USA > Iowa > Pottawattamie County > Biographical history of Pottawattamie County, Iowa > Part 49
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
land under a splendid state of cultivation. He has a good two-story house, 18 x 26 feet, well located with a grove and orchard near by. His barn is 30 x 38 feet. Mr. Bolton is engaged in general farming and stock- raising, and has met with success in his agri- cultural pursuits. He is an expert mechanic, and has invented two machines which he has had patented. One, a four-row corn-planter, was patented September 14, 1885, and has proved to be a valuable machine, giving Mr. Bolton no little notoriety. The other, a wash- ing-machine, was patented in June, 1890, and is equally successful. It has six small rollers and one large fluted cylinder roller. It is considered the best machine in the connty for practical nse.
When he was twenty years old Mr. Bolton was married to Sarah Anderson, a native of Miami County, Indiana, daughter of Charles and Elizabeth (Drake) Anderson. To them six sons have been born: Clyde, llerbert, Homer, Roy, Harry and Grant. Their only daughter, Gracie, is deceased. In his political views Mr. Bolton is a Republican. He is a member of the Farmers' Alliance. In all his business relations he is regarded as an honorable and upright man.
HOMAS J. JONES .- One of the honored and esteemed citizens and pioneers of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, is the gentleman whose name heads this sketeh. Ile resides in section 9, Silver Creek Township.
Mr. Jones is a native of the Old Domin- ion, having been born in Mason County, near the Ohio River, November 16, 1833. Ilis father, Charles Jones, was born and reared in Monroe County, Virginia, and his grand- father, William Jones, was a native of Ire-
land, an intelligent and educated man, and a member of the Methodist Church. Mr. Jones' mother, Rhoda N. (Wright) Jones, was born in New York State, the danghter of Gad and Rhoda (North) Wright. Mr. Wright was born in the Empire State, and his wife was a native of Connecticut, a de- scendant of a prominent and wealthy family of that State. Charles Jones and wife were married in Mason County, Virginia, and when their son, Thomas J., the subject of this sketch, was three years old they removed to Union County, Indiana, where they re- mained two years. They then spent two years in Butler County, Ohio, after which they returned to Indiana and located in Decatur County. The father died there in July, 1882, at the age of seventy-six years. He was engaged in agricultural pursuits all his life. Ile was a member of the Christian Church, and in polities cast his vote with the Whigs. IIe supported General Fremont when he was a candidate for the presidency, as also did his son, Thomas J. To Charles Jones and wife thirteen children were born, six of whom are living. Three daughters are in Indiana and two are in Nebraska. The mother lives with her son in this county, and at this writing has reached the advanced age of eighty-two years.
Thomas J. Jones was reared on a farm in Decatur County, Indiana, and while he was taught to chop wood, grub and clear land, he also learned lessons of honesty and frugality, all of which have served him well in after life. He was married in September, 1858, to Miss Ann Elizabeth Clark, a native of Decatur County, Indiana, who was reared and educated there. Her father, William Clark, also a native of Indiana, was a son of Joseph Clark, a Kentuckian, and her mother, nee Ritty Jane Menefee, was born in Ken- tucky, danghter of Larkin Menefee, also a
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OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY.
native of Kentucky. Her parents now live in Decatur County, Indiana, the father being seventy-eight and the mother seventy-four years of age. They reared three children, two of whom are living: Mrs. Jones and her brother, Thomas J. of Indiana. In 1872 Mr. Jones came to Pottawattamie County, Iowa, and bought a farm of 160 acres of wild land where he now resides. This he has improved in a good manner; has a comfort- able cottage home surrounded by a fine grove and orehard. His farm is watered by springs and is well adapted for general farming and stoek-raising. All the farm conveniences- stables, cribs, feed lots and fences-show thrift and prosperity.
Mr. and Mrs. Jones have three children as follows: Martha Jane, wife of Orlando Hamil- ton, of Washington Township, has seven children; Elnora, wife of William Shelton, of Pottawattamie County, has three children, and Rhoda, wife of Angus McKenzie, of Silver Creek Township, has two children. One son, William Clark, is deceased. Mr. Jones is a Republican. He and his wife are members of the Christian Church.
K. PARKER is one of the prominent citizens and successful stock men of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, where he has lived since 1869, and where he has been an important factor for good in the eom- munity.
