USA > Iowa > Black Hawk County > History of Black Hawk County, Iowa, and its people, Volume II > Part 26
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Mr. Shippy was married on the 2d of September, 1908, to Miss Anna Wil- kening, who is a native of Iowa and a daughter of John and Caroline Wilken- ing. Her parents, who are natives respectively of Germany and Pennsylvania, came to Iowa about the same time as did the parents of Mr. Shippy.
The last named is a republican but has been so engrossed in his business affairs that he has found no time to take an active part in politics. Fraternally he belongs to the Loyal Order of Moose. He is interested in outdoor sports. especially in baseball, and greatly enjoys seeing a well played game. In his business aggressiveness and in the personal relations of life he measures up to a high standard of manhood and can be counted upon to stand for all that is best in community affairs.
BENJAMIN F. SWISHER.
In no profession does advancement depend more entirely upon individual merit and ability than in the practice of law and, recognizing this fact at the outset of his career, Benjamin F. Swisher has gradually and persistently worked his way upward through the cultivation of those qualities and talents which lead to success in the work of the courts. He is now well versed in legal principles and his energy and determination have prompted his careful preparation of his cases so that he enters the court room well qualified to present his cause.
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Mr. Swisher was born in Johnson county, Iowa, in 1878, a son of Lovell Swisher, a banker of Iowa City. It was in the schools of that place that he pursued his preliminary education, passing through consecutive grades until graduated from the high school. He afterward entered the University of Iowa, in which he won the Bachelor of Philosophy degree with the class of 1899. He then continued in the same institution for the study of law and was gradu- ated LL. B. with the class of 1900, completing the collegiate and law courses in five years. He then entered the office of Mullan & Pickett and remained with that firm for three years before opening an office of his own in the fall of 1903. He was elected city solicitor in the spring of 1905 and served for three terms and on the Ist of September, 1913, he entered into his present partnership with C. E. Pickett under the firm style of Pickett & Swisher. This is today regarded as one of the strong law firms of the county. Such are Mr. Swisher's force of character and natural qualifications that he has steadily overcome all the obsta- cles that he has met and few lawyers have made a more lasting impression upon the bar of Black Hawk county both for marked ability of a high order and for the individuality of a personal character which impresses itself upon the com- munity. In the line of his profession he has membership in the Black Hawk County Bar Association and the American Bar Association.
In 1902 Mr. Swisher was united in marriage to Miss Helen Field Moulton, who was born in Mills county, Iowa, but for a few years prior to her marriage was a resident of Exeter, New Hampshire. They have become the parents of three children, Martha Elizabeth, Benjamin Field and Helen Moulton.
Mr. and Mrs. Swisher are members of the Congregational church and are prominent in social circles of the city. In politics Mr. Swisher has always been a stalwart republican and takes an active interest in the work of his party. He has done considerable campaigning in both the county and state and at one time he was a candidate for the office of district judge. Fraternally he is con- nected with the Knights of Pythias and with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He is also a member of the Chamber of Commerce and is interested in all of its projects for the upbuilding and development of the city. while along more strictly social lines he is connected with the Waterloo Club and with the Waterloo Golf and Country Club. Well known, he has a circle of friends that is extensive, and the high regard entertained for him is an indication of a well spent life.
M. B. NEFF.
During the past decade M. B. Neff has been a successful representative of real-estate and insurance interests in Waterloo, maintaining an office at No. 228 West Fourth street, and has built up an extensive business along these lines. His birth occurred in Clark county, Missouri, in 1871, his parents being John and Amanda Neff. They had five children, two daughters and three sons, all of whom survive.
MI. B. Neff acquired his early education in the public schools of his native state and subsequently continued his studies in the State Normal School at Kirks-
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ville, Missouri. After finishing his school work he turned his attention to general agricultural pursuits and followed farming until 1901, in which year he disposed of his property and came to Waterloo, Iowa. Here he entered the service of the Cedar Valley Manufacturing Company, being employed in the sash and door department for three years. On the expiration of that period he opened a real-estate and insurance office in the Black Hawk Bank block and has carried on business along that line continuously and successfully since. He has made a specialty of building residences for subsequent sale and also handles farm lands in Iowa and adjoining states. He owns both business and residence prop- erty in West Waterloo and a tract of sixteen acres inside the city limits, while he is likewise a director of the Peoples Mutual Building & Loan Association of Waterloo, the first organization of its kind in the city. His business interests have been carefully directed and have brought him a gratifying and well deserved measure of prosperity.
