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 21

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 21

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FRED A. LEIGHTON.

The growth of the creamery interests for twenty-five years past has been unprecedented, and today the business has reached an importance scarcely dreamed of in the earlier stages of the movement. Among the men in Iowa who have contributed largely to the present desirable condition may be named Fred A. Leighton, of Des Moines. To him belongs the honor of having been the first professor of dairying at the Iowa State Agricultural College, the im- pulse he then gave to the industry hastening it on the path which has led to the marvelous results now enjoyed.

He was born at Portland, Maine, June 22, 1862, the son of Byron and Mary (Stone) Leighton. The father was born in Portland in 1840, and served in the Twenty-second Maine Volunteers at the time of the Civil war. After receiving his honorable discharge he returned to his native city and engaged in the transfer business. In 1871, he came with his family to Osage, Iowa. where for many years he was actively identified with the agricultural interests. The mother of our subject was married to Mr. Leighton September 16, 1860, and is now living at Osage. The grandfather, Adam Leighton, was a well known stock dealer in the Pine Tree state, and the Rev. Jesse Stone, the grand- father on the mother's side, was a Methodist clergyman of considerable prom- inence in the east.

Fred A. Leighton came to Iowa with his parents when he was nine years of age, and was given every desirable opportunity of education. He attended the public schools, the Cedar Valley Seminary at Osage, and Osage College, showing a proficiency in his studies which gave bright promise as to his future career. At twenty years of age he began in the creamery business at Osage. later engaging in the same line at New Hampton. Having shown unusual knowledge of all subjects pertaining to the business which he had adopted as a life pursuit, he was invited to become a member of the faculty of the State Agricultural College at Ames, and for four years filled most acceptably the chair of professor of dairying in that institution. After retiring from this position he took charge of the Beatrice Creamery at Des Moines. Beginning in 1904 he has, through good management built up an extensive patronage, making this establishment one of the important concerns of the city.

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On the Ioth day of February, 1885, at Osage, Mr. Leighton was united in marriage to Miss Ella M. Hurd, whose parents settled in this state many years ago, and are now living at Northwood, Iowa. Two children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Leighton: Ethel, who was born October 3, 1889, and is now a student at Drake University; and Jesse A., who was born April 5, 1898.

Mr. Leighton is a valued member of Pioneer Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and New Hampton Chapter, R. A. M., of New Hampton, Iowa. He is also iden- tified with the Woodmen of the World and the Odd Fellows. Politically, he gives his support to the republican party, and in religious views is in sympathy with the Congregational church. Mr. Leighton has written extensively for the journals devoted to dairying interests and as a business man he has attained marked success. He owes his good fortune to his thorough education in a calling for which he was well qualified by nature and inclination and to an in- defatigable industry, by means of which he has overcome many difficulties, finally reaching a position of acknowledged standing as one of the leaders in Iowa in his particular specialty. The prosperity that he has attained is fully merited, as it has been acquired through strictly honorable methods and by years of conscientious application.

LEWIS HYLAND.

The opportunities available in Polk county for young men of ambition and energy are illustrated on many pages of this work, but in no instance are they more clearly set forth than in the career of Lewis Hyland, for eight years past a flourishing business man of Campbell.

He was born in England June 29, 1850, a son of Lewis and Ann (Taylor) Hyland, both of whom were natives of England. They came to America in 1851, and after working for two years in Ohio Mr. Hyland removed to Mount Pleasant, Iowa, where he remained for about two years. He then went to Pella, Iowa, and secured a contract to build the Baptist College, continuing there for about seven years. In the winter of 1861 he took up his residence in Des Moines, believing that more favorable opportunities for a contractor could be found in that place, and he engaged in his business with marked success. He retired from active work in 1881, devoting his attention to his own properties until 1899. He was a member of the Des Moines city council for a number of years and was highly respected by all who knew him. The mother was called away in 1902.

