CORNELL
UNIVERSITY
LIBRARY
BOUGHT WITH THE INCOME OF THE SAGE ENDOWMENT FUND GIVEN IN 1891 BY
HENRY WILLIAMS SAGE
3 1924 028 914 384 olin
Cornell University Library
The original of tiiis book is in the Cornell University Library.
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HISTORY
OF
DAVENPORT
AND
SCOTT COUNTY
IOWA
Harry E. Downer
ILLUSTRATED
VOLUME II.
CHICAGO THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY
BIOGRAPHICAL
' JOE R. LANE.
There is no problem more difficult than character analysis. Psychic research often fails to clearly elucidate the problem and yet there is no truth more evident as the result of careful and analytical contemplation of successful lives than that results have been achieved through intelligence and energy. What special phases of nature causes a man to take up a certain line or lines of activity it is impossible to determine, but in the execution of a clearly defined purpose it is inevitable that unfaltering energy and intelligent appreciation of opportunity must constitute the vital forces. It is these qualities that have carried Joe R. Lane to the eminent position which he now occupies as a man of notable business sagacity and as a political leader whose wisdom and resourcefulness have en- abled him to accomplish seemingly impossible results. His interests are never so self-centered as to exclude active participation in affairs of moment to the community at large, for, on the contrary, he has been an active participant in those activities which have promoted the material, political and social life of the com- munity and which are matters of civic virtue and civic pride.
Mr. Lane was born in Davenport in May, 1858, a son of James T. and Annie J. (Reed) Lane, and a brother of Mrs. lies. His father, who is mentioned else- where at length in this volume, was long a representative member of the bar and died in Denver in 1890. Passing through consecutive grades in the public schools, Joe R. Lane eventually became a high-school pupil and later attended Knox College at Galesburg, Illinois, from which he was graduated with the class of 1878. He began preparation for the practice of law as a student in the office of Davison & Lane, of which firm his father was the junior partner. Subse- quently he matriculated in the State University Law School, from which he was graduated in 1880, when he became assistant in the office of Davison & Lane, thus continuing until January, 1881, when Charles Davison and Joe Lane, the sons of the respective partners, were admitted to the firm. In the following August, Charles Davison went to North Dakota and in 1889 James T. Lane withdrew from the firm on account of failing health. The relation between the older Davison and Joe R. Lane continued uninterruptedly and in 1893 Charles Davison reen-
6 HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY
tered the partnership, the firm remaining Davison & Lane until 1900, when the death of the senior member occurred, while two years later Charles Davison also passed away. Mr. Lane was left alone to care for an increasing practice that had already brought him distinction as one of the most eminent representatives of the Iowa Bar. Soon afterward he was joined by Judge Waterman, who resigned his position as a member of the Iowa supreme court to enter into part- nership relations with Mr. Lane under the firm style of Lane & Waterman. A contemporary writer has said in this connection: "Possibly no higher testimonial to the standing, business value and reputation of the practice which Mr. Lane had helped to upbuild and of which he had become the head could be given than is embodied in Judge Waterman's action. Few positions are more earnestly cov- eted; none considered higher in judicial dignity; scarcely any offer more assured social position or surer and more commensurate recompense than the supreme judgeship, yet Judge Waterman resigned all these to become Mr. Lane's part- ner. Comment would be superfluous." The public voice names this firm as the most prominent in Davenport and one of the most distinguished of the state.
It would be difficult to enumerate all the interests which have felt the stimulus of Mr. Lane's cooperation, keen sagacity and liberal business policy! Banking, manufacturing, lumber and real estate are among those interests which have claimed his time and attention and in furthering his individual interest along these lines he has contributed in substantial measure to Davenport's growth and expansion along normal and healthy lines. He is the president of the Joe R. Lane Investment Company, which erected the Lane office building at Third and Main streets; president of the Building Society of the new Commercial Club; a director of the Davenport Hotel Company; vice pres- ident and director of the First National Bank of Davenport; and finan- cially interested in numerous other commercial enterprises. His labors have constituted a most important feature in the railroad development of this section, for he was treasurer of the Davenport, Iowa & Dakota Rail- road at the time of its construction and was also manager and had charge of the building of the Davenport, Rock Island & Northwestern Railroad bridge, which gave the road entrance to Rock Island and Moline. His realty investments are most extensive and in all of his business connections he has proven himself a man of action rather than of theory.
Moreover, Mr. Lane is recognized as one of the most influential members of the republican party. With full recognition of the duties and obligations as well as the privileges of citizenship, unlike many of the men today who are controlling extensive professional and business interests, he finds time for active participa- tion in public aflfairs upon which hinge the political stability and welfare of the country. As a political leader he has always put public needs and party benefit before self interests. He has served in the ranks from preference and only held office when it has been clearly shown him that it was a duty which he owed his fellow citizens and for which he could obtain no substitute. Several terms he «at in the council as alderman and his labors were always to the advantage of his ward and the city at large. During his term of service in congress, to which he was elected in 1898, he never forgot his allegiance to his state nor his duty to his constituents. He has frequently served as a member of the republican exec-
HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY 7
utive committee and always to his party's benefit. He holds decided views on public questions and expresses them clearly, cogently and logically when occa- sion demands, but it is always the timely word which he speaks. As a diplomat he has cemented party and business fractures, healed internal dissensions in various financial and political vetures and unified and solidified acute divisions in numerous enterprises where to all appearances such action was hopelessly looked upon. As a political leader he has led his party to victory in ward, city, county and state campaigns and added his share to national victories. And all this he has done without claiming individual credit or demanding personal recog- nition.
Mr. Lane was married in 1881 to Miss Jennie Richardson, a daughter of D. N-. Richardson and a native of Davenport. They have three children : Dick R., who is now associated with the firm of Lane & Waterman; Jeanette, student in St. Katherine's school, a private institution; and Reed, who is attending the Iowa State University Law School. Mr. Lane has attained the highest degrees in Masonry, and is also connected with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He likewise belongs to the Outing Club and the Arsenal Golf Qub. He is a member of the Business Men's Association and a patron of the many public beneficiaries which exist in Davenport. He is without sham or pretense, yet there is not the least shadow of mock modesty about him. He stands as a high type of the American business man and citizen, whose ideals are high, whose methods are practical, who is active and energetic in all public and private work and with laudable ambition for his own success displays a helpful and broad- minded interest in public aflfairs that has constituted his services of wide benefit to the city and state.
EDWIN W. BRADY.
In the years of Davenport's early development Edwin W. Brady became one of its residents and continued throughout his remaining days as one of its repre- sentative citizens, his labors beingt a tangible element for the growth and better- ment of the community at large. He was bom in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, Febru- ary 22, 1826, and was therefore a young man of twenty-eight years when he arrived in Davenport in 1854. Throughout his life he stood for those things which uplift hiunanity, which advance progress and promote improvement. He was a stalwart champion of the cause of temperance, laboring along practical, effective and far-reaching lines to curb and suppress the liquor traffic. About 1880 he purchased the Blue Ribbon News from Dr. Morgan. This was a journal devoted to the cause of temperance amd, changing its name to the Northwestern News, Mr. Brady continued its publication for some time. His sons were in- terested with him in this enterprise and later they founded the Daily Times, with which the father was financially connected. At a still later date the sons went to New York to become stockholders in McQure's Magazine Company and have since been associated with that enterprise, helping to build up the business and make the magazine what it is today — one of the most interesting, entertaining and in-
8 HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY
stiuctive popular magazines of the country.. When the sons removed to the east the father retired from business, spending his remaining days in the enjoyment of well earned rest.
On the 22d of February, i860, Edwin W. Brady was imited in marriage to Miss Lydia Frances Weaver, a daughter of John Weaver, who died December 9, 1908, at the remarkable old age of ninety-six years. He was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, April 16, 1812, and was there reared and educated. After arriving at years of maturity he was married in Cincinnati, Ohio, on the 30th of June, 1837, to Miss Julia Ann Warrington Fuller, who died March I, 1899, at the ad- vanced age of ninety-three years. For an extended period John Weaver was em- ployed in a wholesale grocery house in Cincinnati and was then appointed post- master of Little Mill Creek by President Polk. He acted as postmaster for four years, serving first at Little Mill Creek and afterward at Ostrander, Ohio. While there he also filled the office of justice of the peace and his opinions were strictly fair and impartial. The year 1853 witnessed his arrival in Davenport, after which time he did not again engage in active business. All of the family lived to an old age. His wife's father was one of the life guard of George Washington and was once shot while serving his country. He recovered his health, however, and lived for some time to enjoy the fruits of his labor, reaching the age of ninety-nine years. UntO' Mr. and Mrs. John Weaver were bom four children : Mrs. Lydia F. Brady, C. W., Albert and Mrs. Melissa Jennings.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Brady were born six children : Oscar W. ; Albert B., who is deceased; Mrs. Carrie B. Tagge; Edwin B.; Ella F. ; and Curtis P. As previously stated, the surviving sons became associated with their father in newspaper publi- cation and, continuing their eflforts in the field of magazine publication, all are associated with the conduct and management of McQure's, Curtis P. being the business manager of the magazine.
The death of Mr. Brady occurred on the i6th of January, 1909, and thus passed from Davenport one whose record was of benefit to the city in many essential ways. He placed a correct valuation upon life, its purposes and its oppor- tunities and was never a self-centered man who found his happiness in the ac- quirement of success! to be used alone for his own efiForts, but on the contrary knew that joy which comes of service for others, and from practical, effective effort for the world's uplift.
JAMES E. LINDSAY.
Prominent for many years among the mill operators of the Mississippi river were James E. Lindsay and John B. Phelps, who as Lindsay & Phelps were for nearly forty years connected with the manufacture of lumber at Davenport.
James Edwin Lindsay, the subject of this sketch, was born at Schroon, Essex county. New York, April 12, 1826. His ancestors came from Scotland in 1731 and settled at Argyle, New York. His great-great-grandfather was Donald Lindsay, who was interested in the grant which was extended to Laughlin Camp- bell and was one of the hundred founders of that early Argyle community. His
^.
HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY 11
training between 1826 and 1847 terminated with one year's schooling in civil en- gineering at Norwich, Vermont. His father was a hotel keeper, farmer and lumber manufacturer combined. Young Lindsay worked at measuring and the hauling of logs at his father's mill, a water power affair propelled by the old style "flutter wheel." This sawmill was facetiously called the "Thunder Shower Mill" on account of its utter inability to operate unless a frequent rain would kindly fill the small creek dam from which it drew its water power. Young Lindsay was in an atmosphere that was apt to make him a lumberman and in- cluded among his neighbors Israel Johnson, the inventor of the much used "mu- lay" saw, and Philetas Sawyer, the long time prominent lumberman and for many years United States senator from Wisconsin. Logs in those days meas- ured about two standards to the log, a standard, according to Dimock's rule, being measured on the basis of thirteen- foot log, nineteen inches at the top end. They were made up of perhaps twenty-five per cent clear at fifty dollars a thousand; twenty-five per cent second clear at forty dollars; twenty-five per cent select at twenty dollars; and twenty-five per cent common, worth fourteen dollars. Be- fore his twenty-first birthday anniversary young Lindsay already had some ex- perience in the logging business in partnership with his brother-in-law John Tompkins. The firm was named Lindsay & Tompkins and existed for four years.
In the fall of 1856, the year he was thirty years old, he came west, and with his savings and what had been entrusted to him, secured about seven thousand dollars worth of lands through land warrants in the Black River Falls (Wis- consin) country.
In March, 1861, Mr. Lindsay located permanently at Davenport, Iowa, and his Black river timber was logged and rafted to Davenport, where it was sawed into lumber by the thousand at the mills at that place. He had formed a part- nership with E. Harris, of Queensberry, New York, the understanding being — as above referred to — that Mr. Lindsay was to come west and look about and take an interest in whatever looked most favorable. The absolute trust of his partner in Mr. Lindsay's judgment seems to have colored his subsequent career. He had not only his own interests to further but also had absolutely in his keep- ing the interests of another. This tended to make him conservative, and he has always been a conservative man. This conservatism, however, should not be misjudged, for he has ever had an aggressive and enthusiastic confidence in the future values of timber lands.
Later in 1861 Mr. Lindsay secured a lease of the Renwick mill in Daven- port. Shortly afterward John B. Phelps bought Mr. Harris' interest and the firm became Lindsay & Phelps, and it has so continued — barring its incorpora- tion in 1890 — for nearly fifty years. In 1866 Lindsay & Phelps built a mill at Davenport. It started with a circular saw; a gang saw was added in 1867, at that time the only gang mill in this section of the country ; and later, in 1880, a band mill was added and other necessary machinery for a more modern plant. The mill at Davenport continued in operation until the close of the season of igo4 — a period of thirty-nine years. The corporation of Lindsay & Phelps Company is still being maintained, the present officers being J. E. Lindsay, presi- dent ; R. E. Lindsay, vice president ; Fred Wyman, secretary and treasurer ; and
12 HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY
George F. Lindsay, assistant secretary and treasurer. John B. Phelps, Mr. Lindsay's long time partner, died in July, 1900.
Mr. Lindsay's confidence in pine timber was of the broader kind, and as early as 1882, with his close friend and associate, C. R. Ainsworth, of Moline, Illinois, he personally located the first holdings of the Lindsay Land & Lumber Company in Arkansas. Perhaps it may be due to Mr. Lindsay and Mr. Ainsworth that they be called the pioneer northern lumbermen in Arkansas, and surely they were among the earliest to purchase timber lands in that section. The company's first officers were J. E. Lindsay, president; C. R. Ainsworth, vice president; J. B. Phelps, secretary ; William Renwick, treasurer. The late Hon. D. N. Richard- son, a newspaper man and close associate in those early days of investment in the south, asked Mr. Lindsay in conversation one day, "Is there a chance for an outsider to put some money in your southern timber company, Mr. Lindsay?" "Not for you, a newspaper man," was the reply, "for it takes long patience and years of constant outgo of money to work out a proposition of this kind, and you who are accustomed to annual dividends would lack the 'sand' to stay with such a proposition." Without hesitancy Mr. Richardson replied, "We have the sand and only ask you to make the opportunity." Mr. Richardson went in and up to the time of his death that quality of sand first shown was ever apparent.
Resulting from Mr. Richardson's enthusiasm later came the Richardson Land & Timber Company, with D. N. Richardson as its first president. The present officers are J. J. Richardson, president ; Fred Wyman, vice president ; and M. N. Richardson, secretary and treasurer. The directors are J. E. Lindsay, Rebecca Renwick, J. J. Richardson, Fred 'Wyman and J. B, Richardson. This company made purchases in Little River, Dalls, Sevier and Howard counties, Arkansas, and later extended its operations into Mississippi. At one time its holdings amounted to one hundred and fifty thousand acres in Arkansas At this time it owns nearly fifty thousand acres in Mississippi.
In 1884 when Renwick, Shaw and Crossett went north to Cloquet, Minne- sota, and organized the Cloquet Lumber Company with George S. Shaw as its manager, Mr. Lindsay and Mr. Phelps became members of that company, Mr. Lindsay now being a director.
The big trees of the Pacific coast next attracted Lindsay & Phelps' atten- tion and, associated with Weyerhaeuser & Denkmann and the Richardson inter- ests, they organized the Sound Timber Company on December 23, 1899. The officers are J. E. Lindsay, president ; Fred C. Denkmann, vice president ; George F. Lindsay, secretary and treasurer; and with F. Weyerhaeuser, Joe R. Lane and M. N. Richardson form its board of directors. This company owns some- thing over fifty thousand acres of fir, cedar and spruce in Skagit, Snohomish, Whatcom and King counties, Washington, and Lane county, Oregon.
Interest was ' again directed to the south in 1901, and Mr. Lindsay, with Weyerhaeuser & Denkmann, the Laird, Norton Company, Dimock, Gould & Company, and the Richardson interests, formed the Southland Lumber Company on May 4 of that year, for the purchase of timber lands in Louisiana. Its offi- cers are : F. E. Weyerhaeuser, president ; F. C. Denkmann, vice president ; George F. Lindsay, secretary and treasurer ; Fred Wyman, assistant secretary and treas- urer. The directors are F. Weyerhaeuser, E. P. Denkmann, H. A. Ainsworth,
HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY 13
J. E. Lindsay, F. S. Bell, F. H. Thatcher, Fred C. Denkmann, Calvin Ainsworth, Joe R. Lane, M. N. Richardson and Fred Wyman. The present holdings are in southwestern Louisiana and approximate one hundred and thirty thousand acres of longleaf yellow pine.
The Southern Lumber Company of Arkansas was organized January 28, 1902, by Weyerhaeuser & Denkmann, Dimock, Gould & Company, the Richard- son interests and J. E. Lindsay, purchasing the holdings of the Lindsay Land & Lumber Company, previously referred to, and has at the present time a sawmill in active operation at Warren, Arkansas, and seventy thousand acres of short- leaf yellow pine. The officers are F. E. Weyerhaeuser, president; E. P. Denk- mann, vice president; George F. Lindsay, secretary; Fred Wyman, treasurer; N. H. Clapp, Jr., assistant secretary and treasurer and general manager. The directors are F. Weyerhaeuser, C. H. Ainsworth, J. E. Lindsay, F. E. Weyer- haeuser, E. P. Denkmann, Calvin Ainsworth, Joe R. Lane, Fred Wyman and M. N. Richardson.
Mr. Lindsay is still active in business, keeping in touch with the affairs of the companies with which he is connected, and spending several hours daily at his office. Local enterprises have always received the strong support of Lind- say & Phelps, and Mr. Phelps was before his death, and Mr. Lindsay now is, identified with many local organizations.
Mr. Lindsay married in 1858 Mary Helen Phelps at Schroon River, Essex county. New York. Three children were born of this union; Ralph E. Lindsay; Mrs. Fred W)mian, who died in 1905; and George F. Lindsay. Mr. and Mrs^ Lindsay have two grandchildren, Edith Helen Wyman and Edwin Blair Lindsay.
Mr. Lindsay has always manifested a deep interests in the religious and charitable institutions of the community. He is identified with the Baptist church, having been one of its most loyal supporters for many years. His interest in young men was evidenced by his liberal contribution to the Young Men's Chris- tian Association.
The results of environment are very apparent in a man of Mr. Lindsay's character. Long years of association with kindly mother nature as exemplified in her vast forests have intensified in him those inherent qualities which are characteristic of the grandest forest growth. Their physical qualities find their counterpart in his mentality — strength of purpose, uprightness of character and those other admirable traits which are typified by the giants of the forest and the stalwarts among men. He has a minute knowledge of lumber and logs which always he is glad to share generously with his friends and of which they par- take with the utmost confidence in his judgment, notably in his home city, the center of a great lumber interest, where and in the adjoining cities of Rock Is- land and Moline between the members of the Lindsay & Phelps Lumber Com- pany and all competitive lumber and logging interests in the three cities Mr. Lindsay's thorough knowledge and sterling character are well known and highly honored.
While of a modest and retiring disposition, one's first impression of Mr. Lindsay, unconsciously conveyed by him, is that of personal dignity; yet he is always approachable. He is never hasty in judgment and his decisions are al- ways the result of intelligent deliberation. Perhaps the only voluntary exercise
14 HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY
of his innate qualities that needs restraint is his ready generosity, his practical sympathy for misfortune. In the sense that makes the characteristic a strongly commendable one, he is one of the most conspicuous figures in the lumber m- dustry of the middle west.
EMANUEL PHILLIP ADLER.
Emanuel Phillip Adler, as president of the Lee Newspaper Syndicate, repre- sents that spirit of organization and coordination of forces that constitutes one of the most forceful and vital elements in the business life of the times. It is but another expression of the truth of the old adage that "in union there is strength," for with combined interests the expenditure of time, labor and ma- terial is reduced to a minimum in the accomplishment of maximum results. Bending his eiforts to administrative direction and executive control as head of the Lee Newspaper Syndicate, Mr. Adler has justified his adoption of the print- ing business as a life work, for in this field he has advanced from a humble position to one of leadership. He was born in Chicago, Illinois, September 30 1872, and was taken to Ottumwa, Iowa, by his parents, P E. and Bertha Adler, in 1874. His youthful days were therefore passed in this state, and in Ottumwa he pursued his education in the common schools to the age of fourteen years, when he began learning the printer's trade. He afterward secured a position in a Chicago, newspaper office as "sub" when seventeen years of age, and later, returning to Ottumwa he secured a position as printer on the Ottumwa Courier. In 1894 he was given a trial as "cub" reporter on the Courier and proving his worth was promoted from time to time serving successively in the position of editor, managing editor and business manager. In 1900 A. W. Lee, publisher of the Courier, purchased the Davenport Times and established the Lee News- paper Syndicate, and in January, 1901, Mr. Adler was sent to Davenport as pub- lisher of the Times. The policy which he inaugurated in its management made it one of the profitable journals of the state and the evidence of business ability which he thus displayed led to his election to the presidency oif the syndicate upon the death of Mr. Lee in 1907. Five daily papers constitute this syndicate: the Davenport Times ; the Ottumwa Courier ; the Muscatine Journal ; the La- Cross Tribune ; and the Hannibal Courier-Post.
