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 27

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 27

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).

On the 27th of May, 1884, at Waukee, Dallas county, Iowa, Mr. Wragg was united in marriage to Miss Alice M. Little, and six children were born of this union, namely : Edith May, who was born April 6, 1885; Winafred, born October 12, 1886; Marlin Joseph, born August 29, 1888; Florence, born July 26, 1890; Howard Burton, born November 29, 1894; and Russel Francis, who was born August 14, 1899.

Mr. Wragg is politically in sympathy with the republican party, and his re- ligious belief is indicated by membership in the Methodist church. Socially, he is connected with the Knights of Pythias. He is a member of the Des Moines Commercial Club and served for a number of years as one of its directors. He is actively identified with all the civic associations and takes special interest in all civic improvements. The work which he has accomplished reflects great credit upon his ability in his chosen field, and today there are few men in the country, who can claim superiority as horticulturists over Morris J. Wragg. His friends and acquaintances are legion, and are to be found in every state of the union. The high position he has gained is due to conscientious application to his calling, to which he is by birth and education eminently fitted.

WILLIAM GEORGE HARVISON.

William George Harvison is a member of the law firm of Dale & Harvison, which occupies a position of distinctive precedence as a representative of the work of the courts of Polk county. In his practice Mr. Harvison has always specialized in the department of civil law and broad study and research have splendidly qualified him for the conduct and care of important litigated in- terests. A recognition of this fact on the part of the general public has brought him an extensive clientele. He was born in New York city, January 4, 1854. His father, Thomas Harvison, a native of County Monaghan, Ireland, came to

226

CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY

America in 1840, settling in New York city, where he maintained his residence until 1862. He then removed to Morrison, Whiteside county, Illinois, where he resided until 1874, when he went to Edgar, Clay county, Nebraska, there making his home until his death, which occurred on the 6th of December, 1909. In early manhood he was a scroll-sawyer in New York city, but subsequently took up the trade of carpentering. . His wife, Harriet (Townsley) Harvison, was born in New York city, in August, 1831, shortly after the arrival of her parents from England, and is now a resident of Edgar, Nebraska.

William G. Harvison at the age of six years became a pupil in the public schools of the eastern metropolis and later continued his studies in the public. schools of Whiteside county, Illinois, in the Normal School of Morrison, and at Lyndon, Illinois. His preparation for the bar was made in Des Moines. where the Law department of Simpson Centenary College of Indianola, Iowa, was located. He was there graduated with the class of 1876. He began prac- tice in Des Moines on the Ist of January, 1878, but this did not represent his initial experience in business. Five years prior to entering the law school he had taken up the profession of teaching in Whiteside county, Illinois, and while thus engaged he had devoted evening hours and Sundays to reading law. His economical expenditure enabled him to save from his earnings a sum sufficient to permit him to pursue his law course in college and following his graduation he entered upon general practice, yet has never engaged in criminal law work. On the Ist of September, 1902, he formed a partnership with Horatio F. Dale and in the intervening period of nine years the firm of Dale & Harvison has won an enviable position among the leading attorneys of the state. Mr. Harvison never fails to give a thorough preparation nor in the slightest degree neglects a point that will bear upon his cause. His familiarity with principle and precedent enables him to readily cite points of law relative to his case and his strong, forcible arguments never fail to impress the court and seldom fail to win the verdict desired. At times other interests have to an extent claimed his attention. He was elected president of the Century Savings Bank upon its organization, on the 10th of August, 1903, and so served until the 7th of February, 1910, when he resigned and retired from the active man- agement of the bank, although he is still one of its stockholders. He was also a stockholder and one of the directors of the Home Savings Bank for many years and for a long period was attorney and director of the German Savings Bank but has now put aside all outside interests to concentrate his energies entirely upon his professional duties which have constantly grown in volume and importance. He is most devoted to the interests of his clients and in the practice of law holds to a high standard of professional service.

