USA > Iowa > Black Hawk County > History of Black Hawk County, Iowa, and its people, Volume II > Part 23
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JESSE O. BURGESS.
Jesse O. Burgess, one of the honored veterans of the Civil war who has lived in well earned retirement at La Porte City since 1908, was for more than four decades actively and successfully identified with agricultural pursuits in Black Hawk county. His birth occurred in Virginia on the 3d of December, 1835, his parents being Edward and Catherine (Pixler) Burgess, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of the Old Dominion. They came to Iowa in an early day and after residing for some time in Allamakee county re- moved to Waterloo, Black Hawk county, the father being here engaged in agri- cultural pursuits. Subsequently he returned to Allamakee county, where his demise occurred in 1894, while his wife passed away in 1884.
Jesse O. Burgess was reared and educated in the state of his nativity and was a young man of about twenty-two years when in 1857 he removed with his parents to Allamakee county, Iowa. At the time of the outbreak of the Civil war he enlisted for service with the Union army as a member of Company I, Twenty-seventh Iowa Infantry, and remained with that command for three years, holding the rank of sergeant. He participated in a number of hotly con-
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tested engagements and made a most creditable military record, never faltering in the performance of any task assigned him. Following the period of his army service he came to Black Hawk county and here carried on general agricultural pursuits continuously and successfully until 1908, when he put aside the active work of the fields and took up his abode in La Porte City, where he purchased an attractive residence and has since made his home. He also owns one hun- dred and sixty acres of land in Colorado and is widely recognized as one of the substantial and esteemed citizens of his community.
On the 23d of August, 1862, Mr. Burgess was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary L. Dibble, whose parents were natives of Vermont and New York re- spectively and passed away in Pennsylvania. The father devoted his time and energies to farming throughout his active business career. Mr. and Mrs. Burgess became the parents of six children, namely: Reuben A .; Lura; Otto; Cora, who is deceased; James; and Charles, a barber of La Porte City.
Mr. Burgess has always exercised his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the republican party, believing firmly in its principles. In religious faith he is a Methodist, and he still maintains pleasant relations with his old army comrades as a member of F. M. Thompson Post, G. A. R. He has now passed the seventy-ninth milestone on life's journey and enjoys the respect and veneration which should ever be accorded one who has traveled thus far on this earthly pilgrimage and whose career has been at all times upright and honorable.
A. M. PLACE.
A. M. Place, the vice president of the First National Bank, has been a resi- dent of Waterloo since 1871 and in the intervening period of forty-three years has advanced steadily in business circles, worth and ability winning him promo- tion from time to time until he has reached his present enviable place among the financiers of Black Hawk county. He was born in Dubuque, Iowa, in 1862, a son of Thomas W. and Mary J. ( Myers) Place, who came to Black Hawk county in 1871 and are still residing within its borders.
A. M. Place was at that time a lad of nine years. He at once entered the public schools of Waterloo and when his text-books were put aside he imme- diately started upon his business career, entering the employ of the Illinois Central Railroad Company as telegraph operator. He was from 1881 until 1912 associated with various lines of railroad work. Each step in his career was a forward one and each change brought him larger responsibilities and also wider opportunities. In 1912 he was called to the vice presidency of the First National Bank and is thus connected with one of the strongest financial institu- tions of the county. lle is also the vice president of the First National Bank Building Company and is treasurer of the Marsh-Place Building Company, which has recently erected one of the finest business structures of the city. He is likewise a director in the Waterloo Loan & Trust Company and is thus actively and extensively connected with some of the most important business concerns of the city. His worth and capability are more and more widely recognized and
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his cooperation has accordingly been sought, while his judgment has constituted an element in the successful conduct of different business institutions.
In 1900 Mr. Place was united in marriage to Miss Madge Manson, who was born and reared in Waterloo. They attend the Presbyterian church and their lives are guided by high and honorable principles. Mr. Place also conforms its teachings to the beneficent spirit of Masonry and he has membership with the Elks, with the Commercial Club and Board of Trade and with the Country Club of Waterloo. His record in every relation has been so honorable that he has gained the confidence and goodwill of all with whom he has been brought in contact and he is justly accorded a place among the prominent and ยท repre- sentative residents of Black Hawk county.
