USA > Iowa > Black Hawk County > History of Black Hawk County, Iowa, and its people, Volume II > Part 4
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Dr. Seerley is a member of the Congregational church of Cedar Falls and in Masonry has attained the degrees of the blue lodge, chapter and commandery. In connection with the great political, sociological and economic questions he keeps abreast with the best thinking men of the age and association with him means expansion and elevation. His profession has been to him more than a means of imparting knowledge. He has ever believed that the purpose of teach- ing is to develop capacity and has ever recognized the fact that it is in youth that the life of a man is marked out, his future course decided and his choice
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as to good or evil made. His efforts have accordingly been directed by a recog- nition of this truth and he has made the object of his life work the training of each individual to reach the highest perfection possible for him.
GEORGE W. PETT.
George W. Pett, a dealer in windmills, pumps and gasoline engines and also taking contracts for well drilling and similar work, is one of the old-time business men of Waterloo, having resided here for a third of a century. He was born in England in 1869, a son of George and Bertha Pett. He was four years of age when his father emigrated with his family to New Zealand, making the journey by way of Cape Horn. They were ninety-six days in completing the voyage. which was made upon a sailing vessel, and they landed in New Zealand, on North Island, where they remained for six years. There the father and his brother conducted a large farm of four hundred acres, but when six years had passed they sold their property in that country and returned to England by way of Australia, stopping for a short time in Melbourne. They continued the jour- ney by rail and through the Suez canal, being passengers on one of the first mail steamers to go through the canal. The return trip from New Zealand covered about forty-two days. The mother died in England, after which the father again left his native land and made his way to Canada, settling in Toronto, where he remained for about a year. On the expiration of that period he came to Waterloo, arriving about 1882.
George W. Pett accompanied his father on his various removals and was a lad of about thirteen years when he arrived in Iowa. He retains vivid recollec- tions of many of his early experiences in connection with their travels. After reaching Black Hawk county he started out to make his own living and worked out as a farm hand in the vicinity of Waterloo until he was twenty-five years of age. He was then married and his last employer sold him a tract of land and loaned him the money with which to build a house. Mr. Pett then engaged in the dairy business on a small scale, but gradually his patronage increased until he became one of the leading dairymen of this part of the state, milking fifty cows of his own beside buying milk from about seventy-five other cows. He thus enjoyed an extensive trade and was in the dairy business for about ten years, at the end of which time he sold out and came to Waterloo. Through the suc- ceeding two years he lived largely retired on account of the condition of his health, but at the end of that time he bought a half interest in the Charles Burd drill business and about a year later purchased his partner's interest. From that time forward the business has steadily increased under the able management and direction of Mr. Pett until it is the largest concern of the kind in this section of the state. In 1910 he purchased the corner lot on West Fifth street and there has a building sixty by one hundred and twenty feet, which he occupies in the conduct of his business interests. He is a dealer in windmills and has sold two carloads during the last year. He also sells pumps and does pump fitting and well drilling. He also handles gasoline engines, wagons, elevators, barn cleaners, etc. He is now building an addition to his present quarters and doubling his
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capacity. He employs six men regularly and others as they are needed. The property which he purchased for seven thousand dollars has trebled in value and his business is a most important enterprise, the annual sales now reaching a large figure. Mr. Pett is likewise interested in other business concerns and is a man of sound judgment and keen sagacity.
On Christmas eve of 1894 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Pett and Miss Caroline Litchford, who was also a native of that section of England in which her husband was born. They have two living children, Bertha Gladys and Charles William. Mr. Pett and his family are members of the First Baptist church and he is serving as one of its trustees. Its teachings find exemplification in his life and his career has ever been an upright and honorable one. His activity in busi- ness has not only contributed to his individual success, but has also been an active factor in the commercial development of Waterloo. His interests are thoroughly identified with those of the city and at all times he is ready to lend his aid and cooperation to any movement calculated to benefit this section of the country or advance its wonderful development. By perseverance, determination and honorable effort he has overthrown the obstacles which have barred his path to success and has reached the goal of prosperity.
