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 149

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 149

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JOHN OLSON.

The well known characteristics of thrift and industry which predominate in the native sons of Sweden are exemplified in the career of John Olson, who was born in Helsenburg, Sweden, June 19, 1862, a son of Christian John and Cecilia (Benson) Olson. The father was a well known and wealthy stock- raiser, making a specialty of feeding cattle for the market. His death occurred in Sweden in 1902.

John Olson was educated in the public schools of his native land and was apprenticed to the mason's and carpenter's trades, paying his way while learning,

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as is the custom in the old country. He worked for three years at each trade and received a certificate of efficiency, and then, learning that there were broader fields of industry in the new world, he emigrated to the United States, locating in Des Moines in 1882, and here engaged in the stone contracting business for a short period. He later took up contract work along the same line for the Chi- cago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, with which he was connected for six years. In 1887. he returned to Des Moines, where he has since continued to follow contracting and building and has erected many of the notable buildings in Des Moines, among them being the insane asylum. Mr. Olson has prospered, his success being the logical result of well applied diligence and unfaltering perseverance, and he is today one of the substantial and honored citizens of Des Moines, where he owns a considerable amount of valuable real estate.

On May 1, 1888, Mr. Olson was united in marriage to Miss Augusta Swan- son, and they have become the parents of the following children: Albert L., born August II, 1890, who is a salesman for the Donavan Shoe Company ; Hazel E., born April 7, 1892, who was graduated from the high school and is now employed in the store of Mandelbaum & Sons; and Elmer O., born October IO, 1893, who is also employed by Mandelbaum & Sons.

Mr. Olson exercises his right of franchise by voting the republican ticket In religion he follows the tenets of the Presbyterian church, and fraternally he has attained to the thirty-second degree in the Masonic order, being also a mem- ber of the Mystic Shrine. He is a man of unquestioned integrity and his many excellent personal qualities are evidenced by his genial nature and the affection he has always maintained for his home ties. He is a man worthy in every re- spect of the high esteem in which he is held by his numerous friends. The family now reside at 1725 East Twelfth street, where Mr. Olson erected a new home in 1911.

WILLIAM F. CRAM.

William F. Cram has been closely associated with the commercial interests of Des Moines since 1901, when he became secretary and manager of the Iowa Drug Company. He had previously had extended experience in this field of labor and, splendidly equipped for his present position, he has carefully, syste- matically and widely controlled the interests under his direction, his labors bring- ing a substantial measure of success to the company which he now officially rep- resents. He was born in Boston, Massachusetts, January 25, 1856.

His father, George C. Cram, was a native of Burlington, Vermont, and his life record covered the intervening period from 1827 until his death in 1907. For a long period he was engaged in the packing business in Boston. He mar- ried Agnes Jackson, who was born in Preston, England, in 1831, and was a granddaughter of Dr. Templeton, who was a surgeon in the British army dur- ing the Revolutionary war. On the paternal side the ancestry is traced back to colonial days and the family was represented in the American army of the war for independence. The sisters of William F. Cram are connected with the Daughters of the American Revolution. In the father's family were nine chil- dren, of whom the following are living. Elizabeth, residing in Marseilles, Illinois ; William F., of this review; Jennie, the wife of C. M. Hobart, of Omaha; Ralph, who is married and lives in Ottawa, Illinois; Lewis, also married, making his home in Chicago; and Lillian, the widow of J. F. Taylor, of Kansas City.

During the period of William F. Cram's childhood the family removed west- ward to Chicago and he pursued his education in the public schools of that city, passing through consecutive grades until he was graduated from the high school. Thinking to find the drug business congenial and hoping to find it

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profitable, he prepared for his chosen calling as a student in the College of Pharmacy of Chicago. His first work in that connection was in the management of a retail drug house of Moline, Illinois, where he conducted a store for ten years, on the expiration of which period he sold out and went upon the road as traveling salesman for the well known drug house of Meyer Brothers of St. Louis, whom he represented for sixteen years. He became widely known to the trade in that time and was very popular with many of his patrons. He removed to Des Moines in June, 1896, but still continued traveling for the St. Louis drug company until 1901, when he localized his business interests by becoming secretary and manager of the Iowa Drug Company, of which George E. King is the president. This is a wholesale enterprise of large proportions and its success in the past ten years is attributable in very great measure to the efforts. business activity and unfaltering enterprise of Mr. Cram. He is watch- ful of all the details pointing to success, closely studies the conditions of the trade and endeavors at all times to meet the wants of his patrons.

