USA > Iowa > Black Hawk County > History of Black Hawk County, Iowa, and its people, Volume II > Part 16
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by one hundred and forty feet and ten stories in height. The foundation has been laid of this structure, which will be the finest building in the city, of steel construction, fireproof and thoroughly modern in every particular. It will be the home of the Leavitt & Johnson National Bank, the Farmers Loan & Trust Com- pany and other important corporations and firms. He is likewise interested in the Waterloo Loan & Trust Company and the First National Bank Building Company. He has ever readily recognized opportunities and discriminated quickly between the essential and the non-essential, and with the passing years his field of usefulness has constantly broadened and the scope of his activities has covered a wider range, making his life one of greater usefulness.
Mr. Trumbauer takes an active interest in politics as a good citizen but not as an office seeker, and his hearty cooperation can be counted upon to further any movement or measure for the public good. He attends the First Presbyterian church and is a member of the Masonic fraternity and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. In the latter he has filled all of the chairs and is a past exalted ruler. He is also a member of the Town Criers Club and of the Commercial Club and is actively and helpfully interested in all that tends to the upbuilding of Waterloo, his efforts being an element in making this in many ways one of the best cities not only of the state but of the middle west. He possesses the enter- prise which has been the dominant factor in producing the wonderful develop- ment of this section of the country. He has resolute purpose, courage and industry and has never feared to venture where favoring opportunity has led the way, and his record has demonstrated the truth of the saying that success is not the result of genius or of environment but is the outcome of clear judgment and experience.
GEORGE F. WILSON.
George F. Wilson, a land agent at Cedar Falls, conducting an extensive busi- ness in North Dakota properties, was born April 6, 1864, on a farm ten miles west of the city in which he now makes his home, his parents being Harrison J. and Eliza A. (Collier) Wilson, the former a native of Canada and the latter of Ogle county, Illinois. The father, who always followed farming as a life work, came to Iowa in the early '50s and settled in Grundy county on land which he purchased from the government. It was entirely destitute of improvements when it came into his possession but with characteristic energy he at once began to develop the fields and in the course of time made it a valuable property. Sub- sequently he removed to another farm in Fairfield township, Grundy county, and continued to make his home in that county until his death, which occurred about the year 1883. His widow is now a resident of Des Moines. Mr. Wilson was for one term county treasurer of Grundy county but was never a politician in the sense of office seeking.
George F. Wilson was the second in order of birth in a family of six children and upon the farm in Fairfield township, Grundy county, he spent the period of his youth, attending the public schools and aiding his father in the farm work. At the time when his father became ill he took charge of the old homestead and
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managed the work of developing the fields until his father's death eight months later. He afterward continued upon the homestead for two years, at the end of which time an older brother, Ira J. Wilson, took charge of the farm and to hin George F. Wilson sold his interests. He then went to Bridgewater, South Dakota, in 1886, seeking to improve his impaired health by a change of climate. There he again engaged in farming until 1891, when he took up his abode in the town of Bridgewater, where he established a harness business and later engaged in draying and in the livery business. He sold out there in 1893 and returned to Iowa, taking up his abode in Cedar Falls, where he worked at the carpenter's trade with his brother, who was a building contractor.
In February, 1894, however, Mr. Wilson embarked in the real-estate business, handling property in Cedar Falls and its vicinity. He also established an insur- anice agency, handling both fire and life insurance for a time, but afterward dropped the latter. In 1905 he homesteaded in Stark county, North Dakota, where he resided for a year and a half, receiving the title to his land. With the exception of that period he has been engaged continuously in the real-estate business in Cedar Falls during the past twenty years and now handles land in Iowa, Minnesota and North Dakota. He is now the individual owner of eight hundred and forty acres of land in North Dakota and has two thousand acres under his control. He devotes his entire time to the business and when in North Dakota makes his headquarters at Bismarck. He has the greatest possible faith in the future of the state and is doing much through colonization for its develop- ment.
