USA > Iowa > Black Hawk County > History of Black Hawk County, Iowa, and its people, Volume II > Part 43
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nett, J. Corson and A. L. Walker. He also erected a fine residence for the Highland Improvement Company in the Highland addition and the residences of L. A. Gaiser, George McGuyer and G. W. Hill, and also built two homes for James Register. He has erected a number of other important buildings in Water- loo and is now engaged on the construction of a three-story apartment building in Cedar Falls. He makes a specialty of buying lots and building homes on them for sale and in this speculative building is meeting with excellent success. He employs from ten to thirty workmen according to the season and his labors have been an element in the improvement of the city.
In 1898 Mr. Armagost was married to Miss Loutie M. Brink, who was born in Nashua, Iowa, a daughter of M. D. and Helen Brink, both natives of New York. Removing westward, they settled in Illinois and afterward came to Iowa, where they were married. The father subsequently followed farming until his retirement from active business life. He and his wife, however, still live on the old home farm near Nashua. Mrs. Armagost was the fifth in order of birth in their family of six children, all of whom survive. She is a graduate of the Nashua high school and for six years prior to her marriage successfully engaged in teaching. To Mr. and Mrs. Armagost three children have been born: Vivian E., whose birth occurred in 1899 and who is now attending high school; L. Walter, born in 1900, also a high school pupil; and Harold C., who was born in Waterloo in 1902 and is a pupil in the schools of this city.
In his political views Mr. Armagost is a republican yet does not hold himself bound by party ties and often votes independently. Fraternally he is connected with the Knights of Pythias and with the Modern Woodmen of America, and he and his family hold membership in the First Methodist Episcopal church. They occupy a fine home in Waterloo which is the visible evidence of his life of well directed energy and thrift. It is said that ability grows through the exercise of effort and thus it is that Mr. Armagost has continuously advanced since he started out to learn the carpenter's trade as an apprentice. He has become familiar with all phases of the builder's art and the thoroughness of his work and his reliability in trade transactions are the direct cause of his growing success and prosperity.
Z. M. NICHOLS.
Z. M. Nichols is the secretary and treasurer of the Security Storage Com- pany, one of the important and growing business enterprises of Waterloo. He has always lived in Iowa, his birth having occurred in Macksburg on the 7th of July, 1878, his parents being Marcus G. and Elizabeth (Green) Nichols, both of whom were born in Illinois, from which state they removed to Iowa with their respective parents about 1870. They were married in Traer and after a short residence in Macksburg removed to a farm in Tama county, whereon they resided for many years, the father carefully, persistently and intelligently carry- ing on farm work until his labors had brought to him a substantial success, enabling him to retire from active business life in 1912. At that time he took up his abode in Waterloo, where he still makes his home.
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Z. M. Nichols completed his education in the Traer high school, after which he started out in the business world in connection with the restaurant and bakery business in Traer, being identified with that enterprise until 1909, when he sold his interest in the concern and came to Waterloo. Here he purchased stock in the Security Storage Company, of which in 1912 he was elected treasurer, and the following year he was made secretary, performing the duties of the dual position at the present time and contributing much to the success of the under- taking. The business is now one of extensive proportions, having enjoyed rapid and substantial growth during the past few years, and there is scarcely an enter- prise in all the city the stock of which sells at a higher figure or pays better dividends.
In January, 1904, Mr. Nichols was united in marriage to Miss Teresa Brecht, of Garwin, Iowa, by whom he has two children, Zenus R. and Marguerite B. The parents are devout communicants of the Catholic church and Mr. Nichols also belongs to the Knights of Columbus and the Waterloo Commercial Club. The qualities which have won him success are such as might easily be cultivated by all. His advancement has not been due to any fortunate combination of cir- cumstances but to that persistency of purpose which overcomes all obstacles and wisely utilizes opportunities.