In June, 1877, Mr. Cram was united in marriage to Miss Anna E. Stroh, who was born in Oregon, Illinois, a daughter of Luther Stroh, a contractor, and Mrs. M. (Rine) Stroh. By this marriage have been born three children; B. H., who is married and is connected with the Iowa Drug Company ; Agnes, the wife of F. P. Carr; and Anna, yet under the parental roof.

The family residence is at 551 Thirty-fifth street. They are members of the Congregational church and Mr. Cram is well known and popular in various fraternal organizations and associations, holding membership with the Masons, the Elks, the Iowa State Traveling Men's Association, the Iowa Commercial Men's Association and the Travelers Protective Association. He also belongs to the Golf and Country Club, the Grand View Golf Club and the Grant Club, his chief source of recreation being golf. In politics he is a republican. He has made steady progress from the outset of his business career and his present enviable position is the evidence of his business ability and intelligently directed energy.

CHARLES F. MILLER.

No other country of the world offers such inducements to the business man as America, and it is doubtful whether any state in the Union presents better opportunities along lines of material development than Iowa. Centrally located and with an easy access of the great plains region, also of the northwest and southwest, no more convenient vantage ground could be selected for a dealer in real estate or farm lands. So it seemed to Charles F. Miller ten or twelve years ago when he decided to go into the land business in Iowa, and he located in Des Moines about four years ago.

Born in Knox county, Illinois, February 4. 1869, he is the son of Josiah and . Sarah C. (Eveland) Miller, the former of whom was born in Highland county, Ohio, October 10. 1844, and the latter in Morgan county, Ohio, April 29, 1848. The father was one of the prominent farmers and stockmen of his region and was the head of a family of nine children, namely: Ida, now the wife of F. L. Hollibaugh, of Des Moines; Charles F., the subject of this review; Hattie, the wife of J. P. Nichol of Union county, Iowa; May, the wife of Rev. W. W. Hart, of Montana; W. A., of Jasper county, Indiana; Lulu, the wife of Bert Webb, of Wichita, Kansas; Nora, now Mrs. Edward Fuger, of Dighton, Kan- sas ; and J. A. and Floyd, both of Union county, Iowa.

Charles F. Miller was educated in the district schools and early learned from his father the various steps in agriculture and stock-raising that produce the most satisfactory returns. He began his business career as a farmer, a voca- tion with which he has since almost continuously been identified. He has had

C. F. MILLER

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practical acquaintance with various parts of the country and spent five years mining for gold in Colorado and Nevada. About 1899 he began to concentrate his attention upon the real-estate business and since that time he has disposed of many tracts of land in the south and the west, his efforts now being directed to the disposal of Texas lands and also to the encouragement of immigration. His firm owns large bodies of land in Texas, New Mexico and Florida, and has attained a position enabling it to meet almost any demand that comes from in- vestors.

In 1889 Mr. Miller was united in marriage to Miss Nettie Bevington, a native of Ringgold county, Iowa, a daughter of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Newton) Bevington, the former of whom was for a number of years identified with the agricultural interests of the county. Two children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Miller: Lola, who is a graduate of the North high school of the class of 1911; and Fern, a student of the Hubbell school.

Mr. Miller ever since reaching manhood has voted the democratic ticket and is untiring in his support of the principles of the party. Religiously he affiliates with the Christian church, being a strong believer of the interpretations of the Bible as expounded by leaders of that denomination. Fraternally he is con- nected with the Odd Fellows, the Rebekahs, Knights of Pythias, Modern Wood- men of America and the Mystic Toilers, and in the various relations of life he seeks to apply from day to day the kindly principles of those beneficent organ- izations.

FRANK CRAM.

Frank Cram, a well known and successful contractor of Des Moines, was born in Madison county, Iowa, on the 10th of October, 1866, a son of Martin and Matilda (Childers) Cram, who were pioneers of this state and bore an important part in its development and upbuilding. They came overland, making the journey by team and wagon, and later the father drove a stagecoach across the prairies. They were married in Winterset, Madison county, where Mrs. Cram's father, Benjamin Childers, was a prominent citizen.

