USA > Iowa > Pottawattamie County > Biographical history of Pottawattamie County, Iowa > Part 35
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sick for six weeks, coming very near death On September 15, 1864, he was honorably discharged, three months after reaching the hospital, on account of expiration of his term of service, having served his country faithfully for three years and fifteen days, and engaged in a large number of battles, which constitute a roll of honor of which his children and descendants may well feel proud. His name will be transmitted to pos- terity as one of those brave sons of America who risked their lives to preserve their coun- try. After the war Mr. McMaster returned to Michigan and resumed the occupation of farming, also working at his trade.
Jannary 1, 1866, he married Miss Loretta Thayer, daughter of Simon and Almira (Tiff- any) Thayer. Mr. Thayer was from Living- ston County, State of New York, and was a carpenter by trade. He was from an old American family and moved to Michigan in 1850, settling in Vicksburg, Kalamazoo County, and later on a farm near this place. In 1875 he came to lowa and settled in Val- ley Township, Pottawattamie County, where he died, in January, 1880, at the age of sixty-nine years. His widow still lives in Vicksburg, Michigan. Mrs. Thayer is a member of the Congregational Church. Mr. Thayer was much respected as a citizen. He had a good education, was well read, and sometimes contributed articles to the news- papers. He held the office of Justice of the Peace for many years, and was also Town- ship Commissioner, and was a man of intel- ligence and active temperament, and was an honorable man. Mr. and Mrs. Thayer were the parents of two chilren: Fairfield and Loretta. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. McMaster lived in Schoolcraft, Michigan, until 1874, and Mr. McMaster followed his trade. They theu moved to Iowa and settled on a farm in Audubon County, remaining
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there but two years, when they came to their present home in Pottawattamie County. In 1879 Mr. McMaster went to Cass County, and ran a large farm for six years, and then returned to his home in Pottawattamie County. Mr. and Mrs. McMaster are the parents of five children: Kate, Clara, Becton (deceased at two years), Bell and Walter. Mr. McMaster is a man who has the con- fidence of the community in which he lives. He is a Justice of the Peace, and socially is an Odd Fellow, and is a member of the G. A. R., of William Layton Post, No. 358, Oak- land. In politics he is a stanch Democrat. He has an honorable record as a soldier and citizen, and has always been a law-abiding and moral man. Ile is temperate in his habits and is interested in the cause of tem- perance. His children and descendants will reverence his noble record as a soldier. Mrs. McMaster is secretary of the Woman's Re- lief Corps of Oakland. Iowa,-an auxiliary of the G. A. R. Their daughter Kate mar- ried Elmer Lambert, and they have two chil- dren: Libbie and Alderman. Mr. Lambert is a farmer in Woodbury County, Iowa; Clara married James Livingston, Jr., a butcher in Hancock. They have one child, IIngh.
ITY ROLLER MILLS, of Council Bluffs, was erected in 1856 by Mr. Jackson, and was then known as the " City Mills." It was the largest mill in the West at that time, having a capacity of ninety barrels a day. It has changed hands a number of times, and is now in the posses- sion of J. C. Hoffinayr & Co. The capacity has been increased to 150 barrels a day, the roller system with Hungarian process being introduced in November, 1882, under the di- rection of its present owner. The original
mill was but three stories high: it is now four stories high, and there are added an iron-clad elevator, warcrooms, etc., with a storage capacity of 1,500 barrels of flour and 10,000 bushels of wheat. The brands of flour manufactured here are Fancy Patent, White Loaf, Early Riser and Rough Diamond.