Lewis Hyland came to America with his parents in infancy and was reared in Mount Pleasant, Pella and Des Moines, receiving his education in the public schools. He continued at home until he was twenty-one years of age and then began to learn the brickmason's trade, which he followed for five years. On June 15, 1874, he entered the employ of the United States, Express Com- pany and continued with this concern for thirteen years, his long period of service indicating the ability and faithfulness with which he performed his duties. Having retired from the express business he rented a farm of his father's which he cultivated for four years, and then he bought the old home- stead of two hundred and five acres, where he now resides. This farm is one of the highly improved properties of Walnut township and is now in charge of the sons of Mr. Hyland, who have shown themselves to be highly successful as agriculturists and stock-raisers. In April, 1903, Mr. Hyland pur- chased a general store at Campbell, which he has since operated in connection with his brother. They carry a large and well selected stock and enjoy a lucra- tive patronage. Mr. Hyland also operates a grain elevator, is local agent of

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the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway and the Wells Fargo Express Com- pany, and is efficiently conducting the affairs of the postoffice.

In February, 1875, Mr. Hyland was united in marriage to Miss Alice E. Hackthorne, a daughter of Henry Hackthorne, a native of Indiana. The father was a blacksmith and came to Iowa Center, Iowa, where he worked at his trade for several years, then removing to Stuart, Iowa, contniuing at his trade until death called him away in 1904. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hyland; namely : Claude L., who is married and lives upon the home farm; Ralph E., also married and living upon the home farm; Elizabeth A. and Winifred, both of whom are attending the high school at Des Moines; and Helen and Harold, who are students in the Des Moines public schools.

Mr. Hyland gives his support to the democratic party and for ten years served with great acceptance to taxpayers as assessor of Walnut township. He was also for a number of years a member of the school board. Fraternally he is connected with the Modern Brotherhood of America. He and his wife are stanch members of the Methodist church and active workers in its behalf. En- terprising in his affairs and conscientious in the discharge of every obligation he has won his way to a place of responsibility in the community and ranks as one of the progressive and substantial men of this section.

GEORGE E. MOORE.

Dr. George E. Moore, who is engaged in the practice of osteopathy with offices located in the Equitable building, Des Moines, was born in Lexington. Iowa, on the 14th of March, 1870, being the son of John Wesley and Mary E. (Eyestone) Moore, who are now living in Des Moines and are both seventy- two years of age. For many years the father was a merchant of Washington, Iowa, but has now retired from business. He served for three years as a private in the Civil war, being a member of Company K, Thirteenth Iowa Vol- unteers.

After completing the elementary and grammar school courses in his native village George E. Moore entered the high school at Washington, Iowa, upon the completion of which course he enrolled in the Iowa Wesleyan College, at Mount Pleasant. This institution awarded him the degree of Bachelor of Arts with the class of 1892, and three years thereafter his alma mater conferred upon him the master's degree in arts and in 1899 the master's degree in science. After his graduation from college he accepted a position in the department of natural science in the seminary at Maryville, Missouri. He retained this position for two years, at the expiration of which period he was made president, continuing to be identified with this office until 1899.

Having decided to enter the profession of medicine he returned to Iowa and entered the Still College of Osteopathy, from which he was graduated in 1901. Following his graduation he was retained on the faculty as lecturer on pathology and neurology, which chair he held until 1904, when he with- drew, owing to the increasing demands of his private practice. Dr. Moore has a very pleasant and suitably appointed suite of rooms in the Equitable build- ing, and is making a specialty of the treatment of nervous diseases, in which he is meeting with very good success.

In 1893 Dr. Moore and Miss Lillie B. Smutz were united in marriage, and unto them have been born two children: Florence, who is twelve years of age; and Kenneth, who has passed the ninth anniversary of his birth.

Dr. and Mrs. Moore hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, while fraternally he is affiliated with the Masonic order, having attained high rank in the York rite. He belongs to Capital Lodge, No. 110, A. F. & A. M., the

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chapter and commandery. A lover of outdoor sports and amusements Dr. Moore is also a member of the Golf and Country Club. A republican in politics he gives his support to the candidates of that party, his views coinciding with the more progressive faction of that body. Dr. Moore has met with more than average success in his profession and is establishing a very good practice, rapidly becoming recognized as an able and competent representative of his school.

