USA > Iowa > Pottawattamie County > Biographical history of Pottawattamie County, Iowa > Part 29
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 (link on the Part 1 page).
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 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85
HIc has had twelve children, viz .: John N., at home; Dora B., wife of George Smith, and residing in Boomer Township; Peter, Minnie, Mary and George, at home; Cyrus,
deceased; Etta, Bertha, Elmer, Cora and Ella Myrtle.
HARLES F. HEAGNEY, a retired farmer of Boomer Township, was born in Crawford County, Pennsylvania, Oc- tober 4, 1848, a son of Dominick and Hannah (Scott) Heagney. Mr. Heagneys's paternal grandfather was married first to Catherine McBride, a native of Ireland, and had seven children: Margaret, Bridget, Rosanna, Mar- tha, Mary, John and Catherine. Afterward, in 1817, he married Miss Sarah Brookhouser, who was born July 4, 1800, the first-born child of Adam and Keziah (Mason) Brook- houser, natives of Pennslyvania and of Ger- man descent. She had five brothers and three sisters: Mary, Adam, Margaret, Will- iam, Esther, Elderson, Hiram and Isaac. The Heagney family remained in Pennsylvania until 1849 and then moved to Dubuque County, Iowa, settling upon a partially in- proved farm, where the father finally died, in 1851, leaving a wife and nine children. The children are: Adam, who resides in Califor- nia; Dominick, the father of Charles F .; the next one died in infancy; William and Andrew J. reside in California; the next born is also deceased; Sarah, residing in Sionx City; George W., living in Missouri Valley, this State; and James K., also de- ceased. In 1858 the remainder of the fam- ily came to Pottawattamie County and loeated upon a piece of rough, unimproved prairie, made a fine home and lived there twenty years. In 1878 the widow disposed of the farm and went to Dakota, where she remained until 1888, and, returning, settled in the vicinity of Missouri Valley, with her son George. She is now ninety years of age. Mr. Dominick Ileagney was born March
294
BIOGRAPHIICAL HISTORY
2, 1828, and December 31, 1847, married Miss Hannah, daughter of Isaac and Cath- erine Scott, natives of New York State, and farmers, who lived in Pennsylvania in 1844- '49. The mother died and the remainder of the family came to Iowa. In the family were five children: Phobe, Hannah, Henry, Henrietta and Catherine. After his father died Mr. Heagney remained on the farm about seven years and then came to Potta- wattamie County and purchased eighty acres of rough, unimproved land, and made of it a good home. He built a residence 32 x 44 feet and a story and a half in height. Farm- ing and stoek-raising were his specialties, and he dealt in hogs, horses and cattle, es- pecially the latter. He disposed of that farm and bought property in Missouri Val- ley, where he now lives a somewhat retired life. He has been an industrious and ex- emplary citizen.
In his political views he is a lively Democrat. August 7, 1862, he enlisted in Company A, Twenty ninth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, under Captain John T. Williams and General Fiske, in the Department of the Gulf. He partici- pated in the siege of Vicksburg, was stationed at Helena; was in the campaign from Little Rock to Camden, when he was under con- tinual fire for sixteen days; was also at Jen- kins' Ferry, where there was some hard fighting, and in the siege of Mobile. In 1865 he was stationed at the month of the Rio Grande. On the 10th of August that year he was mustered out, at New Orleans. There were four brothers in the war, of whom one was killed and the other three returned home. Mr. Heaguey, though not wounded, contracted a disease of the eye and rheuma- tisin, from which he still suffers. He had seven children, namely: Charles F., our sub- ject; Rose, the wife W. E. Laughery and re- siding in Missouri Valley; Mary, the wife of
Fred MeCollough and living also in Missouri Valley; Catherine, now Mrs. John Fisher; Addie, wife of William E. Baldwin and re- siding in Fremont, Nebraska; two died in infancy.
Mr. Charles F. lleagney, reared to farm life, at the age of twenty-one years went to Kansas and entered a tract of land, returned to Pottawattamie County, visited Dakota awhile and returned home again, where he remained until he was married, April 24, 1877, to Miss Maggie, daughter of David and Mary (Phillips) Roberts, parents natives of Wales. Mr. Roberts, a carpenter, was born in March, 1808, and reared to farm life; he came to the United States in the summer of 1855, resided four years in Iowa City and then located upon his farm in this county. By his first wife he had one child, Bessie, who is now living in Wales. By his present wife he had eight children, as follows: Will- iam, at home; David and Emma, dead; Rosa, at home; and Mary, wife of Thomas French and residing in Boomer; Margaret; Samuel, at home; and Harriet, the wife of Joseph Cusworth and residing in Boomer. Margaret was born August 15, 1853, and completed her school education in the high school of Council Bluffs.
