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 151

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 151

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After the siege and surrender of Vicksburg the regiment was removed to Helena, Arkansas, and later was attached to General W. T. Sherman's com- mand and marched from Memphis to Chattanooga, participating in the battle of Mission Ridge. On the Ist of February, 1864, Mr. Hanger reenlisted as a vet- eran at Huntsville, Alabama, for three years more. He was home on furlough when Sherman's troops started through Georgia and, returning, got as far as Louisville, Kentucky, where communication was cut. The troops were ordered to go by New York and by transport to Hilton Head and up Broad river to Blair's Landing, the point where Sherman's army crossed the river. About the Ist of February, with several of his regiment returning from furlough and a thousand other soldiers on board the steamship Illinois, Mr. Hanger after a six-day trip from New York, reached Blair's Landing, South Carolina, and went into camp. Becoming ill with smallpox, he was taken to an old cotton gin near Broad river by a recruit going to his company who was immune. This recruit left him lying on the floor with the fever and alone, saying he had marching or- ders. The colored people returned to their cabin in about a week and in about ten days a hospital steward from Hilton Head came and sent rations and pro- visions and established a smallpox hospital there. Mr. Hanger was later sent to Hilton Head General Hospital and thence was transported to the Finley Hospital in Washington, D. C. He participated in the grand review, marching with his regiment up Pennsylvania avenue and passing the White House. He was mustered out at Little Rock, Arkansas, and honorably discharged at Daven- port, lowa, on the 28th of August, 1865, just four years and twenty-seven days after his enlistment. He had entered the service at the age of sixteen and had not yet attained his majority when mustered out.

Returning to his home in the town of Polk, Polk county, Mr. Hanger engaged in agricultural pursuits and also embarked in business as a general merchant. In 1873 he disposed of his business interests there and became associated with Isaac Kuhn in the conduct of a wholesale and retail dry-goods and clothing establishment in Des Moines. In 1880 he became identified with Soules & Flem- ing the Utica Clothing Store and three years later severed his connection there- with to open and manage the Chicago Clothing House in association with M. Seager. In 1885 he entered the service of the Freeland, Loomis Company when they opened the Continental Clothing House on Sixth and Walnut streets and in 1890 became manager of the concern. This manufacturing enterprise was the largest of its kind in the state, doing business with both the jobbing and retail trade.

In the spring of 1896, Mr. Hanger was elected city auditor of the city of Des Moines and in 1900, at the end of two terms, was elected alderman-at-large for West Des Moines, which body in 1902 approved his appointment as a mem-

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ber of the board of public works. He was chairman of the board when his term expired in 1904 and it was during his administration that the Sixth avenue bridge was constructed. Through his efforts and the assistance of C. H. Del- worth, T. M. Langan and J. H. Long, Nash Park was established on University avenue between Ninth and Tenth street. Mr. Hanger's fraternal relations are as follows: Masonic Pioneer Lodge, No. 22, A. F. & A. M .; Des Moines Con- sistory of Scottish Rite, No. 3; Des Moines Chapter of Eastern Star, No. 89; Za-Ga-Zig Temple of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine; Ancient Order of United Workmen; and Crocker Post, No. 12, G. A. R.

PAUL BEER.

Paul Beer has been connected with the Barber Asphalt Paving Company at Des Moines since July, 1905. He designed and built for this company a mod- ern, fire-proof plant for the manufacture of vitrified paving brick and block. After the completion of the plant, he was made manager for the company at Des Moines.

Mr. Beer was born at Ashland, Ohio, April 25, 1875, his parents being A. G. and Margaret (Gibson) Beer. The father was born at Mount Hope, Wayne county, Ohio, on May 2, 1836. At the outbreak of the Civil war he enlisted as a member of the Twenty-sixth Ohio Volunteers, participated with his regiment in various engagements, and at the battle of Stone River received a wound which necessitated the amputation of his leg and his enforced retirement from the service. Two brothers of A. G. Beer also enlisted in the northern army, namely, Captain William Beer and Lieutenant Ernest Beer. A. G. Beer was appointed postmaster at Ashland, Ohio, by President U. S. Grant in recognition of his services for the Union. He occupied that position for fourteen years consecu- tively. He was married in 1870 at Hayesville, Ohio, to Margaret Gibson. He is still living and enjoying robust health. Paul Beer's grandfather, Thomas Beer, was born in 1801 in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania. He was graduated from the Western Theological Seminary and removed to Ohio, where he spent many years as a pastor of the Presbyterian church. His father, Thomas Beer, served with the American army in the Revolutionary war.