Julius C. Hoffmayr was born in the cast- ern part of Prussia, February 17, 1834, the son of Charles J. and Emma (Von Tres- kow) Hoffmayr. Both the parents are de- ceased. He was educated at home by private tutors until the age of ten years; then he at- tended schools in Frankfurt until his four- teenth year, when he entered the machine shop of Stoeckart & Co., at Landsberg, one year, and the locomotive works at Borsig, the largest works of the kind in that country, at Berlin. He was there six months. At the age of sixteen years he was employed by the Berlin & Stettin Railroad, learning the art of running locomotives; was also ein- ployed in the drafting office of the company six months. He then passed examination as locomotive engineer, and was employed on the eastern division of the Government rail- road system, between Berlin and St. Peters- burg; was also employed in the location and erection of the railroad bridges over the delta of the Vistula River at Dirschan and Marien- burg, and surveying and locating the railroad to Koenigsberg. On the completion of the road to Koenigsberg he was given control of the first engine over the road; and at the age of seventeen years, a few days after that ap- pointment, he was given the first train-the inauguration train-with the King of Prus- sia on board, who opened the road. This was a conspicuous honor extended to so young a man over all the old engineers in the coun- try, he being the youngest engineer on the Government roads, having gained this houor by his punctnality.
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After this he entered the Polytechnic School at Frankfurt; next the Royal Poly- technic Institute at Berlin; next, in his nineteenth year, he was sent by the Govern- ment to Manchester, England, and worked in the large locomotive works of Sharp Brothers, to gain a knowledge of the construction of the same by English makers. In a few months he was placed in the engineer corps of the Royal Navy and cruised along the Mediter- rancan coast, subduing pirates on the north African coast, and around Cape of Good Hope to the East Indies, when he returned home. His father then presented him a steam flour- ing and saw mill, which he operated some nine months, when, in June, 1855, he came to America, with the chief engineer of the eastern division of Prussian railroads, Charles Seeger, landing at St. Mary's, Mills County, Iowa. He assisted him, and erected mills in the timbered lands of the company, and attended to their management until Mr. Seeger's return. He claims the honor of blowing the first whistle cn land in this part of the country.
In 1857 he returned to Prussia, spent a year there, was married, and in 1858 canie again to this country, stopping at St. Mary's, Mills County, Iowa. The mills which he had built before his departure for Europe had been sold to Colonel Peter A. Sarpy, the old fur trader of the American Fur Company, and Mr. Hoffmayr managed the mills for him. Some of the men employed at that mill at that time are to-day our most wealthy farmers and prominent citizens in Mills and Pottawattamie counties. In 1859 he re- moved the mill to the left bank of the Mis- souri River, opposite Plattsmouth, Nebraska. After a time he returned to St. Mary's and erected a saw-mill, transformed a wind-flour- ing-mill, belonging to Shakespeare & Boyes, into a steam mill, and attached circular saws
for the lumber business, and here he con- tinued until 1862, when the mill was sold. Ile then built flat-boats and floated the ma- chinery of the mill on the Missouri River to Plattsmouth, Nebraska, where he erected the same and set it running for Peter A. Sarpy.
At that period (1855) the Indians, Pawnee and Omaha tribes, lived and were abundant in the vicinity. In 1867, while on the plains with the Pawnee scouts, he was made an honorary member of the Pawnee tribe, and named Co-ka-tits-ta-kah. In 1862 he came to Council Bluffs, where he took charge of the City Mills for Officer & Pusey, for six months, and then, in 1863, he assumed full control, which he maintained until 1865, when he sold to Ilon. J. T. Baldwin and vis- ited Europe again, returning the same year to Council Bluffs. From 1865 to 1870 he was engaged in contracting to furnish the ties and car timbers for the construction of the Union Pacific Railroad, operating steam saw-mille, and from 150 to 200 inen and as many teams, and thus consuming several thousand acres of the best timber in Potta- wattamie County, near Honcy Creek, for al- inost five years. In 1870 he bought back the City Mills and ran it alone until 1882, when he took as partner Hon. J. T. Baldwin, with whom he was associated until the death of the latter. During the rush of the early days of emigration this mill supplied most of the flour from this point west,-in Colora- do, Utah, Wyoming and Montana, where some train loads were sold at $1.00 per pound in gold. Its present owner, Mr. Iloffmayr, is the oldest miller in this part of the West, -that is, has been the longest in the service, and is feeding the hungry yet.