JAMES I. KENYON.
James I. Kenyon is an active member of the bar of Waterloo, where he has practiced since September, 1909, and is also secretary and general manager of the Galloway Investment Company. He was born in Adel, Dallas county, Iowa, in 1885, a son of I. A. Kenyon, of Waukee, Iowa, who removed to Dallas county more than thirty-five years ago and at the present time is engaged in general merchandising in that county.
James I. Kenyon supplemented a public-school education by study in Drake University at Des Moines and, completing the law course, was graduated with the class of 1908. He then further continued his studies in Yale University in the scholastic year of 1908-9 and in September of the latter year came to Water- loo. Here he entered into partnership with James S. Barr for the practice of law, that connection continuing until August, 1910, since which time he has prac- ticed alone, with office in the Black Hawk building. He continues in general practice and has made an excellent record for one of his years. He throws him- self easily and naturally into the argument. There is no straining after effect. On the contrary, there is a precision and clearness in his statement that speaks a mind well trained in the school of close investigation and to which thorough reasoning has become habitual and easy. He has largely specialized in civil law and is now attorney for several well known corporations. He served as city attorney from 1912 until 1914 and he is a member of the County Bar Association. Aside from his law practice he has been associated with the Galloway Investment Company since August, 1910, and in August, 1912, he became its secretary and attorney.
On the 18th of June, 1913, Mr. Kenyon was united in marriage to Miss May Belle Daniels, of Iowa Falls, by whom he has one child, Elizabeth May. Mr.
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Kenyon is a Knight Templar Mason and a Shriner, an Elk, a Knight of Pythias and an Odd Fellow. He also belongs to the Town Criers Club, the Chamber of Commerce and to the Waterloo Club. His broad-mindedness keeps him in touch with the general interests of society and he has been active along various lines affecting the welfare and upbuilding of his city. He is now recognized as an energetic, enterprising business man and a capable lawyer, and in his profession he has won very favorable criticism for the careful and systematic methods which he has followed.
THOMAS U. McMANUS, M. D.
The tendency of the age is toward specialization. There are comparatively few representatives of professional life who attempt to master the various branches of the profession to which they incline, as the majority concentrate their efforts along a single line and thus gain superior ability in that field. This Dr. Thomas U. McManus has done, specializing in the treatment of the eye, ear, nose and throat. He is one of the native sons of Black Hawk county, his birth having occurred upon a farm on the 7th of August, 1872, a son of Thomas P. and Sarah (Rupp) McManus, the former a native of Knox county, Ohio, and the latter of Richmond county, Ohio. They became residents of Black Hawk county in 1867 and here the family has since been represented. The McManus family is of Irish lineage. The father served as a soldier in the Civil war, going to the front in August, 1861, as a member of Company I, Twenty-seventh Illinois Infantry. He continued his residence in Black Hawk county from 1867 until his death, which occurred January 20, 1909. His widow survives and now makes her home at Hudson, Iowa.
At the usual age Dr. McManus became a pupil in the district schools and at the age of sixteen entered the State Normal school, now called the Iowa State Teachers' College, at Cedar Falls, being there graduated with the class of 1893. He next entered Des Moines College at Des Moines, Iowa, and upon the com- pletion of a classical course won the Bachelor of Arts degree in 1895. In 1898 the Master of Arts degree was conferred upon him. He entered the College of Physi- cians & Surgeons of Chicago, now known as the medical department of the Univer- sity of Illinois, from which he was graduated in 1898. He first settled at Dunkerton, Black Hawk county, lowa, but in 1899 he came to Waterloo, where he continued in general practice until 1909. Since that time he has made a specialty of the treatment of diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat. He is an able physician, well versed in the departments of general practice and particularly skillful in his specialty. He reads broadly, thinks deeply and is conversant with the most im- proved methods of practice and the most advanced ideas concerning his chosen life work. From the beginning of his professional career he has embraced every opportunity to promote his efficiency and in 1903 took a post-graduate course in the New York Post-Graduate Medical College. In 1906 he returned to the same institution for further study and in 1909 was a student at the Chicago Eye, Ear, Nose & Throat College and Hospital, to which he returned for further work in 1910. He was a member of the Iowa state board of health and the Iowa state
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HISTORY OF BLACK HAWK COUNTY
board of medical examiners from 1909 to 1913 and was president in 1912-13 of the state board of medical examiners. He ranks with the leading members of his profession in the state and has been honored with the presidency of the Waterloo Medical Society and of the Black Hawk County Medical Society ; he is a member of the Iowa State Medical Association and the American Medical Association.