Mr. Harvison is pleasantly situated in his home relations and the Harvison household is the abode of warm-hearted hospitality. He was married at Rock- ford, Illinois, May 15, 1877, to Miss Carrie Catlin, a daughter of Levi and Ellen S. (Downs) Catlin, and a native of Litchfield, Connecticut, born March 12, 1853. They have become the parents of three daughters: Emma, born in Des Moines, November 4, 1879; Carrie, who was born July 17, 1881, and is a graduate of the Still College of Osteopathy, since which time she has practiced her profession in Des Moines; and Mary, who was born September 6, 1883, in Des Moines, and is the wife of Eugene R. Holland of this city, who is book- keeper and teller of the Century Savings Bank. Mrs. Harvison is a member of the Abigail Adams Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, being a descendant of Thomas Catlin, a lieutenant in the American army in the war for liberty.

Mr. Harvison gives his political allegiance to the republican party and- has been an active worker in its ranks. He has never sought office, however, yet has served through appointments as assistant county attorney, for four years, beginning in 1894, and was also appointed by the board of supervisors to the

227

CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY

position of deputy county treasurer in 1884, continuing in that office for four years. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias fraternity and to Capital Lodge, A. F. & A. M. He also holds membership with the Grant Club and the nature of his recreation is indicated in the fact that he belongs to the East Side Golf Club and the Grand View Golf Club. His religious faith is that of the Con- gregational church. He neglects none of the duties that devolve upon every man through his business associations, through citizenship and through the ties of home and friendship. He stands foursquare to every wind that blows, nor seeks favor nor advancement at the sacrifice of another's interests. He has won his most creditable reputation at the bar in a fair field and has de- served the distinction which he has achieved.

GEORGE H. MAISH.

It has been said that no man in a similar period of time has done more for the upbuilding and improvement of Des Moines than did George H. Maish while a resident of this city. He figured prominently in financial and business circles, was called to various positions of public trust and sought to further the social, intellectual and moral, as well as the material progress of the community. His life was filled with countless kindly courtesies such as help to lighten the bur- dens for others and became an inspiration or incentive for renewed effort on the part of those with whom he came in contact.

He was born September 30, 1835, in York county, Pennsylvania, his youthful days being spent upon his father's farm, where his home training was such as developed in him those principles of honorable manhood that characterized his entire life. When a young man he took up his abode in the town of York and sought employment as a clerk in a hardware store, but eventually turned his attention from the more strictly mercantile lines to financial interests, becoming teller in one of the banks of that city. Recognition of the conditions and oppor- tunities in different parts of the country led him to determine to try his for- tune in the west, where he believed superior advantages were offered.

The year 1869 witnessed the arrival of Mr. Maish in Des Moines, and here he became a member of the drug firm of Weaver & Maish. He soon won a wide acquaintance and his geniality, cordiality and reliability not only gained for him a host of friends, but also constituted a strong attribute in his business career and gained him substantial prosperity. For a time he remained con- nected with commercial pursuits and then turned his attention to banking, be- coming the organizer in 1875 of the Iowa National Bank. As its cashier he had active supervision of its business, which developed and expanded under his guidance until the institution became one of the strong banks of the city, with a large patronage, every feature of legitimate banking being there car- ried on. For twelve years he bent his energies toward the conduct of the bank as cashier but in January, 1888, resigned and retired from the active man- agement, having been elected to the office of vice president. In the previous year he had entered another field of labor, and had been elected president of the State Insurance Company. Again his management of affairs brought pros- perity to the institution with which he was associated. He systematized the business, formulated plans for its extension and stimulated the efforts of agents and officers so that the business prospered and policy holders were benefited thereby.

Mr. Maish filled various positions of trust of a public and semi-public char- acter and again and again there was given to him abundant evidence of the confidence reposed in him. At the time of his death and for three years prior thereto he was treasurer of the State Agricultural Society and a member of its

228

CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY

executive committee. Every trust reposed in him was satisfactorily executed and his record at all times measured up to the highest standard of business ethics. He was administrator for a number of large estates, was a trustee of various banks and a director in many corporations, including those already mentioned, together with the Polk County Savings Bank, the Security, Loan & Trust Company and the Savery Hotel Company. It seemed that everything that he undertook proved a source of public benefit as well as of individual success.

