USA > Iowa > Black Hawk County > History of Black Hawk County, Iowa, and its people, Volume II > Part 24
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In addition to his other interests Mr. Arthur is a stockholder in the Farmers Creamery at La Porte City. His religious faith is that of the Presbyterian church and to its teachings he is most loyal. He holds membership with the Knights of the Maccabees and in politics is a republican, giving to the party stalwart support. For two years he served as township trustee and has also filled the office of constable, while he is interested in everything pertaining to the general welfare and his cooperation has been an active and forceful factor in advancing the public good along various lines. He deserves much credit for what he has accomplished in a business way, for he started out in life empty- handed and by determination and energy has reached his present position as one of the men of affluence in his native county. He was elected justice of the peace in November, 1914.
H. W. BROWN, M. D.
A spirit of enterprise, of progress, the dominant idea of going ahead, of accomplishing something greater than has been done hitherto all find exemplifi- cation in the life and professional activities of Dr. H. W. Brown, and there is no physician practicing in Waterloo who keeps more closely in touch with modern scientific investigation and methods in medical and surgical practice.
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He is one of the city's native sons, born in 1880. His father, Dr. H. W. Brown, who passed away in February, 1913, had been a practitioner of medi- cine in Waterloo for forty-one years and was accounted not only one of the valued representatives of the profession but also one of the honored citizens. The son attended the public schools until he completed his course by graduation from the high school and later he entered the medical department of the Iowa State University, where he won his professional degree as an alumnus of the class of 1906. He immediately entered upon the practice of his profession with his father and the relation was maintained until the latter's death. Dr. Brown then practiced alone until June, 1914, when the present firm of O'Keefe, Brown & Hoffmann was formed. They have an extensive practice and their office is supplied with all modern equipments, an X-ray machine and all the latest im- proved surgical instruments and apparatus to further their efforts for the restora- tion of health. Their library is an extensive one and Dr. Brown has ever remained a close student of the literature of the profession. Moreover, he is a member of the Waterloo Medical Society, the Black Hawk County Medical Society and the Iowa State Medical Association.
While his professional activities are his chief interest and no professional duty is neglected for outside interests, he nevertheless is well known in other connections and heartily supports and cooperates in all of the plans and move- ments of the Commercial Club and Board of Trade, of which he is a member, for the upbuilding and benefit of the city. He likewise has membership with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and is popular in that organization and among all by whom he is known. His entire life having been passed in Waterloo, he has a wide acquaintance and goodwill toward and high regard for him are expressed on all sides.
IDA G. RHOADES, M. D.
Dr. Ida G. Rhoades, secretary of the Black Hawk County Medical Society and a practicing physician and surgeon of Cedar Falls, has, in keeping with the tendency of the age toward specialization, largely concentrated her energies upon diseases of women and children. She has her office at No. 125 West Sixth street and she is enjoying a constantly growing practice. Dr. Rhoades is a - native of Chicago and a daughter of J. M. Grant, a cousin of Ulysses S. Grant. When fifteen years of age she came to Iowa and after acquiring a broad and liberal education she determined to engage in the practice of medicine as a life work, and with that end in view entered the medical department of Drake Uni- versity, from which she was graduated with the class of 1909. She served as an interne in St. Joseph's Hospital for one year and thus put her theoretical knowledge to the practical test and gained that broad practical experience which only hospital work can bring. At the end of that time she came to Cedar Falls, where she has since followed her profession as a general practitioner, although specializing to a considerable extent in the treatment of diseases of women and children. Her knowledge is broad and her skill places her among the able mem- bers of the profession in this section of the state. She is a member of the Black
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Hawk County Medical Society, of which she is the present secretary, is a mem- ber of the Women's Medical Association, of the Iowa State Medical Society and the American Medical Association.
