USA > Iowa > Pottawattamie County > Biographical history of Pottawattamie County, Iowa > Part 66
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appointed Deputy Sheriff, served two years, and was then elected Constable of this eity. He held this office one term, and was re- elected; but after serving half of his second term, was elected County Sheriff in 1881, and re-elected in 1883. At the expiration of his second term, in January, 1886, he engaged in the real-estate business, purchasing and renting houses of his own. April 1, 1890, he was appointed by Lewis Weinstine De- puty Collector for the Fourth District of Iowa.
December 20, 1869, Mr. Guittar was uni- ted in marriage in this city to Miss Eliza- beth Beecraft, a native of England, and the daughter of Henry Beeeraft, who resides in Council Bluffs. Mr. and Mrs. Guittar have one daughter, Engenia I., born December 17, 1873. Mrs. Guittar is a member of the Bap- tist Church, and Mr. Guittar is a member of the I. O. O. F., Council Bluffs Lodge, No. 49, and also of Abe Lincoln Post, No. 29, of Iowa, and is a Republican politically. Ile is one of our representative eitizen and business ten, and enjoys the confidence and respeet of all who know him.
RANCIS GUITTAR, a retired mer- chant of Council Bluffs, is the oldest settler of Pottawattamie County, if not the oldest in Western Iowa. IIe came here in 1825, as an agent for the American Fur Com- pany, when not quite sixteen years of age. He was born in St. Louis, Missouri, Septem- ber 25, 1809, the son of Vansaw and Mary (Arpah) Guittar, who were both born in St. Louis, Missouri. The father was a son of Paul Guittar, a native of Canada, but of Freneh parentage.
At the age of fifteen years our subject en- tered the employ of the American Fur Com-
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
pany, and remained in their employ as agent until 1850, when he engaged in that business for himself. Ile also had a general store in Conneil Bluffs, on the corner of Broadway and Main streets. It was a log house built by the Mormons, for which Mr. Guittar gave $250, and afterward sold the same to Judge James, of Council Bluffs, and M. Tootle, of St. Joseph and others, and in 1878 retired from business. His experience has been more than that of many inen, and could fur- nish material for an interesting book. In company with the Pawnee Indians, he fought the Sioux, although he was friendly with the latter, and at one time was shot in battle.
Mr. Gnittar has four children living. He is a Democrat politically, and is one of the old landmarks of this county whom every one is glad to meet.
LFRED E. KINCAID, a member of the hardware firm of Lodge & Kincaid, is one of the prominent business men of Walnut. He was born at Farmersville, Lee County, Ontario, August 29, 1852. His father, John Kincaid, was a Scotehman, born September 7, 1810, and came to Ontario and settled in Brockville. He was a tanner by trade and became a prosperons man. He married Lodevia Wilsie, December 18, 1889, daughter of Comfort M. Wilsie, a Canadian, but of American descent. Mr. and Mrs. Kincaid had ten children: Albert A., born March 22, 1840, deceased at twelve years of age; Esther E., born March 5, 1842; William W., March 2, 1845; Nancy C., June 29, 1852; Charles Il., June 5, 1855, deceased; Eva C., April 2, 1858; Helen M., September 14, 1860; Addie J., September 2, 1864. Mr. Kincaid lived to the age of seventy-six years, and died in February, 1888. He was a man
who had the respeet of his fellow citizens, was Reeve for several years, a prominent Mason, and a soldier in the patriot war on the side of the government. He was a man of strong constitution and sterling character and well known for his integrity. He was at one time a prominent and influential man.
