofing 
west  of  Chicago,  and  shipped  his  product  to  various  western 


680        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

states.  In  1875  the  firm  erected  a  two-story  business  building 
on  Dubuque  street,  using  the  first  floor  as  a  retail  store  and  the 
second  floor  for  the  manufacture  of  their  product.  In  1882 
they  erected  the  building  now  occupied  by  the  firm  of  Maresh 
Brothers.  The  firm  continued  in  operation  until  1900,  when 
its  members  retired  from  active  life  and  were  succeeded  by 
Maresh  Brothers,  now  carrying  on  the  business.  They  had 
built  up  a  large  and  prosperous  business  and  had  a  good  pat- 
ronage. Being  men  of  business  integrity  and  enterprise,  they 
won  a  good  standing  in  the  community. 

In  1867  Mr.  Maresh  married  Miss  Antoinette  Miller,  a  native 
of  Bohemia,  who  came  to  America  with  her  father  in  1857. 
Seven  children  were  born  of  this  union :  Mrs.  Emma  A.  Yet- 
ters ;  Mrs.  Lillian  Choate ;  Delia  married  Thomas  Chadima,  of 
Cedar  Rapids ;  William  ;  George,  practicing  medicine  at  River- 
side, Iowa ;  and  Reginald,  a  dentist  of  Cedar  Rapids. 

The  family  are  members  of  the  Unitarian  church  and  Mr. 
Maresh  belongs  to  Iowa  City  Lodge  No.  4,  A.  F.  &  A.  M. ;  Royal 
Arch  Chapter  No.  2,  Palestine  Commandery  No.  2,  El  Kaliir 
Temple  of  the  Mystic  Shrine,  of  Cedar  Rapids.  He  is  a 
man  of  liberal  views  and  takes  an  active  interest  in  local  af- 
fairs. He  has  a  large  number  of  friends  and  is  held  in  high 
esteem  by  all  who  know  him. 


EDWARD  C.  FURHMEISTER 

The  residences  of  the  first  settlers  of  Johnson  county  were 
primitive  affairs,  built  usually  of  logs,  ofttimes  without  the 
formality  of  hewing  —  crude  in  architectural  design  and  hur- 
riedly erected  in  order  to  provide  shelter  for  the  waiting  wife 
and  children.  Of  the  thousands  of  such  structures  built  dur- 
ing the  pioneer  period  of  1832-56  but  few  remain  intact.  The 
engraving  herewith  is  taken  from  an  actual  late  photograph  of 
the  pioneer  cabin  of  Christopher  Furhmeister,  built  by  him 
upon  his  government  claim  in  Big  Grove  township  in  the  late 
forties.  Into  this  home  Mr.  Furhmeister  took  his  young  bride, 
and  within  its  walls  all  the  children  of  his  household  were  born, 
including  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  Edward  C.  Furhmeister. 
The  building  is  a  fine  type  of  the  original  homes  of  Johnson 
county,  and  is  one  of  the  few  now  standing. 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


681 


Edward  C.  Furlimeister  was  born  October  7,  1855,  and  he 
was  the  second  of  five  chiklren  of  Christopher  and  Caroline 
(Rhineheimer)  Fnrhmeister.  The  father  was  born  in  Grer- 
many  and  the  mother  in  Ohio  of  German  parents.  Christo- 
pher Fnrhmeister  came  to  America  with  his  parents  when  sev- 
enteen years  of  age  and  settled  in  Big  Grove  township.  Soon 
after  his  arrival  he  entered  the  land  from  the  government  on 
which  our  subject  now  resides,  building  the  cabin  as  before 
mentioned.  He  lived  upon  and  farmed  this  land  for  about 
twenty-five  years,  adding  thereto  until,  at  the  time  of  his  death 
in  1886,  he  owned  546  acres.     All  this  land,  with  the  exception 


THE  FUHRMEISTER  HOME 


of  thirty-six  acres,  is  now  owned  by  his  children.  About  the 
year  1865  the  elder  Fnrhmeister  bought  a  new  farm  in  Linn 
county,  moving  thereupon  and  remaining  until  his  death.  He 
w^as  the  father  of  five  children,  as  follows:  Henry,  who  died 
when  five  years  old ;  our  subject ;  Mary,  died  in  infancy ;  Lou- 
isa, now  Mrs.  J.  C.  Chamberlain,  living  in  Linn  county ;  Peter, 
living  in  Linn  county ;  Carrie,  living  with  her  mother  in  Ely, 
Iowa.  Father  Fnrhmeister  was  justice  of  the  peace  for  a 
good  many  years,  and  was  county  supervisor  for  several  terms 
during  the  time  when  supervisors  were  chosen  from  each  town- 
ship. He  was  a  man  of  strong  personality  and  made  a  success 
of  life.     His  ^\TLdow  survives  at  an  advanced  age. 


682        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

Farming  lias  been  the  life  work  of  Edward  C.  Furlimeister. 
Born  and  raised  on  a  farm,  he  has  never  departed  therefrom. 
He  began  actually  for  himself  at  the  age  of  twenty-three,  and 
when  twenty-seven  years  old  he  bought  a  tract  of  110  acres; 
this  he  added  to  until  today  his  holdings  in  Big  Grove  township 
approximate  260  acres.  In  1879  he  was  married  to  Miss  Lu- 
cinda  Gee,  daughter  of  Godf  ried  Gee,  an  old  pioneer  of  John- 
son county.  Three  children  has  blessed  this  union :  Ella  M., 
now  Mrs.  John  W.  Neiderhiser,  residing  in  Linn  county ;  Mar- 
tha, living  at  home ;  Ernest,  living  at  home. 

Mr.  Furhmeister  holds  allegiance  to  the  democratic  party, 
and  has  been  honored  with  positions  of  trust.  He  was  assessor 
of  Big  Grove  township  for  seven  years  and  township  trustee 
for  six  years.  He  is  at  present  county  supervisor,  having 
served  two  years.  Has  been  a  member  of  the  board  of  educa- 
tion since  1879.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Furhmeister  are  affiliated  with 
the  English  Lutheran  church. 


JOSEPH  SLEZAK 


Frequent  reference  will  be  found  in  this  volume  to  the  suc- 
cesses achieved  by  the  native  sons  of  Austria-Hungary  who, 
having  renounced  allegiance  to  the  throne  of  Vienna,  have  se- 
lected America  as  the  country  of  their  adoption  and  Iowa  as 
the  state  of  their  residence.  Johnson  county  furnishes  many 
examples  of  the  progress  of  these  people,  as  the  pages  of  this 
history  will  verify.  It  looks  as  if  a  good  formula  for  success 
would  read  about  as  follows:  Be  born  in  Austria-Hungary; 
remove  to  America,  and  settle  in  Johnson  county,  Iowa.  This 
may  have  a  humorous  aspect,  but  it  is  stern  fact  in  eastern 
Iowa. 

A  prominent  example  of  the  truth  of  the  preceding  para- 
graph is  found  in  the  person  of  Joseph  Slezak,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch.  When  eight  years  of  age,  Mr.  Slezak  emigrated 
with  his  parents,  John  and  Anna  Slezak,  direct  from  Austria 
to  Linn  county,  Iowa.  That  w^as  in  the  year  1855.  The  family 
remained  in  Linn  county  until  1870,  when  they  removed  to 
Johnson  county.  Here  the  parents  died  at  a  ripe  old  age.  In 
those  early  days  educational  advantages  were  limited,  and,  as 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


683 


the  times  necessitated  the  labor  of  the  entire  family  upon  the 
farm,  our  subject  had  to  content  himself  with  such  schooling  as 
could  be  secured  in  the  district  school,  putting  in  most  of  his 
time  and  effort  in  tilling  the  soil  of  the  home  farm  in  Linn 
county.  On  the  removal  of  the  family  to  Johnson  county,  how- 
ever, he  entered  the  hotel  and  grocery  business  at  Iowa  City, 
continuing  therein  for  thirty-one  years.  He  began  operations 
in  a  large  building  which  he  erected  himself.  Nine  years  ago 
he  retired,  well-to-do  in  this  world's  goods.  As  evidence  of 
his  success  it  may  be  stated  that  at  the  time  of  his  death  he 
owned  four  large  buildings  in  Iowa  City  and  480  acres  of  val- 
uable land  in  Arkansas.     His  standing  as  a  citizen  was  of  the 


RESIDENCE  OF   JOSEPH   SLEZAK 


highest,  and  he  was  known  as  a  public-spirited  man  who  took  a 
personal  interest  in  every  worthy  enterprise  for  the  advance- 
ment of  the  community.  Thus  the  boy,  born  in  Austria-Hun- 
gary February  11, 1847,  had  developed  into  the  successful,  well- 
rounded  citizen  of  Iowa. 

In  the  year  of  his  removal  to  Iowa  City  (1870)  Mr.  Slezak 
was  married  to  Miss  Eva  Til,  also  a  native  of  Austria-Hun- 
gary, who  came  to  America  with  her  parents  when  a  small 
child.  She  proved  a  worthy  helpmeet,  and  proudly  rejoices  in 
the  success  of  her  husband.  Twelve  children  were  born  to  this 
worthy  couple,  of  whom  seven  are  living.     The  names  of  the 


684        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

survivors  are :  Anna,  the  eldest,  now  Mrs.  Joseph  Holub,  of 
Iowa  City  (see  sketch  of  Mr.  Hohib  elsewhere)  ;  Frank,  mar- 
ried and  living-  in  Cedar  Rapids,  where  he  is  engaged  in  the 
wholesale  cigar  and  tobacco  business ;  John,  married  and  en- 
gaged in  broom  manufacturing  in  Iowa  City ;  Bertha,  wife  of 
Charles  Lantz,  a  banker  in  Washington  county ;  Ella,  now  Mrs. 
Tribyl,  hving  in  Iowa  City ;  Alma,  now  Mrs.  Lou  Berger,  re- 
siding on  a  farm  in  South  Dakota  ;  Leo,  living  at  home,  holds  a 
fine  position  with  the  Iowa  City  State  bank. 

Following  the  rehgious  training  of  his  early  life,  Mr.  Slezak 
was  a  member  of  the  CathoHc  church.  In  politics  he  was  a  dem- 
ocrat, and  took  that  dignified  activity  in  political  matters  which 
is  the  duty  of  every  American  citizen. 

Mr.  Slezak  passed  away  at  the  residence  on  Brown  street  on 
January  9,  1912.  He  left  a  great  many  friends  and  the  ac- 
quaintances of  many  years  to  mourn  his  loss. 


FRANK  KIMBALL  STEBBINS 

Frank  Kimball  Stebbins  belongs  to  an  old  and  honored  fam- 
ily of  Iowa  City,  of  which  place  he  is  a  native,  born  February 
17,  1856,  the  year  the  Cedar  Rapids  railroad  was  built  to  the 
city.  He  is  a  son  of  Walter  S.  and  Sarah  (Spicer)  Stebbins, 
the  former  a  native  of  New  York  and  the  latter  of  Pennsyl- 
vania. In  early  days  Walter  S.  Stebbins  conducted  a  meat 
market  at  the  southeast  corner  of  Dubuque  street  and  Iowa 
avenue,  in  company  with  Mr.  Kimball,  and  this  corner  has  been 
occupied  by  a  meat  market  since  the  year  1857.  He  was  a  son 
of  Caleb  Stebbins  and  one  of  ten  children,  of  whom  tM^o  daugh- 
ters came  to  Iowa  City  in  1850  and  died  there,  their  names 
being:  Rebecca,  who  married  Jacob  N.  Seydel,  and  Elizabeth, 
who  married  Michael  Seydel.  Caleb  Stebbins  remained  but  a 
short  time  in  Iowa  City.  He  came  to  Chicago  from  New  York 
in  1840  and  occupied  his  time  in  the  west  buying  and  selling 
land.  He  lived  successively  in  Des  Moines  and  Council  Bluffs 
and  later  went  to  Minnesota,  being  there  at  the  time  of  Indian 
troubles. 

Walter  Stebbins  and  wife  are  buried  in  Oakland  cemetery. 
The  father  died  in  1900,  at  the  ag'e  of  sixty-seven  years,  and 


BIOGRAPHICAL  685 

the  mother  died  in  1897  at  the  same  age.  Of  their  chihlren 
Frank  Kimball  is  the  eldest ;  Mary  died  yomig ;  Kate  lives  in 
Iowa  City;  Luella  married  Dr.  John  J.  Kessing  and  lives  at 
Oakland,  California;  Ruth  died  young;  Thomas,  deceased; 
Miss  Lida,  of  Iowa  City.  Miss  Kate  and  Miss  Lida  occupy 
their  cozy  home  which  was  ercted  in  1909  at  the  old  home  site, 
810  North  Linn  street. 

Frank  K.  Stebbins  attended  the  public  schools  of  Iowa  City 
and  in  1872,  being  then  sixteen  years  of  age,  became  associated 
with  his  father  for  the  firm  of  Kimball,  Stebbins  &  Meyer.  In 
1883  the  name  was  changed  to  Frank  K.  Stebbins  and  business 
was  continued  in  the  old  location  bv  Mr.  Stebbins  alone.     He 


RESIDENCE  OF  FRANK  K.  STEBBINS 

subsequently  became  interested  in  other  enterprises  and  has 
proven  a  man  of  business  acumen  and  foresight.  He  owns  val- 
uable city  property  and  has  taken  a  prominent  part  in  local 
political  affairs.  He  is  an  ardent  republican  in  politics  and  in 
1897  was  elected  mayor  of  Iowa  City,  being  reelected,  serving 
eight  years  altogether.  He  wa's  nominated  six  times  and  elect- 
ed four  times,  the  times  of  his  defeat  showing  a  very  close 
margin.  During  his  administration  of  the  city's  affairs  public 
improvements  received  much  attention.  He  devoted  himself 
wholly  to  the  interests  of  the  people  and  worked  zealously  and 
indefatigably  to  promote  various  movements.  When  he  as- 
sumed office  very  little  paving  had  been  done,  but  at  the  close 
of  his  last  term  a  great  deal  had  been  accomplished  along  this 


686        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

line.  He  also  was  instrumental  in  establishing  the  sewer  sys- 
tem which  has  had  an  important  part  in  promoting  the  city's 
growth  and  sanitary  condition.  He  has  represented  his  party 
in  county,  state  and  congressional  conventions.  He  cast  his 
first  presidential  vote  in  1884.  He  was  president  of  the  Com- 
mercial Club  several  terms  and  during  this  time  the  new  post- 
office  building  was  erected.  He  helped  organize  the  State 
Municipal  League,  in  1899,  and  served  as  its  president  one 
term.  He  is  a  forceful  speaker,  showing  careful  thought  of  any 
matter  under  discussion,  and  is  able  to  express  his  views  in  a 
manner  that  leaves  no  doubt  of  his  sentiments.  He  has  been  a 
member  of  Camp  No.  189,  M.  W.  A.,  for  twenty-five  years  and 
was  a  member  of  the  State  Council  two  terms  and  six  times  a 
delegate  to  the  national  organization.  He  also  belongs  to  the 
Elks  in  Iowa  City.  He  is  popular  in  all  these  various  organiza- 
tions and  has  many  friends  in  all  circles.     He  is  unmarried. 


SAMUEL  SHARPLESS  (Deceased) 

The  late  Samuel  Sharpless,  of  Iowa  City,  belonged  to  an  old 
family  and  was  of  the  sixth  generation  known  to  the  American 
branch  here  represented.  The  American  family  was  founded 
by  John  Sharpless,  who  was  born  at  Wybunburg,  Cheshire, 
England,  August  15,  1624,  and  died  near  Chester,  Pennsyl- 
vania, April  11, 1685.  He  was  married,  April  27, 1662,  to  Jane 
Moor,  and  of  their  union  eight  children  were  born,  one  of 
whom,  John,  was  the  third  child  and  progenitor  of, the  branch 
described  below.  The  latter  was  born  at  Blakenhall,  Pennsyl- 
vania, November  16,  1666,  and  died  July  9,  1747.  He  married 
Hannah  Pennell,  September  23,  1692,  in  Chester,  now  Dela- 
ware county,  Pennsylvania,  who  was  born  July  23,  1673,  and 
died  October  31,  1721.  Of  this  union  nine  children  were  born, 
Daniel,  the  youngest,  at  Ridley,  December  24, 1710-11,  and  died 
at  the  same  place,  then  Nether  Providence,  August  17,  1775. 
On  February  13,  1736,  at  Springfield  meeting,  he  was  married 
to  Sarah  Coppeck,  who  was  born  July  22,  1712,  and  died  No- 
vember 30,  1797.  This  couple  had  five  children,  of  whom 
Thomas,  the  eldest,  was  grandfather  of  the  subject  of  this 
sketch. 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


687 


Thomas  Sliarpless  was  born  at  Ridley,  now  Nether  Prov- 
idence, August  29,  1738,  and  died  in  Chester,  Pennsylvania,  in 
1796.  On  June  23,  1763,  he  married  Martha  Preston,  who  was 
born  June  22,  1744,  and  died  October  6,  1797.  They  had  eight 
children,  of  whom  George  was  the  eldest  and  became  the  father 
of  Samuel,  whose  name  heads  this  article. 

General  George  Sharpless  was  born  at  Chester,  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  married  Miss  Ann  Sackett,  who  was  born  in  Massa- 
chusetts in  1752.  He  removed  to  Wilmington,  Delaware,  in 
1802,  and  there  learned  the  trade  of  potter.  In  1807  he  moved 
to  Belmont  county,  Ohio,  where  his  children  were  born.     His 


THE  SHARPLESS  HOMESTEAD 


wife  belonged  to  one  of  the  old  and  intiuential  families  of  Penn- 
sylvania and  her  grandfather.  Dr.  Samuel  Syoel,  was  a  ser- 
geant in  the  Revolutionary  War.  Three  children  were  born  to 
George  Sliarpless  and  wife :  Tildward,  who  was  drowned  in 
childhood,  in  the  creek  near  the  old  woolen  mill  which  was 
owned  by  his  father ;  Samuel  is  the  subject  of  this  sketch ; 
Martha  Jane,  born  in  January,  1825,  died  at  Martinsville,  Ohio, 
in  October,  1865,  and  left  a  large  family.  The  latter  was  the 
wife  of  H.  M.  Smith,  and  of  her  children  who  were  left,  a 
daughter,  Ada,  was  reared  by  Mrs.  Samuel  Sharpless,  of  Iowa 
City,  being  educated  in  Iowa  City  Academy  and  in  a  conserva- 


688        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

tory  of  music,  of  Boston,  Massachusetts.  She  also  studied 
French  under  a  special  tutor  in  Boston  and  became  a  very  ac- 
comphshed  young  lady.  She  married  William  Sturtzman,  an 
attorney,  of  Burhngton,  Iowa,  now  of  Mandan,  North  Dakota, 
who  is  a  graduate  of  Iowa  State  University,  and  three  children 
have  been  born  to  this  couple,  as  follows :  Charlotte,  is  a  stu- 
dent in  college  at  Jamestown,  North  Dakota ;  Eugenia,  a  daugh- 
ter ;  and  William,  the  only  son. 

Samuel  Sharpless,  a  direct  descendant  of  the  John  Sharpless 
of  Cheshire,  England,  wdio  came  to  Pennsylvania  with  the  col- 
ony of  William  Penn,  became  an  influential  man  in  Johnson 
county  affairs.  For  nearly  a  quarter  century  he  served  as  a 
director  of  Johnson  County  Savings  bank,  and  at  his  death 
this  body  passed  a  touching  set  of  resolutions  and  presented 
the  same  to  his  widow\  His  business  ability  and  worth  were 
much  appreciated  and  esteemed  by  his  associates  and  his  name 
came  to  stand  for  uprightness  and  fair  dealing.  He  passed 
away  June  5,  1901,  and  was  sincerely  mourned  by  the  entire 
community.  He  was  identified  with  Iowa  City  in  its  early 
days  and  helped  nurse  many  infant  industries  there.  He  pro- 
moted many  worthy  measures  and  always  took  an  active  in- 
terest in  public  affairs.  He  came  to  the  city  in  1865,  soon  after 
the  close  of  the  war.  He  was  born  near  Bridgeport,  Belmont 
county,  Ohio,  in  1822,  and  grew  to  manhood  in  his  native  state. 
He  acquired  his  early  education  in  the  public  schools  and  spent 
three  years  at  Madison  college.  He  became  a  prominent  man 
of  affairs  and  the  owner  of  large  farming  interests.  He  was 
never  actively  engaged  in  farming  but  supervised  various 
farming  industries  to  good  advantage. 

In  1857  Mr.  Sharpless  married  Mrs.  Priscilla  (Crain)  Smith, 
widow  of  Rev.  Smith  and  daughter  of  Andrew  Crain.  Her 
father,  Andrew  Crain,  is  mentioned  further  in  a  succeeding 
paragraph  of  this  sketch.  Samuel  Sharpless  and  Priscilla 
Crain  knew  each  other  from  childhood  and  grew  up  in  the  same 
neighborhood  in  Ohio.  Both  became  members  of  the  Presby- 
terian church,  of  which  Mr.  Sharpless  served  as  an  elder  for 
over  a  quarter  of  a  century.  No  children  were  born  of  their 
union. 

Mr.  Sharpless  was  one  of  the  largest  capitalists  of  Iowa  City 
and  made  a  business  of  loaning  money  on  real  estate.     He  be- 


BIOGRAPHICAL  689 

came  the  owner  of  extensive  farm  lands  in  Johnson  connty  and 
invested  in  various  local  enterprises.  In  pohtics  he  was  a 
whig  in  early  life,  but  joined  the  republican  party  at  its  in- 
ception, becoming-  active  in  party  councils.  He  served  as  a 
member  of  Iowa  City  council.  He  was  a  substantial  business 
man  and  a  devout  christian  and  upon  his  death  had  the  stead- 
fast hope  of  joining  his  many  friends  on  the  other  side.  His 
widow  is  a  woman  of  culture  and  refinement,  being  well  edu- 
cated and  taking  great  pleasure  in  continuing  work  begun  by 
her  husband  in  preserving  the  records  of  the  Sharpless  family, 
of  which  he  was  very  proud,  as  well  he  might  be.  She  is  in  her 
eighty-fifth  year,  but  is  vigorous  in  mind  and  body  and  enjoys 
the  companionship  of  her  many  friends. 

Andrew  Crain,  Mrs.  Sharpless 's  father,  was  a  native  of 
Dauphin  county,  Pennsylvania,  born  December  25,  1793,  and 
served  under  Capt.  John  McClintock  in  the  War  of  1812.  He 
was  of  Scotch-Irish  descent.  In  1813  he  located  in  Uniontown, 
Pennsylvania.  He  married  Sarah  Gaddis,  of  Scotch  descent, 
whose  parents  settled  in  Virginia  in  an  early  day,  their  union 
taking  place  at  Uniontown.  Mr.  Crain  was  a  general  merchant 
and  came  to  Iowa  City  in  1851.  For  a  short  time  he  conducted 
a  general  store  at  Solon,  Johnson  county,  then  moved  to  Big 
Grove  township,  Johnson  county,  and  later  went  to  Wapello, 
Iowa,  where  he  was  engaged  in  mercantile  business  when  his 
wife  died.  He  and  his  wife  were  devout  Presbyterians.  He 
died  at  the  age  of  eighty-five  years,  at  the  old  Sharpless  home, 
the  residence  of  his  daughter,  on  North  Clinton  street,  Iowa 
City. 


JOSEPH  F.  HOLUB 

Joseph  F.  Holub,  a  prominent  and  successful  merchant  and 
hotel-keeper  of  Iowa  City,  is  a  self-made  man  and  has  won  the 
respect  and  good-will  of  his  fellow  citizens,  being  always  ready 
to  promote  any  public  enterprise.  He  is  a  native  of  Bohemia, 
born  January  8,  1867,  and  came  to  America  with  his  parents 
when  he  was  one  year  old.  He  is  a  son  of  Joseph  and  Anna 
(Zajicek)  Holub,  now  residents  of  Richmond,  Washington 
county,  Iowa,  where  they  located  upon  coming  to  this  country. 
They  had  three  children :  William,  who  died  some  thirty-four 


690 


HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 


years  ago ;  Mrs.  Emma  Boyd,  of  Aurora,  111. ;  and  Joseph  F., 
the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

After  completing  a  course  in  the  common  schools  Joseph  F. 
Holub  attended  Elliott's  Business  College  at  Burlington,  Iowa, 
and  later  became  a  clerk  in  the  employ  of  Denecke  &  Yetter,  in 
their  dry  goods  store  at  Iowa  City.  He  continued  with  them 
until  about  1900,  when  he  embarked  in  business  for  himself  on 


THE  HOLUB  HOTEL  AND  STOKE 

North  Linn  street.  He  has  an  up-to-date  grocery  and  a  well- 
kept  hotel  and  has  a  good  patronage  in  both  lines.  He  is  genial 
and  social  by  nature  and  has  a  host  of  friends.  In  religious 
views  he  is  a  Catholic,  being  a  member  of  St.  Wenceslaus 
church.     In  politics  he  is  a  democrat. 

In  1892  Mr.  Holub  was  united  in  marriage  with  Anna  Slazek, 
of  Iowa  City,  where  they  have  a  pleasant  home.  One  son  has 
been  born  to  them,  William  J.,  born  in  1892,  who  assists  his 
father  in  business. 


JOHN  DEATSCH 


John  Deatsch  and  wife  are  among  the  well  known  farmers  of 
Liberty  township,  and  have  long  been  identified  with  local  af- 
fairs. Since  1891  they  have  resided  on  what  was  formerly  the 
old  Nicholas  Birrer  farm,  which  comprises  120  acres  of  well 
cultivated  land,  and  they  still  own  the  old  log  house  which  was 
long  the  Birrer  home.     Mr.  Deatsch  was  born  in  Alsace,  Ger- 


BIOGRAPHICAL  691 

many,  May  3,  1846,  son  of  Sebastian  and  Mary  Ann  (Shore) 
Deatsch.  He  was  brought  to  America  when  he  was  six  years 
of  age.  Sebastian  and  Mary  Ann  Deatsch  had  l)ut  two  chil- 
dren, one  of  whom,  Sebastian,  Jr.,  born  in  1842,  (Ued  in  Cah- 
fornia  in  1909,  leaving  a  widow  and  six  children.  The  Deatsch 
family  located  a  half-miles  west  of  the  Nichalos  Suppel  farm 
in  Washington  county,  Iowa,  and  lived  there  the  remainder  of 
their  lives.  They  were  buried  in  the  Schnoebelin  cemetery  in 
Washington  county.  Their  son  John  remained  with  them  until 
they  passed  away  and  he  and  his  wife  occupied  the  old  home- 
stead until  1891,  when  they  purchased  their  present  place. 


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EESIDENCE  OF  JOHN  DEATSCH 

Mr.  Deatsch  was  educated  in  the  district  school,  and  on  June 
1,  1871,  married  Catherine  Rummelhart,  their  union  taking 
place  in  St.  Stanislaus  church.  Rev.  Knepley  officiating.  They 
lived  with  Mr.  Deatsch 's  mother,  who  died  in  1872,  at  the  age  of 
seventy-three  years.  Fifteen  children  were  born  to  this  couple, 
seven  of  whom,  including  twins,  died  in  infancy.  The  other 
eight  were  as  follows :  Frances,  married  Victor  Mongen  and 
they  have  ten  children;  John,  Jr.,  of  Riverside,  married  An- 
toinette Wombacher  and  they  have  five  children ;  George,  mar- 
ried Josephine  Birrer  and  they  have  five  children,  as  men- 
tioned in  the  sketch  of  the  family  which  appears  in  this  work ; 
Flora,  married  Louis  Lanberg,  of  Clear  Creek,  and  they  have 
six  sons  and  one  daughter;  Mary  Helen,  married  Ray  Wom- 


692        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

bacher  and  they  have  six  children;  Jacob  is  unmarried;  Lo- 
vina  is  the  wife  of  Warren  Hall,  of  Riverside,  and  they  have 
one  daughter ;  Margaret,  married  Henry  Birrer,  as  mentioned 
in  the  sketch  of  the  Birrer  family,  and  they  have  one  son,  Clar- 
ence. The  children  enumerated  above  were  reared  in  the  Cath- 
olic faith  and  remain  faithful  to  its  teachings.  There  are 
thirty-five  grandchildren  in  the  family.  They  have  a  good 
standing  in  the  community  and  Mr.  Deatsch  has  served  as 
trustee  of  the  township,  road  supervisor  and  school  director. 
He  is  a  democrat  in  political  belief. 

On  the  first  day  of  June,  1913,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Deatsch 
celebrated  the  fortv-second  anniversarv  of  their  wedding  at 
their  comfortable  home  in  Hills,  Iowa.  The  occasion  brought 
together  one  of  the  largest  families  of  the  section,  Francis 
Rummelhart  with  125  descendants  sitting  down  to  dinner.  Of 
these,  eight  were  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Deatsch  and  37  were 
grandchildren.  The  total  number  of  guests  was  over  200.  All 
of  those  present  spent  the  day  in  visiting  together  and  in  enjoy- 
ing the  host  of  good  things  in  the  w^ay  of  eatables  which  the 
Germans  know  how  to  provide.  All  join  in  the  wish  that  the 
happy  couple  ^vi[\  live  to  enjoy  many  more  such  days. 

Mrs.  Deatsch 's  father,  Francis  Xavier  Rummelhart,  was 
born  in  Alsace,  Germany,  March  26,  1827,  a  son  of  Joseph  and 
Catherine  Rummelhart,  also  natives  of  Alsace.  His  mother 
was  born  in  1796  and  died  November  9,  1864,  and  his  father 
was  born  October  28,  1792  and  died  November  28,  1858.  Both 
are  buried  in  St.  Stanislaus  cemetery.  Joseph  Rummelhart 
fought  under  the  great  Napoleon.  He  and  his  wife  came  to 
America  when  their  son  Francis  D.  was  onlv  one  vear  old, 
spending  sixty-four  days  in  an  old  sailing  vessel  and  landing  at 
New  York  City.  They  went  to  Albany  by  steamer  and  thence 
to  Ohio.  They  located  at  Massillon,  Stark  county,  and  there 
the  father  followed  his  trade  of  mason.  That  was  a  pioneer 
region  at  the  time  and  he  also  cleared  his  farm,  which  he  later 
entered.  He  erected  a  round  log  house  and  there  several  chil- 
dren were  born  to  him  and  his  wife.  He  subsequently  put  up 
a  hewed  log  house,  where  the  remainder  of  the  children  were 
born. 

With  his  wife  and  seven  children,  Joseph  Rummelhart  ar- 
rived in  Iowa  City,  Johnson  county,  Iowa,  in  November,  1852, 


BIOGRAPHICAL  G93 

having  acquaintances  in  Liberty  township.  In  the  spring  of 
that  year  he  and  his  son  Francis  had  made  a  trip  to  that  com- 
munity to  look  over  the  land,  and  had  paid  eight  hundred  dol- 
lars for  the  claim  of  George  Fessler.  Returning  to  Ohio,  they 
sold  their  farm  there  and  in  November  returned  to  the  place 
which  became  the  permanent  family  home,  and  where  Francis 
still  remains.  The  place  contained  an  old  hewed  log  house 
with  a  rough,  unfinished  floor,  which  Mr.  Rummelhart  and  his 
son  remodelled,  at  the  same  time  erecting  an  addition  to  it. 
But  a  few  acres  had  been  put  under  cultivation  and  they  set 
about  to  make  needed  improvements.  Both  became  original 
members  of  St.  Stanislaus  church.  They  added  to  the  extent 
of  the  farm  and  made  it  productive  and  valuable.  Part  of  it 
has  been  divided  among  the  children. 

Francis  D.  Rummelhart,  like  other  farmers  of  the  day  and 
locality,  carried  on  operations  with  a  single  shovel  plow,  used 
a  cradle  and  scythe  to  harvest  his  grain,  and  has  lived  to  see  a 
w^onderful  evolution  in  farm  implements,  to  the  day  of  the 
modern  farm  machinerv.  He  has  served  as  trustee  of  the 
township,  road  supervisor,  and  in  other  local  offices,  and  is  held 
in  high  regard.  He  gave  up  active  life  in  1893  and  his  land 
has  been  divided  among  his  children,  although  he  still  resides 
on  it. 

On  October  23, 1849,  Francis  Rummelhart  married  Catherine 
Beizler,  daughter  of  John  and  Mary  Ann  (Newsbaum)  Beizler, 
wdiose  father  died  in  Ohio  and  her  mother  in  Alsace,  Germany. 
They  were  married  at  Harrisburg,  Ohio,  and  lived  to  celebrate 
their  golden  wedding  anniversary.  Mrs.  Rummelhart  died 
August  21,  1907,  having  borne  thirteen  children,  ten  of  whom 
survive,  as  follows:  Catherine,  Mrs.  John  Deatsch;  Josephine, 
wife  of  George  Birrer ;  Frank  and  August,  twins,  the  former 
of  Washington  county;  Mary,  .wife  of  John  Plough,  of  Iowa 
City ;  Flora,  wife  of  John  Knebel,  county  supervisor ;  Joseph 
(2)  married  Irene  Wombacher  and  liad  nine  children,  seven  of 
whom  survive,  and  they  live  on  the  home  place ;  Ella  is  the  wife 
of  Rina  Schnoebelin  and  they  live  at  Riverside;  John  is  un- 
married; Louis  (2)  married  Mary  Wombacher  and  resides  at 
Riverside ;  Frank  died  in  infancy ;  Joseph  died  young  and  the 
first  Louis  died  in  childliood.     There  are  fifty-one  grandchil- 


694        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

clren  and  forty-four  great-grandcliildren  in  the  family,  all  bap- 
tized Catholics  except  two. 

When  the  Rummelharts  first  settled  in  Liberty  township 
there  were  no  houses  between  their  farm  and  Riverside,  three 
miles  distant,  and  their  nearest  neighbor  was  Squire  Gregory 
Gross,  one  of  the  very  early  settlers  of  the  region.  They  at- 
tend St.  Mary's  church  at  Riverside.  Mr.  Rummelhart  is  a 
democrat  in  politics  and  has  attended  several  county  conven- 
tions as  delegate.  Their  present  brick  dwelling  was  erected 
in  1883  and  the  old  log  house  torn  down  in  1893.  A  fine  barn 
was  erected  in  1898. 


JOHN  KALIBAN 


John  Kaliban  is  one  of  the  best  known  farmers  of  Jefferson 
township,  Johnson  county,  where  he  has  resided  since  1852, 
with  the  exception  of  one  year  spent  in  Cedar  Rapids.  He  is  a 
substantial  and  upright  citizen,  has  been  active  in  local  affairs 
and  has  made  many  warm  friends.  He  was  born  in  Bohemia 
March  25,  1850,  son  of  John  and  Mary  (Bys)  Kaliban,  also 
natives  of  that  country,  and  their  only  child.  The  parents 
were  reared  and  married  in  Bohemia,  and  when  their  son  was 
about  one  year  old  they  came  to  America,  locating  first  at 
Cedar  Rapids,  Iowa.  One  year  later  they  came  tp  the  farm  in 
Jefferson  township  which  is  now  the  property  of  the  son.  They 
carried  on  this  place  until  the  death  of  the  father  in  1895.  His 
widow  survived  him  two  years  and  also  passed  away  on  the 
home  farm.  They  had  made  many  improvements  and  had  done 
much  to  develop  a  good  and  productive  farm. 

Mr.  Kaliban  was  reared  and  educated  in  his  native  township 
and  when  old  enough  engaged  in  the  business  of  farming,  which 
he  continued  on  the  old  homestead  until  1906,  then  retired  from 
active  life  and  moved  to  Cedar  Rapids.  He  occupied  a  hand- 
some residence  there  and  remained  there  one  year,  but  was  not 
satisfied  with  city  life,  so  returned  to  the  home  farm,  where  he 
remained  until  March,  1912,  when  he  returned  again  to  Cedar 
Rapids.  He  still  owns  city  property,  however,  but  is  better 
pleased  with  conditions  and  surroundings  that  are  familiar 
from  many  years'  residence  among  them.     He  was  married 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


695 


January  16, 1872,  to  Miss  Annie  Kopesky,  a  native  of  Bohemia, 
who  came  to  America  Avith  her  parents  when  ten  years  old  and 
located  with  them  in  Big  Grove  township.  Her  father  lived  on 
a  farm  there  the  remainder  of  his  life  and  passed  away  in  1905, 
and  the  mother  lives  with  Mrs.  Kaliban,  being  now  eighty-three 
years  of  age.  There  were  ten  children  in  the  Kopesky  fam- 
ily, of  whom  four  now  survive :  Mrs.  Kaliban ;  Wesley,  of 
Weston;  Mrs.  Katie  Barta,  of  Linn  county;  and  Mrs.  Rose 
Kladivo,  of  Tama  county. 


RESIDENCE  OF  JOHN  KALIBAN 


Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kaliban  have  seven  children,  two  sons  and  five 
daughters :  John  and  Anton,  living  in  Linn  county,  the  form- 
er of  whom  is  married ;  Annie,  wife  of  John  Krace,  also  of 
Linn  county ;  Emma,  Mrs.  Joseph  Konasek,  of  Monroe  town- 
ship; Rose,  Mrs.  Otto  Konosek,  of  Monroe  township;  Tillie, 
Mrs.  Joseph  Phillipsky,  of  Cedar  Rapids ;  Stella  lives  at  home. 
Mr.  Kaliban  is  a  member  of  the  Catholic  church  and  in  jjolitics 
is  a  democrat.  He  has  been  toA^^nship  trustee  three  years  and 
has  served  with  satisfaction  to  all. 


696        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

FREDERICK  J.  BECKER,  M.  D. 

Dr.  Frederick  J.  Becker  is  a  physician  of  the  Homeopathic 
school,  who  has  achieved  distinction  in  the  state  of  his  birth 
and  education.  Born  in  Fayette  county,  Iowa,  in  1865,  he 
graduated  from  the  Clermont  high  school  in  the  class  of  1883 
and  from  the  Homeopathic  Medical  Department  of  the  State 
University  of  Iowa  in  1886.  This  he  supplemented  by  a  course 
at  Hahnemann  in  Philadelphia  in  1886-87,  receiving  the  degree 
of  M.  D.  In  1901-02  he  took  a  post  graduate  course  at  Berlin 
University,  Germany,  For  nearly  eight  years  he  has  been 
professor  of  Obstetrics  and  Gyneocology  in  the  Homeopathic 
Medical  Department  of  the  S.  U.  I.  He  began  practice  at  Cler- 
mont in  connection  with  his  father,  Frederick  Becker,  M.  D., 
continuing  there  for  about  two  years,  when  he  removed  to  Iowa 
City.  His  entire  length  of  practice  in  Iowa  has  been  abou. 
twelve  years,  several  years  having  been  spent  at  the  Hahne- 
mann American  Institute  of  Homeopathy  and  at  the  Homeo- 
I)atliic  Surgical  and  Obstetrical  Institute.  His  period  of  prac- 
tice in  different  parts  of  the  United  States  approximates  about 
twenty-four  years,  one  and  one-half  years  having  been  spent 
abroad.  He  is  president  of  the  Alumni  Association  of  the 
Homeopathic  Department,  S.  U,  I. 

Dr.  Becker  had  a  worthy  and  able  predecessor  in  the  person 
-of  his  father,  Frederick  Becker,  M.  D.,  who  was  born  at  Yudens- 
burg,  Germany,  January  22, 1838.  The  elder  Becker  was  edu- 
cated in  Germany  and  the  United  States.  First  he  studied 
Avith  a  preceptor  for  the  medical  profession,  and  after  practic- 
ing for  a  few  years,  took  a  course  of  lectures  at  and  graduated 
from  the  Homeopathic  Medical  Institute  of  St.  Louis.  He  was 
among  the  pioneer  physicians  of  his  school  in  Iowa,  and  en- 
dured the  hardships  and  privations  of  the  early  day  practition- 
er, horseback  iournevs  over  muddv  roads  and  swollen  streams, 
etc. 

Frederick  Becker  was  one  of  the  early  members  of  the 
Hahnemann  Medical  Association  and  one  of  the  select  few  who 
helped  to  initiate  and  execute  its  plans.  His  early  education 
caused  him  to  revere  all  state  institutions,  and  he  therefore 
realized  the  dignity  and  permanency  which  association  with 
the  State  University  would  give  Homeopathy  in  Iowa,  and  he 


BIOGRAPHICAL  697 

directed  all  his  influence  towards  securing  the  desired  affilia- 
tion. In  pursuance  of  this  effort  he  was  a  member  of  the  first 
University  Committee,  and  so  well  was  his  work  done  that  it  is 
admitted  that  to  him  in  great  measure  is  due  the  existence  of 
three  of  the  five  chairs  now  operative  in  the  College  of  Homeo- 
pathic Medicine,  S.  U.  I.  After  the  death  of  Professor  Dick- 
inson and  the  refusal  of  Professor  Triem,  who  was  acting  pro- 
fessor for  one  year,  to  continue  the  work,  Dr.  Becker  was  asked 
to  accept  the  chair  of  Theory  and  Practice  and  Clinical  Medi- 
cine. This  was  at  time  when  he  had  virtually  retired  from 
practice  and  the  activities  of  life,  and  he  at  first  refused  to 
accept  the  call ;  but  the  college  needed  a  man  of  wide  experience 
and  acquaintance  throughout  Iowa,  and  this  being  pressed  up- 
on him,  he  finally  undertook  the  work.  His  lectures  were  in- 
tensely practical,  and  his  clinics,  being  demonstrated  from  his 
long  years  of  practice  of  the  old  type,  were  greatly  valued  by 
the  students.  He  retired  from  the  chair  in  June,  1902,  and  left 
his  associate,  Benjamin  R.  Johnston,  a  younger  man,  to  suc- 
ceed him. 

The  practice  of  medicine  seems  to  be  inherent  in  the  Becker 
family  of  Iowa.  A  nephew  of  our  subject,  Boyle,  son  of  Carl 
F.  Becker,  a  graduate  of  1910,  is  now  in  the  Rochester,  New 
York,  Homeopathic  Hospital,  and  gives  promise  of  achieving 
great  proficiency  in  the  profession. 

Frederick  J.  Becker,  M.  D.,  resides  at  No.  6  Bloom  Terrace, 
Iowa  City.  He  is  an  active  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias 
and  the  B.  P.  0.  E. 


W.  II.  YOUNKIN 


William  Henry  Younkin,  enterprising  business  man  of  Lone 
Tree  and  editor  of  the  Lone  Tree  Be  po  iter,  has  exerted  a  wide- 
felt  influence  in  the  affairs  of  the  county.  He  has  helped  build 
up  various  successful  local  enterprises  and  is  one  of  the  most 
successful  editors  in  his  part  of  the  state.  He  has  made  his 
own  way  in  the  world  since  he  was  fifteen  years  of  age  and  is  a 
fine  example  of  a  self-made  man.  Mr.  Younkin  is  a  native  of 
Washington  county,  Iowa,  born  February  2,  1872,  son  of  Wil- 
liam R.  and  Mary  x\daUne  (Bray)  Younkin.  The  father  was  a 
harness  maker  and  conducted  shops  at  Ainsworth,  Yatton,  and 


698 


HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 


Riverside.  He  was  born  in  Ohio,  November  23, 1834,  and  died 
at  Riverside,  Iowa,  January  12,  1876.  The  mother  was  born 
in  Washington  county,  Iowa,  x\pril  6,  1846,  and  died  in  Lone 
Tree,  Iowa,  April  3,  1905.  They  were  parents  of  four  children. 
Mr.  Younkin  spent  his  boyhood  on  a  farm  in  Washington 
county  and  helped  with  the  work  from  the  time  he  was  old 
enough.  He  attended  the  common  schools  until  he  was  fifteen, 
but  his  education  has  been  gained  mainly  in  the  ''college  of 
hard  knocks,"  where  he  developed  into  a  man  of  strong  pur- 
pose and  high  ambition.  He  early  learned  the  lessons  of  life 
and  believes  he  has  gained  most  of  his  friends  by  dealing  fairly 
in  business  and  by  extending  a  ready  sympathy  and  f  riendsliip. 


RESmENCE  OF  W.  H.  YOUNKIX 


After  leaving  the  farm  he  engaged,  for  a  short  time,  as  clerk 
in  a  hardware  store,  then  spent  a  year  or  so  as  commercial 
salesman,  after  which  he  engaged  in  newspaper  business,  which 
he  has  followed  for  the  past  twenty  years,  having  achieved 
financial  success  in  this  venture  as  well  as  in  his  previous  un- 
dertakings. 

Mr.  Younkin  has  always  been  much  interested  in  public  af- 
fairs and  has  taken  an  active  part  in  movements  for  the  general 
good,  but  has  not  cared  for  public  office.  He  is  a  democrat  in 
politics,  served  as  councilman  of  Lone  Tree  and  performed  his 
duties  in  a  most  satisfactory  manner.     For  many  years  he 


BIOGRAPHICAL  699 

served  as  a  member  of  the  board  of  education  for  the  Inde- 
pendent District  of  Lone  Tree,  and  he  has  refused  nominations 
to  other  offices  of  honor  and  trust.  He  owns  a  farm  in  Fre- 
mont township  and  several  pieces  of  property  in  Lone  Tree. 
He  was  one  of  the  original  stockholders  of  the  Farmers  &  Mer- 
chants Savings  Bank  of  Lone  Tree,  also  one  of  the  original 
stockholders  of  the  Lone  Tree  Telephone  Company  and  the 
Lone  Tree  Live  Stock  Sale  Pavilion  Company. 

On  September  10, 1895,  Mr.  Younkin  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Mary  Underwood,  daughter  of  Addis  Emmet  and 
Catherine  C.  (Jayne)  Underwood.  Mr.  LTnderwood  and  his 
wife  came  to  Iowa  in  1865.  He  was  born  in  Broome  county ^^ 
New  York,  seventy-seven  years  ago  and  she  was  born  in  Wayne 
county,  Pennsylvania,  and  is  eighty  years  of  age.  Two  chil- 
dren have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Younkin,  Howard  Wil- 
liam, aged  sixteen  and  Helen  M.,  fourteen  years. 

Mr.  Younkin  belongs  to  the  following  societies :  Lone  Tree 
lodge  No.  304,  K.  of  F.  ■  Red  Rose  Temple,  No.  126,  Pythian  Sis- 
ters ;  Abner  Lodge  No.  535,  A.  F.  &  A.  M. ;  Omega  Lodge  No. 
728, 1.  0.  0.  F.,  and  Lone  Tree  Camp  No.  2505,  M.  "W.  of  A.  Mr. 
Younkin  is  popular  with  old  and  young  and  is  one  of  the  best 
known  men  in  his  county. 


JACOB  RICKER 


Many  of  the  pioneers  of  Johnson  county  made  the  trip  from 
eastern  states  with  teams  and  wagons  and  brought  with  them 
to  the  new  home  as  many  of  the  tools  and  furnishings  of  their 
former  homes  as  they  were  able  to  bring.  The  journey  was  an 
interesting  event  in  the  lives  of  the  immigrants  and  its  inci- 
dents were  never  forgotten  by  those  who  planned  and  passed 
through  the  same.  Among  those  who  were  natives  of  Ohio 
and  became  important  factors  in  the  life  of  the  county  men- 
tioned above,  Jacob  Ricker  takes  a  leading  place.  He  was 
born  in  Licking  county,  Ohio,  July  17,  1830,  and  was  reared 
on  a  farm  and  educated  in  his  native  county.  He  was  a  son  of 
Henry  and  Ruth  Ann  (Kimircan)  Ricker,  the  former  of  whom 
lived  to  the  age  of  eighty-three  years,  dying  in  Iowa.  Henry 
Ricker  became  a  pioneer  resident  of  Johnson  county,  but  in 


700        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

later  years  removed  to  Pottawatomie  county,  where  his  re- 
maining Hfe  was  spent. 

Jacob  Ricker  was  the  only  son  of  his  parents,  and  after 
reaching  his  majority  married  and  brought  his  bride  to  John- 
son county.  They  came  in  a  covered  wagon  and  w^ere  several 
weeks  on  the  road,  crossing  the  Indiana  swamps  by  means  of 
corduroy  bridge  roads,  and  enduring  such  inconveniences  and 
hardships  as  were  incidental  to  such  journeys.  The  first  farm 
they  reached  on  the  journey  was  at  Danville,  Illinois,  and  there 
they  were  advised  to  go  on  to  Bloomington.  Upon  their  ar- 
rival at  the  latter  place  they  found  the  nearest  market  would 


THE  JACOB  EICKER  RESIDENCE 


be  forty  miles  away,  and  continued  on  their  way  as  far  as  Pe- 
oria, in  order  to  be  near  a  market.  Upon  reaching  Peoria  Mr. 
Jacob  Kicker  entered  the  employ  of  U.  H.  Phelps  and  remained 
with  him  during  the  winter.  In  that  vear  the  right-of-wav  for 
a  railroad  had  been  surveyed  between  Peoria  and  Burlington, 
and  in  the  spring  of  1852  Mr.  Phelps  laid  out  the  town  of  Elm- 
wood,  asking  Mr.  Picker  to  remain  in  the  village,  but  the  latter 
had  come  west  with  the  idea  of  engaging  in  farming,  and  de- 
clined to  do  so.  He  looked  for  a  place  to  rent,  and  for  five 
vears  rented  a  farm  north  of  Winfield,  Peoria  countv.  Dur- 
ing  this  time  a  number  of  towns  were  springing  up  in  the 
vicinity,  as  a  result  of  the  railroad,  one  of  which,  Geneseo,  was 


BIOGRAPHICAL  701 

a  center  for  Scandinavians.  About  1854  Mr.  Bicker  went  to 
Johnson  county,  where  his  Hfelong  friend,  Elias  Howell, 
father  of  Judge  R.  P.  Howell,  had  located. 

Upon  his  arrival  Mr.  Ricker  set  about  erecting  a  house  on  a 
quarter  section  of  land  he  had  purchased  from  the  person  who 
made  the  entry  from  the  government,  the  price  paid  being- 
some  five  dollars  per  acre.  He  brought  Southern  money  with 
him  and  this  was  refused  by  a  lumber  dealer  in  Iowa  City.  It 
was  cashed  by  James  Gowey,  a  pioneer,  of  Iowa  City,  doing 
business  as  a  broker,  a  discount  of  twenty-five  per  cent  being 
charged  for  this  process.  This  reduced  Mr.  Ricker 's  wealth 
considerably,  and  after  his  lumber  was  paid  for  he  had  nothing 
left  to  live  on.  His  good  friend,  William  Patterson,  hearing 
of  his  predicament,  took  him  to  that  grand  old  pioneer,  Sol- 
omon Coldren,  who  w^as  then  keeping  a  store,  and  the  latter 
d'usted  Mr.  Ricker  for  what  he  wanted.  The  following  spring 
he  was  able  to  pay  his  indebtedness  and  purchase  a  breaking 
team  to  bring  the  remainder  of  his  land  under  cultivation,  this 
work  being  done  with  oxen.  In  1856  he  returned  to  Illinois  for 
his  wife  and  children.  He  sold  some  cattle  to  Samuel  Fry,  who 
paid  for  only  part,  and  that  in  Florence  money.  Having  in- 
curred some  indebtedness  at  the  harness  store  kept  by  Mr. 
Daniels,  Mr.  Ricker  took  some  of  this  money  to  pay  his  bill, 
but  Mr.  Daniels  at  first  sight  refused  to  take  it.  He  decided  to 
do  so,  however,  and  the  following  May  Mr.  Fry  paid  the  bal- 
ance of  money  due  on  the  cattle  in  twenty-dollar  gold  pieces, 
so  no  further  trouble  was  had  on  that  score. 

While  in  Illinois  Mr.  Ricker  met  the  Amisli  on  their  way  to 
Iowa,  and  when  he  settled  in  Washington  township  the  greet- 
ing he  received  was  very  cordial.  He  lived  among  them  for  a 
period  of  thirty  years,  and  in  1884  was  able  to  dispose  of  his 
farm  at  a  price  of  fifty  dollars  per  acre.  He  then  moved  to 
Iowa  City  to  give  his  children  better  educational  advantages 
and  located  on  Bowery  street.  In  1885  he  purchased  another 
farm  nearer  to  Iowa  City,  which  he  occupied  twenty  years. 
This  farm,  which  comprised  167  acres,  was  located  in  Scott 
township,  and  in  1905  he  sold  it  at  a  price  of  one  hundred  dol- 
lars per  acre.  His  good  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Eliza- 
beth Ann  Benjamin,  was  a  native  of  Ohio,  daughter  of  Chris- 
topher and  Ann  Benjamin.     She  died  on  the  farm  January  29, 


702        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

1891,  sincerely  mourned  by  all  who  knew  her.  She  bore  four 
children  :  Henry,  born  in  Peoria  county,  Illinois,  married  Mary 
Ann  Bender;  Mrs.  Clarinda  Jane  Hamilton  is  the  mother  of 
Ed,  Minnie  M.  and  Willis  E.  Hamilton ;  A.  W.  Ricker,  of  Kan- 
sas, was  born  in  Johnson  county,  and  married  Jessie  Williams ; 
James  married  Lucy  Bruhn,  of  Washington  township,  where 
he  was  born,  and  they  have  four  children  —  Maud,  Pearl,  Ida, 
and  Maurice.  Maud  is  the  wife  of  Sam  Moore,  a  farmer  of 
Union  township,  and  they  have  two  daughters;  Pearl  is  the 
wife  of  Emil  Ochwalt,  of  Muscatine,  and  they  have  one  son. 
Jacob  Ricker  thus  has  six  grandchildren  and  two  great-grand- 
children. 

In  1907  Mr.  Ricker  had  a  beautiful  farm  residence  erected 
on  the  upper  Muscatine  road,  east  of  the  street  railway,  and  his 
daughter,  Mrs.  Hamilton,  is  his  housekeeper.  He  is  spendirg 
his  declining  years  in  peace  and  quietness,  surrounded  with  aii 
the  comforts  and  conveniences  procurable,  in  his  pleasant  and 
well  located  home.  He  has  always  taken  an  active  part  in  lo- 
cal matters.  While  living  in  Washington  township  he  held  the 
office  of  assessor  several  times,  was  trustee  of  that  township, 
and  served  on  the  school  board  in  Scott  township.  He  was  a 
juryman  on  the  famous  Boyd  Wilkinson  case,  which  implicated 
so  many  of  the  pioneers,  and  has  also  served  on  the  jury  during 
the  trial  of  many  other  notable  cases.  In  politics  he  is  a  re- 
publican. He  is  a  member  of  the  Christian  church.  He  has 
always  been  a  strong  advocate  of  temperance  in  all  things,  and 
has  never  been  known  to  enter  a  saloon  or  to  taste  intoxicants. 
This  has  been  one  of  the  reasons  why  he  is  so  hale  and  vigor- 
ous at  the  age  of  eighty-one  years.  He  has  witnessed  wonder- 
ful changes  in  the  region  since  he  first  came  to  Johnson  county 
and  was  closely  identified  with  much  of  its  earlier  history.  He 
is  highly  respected  by  all  and  the  early  settlers  have  many 
pleasant  memories  of  his  friendship  and  companionship  dur- 
ing early  days.  His  account  of  those  days  is  both  interesting 
and  instructive,  and  his  memory  is  most  retentive. 

[Since  the  above  was  written  Mr.  Ricker  has  passed  away, 
his  death  occurring  on  the  morning  of  June  2, 1913.] 


BIOGRAPHICAL  703 

ELIZABETH  GESBERG 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  Gesberg,  widow  of  Bernard  Gesberg  and 
danghter  of  Philip  and  Ann  Elizabeth  Weber,  is  a  well-known 
and  familiar  fignre  in  Iowa  City,  where  the  most  of  her  life  has 
been  spent.  She  belongs  to  a  family  long  identified  with  the 
business  and  social  life  of  that  place  and  is  herself  well  known 
for  her  interest  in  the  work  of  the  German  Methodist  church. 
She  was  born  in  Germany,  in  1849,  and  was  an  infant  when 
brought  to  the-  United  States  on  a  sailing  vessel,  which  took 
several  weeks  to  cross  the  ocean.  Philip  Weber  was  born  in 
Germany  in  1826  and  died  in  Iowa  City,  Iowa,  in  1891,  at  the 
age  of  sixty-five  years.  He  learned  the  blacksmith  trade  in 
early  life  and  came  to  America  in  the  'fifties.  He  began  work- 
ing at  his  trade  and  in  1865  purchgfsed  a  slio])  in  Iowa  City. 
"^  lis  shop  is  located  on  Iowa  avenue  between  South  Clinton 
and  South  Dubuque  streets,  and  is  one  of  the  old  landmarks  of 
the  city.  Mr.  Weber  conducted  a  blacksmith  and  general  busi- 
^less  there  until  a  few  months  before  his  death,  since  which 
time  the  business  has  been  continued  by  his  two  sons,  William 
and  Ed,  who  have  a  good  patronage.  This  enterprise  has, 
therefore,  continued  in  the  family  for  a  period  of  forty-six 
years,  and  is  one  of  the  oldest  in  the  city.  The  present  pro- 
prietors are  able  and  representative  business  men,  popular  and 
reliable  in  every  way.  The  shop  is  located  on  a  valuable  piece 
of  land,  one  of  the  most  desirable  spots  on  Iowa  avenue,  and 
an  extensive  business  has  been  carried  on  there  since  the  place 
was  opened  for  trade.  The  father  worked  in  the  time  when 
everything  was  done  by  hand,  the  horseshoes  and  even  the 
nails  being  hammered  out  on  the  anvil.  The  two  sons  learned 
the  trade  under  their  father's  direction  and  have  followed  his 
policy  of  turning  out  only  the  best  of  work.  They  are  prom- 
inent and  public-spirited  citizens.  Philip  Weber  erected  a 
cozy  home  on  South  Governor  street  and  there  his  death  oc- 
curred. 

Mrs.  Weber  was  born  in  Germany  in  1827,  and  died  in  Iowa 
City  September  20,  1907,  leaving  sixteen  grandchildren  and 
six  great-grandchildren.  Her  maiden  name  was  Anna  Eliza- 
beth Nichol  and  she  and  her  husband  became  parents  of  the 
following  children:     Elizabeth,  Mrs.  Gesberg;  Mary  Louise 


704        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

married  Wesley  Sisney,  of  Marcus,  Iowa ;  Catherine,  who  was 
born  in  Iowa  City,  married  Mose  Mosher  and  they  live  at  Ly- 
ons, Kansas ;  William  is  married  and  living  in  Iowa  City ; 
Emma  is  the  wife  of  B.  A.  Wickham,  a  prominent  citizen  of 
Iowa  City ;  Ed  is  married  and  lives  in  Iowa  City. 

Elizabeth  Weber  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Iowa 
City  and,  being  of  a  studious  nature,  made  the  most  of  her  op- 
portunities for  improvement.  She  has  always  been  very  fond 
of  reading  and  has  passed  many  pleasant  hours  in  this  recrea- 
tion. She  is  quiet  in  her  tastes  and  has  always  been  fond  of 
home.     She  remained  with  her  parents  until  her  marriage, 


EESIDENCE  OF  MRS.  ELIZABETH  GESBERG 


after  which  she  and  her  husband  spent  several  years  in  a  home 
on  South  Governor  street,  but  some  years  since  she  came  to 
her  present  very  comfortable  home  on  Garden  avenue.  Ber- 
nard Gesberg  was  born  in  Germany  July  27,  1827,  and  w^as 
married  to  Miss  Weber  in  1866.  He  was  for  some  years  a 
member  of  the  well-known  firm  of  Scheets,  Gesberg  &  Company, 
and  was  a  successful  contractor.  He  was  a  good  business  man 
and  an  enterprising  citizen,  interested  in  anything  affecting 
the  welfare  or  progress  of  his  community.  With  G.  W.  Mar- 
quard  and  another  man  to  help  him,  he  organized  the  German 
Methodist  church  at  Iowa  City,  which  he  served  several  years 
as  local  preacher.     He  died  about  1885,  widely  mourned  and 


BIOGRAPHICAL  705 

missed  in  many  circles  where  lie  had  been  active  and  nseful. 
He  left  three  children,  namely :  Miss  Emma  Elizabeth,  a  grad- 
uate of  the  Iowa  City  High  school  and  Elizabeth  Irish  Business 
College,  is  a  stenographer  in  the  employ  of  the  Puritan  Manu- 
facting  Company,  and  resides  with  her  mother ;  Clara  Lasetta 
married  Jerome  Lorenz,  who  is  in  the  employ  of  the  Des 
Moines  Water  Works  department,  and  they  have  two  children 
—  Mary  Lucille  and  Jerome,  Jr.;  Hattie  Amelia  married 
Gardner  Apjjleton  Huntoon,  M.  D.,  who  is  a  successful  physi- 
cian of  Des  Moines,  and  they  have  three  children  —  Eloise, 
Royal  George,  and  Genevieve.  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Gesberg  has  a 
number  of  friends  in  Iowa  City,  where  she  is  held  in  high  re- 
gard, and  is- interested  in  the  city's  progress  along  various 
lines.  She  has  witnessed  remarkable  changes  in  conditions 
since  first  coming  to  Johnson  count}^  and  has  been  pleased  to 
nc-je  advancement  along  all  lines  as  it  has  taken  place,  feeling 
a  certain  satisfaction  in  being  identified  with  the  city  that 
showed  so  much  promise  for  future  development.  She  is 
proud  of  the  part  played  by  her  father  and  husband  in  the  life 
of  the  city,  as  she  has  every  reason  to  be. 


FRANK  LOVETINSKY 

It  is  no  mere  idle  curiosity  that  prompts  men  to  wish  to  learn 
the  private  as  well  as  the  public  lives  of  their  fellows.  Rather 
it  is  true  that  each  desire  tends  to  prove  universal  brother- 
hood ;  and  the  interest  in  personahty  and  biography  is  not  con- 
fined to  men  of  any  particular  caste  or  vocation.  The  list  of 
those  to  whose  lot  it  falls  to  play  a  conspicuous  part  in  the 
great  drama  of  life  is  comparatively  short;  yet  communities 
are  made  up  of  individuals  and  the  aggregate  of  achieve- 
ments —  less  than  the  sum  total  of  human  happiness  —  is  made 
up  of  the  deeds  of  those  men  and  women  whose  primary  aim, 
through  life,  is  faithfully  to  perform  the  duty  that  comes  near- 
est to  hand.  It  is  not  only  instructive  but  should  be  especially 
instructive  to  the  young  people  of  today  who  perhaps  are  about 
to  begin  their  fife  career,  to  trace  the  efforts  of  those  who  have 
made  the  very  best  use  of  their  opportunities  and  by  industry 
and  right  living  have  achieved  success.     To  a  person  coming 


706        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

from  a  foreign  land  and  locating  among  strangers,  nnfamiliar 
with  the  language  and  ways  of  a  new  world,  as  it  seems  to 
them,  they  are  really  at  a  disadvantage,  and  should  be  given 
more  credit  than  those  who  get  their  start  in  their  native  coun- 
try and  amid  their  own  people. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  Frank  Lovetinsky,  was  born  Aug- 
ust 26, 1848,  in  Moravia,  a  province  between  Bohemia  and  Aus- 
tria, and  was  18  years  of  age  when  he  left  his  native  land  and 
in  company  with  his  parents  came  in  a  sailing  vessel  to  Amer- 
ica. The  journey  across  the  Atlantic  occupied  five  weeks,  in 
great  contrast  to  the  time  of  the  ocean  greyhounds  of  today 


RESIDENCE  OF  FRANK  LOVETINSKY 


which  make  the  trip  from  Liverpool  to  New  York  in  as  many 
days.  Landing  in  New  York,  the  family  came  direct  to  John- 
son county,  arriving  there  in  the  spring  of  1866.  They  had 
been  preceded  by  a  brother  of  our  subject,  Jacob  Lovetinsky, 
who  had  located  in  Iowa  City  in  1858.  He  died  there  a  few 
years  later,  comparatively  a  young  man. 

In  the  fatlier's  family  there  were  six  children:  Jacob,  al- 
ready mentioned,  being  the  oldest,  and  next  was  Josephene, 
who  married  Frank  Yoworsky,  and  resides  in  Iowa  City ;  Mary, 
married  to  James  Vosipka,  resides  in  Nebraska.  Our  subject, 
Frank,  was  next  in  order  of  birth  and  next  to  him  was  Charles, 


BIOGRAPHICAL  707 

who  was  married  to  M.  Dyvorsky,  who  both  died  several  years 
ago  ill  AVisconsin ;  John,  married  Josephene  Vardoa  and  they 
reside  at  Rapid  City,  South  Dakota;  Anton,  died  in  Omaha, 
Nebraska.  The  parents  of  these  children  were  John  and  Kate 
(Borlan)  Lovetinsky,  both  now  deceased.  The  father  and 
mother  were  both  very  worthy  and  industrious  people. 

For  the  first  few  years  after  arriving  in  Iowa  City,  Frank 
Lovetinsky  found  employment  in  different  lines  of  work  but 
the  times  were  not  very  prosperous  and  he  was  slow  in  getting 
ahead.  He  finally  concluded  that  the  soil  was  really  the  basis 
of  all  wealth  and  from  that  source  it  could  be  obtained,  so  he 
decided  to  try  farming.  Very  few  persons  of  today  would 
have  the  courage  or  think  they  could  start  as  he  did.  The  only 
capital  he  possessed  at  that  time  was  a  pair  of  brawny  hands, 
a  brave  heart  and  five  dollars  in  cash,  and  having  secured  forty 
aciCfe  of  land  from  Gilbert  R.  Irish  he  commenced  the  founda- 
tion of  his  present  fortune.  This  small  farm  was  located  in 
Section  7  in  Scott  township  and  after  remaining  here  for  about 
five,  years  he  sold  out  and  immediately  bought  two  pieces  of 
land,  one  80  and  the  other  55  acres,  and  some  time  later  added 
to  these  possessions  80  acres,  and  he  now  owns  215  acres  which 
comprise  the  home  place;  and  besides  that  he  owns  103  acres 
in  Newport  township,  making  318  acres  in  all.  The  farm  is 
well  improved  and  besides  a  large,  comfortable  home  the  large 
barns  and  many  outbuildings  together  with  every  kind  of  up- 
to-date  implements  and  machinery  all  attest  the  prosperity  as 
well  as  the  progressive  spirit  of  our  subject.  On  November 
15,  1877,  Mr.  Lovetinsky  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  Koudora, 
daughter  of  Valentine  and  Josephene  (Stouacek)  Koudora, 
both  natives  of  Poland  who  came  to  America  in  1863  and  set- 
tled in  Johnson  county  on  a  farm  south  of  Iowa  City,  where 
they  resided  for  a  long  time.  The  father  died  in  1902  at  the 
age  of  70  years.  The  mother  died  in  1882  aged  60  years.  To 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lovetinsky  have  been  born  six  children,  all  of 
whom  are  now  living.  In  order  of  birth  Wilfiam  is  the  oldest, 
who  married  Frances  Koral  and  resides  in  Penn  township  on 
a  farm  a  short  distance  from  North  Liberty.  They  have  one 
child,  Clara.  Next  in  order  of  birth  is  Eddie  Lovetinsky,  sin- 
gle, and  he  is  on  the  farm ;  Frank,  George,  Delia,  Fred. 

Mr.  Lovetinsky  and  his  good  wife,  together  with  his  well 


708        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

trained  and  industrious  children,  are  examples  of  what  can  be 
accomplished  by  industry  and  determination.  But  labor  alone 
unless  under  the  direction  of  a  well  balanced  mind  can  never 
accomplish  more  than  a  very  moderate  success.  Mr.  Lovetin- 
sky's  surroundings  and  possessions,  all  honestly  acquired  by 
well-directed  efforts,  are  e^ddence  of  a  busy  life  of  accomplish- 
ment. 


MRS.  LOUISA  LAWRENCE 

Mrs.  Louisa  Lawrence,  widow  of  Samuel  H.  Lawrence,  de- 
ceased, was  born  in  Cedar  county,  Iowa,  August  13, 1870.  Her 
parents  were  George  and  Christian  (Schnialing)  Meisky,  both 
natives  of  Pennsylvania.  The  parents  were  married  in  Penn- 
sylvania, and  all  their  children,  with  the  exception  of  ou'^^ysub- 
ject,  were  born  there.  The  family  came  direct  from  Pennsyl- 
vania to  Iowa  and  settled  first  in  Cedar  county,  where  they  re- 


EESIDENCE  OF  MRS.  LOUISA  LAWRENCE 


sided  one  year,  after  which  they  removed  to  Johnson  county. 
Tliev  continued  to  live  here  until  the  death  of  Mrs.  Meiskv, 
when  the  father  made  his  home  with  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Law- 
rence, residing  there  until  his  death.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Meisky 
had  eleven  children,  three  of  whom  died  in  infancy.  Those 
who  grew  to  maturity  were:  Emma,  married  to  William  Fliss, 
died   in   February,   1909;   Joseph,   living  in   Nichols,   Iowa; 


BIOGRAPHICAL  709 

George,  living  in  South  Dakota ;  Jacob,  living  in  Louisa  county ; 
Elizabeth,  now  Mrs.  Uriah  Carl,  living  at  Weredfield,  Nebras- 
ka ;  Katherine,  married,  and  living  at  Lone  Tree ;  Andrew,  re- 
siding with  our  subject ;  Louisa,  our  subject. 

Samuel  H.  Lawrence,  the  husband  of  our  subject,  was  a  na- 
tive of  Iowa,  his  parents  being  Henry  and  Emma  (Lunnon) 
Lawernce.  His  father  died  when  Samuel  was  very  small,  and 
he  was  adopted  by  his  paternal  grandparents,  Samuel  and 
Harriett  Lawrence,  and  raised  by  them.  He  really  regarded 
them  as  his  parents.  His  first  business  was  that  of  farming, 
which  he  undertook  for  himself  about  twenty-two  years  on  the 
farm  where  his  widow  now  resides.  Farming  was  always  his 
occupation,  and  the  place  referred  to  was  his  only  field  of  op- 
eration. There  his  grandparents  died,  and  there  he  himself 
died  January  17,  1898. 

T-'jree  children  were  born  to  Samuel  H.  and  Louisa  Law- 
rence, all  now  living  at  home:  Harriet,  Gertrude  May  and 
Ethel.  Mr.  Lawrence  was  a  democrat  and  held  numerous  local 
offices.     Mrs.  Lawrence  belongs  to  the  Church  of  the  Brethren. 


ALBERT  L.  WESCOTT 

Albert  L.  Wescott  has  the  pleasure  of  living  upon  the  farm 
which  was  purchased  through  his  own  earnings,  it  being  at  the 
same  time  the  old  homestead  of  his  father,  a  fact  which  makes 
delightful  the  sentimental  side  of  existence.  The  unpoetical 
may  sneer  and  minimize  as  they  may,  but  the  fact  remains  that 
there  are  delights  undescribed  in  the  old  scenes  where  our  for- 
bears wrought ;  in  the  touch  of  the  tools  of  their  toil,  and  the 
view  of  the  gables  they  raised,  and  the  shade  of  the  trees  they 
planted.  Samuel  Woodworth  found  it  so  when  the  hint  of  a 
fellow  toper  sent  his  memory  speeding  backward  to  the  scenes 
of  his  Massaclmsetss  childhood  and  the  ''Old  Oaken  Bucket" 
of  his  father's  well.  And  so,  doubtless,  Albert  Wescott,  sit- 
ting amid  the  surroundings  hallowed  by  the  memories  of  the 
long-flown  years,  heaves  a  comfortable  sigh  as  he  thinks  ''of 
the  days  that  are  no  more."  Such  emotions  are  human,  and 
they  are  noble. 

Albert  Wescott  and  Mary  Parrott  are  the  parents  of  our 


710        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

subject,  and  they  are  both  still  living  at  a  good  old  age.  The 
former  is  a  native  of  New  York  state,  and  resided  in  Ohio  one 
year  prior  to  1850,  when  he  removed  to  Johnson  county.  Mary 
Parrott's  parents,  John  and  Savannah  Parrott,  settled  in 
Johnson  county  in  1839.  They  were  natives  of  Indiana,  and 
farmers  by  occupation.  On  reaching  Iowa,  Mr.  Parrott  took 
up  land  from  the  government,  and  on  that  claim  he  labored  and 
lived  until  his  death.  One  of  the  landmarks  of  Scott  township 
is  the  little  brick  chapel  which  his  hands  helped  to  build,  and  in 
the  ''brief  God's  acre"  adjoining  the  bodies  of  himself  and 
wife  are  buried. 

Albert  "VVescott,  senior,  on  arrival  in  Iowa  City,  entered  the 


RESIDENCE  A.   L.    WESCOTT 


drug  business,  and  this  he  conducted  A^th  profit  for  several 
years.  Then  he  purchased  the  farm  in  Scott  township,  where 
our  subject  resides.  He  lived  thereon  until  1884,  when  he  re- 
turned to  Iowa  City  and  engaged  in  the  grocery  business ;  but 
the  farm  had  attractions,  and  he  returned  to  it  in  1899,  remain- 
ing until  !I902,  when  he  sold  it  to  his  son,  Albert  L.,  and  re- 
moved to  Wisconsin,  where  he  and  his  wife  now  reside. 

Six  children  made  glad  the  home  of  Albert  Wescott  and 
Mary  Parrott.  Their  names  are  as  follows :  Adda,  married 
to  T.  J.  Stevenson,  a  lawyer,  of  Minneapolis,  Minnesota ;  Mary, 
wife  of  E.  A.  Patterson,  manager  of  the  Puritan  Manufactur- 


BIOGRAPHICAL  711 

ing  Company,  of  Iowa  City ;  Catherine,  now  Mrs.  William  At- 
kinson, of  Oldham,  Sonth  Dakota;  Albert  L.,  our  subject;  Wal- 
lace B.,  agent  for  the  Dukith  &  Rainy  Lake  Railroad  Company, 
at  Virginia,  Minnesota,  who  married  Caroline  Benson ;  Eliza- 
beth, living  with  her  parents. 

Our  subject  attended  the  public  schools  of  Iowa  City.  On 
the  completion  of  his  school  work,  he  began  work  on  his  father's 
farm,  and  has  labored  faithfully  through  the  years.  In  1902 
he  bought  the  old  place,  and,  as  stated  previously,  resides 
thereon  at  present.  He  was  married  March  28,  1900,  to  Miss 
Elizaljeth  Robertson,  a  native  of  Johnson  county.  Her  father 
was  born  in  New  York  state  and  her  mother  in  Ohio.  The 
mother  died  in  August,  1910,  but  the  father  survives  at  West 
Branch,  Iowa,  where  he  resides.  Four  children  have  been 
born  to  Albert  L.  Wescott  and  wife:  Albert  R.,  born  Septem- 
ber 11903;  Mary  A.;  Florence,  born  March,  1908;  and  Melvin. 

Politically  Mr.  Wescott  is  a  republican.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  is  associated  with  the  fol- 
lowing fraternal  orders :  Red  Men,  Homesteaders,  Yeomen, 
and  the  Fraternal  Bankers  of  Cedar  Rapids.  He  is  a  sterling, 
likable  man,  respected  by  a  large  number  of  personal  friends. 
Being  yet  a  young  man,  he  has  the  prospect  of  many  years  of 
usefulness. 


