USA > Iowa > Black Hawk County > History of Black Hawk County, Iowa, and its people, Volume II > Part 5
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On the 27th of October, 1859, at Morrisville, New York, Mr. Johnson was united in marriage to Miss Lucy Leland, of that place, and they became the parents of six children : Elbert Leland, who is now vice president of the Leavitt & John- son Trust Company, president of the First National Bank of Waverly and vice president of the Waterloo Savings Bank, and who in 1914 was elected a director of the Federal Reserve Bank at Chicago; Lewis E., engineer for the bridge and construction department of the Pennsylvania Steel Company, at Steelton, Penn- sylvania; Allan Jewett, who died at the age of eighteen months; Marion L., now the widow of J. D. Easton; Walter E., a resident of Nampa, Idaho, engaged in farming ; and Alice Lucy, the wife of David H. McKee, of Des Moines. The wife and mother passed away in March, 1892. On the 28th of March, 1895, Mr. John- son married Mrs. Ella H. C. Kellogg, of Rochester, New York.
Mr. Johnson holds membership with the Congregational church and also with the Masonic fraternity. His political allegiance was formerly given to the re- publican party but since the formation of the progressive party he has been a supporter of its principles. While living in Waverly he was elected state senator from Bremer county, continuing in that position until his removal to Waterloo, when he resigned. He has ever been deeply interested in the upbuilding and wel- fare of the community in which he makes his home and has generously contributed to many projects for the public good. Last year he gave Cornell College $29,000. His fellow townsmen, recognizing the wisdom of his judgment, do not hesitate to follow his example. It is seldom that one of his years remains so active in business, but old age need not necessarily suggest idleness or want of occupation. On the contrary there is an old age which grows stronger and broader mentally and morally as the years go by and yields out of its rich stores of wisdom and experience for the benefit of others. Such is the record of Mr. Johnson. Through- out his entire life he has never made engagements that he has not kept nor in- Vol. II-3
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curred obligations that he has not met. Not only has he never taken any ad- vantage of those with whom he has transacted business, but it has never been hinted that in any matter he has ever consummated any trade to the hurt or dis- advantage of the other party. He is everywhere recognized as the soul of busi- ness integrity and honor and no citizen of Waterloo is held in higher esteem than Emmons Johnson, who since 1870 has been numbered among the bankers of the city.
HUGH G. VAN PELT.
Hugh G. Van Pelt is one of Iowa's best known men and his acquaintance and reputation extend throughout the United States and Canada. He is the secretary and general manager of the Dairy Cattle Congress, one of the most noted or- ganizations of the kind on the American continent. It owes its existence to Mr. Van Pelt, who planned and established the organization while he was dairy ex- pert for the state of Iowa. Important and extensive as have been his efforts in promoting the dairy interests of the country, he has also been active in other business connections and is now the president of the Shoemaker-Van Pelt-Mayne Company and vice president of the Fred L. Kimball Company. A modern philoso- pher has said: "Not the good that comes to us, but the good that comes to the world through us, is the measure of our success;" and judged by this standard, Mr. Van Pelt has been a most successful man, for his life work has been of almost inestimable value to others. He has a strong character and one that inspires con- fidence in his fellowmen, and he is capable of mature judgment of his own capacities and of the people and circumstances that make up his life contacts and experiences.