On the 6th of March, 1889, Mr. Wilson was united in marriage to Miss Effie J. Burgess, a native of Grundy county and a daughter of James H. and Martha (Wilcox) Burgess, who were early settlers of Fairfield township, that county, but both are now deceased. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Wil- son : Clarke L. V., who is attending college and assists his father in business; Inez F., who is also acting as her father's assistant ; and Mina B. and Roger \'., both in school. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson hold membership with the Tribe of Ben Hur and the family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. In poli- tics Mr. Wilson is a progressive republican. He keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day and is ever ready to support his position by intelligent argument, but does not seek political preferment, as his time is fully occupied with his business affairs. His cooperation has been felt as a beneficial factor in movements for the upbuilding of Cedar Falls as well as of North Dakota.
E. A. LEIGHTON.
On the roster of public officials in the city of Waterloo appears the name of E. A. Leighton, who is now chief of police and as such is a stalwart custodian of the public peace, doing everything in his power to promote the interests of the city on the side of law and order. He was born in Osage, Mitchell county, Iowa, in 1872 and was there reared and educated, passing through consecutive grades in the public schools until he was graduated from the high school. He afterward
E. A. LEIGHTON
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entered the Iowa State College at Ames, where he continued his studies, and when he had left school he accepted a position as guard in the Iowa State peni- tentiary, remaining in that position for eight years. Later he spent two years in Osage and in 1902 came to Waterloo, where he has since maintained his resi- dence. For a year he acted as foreman for the Kemp Manufacturing Company and at the end of that time became a member of the Waterloo police department, serving as patrolman for six years, after which he was appointed chief of the department by Mayor Doty. He acted in that capacity for two years and then became deputy sheriff of Black Hawk county for two years. In 1911 he was ap- pointed chief of police by Mayor Thompson and he is now serving for the second term in that office. He carefully safeguards the interests of the law-abiding public and has prosecuted crime with such diligence that his name has become a terror to all law breakers.
In 1894 Mr. Leighton was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Pegg, of Osage, Iowa, and they have one son, Russell A. The family attend the Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. Leighton holds membership with the Masons, the Knights of Pythias and the Moose. He is also a member of the Town Criers Club. Through the period of his residence in Waterloo he has become widely and favorably known and he possesses attractive social qualities which render hini very popular.
JACOB F. HUPPERT.
Jacob F. Huppert is a representative citizen and enterprising agriculturist of Black Hawk county, residing on section 30, Cedar township. His birth occurred in Will county, Illinois, on the 21st of July, 1866, his parents being Jacob and Susan (Templin) Huppert, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Penn- sylvania. Jacob Huppert was born in 1843-three months after the arrival of his parents in the United States. In an early day he accompanied them to Illinois, in which state he followed farming for seventeen years, on the expira- tion of which period the family home was established in Benton county, Iowa. There he purchased land which he cultivated successfully until 1898, when he came to Black Hawk county, here carrying on general agricultural pursuits until called to his final rest in July, 1903. His widow survives at the age of sixty-seven years and keeps house for her son Jacob. To them were born ten children, as follows: Jacob F., of this review; Henry U., who is deceased; Edwin A., an agriculturist of Benton county, this state; Eldora, who is the wife of C. D. Brom and resides in South Dakota; Lizzie A., who gave her hand in marriage to W. L. Palmer, of Tama county, Iowa; L. Elsworth, living in British Columbia ; James E., who follows farming in Benton county, this state; Roy E., a resident of Buchanan county, Iowa; Zepha E., who is the wife of J. W. Morrison, a farmer of Cedar township, this county; and Alice, who is the wife of Robert Kerr, living in Lincoln township, this county.
Jacob F. Huppert was three years of age when his parents removed to Ben- ton county, Iowa, and was there reared and educated. He remained at home until he had attained his majority and subsequently cultivated rented land for
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six years, on the expiration of which period he purchased a farm of two hundred and twelve acres in Emmet county, Iowa. He operated the place for four years and then lost everything because of crop failure and the attendant hard times. Returning to Benton county, he there continued farming for a year and at the end of that time came to Black Hawk county, operating the Hood farm for three years. Subsequently he spent a year farming in Orange township, this county, and then rented the Minnie Cripper farm on section 30, Cedar township, which he has operated continuously and successfully for the past twelve years. He owns two hundred and twenty-three acres of land in Missouri and is widely recognized as one of the enterprising and substantial citizens of his adopted county. In connection with the cultivation of cereals he devotes considerable attention to live stock, keeping high grade shorthorn and Angus cattle, Duroc Jersey and Chester White hogs and fourteen head of Percheron horses.