Paul Beer entered the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute of Troy, New York, in 1896, and was graduated as an honor member of his class in 1900, with the degree of C. E. His first active work in engineering was with the United States board of engineers on deep water ways on a preliminary survey for a ship canal between the Great Lakes and the Atlantic Ocean. His next employment was at Denver, Colorado, where he engaged for one year with the Denver Union Water Company on topographical work in connection with the Cheeseman dam and in the design of a filtration system at Platte Canyon. From 1901 to 1902 he was with the United States ordnance department at Sandy Hook, New Jersey, and was then successively employed by the Eastern Expanded Metal Company and the Hennebique Construction Company on reinforced concrete construc- tions. These constructions included a power plant, tunnels and various build- ings for the Winchester Repeating Arms Company of New Haven, Connecticut. During a part of 1904, Mr. Beer was with the Foundation Company, of New York city, as resident engineer for pneumatic foundations in lower New York. He left this company to serve as an assistant engineer in the construction of the East river tunnels for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. He left this latter organization in July, 1905, to go to Des Moines.

On the 6th of February, 1907, Mr. Beer was united in marriage at Yonkers, New York, to Miss Katharine Comstock Getty, daughter of Samuel E. and Emily (Paddock) Getty. Mrs. Beer's grandfather was one of the prominent

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merchants of New York city. He financed the building of the Manhattan Elevated Railroad from lower New York to Twenty-third street. Getty Square, Yonkers, is named in his honor.

Mr. Beer is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers. He acts in a consulting capacity for various engineering constructions. An ordinance passed by the Des Moines city council this year for the abatement of smoke, required the appointment of a smoke commission of three members, one of whom should be familiar with the installation of power plants. Mr. Beer was chosen by Mayor Hanna to serve as the engineering member of this commis- sion.

WILLIAM EDWIN HILL.

One of the representative business men of Farrar is William Edwin Hill, who for the past three years has been engaged in the hardware business here. He was born in Washington township, Polk county, Iowa, on the 24th of Au- gust, 1878, and is a son of George and Olive (Reynolds) Hill, the father a native of Virginia and the mother of Illinois. George Hill came to Iowa at a very early day, purchasing a farm in Washington township, this county, which he imme- diately set about improving. He continued to cultivate this property until his demise, which occurred on the 25th of January, 1884. The mother, who is now fifty-four, continues to make her home in Washington township.

William Edwin Hill was reared on the homestead where he was born, obtain- ing his education in the district schools of the vicinity. After laying aside his studies he gave his entire time and attention to the operation of his mother's home- stead until he was twenty-seven years of age. Immediately following his mar- riage he settled on a farm of eighty acres which he had previously purchased. This he improved quite extensively, continuing its operation for three years. At the expiration of that time he decided to withdraw from agricultural pur- suits and coming to Farrar he bought a hardware store. He has a very nice store, containing a good assortment of heavy and shelf hardware and as it is the only establishment of the kind in the town he enjoys an excellent patronage.

In September, 1905, Mr. Hill was united in marriage to Miss Elsie Faidley, a daughter of Daniel and Sarah (Myers) Faidley, natives of Pennsylvania. The father came to Iowa during pioneer days, locating in Johnson county, where he followed farming for several years. From there he removed to Polk county, where he bought some land which he improved and cultivated until 1903, at which time he retired. He still owns four hundred and eighty acres of fine farming land in Polk county, all of which is under a high state of cultivation. Both he and his wife are now enjoying the ease and comfort provided by the income from their extensive holdings and make their home in Maxwell. Mr. and Mrs. Hill have two children: Elton F., who is now five years of age; and Glorine C., who has passed the second anniversary of her birth.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Hill affiliate with the Dunkard church, in which faith they were reared, and he votes with the republican party but does not take an active part in political affairs.

FRANK M. CLINE.

