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 96

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 96

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During his residence in Topeka Dr. Cullen met and married Miss Pearl Mulvane Powleson, their union being solemnized on the 14th of October, 1903. Mrs. Cullen is a daughter of Captain O. C. Powleson, a member of the Legion of Honor and a veteran of the Civil war. She is a native of Ohio, her birth hav- ing occurred in that state on the 6th of March, 1878. Two children have been born of this marriage: George Cullen, Jr., whose birth occurred in this city on the 21st of September, 1906; and Mary Katharine, born December 7, 1910. Dr. Cullen affiliates with the Masonic lodge and maintains relations with his fellow practitioners through the medium of the Polk County Medical Society, of which he was secretary from 1905 to 1906, the State Medical Society, the National Medical Association, the Iowa Clinical Surgical Society and the Des Moines Pathological Society.

The republican candidates always receive the political support of Dr. Cullen, although he is too absorbed in his profession to actively participate in civic affairs further than the casting of a ballot. His record has been a most unusual one and can be entirely attributed to his own well directed effort, as he has had no assistance which has not been the just reward of his painstaking and con- scientious endeavor.

A. E. READ.

It is always an inspiration to note the steady progress of an energetic and ambitious man such as A. E. Read, the junior member of the firm of Tones & Read, well known insurance agents of Des Moines. A son of Z. S. and Hester A. (Bishop) Read, his birth occurred in Winterset, Iowa, on the Ioth of August, 1874. The father migrated to Iowa from England when a boy with his parents, who located in the vicinity of Winterset in 1854. There the grandfather, John Read, invested extensively in timber lands and established a sawmill, which he operated while engaging in agricultural pursuits. When he attained his man- hood Z. S. Read also adopted the vocation of farming which he followed for many years, but more recently he has been contracting and building in Winter- set, where he continues to reside .. He went to the front with the First Iowa Cavalry in '64 to take the place of an elder brother who was killed on the battle- field.

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A. E. Read obtained his early education in the public schools of Winterset, and this was later supplemented by a commercial course in one of the Des Moines business colleges. Upon leaving school he entered the employ of the Des Moines Elevator Company, continuing in their service four years. Subsequently he accepted a position in the office of Carr & Adams for a similar period, following which he became office manager of the Daily Register and Leader for a year. At the expiration of that period he decided to embark in business for himself and in connection with M. L. Dudley opened an insurance office in September, 1905. This partnership existed for two years during which period they built up a very large clientele, and in August, 1907, they consolidated with George W. Tones, since which time the business has been conducted under the firm name of Tones & Read. They take all risks but those upon life and represent some of the oldest and most reliable companies in this country and Europe. They are recognized as thoroughly reliable and trustworthy men in every respect and as a result they have met with marked success in their venture, their business show- ing a decided increase from year to year.

Mr. Read commemorated Christmas of 1900, by his marriage to Miss Laura Josephine Trissel, a native of Missouri, and unto this union has been born one child, Harold D., whose natal day was the 27th of April, 1902. Both Mr. and Mrs. Read affiliate with the First Methodist church, while fraternally he is identified with the Masons and Brotherhood of American Yeomen. In politics his views coincide with the principles of the republican party for whose candi- dates he always casts his ballot. He has never been an office seeker, and aside from his service on the election board has never actively participated in civic affairs.

In his business career every step has marked a steady and permanent ad- vance, the progress of which can be attributed to his own perseverance, worth and reliability-those qualities which ever determine a man's position in the community where he resides.

ELBERT C. MITCHELL.

The name of Mitchell is well known in Polk county and Elbert C. Mitchell, the subject of this sketch, represents the second generation of this family in the county. He was born in Adair county, Iowa, August 17, 1879, a son of Charles and Electa (Roberts) Mitchell, a record of whom appears elsewhere in this work.

