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 26

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 26

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Raymond B. Alberson was a pupil in the public schools of his native city and later attended the Academy of Iowa City and afterward the Iowa State University. His preparation for the bar was made in the law department of the University of Michigan, from which he was graduated with the class of 1900. He began practice as a member of the law firm of Bowen, Brockett & Alberson, which relation was maintained until April, 1902. At that date .Mr. Alberson was called to the office of assistant city solicitor and remained in that position until September, 1905. At the latter date he was given charge of the claim department of the Des Moines City Railroad Company and so con- tinued until the Ist of May, 1908, when he resumed the private practice of law as an associate of Messrs. Bowen & Bremner. The partnership was con- tinued until July, 1909, when the present firm of Bowen & Alberson was formed: He has also continued in general practice and has proved capable in handling legal interests of varied character. His thorough preparation of cases bringing him intimate knowledge of all the points bearing upon his cause enables him to forcibly present his litigation and the many verdicts which he has won favor- able to his clients is an indication of his ability and strength as an advocate.

On the 3d of January, 1895, Mr. Alberson was married in Ottumwa, Iowa, to Miss Louise Kellogg, a daughter of John H. Kellogg, a native of Wash- ington, Iowa. Their children are: Richard Norris, born September 17, 1902; John Whitford, March 26, 1904; and Sarah Isabel, March 23, 1907. The family attend the Methodist church of which Mr. Alberson is a member and he also belongs to the Law Club of Des Moines. His political allegiance is given to the republican party but while he keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day he does not seek nor desire office, preferring to concentrate his energies upon his law practice which is constantly growing in volume and im- portance. At the outset of his career he recognized the fact that earnest, per- sistent labor is the basis of all success in the courts as well as in other lines of business, and he has never slighted the arduous work of the office that must precede the successful presentation of a cause before court or jury.

ARTHUR O. STUBBS.

Arthur O. Stubbs, who is manager of the Des Moines branch of the Fair- view Farm and Creamery as well as secretary and treasurer of the company, was born in Polk county on the 27th of January, 1879. His parents were Will- iam and Georgiana (Skinner) Stubbs, the father a native of Indiana and the mother of Iowa. Mr. Stubbs came to Iowa in the pioneer days and first located at Earlham, where he resided for a brief period, then removed to Des Moines and settled upon a fruit farm which he cultivated until 1910, at which time he engaged in the grocery business with a son, Elmer E., in Des Moines. Mrs. Stubbs passed away in 1886.

The boyhood and youth of Arthur O. Stubbs was spent in the paternal household up to the age of eighteen years, at which time he joined two of his brothers who were engaged in the dairy business. They continued in this business for two years after he joined them, at which time they disposed of it and went to Des Moines, where they entered the Capital City Commercial College, feeling the necessity of supplementing the education acquired in the district schools by a better understanding of business methods. After com- pleting their course Arthur O. and Alfred I. Stubbs again engaged in the dairy business. At the end of a year Alfred I. Stubbs decided to go into partner- ship with his father-in-law, C. W. Wilcox, and so sold his interest in the busi-

218

CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY

ness to his brother. From that time until 1909 Arthur O. Stubbs continued in the business alone. In the latter year, however, he removed his business to Cedar Rapids, where he had been located about nine months when he sold out and returned to Des Moines to go into the Fairview Farm and Creamery with his brother and father-in-law.

The company is incorporated for twenty thousand dollars, paid-up stock, with C. W. Wilcox as president, Alfred I. Stubbs, vice president and Arthur O. Stubbs, secretary and treasurer. In addition to their extensive dairy busi- ness they make a specialty of breeding and raising Guernsey cattle, in which they are meeting with most gratifying success, as they are shipping their cattle all over the United States. Their farm is located in Bloomfield township and contains five hundred and twenty acres of land which they are using in con- nection with the feeding and care of their stock. It now requires two hun- dred milch cows to supply their customers, while the scope of their business is rapidly increasing. In addition to his stock in the dairy business Mr. Stubbs owns two acres of land in South Des Moines.

