USA > Iowa > Black Hawk County > History of Black Hawk County, Iowa, and its people, Volume II > Part 53
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JACOB SCHMITZ.
Jacob Schmitz, living in Gilbertville, was formerly identified with farming interests but has now retired from agricultural life and is engaged in the manu- facture of cement blocks. Black Hawk county numbers him among her native sons, his birth having occurred in 1876. He attended the common schools and remained at home until twenty-three years of age, the usual experiences of the farm lad falling to his lot during the period of his boyhod and youth. Two years
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after he had attained his majority he started out in the business world on his own account by purchasing one hundred and twenty acres of land in Fox township which he still owns. He employed progressive methods in his farm work and was accounted one of the leading agriculturists of his township up to the time when he retired from that line of activity. In the meantime he had added to his original holdings and is now the owner of two hundred and forty acres of good land from which he still derives a substantial annual income. While living on that place he devoted his attention to general farming and stock-raising. When he left the farm he took up his abode in Gilbertville, where he is now engaged in the manufacture of cement blocks, although he still gives general supervision to his farm. His manufacturing interests are growing in importance and his trade is increasing year by year. He follows modern methods in manufacture and his output is of such a quality that his continued success is assured. He is also the owner of stock in the German Savings Bank.
Mr. Schmitz married Miss Margaret Fischels, who was born in Trier, Ger- many, in 1878, and died in 1910. She was a daughter of Michael and Elizabeth (Brick) Fischels, who were also natives of Germany, the former born in 1844 and the latter in 1849. They are now living at Gilbertville. In his native country Mr. Fischels worked as a farm hand. Coming to America, he has lived for the past thirty-seven years in this county. He made his way direct to Fox township and became the owner of a farm of one hundred and twenty acres which he care- fuly and systematically cultivated, so that substantial harvests have been gathered year after year. He is now living practically retired in Gilbertville, but still supervises his farm and is a stockholder in the bank of Gilbertville. He votes with the democratic party and is a communicant of the Catholic church. In his family were six children, of whom Mrs. Schmitz was the third in order of birth. To Mr. and Mrs. Schmitz were born seven children, namely : Elizabeth ; Hildegard, who passed away when four years old; Louis; Leonard; Mary; George; and Herbert.
The family attend the Catholic church and Mr. Schmitz belongs to the St. Lawrence Society of Gilbertville. He was the second one baptized in Father Nemmers' church at Gilbertville and he has ever been generous in support of the church and the various branches of its work. His political indorsement is given the democratic party but he never seeks nor desires office. He leads a busy life and his close application, energy and unfaltering determination have constituted the foundation upon which he has builded his growing success. He is now well known in his town and county and has many warm friends who entertain for him high regard.
STANLEY D. MOORE.
Stanley D. Moore is associated with various corporate interests in Waterloo and is well qualified for the position of leadership which he occupies in business circles, for he has made good use of his time, talents and opportunities as the years have gone on and his powers have grown through the exercise of effort, while his outlook has constantly broadened as he has taken each step forward.
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He is now vice president and secretary of the firm of Moore & Moore, Incor- porated, is president of the Black Hawk Construction Company, president of the Moore-Sieg Construction Company, and is a stockholder in a number of important enterprises in Waterloo. He has made for himself a creditable and enviable place in the business circles of this city, where he has been numbered as a resident since 1905. His birth occurred in Dubuque, Iowa, in 1880, his father being M. H. Moore, deceased, who spent his youthful days in Vermont and on leaving New England removed to Columbus, Ohio. He was well known as an able educator and was superintendent of the schools at Columbus. After living there for some years he came to Waterloo in 1856 and was one of the city's most prominent residents in an early day. He served as superintendent of the schools of Waterloo for a number of years and aided in placing the school system upon a very substantial basis, giving impetus to the work which has since been carried on. He was likewise connected with manufacturing interests and with other business concerns, becoming one of the organizers and first stockholders of the First Bank of Waterloo, known as the First National Bank. It was established, however, as a private bank and Mr. Moore became its first president. Thus along many lines he was closely and actively associated with the business development of the city so that his name is inseparably inter- woven with its progress.
