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 162

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 162

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In 1882, on account of ill health, Mr. Witmer severed his connection with the Leader, and for some years thereafter promoted the publication of a small weekly called The Million, for the benefit of Mr. Philpott, continuing until a few years prior to the latter's death from consumption.

In 1877 Mr. Witmer secured an option on the business of the Iowa Printing Company, which published a list of country newspapers known as Ready .Prints. Associating with him W. E. Andrews and W. H. Welsh, he purchased the prop- erty of this concern, which had theretofore been losing money. Within a few years the business of the Iowa Printing Company had grown and prospered to such an extent that Mr. Witmer prepared articles for the organization of the Western Newspaper Union, with the intention of spreading out and establishing similar offices elsewhere. Within a few years, offices were established. at Omaha, St. Paul and Kansas City, and the enterprise proved a great success from the beginning. Health yielding, however, he retired from what easily developed into a wonderful property. For several years thereafter he engaged actively in no business whatever, but finally, after recovering his health, joined in the organiza- tion of the New England Loan & Trust Company which for some years enjoyed a very profitable business with headquarters in Des Moines. This enterprise eventually came under the control of eastern capitalists and moved its head office to New York city, where it did a large business until the panic of 1893, which proved so disastrous to all mortgage companies. He was for a number of years engaged in the sale of American Investment Securities to English and Scottish clients. Having otherwise practically retired from business, he spent between three and four years in travel throughout the British Isles and upon the conti- ment, accompanied by his family. His children were then of such an age as to engage his attention to their education, and his travels were directed as much with a view to the advantages that might be afforded them as for business and pleasure.

Mr. Witmer has for many years been interested in the hotels in this city, having in 1886 promoted the organization and financed the project for the build- ing of the Savery House, associating with him in this enterprise Frank Risely and George H. Maish. The hotel was opened July 5, 1888. It was named the Savery House, for which Mr. Witmer was responsible, on account of the early friendship extended to him by James C. Savery, one of the pioneer hotel men of Des Moines, who built what is now known as the Kirkwood. This house bore his name until after the name of Governor Kirkwood became a household word and the owners deemed it wise to change the name to that of the Governor and later United States Senator. A year or two after the opening of the Savery House Mr. James C. Savery purchased Mr. Risely's interest, and thus again be- came identified with the hotel business of the city. Mr. Witmer continued, how -. ever, to be the leading spirit in that enterprise and acquired for the hotel addi- tional ground north and west of the property, and otherwise devoting his atten- tion to its improvement until to-day it is one of the cleanest and best organized properties in the city, he and his family still continuing in absolute control.

Ever since disposing of the Leader Mr. Witmer has also been extensively engaged in real-estate operations, having purchased and developed numerous tracts of land in various parts of the city. He named and platted Owl's Head on Grand avenue, between Twenty-eighth and Twenty-ninth, the most beautiful addition in the city of Des Moines. His own home on the corner of Twenty- ninth and Grand avenue is evidence of his appreciation of this neighborhood, and stands as a monument to his labors in the development of beautiful residential sections. He also named and developed Wessex, north of Kingman boulevard and west of Thirty-fifth street, and Middlesex, between Thirty-first and Thirty- fifth streets, north of Woodland avenue, the latter of which he sold out as a whole, after building a number of good houses, to P. K. Witmer and B. F. Kauff- man. His real-estate operations in this city have covered a period of nearly forty

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years, during which time he has bought and sold extensively and built numerous dwellings and business blocks. Mr. Witmer was also interested in coal mining for many years in east South De's Moines, and his energies have been devoted to the organization and financing of these various enterprises with an unusual measure of success.