ALVA  HENRY  HINKLEY 

New  York  state  was  the  home -nest  of  the  Hinkley  family  of 
Johnson  county,  Iowa.  The  progenitors  of  this  numerous  and 
respected  people  were  pioneers  of  the  Empire  Commonwealth. 
As  stated  in  the  biography  of  Luther  Henry  Hinkley,  published 
elsewhere  in  this  volume,  Wiot  Hinkley,  the  founder  of  the 
family,  emigrated  to  Madison  county.  New  York,  in  1806,  from 
Connecticut.  Those  were  the  days  when  traveling  was  a  hard- 
ship and  home-building  cast  on  primitive  lines.  What  is  now 
one  of  the  most  thickly-settled  and  best-improved  sections  of 
the  nation's  foremost  state  was  then  almost  a  forest  primeval. 
Ox  teams  were  the  dynamos  of  locomotion  and  log  houses  were 
the  palaces  of  the  gentility.  Out  of  such  conditions,  however, 
the  student  of  American  history  knows  that  there  was  devel- 
oped the  brain  and  the  brawn  of  a  civilization  which  has  com- 


712        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

pelled  the  respect  and  admiration  of  the  world.  The  children 
of  the  ' '  New  York  Yankees ' '  have  compassed  the  continent  and 
written  their  personality  on  the  sisterhood  of  states.  Iowa 
has  been  enriched  and  blessed  by  a  liberal  interjection  of  this 
virile  stock,  as  well  as  by  the  strains  of  other  commonwealths 
and  nations,  and  as  a  consequence  is  today  unique  among  the 
American  states  in  its  citizenship  and  development.  The 
Hinkley  family,  in  their  day  and  place,  have  played  an  im- 
portant part  in  the  making  of  the  Hawkeye  commonwealth. 

Alva  Henry  Hinkley  is  a  native  of  Utica,  Oneida  county, 
New  York.  The  date  of  his  birth  was  January  2, 1861.  Those 
were  the  troublous  days  of  the  American  Union,  and  Louis 


RESIDENCE    OF   A.    H.    HINKI.EY 


Hinkley,  his  father,  being  a  native  New  Yorker  and  inbred  with 
the  principles  of  universal  individual  liberty,  became  an  active 
factor  in  the  Northern  cause.  Louis  Hinkley  and  his  wife, 
Harriet  Bemister,  a  native  of  England,  removed,  in  1861,  to 
Johnson  county,  Iowa,  and  settled  upon  a  farm  in  Fremont 
township.  He  had  made  but  a  simple  beginning  in  agriculture 
in  his  new  home,  when  he  heard  the  bugle  call  of  his  country, 
and,  commending  his  young  wife  and  family  to  the  care  of  the 
Almighty  Arbiter  of  Nations,  hastened  to  the  front  in  response 
to  the  first  call  of  Abraham  Lincoln.  His  first  enlistment  was 
for  six  months  in  the  6th  Iowa  Cavalry ;  and  at  the  expiration 
of  his  voluntary  conscription  he  reenlisted  for  three  years. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  713 

He  served  the  full  term  of  his  enlistment  and  was  honorably 
discharged,  returning  to  the  peaceful  pursuit  of  agriculture 
on  his  farm  in  Johnson  county,  where  he  died  at  a  ripe  old  age. 
His  wife  is  still  living,  being  at  present  a  resident  of  Lone  Tree. 

Alva  Henry,  of  course,  came  to  manhood  on  the  farm  of  his 
soldier-father.  His  education  was  obtained  in  the  district 
schools  of  Johnson  county.  His  first  business  venture  was  in 
1882,  when  he  bought  a  threshing  machine,  which  he  operated 
the  following  year.  Success  crovv^ned  his  efforts  and  he  has 
continuously  engaged  in  the  threshing  biisiness,  in  connection 
with  his  work  as  a  farmer,  from  that  time  to  the  present. 

On  March  23,  1886,  he  married  Lizzie  Raynor,  daughter  of 
Joseph  and  Jemima  Raynor,  Joseph  Raynor  was  a  native  of 
England  and  his  wife  a  native  of  Pennsylvania.  Following 
his  marriage,  he  rented  eighty  acres  of  land  from  Caleb  Sweet 
for  t^\e  term  of  five  years.  The  agreed  rental  for  this  was  one- 
half  of  the  corn  in  the  field  and  two-fifths  of  the  oats  at  the 
machine  annuallv.  In  1890  he  bought  the  fortv-acre  farm  on 
which  he  now  lives  from  Jane  Clark,  and  to  this,  in  1901,  he 
added  the  eighty  acres  which  he  formerly  rented  from  Caleb 
Sweet.     He  has  cultivated  both  places  ever  since. 

Five  children  were  born  to  Alva  Hinkley  and  Lizzie  Raynor : 
Ellis  James,  born  July  20,  1887,  was  drowned  when  eighteen 
years  old,  on  August  5,  1905 ;  Earl  Frederic,  born  December  9, 
1890,  resides  at  home  on  the  farm ;  Grace  Albina,  born  Decem- 
ber 14,  1894,  died  November  5, 1895 ;  Ernest  Vernon,  born  Feb- 
ruary 19,  1900,  died  March  17,  1900;  Edith  Viola,  born  Feb- 
ruary 19,  1900,  resides  at  home,  and  has  to  her  credit  a  record 
of  attendance  at  puljlic  school  of  five  years  without  missing  a 
day  or  receiving  a  tardy  mark. 

Mr.  Hinkley  is  a  stanch  republican.  In  1889  he  was  elected 
constable  of  Fremont  township,  an  office  which  he  held,  with 
the  exception  of  two  years,  until  1904.  He  and  his  family  are 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  at  River  Junc- 
tion, and  take  a  prominent  part  in  the  services  and  manage- 
ment of  the  church. 


714        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

JOHN  KNEBEL 

One  of  the  most  popular  and  successful  farmers  of  Liberty 
township,  Johnson  county,  is  John  Knebel,  who  has  spent  most 
of  his  life  in  the  vicinity.  He  belongs  to  one  of  the  earlier 
families  of  the  county  and  was  born  on  a  farm  in  Sharon  town- 
ship, in  1862,  a  son  of  Rochus  and  Elizabeth  (Wombacher) 
Knebel.  The  father  and  mother  were  both  born  in  Germany, 
and  thev  came  to  Johnson  county  about  1840.  John  was  the 
fifth  of  their  thirteen  children  and  was  reared  on  the  home 
farm,  attending  the  local  schools  and  being  reared  to  farm 
work,  wdiich  he  followed  on  his  own  account  after  reaching  ma- 
turity. 


RESroENCE  OF  JOHN  KNEBEL 


After  leaying  school  Mr.  Knebel  spent  fifteen  years  in  vari- 
ous occupations,  making  his  home  wherever  he  found  employ- 
ment, but  then  returned  to  his  native  locality,  and  in  1893  en- 
gaged in  farming  operations  on  his  own  account,  in  Liberty 
township,  where  he  has  since  remained.  He  is  well  acquainted 
with  conditions  and  needs  of  the  land  in  his  native  environ- 
ment, and  in  his  chosen  field  of  work  has  won  a  gratifying  suc- 
cess. He  has  been  identified  with  ])ublic  affairs  since  return- 
ing to  Johnson  county,  and  has  served  in  various  local  offices. 
He  has  been  secretary  of  the  school  board ;  for  eight  years  (un- 
til 1906)  was  township  clerk,  and  then  was  elected  a  member 
of  the  county  board  of  supervisors,  which  he  has  served  as 


BIOGRAPHICAL  715 

chairman.  He  is  recognized  as  a  citizen  of  enter^^rise  and  pub- 
lic spirit  and  uses  his  influence  to  secure  the  best  possible  ad- 
ministration of  the  affairs  of  the  township  and  county.  He 
has  won  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  his  fellows,  and  stands 
high  in  the  estimation  of  all.  It  is  such  men  as  he  who  have 
helped  bring  about  the  prosperity  and  progressive  condition 
of  the  region. 

Mr.  Knebel  was  married  February  19,  1884,  to  Miss  Flora 
Rummelhart,  daughter  of  F.  X.  Rummelhart,  a  well-known  cit- 
izen of  Liberty  township,  now  over  eighty-four  years  of  age. 
Children  as  follows  have  been  born  to  this  union :  Genevieve, 
is  the  wife  of  Jerome  Droll  and  they  have  three  children  — 
Evelyn,  Verna  and  Iva;  Walter  J.,  M.  D.,  a  graduate  of  the 
low^a  State  University,  is  a  prominent  physician  of  Struble, 
where  he  has  a  good  practice ;  Catherine  Pauline,  Luella,  Lu- 
vern  A,  Elmer,  and  Paul.  All  except  Dr.  Walter  J.  attend  the 
Catholic  church  at  Riverside,  of  which  the  parents  are  mem- 
bers. Mr.  Knebel  has  been  active  in  church  matters  and  was 
a  member  of  the  building  committee  at  the  time  the  new  church 
and  parish  house  were  erected  at  Riverside.  The  family  are 
well  known  in  church  and  social  circles  and  have  many  friends. 


MICHAEL  WILLIAM  McDONOUGH 

Michael  William  McDonough,  of  Oxford,  Johnson  county, 
was  born  in  Sheffield,  lUinois,  in  1857.  He  is  a  son  of  Michael 
and  Catherine  (Burk)  McDonough,  the  former  deceased  but 
the  latter  still  surviving. .  Michael  McDonough  was  born  in 
County  Galway,  Ireland,  and  died  in  Oxford,  Iowa,  April  9, 
1880.  He  is  buried  in  Mt.  Calvary  cemetery  and  was  one  of 
the  first  persons  to  be  interred  there.  He  and  his  wife  left 
Killarney  port  and,  after  a  voVage  of  three  months  in  a  sailing 
vessel,  landed  in  America.  The  captain  imbibed  too  freely  of 
fiery  liquor  during  the  trip  and  lost  his  way  so  that  the  boat 
merely  drifted  for  a  long  time  and  the  sickness  on  board  is 
indescribable.  The  McDonough  family  finally  left  the  boat  at 
a  port  other  than  their  proposed  landing  place  and  set  sail  a 
second  time.  They  finally  reached  Buffalo,  New  York,  and 
there  took  a  steamer  for  Chicaoro.     Thev  decided  to  locate  at 


716        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

the  town  of  Sheffield,  La  Salle  county,  Illinois.  They  arrived 
in  this  country  in  1852  and  the  father  began  life  in  railroad 
work,  as  a  laborer.  He  eventually  left  Illinois  and  went  first 
to  Davenport  and  then  Iowa  City.  He  spent  a  number  of 
years  in  the  employ  of  the  Chicago,  Rock  Island  &  Pacific  Rail- 
road Company,  and  became  a  section  foreman  for  them.  Upon 
leaving  railroad  work  he  purchased  the  farm  in  Johnson  coun- 
ty where  his  widow  now  resides.  He  grubbed,  cleared,  and 
improved  this  place,  redeeming  160  acres  of  land  from  the 
wilderness.     For  some  time  the  family  lived  in  a  log  dwelling 


RESIDENCE  OF  M.  W.  MC  DONOUGH 


but  had  a  better  home  as  their  fortunes  improved.  The  good 
frame  house  he  erected  is  now  occupied  by  his  widow  and  son. 
The  latter,  Frank  J.  McDonough,  carried  on  the  farm.  He  is 
a  widower,  his  wife,  Julia  (Mullinea)  McDonough  having  borne 
him  two  children,  Catherine  and  Francis.  Her  brother.  Rev, 
Mullinea,  was  a  well  known  Catholic  priest,  and  for  some  years 
w^as  chaplain  in  St.  Joseph's  Academy,  at  Des  Moines. 

Michael  McDonough  married  Catherine  Burke,  who  was  born 
in  County  Mayo,  Ireland,  August  15,  1829,  daughter  of  Rich- 
ard and  Catherine  (McDonald)  Burke,  and  came  to  America 
when  she  was  twentv-three  vears  of  age.     She  is  the  onlv  sur- 


BIOGRAPHICAL  717 

vivor  of  the  seven  children  of  her  parents.  Her  two  brothers, 
Michael  and  Thomas,  are  buried  in  Mt.  Calvary  cemetery,  Ox- 
ford. Mr,  and  Mrs.  McDonongii  became  original  members  of 
St.  Mary's  Catholic  church,  a  history  of  which  is  given  in  Vol- 
ume I  of  this  work.  They  became  parents  of  children  as  fol- 
lows:  Mary,  unmarried,  lives  with  her  mother;  Michael  W. ; 
John,  married  Mary  Organ ;  Thomas,  who  received  a  good  edu- 
cation, became  principal  of  a  business  college  at  St.  Louis, 
was  noted  as  a  fine  penman,  married  Margaret  Lilly,  and  both 
are  deceased;  Catherine,  who  was  born  in  the  log  house  on  the 
old  home  farm,  married  James  Mooney,  a  farmer  of  Oxford 
township.  So  far  back  as  is  know^n  the  family  is  of  Irish  an- 
cestry. The  parents  of  the  children  mentioned  above  were  de- 
vout and  earnest  Catholics  and  reared  their  children  in  the 
same  faith.  They  won  the  respect  and  friendship  of  all  with 
whom  they  associated  and  had  at  heart  the  best  interests  of 
the  community, 

Mi.chael  William  McDonough  was  educated  in  Oxford  public 
schools  and  made  the  most  of  his  opportunities  in  this  respect. 
He  has  always  kept  well  informed  on  the  questions  of  the  day 
and  has  been  successful  in  his  business  career.  He  was  reared 
to  farm  work  and  in  1880  became  partner  of  W.  E.  Marvin  in 
grain  and  stock  business,  which  arrangement  continued  for 
some  time.  He  continued  this  line  of  u^ork  until  1896,  when 
he  also  established  a  feed  mill,  where  he  keeps  a  stock  of  every- 
thing to  be  found  in  a  first-class  flour  and  feed  depot.  He  is 
well  known  throughout  the  county  as  an  enterprising  man  of 
affairs.  He  buys  stock  and  fattens  it  for  the  market  and  finds 
this  enterprise  profitable  in  a  large  degree.  W.  B.  Jones  is 
associated  with  him  in  the  latter  business.  He  owns  a  nice 
home  in  Oxford  and  has  various  interests  in  the  community 
besides  those  mentioned.  In  1882  he  was  elected  assessor  of 
the  township  and  held  this  office  until  moving  to  Oxford,  a 
period  of  twelve  years,  and  since  wdiicli  time  he  has  served 
about  six  years  on  the  town  council.  He  is  now  clerk  of  Ox- 
ford township,  having  previously  filled  an  unexpired  term  in 
this  office.  He  was  elected  by  a  large  majority,  having  a  host 
of  friends  who  believe  in  his  good  faith  and  his  fitness  for  of- 
fice. He  is  an  ardent  democrat  and  has  served  as  delegate  to 
the  county  convention  of  the  party.     He  is  a  charter  member 


718        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

of  St.  Mary's  church,  in  which  he  was  confirmed,  made  his  first 
communion,  and  was  married.  Socially  he  is  a  member  of  the 
Modern  Woodmen  of  America  and  of  the  Catholic  Order  of 
Foresters. 

On  April  29,  1891,  Mr.  McDonough  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Margaret  Powers,  Father  McManus  officiating  at 
this  function.  His  brother,  Frank,  acted  as  groomsman  and 
Miss  Katie  Powers,  sister  of  the  bride,  as  bridesmaid.  The 
charming  bride  was  beautifully  and  appropriately  attired  and 
the  groom  made  a  creditable  appearance.  It  was  a  most  pleas- 
ant occasion  and  long  to  be  remembered  by  those  who  attended, 
being  a  most  happy  union.  The  following  children  have  been 
born  of  this  union,  all  baptized  at  St.  Mary's  church:  Ella, 
is  the  wife  of  Thomas  Thompson,  a  prominent  farmer  of  Hard- 
in township ;  Miss  Margaret,  a  graduate  of  Oxford  schools ; 
Winnif red,  now  attending  school ;  xlnna,  also  attending  /^^hool ; 
Beatrice,  Mary,  William,  and  Edwin.  The  four  eldest  have 
been  confirmed  at  St.  Mary's  church. 

Mrs.  McDonough  is  a  daughter  of  Edmund  D.  and  An  astasia 
(Flynn)  Powers,  both  deceased.  Edmund  D.  Powers  was  born 
in  Ireland  September  11,  1826,  and  emigrated  to  America  in 
1847,  arriving  in  New  York  in  May  of  that  year,  after  a  long 
and  tiresome  trip  of  nine  weeks  in  a  sailing  vessel.  He  worked 
at  railroading  in  early  life  and  came  to  Iowa  in  1852.  At  that 
time  Davenport  was  the  terminal  city  of  the  Chicago,  Rock 
Island  &  Pacific  road,  and  in  the  year  1856  Mr.  Powers  acted 
as  superintendent  in  the  construction  of  the  road  as  far  west 
as  Malcolm,  Iowa.  He  was  foreman  on  the  Rock  Island  Rail- 
road, at  a  point  known  as  Copi  to  the  old  settlers,  this  place 
being  one  mile  west  of  Tiffin  station.  He  remained  there  some 
twelve  years  and  in  1868  began  farming  in  Harding  township, 
Johnson  county,  having  previously  purchased  160  acres  of 
partly  improved  land,  containing  a  small  house  which  he  re- 
modelled. He  also  added  on  to  the  house  and  made  further  im- 
provements on  the  land,  living  there  twenty-two  years.  In 
1890  his  son,  Ed.  C.  Powers,  took  charge  of  the  farm  and  Mr. 
Powers  retired  and  moved  to  Oxford.  He  purchased  part  of 
St.  Mary's  church  and  moved  it  west  of  the  present  priest's 
residence.  This  place,  which  is  now  occupied  liy  Ed.  Lally, 
faces  the  house  of  his  daughter,  Mrs.  McDonough.     After  be- 


BIOGRAPHICAL  719 

ing  ill  eight  years,  Mr.  Powers  passed  away  September  14, 
1909,  and  selected  six  of  bis  grandcbildren  to  act  as  bis  pall- 
bearers. A  solemn  requiem  mass  was  said  in  St.  Mary's 
cliurcb  on  September  16tli,  by  the  present  pastor.  Rev.  R.  J. 
Renihan,  and  a  large  concourse  followed  the  remains  to  its 
last  resting  place  in  Calvary  cemetery.  He  was  blessed  by 
having  all  the  rites  of  the  church  at  the  time  of  his  death  and 
was  one  of  the  original  members  of  St.  Mary's.  Politically 
he  was  a  democrat.  He  was  married  in  1850  and  his  widow 
died  May  23,  1910,  being  buried  by  the  side  of  her  husband. 
She  emigrated  to  the  United  States  as  a  young  woman  and  was 
married  in  this  country.  They  became  parents  of  the  follow- 
ing children:  Mary,  wife  of  James  Scanlan,  deceased;  Ellen, 
Anista,  wife  of  Dan  Corbitt,  of  Iowa  county,  now  deceased; 
Catherine,  wife  of  James  Holland;  Margaret,  Mrs.  McDon- 
ougli;  pd.  C,  on  the  old  home  farm.  These  good  people  also 
adopted  into  their  famil}^  one  son.  Otto  J.  There  are  thirty- 
four  grandchildren  and  eleven  great-grandchildren  of  this 
couple  living.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Powers  were  among  the  founders 
of  the  church  at  Oxford  and  lived  to  see  Johnson  county  trans- 
formed from  a  wilderness  to  its  present  prosperous  state,  do- 
ing their  share  in  the  march  of  progress. 


CHARLES  A.  GROSS 

Charles  A.  Gross  owns  one  of  the  well-cultivated  and  pro- 
ductive farms  of  Liberty  township,  and  is  well  known  through- 
out Johnson  county  as  a  successful  farmer  and  a  breeder  of 
tine  draft  horses.  He  has  been  successful  to  a  large  degree 
and  has  been  able  to  retire  from  active  life,  although  he  still 
occupies  a  part  of  the  old  home  farm.  He  was  born  on  the 
homestead  of  his  father,  and  is  fifth  of  the  eight  living  children 
of  his  parents,  Vincent  and  Phoebe  (Marks)  Gross,  natives  of 
France  and  of  Ohio,  respectively,  a  sketch  of  whom  is  to  be 
found  elsewhere  in  this  work.  The  parents  came  to  Johnson 
county  in  an  early  day.  Charles  Gross  remembers  his  father 
making  his  horse  shoe  nails  and  similar  articles  by  hand,  and 
has  witnessed  a  remarkable  change  in  the  region  where  he  has 
spent  his  entire  life. 


720        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

Mr.  Gross  was  born  January  31,  1865,  and  received  his  edu- 
cation in  local  schools  and  Iowa  City  Academy,  supplemented 
by  a  course  in  Williams  Business  College,  at  Iowa  City.  He 
beg-an  farming  when  a  mere  boy  and  has  always  carried  on 
this  occupation,  paying  especial  attention  to  stock  raising. 
He  is  an  intelligent  and  energetic  worker  and  in  this  way  made 
many  improvements  on  his  farm.  He  owns  230  acres  in  Sec- 
tions 17  and  18  of  Liberty  township,  which  is  all  under  culti- 
vation and  now  conducted  by  a  tenant.  Since  1909  Mr.  Gross 
has  been  importing  fine  horses  and  has  made  two  trips  to 
France  to  look  after  his  interests  in  this  line.  He  has  about 
eigliteen  head  (including  colts)  of  fine,  draft  horses,  being  one 


RESIDENCE  OF  CHARLES  A.  GROSS 


of  the  leading  horsemen  of  his  part  of  the  state.  He  also  has 
about  forty-five  head  of  cattle  and  ninety  of  hogs.  His  land 
is  very  fertile  and  in  1911  he  had  a  }deld  of  sixty-five  to  seventy 
bushels  per  acre  of  corn  on  some  forty -five  acres.  His  build- 
ings are  all  modern  and  substantial,  and  he  has  two  splendid 
barns,  one  of  which  holds  one  hnndred  twenty-five  tons  of  hay. 
One  of  the  beautiful  and  useful  features  of  his  farm  is  the  nat- 
ural well-spring,  fourteen  feet  deep,  which  supplies  his  farm 
^^'ith  water  for  most  purposes. 

In  1890  Mr.  Gross  was  married  to  Miss  Frances  Melecher, 
also  of  Liberty  township,  daughter  of  John  and  Caroline 
(Shultz)  Melecher,  and  they  have  three  living  children,  name- 
ly :     Vera  W.,  wife  of  Alexander  Gringer,  of  Hills,  Iowa,  has 


BIOGRAPHICAL  721 

two  children,  Lela  and  Lillian;  Blanche,  a  graduate  of  the 
high  school  and  St.  Joseph's  school,  of  Iowa  City;  Clarence, 
at  home.  Mr.  Gross  has  rented  his  farm  for  a  few  years  past 
and  resides  in  a  pleasant  and  cheerful  home  he  has  erected  on 
the  southeast  quarter  of  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  18, 
township  78,  range  6.  He  remained  with  his  parents  during 
their  lifetime,  and  cared  for  their  comfort  and  happiness.  He 
has  two  children  at  home  and  the  family  have  every  comfort 
and  convenience  obtainable.  They  are  well  known  and  have 
a  large  number  of  friends  in  the  community.  The  family  is 
identified  with  the  early  history  of  Johnson  county  and  has 
always  borne  an  honorable  part  in  local  affairs.  Mr.  Gross 
is  a  democrat  in  politics  and  is  a  member  of  the  Woodmen,  of 
Hills.  He  has  served  as  a  delegate  to  the  democratic  county 
convention  and  in  other  ways  has  been  active  in  political  mat- 
ters.        , 


FIDELL  HEITZMAN  (Deceased) 

Although  he  has  been  dead  many  years,  Fidell  Heitzman  is 
well  remembered  among  the  surviving  early  settlers  of  John- 
son county.  He  was  an  industrious  and  representative  citizen, 
an  original  member  of  St.  Mary's  church  at  Riverside,  and 
always  ready  to  help  forward  the  welfare  and  prosperity  of 
the  region.  He  was  born  in  Baden,  Germany,  April  28,  1810, 
and  his  death  occurred  in  Riverside,  June  25,  1888,  at  the  age 
of  seventy-eight  years.  He  came  to  America  in  youth  and  be- 
came a  pioneer  farmer  of  Johnson  county.  He  helped  con- 
struct the  foundation  for  the  McClure  Mill  at  English  river, 
now^  Riverside,  for  which  he  received  forty  cents  a  day.  He 
hauled  grain  to  Muscatine  with  an  ox  team,  the  trip  consuming 
several  days,  and  he  camping  out  nights  on  the  way.  His  first 
claim  was  a  quarter  section  of  land  which  he  entered  from  the 
government,  and  he  became  a  successful  farmer.  At  the  time 
of  the  gold  excitement  he  made  a  trip  over  the  plains  to  Cali- 
fornia and  spent  tw^o  years  there,  after  which  he  returned  to 
Johnson  county.  He  took  a  prominent  part  in  the  life  of  his 
community  and  won  many  warm  friends. 

Mr.  Heitzman  was  married  at  old  St.  Mary's  church  in  Iowa 
City,  in  1853,  to  Mary  Wombacher,  and  on  the  same  day  her 


722        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  lOAYA 

sister,  Elizabeth  Wombacher,  became  the  wife  of  Rochus 
Knebel,  who  is  mentioned  in  another  sketch  in  this  work.  The 
two  couples  rode  to  Iowa  City  in  a  wagon  and  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Heitzman  ate  their  wedding  breakfast  at  the  home  of  Ferdi- 
nand Haberstroh.  This  house  was  often  used  in  an  early  day 
as  a  place  of  worship  by  the  Catholics,  another  home  used  for 
the  same  purpose  being  that  of  Joseph  Schnoebelin,  two  miles 
west  of  Riverside,  the  latter  being  a  log  dwelling.  The  priests 
in  those  days  rode  to  the  various  missions  on  horseback,  carry- 
ing their  vestments  in  their  saddle-bags.  Mary  AYombacher 
was  born  in  Germany  May  27,  1831,  the  ninth  of  ten  children. 


RESmENCE  OF  MRS.  F.   HEITZMAN 


Her  parents  came  to  America  when  she  was  two  years  old,  in 
1833,  spending  sixty-five  days  on  the  ocean,  and  landing  in 
Baltimore  after  having  encountered  severe  storms.  Soon  af- 
terward they  removed  to  Cumberland,  Maryland,  and  lived  a 
few  years  on  a  farm  near  there.  Thev  came  to  Washington 
countv,  Iowa,  in  an  earlv  dav,  and  two  vears  later  moved  to 
the  present  site  of  Riverside.  Mr.  Wombacher  died  March  5, 
1864,  as  the  result  of  a  kick  from  a  horse,  living  from  Wednes- 
day until  the  following  Saturday  after  the  accident,  and  being 
then  sixty-nine  years  and  eleven  months  old.  His  wife,  Eva 
Wombacher,  was  born  in  Bavaria  and  died  September  4,  1878, 
aged  sixty-nine  years,  two  months  and  twenty-eight  days.  His 
first  wife,  Catherine  (Hoifman)  Wombacher,  died  in  Germany 


BIOGRAPHICAL  723 

in  1827,  having  had  three  children :  John,  Adam  and  Mar- 
garet, the  last  named  of  whom  married  Conrad  Streb.  John 
Wombacher  was  a  farmer  in  Germany,  and  after  coming  to 
Riverside,  about  1849,  purchased  land  there.  He  and  his  sec- 
ond wife  had  children  as  follows :  Peter,  Andrew,  Joseph, 
Ann,  George  (deceased),  Sylvester,  George  (second),  Eliza- 
beth (Mrs.  Knebel),  and  Mary.  Of  these  children  Ann  mar- 
ried Constantine  Armbruster. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Heitzman,  soon  after  their  marriage,  settled 
in  a  small  room  log  house,  with  a  stick  and  clay  chimney. 
Their  first  two  children  were  born  in  this  pioneer  home,  name- 
ly :  Anna,  who  married  Nicholas  Schnoebelin,  died,  leaving  a 
daughter.  Rose ;  Magdalene,  who  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-five 
years.  The  rest  of  the  children  were  born  in  the  second  house, 
which  was  built  of  frame,  and  which  is  used  by  their  son  Rich- 
ard for  ;lgranary.  The  third  and  fourth  children  died  in  in- 
fancy; tlie  fifth  child,  Richard,  married  Josephine  Mellecker, 
and  they 'have  six  children:  Stella,  Mary,  Rose,  Louis,  Her- 
man, and  Edna ;  Joseph,  who  lives  on  the  home  farm,  married 
Mary  Critz,  and  they  had  three  children ;  Alvenus  died  at  the 
age  of  thirteen  years ;  Mary  Ellen  died  at  the  age  of  seventeen 
years;  Robert  married  Irma  Critz,  in  September,  1909,  and 
they  have  a  daughter,  Helen.  Robert  Heitzman  is  an  under- 
taker and  resides  at  Riverside.  All  the  children  were  bap- 
tized at  the  Catholic  church.  The  parents  were  among  the 
original  members  of  St.  Mary's  church  of  Iowa  City  and  Mr. 
Heitzman  is  buried  in  the  Catholic  cemetery  at  Riverside. 
He  helped  in  the  erection  of  the  former  church  edifice.  There 
are  twelve  grandchildren  in  the  family. 

Mrs.  Heitzman  has  many  friends  and  is  well  known  in  the 
community,  where  she  was  one  of  the  first  settlers.  She  is  a 
member  of  the  Rosary  Society  of  the  church  and  is  active  in  the 
affairs  of  St.  Mary's  church  at* Riverside. 


724        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

GEORGE  WASHINGTON  MAGRUDER 

For  forty-one  years  George  W.  Magruder  lias  lived  on  the 
farm  bearing  liis  name  in  Fremont  township,  bnt  this  period 
does  not  represent  his  entire  term  of  residence  in  Johnson 
comity  nor  his  whole  experience  as  a  farmer.  Mr.  Magruder 
is  another  member  of  the  miiqiie  tribe  "To-the-Manor-born." 
June  5,  1845,  was  the  date  of  his  birth,  and  his  father's  home- 
stead in  Fremont  township,  Johnson  county,  Iowa,  was  the 
scene  of  it.  As  soon  as  he  was  old  enough  to  work,  he  began 
to  assist  his  father  in  the  multifarious  duties  of  the  farm,  and 
w^en  twenty-one  years  of  age  began  business  as  a  farmer  for 


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RESIDENCE  OF  GEORGE  W\  MAGRUDER 


himself.  His  first  purchase  was  in  1868,  when,  at  the  age  of 
twenty-three,  he  bought  forty  acres.  To  this  he  has  added 
from  time  to  time,  until  his  present  holdings  aggregate  260 
acres  —  one  of  the  best  farms  in  Johnson  county. 

The  Magruder  family  is  one  of  the  oldest  in  southeastern 
Iowa,  the  father  and  founder,  James,  and  his  future  wife,  Ruth 
Stover,  having  settled  in  Johnson  county  in  1838.  The  latter 
came  with  her  parents  from  Indiana,  her  native  state.  James 
Magruder  also  came  from  Indiana,  but  his  native  state  Avas 
Virginia,  which  he  left  when  he  was  nineteen.  His  stay  in 
Indiana  was  only  two  years,  when  he  pressed  on  to  Johnson 
county,  Iowa,  and  there  met  and  married  Ruth  Stover. 

James  Magruder  and  Ruth  Stover  were  the  parents  of  seven 


BIOGRAPHICAL  725 

children:  John,  who  died  in  1884;  George  ^Y.,  Mary  Esther 
and  Sarah,  died  in  infancy;  James,  married,  has  a  family  and 
lives  on  the  old  homestead,  the  ground  his  father  jjurchased 
from  the  government ;  Martha,  now  Mrs.  Barton  Nelson,  living 
at  Lone  Tree ;  Joseph,  died  at  the  age  of  sixteen.  The  father 
and  mother  have  both  passed  into  eternity. 

George  W.  Magruder  chose  as  his  life's  companion,  Miss 
Annie  M.  Shepherd,  born  near  LaPayette,  Indiana,  who  came 
to  Johnson  county  with  her  parents  about  1850.  Her  mother 
is  dead,  and  her  father,  a  veteran  of  the  2nd  Iowa  Cavalry,  and 
a  former  resident  of  Lone  Tree,  passed  away  July  24,  1911, 
aged  85  years.  Two  children  of  George  W.  and  Annie  Magru- 
der are  living:  Elma  B.,  now  Mrs.  James  Sims,  residing  at  her 
father's  farm,  has  two  children  —  Clinton,  eleven  years  old, 
and  Margaret,  aged  four;  George  R.,  a  graduate  of  the  Dental 
Department  S.  U.  I.,  now  practicing  at  Sydney,  Montana,  is 
married  t'o  Mary  McVey,  also  a  graduate  of  the  same  school  — 
has  two  cliildren,  Virginia  Ruth,  seven  years  old,  and  Phyllis, 
one  year  old. 

The  remains  of  Mrs.  Annie  Shepherd  Magruder  are  laid  to 
rest  in  the  little  cemetery  at  River  Junction,  near  which  village 
her  surviving  companion  resides. 

Mr.  Magruder  has  always  voted  the  democratic  ticket.  He 
has  held  the  office  of  township  trustee  for  six  years,  has  been 
school  director  for  several  years  and  has  also  been  road  super- 
visor. He  is  now  president  of  the  River  Junction  Lumber 
company  and  is  president  of  the  Henry  "Walker  Park  associa- 
tion. 

He  has  always  taken  pleasure  in  traveling,  having  spent  the 
winters  of  1904  and  1905  in  California,  visiting  Los  Angeles, 
San  Diego  and  Long  Beach.  On  October  16,  1911,  he  started 
for  Grand  Forks,  North  Dakota,  from  which  place  he  went  on 
to  Sydney,  Montana,  where  hr^  visited  his  son.  Dr.  Geo.  R. 
Magruder.  From  there  he  went  to  Spokane,  Washington,  and 
then  to  Chelaw  Falls,  W^ashington,  and  on  to  Seattle,  from 
which  place  he  went  to  Portland,  Oregon,  where  he  met  many 
of  his  old  schoolmates.  The  next  stop  was  at  San  Francisco 
and  then  Los  Angeles.  From  there  he  went  to  Long  Beach 
where  he  remained  for  three  months,  after  which  he  went  to 
Tia  Juan,  Mexico,  via  San  Diego,  for  a  short  time  and  then  re- 


726        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 


turned  to  Los  Angeles.  His  return  was  via  Salt  Lake  and 
Denver  with  a  short  visit  at  Phillipsburg,  Kansas,  arriving 
again  at  his  home  near  River  Junction  on  June  12,  1912. 

A  brief  family  chronology  follows : 

Marriages  —  November  15, 1839,  James  Magruder  and  Ruth 
Stover;  January  2,  1870,  Geo.  W.  Magruder  and  Anna  M. 
Shepherd;  January  1,  1880,  James  M.  Magruder  and  MiUie  A. 
Norris ;  February  9, 1882,  Martha  J.  Magruder  and  Thomas  B. 
Nelson. 

Births  —  James  M.  Magruder,  born  April  19,  1816,  in  Vir- 
ginia ;  Ruth  Stover,  born  September  10, 1821,  in  Indiana ;  John 
W.  Magruder,  born  February  7, 1842,  in  Iowa ;  Geo.  W.  Magru- 
der, born  June  5, 1845,  in  Iowa ;  Mary  E.  Magruder,  born  Feb- 
ruary 20, 1849,  in  Iowa ;  Sarah  C.  Magruder,  born  May  8, 1853, 
in  Iowa;  James  M.  Magruder,  born  July  13,  1856,  in  Iowa; 
Martha  J.  Magruder,  born  December  12, 1859,  in  lovji ;  Joseph 
S.  Magruder,  born  February  15,  1865,  in  Iowa. 

Deaths  —  Mary  E.  Magruder,  died  July  17,  1853 ;  Sarah  C. 
Magruder,  died  October  4,  1854;  Joseph  S.  Magruder,  died 
May  3,  1881 ;  John  W.  Magruder,  died  March  20,  1884 ;  James 
M.  Magruder,  Sr.,  died  November  30,  1893 ;  Ruth  Magruder, 
died  March  21, 1905. 


REV.  R.  J.  RENIHAN 

Two  sons  of  Michael  and  Ellen  (Tabin)  Renihan  entered  the 
prietshood  of  the  Roman  Catholic  church  of  Iowa:  James 
Henry  Renihan,  late  pastor  of  St.  Mary's  church,  Oskaloosa, 
and  Richard  J.  Renihan,  pastor  of  St.  Mary's  church,  Oxford. 
The  former,  at  his  death,  July  25,  1909,  was  accounted  one  of 
the  most  eloquent  and  attractive  orators  of  the  Catholic  church 
in  the  middle  west,  and  his  untimely  taking-off  at  the  age  of 
forty  years  was  the  occasion  of  widespread  grief  and  regret  on 
the  part  of  his  many  friends  of  the  clergy  and  the  church.  The 
fame  of  the  deceased  priest  as  a  popular  lecturer  had  become 
general,  and  he  was  by  some  spoken  of  as  a  worthy  successor 
to  the  eloquent  Father  L.  J.  Vaughan,  whose  death  had  been 
but  recently  memorialized  at  Janesville,  Wisconsin. 

Our  subject  is  a  younger  brother  of  the  deceased  pastor  of 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


727 


Oskaloosa,  and  was  educated  in  the  same  schools  as  his  brother 
and  colleague,  namely,  the  parochial  schools  and  St.  Ambrose 
College,  of  Davenport,  Iowa,  and  St.  Vincent's  College,  of  Cape 
Girardeau,  Missouri.  Father  Renihan  graduated  at  St.  Am- 
brose in  the  class  of  1890,  and  took  his  two  years  of  philosophy 
at  St.  Vincent's.  His  theological  course  was  received  at  Ken- 
drick  Seminary,  St.  Louis.  Like  his  brother  also,  he  was  or- 
dained to  the  priesthood  by  Bishop  Cosgrove,  of  Davenport. 
Following  his  ordination  he  became  a  teacher  for  eight  years 
in  the  classics,  mathematics  and  Christian  doctrine  in  St.  Am- 
brose at  Davenport.     In  1903  he  was  appointed  pastor  of  St. 


KESIDENCE   OF  KEV.  K.  J.  RENIHAN 


Mary's  church  at  Oxford,  Iowa,  to  succeed  Rev.  F.  J.  Leonard; 
in  which  position  he  still  remains.  His  time  is  taken  up  largely 
with  the  charge  of  over  one  hundred  families,  besides  which  he 
has  had  the  oversight  of  the  new  church,  which  will  be  entirely 
completed  by  October  first,  1913. 

The  first  ground  was  turned  for  this  building  on  the  28th  of 
August,  1912,  and  the  cornerstone  was  laid  by  Bishop  Davis,  a 
former  pastor,  on  December  4,  1912.  The  first  service  in  the 
new  structure  was  held  on  July  13,  1913.  The  building  is  of 
red  pressed  brick  with  stone  trimmings  and  a  tile  roof,  making- 
it  very  substantial.  The  l)ody  of  the  church  is  115  feet  by  50 
feet  and  has  a  large  room  on  each  side  in  the  rear.     It  is  one 


728        HISTORY  OP  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

of  the  most  complete  as  well  as  one  of  the  most  beautiful 
churches  in  the  state,  having  steam  heat  and  its  own  electric 
lighting-  plant  with  the  semi-indirect  lighting  fixtures.  The 
interior  is  finished  in  the  Romanesque  style  with  all  windows 
of  stained  glass,  w^alls  beautifully  frescoed,  and  woodwork  fin- 
ished in  natural  waxed  oak.  The  altar,  which  is  remarkably 
fine,  is  twenty-one  feet  in  height.  It  is  given  in  memory  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Cox  by  their  children,  namely :  L.  R.  Cox,  C.  P.  Cox, 
and  Miss  Anna  Cox.  The  baptismal  font  is  of  genuine  Carrara 
marble,  the  top  section  of  Avhich  alone  weighs  over  900  pounds. 
Taken  as  a  whole  the  church  is  a  splendid  monument  not  only 
to  Rev.  Renihan  for  his  share  in  the  labor,  but  to  every  member 
of  the  parish  who  had  a  part  in  its  building. 


BENSON  EARL  WASHBURN        ^ 

Probably  at  some  time  there  will  be  a  scientist  who  will  ad- 
vance a  plausible  theory  as  to  why  some  men  take  the  course 
of  least  resistance  and  others  take  the  one  that  has  the  most 
resistance.  Possibly  the  same  man  will  say  why  it  is  that  so 
few  men  follow  the  fines  in  life  that  they  originally  plan  to 
follow.  As  an  illustration :  At  the  age  of  sixteen  B.  E.  Wash- 
burn was  working  for  a  building  contractor ;  later  we  find  him 
teaching  school ;  and  now  the  visitor  in  Iowa  City  will  find  him 
in  one  of  the  finest  office  rooms  in  the  Johnson  County  Bank 
building,  with  the  sign  of  "Doctor"  on  the  door. 

Dr.  Benson  Earl  Washburn  was  born  in  North-East,  Penn- 
sylvania on  the  twenty-ninth  of  July,  1875,  the  son  of  G.  G. 
Washburn  and  Ellen  (West)  Washburn.  Both  of  his  parents 
were  school  teachers,  the  father  teaching  all  of  his  active  life 
and  now  living  at  Garner,  Iowa;  the  mother  helping  him  at 
home  until  the  time  of  her  death  in  1891. 

After  completing  his  high  school  work  Dr.  Washburn  en- 
tered Yankton  College  at  Yankton,  S.  D.,  and  later  attended 
Highland  Park  College  in  Iowa.  Being  raised  in  a  family  of 
school  teachers  it  seems  natural  that  he  should  try  his  hand 
as  a  pedagog  and  so  we  find  him  teaching  school  for  several 
years.  Then  he  decided  to  go  into  business  for  himself  and 
purchased  an  interest  in  a  hardware  store  in  Wakefield,  Ne- 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


729 


braska.  The  partnership  did  not  prove  to  be  agreeable  so  he 
moved  to  Norfolk,  Neb.,  and  took  a  position  as  bookkeeper  and 
clerk  in  a  hardware  store  there.  It  was  at  this  place  that  he 
and  his  wife,  Evelyn  S.  Washburn,  a  native  of  Iowa,  whom  he 
married  in  1899,  became  interested  in  the  study  of  osteopathy, 
through  the  influence  of  Dr.  N.  J.  Hoagland  and  the  results 
that  had  been  obtained  in  the  relief  of  suffering  friends  and 
relatives  whom  other  means  had  failed  to  help.  Evelyn  Sin- 
clair Washburn,  the  wife  of  Dr.  B.  E.  Washburn,  was  the 
daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Sinclair,  natives  of  Canada. 
She  w^as  born  at  Akron,  Iowa,  on  July  19,  1875.     She  attended 


RESIDENCE    OF  DE.   B.    E.    WASHBURN 


the  University  of  South  Dakota  at  Vermillion  and  also  the 
State  Normal  at  Madison,  S.  D.,  afterward  teaching  school  in 
Iowa  for  a  number  of  years.  Coming  to  Des  Moines  they  en- 
tered Still  College  and  through  the  friendship  and  influence 
of  Col.  A.  B.  ShaAv  were  able  to  make  their  way  through  many 
dark  days  at  college  and  grad'uate  with  honor. 

After  graduating  from  college.  Dr.  B.  E.  Washburn  w^as 
elected  to  the  position  of  assistant  obstetrician  and  surgeon  to 
Still  College  and  demonstrator  of  out  clinics.  He  continued  to 
practice  in  Des  Moines  until  January  1,  1906,  when  he  came  to 
Iowa  City  and  took  up  the  practice  of  Dr.  A.  Still  Craig. 

Since  coming  to  low^a  City  the  practice  of  both  Drs.  B.  E. 
and  Evelyn  S.  have  continued  to  expand  until  they  have  few 


730        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

leisure  hours.  Both  of  charming  personahties,  they  have  many 
friends  and  well-wishers  in  the  community.  Speaking  of  the 
causes  of  his  splendid  success  Dr.  B.  E.  paid  a  tribute  to  his 
wife  of  Avhich  she  is  highly  worthy  when  he  said, ' '  But  the  most 
of  my  success  is  due  to  the  encouraging  influence  of  my  wife 
who  stood  shoulder  to  shoulder  witli  me  through  my  college 
career  and  who  herself  graduated  with  honors." 


EOBERT  LUCAS 


Probably  no  family  bore  a  more  important  part  in  molding- 
events  in  the  early  history  of  Iowa  than  that  bearing  the  name 
of  Lucas,  and  foremost  among  its  members  was  Hon.  Robert 
Lucas,  first  territorial  governor.  He  is  remembered  by  all 
who  knew  him  as  a  man  of  strong  character  and  le^^t  a  record 
of  which  his  descendants  may  well  be  yjroud.  A  representative 
of  the  family  who  has  won  an  honorable  position  in  life  through 
his  ability  and  energy  is  Robert  Lucas,  of  Iowa  City,  who  was 
born  in  the  old  family  home  there,  September  13,  1853,  son  of 
Col.  Edward  W.  and  Phoebe  A.  (Chirk)  Lucas,  and  a  grandson 
of  Hon.  Robert  Lucas,  above  mentioned.  Col.  Edward  Lucas 
was  born  in  Pipe  county,  Ohio,  September  13, 1825,  and  his  ^\^f  e 
was  born  in  Richardson  county,  Ohio,  August  9, 1828.  Children 
as  follows  were  born  to  Col.  Lucas  and  wife:  Edward  K., 
deceased,  who  died  in  Nebraska,  1886;  Clark  S.,  living  in  Iowa 
City ;  Isabell,  died  at  the  age  of  10 ;  Wm.  W.,  died  at  age  of  10 ; 
Robert,  living  on  Kirkwood  avenue. 

In  boyhood  Robert  Lucas  attended  the  public  schools  of  his 
native  city,  and  after  leaving  the  high  school  matriculated  in 
the  State  University  of  Iowa.  He  graduated  from  the  latter 
institution  with  the  degree  of  LL.  B.,  with  the  class  of  1876, 
and  since  that  time  has  practiced  law  in  Iowa  and  Nebraska. 
Other  than  this  he  has  spent  his  entire  life  in  Iowa  City. 

Some  years  ago  Mr.  Lucas  took  up  a  homestead  where  Gor- 
don, Nebraska,  now  stands,  and  during  the  years  that  he  lived 
in  the  vicinity  took  a  prominent  part  in  politics  and  public  af- 
fairs, helping  to  organize  the  democratic  party  in  the  counties 
of  Cherry,  Sheridan  and  Davis.  For  some  time  he  edited  the 
Chadron  Democrat,  the  local  party  organ,  and  was  most  in- 


BIOGRAPHICAL  731 

fluential  in  the  interests  of  this  cause,  serving  for  a  time  as 
county  chairman,  at  the  same  time  carrying  on  the  practice  of 
law.  He  returned  to  Iowa  City  in  1891  and  has  been  farming 
part  of  the  old  Lucas  place  since  his  return.  He  has  become 
interested  in  various  other  enterprises.  He  is  well  acquainted 
with  land  values  in  his  native  county  and  is  an  excellent  judge 
of  the  future  value  of  various  pieces  of  realty  in  and  around 
Iowa  City.  He  has  witnessed  remarkable  progress  in  John- 
son county  since  he  has  reached  an  age  at  which  he  was  inter- 
ested in  the  chain  of  events  which  have  resulted  in  the  present 
condition  of  prosperity,  and  has  a  patriotic  pride  in  his  native 
locality.  He  has  the  esteem  and  confidence  of  all  who  have 
had  dealings  with  him,  and  has  a  host  of  friends.     He  has  serv- 


KESIDENCE  OF  ROBERT  LUCAS 


ed  as  United  States  Circuit  Court  Commissioner,  district  of 
Nebraska  and  ex-officio  taking  the  final  proof  and  prepared 
filing  and  other  papers  for  many  thousand  settlers  on  public 
land.  He  is  also  well  known  in  fraternal  circles,  being  affifiat- 
ed  with  Arcania  Lodge  A.  F.'&  A.  M.,  of  Gordon,  Nebraska. 
He  and  hs  family  are  prominent  in  the  social  life  of  Iowa  City, 
and  have  a  very  pleasant  home  there. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Lucas  occurred  on  December  18,  1897, 
in  Gordon,  Nebraska,  when  he  was  united  with  Mrs.  Flora  E. 
Rourke,  a  native  of  Indiana  and  a  daughter  of  Geo.  W.  and 
Mefissa  Jones.  Two  children  have  blessed  their  union,  Mar- 
garet Isabell,  and  Edward  William,  named  in  honor  of  his 
grandfather. 


732        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

THE  FAMILIES  OF  THOMAS  WALTER  BUTLER  AND 

PATRICK  PHELAN 

In  the  old  homestead  of  Mrs.  Patrick  Phelan,  at  14  East  Bur- 
lington street,  Iowa  City,  reside  the  three  surviving  daughters 
of  that  well-known  pioneer:  Mrs.  Thomas  Walter  Butler, 
Mrs.  Francis  H.  O'Shaughnessy,  and  Miss  Theresa  Phelan. 
Interesting  chapters  in  the  history  of  Iowa  and  Johnson  county 
are  intertwined  with  the  experiences  of  the  three  distinguished 
families  represented  by  these  excellent  and  well-kno^^^l  women. 
Perhaps  it  may  said  that  no  family  histories  of  the  county  are 
richer  in  the  elements  of  native  honesty,  true  pubHc  spirit, 
devotion  to  home,  and  faithfulness  in  the  discharge  of  every 
duty  of  hfe  than  those  which  recite  the  activities  of  the  Phelans, 
the  0  'Shaughnessys,  and  the  Butlers.  Back  of  the  facts  which 
justify  such  a  statement  as  this,  inevitably,  there  is  the  pres- 
ence of  unique  and  masterful  personalities.  It  is  fhe  duty  of 
the  memorialist  and  the  biographer  to  draw  back  the  curtain 
of  Time  past,  that  the  citizenship  of  today  and  tomorrow  may 
have  fellowship  with  these  citizens  of  Yesterday  whose  char- 
acters and  deeds  have  entered  into  and  become  a  part  of  the 
structure  of  civihzation.  Happily,  the  descendants  of  the  first 
families  of  Johnson  county  recognize  the  friendliness  of  this 
invasion,  and  will  be  gratified,  it  is  hoped,  in  the  recital  of  the 
activities  of  their  progenitors  and  kinsfolk. 

Patrick  Phelan,  the  husband  of  Bridget  Bropliy  Phelan,  lived 
and  died  on  his  native  soil  of  Queen's  county,  Ireland.  His 
personality  enters  into  the  affairs  of  Johnson  county  only 
through  the  vigorous  wife  who  survived  him  and  the  daughters 
wdio  came  with  their  widowed  mother  to  America  in  1848.  The 
latter  were  six  in  number  when  the  family  sailed  away  from  the 
beautiful  capital  of  Erin  on  the  good  ship  Odessa  on  Palm  Sun- 
day, 1848.  The  Widow  Phelan  and  her  children  undertook  this 
arduous  voyage  at  the  invitation  of  her  brother,  who  had  deter- 
mined to  make  his  home  in  the  new  world,  and  who  believed 
that  his  sister  and  her  fatherless  children  w^ould  be  able  to 
make  better  headway  in  the  battle  of  life  in  the  friendly  atmos- 
phere of  the  great  west.  The  Odessa's  voyage  from  Dublin  to 
Lower  Canada  occupied  four  weeks,  and  the  travelers  went  at 
once  to  Toronto,  Ontario,  where  they  spent  one  summer.     At- 


BIOGEAPHICAL 


733 


traded  by  the  opportunities  of  the  United  States,  Mrs.  Phelan 
removed  with  her  family  to  Lewiston,  New  York,  where  they 
remained  until  1855,  when  they  decided  to  locate  in  Iowa.  About 
this  time  the  youngest  daughter,  Annie,  died  —  and  the  shadow 
of  the  tomb  was  for  the  third  time  cast  over  the  household, 
Catherine,  the  fourth  daughter,  having  also  died  in  New  York. 
The  brother,  to  whose  kindness  the  family  was  so  much  indebt- 
ed, remained  a  resident  of  Toronto,  where  he  died. 

With  her  four  children,  Mrs.  Phelan  made  the  westward 
journey  from  Lewiston  via  steamer  from  Buffalo  to  Detroit; 
thence  by  rail  to  Rock  Island ;  thence  by  stage  to  Iowa  City, 


THE    OLD   PHELAN    HOMESTEAD 


where  the  wanderers  were  warmly  received  by  relatives  and 
made  welcome.  A  little  later  the  widow  bought  the  present 
homestead.  When  Mrs.  Phelan  arrived  in  Iowa  City,  the  beau- 
tiful thoroughfare  now  known*as  Iowa  avenue  was  then  covered 
with  hazel  brush.  From  the  time  of  her  arrival  until  her  death 
at  the  old  home  in  1889  Bridget  Brophy  Phelan  was  faithful  in 
the  discharge  of  the  duties  of  motherhood.  Her  memory  is 
precious  in  the  minds  of  her  children  and  their  descendants. 
The  old  homestead  on  East  Burlington  street  is  a  hallowed 
spot,  where  the  memories  of  the  loved  ones  gone  are  revered 
and  the  associations  of  their  descendants  pleasant  and  helpful. 


734        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

The  children  of  Patrick  and  Bridget  Brophy  Phelan,  in  the 
order  of  tlieir  birth,  are :  Anna,  died  in  1855 ;  Mary,  died  in 
1882 ;  Elizabeth,  ^\idow  of  Thomas  Walter  Butler ;  Catherine, 
died  in  New  York;  Bridget,  widow  of  Francis  H.  O'Shangh- 
nessy;  Theresa,  unmarried,  residing  at  the  old  home  in  Iowa 
City.  The  latter  was  for  thirty  years  a  popular  school  teacher 
of  Johnson  county.  She  was  educated  in  the  Sisters  B.  V.  M. 
Order  at  Iowa  City.  Much  of  her  school  work  was  done  in  the 
first  and  fourth  wards  of  this  city. 

Elizabeth  Phelan  was  married  in  1867  to  Thomas  Walter 
Butler,  the  ceremony  being  performed  by  Rev.  Father  Emmons 
in  St.  Mary's  Catholic  church  of  Iowa  City.  Mr.  Butler  was 
born  in  Morgan  county,  Illinois,  December  7,  1834,  and  died  in 
Iowa  City  in  1881.  Following  their  marriage,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Butler  settled  on  a  farm  in  Pleasant  Valley  township,  where 
they  began  housekeeping  in  a  log  cabin,  a  rude  structure,  which 
was  their  home  for  two  years.  Thereafter  they  bHiilt  a  more 
substantial  house,  where  they  pursued  the  business  of  farming 
until  Mr.  Butler's  death  in  1881,  a  period  of  fourteen  years. 
It  was  one  of  the  fine  farms  of  the  township,  well  improved  with 
good  buildings  and  fences,  very  productive  and  attractive. 
Thomas  Walter  Butler  was  a  quiet,  unassuming  man,  devoted 
to  his  family.  His  great  ambition  was  to  give  his  children  a 
good  education.  Mr.  Butler  was  an  active  factor  in  his  com- 
munity, respected  and  esteemed  by  all.  Much  of  Mr.  Butler's 
bent  of  mind  came  as  a  direct  inheritance  from  his  father,  Wal- 
ter Butler,  who  figured  prominently  in  the  early  history  of 
Johnson  countv.  The  latter  was  born  in  Tennessee,  where  he 
was  married  in  1824  to  Elizabeth  Galbreath.  Soon  after  their 
marriage  the  couple  removed  to  Henderson  county,  Illinois,  the 
journey  being  made  by  the  primitive  means  of  transportation 
of  that  early  day.  In  September,  1839,  they  settled  in  Iowa 
City,  then  a  straggling  village.  Mr.  Butler  died  there  in  1884, 
and  his  mfe  survived  until  January  18, 1888,  dying  at  the  resi- 
dence of  her  son,  John  Walter  Butler,  in  East  Lucas  township. 
The  latter  is  now  a  resident  of  West  Branch,  Iowa.  In  the  first 
volume  of  this  history  Mr.  Gilbert  R.  Irish  has  paid  Walter 
Butler  and  wife  a  glowing  tribute,  dwelling  upon  the  sympathy, 
kindness,  and  christian  character  of  this  excellent  woman  and 
the  important  deeds  of  her  husband. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  735 

Walter  Butler's  name  deserves  remembrance  at  the  hands 
of  Iowa  City  and  the  state  of  Iowa.  He  was  the  builder  of  the 
first  Capitol  of  the  state  erected  in  Iowa  City.  The  timbers 
for  the  stout  frame  of  this  historic  building  were  hand-hewed 
in  the  forest,  and  the  lumber  was  laboriously  rip-sawed  by 
hand.  This  building  was  first  erected  on  Washington  street, 
on  the  space  now  occupied  by  the  bricks  between  Whetstone's 
drug  store  and  the  entrance  to  Murphy  Brothers'  livery 
stables.  It  was  later  removed  to  North  Dubuque  street,  next 
north  of  Schneiders'  cabinet  shop,  where  it  was  used  as  an 
eating  and  lodging  house.  In  the  Iowa  Capital  Reporter^  of 
December  11,  1841,  there  is  an  article  from  the  pen  of  General 
Van  Antwerp,  giving  an  account  of  the  first  meeting  of  the 
Iowa  legislature  in  the  new  Capitol  at  Iowa  City,  then  a  village 
of  700  or  800  inhabitants.  General  Van  Antwerp  recites  the 
fact  that  the  legislators  passed  a  vote  of  thanks  to  their  public 
spirited  fellow  citizen,  Walter  Butler,  for  his  exertion  in  mak- 
ing ready  the  building  for  their  use,  for  which,  they  declared, 
"he  deserves  to  be  favorably  remembered." 

Thomas  Walter  Butler  and  Elizabeth  Phelan  were  the  par- 
ents of  five  children :  Mary  Theresa,  died  at  Iowa  City;  Mrs. 
William  Murphy,  of  Iowa  City,  mother  of  one  child,  Mary 
Ehzabeth;  NeUie,  who  joined  the  Sisters  B.  V.  M.  Order,  tak- 
ing the  name  of  Sister  Tereseta,  dying  after  seven  }' ears  devo- 
tion to  the  cause  of  religion ;  Clara  Frances,  died  when  young; 
Miss  Maud  Elizabeth,  a  graduate  of  the  Iowa  City  high  school 
and  the  S.  IT.  I.,  residing  at  home.  The  entire  family  were 
and  are  members  of  St.  Patrick's  Catholic  church. 

FRANCIS  H.  O'SHAIJGHNESSY,  the  husband  of  Bridget 
Phelan,  was  a  native  of  Limerick  county,  Ireland,  and  emigrat- 
ed to  America  in  August,  1865.  In  December  of  the  same  year 
he  came  to  Iowa  City,  where  h^  read  law  with  Attorney  Black- 
well,  who  later  became  a  representative.  Mr.  O'Shaughnessy 
was  a  splendid  scholar,  and  was  admitted  to  the  practice  of 
law  in  October,  1866.  When  Mr.  Blackwell  was  chosen  repre- 
sentative Mr.  O'Shaughnessy  associated  himself  with  Mr.  Kav- 
anaugh  under  the  firm  name  of  Kavanaugh  &  O'Shaughnessy. 
He  wa  san  exceptionally  brilliant  lawyer  and  gave  great  prom- 
ise of  a  useful  career  at  the  bar.     To  the  great  sorrow  of  his 


736        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

family  and  his  friends  his  life  was  cut  short  at  the  age  of  twen- 
ty-seven years.  Those  best  acquainted  with  him  speak  in 
terms  of  praise  of  his  qualities  as  a  man,  a  christian,  and  a 
lawyer.  The  Johnson  County  Bar  Association,  of  which  he 
was  a  member,  passed  resolutions  July  19, 1869,  in  memory  of 
his  death.  The  records  of  this  body  recite  that  on  that  date, 
on  motion  of  S.  H.  Fairall,  Messrs.  Samuel  H.  Fairall,  James 
B.  Edmonds  and  Rush  Clark  were  appointed  to  draft  and  re- 
port resolutions  relative  to  the  death  of  Francis  H.  O'Shaugh- 
nessy,  Esq.,  late  a  member  of  the  association.  This  committee 
submitted  the  f  ollo^\ing  resolutions,  which  were  ordered  spread 
upon  the  records  of  the  court : 

''Whereas,  Francis  H,  O'Shaughnessy,  late  a  member  of 
this  bar,  and  an  officer  of  this  court,  has  in  the  mvsterious  wavs 
of  Providence  been  called  in  the  spring-time  of  life  from  this 
to  another  world, 

"Resolved,  That  it  is  with  sincere  regret  that  we  part  with 
one  whose  nobility  of  soul,  integrity  of  jDurpose  and  delity  to 
friendship  and  princijjle  gave  him,  a  stranger  in  a  strange  land, 
a  warm  place  in  the  hearts  of  those  who  knew  him. 

' 'Resolved,  That  we  submit  with  becoming  reverence  to  the 
decree  which  has  taken  from  our  midst  a  beloved  friend  and  a 
useful  member  of  society. 

"Resolved,  That  we  tender  to  the  wife  of  our  departed 
friend  our  kindliest  sympathies  in  this  sad  hour  of  her  bereave- 
ment. 

"Resolved,  That  these  resolutions  be  spread  upon  the  rec- 
ords of  this  court,  and  that  the  clerk  be  directed  to  furnish  a 
copy  thereof  to  her  who  mourns  an  irreparable  loss. 

"Resolved,  That  in  respect  to  the  memory  and  worth  of 
the  departed,  this  court  adjourn,  and  that  the  officers  thereof 
attend  his  funeral  obsequies, 

"Signed) 

"S.H.  Fairall, 
"  J.  B.  Edmonds, 
"Rush  Clark, 

' '  Committee. ' ' 


BIOGRAPHICAL  737 

GEO.  T.  REDDICK 

Among  the  sturdy  tillers  of  the  soil  who  have  helped  to  make 
the  Dominion  of  Canada  great  was  Henry  M.  Reddick  and  his 
good  wife  Mary  E.  Reddick.  Of  their  lives  and  works  we  know 
but  little,  but  the  thing  of  importance  is  that  they  were  the 
parents  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  George  T.  Reddick. 

George  T.  Reddick  was  born  in  Prince  Edward  county,  On- 
tario, on  March  29th,  1864.  At  the  age  of  twelve  years  he  be- 
gan learning  the  printer's  trade  and  has  followed  that  trade 
since  from  the  caption  of  ^'dcAdl"  throughout  all  of  its  branch- 
es. At  the  age  of  twenty  years  he  became  the  owner  and  pub- 
lisher of  the  Hamlin  County  Times,  at  Castlewood,  South  Da- 
kota, being  the  youngest  new^spaper  publisher  in  the  then  ter- 
ritory of  Dakota. 

On  November  27,  1887,  he  arriemd  Kittie  A.  Barnes  at  Mil- 
bank,  S.  D.,  and  a  little  later  moved  to  Watertown,  S.  D.,  where 
he  became  associated  with  Judge  S.  J.  Conklin  in  publishing 
a  political  weekly  called  The  Dakotian.  During  the  panic 
of  1891  our  subject  moved  to  Chicago  where  he  remained  for 
five  years  before  coming  to  Iowa  City  where  he  has  since  made 
his  home.  Beginning  in  1896  he  conducted  a  job  printing  bus- 
iness for  twelve  vears  although  a  great  deal  of  his  time  was 
taken  up  with  other  interests  as  well. 

The  history  of  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks 
in  Iowa  City  is  linked  very  closely  with  that  of  Geo.  T.  Red- 
dick since  the  time  in  1900  when  he  assisted  in  organizing  the 
local  lodge  and  was  made  the  first  secretary.  In  1908  he  was 
elected  Exalted  Ruler,  in  1911  became  first  vice  president  of 
the  State  Association  of  Elks  and  in  1912  was  chosen  president. 
At  the  present  time  he  is  district  deputy  G.  E.  R.  for  southern 
Iowa. 

On  March  8,  1911,  Mr.  Roddick's  life  was  saddened  by  the 
loss  of  his  wife  who  had  been  so  much  with  him  and  had  added 
to  the  popularity  of  both  among  their  friends.  Two  children 
were  left  also  to  mourn  her  loss :  Hazel  Winifred  Reddick, 
born  in  "Watertown,  S.  D.,  February  6,  1891,  a  member  of  the 
class  of  '13  at  the  State  University  of  Iowa,  and  Harold  Ar- 
thur Reddick,  born  in  Iowa  City  on  March  26,  1899. 

At  the  citv  election  in  1911  the  members  of  the  council  show- 


738        HISTOEY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

ed  their  appreciation  of  liis  sterling  qualities  by  electing  Mr. 
Reddick  city  clerk  and  two  years  later  they  again  elected  him 
for  another  term  in  the  same  office. 

On  March  24, 1913,  Mr.  Reddick  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Mrs.  Margaret  Leuz,  widow  of  the  late  August  Leuz,  former 
super\^sor  of  Johnson  county,  and  for  many  years  the  popular 
chief  of  the  Iowa  City  fire  department. 


JAMES  ALDOUS 

Mr.  Aldous  had  never  been  to  England  since  the  time  that  he 
left  when  a  young  man  so  in  1909  he  engaged  passage  on  one  of 
the  steamers  of  the  White  Star  line  and  sailed  for  South  Hamp- 
ton. The  voyage  w^as  uneventful,  being  one  of  the  finest  trips 
possible.  Arriving  at  South  Hampton  he  made  the  trip  from 
there  to  the  eastern  part  of  London  on  the  London  Great  West- 
ern railroad  and  then  on  the  Great  Eastern  to  his  native  town 
of  Ipswich,  about  seventy-five  miles  east  of  London.  He  went 
immediately  to  the  home  of  a  sister  living  there  but  she  hap- 
pened to  be  out  at  the  time  so  he  was  there  to  meet  her  when 
she  returned  to  her  home.  She  did  not  at  once  recognize  him 
as  she  had  not  seen  him  for  over  thirty  years.  Of  course  she 
was  extremely  happy  when  she  found  out  who  he  was. 

Of  the  time  that  was  spent  in  England  it  is  difficult  for  one 
to  tell  in  a  brief  sketch,  it  was  so  crowded  with  incidents  of 
meeting  old  friends  and  seeing  old  places.  Mr.  Aldous 's  mem- 
ory of  the  places  and  things  that  he  had  seen  as  a  child  of  less 
than  three  years  is  remarkable  and  was  a  constant  surprise  to 
his  old  friends.  He  tells  of  seeing  the  flower  garden  that  he 
had  designed  and  made  at  the  old  home ;  of  an  old  hermit  nearly 
forgotten  by  those  living  in  the  vicinity ;  of  a  flour  mill  and  the 
people  that  were  running  the  mill,  as  well  as  of  the  location  of 
many  of  the  points  of  interest,  being  able  to  tell  of  these  things 
by  means  of  his  memory ;  the  slower  change  of  England  leaving 
nearly  everything  unchanged. 

On  the  return  trip  he  stopped  in  London,  visiting  the  famous 
Kew  Gardens  and  the  Royal  Exotic  Nursery  where  he  had 
worked  as  a  young  man  when  learning  his  trade.  The  ocean 
trip  was  uneventful  and  he  reached  New  York  in  good  health 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


739 


and  spirits.  Here  lie  met  by  appointment  an  old  friend  with 
whom  he  had  formerly  worked  in  England,  now  a  well  known 
landscape  gardener  of  Morristown,  New  Jersey.  While  visit- 
ing in  this  place  they  called  on  another  English  landscape  gar- 
dener who  was  carrying  on  some  work  near  there  and,  stopping 
with  him  for  lunch,  were  introduced  to  his  mother.  She  had  a 
very  pleasing  personality  which  affected  Mr.  Aldous  at  once, 
so  much  so  that  the  friendship  warmed  rapidly  and  after  leav- 
ing it  was  continued  by  correspondence,  and  finally  brought  to 
a  climax  by  the  lady  consenting  to  become  a  member  of  the 
Aldous  household. 


RESIDENCE    OF    JAMES    ALDOUS 


The  wedding  of  Mr.  Aldous  and  Mrs.  Annie  Harrington  was 
held  at  the  home  of  a  daughter  of  Mr.  Aldous  in  Waterloo, 
Iowa,  on  December  29,  1910.  Since  then  they  have  lived  at 
their  beautiful  home  on  East  Church  street  in  Iowa  City. 

Mrs.  Harrington,  whose  husband  had  also  been  a  florist  and 
a  former  acquaintance  of  Mr.  Aldous,  has  one  son  who  is  a  doc- 
tor, one  who  is  a  contractor,  and  the  third  who  is  the  landscape 
gardener  first  mentioned,  now  living  in  New  York.  She  has 
also  two  daughters,  one  of  whom  is  a  graduate  chiropodist  in 
Iowa  City,  and  the  other  has  nearly  completed  the  course  in 
Still  College  of  Osteopathy,  in  Des  Moines. 


740        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

Since  the  return  from  England  the  business  of  Mr.  Aldous 
has  continued  to  prosper,  he  having  found  it  necessary  to  add 
two  more  greenhouses  to  the  four  that  he  already  had,  making 
an  addition  of  over  ten  thousand  feet  of  glass. 


JOSEPH  KUCHYNKA 

There  are  many  men  who  are  better  fitted,  by  natural  ability 
and  training,  for  agricultural  pursuits,  than  they  could  be  for 
any  other  occupation,  and  by  following  their  natural  inclina- 
tions they  have  met  with  material  success.  This  is  true  of 
several  farmers  of  Johnson  county,  among  whom  may  be 
counted  Joseph  Kuchynka,  who  spent  his  entire  life  in  the 
county.  He  has  spent  all  his  active  life  in  general  farming 
and  is  now  the  owner  of  a  productive  farm.     He  was  born  in 


RESIDENCE  OF  JOSEPH  KUCHYNKA 


Monroe  township,  Johnson  county,  son  of  Albert  and  Frances 
(Zabaketsky)  Kuchynka,  natives  of  Bohemia  and  early  resi- 
dents of  Monroe  township.  The  father  came  as  a  young  man 
and  the  mother  was  brought  by  her  parents.  After  marriage 
they  lived  on  a  farm  until  1898,  then,  with  their  two  youngest 
children  moved  to  Kansas,  spent  four  years  there,  and  re- 
turned to  Iowa.  They  lived  at  Walford  until  1908,  since 
which  time  they  have  lived  at  Oxford.  Five  of  the  children 
reached  maturity :  Tone,  Mrs.  Anton  Donger,  of  Iowa  county ; 
Joseph,  subject  of  this  sketch;  William,  of  Johnson  county; 


BIOGRAPHICAL  741 

Albert,  living  near  Oxford ;  Barbara,  Mrs.  Charles  Zavosky, 
living-  near  Oxford. 

Mr.  Kncliynka  was  reared  and  educated  in  Monroe  township 
and  as  soon  as  he  was  old  enough  began  helping  with  the  work 
on  the  home  farm.  He  afterwards  worked  away  from  horrie 
and  saved  his  money  until  he  was  able  to  invest  in  a  farm  of 
his  own,  which  he  did  about  1901.  He  is  well  known  as  an  in- 
dustrious and  energetic  farmer  and  has  made  his  work  count 
to  good  purpose,  following  modern  methods  in  his  operations 
and  taking  an  intelligent  view  of  his  work.  He  is  interested 
in  all  measures  affecting  the  general  welfare  and  progress, 
and  is  a  republican  in  politics.  He  continues  to  reside  on  the 
farm  above  mentioned,  has  married,  and  is  one  of  the  sub- 
stantial citizens  of  the  cummunity.  In  religious  views  he  is 
a  Catholic  and  is  a  member  of  the  church  at  Walford. 

In  1895,  Mr.  Kuchvnka  was  united  with  Miss  Emma  Dusil, 
native  of  Johnson  county,  whose  parents,  John  and  Verony 
Dusil,  were  born  in  Bohemia,  and  came  to  the  United  States 
in  an  early  day.  The  family  have  a  pleasant  home,  which  is 
often  visited  by  their  many  friends. 


WILLIAM  HENRY  GRABIN  (Deceased) 

In  the  death  of  the  late  William  Henry  Grabin,  Johnson 
county  lost  one  of  its  most  public-spirited  and  substantial  citi- 
zens. He  was  born  in  Hanover,  Germany,  and  died  at  his 
home  in  Oxford  township,  Johnson  county,  February  26,  1910, 
in  his  sixty-first  year.  He  was  four  years  of  age  when  brought 
to  America  by  his  parents,  John  J.  and  Mary  Ann  Grabin,  who 
came  to  Iowa  City  in  1856.  He  was  reared  to  farm  work  and 
followed  agricultural  operations  all  his  active  life. 

When  starting  life  on  his  own  account  Mr.  Grabin  located  on 
Section  32,  Oxford  township,  north  of  the  present  home  of  the 
family.  He  was  married  at  Oxford  to  Miss  Annie  Tomash, 
daughter  of  Charles  Stephen  and  Theresa  Josephine  (Muschil) 
Tomash,  natives  of  Bohemia.  The  Tomash  family  came  first 
to  Wisconsin  and  later  located  near  Solon,  Iowa,  and  spent 
about  two  years  at  Iowa  City.  Mr.  Tomash  died  on  the  old 
Tomash  home  farm  on  Section  3,  Oxford  township.     He  and 


742        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

his  wife  had  six  children :  Jaline,  Mrs.  Annie  Grabin,  Joseph, 
Frank,  John  and  Mrs.  Jos.  Coufals.  The  latter  lives  at  Cou- 
fals.  Two  died,  Mary,  nine  months  old,  and  Anton,  one  year 
and  nine  months.  Upon  locating  on  his  farm,  Charles  Steph- 
en Tomash  hewed  logs  and  and  erected  a  rude  home,  broke  his 
land  with  oxen,  and  lived  the  life  of  the  sturdy  pioneer  of  those 
days.  He  and  his  wife  endured  many  hardships,  but  at  the 
time  of  his  death  he  left  his  children  well  provided  for.  He 
passed  away  on  the  farm  now  occupied  by  his  son  Frank.  The 
family  is  well  known  among  the  early  settlers  and  has  always 
been  highly  respected. 


KESIDENCE  OF  MRS.  WM.   HENRY  GRABIN 

After  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Grabin  located  on  Sections  31 
and  32  of  Oxford  township,  north  of  the  present  place,  and 
later  removed  to  the  present  home  of  the  family  on  Section  5, 
this  move  taking  place  in  1889.  At  the  time  of  his  death  he 
owned  about  700  acres  of  well  improved  land.  Ten  children 
were  born  of  this  union,  of  whom  eight  are  living:  Charles 
Christopher;  Theresa;  Ellen,  married  Frank  Floerschinger, 
residing  at  Oxford,  Iowa;  Annie  Belle,  wife  of  Millen  New- 
Mrk,  of  Oxford;  Aggie,  deceased;  William  Henry  is  married 
and  lives  on  the  old  home  place ;  John  James,  lives  near  the  old 
home  place,  married  Mary  Tomash;  Mary  Agnes,  now  Mrs. 
George  Saxon,  residing  in  Oxford,  mail  carrier;  Agnes  Fran- 
ces, married  William  Schebetka ;  Christopher  Henry,  died  in 
infancy;  Frankie  Joseph,  at  home. 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


743 


At  the  time  of  his  death  Mr.  Grabin  was  serving  as  chairman 
of  the  board  of  trustees  of  Oxford  township.  He  had  been 
school  director  many  years  and  was  much  interested  in  educa- 
tional matters.  He  was  a  kind  neighbor  and  friend,  an  ex- 
emplary husband  and  father,  and  was  held  in  high  esteem  by 
all.  The  entire  community  mourned  his  loss  and  he  is  missed 
in  many  circles.  His  children  have  taken  an  honorable  part  in 
the  affairs  of  Johnson  county  and  through  them,  as  well  as  the 
father,  the  name  will  continue  to  stand  for  integrity  and  good 
citizenship. 


