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 132
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WALTER K. WEISER.
One of the promising young business men of Grimes is Walter K. Weiser, who was born in the town where he has always resided on the 30th of August, 1891. His parents, Charles and Lena (Schoen) Weiser, natives of Ohio and Germany, respectively, have been residents of Polk county for more than twenty-five years. Charles Weiser came to this county in 1885, locating upon a farm of sixty-two acres, which he had bought, and in the cultivation of which he is still engaged. He also purchased a house and one acre of land in Grimes, which has always been the family home.
Walter K. Weiser acquired his education in the public schools of Grimes, graduating from the high school with the class of 1908, after which he attended the Iowa Business College of Des Moines, in order to obtain a better under- standing of commercial methods. Returning home upon the completion of his education, he assisted his father in the cultivation of the farm for more than a year, following which he entered the employ of the Grimes Canning & Preserv- ing Company, with whom he remained during the season. On the Ist of January, 19II, he accepted the position of manager of the Farmers Cooperative Company of Grimes, thus assuming the entire responsibility in connection with the super- vision of their elevator and coal business. As Mr. Weiser has not yet married he continues to make his home with his parents.
He is a communicant of the German Lutheran church, in the faith of which he was born and reared. As he has not yet attained his majority Mr. Weiser has not acquired the right of franchise, but he has given considerable thought and study to political questions and his views fully accord with the principles and policy of the democratic party, for whose candidates he intends to cast his first ballot in November. 1912. Although he is young to hold as 'responsible a position as he is filling Mr. Weiser has proven himself fully capable of satis- . factorily discharging the duties with which he has been intrusted.
RAYMOND A. BULLARD.
The spirit of self-reliance and progressiveness early took possession of Ray- mond .A. Bullard, and although still young in business he has gained a position of acknowledged standing in the community. He owes his advancement to an ability to meet the demands of the public, using trustworthy and honorable methods and thus gaining the respect and confidence of his patrons. Today he is one of the most prosperous opticians of Des Moines.
He was born at Spencer, Massachusetts, July 19, 1880, a son of George L. and Janet (Brewer) Bullard. The father is also a native of Spencer and is now prominently connected with the shoe manufacturing business. His paternal grandfather, Dexter Bullard, who was born in Spencer, in 1816 and was a pioneer in the manufacture of shoes, received on account of his many noble
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traits of character the title of the "grand old man." He served as superin- tendent of the water-works of the town and possessed unusual public spirit and enterprise. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Sophie Clapp, died in 1890. The grandfather on the mother's side was Dexter Brewer, a New England farmer of Quaker parentage, who passed away in 1890. The maiden name of his wife was Ann Richardson. Two children grew to maturity in the family of Mr. and Mrs. George L. Bullard: Raymond A., the subject of this review ; and Harry Dexter, now engaged in the shoe business at Milford, Massachusetts.
Raymond A. Bullard was educated in the public schools and in the Spencer high school, later attending Klein's College of Optics, at Boston, Massachusetts, from which he was graduated in 1901. He began his business career as a reporter on the Worcester (Massachusetts) Telegram, continuing in this capacity for four years, at the end of which time he became editor of the Spencer Sun. After a connection. of one year with the Freeman Optical Company, he entered the employ of the Columbian Optical Company of Omaha, Nebraska, continu- ing with that organization, which is the largest of the kind in the west. For three years before coming to Des Moines and after leaving the Columbian Optical Company, Mr. Bullard filled the office of vice president of the Omaha Optical Company, Omaha, Nebraska, the largest wholesale optical house west of the Mississippi river. On September 1, 1909, he opened a beautiful estab- lishment in Des Moines and although a comparatively recent comer, he is well known in the city and is now in charge of a lucrative and growing business. Owing to Mr. Bullard's wide and varied experience in all branches of optical work he today stands as one of the best qualified men in Iowa in his line of business.
