USA > Iowa > Cass County > History of Cass County, Iowa; together with sketches of its towns, villages, and townships; educational, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of old settlers and representative citizens. History of Iowa, embracing accounts of the pre-historic races, and a brief review of its civil, political, and military history > Part 105
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Stafford and Hawks are, also, engaged in the dry goods business.
Crafton's Wonder Store, and The Fair, are the prominent depots of fancy goods and do a large business.
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
J. C. Yetzer is one of the largest dealers in hardware in the city. He also handles agricultural machinery.
Among the institutions of the city, is the palatial business place of D. Burson and Son, who keep the largest assortment of books, stationery, fancy goods, etc., found west of DesMoines. Their sales- room is located in the Post Office block, and is one of the most elegantly fitted up rooms in Atlantic.
W. B. Forster and Copeland and Com- pany are among the leading grocery deal- ers of the city.
Conrad Linderman keeps the news stand.
A. D. Pine came to Atlantic on the 18th of May, 1883, and engaged in the business of underwriting mercantile and farm fire insurance. He has met with a deserved success, as he has a number of first-class companies on his list, and tries hard to please his patrons.
A. D. Pine was born in Sullivan county, New York, May 5, 1847, his early life be- ing spent on a farm; he acquired a com- mon school education. He taught school three winters, and took a two years' course in the State normal. He was principal of Blakesley seminary, in Harpersville, for two years, following which he was en- gaged as teacher for a year and a half in Berryville, after which he served as prin- cipal of the Ellenville graded schools for a year and a half. He was married Decem- ber 26, 1871, to Anna V. Hallock, a native of New York, and one of his former pupils at Berryville. She was a daugh- ter of Daniel V. and Mary A. (Ryder) Hallock, her grandfather being one of the first settlers in Sullivan county. His father,
U. S. Pine, is a native of New York, and was born February 28, 1815. His grand- father, James Pine, was one of the early settlers of Long Island. In 1825 his father moved to Orange county, New York, where he remained about five years, when he removed to Sullivan county, where he now resides. His mother was Harriet C. Varnell, born September 4, 1826. Her father was Henry Varnell, who died July 9, 1883, and who was a sol- died in the Mexican War and in the War of 1812, and also a pensioner of the latter. After his marriage, A. D. Pine was a teacher in Sullivan county until 1874, when he went to Port Jarvis, where he was engaged in teaching until 1881. After acting as traveling salesman for two years, he came to Atlantic. He has been a Knight Templar since 1870, and is a member of the Episcopal church and I. O. O. F. In 1862 he enlisted as a private in company I, One Hundred and Forty-third New York Infantry, and in the fall of 1863, was promoted to the position of corporal, which he held till the close of the war.
The abstract, insurance and real estate business of H. E. Griswold is one of the institutions of the city.
H. E. Griswold, a leading real estate and loan agent of Atlantic, was born in Hancock county, Illinois, on the 12th day of April, 1843, and is a son of Dr. H. P. and Lucy (Pettibone) Griswold. His father, was a native of New York and a graduate of the Union and Herkimer medical colleges. Soon after graduating he removed to Hancock county, Illinois, where he prac- ticed for twenty-five years, being one of the first physicians of that county. Dr. Griswold's wife, who was a native of Con-
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necticut, died in Hancock county in 1863, while his death occurred in 1881. The subject of this sketch graduated at Ann Arbor, Michigan, in 1867, soon after which he came to Lewis, Cass county, where he engaged in the practice of his profession. In 1869 and 1870, he was deputy revenue collector, and in 1875 was again appointed, filling that office for ten years. He enlisted in 1862 in company C, One Hundred and Eighteenth Illinois Infantry, and engaged in the battles of Chickasaw Bayou, Arkansas Post, Port Gib- son, Champion Hill, Black River Bridge and the siege and capture of Vicksburg, and many others. He was mustered out at Camp Butler in 1865. In 1869 Mr. Gris- wold came to Atlantic, and was among those who organized the present pros- perous city of Atlantic, engaging in his present business in 1879. He is a Master Mason, a member of the G. A. R., and in 1879, was elected State Commander of the latter body. He was married in 1868, in Hancock county, Illinois, to Rose Cherrill, a daughter of Adolphus Cherrill. By this union there has been one child- Alice.