Before his removal to the middle west Mr. Maish was married in York, Pennsylvania, on the Ist of October, 1857, to Miss Charlotte E. Weaver, and they became the parents of seven children, namely: William W .; Annie K., now deceased; Harriet; Albert G .; Mary, who married Philip B. Watrous and is now living in Albany, New York; Georgia, now Mrs. Harry D. Liddle; and Charlotte, who now lives with her mother, at home in this city. Mr. Maish was truly devoted to his family and found his greatest happiness in promoting the welfare of the members of his own household. He loved all children and they loved him. He was charitable and kindly and his philanthropy was ever as great as his means would permit, his benevolence increasing as the years brought him success.

He was an active member and officer in St. John's English Lutheran church and for many years served as superintendent of its Sunday school. He con- tributed generously toward the support of the church and took a most helpful interest in all of its different activities. His life, too, exemplified the beneficent spirit of the Masonic fraternity. He was made a Master Mason in York, Pennsylvania, and afterward became a member of Capital Lodge, No. IIO, A. F. & A. M .; Corinthian Chapter, No. 14, R. A. M., and Temple Commandery, No. 4, K. T., as well as all of the Scottish Rite bodies.

He was a man of splendid personal appearance, but even this was for- gotten in the kindly spirit which he displayed to all. In one of his volumes James Lane Allen has given this ideal of manhood: "First of all a man should be a man with all the vigor and beauty of the body; secondly he should be a man with all of the vigor and graces of the intellect; and lastly, no matter what his creed, his dogma, his superstition or his religion, he should try to live the beautiful life of the spirit." Few men have so nearly reached this ideal of perfected manhood as George H. Maish, and it was with deepest regret on the part of all who knew him that they learned that to him had come the final summons on the 2d day of May, 1888. He could be as tender as a woman, as sympathetic as a child and yet possessed the dominant elements of strong, sturdy manhood that enabled him to accomplish what he undertook and to become a forceful factor in the life of the community, having an im- portant influence on public thought and action.

JACOB F. SNOKE.

There are men who succeed in any profession to which they devote their attention. They possess unusual mental capacity and have their powers of con- centration and judgment developed. They are the natural leaders and easily stand at the head of any community. To this class belongs Jacob F. Snoke, born at Mowersville, Pennsylvania, August 10, 1868, the son of Jacob H. and Nancy (Shoemaker) Snoke, the latter of whom was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, in 184I.

The father was born in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, September 17, 1839, and engaged in the ministry of the United Brethren church. He is now living in this state and is still actively pursuing his duties, having attained the

229

CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY

longest record for service in the Des Moines conference. The grandfather of our subject, Christian Snoke, was born in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, in 1804, and was a merchant tailor. The great-grandfather in the same line of ancestry was John Snoke. He came from England at the age of eighteen years, and was a clergyman in the colonies at the time of the Revolutionary war. The maiden name of the grandmother of our subject was Anna High. She was born in Philadelphia, in 1805, the daughter of John and Dorothy (Landis) High. The family moved from Cumberland county, Pennsylvania. to Philadelphia, taking with them a carriage, which was considered a great novelty in the region where they took up their home. The first railroad west of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, was built some time after their arrival in the Keystone state.

Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Jacob H. Snoke, namely: D. H., who has been engaged in the banking business at Davenport and Durant, Iowa, for twenty-five years past, and who served as member of the twenty-fifth gen- eral assembly from the Cedar and Scott county district; Jacob F., our subject ; Martha May, now the wife of Henry H. Keyes of Chicago; William A., who became a physician and is now deceased leaving a widow and one child, Wilma, at New Corydon, Indiana; and Jennie Grace, now the wife of Walter Miller of Enid, Oklahoma.

