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 49
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EDWIN PAYNE HUDSON.
Edwin Payne Hudson, engaged in the general practice of law in Des Moines, was born in Franklin county, Iowa, November 3, 1868, and is a representative of one of the old families of this state. Both his paternal and maternal ancestors, however, were of English lineage and became residents of America when this country was still numbered among the colonial possessions of Great Britain. The members of the Hudson family settled in Rhode Island and both the Hudson and Kellogg families were represented in the Revolutionary war. His father, Thomas E. B. Hudson, now living retired, was born in Winnebago county, Illinois, Octo- ber 25, 1844, and served three years during the Civil war, being a member of the Seventy-fourth Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry. In 1866 he became a resi- dent of Iowa, settling in West Fork township, Franklin county. There he not only made a creditable record in business circles as a banker and farmer but has also filled the office of auditor of Franklin county in a most acceptable manner. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Abigail Kellogg, was born in Canada. September 19, 1842.
Edwin P. Hudson, the eldest in a family of four children, first attended the country schools of Franklin county and was also for a time a student in the Hampton high school. He afterward attended Ames Agricultural College, where
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he won his B. S. degree, and later studied at Iowa City and in Drake University, where, pursuing a course in law, he was graduated with the class of 1893. He began practice in Britt, Hancock county, Iowa, where he remained for eight years. He was never associated with a partner, but by individual merit worked his way steadily upward. In 1902 he came to Des Moines and has continued alone here, devoting his time to the diversified interests and labors of a general practice, which is now large and satisfactory. His arguments have elicited warm commendation, not only from his associates at the bar, but also from the bench. His briefs show wide research, careful thought and the best and strongest reasons which can be urged for his contention, presented in cogent and logical form and illustrated by a style lucid and clear.
Mr. Hudson belongs to the Drake Law Association, the Polk County Bar Association and the State Bar Association. He is also identified with the Masonic fraternity and holds membership in Capital Park Methodist Episcopal church. His political views are in accord with the principles of the republican party and he is at all times a believer in progress, but does not seek nor desire office.
On the 5th of September, 1893, Mr. Hudson was married, in Des Moines, to Miss Minnie Mally, a native of Polk county, who is a daughter of F. H. Mally and a representative of one of the old families of this county, having settled here in 1865. Mr. and Mrs. Hudson have three children: Rodney L., born June 6, 1894; Frederick Mally, born January 4, 1896; and Thomas Kellogg, born De- cember 4, 1896. All of the children were born in Britt, Iowa. The parents have gained many friends during their residence in Des Moines and are widely and favorably known. In a profession where advancement depends solely upon in- dividual merit Mr. Hudson has made steady progress. He has proved the value of his services in the legal contentions which are heard before the courts, giving evidence of wide and comprehensive knowledge of the law and correct applica- tion of its principles.
L. E. ELLIS.
L. E. Ellis, president of the Anchor Fire Insurance Company of Des Moines, deserves the reputation he has gained as one of the most successful insurance men of the city, having started at the foot of the ladder and climbed round after round by unwearied effort to the top. He is a native of Polk county, having been born on a farm in Beaver township, December 16, 1872. His father, William C. Ellis, was born in Wisconsin, May 6, 1845. He came, in 1867, to Beaver township, Polk county, Iowa, with his father, G. Ellis; who was a farmer and itinerant min- ister. William C. Ellis was married in Polk county, in September, 1871, to Mary E. Faucett. She arrived in Iowa from Indiana in 1864 with her parents and her father, T. L. Faucett, located on a farm in Beaver township, Polk county. He was a farmer and Methodist preacher. After spending nine years in Polk county William . C. Ellis removed with his family to Taylor county, Iowa, Mr. Faucett also taking up his residence in Taylor county. Mr. Ellis, Sr., has retired from active work and makes his home with his son in Des Moines.
