USA > Iowa > Cedar County > A topical history of Cedar County, Iowa, Volume II > Part 73
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In the year 1891 Mr. Coutts became interested in banking and in the follow- ing year purchased a controlling interest in the First National Bank of Tipton. He was elected as president and remained at the head of that institution until the expiration of its charter on the 3rd of June, 1903. He then organized the City National Bank and was again elected president, which position he filled until the time of his death. In 1892 he also established the J. H. Coutts Bank of Stanwood, Iowa, and subsequently the bank was incorporated under the name of the Stanwood Savings Bank. All with whom he had dealings had implicit confidence in his ability and integrity. In the conduct of the banking business he carefully safeguarded the interests of depositors as well as of the institution, and his sound judgment enabled him to correctly solve the intricate problems of finance. He assisted in organizing and was the treasurer of the Tip- ton Light & Heating Company, and subsequently he took an active part in the organization of the Eastern Iowa Loan & Building Association of Tip- ton, of which he was treasurer. He was likewise instrumental in the organiza- tion of the Tipton Hotel Association, erecting the first good hotel building Tip- ton ever had. His labors were at all times of a character that contributed largely to the improvement and upbuilding of the city as well as to individual success.
On the 27th of March, 1901, Mr. Coutts was united in marriage to Mrs. Martha Peet, a daughter of Reuben and Martha Swartzlander, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania. They came to Cedar county in 1840 and both remained residents here until called to their final rest. The death of Mr. Coutts occurred on the 7th of January, 1904, and his widow now resides in Los Angeles, California.
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He was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He held strong religious views although he did not belong to any church organization. He gave liberally, however, to the support of the church he attended and his influence was always on the side of right and moral development. He was one of the founders of the Modern Brotherhood of America, became its first supreme treasurer and was a member of its first board of directors. In politics he was a Jeffersonian democrat and was deeply interested in all public enterprises for the good of his home town. His social qualities, too, were of a nature which made him a warm friend of all with whom he came in contact, and of Tipton's citizens none were more faultless in honor, fearless in conduct and stainless in reputation.
HON. R. W. HINKHOUSE.
About six miles south of the famous battle ground of Gettysburg, in the state of Maryland, the Hon. R. W. Hinkhouse was born August 17, 1850, but that section of the country did not long claim him, as in 1853 he was brought by his parents to Iowa, the family arriving at Davenport after six weeks en route. Soon afterward they removed to a place known as Limestone Farm, on section 14, Sugar Creek township, and it was there that R. W. Hinkhouse was reared to the age of twenty-one years, spending his youthful days in the usual man- ner of farm lads, save that the routine duties of the farm were varied by the work of burning lime, for the father had a large lime kiln upon the place.
His parents were Frederick and Hannah (Hunick) Hinkhouse, the former born in Hanover, Germany, in 1818, and the latter in Prussia in 1827. Mr. Hinkhouse landed at Baltimore, Maryland, in 1840, while his wife was only about nine years of age when she came with her parents to the new world. They were married in Pennsylvania and their last days were spent in Cedar county, Iowa. The death of the father occurred December 9, 1885, while his wife passed away December 5, 1908. He not only followed farming and stock- raising but was also successfully engaged in the manufacture of lime. He was likewise widely known as a breeder of shorthorn cattle and had an excep- tionally fine herd. From time to time he made further investment in land and at his death owned about fourteen hundred acres, of which five hundred acres were comprised within the borders of the home place, which he operated. He was a Lutheran in his religious belief in early life but after coming to Iowa joined the Presbyterian church. In his political views he was a democrat and held various township offices for a number of years.
Unto him and his wife were born eleven children, namely: Mrs. Alice Hellyer, now living in Newton, Iowa; Francis, who was killed by a horse when eleven years of age; R. W., of this review; Mrs. Ellen Ridenour, who died in Iowa township; Caroline; Amelia, who died at the age of three years; Rev. J. F. Hinkhouse of Fairfield, Iowa, who is financial agent for Parsons College of that place; Mrs. Mary Whitmer, of Sioux City; Emma, who died at the age of twenty-three years; Simon, whose home is in San Antonio, Texas; and Aaron, who married and at his death left a widow.