On the 23d of August, 1898, at Hudson, Dr. McManus was united in marriage to Miss Mae B. Loonan, a daughter of Thomas Loonan, and they have one son, Thomas L. In his political views Dr. McManus is a republican but not an office seeker, the only office he has ever filled being that of coroner of Black Hawk county for two terms, from 1903 until 1907. He belongs to the Commercial Club, is a Master Mason and a Baptist-associations which indicate much of the nature of his interests and the relations which govern his conduct. He is a broad-minded, progressive and public-spirited man.
F. J. LANDGRAF.
F. J. Landgraf is well known as a druggist of Waterloo, also as vice president of the Armstrong Manufacturing Company and as a director of the Security Savings Bank. The drug business is conducted under the firm name of Landgraf & Company and is one of the leading establishments of this character in Black Hawk county. For a third of a century Mr. Landgraf has lived in Waterloo and his many sterling traits of character have found recognition in the high regard and confidence of colleagues and contemporaries. He was born in Cedar Falls, Iowa, in 1869, a son of Thomas Landgraf, who arrived at that place in the early '50s. He was a pioneer in the merchant-tailoring business at Cedar Falls and there he continued active in business to the time of his death, winning a place among the leading residents of the city.
F. J. Landgraf spent his youthful days in his parents' home and was graduated from the East Waterloo high school, wherein he completed his more specifically literary education. He afterward attended the College of Pharmacy in Phila- delphia and still later was graduated from the Northwestern College of Pharmacy in Chicago, thus receiving thorough scientific training in the business which he wished to make his life work. He afterward was employed for a year in Le Mars, Iowa, and on the expiration of that period came to Waterloo. He has since been connected with the drug trade of this city and in 1893 he embarked in business on his own account in the same room which he now occupies. His trade has in- creased year by year. His business methods have always been such as will bear the closest investigation and scrutiny and his energy and enterprise have enabled him to overcome all the difficulties and obstacles in his path. The drug house of Landgraf & Company is one of the most popular as well as one of the most ex- tensive establishments of its kind in the city. Its neat and tasteful arrangement renders it very attractive, while the honorable business methods of the firm com- mend it to the support of the public.
Mr. Landgraf became identified with the manufacturing interests of Waterloo about twelve years ago and at the present time is vice president of the Armstrong
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Manufacturing Company and is one of the oldest stockholders of that company. He is likewise a stockholder in the Commercial National Bank and a director of the Security Savings Bank. His investments have been judiciously made and have brought gratifying returns. For the last seven years Mr. Landgraf has also had charge of postal station No. I at Waterloo.
In 1891 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Landgraf and Miss Jennie Wescott, of Wisconsin, and they are the parents of two children, Florence and Thomas. Mr. Landgraf is a Knight of Pythias and an Elk, and in Masonry he has attained the Knights Templar degree in Ascalon Commandery. Well defined purpose and laudable ambition have brought him success in business affairs, while attractive social qualities have gained for him the high regard of all with whom he lias come in contact in other relations.
ROY L. STETZEL.
Roy L. Stetzel is manager of the Waterloo Office Supply Company, a business that was established in 1909 by R. L. and F. C. Stetzel. They are conducting both a wholesale and retail business in office fixtures and supplies and also in stationery and the enterprise is enjoying a steady and substantial growth, which indicates the reliable business methods employed by the firm. During the eight years of his residence in Waterloo, Roy L. Stetzel has become widely and favor- ably known and his many substantial traits of character have gained him high regard. Pennsylvania numbers him among her native sons, his birth having occurred in McEwensville in 1878. During his early childhood his parents removed with their family to South Dakota, where the period of his youth was passed, while the public schools afforded him his educational privileges.