Mr. Huppert is a republican in his political views and has recently been elected trustee of Cedar township, ably serving in that position at the present time. He had been previously chosen for township offices but did not qualify. His religious faith is that of the Presbyterian church, the teachings of which he exemplifies in his daily life, and in his home community he enjoys that warm personal friendship and kindly esteem which are always given in recognition of genuine worth in the individual.
E. L. STOVER.
E. L. Stover, secretary of the Dart Motor Truck Company of Waterloo, in which city he has maintained his home through the past decade, was born in Hamilton county, Iowa, in 1883, a son of Joseph A. Stover, who for thirty-three years was a resident of Hamilton county and there passed away in 1910, at which time he was auditor of the county. He always took an active interest in politics and held various local offices, the duties of which he discharged with credit to himself and satisfaction to his constituents. Early in life he devoted his time and energies to farming and later was for a number of years engaged in the hardware and implement business at Blairsburg, Hamilton county. He was afterward called to public office and at the time of his death the county lost one of its trustworthy officials and representative citizens. He had been a resi- dent of Illinois before removing to Iowa. His widow, who bore the maiden name of Bertha U. Smith, survives and now makes her home in Waterloo. They were the parents of E. L. Stover.
The last named passed the days of his boyhood and youth in his native county and the public-school system of that county afforded him his early educational privileges, which were supplemented, however, by an opportunity to attend Drake University-an opportunity that he eagerly embraced. For three years he engaged in teaching school in his native county and for two years engaged in the art of photography. At the end of that time he accepted a position in the office of the Litchfield Manufacturing Company of Waterloo, Iowa, with whom he remained for six years. He afterward spent one year in Omaha and then returned to Waterloo, at which time he became connected with the Dart
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Manufacturing Company as vice president and secretary. In 1914 that company was succeeded by the Dart Motor Truck Company, which was incorporated with a capital stock of six hundred thousand dollars, much of which has been paid up. The present officers of the company are: C. W. Hellen, president ; C. C. Wolf, of Parkersburg, treasurer; and E. L. Stover, secretary. In this connec- tion Mr. Stover is bending his energies to administrative direction and executive control. He is thoroughly familiar with every phase of the business and is thus qualified to direct the interests of the company, which today is conducting an extensive and growing enterprise, its ramifying trade connections already cover- ing a wide territory. Its shipments are increasing continuously and the business is now one of the profitable productive industries of Waterloo.
In 1905 Mr. Stover was united in marriage to Miss Ruby L. De France, of Hamilton county, and they have become parents of three children, Claire D., Evelyn C. and Lois A. Mr. Stover is connected with the Knights of Pythias, the Knights of the Maccabees, the Commercial Club and Board of Trade, and the Town Criers Club. These membership relations, as well as his business connections, have made him widely known in Waterloo and his salient character- istics are such as have gained for him the warm regard and good-will of all with whom he has been brought in contact.
CLINTON G. HOLDEN.
The life record of Clinton G. Holden may well be an inspiration to others, for it indicates what may be accomplished when laudable ambition points out the way and energy and determination constitute the salient features of an active career. Mr. Holden is the vice president of the Horton-Holden Hotel Com- pany and is the manager of the Russell Lamson Hotel, one of the finest hotels not only in the state but in the entire country. His residence in Waterloo covers only a year and a half, but this space of time has been sufficient to establish him in the public regard as a progressive business man.