HARRY E. ANKENEY.

For nearly fifty years the name of Ankeney has been prominently identified with the linseed oil industry in Des Moines, the present manager of the local plant, Harry E. Ankeney, being a nephew of the men who introduced the in- dustry into Iowa. He was born in Xenia, Ohio, a son of John S. Ankeney, who for many years was prominently associated with the financial circles of that city, being president of one of its banks. He died in 1908.

Harry E. Ankeney was reared in his native town, acquiring his education in the public schools. After graduating from the high school he came to Des Moines to work for his uncles who were engaged in the linseed oil business, and who were among the early settlers in Polk county, locating in this city in 1866. At that period the capital city was a thriving town surrounded by a farming country which was very fertile and would yield abundant crops of flax. Realizing the large and ever increasing demand for linseed oil in its various forms, Ankeney Brothers determined to engage in the industry, feeling con- vinced that it would ultimately prove most remunerative. Their first venture was to bring seed for sowing from the east, but for two seasons the crops were utterly destroyed by the grasshoppers. Finally they succeeded in gathering a bountiful harvest however, distributing the seed among the farmers in the sur- rounding country and then contracting for their crops. This was the humble beginning of a plant which now produces thousands of gallons of oil annually. Mr. Ankeney applied himself assiduously to the business with the result that by 1880 he had mastered every detail. In 1898 they disposed of their interest to the American Linseed Company, retaining stock in the company, however, of which he was made manager as well as of their extensive plant in : Sioux City.

ALONZO C. PARKER.

Alonzo C. Parker, practicing at the Des Moines bar as a member of the firm of Guernsey, Parker & Miller, was born in Grant county, Indiana, March 22, 1853. His father, Isaac J. Parker, a native of West Virginia, removed to Ohio when a young man, very shortly after his marriage. Subsequently he went to Indiana and engaged in the operation of a sawmill there. In 1865 he ar- rived in Buchanan county, Iowa, where he carried on farming up to the time of his death, which occurred in 1879. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Margaret J. Matthews, was a native of West Virginia and died in 1880.

In the public schools of Indiana and Iowa Alonzo C. Parker pursued his education and supplemented his training by a course pursued under the direction of his elder brother, William E. Parker, a well known educator, who for twenty- two years held the office of county superintendent of schools of Buchanan county. His more specifically literary course completed, Alonzo C. Parker took up the study of law and was graduated from the Iowa City Law School, with the class of 1876. He located for practice at Oelwein, Iowa, where he remained

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for two years and then removed to Spencer, where the succeeding fifteen years of his life were spent in active connection with the work of the profession.

In August, 1894, he arrived in Des Moines and formed a partnership with Judge George H. Carr, under the firm style of Carr & Parker. This partner- ship continued until 1904, when they were joined by two other attorneys of Des Moines, under the style of Carr, Hewitt, Parker & Wright. In 1908 Judge Carr withdrew and the firm became Parker, Hewitt & Wright. A succeeding change has led to the adoption of the present style of Guernsey, Parker & Miller. Mr. Parker served as county attorney of Clay county for eight years and afterward was active in politics but in more recent years has concentrated his attention more and more largely upon his professional cares to the exclusion of political interests. At one time, however, he was a candidate for attorney general of Iowa. He has won recognition as one of the leading lawyers of the city, his prominence being attested by the court records, which indicate his con- nection with much of the most important litigation held in the Iowa courts. He has confined his attention to civil law and is recognized as an able advocate and safe counsellor.

In 1881 Mr. Parker was married to Miss Mary R. Johnson, a native of Elmira, New York. Theirs is a hospitable home and a favorite resort with their many friends. Mr. Parker is a Knight Templar Mason and a member of the Mystic Shrine. He belongs also to the Knights of Pythias lodge and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He is also prominent in club circles of the city, holding membership with the Grant, Golf and Country, Des Moines and Hyperion Clubs. All these things, however, are but outside interests and are never allowed to interfere with his professional duties and his devotion to his clients' interests has become a recognized fact in his professional career.

