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 70
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Mr. Betts was but twenty-two years of age when he responded to the na- tion's call for men to go to the front in the great Civil war. He enlisted on the 9th of August, 1862, in Company C, Twenty-third Iowa Volunteer Infantry, spending one year of his life on the battlefields of the south. The long marches, hardship and privation as well as exposure incident to camp life undermined his constitution to such an extent that he was discharged and sent home at the end of that time.
The marriage of Mr. Betts and Miss Celinda P. Phillips was solemnized on the Ist of March, 1864. Mrs. Betts was a daughter of Nelson and Jane Phillips, natives of Michigan, who settled in northern Iowa in early days, her birth oc- curring on the 4th of March, 1844. Mr. Phillips died in 1867, at the age of fifty- seven years, and Mrs. Phillips passed away at the age of fifty years in 1863. Of the eight children born to them only Mrs. Betts and three of her brothers survive. Two of the brothers are veterans of the Civil war and the eldest spent some time in Libby Prison. The father was also a soldier of the Union army, enlisting with the Gray Beards.
Mr. and Mrs. Betts have six children. Alice, who became the wife of John W. Howard, has five children and lives in Polk county. George married Nora Howard and has nine children. He is also a resident of this county. Anna mar- ried Lewis Harvey and has become the mother of six children. She, too, lives in
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this county. Alta B., who is now the wife of Frank Coy, of this county, was the next in order of birth. Estella Violet passed away at the age of seven years. Rose. the sixth child, died in infancy.
The family always affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal church, of Saylor- ville, of which Mr. Betts is one of the stewards. He is also a member of the In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows and Kinsman Post, No. 7, G. A. R. Ever since attaining his majority he has been a strong advocate of the policy of the republi- can party. His first vote was cast for Abraham Lincoln and at that time his ticket was elected by a majority of one in the township where he lived. He has always taken a very active interest in educational matters and his great ambition is to feel that he has been instrumental in promoting and advancing the public- school system. For twenty-six years he has been the president of the local school board, and every movement during that period which would tend to advance or improve the standard of education has been recommended for adoption by him. Both Mr. and Mrs. Betts are highly regarded in their community, where they have many friends. They have been thrifty, hard-working people and are now living practically retired in a very comfortable and thoroughly modern residence, which he built in 1907 upon their farm. He leases the land, however, the rental provid- ing them with all of the comforts and many of the luxuries of life.
CARLTON CHASE PROPER.
There is no better known name in the newspaper and literary circles of Des Moines than that of Carlton Chase Proper, the president of the People's Monthly Publishing Company. A native of Iowa his birth occurred in Bonaparte on the 8th of September, 1873, his parents being Obadiah Chase and Caroline (Sedg- wick) Proper.
The early years of Carlton Chase Proper were very similar to those of the average American youth who is reared in a small town, where there is but little to vary the routine of the days. His preliminary education was acquired in the public schools of Iowa, but upon the completion of the grammar grades he at- tended the academy of Central College at Pella for three years, following which he spent one year in the high school of Ithaca, New York, from which he grad- uated in 1892. Having decided upon a literary career in the autumn follow- ing he matriculated at Cornell University, being awarded the degree of B. A. with the class of 1896. Upon the completion of his education he came to Des Moines. obtaining a position as reporter on the Des Moines Daily News and the Iowa State Register, with which publications he was identified for three years, at the same time acting as special correspondent for some of the New York, Chicago and San Francisco dailies. During this period he recognized that Des Moines was an excellent field for the publication of a popular magazine, so in 1900 he founded the People's Monthly Publishing Company. This has proven to be a most lucrative venture, as their periodical, the People's Monthly. is the only magazine of a general circulation published between the Mississippi river and the Pacific ocean, and it now has a paid-up circulation of over five hundred thousand, going into every state and territory and many foreign countries.
On the IIth of October, 1900, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Proper and Miss Emily Glisan, a daughter of O. E. and Annie Glisan. Four children have been born of this union, the order of their birth being as follows: Chase, Mar- garet, William and Robert. The religious views of Mr. and Mrs. Proper ac- cord with those of the Baptist denomination so they affiliate with the First church of Des Moines. His fraternal relations are confined to membership in
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che Knights of Pythias, but he also affiliates with the Grant, Hyperion, Des Moines and Ad Clubs. He is also a member of the Chicago Cornell Club.