In 1899 Miss Ida G. Grant became the wife of Charles B. Rhoades, a native of Illinois and a son of George T. Rhoades. He is now a retired traveling sales- man and is the owner of a fine farm near Webster City, Iowa, from which he derives a very substantial annual income. In Masonry he has attained high rank and is now a member of the Mystic Shrine. Dr. Rhoades is connected with the Eastern Star and also with the Royal Neighbors. She is a member of the Congregational church and is interested in all good works. She has one of the fine homes of Cedar Falls and is very popular socially as well as profes- sionally, enjoying in unqualified measure the high regard and goodwill of not only the members of the profession but of all who know her.
E. T. ALFORD, M. D.
Dr. E. T. Alford, a practicing physician of Black Hawk county living at Waterloo, is one of the representatives of the profession who holds to high standards and has done excellent work worthy the gratitude and high regard of his fellow townsmen. He is a native son of Waterloo, his birth having here occurred thirty-nine years ago, his father being the Hon. Lore Alford. At the usual age the son entered the public schools, passing from grade to grade until he was graduated from the East Waterloo high school with the class of 1893. In further preparation for the practical and responsible duties of life he entered the pharmaceutical school of the Northwestern University of Illinois, at Chicago, and was graduated therefrom in 1896. His next step toward a professional career was matriculation in Rush Medical College of Chicago, of which he is an alumnus of 1901.
During the years 1902-03 Dr. Alford was house surgeon for the Chicago Baptist Hospital and then went abroad for further study, attending the Uni- versity of Vienna in 1904-05. He came under the instruction of some of the most eminent physicians and surgeons of the old world and attended many clinics, wherein he gained wide knowledge of modern scientific methods of medical practice. Upon his return to the new world, he settled in Chicago, where he opened an office and followed his profession until 1908. He then came to Waterloo, where he has since been engaged in practice, confining his attention more and more largely to surgery as the years have passed on. His work as a surgeon covers almost the entire state and his ability in that direction ranks him among the foremost members of the profession in Iowa. He is now chief sur- geon for the Waterloo, Cedar Falls & Cedar Rapids Railroad, is district surgeon for the Chicago Great Western Railroad, is surgeon for the Rock Island & Pacific Railroad and is surgeon to the Presbyterian and St. Francis Hospitals.
Dr. Alford was married in 1906 to Miss Elizabeth Williston, of Manchester, and they have become parents of two children, Williston and Eleanor. Dr. Alford holds membership in the Commercial Club and Board of Trade and is intensely interested in the city's welfare and upbuilding. However, his atten-
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tion is chiefly given to his profession, which is constantly making greater de- mands upon him. He belongs to the local medical society, the Iowa State Med- ical Society, the Iowa Clinical Surgical Society, the American Association of Railway Surgeons and the American Medical Association. He is also a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.
JOHN. H. LUNEMANN.
John 11. Lunemann has been officially connected with the First National Bank of La Porte City for a number of years and is now serving as its vice president. He gives the greater part of his attention, however, to his real-estate business, which is very extensive and makes heavy demands upon his time. He was born in Waterloo, on the 4th of September, 1870, a son of Herman and Jantje (Plumer) Lunemann, both natives of Germany. Upon their emigration to America they made their way to Cedar Falls, Iowa, where they located in 1864. The father followed his trade of blacksmithing there for three years and then the family removed to Waterloo, which remained their home for a similar length of time. At the end of that period they removed to La Porte City, where the parents lived during the remainder of their lives. The father, who was a resi- dent of La Porte City for about forty years and was widely known and greatly respected, died in January, 1910, and the mother in November, 1898.
John H. Lunemann was but an infant when the family removed to La Porte City and his boyhood days were spent there. He received his education in the city schools, being graduated from the high school in 1886, and for five years thereafter he clerked, after which he engaged in the dry-goods and clothing business for himself. After ten years so spent, or in 1901, he removed to Dysart, Iowa, and became one of the organizers of the First National Bank at that place. He was the first cashier of that institution but did not serve in that capacity long, as, in 1902, he was elected cashier of the First National Bank of La Porte City and filled that position for six and a half years. Since that time he has been vice president of the bank and has devoted his energies chiefly to the conduct of his large real-estate business. He handles Florida lands and is vice president and general manager of the National Land Company of Jackson- ville, Florida ; secretary and general manager of the Florida Homeseekers Land Company with headquarters at Melbourne, Florida ; and secretary of the Lune- mann Land Company of White Springs, Florida. He is also president of the Davenport Land & Improvement Company of Davenport, Iowa. These various companies are prospering and doing a large business and his efficiency and ability are indicated in the fact that he holds a responsible position in all of them.
