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 35

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 35

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In Jasper county, Iowa, on the Ist of January, 1891, was celebrated the mar- riage between Mr. Jordan and Miss Mabel R. McIntire, a daughter of Erastus and Hester McIntire, both of whom are living. Mr. McIntire, who was one of the California forty-niners, migrated to Iowa in 1879 and engaged in agricultural pursuits, but has for some time past been living retired. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Jordan have been born two sons : Willam R. and Herbert S. The religious views of both accord with the principles of the Congregational denomination, their

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affiliation being with the Plymouth church. Mr. Jordan is a past master of the Masonic order and a Knight Templar ; he is also a past chancellor of the Knights of Pythias and a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. A golf enthu- siast he is a member of the Waveland Park Golf Club, and for two years has been president of that organization. Mrs. Jordan is identified with Chautauqua work, being now president of the Chautauqua Union of the City of Des Moines.

In matters political Mr. Jordan gives his support to the candidates of the re- publican party. Although he always takes an active interest in civic affairs, he has never aspired to a municipal office, preferring to concentrate his entire energy upon the development of his legal practice in which he is meeting with such marked success.

WILLIAM ALBERT PARK.

Among those who deserve mention in a work of enduring interest to Des Moines and Polk county should be named William Albert Park, now deceased. He was for seventeen years a prominent member of the Polk county bar, gaining a reputation in the state as one of its ablest lawyers. That he possessed marked ability and substantial worth was amply attested by his success in the courts and also by the general esteem in which he was held. His useful career was brought to a termination by the hand of death April 2, 1897, he being then forty-six years of age.

He was born at Alto, Indiana, July 26, 1851, a son of Andrew and Amanda (Judkins) Park. The father was a native of Virginia and came of good Revolu- tionary stock, while his wife was born in Ohio, the daughter of a native of North Carolina. The family moved from Howard county, Indiana, to Warren county, Iowa, locating near Indianola, where Andrew Park engaged in agricultural pur- suits, later settling in Indianola, where he spent the remainder of his days. He was a man of sturdy characteristics, straightforward, outspoken, thoroughly hon- est and absolutely fearless. In his later years he filled several public offices of trust and responsibility. He engaged in his country's service at the time of the Mexican war, acquitting himself most nobly.

William A. Park came with his parents to Iowa in the fall of 1851 and passed his boyhood upon his father's farm, where he became thoroughly acquainted with the various duties pertaining to agriculture and stock-raising. He received his preliminary education in the district schools, showing a strong inclination for study and easily standing at the head of his classes. He became a student of Simpson College at Indianola, where he maintained a very high standing. He was nine- teen years of age when, in 1870, he was appointed deputy treasurer of Warren county, and at twenty years of age matriculated at the University of Michigan, having decided to pursue the law course in that institution. He was prevented from completing his course after eight months' study by a severe illness. In 1873 he received the appointment under E. R. Mason of deputy clerk of the United States circuit court at Des Moines and removed to this city, occupying the office for seven years. during a large portion of which time he was practically in charge of the work. On July 1, 1880. Mr. Park was admitted to the bar and at once began practice with offices in the Windsor block, later associating with W. S. Clark for a short time and then with Fred Lehman as Lehman & Park. This partnership was dissolved when Mr. Lehman moved to St. Louis and Mr. Park was then associated with W. E. Odell, until January I, 1897, from which time he was a partner with C. A. Ballreich. Soon after beginning his legal career he com- manded a lucrative patronage and proved himself to be the peer of many who had previously been regarded as leaders at the bar. He served for a number of years as attorney for the State Traveling Men's Association, the North-Western

WILLIAM A. PARK

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Railroad, the Iowa Savings & Loan Association and a number of other important organizations. He was an active member of the Polk County Bar Association and became its president, also filling a similar position in the Commercial Ex- change.