Mr. Adler's activities extend to political circles, wherein his labors have largely advanced the interests of the republican party in Iowa. He was made state central committeeman from the second district, was chosen secretary of the committee and given charge of the press bureau in the Taft campaign. To prac- tical politics he brings the results of business experience and that wise direction of forces which have been salient elements in the general movement toward placing the republican party in Iowa beyond the pale of possible diminution of power.
On the 5th of February, 1902, occurred the marriage of Mr. Adler to Miss Lena Rothschild, a daughter of the late David R. Rothschild, president of the Rothschild Grain Company. Their only son, Phillip David Adler, is now a lad
HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY 15
of six years. Mr. Adler's social nature finds expression in his membership in the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Arsenal Golf Club, the Out- ing and Rock Island Clubs — assiociations which also indicate the nature of his recreation. Moreover, he is prominent in the Davenport Commercial Club, serving as its vice president and as a member of its board of directors. He is active in all projects looking to the development of the city along many lines of general improvement and has done much in promoting desired results.
ALFRED CHRISTIAN MUELLER.
Fortunate is the man who has back of him an ancestry honorable and dis- tinguished, and happy is he if his lines of life are cast in harmony therewith. In person, in talents and in character Alfred Christian Mueller is a worthy scion of his race. He is a representative in the maternal line of a family that has figured conspicuously in connection with the legal history of Davenport for fifty-seven years, and in his personal connection with the bar he has demon- strated the possession of those qualities which win success in law practice — close application, comprehensive study of legal principles and unfaltering devo- tion to the interests of his clients.
Mr. Mueller was born in Davenport, June 14, 1875, a son of Christian and Elfrieda (Claussen) Mueller. The father, for many years a leading lumber mer- chant and prominent and beloved citizen of Davenport, is mentioned at length on another page of this volume. The mother was a daughter of Hans Reimer Claussen, who in 1853 was the founder of the present law firm with which A. C. Mueller is now connected. The business has descended by legacy or purchase to son and grandson to the present time and the firm has ever stood as one of the most successful and representative among the practitioners of the Daven- port bar. Hans Reimer Qaussen, the founder of the firm, was born in Schles- wig-Holstein, in 1804, and prepared for the practice of law as a student in the LTniversity of Kiel between the years 1824 and 1829. The following year he was admitted to the bar and entered upon the active duties of the profession near his old home. In 1834 he opened an office in Kiel, where he remained in active practice until 1851, when he was exiled by the King of Denmark, then ruler of Schleswig-Holstein. He had served as a member of the legislature of Hol- stein from 1840 until 185 1 and in 1848-9 was a member of the German parlia- ment, which convened in May of the former year. For the prominent part which he took in the discussion of governmental affairs, and because his son Ernest fought in the ranks of the revolutionists of 1848, the family were exiled. America, the refuge of so many political exiles from Germany, offered shelter and opportunity to H. R. Claussen, who, arriving in Davenport in 1851, began the study of the English language and two years thereafter was admitted to the bar. His son Ernest became his law partner and the firm soon took rank with the leading representatives of the legal profession in this city. In 1869 Hans R. Claussen was elected to the state senate for a four years' term, and his knowledge of the law enabled him to take active part in the revision of the court in 1873.
16 HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY
He left the impress of his individuality upon the laws enacted during his con- nection with the general assembly and also upon the history of the republican party, aiding largely in shaping its history in this state. In May, 1832, he married Anna Rahbeck, a daughter of a Danish civil officer and niece of a celebrated Danish poet. Ernest Claussen, who became his father's law partner and was an uncle of A. C. Mueller, was born in 1833, spent the first two years in Amer- ica in St. Louis and then became a resident of Davenport. Following his father's retirement from the bar in 1870 he continued in practice alone until his son Al- fred became his associate. Moreover, he was prominent in connection with munic- ipal affairs and that his fellow townsmen recognized his devotion to the public welfare is indicated in the fact that he was for five terms mayor of Davenport.
From a family of lawyers, therefore, Alfred Christian Mueller was de- scended in the maternal line. At the usual age he became a pupil in the pub- lic schools and afterward attended Duncan's Commercial College, while for one year he was a student in the polytechnic school at Hanover, Germany. His literary course completed, he took up the study of law and afterward pursued his reading for one year under the direction of Julius Lischer. He next entered the law school of the Iowa State University, from which he was graduated in 1897 and afterward spent one year in the office of Lischer & Bawden. He next went to New York and pursued a three years' course in law in Columbia Uni- versity, from which he was graduated in the class of 1901. Returning to Daven- port, he became associated with the Mueller Lumber Company as auditor, but in 1903 entered actively upon the practice of law and became the successor of his cousin, Alfred Claussen, thus continuing the firm which was founded by his grandfather.
On the 2ist of January, 1903, Mr. Mueller was married to Lulu May Ells- worth, a native of New York city and i daughter of Albert Starr and Cora Ells- worth, who were of English descent. Mr. Mueller takes little active part in politics but is a member of the school board and is much interested in the cause of education, recognizing the full value of public instruction as one of the bul- warks of the nation.
EDWARD SAVAGE CROSSETT.
The lumber industry occupies a most important relation to the development of the United States. One of the most interesting chapters in our national his- tory is that recounting the origin of this far-reaching activity, the struggles of its pioneers, their privations and triumphs and the marvelous growth which the business has now attained in certain sections of our common country. Employ- ing, as it does, literally an army of men ; offering channels of investment for mil- lions of dollars ; this branch of trade takes easily front rank as one of the wealth producing agencies of America. One of the captains in this great industry is the subject of this sketch.
When one has spent the fifty most active years of his effective life in one section of the country and in the pursuit of a single enterprise which has issued
/i^^p-^t^
HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY 19
in ultimately fortunate results to himself and those associated with him, he most certainly has contributed to the development of the industry and has won for himself a large and merited place in the history of that locality. Such a man is Edward Savage Crossett of Davenport, Iowa. For half a century he has played a conspicuous part in the lumber business of the entire Mississippi valley and is a masterful factor in council and conference wherever in that entire section men interested in yellow pine foregather.
Mr. Crossett was born in West Plattsburg, Clinton bounty, New York, Feb- ruary 4, 1828, near the scene of the battle of Plattsburg, historic in the war of 1812. His father, John Savage Crossett, participated actively in that war as a soldier in the American army. The subject of our sketch received his educa- tion in the public schools and in an academy . His first employment was in the printing office of Bardwell & Kneeland, at Troy, which work, however, he aban- doned on account of failing health. His new position as clerk in a shoe store brought him the munificent salary of two dollars and fifty cents each month and board. In 1846, when eighteen years of age, he became clerk in the village store at Schroon Lake, New York, and two years later he and his brother pur- chased the establishment. It was here that he first became interested in the lumber business, handling pine and spruce lumber in small quantities.
At the age of twenty-two Mr. Crossett turned his business over to his brother and started west. From Cincinnati he journeyed to St. Louis by steamer, and in the spring of 1852 on to St. Paul, going soon to La Crosse, Wisconsin, where he remained one year and six months. In the meantime business matters had not gone well in the east, his brother had sold the property at a loss and young Crossett was under the handicap of debts, if anything can handicap one so strong and courageous. With the restiveness of an honest nature smarting under the sense of unmet obligations, he assumed the entire burden and eventually paid the last dollar.
In the fall of 1853 Mr. Crossett went to Black River Falls, Wisconsin, where he took charge of a supply store for lumbermen. He was in entire command of this enterprise, from the making contract for supplies to the sale of the goods. His experience as a merchant in the Adirondacks served him well, and so satis- factory were the results that his employers united their four stores into one and gave him its management. From, 1854 to 1856 he was postmaster of Black River Falls, and in the latter year he associated himself with W. T. Price in a supply store busifiess of their own, returning, however, a year later to his former employers.
Then came a period of reverses in which Mr. Crossett suffered heavy losses. The freshet of the following year swept the company's logs down the river and out of reach; as a result the company was forced to suspend operations and go into bankruptcy. A portion of Mr. Crossett's capital and two years salary were sunk in the general collapse. In 1859 he started a supply store of his own, but shortly after was burned out with the complete loss of stock and building. Still undaunted and unafraid, Mr. Crossett gathered up the threads of his raveled business and attempted to again weave them together. Succeeding in obtaining the equivalent of some bills due him, in the shape of lumber and hewn timber, he rafted it down the river in 1861 and sold it where he could, but was obliged
20 HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY
to take in payment "stump tail currency," which depreciated largely before he could dispose of it. Thus Mr. Crossett's first eight years in the west brought him little but valuable experience.
In this same year Mr. Crossett was employed to assist J. E. Lindsay, who was shortly thereafter joined in partnership by J. B. Phelps; and subsequently he was connected with other concerns until 1870. For several years he ran the yards of Isaac Spaulding in East St. Louis, spending his winters in picking up stock on Black river. From 1870 to 1875 he was engaged in scaling logs and estimating timber; purchasing for himself parcels of timber land whenever such were available and seemed valuable.
In 1873 Mr. Crossett was united in marriage to Miss Harmony E. Clark, of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, and from that auspicious day dates, as he declares, his real prosperity. The two made their home in Nielsville, Wisconsin, until February, 1875, when they removed to Davenport, Iowa, where Mr. Crossett became a member of the firm of Renwick, Shaw & Crossett. Their son, Edward Clark Crossett, was born at Davenport, August 7, 1882. The same year marks Mr. Crossett's first investment in yellow pine, as one of the organizers of the Lindsay Land & Lumber Company.
In 1884 Renwick, Shaw & Crossett bought a sawmill and some pine land at Cloquet, Minnesota. Two years later Mr. Crossett sold his interest to Mr. Shaw, taking in payment ten thousand acres of Arkansas land covered with yellow pine. His friends were confident that he had made a serious mistake in acquiring Arkansas property, but the soundness of his judgment was speedily vindicated. Convinced by personal inspection of the great possibilities in yellow pine, he became extensively interested in other companies operating in the south. Already a heavy stockholder in the Eagle Lumber Company, of Eagle Mills, Arkansas, and in the Gates Lumber Company, of Wilmar, Arkansas, he, in company with C. W. Gates and Dr. J. W. Watzek, purchased in 1892 the Fordyce Lumber Company, of Fordyce, Arkansas.
In the principle of cooperation Mr. Crossett has always been interested. With William Morris, its modern apostle, he has believed that the profits accru- ing from any enterprise should in some equitable way be divided among those producing them. In 1899 the Crossett Lumber Company was organized on a cooperative basis, not as the result of any dreaming of a modern Utopia, but as a business proposition, and partly no doubt because of his own long bout with the "slings and arrows of outrageous fortune." In the cooperative organization Messrs. Crossett, Watzek and Gates held three-fourths of the stock and certain employes the other one-fourth. In recognition of Mr. Crossett's generosity, his fine sense of justice in this self-centered age, and of his wise council and cooperation always so freely given, his associates named the new town in his honor, and Crossett, Arkansas, came upon the map.
After eight years of actual operation, this town has come from the virgin forest to be one of the "show towns" of the entire south. Here dwell a pros- perous people, numbering upward of two thousand, each in a home good enough for the best and at rents that return to the corporation only a very low interest rate on the investment. The town rejoices in a fine public school costing upward
HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY 21
of fifteen thousand dollars, a well equipped hospital worth thirty-five thousand dollars, two good churches well supported and effective, and a clubhouse and swimming pool costing something like fifteen to twenty thousand dollars, these latter the personal gift of Mr. Crossett to the youth and manhood of the town. There is a five-mile liquor law and it is enforced ; the finest type of labor gravi- tates here naturally, and it is to be doubted if any finer specimens of life and character can be found in any lumber town in the world than flourish and mature in this favored spot. While much credit for these conditions is surely due to the splendid men whom Mr. Crossett has associated with him, the fact still re- mains that it is due to his influence, his ideals and his character that the town is what it is.
More recently Mr. Crossett has extended his holdings and, as an influential member of the Jackson Lumber Company, of Lockhart, Alabama, has with his associates invested in one hundred and fifty thousand acres of virgin timber in Alabama and Florida. In cooperation with Messrs. Watzek and Gates, the two remaining members, a large sawmill plant was built at Lockhart, and the prop- erty otherwise developed and increased. In 1906 the Crossett Timber Company, of Davenport, Iowa, was organized for operation in the Pacific northwest, with holdings chiefly in Washington and Oregon. Mr. Crossett not only organized and projected this company but retains a controlling portion of the stock and direction in management through his son, Edward Clark Crossett, its president. Believing that a man should dispose of his property and provide for his family during his lifetime, while still in his early seventies Mr. Crossett organized the Crossett Land & Investment Company as a holding company for the greater part of his property and gave his wife and son equal shares with himself.
Religiously Mr. Crossett has always been known as a sincere and earnest worshiper of the God of the forests. Reared as a Methodist, and a member of the Baptist church from the age of twenty-five, his sympathies have always been with all genuine men of whatever name or creed. It would be expected that a man of such robust personality and breadth of vision would have fellowship with all good men, and hence his interests and beneficences have outrun all de- nominational bounds. He was a member of the building committee of St. John's Methodist Episcopal church, of Davenport, of which his wife and son are com- municants, and his generosity and liberality, with that of one or two others, made that superb structure possible. His proposition to give fifty thousand dollars to a Young Men's Christian Association building in Davenport, providing the citizens would contribute an equal amount, was the means of securing for his home city one of the best equipped structures in the middle west, while his private benevolences, about which even his right hand knows not, are perpetual and broadcast.
Mr. Crossett is that type of manhood for which America is most famed and for which she may well be proud ; yet only now and then in a century is she able to grow one of his superfine qualities. Born with little promise of what was to be, with little to assure him such a future as has been his, little save his rugged, stalwart character and his tireless determination, all graciously shot through with his changeless trust in God. Honest to the core, circumspect in life, genial in spirit, alert in mentality, helping everybody and hindering none, wronging no
22 HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY
man that he might himself gain, but enriching all others by his own prosperity, he lives an honored and conspicuous type of that noblest of all men — an Ameri- can gentleman.
GEORGE W. CABLE.
George W. Cable, since 1866 a resident of Davenport and for many years one of the most prominent representatives of the lumber trade in the city, is now practically living retired but still has large investments and commercial in- terests. He was born in Athens county, Ohio, June Vj, 1831, his parents being Hiram and Rachel (Henry) Cable. The father was a native of Jefferson county, New York, and the mother's birth occurred in Washington county, Ohio. The family is of English lineage and was founded in America by James Cable, the grandfather of our subject, who came from England in 1770 and settled in Mas- sachusetts, whence representatives of the name removed to other localities and established other branches of the family. Mrs. Rachel Cable, the mother of George W. Cable, was of Scotch-Irish descent and was a lady of high charac- ter, whose influence has been one of the potent forces in the life of her son. Hiram Cable, prominent in public affairs, labored along practical and effective lines for the advancement and improvement of the section of the state in which he lived". Various public enterprises were promoted by him and commercial activity was also stimulated by his efforts through the years in which he was engaged in merchandising in Athens county, Ohio. Later he became one of the projectors of the Piqua & Indiana Railroad, now a branch of the Pennsyl- vania Central, and was one of the largest contractors in its construction. He also served for nine years as a director of the company. He was one of the founders of the picturesque town of Cable in Champaign county and in many ways left the impress of his individuality for good upon the development and substantial upbuilding of that section of the state. A republican in politics, he represented his district in the state legislature and did not a little toward mold- ing public thought and action. He was a man of strong character, fearless in defense of what he believed to be right and his championship of any measure was an effective force for its accomplishment.
George W. Cable acquired a good English education in the schools of Ur- bana, Ohio, and commenced business life as a farmer in Champaign county, where he successfully conducted agricultural interests for two years. He then sold out in 1857 and came to Scott county, Iowa, where for nine years he de- voted his energies to general agricultural pursuits. In 1866 he came to Daven- port and with his father engaged in the coal business and lumber trade. Extend- ing the scope of their activities to include an extensive and up-to-date lumber manufacturing enterprise, George W. Cable has since been actively or financially interested in the business. In 1874 his father retired and was succeeded by John Hornby, under the firm name of Hornby & Cable. This association was main- tained until the death of the senior partner in 1879, in which year the business was reorganized under the name of the Cable Lumber Company, with George
"^ ry. ^oJij-L^
HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY 25
W. Cable as president. The business grew to mammoth proportions, the Cable Company becoming a power in lumber circles. The enterprise was developed along modern business lines, its ramifying trade interests reaching out to various sections of the country, while the close conformity of the house to a high stan- dard of commercial ethics has made its reputation an unassailable one. By the stimulus of his exertions Mr. Cable aroused the enterprise of others and through this means added to his own efforts, while at the same time he furnished many with remunerative employment. His strict integrity, business conservatism and judgment have always been so universally recognized that he has enjoyed pub- lic confidence to an enviable degree and naturally this has brought him such a lucrative patronage that through times of general prosperity and general adver- sity alike he has witnessed a steady increase in his business until the Cable Lum- ber Company now controls one of the most important enterprises of this charac- ter in the middle west. Now, owing to failing health, Mr. Cable has retired from active work, his interests, however, being carefully guarded and augmented by his son. As the years went by he made other investments of an important char- acter, including some of the milling enterprises, banking and telephone interests. He was likewise a director in several railroads and his cooperation in any pro- ject has been taken as proof of its worth because of his business discernment and known reliability.
On the i8th of October, 1854, Mr. Cable was united in marriage to Miss Eliza E. Baldwin, a daughter of Richard Baldwin, of Champaign county, Ohio. Their only son and Mr. Cable's namesake is his worthy successor in business. Active in the Presbjrterian church, Mr. Cable practices charity without ostenta- tion and Christianity without cant. His name is unsullied and there is no man who occupies a more enviable position in industrial and financial circles. His rise in the business world has been continuous and has been the legitimate out- come of methods that neither seek nor require disguise.
HON. GEORGE W. SCOTT.
Hon. George W. Scott, mayor of the city of Davenport, whose experiences have been wide and whose course has been marked by continuous progress, was born on a farm near Le Roy, in Oldtown township, McLean county, Illinois, January 31, 1861. His parents were William H. and Eunice B. (Lebo) Scott, the former of Irish descentv and the latter of French hneage. The maternal grandfather was bom in France, and some of the Lebo family were participants in the Revolutionary war and the war of 1812, while brothers of Eunice B. Lebo served in the Civil war.
William H. Scott was a farmer by occupation and carried on agricultural pursuits and stock-raising on an extensive scale. He died March 19, 1889, near Lincoln, Nebraska, which city was at that time his home. His widow now re- sides with a daughter near Enid, Oklahoma. Their family numbered four sons and two daughters, five of whom are living : George W. ; Ira, who is on a farm near Cashion, Oklahoma; Wilson H., living near La Cygne, Kansas; Orris,
26 HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY
whose home is near Norfolk, Nebraska; and Emma,. the wife of John Hollar, near Enid, Oklahoma.
George W. Scott was reared to farm life and attended the district schools until nineteen years of age, when he continued his studies in the Evergreen City- Business College, at Bloomington, Illinois, pursuing a commercial course. He afterward entered the Illinois State Normal University at Normal, Illinois, and there pursued a two years' course. He afterward engaged in teaching in the country and graded schools for three years and, making advance in this field of labor as he has in every other to which he has directed his attention, he became principal of the graded schools at Morton, Ilhnois. After a short time he was appointed superintendent of the Indian school and special disbursement agent at Fort Stevenson, Dakota, now North Dakota. He continued in that position from October 28, 1885, until January 8, 1889, when he was appointed superintendent by Hon. J. D. C. Atkins, commissioner of Indian affairs, and at the same time received appointment as special disbursing agent from the Hon. L. Q. C. Lamar, secretary of the interior during President Cleveland's first administration.
Shortly after reaching Fort Stevenson Mr. Scott was appointed first post- master of the fort by General Adlai E. Stevenson, first assistant postmaster- general. This was an old military fort established in 1868 and when Mr. Scott received this appointment the military reservation was set off, in charge of the interior department, for school purposes and he was placed in charge as its first bonded officer. He not only had charge of the school and reservation but also established an industrial school to which he brought many Indian children who were there taught the different trades and industries. On the 8th of Janu- ary, 1889, by order of the secretary of the interior and commissioner of Indian affairs, Mr. Scott was transferred to the superintendency of the Chilocco Indian Training School at Chilocco, Indian Territory, with an annual increase of salary of three hundred dollars. At the time that was one of the largest Indian train- ing schools in the service, having an enrollment of some three hundred boys and girls. General John H. Oberly had charge of the Indian affairs and the Hon. William Vilas was secretary of the interior. Mr. Scott remained in charge of the school until December i, 1889, when he resigned to devote his attention to the reading of law. At the school he had had thirty-five employes under him, had conducted a farm of five hundred acres, had carried on stock-raising quite extensively and had superintended all the manual and graded school work. He was one of the pioneers in the work of the Indian training schools and suc- ceeded in demonstrating their worth in the civilizing of the red race.