Frank M. Cline, a well known painter and contractor of Des Moines, was born in Jefferson, Greene county, Iowa, on the 7th of September, 1858, a son of Jacob M. and Mary S. (Cowan) Cline. The paternal grandfather, John Cline, removed from Pennsylvania to Virginia, where the son, Jacob M., was born

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on the 22d of January, 1823. In early manhood the latter left his native state and located in Indiana, where he followed his trade, which was that of cabinet- maker, but he was also a wheelwright. While residing in Elkhart county he met Miss Mary S. Cowan, who was born in Clark county, Ohio, on the 14th of March, 1827, and their marriage was celebrated on the 19th of January, 1846. They subsequently removed to Iowa, where Mr. Cline continued to follow his trade, and while residing in Greene county in 1860 he was elected to the office of county treasurer. The trip from Indiana to Iowa was a long and tiresome one, the journey being made across the prairies by wagon. Twenty-seven days were consumed by the trip, which much of the way was made over roads that were little more than wagon tracks. They arrived in Iowa on the 27th of Oc- tober and when they reached Des Moines, which was a thriving town, they were just completing the Kirkwood Hotel. Mr. and Mrs. Cline spent the remainder of their days in the Hawkeye state and celebrated their golden wedding in 1896. Their married life continued for ten years thereafter, being terminated by the death of Mrs. Cline on the 3d of April, 1906. Mr. Cline survived until the 10th of February, 1907, when he, too, passed away.

Frank M. Cline was reared at home and obtained his education in the com- mon schools of Jefferson, after the completion of which he learned the painter's trade, which he has ever since successfully followed. He is one of the well known painting contractors of the city and has acquired considerable property and a comfortable competence from the business.

On the 14th of June, 1888, he was married to Miss Ida Schuster, a daughter of Henry Schuster, a carpenter and contractor and a native of Pennsylvania, from which state he removed to Naperville, Illinois, and from there to Jeffer- son county, Iowa, where Mrs. Cline was born. He is now and has been for some time following his business in Des Moines. His wife bore the maiden name of. Miss Sarah Hoster. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Cline : Eulalia, who was born on the 3d of April, 1889, and died on the 24th of April, 1900; DeFoe, who was born on the 26th of June, 1890, and is now in Portland ; Ruth M., who was born on the 18th of July, 1892, and is attending the West high school and studying music; and Jacob, who was born on the IIth of June, 1896 and died on the 24th of April, 1903.

The family attend the Congregational church, of which denomination the parents are members, while fraternally Mr. Cline is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias, being one of the charter members of Lodge No. 62, and the Brother- hood of American Yeomen. In political matters. Mr. Cline always gives his support to the republican party, and although he is interested in civic affairs he has never aspired to public honors or the emoluments of office.

JAMES E. CLINE.

James E. Cline was born in New Paris, Elkhart county, Indiana, on the 27th of August, 1852, and is one of the seven sons of Jacob M. and Mary S. (Cowan) Cline. He acquired his education in the common schools of Jefferson, Iowa, and when he had obtained such knowledge as he felt essential to enable him to begin his business career he laid aside his text-books and began working for his father. He continued to be associated with the latter during the remainder of his active career. Mr. Cline removed to Des Moines about ten years ago and has suc- ceeded in building up a very nice business, having been engaged on some of the important dwellings which have been erected since he has been living here.

He was married in Jefferson to Miss Helen King, a native of Greene county, Iowa, their wedding being celebrated on the 29th of November, 1871. Mrs. Cline was a daughter of Alpheus and Jeannette W. (Aldridge) King, both of

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whom were born in 1827, the father's natal day being the 9th of March. One child was born unto Mr. and Mrs. Cline, Erwin Eugene, whose birth occurred on the 13th of October, 1872. Mrs. Cline passed away on the 30th of September, 1896. She was a member of the Congregational church, with which denomina- tion Mr. Cline continues to be affiliated, and he is also a member of the Brother- hood of American Yeomen, while his political support is given the republican party.

FRANK ERASTUS FOULK, M. D.

