Biographical history of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, Part 55

Author: Lewis publishing company, Chicago. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Chicago, The Lewis publishing company
Number of Pages: 828

USA > Iowa > Pottawattamie County > Biographical history of Pottawattamie County, Iowa > Part 55

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).

Alvin L. Weak, our subject, was born on

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OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY.

a farm in Ross County, July 13, 1844, and was but three years of age when his parents moved to Illinois, and but ten years old when they came to Iowa. He came to Pottawatta- mie County in 1866, and in 1871 he bought his present farm of 102 acres. It was then wild prairie land, but he has since converted it into a fine farm. Socially he is a Mason, being a member of the lodge at Oakland. He was married in Missouri, in 1879, to Maria A. Dawson, who was born at Oska- loosa, Iowa, the daughter of John N. and Mary A. (Moat) Dawson.

John N. Dawson was born in Ohio May 16, 1823, and August 3, 1845, he married Miss Mary A. Moat, who also was born in Ohio, February 23, 1831. Their children were: Iliram C., born September 23, 1846; Phylinda E., September 25, 1849; Anna E., October 9, 1851; Julius C., December 18, 1853; Maria A., August 23, 1856; Mary A., February 4, 1859; Irena C., June 21, 1861; Lienary B., February 27, 1866; and John A., June 24, 1871. Hiram served a time in the civil war, in Sherman's regiment. Mr. Daw- son moved with his family to Barton County, Missouri, and died from the effect of being thrown against a sugar-cane grinding machine by a span of horses running away, in Ozark Township, that county, on Monday, Septem- ber 16, 1878, one of the oldest and most re- spected citizens of that county. He was a member of the United Baptist Church, a good neighbor and a kind husband and father. By his death he left a widow and eight chil- dren to mourn his loss. His widow is still living, in Liberal Township, that county.

Mr. and Mrs. Weak had six children, namely: Julius A., born Wednesday, March 17, 1880; Lewis L., Tuesday, May 9, 1882; Leroy Monroe, Friday, January 18, 1884; James A., Saturday, August 22, 1885; George Rosco, Monday, October 10, 1887;

and Flora A., Monday, February 10, 1890. Monroe, Rosco and Flora are still living; the others died in infancy.

ELL AND BERLINGIIOF are architects and superintendents of building, having their office in rooms 405 and 406 in the Sapp Block, in Council Bluffs, and a branch office in room 615 Paxton Building, Omaha. The company was formed November 1, 1883, and they have erected some of the principal buildings in the city, as the Sapp Build- ing, Marcus Block, Kearney Bank Building, Woodbury Building, City Hose House, etc., Saunders Block, and the residences of W. W. Loomis, J. J. Steadman, W. C. James, J. A. Herald, J. P. Hess, II. H. Van Brunt, Fos- ter Flats, Dr. H. F. Hart's Block, Robling Block, the residences of C. L. Duel, E. E. Savage, J. Q. Gaston, Gus. Hengen, the Chautauqua Building, the residences of W. L. Kearney, W. H. Thomas and Dr. Cham- berlin, and also additions to the D. and M. Institute of Council Bluffs, the Abner Graves Bank Building of Charter Oak, Iowa, the T. P. Phillips Block at Belleville, Kansas, the Second Avenne public school for the inde- pendent district of Council Bluffs, and the addition to the Twentieth Avenue school building.

Charles E. Bell, the senior member of the firm, was born March 31. 1858, in MeLean County, Illinois, the son of Chalkley and Mary Bell, natives of the New England States. The mother was a daughter of James and Sarah Emlen, prominent in the Society of Friends. Mr. Emlen was a leading minister of that society, traveling through England, Scotland and Ireland. The parents are still living, residing at Bloomington, Mc- Lean County, Illinois. Six of their eight

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children survive: Walter H. resides in Belle- ville, Kansas; Sarah is the wife of Isaac P. Garrett, living near Philadelphia, Pennsylva- nia; Mifflin E., formerly supervising archi- tect and now superintendent of the public buildings of Chicago; Samuel A. resides at Bloomington; Arthur H. is city engineer of Bloomington; and Charles E., the youngest, is the subject of this biographical sketch.

