History of Butler and Bremer counties, Iowa, Part 97

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 97
USA > Iowa > Bremer County > History of Butler and Bremer counties, Iowa > Part 97

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

E. L. Smalley is also among the promi- nent members of the Bar of Bremer county. He was born in Muncy, Lycom- ing county, Penn., January 23d, 1847, a son of John Smalley, a Presbyterian min- ister, who for many years filled the pulpit for that denomination, and was proprietor and principal of the Muncy Female Semi-

nary. In 1855 the family removed to But- ler county, Pa., and two years later they came to Bremer county, Ia., locating at Waverly, where Mr. Smalley, senior, was instrumental in raising funds for the erec- tion of the Presbyterian Church of Wav- erly, filling the pulpit there for ten years. In 1865 he purchased a farm in Warren township, where he removed and remained until his death, which occurred in 1879. He was a man of culture, broad intellect, and much esteemed by all who knew him. He was a republican in politics, and for a number of years represented his township in the county board.

The subject of this sketch was educated in the Muncy and at Weatherspoon Insti- tutes. In 1869, and 1870, he attended Hanover College at Hanover, Ind., in the .

meantime reading law, and on Nov. 17th, 1874, was admitted to the Bar. In 1871 he was married to Miss Louisa Gasaway, of Madison, Jefferson county, Ind. Mr. and Mrs. Smalley are members of the Methodist Church. Mr. Smalley does ab- stract real estate and a law business. He is a successful lawyer, well-read, a good orator and a hard worker.

M. B. Dougherty, of Waverly, Iowa, was born in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, on the 1st day of February, 1844. He is a son of D. B. Dougherty, who emigrated to Bremer county, Iowa, locating at Janes- ville, Jackson township, where he engaged in farming being among the earliest settlers of the county. His mother was Eliza Crail. Mr. and Mrs. Dougherty were the parents of five children-Eli M., merchant at Janesville; Edward C., secretary and treasurer of the Spanish- American Curled Hair Company, of Chi-

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cago; Sarah, wife of Dr. Bradford, of Janes- ville; Eliza J., wife of A. S. McMullen, edi- tor of the Vandale Journal, of Minnesota. M. B. received an academacal education. January 1, 1867, when twenty-two years of age, he entered the office of Judge Rud- dick & Judge Avery to study law. He was admitted to the Bar in September, 1869. January 1, 1870, he entered into partnership with Judge Avery and H. H. Gray, and the firm was Avery, Dougherty & Gray. This partnership lasted until the 1st day of June, of the same year, when Judge Avery died, and the firm was changed to Gray & Dougherty. In 1873 they took into partnership with them Mr. Gibson, when the style of the firm became Gray, Dougherty & Gibson. In February, 1881, Gibson retired from the firm. In October, 1871, M. B. Dougherty was mar- ried to Miss Mary E. Caldwell, by whom he has two children - Amy L., and Mary E. C. Mrs. Dougherty died in April, 1876. She was a consistent member of the M. E. Church, loved and respected by all who knew her. Mr. Dougherty is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and Ancient Order of United Workmen.

D. T. Gibson, of the law firm of Gibson & Dawson, was born in Chautauqua county, New York, May 1844; the son of S. C. and Martha (Hall) Gibson. His father is a leading physician of that county, still in practice, having been in constant service there for over forty years; his mother died when he was quite young. His early life was spent in his native county, where he received an academic education, spending three years at Oxford Academy and for some time taught by a private tutor. When about eighteen years of age, having

developed a taste for the legal profession, he entered the law office of Henry R. My- gatt, of Oxford, for the purpose of fitting himself for the practice of law, where he continued some time. Subsequently he emigrated to Wisconsin, where in 1868 he was admitted to the bar, before Judge Stewart He followed his profession in Madison until the spring of 1870, when he moved to Mason City, Iowa, where he con- tinued his practice for two years, then, in 1872, coming to Waverly, where he asso- ciated himself with John E. Burke, under the firm name of Burke & Gibson. After one year the partnership was disolved, Mr. Gibson associating himself with Gray & Dougherty. Here he continued for eight years, when he withdrew and formed a partnership with E. A. Dawson, under the name of Gibson & Dawson. It may be said that this firm has the most extended law practice of any firm in the county. Both are men of great popularity, having hosts of friends. Mr. Gibson, although an ardent republican, has never entered the field as a politician, yet some of the minor offices have been crowded upon him. He served during the war, as a Union soldier, in the Ninetieth New York Volunteer In- fantry, enlisting soon after arriving at the age of twenty-one years. In 1873 he was married to Miss Elizabeth A. Hazelton, a native of the State of New York.