Alfred E. Kincaid, our subject, is from sturdy Scotch and American stock, possessing an independent character, which stands him in good stead, as his father met with finan- cial reverses, and he at the age of thirteen began to learn the tinner's trade at Farmers- ville, Ontario, working at it two years. Then he went to West Winchester, Ontario, and worked for two years, and in the spring of 1871 went to Chicago and worked at his trade there. October 10, same year, the most disastrous eonflagration that the world has ever seen broke ont and Mr. Kincaid saw the great spectacle,-the burning of Chicago. Directly after the fire Mr. Kincaid came to Atlantic, Iowa, and worked there for J. C. Yetzer, and after a short time came to Anita, Iowa, where he remained nine years; and while there he went to Michigan and married Miss Lillie V. Snell, daughter of Thomas and Mary (Skinner) Snell. They were Miehi- gan people, of American ancestry. To Mr. and Mrs. Kineaid have been born five ehil- dren: Gertrude B., Grace C., Carrie A., Lillie J. and one who died an infant.
After marriage Mr. Kincaid resided at Kalamazoo, Michigan, two years, and in 1883 eame to Walnut, Iowa, forming a partnership with Oscar F. Lodge, and has continued in this business. Socially Mr. Kincaid is a member of Moriah Lodge, No. 327, 1. O.O.F., at Walnut, in which order he has filled all the offices: he is now treasurer of this lodge. In polities he is a Republican. He has the con- tidenee of his fellow townsmen, and has been a member of the Council for one full term,
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OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY.
and has recently been re-elected. He owns real estate in Walnut and a good home, and is a man well known for his honorable methods of dealing and substantial character.
ILLIAM SIEDENTOPF, a promi- nent real-estate dealer of Council BInffs, was born in Hanover, Ger- many, in 1846, and came direct to this city in 1865, where he has since resided. He came by stage-coach, prior to the advent of the railroad. He has witnessed the " ups and downs " of the city of his adoption dur- ing the last quarter of a century, and has been closely identified with every move for its prosperity. llis unlimited faith in the future of Council Bluffs and Pottawattamie County, is best evinced by his large holdings of real estate, and he is also one of the largest tax-payers in the county. Up to 1879 he was actively identified with the banking business of this city, and is now a director of the First National Bank. A term of three years as School Director and four years as Alderman, comprise his service in official life. While a member of the School Board, Mr. Siedentopf was a firm advocate of the introduction of phonetic spelling and the re- organization of the high school, and strongly supported Professors Alexander Gow and W. H. Hatch, overcoming vigorous opposition in and out of the board. As a member of the City Council, the city finances received his careful study and attention, and to this day his counsel is frequently sought on that question. During his term of office (1882- '86), commencing with the operation of the present charter, the various improvements of paving, grading and sewering were inaugu- rated, and a new era in the prosperity of Conn- cil Bluffs may well be dated from that period.
In 1870 Mr. Siedentopf and Miss Mary Burhop, also of this city, were united in mar- riage, and of their three children, two sur- vive: William F., aged nineteen, and Ella, fourteen. For several years past Mr. Sied- entopf has devoted almost his whole time to his large real-estate interests.
ILLIAM BEYER, a substantial farmer near Walnut, Iowa. was born in Schleswig, Germany, in 1851. Ilis father, Madison Beyer, was a farmer and land-owner. He was married to Annie Ram- burg, and to them were born five children; Hans, William, John, Julian and Charley. Julin was the only son, besides our subject, who came to America; he lived on a farm north of Walnut. The father is still living in Germany, and both he and his wife are members of the German Church. He was a sailor and captain when a young man.
William our subject, became a sailor when he was sixteen years of age, but he fol- lowed the sea only five years. He came to America in 1872, settling in Scott County, where he lived two years. In 1874 he came to Pottawattamie County, where he pur- chased 160 acres of land in company with his brother Julien. By hard work Mr. Beyer has added to his land until he now owns nearly 200 acres, all of which is in a good state of cultivation.
In 1876 he married Caroline Coffman, daughter of Charles Coffinan, and to them have been born five children: John, deceased in infancy; Charles, also deceased in infancy ; William, Angust and Amanda. Both Mr. and Mrs. Beyer are members of the Lutheran Church. Mr. Beyer has held the office of Road Supervisor, is a thorough farmer, and an honest and upright man. He is doing his
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
share to build up the great State of Iowa, to which the German element has been an honor and a substantial aid.