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Throughout the period of his youth R. W. Hinkhouse attended the coun- try school and later became a student in the Normal School at Wilton under Professor J. B. Harris, one of the best known educators of that day. In the winter of 1870 he broke one of his legs and was thus unable to do any manual labor for some time. While going around on crutches he taught the first term of school conducted in the White Pigeon schoolhouse. When the in- jured member had healed he turned his attention to general agricultural pursuits, operating a rented farm, on which he did his own housekeeping for two years. He was the owner of a horse his father had given him while it was a colt and in addition he possessed ninety dollars in money that he had saved from his four months' salary at teaching. Thus equipped he began farming on his own account and continued to cultivate rented land, as previously stated, for two years.
In 1873, however, Mr. Hinkhouse went to Kansas, where he engaged in prospecting and farming for a few months and at the end of that time he resumed farming in Cedar county, settling in Farmington township, where he resided until 1900. For ten years he rented land and then purchased one hun- dred and sixty acres which he improved and developed. Year after year he carefully tilled the fields, rotating the crops and securing the latest improved machinery to facilitate his work. As time passed his labors met with sub- stantial returns. In 1900, however, he sold his property and temporarily lo- cated upon a farm east of Rochester. In 1901 he traveled over the corn belt of the United States and became convinced that the best opportunities and the cheapest lands were to be secured in and around West Liberty. Accordingly he invested in five hundred and fifty-five and one-half acres known as the A. E. Kimberley farm, on section 29, Iowa township, and since that time he has added to his. property as he has found advantageous opportunity until he now owns ten hundred and sixty acres of valuable land in one body. He also has a farm adjoining West Liberty on the north and comprising one hundred and sixty-eight acres of land. This is a valuable property worth two hundred and fifty dollars per acre. On his extensive tract of ten hundred and sixty acres he has four sets of good buildings which are far above the average. The land is devoted to the raising of grain and stock and the business there con- ducted is proving very profitable, so that Mr. Hinkhouse secures a gratifying income from his investment.
It has not been along agricultural lines alone, however, that Mr. Hinkhouse has won success. He is recognized as a business man of marked enterprise and of an initiative spirit and because of these qualities he has assisted in organizing four different banks, including the Union Savings Bank of Wilton, Iowa, of which he was a director for a number of years, the Wilton Savings Bank, the Atalissa Savings Bank, of which he is now a director, and the Downey Savings Bank, of which he is now vice president. He is also a stockholder in the Iowa State Bank at West Liberty. He finds a ready solution for the intricate problems of finance and his sound judgment has constituted a val- uable factor in the successful control of these different institutions. He is also one of the directors of the White Pigeon Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Wilton.
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In his political views Mr. Hinkhouse has been a life-long democrat and is one of three members of that party who have been chosen to represent the county in the state legislature. He served as a member of the twenty-sixth regular session of the general assembly and through the extra session called by Governor Drake. Previous to his election to the legislature he served as county supervisor for six years and during four years of that time was chair- man of the board. It was during that period that the courthouse was re- modeled and a new jail built and equipped with modern cages, also the Cedar Valley bridge was built across the Cedar river and many other important public improvements were made. Mr. Hinkhouse has always stood for progress and advancement, and his labors as a public official and as a private citizen have constituted an important element in the county's growth and upbuilding. His religious faith is indicated in the fact that he is a member of the Presbyterian church of Sugar Creek.
On the 23d of September, 1875, Mr. Hinkhouse was united in marriage to Miss Anna Smiley, who was born near Clearfield, Pennsylvania, and came to Cedar county with her parents in 1869. She is a daughter of William and Jane (Glasgow) Smiley, both of whom died in this state. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Hinkhouse were born seven children, namely: George V., who is conducting the home farm in Iowa township in connection with his brother Fred; Albert J., who is operating a farm in Iowa township; Verda, who is the wife of C. A. Mountain of Springdale township, and has three children, Mina, Bonita and Norwood; Myrtle, who is a graduate of Grinnell College, and is now attend- ing a medical college in Philadelphia, taking a three years' preparatory course under the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions; Fred W., who is in part- nership with his brother George; Clarence Glenn, who was born March 9, 1891, and died June 19, 1909; and Nellie D., who is at home.