A native of Erie, Pennsylvania, he was born in 1873 and was reared in that state, its public-school system affording him his educational privileges. He has been connected with hotel life for nearly a quarter of a century. He made his initial step in that direction at the Reed House of Erie, and afterward became connected with the Palace Hotel at North East, Pennsylvania. He then had twenty years' experience in connection with club management, being for four years manager of the University Club of Cleveland, Ohio, and for three and a half years secretary of the Union Club of that city. On the expiration of that period he resigned his position and went to Chicago to become manager of the University Club of the latter city. He remained in that capacity for five and a half years and then accepted the position of manager of the Russell Lamson Hotel of Waterloo. He has now directed its interests for a year and a half and has made it one of the most popular hostelries in the state. Methods employed in the largest and finest city hostelries are here utilized for the comfort of the guests and the Russell Lamson Hotel would be a credit to a city many times the size of Waterloo. Mr. Holden is also interested in several other business under-
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takings, being now the vice president of the McIntosh Ranch & Orchard of Derby, Montana ; president of the Ellis Drug Company of Waterloo; and presi- dent of the Iowa Hotel Keepers Association. His life has been an active one fraught with good results, and his business affairs have met with merited reward.
Mr. Holden has attained high rank in Masonry, having reached the thirty- second degree of the York Rite. He was very prominent in Masonic circles in Cleveland and he was a member of the Mystic Shrine. He likewise has mem- bership with the Elks; is a member of the Chamber of Commerce, of the Water- loo Club and the Commercial Club and Board of Trade, of Waterloo: the Chi- cago Athletic Club, Chicago; and the Masonic Club of Cleveland. He was eagerly welcomed into membership in the Waterloo organizations, for his fame as a progressive, enterprising man had preceded him. Moreover, it took but a brief time to convince his fellow townsmen of his worth and ability and to recog- nize the fact that he is the possessor of many well developed and valuable ideas having to do with business progress and with the upbuilding of his city.
DAVID M. MITCHELL.
David M. Mitchell is among those who at the time of the Civil war volun- teered to fight for his country and aid in the preservation of the Union. He is now residing in La Porte City and has an interest in a number of local con- mercial and industrial concerns. He was born in Maine, in December, 1845. a son of Otis and Mehetabel (Preble) Mitchell, both likewise natives of the Pine Tree state. The father, who was a painter and decorator by trade, removed from Maine to Springfield, Illinois, at an early date in the history of the Prairie state, and later went to Mendota, Illinois, thence to Ottawa, that state, and sub- sequently to Manchester, lowa. He resided there until 1855 and then came to La Porte City, which remained his home until his death, which occurred in 1888 when he was eighty-one years of age. His wife died in 1872.
David M. Mitchell remained at home with his parents and gained a good education by attending the public schools. He completed the course offered in La Porte City and was just ready to enter college when war was declared. The need of the nation dwarfed all private interests and in 1862 he enlisted in the Eighteenth Iowa Infantry. On the disbandment of that organization after three months he reenlisted, becoming a member of Company D, Thirty-first Iowa Infantry. He served for three years with the latter command and participated in many hard fought engagements, including the siege of Vicksburg and the battle of Lookout Mountain. Being exposed to all kinds of weather brought on a bone disease which has afflicted him since 1874. After being mustered out at Davenport in 1865 he returned to La Porte City and worked at painting and decorating, as he had iearned that trade from his father. However, after a few years he was compelled to give up an active life and since 1874 has been on crutches. Since 1874 he has resided at La Porte City and has just erected a fine modern home at the cost of eight thousand dollars. He also owns considerable other property here and is a stockholder in the Union State Bank and a stock- holder and director in the Syndicate block of La Porte City.
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Mr. Mitchell was married in 1868 to Miss Lucy Edsil, a daughter of Miller and Mary (Bailey) Edsil, natives of Ohio who came to La Porte City in 1865. Her father was a man of considerable wealth and had practically retired at the time of his arrival here. He served as justice of the peace in La Porte City for many years and was well known. On the 30th of October, 1883, he passed to his reward, having survived his wife for two years, her demise occurring on the 9th of May, 1881. Mrs. Mitchell was an invalid for many years and her demise occurred in 1899. By her marriage to our subject she became the mother of one child, Maude, who died on the 22d of March, 1869. On the 18th of September, 1904, Mr. Mitchell married Miss Mary J. Krebs, a daughter of Martin and Mary C. (Reichard) Krebs, natives of New York and Germany, respectively. Mr. Krebs, who was a farmer, came to Black Hawk county at an early day and was an enterprising and successful agriculturist until 1899, when he retired and removed to La Porte City, where he and his wife now reside.