Elbert C. Mitchell came with his parents to Polk county early in life and received his preliminary education in the district schools. After completing his school training he worked for his father on the home farm for three years and then rented land in Camp township which he cultivated for a year. Being de- sirous of seeing other parts of the country he went to the state of Washington, where he remained only a short time. Returning to Iowa he took the United States civil service examination and carried mail for nine months, but the physi- cal exercise proved too severe and he gave up his position. Again turning his face to the northwest he went to the state of Oregon, but after three months' experience in that part of the United States decided that Polk county offered more favorable inducements than he could expect to find elsewhere, and accord- ingly he returned to this county and has since been diligently engaged in farm- ing in Camp township. He keeps about fifteen head of cattle, four head of horses, and raises seventy-five to one hundred head of hogs each year for the market. Being an advocate of cooperation among farmers, he takes an active interest in the Farmers Cooperative Mercantile Company at Runnells, of which he is a stockholder.

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On the 19th of August, 1900, Mr. Mitchell was married to Miss Myrtle Tyler, a daughter of Isaac and Jemima (Fux) Tyler, the former of whom was born in Indiana and the latter in Iowa. The father came to Iowa and purchased a farm in Four Mile township, Polk county, which he cultivated until 1907. He then sold his place and removed with his family to Boone county, Iowa, where he and his wife are now living. A promising family of four children has come to bless the home of Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell : Charles I., who is now nine years of age; Lowry L., who is seven years of age; Lawrence E., aged three years; and Irving, aged four months.

Mr. Mitchell and his wife are firm believers in the authority of the Bible and active workers in the Christian church. He is a liberal contributor to the church and donated a handsome sum in behalf of the new church building re- cently in course of erection. He is a member of the Grange and a hearty advo- cate of progress in all departments of farming, as well as in every other calling in life. Ever since casting his first ballot he has voted in support of the repub- lican party, whose principles appear to him as best adapted to promote the wel- fare of the country.

GEORGE F. ARPY.

Des Moines is indebted to Germany for many of its enterprising and worthy citizens, among whom must be numbered George F. Arpy, who was born in the province of Schleswig-Holstein on the 3d of April, 1846. He is a son of Christian F. and Katherine Arpy, both of whom spent their entire lives in the old country, where the father always engaged in farming and stockraising. Mr. Arpy was born in Schleswig-Holstein in 1812 and there he was also married.

George F. Arpy procured his education in the parochial schools of his native country, after which he was apprenticed to a carpenter. Having completed his trade, in 1865 he decided to become a citizen of the United States, believing that better opportunities were to be found here, so he took passage for America, landing in this country on the 15th of August, 1865. He first sought employ- ment in New Jersey, where he followed his trade for several months, but having heard of the better advantages to be found beyond the Mississippi he started westward. He traveled from Chicago to Davenport where he remained for two years when he came to Des Moines by wagon. He arrived here in 1867 and found employment at his trade of carpentering and later began contracting on his own account. When he first located here he resided at the corner of Fifth and Walnut streets, but as the business district developed he was forced to move farther west, where he later established a home and reared his family at Tenth and North streets. During the forty-five years of his residence here Mr. Arpy has seen Des Moines develop from a town into a beautiful city and one of the commercial centers of the state. Many are the interesting remini- scences he relates of the early days, and he well remembers when the present site of many of the finest buildings in the city was a cornfield.

In January, 1879, Mr. Arpy completed his arrangements for a home by his marriage to Miss Flora Parker, a daughter of Benjamin and Anna Matilda (Munhall) Parker, the former a pioneer of Fairfield, Iowa. Six children have been born of this union: Bertha, who was born in July, 1880, is the wife of J. L. Wagner, a civil engineer, of Sioux Falls, and the mother of one child, Robert, who was born in May, 1908. LeRoy married Edith Reimer, of Red Oak, Iowa. Rosetta became the wife of Ira E. Mowen, who is employed by the Des Moines Gas Company, and they have a child, Richard E., born April 27, 1911. George H., a carpenter, is also married and has three children : Dorothy, Helen and Laura. Flora, who was born in March, 1894, and Ferdinand, whose birth occurred on

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the 4th of April, 1898, are both at home, the former attending the East high and the latter the Grant Park school. The family residence is at 2500 Scott avenue, and they attend the Christian church.