Mr. Bullard has gained substantial recognition in Des Moines as a progres- sive business man and broad-minded citizen who is greatly interested in the development of the community. Able, faithful and conscientious in the dis- charge of his obligations, there is no doubt that his loyalty and patriotism will have ample opportunity for their exercise in years to come. Mr. and Mrs. Bullard are both members of the First Methodist church.
On the 25th of June, 1906, Mr. Bullard was united in marriage to Miss Floy McCready, of Oskaloosa, Iowa. She was the only child of W. W. and Lizzie (Chew) McCready, old time residents of Montezuma, Iowa, where her father was the leading attorney. While mayor of the city and at the untimely age of thirty-two years, his death came, leaving a vacancy in Montezuma public life that was found hard to fill. On the day of the funeral all business houses were closed and the entire town turned out to mourn its loss. At the time of his death Mr. McCready was also president of a large coal company operating near Montezuma. His wife, Lizzie (Chew) McCready, now residing with Mr. and Mrs. Bullard, is widely known in the vicinity of Montezuma and Oskaloosa, where she has lived the greater part of her life. For a number of years she was a school teacher in Union township, leaving her school duties to become the wife and able assistant of the rising young lawyer. She is a daughter of James S. Chew, Sr., of New Jersey, and Mary Griffith Chew, a member of a prominent Philadelphia family. Mr. and Mrs. Chew settled near Oskaloosa, Iowa, over fifty years ago.
Floy McCready Bullard is a perfect type of the western girl, gracefully combining in her personality the snap and energy of the west with the refine- ment and culture of her eastern ancestors. Mrs. Bullard graduated from the Montezuma high school and followed that with courses in the dramatic depart- ment of Drake University and the Columbia School of Oratory, Chicago. This training, supplemented with private instruction from masters in the art of expression, have placed Mrs. Bullard in the foremost rank of impersonators of the day. She has given many recitals on her tours throughout the country and
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was a successful instructor in the dramatic and physical training departments of Penn College and Iowa Christian College, both of Oskaloosa, Iowa, and the Dickerman School of Acting, Omaha, Nebraska.
Along with her histrionic ability, Mrs. Bullard early showed ability with her pen and has served on the most prominent newspapers in the state, being the only woman city editor of a daily newspaper in the state at the time of her joining the Press and Authors Club of Des Moines. She is a member of the Des Moines Woman's Club and several other smaller organizations. A con- scientious church woman, enthusiastic club woman and a sympathetic helpmeet bring forth the many qualities which have endeared Mrs. Bullard to her friends.
GUSTAF ALF.
One of the model farms of Polk county is the property of Gustaf Alf and consists of three hundred and twenty acres on section 13, Madison township. He was born in Sweden on the 20th of January, 1858, and emigrated to the United States in 1872, with his parents, Carl and Johanna (Jonson) Alf, also natives of Sweden. The father, who was a soldier, obtained permission from the Swedish government to come to the United States. Upon the arrival of the family in this country they made their way westward and located on a farm in Polk county, where the father ever after engaged in agricultural pursuits. He passed away in 1886 at the age of sixty-two years, but his wife is still living, although she has passed the ninety-first anniversary of her birth. They were the parents of seven children, two of whom died in Sweden, those living beside our subject being Charles and Alfred. The latter is married and has been engaged as a missionary in China for sixteen years, to which country he returned on the Ist of November, 1910, after a limited sojourn in America. He is a minister of the Swedish Evangelical church, under the supervision of which denomination he is now conducting his work. Charles has never married and resides in this state.
