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 86

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 86

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On the 22d of April, 1902, in Des Moines, Mr. Rothfus was united in mar- riage to Miss Bertha Aulmann, a daughter of William and Lucy (Welcome)

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Aulmann, both of whom were natives of Iowa. Mrs. Rothfus followed the profession of school teaching for three years prior to her marriage. She is now the mother of five children, namely : Richard A., a lad of seven years; Dorothy, a little maiden of six; Luther James, who is five years old; Ruth H., who is three years of age; and Alice, one year old.

Mr. Rothfus is a democrat in his political views but does not consider him- self bound by party ties. He was elected township clerk in 1902 and two years later was again chosen for the office. In 1906 he was elected township trustee and in that position has since served with notable ability. He has spent his entire life in this part of the state and has won an extensive circle of friends here.

JACOB KIRK GILCREST.

The lumber interests of Des Moines are well represented by Jacob Kirk Gilcrest, who has been successfully identified with the commercial activities of this city since 1856. He is a son of John Smith and Christiana (Kirk) Gilcrest. He was born at Wooster, Ohio, in 1832. After completing the course of the public schools he entered Hiram College at Hiram, Ohio. He came to Iowa in the year 1856, locating in Des Moines, where in connection with his brother W. H., he established a planing mill, sash and door factory and lumber business. This company, which operated under the firm name of J. K. & W. H. Gilcrest, continued to do business without change until 1898, when after the death of W. H. Gilcrest the company was merged into a corporation with J. K. Gilcrest as president and Charles L. Gilcrest as secretary and treasurer.

At Akron, Ohio, in 1858, Mr. Gilcrest was united in marriage to Miss Julia Williams, a daughter of Thomas Williams of New York, and they have become the parents of the following children : John S., William K., Nellie, Annie, Kittie and Bertha, all of whom are married. Mr. and Mrs. Gilcrest now affiliate with the Central Church of Christ, and were charter members of the First Christian church of Des Moines, in the organization of which they assisted.

EUGENE L. ROZELLE.

Another of Iowa's sons whose name appears on the register of Des Moines' professional fraternity is Eugene L. Rozelle, who has been actively and suc- cessfully engaged in the practice of dentistry for nearly twenty years. He was born in Mount Pleasant on the 4th of December, 1858, being a son of Napoleon W. and Louisa (Percells) Rozelle, the father of French and the mother of Dutch extraction. Napoleon W. Rozelle, in company with his parents, mi- grated to the United States from France during the time of the revolution in the latter country, settling in Kentucky. He served the United States during the Mexican war while seven of his brothers fought in the Union army during the Rebellion.

The early years of Eugene L. Rozelle were spent in the paternal home in very much the manner of other boys of his circumstances at that period. His education was acquired in the common schools and when old enough he left home to begin his career, being engaged in divers pursuits. After becoming a resident of Iowa he entered the Eclectic Medical College, which has since been absorbed by Drake University, having decided to take up the practice of medi- cine for his vocation. Being dependent upon his own efforts for the mainte- nance of himself and family he assisted in the dental department in order to

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pay his tuition, during which time he developed a preference for the latter science and so adopted it. Receiving his degree with the class of 1892 he im- mediately engaged in private practice in which he has ever since continued, having met with more than average success in the pursuit of his chosen life work.

In addition to his interests in Iowa Dr. Rozelle owns a ranch in South Da- kota, containing one thousand acres of land, which is under the supervision of his son Frank. There they extensively engage in the breeding and raising of Percheron and Belgium draft horses, as well as thoroughbred racing and driving horses. He is very much interested in this venture, which has proven quite lucrative. Dr. Rozelle will not concede that the automobile has permanently superseded the horse, but thinks in the future that there will be a demand for a higher grade and finer breed of horses than those commonly used in the past.

