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 92
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In October, 1896, Mr. Proctor was united in marriage to Miss Mabel Finch, a daughter of Henry and Fanny (Mills) Finch, who were natives of
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England and came to this country in April, 1894. Mr. Finch has resided in the home of our subject continuously since, being now sixty-eight years of age. His wife was called to her final rest in 1898. Mr. and Mrs. Proctor have one child, Reuben E., now a lad of ten years.
In politics Mr. Proctor is a republican, while fraternally he is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Red Men at Des Moines. In religious faith both he and his wife are Episcopalians. His upright and honora- ble life has won for him the esteem and confidence of all with whom he has been brought in contact either in business or social relations.
ELI RISON.
Eli Rison, who for nearly thirty years was connected with the farming interests of Camp township and became one of the substantial citizens of Polk county, was born upon a farm in Ohio, May 21, 1831. He was a son of Rollie and Jane (Miller) Rison, both of whom were natives of the Buckeye state. The father came to Iowa with his family in 1853 and entered government land in Camp township, Polk county, when Indians and wild animals abounded throughout much of the territory now occupied by the state of Iowa. He cleared and improved his farm and became the owner of one hundred and six acres of land. He died in 1867, the mother having been called away eighteen years previously, in 1849.
Eli Rison received his preliminary education in the district schools of his native state and came with his father to Iowa, being then twenty-two years of age. From his boyhood he was acquainted with farm work and after the death of his father came into possession of the home farm and devoted his attention closely to agriculture and stock-raising, in which he proved highly efficient. He possessed the character and attributes of a progressive and successful man and each year witnessed an increase in his resources and in his standing as a citizen of a growing community.
On the 3d of March, 1874, Mr. Rison was married to Miss Mary Melissa Smith, a daughter of William and Mary Anna (Sinnard) Smith, the former of whom was born in Tennessee and the latter in Illinois. The father engaged in farming for a number of years in Illinois but was attracted by superior ad- vantages west of the Mississippi river. He located upon a farm which he pur- chased in Wapello county, Iowa, where he continued during the remainder of his life. He and his wife both died in 1858 and the daughter, Mary Melissa, took up her residence with Archibald Everett near Runnells, Iowa, where she remained until her marriage. Two children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Rison: Etta, who married G. S. Borge, who is now engaged in farming upon a part of the place owned by Mrs. Rison; and Arvilla, who is living with her mother.
Mr. Rison was called from earthly scenes August 1, 1882, having then ar- rived at the age of fifty-one years. He was a man of excellent habits, indus- trious, persevering, and a generous neighbor, who made many friends and exercised a positive influence for good wherever he was known. Politically he gave his support to the republican party and was prominent in local politics, serving very acceptably in all the township offices.
After the death of her husband Mrs. Rison assumed the management of the farm and has since conducted the place, displaying an energy and business ability which reflects upon her the highest credit. She has made many improve- ments, including the erection of a handsome residence which is supplied with all modern conveniences, and she has also erected commodious barns and other buildings. She purchased more land and now owns a fine farm of one hundred
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and sixty acres, which yields bounteous harvests and compares favorably in appearance and productiveness with any other of equal area in this part of the county. She and her daughter Arvilla are active members of the Evangelical church and justly enjoy the highest regard of many friends and acquaintances in Polk county.
MAX SHLOSS.
In the year 1872, when a youth of seventeen, Max Shloss, now president of Lederer, Strauss & Company, Incorporated, arrived in Des Moines and in a humble capacity entered business circles, wherein he has worked his way steadily upward until he is now president of one of the large wholesale houses of the west. Moreover, he is not only a self-made man but one whose record anyone might be proud to possess, for he enjoys in full measure the esteem and con- fidence of colleagues and contemporaries.
He was born in Germany on the 7th of May, 1855, and is a son of Samuel and Marie (Altshuler) Shloss, both of whom spent their entire lives in Ger- many. Max Shloss acquired a good education, attending public school until eleven years of age and afterwards spending two years in college. Moreover, in the school of experience he has learned many valuable lessons.
