History of Butler and Bremer counties, Iowa, Part 137

Author: Union publishing company, Springfield, Ill
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Springfield, Ill., Union publishing company
Number of Pages: 1316

USA > Iowa > Butler County > History of Butler and Bremer counties, Iowa > Part 137
USA > Iowa > Bremer County > History of Butler and Bremer counties, Iowa > Part 137

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Adam Broadie, one of the pioneers of Bremer county, was born in Chatham, Province of Quebec, May 24th, 1824. When eighteen years old, he was appren- ticed to a blacksmith, and served three years. In 1850, he emigrated to Winne-

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bago county, Illinois, and thence, after a short time, to LaSalle county, where he was employed on the Illinois Central rail- road. His marriage with Miss Jane Steen took place in Winnebago county. In 1855, he removed to Bremer county, Iowa, locating in Leroy township, where he worked at his trade and also engaged in farming. Mr. Broadie was the first black- smith to settle in that portion of the county, the nearest shops to him being in Waverly and West Union. Ten years later, he set- tled in Waverly, and has since followed his trade. He votos the republican ticket, and has held offices of trust, being at the present time a member of the council.

A good blacksmith of Waverly is Wil- liam Mooney, who was born in County Antrim, Ireland, during 1836. His father, Alexander Mooney, was by occupation a blacksmith, and William partially learned the tradc in early life. When sixteen years old, he came to the United States, locating in New York City, where he com- pleted his apprenticeship. In March, of 1856, he removed to Chicago, and therice, after a short time,to Independence, Buchan- an county, Iowa. The following spring he settled in Waverly, Bremer county, and immediately began working at his trade. Mr. Mooney is to-day the oldest smith doing business in the town. He was united in marriage with Miss Mary Smith, a daughter of William O. Smith, who is a pioneer of Bremer county. Five children were born to them, two of whom, Nellie and Bessie, are now living. The family are members of the Catholic church.

J. H. Christiern, a blacksmith of Wa- verly, was born in Rochester, New York, September 13, 1827. When fourteen years

of age he was apprenticed to a carriage- maker, with whom he spent three years. When eighteen years of age,he shipped on board the old frigate "United States," which was commanded by Commodore Reed and Captain Smoot. He visited the coast of Africa, and then sailed to the Mediterranean Sea. He was in Franee in 1848, at the time that country was declared a Republic, and Napoleon elected Presi- dent. About the year 1852, Mr. Christiern returned to Rochester, and three years later removed to Madison, Wisconsin, where he was employed in the carriage shops of Bird & Baird. During the war he was employed by the government, be- ing stationed at Chattanooga, and, a part of the time, at Marshville. In 1868 he came to Bremer county, Iowa, and was employed by R. S. Bently, carriage-maker. While working for that gentleman he ironed the first sulky and buggy that ever took a premium in a Bremer county fair. He married Miss Annie Melone. Two children-William and Harriet-blessed this union.

It is claimed that the first wagon shop was started by Steplien Pelton, in 1856. He opened a shop on West Water street. Horton Holbrook, Miles Comstock and Charles B. Taylor, were early engaged in this business. The present representatives of this branch of industry are Peter Neil- sen, who established in 1878 ; John H. Hollenbeck, 1877 ; B. Schimitt, 1874, and Henry Christiern, 1882.

The first millinery shop was opened by a Miss Woodruff, who was also a dress- maker. Mrs. R. J. Ellsworth handled this line of goods for many years, and Mrs. Andrews was among the first in the busi-

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ness. At present the following represent the trade : Mrs. Kohn, Mrs. Mary Bocquet and Mrs. Clark, who is a dressmaker also.

Among the first barbers were Frank Kiernan and Jake Long, who are still here. John Dickinson was also here a few years. At present writing, there are three shops, by Reiter & Smith, Mr. and Mrs. Lines and J. Long.