CHARLES J. BROAD.
Charles J. Broad is numbered with that class of citizens in whose lives effort and determination spell success. He had no special advantages at the outset of his career but he possessed determination and ambition, which are perhaps bet- ter than capital, and gradually he has worked his way upward until he now ranks with the prosperous farmers of Spring Creek township. His farm is on sections 25 and 26 and comprises one hundred and seventy-five acres of excel- lent land, the soil being very arable.
Mr. Broad is a native son of Wisconsin, his birth having occurred in that state on the 8th of August, 1857, his parents being J. M. and Polly (Wells) Broad, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Ohio. The father was a blacksmith by trade and went to Wisconsin in an early day. He there engaged in blacksmithing until 1860, when he came with his family to Black Hawk county, Iowa, and subsequently established his home near Brandon, Buchanan county, where he again worked at his trade until his health failed. He then retired from active business life and lived upon a thirteen-acre tract of land which he owned near the home of his son, Charles J., remaining there to the time of his death, which occurred in March, 1891, when he was seventy years of age. His widow survives and is now living upon that place at the very advanced age of eighty-five years.
Charles J. Broad spent the period of his boyhood and youth in Iowa, being a lad of but three years when the family left Wisconsin and came to this state. He attended the public schools and at an early age began providing for his own support in working as a farm hand, thus spending several years. But he was ambitious to engage in business on his own account and at the age of sixteen years he rented land which he cultivated until he had attained his majority. During that period he carefully saved his earnings and his industry and economy brought him the capital that enabled him at the age of twenty-one to purchase a small tract of land on section 26, Spring Creek township. To this he kept adding from time to time as his financial resources increased until within the boundaries of his farm are comprised one hundred and seventy-five acres of fine land situated on sections 25 and 26, the buildings being upon the former section. When the first small tract came into his possession he at once began to cultivate
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and develop it and has since given his undivided attention to the work of the farm with the result that his labors have been crowned with a gratifying measure of success. He annually harvests good crops and he employs the most modern methods in tilling the soil and caring for the harvests. He also has good grades of stock upon his place and the farm is today a valuable property. He is like- wise a stockholder in the Waterloo, Cedar Falls & Northern Interurban Railroad Company.
In April, 1885, occurred the marriage of Mr. Broad and Miss Celestia Cramer, a daughter of George and Lydia ( Parker) Cramer, the former a native of New York and the latter of Pennsylvania. They came to La Porte City, Iowa, about 1860, having in the meantime, however, lived for a time in Wisconsin. The father was a stonemason and worked at his trade throughout the period of his residence in this county. He died in November, 1894, at the age of sixty years, while his wife passed away in September, 1883, at the age of forty-four years. Their daughter, Mrs. Broad, was born in La Porte City in October, 1865, and by her marriage became the mother of four children: Fred, who is a farmer of Spring Creek township, this county; Vera, who died March 8, 1904, at the age of sixteen years; Harry, who is married and is operating a farm in Spring Creek township; and Myrta, who is engaged in teaching school in Spring Creek township.
The religious faith of the family is that of the Methodist church and the political belief of Mr. Broad is in harmony with the platform of the republican party. He and his family are widely and favorably known and the hospitality of the best homes of their section of the county is freely accorded them. They display many good traits of heart and mind and have gained a large circle of warm friends.
GEORGE S. MORNIN.
Ability will come to the front anywhere and enterprise is an indomitable quality that will win success in the face of the strongest difficulties. These qualities are numbered among the characteristics of George S. Mornin, whose well formulated plans for business have been carried forward to successful completion, bringing him to the presidency of the Security Trust & Savings Bank, of Cedar Falls, which is one of the leading financial institutions of Black Hawk county. He was born December 4, 1864, in the city in which he still makes his home, his parents being Peter D. and Caroline (Noll) Mornin. The father was born in the suburbs of Dublin, Ireland, and the mother was born in Pennsylvania and came of Pennsylvania-Dutch parentage.