While thus engaged Mr. Scott read law in his leisure moments. His read- ing was directed by C. T. Atkinson, at Arkansas City, Kansas, and after his admission to the bar, on the 20th of April, 1890, he practiced there until April, 1 89 1, when he was elected justice of the peace, which position he continued to fill tmtil elected county attorney, January i, 1893. He filled the latter position for two years and following his retirement from office removed to Davenport on the 1st of February, 1895, and has since been a representative of the bar in this city. While engaged in teaching and also while pursuing his studies Mr. Scott devoted some time to the newspaper business, being correspondent for the
HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY 27
Bloomington Bulletin. He also worked for the Pekin (Illinois) Times and while in Kansas he was for a time associate editor of the Arkansas City Val- ley Democrat and correspondent for a number of years for other papers. Dur- ing the fifteen years of his connection with the legal profession of Davenport he has made substantial advance and has conducted many important litigated in- terests. He formed a partnership with William Theophilus which continued itntil April i, 1898, when Mr. Scott was appointed city attorney at Davenport, holding the position until April i, 1900. He was then engaged in the practice of law alone until January i, 1905, when he formed partnership relations with B. I. Salinger and William Theophilus under the firm name of Salinger, Scott & Theophilus, which relation was maintained until May 17, 1909. On the ist of April, 1906, Mr. Scott was appointed city attorney of Davenport, which office he held until the election of 1908, when he was chosen to the highest official position in the gift of the city, being elected mayor for a two years' term. In 1904 he was the democratic nominee for county attorney but was defeated by one hundred and eighty-one votes. He ran far ahead of his ticket, however, as is indicated in the fact that Roosevelt in the same year was given a majority of twenty-five hundred.
On the 5th of January, 1887, Mr. Scott was married to Miss Rosemary Spier, of Peoria, Illinois, and they have six children: Walter Howell, Maris Stella, Coaina Marie, Eunice Marie, Sylvester Hackney, and George Winans. The family are members of the Catholic church and Mr. Scott holds membership with the Modern Woodmen of America, the Woodmen of the World, the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the National Union, the Modem Brotherhood of America, the Odd Fellows' society and the Elks, and has filled nearly all of the chairs in nearly all of these organizations. He was exalted ruler of the Elks lodge for two years, was district deputy of the southern division of Iowa and was one of the board of directors of the Elks Building Association. He has also been a mem- ber of the Elks grand lodge. He has taken a very active part in society and political affairs and has been called upon to deliver many speeches and ora- tions, both in the lodges and during political campaigns. He has been attorney for a number of corporations in this city and has met with eminent success as a criminal lawyer. He stands as a splendid representative of the men whose strength of character and ability have enabled them to work their way upward. Mr. Scott provided for his own education and though he has met with many hardships and difficulties in life, he has made continuous advancement and is today a forceful character in the professional and political circles of his adopted city.
HENRY MOELLER.
Henry Moeller is one of the most prominent and wealthy of the many suc- cessful agriculturists of Cleona township, although he has now forsaken the active work of the farm, to which he devoted himself with such energy for so many years and now makes his home in the village of Walcott. He was bom in the province of Mecklenburg, Germany, September 17, 1848. His parents.
28 HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY
John and Caroline Moeller, were also natives of the fatherland and came to the United States in 1854. Immediately after their arrival in this country they came to Scott county, Iowa, locating in Blue Grass township, where Mrs. Moeller died. She was not able to withstand the hardships of travel in those early days when there was nothing to shorten the tiresome journey across the ocean, and the means of crossing the mountains and prairies were most primitive. Mr. Moeller him- self did not live to see the great change which transformed the character of this county for he passed away seven years after his advent here. Only two sons were bom to him and his wife — Henry, the subject of this review; and Charles, a resident of Shelby, Iowa.
Henry Moeller, when being deprived of his father's guidance in his youth, found employment and a home upon his uncle's farm, where he remained until he reached man's estate, ,and, having married, was filled with the natural desire to make a home of his own. Accordingly he bought a large tract of land in Cleona township, to whose cultivation he devoted himself assiduously until May 22, 1906, when he felt that a large income, the generous return of his years of labor, entitled him to the respite from toil he desired and he took up his residence in Walcott. He had previously built a fine residence, whose many modern conveniences indicate the progressive spirit which was as potent a fac- tor in his success as the industry and frugality. In addition to operating his own place, Mr. Moeller improved and cultivated a fine tract of one hundred and thirty-four acres belonging to his wife and another of sixty acres owned by his mother-in-law.
On the 6th of February, 1875, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Moeller and Miss Caroline Feuerbach, who was born in Cleona township, this county,' April 14, 1858, and is a daughter of John and Mary Elizabeth (Dietz) Feuer- bach. Her father was a native of Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, where his birth occurred May 20, 1817, and he came to the United States in 1853. He was ac- companied by his sister Lizzie, who later became the wife of Jacob Adomey and was the only other member of his family to come to America. She like her hus- band has now passed away. Mr. Feuerbach had learned the trade of a carpenter in the land of his birth, but after coming to this country worked in the mines of Pennsylvania while that state was his home, and when he took up his resi- dence in Scott county, Iowa, devoted himself exclusively to agricultural pur- suits. He first bought forty-eight acres of land in Cleona township, to which he added extensively in the course of years until at the time of his death he owned five hundred acres. This is now in the possession of his widow and part of it is operated by his son Henry. In Pennsylvania, July 11, 1853, Mr. Feuerbach was united in marriage to Miss Mary Elizabeth Dietz, who was also born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, December 18, 1832. In 1853 she came to America with her parents, John and Marie Elizabeth (Mock) Dietz, who settled in the Keystone state and latter came to Scott county, where they passed the remainder of their lives. Caroline, who is the wife of Mr. Moeller, and Henry, of whom mention is made elsewhere in this work, were the children granted to Mr. and Mrs. Feuerbach.
Mr. and Mrs. Moeller have seven children, namely: Willie, who resides upon his father's farm ; Bertha, who is the wife of John Hein, of Cleona township ;
HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY 29
Amelia, the wife of Louis Gibson, of Blue Grass township; Theresa, who mar- ried Julius Hein, a brother of John Hein, and a resident of Cleona township; Elizabeth, the wife of Adolph Rodgens, of Cleona township; Ella, who mar- ried George Reisen, of Fulton township, Muscatine county, Iowa; and Fer- dinand, who lives with his brother Willie on the home farm.
Mr. Moeller is one of the most substantial representatives of the German race who have come to this country, and through the strong traits of their char- acter have raised the standard of citizenship here, while at the same time they have contributed to the sum total of the prosperity which distinguishes this county and state.
JOHN W. JAMISON.
John W. Jamison, residing at No. 1019 Scott street in Davenport, has lived retired for more than two decades and is one of the oldest residents of the city. His birth occurred in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, on the 2Sth of July, 1822, his parents being Francis and Nancy (Wallace) Jamison, who were natives of Ireland and America respectively. The father was a farmer and miller by occu- pation. John W. Jamison obtained his education in the schools of his native county and after putting aside his text-books worked with his father on the farm and in the mill. He likewise learned the shoemaker's trade and worked at that occupation in Allegheny county until his removal to Scott county, Iowa, in 1855. After a residence O'f three months in this county he returned to the Keystone state for his wife and children and on establishing his home in Davenport obtained em- ployment in a mill. Subsequently he entered the service of Dawson & Greggs, a shoe concern, with whom he remained for about five years, on the expiration of which period he opened a shoe factory in association with Mr. Murdock. Several years later they dissolved partnership and for a long time Mr. Jamison remained the sole proprietor of the enterprise. Later he became associated with his son, George W. Jamison, and thus continued an active factor in commercial circles until his retirement from the shoe business in 1877. During the following ten years he was employed in a clerical capacity by the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway but since severing his connection with that corporation he has lived in honorable retirement.
On the nth of February, 1845, Mr. Jamison was united in marriage to Miss Rebecca Kelso, who was bom in Pennsylvania on the 8th of September, 1816, her parents being Geoirge Washington and Nancy (Murdock) Kelso. Her graiid- father participated in the Revolutionary war. Mr. and Mrs. Jamison became the parents of six children, the record of whom is as follows : George W., the eldest, is now a resident of St. Louis. At the time of the Civil war, when but eighteen years of age, he enlisted for one hundred days' service in the Union army and reenlisted in 1864, becoming a member of Company G, Twentieth Iowa Volunteer Infantry. He participated in a number of hotly contested engagements and when the supremacy of the Union had been established was honorably discharged. He married Miss Matilda Hartung, by whom he has four children, namely : Lottie,
30 HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY
the wife of Edward Owens; Edmund K., a resident of Moline, Illinois, who wedded Miss Emma Barroclough and has one child, Raymond; Archie, who makes his home in St. Louis; and Wliliam, who is in the United States navy. Francis Jamison, who lives in Moline, Illinois, wedded Miss Mary Binder and has three children : Ida, who is the wife of George Sauni and has three children — Mabel, Margaret and Mary ; Minnie, a twin sister of Ida ; and Amy, who gave her hand in marriage to Charles Berry and has one child, Beatrice. The other children of Mr. Jamison of this review were : John, who has passed away ; Robert, who makes his home in California; Benjamin, who is likewise deceased; and Nancy, at home. Mrs. Rebecca Jamison passed away on the 25th of March, 1907, and her loss was deeply and sincerely mourned by all who knew her.
Mr. Jamison is a stalwart democrat in his political views and held the office of city assessor in 1877. He joined the Masonic fraternity in 1858 and is one of the oldest representatives of the craft here. He belongs to all the branches of the order, has attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite and is past grand treasurer of the grand lodge of Masons. He is likewise past grand chancellor of the Knights of Pythias lodge. For many years he served as superintendent of the Sunday school of the United Presbyterian church and has always been one of its most active and valued members, holding various official positions therein. He assisted in the erection of the first house of worship and was one of the two men who contributed the funds for the seating of the edifice. He is now in the eighty-eighth year of his age and is one of the most venerable as well as respected residents of Davenport, which city has remained his home for fifty-five years. His record as a business man and as a private citizen has been so honorable that he has gained the confidence and good will of all with whom he has been brought in contact.
COLONEL HENRY EGBERT.
Henry Egbert, "a peer among men," with a wide acquaintance, and honored wherever he was known, left his impress for good upon the city which he made his home and which was stimulated in its growth and progress along many lines by his cooperation, his keen business insight and his unselfish devotion to all that contributes to the welfare of the individual and the community. A successful business man, his commercial and financial interests represented to him but the one phase of life. There was something higher and of more worth for him in life than the accumulation of wealth, and with the passing years he used every opportunity to aid his fellowmen, to alleviate human suffering, to ameliorate the hard conditions of life for the individual, and to heighten those joys and pleasures which are of real value to man. All these things contributed to give to Colonel Henry Egbert a hold on the affection of his fellowmen that was rare and notable, causing the news of his death to be received with a sense of personal bereavement throughout the entire city.
A native of Delaware, Colonel Egbert was born in New Castle, December 22, 1826, a son of Christian and Elizabeth (Austin) Egbert. The father was
£^((l€<-^
HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY 33
a native of Amsterdam, Holland, and came alone to America at the age of four- teen years. From that time forward he was dependent entirely upon his own resources, and following the sea for years, finally became captain of sea-going craft.
Colonel Egbert, one of a family of three children, spent his early boyhood in his father's home, attending school until bereft by death of both parents. At fifteen years of age he went to Philadelphia and, though but a youth in years, soon engaged in the grocery business, which occupied his attention until he attained his majority. Continuing on his westward way, in 1847 he went to Hocking river, seven miles from Logan, Ohio, and there operated a sawmill. While residing in that locality, he was married on the 12th of May, 1850, to Miss Elizabeth G. Sudlow, a daughter of Richard and Hannah Sudlow and a native of New York. They began their domestic life near Logan, where they remained until 1856, when they came to Scott county, Iowa. It was still in some respects a frontier district, although the seeds of civilization had been planted many years before and were already bearing good fruit.
Colonel Egbert purchased a farm in Cleona township and gave his time and labors to the cultivation and improvement of the fields until August 14, 1861, when, aroused by the spirit of patriotism, he abandoned the plow and offered his services to the government. His military record is one of which any man might be proud and well serves to perpetuate the memory of Colonel Egbert in Iowa. He enlisted in Company C, Second Iowa Cavalry, August 14, 1861, as first sergeant and seven days later was elected captain of his company. At the battle of Farmington, Mississippi, he was severely wounded, a piece of shell striking him in the left leg. He was compelled to return home on sick fur- lough, but all the time he was anxious for recovery that he might again engage in active service for his country. Forty days from the date of his home-coming found him on his way back to the field and after rejoining his regiment he par- ticipated in all of its battles until May, 1863, when he was again compelled by wounds and illness to return to his home. He did not leave the service per- manently, however, but in 1864 again went into the field as lieutenant colonel of the Forty-fourth Iowa Infantry and on the ist of March was appointed pro- vost marshal of the second district of Iowa. In that capacity he closed up the provost marshal business of the entire state and on January i, 1866, received his honorable discharge from the service.
The war ended, Colonel Egbert quietly resumed the pursuits of civil life, again taking up the work of the farm, to which he gave his attention until the fall of 1869, when his fellow citizens gave expression of their desire for his service in a public capacity by electing him treasurer of Scott county. He held that responsible position for four years and about the close of his term engaged in the printing, binding and blank book business as the senior member of the firm of Egbert, Fidlar & Chambers. In the fall of 1879 he was elected on the republican ticket as Scott county's representative to the Iowa legislature, and his course in the general assembly was characterized by the same loyalty and fidelity which had marked him in other offices, both civil and military. He was from its founding deeply interested in the Soldier's Orphans' Home at Davenport, and while a member of the legislature worked earnestly and successfully to secure
34 HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY
such enactments as would insure the permanency and still greater usefulness of that institution. For several years he was the locall member and president of its board of trustees.
In politics Colonel Egbert was always a stanch supporter of the republican party, thoroughly conversant with the issues of the day and ready at all times to support his position by intelligent argument. In addition to his other ofifices he served as postmaster of Davenport during the Harrison administration. In his later years he was prominently known as a representative of the banking interests of the city, becoming president of the Davenport National Bank and Union Savings Bank. The complex problems of banking were quickly and cor- rectly solved by him and he remained at the head of these institutions to the time of his demise.
Colonel Egbert was a prominent and popular member of Davenport Lodge, No. 37, A. F. & A. M., manifesting in his life the beneficent spirit of this society. He belonged to the Loyal Legion and always gave it hearty support. He was a firm believer in Christianity, had strong religious convictions, and ex- emplified them fully in his daily life. In early manhood he became a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and continued to render active and loyal service therein until the end. His first membership was in the Wharton Street church in Philadelphia. Thereafter it was in the First Methodist, later the Central Methodist church, of Davenport, Iowa. The church was very dear to him, and he gave to it liberally, both in time and means.
He was a lover of the quiet and freedom of life in the country and this led him in later years to again make his home there. He chose a sightly spot on the river bluffs above the city, within easy reach of its activities, and there built a home and surrounded it with those things which, with him, made best for life's true enjoyment, and here he spent the last five years of his busy life. Here he and his cherished wife and helpmeet lived to celebrate their golden wedding an- niversary. May 12, 1900. The death of Henry Egbert occurred on the 23d of February, 1901.
"He was one of the finest men that ever lived in Davenport," was the opin- ion uniformly held throughout the city. Kindly and generous, the extent of his good works will never be known, but they have won for him a place in the hearts of his fellows that is more to be coveted than the honors of the statesman or the success of the captain of industry. He stood for all that is highest and best in citizenship, in business and in social life, and though he has passed away, his memory will be enshrined for years in the hearts of those who knew him.
HENRY F. WUNDER.
In a history of Blue Grass it is imperative that mention be made of Henry F. Wunder, its present mayor, who has occupied that office since the incorporation of the town in 1903, and is also serving as the efficient cashier of the Blue Grass. Savings Bank, while he is at the same time identified with other financial and in- dustrial enterprises. One of Scott county's native sons, his birth occurred on
HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY 35
the 4th of September, 1859, his parents being WiUiam and Catherine (Schlap- kohl) Wunder, both of whom were born in Holstein, Germany, the former on the 25th of March, 1823, and the latter on the 13th of May, 1822. The father crossed the Atlantic to America in 1851, locating first in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, where he remained for one year and then came to Scott county, where he worked at the carpenter's trade until 1859. In that year he purchased a farm in Blue Grass township, to which he removed and upon which he resided until 1886, when he put aside the active work of the fields and lived retired in Davenport until he passed away on the 4th of July, 1907. The demise of his wife had occurred in this city on the 12th of October, 1891.
In the district schools of Scott county Henry F. Wunder acquired his pre- liminary education and later benefited by study at the Littlebridge Business College of Davenport, completing the course in 1878 and being thus well equipped to take up the practical and responsible duties of life. Returning home, he took charge of the homestead farm for his father and was engaged in agricultural pursuits until the organization of the Blue Grass Savings Bank, when he was elected cashier of that institution and has so continued to the present day. The bank, which opened for business on the 6th of January, 1902, was first capitalized- for fourteen thousand dollars, but its growth has been so rapid during the inter- vening years that on the 22d of June, 1909, its capital was increased to twenty- five thousand dollars. It is today one of the safe, reliable and well known banks of the community and in the capacity of cashier Mr. Wunder has proven himself a very capable and faithful official. His accuracy and business ability, combined with integrity and fidelity to the interests of the bank, have won for him the appreciation and high regard of the other officials, while his uniform courtesy and promptness in the discharge of all business have made him very popular with the patrons of the institution. He is furthermore a stockholder in the Guaranty Mutual Life Insurance Company of Davenport and a director in the Blue Grass Repair & Implement Company, both of which organizations have profited materi- ally by his wise counsel and business sagacity. Upon the cieath of his father in 1907 he came into possession of the old homestead farm, which he still owns and which annually returns to him gratifying rental. His various business interests, carefully managed, have brought him a most gratifying measure of success and today he stands among the substantial, influential and representative citizens of the com- munity.
Mr. Wunder belpngs to Hillside Camp, No. 2470, M. W. A., of Blue Grass, and is a prominent and active member thereof. He cast his first presidential vote for Garfield and since that time has voted a mixed ticket. His fellow citizens, recognizing his personal worth, have called him to various offices of trust and he served for six years as township clerk and as a member of the school board for ten years. In 1903, at the time of the incorporation of the town of Blue Grass, his fellowmen conferred upon him the greatest honor in their power to bestow, electing him mayor of the town, in which office he has since continued to serve. He has made an excellent record during his incumbency in that office, giving to the town a businesslike, progressive and beneficial administration. He has also inaugurated many reforms and improvements and in the discharge of his public duties has ever been true to the trust reposed in him by his fellow townsmen.
36 HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY
In the business circles of Blue Grass few men are more prominent or more widely known, and his prosperity is well deserved, as in him are embraced the characteristics of an unbending integrity, unabating energy and industry that never flags.
JUDGE G. C. R. MITCHELL.
A scholar in the breadth of his own wisdom and the appreciation of knowl- edge, a statesman in his understanding of the vital problems of government, a lawyer of superior ability and a gentleman because of the innate refinement of his nature that rejected everything opposed to good taste, the names of Gilbert Chris Russell Mitchell is written large on the pages of Davenport's early his- tory and his influence was a most potent element in shaping the early progress of the city in professional, social, educational and moral lines. The intensely human side of his nature, that which held friendship inviolable and expressed itself in acts of kindness and deeds of generosity, was never in any way over- shadowed by the strength of his intellect, which, however, was far in advance of the great majority of men of his day. Born in Dandridge, Jefferson county, Tennessee, December 26, 1803, he was the only son of Nathaniel and Ann (Rhea) Mitchell. The father was born in Albemarle, now Nelson county, Vir- ginia, in 1778. During the war the records in the courthouses of Virginia wei'e burned, consequently little is known of his ancestry but many of the name of Mitchell from Virginia are on the Revolutionary honor roll. The family is of Scotch lineage. The father was a man of sterling qualities, honorable and high minded. He served in the war of 1812, holding the rank of colonel. His wife was born in New River county, Virginia, in 1783 and was a daughter of Archi- bald Rhea. Later the family removed to Tennessee, settling about a mile above Knoxville, and it was in Knox county that she became the wife of Nathaniel Mitchell. The progenitor of the Rhea family belonged to the Scotch house of Argylle — Matthew Campbell by name. Known as "The Rebel," he fought in many wars in Scotland and was finally obliged to flee to the north of Ireland, where he changed his name to Rhea. Members of the Rhea family were re- markable for attaining influence and honor wherever they lived in this country. Coming of Scotch covenanter stock, there was a strong tendency toward the Presbyterian ministry. In a single generation not only one son but two or three would enter upon that calling. Mrs. Ann Mitchell was a devoted Presbyterian and became one of the ten charter members of the Presbyterian church of Daven- port in 1839 and assisted in building the first chapel. The Rhea family were very- prominent in the upbuilding and development of the south.
It was among the "over mountain people" that G. C. R. Mitchell spent his boyhood and early manhood. Though the early settlers of that locality are rec- ognized as having been of an unusually high type, it is rather surprising that almost before the echo of the Indian war cry died away, it was possible for a boy to be as finely educated as was Gilbert Mitchell. As a child he was sin- gularly beautiful. His health was delicate, so that he was carefully nurtured and
HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY 39
during these early years he was laying the foundations for his thorough mental attainments and accomplishments. He spoke French and German and was- versed in Greek and Latin ; in his boyhood he learned to play the flute and the violin, and also understood surveying. For a time the family lived in Russell- ville, Alabama, and in 1818, then fifteen years of age. Judge Mitchell was attending school in Knoxville. He was afterward a student at East Tennesee College, now the University of Tennessee, where the curriculum was highly academic, and was a member of the first graduating class in the fall of 1822. He was always an apt student, at the head of his classes, and the fine "speeches" which he delivered in those days show that he was already thinking out along broad lines relative to the country, its development and welfare. He was particularly interested in the Mississippi river country, for even in boyhood his thoughts were turned to the west. Some of his college speeches are still preserved and are well worthy of perusal, showing a marked difference from the present in habits of thought ; all show a remarkable command of language and clearness of thought, qualities which were afterward of value to him in his legal career. He also wrote verses, but whether at this period or later is not known.
