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 55

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 55

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One of the local papers said of him: "He was of sanguine temperament, op- timistic. energetic, domestic in taste and habit. firm in his convictions, frank, yet always sincere. He was. moreover. public-spirited and his donations to public enterprises were at times perhaps greater than his finances warranted. He sub- scribed liberally to the fund for building the first iron bridge at Walnut street in 1866 giving one hundred dollars-a large sum in those days, and also contrib- uted most generously toward the building of the first Methodist church. As a business man he was noted for his probity and sterling integrity. The econom- ical practices of his younger days were not the result of niggardly parsimony, but in furtherance of a resolution made when a youth that he would some day get himself a home : that he would never become the head of a family until he was established in business and had a home for them, and such was his advice to his children." Moreover, in his youth he decided that he would seek only the society and friendship of men who were honest and successful in business. To this rule he always adhered. He took great interest in young men, for the im- provement of social conditions in the community in which he lived but had little interest in society in the usually accepted sense of the term. He held member-

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ship in Pioneer Lodge, A. F. & A. M. and was a stalwart supporter of the re- publican party. In 1858 he was elected to the city council in the old third ward, which embraced all of the city west of Des Moines river between Locust and Center streets. Religiously he was a devout Methodist and a strong supporting pillar of the church in the days of self denial and struggle unknown to the pres- ent generation. For thirteen years he taught in the Sunday school without being absent a single Sunday.

Isaiah Maple was married twice. In October, 1857, he wedded Miss Hannah M. West, a sister of Captain Samuel West. She died a year later and on the 13th of May. 1860, Mr. Maple married Mrs. Mary A. Kelsey. His widow still survives him and his living children are : Dr. W. W. Maple; A. Ordway, who is living on the old home farm at Orillia : Frank G., of Newton, Iowa ; and Mrs. T. E. Brown, of Des Moines. Morton C. Maple, another son, died from the effects of an accidental shooting, April 9, 1911.

While Dr. Maple is a native son of Des Moines, much of his youth was spent upon the home farm. His early education was acquired in the public schools and later he continued his studies in Drake University. He then entered busi- ness life, being connected with merchandising for four years, but thinking to find professional pursuits more congenial. he began studying medicine and was graduated in 1892 from the Eclectic Medical Institute of Cincinnati, Ohio. He commenced practice in Des Moines and has met with excellent success as the years have gone by. He belongs to both the State and National Eclectic Socie- ties and his standing among his professional brethren is indicated in the fact that he has been honored with all of the offices in the state society and is now its treasurer. He has been a close and discriminating student of the profession and quickly adopts any measures or remedies which his judgment sanctions as of value in the treatment of diseases.

On the 25th of May. 1887. Dr. Maple was, united in marriage to Miss Min- nie Carritt, a native of western lowa. They are prominent in the social circles of the city and Dr. Maple is also a valued representative of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Eiks, the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen. Prompted by laudable ambition he has worked his way steadily upward in his chosen calling and all his professional service is discharged with a sense of con- scientions obligation that has been one of the strong features in his success.

SAMUEL C. WARE.

Samuel C. Ware, who has been identified with the transfer business at Des Moines for many years, was born in .Poweshiek county, Iowa, September 25. 1865, a son of John S. and Anna (Craver) Ware. The parents were both born at Camden, New Jersey, and came west soon after their marriage, locating in Poweshiek county. Mr. Ware followed farming for a time, but seeing larger possibilities in freighting goods across the continent, sold out his farming inter- ests and engaged in that business. This was previous to the advent of the rail- roads and involved many hazards on account of the unsettled condition of the country, the danger of attack by the Indians and many other causes which are little understood at the present time. Mr. Ware became very well known in Towa and other parts of the west and was quite prosperous in his vocation. He passed away at Des Moines in 1896. The mother is still living and makes her home with her son in this city.

