USA > Iowa > Pottawattamie County > Biographical history of Pottawattamie County, Iowa > Part 24
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In 1875 he formed a partnership with Thomas Bowman, the present Congressman elect, in the insurance business, having pur- chased the large fire insurance agency of J. P. & J. N. Casady. About three months after forming this partnership Mr. Bowman was elected County Treasurer, and after Jan . nary 1, 1878, Mr. Rohrer conducted the business alone.
In 1881 he became a member of the com- mercial storage and agricultural implement firm composed of Thomas Bowman, George F. Wright and himself, and known as the firm of Bowman, Rohrer & Co. The firm closed out their business on January 1, 1885, to Shephard, Field & Cook. At this time Mr. Rohrer was appointed general agent of the Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York for the State of Iowa.
On December 31, 1887, he was elected Mayor of the city of Council Bluffs by the City Council, to succeed ex-Mayor William Groneweg, who resigned the office on account of being elected State Senator. At the fol- lowing city election in Mareh, 1888, he was the Democratie candidate for Mayor, and David J. Rockwell the Republican nominee for the same office. Mr. Rockwell being a popular gentleman polled the full strenth of his party; nevertheless Mr. Rohrer was elected by between 700 and 800 majority, his term expiring March 17, 1890.
During his continnous term of twenty-six and one-half months as Mayor of the city. Conneil Bluffs made more substantial prog-
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ress as a city than during any previous term, viz .: the paving with cedar blocks of Broadway from Twelfth street to Omaha, a distance of three miles, connecting with the (second) great iron and steel bridge over the Missouri River, uniting the cities of Council Bluffs and Omaha by the first electric street railway introduced in the great West; open- ing up the Lake Manawa steam street rail- way; opening up the Council Bluffs and Omaha Chautauqua grounds, etc., etc. Dur- ing his term of office eight iniles of streets were paved with cedar blocks, and brick and other public and private improvements were made in keeping with the same.
In his final message to the City Council on March 17, 1890, he made the following valuable recommendations in reference to that portion of the city which is now appar- ently (to the eye) in Omaha:
" My attention has but recently been called to some facts to which in this parting mes- sage I deem it my duty to call your attention. I am informed by able lawyers and also by officials who are in a position to know that the long neglected body of land known as "Cut-off Island," and sometimes slightingly referred to as " No Man's Land," is within the corporate limits of the city of Council Bluffs, and it seems that in five or six suits which have been had concerning this land it has been conceded on all hands, by law- yers and judges, that such is the case.
" Heretofore this land has been almost of no consequence, but the marvelous growth of our city and its sister across the river has at- tracted the attention of capitalists to this tract of land which is in Iowa, but contigu- ous to Omaha. This point settled, impor- tant consequences ensue therefrom.
" The Union Pacific Railway Company has built its tracks on this island, bridges are being built, streets opened up; arrangements
are being made to fill up the unoccupied ground with factories, warehouses and busy industries.
" I have only recently learned these facts, but should consider myself derelict in duty were I to fail to call your attention to the same upon this particular occasion.
"The island in extent embraces nearly 2,000 acres of valnable land; and if I under- stand the matter aright, this is all subject to taxation by the council of the city of Council Bluffs, and the trackage of the railroads as well. This should be looked into and at- tended to.
" We, in turn, aiming to give to the public as good government as possible, and watch- ful of the interests of all within our jurisdic- tion, should see to it that the right of fran- chise so dear to the American heart should be accorded to the residents of that district, who are in fact citizens of Council Bluffs.
" The children of these parents have a right to attend our public schools. The census- taker must not omit to include this popula- tion in his list.
" The importance of the right to tax this large body of land is liable to be underesti- mated, as, in my opinion, but very few years will pass before a large revenne will be de- rived therefrom, and steps should be taken, at the next real-estate assessment in the spring of 1891, to get the same property upon the books."
His recommendations were acted upon promptly by the present city administration, and at this writing the exact boundary lines between the cities of Council Bluffs and Omaha, in the vicinity of this valuable tract of ground constitutes a case in the Supreme Court of the United States.
His parents, Judge George C. Rohrer and Sophia E. (Deaner) Rohrer, were born in Washington County, Maryland; however, as
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before stated, they have resided on their farm near Avalon, Livingston County, Missouri, since 1871, his mother having died on May 19, 1889, at the age of sixty-two. Twelve children were in their family; of these, Win- field Scott, Susan Maria, Emma Alice and Laura Ellen, died when quite young-from infancy to age of seven. Harry Crytzman died at home, August 30, 1889, at the age of twenty-seven.