W. H. DEEMING.
W. H. Deeming, a resident farmer and stock-raiser of Mount Vernon town- ship, his place, situated on sections 27 and 28, being known as the Cedar Grove farm, was born in Black Hawk county in the year 1867, a son of William and Ellen Deeming. The father was a native of England and came to America with his parents in 1815. The family home was established in Illinois but later a removal was made to Iowa, at which time they took up their abode near Water- loo, casting in their lot with the early pioneer residents of Black Hawk county. From that time to the present representatives of the name have borne an active and helpful part in the work of general advancement and improvement. William Deeming remained at home until his marriage and assisted in the arduous task of developing a farm from the tract of unbroken prairie land which his father secured on coming to the county.
After reaching man's estate William Deeming started out in the business world on his own account, taking up his abode upon a farm which he had previously purchased and which constitutes a part of the farm now owned by his son, W. H. Deeming. With characteristic energy he bent his efforts to the development of his place and followed farming for many years, or until his retirement, after which he spent a few years in Cedar Falls, there passing away in 1905. His widow survives and yet resides in Cedar Falls at the age of seventy-six years. Mr. Deeming was the owner of two hundred and eighty acres of valuable land which he brought to a high state of cultivation and developed, making it a most productive tract. He never neglected anything that would facilitate the farm work or enhance the value of his crops and his example was one which might worthily be followed by others. In his political views he
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was liberal. His family numbered six children: Nancy, the wife of George Knapp, of Black Hawk county; Josiah, who is living in Bremer county, Iowa ; W. H., of this review ; Louisa, the wife of W. C. Leland, of Black Hawk county ; Katie, the widow of George Belle, who died at Cedar Falls; and Nellie, the wife of P. R. Henry, of Black Hawk county.
W. H. Deeming acquired a country-school education and when not busy with his text-books worked in the fields. He remained with his parents to the age of twenty-six years, when he took charge of the old home farm, which he thus superintended until his father's death. In 1905 W. H. Deeming purchased one hundred and sixty acres of the old homestead and is still cultivating that prop- erty. He now has one of the finely improved farms of the neighborhood. His labors have been fraught with good results, for his methods are practical and his energy is untiring.
In March, 1893, Mr. Deeming was united in marriage to Miss Ethzelda Eye- stone, who was born in Black Hawk county, a daughter of Amos L. and Flora Eyestone, mention of whom is made on another page of this volume. Mr. and Mrs. Deeming have become the parents of a son, Ralph H., who was born in June, 1896, and is now attending college. In politics Mr. Deeming is a demo- crat of liberal views and does not hesitate to cast an independent ballot if his judgment so dictates. He has served as township trustee for six years and his reelection to office is an indication of his fidelity. He has also been a member of the school board for many years and is a stalwart champion of the interests of public education. Fraternally he is a Mason and is also connected with the Modern Woodmen of America. He is leading a busy life and his labors are bringing a substantial return in abundant harvests. Stock-raising is also an important feature of his farm work and he is today accounted one of the enter- prising agriculturists of Mount Vernon township.
L. J. BENSER.
L. J. Benser, an enterprising and successful young representative of business interests in Waterloo, is the proprietor of a plumbing and heating shop at No. 1803 West Third street, which he conducts independently under his own name. He established the business in 1912 and has since built up a profitable patronage in all departments of plumbing and heating.
His birth occurred in Henderson, Minnesota, in 1887, his parents being August and Anna Benser. His early education was acquired in the place of his nativity and subsequently he pursued a high-school course in Minneapolis. When a youth of fourteen he left the parental roof and afterward learned the plumber's trade, working at that occupation in Minnesota until seventeen years of age. He then came to Waterloo, Iowa, and here secured employment in the plumbing establishment of George H. Brush. In 1912 he opened a plumbing shop of his own under the firm style of L. J. Benser and has conducted the same with gratifying success to the present time. He owns a handsome residence in Waterloo and enjoys an enviable reputation as a prosperous and representative young business man and citizen.
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In August, 1912, Mr. Benser was united in marriage to Miss Laura Neebel, a native of Iowa and a daughter of William Neebel. She acquired her education in the schools of Tama county, this state, and by her marriage has become the mother of two children, Milo and Laura May.
In politics Mr. Benser is a socialist. As a citizen and business man he stands high in the esteem of his fellow citizens, and the success that has come to him is but the just reward of his earnest and persistent efforts.
CAPTAIN GEORGE O. SNOWDEN.