Jacob F. Snoke, the subject of this review, received his preliminary edu- cation in the public schools of Pennsylvania and came with his parents to Iowa when he was thirteen years of age, continuing his studies in the schools of this state. After graduating from the Muscatine high school and also from the normal school in the class of 1887 he took up the study of medicine and, in 1892, was granted a degree of M. D., by the Baltimore Medical College. Sub- sequently, he entered Drake University, graduating in pharmacy from that institution in 1896. While pursuing his studies he taught school at various times, thus earning the money to meet his expenses at college. For five years he engaged in the active practice of medicine at Cummings, Iowa, and was quite successful in this vocation, but being attracted to a business career, he discontinued medical practice and became cashier of the Bank of Monroe, Iowa. After two years in this position he resigned and came to Des Moines, where he has since been identified with real estate, land and investments interests, being especially interested in promoting emigration upon new lands in Texas, Old Mexico and Canada. Mr. Snoke has been devoting his attention mainly as man- ager of the National Resources Company, Ltd., of Vancouver, British Columbia, the officers of this company being financial agents for all the principal towns along the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway in British Columbia, but for the past year and in the future he expects to confine his time and attention to local and Iowa investments and real estate, believing after his extensive experience, that Iowa property is the best. Mr. Snoke is also an extensive land owner on his own account, owning four hundred acres of good land in Guthrie county, thirty-five miles west of Des Moines, on the principal automobile route. This farm he considers a permanent investment, believing firmly in a great future for productive Iowa lands. He has direct charge of the farm and makes a specialty of raising and feeding cattle and hogs. He is moreover an investor in Des Moines property, especially in that portion which lies along Mulberry and Walnut streets.

On the 18th day of May, 1898, Mr. Snoke was united in marriage to Miss Alice Dix, of Monroe, Iowa, a daughter of George and Isabel (Richardson) Dix, the father being a well known banking man. Mr. and Mrs. Snoke have one daughter, Isabel, who was born February 24, 1900.

Politically, Mr. Snoke gives his adherence to the republican party, as the one best adapted to advance the permanent interests of the country. He is a member of the Real Estate Exchange, and of the Presbyterian church. He is

230

CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY

also connected with the Commercial Club, and holds membership in the Masonic order and the Elks. He has gained an enviable record in his chosen calling, and has been instrumental in establishing hundreds of families in prosperous and happy homes. The possessor of a pleasing address, he readily makes ac- quaintances who soon become his friends. Contact with the world has broadened his mind and enlarged his views. Years ago he realized the fact that all men are members of a common brotherhood, and in accordance with this principle of action his life has been mainly shaped.

EDWARD J. McGORRISK, M. D.

Dr. Edward J. McGorrisk, who gained wide local distinction in his profes- sion and was a surgeon of the United States army during the Civil war, passed away in Des Moines on the 16th of April, 1904. He was then about seventy years of age, his birth having occurred in County Armagh, Ireland, in 1834. His parents were John and Bridget (Lennen) McGorrisk, who spent their entire lives on the Emerald isle. Dr. McGorrisk came to America in 1850 when a lad of about fifteen years. His brother, the Rev. Bernard McGorrisk, had pre- ceded him. He was a man of talent and culture, who gained prominence as a clergyman of the Catholic church and to whom is due the honor of having founded St. Mary's College of the Lakes-the first Catholic college in the United States west of the Alleghany Mountains.

Dr. McGorrisk had begun his education in the schools of his native country and after crossing the Atlantic became a student in the Chambley Literary Col- lege at Montreal, Canada. He pursued his first course of medical lectures in the McGill Medical College of Montreal, and following his removal to Galena, Illinois, in 1851, he took up the study of pharmacy and medicine under Dr. J. S. Crawford. He was graduated from Pope's Medical College at St. Louis in 1855 and was then appointed physician and surgeon at the celebrated O'Fallon's Dis- pensary in St. Louis, with which he was connected for a year, receiving the degree therefrom in 1856. He then went to Ottawa, Illinois, where he engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery until 1858, when he removed to Des Moines. He was here building up a good practice, when, in 1861, his patriotic spirit was aroused by the attempt which had been made to overthrow the Union and he offered his services to the government, becoming assistant surgeon of the Seventeenth Iowa Volunteer Infantry. He was conspicuous for his untiring devotion to the sick and wounded during the battles of Iuka and Corinth in 1862, and on the Ist of January. 1863, he was transferred to the Ninth Iowa Volun- teers as surgeon. He worked night and day in the discharge of his duties as an officer of the medical staff during the siege of Vicksburg and later he was made division surgeon of the First Division of the Fifteenth Army Corps and was on duty during the battles of Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge and Ringgold. He was promoted to the rank of brigade surgeon and afterward to acting medi- cal director of the Fifteenth Army Corps. He marched with General Sherman to the sea and ended his service when his country had no longer need for military aid.