Ida Florence is the wife or Irwin F. Rob- inson, and resides at Chillicothe, Missouri. Samuel Deaner resides in Council Bluffs, and is at present a member of the city engineer's force, while Luella Dinah, Christian Frank- lin, and Julia Elizabeth, reside on the farm, which is now and has been for years farmed in partnership by the subject of this sketch, Millard Fillmore, and his brother C. Frank- lin. Mary Catharine is the wife of Noah W. Cronise, who resides at Rohrersville, Maryland, and is a half-sister, being the only child of his father's first wife.
On September 11, 1877, Mr. Rohrer was married to Saralı Beach Beers, the only child of John B. Beers and Eliza (Beers) Crawford.
They have had three children: the first born, John Beach Beers, died February 8, 1880, at the age of thirteen months. The remaining two children: Isaac Beers is ten years old, and Carrie Test is seven years of age.
Mrs. Rohrer's parents were among thie early settlers of Council Bluffs, her father having been engaged in the wholesale gro- cery business, and very extensively in real estate in western Iowa, and in Omaha and Nebraska City in Nebraska. In Council Bluff's Beers' Addition and Beers' Subdivis- ion bear his name. Mrs. Rohrer is an aet- ive member of the Presbyterian Church, and takes a great interest in the Woman's Chris- tian Association Hospital, having been one of the first officers.
Mr. Rohrer is engaged in the real estate and fire insurance business. His real inter- ests are very large in Council Bluffs, and likewise at Blue Hill, in Webster County, Nebraska. He is a stockholder in the Conn- cil Bluff's Savings Bank, one of the la: 53; commercial savings and general binkint houses in western lowa.
HRISTIAN H. BECK, a farmer of Lewis Township, Pottawattamie Conn- ty, was born in Holstein, Germany, August 22, 1827, and came to America with his parents. His father, Asmes Henry Beck, was a native of Holstein, Germany. Ile was a tailor by trade, and also owned a small farm. He was married to Elsebee Kickbust, whose family were great land-holders in Ger- many. In 1853 they came to America and landed in Davenport, Iowa, where they re- mained about four years. Then they came to Pottawattamie County, Lewis Township, where they purchased eighty acres of " raw " land in the PInmer settlement, which they improved. They afterward rented this land, and lived with their daughter, Mrs. Whitland, of Lewis Township. The mother died on the old home farm in the Plumer settlement, and the father died at Whitland's. They had a family of ten children, viz. : Christian Henry, our subject; Margaret, deceased, wife of Henry Sehworts; Catharine M., the wife of HI. II. Spetman, of Lewis Township; Fred K., residing with his brother, C. H .; Elsie N., wife of John Spetman, residing in Nebraska; Asmes HI., deceased; Hans, deceased; Henry, deceased; Christina, wife of Dick Messman, of Lewis Township. The parents were mem- bers of the Lutheran Church.
Christian H., our subject, was reared to farm life. and engaged in the war of 1848
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against Denmark, serving three years. He also engaged in horse-trading while in the old country, and traveled a great deal. Hle was second sergeant in the war in Germany, served faithfully and was a gallant soldier. After he came to Davenport, he spent some two years, and then came to Lewis Township, Pottawattamie County, where he purchased a farm of eighty acres on section 35, which he improved and used for a pasture-farm. He remained on this place abont ten years, when he and his brother, Asmes, bought 240 aeres of unimproved land on sections 3 and 10, Lewis Township. They built a small frame house, 16x16, where they lived one summer, and which they now nse for a gran- ary. Mr. Beck then built his present home, also a frame residence, 32 x 34 feet, and has ereeted a number of good barns for stock and grain, the main one being 62 x 40 feet, which is one of the finest barns in this part of the county. He has planted five acres of orchard and groves. He has added to his first pur- chase until he has now 520 acres, on sections 9, 10 and 11, and eighty acres on section 35, making in all 600 acres. He has made all the improvements the farm contains, and has done a vast amount of labor in this county. He devotes himself to farming and stock- raising; also buys feed and ships a large amount of stock. He is a Democrat, always taking an active part in the political work of his county. He has represented his township as Trustee and School Director.
