Des Moines, the pioneer of municipal progress and reform of the middle West, together with the history of Polk County, Iowa, the largest, most populous and most prosperous county in the state of Iowa; Volume II, Part 111

Author: Brigham, Johnson, 1846-1936; Clarke (S.J.) Publishing Company, Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Chicago, The S. J. Clarke publishing company
Number of Pages: 1464

USA > Iowa > Polk County > Des Moines > Des Moines, the pioneer of municipal progress and reform of the middle West, together with the history of Polk County, Iowa, the largest, most populous and most prosperous county in the state of Iowa; Volume II > Part 111

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in practice at Des Moines. He is also lecturer on gynecology in Drake Univer- sity Medical College. In 1911 he took a six weeks' course in the New York Post-Graduate Medical College.

On the 6th of September, 1903, at Paola, Kansas, Dr. Baker was united in marriage to Miss Mayme F. Johnston, a daughter of William Richard and Susan Ada (Hedges) Johnston. Two children have come to bless this union: Hazel Florence, who was born June II, 1905; and Ruth, born December 1, 1910.

In politics Dr. Baker gives his support to the republican party, being identified with the progressive element. In religious faith he is connected with University Place Christian church. He is a member of a number of fraternal organizations, of which he is medical examiner, including the Modern Woodmen of America, the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Brotherhood of American Yeomen and the Homesteaders, also serving as medical examiner for the Central Life Assurance Company. Although engaged in practice comparatively a short time Dr. Baker has become well established and is steadily moving forward in a pro- fession in which competition is sharp and individual ability is the principal factor. Having made thorough preparation under the most skillful instructors, he began under favorable circumstances and no physician is more careful in keeping abreast of the times as to the latest discoveries and advancements in medicine and surgery. He has a well selected reference library and as he is a man of clear judgment and good powers of investigation, he is never satisfied until he arrives at the true solution of problems arising almost daily in his practice. The future is full of promise for him and to all young men who thus conscientiously devote themselves to their life's work.

JUDGE SOLOMON F. PROUTY.

The life record of Judge Solomon F. Prouty is a notable example of the fact that honesty is the best policy not only in business but in politics. Success that is won at the sacrifice of integrity or of principle is never that which wins for the possessor enduring admiration, regard and honor. These have come to Judge Prouty because of his fearless defence of what he has believed to be right, be- cause of his fidelity to duty at all times and under all circumstances and because of the efficiency of his service as a champion of that which works for progress and improvement both for the individual and for the community.

Hardships and privations were largely his life in early boyhood. His birth- place was a farm near Delaware in Delaware county, Ohio, his natal day being January 17, 1854. His father was of English lineage and his mother of Irish descent. While they were enroute for Iowa in the fall of 1855, attracted by the opportunities which they heard were here to be found by an agriculturist, the mother became ill and passed away. Saddened but not discouraged the father con- tinued his journey with his little family of five sons and a daughter, his destina- tion being Knoxville, in Marion county. A resolute fight was made to provide for the family but reverses came and the sons were compelled to start out in life for themselves.

Judge Prouty was then but nine years of age. For several years thereafter he worked at farm labor in the neighborhood of Pella, Iowa, receiving for his services only his board and clothing until at length he earned eight dollars per month at fall plowing. From boyhood he had an unquenchable desire for knowl- edge and studious habits have been his throughout his life. Even in his early youth when the summer seasons were periods of diligent toil he eagerly embraced the opportunity of attending the public schools in the winter months and also promoted his knowledge by reading and study at night. He was sixteen years of age when he sought to obtain a teacher's certificate in Mahaska county. He

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passed the required examination but after receiving his certificate did not have the courage to seek a school. He continued at farm labor until 1870, when he determined to secure a higher education and matriculated in the Central Univer- sity at Pella ; while subsequently he pursued a two years' course in Simpson Col- lege at Indianola, Iowa. He again entered the university at Pella and won his A. B. degree upon graduation there in the class of 1877 with valedictorian hon- ors. In order to meet personal expenses during his college days he did janitor work, sawed wood and performed other such service as could be obtained. In this manner he displayed the elemental strength of his character and a laudable ambition, which has prompted him ever to seek higher ground that his vision of life might be broader and fuller. In later years the university honored him with its vice presidency. During his senior year in college he was chosen a represen- tative of the Central University, at the state oratorical contest in Cedar Rapids in the fall of 1876, and there won the first prize. The following spring he repre- sented Iowa in the inter-state oratorical contest at Madison, Wisconsin, where he won the second prize in the discussion of the subject "Faith and Doubt as Motors of Action." Following his graduation Judge Prouty was elected pro- fessor of Latin and mathematics in the university and served with great satisfac- tion and success until 1882.