Mr. Hinkhouse is residing temporarily in West Liberty in order to educate his youngest daughter. His has been an active and useful life in which he has won success and also the high regard of his fellowmen. He has lived in the county for fifty-seven years and throughout the entire period has com- manded the confidence and good-will of all with whom he has been associated. His record in all his public as well as private relations has merited the trust and respect of his fellowmen and because of his prominence and what he has accomplished, he well deserves mention in this volume.
George V. Hinkhouse, now closely associated with farming interests in Iowa township, was born on the old home place in Farmington township, August 8, 1876. There he acquired his early education, afterward attending Highland Park College at Des Moines. At the close of his school work there he re- turned home and was associated with his father in business until he and his brother Fred took charge of the old home farm, which they have since cul- tivated. George Hinkhouse is also serving as treasurer of the school district and is well known as a stanch advocate of democratic principles.
Albert J. Hinkhouse was born in Farmington township in December, 1878, and has always resided in this county, making his home for nine years in Iowa township. He, too, has made farming his life work and now owns two hun- dred and sixty acres of land on sections 19 and 20. This is well improved,
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much of the work thereon being done by the present occupant. He is now building a barn forty by seventy feet with a concrete floor and basement, which will be one of the best barns in the county. The place is appropriately termed "Evergreen Farm," because of the large number of evergreen trees that sur- round his home. Here he carries on general agricultural pursuits and stock- raising and his business ability is manifest in his success. He received a diploma from the country schools at the age of sixteen years and afterward spent four winters in the Wilton schools. His political allegiance has always been given the democracy, but he has never sought nor desired office. He holds membership in the Presbyterian church of Wilton and his many excellent traits of character have won him high regard. In 1904 he married Evelyn L. Cole, who was born in Jasper county, Iowa, in 1881, a daughter of Francis and Sarah F. Cole. After the death of her husband Mrs. Cole married again and now resides in Cedar Rapids. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Albert Hinkhouse have been born two children, Nevin R. and Hazel Marie.
Fred W. Hinkhouse was born in Farmington township, February 19, 1886, and has spent his entire life in this county, his attention being given to general agricultural pursuits. He is a graduate of the school of Springdale and also attended the American State Agricultural College. He is an enthusiast on the subject of progressive and scientific agriculture and has been most active in advocating progress along that line.
Myrtle J. Hinkhouse has made a creditable record as a teacher. She was born in Farmington township, November 26, 1883, is a graduate of Grinnell College of the class of 1908, having previously attended Wilton Academy, from which she was graduated. She has devoted two years to teaching in the country schools and her work in that direction has given excellent satis- faction.
The Hinkhouse family is a prominent one in this part of the state and their labors have been of material benefit to the county in the development and progress of its agricultural interests. The work instituted by Frederick Hink- house has been carried on by his son, R. W. Hinkhouse, and is now being fur- ther promoted by the latter's sons, who are all representative and valued business men of this portion of the state.
D. T. NICOLL, M. D.
Dr.' D. T. Nicoll is one of the prominent and well known members of the medical profession of Cedar county. He has engaged in the practice of his profession in Iowa since 1898, at which time he located in Clinton county. He is now well established in business in Clarence and has a wide acquaintance in. this-his native-county for he was born in Cedar county on the Ist of December, 1866. His father, Andrew Nicoll, was a native of Scotland and was brought to the new world when a lad of seven years by his father, Andrew Nicoll, Sr., who first settled in Delaware county, New York. Andrew Nicoll, Jr., was reared in the Empire state and was there married to Isabella McGregor, who was born
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and reared in that county. For some years after his marriage Mr. Nicoll carried on farming in the Empire state and then came west to Illinois, where he spent one season. About 1858 he came to Iowa, establishing his home in Cedar county, with the development and improvement of which he was closely identified for a long period. He bought wild land and opened up a farm, becoming the owner of a well improved property of three hundred and twenty acres. Andrew Nicoll, Jr., lost his first wife, her death occurring in 1868 in Delaware county, New York, whither she had returned on a visit. Becoming ill, she there passed away and her remains were laid to rest in her native county. Mr. Nicoll after- ward married again. He was a well known farmer of Cedar county and here reared his family but subsequently removed to Tarkio, Missouri, where he is now living practically retired.