Samuel C. Ware possessed good advantages in the way of education, his early training being acquired in the public schools, after which he attended the Grinnell Business College, thus receiving a good foundation upon which to build in future years by means of observation and reading. At eighteen years

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of age he began upon his own account in the transfer business at Des Moines. His first office was established at No. 1911 Walnut street, but his business in- creased under careful and well directed management and in 1894 he removed to his present address at 715 West Grand avenue, where he has well appointed head- quarters and complete facilities for handling the business in such a way as to give excellent satisfaction to his patrons. He is well known as a practical and progressive man whose promise is always to be relied upon, and he therefore stands high in the estimation of all those who know him.

Mr. Ware was united in marriage at Des Moines to Miss Mattie C. Jansen. They have four children: Vernon, who was born March 23, 1893, and is now a student of the Des Moines high school; Cecil, who was born February 2, 1895, and is also attending high school; Pearl E., who was born June 29, 1898; and Helen, born May 8, 1901.

Mr. Ware is independent politically, preferring to vote for the man rather than the party. Fraternally he is connected with the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He is not a member of any church, but is a strong advocate of the application of the Golden Rule in every department of life and believes that a modest demeanor is more to the credit of its possessor than an outward show of religion. He is a lover of his home and has many friends who have been attracted by his genial manner and pleasing address.

GUSTAV W. MAXON.

Gustav W. Maxon, a well known and prosperous resident of Des Moines, is the president of the Star Engraving & Printing Company. His birth occurred at Speyer-on-the-Rhine, in Germany, on the 9th of February, 1853, his parents being Edward F. and Caroline (Welch) Maxon, who were likewise natives of that country. The father was a paper manufacturer in Germany for a good many years and also obtained several patents on different articles in the paper and envelope line. He finally became bankrupt and in 1868 emigrated to Amer- ica, locating in New York city, where he began working as a piano tuner, fol- lowing that occupation in the Empire state for thirty years. He passed away in New Jersey in December, 1910. His first wife died in Germany in 1859, leaving two children: Lina, who was born in Germany in 1850 and married Bernard Haselhurst of New York city ; and Gustav W. In 1870 the father married again and by his second union had four children : William, Marie, Edward and Emily.

Gustav W. Maxon, who obtained his education in the graded and high schools of his native land, was a youth of fifteen when he crossed the Atlantic to the United States. He worked at different occupations in New York city for some time and subsequently began learning the art of silver engraving, serving an apprenticeship of two and a half years. On the expiration of that period he joined the United States navy and went to sea, serving on the gunboat Shawmut of the North Atlantic squadron. He remained in the navy for three years and nine months, visiting South America, Mexico and the West Indies and going up the east coast of America to Nova Scotia. After returning to New York city he secured employment at his trade with the Whiting Manufacturing Company, remaining with that concern for three years. At the end of that time he entered the photo-engraving business with the Moss Engraving Com- pany, Mr. Moss being the originator of the photo-engraving process. In 1881 he came west, locating in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where he embarked in business on his own account. Subsequently he accepted a position as illustrator with Mills & Company of Des Moines, a large publishing concern, continuing with that house for four years or until the business was sold out. He next went to Omaha, thence to Denver and later back to New York city. After an absence

G. W. MAXON

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of a year he returned to Des Moines in 1889 and formed a partnership with C. W. Stiles for the conduct of an engraving business under the name of the Star Engraving Company. Since its inception the enterprise has several times out- grown its quarters and removals have been made accordingly. About six months ago the Star Engraving Company consolidated with the Campbell-Russell Print- ing Company and the present firm name was adopted. Mr. Maxon, who is the president of the Star Engraving & Printing Company, devotes some attention to the actual artistic work and also spends considerable time on the road visiting the trade. The business has been developed along safe, conservative lines and is constantly growing.