JOSEPH  MARAK 


Joseph  Marak  was  born  in  Bohemia  June  13, 1849.  His  pa- 
rents were  Joseph  Marak  and  Mary  Anne  Kolda,  both  natives 
of  Bohemia.  The  parents  came  to  America  when  our  subject 
was  sixteen  years  old  and  settled  on  a  farm  in  Jefferson  town- 


KESIDENCE   OF    JOSEPH    MARAK 


ship.  There  they  spent  their  lives  and  died,  the  father  in  1904 
and  the  mother  in  1909.  They  had  only  one  other  child  be- 
sides Joseph,  a  daughter,  Anna,  who  died  at  the  age  of  eighteen. 
When  Joseph  Marak  was  twenty-one  years  of  age  he  began 
farming  on  his  own  account  in  Jefferson  township.     In  1887 


744        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

lie  bought  his  present  home  farm  of  110  acres,  and  gradual!}' 
has  added  thereto  until  his  holdings  now  include  210  acres  in 
Jefferson  township.  In  1871  he  was  married  to  Miss  Frances 
Louvar.  She  was  born  in  Bohemia,  and  came  mth  her  parents 
to  America  in  1857.  The  family  settled  upon  a  farm  in  Jeffer- 
son township,  being  neighbors  to  the  Marak  family.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Marak  have  eight  children :  Stanley  0.,  living  on  a  farm 
in  Jefferson  township ;  Mary  Anna,  now  Mrs.  Joseph  Vecerka, 
living  on  a  farm  in  Jefferson  township ;  Ella  E.,  now  Mrs.  Lon 
Doskocil,  living  on  a  farm  in  Jefferson  township ;  John  P.,  in 
mercantile  business  in  Swisher,  Iowa ;  Anna  A.,  now  Mrs. 
Frank  Bures,  living  on  a  farm  in  Big  Grove  township ;  Bessie 
A.,  now  Mrs.  Frank  Sulek,  living  on  a  farm  in  Jefferson  town- 
ship ;  Arthur  E.,  employed  by  his  brother  John  P.  at  Swisher, 
Iowa. 

Mr.  Marak  is  a  prominent  member  of  the  democratic  party 
and  has  been  frequently  honored  with  important  local  offices. 
His  life  has  been  one  of  great  activity,  and  he  has  a  goodly  for- 
tune as  a  result  of  his  efforts.  He  expects  soon  to  retire  from 
the  active  life  of  the  farm,  and  with  that  object  in  view  he  has 
now  completed  a  beautiful  home  at  Swisher,  Iowa,  where  he 
expects  to  spend  his  declining  years.  Many  friends  unite  in 
the  wish  that  he  may  live  many  years  to  enjoy  the  fruits  of  his 
toil. 


WESLEY  J.  HOLETS 

Wesley  J.  Holets  is  a  good  example  of  the  public-spirited  and 
useful  Bohemian-American  citizen  of  Johnson  county,  where 
his  parents  were  early  settlers.  He  has  spent  his  life  in  useful 
endeavor,  as  did  his  parents  before  him,  and  has  been  actively 
identified  in  whatever  movements  were  calculated  to  advance 
the  welfare  of  all.  The  old  house  where  his  parents  first  lived 
is  still  standing  and  is  an  interesting  landmark.  It  is  well 
known  to  the  citizens  of  Jefferson  and  adjoining  townships,  for 
within  its  hospitable  walls  were  entertained  many  of  the  early 
settlers  upon  their  arrival  from  Bohemia.  An  engraving  of 
this  old  house  is  contained  in  this  publication  and  will  recall 
happy  memories  to  many  an  early  resident  of  the  county. 
Weslev  J.  Holets  was  born  in  Bohemia,  in  January,  1865,  a  son 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


745 


of  Wesley  and  Annie  Holets,  who  came  to  America  when  he  was 
eight  years  old  and  located  on  the  farm  in  Jefferson  township 
where  he  now  lives.  The  father  continued  in  active  farm  work 
until  the  time  of  his  death,  many  years  since,  when  Wesley  J . 
was  a  youth,  and  the  mother  survived  until  1909,  passing  away 
at  the  age  of  seventy-one  years.  They  were  parents  of  seven 
children :  Wesley  J. ;  Esther  Anna,  now  Mrs.  Joseph  Jonish,  of 
Ely,  Iowa;  John,  of  Fairfax,  Iowa,  engaged  in  the  harness 
business ;  Joseph,  in  the  harness  business  at  Ely,  Iowa ;  Frank, 
working  at  the  trade  of  tinner,  at  Cedar  Rapids;  Katherine, 
married  Al  Lomotor,  engaged  in  the  wholesale  and  retail  shoe 


RESIDENCE  OF  WESLEY  J.   HOLETS 


business  at  Cedar  Rapids ;  Mary,  wife  of  Joseph  Kubicek,  of 
Cedar  Rapids. 

Mr.  Holets  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Jefferson 
township  and  early  began  with  assisting  on  the  home  farm. 
He  has  devoted  all  his  active  years  to  farming,  taking  charge  of 
the  home  place  when  young  and  improving  and  developing  it  in 
various  ways.  He  is  a  wide-awake  and  enterprising  farmer 
and  is  interested  in  local  affairs.  He  has  held  several  minor 
offices,  such  as  township  trustee,  road  supervisor  and  school 
director,  and  is  a  democrat  in  political  belief  but  votes  for  the 
man  rather  than  for  the  party  as  a  rule.  Having  lived  in  the 
township  since  early  boyhood,  he  has  a  large  number  of  friends, 


746        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

among  whom  he  is  popular  and  well  liked.  He  enjoys  the  con- 
fidence and  esteem  of  all  who  know  him  and  his  honesty  and  in- 
tegrity of  purpose  are  well  recognized.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Lutheran  church. 

Mr.  Holets  married  Miss  Anna  Drinkowsky,  a  native  of  Bo- 
hemia, who  was  brought  by  her  parents  to  America  in  early 
childhood.  Her  parents  were  among  the  early  settlers  of  Jef- 
ferson township,  where  they  engaged  in  farming,  and  helped 
materially  in  the  development  of  their  community,  remaining 
there  the  rest  of  their  days.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Holets  have  five 
children,  namely :  Mary,  wife  of  Fred  Sulek,  a  farmer  of  Jeffer- 
son township ;  Annie,  Mrs.  Joseph  Sirowy,  on  a  farm  in  Linn 
county;  William,  employed  by  Jackson  Grain  Company,  at 
Swisher ;  Charles  W.,  a  farmer  of  Jefferson  township ;  Edward 
is  engaged  in  a  grocery  business  at  Cedar  Rapids. 


GEORGE  A.  SCHUPPERT 

One  of  the  native  sons  of  Johnson  county  who  has  risen  by 
persistent,  painstaking  effort  to  a  position  of  affluence  and 
high  public  esteem  is  George  A.  Schuppert,  of  16  West  College 
street,  Iowa  City.  Mr.  Schuppert  began  in  a  humble  way  as 
a  baker's  apprentice  at  the  age  of  seventeen.  Having  thor- 
oughly learned  his  trade,  he  served  as  a  journeyman  for  ten 
years,  and  at  the  end  of  that  time  had  earned  the  enviable 
reputation  of  being  the  best  bread  maker  of  the  county  if 
not  of  his  section  of  the  state.  The  secret  of  Mr.  Schuppert 's 
success  lay  in  his  close  and  earnest  attention  to  details, 
coupled  with  a  desire  to  please  and  satisfy  his  customers. 
He  became  famous  for  his  affability  and  carefulness.  These 
qualities  have  characterized  his  dealings  with  his  fellow  man, 
both  in  business  and  social  life.  In  later  years  he  has  devoted 
his  attention  principally  to  his  property  interests,  which  are 
large;  and  as  a  landlord  the  same  spirit  of  accommodation 
and  persistent  effort  to  please  has  characterized  his  dealings 
with  his  tenants.  Today,  at  the  age  of  forty-two,  he  may 
fairly  be  reckoned  one  of  the  most  popular  landlords  in  Iowa 
City,  and  his  personal  friends  are  numbered  by  the  hundreds. 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


747 


This  is  a  wholesome  record,  and  Mr.  Schuppert  has  every 
reason  to  feel  gratified  by  his  success. 

As  may  be  inferred  from  his  name,  Mr.  Schuppert 's  an- 
cestry is  German.  His  father,  Michael  Schuppert,  and  his 
mother,  Mary  Trumpp,  were  born  and  married  in  Wittenberg, 
Germany,  the  former  being  born  in  1839  and  the  latter  in 
1841.  Their  marriage  took  place  in  1867,  and  they  emigrated 
to  the  United  States  in  the  same  year,  landing  at  New  York. 
From  there  they  went  to  Milwaukee,  Wisconsin,  and  thence 
came  to  Iowa  City  in  1868,  where  George  Schuppert  was  born 
January  27,  1869.  The  elder  Schupperts  are  still  living,  and 
reside  at  812  East  Bloomington  street,  Iowa  City.  Five  sons 
were  born  to  this  sturdy  couple,  all  living,  and  the  heads  of 
families  at  this  writing.  Their  names  in  the  order  of  birth 
are:  George  A.,  our  subject;  John,  married  to  Maggie  Fro- 


^^fe  T 

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Bra 

m^Oi/MM 

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&y,:  ^  m  wf^  ■            •  fiSiiii^:aiii  m. 

RESIDENCE   OF  GEORGE  A.   SCHUPPERT 


haltz,  father  of  three  children ;.  Michael,  married  and  residing 
in  Iowa  City,  father  of  one  son ;  Fred,  married,  has  two  daugh- 
ters; William,  married,  has  one  son.  Including  George's  son. 
Father  and  Mother  Schuppert  have  been  blessed  with  eight 
grandchildren.  Both  these  good  people  are  highly  esteemed 
by  many  friends  in  Iowa  City.  They  are  among  the  first  mem- 
bers of  the  German  Lutheran  church,  in  the  work  of  which 
they  have  always  taken  an  active  interest. 


748        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

George  A.  Sclmppert  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of 
Iowa  City,  and,  as  heretofore  stated,  chose  the  baker's  trade 
as  his  occupation  at  the  age  of  seventeen.  His  first  business 
venture  was  in  the  bakery  business  at  Iowa  City,  under  the 
firm  name  of  Fairchild  &  Schuppert,  proprietors  of  the  City 
Bakery  on  North  Clinton  street.  Later  the  firm  was  changed 
to  Schuppert  &  Smith,  which  was  dissolved  in  about  a  year. 
About  that  time  Mr.  Schuppert  opened  a  bakery  in  Oxford, 
which  he  conducted  for  about  a  year  and  a  half  and  then  sold 
to  T.  C.  Marvin.  Returning  to  Iowa  City,  he  established  the 
New  York  Baker^^  Co.,  which,  at  the  end  of  ten  years,  he 
sold  to  his  brothers,  Michael  and  William  Schuppert.  That 
enterprise  is  still  in  operation,  being  known  as  the  Oakland 
Bakery,  conducted  by  Fred  and  William  Schuppert. 

Mr.  Schuppert  was  married  in  1892  to  Miss  Helen  Glas- 
gow, of  Missouri.  Their  only  son.  Earl  Glasgow,  was  born 
March  16,  1907,  at  San  Diego,  California,  in  which  city  both 
parents  were  sojourning  at  the  time  in  search  of  much-needed 
rest  after  years  of  strenuous  industry.  Little  Earl  at  this 
writing  is  a  bright  lad  of  four  years,  at  once  the  pride  and 
sunshine  of  the  home. 

Our  subject  is  a  member  of  the  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  of  Iowa  City 
and  of  the  Shriners  of  Davenport  Consistory;  also  of  Wapa- 
sheik  Tribe  No.  122,  Improved  Order  of  Red  Men.  He  is  a 
leading  member  of  the  GeiTnan  Aid  Society. 

As  before  stated,  Mr.  Schuppert  owns  considerable  prop- 
erty in  Iowa  City.  Included  therein  is  his  fine  modern  resi- 
dence at  No.  16  West  College  street,  which  is  provided  with 
every  convenience,  and  wherein  Mrs.  Schuppert  demonstrates 
her  ability  as  a  housewife  and  a  worthy,  lovable  companion 
and  helpmate.  Mr.  Schuppert  is  known  among  his  neigh- 
bors and  tenants  as  the  '^man  who  is  never  idle."  His  pro- 
pensity to  keep  up  repairs  and  provide  for  the  comfort  of 
his  tenants  insures  the  constant  occupation  of  his  property  by 
responsible  renters.  Lately  he  has  built  himself  a  gasoline 
launch  for  pleasure  riding  on  the  Iowa  river.  This  craft  has 
been  named  "Earl,"  in  honor  of  the  only  son  of  the  house- 
hold. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  749 

MAJOR  IRA  J.  ALDER 

Ira  J.  Alder  is  one  of  the  most  jorominent  (3itizeiis  of  Iowa 
City,  where  for  many  years  he  was  a  leading  attorney,  and 
where  he  is  now  engaged  in  business.  He  is  a  successful  cap- 
italist and  is  interested  in  various  local  enterprises.  He  was 
born  in  Union  county,  Ohio,  July  15,  1844,  but  was  brought  by 
his  parents  to  Iowa  in  childhood,  receiving  his  early  education 
in  Oskaloosa  college  preparatory  to  entrance  to  the  S.  U.  I. 
He  is  a  son  of  Louis  and  grandson  of  Jonathan  Alder  and  is 
of  English  descent  on  the  paternal  side  and  of  Scotch  Irish 
on  the  maternal  side.  Jonathan  was  a  son  of  Jonathan  Alder, 
who  was  in  turn  the  son  of  a  revolutionary  soldier.  The  lat- 
ter was  descended  from  an  old  English  family  and  the  name  is 
perpetuated  by  various  branches  at  Aldershot  and  Aldersgate, 
England. 

Taken  from  Howe's  history  of  Ohio  the  story  of  Jonathan 
Alder,  grandfather  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  is  given  briefly 
below,  and  reads  more  like  fiction  than  real  biography.  He 
was  born  in  New  Jersey,  eight  miles  from  Philadelphia,  Sep- 
tember 17,  1773,  and  when  he  was  seven  years  old  his  parents 
moved  to  Wythe  county,  Virginia,  where  the  father  soon  after- 
ward died.  The  following  year,  in  March,  1782,  while  Jona- 
than and  his  brother  David  were  out  hunting  for  a  mare  and 
her  colt,  the  former  was  taken  prisoner  by  a  small  party  of 
Shawnee  Indians.  The  brother  saw  the  danger  and  ran  away, 
being  pursued,  caught,  and  scalped.  Jonathan  had  the  horror 
of  seeing  an  Indian  carrying  his  brother's  scalp  in  his  hand 
and  shaking  the  blood  from  it.  At  the  same  time  the  Indians 
took  prisoner  a  Mrs.  Martin,  a  neighbor  of  the  Alder  family, 
and  her  young  child  some  four  or  five  years  old.  They  then 
returned  to  their  own  towns.  Their  way  led  them  through 
the  forest  to  Big  Sandy  river,  then  down  stream  to  the  Ohio, 
which  they  crossed,  and  thence'  overland  to  a  spot  near  Chilli- 
cothe  on  the  Scioto  and  then  on  to  a  Mingo  village  on  Mad 
river.  Mrs.  Martin's  child  was  found  burdensome  and  the 
Indians  killed  and  scalped  it.  She  saw  the  last  one  of  her 
family  killed  and  screamed  with  agony,  upon  which  the  sav- 
ages were  going  to  scalp  her,  but  she  screamed  despite  their 
threats,  after  which  they  whipped  her  until  she  was  silent. 
Jonathan  Alder  was  too  fatigued  to  wish  to  rise  the  next  morn- 


750        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

ing  when  he  was  called,  but  as  he  was  facing  the  north  saw  a 
shadow  of  a  man's  arm  and  turned  to  meet  the  sight  of  an 
Indian  with  an  uplifted  tomahawk  ready  to  strike  the  fatal 
blow.  The  Indian  let  his  arm  fall  when  he  saw  the  young  boy 
turn  and  told  him  afterwards  he  had  intended  scalping  him, 
but  when  the  child  turned  toward  him,  looking  so  smiling  and 
pleasant  from  his  sleep,  he  could  not  strike  the  fatal  blow.  He 
also  said  that  upon  feeling  Jonathan's  hair  he  looked  at  it  and 
saw  how  black  it  was,  then  the  thought  came  to  him  that  if  he 
could  only  get  the  boy  to  his  tribe  he  would  make  a  good  In- 
dian. Thus  was  the  child  saved  by  the  fact  that  his  hair  was 
black.     On  the  remainder  of  the  journey  they  killed  a  bear. 


THEODOKA  PAKK 


The  Mingo  village  to  which  they  were  finally  taken  was  on  the 
north  side  of  the  Mad  river,  at  or  near  the  edge  of  Logan  coun- 
ty. Jonathan  Alder  was  adopted  into  an  Indian  family,  his 
foster  father  being  a  chief  of  a  Mingo  tribe,  and  his  name  be- 
ing Succohanoa.  The  Indian  foster-mother  was  named  Whine- 
clieoh.  She  had  three  daughters,  Mary,  Hannah,  and  Sally. 
They  had  lost  a  son  and  Jonathan  was  adopted  to  take  his 
place.  They  were  old  people  and  told  Jonathan  he  would  be 
restored  to  his  own  parents  some  day.     They  cared  for  him 


BIOGRAPHICAL  751 

lovingly  and  he  always  felt  very  grateful  for  their  kindness 
to  him.     Once  when  bathing  in  the  Mad  river  with  the  Indian 
boys  he  nearly  drowned  and  he  had  many  adventures.    When 
he  became  able  to  speak  the  language  of  the  tribe  he  felt  much 
more  contented.     He  was  living  at  Mackachack,  an  Indian 
town,  when  it  was  destroyed  by  General  Logan  (1786)  and 
was  present  at  an  attack  on  Fort  Recovery  (1794),  also  went 
upon  an  expedition  to  Kentuckj^  to  steal  horses  from  the  set- 
tlers.    He  remained  with  the  Indians  until  after  Wayne's 
treaty  of  1795,  being  urged  by  them  to  be  present  at  the  sign- 
ing of  the  treaty  to  obtain  a  reservation  of  land  which  was  to 
be  given  to  each  one  of  the  prisoners,  but  was  ignorant  of  the 
importance  of  this,  so  did  not  go,  so  lost  the  land  to  them. 
After  peace  was  declared  Jonathan  Alder  was  much  relieved, 
for  he  was  glad  to  be  able  to  lie  down  in  peace  and  to  be  able 
to  shake  hands  with  either  the  whites  or  the  Indians  as  pleased 
him.     When  settlers  first  made  their  appearance  in  his  neigh- 
borhood he  could  scarcely  speak  any  English,  being  then  some 
twenty-four  years  old  and  having  spent  fifteen  years  in  cap- 
tivity.    Two  of  the  settlers  took  pains  in  educating  him  to 
speak  English.     Some  time  prior  to  this  time  he  had  taken 
an  Indian  woman  for  a  wife  and  had  begun  to  farm,  locating 
on  the  Big  Sandy,  as  did  the  white  settlers.     He  carried  on 
general  farming  and  stock  raising  and  sold  butter  and  milk 
to  the  Indians.     He  also  sold  horses  and  pork  to  the  whites, 
and  through  his  industry  and  good  management  gained  a  com- 
petency.    Eventually  he  left  his  Indian  wife  and  finally  mar- 
ried a  white  woman.     His  thoughts  often  turned  back  to  his 
parents,  but  he  was  even  ignorant  of  the  state  where  his  cap- 
ture had  taken  place,  and  where  he  had  been  living  but  a  few 
months  at  that  time.     Finally,  in  telling  a  companion  named 
John  Moore  what  he  could  remember  of  the  occasion  and  say- 
ing he  was  captured  near  a  town  named  Greenbriar,  Virginia, 
and  describing  a  lead  mine  near  his  home,  also  giving  the  name 
of  Galeon  or  Gullion  as  a  neighboring  family,  the  latter  recog- 
nized the  place,  and  told  Mr.  Alder  that  he  and  his  father  had 
stopped  one  night  with  the  Alder  family.     Mr.  Moore  also 
said  that  the  parents  were  then  living  and  he  could  direct 
Jonathan  where  to  find  them.     After  some  time  spent  in  the 
search  and  after  advertising,  Mr.  Alder  found  that  his  mother 


752        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

and  brother  Paul  were  still  surviving.  Mr.  Moore  accompan- 
ied liim  on  horseback  to  Virginia,  and  arrived  at  their  destin- 
ation the  Sunday  after  New  Year's  day.  The  meeting  of  the 
long-separated  members  of  the  family  was  very  affecting  and 
they  had  much  to  tell  each  other  of  the  years  that  had  passed 
since  their  last  meeting.  Jonathan  Alder  had  left  with  his  In- 
dian wife,  by  whom  two  children  were  born,  everything  he 
possessed  save  two  horses  and  a  few  hogs,  and  started  in  life 
anew.  He  learned  the  English  language  of  Benjamin  Springer 
in  Madison  county,  Ohio,  and  the  two  became  fast  friends. 
Mr.  Alder  was  able  many  times  to  save  the  wliite  settlers  from 
Indian  attacks.  His  Indian  wife  was  a  sister  of  Big  Turtle, 
an  Indian  chief. 

At  the  time  of  the  outbreak  of  the  War  of  1812  the  Indian 
chief  held  a  council  and  sent  a  deputation  to  ask  Mr.  Alder 
whether  he  would  advise  them  to  side  with  the  Americans  or 
the  British,  and  he  advised  them  to  remain  neutral  as  long  as 
they  could,  adding  that  they  need  not  be  afraid  as  the  Ameri- 
cans would  not  harm  their  women  and  children.  Despite  the 
fact  that  the  English  had  made  them  tempting  offers  to  fight 
for  them,  the  Indians  remained  neutral  and  continued  the 
friends  of  the  Americans.  Jonathan  married  for  his  white 
wife  Mary  Blout,  from  Grreenbriar,  Virginia,  and  by  whom 
ten  children  were  born,  the  youngest  daughter  Mary  surviving. 

In  his  autobiography  Jonathan  Alder  gives  an  account  of 
several  battles,  and  regarding  the  engagement  at  Fallen  Tim- 
bers (having  described  the  attack  on  Fort  Recovery  and  the 
retreat  to  the  vicinity  of  Defiance,  Ohio),  he  said: 

''We  remained  here  (Defiance)  about  two  weeks  until  we 
heard  of  the  approach  of  Wayne,  when  we  packed  up  our  goods 
and  started  for  the  English  fort  at  the  Maumee  Rapids.  Here 
we  prepared  ourselves  for  battle  and  sent  the  women  and 
children  down  about  three  miles  below  the  fort,  and  as  I  did 
not  wish  to  fight  they  sent  me  to  Sandusky,  Ohio,  to  inform 
some  Wyandots  there  of  the  great  battle  that  was  to  take 
place.  I  remained  in  Sandusky  until  the  battle  was  over.  The 
Indians  did  not  wait  more  than  three  or  four  days  before 
Wayne  made  his  appearance  at  the  head  of  a  long  prairie 
(called  Piqua  Plains)  on  the  river,  where  he  halted  and  waited 
for  an  opportunity  to  suit  himself.     Now  the  Indians  are  very 


BIOGRAPHICAL  753 

curious  about  fighting;  for  when  they  know  they  are  going 
into  a  battle  they  will  not  eat  anything  prior.  They  say  when 
a  man  is  shot  in  the  body  when  he  is  entirely  empty  there  is 
not  half  so  much  danger  of  the  ball  passing  through  his  bow- 
els as  when  they  are  full,  so  they  started  the  first  morning 
without  any  food  and  at  night  returned  and  partook  of  their 
supper.  The  second  morning  they  again  placed  themselves 
in  the  same  position  as  the  first  day,  returning  at  night  for 
supper.  By  this  time  they  began  to  grow  weak  and  concluded 
they  would  eat  breakfast  before  again  starting,  which  they 
did ;  the  following  morning  some  were  eating  and  others  who 
had  finished  had  moved  to  their  station,  when  Wayne's  army 
was  seen  approaching.  8oon  as  they  were  witliin  gunshot 
Indians  began  shooting  but  Wayne,  making  no  halt,  pushed 
on  upon  them.  The  Indians,  small  in  number,  retreated ;  in 
so  doing.  Light  Horse  circled,  finding  themselves  entirely  sur- 
rounded. All  that  could  made  their  escape ;  the  balance  were 
all  killed.  Those  lost,  with  one  or  two  exceptions,  were  Wy- 
andots  that  lived  in  Sandusky  at  the  time  I  went  to  inform 
them  of  the  expected  battle.  The  main  body  of  the  Indians 
were  back  nearly  two  miles  from  the  battle  ground  and  Wayne 
had  taken  them  by  surprise,  slaughtering  them  so  they  became 
discouraged  and  made  for  their  homes." 

Describing  the  great  retreat  of  1794  Jonathan  Alder  states 
that  Simon  Girty  was  in  the  action.  In  the  attack  on  Fort 
Recovery  one  of  the  American  officers  was  killed  by  Thomas 
McKee,  a  son  of  the  British  agent.  Col.  Alex  McKee. 

Here  are  his  words:  "In  the  morning  when  we  arose,  an 
old  Indian  addressed  me  saying,  'the  last  night  I  went  out  to 
take  Fort  Greenville  by  surprise  and  lost  several  of  our  men 
killed  and  wounded.  There  is  one  wounded  man  lying  near 
the  fort  who  must  be  brought  away,  for  it  would  be  a  scandal 
to  have  him  fall  into  the  hands  df  the  whites  to  be  massacred. 
I  wish  to  know  who  will  volunteer  to  go  and  bring  him  away.' 
Big  Turtle,  who  knew  where  he  lay,  answered  that  he  would 
go.  But  as  no  one  else  volunteered  the  old  Indian  pointed 
out  several  of  us,  myself  included,  saying  that  we  must  ac- 
company Big  Turtle.  Upon  this  we  rose  up  without  a  word 
and  started.  As  soon  as  we  came  into  the  edge  of  the  cleared 
ground  those  in  the  fort  began  shouting  at  us.    We  then  ran 


754        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

crooked  from  one  tree  to  another,  the  bullets  in  the  meantime 
flying  about  us  like  hail.  At  length  while  standing  behind  a 
big  tree.  Big  Turtle  ordered  us  not  to  stop  any  more  but  run 
in  a  straight  line  as  we  were  only  giving  them  time  to  load  — 
that  those  foremost  in  going  should  have  the  liberty  of  first 
returning.  He  then  pointed  out  the  wounded  man,  and  we 
started  in  a  straight  line,  through  a  shower  of  bullets.  When 
we  reached  him  we  were  within  sixty  yards  of  the  fort.  We 
all  seized  him  and  retreated  for  our  lives,  first  dodging  from 
one  side  and  then  to  the  other,  until  out  of  danger.  None  of 
us  were  wounded  but  Big  Turtle,  the  great  chief." 

The  great  Indian  Jonathan  Alder  saved  Simon  Kenton 
twice  from  being  burned  at  the  stake  by  the  Indians.  After- 
wards about  25  years  when  Jonathan  Alder  was  farming  on 
his  farm  on  the  Big  Darbj^  he  visited  him  and  they  spent  some 
social  times  together.  He  never  did  forget  his  rescuer.  He 
is  now  buried  in  Logan  county,  Ohio,  not  far  from  Fort  Green- 
ville, where  Jonathan  Alder  helped  carry  the  dead  Indian 
away  from  the  fort,  and  the  birth  place  of  Tecumseh,  whom 
Jonathan  used  to  accompany  on  his  hunting  trips,  as  will  be 
found  in  the  archives  of  the  historical  society  of  Ohio. 

One  of  the  most  interesting  and  noted  things  the  old  Indian 
Jonathan  Alder,  that  old  prisoner,  accomplished  while  in  cap- 
tivity was  when  Gen.  James  Logan  from  Kentucky  advanced 
upon  the  town  of  Makoheak  with  .300  regulars.  Jonathan  Al- 
der was  then  about  23  years  old.  He  heard  of  their  approach 
to  massacre  the  Indians  for  stealing  horses.  Just  about  that 
time  Jonathan  was  the  only  Indian  present  in  camp,  all  the 
rest  were  women  and  children,  numbering  about  300  on  the 
head  waters  of  the  Scioto.  The  Indians  were  out  hunting  and 
the  only  thing  left  for  him  to  do  was  to  retreat  with  the  women 
and  children.  Making  good  their  escape  they  killed  a  she 
bear  on  the*  way.  Prior  to  that  thev  had  nothing  to  eat  but 
nettles.  He  thus  saved  300  lives.  On  their  return  they  found 
the  villages  and  corn  fields  all  burned  and  destroyed  by  Gen- 
eral Logan.  Jonathan  Alder,  grandfather  of  our  subject,  was 
so  highly  respected  for  his  gallantry  that  the  governor  ap- 
pointed him  as  their  escort  when  they  were  sent  from  Ohio  to 
their  reservation  at  Oquonma,  Kansas,  near  Elreno,  Okla- 
homa, now  their  abiding  place  where  a  brother  of  Major  Ira 


BIOGRAPHICAL  755 

J.  Alder,  Henry  Alder,  resides.     The  Indians  frequently  visit 
him  on  account  of  the  old  Indian  prisoner,  his  grandfather. 

Jonathan  Alder  helped  to  build  a  fort  at  Norton  on  Oleou- 
tensa  now  the  Whetstone,  Delaware  county,  Ohio,  for  protec- 
tion of  the  white  settlers.  For  further  reference  see  Howe's 
History  of  Ohio,  Madison  county  portion.  He  died  January 
31,  1849,  near  Jetferson,  Ohio,  aged  about  80. 

Louis  Alder,  father  of  Ira  J.  Alder,  is  one  of  ten  children. 
He  was  born  October  28,  1814,  at  West  Jefferson,  Ohio,  and 
died  in  Jasper  county,  near  Prairie  City,  Iowa,  November, 
1877.  He  came  of  pioneer  stock  and  made  an  honorable  name 
for  himself  wherever  he  lived.  Two  children  survive,  of 
whom  one  sister,  Mrs.  Mary  Warner,  is  now  at  Cedar,  Ma- 
haska county,  Iowa.  The  mother's  maiden  name  was  Cath- 
erine Tremble,  niece  of  Governor  Tremble,  of  Ohio,  and  U.  S. 
senator  as  well,  and  she  was  a  native  of  Indiana.  She  is 
buried  at  the  site  of  a  small  school  house,  the  play  ground  of 
our  subject's  youth,  in  Union  county,  Ohio,  which  is  now  a 
beautiful  cemetery  kept  up  by  that  county. 

Ira  J.  Alder  spent  five  years  at  Iowa  State  L^niversity,  then 
read  law  under  Hon.  Rush  Clark  for  one  year.  He  then  went 
into  the  office  of  Judge  W.  E.  Miller  and  continued  his  studies. 
Judge  Miller  practiced  law  in  Iowa  City  until  he  became  chief 
justice.  Mr.  Alder  later  became  interested  in  other  lines  of 
enterprise  and  for  some  time  has  dealt  extensively  in  real 
estate.  He  has  invested  in  several  local  interests  and  has 
taken  a  prominent  part  in  public  affairs,  being  always  ready 
to  help  advance  the  progress  and  prosperity  of  the  region. 
He  has  served  three  times  as  a  member  of  the  Trans-Missis- 
sippi Congress,  at  St.  Louis,  twice  appointed  by  Gov.  Leslie 
M.  Shaw  and  once  by  Gov.  F.  M.  Drake,  as  a  representative 
from  the  state  of  Iowa.  He  is  active  in  the  councils  of  the 
republican  party.  He  was  a  delegate  to  county  and  state  con- 
ventions, and  was  amanuensis  to  Governor  Kirkwood. 

On  June  8,  1882,  Mr.  Alder  was  married  to  Julia  Buttles. 
One  daughter,  Theodora  Alder,  was  born  Thanksgiving  day, 
1885,  died  October  8,  1909,  age  24. 

The  major's  military  record  is  as  follows:  Enlisted  Com- 
pany D,  44th  Iowa,  known  as  the  University  company,  com- 
posed of  students  of  three  colleges  in  state  of  Iowa,  namely. 


756        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

State  University  of  Iowa,  Cornell  College  of  Mt.  Vernon,  and 
Western  College,  eighty  in  all.  Forty  were  from  the  S.  U.  I. 
The  colonel  was  Stephen  B.  Henderson,  brother  of  ex-speaker 
of  the  House,  D.  B.  Henderson.  Major  Ira  J.  Alder  was  the 
flag  bearer  a  large  part  of  the  time  with  one  of  each  company 
of  the  regiment.  The  major  carried  the  flag  to  the  camp  of 
Col.  D.  B.  Henderson  at  Collierville  during  the  summer  of 
1864  to  investigate  the  sanitary  conditions  of  that  place.  He 
also  carried  it  at  the  head  of  the  column  of  reserves  before 
the  attack  on  Memphis  in  August,  1864.  The  flag  also  accom- 
panied the  University  company  on  their  visit  to  Fort  Pillow, 
the  scene  of  that  horrible  butchery,  which  will  forever  be  a 
stain  upon  the  record  of  General  Forest.  On  the  memorable 
occasion  when  General  Forest  attacked  the  camp  of  Memphis 
with  about  2,000,  Ira  J.  Alder  was  in  charge  of  the  invalid 
corps  of  the  regiment  of  38  soldiers  and  defended  the  camp. 
After  the  war,  having  been  mustered  out  at  Davenport,  Sep- 
tember 15,  1864,  he  was  appointed  by  Governor  Larrabee  as 
judge  advocate  with  rank  of  major  of  all  territory  south  of 
Rock  Island  railroad. 

That  beautiful  flag  is  much  beloved  by  the  student  company 
and  when  not  in  actual  use  is  always  carefully  protected  by  an 
oil  cloth  sheath.  The  morning  of  June  19,  1897,  when  the  li- 
brary building  was  afire  Major  Alder  rushed  to  the  scene  to 
secure  the  prized  flag.  The  pole  was  burned  at  the  top  and 
bottom  and  a  considerable  part  of  the  flag  was  burned  and 
charred. 

The  flag  is  now  in  the  possession  of  the  major.  He  intends 
to  return  it  to  his  alma  mater,  with  a  provision  for  its  care 
and  safety.  It  will  finally  rest  in  the  State  University  of 
Iowa  with  other  battle  flags  in  The  State  Historical  Society, 
with  special  place  for  its  safety. 

The  pride  of  Major  Ira  J.  Alder's  life  was  his  beautiful 
and  accomplished  daughter,  Miss  Theodora  Alder,  a  young- 
lady  of  culture  and  refinement.  She  was  educated  in  St.  Cath- 
erine's Hall,  Davenport,  and  took  a  course  in  Geneva,  Switz- 
erland. She  was  a  fine  French  scholar.  After  her  return 
from  Europe  she  was  a  student  in  the  State  University  of 
Iowa.  The  literary,  social,  and  church  circles  found  her  a 
very  brilliant  companion  and  worker.     The  King's  Daughters 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


757 


also  miss  her  good  work.  Theodora  means  gift  of  God.  A 
park  on  North  Linn  street  is  named  in  her  memory.  It  is  the 
garden  spot  of  Iowa  City.     See  iUnstration  with  this  sketch. 


GREGORY  GROSS  (DECEASED) 

Gregory  Gross  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Johnson 
comity,  Iowa,  and  there  developed  and  improved  a  fine  farm, 
now  owned  by  his  widow.  He  was  born  abont  twelve  miles 
from  Bedford,  France,  February  22,  1819,  a  son  of  Gregory 
and  Elizabeth  (Schnuebelin)  Gross,  the  former  of  whom 
fought  twelve  years  under  Napoleon. 

At  the  age  of  eighteen  years  Mr.  Gross  came  to  the  United 
States  (1837)  in  a  sailing  vessel.  He  lived  in  Stark  county, 
Ohio,  until  1844,  then  removed  west  to  Johnson  county,  over 


EESIDENCE  OF   MRS.   GROSS 


the  same  route  as  was  taken  by  his  brother  Vincent,  and 
which  is  described  in  the  latter 's  sketch  which  also  appears  in 
this  work.  He  purchased  the  Fowler  claim  of  IGO  acres  in 
Liberty  township,  and  engaged  in  farming.  He  became  very 
successful  and  became  the  owner  of  a  half-section  of  choice 
land,  which  he  improved  and  cultivated.  He  had  to  go  many 
miles  to  market,  and  at  one  time  hauled  dressed  hogs  to  Bur- 


758        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

lington  and  sold  them  for  $1.50  per  hundredweight.  He  took 
an  active  part  in  local  affairs  and  became  the  first  justice  of 
the  peace  of  Liberty  township,  holding  this  office  more  than 
twenty  years.  He  endeavored  to  settle  as  many  disputes  as 
possible  out  of  court.  He  was  a  school  trustee  and  a  justice 
of  the  peace  while  Iowa  was  still  a  territory.  He  was  a  good 
carpenter  and  after  he  had  given  twenty  acres  of  land  for  the 
use  of  St.  Stanislaus  church,  made  the  frame  for  the  building 
from  logs  he  had  hewed  himself.  He  was  married  in  1841  to 
Elizabeth  Schnuebelin,  of  Stark  county,  Ohio.  She  died  in 
Iowa  February  7,  1846,  having  had  two  children,  Vincent  and 
Gregory. 

In  1853  Mr.  Gross  married  Katherine  Rummelhart,  of  Stark 
county  birth,  and  who  had  come  to  Johnson  county  with  her 
parents  at  an  early  date.  This  marriage  took  place  in  old  St. 
Mary's  church  at  Iowa  City,  and  was  fjerformed  by  Rev. 
Father  Michael.  Miss  Rummelhart  was  born  April  14,  1830, 
and  was  reared  in  Stark  county,  Ohio,  receiving  but  a  limited 
education,  most  of  it  obtained  by  attending  a  subscription 
school  some  three  months.  She  completed  her  education  by 
reading  good  books,  of  which  she  had  always  been  fond.  Her 
parents,  Joseph  and  Katherine  (Gedtor)  Rummelhart,  were 
born  in  Alsace,  Germany,  and  came  to  the  United  States  in 
1826.  They  were  pioneers  of  Stark  county,  where  they  cleared 
a  farm,  and  in  the  fall  of  1852  they  removed  to  Johnson  county, 
Iowa,  where  they  spent  the  remainder  of  their  lives.  Mr. 
Rummelhart  had  fought  a  number  of  years  under  Napoleon. 
Mr.  Rummelhart,  with  his  wife  and  seven  children,  came  by 
water  most  of  the  way  from  Stark  county  to  Chicago,  thence 
by  rail  to  Rockford,  Illinois,  and  then  hired  teams  to  make  the 
trip  across  the  plains  to  Savanna,  Illinois,  whence  they  took  a 
boat  to  Muscatine,  Iowa,  and  went  from  there  to  Iowa  City 
by  stage.  Their  seven  children  were :  Joseph,  deceased,  born 
in  Germany ;  F.  P.,  also  born  in  Germany,  is  a  retired  farmer 
of  Liberty  township,  Johnson  county ;  Katherine,  Mrs.  Greg- 
ory Gross ;  Seraphim  accidentally  shot  himself  with  his  rifle, 
when  he  was  twenty-one  years  old;  Devoid,  of  Iowa  City; 
Peter,  deceased ;  Louis,  of  LeGrande,  Oregon.  They  came  to  a 
wild  region  when  they  settled  in  Liberty  township.  They  were 
among  the  early  members  of  St.  Marj^'s  church  and  active  in 


BIOGRAPHICAL  759 

various  affairs  of  the  neighborhood.  Their  early  molded 
candles  furnished  them  light  in  the  evening,  and  the  women  of 
the  family  spun  and  wove  the  goods  for  the  family  clothes. 

Mr.  Gross  became  an  influential  citizen  and  had  many 
friends.  He  died  on  his  farm,  March  II,  1892,  having  lived 
retired  for  several  years.  His  widow  then  assumed  charge  of 
the  farm,  which  was  at  that  time  some  six  hundred  dollars  in 
debt,  and  by  her  energy  and  foresight  has  acquired  a  compe- 
tence. She  has  a  farm  of  184  acres,  clear  of  debt,  and  owns  a 
comfortable  residence,  also  five  lots  east  of  St.  Joseph's 
church.  She  had  her  present  home  erected  in  1904  and  has 
occupied  same  since  1905.  She  is  a  woman  of  high  attainments 
and  stands  high  in  the  estimation  of  her  family  and  friends. 
She  is  a  great-grandmother  and  proud  of  her  numerous  de- 
scendants. She  and  her  husband  had  the  following  children : 
Rose  Matilda  and  I^evina  Kate.  Rose  Matilda  Gross  married 
Isaac  W.  Wright,  M.  D.,  a  graduate  of  Iowa  State  University 
in  the  class  of  1882,  and  they  reside  at  Salida,  Colorado,  and 
have  children  as  follows:  Kate,  Margaret,  Lillian,  one  who 
died  in  infancy,  Robert  Wright,  and  Mary.  Lillian,  of  the 
above  children,  is  married  and  lives  at  Montrose,  Colorado, 
and  has  children  as  follows:  Emuel,  Eugene,  F.  Alexander, 
and  an  infant.  The  second  child  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gross,  Louise 
Kate,  married  Eugene  Gross,  of  Chippewa  Falls,  and  they 
have  four  children:  Lulu;  Eugene,  deceased;  Leo,  married 
and  living  in  St.  Cloud,  Minnesota,  has  one  daughter,  Rosa; 
Loretta,  married,  lives  in  Portland.  Mrs.  Gross  purchased 
forty  acres,  comprising  the  soldier's  claim  of  J.  K.  Gross,  for 
the  sum  of  $50. 


MICHAEL  M:cINNERNY 

The  nativity  of  Michael  Mclnnerny  is  indicated  by  both  his 
Christian  and  his  surname.  Of  course,  he  might  have  been 
born  in  America,  and  that  would  have  been  an  honor ;  but,  be- 
ing a  native  of  Ireland,  he  has  always  considered  the  place  of 
his  birth  to  be  both  an  honor  and  a  distinction.  His  Irish 
parentage  brought  Mr.  Mclnnerny  another  quality,  and  that  is 


760        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

good  plain  common-sense.  This  began  to  manifest  itself  early, 
and  culminated  in  a  most  admirable  demonstration  when  he 
reached  the  age  of  twenty-one  years,  for  at  that  period  of  his 
life  he  bade  goodbye  to  the  green  hills  of  Erin  and  set  sail  for 
the  paradise  of  all  progressive  Irishmen,  America.  Not  that 
he  loved  Ireland  less,  but  that  he  loved  liberty  more,  was  the 
inspiration  which  moved  young  Mclnnerny  to  ''Westward, 
Ho. ' '  That  was  in  1845 ;  hence  it  is  simple  arithmetic  to  reck- 
on that  he  was  born  in  1824.  February  29  was  the  day,  there- 
fore Michael  Mclnnerny  only  has  a  birthday  celebration  every 
four  years,  which  may  in  part  account  for  his  longevity  and 
extraordinary  vigor  of  mind  and  body ;  for  be  it  known  that  he 


THE  MC  INNEENY  HOME 

is  very  much  alive  and  in  evidence  as  a  citizen  of  Iowa  City  to- 
day, at  the  honorable  age  of  eighty-eight,  having  celebrated 
twenty-two  birthday  quadrennials. 

Michael  Mclnnerny  landed  in  Boston  in  the  year  1845,  above 
mentioned.  Later  he  drifted  to  Augusta,  Maine,  from  which 
place  he  enlisted  for  the  Mexican  War,  serving  five  years  in  the 
Federal  Army.  He  was  wounded  at  the  battles  of  Chepulte- 
pec  and  Mexico  City.  (Note  by  Ed.  —  Mr.  Mclnnerny  being 
one  of  very  few  survivors  of  a  war  of  which  many  people  know 
but  little,  was  asked  to  give  a  more  detailed  sketch  of  the  war, 
which  follows  this  sketch.)  In  1854  he  settled  in  Iowa  City, 
engaging  in  the  mercantile  business  and  continuing  in  the  same 


BIOGRAPHICAL  761 

line  for  thirty-six  years.  Following  this  he  engaged  in  the 
grocery  business  for  a  period  of  twelve  or  fifteen  years. 

Mr.  Mclnnerny  was  married  in  1857  to  Miss  Mary  Dohney, 
of  Iowa  City.  Their  family  consisted  of  the  following  chil- 
dren :  Elizabeth,  Frank  J.,  Thomas  J.,  George,  Ella,  John  and 
Mary.  Of  these,  Elizabeth,  Ella  and  Frank  J.  survive.  Mrs. 
Mclnnerny  died  September  10,  1882. 

In  politics  our  subject  is  an  independent.  His  church  affilia- 
tion is  with  St.  Patrick's  Roman  Catholic. 

Texas  was  originally  a  portion  of  the  Mexican  Empire.  It 
lies  to  the  northeast  of  the  other  parts  of  Mexico  and  is  a  solid 
block  of  territory,  700  miles  in  length  from  north  to  south  and 
800  miles  broad  where  the  land  is  at  its  widest.  Its  area  has 
been  estimated  as  nearly  equal  to  the  united  areas  of  Great 
Britain  and  France. 

Texas  was  in  the  first  instance  claimed  by  the  American  gov- 
ernment as  part  of  Louisiana  but  the  claim  was  abandoned  in 
favor  of  Mexico.  Nevertheless  in  1821  and  the  following  year 
a  colony  from  the  United  States  made  a  settlement  on  both 
sides  of  the  river  Colorado,  in  what  was  then  Mexican  terri- 
tory. Emigration  in  great  numbers  flowed  into  the  province 
and  10,000  Americans  were  domiciled  there  in  1833. 

The  leader  of  these  movements  was  General  Sam  Houston, 
a  man  who  had  already  served  in  Congress  and  been  governor 
of  the  state  of  Tennessee  and  who,  as  early  as  1830,  mentioned 
at  Washington  that  he  had  in  his  mind  a  grand  project  for 
wresting  Texas  from  Mexico  and  setting  her  up  as  an  inde- 
pendent republic. 

Hostilities  broke  out  in  1835.  Every  nerve  was  strained  by 
the  Mexican  government  to  suppress  the  Americans.  General 
battles  were  fought  with  the  Americans  always  victorious. 

On  March  2, 1836,  a  convention  declared  Texas  independent 
and  Santa  Anna,  the  president  of  the  Mexican  republic,  under- 
went a  crushing  defeat  at  San  Tacintoon  April  21,  on  which  oc- 
casion the  Americans  were  commanded  by  General  Houston. 

The  province  remained  for  some  years  a  perfectly  indepen- 
dent republic,  ruled  by  a  dominant  class  of  Americans.  Gen- 
eral Houston  became  the  first  president  of  the  republic  and 
was  reelected  for  a  second  term. 


762        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

President  Houston's  administration  was  conducted  in  right- 
eousness and  lie  was  eminently  useful  to  the  people  over  whom 
he  presided  for  nine  years  under  the  Lone  Star  republic  of 
Texas. 

On  March  1,  1845,  Congress  resolved  in  favor  of  receiving 
Texas  into  the  Union  as  a  state  and  President  Tyler  gave  his 
assent  the  same  day  the  resolution  was  considered  by  a  con- 
vention of  delegates  called  for  the  purpose  of  forming  a  state 
constitution  for  Texas  and  approved  by  that  body  on  July  4th. 
Thus  this  province  of  the  far  southwest  became  one  of  the 
states  of  the  Union,  the  largest  state  in  point  of  size.  Houston 
was  immediately  elected  to  the  United  States  Senate. 

June  4,  1845,  the  Mexican  president  issued  a  proclamation 
declaring  war,  dated  May  23,  1845. 

President  Polk  was  beforehand  with  his  adversary  in  taking 
miUtary  measures.  In  July,  1845,  he  ordered  General  Zachary 
Taylor,  then  in  command  of  troops  in  the  southwest,  to  pro- 
ceed to  Texas  and  occupy  position  as  near  the  Rio  Grande  as 
might  appear  prudent.  The  force  was  about  1,500  strong. 
Santa  Anna  after  his  defeat  by  Taylor  at  Buena  Vista  on  the 
22d  and  23d  of  February,  1847,  took  up  a  position  at  Cerro 
Gordo. 

General  Scott  collected  his  forces  at  Labos  Island,  125  miles 
north  of  Vera  Cruz,  and  thence  sailed  in  the  squadron  of  Com- 
modore Connor  for  his  place  of  destination.  On  March  9, 
1847,  he  landed  near  Vera  Cruz  with  an  army  of  13,000  men. 
He  was  invested  on  the  13th,  and  five  days  later  the  town  and 
fortress  were  summoned  to  surrender,  and  this  being  refused, 
the  trenches  were  at  once  completed  and  on  the  22d,  the  first 
batteries  opened  fire  at  a  distance  of  800  yards  from  the  city. 
Vera  Cruz  surrendered  after  great  destruction  of  property 
and  the  loss  of  many  lives.  At  the  same  time  Commodore 
Connor  opened  fire  from  the  battery  of  the  squadron  on  the 
castle  of  St.  Juan. 

General  Scott  on  April  8th  sent  forward  the  advance  guard 
of  his  army  under  General  Twigg,  leaving  a  garrison  at  Vera 
Cruz.  Scott  himself  followed  with  the  main  body  of  the  army, 
8,500  strong,  to  Cerro  Gordo.  Where  Santa  Anna  took  up  a 
strong  position  was  a  narrow  pass  at  the  foot  of  the  eastern 
Cordilleras.     The  assault  w^as  made  on  the  morning  of  April 


BIOGRAPHICAL  763 

18th,  when,  after  much  hard  fighting,  every  one  of  the  Mexican 
positions  were  taken  by  storm  and  3,000  prisoners,  43  pieces 
of  bronze  artillery  and  5,000  stand  of  arms. 

The  victorious  army  entered  Jalapa  on  the  19th  and  on  the 
22d  the  castle  of  Perate  surrendered  without  any  resistance, 
together  with  a  large  number  of  cannon  and  many  stores  of 
war. 

Scott  again  pushed  on  and  on  May  15,  1847,  the  advance 
under  General  Worth  entered  the  City  of  Puebla  which,  though 
walled  and  fotified,  made  no  opposition  to  the  conquering 
hosts.  The  invading  army  was  now  to  the  southeast  of  the 
capital  and  the  reduction  of  the  city  had  yet  to  be  effected. 

It  was  necessary  to  allow  the  soldiers  some  rest  for  their 
labors  had  been  extreme  and  they  had  in  the  course  of  two 
months  gained  a  series  of  brilliant  victories  and  carried  dismay 
into  the  very  heart  of  Mexico.  In  that  brief  period  they  had 
captured  several  fortified  places,  scattered  the  ranks  of  the  en- 
emy, made  10,000  prisoners  and  taken  7,000  pieces  of  artillery, 
10,000  stand  of  arms  and  30,000  shells  and  cannonballs. 

Santa  Anna  had  concentrated  the  large  numbers  of  his 
troops  at  El  Penon  and  there  he  had  a  line  of  fortification 
which  it  would  not  have  been  easy  to  carry. 

Scott  verged  from  the  main  road  and  by  the  18th  the  entire 
army  had  reached  St.  Augustine,  ten  miles  from  the  City  of 
Mexico. 

General  Worth  established  himself  on  the  evening  of  the 
18tli,  near  Contreras.  The  following  morning,  however,  the 
batteries  in  the  vicinity  of  Contreras  were  carried  by  assault 
and  after  only  seventeen  minutes'  fighting.  The  Mexicans 
lost  700  killed,  numerous  pieces  of  artillery  and  15,000  pris- 
oners. 

At  the  same  time,  Scott  himself,  in  prolonged  and  sanguin- 
ary action,  carried  the  heights  of  Churubusco.  The  main  body 
of  the  army  now  pushed  on  towards  the  capital.  Worth  was 
ordered  to  remain  behind  and  effect  the  capture  of  St.  An- 
tonio. The  place  was  held  by  15,000  Mexicans  while  Worth 
had  only  6,000  troops  at  his  disposal.  Nevertheless  the  posi- 
tion was  taken  after  two  hours  of  fighting. 

On  September  8th,  Scott  attacked  the  position  called  El 
Molinosdelvey,  the  King's  Mills,  near  Chepultepec.     The  post 


764        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

« 
was  one  of  mucli  strength  and  is  said  to  have  been  held  by 

14,000  Mexicans  under  the  immediate  command  of  Santa  Anna, 
while  the  attacking  force  consisted  of  scarcely  4,000.  In  the 
first  instance  we  were  driven  back  with  great  slaughter.  But 
on  rallying,  we  carried  the  position  after  a  desperate  conflict 
of  an  hour.  The  Mexican  loss  was  nearly  a  thousand ;  our  own 
loss  was  over  eight  hundred.  On  the  same  morning  the  Casa 
De  Matta,  another  of  the  principal  outer  defenses  of  Chepulte- 
pec,  was  also  stormed  and  carried  and  the  Castle  itself,  situ- 
ated on  a  rocky  height  150  feet  above  the  adjacent  ground,  was 
now  the  only  obstacle  which  remained  to  be  overcome  before 
the  victorious  legions  should  plant  their  flag  within  the  capitol 
itself. 

General  batteries  were  raised  by  Scott  against  the  castle  of 
Chepultepec  on  the  night  of  September  11th,  and  a  heavy  bom- 
bardment was  opened  on  the  12th.  This  was  followed  on  the 
13th  hj  an  assault  in  which  the  attacking  forces  drove  the  de- 
fenders from  all  their  positions  and  obtained  complete  posses- 
sion of  the  fortress.  The  Mexicans  fled  towards  the  city  pur- 
sued by  Generals  Worth  and  Quitman.  They  moved  forward 
along  two  of  the  chief  causeways  and  planted  the  flag  of  the 
United  States  upon  the  national  palace  of  the  Montezumas. 

General  Scott  entered  at  the  head  of  his  staff  accompanied 
by  a  squadron  of  cavalry,  at  ten  o  'clock  in  the  morning  of  Sep- 
tember 14, 1847,  and  in  the  Grand  Plaza  or  large  public  square 
in  the  principal  part  of  the  city,  took  formal  possession  of  the 
conquered  metropolis,  where  the  Stars  and  Stripes  were  wav- 
ing in  triumph  over  the  palace  of  the  Montezumas.  It  was  a 
moment  of  pride  and  exultation  for  all  concerned. 

Peace  negotiations  terminated  on  February  2,  1848.  This 
treaty  was  proclaimed  in  the  United  States  on  the  4th  of  July 
by  President  Polk,  and  the  long  quarrel  between  the  two  re- 
publics was  brought  to  an  end.  Among  the  chief  stipulations 
of  this  agreement  were  the  evacuation  of  Mexico  by  the  Amer- 
ican armies  mtliin  three  months;  the  payment  of  three  mil- 
lions of  dollars  in  hand,  and  of  twelve  millions  more  in  four  an- 
nual installments,  by  the  United  States  to  Mexico,  on  account 
of  the  ceded  territory  and  the  assumption  by  the  former  of  cer- 
tain debts  due  to  their  citizens  to  the  amount  of  three  and  one- 
half  millions  of  dollars.     Fresh  boundaries  between  the  coun- 


BIOGRAPHICAL  765 

tries  were  determined  on ;  New  Mexico  and  upper  California 
were  handed  over  to  us,  and  the  free  navigation  of  the  Gulf  of 
California  and  of  the  River  Colorado  up  to  the  mouth  of  the 
Gila,  were  guaranteed  to  the  United  States  forever. 

By  the  treaty  of  Guadalupe  Hidalgo,  the  United  States  ac- 
quired all  that  country  which  we  now  call  the  great  West,  in- 
cluding the  treasures  of  California  and  the  Sierras.  The 
northwestern  frontier  was  fixed  at  the  49th  degree  of  north 
latitude,  and  the  administration  closed  with  the  largest  acces- 
sion of  land  that  had  yet  been  made  to  the  republic. 

The  people  from  all  the  crowded  cities  of  the  East  came  in 
great  numbers  overland  in  their  prairie  schooners  to  the  land 
of  gold.  Capitalists  came  and  laid  the  cornerstone  of  the 
towns  and  cities.  Railroads  from  the  East  cross  the  great  con- 
tinent of  the  United  States  to  the  Pacific  ocean.  Ships  from 
the  East  came  around  the  Horn  to  California  with  cargoes  of 
merchandise  and  on  the  return  trip  took  cargoes  of  quartz  rock 
back  to  those  Yankees  to  extract  the  gold  from  them.  The 
great  steamships  came  from  all  parts  of  Asia  with  valuable 
cargoes  of  merchandise  and  on  the  return  trip  to  China  those 
great  steamships  tooks  cargoes  of  grapes,  brandies  and  wines. 
From  the  El  Pinal  vineyard,  the  greatest  vineyard  in  the 
world,  the  largest  brandy  still  on  earth  turns  out  14,000  gallons 
of  brandies  every  twenty-four  hours.  One  of  the  steamers  on 
its  return  trip  to  China  carried  a  cargo  of  wine  and  brandies 
valued  at  $2,000,000.  The  flour,  corn-meal,  beans,  barley, 
wheat,  hams,  bacon,  Kentucky  whiskies  exported  annually  to 
China  are  valued  at  millions  of  dollars.  China  has  a  popula- 
tion of  480,000,000. 

The  Mexican  War  secured  the  independence  of  Texas  and 
extended  the  boundaries  of  the  United  States  to  the  Pacific 
ocean;  gave  homes  to  the  thousands  and  employment  to  the 
millions ;  opened  to  the  United  States  the  greatest  market  in 
the  world. 

The  Mexican  War  lasted  two  years,  1846  to  1848,  and  cost 
$66,000,000.  In  that  war  there  were  killed  in  battle  or  died  of 
wounds  and  disease,  1907. 

The  Civil  War  lasted  four  years,  1861  to  1865,  and  cost 
$6,500,000,000,  and  there  were  killed  in  battle  or  died  of  wounds 
and  disease,  280,000  men.     The  South  lost  in  those  killed  in 


766        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

battle  or  died  of  wounds  and  disease,  200,000.     The  number  of 
slaves  liberated  was  3,979,700. 


D.  L.  DRAPER 


D,  L.  Draper  is  one  of  the  solid,  substantial  citizens  of  John- 
son county  who  have  won  success  in  agricultural  operations 
there.  He  is  a  native  of  Canada,  born  October  9, 1843,  a  son  of 
William  and  Rhoda  (Reeve)  Draper,  natives  of  England. 
William  Draper  was  born  in  the  County  of  Kent,  was  married 
in  his  native  country,  and  soon  thereafter  came  to  Canada, 


RESIDENCE  OF  D.  L.   DRAPER 


where  the  remainder  of  his  life  was  spent.  Rhoda  Reeve  was 
born  in  Devonshire.  There  were  seven  sons  and  five  daugh-* 
ters  born  to  this  couple,  of  whom  five  sons  now  survive :  Wil- 
liam, Thomas,  D.  Ij.,  James,  and  Richard.  They  all  reside  in 
Canada  except  D.  L. 

In  boyhood  D.  L.  Draper  attended  the  schools  of  his  native 
place  and  there  grew  to  maturity.  AATien  he  reached  his  ma- 
jority he  began  life  for  himself  in  the  line  of  lumbering,  first 
in  Canada  and  later  in  Michigan.  He  came  to  the  United 
States  in  1864  and  has  since  lived  here.  After  spending  but 
a  few  months  in  Michigan  he  lived  about  a  year  .and  a  half  in 
Wisconsin,  after  which  he  came  to  Johnson  county,  Iowa.    He 


BIOGRAPHICAL  767 

took  up  the  occupation  of  farming  and  soon  after  his  arrival 
in  Iowa  purchased  an  eighty-acre  farm  near  Lone  Tree.  He 
operated  this  a  few  years,  tlien  sokl  out  and  purchased  a  tract 
of  sixty  acres  south  of  Lone  Tree  which  he  farmed  for  some 
twenty  years,  after  which  he  sold  out  and  bought  his  present 
fine  farm  of  160  acres  in  Fremont  township.  He  has  contin- 
ued to  make  improvements  on  his  place  and  has  one  of  the 
most  pleasant  homes  in  the  neigliborhood.  He  is  much  inter- 
ested in  local  affairs  and  performs  tlie  duties  of  a  good  citizen 
in  all  ways.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  church  and  helps 
in  its  good  work.  Mr.  Draper  has  won  many  friends  in  var- 
ious circles,  by  whom  he  is  held  in  high  regard.  He  is  a  self- 
made  man,  having  won  his  way  in  the  world  by  industry  and 
good  business  management,  and  is  therefore  deserving  of  much 
credit. 

Mr.  Draper  married,  in  October,  1868,  Rosa  Ann  Constant, 
born  in  Canada,  and  the  following  children  were  born  to  their 
union :  Charles,  Albert,  Elmer,  Bertie,  and  Rosa,  of  whom  but 
one  survives,  Elmer,  of  Lone  Tree,  Iowa.  Mrs.  Draper  died 
September  5,  1881.  Mr.  Draper  married,  as  his  second  wife. 
Miss  Mary  Porter,  born  in  Iowa,  daughter  of  John  and  Louisa 
(Marvin)  Porter.  To  this  union  three  children  were  born: 
one  died  in  infancy;  Marvin,  who  died  when  eight  months  old; 
and  Myron,  now  fifteen  years  of  age,  living  with  his  parents. 


SAMUEL  HINKLEY  (Deceased) 

The  Hinkley  family  were  early  settlers  of  Johnson  county, 
where  they  have  taken  a  prominent  part  in  affairs.  Samuel 
Hinkley  was  born  at  Brookfield,  Madison  county,  New  York, 
December  20, 1818,  son  of  Luther  and  Eunice  (Burdick)  Hink- 
ley. He  lived  in  his  native  pltice  until  1855,  when  he  and  his 
brother  H.  L.  emigrated  to  Johnson  county,  Iowa,  and  settled 
on  farms  nearly  adjoining  each  other,  in  Fremont  township. 
The  brothers  helped  each  other  during  busy  seasons  and  were 
very  close  to  each  other  in  their  friendship  and  sympathy. 
On  this  farm  Samuel  Hinkley  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life. 
He  was  married  on  April  22,  1857,  to  Miss  Adeline  A.  Per- 
kins, also  a  native  of  New  York.    She  was  born  near  Skanea- 


768        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 


teles,  and  when  she  was  about  one  year  old  lier  parents  moved 
to  Pennsylvania  and  later  to  Erie  county.  New  York.  In  May, 
1853,  the  Perkins  family  removed  to  Johnson  county,  Iowa. 
The  parents,  Elihu  S.  and  Sarah  (Dubois)  Perkins,  had  six 
children,  namely:  Mrs.  Hinkley,  Sarah  L.,  John  Thomas, 
William  Gordon,  Caroline  M.,  and  Lucretia  Ann.  The  only 
ones  of  this  family  now  survi\dng  are  Mrs.  Hinkley  and  her 
sister  Caroline,  Mrs.  Palmer,  of  Corry,  Pennsylvania. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hinkley  had  two  children,  Wiot  R.,  a  sketch 
of  whom  appears  in  this  work,  and  Julia  Z.,  Mrs.  Jessie  Holde- 


OLD   HINKLEY  HOMESTEAD 


man.  They  also  had  an  adopted  daughter,  Jessie,  Mrs. 
Charles  Patten,  of  Fremont  township.  Mr.  Hinkley  passed 
away  January  30,  1908,  sadly  mourned  by  the  entire  com- 
munity where  so  many  years  of  his  life  had  been  spent.  He 
had  made  his  good  influence  felt  in  local  affairs  and  had  made 
a  large  number  of  friends.  Mrs.  Hinkley  now  makes  her  home 
with  her  daughter,  Mrs.  Holdeman,  and  Mrs.  Patten.  On 
April  22,  1907,  less  than  a  year  before  the  death  of  Mr.  Hink- 
ley, he  and  his  wife  celebrated  their  golden  wedding,  a  memor- 
able affair,  where  they  were  surrounded  by  their  children  and 


BIOGRAPHICAL  769 

grandchildren,  friends  and  neiglibors.  Mr.  Hinkley  was  al- 
ways a  republican  in  politics  and  served  some  time  as  seliool 
director. 


J.  M.  HOFFMAN  (Deceased) 

Among  the  old  settlers  of  Johnson  county  who  helped  make 
its  early  history,  J.  M.  Hoffman  was  held  in  high  respect  and 
honored  as  a  rugged  pioneer.  He  won  success  in  life  and  de- 
veloped a  fine  farm,  which  is  now  the  home  of  a  daughter.  The 
house  he  erected  on  this  place  is  an  old  landmark,  a  view  of 
which  appears  in  the  text  of  this  history.  Mr.  Hoffman  was 
born  in  France,  March  15,  1836,  son  of  Michael  and  Ann 
(Welch)  Hoffman,  also  natives  of  tliat  country,  the  latter  born 
in  Lorraine,  since  ceded  to  Germany.  The  parents  set  sail 
for  America  in  1840,  in  an  old  sailing  vessel  which  took  several 
weeks  to  cross,  and  upon  landing  they  located  in  Monroe  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  their  home  until  1846.  In  tliat  year  Iowa  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  Union  as  a  state  and  they  decided  to  make  their 
home  here.  They  came  down  the  Ohio  river  and  up  the  Mis- 
sissippi, to  Muscatine  (then  Bloomington),  whence  they  drove 
to  their  final  destination,  Newport  township,  Johnson  county. 
Michael  Hoffman  died  soon  afterward,  on  August  7,  1846,  and 
his  widow  survived  him  many  years,  passing  away  February 
14, 1891,  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-eight  years,  ten  months 
and  fourteen  days.  They  were  parents  of  seven  sons  and 
daughters  —  a  typical  pioneer  family  —  and  J.  M.  was  the 
third  child  in  order  of  birth. 

Mr.  Hoffman  was  a  boy  of  ten  years  of  age  when  his  parents 
came  to  Johnson  county.  He  grew  to  manhood  in  Newport 
township,  receiving  his  education  in  the  public  schools  and 
being  reared  in  primitive  surroundings.  He  early  helped 
with  the  work  on  the  home  farm,  being  left  fatherless  at  a 
tender  age.  He  was  of  valua1)le  assistance  to  his  mother  and 
thus  received  training  which  fitted  him  well  for  the  battle  of 
life  on  his  own  account.  He  was  united  in  marriage  with  Sarah 
Henyan  on  May  20, 1860.  She  was  born  in  Newport  township, 
daughter  of  Bradford  and  Mary  A.  (Costley)  Henyan,  na- 
tives of  Pennsylvania  and  early  settlers  of  Iowa.  Mr.  Henyan 
and  wife  were  married  at  Muscatine  and  later  moved  to  John- 


770        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

son  comity,  where  they  made  a  permanent  home.  They  lived 
for  a  time  in  Iowa  City  and  then  moved  to  Newport  township, 
where  he  died  in  the  latter  seventies.  They  were  prominent 
farmers  and  it  was  at  their  Newport  township  farm  that  Mr. 
Hoffman  met-  his  future  wife  and  they  found  favor  in  each 
other 's  sight.  She  was  the  third  of  twelve  children,  born  De- 
cember 4,  1842,  and  her  death  occurred  in  Graham  township, 
June  9.  1898.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hoffman  moved  to  Graham  to^vll- 
ship  in  1865  and  located  on  the  farm  that  is  now  the  home  of 
their  daughter,  Mrs.  Eennolz.  The  old  home  is  located  on  the 
southwest  corner  of  Section  15,  and  there  Mrs.  Hoffman 
spent  her  last  days,  receiving  the  lo\dng  care  and  ministra- 
tions of  her  daughter.  Mr.  Hoffman  was  active  in  every  meas- 
ure affecting  the  best  interests  of  his  community  and  held 
various  local  offices  with  credit  and  ability.  Pie  kept  abreast 
of  the  times,  being  well  informed  on  the  events  and  issues  of 
the  day,  and  being  much  interested  in  local,  state,  and  national 
politics.  He  and  his  wife  reared  a  fine  family  of  children,  who 
are  a  credit  to  their  parents  and  their  home  training.  The 
family  has  always  stood  well  in  the  estimation  of  friends  and 
neighbors,  and  its  members  have  become  well  known  and  pop- 
ular. 

The  seven  children  born  to  Mr.  Hoffman  and  wife  were : 
One  died  in  infancy;  Emma  C,  married  William  Cisne  and  is 
deceased;  Mollie  E.,  is  the  wife  of  John  Eennolz,  and  they 
live  on  the  historic  farm  already  mentioned;  Anna  H.,  is  the 
wife  of  E.  J.  Porter,  of  River  Junction;  Ora  C,  married  Miss 
Maggie  Noonan,  of  Graham  township;  Zena  C,  married  Elmer 
J.  Draper,  of  Lone  Tree,  Iowa ;  Efifie,  married  Paul  F.  Wyjek 
and  they  farm  a  part  of  the  home  place  adjoining  that  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Rennolz.  Mrs.  Emma  Cisne  left  three  children : 
Bert,  the  eldest,  married  Miss  Feme  and  died,  leaving  two 
children,  Ruth  and  Helene;  Clarence,  and  Mabel.  The  Hoff- 
man farm  was  recently  divided  among  the  heirs  and  Mrs. 
Rennolz  occupies  the  old  home,  for  which  she  has  a  strong 
affection.  She  has  a  pardonable  pride  in  her  ancestors  and 
their  influence  on  jthe  history  and  development  of  their  part 
of  Johnson  county,  and  appreciates  the  trials  and  hardships 
they  withstood  to  make  a  home  for  their  children  in  the  wilder- 
ness and  help  to  pave  the  way  for  the  present  prosperity  of 


MRS.   J.   M.    HOFFMAN 


J.   M.   HOFFMAN 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


771 


that  region.  She  has  spent  her  life  in  the  neighborhood  and 
is  there  well  and  favorably  known.  Mr.  Hoffman  died  July 
22,  1911,  and  Mrs.  Hoffman  on  June  9,  1898. 

JOHN  RENNOLZ  was  born  in  Big  Grove  township,  north 
of  Solon,  Johnson  county,  son  of  Jacob  and  Frances  (Auld- 
man)  Eennolz,  natives  of  Germany  and  early  settlers  of  Iowa. 
The  father  was  first  employed  on  the  Chicago,  Eock  Island  & 
Pacific  road  between  Davenport  and  Iowa  City,  working  there 
until  1853.     In  the  early  days  he  purchased  forty  acres  of  land 


KESIDENCE    OF   JOHN    EENNOLZ 

in  Big  Grove  township  and  later  added  twenty  acres,  and  still 
later  another  twenty  acres.  At  his  death  he  was  possessed  of 
eighty  acres  of  fine  farm  land,  which  is  now  the  home  of  his 
son,  Benjamin.  He  was  married  in  1856  in  Iowa  City  and 
died  in  Greene  county,  Iowa,  August  12,  1907,  his  wife  having 
died  there  February  1,  1907.  •  They  had  moved  to  Greene 
county  in  1884.  They  had  nine  children,  of  whom  five  now 
survive :  Mary,  the  wife  of  John  Watterson,  of  Davenport ; 
Katie,  unmarried ;  John,  mentioned  at  the  beg-inning  of  this 
paragraph;  Benjamin,  on  the  old  farm;  Mathias,  deceased; 
Frances,  married  Thomas  Smith,  and  died,  lea\dng  three 
children;  Jacob,  deceased;  George,  of  Jefferson,  Iowa;  and 
Annie,  deceased. 


772        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

In  1889  John  Rennolz  married  Miss  Mollie  Hoffman,  and  in 
1893  he  and  his  wife  located  on  the  Hoffman  homestead.  He 
purchased  the  home  place  of  the  estate  for  $165  per  acre,  and 
now  fsrms  308  acres  of  land.  In  1911  he  had  100  acres  in 
corn,  and  from  sixteen  acres  of  timothv  seed  he  realized  three 
hundred  dollars.  He  has  twelve  head  of  cattle,  eighteen  head 
of  horses  (including  colts)  and  over  100  Duroc  Jersey  hogs. 
He  is  a  republican  in  politics  and  is  affiliated  with  the  Modern 
Woodmen  of  America.  He  is  president  and  his  wife  is  treas- 
urer of  the  school  board,  and  she  is  also  secretary  and  treas- 
urer of  the  Ladies '  Aid  Society  of  the  Christian  church. 


IGNATZ  G.  BIRRER 

Ignatz  G.  Birrer  is  among  the  most  progressive  and  enter- 
prising young  farmers  of  Johnson  countj^,  and  a  representa- 
tive of  a  family  that  has  been  known  there  for  over  half  a 
century.  He  is  a  son  of  Martin  and  Christina  (Brockman) 
Birrer,  and  was  born  July  31, 1872.  His  grandfather,  Nicholas 
Birrer,  the  first  of  his  ancestors  to  come  to  America,  was  born 
in  1817,  in  Alsace,  Germany,  and  there  married  Mary  Mag- 
dalene Schuffeaecker.  Seven  children  were  born  to  them.  This 
family  left  the  fatherland  in  1845,  embarked  in  a  sailing  vessel, 
and  journeyed  to  the  New  World,  the  voyage  consuming  thir- 
ty-two days.  Landing  at  New  York  City,  they  took  a  boat  for 
Albany,  and  traveled  thence  down  the  Erie  canal  to  Buffalo 
and  took  another  boat  to  Cleveland,  Ohio.  They  went  on  to 
Canton,  Ohio,  arriving  there  in  June,  1845.  In  October  of  that 
year  they  left  Canton  and  went  first  to  Wellsville,  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  down  the  Ohio  river  and  up  the  Mississippi  to 
Bloomington,  now  Muscatine,  Iowa.  They  were  met  at  this 
point  by  their  old  friend  Gregory  Gross,  with  whom  they  had 
previously  been  in  correspondence,  and  accompanied  him 
across  the  prairies  to  Iowa  City,  in  a  wagon.  Gregory  Gross 
was  well  known  among  the  early  German-American  families 
of  Johnson  count}^,  as  an  energetic  and  prosperous  farmer, 
public-spirited  citizen,  and  representative  of  the  best  interests 
of  the  community.  He  was  a  good  friend  and  helped  the  new 
settlers  in  many  ways  to  make  a  start  in  the  place  they  had 
chosen  for  a  home. 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


773 


lu  the  spring-  of  1846  Nicholas  Birrer  moved  to  his  preenip- 
tion  claim  in  Section  33,  Liberty  township,  this  farm  now  being 
the  property  of  John  Deatsch.  They  subsequently  purchased 
the  land  from  the  government,  paying  therefor  $1.25  per  acre. 
They  occupied  a  log  house  until  1854,  then  erected  a  better 
dwelling,  also  of  logs,  and  which  is  now  standing  on  Mr. 
Deatsch 's  place.  There  the  parents  of  this  large  family  lived 
until  called  by  the  angel  Death  to  their  heavenly  home.  They 
were  original  members  of  St.  Stanislaus  church  and  did  their 
share  in  its  support.  Both  parents  were  buried  in  the  ceme- 
tery at  St.  Stanislaus  and  a  monument  marks  their  resting- 
place.  Mr.  Birrer  was  a  very  industrious  and  ambitious  farm- 
er and  improved  and  developed  a  fine  farm.     In  company  with 


RESIDENCE   OF   I.   (i.   BIRRER 


Michael  Doll,  he  made  many  trips  to  Muscatine,  with  oxen, 
taking  a  load  each  way,  for  they  had  to  take  their  pay  for  farm 
produce  in  commodities  rather  than  money,  as  a  usual  thing. 
On  one  occasion  Mr.  Birrer  took  a  load  of  grain  and  returned 
with  candles.  He  had  to  break  prairie  land,  split  rails  for 
fences,  and  lived  the  life  of  a  pioneer,  farming  with  such  prim- 
itive tools  as  the  cradle.  His  wife  spun  and  wove  the  cloth 
for  the  family,  and  in  all  ways  proved  the  good  helpmate  most 
of  her  neighbors  were.  He  served  as  trustee  and  road  super- 
visor of  Liberty  township  and  also  as  district  school  officer. 
He  died  while  on  his  way  home  from  a  trip,  being  drowned 
while  fording  Old  Man's  creek,  in  which  the  water  had  risen 


774        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

since  he  bad  left  liome.  His  death  occurred  March  21,  1870, 
at  the  age  of  fifty-three  years,  three  months  and  fourteen  days, 
and  was  a  shock  to  his  many  friends,  as  he  was  in  the  prime 
of  life  and  health.  His  widow  passed  away  December  14, 
1888,  aged  sixty-eight  years,  four  months  and  twenty-eight 
days. 

