USA > Iowa > Buchanan County > History of Buchanan County, Iowa, and its people, Volume II > Part 1
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HISTORY
OF
Buchanan County IOWA
And Its People
ILLUSTRATED
VOLUME II
CHICAGO THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY 1914
THE NEW YORK
PUBLIC LIBRARY 99770R
ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDL .. UNDATIONS R
1941
R. Campbell
BIOGRAPHICAL
RICHARD CAMPBELL.
Richard Campbell, deceased, was the founder and first president of the First National Bank at Independence and was a citizen who throughout his entire life commanded and received the high regard, confidence and good-will of all with whom he came in contact. His death, therefore, was deeply regretted when, on the 26th of March, 1901, he passed away. He was then in the seventy-fourth year of his age, his birth having occurred at Fort Brewerton, New York, on the 3d of August, 1827. His parents, John and Sarah (Wilson) Campbell, were probably natives of the same state and were of Scotch descent.
Richard Campbell was one of a family of ten children, but all have now passed away. He attended school in New York and when a youth of about fifteen years began working for others in the Empire state, residing in Chit- tenango. In the year 1856 he came with his brother, John Campbell, to Iowa. They made their way westward by rail to Dubuque and thence by wagon to Independence. They hauled the lumber from Dubuque to build their home and became actively identified with the material development and progress of this part of the state. Following his arrival Richard Campbell began loaning money and later conducted the First National Bank, of which he became the first president, so continuing to the time of his death. He established it upon a safe conservative basis and made it one of the strong financial institutions of Iowa. Mr. Campbell was also connected with the street railway and at one time owned the Gedney Hotel. He was likewise associated with other business enterprises and at all times was actuated by a spirit of progress and improvement that benefited the city and county as well as advanced his individual interests. As he prospered in his undertakings he made judicious investments in real estate and became the owner of a number of valuable farms in Buchanan county and also considerable business and residence property in Independence, from which he derived a substantial annual income.
Mr. Campbell was twice married and by the first union had a son, Richard Mabie, a capitalist of Independence, who is now living retired. On the 11th of February, 1874, Mr. Campbell was again married, his second union being with Miss Susan Potter Smith, who was born in New London, Connecticut, a daughter of Sabin and Susan Childs (Potter) Smith, who were also natives of New London, born in 1819 and 1821 respectively. The father followed merchandising in Connecticut in early life and afterward removed to New York. Subsequently he became a resident of Boston and still later went to Chicago, where he lived until a few years prior to his death, which occurred
5
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HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY
on the 29th of November, 1907. He had long survived his wife, who died August 7, 1871. Mrs. Campbell was the third in order of birth in their family of five children and by her marriage became the mother of four children. The eldest, Alonzo, resides at the old home in Independence. He is the owner of several farms and is also proprietor of an implement, wagon and buggy business and a creamery. He operates his farms with the aid of tenants. Anna, the second of the family, died in 1901, at the age of twenty-three years. Lillian died in infancy. Doris Eleanor resides with her mother. For three years after her husband's death Mrs. Campbell resided in Dubuque, but returned to Independence to take up her permanent abode here, being the owner of one of the well appointed homes of the city.
In his political views Mr. Campbell was a republican and kept well informed on the political situation of the country but never sought nor desired office. From the period of his early identification with the west he was closely asso- ciated with the material progress and upbuilding of Buchanan county and his worth as a man and citizen is widely acknowledged. He possessed many sterling traits of character, which won for him high regard and secured for him the friendship of those with whom he came in contact.
HON. MERRITT W. HARMON.