Captain George O. Snowden departed this life April 13, 1914. Waterloo had long known him as a representative, progressive and thoroughly honorable business man and later had witnessed his retirement from active business and seen him enjoy the fruits of his former toil through a period of ten or more years of well earned rest. He always commanded the respect and inspired the friendship of those with whom he came in contact. He was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, December 31, 1835, and was of Welsh descent. His ancestors settled in the vicinity of Philadelphia prior to the time when William Penn colonized the state. The great-grandfather was a sea captain and at the out- break of the Revolutionary war entered the service of the Continental army, was afterward captured by the British and died in Sugar House Prison, New York. His wife was a woman of marked character and was devoted to the American cause. She was the trusted friend of General Washington, who through her received from time to time important information respecting the British forces while they held Philadelphia.
John M. Snowden, Sr., the grandfather of Captain Snowden, was born in Philadelphia in 1776 and in early life was apprenticed to Matthew Carey, the well known printer. He started upon an independent business venture in the establishment of a newspaper at Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, in partnership with his brother-in-law, Mr. McCorkle. In 1798 he began the publication of the Farmers Register at Greensburg, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, which was the first newspaper published in the west following the Pittsburgh Gazette. While living in Greensburg he married and also became a member of the Pres- byterian church. In 1811 he removed to Pittsburgh and purchased the Com- monwealth from Ephraim Portland, changing the name of the paper to the Mercury. He also published a number of valuable books and became widely known as one of the leading citizens of the state. He was the mayor of Pitts- burgh from 1825 until 1828, served as recorder of deeds there and was also a director of the Bank of Pittsburgh. In 1840 he was appointed associate judge. serving in connection with Hon. Benjamin Patten. He was in high favor with President Andrew Jackson and in various ways exerted considerable influence over the administration. His death occurred very suddenly on the 2d of April, 1845, at his residence, Elm Cottage, on South avenue, in Allegheny, Pennsylvania. His wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Snowden, was a daughter of the Hon. John Moore, who was a member of the convention that met in Philadelphia, July 15, 1776, to frame the state constitution. Judge Moore was very active in public affairs
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in Pennsylvania and was frequently called upon for public service. In the early part of the Revolutionary war he was appointed a member of the committee of safety and in 1785 was made presiding judge for Westmoreland county, con- tinuing upon the bench until 1790. In 1792 he was elected to the state senate from the district composed of Westmoreland and Allegheny counties and thus in many ways he left the impress of his individuality upon the history of the state. He died in 1812, leaving two sons and four daughters.
John M. Snowden, Jr., the father of Captain Snowden, was born in Pitts- burgh in 1806 and died at Oregon, Ogle county, Illinois, in 1863. To him and his wife were born seven children: John, who was employed in the store of his brother, Captain Snowden, and died in 1882; William, a druggist, who passed away December 14, 1889; George O., of this review ; Mary F., who passed away in Waterloo in September, 1913; Daniel, a member of Company I, Fifteenth Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, who was killed at the battle of Shiloh in 1862; Mrs. Elizabeth E. Abbott, who passed away in Joplin on the 3d of January, 1902; and Alfred, who died in Omaha, Nebraska, in February, 1889, and was buried in Waterloo.
Captain Snowden was reared in his native city to the age of twenty years and in 1855 became a resident of Oregon, Illinois, where he engaged in clerking until 1858. In that year he went to the south and was employed on a steam- boat until 1860, when he again went to Oregon, Illinois, where he was employed in his father's drug store. The following year, however, he put aside all busi- ness and personal considerations and in August, 1861, enlisted as a private of Company B, Thirty-ninth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. In October of the same year, at St. Louis, he was promoted to the rank of orderly sergeant and on the 12th of June, 1862, became first lieutenant, being located at that time at Luray in the Shenandoah valley. On the 13th of January, 1863, he was promoted to captain of his company at Hilton's Head Island, South Carolina, and served with his command in the Army of the Potomac and the Army of the James River until November 10, 1864, when he was mustered out near Richmond, Virginia, for gunshot wounds which he had sustained unfitted him for duty at the front. For a time he was in a hospital at Fortress Monroe and in February, 1865, returned to the north.