Stanley D. Moore was born in Dubuque in 1880 and was there reared and educated, spending his youthful days in a home of culture and refinement. Well descended and well bred, he had early advantages which developed in him qualities which have ever commanded respect and confidence through all the later years. When he started out in life on his own account he became connected with the lumber trade in Marshalltown, Iowa, where he remained for seven years, and on leaving that place he removed to Waterloo. Here he made his headquarters for a time, but afterward went to the Pacific coast, where he was engaged in the construction business. Since 1905, however, Waterloo has been his permanent abode. Here he continued in the construction business and also in the lumber trade, being one of the partners in the firm of Moore & Moore, Incorporated, which company owns lumber yards on East Fourth street and has its main office in the Lafayette building. While they conduct a general construction business they give much of their attention to the building of sewers, waterworks and municipal works. They operate exten- sively along these lines in Minnesota, South Dakota, Iowa and Nebraska, em- ploying a large force of workmen and conducting a business of very substantial proportions. Mr. Moore is thoroughly acquainted with every phase of the business, understanding accurately the scientific principles that underlie the work as well as all of the practical elements which are involved in construction work of the character to which the company largely directs its energies.
On the 10th of November, 1909, Mr. Moore was united in marriage to Miss. Ruth Battie, of Marshalltown, Iowa, and they now have one daughter, Mar- garet. Mr. Moore belongs to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and to the Commercial Club and Board of Trade, of which he was the president in 1913. He is prominent as a man whose constantly expanding powers have taken him from humble business connections to the field of large enterprise and constantly broadening opportunities. He has ever brought to bear upon
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the situation a clear understanding that readily solves complex problems and unites into a harmonious whole unrelated and seemingly diverse interests. His judgment is sound, his enterprise unfaltering and his business has ever balanced up with the principles of truth and honor.
JAMES GIBBONS.
James Gibbons is a retired farmer residing at Jesup and is the oldest living settler of Barclay township, having now passed the ninetieth milestone on life's journey. No history of Black Hawk county would be complete without mention of this venerable citizen. He was born in County Roscommon, Ireland, on the 15th of August, 1824, his parents being Patrick and Sarah (Loughan) Gibbons, both of whom lived to a ripe old age. The father was a farmer by occupation and never came to the United States.
James Gibbons attended the common schools of his native country and in the year 1847 bade adieu to friends and native land and sailed for America. He settled first in Rhode Island, where he engaged in farm work for two years. He was afterward employed in connection with railroad building at a period when a railroad was but of short length, there being two lines in Rhode Island. He continued to make his home in that state and in Connecticut and in other eastern states until 1850, when he sought a home in the middle west, removing to Wisconsin. He found pioneer conditions there and aided in bringing about present-day improvement in the thirteen years of his residence in that state. He then drove across the country with team and wagon to Iowa, accompanied by his family of eleven children. Barclay township was his destination and at the end of his journey he purchased land at six and a half dollars per acre. This was in 1863, at which time there were only five houses in the township. The land that came into his possession was raw prairie on which not a furrow had been turned nor an improvement made. With characteristic energy, how- ever, he began to develop a farm and in the course of years his place, having been converted into productive fields, was yielding to him rich returns in good harvests. His farm comprises one hundred and fifty acres of land. From the beginning he engaged in stock raising and kept improving the grade of his stock by buying thoroughbred animals. For many years he continued one of the active and representative farmers of the community, but during the past nine years has lived retired with his wife in Jesup. He continued active in business, however, long after most men put aside active work and his life has been a very busy and useful one.