His political support Mr. Proper always gives to the men and measures of the republican party, his ideas coinciding with the principles of the more progres- sive faction of that body. He has never aspired to official honors, however. so does not actively participate in civic affairs, preferring to concentrate his energies in the development of his private interests. The success of the com- pany which he is directing has been most gratifying and, judging by the present conditions, the life of the People's Monthly promises to be a long and success- ful one.
FRANK W. SPRAGUE.
Frank W. Sprague, active in the control and successful management of the Standard Life Insurance Company of Des Moines, was born in LaSalle county, Illinois. April 4; 1862. His parents, Isaac and Mary K. Sprague, were both natives of Vermont and in an early day removed westward to Illinois. The mother was twenty-six years of age when she was married, and had taught twenty-six terms of school before that time. Mr. and Mrs. Sprague secured a homestead claim in northwestern Iowa in the spring of 1871 and thus became identified with the agricultural interests of this state. Previously Mr. Sprague has served for three years in the Civil war as a member of the Twenty-seventh Illinois Infantry.
In the country schools of northwestern Iowa, in the graded schools of Winter- set, and in a private school, Frank W. Sprague pursued his education and at the same time had thorough training in the work of the home farm, for he as- sisted in the cultivation and development of the fields until twenty years of age. He then left the parental roof and shortly afterward purchased a farm near Paullina. Iowa, where he lived for about three years. Upon the expiration of that period he removed to Spencer, Iowa, where he engaged in the real-estate and insurance business in 1893. The life insurance company, of which he is now president, was organized in the year 1897 and was first called the Farmers Life Association. A short time after its organization he was elected vice presi- dent and in the spring of 1901 came to Des Moines to assume the office of pres- ident, to which he had been chosen by the board of directors. In the year 1909 the association was reorganized into an old line company and the name changed to the Standard Life Insurance Company. Mr. Sprague is now giving his atten- tion largely to the management and direction of its interests and under his care- ful guidance the business of the company is continually expanding and the . strength of the enterprise increasing. It is today recognized, as its name indi- cates, as one of the standard life insurance companies of the state and its busi- ness policy commends it to further patronage of the public. As opportunity has afforded. Mr. Sprague has made judicious investments in real-estate and is now the owner of several properties in Des Moines, together with land in North Dakota and Minnesota.
On the 27th of August, 1887, Mr. Sprague was united in marriage to Miss Mary Greene, a daughter of Asa R. and Susan Greene, who were pioneer settlers of Clay county, and were a family of teachers there, closely associated with edu- cational interests in that part of the state. Mr. and Mrs. Sprague have five chil- dren, namely: Harold G., Florence, Alice M., Blanche E. and Dorothy G., all still at home. The parents are members of the Friends church, of which Mr. Sprague is a trustee, and he is interested in all that tends to uplift humanity. He is serving as a director of Penn College, located at Oskaloosa, Iowa, and is also one of the headquarters committee of the Anti-Saloon League at Des Moines and is a member of the Des Moines Underwriters Association. In politics he
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votes with the republican party and is in entire sympathy with the progressive movement which is revolutionizing politics in an effort to make political service the expression of public opinion and an element for the popular good rather than the views of the few and a source of individual benefit to a favored class. He is everywhere recognized as a man of firm convictions, to which he is thor- oughly loyal, and his many admirable traits of character have won him high and enduring regard.
CALEB JOHN.
One of the best informed coal men of Iowa is Caleb John, general manager of the Glenwood and John Coal Companies of Des Moines. From his early boyhood he has been identified with the coal business and in the course of his experience has advanced from the humblest position in a mine to that of gen- eral manager, being now one of the leading coal men of the city. He is a native of South Wales, born March 30, 1856, a son of William and Mary (John) John. The parents are both deceased, the mother having died in Wales in 1907.