In 1901 Mr. Neff was united in marriage to Miss Ida Catlett, who was born in California and was reared near Santa Barbara, that state, her father, Ezra Catlett, being a ranchman there. She is one of a family of six children, four daughters and two sons, all of whom are yet living. Prior to her marriage she was a trained nurse. Mr. Neff gives his political allegiance to the democracy but is not bitterly partisan, not seeking office and in affairs of general moment taking the attitude of a liberal-minded and public-spirited citizen. He is iden- tified fraternally with the Knights of Pythias, and in religious faith his wife is a Congregationalist. He is known as a man of high character, of marked business ability and enterprise, whose sterling qualities have won for him the confidence of a large circle of friends and acquaintances in Waterloo and Black Hawk county.
G. E. NEWTON.
G. E. Newton is a member of the firm of Bruner & Newton, proprietors of a plumbing and heating establishment and conducting a general jobbing busi- ness in plumbers' supplies. He was born in Gatesville, Clayton county, Iowa, December 7, 1879, a son of Fred E. and Eliza J. (Hollar) Newton. The father's birth occurred in Oswego county, New York, on the 7th of August, 1857, and the mother was born near Raymond, Iowa, on the 22d of July, 1858, her parents having been pioneer settlers of Black Hawk county. Fred E. Newton began farming in early life and has always carried on general agricultural pursuits save for the period which he spent in public office. He now resides six miles north of Waverly and is still actively engaged in the work of tilling the soil. At one time he served as deputy sheriff of Dubuque county and made an excellent record as a capable and trustworthy official.
G. E. Newton is the eldest in a family of three children. He attended the public schools of Monticello, Iowa, and afterward the schools of Manchester but put aside his text-books when he reached the age of seventeen years and began learning the plumber's trade at St. Paul, Minnesota, where he remained for three years. He afterward spent two and a half years in Manchester as an
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employe at the plumbing business and on the expiration of that period came to Waterloo, where he entered the employ of Zook & Bentz, continuing with that firm for five years. He then embarked in business on his own account, form- ing a partnership with J. B. Bruner under the firm style of Bruner & Newton. They opened a general plumbing and heating establishment and not only handle supplies of that character but also do all kinds of repair work and conduct a general jobbing business in plumbing supplies. Mr. Newton has concentrated his efforts upon the upbuilding of the trade with good results, for the firm now has a liberal patronage and from the business derives a gratifying annual income.
On the 10th of July, 1898, Mr. Newton was united in marriage to Miss Alice E. McKray, a native of Greeley, Delaware county, Iowa, and a daughter of William and Flora (Chase) McKray. Her father was a butcher by trade and is now deceased. He never came to this county. Her mother still survives and is a resident of St. Paul, Minnesota. Mrs. Newton died on the 8th of December, 1914, leaving four children, namely: Ruby Helen, Ralph Eugenc, Alice Mae and Wanda Juanita.
Mr. Newton is a Mason, holding membership in the blue lodge, the chapter, commandery and the Mystic Shrine. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias fraternity, to the Travelers Protective Association and to the Commercial Club and Board of Trade. He exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the republican party but has never been a politician in the sense of office seeking. He has always felt that in order to advance in business he must concentrate his energies upon his duties, whether in the employ of others or in the conduct of his own business, and it has been by reason of his unremitting energy and persistency of purpose that he has gained the comfortable competence that he now enjoys.