Hon. Merritt W. Harmon, lawyer and lawmaker, who has been prominently connected with public affairs in Buchanan county not only as a member of the bar and as representative of his district in the state senate but also in connection with business affairs which have to do with the substantial upbuilding and progress of the community, was born in Seneca county, Ohio, June 25, 1844, a son of Merritt and Minerva ( Walker) Harmon. The father's birth occurred in Vermont, March 25, 1797, and the mother was born in Warsaw, New York, March 30, 1810. In early manhood Merritt Harmon, Sr., went to western New York, but afterward returned to Vermont to attend college and when twenty-eight or thirty years of age he entered the ministry of the Presbyterian church. Going again to the Empire state, he was there married and afterward removed to Seneca county, Ohio, where he continued in the work of the ministry. He preached until ninety-four years of age. About 1848 he removed to Lansing, Michigan, where he resided until February, 1855, when he brought his family to Iowa, residing at Caseade, Dubuque county, until 1856. IIe was afterward located at Hopkinton, Delaware county, where he spent his remaining days, his death occurring in April, 1892, while his wife survived until June, 1895. During the latter part of the War of 1812 he was on active military duty with the Vermont state troops and his father was a captain in the army.
Merritt W. Harmon of this review was the third in order of birth in a family of five children. He first attended school in Michigan and afterward continued his education in Dubuque county, Iowa. Still later he attended the Hopkinton (Ia.) College, which was established in the fall of 1859. Mr. Harmon was among its first students, spending two years there, or until the spring of 1862. In July of that year he joined the Twenty-first Iowa Infantry as a
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HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY
private and was made sergeant of Company K. He lacked but two days of serving three years and although he was often in the thickest of the fight and was exposed to all kinds of dangers and hardships he was never wounded nor was he confined in the hospital by illness. He participated in the siege of Vieks- burg in 1863 and in the siege of Mobile in 1864-5. He was mustered out at Baton Rouge. Louisiana. on the 15th of July of the latter year and returned to Iowa with a most creditable military record, having proven his valor and loyalty on many a southern battlefield. Soon afterward he again went to the south in the employ of the Mobile & Ohio Railroad Company, spending one year in Mobile, Alabama.
On the 18th of November, 1866, Mr. Harmon arrived in Buchanan county, Iowa, and for two years thereafter engaged in teaching school. He then became deputy postmaster of Independence, in 1868, which position he filled for two years, and was admitted to the bar in November, 1869. He entered upon the practice of law in Independence, forming a partnership with Colonel Jed Lake on the 11th of July. 1870. For more than a third of a century this partnership was continued and was terminated only in the death of Mr. Lake on the 11th of June, 1914. They engaged in the general practice of law and the firm sustained a most enviable reputation. In his practice Mr. Harmon prepares his cases with great thoroughness and care and seems ever ready for not only attack but also for defense. His ability is manifest in his elear and cogent reasoning, in his logical deductions and in his correct application of legal principles. It is a well recognized fact that the lawyer is more often called to public office than any other class of men and the reason for this is obvious, for the preparation which qualified him for the bar also prepares him in large measure for other duties. enabling him readily to analyze and understand a situation. It was but natural, therefore, that Mr. Harmon was called to public office. being elected a member of the state senate in 1875. in which connection he did able service in safeguard- ing and promoting the best interests of the commonwealth. He was on the ways and means committee for eight years, Governor Larrabee being chairman. and was chairman of the judiciary and military committees. He was also on the committee on penitentiaries and other minor committees. He has filled various local offices, including that of member of the school board for ten years and has been a member of the public library board for thirty years or more.
Aside from his practice Mr. Harmon is a director of the First National Bank of Independence and at different times has been connected with other business affairs, but has severed his connection therewith in order to concentrate his efforts upon his law practice.
On the 24th of December, 1872, Mr. Harmon was married to Miss Maria Carter, a native of Ohio, as were her parents. Samuel G. and Mary (Houk) Carter, who came to Iowa about 1861, settling in Buchanan county, where her father followed the occupation of farming and spent his entire life. removing to Independence upon retiring from farm life. To Mr. and Mrs. Harmon have been born two children: Ray C., an electrical and mechanical engineer residing in Des Moines ; and Jessamine, at home.