The only child of his parents, Caleb John was reared under conditions of adversity such as are little known in the United States. At the age of nine years he was put to work in a mine and has ever since been connected with mining interests, never having earned a dollar at anything else except five dollars, which he received for services in behalf of a candidate for political office. He remained at home until he arrived at the age of nineteen, and then having resolved to better his condition at all hazards he came to America, arriving in Des Moines, September 28, 1875. He soon found work in the mines and continued working underground until 1895, since which time he has been employed in other capaci- ties, passing through various responsibilities until he became general manager of the Glenwood and John Coal Companies, and owner of an interest in each of the mines. The retail offices of these companies are located at No. 414 West Eighth street, and at 101 East Fifth street. They employ about one hundred and fifty men and enjoy an excellent business, which is the result of good manage- ment and thoughtful attention to the wants of their patrons.
In 1909 Mr. John was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Watts, who was born in Polk county, Iowa, and is a daughter of Thomas and Mary Watts. Mr. John is a busy man, but he has found time to devote considerable attention to fraternal orders and is a valued member of the Masons, Odd Fellows, Red Men, Maccabees and Woodmen. As a result of his study of political questions he affil- iates with the republican party and is an earnest supporter of its candidates and measures. He is a firm believer in the authority of the Bible and holds member- ship in the Baptist church. A pleasant and accommodating gentleman, a thor- ough business man and a patriotic and public spirited citizen, he is well known to a wide circle of friends in Des Moines. He is a striking illustration of success attained in the face of many difficulties by industry, integrity and self-confidence.
N. S. NIELSEN.
N. S. Nielsen, a representative and successful business man of Des Moines, is the general manager of the Randall Lumber Company and also a stockholder therein. His birth occurred in Denmark on the 26th of March, 1862. his parents being P. C. and Annie (Sorensen) Nielsen. likewise natives of that country. The father's natal day was December 9, 1838. In 1882 he brought his family to the United States, coming direct to Polk county, Iowa, and taking
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up his abode near Des Moines, where he engaged in business as a gardener. Unto him and his wife were born two children: N. S., of this review; and Dora, the wife of Christ Hansen, of Des Moines.
N. S. Nielsen obtained his education in the schools of his native land and then turned his attention to general agricultural pursuits. When a young man of twenty years he accompanied his parents on their emigration to the new world and here became identified with the lumber business. He was employed by a Chicago lumber company in Des Moines for three years and subsequently was in the service of the Jewett Lumber Company for fourteen years. On the expiration of that period he became manager for the Randall Lumber Company at Randall, Iowa, which removed its headquarters to Des Moines at the end of three and a half years and placed him in charge here. The company has five yards : two in Des Moines; one at Randall; one at Ellsworth; and one at Story. Mr. Nielsen is the general manager of all of the yards and also owns stock in the concern. He is a man of keen discernment and sound judgment and his executive ability and excellent management have brought to the company with which he is connected a large degree of success.
On the 3d of February, 1892, Mr. Nielsen was united in marriage to Miss Christina Olsen, a native of Denmark and a daughter of Nels and Elizabeth Olsen, the former a farmer by occupation. Unto our subject and his wife have been born four children, namely: Christina, Edna, Elias and Esther.
Mr. Nielsen gives his political allegiance to the republican party, while in religious faith he is a Lutheran. He has never regretted the fact that in early manhood he established his home in the United States, for through the wise utilization of the opportunities here afforded he has worked his way steadily upward to a position among the substantial and respected citizens of his com- munity.
JAMES STUART WILSON.
The horticultural interests of the west are ably represented at Des Moines by James Stuart Wilson, president of the J. S. Wilson Floral Company, a grow- ing concern which is attracting the interest of lovers of flowers in many states of the west and south. The name of Mr. Wilson is known from the Atlantic to the Pacific ocean, as he was for seventeen years manager of the Vaughan greenhouses at Western Springs, Illinois, one of the most important positions of the kind in America. It would be difficult indeed to find a man who is more thoroughly qualified by natural talents and experience for the work in which he is engaged.