The first furniture dealer was Jack Hoff- man, who brought in a few cane bottom chairs and exposed them for sale in 1856. Anson Case was also in this trade at an early day, as was David Milburn. The present representatives of this line are John Wagner and the Woodring Brothers, who also manufacture furniture.

J. F. Woodring, of the firm of Wood- ring Brothers, was born in Northampton county, Pennsylvania, in February, 1837, where he lived until the age of nine years. In 1846, he left his native county with his parents and settled in Union county, the same State, where he resided until 1851, when he emigrated to Stephen- son county, Ill. His education was con- fined to the common schools of the day, attending them the greater part of the time until he was sixteen years of age. His father being a cabinet-maker, J. F. took a liking to that business; accordingly, at the age of sixteen, he commenced to learn the trade, working at it in Stephen- son county four years, after which he spent one year in Kansas, during the border troubles, then returned to Illinois, where he was engaged in the furniture and cabinet business in Winnebago county, until 1862, when he entered the army in the Seventy-fourth Illinois Volunteer In- fantry, as corporal. He was detailed as

color guard, serving as such the entire length of time he was in the army -- one year. The only battle he was in of impor- tance was the battle of Perryville. After receiving his discharge, he again returned to Winnebago county, where he was en- gaged in the furniture business until 1865, when he came to Iowa, settling in Waverly, where, in company with his brother Henry, he purchased the furniture establishment, owned and operated at the time by Mores Bros. Their principal place of business was then located on East Water street, back of the present postoffice, and in the building now occupied by them for manu- facturing purposes. There they continued until 1877, when they moved into the fine store on Main street, now occupied by them. The business conducted by this enterpris- ing firm, is the largest in this or any of the surrounding counties. The build- ing on Main street, where their sales- room is located, is 132 feet in depth, 23 in width, two stories high, with basement, all of which is packed full of every article known to the trade, the greater part of which is turned out of their extensive manufactory on East Water street, where they keep ten men constantly employed in turning out goods for their rapidly increasing trade. In con- nection with the furniture trade, Mr. Woodring does a general undertaking bus- iness, and for the accommodation of the public, has one of the finest hearses in the west, the cost of which was about $900. We also find in their main salesroom, a large variety of musical instruments, such as pianos, organs, violins, etc. This de- partment is under the management of Thomas Woodring, another brother, who

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thoroughly understands this branch of the business. Aside from this, they also own a furniture store at Sumner, under the management of Peter Woodring, also a brother of the subject of this sketch. Mr. Woodring was married in 1860 to Miss Mary E. Mckinley, a native of Illinois; they are the parents of three children -- Laura, Nettie and William. Mr. Wood- ring is a member of Tyrrell Lodge, No. 116, A. F. and A. M., also of the United Workmen, and of the Legion of Honor ; he is one of the trustees of the Workmen lodge. He is a member of the Methodist church, being the oldest member of the choir of that church.

John Wagner, a furniture dealer of Waverly, is a native of Prussia. When he was twenty years old the family emi- grated to the United States, locating in Freeport, Illinois, where John followed the trade of a cabinet maker for seven years. He was also married in that city, in 1865, to Miss Caroline Marshall, who was born in Prussia during 1843. Five children-Eddie, Willie, Mary, John'and Annie-have been born to them. In 1867, Mr. Wagner removed with his family to Waverly, Bremer county, where, soon after his settlement, he opened a furniture store, and now carries a stock worth about $2,000. He is a fair and square business man, and enjoys a liberal trade. The family are members of the Evangelical Association, and Mr. Wagner is a member of the A. O. U. W.