E. HARLE, proprietor and mana- ger of the Livery, Sale, Breaking and Training Stable, 17 and 19 North Second street, Council Bluffs, estab- lished in 1887, carries a stock of good horses, carriages, etc., devoting the most of his atten- tion to the breaking and training of horses, especially track horses, and has to his credit that he has broken, trained and driven two of the fastest pacing horses ever bred and raised in Pottawattamie County, namely: Mattie Harle and Warren Daily.
He was born at Mt. Vernon, Knox County, Ohio, June 10, 1848, the son of Trammill and Elizabeth (Willson) Harle, natives of Virginia, and possibly of Irish and Scotch ancestry. On coming to Council Bluffs, in 1869, he earned his first money, with which he purchased two colts, and continned to do whatever he could find the first year; then followed farming three years and then en- gaged in the horse business, which he has ever since followed, excepting three years spent in Colorado, mining and prospecting. In 1872 he commenced in the livery business at his present stand; and then moved to Pierce street, where he operated eight years; and next for over a year he was proprietor of the Ogden Broadway, one of the leading liv- ery stables west of Chicago, and finally back to the place he now occupies.
Mr. Harle is a Republican in his political principles.
He married Miss Elizabeth Harle, who also was born in Knox County, Ohio, but reared in Council Bluffs. They have two children: Gracie and Mattie. Mr. Harle's
father was a contractor for building while in Ohio, bnt in this county he was engaged in dairying and stock-raising. He died in De- cember, 1885, at the age of seventy-nine years and eleven monthis; his wife died in Ohio, the mother of M. E. Harle.
EORGE W. HAMILTON, one of the enterprising and well known citizens of Washington Township, and an ex- soldier of the late war, was born in Fulton County, Illinois, February 6, 1846, a son of John and Barbara Hamilton, the former a native of Ohio, and the latter of Pennsyl- vania, the daughter of Jacob Rist. The parents resided for a time in Wisconsin, in which State the father died when George was a habe, leaving a widow and one child, our subject. The mother died when George was twelve years old, and he was reared by his grandfather, Jacob Rist, on a farm in Fulton County, Illinois.
During the great Rebellion, at the time of Lincoln's call for 600,000 more men, our sub- ject enlisted, Angnst 9, 1862, at Princeville, Peoria County, Illinois, in the Eighty-sixth Illinois Infantry, Volunteer Company K, under Colonel Irons, who went out with the regiment, but after his death Colonel David McKee took command for a time. Ile re- signed and then Colonel Farnstock had com- mand; the Captain of the company was John French. George W. was out about three years, and was first under fire at Perryville, Kentucky, and later at Stone River, Chicka- manga, Missionary Ridge and at the two battles of Buzzard's Roost. He was in the great charge at Resaca, where he was wounded June 30, 1864, in the head. His skull was cracked and shattered in several places, and the officials thought he was mortally wounded.
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OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY.
He was contined in the field hospital one week; was then removed to Chattanooga Hos- pital, where he was confined for another week; was then removed to Nashville for one week, and then to Louisville, Kentucky. He was at that city and Springfield until the second of November, when he was removed to Quiney, Illinois, where he was confined until April 21, 1865. Hle was then taken to New York city for a short time; was next taken to Morehead, North Carolina, where he remained three days; and finally removed to Alexander, Virginia, where he remained un- til his discharge, June 27, 1865, and he then returned to Fulton County Illinois, where he resided one year. Then he went to McDon- onghi County, Illinois, where he remained but a short time, and then went to Hender- son County, where he lived fifteen years, en- gaged in farming. He came to Pottawatta- mnie County in 1882, and settled on the sec- tion where he now resides. Mr. Hamilton now owns 160 acres of good land all in one bodv.