Dr. Rozelle wedded Miss Mary Wilson and of this marriage three children were born: Caros C., a physician of La Grange, Indiana, who was married in 1910; Edith L., who resides in South Dakota; and Frank, who is living in the same place. Fraternally Dr. Rozelle is affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America and the Royal Arcanum, while he also holds membership in the Sons of Veterans. It was while serving as chairman of one of the committees of the latter organization he met Johnson Brigham, and the friendship formed at that time has ever since continued.

JACOB KURTZ.

Jacob Kurtz, a well known and highly esteemed resident of Walnut town- ship, owns and operates an excellent farm of one hundred acres. His birth oc- curred in Germany on the IIth of August, 1837, his parents being John J. and Frederika Kurtz, who spent their entire lives in that country. The father, a linen weaver, worked at that trade during the winter seasons, while in the sum- mer months he followed farming. His demise occurred in 1891, when he had attained the age of seventy years, while his wife was called to her final rest in I87I.

Jacob Kurtz spent the first twenty-seven years of his life in his native' land and then crossed the Atlantic to the United States, first locating in New York, where he spent about one month. On the Ist of October, 1864, he arrived in Des Moines, Iowa, where for a time he was variously employed. In 1865 he entered a harness shop, learning the harnessmaker's trade and working at that occupation for about five years. He then bought out his employer and con- ducted the shop until 1874, when, the venture no longer proving profitable, he sold out and secured employment at his trade in another shop. There he re- mained until 1893, when he turned his attention to general agricultural pursuits. renting a tract of forty acres near the county farm and operating it for seven years. At the end of that time he took up his abode on another farm which he operated for three years and then located near Clive, in Walnut township, where he purchased a well improved tract of land comprising one hundred acres. The further cultivation and improvement of that farm still claims his time and energies, although he is now in the seventy-fourth year of his age. In order to gain possession of the property he incurred an indebtedness of forty-eight hun- dred dollars, which was entirely discharged in two years' time. His under- takings as an agriculturist have been attended with a gratifying measure of success because of his well directed energy and capable management.

On the 21st of October, 1866, Mr. Kurtz was united in marriage to Miss · Susanna Ducekk, a daughter of Steven and Magdalena Ducekk, both of whom were natives of Germany, from which country they emigrated to America in 1865. They were quite old at that time and spent the remainder of their lives

MR. AND MRS. JACOB KURTZ

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in the home of our subject, Mr. Ducekk passing away in 1877 and his wife in 1887. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Kurtz were born nine children, as follows: Steven A., who is a resident of Chicago; William G., living at home; Peter J., living in Des Moines ; George G., who is also under the parental roof; Magdalena, who is married and resides in Walnut township; Fredericka and Annie, both of whom are married and make their home in Saylor, Iowa; Louis A., who died in 1889; and Barbara, who passed away on the 5th of December, 1895.

In politics Mr. Kurtz is a democrat, while his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the German Lutheran church, to which his wife and children also belong. He is numbered among those who left the fatherland to identify themselves with American life and institutions, who have pushed their way to the front, and who are a credit alike to the land of their birth and that of their adoption.

WILLIAM CLYDE CHURCH.

It has been claimed that the greatest blessing that can befall any individual is to be thrown upon his own resources early in his career. It develops the spirit of self-reliance and if the individual is possessed of a worthy ambition he is almost certain to succeed in what he undertakes. Such has been the experience of thousands of the successful men of America and William Clyde Church of Des Moines may justly be classed in this number. He was born at Guthrie Center, Iowa, July 24, 1870, a son of Henry Clay Church, who was born at Springfield, Massachusetts, August 18, 1833, and departed this life at Battle Creek, Nebraska, April 29, 1896, being then sixty-three years of age. He learned the trade of machinist but later was a butcher and subsequently de- voted himself to farming. At the time of the Civil war he served most credit- ably as private in the Seventh Illinois Volunteer Cavalry. The mother of our subject was before her marriage Sadie Taylor. She was born May 12, 1849, at La Harpe, Illinois, and died in Guthrie Center, Iowa, July 27, 1877.