To  Nicholas  Birrer  and  wife  seven  children  were  born,  as 
follows:  Martin,  familiarly  known  as  "Squire"  Birrer,  father 
of  the  subject  of  this  sketch ;  Mary  Magdalene,  wife  of  Charles 
Droll,  whose  son  William  is  given  a  sketch  within  these  pages ; 
George,  married  Josephine  Rummelhart,  and  they  live  in  Kan- 
sas; Frances  M.,  married  Mathias  Fischer  and  they  live  in 
Kinross,  Iowa ;  Eaymond,  lives  in  Minnesota.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Charles  Droll  live  retired  from  active  life,  in  Riverside. 

Martin  Birrer,  eldest  child  of  his  parents,  was  born  in  Al- 
sace, November  12,  1842,  and  has  been  a  continuous  resident 
of  Johnson  county  since  early  childhood.  He  has  been  active 
in  public  life  since  attaining"  maturity,  and  has  taken  a  useful 
part  in  various  measures  for  the  general  welfare.  In  1866 
he  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace  and  served  continuously 
in  this  office  until  1908.  During  tliis  time  none  of  the  cases 
tried  before  him  was  appealed  to  a  higher  court.  He  greatly 
desired  to  settle  as  many  of  his  cases  as  possible  out  of  court. 
Mr.  Birrer  served  twenty-six  years  as  clerk  of  Liberty  town- 
ship, thirty  years  as  school  treasurer,  and  a  great  many  years 
as  road  supervisor,  being  elected  to  the  latter  office  in  a  very 
early  day  in  Johnson  county  history.  He  has  for  many  years 
been  president  of  the  Farmers'  Insurance  Company.  Coming 
to  the  county  when  three  years  old,  he  has  spent  sixty-six 
years  there,  and  is  one  of  the  best-known  men  in  the  region. 
He  was  reared  to  farm  life  and  early  had  a  desire  to  earn  his 
own  way  in  the  world. 

In  his  twenty-fifth  year  Martin  Birrer  married  Christina 
Brockraan,  the  ceremony  being  performed  by  Rev.  John  Fen- 
drick,  in  St.  Stanislaus  church,  November  12,  1867.  After  his 
marriage  Mr.  Birrer  bought  a  farm  three  and  a  quarter  miles 
southwest  of  what  is  now  Hills  and  three  and  a  half  miles 
north  of  the  present  site  of  Riverside.  This  farm  comprised 
eighty  acres  of  choice  land  and  became  very  productive.  Some 
three  or  four  times  a  year  he  went  with  his  ox  team  to  Mus- 


BIOGRAPHICAL  775 

catine,  exclianging  his  farm  produce  for  other  commodities 
and  seldom  receiving  any  money  for  it.  He  managed,  how- 
ever, to  get  enough  currency  to  pay  his  taxes  when  they  fell 
-Jue,  and  was  well  off  without  it  otherwise.  In  1868  he  went 
to  live  on  the  old  homestead.  He  purchased  land  from  time 
io  time  and  became  possessed  of  200  acres  of  fine  land  in  Sec- 
tions 29,  32,  and  33,  Liberty  township,  with  substantial  build- 
ings thereon.  He  and  his  wife  had  the  following  eleven  chil- 
dren: M.  Saraphina;  Eomania  Frances,  married  Albert 
Schultz,  and  they  have  five  children,  as  mentioned  in  his 
sketch,  which  appears  in  this  work;  Ignatz  G.,  whose  name 
heads  this  sketch;  Frank  M.,  married  Eose  Knebel,  lives  in 
Dillon,  Montana,  and  they  have  one  son,  Ivo ;  Magdalene,  mar- 
ried Joseph  Mellecker,  a  sketch  of  whom  is  given  within  these 
pages;  Palagia,  married  Cornelius  Welch,  lives  in  Washing- 
ton county,  and  they  have  five  children,  John,  Eichard,  Cath- 
erine, Martin,  and  Thomas;  Josephine,  married  George 
Deatsch,  who  is  given  further  mention  in  this  work;  Mary, 
married  Henry  Gringer,  of  Hills,  Iowa,  and  they  have  an  in- 
fant daughter;  Nicholas,  his  grandfather's  namesake,  lives  at 
Dillon,  Montana,  married  Muriel  Geary,  and  they  have  one 
son,  Joseph ;  Andrew,  lives  at  Dillon,  Montana ;  Henry,  mar- 
ried Margaret  Deatsch  and  they  reside  at  Hills  and  have  one 
son,  Clarius.  This  large  family  of  children  was  reared  in  the 
Catholic  faith  and  all  are  now  living,  a  fine  group  of  men  and 
women  and  a  credit  to  their  parents. 

Ignatz  G.  Pirrer  operates  the  old  Joseph  Draker  farm,  on 
Section  28,  Liberty  township,  and  also  owns  in  Sections  28 
and  33,  ninety-one  acres  and  is  one  of  those  men  who  make 
the  most  of  their  opportunities.  He  is  always  planning  new 
improvements  and  better  ways  of  doing  things,  and  makes 
his  every  move  count  for  something.  This  farm,  comprising 
some  seventy-one  acres,  was  purchased  by  him  in  1900.  He 
has  some  timber  and  has  brought  the  rest  of  the  place  to  a 
high  state  of  cultivation  and  productiveness,  beginning  its 
operation  in  1901.  The  farm  contains  a  fine  natural  spring, 
from  which  he  has  piped  water  to  supply  the  house  and  for  the 
stock.  This  water  is  run  into  three  cisterns,  each  for  a  dif- 
ferent purpose,  and  is  a  valuable  asset.  There  is  also  a  con- 
tinuous overflow  which  supplies  two  stock  tanks.     The  spring 


776        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  lOAVA 

is  some  sixty  to  eiglity  rods  from  tliese  cisterns,  and  furnishes 
a  constant  supply  of  clear  water.  His  house  is  supplied  with 
modern  conveniences,  and  both  hard  and  cold  water  are  to  be 
pumped  therein.  One  of  the  features  which  adds  to  the  value 
and  attractiveness  of  his  farm  is  the  fine  orchard,  containing 
peaches,  apples,  plums,  and  grapes.  Cement  walks  surround 
the  modern  dwelling,  which  was  constructed  by  the  former 
owner.  In  1910  Mr.  Birrer  erected  a  fine  barn,  with  cement 
floor  and  fine  box  stalls  for  his  horses.  This  is  of  his  own 
design  and  shows  the  practical  ideas  he  brings  to  bear  on  his 
operations.  This  building  is  50  by  56  feet  in  extent  and  25 
feet  high  for  the  main  posts  and  about  35  feet  in  the  center, 
with  a  capacity  for  50  tons  of  hay.  The  feed  boxes  and  gran- 
ary are  well  screened  and  the  gates  are  convertible,  so  ad- 
justed as  to  take  up  no  unnecessary  room  when  open.  The 
oak  used  in  building  this  barn  was  taken  from  the  farm  itself. 

Mr.  Birrer  has  fine  Hereford  cattle  and  Poland  China  hogs. 
He  also  has  a  high  grade  of  Norman  horses.  In  1911  his  corn 
,  yield  averaged  60  bushels  to  the  acre  and  he  also  raised  some 
smaller  grain.  He  is  very  well  known  in  the  community,  where 
his  entire  life  has  been  spent,  and  is  much  interested  in  public 
affairs.  He  feels  gratified  at  the  part  taken  by  his  ancestors 
in  forwarding  the  development  and  progress  of  the  region 
and  is  himself  a  representative  member  of  that  prominent 
family,  being  industrious  and  ambitious  in  business  affairs, 
and  possessed  of  the  high  principles  which  have  been  identi- 
fied with  the  name  of  Birrer  as  far  back  as  anything  is  known 
of  it. 

In  1902  Mr.  Birrer  was  married  to  Miss  Louisa  Mellecker, 
of  Johnson  county,  mentioned  elsewhere  in  this  work  in  con- 
nection with  a  sketch  of  her  family,  and  one  son  has  blessed 
this  union,  the  pride  of  the  home,  little  George  Henry,  born 
April  9,  1910. 

Mr.  Birrer  now  owns  162  acres  in  Liberty  township.  Sec- 
tions 28  and  33.  He  owns  80  acres  of  the  old  Birrer  home- 
stead, which  is  of  great  value  to  the  family. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  777 

THOMAS  JEFFERSON  HARPER  (Deceased) 

Thomas  Jefferson  Harper  was  born  January  15,  1828,  in 
Wliitestown  (now  called  Wliitesboro),  Oneida  county,  New 
York.  He  died  February  29, 1908,  in  Oxford,  Johnson  county, 
Iowa.  He  was  never  married.  He  came  to  Oxford  in  1854 
with  two  uncles,  Samuel  and  Jonathan  N.  Church.  They  set- 
tled on  a  farm  two  miles  south  of  Oxford.  For  several  years 
he  lived  with  these  uncles.  After  their  deaths  he  lived  alone 
for  several  years  on  his  farm.  About  1895  a  brother  and  his 
family  came  from  New  York  and  occupied  the  farm  and  he  lived 
with  them  until  his  death. 

His  life  was  an  uneventful  one.  A  pioneer  in  those  days 
had  but  little  variety.  The  neighbors  were  few  and  far  apart. 
He  believed  the  lack  in  numbers  was  more  than  balanced  by 
the  good  quality.  He  was  always  a  farmer  and  his  enjoyment 
consisted  in  getting  a  living  or  a  little  more,  reading  books  and 
newspapers. 

By  his  extensive  reading  he  was  always  ready  to  express  an 
opinion  on  current  events.  In  politics,  men  and  measures  in- 
terested him  more  than  party.  Before  he  was  of  age  he  be- 
came a  strong  abolitionist  and  remained  so  until  the  slaves 
were  made  free.  He  was  conscientiously  honest  in  all  business 
matters.  Although  he  was  not  a  member  of  any  church  he 
tried  to  follow  the  precepts  of  the  Bible. 


JONATHAN  NICHOLS  CHURCH  (Deceased) 

Jonathan  Nichols  Church  was  born  in  Savbrook,  Connecti- 
cut,  January  31,  1800,  and  died  in  Oxford,  Johnson  county, 
Iowa,  February  15,  1861.  He  was  a  small  boy  when  his  pa- 
rents moved  from  Saybrook  to  Trenton,  Oneida  county,  New 
York.  He  was  brought  up  a  farmer  and  followed  that  occupa- 
tion to  the  time  of  his  death.  In  1853  he  came  west  to  see  the 
country,  intending  if  he  liked  it  to  make  it  his  home.  He  was 
well  pleased  with  what  he  saw  of  the  country  and  people.  He 
went  back  to  New  York  with  the  determination  to  return  as 
soon  as  he  could  arrange  his  business  and  locate  in  Iowa. 

In  1854  he  returned  with  a  brother  and  nephew  and  settled 
on  a  farm  about  two  miles  south  of  Oxford  City. 


778        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

He  was  a  great  reader  and  was  always  well  informed  on 
public  issues.  In  religion  he  was  a  firm  Baptist.  He  was  never 
married.  The  whig  and  republican  party  tickets  were  usually 
sure  of  his  support.  He  was  honest  and  respected  by  his  ac- 
quaintances and  did  what  he  could  to  improve  the  new  country. 


WALTER  J.  EVANS 

The  parents  of  Walter  J.  Evans  were  among  the  honored 
pioneers  of  Johnson  county  and  did  much  to  promote  early 
growth  and  development  of  the  region.  Several  members  of 
the  family  fought  in  the  Civil  War  and  in  times  of  peace  all 
have  done  their  duty  as  private  citizens.  Walter  J.  Evans, 
who  has  lived  in  Johnson  countv  since  infancv,  is  one  of 
the  most  widely  and  favorably  known  men  within  its  boun- 
daries. He  was  born  in  Ohio  county,  Indiana,  January  4, 1849, 
son  of  Thomas  and  Nancy  A.  (McAdams)  Evans,  the  father  a 
native  of  Delaware  and  the  mother  of  Ohio  county.  When  a 
youth  of  eighteen  years,  Thomas  Evans  removed  to  Indiana, 
where  he  remained  until  some  years  after  his  marriage,  and  in 
1849  brought  his  family  to  Newport  to^vnship,  Johnson  county, 
his  home  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  enlisted,  October  19, 
1864,  as  a  recruit  in  Company  D,  Twenty-fourth  Iowa  Volun- 
teer Infantry,  and  at  the  battle  of  Cedar  Creek,  Virginia,  was 
mortally  wounded,  his  death  occurring  in  a  hospital  in  Balti- 
more, in  November  of  the  same  vear.  His  widow  remained  in 
Newport  township  until  her  death,  November  20,  1871. 

Eight  sons  were  born  to  Thomas  Evans  and  wife :  Wesley 
D.,  of  Humboldt  county,  Iowa ;  John  H.,  of  Alburnett,  Iowa ; 
James  M.,  foreman  in  a  round  house  of  the  Chicago,  Burling- 
ton &  Quincy  railroad,  at  Creston,  Iowa ;  Thomas  A.,  a  stock 
buyer,  of  Oasis ;  Larkin  H.,  of  Iowa  City;  Alexander  E.,  in  the 
grocery  business  at  Mt.  Vernon;  and  Walter  J.,  besides  one, 
Alexander  A.,  who  died  in  infancy. 

Walter  J.  Evans  has  carried  on  fanning  in  Newport  town- 
ship since  old  enough,  to  engage  in  active  work  on  his  own  ac- 
count, and  is  in  possession  of  a  valuable  and  well-kept  farm. 
He  was  married,  November  20,  1871,  to  Miss  Minnie  Tippen- 
hauer,  who  was  born  in  Scott  township,  Johnson  county,  Janu- 


BIOGRAPHICAL  779 

aiy  24,  1850,  daughter  of  Conrad  Tippenhauer.  Mr.  Tippen- 
haiier,  a  native  of  Germany,  came  to  America  as  a  yomig  man, 
locating  first  in  Pennsylvania,  where  lie  met  and  married  Miss 
Sarah  Grenawalt.  They  were  among  the  early  settlers  of 
Johnson  county.  There  the  father  died  February  19,  1881,  at 
the  age  of  seventy-four  years,  one  month,  and  five  days,  and 
the  mother  died  at  her  home  in  Iowa  City,  October  13, 1899,  at 
the  age  of  eighty-five  years,  eleven  months,  and  twenty-seven 
days.  They  took  a  prominent  part  in  the  life  of  the  community 
and  made  many  warm  friends  among  the  early  settlers.  They 
had  nine  children,  one  of  whom  died  in  infancy,  the  others 
being :  Eliza ;  Margaret ;  Charles,  who  enlisted  in  Company  F, 
Twenty-second  Iowa  Infantry,  was  killed  at  the  siege  of  Vicks- 
burg,  dying  June  13,  1863,  at  the  age  of  twenty-seven  years; 
Katherine;  George;  Mary;  Mrs.  Evans;  and  George,  who  died 
October  22,  1864,  at  the  age  of  ten  years. 

Four  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Evans :  Charles 
T.,  died  August  15,  1878,  at  the  age  of  five  years ;  Harlan  A., 
purchasing  agent  of  the  State  University  of  Nebraska,  located 
near  Lincoln ;  Manley  J.,  professor  in  the  commercial  depart- 
ment of  Wesley  University,  about  three  miles  from  Lincoln, 
Nebraska ;  Alda  B.,  wife  of  Henry  Fuhrmeister,  of  Iowa  City. 
Mr.  Evans  has  a  grandson,  Robley,  son  of  Manley  J.  Evans. 

Delbert  Franklin  Sponey,  son  of  Frank  G.  and  Alda  Fuhr- 
meister, grandson  of  Mrs.  Evans,  resides  with  her  on  the  old 
homestead. 

Mr.  Evans  is  a  devout  and  useful  member  of  the  United 
Brethren  church  and  a  republican  in  politics.  He  is  interested 
in  al]  that  pertains  to  the  general  welfare  and  prosperity,  and 
is  a  worthy  representative  of  the  family  that  has  meant  so 
much  in  the  history  of  the  county.  He  has  given  his  children 
good  educations  and  all  have  become  useful  members  of  so- 
ciety and  occupy  desirable  places  in  the  field  of  their  activities. 


780        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

JAMES  CAVANAGH  (Deceased) 

James  Cavanagli  was  born  at  Hamilton,  Butler  county, 
Ohio,  November,  1806,  and  when  he  was  ten  or  twelve  years 
old  he  removed  with  his  father's  family  to  northern  Ohio, 
and  from  thence  to  southwestern  Michigan  when  he  was  a 
young  man.  He  was  married  in  1830,  to  Miss  Amy  K.  Towns- 
end  and  opened  and  improved  a  small  farm  on  McKinney's 
prairie,  near  Cassapolis,  in  Cass  county,  where  he  resided 
until  the  spring  of  1839  when  he  sold  his  little  farm  and  came 
to  Iowa  with  his  wife  and  five  children — all  boys — and  settled 
on  the  Cedar  river  in  the  northeastern  corner  of  Johnson 
county,  five  miles  east  of  where  Solon  now  stands.  Here  he 
opened  and  improved  quite  a  large  farm,  and  he  and  his  de- 
voted wife  labored  and  struggled  to  support  their  young  and 
growing  family  and  to  educate  them  as  best  they  could  under 
the  privations  and  vicissitudes  incident  to  pioneer  life  in  that 
earlv  dav  in  Iowa.  Their  familv  had  now  increased  to  eight 
children  —  all  boys  —  and  it  can  be  readily  understood  that 
it  required  no  ordinary  efforts  and  devotion  to  care  for, 
clothe,  and  supply  the  necessary  food  for  this  large  and  de- 
pendent family;  but  so  well  was  all  done  by  this  devoted  pair 
that  all  their  children  grew  to  man's  estate  in  perfect  health 
and  physical  development  and  with  as  much  education  as  was 
possible  in  that  early  time  for  they  all  acquired  the  rudi- 
ments of  an  education. 

Mr.  Cavanagh,  n  addition  to  taking  care  of  his  farm  and 
had  had  limited  opportunities  for  schooling,  but  gave  their 
children  the  benefit  of  the  limited  education  they  themselves 
possessed,  until  schools  were  established 

Mr.  Cavanagh,  in  addition  to  taking  care  of  his  farm  and 
stock  raising  and  providing  for  his  family,  took  a  deep  in- 
terest in  affairs  that  pertained  to  the  public  welfare  and  he 
served  the  public  in  several  official  positions,  as  county  com- 
missioner, county  assessor,  justice  of  the  peace,  member  of 
the  house  of  the  7tli  General  Assembly,  county  judge,  and 
auditor.  He  was  also  one  of  the  three  commissioners  who 
selected  and  located  a  very  large  land  grant  of  the  gen- 
eral government  to  the  State  of  Iowa,  for  internal  improve- 


BIOGRAPHICAL  781 

ments,  but  which  was  subsequently  diverted  to  the  common 
schools. 

Mr.  Cavanagh  sold  his  farm  on  the  Cedar  in  1888  and 
moved  to  Iowa  City,  where  for  a  short  time  he  was  engaged 
in  mercantile  business,  but  found  that  he  was  not  adapted 
to  that  business,  and  so  sold  out,  after  which  he  was  not  en- 
gaged in  any  business,  except  in  some  of  the  official  positions 
before  alluded  to.  He  continued  to  reside  at  the  home  he  ac- 
quired on  coming  to  Iowa  City,  until  his  death,  February  14, 
1880,  at  the  age  of  seventy-three.  His  wife,  with  whom  he 
had  lived  a  half  century,  survived  until  September,  1902, 
when  she  passed  away  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety-six  years. 


JOHN  ANTON  GOETZ 

The  proverbial  bent  of  the  German  character  towards  thrift, 
honesty  and  persistent  industry  is  nowhere  more  strongly  em- 
phasized than  among  the  numerous  Teutonic  households  and 
their  posterity  who  compose  a  considerable  part  of  the  popula- 
tion of  eastern  Iowa.  Hundreds  of  splendidly  improved 
farms,  with  prosperous  herds,  fruitful  fields,  great  barns  and 
beautiful  residences,  attest  the  intelligence  and  the  frugality  of 
their  German  owmers.  It  has  passed  into  a  proverb  that  the 
"Germany  man  makes  a  high-class  American  citizen."  The 
operations  of  the  children  of  the  Fatherland  are  not  confined 
to  the  farm  alone :  in  the  cities  and  villages  their  progressive 
spirit  is  manifest  to  a  marked  degree  also.  We  find  them  in 
the  ranks  of  manufacture,  of  merchandise  and  of  finance ;  and 
with  very  rare  exceptions  we  can  invariably  write  the  w^ord 
Success  over  their  doorways.  This  is  a  record  which  should 
awaken  pride  in  the  German  breast.  It  is  the  open  sesame  of 
the  Teutonic  race  to  the  confidence  and  the  esteem  of  mankind, 
and  gives  them  position  in  the  front  ranks  of  the  citizenship  of 
the  Great  Republic.  Johnson  county  boasts  a  numerous  rep- 
resentation of  these  people,  and  it  is  freely  admitted  by  all  can- 
did men  that  their  operations  have  contributed  largely  to  the 
acknowledged  position  of  the  county  in  the  vanguard  of  agri- 
cultural and  industrial  success. 

Among  the  names  that  rank  high  in  the  German-American 


782        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

population  of  the  county  is  that  of  Goetz.  Our  subject,  John 
Anton  Goetz,  occupies  a  leading  and  important  place  in  the  ag- 
ricultural and  business  world  of  Iowa  City  as  well  as  of  Lone 
Tree  and  vicinity.  He  is  the  owner  of  800  acres  of  land  in 
Pleasant  Valley  township,  which  is  in  a  high  state  of  cultiva- 
tion. He  is  president  of  the  Farmers  &  Merchants  bank  at 
Lone  Tree  and  the  Hills  Savings  bank  at  Hills,  and  was  former- 
ly president  of  the  Lone  Tree  Savings  bank,  his  connection 
with  these  institutions  covering  a  period  of  twenty  years.  He 
is  also  president  of  the  Hummer  Mercantile  company  of  Iowa 
City.  Always  his  name  and  his  policy  have  stood  for  the  best 
principles  and  methods  in  banking  and  other  business.  His 
financial  administration  has  always  inspired  and  received  the 
confidence  of  his  fellow  citizens. 

Mr.  Goetz  was  born  at  Wallenstein,  Bavaria,  Germany,  Aug- 
ust 7,  1847.  His  parents  were  John  Goetz  and  Mary  Rosalie 
Grafennaur,  natives  of  Germany.  Our  subject  was  seven  years 
of  age  when  his  parents  removed  to  America,  and  distinctly  re- 
members the  long  ocean  voyage  of  fifty-four  days  and  the  joy 
of  landing  at  the  American  port  of  New  York.  The  family  first 
located  at  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  but  were  discouraged  by  their  ex- 
perience there  on  account  of  a  bank  failure  which  swept  away 
a  goodly  portion  of  the  father's  savings.  The  elder  Goetz 
thereupon  determined  to  invest  his  remaining  capital  in  land, 
and  with  this  object  in  view  came  overland  from  Ohio  to  John- 
son county,  Iowa,  in  1854,  and  settled  in  Iowa  City,  where  the 
family  resided  for  fifteen  years.  There  John  Goetz  engaged 
in  the  general  merchandise  business,  in  which  he  prospered. 
From  his  savings  he  bought  a  farm  in  Lincoln  township  and 
the  family  moved  thereon.  The  mercantile  habit,  however, 
was  fastened  upon  him,  and  after  two  years'  residence  on  the 
farm  he  went  to  West  Liberty  and  again  launched  into  general 
merchandise.  He  remained  there  two  years,  when  he  sold  out 
and  returned  to  Iowa  City.  There  he  engaged  in  the  ice  busi- 
ness, which  he  continued  until  his  retirement  from  active  work. 
He  died  March  16, 1885.  His  wife  died  January  4, 1881.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  John  Goetz  were  the  parents  of  seven  children :  Mar- 
garet, born  June  7, 1846,  died  in  infancy;  our  subject,  John  A., 
born  August  7, 1847 ;  John  E.,  born  February  16,  1849,  died  in 
February,  1901,  in  California;  Mary  R.,  born  March  2,  1854, 


BIOGRAPHICAL  783 

died  in  infancy;  Frances,  born  February  2,  1855,  married  to 
Charles  Epnotlier,  died  in  Kansas  in  1887 ;  Joseph,  born  Aug- 
ust 4,  1857,  lives  in  Lincoln  township;  William,  born  August 
19, 1861,  died  December  28, 1881.  Our  subject  and  his  brother 
Joseph  are  therefore  the  only  surviving  members  of  the  orig- 
inal family. 

Our  subject  attended  primary  school  one  and  one-half  years 
in  Germany,  and  completed  his  education  in  Iowa  City.  In  his 
younger  days  he  was  associated  ^\dth  his  father  in  the  general 
merchandise  business.  At  the  age  of  twenty-one  he  took  up 
the  business  of  farming  in  Lincoln  township,  continuing  in  that 
township  for  ten  years,  when  he  removed  to  Pleasant  Valley 
township.  In  the  latter  township  he  has  been  a  farmer  for 
thirty-four  years.  His  present  home,  originally  containing 
160  acres,  was  the  first  farm  he  bought  in  1875.  He  has  added 
eighty  acres  thereto.  His  farm  of  480  acres  is  situated  one 
mile  north  of  the  old  home  farm. 

In  1871  Mr.  Goetz  was  married  to  Miss  Elizabeth  A.  Clear, 
who  was  born  in  New  York  state  July  16,  1851,  and  came  with 
her  parents  to  Iowa  City  in  1855.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Goetz  have 
been  blessed  with  ten  children,  eight  of  whom  are  living,  as  fol- 
lows :  Mary.  R.,  married,  residing  in  Oregon;  Annie,  now  Mrs. 
John  P.  Unrath,  living  in  Iowa  City ;  Antonette,  librarian  at  the 
University,  Urbana,  Illinois;  Anthony  L.,  farmer,  living  at 
home ;  Louise,  living  at  home ;  Otto  P.,  Carl,  and  Margaret,  all 
living  at  home. 

Politically  Mr.  Goetz  is  a  democrat  and  has  held  many  im- 
portant local  offices.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Catholic  church, 
and  also  one  of  the  Knights  of  Columbus  of  Iowa  City.  Broad- 
minded,  public-spirited,  progressive,  he  occupies  a  strong  posi- 
tion among  the  citizenship  of  southern  Johnson  county.  His 
name  and  character  stand  for  all  that  is  best  in  American 
progress. 


784        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

JOHN  H.  AND  WILLIAM  E.  FLOERCHINaER 

The  firm  of  Floerchinger  Bros.,  composed  of  John  H.  ami 
William  E.  Floerchinger,  the  subjects  of  this  sketch,  is  one  of 
the  best  known  business  institutions  of  Oxford,  Iowa,  and 
ranks  with  the  leading  general  merchandise  establishments  of 
Johnson  county.  John  H.,  the  senior  partner,  received  his 
mercantile  training  in  Oxford,  having  served  six  years  as  a 
clerk  in  the  Fair  store  and  later  as  partner  in  a  general  mer- 
chandise store  with  Frank  Harris.  On  June  11,  1903,  the 
present  partnership  between  the  Floerchinger  brothers  was 
formed,  since  which  time  the  firm  has  come  rapidly  and  stead- 
ily to  the  front. 

John  H.  is  the  second  child  and  oldest  son  of  George 
Floerchinger  and  his  second  wife,  natives  of  Germany,  who 
emigrated  with  four  children  to  the  United  States  in  1869. 
Although  the  voyage  was  made  on  a  steamship,  it  required 
thirty-one  days  to  make  the  voyage.  The  improvement  in  the 
trans-Atlantic  service  is  indicated  by  the  fact  that  in  1879 
Mr.  Floerchinger  made  the  return  trip  in  ten  days,  and  again, 
in  1900,  he  made  it  in  eight  days  going  and  six  days  returning. 
On  arriving  in  Iowa,  the  family  engaged  in  farming  on  eighty 
acres  in  section  twenty,  about  one-half  mile  west  of  Oxford. 
Mr.  Floerchinger  thoroughly  improved  the  place  and  added 
to  its  acreage.  In  1909  he  left  the  home  farm.  Thereupon 
he  removed  to  Oxford  and  bought  the  Oxford  House,  which 
was  the  first  building  erected  in  the  town,  and  was  built  by 
his  brother,  Frederick  Adam  Floerchinger,  in  1869.  In  1896 
he  erected  a  brick  building,  the  first  floor  of  which  is  used 
for  storerooms  and  the  second  for  a  public  hall.  Oxford  was 
a  small  affair  when  the  Floerchingers  first  arrived,  and  Mrs. 
Floerchinger,  in  describing  her  experience,  said  she  started 
out  to  find  the  town  and  could  see  only  timber  and  hazel- 
brush,  a  small  block  house,  and  a  little  store  building  kept 
by  M.  E.  Marvin.  She  ''thought  she  was  in  the  wilderness 
proper,  and  the  English  langiiage  sounded  like  the  cackle  of 
geese." 

The  first  marriage  of  Mr.  Floerchinger  was  to  Jennie 
Worf,  January  4,  1860.  She  died  in  Germany  in  Augiist, 
1868,  leaving  four  children:  Katherine,  born  November  19, 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


785 


1860,  now  wife  of  J.  H.  Ditte,  Alberta,  Canada ;  Frances,  born 
March  16,  1862,  wife  of  William  Kruger,  Palermo,  North 
Dakota;  Adam  W.,  born  September  16,  1864;  George,  born 
in  November,  1866,  died  May  23,  1906.  On  December  13, 1868, 
Mr.  Floerchinger  married  Katie  Worf,  sister  of  his  first  wife, 
at  Havre,  France.  The  children  by  the  latter  wife  are :  Anna 
M.,  born  December  8,  1869,  died  February  1,  1908;  John  H., 
our  subject,  born  June  -l,  1872 ;  Edward,  born  February  15, 
1874,  married  to  Nellie  Hiney  of  Iowa  City,  living  in  Illinois ; 
Frank,  born  September  10,  1877,  in  furniture  and  undertaking- 
business  at  Oxford ;  William,  our  subject,  born  November  10, 
1880 ;  Carl,  born  February  24,  1885.     All  the  last-named  chil- 


RESmENCE  OF  JOHN  FLOERCHINGER 


dren  were  baptized  and  confirmed  in  St.  Mary's  Catholic 
church  of  Oxford,  of  which  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Floerchinger  have 
been  mem])ers  for  forty-two  years,  being  among  the  original 
members  of  the  congregation.  The  direct  descendants  now 
include  eighteen  grandchildren  and  three  great-grandchildren. 
In  February,  1910,  he  sold  the  old  farm.  George  Floerchinger 
died  February  23,  1912. 

John  H.  Floerchinger  was  born  on  the  old  farm,  one-half 
mile  west  of  Oxford,  where  he  was  raised.  He  was  educated 
in  the  rural  schools  and  the  Oxford  public  schools.  He  varied 
his  emplo^onent  when  a  good-sized  boy  by  working  on  a  con- 
struction train  on  the  railroad.  Later  he  took  up  the  work 
of  brickmaking,  at  which  he  labored  for  nine  years.     His 


786        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

next  occupation  was  merclianclising,  as  stated  heretofore. 
Mr.  Floercliinger  chose  for  his  wife  Miss  Nellie  Sherlock, 
daughter  of  James  and  Eose  Sherlock,  of  Iowa  county.  Mr. 
Sherlock  was  county  super\dsor  and  a  prominent  farmer  of 
that  county.  One  son  was  born  of  this  union,  James  George, 
named  after  his  paternal  and  maternal  grandfathers.  Mr. 
Floerchinger  is  a  democrat,  a  member  of  the  B.  P.  0.  E.,  and 
M.  W.  A.,  of  Oxford,  and  a  communicant  of  St.  Mary's  Cath- 
olic church. 

William  E.  Floerchinger  was  also  born  on  the  old  home 
farm  west  of  Oxford.  He  attended  district  school  and  grad- 
uated from  the  Oxford  high  school.  His  first  emplojnnent 
aside  from  farm  work  was  as  a  clerk  for  E.  B.  Morse  in  the 
clothing  business.  Later  he  worked  at  the  painter's  trade. 
His  next  step  was  to  associate  himself  in  partnership  with 
his  brother  John  H,,  as  heretofore  stated.  William  Floer- 
chinger also  married  a  daughter  of  James  and  Eose  Sher- 
lock, Miss  Artie,  who  has  borne  him  one  daughter,  Iowa.  He 
is  a  member  of  B.  P.  0.  E.,  of  Iowa  City  lodge  No.  590. 


WILLIAM  MUSSER 

The  name  of  Musser  is  inseparably  interwoven  with  the 
history  of  the  lumber  manufacturing  industry  of  southeastern 
Iowa.  In  this  respect  it  stands  among  the  great  generic  names 
of  American  enterprise. 

It  has  long  ago  passed  into  a  commercial  proverb  that  great 
enterprises  are  the  direct  result  of  the  oxjeration  of  great  per- 
sonalities. Hence,  to  the  American  mind,  familiar  with  this 
principle  of  our  business  development,  the  prominence  of  a 
family  name  in  any  great  branch  of  trade  is  prima  facie  evi- 
dence of  the  existence  of  organizing  and  executive  genius 
within  that  family  of  a  high  order. 

The  fame  of  the  Musser  family  is  cast  on  the  strictest  or- 
thodox interpretation  of  this  widely  accepted  rule  of  industrial 
preeminence. 

Muscatine-on-the-Mississippi  was  the  home  and  the  scene 
of  the  activities  of  Plon.  Richard  Musser,  the  father  of  our 
subject,  who  came  from  Pennsylvania  to  Iowa  City  in  1855 


■ili 


/lf/0i6u3UL>LA^     V/^^^t.<Z.^^^^ 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


787 


and  established  a  lumber  yard.  In  the  fall  of  the  same  year 
he  moved  to  Muscatine  and  established  a  lumber  yard  known 
as  R.  Musser  and  Co.  In  1871  the  company  built  a  saw  mill 
and  in  1881  the  business  was  incorporated  under  the  name 
Musser  Lumber  Co.  Under  the  vigorous  management  of 
Richard  Musser,  the  parent  plant  at  Muscatine  developed  into 
one  of  the  great  manufacturing  concerns  of  the  Mississippi 
valley. 

An  affiliated  company,  the  Muscatine  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany, was  organized  and  engaged  extensively  in  the  produc- 
tion of  sash,  doors  and  blinds,  and  a  branch  was  established 
at  Kansas  City,  Missouri. 


EESIDENCE  OF  WILLIAM  MUSSER 


Richard  Musser  was  essentially  a  man  of  action.  His  con- 
victions were  cast  in  a  rugged  mould.  He  commanded  the 
respect  and  confidence  of  his  fellow  citizens.  Politically  he 
was  a  whig,  and  naturally,  on  the  dissolution  of  that  famous 
party,  became  a  republican  and  was  an  active  partizan  therein 
in  the  days  that  tried  men's  souls.  Never  an  office-seeker, 
Richard  Musser,  nevertheless,  was  called  by  his  fellow  citizens 
to  serve  for  two  terms  as  mayor  of  Muscatine,  namely,  in  1874 
and  1878.  He  also  served  as  a  member  of  the  city  council  and 
for  a  number  of  years  as  a  member  of  the  public  school  board. 


788        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

He  was  interested  in  the  city  water  works,  and  was  an  active 
friend  of  every  public  enterprise.  He  was  the  son  of  Peter 
Musser,  who  came  of  Swiss  descent  and  was  born  in  Berks 
county,  Pennsylvania,  and  married  Elizabeth  Adams,  of 
Scotch-English  parentage,  who  was  born  in  Lancaster  county, 
Pennsylvania.  Richard  Musser  was  born  at  Adamstown,  Lan- 
caster county,  Pennsylvania,  November  15,  1819.  He  is  now 
numbered  with  the  silent  majority,  but  his  name  and  his  com- 
mercial conquests  have  become  the  historical  property  of  his 
fellow  men. 

Richard  Musser  took  for  his  wife  Sarah  Berger,  to  wliom 
he  was  married  at  Pinegrove,  Pennsylvania,  in  March,  1855. 
William  (our  subject),  the  oldest  child  and  only  son,  was 
born  in  Muscatine,  Iowa,  December  6,  1858.  He  attended  the 
public  schools  of  his  native  city  and  later  took  a  course  in  the 
Eastman  Business  College,  Poughkeepsie,  New  York,  gradu- 
ating in  the  class  of  1880.  His  first  business  enterprise  was  at 
Iowa  City  in  April,  1883,  as  manager  of  the  lumber  business 
of  R.  Musser  &  Son,  succeeding  the  old  J.  AV.  Porter  Lumber 
Yard,  which  the  new  firm  had  purchased.  Our  subject  con- 
tinued as  manager  of  this  enterprise  for  several  years,  when 
the  firm  name  was  changed  to  William  Musser  and  Co.  Later 
Mr.  Musser  bought  out  his  father's  interest  and  the  name  was 
changed  to  William  Musser,  who  had  by  that  time  establislied 
a  branch  of  line  yards.  The  business  continued  under  this 
name,  with  our  subject  as  active  manager,  until  1902,  when  the 
business  was  sold  to  Fox,  Hutchinson  &  Lake  Co.,  by  which  it 
is  now  known.  Since  1902  William  Musser  has  devoted  his 
attention  largely  to  timber  lands  and  the  promotion  of  various 
lumber  manufacturing  interests  in  different  parts  of  the  coun- 
try. He  is  one  of  the  most  expert  timber  and  lumber  men  of 
the  west.  His  knowledge  of  the  business  extends  from  the  for- 
est to  the  finished  product,  and  is  the  result  of  early  and  con- 
stant study.  When  a  boy  at  high  school,  his  vacations  were 
spent  through  choice  in  his  father's  saw  mills  and  lumber 
yards.  In  his  maturer  years  the  force  of  his  early  training 
impels  him  to  the  forests  for  his  vacations.  He  is  a  timber- 
man  by  birth,  training,  and  choice,  a  worthy  scion  of  the 
famous  name  of  Musser.  But,  while  he  has  all  the  valuable 
momentum  of  an  honorable  name,  he  is  nevertheless  a  self- 


VINCENT  WALTERS 


BIOGRAPHICAL  789 

made  man,  cast  in  a  mould  of  distinctive  originality  and 
recognized  as  a  personal  factor  of  great  prominence  in  the 
business  and  financial  world. 

Mr.  Musser  was  married  December  15,  1886,  to  Miss  Edith 
Shipley,  of  Chicago.  The  couple  have  one  daughter,  Dorothy, 
residing  with  her  parents.  The  family  are  members  of  the 
Episcopal  church,  and  reside  in  Iowa  City. 


MICHAEL  P.  DOLL 

Michael  Doll  is  probably  the  oldest  survivor  among  the 
pioneers  of  Johnson  county,  and  although  he  has  passed  his 
ninety-fifth  birthday,  he  is  able  to  give  a  clear  account  of  his 
life  history  with  ease,  and  when  called  upon  for  this  purpose, 
was  found  working  in  his  orchard,  caring  for  seven  of  the  old 
trees  left  of  the  number  he  planted  with  seed  he  brought  with 
him  when  he  came  to  Johnson  countv  so  many  vears  ago.  Al- 
though  fairly  active  for  his  years,  he  uses  two  canes  to  assist 
him  in  walking,  and  is  tenderly  cared  for  by  his  descendants. 
He  was  born  in  Baden,  Germany,  September  26,  1816,  son  of 
Lawrence  and  Eva  (Pieffer)  Doll,  the  former  of  whom  died  in 
1821,  when  his  son  Michael  was  but  five  years  old.  The  mother 
died  there  too.  Michael  Doll  came  to  the  United  States  when 
he  was  twenty-one  years  old,  leaving  the  Fatherland  March  12, 
1840,  in  a  sailing  vessel.  After  spending  forty-eight  days  on 
the  voyage  he  landed  at  New  Orleans.  He  came  on  to  St. 
Louis  and  there  began  working  in  a  distillery  at  the  small  pay 
of  six  dollars  a  month.  Later  he  hauled  firewood  at  eight  dol- 
lars per  month.  After  spending  four  years  in  the  city, 
Michael  Doll  crossed  into  Iowa  territory  to  look  over  the  coun- 
try and  to  seek  better  opportunities.  He  decided  to  bring  his 
belongings  to  Iowa.  He  had  gone  from  St.  Louis  to  Keokuk  by 
boat,  thence  to  Wapello,  and  there  took  the  stage  to  Bloom- 
ington  (now  Muscatine).  In  that  neighborhood  he  found  a 
blacksnake,  which  he  Idlled.  It  measured  fourteen  feet  in 
length.  He  reached  Bloomington  November  14,  1844,  but  had 
Iowa  City  in  mind  as  his  destination.  He  made  the  remainder 
of  the  journey  in  a  wagon  that  belonged  to  a  woman  making 
the  same  trip.    When  he  reached  the  Cedar  river  there  was  ice 


790        HISTOEY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

on  it,  and  a  man  with  a  skiff  pushed  it  aside  and  hauled  Mr. 
Doll  and  the  stage  driver  across. 

Upon  his  arrival  in  Iowa  City,  then  the  territorial  capital, 
Mr.  Doll  decided  to  look  for  a  farm.  He  soon  afterwards  paid 
James  Berryhill  thirty  dollars  for  a  preemption  claim.  Later 
on  he  paid  fifty  dollars  for  another  piece  of  land.  He  pur- 
chased a  land  warrant  for  eighty  acres  which  contained  a  block 
house,  but  this  building  burned  the  year  of  his  arrival.  He 
sowed  fall  wheat  and  the  following  year  sold  his  crop  for  a 
dollar  per  bushel,  which  Mr.  Berryhill  accepted  in  pajTuent 
for  his  claim.  He  worked  one  winter  on  the  Coralville  dam 
and  received  two  shares  of  stock  in  payment.  He  also  pur- 
chased a  land  warrant  from  Theodore  Sanxay,  whose  son, 
of  the  same  name,  now  lives  in  New  York  City. 

Mr.  Doll  was  an  industrious  young  man,  and  besides  im- 
proving his  own  land,  worked  for  his  neighbors,  at  various 
kinds  of  jobs.  He  split  rails  for  fifty  cents  per  day,  plowed  for 
himself  and  others  with  the  old  single  shovel  plow,  and  used 
the  primitive  farm  tools  then  in  use  to  good  purpose.  He  used 
the  scythe  and  cradle  for  harvesting  his  grain,  and  has  lived 
to  see  similar  work  done  by  the  self-binder.  A  forty-acre  tract 
which  he  secured  was  entered  at  Dubuque  by  Bishop  Loras, 
who  was  a  great  friend  of  Mr.  Doll.  In  his  early  years  in 
Johnson  county  he  had  to  go  to  Muscatine  to  do  his  trading, 
and  the  famih^  wore  home-spun  and  home-made  clothing.  In- 
dians were  often  seen  in  the  neighborhood,  and  wild  game  and 
wolves  were  plentiful,  so  that  all  the  farm  animals  were  care- 
fully penned  up  at  night.  In  their  old-fashioned  fireplace  they 
did  their  cooking,  and  he  and  his  capable  wife  lived  the  lives  of 
pioneers  without  complaint,  meeting  many  hardships  bravely 
and  doing  without  the  many  comforts  and  conveniences  they 
were  unable  to  secure.  She  was  a  willing  and  faithful  help- 
mate and  was  a  source  of  comfort  and  inspiration  to  her  fam- 
ily. The  trip  to  Burlington  was  made  several  times  by  Mr. 
Doll  with  his  ox  team,  and  he  hauled  merchandise  for  Mr.  Mc- 
Clure  at  English  Kiver,  the  route  taking  three  days  to  cover. 
On  another  occasion  he  was  paid  by  the  secretary  of  state  for 
hauling  a  load  of  grain  to  Muscatine  and  bringing  back  caudles 
for  the  legislature  at  Iowa  City. 

Mr.  Doll  was  twice  married.    By  his  first  wife,  Catherine,  he 


MRS.   CATHERINE  DOLL 


BIOGRAPHICAL  791 

liad  two  children :  Michael,  married  and  living  at  Lawrence, 
Nebraska,  and  Sophia,  deceased.  Mr.  Doll  married  (second) 
Catherine  Schnoebelen,  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Elizabeth 
(Brickard)  Schnoebelen,  also  natives  of  Germany.  She  was 
born  in  Alsace,  in  1829,  and  died  in  Johnson  county,  in  Febru- 
ary, 1907.  She  spent  fifty-six  days  crossing  the  ocean  in  an  old 
sailing  vessel.  They  were  married  by  Father  Loras,  in  St. 
Mary's  Catholic  church  in  Iowa  City.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Doll  wor- 
shiped for  a  time  in  the  house  of  Ferdinand  Haberstroh.  The 
two  families  were  firm  friends  and  Mrs.  Doll  worked  for  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Haberstroh  one  winter  when  they  kept  the  Park 
Hotel.  After  marriage  Mr.  Doll  and  wife  located  on  a  farm  on 
Section  30  of  Liberty  township,  where  they  had  a  double 
hewed  log  house.  Often  mission  priests  stopped  at  their  home 
when  on  the  way  across  the  frontier  to  hold  mass  at  some 
small  town  or  hamlet.  Mr.  Doll  well  remembers  all  the  early 
priests,  and  his  cabin  was  always  open  to  them.  When  it  was 
finally  arranged  to  erect  a  Catholic  church  on  ground  donated 
for  the  purpose  by  Mr.  Doll  and  Gregory  Ross,  Bishop  Loras 
took  dinner  in  the  former's  pioneer  home.  Later  a  priest's 
house  was  erected,  which  was  eventually  turned  into  a  school- 
house,  where  a  Catholic  teacher  presided.  This  building  burn- 
ed, however.  The  old  church  is  now  used  as  a  mission  and  is 
supplied  by  a  priest  from  St.  Joseph's  church  at  Hills,  as 
mentioned  as  some  length  in  the  sketch  of  Father  Kottenstetts, 
which  is  given  in  this  work.  This  old  church  bore  an  inter- 
esting part  in  the  early  history  of  the  region,  and  its  mem- 
ory is  held  in  affection  by  all  who  formerly  attended  worship 
there. 

The  following  twelve  children  were  born  to  Mr.  Doll  by  his 

second  marriage : 

Mary,  deceased,  Mrs.  Kueneman,  left  four  children,  one  of 
whom  is  W.  J.  Kueneman,  of  the  Riverside  Leader;  Appliai^ 
bolnia,  wife  of  John  Worlamont,  of  Los  Angeles,  has  six  chil- 
dren; Frances,  married  S.  Wombacher  and  they  have  three 
children;  Nicholas  and  Theresa  died  in  infancy;  Sigmund,  of 
California,  is  married  and  has  one  son ;  Magdalene,  deceased, 
left  two  children ;  Louise,  deceased,  one  child ;  George,  of  Olda- 
homa,  is  mrried  and  has  seven  children ;  Henry,  of  West  Allis, 
Wisconsin,  has  four  children ;  Susanna,  widow  of  Vincent  Wal- 


792        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

ters ;  and  Celia,  wife  of  Frank  Sapourek,  of  Eiverside,  has  two 
children.  Thus  there  are  forty-three  grandchildren,  and  eight- 
een great-grandchildren  in  the  family.  A  characteristic  of  Mr. 
Doll  is  his  love  of  his  family.  He  has  helped  many  relatives  to 
come  to  America,  and  to  get  a  start  in  the  world.  His  brothers 
and  sisters  became  widely  scattered  as  they  grew  up,  so  that 
he  had  sisters  in  Indiana,  his  brother  Joseph  was  in  Buffalo, 
New  York,  and  some  of  the  family  were  in  Columbus. 

Susanna  Doll,  the  eleventh  child  of  her  ])arents,  was  born 
on  the  old  homestead  which  is  now  her  home,  on  Section  30  of 
Liberty  township,  and  received  her  education  in  the  Sisters' 
School  at  Iowa  Cit}'.  Her  first  communion  was  made  in  old 
St.  Patrick's  church  at  Iowa  City,  and  she  has  always  been  a 
devout  adherent  of  the  faith.  In  1888  she  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Vincent  Walters,  an  upright,  honest,  and  indus- 
trious citizen,  as  well  as  a  faithful  Christian.  His  life  was 
cut  off  in  its  prime,  without  an  instant's  warning,  as  he  was 
struck  by  lightning  while  seated  on  his  corn  planter.  The  cur- 
rent which  caused  his  death  came  from  nnderneath,  touching 
a  wire  near  his  feet,  and  he  died  instantly,  this  sad  event  oc- 
curring May  28,  1903,  when  he  was  but  forty-one  years  of  age. 
His  death  was  a  severe  shock  to  his  immediate  family  and  sad- 
dened the  whole  community,  who  mourned  with  them  in  their 
great  loss.  He  was  very  popular  in  the  community  and  all  had 
kind  memories  of  him.  Shortly  before  his  death  he  had  pre- 
sented to  St.  Joseph's  Catholic  church  at  Hills,  its  communion 
rail.  He  left  the  record  of  a  well-spent  life.  He  had  been 
reared  in  Washington  county,  Iowa,  his  birthplace,  and  left 
many  friends  there.  His  widow  had  a  suitable  monument 
erected  over  his  remains  in  St.  Stanislaus  cemetery.  Soon 
after  his  death,  in  1906,  the  home,  which  was  the  first  frame 
house  in  the  neighborhood,  and  was  built  in  1866,  was  burned, 
thus  bringing  added  sorrow  to  the  stricken  family. 

Five  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Vincent  Walters : 
Ferdinand,  born  in  Washington  county,  where  the  family  lived 
five  years ;  Luke,  Mary,  Ambrose,  and  Robert,  all  born  on  the 
old  home  on  Section  30,  Liberty  township ;  Roy,  deceased  Feb- 
ruary 14,  1896,  age  five  years.  All  were  baptized  in  the  faith 
of  their  parents  and  all  now  worship  at  St.  Joseph 's  church  at 
Hills. 


MICHEAL  DOLL 


BIOGRAPHICAL  793 

Politically  Mr.  Doll  has  always  been  a  loyal  democrat,  and 
has  not  missed  casting  his  vote  at  election  time.    In  political 
gatherings  he  was  always  on  hand  with  his  torch  when  needed, 
and  has  been  delegate  to  many  connty  conventions.    He  has 
always  taken  an  active  interest  in  public  affairs.    His  daugh- 
ter, Mrs.  Walters,  has  looked  after  him  since  the  death  of  his 
wife.    Mrs.  Doll  was  held  in  great  esteem  by  her  neighbors,  al] 
of  whom  remember  some  act  of  kindness  bestowed  by  her.  She 
visited  the  sick  and  needy  and  had  ready  s.ympathy  for  all. 
She  lived  to  see  Johnson  county  transformed  from  an  almost 
unbroken  wilderness  to  a  region  of  material,  moral,  and  spirit- 
ual welfare.     She  lived  and   died  a  devout  Christian,  and 
helped  to  acquire  a  competence  for  her  husband  and  children. 
Mr.  Doll  takes  great  pleasure  in  the  fine  farm,  and  has  always 
been  especially  fond  of  his  horses  and  other  stock.    The  1911 
corn  crop,  of  some  sixty  acres,  was  far  ahead  of  the  average  in 
production.    The  place  is  well  stocked  and  supplied  with  mod- 
ern machinery,  with  everything  convenient  to  carry  on  the 
work.    In  1893,  the  year  of  the  World's  Fair,  the  old  log  house 
was  torn  down,  and  the  family  now  occupy  a  comfortable  and 
modern  home.    Mrs.  Walters  and  her  children  give  their  ven- 
erable ancestor  every  care  and  attention,  and  they  hope  that 
he  will  be  able  to  reach  the  century  mark.    He  has  always  been 
a  good  Catholic  and  has  instilled  his  calm  faith  in  his  children 
and  they  in  turn  to  their  own  children.     Such  men  win  the 
entire  respect  and  good  will  of  their  neighbors,  for  they  order 
their  lives  according  to  the  faith  that  is  in  them,  and  furnish 
good  examples  to  those  who  come  after  them. 


WILLIAM  P.  TEN  EYCK  (Deceased) 

In  the  death  of  the  late  William  P.  Ten  Eyck,  who  passed 
away  at  his  home  in  Scott  township,  Johnson  county,  in  the 
autumn  of  1911,  the  community  lost  one  of  its  most  popular 
and  useful  citizens.  He  had  spent  all  but  the  first  seven  years 
of  his  life  and  about  four  years  in  California,  within  the  town- 
ship and  was  closely  identified  with  its  interests  and  develop- 
ment. He  was  a  son  of  one  of  the  oldest  settlers  of  Johnson 
county  and  descended  from  an  old  New  Jersey  family.  He 
was  born  May  26,  1833,  in  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  one  of 


794        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

the  ten  children  (six  sons  and  four  daughters)  born  to  Mat- 
thew and  Salome  (Cole)  Ten  Eyck,  the  former  a  native  of  New 
Jersey  and  the  latter  of  Dayton,  Ohio,  born  December  9, 1810. 

The  family  was  founded  in  America  by  the  great-grand- 
father of  William  P.,  William  Post  Ten  Eyck,  who  was  born  in 
Poland  and  upon  emigrating  located  in  New  Jersey,  where  his 
son  Matthew  was  born  and  reared  a  family,  of  whom  his  son 
Matthew  is  mentioned  in  the  preceding  paragraph.  The  sec- 
ond Matthew  was  the  father  of  William  P.  Ten  Eyck,  and  was 
born  in  Monmouth  county,  New  Jersey.  He  became  a  physi- 
cian and  practiced  his  profession  first  in  his  native  state  and 
later  in  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  where  he  was  married  and 
spent  tlie  next  few  years.  His  wife  was  a  daughter  of  John 
and  Hannah  S.  (ScheveUer)  Cole,  of  Scotch  and  French  de- 
scent, some  of  her  ancestors  having  come  to  America  with 
LaFayette  when  he  visited  this  country.  Matthew  Ten  Eyck 
and  Salome  Cole  were  married  at  Dayton,  Ohio,  where  they 
lived  until  1838,  then  journeyed  over  the  prairies  to  Illinois, 
remaining  there  a  short  time,  then  came  on,  in  the  summer  of 
1839,  to  Johnson  county,  Iowa,  and  there  became  prominently 
connected  with  various  enterprises.  Mr.  Ten  Eyck  erected  the 
first  liouse  of  any  consequence  in  Iowa  City,  which  the  family 
occupied  for  some  time  after  their  arrival,  and  in  this  house 
their  daughtei  Hannah  first  saw  the  light,  being  the  first  white 
child  born  in  what  is  now  Iowa  City,  the  date  of  this  event 
being  January  8,  1840,  Later  in  the  same  year  the  family 
moved  to  a  homestead  in  Scott  township,  where  the  parents 
spent  their  remaining  years.  They  became  influential  and  ac- 
tive iu  social  and  religious  circles  in  the  community  and  won 
high  respect  among  their  neighbors.  They  endured  the  hard- 
ships and  privations  incident  to  pioneer  life  without  a  murmur, 
and  pursued  the  even  tenor  of  their  lives  with  dignity  and  high 
purpose.  They  were  members  of  the  Methodist  faith,  and  Mr. 
Ten  Eyck  was  an  important  factor  in  promoting  the  growth 
and  upbuilding  of  the  region,  taking  keen  interest  in  anything 
affecting  the  welfare  of  his  township,  county,  and  state. 

William  P.  Ten  Evck  was  six  vears  of  age  when  he  was 
brought  to  the  old  homestead,  and  there  grew  to  manhood, 
being  educated  in  local  schools.  In  1853,  being  then  in  his 
twenty-first  year,  he  started  overland  for  California,  reached 


BIOGRAPHICAL  795 

the  region  of  the  gold  fields  in  safety,  and  remained  in  the  far 
west  until  1857,  when  he  returned  home  and  again  engaged  in 
agricultural  pursuits,  his  chosen  field  of  labor  from  that  time 
on.  On  October  20,  1858,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Margaret  Hunter,  who  was  born  July  20,  1835,  daughter  of 
Adam  and  Elizabeth  (Morrison)  Hunter,  a  sketch  of  whom  is 
to  be  found  elsewhere  in  these  pages.  She  was  born  in  Mahon- 
ing county,  Ohio,  and  was  brought  by  her  parents  in  childhood 
to  Scott  township,  Johnson  county,  where  they  were  early  set- 
tlers and  became  most  highly  respected  by  all.  Of  the  children 
born  to  Mr,  Ten  Eyck  and  wife  five  now  survive :  Charlotte, 
Mrs.  Orville  Mead,  has  five  children  —  Lucius,  Otis,  Frank, 
Reuba,  and  Opal ;  William  F.  went  west  to  California,  later  to 
Alaska  and  has  not  been  heard  from  for  seven  years ;  Edward 
C,  of  Garfield,  Oklahoma,  was  married  in  December,  1897,  to 
Miss  Mattie,  daughter  of  W.  E.  Pratt,  of  Iowa  City  (see  Mr. 
Pratt's  sketch  elsewhere  in  these  pages),  and  they  have  two 
children  —  Lillian  and  William ;  Matthew  L.,  a  member  of 
M.  W.  A.  Camp  No.  189,  and  of  the  Red  Men  of  Iowa  City, 
was  married  January  1,  1907,  to  Katherine  (Selement)  Kohl- 
rick,  wiio  had  two  children  by  a  former  marriage  —  Mabel  and 
Donald,  one  son  by  this  marriage,  Matthew  L.,  born  June  21, 
1911,  and  they  live  on  the  home  farm;  Joseph  W. 

Both  parents  are  now  deceased.  He  died  October  13,  1911, 
and  she  September  8,  1911,  and  are  buried  in  Brick  Chapel 
cemetery. 

The  two  youngest  sons  of  the  family  received  their  early 
education  in  the  township  schools,  and  later  attended  the 
academy  and  commercial  college  of  Iowa  City.  They  have 
since  operated  the  home  farm  in  partnership  and  have  met, 
with  good  success  in  the  undertaking.  They  devote  it  to  gen- 
eral farming  and  stock  raising,  having  a  fine  herd  of  shorthorn 
and  polled  Durham  cattle.  The  place  had  been  brought  to  a 
high  state  of  cultivation  by  their  father,  with  the  assistance  of 
themselves,  and  they  have  carried  on  their  work  in  accordance 
with  his  plans  and  methods.  His  death  was  a  sad  loss  to  the 
community  and  he  was  deeply  mourned  by  his  host  of  friends. 


796        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

CLINTON  H.  RICHIE 

For  three  years  after  his  attendance  at  the  Iowa  Citv 
Academy  Clinton  H,  Richie  taught  school  in  Johnson  and 
Louisa  counties.  Following  this  he  entered  the  United  States 
mail  service.  In  1891,  however,  he  found  his  real  work,  that 
of  farming,  and  therein  he  has  been  constantly  engaged  for 
twenty  years,  success  having  long  ago  crowned  his  efforts. 


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EESIDENCE   OF   CLINTON    H.   RICHIE 

Our  subject  is  a  native  of  Johnson  county,  having  been  born 
December  14,  1865.  His  parents  are  N.  B.  and  Katherine 
(Loehr)  Richie,  of  Lone  Tree. 

In  1905  Mr.  Richie  was  married  to  Miss  Daisy  Selser,  a 
native  of  Louisa  county.  Three  children,  C.  H.,  Jr.,  Ruth 
and  Grace,  gladden  the  home.  Mr.  Richie  is  a  republican  and 
a  Methodist.  His  fraternal  affiliation  is  with  the  M.  W.  A., 
Camp  No.  3145,  of  Columbus  Junction. 


PETER  ALBERT  LOUIS  (Deceased) 

Peter  Albert  Louis  and  William  Louis,  brothers,  married 
two  sisters,  daughters  of  Henry  and  Johanna  (Blenna)  Bas- 
terdes.  Peter  married  Mary  Addie  Basterdes,  and  William 
married  Eudora  Sophia  Basterdes.  Of  this  once  happy  quar- 
tette Mary  Addie  Louis  alone  survives  at  this  writing  (1912). 
Both  the  Louis  and  the  Basterdes  families  figure  prominently 


BIOGRAPHICAL  797 

in  the  early  history  of  Johnson  county  and  Iowa  City.  Both 
are  of  German  origin.  Peter  Albert  and  William  Louis  were 
born  on  the  Rhine,  near  Dusseldorf.  Their  parents  were  Al- 
bert and  Gertrude  Louis,  natives  of  Germany.  Peter  Albert, 
our  subject,  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  Germany. 
He  learned  the  trade  of  coppersmith  in  his  native  land  under 
his  father's  tutorship,  but  when  he  came  to  Iowa  City,  in  1854, 
he  took  up  the  work  of  tinsmithing,  for  which  his  training  as  a 
coppersmith  had  fitted  him  to  some  extent.  He  became  a 
skilled  workman  in  this  line  and  established  a  stove  and  tin- 
ning business.    His  brother  William,  having  also  come  to  Am- 


RESIDENCE    OF   ADA  LOUIS 

erica  and  to  Iowa  City,  afterwards  became  associated  with 
Peter  in  this  business  and  the  firm  was  known  as  Louis  Broth- 
ers, until  the  death  of  William  in  April,  1883.  Thereafter 
Peter  conducted  the  business  until  his  death.  Four  children 
were  born  to  Peter  Albert  Louis  and  Mary  Addie  Basterdes : 
Albertina,  died  in  Iowa  City  at  the  age  of  twenty-four ;  Ernest, 
married  to  Miss  Beasty,  died,  leaving  a  wife  and  two  children, 
Albert  and  Addie,  now  living  in  Friend,  Nebraska ;  Adelaide, 
a  graduate  of  St.  Agatha  Seminary ;  Vincent,  a  shoe  merchant, 
residing  in  Marshalltown,  Iowa.  Our  subject  was  a  member  of 
the  Roman  Catholic  Protective  association  and  the  German 


798        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

Aid  society.  His  widow  is  a  member  of  St.  Patrick's  Catholic 
church.  She  resides  at  the  old  family  home,  516  East  Burling- 
ton street,  Iowa  City. 

William  Louis,  brother  of  our  subject,  was  formerly  assistant 
postmaster  of  Iowa  City  under  the  administration  of  Dr. 
William  Wright.  He  also  filled  the  office  of  city  treasurer, 
and  at  the  expiration  of  his  term,  in  1869,  entered  into  partner- 
ship with  his  brother  Peter  in  the  stove  and  tinware  business. 
He  was  organizer  of  the  German  Aid  society  in  Iowa  City. 
His  marriage  to  Eudora  Sophia  Basterdes  took  place  in  1858. 
Six  children  were  born  of  this  union :  Gertrude,  wife  of  Judge 
Anthony  Van  Wagenan,  of  Sioux  City,  Iowa ;  Edna,  now  of  the 
firm  of  Cerny  &  Louis,  Iowa  City;  William,  married  to  Miss 
Minnie  Tama,  now  of  Winfield,  Kansas ;  Mary  Louise,  wife  of 
F.  W.  Meyers,  former  postmaster  of  Denison,  Iowa,  editor  of 
the  Denison  Review,  and  an  alumnus  of  the  S.  U.  I. ;  Frank 
John,  of  Iowa  City;  Henry  Edward,  superintendent  of  con- 
struction and  former  local  manager  of  the  Iowa  Telephone 
company,  Iowa  City.  William  Louis  died  in  April,  1883.  His 
wife  survived  until  April  27, 1911.  She  was  one  of  the  original 
members  of  St.  Mary's  Catholic  church,  having  joined  when  the 
mission  services  of  the  church  were  held  in  the  old  Haverstroh 
home,  opposite  the  S.  U.  I.  campus. 

Henry  Basterdes,  the  father  of  Eudora  and  Mary  Louis, 
came  alone  to  Iowa  City  in  1842.  The  voyage  was  made  by 
sailing  vessel,  and  six  weeks  were  required  for  the  passage. 
He  landed  in  New  York,  and  thence  went  to  New  Orleans, 
where  his  sister  resided.  From  that  city  the  journey  to  John- 
son county  was  made  by  steamer  and  wagon.  Two  years  later 
the  wife  and  family  followed,  and  landed  in  Baltimore  after  a 
voyage  of  six  weeks  in  a  sailing  vessel.  Thence  the  journey  to 
Iowa  City  was  made  by  way  of  the  Chesapeake  canal  route, 
taking  six  weeks  for  the  overland  trip.  Henry  Basterdes  was 
a  dyer  by  trade,  but  on  arrival  in  Iowa  City  began  day 's  work 
on  the  ''Old  Capitol"  building  and  other  odd  jobs.  He  estab- 
lished a  home  near  some  fine  springs  known  as  Mineral 
Springs,  and  later  on  opened  a  boarding  house  there  which  be- 
came quite  famous.  (See  reference  to  Mineral  Springs  in 
volume  one  of  this  History. —  Ed.)  The  children  of  Henry 
and  Johanna  Basterdes,  in  the  order  of  birth,  were :  Eudora, 


BIOGRAPHICAL  799 

born  in  Germany  in  1839 ;  Mary  Addie,  born  in  the  old  Iowa 
City  House  in  1846 ;  Amelia,  now  Mrs.  Joseph  Esclier,  living  in 
Pocatello,  Idaho ;  Frank,  married,  and  living  in  Illinois.  Henry 
Basterdes  died  in  1891  at  the  residence  of  his  daughter,  Mrs. 
Wilham  Louis.  His  wife  died  at  the  residence  of  her  daugh- 
ter, Mrs.  Peter  Louis,  in  March,  1883.  Both  were  members  of 
St.  Mary's  Cathohc  church,  in  which  they  were  active  workers. 


VINCENT  GROSS  (Deceased) 

The  late  Vincent  Gross  was  one  of  the  best  known  men  in 
Johnson  county,  where  he  was  one  of  the  early  settlers,  and 
where  he  redeemed  several  pieces  of  land  from  the  wilderness. 
He  was  born  near  Belf  ord,  France,  January  8,  1822,  and  was  a 
son  of  Gregory  Gross,  who  fought  twelve  years  under  General 
Napoleon.  He  came  to  America  in  1840  and  first  located  in 
Ohio.  He  learned  the  trade  of  blacksmith  from  Henry  Cook, 
of  Harrisburg,  Stark  county,  that  state,  and  came  to  Iowa 
City  in  1842,  helping  to  make  the  first  plows  manufactured  in 
that  city.  He  laid  out  the  village  of  South  Liberty,  the  post- 
office  being  named  Bon  Accord,  and  which  was  in  Liberty 
township. 

Vincent  Gross  crossed  the  ocean  in  a  sailing  vessel,  which 
was  thirty-two  days  making  the  voyage,  and  on  the  same  ship 
there  came  Nicholas  Birrer  and  his  eldest  son,  Martin  Birrer, 
the  latter  of  whom  still  lives  in  Liberty  township,  Johnson 
comity.  The  place  where  Nicholas  Birrer  settled  is  now  occu- 
pied by  John  Dietch.  The  Birrer  family  were  prominent  in 
the  early  history  of  the  region  and  are  given  further  mention 
elsewhere  in  this  work.  After  landing  at  New  York  City,  the 
Gross  and  Birrer  families  went  on  to  Albany  and  thence  over 
the  Erie  Canal  to  Buffalo,  then  by  boat  to  Cleveland,  whence 
they  went  overland  to  Canton,  formerly  the  home  of  President 
McKinley.  In  June,  1845,  Mr.  Gross  went  to  Wellsville,  Penn- 
sylvania, and  thence  down  the  Ohio  and  up  the  Mississippi 
river  to  what  is  now  Muscatine,  but  was  then  Bloomington, 
Iowa.  There  his  brother,  Gregory  Gross,  met  him  with  teams 
and  they  crossed  the  prairies  to  Iowa  City,  then  the  state  capi- 
tal.    Soon  afterward  Vincent  Gross  opened  a  blacksmith  shop 


800        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

at  South  Liberty,  and  the  town  was  surveyed  and  the  plat  laid 
out  May  9,  1857,  the  name  of  the  postoffice,  which  was  Bon  Ac- 
cord, being  recorded  July  10,  of  the  same  year,  in  the  presence 
of  F.  H.  Lee,  a  notary  public  of  Iowa  City.  There  were  then 
eight  or  ten  houses,  two  general  stores,  a  harness  shop,  a  shoe- 
maker's establishment  and  a  wagon  shop.  Around  this  little 
hamlet  were  sometimes  seen  as  many  as  twenty  ox  wagons,  and 
a  stage  coach  passed  the  town. 

Among  the  papers  left  by  Vincent  Gross  were  records  of 
many  early  transactions  in  the  town,  which  have  been  printed 
in  the  form  of  a  pamphlet  and  w^hich  form  interesting  reading 
to  the  present  generation.  He  purchased  several  preemption 
claims  from  soldiers  of  the  War  of  1812,  and  also  made  many 
purchases  from  the  Government  direct,  the  latter  including  the 
place  now  occupied  by  his  son  Charles,  the  northeast  quarter 
of  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  18,  township  78,  range  6, 
the  title  for  w^hich  was  dated  March  1, 1850,  signed  by  Zachary 
Taylor  (President) ,  and  made  upon  a  sheepskin.  He  paid  $50 
for  forty  acres  to  Cushing  Shaw,  an  Ohio  veteran  of  the  War 
of  1812,  the  deed  being  also  signed  by  Polly  Shaw,  and  dated 
January  29,  1853.  He  secured  the  southeast  quarter  of  the 
southeast  quarter  of  section  17,  Liberty  tow^nship,  by  paying 
$100  to  William  Secor,  who  received  a  deed  December  24, 1845. 
His  brother  Gregory  entered  forty  acres  comprising  the  north- 
east quarter  of  section  18  of  the  same  township,  the  deed  ex- 
ecuted by  Wilham  B.  Ford,  J.  P.  On  September  4,  1848,  Mr. 
Gross  secured  his  final  naturalization  papers,  before  the  dis- 
trict court  at  Iowa  City,  signed  by  Clerk  Stephen  Gardner  and 
witnessed  by  Frank  Joseph  Schnoebelin.  His  land  purchases 
included  several  other  patents  which  he  purchased  from  vet- 
erans of  the  War  of  1812,  and  in  this  way  the  land  now  owned 
by  his  descendants  has  passed  through  very  few  hands  and  is 
subject  to  very  few  entries  on  the  title  deed.  Gregory  Gross 
executed  a  title  dated  March  13,  1856,  when  he  was  justice  of 
the  peace,  the  same  being  signed  by  Zachary  Taylor  and  com- 
prising the  northeast  quarter  of  the  southeast  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 18,  of  the  two  previously  mentioned,  and  this  piece  of 
ground,  one-half  an  acre  in  extent,  was  the  site  of  the  school 
house. 

Mr.  Gross  erected  a  log  house,  which  he  occupied  for  many 


BIOGRAPHICAL  801 

years,  then  built  a  more  pretentious  home,  but  when  the  latter 
burned,  he  again  lived  in  the  original  log  house.  He  subse- 
quently erected  a  comfortable  residence  which  is  now  occupied 
by  one  of  his  sons.  He  continued  working  at  the  trade  of  black- 
smith until  1860.  His  son  Charles  purchased  the  original  home- 
stead for  the  sum  of  thirty  dollars  per  acre,  and  also  owns  all 
except  two  lots  of  the  old  townsite.  As  mentioned  in  the  sketch 
of  the  latter,  Vincent  Gross  made  his  own  horse  shoe  nails.  He 
was  an  expert  in  his  line  and  worked  at  his  trade  many  years 
before  there  was  much  machinery  to  make  it  easy  to  conduct  a 
blacksmith  and  repair  shop.  He  became  well  known  for  the 
high  quality  of  his  work  and  had  a  good  patronage.  He  donat- 
ed a  piece  of  ground,  where  a  log  school  house  was  erected,  but 
upon  the  school  being  located  elsewhere  in  later  years,  the  land 
reverted  to  the  donor  and  is  now  a  part  of  the  farm  of  his  son 
Charles. 

Mr.  Gross  was  one  of  the  original  members  of  St.  Stanislaus 
Roman  Catholic  church,  which  was  located  in  the  same  town- 
ship and  southwest  of  his  home,  and  was  one  of  the  earnest 
workers  in  the  cause.  He  was  a  democrat  in  politics.  He  was 
among  the  few  pioneers  who  entered  land  from  the  Govern- 
ment, and  was  one  of  the  most  industrious  men  of  his  day. 
For  a  long  time  his  nearest  trading  point  was  Bloomington, 
or  Muscatine,  as  it  is  now  named,  and  the  medium  of  exchange 
was  some  kind  of  goods.  Very  little  money  was  needed  and 
that  was  for  paying  taxes,  for  which  the  early  settlers  man- 
aged to  procure  some  currency.  The  old  spinning  wheel  which 
his  wife  used  for  preparing  the  cloth  for  family  use  is  still  in 
the  possession  of  the  family.  She  used  lindsey  for  the  girls' 
dresses  and  made  jeans  for  the  boys.  She,  as  well  as  her  hus- 
band, worked  hard,  and  they  reared  a  large  family.  She  was 
a  good  manager  and  a  kind  and  loving  mother,  caring  for  the 
physical  and  moral  welfare  of  her  family  and  helping  to  win 
the  success  which  became  theirs  in  a  financial  sense. 

On  Independence  Day,  1846,  Vincent  Gross  married  Phoebe 
March,  daughter  of  John  and  sister  of  Enoch  Marks,  of  Hills. 
The  marriage  ceremony  was  performed  by  an  early  mission- 
ary in  St.  Mary's  church  at  Iowa  City.  They  became  parents 
of  the  following  children :  Mar}^  Mrs.  Jacob  Hirt,  of  Hills, 
Iowa ;  Mrs.  Sarah  Anna  Reed ;  Frank,  of  California ;  John,  of 


802        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

Omaha ;  Charles,  a  sketch  of  whom  also  appears  in  this  work ; 
Celia,  wife  of  J.  Smith,  of  Liberty  township;  Eva,  wife  of 
Philip  Michael,  of  Sharon  township ;  Ida,  wife  of  Albert  Rup- 
penkamp,  whose  farm  adjoins  the  old  Gross  farm  on  the  west. 
The  father  of  these  children  served  in  many  public  offices,  such 
as  township  trustee,  school  director,  and  member  of  the  town 
board,  of  which  he  was  president  for  some  time.  He  died  Sep- 
tember 19,  1900,  at  the  age  of  seventy-seven  years,  and  his 
widow^  survived  until  January  8,  1906,  when  she  passed  away, 
at  the  age  of  seventy-five  years.  Both  are  held  in  loving  mem- 
ory by  their  surviving  children  and  are  held  in  kind  remem- 
brance by  their  many  friends.  They  had  made  a  home  in  a 
new  country  and  had  done  their  share  to  help  along  in  the  gen- 
eral progress  of  events,  always  having  at  heart  the  welfare  of 
the  community  with  which  they  were  identified. 