Following his graduation Mr. Mitchell went to Moulton, Lawrence county, Alabama, where his parents were then living, and took up the study of law in the office of Judge A. F. Hopkins. He was admitted to the bar in 1825 and prac- ticed successfully in Alabama for several years while living in Moulton. Here he was a partner of David A. Smith. For the greater part of that period he was clerk of the circuit court and was a candidate for the office of circuit judge but was defeated. In 1828 he traveled in the west with the idea of settling there. He returned, however, to Alabama and was living in Courtland in 1830 but he had not given up the idea of going west. In 1832 he went again to St. Louis but returned to Courtland, where he lived until 1834, in the meantime selling his land, with the idea of leaving there permanently. Investigation into possibilities of the middle west at length brought him to Davenport and from the time that he came to the city he sprang into instant prominence. However, he spent a year in a tour among eastern cities before coming west permanently but did not find that section of the country attractive to him. While living in the south he was seriously ill with typhoid fever and a change of climate was advised. This gave him his opportunity. He visited St. Louis, Fort Dearborn (Chicago), Galena and Dubuque, then came to Stevenson, as Rock Island was called, in May, 1835. In that year he purchased a squatter's right in Davenport — the tract of land which was later known as Mitchell's addition. He built thereon a little pioneer home, which he occupied until 1837. His parents followed him to Davenport in 1836 and his father bought land also. An old record seems to indicate that he pur- chased land of Antoine LeClaire but most of his property was obtained by tak- ing up a regular squatter's claim and then buying from the government when the land was placed on the market. When this was done the claims that had been taken up by the early settlers did not conform to the government surveys, which were made about 1840. The land office was opened at Dubuque and the settlers of Davenport and vicinity agreed that Judge Mitchell should purchase all the lands that were thus conveyed. Thus by a mutual give and take system each owner was bounded by the section lines of the survey. As Judge Mitchell
40 HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY
had the confidence of all, his dictum settled all discontent. There were many instances in the early history of the community where Judge Mitchell was called upon to settle difficulties, his legal knowledge and fair-mindedness giving him unusual equipment for arbitrator. He was, moreover, "the leading practitioner of law in Davenport from his earliest settlement." On the 23d of February, 1836, a meeting was held, presumably at the home of Colonel George Davenport, on Government Island, to found the town of Davenport, on which occasion Judge Mitchell was present. The instrument was executed in his fine, clear hand- writing and is now in possession of Louis A. LeClaire, a nephew of Antoine LeClaire. In an account of Davenport in 1836 the Democrat-Gazette of 1889 in speaking of Judge Mitchell said: "Our first lawyer had no taste for office. Attractive in ways of chat, scholarly, intelligent, at home in classic lore or modern thought, a thorough jurist, observant of the country's men and laws and politics, quick to see, faithful 'in memory, yet shunning the crowd he loved his home, his papers and his books. With these he constantly communed. His library was the best in Davenport and its owner knew its contents."
At this time Iowa was a part of the territory of Wisconsin and there is in existence a document executed February 15, 1837, by Henry Dodge, governor of the territory of Wisconsin, appointing G. C. R. Mitchell master in chancery of the county of EHibuque. This office carried with it the title of judge. At the time that Rockingham and Davenport each sought to become the county seat Judge Mitchell was nominated for representative to the legislature but was de- feated. However, it was acknowledged that he was "largely instrumental in securing for Davenport the enviable distinction of being made the county seat of Scott county." With all that pertains to the early life of the city and the upbuild- ing of this section of the state Judge Mitchell was closely identified. Although not a Catholic at the time, he gave liberally toward the building of St. Anthony's church, which was dedicated May 23, 1838. It was for many years the largest public edifice in the town and was used by all large assemblies to deliberate upon matters of public interest. It was there that the first district court met. Father Pelamourgues, the priest in charge, "deemed it no desecration of the holy place to have it temporarily used as a temple of justice."
G. C. R. Mitchell and Jonathan Parker were the lawyers for the defense in the first case docketed in the Scott county district court and the answer of the defense is in the plain, leisurely written hand of Judge Mitchell. He also wrote the document and his was the first signature to an agreement made October 9, 1838, by the members of the Iowa bar regarding the return of court notices. In 1838 or 1839 Judge Mitchell became one of three directors of what was called "the Rock River and Mississippi Steam Navigation Company," an enterprise that did not prove a profitable venture. In 1840 he was one of three who issued a call to organize an Agricultural Society and became its vice president. He was also among the first to advertise in the Iowa Sun, which was printed in 1838. This publication was succeeded by the Davenport Gazette in 1841. In the Daven- port Academy of Science are now found bound volumes of the Burlington Haw- keye of 1843 and 1844, which are Judge Mitchell's copies. When the Judge died
one room in his house was entirely filled with files of newspapers in perfect order
a notable collection — and the most valuable of these files was that of the Niles
HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY 41
Register, published in Baltimore during the period following the Revolution. At his death the Register was given to St. Ambrose College.
Judge Mitchell never sought office and in fact preferred to leave office hold- mg to others. Yet he had no patience with those who evaded public duties. When he was nominated for judge the Iowa State Democrat said : "Judge Mit- chell is a man who never seeks office and has never shown any desire for official honors but such men are just the proper persons to be nominated and they have no right to decline, unless the sacrifice of accepting office is too great." In 1843 Judge Mitchell was again a candidate for the territorial legislature on the whig ticket. When that party dissolved Judge Mitchell affiliated with the democratic party. He was elected as representative of Scott county to the sixth territorial legislature which convened in Iowa City, December 4, 1843. If the life of a people is reflected in the laws they frame the proceedings of a legislature are a valuable index to the times. In his message the governor made reference to the removal of the Sac and Fox Indians to the "west of the temporary boundary of Iowa" and deplored the vicious habits of the Winnebagoes. He also spoke of health conditions in the state and urged ascertaining the wishes of the people in regard to framing a state constitution. This matter was taken up during the session and referred to a select committee, on which Judge Mitchell served. He was also prominent on the committee to which was referred the protection of the frontier, for at that time militia officers were negligent in reporting the num- ber and equipment of their respective commands, so that it was impossible for the war department to furnish them with the arms to which proper returns would entitle them. Judge Mitchell was on three standing committees, the judiciary, military affairs and engrossing bills. He was also on a committee of one from each electoral district to prepare rules for the government of the house and later when the standing committee on the library was appointed he served on it. The judiciary committee has always been the most important and his work in that connection was evidence of his great ability in legal matters. He was chair- man of a special committee to which was referred a bill to amend the law then in force regarding grand and petit jurors, and served on a committee of three appointed to report on such alterations of the law regulating wills and adminis- trators as might be deemed necessary. To the judiciary committee was referred a bill to district the county of Scott for the election of county commissioners ; a bill to amend an act for the election of constables and the defining of their duties ; and a bill relative to proceedings in chancery, Judge Mitchell was one of two appointed as committee of conference regarding the last named bill. The judi- ciary committee dealt also with a bill to amend an act defining crimes and punish- ments. All these questions show more or less clearly the formative condition which then prevailed and Judge Mitchell was active in framing laws and in- stituting measures which have been important forces in the state's development and government. Among' the petitions presented by Judge Mitchell from Scott county was one praying for the establishment of a "territorial road" between Davenport and Iowa City. He introduced a memorial to the postmaster general for additional mail facilities, and most important of all was the bill he introduced for the purpose of abolishing imprisonment for debt, supplementary to a law on the same subject previously passed. Several divorces were applied for and re-
42 HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY
ferred to the committee on judiciary. The legislature had heretofore granted divorces. The committee offered a resolution to the effect that in their opinion such matters should be brought before a judicial tribunal rather than before the legislature. The report made on the subject is voluminous and reflects the universal seriousness with which divorce was then regarded.
In 1846 Judge Mitchell received the whig nomination for congressman at large from the state. The Gazette of that date says : "G. C. R. Mitchell, Esquire, is so well and favorably known from his long residence in the territory — having lived here when it was embraced in that of Wisconsin — that it is needless for u? to speak of his qualifications. As a jurist, a scholar and an honest man we doubt if Mr. Mitchell has a superior in the territory. The whigs can rest assured that in him they will find a faithful exponent of their principles. As representative from this county to the legislature he gave general satisfaction." He was, how- ever, defeated by the democratic candidate. Throughout these years Judge Mitchell continued in the practice of law, occupying his place as "the foremost lawyer of Davenport in the early days."
On the 14th of April, ,1852, G. C. R. Mitchell was married in St. Anthony's church to Miss Rose Anna Clarke, daughter of William and Catherine Clarke. She was born December 23, 1823, near the town of TuUamore, Kings county, Ireland, and in her early girlhood her parents brought the family to this country, settling near Cincinnati, in Brown county, Ohio. Her eldest sister, Mary, be- came the wife of George Meyers, one of the earliest residents of Rock Island, and a second sister, Sarah A., married George L. Davenport. Theirs was the first in the record of marriages of St. Anthony's church. When Rose Clarke was eighteen years of age she came to Davenport by steamboat from St. Louis in 1842, and for ten years she lived with her sister, Mrs. Davenport. Judge Mitchell was the first gentleman she met after her arrival. The fame of her beautiful voice had preceded her and for years she was a prominent member of St. An- thony's choir, to which Judge Mitchell also belonged. There was no organ or no melodeon in those days but they had flute, clarionet, 'cello and violin. Later when St. Anthony's secured a melodeon. Rose Clarke played on it, singing while she played. She was also an accompHshed horsewoman and rode a great deal in her younger days. Judge Mitchell and his bride went south for their wedding trip. It is said that while they were in St. Louis they spent one thousand dollars in furnishing their new home, which was then considered a very unusual outlay. Most of this furniture was finely carved mahogany and a mahogany rocking chair which was a wedding gift from George L. Davenport is now in possession of their daughter, Mrs. William J. McCullough. After living for a time on the west side of Main street, between Fourth and Fifth streets, Judge Mitchell and his family removed to the corner of Eighth and Marquette streets. Separate from the house but on the same grounds was the office, built so after the soulhern custom. Later, removal was made to the present location of St. Mary's Home. Mrs. Mitchell and Mrs. Davenport, the "Qarke sisters," were considered the best housekeepers in Davenport.
Recognizing the needs of the city in many directions, Judge Mitchell devoted and found time to support and cooperate in movements that met these needs. In 1854 he became engaged in a new venture, becoming associated with C. S.
HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY 43
Whisler in establishing a ferry after obtaining a ten years' charter from Iowa. In the winter of 1854-55 they made an effort to obtain a charter from the Illinois legislature but failed. Having authority to carry but one way, business was un- profitable but in the latter year they sold their Iowa franchise to their competi- tors for two thousand dollars and afterward disposed of their boat, the lone. It was also in 1854 that Charles E. Putnam came to Davenport and studied law under Judge Mitchell, by whom he was admitted to a partnership that existed until 1857, when Mr. Mitchell became district judge. From 1855 until 1857 his activity in public life reached its height. Old files show that on the ist of March, 185s, a meeting of Scott county democrats was called by.G. C. R. Mitchell, G. E. Hubbell and others, for the formation of a democratic club. In the same year he was a member of the city council. At that time Davenport was plunged into bonded indebtedness beyond its constitutional limit. Judge Mitchell was very conservative and opposed increasing the indebtedness in all the votes he gave as alderman. In 1856 he was elected mayor and in his official capacity appointed a corrtmittee to commence action, enjoining the continuance of the bonded in- debtedness. The action succeeded and the injunction was made perpetual. The following spring a bar convention held in Lyons offered him the nomination for judge of the fourteenth judicial district. This was the first attempt in the dis- trict to take the election of judges out of politics, a plan now followed. In the Iowa State Democrat appeared the following editorial comment: "G. C. R. Mitchell is too well known in all the three counties of this district to render it necessary to speak of his abilities. He has one of the best judicial minds of any man in the district- and he is the soul of honor. His most intimate and dearest friend could never move him to any act of partiality so long as he should wear the ermine. So spotless is his reputation in this respect that no man will be found with hardihood enough to question it." Another newspaper characterized him as a man "of eminent qualifications for the post to which he had been nominated." Though the Gazette tried to make the election a party issue. Judge Mitchell was elected by a handsome majority — a fact indicative of his personal popularity and the high regard entertained for him in a professional way, for he was the only democrat elected. Though he resigned from the office of judge in the fall of the year in which he went upon the bench, he left a strong and lasting impression upon the judicial history of Iowa. Davenport Past and Present, in a biography of Judge Mitchell published before his death, says : "As a jurist Judge Mitchell takes a high position. He is profoundly discriminative, a keen, careful analyst, and one whose deductions are always reliably correct. His mental processes are seemingly slow but in reality rapid, for while others would dash to a conclusion (often the wrong one) with an imperfect view of a few contiguous facts, he- traverses the whole ground, omitting nothing, however seemingly trivial or great ; and although he may be twice as long in evolving a question as another, he per- forms ten times the labor and his conclusion is in the same proportion more worthy of credence. If he has one trait more prominent than another, it is his thorough comprehensiveness, his ability to include everything in his examination of a subject, and add to this a nice instinctive and cultivated perception of the character and weight of a fact, and one may see why he rarely goes wrong, or
44 HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY
commits errors in conclusions." Elsewhere the statement is found that he stood the peer of the greatest men of his time in Iowa."
In December, 1858, Judge Mitchell was called upon to go as a ilelegate from Scott county to the general convention at Iowa City to consider taking action regarding state aid to railroads. He was chairman of the meeting and was also a member of the committee of five which memorialized the governor to call an extra session of the legislature relative to the matter. In the later years of his life Judge Mitchell lived quietly, happy in his home life with his family and his friends and his books around him. Unto him and his wife were born six children, of whom Henry M., Anna M. E., Mary Catherine and Martha M. died in childhood. The eldest son, Nathaniel Stephen, lived to the age of thirty-three and at his death left a wife and five children. He inherited brilliant gifts of mind and while at college was considered an exceptional student in all the branches of general education. He was talented along artistic lines and was an excellent musician. For many years he directed the choir at St. Marguerite's church. He was a lawyer by profession. The only living child of Judge and Mrs. Mitchell is Josephine Mary, the wife of William J. McCullough. She is convent bred, having received an excellent education, and is a woman of great beauty. She is also an artist of ability. She has a gentle, serene nature and above all else is the devoted wife and mother. Mr. and Mrs. McCullough are the parents of six children.
On one occasion Judge Mitchell lost ten thousand dollars, all of the cash which he possessed, in a bank failure, but he was the owner of valuable property that included a large tract of land north of his residence and known as Mitchell's Bluff. He was very liberal with his wealth, gave generously to the poor and often loaned money when he knew it would never be returned. He never refused his professional service to those unable to pay and when he died there was sixty thousand dollars due him as fees which was never collected. He was especially generous to the church, gave the land on which St. Kunigunda's (now St. Joseph's) church was built in 1855 '"•"^ ^^so the land on which the new church building next to the old one was erected. Mrs. Mitchell after her husband's death was a most generous supporter of St. Mary's church, for which she selected the name. Judge Mitchell and George L. Davenport donated ten acres of land to the Sisters of Charity, on which in 1859 was established a school for yoiing ladies that was the beginning of what is now the Immaculate Conception Acad^ emy. Judge Mitchell possessed one of the finest private libraries in the state and was ever a man of broad and liberal culture, thoroughly informed concerning philosophy and kindred subjects, history and general branches of learning and research. He was extremely modest regarding his gifts of mind and would never attempt to write on law or literature, although his friends frequently urged him to do so. He spent some time in travel, especially in the south. To slavery as an institution he was strongly opposed but did not take an active part in slavery agitation. He suflfered a stroke of apoplexy December 6, 1865, and died on the evening of that day. Funeral services were held December 8th, the impressive rites of the Catholic church being celebrated over the remains at St. Kuni- gunda's church, on which occasion Father Pelamourgues delivered a feeling and appropriate address, while the members of the Old Settlers Association attended
HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY 45
the services in a body. Mrs. Mitchell survived her husband almost forty-two years. She was a woman of strong qualities, possessing a fine, grave nature. After his death she developed an unusual business ability, was a splendid man- ager and, like Judge Mitchell, was very generous. One of the newspapers of recent years said : "Mrs. Rose A. Mitchell lived on one of the city's most beau- tiful eminences, where she passed her declining years in works of quiet charity and the profoundest piety." She died March 23, 1907, after a week's illness at the home of her daughter, Mrs. McCullough, and the funeral services were held in St. Mary's church on the 26th of March.
The Schmalhaus portrait of Judge Mitchell, which was taken from a daguer- reotype of an early day, was placed in the courthouse at the request of the members of the Scott county bar. Judge Mitchell was far above the mediocre, the commonplace. Such men as he are rare. In the story of his life can be found nothing discreditable or ignoble. Of wonderful fineness and sensitiveness of nature, remarkably gifted mind and endearing qualities, public- spirited, honorable and high-minded, he stands out vividly as an incentive and an inspiration. So long as the history of Davenport and Scott county is remem- bered will the name of Judge Mitchell be held in honor.
(Note: — This sketct was taken from a biographical article written by M. Elizabeth McCullough, a granddaughter of Judge Mitchell.)
HENRY ROHLF.
Henry Rohlf, who devoted his time and energies to farming throughout his active business career, has lived in honorable retirement for the past fifteen years, making his home at No. 704 Main street in Davenport. He was born in Holstein, Germany, on the 25th of February, 1840, a son of Henry and Catherine Rohlf. The father, who was a laborer, served as a soldier of the German army. In 1854 he brought his family to the United States and after landing at New York came direct to Davenport, Iowa, arriving in this city on the 3d of June. He secured employment as a farm hand and continued to reside in this county until called to his final rest in 1887, having for fifteen years survived his wife, who passed away in 1872. Unto this worthy couple were born five children, namely: Henry, of this review; Amos, who is a resident of Clay county, Iowa; Fred, of Sheridan township, Scott county; August, living in Davenport; and Wilham, who makes his home in Davenport township, Scott county.
Henry Rohlf attended the schools of the fatherland until fourteen years of age, when he accompanied his parents on their emigration to the new world. Af- ter coming to Scott county he continued his studies during two winter terms of school and then devoted his entire attention to farm work. In 1862 he purchased forty acres of land in Pleasant Valley township and was actively engaged in its cultivation for two years, when he sold the property and bought a tract of fifty- five acres on the Jersey Ridge road. As his financial resources increased he ex- tended the boundaries of the farm to include one hundred and seventy and a. half
46 HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY
acres and made his home thereon for nineteen years, placing many fine improve- ments on the property. On disposing of that farm he purchased a quarter section of land in Muscatine county, where he successfully carried on his agricultural interests for ten years, when he put aside the active work of the fields and has since lived retired in Davenport. He still retains possession of the farm in Muscatine county and also owns one hundred and sixty acres of land in Sheridan township, Scott county, which he purchased subsequent to his retirement.
On the 20th of December, 1864, Mr. Rohlf was united in marriage to Miss Malinda Heath, whose birth occurred in Pennsylvania in 1841. They became the parents of four children, the record of whom is as follows. Ida, the eldest, passed away when but two years of age. Ella is the wife of Andrew Krambeck, of Dysart, Tama county, Iowa, and has two children, Ida and Emma. Sadie, who gave her hand in marriage to William Schroeder, of Blue Grass, is now de- ceased. Her children were four in number; one who died in infancy; Freda; Ella; and Hulda. Otto L., who operates his father's farm in Muscatine county, wedded Miss Emma Schroeder, by whom he has four children: Elsie, Arthur, Lester and Bessie. The wife and mother was called to her final rest in 1886.
Since age conferred upon him the right of franchise Mr. Rohlf has given his political allegiance to the republican party. He proved a capable incumbent in the office of assessor of Davenport township and has done much to advance the cause of education during his many years' service as a school director. The period of his residence in this part of the state covers fifty-six years and he is widely recognized as a prosperous and esteemed citizen. The German Pioneers Association numbers him among its worthy members.
JENS LORENZEN.
While Jens Lorenzen came to be recognized as one di the foremost repre- sentatives of commercial and financial interests in Davenport there were also certain other qualities which gained him a firm hold upon the regard of his fel- low townsmen. A genial and sympathetic nature caused him to make friends with all and his life was, therefore, the exposition of the Emersonian philosophy that "the way to win a friend is to be one." So widely and favorably was he known that his history cannot fail to prove of general interest and, moreover, his life work constitutes an important chapter in the business development of Davenport.
Mr. Lorenzen was born in Luegumkloster, Schleswig, Germany, April 6, 1833. His early schooling gave him a splendid business education and, actuateS by the spirit of ambition and energy, he sought the opportunities of the new world when twenty-one years of age, crossing the Atlantic with a large party of his fellow countrymen. Landing at New Orleans, he made his way to Chicago, where he engaged in business for a time, but in 1856 arrived in Davenport. He was thenceforth until his death connected with the commercial interests of the city, extending the scope of his interests proportionately with the growth and development of this part of the state. His initial step in business circles here was made in 1857 as proprietor of a little porcelain, glass and stoneware store.