E. A. Dawson, of the law firm of Gibson & Dawson, is the son of Edward and Catherine Dawson, who were pioneers of Albion township, Butler county, having settled there in 1856. He was born in Trumbull county, Ohio, March 22, 1853. When about one year old his parents emi- grated to Delaware county, Iowa, remain-

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HISTORY OF BREMER COUNTY.

ing until 1856, when they removed to But- ler county and settled in Albion township. There, on his father's farm, the early life of young Dawson was spent. He worked on his father's farm, attending the comman schools. Early in his boyhood days he developed a taste for books. He was encouraged by his parents, who furnished , him such books as would benefit him both morally and intellectually. In 1872, he entered the University of Upper Iowa, at Fayette, where he completed his education in 1874, excepting a business course at Bailey's Commercial College, at Dubu- que. Previous to this he aspired to the legal profession, and had from time to time made a study of law books. In 1875, he determined to make the legal profes- sion his life work, and that year came to Waverly and entered the law office of Gray, Dougherty and Gibson, where he diligently applied his time in the study of the law, until the fall of 1877, when he was admitted to the Bar, before Hon. G. W. Ruddick. He continued in this office until January 1, 1878, when he formed a partnership with A. O. Call and E. R. Carr, under the firm name of Call, Carr & Dawson; later the firm became Call & Dawson, and in the fall of 1879, Mr. Daw- son succeeded to the entire business, con- tinuing alone until March, 1881, when he formed a partnership with D. F. Gib- son, which partnership still continues. This firm stands at the head of the legal profession in Bremer county. Their suite · of rooms and library are the finest in the city, and would be a credit to a larger town than Waverly. Mr. Dawson is a ris- ing young man, and if health does not fail him, is sure to distinguish himself in his

profession .. He has been employed on one side of every important criminal case, in the county, since admitted to the Bar; he is a careful and conscientious counselor, an able and eloquent advocate; always pleasant and agreeable, and when he forms the acquaintance of a man, he makes that man his friend; and it has often been re- marked in the presence of the writer, that "Ed. Dawson has more warm friends than any other man in Bremer county."

Alfred F. Brown was born December 8, 1828, near Zanesville, Muskingum county, Ohio. His paternal grandparents emi- grated to and established their home at the place of his birth while that State was a territory. After their death the farm was purchased by his father, who contin- ued to reside there until his death. The names of the parents of the subject of this shetch, were Parley and Rachel (Evans) Brown; both died upon the old farm. They raised a family of thirteen children -Elizabeth, Lucretia, Amasa, Mary,James, Harriet, Henry, Parley, Rachel, Ann, Al- fred F., Hiram and Robert Franklin. £ It is a subject of pleasurable pride to the sur- viving members of the family, that the old homestead on which all the family were born, still remains family property. In- dustrious, prudent and frugal as his par- ents were, it was impossible for them to do more than to give to each of so large a family, anything more than a common school education, each one being required to do a share of the farm labor. Notwith- standing this limitation upon the opportu- nity of acquiring knowledge, Amasa and James succeeded in fitting for an honorable and successful practice of medicine, the latter becoming an M. D.

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HISTORY OF BREMER COUNTY.

At an early age, Alfred developed a a fondness for books. This desire for the acquisition of knowledge, made him dissat- isfied with the order of business on the farm, and to form a plan for independent action. A plan he immediately matured and executed in March, 1842. He left the home of his parents at the age of fourteen years and traveled on foot to the city of Columbus, a distance of sixty miles. The writer has often heard him relate, that during that lonely "march," he ate but one meal, and this at the close of the first day, at the house of a friend of the family with whom he spent the night. So anxious was he for the success of his plan, and fearing a "hot pursuit" from home, that he renewed his walk without waiting to be refreshed with a breakfast. One incident of this day's walk is worthy to be pre- sented. The weary march had been con- tinued until about noon, when the demand for dinner had become imperative. Too poor to buy a dinner and too proud to beg, was a situation in the highest degree per- plexing. Arriving opposite a large brick farm house, he approached the woman of the house and told his errand. To his ut- ter confusion she replied in a language unintelligible to him. At this juncture the farmer came in, who, understanding the request, spoke to his wife, who there- upon cut from a loaf of bread a "chunk," which she unceremoniously handed the traveler .- Reaching the road with his din- ner in his hand, he made several attempts to bite the bread, finally concluding that the process of eating it would be more ex- hausting than the hard bread would be refreshing. The chunk was thrown upon the roadside and the journey continued,

