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 67
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Dr. Wells, educated in Port Jervis, was graduated from the high school and afterward from the Port Jervis Academy, with the class of 1884. His professional training was received in Bellevue Hospital Medical College, which numbers him among its alumni of 1888. His early professional training was re- ceived as house surgeon and physician for the New York City Hospital and also for the Nervous and Epileptic Hospital of New York. For four years he was likewise connected with the Maternity Hospital, the New York Hospital and the Vol. II-28
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House of Relief. His hospital practice gave him broad practical experience and brought him comprehensive knowledge that could not have been gained in a much longer period of private practice. For a year after severing his connection with the hospitals he followed his profession in New York city and in 1892 came to Des Moines, where he has remained continuously since. He served here as city physician for four years but now engages in general practice although he specializes to a large extent in surgical and hospital work, in both of which he displays marked proficiency and skill. He is one of the organizers of Mercy Hospital and is serving on its staff. He belongs to the Polk County Medical Society, the Iowa State Medical Society and the American Medical Association and in the discussion of vital questions by those organizations he finds the solu- tion of many problems which continually confront the physician. He was chief physician for several insurance companies and assistant medical director of the Iowa State Traveling Men's Association.
In his political views Dr. Wells has been a republican since age conferred upon him the right of franchise and he is in hearty sympathy with the more progressive element in the party. He is well known in Masonic circles as a mem- ber of Capital Lodge, No. 110, A. F. & A. M., Corinthian Chapter, No. 14, R. A. M., Temple Commandery, No. 4, K. T. and Za-Ga-Zig Temple of the Mystic Shrine. He is likewise well known and prominent in club circles of this city, belonging to the Golf and Country, the Grant and the New Des Moines Clubs. In his profession he has made continuous progress and his close conformity to a high standard of professional ethics has gained him the warm and unqualified regard of his brethren of the medical fraternity.
J. K. MACOMBER.
While a native of New England, J. K. Macomber spent the greater part of his life in Iowa and was a typical western man in spirit, interest and enterprise. He came to be recognized in early manhood as an able educator and later as a lawyer of strength and power, whose record was an ornament to the Iowa bar. He was born in Northampton, Massachusetts, February 2, 1849, and was quite young at the time of the removal of his parents from New England to this state. His education was continued in the public schools until he was graduated from the high school, and later he entered the Iowa State College at Ames, therein completing a course of study. Subsequently he pursued post-graduate courses at Cornell University and in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology at Boston, coming to the initial stage of his career splendidly equipped for the duties and responsibilities that later devolved upon him. For several years he was professor of physics in the Iowa State College and subsequently located in Des Moines, where he entered upon the practice of law, for which his prepara- tion had been thorough and comprehensive. Along with those qualities indis- pensable to the lawyer, a logical mind and clear powers of analysis, plus the busi- ness sense, he added a gracious presence and a high sense of professional honor, which made him one of the prominent, capable and successful members of the Des Moines bar. For four years he filled the office of county attorney and sub- sequently served as city solicitor of Des Moines, in each connection discharging his duties with promptness and fidelity that ably supplemented his comprehensive understanding of the principles of jurisprudence.
In Vinton, Iowa, in 1877, Mr. Macomber was united in marriage to Miss Mattie L. Locke. a daughter of James B. Locke, of whom mention is made else- where in this volume. Mrs. Macomber is a lady of rare social qualities and in- tellectual attainments and has a wide acquaintance not only in Des Moines but elsewhere in the country. Her talent and ability make her prominent in club
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circles and her broad knowledge constitutes an important element in the success of the foreign tours on which she frequently conducts select parties, taking people from various parts of the country to all sections of the world. Mr. and Mrs. Macomber became the parents of three sons and five daughters: Kingsley, Mattie, Kate, Locke, Sumner, Arabella, Bertha and Mrs. Lewis Loner. The last named is now a resident of Chicago. The death of the husband and father occurred May 2, 1910. He was a man of vigorous intellect and liberal mental culture and an excellent judge of men and their motives. These qualities con- stituted elements in his professional success and enabled him to so conduct his cases before the courts as to bring out the strongest points in favor of his cli- ents. His life was one of activity and in every relation he was highly respected.
