USA > Iowa > Des Moines County > History of Des Moines County, Iowa, Volume II > Part 1
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45
--
NYPL RESEARCH LIBRARIES
3 3433 08191964 3
-
-
-
---
---
-
---
-
1
Y
C
IVO (Des Moines C.) Antrobus
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2008 with funding from Microsoft Corporation
http://www.archive.org/details/historyofdesmoin02antr
HISTORY OF DES MOINES COUNTY IOWA
AND ITS PEOPLE
ILLUSTRATED
VOLUME II
CHICAGO THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY 1915
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY 731364 ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS R
1916 L
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR. LENOX TILDEN FOUNDATIONS
Leo. Chandler
BIOGRAPHICAL
GEORGE CHANDLER.
No history of this county would be complete without extended reference to George Chandler, for many years the owner of Spring Creek Farm on Lower Sandridge, and throughout the entire period a respected and honored citizen whose life remains as a beautiful memory to all with whom he came in contact. He was born in Frye- burg, Maine, February 1, 1810, and was a representative in the eighth generation of the descendants of William and Anna (Annis) Chand- ler, who settled in Roxbury, Massachusetts, in 1637. His parents were Joseph and Hannah (Farrington) Chandler, and he was the youngest son in a family of thirteen children. He was a direct descendant in the male line from the oldest son in seven successive generations of Chandlers, all residents of Massachusetts, Maine and New Hamp- hire, and represented in succeeding generations in the successive wars of the country, the French and Indian, the Colonial, and the Revo- lutionary wars.
George Chandler attended Phillips Academy at Exeter, New Hampshire, at a time when Daniel Webster was an instructor there. He left home in 1829 at the age of nineteen years and settled in Weathersfield, New York, where he remained for a decade, during which period he engaged in business as a carpenter and builder. In 1839 he purchased a horse and buggy and drove to Buffalo, New York, where he shipped his horse and buggy to Detroit From that point he drove across the state of Michigan and through the Calumet swamps to Chicago, and thence continued his drive along the lake shore to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, from which point he proceeded to Monroe, Green county, Wisconsin, where he spent the winter of 1839. He came to Burlington in 1840 and invested in town lots. He also industriously pursued his trade in the city and surrounding coun- try, and not long afterward he purchased a farm, forming a part of his permanent residence. This was known as Spring Creek Farm on Lower Sandridge, five miles south of Burlington and bordering the Fort Madison road. Upon that farm he resided throughout his sub- sequent life, except a portion of his last years, which were spent in
5
6
HISTORY OF DES MOINES COUNTY
the home of his daughter, Mrs. Swiler, then living in Delavan, Wisconsin.
Mr. Chandler was united in marriage to Matilda (Goddard) Sisloff, the widow of Joseph Sisloff, of Natchez, Mississippi. She was born in Carrollton, Kentucky, and was one of a family of ten sisters and one brother, a daughter of John Goddard. The death of Mr. Chandler occurred in Delavan, Wisconsin, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Swiler, May 6, 1895, but his remains were brought back to Des Moines county for interment in the Chandler cemetery on the home farm on Lower Sandridge. Mrs. Chandler passed away March 29, 1878. She was a member of the Spring Grove Methodist church, and Mr. Chandler was a Christian gentleman who gave to the church his generous support and strong assistance. Throughout his entire life he was an advocate of the democratic party but was loval to Lincoln and his administration during the Civil war. He served for many years as assessor of Union township and was well acquainted with all of the residents of the township and nearly every- one in the county. In business he was known as a highly successful and substantial farmer of Des Moines county, and was also a promi- nent stock dealer and trader. Preceding and during the Civil war he was constantly engaged in buying and shipping immense droves of hogs and cattle to the Chicago market. The first house which he had upon his farm was a log cabin containing but three rooms. He afterward built an elegant country residence, and there the good old- time hospitality was ever extended to the many friends of the family. He spent practically all of his active life upon the farm and only gave up work upon that place when in advanced years he was per- suaded to live with his daughter, Mrs. Swiler, in Wisconsin, passing away at her home when he had reached the ripe old age of eighty- five years.