William Clyde Church did not possess the advantages of education which are available to the average American boy. The hand of death deprived him of his mother when he was seven years of age and later his father met with finan- cial reverses and moved upon a government homestead in Madison county, Ne- braska, where educational advantages were exceedingly limited. The school training of the son was received principally after he arrived at the age of six- teen years and he was obliged to work on a farm during part of the year in order to secure money for expenses at school in the winter, also doing chores about the house mornings and evenings and attending school during the day. By a perseverance that never flagged he was enabled to graduate from the high school of Madison, Nebraska, in i888, and of Red Oak, Iowa, in 1890, and the Iowa Business College at Des Moines in January, 1892. He began his active career as a stenographer, later taking up bookkeeping of which he made a specialty, being employed for eleven years by a number of the leading business houses of the city. In October, 1903, he assisted in organizing the Church- Deal Company, which engaged in the wholesale lumber and coal business, and became quite successful. Closing out his interest in December, 1905, he incor- porated the W. C. Church Lumber & Coal Company and on November 15, 1909, also incorporated The Minnesota Cedar & Timber Company of Bemidji, Minnesota. These concerns carry on the production and wholesale distribu- tion of white cedar products, also jobbing coal upon an extensive scale, the sales now averaging about one thousand cars yearly, amounting in value to about five hundred thousand dollars. Mr. Church also owns fifteen acres of land on Urbandale avenue in the northwest part of Des Moines, which he occupies as a homestead and upon which extensive improvements have been projected. He Vol. II-36

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was an organizer of the Urbandale Improvement Association, which aims to build up a model community in connection with the city of Des Moines, one of the objects being "to promote social and political relations, eliminating party sentiment and to labor for the best interests of the community and the welfare of its citizens." Much progress has already been made by the association in the establishment of a school, the improvement of car service, the opening of streets, etc.

On the 6th of October, 1896, at Des Moines, Mr. Church was united in marriage to Miss Katharine Keenhold, a daughter of George and Helen Keen- hold. Mrs. Church was educated in the public schools of Des Moines and the Capital City Business College and was employed for six years in the govern- ment pension office at Des Moines previous to her marriage. Two children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Church: Helen Effie, now eight years of age; and William Clyde, Jr., six years of age. Mr. Church gives his adher- ence to the republican party but he may be classed as an independent, as he often makes use of the privilege of the American voter in selecting a candidate irrespective of party affiliation. He is a strong advocate of the principle that the same honesty and efficiency should be applied in public office as in private business affairs. Religiously he is identified with the Central Church of Christ of Des Moines. He is recognized as a generous and patriotic citizen, who possesses the ability to materially help any cause which attracts his interest. His success, having come to him through his own energy, is well merited and in his intercourse with his fellowmen he has so demeaned himself as to gain their highest esteem and confidence. He has taken an especially active part in the work to which the Greater Des Moines Committee is devoted. His recre- ation is shooting and fishing in which he indulges in two annual trips to the lakes and woods of Minnesota.

JAMES MAINE.

Prominent among the men who by their business ability have won high standing in Des Moines may be named James Maine, president of the James Maine & Sons Company, general contractors. Coming of a family that for many generations has been identified with the same branch of business in which he is now engaged, Mr. Maine inherited talents that assisted him very materially in the attainment of the position he now holds as one of the large contractors of . Iowa. He is a native of England, having been born at Chestwater, Cornwall, August 2, 1851, a son of Henry and Mary (Radford) Maine. The father en- gaged extensively in England in railroad contracting, assisting in building some of the first railways in that country. Later in life he emigrated to the United States and settled at Chicago, where he died in 1892.