reaching Columbus before sunset. Ob- taining the situation of "devil" in the . office of the Herald, the next day he began to learn the art of type-setting. Af- ter about six weeks he returned home at the urgent call of his mother, who had devised another plan of life for him; Yielding to her desire, he entered a select school at Chandlersville, in his native county. In the fall of 1844 he began teaching a district school near home, and from this time until the completion of his study of the law, and his admission to the Bar, he taught school frequently. He was admitted to practice law, in the spring of 1848, by the supreme court of Ohio, after studying for two years with Hon. Richard Stilwell and Judge Seal at Zanesville, Ohio. Whatever educational attainments he has acquired is due to his own efforts, aided by the advice and limited patronage of a noble mother. Soon after his admis- sion to the Bar, he emigrated to Iowa, where he has continued to reside. In 1852 and 1853 he edited a newspaper, called The News Letter, at Rochester, in Cedar county. At that time Rochester was com- peting with Tipton for the county seat. Upon the termination of that question in favor of Tipton, The News Letter office was purchased by parties residing at Cedar Falls, in Black Hawk county, and moved, in the summer of 1854. Upon severing his connection with the paper, in the spring of 1855, Mr. Brown devoted his time ex- clusively to the practice of his profession, soon acquiring a large and lucrative busi- ness. Having been raised in a whig fam- ily, he remained such until the organiza- tion of the republican party, to which he allied himself. In 1856 his friends pre-

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HISTORY OF BREMER COUNTY.

sented his name as a candidate for dele- gate to the constitutional convention of Iowa, but was beaten by one vote, by James Trayner, of Vinton. In 1859 he received the nomination and was elected to the State Senate, in the district composed of the counties of Black Hawk, Butler, Frank- lin and Grundy. In this body he held honorable rank, in which his compeers were able and distinguished. During the ses- sion of 1862, the bill to grant certain lands to the Des Moines River Improvement Com- pany was considered. He delivered a speech in the Senate chamber, in defense of the settlers upon these lands, which was highly commended for the clear and forci- ble manner in which the objections to the bill were stated. The estimation in which he was held, may be realized by reference to the following extract from the corre- spondent of the Dubuque Times: "That plump, rather stout gentleman, who has just risen to speak on the supervisors' bill, is Hon. A. F. Brown, the efficient and able Senator from Black Hawk county. He is, perhaps, thirty years of age, weight 150 pounds, and is the least trifle below the medium height. He dresses rather neatly, presents a smoothly shaven phiz., a fine blue eye, and is, decidedly, a good-looking man. He has pursued a most judicious course during the present session, speaking seldom, but laboring hard in committees. when he does speak, however, he is clear, able and eloquent, and always commands the attention of the Senate." In 1860 he he was a delegate from Iowa to the repub- lican national convention at Chicago, when Lincoln was nominated. The following testimonial, from the pen of Judge Bogg, of Waterloo, in Commercial Law Register,

1876, will be recognized as just by those who know him: "As a lawyer he is more than ordinarily efficient, intelligent, and learned; true and faithful to the contracts of his clients, and as an advocate he has few superiors in this vicinity; ready, earn- est and convincing as an associate or op- ponent, and to the bench uniformly courte- ous and obliging." In the spring of 1877, Mr. Brown removed from Cedar Falls to Waverly, where he has resided since, de- voting his time and talent to his profes- sion with eminent success. Since his resi- dence here he has been twice elected city solicitor of Waverly, an office which he now fills. In the fall of 1867, he married Miss Jennie McCall, who has since that time presided over his home.

. George E. Walker, attorney-at-law, was born in New York city, October 14th, 1837. He graduated from the law department of Columbia College in 1863. During the year of 1878 he removed to Dubuque, Ia., where he remained two years and then settled in Waverly, Bremer county, where he has since practiced his profession. In 1866 he was joined in marriage to Miss Jeannette E. White, a grand-daughter of Gen. Whitney, whose father was the founder of Burmingham, New York. Six children bless this marriage ; Llewellyn J., Gerald G., Catherine A., Cecil L., Rhoda J. and Constance E. His father, Thomas E. Walker, was one of the direct- ors of several of the early Iowa railroads, and for many years Vice-President of the Illinois Central Railroad, furnishing the capital for building a great portion of the lines which now traverse this part of the State. His grandfather, Phillip E. Thomas, of Baltimore, Md., was the first President

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HISTORY OF BREMER COUNTY.

of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and held the position for many years. This was the first great railroad in America.