In Masonry Mr. Harmon has taken the degrees of the lodge. chapter and council. He belongs to E. C. Little Post, No. 54. G. A. R .. and thus maintains pleasant relations with his old army comrades. He is a member of the Presby- terian church and guides his life by its principles. He owns considerable city
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HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY
property in Independence and this is the tangible evidence of a well spent life, in which devotion to his profession and careful management of other business affairs have brought their merited reward. His record is that of a man who has ever been faultless in honor, fearless in conduct and stainless in reputation.
COLONEL JED LAKE.
The number of those surviving who were in reality pioneers in the state and who, through unremitting toil and the brave endurance of hardships, took posses- sion of the wild prairies years ago in the name of civilization, whether as farmers, professional men or merchants, is fast decreasing, but the memory of their heroic lives will remain as a stimulus to endeavor as long as the great state which they founded endures. Colonel Jed Lake, who passed away at Independence on the 7th of June, 1914, was a man who, coming to this country in the early days, suffered the discomforts of pioneer life and also knew the stern pleasure that comes from persevering in a worthy work and from perform- ing faithfully a duty. He was one of the first attorneys of the county and rose to a position of leadership at the local bar, which he retained until the infirmities of age compelled him to largely retire from practice.
His birth occurred in Cortland county, New York, on the 18th of November, 1830, and his parents were Jedediah and Patience (Church) Lake. The father was born in 1798, in Montgomery county, New York, a son of Henry Lake, who served under General George Washington in the Revolutionary war, enlisting when a boy of seventeen years and serving for four years. In 1822 Jedediah Lake settled in Virgil, Cortland county, New York, and there his marriage to Miss Church occurred. She was a native of Windsor, Vermont, and by her marriage became the mother of four children, of whom the subject of this review was the third in order of birth. The father died when the Colonel was but three years of age, leaving the mother with four children, the eldest of whom was but seven years old.
Colonel Lake attended the common schools in the acquirement of an educa- tion, and worked at whatever he could find to do in order to partly provide for his own support. At one time he drove a team on the Erie canal for thirteen dollars a month and as soon as he had received sufficient education he engaged in teaching school. He also worked as a farm hand for some time and as he was determined to continue his studies he lived as economically as possible and saved his earnings and in this way accumulated a sufficient sum to enable him to attend the New York Central College at MeGraw, New York. While a student there he worked in his spare time and thus paid part of his expenses. He later attended Homer Academy, taking an advanced course in mathematics, but as his health had partially failed he left school and turned his attention to outdoor work.
In 1855, when a young man of twenty-five. Colonel Lake came to Buchanan county and for two years worked upon a farm in Buffalo township but at the end of that time came to Independence and began the study of law. He was admitted to the bar in the spring of 1859 and immediately entered upon practice.
fra Lak
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HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY
In 1861 he was elected to the state legislature and served in the session when that body pledged the support of Iowa to the preservation of the Union. His service to his country in its time of need did not end there, as in the summer of 1862 he enlisted in Company H, Twenty-seventh Iowa Infantry, was elected lieutenant of his company and soon after appointed by Governor Kirkwood as lieutenant colonel of the regiment, which soon after its organization was sent to Minnesota to protect the frontier settlements against the Indians. When the danger from that quarter had been averted the command was ordered south and took an aetive part in the war until the elose of hostilities. During much of the time Colonel Lake was in command of his regiment and proved a gallant and faithful officer.
Upon his return from the war he resumed the practice of his profession and in July, 1870, formed a partnership with M. W. Harmon, which was continued with mutual pleasure and profit until it was severed by death. In 1878 the firm of Lake & Harmon was retained to defend a large number of actions brought against residents of Iowa by the owners of a patent known as the "driven well" patent. These suits were brought in the eireuit court of the United States for the district of Iowa, the defendants in most cases being farmers, who were sued for royalties elaimed by the owners of the patent. Colonel Lake took charge of the defense in this extensive litigation and the trial in the federal court in Iowa resulted in victory for the defendants. The plaintiffs appealed to the supreme court of the United States, which confirmed the decision of the lower court. This litigation lasted nine years and was of national importanee as hundreds of people had been sued in similar actions in many other states. The Colonel was a man of great natural vigor of mind and his thorough training coupled with his long and varied experience enabled him to use his mental powers to the best advantage. The elarity and incisive qualities of his intellect enabled him to seize upon the vital point in any matter and to present his arguments with great lucidity, while the foree of his personality made his presentation of his case impressive and attention compelling. His practice was large and im- portant and his colleagues in the profession recognized him as their leader and often sought his advice.