^^^^^ '/^'^^^^^^^
HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY 49
his stock of goods being placed upon display in a frame building on Harrison above Second street. From that humble start he developed a mammoth enter- prise which had become a very profitable concern long before he turned it over to his successors in the later years of his life. It passed through the financial crisis of 1857 and, although not all days were equally bright and at times the storm clouds seemed to gather, he nevertheless held to his purpose with a firm and steady hand and his keen business insight, together with his well known honesty and honorable methods, soon won for hini the respect and confidence of the entire community. His place of business, therefore, became a popular shop- ping center and each year witnessed an increase in the volume of trade. He was soon obliged to seek larger quarters and removed to the corner of Third and Hai^- rison streets. Even here the building which he occupied was found to be too small owing to the rapid and substantial growth of the business, and in i860 he removed to 217 Harrison street. In 1871 Mr. Lorenzen replaced the old build- ing with the present modern block at 223 West Third street, to which he added the corner in 1890. He also owned the property to the south. The business was at length reorganized under the name of the Jens Lorenzen Crockery Company and so continued until 1907, when Mr. Lorenzen retired, disposing of his inter- ests to the present owners. He, however, retained the ownership of the building. As his financial resources increased he extended his efforts to other fields and became one of the organizers and a member of the first board of directors of the German Savings Bank, of which he was president from 1901 to 1906. He was also one of the founders of the Security Fire Insurance Company, of which he was a director and for nine years vice president. He was also a director of the Davenport Water Company and one of the founders and first presi- dent of the Mutual Insurance Company. For over forty years he was a director of the Citizens Bank and vice president from 1900 to 1906. What- ever he undertook seemed to prosper under his careful guidance. His suc- cess, however, was not due to any fortunate combination of circumstances but to the sound judgment which he displayed. He had the ability to combine seemingly diverse interests into a harmonious whole and, watchful of every detail, at the same time he recognized the more salient features of the business and gave to them their due relative importance.
Mr. Lorenzen was the possessor of those qualities that render the individual a favorite with his fellows and was popular in the Davenport Turngemeinde, the Davenport Shooting Association, owners of Schuetzen park. He also be- longed to the German-American Pioneers Association. For thirty years he served as treasurer of the school district. One of the local papers said of him: "Mr. Lorenzen was looked upon by those who knew him best as the ideal American citizen. Broad minded, liberal, sincere, honest, progressive, he at all times stood squarely upon these principles. In his death Davenport loses one who has done much to further its growth and development. He will also be greatly missed in the community at large for all those who have met him either socially or through business channels have learned to regard him as their friend."
Mr. Lorenzen was twice married, his first wife being Laura Priester, by whom he had two children, Mrs. Elise Berger and Theodore. He was married April 15, 1868, to 'Agnes, a stepdaughter of Lieutenant Governor Rusch, and
50 HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY
their children were: Mrs. Martha Brandt, Mrs. Elsie Dueser, Marie, Laura, Herle, Hilda and Paul.
To his family the death of Mr. Lorenzen came as an almost insupportable blow. He passed away at the family home at No. 629 West Sixth street, October 10, 1909, when he reached the age of seventy-six years. For more than a half century he had been an honored and respected resident of Davenport and all with whom he came in contact enjoyed his courtesy, his geniality and his kindly spirit, but his best traits of character were reserved for his own home and fire- side. There he was a devoted husband and father, a courteous host and faithful friend. He is spoken of in terms of highest regard by all who knew him and considering the various attributes of his character no more fitting epitaph for him could be written than this :
"His life was gentle and the elements
So mixed in him that nature might stand up
And say to all the world 'This was a man.' "
CAPTAIN CHARLES FALKNER.
Captain Charles Falkner, a retired river and police captain whose life history has ha.d many unusual and some exciting chapters, constituting a stoiy that is evidence of the old adage that "truth is stranger than fiction," was bom in Prussia, Germany, October 18, 1844. His parents, William and Fredrica (Det- man) Falkner, both died in Germany. In the fatherland. Captain Falkner attended school to the age of fourteen years, when he entered upon the life of a sailor, his first trip being on a sailing vessel to London, England. He ran away from the ship there, however, and spent three days in London without food. Finally ait the back door of a hotel he met a cook who could speak German ajid after giving Captain Falkner food took him to a sailors' boarding house, where he soon made arrangements to ship on board a vessel bound for Quebec, Canada. He ran away again and shipped under Captain Huston on the Mary Ann, which eventually landed at Boston, Massachusetts. There he reembarked on another vessel whidh bore him to San FranciscO', California, in 1859. His voyages were not over, how- ever, for he sailed through the Golden Gate for Qiina and Japan, also visited Manila and afterward returned to New York, Later he sailed for the West Indies and then to Liverpool, England, and again returned to New York, whence he made his way to Mobile and Key West. Later he was at Philadelphia and afterward sailed for Pensacola, Rorida. From that point the vessel proceeded down the coast a little distance and loaded with cotton. This was the ship Eureka under Captain Bellford. While on their return to New York the vessel was struck by lightning during a terrible storm and the cotton was set on fire. Five times the vessel was blown back while attempting to round Cape Hatteras, but they managed to hold the fire in check and finally succeeded in docking at pier No. 8, North river. New York, and the fire department extinguished the blaze, although nearly all of the cotton was burned. This was in 1863. Immediately
HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY 51
afterward Captain Falkner enlisted in the United States navy at the Brooklyn navy yards and shipped on the sloop of war Brooklyn as an able seaman. The vessel belonged to Admiral Farragut's fleet and he served for twelve months on tliat ship and was at the battle of Mobile Bay and also in the engagements at Fort Morgan and Fort Gaines. The Brooklyn had four hundred and fifty men aboard but after they had anchored at Fort Morgan there were only one hundred and fifty of the number able for duty under Captain Irving, whoi was in command. After the battle Captain Falkner was promoted to quartermaster on board the gunboat Owasco, which was stationed near Galveston, Texas, doing blockade duty and looking for the Alabama. They saw that ship once and fired on her with an eleven-inch gun but after the smoke cleared away they could see nothing of her. Captain Falkner landed at New York, July 4, 1866, and on the afternoon of the 6th was honorably discharged.
On the 8th of September, 1865, Captain Falkner wa^ married tO' Miss Christina Schroeder, who passed away twO' years later. For his second wife he chose Mrs. Louisa (Richer) Shoel, the widow of Hans Shoel, who died in the army. It was with his first wife that he removed to Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, there working in a coal mine. Just before that, however, he made two trips tO' Brazil and thus gained knowledge of South American countries to add to the knowledge which he had obtained of other lands as he had sailed around the globe. From Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, he came to Davenport, Iowa, where he arrived March 14, 1866. He then became a pilot on the Mississippi river and after serv- ing in that capacity on different boats later purchased the vessel Louisa in 1874. After running on the river for some time he returned tO' Davenport, sold the boat and obtained an appointment on the police force under Mayor Dow, serving as a patrolman for four years, as city detective two years and as night captain for fifteen years. Since then he has been foreman for different construction com- panies, street inspector of Davenport and private watchman for banks and other business houses. At the present time, however, he is living retired, enjoying a well earned rest. His experiences have been of a varied character as he has sailed the high seas in the interests of trade and commerce or in defense of his adopted country. In his young days he was injured while going from England to Odessa on the Black sea and was in a hospital at Constantinople for about six weeks, but recovered in time to sail again to Germany on the same ship, the Rengende Jacob, which had been laid by during that time for repairs.
By his second marriage Captain Falkner had three children : Charles, a resi- dent of Canada, who married Louisa Binger and has three children — Carl, Fred- erick and Elizabeth ; Louisa, the wife of Jacob Stoft, of Moline, Illinois, by whom she has one daughter, Mary Louisa, now the widow of Frank Williams ; and Her- man, of Davenport. By her former marriage the second Mrs. Falkner had two cliildren: Emma, who is now living in San Francisco, California; and Wil'iam, who is superintendent of the waterworks at Keokuk, Iowa. For his third wife Captain Falkner chose Dora Buck, a daughter of John Buck and the widow of Emil Uthoflf. They were married February 22, 1904. By her former marriage Mrs. Falkner had two daughters and a son : Adelia, the wife of William Ort, by whom she has three children — Rolland, Hetta and Chalma; Alma, who married August Jans ; and William, living iri Rock Island.
52 HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY
Captain Falkner is a member of several social and fraternal organizations. He is connected with the Masonic lodge, the Knights of Pythias, the Davenport Boat Club and the Turners and was a member of the old volunteer fire Comp?,ny. He now derives his income largely from town property, having in former years made judicious investment in real estate, so that he is now enabled to live retired, enjoying in well earned rest many of the comforts of life.
JAMES T. LANE.
Among the older members of the Davenport bar who won well merited fame and distinction during the thirty-five years of his practice in the courts of Iowa was James T. Lane. While the practice of law was his real life work, his strong and forceful nature, broad minded and intelligent appreciation of the real values of life brought him prominently before the people in other connections and he became widely known in fraternal, political, social and church circles. He was born March i6, 1830, at Freeport, Pennsylvania. His father was proprietor of a general store and the son assisted him, as clerk behind the counter and in other ways through the period of vacation and after school hours until seventeen years of age, the remainder of his time being given to the acquirement of an education. He was ambitious, however, to enjoy better educational privileges than had here been afforded him, and with an elder brother he entered the university at Lewis- burg, at that time a Baptist institution of note. It required six days to make the journey from Freeport to Lewisburg by stage coach and canal, for such was the primitive method of travel at that time. Mr. Lane was a close and apt student, a lover of books, quick and able in debate even in his school days. He eagerly embraced the advantages which were offered him and acquired a knowl- edge that constituted an excellent foundation upon which to build the success of his later life. Following his graduation he returned home and, with the de- sire to make the legal profession his life work, spent two years in Butler, Penn- sylvania, in reading law under the direction of General Purviance afterward at- torney general of the state.
Admitted to the bar, Mr. Lane came to Davenport, February 23, 1854. He was a passenger on the first through train from Chicago to Rock Island, which was then the western terminus of the road. At once he opened an office and for thirty-five years continued in active practice here. In the spring of 1855, he re- turned to Butler, where he married Annie J. Reed, whom he brought as his bride to Davenport. They became the parents of a son and daughter. Joe R. Lane, the former, is a prominent member of the Davenport bar, while the latter was Mrs. lies. With the added stimulus of having a home to provide for, he bent every energy toward building up a good practice and recognized that this must be done by making his professional labor of value to his clients. He was very careful and earnest in the preparation of cases, was always accurate in the application of a legal principle and in debate was strong, forceful and logical. In 1856 he was appointed city attorney, which position he filled for a year. Later other political honors were conferred upon him. On the 4th of
HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY 55
September, 1861, he was nominated by the republicans of the county for repre- sentative to the state legislature and was elected. He served during 1867 and 1868 as county attorney and the following year became a member of the school board, his incumbency continuing through 1871. He also took a keen interest in education and was the champion of every measure which he believed beneficial to the interests of the schools. In 1873 the republican state convention nominated him as one of the eleven presidential electors and in the campaign that followed he took an active part, as he always did, for he was ever an active, loyal and stalwart supporter of the principles in which he believed. In the same year President Grant nominated him for the position of United States district at- torney for Iowa, the duties of the position being at that time much more onerous and important than at the present. During his term of office he was called in to the federal courts all over the state and his reputation was heightened by the able service which he rendered and the comprehensive knowledge of law which he displayed. As United States district attorney he gained valuable experience and wide acquaintance that proved of inestimable benefit to him as he continued in the practice of his profession.
The law partnership of Davison & Lane was formed in April, 1873, and con- tinued until November i, 1889, when it was dissolved by the withdrawal of Mr. Lane on account of impaired health. He died March 19, 1890, in Denver, Colo- rado, and throughout Davenport there swept a feeling of intense regret and sor- row. He had practiced law in this city for more than a generation. He was a man of notable mental and physical strength and utilized his time and his talents not only for the promotion of his individual interests but for the benefit of the general public as well. He was recognized as one of the leading republicans in the state and his opinions always carried weight in the councils of his party. As an orator he displayed an eloquence that never failed to leave its impress upon his hearers, his speech frequently thrilling those who listened to him, his ability in this direction proving a potent force in his addresses to the jury. He was always kind and courteous to his professional brethren, considerate of a witness and deferential to the court, believing that the dignity of the law should ever be sustained.
For over thirty years Mr. Lane was connected with nearly all of the organi- zations which had for their object the improvement or betterment of Daven- port. To mention these in detail would be to give a history of the state. Suffice it to say that all who are familiar with the annals of the state know how impor- tant and valuable a part he took in its upbuilding. He was a prominent and helpful member of the Baptist church and an enthusiastic, exemplary Mason, becoming one of the earliest members of Davenport Lodge, A. F. & A. M. When Fraternal Lodge was organized he became one of its charter members and was elected its first worshipful master. He was also a member of Davenport Chap- ter, No. 16, R. A. M., and a Sir Knight of St. Simon of Cyrene Commandery, K. T., of which he was a past commander. He was also made deputy grand com- mander of the Iowa Commandery and acted as a delegate from this state to the triennial conclave at San Francisco in 1883. AH these varied interests brought him a large acquaintance and it is said that he knew personally every prominent man in Iowa. When death claimed him he was mourned as a great lawyer, as a
56 HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY
distinguished political leader, as an exemplary brother of the Masonic fraternity and more than all as a good man. He manifested the qualities that have come to be known as those of a practical idealist, for, while he labored to secure the adoption of measures and projects which represented the highest standards, he knew how to use the means at hand for the accomplishment of this purpose. His integrity in no relation of life was ever called into question and the simple weight of his character and ability carried him into most important and prominent relations.
FRANK X. BEH.
Frank X. Beh, for many years an important factor in agricultural circles, is now living retired, enjoying the quietude that comes of labor well performed. He is a native of Scott county, born in Buffalo, September i8, 1861, a son of Francis X. and Caroline (Heckley) Beh, who were prominent pioneer settlers of Scott county. The father was born in the southern part of Germany in the year 1826 and pursued his studies in the schools of his native country. He also learned th^ stonecutter's trade and about 1850, with his wife and one child, emigrated to the United States. He made his way to Detroit, Michigan, but after a year there spent took up his abode in Buffalo, Iowa, where he worked at stonecutting and lime burning for a number of years. He cut the stone that was used in the erection of the Catholic church in Buffalo and also in a number of other build- ings erected in this village. In 1867 he engaged in farming, having purchased one hundred and twenty acres in Buffalo township, sixty acres of which was im- proved. He served as justice of the peace, road supervisor and school director in Buffalo township and in many other ways his influence was felt in community interests. He was a prominent member of the Catholic church at Buffalo and gave liberally of both time and means in support of the church. He also kept the records of the church for many years prior to his death, which occurred in 1899. His wife, also a communicant of the Catholic church, donated the bell and our subject and his brother were the first to ring the bell after it was placed in the tower. The mother died in 1904, at the age of seventy-two years. The family record is as follows: Henry R., of Muscatine county; Anna, the wife of Morris Barnick, who also lives in Muscatine county; Joseph, who is engaged in mer- chandising in Harlan, Shelby county, Iowa; Frank X., of this review; Katherine, the wife of Adolph Strohbehn, who resides on a part of the old homestead farm in Blue Grass township ; Charles C, of Dickinson county ; Benjamin, of Buffalo township; and Mary, the wife of Harry Schiele, a resident of Muscatine county, this state.
Frank X. Beh, the immediate subject of this review, was reared on the home farm and acquired his preliminary education in the schools of Buffalo and Oak Hill, while later he pursued a course in Ambrose College at Davenport. He then returned home and resumed farming with his father, remaining under the parental roof until his marriage, when he began work on his own account. Eventually he became the owner of land and followed farming for many years. He still
HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY 57
owns an interest in the home farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Buffalo town- ship and also owns residence property in Davenport, where he now lives retired.
Mr. Beh chose as a companion for the journey of Hfe, Miss Alvina Weise, a daughter of Fritz and Christina (Schnack) Weise, who were early settlers of Scott county. The father conducted a livery stable in Davenport for forty years and died in 1899, at the age of sixty-three. The mother is still living and is a communicant of the Protestant church. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Beh, which was celebrated June 25, 1896, has been blessed with six children, Alvin F., Clarence M., Frank B., Leon Beh, Raymond and Eddie, but the last named is deceased.
Mr. Beh, inheriting the sterling characteristics of a long line of German an- cestry and endowed by nature with a good constitution, early developed all the attributes which make the successful man. His home at 1419 Marquette street, in Davenport, is a hospitable one and the family take great pleasure in entertaining their many friends.
HENRY WIESE.
Henry Wiese, who has lived retired in his pleasant home at No. 835 Harri- son street in Davenport since 1900, won his prosperity as an agriculturist and is still the owner of five hundred and twenty acres of rich and productive farming land in Benton county, Iowa. His birth occurred in Holstein, Germany, on the i6th of October, 1840, his parents being Marx and Lucy Wiese. The father, who was born in 1800, learned the blacksmith's trade and in early manhood served as a soldier of the German army. In 1853, in company with his wife and chil- dren, he crossed the Atlantic to the United States, landing at New York. Thence he made his way direct to Moline, Rock Island county, Illinois, where the family home was maintained for about twenty years. They first took up their abode in a log cabin which stood on a tract of eighty acres of land which the father had purchased, about twenty acres of which were improved. As his financial re- sources increased, owing to his well directed industry and capable management, Marx Wiese added to his landed holdings in Rock Island county and brought his fields under a high state of cultivation and improvement. He passed away in 1886, having for four years survived his wife who was called to her final rest in 1882, when seventy-two years of age. Unto them were born three sons and one daughter, namely : Fred, who is deceased ; Henry, of this review ; John, who is a resident of Geneseo, Illinois; and Anna, the wife of Henry Operdicke, of Port Byron, IlHnois.
Henry Wiese pursued his education in the schools of his native land until thirteen years of age and then came to the new world with his parents. He continued his studies to some extent in Rock Island county, Illinois, but owing to the sparsely settled condition of the country, schools were few and far between and he did not find much opportunity to attend. He assisted his father in the work of the home farm until twenty-five years of age, when he was married and started out in life on his own account, purchasing and locating upon a tract of one hun-
58 HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY
dred and sixty acres of prairie land in Coe township, Rock Island county. It was raw land upon which no improvements had been made, but with characteristic energy he began its development and cultivation and soon converted it into a productive farm. He likewise erected a house and put up fences and later bought an additional tract of eighty acres adjoining. In 1874 he disposed of the property and removed to Benton county, Iowa, purchasing three hundred and twenty acres of land in Cedar township. The place had been improved to some extent and there were several small buildings upon it. There he carried on his agri- cultural interests energetically and successfully until 1900, since which time he has lived retired in Davenport, enjoying the fruits of his former toil in well earned ease. Prospering in his undertakings, he added to his holdings by addi- tional purchase and is still the owner of five hundred and twenty acres of fine farming land in Benton county.
On the 4th of January, 1865, Mr. Wiese was united in marriage to Miss Kathryn Kahler, a native of Holstein, Germany, where her birth occurred on the 1 6th of June, 1846. In 1852, when six years of age, she was brought to. the United States by her parents, Mathias and Lena Kahler, who took up their abode in Rock Island county, Illinois. They were farming people and both passed away in Benton county, Iowa. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Wiese were born eight children, as follows : Anna, Charles and Elizabeth, all of whom are deceased ; John, who is a resident of Davenport ; Louisa and Albert, both at home ; Augusta, the wife of Charles Stelk, of Virginia; and Dorothy, who is likewise still under the par- ental roof.
Mr. Wiese is a stanch democrat in his political views and has capably served in a number of township offices, including those of road supervisor and school director. He is a member of the German Pioneers Society of Scott county. In his business career he has displayed excellent ability and unfaltering diligence and as the years have passed his labor has been the measure of a gratifying success. He and his wife are people of the highest respectability, whose good qualities of heart and mind have won for them the confidence and friendly regard of all who know them.
RUDOLPH SCHLAPKOHL.
Agricultural interests of Qeona township find a worthy representative in Rudolph Schlapkohl, who has spent his entire life on the farm upon which he now resides, his birth there occurring on the 28th of January, 1871. His parents were Jurgens and Katharine (Kumerfeldt) Schlapkohl, both natives of Schles- wig-Holstein, Germany, born on the ist of May, 1823, and the 24th of November, 1826, respectively. They were reared and married' in the old country and came to the United States in the fall of 1853, locating in Rock Island, Illinois. The father farmed for Billy Davenport on Government island for nine or ten years and then came to Cleona township, Scott county, Iowa, where he purchased the present homestead. Although a poor man when he came to this country, at the time of his death he was the owner of two other farms beside the home farm,
HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY 59
one consisting of one hundred and eighty acres adjoining the latter, and the other comprising'one hundred and sixty acres in Muscatine county— a fact which clearly indicates the success that came to him as the result of perseverance, industry and diligence. Both parents are now deceased, the father passing away on the 28th of April, 1895, and the mother on the 22d of October, 1903. Their family consisted of four children, namely: Betsy, the wife of Henry Schumann, of Pottawattamie county, Iowa ; Herman, a farmer of Cedar county, whose home is near Durant; George, a resident of Muscatine county; and Rudolph, of this review.