lle was married in Fulton County, Illi- nois, in 1866, to Mary Overman, a daughter of Charles and Eveline ( Montgomery) Over- man. By this marriage there were four chil- dren, of whom only one is now living-Anna Mrs. Hamilton died in July, 1884, and Mr. Hamilton was married again September 28, 1888, to Mrs. Mary Taylor, a widow, whose first husband was a Mr. Heeker. She was a daughter of James A. Taylor, one of the well-known early pioneers of Pottawatamie County. Mrs. Hamilton was reared and educated in this neighborhood. By her first marriage she had five children: James, Ettie, Lily, Pleas- ant and Charley, Mr. Hamilton is an inde- pendent politically, and is a member of the G. A. R., Robert Provard Post, No. 414, in which he is a charter member. He is one of the well-known representative citizens of this
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township. Mrs. Hamilton is a member of the Evangelical Church.
R. J. M. WYLAND, the only physi- cian and druggist of Minden, was born in Harlan, Iowa, February 24, 1858, the son of Isaac P. Wyland, who was a pio- neer of this State, having settled at New- town, near Avoca, in 1860. IIe was born in Elkhart County, Indiana, Angust 26, 1832, in the town of Wyland, which was named in honor of his father, Jonathan Wyland, who was born in 1797, in Bedford County, Penn- sylvania, moved first to Greene County, Ohio, and then to Indiana. He came to America when a young man, settling in Elkhart County, where he built a grist-mill and woolen factory, and also a dam across the Elkhart River, and was in short the founder of Wyland. He was married to Miss Cath- erine Plum, by whom he had two sons: Jonathan and Washington. This wife died and he was again married in Ohio, to a Miss Elizabeth Vanarsdoll, and by this marriage there were eleven children, viz .: Catherine, Rachel, William, Isaae, Jasper, David, Jef- ferson, Elizabeth, Mary Barbara, Christian and Lawrence, all of whom lived to maturity. Jasper died in the service of his country in the late war, in an lowa regiment; Jonathan died at his home, at the age of fifty-eight years, of pneumonia, contracted by exposure. The father was a stanch Democrat politically, and religiously was a German Baptist or Dunkard. The Dunkards were among the. most thrifty and peceable people who sought a home in America from the oppression of older countries.
Isaac P. Wyland, a son of the above and the father of our subject, was born in Wyland, Indiana, received a common-school
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
education, and was brought up a Dunkard, but afterward changed his religion to the " Christian " belief. He was a miller by trade, and was married in Elkhart, Indiana, to Julia A. Miltenberger, of German de- scent, and daughter of Henry Miltenberger, who came from Pennsylvania to Elkhart County. Mr. and Mrs. Wyland have had six children: William W., Omar P., Jonathan M., Seth L., Mary H. and Asa A. The father moved to Iowa in the spring of 1856, settling in Shelby County, near Harlan, which was then a wilderness. In 1860 he settled in Newton, Pottawattamie County, where he built a grist-mill, and one and a half years later settled near his old farm east of Harlan, where he lived until 1884. In that year he went to Dakota, settling on a farm in Hand County, where he still resides. He is a Democrat in his political opinions, and has served as Sheriff of Shelby County, in 1862, and Postmaster of Jackson Town- ship, Shelby County. He has always been a hard-working, industrious, honorable and substantial citizen, and will be remembered by the old settlers of Shelby County.
Dr. J. M. Wyland, his son and the subject of this sketch, received a good education at the high school of Harlan, and also studied medicine at Iowa City, where he graduated in 1884. His preceptor was Dr. E. A. Cobb, of Harlan, with whom he remained three years. Leaving this able instructor in the spring of 1884, the Doctor came to Minden, where he immediately bought the drug store of Kervill & Schaff, and has since had a large trade as well as a good practice Socially he is a Mason, and also a member of the Knights of Pythias. In his political opinions he is a Democrat, and has also taken an active interest in the schools of his county, being a member of the School Board. He has the confidence of all the people, and was
recently elected a member of the Town Coun- cil.