Politically he is independent, but acting mostly with the Democratic party. He is an old member of Bluff City Lodge, No. 71. A. F. & A. M., of Star Chapter, No. 48, and
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of Ivanhoe Commandery, No. 17, K. T, being P. E. Commander, and, as such, a life member of the Grand Commandery of the State of Iowa. He is also a member of the Council Bluffs Rifle and Council Bluffs Gun clubs. Ile won the State championship honors, and the best aggregate score in all matches at the State tournament of the State Association for the Protection of Fish and Game, of 1880, held at Des Moines. He was the first president of the Turn - Ve- rein of Council Bluffs, in 1863. During the war, in 1864, Gov. W. M. Stone called out three regiments of State troops to protect the sonthern border of the State, and comunis- sioned him First Lieutenant of Company A, First Regiment, and on April 1, 1865, he was promoted, and commissioned Lieutenant- Colonel of the same regiment, the late Colonel W. F. Sapp commanding the same.
While on a visit to his native country, on the 21st of April, 1858, he married Miss Antonia Wolfram, who died at Council Bluffs July 8, 1876, leaving three children: Ellen II., who died July 23, 1876, and Harry J. and Arthur T., both now residing in Council Bluffs. He was married again February 7, 1878, to Miss Clara Tzschuck, daughter of Hon. Bruno Tzschuek, ex-Secretary of the State of Nebraska. She was born in St. Mary's, Mills County, Iowa, and died Febru- ary 8, 1883, leaving one child, Julia May.
M ICKELWAIT & YOUNG, grain- dealers at Macedonia, is one of the leading and solid business firms of that place. Their elevator, having a capacity of 30,000 bushels, was built by Mr. T. J. Young, the junior member of the firm, and T. J. Evans. The present firm have 100,000 bushels of grain annually; also do a large
flour and coal business. Mr. Young is the business manager at this place, while Mr. Mickelwait resides at Glenwood, Mills County.
Mr. Young was born in Peru, La Salle County, Illinois, February 8, 1855, a son of Nason Young, a native of Ireland, and of Susanna (Kirby) Young. Nason Yonng settled in La Salle County in 1845, long be- fore the day of railroads, and for a number of years was engaged in the lumber trade. The first business in which our subject en- gaged was in 1878, in grain, in which he was in partnership with his brother. Then, removing to Omaha, he was employed in meat-canning for a year. In 1880 he came to Macedonia, resuming the grain trade. Ile is an experienced and popular business man, and has taken an active interest in the wel- fare of the community; has served on the School Board nine years. In politics he is a Republican. He is a member of Lodge No. 421, I. O. O. F., having filled all the chairs.
He was married in 1887, at Bloomington, Indiana, to Miss Lizzie Belle Pitman, who died July 19, 1888.
RTHUR I. MITCHELL, a well-known physician and surgeon of Macedonia, Iowa, was born in Decatur County, In- diana, February 13, 1847, the son of Dr. James H. and Nancy (Irmlay) Mitchell; the former is a well-known physician of that place, and the latter is of a prominent family ; her brother was once Sheriff of Decatur County. The father was born in Bourbon County, Kentneky, and at the age of four years his parents removed to Decatur County, Indiana. Hle and his father edited the first paper published at Greensburg, Indiana. He was a personal friend of ex-Governor
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Cumback and intimately acquainted with Mills & Co., ex-State printers of Des Moines, Iowa. He afterward commenced the study of medicine, and when he was twenty-seven years of age practiced in Decatur County. In the spring of 1853 he journeyed West with his family to Iowa, where he settled at Twin Groves, Keokuk County, Iowa, where he remained thirteen years. He then removed to Washington County, Iowa, and three years after from there to Seward County, Nebraska, where he remained three years, and then came to Pottawattamie County, settling at old Macedonia, and when the new town of Mace- donia was built he moved there, in 1880. He resided there until 1885-'86. When visiting his son, Brutus Mitchell, at Axtell, Kearney County, Nebraska, he died, at about sixty- six years of age. His widow still resides in Macedonia. They had six children, four sons and two daughters: A. I., our subject; Mary, wife of Henry Davison, of Axtell, Nebraska, who is in the livery and harness business; Brutus I., also in the livery business at Wil- cox, Kearney County; Lewis E. Stryker, in company with Brutns I., at Wilcox; E. Sum- mer, who died at the age of nineteeen years at old Macedonia; and Delia, the wife of Henry Kennedy, of Macedonia.