Mr. Lunemann was married in December, 1896, to Miss Augusta Miller, a daughter of Rev. M. J. and Sobina (Andre) Miller, natives of Pennsylvania. Her father was a German Evangelical minister and was sent to Kansas as a missionary in the pioneer days of that state before the Civil war. He preached many years at different places and was for three years stationed at La Porte City. In 1912 he passed to his reward, but his widow survives and makes her home here. To Mr. and Mrs. Lunemann have been born three children: John
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Miller, thirteen years of age who is attending school; Mark Henry, a child of eight who is also attending school; and Roger Alan, who is two years old.
Mr. Lunemann is a loyal member of the Methodist Episcopal church and fraternally is quite well known, belonging to the Masonic lodge, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Knights of the Maccabees. His political alle- giance is given to the republican party and he has served as mayor of the city for one term. He owns what is probably the finest home in the city and his real-estate business returns him annually a handsome profit. His fellow citizens not only respect his ability as displayed in the commercial world, but also esteem him for his integrity and uprightness of character.
JOHN FRANCIS SIMPSON.
For a quarter of a century John Francis Simpson has been a resident of Waterloo, where he is now well known as the president of the Crystal Ice & Fuel Company. He was born in Davenport in 1866, but was reared in Paoli, Indiana. On coming to Waterloo about twenty-five years ago-then a young man in the early twenties-he eagerly embraced every opportunity that would enable him to earn an honest living and finally entered the employ of J. T. Burkett, a millwright, with whom he was connected during the construction of the mill of the Cedar Valley Manufacturing Company, of which Mr. Burkett was an officer. He afterward spent seven years with the Deering Harvester Company and still later was for a year in the employ of the Iowa Dairy Separator Company. At the end of that time he accepted the management of the Waterloo Ice & Fuel Company. This was in February, 1902. Three years later, or in February, 1905, the business was reorganized under the name of the Crystal Ice & Fuel Company and Mr. Simpson became manager of the new concern, with C. P. Fedderson as the president, L. D. Miller as secretary and treasurer, and N. Federspeil as vice president. The business was thus continued until the following year, when Mr. Simpson and L. D. Miller bought the interest of the other two stockholders, since which time Mr. Simpson has been the president of the company, with Mr. Miller as the secretary and treasurer.
In 1904 Mr. Simpson, in connection with H. E. Teachout, of Des Moines, and C. M. Mohler, organized the Iowa Ice Dealers' Association, of which he has since been the secretary. He is also fourth vice, president and director of the Natural Ice Association of America. In business affairs he seems to see from the circumference to the very center of things and recognizes to the utmost extent the possibilities of a situation. He is energetic, is equally determined, and in the conduct of his interests brooks no obstacles that can be overcome by persistent, earnest and honorable effort.
Mr. Simpson has been married twice. He first wedded Miss Agnes Thomp- son, who at her death left three children: Charles Francis, now a student in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology at Boston; and Arthur R. and Paul A., who are students in the East Side high school of Waterloo. For his second wife Mr. Simpson chose Miss Alice M. Shutts. They are well known in Water- loo, where they have many friends.
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Mr. Simpson was reared a strict Presbyterian. While not a member of the church at the present time his life has ever been actuated by high and honorable principles and he is an exemplary representative of the Masonic fraternity, which has as its basic principle a recognition of the brotherhood of mankind. He has attained very high rank in Masonry and has been honored with many official positions. He has served as high priest of Tabernacle Chapter, No. 52, R. A. M .; as thrice illustrious master of Crescent Council, No. 16, R. & S. M .; and as warden of Ascalon Commandery, No. 25, K. T. He has been secretary of Waterloo Lodge, No. 105, A. F. & A. M., for three years and has filled most of the chairs in that organization. He has attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite and he is likewise a member of the Eastern Star. He also has membership with the Sons of the American Revolution, with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and with the Knights of Pythias. He belongs to the Commercial Club and Board of Trade and to the Waterloo Traveling Men's Association. His entire life has been marked by a steady advance. His in- dustry and enterprise find tangible evidence in his success. He may well take pride in his present achievements, for he has been most true and loyal to the beneficent teachings of the craft and it has ever been his rule to balance accounts between acts and motives.
