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 142

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 142

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In a family of eight children Rev. Lester Perkins was the second in order of birth. His boyhood days were spent upon the home farm in Pennsylvania and for a short term each winter he attended the common schools, which, however, were very primitive in character as compared with those of the present day. Thus his time passed until he reached the age of fifteen, when his father pro- cured for him a scholarship in Allegheny College, but he decided to remain upon the farm and assist in its cultivation. When twelve years of age he was con- verted to Christianity, and religion became an all-absorbing theme to him. From an early age he was impressed with the idea that he ought to preach the gospel, and all through his life remained an exponent of the word, preaching through his daily acts and nobility of character as well as by word of mouth. Before he was twenty years of age he married Clarinda Eaton, on the 16th of April. 1848. Mrs. Perkins was born in Erie county, Pennsylvania, June 15, 1828, and was the second of the nine children of Ebenezer and Eunice (Shattuck) Eaton, natives of New Hampshire and Vermont respectively. In an early day her parents re- moved to Pennsylvania, where they lived until called to the home beyond.

When Mr. Perkins was married he possessed no capital other than a good constitution and strong determination to make the best of life. He chopped wood at fifteen cents a cord and threshed wheat with a flail for every tenth bushel. His father later deeded him fifty-six acres and he purchased a sixteen-acre tract, his contract allowing him ten years in which to complete the payment thereon, but within half that time he had freed it from all financial obligation. In Janu- ary, 1856, he attended a meeting which awakened in him a strong feeling that he ought to devote his life to the ministry. He consulted his wife upon this ques- tion and she heartily approved his course. In the spring of 1857 he preached his first sermon in his home neighborhood and, disposing of his farm in the fall of the same year, devoted his entire attention to the ministry. In 1857 he was sent by the Rev. M. Himebaugh, presiding elder, as a supply to Poynette, Wisconsin, and there his eloquence and earnestness succeeded in converting one hundred

LESTER PERKINS

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people to a belief in the Christian faith during the first four months in which he presided over that church. He was recommended to the conference which con- vened at Monroe, Wisconsin, but on his way there he stopped to preach at one of his appointments and so great was the interest shown that he was unable to attend. He was, however, admitted as a member of the Western Wisconsin conference and returned to Poynette, where he labored successfully for three years, being ordained at the end of the second year. He was next sent to Juda, where there was a small society. There he had six appointments to fill, and dur- ing his two years' stay at that place he erected two churches and a parsonage, and placed every department of the church work in good condition.

Following the outbreak of the Civil war Rev. Perkins, in July, 1862, enlisted one hundred and seven men in a week's time, and was made captain of his com- pany. On the organization of the regiment he was offered his choice of the posi- tion of major or chaplain, but illness prevented him from going to the front with his regiment-the Twenty-second Wisconsin. The following year he took charge of another circuit, but so thoroughly was his nervous system shattered that in 1864 he was obliged to abandon the ministry. Removing to Mount Vernon, Iowa, he engaged in business by selling nursery stock and was quite successful in that way. At Marion, Iowa, he formed the acquaintance of an agent of the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, who induced him to take up the work of life insurance, and in 1868 he removed to Des Moines, where he not only represented the life insurance company but also conducted quite an exten- sive real-estate business. In 1885 he was made state loan agent for the North- western Life Insurance Company, holding the position as long as his health per- mitted.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Perkins were born seven children, namely: Perry, Charles O., who died in 1908; Ella, the wife of E. B. Fagen; Frank; Kittie, who became the wife of Iris A. Bowen in 1890 and died in 1896; Jennie, who mar- ried George W. Tones in 1896 and died in 1910; and Bert. Perry and Frank are connected with the firm of Perkins & Perkins in the coal and lime business and Bert is in the electrical supply business under the name of the Perkins Elec- tric Company.

