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 51

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 51

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In 1895, Mr. Ledig married Miss Katie Spieth and unto them has been born one child, Lydia C., a school girl of fifteen years. Both Mr. and Mrs. Ledig hold membership in the German Lutheran church, while fraternally he affiliates with the Woodmen of the World. Being a stanch republican Mr. Ledig gives his sup- port to the men and measures of that party, and not being an office seeker he never takes a particularly active interest in local politics, preferring to concen- trate his energies upon the advancement of his private affairs. During the long period of his residence in America he has met with many hardships and dis- couragements, but by means of his tireless energy, indomitable courage and well directed effort has at last attained a position which promises him ease and com- fort, if not affluence in the latter days of his life's journey.

HENRY HUTSONPILLER.

Henry Hutsonpiller is numbered among the venerable citizens of Des Moines and his life of honorable activity and sterling worth constitutes an ex- ample well worthy of emulation. He was born in Washington county, Tennes- see, August 4, 1826, a son of Jacob and Catharine (Kaufman) Hutsonpiller, both of whom were natives of Virginia. At an early age, however, they removed to Tennessee, becoming pioneers of that state, where they resided until their son Henry was about seven years of age, when they went to Indiana. The an- cestry of the family is German and both the paternal and maternal grandfather of Henry Hutsonpiller were soldiers of the Revolutionary war and also fought in the war of 1812. Following their removal to Indiana, Jacob and Catharine Hutsonpiller remained residents of that state until called to their final rest. The father died in 1832 and the mother, remaining in Greencastle, Putnam county, there passed away in September, 1842.

They were farming people and upon the old homestead farm Henry Hut- sonpiller resided until his sixteenth year, when his mother died and the home was broken up. He afterward became an apprentice to the trade of wagon- making, his term of indenture covering three and a half years, after which he enlisted as a volunteer in the Mexican war, becoming a member of Company A, First Regiment of Indiana Infantry. He continued at the front as a private

HENRY HUTSONPILLER

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until honorably discharged, having served for five months, and he is one of the few remaining veterans of the struggle with Mexico.

When his military service was over Mr. Hutsonpiller returned to Greencastle, Indiana, at which time he entered Asbury University, having become impressed with the value and worth of education as a factor in success. His early educa- tion was acquired in the common schools and for six months he continued a student in the university, after which he took up his trade of wagon-making, carrying on business on his own account until the fall of 1848. When gold was discovered in California in 1849 he decided to go to the coast and with ox teams made the long journey across the hot and arid plains, the sands of the desert and through the mountain passes. Day after day he traveled on; after the tedious manner of the times, camping out along the trail at night. It was never known when an Indian attack might be expected and at all times careful watch was kept against the unexpected approach of Indians and of wild ani- mals, but at length the journey was over and he reached the gold fields. He did not meet with the success that he had anticipated, however, and decided to return to the old home at Greencastle. He remained there for only a few months, for in May, 1851, he came to Iowa, settling in Polk county.

Here he first secured a claim of river land about five miles from the present site of Des Moines and upon the tract built a home. Later he removed to the capital city, where he engaged in wagon-making on his own account but still ' retained the ownership of the farm. He remained in the wagon-making business for about five years, at the end of which time ill health forced his retirement, for he was suffering with lung trouble. He then took up carpentering, which he followed for about five years, after which he again became connected with the wagon-maker's trade. Subsequently, with others, he engaged in the manufacture of wagons, plows and farm implements, carrying on that business for about seven years. On account of failing health he sold out and from that time on for a considerable period devoted much of his attention to general agricultural pursuits and to real estate. He is still the owner of an excellent farm, which is now within the city limits but was not included within the borders of Des Moines at the time of the purchase. For thirty years he has lived upon this farm, which is now in the northeastern part of the city. All through the years he has engaged more or less in real-estate dealing, and he has built many houses in the city, largely giving his attention to this work after selling the wagon factory. He has built houses for rental purposes and has done much to improve and develop East Des Moines. He is yet the owner of considerable property on the east side, although he has disposed of a considerable amount. At one time he owned a part of the land where the new postoffice now stands and there lived for some years and then re- moved to the east side on Locust street, where he resided for twenty-two years, afterward buying the place upon which he yet resides. He has watched the growth and development of this city from an early period in its upbuilding and his labors have been an important element in its progress. He has taken a keen interest in financial circles; having been a director in the American Savings Bank for several years and is a large stockholder in the Iowa National Bank.