He is a native of Waukegan, Illinois, born March 22, 1863, a son of James S. Wilson, who was born at Glasgow, Scotland. The mother, Mrs. Graham (Connon) Wilson, was born November II, 1831, at Edinburgh, Scotland and is now living at St. Louis, Missouri, but the father died in 1873. He rendered good service for the cause of the Union in the Civil war as a member of an Illi- nois regiment, one of the notable battles in which he participated being the de- fense of Fort Donaldson.
James S. Wilson moved with his parents to the vicinity of St. Louis very carly in life and received a common-school education. He was brought up upon a farm until fifteen years of age when he took up his residence with an uncle, Charles Connon, a well known florist of St. Louis, with whom he continued for five years. He then associated with a brother in the floral business under the firm name of Wilson Brothers, on Olive street, establishing greenhouses at Gra- tiot Station. He soon afterward sold out his interest and tried mining for a year, but he discovered that nature had not intended him for a miner, as he was too deeply imbued with a love for plants and flowers. In 1892 he went to Chi-
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cago and engaged as city salesman for J. C. Vaughan, in which position he con- tinued for a year when he was made sole manager of the greenhouses at West- ern Springs. Having decided to establish in business on his own account, he visited a number of the principal cities of the United States, selecting Des Moines as the most favorable location. He purchased a tract of land at Thirty-fifth street and Ingersoll avenue in 1908 and incorporated the J. S. Wilson Floral Company which now has twelve greenhouses, containing sixty thousand square feet of glass and grows cut flowers and plants of all kinds for the general flor- ist's trade. He is assisted by two of his sons and by special ability in the selec- tion of seeds and growing of plants and prompt attention in filling orders the company has attracted a remarkably large patronage within the short period that has passed since its establishment. Mr. Wilson holds membership in a number of small horticultural societies and is also president of the Iowa Flor- ists' Association, state vice president of the Society of American Florists, a mem- ber of the board of directors of the National Carnation Society and a member of the Ad Men's Club of Des Moines.
He was married to Miss Luella May, a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, and they are the parents of five children: Alexander H., who was born. April 18. 1885; Clara Graham, born January 28, 1888; James S., Jr., born January 24. 1890; Esther May, born November 24, 1891 ; and Charles Vaughan, born March 29, 1900.
Mr. Wilson is connected with the 'Modern Woodmen of America and the Odd Fellows and has served as head of the camp in the former organization. He is not only well known in business circles, but socially he is prominent, his family occupying one of the most beautiful homes in the city. He is a lover of out-door life, is a fine traveling companion and a genial and cultivated gen- tleman who carries sunshine wherever he goes. Financially he is numbered among those who may be singled out as especially blessed, and it reflects great credit upon his judgment to say that his money is largely invested in real estate in Des Moines.
EDWARD HOWELL.
Edward Howell, deceased, was for a period of more than forty years actively engaged in agricultural pursuits 'in Polk county. He was a native of New York, his birth occurring in Livingston county in September, 1834. His parents, David and Susan (Covert) .Howell, were also natives of the Empire state, where the father always engaged in farming until two years prior to his death, when he went into the lumber business. He passed away in 1885, but his wife survived until 1890.
Edward Howell was reared in New York, acquiring his education in the dis- trict schools of his native county. After leaving school he assisted his father in the cultivation of the homestead until he was twenty-five years of age, when he bought land and began farming for himself. He continued to reside upon that place until 1869, when he removed to Iowa, locating in Polk county. In part- nership with a friend he bought three hundred and twenty acres of prairie land in Bloomfield township, which they soon cleared and placed under cultivation. They fenced their land and erected good and substantial buildings, thereby add- ing greatly to the value of the property. Mr. Howell finally bought his part- ner's interest but later sold one hundred and twenty acres to a Mr. Stanton. The remaining two hundred he still continued to cultivate up to the time of his death, which occurred April 16, 191I.
Mr. Howell was united in marriage in November. 1861, to Miss Catherine Foote, a daughter of Charles and Sarah (Michael) Foote, also natives of the
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MR. AND MRS. EDWARD HOWELL
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Empire state. Mr. Foote engaged in farming and grain buying while a resident of New York and Illinois but after removing to Iowa he embarked in the mer- cantile business. He followed that vocation in Jasper county for many years and then disposed of his interests and went to Kansas. After residing there for a few months he removed to Nebraska, in which state he passed away in 1885. Mrs. Foote survived him five years. Mrs. Howell died on the 5th of October. 1893. Jennie F., the only child of Mr. and Mrs. Howell, continues to live on the home farm.