In civic affairs Mr. Witmer has always taken a keen and active interest. He was an officer and member of the Board of Trade, the predecessor of the Com- mercial Exchange, which is now the Commercial Club. This was an association of leading business men of the city with objects exactly similar to the present organization, and when reorganized into the Commercial Exchange Mr. Witmer became its first president. Though never an office-seeker, he has for many years been a conspicuous figure in local political affairs. He was once candidate for the State Senate in the days of no hope, but notwithstanding that the county was republican by over 2,000 majority, he came within one hundred and eighty votes of winning the race, while in the town, which usually gave a republican majority of from six hundred to nine hundred, he had a majority of over two hundred votes. In 1892 he was chosen as candidate for elector-at-large by the democratic state convention. He canvassed the state in joint debate with A. B. Cummins, who later became governor and United States senator. Mr. Witmer was in Eu- rope when the national democratic organization was effected in 1896 by demo- crats who opposed the election of William J. Bryan, but upon his known convic- tions with respect to the currency question, the national democrats who were as- sembled in Des Moines again nominated Mr. Witmer for elector-at-large. Mr. Witmer believed that a world standard in money was essential to the extension of American trade, and therefore was found in the ranks of those who favored sound money in the campaign which resulted in the establishment of the gold standard. In 1902 he was honored with the appointment of commissioner-at- large from this state to the St. Louis Exposition, being recognized as democratic member-at-large and associated with ex-governor William Larrabee, who was the republican member-at-large. Upon the organization of this commission Mr. Witmer was made chairman of the executive committee, and there devolved upon this committee the chief labor in connection with the expenditure of the appro- priation of one hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars. Although an additional appropriation of twenty-five thousand dollars was given by the legislature, the commission so conducted its affairs that almost all of this additional appropria- tion was returned.

Mr. Witmer is a member of the Phi Kappa Psi college fraternity, and in club life is affiliated with the Golf and Country Club, of which he was a charter member ; the Tariff Reform Club and the City Club of New York city, and re- cently when the Grant Club provided for the admittance of members who were not republicans, Mr. Witmer joined that organization.

In church matters Mr. Witmer has been a stanch Lutheran, firm in his con- victions, loyal in his faith, and substantial in his support. He has been a con- tributor to practically every new church organized in this city, and has made it a rule never to refuse to give something for the encouragement and promotion of church work. He has also been a liberal contributor to all public objects and every forward civic movement, not only of his means, but of his time and influ- ence as well. He has been ardent in his affection for Des Moines and for Iowa. Having traveled much at home and abroad, he avers that for health, for spirit, for comfort and happiness, for association with a people of character he has found "no place like home." His early faith in the city made him a pioneer and he names many who followed him to this place and many more who came after the followers.

Mr. Witmer's family life has been ideal, made so, he says, through the affec- tionate and intelligent help of his wife, who was Mary C. Stein, daughter of A. G. and Rebecca Kaiser Stein. Mrs. Witmer, like Mr. Witmer, is descended from

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the Palatinate stock, and together they gave pure German blood to their children, . though nearly two hundred years of American ancestry precedes, a rather excep- tional example of keeping the blood pure. Mr. and Mrs. Witmer were married in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, November 7, 1871, and four weeks later visited Des Moines with a view of a possible location here, and the decision was favor- able. It was their earliest partnership conclusion and was a success, and so they have always consulted each other, as all good husbands and wives should do.

Mr. Witmer has been an active worker in church and club work in Des Moines, and never fails to do her part. Bright, cheerful, well educated and cul- tured by extensive travel, she holds her place as wife, mother, neighbor and friend in exalted station.

Two children, Cornelia and William Wirt, died in early infancy. Then fol- lowed Mabel, who is now Mrs. Jay E. Tone, and Helen, who is at home.' Two grandchildren, Mary and Erwin Tone, living next door to Mr. and Mrs. Witmer, furnish the homes of parents and grandparents with the joys which the happy families appreciate most of all on earth.

ADAM HIDER PARRIOTT.

In the death of Adam Hider Parriott, which occurred on the 22d of April, 19II, Polk county lost one of its honored pioneer residents and representative agriculturists. His birth occurred in Marshall county, West Virginia, on the 22d of October, 1826, his parents being Wilford and Cordelia (Hider) Parriott. The father was born in Annapolis, Maryland, on the Ist of April, 1799, while the mother was a native of Virginia. The paternal grandfather, a native of France, emigrated to America in an early day, as did also the maternal grand- father of our subject, who was born in Germany and took up his abode in the state of Virginia.