He completed his school education at Philadelphia, in the West Town Boarding School, under the direction of the Friends. Then he learned the carpenter's and builder's trade, which he followed for seven years, meanwhile studying architecture; one year he studied under the tutorship of his brother Mifflin. In 1884 he came to Council Bluffs, in the employ of the Government, and as- sisted in the construction of the Government building (the postoffice), and since that time has been a resident here. In September, 1887, he formed a partnership with J. W. Allen as architect for a year. He is an ener- getic and enterprising citizen, a Republican and a member of the orders of the Knights of Pythias and Royal Arcanum, Lodge No. 156.

He was married November 11, 1880, to Miss Nellie L. Wickham, of Springfield, IHli- nois, the daughter of Henry M. and Emeline (Lathrop) Wickham, and they are the parents of three children: Walter II., Emeline L. and Edward Earl. They are members of the Presbyterian Church.

ARRY G. McGEE is one of the leading real-estate dealers of Council Bluffs, in which business he engaged in 1887. Hle does a general real-estate business, but devotes his attention principally to the plat- ting and improving of residence property,

and has platted several of the finest residence additions in the city,-among them being Morningside. This addition is owned jointly by Mr. McGee and his brother Judge McGee, who have expended a large amount of money in improving and beautifying it, and it is now acknowledged to be the most attractive suburb of Council Bluffs, which is noted for its beauty as a residence city.

Mr. MeGee is a son of Manasseh McGee, who came to Conneil Bluffs in 1855 and entered a large amount of land which has since become very valuable. Mr. McGee was born in Virginia, in 1858, but his early life was spent in Pennsylvania. His father never became a permanent resident of this city, but came here and made investments in 1855, re- turning to the East, where he resided until his death. His family became permanent residents of Council Bluffs in 1874. Our subject was educated in Pittsburg, Pennsyl- vania, and is now a successful business man and an enterprising and progressive citizen.

RS. F. P. AND M. J. BELLINGER, of Council Bluffs, formed their present partnership in 1886, since which time they have been doing a general practice. The former is an expert in the diseases of the eye and ear, which he made a specialty, but grad- ually drifted into a general practice, as the city at that time was not sufficient to main- tain a profession of that kind alone. They have received a very extensive patronage, and their general practice will amount to $220,- 000 annually. In the spring of 1890 they erected a handsome two-story frame building, 80 x 40 feet, on the corner of Broad and Twenty-sixth streets, as a hospital, surgical and medical institute, which can accommodate forty patients. They handle all kinds of

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chronie and private diseases with the best treatment.

They are both natives of New York State, and of German descent, their parents being J. H. and Molly (Smith) Bellinger. They were reared on a farm in their native State until they entered the medical college. F. P. is a graduate of the Albany (New York) Medical College, and M. J. also attended that institution one term, and then took one term in Omaha, Nebraska, and in 1886 graduated at the Des Moines Medical College. When these gentlemen started out for themselves they had to commence at the very bottom, and have since risen to a position of wealth and affluence. The senior member. F. P., is a married man. Ile was a member of the City Council of Council Bluffs two years. They both affiliate with the Democratic party, and F. P. is a member of the A. F. & A. M.

- ILLIAM H. M. PUSEY, of the well- known firm of Officer & Pusey, bank- ers of Council Bluffs, was born in Washington County, Pennsylvania, July 29, 1826, the son of Nathan and Martha (Mills) Pusey. The former, a merchant and farmer by occupation, was a native of Culpeper Court-House, Virginia. He was of English and Quaker ancestry, his forefathers having come over with William Penn, settling in Philadelphia. Caleb Pusey, one of the num- ber, was one of Penn's commissioners, and built the first mill in the colony at Philadel- phia. Nathan Pusey, a man of excellent judgment, was very successful, and retired to Baltimore, Maryland, where he died in 1865. Ile had a family of five sons and two daughters.