Mr. Chandler was widely known as Uncle George, a term express- ive of his friendliness, his approachableness and his kindly spirit. He exerted a beneficent influence on all with whom he came in con- tact and his example is one well worthy of emulation, for his word was as good as his bond and his business reputation was above re- proach. At the time of his retirement he had large landed interests, having purchased much of the land from the government. The old home farm is still in possession of the family and around it cluster many happy recollections of the old days. Mr. Chandler was a lover of music and played the violin. He took great interest in the old people of the county and was a regular attendant at the Des Moines "and Lee counties' Old Settlers' picnics. He found his friends, how-
HISTORY OF DES MOINES COUNTY
ever, not only among the people of his own age but among the young. For many years he was most popular with the young people of the community, for he remained young in spirit and entered heartily into the amusements and entertainments of the young, even in his ad- vanced age. He was fond of company, and though his family was small, the house was always full. While he had no sons, he reared a number of young men who became useful and valuable citizens in the different communities in which they lived. Mr. Chandler was truly a gentleman of the old school, courteous, kindly, loving truth, honor and self-respect more than fame, wealth or position.
-
ED E. EGAN.
Ed E. Egan is the secretary and treasurer of the Commercial Exchange of Burlington, with offices in the Iowa State Savings Bank building. Splendidly qualified for the duties which devolve upon him, he has made an excellent record by reason of his progressive spirit and his high ideals, which find embodiment in practical effort for their adoption.
He was born in Pella, Marion county, Iowa, September 1, 1871. a son of Dr. W. C. and Cebe (Gardner) Egan. The former was born in Pennsylvania in 1846 and was reared in Chicago, to which city he had been taken during his infancy by his father, who died in 1878. W. C. Egan prepared for the practice of medicine and fol- lowed his profession in western Iowa very successfully for an ex- tended period. At the time of the Civil war he responded to the country's call for troops, enlisting in Company L, First Michigan Light Artillery. He was always a public-spirited and progressive citizen and cooperated in many movements which were of material benefit to the communities in which he lived. He passed away in 1906 and his remains were interred in a cemetery at Atlantic, Iowa. His wife was born in Ohio in 1846, a daughter of Benjamin and Sophia (Joy) Gardner, who came to lowa in 1858, crossing the Mississippi at Burlington, after which they took up their abode in Marion county. Mr. Gardner was born in New Jersey in 1821 and died in February, 1914, his remains being interred in a cemetery at Pella. His only child was Mrs. Cebe Egan, who is now living with the subject of this review.
Ed E. Egan acquired his early education in the schools of At- lantic, Iowa, and afterward attended Central University, a Baptist
8
HISTORY OF DES MOINES COUNTY
college, at Pella, and Simpson College, a Methodist school, at Indian- ola, Iowa. He made his initial step in the business world in con- nection with newspaper work on the Atlantic Telegraph at Atlantic, Iowa, and in 1895 he purchased the Glenwood Opinion. In 1899, however, he returned to Atlantic and purchased the Telegraph, on which he had formerly been employed. He continued the publica- tion of that paper until 1904, when in the month of June he came to Burlington and was connected with the Burlington Hawk-Eye until May, 1908, when he was called to the office of secretary and treasurer of the Commercial Exchange, in which capacity he has since continued, giving uniform satisfaction by the capable and effi- cient manner in which he discharges his duties. He displays much initiative and marked public spirit in this connection, and his work has been productive of excellent results.
In 1896 Mr. Egan was united in marriage to Miss Hattie M. Bousquet, of Pella, who was born in Ames, Iowa, a daughter of J. J. and Anna (Van der Linden) Bousquet, both of whom were natives of Holland, the former born in 1837 and the latter in 1844. The father came to America in the late '40s and settled in Iowa, being numbered among the Holland people who founded the town of Pella in 1846. They were religious refugees. At the time of the Civil war Mr. Bousquet responded to the country's call for troops, enlisting in Company B of the Third Regiment of Iowa Volunteer Infantry. Both he and his wife still reside in Pella. They have a son, Louis, who is also a resident of Pella, and a daughter, Agnes, who is with her parents. To Mr. and Mrs. Egan have been born four children: John, born in Glenwood, Iowa, September 29, 1896, and now a student in the Burlington high school; Geraldine, who was born in Atlantic, Iowa, October 23, 1901, and died in Burling- ton, February 25, 1906; Eugene W., born in Burlington, June 2, 1907; and Louis G., born in Burlington, January 31, 1910.