Mr. Arpy is a member of the Woodmen of the World, Camp No. 18, and gives his political support to the republican party, his views being in accordance with the progressive faction of that body. During the long period of his resi- dence here he has been identified with building interests and has assisted in erecting some of the largest and finest structures in the city. He was a com- petent and trustworthy workman and by means of thrift and tireless energy acquired a home and comfortable competence, which assures him of the necessi- ties of life during his latter days.

DR. FRANK W. CHASE.

Dr. F. W. Chase, who is engaged in the real-estate business, formerly a mem- ber of the medical profession, was born July 19, 1850, in Portland, Maine, a son of Dr. S. B. and Almira B. (Cobb) Chase. He came to Iowa with his parents in the fall of 1855, spending the winter at Decorah, moving from there to Osage the next February and reaching the latter place on Washington's birthday. His father was register of the land office until it was moved to Des Moines. In the spring of 1860 his father moved to Des Moines for the purpose of practicing his profession but his old Osage friends wanted him to return so they came down with their teams and moved him and his family back to Osage overland in the fall. Dr. Chase remembers distinctly the old high school build- ing at Ninth and Locust where he attended the spring and fall term of 1860. At that time the city of Des Moines had less than four thousand people.

Dr. Chase attended the public schools at Osage, finishing his education at the Cedar Valley Seminary of that place, where he received his A. B. degree with the first class graduated from that institution. After graduating he fol- lowed civil engineering for a time in locating the Chicago, Dubuque & Minne- sota Railroad from Dubuque to the Minnesota line, now owned by the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad. He also spent one summer in helping construct the Iowa Pacific Railroad from Bristow to Belmond now owned by the Chicago & Great Western. Deciding to follow in the footsteps of his father and study medicine, he entered Rush Medical College in Chicago, in the fall of 1871, pass- ing through the great fire, leaving in his memory many amusing and sad incidents which he often relates to his friends.

After the fire he went to Ann Arbor for the balance of the year, as the college there, together with all the medical schools in the United States, opened its doors to all matriculants of old Rush. He returned to Chicago in the fall of 1873, graduating with his class in the spring of 1874. He began his practice at Shenandoah, remaining there until his health failed, when he moved to Or- chard and from there to Osage in the fall of 1882. He practiced his profession there and was deputy postmaster to his father in the Osage postoffice until the spring of 1891. He moved to Cedar Falls the spring of that year, from there to Lincoln and then on to Denver, Colorado. While living in Denver the panic due to the demonetizing of silver struck the city and killed business, so he decided to return to Iowa. He moved his family to Grinnell to educate his children and came to Des Moines in the spring of 1898. He continued in his profession until the spring of 1909 when he entered the real-estate business.

The marriage of Dr. Chase took place in Osage, Iowa, July 14, 1874, when he was united to Miss Frances Babcock, a daughter of David and Maria Babcock, who were well known and highly respected farmers of Osage. They had five , children, four boys and a girl: Clifford B. was born in . Shenandoah and now

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lives in Denver, Colorado. He married Miss Grace Canam and has one daughter. Raymond S., born in Shenandoah, made quite a success in the theatrical profes- sion. His strongest part was Bub Hicks in the College Widow. He quit the stage after a time and entered the automobile business which he followed until he had a nervous break down, causing his death November 3, 1909. Charles F., born in Orchard, is president of the Chase Manufacturing company at Mason City, Iowa. He married Miss Addie Morrison of Grinnell and they have two boys and one girl. Verna A., born at Osage, lives at home. After graduat- ing at Grinnell she taught school at Mt. Ayr and in this city for a time. Leslie B., born in Osage, is living with his parents and works for the Buick Auto Company of this city.

Politically Dr. Chase is in sympathy with the progressive element of the republican party, while his religious belief is in accord with the teachings of the Congregational church. Fraternally Dr. Chase is prominent in Masonic circles, is a member of Osage blue lodge, chapter and commandery, and also a member of Des Moines Consistory. He is a permanent member of the grand lodge of Iowa, being a past grand treasurer. He is also a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and Modern Woodmen of America. In his social life he is popular with all who know him and he enjoys thoroughly the comforts and pleasures of an ideal domestic life.