Mr. Parker was born in Clark County, Ohio, October 7, 1844. His father, Emery Parker, was born in New York State, the son of David Parker; and his mother, whose maiden name was Delopha Bailey, was born in New Hampshire. The Baileys were an old New England family. Mr. and Mrs. Parker were married in Clark County, Ohio, and when
D. K. was four years old the family moved to Putnam County, Illinois. Some time later they located in Henry County, same State, where the father died at the age of sixty-three years, and the mother at the age of sixty-four. Mr. Parker was in the boot and shoe business until the latter part of his life; then he was on the farm until death. His vote and influence were east with the Democratie party. Of the seven children born to this worthy couple, the subject of our sketeh was the fourth. He was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools.
Mr. Parker was engaged in agricultural pursuits in Illinois until 1869. In that year he came to Pottawattamie County, Iowa, and and bought land in section 25, Waveland Township. After making some improve- ments on it he sold the property and bought 160 acres where he now lives, in section 16. The soil had been broken, but there were no buildings on the land. Mr. Parker has im- proved this farm, and has added to it by other pnrehases until he is now the owner of 400 acres of as rich land as can be found in Iowa. His first house was a small frame one, 16 x 20 feet. This with other addition's was burned down in 1886, and the next year was replaced by a more modern home. This is one of the best farm residences in the eastern part of the county, is built on a roek foundation, has bay window and porches, and was ereeted at a cost of $2,000. It is beantifully located and the lawn which surrounds it is dotted over with flowering shrubs and ornamental trees. Mr. Parker has a grove and orehard of four acres. His barn is 36 x 50 feet, and his other improvements, wind-mill, sheds for stoek, fences, ete., are all of a substantial character.
In Henry County, Illinois, May 4, 1869, Mr. Parker married Miss Lucretia Bollen,
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
who has since been the sharer of his joys and sorrows. She was born in Henry County, Illinois, April 20, 1849, daughter of John and Permelia Bollen. Mr. and Mrs. Parker have four children: Alfred L., Ethel Pearl, Lewis Elmer and Coral Evelyn. They lost one child, Effie Permelia, who died at the age of thirteen months. Mr. Parker is a Repub- lican ; has served as Township Trustee and as Treasurer of the School Board for twelve years. Ile is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Cass Lodge, No. 412. IIe is well posted on the general topics of the day, is broad and progressive in his views, and is a friend to both education and religion. He is a member of the Church of Christ of Waveland Township, to which he gives his liberal and earnest support.
S. BARNETT was born in New Haven, Connecticut, Jannary 14, 1833, son of Willis and Rosetta (Smith) Barnett, natives of Connecticut, of English and Scotch origin. The mother died in New Haven in March, 1855, and the father died in 1871, at the age of seventy-one years,
Mr. Barnett was reared in his native State and remained there until 1857, when he came to Iowa. He was educated in the public schools and attended an academy one term. During his youth he took up the edge-tool trade, receiving instructions from a thorough mechanic and following that trade for a time. After coming to Iowa he turned his attention to blacksmithing, which he engaged in for a number of years, in fact, until about 1876, when he suffered a partial paralysis of his right arm, and was forced to give up his trade. In 1878 he was appointed deputy revenue collector, in which capacity he served seven years. In 1886 he was elected Justice
of the Peace, and was re-elected in 1888. Politically he is a Republican, and is one of the active members of that party. He has held the office of Street Commissioner. Mr. Barnett came to Pottawattamie County in 1866, and has been a resident of this county since that time. He is one of the leading eiti- zens of Council Bluffs, and an active worker in anything that tends to the public good.
Hle was married, in New Haven. Con- neetient, May 30, 1854, to Sarah A. Jacob-, a native of that State, and a daughter of Enoch and Sarah (Brown) Jacobs, who were of French deseent. Mr. and Mrs. Barnett are the parents of two children: Lena, wife of Jonathan Chase, of Weeping Water, Nebras- ka; and Catharine, wife of F. II. Young. of Durango, Colorado. The family are mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Mr. Barnett having been associated with the church since he was nineteen years old. He is now treasurer of the church board and also a steward. Mr. Barnett is a member of the I. O. O. F., Hawkeye Lodge, No. 184, and of the I. O. G. T.
UGUST BOSTEDT, one of the Com- missioners of Pottawattamie County, was born in Barmstedt, Germany, July 8, 1859, a son of J. Bostedt, who was a well- to-do farmer of that place. He was the father of fourteen children, twelve of whom are now living, namely: Angust, William and Lizzie, are now citizens of Pottawattamie County ; John, Lona, Fred, Katie, Henry, and Ernest are the children by his first wife; by his sec- ond wife there are William, August, Lizzie, Emma, Helen and Frederick. Their mother's maiden name was Mary Morris. The father died August 16, 1882, at the age of eighty- two years.