Frank Cram acquired his education in a country school five miles east of Des Moines and after laying aside his text-books engaged in teaming for seven years in the employ of others. In 1892 he embarked in the same business on his own account, buying several teams and taking contracts principally for excavations and foundations. He has prospered to such an extent that today he is considered one of the leading men in his branch of industry in the city. For the past fifteen years he has done the excavation for the most important buildings in Des Moines and during this time has added to his business, becom- ing a dealer in building materials, contractors' supplies, brick, mortar, cement, etc. He has brought the latter part of his business to a point where he expects shortly to turn over the actual management to his sons.

On the 17th of February, 1888, Mr. Cram was united in marriage to Miss Martha E. Blacketer, a daughter of Huston and Mary Blacketer, both of whom were pioneers of Des Moines. Mr. and Mrs. Cram have become the parents of ten children, as follows: Mabel A., who was born September 30, 1889, and is now the wife of A. O. Clark; Frederick W., born May 15, 1891; Albert L., who was born February 13, 1893, and is a graduate of the Capital City Com- mercial College; Myrtle M., who was born October 6, 1895, and is now attend- ing high school; Harry E., born June 23, 1897; Flossie B., born June 12, 1899; Gladys M., born January II, 1901 ; Clifford L., born November II, 1903; Winnie B., born November 27, 1906; and Margaret L., born July 7, 191I.

In his political relations Mr. Cram is a progressive republican and in religion supports the tenets of the United Brethren church. Fraternally he is affiliated Vol. II-62

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with the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He is a man of domestic tastes, a devoted father and takes great pride in the accomplishments of his children. He is a genial, sociable gentleman personally, as is attested by the warm regard in which he is held by many friends, and in business he stands for all that is upright and honest-a man who is in every way a credit to the city of Des Moines.

EGBERT L. LLOYD.

It requires energy, persistence and discernment as well as sound business judgment for a man to reach and hold a place in the commercial circles of large cities, but E. L. Lloyd is today at the head of two important concerns in Des Moines. He is a native of White Rose, Whitchurch township, York county, Ontario, Canada, and was born January II, 1876, a son of Charles and Jane (Coulter) Lloyd, both of whom were born in Canada. The father, who was a farmer, died at the age of fifty-one years, while the mother passed away March parents on both sides were the first to emigrate and took up their residence in Canada. Their descendants are now to be found in various parts of Canada 4, 1892. The Lloyds came to America from the northern part of England and the ancestors on the maternal side also came from that country. The grand- and the United States.

Egbert L. Lloyd received his education in the public schools of his home township until he reached the age of sixteen. As he grew to manhood he was employed during the summer months on the neighboring farms. After leaving school he engaged with a farmer for an entire year and at the end of that time received his wages in one sum, amounting to forty-four dollars. He was twenty years of age when his father died and, having previously lost his mother, there were no ties to bind him to his old home and he started out to meet the world. He went to Detroit, Michigan, and began learning the trade of stove plate mold- ing, which he followed for about a year. This occupation, however, did not appeal to his fancy and he resigned his position, traveling westward to Chicago, where he spent only a short time. He found employment at putting in timbers in the mines for the Milwaukee Railway Company at Braceville, Illinois, and passed through various positions, including those of assistant blacksmith, car inspector and bookkeeper, continuing with that company for about one year. In 1896 he arrived at Oskaloosa, Iowa, and secured a position with the Garfield Coal Company, of which he became general sales agent. He was with that company about five years and in the course of that time became well acquainted with the coal business. About 1901 he came to Des Moines and entered the employ of the Consolidated Coal Company as general sales agent, in which position he continued for three years. He then resigned, having become inter- ested in the lumber business, and organized the Star Lumber Company, Incor- porated, of which he was made president, E. D. Landree, of Atlanta, Missouri, becoming vice president and general manager. The headquarters of the com- pany are at Des Moines and it handles all kinds of mine materials, mine supports, saw ties, railroad ties, etc. Under capable management the business has grown rapidly and the company is now known in the principal states of the west. It owns about eight hundred acres in one of the best timber belts of the state. Mr. Lloyd is also president of the Evans-Lloyd Fuel Company, the largest retail coal company in the city, of which he has been the head since May I, 1908. He owns three hundred and sixty acres of good farm land in Davis county, Iowa, which he is now renting, his principal energies being devoted to the enter- prises in Des Moines which are among the large and growing concerns and call for an extensive experience and special ability on the part of the officers.