Mr. Mitchell is a Presbyterian in his religious affiliation and politically sup- ports the republican party." He has always taken a great interest in the affairs of the Grand Army of the Republic and organized M. F. Thompson Post, No. 187, of La Porte City. He stili holds his membership therein and greatly en- joys the association with his old comrades thus made possible. In the many years of peace that have intervened since the close of the Civil war he has demonstrated that his patriotism has not lessened and his public-spirited, upright life has been an example of the service that men can render their country in times when there is no special stress or peril.
W. H. BICKLEY, M. D.
Dr. W. H. Bickley, a successful practitioner of medicine and surgery in Waterloo, his native city, was born in 1876, a son of E. G. Bickley, a well known resident of Orange township, Black Hawk county. His birth occurred in Mey- ersdale, Pennsylvania, and with his parents he came to Iowa in 1861, the family home being established in Orange township. He was a son of E .. K. Bickley, who first came to Black Hawk county in 1855 and entered considerable land for himself and friends. At that time there were no railroads in this section of the state and they had to drive across the country from Chicago. The Bickleys were farming people and E. K. Bickley was also a bishop of the Dunkard church in its pioneer days. E. G. Bickley was largely reared upon the frontier and shared with the family in the hardships and privations which fell to the lot of the frontier settlers. It was in this county that he was united in marriage to Miss Arabelle Shrock, who died in 1901. There were but two children in the family, the daughter being Alice Bickley.
The son, Dr. W. H. Bickley, was reared upon the home farm with the usual experiences that fall to the lot of the country-bred boy. He worked in the fields through the summer months and in the winter seasons attended the district schools for some time, but afterward entered the high school of West Waterloo, from which he was graduated with the class of 1894. During that period he continued to live upon the farm, driving four miles to and from school. He
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afterward took up the profession of teaching, which he followed until 1896, but regarded that merely as an initial step to other professional labor. It was his desire to prepare for the practice of medicine and surgery and with that end in view he became a student in the medical department of the State University of Iowa, in which he pursued his studies for two years. He next entered the New York Homeopathic Medical College and Hospital, from which he was graduated in 1900. He spent the succeeding year as an interne in the Metropoli- tan Hospital of New York on Blackwell's Island and gained broad knowledge. and experience such as comes only from hospital practice. The following year was spent in travel throughout the United States, at the end of which time he returned to Waterloo, where he has since been located. In 1912 he went abroad and attended clinics in Berlin, Vienna and London and he also traveled exten- . sively over the European continent. He had the opportunity of studying the methods of some of the most eminent physicians and surgeons of the old world and his ability was greatly augmented by the knowledge which he gained in attendance at the European clinics. Upon his return he resumed the private practice of his profession and is today accounted one of its foremost representa- tives in Waterloo. A liberal practice is accorded him and his efforts have been attended with substantial success. He furthers his knowledge through his mein- bership in the Waterloo, Black Hawk County, Iowa State. Austin Flint and Cedar Valley Medical Societies and in the American Medical Association and moreover he is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He has been honored with the presidency of the Waterloo Medical Society, a fact which indicates his high standing among his professional brethren in the city in which he makes his home.
In 1902 Dr. Bickley was united in marriage to Miss Beulah Vick, of St. Louis, a great-granddaughter of Newett Vick, who was the founder of Vicks- burg, Mississippi. Dr. and Mrs. Bickley have one child. Robert Crippen. The parents hold membership in the First Brethren church and Dr. Bickley also be- longs to the Masonic fraternity, in which he has attained the Knights Templar degree, to the Knights of Pythias and to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He is a representative of one of the oldest pioneer families of the county, represented here through sixty years, and the work for material and moral progress instituted by his grandfather and continued by his father is being still further carried on by him. He is a public-spirited and progressive citizen, as well as an able physician and surgeon and has won for himself a most creditable place in public regard.
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