Mr. Perkins was ever a liberal donor to the church and while at Davenport gave a fourth of his possessions toward the erection of a house of worship. In politics he was a stanch repubilcan and a strong temperance man. He made for himself a leading place in business circles and his activity in religious and chari- table work was no less effective and far-reaching. He became a member of the First Methodist church when it was located on Fifth street on the site of the Iowa Loan & Trust Company building, and throughout the years he continued one of the representatives of its official board. His purposes were at all times honorable, his actions manly and sincere, and his record constitutes an example that anyone might well follow.

ROSS J. CLEMENS.

Ross J. Clemens, secretary and manager of the Riddell Automobile Com- pany, in which connection he is developing one of the leading business enterprises of this character in Des Moines, was born in Omaha, Nebraska, August 16, 1882. His education was acquired in the public schools of that city, which he attended to the age of fourteen years, when, feeling it incumbent upon him to provide for his own support, he started out in business life as an employe of the Standard Oil Company, at Omaha, doing clerical work. He remained with that company for five years, on the expiration of which period he came to Des Moines in May, 1903.

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Here he entered into business relations with the Standard Glass & Paint Company, of which he was elected secretary, filling the position for about three years. He next organized the Des Moines Cabinet Company in 1906 and be- came its secretary and treasurer, filling that position until November, 1909, when he was among the purchasers of the Riddell Automobile Company and became its secretary and manager. He is today one of the leading automobile dealers in Des Moines, the business for 1910 amounting to over two hundred thousand dollars. He handles the Overland cars and his business methods, together with the excellence of the motors, have brought him a large and grow- ing patronage. He still retains his interest in the Standard Glass & Paint Company, of which he is now treasurer, and he is also still secretary and treasurer of the Des Moines Cabinet Company. His business interests are thus varied and important and, although a young man, he has made for himself a prominent position in commercial and manufacturing circles of the city.

On the Ioth of September, 1908, in Des Moines, Mr. Clemens was united in marriage to Miss Maude Andrews, a daughter of A. J. Andrews and a native of Ohio, born June 1, 1885. They have one daughter, Ruth Elinor, born in Des Moines, July 12, 1909.

Mr. Clemens is a member of the Hyperion Club and of the United Commer- cial Travelers Association. He does not desire office but gives earnest support to the principles of the republican party and is especially interested in the pro- gressive movement which is now a strong feature in the party as it reaches out for higher and better things in government service. Mr. Clemens deserves much credit for what he has accomplished in a business way, for he started out in life a poor boy, his success being due to his own efforts and perseverance. Gradually working his way upward, he has proved his merit and his worth step by step and is today a controlling factor in business circles of importance.

MARTIN CAULFIELD.

Martin Caulfield, who resides on a farm of seventy-six acres on sections 18 and 19, Delaware township, was born in Xenia, Ohio, on the 8th of Febru- ary, 1868. His parents, Thomas and Mary (Donohogue) Caulfield, were natives of Ireland and emigrated to the United States in 1859. After about nine years residence in America they came to Iowa, locating in Polk county in 1868, and here they spent the remainder of their lives. The mother passed away on the 27th of February, 1888, at the age of fifty-eight years, and the father died on the 4th of May, 1906, having passed the seventy-sixth milestone on life's jour- ney at the time of his demise. They were the parents of two children, of whom Martin is the younger.

The boyhood and youth of Martin Caulfield were passed upon the farm of his father and differed but in details from those of the majority of country lads. He attended the district schools and early decided to become a farmer. He assisted his father in the cultivation of the home farm until his marriage, when he began working for himself. He has one of the well improved and carefully cultivated farms of Delaware township and engages in general farming and stock-raising.

Mr. Caulfield was united in marriage to Miss Jennie Welsh, of Guthrie county, this state, in February, 1900, and they have one child, Marie, whose birth occurred on the 15th of January, 1901. Mrs. Caulfield was the sixth child in a family of nine and was born on the 3Ist of October, 1875, being twenty-five years of age at the time of her marriage.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Caulfield are communicants of the Roman Catholic church, being members of the parish of the Church of the Visitation of Des

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Moines. Ever since acquiring the full rights of citizenship Mr. Caulfield has been a member of the democratic party. He does not take an active interest in politics; not being an aspirant to political honors or public office, but he fulfills the requirements of good citizenship by appearing at the polls on election day and casting his ballot for the candidates of the party of his choice.