Tho subject of this sketch enlisted at Keokuk, lowa, in May, 1864, in the Forty- seventh Iowa Infantry Volunteers, Colonel J. P. Sanford, the well-known Iowa lecturer, and Captain Harrison E. Havens, now editor of the Sigourney News, in command. The regiment was stationed at Helena, Arkansas. In 1872 Mr. Mitchell lived at Crete, Nebraska, where he studied medicine with Dr. A. D. IMON REYNOLDS, one of the best known and early pioneers of Potta- wattamie County, was born in Chan- tauqua County, New York, July 10, 1837, the son of Lewis and Alitha (Worster) Rey- Root, a well-known physician of that place, and after three years of study he attended the Rush Medical College, at Chicago, Illi- nois, in the winter of 1876-'77. He then practiced in Wheeler, Pottawattamie County, | nolds, both natives of New York State.
Iowa, for three years, and then, in 1880, at- tended another year at the Rush Medical College, where he graduated February 22, 1881. He was for a year in company with his father and brother, Brutus, in the drug business at Macedonia. He was a registered pharmacist, the firm being A. I. Mitchell & Co. In 1882 the Doctor removed to Wheeler, where he resided for five years and then located at Macedonia, where he has since resided. His extensive acquaintance in this part of the county and his success in busi- ness, insures him an extensive and paying practice.
He was married April 10, 1869, to Miss Annie Efner, who was born in Brighton, Iowa, the daughter of Dr. William II. and Saralı C. (Johnston) Efner; the mother still resides with Mrs. Mitchell, at the advanced age of eighty-two years. Dr. and Mrs. Mitchell have one son, Sumner, who was born August 2, 1879. They lost one child, Frank, by death, when an infant. Politically the Doctor is a Republican. His father was an old Abolitionist, and was a conductor on the "underground railroad." The Doctor is a member of Botna Valley Medical Association, and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he is a class-leader, and is also licensed to preach; his wife is a member of the order of the Eastern Star, and her father was a Master Mason. Dr. Mitchell is also member of the I. O. O. F., Macedonia Lodge, No. 421, of which he is secretary.
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Simon was but three years of age when his parents moved to LaPorte County, Indiana, where they remained sixteen years. They then moved to Kankakee County, Illinois. Simon was reared and educated in LaPorte County, Indiana. The parents then came to Pottawattamie County, Iowa, in 1860, where they lived until their death. The father had been a farmer all his life, and in his political views was a Democrat. IIe died at the age of eiglity-four years; the mother was a mem- ber of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, and died at the age of seventy-three years. In 1860 Simon Reynolds came to Jaines Township, Pottawattamie County, and im- proved a farm of fifty acres in section 10, but which he afterward sold. In 1878 he bought his present farm of 120 acres, which he has since improved until he now has one of the best farms in the county. He was one of the early settlers here, his nearest neighbor being seven or eight miles distant. Besides his general farming, he is also engaged in stock-raising.