Mr. Stubbs was married on the 7th of May, 1900, to Miss Marion Edith Wilcox, a daughter of Curtis W. and Mary (Page) Wilcox, who are natives of Vermont, but old residents of Polk county. Five children have been born of this union, four of whom survive, one daughter, Dorothy Helen, having passed away on the 17th of August, 1906. The others are: Leland William, aged eight years : Esther L., who is six; Marjorie M. now three; and Donald Curtis, who has just passed the first anniversary of his birth. Mr. and Mrs. Stubbs affiliate with the Methodist Episcopal church.

In politics Mr. Stubbs' views accord with those of the republican party. He has never taken an active part in local public affairs but he meets the re- quirements of good citizenship by casting his ballot on election day for the candidates of his party. He is a most capable young business man, and much of the success of the company with which he is identified can undoubtedly be attributed to his personality in the important position of manager of the city branch, which is located at 1401 Grand avenue.

MELVIN H. BYERS.

Although scarcely emerged from his boyhood when he donned a uniform and marched under the stars and stripes at the time of the Civil war, Melvin H. Byers, now state oil inspector of Iowa, was able to render a good account of his services as a soldier, and today he is one of the highly respected citizens of one of the greatest states of the Union. He was born in Noble county, Ohio January 12, 1846, a son of John A. and Nancy J. (Goodrich) Byers, the latter of whom was a native of New York city. The father was born in Morgan county, Ohio, and learned the shoemaker's trade. He came to Iowa in 1853 and followed his trade at Glenwood, Mills county, also engaging in farming and stock-raising. He died in 1886, the beloved wife and mother surviving him for two years thereafter. They were the parents of ten children and by lives of industry and unselfishness set a worthy example for their children to follow.

Melvin H. Byers, our subject was reared in a peaceful home and received his early education in the district schools. In 1863, being then seventeen years of age, he enlisted in Company B, Twenty-ninth Iowa Volunteers, and went to the front, participating in many of the most important battles of the Civil war. After receiving his honorable discharge August 25, 1865, at Davenport, Iowa, he returned to Mills county and assisted his father upon the home farm for several years, subsequently engaging for a period of ten years in the general store business upon his own account at Glenwood.

219

CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY

He took an active part in politics and was elected county recorder of Mills county, serving in that office for six years, and also was three times elected mayor of Glenwood. He engaged in the real-estate and abstract business with marked success and, having been for eighteen years an active member of the Iowa National Guard, he was appointed in 1898 by Governor Shaw adjutant general of the state with rank of brigadier general. He soon found himself actively employed on account of the Spanish-American war and, during the early months of his services, organized four regiments of infantry as Iowa's contribution to the cause, acquitting himself most creditably in this important work. He was reappointed to the office by Governor Cummins and served for seven years, at the close of which period he engaged in the life insurance business with headquarters in Des Moines. In 1909 he was appointed state oil inspector, which position he now occupies ..

On the Ist of December, 1870, Mr. Byers was united in marriage to Carrie S. Daniel, a native of Highland county, Ohio, and six children were born to this union : Edith M., the wife of H. B. Dull of Glenwood, Ohio; Bessie D., now Mrs. Henry Barnett, of Portland, Oregon; Nettie G., the wife of Orin E. Shay, of Glenwood; Roscoe E. of Des Moines; Ethel J., the wife of L. A. Walk, of McMinnville, Oregon; and Lucile, at home.

Politically Mr. Byers has from the time of casting his first ballot been a sup- porter of the principles and candidates of the republican party. He is an active member of the Masonic order and also of Abner Army Post, No. 15, G. A. R., at Glenwood, Iowa. Being widely known in the state, he has friends in every county and the soldiers of Iowa, old and young, look to him as one of their tried and true advocates. In public and private life he has shown an ability, tact and discrimination rarely possessed by one man, and an established reputation for fidelity to every trust has given him an enviable place in the estimation of the best people of Iowa regardless of church or party affiliation.

THOMAS L. BLANK.