James Maine of this review was educated in the schools of his native land and after attaining eligible age joined the Royal Engineers. While in army ser- vice he became thoroughly acquainted with the work to which he has since devoted his attention. In 1870 he crossed the ocean to seek his fortune in America, spending some months working at the brick-laying trade for con- tractors in New York state and also for the Warsaw Manufacturing Company. The wonderful revival of building operations in Chicago immediately after the great fire attracted him to that city, where he continued until after. the financial panic of 1873, when he went to Elgin, Iowa, and a year later to Des Moines. He built the courthouse at West Union and then returned to Chicago for a short time, after which he took up his residence at Newton, Iowa. In 1883 he located permanently at Des Moines, associating for two years with S. A. Robertson. He then entered into partnership with E. D. Janes, with head-

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quarters on Locust street, which were later moved to Ninth and Walnut streets. The firm engaged quite extensively in the contracting business, building many large structures in the city, also performing work at other points in the state. Mr. Maine is now president of the James Maine & Sons Company, maintaining offices in Des Moines and Waterloo. The company employs a large number of men and is one of the most favorably known concerns of the kind in this part of the country. They are also large manufacturers of building brick, which is a growing and profitable section of their business.

In September, 1877, Mr. Maine was united in marriage to Miss Missilda Wheeler, whose father, Joseph R. Wheeler, was for many years identified with the agricultural interests of Jasper county. He was one of the early settlers of that county and took a helpful part in its pioneer development. He married Sarah Turk, whose father was the founder of the Young Women's College at Rockford, Illinois.

Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Maine: Orin E., secretary and treasurer of the company of which his father is president; Herbert A., a grad- uate of the engineering department of the Iowa State College of Agriculture and Mechanical Arts, and now vice president and general manager of the James Maine & Sons Company ; Daisy M., a graduate of Highland Park College; Ken- neth J., a graduate of the engineering department of the Iowa State College of Agriculture and Mechanical Arts; Harry E., also a graduate in engineering ; and Edith, a student of Drake University.

Ever since adopting the United States as his country Mr. Maine has affiliated with the democratic party, believing that its principles more nearly represent the ideas of the founders of the republic than those of any other political organ- ization. He is a man of strong and clear convictions, the result of thoughtful study, and has a host of friends in Iowa, whom he has attracted in the course of an experience extending for nearly thirty years. Coming to America with nothing to rely upon but his own energy, he is today a prominent business man and has gained a position of financial independence. He is not only well known in business circles but is popular socially, being an honored member and trustee of Pioneer Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and Corinthian Chapter, R. A. M., and also of the Odd Fellows; the Ancient Order of United Workmen; Ft. Des Moines Lodge No. 25; I. O. F .; and Des Moines Lodge No. 98, B. P. O. E. He is also a member of the Des Moines Commercial Club and of the Builders Ex- change, serving as president of the latter organization. Driving is his chief source of recreation and in his leisure hours he is found to be a most social and companionable gentleman.

KNUTE E. NELSON.

Knute E. Nelson is the proprietor of the Pleasant Lawn Stock Farm in Elkhart township, comprising two hundred and twelve acres of rich and pro- ductive land. His birth occurred in that township on the 2d of June, 1876, his parents being Andrew and Martha (Ersland) Nelson, who are mentioned at greater length on another page of this work. He was reared and educated in this county, first attending the district schools and later continuing his studies in the Jewell Lutheran College of Jewell Junction, Iowa. When about twenty- two years of age he was married, established a home of his own and rented a farm, devoting his attention to its operation for three years. On the expira- tion of that period he purchased two hundred and twelve acres of land in Elk- hart township and has since brought the place under a high state of cultivation and improvement. He has erected a commodious and substantial residence and barns as well as outbuildings for the shelter of grain and stock. The dimensions

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of one of the barns being sixty-two by seventy feet. Mr. Nelson's place is known as the Pleasant Lawn Stock Farm and is lacking in none of the equip- ments and accessories of a model farm of the twentieth century. He keeps about one hundred and sixty head of cattle and has thirty-five head of milch cows of the Angus breed, all. of which are registered. He likewise keeps twelve head of horses and raises one hundred head of hogs annually. In his under- takings as an agriculturist he is meeting with gratifying success and his pros- perity is the outcome of clear judgment, close application and excellent business ability. He is a stockholder in the Bank of Huxley, at Huxley, Iowa, the Cit- izens State Bank of Cambridge and the Farmers Cooperative Creamery Com- pany of Huxley.