After leaving school Mr. Stetzel was engaged in the drug and jewelry business in Colman, South Dakota, until he came to Waterloo in 1906. In that year he went upon the road as a traveling salesman for the Waterloo Skirt & Garment Company, with which he was thus connected until he and his brother, F. C. Stetzel, established the present business under the name of the Waterloo Office . Supply Company. They are still joint owners, but Roy L. Stetzel acts as manager. In connection with the sale of office fixtures and supplies they have a bindery and printing department at No. 5171/2 Water street, while their main office is at No. 18 Bridge street. Both branches of their business are growing steadily and bringing to them a substantial and gratifying profit.
In 1909 Mr. Stetzel was united in marriage to Miss Besse Herriott, of Elm- wood, Illinois, and to them have been born two children, Sidney W. and Ruth Herriott. The parents are members of the First Presbyterian church, taking an active interest in its work and contributing generously to its support.
Mr. Stetzel is well known as a Mason and has attained the Knight Templar degree in Ascalon Commandery. Although born in the east, the greater part of his life has been spent on this side the Mississippi and he possesses the spirit of enterprise and progress which has been the dominant factor in the upbuilding of the west. In all of his business career determination has enabled him to over- come difficulties and obstacles and as a business man he is conspicuous among his
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HISTORY OF BLACK HAWK COUNTY
associates, not only for his success, but for probity, fairness and the honorable methods which he has followed. In everything he has been eminently practical and this has been manifest not only in his business undertakings, but also in his social and private life.
C. F. ALTSTADT.
C. F. Altstadt is the president and manager of the Altstadt & Langlas Baking Company of Waterloo, which is conducting a wholesale and retail business, and which is the largest concern of the kind in Black Hawk county. The business has been in continuous existence for twelve years. Mr. Altstadt is a native of Iowa, his birth having occurred in Franklin county in 1875. There the period of his boyhood and youth was passed to the age of eighteen years, when he left Iowa and went to Texas, where he was engaged in the restaurant business. After a few years, however, he removed to this state and settled at Waverly, where he lived until he came to Waterloo in 1900. Throughout the intervening period he has been connected with the bakery business in this city and has been an active guiding spirit in the development of an enterprise that is today one of large pro- portions and constitutes a factor in the prosperity of the county.
The Altstadt & Langlas Baking Company has a large plant at the corner of Mulberry and Elm streets, where it has a two-story brick building, the dimen- sions of the building being one hundred and thirty feet square. The daily capacity is about twenty-five thousand loaves of bread, two thousand pies and fifteen thousand dozen of cookies and other small goods. About fourteen thou- sand pounds of flour are used annually and there are about sixty employes. The, company utilizes eight wagons and three auto trucks in delivery and ships its goods to about eighty different towns and cities. The business was incorporated in 1906 and was capitalized for eighty thousand dollars, with Mr. Altstadt as the president and manager and Mr. Langlas as the secretary and treasurer. From the beginning the enterprise has grown and prospered and today the volume of busi- ness makes the Altstadt & Langlas Baking Company one of the most important manufacturing enterprises of Waterloo. In addition to his other interests Mr. Altstadt is a director of the German-American Life Insurance Company of Burlington.
In 1902, Mr. Altstadt was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Langlas and they have become the parents of two children, Louis E. and Charlotte E. Mr. Altstadt belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Commercial Club and Board of Trade, and he and his wife are members of the Evangelical church, in the work of which they take a most active and helpful interest. Mr. Altstadt is serving on the board of trustees of the church and he cooperates in many measures and movements for the uplift and benefit of humanity. He is now serv- ing as a member of the board of education of the East Waterloo schools. He is also a member of the board of trustees of the Western Old People's Home and is a member of the Board of Laymen's Missionary Movement. His life has ever been actuated by high and honorable principles and the ideals which he has cher- ished have found expression in practical efforts for their fulfillment. He is a man
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of broad sympathies and the poor and needy have found in him a friend. His life has indeed been one of usefulness, not only on account of his business affairs, but also on account of his recognition of the brotherhood of man and his efforts to ameliorate the hard conditions of life for the unfortunate.