Josiah Carpenter was born in Bradford county, Pennsylvania, in 1826. When he was eleven years of age his parents moved to DuPage county, Illinois, where he lived until he was twenty-five; then he went to Will county, Illinois, where he was justice of the peace for nineteen years, during four of which he was also associate county probate judge. He taught school seventeen winters in Will county, Illinois, and for six years was deputy school commissioner. In 1868, he came to Iowa and bought a farm of 360 acres in Sumner township. His brother, Washington, came to this place in 1861, and located near the present site of Sumner. He died in September, 1882. His brother, Chancey, platted the village of Sumner. Their father died in DuPage county, Illinois, in 1848; also three brothers. After locating his farm, Mr. Carpenter returned to Will county, and re- mained there until 1875. In the year 1871, he was admitted to the Bar by the Supreme Court of Illinois, and practiced there until his return to Sumner, in 1875, where he settled and continued in the practice of law. At the same time he was. busy in improving his farm. From 1861 to 1875, he was in the bounty and pension business, in connection with real estate and insurance; dealing in real estate in Chicago, Joliet and other places. He was also deputy provost marshal during the war of 1861 and 1865. Mr. Carpenter was married in 1852, to Miss Francis M. Hanadon, a native of Vermont. They have had four children-Sarah, who mar- ried the Rev. C. A. Hilton, now of East

Kendall county, New York, where he has been located as pastor for seven years; Loren H., Chester H. and Willie I. Loren has been for seven years in Cass' store, he has also taught school for a number of years; was at the Fayette College one term. All of the boys have taught school more or less. Chester has taught several terms. Willie is now employed in the extensive lumber yard of James C. Garner. When Mr. Carpenter came to Iowa he anticipated that his three sons would find it pleasant to go with him on to the farm and improve and cultivate it for future use; but after attending school a few win- ters, they caught the "idea" of teaching school, and hence engaged in that busi- ness.

H. H. Gray was born on the 22d of November, 1842, at Marion, in the Terri- tory of Iowa, a son of Thomas and Pri- cilla Moore Gray, who was a farmer in Linn county, Iowa, his father a native of Pennsylvania and his mother of Kentucky. His father died in 1842 and his mother in 1852, leaving two children. Thomas is in the hardware business at Shellsburg, Ia., and Henry Harrison, who is the subject of this sketch. Henry H. received his edu- cation at Cornell College, at Mount Ver- non, Iowa; enlisted in Company K, of the Ninth Iowa Infantry, serving as private for six months, when he was promoted to Quartermaster's Sergeant. Two years later he received his commission as Quar- termaster and served as such nntil dis- charged at Louisville, Ky., in July, 1865. He took an active part in the battle at Pea Ridge. Upon returning from the army he commenced reading law, entered the Law School at Ann Arbor, Mich., in 1867,

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HISTORY OF BREMER COUNTY.

where he took one term, returned to Linn county and was admitted to the Bar. at Marion, Ia., in 1866. He practiced at Cedar Rapids one year, coming to Wav- erly in 1869, where he has been engaged in the practice of law ever since. First forming a partnership with O. F. Avery and after the death of his partner in 1870, formed a partnership with M. B. Dougher- ty, under the firm name of Gray, Dough- erty & Gibson, from 1873 to 1881, when Mr. Gibson went out of the firm, leaving Gray & Dougherty, who dissolved March,

1883. He is a republican in politics, and acted as Chairman of the County Re- publican Committee several years and held the office of Mayor of Waverly one term. He is a member of Tyrrell Lodge, No. 116, A. F. and A. M .; he is also a member of the A. O. U. W. In 1870 he was married to Miss Marie E. Matthews, daughter of John and Anna Spencer Mat- thews, of Jackson county, Iowa. By this union there are two children, both living-Alice Maud, born Nov. 22, 1873, and Harry William, born Feb. 25,1879.

CHAPTER IX.

THE MEDICAL PROFESSION OF BREMER COUNTY.

In all ages of the world among civil- ized and uncivilized people, the medical profession has been held in high esteem. Whether it be the learned professor, who has studied the science of medicine in all its branches, or the "great medicine man" of the untutored savages, who from actual experience has made discoveries of the healing powers of herbs and roots, honor awaits them on every hand, while the life and death of every human being is virtu- ally placed in their keeping. The weary patient lying upon a bed of pain, and the no less weary watcher, wait anxiously for the coming of the "good doctor," and, on his arrival, note his every movement

and every expression of countenance for a ray of hope.