MOSES STRAUSS.

Honored and respected by all, Moses Strauss occupies an enviable position in the mercantile and financial circles of Des Moines. He has based his actions upon the rules which govern strict and unswerving integrity and undaunted enterprise. He has given patrons full value for value received and. winning the confidence of the public, he has been enabled to hold trade by keeping in touch with all that the market affords in the lines which he has handled. As a finan- cier, too, he has proven himself capable of solving intricate and complex prob- lems and as merchant and banker occupies a prominent place in the history of Des Moines.

Mr. Strauss was born in Bavaria, on the 6th of March, 1833. He attended the common schools there and remained with his father, who was a merchant, until his thirteenth year, when he was apprenticed to another merchant. In 1848 he sailed for America, landing at New Orleans, where he found employ- ment as clerk in a store at a salary of fifteen dollars per month. In 1852 he went to New York and took ship for Australia, after which he spent two years in business in Melbourne. On the expiration of that period he went into the mountains, where he remained for a time, when another roving impulse took him to Africa and later to South America. In this way he nas seen much of the country and has a comprehensive knowledge concerning its peoples.

In 1857 he returned to New Orleans and in the same year came to Des Moines, taking up his permanent abode in this city. Here he embarked in bus- iness in partnership with L. Simon and his brother Leopold, on Second street, occupying two small stores. When the business center of the city began to move westward they removed to Court avenue, between Second and Third streets. Later Mr. Strauss formed a partnership with Alexander Lederer under the

MOSES STRAUSS

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firm style of Lederer & Strauss, which name is still maintained in connection with the conduct of one of the leading mercantile enterprises of the city. They opened a dry goods and clothing store at Third and Walnut streets and in 1873 opened a stock of millinery and fancy goods at No. 91 Walnut street, still re- taining their dry-goods and clothing business at the old stand. Success attended the new venture and in 1875 they disposed of their stock of dry goods but con- tinued to deal in clothing. In 1876 they removed their millinery establishment to the old Cooper building on Court avenue and the business continues until the present under the firm name of Lederer, Strauss & Company, Incorporated, al- though on the 17th of December, 1904, Mr. Strauss retired from the business in which he had been engaged for nearly forty years. The trade increased rapidly until the company today owns the most extensive millinery business in the west.

In 1872 Mr. Strauss became a stockholder and director of the Citizens Na- tional Bank and has been reelected at each annual election since that time. This was the first national bank organized in Des Moines and Mr. Strauss is the only . survivor of the original officers and board of directors. The first pres- ident of the institution was Governor Samuel Merrill, while Charles Elliott held the office of vice president. In 1887 Mr. Strauss was one of the organizers of the State Savings Bank, of which he became a director and in 1889 was chosen to the presidency and has since continued as the chief executive officer of that institution. In 1907, in connection with Carl Kahler, he built the Majestic Theater at a cost of one hundred thousand dollars, each investing one half of that sum. This is one of the finest amusement houses west of Chicago. As a business man Mr. Strauss is exceptionally strong and able, his hopeful optimism being tempered by a safe conservatism. He is a man of wide experience, broad minded and of keen sagacity and unfailing enterprise. His firm determination has enabled him to carry forward to successful completion whatever he under- takes. His methods are practical and comprehensive and he has been a leader in the development of commercial and financial interests in Des Moines, where in business circles he enjoys to the fullest extent the confidence and good will of colleagues and contemporaries.

Mr. Strauss was united in marriage to Nannie Schloss and throughout the years of their married life they have maintained their residence in Des Moines. where they have an extensive circle of warm friends. They reared a family of four sons and one daughter, as follows: Samuel, who was editor and proprietor of the Des Moines Leader and afterward went to New York and purchased the New York Evening Globe, which he built up from a circulation of seven- teen thousand to one hundred and seventy-five thousand; Leon and Gus, who conduct the wholesale millinery business; Oscar, a prominent attorney of Des Moines ; and Mrs. Carl Mark, who resides in Amsterdam, New York.