The first hotel was kept by J. J. Smith, as is stated elsewhere. He moved into the house which had been erected by W. P. Harmon and R. J. Ellsworth, in June, 1854, and thereafter kept all travel-

ers who chanced this way. Previous to this, Frederick Cretzmeyer had lodged such travelers as could find no other ac- commodations. Smith at once commenced the erection of what is now the Bremer House. It was finished in 1855, and M. J. Burnett, the carpenter, first occupied it and kept boarders. This hotel is still stand- ing, and is run in good shape by A. Fortner. The other hotels are the Waverly House, kept by Charles Kinnie, erected about 1865, by Andrew Dailey; Centennial Hotel, kept by A. VanOrdstrand and Mickley, erected several years ago by John Acken. The Ida House was kept by E. F. Tabor. It is now closed. There are several board- ing houses, among which are Mrs. Mar- garet Broughton and Mrs. Frank Wood- ring. The principal hotel, however, is the Bremer House. It stands near the center of the business portion of the city.

A. Fortner, proprietor of the Bremer House, was born August 9, 1835, in Alle- ghany county, New York. He is a son of Thomas and Margaret (Hill) Fortner, who emigrated to Bremer county in 1854, locat- ing in Franklin township, which was then a wild and unbroken country. Their son, of whom we write, started in life as a pioneer. In 1858 he was joined in wed- lock with Miss Clarissa J. Wilson, a daughter of Samuel Wilson, of Buchanan county, Iowa. She was born in Clarion, Pennsylvania, September 15, 1840. Five children have been born to them, three of whom are now living-Elbert, who is a graduate of the Iowa State Agricultural College at Ames, and now attending his first course of lectures at the Chicago Med- ical College; Elroy B., and Frank Ellis. Shortly after his marriage Mr. Fortner be-

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came a tiller of the soil, and continued to pursue that occupation until 1865, when he came to Waverly and became proprietor of the Cedar Valley Hotel. In 1878 he pur- chased the Bremer House, where he still continues "mine genial host." For many years he has been a member of the Masonic Order.

The first bank in Waverly was estab- lished by the Hon. Emmons Johnson, aided by Messrs. Leavitt & Lush, of Waterloo. It was in a building where Rogers & Viner's dry goods store is, and was after- ward removed to where the Bremer county block now stands. Emmons Johnson is now in Waterloo. The present banking institutions are the Bank of Waverly, and Bremer County Bank.

The Bank of Waverly, successors of Bowman Bros. & Burr, was established in 1870, and reorganized under existing State laws in March, 1876. The institution was reorganized with a sub- scribed capital of $200,000, of which $50,- 000 was paid up. The official manage- ment of the concern is vested as follows: President, J. H. Bowman; vice-president, S. R. Hunt; cashier, H. S. Burr. The officers and stockholders are all residents of this vicinity, and the representatives of property interests aggregating more than a million dollars. The gentlemen com- prising the official head of the institution are known throughout this section of the State for reliability and probity of charac- ter, as well as men of wealth and extensive business experience. The president, Mr. Bowman, is of the firm of Bowman Bros., stock men. Mr. Hunt and Mr. Burr have been identified with Waverly business interests for many years. As regards the

transaction of all business pertaining to banks and banking, no establishment in the State is better facilitated for doing business. Briefly, this institution is re- garded as one of the staunch and reliable fixtures of Bremer's business interests, and entitled to the unlimited confidence of the public.

J. H. Bowman, one of the enterprising business men of Waverly, was born in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, on the 23d day of October, 1848. He is the son of Goodloe H. and Jane C. (Smith) Bowman. His father was a native of Fayette county, Pennsylvania, and mother of Berks county, Pennsylvania. There were five children, all of whom were born in the same county. His grandfather was the first president of the Monongahela Bank, chartered in 1812. James L. Bowman was second president. His father was presi- dent up to the time of his death, in Janu- ary, 1865. His mother died in August, 1867. J. H. Bowman's education was com- pleted by three years' attendance at the mil- itary academy at West Chester, Pennsylva- nia. When nineteen years old, his father's health failed and he was called home to take charge of the outside business. Mr. Bowman came to this State in 1866, and in 1869 located in Bremer county, where he has since resided. In November, 1872, he married Miss Caroline Snowden Jacobs, a daughter of Adam and Ann Jacobs, of Brownsville, Fayette county, Pennsylva- nia. By this union there are five child- ren-Jane, Vaughan, Goodloe H., Ann Jacobs, Margaretta Vaughn. The follow- ing sketch of G. H. Bowman is from the History of Fayette County, Pennsylvania.