Gustaf Alf was fourteen years of age when his parents left the fatherland and the greater portion of his education therefore was acquired in the common schools of his native country. After his arrival here he attended the public schools for two years, however, in order to obtain a better knowledge of English. He remained a member of his father's household, assisting in the work of the farm, until he was eighteen years of age, and then hired out by the month as a farm hand for two years. During that period his thrift and temperate habits enabled him to amass sufficient capital to begin farming for himself and for three years he rented land. He possessed unusual faculties as a manager, which coupled with his tireless energy and close application, made it possible for him to buy one hundred and sixty acres of land at the end of that period, which tract formed the nucleus of his present homestead. It was unbroken and unimproved prairie when it came into his possession, but this fact but served as an incentive for added industry on his part and it was not long before the entire place was under cultivation. He engages in general farming and stock-raising, making a specialty of feeding cattle for the market, and he has met with more than mod- erate success in his ventures. He has added to his original tract and now owns one-half of the section on which he lives. He has recently expended three thou- sand dollars in tiling his land, his fences are good and although his barn was built seventeen years ago, it is a commodious and substantial structure. His house, which is now a thoroughly modern and comfortable residence, contains eight rooms, but when he first built it thirty years ago it had only six rooms, and in 1900 he remodeled and enlarged it. His entire place has an air of thrift and
GUSTAF ALF
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prosperity and his capable and competent supervision of details is the secret of his success.
In 1899 Mr. Alf completed his arrangements for a home of his own by his marriage to Miss Hannah E. Carlson, a daughter of P. A. and Matilda Carlson, natives of Sweden. The parents came to the United States in 1876 and located in Knox county, Illinois, where Mrs. Alf was born on the 3d of May, 1877. The father was a farmer up to the time of his death which occurred in 1901 at the age of sixty-nine years. The mother is still living, although she has now passed the sixty-seventh anniversary of her birth and makes her home in Madrid, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Carlson had four children. Two daughters beside Mrs. Alf are married and have families, while one child died when small.
Mr. and Mrs. Alf are members of the Swedish Mission church of Madrid, this state. Ever since granted the right of suffrage Mr. Alf has given his sup- port to the republican party, believing its policy of protection is best adapted to protect the interests of the majority. He has never taken an active part in political issues, having devoted the greater part of his time and energy to the development of his private interests. Nevertheless he can be found at the polls on election day, fulfilling the requirements of good citizenship by casting a vote for those candidates he feels are best qualified for the offices to which they have been nominated. During the long period of his residence in Madison township Mr. Alf has always shown himself to be a man of good business ability and sound integrity, and those who know him feel his success is due to well directed and honest effort and pay him the respect accorded such men.
HERMAN RAAZ.
Among the well known and successful men of Valley Junction, now retired from active business is Herman Raaz, who was born in Elmira, New York, on the 3d of September, 1858, a son of Christian and Susan Raaz, also natives of the Empire state. The father was a general contractor and followed that busi- ness in New York up to the time of his death in 1876. After the death of her husband, the mother removed to Iowa and made her home with her son Herman at Valley Junction and her other children living in the state. She passed away on her farm in Greene county, this state, in 1902.
Herman Raaz was reared in Elmira, New York, and acquired his education in the public schools. He remained a member of his father's household until he had reached the age of twenty years, at which time he decided to come west, believing, with Horace Greeley, that better opportunities were afforded here. In 1880 he located in Jefferson, Iowa, and engaged in cigar-making for two years, after which he removed to Rockwell City, this state. He opened a cloth- ing and men's furnishing goods store in the latter place, which he conducted until 1886. After disposing of this he removed to Rippey, Greene county, and engaged in the millinery and ladies' furnishing goods business and also worked in the bank there. At the end of two years he removed his stock to Centerville and after remaining there a similar length of time he sold his business and returned to Rippey, where he again engaged in banking. Three years later he went to Valley Junction and organized the First Valley Junction Bank, and con- ducted the same as a private institution for about fifteen years, when it was reorganized and operated under the name of the First Valley Junction Savings Bank until June, 1910. He then disposed of it to John A. Cavanaugh, who is the present manager. Mr. Raaz continues to be identified with the bank as a director and stockholder, and at the same time he has the supervision of the Farmers Savings Bank of Runnells, Iowa. He has an office in the Raaz build- ing and is now devoting almost his entire time to the management of his own Vol. II-55
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property. In addition to his beautiful residence on Fifth street he has extensive interests in both city and country real estate.