Mr. and Mrs. Egan are devoted members of the Congregational church and occupy a beautiful home at No. 714 North Seventh street. They are both popular and highly respected and Mr. Egan occupies a prominent position in business as well as social circles. By reason of his office he has had a good opportunity to advance the city's interests and has contributed much to its growth and pros- perity. His newspaper experience gained him a knowledge of pub- lic needs, demands and opportunities, for the newspaper is both the mirror and the molder of public opinion. He thus came well qual- ified to his present position and his efforts in this connection have been attended with substantial results. His political allegiance is
9
HISTORY OF DES MOINES COUNTY
given in stalwart manner to the republican party. He is well known as a prominent Mason, beonging to Des Moines Lodge, No. 1, A. F. & A. M .; lowa Chapter, No. 1, R. A. M .; and St. Omar Command- ery, No. 15, K. T., and also the Kaaba Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. He is likewise a member of the Elks lodge, No. 84, of Burlington. It has been said of him that he is never too busy to be cordial nor too cordial to be busy, and the even balance of his life makes him a forceful factor in the world's work.
HERMAN A. MATHES.
Herman A. Mathes is conducting an extensive business as a man- ufacturer of soda and mineral waters and as agent at Burlington for the Anheuser-Busch Brewing Company. He was born February 22, 1860, in the city where he still resides, and is a son of C. Mathes, who was one of the early partners in the business which is still car- ried on by the subject of this review and who is now city treasurer. Herman A. Mathes was educated in the public schools to the age of thirteen years and then went to Germany-the native land of his ancestors. In that country he entered school, continuing his studies for three years, and at the age of sixteen he returned to the United States. He pursued a business course of a year in Burlington, after which he became city bookkeeper for the Merchants National Bank. He also spent seven years in the State National Bank of Burlington, and his experience in this connection proved invaluable. After leav- ing the banks he went into business with his father and later on be- came his successor. The business was established by the firm of Warth & Ostertag. Later the junior partner sold to C. Mathes, at which time the firm style of G. G. Warth & Company was assumed. This was in 1870. Four years later Adolph Mathes purchased the interest of Mr. Warth and the firm style was then changed to C. Mathes & Brother, under which name they operated until 1886, when Adolph Mathes retired and was succeeded by H. A. Mathes under the firm style of C. Mathes & Son. Business was thus con- tinued in that connection until the withdrawal of the father, when H. A. Mathes took over the business, which he now conducts under his own name. He carries on a large business in Des Moines and surrounding counties and in Illinois, making delivery by electric truck and teams. He occupies a two-story building eighty by one hundred and seventeen feet and gives undivided attention to the enter-
10
HISTORY OF DES MOINES COUNTY
prise, which from the beginning has grown steadily. He has now been identified therewith for more than a quarter of a century and is familiar with every phase of the trade.
Mr. Mathes has been married twice. He first wedded Nannie Heil, of Burlington, the marriage being celebrated in September, 1882. She passed away in 1884, leaving a son, William A. In 1888 Mr. Mathes married the sister of his first wife, Miss Ida Heil. They are well known socially in Burlington and have an extensive circle of warm friends. Mr. Mathes is a prominent and popular member of several fraternal and social organizations. He belongs to the Hawkeye Club, an organization of native sons; the Elks, the Eagles, the Shoquoquon Club, the Silver Lake, the Burlington Launch Club and the Carthage Lake Club, of which he is now the vice pres- ident. His political allegiance is given the democratic party, but he has never been an aspirant for office, preferring to concentrate his energies upon his business affairs, in which he has meet with grat- ifying success. He is fond of all outdoor sports and is very prom- inent in the club life of the town.
COLONEL GEORGE H. HIGBEE.
It is not the province of biography to give voice to a man's modest estimate of himself and his accomplishments, but rather to leave a record establishing his position by the consensus of public opinion on the part of his fellowmen. Judged by this standard, Colonel George H. Higbee is one of the distinguished citizens of Burlington, not only by reason of the notable position to which he has attained in business, but also owing to his generosity, his benevolence and his public spirit. Another feature of his life record which is most com- mendable is that which covers his service as a soldier in the Civil war, and through days of peace he has displayed equal loyalty, doing much to forward the civilization that has brought Iowa to its present proud position among the states of the Union.
