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 139
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Thomas Jefferson Saylor was only a lad of six years when his mother and stepfather came to Iowa, in which state he has now made his home for more than seventy-five years. The educational advantages were very limited at that time, owing to the sparsely settled country, the failure of the territorial laws to make provision for schools, and the frequent trouble with the Indians which made any definite or systematic method impracticable outside of the villages. and thus Mr. Saylor's schooling was limited to a brief term in Valparaiso and two months in Van Buren county. However, he has been an observer, thinker and reader, and has also traveled quite extensively throughout the United States, thus becoming a much better educated man than many who have had the oppor- tunity of acquiring a high-school or academic course.
While yet very young he began assisting his stepfather in hauling supplies to the garrison and arrived there on his first trip on the 20th of February, 1844, being at that time but fourteen years of age. He reached Des Moines about the middle of the following May. Owing to his association with the Indians he quickly picked up the languages of the Sac, Fox, Pottawattamie and Winne- bago tribes, which made him of great assistance not only to his stepfather but to others who required the services of an interpreter. When the Rebellion broke out General Twiggs was in command of all of the forces west of the Mississippi river and south of the Canadian line, and he removed the troops to Arkansas and Texas, which left the settlers without adequate protection from the Indians. The savages took advantage of this state of affairs and began hostilities, and thus the settlers were forced to appeal to Governor Kirkwood for protection. The executive quickly responded by authorizing Judge John Mitchell at Fort Des Moines to raise a band of forty men and go to the aid of the defenceless. Mr. Saylor was one of the volunteers, his familiarity with the language of the tribes and the country making his services almost invaluable, and he remained away until the following summer. On the Ist of August, 1862, shortly after returning from the locality of the Indian troubles, he enlisted in Company E, Twenty-third Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and served until the
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close of the war. At the battle of Black River Bridge, Mississippi, on the 17th of May, 1863, the regiment to which he belonged lost its colonel and several line officers, as well as the sutler of the regiment, Alfred Lyon, and his step- father, John B. Saylor, became the sutler of the regiment, with which he re- mained until his death in the following July. Mr. Saylor saw much active service and was present at the capture of Mobile, Alabama, on the 15th of April, 1865, and the following morning they received word of the surrender of Lee and the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. They were held in Alabama for three weeks to muster out but the order was countermanded at the expira- tion of that period and they were sent to Texas to receive the government prop- erty from the rebels. They received their discharge at Harrisburg, Texas, on the 14th of August, 1865, and were sent to Davenport, Iowa, at which point they received their final discharge.
On the 16th of February, 1851, Mr. Saylor was united in marriage to Miss Adeline Nagle, a daughter of Franklin and Rebecca Nagle, natives of Ohio, who came to Iowa in 1846. Her mother died in Polk county in March, 1891, at the age of eighty-five years, and her father passed away in May, 1893, hav- ing lived to the venerable age of eighty-nine years. Mrs. Saylor is the fourth child in a family of twelve, her birth occurring on the 6th of October, 1832. Mr. and Mrs. Saylor became the parents of the following children: Alvedo Walter, who died at the age of eighteen months; John Franklin, who married Lottie Dean of Pennsylvania, and is now residing in Spokane, Washington ; Charies F., who married Jennie McFarland of Des Moines, and was formerly a resident of the capital city and traveled in the interest of the sugar beet industry under the direction of Secretary Wilson of the department of agri- culture, but his death occurred in May, 1911; Jennie D., who died at the age of seven years; Mary Rebecca, who died at the age of nineteen months; Lizzie Ione, the wife of Dr. Glaisyer, of Holly, Minnesota; Lillian May, who married John Mathis, of Des Moines, formerly the supervisor of the state experimental. farm at Cheyenne, Wyoming; William C., who died at the age of five years ; Mattie E., the wife of Wesley Enterline, who is now living with her parents; and Effie Bell, who married Charles D. Blackman, of Polk county.