Upon the home farm near Clarence Dr. Nicoll spent his youthful days and his literary education was completed by study in the Clarence high school. Re- solving to make the practice of medicine his life work, he began reading in the office and under the direction of Dr. Anderson, a well known physician of Clarence, and subsequently pursued a full course in the Northwestern University at Chicago, taking his first course of lectures in the fall of 1888. In due time he completed his studies there and was graduated with the class of 1891. He then located at Kingston, Wisconsin, where he began practicing but afterward removed to Kilbourn, where he resided for five years.
Dr. Nicoll was married at Kingston on the 10th of February, 1892, to Miss Jessie M. Hewett, a native of Wisconsin, who spent her girlhood and acquired her education in Kingston, her native city. Her parents, C. P. and Sarah Hewett, were both natives of Ohio and became early settlers of the Badger state. Dr. and Mrs. Nicoll now have one son, Charles A.
In 1898 Dr. Nicoll removed to Clinton, Iowa, where he continued in practice for three years and in 1901 came to Clarence, since which time he has followed his profession in this city. He has built up a fine practice and is recognized as one of the leading members of the profession in Cedar county, possessing a comprehensive knowledge of the principles of medicine, while his keen and discriminating judgment is manifest in his correct application of scientific prin- ciples to the needs of suffering humanity. He also has charge of and manages his father's old farm of three hundred and twenty acres, on which he has a tenant and other help. He, however, personally supervises the work of the farm, which is devoted to general agricultural purposes and to the raising and feeding of stock for the market. He is an excellent business man of keen discrimination and sagacity and in addition to his other interests he owns the business block in Clarence in which his office is located. He likewise has a good residence in town and is now most comfortably situated financially.
. Dr. Nicoll and wife, moreover, occupy an enviable position in social circles and their home is the abode of generous and warm-hearted hospitality. They are members of the Clarence Presbyterian church, in the work of which they take an active and helpful part, Dr. Nicoll now serving as one of the elders. He is also a member of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to the blue lodge at Clarence and to the consistory at Clinton. He likewise holds membership with the Modern Woodmen and the Yeomen and is examining physician for these
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lodges. His political endorsement is given to the republican party and his fellow townsmen, recognizing his worth and ability, have frequently called him to public office. He has served in the town council and as a member of the school board for a number of years and has also been health officer of Clarence. No trust reposed in him whether of a public or private nature is betrayed in the slightest degree. He performs every duty with a sense of conscientious obligation and his honor in both public and private life is alike unsullied. He works toward high standards in his professional service, manifests the utmost reliability in all business transactions, and in all the relations of his daily life shows that he believes in the truth of the universal brotherhood of mankind.
WILLIAM BIERKAMP.
Germany has furnished many worthy residents to Cedar county and among this number is William Bierkamp, who was born in Hanover on the 18th of Sep- tember, 1849. His father, August Bierkamp, was also a native of that country and after arriving at years of maturity he married Hannah Diedtrich. They remained residents of Germany until 1857, when they emigrated to the United States and locating in Scott county, Iowa, spent two years upon a farm near where the village of Eldridge now stands. Then they removed to the vicinity of Stockton, Cedar county, and afterward took up their abode upon a farm west of Durant. Mr. Bierkamp was a practical, energetic agriculturist and his labors were crowned with success. He died in 1879, while his wife survived him four years, passing away in 1883.