A native son of Iowa, Mr. Van Pelt pursued his early education in the public schools and afterward entered the State Agricultural College, from which he was graduated with the class of 1903. He had charge of the American Jersey Cattle Club exhibit at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition at St. Louis, which was the winning herd in the butter production test at that great exposition. He after- ward had charge of the A. O. Auten farm at Jerseyville, Illinois, for a year and was then given charge of the Hartman herd at Columbus, Ohio. From there he was called to the Iowa Agricultural College and was made professor of the dairy husbandry department and manager of the state dairy farm, continuing in that connection from 1906 until 1909. In the latter year, the Iowa state legislature having made an appropriation to be used in the development of the dairy interests of the state, Mr. Van Pelt was given charge of this work and while thus engaged he ran special dairy trains carrying dairy cattle and dairy products, together with expert lecturers, to practically every town of any size in Iowa that was located upon a railroad. He devoted three years to his duties in that position, since which time he has been prominently identified with the same line of work, lecturing at many dairy cattle shows and judging dairy stock in many of the largest cities of the United States and Canada. In fact, he is recognized as the superior of all others in this line on the American continent. He has made a close study of dairy stock and of every feature of the business and his opinions are everywhere
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accepted as authority, so that today he is one of the foremost representatives of the dairy interests in all the country. Aside from this he has other important business connections and investments as the president of the Shoemaker-Van Pelt- Mayne Company and vice president of the Fred L. Kimball Company of Water- loo. The Fred L. Kimball Company publishes the National Dairy Publication, Kimball's Dairy Farmer, The Creamery Journal, The Milk Trade Journal and The Egg Reporter, papers which, as their names signify, are for the promotion of special business lines and which are national in character.
In 1906, Mr. Van Pelt was united in marriage to Miss Stella Calhoon, of Indianola, Iowa. They have a wide acquaintance and their circle of friends is almost coextensive therewith. Mr. Van Pelt is a member of the Commercial Club and Board of Trade of Waterloo, of the Chamber of Commerce, the Water- loo Club and the Town Criers Club. In fact, he is one of the most progressive, enterprising residents of the city and is active in every plan and movement toward making a greater Waterloo and enhancing the opportunities of the state.
WILLIAM L. FOSTER.
Starting out in the business world on his own account at the age of fifteen years, William L. Foster is today a member of the firm of Ellis & Foster, con- ducting a successful and growing plumbing business in Waterloo. Industry, well defined and intelligently directed, has brought him to his present trade con- nections. He was born in Waverly, Iowa, on the 8th of December, 1872, a son of Floyd W. and Rebecca (Doyle) Foster. His paternal grandfather, Peter Foster, was of Pennsylvania-Dutch stock and in an early day in the development of this state came to lowa, being among the first of the pioneer settlers of Waverly. He built the first mill above Waverly ever erected on the Cedar river and was otherwise identified with the early development of that section. Floyd W. Foster was a carpenter by trade and followed that occupation throughout his entire life, which was terminated in death in 1893, when he was fifty-five years of age. He was a member of Company G, Ninth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, was elected first lieutenant, served as captain of his company on the death of his captain and was himself wounded. His wife passed away November 15, 19II, at the age of fifty-eight years.
William L. Foster acquired a public-school education, but at the age of fifteen years started out to make his own way in the world by learning the tinner's trade. Subsequently he was employed in connection with the cigar business in Maquo- keta, Iowa, for three years, but after the outbreak of the Spanish-American war he enlisted for active service at the front and was made quartermaster sergeant of the Forty-ninth Regiment of Iowa Volunteer Infantry, which was on duty in Cuba.
After the close of the war Mr. Foster was placed in charge of the corrals of the Gulf division of the army, serving in that capacity for six months. He then returned to Maquoketa, where for a year he conducted a restaurant. In 1900 he came to Waterloo and in company with his brother-in-law, R. A. Ellis, established the plumbing firm of Ellis & Foster. In the intervening period to the
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present time, covering fourteen years, they have built up one of the largest plumb- ing establishments in Waterloo, having a very extensive and gratifying patronage. They employ expert workmen and at all times meet the demands of their patrons, while their honorable business dealing constitutes a substantial factor in their growing success.
On the Ist of March, 1900, Mr. Foster was married to Miss Netta I. Mc- Donald, of Maquoketa. He belongs to Helmet Lodge, No. 6, K. P., and Waterloo Lodge, No. 290, B. P. O. E., and also to the Royal Arcanum. He is likewise a member of the Waterloo Commercial Club and in matters of general concern he manifests a public spirit, cooperating heartily in plans and measures for the good of the community. There have been no spectacular phases in his life record. On the contrary it is that of a man who has always followed along the even tenor of his way, finding in business conditions the incentive for his best efforts, and as the years have gone on he has gained a substantial measure of success.
WALTER R. FRENCH.