EDWARD J. WENNER.
lowa has always been distinguished for the high rank of her bench and bar and almost every town as well as city claims those who are able to cross swords in forensic combat with the ablest lawyers of the country. Electing to engage in law practice as a life work, Edward J. Wenner has continuously advanced in this difficult and arduous profession and today is accorded a large and dis- tinctively representative clientage in recognition of the ability which he has developed and which places him among the able representatives of the bar in Black Hawk county. He has followed his profession in Waterloo since October, 1904, arriving here when a young man of twenty-four years, his birth having occurred in Benton county, Iowa, July 3, 1880. He is a son of Christian and Margaret (Cokely) Wenner, who in the '50s settled in Benton county, Iowa, where the father engaged in agricultural pursuits. He has now passed away but his widow still resides in that county.
Edward J. Wenner was educated in the public schools and in the Tilford Collegiate Academy at Vinton, from which he was graduated with the class of 1900. On the completion of his more specifically literary course he entered the College of Law of the State University of Iowa and secured his LL. B.
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degree upon graduation with the class of 1903. He afterward gained the Master's degree upon graduation from Yale University in 1904, having pursued a year's post-graduate work in that institution. He was admitted to the Iowa bar in 1903, and in October, 1904, located for practice in Waterloo, where he entered into partnership with E. H. McCoy under the firm name of Wenner & McCoy. This connection was continued until 1909, since which time Mr. Wenner has been alone in practice. He has acted for the plaintiff or defendant in many important cases tried in both the state and federal courts and he has displayed comprehensive knowledge of the principles of jurisprudence, together with an assiduous and unrelaxing attention to all the details of his cases and a most careful regard for the interests of his clients. His standing among his fellow members of the bar is indicated in the fact that he has been honored with the position of secretary of the Black Hawk County Bar Association. He is also a member of the Iowa State Bar Association. In 1914 he was elected county attorney of Black Hawk county on the republican ticket and is now the able incumbent. While the practice of law has been his chief life work, he has also become interested in other business enterprises and projects.
Mr. Wenner is recognized as a leading representative of the republican party in Black Hawk county, has frequently been a delegate to the state conventions and does all in his power to further republican successes because of his firm belief in the efficacy and value of party principles as a factor in good govern- ment. He has membership with the Knights of Pythias, has served as chan- cellor commander of Helmet Lodge, No. 89, and for the past five years has been a representative in the Grand Lodge of Iowa. He also has membership with the Loyal Order of Moose, and was the first dictator of Waterloo Lodge, No. 328. He is a member of the Supreme Lodge, attended the national meetings at Baltimore, Cincinnati and Milwaukee and is district deputy supreme dictator for the district of Iowa. He likewise has membership with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and has been a delegate to the state convention of that organization on two or three occasions. He has membership in the Fraternal Aid Union at Denver and has served for six years as a member of the law committee of the Supreme Lodge. He has membership in the Commercial Club and Board of Trade and the Town Criers Club.
On the 17th of August, 1910, Mr. Wenner was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Parrott, a daughter of W. F. Parrott, who was associated with The Reporter of Waterloo, and a granddaughter of ex-Lieutenant Governor Matt Parrott. Mr. and Mrs. Wenner have one son, Frank William. The family attend Christ Episcopal church, and in social circles they occupy an enviable position, while their own home is the abode of warm-hearted hospitality.
CLAUDE E. DOAK.
Claude E. Doak, one of the representative business men and influential citizens of Cedar Falls, is the president of Doak's Transfer & Storage Company. which he organized in 1909, under the name of the Cedar Falls Transfer & Storage Company, for the purpose of storing and distributing machinery through
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northern Iowa. His birth occurred in Lees, Illinois, on the Ist of June, 1880, his parents being Samuel S. and Clara (Waters) Doak. The father was iden- tified with railroad interests for a period covering thirty-six years, acting as traveling passenger agent for the Northern Pacific Railway Company for a number of years. He was a very popular official and enjoyed an extensive acquaintance. His demise occurred at St. Paul, Minnesota, in April, 1907, when he had attained the age of fifty-four years.