Mr. and Mrs. Saylor attend the Methodist Episcopal church of which she is a member. They reside on seventy-four acres of land, section II, Saylor township, which he bought of the government for eighty-seven and one-half cents per acre. He was just old enough at the time to hold land under the territorial law and had taken one hundred and sixty acres, but having only entered eighty of the tract was compelled to surrender the remainder under the Des Moines river grant. This company was organized for the purpose of making the river navigable and was ceded the right to every alternate section for a distance of five miles lying on each side of the river. All during his absence at the time of the war his wife and family resided on the old home- stead, to which he returned when he came home. He has engaged in general farming during the greater part of his life and has been successful in his efforts in that direction. His place is improved, highly cultivated and considered one of the valuable properties of the county.
Mr. Saylor has been quite an extensive traveler and has seen all the points of interest between the Mississippi river and the Pacific coast from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico. His trips have been taken for both business and pleasure and he has quite extensive interests in the west. He owns one-half section of land in North Dakota, one hundred and sixty acres in Wyoming and two build- ing lots on the plaza at the mouth of the Columbia river. In addition to his extensive realty holdings Mr. Saylor has considerable mining stock in Oregon, having nine thousand shares in the Coma mine, one of the best mines in the west, and seven thousand six hundred and sixty-six shares in the Gold Issue mine, which lies next to the Coma and catches all the lodes that run across from the latter mine.
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Mr. Saylor is identified with the Masonic fraternity through his member- ship in Home Lodge, No. 370, A. F. & A. M., of Des Moines, while he keeps in touch with his comrades of old by means of Kinsman Post, No. 7, G. A. R., and also belongs to the Union Veteran Union. Ever since casting his first vote he has been a strong advocate of the principles of republicanism as adopted by the old whig party which later was absorbed by the republican faction. He has been quite an active participant in local politics, having filled various minor township offices, the duties of which he most faithfully and capably discharged. Mr. Saylor was awarded the prize at the last old settlers meeting for being the oldest resident. There were but eighty white men in the county when he first came here in 1844, and the two men who accompanied him swelled the number to eighty-three, and seventy-four of these were the enlisted men and officers of the garrison. Four were licensed Indian traders; James Ewing, William Phelps, John and Alexander Scott, and then there was the Indian agent and his interpreter and gunsmith. He has watched Des Moines develop from a little garrison into a city and the legislative center of the state, and many and interesting are the stories he relates of pioneer days, when the inhabitants worked and lived with their guns always at hand loaded and ready for use in case of an unexpected attack from the Indians. He has been one of the factors in the development of the community where he has resided for so many years and has many friends throughout the county by whom he is highly esteemed.
JAMES M. LINNANE.
By diligence and systematic application James M. Linnane, of Des Moines, has acquired high standing as a business man and his name is well known in many parts of Iowa, his recommendation being the substantial work which has been accomplished in plumbing and heating under his supervision. Born in Des Moines, September 23, 1862, he is a son of Thomas Linnane, who was born in Ireland in 1828 and died in Des Moines, March 6, 1910, at the age of eighty- two years. He was a cooper by trade, his father also having been a cooper in Ireland. Thomas Linnane made the first barrels that were manufactured in Des Moines. He and his wife, who bore the maiden name of Julia Fitzgerald, celebrated their golden wedding at Des Moines four months before his death. She was born in Ireland in 1835 and is still living in this city, making her home at the southwest corner of Eighth and Center streets. Eight of their children survive, namely: Mary, the wife of Daniel O'Connell, of Des Moines; James M .; Margaret, who married James Wallace, also of Des Moines; Thomas, who is married and lives at Rockford, Illinois; Julia, the wife of Frank Le Barr, of Des Moines; Timothy J., of Des Moines; Rose, who is living at home; Ed- ward, who is married and lives in Chicago; and Daniel, also at home.