Thomas L. Blank, a civil engineer, who has done important work in his special field, was born in Jackson county, Iowa, January 13, 1855, and through- out his entire life has been identified with the upbuilding and progress of the middle west. His parents were Moses D. and Eliza Ann (Sweesy) Blank. The paternal ancestors of the family came from Germany and settled near Phil- adelphia, Pennsylvania. The father is still living and follows the occupation of farming in South Dakota. The mother, who died in 1870, was of Scotch- Irish descent and also represented an old family of Pennsylvania.

In the district schools of his native county, Thomas L. Blank pursued his education and afterward took an academical course in Cornell College at Mt. Vernon, Iowa. He completed a four-years' engineering course by graduation with the class of 1882 and immediately afterward entered upon the active work of the profession, becoming connected with the Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern Railroad, now a part of the Rock Island System, as a civil en- gineer. For about six months he continued in that service and was afterward with the Northwestern Railroad Company. For many years he has done work for different railroad companies operating in the middle west. His work has been largely construction engineering and has been of an important character. In December, 1901, he came to Des Moines, being brought here in connection with the promotion of the Des Moines & Northern Iowa Railroad, but the project, however, was never carried to completion, although Mr. Blank spent two years in making the surveys and estimates for the building of the road. At the end of that time he established an office in this city for the conduct of

220

CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY

general engineering, drainage and municipal engineering, doing work in all parts of the state. He spent one season on the power canal at Muscatine, Iowa, and during 1899-1900 he was in Old Mexico, locating a line for the Nacosari & Southern Railroad. This was a very difficult engineering feat through the mountainous region of that country. He also solved other important engineer- ing problems in the construction of the roundhouse and yards at Cass Lake, Min- nesota for the Great Northern. This work was done in 1898, Mr. Blank having entire charge. He has also made surveys for the various electric lines in Iowa and Nebraska and his work on the whole has been in connection with large corporations. On the Ist of September, 1910, he was appointed to the position of deputy engineer for Polk county, which position he still fills.

His engineering service has caused him at different times to take up his abode in various places. While a resident of Jerauld county, South Dakota, he filled the office of county clerk and register of deeds for a term. He was one of the organizers of the county and opened the first records in 1884. For ten years he resided in that county, occupying a position of prominence and influence among its citizens. From 1892 until 1900 he was a resident of Pierce county, Nebraska, and during that period served for two terms as county sur- veyor. In politics he has always been a republican, inflexible in his support of the party and its principles and actively interested to a greater or less extent in its work and support.

On the 24th of June, 1885, at Center Point, Iowa, Mr. Blank was united in marriage to Miss LoElla H. Lamb. a daughter of Curtis and Nancy Lamb. Mrs. Blank was the second white child born in Sioux City, her natal day being January 8. 1857. Mr. and Mrs. Blank have three living children : Vernon Dee, who was born in South Dakota, November 17. 1890, and is now a junior in college at Grinnell, Iowa; Velma Delphine, who was born in Planview, Ne- braska, September 3. 1892, and is now a graduate of Grinnell (Iowa) high school ; and Moses Dale, who was born in Plainview, June 28, 1894, a senior in Grinnell high school. The parents are members of the Congregational church, and Mr. Blank belongs also to Gus Smith Camp, No. 2766, M. W. A. He is likewise a member of the Iowa Engineering Society and he has won for himself a favorable position in the ranks of the profession, to which he gives his attention. He has been a close and discriminating student of the scientific principles which bear upon his work as well as the practical labor connected with the duties that have devolved upon him, and he has thus become well qual- ified and has done important service along professional lines.

HARRY C. EVANS.

Upon the foundation principles of industry, honesty and fair dealing Harry C. Evans has builded his success. A poor boy, upon whom his father's family was dependent for support, he bravely met the duties that devolved upon him and found in the faithful performance of each task encouragement and strength for the labors that followed. He is today widely known as one of the builders of the Brotherhood of American Yeomen, which is rapidly forging to the front as one of the leading fraternal insurance organizations of the country, and with the order he is closely associated as editor of the Yeomen's Shield, its official organ.