VON  STEIN  — ROSSLER 

John  Peter  von  Stein  was  born  at  Neunkirchen,  Germany, 
December  28, 1819,  and  died  at  Iowa  City,  Iowa,  December  13, 
1903.  He  was  the  elder  son  of  John  William  von  Stein,  who 
was  born  December  14,  1782,  at  Neunkirchen,  Germany,  and 
died  March  3,  1835,  at  Chambersburg,  Franklin  county,  Penn- 
sylvania. The  latter  was  married  May  8,  1814,  to  Anna  Bar- 
bara Blumenschein,  of  Winterkasten,  Germany,  who  w^as  born 
February  28,  1787,  and  died  February  24,  1855.  They,  with 
their  five  children,  planned  to  go  to  Canada,  but  changed  their 
minds  and  about  1827  settled  in  Pennsylvania.  Of  the  five 
children,  two,  John  Peter  and  John  Philip,  came  to  Johnson 
county,  Iowa;  Marie  Katharine  died  in  childhood;  Mrs. 
Marie  Barbara  Kliih  and  Mrs.  Marie  Katharine  Klock  re- 
mained in  Pennsylvania.  John  Philip  enlisted  in  the  Union 
army  during  the  Civil  War  and  gave  his  life  for  his  country, 
in  the  battle  of  Cedar  Creek. 

John  Peter  von  Stein  outlived  his  brother  and  sisters.  He 
was  eight  years  old  when  his  parents  came  to  America.  In 
1838,  when  he  was  eighteen  years  of  age,  he  left  Chambers- 
burg, Pennsylvania,  and  went  with  a  family  of  his  acquaint- 
ance to  St.  Louis,  Missouri.     That  being  a  ''dry"  year  and 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


803 


the  Ohio  river  low,  the  trip  was  made  in  a  flatboat  from  Pitts- 
burg. He  remained  six  months  in  St.  Louis,  during  which  time 
he  was  employed  in  a  boot  and  shoe  establishment.  At  the  end 
of  that  time  he  returned  to  Chambersburg  and  there,  later, 
conducted  a  boot  and  shoe  business  of  his  own.  His  arrival  in 
Iowa  City  was  prior  to  the  advent  of  the  railroad,  and  it  was 
while  he  was  associated  with  Jacob  Ricord  in  the  boot  and  shoe 
business  that  the  first  iron  horse  awoke  the  echoes  on  the  Iowa 
river.  The  Pennsylvania  House  was  his  boarding  place  in 
these  primitive  days.  Pending  the  arrival  of  the  railway, 
however,  John  Peter  von  Stein  was  not  idle,  for  in  1850  he 


EESIDENCE  OF  SARAH  VON  STEIN 


was  the  owner  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  near 
North  Liberty,  in  Penn  township,  to  which  he  later  turned  his 
practical  attention,  adding  to  his  holdings  until  he  was  the 
owner  of  two  hundred  and  ninety -nine  acres  in  that  township. 
On  April  5,  1858,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary 
Friedricke  Rossler,  daughter  of  John  George  Rossler.  The 
young  people  improved  their  farm  in  Penn  township  and  made 
it  their  home  until  1893,  when  they  sold  it  and  removed  to  Iowa 
City,  where  they  built  a  home  in  1894. 

Mr.  von  Stein's  ancestors  have  been  adherents  of  the  Lu- 


804        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

tlieran  faith  since  the  Reformation.  Both  he  and  his  mfe  were 
descendants  of  famihes  that  stood  for  good  citizenship  and  the 
betterment  of  mankind.  The  von  Stein  family  formerly  came 
from  Smtzerland,  and  later  went  to  Germany.  It  is  said  of 
the  progenitors  of  the  von  Stein  and  Rossler  families  that  they 
were  trustworthy,  deserving  people,  and  frequently  held  offi- 
cial position  in  the  Fatherland. 

John  Peter  and  Mary  Friedricke  von  Stein  were  the  parents 
of  five  children  :  Anna  Catherine,  Mary  Charlotte,  George  Wil- 
liam, Sarah  Elizabeth  and  one  daughter  who  died  in  infancy. 
George  William  also  died  in  childhood.  The  remaining  chil- 
dren reside  on  the  Iowa  City  homestead.  Sarah  Elizabeth 
was  formerly  a  teacher  in  the  public  schools  of  Iowa  City.  Mr. 
von  Stein  was  a  firm  believer  in  the  principles  of  democracy 
and  gave  his  active  political  support  to  the  democratic  party. 

Mary  Friedricke  Rossler,  who  became  Mr.  von  Stein's  wife, 
was  born  December  9,  1827,  in  Wurtemburg,  Germany.  Her 
maternal  grandfather  was  Gottlieb  Emmanuel  Ebersard  Seut- 
ter,  a  native  of  Germany,  who  came  to  America  in  1830  and 
died  about  the  age  of  sixty-three  years  and  was  buried  near 
Columbus,  Ohio.  He  married  Marie  Dorothea  Weingartner, 
who  was  born  and  died  in  Germany.  Katherine  Dorothea 
Seutter,  daughter  of  this  couple  and  mother  of  Mrs.  von  Stein, 
was  born  at  Grossglattbach,  Wurtemburg,  Germany,  Septem- 
ber 10,  1800.  She  became  the  wife  of  John  George  Rossler, 
who  was  born  in  Germany  February  13,  1796,  and  died  at  his 
home  in  Sharon  township,  Johnson  county,  August  5,  1859. 
The  parents  of  Mr.  Rossler  were  Christopher  and  Marie  Agnes 
Rossler,  both  natives  of  Germany.  John  George  Rossler,  with 
his  wife  and  seven  children,  came  to  America  in  1830.  Mrs. 
Rossler 's  father  accompanied  them  on  the  ocean  voyage,  which 
occupied  thirtj^-five  days,  in  a  sailing  packet  or  mail  vessel. 
The  travelers  went  up  the  Hudson  river  to  Albany,  thence  to 
Buffalo  and  Cleveland,  and  then  on  to  Columbiana  county, 
Ohio,  where  they  located.  After  remaining  there  four  years, 
they  moved  to  Warren  county,  Ohio.  Disposing  of  their  land 
there  in  1840,  they  started  for  Iowa.  Their  arrival  at  Iowa 
City  occurred  on  July  3, 1840,  and  the  f  ollo^^^ng  day  was  deeply 
impressed  on  their  memories  from  the  fact  that  it  was  the  day 
of  the  laying  of  the  cornerstone  of  the  new  capitol  building,  as 


BIOGRAPHICAL  805 

well  as  the  second  Fourth  of  July  celebration  in  Iowa  City. 
Iowa's  capital  city  at  that  time  contained  about  forty  or  fifty 
families. 

After  spending  about  eighteen  months  in  Iowa  City,  John 
George  Bossier  and  family  settled  in  Sharon  township  and  be- 
gan to  improve  his  farm,  in  the  fall  of  1841.  In  1856  he  sold 
his  farm  of  five  hundred  acres  and  located  in  the  same  town- 
ship south  of  the  farm  which  later  became  the  homestead  of 
his  son  Jacob,  There  Mr.  Rossler  spent  his  last  days.  Some 
years  later  his  widow  took  up  her  abode  next  door  to  her  son 
Jacob  and  this  was  her  last  home.  She  died  when  in  her  sev- 
enty-ninth year,  January  27,  1879. 

Five  of  the  ten  children  of  John  George  and  Katherine  Dor- 
othea (Seutter)  Rossler  lived  to  old  age.  The  dates  of  their 
births  and  deaths  are  as  follows :  Christopher  Samuel,  born 
December  26, 1819,  died  November  3, 1893 ;  Gottheb  Friedrich, 
born  March  19, 1821,  died  May  10, 1889 ;  John  Jacob,  born  Octo- 
ber 4,  1822,  died  February  10,  1911;  Marie  Katherine,  who 
married  John  Bruhn,  was  born  July  1,  1824,  and  died  March 
10,  1887 ;  Mary  Friedricke  von  Stein,  born  December  9,  1827, 
died  July  5,  1900.  All  of  these  mentioned  were  born  in  Ger- 
many, became  residents  of  Johnson  county,  and  there  spent 
their  declining  years. 

These  pioneer  families  were  among  many  who  contributed 
largely  to  the  transformation  of  Johnson  county  and  the  sur- 
rounding country.  They  built  comfortable  homes,  and  their 
hospitahty  was  extended  to  all.  They  reared  families  who, 
like  themselves,  are  casting  their  influence  for  all  that  is  up- 
lifting in  their  communities. 

The  Rossler  and  von  Stein  ancestry  having  been  Lutherans, 
it  was  not  surprising  that  John  Peter  von  Stein  and  his  wife 
should  have  taken  a  deep  interest  in  the  affairs  of  the  church. 
Both  were  charter  members  of  the  English  Lutheran  church  at 
North  Liberty  and  were  active  in  all  departments  of  its  work. 
They  left  an  appreciable  good  influence  in  the  neighborhood 
where  they  were  early  settlers  and  all  who  knew  them  revere 
and  cherish  their  memory. 


806        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

EEVEREND  F.  A.  KOTTENSTETTE 

Eeverend  Father  F.  A.  Kottenstette,  the  popular  and  able 
pastor  of  St.  Joseph's  Catholic  church,  of  Hills,  Iowa,  was  born 
at  Fort  Madison,  Iowa,  in  1872,  and  received  his  early  educa- 
tion in  the  parochial  schools  of  that  place.  He  is  a  son  of  Peter 
Kottenstette,  now  deceased,  the  father  a  native  of  Germany. 
Upon  deciding  to  prepare  for  the  priesthood,  F.  A.  Kotten- 
stette entered  St.  Ambrose  College,  at  Davenport,  but  finished 
his  classical  course  at  Quincy,  Illinois.  He  returned  to  St. 
Ambrose  College  to  complete  his  philosophical  course,  and  re- 
ceived his  theological  training  at  St.  Paul  (Minnesota)  Sem- 
inary, being  ordained  to  the  priesthood  soon  after  his  gradua- 
tion from  that  institution  in  1899, 

Father  Kottenstette 's  first  temporary  charge  was  at  Clear 
Creek,  Iowa,  where  he  also  had  charge  of  the  congregation  at 
Neola.  Later  he  became  an  assistant  to  Father  Niermann,  of 
St.  Joseph's  Parish,  Davenport,  and  during  his  two  years'  ser- 
vice there  was  further  prepared  for  his  future  work  alone.  In 
November,  1902,  he  took  charge  of  his  present  parish.  He 
served  at  St.  Stanislaus  church  until  the  completion  of  St. 
Joseph's  church,  and  celebrated  his  first  mass  in  the  latter  ed- 
ifice January  1,  1903,  since  which  time  he  has  been  resident 
pastor.  He  celebrates  mass  at  St.  Joseph's  each  Sunday  at 
eight  0  'clock  a.  m.,  and  on  alternate  Sundays  also  at  ten-thirty 
A.  M.  He  also  serves  St.  Mary's  Parish  at  Lone  Tree  on  al- 
ternate Sundays.  The  Ladies'  Altar  and  Rosary  Society  is  a 
helpful  factor  in  the  parish  work.  His  mother,  Mrs.  Peter 
Kottenstette,  is  a  frequent  attendant  upon  Father  Kotten- 
stette's  ministration  at  Hills.  This  good  priest  is  a  preacher  of 
more  than  ordinary  eloquence,  and  a  diligent  and  faithful 
worker.  He  is  held  in  great  esteem  by  his  parishioners,  and 
although  still  a  young  man,  has  made  his  mark  in  the  priest- 
hood in  his  part  of  the  state,  and  gives  promise  to  a  career  of 
great  usefulness.  His  congregations  include  some  of  the  most 
influential  families  of  the  community,  who  liberally  support 
the  good  work  of  the  church. 

The  history  of  St.  Joseph's  church  is  very  interesting  and 
gives  an  example  of  what  can  be  accomplished  in  a  few  years 
by  earnest  and  well  directed  effort.     The  three  persons  who 


BIOGRAPHICAL  807 

first  took  tlie  matter  up  were  Mesdames  Will  Droll,  Louis 
Knebel,  and  Joseph  Draker.  Tliey  drove  to  Iowa  City  for  the 
purpose  of  talking  over  the  situation  with  Father  Schulte  of 
that  place.  After  listening  to  their  ideas  this  good  priest  ad- 
vised them  to  send  him  a  list  of  names  of  persons  they  expected 
to  be  interested  in  the  project  of  establishing  a  church  at  Hills, 
so  that  he  could  refer  the  matter  to  the  bishop.  Soon  after- 
wards a  subscription  list  was  started,  being  taken  to  interested 
parties  by  Charles  Knebel,  son  of  Louis  Knebel,  and  Joseph 
Draker. 

St.  Stanislaus  church  has  been  in  existence  since  1854,  hav- 
ing been  organized  by  Right  Rev.  Loras,  of  Dubuque,  and  don- 
ors of  the  land  for  the  site  of  the  building  were  Gregory  Gross, 
deceased,  whose  widow  lives  east  of  St.  Joseph's,  at  Hills,  his 
donation  being  twenty  acres  of  land;  Michael  Doll,  who  lives 
at  Iowa  City,  also  donated  twenty  acres.  The  frame  church 
which  was  erected  and  dedicated  in  February,  1854,  is  now 
used  as  a  mission.  The  original  members  were:  Michael 
Doll,  Gregory  Gross,  R.  Knebel,  B.  Dagenhart,  Fidell  Heitz- 
man,  John  Millecker  and  others  of  his  family,  Adam  Amish, 
Nicholas  Birrer,  Joseph  Rummelhart,  and  others.  The  build- 
ing cost  fifteen  hundred  dollars.  The  first  regular  pastor  was 
Rev.  Father  George  Snyder,  and  the  others  who  succeeded  him 
were :  Father  Fendrick,  Father  Schiifmacher,  Father  Knep- 
ley.  Father  Mally  and  Father  Heer.  One  year  after  the  erec- 
tion of  the  church  building  a  burying  ground  was  laid  out 
around  it,  and  the  first  person  buried  therein  was  a  child  of 
F.  Burke.  On  the  same  day  occurred  the  first  baptism,  that 
of  Catherine  Darnell.  The  second  child  to  be  baptized  in  the 
new  parish  was  Richard  Heitzman,  fifth  child  of  Fidell  and 
Mary  (Wombacher)  Heitzman.  The  beautiful  altar  in  this 
church  was  the  handiwork  of  F.  Pavier  Mellicke  (an  uncle  of 
Joseph  W.  Mellicke,  of  Liberty  Township). 

Prior  to  the  organization  of  a  church  at  Hills  Catholics  liv- 
ing in  Hills  and  vicinity  worshipped  at  Iowa  City,  Lone  Tree, 
Riverside,  or  at  St.  Stanislaus.  The  old  church  is  used  month- 
ly when  Father  Kottenstette  holds  mass  there,  and  the  mem- 
bers of  the  old  congregation  help  to  support  St.  Joseph's  church 
at  Hills,  St.  Mary's  of  Lone  Tree,  the  latter  being  a  mission 
of  St.  Joseph's. 


808        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

The  first  church  committee  of  St.  Joseph's  comprised  the 
following:  Joseph  Pitlick,  chairman;  Joseph  Draker,  secre- 
tary and  treasurer ;  John  Schott,  Sr.,  Louis  Knebel  and  Joseph 
Kraal,  Sr.  The  building  is  of  brick  and  was  erected  under  the 
supervision  of  Father  Kottenstette,  being  dedicated  by  Very 
Reverend  A.  J.  Schulte,  of  Iowa  City,  with  due  ceremony.  The 
cost  was  about  six  thousand  dollars,  and  at  first  they  used  plain 
board  seats,  replacing  them  when  they  were  able  to  do  so.  The 
church  proper  has  a  seating  capacity  of  214,  and  including  the 
galleries,  will  seat  250  persons.  From  sixty  to  seventy  fami- 
lies comprise  the  congregation.  Previously  to  his  service  at 
St.  Joseph's  church.  Father  Kottenstette  had  served  at  St. 
Stanislaus  church,  three  and  one-half  miles  southwest  of  Hills. 
The  parsonage  at  Hills  is  a  fine  ten-room  brick  edifice,  begun 
in  the  fall  of  1905  and  completed  in  1906.  It  is  modern  in  every 
respect  and  joins  the  church  on  the  south. 

St.  Joseph's  school  occupies  a  nine-room  brick  building,  the 
corner-stone  for  which  was  laid  in  1908.  It  was  completed  for 
use  in  September,  1909,  having  cost  six  thousand  dollars.  Four 
Franciscan  sisters,  of  the  Order  of  Perpetual  Adoration,  from 
La  Crosse,  Wisconsin,  have  charge  of  the  school.  Two  of 
them  teach  the  studies  included  in  a  common  school  course, 
while  a  third  teaches  music,  and  the  fourth  is  cook  and  house- 
keeper. This  is  a  free  school,  the  first  and  only  one  at  Hills, 
and  has  an  enrollment  of  some  seventy  pupils.  The  sisters  re- 
side in  well  appointed  rooms  in  the  rear  of  the  school  building, 
and  the  institution  is  under  the  charge  of  Father  Kottenstette. 


CORNELIUS  WILLIAM  LANDSBERG   (Deceased) 

Cornelius  W.  Landsberg  was  one  of  the  early  grocers  of 
Iowa  City  and  a  highly  respected  citizen.  He  made  his  own 
way  in  life,  having  come  to  America  in  early  manhood.  He 
was  born  in  Hanover,  Germany,  September  3,  1829,  and  died 
at  the  age  of  eighty  years,  in  Iowa  City.  He  was  for  some 
time  in  the  milling  business  at  Marshalltown,  Iowa,  and  also 
in  the  mills  at  Coralville.  From  the  latter  place  he  came  to 
Iowa  City,  where  he  engaged  first  in  the  cigar  business  under 
the  firm  name  of  Cramer  &  Landsberg,  but  later  disposed  of 


BIOGRAPHICAL  809 

his  interests  in  this  enterprise  and  with  Mr.  Sporleder  en- 
gaged in  the  grocery  business  in  the  north  half  of  the  First 
National  Bank  building,  on  Dubuque  street.  The  firm  of  Spor- 
leder &  Landsberg  continued  in  business  for  many  years,  and 
Mr.  Landsberg  then  sold  his  share  of  the  stock  to  his  partner, 
but  retained  ownership  of  the  premises.  At  that  time  he  re- 
tired from  business  life  and  he  and  his  daughter  Anna  made  a 
trip  to  Europe,  traveling  extensively,  both  for  pleasure  and  to 
regain  his  health.  He  was  well  educated,  a  thorough-going 
business  man,  and  always  a  student,  being  especially  interested 
in  the  subject  of  history.  He  was  broad-minded  and  liberal 
in  his  views  and  made  many  friends  wherever  he  was  known. 
He  and  his  wife  were  active  members  of  the  German  Lutheran 
church  of  Iowa  City,  which  is  fully  described  in  the  historical 
portion  of  this  work.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows 
Lodge  of  Iowa  City  and  stood  high  with  his  fellow  members. 

Mr.  Landsberg  married,  in  Alabama,  Laura  Thrischler,  a 
native  of  Germany  and  a  sister  of  Mrs.  Valentine  Miller,  of 
Coralville,  whose  parents  are  mentioned  in  the  sketch  of  the 
Miller  family,  which  appears  in  this  volume.  Mrs.  Landsberg 
died  September  3,  1892,  having  borne  the  following  children : 
Ernest,  a  commercial  traveler,  of  Creston,  Iowa,  is  a  widower, 
with  five  children,  two  of  whom  are  married;  Miss  Anna,  of 
Iowa  City,  who  cared  for  her  father  during  his  last  years; 
William,  is  a  merchant  of  Peterson,  Iowa,  having  a  general 
store;  two  daughters  are  deceased,  Laura,  named  for  her 
mother,  and  Minnie. 

Miss  Anna  Landsberg  is  well  known  in  many  circles  of  Iowa 
City,  as  well  informed  and,  like  her  father,  possessing  business 
ability.  She  has  leased  her  property  to  the  First  National 
bank  for  a  term  of  some  eighteen  years,  and  they  have  an  op- 
tion to  buy  at  any  time  her  father's  old  place  of  business,  in 
the  north  half  of  the  bank  building,  for  the  sum  of  $15,000. 
She  lives  in  rooms  over  the  bank,  but  also  owns  a  beautiful 
residence  on  Ronalds  street,  which  she  rents.  She  was  for 
many  years  her  father's  constant  companion,  and  from  him 
learned  habits  of  looking  carefully  after  her  business  interests. 
She  is  a  member  of  the  English  Lutheran  church.  Much  of 
her  time  is  spent  in  visiting  with  her  many  friends.     She  is 


810        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

proud  of  the  part  taken  by  her  f araily  in  pioneer  days  in  Iowa 
and  of  the  name  left  by  her  parents  to  their  descendants. 


SAMUEL  CHURCH  (Deceased) 

Samuel  Church  was  born  in  Saybrook,  Connecticut,  May  8, 
1792,  and  died  in  Oxford,  Johnson  county,  Iowa,  July  31, 1872. 
His  parents  moved  to  Trenton,  Oneida  county.  New  York,  with 
their  family  when  Samuel  was  about  seven  years  old.  He 
made  Trenton  his  home  (aside  from  the  time  spent  in  the  army) 
until  1854,  when  he  came  to  Iowa  with  a  brother  and  a  nephew 
and  settled  on  a  farm  two  miles  south  of  Oxford  City.  He  was 
a  volunteer  soldier  from  New  York  in  the  War  of  1812  and  en- 
listed in  Captain  Nathaniel  F.  Knapp's  company  in  Swift  and 
Dobin's  regiment  under  General  Peter  B.  Porter.  He  was  a 
farmer  by  occupation  and  enjoyed  the  farmer's  work  even  at 
times  when  he  had  small  returns  from  his  labor. 

In  politics  he  was  a  whig  and  then  a  republican.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Baptist  church  for  nearly  sixty  years.  He  was 
never  married.  He  was  a  man  who  enjoyed  life  as  he  went 
along,  was  strictly  honest  and  upright,  and  had  nothing  to  wor- 
ry about,  and  it  is  doubtful  if  he  would  have  worried  even  if  he 
had  had  a  cause. 


JAMES  M.  SHEETS  (Deceased) 

Among  the  early  settlers  of  Iowa  City  James  M.  Sheets  de- 
serves prominent  mention,  having  lived  there  since  1856  until 
his  death.  He  was  born  at  Emmitsburg,  Maryland,  July  28, 
1828,  a  son  of  Jacob  and  Elizabeth  (Fisher)  Sheets,  members 
of  old  Maryland  families  and  natives  of  that  state.  There 
were  four  children  in  the  family. 

Mr.  Sheets  learned  the  trade  of  carpenter  in  his  native  state 
and  followed  it  most  of  the  time  during  his  long  life.  He  was 
married  in  1852  to  Miss  Caroline  Miller,  daughter  of  Francis 
A.  and  Marilla  R.  (Batter)  Miller,  and  a  native  of  Baltimore. 
In  1856  Mr.  Sheets  came  west  and  prepared  a  home  in  Iowa 
City,  where  his  wife  joined  him  ten  months  later.  He  was  one 
of  the  early  carpenters  and  builders  there  and  took  a  prom- 


J.    M.    SHEETS 


BIOGRAPHICAL  811 

inent  part  in  early  affairs.  He  served  a  number  of  years  as  a 
member  of  the  city  council  and  was  a  republican  in  politics. 
He  belonged  to  Eureka  Lodge,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  of  Iowa  City. 

Nine  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sheets :  Marilla, 
Estella,  Carrie,  Grenevieve,  Laura  Virginia,  Alfred  Leon, 
James  F.,  Lutie  L.,  and  George  E.  Mr.  Sheets  died  on  the 
fifth  of  November,  1905,  at  the  age  of  77.  Mrs.  Sheets  has  a 
pleasant  home  and  is  well  known  in  various  circles. 


ADAM  H.  MUELLER  (Deceased) 

From  a  hazel  brush  and  grove  to  the  site  of  a  modern,  in'o- 
gressive,  university  city,  is  a  strong  example  of  community  de- 
velopment, yet  such  extremes  were  covered  by  the  experience 
and  memory  of  Justina  (Buettner)  Mueller,  widow  of  Adam 
H.  Mueller,  in  her  residence  at  Iowa  City,  Johnson  county. 
She  was  born  in  Bavaria,  as  were  her  parents,  and  came  with 
them  to  the  United  States,  when  she  was  five  years  old.  The 
voyage  was  made  on  a  sailing  vessel,  which  consumed  forty- 
eight  days  in  the  trip.  The  family  settled  in  Johnson  county 
in  1848,  their  first  residence  being  the  old  Basterdes  hotel, 
which  stood  on  the  banks  of  Ralston  creek.  The  family  then 
comprised  the  parents,  John  and  Margaret  (Kneier)  Buettner, 
and  their  two  daughters,  Justina  and  Margaret.  The  children 
gathered  hazel  nuts  within  a  short  distance  of  this  hotel,  and 
in  later  life  often  thought  of  this  experience,  as  well  as  many 
others  of  her  girlhood.  One  of  these  was  seeing  the  dipping  of 
candles.  She  also  remembered  the  arduous  trip  made  by  her 
father  and  Michael  Goss,  in  the  midwinter  of  the  early  'fifties, 
from  Iowa  City  to  Sioux  City,  on  foot.  She  remembered  the 
simple  pleasure  of  her  girlhood  and  the  natural,  healthy  life 
led  by  the  family,  with  great  vividness.  However,  John 
Buettner  and  his  wife  completed  their  homely  tasks  and  went 
to  their  reward,  she  djdng  February  26,  1891,  and  he  January 
1,1895. 

Adam  H.  Mueller,  a  veteran  in  the  naval  service  in  the  Civil 
War,  settled  in  Iowa  City  in  1867.  He  was  born  at  Dussel- 
dorf,  Germany,  October  12,  1836,  and  early  yielded  to  the 
' '  wanderlust, ' '  which  led  him  to  come  to  America.     He  landed 


812        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

in  New  York  City  at  the  age  of  twelve  years,  a  vigorous, 
healthy  lad,  eager  for  adventure.  His  restive  spirit  led  him  to 
find  service  on  the  sea,  and  for  thirty  years  he  was  a  faithful 
son  of  Neptune,  during  this  time  familiarizing  himself  with 
Asia,  Africa,  Australia,  Europe,  and  many  parts  of  the 
United  States  and  South  America.  During  the  Civil  War  he 
offered  his  services  in  defense  of  the  Union,  and  for  nearly 
four  years  served  in  the  United  States  Navy.  He  was  on 
board  the  U.  S.  S.  Octora,  taking  part  in  the  battles  before 
Vicksburg  and  in  Mobile  Bay.     His  honorable  record  was  a 


RESIDENCE  OF  WILLIAM  MUELLER 


source  of  gratification  to  him  during  the  remainder  of  his  life. 
He  was  a  member  of  Kirkwood  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  some  years  be- 
fore his  death,  which  occurred  July  25,  1902. 

At  the  close  of  the  war  Mr.  Mueller  spent  a  short  time  at  St. 
Louis,  then  came  to  Iowa  City,  where  on  June  13, 1869,  he  mar- 
ried Justina  Buettner,  the  ceremony  being  performed  by  Rev. 
Father  Emonds,  in  the  basement  of  St.  Mary's  church,  which 
was  then  under  construction.  With  the  exception  of  one  year 
(1871)  spent  in  Denver,  Mr.  Mueller  thereafter  lived  continu- 
ously in  Iowa  City.  For  a  time  he  worked  at  the  trade  of  cab- 
inet-maker, but  in  1872  engaged  in  grocery  business  on  East 
Market  street,  which  he  continued  the  remainder  of  his  life. 

Seven  sons  and  two  daughters  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Mueller,  of  whom  all  survive  save  two.     They  are :  Dr.  John, 


BIOGRAPHICAL  813 

an  alumnus  of  Iowa  University,  resides  in  Iowa  City ;  Adam 
J.,  D.  D.  S.,  also  a  graduate  of  Iowa  University,  resides  at 
Waterloo,  Iowa;  William  P.,  a  graduate  of  Iowa  City  liigh 
school  and  business  college,  is  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Mueller 
Brothers,  shoe  dealers  of  Iowa  City,  and  married  Bernice 
Lucia  Daily,  of  Kansas  City,  Mo.,  and  they  have  a  son,  William 
Paul,  Jr. ;  Mary,  a  graduate  of  the  university,  is  an  instructor 
in  Iowa  State  Agricultural  College  at  Ames ;  Dr.  Otto,  a  grad- 
uate of  Harvard,  with  the  Class  of  1910,  had  previously  grad- 
uated in  the  Liberal  Arts  course  at  Iowa  University  with  the 
Class  of  '02,  and  is  now  practicing  in  Iowa  City ;  Louis,  also  a 
graduate  of  Iowa  University,  is  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Muel- 
ler Brothers,  of  Iowa  City,  previously  mentioned;  Margaret, 
is  a  teacher  in  the  high  school  at  Independence,  Iowa.  Six 
grandchildren,  all  in  vigorous  health,  give  promise  of  perpetu- 
ating the  Mueller  name  and  blood. 

Adam  Mueller  was  a  democrat  in  politics  and  his  society 
memberships  were  confined  to  the  G.  A.  R.,  St.  Joseph's  Bene- 
volent Association,  and  the  Roman  Catholic  Mutual  Protective 
Association,  he  being  a  charter  member  of  the  latter.  The 
family  are  adherents  of  the  Roman  Catholic  faith  and  those  in 
the  community  are  members  of  St.  Mary's  church.  Mrs.  Muel- 
ler also  is  a  life  member  of  the  Married  Ladies'  Sodality  of  the 
church. 

It  requires  no  sapient  vision  to  perceive  that  the  mission  of 
Adam  and  Justina  Mueller  was  performed  in  the  sacred  atmo- 
sphere of  their  home,  in  most  part,  and  under  its  benign  influ- 
ences they  brought  to  maturity  and  usefulness  their  sons  and 
daughters  who  survive  to  bring  honor  to  their  memories.  The 
influence  of  the  sacrifices  and  affection  of  this  worthy  couple 
for  their  children  wdll  live  to  bless  the  present  and  coming 
generations  of  the  house  of  Mueller,  and  who  could  desire  a 
more  honorable  chaplet  of  immortality  ? 


814        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

JOHN  W.  ANDRLE 

Probably  no  man  is  better  known  in  Penn  township  or  more 
thoroughly  identified  with  the  affairs  of  North  Liberty  than 
John  W.  Andrle,  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  From  the  day 
he  reached  his  majority  until  the  current  year  of  1911  he  has 
been  an  active  factor  for  the  promotion  of  the  best  interests 
of  his  community,  industrially,  socially,  and  morally.  His 
word  is  always  quoted  at  par,  and  he  has  the  respect  and 
friendship  of  all  good  men  of  his  acquaintance. 

Our  subject's  father,  John  Andrle,  and  his  mother,  Chris- 
tina Andrle,  were  natives  of  Bohemia,  in  which  country  our 
subject  also  was  born,  December  6,  1856.  The  Andrle  family 
emigrated  to  America  in  August,  1867,  landing  in  New  York 
City.  From  that  point  they  journeyed  westward  to  Cedar 
Rapids,  Iowa,  w^hence  they  were  taken  by  team  to  Shueyville, 
Johnson  countv,  their  destination.  Thev  settled  on  fifteen 
acres  in  Jefferson  township  and  erected  a  story  and  a  half 
log  cabin,  14x18.  Subsequently  this  was  sold,  but  not  torn 
down  and  destroyed,  as  so  many  of  its  kind  have  been,  but  is 
still  in  evidence  and  may  be  seen  at  the  intersection  of  the 
Solon  and  Shueyville  roads,  doing  duty  as  a  residence,  having 
been  improved  by  the  addition  of  siding  and  a  porch.  John 
Andrle  added  to  his  holdings  in  Jefferson  township  until  at 
one  time  he  owned  seventy  acres.  Farming,  however,  was 
seemingly  out  of  his  line.  He  was  a  natural  musician,  and  for 
forty  years  he  played  in  the  Shuey^dlle  band,  of  which  he  was 
one  of  the  original  organizers.    He  died  on  the  home  farm  in 

1905,  at  the  age  of  seventy-five  years.  His  wife  preceded  him, 
dying  August  5, 1896.  Both  were  sterling  good  people,  tender- 
hearted and  kind,  a  true  father  and  mother.  They  were  blessed 
mth  five  children:  Annie,  wife  of  Frank  Staffan,  of  Cedar 
Rapids ;  Rosa,  wife  of  John  Statf an,  brother  of  Frank,  of  Ce- 
dar Rapids;  John  W.,  our  subject;  Wesley  J.,  died  June  2, 

1906,  from  an  operation ;  Helen,  wife  of  W.  J,  Kedlec,  a  prom- 
inent official  of  Jefferson  township. 

John  W.  Andrle  received  a  limited  education  in  the  common 
schools  of  his  township,  as  his  boyhood  days  were  occupied 
by  hard  work.  At  the  age  of  thirteen  he  drove  an  ox  team  to 
a  big  breaking  plow,  and  for  three  summers  broke  the  ' '  stub- 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


815 


born  glebe"  of  the  Iowa  hills.  His  youth  was  spent  on  the 
home  farm.  In  1875,  at  the  age  of  nineteen,  he  worked  in 
North  Liberty  and  that  year  plowed  for  Nicholas  Zeller  the 
very  ground  on  which  his  own  modern  house  now  stands.  Two 
years  later,  having  attained  his  majority,  he  decided  to  learn 
the  harness  trade.  He  was  successful  in  this,  and  in  1881 
owned  his  own  place  of  business  in  North  Liberty,  having 
bought  a  half  interest  in  H.  B.  White's  grocery  store,  carrying 
that  on  in  connection  with  his  harness  shop.  He  sold  this 
business,  however,  and  bought  J.  F.  Price's  interest  in  the 


RESIDENCE  OF  J.  W.  ANDRLE 


George  &  Price  Mill,  the  name  of  which  was  thereafter  changed 
to  North  Liberty  Steam  Saw  &  Sorghum  Mill,  Jacob  George 
retaining  his  interest.  Later  Mr.  George  retired  and  Wesley 
J.  Andrle,  our  subject's  brother,  became  a  member  of  the  firm. 
The  steam  sawmill  did  a  prosperous  business  and  was  known 
far  and  near  as  the  Andrle  mill.  Our  subject  retired  from 
that  mill  years  ago,  but  he  still  retains  his  liking  for  machin- 
er}^,  and  today  owns  an  interest  in  a  sawmill  in  Florida.  He 
also  owns  an  Ideal  gasoline  engine,  and  for  twenty-six  seasons 
has  run  a  threshing  outfit.  As  a  mechanician  he  is  called  on 
frequently  in  his  home  town,  especially  when  automobiles  be- 


816        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

come  recalcitrant.  For  a  number  of  years  lie  was  employed 
by  the  Northwestern  Railroad  Quarries  as  a  driller,  but  at 
this  time  he  is  a  driller  on  his  own  account  in  the  Cedar  Rap- 
ids quarries.  Wesley  J.  Andrle,  who  was  associated  with  our 
subject  in  the  Andrle  sawmill,  was  an  inventor.  He  invented 
and  patented  several  valuable  inventions,  among  them  being 
a  three-horse  draft  equalizer,  patented  March  15,  1881,  which 
he  manufactured  and  sold.  His  untimely  death  was  a  distinct 
loss  to  the  industrial  world.  Our  subject  has  erected  a  num- 
ber of  houses  in  North  Liberty,  his  first  attempt  being  the  res- 
idence where  he  and  his  fair  bride  began  housekeeping,  lo- 
cated in  the  northern  part  of  the  town,  same  being  now  the 
property  of  M.  F.  Stoner.  The  residence  which  he  at  present 
occupies  is  composed  in  part  of  the  creamery  building,  the 
remains  of  an  enterprise  which  our  subject  launched  in  North 
Liberty  in  1893,  but  which  was  abandoned  on  account  of  lack 
of  support  by  the  farmers,  after  a  loss  of  $6,000.00.  Mr.  An- 
drle and  his  wife  labored  hard  to  make  tliat  enterprise  a  suc- 
cess. It  was  a  credit  to  North  Liberty  and  ought  to  have  been 
sustained.  The  present  residence  of  our  subject,  it  is  claimed, 
is  the  first  modern  house  to  be  erected  in  North  Liberty,  and 
is  fully  equipped  ^\ith  private  water  system  and  acetylene 
gas  plant. 

Mr.  Andrle  was  married  in  Cedar  Rapids,  October  18,  1881, 
to  Miss  Kathrine  B.  Zak,  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Margaret 
Zak,  both  natives  of  Bohemia,  who  came  to  the  United  States 
about  the  close  of  the  Civil  War  and  now  reside  a  short  distance 
north  of  their  daughter  in  North  Liberty.  The  Zak  family 
resided  in  Chicago  seven  years  and  in  Cedar  Rapids  twenty- 
nine  years.  Mr.  Zak  sold  his  Cedar  Rapids  property  in  1902 
and  removed  to  North  Liberty.  Two  daughters,  one  the  vnfc 
of  our  subject,  were  born  in  Bohemia,  and  two  more  and  a  son 
were  born  in  America.  One  daughter  died  from  fright  during 
the  great  Chicago  fire  at  the  age  of  seven  years.  Mr.  Andrle 
unhesitatingly  says  that  the  best  job  of  his  life  was  when  he 
met,  wooed  and  won  his  charming  and  industrious  w^fe.  She 
has  been  a  true  helpmeet  and  a  model  mother.  Of  their  four 
children,  two  died  in  infancy.  The  survivors  are :  James  F., 
graduate  of  the  Shue^^lle  high  school,  married  to  Miss  Au- 
gusta Kephart,  resides  at  North  Liberty;  Pearl  M.,  graduate 


BIOGRAPHICAL  817 

of  the  Sliueyville  liigii  school,  and  graduate  in  the  dental  de- 
partment, State  University  of  Iowa. 

Mr.  Andrle  was  for  eight  years  a  member  of  the  board  of 
trustees  of  Penn  township,  and,  without  solicitation,  was 
elected  chairman  at  the  last  regular  meeting  in  1911.  Mr. 
Andrle  has  been  foremost  in  advocacy  of  public  improvements, 
has  done  probably  more  than  any  other  man  in  promotion 
of  bridge  building,  and  has  consistently  and  persistently 
pushed  for  the  welfare  of  his  community  in  everj^  respect. 
Always  a  temperance  man,  he  has  opposed  the  saloon,  believ- 
ing it  to  be  an  evil  in  any  community.  He  is  a  republican,  and 
has  served  his  party  as  a  delegate  in  county  conventions.  Is 
a  member  of  White  Marble  lodge  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  North  Lib- 
erty; also  charter  member  of  White  Rose  lodge  M.  B.  A.,  the 
name  of  which  was  suggested  by  Mr.  Andrle.  Our  subject  is 
known  as  ' '  the  handy  man ' '  of  North  Liberty  in  the  repairing 
of  machinery,  but  in  this  respect  he  is  closely  seconded  by  his 
son  James,  who  has  the  reputation  of  being  a  genius  in  that 
line.  The  Andrle  home  is  the  only  stopping  place  for  the  trav- 
eler in  North  Liberty.  The  coziness  of  the  house  and  the 
quality  of  Mrs.  Andrle 's  home-cooked  meals  have  given  it  a 
warm  place  in  the  affections  of  travelers. 


FRANK  TURECEK 

The  ocean  traveler  of  today,  crossing  the  Atlantic  in  less 
than  six  days  can  hardly  realize  what  the  journey  meant  fifty 
years  ago  when  most  of  the  emigrants  made  the  voyage  in 
slow  sailing  vessels  which  occupied  weeks  and  months  of  suf- 
fering, sickness,  and  other  hardships. 

It  was  in  1867  that  the  parents  of  our  subject,  Joseph  and 
Josephene  (Horak)  Turecek  bade  farewell  to  their  native 
town  of  Landine,  Bohemia,  and  set  sail  for  America.  They 
had  been  married  two  years  before  and  were  young  and  happy 
and  their  hearts  beat  strong  with  hope  of  what  they  might 
accomplish  in  the  new  land  of  promise.  But  the  sea  voyage 
in  a  slow  sailing  vessel  which  was  tossed  and  buffeted  by 
wind  and  wave  for  over  seventy-two  days  was  enough  to 
discourage  the  bravest  heart.    Their  little  boy  Joseph  was  sea 


818        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

sick  most  of  the  time  and  finally  died  and  was  buried  at  sea. 
Three  weeks  later  while  on  the  ocean  another  boy,  Frank,  was 
born  and  he  died  about  a  year  later. 

The  Turecek  family  settled  first  near  Cleveland,  Ohio,  but 
after  a  short  stay  removed  to  Kentucky  where  they  remained 
nearlv  three  vears  and  then  removed  to  Johnson  countv,  Iowa, 
and  settled  in  Jefferson  township  where  they  passed  the  re- 
mainder of  their  lives. 

Mrs.  Turecek  died  October  13,  1899.  Mr.  Turecek  died 
July  7,  1913,  a  sufferer  for  many  years  from  cancer. 


RESIDEXCE   OF    FRANK   TURECEK 

Frank  Turecek,  our  subject  is  counted  among  the  success- 
ful farmers  of  Johnson  county  and  occupies  the  old  home- 
stead. A  commodious  comfortable  home,  surrounded  by  sub- 
stantial outbuildings  all  nestled  close  beside  a  running  stream, 
in  a  pleasant  valley,  prove  the  energy  and  good  management  of 
the  owner,  assisted  by  a  good  wife  and  well  trained  children. 

Mr.  Turecek  was  married  June  20,  1888,  to  Lenora  Sejnoha, 
daughter  of  Joseph  and  Lenora  (Straka)  Sejnoha.  Six  child- 
ren have  been  born  to  this  union,  Edward  F.,  William  J., 
Emil  H.,  Lewis,  Libbie,  Frank  J.,  all  at  home.  Mr.  Frank 
Turecek  is  a  member  of  the  M.  W.  of  A.  and  the  Z.  C.  B.  J. 
Votes  the  democratic  ticket. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  819 

F.  H.  KIRCHNER 

One  of  the  most  influential  and  prominent  citizens  of  Lone 
Tree,  Iowa,  is  Frederick  H.  Kircliner,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  who  was  identified  with  the  grain  business  in  that  town 
for  upwards  of  twenty  years,  and  is  now  a  large  property 
owner  in  Iowa  and  Minnesota,  and  a  stockholder  in  the  banks 
of  Lone  Tree  and  Nichols,'  Iowa.  The  father  of  our  subject 
was  Bernhard  Kirchner,  a  native  of  Saxony,  Germany.  He 
married  Charlotte  Lenz,  a  native  of  Landerbauch,  Germany. 
The  former  came  to  America  when  he  was  seventeen  years  of 
age,  arriving  in  New  York  City  after  a  voyage  of  seven  weeks. 
He  at  once  took  up  railroading,  and  in  pursuance  of  this  occu- 


EESmENCE  OF  F,   H.   KIRCHNER 

pation  came  to  Rock  Island,  Illinois,  where  he  resided  for  a 
time.  Thereafter  he  removed  to  Muscatine  county,  Iowa, 
where  he  bought  his  first  farm  and  commenced  business  as 
an  agriculturist.  He  remained  on  this  farm  until  1872,  when 
he  entered  the  general  mercantile  and  grain  business  at 
Nichols,  Iowa,  continuing  therein  for  over  twenty  years.  At 
that  time  he  retired  and  the  remainder  of  his  life  was  devoted 
to  looking  after  his  extensive  property  interests.  He  died  at 
Nichols  in  1906.  Charlotte  Lenz,  his  wife,  came  to  America 
with  her  parents  when  a  child  and  settled  with  them  in  Illi- 
nois, where  the  family  resided  for  a  number  of  years.  At- 
tracted bv  the  fertile  soil  of  Iowa,  the  Lenz  familv  removed 


820        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

to  Muscatine  county,  which  became  their  permanent  home. 
Eight  children  were  born  to  Bernhard  and  Charlotte  Kirch- 
ner:  Our  subject;  Ehzabeth,  now  the  wife  of  Chas.  KoUing, 
resides  at  What  Cheer ;  Margaret,  now  the  wife  of  Dr.  F.  F. 
Carl,  of  Nichols ;  Henry,  living  at  Nichols ;  Bernhard,  living  at 
Nichols;  Anna,  now  Mrs,  Maypes,  living  at  Nichols;  John, 
residing  at  present  in  Portland,  Oregon ;  Gertrude,  li^dng  at 
Nichols. 

Our  subject  assisted  his  father  in  his  boyhood  days  in  the 
work  upon  the  farm  and  in  the  store,  but  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
five  began  business  for  himself  in  the  grain  business  at  Lone 
Tree,  which,  as  before  stated,  he  continued  for  twenty  years. 
In  December,  1895,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Anna  May  Con- 
stant, born  in  Johnson  county.  May  14,  1869,  and  identified 
with  the  publis  schools  of  the  county  as  a  teacher  for  nine 
years.  They  have  one  son,  Gildra  Bernhard  Henry,  born 
March  11,  1897,  who  is  now  attending  high  school  at  Lone 
Tree. 

Mr.  Kirchner  has  been  secretary  of  the  local  school  board 
for  the  past  fifteen  years,  and  has  held  several  local  offices  of 
importance.  Thoroughly  identified  mth  the  interests  of  Lone 
Tree,  he  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  most  progressive  citizens 
of  that  thriving  town. 

Mrs.  F.  H.  Kirchner  was  the  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Henry  Constant.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Henry  Constant  were  mar- 
ried in  Washington,  Iowa,  December  15,  1864,  and  came  to 
Johnson  county  and  lived  on  a  farm  one  and  one-fourth  miles 
south  of  Lone  Tree.  The  town  of  Lone  Tree  was  not  built 
then,  and  the  nearest  trading  point  was  Iowa  City.  It  was 
all  prairie  then  and  the  only  tree  in  sight  was  what  is  called 
the  Lone  Tree,  for  which  Lone  Tree  was  afterwards  named. 
The  railroad  was  built  through  Lone  Tree  in  1872  and  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Henry  Constant  moved  to  town  and  built  the  first 
hotel  and  ran  it  for  seven  years.  Mr.  LCenry  Constant  then 
ran  a  large  shoe  store  for  several  years,  and  sold  out  on  ac- 
count of  poor  health.  He  was  an  invalid  for  five  years.  He 
died  January  20,  1892.  He  and  his  wife  joined  the  M.  E. 
church  before  the  old  M.  E.  church  was  moved  to  Lone  Tree, 
and  were  always  faithful  members.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Constant 
had  four  daughters  born  to  them :  Mrs.  J.  W.  Croneweth,  of 


BIOGRAPHICAL  821 

Sigourney;  Mrs.  F.  H.  Kircliner,  of  Lone  Tree;  Miss  Ella 
Constant,  of  Lone  Tree ;  Mrs.  J.  R.  McVickers,  of  Sigourney, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Henry  Constant  were  pioneers  of  Johnson 
county,  having  moved  here  nearly  40  years  ago,  Mrs.  Con- 
stant is  still  living  in  Lone  Tree. 


JOHN  G.  ANDREWS 

John  G.  Andrews  is  one  of  the  well-known  farmers  of 
Graham  township  and  lives  in  honorable  retirement  on  the 
eighty  acres  of  land  he  first  purchased  in  the  region.  He  came 
to  Johnson  county  when  land  was  cheap  and  his  possessions 
have  doubled  in  value  several  times  since  he  made  his  first 
purchase  of  land  in  1875.  He  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  Jan- 
uary 4,  1846,  son  of  Joseph  and  Johanna  (Garrett)  Andrews, 
natives  of  the  same  state,  the  father  born  in  1819  and  the 
mother  in  1815.  They  came  west  in  1860  and  the  mother  died 
in  1890  and  the  father  passed  away  in  Graham  township,  June 
3,  1911.  He  was  a  millwright  and  farmer  and  worked  in  grist 
mills  in  his  native  state,  also  after  coming  to  Iowa.  He  and 
his  wife  had  three  children:  Mary  Jane,  unmarried;  John 
G.,  of  this  sketch ;  and  William,  of  Morse,  a  sketch  of  whom 
appears  in  this  work.  The  family  came  to  Madison  county, 
Iowa,  in  1868,  and  lived  there  until  the  spring  of  1876. 

Mr.  Andrews  has  followed  farming  all  his  life,  and  in  1875 
bought  eighty  acres  of  land  where  he  now  lives,  forty  acres  of 
which  were  a  part  of  the  old  pioneer  farm  of  Henry  Felkner, 
and  forty  acres  were  formerly  owned  by  E.  B.  Moore,  who 
sold  it  to  E.  B.  Morse,  from  whom,  in  1875,  Mr.  Andrews  pur- 
chased it  at  $35  per  acre.  Mr.  Andrews  purchased 
his  east  eighty  acres,  the  James  Ryan  quarter  section, 
in  1880,  at  $60  per  acre,  and.  all  of  this  land  is  now  (1912) 
valued  at  $200  per  acre.  Mr.  Andrews  also  owns  113  acres  of 
land  comprising  the  old  John  Hope  estate.  The  first  purchase 
of  land  contained  no  buildings  and  was  literally  covered  with 
cockle-burrs.  He  brought  it  to  a  tillable  state  and  ,has  put  in 
tiling  and  constructed  fences.  In  1 885  he  moved  the  old  James 
Ryan  house,  which  forms  the  north  part  of  his  residence,  and 
added  to  it.     In  1880  he  erected  the  building  he  now  uses  for 


822        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

a  stock  barn,  30  by  20  feet,  with  16  foot  shed,  at  first  used  as 
a  granary.  In  1899  he  put  up  a  more  modern  building,  42  by 
56  feet,  with  20  foot  posts,  and  having  a  capacity  of  75  to  80 
tons  of  hay.  In  1905  he  erected  a  handsome  residence  for  his 
son,  a  short  distance  north  of  his  home. 

Mr.  Andrews  has  always  believed  in  high-grade  stock.  His 
farms  are  stocked  with  some  35  head  of  Hereford  cattle  and 
80  head  of  Duroc  Jersey  hogs.  In  1911  his  corn  crop  averaged 
75  bushels  to  the  acre.  He  now  has  both  his  farms  rented,  one 
to  his  son  and  one  to  his  son-in-law.  He  has  been  an  enter- 
prising and  ambitious  farmer  and  has  prospered  in  all  his 
undertakings. 


EESIDENCE  OF  J.   G.   ANDEEWS 

Mr.  Andrews  was  married,  in  1872,  by  Rev.  Miller  of  the 
Baptist  church,  to  Miss  Rboda  M.  Rusk,  a  native  of  Knox 
county,  Illinois,  their  union  taking  place  in  Madison  county, 
Iowa.  She  was  born  October  8,  1855,  daughter  of  Anderson 
and  Elizabeth  (Forbes)  Rusk,  natives  of  Indiana,  who  came  to 
Madison  county,  Iowa,  in  the  fall  of  1868,  where  both  died. 
Five  children  were  born  of  their  marriage,  namely :  Mary  S., 
born  April  20,  1875,  married  R.  Shepard  and  they  have  three 
children,  Blanche,  Charlotte,  and  Elma ;  William  J.,  born  July 
2,  1879,  married  Ellen  Eggenberg  and  lives  a  little  distance 
south  of  his  father,  as  mentioned  above.  Three  are  deceased, 
Eva,  Johanna,  and  Alice.     Eva  is  buried  in  the  Cravan  ceme- 


JOHN  G.  ANDREWS  AND  FAMILY 


BIOGRAPHICAL  823 

tery  in  Madison  connty,  and  the  other  two  are  buried  in  the 
Morse  cemetery, 

Mr.  Andrews  and  family  have  a  good  standing  in  the  com- 
munity and  are  identified  with  its  best  interests.  He  served 
nine  consecutive  years  as  township  trustee  and  .later  served 
two  years  more  in  the  same  office.  Fraternally  he  belongs  to 
the  Odd  Fellows  and  to  the  Legion  of  Honor.  He  has  well 
earned  the  comparative  ease  he  now  enjoys,  having  worked 
hard  from  his  youth,  and  to  a  good  purpose. 


ALBERT  P.  ROHRET 

The  name  of  Rohret  is  well  known  in  Johnson  county,  where 
it  has  long  stood  for  good  citizenship  and  upright  dealing. 
Albert  P.  Rohret  is  a  native  of  the  county,  born  in  Union  town- 
ship, September  14,  1859,  son  of  Adam  and  Barbara  (Long) 
Rohret.  The  father  was  born  in  Bavaria  in  1826  and  came  to 
America  in  young  manhood.  He  was  married  in  1852  in  Iowa 
county,  Iowa,  by  Father  McCormick,  to  Miss  Long,  their  union 
taking  place  in  a  little  Catholic  church  ,with  neither  a  door  nor 
a  window  in  it.  In  1895  Mr.  Rohret  retired  from  active  life 
and  located  in  Oxford,  where  he  died  in  1904.  Of  their  six 
sons  and  four  daughters  all  the  sons  and  one  daughter  now 
survive.  The  latter  is  Mrs.  Ed  Everett,  of  West  Lucas  town- 
ship. 

Wolfgang  and  Katherine  (Shellhorn)  Rohret  left  Bavaria, 
their  native  land,  July  4,  1840,  and  landed  in  Baltimore  after 
a  voyage  of  eight  weeks.  They  came  by  rail  and  canal  to 
Pittsburg,  thence  down  the  Ohio  river  to  the  Mississippi  and 
up  that  river  to  St.  Louis  and  on  to  Burlington,  Iowa.  They 
then  came  through  the  wilderness  with  an  ox  team  to  Johnson 
county,  forded  the  English  river  at  the  present  site  of  River- 
side, and  arrived  at  Old  Man's  creek,  Sharon  township,  where 
they  took  up  their  habitation  in  the  woods.  They  first  lived 
on  Section  31.  For  some  time  lived  in  true  pioneer  style, 
their  shanty  being  made  of  round  logs,  held  together  with 
wooden  pegs  in  lieu  of  nails.  They  had  fifty  acres  of  land  in 
that  home,  but  after  occupying  it  about  two  years,  removed  to 
another  location  in  the  same  section,  where  they  erected  an- 


824        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

other  log  house  and  occupied  it  about  twenty-five  years.  Dur- 
ing an  early  day  Wolfgang  and  Adam  Eohret  worked  on  the 
old  capitol  building,  walking  to  and  from  their  work,  a  dis- 
tance of  some  twelve  miles. 

Albert  Rohret  was  educated  in  the  local  schools  and  re- 
mained on  the  home  farm  until  reaching  maturity.  This  place 
is  now  the  property  of  his  brother  Benjamin  G.,  cashier  of 
the  Farmers  Savings  Bank  at  Oxford.  The  latter  was  born 
May  31,  1874,  educated  in  the  common  schools  and  Iowa  City 
Academy,  and  in  1904  came  to  Oxford  to  work  in  the  Security 
Bank,  now  known  as  the  Farmers  Savings  Bank.  He  married 
Mary  E.  Healy,  daughter  of  J.  R.  Healy,  a  retired  farmer  of 
Cedar  township,  and  she  died  November  14,  1906,  leaving  two 
daughters,  Esther  and  Mary. 

At  the  age  of  twenty-one  years  Albert  P.  Rohret  began 
working  in  a  general  store  in  Oxford.  He  and  his  brother 
John  H.  established  a  general  store,  under  the  style  of  Rohret 
Brothers,  in  1881,  this  arrangement  continuing  until  1890, 
when  the  former  retired  from  the  business  and  moved  to  what 
is  now  Cosgrove,  where  he  erected  a  buihling  and  established 
the  first  store  in  that  town.  He  erected  the  first  residence  in 
the  town,  of  which  he  was  the  founder,  and  served  as  the  first 
postmaster,  holding  office  five  years.  His  brother  John  H. 
continued  the  store  in  Oxford  until  1895,  when  he  and  Albert 
established  the  Security  Bank,  now  the  Farmers  State  Bank. 
They  are  two  of  the  most  prominent  citizens  of  Oxford,  John- 
son county,  and  have  taken  an  active  part  in  building  up  pub- 
lic enterprises  there.  John  Henry  Rohret  served  two  years  as 
mayor.  He  is  vice  president  of  the  Rundell  Land  &  Improve- 
ment Company,  of  Iowa  City,  vice  president  of  the  Iowa  City 
Street  Railway  Company,  and  a  member  of  the  Commercial 
Club,  Iowa  City,  where  he  now  resides.  All  the  Rohret  famil- 
ies are  members  of  the  Catholic  church,  several  of  them  be- 
longing to  St.  Mary's  parish,  Oxford.  Albert  P.  belongs  to 
the  building  committee  which  has  charge  of  the  new  church 
edifice  to  replace  the  one  now  occupied  by  St.  Mary's  congre- 
gation. 

Mr.  Rohret  was  married  to  Miss  Virginia  Floerchinger, 
daughter  of  Adam  Floerchinger,  and  three  children  have 
been  born  of  their  union:     Adams,    Cletus,   and   Gertrude. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  825 

The  family  are  well  laiown  in  social  circles  and  have  many 
friends. 

Adam  Floerchinger  was  born  in  Germany  in  1883,  and  died 
in  Oxford,  Iowa,  February  7,  188G.  He  was  a  son  of  Henry 
Floerchinger  and  wife,  who  spent  their  entire  lives  in  Ger- 
many, the  father  dying'  when  Adam  Floerchinger  was  thirteen 
years  old.  The  latter  was  educated  in  his  native  country  and 
took  up  the  occupation  of  farmer.  He  came  to  America  about 
the  close  of  the  Civil  War,  and  came  west  to  Johnson  county, 
Iowa.  He  located  on  a  farm  of  eighty  acres  in  Oxford  town- 
ship, raised  one  crop  there  and  then  moved  to  the  present  site 
of  Oxford,  where  he  opened  a  hotel.  For  eleven  years  he  and 
his  wife  conducted  this  hostelry,  then  sold  out  to  his  brother 
George  and  retired  from  active  life.  This  place  was  a  rendez- 
vous for  the  early  priests  who  came  to  minister  to  the  spiritual 
needs  of  the  Catholics  of  the  region,  among  those  who  are  well 
remembered  being  Right  Reverend  Bishop  Davis,  who  was  for 
some  time  located  in  the  county.  When  the  town  of  Oxford 
was  laid  out  Mr.  Floerchinger  held  considerable  land  which 
was  laid  out  in  town  lots,  and  was  one  of  the  prominent  early 
citizens  there.  For  eight  years  prior  to  his  death  he  was  a 
great  sufferer.  He  and  his  wife  were  indefatigable  in  their 
work  for  their  church  and  helped  very  materially  when  the 
first  church,  known  as  St.  Mary's,  was  erected,  and  later 
helped  pay  for  the  addition  which  was  made  in  1877.  Mr. 
Floerchinger  influenced  his  brother  George  to  come  to  Amer- 
ica, and  the  latter  has  had  no  reason  to  regret  this  move. 

In  1862  Mr.  Floerchinger  was  united  in  marriage  with 

Kathrina ,  who  was  born  in  Germany  in  1833. 

She  now  resides  in  Oxford,  having  seen  the  place  progress 
and  develop  from  a  hazel  brush  stage  to  its  prosperity.  Her 
husband  helped  in  bringing  about  its  incorporation,  first  as  a 
village  and  later  as  a  city,  and  was  much  interested  in  its 
growth.  Children  as  follows  were  born  to  them :  Jennie,  wife 
of  Mr.  Rohret,  as  above  mentioned ;  John  William,  an  under- 
taker of  Oxford,  married  Rose  Hiney,  of  Iowa  City,  and  they 
have  one  son,  Ira.  Mr.  Floerchinger  was  one  of  the  most  pub- 
lic-spirited and  popular  citizens  of  his  township  and  county, 
winning  many  firm  friends  during  his  residence  there.  He 
died  a  devout  Catholic,  as  he  had  lived  one,  and  was  buried  in 


826        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

Mount  Calvary  Cemetery  at  Oxford.  After  his  death  his 
widow  removed  to  Iowa  City  and  held  her  residence  there 
some  eight  years,  then  returned  to  Oxford. 

Mr.  Rohret  is  one  of  the  best-known  men  in  his  part  of  the 
county  and  is  recognized  as  an  able  business  man  and  enter- 
prising citizen.  He  and  his  brother  have  done  much  to  build 
up  the  town  of  Oxford  and  have  always  been  found  in  the  front 
ranks  of  any  movement  to  benefit  their  community.  They 
have  extensive  realty  interests  in  Oxford  and  in  farm  lands 
nearby  and  are  interested  in  various  local  enterprises. 


BREWSTER  WATSON  GARDNER 

The  Gardners  are  among  the  older  and  better  known  fami- 
lies of  the  early  settlers  of  Johnson  county.  They  have  al- 
ways stood  for  whatever  represented  good  citizenship  and 
have  helped  materially  in  the  development  of  the  region. 
Brewster  W.  Gardner,  now  occupying  the  old  home  farm  in 
Gardner  township,  has  spent  the  greater  part  of  his  life  within 
the  limits  of  the  county  and  has  a  strong  affection  for  the 
place  that  has  been  his  home  so  manv  vears.  He  was  born  at 
Painesville,  Ohio,  May  18, 1858,  fifth  of  the  seven  children  born 
to  Jeffrey  Watson  and  Sarah  E.  (Brewster)  Gardner.  Jeffrey 
W.  Gardner  was  born  in  Albany  county,  New  York,  on  Christ- 
mas Day,  1823,  and  died  in  Washington  county,  Iowa,  June 
12,  1907.  He  learned  his  trade  of  wagon  maker  in  his  native 
county.  Sarah  E.  Brewster  was  born  in  New  York,  July  1, 
1823,  and  died  in  Washington  county,  Iowa,  July  4,  1911.  She 
was  a  daughter  of  John  Otis  Brewster  and  a  descendant  of 
Judge  Brewster.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gardner  lived  to  celebrate 
their  golden  wedding  and  won  a  large  number  of  friends  in 
their  pioneer  home.  Both  are  buried  in  Washington  county, 
just  over  the  line  from  Johnson  county. 

Children  as  follows  were  born  to  Jeffrey  W.  Gardner  and 
his  wife:  Hannah,  Serena,  Elizabeth,  Mary,  Brewster  W.,  of 
this  sketch;  Rhoda,  married  Dr.  B.  F.  Allen,  a  physician  and 
surgeon,  now  retired  from  practice,  and  they  live  at  Kalona, 
Iowa;  William,  died  in  infancy.  But  two  of  these  children 
now  survive,  Brewster  W.,  and  Rhoda. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  827 

The  father  of  the  family  just  mentioned  left  his  native  state 
for  Ohio  and  there  followed  his  trade  of  wagon  making  until 
1868,  the  year  of  his  locating  in  Iowa.  He  opened  a  wagon- 
making  shop  at  Fairview,  Johnson  connty,  where  he  also  did 
blacksmithing.  In  1880  he  purchased  a  farm  of  200  acres, 
which  he  and  his  only  surviving  son  carried  on  in  partnership 
until  1891,  when  the  latter  purchased  it. 

Since  coming  into  possession  of  the  home  farm  Brewster  W. 
Gardner  has  made  a  number  of  improvements  in  various  ways. 
He  has  remodeled  the  house,  has  put  in  a  large  amount  of 
tiling,  and  has  the  place  well  stocked.  It  is  all  in  shape  to  be 
cultivated  and  is  well  drained.  He  has  it  well  stocked  and 
furnished  with  modern  machinery  and  appliances  for  success- 
fully carrying  on  operations.  During  1911  Mr.  Gardner  had 
over  one  hundred  bushels  to  the  acre  from  a  ten  acre  field  of 
corn.  In  1910  he  erected  a  silo  with  a  capacity  of  one  hundred 
and  twenty-five  tons.  He  stands  well  in  his  community  and  is 
an  influential  member  of  the  local  branch  of  the  Farmers' 
Alliance.  Fraternally  he  belongs  to  the  Odd  Fellows  lodge 
at  Morse.  In  political  views  he  is  a  republican,  but  he  is  too 
busy  with  his  farming  operations  to  take  a  very  active  part  in 
public  affairs,  although  interested  in  every  local  event  and 
movement. 

In  1884  Mr.  Gardner  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Mary  Cochran,  by  Eev.  Geo.  B.  Smith,  of  the  Presbyterian 
church  at  Fairview,  daughter  of  Matthew  Russell  and  Adaline 
(Douglass)  Cochran,  early  settlers  of  Johnson  county,  a 
sketch  of  whom  appears  on  another  page  of  this  volume. 
Three  sons  have  blessed  this  union :  Roscoe  A.,  Russell  0.,  and 
Charles  W.,  all  at  home. 


JOHN  PARSONS  (Deceased) 

Johnson  county  lost  one  bf  its  most  honored  citizens  in  the 
death  of  the  late  John  Parsons,  who  passed  away  at  his  home 
in  Graham  township  on  April  27,  1911.  He  was  a  native  of 
Somersetshire,  England,  born  March  4,  1833,  a  son  of  George 
and  Elizabeth  Parsons,  who  spent  their  entire  lives  in  their 
native  land.     The  father  was  a  descendant  of  Abraham  and 


828        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

Priscilla  (Perkins)  Parsons,  the  latter  being  a  son  of  Josiah 
and  Betsy  (Cambridge)  Parsons.  Abraham  Parsons  had  six 
sons  and  five  daughters ;  the  daughters  died  young,  but  six  of 
the  sons  reached  maturity  and  reared  families,  their  names  be- 
ing Robert,  John,  William,  Josiah,  George,  and  James. 

John  Parsons,  whose  name  stands  at  the  head  of  this  sketch, 
was  well  educated  in  his  native  country  and  as  a  young  man 
made  a  trip  across  the  Atlantic  to  New  York  in  an  old  sailing 
vessel  which  consumed  nine  weeks  in  the  voyage.  He  returned 
to  England,  but  some  years  later  made  a  second  trip,  this  time 
in  a  steamship,  accompanied  by  his  bride,  whose  maiden  name 
was  Jane  Ham.    Their  marriage  took  place  March  28, 1867,  at 


EESIDENCE  OF  JANE  PAESONS 


Bristol,  England,  and  in  May  of  the  same  year  they  embarked 
for  New  York,  which  they  reached  after  a  voyage  of  two 
weeks'  duration.  Their  first  child  was  born  in  the  state  of 
New  York,  and  soon  after  this  event  they  came  west  to  John- 
son county.  Mr.  Parsons  purchased  a  home  for  himself  and 
familj^  in  Section  5,  Graham  township,  which  they  began  to 
occupy  when  the  first-born  of  their  children  was  about  one 
year  old.  There  were  a  few  old  buildings  on  the  place  and 
they  began  housekeeping  in  a  two-room  house.  He  found  the 
few  other  buildings  needed  remodeling  or  to  be  replaced,  and 
as  he  was  able  he  made  such  improvements.  Much  of  the  land 
had  to  be  broken  and  in  later  years  he  tiled  that  part  of  the 


BIOGRAPHICAL  829 

land  wliicli  needed  this  improvement  and  built  good  fences  all 
over  live  place.  He  was  always  actively  engaged  in  providing 
for  the  needs  of  his  family  and  was  most  thoughtful  for  their 
comfort.  He  set  out  a  fine  orchard,  which  has  been  a  source  of 
pleasure  and  profit.  He  erected  a  good  residence  when  he  was 
able  to  do  so  and  also  put  up  several  other  substantial  build- 
ings from  time  to  time. 

Mr.  Parsons  served  a  number  of  years  as  a  member  of  the 
school  board  and  also  was  roadmaster.  He  became  one  of 
the  most  substantial  citizens  in  his  part  of  the  county,  where 
he  won  wide  popularity  and  was  recognized  as  a  true  Christian 
and  a  kind,  pleasant  neighbor.  He  had  many  warm  friends 
who  sincerely  mourned  his  loss,  and  his  presence  and  kindly 
influence  were  missed  from  many  circles.  He  and  his  wife  had 
eleven  children,  nine  of  whom  now  survive :  William,  the  eldest, 
whose  birthplace  was  New  York ;  Julia,  wife  of  John  Zimmer- 
man, of  Butler  county,  Iowa ;  a  child  who  died  in  infancy ; 
George,  a  farmer  of  Graham  townsliip,  married  Miss  Martha 
Borscliel;  Mary  Alverda,  who  married  Henry  Scharch,  of 
Kansas;  Robert,  lives  in  Graham  township;  Arthur,  married 
Kate  Ijong,  and  they  reside  in  Buchanan,  Iowa ;  Thomas,  mar- 
ried Lillian  Hilborn;  Matilda  is  the  wife  of  Ahdn  Crosby;  Al- 
bert and  Leroy  operate  the  home  place.  Mr.  Parsons  died 
April  27,  1911,  after  a  long,  well-spent  and  useful  life.  His 
widow  retains  the  old  farm,  which  now  contains  112i/o  acres 
of  choice  farming  land.  She  has  thirty-one  grandchildren,  of 
whom  she  is  very  fond  and  proud. 

Mrs.  Parsons  is  the  daughter  of  Robert  and  Charlotte 
(Dibble)  Ham,  both  of  whom  died  in  England.  She  has  two 
brothers  and  a  sister  living,  the  latter  in  western  Canada. 
One  of  the  brothers  still  lives  in  England.  Mrs.  Parsons  is  a 
faithful  member  of  the  Christian  church  and  follows  the  Good 
Book  for  her  guide  in  directing  her  thoughts  and  actions.  She 
is  proud  of  her  children  and  of  the  part  her  husband  took  ^n 
local  affairs  during  his  life  time. 


830        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

LOUIS  CASTEK 

Several  substantial  farmers  of  Johnson  county  have  spent 
their  entire  lives  on  the  place  that  is  the  scene  of  their  opera- 
tions, and  in  this  way  they  have  become  familiar  with  every 
acre  of  ground  in  their  possession,  with  its  potentialities  and 
with  the  best  method  for  achieving  the  maximun  of  profit  from 
it.  Such  a  man  is  Louis  Castek,  of  a  family  that  has  long- 
been  prominent  in  Monroe  township,  born  on  his  father's 
farm  there,  June  20,  1879,  a  son  of  Joseph  and  Annie  (Coufal) 
Castek,  natives  of  Bohemia. 


KE81DEMCE   UF   LOUIS   CASTEK 


A  sketch  of  the  father  appears  elsewhere  in  connection  with 
that  of  his  son  Joseph,  Jr.,  which  is  given  in  this  work,  with 
extensive  mention  of  his  family.  Of  his  eight  children,  Louis 
was  the  youngest  in  order  of  birth,  and  was  reared  and  edu- 
cated in  his  native  township. 

Mr.  Castek  engaged  in  farming  for  himself  when  he  was 
twenty  years  old  and  has  become  one  of  the  most  successful 
farmers  in  his  neighborhood,  carrying  on  his  work  according 
to  modern  methods  and  being  recognized  as  a  good  business 
man  and  enterprising  citizen.  He  has  continued  on  the  home 
farm  and  has  taken  active  part  in  the  life  of  the  community. 
He  is  a  democrat  in  politics,  and  is  now  serving  as  trustee  of 
Monroe  township.     He  belong  to  Shueyville  Camp  No.  5382, 


BIOGRAPHICAL  831 

Modern  Woodmen  of  America.     He  and  his  wife  are  well 
known  in  social  circles  and  have  many  friends. 

In  June,  1903,  Mr.  Castek  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Anna  Lopata,  a  native  of  Linn  county,  born  in  December, 
1885,  daughter  of  Joseph  Lopata,  now  living  in  Monroe  town- 
ship, Jackson  county.  Two  children  have  been  born  to  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Castek,  Louis  and  Alma. 


CHARLES  LOUGAR 

Among  the  well  known  and  successful  farmers  of  Johnson 
county  are  many  young  men  who  have  spent  their  entire  lives 
there.  One  of  these,  a  native  of  the  county,  is  Charles  Lougar, 
of  Monroe  township,  of  an  old  and  prominent  family  of  the 
region.  He  was  born  in  Monroe  township,  November  22, 
1883,  son  of  Krank  and  Frances  (Kile)  Lougar.  The  parents 
were  born,  reared,  and  married  in  Bohemia,  and  came  to  Am- 
erica in  1878,  locating  on  a  farm  of  forty  acres  in  Johnson 
county,  where  their  children  were  born  and  reared  to  ma- 
turity. There  the  father  followed  farming  and  made  im- 
provements on  his  farm,  becoming  an  influential  and  useful 
citizen.  He  carried  on  his  operations  in  ths  way  until  his 
death,  in  1902,  while  still  in  the  prime  of  life.  He  left  a 
widow  and  six  children :  Frank  lives  in  South  Dakota ;  Fan- 
nie is  Mrs.  Joseph  Broz,  of  Monroe  township;  Joseph  lives 
in  South  Dakota ;  Annie  is  Mrs.  John  Couf  al  and  lives  in  Iowa 
county;  Charles  and  Anton,  live  in  Monroe  township.  The 
father  of  these  children  left  many  friends  in  the  community 
who  sincerely  mourned  his  loss.  His  widow  takes  an  active 
interest  and  participation  in  the  life  of  her  neighborhood  and 
is  held  in  high  respect.  She  and  her  sons  have  managed  the 
home  farm  with  good  judgment  and  ability  and  have  made  it 
highly  productive. 

Charles  Lougar  received  his  education  in  Monroe  township 
and  early  learned  the  habits  of  industry  and  self-reliance. 
He  has  made  his  influence  felt  in  the  community  and  gives  his 
support  to  the  democratic  party.  He  is  a  devout  member  of 
the  Catholic  church  and  helpful  in  its  various  lines  of  work. 
He  is  unmarried.  He  is  well  liked  and  popular  and  has  a 
good  standng  with  his  fellows. 


832        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

FREDERICK  FUHRMEISTER 

A  well-known  and  popular  citizen  of  Johnson  county  is  Fred- 
erick Fulirnieister,  an  early  settler,  who  has  taken  an  honor- 
able part  in  the  development  and  upbuilding  of  his  community. 
He  was  born  in  Germany,  November  23, 1838,  son  of  Frederick 
and  Louise  (Diekman)  Fuhrmeister.  The  parents  came  to 
America  in  1847  and  located  at  once  on  a  farm  in  Newport 
township,  Johnson  coimty.  The  mother  died  soon  after  the 
family's  arrival  and  the  father  spent  the  remainder  of  his 
life  there.  He  died  manv  vears  since  but  is  remembered  among 
the  early  settlers  as  an  upright  and  useful  citizen,  who  carried 
on  his  work  with  energy  and  industry.  He  and  his  wife  had 
four  children :    Dora,  Frederick,  Elizabeth,  and  Louise. 

After  coming  to  Johnson  county,  Frederick  Fuhrmeister 
attended  school  a  few  years,  but  his  time  and  assistance  were 
early  required  on  the  home  farm.  Upon  reaching  maturity 
he  chose  farming  as  his  occupation  and  has  pursued  it  with 
success  ever  since.  His  first  farm  contained  100  acres  of  land 
and  he  kept  adding  to  his  possessions  until  he  was  the  owner 
of  315  acres  in  New[3ort  township.  He  was  able  to  retire  from 
active  life  in  1910  and  now  makes  his  home  with  his  son  Frank. 

Mr.  Fuhrmeister  was  married  in  1861  to  Miss  Mary  For- 
wald,  a  native  of  Graham  township,  but  of  German  parentage. 
She  was  the  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Mary  (Slater)  Forwald. 
She  died  March  7,  1896,  and  is  buried  in  the  Catholic  ceme- 
tery. Ten  children  were  born  to  Mr.  Fuhrmeister  and  wife : 
Louise,  Mrs.  Charles  Weider,  of  Iowa  City;  Fred,  John,  and 
William,  of  Newport  township;  Frank,  of  New[3ort  townshij^, 
with  whom  the  father  resides ;  Philip,  of  Cedar  Rapids ;  Ann, 
wife  of  John  Bolei,  of  Iowa  City ;  Henry,  of  Iowa  City ;  Ed- 
ward died  at  the  age  of  twenty-four  years;  Charles  lives  in 
Iowa  City,  married  Elizabeth  Semrad. 