The boyhood of William Bierkamp was spent in Germany, where his educa- tion was acquired in the common schools, he remaining in his native country with is grandparents when his father and mother came to the United States. Later they visited their old home and he then accompanied them to the new world. After reaching this country he worked for others at whatever he could find to do but later learned the wagonmaker's trade and eventually engaged in business on his own account, conducting a shop in Durant for a few years, and then engaged in the implement business until three years ago. His unfaltering industry, determination and perseverance have constituted the salient features in his success. As he prospered he invested in land and is now the owner of con- siderable farm property, from which he derives a substantial income. On closing out his implement business he turned his attention to the real-estate business, in which he is now engaged. He has made substantial, rapid and honorable progress in the business world and in business matters his judgment is seldom, if ever, at fault. Aside from his other interests he is connected with banking and has served as president of banks in Bennett and Durant.
Mr. Bierkamp was married in Durant on the 2d of September, 1874, to Miss Minnie Feldhahn, who was born in Wisconsin, September 6, 1853. Their children are seven in number, namely : William H., who is a banker.of Denver, Colorado; Gustave, who lives in western Iowa; Frank, a resident of Durant, who is in the employ of the International Harvester Company; Rosa, the wife of Clint Huch-
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endorf of Durant; Albert Harry, cashier of a bank at Cuba, Illinois; Otto, a jeweler at Durant; and Walter, who is in a bank at Groton, South Dakota.
In his political views Mr. Bierkamp has ever been a republican since becoming a naturalized American citizen. He keeps well informed on the questions of the day and is thus able to support his position by intelligent argument. His fellow townsmen, recognizing his worth and ability, have called him to local offices and he has efficiently served as mayor of Durant and as justice of the peace, his decisions in the latter office being strictly fair and impartial, while his service in the former was characterized by progressive methods and a practical adminis- tration of the business of the office. For twenty-four years he has been con- nected with the school board and twenty years of that time was president. He has ever been a believer in a thorough education as an equipment for life's practical duties and in office has done much to promote the interests of the schools. He is a member of the Turner Society and of the Modern Woodmen of America at Durant. The community has ever found in him a public-spirited citizen-one whose efforts can be counted upon to further public progress. More- over, he deserves to be numbered among the self-made men, for his earnest and unremitting labor, intelligently directed, has constituted the basis of his success, bringing him from a humble position in business circles to a place of prominence, while his life record proves moreover that prosperity and an honored name may be won simultaneously.
F. H. MILLIGAN.
F. H. Milligan is vice president of the Farmers & Merchants Savings Bank and also one of the prominent live-stock dealers of Cedar county. His life history is another proof of the fact that success is not a matter of genius or of fortunate circumstances, as held by some, but is the outcome of clear judgment, experience and carefully directed energy. Recognizing the needs of the grow- ing community, he has cooperated in movements which have met these needs and today his is an honored name not only in financial circles but wherever he is known.
He was born near Pittsburg, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, July 14, 1853, and is a son of Alexander S. and Anna C. (Hawkins) Milligan, who were like- wise natives of Pennsylvania, the father having been born on the farm where the birth of F. H. Milligan occurred, while the mother was born on an adjoining farm. Each was the eldest in a family of six children. Mrs. Milligan died Jan- uary 27, 1857, when the subject of this review was only three years and three months old and the father afterward married again, his second union being with Miss Maggie B. Bishop, a native of Indiana. His children were three in number : F. H .; Anna C., the wife of Charles Crawford, of Crawfordsville, In- diana; and Charles W., who is living near the old home farm in Pennsylvania. The mother, Mrs. Anna C. Milligan, was a daughter of William G. and Margaret (Dillinger) Hawkins, the former a native of Ireland and the latter of Philadel- phia. They went to Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, soon after their marriage
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and, although Mr. Hawkins was then the possessor of a capital of only twenty- five dollars, he died a rich man. He was an attorney and for many years con- tinued in the practice of law, also engaging in the real-estate business. He had six children, Anna C., Minerva, James, John, William and Mamie. Of these Anna and William were the only ones who ever married. The latter has been judge of the orphans court of Allegheny county for the past thirty years and is still upon the bench, being the only judge that ever presided over that court.
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