John H. Wood was born in Yorkshire, England, January 12, 1834, and is the son of William and Fannie (Rhodes) Wood. His father was a manufacturer of woolen goods, and emigrated from England to the United States in 1844, and in 1845, settled in Jacksonville, Illinois, where he and his wife died a few years ago. John was educated at Illinois college, Jacksonville, where he graduated in the English and Classical, in the class of 1858, with the first honors of the class. He then entered the banking house of
Brown and Elliott, as teller and clerk, where he remained for about eight years. He was then appointed cashier of the Farmers' National bank, of Virginia, Illinois, and after serving in that capacity for some ten years, he entered the law office of Hon. R. W. Mills, of Virginia, Illinois, then master-in-chancery, taking charge principally of the chancery busi- ness. In 1879 Mr. Wood removed to At- lantic, and formed a partnership with Isaac Dickerson, in the real estate, ab- stract and loan business. Mr. Wood was admitted to the bar in 1880, by Judge J. R. Reed. Mr. Wood was for a number of years a trustee of the State institution for the blind, at Jacksonville, Illinois, and is at present a member of the city council of Atlantic, and in politics is a Republi- can. In 1862 Mr. Wood was married to Amy Upham, of Jacksonville, Illinois, daughter of Alvah Upham, formerly of Youngstown, Ohio. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Wood, of whom three are still living.
E. V. Burke, who has a large real estate and abstract business in this county and throughout the northwest, is a native of Lawrence county, Ohio, born March 17, 1856. He is a man well adapted to the business, and has an extensive correspon- dence, but makes a specialty of handling city property for non-residents. He has a full and complete set of abstracts, and can furnish the chain of title to any piece of property. His boyhood days were spent upon a farm, and when ten years old, he went to Ashland, Kentucky, where for five years he attended school, and subsequently engaged in the business of photography for a number of years, then
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
came to Atlantic, having upon his arrival here, but little money. He was engaged in various occupations, reading law one year, and steadily accumulating property, soon became possessed of a considerable amount of this world's goods. He was married to Jennie Barnet, who was form- erly a teacher of mathematics. In addi- tion to other qualifications possessed by Mr. Burke, he is a teacher of music, and is the present chorister in the Presby- terian church.
J. E. Gillespie, real estate and insurance agent, also engaged in tax-paying and loan business, came to Cass county in 1871, settling at Atlantic. He first opened a dry goods store, and subsequently en- gaged 'in the grocery trade, and then clos- ing that out, established his present busi- ness, in which he has been successful. Ilis office is over the Bank of Atlantic, in the Whitney block. He is is a native of Ohio, born in Butler county, October 12, 1829. His father was James R. Gillespie, a native of the same State, where he lived until the time of his death. His mother was Mary Hayden, who is dead, and was buried iu Burlington. The subject of this sketch engaged in teaching school in 1850. He afterwards want to Adams county and engaged in the sale of dry goods there and in other places, for several years. He also served as deputy treas- urer, and in 1865 was elected to the office of clerk of court, which position he held one term ; thence be removed to Des- Moines and engaged with Mills and Co., in blank book manufacturing. He was engaged for a time in a notion house in Philadelphia. He was married October 7, 1852, to Lydia Hendricks, of Wapcllo
county, daughter of John W. Hendricks. They have two children-Florence N., now the wife of C. C. Lindner, train dis- patcher, and Frank A., a bookkeeper in a Cheyenne wholesale grocery house, who will be remembered as bookkeeper in Whitney's bank. Mr. Gillespie is a mem- ber of the Methodist, church, and super- intendeut of the Sabbath school.
Lee Gibson, one of the prominent busi- ness men of Atlantic, is a native of Fair- field, Jefferson county, Iowa, and was born in 1847. His father, H. D. Gibson, re- moved with his family to Knoxville, Ma- rion county, where he lived until 1871. He was in the mercantile business, but during the rebellion his services were given to his country, and he was major of the Thirty-third Iowa, serving through the war. He was appointed Indian com- misssioner, and stationed in the far north- . west. He died at Olympia, Washington Territory, August 9, 1874. In 1871, Lee removed to Monroe, Jasper county, where he carried on the grain business for eight years, at the end of that time coming to Atlantic, where he has since remained. On coming to this city, he engaged in the grocery business, at which he was very successful, for four years ; he then commenced his present business. He is extensively engaged in the real estate, insurance and loan business, loaning his own money. He is also a notary public. Mr. Gibson was married April 2, 1868, to Albina Foster. She was born in Missouri, but was reared and educated in Ohio. Her father was a well-to-do farmer. They have one child, whose name is J. Belle. Mr. Gibson has been successful in every business enterprise in which he has ever
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
been engaged. Besides his Atlantic in- terest, he has a large property in Marion county, besides possessions in Jasper county. He is a member of the I. O. O. F.
F. M. Alexander, a son of the late Judge Luther L. Alexander, commenced as a dealer in books, stationery and news- papers, in February, 1884, and is endeav- oring to work up a trade in that line. He is a native of Cass county, being born in Atlantic township, and is the youngest son of Luther L. Alexander. His educa- tion was obtained in the Atlantic schools. He still makes his home with his mother in Atlantic.