Colonel Higbee was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1836, a son of Dr. Charles H. and Caroline (Howell) Higbee. The father resided at Trenton, New Jersey, and it was in the schools of that city that Colonel Higbee pursued his education. In due time he entered Princeton, and is numbered among its alumni of 1854. He started in business life as a civil engineer for a railway company in New
THE NITY PUBLIC LIBRAS
ASTOR. LENOX .D N FOUNDA IONS
13
HISTORY OF DES MOINES COUNTY
Jersey, but since the spring of 1855 has been identified with the middle west. He made his way by the river route to Muscatine, lowa, where he arrived with a single coin in his pocket. He suc- ceeded in inducing a hotelkeeper of that place to buy him a ticket to Cedar Rapids, where lived a friend of the family. At that place Colonel Higbee engaged in survey work and ultimately purchased a farm of two hundred and forty acres about three and one-half miles from Cedar Rapids, but suffering from a sunstroke, he gave up the farm and returned to New Jersey, resuming his former position with the railroad company.
With the outbreak of the Civil war Colonel Higbee espoused the Union cause and during his service was twice brevetted for gallant and meritorious conduct. His military record, preserved at Wash- ington, gives the following: "Entered military service of the United States, appointed and commissioned first lieutenant Eleventh United States Infantry May 14, 1861. Brevetted captain May 5, 1864, for 'gallant and meritorious services at the battle of the Wilderness, Vir- ginia;' brevetted major March 13, 1865, for 'gallant and meritorious services before Petersburg on the Weldon Railroad, Virginia;' bre- vetted lieutenant-colonel March 13, 1865, for gallant and meritorious services before Petersburg and on the Weldon Railroad in Virginia. Promoted to captain Eleventh United States Infantry, February 19, 1866. Unassigned April 14, 1869. Assigned to Thirteenth United States Infantry July 14, 1869.
"Service-Engaged in the organization of the Eleventh Infantry at Fort Independence, Boston Harbor, Massachusetts, until October, 1861. Ordered to Perrysville, Maryland, and on duty there until March, 1862. Joined Sykes' Regular Infantry Division at Washing- ton, D. C., March, 1862, and moved to the Virginia peninsula. Siege of Yorktown, April 15-May 4. Attached to Second Brigade, Second Division, Fifth Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, May 18. Battle of Hanover Court House, May 7th. Seven days before Richmond, June 25-July 1. Battles of Mechanicsville, June 26th ; Gaines' Mill, June 27th ; White Oak Swamp and Turkey Bend, June 30th. Mal- vern Hill, July Ist. At Harrison's Landing until August 16th. Movement to Fortress Monroe, thence to Centerville, August 12-28. Battles of Groveton, August 9th, and second Bull Run, August 30th. Maryland campaign, September 6-22. Battle of Antietam, Mary- land, September 16-17. Shepardstown Ford, September 19-20. At Sharpsburg to October 29th. Movement to Falmouth, Virginia, October 29-November 17. Battle of Fredericksburg, Virginia, December 12-15. 'Mid-March,' January 20-25. At Falmouth,
14
HISTORY OF DES MOINES COUNTY
Virginia, until April 27th. Chancellorsville campaign, April 27-May 6. Battle of Chancellorsville, May 1-5. Gettysburg, Penn- sylvania, campaign, June 13-August 1. Battle of Gettysburg, July 1-3. Pursuit of Lee to Manassas Gap, Virginia, July 5-23. At War- renton, Beverly Ford and Culpeper till October. Bristoe cam- paign, October 9-22. Bristoe Station, October 14th. Rappahannock Station, November 7th. Mine Run campaign, November 26-Decem- ber 2. Moved to Alexandria, Virginia, on duty there till May I, 1864. Served detached as aide-de-camp on staffs of General George Sykes, commanding division, and General G. K. Warren, command- ing Fifth Army Corps from May to October, 1864. Participated in the Rapidan campaign, May 3-June 15. Battles of the Wilder- ness, May 5-7; Spottsylvania, May 8-12; Laurel Hill, May 8th; Spottsylvania Court House, May 12-21. Assault on the Salient at Spottsylvania Court House, May 12. North Anna River, May 23-27. Tolopotomoy, May 28-31; Cold Harbor, June 1-12; Be- thesda Church, June 1-3. Before Petersburg, June 16-19. Siege of Petersburg, June 16th to November. Weldon Railroad, June 21-23. Six-Mile House, Weldon Railroad, August 18-21. Poplar Springs Church, Peebles' Farm, September 29-October 2. Hatcher's Run, October 27-28. Duty in Department of the East and in Middle De- partment till May, 1865. Rejoined regiment at Richmond, Virginia, and on duty there until 1869. While there was detached from regi- ment and placed in charge of city of Richmond and two counties for reconstruction purposes, remaining on duty three years and a half under Generals Schofield, Stoneman and Canby. On frontier duty in Montana, 1869-1870. Honorably discharged at own request, Decem- ber 13, 1870."