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OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY.
In 1880. at the age of twenty years, Au- gust Bostedt came to America, and after landing in New York came direct to Minden, Iowa, where he began work at the carpenter's trade, which he had learned in the old coun- try. Politically Mr. Bostedt is a Democrat, and has taken an active part in political mat- ters. He was elected Constable and served four years, and in 1889 was elected County Commissioner by the large majority of 1,300 votes, which office he is still holding, to the general acceptance of the people. Since July 4, 1890, he has built thirty-six bridges, which had been washed away by the floods of June, 1890, and which is an astonishing number for such a short time. Mr. Bostedt has the confidence and respect of the people on ac- connt of his sterling honesty and a desire to do what is right. He is descended from the sturdy old German stock, who have helped to build up America. He is a lover of good books, and a believer in self-education and cultivation. He was married April 23, 1887, to Mary Goethje, a daughter of Christ Goethje, and they have one child, Minnie.
OHN T. BALDWIN was born October 12, 1820, Washington County, in the State of Pennsylvania, and died in Coun- eil Bluffs, Iowa, on January 30, 1890. While his education was not what is termed liberal, yet he was a man of extensive observation, a great reader, possessed of strong intellec- tual powers, which he so thoroughly devel- oped that he was at all times enabled to suc- fully cope with the best minds that he came in contact with. Having large practical ex- perience in business, a sound judgment. coupled with good common sense, he mingled largely with men of affairs, both in the State and in the Nation, and became himself pre-
eminently a man of affairs and one of the leading and most influential men of Iowa, his adopted State.
About the time that he attained his major- ity he engaged in mercantile pursuits in the village of Washington, Pennsylvania, and in the year 1844 removed to Fairfield, Iowa. In 1853 Mr. Baldwin closed out his business interests in eastern Iowa and removed to Council Bluffs, where he resnmed his mer- cantile pursuits. In 1856 he established a land agency in Council Bluffs and also en- gaged in banking. While so engaged in banking and land agency from 1856 to 1869, he was associated with General G. M. Dodge, under the firm name of Baldwin & Dodge. In 1869 he organized the Pacific National Bank, and became a director and vice-presi- dent of the same. In March, 1877, as prin- cipal owner he organized the Broadway Street Railway Company and constructed and operated in Council Bluffs the first street rail- way, running the same to the Union Pacific Railway depot, the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad depot and to other portions of the city.
In 1854 he was elected a member of the State Legislature on the Republican ticket. He discharged his duties with ability, and was ever faithful to the trusts committed to his charge. As a member of the Legislature of Iowa he was active and attentive to his duties and diligent in performing them. He was watchful in protecting the rights and pro- moting the interests of the people he repre- sented. He was possessed of much and varied knowledge, which he was always ready to use in promoting the prosperity and wel- fare of his adopted State. When Council Bluffs first became incorporated he was elected a member of the City Council, and in March, 1877, he was elected to the office of Mayor. In 1876 he was sent as a delegate to the
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
National Republiean Convention held in Cineinnati, Ohio. No man could be more devoted to a eity than he was to the eity of Conncil Bluffs, and no man who ever lived in the eity did as much for it as did Mr. Baldwin. Ile was ever watchful of its inter- ests, rights and honors, and when in offlee served the eity faithfully. He experieneed great pleasure in contemplating its growth of population and industries. Coming to Conneil Bluffs when it had a population of less than 5,000, he witnessed its slow but sure growth into a city of 35,000. IIe also took a deep interest in the western section of our country-in the advancement of its eivil- ization and the development of its material interest. He was in all respeets a splendid type of a western man. He was energetic, enterprising, industrious and self-reliant.
Mr. Baldwin was married in Angust, 1843, to Miss Jane IIunter, of Washington, Pennsylvania, and by her had three dangh- ters. In private life he was a genial and agreeable companion, a warm and sineere friend. No man could hear him talk as he often did of his mother, wife and children without being impressed that he was an affectionate son, husband and father.