In 1851, in Greencastle, Indiana, Mr. Hutsonpiller was united in marriage to Miss Amelia C. Ritchhart, a daughter of John and Eliza (Koontz) Ritchhart, both of whom were natives or Maryland and in early life became residents of Indiana, settling there when it was still a pioneer district. The death of Mrs. Hutsonpiller occurred April 23, 1898, when she was sixty-five years of age, and her demise was greatly regretted by many friends as well as her immediate fam- ily. Two children were born of this union. Charles H. was born September 16, 1854, on the site of the present postoffice. He married Lillian Davis, of Des Moines, a daughter of Thomas and Melvina (Johnson) Davis. Charles H. Hut-

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sonpiller has for many years been a prominent real-estate owner of Des Moines, The younger son, William H., died at the age of two years.

Mr. Hutsonpiller is the only surviving soldier of the Mexican war living in Polk county. He has now passed the age of eighty-four years but is still hale and hearty and, although not so active in business as he was formerly, he still at- tends to his financial affairs and real-estate investments. He is a very delightful man to meet, genial and approachable, and throughout his business career has maintained an unassailable reputation for his honesty and integrity. He takes deep and helpful interest in those who are not blessed with the comforts of life and never refuses to lend a helping hand or to give liberally to any worthy cause, but always without ostentation. He is particularly generous to missions and believes in spreading the gospel of good tidings, of mutual helpfulness and of brotherly kindness. He never dwells upon his own good deeds, yet his fellow citizens know and appreciate what he has done. His record is an excellent ex- ample of how kind nature is to those who do not abuse her laws. He has ever abstained from all forms of intoxicants and has long been a stanch advocate of the prohibition cause. In fact, his whole life has been an influencing force for good, for development and for the upbuilding of the individual and the com- munity, and no man is more worthy of the high esteem of his fellow citizens than is Henry Hutsonpiller.

FAYETTE MEEK.

Fayette Meek, whose time and energy were for many years devoted to busi- ness interests with an unusual degree of success, may truly be designated as one of the men who have been prominent in the upbuilding of Des Moines. Although now retired from active life, his influence is perceived and felt in the many beau- tiful buildings he was instrumental in erecting in the city, and he is accorded de- served recognition as one of the highly useful men of Des Moines. He comes of English and German lineage and was born in Goshen, Clermont county, Ohio. March 9, 1831, a son of Samuel G. and Marilla (Newton) Meek. The father was born in Virginia in 1798. He studied medicine and practiced in Ohio until 1839. when he came to Burlington, Iowa, and engaged in the mercantile business, also becoming well known as a farmer and milling man. He died at the age of eighty- eight years and nine months.

Fayette Meek attended school during his early boyhood in a room adjoining a cooper shop in the same building, so that the recitations were enlivened by the merry sound of the hammer and saw. After retiring from the schoolroom he be- gan his active career under his father, continuing until he was twenty-two years of age, when he went to Keosauqua, Iowa, and engaged in the mercantile busi- ness with his brother-in-law, General J. M. Tuttle, with whom he continued for seventeen years.

In 1868 he came to Des Moines and for four years was identified with the grocery business, subsequently entering the wholesale pork business upon an ex- tensive scale. Building up a lucrative patronage, he sold out to a friend, J. H. Windsor, and began devoting his attention to real estate, which he handled with marked success. He also bought six hundred and forty acres of good land in Dallas county which he greatly improved, making it one of the most attractive farms in that part of the state. He has built many houses in Des Moines and is the owner of considerable property in this city, much of which he acquired when prices were very much lower than they are today, thus demonstrating his faith in the future development of the capital city. Since 1900 he has lived retired.