William H. M. Pusey was educated at Washington, Pennsylvania, in the Washing- 36

ton-Jefferson College, and graduated at that college in 1847, in the same class with Hon. James G. Blaine. He removed to Iowa in 1856, settling in Council Bluffs, where he has made his home ever since. The same year he engaged in the banking business with his present partner, his brother-in-law, Thomas Officer, and has since devoted his whole life to that business. In 1858, how- ever, he was elected State Senator from the Pottawattamie Senatorial Distriet, then em- bracing twenty-seven counties bordering on the Missouri River and extending eastward. In 1882 he was elected a member of Con- grets from the Ninth Iowa District, and with these exceptions his entire life has been devoted to his present business. He has always taken a deep interest in the progress of his adopted eity, and in the development of the State.

Mr. Pusey was united in marriage to Miss S. E. Officer, of Washington County, Penn- sylvania, June 21, 1849, a sister of his part- ner. They have three children living, viz .: Ella, wife of Dr. C. H. Pinney, of this city; Frank S., a resident of Denver, Colorado, engaged in the construction of railroads and electric motor lines; and Kate, who resides with her father and mother.

R. F. C. CLARK, a dentist of Council Bluffs, has been identified with the in- terest of Pottawattamie County since 1865. He is a native of the State of Maine, born in Waldo County, January 31, 1829, the son of Amasa and Martha Combs Clark, natives of Maine, and of English and French descent. The paternal ancestors came to this country on the Mayflower. Dr. Clark was reared on a farm, receiving a common-school education. He resided in Maine until 1849,

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BIOGRAPHIICAL HISTORY

when he was enticed by the accounts of the gold fields then discovered in California; previous to this he had worked at ship- building. He went as a passenger in the bark Mitas around Cape Horn, being 140 days from West Thornston, Maine, to San Francisco, at which place he worked for a time at $12 per day. He soon engaged in mining on Feather River, which he followed for six years, with varying success. He then studied dentistry, praticing in California and Idaho until he came to Pottawattamie County.

Dr. Clark was married in Boise City, Idaho, June 11, 1865, to Mrs. Mary E. Babbitt, nee Miss Mary E. Page, of Elgin, Illinois, a lady of Scotch descent. About a year after their marriage he came to Council Bluffs, where he has sinee practiced his profession. By her former marriage Mrs. Clark had three children: Louisa Maria, William Newton and Albert Augustus; and by this marriage she has six, four of whom still survive: Mary Frances, Martha Ann, Marcia Lily, and Mittie Jane. Mrs. Clark is a member of the First Presbyterian Church. Dr. Clark is a Master Mason of Excelsior Lodge, No. 259, A. F. & A. M. Politically he affiliates with the Republican party.

OSEPH PARKER, one of the successful and popular farmers of Pottawattamie County, was born in Lincolnshire, Eng- land, June 2, 1851, the son of George and Elizabeth (Beat) Parker, who were also na tives of England. The mother died when Joseph was fifteen years of age, and fonr years later he came with an elder brother, Henry, now a prominent citizen of Silver Creek, to America, settling in Mills County, Iowa, where they had relatives and friends. Here our subject was engaged in farming

until 1882, when he bought eighty acres of wild prairie land, at $12.75 per acre, in Pottawattamie County, where he has sinee made his home. He has made inany improve- ments on this place, which show the thrift and prosperity of its owner.

Mr. Parker was married in Mills County, Jannary 7, 1877, to Miss Adeliza Wilson, who was born in Lincolnshire, England, and had also resided ten years in Mills County before her marriage. She was the daughter of George and Mary (Schofield) Wilson. The mother died when Mrs. Parker was eighteen years of age, and the father is still living in Mills County. Mr. and Mrs. Parker have four children: Lillie May, George William, Annie Eliza, and Joseph Ervin. Politically Mr. Parker is a Republican, and both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which the former has served three years as Sunday-school Superintendent.