R. J. W. NUSUM, of Crescent City, was born in Greene County, Pennsyl- vania, December 19, 1848. His father, George G., was born in Virginia, September 2, 1822, a son of Silas and Charlotte (Frost) Nusum. Mr. Silas Nnsum was a native of Virginia, and served in the battle of Novem- ber 4, 1791, under General Arthur St. Clair; was taken to Ohio, where he was in the mas- saere or defeat at Fort Recovery, in which seven men were taken eaptives. He and a man named George Gallagher narrowly es-
eaped from being burned alive at the stake. Gallagher first broke loose and then set Mr. Nusnm free, and they then fought for their lives. They were, however, held captive for three years, and one day when, at llanging Roek, Ohio, they were making their escape, Gallagher fell from the rocks and broke his hip; but he hid among the rocks on the banks of the Ohio River. Nusum swam the river and escaped, the Indians being in hot pursuit. After night he swam the river baek to where Gallagher was, made a raft of some logs, put him upon it and paddled him over to the other side, and thus succeeded in sav- ing his life. He then carried him for three days before finding medieal aid. Ile re- covered and entered the practice of law, while Nusnm went into the mercantile busi- ness, which he followed until he died in 1847.
Mr. George Nusum, brought up in the mereantile business in Morgantown, Virginia, following his father in that line, moved in his twentieth year to Freeport, Pennsylvania. He continued in merchandising from 1842 to 1853, when he came direct to Colesburg, Delaware County, Iowa, and was there en- gaged in merchandising and teaming for ten years. He then sold out all his interests there, moved to Des Moines, entered general merchandising again and so continued tor about ten years longer. In 1862 he ex- changed his property and business for 440 aeres of land in Warren County, six miles west of Indianola, and engaged in farming and stoek-raising. In live-stoek he dealt ex- tensively, shipping largely. The land had but poor improvements upon it when he first oceupied it, but is now well equipped and in a fine condition. There are at present 620 aeres in the tract; it is an immense stock farm.
In 1844, in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, he
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OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY.
married Eliza Kimball, who was born in Greene County, Pennsylvania, June 8, 1825, and they became the parents of seven chil dren, the subject of this sketch being the second. He was reared to mercantile life also, but in his twenty-second year, in 1870, he started out for himself, and about this time, February 1, 1872, he was married to Miss Emma Armstrong, of St. Charles, Iowa. Next year he began reading medicine, under the instruction of Dr. Grimes, of Des Moines, who had been a surgeon in the late war, and is well-known as a skillful practi- tioner in Conncil Bluffs, where he followed his profession for several years. After study- ing in his office three years, Dr. Nusnm alternated between the office and Rush Medi- cal College, Chicago, for about two years longer; then for another two years, from December, 1876, he was in partnership with Dr. James Wakefield at Spring Hill, Warren Conuty. He arrived at Crescent City De- cember 4, 1878, bought property and opened practice. Taking great pride in his profes- sion, he has an extensive and good paying patronage, even in Florence, Omaha, Council Bluffs, Missouri Valley and the surrounding country. He makes a specialty of eye and throat diseases; lias saved many cases given up by other physicians.
He is a member of the M. P. Society, of Crescent City, in which he has held different offices. Is also a member of Lodge No. 49, I. O. O. F., of Bloomington, Illinois. Is an exemplary and enterprising citizen. He is a well-settled Democrat, and has held about all the offices of his township. Is also a mem- ber of a library association. Mrs. Nusum belongs to the Presbyterian Church of Hazel Dell. Their children are: George G., who was born in St. Mary's, Warren County, Iowa, February 10, 1873; Maggie E., born at Spring Hill, April 14, 1878; Ivy L., born at
Crescent City, December 5, 1881; and Vernic, born in Crescent City, May 27, 1890.
J. STEPHENSON, City Clerk and Clerk of the Superior Court of Coun- o cil Bluffs, is a native of Jackson County, Ohio, born in 1831, son of Andres and Elizabeth (McGee) Stephenson, of Vir- ginia and North Carolina. His parents were of English and Scotch ancestry. Both are deceased, his father having died when A. J. was a small child. Mr. Stephenson was about eleven years old when he left Ohio and went to Indiana with an uncle. He was reared on a farm and educated in the public schools of that State. At sixteen he started out for himself, remaining in Indiana and be- ing variously employed for a number of years. Ile first clerked in a dry-goods store, then for four years was employed in a railroad office in Elkhart. At the end of that time he invested his earnings in a stock of general merchandise and opened a store at Leesburgh. From there he removed to Warsaw, where he continued his business for several years. While at Leesburgh he was married, in 1856 to Miss Eliza Felkner, a native of Indiana.