On the 18th day of October, 1858, Mr. Meek was united in marriage to Miss Caroline A. Dibble, who was born in Syracuse, New York, a niece of Judge

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George D. Wright. They had four sons, two of whom are now living: Alva, of Des Moines, and Dale, who married Miss Nella Black and makes his home on a farm in Dallas county, Iowa.

Mr. Meek has been a supporter of the principles and candidates of the re- publican party ever since that party was organized, and although never desirous of holding public office, he has assisted many of his friends to secure official posi- tions. By the intelligent direction of his business affairs he became financially independent and now lives in comfort and ease, spending a large part of his time upon his farm, upon which he has built a fine residence, and which is provided with every facility for making life agreeable.

Wholly unassuming, Mr. Meek is possessed of many noble traits of- character which have attracted a host of friends. During a long and honorable career he has assisted many financially and also by an example of devotion to a high sense of duty, which has ever been one of his prominent characteristics. At the age of four-score years he is in active possession of all the faculties of mind and body and as a patriotic citizen is always ready to lend his aid to any worthy movement that aims to promote the permanent welfare of his fellowmen.

ROBERT M. HAINES.

From the beginning of his professional life Robert M. Haines, of Des Moines, has been deeply in earnest in his work and he has thus gained recogni- tion as one of the reliable and progressive attorneys of the state. He is es- pecially known as a man who never sacrifices principle for financial reward and he will not appear as an advocate of any cause which he believes to be wrong. He was born at Grinnell, Iowa, June 17, 1875, and is a son of Robert M. and Joanna (Harris) Haines. The father was born near Salem, Ohio, December 29, 1838. He came to Iowa in 1858 and after spending a few months in Hardin county took up his residence at Grinnell in the spring of 1859, becom- ing a highly successful lawyer. He served in the state senate from 1879 to 1881 and for years was prominent in legal and political affairs. In politics he was a republican. He assisted in organizing the State Bar Association and was presi- dent of that body at the time of his death, which occurred December 23, 1893.

Mrs. Haines was born on a farm near Harrisville, Pennsylvania, in 1844, and now lives on the family homestead in Grinnell. Her ancestors on the paternal side came from England with William Penn and were members of the Friends church. On the maternal side her ancestors came to this country from Scotland. Her great-grandfather was an ironmonger of Pennsylvania in colonial times and was a loyalist. He was very wealthy and was a stanch believer in the divine right of kings.

Robert M. Haines was the fourth child in order of birth in a family of six children. He attended the public schools and the high school of Grinnell, grad- uating from the latter in 1891. In 1895 he was graduated at Grinnell College with the degree of A. B. He next entered the post graduate department of Cornell University and also studied law in that institution. Later he became a student in the law department of the State University at Iowa City, receiving the degree of LL. B. in 1897.

He began the practice of law at Grinnell where he continued for seven years. In February, 1905, seeking a larger field, he took up his residence in Des Moines and became a member of the state board of insurance examiners. After filling this office for a year he reentered the general practice of law, in which he con- tinued until September, 1908, when he formed a partnership with Frank S. Dunshee. the style of the firm being Dunshee & Haines, and making a specialty

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of corporation law. The firm has been highly successful and among its clients are some of the large corporations of the city and state.

While a resident of Grinnell Mr. Haines was nominated and elected on the reform ticket as city attorney. He accepted the responsibility and proceeded to enforce the laws, whereupon there arose great complaint on the part of business men and many prominent citizens. Seeing that the enforcement of the law was not desired in the community, although it apparently had been in- dorsed at the election, Mr. Haines resigned his office, preferring not to serve at all rather than to violate his oath. He is a strong believer in obedience to the law, and even during the short time he served as city attorney he accom- plished much good along the lines of reform.