In the year 1854 Peter D. Mornin crossed the Atlantic to the United States. He was then a young man and following his arrival here became associated with John H. Osborn as a sub-contractor on the building of the Philadelphia & Read- ing Railroad. He was married in Newmanstown, Pennsylvania, and in 1858 came west to Iowa, traveling by stage from Dunleath, at that time the terminus of the Illinois Central Railroad, to Cedar Falls, crossing the river here on a pontoon bridge. He found but a small village containing only a few white peo-
GEORGE S. MORNIN
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ple and many Indians. He worked at whatever he could do that would give him a living for himself and wife. In later years he was street commissioner of Cedar Falls for seven years and for six years served as a member of the city council. He died in July, 1913, when more than eighty-five years of age, while his wife passed away in 1906 at the age of sixty-five years.
They were the parents of five children, of whom only George S. Mornin survives. He was reared in Cedar Falls and attended its schools, passing through consecutive grades until he became a high-school pupil. When a youth of seven- teen years he went to work for the Alexander Graham Milling Company, with which he was identified until the mill was destroyed by fire. He afterward found employment with F. L. Morgan in the drug business at a salary of one hundred and fifty dollars per year, and eventually passed the examination as a pharmacist before the state board without having pursued a college course. This was three years after he had undertaken work in that line. Later he engaged in the drug business on his own account and subsequently organized the Cedar Falls Drug Company, which was developed under his management to one of the leading business concerns of the city. In 1907 he sold that business to advantage and in company with F. W. Paulger, on the 20th of January, 1908, organized the Security Savings Bank, which was changed to the Security Trust & Savings Bank after the state legislature passed the bill allowing all banks to act as trustees of estates. Mr. Mornin was made president of the institution at the time of its organization and has since served in that capacity.
Mr. Mornin was married in 1897 to Miss Delia A. Dayton, a daughter of M. A. Dayton, one of the foremost residents of Cedar Falls. Mr. Mornin holds membership in Black Hawk Lodge, A. F. & A. M., also with the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and the Knights of Pythias. He is likewise a member of the Cedar Falls Commercial Club and ranks with the city's leading residents. His business ability finds practical demonstration in his success. He started out in life empty-handed, resolving that he would win for himself a creditable place in business circles. He has never allowed difficulties or obstacles to dis- courage him; on the contrary he has regarded them rather as an impetus for renewed effort on his part and today he is classed with those men for whom opportunity has spelled success and who, in promoting their own advancement, have also contributed to the upbuilding of the district in which they live.
CLAYTON L. HOLDEN.
A city that is growing as rapidly as Waterloo and has such excellent business advantages and opportunities naturally must have first class hotels in order to meet the demands of the traveling public. Waterloo is not lacking in this par- ticular and two of the excellent hostelries of the city are under the control of the Horton-Holden Hotel Company, of which Clayton L. Holden is the secre- tary and treasurer. He is acting as manager of the Ellis Hotel and has for four years been well known as a factor in the business life of the community.
He was born near Erie, Pennsylvania, and was reared in that state, while its public schools afforded hin his educational privileges. He was about twenty- Vol. II-12
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two years of age when he entered the employ of the Reed House of Erie, and later was connected with the Palace Hotel of North East, Pennsylvania. From his initial step he made constant advancement and at different periods success- fully conducted hotels in Cleveland and Conneaut, Ohio, and in Chicago. He afterward managed a hotel for the Phelps Dodge Company at Morenci, Arizona. Going to Omaha, Nebraska, he there had charge of the Country Club. He was also made manager of the Midlothian Country Club of Chicago and has been in charge of the Ellis Hotel in Waterloo since its establishment. In hotel manage- ment he displays many of the methods of the pioneer in that he introduces new ideas and with initiative spirit meets changing conditions. He is always courteous and obliging to the patrons of the hotel and at the same time is most careful and businesslike in management and control.