Mr. Ileagney bought his present place of eighty acres on seetion 5, Boomer Township, when there were but few improvements upon it. He has continued to add other improve- ments until he has made of the place an ex- cellent residence. He has also added to his land area until he now has 120 acres of fine land, half of which is devoted to plowed crops. At present he is renting the farm and enjoying the fruits of his labor at ease. He has formerly been a very hard- working man but for the past five years he has not had perfect health. Principally for the sake of recovering his health, he went in 1886 to
Growthright
295
OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY.
the Black Hills of Dakota and for four months was engaged in building the Fre- mont, Elkhorn & Missouri Valley Railroad. He returned with his health considerably improved.
He is a well-settled and intelligent Dem- ocrat. He lias been Road Supervisor two years. He is a member of St. John Lodge of the Mntnal Protection Society. Was reared in the Roman Catholic Church. He has had two children, Mary Emma, born Jannary 19, 1878, and Edna, November 6, 1887.
EORGE FRANKLIN WRIGIIT, of Council Bluffs, Iowa, was born in War- ren, Washington County, Vermont, December 5, 1833, and was the eldest son of a family of four children, he alone surviving, of the late Franklin Asher Wright, born in Hanover, New Hampshire, September 17, 1801, died in Council Bluffs, October 5, 1876,-he was of English descent,-and of Caroline Susannah Wright, nee Tillotson, born in Berlin, Vermont, November 3, 1807. She was of Scotch and English parentage. They were married in Berlin. Vermont, Feb- ruary 27, 1833. Franklin A. Wright was the son of Asher Wright, of English descent, and of Irene Wright, nee Curtis, of English descent. Caroline S. Wright was a daugh- ter of Samnel Tillotson, of English descent, and of Betsey Tillotson, nee Wallace, of Scotch descent.
George F. Wright was reared and spent hfs boyhood on a farın in his native town, and in early life, when a mere boy, was, by his father, whose large business interests re- quired his continued absence from home, held largely responsible for the successful carrying on and working of his farms, the 24
labor of which was performed exclusively by hired help. This training, and the respons- ibility incident thereto, became in after years of great service to him when he became engrossed in the active operation of his own business career. At the age of seventeen he co nmenced his academic education at West, Randolph, Vermont, under the tutorage of the late Hon. Austin Adams, of Dubuque, Iowa, who was twice Chief Justice of the State. During his academic training, teach- ing district school winters, as was customary with many New England boys, he completed his preparatory studies for, and one year of, his college course. He did not enter col- lege, however; but the spring following his majority, in 1855, he came to Iowa and set- tled in Keosanqua, Van Buren County, when he at once commenced the study of the law with the law firm of Wright, Kuapp & Cald- well, composed of ex-United States Senator George G. Wright, of Des Moines, the late Hon. Joseph C. Knapp, of Keosanqua, who was his uncle, and his honor, Judge IIenry C. Caldwell, of Little Rock, Arkansas, now Circuit Judge for the Eighth Circuit of the United States. His law studies were pursued under the tutorage of Senator Wright, and as a member of a large class of law students then under his charge his advancement was such that he was admitted to the Van Buren County bar in 1857, Judge HI. B. Hender- shott then presiding judge of the District Court of said county. The same year, Senator Wright going upon the Supreme Bench of Iowa, George F., as he was familiarly known, was admitted to partnership with his uncle, Judge Knapp, and Judge Caldwell, under the firm name of Knapp, Caldwell & Wright, and so continued until Judge Caldwell was called to the bench at Little Rock. His edu- cation, founded in the old-fashioned New England schools, and in the old-fashioned
296
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
New England ways, was rounded out nnder the training received from these eminent law- yers and jurists. Aided by their ripe busi- ness experience, by his extensive acquaint- ance with business affairs, and with men of affairs, he became a good lawyer, as well as an active, persevering and successful business man. It was in this practical way that he acquired the educational elements which in- sured his success much more effectually than could have been attained by a university or college course or both combined.