JOHN C. JOHNSON.

John C. Johnson, one of the representative agriculturists and worthy native sons of Polk county, carries on his farming interests in Elkhart township, where his birth occurred on the 7th of September, 1873. His parents, Charles and Johanna (Lande) Johnson, are both natives of Norway. The father crossed the Atlantic to the United States about 1871, locating in Illinois, where he worked at various occupations for about a year. Subsequently he came to Des Moines, Polk county, Iowa, and was here employed as a farm hand by the day and month for about eight years. On the expiration of that period he purchased a farm of eighty acres in section 38, Elkhart township, which he improved and to which he later added an adjoining tract of eighty acres. He still makes his home on that property but has enjoyed honorable retirement for the past fifteen years and has now attained the age of seventy-six. He is well known and highly esteemed throughout the community, as is also his wife, who is seventy-four years of age.

John C. Johnson was reared in this county and in the acquirement of an education attended the district schools and also the public schools of Primghar, Iowa. After putting aside his text-books he worked as a farm hand for a year and a half and then returned to Elkhart township, renting his father's farm, the operation of which has claimed his attention to the present time. He has won success in his undertakings as an agriculturist and owns a quarter section of land in North Dakota. In connection with his farming interests he raises about fifty head of hogs annually and keeps about twenty head of cattle and six head of horses. He is a stockholder in the Farmers Cooperative Creamery Company of Huxley, Iowa, the Farmers Elevator Company of Huxley, Alleman and Des Moines Junction, Iowa, the Farmers Telephone Company of Dallas Center and the Independent Harvester Company of Plano. Illinois.

On the 30th of August, 1900, Mr. Johnson was united in marriage to Miss Lena Seldahl, a daughter of Andrew P. and Elizabeth (Gravdahl) Seldahl, both of whom were natives of Norway. The father came to America about fifty years ago and located in Wisconsin, where he worked as a farm hand for some time. Subsequently he removed to Decorah, Iowa, and there started out as an

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agriculturist on his own account. A short time afterward he came to Polk county and purchased a farm of eighty acres in Lincoln township, in the operation of which he is still engaged at the age of eighty-one years. His wife was called to her final rest in 1907. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have four children, namely : Orville, a lad of nine years; Elizabeth and Amanda, who are seven and four years of age respectively ; and Endren, who is in his first year.

Mr. Johnson is a stanch republican in politics and has served as a school direc- tor for several years. Fraternally he is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Polk City, while in religious faith he and his family are Lutherans. He is always courteous, kindly and affable and those who know him personally have for him warm regard.

HARRY LEWIS ROWAT, M. D.

One of the more recent additions to the Des Moines medical fraternity is Dr. Harry Lewis Rowat, who has been engaged in practice here since 1909. He is the eldest of six sons born unto John and Mary A. (Thomas) Rowat, his natal day being the 15th of February, 1879. The father, who is a native of Scotland, located in Des Moines in 1875 being employed on the construction of the capi- tol. Upon the completion of his work there he engaged in contracting and building on his own behalf, since continuing in that business. Mrs. Rowat, who was originally from Illinois, came to Iowa in a prairie schooner in 1856.

Harry Lewis Rowat spent his boyhood and youth under the paternal roof, attending the common and high schools until he had completed the course, at which time he entered the Des Moines College, being graduated in the class of 1901 with the degree of B. S. He had early decided upon the practice of medi- cine for his life vocation so in the autumn of 1901 he went to Iowa City, ma- triculating in the medical department of the State University, where he pursued the study of the science in accordance with the homeopathic school. Being awarded his degree in 1904 he went to Albia, Iowa, where he opened an office which he maintained for four years. At the expiration of that period he ac- cepted the position of assistant superintendent and physician in the State Hos- pital for Inebriates, where he remained for a year. In 1909 he returned to Des Moines, where he has since been established. He is an able physician whose thorough preparation and personal merits are rapidly winning recogniiton, as is indicated by his constantly increasing practice.