James M. Linnane grew to manhood under favoring surroundings in a happy home and acquired his early education in the public schools of Des Moines. He began in the plumbing and heating business with the firm of Walsh & Polk and after two years became connected with E. H. Collins, with whom he con- tinued for two years. Having mastered his trade, he went to Omaha and worked for two years and then spent two years at Topeka, Kansas, at the end of which time he and his employers entered into partnership and engaged in business at Hutchinson, Kansas, where he remained for three years. He sold out in 1889 and went to Denver, but at the end of two years returned to his native city, hav- ing decided that conditions were more favorable there than in any other place he had seen. He entered the plumbing and heating business with Mr. Wallace, one of his former partners, and they opened a shop on Sixth avenue, moving to
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their present headquarters at 912 Walnut street, in August, 1908. They carry on an extensive business as contractors for heating and plumbing and have a branch office at Fort Dodge, Iowa, their operations extending all over the state. They employ about fifty persons. The business is well managed and the repu- tation of the firm is exceeded by no other concern of the kind in Iowa.
On the 14th of January, 1891, Mr. Linnane was married to Miss Mary She- han, who was born in Chicago, a daughter of John and Margaret (McCarthy) Shehan. Her father was a plumber by trade. He enlisted in the Civil war and served as a musician in one of the military bands. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Linnane: Margaret, who was graduated from the Des Moines high school in 1910 and is now a student of Trinity College, Washing- ton, D. C .; Regina, a student in St. Joseph's Academy ; and Francis Ward, who is deceased.
Mr. Linnane and his family are identified with the Catholic church and in politics he gives a willing support to the republican party, believing that its principles are highly important in the preservation of the liberties of the people. He takes a great interest in fraternal organizations and is a valued member of the Knights of Pythias, the Knights of Columbus, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Elks. . Ever since reaching manhood he has been active and efficient in business, and the high esteem in which he is held is evidence of his personal worth.
JESSE S. COMPTON.
The present mayor of Valley Junction, Jesse S. Compton, is a native son of Iowa, having been born in Earlham, this state, on the 30th of April, 1877. He is a son of Uriah and Mantie (Harris) Compton, both natives of the Buck- eye state, who removed to Earlham in 1874 and located on a farm belonging to Mr. Compton's father, which they operated for one year. At the end of that period they bought one hundred and sixty acres of land in O'Brien county, Iowa, upon which they settled. For sixteen years the father devoted his strength and energy to the improvement and cultivation of his farm, but on the 8th of May, 1894, he passed away. His widow is still living and makes her home with her son in Booneville, Iowa.
Jesse S. Compton spent the first thirteen years of his life on the farm in O'Brien county and in the district schools he acquired his preliminary educa- tion. After the death of his father, however, he returned to Earlham and entered the academy, where he remained for two years. When old enough to decide upon a vocation he chose farming and rented one hundred and sixty acres of land, which he cultivated for three years. Close application, energy and thrift enabled him to acquire sufficient capital to become a landowner and he took a trip through northern Minnesota and Dakota looking at the country. He spent about one year and a half in the north and west and then returned to Earlham, accepting a position with John P. Squire & Company, pork packers, of Boston, Massachusetts, which firm he still represents in this district, making his headquarters in Valley Junction.
On the 5th of January, 1908, the marriage of Mr. Compton and Mrs. Nettie Colgan was solemnized. Mrs. Compton is a daughter of John Adams, a native of Wisconsin. They have a pleasant home on Fifth street, the hospitality of which is graciously dispensed to their many friends. Mr. Compton's fraternal relations are confined to membership in the Masonic lodge and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Ever since age conferred upon him the full rights of citizenship he has been a strong supporter of the policy of the republican party,
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feeling that its basic principles best subserve the interests of the majority. He has always been quite active in politics and his party fealty has been rewarded by his being honored with the highest office in the municipality, which he is filling most acceptably to the community.
HARRY C. C. BRYANT.
Since boyhood Harry C. C. Bryant, of the Kahler-Bryant Shoe Company, has been identified with the shoe business in central Iowa and in Des Moines and enjoys a very wide circle of friends.
He was born at Boone, Iowa, February 12, 1874, his parents being Horace F. and Miranda (Williams) Bryant. Both father and mother were of English ex- traction, Mrs. Bryant tracing her ancestry back in an unbroken line to William the Conqueror. Mr. Bryant's parents emigrated from Pennsylvania to Boone, Iowa, in 1872. The father practiced dentistry in Boone until his death on March 7, 1906. The mother still survives and resides at the old home place in Boone.