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In religious belief Mr. Lloyd affiliates with the Methodist church and fra- ternally he is identified with Capital Lodge No. 110, A. F. & A. M., and the Elks. In politics he adheres to the republican party and socially he is a valued member of the Grant and Hyperion Clubs. He is fond of hunting and fishing and makes a trip each summer to the Great Lakes and in winter finds time to camp and hunt in the southern pines. His progress from his entrance into business life has been toward larger responsibility and he has always proven equal to solving the problems as they appeared. He owes his success principally to promptness in meeting emergencies, clearness of perception and courage in taking advantage of opportunities which perhaps others did not so clearly per- ceive. He has never used questionable methods and is therefore justly entitled to the high esteem in which he is held by his business associates and the com- munity at large.

J. MARTIN ERICKSON.

One of the most versatile and artistic members of the commercial fraternity in Des Moines is J. Martin Erickson, who is one of ten children born to John and Anne G. (Hultgren) Erickson, and his birth occurred in Sweden in 1879. The family emigrated to the United States in 1880, locating upon a farm near Chariton, Iowa, where the father engaged in agricultural pursuits until his demise.

Being about two years of age when he left his native land, J. Martin Erick- son has spent practically his entire life in America, having acquired his educa- tion in the common schools of Iowa. While still very young he gave marked evidence of possessing artistic ability. He could draw with unusual skill and precision and also displayed more than average musical ability, having an excel- lent and quite accurate sense of pitch as well as keen appreciation of rythm and harmony. These, when combined with an imagination far more vivid and original than that of the majority of children, stamped him as precocious. His artistic tastes and ability were undoubtedly inherited from his mother, who possessed much the same nature and qualities, although possibly less marked. Not, however, until he had attained his majority was Mr. Erickson able to gratify his longing to study art. At that time he became a pupil of Professor Neal, of St. Louis, in water color, and later he went to Chicago, where he studied under Miss Gertrude Estabrook. Returning to Des Moines he took a course in china painting under Mrs. Carter and figure and still life under Mrs. Lease. For two years he was identified with the Chariton Commercial College where he had classes in drawing and water color. He became a resident of Des Moines in 1908, since which time he has twice exhibited his work at the state fair, where he was awarded many of the prizes. At the Hoyt Sherman exhibit in 1909 he carried off all of the first honors for ceramic decoration.

Mr. Erickson has also devoted considerable attention to music and has written several compositions which have been published. He is also a student at the Mid Western Conservatory of Music, having a very high, robust tenor voice, which they say will place him among the greatest of living singers. He has achieved great distinction in the field of literature and now has three novels in the hands of publishers, all of which have been accepted and will shortly be issued, while his ability as a short story writer has had wide recognition. Many of his contributions having been accepted and published in Harper's, Munsey's and Young's magazines, while he is acting as special correspondent to the Chicago Record Herald and Men and Women's Magazine. Owing to the demise of his father, his brother Erick G. Erickson came to Des Moines and J. Martin Erick- son united with him in the purchase of the Richardson Cafe. on Locust street,

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but which recently burned, leaving the brothers to sustain heavy losses, there being only a small insurance on the place.

Mr. Erickson attends the Methodist Episcopal church, with which he is affiliated by membership, while he is also identified with the Homesteaders lodge. His political support is accorded the democratic party, but as he has never aspired to a position in public life he does not actively participate in civic affairs.

CYRUS KIRK.

Among those men who, by their personal worth and their own unaided ef- forts, have risen from the humblest walks of life to fill the highest official posi- tions, and whose records should afford example and inspiration to the youth of today, is Cyrus Kirk, president of the Equitable Life Insurance Company of Iowa.