He was only thirteen years of age when, in 1868, he bade adieu to friends and fatherland and came to the United States with his brother, Isaac Shloss. They located in Philadelphia, where Max Shloss remained for four years, and in 1872 came to Des Moines, where he has since made his home. Here he en- tered the employ of the well known and prosperous firm of Lederer. Strauss & Company, and since that time has been continuously connected with the busi- ness. He started in as errand boy at the foot of the ladder but it was not long before his industry, determination and reliability won him recognition. Pro- motion followed and from time to time he was advanced as he became qualified to assume larger responsibilities. Eventually he was admitted to the firm as a partner and came more and more to have a directing voice in the manage- ment of affairs, and upon the incorporation of the business in 1903 he was elected its president. He is one of the most trusted merchants of this city and is now at the head of one of the largest concerns of the kind in the west. He is popular with the patrons of the store, with employes and with all who know him. He is kind, considerate and tactful as well as thoroughly reliable and at the same time he neglects none of the interests of his business but gives watch- ful attention to every indication of the trade pointing to success and creates a demand for his merchandise by keeping a liberal stock of latest manufacture and design.
Notwithstanding his business makes heavy demands upon his time and at- tention Mr. Shloss finds opportunity to take an active and helpful interest in municipal affairs and works untiringly for the welfare and benefit of the city. He has cooperated in many movements for the general good and is deeply in- terested in charitable and benevolent work, as is evidenced by the fact that he has been elected one of the directors of the Cleveland Orphan Association and is treasurer and a director of the Federated Jewish Charities. He is also pres- ident of the Benai Yeshurum congregation and has attained high rank in Ma- sonry, being a thirty-second degree member of the consistory and also a member of the Mystic Shrine. His political allegiance is given to the republican party but he has never been a seeker after office.
On the 14th of May, 1884, Mr. Shloss was married in Des Moines to Miss Rose A. Sheuerman, a native of Marengo, Iowa, and a daughter of Abraham Sheuerman. They have three children: Sam M., who is now connected with
MAX SHLOSS
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his father in business ; Irma ; and Marie. All are graduates of West Des Moines high school and Sam M. completed his education in the University of Pennsyl- vania, while Irma became a student at Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania.
The family are well known socially and Mr. Shloss is a popular member of the Des Moines Club and of the Hyperion Club. He is liberal in thought and action and gives generously where it is needed. He is essentially a self-made man, having been both the architect and builder of his own fortunes. He cer- tainly merits much credit for what he has accomplished in the business world. Unaided at the outset of his career by wealth or influence, he determined that he would progress by reason of his diligence and reliability and those qual- ities have ever been important features in his advancement. He is today a representative of one of the leading business interests of Des Moines. A man of keen discrimination and sound judgment, his executive ability and excellent management have brought to the concern with which he is connected a high degree of success.
SETH GRAHAM.
For over half a century Seth Graham has been prominently identified with the business interests of Des Moines but is now practically living retired, leaving the active management of his business interests to younger hands. Like many of the leading citizens of Iowa, he comes from Ohio, his birth having occurred in Wayne county, that state, April 17, 1831. His father, John Newton Graham, was a native of Scotland and in early life started for the United States in company with his parents, but his father died on the voyage. The family landed in Philadelphia in 1793, but the mother died shortly afterward and the children were soon scattered. John Newton Graham went to Lancaster, Penn- sylvania, where he learned the millwright's trade and where he was married to Miss Esther Wakefield. In 1828 they removed to Wayne county, Ohio, and later to Ashland county, that state, where he built and conducted a woolen mill for some time. In 1838 they became residents of Pike county, Indiana, where he erected a sawmill and engaged in its operation for two years. On selling out there he removed to Perry county, Illinois, where he made his home until called to his final rest in November, 1852. The mother of our subject died in November, 1846.