H. VAN was born in Jones County, Iowa, October 23, 1843. His father, R. T. Van, was one of the first set- tlers in Joncs County, and the first to settel in Wyoming Township, he having located there in 1840 whien Iowa was a Territory. R. T. Van was a son of James Van Volten- barg, a son of Holland Dutch parents. The last part of the name was dropped by the consent of Judge Huber, in 1847. The mother of our subject was Esther Ann Van, a native of Ohio. She and Mr. Van were married in Indiana, and their bridal tour was made by ox team to their new home in Jones County, Iowa. When they first settle.l in that county Dubuque was their nearest post- office, and it took a week to make the trip there and back with an ox team. Mr. and Mrs. Van had nine children, of whom five

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are living, namely: W. II., S. F., L. A., Azilda and Mary A. Those dead are Mary Ellen, Melissa, Luman E., and John W. The mother died in October, 1884. The father is still living in Jones County, and, at this writing, is seventy-two years old. He has been a farmer all his life; easts his vote with the Republican party, and worships with the Methodist Episcopal Church.

W. H. Van was reared on his father's farm, and received his education in the log school- house hard by. When the great war of the Rebellion broke out, he entered the service of his country, enli-ting in Company K, Twenty-fourth Iowa, February 22, 1864. He was in the battles of Sabine Cross Roads and Fort Dernsha, and the Red River Campaign. He was at Winchester, September 19; Fish- er's Hill, September 22; and at Cedar Creek, October 19. Mr. Van received two slight wounds, but was not sent to hospital and no record was ever made of them. He was honorably discharged at Savannah, Georgia, an I was paid off at Davenport, Iowa.

After the war he returned to his home in Jones County, where he remained until 1873. In that year he came to Waveland Township, Pottawattamie County, where he has since resided. Ile first bought eighty acres of wild prairie land in section 4, which he has increased by more recent purchase, now own- ing 225 acres of well improved land. He has a good house, which was erected at a cost of $1,300. It is built in modern style, with bay window and porch, and all the lumber used is of the very best, there being only two knots in the entire building! The main part of the house is 16 x 24 feet, two stories, with an L, 16 x 16 feet. It is beautifully located and makes a comfortable and attractive home. Mr. Van's other farm buildlings are in good condition, and much of his time is devoted to stock-raising.

In Jones County, Iowa, in 1866, Mr. Van married Miss Esther A. Lowe, a lady of intelligence and refinement, who was born in England, and was reared and educated in Jones County, Iowa. Her parents. Richard and Esther Lowe, lived in Jones County un- til their death. Mr. and Mrs. Van have four children, namely: Ella L., who is now attend- ing the Iowa Western Normal at Shenandoah, Iowa; Willard R., Henry Harlan and Eva Azilda. Mr. Van is a member of the G. A.R., Worthington Post, No. 9, of Griswold, Iowa. Politically he is a Republican. He and his wife and their daughter, Ella, are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Wal- nut Valley.

GRASS, a contractor and builder, corner of Sixth and Mill streets, Coun- eil Bluffs, has been a resident of this city since 1856, having come from Marshall, Calhoun County, Michigan. He was born in the Province of Ontario, Canada, March 18, 1833, the son of David and Phoebe (Cudney) Grass, natives of New York State, the former of Holland and the latter of Puritan descent. Our subject was reared in his native State until his sixteenth year, when he went to Orleans County, New York, and with his brother, who accompanied him, he learned the carpenter's trade. After two years spent in that State they went to New Orleans; thence to Natchez, Mississippi, remaining two years; then to Cleveland, Ohio, also remain- two years; then to Marshall, Michigan, where they remained until 1856, when he came to Council Bluffs. Since that time he has been engaged in contracting and building, buying real-estate, improving the same and selling it. He is the oldest living resident that has been engaged wholly in this line of business,

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and has erected hundreds of houses, and has amassed a handsome competency. He does an annual business of over $20,000. August 3, 1862, he enlisted in the Second lowa Battery and served until Angust 7, 1865. He was engaged in some of the most noted battles: Vicksburg, Nashville, Tupelo, siege of Spanish Fort, and a number of minor en- gagements. He was never wounded or taken prisoner, and after the war he returned to Council Bluffs and opened his present busi- ness. He owns property aside from his own residence, which was remodeled in 1889, and is now a handsome two-story building. He has also taken active interest in political work in the Republican party.