Early in 1861 he enlisted in response to President Lincoln's call for 75,000 volun- teers, and in connection with Captain, after- ward General, J. M. Tuttle, raised a company of volunteers in Van Buren County, of which he was elected the First Lieutenant, receiv- ing his commission from the hands of Gov- ernor Kirkwood at Davenport, Iowa. His company rendezvoused at Keokuk, and after being some time in eamp, the first call being full, the company was accepted in the second call for volunteers and became a part of the Second Regiment of Iowa Volunteers. Im- mediately before this occurred, Judge Cald- well having enlisted and having been elected Major of the Third Iowa Cavalry, the busi- ness of their firm demanded his return to Keosanqua. Immediately on his return he raised a company of State militia, was elected Captain thereof, and tendered the same to Governor Kirkwood for the protection of the Iowa border in Van Buren County. His company was accepted, was equipped with Springfield rifles and furnished with the necessary munitions of war. This organiza- tion was kept intact, being frequently called to the border and into the State of Missouri, until the rebels were driven out of that State, when most of his company enlisted in and became a part of the Fifteenth Regiment of Iowa Volunteers.
On October 26, 1863, he was married ,in the city of Chicago, to Ellen E. Wright, nee Brook>, of Northfield, Vermont, born in Hancock, Vermont, September 21, 1830. She was the danghter of the late Josiah Prentice Brooks, born April 5, 1797, in Alstead, New Hampshire, died in Northfield, January 10, 1883, of English descent, and the late Bet- sey Parker Brooks, nee Robbins, born An- gust 16, 1797, in Hancock, Vermont, died in Northfield, Vermont, November 4, 1885, and was of English descent.
During their residence in Keosauqua there were born to them three sons, the oldest dy- ing in infancy, and after their removal there- from, two daughters, all now living, viz .: Franklin Prentice Wright, born March 2, 1866; George Spencer Wright, born Janu- ary 21, 1868; Eliza Caroline Wright, born June 1, 1870, and Ellen Elizabeth Wright, born December 7, 1872.
In the spring of 1868 he moved with his family to Council Bluffs and formed a law partnership with the late Judge Caleb Bald- win, and the law firm of Baldwin & Wright at once became one of the leading law firms of the State. The firm at once took high rank among the profession as practicing at- torneys, and as the several railway companies representing the trunk lines made their ter. mini in Council Bluffs, this firm became their local attorneys, and has ever since re- tained that relation toward them. This law connection continned up to the time when Judge Baldwin was appointed by President Grant as one of the Judges of the Court of Commissioners of Alabama claims, requiring his residence in the city of Washington, when the firm was dissolved.
He then associated with himself Hon. Amos J. Rising, now Judge of the District Court of Arapahoe County, Denver, Colo- rado, and John N. Baldwin, Esq., the second
297
OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY.
son of the late Judge Caleb Baldwin. After several years of successful practice Judge Rising retired from the firm, removing to Colorado, and the firm became and has since remained as Wright & Baldwin, they having lately associated with themselves the two sons of Mr. Wright.
Ile early identified himself with the poli- tics of his county, the State and the nation, and has always been a stanch and active Re- publican, and for many years a leading worker in his party. During his residence in Van Buren County he was repeatedly tendered the nomination for member of the Legisla- ture from that county, which was then equiv- alent to an election, but invariably deelined the honor. In 1875 he was elected Senator from the Ninth Senatorial District of Iowa, composed of the counties of Pottawattamie and Mills. After serving as Senator in the Sixteenth and Seventeenth General Assem- blies he was again elected Senator, fin 1879, in the Nineteenth Senatorial Distriet of Iowa, comprising Pottawattamie County, his place of residence. He served as Senator of the Nineteenth District in the Eighteenth and the Nineteenth General Assemblies. During his Senatorial career, his reputation as a law- yer, and his energy and ability won for him substantial influence in that body. He was from the first a member of the Judiciary Committee, and being an earnest, industri- ous worker, he was enabled to prevent the enactment of many bad laws, as well as to aid the passage of good ones. lle was ever vig- ilant and faithful to the trust imposed on him, never allowing personal feelings to swerve him from the path of duty and strict justice. He rendered the State and his con- stituency faithful and competent service, and in such manner as to reflect great credit on himself and honor to his State.