During his boyhood and youth Seth Graham attended the common schools near his home and early displayed ability along mechanical lines, working with his father as opportunity permitted. He remained under the parental roof until 1849 and the following year came to Iowa, making his way first to Mus- catine and thence to Cedar county. In the fall of 1850 he entered the employ of N. S. Milburn, working on a bridge which was blown down just before its completion. Mr. Graham then went to Keosauqua, working on a bridge across the Des Moines river, which, however, was never completed owing to a dis- agreement between the contractor and the company building the bridge. He next made his way to Rome to aid in building a bridge across Skunk river, where he worked as one of the drillers, the bridge being constructed on piles. He left that place in the winter of 1852-3 and proceeded to Iowaville. He was next engaged in steamboating on the Des Moines and Illinois rivers until May, 1855, which month witnessed his arrival in Des Moines, where he has since made his home. At first he was variously employed, being sawyer in a mill part of the time. In 1863 he commenced working at the machinist's trade and continued to follow that occupation for five years. He formed a part- nership with Lester Cate, a brother-in-law, in 1868 and embarked in the transfer business under the name of the Des Moines Transfer Company, which in Oc-
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tober, 1910, was merged with the Merchants Transfer & Storage Company, he retiring as a stockholder only, and his son F. W. being its treasurer. As time passed he steadily prospered in his business, being a man of good executive ability and sound judgment, and the success that has come to him is but the just reward of earnest and persistent labor.
On the 29th of November, 1869, in Des Moines, was celebrated the mar- riage of Mr. Graham and Miss Elizabeth A. King, a daughter of John King. She was born in Huntingdonshire, England, and came to the United States in 1851. Mr. and Mrs. Graham have become the parents of three children but Augustus Willard died at the age of fifteen years. The others are: Frederick W .; and Clarissa A., the wife of Frank R. Northrup.
The family hold membership in the Episcopal church and Mr. Graham is identified with the republican party but has never cared for the honors or emoluments of public office. He is one of the oldest Masons in the city, hold- ing membership in Pioneer Lodge, No. 22, A. F. & A. M., of which he has been treasurer for the long period of forty-two years, or since 1869. He has held the same office in Corinthian Chapter, No. 14, R. A. M., since 1880, has been treasurer of Alpha Council, R. & S. M., since its organization in 1898, treasurer of Temple Commandery, K. T., since 1872, and treasurer of the Ma- sonic Library Association since its organization in 1886. He was also treasurer of the old Masonic Association during its entire existence of twenty-five years. He is a man of high character, whose upright, honorable course in life has won the respect and confidence of all with whom he has been brought in contact either in business or social life.
CHRISTIAN JOHNSON.
The great strength of the American nation lies in its self-made men, those fearless, determined and persevering individuals, who recognize failure by con- verting it into opportunity. Of such as these is Christian Johnson, who is one of the successful and substantial agriculturists of Polk county. He was born in Denmark on the 3d of June, 1842, a son of Andrew and Sophia (Hanson) Johnson. The father, who was a stonecutter, spent his entire life in the land of the Danes, working at his trade in winter, while in summer he followed the seas. Of the mother and her whereabouts nothing is known.
Christian Johnson was reared in his native land, obtaining his education in the government schools. At the age of twenty-three years he became so dis- satisfied with life and conditions in the old country that he determined to come to America, where he had been told riches awaited every ambitious and ener- getic young man. Upon his arrival in this country in 1865 he located at Racine, Wisconsin, working out by the month as a farm hand until the spring of 1866. Migrating to Iowa he stopped at Ames, then the terminal of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad, being the first man employed on the excavations for the Iowa State College. He only remained there a month, at the expiration of which period he came to Des Moines, being employed in building the ex- tension into the city of the Des Moines Valley Railroad, following which he worked on the Rock Island, which was also extended into the city. Later he went to Omaha, obtaining employment with the Union Pacific Company, which at that time was extending its lines to Ogden. Utah. He continued in this service for three years, going with the division through to Ogden.
Returning to Polk county he worked in the coal mines for two years, and then realizing that nothing was ever to be gained by laboring for others he came to Elkhart township, and out of his meager savings purchased eighty acres of land. He immediately began improving and cultivating this, in the process
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of which he met with such success that he was later able to add to his holdings another eighty acres, making the aggregate of his acreage one hundred and sixty.