Mr. Grass was married November 5, 1865, to Mary Covalt, a native of Wheeling, Vir- ginia, born February 14, 1842, and they are the parents of nine children: Alexander, de- ceased; Dorinda, at home; Frances, deceased; Frederick, at college; Bertha, at home; Net- tie, Sadie, Robert and Fannie. The family are associated with the Congregationl Church.

EWIS PAINTER, one of the pioneer settlers of Lincoln Township, was born on a farm in Fulton County, Illinois, March 3, 1847, the son of Joseph Painter, who came from London, England. The father was born near the celebrated White Horse Chalk Hills, England, and learned the tailor's trade, having served as a tailor's apprentice at the age of thirteen years. Ile married Caroline Templer, a native of Eng- land, and they remained in that country until 1840, when he came to America, and by the Erie Canal to the then frontier city of Chicago. He was the first tailor in that city, and the first day took in $9. He remained there a short time and then went to a point

in Illinois, and thence returned to Chicago, where he lived for some years, but finally settled in Fulton County, Illinois, where he worked at his trade and farming. In 1855 he came to Iowa and settled in Jasper County, where he remained about thirteen years, and then, in 1869, came to Cass County, lowa, and settled on a farm in Wright Township. He died in Pottawattamie County at the age of sixty-three years. He was a hard-working and industrious man, and was the father of eight children: James C., Emily M., deceased in infancy, who were born in England; Emily M., Caroline, Lewis, William H., Salina G. and Henry C. Politically he was a Repub- lican. His wife died at the age of forty-two years, in Jasper County, Iowa.

Lewis Painter, son of the above and the subject of this sketch, was but eight years of age when his parents removed to lowa. He learned farming in early life, and after mar- riage settled on a rented farm in Jasper County for two years. In 1869 he came to Cass County, and in 1870 came to his present farm of 280 acres in Lincoln Township, Pot- tawattamie County, which was then a wild prairie, but which he has since converted into a fine, fertile farm. When Mr. Painter came to this township he was the only settler, and thus he has the honor of being the first pioneer settler of Lincoln Township. He remained on his claim but one season, built a home and then sold it, and seven years afterward bought the same claim back. Politically he is a Republican, and has also taken an active interest in education, and is a man who stands deservedly high in his township for his sterling worth.

Mr. Painter was married August 11,.1866, at the early age of twenty-one years, to Mary L. Whitcomb, who was born October 22, 1844, in Huron County, Ohio, and was hut eleven years of age when, in 1855, her parents

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OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY.

came to Jasper County, Iowa, in a company having twenty-one horses. It was in the early summer and the trip was a pleasant one, oe- eupying one month. She was the daughter of Orrin and Lydia (Butler) Whiteomb. The father was born in Connectient, and in 1855 settled in Jasper County, Iowa. He was married in New York State to Lydia Butler, a daughter of Samuel Butler, who was a farmer of Albany, New York, and also participated in the war of the Revolution. Bothı families were descended from old Con- nectieut families. Mr. and Mrs. Whiteomb had five children: Aaron, deceased at twenty years of age; Branch, Maria, who died in in- faney; Levina and Mary L. The mother lived to the age of eighty-six years, and the father died in Jasper County, at the age of sixty-one. He was one of the old pioneer settlers of this county, was a devout church member, and respected by all who knew him. Politically he was a Democrat. When he moved to Huron County, Ohio, he had to eut his way through the heavy forests and fire the trees to make a narrow path. Postage was twenty-five cents for a letter to New York. Mr. and Mrs. Painter are the parents of eight children, viz .: Joseph U., born Jan- nary 8, 1869; James F., October 31, 1870; Lydia, June 24, 1872; Ira V., April 1, 1874; Seth O., who died in infancy; Jennie, born April 27, 1877; Burleigh M., July 9, 1879; Jay C., October 14, 1882.