Fraternally Dr. Rowat is identified with several of the local organizations, and keeps in touch with his profession by means of his membership in the Des Moines Homeopathic Medical Association and the State Homeopathic Medical Association. He is well regarded in the community where he has spent the greater part of his life, counting among his friends many of the comrades of his boyhood which fact is ever a tribute to the character of any man.

EMERY D. STINEMAN.

To be given responsibility early in life almost invariably leads to the develop- ment of sturdy and upright character. This has been demonstrated many times and the success that has attended the career of Emery D. Stineman is one more proof of the truth of the statement. At the age of two years he lost his father by death and as soon as he was old enough to drive horses or hold the handles of the plow he took an active part in work upon the home farm. The lessons

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he learned as a youth made an indelible impression upon his mind and today he is one of the successful farmers of Camp township.

He was born on the old homestead in Camp township, Polk county, October 8, 1871, being a son of John and Ellen (Callander) Stineman, both of whom were born in Pennsylvania. The father grew up in his native state and engaged in farming, but was attracted to the west and at the close of the Civil war came to Iowa and purchased one hundred acres in Camp township. He died in Novem- ber, 1873, but his wife is still living and has reached the age of sixty-nine years. There were two children in their family: Emery D., of this review; and Anna, who married H. C. Libolt and now lives near Colfax, Iowa.

Emery D. Stineman attended the district schools of Camp township and grew up under the kindly influence of a loving mother. As soon as he was old enough he took charge of the home farm, which he has ever since successfully cultivated. He has greatly improved the place, one of the improvements being the handsome residence in which he and his mother live. The house the father built in 1865 is now used as a barn and is one of the interesting relics of the farm. Mr. Stineman raises forty head of hogs each year and keeps five head of horses. He is a genuine friend of cooperation among farmers and is a stock- holder in the Farmers Cooperative Mercantile Company at Runnells.

He is apparently a confirmed bachelor and has passed his entire life upon the old homestead and familiar scenes. His mother keeps house for him. They both attend the Christian church and are liberal supporters of all worthy ob- jects. In politics he gives his support to the republican party but he casts his ballot intelligently, as he keeps well informed concerning men and events. He has served as member of the school board of Camp township and has always shown the interest of a wide-awake citizen in the development of the township and county.

HARRY ALEXANDER ELLIOTT.

Harry Alexander Elliott, one of the most prominent and respected residents of Des Moines, is the president of the State Fire Insurance Company of this city. His birth occurred in Armagh, Pennsylvania, on the 3d of August, 1853, his parents being John A. and Martha J. (Henderson) Elliott. The father, who was of Irish descent, took up his abode in Iowa in the early '50s, coming to this state by wagon from Columbus, Wisconsin, and settling in Mitchell county. He was the originator and president of the Citizens National Bank, acted as land commissioner of the Des Moines Valley Railroad and was also the founder and a director of the Security Savings Bank. He was likewise the founder and president of the State Fire Insurance Company of Des Moines, was the founder and a director of the Polk County Savings Bank and acted as auditor of the state for a number of years.

Harry A. Elliott received his early education in the public schools of Des Moines and subsequently took up a course in engineering at the Rensselaer Poly- technic Institute of Troy, New York. Later he was induced by his parents to return home and enter the Citizens National Bank, of which institution his father had been the founder. He served first as a collector and was gradually promoted until he held the position of paying teller. Subsequently he went to Chicago as receiving teller for the National Bank of Commerce, acting in that capacity for two years. On the expiration of that period he returned to Des Moines and entered the store of his father, who was at that time engaged in the implement business, serving as bookkeeper, collector and salesman. Later he became identified with the State Fire Insurance Company, of which he is now the chief executive officer. He has thoroughly acquainted himself with the insurance business in every department and thus by personal knowledge is com-

H. A. ELLIOTT

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petent to direct and control the labors of others. His judgment is recognized by all as most sound and reliable and constitutes a potent force in the continued growth and success of the company. He is likewise a stockholder and director of the Iowa National Bank and the Central State Bank.

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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 96

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