On the 6th of January, 1874, Mr. Park was united in marriage to Miss Sophia Goodman, of Indianola, daughter of Israel and Elizabeth (Finley) Goodman, the father being a well known contractor of Warren county. Seven children blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Park, namely: Ernest S., of Dayton, Ohio, who married Ethel Coate, a daughter of John and Lucinda Coate, of West Milton, Ohio; Bessie M., supervisor of Des Moines kindergartens; Howard G., now con- nected with the Iowa Loan & Trust Company ; William E .; Helen M .; Andrew ; and Philip, who died at the age of three and one-half years.

Mr. Park was an earnest believer in the Christian religion and a valued mem- ber of the Methodist church. Fraternally he was quite prominent in the state, being identified with the various Masonic orders, including the lodge, chapter, commandery, council and consistory, becoming a thirty-second degree Mason. He was an active worker in the Knights of Pythias, passing through all the chairs and attaining the title of past grand chancellor of Knights of Pythias of Iowa, and was an officer of the Supreme Lodge at the time of his death. He was also connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. Politically he gave his adherence to the democratic party.

His success as a lawyer and his high standing as a citizen were due to his untiring industry and remarkable ability. He was a true husband and a kind father, a man of supreme intelligence and unwavering integrity and one to whom the golden rule was a part of his daily life. He not only believed in the brother- hood of mankind but in the fullest sense of the word he lived it. His assistance and advice were always freely given to the needy poor wherever found. His abundant work in cooperation with the Associated Charities as well as independ- ently won for him scores of friends and established in the hearts of thousands the memory of a man who marked not the goal of success with fame or fortune but whose whole purpose was to relieve the depression and lift his fellowmen to a higher plane of life. Such a spirit can never be lost to the world and must have stepped into a greater and more beautiful life when the door closed upon him and shut him from mortal vision. 1. But such a friend, so dear, so loyal, so great- hearted, can never be replaced to those who knew him.

JOSEPH ADDISON DYER.

Joseph Addison Dyer, who is engaged in the practice of law in Des Moines, was born in Grayson county, Texas, on the 23d of March, 1863, his parents being the Rev. H. P. and Katherine (Foster) Dyer, the father a native of In- diana and the mother of Missouri, but both of Scotch-Irish descent. Mr. Dyer, who is a minister of the Christian denomination, still survives and makes his home in Dallas county, but the mother passed away in 1875.

The first thirteen years of his life Joseph Addison Dyer passed in his native state, but in 1876, shortly following the death of the mother, the family migrated to Iowa, locating in Carlisle, and removing from there to Indianola, where they remained about a year and then went to Kellogg, in which place they resided for ten or twelve years. Mr. Dyer obtained his preliminary education in the com- mon schools of Texas and Indianola and Kellogg, after the completion of which he entered Drake University. He was a member of the class of 1886 but was unable to graduate, owing to the fact of illness having put him back about one- half semester in his work.

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Going to Kansas in 1886 he entered the law office of Ray & Geiger, where he remained for two years, during which time he devoted his attention to the study of jurisprudence, being admitted to the bar in 1889. Returning to Iowa in 1891 he located in Des Moines, where he established an office and has ever since been engaged in the practice of his profession. About three years ago Mr. Dyer conceived the idea of establishing night classes in law for the benefit of the laity, believing that a knowledge of the simpler legal principles is essential in the education of any business man. He formulated his ideas and organized a class, engaging Judge Cutting of the probate court of Cook county, Illinois, to deliver the opening lecture on the evening of the 13th of February, 191I. That his idea appeared feasible to the class of men whom it was his desire to interest is manifested by the fact that the class opened with fifty pupils, among whom are numbered cashiers from three of the leading banks, as well as some of the well known real-estate men and representatives of various commercial ac- tivities in the city.

On the 3Ist of March, 1886, Mr. Dyer was married to Miss Emma George, a daughter of Thomas and Nira (Moore) George. Mrs. Dyer was born in Eddy- ville, Iowa, but removed to Des Moines with her parents when a babe of six months, having made this city her home practically ever since. She completed her education at Drake University and has always taken a great interest in botany, to which subject she devotes much of her leisure. Six children have been born of this union : Benjamin George, who was married in 1910 to Georgia Houghton ; Madge, the wife of Frank W. Drummond, of Falfurrias, Texas, where he en- gages in contracting and building; Roland M .; Mildred; Thomas L., who is fifteen years of age and a boy singer of note having twice crossed the continent on concert tours before attaining the age of thirteen; and Marian. The four older children are graduates of the Des Moines high school, while they all affiliate with the Christian church, and Mr. Dyer is a member of the Brotherhood of American Yeomen.