Dr. Frank Erastus Foulk, physician and surgeon of Des Moines, was born in Waterloo, Black Hawk county, Iowa, June 9, 1880, a son of Levi Franklin and Susan Minerva Foulk, the former a native of Reading, Pennsylvania, and the latter of La Salle, Illinois. The father, who came to Iowa in 1867 and settled in Black Hawk county, has for many years been a traveling man, doing insurance work for the State Fire Insurance Company .. The mother, who was a student in the college at Hillsdale, Michigan, in her girlhood days, came to Iowa in 1869 and in this state the parents were married.

Dr. Foulk was a pupil in the East Waterloo high school and attended the Iowa State Normal before entering Des Moines College, from which he won his B. S. degree upon graduation in 1900. His preparation for the practice. of medicine was made in the medical department of the Iowa State University, from which he was graduated in 1904, and the same year he received the Master of Science degree from Des Moines College. He then entered upon active prac- tice as a physician and surgeon and has been accorded continuous progress as his ability and skill have become recognized. Each year he has spent some time in post-graduate work in various eastern cities. Nature gave Dr. Fouík a massive physique suggesting physical power which, with a mind well trained in his profession, would seem to make him equal to any emergency.

On the 2d of September, 1905, was celebrated the marriage of Dr. Foulk and Miss Florence Wallace, who had previously been a school teacher at Jessop, Jowa. They hold membership in the First Baptist church and both are well known, having many friends in the capital city. Dr. Foulk gives his political allegiance to the republican party and holds membership with the Masons, the Knights of Pythias, the Eastern Star, the Woodmen of the World, the Royal Highlanders, the Homesteaders and the Fraternal Union of America. Of the four last named he is medical examiner and also examiner for several insurance companies including the Phoenix Mutual Life, the Pacific Mutual and the Register Life- of Davenport.

His time and energies are chiefly concentrated upon his profession for he realizes that close application and ability are concomitants of success in the medical profession. He keeps in touch with the progress of the day, which is the outcome of research and investigation on the part of the most advanced mem- bers of the medical fraternity, and while quick to adopt any new method which he believes will prove of value in practice, he is not hasty in discarding the old and time-tried methods, the worth of which have been proven.

MICHAEL HACKETT.

Michael Hackett, cultivating three hundred acres of rich and productive land in Walnut township, is an agriculturist whose labors have been attended with a gratifying measure of success. His birth occurred in Pittsburg, Pennsyl- vania, in March, 1866, his parents being Thomas and Mary (Gallagher) Hackett,

DR. FRANK E. FOULK

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both of whom were natives of Ireland and passed away in Pennsylvania when our subject was seven years of age.

Mr. Hackett of this review was educated in the public schools of Mahanoy City, Pennsylvania, and in 1874 entered the employ of a railroad in that state as water boy. Subsequently he was given a horse and wagon and began hauling dirt, while for one year he was employed in a furnace at Orbisonia, Pennsyl- vania, chipping scale off of boilers. In 1878 he made his way to Colorado, where he secured employment as tool boy for Martin Flynn, a railroad con- tractor. He next worked as a water boy for about six months and then began running a stationary engine, holding the latter position for about eight months. On the expiration of that period he went to New Mexico, where he secured the job of distributing spikes on the Santa Fe Railroad. In 1880 he came to Iowa and carried water during the course of the construction of the railroad here. He worked on the railroad for four years, acting in the capacity of foreman during the greater part of the time, and during the entire four years was in the employ of John Flynn and a member of his household. In 1884 he took up agricultural pursuits and was engaged in tilling the soil until 1887, when he went to San Francisco, California. There he held the position of fireman in the city hall for about one year, when he became a gripman on the cable lines, being thus employed for three years.

In 1891 Mr. Hackett returned to Iowa, here taking charge and operating the farm of John Flynn for two years. In 1893 he began farming on his own account, renting a tract of one hundred and eighty-seven acres in Polk county, which he cultivated until 1907. Two years later he was married and took up his abode on his wife's farm of three hundred acres in Walnut township, to the operation of which he has devoted his attention continuously since. He raises the cereals best adapted to soil and climate and annually gathers rich crops which find a ready sale on the market.

In September, 1909, Mr. Hackett was united in marriage to Miss Catherine B. Flynn, a daughter of Thomas Flynn, who was a native of Ireland and came to Iowa at an early day. He was successfully engaged in business as a rail- road contractor for some years and owned an extensive tract of land which he leased. His demise occurred in 1909, while his wife had passed away when their daughter Catherine was but two years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Hackett have one child, Mary Catherine, who is in her first year.