A. B. HALLADAY.

Endowed by nature with a keen mentality which must always preface suc- cess at the bar, Arthur Bert Halladay is now engaged in the practice of law in Des Moines and has met with splendid success, owing to a comprehensive understanding of the principles of jurisprudence and ability to correctly apply the points of law to the points in litigation. He was born in Farmer City, Illinois, February 5, 1870, his parents being Wells J. and Ann M. Halladay, who were married January 16, 1867, the father being at that time but. twenty- three years of age. He was born May 9, 1844, in Kendall county, Illinois, and in 1854 removed with his father, Linas W. Halladay, to Bureau county, Illinois, at which time he located on a large farm about two miles north of Princeton. There the grandfather of our subject made his home until his death. He was born in the state of New York, August 30, 1814, and passed away January 30, 1885. He donated land for school purposes and on the old homestead stands a schoolhouse that is known all over the northern part of Illinois as the Old Halladay schoolhouse. It was there that Wells J. Halladay and his brothers and sisters acquired the greater part of their education. It is interesting to hear some of the early settlers tell how they walked for miles to attend the Halladay school, which was an old landmark of the locality, and of the methods of instruction that were then in vogue. The mother of Arthur B. Halladay also attended the same school and there she and her brothers and sisters began the mastery of the rudimentary branches of knowledge. Linas W. Halladay was considered one of the most influential as well as one of the most prosperous farmers in the vicinity of Princeton at the time of his death. He was a life- long republican and always looked out for the interests of his friends. He was of English descent and in the Empire state he married Annis Price.

Wells J. Halladay, reared upon the home farm, left the parental roof at the age of nineteen years to enlist as a member of Company I, Twelfth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, with which he served until the close of the Civil war, participating during that time in the celebrated march with Sherman to the sea. When the war was over he took up the occupation of farming as a life work and followed it continuously until 1902, when he retired from business and removed to the city of Princeton, Illinois, where he now resides. He has been a lifelong republican, unfaltering in his advocacy of the party. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Ann M. Sill, was born in Pennsylvania, May 28, 1844, and in 1854 accompanied her parents on their removal to Bureau county, Illinois. Her paternal ancestors came to America from Hesse-Darm- stadt, Germany, in 1760. Her father, Zachariah Sill, was born in Pennsylvania in 1817, and on July 13, 1841, was married to Caroline Eyler, of Bedford county, Pennsylvania. She was of German parentage and was born on October 5, 1819. From childhood to the time of her death at Farmer City, Illinois, October 23, 1874, she was a consistent Christian. By this union were born seven daughters and three sons, of whom Ann M. was next to the oldest. Zachariah Sill died at Joplin, Missouri, August 7, 1891. Two of his brothers were preachers of the gospel, one of them having a church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and the other in Ohio. Zachariah Sill was also a great Christian worker in the Lutheran church. He always followed the occupation of farm-

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ing, thus providing a good living for his family. He cast his first republican vote for Abraham Lincoln and from that time until his death continued an ardent advocate of the principles of the republican party. His daughter, Mrs. Halladay, after attending the country schools, continued her education in the college at Normal, Illinois. She was always a consistent and conscientious church worker of the Methodist Episcopal denomination, and Wells J. Halladay is a member of the same church, having been converted under the teachings of Billy Sunday. Mrs. Halladay passed away December 1, 1908.