Adam H. Parriott obtained his education in the schools of Porter county, In- diana, and after putting aside his text-books turned his attention to general ag- ricultural pursuits, which claimed his time and energies throughout his active business career. In the year 1864 he came to Iowa, taking up his abode among the early settlers of Jefferson township, Polk county. His undertakings as an agriculturist were attended with a gratifying measure of success and won him a place among the substantial and representative residents of the community.

On the 25th of July, 1850, in Porter county, Indiana, Mr. Parriott was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Hall, a daughter of Henry and Mariah Hall, who were natives of Massachusetts and New York respectively. Their home was blessed with four children, as follows: Wilford H. Parriott, who wedded Miss Nora Hugartt; Wallace A., who married Lena Stanford; Charles C., who made Miss Lucy Taylor his wife; and Robert T.

In his political views Mr. Parriott was a stanch republican and his fellow townsmen, recognizing his worth and ability, called him to positions of public trust. While a resident of Indiana he was elected justice of the peace in 1852, holding the office for four years. He was likewise chosen township clerk and also served in that position for four years. In 1870, after a residence of six years in this county, he was elected justice of the peace and again served in that capacity for four years. He also acted as township assessor for two years and in 1888 was once more elected justice of the peace, holding the office for two years. In the latter capacity his fair and impartial decisions won him "golden opinions from all sorts of people." He was a valued member of the Tippecanoe Club; a political organization, and likewise belonged to the Octogenarian, a so- cial organization. In religious faith he was a Methodist. His demise, which oc- curred on the 22d of April, 1911, when he had attained the age of eighty-four

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· years, brought a sense of bereavement to all who knew him, for his life had been such as to command him to the regard and friendship of those with whom he came in contact. Mrs. Parriott, who has now resided within the borders of Polk county for forty-seven years, also has an extensive and favorable acquaintance here.

LEROY M. MANN.

Some one, when asked to characterize Leroy M. Mann, said: "He is a big man, physically, mentally and morally." The splendid and harmonious develop- ment of the trifold nature of the individual has placed the subject of this review with the leading residents of his adopted city and there have been few public movements for the betterment of Des Moines in any way that have not profited by the cooperation and support of Leroy M. Mann. He was born September I, 1851, near Newcastle, Indiana, a son of George H. and Margaret (Davis) Mann. His grandfather, Michael Mann, was one of the pioneer residents of Indiana, where he settled in 1812, removing from Virginia in that year. For a long period the family were prominent planters and slave owners of the Old Dominion and the great-grandfather, Captain Jacob Mann, was a compatriot and friend of Daniel Boone. The father, George H. Mann, was born in 1819 and devoted his life to teaching and farming but was killed by a horse when only thirty-six years of age. He was a highly intellectual man, well educated for one of his day, and a strict moralist. He was a profound Baptist, always taking an active part in the work of that church, and was for many years squire of the town of Sulphur Springs, Indiana. His wife was a native of Fincastle, Virginia, and was reared in the same neighborhood as Bishop Taylor of the Methodist Episcopal church. She survived until 1886, passing away at the age of sixty-eight years, and her remains were interred at Fairmount, West Virginia. She also was a most consistent member of the Baptist church, al- ways giving freely of her means and services and taking a hand in all kinds of charitable work. She always manifested unusual interest in the home mis- sionary and benevolent work, spending much time among the needy poor of her community. To all she was known to be a lady of strong character and remarkable mental ability. Though always a most kind and loving mother, she was exceedingly patriotic and when the war broke out in 1861, in spite of the criticisms of many neighbors who were in sympathy with the rebel cause, she was glad to send her eldest son to the front even though he was then the main support on the farm. The family numbered five children, of whom Leroy M. Mann is the fourth in order of birth. The eldest, Austin W., was rendered totally deaf by an attack of scarlet fever in childhood and was educated at and graduated from the school for the deaf at Indianapolis, Indiana. Later he spent a number of years as instructor at the institution for the deaf at Flint, Michigan, and was afterward ordained a minister of the Episcopal church, being the second deaf and dumb person in the history of the church to be so ordained. For some years following he was the only deaf and dumb minister of the church in the world. He founded missions for the educated adult deaf in many of the large cities, among them Chicago, Pittsburg, Cleveland and Cin- cinnati, which are still in successful operation, and devoted thirty-eight years to administering to the spiritual needs of deaf people. The work to which he had devoted almost a lifetime was terminated by his sudden demise at Columbus, Ohio, in February, 19II. Judson L. Mann, the second of the family, now liv- ing in Tacoma, Washington, is a prosperous fruit rancher and a veteran of the Civil war. He joined the Seventeenth Indiana Volunteers when seventeen years of age and served for four years and four months. John W. Mann is a wealthy