In 1868 Mr. Stephenson sold his business at Warsaw, left Indiana, and came to Conn- cil Bluff, Iowa, where he engaged in the hardware business. When the panic of 1873 came on he met with heavy losses and dis- continued business. After that he was em- ployed for five years in the interest of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad. Then he opened an office of his own in the real-estate line, and in this he has since been engaged, and continues to do a realty busi- ness although Clerk of the city. Mr. Steph- henson affiliates with the Republican party, being a hearty supporter of the same.
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
Ile and his wife are the parents of five children: Victor, at home, a telegrapher; Lulu, wife of M. E. Meader, of Goshen, In- diana; Chester F., a graduate of Iowa City Law school, is now in a real-estate office in Goshen, Indiana; Mary J. and Ada E., at home.
INLEY ADAMS BURKE, deceased, was one of the most highly respected citizens of Council Bluffs. Coming to Pottawattamie County in 1856, when West- ern lowa was sparsely settled, he became a prominent factor in the growth and develop- inent of both city and county. His father (who was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylva- nia) fought under General Lee, in the Vir- ginia line in the war of the Revolution. His mother's maiden name was Adams, and her mother's was Finley. Both of these ladies were Scotch, and the family names were re- tained in naming the subject of this sketch.
Finley A. Burke was born at Mononga- hela, July 17, 1815, and died at Council Blnffs, June 3, 1889. He spent his youth in attending school at the academy located at that time at Monongahela. In early man- hood he became owner of boats plying the Ohio and other rivers and acted for years as steam-boat captain on the Ohio. In the lat- ter capacity he visited Burlington, Iowa, by boat, as early as 1840. Quitting the river he was elected City Collector of the city of Wheeling, Virginia (now West Virginia), which he resigned in 1856 to come to Iowa. He moved to Pottawattamie County in 1856, taking up lands in what is now Washington Township, and in 1860 he removed to Coun- cil Blnffs.
In 1869 he was elected to the office of City Recorder and Police Jndge. To this office
he was elected ten terms in succession, and after resting one year was re-elected for two more terms. By the abolition of the special charter of Council Bluffs, the office above mentioned was abolished, and under the gen- eral charter he was elected City Auditor, con- tinuing as such until his election to the office of City Clerk aud Clerk of the Superior Court,
which office he held until March 1, 1889.
He joined the Independent Order of Odd Fellows when a young man, and was very de- voted to the order and its teachings during all his long residence in Council Bluffs. He was a charter member of the Twin Brothers Encampment of Odd Fellows and had re- ceived many high honors at the hands of that fraternity. Ile retained through life and still retains the respect and admiration of this large fraternity.
Mr. Burke was twice married, the chil- dren by his first wife being: William S., Eliz- abeth J., Isabel and Hugh M. Burke. Eliz- abeth J., Mrs. T. W. Harl, died at St. Josephi, Missouri, in 1888. Isabel, Mrs. W. P. White, died at Kansas City, October 5, 1890. William S., now at Albuquerque, New Mex- ico, was the founder of the Council Bluffs Nonpareil, it being called the Chronotype, before he acquired it. Hugh M. is a well- known writer and editor at San Francisco, California. August 4, 1849, Judge Burke was married to Margaret McMillen, who sur- vives him. Their children are Mary E. (de- ceased; Emma E., the wife of J. F. Brod- beck, Esq .; Finley, Virginia (deceased), Ed- mund II., George A., John P. and Ambrose.
Judge Burke was one of the most popular men in Council Bluffs. As a companion, he was sociable and agreeable, and few could equal him as a raconteur of linmorous anec- dotes or in making short speeches on social occasions. As a neighbor he was respected and beloved. As an officer he was industri-
Juley Burke
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OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY.
ous and correct, performing while City Re- corder the combined duties now performed by City Auditor and City Clerk, besides judicial duties, and all this without deputy, where several are now employed. As a Judge, he was noted for fairness, honesty and common sense. His overwhelming ma- jorities at elections were matters of com- ment, especially as he was often to be found hard at work at his office while his political opponents were out in the field at work. This is explained by the fact that all the electioneer- ing done by him was done by rigid attention to duty the year around, and by his universal courtesy and kindness to all.
Indeed it was part of his nature to sympa- thize with his fellow-men and to perform kindly aets of friendship for rich and poor alike, and his death was mourned by people of every rank and elass.
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