Prior to the advent of William J. Bryan and the sixteen-to-one silver issue Mr. Dyer always gave his political support to the democratic party and was the nominee on their ticket for congress in 1892, but since 1896 has given his allegi- ance to the republican party. He was only twenty-nine years of age when he ran for congress and had he been elected would have been the youngest member of the house. Mr. Dyer is now very much interested in the development of his law school, to which he is devoting a great deal of attention, believing that he is filling a long recognized need.

CHARLES NAMUR.

Charles Namur has in his business career shown a versatility possessed by few men, and today, in addition to being the leading druggist in Des Moines, he is at the head of several other enterprises that under his management have been remarkably successful. He has rare talent in perceiving business opportunities and of estimating conditions correctly, and, having once embarked in an under- taking he brings to bear an unfaltering persistency of purpose that leads to almost certain success. He was born at Sigourney, Iowa, February 28, 1871. the son of Theodore and Christina (Treble) Namur, the former of whom was born in Germany in 1842 and the latter in Iowa in 1847. There were seven children in the family, five of whom are now living: Charles, the subject of this review ; Henrietta, at home; George, of Sigourney; Theodore, Jr., who is mar- ried and living in Nebraska; and Karl, also at home.

Charles Namur received his preliminary education in the common schools of his native town and was graduated from the high school in 1888. Having

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decided to devote his attention to pharmacy, he took a private course of instruc- tion under a professor of the Chicago College of Pharmacy, and as he was a close and willing student, he received a great deal of benefit from his studies of which he has since made practical application. After ten years with the Charles W. Rogg Drug Company, he entered business under the firm name of Namur & Vincent, the store being located at No. 611 Walnut street. In 1904 he purchased the interest of his partner and subsequently moved to his present quarters at No. 617 Walnut street, where he maintains one of the most popular drug stores in the city. He also has what is claimed to be the largest soda fountain that has ever been installed and maintains an elaborate lunch establishment. It requires five men to attend to the business which is attracted by the soda fountain, the service being unsurpassed anywhere in the country. The store is stocked with a large and well selected line of drugs and Mr. Namur does an extensive pre- scription business. He also maintains a high class moving picture establishment at the Colonial and has opened a skating rink which covers a quarter of a block and is one of the most completely appointed and best conducted establishments of the kind in the United States.

Politically Mr. Namur is independent, preferring to exercise the right of American citizenship to vote for the men instead of the party. In making up his ballot he takes carefully into consideration the character and qualifications of candidates. He is a stanch believer in the authority of the Bible and holds membership in the Lutheran church. Cordial and pleasing in address, he has made many friends who are attracted to him not only on account of his genial characteristics but because of his recognized liberality and public spirit and his high standing in business circles.

WILLIAM ALEXANDER GRAHAM.

William Alexander Graham, an active member of the Des Moines bar since 1902, was born January 23, 1875, and is a son of William R. Graham, who was a major in the United States army at the time of his death. He first served his country as a soldier in the Civil war and some years afterward went to Black- hawk county, Iowa, where he engaged in manufacturing, continuing in that busi- ness until after the outbreak of the Spanish-American war, when he again en- listed for active service and did duty in Cuba and the Philippines. He thus re- mained in continuous connection with the army until his death, which occurred in 1903, his remains being interred in Cedar Falls. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Martha Smith Hawkins, was a daughter of Olney Hawkins, a distinguished attorney of Michigan.