The usual experiences of farm life fell to the lot of Arthur B. Halladay, for as soon as old enough to handle the plow he began work in the fields. In the winter months he attended the country schools until fourteen years of age, when he hired out to work for strangers and also learned to operate an engine. For several years thereafter he would work in the fields through the summer seasons and run an engine through the fall during threshing time. In this manner he earned money with which to continue his education in the winter months. Through several terms he attended the high school at Tiskilwa, Illinois, completing his course there at the age of nineteen. During the summer of 1889 he hired out again and from his wages saved enough money to pay. for a term at the Northern Illinois Normal at Dixon, Illinois. At the close of the term he went to the president of the college and explained his financial situa- tion. He was making preparation to leave the school and look for work when Professor J. B. Dille came to him and said: "I will see that you do not have to go away to look for work and will fix it so you can stay here until you can get a school to teach." He went into his private room and shortly returned with a certificate for another term's schooling which he had marked "paid." Mr. Halladay protested and did not want to take the certificate, as he had never thought of credit or a gift of that kind. Professor Dille, however, urged that he should accept, saying: "You can repay the money when you get to teaching and are able." Mr. Halladay finally decided to remain and continued in his classes for two or three weeks, when he was one day called to the office by Professor Dille who said they had a call for a teacher and asked if Mr. Halla- day would like the school. He replied that he would if he could obtain a certificate and was told there would be no trouble about that. The next day he took the examination and was given charge of a country school. In his teaching he met with remarkable success and throughout his life he has ever manifested deep felt gratitude to Professor Dille for his timely assistance. At the close of the winter term he returned to the college and not only repaid the loan or gift but also paid for another term of schooling. In the fall he again resorted to teaching and thus saved enough money to pay for another year's work at the college. He pursued the business, oratory, teacher's and scientific courses and completed the teacher's course by graduation in 1893. In the fall of the same year he accepted the position of principal of the schools of Bureau, Illinois, and the following year was made principal at Ladd, Illinois, at a larger salary. He remained there for two years and held a contract for the third vear when tendered the position of city superintendent at Spring Valley, Illinois. This he accepted after persuading the school board to release him from the contract at Ladd. He remained at Spring Valley for a year, at the end of which time he decided not to teach longer but to pursue a law course. He had met with splendid success in all of his school work and in every institution was given recommendations as being the best instructor ever employed at the school.

After the close of his year at Spring Valley Mr. Halladay returned to Dixon, Illinois, and took up the law course at the Northern Illinois College of Law, attending for two years and at the same time reviewing some of his scientific and classical work. He was often called upon to fill vacancies in the Dixon schools as well as to take charge of classes at the college and met the requests in this direction and at the same time carried on his work in the

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college without difficulty. He was graduated from the law course in 1900, receiving the LL. B. degree, and also that of Bachelor of Science. In Septem- ber, 1900, he came to Des Moines, where he entered the Drake University Law School, continuing his studies until January, 1901, at which time he successfully passed the required examination for admission to the bar before the supreme court. He immediately opened a law office in Des Moines, where he has since been engaged in practice with notable and satisfactory success. In seven years from the time he finished his high school course at Tiskilwa, Illinois, he had worked his way through college and advanced in the teacher's profession from a country school teacher to superintendent of schools in the largest. city in Bureau county. A few more years brought him to his admission to the bar and in the intervening decade he has gained for himself flattering recognition as an able lawyer of Des Moines. He has also acquired some property and is now the owner of real estate in Illinois, Oklahoma and Iowa, and also has interests in a mining proposition in Arizona.

On the 13th of May, 1905, Mr. Halladay was married to Miss Georgia W. Cole, a prominent music teacher of the city of Des Moines and a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Cole, of No. 1131 Twenty-eighth street. She was graduated from Drake Musical Conservatory with the class of 1903 and is still known as one of the city's most successful music teachers. She was born November 12, 1881, in Monongalia county, West Virginia, and with her parents removed to Union county, Iowa, in 1886. Her father farmed through the summer and taught school through the winter until 1892, when he was tendered the prin- cipalship of the Shannon City schools. He accepted the position and removed to Shannon City, Iowa, where he remained as principal for two years, after which he turned his attention to the newspaper business, editing and publishing the Shannon City Sun. In the fall of 1900, however, he removed to Des Moines to educate his children, of whom Mrs. Halladay is the eldest daughter.