In the meantime he had taken a deep interest in political questions and his clear and advanced views made him a public leader. In 1879, when but twenty- five years of age, the republicans of Marion county made him their candidate for representative in the lower house of the eighteenth general assembly. He was elected and became a member of the legislature in January, 1880. The youngest of the members of the house was ten years his senior and the older men were inclined to question his ability, but he soon proved his worth, not only in his readiness in discussion but also in the clear and logical views which he held. He was made a member of the standing committees on schools, enrolled bills, fish and game, and normal schools and chairman of the committee on elec- tions. His previous experience had made him thoroughly familiar with school work and in the legislature he devoted much of his time to revising and amending the school laws. During the first week of the session he also introduced a bill to amend the law respecting the mileage and compensation of members and officers of the general assembly, which became a prominent subject of legislation on the floors of both houses and of discussion by the daily press of the state. It was well known that every member and officer of the legislature had a quantity of railroad passes which enabled him to travel to and from his home and to other points without paying therefor. One day, near the close of the session, Judge Prouty startled the house with a proposition to abolish the railroad pass and supported it with a speech on the iniquitous influence of the pass. He afterward said, "There was not a man in that general assembly who in his heart of hearts did not know it was wrong to allow one man to ride free and charge another man for transportation. Yet there was not a man in that one hundred and fifty mem- bers who would support me." His course incurred the intense displeasure of the railroad companies and caused him the loss of his seat in the next session, as he was not reelected. In his championship of the public schools he prepared a bill providing for uniform free text-books in each county, to be used in the public schools. This passed the house by a vote of seventy to twenty-two but was lost in the senate. Judge Prouty took an active and influential part in revising the insurance laws and making it difficult for insurance companies to escape the pay- ment of their liabilities on technicalities. His labors were also a strong force in securing the establishment of a reform school for girls at Mitchellville and he was equally effective in promoting the passage of a law to prevent and punish fraudulent banking and in securing an amendment to the constitution to render negroes eligible to seats in the legislature. The controversy which he started concerning the matter of mileage was finally compromised by fixing the com-

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pensation of members of the general assembly at five hundred and fifty dollars for each regular session and five cents per mile by the nearest traveled route in going to and from the place where the general assembly is held.

Judge Prouty not only became actively concerned in framing laws but also turned his attention to their interpretation, entering upon preparation for the bar while teaching in the university at Pella. In 1882 he was admitted to practice before the courts of the state. No dreary novitiate awaited him. Along with those qualities indispensable to a lawyer-a keen, rapid and logical mind plus the business sense and a ready capacity for hard work-he brought to the start- ing point of his legal career certain rare gifts-eloquence of language and a strong personality. For eight years he enjoyed an extensive and growing practice con- necting him with much important litigation tried in the courts of his district.

At the end of that time Judge Prouty removed to Des Moines, establishing his home here in 1892. In the capital city he became a partner of I. M. Earle and they soon became recognized as one of the strongest law firms of Central Iowa. His recognized ability led to his selection for judicial honors for which he was chosen by popular suffrage in 1898, becoming judge for the ninth judicial district. He served contemporaneously with Judges Bishop, Conrad and Holmes and under the rotation system of the court took his turn in the law, equity and crim- inal divisions on the bench. His decisions indicate strong mentality, careful analysis, a thorough knowledge of legal principles and an unbiased judgment, and his ability is evidenced in the fact that the records of the supreme court show a less percentage of reversals of his decisions than of any other district judge in the state. His opinions disclose clearness, conciseness and logic as well as a grasp of the real issues of a case and an understanding of the law applicable thereto. At the close of his term he declined renomination, wishing to devote his attention to private interests.