He organized and founded the Interstate Business Men's Accident Asso- ciation and was a member of the board of directors during the first year. He has been general counsel of the association since it obtained its charter, May II, 1908. The membership now numbers over seventeen thousand and the headquarters are maintained in Des Moines. He is recognized as one of the highly effective public speakers of the state. He has given much time and study to the subject of taxation and is generally known in the state as the author and advocate of reform taxation for Iowa, sometimes locally designated as "Henry Georgism." He has many believers in his ideas in Iowa and has strong hopes of great changes in the future methods of taxation in this state. Professionally he is a member of the Polk County Bar Association and the Iowa State Bar Association.

On the 21st of June, 1905, Mr. Haines was married at Grinnell to Miss Katherine Bray, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry M. Bray. The family is very promient socially at Grinnell, Mr. Bray being one of the largest cattle feeders, shippers and buyers in Iowa, his ranch covering over six hundred acres. Politically Mr. Haines gives his support to the republican party. He is a leader in this district and is a prominent campaigner, having been on the stump in every political campaign since 1906. Fraternally he is a member of Lodge No. 98, B. P. O. E., of which he is leading knight, the second office of the lodge. As an intelligent student of the law and a clear and successful expounder of its principles, he is held in high esteem by his brethren at the bar, and his circle of influence is each year becoming wider. Upon all subjects in which he is interested he is fair and outspoken, the keynote of his character being his devotion to what he considers to be just and true.

WILLARD FERGUSON.

During recent years the land business has grown enormously until today it employs the time and attention of many of the brightest men of the country. Willard Ferguson, of Des Moines, is one of the active and wide-awake land men of the west and has gained wide recognition on account of his special ability in determining values and prognosticating results of investments. He was born in Polk county, December 23, 1874, the son of W. H. and Sarah Elizabeth (Ken- nedy) Ferguson, the latter of whom was born in Polk county in 1852. Upon the maternal side the ancestry of the family has been traced back to the period of the Revolutionary war. Mr. Ferguson, Sr., was born in Ohio in 1849. At seven years of age he came with his parents to Polk county. After attaining manhood he devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits in this county. There were four children in the family of Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson, namely : Avie Alice, now the wife of W. E. Paden, a farmer of Polk county ; Willard, the subject of this review; Eva, wife of T. G. Murrow, also a farmer of Polk county ; and Walter, who married Bertha Powers, and is living in this county.

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Willard Ferguson grew up upon his father's farm and assisted about the house and in the fields when not in attendance at the district schools. He later became a student of the Runnells high school, graduating with the class of 1892, and also possessed the advantages of attendance at Highland Park College. At the age of nineteen years he secured a teacher's certificate and taught school for several years in Polk county, then engaging in the mercantile business for four years and at the same time successfully managing a farm.

The great movement to unoccupied lands of the west aroused his attention and he went into the emigration business, serving as treasurer of the Royal Land Company, and more recently as secretary and treasurer of the Star Land Com- pany, promoting upon an extensive scale the sale of lands in the Panhandle of Texas, the company owning the lands which it handles. The company is now incorporated for $50,000 and sell land in the lower Rio Grande valley. This company also owns and handles the business of the Monarch Machine Company, Inc.

In December, 1898, Mr. Ferguson was united in marriage to Miss Anna M. Richardson, born in New York in August, 1878, daughter of Seth and Anna (Asy) Richardson. 'The parents came to Iowa when Mrs. Ferguson was in her girlhood. The father is a well known miller. Three children have blessed the home of Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson : Ray, who was born September 20, 1899 ; Ralph, born March 19. 1903; and Norma, born in 1905. Mr. Ferguson could have easily attained financial competence as a teacher, merchant or farmer, but he has found no reason to regret having turned his attention to land investments. He has shown excellent practical judgment and an aptitude for his chosen calling that gives great promise of continued success. He and his family are connected with the Christian church. Politically he is allied with the republican party, and fra- ternally with the Odd Fellows.

PROFESSOR JOHN WILLIAM REHMANN.

The present work would be incomplete if it failed to make a record of the talented musician and scholar, now deceased, whose name stands at the head of this review. Like many distinguished men of America, he was of Teutonic an- cestry, and was born in Mecklenburg, Germany, December 14, 1856. He was the son of John C. Rehmann, who came to America late in life and located upon a small farm at Strawberry Point, Iowa, where he passed the remainder of his days.