L. E. Ellis was educated in the common schools. He received his prelimi- nary business training in the Conway Savings Bank and continued with this in- stitution for four years, being still one of its stockholders. At the end of the time named he went to Creston, Iowa, and in February, 1895, entered the employ of the Anchor Fire Insurance Company. In October of the same year the com- pany moved to Des Moines, on account of its more central location, and the head- quarters have since been maintained in this city. Starting in a humble capacity with the company Mr. Ellis became bookkeeper, later being made secretary, and in 1910 was elected president, a position which he now holds .. He has devoted
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his time and energy to the company with remarkably effective results. The An- chor Fire Insurance Company is now one of the most prominent concerns of the kind in the city and its reputation and financial standing is growing with rapid strides each year. He was also first president of the Anchor Investment Com- pany, of which he was an originator.
In April, 1909, Mr. Ellis was married to Mrs. Marion Leib Gill, who was born in Kansas City, Missouri, a lady of many attractive qualities of mind and heart. He is one of the energetic and popular men of Des Moines, being ever ready to lend his assistance to any movement that gives evidence of advancing the per- manent welfare of the city. He has for eight years been president of the Hy- perion Club and is one of its most able and enthusiastic promoters, also being an active member of the Grant Club. He is in no sense a politician and, although frequently urged to become a candidate for public office, has always refused to do so, preferring to devote his time and attention to business. He holds mem- bership in the Young Men's Christian Association and is one of the liberal con- tributors to the support of this and other progressive institutions. In fraternal circles he is well known, being a member of the Masonic order, the Knights of Pythias, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and other organizations. Religiously he adheres to the Methodist church. Starting in the insurance busi- ness at twenty-five dollars a month, he advanced steadily to his present place of trust and responsibility, and is one of the honored men of Des Moines-a posi- tion he has gained through unfailing fidelity to high ideals and a strict adherence to duty.
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BURT S. PRUNTY.
Burt S. Prunty, manager of the Crown Optical Company, wholesale dealers in optical supplies and manufacturers of optical goods in Des Moines, aided in establishing this business in 1908 and in the intervening period of three years has been an active and helpful factor in the development of an enterprise that has now assumed extensive and gratifying proportions. Polk county numbers him among her native sons, his birth having here occurred on the 25th of April, 1875. He is a son of Benjamin F. Prunty, president of the University Bank, of whom extended mention is made elsewhere in this volume. He began his edu- cation by attending the district schools of Franklin township, for at that time his parents were living upon a farm. He afterward entered Drake University, pur- suing a business and also a normal course, and was graduated from the business department. He continued his education to the age of twenty-four years and his training was liberal and thorough, well qualifying him for responsibilities that have since devolved upon him.
He was first employed by the Valley National Bank of Des Moines and after filling a clerical position with that institution for eight months went to Grimes, Iowa, where he engaged in the hardware and lumber business, forming a part- nership with G. A. Iseminger, under the firm name of Prunty & Iseminger. This relation continued for about three years, after which Mr. Prunty purchased his partner's interest, carrying on the business until 1905, or about ten years in all. He then disposed of his stock and two years later became one of the organizers of the Crown Optical Company, wholesale dealers in optical supplies and manu- facturers of optical goods. He was chosen manager and still holds that position. The business was established on a comparatively small scale but today they have the leading house of this character in the city in the manufacture and jobbing of optical goods. The house has established and maintains a reputation for the excellence of its output, for perfect workmanship, for reasonable prices and straightforward dealing. Mr. Prunty also owns considerable farm land in Polk county and has extensive outside holdings.
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On the 21st of June, 1900, in Grimes, Iowa, was celebrated the marriage of Burt S. Prunty and Miss Lillian Drury, a daughter of Samuel D. and Malissa E. Drury. Mrs. Prunty was born in Polk county, October 17, 1874, her parents having settled in this county at a very early day. The five children born of her marriage are : Richard B., born in Grimes, Iowa, August 21, 1901 ; Lulu A., born in Grimes on the 8th of February, 1903; Eva May, also born in Grimes, Sep- tember 6, 1905; Donald F., whose birth occurred in San Diego, California, Sep- tember 20, 1907; and Marjorie, born in Des Moines on the 21st of July, 1910.