Since coming to Des Moines, in 1892, Judge Prouty has resided continuously in that city. He was first married, in 1880, to Miss Anna Livingston who died in 1884. On the 19th of January, 1887, Judge Prouty wedded Ida E. Warren, a daughter of R. B. and Emily S. (Bingaman) Warren, of Mahaska county, Iowa. Her father, one of the early settlers of the state, was a miller and farmer. He owned one of the first mills in Iowa and did milling for the settlers for forty miles around. He was a native of Tennessee and his wife of Kentucky and they were married in Van Buren county, Iowa. By his former marriage Judge Prouty has a daughter, Mary, now the wife of Benjamin Akin, of Plainfield, New Jersey. The children of his second marriage are: Evangeline, a student in the Northwestern University at Evanston, Illinois; Frances Lillian, who is studying in the same place; and Emily Josephine, a student in the public schools of Des Moines.

Since his retirement from the bench Judge Prouty has devoted his attention to his individual interests and political activities. He was one of the organizers of the Des Moines Knitting Factory and was equally active in forming the Des Moines Lumber Company and several other local successful business ventures. He also became engaged in the largest manufacture and exportation of walnut lumber in the United States. He is now the owner of an extensive rice growing plantation in Arkansas to which he devotes a portion of his time. Farming inter- ests have always claimed more or less of his attention and in agriculture as in other pursuits he has won success that comes from close application and untiring energy intelligently directed.

In politics Judge Prouty stands with the progressive republicans. He was a candidate for congress in 1902 and again in 1904 and at the second election was defeated by a majority of only two votes. In 1910 he was again nominated and this time was successful. No one who knows Judge Prouty or who is at all familiar with his record doubts for a moment that he will be other than the same honest, honorable and capable political leader he was when aiding in framing

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the legislation of Iowa many years ago. Fraternally he is well known as a thirty-second degree Mason and as a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen of America. He also belongs to the Pioneer Law Makers' Association and the Commercial Club of Des Moines, while in religious faith he is a Baptist.

His long life has been an exemplification of the closing words of his inter- state oration: "Skepticism is a land of perpetual snows, where flowers never bloom, and the plant of humanity never grows. Doubt, wherever found, paralyzes energy and congeals the wellspring of human activity. Faith gives life and energy. It is faith that moves the mind, it is the mind that moves the world." It may also be added that his life exemplifies the Biblical statement that "faith without works is doubt." While he believes in the oncoming of an advanced civilization he believes also that the duty lies upon every individual toward accom- plishing this end and throughout his life he has been a continuous and effective worker for progress and improvement. A local paper said of him, "He is of a nervous, sanguine temperament ; hopeful, ardent, never despondent ; determined, with a pertinacity of purpose, energetic, ambitious and always ready for a con- troversy. Socially he is genial, communicative and frank, is generous, charitable and companionable. He is a kind neighbor, a public-spirited citizen, and a true friend of the toiler in the shop or field. He is upright in all his dealings, positive in his convictions, honest and sincere in purpose, and at all times endeavors to serve the right."

DANIEL FORD.

The soldiers of the Civil war who upheld the stars and stripes are justly honored for their faithful services and as long as the name of liberty is known their memory will be revered. Many of the men who wore the blue were born in foreign lands and after coming to America freely offered their lives in de- fense of the republic. Among this number may be named Daniel Ford, who for a quarter of a century has been a respected resident of Des Moines. He was born near the famous Carrigrohane Castle in County Cork, Ireland, about three miles west of the city of Cork, May 3, 1842, his father and grandfather both of whom were named Daniel, having been born in the same neighborhood. The mother's maiden name was Margaret Lane. The father of our subject came to America in advance of his family, in 1849, landing at Mobile, Alabama, and the mother arrived with the children four years later. She landed at New York and proceeded to Chillicothe, Ohio, where the father was working on the construction of the Cincinnati & Marietta Railroad. After the completion of the road Mr. Ford and his family removed to New York state, where he entered the employ of the Saratoga & Sackett Harbor Railroad. In 1855, when the subject of this review was thirteen years of age, the family removed to Albemarle county, Virginia. now West Virginia, and four years later to Lewis county, where both of the parents, a brother and two sisters died.