Forty years have elapsed since Mr. Johnson first became identified with the agricultural community of Polk county, and today he owns one of the most attractive and finely cultivated homesteads in his township. Energetic and painstaking, he has by means of self-denial and constant application, acquired a splendid competence, and in addition to his valuable realty is a stockholder in the Corn Exchange Savings Bank of Elkhart and the Cambridge Canning Com- pany of Cambridge, Iowa. In connection with the cultivation of his fertile fields he at one time was extensively engaged in the stock business, but of late has discontinued the latter.
By his marriage to Miss Elsie M. Wollersen on the 2d of October, 1872, Mr. Johnson established a home for himself. Mrs. Johnson is a daughter of Lew Wollersen, a native of Denmark, in which country the father passed his entire life. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Johnson has been blessed with seven children: Christina, the wife of Fred Chriss of Des Moines; Carolina, who passed away in 1907; Andrew, who is farming in Emmet county; Hans, who is living at home; Annie, who married Denney Warren, a farmer of Story county ; Charles, who died in infancy; and Charles, a druggist of Des Moines.
In matters of religion the family affiliate with the United Brethren church, and in politics Mr. Johnson always casts his ballot for the men or measures he deems best adapted to subserve the interests of the majority, irrespective of party. Although he has never sought public office he has been a member of the school board in his district for fifteen years. The position he has attained and the success which has awarded his efforts is the accrued interest on honesty, energy and perseverance intelligently invested in his early manhood.
LYNN JOEL TUTTLE.
Energy and enterprise have ever been prominent characteristics in the life of Lynn Joel Tuttle, of Des Moines, and these qualities have very materially assisted in his success as a business man. He was born in Van Buren county, Iowa, August 24, 1864, a son of Samuel B. and Almira (Kelley) Tuttle. The latter was a daughter of Ira and Annis (Cole) Kelley, both of whom were born in Putnam county, New York.
Mr. Tuttle's great-great-grandfather was the first of his ancestors on the paternal side to come to America from England, settling in Maine, where James Tuttle, the great-grandfather of our subject, was born. He was educated for the ministry which he followed throughout his life. The grandfather, also named James Tuttle, was born in Maine in 1797 and when a young man re- moved from Maine to Monroe county, Ohio. In 1860 he came to Des Moines. His death occurred May 13, 1867. The father, Samuel B. Tuttle, was born in Ohio February 19, 1829, and is one of the pioneers of Des Moines of forty years ago-a sketch of whom appears in another part of this work. On the maternal side the ancestry is of Holland Dutch descent and were early settlers in Pennsylvania.
Mr. Tuttle, whose name introduces this sketch, possessed good advantages of education. After preliminary training in the public schools he became a student of the Des Moines high school and later entered the Shattuck school of Faribault, Minnesota, from which he was graduated in 1887, being then in his twenty-third year. He devoted himself earnestly to a business career and is now partner in the firm of N. M. Stark & Company, bridge contractors of Des Moines. The firm has been in existence for seventeen years and is widely
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known on account of its prompt and effective methods, its operations extending over many states of the west.
Mr. Tuttle was married, at Des Moines, December 5, 1894, to Miss Edith Augusta Given, a daughter of John and Margaret Given, and to this union two children have been born: Dorothy, who is now fifteen years of age; and Lynn J., Jr., aged eleven years. The father of Mrs. Tuttle was a well known railroad man and was superintendent of the Iowa division of the Rock Island Railroad. He was of Scotch-Irish descent and came to America in his boy- hood, working his way by indomitable will and perseverance to the responsible position he occupied. Mrs. Given is also of Scotch-Irish descent and was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was married to Mr. Given in Dubuque, Iowa.