Mr. Beck was married in June, 1859, to Sarah Young, daughter of Jacob and Sarah (Seaman) Young, who came from Alsace, Germany, about 1853 or 1854, and located for a time in Ohio, and then came to Potta- wattamie County. The father died in Mills County, Iowa, in 1886, and the mother still resides there. The father was a farmer and also owned a large vineyard and made large
quantities of wine, but after coming to this country he followed farming. They were members of the Lutheran Church, and had a family of eight children: Jacob, deceased in the old country; Hans, also deceased in the old country; Catharine, deceased in London- ville, Ohio; Sarah, wife of the subject of this sketch; Jacob, deceased; George, residing in Pottawattamie County, Iowa; Margaret, wife of Adolph Guise, residing in Potta- wattamnie County, lowa; John, a resident of Mills County, lowa. Mr. and Mrs. Beck have eleven children: Ferdinand, born July 25, 1862, died April 20, 1888; Lanra, born June 9, 1864, died April 1, 1868; Margaret, born May 22, 1866, is the wife of Ferdinand Plumer, near Sioux City, Iowa; Rosa, born July 25, 1868, is at home; Freddie, born June 9, 1871; Christina, born September 1, 1872, died in October, 1874; Gotlieb, born December 14, 1874; Jolin, born August 6, 1877; Adolph, born January 13, 1861; Al- vina, born October 8, 1883, died May 29, 1888; and Dickie, bern October 11, 1885.
Mr. and Mrs. Beck are members of the German Lutheran Church.
AMES BOILER .- Among the promi- nent and well-known citizens of Wright Township, Pottawattamie County, we find the name that heads this sketch. Mr. Boiler has been a resident of this place since 1873. He was born in Pike County, Ohio, March 26, 1848, son of William and Caro- line (Kincaid) Boiler, both natives of Ohio. Grandfather David Boiler was born in Ger- many.
In 1851 William Boiler and wife moved from Ohio to Iowa and settled in Muscatine County, becoming pioneers of that place. They made their home in Muscatine County
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until 1865, when they moved to Marshall County, same State. After remaining in the latter place three years they returned to Mus- eatine County. Then, in 1873, they eame to Wright Township. Three years later they moved to Walnut, Iowa, where the father died April 25. 1886, at the age of seventy- six years. He was a farmer all his life. In politics he was a Demoerat. His widow, now sixty-eight years of age, resides at Walnut.
On a frontier farm in Muscatine County James Boiler grew to manhood. He was educated in the pioneer schools, and early in life was taught that industry, economy and honesty were necessary elements for the foundation of a successful life. At the age of seventeen he entered upon a three years' apprenticeship to the carpenter's trade, and was afterwards engaged in contracting and building in Marshalltown, Iowa. In 1873 he came to this township and bought 160 aeres of wild prairie land, and was one of the first settlers in his neighborhood. He has since added to his first purchase until he is now the owner of 320 aeres of valuable, well im- proved land. Ile also owns 160 aeres which he uses for pasture, and which is located two miles from his home farm. He has a fine two-story residence, which was enlarged and remodeled in 1884. It is beautifully located and is surrounded with shade trees, making an attractive place and a comfortable home. A grove and orchard of five acres are near the house. He has a large barn, stoek seales and other buildings, two modern wind pumps and good fenees; in short, this farm is eon- sidered one of the best improved ones in the neighborhood. Mr. Boiler keeps annually from fifty to 150 head of cattle, and from 200 to 300 hogs.
Mr. Boiler was married in Museatine County, Iowa, January 25, 1876, to Miss Sarah Jane Nolte, a native of Jefferson
County, Indiana, daughter of Herman and Sarah (Padgett) Nolte. She was reared in Indiana, and at the age of sixteen years eame with her parents to Muscatine County, where they now reside. Mr. and Mrs. Boiler have three children, namely: Orpha Lola, born November 1, 1876; Glen Ira, born May 22, 1878, and Grover Cleveland, born February 2, 1885.
Mr. Boiler is one of the leading Democrats in the eastern part of Pottawattamie County. In 1885 he was elected County Supervisor and served three years. During his term of office the Court House was erected, and other important business was transacted. Mr. Boiler was an efficient and popular officer. He has also served in township offices, and has acted as Chairman of the Democratie Central Committee. He is a man well in- formed on all general topies and current literature, and has broad and progressive views. He is honorable in all his business dealings, and is regarded as one of the solid men of Pottawattamie County. His wife is a member of the Baptist Church.
In regard to Mr. Boiler's family history, it should be further stated that of the five sons born to his parents, four are living: Joseph isa prominent real-estate dealer at Walnut, Iowa. Benjamin and Cyrus also live at that place, the latter being a contractor and builder. Wesley Boiler, next to the eldest, lives in Muscatine County, Iowa. Besides the above there was one sister.