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"The late Mr. Goodloe H. Bowman, of Brownsville, who died January 30th, 1876, was of German and Irish extraction. His father, Jacob Bowman, was born in Wash- ington county, then Frederick county, Maryland, near Hagerstown, June, 1763. In 1787, he married Isabella Lowry, who was of Scotch descent and was born in Donegal, Ireland, and came to America when seventeen years old. Goodloe Har- per Bowman, was the seventh child and the third son of this union, and was born April 20th, 1803. He was reared and educated in Brownsville, and entered upon active busi- ness life as a merchant about the age of twenty years, and continued in merchandis- ing, in partnership with his brother, until 1855, when he relinquished the business and gave his attention principally to the affairs of the Monongahela Bank, of Brownsville, of which bank he was elected president in 1857, and continued such to the time of his death, immediately succeeding his elder brother, James L. Bowman, in the presidency thereof, as the latter had suc- ceeded his father Jacob Bowman, who was the first president of the bank. January 9, 1840, Mr. Bowman married Miss Jane Correy Smith, of Reading, Berks county, Pennsylvania, by whom he had five child- ren, Isabel Lowry, James Lowry, John Howard, Ann Sweitzer and William Rob- ert. Mr. Bowman, like his father, was an active member and supporter of the Pro- testant Episcopal church, and for many years senior warden of Christ church, Brownsville. He was in politics a whig, in early life, and became an ardent repub- lican and contributed liberally to the sup- port of the union cause during the late re- bellion."

Henry S. Burr, cashier of the Bank of Waverly, Iowa, was born in Berkshire county, Massachusetts, on the 26th day of May, 1839. He was educated in the schools of his native State, his business education being attained at Eastman's Commercial College, where he graduated in 1864. His early life was spent on a farm in Massachusetts until he came to Iowa, in 1864, locating at Waterloo, where he was employed in the county clerk's office, his brother-in-law being clerk. He remained there but four months, and about the 1st of January, 1865, came to Waverly, where he entered the bank of Johnson, Leavitt & Company, as book-keeper, re- maining in their employ for five years. In August, 1870, J. B. Bowman and H. S. Burr opened a private bank under the name of Bowman & Burr, operating as such until 1876, when they organized a stock company as the bank of Waverly, since which time Mr. Burr has held the position of cashier. He is also one of the stockholders. £ He married Fannie A. Smilie, of Cambridge, LaMoille county, Vermont, born in 1848. She is a daughter of Francis Smilie and a niece of Henry Smilie, both of Cambridge, Vermont, the latter one of the leading men of that city. By this union there were five children, three of whom are living-Mary A., born October 8, 1873; Henry S., Jr., born De- cember 9, 1875; Clarence B., born May 21, 1881. In 1874, Mr. Burr lost his mother, but his father still lives in Berk- shire county, Massachusetts, on the old homestead where Mr. Burr was born. Mr. Burr is, and always has been, identified with the republican party. He has been treasurer of the city school for about eight

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years. He is a member of the Masonic Fraternity, Tyrrell Lodge, No. 116, of Waverly.

The Bremer County Bank was organized under existing State laws, in 1870, and at once assumed, and still maintains a perma- nent place in the banking interests in this section, and is a most valuable adjunct to commercial interest.

The subscribed capital stock of the institution is $100,000, paid-up capital $50,000. The facilities for transacting all business pertaining to the banking system are unsurpassed, and in its con- struction and organization, everything has been considered calculated to enhance the interest and security of those so fortunate as to be numbered among its patrons. The official management of the institution is vested as follows: President, N. B. Ridgeway, Vice President, N. P. Ellis, Cashier, L. L. Lush. The officers, direct- ors and stockholders are nearly all resi- dents of the county, many of them men of large property connections and well known throughout this section of the country for reliability and integrity of character. A general banking business is transacted, as in National banks, except in the mere matter of the issue of money. They deal in foreign and domestic exchange, and have most excellent facilities for making collections, which is a prominent feature.