Claude E. Doak was reared at the family home in Webster City, Hamilton county, Iowa, where his father was located for a number of years and long served as a member of the school board, being also prominent in Masonic cir- cles. Our subject acquired his education in the Webster City schools and at the Capital City Commercial College of Des Moines, Iowa. Subsequently he identified himself with railroad work as cashier of the freight house of the Chicago & Northwestern Railway Company at Webster City. About three years later he accepted the position of paymaster for the Faust Construction Company on construction work in the building of the Great Northern Railroad through North and South Dakota. He next went to Tacoma, Washington. where his father was then located, and took a position in the dispatcher's office of the Northern Pacific Railway Company. Not finding the coast country to his liking, however, he returned to Cedar Falls, Iowa, at the end of about eight months and went to work for the Harrison, Cole Brothers, Incorporated. manufacturers of stair work and interior finish and extensive lumber dealers. Mr. Doak was made traffic manager of the company and continued with it for about five years. On the expiration of that period, however, he resigned his position and went to Waterloo, where he organized a freight traffic bureau for the purpose of auditing freight overcharges for heavy shippers, etc. At the end of about a year he returned to Cedar Falls and made up a routing and freight book for the manufacturers of the city which showed the proper rates and routing for fourteen states. This was conceded to be the best rate book of so comprehensive a character ever compiled up to that time and is still used by many of the shippers of this section. In 1909 he organized the Cedar Falls Transfer & Storage Company for the purpose of storing and distributing machin- ery through northern Iowa and was made president and manager of the con- cern, having served in the dual capacity to the present time. In the intervening years, however, he absorbed the stock of the company and diverted it into Doak's Transfer & Storage Company, under which name the enterprise is now conducted. Mr. Doak also deals in coal and enjoys an enviable reputation as one of the leading, progressive and representative business men of Cedar Falls.
In 1905 Mr. Doak was united in marriage to Miss Dorothy B. Coryell, of Cedar Falls, by whom he has two children, Dorothy C. and James Russell. He gives his political allegiance to the republican party and is a member of the present city council of Cedar Falls, serving a four-year term. He acts as chair- man of the street and alley committee and it is worthy of note that Cedar Falls has gained its reputation as one of the best paved cities in the state by reason of the work which has been done in the past four years. In the summer of 1914, deeming it necessary to devote his entire attention to his business interests, he resigned from the council, but his resignation was not accepted. He is identified fraternally with the Modern Woodmen of America and the Knights
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of Pythias, belonging to Red Cedar Lodge, No. 83, of the latter organization. Mr. Doak is also a valued member of the Commercial Club and acts as vestry- man in the Episcopal church, with which his wife is likewise affiliated. They are highly esteemed in the city of their residence and the circle of their friends is an extensive one.
J. P. JEPSEN.
J. P. Jepsen, secretary and general manager of the Townsend & Merrill Company and identified with various other business enterprises, belongs to that class of men, whose energy and determination in business affairs constitute an element in the city's progress as well as in individual success. He is therefore well known as one of the leading residents of Cedar Falls and enjoys in large measure the respect and regard of his fellow townsmen who accord him high rank as a business man, as a citizen and as a friend.
He was born in Schleswig, Germany, in 1865, and acquired his education in the schools of that country. He came to America in 1885 when a young man of twenty years, arriving in Cedar Falls on the Ist of August. He worked as a farm hand by the month for two years and then turned his attention to car- pentering, being employed by others for a few years, after which he began taking contracts in the building line in and around Cedar Falls. He followed that business with growing success until 1895, when he accepted the position of foreman with the Townsend & Merrill Company, lumber merchants. In 1900 the business was reorganized and incorporated as a stock company and has since been known as the Townsend & Merrill Company. Mr. Jepsen con- tinued as foreman until 1904, at which time he became the successor of Mr. Merrill, who had passed away. He has since been secretary and general man- ager of the business and is also one of the stockholders and directors. This company occupies a prominent position in lumber trade circles of Iowa, owning and operating eight yards. The main office is at Cedar Falls, in addition to which they have seven other yards, Mr. Jepsen having supervision over the entire business. The different plants are located at Hampton, Faulkner, Ackley, New Hartford, Dike, Hubbard and Industry, Iowa, while their yard at Cedar Falls is the most extensive in Black Hawk county and their sales cover a wide ter- ritory. They carry everything in connection with the building business and their patronage is growing year by year. They have ever recognized the fact that satisfied patrons are the best advertisement and have always closely adhered to the old axiom that honesty is the best policy.