The medical fraternity of Bremer county have, with few exceptions, been an honor to the profession. They have ever been ready to respond to the call of duty. The winter's cold, the summer's heat, or the rains of spring and autumn, could not keep them back when the cry of distress reached their ears. They have been compelled to cross trackless prairies, to face blizzards from the north, often with no liope of fee or reward, but only to relieve, if possible, those who plead for their case. All this has been done by the physicians of Bremer county without com-

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plaint. If the good deeds of the profes- sion are not now remembered by those who have received aid, a time will come when they will be. When the names of these pioneer doctors are recalled to mind, it is hoped the hearts of the old settlers will be touched, and all will respond, . "May God bless them."

For a number of years after the first in- gress of settlers, Bremer county did with- out doctors, as well as lawyers. Early in . the spring of 1850, a dentist located among the pioneers, who with his turnkeys, could bring a tooth at every clatter. This was William Baskins, who yet lives upon his farm, east of Waverly. For a number of years he did quite a business, but finally, as the new arrangements for extracting teeth became known and used, the old turnkeys were laid upon the shelf. By many, these instruments of torture, in the hands of Mr. Baskins-or as he was termed for short, 'Bill'-are too well remembered, for when once set upon a tooth, something had to come. However, Mr. Baskin was skilled in their use and says he cannot re- member of ever "breaking a jaw or jerking anyone's head off."

The honor is due to Mrs. Betsey Martin for being the first in Bremer county to make a business of healing and adminis- tering to the wants of the sick. She was the wife of Rev. C. N. Martin, who, in 1850, located upon a farm on section thir- teen of what is now Washington township. Mrs.'Martin's right name was Elizabeth, but she was known far and wide over this region as "Aunt Betsy." Her practice was more of the nature of "womanish com- mon sense;" the ingredients in her pre- scriptions usually consisted of a few roots

and herbs. Her rides extended all over this portion of the county, and her success was very good. She continued practice for about eight or ten years, when she, with her husband, removed to Fayette county, where she died. Her son, John H. Martin, was the first school fund commis- sioner of Bremer county. It should be stated that during the time of her practice, Mrs. Martin became a homœopathist.

PHYSICIANS OF WAVERLY.

Those who have been heretofore men- tioned could very properly be classed un- der this head, as they both lived within a short distance of Waverly. The first physician in the city, after it had been projected and platted, was Dr. Fisher. The first regular graduate in medicine was Dr. O. Burbank. Since that time the medical profession of Waverly has been represented by Drs. D. M. McCool, Butler Jesse Ward, Z. A. Bryant, J. C. Pome- roy, J. G. Smith, Jerome Burbank, Mrs. Betsey Egleston, William Boys, Miss Har- riet M. Kallock and sister, and others whose names are not recalled.

The present representatives of this pro- fession are Drs. Oscar Burbank, William Boys, J. C. Pomeroy, W. M. Barber, W. O. Clark, Carl Dermenden and D. M. Cool.

Dr. Fisher, who was the first physician to locate in Waverly, came to this place in the spring of 1854, and remained for about two years, when he went to some point not far from Dubuque, where, it is supposed, he still resides. Dr. Fisher was an odd looking genius, but a man of good motives; had never received much training ·in the profession, but gathered by obser-

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HISTORY OF BREMER COUNTY.

vation what he knew of it. His practice was all alopathic.

Dr. Oscar Burbank was the next physi- cian in Waverly, and was undoubtedly the first regular graduate of medicine in the county. He arrived on the 8th of Sep- tember, 1854, at once commenced practice, which he has continued; is still an es- teemed citizen of Waverly, and as a physi- cian enjoys a lucrative practice. A sketch of the Doctor's life is here presented, as he is the oldest practicing physician in Bre- mer and several surrounding counties:

Oscar Burbank, M. D., was born in York county, Maine, on the 25th day of Septem- ber, 1819. He is a son of Samuel and Lydia (Parks) Burbank. The Doctor was reared on a farm, and received his education in his native State. When about nineteen years of age he learned the trade of stair- building. Not liking the business, he entered the office of Dr. William Cornell, ·of Boston, Massachusetts, remaining in the same for three years, and, mn 1848, gradu- ated at Harvard University. From there he went to Lowell, where he commenced the practice of his profession. In 1849 he took a trip to the gold fields of California. A portion of the time he spent in the mines, and the balance practicing his profession. In the fall of 1851 he returned to Lowell, attending another course of lectures. In 1852 he went to Calias, Maine. In August, 1853, he emigrated to Cedar Rapid, Iowa, then a village of about 600 inhabitants. In September, 1854, he came to Bremer county, Iowa, locating in Waverly, where he has followed his profession since. At that time there was only twenty-one roofs in the town, counting sheds, dwelling houses, shops, etc. The Doctor is a member of

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History of Butler and Bremer counties, Iowa, Part 97

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