MELBORN McFARLIN.
Melborn McFarlin, a prominent and representative citizen of Des Moines, has been actively identified with the grain business here for the past three decades. His birth occurred in Medina county, Ohio, on the Ist of February, 1849, his parents being Reuben and Mary A. (Woodruff) McFarlin. The father, who was born in Medina county, Ohio, in 1819, followed farming throughout his entire business career and passed away in 1884. The mother, whose birth occurred in New York in 1821, was called to her final rest in 1896. Unto them were born seven children, two sons and five daughters, as follows: Frank, who is married and resides at Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Lovina, who was the wife of August Libaire ; Melborn, of this review ; Clarice, the wife of William Johns, of Le Roy, Illinois; Elma, the wife of W. R. Grapes, of Adrian, Minnesota; Ida. the wife of William Bell, who has passed away; and Jennie, the wife of Will- iam Thompson, of Adrian, Minnesota.
Melborn McFarlin obtained his early education in the common schools of Ohio and of Tazewell county, Illinois, and subsequently attended the State Normal School at Normal, Illinois. He likewise pursued a commercial course at Peoria. After putting aside his text-books he secured a clerkship in a store at Bellflower, Illinois, and later became a partner in the concern, conducting a gen- eral mercantile establishment for three years. He was next engaged in the grain business at Bellflower for one year, and during the following eight years con- ducted a similar enterprise at Mount Pulaski, Illinois. In December, 1881, he came to Des Moines and from that time on to the present has been continuously engaged in the grain business here. The methods of grain men three decades ago were very crude as compared to the operations of modern dealers. As a pioneer merchant Mr. McFarlin built corncribs, elevators, offices, between Des Moines, Fonda and Boone, and some of the material for these buildings was brought in on construction trains. The business was conducted under the name of McFarlin. Regur. & Bowen until 1889, in which year was organized the McFarlin Grain Company, L. Mott being made president thereof. In 1899 Mr. McFarlin dis- posed of his interest in the concern and organized the Des Moines Elevator Com- pany, erecting the elevator on East. Eighteenth and Vine streets, which has a capacity of four hundred thousand bushels. The enterprise has steadily grown until it is now one of extensive proportions, fourteen men being employed in its conduct. Mr. McFarlin is likewise the vice president of the Des Moines Nursery and a director in the Grimes Canning Company and the Dexter Canning Company.
In 1875 Mr. McFarlin was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary Bartran, a na- tive of Wyoming county, Pennsylvania, and a daughter of Benjamin and Mary (Jayne) Bartran, the former a farmer by occupation.
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In politics Mr. McFarlin is a progressive republican, while his religious faith is indicated by his support of the Christian church. He has attained high rank in Masonry, belonging to the York and Scottish Rites and having attained the K. C. C. H. degree of the latter. He is likewise a member of the Grant Club, the Commercial Club and the Traffic Club of Chicago and represents his company on the Chicago Board of Trade and Merchants Exchange of St. Louis. Mr. McFarlin certainly deserves classification with those men whose enterpris- ing spirit, firm purpose and laudable ambition constitute the basis of their suc- cess, and in his business relations has made a most honorable name, while his labors have been crowned with gratifying prosperity.
LUTHER M. GRIMES.
Of the many conveniences which have come into general use in recent years none is more popular than the telephone. Its rapid adoption in city, town and country is one of the noticeable advances of modern life and may be said to mark a new era in human progress. Luther M. Grimes, of Des Moines, is one of the leaders in this state in the extension of the telephone. He comes of Scotch-Irish ancestry, the early members of the family on the paternal side ar- riving in America about the time of the Revolutionary war and settling near Baltimore, Maryland.