Walter R. French, with offices in the Commercial Bank building, is one of the younger representatives of the bar of Black Hawk county. He located for practice in Waterloo in 1912 and already has achieved a measure of success which many an older practitioner might well envy. He was born in the city which is still his home, a son of Wallace R. French, who came to Waterloo about thirty years ago and for a number of years was actively and successfully engaged in merchandising in this city, but is now living retired, enjoying in well earned rest the fruits of his former toil. Wallace French has taken a prominent part in the public affairs of city and county and his cooperation has been an element in public progress. He served on the board of aldermen for a number of years and as such did effective work in advancing the welfare of the city along civic lines.
His son, Walter R. French, is indebted to the public-school system of Water- loo for his educational opportunities and after passing through the grades he con- tinued his course in the East Waterloo high school, from which he was graduated with the class of 1907. He then entered upon the liberal arts course at the North- western University at Evanston, Illinois, and returned to Iowa for professional training, being graduated from the law department of the State University with the class of 1912. The same year he was admitted to the bar and has since practiced in all of the state and federal courts. His clientage is continually in- creasing in volume and importance and has already assumed gratifying propor- tions. He is a member of both the Black Hawk County and the Iowa State Bar Associations.
Mr. French has also taken a somewhat prominent part in political affairs and as the nominee of the republican party was elected for the office of justice of the peace in East Waterloo township. He is a trustee of Black Hawk county for minor dependents under the new Employers' Liability and Workmen's Compensa- tion Act of the state and in all matters of citizenship he is deeply interested, feeling it the duty as well as the privilege of every man to exercise his right of franchise in support of the projects which he deems of greatest benefit to the common-
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wealth at large. He has frequently been a delegate to the county and state con- ventions of the republican party. Mr. French has membership with two college fraternities, the Sigma Chi and Theta Nu Epsilon. Locally he is connected with the Elks and with the Knights of Pythias, and his religious faith is evidenced in his attendance at Christ's Episcopal church. He belongs to the Commercial Club and Board of Trade and he is a member of the Town Criers Clubs. Having spent his entire life in this county he is widely known and the many sterling traits of character he has displayed have established him in the regard of his fellow townsmen.
JOHN BERG.
John Berg is the secretary and vice president of the B. W. Schuneman Com- pany, druggists, of Waterloo. He began preparation for the calling to which he now devotes his energies in his sixteenth year and one element of his success is undoubtedly the fact that he has never dissipated his energies, but has always continued in the line to which he directed his attention in early youth. He was born in Savanna, Illinois, on the 10th of July, 1888, a son of Peter and Ida (Dahl) Berg, both of whom were natives of Germany, the former coming to the United States when a young man of twenty-four years, while the latter crossed the Atlantic when a maiden of sixteen summers. They were married in Clinton, Iowa. After coming to the new world Peter Berg first settled in Sabula, Iowa, in 1869 and there engaged in contracting and building, with which he was identi- fied throughout his active life. At the present, however, he is living retired in Waterloo, enjoying in well earned rest the fruits of his former toil.
John Berg supplemented a public-school education by study in the Iowa State Teachers' College at Cedar Falls and in the Babcock School of Pharmacy at Des Moines, from which he was graduated with the class of 1912. As early as his sixteenth year, however, he had taken up the study of pharmacy as a clerk in the store of the Pfeiffer Company in Cedar Falls, remaining in that employ up to the time he entered the pharmaceutical school. Following his graduation he returned to Black Hawk county and for six months was employed in the east side store of the B. W. Schuneman Company in Waterloo. In December he purchased an interest in the business and was made vice president and secretary of the company, at which time he assumed the management of the west side store, over which he has since presided. He is thoroughly acquainted with every phase of the drug business and has made his establishment a popular one by reason of the attractive appearance of the place, the reasonable prices and the unfailing courtesy which he extends to his patrons.