Mr.  Fuhrmeister  is  a  democrat  in  politics  and  has  held  many 
township  offices.  He  belongs  to  the  German  Lutheran  church 
at  Iowa  City.  He  is  a  representative  and  public-spirited  citi- 
zen, and  during  his  long  residence  in  Johnson  county  has  made 
a  large  number  of  warm  friends.  He  has  proven  his  upright 
integrity  and  high  character  in  his  dealings  with  his  fellows 
and  has  a  good  standing  in  the  community. 


MK.  AND  MKS.  J.  V.  BULINE 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


833 


JAMES  V.  BULINE 

One  of  the  native  sons  of  Bohemia  who  has  made  good  as 
a  farmer  and  citizen  of  Lincoln  township  is  James  Y.  Buline, 
son  of  Vaclav  and  Annie  (Motis)  Buline,  who  came  to  Amer- 
ica with  his  parents  when  twelve  years  of  age.  The  date  of 
his  birth  was  August  7,  1854.  The  Buline  family  first  set- 
tled in  Washington  county,  Iowa,  where  they  resided  about 
ten  years  on  one  farm  and  then  removed  to  another  part  of 
the  same  county  and  resided  six  years  on  a  new  farm,  at  the 
end  of  which  time  our  subject  decided  to  remove  to  Lincoln 
township.  The  parents  remained  in  Washington  county  until 
1885,  when  they  removed  to  Jackson  county,  Minnesota,  where 


RESIDENCE  OF  J.  V.  BULINE 


they  lived  the  remainder  of  their  lives.  Father  Buline  died 
in  June,  1909,  at  the  age  of  eighty-six,  and  his  wife  died  in 
December,  1910,  at  the  age  of  eighty-seven.  There  were  five 
children  in  the  family  of  Vaclav  and  Annie  Buline:  Frank 
Roscoe,  who  died  in  1908  in  Jackson  county,  Minnesota ;  Mary, 
now  Mrs.  Skubal,  living  at  Riverside,  Iowa;  Kate,  now  Mrs. 
L.  Hruby,  living  at  Estherville,  Iowa;  our  subject;  Barbara, 
wife  of  Frank  Shimitz,  who  died  in  Washin.gton  county. 

James  V.  Buline  chose  farming  for  his  life  work,  and  be- 
gan for  himself  at  the  age  of  twenty-eight,  having  previously 
worked  faithfully  with  his  parents  on  the  farms  owned  by 
them.     The  first  farm  he  purchased  Avas  in  Lincoln  township 


834        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

and  consisted  of  242  acres.  He  added  to  his  holdings  in  1910 
by  the  purchase  of  a  160-acre  farm  in  Fremont  township. 
These  places  are  in  a  high  state  of  cultivation  and,  under  the 
effective  management  of  our  subject,  are  among  the  most  pro- 
ductive of  that  part  of  Johnson  county. 

In  December,  1882,  Mr.  Buline  was  married  to  Miss  Frances 
Himek,  who  was  born  in  Bohemia,  and  came  with  her  parents 
to  America  at  the  age  of  six  years.  The  latter  settled  in 
Washmgton  county,  Iowa,  and  after  residing  there  three  years 
removed  to  Lincoln  township,  Johnson  county.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Buline  are  the  parents,  of  eleven  children,  three  of  whom  died 
in  infancy.  The  survivors  are:  Mary,  now  Mrs.  Stephen 
Schussler,  living  in  Lincoln  township ;  Clara,  now  Mrs.  Elmer 
Stock,  living  in  Lincoln  township ;  Frances,  now  Mrs.  Roscoe 
Plum,  living  in  Lincoln  township;  James  F.,  who  was  mar- 
ried January  26,  1912,  to  Miss  Ella  Fouchek  of  Pleasant  Val- 
ley township,  living  on  our  subject's  farm  in  Fremont  town- 
ship ;  Charles,  Ralph,  AVilliam  and  Bessie,  all  living  at  home. 

Democratic  in  politics,  Mr.  Buline  takes  a  practical  inter- 
est in  public  affairs.  He  has  been  township  trustee  and  pres- 
ident of  the  school  board  of  his  township  for  six  years.  He 
has  also  been  chairman  of  the  township  health  board  for  the 
same  period,  and  has  been  road  supervisor  for  ten  years.  He 
is  in  the  prime  of  life  and  confidently  looks  forward  to  many 
3^ears  of  activity  and  usefulness — a  consummation  which  his 
many  friends  will  devoutly  wish. 


E.  H.  HANLON 


The  father  of  our  subject  was  a  native  of  New  York  State 
and  his  mother  of  Ohio.  The  former  was  born  March  11, 1840, 
and  the  latter  March  27, 1850.  James  H.  Hanlon  and  Celestine 
Kimsman  were  their  names.  The  couple  resided  at  Peoria, 
Illinois,  prior  to  their  removal  to  Johnson  county  in  1887.  Mr. 
Hanlon  was  engaged  as  a  railroad  engineer  during  his  early 
life,  in  all  devoting  about  thirty-five  years  to  that  work.  On 
arrival  in  Johnson  county  Mr.  Hanlon  purchased  the  home- 
stead, where  he  labored  until  his  death,  in  September,  1901, 


JAMES  H.  HANLON 


V  uenoX 


BIOGRAPHICAL  835 

and  where  the  subject  of  this  sketch  now  resides.    The  mother 
survives  and  lives  with  her  son  on  the  old  farm. 

E.  H.  Hanlon,  the  eldest  of  three  children,  was  born  in  Pe- 
oria, Illinois,  April  9,  1875,  and  removed  with  his  parents  to 
Iowa.  He  has  always  been  engaged  npon  the  homestead  where 
his  parents  first  settled.  The  other  children  are :  Stella  May- 
belle,  now  Mrs.  A.  E.  Banmer,  living  in  Fremont  township, 
mother  of  two  children,  John  and  Celeste ;  Laura  Pearle,  now 
Mrs.  Dr.  Leroy  Hammer,  of  Kalona,  Iowa.  Mr.  Banmer  mar- 
ried Stella  August  29,  1905.  He  was  born  November  28,  1880, 
son  of  J.  B.  and  Elizabeth  (Wagner)  Baumer,  at  Iowa  City. 
He  attended  the  public  schools  of  Iowa  City,  the  Iowa  City 


RESIDENCE   OF   E.   H.   HANEON 

Academy,  and  Irish's  Business  College,  graduating  in  1900. 
At  the  age  of  twenty-one  he  entered  the  employ  of  Franklin 
MacVeagh  &  Co.,  wholesale  grocers  of  Chicago.  He  was  as- 
sistant manager  of  one  of  the  departments.  He  remained 
there  for  nine  years.  He  then  engaged  in  farming  in  Johnson 
county,  which  he  has  continued  to  this  day. 

Dr.  Hammer  was  married  to  Laura  at  Lone  Tree  September 
14,  1911.  The  doctor  is  a  native  of  Ottumwa,  Iowa,  a  graduate 
of  the  high  school  of  that  city  in  the  class  of  1904.  He  gradu- 
ated from  the  College  of  Medicine,  State  University  of  Iowa, 
in  1910. 

Mr.  Hanlon  is  a  quiet,  earnest,  industrious  man,  respected 


836        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  lOAVA 

by  his  friends.  For  eleven  years  the  care  of  the  home  farm 
has  rested  upon  him,  and  he  has  performed  his  service  with 
credit,  devoting  himself  to  the  care  of  his  widowed  mother 
and  the  protection  of  his  sisters,  to  all  of  whom  he  is  greatly 
attached.  In  politics  he  is  a  democrat.  The  family  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Reformed  church  of  Lone  Tree. 

He  is  a  member  of  Abner  lodge.  No.  535,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  of 
Lone  Tree ;  also  of  the  Royal  Arch  Masons  of  West  Liberty, 
and  of  Eastern  Star,  Fern  Leaf  lodge,  No.  199,  of  Lone  Tree. 
The  entire  family  belong  to  the  last  named  lodge. 


GEORGE  R.  CRAWFORD 

The  biography  of  Andrew  Crawford,  printed  elsewhere  in 
this  volume,  contains  important  facts  with  reference  to  the 
family  of  which  George  R.  Crawford  is  a  member.  The  reader 
is  cited  thereto.  Hugh  Crawford,  the  father  of  George  R. 
Crawford,   is   a   brother   of   Andrew    Crawford.     His   wife, 


RESIDENCE  OF  GEORGE  R.   CRAWFORD 

George  R.'s  mother,  was  formerly  Miss  Louisa  Mackey,  a 
native  of  Canada.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Crawford,  on  arrival  in  the 
United  States,  proceeded  to  Johnson  county,  Iowa,  where  the 
husband  made  purchase  of  land.  He  added  to  his  holdings 
from  time  to  time,  and  at  the  date  of  his  death,  September  1, 
1907,  owned  600  acres  in  Lincoln  township.     Five  children 


HUGH  GKAWFORD 


•u 


BIOGRAPHICAL  837 

were  born  to  this  couple :  Jennie,  now  Mrs.  Harley  Idle,  living 
in  Muscatine  county;  May,  now  Mrs.  William  McCuUoug-h, 
living  in  Lincoln  township ;  Alice,  died  at  the  age  of  two  years ; 
George  R. ;  Maggie,  residing  at  home  with  her  mother.  The 
latter  owns  a  fine  residence  at  Lone  Tree. 

George  R.  Crawford  was  born  September  25,  1883,  on  the 
farm  in  Lincoln  township  where  he  now  resides.  His  business 
has  always  been  that  of  a  farmer,  and  his  activities  have  been 
confined  to  the  old  homestead.  In  May,  1907,  he  was  married 
to  Miss  Julia  Huskins,  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Richard 
Huskins,  of  Fremont  township.  Miss  Huskins  is  a  native  of 
Johnson  county,  and  has  always  resided  there.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Crawford  have  three  children,  Clair,  Charles,  and  George  R. 
The  father  is  a  stanch  republican.  His  fraternal  affiliations 
are  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  the  M.  W.  A.  of  Lone 
Tree.  Mr.  Crawford  is  one  of  the  progressive  young  men  of 
southern  Johnson  county,  and  is  highly  respected. 


FRANK  J.  PUDIL 


Among  the  residents  of  the  growing  village  of  Swisher  in 
Jefferson  township,  one  of  the  best  known  and  most  prom- 
inent is  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  The  commemorative  history 
of  Johnson  county  would  not  be  termed  complete  were  the  life 
record  of  Frank  J.  Pudil  omitted,  since  he  has  been  a  resident 
in  the  county  and  a  factor  in  its  growth  and  progress  for  many 
years.  He  has  always  maintained  an  unassailed  reputation 
in  business  circles  by  reason  of  his  straightforward  methods, 
and  in  social  life  he  exercises  those  sterling  qualities  in  man- 
hood which  awaken  the  most  kindly  and  lasting  regard. 

Frank  J.  Pudil  came  from  Bohemia  in  Europe  with  his 
parents  when  a  small  boy  and  has  grown  with  the  county  of 
which  he  has  been  a  resident  ever  since,  with  the  exception  of 
a  year  or  two  when  acquiring  his  trade. 

He  was  born  in  Bohemia  on  April  24,  1855,  his  father  being 
Wesley  Pudil  and  his  mother  before  her  marriage.  Miss  Rosie 
Bostek.  The  father,  who  was  a  stone  mason,  emigrated  to 
America  with  his  family  in  1861,  settling  the  same  year  in  Jef- 
ferson township,  where  he  divided  his  time  between  his  trade 


838        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

and  cultivating  a  farm.  Frank,  who  at  this  time  was  six  years 
of  age,  grew  up  on  the  farm  and  on  nearing  manhood  deter- 
mined to  become  a  blacksmith,  and  after  the  usual  apprentice- 
ship, opened  business  in  Shueyville  on  the  9th  of  December, 
1878,  buying  out  a  business  already  established. 

On  February  24,  1879,  Mr.  Pudil  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Mary  Chadima,  daughter  of  John  Chadima  who  also  came 
from  Bohemia  in  1856,  the  lady  having  been  born  in  Fairfax 
township,  Linn  county.  Of  this  union  there  have  been  six  chil- 
dren, five  of  whom  are  now  living :  Mary,  the  eldest,  died  when 
two  years  old;  William  H.,  located  on  his  own  homestead,  west 
of  Swisher,  is  married  and  has  two  children ;  Charles,  the  sec- 
ond son,  also  located  on  his  own  farm,  adjoining  his  brother,  is 
married  and  has  one  child ;  Libbie,  a  daughter,  is  resident  of 
Cedar  Rapids  and  wife  of  Charles  Jesina :  they  have  two  chil- 
dren; Clara,  the  youngest  daughter,  is  also  a  resident  of. Cedar 
Rapids,  her  husband  being  William  P.  Kercmer :  they  have  one 
child.  The  youngest  son,  Stephen,  is  a  clerk  in  the  Swisher 
Savings  Bank. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Pudil  remained  in  business  at  Shuey- 
ville till  the  fall  of  1898,  when  his  state  of  health  compelled  him 
to  seek  an  outdoor  life,  and  he  purchased  a  farm  west  of 
Swisher  where  he  remained  for  about  nine  years.  This  farm 
is  now  in  the  hands  of  his  two  sons.  He  then  removed  to 
Swisher  where  he  built  the  commodious  residence  where  he 
now  resides.  He  has  acquired  a  considerable  tract  of  land  ad- 
joining which  is  naturally  increasing  in  value  as  the  village 
grows. 

Mr.  Pudil  has  seen  much  experience  in  public  office.  He  was 
for  ten  years  justice  of  the  peace  and  fills  the  office  of  secretary 
of  schools  for  Jefferson  township.  He  has  been  supervisor, 
township  clerk,  school  director,  school  treasurer  and  township 
trustee.  He  is  also  a  director  in  the  American  Trust  and  Sav- 
ings Bank  of  Cedar  Rapids. 

In  politics  he  is  a  democrat,  though  not  strictly  confined  to 
party  lines. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  839 

JAMES  H.  WINDREM 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  James  H.  Windrem,  is  a  native  of 
Iowa  City  and  was  born  June  15,  1845,  son  of  WilHam  and 
Jane  Windrem  both  natives  of  Ireland.  The  father,  William 
Windrem,  was  born  1801  and  came  to  America  in  1830.  The 
voyage  across  the  ocean  was  made  in  a  sailing  vessel  and  oc- 
cupied six  weeks.  The  same  distance  now  is  covered  by  any 
of  the  ocean  greyhounds  in  less  than  that  number  of  days. 
Landing  at  Ogdensburg,  New  York,  Mr.  Windrew  commenced 
learning  the  carpenter's  trade  and  remained  there  two  years. 
He  became  very  proficient  at  his  trade  and  found  a  ready  de- 
mand for  his  work.  During  the  years  1838-39-40  he  was  em- 
ployed by  the  United  State  government,  most  of  the  time  in 
Iowa  and  Wisconsin.  In  1842  he  came  to  Iowa  City  and  was 
employed  for  some  time  to  do  carpenter  work  on  the  old  State 
Capitol  building  then  under  construction.  Afterwards  he  be- 
gan the  erection  of  Terrill's  Mill  and  for  the  material  he  cut 
the  trees,  hewed  and  framed  them,  spht  out  clapboards  and 
shingle,  all  of  which  required  the  hardest  kind  of  labor  and  for 
which  he  received  as  wages  the  sum  of  37i'2  cents  per  day. 
Considering  the  fact  that  he  was  a  first  class  mechanic,  car- 
penter, and  cabinet  maker  these  wages  must  have  been  about 
the  highest  paid.  He  continued  at  his  trade  for  several  years 
and  assisted  in  the  erection  of  many  pioneer  buildings,  all 
prior  to  1850. 

In  1851,  in  company  with  Stephen  Luce,  Thomas  Combs  and 
Jacob  Weim,  he  left  Iowa  City  with  ox  teams  to  cross  the 
plains.  The  exciting  stories  that  had  come  from  the  far  west 
and  the  "lure  of  gold"  was  attracting  many  towards  the  far- 
away Pacific  coast.  The  trail  across  the  lonely  plains  and 
over  the  mountains  was  the  scene  of  many  adventures  and  oft- 
times  of  tragedy  and  death.  -There  was  a  constant  menace 
from  the  Indians  who  roamed  the  country  and  were  bitterly 
opposing  the  encroachment  of  the  white  men  into  their  do- 
main. The  full  company  or  caravan  was  really  made  up  at 
Council  Bluffs  and  from  there  on  it  required  the  utmost  cau- 
tion and  vigilance  to  protect  the  cattle  and  provide  for  the 
safety  of  the  train.  After  six  months  of  weary  travel  and 
camping  and  hardship  the  company  finally  reached  California 


840        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

and  located  for  a  time  at  Marysville.  Mr.  Windrem  and  a  few 
others  engaged  in  gold  mining  on  the  Feather  river  and  re- 
mained there  five  years. 

In  1856  Mr.  Windrem  returned  to  Iowa  City.  This  was  the 
same  year  that  the  Rock  Island  railway  was  completed  to  that 
city. 

In  1858,  in  company  with  his  oldest  son,  Samuel,  he  started 
for  Pike's  Peak.  On  the  way  there  they  encountered  quite  a 
large  company  who  were  returning  from  that  place  and  re- 
ported very  poor  prospects  for  gold  mining  in  that  country. 
This  w^as  rather  discouraging  to  Mr.  Windrem  and  his  son 
and  they  were  about  to  turn  back  when  it  was  proposed  to  take 
a  vote,  which  resulted  in  the  entire  company  going  to  Cali- 
fornia. Here  Mr.  Windrem  located  and  followed  gold  mining 
successfully  until  1880  when  he  returned  to  Iowa  City  and  re- 
sided there  until  his  death  in  1886,  having  then  reached  the  age 
of  79  years.  The  mother,  Jane  Windrem,  died  in  Iowa  City 
in  1883. 

Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Windrem  were  consistent  members  of  the 
United  Presbyterian  church  and  highly  respected  by  all  who 
knew  them.  Their  passing  away  lessened  the  number  of  the 
few  remaining  who  were  early  pioneers  and  factors  in  paving 
the  way  for  a  greater  civilization  and  whose  memory  will  be 
preserved  by  all  the  coming  generations  of  men. 

Out  of  eight  children,  our  subject,  James  H.  Windrem,  is 
the  only  surviving  member.  He  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  Iowa  City  and  at  the  S.  U.  I.  In  1875  he  located 
at  Oxford,  Iowa,  and  for  a  time  followed  the  art  of  photo- 
graphy. Later  he  engaged  in  the  furniture  and  undertaking 
business,  which  he  successfully  followed  from  1879  to  1901 
when  he  retired  from  the  active  duties  of  commercial  life. 

In  1864  he  enlisted  for  100  days  as  a  soldier  in  the  Civil  War 
but  served  six  months  as  volunteer  in  Comapny  G,  47th  Iowa 
Infantrj^ 

In  1876  Mr.  Windrem  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  H.  Hughes. 
Her  parents  were  of  Welsh  descent  and  formerly  from  Wil- 
liamsburg, Iowa,  but  she  was  born  in  Milwaukee,  Wisconsin. 

Mr.  Windrem  has  served  as  town  councilman  and  mayor  of 
the  town  of  Oxford  and  has  always  been  counted  as  one  of  the 
progressive,  enterprising  citizens  of  the  community.     He  has 


BIOGRAPHICAL  841 

erected  three  business  places  besides  several  dwellings  in 
town,  including  a  fine  residence  on  same  lot  east  of  his  home. 
He  also  owns  farm  lands  in  Oklahoma. 

Ralph  Kepford  Luse,  a  son  of  the  Stephen  Luse  mentioned 
in  the  preceding  account  of  James  H.  Windrem,  was  born  in 
Lett  township,  Washington  county,  Iowa.  His  father,  Ste- 
phen Luse,  was  born  March  4,  1823,  in  Butler  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, and  came  to  Johnson  county  in  1851,  and  soon  after 
made  the  trip  across  the  plains  in  company  with  James  H. 
Windrem  and  Jacob  Wenn,  referred  to  in  the  preceding  sketch. 
On  his  return  from  the  coast,  twelve  years  thereafter,  he  in- 
vested in  farm  lands  in  Oxford  township.  He  married  Mary 
Ellen  Kepford,  who  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  and  came  to 
Johnson  county  in  1878.  She  was  a  daughter  of  John  Kep- 
ford, of  North  Bend  district,  east  of  North  Liberty,  and  prior 
to  her  marriage  was  a  school  teacher.  Two  children  were  born 
of  this  marriage :  Ralph  K.  and  Clara  V.,  the  latter  deceased. 
Ralph  K.  Luse  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  and  the  high 
school  of  Oxford.  He  has  come  rapidly  to  the  front  as  one  of 
the  wealthy  and  progressive  citizens  of  Oxford  township.  He 
has  large  financial  interests  in  the  Oxford  State  bank  and  the 
Eastern  Iowa  Telephone  company,  and  owns  about  seven  hun- 
dred acres  of  the  best  land  in  Iowa.  In  1905-06  he  was  mayor 
of  Oxford.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  Templar  of  Iowa 
City  and  the  Shriners  of  Davenport  Consistory.  He  married 
Mabel  Gould,  of  Washington  county,  daughter  of  George 
Gould,  now  of  Johnson  county.  They  have  two  children,  Har- 
old C.  and  Clair. 


VALENTINE  MILLER  (Deceased) 

The  late  Valentine  Miller  was  for  many  years  prominently 
identified  with  the  most  important  interests  of  Coralville, 
Iowa,  and  spent  the  larger  part  of  his  life  in  the  vicinity.  He 
was  well  known  as  a  successful  business  man  and  was  held  in 
high  esteem  and  respect  for  his  activities  in  other  lines,  being 
a  friend  to  every  movement  to  aid  in  the  general  progress  and 
welfare.  He  left  a  memory  that  is  dear  to  his  family  and  to 
the  whole  community,  and  left  an  honored  name,  of  which  his 
descendants  and  friends  may  well  be  proud.    He  came  to  John- 


842        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

son  comity  the  year  before  the  Rock  Island  railroad  was  com- 
pleted to  Iowa  City,  and  in  early  days  appreciated  the  oppor- 
tunities offered  to  men  of  ambition  and  foresight  in  the  rap- 
idly developing  region.  His  widow  still  resides  in  Coralville, 
the  scene  of  his  most  important  operations,  in  the  home  pro- 
vided by  his  loving  care,  and  associated  with  many  happy 
memories.  She  was  a  good  helpmeet  and  sympathized  in  his 
ambitions  and  successes,  being  a  woman  of  superior  intelli- 
gence and  judgment. 

Mr.  Miller  was  born  in  Bavaria,  Germany,  July  5,  1834.  He 
was  educated  in  his  native  land  and  came  to  the  United  States 
in  1855,  making  the  journey  on  a  sailing  vessel  which  was 


EESIDENCE  OF  MES.  VALENTINE  MILLER 


eighty-nine  days  on  the  way,  during  which  time  eighty-two 
of  the  passengers  died  of  cholera.  After  landing  in  New 
York  City,  Mr.  Miller  went  to  Rochester,  New  York,  and  spent 
two  months  there,  then,  with  the  tide  of  immigration  then 
moving  westward,  started  in  search  of  a  new  home,  arriving 
in  Iowa  City  in  August  1855.  His  first  employment  in  Iowa 
was  in  a  flour  mill  conducted  by  Ezekiel  Clarke  and  William 
Earkwood  with  whom  he  remained  nine  years,  in  Coralville. 
He  then  engaged  in  business  for  himself,  in  Marshalltown.  In 
1864  he  purchased  a  mill  there  from  Banker  Woodbury  and 
conducted  it  six  years.  He  sold  this  mill  in  1869,  returned  to 
CoraMlle,  and  purchased  the  mill  there,  which  was  destroyed 


BIOGRAPHICAL  843 

by  fire  four  years  later,  in  1873.  However,  being  ambitious 
and  courageous,  Mr.  Miller  was  undaunted,  and  soon  after- 
wards formed  a  co-partnersMp  with  William  Kirkwood  and 
erected  the  Coral  Mills,  now  owned  by  Stephen  Coldren,  of 
Kansas  City,  son  of  a  prominent  citizen  of  Johnson  county. 
Mr.  Miller  installed  fine  machinery  in  this  mill  and  carried  on 
business  there  until  his  death,  in  1903.  He  established  him- 
self permanently  in  Coralville,  where  he  erected  a  substantial 
brick  residence,  his  home  until  his  death,  November  8,  1903, 
and  now  the  home  of  his  widow.  He  was  well  known  in  fra- 
ternal circles,  being  a  Mason  and  an  Odd  Fellow. 

July  7,  1861,  Mr.  Miller  married  Miss  Minna  Ceischler,  a 
native  of  Saxony,  Germany,  and  member  of  an  old  and  prom- 
inent family  of  that  part  of  Germany.  Her  father,  Professor 
Ceischler,  was  a  noted  musician  and  all  the  family  were  well 
educated  and  highly  cultured,  being  well  known  in  musical 
circles.  Although  well  educated  in  her  native  language,  she 
was  unable  to  speak  English  before  leaving  her  native  coun- 
try. In  1861,  the  year  of  her  marriage,  she  came  to  the  United 
States  on  the  steamer  ''Harmonia."  Soon  after  her  marriage 
she  and  her  husband  settled  down  in  the  town  where  she  now 
resides,  which  has  been  her  home  except  for  the  six  years  they 
spent  in  Marshalltown,  since  1869.  She  has  a  half  acre  of 
land  and  has  seen  every  tree  on  the  place  planted,  grow  to  a 
size  desirable  for  beauty  and  shade,  and  flourish  in  the  place 
intended  for  it. 

The  following  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Miller : 
Ida,  a  professional  nurse ;  William,  of  the  firm  of  Miller  Broth- 
ers, dealers  (wholesale  and  retail)  in  poultry  and  eggs,  at 
Iowa  City,  married  Ollie  Lovell ;  Grace ;  Laura,  wife  of  Wil- 
liam Mosley,  of  Moline,  Illinois,  for  the  past  twenty-seven 
years  employed  as  engineer  by  the  Chicago,  Rock  Island  & 
Pacific  Railway  Company,  has. five  children  —  Edna,  Richard, 
Morton,  Myra,  and  Helen;  Minnie,  a  stenographer  formerly 
employed  at  the  S.  U.  I.,  now  with  W.  F.  Main;  Fred,  of  the 
firm  of  Miller  Brothers,  of  Iowa  City;  May,  wife  of  Dean  Os- 
borne; Miss  Amy,  at  home.  Mrs.  Miller  is  a  member  of 
the  English  Lutheran  church.  All  the  children  were  given 
good  educations  and  fitted  for  useful  men  and  women. 
They  attended  the  high  school  and  academy  at  Iowa  City, 


844        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  lOAYA 

and  their  parents,  especially  the  mother,  were  very  de- 
sirous of  their  making  the  most  of  their  opportunities  for 
education  and  culture,  Mrs.  Miller  has  seen  Iowa  City  grow 
from  a  small  town  to  a  city  of  size  and  importance,  and  owns 
some  property  there. 


ISAAC  VOORHEES  DENNIS  (Deceased) 

Isaac  Voorhees  Dennis  was  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  in 
what  is  now  Johnson  county,  Iowa,  having  come  there  when 
Iowa  was  still  a  Territory,  and  he  took  an  active  part  in  the 
development  and  progress  of  the  region  in  an  early  day.  He 
^\dtnessed  remarkable  changes  and  in  all  of  them  bore  an  hon- 
orable share,  being  the  friend  of  every  movement  he  felt  would 
benefit  his  community.  He  was  a  native  of  Clermont  county, 
Ohio,  born  November  13,  1822,  son  of  John  and  Mary  A. 
(Voorhees)  Dennis,  natives  of  Pennsylvania  and  Ohio,  re- 
spectively, the  latter  of  whom  died  in  Johnson  county  in  1890. 
The  Dennis  famih^  were  early  settlers  of  the  Buckeye  State, 
but  came  originally  from  Virginia.  John  Dennis  and  wife 
were  parents  of  two  sons  and  one  daughter :  Bryan  Dennis, 
deceased,  a  pioneer  of  Johnson  county,  a  sketch  of  whom  ap- 
pears in  this  work;  the  only  daughter  was  the  wife  of  A.  J. 
Bond,  both  deceased ;  Isaac  V. 

In  bovhood  Isaac  V.  Dennis  attended  the  countrv  schools 
of  his  native  state,  and  early  learned  the  habits  of  industry 
and  thrift,  which  he  held  throughout  his  life.  In  1839,  ac- 
companied by  his  mother,  brother  and  sister,  came  to  what  is 
now  Johnson  county,  and  eventually  located  on  the  farm  now 
occupied  by  his  venerable  mdow.  He  and  his  brother  broke  the 
first  fifty  acres  of  land  plowed  west  of  the  Iowa  River.  The 
Grovernment  had  caused  a  furrow  to  be  plowed  to  Dubuque, 
for  the  purpose  of  making  a  road,  and  this  was  known  as 
"Dillon's  Furrow,"  being  spoken  of  at  greater  length  in  the 
general  history  section  of  this  work  (Volume  one).  He  brought 
this  homestead  farm  to  a  high  state  of  development  and  be- 
came successful  in  his  operations  in  a  gratifying  degree.  He 
retired  from  farm  life  in  his  later  years,  but  continued  to  re- 
side on  the  home  place  until  his  death,  December  26,  1894.  He 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


845 


had  become  one  of  the  most  \videly  known  men  in  his  part  of 
the  county  and  was  held  in  high  respect  by  all.  He  had  been 
a  leader  in  various  enterprises,  and  first  as  a  democrat,  later 
as  a  republican,  had  been  an  influential  factor  in  public  af- 
fairs. He  served  many  years  as  trustee  and  supervisor  of 
West  Lucas  township,  formerly  known  as  Iowa  City  township. 
He  had  the  honor  of  printing  the  first  democratic  newspaper 
in  the  county,  known  as  "The  Argus,"  of  Iowa  City.  After  it 
had  had  an  existence  of  eighteen  months,  Mr.  Dennis  decided 
to  espouse  the  cause  of  the  republican  party,  and  afterwards 
was  active  in  the  councils  of  the  latter  party. 

Mr.  Dennis  is  shown  by  the  records  of  the  State  Historical 


THE  OLD  DENNIS  HOMESTEAD 


Society  to  have  paid  the  first  taxes  in  Johnson  county  —  the 
sum -of  fifteen  cents,  which  was  assessed  on  a  yoke  of  cattle 
he  purchased  to  use  in  doing  the  first  plowing  on  his  land.  The 
farm,  comprising  260  acres,  is  some  of  Iowa's  choicest  farm- 
ing land,  and  the  estate  shows-the  care  and  thought  which  have 
been  expended  in  bringing  it  to  its  present  condition. 

In  1843  Mr.  Dennis  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Eliza- 
beth Fellows,  a  native  of  the  Granite  State,  born  March  4, 
1826,  whose  early  days  were  spent  in  the  region  which  has  in- 
spired song  and  story  from  time  immemorial.  Her  home  was 
among  the  White  Mountains,  which  are  visited  by  tourists 
from  all  over  the  world.    Full  mention  of  her  family  is  given 


846        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

in  a  succeeding  portion  of  this  article.  The  following  children 
blessed  this  union :  Emma,  married  A.  W.  Davis,  and  they  have 
one  child,  Adelaide,  wife  of  Frank  Tanner,  of  Iowa  City; 
George  F.,  married  Abbie  Tidd  and  they  had  six  sons,  of 
whom  three  survive  —  Albert,  Harry  and  Fred;  Lucien  L,  was 
married  December  25,  1894,  to  Carrie  Keser;  William  D., 
married  March  29,  1899 ;  Stella  A.  Bordman,  and  one  died  in 
infancy.  Samuel  Kirkwood  (named  for  Gov.  Kirkwood),  mar- 
ried Julia  Burke,  resides  at  Oxford,  Iowa,  and  they  have  one 
daughter,  Gertrude ;  U.  S.  Grant,  on  the  home  place,  is  a  name- 
sake of  Gen.  Grant. 

The  father  of  these  children,  Isaac. V.  Dennis,  was  much 


I^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^B^^^lHi^H^^^I^^^^^^^^^^^IH^B^B^^^^^^^^^HiMB^^^H 

^^^^^^^^^^El 

"*          Ik*. 

EESIDENCE  OF  MRS.  I.  V.  DENNIS 

honored  for  the  part  he  took  in  the  Civil  War.  During  the 
struggle  he  organized  a  company",  of  which  he  became  captain, 
being  mustered  into  service  at  Iowa  City,  September  9,  1862. 
He  served  seven  months,  doing  guard  duty  in  Missouri  and 
transferring  prisoners,  but  on  account  of  sickness  was  obliged 
to  resign.  He  was  a  member  of  G.  A.  R.  Post  No.  8,  of  Iowa 
City. 

Mrs.  Dennis'  ancestry  is  traced  back  to  the  sixteenth  cen- 
tury, the  emigrant  ancestor  having  been  Samuel  Fellows,  the 
line  of  descent  through  him  and  his  son  and  later  generations 
being  as  follows:  Captain  Samuel  and  the  latter's  son 
Nathaniel,  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Dennis.     Captain  Samuel  Fel- 


BIOGRAPHICAL  847 

lows  served  in  the  Revolution  and  died  October  5,  1793.  He 
was  t^^ice  married,  his  second  wife  being  Hannah  Elizabeth 
Hatch,  who  died  September  9,  1809,  and  was  a  daughter  of 
Ichabod  and  grand-daughter  of  Joseph  and  Mary  (Webb) 
Hatch.  Captain  Fellows  and  wife  had  a  large  family  of 
children.  He  married  Mercy  Flanders,  who  was  born  March 
28,  1762,  daughter  of  Jesse  and  Ruth  (Herrick)  Flanders,  the 
latter  a  daughter  of  Josiah  Herrick,  a  Revolutionary  soldier. 
The  record  of  the  Flanders  family  here  given  is  to  be  found 
in  the  town  records  of  Boscawen,  New  Hampshire.  The  sec- 
ond son  of  this  marriage,  Nathaniel  Fellows,  born  at  Dor- 
chester, Grafton  County,  New  Hampshire,  May  1,  1796,  died 
in  Johnson  County,  Iowa,  April  23,  1863.  He  married  Eliza- 
beth (Polly) Foss,  born  in  Grafton  County,  New  Hampshire, 
May  6,  1797,  and  died  on  the  farm  of  her  daughter,  Mrs. 
Dennis,  leaving  two  daughters :  Elizabeth,  widow  of  Isaac  V. 
Dennis,  and  Judith,  Mrs.  Smith,  a  widow,  of  Buffalo  County, 
Nebraska.  Besides  these,  a  cousin  of  Mrs.  Dennis,  Olivia 
(Currier)  Chase,  was  reared  as  a  daughter  by  Mrs.  Fellows. 
Nathaniel  Fellows,  Jr.,  and  his  father  came  to  Johnson 
county,  and  the  latter  was  the  first  man  to  die  there,  being 
then  the  oldest  man  in  the  region  and  being  buried  on  the 
Fellows  homestead.  His  coffin  was  made  from  a  walnut  log 
which  his  neighbor,  a  Mr.  Brown,  cut  and  split.  A  puncheon 
box  was  made,  which  served  for  this  purpose.  This  was  neces- 
sary, as  there  was  not  a  board  to  be  found  nearer  than  Bloom- 
ington  (now  Muscatine)  or  Dubuque.  This  death  occurred  in 
the  year  of  the  family  arrival,  1838.  Nathaniel  Fellows,  Jr., 
entered  land  from  the  government,  and  upon  coming  to  the 
new  home  found  about  twenty-five  people  in  the  entire  county 
and  but  five  houses  in  the  town  of  Dubuque.  There  were 
only  two  houses  at  what  was  then  called  Bloomington.  Upon 
his  arrival  he  settled  on  Indian  land,  on  Section  6,  West  Lucas 
township.  He  first  built  a  log  house  there  and  later,  in  1843, 
settled  on  the  farm  where  he  died.  Their  log  house  was 
10x12  feet  in  size,  and  in  it  four  persons  lived  for  one  year, 
A^ith  very  little  furniture,  and  that  little  made  by  hand.  Their 
first  bread  was  made  of  buckwheat  flour  ground  in  a  coffee 
mill  and  sifted  through  muslin.  Mrs.  Dennis's  father  made  a 
trip  to  St.  Louis  for  a  coffee  mill,  which  was  the  first  in  the 


848        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

count}^,  and  settlers  came  thirty  or  forty  miles  to  have  their 
corn  ground  in  it,  remaining  over  night  and  then  returning 
with  their  meal.  Mr.  Dennis  erected  the  first  frame  house  at 
Walnut,  buying  the  lumber  and  hauhng  it  from  Muscatine, 
paying  $10  per  thousand  feet  for  it  and  selling  wheat  at  thirty- 
five  cents  per  bushel  to  pay  for  it.  Muscatine  (then  known 
as  Bloomington)  was  thirty-three  miles  distant.  This  old 
house  still  stands  upon  the  home  farm.  A  picture  of  Mrs. 
Dennis  is  included  in  the  group  of  pioneers  present  at  the 
picnic  of  the  Old  Settlers  of  Johnson  County,  in  1911,  a  view 
of  which  is  found  elsewhere  in  this  work.  This  photograph 
was  taken  by  Henry  Walker,  of  Grove  River  Junction. 

The  long  trip  overland  was  one  of  great  interest  to  the 
pioneer  immigrants,  being  made  in  a  covered  wagon  with 
oxen.  The  old  home  in  the  little  town  of  Portage,  Indiana, 
was  left  on  March  first,  and  forty  persons  started  from  South 
Bend,  May  1,  1838.  In  crossing  the  Iowa  River  the  wagon 
had  to  be  taken  apart  and  shipped  over  in  a  canoe.  An  In- 
dian was  paid  one  dollar  to  swim  over  vdih  the  oxen.  After 
locating  in  the  new  home  they  were  occupied  with  developing 
a  farm  and  beginning  life  in  a  new  country.  For  the  first  two 
years  theirs  was  the  farthest  west  of  any  home  in  Johnson 
county.  Mr.  Dennis  was  an  enterprising  and  progressive 
man  and  tried  to  introduce  various  improvements  and  modern 
ideas  in  his  community.  He  liked  to  keep  abreast  of  the 
times  in  all  things,  and  w^as  a  valuable  and  useful  citizen.  He 
did  the  first  type-setting  in  the  county,  when  he  issued  a  paper 
known  as  the  ''Iowa  City  Standard,"  which  was  Whig  in 
political  sentiment.  He  brought  the  equipment  for  printing 
to  Iowa  City,  and  the  present  "Iowa  City  Republican"  is  the 
outgrowth  of  his  paper.  Later  he  established  a  democratic 
paper. 

The  old  Fellows  homestead  was  located  on  Indian  land, 
seven  miles  outside  the  regular  line  of  settlement,  and  that 
much  over  the  boundary  of  the  Indians'  reservation.  Powe- 
shiek, the  chief,  gave  his  consent  to  the  arrangement,  after 
the  Indian  interpreter  had  discovered  the  fact,  and  they  never 
bothered  the  claim.  There  were  in  early  days  plenty  of  game, 
wild  deer,  elk,  turkeys,  and  clouds  of  prairie  chickens.  Below 
is  described  the  first  frame  house  in  the  county,  which  is  still 


BIOGRAPHICAL  849 

standing,  size  16x32  feet,  with  two  rooms.  It  was  erected  of 
hewed  oak  cut  down  on  the  farm,  the  siding  being  made  of 
walnut,  and  the  door  two  inches  in  thickness.  It  was  paneled 
with  bass  w^ood  and  the  shingles  were  of  black  walnut.  The 
floor  was  made  of  oak  planks  eight  inches  wide,  and  the  joists 
under  the  floor  were  oak  logs,  with  the  bark  on  the  under  side. 
The  Fellows  cabin  was  about  16x20  feet,  made  of  round  logs 
covered  with  bark  for  the  first  season,  then  clapboarded.  Mrs. 
Dennis  remembers  that  during  the  first  summer  the  window 
was  covered  with  white  paper,  which  allowed  the  light  to  come 
through.  The  puncheon  door  was  hung  with  wooden  hinges, 
and  the  hospitable  latch-string  was  always  hung  outside,  the 
weary  traveler  (be  he  red  or  white)  being  always  welcome  to  en- 
ter. After  the  white  settlers  became  more  plentiful,  they  were 
frequent  visitors,  and  upon  their  arrival  in  the  region,  were  con- 
tent to  have  an  opportunity  to  sleep  on  the  floor  of  the  little 
cabin.  If  an  Indian  stopped  and  made  a  call  on  them,  Mrs. 
Dennis  w^as  able  to  speak  the  language,  and  remembers  that 
race  as  being  always  friendly  to  her  family.  Smoke  could  be 
seen  from  the  Dennis  stick-and-clay  chimney,  which  was  built 
by  her  father.  Their  first  light  was  obtained  from  bees-wax 
which  her  mother  prepared.  After  beef  was  killed  at  the 
trading  house,  Mr.  Fellows  would  bring  home  ten  pounds  of 
tallow,  and  their  first  candles  were  made  in  the  old-fashioned 
method  of  ''dipping,"  as  molds  were  not  then  known.  They 
owned  a  sperm  oil  lamp,  but  had  no  oil.  Their  cooking  was 
at  first  primitive,  but  they  were  always  able  to  bake,  as  they 
had  brought  from  the  east  the  primitive  iron  and  reflector,  so 
that  they  could  bake  corn  cake. 

Mr.  Fellows  had  to  go  to  Muscatine  with  his  produce,  fac- 
ing Indians  and  fires  on  the  way,  and  upon  his  arrival  was 
obliged  to  take  his  pay  in  exchange.  One  evening  after  he  had 
just  started  on  one  of  these  trips,  two  men  came  along  the 
Indian  trail,  stopped  at  their  cabin  and  asked  to  be  sheltered 
over  night,  and  being  hungry.  Mrs.  Dennis  saw  these  men 
coming  and  talked  the  matter  over  with  her  mother,  for  as 
they  had  only  one  small  corn  cake  and  a  little  milk  in  the  house, 
they  dreaded  to  have  visitors.  However,  they  were  given 
such  hospitality  as  the  house  afforded,  and  in  the  morning 
gave  their  names  as  Eli  Myers  and  Henry  Felkner,  early  pio- 


850        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

neers.    This  was  considered  a  joke  on  the  Fellows  family.   On 
another  eventful  night,  a  cold  one  in  January,  1839,  when  a 
storm  was  raging  outside,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fellows  were  roused 
about  midnight  by  a  noise  around  the  cabin,  and  he  dressed 
hurriedly.    A  knock  came,  and  upon  his  asking  who  was  there, 
the  answer  came,  ''Pow^eshiek's  son."     Mr.  Fellows  had  his 
stick  in  hand,  prepared  for  any  emergency,  and  upon  finally 
deciding  to  open  the  door,  was  surprised  to  see  an  Indian 
standing  there,  with  a  gun  in  his  hand  and  blankets  almost 
frozen  to  him.    He  begged  to  come  in  and  was  admitted,  and 
one  by  one  his  companions  showed  up  and  were  admitted,  un- 
til there  were  twelve  altogether,  each  with  a  gun  and  nearly 
frozen.     As  each  one  passed  through  the  door  he  handed  in 
his  gun  and  took  his  blanket  off  and  hung  it  up  to  dry.     A 
bright  fire  was  made,  and  when  Mrs.  Dennis  came  in  and 
learned  their  story,  she  suggested  to  her  father  that  he  take 
up  a  plank  in  the  floor  and  get  some  potatoes,  as  the  most  sub- 
stantial food  he  could  offer  his  guests.    A  half -bushel  of  those 
vegetables  was  taken  up  and  put  in  the  ashes  to  roast,  and  the 
Indians  were  so  hungry  they  could  scarcely  wait  for  them  to 
be  ready  to  eat.     Mr.  Fellows  then  told  them  to  help  them- 
selves, and  great  was  their  enjoyment  of  the  feast.     While 
their  blankets  were  drying  the  family  asked  them  questions 
and  learned  that  they  were  twelve  Indian  braves  who  had  been 
hunting  big  game,  and  at  Old  Man's  Creek  had  got  lost  in  the 
storm,  so  that  if  they  had  not  been  sheltered  it  was  probable 
all  would  have  perished  in  the  snow.    After  they  had  finished, 
Mr.  Fellows  spread  a  buffalo  robe  on  the  floor,  and  the  twelve 
stretched  out  on  it  and  slept  until  daylight,  when  they  thanked 
their  benefactors  and  departed,  w^ith  their  arms.     Sometime 
later  Chief  Poweshiek  told  Mr.  Fellows  he  would  come  some 
day  and  show^  the  family  how  many  braves  he  had,  and  they 
arrived  one  day,  one  hundred  strong,  all  mounted.    W^ith  their 
shining  weapons  and  feathers,  they  looked  very  gay.     They 
halted  in  front  of  the  Fellows  cabin,  and  the  chief  passed  the 
pipe  to  the  old  pioneer,  then  passed  it  out  among  the  braves, 
and  afterwards  they  rode  away  —  a  gallant  sight. 

On  this  farm  Mr.  Fellows  made  his  own  tools,  plowed  with 
oxen,  and  later  used  the  sickle,  cradle,  and  other  primitive 
equipment  for  harvesting  his  grain.     He  raised  the  first  flax 


BIOGRAPHICAL  851 

and  the  first  of  it  spun  and  woven  into  linen,  in  the  county, 
was  done  at  their  home,  by  Mrs.  Fellows,  the  machines  being 
manufactured  at  North  Liberty.  On  their  farm  is  a  sycamore 
tree  which  has  for  years  been  used  as  a  smoke  house.  It 
is  ten  feet  high  and  four  feet  across.  The  farm  is  known  for 
miles  around  as  the  ''Old  Hunting  Ground."  Mrs.  Fellows 
spun  and  wove,  and  Mrs.  Dennis  remembers  when  she  wore 
the  linsey  dresses  and  her  brothers  the  jeans  of  her  mother's 
w^eaving.  In  childhood  she  lived  in  the  days  of  the  bow  and 
arrow,  the  old  flint-lock  musket  and  the  spining  wheel,  but  in 
her  later  years  has  enjoyed  modern  inventions,  and  in  the 
summer  of  1911  rode  to  the  Old  Settlers'  picnic,  above  men- 
tioned, in  an  automobile.  She  was  one  of  seven  girls  who  at- 
tended the  Rufus  Choate  school-house,  a  log  building  with 
primitive  furnishings,  others  being  Angeline  Moore  and  the 
eldest  daughter  of  Squire  Henry  Walker.  Her  advantages 
were  limited,  but  she  made  the  most  of  them.  During  the  war 
she  was  a  useful  member  of  the  Ladies '  Aid  Society.  In  sharp 
contrast  to  the  crude  methods  followed  in  her  early  life,  let  us 
consider  the  modern  farmer,  he  of  the  twentieth  centur}^  who 
rides  the  plow,  uses  all  the  latest  improved  machinery  in  his 
subsequent  operations,  including  the  corn  planter  and  the 
threshing  machine  which  is  run  by  motor  power. 

The  entrance  to  Evergreen  Farm,  located  about  one-quar- 
ter mile  from  the  main  road,  is  beautifully  shaded  by  ever- 
green trees,  and  is  one  of  the  landmarks  of  the  region.  At  the 
end  of  this  handsome  driveway,  the  visitor's  first  point  of  in- 
terest is  the  old  cabin,  the  first  of  its  kind  in  the  county.  On 
the  right  of  this  is  the  farm  house,  with  its  modern  conven- 
iences and  comforts.  Mrs.  Dennis'  son  has  a  fine  collection 
of  shells,  minerals  and  Indian  curios,  enough  for  a  small 
museum  in  themselves,  and  well  cared  for.  Mrs.  Dennis  her- 
self has  a  collection  of  photographs  of  old  pioneers,  including 
one  of  Phil  Clark,  the  founder  of  the  first  home  in  the  county. 
She  is  a  woman  of  remarkable  intellect,  and  her  stories  of 
early  days  are  full  of  vitality  and  interest,  bringing  scenes  of 
those  times  vividly  to  the  mind  of  the  listener.  It  is  given  to 
but  few  to  have  the  privilege  of  living  from  the  time  of  the 
tomahawk,  bow  and  arrow,  and  spinning  w^ieel,  to  the  time  of 
the  automobile  and  electric  cars,  and  to  take  an  active  part  in 


852        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

the  life  about  them  during  the  time  of  this  gradual  change. 
She  has  witnessed  the  transformation  of  the  trackless  prairie 
and  woodland  to  a  prosperous  farming  community  —  from  the 
scene  of  the  Indian  cabin  and  hunting  ground  to  the  home  of 
villages  and  cities,  with  electricity  and  factories,  and  with  rail- 
roads replacing  the  oxen  trails.  The  story  of  such  a  life  rivals 
that  of  any  tale  of  fiction  in  its  living  interest.  The  priva- 
tions endured  in  pioneer  homes,  without  murmuring,  with 
happiness  and  content  prevailing,  should  be  a  lesson  and  an 
inspiration  to  the  present  generation.  Throughout  these  pio- 
neer days  the  social  occasions  were  rex^resented  by  spelling 
bees,  cabin  raisings,  corn  huskings  and  like  gatherings. 


JOSEPH  KIMBALL  HEMPHILL   (Deceased) 

The  late  Joseph  Kimball  Hemphill  w^as  a  typical  pioneer  of 
Johnson  county,  one  of  that  noble  band  who  so  ably  prepared 
the  way  for  future  generations  and  the  development  of  the 
region.  His  journey  from  his  birthplace  to  the  unsettled 
country  in  the  Hawkeye  state  was  an  interesting  chapter  in 
his  useful  and  eventful  life.  He  was  born  in  Oneida  county, 
New  York,  November  16,  1823,  a  son  of  Robert  and  Lucy 
(Kimball)  Hemphill.  He  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  educated 
in  the  public  schools  and  as  a  young  man  accompanied  a 
friend,  William  L.  Clarke,  west  to  Iowa,  where  they  hoped  to 
make  a  start  in  life  that  would  result  in  their  financial  success. 
They  came  down  the  Allegheny  river  in  a  skiff,  and  at  Pitts- 
burg took  passage  on  a  steamer  dow^n  the  Ohio  to  Cairo,  Il- 
linois, thence  up  the  Mississippi  to  St.  Louis,  and  from  that 
city  took  another  steamer  up  to  Bloomington,  now  Muscatine, 
Iowa.  They  w^alked  from  there  to  Iowa  City,  a  distance  of 
some  thirty  miles,  arriving  at  their  final  destination,  July  12, 
1845.  William  L.  Clarke  was  an  early  school  teacher  of  the 
region  and  was  the  first  teacher  under  whom  Mrs.  Hemphill 
studied. 

For  five  years  after  reaching  Johnson  county,  Mr. 
Hemphill  worked  by  the  day  and  month,  and  in  1850  he 
crossed  the  plains  to  California.  He  left  there  and  went  by 
way  of  the  Niconto,  crossing  Central  America  and  thence  bj^ 


BIOGRAPHICAL  853 

steamer,  to  New  York,  visited  liis  parents  and  the  old  home, 
and  then  returned  to  Jolmson  county.  He  purchased  eighty 
acres  of  land  on  Section  31,  Penn  township,  and  later  added 
to  his  holdings.  He  became  the  owner  of  a  160  acres  of  land 
which  is  now  the -property  of  Dr.  A.  J.  Burge,  a  surgeon  on 
the  S.  U.  hospital  staff  at  Iowa  City.  The  Hemphill  school- 
house  is  located  on  the  corner  of  this  farm.  Mr,  Hemphill 
immediately  set  about  making  improvements  on  the  place,  and 
occupied  the  same  from  Christmas,  1893,  until  May  1,  1894. 
In  1875  he  purchased  a  farm  in  Section  6,  West  Lucas  town- 
ship, where  his  widow  now  resides.  He  continued  to  improve 
and  develop  this  place  until  his  death,  January  23,  1904.    His 


KESIDENCE  OF  MES.  MARY  E.  HEMPHILL 

death  was  deeply  deplored  by  the  whole  community,  who 
mourned  him  as  a  kind  friend  and  neighbor,  and  as  a  public- 
spirited  and  useful  citizen.  He  was  well  informed  on  general 
subjects  and  kept  abreast  of  the  times  on  the  events  and  issues 
of  the  day. 

Mr.  Hemphill's  marriage  occurred  on  August  14,  1853, 
when  he  was  united  with  Miss  Mary  E.  Ward,  born  at  North 
Henderson,  Illinois,  in  1837.  Her  parents  are  given  extensive 
mention  in  a  succeeding  portion  of  this  sketch.  She  was  edu- 
cated in  Johnson  county,  her  first  teacher  being  Mr.  Clarke, 
as  above  mentioned.  She  was  well  educated,  making  the  most 
of  her  opportunities  in  this  direction,  and  is  a  woman  of  re- 


854        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

markable  memory,  whose  account  of  early  days  is  both  in- 
teresting and  instructive.  Their  first  meal  was  eaten  in  the 
hewed  log  house,  after  w^hich  they  went  to  the  home  of  the 
hospitable  friends,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  I.  V.  Dennis,  where  a  pleas- 
ant party  was  given  to  the  newly-wedded  pair.  Mrs.  Dennis, 
a  venerable  and  highly  esteemed  pioneer,  has  been  a  close 
friend  of  Mrs.  Hemphill  from  that  time  to  the  present. 

Seven  children  were  born  to  Mr.  Hemphill  and  wife,  namely : 
Lucy  J.,  wife  of  J.  S.  Dean,  of  Toledo,  Iowa;  Frank  H.,  is 
unmarried  and  operates  the  home  farm;  Effie  M.,  wife  of  M. 
W.  Scales,  lives  on  the  w^est  side  in  Iowa  City;  Addie  M.,  at 
home ;  J.  B.,  a  farmer  of  Penn  township,  married  Miss  Mej''- 
ers,  whose  father,  Isaac  Meyers,  is  given  a  sketch  in  this 
work;  Archie  W.,  an  employe  of  the  Postal  Telegraph  Cable 
Company,  married  Millie  Paintin,  and  they  have  one  son, 
Robert  Kimball,  and  one  daughter,  Mary  Elizabeth;  Ray 
Clymer,  at  home. 

Mrs.  Hemphill  has  lived  through  a  wonderful  period  of 
growth  in  the  region  where  she  has  made  her  home  from  early 
childhood.  It  has  been  transformed  from  an  unbroken  wilder- 
ness to  a  region  of  pleasant  farm  homes,  and  cities  and  vil- 
lages have  sprung  up  where  the  Indians  were  camped  in  her 
early  days  there.  She  was  but  four  years  of  age  when  her 
parents  made  the  move  to  the  new  country,  and  she  well  re- 
members when  the  Indians  held  a  dance  near  the  old  Walter 
Butler  Hotel  in  Iowa  City.  She  is  proud  of  the  part  taken 
by  her  husband  and  also  by  her  parents  in  the  development 
of  eastern  Iowa,  and  has  herself  taken  an  honorable  part  in 
this  regard.  At  the  time  of  her  husband's  death  he  owned  a 
half-section  of  land,  which  he  had  made  very  valuable.  He 
was  prominent  as  a  member  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  his 
township,  also  served  frequently  on  the  school  board.  He 
cast  his  first  presidential  vote  for  John  C.  Fremont  and  was 
always  a  loj^al  republican  after  the  inception  of  the  party.  A 
part  of  this  farm  now  occupied  by  his  widow  was  formerly 
owned  by  his  brother,  Harry  Hemphill,  who  sold  it  and  moved 
to  Denver,  Colorado,  wdiere  he  died  March  20, 1906  (two  years 
after  his  brother  Joseph  K.),  having  been  born  in  1836.  An- 
other brother,  George  Hemphill,  lives  on  the  old  homestead  in 


BIOGRAPHICAL  855 

New  York,  and  liis  sister  Addie,  who  married  Mr.  Newman, 
now  deceased,  lives  at  Hornell,  N.  Y. 

The  first  house  erected  by  Mr.  Hemphill  was  most  primitive. 
He  hauled  pine  lumber  from  Muscatine,  for  sidings,  casings, 
windows  and  doors,  and  the  main  part  of  the  structure  was 
16x24. 

The  ancestors  of  Mrs.  Hemphill  have  been  in  America  for 
five  or  six  generations.  Nathan  Ward  was  a  son  of  a  sea 
captain,  who  lived  in  London,  and  was  descended  from  a  long 
line  of  seafaring  men.  He  came  to  America  and  returned  to 
London,  England.  Upon  his  return,  he  joined  the  forces  of 
General  Washington,  and  was  a  member  of  the  band  that  be- 
came famous  for  their  memorable  trip  across  the  Delaware 
river.  His  son  Cyril,  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Hemphill,  married 
Irene  Knott,  and  their  children  were  as  follows :  Franklin, 
Chauncey,  Cyril,  Mary  and  Harriet.  Of  the  preceding, 
Chauncey  married  Martha  T.  Clymer,  and  they  were  the 
parents  of  Mrs.  Hemphill.  His  parents  moved  to  Ohio  in 
1814,  and  are  buried  near  Chillicothe,  having  been  early  pi- 
oneers there. 

Chauncey  Ward  was  the  second  child  of  his  parents,  and 
was  born  in  Oneida  county,  New  York  (or  Steuben!),  and 
received  but  a  limited  education.  He  was  nine  years  old 
when  the  family  made  the  removal  to  Ohio,  and  as  a  youth 
learned  the  trade  of  millwright,  in  which  he  became  an  expert. 
This  was  the  father's  trade  also,  and  all  the  sons  were  skilled 
mechanics.  In  1827  Chauncey  Ward  w^as  married,  in  Chilli- 
cothe, and  nine  years  later  brought  his  wife  to  Henderson 
county,  Illinois.  He  became  a  contractor  in  the  line  of  build- 
ing mills,  and  in  this  connection  hired  some  twenty  men  to 
work  under  him.  His  first  building  of  the  kind  was  the  An- 
drew Jack  mill  at  North  Henderson,  and  it  was  at  this  vil- 
lage that  his  daughter,  Mary  E.,  first  saw  the  light.  The  next 
mill  he  put  up  was  for  his  brother  Cyril,  being  a  grist  mill 
at  South  Henderson,  which  he  subsequently  owned  himself. 
Prior  to  1839,  on  a  trip  up  the  Mississippi  from  St.  Louis, 
their  boat  was  frozen  in  the  ice.  He  went  up  the  river  to 
what  was  then  a  part  of  Wisconsin  Territory,  now  Johnson 
county,  Iowa.  He  took  a  claim  on  Old  Man's  creek  prior  to 
1839,  and  in  that  year,  with  his  wife  and  six  children,  left  for 


856        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

the  new  home,  with  ox  teams.  He  crossed  the  river  at  Bur- 
hngton,  and  after  reaching  his  claim,  sickness  overtook  the 
family,  the  mother  becoming  seriously  ill.  Mr.  Ward  erected 
a  log  cabin  14x16  feet,  of  round  logs,  with  only  one  room. 
The  chimnev  was  a  rude  one  of  sticks  and  clay.  There  the 
mother  lay  seriously  ill  for  six  weeks.  Fortunately,  their  old 
family  physician  while  they  lived  in  Henderson  county,  Dr. 
Russell,  was  visiting  in  the  neighborhood,  and  upon  first  see- 
ing smoke  from  the  Ward  chimney,  remarked  that  there  must 
be  some  more  new  neighbors  arriving,  and  came  to  the  new 
home,  and  prescribed  for  Mrs.  Hemphill.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hemp- 
hill were  both  very  much  pleased,  indeed,  to  see  the  kindly 
and  familiar  face  of  Dr.  Russell. 

After  the  family  had  removed  to  Iowa  City,  in  1841,  Mr. 
Ward  built  a  saw  mill  on  Rapid  Creek.  The  first  house  the 
family  lived  in  at  Iowa  City  stood  south  of  the  present  site  of 
St.  Patrick's  Catholic  church,  and  in  this  pioneer  home  Mrs. 
Ward  gave  birth  to  twins,  in  1842,  Jennie  and  Gertie. 
The  oldest  son  in  the  family,  George,  lives  at  Montour,  Iowa. 
Gertie  Ward  married  Attorney  George  Channing  Sonugeour, 
native  of  Arbroth,  Scotland,  resides  at  Belle  Plaine,  Iowa. 
Jennie  W.  is  widow  of  William  W.  Brown,  of  Carlyle,  Eng- 
land, resides  at  Monticello,  Iowa.  An  interesting  fact  is  that 
the  great-great-grandmother  of  this  family,  whose  maiden 
name  was  Ruth  Hawthorne,  died  a  centennarian,  in  1863,  at 
Henniker,  New  Hampshire. 

In  1845  Chauncey  Ward  started  to  build  Nathaniel  Mc- 
Clure's  gristmill,  but  on  account  of  rheumatism  was  obliged 
to  abandon  the  work  until  1846,  when  he  resumed  it  and  com- 
pleted the  structure.  His  youngest  daughter,  Emeline 
Thressa,  died  at  English  River,  while  he  was  working  in  that 
region.  In  December,  1845,  he  installed  the  first  smut  machine 
for  the  company  mill  at  Coralville.  During  that  year  he  had 
moved  with  his  family  to  what  is  now  known  as  the  Cost 
place,  and  remained  there  until  the  spring  of  1846,  when  he 
removed  to  North  Bend.  In  1849  he  came  to  Coralville  and 
while  there  made  most  of  the  improvements  in  the  equipment 
of  the  Ezekiel  Clark  mill.  In  1850  he  removed  to  the  other 
side  of  the  creek  and  was  living  there-  in  the  flats  in  the  same 
year,  the  time  of  the  great  flood,  which  overtook  them  in  their 


BIOGRAPHICAL  857 

home,  as  so  vhddly  described  to  our  representative  by  Mrs. 
Hemphill.  They  stepped  from  the  second  story  window  of 
their  home  into  a  canoe,  and  although  all  escaped  with  their 
lives,  the  loss  of  their  property  was  complete.  A  somewhat 
detailed  description  of  this  flood  appears  in  Volume  One  of 
this  work.  This  was  the  first  time  Mr.  Ward  had  ever  built 
on  such  low  ground,  and  it  was  a  bitter  lesson  to  him.  Dur- 
ing the  season  of  high  water,  he  erected  a  hewed  log  house  on 
the  farm  in  Section  31,  Penn  township,  with  the  assistance 
of  his  son,  and  this  was  the  home  until  1854.  They  then  moved 
to  Tama  county  and  there  he  built  the  Christian  Bruner  mill. 
Some  years  later  he  returned  to  Johnson  county  for  one  year, 
then  went  to  Belle  Plaine,  and  there  passed  his  declining 
years,  with  his  youngest  daughter,  and  died  in  May,  1885.  His 
wife,  who  was  a  native  of  Berkley  county,  Virginia,  died  Au- 
gust 19,  1877. 

Mr. Ward  was  one  of  the  most  noted  millwrights  of  his  day 
in  Iowa,  and  erected  structures  for  millers  all  over  the  state. 
He  was  active  in  many  other  lines  as  well.  He  was  the  very 
first  of  the  class-leaders  of  the  Methodist  church,  being  well 
known  for  his  piety  and  high  character.  The  family  was  well 
regarded  wherever  they  lived  and  representative  of  the  high- 
est interests  of  their  community.  George  B.  Ward  of  Mon- 
tour, Iowa,  is  a  son  of  George  T.  Ward,  of  Des  Moines,  Iowa. 


JOHN  NORWOOD  CLARK 

Perhaps  no  man  in  his  day  entered  more  largely  into  the  gen- 
eral life  of  Iowa  City  than  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  and  cer- 
tainly no  couple  were  ever  more  highly  esteemed  and  honored 
in  the  University  City  by  multitudes  of  affectionate  friends 
than  John  Norwood  Clark  and  Jane  Sturtevant,  his  marital 
companion  for  upwards  of  half  a  century.  In  the  unpublished 
lexicon  of  personality  a  man's  friends  are  defined  as  the  un- 
conscious affinities  of  his  soul,  drawn  to  him  and  bound  to  him 
by  the  invisible  but  substantial  threads  of  congeniality,  the 
strength  of  which  is  increased  by  the  companionships  of  the 
years.     Surely,  if  the  number  and  character  of  a  man's  friends 


858        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

are  the  index  of  his  being,  then  John  Norwood  Clark  is  entitled 
to  registration  in  the  University  of  Immortal  Good  Fellows 
as  an  Alumnus  in  Perpetuity.  The  data  of  Mr.  Clark's  life's 
orbit  and  that  of  his  cultured  companion  make  the  task  of  the 
biographer  a  pleasure. 

The  crowning  event  in  the  career  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clark  in 
Iowa  City,  undoubtedly,  was  their  ''Golden  Wedding  Recep- 
tion," held  at  their  residence,  320  Linn  street,  Wednesday 
evening,  July  28,  1886.  A  few  extracts  from  the  comprehen- 
sive account  given  by  the  historian  of  the  occasion,  will  serve 
to  illustrate  the  brilliant  character  of  the  event : 

''As  the  day  approached,  the  many  acceptances  received  in- 
dicated that  the  gathering  would  be  a  large  and  brilliant  one. 
It  had  been  the  intention  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clark  to  have,  in  con- 
nection with  the  social  features  of  the  evening,  a  simple  devo- 
tional service,  and  remarks  from  their  friend  and  former  pas- 
tor, Rev.  0.  Clute,  of  the  Unitarian  church.  It  seemed  to  Mr. 
Clute  hardly  right  not  to  include,  in  the  public  utterance  of 
congratulation,  representatives  of  those  honored  bodies  with 
which  our  venerable  friends  had  been  for  so  many  years  closely 
identified,  so  he  sought  and  obtained  consent  to  arrange  such  a 
program  as  the  friends  in  general  desired.  The  result,  as  is 
shown  by  the  record,  was  a  brilliant  musical  and  intellectual 
feast,  coupled  with  such  hearty  words  of  friendship  and  appre- 
ciation from  many  different  quarters,  as  were  a  grateful  sur- 
prise to  the  aged  and  modest  couple  on  whom  they  were  show- 
ered. 

"The  cards  of  invitation  contained  the  command  'no  pres- 
ents,' an  injunction  against  which  there  were  from  the  first 
strong  protests.  The  friends  in  general  finally  agreed  among 
themselves  that  they  w^ould  individually  obey,  and  collectively 
disobey.  They  desired  to  give  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clark  a  few 
gifts,  in  themselves  beautiful  and  ser\T.ceable,  that  might  al- 
ways be  souvenirs  of  friendship  and  affection.  The  citizens  in 
general  chose  a  gold-lined  tea  service ;  the  Knights  of  Pythias 
a  beautiful  watch  charm  containing  symbols  of  the  order ;  the 
Sir  Knights  of  Palestine  Commandery  a  gold-headed  cane ;  and 
friends  in  the  church  a  coffee  urn.  These,  suitably  inscribed, 
were  presented  at  the  appropriate  moment.  .  .  The  Odd 
Fellows  gave  no  gift  as  an  order,  but  the  individual  members 


BIOGRAPHICAL  859 

of  the  order  were  represented  among  the  Knights  of  Pythias, 
the  Masons,  the  citizens,  and  members  of  the  church.  Some  of 
the  friends  not  hving  in  Iowa  City,  and  hence  not  in  fear  of  the 
direct  consequences  of  disobedience,  sent  souvenirs  by  express 
or  mail. 

''The  labor  and  responsibility  of  the  home  arrangements 
came  largely  upon  Mrs.  Amanda  Webb,  the  only  surviving 
child  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clark,  upon  her  daughter,  Miss  Ada,  and 
upon  Mrs.  Lou  Benjamin,  of  West  Liberty,  a  friend  of  Mrs. 
Webb.  To  their  assistance  came  not  a  few  volunteers,  whose 
skif ul  fingers  and  good  taste  were  everywhere  displayed.  Tents 
were  disposed  on  the  lawn,  and  attractively  trimmed  with 
flowers  and  evergreens.  The  walk  to  the  front  door  was 
arched  with  flowers  and  evergreens,  and  the  piazza  was  gaily 
festooned.  A  large  platform  was  built  at  the  north  side  of  the 
house  to  serve  as  a  place  of  gathering  for  the  literary  part  of 
the  exercises,  and  for  dancing.  The  further  end  of  this  plat- 
form was  surmounted  with  the  legend,  '1836.  Clark-Sturte- 
vant.  1886. '  Multitudes  of  Chinese  lanterns  of  many  designs 
hung  everjovhere  from  piazza,  platform,  trees,  and  from  wires 
suspended  along  the  walks.  Within  the  house  the  rooms  were 
tastefully  adorned. 

"Soon  after  the  appointed  hour  the  guests  began  to  arrive. 
They  came  in  a  steady  current  until  house  and  lawn  were  full. 
At  nine  o  'clock,  the  hour  which  had  been  set  for  the  devotional 
and  literary  exercises,  it  was  thought  that  no  less  than  four 
hundred  were  present.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clark  received  their 
friends  in  the  front  parlor,  standing  beneath  a  large  floral  bell. 
They  were  assisted  by  their  daughter,  Mrs.  Webb,  their  grand- 
daughter, Miss  Ada  Webb,  by  Mrs.  W.  B.  Erskine,  of  Louis- 
ville, Kentucky,  a  sister  of  Mr.  Clark,  Mr.  Frank  Erskine,  a 
nephew,  Mrs.  Benjamin,  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.  H.  Pank,  of  Chi- 
cago. 

' '  Refreshments  were  served  in  tents  and  from  tables  suitably 
disposed  on  the  lawn.  From  early  in  the  evening  these  tables 
were  surrounded  by  a  constantly  changing  crowd,  and  were  the 
scene  of  hearty  greetings  among  friends  who  had  not  met  for 
many  months,  it  may  be  for  many  years. 

"At  nine  o'clock  the  crowd  collected  on  and  around  the  large 
platform.     Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clark  were  escorted  to  seats  at  the 


860        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

west  end.  A  table  and  chair  for  the  minister  were  near  by. 
Pisha's  excellent  band  was  called  on  for  a  suitable  selection  of 
mnsic.  Mr.  Clute  read  appropriate  selections  from  the  Bible, 
and  offered  a  prayer  of  thanksgiving  and  joy.  Mrs.  Mary  M, 
Clnte  rendered  with  touching  effect  a  piano  solo,  '  Nearer,  My 
God,  to  Thee, '  arranged  by  Ryder. ' ' 

Addresses,  interspersed  with  songs,  some  of  them  written 
for  the  occasion  and  set  to  popular  music,  followed.  We  give 
the  leading  sentiments  from  some  of  the  principal  addresses : 

Rev.  0.  Clute  said :  ''Our  meeting  tonight  is  a  testimony  of 
our  high  appreciation  of  our  beloved  friends,  who  fifty  years 
ago  established  a  home,  and  through  comparative  poverty  at 
first,  through  changes,  misfortunes,  sorrows,  pleasures,  pros- 
perity and  joy,  have  been  loyal  to  each  other  and  loyal  to  the 
home.  That  home  has  been  the  abode  of  purity  never  sullied, 
of  temperance,  of  industry,  of  frugality,  of  hospitality,  of  a 
genuine  religion  having  its  roots  deep  in  the  faith  in  Infinite 
Goodness,  and  in  the  divine  possibilities  which  that  goodness 
has  opened  before  every  soul." 

Dr.  A.  C.  Cowperthwaite,  on  behalf  of  the  Independent  Or- 
der of  Odd  Fellows,  said :  ' '  I  extend  to  you  tonight  not  only 
the  congratulations  of  the  Odd  Fellows  and  their  Rebekahs  in 
Eureka  lodge,  and  in  Iowa  City,  and  in  the  state  of  Iowa,  but  I 
have  also  the  especial  honor  of  conveying  to  you  the  congrat- 
ulations and  good  wishes  of  your  distinguished  associates,  the 
members  of  the  Sovereign  Grand  lodge,  Avith  which  you  have 
been  so  long  identified.  These  brothers,  representing  every 
state  in  our  Union,  join  with  us  in  extending  their  most  hearty 
congatulations. ' ' 

Mrs.  J.  E.  Matthews,  Most  Worthy  Grand  Matron  of  the  Gen- 
eral Grand  Chapter  of  the  Order  of  the  Eastern  Star,  of  Rock- 
ford,  Iowa,  having  been  detained  by  the  illness  of  a  son,  sent  a 
letter,  which  was  read.  Among  other  beautiful  sentiments  were 
the  follomng:  ''Today  no  brother  or  sister  of  the  order  has 
garnered  more  golden  sheaves  of  love  and  good  mil  than 
you.  .  .  I  extend  to  you  my  hearty  congratulation  and  sis- 
terly greeting.  May  you  be  permitted  to  journey  on,  if  it 
please  the  Heavenly  Grand  Patron,  until  the  milestone  is 
reached  which  marks  the  diamond  hour  of  your  wedded  life. ' ' 

Hon.  Moses  Bloom,  of  Iowa  City,  in  behalf  of  the  citizens. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  861 

said :  ''In  this  age  of  divorce  and  premature  death,  this  good 
family  are  living  patterns  of  the  possibilities  of  the  bliss  and 
felicity  obtainable  by  those  who  seek  for  the  virtues  of  life,  and 
the  best  traits  in  the  human  character.  .  .  On  behalf  of 
many  citizens,  friends  and  neighbors,  I  have  expressed  senti- 
ments in  which  all  gladly  join.  We  congratulate  you  sin- 
cerely." Senator  Bloom  then  presented  the  tea  service  above 
mentioned. 

On  behalf  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  in  presenting  a  frater- 
nal watch  charm,  Dr.  E.  F.  Clapp,  among  many  witty  and 
unique  sentiments,  said:  "And  the  boys  desired  me  to  offer 
you  this  little  trinket  of  gold  as  a  token  of  their  regards,  and  to 
wish  both  you  and  Jane  many  happy  years,  and  to  further  say 
that  we  all  expect  to  be  invited  to  your  diamond  wedding,  at 
which  time  we  will  place  in  the  center  of  this  charm  a  diamond 
as  large  and  as  pure  as  the  heart  of  her  who  has  walked  loving- 
ly by  your  side  all  these  fifty  years. ' ' 

Hon.  J.  C.  Schrader,  for  the  Masonic  fraternity,  said:  "A 
very  pleasant  duty  has  been  assigned  me  on  this  happy  occa- 
sion, of  extending  to  you  the  earnest,  heartfelt  congratulations 
of  the  Masonic  fraternity.  Brother  Clark,  for  thirty-two  years 
you  have  been  identified  with,  and  a  patron  of  Masonry  in  Iowa 
City.  You  have  been  an  earnest,  consistent  member  of  the  or- 
der for  all  these  long  years,  an  an  almost  constant  attendant 
at  its  meetings,  a  willing  worker,  a  ready  helper,  an  earnest 
defender  of  its  sublime  principles." 