No event of special importance came to vary the routine of life for Rudolph Schlapkohl during the period of his boyhood and youth, which was passed upon his father's farm, and at the usual age he was sent as a pupil to the disitritt schools for the acquirement of an education. When not busy with his text-books he worked in the fields, early becoming familiar with the best methods of tilling the soil, and continued to give his father the benefit of his assistance until the latter 's death, when he took charge of the home farm and has since directed his efforts towards its further development. It consists of two hundred acres located on sections 8 and 17, and had been well improved by his father. Under his care, however, it has been put under still higher cultivation and is numbered among the valuable and desirable properties of the township. He carries on general farming and stock-raising, and his interests, which are conducted along strictly up-to-date and progressive lines, are a source of gratifying remuneration to him.
It was on December 20, 1899, that Mr. Schlapkohl was united in marriage to Olga Ladehofif, a native of Cleona township, her birth occurring on the 2Sth of August, 1877. She is a daughter of Henry and Ida (Lamp) Ladehofif, residents of Cleona township, who were both born in Germany, the mother coming to the new world in early childhood, while the father arrived when about twenty years of age. In his political views Mr. Schlapkohl has always been a republican, believing that the principles of this party are most conductive to good govern- ment. He has not, however, been an aspirant for public office, preferring to concentrate his energies upon his business affairs, which, carefully managed, are bringing to him a large measure of success. Having passed his entire life in this state, he is a t)^ical lowan, alert and enterprising, who recognizes the fact that upon individual effort depends success and is therefore laboring earnestly to advance to the goal of prosperity.
HANS F. MUHS.
Hans F. Muhs, who is now living retired in Davenport, was in former years actively and successfully identified with the commercial interests of the city, con- ducting a merchant tailoring establishment on Second street for more than a third of a century. His birth occurred in Holstein, Germany, on the 6th of June, 1835, his parents being Jochim and Anna Muhs. The father died when our subject was but six weeks old. H. F. Muhs obtained his education in the schools of his native land and there learned the tailor's trade. In 1856, when a young
60 HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY
man of twenty-one years, he set sail for the new world in company with his mother, landing at New Orleans after an ocean voyage of eight weeks. He then started up the Mississippi river for Davenport, reaching his destination at the end of three weeks. For about a year after his arrival he worked as a farm hand in Sheridan township for his brother Peter, who had come to this county in 1853. He then took up his abode in Davenport and secured employment at his trade, remaining in the service of John Bartimeier for ten years. On the expira- tion of that period he embarked in business as a merchant tailor on his own account, opening a shop on Second street which he conducted successfully for about thirty-five years, when he sold out to his sons, who still carry on the busi- ness in a commendable manner. Since disposing of his tailoring establishment Mr. Muhs has lived retired in the enjoyment of well earned ease.
On the 9th of April, 1857, Mr. Muhs was united in marriage to Miss Anna Mahl, who was born in Holstein, Germany, on the 9th of April, 1831, her parents being Max and Esther Mahl, of Germany. Miss Mahl was a passenger on the same boat on which her future husband sailed for the United States. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Muhs were bom eight children, four of whom still survive. Edward, who is a resident of Davenport, wedded Miss Mary Stormi, by whom he has seven children, namely : Mabel, Edna, Hattie, Roy, Laurence, Maxine and Veneta. Lewis, the next in order of birth, likewise makes his home in Davenport. Ben- jamin, living in Davenport, married Miss Mamie Wendt and has two children, Martha and Arthur. Hugo, who is a resident of Missouri, married Miss Mamie Murphy. On the 9th of April, 1907, Mr. and Mrs. Muhs celebrated their golden wedding and the presence of their children and grandchildren helped to make the occasion a most joyful one.
Fraternally Mr. Muhs is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows and the Knights of Pythias and he is also a well known member of the German Pioneers Society. He is now in the seventy-fifth year of his age and in the evening of life can look back over an active, useful and honorable career. Coming to the new world in early manhood, he availed himself of the oppor- tunities here offered and soon won a place among the substantial and respected citizens of his community.
WILLIAM LARNED ALLEN, M. D.
Equipped by thorough training at home and abroad. Dr. William Earned Allen in the practice of his profession has demonstrated his ability to cope with the intricate problems which are continually confronting the physician and sur- geon. His broad study and research, his correct application of scientific knowl- edge and his wide experience have given him eminence in his chosen calling and he is moreover entitled to public recognition as the promoter of the electric street car system in this city. Born in Davenport on the 7th of June, 1858, Dr. Allen is a son of William and Augusta Dorrance Allen, nee Seabury. The father, who was born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, in 1824, served as chief paymaster of the district of Cumberland from 1861 until 1865. Coming to this city at an early
HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY 63
day, he was active in its substantial development and progress and from 1870 until 1874 was a partner in the firm of Mandeville & Allen, railroad contractors. His death occurred the following year and he was long survived by his wife. She was born in Portland, Maine, in 1830, and died in Davenport in 1899. Among the early American ancestors of Dr. Allen are Governor Bradford, of Massachu- setts, and the Rev. Thomas Allen, of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, the great-grand- father, who was called "the fighting parson" because of his action in 1777 at the battle of Bennington.
Dr. Allen supplemented his early education, acquired in the common schools, by study in Griswold College of Davenport, and in preparation for a professional career entered the medical department of the Iowa State University, from which he was graduated in 188 1. He afterward spent two years in Vienna, Austria, in special work in surgery and gynecology. He has always remained a closa student of the profession, keeping in touch with the advanced thought that marks the onward march of the medical fraternity, and the ability which comes through wide study, careful analysis and broad experience is his, making him one of the prominent and successful physicians of Davenport. His experiences in other lines have also been of a somewhat varied nature. In early manhood he spent one year on a farm in Iowa and one year in managing a plantation in Arkansas, being called to this task on account of the death of his father and his father's partner. Having inherited some stock in a street railway company in Davenport and having seen the successful trial of an electric car in Richmond, Virginia, he bought up all the stock owned by parties who would not consent to adopt elec- tricity as a motive power and equipped the Davenport Central Railway with elec- tric cars in August, 1888. This was the second road to be thus fully equipped in the United States. The undertaking required nearly all of Dr. Allen's capital. The attempt to operate lines in Stillwater, Minnesota, and another in Dubuque, Iowa, which he had equipped, together with the necessity of purchasing new motors which had soon to be replaced with more powerful ones, required more capital than he could command and the electric supply companies and his banker forced him to give up his property, which was then carrying only a small bonded debt, and which a few years later was sold to an eastern syndicate for several million dollars. The early change to electricty gave Davenport a widespread reputation, but few of the citizens were willing to put any money into the electric venture, believing that it would be impossible to thus run cars up the heavy grades. Resuming the practice of medicine and surgery, Dr. Allen has since confined his attention almost exclusively to his professional duties and in 1895 founded St. Luke's Hospital and was elected president of its medical board and chairman of the executive committee, which position he still retains. He has done notable work along surgical lines, prominent among his operations being the removal in 1895 by gastrotomy of a hairball from a girl's stomach, it being the largest foreign body ever successfully removed from the human stomach. Other operations which he has performed have been almost equally notable and have brought him wide reputation as a skilled surgeon. For twenty years he has been surgeon of the State Orphans Home and for a similar period of the Tri City Railway Com- pany. For two decades he has been a member of the state, district and county medical associations and for fifteen years of the American Medical Association.
64 HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY
He was the president of the Davenport Academy of Natural Science for three years, from 1893 until 1895 inclusively, and in the latter year was chosen president of the Scott County Medical Association. In 1900 he was elected to the presi- dency of the Iowa & Illinois District. Medical Society and in 1908 became the chief executive of the Second District Medical Association.
In his political views Dr. Allen is a stalwart supporter of the republican party and, though not an office seeker, has been concerned in various public movements of widespread benefit, acting as president of the Davenport Business Men's Association in 1889 and cooperating in various projects for general progress.
On the 1st of October, 1885, Dr. Allen was married to Miss Alice Van Patten, a daughter of John P. Van Patten. Their children are : Larned V. P., Elizabeth M. and William Seabury. The family are Episcopalian in religious faith and Dr. Allen is prominent in the various departments of the church work, serving as a member of the vestry and also as president of the Men's Club of the cathe- dral. He joined Trinity Lodge, A. F. & A. M., in 1888 and has ever been ail exemplary representative of the craft, utilizing the opportunities which his prac- tice affords for the exemplification of its basic principles of mutual helpfulness and brotherly kindness.
F. E. PETO.
F. E. Peto, who in former years was an active factor in commercial circles of Davenport, conducting an extensive and profitable business as a shoe mer-chant, is now living retired save for the supervision which he gives to his real-estate interests. His birth occurred in the town of Koenigsberg, Prussia, Germany, on the 1st of May, 1838, his parents being Frederick and Henrietta Peto, both of whom passed away in that country. The father, whoi was engaged in business as a shoe merchant, served as a soldier in the war of 1830 between Poland and Prussia.
F. E. Peto attended the schools of hisi native land in the acquirement of an education and afterward worked for his father, under whose direction he gained a thorough knowledge of the shoe business. He likewise served in the German army, participating in the war with Denmark in 1863-4 and in the war of 1866 against Austria. The many favorable reports which reached him concerning the opportunities and advantages of the new world led him to the determination to establish his home on this side of the Atlantic and in 1870 he set sail for American shores. After landing at New York he came direct to Davenport, arriving in this city on the 30th of June. He first spent about two years in the employ of John Jamison, who was engaged in the shoe business, and then started out on his own account, conducting a leather business on Second street for three years. Subsequently he was engaged in the same business in the Hahnemann building for about three years and then purchased a building at No. 415 West Second street, where he successfully carried on business until the time of his retirement in 1904. He purchased two more buildings on either side of the one which first came into his possession and likewise bought considerable
HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY 65
other property and, though living largely retired for the past six years., still gives his supervision to his extensive real-estate interests.
In January, 1858, Mr. Peto was united in marriage to Miss Louisa Dahms, a daughter of Peter and Helena Dahms. Unto them were bom seven children, four of whom passed away in early life. Edward, who is a resident of Chicago, wedded Miss Minnie Miller and has a daughter, Edith. Frank, who died at the age of thirty-seven years, had married Miss Laura Wiese, by whom he had two children, Alice E. and Camilla. Henry, living in Davenport, wedded Miss Anna Klode and has two sons, Harry and Orr.
Since becoming a naturalized American citizen Mr. Peto has given his politi- cal allegiance to the repubilcan party, while fraternally he is identified with the Modem Woodmen of America. Though bom across the water, he is thoroughly American in thought and feeling, and is patriotic and sincere in his love for the stars and stripes. For four decades he has made his home in Scott county, where he has acquired a competence and where he is an honored and respected citizen. In business his course has been characterized by the strictest fidelity to principle and in social relations he displays an unfailing courtesy and a genial cordiality that have won for him many friends.
THEODOR HARTZ.
Theodor Hartz, secretary, treasurer and manager of the Otto Albrecht Com- pany, manufacturers of fine cigars, was born in Altona, Holstein, Germany, April 24, 1857, a son of Theodor and Emilie (Gottschau) Hartz, who came to America, settling in Rock Island, Illinois, on the 27th of July, 1872. The father was a carpenter and joiner and both he and his wife spent their remaining days in Rock Island, their graves being made in Chipawanie cemetery of that city.
Theodor Hartz was reared in his native land, attending the city schools and also taking up the study of English under private instmction ere he left Germany for the new world. He had therefore learned to speak the language of this country fairly well when he accompanied his parents on the trip across the Atlantic. They reached Rock Island on Saturday, and on the following Mondav he secured a position in the dry-goods store of Louis Kiesow, with whom he remained for seven years — a trusted and valued employe whose fidelity and ability was indicated by the fact of his long retention in the house. He was originally given his board and clothing as compensation for his services, and the proprietor also bestowed upon him a dollar somewhat as an honorarium. On Christmas he was given two dollars and at the end of the year he had eighty-five cents left out of his cash capital of three dollars. During the second year he was paid twelve and a half dollars a month and board, while the third year he was given fifteen dollars per month and board. Later he received an increase to fifteen dollars per week and boarded himself. The appreciation of his services on the part of his employer is indicated in his continued promotion and increase in salary.
66 HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY
In July, 1879, ^J"- Hartz came to Davenport, where he secured a position as draft clerk in the Citizens National Bank, there remaining until August, 1880, when he became connected with his present line of business in association with Otto Albrecht, who established the enterprise in 1854. Mr. Hartz represented the business upon the road as a traveUng salesman for two and a half years, selling cigars, and later was employed in the house. In 1897 the firm was in- corporated and Mr. Hartz, being admitted to a partnership, was chosen secretarji and treasurer. In the meantime, on the loth of November, 1881, he married Miss Emma, a daughter of Otto Albrecht. The father became president of the new company, with Mrs. Hartz as vice president. On the 26th of February, 1904, Mr. Albrecht passed away. He had willed his interest in the business to Theodor Hartz personally, and the latter has since managed the enterprise, mak- ing his wife president and his daughter, Paula Dunker, vice president, while be retains his old official connection with the business as secretary and treasurer. The company owns a well equipped factory and employs about thirty people in the manufacture of various kinds of cigars, which find a ready market in Iowa, Illinois and part of Minnesota and South Dakota. Great care and attention are paid to the excellence of the product and the systematic business methods of the house and the well known reliability of the company have constituted strong ele- ments in its success.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Hartz have been bom eleven children of whom ten are yet living: Paula, the wife of WiUiam Dunker; Joa; Hans W. ; Gertrude; Nellie; Emilie; Gesa; Ina; Hildegard; and Emma. One child. Otto Albrecht, died in December, 1897. The family are members of the Ethical Society of Davenport. Mr. Hartz has been a member of the school board for nine years and the cause of education finds in him a warm champion, his labors being effective in advanc- ing the school interests of this city. He is also a member of the Davenport Com- mercial Club and of the Turngemeinde. He exemplifies in his life many of the sterling characteristics of his German ancestry, having the persistent purpose and indefatigable energy which, have ever marked the Teutonic race. His diligence has brought him the success which is now his, while his keen discernment in business affairs enables him to capably control and develop the interests which are under his charge.
WILLIAM COOKE WADSWORTH.
William Cooke Wadsworth, deceased, was the organizer of the Citizens Nat- ional Bank and a prominent figure in financial circles in Davenport, but was per- haps even more widely known in the development of extensive mercantile in- terests which constituted an important feature in commercial circles here. He was born June 27, 1826, in Litchfield, Connecticut, and at the usual age entered the public schools there, continuing his studies to the age of eighteen. He then went to New Haven and made his initial step in the business world by becoming connected with a dry-goods enterprise, with which he was associated until 1848. Macon, Georgia, was his next place of residence and he remained there in a
HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY 69
similar line of business until 1855, when he came to Davenport. This city was. then comparatively small and of little commercial and industrial importance. Mr. Wadsworth became an active factor in its substantial advancement and in its natural and healthy expansion in the lines of commercial activity. He opened a retail dry-goods store at No. 127 West Second street and such was the success of the original undertaking that he soon afterward established a second store in Rock Island, Illinois. Both enterprises proved profitable from the beginning and in 1861 he opened a wholesale house, conducting the three stores in a suc- cessful manner until 1868. He then disposed of the retail stores and thereafter devoted his entire attention to the large wholesale business at Nos. 109, in and 113 East Second street. Untiring and of persistent purpose, full of ambition and of progressive, modern ideas, he carefully formulated his plans and carried them forward to successful completion, building up his enterprise upon sound business principles until it was second to none in the city in the extent and char- acter of the trade enjoyed by the house. At the outset of his career he adopted certain business policies, the value of which were demonstrated in his success. He never made engagements which he did not keep nor incurred obligations which he did not meet ; he regarded no detail as too unimportant to receive his attention and he demanded on the part of his representatives a uniform courtesy and con- sideration for all patrons. He won the allegiance of his employes by his fair and just treatment of them and his recognition of their worth by promotion as op- portunity offered. In the conduct of his business he held to high standards in the personnel of the house, in the line of goods carried and in the relations to the public. Mr. Wadsworth was also interested in various other business enter- prises, many of which profited by the stimulus of his cooperation and the adop- tion of his sound business principles. He became one of the organizers of the Citizens National Bank, was a director for nearly forty years and for two years acted as its president.
On the 26th of October, 1859, Mr. Wadsworth was married to Miss Anna Mitchell, of Rock Island, and they became parents of four children: William M., Henry T. ; Mary Hall and Walter C, who died in early life. Mr. Wads- worth was preeminently a man of domestic tastes, devoted to his family, and he also held friendship inviolable. He attended the services of the Congregational church. His political allegiance was given to the democracy and to him would have been accorded high political honors had he not continually refused to be- come an active participant in politics as an office holder. Several times he re- fused the candidacy for mayor, although his fellow townsmen urgently requested him to accept the offilce, knowing that he would give to the city a businesslike and progressive administration, free from misrule and the domination of sel- fish interests. He was very firm and positive in his beliefs and unequivocal in the expression of his sentiments, yet he accorded to others the privilege which he reserved to himself of forming and supporting unbiased opinions. He worked harder than any other man to raise money for the new bridge across the river and it was mainly owing to his efforts that this enterprise was carried to a suc- cessful termination. He was a great reader, finding delight in literature and scientific research, and thus his intellectual forces were being continually aug- mented. He educated many young men in his employ to be expert business men
70 HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY
and when the occasion was timely frequently gave to them friendly and valuable advice. He died at Indianapolis, Indiana, February 12, 1907, when on his way to the south, and Davenport's loss was a great one because of his marked busi- ness enterprise, his public-spirited devotion to the general good and his worth as a man. His record was an honor to the city which honored him and it would be difficult to find a resident of Davenport who was more uniformly beloved.
JOHN B. FIDLAR.
The consensus of pubHc opinion accords to John B. Fidlar a prominent posi- tion in the ranks of Davenport's progressive, enterprising and successful business men. While perhaps best known as cashier of the First National Bank, a position which he occupied for seventeen years, he was also associated with various other corporate interests and his colleagues and contemporaries came to know him as a man notable, prompt, energetic and honorable. He was born May 16, 1839, in Hebron, Licking county, Ohio, where he spent the first fifteen years of his Hfe. In 1854 he accompanied his parents on their removal to Delaware, Ohio, where he remained for five years and in the meantime supplemented his public school edu- cation by a two years' course in the Ohio Wesleyan University. On the 7th of April, 1859, he came to Davenport with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel P. Fidlar, entering the business circles of this city as a young man of twenty years. He was first employed as patrol guard on the old bridge here and afterward went to Burlington, where for a year or more he occupied the position of clerk in the old Barrett Souse, which was then the leading hotel in that section of the state.
After the outbreak of the Civil war Mr. Fidlar, constrained by the spirit of patriotism, offered his services to the government, enlisting on the 14th of August, 1862, as a member of Company D, Twenty-fifth Iowa Volunteer Infantry. For gallant military service he was advanced through successive grades of promotion until he became captain of his company. His war record was one of unflinching bravery and on one occasion he was wounded by a musket ball in his arm, which troubled him to the day of his death. Iowa never sent a more loyal, valiant soldier into the field. He performed an act of gallantry before Vicksburg which alone would entitle him to the military honors which were conferred upon him in his promotion to the~ captaincy. When the Union troops had been disorganized by a fierce fire in front of them and some flanking movements of the enemy and were falling back in a retreat that promised to become a rout he hurled his com- pany against the retreating masses in a fierce bayonet charge, stopped them, held them firm a few minutes and maintained the position so taken until there was time to reform the columns and get into action again, thus saving the day. This incident was characteristic of his record as a soldier and also of the qualities which he displayed in the business world, for he attacked every business problem with vigor and with keen insight recognized the advantages and possibilities of the situation.
HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY 71
After the war Mr. Fidlar located in Burlington and for a time acted as cash- ier for the American Express Company, while later he was upon the road as ex- press messenger between Burlington and Council Bluffs. On the 4th of January, 1871, he returned to Davenport, where he accepted the position of discount clerk in the First National Bank, filling the position acceptably and faithfully for seven years, when he was promoted to cashier, He remained in that position for seven- teen years and then tendered his resignation. His life record was an untarnished one and there was never a thought of anything but straightforward business in all of his connection with the bank. Early in his identification with the institu- tion he made it his purpose to thoroughly master every department of banking and for a long period he was regarded as one of the foremost representatives of financial interests in the city.
As the years passed Mr. Fidlar extended his efforts into other fields, for he was a man of resourceful business ability, capable of controlling varied interests and at all times proving his worth in his sound opinions relative to commercial and financial affairs. After he retired from the bank he was identified with the insurance interests and was treasurer of the Davenport Safety Deposit Com- pany, of the Register Life and Annuity Company, of the Merchants and Mechanics Building, Loan and Savings Association and a director in all three.
