USA > Iowa > An illustrated history of the state of Iowa, being a complete civil, political, and military history of the state, from its first exploration down to 1875; > Part 81
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Daniel M. Miller was born in Parke county, Ind., Nov. 25, 1841, and resid- ed on the farm with the family until 1853, when they removed to Monroe county, Iowa. He improved his early advantages of common school well, and began to teach when 16 years of age, in which employment he was very successful. He removed to Albia, Iowa, in 1863, and acted as clerk in a dry goods store; enlisted and went out with the 46th regiment, Iowa vol- unteers, in 1864; acted as deputy clerk in the district court in 1865-6, and 7; since which he has been a part of the firm of Miller, Duncan & Miller, in the dry goods business, has been an active citizen of his city ; is a member of the Masonic order, Odd Fellows aud Knights of Pythias, but not a
member of any religious society ; at- tends the Presbyterian church, and is religiously inclined. His wife's name is Alevilda. They have a convenient and pleasant residence, and a little daughter to cheer their home. He now holds the position of cashier of the Monroe County Bank. $
A. W. Cook was born in Boston, Mass, Nov. 23, 1814, and enjoyed many early advantages, although he lost both his parents before he was eight years old. He has tried cabinet mak- ing, music teaching, and merchandis- ing at different times, with various shades of success; was a slave owner for awhile; but for the last decade has turned his attention to stock of vari- ous kinds, importing and raising the finest specimens of the horse, ox, cow, pig, etc; is nicely located in Charles City, Iowa, near his stock farm, and attributes his success in life to indus- try, integrity and honesty. The maid- en name of his charming wife was Martha Home, and his religious beliet seems to be comprehended in thanks to a kind Creator, and good will to- ward men.
Hon. Aylett R. Cotton was born in Austintown, Ohio, Nov. 29, 1826; enjoyed fair educational advantages in early life; attended the Ellsworth Academy, Ohio, in 1842, and had charge of the public school at Ells- worth, in the winter of 1843 and 1844. With his father, John Cotton, he re- moved to Iowa, in May, 1844, with but little means, and hence was thrown upon his own resources for a liveli. hood, and upon his own tact to pave a path to success and fortune. He taught school in Youngstown, Ohio, in the winter of 1844-5; attended Alleghany College, Pa., the following summer; went to Tenn. in January, 1846, and taught in the Union Academy, return- ing to De Witt, Iowa, August, 1847. He read law in Davenport until ad- mitted to the bar in May, 1848; went the overland route to California, and turned miner in 1849. He returned to De Witt, and to the practice of law in April,. 1851; was elected county judge the August following, and re- signed that office in April, 1853; was appointed prosecuting attorney of Clinton county, and served one year ; removed to Lyons, Iowa, in Novem-
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ber, 1854, and was elected mayor of | 1854, and studied law with Rankin that city in 1855; was elected a mem- her of the convention to amend the constitution of Iowa, in 1856; was elected representative to the general assembly in 1867, and made chairman of the judiciary committee of the house; was reelected in 1869, and at the session of 1870, was speaker of the house; was elected to congress in 1870, and reelected in 1872. In all these responsible public positions and trusts, he has been active, faithful and prompt. He is a Mason and an Odd Fellow; a patron of public improve- ments, agriculture and education ; a successful lawyer, and a reliable and faithful friend.
James Harvey Greene was born in Dearborn county, Indiana, Jan. 6, 1829, and resided in Aurora on the Ohio river, until 21 years of age. He was licensed as a competent pilot on the river when 17 years old and suc- cessfully followed that business until he came to Iowa in the summer of 1850. He crossed the plains to Ore- gon in the spring of 1851; dug gold in the mines of California nearly three years, and returned and settled us a jobbing grocer in Keokuk in 1854. During the war, he furnished large amounts of forage at various points, for the animals used by the army, and for the last six years has been engaged in shipping large amounts of grain to the eastern mar- kets. He is very quiet and unassum- ing in manner; has a large heart, a broad view of things and meets rc- verses with a calmness peculiarly his own; belongs to no religious denom- ination, but is strictly moral ; was mar- ried to Miss Lizzie Blair, daughter of J. T. Blair, Esq., of Lee county Iowa, in 1856. They have three daughters, Annie E., Mattie and Gracie; have a beautiful residence finely furnished in Keokuk, and have reason to be very grateful for the multiplied comforts of their happy home.