CLARENCE E. BENEDICT.
Clarence E. Benedict, conducting a growing and profitable business in the vulcanizing of automobile tires and all rubber goods, was born near Washburn, this county, on the Ist of June, 1887, a son of Elial and Elizabeth ( Rowbottom) Benedict, both of whom were natives of Wisconsin, born near Kenosha. The father made farming his life work, following that pursuit in Wisconsin until 1884, when he came to Iowa, settling on a farm south of Washburn, where he resided for about eighteen or twenty years. He then removed to a farm west of Waterloo and thereon remained until 1911, when he went to Saskatchewan, Canada, where he is now carrying on general agricultural pursuits, having de- voted his entire life to that vocation. In his family were two children, the elder being George, now residing south of Waterloo, where he carries on general farming.
The younger is Clarence E. Benedict, who after attending the country schools, in which he mastered the elementary branches of learning, became a student in the Waterloo Business College. Through the period of his early youth he assisted his father in the work of the fields and at the age of seventeen years began working for others, being thus employed up to the time of his mar- riage, when he began farming on his own account in Canada. He remained for three years in that country and then returned to Black Hawk county, taking up his abode in Waterloo. For about a year he was employed at the vulcanizing business and then embarked in the same business on his own account, since which time he has secured a large patronage from the people of Waterloo and the surrounding territory. His trade is growing week by week and has already assumed gratifying and profitable proportions.
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On the 16th of February, 1911, Mr. Benedict was united in marriage to Miss Ethel Fike, who was born in Tama county, Iowa, her parents being Emanuel and Ella (Hill) Fike. They now reside in Waterloo, the father having retired from active business. Mr. and Mrs. Benedict have one child, Gerald, born on May 6, 1914. Their religious faith is that of the Presbyterian church, the services of which they attend. Mr. Benedict is independent in politics, nor has he sought to figure prominently in any public connection, preferring to concen- trate his energies upon his business affairs. He and his family now reside at No. 2191/2 West Sixth street.
ยท AMOS VAN VALKENBURG.
For over three decades Amos Van Valkenburg has been cashier of the Union State Bank of La Porte City and he is conceded to be one of the financial leaders of the place. He was born in Sharon, Schoharie county, New York, on the 3d of August, 1848, a son of John and Elizabeth Van Valkenburg. His ancestry has been traced back for many generations to the town of Valkenburg, which is now within the borders of Holland, although the German language is spoken there. The first of the Van Valkenburg family to emigrate to America were Lambert and Annetie Van Valkenburg, who settled in Manhattan prior to 1643 and the records show that in that year he was the owner of "forty morgans" of land in what later became the great city of New York. Later the family settled in the Schoharie valley, New York. The great-grandfather of our subject, John J. Van Valkenburg, served as a soldier in the war of the Revolution from the fall of 1775 until the close of the struggle. The maternal ancestors of Mr. Van Valkenburg, the Browns, settled in the Schoharie valley, New York, about the same time as did the Van Valkenburgs, and his great-grandfather, John M. Brown, was likewise a soldier in the war for independence. He was further distinguished as the second judge of Schoharie county and was an honored member of the judiciary of New York.