On the i6th of September, 1868, Mr. Fidlar was married in Burlington to Miss Lovenia Harper, a daughter of WiUiam Harper of that place. Unto this marriage was born a son, William Harper Fidlar, who married Bessie Sloan Alt- man, and died in 1900, leaving a son, John Brainard, who makes his home in Davenport. Mr. Fidlar was a member of Trinity Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and of the various Masonic bodies in this city, being an exemplary representative of the craft. In politics he was a stalwart repubhcan from the time when age conferred upon him the right of franchise, believing firmly in the principles of the party which stood by the Union during the dark days of the Civil war and has always been the party of reform and progress. He belonged to the Grand Army of the Republic and the Loyal Legion. In matters of citizenship he was public-spirited in an eminent degree. His labors were prompted not only by civic pride but by that stronger element of citizenship — the constant, steady determination to bring about the very best conditions of city life for all the people. When the country was engaged in the Civil war he feared not to face the enemy on the field of battle. In the days of peace his influence was as a quiet, steady, moving force, accomplish- ing results. He was honored wherever known and most of all where best known.
CHRISTIAN MUELLER.
There is no man among Davenport's honored dead who deserves more promi- nent mention than Christian Mueller, who for many years figured as one of the kading lumber merchants of the city and while conducting an extensive business enterprise found opportunity for active and effective cooperation in many move- ments which have left their impress upon the city's growth and substantial develop- ment. Moreover, the salient qualities of his character were such as made him
72 HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY
respected and beloved by all who knew him. Born in Holstein, Germany, on the 1st of March, 1823, he was sixteen years of age when he was apprenticed to a mercantile concern and thus laid the foundation for his business career in the thorough commercial training which he there received. Wisely utilizing his opportunities and husbanding his resources, in 1844 he was enabled to engage in merchandising on his own account, opening a store in Kiel. While there he also took active interest in athletics and was the instructor in a turners' society. Moreover, he was keenly interested in the vital questions and issues of the day relative to the government policy and, holding decided views concerning many public affairs, during the winter of 1847-8 he organized a company of volunteers to aid the forces operating to secure greater freedom from the oppression of the Danish monarchy. In the latter year he joined some Schleswig-Holstein soldiers and other volunteers and this heroic band attacked a fortified post at Rendsburg, Holstein, which they captured. In the rebellion which followed he was wounded three times and in July, 1850, was taken prisoner, after which he laid for nine months in a hospital in Denmark. After peace had been declared he spent some time recuperating his health and in 1852 he sailed for the United States, deter- mined to enjoy in the new' world the liberty which was denied him in his native land.
Mr. Mueller reached Davenport in July of that year and soon after his arrival established a vinegar factory on the present site of the Kohrs Packing Company. This was destroyed by fire in 1854 and he lost all he had, but he did not become discouraged and with resolute spirit set to work to retrieve his losses. A few months later he married Elfrieda Claussen, a daughter of Hans Reimer Claussen, and with the added stimulus of having a home of his own to provide for he started again in the business world.
It was at this time that Mr. Mueller obtained his first experience in connection with the lumber trade, securing a position in a sawmill and thus gaining a knowl- edge of the business which stood him in good stead in later years. He worked for a time in a sawmill in Davenport and afterward operated a flour mill in Lyons, Iowa. On his return to this city, in 1857, he accepted a position as fore- man and salesman with the lumber firm of French & Davis and when that failed in 1858 he was given charge of the disposition of their stock. In i860 he became salesman for several lumber firms and from 1863 until 1868 engaged in the grain business on his own account. He had found the lumber trade congenial, how- ever, and in March of the latter year he purchased the Dessaint interest in the lumber firm of Dessaint & Schricker, while in July, 1883, on the death of Mr. Schricker, he became sole proprietor. On the ist of January, 1895, he associated his three sons, Frank W., Edward C, and William L., with him in the business, which was then continued under the name of Chris Mueller & Sons. He ranked as one of the leading lumber merchants of the west, the firm enjoying a reputa- tion from the Atlantic to the Pacific. The straightforward, honorable business policy which he instituted at the commencement of his career was ever main- tained, and the reliability of the house constituted one of the most potent forces in its continued and growing success.
The death of Mr. Mueller occurred on the loth of September, 1901, and was the occasion of deep and widespread regret. He was one of the most prominent
HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY 73
and most beloved citizens of Davenport, his personal traits of character gaining him a firm hold on the affections of those with whom he was associated. His name was regarded as synonymous with business integrity and enterprise, and in social circles he was ever a welcome guest. He enjoyed association with his old friends but home was never forgotten and his happiest hours were spent at his own fireside. He was one of the founders and the first president of the Davenport Turngemeinde and was looked upon as the father of the organiza- tion. He was also one of the oldest members of the Davenport Schuetzen Gesellschaft. In public affairs relative to the city's growth and improvement he was deeply interested, as was manifest by his tangible support of many movements for the public good.
FR/*.NK W. MUELLER.
Frank W. Mueller, the eldest son of Christian and Elfrieda Mueller, was born in Davenport, October i8, 1863. His boyhood days were spent in his father's home, during which time he attended the public schools of the city, while later he enjoyed the advantage of instruction in the Iowa State University, from which he was graduated. His education complete, he became associated with his father in the lumber business and in order to gain comprehensive knowledge thereof passed through every department, thus fitting himself for his present important position. Since his father's death he has been called to the presidency of the Mueller Lumber Company and is thus in control of one of the most ex- tensive and important lumber concerns not only of Davenport but of the middle west. He is likewise the vice president of the Mueller Land & Timber Company and in business affairs his judgment is regarded as most sound. He is a member of the Turners and the Schuetzen societies and is also well known in Masonic circles.
ED C. MUELLER.
Ed C. Mueller, associated with his brothers in the Mueller Lumber Company, was born January 8, 1865, in this city, and pursued his education through suc- cessive grades in the public schools until he undertook the mastery of the branches taught in the high school. He afterward attended the Duncan Business College and when his course was completed, like his brothers, became connected with the father's business. All were thoroughly trained in the various departments of the business and the result is that the enterprise has continued to grow under their management since the father's death. From 1886 until 1907 Ed C. Mueller had charge of the manufacturing interests in the summer and was superintendent of the logging in the winter. He thus gained intimate and comprehensive knowl- edge of the business in its operative department and since 1907 has looked after the buying for the Mueller Lumber Company, of which he is now the secretary and treasurer. He also has considerable supervision over the interests of the
74 HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY
Mueller Land & Timber Company, of which he is the president. The latter company has very large interests in Oregon and the scope of both business en- terprises is being gradually extended, while the firm has become widely known throughout the middle portion of the country and even far into the west.
In 1889 Mr. Mueller was married to Miss Clara Bruhn, a native of Daven- port and a daughter of John Bruhn, one of the old residents of the city. They have two children : Walter, bom July 5, 1896 ; and EHnore, born August 19, 1902.
W. L. MUELLER.
W. L. Mueller was born February 21, 1867, and is a son of Christian Mueller, of whom extended mention is made elsewhere in this volume. The public schools afforded him his early educational privileges and he afterward attended Gris- wold College. He then became connected with the lumber business which was founded and conducted by his father, spending the first year on the river and in keeping books. Like his brothers, he passed through every department of the business in order that he might thoroughly acquaint himself with the trade, not only in the management of the financial interests but also in the value of lumber. It was in 1895 that he was admitted to a partnership and since the death of the father the business has been carried on by the sons, W. L. Mueller being now the vice president of the Mueller Lumber Company. He gives his undivided time and attention to the management and development of the buisness and his efforts have constituted an important factor in its expansion and substantial growth.
In 1893 Mr. Mueller was married to Miss Bernhardine Lennhuis, a native of Davenport and a daughter of Bernhard Lennhuis, one of the old settlers of Scott county. They now have two children, Ben and Annie. Mr. Mueller belongs to the Turners and other societies, in which his social qualities and generous spirit have rendered him popular.
ALEXANDER FRASER WILLIAMS.
Alexander Eraser Wilhams, deceased, who stood as a splendid example of the enterprising, thrifty and loyal citizen and a faithful follower of the church, whose life did much to inspire and encourage others and whose memory is cherished in the hearts of all who knew him, was born in Westfield, New Jersey, on the 15th of June, 1826. His life record covered sixty-one years, his death occurring in Atlantic, Iowa, December 15, 1887. His parents were Charles Clark Wil- laims and Eliza High Miller, who were married in Westfield, New Jersey, in 1818. They became the parents of seven daughters and three sons but only two are now living: William Belden, a resident of Nebraska; and Mrs. Margaret Dougherty, of Iowa. Most of the ancestors of the family were farming people and all bear honorable records as honest, hard-working men and women, living in a quiet, humble way. The Williams branch of the family were Welsh. Nathaniel
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HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY 77
Williams, the grandfather of A. F. Williams, had three children : a son who died in early manhood ; a daughter Ann, who became the wife of Willard Barrows, one of Iowa's prominent pioneer residents; and Charles Clark. For a number of years Nathaniel Williams lived in Davenport with his daughter, Mrs. Barrows, and there passed away in 1864, when more than eighty years of age. His mother was of American birth, a daughter of Charles Clark, who served throughout the Revolutionary war. That he must have held rank as an officer is indicated by the fact that he wore a sword, the silver handle of which was afterward melted into six tablespoons, two of which were given to each of his three grandchildren — Samuel Clark, Charles Clark Williams and Betsy Smith. This was about eighty years ago and the spoons are still highly prized by the present generation.
In the maternal line A. F. Williams comes of English ancestry through his grandfather, Ezra Miller, while his grandmother, Mrs. Mary (High) Miller, was of German descent, her father, John High, having left Germany when a little boy.
Charles Clark Williams, the father of Alexander Eraser Williams, was a man highly esteemed by. all who knew him because of his upright life and fidelity to manly principles. An earnest Christian, he was for many years an elder in the Presbyterian church in Westfield and in Newark, New Jersey, and for several years was also one of the elders of the First Presbyterian church in Davenport, Iowa, where he died of cholera in 1852. All who knew him felt that he was a martyr to the unselfish care which he bestowed upon the laboring men who were victims of that terrible scourge. He had a most faithful and loving wife, who to her family was a devoted mother, her salient characteristics being such as en- deared her to ajl who knew her. She made her home in Davenport and its vicin- ity for over thirty years and spent the last few years of her life in the home of her daughter in Nebraska, there passing away in 1878.
Alexander Fraser Williams spent his youthful days on his father's farm near Westfield, New Jersey, and was eleven years of age at the time of the removal of the family to Newark. There he spent several years attending the private schools and academy, and for one year was a student in a good school in Caldwell, New Jersey, so that he obtained a fair education. He was seventeen years of age when in 1843 the family removed to Davenport, Iowa, which was then regarded as the far west. He remained there for four years, assisting his father upon the farm, and also spent several months in making surveying tours through Iowa with his uncle, Willard ' Barrows. He did not find agricultural pursuits con- genial and, believing that he would obtain more pleasure and profit from com- mercial life, in 1847 he entered the dry-goods store of his uncle, Moses Miller, at Racine, Wisconsin. After two years there passed his longing for the east decided him to return to New York city, where he secured a situation in the wholesale hardware store of John C. Tucker, in whose service he remained for three years, acquiring a good knowledge of the business during that period and thus becoming well equipped for the line of work to which he devoted the greater part of his' life. In 1852, receiving a more advantageous business ofifer, he en- tered the employ of Ely, Bow en & McConnell, wholesale dry-goods merchants, conducting business on Broadway, New York. For six years he continued with that firm and during half the time had charge of the white goods department, making purchases for the same In the financial crash of 1858, following the
78 HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY
widespread panic of the previous year, the New York firm failed and about the same time Mr. Williams received an offer to go into business in Davenport, where his widowed mother and family lived. This influenced him to return to the west.
On the 17th of February, 1858, Mr. Williams was united in marriage to Miss Frances Mary Robinson, of Chicago, and after spending some two months in the east, purchasing his stock of dry goods, thus combining pleasure with business, he returned with his bride to Davenport and in May, 1858, became the junior partner of the firm of Eldridge & Williams, at No. 123 Brady street. During the succeeding three years the business increased rapidly, necessitating trips to New York and Boston, which Mr. Williams made three or four times each year in or- der to purchase goods in eastern markets. They were enjoying substantial success at the time of the outbreak of the Civil war. Within a few months nearly all business was paralyzed and failures were the order of the day. Eldridge & Wil- liams were among the unfortunate ones and were obliged to succumb to the pres- sure.
The financial outlook was dark and discouraging but Mr. Williams was of an optimistic nature and believed that the obstacles and difficulties could be over- come by persistent, determined and honorable effort. He desired to take part in the struggle in which his country was engaged, but his only brotlier, Belden Williams, and Frank C. Robinson, his wife's only brother, were among the first to enhst, serving faithfully through the long four years of the war. With those two at the front Mr. Williams felt convinced that his duty must lie at home in the care of his widowed mother and his young wife and child. Accordingly in the fall of 1 86 1 he accepted a position with Sickles & Preston, a prominent hardware firm of Davenport, with whom he continued for about four years, two of which he spent upon the road as traveling reprsentative of their wholesale house that had just been established in Chicago. At the end of that time he received an offer from the well known hardware firm of William Blair & Company, of Chicago, bringing him a large advance in salary. He traveled for that firm for four years, at the expira- tion of which time he was quite ready to settle down in the city of his choice — Davenport — where his family had continued to reside during the six years which he had spent upon the road, giving the best powers and strength of his young manhood to the honorable canceling of all of his indebtedness.
In 1869 Mr. Williams formed a partnership in the wholesale heavy hardware trade with R. Sieg, under the firm style of Sieg & Williams. His comprehensive knowledge of the business naturally made him the buyer for the house and during the eighteen years in which he was connected with the business he contributed largely to the upbuilding of a profitable enterprise which is still continued under the name of the Sieg Iron Company. The firm of Sieg & Williams were extensive jobbers in heavy wagon stock and other manufacturers' hardware, and in addi- tion to his mercantile interests Mr. Williams was a director of the Security Fire Insurance Company, a member of the Board of Trade and was connected with other business organizations. As the years went by he prospered in his undertak- ings, becoming recognized as one of the foremost merchants and leading business men of the city. His name stood as a synonym for commercial integrity, for he never made engagements that he did not fill nor incurred obligations that he did not meet. His methods were progressive and his course won for him the ad-
HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY 79
miration and respect of his contemporaries and colleagues. Mr. and Mrs. Wil- liams became the parents of four children, namely: Ella, who gave her hand in marriage to J. S. Thompson and now resides in Escondido, California ; Anna, the wife of Dr. J. P. Crawford, whose sketch appears on another page of this work; Frederick Crosby, who passed away in Colorado Springs, Colorado, on the 21st of September, 1894, when twenty-four years of age ; and Joseph Robinson, who died on the 19th of February, 1894, when a youth of eighteen years.
Mr. Williams passed away at Atlantic, Iowa, December 15, 1887, after a brief illness of ten days. He had for nearly thirty years been intimately associated with the growth and development of Davenport and was deeply interested in everything which promoted its prosperity. He felt a special interest in the Hen- nepin canal project and the building of the Davenport, Iowa & Dakota Rail- road and was one of its directors. His cooperation could always be counted upon to further movements for the public good and he gave of his time and means, as it was possible, to aid in the work of general improvement. While in business in New York he became a member of the Baptist church and for more than three decades was a consistent and active worker in the denomination. He served for a number of years as senior trustee in the Calvary Baptist church of Davenport. While he became known as a prominent and representative busi- ness man, it was his Christian spirit that made him most honored, for he molded his entire life in conformity with the teachings of his Master, ministering to others as the occasion offered and giving freely of his means to the support of the church and charity. He was one of the teachers in the Sunday school, a worker in the Young Men's Christian Association and at the time of his death was taking a most active and helpful interest in the work of erecting a house of worship for the Baptist people, acting as chairman of the building committee. It has been said : "Not the good that comes to us but the good that comes to the world through us is the measure of our success," and judged by this standard
Alexander Eraser Williams was a most successful man.
J no-"
AUGUST PAUSTIAN.
One of the native sons of Hickory Grove township, whose bountiful harvests sustain the reputation of this section of Iowa as an agricultural center is August Paustian, who was born March 2, 1856, a son of Frederick and Christina (Roehs) Paustian. They were both natives of Holstein, Germany, the former having been bom January 14, 1820, the latter August 28, 1825. In the country of their birth they were reared and married, coming to the United States in 185 1. On their arrival they made their way to Scott county, Iowa, locating upon a farm in Hickory Grove township, which had belonged to Mr. Paustian's father-in-law. He had learned the trade of a mason in the fatherland and this he pursued to some extent in this country in connection with the general farming, to which he devoted himself more and more as it proved a remunerative occupation. In the course of time he became very well-to-do and highly respected among the pioneers of this county, which remained his home until January 27, 1886, when at the age
80 HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY
of sixty-five years he passed away. His wife, who survived him about fifteen years, died July 21, 1900, when she was seventy-five years of age. They had a family of twelve children, but two died in childhood. The others are: Caroline, the wife of Martin Greenwood, of Cleona township; Fred, who resides in Minne- sota; August, the subject of this sketch; Emma, the wife of Christ Paustian, of Cleona township; Louis, who makes his home in Cedar county, Iowa; Sophia, the wife of William Buhmann, of O'Brien county, Iowa; James, who resides in Hickory Grove township; Charles, also a farmer in Hickory Grove township; Minnie, the wife of Herman Meinert, of Cleona township ; and Bertha, the wife of Henry Paulsen of Muscatine county, Iowa.
August Paustian has spent all his life in Hickory Grove township and attended the district school near his home. He assisted his father in the cultivation of the fields constituting the homestead until he was married. Accordingly, he went to Cedar county, Iowa, where he remained for three years, at the expiration of that period returning to Hickory Grove township, Scott county. Here he operates a tract of one hundred and sixty acres on section 34 belonging to his father-in- law, but he owns one hundred and fifty-three acres of land on section 19, Liberty township, a landholding of no inconsiderable value. His wife recently bought one hundred and sixty acres on section 33, Hickory Grove township, a farm that was formerly known as the Goetsch homestead, so that in the aggregate Mr. Paustian has a large amount of land under his control. In addition tO' his agri- cultural interest he holds stock in the Farmers Elevator of Walcott, one of the progressive enterprises of that village.
In 1884 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Paustian and Miss Matilda Lamp, who was bom in Hickory Grove township, April 30, 1863. She is a daughter of Claus H. Lamp, who was one of the prominent farmers of his sec- tion of Scott county but has now retired from active life and lives at 1026 West Fourteenth street, Davenport. He was the parent of seven children: one who died in infancy, Matilda, Caroline, Julius, Gustav, Clara and Adolph. To Mr. and Mrs. Paustian were born eleven children, of whom seven are living, namely: Meta, Wilma, Julius, August, Martha, Hilda and Clarence. Hugo died at the age of six years. Harry was three and a half when he passed away. Alma died when three years old, and Edward was only two months when he died.
Although other tracts embrace a larger area none express more careful and thorough cultivation of the soil than does that which is Mr. Paustian's. He has not spared industry to make it productive and as he cultivates the fields with in- telligence he knows how to bring from them the largest harvests.
THOMAS F. HALLIGAN.
Davenport, the commercial center of Iowa and the home of many extensive wholesale houses, finds one of its prominent representatives in Thomas F. Halligan, president of the Halligan Coflfee Company, an enterprise of large and extensive proportions, in the development of which he has been a most important factor. In commercial affairs he displays marked ability in discriminating be-
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HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY 83
tween the essential and non-essential and bringing into close harmony the varied forces that constitute the interests of the enterprise with which he has been associated. He is one of the city's native sons, born October 25, 1855. His father, Patrick Joseph Halligan, was a native of Ireland, born in Summerhill, County Meath, August 31, 1825. He came to the United States as a young man of twenty-four years, settling in Paterson, New Jersey, in 1849. He there re- sided for two years, during which time he was married, on the 27th of October, 1850, to Miss Ellen McNally, a native of Clonard, County Kildare, Ireland, who came to the United States in 1850 and died in 1897. In 1851 Patrick J. Halligan and his young wife removed from Paterson, New Jersey, to Peru, Illinois, where for two years he was connected with the gas business. On the 17th of August, 1853, he arrived in Davenport and was superintendent of the gas company here from 1858 until 1888, or for a period of thirty years, at the end of which time he retired. He enjoyed in unqualified measure the confidence and trust of those whom he represented and gave to them an efficient and valu- able service, which was indicated in his long connection with the company. He enjoyed, moreover, the unqualified good will and esteem of all with whom he came in contact outside of business relations. He had a strong love for the land of his birth and was a member of the Sarsfield Guards when in Ireland, but was ever a most loyal American, in full sympathy with the republican form of government and the liberal principles for which this country stands. He died in 1893.