Soon after taking up his residence in Coun-
eil Bluffs he began to engage in active busi- ness affairs outside of his profession, and in 1870 and immediately following, he, with his associates, organized companies and cou- structed and put in successful operation large plants for the manufacture and supply of coal illuminating gas in the cities of Couneil Bluffs, Ottumwa, Mt. Pleasant, Cedar Rapids and Sioux City, in Iowa, and in the cities of Elgin and Evanston in Illinois. He was elected President of the Council Bluffs com- pany, which position he held for over twenty years. In 1868 he, with Judge Baldwin and associates. constructed and operated the Council Bluffs Street Railway lines, the first street railway in Council Bluffs, and was the President of said company until it passed under the control of the Union Pacific Rail- way Company. In 1881 he was elected See- retary and Treasurer of the Union Elevator Company, of Council Bluffs, composed of six trunk line railway companies terminating therein, and had the supervision and con- struction of its Union Elevator building in said city, which has the largest capacity of any grain elevator west of the city of Chicago. In 1883, as one of the originators, in connec- tion with his associates, he organized and put in successful operation the Nebraska & Iowa Fire Insurance Company, of Omaha, Ne braska, now known as the Nebraska Fire In- surance Company, of Omaha, and at the same time organized and became president of the Iowa & Nebraska Fire Insurance Com- pany, of Council Bluffs, Iowa, which in 1885 removed to Sioux City, Iowa, and is now known as the Western Home Insurance Com- pany of that place. He is still largely inter- ested in both of said parties.
In 1886, in connection with his asso- ciates, he organized the Omaha & Council Bluffs Railway & Bridge Company, proenred from Congress a franchise for a combined
298
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
railway and wagon bridge across the Mis-onri River between the cities of Council Bluffs and Omaha; and during the next two years the Omaha & Council Bluffs Railway & Bridge Company, of which he was elected Secretary, erected one of the finest and most expensive steel bridges over said river, and in connec- tion therewith constrneted and put in snc- cessful operation over said bridge between said cities the first Electric Street Railway line ever constrneted in the States of Iowa and Nebraska.
In 1889, in connection with his associates, he organized a company and constructed and put in operation in the city of Ottawa, Illinois, the first Electric Street Railway ever con- structed in said State.
As a lawyer Mr. Wright is prominent, leading and able, never seeking to deceive court or jury, but in an open, manly, earnest contest endeavoring to secure the rights of his clients. Gifted with sound judgment, endowed with great, good common sense, and being a fine analyzer of character and the motives of men, he is ever ready to meet his adversary on compromise grounds, confident in his resources and ability to secure better results for his clients by negotiation than by prolonged and expensive litigation.
As a business man, he is possessed of fine executive ability, is untiring and energetic, continually adding to the cares and burdens of his life new enterprises, which by his con- tinued activity and the vigor of his never faltering energy he pushes to successful pro- portions and satisfactory results.
As a citizen, he is active, progressive, pub- lic-spirited and liberal, and since he came to Council Bluffs he has ever been loyal to her best material interests, advocating all meas- ures that the best elements thorein strove to establish. Of striet and upright manhood, he constantly labors for her welfare and is
always found in the line of the best citizen- ship.
As a friend, he is true, honest, faithful and sacrifieing to all who show themselves worthy of his friendship, generous in his praises, slow in his criticisms, and happy in contrib- unting to the wants and needs of his fellows.
As a man, he is amiable, temperate, hon- orable, benevolent, just and upright, with fine literary tastes and broad culture.
L. RANKIN is one of the intelligent, enterprising and successful citizens of 0 Grove Township. He has been a resident of Pottawattamie County and iden- tified with its best interests for the past sev- enteen years, having come to this place in 1873.
IIe was born in Allegheny County, Penn- sylvania, February 27, 1849. His father, Archibald Rankin, was born in Pennsyl- vania, and grandfather Rankin was a native of Ireland, born of Irish parents. His mother, nee Jane Brewster, also a native of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, was of Irish ancestry. Mr. and Mrs. Rankin were the parents of nine children, three sons and six daughters, all of whom are now (1890) living except two daughters, and all are in Allegheny County except John and S. L., who are in Grove Township, this county. The parents passed their lives in Pennsyl- vania and died there, the father at the age of fifty-two and the mother at the age of sixty- four years. Mr. Rankin was an honest tiller of the soil all his life, and in politics he was a Democrat. His wife was a member of the United Presbyterian Church and reared her children in the Christian faith.
S. L. Rankin worked on the farm and re- ceived his education in the public schools of
999
OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY.
his native county. In 1868, at the age of nineteen years, he came West and settled in Iroquois County, Illinois, where he engaged in farm work. In that county he married Miss Linda Downey, a lady of intelligence and refinement, who was born in Wayne County, New York. Her parents, Titus and Sally (Cole) Downey, both natives of Ver- mont, were married in the Green Mountain State and subsequently removed to St. Law- rence County, New York, and afterward went to Wayne County. When Mrs. Ran- kin was about six years of age they removed to Oneida County, same State, where they passed the rest of their lives, the mother dy- ing at the age of forty-eight years and the father at sixty-seven. The Downey family were Methodists. Mr. Downey was an iron manufacturer, and in politics he was a Re- publican. Mrs. Rankin removed to Illinois one year previous to her marriage.