Mr. Berg is a member of Waterloo Lodge, No. 105, A. F. & A. M .; Taber- nacle Chapter, No. 52, R. A. M .; Waterloo Council, R. & S. M .; Ascalon Com- mandery, No. 25, K. T .; and El Kahir Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. He also belongs to the Lutheran church and in his religious and Masonic connections are found the rules which govern his conduct and which have won for him the high regard and confidence of his fellowmen. He is also a member of the Waterloo Commercial Club and the Town Criers Club, and he gives his political
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allegiance to the republican party. His life has been one of intense activity, in- telligently directed, and he has found in the faithful performance of each day's duties inspiration and strength for the efforts of the succeeding day. He is alert, energetic and determined and as the years have passed has won a substantial measure of success, occupying a prominent place among the druggists of Waterloo.
RUPERT L. PARKER.
Rupert L. Parker is the president of the Colby-Parker Transfer Line, in which connection he is conducting the leading business of the kind in Waterloo. He has been a resident of this city for seven years, arriving in 1907, and within that period has won for himself a creditable name and place in business circles. A native of New York, his birth occurred in Cattaraugus county on the 22d of Feb- ruary, 1878, and at the age of ten years he accompanied his parents, Elliott and Rosethalia Parker, to the middle west. They settled in Decorah, Iowa, and there Rupert L. Parker was reared and acquired his education as a public-school student. He continued to make his home in Decorah until he had reached the age of twenty- nine years, when he came to Waterloo. Previously he had engaged in dealing in standard bred horses, which he handled and trained successfully. On coming to Waterloo he formed a partnership with Charles H. Colby and bought out the Stewart Transfer Line, establishing the Colby-Parker Transfer Line. From the beginning the enterprise has proven a growing and profitable one and they now own and control the most extensive business of the kind in Waterloo, using forty horses in teaming and contract work. They employ thirty men and their patron- age is steadily increasing, for they are ever found to be prompt and reliable, living up fully to their contract. Mr. Parker has also trained a number of horses since coming to Waterloo and is very successful in that work.
In 1905 Mr. Parker was united in marriage to Miss Ruth James, of Fort Dodge, Iowa, by whom he has one daughter, Jane. The parents are members of St. Mark's Episcopal church and Mr. Parker is serving as one of the vestrymen. He is also connected with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. Industry and determination have been the basic elements of his business career and have brought to him a substantial measure of success as the years have gone by.
MOSES RICKER.
Moses Ricker was born at Winterport, Maine, September 25, 1837, and in his native state the period of his boyhood and youth was passed. Just before he had attained his majority he left New England for the Pacific coast, making the trip around Cape Horn to Marysville, California, where he entered the employ of Governor Lowe. Ambitious, however, to advance his individual interests, he went to the mining camps and for a time conducted business affairs at Virginia City and later at White Pine, Nevada, remaining in the two states until 1865,
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HISTORY OF BLACK HAWK COUNTY
when he returned to the Atlantic coast and with the proceeds of his business successes in the west he embarked in the dry-goods trade in Boston in partner- ship with a brother. He also became connected with a commission business and after some years spent in Boston remained for a year in New York to further the interests of his commission business. His attention, however, was from time to time riveted on the west and south in recognition of the growing opportunities of those sections of the country, and in 1870 he went to Vicksburg, Mississippi, remaining three months, but not finding the business openings that he desired there, he came to Waterloo, where he made his home to the time of his death. He was first connected with the dry-goods business in this city, having brought a large stock of goods from Boston for that purpose and organizing the firm of Ricker, Russ & Company, which began business in a frame building. After a brief period the store and stock were destroyed by fire, but with undaunted pur- pose and unwavering resolution they started anew, this time occupying a brick building on the site of the First National Bank building. At different times 'removals were made in order to secure needed space and ultimately the firm of Ricker, Russ & Company extended the scope of their trade to include millinery as well as dry goods. -
In 1873, Mr. Ricker also entered into active connection with the lumber trade, purchasing the interest of the senior partner in the firm of Allee & Lindley, thus forming the firm of Ricker & Lindley. The association between them was con- tinued with mutual pleasure and profit until 1885, when Mr. Ricker purchased his partner's interest and continued alone until 1888, when he admitted Charles P. Bratnober to a partnership under the firm name of Ricker & Bratnober. He believed in the introduction of new ideas into an old established business and in selecting a young man to become a factor in the conduct of the lumber trade he had the prescience to choose wisely. Prosperity attended the new firm and the business of the house was extended in many directions. In 1893 it was incor- porated as the Ricker & Bratnober Lumber Company and W. M. Stewart, a young man thoroughly familiar with the lumber trade and of large business capacity, was admitted to a partnership. Later the retail business in Waterloo was abandoned, but the firm continued to sell to the retail trade through twenty- eight yards established in other towns. The lumber business of which Mr. Ricker was long the head first began to branch out in 1889, when the original outside yard was established.