He was born at Smithville, Indiana, April 18, 1870, and is a son of Major Silas and Susan (Gaither) Grimes. The father is now living at Bloomington, Indiana, and is one of the well known farmers in that part of the state. In September, 1861, he enlisted for service in the Union army with the Thirty- first Indiana Volunteer Infantry, remaining with that command until honorably discharged in the early part of 1866. He joined the army as a private and won steady promotion until he held the rank of lieutenant colonel of his regiment. The Thirty-first Regiment was assigned to the Army of the Cumberland. Major Silas Grimes served as sheriff of Monroe county, Indiana, from 1880 to 1884 and as county auditor from 1886 until 1890.
Luther M. Grimes attended the public schools of Bloomington and at the age of sixteen years became a student of the State University of Indiana, from which he was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Entering the le- gal department of the same institution, he pursued the course of study leading to the degree of LL. B., which he received when he was twenty-three years of age. He began the practice of law at Bloomington and also became quite prom- inently identified with political affairs, being elected deputy county auditor of Monroe county in 1892. On account of the inactive life of the auditor Mr. Grimes was regarded by the voters as the real incumbent. He was very active in this position and increased the county's revenue by locating tax dodgers. After serving in this office for four years he resumed the practice of law at Bloomington.
On the Ist of January, 1901, he arrived at Des Moines and became connected with the Mutual Telephone Company, of which he was elected a director and treasurer in 1902 and auditor in 1905, all of which positions he now holds. For ten years he was secretary and general manager of the Southern Iowa Telephone Company, a branch of the Mutual. He is now a director and treasurer of several large telephone companies of Iowa. During the legislative session of 1909 he and others suggested to the governor that the laws of Iowa did not give any authority to regulate telephone rates and that the legislature should provide for the appointment of a state commission with full power to appraise telephone property, regulate service and fix rates. The suggestion was received with favor by some, but others were inclined to reject it for the reason that such recom-
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mendations seldom came from a public service corporation unless there was some advantage accruing to the corporation. After much debate the legislature refused to enact such a law. Mr. Grimes' business career has been characterized by steady advancement, the success he has gained being the result of an energy and ability which has never yielded to obstacles but has always found a way to accomplish well considered plans.
On the IIth of November, 1896, Mr. Grimes was married to Miss Jessie Traylor, a daughter of William A. Traylor, ex-state senator and ex-judge of Jasper, Indiana, and now president of the Dubois County State Bank of Jas- per, Indiana. Two children came to brighten the home of Mr. and Mrs. Grimes: Marian, who was born September 10, 1897; and Katherine, born De- cember 15, 1900. In religious faith Mr. Grimes accepts the teachings of the Methodist church and to that organization gives his heartiest support. Fra- ternally he is a member of Capital Lodge, No. 110, A. F. & A. M., and the Loyal Legion. During his college days he was a member of the Delta Tau Delta fra- ternity.
He is independent in politics, preferring to cast his ballot for the individual rather than to support any party. A man of fine business judgment, possessing well developed organizing and directive faculties and also the ability to per- ceive opportunities he has, in comparatively few years, reached the front rank and contributed much to the telephonic development of Iowa. His life has been unusually active and useful and by persistent application and unalterable pur- pose he has won success and an honorable name.
JOHN SHULER.
John Shuler, a prominent and successful coal merchant of Des Moines, is the treasurer of the company operating the Maple Block coal mine and likewise serves as the president of the Carbon Coal Company. His birth occurred in Rock Island county, Illinois, on the 19th of May, 1864, his parents being Theo- philus and Marie (Houck) Shuler, both of whom were natives of Germany. The father was born about 1832, while the mother's natal year was 1828. Theo- philus Shuler, who was a cooper by trade and enlisted at Rock Island for service in the Civil war, died while still in the army, passing away in July, 1865. Unto him and his wife were born five children, namely: Charles, who is married and resides in Davenport; Mary, who was the wife of James Farley and became the mother of five children, but is now deceased; Caroline, the wife of John W. Gil- christ, of Davenport; Sophia, the wife of John Ramsey, of Oskaloosa, Iowa; and John, of this review.