Mr. Reynolds came to Iowa in 1854; was married August 24, 1862, to Miss Amanda Redman, who was born at Dayton, Ohio. She was four years of age when her parents moved to Elkhart County, Indiana, at which place her father died. She was the daughter of Silas and Catharine (Bunner) Redman, both natives of Virginia. When Mrs. Rey- nolds was ten years of age her mother moved to Polk County, Iowa, where her daughter was reared and educated. The mother is still After coming to this city Mr. Roop has been variously employed. He spent some time in Nebraska in the stock business. In 1884 he engaged in milling, and previous to that tiine, for two or three years, he was in the second-hand merchandise business. In 1887 he turnel his attention to contraeting and building, which he has since followed. living in that county, at the age of seventy- four years; religiously she is a member of the Methodist Church. Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds have five children, viz .: Monroe F., a graduate of the Iowa Western Normal School, and formerly a successful teacher, now holds a position in Swift's packing house in Omaha; Arthur L., a carpenter of Oregon; Orpha C., ! In connection with this business he also
wife of William Warnke, of Belknap Town- ship; Effie L. and Clarence, both at home. Politically Mr. Reynolds is a Republican, and has served in most of his county's offices with credit. He and his wife and eldest son are members of the Christian Church. Mr. Reynolds is still in the prime of life, and takes an active interest in education and re- ligion, in which he is ably encouraged by his faithful wife, who has proved a worthy help- mate and partner to her linsband.
M S. ROOP, contractor and builder, No. 520 East Broadway, has been a resident of Council Bluffs since 1878. 1Ie was born in Fulton County, Ohio, May 16, 1851, son of John and Mary ( Mills) Roop, natives of Pennsylvania, and descend- ants of the old Dutch settlers of that State. When he was four years old his parents moved to Carson City, Michigan, where he was reared and educated in the public schools. When a mere lad of twelve or thirteen he entered a sash, door and blind factory, in which he worked for a number of years. He was subsequently employed in the Inmber, shingles and lath business. In Jannary, 1878, he came to Council Bluffs, and has since been identified with the best interests of this city. His parents have since died, the father at the age of eighty-four years, and the mother at the age of seventy-eight.
John P. S. Wear
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keeps a quantity of, and is prepared to manu- facture, all kinds of bee supplies, such as bee veils, comb foundations, hives, honey knives, smokers, etc.
Mr. Roop resides at No. 320 Oak avenue. He was married at Carson City, Michigan, in January, 1874, to Nellie J. Dolson, who was born in Dubuque County, Iowa, in March, 1851. They have four children: Cortez Leo, Francis Ethel, Miles Archie and Raymond Wilber. Mrs. Rcop is a member of the Catholic Church. He is a Republican.
OHN P F. WEAVER, contractor and builder, brick manufacturer, president of the Globe Publishing Company, and vice-president of the Ogden Iron Works, is one of the most enterprising men of Council Bluffs.
Mr. Weaver was born in Adams County, Pennsylvania, September 7, 1846, and was reared near Gettysburg. His parents, J. G. and Maria (Fisher) Weaver, were both na- tives of Pennsylvania. He traces his family history back five generations on both sides, the original ancestors being German and English. Both parents are still living at the old home in Adams County, Pennsylvania. John P. F. was reared on a farin, and by virtne of his father being a plasterer he learned that trade.
At the age of seventeen Mr. Weaver en- tered the service of his country, enlisting in February, 1863, in Company II, Twenty-first Pennsylvania Cavalry, and served till the close of the war. He was mustered out at Lynch- burg, Virginia, and received his discharge at Harrisburg, July 14, 1865. Mr. Weaver was in seventeen engagements, at the siege of Petersburg, and, in fact, all the princi- 27
pal battles from 1863 until the close of the war.