Hon. Geo. W. MeCrary was born in Vanderburgh county, Ind., Aug. 29, 1835. In 1836, his parents removed to what is now Iowa (then Wisconsin territory), and settled in Van Buren county where he was raised on a farm and educated in the common school, and academy ; came to Keokuk in
& Miller two years, when he was ad- mitted to the bar and began business in the same city; was elected to the lower house of the legislature of Iowa in 1857, and to the senate in 1861, where he acted in responsible posi- tions and did important work; was elected as the republican candidate for congress in 1868, and reelected in 1870-72-74, and is now a member of the 44th congress. In all these years of public life he has brought to his work the ample resources and ac- tivities of his mind and fulfilled the duties of his honored positions with fidelity and promptness. He is a Unitarian in belief and is a member of the Unitarian Church in Keokuk. In 1857, he was married to Miss Helen A. Gelatt of Bentonsport, Van Buren county, Iowa. They have five children and reside in a beantiful resi- dence with attractive surroundings.
John J. Bell was born in Knox county, Ill., January 23, 1845. In 1850, the family removed to Farming- ton, Fulton county, Ill., where the most of its members now reside. His father died in 1851, and his six sisters have since married and settled near Farmington. His early school privi- leges were fair and well improved. After he was twelve years old, how- ever, he only attended school in the winter months, lahoring on the farm in summer, until 1864, when he taught a neighboring school during the win- ter. In February, 1865, he enlisted and became first sergeant of company F, of the 47th Illinois volunteers, and doing active and noble service, he re- mained in that relation until mustered out in February, 1866. He then studied law, and graduated in the law department of the Michigan Univer- sity in March, 1869; went south in the fall of 1869, and spent three years in traveling in the south and west; came to Orange City, Iowa, in the fall of 1872, and in December, 1872, com- menced the practice of law; has con- tined the practice of law since that period with marked success, owning and editing from 1873 to 1875, The Sioux County Herald. which was dis- posed of for want of time to look after its interests. He is an active and careful republican in politics, al- though not an ultra partisan. He is
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quite liberal in religion, yet inclines | tional bank, where he was cashier un- to the orthodox faith; is not a mem- ber of any church. He places a high estimate upon character; has a fair disposition ; is a good financier, and has met with fine success in his busi- ness. He was married to Miss L. H. Watson, of Manchester, N. H., Decem- ber, 20, 1874. They have a new and beautiful home, with pleasant sur- roundings.
Robt. Alex. Sankey was born Sep- tember 22, 1837, at Potter's Mills, Cen- tre Co., Pa. He was raised on a farm, and educated at Dickinson Seminary as a lawyer, and admitted to the bar at Bellefonte, Pa .; went into the Uni- ted States service in April, 1861; was subsequently discharged on account of ill health. In 1864, lie settled at Newton, Iowa, where he still resides; has never held any public offices; has been active in his own business affairs, and interested in the prosperity of his city. He is of the Unitarian belief, a member of no church; was married in June, 1867, to Mary Emily Rodgers, an estimable lady of Newton. They have no children. They reside in the southwestern part of the city, and he has spared nothing to make his house and grounds beautiful and attractive. His business efforts have been crowned with success, and he is now in easy circumstances.
Benj. B. Woodward was born in Ontario county, N. Y., Aug. 7, 1817, and removed with the family to Cin- cinnati, Ohio, in 1819, where they re- mained until 1825, when they removed to Preble county, Ohio. His early Presley Saunders was born in Flem- ing county, Ky., in 1809, and removed to Springfield, Ill., in 1827; was in the Black Hawk war in 1831 and '32. And when the Black Hawk purchase was made in 1832, he entertained a high opinion of the territory acquired, and in 1834, he was the first settler where Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, is now lo- cated - the first white man to drive a stake out in the wilderness of that In- dian hunting ground (the land was yet unsurveyed), and make a home among the savages. Mt. Pleasant had its be- ginnings on his claim, late in 1835; and in 1836, he opened the frontier store of that region, on that spot. He has continued the same business in years were spent in school, and on leaving school he entered his father's store as clerk, and in 1838, he became a partner therein. In 1842, he accom- panied his father to Davenport, Iowa, and settled on a farm about three miles out from the city, and remained there until 1850, when he removed to the city and engaged in the mercan- tile business. Just prior to the panic of 1857, he closed out the store and entered as teller of a newly established private bank, where he remained one year, or until the state bank of Iowa was established, of which he was elected cashier. In this position he remained until 1865, when the bank was merged into the Davenport Na- | the same place up to the present time ;
til 1875, when he was chosen presi- dent of the institution. He is an ac- tive Odd Fellow, having passed all the chairs of the subordinate and grand lodges, and twice represented the grand lodge of the state in that of the United States; is a man of unin- peachable integrity, of active and thorough business habits, and of cool and sound financial ability, as well as benevolent, kindly and social in heart. He is a trustee of the M. E. church. He was married in Daven- port in 1845, to Elizabeth E. Morgan, of Waynesville, Ohio. They have a pleasant home.