In 1873 the subject of this sketch settled on his present farm when the land was wild. Here he has since resided and has made many improvements in his property. Ile now owns 213 acres of land, of which 143 acres are in Grove Township and the rest in Carson Township. His comfortable frame honse is situated on a natural building site and is surrounded by shade trees. Ile is engaged in general farming and stock-raising, and his farm is well supplied with suitable out- buildings and modern improvements for eon- ducting agricultural pursuits in the most ap- proved manner.
Mr. and Mrs. Rankin have four children: Warren, Edna J., Lulu May and Edith Belle. May Eleanor, their first born, died at the age of three years and seven months; and Samuel, the second child, at the age of six- teen months.
Mr. Rankin is a man in the prime of life; is frank and cordial in manner and address
and honorable in all his business transactions. Politically he is a Demoerat.
EORGE BOLTON was born in the Territory of Wisconsin (now Iowa), De- cember 9, 1840. Ilis father, William Bolton, was one of the seven men who first settled in Cedar County, in 1836. His grand- father, IIenry Bolton, when a lad in his teens, was kidnaped and brought to America from his native eountry, Germany. He made his escape and a short time afterward enlisted in the cause of the colonies and fought in the Revolutionary war under General Washing- ton. His son, William Bolton, was born in Virginia, and was married in that State to Sarah Southern, also a native of the Old Dominion and a descendant of one of the old Virginia families. He subsequently became a pioneer of Cedar County, Iowa, as already stated, and there passed the remainder of his life, his death occurring at the age of fifty- seven years. His wife lived to be eighty years old and died at the home of her son George in Pottawattamie County. Mr. Bol- ton and his wife were earnest Christian people, and were members of the Methodist Church. He spent his life as an honest tiller of the soil; was a Jackson Democrat, a strong Un- ion man during the war, and cast his vote for President Lincoln. This worthy pioneer couple reared a family of eight children, viz .: J. A., a resident of Jasper County, Iowa; Oliva, of Oregon; Louisa, who is deceased; Virginia Vanmeter, of Cass County, Iowa; George, the subject of this sketeh; John, Cedar County, Iowa; Agnes, wife of A. W. Pierce, Grove Township, this county; and Grace, wife of Frank Emmons, also of Grove Township.
The son of a pioneer farmer, George was
300
BIOGRAPHIICAL HISTORY
early in life inured to hard work, and was taught those lessons of industry and honesty which have served him so well in after life. ITis early advantages were limited. What education he received was obtained in the primitive log school-house of that period. He was married November 8, 1860, to Miss IIannah M. Pierce, who was born and reared in Ohio, the daughter of Dennis and Mary (Polick) Pierce, both natives of Pennsyl- vania. The following children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Bolton: Charles E., who is married and lives in Grove Township; A. W., also married and a resident of the same township; Ida M., wife of D. W. Magee, sheriff of Banner County, Nebraska; Nellie G., Albert, and James A., at home. Three of their children died of diphtheria, -Luke, at the age of eight years; Minnie, ten years of age; and Frank, six.
Mr. Bolton lived in Cedar County, Iowa, until 1877, when he came to his present loca- tion and bought the farm on which he resides of Isaac Denton. Some improvements had been made on the place previous to its pur- chase by Mr. Bolton, but he has since en- hanced its value by building, fencing, etc He built a comfortable residence, a story and a half high, surrounded it with shade and ornamental trees, and also planted a grove and orchard. He built a commodions barn, 40 x 66 feet, which is well arranged for grain, hay and stock. A modern wind-mill furnishes the power, by which water is forced through pipes up to the yards and feed lots, a distance of forty rods. This farm contains 320 acres, and its flourishing condition at once indicates the thrift and prosperity of the owner. Mr. Bolton is engaged in general farming and stock-raising. Among his stock are Short- horn cattle and Clydesdale horses.
Our subject is one of the wheel-horses of the Republican party in Grove Township.
He has served nearly fifteen years as Town- ship Trustee. He bas also served with credit as a member of the School Board. He is an active worker in and a trustee of the Chris- tian Church, of which his wife and two of their children are also members. Socially Mr. Bolton is connected with 1. O. O. F., Lodge, No. 421, of Macedonia. He is re- garded by all who know him as an honorable and worthy citizen. Since he took up his residence here he has identified himself with the best interests of the community, and every enterprise that has for its object the promotion of good finds in him an earnest supporter.
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.