William A. Graham was only two years old when brought by his parents to Iowa, and in the public schools of Blackhawk county he mastered the branches of learning that usually constitute the common school curriculum. . In 1891 he entered Beloit College of Wisconsin, in which he spent three years, and later was for two years a student at the Leland Stanford University of California. Returning to Iowa in 1896, he completed his law course in the Iowa State Uni- versity with the class of 1897, and located for practice in Harrisonburg, Virginia, where he remained for about a year. After the outbreak of the Spanish-Ameri- can war, however, when his father re-entered the army, William A. Graham re- turned to Cedar Falls to make his home with his mother, and was in active law practice there from 1898 until 1902, when he came to Des Moines. His ability is evidenced in the work which he has done in the courts and in the large and growing clientage accorded him.

In the year of his arrival in the capital city Mr. Graham was married to Miss Ada Houck, a daughter of L. F. and Martha (Gouge) Houck, of Webster City,

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Iowa, who came to this state about a quarter of a century ago. Mr. and Mrs. Graham have one son, Alexander. The parents are members of the Episcopal church and Mr. Graham belongs also to the Modern Woodmen camp and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. His political allegiance is that of an "old line" republican, but he does not seek nor desire office, preferring to concentrate his attention upon his profession. He has specialized in the depart- ment of commercial law and, continuously studying along that line his experience has brought him a gratifying practice.

LAMOINE MOTT.

Lamoine Mott in commercial and manufacturing circles attained a position of leadership in Des Moines and the city benefited largely by his efforts along business lines, for his labors were at all times an element in public progress and prosperity as well as in individual success. A resolute purpose enabled him to accomplish what he undertook and at the same time his business affairs always measured up to the highest standard of commercial ethics.

A native of Ohio, Mr. Mott was born in Woodsfield, on the 28th of May, 1841, a son of Dr. Henry H. and Mary (Lockwood) Mott, his father being one of the pioneer physicians of that state. His maternal grandfather, Judge David Lock- wood, was one of the first judges of Belmont county, Ohio, and one of the most prominent and influential men of his community. He was also a soldier of the Revolutionary war.

Lamoine Mott pursued his education in the schools of Barnesville, Ohio, to which place his parents removed when he was but three years of age, so that his boyhood and youth were there passed. He was still a resident of the Buckeye state, when, on the 8th of June, 1864, at the age of twenty-three years, he was united in marriage to Miss Gertrude Anshutz, a resident of Moundsville, West Virginia.

In the spring of 1868 Mr. Mott removed westward to Des Moines and lived until the following spring upon a farm four miles northwest of the city. He then took up his abode in the capital and turned his attention to the grain and com- mission business, in which he continued up to the time of his death, although in later years he extended his efforts into other fields. As a grain merchant he became widely known throughout the state, for he not only operated in Des Moines, but in various localities, and became one of the leading representatives of the grain and commission business in Iowa. So carefully and systematically were his business affairs managed that he amassed a considerable fortune. He was president of the Diamond Grain Company, vice president of the B. A. Lock- wood Grain Company, president of the Shannon & Mott Milling Company and president of the Mott Ranch Company, all of Des Moines. He held the con- trolling interest in the large Shannon & Mott Flouring Mills as well as in several other companies, the success of which was largely attributable to his wisdom and judgment in managing affairs. From time to time, as favorable opportunity offered, he made investment in Des Moines real estate until his property holdings in this city were large. He was also the owner of much realty at Valley Junc- tion, together with several orange groves at San Diego, California, and ranch lands in North Dakota. He was likewise the builder of the Orpheum Theater and his labors were in large measure an element in the upbuilding and improve- ment of Des Moines.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Mott were born four children: Mrs. Mary M. Day, of San Diego, California ; Frank W., living at Glen Ullin, North Dakota; and John A. and Clarence L., both of Des Moines. The family circle was broken by the hand of death when on the 24th of December, 1905, Mr. Mott passed away, his

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death occurring in San Diego, California, where he was in the habit of spending a portion of each year supervising his orange interests in that state. He was an exemplary member of the Masonic fraternity and while he did not hold mem- bership with any religious body, he attended the Presbyterian church with his wife.