The incorporators of the Bremer county bank, were D. P. Holt, A. Slimmer, Joe Rosenbaum, William Trowbridge, S. R. Hunt, Clark Fairfield, William C. Holt and N. P. Ellis.

The first officers were D. P. Holt, pres- ident, N. P. Ellis, vice-president, Joe Rosenbaum, cashier.

Abram Slimmers was born in Germany in September, 1835. He came to America in 1850, landing in New York, where he remained but a short time. He followed different occupations until the fall of 1860, when he came to Iowa from Arkansas. He first settled at Jessup, Buchanan county, where he associated himself with S. F. Searles in the buying and shipping of cat- tle, which continued until the fall of 1861, when he went to Cedar Falls, where he became associated with a firm in Wiscon- sin for the purpose of buying furs in this State and in the northwestern Territories, with headquarters at Fort Dodge. In this he continued until the following spring, and then engaged in his former occupa- tion, with headquarters at Cedar Falls; at the same time operating largely in Ne- braska, Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Missouri, through different parties. There he remained until the fall of 1863, when he removed to Waverly, where he became associated with Morris & Rosenbaum, for- merly of Cedar Falls, Iowa, for the pur- pose of carrying on the stock business on a larger scale. He remained in partner- ship with them several years, in that busi- ness, and in 1867 he formed a business con- nection with A. V. Bass, of Dixon; Illi- nois, for the purpose of opening and im- proving farms in southwestern Iowa; Mr. Bass superintending the same and Mr. Slimmer furnishing the capital. They at once opened a farm of 1280 acres in Fre- mont county, and about the same time open- ed several other farms in different parts of Iowa. No other man in this part of the State has been so largely interested in the opening and developing of the farming interests in the State. While he was en-

Very Jung A.F. Brown

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gaged in the stock trade he did as much or more business than any man in the State. He was instrumental in organizing the Bremer County Bank, of Waverly, in 1870, of which he was one of the largest stockholders, and at his suggestion, D. P. Hoit was elected as president, but soon after resigned and Mr. Slimmer was elect- ed in his place, and continued to hold that office until he resigned. In August, 1872, Mr. Slimmer was instrumental in incorpo- rating the Bank of Nashua, Iowa, of which he was one of the principal stockholders and vice-president, continuing until it was consolidated with the First National Bank of the same place, of which he is a large stockholder. In June, 1871, he was in- strumental in organizing the Butler County Bank, of Clarksville, Iowa, of which he was a director and a large· stockholder; continued until the entire stock of the bank was purchased by himself and his nephew, Louis Slimmer, of Clarksville, and which is now run under the name of Butler County Bank, Louis Slimmer & Company, proprietors. In February, 1875, he bought the bank of C. V. McClure, of Greene, at which time he was instrumental in incorporating the Shell Rock Valley Bank, of Shell Rock, with a capital of $50,000, and of which he is the larg- est. stockholder. Soon after the bank was organized he was elected president, which office he still continues to hold. In 1881 he was instrumental in starting the bank of Allison, Iowa, of which he is at present one of the principal owners. In 1876 Mr. Slimmer started an extensive lumber yard in Waverly, in company with others, and about the same time engaged in the manufacturing of lumber at Wausau,