Hon.  George  W.  Ball,  for  the  Knights  Templar,  in  present- 
ing a  gold-headed  cane,  said:  "And  now  that  you  are  de- 
scending the  hill  of  life,  though  your  heart  is  no  less  true,  yet 
your  eye  is  less  keen  and  your  step  less  steady  than  of  yore ; 
and  as  you  travel  toward  the  setting  sun,  as  a  support  in  your 
declining  years,  you  will  need  this  Pilgrim's  Staff,  which,  in  be- 
half of  the  Sir  Knights  assembled  here,  I  now  present  you. 
Take  it.  Sir  Knight,  and  as  you  journey  on  your  way,  ever  re- 
member that  you  can  sefaly  rely  upon  the  glittering  arch  of 
steel  for  protection  and  defense,  and  that  the  prayers  of  all 
true  Knights  will  accompany  you  to  that  Asylum  beyond  the 
river.  .  .  There,  having  sheathed  your  sword,  and  laid  aside 
your  staff,  your  rest  will  be  eternal." 

Many  letters  and  telegrams  of  congratualtion  were  read. 


862        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

after  which  Mrs.  Mary  M.  Clute,  on  behalf  of  the  church,  said : 
''Dear  Mrs.  Clark  (presenting  a  coffee  nrn),  will  you  accept 
our  gift  1  It  is  filled  to  overflowing  with  the  affection  and  good 
will  of  all  in  j^our  church.  They  have  honored  me  by  asking 
me  to  express  to  you  our  appreciation  of  your  kind  and  un- 
selfish nature,  and  of  your  unswer\dng  fidelity  as  a  wife,  a 
mother,  a  friend  and  a  Christian,  along  with  the  hope  that  we 
(or  our  descendants)  may  yet  meet  to  place  a  diamond  over  the 
inscription." 

The  historian  then  concludes:  ''After  the  benediction  by 
Mr.  Clute,  the  large  company  scattered  through  the  house  and 
grounds,  offering  congratulations  to  the  bride  and  groom,  ad- 
miring the  beautiful  gifts,  enjoying  the  elegant  refreshments, 
exchanging  hearty  greetings,  and  joining  in  the  merry  dance. 
The  first  dance  of  the  evening  was  led  by  Mr.  Clark,  the  groom, 
and  Mrs.  H.  N.  McDonald,  of  West  Liberty." 

John  Norwood  Clark  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  Pennsyl- 
vania, July  30,  1814,  and  died  in  Iowa  City  February  17,  1904. 
He  was  the  son  of  Rev.  Joseph  and  Elizabeth  (Lyon)  Clark, 
both  natives  of  Maryland  and  of  English  descent,  their  remote 
ancestors  having  emigrated  from  England  to  the  South  in  an 
early  day.  Rev.  Joseph  Clark  was  a  Methodist  minister,  bet- 
ter known  as  a  'circuit  rider."  In  1822  he  removed  with  his 
wife  to  Wheeling,  West  Virginia,  from  Baltimore,  where  they 
lived  several  years.  He  was  then  called  to  Steubenville,  Ohio. 
After  a  sojourn  there  of  some  years,  he  returned  to  Baltimore. 
Later  he  again  went  to  Ohio,  where  he  died  in  1860  at  the  age  of 
seventy-four.  His  wife  survived  to  the  advanced  age  of  ninety- 
four,  dying  in  1876. 

Our  subject  was  educated  in  part  in  the  schools  of  his  native 
city  of  Baltimore.  July  28,  1836,  he  was  married  to  Jane 
Sturtevant,  a  native  of  Halifax,  Massachusetts,  who  had  re- 
moved to  Baltimore  when  sixteen  years  of  age  for  the  benefit 
of  her  health,  and  where  her  acquaintance  with  Mr.  Clark  be- 
gan. The  wedding  took  place  at  Ellicott's  Mills,  Anne  Arun- 
del county.  In  the  spring  of  1837  Mr.  Clark  went  from  Elli- 
cott's Mills  to  Pittsburgh  on  foot,  with  his  knap-sack  on  his 
back.  There  he  found  employment  as  a  shoemaker,  and  soon 
sent  for  his  young  wife.  For  about  two  years  they  remained 
in  Pittsburgh,  when  his  health  failed,  and  the  couple  returned 


BIOGRAPHICAL  863 

to  tlie  more  favorable  climate  of  Baltimore.  In  1841  they 
again  went  to  Pittsburgh,  but  again  the  climate  affected  Mr. 
Clark's  health,  and  in  the  spring  of  1843  they  went  to  Cincin- 
nati. There  they  resided  for  ten  years,  during  which  Mr. 
Clark  followed  his  occupation  of  shoemaking.  In  October, 
1853,  the  family  came  to  Iowa  City,  and  Mr.  Clark  opened  a 
shoe  store  on  the  corner  where  the  First  National  bank  now 
stands.  Later  he  became  a  clerk  in  the  jewelry  store  of  Charles 
Robbins.  In  1855  he  was  elected  city  marshal,  and  the  same 
year  began  business  as  a  dealer  in  toys  and  notions.  His  store 
came  to  be  known  as  the  ''Old  Curiosity  Shop,"  and  was  suc- 
cessfully conducted  by  Mr.  Clark  for  many  years. 

Our  subject  was  many  times  honored  with  positions  of  public 
trust.  He  was  city  treasurer  in  1873 ;  assessor  in  1877-79-80- 
81 ;  township  trustee  many  years ;  township  clerk  ten  years  con- 
secutively; served  on  the  election  board  at  the  Court  House 
voting  precinct  every  year  but  one  from  1856  until  his  death. 
Fraternally,  he  took  high  rank.  He  was  a  Knight  Templar, 
an  Odd  Fellow,  and  a  Knight  of  Pythias.  He  was  a  Past  Grand 
Master,  Treasurer  of  the  Grand  Encampment,  and  Past  Grand 
Patriarch  of  the  Grand  Encampment  of  Odd  Fellows  of  Iowa. 

Six  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clark,  of  whom 
Amanda,  widow  of  S.  F.  Webb,  of  Iowa  City,  is  the  sole  sur- 
vivor. Mr.  Webb  was  a  well  known  merchant  tailor,  number- 
ing among  his  patrons  the  leading  people  of  Iowa  City.  He 
formerly  resided  in  Ohio.  For  eleven  years  prior  to  his  death 
he  was  an  invalid.  One  daughter  Avas  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Webb,  Ada,  now  Mrs.  Henry  Louis,  a  druggist  on  College 
street.  The  latter  have  two  children,  Nena  and  Norwood 
Clark  Louis.  The  Louis  family  and  Mrs.  Webb  reside  at  319 
South  Linn  street.  Mrs.  Webb  is  a  woman  of  culture  and  re- 
finement, a  lover  of  books  and  of  nature.  She  has  traveled  ex- 
tensively from  coast  to  coast,  but  Iowa  City,  wdiich  she  has  seen 
grow  up  from  villagedom  to  a  great  center  of  education,  has  the 
first  place  in  her  affections.  She  is  a  member  of  the  Unitarian 
church  and  many  social  clubs. 


864        HISTOEY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

JOSEPH  ^y.  MELLECKER 

Joseph  W.  Mellecker  was  born  on  the  farm  he  now  owns  and 
occupies,  on  Section  32,  Liberty  township,  Johnson  county,  and 
first  saw  the  light  on  August  14, 1872.  He  is  a  son  of  John  and 
Caroline  (Schultz)  Mellecker,  early  settlers  of  the  community. 
The  Schultz  family  is  mentioned  more  fully  in  another  sketch 
within  these  pages.  John  Mellecker  was  born  in  Germany, 
April  23,  1829,  and  died  on  the  old  homestead  in  Johnson 
county,  October  4,  1907.  His  wife  was  born  November  12, 
1831,  and  died  January  7,  1904.  Both  were  original  members 
of  St.  Stanislaus  church  and  are  buried  in  the  cemetery  there, 
about  two  and  one-quarter  miles  from  their  comfortable  farm 
residence.  A  beautiful  granite  monument  marks  their  resting 
place,  and  on  it  is  engraved  a  cross. 

The  parents  came  to  Iowa  in  1853,  the  year  Iowa  City  was 
incorporated  as  a  city,  and  the  remainder  of  their  lives  was 
spent  peacefully  and  happily  in  their  Johnson  county  home. 
Mrs.  Mellecker  had  six  brothers.  One  brother  survives  in 
his  eighty-seventh  year.  He  is  the  father  of  J.  Otto  Schultz, 
a  prominent  business  man  and  the  president  of  the  Iowa  City 
Street  Railway  Company.  She  also  has  another  brother,  John, 
who  resides  in  Chicago.  John  Mellecker  was  a  successful 
farmer  and  very  fond  of  good  stock,  which  he  kept  on  his  es- 
tate. He  was  a  son  of  Francis  Xavier,  who  had  the  following 
five  children:  Frank,  Joseph,  Vincent,  John,  Catherine,  ^vho 
married  Joseph  Ruppenkamp.  John  lived  in  Missouri  two 
years  prior  to  locating  in  Liberty  township,  Johnson  county. 
Upon  coming  to  the  latter  place  he  located  at  South  Liberty, 
then  known  by  the  name  of  Bon  Accord.  He  worked  in  the 
distillery  there  and  also  carried  on  some  farming.  Later  he 
purchased  120  acres  of  wild  prairie  land,  which  he  improved, 
and  kept  adding  to  his  holdings.  AVhen  his  sons  were  grown 
he  retired  from  active  life.  He  served  his  district  as  a  member 
of  the  school  board  for  a  number  of  years  and  was  popular 
among  his  neighbors,  making  many  friends.  He  and  his  wife 
had  children  as  follows:  Caroline,  married  (first)  Simon 
Kueneman,  by  whom  she  had  four  children,  and  (second)  John 
Beach,  of  Riverside,  and  they  have  five  children ;  John  died  at 
the  age  of  three  years;  John  (2)  died  in  1896;  Josephine  mar- 


JOS.   MELLECKER 


BIOGRAPHICAL  865 

ried  Richard  Heitzman,  a  prominent  farmer  of  Section  31, 
Liberty  township,  and  they  have  six  children ;  Frances  married 
Charles  A.  Gross,  a  sketch  of  whom  appears  in  this  work; 
three  sons  died  of  diphtheria,  two  in  one  day,  and  are  buried 
all  together  in  St.  Stanislaus  cemetery;  Joseph,  subject-of  this 
sketch ;  Louise,  wife  of  I.  G.  Birrer,  who  is  given  a  sketch  with- 
in these  pages.  The  parents  of  these  children  died  as  they  had 
lived,  devout  and  faithful  Catholics,  and  reared  their  children 
in  the  same  faith. 

In  boyhood  Joseph  W.  Mellecker  attended  the  district  school; 
He  early  turned  his  attention  to  agriculture  and  has  always 
followed  this  occupation.  He  has  240  acres  of  choice  land  on 
the  home  place  and  keeps  thorough])red  stock.  He  also  rents 
land  adjoining  and  has  ninety  acres  in  corn.  He  has  several 
kinds  of  small  grain  and  a  beautiful  meadow  pasture.  ?Ie  uses 
modern  methods  and  machinery  and  is  progressive  in  every 
sense  of  the  word.  His  fine  herd  of  polled  Hereford  cattle, 
his  Hampshire  hogs,  and  splendid  Percheron  horses  make  a 
picturesque  sight  as  they  graze  on  the  farm  pasture.  He  takes 
especial  pride  in  keeping  his  stock  in  good  shape  and  keeps 
efficient  help,  spending  most  of  his  own  time  in  supervision  of 
the  work  of  operating  the  place.  Most  of  his  corn  yield  in  the 
year  1911  was  sixty-five  bushels  to  the  acre,  although  part  of 
it  yielded  as  much  as  seventy  to  eighty  bushels,  a  record  that 
is  hard  to  equal.  His  timothy  seed  and  clover  are  bringing  in 
good  returns,  and  he  shows  excellent  judgment  in  his  manage- 
ment of  his  affairs.  The  whole  farm  is  well  fenced  and  is  pro- 
vided with  substantial  buildings  for  various  uses.  It  is  well 
drained  and  is  supplied  with  several  kinds  of  fruit. 

Mr.  Mellecker  was  married  in  the  Catholic  church  at  River- 
side, April  28,  1896,  to  Miss  Magdeline  Birrer,  fifth  child  of 
Martin  Birrer,  a  sketch  of  whom  is  to  be  found  in  this  volume. 
Ten  children  have  been  born  of  *this  union :  Francis,  born 
March  10,  1897,  attends  school;  Bernard,  born  August,  1898, 
died  March  8, 1899 ;  Urban,  born  July  14, 1900,  at  home ;  John, 
born  July  22,  1902,  who  was  named  for  his  grandfather  Mel- 
lecker; Albert,  born  December  4,  1903;  Celeste,  born  July  2, 
1905 ;  Cletus,  born  July  16,  1907 ;  Leonard,  born  October  17, 
1908;  Adrian,  born  August  5,  1910,  died  August  23,  1910;  and 
Joseph,  born  January  19,  1912,  who  is  named  after  his  father. 


866        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

All  are  being  reared  Catholics  and  those  who  are  old  enough 
have  attended  the  Sisters'  School  and  St.  Joseph's  School  at 
Hills.  Mr.  Mellecker  is  an  enterprising  and  popular  citizen 
and  for  the  past  four  years  has  served  on  the  board  of  trustees, 
being  elected  chairman  in  1911.  He  was  also  school  director 
for  six  vears. 


JEROME  LOUVAR 

Jerome  Louvar  is  a  native  son  of  Jefferson  township,  John- 
son county,  and  carries  on  the  business  of  farming  on  his  native 
heath,  an  occupation  which  he  has  followed  from  early  youth. 
He  was  born  April  22,  1876,  and  at  twenty -three  years  of  age 
began  business  on  his  own  account  on  ninety-six  acres  which 
he  purchased  in  1899.  He  cultivated  this  farm  for  three  years, 
when  he  sold  it  and  bought  his  present  fine  farm  of  167  acres, 
which  he  has  cultivated  ever  since,  and  which  is  his  present  res- 
idence. 

The  parents  of  Mr.  Louvar  are  Frank  and  Mary  (Fibicker) 
Louvar,  the  former  a  native  of  Bohemia,  the  latter  of  Jefferson 
township.  Frank  Louvar  came  to  America  with  his  parents 
when  twelve  years  of  age,  and  settled  with  them  upon  a  farm 
in  Jefferson  township.  He  is  still  a  resident  and  farmer  of 
that  township.  .Our  subject  is  the  oldest  of  the  eight  children. 
His  brother  Frank  lives  also  on  a  farm  in  Jefferson  township, 
and  two  brothers,  Joseph  and  George,  reside  at  home  with 
their  parents. 

In  1899  Mr.  Louvar  w^as  married  to  Miss  Josephine  Gregor, 
a  native  of  Jefferson  township,  who  was  formerly  a  school 
teacher  in  that  township.  They  have  three  children,  Lumer, 
Jerry,  and  Phillis. 

Mr.  Louvar  is  a  democrat  in  politics,  and  is  at  present  town- 
ship trustee,  an  office  wiiicli  he  has  held  for  three  years.  He 
has  in  the  past  held  other  local  offices.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
C.  S.  P.  S.  Society  at  Western,  Iowa,  and  of  the  Farmers'  So- 
ciety of  Jefferson  towmship.  Fully  identified  with  the  progres- 
sive interests  of  his  township,  Mr.  Louvar  stands  for  the  best 
in  Iowa  citizenship.  Having  the  respect  and  confidence  of  his 
neighbors  and  fellow  citizens,  and  being  in  the  full  vigor  of 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


867 


useful  manhood,  lie  has  every  reason  to  look  forward  to  many 
years  of  activity.  His  many  friends  will  wish  him  success  and 
godspeed. 


HENRY  A.  KNEASE 

The  subject  of  this  sketh,  Henry  A.  Knease,  is  a  native  of 
Montgomery  county,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  was  born  Novem- 
ber 16,  1855.  His  parents  were  Adam  and  Catherine  (Heck) 
KJnease.  The  father  was  born  October  30,  1830,  at  Nassen- 
Hesse,  Germany.  Was  educated  in  his  native  land  and  in  1853 
emigrated  to  America  and  located  on  a  farm  near  Philadel- 
phia where  he  worked  for  one  and  a  half  years  and  then  took 
up  his  residence  in  Philadelphia.     On  March  8,  1855,  he  was 


EESIDENCE  OF  HENRY  A.  KNEASE 

united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Catherine  Heck  of  Philadelphia. 
In  1868  he"  decided  to  try  his  fortunes  in  the  further  west  and 
removed  with  his  family  to  Johnson  county,  Iowa,  where  he 
located  on  what  was  known  as  the  Lee  farm,  comprising  112 
acres,  section  1,  Scott  township.  Became  a  successful  farmer 
and  here  he  passed  his  remaining  days.  His  death  occurred 
July  17,  1904.  He  was  a  member  of  the  German  Lutheran 
church.'  Three  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Adam 
Knease :  Henry,  our  subject,  George  of  "West  Branch,  and 
Annie. 


868        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

The  parents  of  Mrs.  Henry  Knease  were  William  and  Mary 
(Hobbs)  Meardon,  both  natives  of  Devonshire,  England. 
William  Meardon  was  born  November  6,  1831.  In  1856  he 
emigrated  to  Upper  Canada  where  he  remained  for  about  three 
years.  Here  he  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  Hobbs,  June  29, 
1856,  also  a  native  of  Devonshire,  England.  In  1859  came 
with  his  family  to  Johnson  county,  Iowa,  and  resided  in  Iowa 
City  until  1862  when  he  located  on  a  farm  in  Scott  township 
which  has  been  his  abiding  place  since  that  time,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  six  years'  residence  in  Pleasant  Valley  township. 
They  were  the  parents  of  the  following  children :  Elizabeth, 
wife  of  Henry  Knease;  Fannie  E.,  wife  of  Greorge  Bowen; 
Frederick  M.,  married  Mary  Adz;  Albert  E.,  and  Chas.  S. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Meardon  were  both  members  of  the  Presby- 
terian church.  The  paternal  grandparents  were  William  and 
Elizabeth  (Folland)  Meardon,  both  natives  of  Devonshire, 
England,  where  they  were  reared,  educated,  and  married. 
They  reared  a  large  family  of  children  and  lived  to  a  ripe  old 
age.  The  maternal  grandfather,  Stephen  Hopper,  spent  his 
entire  life  in  Devonshire. 

Henry  Knease  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  educated  in  the 
public  schools  at  West  Branch.  In  1883  he  engaged  in  farm- 
ing in  Graham  township  where  he  remained  until  1907  when 
he  sold  out  and  removed  to  Iowa  City  and  established  an  auto 
garage.  In  1882  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Elizabeth 
Meardon.  They  are  the  parents  of  three  children:  Roy 
Henry,  Guy  William,  and  Tacie  M. 

Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Henry  Knease  are  members  of  the  M.  E. 
church  at  Iowa  City.     Mr.  Knease  votes  the  democratic  ticket. 


FRANK  T.  BREENE 

Men  sometimes  meet  with  success  in  business,  in  trade  or 
speculation  merely  through  chance,  or  by  a  combination  of 
favorable  circumstances,  deserving  no  credit  really  for  any 
such  result  from  their  own  personal  endeavor.  But  to  succeed 
in  a  professional  career,  to  build  up  and  sustain  an  established 
practice,  to  gain  a  reputation  for  skill  and  efficiency  in  that 
profession,  these  results  are  not  attained  through  any  element 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


869 


of  chance  whatever,  but  almost  entirely  by  natural  ability  com- 
bined with  energy,  determination  and  long  hours  of  faithful 
and  intelligent  work. 

Dr.  Frank  T.  Breene  is  one  of  the  prominent  and  well  known' 
members  of  the  dental  profession  and  is  recognized  as  an  au- 
thority on  dental  subjects.     His  offices  are  located  in  the  John- 
son County  Savings  Bank  building,  Iowa  City. 

Dr.  Breene  was  born  at  Durant,  Iowa,  November  4, 1866,  son 
of  George  T.  Breene,  native  of  New  York,  and  Henrietta  H. 
(Merrill)  Breene,  native  of  Connecticut.  After  graduating 
at  the  Wilton  high  school  in  1884  he  was  employed  as  assistant 


RESIDENCE  OF  FRANK  T.  BREENE 


postmaster  at  Wilton.  In  1888  he  entered  the  dental  depart- 
ment of  the  S.  U.  I.  and  the  medical  department  in  1893.  He 
devoted  eight  years  exclusively  to  college  work  as  instructor. 

In  June,  1901,  at  San  Jose,  California,  Dr.  Breene  was  mar- 
ried to  Mary  M.  Beermaker,  daughter  of  Andrew  and  Amanda 
Beermaker.  (See  sketch  of  Andrew  Beermaker) .  They  have 
one  child,  Frank  Eugene  Breene. 

Dr.  Breene  was  president  of  the  Iowa  State  Dental  Society 
in  1897.  He  is  professor  of  Operative  Dentistry  and  Thera- 
peutics at  the  State  University  of  Iowa.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  National  Dental  Association,  also  of  the  American  Medical 
Association. 


870        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

ANDREW  BEERMAKER 

It  has  been  the  endeavor  of  the  publishers  of  these  volumes 
'to  collect  and  place  in  enduring  form  a  history  of  the  lives  of 
those  who  have  aided  in  the  growth  and  development  of  this 
section  of  Iowa  and  to  preserve  their  recollections  of  pioneer 
days.  Years  roll  by  so  rapidly  that  time  is  fast  thinning  the 
ranks  of  those  who  were  the  vanguard  of  civilization  in  John- 
son county  and  only  as  the  participants  in  the  events  of  the 
early  days  tell  the  tale  of  life  here  Avlien  the  county  was  a  pion- 
eer district,  can  we  hope  to  have  an  authentic  record.  No  one 
is  more  deserving  of  honorable  mention  in  the  annals  of  the 
county  than  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  Andrew  Beermaker, 
early  resident  of  the  county,  and  one  of  the  surviving  members 
of  the  old  guard  who  helped  to  blaze  the  way  towards  a  higher 
civilization.  It  is  therefore  with  pleasure  that  we  prepare  his 
life  record,  knowing  that  it  will  be  received  with  interest  by 
many  of  our  readers. 

Andrew  Beermaker  w^as  born  October  15, 1831,  near  Sarrgi- 
mind,  France.  His  father,  John  Peter  Beermaker,  born  same 
part  of  France  in  1800,  came  to  America  1843  and  settled  in 
Lorain  county,  Ohio,  and  was  a  farmer  by  occupation.  The 
mother,  Magdalena  (Swartz)  Beermaker,  born  1798,  came  from 
the  same  place  in  France  and  was  a  daughter  of  Frank  and  Mar- 
garet (Ulurech)  Sw^artz,  both  natives  of  France  but  that  part 
of  France  which  has  been  a  portion  of  Germany  since  1871. 

The  paternal  grandparents  were  Peter  and  Margaret  Beer- 
maker. On  the  maternal  side  the  grandparents  were  Frantz 
and  Margaret  Swartz. 

Andrew  Beermaker  was  but  eleven  years  of  age  when  with 
his  parents  he  came  to  the  United  States  and  grew  to  manhood 
on  his  father's  farm  in  Lorain  county,  Ohio.  His  first  venture 
away  from  home  was  Cleveland,  Ohio,  July  1,  1850,  where  he 
learned  the  trade  of  carpenter.  In  1853  he  w^ent  to  Toledo, 
Ohio,  where  he  worked  two  years.  In  1855  he  came  to  Iowa 
and  worked  for  a  time  at  his  trade  in  Iowa  City,  but  finally 
settled  near  Solon,  in  Johnson  county,  where  he  resided  twenty 
years,  engaged  in  farming.  In  1875  he  moved  to  Iowa  City 
and  engaged  in  the  lumber  business  which  he  continued  for 
three  years,  then  became  interested  in  the  Iowa  Alcohol  Com- 


BIOGRAPHICAL  871 

pany.  He  continued  in  that  business  until  1892  when  he  gave 
it  up  and  removed  to  San  Jose,  California,  where  he  has  since 
resided. 

Mr.  Beermaker  was  married  November  29,  1863,  at  Iowa 
City,  Iowa,  to  Miss  Amanda  M.  Steinberger,  daughter  of  Gid- 
eon and  Mahala  (Kenton)  Steinberger,  natives  of  Ohio.  Mrs. 
Beermaker  was  educated  at  Mt.  Vernon,  Linn  countv,  Iowa. 
There  were  born  to  this  union  six  children :  John  Peter  Beer- 
maker, born  November  3,  1866,  and  resides  in  St.  Louis,  Mis- 
souri ;  Mary  M.  Beermaker,  born  September  20,  1872,  now  Mrs. 
Breene,  wife  of  Dr.  F.  T.  Breene,  of  Iowa  City,  Iowa ;  Ida  A. 
Beermaker,  born  July  19,  1875,  now  Mrs.  Jordan,  wife  of  Dr. 
P.  A.  Jordan,  of  San  Jose,  California.  Three  boys  died  in 
infancy. 

Mr.  Beermaker  held  the  office  of  assessor  six  years  in  Cedar 
township,  Johnson  county,  Iowa.  In  politics,  he  was  first, 
last,  and  always  a  democrat.  He  has  lived  an  honest,  upright 
life  and  is  highly  esteemed  by  all  who  know  him,  especially  by 
his  old  friends  and  neighbors  in  Johnson  county. 

His  grandson,  Frank  E.  Breene,  was  born  December  31, 
1903,  in  Iowa  City,  Iowa. 


JACOB  CARROLL  SWITZER 

Clearness  and  positiveness  of  opinion,  religiously,  political- 
ly, and  economically,  are  marked  characteristics  of  Jacob 
Carroll  Switzer,  for  thirty-five  years  a  banker  in  Iowa  City. 
These  characteristics,  apparently  inborn,  have  taken  on  sinew 
and  strength  by  contact  with  the  complex  problems  of  life, 
resulting,  in  mature  years,  in  a  symmetrical,  well-poised  man- 
hood which  has  enabled  Mr.  Switzer  to  meet  and  grapple  suc- 
cessfully with  the  responsibilities  of  citizenship.  Politically 
and  religiously  his  \^ews  are  clear-cut.  Perhaps  they  could 
not  be  more  cogently  expressed  than  in  his  own  language  ut- 
tered to  the  writer  of  this  sketch.  Asked  for  an  expression 
of  his  political  opinion,  Mr.  Switzer  said:  "I  am  a  republi- 
can of  the  old  Lincoln  school.  Believe  the  'bosses'  should  be 
squelched  and  the  people  should  rule.  Believe  the  people  will 
soon  demand  their  rights  as  the  rulers;  will  adopt  the  com- 


872        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

mission  form  of  government,  not  only  municipal  but  in  many 
brandies  of  the  government  where  the  two  great  economical 
questions  are  at  stake ;  will  pay  their  commissioners  adequate 
salaries  for  their  services  and  demand  that  favoritism,  graft, 
political  debauchery  and  their  accompanying  evils  shall  be 
rooted  out  and  replaced  by  honesty  and  ability."  This  dec- 
laration surely  is  to  the  point.  His  religious  views  are  no 
less  practical  and  emphatic.  He  says:  "I  am  not  a  church 
member,  but  am  Protestant  in  belief.  I  was  brought  up  under 
the  influence  of  the  German  Baptist  faith  of  plain,  everyday 
Christian  living.  Believe  that  in  the  Golden  Rule  and  the 
Sermon  on  the  Mount  is  found  a  good,  everyday  doctrine  em- 


EESIDENCE  OF  JACOB  CAEEOLL  SWITZEE 


inently  superior  to  creeds,  forms  and  doctrinal  teachings  of 
the  myriad  of  sects  who  split  hairs  on  the  cut  of  garments  or 
the  exact  shade  of  meanings  of  words  and  forget  to  live  for 
the  only  purpose  that  man  is  created  for,  namely,  the  good  of 
his  fellow  man."  In  the  absence  of  an  amplified  statement 
respecting  his  economic  opinions,  it  is  not  difficult  to  predicate 
from  the  two  statements  given  above  that  he  stands  for  that 
all-inclusive  social  and  industrial  formula  as  ''the  square 
deal."  The  student  of  character  will  have  no  difficulty  in 
classifying  Mr.  Switzer  in  the  category  of  Dr.  Gunsaulus's 
''four-square  men." 


BIOGRAPHICAL  873 

The  inherent  patriotism  of  our  subject  was  given  a  chance 
for  manifestation  in  early  youth.  When  barely  nineteen  years 
of  age  he  enlisted  as  a  volunteer  in  Company  A,  Twenty-sec- 
ond Regiment  Iowa  Volunteers,  and  was  in  the  Federal  ser- 
vice in  the  Civil  War  three  years,  one  month  and  thirteen  days. 
It  was  active  service,  too.  Comrade  Switzer  was  with  his  regi- 
ment until  September  19,  1864,  and  took  part  in  the  battles  of 
Champion  Hill,  Mississippi,  May  16, 1863 ;  Black  River  Bridge, 
May  17,  1863;  the  siege  and  capture  of  Vicksburg,  from 
May  19  to  July  4,  1863 ;  the  seige  of  Jackson,  Mississippi,  dur- 
ing July,  1863,  and  at  the  Battle  of  Winchester,  Virginia,  un- 
der General  Sheridan,  September  19, 1864.  During  the  latter, 
his  last,  engagement  he  was  severely  wounded  and  lay  within 
the  Confederate  lines  for  several  hours,  until  the  rout  of  the 
enemy  in  the  evening,  when  he  was  picked  up  by  Union  ambul- 
ances. He  was  in  the  hospital  at  the  Taylor  House,  Winches- 
ter; also  at  Sheridan  Hospital,  Frederick,  Maryland;  at  Cen- 
tral Park,  New  York  City;  at  David's  Island,  New  York  har- 
bor, and  at  Dale  U.  S.  A.  Hospital,  Worcester,  Massachusetts. 
The  result  of  his  terrible  wounds,  however,  was  the  loss  of  his 
right  leg,  which  unfitted  him  for  further  service,  and  he  was 
honorably  discharged  from  the  service  at  the  last  named  hos- 
pital, being  paid  otf  by  the  paymaster  at  Boston,  Massachu- 
setts. Comrade  Switzer 's  regiment  traveled  and  marched 
about  twelve  thousand  miles  in  its  campaigiis,  serving  on  the 
Rio  Grande,  Texas,  and  as  far  east  as  Baltimore,  Maryland, 
and  south  to  Savannah,  Georgia,  lieing  one  of  the  three  Iowa 
regiments  to  serve  in  the  Army  of  the  Potomac ;  the  other  two 
being  the  Twenty-fourth  and  the  Twenty-eighth  Iowa. 

On  his  return  from  military  service,  Mr.  Switzer  felt  the  need 
of  additional  schooling.  He  therefore  attended  the  State  Uni- 
versity of  Iowa,  and  took  a  commercial  course  in  bookkeeping 
at  Madison,  Wisconsin.  Subsequently  he  taught  school  one 
term,  and  later  entered  the  United  States  Pension  office  at 
Madison,  Wisconsin,  where  he  served  about  two  years. 

On  January  1,  1871,  Mr.  Switzer  entered  upon  the  duties  of 
clerk  of  the  district  and  circuit  courts  of  Johnson  county,  a 
position  which  he  filled  with  ability  until  January  1,  1875. 
Thereafter  he  became  clerk,  bookkeeper,  and  assistant  cashier 
of  the  Iowa  City  National  bank,  going  from  there  to  the  Iowa 


874        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

City  bank,  and  thence,  upon  its  reorganization,  back  to  the 
Iowa  City  National  bank.  His  services  have  also  extended  to 
the  Citizens  Savings  and  Trust  Co.,  Iowa  City,  and  to  the  Iowa 
City  State  bank,  he  being  now  assistant  cashier  of  the  latter 
institution.  His  services  as  banker  extend  from  January  2, 
1875,  to  the  present  time,  with  the  exception  of  about  one  year, 
thus  making  a  banking  experience  of  thirty-five  years.  It 
would  be  going  over  old  and  familiar  ground  to  recite  the  de- 
velopment in  Johnson  county  which  has  taken  place  in  those 
years,  all  of  which  has  come  under  the  notice  and  much  of  it 
under  the  personal  oversight  of  Mr.  Switzer.  To  few  men  is 
it  given  to  have  such  vital  connection  with  the  material  growth 
of  a  community.  That  J.  C.  Switzer  has  been  a  faithful  stew- 
ard his  present  standing  in  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  his 
fellow  men  amply  testifies. 

The  first  records  of  the  Switzer  family  in  America,  so  far 
as  known  to  our  subject,  relate  to  the  removal  of  Jacob  Switzer, 
his  grandfather,  from  Pennsylvania,  to  Frederick  county, 
Maryland.  A  portion  of  this  county  was  afterwards  included 
in  Carroll  county,  and  in  the  new  section  Jacob  Switzer  became 
a  large  land  owner,  including  two  valuable  mill  properties. 
Grandfather  Switzer  was  the  father  of  four  children  :  David, 
Samuel,  John  (our  subject's  father),  and  Mary,  afterwards 
Mary  Haines.  The  maiden  name  of  Grandmother  Switzer 
was  Rhinehart,  but  our  subject  possesses  no  information  re- 
specting her  ancestry.  She  died  at  an  early  date,  and  Jacob 
Switzer  married  a  second  wife,  Elizalieth  Johnson,  no  children 
resulting  from  the  second  union.  The  elder  Switzer  was  a 
farmer  and  miller  by  occupation,  a  business  which  he  contin- 
ued until  his  death.  John  Switzer,  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  Pennsylvania,  and  removed  with  his  father  to  Mary- 
land. He  married  Elizabeth  "VVolfe,  whose  parents  were  Abra- 
ham and  Sarah  Wolfe.  Like  his  father,  John  Switzer  was  a 
farmer  and  miller,  and  lived  in  Carroll  county,  Maryland. 
Our  subject  was  born  August  31, 1843,  at  Union  Bridge,  in  that 
county.  Naturally,  his  occupation  when  a  boy  was  farming  at 
home,  and  his  father  being  a  miller,  he  learned  to  sharpen  mill- 
stones, pack,  head-up  and  brand  flour  for  market,  run  the  mill 
for  grinding  feed  and  saw  lumber  and  fence  posts  in  a  primi- 
tive sawmill.     The  only  school  was  a  country  school  in  which 


BIOGRAPHICAL  875 

the  three  R's  constituted  the  eurrieukim.  Our  subject  recalls 
that  his  bo}dsh  tastes  ran  to  machinery  making,  wind  mills, 
water  wheels,  wagons,  carts,  etc.,  and  to  fishing,  swimming  and 
trapping.  When  J.  C.  Switzer  was  seventeen  his  father  died, 
and,  in  the  absence  of  his  elder  brother,  he  became  virtually 
the  male  head  of  the  family.  He  remembers  that  in  the  occu- 
pation of  farming,  in  which  he  was  engaged  from  the  age  of 
twelve. years,  he  made  a  full  hand  at  mowing  at  thirteen  and 
at  mauling  rails  at  fourteen.  These  were  considered  superior 
accomplishments  in  that  day. 

On  Christmas  day,  1871,  Mr.  Switzer  was  married  in  Iowa 
City  to  Mary  Evelyn  Page,  daughter  of  John  and  Mahala  B. 
Page,  natives  of  New  Hampshire.  Miss  Page  was  a  school 
teacher  in  her  native  state  of  New  Hampshire  and  also  at  Iowa 
City.  Two  children  were  born  of  this  union:  Roy  Irving, 
born  at  Iowa  City,  October  4,  1872,  and  Evelyn  Carroll,  born 
at  Iowa  City,  August  2,  1874.  Soon  after  this  Mrs.  Switzer 
died.  Our  subject  married  again  October  22,  1877,  his  second 
wife  being  Miss  Catherine  Coover.  Seven  children  have  been 
born  of  this  second  marriage,  all  born  at  Iowa  City :  Leslie 
Edison,  born  July  20,  1878;  Percy  Lee,  born  October  1,  1879; 
Katherine  May,  born  April  4, 1882 ;  Radnor,  deceased,  born  No- 
vember 16,  1886 ;  John  Levinett,  deceased,  born  September  9, 
1884 ;  Benjamin  Harrison,  born  January  21,  1889 ;  Hazel  Lu- 
cille, born  August  9,  1892. 

The  Switzer  family  occupy  the  homestead  at  819  Kirkwood 
avenue,  Iowa  City,  formerly  owned  by  Hon.  Robert  Lucas,  the 
first  governor  of  Iowa.  Governor  Lucas  built  and  occupied 
the  residence  now  used  by  Mr.  Switzer  and  family.  Comrade 
Switzer  is  a  member  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Repul)lic,  and 
is  past  commander  of  his  post.  At  present  he  is  acting  com- 
mander, owing  to  the  death  of  Professor  Samuel  Calvin,  late 
commander. 

Mr.  Switzer  has  just  reached  his  sixty-eighth  year  at  this 
writing,  and  his  physical  health  gives  promise  oi  a  goodly  lease 
of  life,  a  boon  which  his  many  friends  wish  him  most  heartily. 
He  has  been  faithful  in  every  relation  in  life,  and  his  reward 
is  a  quiet  conscience,  the  love  of  his  family,  the  respect  of  his 
fellow  citizens,  and  a  peaceful  contemplation  of  the  future. 


876        HISTOBY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

His  feet  will  tread  amid  the  lengthening  shadows  of  life's 
western  way  unafraid,  his  spirit 

''    .    .    .    Sustained  and  soothed  by  an  unfaltering  trust, 
Like  one  who  wraps  the  drapery  of  his  couch  about  him, 
And  lies  down  to  pleasant  dreams." 


FRANK  J.  CILEK 


The  hardware  firm  of  Smith  &  Cilek,  composed  of  Hugh  W. 
Smith  and  Frank  J.  Cilek,  our  subject,  is  one  of  the  best  known 
and  most  progressive  business  enterprises  of  Iowa  City.  In 
fact,  the  rise  and  progress  of  this  firm  is  one  of  the  most  vigor- 
ous signs  of  the  new  and  prosperous  business  era  which  is 
dawning  upon  the  University  City.  Established  in  1905,  the 
firm  now  takes  front  rank  in  its  line,  and  its  large  store  at  207- 
209  East  Washington  street  is  one  of  the  points  of  interest 


EESIDENCE  OF  F.  J.  CILEK 

pointed  out  to  strangers  visiting  the  city.  Both  the  partners 
are  energetic  men,  worthy  to  rank  among  the  progressive  busi- 
ness men  of  eastern  Iowa. 

Frank  J.  Cilek  was  born  in  Bohemia,  October  12,  1875,  but 
since  the  age  of  six  years  he  has  been  a  resident  of  Iowa  City. 
In  all  but  blood  and  birth,  therefore,  he  is  essentially  Ameri- 
can. His  parents  were  Prokop  and  Mary  (Chesko\ds)  Cilek, 
whose  birthplace  was  near  the  town  of  Cheskovis,  Bohemia, 


BIOGRAPHICAL  877 

named  after  our  subject's  maternal  grandfather.  The  Cilek 
family  came  to  Iowa  City  in  1881,  the  parents  making  it  their 
permanent  residence.  There  were  five  children :  John,  mar- 
ried, farming  near  Solon,  Iowa ;  Mary,  now  Mrs.  Joseph  Brum, 
living  in  Iowa  City,  where  Mr.  Brum  is  employed  by  the  Rock 
Island  railway ;  our  subject,  Michael  J.,  married,  in  the  employ 
of  Schneider  Bros,  furniture  store ;  Fannie,  now  Mrs.  William 
J.  Kestelsky,  the  latter  employed  by  the  Rock  Island  railway. 
Father  Cilek  died  March  29, 1891,  and  Mother  Cilek  March  iV, 
1896. 

After  securing  a  good  fundamental  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  Iowa  City,  Mr.  Cilek  worked  nine  years  on  a  farm, 
developing  the  strength  and  vigor  of  body  and  nerves  which 
have  stood  him  so  well  in  hand  in  his  business  career.  In  1897 
he  entered  the  employ  of  Lichty  &  Thomas,  remaining  with 
them  eight  years,  at  the  end  of  which  time  he  formed  a  part- 
nership with  Hugh  W.  Smith  in  the  hardware  business  as  be- 
fore stated. 

Mr.  Cilek  was  married  June  9,  1896,  to  Miss  Anna  Lonoch, 
born  in  Bohemia  November  1,  1875.  Miss  Lonoch  came  to 
America  with  her  parents  in  1885  and  settled  in  Iowa  City. 
Her  father  and  mother  are  living  at  this  writing.  Two  chil- 
dren have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cilek:  Joseph,  born 
July  7, 1903 ;  Mary,  born  January  23,  1899. 

Mr.  Cilek  is  a  republican  as  to  national  politics  and  liberal 
in  local  matters.  He  and  his  family  are  members  of  St.  Wen- 
ceslaus  Catholic  church,  of  which  he  is  a  trustee.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Catholic  Workmen  of  Iowa  City,  and  of  the  Knights 
of  Columbus  and  the  B.  P.  0.  E. 


W.  G.  FILES 


W.  G.  Files  belongs  to  a  pioneer  family  and  has  spent  the 
larger  part  of  his  life  in  Johnson  county,  Iowa.  He  is  a  repre- 
sentative farmer,  one  who  takes  advantage  of  modern  methods 
of  operation  and  the  latest  improved  machinery,  but  who  in 
earlier  life  was  confined  to  the  use  of  primitive  tools  and  equip- 
ment. He  was  born  in  Richland  county,  Ohio,  July  4,  1847, 
a  son  of  William  and  Lucinda  0.  (Lindsley)  Files,  and  at  the 
age  of  seven  years  accompanied  his  uncle,  Lewis  R.  Wolf,  from 


878        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

Hai'diu  county,  Ohio,  to  Iowa.  Mr.  Wolf  died  in  Kansas  in 
1905.  Mr.  Files 's  mother  and  brother,  James  M.,  also  came 
to  Iowa  in  1854,  the  trip  being  made  with  covered  wagons. 
There  were  two  children  in  the  family,  and  after  settling  in  the 
new  home  they  located  on  a  farm. 

Mr.  Files  was  educated  in  the  dictrict  school  and  early  be- 
gan to  help  with  the  work  on  the  home  farm,  becoming  an  ex- 
pert in  agricultural  operations.  In  1868,  upon  attaining  his 
majority,  he  began  working  on  his  own  account,  and  has  con 
tinned  farming  to  the  present  time.  In  1872  he  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Sarah  Bowman,  daughter  of  Wesley  and  Sarah 
Ann  Bowman,  who  came  from  Ohio  to  Iowa  in  1854.  Mrs. 
Files  was  reared  and  educated  in  the  same  region  as  her  hus- 
band. After  marriage  they  settled  on  section  33,  township  8, 
range  7,  where  he  erected  a  house,  and  twelve  years  later  they 
came  to  their  present  home  on  section  4  of  Madison  township. 
He  purchased  this  place  from  William  Shimp,  who  in  turn 
bought  it  from  A.  R.  Fratt,  and  he  in  turn  from  Robert  Har- 
rison. Mr.  Harrison  purchased  it  from  Mr.  Ross,  who  made 
the  original  entry  of  the  eighty  acres  from  the  government. 
It  contained  the  present  buildings  at  the  time  Mr.  Files  secured 
it,  with  the  exception  of  a  barn  and  an  addition  to  the  house. 
The  fences  were  of  hedge,  and  have  been  replaced  by  modern 
wire  fencing.  He  also  rents  120  acres  additional,  and  has  been 
especially  successful  in  raising  cattle  and  horses,  the  hay  for 
feeding  them  being  produced  on  the  farm. 

Mr.  Files  has  always  taken  an  active  interest  in  the  atfairs 
of  his  community  and  has  been  interested  in  all  movements  of 
progress.  For  four  years  he  served  as  justice  of  the  peace ; 
he  has  been  a  member  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  school 
district,  and  in  1911  was  chairman ;  and  he  has  been  township 
committeeman.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Cross  Roads  United 
Brethren  church  and  has  been  active  in  its  interests.  He  helped 
haul  lumber  from  Iowa  City,  four  miles  distant,  when  the  school 
house  was  built  at  the  cross  roads,  during  the  war,  Oscar  Don- 
aldson being  the  contractor.  In  early  days  he  helped  drive  six 
or  seven  yoke  of  oxen  to  a  27-inch  breaking  plow,  and  did  his 
first  farming  and  harvesting  with  such  primitive  tools  as  we're 
then  used.  Now,  however,  he  has  a  self-reaper,  harvester  and 
self-binder,  and  finds  the  work  much  easier  than  in  the  davs 


BIOGRAPHICAL  879 

wlieu  he  used  the  scythe  and  hand  cradle.  He  has  witnessed 
remarkable  changes  in  the  region  of  his  home  since  the  time 
he  came  there  in  early  boyhood,  and  has  been  actively  identi- 
fied with  the  movement  which  has  brought  about  this  develop- 
ment. He  has  a  good  standing  in  the  community,  where  he 
was  married  and  where  he  and  his  wife  have  reared  a  fine  fam- 
ily to  useful  manhood  and  womanhood. 

Six  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Files :  Ida  died  at 
the  age  of  two  ^'^ears;  W.  H.,  of  Iowa  City,  married  Grace 
Rider,  and  they  have  three  children- — Gail,  Mildred  and  Har- 
old ;  E.  P.  married  Olive  Toohey,  and  they  have  two  children — 
Omar  B.  and  Hazel  Irene ;  Nellie  May  married  Jesse  W.  Lin- 
inger,  of  Madison  township,  and  they  have  two  children — 
Viola  and  Edith;  Ella  and  Elva  B.  live  at  home. 


GEORGE  HENRY  MILLER 

George  H.  Miller,  born,  reared  and  educated  in  Graham 
township,  Johnson  county,  has  continued  to  reside  there  since 
reacliing  manhod's  estate  and  choosing  his  career  in  life.  He 
is  notably  a  self-made  man,  and  beginning  with  a  small  farm, 
for  which  he  went  into  debt,  has  cleared  himself  of  incumb- 
rances and  has  added  to  his  holdings  until  he  has  one  of  the 
finest  estates  in  his  neighborhood.  He  raises  some  remark- 
able crops  of  hay,  corn,  and  like  products,  and  is  a  farmer  of 
recognized  ability  and  enterprise.  He  and  his  wife  have  a 
vivid  memory  of  their  first  days  on  the  farm,  when  she  often 
walked  across  country  to  Iowa  City  with  eggs  for  the  market, 
and  he  made  a  like  journey  with  butter,  trading  for  necessities 
not  furnished  by  their  work  on  the  farm.  When  they  first  lo- 
cated on  the  place  it  contained  a  small  log  house,  and  its  pres- 
ent substantial  and  modern  buildings  have  been  erected  by 
them.  They  have  reared  a  fine  family  of  children  and  have 
given  them  good  educations,  preparing  them  for  their  future 
activities. 

Mr.  Miller  was  born  July  31,  1863,  one-half  mile  south  of  his 
present  home,  a  son  of  John  and  Annie  Barbara  (Barschel) 
Miller,  the  former  a  native  of  Germany.  The  father  died  at 
the  age  of  seventy-six  years  and  the  mother  at  the  age  of  sixty- 


880        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

six.  They  left  seven  living  children:  J.  J.  of  Minnesota; 
Minnie,  now  deceased;  George  Henry;  John,  now  deceased; 
Margaret,  wife  of  Bert  Baumgardner,  of  Graham  township; 
Mary  married  Elmer  Lawyer,  D.  D.  S.,  of  Iowa  City,  a  sketch  of 
whom  appears  in  these  pages ;  Ed,  of  Minnesota,  and  Charles, 
of  Canada.  The  father  of  these  children  was  one  of  the  re- 
spected pioneers  of  Johnson  county  and  spent  the  remainder 
of  his  life  in  Graham  township. 

In  boyhood  George  H.  Miller  attended  the  district  school 
near  his  father's  farm  and  early  began  to  assist  with  the  farm 
work.  He  remained  at  home  imtil  reaching  young  manhood, 
and  at  the  age  of  twenty-four  years  began  farming  on  a  160- 
acre  farm  for  himself.  He  was  obliged  to  incur  debt  on  this 
place,  which  is  located  on  sections  16  and  17  of  Graham  town- 
ship, and  it  was  but  little  improved.  He  replaced  the  log  house 
which  stood  thereon  as  soon  as  he  was  able  and  now  has  a  com- 
fortable farmhouse.  He  has  added  to  the  size  of  his  farm,  as 
well  as  to  its  appearance  and  productiveness,  and  is  now  the 
owner  of  203  acres  of  valuable  farm  land.  He  has  fields  di- 
vided with  hog-tight  fences  and  carries  on  a  general  line  of 
farming,  with  special  attention  to  raising  stock.  In  1911  he 
produced  3,500  bushels  of  corn  on  fifty-nine  acres  of  land,  and 
a  ton  of  hay  to  the  acre  on  other  parts  of  his  farm.  His  fine 
modern  barn,  50x52  feet,  has  a  capacity  of  60  tons  of  hay,  and 
he  has  another  one,  52x56  feet,  with  20-foot  posts,  part  of 
which  is  devoted  to  the  storing  of  hay,  which  will  hold  45  tons. 

In  the  affairs  of  his  community  Mr.  Miller  takes  a  prominent 
part,  and  may  be  depended  upon  to  advance  every  worthy 
cause  which  he  believes  will  serve  the  interests  of  the  people. 
He  is  now  secretary  of  the  board  of  school  district  No.  4,  has 
been  trustee  four  years,  and  chairman  one  year.  He  is  a  dem- 
ocrat in  political  faith  and  is  active  in  the  councils  of  his  party. 
He  has  served  as  delegate  to  democratic  conventions  and  is  re- 
garded as  a  level-headed,  public-spirited  citizen.  He  and  his 
family  are  devout  Catholics.  He  is  a  member  of  St.  Mary's 
church  committee  and  his  wife  of  the  Willing  Workers  of  the 
church.  He  also  belongs  to  the  Catholic  Order  of  Foresters, 
No.  1474,  of  Morse,  and  to  Camp  No.  5059,  Modern  Woodmen 
of  America,  of  Oasis. 

Mrs.  Miller's  maiden  name  was  Caroline  Dvorsky  and  she 


BIOGRAPHICAL  881 

was  born  in  Boliemia,  being  brought  to  America  when  a  babe, 
by  her  parents,  Frank  and  Anna  (Amert)  Dvorsky.  Mrs. 
Dvorsky  died  February  21, 1906,  but  Mr.  Dvorsky  survives  and 
makes  his  home  with  his  son  James.  Eight  children  were  born 
to  Mr.  Miller  and  wife,  of  whom  seven  now  survive.  They  are : 
John  Charles,  Matilda,  Frank,  Elizabeth  (deceased),  Agnes, 
Blanche,  Genevieve,  and  Marcella,  all  intelligent  and  wide- 
awake young  people  and  a  credit  to  their  parents. 


FRANK  DA^ORSKY 

Among  the  early  settlers  of  Johnson  county  who  are  deserv- 
ing of  credit  for  the  part  they  took  in  its  early  development 
may  be  prominently  mentioned  members  of  the  Dvorsky  fam- 
ily. Frank  Dvorsky  was  born  in  Bohemia,  Austria,  December 
26,  1832,  a  son  of  Frank  and  Kate  Dvorsky.  In  1866  he  emi- 
grated to  America,  where  his  father  had  already  settled.  He 
landed  in  New  York  after  spending  six  weeks  in  a  sailing  ves- 
sel. By  his  first  marriage  the  father  had  two  sons  and  a 
daughter  and  by  his  second  wife,  whose  name  was  Kate,  he 
had  seven  children,  all  of  whom  survive.  One  son,  Mike,  lives 
at  Cedar  Rapids.  The  grandfather,  also  named  Frank  Dvor- 
sky, was  a  laborer,  and  as  far  back  as  anything  is  known  of  the 
family  its  members  have  been  devout  Catholics. 

Mr.  Dvorsky  settled  in  Newport  township,  Johnson  county, 
where  he  purchased  forty  acres  of  timber  land,  and  ten  acres 
in  a  second  purchase,  grubbed  and  cleared  it,  and  developed 
a  fine  farm.  This  place  is  now  occupied  by  his  son .  His  near- 
est trading  place  was  Iowa  City  during  the  early  years.  He 
died  on  this  farm,  being  buried  in  St.  Joseph's  Catholic  ceme- 
tery. His  widow  survives  and  makes  her  home  with  her  chil- 
dren. 

In  1856  Frank  Dvorsky,  whose  name  heads  this  sketch,  mar- 
ried Anna  Amert,  a  native  of  Bohemia,  who  died  in  1907,  at  the 
age  of  seventy-two  years,  and  is  buried  in  St.  Peter  and  St. 
Paul's,  or  what  is  now  generally  known  as  Newport  cemetery, 
in  Newport  township.  They  crossed  the  ocean  with  three  chil- 
dren and  became  parents  of  four  more :  Anthony,  deceased ; 
Mary,  wife  of  Frank  Secor,  now  deceased,  of  Prague,  Nebras- 


882        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

ka ;  Caroline,  wife  of  George  Miller ;  Charles ;  Ellen,  wife  of 
Joseph  Sheneberger;  Frank,  Jr.,  and  James  A.  When  Mr. 
Dvorsky  first  came  to  Newport  township  he  lived  in  a  log  hut 
and  cultivated  ten  acres  of  land,  and  later,  after  purchasing 
forty  acres,  ^as  above  described,  bought  a  school  house  and  the 
land  around  same.  It  was  there  that  his  son,  James  A.  Dvor- 
sky, was  born.  The  father  added  to  his  possesions,  until  he 
owned  some  two  hundred  acres  of  fine  farm  land.  In  1903  he 
retired  from  active  life  and  purchased  his  present  home  in 
Graham  township,  where  he  lives  with  his  son,  James  A.  Dvor- 
sky. The  family  belong  to  St.  Peter  and  St.  Paul  church,  and 
are  faithful  Catholics.  Mr.  Dvorsky  has  grandchildren  and 
great-grandchildren.  He  lives  in  honorable  ease,  having 
worked  hard  all  his  life  until  a  few  years  since.  He  has  re- 
cently divided  his  property  among  his  children,  most  of  whom 
are  honored  residents  of  the  community,  although  some  have 
moved  to  other  localities. 

A  sketch  of  George  Miller,  who  married  Caroline  Dvorsky, 
appears  in  this  work.  Their  daughter,  Matilda,  was  married 
February  20, 1911,  to  Joseph  Cerny,  formerly  of  Morse,  Iowa, 
who  was  reared  near  Solon  and  is  now  living  on  his  father's 
farm  near  Solon,  in  Cedar  county,  Iowa. 

James  Dvorsky,  with  whom  his  father  resides,  lives  in  Gra- 
ham township. 

The  Dvorsky  family  has  borne  an  important  part  in  the  af- 
fairs of  their  community  and  has  ever  been  identified  with  its 
best  interests.  They  have  a  good  standing  and  have  many 
friends. 


JOSEPH  L.  KLODIVO 

Joseph  L.  Klodivo  has  spent  his  entire  life  in  farming  except 
two  years  when  he  was  engaged  in  business  in  Cedar  Rapids, 
during  1905-06,  and  his  been  successful  to  a  large  degree.  He 
is  one  of  the  substantial  and  highly-respected  citizens  of  his 
community  and  takes  a  commendable  interest  in  local  affairs. 
He  is  a  native  of  Bohemia,  born  November  16,  1864,  a  son  of 
Joseph  and  Frances  (Vasko)  Klodivo.  He  accompanied  his 
parents  to  America  when  he  ^as  sixteen  years  of  age  and  the 
family  first  located  in  Big  Grove  township,  Johnson  county. 


JULIUS   KOHL 


BIOGRAPHICAL  883 

Fifteen  years  later  they  removed  to  Monroe  township  and  oc- 
cupied the  farm  now  occupied  by  their  son  Joseph  until  their 
deaths.  The  mother  passed  away  January  11,  1901,  and  the 
father  in  February,  1904.  They  had  two  sons,  Joseph  L.,  of 
this  sketch,  and  Peter,  of  Iowa  county. 

Mr.  Klodivo  remained  with  his  parents  during  their  life- 
time and  became  owner  of  the  old  homestead.  In  1905  he  re- 
moved to  Cedar  Rapids,  but  at  the  end  of  two  years  returned 
to  the  home  place,  which  he  has  since  operated.  This  is  a 
well-improved  farm  and  consists  of  one  hundred  sixty  acres. 
In  1907  he  purchased  one  hundred  fifty-six  acres  one  mile  east 
of  the  old  home  place,  which  he  still  owns.  He  has  substantial 
and  well-kept  buildings  and  is  one  of  the  prosperous  and  intel- 
ligent farmers  of  the  community.  In  local  political  affairs  he 
is  independent,  but  in  national  affairs  votes  the  republican 
ticket.  He  is  a  Catholic  in  religious  belief  and  attends  church 
at  Walford. 


JULIUS  KOHL 


Julius  Kohl,  who  has  nearly  two  hundred  acres  of  choice 
farm  land  under  cultivation,  is  one  of  the  most  prosperous 
farmers  and  stock  raisers  of  Madison  township,  Johnson  coun- 
ty. He  was  the  fifth  born  of  the  eight  children  of  Gottlieb  and 
Minnie  (Bohme)  Kohl,  and  was  born  in  Germany  in  1858.  He 
emigrated  to  the  United  States  in  1881,  having  been  reared  and 
educated  in  the  Fatherland,  and  served  three  years  in  the  army, 
according  to  the  requirements  of  all  young  men  in  that  country. 
He  had  learned  the  trade  of  miller  under  his  father,  who  spent 
his  entire  life  in  Germany.  The  children  in  the  family  com- 
prised five  sons  and  three  daughters,  and  of  these  all  but  one 
son  and  two  daughters  came  to  Johnson  county,  induced  to 
take  this  step  by  Julius,  who  was  the  first  of  his  family  to  emi- 
grate. He  has  three  brothers  and  one  sister  in  Big  Grove 
township,  who  are  married  and  live  on  farms  there.  The 
father  was  a  mill  owner  and  fairly  prosperous  in  his  chosen 
field. 

At  the  time  he  came  to  America  Julius  Kohl  was  unable  to 
speak  the  English  language,  and  as  he  knew  nothing  of  work 
outside  the  trade  of  miller,  upon  his  arrival  in  Johnson  county 


884        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

he  had  to  work  Ms  way  to  a  position  of  independence  by  begin- 
ning at  the  bottom  of  the  ladder.  He  worked  for  farmers  for 
ten  and  later  for  fourteen  dollars  per  month,  during  which 
time  he  saved  what  he  could  and  awaited  a  better  opportunity 
to  get  on  in  the  world.  He  worked  much  harder  than  the  farm- 
er's employee  of  the  present  day,  who  receives  as  high  as  forty 
dollars  per  month,  such  being  often  scarce.  Mr.  Kohl  also 
worked  at  odd  jobs  while  he  was  learning  the  language  and 
customs  of  the  land,  and  in  1883  found  emplo^nnent  in  the  coral 
mills  at  Coralville,  under  Valentine  Miller,  who  soon  discov- 
ered that  the  newcomer  was  possessed  of  considerable  mechan- 
ical skill,  and  from  then  until  1891  the  latter  was  Mr.  Miller's 


RESIDENCE   OF    JULIUS   KOHL 


most  valuable  employee  in  the  mills.  Mr.  Miller  was  a  man  of 
enterprise  and  often  changed  the  machinery  in  his  mills  so  as 
to  use  the  latest  inventions.  Upon  leaving  the  employ  of  Mr. 
Miller,  Mr.  Kohl  invested  his  savings  in  a  farm  of  sixty-five 
acres  in  Big  Grove  township.  However,  that  proved  an  un- 
fortunate year  for  Mr.  Kohl,  for  while  driving  a  spirited  horse, 
he  was  thrown  from  the  buggy,  near  the  Solon  depot,  and  sus- 
tained the  serious  loss  of  his  right  arm.  He  continued  on  his 
farm,  however,  until  1901,  when  he  moved  to  a  farm  in  sections 
27  and  28  of  Madison  township,  which  was  the  birthplace  of  his 
wife  and  known  as  the  Baldozer  farm,  and  is  pleasantly  located, 
along  the  line  of  the  interurban  between  Cedar  Rapids  and 


BIOGRAPHICAL  885 

Iowa  City,  being  about  halfway  between  the  two  cities  and  well 
sheltered  from  heavy  winds.  The  Baldozer  farm  was  one  of 
the  earliest  spots  chosen  for  a  home,  and  when  Mrs.  Kohl's 
mother  first  came  from  Pennsylvania  it  was  in  a  wild  country, 
where  the  wolves  were  often  plentiful.  She  has  lived  to  see  it 
transformed  in  a  wonderful  manner,  until  street  cars  pass  the 
door. 

He  purchased  130  acres  of  the  old  homstead  which  was  so 
dear  to  his  wife,  and  later  additions  were  made  to  his  holdings. 
He  has  always  been  active  in  public  affairs  and  while  living 
at  Coralville  he  served  four  years  as  marshal.  He  was  justice 
of  the  peace  in  Madison  township  for  two  years.  He  and  his 
wife  are  useful  members  of  the  Lutheran  church. 

In  1887  Mr.  Kohl  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Minnie 
Grrebin,  and  six  children  have  blessed  their  union :  Leo,  who 
operates  the  farm;  Edith,  Carl,  Freda,  Paul  and  Minnie  (de- 
ceased). Mrs.  Kohl  is  a  daughter  of  Christian  Grebin,  an 
early  settler  of  Johnson  county,  who  was  born  in  Hanover, 
Germany,  May  15, 1834,  and  died  in  Johnson  county,  February 
14,  1901.  Mr.  Grebin  married,  in  November,  1864,  Susan 
(Lemon)  Baldozer,  a  widow,  who  was  born  in  Pennsylvania, 
April  30,  1835,  and  died  in  Johnson  county,  Iowa,  in  November, 
1900,  leaving  two  daughters,  Minnie  (Mrs.  Kohl),  and  Flora, 
wife  of  Robert  Myers,  of  Floyd  county,  Iowa.  By  her  former 
husband  she  had  several  children,  all  of  whom  save  one  son 
died  of  diphtheria  within  a  short  time,  and  this  sad  event  short- 
ened her  days,  and  she  w^as  called  to  her  final  reward,  after 
years  of  sorrowing  for  her  loss.  She  was  a  member  of  the 
United  Brethren  church  at  Crossroads,  Madison  township. 
Christian  Grebin,  who  came  to  America  in  1857,  was  a  brother 
of  William  Grebin,  deceased,  of  Oxford  township,  Johnson 
county.  The  family  is  given  further  mention  in  the  sketch  of 
Benjamin  Grebin,  which  appears  in  this  work.  Mr.  Kohl  and 
his  wife  are  both  interested  in  preserving  the  records  of  their 
families  and  the  history  of  the  region  with  which  they  have 
been  so  long  connected. 

Kohl  Park  has  become  a  popular  resort  for  campers,  also 
for  hunters  and  fishermen,  not  only  in  summer,  but  in  the  win- 
ter time  is  popular  with  trappers.     Being  on  the  banks  of  the 


886        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

Iowa  Eiver  and  on  the  line  of  the  interurban,  there  is  nearly 
always  someone  there  from  the  city. 

In  his  native  place,  Hanover,  Germany,  Mr.  Grebin  was  a 
member  of  the  German  Lutheran  church,  but  after  coming  to 
America  did  not  unite  with  any  church.  Politically  he  was  a 
democrat  and  active  in  the  councils  of  his  party.  At  the  age 
of  twenty-one  years  he  was  compelled  to  enter  the  army,  and 
became  a  member  of  the  second  company  in  the  Fifth  regiment, 
serving  two  years,  but  at  the  end  of  that  time,  in  1856,  he  hired 
a  substitute. 

In  the  spring  of  1911  Mr,  Kohl  sold  the  Baldozer  farm,  al- 
ready mentioned,  and  purchased  a  fine  modern  home  in  North 
Liberty,  where  he  now  resides.  He  owns  400  acres  of  farm 
land  in  Penn  township,  320  acres  in  Moore  county,  Minnesota, 
and  320  acres  in  the  Dakotas.  He  also  owns  the  former  resi- 
dence of  Dr.  C.  E.  Stewart,  a  beautiful  home  and  desirable  lo- 
cation. 

Mr.  Kohl's  active  interest  in  all  public  affairs,  combined  with 
his  energy  and  determination,  keeps  him  ever  abreast  of  the 
times  and  in  the  front  ranks  of  progress.  He  has  just  finished 
a  six-months'  successful  campaign  in  securing  the  incorpora- 
tion of  North  Liberty  and  is  now  serving  as  alderman  on  the 
town  board. 

Mr.  Kohl  was  17  years  of  age  when  he  entered  the  German 
army  as  a  volunteer  and  during  his  service  was  made  captain 
of  cavalry. 


FRANCIS  CUSHMAN  ADAMS 

A  careful  reading  of  the  pages  of  this  volume  can  only  deep- 
en the  respect  of  the  reader  for  those  early  pioneers  who,  by 
their  untiring  energy,  devotion  and  sacrifice,  have  made  pos- 
sible the  civilization,  prosperity,  and  enlightenment  of  the 
present  day.  The  reader  will  note  with  increasing  interest  the 
general  development  of  the  country  from  the  unbroken  forests, 
unturned  prairies,  and  primitive  cabins  to  the  broad  acres  of 
rich  cultivated  fields,  improved  farms,  and  comfortable  homes 
of  today.  We  can  hardly  realize  the  primitive  conditions  of 
this  comitry  it  the  early  day  of  1845,  the  year  that  Francis 
Cushman  Adams  with  his  family  came  to  Iowa  Territory  and 


BIOGRAPHICAL  887 

settled  where  Solon  is  now  located.  That  was  a  time  of  prom- 
ise, the  dawning  of  a  wonderfnl  future  made  possible  by  the 
men  and  women  of  the  early  days,  battling  for  some  ideal,  rep- 
resenting some  principle  and  laying  the  foundation  for  the 
present  prosperity  and  advantages.  Posterity  can  well  afford 
to  be  magnanimous  and  the  heart  swells  with  pride  and  rever- 
ence for  the  hardy  and  sacrificing  pioneers  whose  heritage  is 
now  enjoyed.  The  present  institutions  of  learning  and  indus- 
try, the  numerous  schools  and  churches,  the  general  intelli- 
gence and  moral  standards  of  the  people  and  their  general 
prosperity,  have  all  been  builded  on  the  foundation  laid  by  our 
ancestors  and  are  silent  monuments  and  tributes  of  praise  to 
the  character,  influence,  and  enthusiasm  of  the  noble-hearted 
pioneers  and  their  children. 

Francis  Cushman  Adams  was  born  September  18,  1819,  at 
Andover,  Oxford  county,  Maine,  and  was  the  fifth  son  of  John 
Emery  and  Sarah  (Moody)  Adams,  who  in  1826  moved  from 
Andover,  Maine,  to  Cleveland,  Ohio,  where  his  mother  died. 
The  father  died  in  1840,  in  the  pioneer  home  in  Johnson  coun- 
ty, Iowa. 

In  their  journey  west  from  Ohio,  Francis  C.  Adams  drove  a 
team  of  horses  the  entire  distance  from  Cleveland  to  Iowa. 
In  1854  Mr.  Adams  removed  to  Hazel  Green,  Wisconsin,  where 
he  was  married  to  Elizabeth  Edwards,  who  was  born  in  Cornell 
county,  England,  1829,  and  came  to  this  country  in  1847.  Three 
children  were  born  to  this  couple  during  their  residence  in 
Hazel  Green :  Francis  W.,  Fred,  and  Matilda.  They  later  re- 
turned to  Solon,  Iowa,  where  three  more  children  were  born : 
M.  Catherine  (Mrs.  Enoch  Hope),  William  E.,  and  Lillian  S., 
all  living. 


EUCLID  SANDERS 

« 

One  of  the  strong  and  representative  men  of  Iowa  City  and 
Johnson  county  is  Hon.  Euclid  Sanders,  farmer,  lawyer,  bank- 
er, historian,  and  all-around  good  citizen.  He  is  a  native  of 
the  city  and  county,  having  been  born  November  19,  1853,  son 
of  Cyrus  and  Sarah  Pauline  (Worden)  Sanders,  Nearly  all 
his  life  has  been  spent  in  his  native  county.  He  was  graduated 
from  the  State  University  of  Iowa  in  1874  with  the  degree  of 


888        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

Ph.  B.  He  took  his  law  course  in  the  law  department  of  the 
same  institution,  graduating  in  1876  and  recei\dng  the  degree 
of  LL.  B.  He  pursued  his  course  after  graduation,  finally 
leaving  the  University  in  1879,  practicing  law  in  Iowa  City  in 
the  meantime.  He  was  engaged  in  the  United  States  internal 
revenue  service  from  1879  to  1882.  He  then  removed  to 
Nebraska  and  pursued  his  profession  at  Hastings  until  1885. 
Leaving  that  state  he  took  up  farming  in  Iowa  in  1886-7.  In 
1888-9  he  was  editor  of  the  Beatrice,  Nebraska,  daily  Express. 

But  Iowa  lured  him  back  to  her  soil,  and  the  year  1890  finds 
him  once  more  in  Iowa  City  and  president  of  the  Iowa  City 
State  bank.  To  the  interests  of  this  bank  all  these  years  he  has 
given  his  close  attention,  making  it  one  of  the  strong  and  pros- 
perous institutions  of  the  city.  He  has  also  engaged  in  farm- 
ing operations  during  the  last  twenty  years  in  Iowa  and  Wis- 
consin, and  always  with  success.  Quiet  and  unassuming,  he 
has  gone  along  life's  pathway  modestly  performing  well  what- 
ever his  hands  and  his  brain  found  to  do. 

He  has  always  identified  himself  with  all  educational  and 
civic  matters.  He  founded  the  Iowa  City  public  park,  and  has 
made  generous  contributions  to  the  natural  science  and  plant 
departments  of  the  State  University  of  Iowa.  He  has  long 
been  a  member  of  the  board  of  curators  of  the  State  Historical 
Society,  and  is  now  and  for  some  years  has  been  the  president 
of  the  society.  To  its  affairs  he  has  given  intelligent  and  con- 
scientious direction.  He  is  a  member  of  a  number  of  learned 
societies,  among  which  may  be  mentioned  the  Mississippi  Val- 
ley Historical  Association  and  the  National  Geographical  So- 
ciety. He  takes  great  interest  in  the  growth  of  his  alma  mater, 
and  is  a  member  of  the  board  of  managers  of  the  useful  Alumni 
Bureau  of  Information.  He  is  also  a  trustee  of  the  Lakeside 
Laboratory  at  Okoboji.  He  is  a  republican  in  his  political 
affiliations,  and  a  member  of  the  Unitarian  church.  He  is 
active  in  the  Commercial  Club  of  his  citv  and  in  the  Country 
Club. 

In  all  the  relations  of  life,  private  and  public,  Mr.  Sanders  is 
a  high  type  of  the  worthy  gentleman  and  enterprising  citizen. 


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BIOGRAPHICAL  889 

BOHUMIL  SHIMEK 

No  man  has  a  more  state-wide  reputation  than  Bohumil 
Shimek,  professor  of  physiological  botany  in  the  State  Uni- 
versity of  Iowa.  And  he  is  almost  as  equally  well  known, 
among  scientists  especially,  outside  of  Iowa's  borders. 

He  was  born  June  25,  1861,  on  a  farm  just  southeast  of 
Shueyville,  Johnson  county,  Iowa,  the  son  of  Francis  Joseph 
and  Maria  Theresa  (Tit)  Sliimek.  Professor  Shiniek's  pa- 
rents were  born  in  Bohemia,  the  father  in  Castalovice  March 
21, 1821,  and  the  mother  in  Vamberk  in  1819.  The  mother  died 
in  Iowa  City  in  1866,  and  the  father  on  October  10, 1880.  These 
good  people  left  their  native  land  in  1856  and  came  to  America 
in  seach  of  freedom  from  political  oppression.  They  landed 
on  our  shores  empty-handed,  and  during  their  first  winter  here 
(1856-7)  suffered  great  hardships  in  the  northern  part  of 
Johnson  county  where  they  had  settled.  One  son  and  a  daugh- 
ter crossed  the  ocean  with  them,  and  two  sons  were  born  in 
America. 

Owing  to  the  death  of  the  mother  when  Professer  Shimek 
was  only  five  years  of  age,  and  the  father's  subsequent  mis- 
fortune in  the  loss  of  both  property  and  health,  he  practically 
was  deprived  of  boyhood.  But  he  had  acquired  from  his  fa- 
ther a  love  for  the  natural  world,  and  when  a  boy  of  eleven 
years  he  already  had  a  large  collection  of  local  insects 
which  he  mounted  on  ordinary  pins.  Later  he  took  up  the 
study  of  birds,  ferns,  and  flowers.  He  attended  the  public 
schools  of  Iowa  City,  and  was  a  member  of  the  first  class 
(1878)  which  passed  directly  from  the  high  school  to  the 
Freshman  class  of  the  University.  Accustomed  to  work  from 
an  early  age,  he  did  not  hesitate  to  earn  his  way  through  the 
University  by  day  labor  and  by  collecting  supplies  for  the 
natural  history  laboratories.  At  eleven  years  of  age  he  partly 
supported  himself  in  useful  work  w^ith  his  hands,  and  did  so 
wholly  at  sixteen.  Until  his  twentieth  year  he  tried  his  hand 
at  all  kinds  of  manual  labor  both  in  the  city  and  on  the  farm. 

In  1883  Professor  Shimek  received  from  the  State  Univer- 
sity of  Iowa  the  degree  of  civil  engineer,  and  in  1902  the  de- 
gree of  master  of  science.  From  1883  to  1885  he  was  an  in- 
structor in  the  Iowa  City  Academy,  and  in  the  high  school  from 


890        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

1885  to  1888.  From  that  time  until  1890  he  was  instructor  in 
zoology  in  the  University  of  Nebraska.  He  then  returned  to 
his  alma  mater  and  was  instructor  in  botany,  1890-1896,  as- 
sistant professor  of  botany,  1896-1902,  and  since  the  latter 
date  full  professor  of  physiological  botany.  During  the  col- 
lege year  of  1912-1913  he  was  the  acting  head  of  the  Depart- 
ment of  Botany,  and  was  also  acting  director  of  the  Macbride 
Lakeside  Laboratory  at  Okoboji  in  1912. 

For  the  past  twenty-five  years  Professor  Shimek  has  lec- 
tured in  both  English  and  Bohemian  on  educational,  scientific 
and  historical  subjects,  Adsiting  a  number  of  states  in  this 
work.    He  is  the  author  of  about  one  hundred  scientific  papers. 


EESIDENCE  OF  BOHUMIL  SHIMEK 

In  1885  as  a  student  he  did  work  at  Beaufort,  North  Carolina, 
in  the  Johns  Hopkins  Summer  School. 

His  work  and  his  investigating  spirit  have  taken  him  to 
many  distant  places,  and  he  has  traveled  and  studied  in  Nic- 
aragua, Costa  Rica,  Mexico,  practically  all  of  the  Southern 
and  Eastern  states  as  well  as  the  Southwestern  and  Western. 
He  has  done  much  field  work  in  every  county  in  Iowa.  In  1908- 
1913  he  was  field  assistant,  Iowa  Geological  Survey.  He  has 
been  a  member  of  the  Iowa  State  Geological  Board,  ex-officio 
as  president  of  the  Iowa  Academy  of  Sciences.  He  has  ever 
been  busy  in  good  work,  and  his  acti%ities  have  been  multitu- 
dinous. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  891 

Professor  Shimek  takes  an  active  interest  in  public  affairs — 
as  a  democrat  until  1896,  and  as  a  republican  since  that  time. 
He,  however,  always  places  good  citizenship  above  partisan- 
ship. He  was  a  member  of  the  city  council  of  Iowa  City  in 
1883-1887,  surveyor  for  Johnson  county,  1883-1887,  member 
of  the  school  board  of  Iowa  City,  1891-1900,  and  1909-1910, 
member  of  the  library  board  from  its  inception  until  1910,  when 
he  resigned,  and  a  member  of  the  park  board  from  1910. 