The last named obtained his education in the common schools of his native county and also attended the Davenport Business College for four months. After putting aside his text-books he worked in a grocery establishment at Rapids City, Illinois, for about three years, on the expiration of which period he entered the employ of a coal company, thus gaining his first knowledge of the business which has claimed his attention continuously since. He acted as bookkeeper for a coal company at What Cheer, Iowa, for three years and then went to Monroe county, Iowa, where he served as weighman for the Albia Coal Company for about two years. At the end of that time he took charge of a store at Draper, Jasper county, Iowa, also doing outside work at the mines for three years or until 1891. In that year he removed to Oskaloosa, where he worked for the Oskaloosa Coal Mining Company in the capacity of weighman and outside foreman from 1891 until 1899. He then went to Hocking, Iowa, as assistant secretary of the Hocking Coal Company, holding that office from 1899 until 1901, while from 1901 until 1903 he acted as assistant superintendent at the same place. In April, 1903, he
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bought a mine at Runnells, Polk county, Iowa, operating the same until the latter part of 1905, when he disposed of it and came to Des Moines. Here he was one of the purchasers of the Maple Block coal mine and is now the treasurer of the company engaged in its operation, the other officers being as follows: Charles Shuler of Davenport, president; J. W. Gilchrist of Davenport, secretary ; H. M. Shuler of Des Moines, vice president and superintendent ; and John Ramsey of Oskaloosa, general manager. Mr. Shuler is likewise the president of the Carbon Coal Company and is widely recognized as one of the representative and pros- perous business men of Des Moines.
On the 25th of June, 1885, Mr. Shuler was united in marriage to Miss Alice Atkinson, a native of Illinois and a daughter of Ralph and Jane (Pratt) Atkin- son, the former a farmer by occupation. Unto our subject and his wife have been born four children, as follows: Mary Jane, who is now deceased; Frances, the wife of Jesse R. Laird; Charles, whose birth occurred in 1898; and Marie. who first opened her eyes to the light of day in Des Moines on the 22d of Janu- ary, 1906.
Mr. Shuler gives his political allegiance to the republican party, while in re- ligious faith he is a Methodist. He is a member of the board of directors of the East Side Commercial League, has attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite in Masonry and also belongs to the Shrine at Des Moines. He is interested in all that pertains to the public welfare and gives active and helpful cooperation to many measures for the general good. In his own business career he has made steady advancement and has attained a creditable position by his untiring labor and effort.
FRANK M. CARRELL.
Frank M. Carrell, of Des Moines, needs no introduction to the people of Iowa, as he is one of the well known men of the state and is now prominently connected with a highly successful business enterprise, of which he was one of the founders. He is a native of Iowa and was born in Washington county. April 10, 1868. His father, E. L. Carrell, was born in Ohio. He came to Iowa in the early part of the '60s and took up his abode in Washington county. In 1868 he decided to remove to Dallas county and spent some time in Des Moines while his farm buildings were being erected, thus becoming acquainted with a number of people in this city. After settling in Dallas county he engaged quite extensively in the grain business, but is now living at Adel. He never took much interest in politics, but in the '70s was active in the grange movement in Iowa and has always been a friend and advocate of progress and education.
The mother of our subject was Eliza Cowgill before her marriage. She was born in Ohio and is a member of one of the old Quaker families of the Buckeye state. Her brother, Thomas A. Cowgill, served as captain in the Civil war, al- though born and reared a Quaker. He was prominent in Ohio politics, being for many years a member of the general assembly of the state and serving most acceptably as speaker of the house. He was chairman of the university commit- tee and active along educational lines. He was a great reader and a valuable collection of books which he gathered now belongs to the State University of Ohio and is known as the Cowgill collection.
Mr. Carrell, of this review, received his preliminary education in the public schools of Dallas county and subsequently attended the high school of Adel. He engaged in newspaper work on the Dallas County Democrat at Adel from 1884 until 1889, being associated with his brother, Samuel E. Carrell, who is now editor of the Iowa City Daily Press. In 1889 Mr. Carrell came to Des Moines and was identified with the city department of the Des Moines Leader,
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but in the year following entered the office of Governor Boies as chief clerk, soon afterward being appointed secretary to the governor and continuing in that capacity for two terms. After the retirement of Governor Boies Mr. Carrell again became connected with the Leader as an editorial writer. Leaving this position at the expiration of a year, he became identified with the United States pension department as chief clerk under C. H. Robinson and E. F. Sperry, con- tinuing as such for five and one-half years. He then entered the employ of the Harris-Emery Company. In 1905, with W. H. Smith, he originated the Elaterite Paint Company, of which concern he has since been secretary and treasurer. The business has proved a great success and the products of the company are now being distributed to nearly every civilized country of the world, large ship- ments being made to Canada, Europe, Australia and other foreign countries. It is evident that the Elaterite Paint Company is destined to become one of the leading manufacturing concerns of Des Moines.