When the war was over Dr. McGorrisk returned to Des Moines. He had come to this country a poor boy, had educated himself, and by courageous and persistent effort worked his way upward in one of the learned professions and at all times fully discharged his duties. He often gave his services as physician and surgeon to those unable to pay, responding readily to the call of those in distress. He studied broadly along professional lines and his advancement fol- lowed as the logical sequence of his investigation, broad experience and close

DR. E. J. McGORRISK

233

CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY

application. He was a very active man and stood locally at the head of his profession.

In the year 1856 Dr. McGorrisk was married to Miss Mary Crotty, of Ot- tawa, Illinois, and unto them were born three children, John B., William B. and E. W., but the last named is now deceased. Having lost his first wife, Dr. Mc- Gorrisk was again married, his second union being with Mrs. Katherine Brown, whom he wedded in 1887. He was devoted to his family, and the Loyal Legion, of which he was a member, bears testimony to the fact that he left behind him the record of more good deeds than does the average man. His religious faith was that of the Catholic church and his political belief was in harmony with the principles of the republican party. He retained a deep interest in military af- fairs and at one time served as brigade surgeon of the Iowa State Militia and at another time as surgeon general of Iowa. He held membership in the local and state medical societies and continued an active practitioner of his profession to the time of his death, which occurred on the 16th of April, 1904. He was at that time one of the oldest practicing physicians of Des Moines and one of the best known public characters in this city. His activities in various lines have brought him a wide acquaintance and the sterling traits of his character gained for him the honor and respect, the confidence and good-will of his fellowmen. His life was one of usefulness in public and private connections and the record which he left to his family is one well worthy of emulation.

O. F. BREWER.

O. F. Brewer, manager of the Advance Thresher Company at Des Moines, is recognized as an expert whose intimate knowledge of threshing machines entitles him to high standing in a line to which he is devoting years of close application. He was born in Richland county, Wisconsin, July 3, 1875, a son of Allen and Louisa (Schurman) Brewer. His father is a prominent farmer and stock-raiser of that county. George Gardner Brewer, the grandfather on the paternal side, located in Richland county, Wisconsin, in 1839, being the third settler in that county. He came from Vermont and drove a yoke of oxen by easy stages, consuming two years in making the trip to the place of his destination. At the time he arrived in the county the nearest railroad station was at Milwaukee and even the most vivid imagination could scarcely have pictured the marvelous changes that have since taken place in the state. The grandfather on the maternal side, Fred Schurman, was a native of Dies- burgh, Germany, who came to America and settled at Milwaukee.

O. F. Brewer received his early education in the district schools of his native countv and even as a boy showed a talent for manipulating machinery, which plainly indicated his future career. At the age of fourteen years he and his brother began accumulating money by working for neighboring farmers until they had capital enough to purchase a second-hand threshing outfit which they utilized vigorously on the farms around Richland Center. Selling out his interest, Mr. Brewer entered the employ of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad Company, becoming an engineer and continuing in this capacity for two years. In 1901, being then twenty-six years of age, he became con- nected with the Advance Thresher Company, with headquarters at Madison. Wisconsin, as an expert in the machine department, and on February 15, 1902, was made representative of the company for southwestern Wisconsin. He gave such satisfaction to his employers that when a position of larger re- sponsibility presented itself in the west he was sent to Des Moines, and since January II, 1910, has been manager of the branch office in this city. He has shown special adaptability to the work in which he is engaged and is known as Vol. II-12

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 27

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