ERRY KERNEY is one of the prominent citizens of Silver Creek Township, Potta- wattamie County, Iowa, having been a resident of this county sinee 1880.

Mr. Kerney was born in Andrew County, Missouri, December 30, 1851. His father, Caleb Kerney, was born in Pennsylvania, a

son of William Keruey, who was of Scotch- Irish ancestry. Grandfather Kerney was a relative of General Kerney, of United States fame, the Kerney family being an old and prominent one in western Pennsylvania. Our subjeet's mother was nee Ruth Van Buskirk, a native of Pennsylvania and a descendant of Holland Duteh ancestry. She and Mr. Ker- ney were married in Rieliland County, Ohio, and some time afterward moved to Andrew County, Missouri. From there they went to Mills County, Iowa, becoming pioneers of that place. The parents lived in Mills Coun- ty from 1853 until the time of their deaths, the mother dying October 6, 1865, and the father, February 23, 1880. He followed agri- cultural pursuits all his life; was a Democrat and a Baptist. He and his wife reared eight children, four sons and four danghters, Perry being the third born.

The subject of our sketeh was reared on a farm and educated in the public schools. He re nained in Mills County until 1880, when he came to Pottawattamie County and settled on his present farm in section 2, Silver Creek Township, which was at that time wild prairie land. He now has one of the best improved farms in the neighborhood. His eottage home is pleasantly located on a natural building site and commands an excellent view of the sur- rounding country. His barn is 28 x 34 feet, with sixteen-foot posts, and his grove and orehard of four acres are among the best in the township. Among other improvements are cribs, yards, cattle sheds, feed lots and a modern windmill. Everything about the Kerney farm shows the thrift and prosperity of the owner.

Mr. Kerney was married in Mills County, Iowa, February 16, 1876, to Miss Mary E. Tipton, a native of Atchison County, Mis- souri, daughter of Saul and Rachel (Woolsey) Tipton. She was reared and educated in

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

Mills County, Iowa. Her mother died when Mrs. Kerney was five years old. Mr. and Mrs. Kerney have three children: Nathan W., Pearly May and Lela M. Mr. Kerney is one of the leading members of the Repub- lican party in his community. He is the present Township Trustee. Mrs. Kerney is a member of the Evangelieal Church.

HE MANHATTAN is a tobacco and cigar store and billiard parlor owned and managed by Nicholas O'Brien. It

was established in March, 1887, at 418 Broadway, by George Rudio and Frank Yen- ewine. The present proprietor purchased the place in July, 1889, and carries a superb line of domestic and imported cigars, tobacco, etc., and keeps a nicely equipped billiard hall in connection.

Mr. O'Brien was born November 6, 1859, in Pottawattamie County, Iowa, the fourth child of John and Mary (Gauldin) O'Brien, natives of Ireland. Ilis father is deceased and his mother is still living at Neola, this county. He was reared to farm life, began to take care of himself at the age of eighteen years, and in 1881 came to this city, where he was first appointed on the police patrol, in which capacity he served for seven years, and then appointed captain of police, where he served two years. He was next appointed Deputy United States Marshal for one year, under E. Campbell, then he engaged in his present business. Politically he is a decided Democrat. He is a member of the A. O. H., in which body he now holds the office of Marshal of the Day.

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Biographical history of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, Part 55

Author: Lewis publishing company, Chicago. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1891 Publisher: Chicago, The Lewis publishing company Number of Pages: 828

Author: Lewis publishing company, Chicago. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Chicago, The Lewis publishing company
Number of Pages: 828