Many  scientific  societies  claim  Professor  Shimek  among  their 
members :  the  Baconion  club,  of  Iowa  City,  of  which  he  was 
president  in  1899-1900 ;  Iowa  Academy  of  Sciences,  of  which 
he  is  a  life  member  and  of  which  he  was  president  in  1904 ;  cor- 
responding member  of  the  Davenport  Academy  of  Sciences ; 
fellow  of  the  American  Association  for  the  Advancement  of 
Science,  vice-president  in  1911 ;  St.  Louis  Academy  of  Sciences ; 
Botanical  Society  of  America;  Geological  Society  of  America; 
Iowa  Chapter  of  Sigma  Xi,  president  1907-1908 ;  Iowa  Park  and 
Forestry  Association,  president  in  1909 ;  Central  Naturalists 
Association ;  Central  Association  of  Science  and  Mathematics 
Teachers ;  life  member  of  Iowa  State  Horticulaural  Society ; 
National  Educational  Association,  vice-president  of  science 
section,  1913-1911;  delegate  to  National  Conservation  Con- 
gress at  Kansas  City,  and  secretary  of  science  section,  1911. 
He  is  also  interested  in  other  organizations :  President  of  the 
Bohemian  Council  of  High  Education  since  its  organization 
in  1903 ;  member  of  the  Triangle  and  Komenian  clubs  of  the 
State  University,  and  of  the  Iowa  City  Commercial  club.  He 
is  a  member  of  Iowa  City  lodge  No.  4,  A.  F.  and  A.  M.,  Iowa 
City  chapter  No.  2,  R.  A.  M.,  Palestine  Comuiandery  No.  2, 
Iowa  Consistory  No.  2,  A.  and  A.  S.  Rite,  32°,  and  C.  S.  P.  S. 
In  church  relations  he  is  a  Unitarian,  and  is  president  of  the 
board  of  trustees  of  the  church  at  Iowa  City. 

Professor  Shimek  was  married  at  Iowa  City,  June  23,  1886, 
to  Anna  Elizabeth  Konvalinka,  who  was  born  in  Iowa  City 
August  4,  1864,  daughter  of  Joseph  F.  Konvalinka,  born  in 
Bohemia  in  1822,  died  in  Iowa  City  March  29,  1894.  Her 
mother  was  Anna  Cerny,  who  came  to  Iowa  City  direct  from 
Bohemia  in  1854  and  who  died  March  19,  1899. 

The  children  of  Professor  and  Mrs.  Shimek  are :  Ella,  born 
July  8,  1887,  graduated  with  degree  of  B.  A.  from  S.  U.  I.  in 


892        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

1909,  and  M.  S.,  1911,  now  teacher  of  botany  in  the  Iowa  City 
high  school,  a  position  formerly  held  by  her  father ;  Bertha, 
born  May  5,  1889,  in  Lincoln,  Nebraska,  graduated  from  S.  U. 
I.  in  1909  with  degree  of  B.  A.,  married  Dr.  Paul  J.  Hanzlik, 
of  the  Western  Reserve  Medical  School,  Cleveland,  Ohio; 
Anna,  born  March  22,  1892,  in  Iowa  City,  now  a  senior  in  the 
S.  U.  I. ;  Vlasta,  born  October  24,  1895,  now  a  freshman  in  S. 
U.  I. ;  and  Frank,  born  June  17,  1900. 

Professor  Shimek  is  a  man  of  whom  the  state  may  well  be 
proud.  He  is  ever  inclined  to  work  rather  than  play.  He  is 
of  a  retiring  disposition,  not  inclined  to  mingle  with  men  unless 
service  can  be  rendered.  He  has  always  placed  service  to  oth- 
ers above  all  other  considerations.  He  has  given  much  time 
to  the  educational  and  other  interests  of  the  Bohemian  people 
of  this  country.  For  many  years  he  taught  in  Iowa  City  in  a 
Bohemian  summer  and  evening  school. 


EMLIN  McCLAIN 


Judge  Emlin  McClain  was  in  1900  called  to  the  judgeship  of 
the  Supreme  court  and  at  the  expiration  of  the  term  was  re- 
elected, 1906,  and  his  course  has  been  distinguished  by  high 
legal  ability.  To  wear  the  ermine  worthily  it  is  not  enough 
that  one  possess  legal  acumen,  is  learned  in  the  principles  of 
jurisprudence,  familiar  with  precedents  and  thoroughly  honest. 
Many  men,  even  when  acting  uprighth^,  are  unable  to  wholly 
divest  themselves  of  prejudice  and  are  unconsciously  warped 
in  their  judgments  by  their  own  mental  characteristics  or 
educational  peculiarities.  This  unconscious  and  variable  dis- 
turbing force  enters  more  or  less  into  the  judgTQents  of  all  men, 
but  in  the  ideal  jurist  this  fact  becomes  so  small  as  not  to  be 
discernible  in  results  and  loses  its  potency  as  a  disturbing  ele- 
ment. Judge  McClain,  in  the  opinion  of  the  bar,  is  exception- 
ally free  from  judicial  bias.  His  varied  legal  learning  and 
wide  experience  in  the  courts,  the  patient  care  with  which  he 
ascertains  all  the  facts  bearing  upon  every  case  that  comes  be- 
fore him  gives  his  decisions  a  solidity  and  exhaustiveness  from 
which  the  members  of  the  bar  can  take  no  exception. 

He  is  a  native  of  Salem,  Ohio,  born  November  26,  1851,  son 
of  William  and  Rebecca  (Harris)  McClain.     His  father  de- 


BIOGRAPHICAL  893 

voted  the  greater  part  of  his  life  to  the  work  of  education,  and 
before  coming  to  Iowa,  in  1855,  had  been  principal  of  Salem 
Institute.  On  coming  to  Iowa,  he  located  at  Tipton,  Cedar 
county,  where  he  was  for  one  year  principal  of  the  schools. 
The  next  year  he  had  charge  of  the  public  schools  at  Kochester. 
The  following  year  he  opened  a  farm  in  Cedar  county,  and  was 
engaged  in  farming  until  1864,  when  he  removed  to  Wilton, 
Iowa.  In  1866  he  came  to  Iowa  City,  purchasing  and  conduct- 
ing the  Iowa  City  Commercial  College,  in  connection  with  which 
he  founded  the  Iowa  City  Academy,  which  is  still  in  existence. 
In  1877,  and  shortly  before  his  death,  he  removed  to  Des 
Moines  and  established  a  commercial  college  there. 

At  the  age  of  fifteen.  Judge  McClain  entered  as  student  the 
State  University  of  Iowa,  from  which  he  graduated  with  the 


RESIDENCE  OF  EMLIN  McCLAIN 

degree  of  Ph.  B.  in  1871,  A.  B.  in  1872,  and  LL.  B.  in  1873.  In 
1881  he  received  the  honorary  degree  of  A.  M.,  from  that  insti- 
tution, and  the  degree  of  LL.  D.,  in  1891,  from  the  same  insti- 
tution and  also  from  Findlay  College,  Ohio.  He  practiced  law 
at  Des  Moines,  Iowa,  from  1873  to  1881,  being  associated  with 
the  firm  of  Gatch,  AVright  &  Runnells,  and  later  with  George 
McClelland  and  Charles  A.  Finkbine.  He  was  secretary  of 
the  committee  on  claims  of  the  United  States  Senate,  and  pri- 
vate secretary  of  Senator  George  G.  Wright  in  1875-77.  In 
1881  he  was  appointed  professor  in  the  law  department  of  the 
State  University  of  Iowa,  and  became  vice-chancellor  of  the 
department  in  1887,  and  chancellor  in  1890,  continuing  in  that 


894        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

position  until  elected  judge  of  the  Supreme  court,  for  the  regu- 
lar term  commencing  January  1,  1901.  His  record  there  was 
in  harmony  with  his  record  as  a  man  and  lawyer,  characterized 
by  the  faithful  performance  of  eveiy  duty  and  a  masterful 
grasp  of  every  problem  for  solution. 

In  1880  he  published  McClain's  Annotated  Statutes  of  Iowa, 
which  was  revised  and  published  as  McClain's  Annotated  Code 
of  Iowa,  in  1888,  and  remained  the  standard  compilation  of 
the  Code  and  laws  of  the  state  until  the  adoption  in  1897  of  a 
new  annotated  code  published  by  the  state,  for  which  he  furn- 
ished the  annotations.  In  the  meantime  he  had  been  one  of 
the  commissioners  appointed  to  prepare  this  Code.  In  1886 
he  published  McClain's  Iowa  Digest  in  two  volumes,  which 
he  subsequently  revised  and  published  in  four  volumes  in  1908. 
In  addition  to  these  works  he  is  the  author  of  McClain's  Crim- 
inal Law  (two  volumes,  1897),  Cases  on  the  Law  of  Carriers 
(1893,  second  edition,  1896),  Cases  on  Constitutional  Law 
(1900,  second  edition,  1909),  Constitutional  Laiv  in  the  United 
States  (1904,  second  edition,  1910),  articles  on  Carriers,  Fire 
Insurance  and  Life  Insurance  in  Cyclopedia  of  Law  and  Pro- 
cedure, and  articles  on  constitutional  law  in  the  Cyclopedia  of 
American  Government  and  in  Modern  American  Law,  both 
recently  published.  In  addition,  Judge  McClain  has  contribut- 
ed many  articles  to  law  magazines. 

At  the  conclusion  of  his  second  full  term  on  the  Supreme 
bench,  in  1912,  Judge  McClain  accepted  a  professorship  in  Le- 
land  Stanford,  Jr.,  University,  California,  where  he  now  re- 
sides. 

Judge  McClain  was  the  first  president  of  the  Iowa  State  Bar 
Association,  and  has  been  for  many  years  a  member  of  the 
American  Bar  Association,  serving  at  different  times  as  chair- 
man of  the  committee  on  legal  education  of  that  body,  and  as 
president  of  the  Association  of  American  Law  Schools. 

He  was  married  in  Des  Moines  (February  19, 1879)  to  Ellen 
Griffiths,  daughter  of  H.  H.  Griffiths,  commander  of  the  First 
Iowa  Battery  in  Sherman's  Army,  and  their  children  are  Don- 
ald, Henry,  and  Gwendolyn. 

Judge  McClain  is  a  member  of  the  Beta  Theta  Pi  fraternity, 
and  a  Phi  Beta  Kappa.  On  the  organization  of  a  chapter  of 
the  law  fraternity  of  Phi  Delta  Phi,  at  the  State  University  of 


BIOGRAPHICAL  895 

Iowa,  the  chapter  was  given  his  name.     As  a  student  he  was  a 
member  of  the  Zetagathean  Literary  Society. 

In  politics  Judge  McClain  has  been  continuously  a  republi- 
can, and  his  religious  associations  have  been  with  the  Con- 
gregational church,  although  his  parents  were  Quakers. 


DR.  A.  J.  BURGE 


"Montburge"  is  the  suburban  home  of  Dr.  and  Mrs.  A.  J. 
Burge,  on  the  heights  along  the  Interurban  railway,  west  of  the 
city.  Taken  in  all  it  represents  one  of  the  most  finely  improv- 
ed countiy  homes  in  eastern  Iowa,  and  is  the  culmination  of 
years  of  upbuilding  on  the  part  of  its  owner  who  is  a  firm  be- 
liever in  the  "Country  Beautiful"  in  Iowa. 


EESIDENCE  OF  DE.  A.  J.  BURGE 

It  is  one  of  the  much  frequented  homes  about  Iowa's  Uni- 
versity, and  is  a  fitting  example  of  the  possibilities  attainable 
in  elevating  and  beautifying  country  life. 

Both  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Burge  come  from  pioneer  families,  active 
in  the  development  of  this — a  pioneer  section  of  the  state,  and 
its  early  capital.  Mrs.  Burge  is  the  eldest  daughter  of  John  and 
Mary  Becker  Lasheck — Mr.  Lasheck  for  over  a  third  of  a  cen- 
tury well  known  as  cashier  in  the  First  National  bank,  and  later 
in  governmental  banking  service. 

Dr.  Burge  takes  pride  in  the  pioneer  ancestry  of  both  par- 


896        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

ents.  His  paternal  gTeat-grandfatlier  coming  to  Mt.  Vernon, 
Linn  county,  in  1837,  where  for  sixty  years  following  he  was 
most  active  in  the  upbuilding  of  that  commmiity,  including 
Cornell  College,  which  he  helped  to  found.  His  mother's  fa- 
ther, Joseph  Walker,  coming  to  Pleasant  Valley  township, 
Johnson  county,  in  1836,  founded  the  well  known  Walker 
estate  on  which  was  born  and  still  resides  Mrs.  Mary  Walker 
Burge,  with  her  husband,  Martin  Burge. 

Both  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Burge  are  graduates  and  post-graduates 
of  the  University,  and  later  Dr.  Burge  after  further  prepara- 
tion at  home  and  abroad,  returned  to  the  State  University 
where  for  thirteen  years  he  has  held  the  position  of  assistant 
professor  of  surgery,  in  its  college  of  medicine. 


THE  SWANK  CHURCH 

Built  in  1906. 

Board  of  trustees— Robert  Swank,  George  Yocum,  T.  J.  Mc- 
Callister,  Lewis  Rubelman,  George  Walts. 

On  Sunday,  April  28, 1907,  the  dedication  services  were  held 
by  Rev.  W.  Ernest  Stockley,  of  Madrid,  Iowa,  assisted  by  local 
and  visiting  ministers. 

For  several  years  the  people  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Swank 
cemetery  have  realized  their  need  of  a  church  edifice  in  their 
community.  On  May  4, 1906,  a  public  meeting  was  held  in  the 
King  school  house  to  consider  the  matter  and  at  that  time  it 
was  decided  to  erect  a  church  building  at  the  Swank  cemetery 
and  T.  J.  McCallister  and  George  Yocum  were  appointed  as  a 
committee  to  canvas  and  find  what  amount  of  money  could  be 
raised  for  the  purpose.  Their  efforts  were  so  successful  that 
another  meeting  was  held  and  the  body  organized  as  the  Swank 
Cemetery  association  and  steps  were  taken  to  incorporate  un- 
der the  laws  of  the  state  of  Iowa. 

Too  much  cannot  be  said  in  commendation  of  the  untiring 
efforts  of  the  board  of  trustees  who  under  the  zealous  leader- 
ship of  their  first  president,  Robert  Swank,  and  his  successor, 
T.  J.  McCallister,  have  carried  out  the  plans  and  brought  the 
efforts  to  completion. 


B.   SHIMEK 


THE  BOHEMIANS  IN  JOHNSON  COUNTY 

By  B.  S(h)imek 

The  Bohemians,  or  as  they  should  properly  be  called,  the  C(h)echs,*  constitute 
approximately  one-fifth  of  the  population  of  Johnson  county.  They  occupy  the 
greater  part  of  the  northern  tier  of  townships,  and  their  colony  extends  into  Oxford, 
Madison,  and  Penn  townships  and  across  Newport  township  into  the  northern  and 
eastern  part  of  Iowa  City.  Smaller  colonies  are  also  found  in  Union,  Lincoln,  and 
Fremont   townships,  and  individual   families  are  scattered  throughout  the  county. 

It  is  now  practically  impossible  to  detennine  the  name  of  the  first  Bohemian 
who  came  to  this  county.  The  first  owner  of  real  estate  seems  to  have  been  Anton 
Rigl  (or  Eigel)  who  purchased  a  part  of  section  4  in  Big  Grove  township  on  the 
9th  day  of  January,  1852.  Others,  like  Joseph  Rene (h) in,  came  early  but  re- 
turned to  Bohemia  for  their  families  or  friends. 

THE  NORTHERN  COLONY 

The  first  permanent  settlement  was  made  in  the  northern  part  of  the  county  and 
centered  in  Jeiferson  township  in  this  county  and  College  township  in  Linn  county. 
The  majority  of  the  older  settlers  in  this  section  came  in  the  years  1854  to  1856, 
but  stragglers  followed  for  many  years  after.  These  people  left  their  native  land 
during  the  period  of  political  disturbances  which  followed  the  revolutionary  out- 
breaks of  1848  and  1849,  the  period  of  great  awakening  among  European  nations. 
The  oppressed  of  all  nations  were  demanding  their  rights  and  the  Bohemians,  who 
had  borne  the  oppression  of  the  Austrian  government  for  several  generations,  joined 
in  the  general  uprising.  The  partial  collapse  of  this  effort  made  exiles  of  many  of 
those  who  had  taken  part  in  it,  and  the  industrial  depression  which  followed  caused 
many  more  to  leave  their  native  land. 

The  spirit  with  which  these  people  entered  upon  their  duties  in  the  land  of  their 
adoption  may  perhaps  be  best  understood  by  a  brief  reference  to  the  history  of  the 
' '  Slavonic  Political  Society ' '  which  was  organized  at  the  home  of  Mr.  John 
Witous(h)ek  near  Shueyville,  March  5,  1863,  and  the  records  of  which  are  still 
preserved.  By  this  time  the  older  settlers  had  become  citizens  of  this  country,  the 
first  application  for  naturalization  papers,  so  far  as  the  records  of  Johnson  county 
show,  having  been  made  by  John  Witous(h)ek.  August  17,  18.54,  others  following 
rapidly.  The  privilege  of  free  citizenship,  which  had  been  denied  to  them  in  their 
native  country,  was  so  highly  prized  that  few  permitted  delay  in  securing  it.  But 
they  felt  the  need  of  a  more  thorough  understanding  of  their  new  duties,  which 
had  been  assumed  most  seriously,  and  for  this  purpose  the  society  was  organized. 
Its  object  as  set  forth  in  the  records  was  twofold:  1.  The  maintenance  of  our 
Slavonic  honor  among  Americans.     2.     Honorable  participation  in  the  political  af- 

*  In  Bohemian  the  letter  c  with  a  v-shaped  mark  over  it  (c)  is  pronounced  as 
ch  in  chat,  and  similarly  s  with  a  v-shaped  mark  over  it  (s)  is  pronounced  like 
sh  in  shall.  In  this  account  the  letter  (h)  in  parenthesis  signifies  that  the  letter 
c  or  s  preceding  it  should  be  written  and  pronounced  as  here  indicated.  Where  eh 
appears  without  the  parenthesis  it  is  sounded  as  in  German. 


898        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

fairs  of  this  country.  Its  motto  was  well  worthy  of  a  body  of  strong  men  :  ' '  Unity 
in  fundamentals,  freedom  in  disputed  questions,  charity  in  all  things."  The  object 
of  the  society  was  to  discuss  political  questions  and  thus  gain  the  necessary  in- 
formation for  an  intelligent  exercise  of  franchise.  To  reach  a  fair  conclusion,  as 
the  records  show,  the  society  subscribed  for  the  New  York  Staatsseitung  (German) 
"because  it  is  democratic,"  the  New  York  Tribune  (English)  "because  it  is  re- 
publican," and  the  Dubuque  Herald  (German)  to  give  information  concerning 
questions  of  direct  interest  to  the  people  of  this  state.  In  addition  to  this  the 
society  and  its  members  subscribed  for  the  Slavie,  the  only  Bohemian  paper  pub- 
lished in  this  country  at  the  time.  The  numerous  addresses  and  discussions,  of 
which  a  partial  record  is  preserved,  breathe  a  spirit  of  appreciation  of  liberty  and 
the  responsibilities  of  free  citizenship  which  is  not  often  found  in  political 
discussions.  No  body  of  foreigners  ever  received  the  rights  of  American  citizen- 
ship with  a  deeper  appreciation  of  their  duties,  and  the  writer  knows  from  personal 
experience  that  it  was  an  inspiration  in  later  years  to  listen  to  the  fervid  utterances 
of  some  of  these  men  who  had  suffered  so  much  in  their  efforts  to  secure  the  right 
which  they  finally  enjoyed.  These  were  strong  men  and  good  citizens,  and  no  taint 
of  anarchy  marred  their  concept  of  a  government  of  the  people. 

The  society  undertook  to  celebrate  the  Fourth  of  July  in  1864.  and  Francis 
Joseph  S(h)imek  of  Jefferson  township,  and  John  B.  Seykora  of  Iowa  City  were 
selected  as  the  orators  of  the  day,  though  the  records  do  not  show  that  the  latter 
officiated.  The  celebration  was  held  in  Shueyville,  and  here  in  a  strange  tongue 
these  people  gave  expression  to  their  profound  appreciation  of  American  patriotism. 
Similar  activities  were  continued  until  1870,  when  the  society  was  transformed  into 
the  Eeading  Society,  which  is  still  in  existence  in  Monroe  and  Jefferson  townships. 
The  first  officers  of  the  Political  Society  were  the  followng:  President,  Rev. 
Francis  Kun;  vice  presidents,  Joseph  Hrdlic(h)ka  and  Anthony  Sulek;  secretary, 
Francis  Joseph  S(h)imek;  treasurer,  George  Bures(h)  ;  librarian,  Frank  Sulek. 
This  was  not  the  first  Bohemian  society  in  the  county,  for  other  organizations  had 
preceded  it  both  in  Jefferson  township  and  in  Iowa  City,  but  it  is  especially  note- 
worthy because  it  was  the  first  to  make  preparation  for  the  duties  of  American 
citizenship  its  chief  aim,  and  the  spirit  of  its  membership  was  but  typical  of  the 
spirit  of  those  earlier  pioneers  who  brought  so  much  of  understanding  to  their  new 
duties  out  of  the  abundance  of  their  own  sufferings  and  experiences. 

As  noted,  the  original  settlement  in  the  northern  part  of  the  county  centered  in 
Jefferson  township,  but  extended  far  beyond  its  limits.  The  first  settlers  came 
either  by  way  of  Iowa  City,  or  directly  across  the  prairies  from  Racine,  Wisconsin, 
which  was  the  starting  point  for  the  ox-team  caravans  which  crossed  the  prairies  to 
the  Iowa  Eldorado  before  the  railroad  crossed  the  Mississippi  river.  These  people 
were  in  part  political  refugees,  like  Anthony  Sulek,  Joseph  Sosel,  Francis  J. 
S(h)imek,  and  others,  or  they  were  seeking  relief  from  the  industrial  oppression 
and  depression  from  which  they  had  suffered  in  their  own  country.  They  came  with 
limited  means,  and  partly  for  this  reason,  and  partly  because  in  their  native  land 
they  had  been  accustomed  to  comparatively  small  tracts  of  ground,  they  purchased 
small  tracts  of  cheap  land  which  had  been  practically  exhausted  by  earlier  settlers, 
or  acquired  prairie  which  was  then  still  considered  of  little  value.  But  it  is  notice- 
able that  they  soon  acquired  land  and  built  their  own  homes,  and  this  home-making 
quality  has  characterized  the  Bohemian  people  of  every  class  and  kind  who  have 
come  to  this  country. 

As  also  noted,  the  first  purchase  of  land  in  the  northern  part  of  the  county  by 
a  Bohemian  was  probably  that  of  Anthony  Rigl  in  Big  Grove  township  in  1852,  but 


BIOGRAPHICAL  899 

larger  numbers  did  not  come  until  1854,  and  the  majority  of  these  settled  in  Jef- 
ferson township  and  the  adjoining  part  of  Linn  county.  Purchases  of  land  were 
made  during  that  year  by  the  following  persons  in  about  the  order  named,  as  shown 
by  the  county  deed  records.* 

Anthony  Sulek,  Prancis  Eigl  (or  Rigel)  (also  called  Ridl),  John  Witous(h)ek, 
Joseph  Eenc(h)in,  Anthony  Kopecky,  Joseph  Coufal  (Coufall,  also  appearing  as 
Sofal;  the  station  on  the  Cedar  Rapids  and  Iowa  City  Interurban  now  written  Cou 
Falls,  was  named  for  this  man),  Joseph  Dostal,  Victor  Barta  (later  written  Barta- 
Letovsky),  John  Horak,  Ignatius  (Ignaz  S(h)tepanek,  and  Anthony  Pecka  (Pitzka). 
Other  settlers  who  came  to  Jefferson  township  but  did  not  purchase  land  until  later 
were:     John  Barta-Letovsky,  George  Sirovy,  Frank  Hajek,  Bontta,  and  others. 

During  the  same  year  (1854)  purchases  were  made  in  Big  Grove  township  by  the 
following:  Anthony  Plesl  (Antoine  Plassel),  Ignatius  (Ignaz)  Zabokrtsky  (Zawa- 
kusky;  the  name  also  appears  in  other  records  as  Zabriskie,  and  in  other  forms), 
Joseph  Stransky,  Vit  Votroubek  (Watrobek),  Ignatius  (Ignaz)  S(h)tepanek. 
Frank  Zika  and  John  Fiala  also  came  to  Big  Grove  or  Cedar  townships  in  1854,  but 
did  not  at  once  buy  land.  In  Cedar  township  the  purchases  during  that  year  were 
made  by  Joseph  Zenis(h)ek  (Zenischek  or  Zenisheck),  Jacob  Zenis(h)ek  and  Joseph 
Kuc(h)era.  It  is  also  probable  that  John  Dusil  settled  in  Monroe  township  during 
the  same  year. 

In  1855  a  larger  number  settled  in  the  county,  and  purchases  were  made  as 
follows: 

In  Jefferson  township  —  Joseph  Filipi  (Phillippi,  also  Filipy),  Vaclav  (Wenzel) 
Sulek,  Francis  Kubias,  Joseph  S(h)tepanek,  George  Sirovy  (also  Syrovy),  Joseph 
Pirkl  (Perkle),  John  Slezak,  Matthias  S(h)kerik  (Mathew  Sherik),  Francis  Kali- 
ban,  John  Janko  (also  Johnke),  Daniel  Kuc(h)era,  Vaclav  S(h)ich  (Wenzel  Seek), 
Joseph  Horsky  (also  Horskie),  Francis  Volesky  (or  Wolesky).  John  Holec,  Frank 
Mys(h)ka,  John  Feyerabend,  John  S(h)pac(h)ek  and  Joseph  Stransky  also  came 
in  during  this  year  but  made  no  purchases. 

In  Big  Grove  township  —  Daniel  Kramar,  John  Novak  (Nowak),  John  Trkal 
(Takal),  Ignatius   (Ignatz)  Serbousek  and  Francis  Zika  (Frantz  Syka). 

In  Cedar  township  —  Joseph  Ptak,  Matthias  Hynek  (Hinek),  Dolezal  and  Holu- 
bar,  James  Brodsky  (Brodska),  John  Broz  (Brush),  and  Francis  Sv(w)idensky. 

In  the  year  1855  several  new-comers  arrived  in  Big  Grove  or  Cedar  Township, 
among  them  Vaclav  Ule(h),  Albert  Maly,  Jacob  Zinkula,  Thomas  Kuc(h)era, 
Jacob  Kuc(h)era,  John  Jilek  and  Jacob  Smith. 

In  Newport  township  Anthony  Sulek  and  John  Novak  (Nowak)  purchased  land 
in  the  northern  part  in  the  year  1855,  and  were  the  first  Bohemian  land  owners  in 
that  township. 

In  the  year  1856  additional  purchases  were  made  in  Jefferson  township,  but 
mostly  by  those  who  had  come  in  the  preceding  year,  or  in  1854.  The  following 
are  shown  by  the  records:  John  JBarta-Letovsky  (Bartiletowsky),  Joseph 
S(h)imbersky  (Shinborsky),  Joseph  Jakubec  (Takubetz,  also  written  Jokobez), 
and  Vaclav  Fibikar  (Winzel  Fibiker).  Others  who  came  during  this  year  were: 
Frank  Pirkl  and  Francis  J.  S(h)imek.  There  was  also  quite  an  addition  to  the 
colony  in  the  latter  part  of  1855  and  the  early  part  of  1856  consisting  of  the  fol- 
lowing, the  exact  date  of  whose  arrival  was  not  ascertained :  Joseph  Hrdlic(h)ka, 
John  Feyerabend,  Frank  Mys(h)ka,  John  Dlouhy,  Frank  Pospis(h)il,  Frank  Bys, 


*  The  correct  form  of  the  name  is  given  first,  and  if  another  form  appears  in  the 
records,  or  is  in  common  use,  this  appears  in  parenthesis.  Since  so  many  of  the 
names  are  misspelled  in  the  records  it  is  believed  that  this  will  form  a  useful 
reference. 


900        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

Frank  Eous(h)al,  Hynek  Serbousek,  John  S(h)pac(h)ek,  Zahradnik,  and  John 
Kroul.  Later  some  of  these  purchased  land  and  others  located  elsewhere  in  this 
or  Linn  county. 

In  Cedar  township,  in  1856,  John  Vrba  (Verbough),  John  Fiala  and  Joseph 
Las(h)ek  purchased  land,  and  other  new-comers  in  this  and  Big  Grove  township, 
were  the  following :     Vaclav  Krofta,  Frank  Stochl,  Anton  Dvorak,  and  John  Ruzek. 

In  the  '60 's  further  additions  were  made  to  the  Bohemian  colony  in  Jefferson 
and  Monroe  townships,  among  them  Joseph  Konasek  (1860),  Vaclav  Pudil  and 
John  S(h)plichal  (1861),  Joseph  C(h)astek  (1862),  John  Krejsa  (1864),  Anthony 
C(h)ihak,  Joseph  Netolicky,  and  others. 

It  should  also  be  noted  that  several  families  which  at  first  located  in  Linn 
county  at  an  early  day  later  moved  to  Jefferson  or  Monroe  townships  in  Johnson 
county.  Among  these  were :  Paul  Korab  and  the  Novak  family  who  came  in  1854, 
Thouas  Korab  in  1855  and  George  Chadima  in  1856. 

This  northern  settlement  has  changed  very  much  since  the  days  of  these  pioneers. 
The  log  house  has  been  crowded  out  by  the  modern  residence ;  the  automobile  and 
the  carriage  have  taken  the  place  of  the  ox-team;  the  small  holdings  of  the  first 
settlers  have  expanded;  out  of  the  waste  or  wild  lands  of  early  years  splendid 
farms  have  been  developed;  and  the  people  are  no  longer  strangers  in  this  land. 
The  children  of  these  pioneers  know  nothing  personally  of  the  hardships  which  the 
fathers  suffered,  but  they  cherish  the  memories  of  those  who  dared  to  endure,  and 
they  are  proud  of  the  stock  from  which  they  came. 

This  northern  colony  has  furnished  Johnson  county  and  the  state,  more  or  less 
directly,  with  a  long  list  of  useful  servants.  In  this  list  are  three  professors  of 
the  State  University  (Professors  H.  Claude  Horack  and  B.  Shimek,  and  Assistant 
Professor  Ffank  E.  Horack),  a  member  of  the  legislature  and  mayor  of  Iowa  City 
(John  M.  Barta-Letovsky),  a  clerk  of  the  District  court  (Paul  A.  Korab),  two 
county  recorders  (J.  J.  Novak  and  James  Havlik,  Jr.),  four  members  of  the  board 
of  supervisors  (Anthony  Sulek,  George  Ulch,  Frank  Sulek  and  Joseph  Konasek), 
and  various  minor  county,  city  and  township  officers.  It  has  also  given  to  Iowa 
City  and  Cedar  Rapids  a  number  of  successful  business  and  professional  men. 

IOWA  CITY 

While  the  largest  permanent  early  settlement  was  formed  in  the  northern  part 
of  the  county,  several  Bohemian  families  settled  in  Iowa  City  at  a  very  early  date. 
The  first  one  to  own  real  estate  in  Iowa  City,  so  far  as  the  county  records  show,  was 
Mr.  Zenis(h)ek  who  became  part  owner  of  lot  1,  block  20,  January  23rd,  1855.  In 
1856  John  Hamrlik  (Hamerliek),  Vaclav  Mikulecky  (Wencel  Michaletsky).  and 
Anton  Javorsky  also  purchased  lots,  and  in  the  following  years  many  who  had 
come  earlier  also  acquired  property.  John  Hamrlik  came  with  his  family  in  1852, 
but  he  found  several  families  located  in  Iowa  City,  among  them  the  Kadera  and 
Stejskal  families,  and  John  Kile. 

Early  in  1854  John  C(h)erny,  with  his  sons-in-law,  Joseph  Charvat  (now  usu- 
ally written  Harvat)  and  Joseph  Konvalinka,  and  their  families,  located  for  a 
short  time  on  the  north  side  of  Renolds  street  east  of  Linn,  where  they  built  their 
own  house,  Mr.  C(h)erny  being  a  carpenter  and  Mr.  Konvalinka  a  millwright. 
During  the  same  year,  or  in  some  cases  probably  earlier,  the  following  arrived : 
Vaclav  Duehae(h)ek  (probably  much  earlier),  Jacob  Zinkula,  Eggermeyer,  Jerabek, 
Vaclav  Mikulecky,  Emanuel  Eohlena,  and  perhaps  others. 

Among  the  arrivals  in  1855  were  George  Dostal  and  Anton  Javorsky  (now 
usually   written  Yavorsky).     Subsequently   larger  numbers    came„  especially   just 


BIOGRAPHICAL  901 

before  and  after  the  Austro-Prussian  war  in  1866,  and  the  Bohemian  population 
of  Iowa  City  increased  until  it  has  formed  approximately  twenty  per  cent  of  the 
total.  Unfortunately  no  accurate  record  of  these  arrivals  is  at  hand,  but  the  fol- 
lowing are  recalled:  The  families  of  Frank  Mezik  (1856),  Frank  S(h)ala  (Shalla) 
(1857),  M.  Kroc  (Krotz),  Severin  Buric(h),  Anton  Bittner,  Joseph  Maly,  Vaclav 
Silbernagel,  Joseph  Pis(h)a  (1864),  Vaclav  W.  Mares(h)  (1866),  George  Nedobity, 
Joseph  Kriz,  Frank  Dvorak,  Frank  Vorel,  Alncent  Kresl  (Grissel),  Joseph  Kozderka, 
John  Lehky,  Frank  Zetek,  M.  Plevka,  Vaclav  Kriz,  Ivan  Vejvoda,  Vaclav  Calta, 
Peter  Kodl  (Cole),  Joseph  Las(h)ek,  Vaclav  Las(h)ek,  Thomas  Neuzil  (1867),  Jo- 
seph Kaspar  (1867),  Pribyl,  Fl-auenholz,  Vavrina,  Joseph  Slavata  (1874),  etc. 
Other  names  of  early  settlers  will  be  found  in  the  list  of  soldiers  of  the  Civil  War. 
These  people  came  for  the  most  part  with  limited  means,  but  they  were  thrifty, 
and  by  nature  home-builders,  and  they  soon  acquired  homes  of  their  own.  They 
have  become  a  fixed  part  of  the  population  of  Iowa  City,  and  by  their  industry  and 
perseverance  they  have  added  materially  to  its  development.  The  younger  genera- 
tion is  taking  an  active  part  in  the  business  and  professional  activities  of  the  city, 
and  in  its  public  affairs,  and  their  representatives  have  occupied  practically  every 
official  jiosition  within  the  gift  of  the  community. 

NEWPORT  TOWNSHIP 

A  few  Bohemians  had  settled  in  the  northern  part  of  this  township  in  the  middle 
fifties,  at  the  edge  of  the  northern  colony,,  but  the  present  settlement  was  estab- 
lished somewhat  later.  In  the  early  sixties  Joseph  Lhotka,  Martin  Vanek, 
Plas(h)il  and  M.  Parizek  formed  the  nucleus  of  the  present  colony.  John  Dvorsky 
came  in  1866,  and  his  brother,  Fl^ank  Dvorsky,  and  Dominic  Jirava,  the  Lacinas, 
Hradeks,  Krals,  and  others,  followed.  By  their  industry  these  people  greatly  im- 
proved an  unpromising  region,  and  in  later  years  several  families  assisted  in  estab- 
lishing settlements  in  other  parts  of  the  county. 

OTHER  SETTLEMENTS 

Smaller  settlements  were  formed  later  in  Lincoln  and  Fremont  townships,  and 
in  Union  township.  In  the  former  one  of  the  earlier  settlers  was  John  Pechman, 
and  later  the  Petrus,  Petsels,  Dvorskys,  and  others  came  in  chiefly  from  Newport 
township. 

The  nucleus  of  the  Union  township  colony  was  formed  by  Peter  Kodl  (Cole) 
and  Frank  Vrchoticky  (usvially  known  as  Bily  or  White),  and  soon  after  Thomas 
Neuzil,  Hibl,  Hradek,  and  others  from  Iowa  City  and  Newport  township  followed. 

In  addition  to  this  there  are  settlements  in  Oxford,  Madison  and  Penn  townships, 
which  are  practically  extensions  of  the  northern  colony,  and  many  families  are 
scattered  about  in  other  parts  of  the  county. 

SOLDIERS  OF  THE  CIVIL  WAR 

Reference  has  been  made  to  the  intense  patriotism  of  the  early  Bohemian  set- 
tlers. Many  of  them  had  left  their  own  country  because  they  did  not  wish  to  serve 
in  the  army  of  a  foreign  tyrant,  but  war  for  human  rights  presented  an  entirely 
different  aspect  to  them.  Although  the  Johnson-Linn  county  settlement  was  rela- 
tively not  large  it  furnished  nearly  one  hundred  soldiers  who  fought  in  the  armies 
of  the  North,  the  greater  part  coming  from  Johnson  county. 

As  many  of  the  names  of  the  Bohemian  soldiers  are  misspelled  in  the  reports  of 
the  Adjutant  General  of  Iowa  for  the  years  1863-65,  and  as  it  is  desirable  that  a 


902        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

correct  record  of  these  names  be  preserved,  a  complete  list  of  all  the  Bohemians 
who  enlisted  from  Johnson  county,  so  far  as  could  be  ascertained,  is  here  presented : 
In  every  case  the  correct  name  is  given  first  and  the  name  as  given  in  the  adju- 
tant-general's reports,  or  the  Koster  of  Iowa  Soldiers,  vols.  I-IV,  1908-1910,  if 
different,  follows  in  parenthesis.  In  a  number  of  cases  the  men  enlisted  outside  of 
Johnson  county,  chiefly  at  Cedar  Kapids,  but  were  residents  of  this  county.  On 
the  other  hand  perhaps  some  who  enlisted  in  this  county  belonged  elsewhere.  This 
was  the  case  with  Charles  Bednar  and  John  Pospis(h)il,  who  probably  came  from 
Linn  county.  The  nativity  of  several  is  erroneously  given  in  the  reports  as  German 
or  Austrian.     The  list  follows: 

6th   IOWA  INFANTRY 

Company  G — Belka,  Charles  (Bilka,  Charles),  3rd  sergeant,  wounded  at  Kesaca, 
Ga. ;  veteran;  in  adjutant  general's  report,  1865,  called  a  German.  It  is  also  said 
that  Joseph  Svidensky  enlisted  in  this  company  under  a  name  which  had  been  given 
to  him  by  his  employer  who  found  Svidensky  too  hard,  but  no  definite  information 
was  secured. 

12th    lOWK   INFANTRY 

Company  B — E€nc(h)in,  Frank.  (Enlisted  first  in  Company  K,  1st  Iowa  In- 
fantry, but  was  discharged  to  reduce  number,  wounded  at  Shiloh.  Votroubek, 
Ignatius  (or  Vit),  (name  appears  as  Watrobek,  Enos).  Votroubek,  John  (Watro- 
bek,  John).  These  men  enlisted  at  Cedar  Rapids  and  are  called  Germans  in  the 
reports.     They  were  Bohemians  from  Johnson  county. 

14tH  IOWA  INFANTRY 

Company  F — Votroubek,  Vaclav  (Watrabek,  Wenzel).  Another  soldier  of  the 
same  name  was  a  member  of  Company  B,  9th  Iowa  Cavalry. 

loTH  IOWA   INFANTRY 

Company  A — Broz,  Joseph  (Brush,  Joseph),  enlisted  in  Cedar  Rapids;  called  a 
German. 

Company  I — ^Maly,  Albert  (Mali,  Albert) ;  Novotny,  Joseph  (Nowitney,  Joseph). 

22nd   IOWA    INFANTRY 

Company  A — Beranek,  Francis  A.  (Beranck,  Francis  A.).  Honza,  John  W. 
(Houza,  John  W.). 

Company  B — Novak,  Frank  (Nowak,  Frank),  7th  corporal,  native  of  New  Jersey. 

Company  D — S(h)ala,  John  (Shalla,  John),  musician. 

Company  H — Horak,  Vaclav  (Harrick,  Wesley,  in  Iowa  Roster  as  Horrich,  Wes- 
ley). 

Company  K — John  Mudroch  (Monro),  2nd  sergeant;  Martin  Svidensky  (Sur- 
dansky),  4th  corporal,  killed  at  Vicksburg;  Joseph  O.  Dostal  (O 'Borstal),  7th  cor- 
poral; Paul  Miller,  musician;  Bednar,  Charles  (Bedner,  Karl,  Beaner  in  Iowa  Ros- 
ter) ;  Benes(h),  Vaclav  (Bemesh,  Weizel),  died  in  service;  Bittner,  Jacob,  wounded 
at  Fisher's  Hill,  Virginia;  Dvorak,  Joseph  (Dworak,  Joseph)  ;  Horak,  Joseph 
(Horack,  Joseph)  ;  Holpuch,  John  (Holbreck,  John)  ;  Holubar,  Joseph,  1st  corporal; 
Klima,  John;  Konec(h)ny,  Frank  (Konecny,  Frank,  ''Austrian");  Mezik, 
Frank  (Mezik,  Franc)  ;  Pospis(h)il,  John;  S(h)krabal,  Albert  (Skrabaal,  Albert)  ; 
Skrivan,  Thomas  (Skriban,  Thomas,  Skribar  in  Iowa  Roster)  ;  Javorsky,  Alois 
(Yaworsky,  Alois)  ;  Javorsky,  Joseph  (Yaworsky,  Joseph)  ;  Zika,  Vaclav  (Zika, 
Wenzel),  prisoner  at  Winchester;   "Dvefi,  John   (Heck,  John,  known  generally  by 


BIOGRAPHICAL  903 

the  latter  name),  reported  under  the  name  "Corporal  John  Hack"  as  slightly 
wounded  at  Fisher's  Hill,  Mels(h)a,  John  (Milssa,  John,  residence  given  as  Grin- 
nell,  but  enlisted  from  the  northern  part  of  Johnson  county),  Plac(h)ek,  Frank 
(Placek),  and  Leipert,  Joseph  (Lappert,  Joseph)  were  later  recruits.  A  Frank 
Placek  also  apppears  in  Company  G,  47th  Iowa  Infantry. 

46th    IOWA    INFANTRY 

Company  E — Horak,  Frank  J.  (Horak,  Frantisek),  enlisted  in  Cedar  Eapids; 
Sulek,  Anthony,  ' '  German, ' '  enlisted  in  Cedar  Rapids. 

47th    IOWA   INFANTRY 

Company  G — Benesh,  John  (Beneish,  John);  Hynek,  Frank  (Henik,  Frank). 
Plac(h)ek,  Frank  (Placek,  Frank),  "Austria,"  see  also  Company  K,  22nd  Iowa 
Infantry;  Chudac(h)ek,  Matthias  (Poor,  Michael),  "Austria,"  the  name  Poor  was 
adopted  as  the  result  of  an  attempted  translation,  the  name  is  now  often  written 
Hudachek,  Matthias  is  often  erroneously  rendered  ' '  Mike, ' '  hence  Michael ;  Zika, 
George  (Zeka,  George),  "Austria." 

1st    IOWA    CAVALRY 

Company  K — Petsel,  John,  enlisted  in  Cedar  Rapids. 

2nd   IOWA  CAVALRY 

Company  B — iZahradnik,  (Zacharenck;  in  Roster  of  Iowa  Soldiers  as  Zahardneck, 
nativity  Austria)  John  J. 

Company  H — Kodl,  Joseph  (Cole,  Joseph),  3rd  corporal,  wounded  at  West  Point, 
Miss.,  veteran;  Clmdac(h)ek,  Anthony  (Pwor,  Thomas).  This  was  intended  for 
Poor,  this  soldier  being  a  brother  of  M.  Poor  or  Chudac(h)ek.  Anthony  is  often 
called  "Tom"  and  hence  Thomas  instead  of  Anthony.  Lfisted  as  German  on 
re-enlistment.     Re-enlisted  in  the  same  company  in  1864. 

6th    IOWA   CAVALRY 

Company  I — Drabek,  Joseph.  In  the  Iowa  Roster  the  residence  is  given  as  Salem, 
and  in  the  adjutant  general's  report,  1863,  vol.  II,  as  Salem,  Johnson  county. 
This  should  e\'idently   be   Solon. 

8th  IOWA  CAVALRY 

Company  K — Kapsa,  Frank   (Capsen,  Frank). 

9th  IOWA   CAVALRY 

Company  B — Votroubek,  Vaclav  (Watrobek,  Winzel).  Residence  given  as  Cedar 
Rapids. 

13th  regulars,  u.  s.  a. 
(Not  appearing  in  the  adjutant-general's  reports) 
Company  A — Javorsky,  Frank   (Yaworsky)  ;   Zinkula,  Joseph,  corporal;  Kapsa, 
John   (Capsen) ;  Sulek,  Vaclav. 
Company  B — Krch,  Frank  A. 
Company  C — Blaha,  J.,  corporal. 

4th  MISSOURI  INFANTRY 

Kubik,  John,  enlisted  in  St.  Louis. 


904        HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

51ST  MISSOURI  INFANTRY 

Pechnian,   John,   enlisted  in  St.  Louis. 

The  regiment  and  company  of  other  men  -who  enlisted  in  this  county  could  not  be 
ascertained.  Such  were  the  cases  of  Charles  Moll,  and  Jacob  Kue(h)era  from  the 
vicinity  of  Solon,  and  John  Rohlena  from  Jefferson  township.  Rohlena  was  prob- 
ably a  member  of  the  13th  Eegulars.     He  fell  at  Chattanooga. 

In  1898  a  number  of  Bohemians  also  enlisted  in  the  Spanish-American  War. 
James  (or  Vaclav)  Havlik,  Jr.,  served  as  gunner's  mate  on  the  battleship  Oregon 
throughout  the  war,  and  the  following  were  members  of  Company  I,  Iowa  National 
Guard:  Joseph  F.  Bartovsky  (Bartosky),  Edward  Kos,  James  (or  Vaclav)  Krofta, 
Joseph  W.  Jonas (h)  (Unash),  James  (or  Vaclav)  A'anek  and  Charles  Javorsky 
(Yavorsky).  Later  enlistments  for  service  in  the  Philipiwnes  were:  Frank 
Dvorak,  John  Jeslinek,  James  (or  Vaclav)  Kriz,  Joseph  Benda,  and  Joseph  and 
Vincent  S(h)elbicky. 

The  errors  in  names  may  be  assigned  to  various  causes.  In  some  cases  the  sur- 
names were  difficult  and  were  translated  or  adapted.  In  some  cases,  as  that  of 
Joseph  Svidensky,  the  modified  or  substituted  name  is  said  to  have  been  applied 
arbitrarily  by  an  employer  who  found  the  correct  name  too  difficult.  The  former 
use  of  the  letter  w  in  place  of  v  also  caused  some  changes,  as  in  Dvorak,  Svidensky, 
etc.  Still  other  changes  in  names  are  due  to  the  custom  which  prevails  in  Bohemia 
of  applying  a  name  to  an  estate  and  then  transferring  it  to  any  new  family  which 
may  take  possession  of  it.  It  has  occurred  that  persons  having  more  than  one  name 
of  this  kind  have  been  charged  with  ulterior  motives  by  those  who  were  ignorant 
of  the  circumstances.  Changes  in  the  given  names  have  also  been  made  in  many 
cases.  Sometimes  similarly  sounding  English  names  have  been  employed,  as  where 
Vaclav  was  changed  to  Wesley,  or  Ignatz  to  Enos.  In  other  instances  foreign  cor- 
ruptions of  Bohemian  names  were  used,  as  where  Wenzel.  the  German  corruption  of 
Wenceslaus,  or  Vaclav,  was  chosen.  In  still  other  cases  erroneous  translations  were 
made,  as  where  James  has  done  service  for  Vaclav.  Finally,  the  names  were  some- 
times simply  misspelled.  In  all  these  cases  it  seems  only  due  the  men  who  fought 
for  our  country  that  their  names  be  correctly  recorded. 

EDUCATIONAL  INTERESTS 

In  the  years  1880-81  a  movement  was  set  on  foot  to  establish  a  Bohemian  college 
in  Iowa.  The  prime  movers  in  this  project  were  Frank  Sulek,  Paul  A.  Korab,  and 
others  in  Jefferson  township  and  John  M.  Barta-Letovsky,  Joseph  Pis(h)a  and 
others  in  Iowa  City.  The  decline  of  Western  College  suggested  this  as  a  suitable 
location,  but  a  convention  held  at  Western  College,  to  which  delegates  came  from 
various  parts  of  the  country,  decided  that  Iowa  City  would  be  a  more  satisfactory 
location.  The  project  was  ultimately  given  up  and  the  Bohemians  decided  to 
make  use  of  the  educational  facilities  offered  by  established  American  institutions. 
The  outgrowth  of  this  spirit  was  the  organization  in  later  years  (1903)  of  the 
Council  of  Higher  Education,  chiefly  through  the  efforts  of  certain  Bohemian  citi- 
zens of  Cedar  Eapids  and  Iowa  City.  This  organization  encourages  young  Bo- 
hemians to  seek  the  advantages  offered  by  the  best  educational  institutions  of  the 
country,  and  if  necessary  offers  aid  in  the  form  of  honor  loans.  It  has  become 
national  in  scope.  The  president  (B.  Shimek)  and  secretary  (Paul  A.  Korab),  are 
located  at  Iowa  City,  and  four  members  and  officers  of  the  board  (W.  F.  Severa, 
Joseph  Mekota,  M.  Houser  and  Edward  Soukup)  are  in  Cedar  Rapids,  Messrs. 
Mekota  and  Houser  being  former  Johnson  county  boys. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  905 

While  locally  the  Bohemians  maintain  vacation  schools  in  which  their  own. 
language  is  taught,  th&y  are  stanch  supporters  of  the  public  school  system  and 
freely  make  use  of  its  facilities. 

CHURCHES 

Along  spiritual  lines  the  Bohemians  of  Johnson  county  divide  into  three  more 
or  less  distinct  groups — Catholics,  Protestants  and  those  who  do  not  affiliate  ^\ith 
any  church — the  latter  chiefly  of  Protestant  or  Hussite  antecedents. 

Perhaps  the  first  Bohemian  minister  to  come  to  Johnson  county  was  Father 
S(h)pac(h)ek,  who  came  to  Iowa  City  in  the  fifties.  He  was  later  succeeded  by 
Father  Urban.  The  first  Bohemian  Catholic  church  established  in  Johnson  county 
was  the  Church  of  Sts.  Peter  and  Paul  in  Cedar  township  in  1863.  The  eecond 
was  St.  Mary's  church  in  Newport  township,  and  the  third  St.  Vaclav's  (St. 
Wenceslaus)  church  in  Iowa  City,  which  was  built  in  1893. 

So  far  as  known  the  first  Protestant  Bohemian  minister  in  the  county  was 
Rev.  Francis  Kun  who  came  to  Jefferson  township  in  1860,  and  served  the  old 
Protestant  colony  in  northern  Johnson  and  southern  Linn  counties.  The  old  church 
west  of  Ely  in  Linn  county,  built  in  1868,  is  still  in  use  and  is  one  of  the  oldest 
Bohemian  Protestant  churches  in  the  county.  The  Bethlehem  Chapel,  or  as  it  is 
usually  called,  the  Cliadima  Church,  is  an  off-shoot  from  the  Ely  church.  It  is 
located  in  section  2  in  Monroe  township. 

SOCIETIES 

The  oldest  Bohemian  societies  now  in  existence  in  Johnson  county  are  the  Read- 
ing Society  of  Jefferson  and  Monroe  townships,  which  is  simply  a  continuation  of 
the  old  Political  Society,  and  the  Slovanska  Lipa  of  Iowa  City,  the  latter  a  social 
and  aid  society.  Both  were  established  in  1863,  and  both  followed  still  earlier 
organizations. 

In  addition  to  the  societies  named,  the  following  may  be  mentioned,  with  the 
year  of  their  birth : 

In  Iowa  City — 

Zastit,  1870,  social  and  aid. 

Lodge  P.  J.  Safarik,  No.  75,  C.  S.  P.  S.,  1882,  fraternal. 
Catholic  Workman,  No.  31,  1897,  fraternal  and  religious. 
Ceska  Beseda,  1903,  literary. 
Sokol  Iowa  City,  1907,  gymnastic. 
Lodge  Iowa  City,  Z.  C.  B.  J.,  1908,  fraternal. 

In  Solon — 

Lodge  Laska,  No.  164,  C.  S.  P.  S.,  1890,  fraternal. 

In  addition  to  this  many  Bohemians  are  members  of  various  American  societies. 

OTHER  INTERESTS 

In  1869  John  Barta-Letavsky  and  Joseph  Pis(h)a  established  a  Bohemian  paper, 
"Slovan  Amerikansky, "  in  Iowa  City.  Its  first  editor  was  Professor  Ladimir 
Klacel,  but  he  did  not  continue  long.  He  was  a  man  of  deep  learning,  but  was 
scarcely  a  suitable  adviser  for  people  who  were  confronted  with  hard  material 
problems.  The  paper  is  still  published  in  Cedar  Rapids  by  John  M.  Barta-Letovsky 
and  Son,  under  the  name  "Slovan  Americky. " 

Probably  tlie  first  Bohemian  physician  in  the  county  was  Dr.  John  Habenicht, 


906        HISTOEY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 

who  came  to  Iowa  City  in  the  seventies.  He  was  an  eccentric  man  who  imagined 
that  he  had  great  histrionic  talent  and  devoted  rather  more  energy  to  ranting  on 
the  amateur  stage  than  to  the  practice  of  his  profession.  Dr.  Folprecht  also  came 
early  but  did  not  remain  very  long,  and  Dr.  Smrz,  an  electic  physician,  spent  a  part 
of  the  year  1888  in  Iowa  City.  The  younger  physicians,  like  Dr.  Joseph  Valenta 
and  Dr.  Netolicky,  are  graduates  of  the  College  of  Medicine  of  the  State  University. 

The  first  Bohemian  to  practice  law  in  the  county  was  Frank  J.  Horak,  a  grad- 
uate of  the  College  of  Law  of  the  State  University.  Other  more  recent  graduates 
of  this  college  who  remained  in  the  county  are  Paul  A.  Korab.  Prof.  H.  Claude 
Horack  and  Edward  Sulek. 

Other  Johnson  county  Bohemian  graduates  of  the  Colleges  of  Law,  Medicine, 
Pharmacy,  Dentistry  and  Applied  Science  have  located  elsewhere. 

Only  a  few  words  can  be  said  here  concerning  the  remaining  varied  interests  of 
these  people.  A  discussion  of  their  success  in  farming  would  be  a  history  of  the 
development  of  agriculture  in  several  townships  in  the  county;  an  account  of  their 
success  as  business  and  professional  men,  as  skilled  mechanics  and  artisans,  and  as 
industrious  laborers  would  require  a  discussion  of  the  progress  of  these  interests 
in  Iowa  City,  Solon,  Swisher,  Oxford,  and  Lone  Tree.  They  have  borne  their  share 
of  the  work  in  developing  the  county  and  its  various  interests,  and  in  common  with 
their  fellow  citizens  they  are  enjoying  the  hard-earned  fruits  of  their  efforts. 


r~ 


TIMOTHY  AVESLEY  TOWNSEND 

Having  as  a  heritage  the  sturdiness  of  his  pioneer  parents, 
Mr.  T.  W.  Townsend  not  only  became  a  leader  in  his  chosen 
profession  of  photography  bnt  his  entire  life  was  in  accord- 
ance with  the  influence  and  l)enediction  of  his  early  Christian 
home. 

He  was  one  of  the  pioneers  in  the  development  of  the  photo- 
graphic art.  It  was  in  the  days  of  collodions,  silver  baths  and 
"wet  plates,"  used  in  the  early  stag<^s  of  photography,  accom- 
panied with  experiments  and  many  difficulties.  The  process 
was  in  great  contrast  to  the  present  day  accomplishment  of 
highly  sensitive  dry  plates.  If  the  operator  could  induce  his 
subject  to  submit  to  ha\'ing  his  head  surrounded  and  supported 


TOWNSEND  STUDIO 


by  iron  prongs,  called  a  "head  rest,"  and  remain  perfectly  mo- 
tionless for  two  or  three  minutes  he  might  be  able  to  produce 
a  life  like  image  on  the  glass  plate.  To  photograph  the  baby 
was  indeed  a  wonderful  accomplishment  and  once  in  a  while 


a  photographer  wouki  acquire  a  special  distinction  or  reputa- 
tion by  his  success  in  making  baby  pictures.  The  operator 
usually  supplied  himself  with  an  assortment  of  tin  whistles, 
bells,  jumping  jacks  and  other  devices  which  might  help  at- 
tract the  baby's  attention  and  then  if  by  a  series  of  bodily  con- 
tortions and  facial  grimaces  and  every  other  gymnastic  or 
circus  performance  that  could  be  thought  of,  he  could  so  hyp- 
notize or  astonish  the  baby  that  it  would  remain  perfectly  mo- 
tionless for  thirty  or  sixty  seconds  he  might  be  able  to  accom- 
plish the  miracle.  By  the  present  advancement  of  the  art  it 
is  possible  not  only  to  photograph  the  baby  either  with  its 
tear  or  smile  in  the  fractional  part  of  a  second,  but  to  make  a 
perfect  record  of  the  speeding  train  or  flying  bullet.  It  may 
be  said  that  it  was  by  the  patient  eiforts  and  experiments  of 
men  like  Mr.  Townfeend  that  the  wonderful  achievements  in 
the  photographic  art  have  been  made  possible. 

T.  W.  Townsend  was  born  April  11,  1844,  at  Frederick 
Grove,  King's  county,  Ohio.  His  parents,  James  and  Susannah 
(Rogers)  Townsend,  were  both  natives  of  Ohio  and  were  strong- 
abolitionists  and  deeply  in  sympathy  with  the  cause  of  the 
African  slave.  Their  Ohio  home  was  one  of  the  stations  on 
what  was  known  as  the  "Underground  Road,"  over  which 
the  escaping  negro  was  conducted  on  his  way  to  freedom  in 
Canada,  xlfter  leaving  Ohio  and  coming  to  Iowa  their  pioneer 
home  in  that  state  was  one  of  the  stopping  places  for  John 
Brown  and  his  men.  They  .were  kind  and  generous  hearted 
people  and  highly  esteemed  by  all  who  knew  them. 

Our  subject  was  twenty  years  of  age  when  he  first  engaged  in 
the  photographic  business  at  West  Liberty,  Iowa.  Later  he 
established  the  Townsend  Studios  at  Iowa  City  and  Des 
Moines,  Iowa,  which  he  conducted  very  successfully  for  many 
years. 

Mr.  Townsend  was  married  January  4,  1866,  at  Muscatine, 
Iowa,  to  Miss  Anna  Coover,  daughter  of  Isaac  and  Anna  Wil- 
helmina  Coover,  both  natives  of  Ohio.  To  them  were  born 
two  sons:  Alva  Coover  Townsend,  born  in  Iowa  City,  Jan- 
uary 25,  1872,  residence  in  Lincoln,  Neb.  Charles  Fremont 
Townsend,  born  in  Iowa  City,  July  1,  1874,  residence  in  Des 
Moines,  Iowa.     Both  sons  are  engaged  in  the  photographic  art. 

Born  of  Quaker  parentage  who  were  devout  members  of  the 
Friend's  Church,  our  subject  later  in  life  became  associated 
with  the  M.  E.  church. 


INDEX 


AicHEB,  Frank,  110 
Aicher,  Henry  J.,   108 
Adams,  Francis  C,  886 
Adams,  John  L.,  645 
Alexander,  S.  N.,  551 
Albright,  Jacob,  653 
Alder,  Ira  J.,  749 
Aldons,  James,  738 
Alt,  R.  H.,  559 
Andrews,  John  G.,  821 
Andrews,  Orrin,  486 
Andrews,  William,  479 
Andrle,  John  W.,  814 
Arn,  William,  266 
Atkin,  Fred  T.,  550 
Ayers,  Frank  E.,   47 

Baker,  Fred  M.,  524 
Baker,  Dr.  Boratio  U.,  268 
Ball,  Major  George  W.,  Jr.,  64 
Ball,  George  W.,  463 
Bane.  James  W.,  624 
Becker,  Dr.  F.  J.,  696 
Beermaker,  Andrew,  870 
Bell,  John,  296 
Bennett,  Rev.  George,  399 
Beuter,  Anthony  W.,  156 
Birrer,  Ignatz  G.,  772 
Biscup,  Gliarles  J.,  581 
Boerner-Fry  Company,  The,  519 
Borts  Albert  J.,  78 
Borts,  David,  100 
Bowen,  William  J.,  352 
Bowersox,  Jacob  S.,  590 
Bowersox,  James  E.,  575 
Bradley,  Stephen,   135 
Breene,   Dr.  Frank   T.,  868 
Bridenstine,  James,  414 
Brown,  Alonzo,  639 
Brown,  Edwin  M.,   642 
Buell,  HaiTis  Childs,  306 
Buline,  James  V.,  833 
Bimigardner,  Y.  D.,  547 
Burge,  Dr.  A.  J.,  895 
Burkley,  Frank  P.,  211 
Burr,  John  P.,  552 
Burr,  Levi  P.,  303 
Butler,  M.  V.  B.,  538 
Butler,  Thomas  W.,  732 
Byington,  O.  A.,  204 
Bywater,  Dr.  William  L.  C,  203 

Calvin,  Samuel,  362 
Carl,  Frederick  T.,  251 
Carrel  1,  Samuel  E.,  192 
Carse,  Henry,  596 


Carson,  George  S.,  199 
Castek,  Louis,  830 
Castek,   Joseph,  588 
Cavanagh,  James,   780 
Cerny,  Joseph  F.,  573 
Chadima,  George  C,   567 
Clnirch,  Jonathan  N.,  777 
Church,  Samuel,  810 
dhal,  Father  Aloys,  522 
Cilek,  Frank  J.,  *876 
dark,  John  Norwood,  857 
Qifford,  C.  E.,  171 
Coast,  William  P.,  39 
Cochran,  Frederick  J.,  638 
Cochran,  James  C,  632 
Cochran,  M.  R.,  502 
Colbert,   Henry   M.,   459 
Coldren,  John,  657 
Corbett,  Jackson,  301 
Corbett,  Joseph  R.,  240 
Corlett,   Clara,   321 
Corlett,  Daniel,  319 
Corlett,  Josiah  K.,  517 
Coufal,  John,  584 
Cox,    Arthur    John,    213 
Crawford,  Andrew  McC,  244 
Crawford,  George  R.,  836 
Cray,  Zephaniah  S.,  253 
Crozier,  Thomas,  441 

Davis,  Millard  W.,  359 
Davis.  Walter  M.,  324 
Deatch,  John,  690 
Delano,  Dr.  Albert  H.,  283 
Denison,  Joseph  B.,  429 
Dennis,  Isaac  V.,  844 
Detert,   Joseph,   622 
Detert,  Theodore,  621 
Dey,  Peter  A.,  5 
Doerres,  Charles  V.,  513 
Doerres,  John,  267 
Doll,  Michael  F.,  789 
Doty,  Dr.  E.  A.,  397 
Draper,  D.  L.,  766 
Droll,  William  H.,  469 
Dunkel,  William  J.,   193 
Dunlap,  Robert  L.,  207 
Dutcher,  Charles  M.,  217 
Dvorak,  Emil,  574 
Dvorsky,   Frank,  881 

Eden,  Charles,  292 
Eden,  George  W.,  294 
Eden,  William.  290 
Edwards,  Dr.  F.  H.  P.,  62 
Erusha,  John  L.,  565 


908 


HISTOEY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 


Evans,  Thomas  A.,  484 
Evans,  Walter  J.,  778 

Falk,  George  L.,  124 
Felkner,  Wm.  J.,  668 
Pernstrom,  George  A.,  671 
Files,  W.  G.,  877 
Fink,  Otto  Henry,  75 
Fisher,  Anton,  235 
Floerehinger,  Adam,  825 
Floerchinger,  Frank  J.,  391 
Floerehinger,  J.  H.  and  W.  E.,  784 
Fordice,  John  K.,  595 
Foster,  William  E.  C,  85 
Fry,  Samuel  P.,  526 
Fnhrmann,  Joseph,  472 
Puhrmeister,  Edward  C,  680 
Fuhrmeister,  Frederick,  832 

« 

Gallaugher,  Anthony,  512 
Gardner,  Brewster  W.,  826 
Gaulocher,  Christian,  133 
George.  Jacob  A.,  409 
Gesberg,  Elizabeth,  703 
Goetz,  John  A.,  781 
Gould.  David  A.,  505 
Grabin,  William  H.,  741 
Graf.  William  Robert.  79 
Graham,  Ed.  C,  48T 
Graham,  Robert  B.,  137 
Greer,  Albert  M.,  69 
Gross,  Charles  A.,  719 
Gross,  Gregory,  757 
Gross.  Vincent,  799 
Guthrie,  Joseph  R.,  302 

Hanley,  Anthony  J.,  118 
Hanlon,  E.  H.,  834 
Harding,  Dr.  Lewis  W.,  159 
Harned,  Dr.  Calvin  W.,  81 
Harper,  Thomas  J.,  777 
Hazelhorst,  August.  99 
Heath,  Hiram,  460 
Heitzman,  Fidell,  721 
Hemmer,  Albert,  148 
Hemphill,  Joseph  K.,  852 
Hempstead.  Mrs.  Lucy  A.  M.,  102 
Hertz,  Albert  J.,   188 
Hill,  Sion,  541 
Hines,  Austin  A.,  355 
Hinkley,  Alva  H.,  711 
Hinkley,  Henry  L.,  247 
Hinkley,  Samuel.  767 
Hinkley,  Wiot  R.,  234 
Hofeman,  J.  M.,  769 
Hohenschuh,  W.  P.,  13 
Holdeman,  Jesse.  241 
Holets,  Wesley  J.,  744 
Holub,  Joseph  F.,  689 
Hope,  Enoch  H.,  476 
Horak,  Wesley,  579 
Horrabin.  William,  677 
Horsky.  Anton,  582 
Hotz,  Jacob  J.,  87 


Hrdlicka,  Elizabeth,  489 
Hughes,  Thomas,  256 
Hunter,  George,  412 
Hunter,  Lemuel,  59 
Husa,  Albert.  379 
Huskins,  E.  W.,  515 

Irish,  Mrs.  Chari.es  W.,  436 
Irish,  Elizabeth,  423 
Irish,  Gilbert  R.,  416 

James,  Edwin  G.,  631 
James,  George  E.,  457 
James,  William  H.,  528 
Jayne,  Da\ad,  245 
Jehle,  Conrad,  514 
Jones,  John  T.,  185 
Johnston,  George  W.,  279 

Kadera,  John  J.,  466 
Kadlec,  Wesley,  598 
Kaliban,  John,  694 
Kasper.  James  B.,  104 
Katzenmeyer  Brothers,  53 
Katzenmeyer,  George,  55 
Katzenmeyer,  Phillip,  Jr.,  55 
Kemmerle,  Fred  W.,  233 
Kirchner,  F.  H.,  819 
Kirkpatrick,  David,  345 
Kirkpatrick,  William  J.,  299 
Kirkwood,  Mrs.  Jane,  225 
Kirkwood,  Samuel  J.,  226 
Klodivo,  Joseph  L.,  882 
Knease,  Henry  A.,  867 
Knebel,  Rev.  H.  A.,  403 
Knebel,  John,  714 
Knebel,  Rochns,  406 
Kohl,  Julius,  883 
Korab,  Paul  A.,  67 
Koza,  John,  368 
Koza,  Joseph,  376 
Konasek,  Joseph,  630 
Koontz,  George  W..  545 
Kottenstette,  Rev.  F.  A.,  806 
Kranz,  August,  273 
Kuchynka,  Joseph,  740 

Landsberg,  C.  W.,  808 
Laughery,  John  W.,  586 
Lawrence,  Mrs.  Louisa,  708 
Lawyer,  Dr.  Lewis  G.,  181 
Lee,  William,  386 
Le  Fevre,  Samuel  F.,  150 
Lindsley,  F.  D.,  496 
Loehr,  Jacob  C,  270 
Lopata,  Joseph,  623 
Lougar,  Charles,  831 
Louis,  Peter  A.,  796 
Louis,  William,  798 
Louvar,  Frank.  619 
Louvar,  Jerome,  866 
Love,  Dr.  F.  L.,  374 
Lovetinsky,  Frank,  705 
Lucas.  Robert.  730 


INDEX 


909 


Luscombe,  James  L.,  371 
Luse,  Ralph  K.,  407 
Lutz,  John,  291 
Lutz,  William  F.,  280 
Lutze,  Glaus,  298 
Lux,  James  W.,  309 

McClain,  Emil,  892 
McCluskey,  Harl  V.,  169 
McCollister,  James,  49 
MeCollister,  Thomas  J.,  282 
MeDonough,  M.  W.,  715 
Melnnerny,  Michael,  759 
McKray,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  James,  96 
Macbride,  Thomas  H.,  321 
Maehula,  Mathias,  613 
MagTuder,  George  W.,  724 
Magruder,  James  M.,  555 
Marak,  Joseph,  743 
Maresh,  Vaclav  N.,  678 
Maresh,  William,  372 
Marshall,  Mrs.  William,  83 
Mayer,  Max,  71 
Mellecker,  Joseph  W.,  864 
Metzinger,  John   W.,  77 
Meyer,  Mrs.  Lena,  554 
Meyers,  Isaac,  445 
Meyers,  Isaac  B.,  456 
Miller,  George  H.,  879 
Miller,  John  W.,  114 
Miller,  L.  W.,  659 
Miller,  Valentine,  841 
Moreland,  Alexander  L.,  448 
Morford,  John  W..  216 
Morrison,  Fred  E.,  521 
Morrison,  Samuel  T.,   174 
Mueller,  Adam  H.,  811 
Mullen,  William,  375 
Mumm,  John,  310 
Murphy,  Thomas  E.,  334 
Musser,  Frank,  578 
Musser,  John  D.,  510 
Musser,  Joseph  E.,  511 
Musser,  William,  786 

TSTesmith,  James  H.,  392 
Nesmith,  Thomas  J.,  396 
Ney,  John  J.,  524 
Nove,  Charles,  605 
Novotny,  Frank,  592 
Novotny,  Wesley,  474 

Otto,  Ralph,  145 

Paksons,  John,  827 
Paulus,  Mrs.  Carl,  566 
Petni,  Charles,  311 
Phelan,  Patrick,  732 
Pickering,  John  A.  A.,  139 
Pirkl,  Frank  M.,   580 
Potter,  Jasper  S.,  381 
Pratt,   William    E.,   190 
Prizler,  Mrs.   Anna,    549 
Prizler,  Joseph,  462 


Probst,   Charles,   570 
Pryce,   Samuel  D.,  41 
Pudil,   Frank   J.,  837 
Pudil,  William  H.,  593 

Ranshaw,  John,  454 
Ranshaw,  Samuel,  452 
Rate.  Henry  Hall,   120 
Raynor,  Joseph,  289 
Reddick,  George  T.,  737 
Reese,  David  A.,  126 
Renihan,  Rev.  R.  J.,  726 
Rennolz,  John,  771 
Reno,  C.  M.,  664 
Richie,  Clinton  H.,  796 
Ricker,  Jacob,  699 
Rinda,  Edward  B.,  494 
Robarts,  Charles,  534 
Rohret,  Albert  P.,  823 
Rossler,  Mary  F.,  804 
Rozek,  Daniel,  585 
Rozek,  Joseph,  620 
Rundell,  Lerov,  666 
Runkle,  A.  J.,'  455 

Sanders,  Euclid,  887 
Sanxay,  Theodore  F.,  222 
Schell,  John  W.,  427 
Schmidt,  George  W.,  219 
Schulte,  Dean  Aloys  J.,  327 
Schulze,  Julius  Otto,  356 
Schuppert,  George  A.,  746 
Seerest.  Joshua  H.,  196 
Sedlacek,  Frank  K.,  628 
Senner,  Christian,  201 
Serbousek,  William,   571 
Shalla,  Joseph  A.,  317 
Sharpless,  Samuel,  686 
Shebetka,  Wesley,  663 
Shelladay,   Charles   B.,   285 
Sheets,  James  M.,  810 
•       Shimek.  Bohumil.  889 
Shircliff,  Charles  H.,  155 
Shircliflf,  Michael  S.,   158 
Slezak,  Joseph,  682 
Smith,  Robert  Bankison,  55 
Stanch,  Dr.  Martin  O.,  153 
Stebbins,  F.  K.,  684 
Stepanek,  Joseph.  564 
Stevenson,  S.  K.,  340 
Stewart,  Dr.  C.  E.,  647 
Stonebarger,  Albert   J.,  238 
Stoner,   William,   493 
Stock,  John,  263 
Stover,  Jacob  Y.,  161 
Sueppel,  John,  Sr.,  141 
Sulek,  Edward,  377 
Swank,  Robert,  293 
Sweet,  Caleb  J.,  287 
Sweet,  William  T.,  265 
Sweney,  Alexander,  674 
Swisher,  Abraham  E.,  168 
Swisher,  Lovell,  337 
Swisher,  Stephen  A.,   165 
Switzer,  Jacob  C,  871 


910        HISTOEY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  IOWA 


Ten  Eyck,  William  P.,  793 
Theobald,  Frederick,  332 
Theobald,  John  L.,  Jr.,  46 
Thomas,  David  H.,  305 
Thompson,  Herbert  M.,  152 
Tow-nsend,  Rev.  C.  C,  432 
TuUoss,  Ira  E.,  Ill 
Turecek,   Frank,   817 
Turner,  Job  T.,  18 

Valenta,  Dr.  Joseph  A.,  129 
Van  Meter,  Oscar  C,  176 
Van  Patten,  G.  H.,  637 
Verba,  Anton,  589 
Vogt,  William  J.,  105 
Volkringer,  F.  B.,  369 
Von  Stein,  John  P.,  802 

Wade,  Martin  J.,  425 
Walker,  Henry,  276 
Walker,  Joseph,  383 
Ward,  Chauncey,  855 
Warner,  John  C,  349 
Washburn,  Dr.  B.  E.,  728 
Wavra,  John,  629 
Webber,  Charles  A.,  84 
Wescott,  Albert  L.,  709 


Wescott,  Emory,  556 
Whetstone,  John  H.,  72 
Whiteis,  Dr.  Wm.  R.,  116 
Whiting,  Samuel  D.,  164 
Wickham,  Bernard  A.,  94 
Wieneke,   H.  J.,  651 
Wilkinson,  Joseph  L.,  184 
Williams,   I.   E.,   451 
Williamson,  Calvin,  231 
Willis,  William  A.,   313 
Windrem,  James  H.,  839 
Wolfe,  Qarence  K.,  529 
Wolfe,  Lewis  O.,  532 
Wolfe,  Mahlon  K.,  90 
Wolfe,  Milton  M.,  491 
Wray,  David  W.,  606 
Wyer,  Malcolm  G.,  315 

Yabbrough,  Samuel  E.,  107 
Young.  Dr.  Miller,  600 
Younkin,   W.  H.,    697 

Zack,  Joseph,  611 
Zeller,  Nicholas,  615 
Zimmerli,   Frederick,   113 
Zimmerman,  Frederich,  500 
Zimmerman,  W.  C.  F.,  30 


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