The parents are members of the Christian church, in which Mr. Prunty holds the office of deacon and in the work of which he takes an active and help- ful interest. In politics he is a republican of the progressive type and in mat- ters of citizenship he stands at all times for practical reform and improvement. In business he is determined, resourceful and energetic and what he has accom- plished represents the fit utilization of his innate powers, talents and time.
WILLIAM HENRY GIBSON, M. D.
The life of Dr. William Henry Gibson has been marked by devotion to two great departments of education, in both of which he has attained an honored place. As a minister of the gospel he gained a reputation which would have satisfied the ambition of many aspirants to pulpit honors, and as a physician and original investigator along modern lines of healing he ranks with some of the leaders in the profession. He has been located at Des Moines for five years past and is acknowledged as an authority along the lines to which he has given special attention-at the same time, however, being engaged in general practice.
He was born in Ohio October 19, 1868, the son of Henry and Eveline (Ford) Gibson, both of whom were natives of the Buckeye state, the former having been born October 26, 1816, and the latter in 1839. There were six children in their family, namely: Mary, now the wife of William Howell, of Ohio; Ross A., who is married and lives in Ohio; Sarah M., the wife of David Gibson; George F., who is also married and lives in Ohio; William Henry, the subject of this review; and Elizabeth, now the wife of Frank Howell. Dr. Gibson is of Revolutionary ancestry, his great-grandfather having been killed at Fort Meigs at the time of the Revolutionary war, and three of his grand- uncles lost their lives in the same war. The father's only brother was killed in the Civil war.
William Henry Gibson received his early education in the public schools and then entered Muskingum College at New Concord, Ohio, from which he was graduated with the degrees of B.S. and M.S., receiving the latter degree in 1894. Being attracted to the ministry, he entered Xenia Seminary, at Xenia, Ohio, from which he was graduated with the degree of B.D. in 1897. He devoted eight years as minister of the United Presbyterian and Christian churches, being identified a portion of this time with the Garfield Boulevard church of Chicago.
However, he was attracted to the medical profession and matriculated in Bennett Medical College, Chicago, graduating from that institution with the degree of M.D. in 1903. Seven years later he received a similar title from the medical department of Iola University, thus being connected with both the eclectic and regular schools of medicine. He began practice in Chicago in 1903 and from 1904 to 1906 devoted considerable time to research work for Parke, Davis & Company, of Detroit, Michigan, in investigation as to the cause and treatment of epilepsy.
In October, 1906, he came to Des Moines and opened offices in the Cen- tury building, and has since been continuously engaged in practice in this city.
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In addition to his general practice he makes a specialty of the treatment of epilepsy, diseases of the prostate gland, adenexa and goitre. In the application of electricity to these diseases by means of various instruments he has been the pioneer in the state of Iowa and stands very high in the opinion of his brother practitioners. Professionally he is a member of the National Eclectic Medical Association and is a welcome contributor to medical journals and reviews.
Dr. Gibson is a student of political economy, giving his spare time to that subject, as he considers it one of the highly important branches of education, especially to thinkers in America, where one of the great problems of the ages is being worked out. He is a member of the Christian church and still officiates occasionally in the pulpit, as the demands of his profession permit. Socially he is connected with Hyperion Club, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Brotherhood of American Yeomen; also with the Grant Club of Des Moines. As a lifelong and indefatigable student, a clear thinker and successful medical practitioner, he has received recognition among the best minds of the com- munity and is now in the midst of a career of usefulness which can be meas- ured only by his capability and the opportunities which are presented for the exercise of his talents. A genial and courteous gentleman, he has the happy faculty of making friends and also of retaining them.
GEORGE D. DOBSON.
George D. Dobson, filling the office of city bridge engineer of Des Moines, his marked ability in the execution of civil engineering projects well qualifying him for the position, has at different times done much important work, not only in this section of the country, but also in the west.