Mr. Gibbons was united in marriage to Miss Anna Wade, a native of Ros- common county, Ireland, and a daughter of Michael and Mary (Rodgers) Wade. Her father was a freeholder, owning lands and having the right of franchise. He died in Ireland when a young man and his widow afterward came to the United States, living in Brooklyn, New York, where she reared her family. To Mr. and Mrs. Gibbons have been born fourteen children, some of whom died in infancy. The record of the others is as follows: Sister Mary Omar, who is in the convent at Sioux City, Iowa; Father James Gibbons, a parish priest
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in Denver, Colorado, who was for twenty-seven years a priest at Leadville, traveled in Ireland and is the author of an Irish story entitled The Croppie's Retreat ; Michael, a farmer owning land near Kingsley, Iowa, who is married and has seven children; Sarah; Anna, who is deceased; Ella, who gave her hand in marriage to James Farrell, an agriculturist of Michigan, by whom she has four children; Susan, who is the wife of J. H. Hogan and has eight children ; Josephine, the deceased wife of Mr. Patterfield, of Waterloo, by whom she had five children ; Henry; John, who follows farming in Buchanan county, Iowa, and has four children; Peter Edward, who has passed away; and Omar. Mr. and Mrs. Gibbons also have thirty-eight grandchildren and two great-grand- children.
Mr. Gibbons has long voted with the democratic party, but has no political aspirations. His religious faith is that of the Catholic church. He is very active for one of his age and possesses a good memory. He relates in interesting manner many events of the early days in the county, and when he was active and mingled among men he was very popular. He yet has many warm friends in the county and he is today honored as Barclay township's most venerable citizen.
MARTIN HENRY MOORE.
No history of Waterloo would be complete and satisfactory were there failure to make prominent reference to Martin Henry Moore, who was one of the early pioneer residents of this city and a most prominent business man, aiding in laying the broad and deep foundation upon which rests the present prosperity of city and county. He was one of New England's native sons, his birth having occurred at Dummerston, Vermont, on the 15th of March, 1829. He was liberally edu- cated, supplementing his public-school course by study in Williams College, from which he was graduated in 1854 on the completion of the classical course, winning the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He then entered upon the profession of teaching and his ability won him high rank in that profession. On leaving New England he went to Columbus, Ohio, where he accepted the principalship of the schools of that city, remaining there during the years 1855 and 1856. He then came to Waterloo and for several years was superintendent of the schools of this city and county and also county surveyor. Not long after his arrival he also engaged in the banking business, becoming a member of the firm of Ward, Bryan, Moore & Company, which conducted a private bank. The firm was in existence for about two years when Mr. Moore disposed of his interests and after a few months turned his attention to the lumber trade, establishing several mills near Waterloo and Cedar Falls, which he conducted until the year 1865. One of these still exists as the present Nauman Company. He was a man of determined purpose and carried forward to successful completion whatever he undertook. He enjoyed to the fullest extent the high regard and confidence of his fellow townsmen in Waterloo and it was with deep regret that they learned of his decision to remove to Dubuque in 1865. Mr. Moore, however, was the first president of the First National Bank of Waterloo and while a resident of the city he lived in a comfort-
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able home where the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific freight depot now stands, at the corner of West Second and Cedar streets, facing on the placid and picturesque Cedar river, about two blocks above the present mill dam. He was one of the best and the most progressive of the early residents of Black Hawk county and not only largely furthered business interests but was also well known for his wide charity that prompted his ready assistance to anyone in need.
Mr. Moore was married in Dubuque in 1856, at which time Miss Matilda P. Wheeler became his wife. She died in August, 1871, and on the 25th of May, 1876, at French Creek, he was again married, his second union being with Eliza- beth H. Radcliffe. His family numbered two sons and three daughters, A. A., Stanley, Kate, Annette, and Mrs. F. A. Post, of Le Mars, Iowa.
Mr. Moore spent his last days in Marshalltown and there passed away in 1904, his death resulting from injuries sustained in a street car accident a short time before. He had been a resident of Iowa for many years and in Waterloo, in Dubuque and in Marshalltown was remembered as a most valuable and worthy citizen. He was a man of strong mentality and association with him meant expan- sion and elevation. He wisely used the talents with which nature endowed him, made good use of his time and opportunities and as the years passed on left the impress of his individuality for good upon the history of the state.
NICHOLAS SCHMITZ.