Soon afterward Captain Snowden came to Waterloo, where he opened a book and stationery store which he conducted successfully for more than a third of a century, continuing in the trade until 1903. He enjoyed an unassail- able reputation for business integrity and reliability as well as enterprise and ranked for many years as one of the leading merchants of the city. In 1903, however, he retired to enjoy well earned rest throughout his remaining days, but he retained the ownership of his business block at No. 537 Commercial street until 1911, when he disposed of it to the Leavitt & Johnson Banking Company.
In early manhood Captain Snowden wedded Sarah E. Phelps, of Ogle county, Illinois, who died in 1867. He afterward married Miss L. S. Cutler, of Water- loo, who departed this life in September, 1876, leaving two children, Mrs. Ella Wright and Louie I. The latter enlisted in Company B at Waterloo, Iowa, for service in the Spanish-American war and was transferred to the signal corps at Tampa, Florida, whence he went with Colonel Reber to Porto Rico. He was honorably discharged at the close of hostilities and in 1903 became a resident
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of Jennings, Louisiana, where he established a printing business. The daughter, Mrs. Wright, is a distinguished china painter and decorator. She was born in Waterloo, in the old building on Jefferson street which was used for a church. She pursued her education in the public schools, her first teacher being Miss Emma Wright, with Professor Page as principal of the schools. She was grad- uated with the class of 1889 from the high school and has since given much of her attention to painting. She does landscape work as well as china painting and has taught in her own private studio since 1890. Her pupils come from all over the state and she has received many prizes and awards at the state fairs where she has exhibited her work. She has one child, Chester Frederick, who was born in Waterloo, July 21, 1892. He attended the public schools to the age of fourteen years and then took up electrical engineering. For the past five years he has been in the Armour Institute of Chicago and gives great promise along the line of his chosen vocation. He is now an honorary member of the American Engineers and is a member of the Etta Kappa Nu. Captain Snowden was married a third time, Mrs. Josephine R. Fuller becoming his wife. She was born in Dubuque, Iowa, in 1840, and died February 29, 1896. By a former mar- riage she had a son, Charles H., who resides in Springfield, Illinois. In the later years of Captain Snowden's life his daughter, Mrs. Wright, lived with him and managed his household affairs.
Politically Captain Snowden was a democrat until 1896, when because of the attitude of the party upon the silver question he joined the ranks of the republican party, which he continued to support until his demise. He held membership with the Grand Army of the Republic and with the Military Order of the Loyal Legion and he was also an exemplary member of the Masonic fra- ternity. Those who knew him esteemed him highly and his genuine worth was recognized by all with whom he came in contact whether in social or business relations. He was ever as true and loyal to his country in days of peace as when he followed the old flag upon southern battlefields and the same spirit of fidelity was manifest in every relation between himself and his fellowmen.
RENSSELAER RUSSELL.
Rensselaer Russell, whose death occurred November II. 1896, was one of the pioneer business men and highly respected citizens of Waterloo, Iowa, whither he came from his home, in New York, as early as 1857. He was born in Otsego county, New York, at the place which is now called Snowden, near Cooperstown, New York, June 18, 1828, and was one of a family of ten chil- dren. He was a son of William Russell, a grandson of John Russell and John Garrett, and a great-grandson of John Johnson.
Among the passengers who came to this country from England on board the ship with Mr. Tunnicliff, in 1758, were John Russell and George Johnson, who were at that time young men. John Russell was a carpenter by trade, and was employed at once by Mr. Tunnicliff at the "Oaks." A building was erected previous to the building of the sawmill, and the lumber for the house was all sawed
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RENSSELAER RUSSELL
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by Mr. Russell with a whip saw. He continued in the service of Mr. Tunnicliff three years, and received one acre of land for each day's work. The land thus purchased is located in the extreme western part of the town of Otsego, now Snowden, Otsego county, New York, on the Otsego creek, and originally cmbraced nine hundred acres. There John Russell continued to reside until his death in 1832. He left eight children, and two of his sons, William and Thomas, occupied the original land purchased by their father, until their decease, the former dying March 16, 1859, aged seventy-two years, three months and ten days, and the latter dying December 5, 1857, aged fifty-eight years.