Wisconsin, large quantities of which was shipped to their distributing yard at Wa- verly, and the balance to different parts of this and other States. He is also associ- ated with the Bremer County Horse Im- porting Company, in which he owns a one- fourth interest. It would seem by the many business interests above mentioned, that there would be no ground for enlarg- ing upon the business capacity of the sub- ject of this sketch; but it is nevertheless true that these are but a few of the busi- ness enterprises in which he has been, and is still engaged. In fact, it would be hard to find a business enterprise of any great importance, in either Bremer or Butler counties, in which the hand and heart of this self-made man has not been prominent. In politics Mr. Slimmer was a strong re- publican, up to the Greeley movement, in 1872, when he joined the Grecley party, and has since been independent in politics, voting for the best man. Bitterly opposed to caucuses and jobbery in politics, of any kind, he has never been known to hold, or even accept, a political office. Having been born under a monarchical form of government, he appreciates the govern- ment like the one he finds in his adopted country. In 1872 he was appointed trustee of the Dubuque and Dakota Rail- road, which office he held until 1874. In religion he is a strong Liberal ; desiring each to worship God according to the dictates of his own conscience, and respect- ing him for so doing. He is a liberal in more than one sense of the word, giving largely to the support of religious denomi- nations of different kinds; indeed,his liber- ality is seen in every public enterprise; no one asks of him, but receives, none are

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turned away empty-handed. In 1873, Mr. Slimmer took a trip to Europe in company with his sister, traveling through Italy, Switzerland, Germany and France, return- ing in November, 1874. In this trip of over a year he spent $13,200, giving $6,000 to the poor. Though an active business man, Mr. Slimmer is a lover of the beauti- ful, whether it be produced by the hand of nature or man. In fine art lie takes great pleasure; this can be plainly seen by visit- ing his elegant residence, which was erect- ed in 1878, regardless of money consider- ation. From the exterior, one forms an opinion that the resident there, is a man of culture and taste, but not until he passes to the interior does he obtain a correct idea of the true taste of the builder. The residence is furnished with all the modern improvements and decorated with the finest work of art, Mr. Slimmer often paying exorbitant prices for works that pleased the eye. The beautiful ground of fourteen acres surrounding this elegant residence is decorated with every conceiv- able kind of shrubbery and foliage. Such a home as this, is one of which any man might be proud.

L. L. Lush, Cashier of the Bremer Coun- ty Bank, was born in Erie county, New York, July 14, 1842, and is the son of Hiram and Jane Thompson Lush, who also were natives of New York. He spent his boyhood on his father's farm in McHenry county, Illinois, where the family emi- grated when he was about two years of age. His early education was received in the common schools of that county, under great difficulties, the family living about two miles from the nearest school house. He was obliged to walk that distance every

day during the winter, to and from school. During the winter of his fourteenth, fif_ teenth and sixteenth years, he was not only compelled to walk that distance, but in order to pay his way did chores for his board. Aside from that, during the winter term, he chopped wood enough to supply the family for a year. He first came to Iowa in 1859, settling in Butler county, near Parkersburg ; afterwhich he completed his education at Cedar Valley Seminary, at Osage, Iowa, about- 1864, where he also did chores to pay his way. It will thus be seen that his education was received under great difficulties. In 1862, he came to Bremer county and settled in Washington township, where after com- pleting his education, he continued to farm until 1867, when he received the appoint- ment of deputy county treasurer of Bre- mer county, which position he held until 1872. In February of that year he ac- cepted the position of assistant cashier of Bremer County Bank, which office he held until January 1, 1880, when he was elected cashier of the same institution, which po- sition he has faithfully filled to the present time. Aside from this, Mr. Lush has held various local offices, such as city clerk, city treasurer, etc. He is a member of Tyrell lodge, No. 116, of which he has been treas- urer about five years. Previous to this, he was secretary for about the same length of time. He is also a member of Royal Arch Chapter, No. 24, of which he was secretary for three or four years, and has been treas- urer for the past five years. He is a mem- ber of the A. O. U. W., of which he has been treasurer since its organization ; also a member of the Iowa Legion of Honor, and been treasurer since its organization

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History of Butler and Bremer counties, Iowa, Part 137

Author: Union publishing company, Springfield, Ill Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Springfield, Ill., Union publishing company Number of Pages: 1316

Author: Union publishing company, Springfield, Ill
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Springfield, Ill., Union publishing company
Number of Pages: 1316