Nicholas Schmitz is the proprietor of the Evergreen Stock Farm and is widely and favorably known as a leading stockman and farmer of Fox township. He was born near his present home, in 1864, and is a son of Jacob and Katrina ( Wel- ter ) Schmitz, both of whom were natives of Baden, Germany, the former born in 1834 and the latter in 1839. They came to the United States in 1858. Mr. Schmitz sailed for New Orleans and after leaving the Crescent City made his way up the river to Dubuque, whence he traveled overland to Black Hawk county. He found here a tract of wild prairie practically unbroken, the work of develop- ment and improvement having scarcely been begun. He began to break the sod with ox teams, having purchased land at four dollars per acre. In the course of time the work of the plow and the harrow were seen in well developed fields which grew in value as the years passed on, owing to the rapid settlement of the county, creating a demand for property, and also owing to the many improvements which he placed upon his land. As his financial resources increased he added to his original holdings until his property interests aggregated six hundred and forty acres. He continued to live upon his farm until his death, which occurred in 1900. His widow still survives and now occupies a beautiful and attractive home in Gilbertville which would be a credit to a city of the size of Waterloo. His political allegiance was given the democratic party and he was an active member of the Catholic church. He had a wide and favorable acquaintance and was popular among his many friends.
Nicholas Schmitz attended school in Gilbertville and in Fox township and through the period of his boyhood and youth he was trained to the work of the farm, early becoming familiar with the best methods of tilling the soil and caring
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for the crops. At the time of his marriage his father gave him a tract of land until he is now the owner of four hundred and twenty acres of very fine farm to which he has added from time to time as his financial resources permitted gratifying and desirable financial return. He also has other business interests, land. He feeds and raises Hereford cattle and is also extensively engaged in raising Duroc Jersey hogs, his annual sales of stock bringing to him a very being a stockholder in the German Savings Bank at Gilbertville and in the cream- ery company.
In 1888 Mr. Schmitz was joined in wedlock to Miss Margaret Kayser, a native of Buchanan county, Iowa, and a daughter of Gilliuame and Susan (Keitges) Kayser, who were born in Germany and now reside at Independence, Iowa. They emigrated to the United States after their marriage and took up their abode in Buchanan county, Iowa, where Mr. Kayser is widely recognized as a popular citizen and substantial agriculturist, owning two hundred and forty acres of valuable land. Mr. and Mrs. Schmitz are the parents of eight children, as fol- lows: Susan, who is the wife of Michael Jungen, a farmer of Fox township, by whom she has two children, Michael and Arnold; Leo; Cecelia; Alfred; Agnes ; Rosella ; Aloysious and Anthony.
The religious faith of the family is that of the Catholic church and Mr. Schmitz holds membership in the Roman Catholic Mutual Protective Association. His has been an active life crowned not only with substantial success but also with the regard and good-will of his fellowmen. The Evergreen Stock Farm is the visible evidence of his thrift and intelligently directed effort. Advancing steadily as the years have gone by, he is now numbered among the men of affluence in his com- munity and his worth is widely acknowledged by a circle of friends that is almost coextensive with the circle of his acquaintance.
ROBERT G. MUSSETT.
Robert G. Mussett devoted almost sixty years of his life to boiler making, in which connection he was well known as a representative of manufacturing and industrial interests in Waterloo for a considerable period, being proprietor of the Waterloo Steam Boiler Works. At the present time, however, he is living retired in the enjoyment of a rest which he has truly earned and richly deserves. He was born in Kilmarnock, Scotland, on the 10th of March, 1844, his parents being John and Jane (Mills) Mussett, who were likewise natives of the land of hills and heather, in which they spent their entire lives. The father was a weaver by trade and thus provided for the support of his family.