The Cole family has long been established in Virginia, John H. Cole, the grandfather of Mrs. Halladay, having been born in Monongalia county, now West Virginia, in 1817. He died there in 1902, after devoting his life to farming and stock-raising interests in a successful manner. In 1843 he married Sabina Shively, who died in 1908. The Coles were of English lineage, while the Shivelys were of German descent. Mrs. Emma Cole, the mother of Mrs. Halladay, was a daughter of Amos C. and Martha Anderson, who lived in Monongalia county, West Virginia, and were married November 20, 1855. Amos Anderson, who was of Irish descent, was born in 1835, met with pros- perity in farming and stock-raising and died in 1902. His wife was born January 20, 1835. J. C. Cole and Emma Anderson attended the same school in Monongalia county, West Virginia, in childhood and were married July 18, 1880. The birth of Mrs. Cole occurred in Monongalia county, December 12, 1859. Both Mr. and Mrs. Cole and their family are members of the Christian church at University Place, Des Moines.

Mr. and Mrs. Halladay are members of the Mystic Toilers Lodge. He has held all of the offices of the organization, including that of secretary, and on the expiration of a two years' term in that position he was again made president and is now one of the past grand presidents. His wife has also held most of the offices of the organization and both belong to the Yeoman Lodge. Mrs. Halladay is also a devoted member of the Christian church at University Place and is identified with a number of church societies. Mr. Halladay is connected with the county and state bar associations and with the Republican Club. He has always been an active worker in the ranks of the republican party but has never sought nor desired office. He believes, however, that competent men should be selected for positions and that political measures should be for the benefit of the many rather than the few. In fact he is allied with that wing of the republican party known as progressives. In his life he has himself exem-

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plified the term progress, having made continuous advancement along lines which have brought him to a prominent position in professional circles and have gained for him the high regard and good will of those with whom he has come in contact.

JOHN M. DAY.

John M. Day, a distinguished business man of Des Moines at an early day and prominently associated with railway operations, was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, August 8, 1831. His father was an early settler of the Keystone state, to which he moved from New Jersey. Reared under the parental roof John M. Day pursued his education in the public schools and afterward spent four years as a student in Waynesburg College. When his college days were over he came to Iowa and entered the office of Corbin & Dow at Daven- port, who were at that time the leading attorneys and financiers of Iowa. In 1858 Mr. Day was admitted to the practice of law and shortly thereafter formed a partnership with James T. Lane, which partnership continued until 1868, when Mr. Day removed to Des Moines. After coming to Des Moines he ceased to practice law to any extent, his private business requiring all his time and attention.

He had not been here very long when he undertook the work of building the Des Moines & Minnesota Railroad, as that to Ames was then called. He succeeded in getting the road in operation. The opening excursion to Polk City will long be remembered by those who participated. This was the first instance where passengers were carried on a narrow gauge railroad in this part of the state, if not in any part. This line is the present Chicago & North- western branch from Des Moines to Ames.

Mr. Day was a man of generous impulses, of intense likes and also dislikes, but the latter were less permanent than the former and no one who did him a kindness was ever forgotten by him.

Mr. Day was married December 7, 1861, at La Claire, Scott county, Iowa, to Miss Jennie E. Rogers, a daughter of Robert H. Rogers, one of the leading business men at that time of the upper Mississippi, and a member of the house of representatives of the sixth assembly. Two children were born to them, both of whom are now deceased. Mr. Day passed out of this life on the 29th of September, 1896. at the age of sixty-five years.

EDWARD J. ASKEW.

On the list of the native sons of Polk county who have become prominently identified with mercantile interests stands the name of Edward J. Askew, of Valley Junction, who was born on the 4th of September, 1879, a son of Joseph and Mary (Taylor) Askew. The father was a native of England, while the mother was born in Illinois. They came to Iowa and located on a farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Polk county, which the father cleared and brought to a high state of cultivation. He retired from active work in 1890 and removed to Des Moines, but after residing there for a time he came to Valley Junction and here in 1893 he passed away. His wife survived him for fourteen years but in 1907, she, too, died.

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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 142

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