William Russell's wife was a daughter of John Garrett, who was a passen- ger on the vessel with John Tunnicliff. In 1758 John Garrett purchased a tract of land in the valley of Butternut creek, and was the founder of Garrettsville, Otsego county. John Garrett and his wife were taken prisoners by the Indians during the Revolution and were absent from their Garrettsville home seven years, being prisoners at Montreal. At the time of their capture, as they saw the Indians approach the cabin, Mrs. Garrett seized her clock and silverware, fled out the back door and concealed the silverware under an inverted pig trough, while the clock was thrown hastily under the garden fence, where they were found on their return from captivity. A gill of corn a day were the rations given them by the Indians, and of this they managed to save much for their three children. On their return they had to rebuy their farm from the govern- ment.
For several years before his marriage and one year afterward Rensselaer Russell was head salesman in the wholesale department of Hosmer and Hub- bard, dry-goods merchants in New York. After leaving New York city, he spent one year on the farm of William Richards, his wife's father, at Paris Hill, New York. When in 1857, he and his wife and small daughter, Genevieve, left for their new home at Waterloo, Iowa, they traveled by train to Dubuque, Iowa, then drove by wagon to Waterloo, Iowa, fording the Cedar River between Fourth and Fifth streets as there were not any bridges across this magnificent stream then. They first occupied a house on Jefferson street near the present Chicago and Great Western Railway crossing. The home on Russell Square, now the residence of Mr. and Mrs. C. O. Lamson and children, Russell Lamson and Maxine Russell Lamson, was built in 1861. In 1857 and for two years following, Rensselaer Russell was associated with Martin H. Moore, under the name of Moore and Russell, in the banking business. When the First National Bank of Waterloo was opened Mr. Russell transferred his banking interests to that organization and engaged in the real-estate business very extensively. He was subsequently engaged in the wholesale and retail grocery business, finally closing it out in 1886.
A large part of his life he was engaged buying and selling both Grundy and Black Hawk county lands, and acquired a great deal of property in and about Waterloo, and much of his time, during the later years of his life was consumed in looking after his extensive real-estate interests in Waterloo.
The building, well known as the Russell building, was erected by him in 1860 and for a great many years the large room on the upper floor was used for Episcopal church services, lodge purposes, and concerts and social gather- ings, as it was the only hall of sufficient size. It was called Russell Hall and Vol. II-22
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bore that name until 1908 when it was torn down when the annex to the large Russell-Lamson mercantile and office building was erected.
For a number of years the Russell building was occupied by Mr. Russell as a wholesale and retail grocery, and later when he continued the retail grocery business, one-half of the building was rented to W. W. Forry as a drug store.
Mr. Russell was a man of enterprise and public spirit and labored zealously to advance the interest of the community and he was much interested in bring- ing new manufacturing interests to Waterloo. He was in an early day affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Burlington, N. Y.
Rensselaer Russell was united in marriage in 1853 with Caroline M. Rich- ards, of Paris, New York, and to them were born two daughters: Genevieve. who died in 1862, nearly six years of age, and Lillian, who after the death of her mother continued to be the companion of her father until he was called to his final rest.
On April 28, 1897, Lillian Richards Russell was married at Christ Episcopal church to Clyde Orrin Lamson, one of the respected citizens of Waterloo, a record of whose life appears elsewhere in this work.
Mr. Russell became a member of the vestry of St. Mark's Episcopal church May 4, 1856, and at the time of his death was serving in the capacity of senior warden. His death brought deep regret to his fellow citizens and lifelong associates. He was a man of sterling qualities, perfectly honorable and upright in his dealings with all people. He was of a genial disposition and it was always a pleasure to him to meet and converse with the old settlers of Waterloo, and the young people enjoyed his hospitality and friendship.
A. E. GLENNY.
When in the battle of life the city boy crosses swords with the country lad the odds are against him. The early rising, the daily tasks, the economical habits of the country boy prepare him for the struggle that must precede ascendency. The early training of A. E. Glenny was that of the farm and the habits of industry and close application which he early developed have consti- tuted the foundation of his present success. He is now a well known factor in financial circles of Waterloo as vice president of the Black Hawk National Bank.
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