Mr. Kirk was born on a farm in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, June I, 1844, a son of Jacob L. and Jane (Milner) Kirk. His parents were of good old Quaker stock, and their families were numbered among the oldest established in Pennsylvania. His mother was of English origin, while the paternal line is traced back to Roger Kirk, one of three brothers who were the progenitors of the American family and of whom our subject is a descendant in the sixth generation. The line of descent is designated by Roman numerals in the follow- ing :

I. Roger Kirk, a native of the north of Ireland, emigrated to America not later than 1712 and located in East Nottingham, province of Pennsylvania, in what is now the southern part of Chester county. Here he purchased large tracts of land along Northeast creek and engaged in farming and weaving. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Nathaniel and Mary Richards, of Ashton, Penn- sylvania.

II. Timothy, eldest son of Roger and Elizabeth Kirk, married Ann, daugh- ter of Elisha and Rachel Gatchell.

III. Roger, second son of Timothy and Ann Kirk, served as a captain in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary war. He married Rachel, daughter of Elisha and Mary Hughes.

IV. Levi, sixth son of Roger and Rachel Kirk, married Rachel, daughter of Jacob and Rachel (Allen) Kirk, who was also a descendant of Roger Kirk through another line, namely: Roger (1), William (2), and Jacob (3).

V. Jacob L., only child of Levi and Rachel Kirk, married Jane M., daugh- ter of Cyrus and Sarah Milner, of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and had seven children, all of whom arrived at maturity. The three eldest, Sarah, Ruth and Levi, are now deceased. Those surviving are: Mrs. Rachel Miller, of Glen Roy, Chester county, Pennsylvania; Cyrus Kirk, the subject of this sketch; Jacob F. Kirk, vice president of the Consolidated Lamp & Glass Company, of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania; and Thaddeus S., who was for forty years identified with the Jones & Laughlin Steel Company and is now engaged in real-estate business in Pittsburg.

Jacob L. Kirk was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, January 31, 1814, and devoted his life to farming and merchandising in that and Lancaster counties. His death occurred in 1872, while his wife passed away in 1848 at the age of thirty-two years.

Spending his boyhood on his father's farm, Cyrus Kirk had only such educa- tional advantages as were afforded by the country schools of that day. But be- ing of a studious nature, he has endeavored throughout his life to acquire by study and experience the advantages that were denied him in his youth.

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At the outbreak of the Civil war, he responded to the call for volunteers to . defend the union of the states, and in September, 1861, at the age of seventeen, enlisted as a corporal in Company E, Purnell's Legion, Maryland Volunteer Infantry, and served in the Army of the Potomac until mustered out at Balti- more in October, 1864. His regiment participated in many of the engagements of the Army of the Potomac, the first of importance being at Antietam, and the last at Petersburg. During the last fifteen months of his service he was on detached duty as clerk to Colonel S. M. Bowman and General William Birney. An elder brother, Levi Kirk, served also throughout the war, as orderly sergeant of the same company.

At the close of the war, Mr. Kirk engaged in blacksmithing near his old home, but, acting upon the advice of Horace Greeley, came west in the spring of 1867 and settled in Des Moines, then a village of about seven thousand popu- lation. For a short time he engaged in blacksmithing here; then in the grocery business ; and later in milling and grain buying, in which he continued until 1875.

In October of the latter year, Mr. Kirk became connected with The Equit- able Life Insurance Company of Iowa, and since that date, covering a period of thirty-six years, has been identified with the upbuilding of that enterprise. He entered the employ of the company as bookkeeper, was promoted to the office of assistant secretary in 1882, and to that of secretary in 1888. In 1891 he was made vice president and general manager, and was elected president Jan- uary 8, 1907. Mr. Kirk's management of the company has always been along conservative lines, believing that safety should be the fundamental principle in the handling of trust funds. However, he has not been lacking in the progressive and initiative qualities so essential to success in these days of strong competi- tion. During his administration the Equitable has enjoyed a rapid, though sub- stantial growth, which has placed it among the best known, strong and conserva- tive insurance companies of this country. When Mr. Kirk assumed the man- agement of the company, its assets were six hundred and forty-four thou- sand six hundred and fifty-six dollars, and its insurance in force amounted to two and a half millions; while on January 1, 1911, it had assets of ten millions, and insurance in force of fifty million six hundred nineteen thousand dollars. To the conduct of this business Mr. Kirk has necessarily devoted his entire time and attention but has other financial interests, being a director in the Central State Bank of Des Moines and interested to a considerable extent in farm lands and city properties.

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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 149

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