In politics Mr. Hackett is independent, supporting men and measures rather than party. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Catholic church, of which his wife is also a faithful communicant. He is well known here and in all of his dealings with his fellowmen has demonstrated his right to their regard and confidence.

EDWARD B. MENDSEN.

Edward B. Mendsen, vice president and general manager of the Pratt-Mend- sen Company, thus controlling the most extensive paper manufactury in the state of Iowa, was born in Chicago, Illinois, September 12, 1871. His father, Edward Mendsen, who was born in Mauch Chunk, Pennsylvania, December 31, 1838, was of Holland descent, his ancestors, having come to America in 1798, at which time the family was established in the Keystone state. Edward Mend- sen is still actively engaged in the lumber business in Chicago, where he has resided since 1849. His wife, who died in April, 1873, was of Scotch lineage.

Edward B. Mendsen, the youngest in a family of three children, was a pupil in the public schools of Chicago and Evanston until after he had completed the work of three terms in the high school, when he put aside his text-books at the Vol. II-63

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age of seventeen, impelled by the desire to take his place in the business world. He secured a position with the Butler Paper Company of Chicago, and remained with that house for seven years, during which period he was steadily advanced through intermediate positions from that of office boy to one of the department managers. He next became sales manager and so continued with a number of different paper manufacturers until 1900, when he was made the head of one of the sales departments of the General Paper Company, with headquarters in Chicago. This company controlled twenty-four western mills and Mr. Mend- sen remained with the business until its discontinuance in 1906. He then re- moved to Des Moines and in 1907 became one of the organizers and the pres- ident of the Des Moines Paper Company, which was established on a sub- stantial foundation and was enjoying a steady growth when in 1908 it was consolidated with the W. J. Pratt Company, under the name of the Pratt-Mend- sen Company, of which Mr. Mendsen became the vice president and general manager. His long connection with the business and wide experience in the different departments of the paper trade has made him well qualified for the executive position which he now fills. Through the consolidation and through the able management of Mr. Mendsen, whose well directed energies were at once manifest in the growth of the trade, the business of the Pratt-Mendsen Company is today the largest of that of any paper house in the state of Iowa. They do a strictly jobbing business and are represented by traveling salesmen in many states, principally, however, in the west.

Mr. Mendsen was married in Kalamazoo, Michigan, on the 17th of January, 1895, to Miss Cornelia Cleveland, a daughter of A. P. Cleveland, a native of New York, and they have one son, John Cleveland, who was born in Detroit, No- vember 4, 1906. Mr. and Mrs. Mendsen have been accorded an enviable po- sition in the social circles of the city. They are members of the Episcopal church and Mr. Mendsen belongs to the Hyperion and Grant Clubs and to the Commercial Club, of which he is now one of the directors. In politics he is a republican of the progressive type, believing in constant advancement in gov- ernment as well as in private affairs. By nature he is social and genial and his unfeigned cordiality has won him many friends, while his business enterprise and ability have gained for him prominence in social circles.

HARVE E. LOZIER.

Harve E. Lozier, a florist of Des Moines, is a native of this city, born Jan- uary 19, 1885, and is a son of Isaac W. and Mary E. (Jones) Lozier. His pa- ternal grandfather was a soldier of a New Jersey regiment in the Civil war. Isaac W. Lozier was born in New York, December 25, 1848, and engaged in the contracting business, coming about 1878 to Des Moines. His ill health caused him to turn his attention from the contracting business to the cultivation of flowers. He opened an establishment on the east side and his business grew to be one of the largest in the city and was continued successfully by him up to the time of his death, which occurred in 1904, when he was fifty-six years of age. His wife was born in Newark, New Jersey, in 1861. There were four children in their family : Alfred G., who married Mary I. Drummond, of Chicago, and is now living in Des Moines; Harry J., who married Johanna Hoberger and now lives at Richland, Washington; Harve E., of this review ; and Frank W., of Des Moines.

Harve E. Lozier received his preliminary education in the public schools and carried his studies further in the high school of Des Moines. From his youth he evinced great interest in flower culture and as he grew up assisted his father in the floral business which he had established in this city. As he had

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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 151

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