EMMONS JOHNSON.
One who is a keen judge of human nature has said that Emmons Johnson "is one of the most prominent business men of Waterloo. He ranks at the top so- cially, financially and morally." It is not the province of biography to give voice to a man's modest estimate of himself and his accomplishments but rather to leave the record establishing his position to the consensus of public opinion, and judged in this light it is safe to characterize Emmons Johnson as one of the foremost citizens of Black Hawk county. He has been prominently identified with commercial interests of the state and for many years has been actively engaged in the banking business, being now president of the Leavitt & Johnson Trust Company and president of the Waterloo Savings Bank. He is almost an octogenarian yet remains an active factor in the business world. He was born January 23, 1835, in Ellicottville, New York, a son of Elisha and Herma (Jewett) Johnson, the former a native of New York and the latter of Connecticut. The father also reached an advanced age, passing away in 1870.
In early boyhood Emmons Johnson attended the schools of Ashford and Otto, New York, embracing every opportunity to acquire an education up to the time he reached the age of twenty-two or twenty-three years. For a time he was a student in academies at Springville and Fredonia, New York, and for one term attended Brown University at Providence, Rhode Island. Mr. Johnson was a young man of twenty-five years when he sought the opportunities of the growing west, making his way in 1860 to Waterloo, where he has spent most of the time since, although he made his home in Independence, Iowa, for a time, was also a resident of Evanston, Illinois, for a year and although from 1864 until 1870 he was engaged in the banking business in Waverly. Following his arrival here he became connected with the grain and lumber trades and was associated with C. A. Farwell in building the first grain elevator at Waterloo, which he afterward operated. He also conducted a grain business at Independence, Iowa, where he made his home for a few months, also owning the first elevator in that place. For a year he conducted a grain commission business in Chicago and was a mem- ber of the Chicago Board of Trade, making his home in Evanston during that period. Removing to Waverly in 1864, he there established the first bank in Bremer county, remaining its owner until 1870, when he sold out to a stock com- pany and returned to Waterloo to become a partner in the firm of Leavitt, Johnson & Lusch, conducting a private banking business. After six years Mr. Lusch sold out to his partners and the firm continued as Leavitt & Johnson until 1898, when the business was reorganized into the Leavitt & Johnson National Bank. Although the name of Mr. Johnson is continued he is not connected with that institution at present. In 1902 he organized the Waterloo Savings Bank, in which he owns two-thirds of the stock.
EMMONS JOHNSON
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In 1891 the Leavitt & Johnson Trust Company was organized to conduct the farm loan department of the business which had formerly been carried on by the banking firm of Leavitt & Johnson, and to this Mr. Johnson has since devoted his time. In 1898 he purchased the entire interest of Mr. Leavitt in the trust com- pany and has since directed its affairs, which are in excellent condition, the volume of business having greatly increased under his care. The company does prob- ably the largest farm loan business in the state, having a large clientage in most of the counties of northwestern Iowa. In 1903 Mr. Johnson purchased stock in the First National Bank of Waverly to the amount of sixty-four hundred shares-nearly two-thirds of the stock. This bank is capitalized for one hundred thousand dollars and is the successor to the bank which Mr. Johnson established in Waverly in 1864. Every phase of the banking business is familiar to him and in the conduct of the Trust Company and of the Waterloo Savings Bank he has displayed sound judgment and unfaltering energy. He holds considerable real estate in Waterloo and his investments have always been judiciously made, bringing to him substantial success. He is a man of determined purpose, carry- ing forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes. He has displayed marked ability in combining and coordinating seemingly diverse elements into a unified and harmonious whole and his life record constitutes an example that might be profitably followed by many others, showing what may be accomplished when enterprise and energy point out the way.
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