In the spring of 1886 Mr. Wyland was married to Amelia Schumaker, daughter of Henry Schumaker, a native of Germany, but now of Moline, Illinois. He is the father of two children: Henry and Amelia. The Doc- tor's brother, Asa O., is also a physician, and is now engaged in practice at Underwood, this county. Dr. Wyland is a man of high character, and his success as a physician at- tests his skill and knowledge of medicine. He is yet a young man, and the succeeding years should add honor and dignity to a life well begun.
A. COE, section 3, Waveland Township, Pottawattamie County, is an old set-
O tler and popular citizen of this neigh- borhood, having been identified with its best interests for the past thirty years. He was born in Muscatine County, Iowa, March 4, 1852, son of Samuel Coc, who for many years was a prominent citizen of Montgom- ery County, Iowa. He settled there in April, 1853, and twenty years later, in 1873, re- moved to Jewell County, Kansas, where he still resides and, at this writing, is seventy- eight years of age. He was born in Brown County, Ohio, the son of a Revolutionary soldier, John Coe, also a native of Ohio, of Irish ancestry. Samnel Coe was married in Indiana to Ruth Becknell, who was born in that State, near Albany. Her father, Will- iam Becknell, was born in Ohio and was of German origin. Some time after mar- riage Mr. and Mrs. Coe removed to Mns- catine County, Iowa, and settled near Davenport. In the fall of 1852 they went to Lewis, Cass County, and soon afterward moved to Montgomery County, where as
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OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY.
above stated Mr. Coe lived many years. His wife died when her son, D. A., the subject of this sketeh, was fifteen years old. The father is a Democrat and has served in most of the township offices where he has lived. He is a believer in. universal salvation. The tive children born to this worthy couple are: D. A., William, a resident of Lancaster, Jewell County, Nebraska; James B., who lives in Waveland Township, Pottawattamie County; S. E., also of Waveland Township; and El- vira Elizabeth, wife of William Wilde, a eondnetor on the railroad, lives in Stuart, Guthrie County, Iowa.
The subject of our sketch was reared in Montgomery County, and the first school he ever entered was in a log cabin with słab seats in Waveland Township. He lived at home until nineteen years old, when he en- gaged in the hotel business at Avoca, remain- ing thus employed for three years. Then he spent one year in Jewell County, Kansas, after which he returned to Iowa and worked as an overseer on a farm for John Jones, near Avoca. His next enterprise was to rent land south of Griswold, in Cass County, Iowa, which he cultivated four years. In 1880 he bought 120 acres of land in section 23, Wavelend Township, Pottawattamie County, forty acres of which were broken. He built a house on the land, and two years later sold the property. Then he bought 100 acres of land in section 4, all of which had been plowed. Ile put np a house and other build- ings on this place and after remaining there five years sold it. Mr. Coe bought his pres- ent farm of Thomas McCulla. It consists of 125 acres, and had been improved by James Pierce, who owned it before Mr. McCulla. On this farm is a good frame honse, 14 x 22 feet, with an L, 12 x 14 feet. It pleasantly situated and is surrounded b a grove and orchard of one acre. Other
improvements on the place are a barn, sheds, yards, feed lots and a wind-mill. Mr. Coe's attention is divided between stock- raising and cultivating the soil.
He was married, May 16, 1873, at Avoca, Iowa, to Flora A. Winsby, a native of Nova Scotia and a daughter of Robert C. Winsby, who was born in Nova Scotia of English an- cestry. Her mother, nee Rnby A. Griffin, was also a native of Nova Scotia. Mr. Winsby is now a resident of Avoca. Mr. and Mrs. Coe have seven ehildren, viz .: Rob- ert Guy, Mark P., Clarence G, Clara E., El- mer A., Eddie E. and Roy A. Mr. Coe is one of the leading Democrats of this neigh- borhood. For the past six years he has been a Justice of the Peace. He is in the full vigor of manhood, is genial and affable, and is regarded as one of the most popular citi- zens of Waveland Township. Mrs. Coe is a member of the Christian Church.