It was on the 6th of August, 1883, that Mr. Raaz was united in marriage to Miss Anna E. Craig, a daughter of Sinnett and Harriet (Lynn) Craig. The parents were natives of Scotland but emigrated to the United States and located on a farm near Canton, Fulton county, Illinois, in the pioneer days. The land was unbroken and unimproved prairie, which Mr. Craig cleared, and by close application and industry brought it to a high state of cultivation. They lived in Illinois for many years and in 1874 sold their property and removed to Iowa, settling on three hundred and twenty acres of land near Mitchellville, this county. This farm he also improved and thoroughly cultivated and at the time of his death in 1885 it was one of the valuable properties of the county. Mrs. Craig is still living and although she has passed the eightieth milestone on life's journey she retains full possession of her faculties and is in perfect health. She makes her home in Rippey. The married life of Mr. and Mrs. Raaz has been quite unusual in some respects but none the less beautiful, for she has always been associated with him in his business and has proven to be a most competent and capable partner. She is a woman with more than a local reputa- tion for her business qualifications and at the time of their retirement from the bank the following article appeared in the Des Moines Register and Leader : "When President Herman Raaz of the First Valley Junction Savings Bank disposed of the property to John Cavanaugh Wednesday and retired, the sale eliminated from banking activities in Polk county and central Iowa the only woman who has discharged the duties of cashier of an institution of this kind. The bank was established June 29, 1893, seventeen years to a day from the time Mr. Raaz sold to Mr. Cavanaugh. For fifteen years and a half, the entire time the bank was privately conducted, Mrs. A. E. Raaz, his wife, was cashier, and after its incorporation one and a half years ago, she continued in that capacity until the bank changed ownership, making a record as a banker, per- haps, held by no other woman in the state. It is said of Mrs. Raaz that she was quite familiar with the signatures of every business man and nearly all the men employed in the shops at Valley Junction to the extent that she never cashedi a check upon which the signature was not genuine. She was an adept at counting and paying out money, so much so, indeed, that it was sometimes suggested that she would have made a first class ticket seller and cashier for a great show. Mrs. Raaz has a remarkable recollection for faces, and it is said of her that there are few residents of Valley Junction who were not known to her personally or by sight. There are several women bankers in Iowa, but it is believed that Mrs. Raaz out ranks all of them in seniority. The First Valley Junction Savings Bank was established by Herman Raaz before the erection of the Rock Island shops at that point, and at a time when the promise it made to the ear of finance could easily have been broken to the hope. The location of the shops there eighteen years ago gave the town great impetus and the expectations placed in the future by Mr. and Mrs. Raaz was more than realized and it is said that they retire with a well earned and comfortable competence." Despite her long association with the world of finance and the demands made upon her time and strength by her position in the bank, Mrs. Raaz has lost none of her womanliness and takes great delight in the appointments of her home, over which she most graciously presides in the dispensation of its hos- pitality to her many friends.
Mr. Raaz has always taken an active interest in all political matters, particu- larly those of the municipality, and has at all times given his support to the candidates of the democratic party. For fourteen years he was treasurer of the school district and was also one of the organizers of the independent school district of Valley Junction. He is a member of the German Lutheran church and has been prominently connected with several fraternal organizations. He
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has attained high rank in the Masonic order, having passed through thirty-two degrees of the Scottish Rite. He is now a Knight Templar and also a member of the Mystic Shrine, besides which he holds membership in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks.
Mr. and Mrs. Raaz have been closely identified with the business and social life of Valley Junction for a period of nearly twenty years, and during that time they have shown themselves to be citizens who would be an acquisition to any community. They have retired with a comfortable competence but it has been acquired in a manner above question or reproach, and there are none but feel that the ease and comfort they now enjoy has been purchased by hard work and the faithful discharge of duties.
ROBERT TURNER.
A study of the lives of the successful men in any community invariably results in the conclusion that energy and industry when sustained by perseverance and determination enable their possessor to attain the goal to which he aspires. One of the most notable proofs of this in Des Moines is to be found in the career of Robert Turner, the president of the Iowa Boiler Works, who proved himself able to conquer the commercial world, his business power being evi- denced by the fact that he established and placed upon a substantial basis one of the first boiler works of the state.