Colonel Lake never held any office of profit but faithfully served the public in many official positions. For six years he was city councilman, for seven years a member of the board of education, for two years he was on the board of supervisors, for eight years he was a trustee for the Iowa Hospital for the Insane, at Independence, for fifteen years one of the commissioners of insanity for Buchanan county, and he served as a member of the board of commissioners appointed by the governor to construct a hospital for the insane at Cherokee. Colonel Lake was appointed a commissioner to value a large traet of land in Mendocino county, California, an Indian reservation, which required about seven months of work. When Perry Munson told Colonel Lake of his intention to erect a building for the use of an industrial training school and other purposes and also informed him that he was unable to find a suitable location, the Colonel at once offered a part of his home property for that purpose and donated the site for the school. The location is one of the most convenient that could have been found and the public owes mueh to the Colonel for thus making manual training a possibility. He was named as one of the trustees of the property and until
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HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY
his death served in that capacity and was always untiring in his efforts to advance the interests of the institution. His last appearance in court was in an action to maintain the rights of the publie to the school property. In many other ways he manifested an unusual public spirit, being willing to make per- sonal sacrifices in order to advance the community welfare. As an instance of this spirit those who were living in Independence in 1875 may recall that at that time when the Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern Railroad Company proposed to construct its Decorah division through Independence Colonel Lake gave the enterprise his earnest support and at a time during a financial stringency when failure seemed imminent, he and Dr. Bryant personally guaranteed the grading of several miles of the road, thereby securing it for the town. He was a director and attorney for the First National Bank of Independence and also a director and chairman of the executive committee of the Independence Mill Company as well as its local representative.
Colonel Lake was married January 2. 1861. to Miss Sarah E. Meyer, who was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, January 2, 1842, a daughter of Henry and Isadora (Sullivan) Meyer. Her father was born near Hamburg, Germany, and was married in 1835 in London, England, to Miss Sullivan, a native of that city, and they soon afterward emigrated to the United States. After an ocean voyage of seven weeks they landed in America and made their way to Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, where they settled. The father farmed there for some time and then removed with his family to Rockford, Illinois, where they remained until 1855, in which year they came by wagon to this county and the father entered government land in Byron township. He im- proved the same and operated it until his death, at seventy-six years of age. His wife died when sixty-five years old. To their union were born twelve children, six of whom grew to maturity. Mrs. Lake was only a child when she accompanied her parents to this county and here she grew to womanhood and attended school. By her marriage she became the mother of three children. Rush C., an attorney in Kansas City, Missouri. is quite prominent in city polities and a leader in his profession. Jarvis N. died in infancy. Harriet I., the only daughter, resides with her mother. She is very active in women's clubs, having served as regent for Iowa of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and is also well known in the Colonial Dames.
Mrs. Lake is one of the few pioneer women now living and is known through- out the city for her good deeds as she has done much to aid the siek and poor, and her sineere sympathy for those in trouble has made her ministrations wel- come and aceptable. She is a quiet. unassuming woman but has great strength of character and also much practical business ability. She was for sixteen years president of the Ladies' Poor Relief Society and has since been made an honorary life member of the same. At the time of the Civil war, when her husband enlisted for service, their eldest child was an infant and she went to the home of her parents and while living there saved the money which the Colonel sent her and with it purchased a farm, which proved an excellent invest- ment. She has many friends, who hold her in affectionate regard, and her long and useful life and womanly qualities command the respect of the community. She proved in all respects a worthy helpmate to Colonel Lake and was always in sympathy with his undertakings and aided him in his work in many ways.