IIE CITIZENS' BANK OF OAK- LAND was first organized by S. S. Rust in October, 1883; sneceeded by Rust & Potter in March, 1884. The Bank of Oakland, organized in January, 1882, by W. H. and B. F. Freeman, continued until
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OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY.
February, 1885, when it was consolidated with the Citizens' Bank, and called by the latter name, under the present firm of W. H. Freeman, President; S. S. Rnst, Vice-Presi- dent; L. F. Potter, Cashier, B. F. Freeman retiring, and with a capital stock of $30,000. They have increased their stock and real- estate loans, and in 1885 erected a fine brick block, 22g x 50 feet, and two stories high, in which they now carry on their business. They have a fine time-lock and automatic bolt-work on their safe, and also all the latest improvements that make a commodions and a thorough banking outfit. They exchange with Council Bluffs, Davenport, Chicago and New York, and have at the present time a cash capital of 836,000, with a surplus of $15,000, making a working capital of $51,- 000. They are live, energetic and self-made men, and by their honesty and integrity have won the high place in the hearts of their many friends, both in business and social relations. As a firm they started in their youth, and have raised their business to the enviable rank and file of their fellow bankers.
W. H. Freeman, the president, was born on a farm in the vicinity of Rockford, Illi- nois, October 11, 1844, the son of Daniel and Mary (Waller) Freeman, natives of St. Louis, Missouri, and Kentucky, and of Eng- lish extraction. The father was a farmer by ocenpation, and our subject was also reared to that calling. At the age of twenty-one years he left home and came West. He was first engaged in taking contracts on the rail- road until he came to Oakland, where he en- gaged in the lumber and grain business. IIe was the first Mayor of the town, and was instrumental in all of the leading enterprises. lle deals quite extensively in cattle, horses hogs. Mr. Freeman started with nothing but pluck and ambition, which have won for him success.
L. F. Potter, the cashier, was born on a farm near Milwaukee, Wisconsin, March 27, 1855, the son of L. B. and LIitty (Wenzel) Potter, natives of New Hampshire and Mas- sachusetts, and of Scotch-English extraction. Our subject was educated in the Wauwatosa village schools, and completed his education in the Ripon and Beloit (Wisconsin) colleges. He taught school several terms, and in 1879 came to Oakland, Iowa, and bought a one- half interest in a general store for 8488, making the firm of Caldwell & Potter, which later became Potter & De Graff. This ven- ture, though small, proved very successful, and resulted in a rapidly increasing trade. In March, 1884, Mr. Potter sold his interest in the store to his partner, and became a partner and eashier in the Citizens' Bank of Oakland, which position he still ocenpies. Ile has been the active manager of the busi- ness since his connection with it, and the prosperity of the institution is due to his un- tiring energy. Under his management the bank has never lost a dollar on discounts or in any other way, a record unequaled perhaps by any other bank in Iowa. He has been Mayor of the town, and takes a great interest in her prosperity.
S. S. Rust, the vice-president of the Bank, was born in Henderson County, Illinois, February 23, 1848, the son of Jacob and Eda (Palmer) Rust, natives of Kentneky and South Carolina. He was reared to the pro- fession of his father, a farmer and merchant. He came to Pottawattamie County with his parents in 1855, locating in Valley Town- ship. He left home when he was thirteen years old, and was engaged in working by the month for several years. In 1865 he married Mary N. Strong, to whom his success in life in a large measure is due. He pur- chased his first land in 1872, and in 1880 came to Oakland, and engaged in the grain
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BIOGRAPHIICAL HISTORY
and lumber business, in which he was very successful. Mr. Rust then started in the banking business, on his own responsibility, and has made the different changes until he now occupies his present place. He also has a fine farm, where he raises stock, and to which he gives a great deal of attention. Hc is a live, energetic and self-made man, and is interested in the advancement of the county as well as community, and is esteemed and respected by his many friends, both in social and business relations.
These men have been residents, the prin- cipal bankers, and identified with the best enterprises and improvements of the town since its beginning. The bank went through the disastrous fire of May 28, 1887, withont loss, and they immediately erected a brick block, sixty-six feet front, for the benefit of those who were burned out, and did not feel able to rebuild. They have also in various other ways aided the people to recover from their losses.
ACOB SIMS, attorney at law, of the firm of Sims & Saunders, is one of the rep- resentative members of the bar of Coun- cil Bluffs. The present firm was formed September 1, 1890, but Mr. Sims has been a member of the bar of Pottawattamie County since January 1, 1879. His partner is Mr. C. G. Saunders.