As Mr. Jepsen has achieved success, enabling him to command a greater or less amount of capital, he has extended his investments and efforts into other fields and is now a stockholder in the Citizens Bank of Cedar Falls, in the Viking Pump Company of Cedar Falls and the Danish Insurance Company of Cedar Falls, of which he is the vice president and one of the directors. He is also a stockholder in several other home manufacturing interests. Whatever he undertakes he carries forward to successful completion and he seems to recognize the possibilities of any business situation. His judgment is sound,
.
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his energy unfaltering and as years have gone on he has made for himself a most creditable position in commercial circles.
In 1892 Mr. Jepsen was united in marriage to Miss Mary C. Hostrop, who was born in lowa City, a daughter of Detlef and Anna Hostrop, both of whom were natives of Schleswig, Germany, and at an early day settled in Iowa near Iowa City. Mr. and Mrs. Jepsen have become the parents of three daughters: Anna Marie, who is attending the Iowa Teachers College; Jennie D., a gradu- ate of the high school of Cedar Falls and now a student in the Iowa Teachers College; and Mildred E., who is attending high school. The family occupy one of the fine residences of Cedar Falls, the property being owned by Mr. Jepsen.
In politics he is a republican, but not an office secker. He and his family are of the Lutheran faith and they occupy an enviable position in social circles, the hospitality of the best homes of the city being cordially extended them. The record of Mr. Jepsen should serve to inspire and encourage others, show- ing what may be accomplished when sound judgment points out the way and persistency of purpose prompts continuance therein. Since coming to the new world at the age of twenty years, practically empty-handed, he has advanced step by step and has essentially formulated and given shape to his own char- acter as well as to his success.
ANDREW G. REID.
Andrew G. Reid is numbered among the able lawyers practicing at the bar of Black Hawk county and through merit and ability has gained a good clientage. He was born in Warren county, Illinois, a son of Jesse W. Reid, who was a native of Pennsylvania and came to this state in his boyhood days. Hc was married in lowa to Miss Emma Stillings and passed away in 1889. During the period of his residence in Iowa he was largely engaged in farming in Madi- son county and lived a busy and useful life.
Andrew G. Reid is indebted to the public-school system of this state for the early educational opportunities which he enjoyed. He was afterward gradu- ated from Simpson College in the class of 1901 with the Bachelor of Arts degree. He then entered the law department of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor and was graduated with the LL. B. degree in the class of 1906. Taking up the profession of teaching, he was assistant professor of mathematics in Monmouth College of Monmouth, Illinois, where he was also athletic director for three years. In 1910 he came to Waterloo, where he has since been engaged in practice in all of the courts of the state and in the federal courts. He has continued in the general practice of law and is well versed in the various branches of his profession. His arguments have elicited warm commendation not only from his associates at the bar but also from the bench. His briefs always show wide research, careful thought and the best and strongest reasons which can be urged for his contention, presented in cogent and logical form.
Mr. Reid is a member of the county bar association. He is also a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, while his religious faith is manifest in his membership in the United Presbyterian
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church. He is a young man but one who has made a creditable record in his professional career. Steadily he has worked his way upward, recognizing that in the practice of law ability is the keynote of advancement.
E. O. ROBERTS.
E. O. Roberts is the owner of a well improved farm, his place being situated on section 16, where he has one hundred and sixty acres of rich and productive land. He was born December 6, 1869, in the township which is still his home, his parents being John W. and Ann M. (Sroufe) Roberts, the former a native of Indiana and the latter of Ohio. The father was a farmer by occupation, devoting his life to that pursuit. He came to Black Hawk county with his parents when but six years of age, arriving in 1850, and here he was reared and educated. He received practical training in the work of the fields and when old enough he began farming on his own account. At length he purchased land in Spring Creek township, developing the tract and continuing its cultivation for many years, transforming the place into one of the valuable farm properties of the district. At length he retired and removed to La Porte City, where he con- tinued to make his home until he was called to his final rest, his death occurring June 2, 1911. His widow survives and yet lives in La Porte City.
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