He is yet a young man, his birth having occurred on the 29th of January, 1882, in Newell, Buena Vista county, Iowa. His father, George L. Dobson, has occupied a central place on the stage of political activity in Iowa for many years. He was born in Westmoreland county, England, September 24, 1851, and in March, 1864, came to the United States with his parents, John and Jane (Rudd) Dobson, who in April, 1869, removed to Iowa. After six years devoted to agri- cultural pursuits in Webster county George L. Dobson removed to Sac City, Iowa, where he was married, October 9, 1876, to Sidney A. Watt. Later he es- tablished his home in Iowa City, where he took up the study of law in the State University and was graduated in 1878. He then practiced in Newell and for five years was mayor of that city. He served on the school board for nine years and for three terms was a member of the state legislature, resigning his position to become register of the government land office at Beaver, Oklahoma. Since 1892 he has been a resident of Des Moines and for four years was president of the Des Moines Life Insurance Company. The republican party made him its candidate for secretary of state, which position he filled from 1896 until 1900. He then turned his attention to farm and other properties which he had purchased until appointed, in 1903, consul to Hang-chau, China, by President Roosevelt, but a year later ill health forced him to return to America. In the fall of 1908 he was elected county treasurer of Polk county, which position he has since filled. He belongs to the Press Club and he and his wife are members of the Grace Methodist Episcopal church. Five children were born unto them: Millard Craig, who died in infancy in Sac City, Iowa; Guy E., who was born in Newell, Iowa, is a graduate of Cornell College, and is now president of the Bank of Commerce of Redmond, Oregon ; George D., of this review ; Vernon C., born in Newell, pursued a course in civil engineering in the college at Mount
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Vernon, Iowa, and is now inspector of viaducts for the railroad interests of Des Moines; and Philip M., born in Des Moines, is attending the public schools.
George D. Dobson was a pupil in the Des Moines public schools until grad- uated from the high school with the class of 1899. He also studied at Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa, where he pursued a civil engineering course and was graduated with the B. S. degree in 1903, the full degree being conferred upon him in 1905 in recognition of work done on the Sixth avenue bridge in Des Moines, at which time he delivered a master thesis and won the Civil Engineer degree.
He was first employed by the Illinois Central Railroad Company on its first division, embracing the territory from Chicago to New Orleans, but his labors were largely confined to the state of Tennessee. He remained with that com- pany for one season and then returned to Des Moines, where he became one of the city engineers, assisting in the city engineering department as designer and superintendent of construction of reinforced concrete bridge work. He was thus engaged until his election to the office of city engineer, on the Ist of April, 1906. During the past four years he has done a large amount of the city's most im- portant work in his line, has also designed and superintended the construction of the two north spans of the Sixth avenue bridge and designed the Locust street bridge, these being the two principal bridges in Des Moines.
His term expiring in 1908 he devoted the first portion of the following year to irrigation and engineering projects in Wyoming as chief engineer of the West- ern Land & Irrigation Company. From September, 1909, until April, 1910, he was secretary of the Iowa state drainage, water ways and conservation commis- sion, which position he resigned upon his election to his present office as city bridge engineer. His previous work done for this city in bridge building com- mended him for the position, the duties of which he is discharging most capably. With comprehensive understanding of the broad scientific principles that under- lie his work, and with wide practical experience he has done excellent service, not only for the city of Des Moines, but in other localities to which he has been called in his professional capacity. That fellow members of the profession rec- ognize his worth and entertain warm personal regard for him is indicated by the fact that in 1908 he was elected president of the Des Moines Engineers Club and he is also a member of the Iowa Engineering Society.
On the 29th of May, 1907, in Moline, Illinois, Mr. Dobson was married to Miss Mary Jones, a native of Illinois and a daughter of David Jones. They have one son, John A., born July 22, 1908.
In Des Moines, where much of his life has been passed, Mr. Dobson has many warm friends. In politics he is a progressive republican, but not an insur- gent. He belongs to Capital Lodge, No. II0, A. F. & A. M., and University Lodge, K. P. He is also a member of the Hyperion Field and Motor and the Grant Clubs, the former indicating his chief source of recreation. Although yet a young man, having not yet completed the third decade of life, he has become well established in his chosen walk and in a wide acquaintance has gained an extensive circle of warm friends.