Mr. Sims is a native of Wisconsin, having been born in Dodgeville, that State, Novem- ber 30, 1850. His father, Rev. James Sims, a well known pioneer Methodist clergyman of that State, within whose borders he has preached for forty years, was until Septem- ber, 1890, the minister in charge at Prairie du Chien, but is now a resident of Couneil Bluffs, having retired from active work in
the ministry. He is a native of Cornwall, England, but came to America when a young man. Mr. Sims' mother is also a native of England. He is the oldest of eight surviv- ing children, and is also the only son. Two brothers died in early life.
Mr. Sims entered Lawrence University at Appleton, his native State, at the age of eighteen years. After spending one year in the preparatory department of this institu- tion, he entered upon the regular classical college course, graduating in 1874. He then entered upon the profession of teaching, and was for a year principal of the Oconto IIigh- School. Deciding to enter the newspaper field, he went to Milwaukee, and was for some time on the editorial staff of a paper in that city. Then going to Minneapolis, he was engaged in the newspaper business for two and a half years; he then came to Coun- cil Bluff's and entered the law office of B. F. Montgomery, Esq., a well-known lawyer of that city, and was admitted January 4, 1879. IIe was for nearly four years associated with Hon. J. Y. Stone, under the firm name of Stone & Sims. Mr. Stone is the present At- torney General for the State of Iowa. The firm of Sims & Saunders is one of the promi- nent law firms of Council Bluffs.
Mr. Sims is a finely educated gentleman, and was ever an earnest student. He took first honors of his elass at college, being hon - ored with the valedictory. He ever mani- fests the same earnest industry in his profes- sional calling that characterized his career at college. On January 11, 1887, Mr. Sims was united in marriage with Miss Anna H. Squire, who before her marriage was a suc- cessful teacher for a number of years. Mrs. Sims is a daughter of the late Daniel Squire, of Ottumwa, Iowa, who died in February, 1890. He was formerly of Rockford, Illinois, where his body lies buried. Mrs. Sims was
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OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY.
born and educated in Rockford. Her mother is still a resident of Ottumwa. Mr. and Mrs. Sims have three children, a son and two daughters-James Daniel, Mariana and Kath- arine.
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C. SMITH, Agency Director of the New York Life Insurance Company for Iowa and a portion of Nebraska, has his office at rooms 305 and 306, Sapp Block, Council Bluffs. This branch of the business was established here by him in 1883, since which time he has had it under his control, having at the present time over twenty-five men in his employ; and he has in- ereased the yearly new business in lowa from $1,000,000, written in 1883, to over $4,- 600,000, new business written in 1890, largely outstripping all competitors. This, however, is only one of the evidences of his activity and of the amount of work he has done. Ile has been associated with this company for over sixteen years, commencing in Vermont and operating afterward in New York State before coming here.
Mr. Smith was born in St. Lawrence Coun- ty, New York, February 13, 1841, the son of Harrison and Caroline (Kennedy) Smith, natives respectively of New York and Ver- mont. His ancestry has been American for several generations. Ile was eighteen years of age when he went to Castleton, Vermont, to attend school, graduating at Castleton Seminary about two years later. The five years following he was engaged in the live- stoek business in New York State, Vermont and Canada, shipping to Boston and other New England markets. The six years fol- lowing this he was engaged in general mer- chandising at Waterbury, Vermont. Finding that business too confining and eirenm- 22
scribed for his natural inclinations, he sold his store and connected himself with the New York Life. Being a live, energetic man, he stands at the head of his profession in the West.
He also owns and manages a large stock- farm of about 1,500 acres in Monona County, this State, where he has about fifty head of horses, 700 head of cattle and as many hogs. His start at this farm occurred in this man- ner: In 1878 he came to Iowa in the interest of the company with which he is now con- nected; his family came in 1880, locating near Onawa, where he purchased a tract of land with the proceeds of an endowment poliey, which he had taken ont fifteen years previously. At different times he added to this traet until it reached its present dimen- sions. He now looks baek, attributing his success in acquiring this farm to that endow- ment poliey taken early in life. His snecess in business is a sufficient guaranty not alone of his integrity and ability, but of the great company he represents. The best evidence, however, of its standing and worth, is its yearly increasing patronage, having issued over $175,000,000 new insurance in the year 1890, which is more than all it had in force at the end of its first thirty years of existence.
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