In 1885 Mr. Maxon was united in marriage to Miss Jennie B. Sims, of Win- terset, Iowa, her parents being David and Ella (Hedge) Sims, natives of Ohio and Pennsylvania respectively. They came to Iowa at an early day, Mr. Sims following general agricultural pursuits in Polk county for twenty years. Event- ually he removed to Winterset, Iowa, where for about forty years he was suc- cessfully engaged in the mercantile business. Now, at the age of seventy-five years, he is enjoying honorable retirement, making his home with our subject in Des Moines. His wife was called to her final rest in November, 1910. Our subject and his wife have two children, namely: Karl E., a young man of twen- ty-three, who is working for his father in the art department; and Edward S., a youth of seventeen, who is a high school student.

In politics Mr. Maxon is a stanch republican. He owns a home on Cres- cent Drive. He is quite accomplished as a cellist and formerly played in the different orchestras of Des Moines. His life has been characterized by a res- olute purpose and early in his career he became imbued with a laudable ambi- tion to master each task that was assigned him and progressed until he is today at the head of a business which pays tribute to his industry and his ability and stands as a monument to his enterprise and capable management.

MAHLON PARIE TURNER.

Viewed from the perspective of the years the life history of Mahlon Parie Turner looms large in the annals of Des Moines. With remarkable prescience he seemed to recognize what the future had in store for the capital and much of his life work was directed toward the time when the larger city would demand greater improvements, equipment and opportunities. He figured, too, as one of the prominent physicians of Des Moines and his work of a public nature gave stimulus to the development and upbuilding of Iowa's capital. It is a well known fact that the man who is the leader in progressive movements always meets with the opposition of the conservative element, but time has justified the wisdom and worth of the course that Dr. Turner pursued and the city today acknowledges her indebtedness to him for the excellent service which he ren- dered in her behalf.

A native of Boone county, Missouri, Dr. Turner was born October 25, 1824, his parents being John D. and Elizabeth (Stroad) Turner. His grandfather, John Turner, removed from North Carolina to Kentucky, settling in the vicin- ity of Lexington when that state was in its pioneer period. Subsequently he became a resident of Boone county, Missouri. making his way into that region in 1816 when but comparatively few white settlers were living within the borders of the state. In 1829 he became a resident of Morgan county, Illinois, where he passed away at the venerable age of eighty-two years.

John D. Turner, father of the Doctor, was the oldest in a family of eight children and was born near Lexington, Kentucky, in 1799. While the family were residents of Missouri he was married, in 1822, to Elizabeth Stroad, whose

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birth had occurred in Bowling Green, Kentucky, in 1804. She was the niece of Stephen Stroad, who figured most prominently in connection with the Black Hawk war. Her father died during her infancy and she was then taken by her widowed mother to Missouri. Following his marriage John D. Turner developed and improved a farm in Missouri and during the early days he and his wife experienced many of the hardships and privations of frontier life. Their house was built of boards made with an old whipsaw and its furnishings were crude and primitive in construction. A removal was made to Morgan county, Illinois, in 1829, and through the succeeding thirty-six years they there resided until the spring of 1865, when they came to Des Moines, making this city their home until they were called to their final rest. Theirs was the first golden wed- ding celebrated here. They held membership in the Christian church to which they were most devoted, and Mr. Turner was a great admirer and champion of Henry Clay until the latter used his political influence to elect John Quincy Adams, when he espoused the principles advocated by Jackson, remaining a stal- wart champion of the democracy until the rise of the republican party. Thor- oughly in sympathy with the Union cause, he volunteered for service in the Grey Beard Regiment but was not accepted because of his advanced age. He died in 1877, being survived for ten years by his wife, whose death occurred in 1887.

The youthful days of Dr. Mahlon P. Turner were spent amid the environ- ment of farm life and in attendance at the district schools until fifteen years of age, when he was accorded the privilege of a literary course in the Illinois College at Jacksonville, where he devoted two years to study. In the meantime he had determined to engage in the practice of medicine, but not having the funds necessary to meet the expenses of a college course he resorted to teach- ing. He also studied medicine under the direction of Dr. J. M. Stewart, of Exeter, Illinois, and later entered the medical department of the Illinois Col- lege, from which he was graduated with the class of 1847. That he displayed unusual ability as well as many sterling characteristics is indicated by the fact that on the day following his graduation he was admitted to partnership by his former preceptor, to receive a third of their earnings during the first two years and a half of the profits after that period. Their connection continued for six years, during which time Dr. Turner made ten thousand dollars, notwithstand- ing he was in feeble health throughout that period.