L. M. MANN

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ranchman of Rushville, Nebraska. The only daughter of the family, Sarah C., became the wife of William Hays, of Latrobe, Pennsylvania.

When asked where he acquired his education, Mr. Mann replied, "In the University of Adversity," which is a most fitting explanation for one whose boyhood advantages were so limited. When a youth of seventeen he came to Iowa, where he worked for a time upon a farm and attended school during the winter months. Later he engaged in steamboating on the tributaries of the upper Mississippi river and afterward became engaged in the fur trapping busi- ness on the northern frontier bordering on the Hudson Bay country, meeting with many stirring adventures while thus engaged. For a time he taught school near the Hudson Bay settlement in Minnesota. The fur trapping business eventually ended in financial failure and he returned to Muscatine, Iowa, where he gained a livelihood by working in brick and lumber yards until 1876, when he went to Virginia for a time. On returning to this state he secured employ- ment at farm labor, receiving twenty dollars per month as compensation for his services. From this small amount he saved until his cash capital was two hundred dollars, which sum he invested in a general store at Sweetland, Mus- catine county. In the new venture he met with success and his income was further enhanced by the fact that he was appointed postmaster and received a salary of fifty dollars per year! When twenty-one years of age he was elected justice of the peace and, while he had no real knowledge of the law, his com- mon sense and his love of justice enabled him to dispose of the cases in a manner highly satisfactory. He relates that in one instance, through his inex- perience, he proceeded with a trial and rendered a verdict without the formality of swearing the witnesses. For two years he continued in Sweetland and then removed to Corning, Iowa, where he engaged in retail merchandising, meeting with gratifying success. His connection with Corning covered ten and a half years, during which time he served as a member of the city council and as school director and also took an active and helpful interest in the school for the deaf at Council Bluffs, doing much to interest parents in the education of their deaf and often neglected children.

Seeking a larger field for his business activities, Mr: Mann removed to Des Moines in 1884 and at once became largely interested in buying and selling farm and city properties on his own account, to which he has since devoted his at- tention. Shortly after his arrival he evolved the idea of spanning the river with a bridge at Sixth avenue and became associated with Hoyt Sherman, Father Brazil, Captain J. S. Clark, E. R. Clapp, Adam Howell and others in building the bridge which on its completion they donated to the city, thus making available what has since become one of the most popular suburban sections of Des Moines. Mr. Mann was also one of the promoters and principal financial back- ers of the belt line railway and furnished a large part of the capital for building the Highland Park College, the financial obligations of which he assumed at a later day when that institution became involved in financial straits. He re- mained in active management of its affairs for two years. In reviewing the life of Mr. Mann it seems that his thought, his interest and his activities have reached out to almost every line in any way affecting the welfare, the building and improvment of his adopted city. He built the Zoo Park, Des Moines' pioneer amusement park, and there installed a fine collection of animals, a steamboat, gondolas and various other devices for the amusement of the pub- lic. The venture proved a success and the park became the popular pleasure resort of its day. The property which had been considered practically waste land was afterward sold at a handsome profit. His efforts, however, have been chiefly put forth along the line of home building and few men have done more to make Des Moines what it is today-a city of beautiful and attractive homes. He was the chief promoter of beautiful Highland Park, one of the fine resi- dence districts of which the city is justly proud. Outside his business inter-