The war over, he returned to his old home, and there engaged in agricultural pursuits until the spring of 1866. Then he completed his trade. May 31, 1869, he started West, landing in Council Bluffs on the fourth of June. Ile has since made this city his home. In 1870 he entered into a partnership with George A. Jacobs, with whom he was associated until the fall of 1876, when Mr. Jacobs withdrew from the company. Mr. Weaver continued the busi- ness alone, and as time moved along he grad- ually enlarged his operations and made many other business ventures, meeting with decided snecess in all his undertakings. He has been in the brick business since 1880, now mann- facturing from 3,000,000 to 4,000,000 brick annually, employing an average of fifty men and doing a $50,000 business. In December, 1888, he entered into partnership with Thomas Bowman, in the Globe Publishing Company, he being the president. In 1887 he associated himself with the Ogden Iron Works, of which he is vice president. Mr. Weaver was one of the founders of the Coun- cil Bluffs Canning Works, also one of the founders of the Council Bluffs Driving Park, and is a member of the Board of Trade. IIe is a stanch Democrat, and during the years 1888-'89 was a member of the City Council. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., No. 184, Hawkeye Lodge.
Mr. Weaver was married May 1, 1878, to Miss Mary Hilferty, who was born May 6, 1856. Her father, Charles Hilferty, came to Iowa when she was quite young and she was reared in this State. Mr. and Mrs. Weaver have four children: Lanra, May, Howard and Jolın, all at home.
Mr. Weaver is a self made man in every respect: his education was obtained through
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his own efforts, and his success is due to his honesty, pluck and perseverance.
OHN COOL, one of the pioneer settlers of Avoca, was born in Coburg, Province of Ontario, April 2, 1824, the son of Benjamin Cool, who was born in 1795 on the Mohawk River, and was of Holland Duteh descent. Ilis ancestors were among the old pioneer settlers of New York State, and were called the Mohawk Dutch. Benjamin Cool participated in the war of 1812 on the Amer- ican side, and fought at the battle of Saek- ett's Harbor. lle was a tanner, currier and shoemaker by trade, and after emigrating to Canada was engaged at his trade in Coburg. He was married there to Phoebe, daughter of Adolphus Hillenboldt, who was from the some locality on the Mohawk. Mr. Hillen- boldt was a farmer by occupation, and cleared his place from the heavy timber. Mr. and Mrs. Cool were the parents of nine children: Lucinda, John, Richard, William, Ellizabeth, Albert, Charles, Seymour, and one who died in infancy. The parents lived in Coburg about ten years, and then, in 1833 or 1834, moved to New York State, settling near But- falo on the canal at Shelby Basin, where he followed the business of shoemaking for some years. In 1844 he removed to Illinois and settled on a farm in Kane County, Hampshire Township. In 1868 he came to Avoca, Iowa, where he died in 1878, at the age of eighty-three years. Mrs. Cool is still living, at the age of ninety years, with her son Albert in Nebraska. Mr. Cool was an industrious, honorable and upright man.
John Cool, a son of the above and subject of this sketch, received a common-school ednea- tion, and learned blacksmithing in early life. He was nine years of age when his father re-
turned to New York State, and at the age of twenty-one, in 1845, he went to Elgin, Illi nois, where he was engaged at his trade a short time. In 1846 he opened a shop in Ilampshire Township, Kane County, which he condneted until the breaking out of the war. He enlisted in Company J, Eighth Illinois Volunteer Cavalry, being mustered in at St. Charles, Illinois, September 18, 1861. He was immediately promoted to be Second Lientenant, was in the Army of the Potomac, and was in the battle of Mechan- icsville, Virginia, the seven days' fight before Rielnnond, White Oak Swamp, Harrison's Landing, at the Second battle of Bull Run, Antietam, and in several skirmishes. He was badly ruptured at Harrison's Landing by the fall of his horse. After the battle of Antietam he returned home, and resided at Hampshire, where he was Collector of the township and Constable, for twelve years, his time expiring while he was in the army. In 1869 he came by wagon to Avoca, in com- pany with his brother-in-law, Isaac Vande- borgart, and his family, and Thomas E. Fowler and family. Mr. Cool is the pioneer blacksmith of this city, having built the first shop and struck the first blow as a black- smith. He also started the first livery busi- ness, using a straw shed for his stable. He also began carrying the mail and express the same winter to Harlem.
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