In March, 1896, Mr. Carrell was married to Miss Lena Percy, a native of Vermont and a daughter of M. and Mary (Amidon) Percy, who lived for many years at Dexter, Iowa. One son, Russell, has come to bless this union. His natal day was March 25, 1902. In politics Mr. Carrell adheres to the democratic party, with which he has been affiliated ever since he cast his first ballot. He has always possessed the confidence of his acquaintances and is recognized as an energetic and progressive man. He is the possessor of most affable manners and is liberal-minded and sociable in the best sense of the term. He is numbered among the truly representative men of the capital city.
ROBERT J. BAIRD.
Land values are advancing in America and Robert J. Baird, of Des Moines, is one of the wide-awake business men who perceived the advantages offered by land investments. As a result he was one of the organizers and is president of the Emigration Land Company, which for several years past has been handling Texas lands and has disposed of tracts to nearly six hundred Iowa families-a record which is scarcely duplicated elsewhere in the country. The success of the company is largely due to the energy and ability of its president and also to good judgment in the selection of a favorable location under promising condi- tions of soil and climate. Mr. Baird is a native of Warsaw, Hancock county. Illinois, born July 30, 1861, and is a son of Robert and Margaret (Brookings) Baird, the father having been a farmer of Hancock county.
Our subject received his education in the public schools of Illinois and con- tinued at home with his parents until about twenty-two years of age. He then came to Des Moines and for seventeen years was successfully engaged in the grocery business. He then became connected with the fire insurance business, in which he still continues as a member of the agency of Baird, Taylor & Craw- ford, with offices in the Crocker building. In 1908 he began dealing in Texas lands and with associates was instrumental in promoting the Iowa colony in southern Texas between Galveston and Houston. The company originally had control of about twenty thousand acres of land, a large part of which has been disposed of in small tracts, the section being especially favorable for dairying, truck farming and fruit growing. This is said by authorities to be the richest and most productive strip of land in Texas.
In 1895, at Des Moines, Mr. Baird was united in marriage to Miss Hattie Stebbins, a daughter of J. P. Stebbins, an early settler of Iowa, who came to this state before the advent of the railroads. One daughter, Helen, now eight years of age, has blessed this union. Mr. Baird and his wife are members of the First Methodist Episcopal church and fraternally he is connected with the
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Masonic order and the Odd Fellows, being a sincere believer in the teachings of brotherhood as exemplified by those orders. In politics he gives his support to the republican party. Socially he is identified with the Grant Club.
Coming to Des Moines. in his early manhood he has seen the city advance rapidly along the lines of commerce and industry, and has also been an interested witness of the great movement of population into the west and south. In pro- moting the establishment of flourishing homes he has been instrumental in ad- vancing the welfare of many and thus adding to the sum of human happiness- a work which all may regard with pride. His success is well deserved, as it has been gained in legitimate channels and in lines which reflect the highest credit upon all concerned.
CURTIS W. WILCOX.
Curtis W. Wilcox, who is president of the Wilcox-Stubbs Company, owners of the Fairview Farm, Dairy and Creamery and for more than a decade has been ac- tively identified with the dairy interests of Polk county, is a native of Orleans coun- ty, Vermont, his birth occurring in May, 1846. He is a son of Amos and Saman- tha (Walker) Wilcox, who were also natives of the Green Mountain state. The mother passed away in 1858 and two years later the father removed to Iowa. He entered one hundred and sixty acres of land in Worth county, the greater portion of which he had cleared and placed under cultivation at the time of his demise in 1861.
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