In 1912 Mr. Holden was united in marriage to Miss Helen Nelson, of Chi- cago, and they have gained many friends during the period of their residence in Waterloo. Mr. Holden is a member of the Commercial Club and Board of Trade. His business interests have made him widely known throughout the country and he has the happy faculty of winning the friendship and high regard of all with whom he is brought in contact. Waterloo has reason to be con- gratulated upon winning him to the ranks of its citizens and hotel life here has become much more pleasing and attractive because of his identification there- with, as long experience has taught him the needs and demands of the traveling public.
JOHN GOODFELLOW.
John Goodfellow is now living retired in La Porte City, enjoying a rest which he has truly earned and richly deserves, for through forty years he has been actively identified with farming interests in Black Hawk county and has won his prosperity through unfaltering industry and the capable management of his business affairs. He was born in Ireland in December, 1838, a son of George and Ann (McCormack) Goodfellow, both of whom were natives of Ireland, in which country the father followed the occupation of farming. He always remained a resident of that country and the mother also passed away on the green isle of Erin.
John Goodfellow was reared and educated in Ireland and at the age of nineteen years bade adieu to friends and native country and sailed for America in 1857. He settled first on Long Island, where he remained for two years, and at the end of that time removed to the Mississippi valley, establishing his home in Ogle county, Illinois. There he secured employment as a farm hand, working in the fields until after the outbreak of the Civil war. He watched with interest the progress of events in the south and felt that the Confederacy had no right to attempt the overthrow of the Union. Accordingly, his patriotic spirit aroused, he enlisted in August, 1862, as a member of Company H. Thirty- fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and served until July 31, 1865. He was wounded in the left hip and also lost a finger in battle. He participated in a
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number of hotly contested engagements and never hesitated to follow the nation's starry banner, making a most creditable record by his valor and loyalty.
After the war Mr. Goodfellow returned to Freeport, Illinois, and was there married. Subsequently he came to Black Hawk county and purchased one hun- dred and twenty acres of land which he at once began to cultivate and improve. He operated the farm for four years and then sold it, removing to Tama county, where he purchased a farm which he continued to cultivate for practically forty years. His life was characterized by diligence and determination. He was not afraid of hard work and year by year he tilled his fields and cared for his crops. Success attended him as time passed on and he is now numbered among the men of affluence in Black Hawk county. He retired and removed to La Porte City, where he purchased a fine residence near the business district and there he has since lived, surrounded by many comforts and luxuries which have been secured entirely through his own efforts.
In January, 1866, Mr. Goodfellow was united in marriage to Miss Ann Fay, a daughter of Andrew and Winnifred (Kelly) Fay, who were natives of Ireland and came to the United States in 1842. They settled first at Albany, New York, where they remained for seven years, after which they removed westward to Freeport, Illinois, where Mr. Fay operated a farm throughout his remaining days. His death occurred July 1, 1905, while his wife passed away Janaury 10, 1890. To Mr. and Mrs. Goodfellow were born eight children, George, John, Jr., Mary E., Anna, William, Jennie, Winnifred and Alice. Of these Anna died in 1871.
Mr. Goodfellow is still the owner of valuable farming property, including one hundred and sixty acres of land in Tama county and a quarter section across the road in Benton county, and from this property he derives a substantial annual income. His religious faith is that of the Episcopal church, while his wife be- longs to the Catholic church. Politically he is a republican, having always in- dorsed that party since coming to the new world and taking out his naturaliza- tion papers. He belongs to F. M. Thompson Post, G. A. R., and has ever been as true and loyal to his country as when he followed the old flag upon southern battlefields. He has never regretted his determination to come to the new world, for he has found here the opportunities which he sought and in their employ- ment has worked his way steadily upward until he is numbered today among the men of affluence in Black Hawk county. His record may well serve to in- spire and encourage others who must start out in life as he did-practically empty-handed.
JAMES G. CLARK.
James G. Clark is the junior partner in the law firm of Williams & Clark, of Waterloo. This firm has been in continuous existence since the Ist of January, 1912, and has been accorded a liberal share of the work of the courts. Mr. Clark was born in Bremer county, Iowa, in 1886 and is a son of F. G. and Jessie (Olds) Clark. The father is also a native of this state, his birth having occurred
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in Floyd county, and for thirty years he has been an active and representative business man of Waverly.