His political allegiance was given to the republican party and without aspira- tion for office he was a public-spirited man, whose aid and cooperation could always be counted upon to further movements for the general good. He was a member of the school board and was president when the high school on Fif- teenth street was erected. He was a most charitable man, but his benevolence was always of an unostentatious character. Wherever he saw need he gave freely for its relief, but many were the occasions when no one knew of his bounty save himself and the recipient. One of his most admirable traits of character was his loyalty to his own friends. He never forgot those whom he knew in his earlier and less prosperous days, and friendship to him was based upon an ap- preciation of worth and not wealth, and his kindly regard for others was an endearing quality. His life stood in illustration of the Emersonian philosophy that "the way to win a friend is to be one." All who knew him held him in high esteem, spoke of him in terms of warm regard and, now that he is gone, cherish his memory. He was particularly devoted to his home and his family. In man- ner unostentatious, his true worth shone out in every relation of life and the ele- ments of high and honorable manhood ever found expression in his contact with his fellowmen.

JOHN S. GILCREST.

The nineteenth century will be remembered as a century of invention, the world making greater progress during that period than for two thousand years previously. It is the genius of the inventor that has provided the many comforts and conveniences of modern life, and this genius has by no means been ex- hausted. John S. Gilcrest of Des Moines, deserves a permanent place among the inventors, having brought forth an incubator which has been acknowledged by many experts of America and Europe as the best device of the kind that has ever been shown.

He was born at Des Moines, April 3, 1863, the son of Jacob K. and Julia (Williams) Gilcrest, the latter of whom was born in Akron, Ohio. Mr. Gil- crest, Sr., is also a native of the Buckeye state, born January 26, 1832. He possessed excellent advantages, so far as education is concerned, and was grad- uated from Hiram College. In 1856 he came west in a stagecoach, and entered government land in Story county, Iowa, subsequently taking up his residence in Des Moines, where he engaged in the lumber business. He is now the head of the largest firm in that line in Des Moines, and although seventy-nine years of age, his energies have been very little affected by the inroads of time, and he still discharges the responsibilities of an important enterprise. He is justly re- garded as one of the leaders in commercial circles in Des Moines.

John S. Gilcrest was educated in the public schools of this city, and at the State University at Ames. He began his active career under his father in the lumber business, the firm being known as the J. K. & W. H. Gilcrest Lumber Com- pany, with which he was associated for twenty years, becoming an expert in all matters pertaining to the production and marketing of lumber. In 1898, he em- barked on his own account in the manufacture of incubators of standard merit, conducting the business largely by correspondence. He has made demonstra- tions at the world's fairs in America and in Europe, and received many first prizes and other valuable awards, and also recommendations from many of the

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leading experts. He has demonstrated that he can incubate eggs in Des Moines for eighteen days, take them to New York, and hatch them without losing an egg. His great ambition is to make a shipment to Europe with the same results. On the 20th day of September, 1892, Mr. Gilcrest was united in marriage at Des Moines, to Miss Ella Bare, daughter of Daniel Bare, a well known pioneer of Iowa. Mr. Gilcrest is a valued member of Capital Lodge, No. 32, A. F. & A. M., and of the Grant and Country Clubs. He is an enthusiastic and indefati- gable worker, who never spares any time or efforts in seeking to accomplish a desired end, and it is through his great energy and perseverance that he has won the position he now holds as one of the substantial and prosperous business men of the city.

STEPHEN FARR. JR.

Stephen Farr, Jr., who is conducting a grocery store at the corner of Lewis avenue and South Ninth street in Bloomfield township, near the city limits, was born in that township on the 26th of March, 1881, a son of Stephen and Addie M. (Goodhue) Farr. The father was a native of New York and the mother of New Hampshire but they came to Iowa at an early day and located in Bloom- field township, Polk county, where they bought eighty acres of unimproved land at eight dollars per acre. After clearing and cultivating this for several years Mr. Farr disposed of it, removing to Sheldahl, where he bought a quarter sec- tion, which he operated for three years, and then sold, returning to Bloomfield township. He purchased the old Theodore Carpenter farm, containing one hun- dred and sixty acres, and after a few months residence there, during which time he made many improvements, sold one-half of it, but purchased a nearby farm of forty acres.

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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 35

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