Our subject and his brother Timothy both entered the Union army during the Civil war, the latter enlisting in 1861 as a member of Company A, Tenth West Virginia Volunteer Infantry. He was one of the first soldiers of the Union army to receive the white flag previous to the surrender of General Robert E. Lee at Appomattox. He proved a valiant soldier and was mustered out with the rank of lieutenant at the close of the war. Daniel Ford enlisted in 1863, serving for a year in Captain Wilkinson's Scouts as orderly sergeant and for a similar length of time in the Seventeenth West Virginia Infantry as a private. He was honorably discharged at Wheeling. West Virginia, July I, 1865. After the close of the war the brothers entered the contracting busi-

DANIEL FORD

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ness and assisted in building levees and railroads along the Mississippi river, continuing in the same line of work later in Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, Illi- nois, Kentucky and Tennessee.

In 1887 Daniel Ford came to Des Moines and for five years was employed in the state treasurer's office under Captain V. P. Twombly. It was during this time that he built the pleasant residence in which he now lives at No. 1734 East Grand avenue. After leaving the office of the state treasurer he went to Chicago and served as private assistant to Major R. W. McClaughry, who was chief of police of Chicago during the World's Fair. Since 1893 Mr. Ford has lived retired in this city. He did not possess advantages of a school educa- tion in his boyhood but is a good scholar, having spent a great deal of time in private study. A large part of his education has also been acquired in the great school of the world, from which have graduated many of the noblest char- acters in history.

On the Ist of November 1877, Mr. Ford married Miss Mary Burke, of Warren county, Ohio, a daughter of Patrick and Bridget (O'Donnell) Burke, who were natives of Ireland and came to America in 1850, being married in Cincinnati, Ohio, in March, 1853, by Archbishop Purcell. After residing in Ohio for five years, they came to Iowa in 1855, driving across the country, which at that time was the only means of travel. In their family were seven children, five of whom are still living. The mother died in 1910 but the father survives and is a prominent agriculturist living near Croton in Lee county, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Ford have six children: Daniel, born August 12, 1878, who married Susan Crilly and resides in New York city; Patrick V., born January 16, 1881 ; Timothy Burke, born June 1, 1883; Eugene, born February 23, 1885 ; Mary, born October 20, 1887; and Agnes Ann, born March II, 1891.

Mr. Ford has traveled extensively in various parts of the country and many years ago became well versed in human nature, which has been one of his favorite studies. He early imbibed a love for travel, and his influence and example have ever been directed in behalf of justice and honor. Politically he is a "standpat" republican and sincerely believes that the principles of the party of Lincoln are essential to the perpetuity of the nation. He is an ardent admirer of the writings of Lord Byron and is remarkably well informed on the history of Iowa. Recently he wrote a highly interesting paper upon "Where Marquette first landed in Iowa." An honorable and upright life has gained for him the confidence and good-will of all who have come within the circle of his influence. In religious belief he is a Catholic.

CLARK G. GEDDES.

Clark G. Geddes, who is one of the successful agriculturists and stockmen of Washington township, was born in Illinois on the 7th of March, 1871, and is a son of William and Mary L. (Knowlton) Geddes, natives of Canada. The father, who is a musician, engaged in agricultural pursuits, prior to locating in Illinois, but for many years he has devoted his entire attention to his profession. He continues to make his home in Illinois, but the mother is living on a farm ad- joining that of her son Clark G ..

The boyhood and youth of Clark G. Geddes were largely spent in Polk county, in whose district schools he acquired his early education. He later at- tended the public schools of Maxwell, Iowa, following which he pursued a com- mercial course in the Iowa Business College of Des Moines. After the com- pletion of his education he returned to the homestead, remaining with his mother until he attained his majority, when he rented a farm. He operated it until 1898, when he went to South Dakota, where he bought three hundred and twenty acres

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of land, which he improved and cultivated for three years. Disposing of his in- terests he then returned to Polk county and bought eighty acres in Washington township, which was improved and under cultivation. Although he still owns this property he is now renting it as he is living on the old homestead of one hundred and sixty acres. In connection with the operation of this farm he is raising stock, this being his specialty. He keeps forty head of cattle and ten horses and raises annually one hundred head of hogs and one hundred and eighty head of sheep. Mr. Geddes has always been very successful in his undertakings, both as a stockman and agriculturist.