Spending his youthful days under the parental roof James G. Clark attended the public schools of Waverly until graduated from the high school with the class of 1905. He afterward spent one year in the State University of Iowa, pursuing a course in the liberal arts department, after which he entered the law department of the same institution and was graduated therefrom with the LL.B. degree as a member of the class of 1910. The same year he was admitted to practice in the courts of Iowa and opened an office in Waverly, becoming con- nected with the firm of Dawson & Wehrmacher, with which he was associated from June, 1910, until January, 1911, when he came to Waterloo and entered the office of J. E. Williams, who admitted him into a partnership a year later, since which time the firm of Williams & Clark has enjoyed a growing clientage here. Their practice is now extensive and of an important character and there are few prominent cases heard in the courts with which this firm is not connected.
In June, 1913, Mr. Clark was joined in wedlock with Miss Florence Davis, of Waterloo, a daughter of F. R. Davis. of this city, and they are well known socially, having a large circle of warm friends here. They have a son, Charles Edward, born December 21, 1914. Mr. Clark still retains his membership in the Episcopal church of Waverly and while there residing served for two years as deputy treasurer of Bremer county. He has membership with the Masons, the Elks, and the Knights of Pythias and is also a member of the Black Hawk County Bar Association, the Waterloo Club and the Chamber of Commerce. While a young man he has made steady progress since entering upon active con- nection with his profession and laudable ambition and determination are carry- ing him steadily forward and winning for him a creditable record in the practice of law.
JAMES EDMUND ARTHUR.
An excellent farm of one hundred and seventy-two acres situated on section 7, Spring Creek township, pays tribute to the care and labor bestowed upon it by its owner. James Edmund Arthur, who is now successfully engaged in gen- eral farming, his place being splendidiy improved. He was born in Fox town- ship, this county, in July, 1860, a son of George W. and Nancy A. (Peery) Arthur, the former a native of Tennessee and the latter of Illinois. The father was a farmer and came to Black Hawk county, Iowa, in 1852. He entered land in Fox township, casting in his lot with the pioneer settlers of the district. Not a furrow had been turned nor an improvement made, but with characteristic energy he began the development of the place with the result that he had trans- formed it into rich and productive fields long before he sold out in 1884. In that year he removed to Raymond, where he purchased land, and to that farmi devoted his attention throughout the remainder of his days. He passed away in April, 1910, at the age of eighty-two years, and is survived by his wife, who is living on the old home place at the advanced age of eighty-three years.
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James E. Arthur spent the days of his boyhood and youth in his native township and remained with his parents to the age of twenty-two years, when he started out in life on his own account by renting land, on which he lived for a year. He then removed to Sioux county and engaged in the grocery business at Ireton in connection with his brother. For four years he was active in the conduct of the store and then sold out, returning to Black Hawk county, where he again rented land. He continued to cultivate farms until 1910, when, having carefully saved his earnings, he was enabled to purchase his present property, comprising one hundred and seventy-two acres on section 7, Spring Creek township. This he at once began to develop and improve and has operated the farm with excellent success. It is now one of the attractive properties of the . district, forming a most pleasing feature in the landscape by reason of its sub- stantial buildings, its well kept fields and all the modern accessories which indicate the progressive spirit of the owner.
In January, 1885, Mr. Arthur was united in marriage to Miss Ellen Campbell, a daughter of Robert and Isabelle (Thompson) Campbell, both of whoni were natives of Scotland, whence they came to the United States in early life. The father worked at the mason's trade in Chicago when that city was scarcely more than a swamp. He afterward came to Black Hawk county and entered land in Spring Creek township. This he at once began to cultivate and develop suc- cessfully, carrying on farm work there until a few years prior to his death, when he retired from active business and removed to Cedar Falls, where he died in 1906, having for four years survived his wife, who passed away in 1902. To Mr. and Mrs. Arthur have been born seven children, namely: Vernal J., Mina I., Flossie M., E. Grace, Margaret J., Russell and Lloyd, aged respectively twenty-four, twenty-two, twenty-one, twenty, eighteen, fifteen and thirteen years.
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