Politically Mr. Tuttle is an earnest adherent of the republican party whose principles he believes to be highly important in promoting the prosperity of the country. Fraternally he is identified with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and socially with the Grant, Des Moines, Hyperion and Golf and Country Clubs. He served for four years as member of the Iowa State Militia and received his honorable discharge in 1890. Even as a boy he learned the im- portance of industry, thoroughness and persistence in all worthy undertakings and, as he has been actuated by a laudable ambition, he has permitted no ob- stacle to interfere seriously with his progress. In all matters of citizenship he is loyal and public-spirited and in business and social relations his honor has never been questioned. He is, therefore, today one of the substantial and rep- resentative citizens of Des Moines.
GEORGE P. SCOVEL.
Of the farmers of Camp township none stands higher in the estimation of the people than George P. Scovel. He is a native of Clayton county, Iowa, and was born February 2, 1866, a son of James J. and Sarah J. (De Wolf) Scovel. The father was born in Illinois and the mother in Vermont. He con- tinued at home with his parents until after the breaking out of the great Re- bellion, when he offered his services to his country and became a member of Company B, Twenty-first Iowa .Infantry, with which he continued about one year, when he was honorably discharged on account of disability. He returned to Iowa and was married to Miss Sarah J. De Wolf in Clayton county in 1863. He engaged in farming in Clayton county until 1868, when he came to Polk county and bought a farm in Camp township. He sold this place in 1876 and moved to Cass county, where he acquired another farm, upon which he con- tinued until 1881. He then disposed of his Cass county property and returned to Polk county, settling permanently in Camp township. He was a thorough farmer and a successful business man and became the owner of three hun- dred and twenty acres of productive land. He died in April, 1898, his wife having been called away in September, 1880.
George P. Scovel of this review received his education in the common schools of Polk and Cass counties. As he grew up he assisted his father in agriculture and stock-raising and at the age of twenty-four began farming on his own account upon rented land. After about ten years he purchased eighty acres in Camp township. He has displayed great energy in his work and has expended more than two thousand dollars in improvements on his place, mak- ing it highly valuable and one of the most productive farms of its size in the county. He raises stock for the market, usually delivering about one hundred head of hogs to the market per year. He also keeps about thirty head of cattle and ten head of horses.
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On the 25th of December, 1890, Mr. Scovel was married to Miss Effie E. McCollam, a daughter of Isaac and Martha A. (Shetterly) McCollam, the former of whom was born in Ohio and the latter in Indiana. The father was by trade a carpenter. He came to Iowa in the '50s and at the time of the Civil war enlisted in the Second Iowa Infantry, serving to the close of hos- tilities. He then returned to Warren county, Iowa, and worked at his trade at Carlisle for a number of years. In 1886 he came to Polk county and pur- chased a farm in Camp township, which he cultivated until his death, which occurred in 1890. The mother died four years later. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Scovel, two of whom died in infancy, the others being: Gladys G., who is now fourteen years of age; and Carroll E., aged twelve years. Both the children are attending school.
In politics Mr. Scovel gives his allegiance to the republican party. He is an active worker in local affairs and has served as a member of the school board, township clerk and trustee and is now very acceptably filling the office of justice of the peace of the township. He and his wife affiliate with the Con- gregational church. Few men in this part of the county are more prominently identified with the upbuilding of its interests and none is more efficient in the discharge of responsibilities than the subject of this review. By a useful and honorable life he has established an enviable reputation and is rewarded by the unaffected esteem of his fellow citizens.
DANIEL C. SMITH.
Daniel C. Smith is one of the recent additions to business circles in Des Moines, having arrived in this city in 1909, at which time he became in- terested in the business that is now continued under the name of The Smith Brothers Heating & Plumbing Engineers. He was born at West Point, Lee county, Iowa, October 27, 1871, and largely acquired his education in the pub- lic schools of Osceola. There was no intermediate period between his school days and the time in which he entered business, for after putting aside his text-books he at once began to learn the printer's trade and afterward ac- quainted himself with electrical and steam engineering. To the latter business he devoted his time and energies for twenty years and was consulting engineer for the Fidelity Gas Company. His operations were conducted in the western part of Iowa, during which time he made his home in Atlantic.
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