Robert G. Mussett was the eighth in order of birth in a family of nine children. He attended the schools of Kilmarnock but his educational opportunities were. quite limited, as he began working when but eight years of age, being first em- ployed in a tobacco factory in Scotland. When about twelve years of age he began learning the cabinetmaker's trade, which he followed for a year, but think- ing to find other pursuits more congenial, he then took up the trade of boiler making, at which he worked in Scotland and in England until he had attained his majority, being employed as a journeyman boiler maker. He then resolved to
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try his fortune in the new world and in 1865 crossed the Atlantic, establishing his home at Parkersburg, West Virginia. He afterward went to Chillicothe, Ohio, where he remained for about two years. Later he traveled over Texas and the southern states, also in Peru and other portions of South America, work- ing at his trade all of the time. The year 1899 witnessed his arrival in Iowa and he opened a boiler shop in Waterloo, known as the Waterloo Steam Boiler Works, for the manufacture of steam boilers, smoke stacks and sheet steel work of all descriptions. He remained actively and successfully in the business until 1913, when he retired from active labor in the factory. He devoted practically sixty years of his life to boiler making and there is no phase of the business with which he is not familiar. As success has attended his efforts he has made investment in real estate and is now the owner of property in Waterloo and also in Cook county, Illinois. The rest which he is now enjoying is indeed well deserved.
On the 10th of July, 1869. Mr. Mussett was united in marriage to Miss Martha Patton, a native of Paterson, New Jersey, and a daughter of Alexander and Martha Patton. The father was born in Glasgow, Scotland, while the mother's birth occurred in New York city. AAfter traveling life's journey together for more than forty years Mr. and Mrs. Mussett were separated in the death of the wife on the 22d of February, 1910. They were the parents of six children, namely : John, who is deceased ; Robert T., residing in Waterloo, who conducts his father's factory ; James, who has passed away ; William, who is associated in business with his brother Robert: Adam, deceased; and Martha, who is employed as a ste- nographer and who resides with her father in Waterloo.
Mr. Mussett exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the republican party but political office has never had attraction for him. He attends the Presbyterian church but is not a member of any lodges or clubs. He feels that he is now permanently located in Waterloo, expecting to spend his remaining days here. His life has indeed been an active one and there are many interesting chapters in the record, for his travels have taken him into various sections of the world and brought him many experiences.
HARVEY WILLIAM DEAN.
Harvey William Dean, a well known contractor of Waterloo, was born in Waverly on the 21st of June, 1873, a son of George R. and Helen (Chamberlain ) Dean, both natives of the Empire state. In 1856, after their marriage, they came to Iowa and located at Waverly, where the father engaged in teaching school for some time. He subsequently became identified with agricultural pursuits and for a number of years was a prosperous and successful farmer. He passed to his reward in 1901. His widow is making her home with the subject of this review. To their union were born nine children, six of whom died in childhood. Charles A. is a carpenter of Waterloo and has six children. Emma, deceased, became the wife of Charles H. Shepherd, a resident of Vermont. Harvey William, of this review, is the youngest of the family.
The last named attended the district schools in the neighborhod of Waverly until he was a youth of seventeen. As soon as he was old enough he began assist-
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ing his father with the plowing and with other farm work and as his strength increased he did more and more of a man's work, so that by the time he reached maturity he was an efficient agriculturist. He engaged in farming until twenty- eight years of age, when he learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed until 1908. In that year he turned his attention to general contracting and in the spring of 1914 located in Waterloo, where he formed a partnership with H. S. McVey under the firm name of Dean & McVey. After several months Mr. Dean purchased the interest of his partner and has since remained alone in the busi- ness. He takes contracts for erecting buildings of all kinds and also builds houses which he later sells, and as his interests are well managed his business yields him a good profit annually. He owns a number of valuable residence prop- erties in Waterloo and is one of the well-to-do men of the city.
On the 3d of October, 1911, Mr. Dean was married to Miss Mary Ivens, who was born in Wisconsin, a daughter of Charles and Lucy (Collins) Ivens, who in 1908 removed to Iowa. Her father died on the IIth of March, 1912, and her mother is now living in Seattle, Washington. To Mr. and Mrs. Dean has been born a daughter, Leone Mildred, whose natal day was June 3, 1914. Mr. Dean takes a citizen's interest in affairs of government. He is not active in politics, however, as he finds that his business demands his entire time and attention and as he believes that in carefully managing his own affairs he is also contributing to the growth and expansion of Waterloo, and his initiative and enterprise are making him one of the leading contractors of the city.
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