Mr. Evans is a native of Davis county, Iowa, born July 14, 1858, and was reared upon a farm. His father, Joseph V. Evans, who died in October, 1877, was a farmer and stock dealer, who became one of the pioneer settlers of Davis county. He was born in Jefferson county, Tennessee, in 1823. At the time of the settlement of the Evans family in Iowa, Samuel Evans, the grandfather, mi- grated from Tennessee down the Tennessee river to Ohio, then down that stream

HARRY C. EVANS

---

223

CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY

and up the Mississippi river to Keokuk, Iowa. He had in his care sixteen per- sons of his immediate family, beside much live stock and the household goods. The journey from Jefferson county, Tennessee, covered several hundred miles. The raft on which they came was built by Samuel Evans, who was a resourceful man and a citizen of much prominence in the newly opened district of Iowa, in which he located. He came to Davis county at the time it was opened to settlers and was one of its organizers and the county's first assessor. His son, Joseph V. Evans, early became familiar with the experiences of frontier life. Arriving at years of maturity he wedded Nancy Ellen Childers, a native of Illinois. His death occurred in October, 1877, while Mrs. Evans died in 1875.

Harry C. Evans was the third in a family of eight children. In his youthful days he pursued his education in one of the old time log schoolhouses in Perry township, attending during the winter months, while in the summer seasons he worked on the home farm. He pursued his studies only until about seventeen years of age, when he left the farm and went to Bloomfield, the county seat of Davis county, where he was apprenticed to learn the printer's trade. He was then connected with the printing business in one phase or another until 1890. His first position was with the Bloomfield Democrat and after four years, during which period he worked his way upward and became familiar with various departments of the business, he purchased the paper through the assistance of friends. He then bent every energy toward making it a successful journal, toward increasing . its circulation and its advertising patronage by giving to the public a paper of widespread interest. Five years' time enabled him to pay off everything which he owed upon the paper and he thus started free and untrammeled in the business world. During President Cleveland's first administration, from 1884 until 1888, he served as postmaster of Bloomfield. In 1890 he sold the paper and removed to Ottumwa, Iowa, where in connection with Captain S. B. Evans he founded the Ottumwa Sun, a democratic organ. During his residence in that place he was elected a member of the city council and in 1893 he was appointed to the posi- tion of chief of division in the United States treasury department at Washing- ton, D. C., where he resided, filling the office for four years. Through three years of that time he devoted his leisure hours to the mastery of a law course in Co- lumbian University, and was accorded the LL. B. degree with the class of 1896. Returning to Iowa, he took up his abode in Des Moines in the spring of 1897 and here entered upon the practice of law, forming a partnership with his brother, Edward B. Evans, the association being maintained until the latter was appointed dean of Drake University. The following year Harry C. Evans became officially connected with the Brotherhood of American Yeomen, which was organized in 1897. He was made a member of its board of directors and has been editor of the Yeomen's Shield practically during the life of the association. Since August, 1909, he has given his entire time to his duties in charge of one of the depart- ments of the society, for he is now a supreme officer.

In his political views Mr. Evans is a democrat and has always been an active, earnest and effective worker in the ranks of the party. In 1904 he was a dele- gate to the democratic national convention and in 1906 was a candidate for the state legislature. He took an active part in the work of securing the adoption of the Des Moines plan and was one of the business men's committee of three hundred to frame the plan and laws for the present form of city government. Fraternally he is connected with the Masons, the Knights of Pythias, the Modern Woodmen, the Tribe of Ben Hur, the Modern Brotherhood and the Homesteaders. He belongs also to the Commercial Club and the Press Club of Des Moines and is widely known in the city, where his many stalwart qualities have won him friendly regard. He holds membership in the First Methodist Episcopal church and at all times is mindful of his duties and his obligations toward his fellowmen.

On the 12th of August, 1890, in Bloomfield, Iowa, Mr. Evans was united in marriage to Miss Susan Weaver, a native of Iowa, and a daughter of General

224

CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY

James B. Weaver, a prominent citizen who won his title by service in the Civil war. Mr. Weaver was three times a member of congress and in 1880 was candi- date on the greenback ticket for president and in 1892 on the populist ticket. He became a pioneer in what is now known as the progressive movement of the republican party and has ever been in the vanguard of those men who, thinking out broadly, seem to recognize before the majority of their fellows the real con- ditions that exist, and labor for measures and movements which shall do away with abuses and fallacies of government, and give strength to those elements which are best in public life. He is still a resident of Colfax, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Evans have two children: Alice, who was born in Ottumwa, Iowa, April 29, 1891, and is now in college; and Clara, who was born in Washington, D. C., May 17, 1896.