At an early day Mr. Strauss became one of the leaders among the Hebrews of this city in organizing the first Hebrew synagogue. The congregation Benai Yeshurum was formed September 5, 1873, by Mr. Strauss and a number of others. For years its meetings were held in a hall on Court avenue and in 1879 a building on Seventh and Mulberry streets was purchased and remodeled for the use of the congregation. In 1886 the present temple was erected at Eighth and Pleasant streets. The congregation has steadily grown and has become a factor in the religious and social life of Des Moines. Fraternally Mr. Strauss is connected with Pioneer Lodge, No. 22, A. F. & A. M .; Corinthian Chapter, No. 14, R. A. M .; and Des Moines Consistory, S. P. R. S., in which he has attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite. He is also a member of Za-Ga-Zig Temple of the Mystic Shrine. He is a charter member of Lazarus Samisch Lodge, K. S. B., which was organized November 17, 1876, on which occasion he was elected the first vice president. He has never been active in politics, yet is neglectful of none of the duties of citizenship. In

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manner he is courteous and affable and his social qualities have gained him many warm friends. His career is notable in that he has worked his way up- ward from a humble position to one of affluence directly through his own labors. He began business here in a little store on Second street but by close applica- tion and unfaltering effort he has made steady progress and has long since be- come recognized as one of the substantial and successful men of the city.

CHARLES W. LYON.

For a number of years prominent in educational work in Iowa, Charles W. Lyon transferred his allegiance to the law and is now established in practice at Des Moines. He was born at Pierceville, Van Buren county, Iowa, October 9, 1872, and is a son of Charles H. and Sarah J. (Tiffy) Lyon, both of whom were born in Van Buren county, the father in 1840 and the mother in 1846. The paternal grandfather of Charles W. Lyon came to Iowa in 1839 and settled in Van Buren county, becoming permanently identified with its interests. There were six other children besides Charles W., the subject of this review, in the family of Charles and Sarah J. Lyon, namely : J. D., now a practicing physician of Chester, Iowa; Willard H., an attorney of Knoxville, Iowa; Paul T., a physician of Chicago; Ray B., who is a student in the collegiate department of Drake University : Ella, the wife of N. G. Richardson, who is engaged in the newspaper business at Andover, Ohio; and Mary, the wife of Rupert Bard, of Gordon, Nebraska.

Charles W. Lyon removed with his parents in his boyhood from Van Buren county to Dexter, Dallas county, Iowa, where the father purchased a farm and established the family homestead. He received his early education in the dis- trict schools and later possessed opportunities of further study in the public schools of Dexter. He taught in the country schools for several terms and then became a student in the scientific department of the Iowa State College at Ames. In order to secure funds it was necessary for him to give up his studies there be- fore completing them and he resumed teaching, subsequently serving as princi- pal of the schools at Collins, Story county, for four and one-half years. He attended the State Teachers College at Cedar Falls, graduating with the degree of Master of Didactics, and made such progress in the science and art of teaching that he was granted a state certificate in 1895 and a life diploma in 1900. In September, 1898, he was elected superintendent of schools of Valley Junction and took up his residence at that place. While serving in this capacity he entered the law department of Drake University and was graduated in 1902, with the degree of LL. B. He continued his studies further and received the degree of LL. M. the year following. He was admitted to the bar October 9, 1902, and in 1905 began practice at Valley Junction. In January, 1907, he was appointed assitant attorney general of Iowa under Attorney General Byers, and served most acceptably in this position until January 1, 1911, when he resigned to devote his entire attention to practice as a member of the law firm of Howe & Lyon. In recognition of his distinguished ability as a teacher and also of his standing in the profession which he has chosen as his life calling, he was ap- pointed by the supreme court of Iowa, on February 16, 1911, as a member of the state board of law examiners, which position he now holds.

On the 14th of August, 1901, Mr. Lyon was united in marriage to Miss Grace Minnis, a daughter of Charles and Margaret Minnis, and to this union two children have been born: Homer M., born October 4, 1903; and Howard W., born September 24, 1907.

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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 21

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