On the 3d of March, 1898, Mr. Nelson married Miss Mary Kalsem, who was born August 7, 1875, a daughter of John V. and Martha (Cleveland) Kalsem, who are natives of Nestrand, Norway, and Cleveland respectively. The father emigrated to the United States in 1858, locating in Mahaska county, Iowa, where he operated a rented farm for a short time. Subsequently he took up his abode in Palestine township, Story county, purchased a farm and began its improvement. As his financial resources increased he extended the boun- daries of his place by additional purchase until it embraced six hundred acres of land. In 1900 he put aside the active work of the fields and removed to Huxley, Iowa, where he has since lived in honorable retirement. He has now attained the age of seventy-three years, while his wife is seventy-six years old. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Nelson were born six children ; Myrtle F., a maiden of twelve years; Joseph A., who passed away in March, 1901; Alice May, who is nine years old; Nellie J., who is now six years of age; Martha, whose death oc- curred in February, 1908; and Jessie N., two years old.

Mr. Nelson is a republican in politics and has been a school director for two terms, while for four years he served in the capacity of road supervisor. In religious faith he is a Lutheran. At all times his life has been active, useful and honorable and it is his genuine personal worth that has gained for him the favorable position which he occupies in the regard of those who know him.

FELIX E. HALEY.

No name is more inseparably interwoven with the history of the State Traveling Men's Association of Iowa than that of Felix E. Haley, and no record which has had to do with the upbuilding of what is today an im- portant insurance and benefit organization is more honorable and commendable. All through his life Mr. Haley was actuated by the laudable ambition of doing his duty faithfully and well and it was ever the duty closest at hand that en- gaged his attention. He did not seek the far-off tasks which are often chimer- ical or illusive in their promises of success but felt that the accomplishment of the work of each day would fit him for the labors of the succeeding day. Wisdom was thus shown in his judgment of life and his capability at length brought him prominence and honor in business circles. Iowa is proud to num- ber him among her native sons. His birth occurred in Mount Pleasant, May 31, 1862, his parents being Timothy and Mary Haley, who were prosperous farming people of Henry county, Iowa. They were of Irish birth, all of their ancestors for generations having lived on the Emerald isle, and many of the sterling traits of the Celtic race were manifest in their lives.

In the public schools near Mount Pleasant Felix E. Haley became a pupil at the usual age, and later he attended Howe's Academy at that place. He grew to manhood upon his father's farm and in his youthful days received good practical training in the work of the fields. Early in life he began to earn

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his own living, being dependent upon his own efforts from that time until his demise. His education was not continued uninterruptedly, for his academical training was received when he had provided the means for its pursuit. After leaving school in 1883 he was at once elected principal of the public schools of New London, Iowa, and proved a competent and able teacher, devoting four years to that work, during which period he proved his ability to impart clearly and readily to others the knowledge that he had acquired. In the fall of 1886 he became associated with the Iowa State Register and in that line of work at once achieved success as traveling representative of the paper. He also built up a large acquaintance in that connection and while still upon the road his interest in the Iowa State Traveling Men's Association was aroused. He rec- ognized the value of the project and with all of his accustomed energy he devoted himself to its upbuilding, his labors resulting in securing several hun- dred new members. His work in this direction was appreciated and -received substantial recognition in his election in 1890 to the dual office of secretary and treasurer. Soon afterward he severed his connection with the Iowa State Register to devote all of his time to the upbuilding of the association which re- elected him secretary and treasurer each year up to the time of his demise. Under his direction and as the result of his carefully formulated plans and untiring energy the association rapidly developed, becoming one of the strongest insurance organizations in the United States, paying out nearly one hundred thousand dollars in funds. It is doubtful if any one man in connection with the association. has a wider acquaintance and stronger friends in the order than had Mr. Haley. Mr. Haley was known all over the United States as one of the best informed and most active insurance men of the country. He was highly esteemed and recognized in insurance circles as a very thorough man in his particular line. His rare faculty of remembering names and faces was a great aid to him and his acquaintance was very extensive.

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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 86

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