C. STRONG has been a resident of Pottawattamie County since 1864 and is one of the well-to-do farmers and worthy citizens of Center Township.
He was born in Ohio, October 13, 1837. His father, James M. Strong, was born in New England, and was a babe when his par- ents moved to Ohio. In that State he grew to manhood, and was married, in Meigs County, to Miss Melissa Barker, who was born in 1816. When their son C. S., the subject of this sketch, was nine years old they came to Iowa and settled in Jefferson Connty, coming via the Ohio and Mississippi rivers to Keokuk, and from there by teams to Jefferson County. There the son attended school in a log cabin and worked on a farm, remaining with his father until he reached his majority. At the age of twenty-one he
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
was united in marriage with Lucy Clover, a lady of intelligence who has proved herself a helpmate to her husband thus far on life's ourney. She was born near Deerfield, Ohio, and was ten years old when she came to Jef- ferson County, Iowa, with her parents, James and Emily (Smillen) Clover.
In 1864, as already stated at the beginning of this sketch, Mr. Strong came to Pottawat- tamie County. His parents, who came here at the same time, lived on a farm until 1889, when they moved to Oakland, where they are passing their declining days in peace and comfort. The father is now seventy-eight years of age. Mr. Strong was among the pioneers of this county, the land on which he settled being wild and unimproved. IIe now owns a fine farm of 260 acres; has com- fortable and substantial buildings and good fences, broad pastures and well cultivated fields and two groves. He also has a fine orchard from which, in 1889, he gathered 1,200 buhsels of fruit. He raises annually large numbers of cattle and hogs.
Mr. and Mrs. Strong have five children, namely: Alice Converse, who for years has been a successful teacher in California, and is now in Oakland, this county, and has one son, Thomas, who married Addie Butler, a danghter of William B. Butler, of this township, and has one ehild; William Fred, a student at Simpson's College, Indianola, Iowa; James Clover and Charlie Cook, at home. They lost two children by death: Florence Belle, February 17, 1883, at the age of twenty-one years and fifteen days; and Mary Catherine, at the age of six months. Florence Belle was a general favorite with her associates, and was known far and wide for her Christian virtues, her amiable qualities and her cheerful and affec- tionate disposition. She was gifted with musical talent, and rendered valuable serv-
ices to the choir of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which she was a consistent mein- ber. She was an affectionate daughter and sister, and her untimely death cast a gloom not only over the home circle but also over all those who knew her during her brief but useful life.
Mr. Strong and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Hancock Circuit, and their son, William, is also a zealous worker in the canse of religion. Po- litically Mr. Strong is a Republican. IIe has served the public in several township offices.
HARLES S. ROBINSON is one of the prominent and influential citizens of Center Township, Pottawattamie Coun- ty, Iowa. Ile is one of the brave pioneers who came here in 1853 when everything was new and wild, and is justly deserving of honorable mention in work of this character. A history of his life will be found of interest to many.
Mr. Robinson was born in Fountain Coun- ty,Indiana, Mareli 2, 1828. His father and grandfather, Joel and Jeremiah Robinson, were natives of North Carolina. Joel Robin- son was reared in his native State, and there married Jane Daily, who was born in North Carolina, the daughter of Charles Daily, who was of Irish extraction and also a native of that State. He and his wife went to Indiana in 1825, where they lived for many years. The following children were born to them: John now a resident of Perryville, Indiana; Marion, in Davis County, Iowa; Erastus, Appanoose, Iowa; Sabra Ann, wife of Thomas Foster, Appanoose County; and Charles S., the subject of this sketeli. His youth was spent on his father's farm in Indiana, and his education was obtained in the typical log
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