John William Rehmann received his preliminary education in the public schools and after being confirmed in the Lutheran church became a student in a seminary at Luebthean. Arriving in this country, he was sent by the church to Galena, Illinois, with the expectation that he would study for the ministry, hav- ing shown an unusual ability up to that time in the various branches constituting the fundamentals of an education.

However, he soon developed such remarkable musical ability that his teach- ers easily perceived the direction in which his destiny pointed and, accordingly, he was given thorough instruction in music and the languages. His first employ- ment was as teacher of languages and music in a seminary at St. Sebald, Iowa. After occupying this position most acceptably for one year, he became professor of modern languages at Cedar Valley College, Osage, Iowa, continuing there for five years and gaining an enviable reputation in a line to which he gave such close attention that he aroused the keenest interest on the part of his pupils. In 1890 he came to Des Moines where he engaged privately as a teacher of languages and music. He was proficient in all departments of music and also an unusually fine linguist, being well versed in the Latin, Greek, Hebrew, French, English,

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Italian, German and Scandinavian languages. He gave lectures on French, German, English and American literature which were largely attended and elicited many favorable comments. He was a clear and interesting speaker and as a teacher had few superiors anywhere in the country.

After entering upon his active career he made short trips to Europe for the purpose of study and observation, taking his family with him to Berlin in 1900 and remaining to 1903, in order to give his children the very best educational advantages. He was organist, his services being given gratis, at the German Lutheran church for eighteen years, and at times filled the pulpit when the pas- tor was unable to be present. He delivered a series of lectures upon musical history at Drake University during the last two years of his life which attracted wide attention and showed a research and power of condensation which placed him in the first rank among the teachers of the west.

In August, 1879, Professor Rehmann was united in marriage at Independ- ence, Iowa, to Miss Anna M. Gundlach, a daughter of Christian, Gundlach, a farmer of this state. Of this union five children were born, namely : Adelaide, now Mrs. Weissinger, of Stuttgart, Germany; Anna, now Mrs. Palas, of Des Moines ; Elsa, who was for some time a teacher of music at Drake University, but is now a private teacher ; John C., now in the senior class of Drake Univer- sity : and Theodore, a student in the high school.

Professor Rehmann was a man of many accomplishments and he appeared to excel in everything he undertook. He was indefatigable in his search for knowl- edge and never considered any expenditure of energy too great in his tireless labors upon any of the great subjects that attracted his attention. He was deeply loved by his pupils whose lives were profoundly influenced by contact with this friend and counselor, and whose words were regarded as truth, almost as bind- ing as the injunctions of Holy Writ. He departed this life September 8, 1907, his death being the occasion of deep regret, not only on the part of his family, but on that of a host of friends who had learned to respect him for his many noble qualities.

LELAND WINDSOR.

Leland Windsor is successfully identified with business interests in Des Moines as the vice president of the Windsor-Purity Candy Company, wholesale manufacturing confectioners. His birth occurred in Chicago, Illinois, on the 23d of November, 1868, his parents being J. H. and Minnie G. (Moore) Wind- sor. They established their home in Iowa about 1872, J. H. Windsor becoming the head of the Des Moines Packing Company and remaining a prominent and respected resident of this city until called to his final rest in 1907.

Leland Windsor, who was a lad of seven years when he came to Des Moines with his parents, received his early education in the public schools of this city and subsequently attended the Shattuck Military School at Faribault, Minne- sota, being graduated from that institution in 1887. On starting out in the busi- ness world he entered the Des Moines Saving Bank under Simon Casady, re- maining in that employ until 1904. In that year he was appointed state bank examiner by Auditor B. F. Carroll, which position he held until 1907, when he took up his present duties as vice president of the Windsor-Purity Candy Com- pany, which had been organized by his brother, J. R. Windsor, in 1906. They have gained a very satisfactory reputation and a substantial trade and each year sees a decided increase in their business.

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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 51

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