The family affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal church, and Mr. Howell's political views are in accord with the republican platform. He has never ac- tively participated in local governmental affairs but he had the distinc- tion of having been a school director in Bloomfield township for forty consecu- tive years. He was a man of a retiring nature and never sought public honors of any kind, preferring to concentrate his energies upon the development of his personal interests. He met with most gratifying success in all of his undertakings and in addition to his excellent homestead owned two dwellings in Des Moines on Capitol Hill. During the long period of his residence in Polk county he always showed himself to be a man of high principles in all of the relations in life.
GEORGE M. VAN EVERA.
Luck or chance has had little to do with the advancement of George M. Van Evera, who has won his way to success as a leading investor of Des Moines by an unswerving perseverance and a reputation for clear judgment and unassail- able integrity. A native of Scott county, Iowa, he was born August 31, 1859. a son of James H. and Phoebe (Metteer) Van Evera. The father was born in Montgomery county, New York, October 2, 1828, and came to Iowa in 1851, taking up his abode among the early settlers of Scott county. In 1896 he put aside active business cares and came to Des Moines, where he passed away on the 12th of January, 1911, at the age of eighty-two years. The mother was born in Broome county, New York, December 31, 1828. She came to Iowa with her parents in 1839, the family home being first established in Tipton and later in Scott county, The maternal grandfather, Charles Metteer, died in Scott county about 1870, and the maternal grandmother died at the age of ninety-seven years at Orient, Iowa. Our subject's great-great-grandmother on the maternal side was a refugee from the Wyoming massacre in Pennsylvania, escaping to New York state. Phoebe Metteer was married to James H. Van Evera from the parental home and is deceased, having been called away March 26, 1872. The paternal ancestors of Mr. Van Evera of this review came to America from Iveren, Holland, about 1660 and settled in the Mohawk valley near Albany.
George M. Van Evera was reared on his father's farm and secured his early education in the country schools of Scott county. He attended the high school for four months and his first occupation aside from the work upon the home. farm was that of teacher. After serving for one year in this capacity he gave up teaching and became connected with the farm mortgage and loan business as clerk for the firm of Underwood & Clark at Muscatine, Iowa. After one year with this firm he went to Kansas City, Missouri, and for nine months was book- keeper and accountant in the Merchants National Bank. He resigned this posi- tion to become secretary of the Kansas City Investment Company, with which he continued from 1883 to 1892, being in Kansas City during the great land boom excitement. Desiring to enter business on his own account, he gave up his position and associated with Oscar H. Robinson at Des Moines in 1892 under the firm name of Van Evera & Robinson, which became financial correspondent for the Union Central Life Insurance Company of Cincinnati. The firm was
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placed in charge of investments of the company in Iowa and Oklahoma, millions of dollars being loaned on farms in accordance with the recommendations of this firm. The firm has large realty holdings in Des Moines, the gentleman at its head having great faith in the growth of this city. Mr. Van Evera is also a director of the Iowa National Bank and is actively connected with a number of successful business enterprises.
On the 19th of October, 1892, he was married to Miss Katherine Willett, a daughter of Abraham and Alma Willett, of Blissfield, Michigan. Two chil- dren came to bless this union, Grace and Katherine. Beginning as a poor boy, Mr. Van Evera closely adhered to high ideals in business and he has been suc- cessful in every position he has undertaken to fill. As the result of many years of contact with men he has developed a sterling character which is well worth the efforts of a lifetime, and through his genial social qualities has made a host of friends. Politically he is not identified with any of the long established organizations but casts his vote according to the demands of the times and in support of men of acknowledged good character. He is a member of Capital Lodge, No. IIO, A. F. & A. M., and Lodge No. 98, B. P. O. E., and also of the Greater Des Moines Committee, the Des Moines Club, the Commercial Club of Des Moines, the Hyperion, Golf and Motor and the Golf and Country Clubs. In religious belief he is a Unitarian.
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