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ests few men have labored so diligently and so unselfishly for causes of civic betterment, education, church and the various philanthropies to which he has given liberally of both his time and means. About eleven years ago a move- ment for the building of an Iowa Methodist hospital was started by the late Theodore F. Gatchell. Mr. Mann was one of the first to enter into the spirit of the work and from that day to this his enthusiasm and deep interest has never weakened. Since the third year of the organization he has been chair- man of the executive committee. At the start some one was needed to lay out the plans for a suitable system of buildings, some one to investigate the various designs of architecture of the most modern hospitals of the country and one who could carry out the practical ideas and lay the foundation for this mam- moth institution. This heavy task fell upon Mr. Mann, but never did he shrink from it a moment. Instead he took up the work with a heart full of hope and conviction that he might perform this duty that had been thrust upon him to the highest degree of perfection. In the course of his travels, which were from San Francisco to Havana, he made a study of hospital construction and equip- ment. In one of the cities he found what seemed to him to be ideal. He brought home the ideas, studied them, drew up the plans, and the success of his labors is demonstrated by a glance at The Iowa Methodist Hospital. Of the twenty-three hospitals owned by the Methodist Episcopal church, both in this country and abroad, this is the largest and best equipped, representing the largest outlay of capital. It is not only a credit to the city of Des Moines but to this state and nation as well. At the close of 1911 the property values at a half million dollars. During recent years it has met with remarkable success and although not entirely free from incumbrance at the present time, its ob- ligations are moderate and will be easily met within a few years. A rule ex- ists that this hospital places not as a barrier a man's nationality, creed or color and has never refused to care for anyone in actual need of assistance whether able to pay or not. Mr. Mann says: "Theodore F. Gatchell (deceased) was the intellectual founder of the institution. The late James Callanan was the financial founder, personally contributing sixty thousand dollars." As chair- man of the executive committee Mr. Mann has given liberally of his labor and means, having for the past few years devoted more than half his time to this work and all without a penny of compensation. The cause of education has found in him a stalwart champion and for six years he was a director of the public schools of Des Moines. He has also been a trustee of Simpson College for eight years and is now a member of the board of trustees of the Metho- dist Episcopal church. His activities, therefore, have been of a most compre- hensive character and along many lines he has contributed to public progress and improvement. Mr. Mann's entire life has been a most active one. He had engaged as farm hand, book and sewing machine agent, school teacher, fur trapper and trader, had failed in business and paid every dollar of his obliga- · tions and was left stranded fourteen hundred miles from home before he had reached his nineteenth year. In his early experience as a merchant he was extended credit largely on his personality. On one occasion a peddler urged him to take a large stock of medicines, saying he would collect for them on his return the following year. The stock was sold at a good profit but the man never returned. His money is still waiting for him.

In August, 1873, Mr. Mann was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth A. Day, a daughter of Elmus and Rachael (Conkey) Day, of Washington county, Pennsylvania. She was born in February, 1852, and in 1865 was brought by her parents to Iowa, her father becoming prominent as a stockman and farmer of Muscatine county. He served in the legislature during the thirteenth general assembly and the special session following and although a democrat was elected in a strong republican county, defeating John Mahin, the Muscatine editor, by seventeen votes. He was a cousin of the late John M. Day, of this city, who

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ranked with Iowa's representative men. In religious faith he was a strict Pres- byterian and a man of the highest character. Mrs. Mann is the eldest of her father's family, the others being : John W. Day, of Des Moines ; Dr. George Day, of Lone Tree, Iowa ; Ida, now Mrs. O. H. Peasley, of Indianola, Iowa; Hannah, the wife of James Garner, of Washington county, Pennsylvania ; and Josephine, now Mrs. Hugh Carmichael, of Chicago. Mrs. Mann has been very active in the cause of charity, having been especially interested for over twenty years in the founding and maintenance of the Home for Friendless Children, to which she has given generously in time and financial support. She is also a member of the Des Moines Woman's Club and is a participant in the work of that organiza- tion. She was one of five persons who twenty-one years ago conceived the idea and organized a home for refined working girls and business women. Others of the organizers were Mrs. Rogers, Mr. W. W. Fink and the late Lowry W. Good. The home is now known as the Business Woman's Association and is unquestionably a wonderful institution, accommodating about seventy members and owning their own property, which is one of the prettiest and most health- ful locations in Des Moines.

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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 162

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