On the 23d of December, 1852, was celebrated the marriage of Dr. Turner and Miss Mary A. Ramsay, who was born near Jacksonville, Illinois, September 20, 1828. They became the parents of four daughters, of whom two died in young girlhood. The surviving daughters are: Mrs. Emma Watson and Miss Susie Turner. In the year following their marriage Dr. and Mrs. Turner re- moved to California and he took with him two hundred head of cattle. On his arrival in that state he turned his attention to the breeding of dairy stock, con- tinuing in the business for five years, during which period he made an excellent reputation and won substantial success notwithstanding the fact that during the first three years his losses were considerable. With undaunted courage and determination he continued in the business and during the last two years his sales not only made up for his losses but brought to him a substantial revenue. There was also a demand for his professional services, owing to the scarcity of physicians in that neighborhood, and he remained in practice in California until 1858, when he returned to Des Moines. More than all his sojourn in the far west greatly improved his health.

Throughout the period of his residence in the capital city Dr. Turner was prominently, actively and helpfully associated with public affairs. He had lived here for but a few months when'he purchased a home far out in the country in what is now North Des Moines. This primitive dwelling bore little resem- blance to his magnificent residence on Forest avenue where he was living at his

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demise. Soon after his arrival he began to invest in real estate and with the growth of the city the property which he held became very valuable. While others may have recognized Des Moines' needs, Dr. Turner not only recognized but set to work to meet the conditions and took the initiative in promoting many of the public projects. In the early days there was no adequate means of transporting people over the river. The cumbersome ferries caused too great a loss of time and in the spring of 1861 Dr. Turner secured a thirty-year char- ter for a toll bridge over Coon river and at once began building the bridge, which from the first was liberally patronized. Naturally this awakened the opposition of the ferry owners and the cry was raised that the Doctor was getting rich with his toll bridge. The matter was brought to the attention of the town council that the town treasury was getting no revenue from the privilege conferred. When in 1865 the bridge was carried away by a flood, the council at once put in a ferry, but Dr. Turner was not thus to be outwitted. One night he went up the river, bought a small steamboat which was not then in use and the next morning it was running in opposition to the town ferry. The mayor denounced him, but the Doctor replied that it made no difference to the mayor how he obtained the boat, but that he was there to carry people across until he could build a new bridge. The construction work on the new bridge was at once begun, but the people, forgetting how great a benefit the bridge had been to them in the beginning, continued to strongly oppose it. Expediency, which was ever one of Dr. Turner's marked characteristics, came to his aid about this time. Going quietly among the farmers and those who used the bridge he obtained subscriptions enough to cover the expense of building a new bridge and when it was completed he tendered it to the town council upon the condi- tion that it was a free bridge to the public from that time, 1868, "forever and ever.". In 1871, when bridging the Des Moines river had become very expen- sive, the council ordered the collection of toll on all bridges, but they had ac- cepted the one built by the Doctor as a free bridge and the people residing south of Coon river refused to pay toll on a bridge for which they had furnished the building expenses. The situation was a difficult one for the council, who then condemned the bridge and sent men to tear it down, but a body of Bloom- field citizens drove them away and relaid the plank. Wisdom prevailed at this crisis and in 1872 the bridge was replaced by a new one.