He was born at Burnt Island, in Fifeshire, Scotland, on the 21st of Novem- ber, 1850, a son of Robert and Margaret (White) Turner. The father was the seventh generation bearing that name and was born in 1816 upon the farm in Fifeshire which had been presented to the first Robert Turner by the Duke of Bucclench for valor in the early wars of the Highlands. He was the eldest son of Robert and Isabella (Cowan) Turner, and for his wife chose Miss Margaret White, a daughter of John White, a well known veterinary surgeon of Fifeshire. She was also born in 1816 and passed away in 1876, having survived her husband fifteen years, his demise occurring in 1861.
The boyhood of Robert Turner contained little of the joy and happiness which is considered to be the heritage of every child. He was given the advan- tages of but limited schooling, but being an ambitious, hard working youth, he later acquired a very good education through his own efforts. Being the eldest of the family, at the age of ten he was compelled to lay aside his text-books and go to work, adding his meager earnings to the income which but inade- quately provided for their needs. At the age of thirteen years he went to Kinghorn, Scotland, to become an apprentice in the shipyards of John Key & Sons. Having completed his period of service in five years he was given a certificate bearing the date of July, 1870, and the signature of his employer, which he retained until the time of his death. He spent the following three years in the shipyards in the north of England, and then entered the employ of William Arnott & Company, marine boiler-makers, where he remained until September, 1875. For six years thereafter Mr. Turner worked at his trade, during which period by means of the thrift and careful management which characterized his nationality he acquired a limited capital. Having become convinced that better opportunities awaited him in America, he took passage for the United States, landing in this country on the IIth of April, 1881. On the 15th of the same month he arrived in Des Moines and the following day bought out the business which he continued to conduct until his demise. It was a very small enterprise at that time but under his capable supervision and competent business methods it developed into one of the largest boiler manu- facturing plants in Des Moines. In this venture he met with success which
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must be attributed to his thorough understanding of his trade, honorable busi- ness methods and well directed effort.
In Fifeshire, Scotland, on the 21st of May, 1875, Mr. Turner was united in marriage to Miss Anne Brownlee. Eight children were born of this union: Robert, whose birth occurred on the 23d of February, 1876, married Marie Camp and has one child, Fred, who was born in 1905. Margaret B. was born on the 6th of November, 1877, and married John Snure, by whom she had three children, Annie T., John T. and Jean T. William, born on the 22d of February, 1880, died in May of the same year. John, born in Des Moines on the 4th of June, 1881, died in the Philippines on the 13th of April, 1898, when engaged in the government service. David W., who was born in this city on the 7th of June, 1883, and married Mildred Nornan, was in his father's employ. Annie, also a native of Des Moines, is engaged in the millinery business. James Kenneth is interested in the lumber business. The youngest member of the family, Lillie Burnside, was born on the 30th of May, 1892, and is attending college.
Mr. Turner was very proud of his family, all of whom have become self- supporting and responsible members of society. They affiliate with the Presby- terian and Episcopal churches and Mr. Turner was a member of the Masonic fraternity, his identification being with Dunearn Lodge, No. 400, of Scotland, and Capital Lodge, of Des Moines. He also belonged to the Modern Woodmen of America and was chairman and a leading member of the Robert Burns annual birthday celebration. He was very fond of athletics and all outdoor sports, and took a deep interest in them. His political allegiance was given to the republican party, but office holding never had attraction for him as he preferred to concentrate his energies upon the business pursuits which long claimed his attention.
The death of Mr. Turner occurred on the 14th of August, 1911, when he was in the sixtieth year of his age, terminating an illness that had lasted for several weeks. His passing brought a sense of personal loss to many with whom he had been associated in business as well as in social life. He was in the truest sense of the term a self-made man, having risen from an obscure position in his native land to one of comfort and ease in this country through his own persistent efforts, intelligently directed. The respect which he was universally accorded was the well merited recognition of his worth.
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