Dennis A. Cooley was born in Lis- bon, Grafton Co., N. H., Nov. 7, 1825; fitted for college at Newburg, Vt., while a part of the year he taught in southern Vermont. Afterward he stud- ied law with Hon. N. C. Stoughton, of Chester, Vt., and two years with Tracy, Conwell & Co., Woodstock, Vt .; came to Iowa in the spring of 1852, and en- tered upon the practice of law, and enjoyed a lucrative practice. In 1864, he was appointed, by President Lin- coln, commissioner to South Carolina, and held a relation to the colored peo- ple under the law of 1861, until 1865. In the summer of 1864, he was elected secretary of "N. R. Congressional Committee," and did the compiling and scattering of nearly 7,000,000 doc- uments; and in various other ways he has ably served the country since that period, both in Washington and else- where.
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has been president of the First Na- ; the "Society of Friends," and is tional Bank of Mt. Pleasant, from its organization until now, and borne au active part in the progress of the town through all the intervening years of its history. He has a good wife and five children, all of whom are still members of the family circle and share the comforts of his pleasant home.
Wm. R. Smith was born in Barne- gat, Ocean county, N. J., December 30, 1828. His father died when he was 7 years old, and he went to reside with his grandfather, until he was 16, generally attending school about three months in a year. By consent of his grandfather, he went to New York city to learn a trade in 1844, and moved to Macon, Michigan, in 1846. Here he taught school and worked at his trade. In the summer of 1850, he began the study of medicine and re- turned to New York city and attended medical lectures at the old college of physicians and surgeons; returned to Macou, Michigan, in the spring of 1853 and commenced the practice of medicine; removed to Sioux City, Iowa, in 1858, yet not fully settled there until the spring of 1858, when he engaged in regular practice; was Ist lieutenant of frontier guards in the spring of 1861; was chairman of the vigilance committee to guard against Indians during the fearful Indian ex- citement in 1862, and just after the terrible massacre in Minnesota; was also government surgeon most of the time from the fall of 1861 to the spring of 1863; was mayor of Sioux City from March, 1863, to March, 1864, and was appointed by President Lincoln, surgeon of the board of enrollment for the 6th congressional district in May, 1863, and served two years; has been appointed receiver of the United States land office again and again, and been active in the cause of schools, railroads and city improve- ments. And in all these as well as many other public positions of trust which have fallen into his hands, he has shown an energy and unflinching integrity which commend themselves to every friend of good order in so- ciety. He attends the Protesant Episcopal church with his wife who is a member of that church; yet he himself inclines to the simplicity of
rather Unitarian in his belief; is a free mason, though not an active one, also an odd fellow and a granger. He is genial and frank in society and hates sham, formalism and affectation. He was married to Miss Rebecca Os- borne, of Macon, Michigan, July 12, 1859. They have three boys living and three that have gone to the other shore; have a competency and a beautiful home, with beautiful sur- roundings, just in the suburbs of Sioux City.
James J. Folerton was born at Sa- lem, Columbiana county, Ohio, June 22, 1840. He was raised on a farm, and hence, by work thereon, devel- oped a tair physical frame; attended the common school until it was deemed best for him to go to the academy located in Salem, where he soon fitted for college. Being thrown on his own resources, he was obliged to teach school in winter to pay his way in college. He entered Allegha- ny College, at Meadville, Pa., in 1861, and graduated (A. B.) in 1864. He then procured law books from the law library of Hon. F. S. Wood, and stnd- ied at home until he completed what is termed a two year course, and then, in 1866, removed to Cedar Falls, Black Hawk county, Iowa, and began the practice of law in the midst of stran- gers. By strict attention to business, however, he soon had employment in his profession, and by his gentlemanly manners, won himself friends. He has little taste for political life, and hence has never given any time to the strategy of politics; he has, however, labored faithfully to develop his adopted state, and to enlarge and beautify the town in which he lives. The lessons taught him by a good mother have tended to make him firm in what he deems to be right, and dil- igent in the callings and labors of life. He shares the esteem of his acquaint- ances; is a member of the M. E. Church, and has a ready hand and kind greeting to all classes of Christ- ians. He married Miss Maggie Tay- Jor in June, 1867, and they have one little daughter about six years of age. They have a pleasant and happy home, and look upon money as valua- ble only as it can contribute to the comfort of the body and the improve-
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ment of the mind; have no skill at hoarding gold.