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HHISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY
He was foremost in any movement that promised to advance the interests of Independence and the city owes much to him. His great-hearted and broad- minded personality commanded the respect of those who at times differed with him in their judgment as to the best course to pursue in a given matter and those to whom he gave his friendship prized highly his regard and favorable opinion. His personal appearance fitted well with his character, as he was a man of large frame, well proportioned and of great physical strength. His demise, which occurred June 7, 1914, was the occasion of much sincere sorrow throughout the county and the influence of his life is potent in making for true manhood and unselfish public service.
JOHN BURNS.
A farm of three hundred and twenty acres in Washington township pays tribute to the care and labor of John Burns, who is giving his personal super- vision to the management and cultivation of the place. He was born in County Armagh, Ireland, March 16, 1842. and is the eldest in a family of eight children, the others being daughters. His parents were James and Mary (Burns) Burns, both natives of Ireland. They were married in the Emerald isle and when their son John was a youth of sixteen years they sailed for the new world. Land- ing at New York, they made their way direct to Buchanan county, traveling westward by way of Dubuque. From that point they continued on the journey by stage, for there were no railroads in the county at that time. The father purchased land near Quasqueton and the early home of the family in this county was a log cabin. Both Mr. and Mrs. Burns held membership in the Roman Catholic church and died in that faith, the former in 1894 and the latter in 1884.
John Burns, whose name introduces this record, acquired his early educa- tion in the country schools of his native land. As stated, he accompanied his parents to the new world when a youth of sixteen and for several years there- after aided his father in the cultivation and development of the home place. When twenty-one years of age he started out independently, working as a farm hand, and was thus employed for eight years. He then began farming on his own account, having purchased land near the depot in Independence for seven dollars and a half per acre. He took up his abode upon a farm five and a half miles north of the city and has lived upon this place for over forty years. He now owns three hundred and twenty acres, all of which he is cultivating himself, and he is today well known as a successful general farmer and stockman, care- fully and systematically directing his efforts and winning thereby a well merited success.
On the 3d of April, 1877, Mr. Burns was united in marriage to Miss Mary Glynn, who was born in Hartford, Connecticut, in 1857, a daughter of Joseph and Bridget (Marnhan) Glynn, both of whom were natives of County Clare, Ireland. The father died in 1859 and the mother afterward became the wife of Pat Cullin, her home being now in Buchanan county, Byron township. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Burns have been born ten children: Mary, the deceased wife of Pat Brickley, of Hartford, Illinois, by whom she had three children, Mabel, Leo
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HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY
and John; James, a drayman of Decorah, Iowa, now thirty-five years of age; Sarah, the wife of James MeDonald, who resides upon a farm west of Inde- pendence and by whom she has six children, Edward, Joseph, Alfred, Lawrence, Richard and Mary; John F., thirty years of age, who owns a farm in this county and is married and has two children, Mary and Loretta; Edward, twenty- eight years of age, living at home; Margaret, twenty-five years of age, who attended the Cedar Falls Normal School and was a school teacher prior to her marriage to John Ferreton, who follows farming near Independence ; William. twenty-three years of age, also at home and now serving as a school director ; Alice, twenty years of age, who has taught for two years in the country schools ; Mabel, eighteen years of age, also a school teacher; and Leo, a youth of sixteen years, who completes the family.
At the time of the Civil war John Burns enlisted for service as a teamster in the Twenty-seventh Iowa Infantry and was on duty for about nine months. His political allegiance is given to the democratic party, and he has filled some local township offices. The religious faith of himself and family is that of the Catholic church and they attend St. John's church at Independence, Iowa. From the age of sixteen years he has resided continuously in Buchanan county and has, therefore, witnessed much of its growth and development through a period of more than a half century.
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