In April, 1893, Mr. Geddes was united in marriage to Miss Minnie E. Gifford, a daughter of George W. and Susan (Snyder) Gifford, natives of Penn- sylvania. In 1870, as a youth of eighteen years, Mr. Gifford came to Iowa from his native state. For several years thereafter he worked as a farm hand, thus acquiring the money to buy eighty acres of land in Washington town- ship, to which he was later able to add another eighty, thus now being known as one of the best farms of the township. Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Geddes there have been born five children, in order of birth as follows : Mildred E., who is now seventeen years of age and is attending the Iowa State Teachers College at Cedar Falls, Iowa; Ronald G. and Donald G., twins, who are eleven years of age; and Joyce K. and Josephine K., also twins, aged three.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Geddes hold membership in the Methodist Protestant church, while fraternally he is a Mason, being affiliated with the lodge at Max- well, and he also belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America at Mingo. His political allegiance is given to the republican party, and for six years he served as clerk of Washington township and he has also acted in the capacity of school director. A good business man and an intelligent and progressive agriculturist, Mr. Geddes is meeting with enviable success in the direction of his interests.

CHARLES M. WHICHER, M. D.

Dr. Charles M. Whicher, the supreme medical director of The Homestead- ers at Des Moines, also enjoys a large private practice, making a specialty of the diseases of children. His birth occurred at Corry, Pennsylvania, on the Ioth of December, 1869, his parents being Samuel M. and Florence (Maples) Whicher, both of whom were natives of New York. At the time of the out- break of the Civil war the father enlisted for service in the Ninth New York Cavalry, remaining with that command until the cessation of hostilities and being discharged with the rank of lieutenant. After returning from the war he ac- cepted a position as traveling salesman for a tobacco house, being thus employed until he passed away at Corry, Pennsylvania, in June, 1872. Mrs. Whicher was called to her final rest in November, 1908.

Charles M. Whicher obtained his early education at Mayville, New York, being graduated from the high school with the class of 1887. He next entered Cornell University at Ithaca, New York, and was graduated from that institu- tion in 1892, while subsequently he took up the study of medicine in the uni- versity at Buffalo, New York, completing the prescribed course with the- class of 1896. Locating for practice at Carlsbad, New Mexico, he there followed his profession for thirteen years with good success. In 1909, on the death of Dr. Paul, he was elected supreme medical director of The Homesteaders at Des Moines, Iowa, the headquarters of the association being in the Securities build- ing. In addition to his duties in this connection he also takes care of an ex- tensive private practice. His labors as a physician have been attended with ex- cellent results and he is widely recognized as a skilled and able representative of his calling. He is also one of the principal stockholders of the firm of H. D.

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Copeland & Company, live stock commission merchants of Chicago, Illinois. During his residence in New Mexico he acted as chief surgeon of the Pecos Valley Lines of the Santa Fe Railroad for eight years.

In June, 1902, Dr. Whicher was united in marriage to Miss Sue Darlington Copeland, a daughter of Howard D. and Carrie (Custer) Copeland, who were natives of Ohio and Iowa respectively. The father was engaged in the banking business during the greater part of his active life and served as state bank ex- aminer for eight years. In 1907 he became president of the Chariton (Iowa) National Bank, holding the position until his death, which occurred in May, 1910. He acted as supreme treasurer of The Homesteaders and since his demise the duties of the office have been discharged by his widow. Mrs. Copeland, who is now fifty-two years of age, makes her home at Chariton, Iowa.

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Des Moines, the pioneer of municipal progress and reform of the middle West, together with the history of Polk County, Iowa, the largest, most populous and most prosperous county in the state of Iowa; Volume II, Part 111

Author: Brigham, Johnson, 1846-1936; Clarke (S.J.) Publishing Company, Chicago, pub Publication date: 1911 Publisher: Chicago, The S. J. Clarke publishing company Number of Pages: 1464

Author: Brigham, Johnson, 1846-1936; Clarke (S.J.) Publishing Company, Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Chicago, The S. J. Clarke publishing company
Number of Pages: 1464