Amos Van Valkenburg was educated in the public schools of Sharon, New York, and in the high school of Brookfield, Missouri. He began teaching when a young man and followed that profession until after his arrival in La Porte City, Iowa, in the spring of 1878. The following summer he entered the City Exchange Bank as bookkeeper and continued in that capacity for five years, or until the suspension of the bank in May, 1884. The following month the Union State Bank was organized and he was elected assistant cashier and after nine months was promoted to cashier. Throughout the many years intervening he has held a position of responsibility and has had practically the entire manage- ment of the institution. Such being the case its success must be largely accredited to his superior business ability and judicious direction of affairs. He has been cashier of the bank for three decades and during that time less than five hundred dollars has been lost through the loan department, which is a record very seldom made by a banking house. The funds of the institution are so handled that not only is their safety secured but the bank is also enabled to pay a good dividend. Mr.
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Van Valkenburg is accounted one of the most successful bankers in this part of the country and his advice upon financial matters is often sought.
Mr. Van Valkenburg was married in 1876 to Miss Georgie Ricker, of Empire, Minnesota, who had been one of his pupils while he was a teacher, and to them has been born a daughter, Irene. Mr. Van Valkenburg has been called upon to fill various public positions and in each instance has rendered efficient service. For five terms he was city recorder and served for many years on the school board, being for fifteen years president of that body, and during that time many forward steps were taken in the management of the public schools. Fraternally he belongs to the Masonic order and he is also a member of the Commercial Club of La Porte City and the Commercial Club and Board of Trade of Waterloo. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and he was the chairman of the last republican county convention held under the old caucus plan. He and his family are adherents of the Presbyterian church and he contributes of his means to the furtherance of its work. He has taken quite a prominent part in the establishment of various business enterprises, being one of the organizers of the La Porte City Building & Loan Association, the Union State Bank, the La Porte Improvement Company, the Electric Light & Water Company, the Iowa Canning Company and the Permanent Sewer Company. His fine home at No. 626 Commercial street is but one evidence of his material prosperity and he is justly considered one of the representative men of the com- munity. His financial success is but one phase of his achievement as he has accomplished much along lines that make for the moral and intellectual advance- ment of the city.
WILLIAM ALBERT HEY.
William Albert Hey is a member of the Miller-Hey Construction Company, of Waterloo, which is widely known throughout this section of the country for work in constructing concrete bridges. He was born near Topeka, in Osage county, Kansas, on the ist of August, IS70, a son of Jacob and Jennie ( Andrews) Hey, natives of New York and Ohio respectively. The father is a retired farmer living upon the farm in Kansas which he entered as a homestead forty-five years ago. His first wife passed away in 1885. To their union were born five chil- dren : Della, who died when fifteen years of age; William Albert, of this re- view ; Cora, now Mrs. Elmer Armor, of San Diego, California : Denton, who resides in Tulsa, Oklahoma; and Anna, the wife of Stephen Halstead, who lives in Overbrook, Kansas. The father was again married, Miss Rose Frazier be- coming his wife, and they had two children: Florence, who died when a child of three years; and Roscoe, of Manhattan, Kansas.
William A. Hey remained in Kansas until he was nineteen years of age and attended the public schools in the acquirement of his education. Upon leaving the Sunflower state he went to Colorado and engaged in building steel bridges, beginning at the bottom of that business and working up as his knowledge in- creased. After a short time he was made assistant foreman and still later his ability was recognized and he was promoted to the position of foreman. In
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1893 he left the employ of the company with which he had been connected for a number of years and became associated with the Chicago Bridge & Iron Com- pany of Chicago, with which he remained two and one-half years. He then went with the Indiana Bridge Company and continued in their employ for about a year and a half, sub-contracting for them a part of this time. He then worked for three years as a miner and mining contractor in Cripple Creek, Colorado, and Old Mexico and proved very successful in these connections. Following this he was with a number of bridge companies in various capacities, but in time became connected with the Marsh Bridge Company of Des Moines, and was made superintendent of construction, which place he held until June I, 1908, when he left their employ. He then built a home in Highland Park, Des Moines, and engaged in general contracting in that city. In April of the next year, he became a member of the Advance Construction Company, with head- quarters at Waukesha, Wisconsin, and was superintendent of construction in the bridge building department. While with that company he built some of the largest and finest concrete bridges in this section of the country, among them being that across the Cedar river at Charles City, Iowa, and one at Ypsilanti, Michigan, across the Huron river.
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