Mr. Bryant's boyhood and youth was spent in the refining influence of a good home, his education being acquired in the Boone public schools. At the comple- tion of his junior year in the high school Harry Bryant became anxious to enter the business world and entered the employ of Canier Brothers and Herman, re- tail shoe dealers, as a clerk in their Boone store. Three years later his employers placed him in charge of their branch store at the neighboring town of Ogden, where he remained until transferred to another store of the company at Ames, at the end of the year. He continued to manage the Ames store for about two and a half years, when he returned to Boone and spent three years in the company's main store.
Mr. Bryant's connection with the shoe trade in Des Moines began in 1898, when he accepted a position with the W. L. White Shoe Company. Less than a year later he withdrew to enter the employ of Carl Kahler, Sr., who then con- ducted the shoe department in the Frankel department store. This establish- ment was destroyed by fire and Mr. Bryant went with Younker Brothers for one year. When Mr. Kahler organized the Carl Kahler Shoe Company, Mr. Bryant reentered his employ, becoming manager of the store. In 1910 Mr. Bryant acquired an interest in the establishment and the firm name was changed to the Kahler-Bryant Shoe Company.
In Boone, on March 23, 1910, Mr. Bryant was united in marriage with Mrs. Stella Porter, also a native of Iowa. They reside at 1421 Beaver avenue. Mr. Bryant is identified with the Masonic order, having passed the thirty-second de- gree of the Scottish rite, during which time he has filled various chairs. He also belongs to the B. P. O. E. and is a member of the Hyperion and Commercial Clubs.
GEORGE E. CROMLEY.
Among the young business men of Des Moines who have attained deserved success through application of right principles of industry and perseverance should be named George E. Cromley, cashier and salesman of the Flint Brick company. He is a native son of Iowa, born at Griswold, Cass county, Iowa, January 31, 1880, his parents being John F. and Mattie (Hewitt) Cromley, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania. The mother came to Iowa with her parents in her childhood and the father arrived in this state when he was about twenty years of age. He took up his residence at Indianola, Warren
HARRY C. C. BRYANT
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county. He was a registered pharmacist and engaged in the drug business at Indianola, removing in 1880 to Griswold, where he conducted a drug store in his own name for fourteen years. While following his business he studied medicine and was admitted to practice. Since 1894 he has been prominently engaged in the practice of his profession at Lamar, Missouri.
George E. Cromley was educated in the public schools of Griswold and Lamar, graduating from the Lamar high school in 1898. He then came to Des Moines and began the study of law in the office of Cummins, Hewitt & Wright, continuing with that firm and its successors for eight years. In 1906 he became connected with the Flint Brick Company, and has ever since been identified with that concern.
In May, 1909, Mr. Cromley was united in marriage to Miss Ethel Holaday, daughter of William Holaday, who is now engaged in business at Greenfield, Iowa. Politically he gives his support to the republican party. He is a mem- ber of the Grant and Hyperion Field and Motor Clubs, and fraternally is iden- tified with the Masonic order and the Knights of Pythias ..
ANDREW J. WHITE.
Seven years ago Andrew J. White came to Des Moines and entered the real- estate and investment business, believing this to be one of the most promising locations in the entire west. The test of his experience has proven that his judgment was correct and he now maintains flourishing offices, dealing in lands upon an extensive scale and every year opening up new possibilities. He is a native of Scotland, born June 2, 1862, and is a son of James White, who was born in Scotland in 1830. The father grew to manhood in his native land and possessing a laudable ambition to make a name for himself emigrated to America in 1867. He first took up his residence in Kendall county, Illinois, subsequently removing to a farm near La Grange in Cook county. In 1878 he was attracted to Greene county, Iowa, and there bought a tract of wild prai- rie land, which he proceeded to improve. Having made his place quite valu- able he disposed of it in 1892 and purchased a farm in Calhoun county, upon which he is now living. The mother of our subject was Margaret (Robert- son) White, a native of Scotland, who died in Calhoun County, Iowa, at the age of sixty years, from an attack of typhoid fever. There were nine children in the family, five of whom are now living, namely: Agnes, at home; Belle, the widow of John G. Harrison, of Calhoun county; Andrew J., the subject of this review; James S., who is married and lives in Calhoun county; and Marian, at home.