In addition to organizing the Ricker & Bratnober Lumber Company, Mr. Ricker was also instrumental in establishing the B. L. Willis Lumber Company, each organization having the same stockholders. They established and conducted not only the twenty-eight retail lumber yards in Iowa, but also engaged exten- sively in a wholesale lumber business and in the operation of sawmills. These firms began cutting lumber in the northern pineries in 1894 and greatly extended their sawmill operations, buying new tracts of timber lands through the suc- ceeding years, Mr. Ricker ever manifesting the deepest interest in that branch of the business. He also became a factor in other important industrial, commer- cial and financial enterprises of Waterloo as a stockholder, and there are few who have contributed in so large a measure to the business development of the city. Moreover, from the period of his early residence in California he was greatly attached to that state and watched its progress and rapid strides in population
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HISTORY OF BLACK HAWK COUNTY
and prosperity. While engaged in business in Waterloo in partnership with Hervey Lindley they formulated the plan of founding a town in California and the now flourishing city of Whittier has resulted from their efforts, the initial step in that direction being made in 1886 or 1887.
On the 14th of May, 1873, Mr. Ricker was united in marriage to Miss Jennie Conger, a daughter of Major Patrick Henry Conger, of Waterloo, and unto them were born three children: Two sons who died in infancy, and a daughter. Nina, who is now the wife of Lore Alford of the Black Hawk Abstract Company of Waterloo. Only about two months before his death Mr. Ricker erected a fine residence in Waterloo and watched with interest the progress of the work as the building proceeded. For some years prior to his death it was Mr. Ricker's custom to escape the rigorous climate of Iowa by extended visits in California, Louisiana or Florida. He preferred the first named state, however, finding the greatest enjoyment in its sunshine, its fruits and its flowers.
Mr. Ricker was a well known Mason, holding membership in the lodge, chapter and commandery, and when he passed away on the 16th of December, 1900, his funeral services were conducted by the Knights Templar. He was also a member of the Elks' lodge and of the Workmen and there was no more popular or honored man in those organizations. The most flourishing club ever organized in Water- loo was the result of his efforts in the direction of establishing a business men's association and furnishing quarters in which to meet. This is the Columbia Club, which was organized in 1891 and of which he became the first president.
FRANCIS A. BRYANT, M. D.
Dr. Francis A. Bryant, deceased, was for an extended period identified with the practice of medicine in Black Hawk county and the record which he left be- hind him as a man and a citizen is one well worthy of emulation. He was born in Chesterfield, Massachusetts, January 6, 1826, a son of Martin and Nancy (Skiff) Bryant, both of whom were natives of Massachusetts. The son attended school in North Adams, Massachusetts, and then, determining upon the practice of medicine as a life work, became a pupil in a medical college at Worcester, Massachusetts, and also studied in Syracuse, New York. He entered upon the practice of his profession in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, and afterward removed to Wyoming. New York, where he remained for five years. In 1858 he came to Cedar Falls, where he followed his profession until his health failed him. Twenty years prior to his death he became an invalid, due to hard work and unfaltering devotion to his practice .. Locating here in pioneer times when the county was but sparsely settled, he would go on long drives through summer's heat and winter's cold, never sparing himself when he felt that a fellow creature needed him. His extremne exertion and devotion to his profession at length brought on nervous dyspepsia and terminated his life.
On the 3d of January, 1847. Dr. Bryant was united in marriage to Miss Mary M. Harmon, who was born in Cheshire, Massachusetts, a daughter of Julius Caesar and Betsy (Barker) Harmon, who always remained residents of the east
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