Thomas F. Halligan was the third in a family of six children, all of whom were born in Davenport with the exception of the eldest son, John. In St. Mar- guerite's parochial school Thomas F. Halligan pursued his studies until fifteen years of age, when he accepted a position in a flour and feed store, where he continued for a year. He then became delivery clerk in the grocery store of Morrison & Glaspell and thus obtained his initial knowledge of the business, with which he has been more or less intimately associated since that time. He re- mained with the firm and their successors for five years and in June, 1875, ac- cepted a position with Milton J. Glaspell. On the ist of January, 1884, he en- tered into partnership with Mr. Glaspell in the grocery business at No. 16 East Third street under the firm name of Glaspell & Halligan. They were very suc- cessful, the firm enjoying a growing trade until 1887, when Mr. HalHgan sold his interest and with G. J. Washburn organized the Washburn-Halligan Coffee Company, carrying a large line of teas, coffees and spices. This undertaking also proved profitable from its inception and after five years at their original location the firm in 1892 removed from Third street to larger quarters at No. 215 East Second street. On two occasions they suffered losses through fire but with resolute purpose they conducted their interests, the business continuing to prosper and grow until there was a pressing demand for still more commodious quarters. In 1907 the present magnificent building was erected and the busi- ness is now carried on extensively on East Fourth street. This is one of the most complete and attractive wholesale buildings in Davenport, where the whole^ sale trade of this section of the country largely centers. Mr. Washburn retired in 1896 and the business was then reorganized under the name of the Halligan Coffee Company, with Thomas F. Halligan as president, R. F. Miller, vice pres-
84 HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY
ident, William Lillis, secretary, and Joseph E. Halligan, treasurer. The trade today extends largely over Iowa, Missouri, the Dakotas, Minnesota and Ill- inois. The house sustains an unassailable reputation for the reliability of its business methods, and the spirit of enterprise and industry which dominates every department constitutes the basic element in the development of what is today one of the largest and most important wholesale concerns of the city.
On the 17th of August, 1886, Mr. Halligan was married to Miss Mary, a daughter of John and Bridget Lillis. Mrs. Halligan was bom in Davenport and by her marriage has become the mother of six children: Gilbert L., Eugene J., Grace, Camilla, Thomas, Francis and Angela.
Mr. Halligan's social nature finds expression in his membership with the Commercial Club, the Woodmen of the World and the Knights of Columbus, and his standing in business circles is indicated in the fact that he has been elected to the presidency of the Jobbers & Manufacturers Association. He is active in every project concerning the welfare of the city and is a loyal son of Davenport, doing everything in his power to promote her welfare along the lines of substantial and permanent growth and improvement. He is recognized by friends and business associates as a man of high character and sterling qual- ities and his life record exemplifies many traits of character which are well worthy of emulation.
BERNARD A. HUSCHKE.
Bernard A. Huschke, who has lived retired at No. 1207 Grand avenue in Davenport for the past twelve years, successfully followed fanning throughout his active business career. He is a native of Germany, his birth having occurred in Prussia on the 12th of September, 1831. He lost his parents, Charles and Margaret Huschke, when still very young. His father held a court offce in Germany and served as an army official for about nineteen years. Mr. Huschke of this review obtained his education in the schools of his native land and there also learned the blacksmith's trade. When a young man of twenty- four years he set sail for the new world, landing at New York on the 7th of October, 1855, after an ocean voyage of sixty-four days. He first located in Cincinnati but, being unable to obtain satisfactory employment, left the city at the end O'f two months and went to Ferdinand, Indiana, where he worked at his trade until the following spring. On leaving the Hoosier state he came to Davenport and here began work at the blacksmith's trade but after a couple of weeks secured employment as a farm hand at a wage of twelve dollars per month. Later he hired out at a salary of one hundred and twenty dollars per year and continued working as a farm hand until the time oi his marriage in 1858. Following that important event in his life he began the operation of a rented farm of eighty acres in Davenport township and at the end of two years purchased the property, making his home thereon for about eight years. On the expiration of that period he sold the place and purchased and located upon a quarter section of land in Pleasant Valley township, to the further cultivation and improvement of which
HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY , 35
be devoted his attention until 1898, making it a rich and productive farming property. In 1898 he disposed of the place and took up his abode in Davenport, bemg incapacitated for further active work because of injuries which he had re- ceived in a runaway accident. He won a gratifying measure of prosperity in the conduct of his agricultural interests and has long been numbered among the sub- stantial and respected citizens of Scott county.
On the I2th of July, 1858, Mr. Huschke was united in marriage to Miss Barbara Wachter, who was born in Switzerland on the 9th of October, 1839, her father being Frank Wachter, who settled in this county in 1848. ' Unto Mr. and Mrs. Huschke were born twelve children, the record of whom is as follows. Casper, who makes his home in Minnesota, married Miss Theresa Wager and has three children: Beatrice, Genevieve and Herbert. John, living in Iowa, wedded Miss Mary Schmidt, by whom he has six children.. Louisa, the next in order of birth, is at home. Marie gave her hand in marriage to Henry Meyer, of Stuart, Iowa, and is now the mother of four children. Amelia is the wife of Ludwig Schmidt, of Davenport, and has three children : Walter, Gertrude and Lucy. Leo, who wedded Miss Rose Baldwin, is a resident of Washington. Elizabeth, living in Portland, Oregon, is the wife of Benjamin Klotz, by whom she has four children: Rose, Leo, Frank and Anton. The Misses Margaret, Carrie and Amanda Huschke are still under the parental roof. Clara is now in a convent of Dubuque. Constantine, who died at the age of thirty-seven years, had married Miss Lottie Ryan, who is also deceased. The two childreh of this union, Ermentrude and Allen, make their home with our subject.
Since becoming a naturalized American citizen Mr. Huschke has given his political allegiance to the democratic party. He is a faithful communicant of the Catholic church and also belongs to the German Pioneers Society. Though born across the water and .maintaining a love for his native land, he is yet thoroughly American in spirit and interests and loyal to the institutions of his adopted country. He has now passed the seventy-eighth milestone on life's journey and is well and favorably known throughout the county in which he has resided for more than a half century.
HENRY VOLLMER.
Henry Vollmer, long a respected resident and active business man of Daven- port, learned the printer's trade as the initial step in his business career and from a hum.ble position worked his way steadily upward until he gained that success which comes from the capable management of large and important printing in- terests. He was a native of Germany and one of a family of several children. When little more than three years of age he was brought by his parents to the new world, the family home being estabHshed in St. Louis, where the days of his boyhood and youth were passed and his education was acquired. In early manhood he learned the printer's trade, which he followed in St. Louis and nearby towns until 1861, when he came to Davenport. Here he took a position with the German Democrat, being made foreman of the composing room, and for
86 HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY
almost a score of years he remained on that paper, his long connection therewith being incontrovertible proof of his capability and fidelity in discharging the du- ties that devolved upon him. In 1880 he resigned to engage in business on his own account and purchased an interest with J. M. Buck in a rubber stamp man- ufacturing enterprise. They extended the scope of their activities to include job printing and the partnership relation was maintained for some time, but eventually Mr. Buck sold his interest to A. L. Mossman and the firm of Mossman & Vollmer was formed. Under that style the business was continued until the death of Henry Vollmer, although for about a year prior to his demise his son Emil took his place in the active management of the business. Throughout his life Mr. Vollmer was actuated by laudable ambition and his earnest purpo.se and unfaltering industry constituted a force which won for him a gratifying measure of success.
In 1863 occurred the marriage of Henry Vollmer and Miss Dorothea Plam- beck, of Davenport, and unto tliem were born seven children : Emil, Henry, Carl, Fred, Arthur, Agnes and Dora. The children have all been provided with good educational privileges, not only in the schools of Davenport but also at Iowa City. Mrs. Vollmer was brought to this city when seven years of age by her parents and her father died three years later. The death of Mr. Vollmer occurred December 12, 1890, and thus passed away a man whose sterling worth was recognized by all who knew him. He belonged to the Turners Society, the Ancient Order of United Workmen and to the Knights of Pythias, and he was also known and honored for his activity and faithfulness in political circles. In 1883 he was elected. to the ofiice of county recorder, in which position he served for two terms, retiring in 1887 with the confidence and good will of all con- cerned. He was a man of strict probity and upright character, who at all times and under all circumstances could be depended upon to conserve the iest inter- ests of any movement or measure with which he was connected. He won sub- stantial success in business and more than that he gained the confidence and good will of his fellowmen, leaving to his family the priceless heritage of an untarnished name.
CLAUS KROEGER.
Claus Kroeger is numbered among those representative German-American citizens who came to this country from the fatherland and here found the op- portunities for advancement which they sought along business lines. He is numbered among the old German settlers of Scott county and for almost four decades was actively and helpfully identified with its agricultural interests. As the result of energy, perseverance and well directed efforts he is now able to spend the evening of life in retirement, enjoying in well earned rest the fruits of former years of toil. Born in Holstein, Germany, on the, 14th of April, 1829, he is a son of Hans and Lena Kroeger, whose entire lives were spent in the father- land.
HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY 87
For the educational advantages which Mr. Kroeger enjoyed during the period of his boyhood and youth he is indebted to the common schools of his native country, and he remained under the parental roof until the outbreak of the war of 1848-50 with Denmark, when he joined the German army and served through- out the period of hostilities. Returning home, he remained with his parents until 1854, when he responded to the call of the new world and, bidding adieu to home and fatherland, sailed for the United States, hoping to find better op- portunities for advancement in business than were offered in the old world. He left Germany on the 15th of March and upon arriving in this country came direct to Davenport, which point he reached on the 20th of May, more than two months being consumed by the journey. His first work here was in the capacity of farm hand and thus he labored by the month for about six years. His in- herent characteristic of thrift prompted him to carefully save his earnings and at the expiration of that period, feeling that the capital which he had accumu- lated was suffcient to justify such a step, he established a home of his own by his marriage, on the 21st of August, i860, to Miss Anna Lage, who was born in Germany on the 9th of March, 1839, a daughter of Henry and Anna Lage, old German settlers of Scott county. In 1847, when a little maiden of eight years, she came with her parents to the United States, the family landing at New Or- leans, whence they came up the Mississippi river to St. Louis. After remaining m that city for about six weeks they continued their northward journey until they arrived in Scott county, Iowa, where the father purchased a tract of wild praire land which, by means of untiring industry, indefatigable energy and un- ceasing perseverance, he converted into a highly cultivated farm and which later became the home of our subject.
After his marriage Mr. Kroeger took up his abode upon the farm in Daven- port township upon which his father-in-law originally located, continuing to de- vote his time and energies to its development for more than thirty years. In the meantime he made a thorough study of agriculture, practiced rotation of crops and carried on his farming interests in a capable and businesslike way that brought most desirable results. Annually his fields yielded rich harvests as a reward for the care and labor bestowed upon them, and his agricultural interests proved a source of gratifying revenue. He purchased a farm in Lyon county, Iowa, which he later sold at a very advantageous price. That his efforts were crowned with a very substantial success is indicated by the fact that in 1893 he was able to retire from further active work. He removed to Davenport, purchasing a home at 1 162 Fourteenth street, where he has since resided, a goodly competence mak- ing it possible for him to enjoy the comforts of life without further recourse to labor.
With the passing of the years the home of Mr. and Mrs. Kroeger was blessed with six children, as follows : Henry, a progressive farmer operating the old homestead, mention of whom is made elsewhere in this volume; Lewis, of Lyon county, Iowa ; Emma, the wife of Henry Goettsch, of Lyon county ; Gustav, also residing in Lyon county; Minnie, the deceased wife of Henry Bolt, of Davenport; and one who died in infancy. Politically Mr. Kroeger is independent and while still active in the world's work held several township offices. He holds member- ship in the German Pioneers Association and also in the Schleswig-Holstein So-
88 HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY
ciety, and he is widely known throughout Davenport township, where his circle of friends is almost coextensive with the circle of his acquaintance. He has never had occasion to regret his determination to seek his fortune in this country, for here he found the opportunities which he sought and by earnest, persistent and unfaltering efifort carried himself forward to the goal of success. He has now passed the eighty-first milestone on life's journey and can look back upon a past that has been characterized by honest labor and honorable purposes.
W. F. PECK, M. D.
Those best acquainted with the early history of medicine in Iowa will agree that no one man has done more to advance the standing of the profession in the state than Dr. W. F. Peck. Setting a high mark for individual attainment, mak- ing his own name as a surgeon second to none in the west, he was at the same time far-seeing and active in the furtherance of measures for the collective ad- vancement of his calling. He did the effective organizing work and largely in- fluenced the legislation which gave the university its medical department; he was among the foremost in procuring the medical license law and board of medi- cal examiners; his counsels live in the state board of health, State Medical So- ciety and State Orphans' Home ; and Iowa's efficient railroad surgical service, in which work this state was a pioneer, was organized by him.
Washington Freeman Peck was born in Galen, Wayne county. New York, January 22, 1841. His parents, William H. and Alida (Hawes) Peck, both natives of the Empire state, were, the former of English and Scotch, the latter of Dutch descent. His great-grandfather, Nathan Peck, was a soldier of the Revolutionary war and a descendant of Deacon William Peck, a London mer- chant who, with his wife and son Jeremiah, came to this country on the ship Hec- tor in company with Governor Eaton, John Davenport and other stanch Puri- tans, arriving in Boston in the spring of 1637. The next year Deacon William and his associates founded the New Haven colony, and Jeremiah became the first teacher in the New Haven collegiate school.
Dr. Peck, though lacking the advantages of a general education, beyond that to be obtained in the common schools, was a tireless student in the school of life. By keenly observing and diligently applying the lessons there learned he accom- plished results beyond those achieved by most college graduates, and the degree of A. M. later conferred on him was exceptionally well eariled.
He was graduated from Bellevue Hospital Medical College in the spring of 1863, with the highest honors of his class, being the first student to matriculate in this the first medical college in the land to successfully combine clinical with didactic teaching. During his three years at medical college he secured, together with lectures from the foremost professional celebrities of the day, three months' service each in the hospitals on Blackwell's and Randall's islands and eighteen months of invaluable experience in the wards of Bellevue. Also, just before graduating, he availed himself of a trip as ship surgeon to Havana and back, and at the close of his Bellevue service entered Lincoln General Hospital, Wash-
•.•«^ VV
HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY 91
ington, D. C, as a contract surgeon. Here he did good work and made valuable acquaintances until, weakened by an attack of pneumonia, he was compelled to resign from the very arduous duties of the place in May, 1864. While treating a neglected gunshot wound during his service in Washington he had the mis- fortune to infect his right index finger, resulting in permanent anchylosis. M less courageous man might have been disheartened; but he was thankful to es- cape without the threatened loss of his hand, and the crippled finger learned to do excellent work.
Returning to the parental home at Clyde in his native county, he allowed him- self only a few weeks for recuperation, then set his face to the west and arrived at Rock Island, June 9, 1864, in his twenty- fourth year and ready to work. This place he had chosen as his prospective field of labor, but after inspecting both towns he was better pleased with Davenport across the river. Here he fitted up an office on Third street near Brady, making a sleeping room of his "sanctum" and taking board at the old "Burtis." By July 2d, as his journal records, he had taken part in a consultation ; had joined the "Hawkeye Club ;" was about to affili- ate with the local Masons, having taken the Master's degree as a student; and was able to write : "My office business up to date has paid my expenses." Thus promptly did he become identified with the community his name was to honor.
Though barely out of his teens when he began hospital work and study in the great city his journal of that period plainly reveals the traits which marked his character through life. Fully realizing that right success means persistent hard work, together with habits conservative of bodily health and strength, ha chose "Success" as his motto and, yielding to no indulgence, losing no opportunity and sparing no effort, he bent all his energies to attain it. Working early and late in the wards and at study, that he might find time for clinics and such lectures as he selected to attend; never avoiding but rather courting work; planning, even scheming, for additional tasks ; eager for the additional knowledge and train- ing they would afford ; perfecting his hand on every occasion in minor surgical man- ipulations; always ready to assist in, or himself to conduct an operation; losing no opportunity to make post mortem examinations and carefully to note their impressive lessons, he reaped much fuller returns from his student years than if, modestly retiring, or allowing himself to be pushed aside, he had done only the work needed to obtain his diploma.
Keenly alive to the stirring news and events of the day, both on the field and in the halls of congress, Dr. Peck's deepest interest was still in medical affairs and. medical men. Self-assured but unassuming, he made good use of his almost daily association with the foremost lecturers and surgeons of the land. Such men as J. R. Wood, the Motts and the Flints ; Hamilton, Sayre, Parker and Smith ; Professor Silliman, of Yale, and Drs. Gross and Pancoast, of Philadelphia, took an especial interest in the bright, energetic youth, and he suffered no needless reticence to deprive him of the full advantage of his association with them. He did not neglect social duties, however, exchanged frequent letters with mother, sister and brother ; visited relatives and friends in the city ; heard a sermon when he could ; enjoyed a play now and then, and indulged rarely in a friendly game of whist.
92 HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY
His student days over and a successful career as a surgeon opening up brightly before him in the west, Dr. Peck returned to his native state at the end of his first year of practice and was united in marriage, September i8, 1865, to Miss Maria Purdy, of Butler, Wayne county. New York, who became his ever effi- cient helper thereafter to the close of his life, and who, with one daughter, Mrs. Henry Vollmer, of Davenport, survives him. Another daughter and an only son died in early youth.
In 1866 Dr. Peck was made secretary of the Scott County Medical Society, became its president a few years later, and in 1876 was elected to the presi- dency of the State Medical Society, thus rapidly advancing to the front rank of his profession. He became an active member of the American Medical Associa- tion, served as its vice president and was honored with the chairmanship of its surgical section, being also chosen a member of the American Surgical Association, an organization whose membership is limited to one hundred.
The story of Dr. Peck's surgical and educational work was well and concisely told in an article prepared for the "Biographical History and Portrait Gallery of Scott County, Iowa," 1895, by the late Dr. W. D. Middleton, his first student, his life-long friend and associate, and his worthy successor as dean of the medical faculty of the State University of Iowa. Dr. Middleton writes :
"To the educational work of the profession Dr. Peck at once addressed him- self with the ardor of an enthusiast, and to him the state of Iowa is indebted for the medical department of its State University an institution which reflects credit on its founder and upon the great state by which it is fostered and supported. In 1868 he conceived the idea of building up a medical college in Iowa which would afford facilities for the first-class education of young men desiring to enter the medical profession, and in order that the institution might be established upon a permanent basis, he determined to make it a department of the State University at Iowa City. He first laid his plans before Judge John F. Dillon, now of New York, then a distinguished citizen of Davenport, and secured his hearty coopera- tion. Then, in June of 1869, a comparatively unknown young man, he presented himself before the trustees of the university and proposed the creation of a medi- cal department. He came before the board unheralded but full of the subject with which he had to deal, enthusiastic in his expectations and eloquent in his appeals for liberal treatment of his profession by the officials of what should be a university in fact as well as in name. Surprising as it may seem he carried the board with him, and the preliminary steps were taken toward the establishment of the medical school. In those days, however, the university was poor, and from the day it was founded the medical department was in financial straits. An or- ganization was not effected, or at least perfected, until 1870, and this was ac- complished in the face of difficulties of the most discouraging and perplexing kind. When the organization was finally completed Dr. Peck was made professor of surgery, and became dean of the faculty and the executive head of the de- partment of medicine. Then came the struggle to secure the needed assistance from the State Legislature, to overcome hostility engendered by professional riv- alry, and to carry on at the same time a work which would compel recognition and approval of the project. At another city in the state a medical college had been established at an earlier date, calling itself a department of the State University
HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY 93
and with an ambition to be recognized as such. The charter of the university, however, precluded such recognition of an institution not located at Iowa City, and the plan proposed by Dr. Peck was the only feasible proposition for connect- ing a medical course with the university course. Nevertheless new antagonisms and sectional jealousies were aroused to such an extent that at times the advance- ment of the project seemed almost hopeless. Year after year the struggle con- tinued, and the indomitable will power, the high courage and ceaseless effort of Dr. Peck contributed more than anything else to final success. Supported by a loyal and competent faculty he made the medical department an institution which commanded the respect and admiration of all those who were interested in the general upbuilding of the university, and by and by the opposition to it ceased, appropriations for its maintenance were freely made, and its founders realized the full fruition of their hopes."
In this connection the Hon. John P. Irish, then one of the University board of trustees, now naval officer of customs at the port of San Francisco, who was an active co-worker in the project of the new school, and without whose efficient aid it would probably have failed, writes :
"The real founder of the medical department of the State University of Iowa was Dr. Peck. The suggestion of the foundation came from myself, * * * I made of its (the University's) interests a specialty in the legislature and se- cured for it the first appropriation that it ever received from the state treasury." In working for this appropriation Mr. Irish had in view, as he says, the es- tablishing of both a legal, and a medical department of the university, rightly rea- soning that through them he would enlist for it the sympathy and support of most of the influential men of the state.
"Something over fifty thousand dollars" was voted and the law department, under Chancellor Hammond, was started in 1868. Later "the first concrete action" was taken toward the establishing of a medical department when Dr. Peck, Mr. Irish and Professor Gustavus Hinrichs met in Mr. Irish's office to dis- cuss the project. The outlook was not an encouraging one. There was no money in sight, a faculty had to be secured who would serve without pay, and the deter- mined opposition of the Keokuk Medical School had to be met. It proved a strong opposition, both in the legislature and throughout the state, and "the early years (of the department) were passed in storm and tempest." But Dr. Peck was a fighter, and he was ably seconded. From the legislature of 1870 Mr. Irish secured a second appropriation of sixty-three thousand dollars, and by the most strenuous elifort prevented the passage of a proviso that none of it should be used for the medical department. The victory was won; but, as Mr. Irish de- clares: "There would have been no medical school but for Dr. Peck. It was founded in his professional zeal, his enormous capacity for work, his command of the art of persuasion, his sleepless vigilance, his right intuitions and his spirit of sacrifice."
To quote further from Dr. Middleton's article:
"Soon after he came to Davenport Dr. Peck was made local surgeon of the Rock Island Railroad Company. At that time the company