Orson Rice was born in Elizabeth- town, Essex county, N. Y., March 22, 1819. His early advantages for edu- cation were meager indeed. He moved to Michigan in 1835, and from thence to Texas, in 1837; was associated with the Texan Rangers, aud was with them in many bloody encounters with Indians, Mexicans and desperadoes ; went to Peoria, Ill., in 1839, and com- menced the study of law with L. O. Knowlton; moved to Butler county, Iowa, in 1851, and helped to organize the county; was elected clerk of the district court, and served one year ; was admitted to the bar in 1855; be- came eminent as a criminal lawyer, and devoted his whole energies to the practice of law until 1864, when his health failed, and he removed to Spirit Lake, Dickinson county, Iowa, where he fished and hunted and hunted and fished, to regain health for a time, and finally made a home there. He was elected clerk of the court for that county ; was afterwards appointed as- sistant assessor of internal revenue, and, in 1866, was elected district attor- ney for the fourth judicial district of Iowa, in which capacity he served four years. He was always an anti- slavery man ; is a liberal in religious faith ; a member of lodge No. 277 of I. O. O. F., and also of Twilight Lodge No. 329, A. F. and A. M. He was married to Miss Anna L. Hawker, at Joliet, Ill., in 1851, and they have six children. Mr. Rice has now an extensive practice; is benevolent in- deed, and merits and enjoys thic re- spect and good wishes of his acquaint- ances.
John B. Glenn was born in Gallia county, Ohio, April 14, 1828. In 1830, his parents removed to Hillster, Highland county, Ohio. Here he re- ceived a limited education, and at the age of 17, hegan the study of medi- cine, but his father dying in a few months thereafter, he was obliged to abandon this study for the want of means to go on with it, and hired as a lahorer in the dry goods business some four years. In October of the year 1851, he landed at Bloomfield, Iowa, then a town of about 300 inhab- itants. There were two drug stores
in the town, one of which he bought and united the stock with that of the other, owned hy Dr. Roland, under the name of Roland & Glenn, and did business until June, 1852, when he bought out Dr. Roland, and afterward continued the drug business for eight- een years, and much of that time with marked success. In 1865, he took the lead in the organization of the First National Bank in Bloomfield, and he- came its cashier. He never aspired to political distinctions; but was among the first to take steps to incor- porate the town of Bloomfield; was elected its first treasurer, and one of its first trustees, which place he held until he resigned; was always among the first in all public improvements; was elected treasurer and trustee of the Southern Iowa Normal Scientific Institute, the building being one of the best school buildings in the state. He is known as a friend to the poor, never being behind in any charitable work; stands high in his county ; has a very generous disposition, and yet is very firm in his religious be- lief; is an old school Presbyterian ; has been a Free Mason for twelve years and an Odd Fellow for twenty- five years. In 1853, he was married to Miss Martha Ann Weaver, of Bloomfield, Iowa. But she died in 1855. In 1857, he married Miss Louis Ann Wilson, of Carthage, Ill. They were blest with four children, two boys and two girls. In 1867, a great misfortune befel him, in the death of a daughter, and also of his wife. In 1868, he married Miss Helen P. Row- land, daughter of Dr. Rowland, of Lockport, N. Y., but she died of con- sumption in 1875. He has a very fine home, with fine surroundings, and has an abundance of gold and silver for the balance of the earthly journey.