Colonel Higbee was next ordered to rejoin his regiment, and with the Sixteenth Infantry was afterward on active duty. He organized a command for Indian service, being at the head of a company of seventy men, which was ordered to exterminate a mountain chief's band in Montana. While he was in the northwest, congress passed a law that any officer could go on "waiting orders" and draw a year's pay. Colonel Higbee took advantage of this, and Iowa thus re- gained a citizen whose value and worth to the community can scarcely be overestimated. Major-General Warren, commanding the Fifth Corps, in a letter to the adjutant-general, said of Colonel Higbee: "To reward the services of this officer adequately would exhaust all the grades of rank in the army."
Arriving in Burlington in June, 1870, Colonel Higbee soon after- ward purchased an interest in the Murray Iron Works, and until suc-
15
HISTORY OF DES MOINES COUNTY
ceeded by his son was president of the company, controlling that mammoth industry. He found the concern in a badly crippled finan- cial condition but arranged for capital and credit and secured the patronage of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad. Since that time the railroad has purchased practically all of its iron castings here, and under the guidance and direction of Colonel Higbee the business has continuously grown and developed. The Murray Iron Works are makers of Corliss steam engines and boilers, and they stand today as one of Iowa's great industrial establishments and one of the largest enterprises of the kind in the west. The plant was put in operation in about 1866 and incorporated in 1870, and has been continuously in operation since that time There have been no finan- cial embarrassments or reorganizations, only one fire of any conse- quence, and no labor troubles of any moment Originally the plant consisted of an iron and brass foundry, to which was afterward added a machine shop, later a boiler shop, and still later an exclusive engine works. During the last fifteen years all of these shops have been re- built and additions and improvements are continually being made, each shop being equipped with the latest machinery to facilitate the work. In addition to manufacturing Corliss engines, air com- pressors, pumping engines, tubular, water-tube and internal furnace boilers and feed-water heaters, an extensive foundry and general ma- chine shop business is conducted. Their trade covers a world-wide territory, their engines being sold in China as well as in European countries and in South America. Foreign trade, however, is not the largest part of their business, for the Murray Corliss engines and boilers are in use in every state of the Union, with one exception. lowa itself furnishes a splendid market for the output. For an ex- tended period the Murray Company followed a direct selling plan, but in recent years salesmen have been sent out on the road. They issue a large and splendidly illustrated catalog, however, and their mail order business is extensive.
In a history of Iowa factories it has been said : "Special service and unusual attention to changing conditions and requirements in power and power transmission have always been the policy of this company. They have designed new engines and altered old designs to obtain the greater speed, greater strain, etc., required by the new ideas of power efficiency and transmission, always keeping their en- gines abreast with the times. This policy at first glance may not at- tract special attention, but an investigation develops that a small change in the type of an engine means entirely new specifications, new patterns, new flasks and foundry rigging and serious changes in
16
HISTORY OF DES MOINES COUNTY
the routine of the machine shop; then it is that the idea begins to take on large proportions and means an expenditure of thousands of dollars.
"The continued success and growing reputation of this lowa com- pany is largely due to the thorough manner of manufacture. Each casting, each bearing and every detail has been studied and experi- mented with and tested so thoroughly that when a Murray engine is installed it is a foregone conclusion that it will do the work it is designed to do and in every way give complete satisfaction. The greater part of an engine is composed of cast iron, and on the strength or weakness of these castings its durability depends. Most machine shops either buy their castings outside, or, if they possess a foundry, regard it as a mere adjunct to the machine works-a necessary evil- and give it but scant attention. Poor work is the inevitable conse- quence. This company, on the contrary, has for forty years oper- ated the largest foundry in the west, and makes it an important part of its business. Its experience, therefore, is great; it has no difficulty in producing the finest possible castings for its Corliss engines. An- other interesting feature about the material used in Murray engines is that the steel used for parts that meet with extreme wear is so hard that no machine tool is made which will cut it. These parts are machined to size by a grinding lathe, using an emery wheel for the tool, a method that distinguishes this company. A high grade of material is used in all Murray products; careful and thorough methods of manufacture are in vogue throughout the entire plant. Every bolt, every casting and the smallest and most unimportant parts of the engines and boilers are made of metals selected carefully for strength and durability and accurately machined in shops equipped for the purpose."
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.