WILLIAM ALVA GUILD, M. D.
Upon the foundation principles of industry and perseverance and of broad understanding of the science of his profession Dr. William Alva Guild has builded his success and has gained more than local fame as a bacteriologist, while in general practice he has done excellent work, as is attested by the fact that he is the family physician in many of the leading households of Des Moines.
DR. W. A. GUILD
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A native of Carlisle, Iowa, Dr. Guild was born June 7, 1879. His paternal ancestors came to America from England and settled at Plymouth, Massachu- setts. Through successive generations the family was represented in New Eng- land and sent its soldiers forth to battle in the Revolutionary war. The Rev. Jonathan E. Guild, father of Dr. Guild, was a native of Massachusetts and came to Iowa about 1857, settling in Newton. In 1870 he removed to Des Moines, where he edited and published a religious paper called the Baptist Bea- con and now known as the Baptist Record. He was the founder of this paper but this by no means indicated the extent of his activities. Having prepared for the ministry in early life, he devoted many years to preaching the gospel and came to Iowa as a Baptist missionary, aiding in founding a church of that de- nomination in the west. He remained active in religious work to the time of his death and his influence was of no restricted order. He became one of the founders of the Des Moines College and from the beginning served as one of its trustees. Hc always attended the conventions of his church and held different state offices in connection therewith. He was a most earnest speaker, zealous in the work, and his efforts toward spreading the gospel message were far- reaching and effective. His zeal and courage inspired others and in his labors he was not denied the full harvest nor the aftermath. Aside from his labors for the church he is deserving of recognition from the fact that he brought the first herd of Jersey cattle to Iowa, shipping the herd from Massachusetts while a resident of Carlisle. He died at the age of seventy-five years, leaving the world better for his having lived. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Ann Bartholomew, was born in Fairfield, Iowa, July 27, 1849. She was of Scotch descent, the first representatives of that family coming to America in 1820, at which time settlement was made in Pennsylvania. The family later came to Iowa, casting in their lot among the pioneer residents of this state. Unto the Rev. Jonathan E. and Elizabeth A. Guild there were born three children, but two of the number are now deceased.
The only surviving member of the family is Dr. William A. Guild, who after pursuing his education in the public schools of Clarkson and Carlisle, Iowa, attended Des Moines College, and on his graduation won the Bachelor of Science degree. Later he spent two years as a student in Drake University and two years in the Chicago Homeopathic Medical College, which conferred upon him his professional degree in 1903. The degree of Master of Science was con- ferred by Des Moines College later the same year. He has since done post- graduate work in Hahnemann College of Chicago and following his gradua- tion served as interne in the Chicago Homeopathic Hospital. He has also at- tended lectures and clinics in many cities and states, including New York, Buf- falo, Philadelphia, Chicago and other places. Dr. Guild located for practice in Des Moines, where he has remained continuously since. While he has always continued in general practice, he has devoted much time, study and research to bacteriology and skin diseases, including cancer. He taught bacteriology in Drake University in 1905 and 1906 and was instructor in bacteriology and psy- chology in Des Moines College in 1906. The following year he was made city bacteriologist of Des Moines, filling the position for four years, or until 1910 inclusive. He is now president of the Prospect Park Sanitarium.
Dr. Guild was one of the founders of the American Cancer Research Society, a scientific body whose object is to give to the world whatever is accurate con- cerning cancer and its treatment. He was selected as the society's first secretary and in June, 19II, was reelected to the office. The society, through its secretary has launched a nation wide campaign of education and research along similar lines to that of the Anti-Tuberculous League. The society maintains an ex- tensive laboratory in Chicago and is now negotiating for the establishment of a cancer hospital that will accommodate two hundred patients. A modified serum for the treatment of malignant growths will have been publicly announced be- Vol. II-21
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