Julius K. Grover was born in Keene, N. H., in the year 1837; re- sided a few years in Boston, Mass., re moved to Dubuque, Iowa, in 1855; Was educated in part in both cities, but mainly at the Keene Academy, in Keene, N. H .; engaged as correspond- ing clerk for the bank of M. Mobley, Dubuque, in 1855, and in 1858, suc- ceeded the business of Mobley's bank under the firm name ot J. K. Grover & Co., which continued until 1860, when the business was consolidated
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with that of Dubuque branch of the | the river near St. Louis. Empty hand- State Bank of Iowa, of which Mr. ed again, he pawned his trunk for means to reach Galena, where he worked a year in a smelting furnace ; came to Dubuque in 1845, and started a farmer's hotel, and in 1849, built Har- mony Hall on Clay street. In Dubuque, he was city marshal, deputy sheriff, and member of the city council, as well as connected with the great en- terprises of the city in railroads, cem- etery, etc. He is a Lutheran in relig- ious belief, but seldom attends church. He was the founder of Schiller Lodge, No. 11, of I. O. O. F., and is now the only charter member of the lodge living. As the founder of the Ger- man Benevolent Society, and the orig- inator of the German Savings Bank, he has received great credit and done great good. He was married to Mar- garette Ragaty in 1845, and they had five children, one of whom died early, and his wife died in 1855. Afterward, he married his present wife, formerly Maria Hurneke. They have four children -reside in a good residence, and are surrounded by friends and earthly comforts, Grover was cashier. With the in- auguration of the national bank sys- tem, Mr. Grover organized the Nation- al Bank, which succeeded to the busi- ness of the State Bank of Iowa, and became its vice president and general manager. He also was called to fill similar positions in the First Nation- al Bank, which he was mainly in- strumental in organizing. He was also for years director and treasurer of the People's Savings Bank, and presi- dent of the gas company for the city of Dubuque, and built the gas works ; was mayor of the city in 1867, and has taken an active part in the street railways as well as in the develop- ment of the resources of northern Iowa and in various railroads in the state. In character he is genial and prompt - a Universalist in religion - a member of the I. O. O. F., and other secret societies. He has led an active life - been successful in business, al- though his aim has been to build up and promote the interests of Dubuque rather than for mere personal gain; was married to Miss Lucy C. Robin- son at Jackson, Mich., in 1860. They have two sons and two daughters, one son having gone away with the angels to the other shore. They have a beautiful residence, situated on an em- inence, with wide and grand surround- ings.
Peter Kiene was born in Switzer- land in the year 1819. He early learned the blacksmith trade with his father, and worked on like any faithful boy, but from 12 years old, having read and learned much of America, it became a part of his dreams, both when asleep and awake, to see this country. Here by little economies through a long pe- riod, he saved the money supposed to be needed to pay his passage, and in May, 1840, he arrived in New Orleans. He made his way to St. Louis and thence to Illinois, where he hired out for $8.00 per month, but did not re- ceive a penny for his work, and his washerwoman retained one of his shirts to pay a balance due her of twenty-five cents, giving him however, ten cents. With this he returned to St. Louis, and found work and ample pay for it,-laid by $400 or $500, all of which he lost in a little accident on
Hon. John A. Kasson was born in the town of Charlotte, on the east of Lake Champlain, Jan. 11, 1822. His early years were full of earnest strug. gle and efforts at self-support, his Ε₯ath- er dying when he was but six years old. He attended the common school and the country academy, and at length the college in the city of Bur- lington, Vermont, where, also, he en- tered the state university in 1838, and graduated in his class in 1842. After his graduation he read law for awhile with his brother, Chas. D. Kasson, Esq., at Burlington. He then taught school in Virginia, where he saw and abhorred the cursed system of slavery and its attendant crimes and woes; read law again in Worcester, Mass. (on his return from Virginia), with Hon. Emery Washburn (afterwards governor of the state, and professor in the law school of Harvard University), continuing through many struggles and pecuniary embarrassments which his energy and determination enabled him to successfully meet and conquer, till he was finally admitted at Lowell to practice in the courts of Massachu. setts. Afterward he entered the law office of Timothy Coffin, of New Bed-
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ford, and in one year became partner | for prompt and ample support to our of Hon. T. D. Eliot, and still afterward member of congress for many years from that district. He spent six years in St Louis, and in 1857, removed and established himself in Des Moines, Iowa, where he engaged in the prac- tice of law. His high grade of talent soon won him friends and gave him a full docket. The then governor, Ralph Lowe, gave Mr. Kasson his confidence and friendship, and appointed him chairman of the commission to exam- ine the condition of the various state offices; and his report of that work shows careful attention to details, and uncommon foresight for the safety of the public interests. In 1858, he was appointed chairman of the republican state central committee, and received praise from all parts of the state for liis effective organization of the new party, which began to show itself from that time in continually increased ma- jorities. In 1860, he was a delegate from Iowa to the national republican convention at Chicago, which nomi- nated Mr. Lincoln for the presidency. He was the anthor of the famous reso- lution declaring freedom to be the normal condition of the territories of the United States; at the close of the convention he took the stump, advo- cating Lincoln's election, in Illinois and Iowa. In 1861, Mr. Kasson was appointed by "President Lincoln " first assistant postmaster general. It was a surprise to Mr. Kasson himself, who had never solicited nor expected the office. He immediately entered upon the duties of his office. Nearly the whole burden of administering the department devolved upon him, as the postmaster general gave his chief at- tention to cabinet affairs and the pros- ecution of the war. During his ser- vices in the department, covering a period of about two years, he found time, not only for the details of postal administration, but to revise and cod- ify all the postal laws, through all coming time. In 1863, we find, by reference to the Congressional Globe, that John A. Kasson was a member of the ways and means committee.
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