To Dr. Turner is attributed the credit of organizing and establishing the Des Moines street railway system and the building of the first street railway in the state. In 1866 he procured a perpetual charter for a street railway on all streets to be operated by animal power. With him were associated J. S. Polk, Fred M. Hubbell and U. I. White. They built the first mile of road from the court house on Court avenue to Capitol Hill-a narrow gauge line-and equipped it with small cars carrying about twenty passengers while the motive power was mules. By charter their speed was limited to six miles an hour. They were to turn corners on a walk and the cars were to be kept two hundred feet apart. Many of Dr. Turner's friends and acquaintances joked him about the road but he would answer: "Never mind. Just wait; this town is going to grow. Just give us a chance." After several months a loop was made and in 1872 two and a half miles of track on Walnut and High streets and on Grand avenue to Tenth street were laid. Dr. Turner purchased the stock of two of his partners in the company and Mrs. Turner purchased that of Mr. White. Of the new company Dr. Turner became president, with his wife as vice president. secretary and treasurer, she being the first woman in the United States to hold such an office. For fourteen years they extended and operated the Des Moines street railway and their labors proved the stimulating element in developing the urban transportation facilities of Des Moines. The first amusement hall in the city was built by Dr. Turner on Court avenue and for many years it remained the only one. After disposing of his street railway interests he gave his atten-

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tion of the development of his real-estate holdings and erected an eight-story building on Seventh and Grand streets. He also sold to Drake University the ground now occupied by the college and campus. The increased value of prop- erty made him a wealthy man and he died the possessor of a handsome com- petence which was the merited reward of judicious investment, indefatigable industry and keen discernment in business affairs.

Dr. Turner gave his early political support to the whig party, although he had been reared in the faith of the democratic party. Later when the republican party was formed to prevent the further extension of slavery he joined its ranks and continued one of its stalwart advocates. During the period of the Civil war he was chosen to represent the fourth ward in the city council and his election was a compliment to his ability and an indication of the confidence reposed in him, for the ward was strongly democratic. He never sought nor desired office, however, being content to do his public service in a private ca- pacity. He was a strong temperance man, opposing saloons in every possible way, for he realized fully the sorrow, crime and failure which resulted from in- temperance. The cause of education found in him an earnest champion and he was a warm friend of the laboring classes. He held membership in the Con- gregational church and was a man of benevolent and charitable spirit, ever ready to extend a helping hand to those who needed aid. His life was filled with many good deeds and kindly acts. He passed away October 15, 1899, after a residence of more than forty years in Des Moines. His death was deeply re- gretted in business circles where men had learned to esteem him for his enter- prise and ability, in public connections because of the splendid service which he had done for Des Moines, in social circles where his sincerity and cordiality had gained him many friends, but most of all it brought sorrow to the home where he was indeed an ideal husband and father, ever considering first the happiness of his wife and children and regarding no personal sacrifice on his part too great if it would promote their welfare or interests.

N. C. SCHILTZ, M. D.

A prominent member of the medical profession of Des Moines is Dr. N. C. Schiltz, who for nearly twenty years has been engaged in practice here. He is a member of one of the older families of the state, his father, F. John Schiltz, having been one of the very early settlers. Emigrating from Luxemburg, his native land, in the early '20s Mr. Schiltz came directly to Iowa. He was a mil- ler by trade so he located on the Skunk river in the southern part of the state where he established a grist mill, which he operated until his decease in 1868. The mother, who prior to her marriage was Mary Ann Baker, was also a Ger- man. She survived her husband many years, her demise occurring in 1902. Dr. Schiltz was born in the paternal home in Keokuk county, Iowa, on the 17th of January, 1866, and there he spent the early years of his life.

The public schools of Keokuk county and the parochial schools of the Roman Catholic church provided Dr. Schiltz with his preliminary education. His boy- hood was spent in the manner of the majority of boys of that period, attending school in the winter and assisting in the work of the farm in summer. He early in life decided to became a physician, so three years were spent in St. Francis College at Quincy, Illinois, preparatory to pursuing his professional course. Owing to his somewhat limited means he was compelled to drop his medical course, which he was following at Rush Medical College, at the end of the second year, and returning to St. Francis he taught chemistry and physiology for a year, thus acquiring the money to enable him to finish his studies. He was awarded his degree in the spring of 1902, locating in Des Moines on the 15th of

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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 55

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