Such in brief is the life history of Harry C. Evans, a history that may well serve as a source of inspiration and encouragement to others. His record is an illustration of the fact that it is under the pressure of adversity, and the stimulus of necessity that the strongest and best in men is brought out and developed. The exigencies of the case demanded his best efforts. He had to provide for his father's family as well as look out for his own interests and this meant the closest application and the wisest use of every advantage and opportunity. Gradually he gained a foothold in the business world and each forward step has brought him a wider outlook. He deserves not only to be classed with the successful men but also with those men whose commercial integrity and high sense of personal honor command for them the unqualified respect of all.

MORRIS J. WRAGG.

Among the eminent citizens of Iowa whom the people delight to honor may be named Morris J. Wragg, of Des Moines, widely known on account of hi intimate connection with horticultural interests. He was born in Clayton county, Iowa, May 3, 1858, a son of John and Hannah (McManus) Wragg. The father, who was a native of Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, came to Iowa in 1853 and entered land in Clayton county, continuing on his farm for seven years after his marriage, which took place in 1857. However, believing that a more southerly location would be still more favorable, he removed in 1863 to Dallas county and purchased a farm near Waukee, which he cultivated with such judgment that he soon became known as one of the most prosperous farmers of the county. By inclination, however, he was a horticulturist, and wishing to establish himself permanently in this line, he gave up farming, and in 1878 associated with his sons in the development of flowers and fruit and ornamental trees. The business succeeded even beyond his expectations, and he gained a reputation which made his name known throughout the entire west. He was a man of good education and fine literary ability, being an accomplished writer of both prose and poetry. He had a large library of choice books, and was a lifelong student, not only along scientific lines, but of general literature. His beautiful home was ever a noted center of hospitality, where a host of friends were accorded a cordial greeting.

The Wragg family in America traces its ancestry to John Wragg, who was born in Birminghamshire, England, about the year 1769. He was married to Lydia Ellis, the ceremony taking place in the old church at Birminghamshire, in March, 1794. and soon afterward he sailed with his bride for America. The ship in which they took passage was seized by the French, war then being in progress between France and England. The passengers were made prisoners and many of them were beheaded. However, the assassination of Marat by Charlotte Corday led to the release of those prisoners who were still alive, and

225

CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY

among this number, it so happened, were John Wragg and his wife. It is said that owing to the terror and suspense through which he passed, the hair of Mr. Wragg, originally jet black, turned white as snow. After reaching America, he settled in Pennsylvania, and as he was well versed in horticulture, was placed by Dr. Priestley, of Northumberland, in charge of his spacious grounds, garden and orchards. The members of the Wragg family are quite numerous, and may be found in all of the principal states of the union.

Morris J. Wragg, the subject of this review, received his early education in the public schools, and later became a post-graduate student under Professor Budd, of Ames College, at Ames, Iowa, in horticulture and botany. In 1881, he engaged in business with his father and has ever since been actively identified with the horticultural and agricultural interests of the west, serving in many important positions. He was director of horticultural exhibits at the World's Fair, Chicago, the Omaha, Buffalo and St. Louis Exposition, and was awarded a gold medal at each of those great fairs for his efficiency and fidelity in performance of his duties. Many other honors were also bestowed upon him. He has served as member of the state board of agriculture of Iowa, and for eight years was western representative of leading eastern agricultural and horticultural papers. His ad- vice and assistance have been sought in the laying out and beautifying of public grounds in various cities, including Denver, Colorado, and Knoxville, Tennessee. As a landscape architect, he has gained a national reputation. The business was first established at Waukee, Iowa, but removed to Des Moines in 1904. The grounds of the Toledo College at Toledo, Iowa, were laid out in accordance with plans prepared by Mr. Wragg, and his services are in constantly growing demand.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

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 26

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