Andrew J. White was educated in the common schools of Illinois and Iowa, and later attended the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Chicago with the intention of practicing medicine but later decided to become an embalmer. He began his battle with the world in the mercantile business, in which he con- tinued for two years, and then became interested in the undertaking business, with which he was identified for twelve years. A portion of this time he trav- eled for the National Casket Company, handling a line of robes, caskets, em- balming instruments, etc. He was located for several years in Boone county, Iowa, where he successfully engaged in the undertaking business, and was twice elected county coroner, although there were four opponents in the field. In 1903 he came to Des Moines and since that time has devoted his attention to real estate and investments. He has succeeded in greatly encouraging emi- gration into the southwest, especially to Texas, and has shown' an adaptability to this calling that has produced gratifying results.
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On the 14th of September, 1887, Mr. White was united in marriage to Miss Mary J. McBurney, a native of Toronto, Canada, whose father, George McBurney, was born in the north of Ireland and became a successful farmer in Canada. Four children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. White : Beulah May, James Paul, Helen Constance Robertson and Andrew Robert, all of whom are at home.
By his pleasing address and genial manner Mr. White has made many. friends throughout the country who have great confidence in his business sagacity and judgment. His career has been one of advancement into larger avenues of re- sponsibility and the future gives bright promise of still greater victories. In religious belief he is a Presbyterian, and politically he gives his support to the republican party.
WILLIAM M. McFARLAND.
Six years ago the friends of William M. McFarland were called upon to mourn his death and although the perplexities of life and the cares of business have duly presented their claims, his memory has remained fresh in the minds of those who knew and loved him. A man of many generous and noble traits, he will not soon be forgotten. His services as newspaper editor and public officer created an influence that was felt throughout the state and plainly indi- cated that he was a man of unusual ability and sterling worth.
Mr. McFarland was born in Posey county, Indiana, April 1, 1848. He re- ceived his preliminary education in the country schools, later becoming a student in the Iowa Wesleyan University, at Mount Pleasant, Iowa, from which he was graduated in 1873. Immediately after graduation he went to California, where he remained for several years, teaching mathematics first in Georgetown, then in Napa College and finally becoming connected with the San Francisco Chronicle. Having decided upon a newspaper career, in 1876 he returned to Iowa and established the Brooklyn Chronicle, which he ably. conducted for eight years, when he moved to Estherville and purchased the Estherville Vindicator, of which he was for a number of years editor and proprietor. He was a re- markably clear and forcible writer and soon after entering the editorial field became recognized as a strong factor in the journalism of the state.
Politically Mr. McFarland was a stanch advocate of the republican party and on account of the advanced position which he took in all affairs pertaining to the state and nation he attained a wide prominence in politics. He served from Emmett county as a member of the twenty-second and twenty-third gen- eral assemblies and was one of the principal authors of the railway rate law now in force in the state of Iowa and also of many other measures of state- wide importance. In 1890 he was elected secretary of state and at the close of his term was reelected to the office by a vote which gave indisputable evidence of his popularity in the state to whose services he devoted the best years of his life. He was a prominent candidate on the republican ticket for governor at the time of the nomination of Governor Drake and for many years he was ex- ceedingly active in the councils of the party in Iowa.
On the 9th of April, 1879, Mr. McFarland was united in marriage to Miss Florence Conaway, a daughter of Dr. John Conaway, of Brooklyn, Iowa, and a sister of Freeman R. Conaway, of Des Moines. Two daughters were born to them, Frances and Wilma.
Mr. McFarland's death occurred July 15, 1905. He passed away in the plenitude of his powers, having reached the age of fifty-seven years, three months and fourteen days. The universal expression of regret from all parts of the state was proof of the high esteem in which he was held. For more
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than thirty years a resident of Iowa, he was intimately identified with its wel- fare, and few men in the state could claim a greater number of warm personal friends. Mrs. McFarland is now living in Des Moines, where she is well and favorably known. She has identified herself with its social life and is a valued member of the Woman's Club and an active worker in behalf of the juvenile court, which is one of the most worthy institutions of the city.
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