BANKS.
The pioneer banking house in Atlantic was opened here in 1869, by Loring and Bennett, who soon built up a large and remunerative business, and became men of influence in the community, but in December, 1870, they left Atlantic qui- etly, and, after the manner of the abscond- ing cashier of the present day, carried off the funds of the bank with them, to the sorrow of their depositors. Itis supposed that they went to South America, to enjoy their ill-gotten gains.
In the early part of of 1871, Frank H. Whitney and Company, opened a bank, as successors to the absconding bankers, Loring and Bennet, but later in the same year this was re-organized as the First National Bank of Atlantic, with F. H. Whitney, as president; John P. Gerberich, cashier; F. H. Whitney, Isaac Dicker- son; Charles Kelly, Wilkins Warwick and S. J. Applegate, directors. This organization was continued until 1876, when the charter was relinquished, and it became once more a private bank under
the name of the Bank of Atlantic, and under the proprietorship of Frank H. Whitney, and as such is continued to the present time by him, and is to-day, one of the most solid institutions in the county. The sterling integrity and business abil- ities of Mr. Whitney, 'who is well known to every citizen of the county, backed as it is by an abundance of capital, make the Bank of Atlantic one of undoubted strength, and enjoys the fullest confidence of the community and of the people of Cass county in general
Franklin H. Whitney, decidedly the most prominent and enterprising of Cass county's citizens; who has done more than any ten men in its development; who is the father of more towns and enterpris- ing projects for the upbuilding of his resident county than any other citizen within its borders, and who was also one of its pioneers, braving the hardships, etc., attendant upon pioneer life, was born in the town of Mexico, Oswego county, New York, February 10, 1832. He was a son of John Whitney, who was born in Washington, New York. He was a farmer during his life and died in Cass county, Iowa, where he had resided a number of years, and who was also one of its pioneers. His wife's name was Nancy Huntington, a native of New York, who died in Oswego county, that State.
F. H. Whitney spent his early life in Oswego county, New York, where he re- ceived a good academic education at Mex- ico, and learned the surveyor's profession. In 1856, he came to Iowa, stopping in Adair county, a short time, and, in March of that year, settled in Cass county, at
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
Whitneyville, and in 1857, laid out a small town at that point and began farm- ing and raising stock. He owned two hundred and forty acres of land and fol- lowed farming and surveying in the vicinity of Whitneyville until 1862, when he removed to Lewis and published a newspaper, for eight months, called the Cass County Gazette, after which he fol- lowed surveying and worked for the Emi- grant company until January, 1864. In 1865, he operated a hotel at Lewis, which was consumed by fire on the 3d of Janu- ary, 1866. He then moved upon a farm about a mile from town, but in the fall of that year purchased the Rand House and removed to Lewis, which he operated until the spring of 1868, when he dis- posed of the property and entered into partnership with Isaac Dickerson and opened a land office in Lewis, handling non-resident lands in Cass county. In September of that year they dissolved partnership, and in October, Mr. Whitney removed to the present site of Atlantic, surveying the same shortly after his re- moval here, he also assisting in the sur- vey of the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific railroad, which was then being constructed. He built the old house on the site of the Reynolds House, and rented it to John Bennett, who run the same about two years, when J. R. Reynolds purchased the property. Mr. Whitney soon after engaged in the real estate busi- ness, and in 1869 did a small banking business. lle has been on the spot he now occupies since January, 1870, and has de- veloped a banking business to large pro- portions. The original owners of the ground Atlantic now occupies, were F. H.
Whitney, Isaac Dickerson and John Keyes, they purchasing the land of different in- dividuals during the spring and summer of 1868. Mr. Whitney negotiated with John P. Cook for the location of the depot at Atlantic, after which the Atlantic Town company was organized, with F. H. Whit- ney, Messrs. Crawford and Merriman, B. F. Allen and John Cook as shareholders, and Mr. Whitney general manager of the business of the company, although he owned but one-sixth interest of the busi- ness. Mr. Whitney's lands lie princi- pally in Cass county and adjoining coun- ties, and are valued at $300,000. He was married February 10, 1861, in Mexico, Oswego county, New York, to Ella Gra- ham, a daughter of Cornelius Graham. He was living in Whitneyville at the time, but returned to New York to be married. They have two children-James G., educated as a banker, who has acted as book-keeper in the bank since thirteen years of age, and who was born in Janu- ary, 1864. The other, Thomas H. Whit- ney, born in July, 1878.
The Atlantic National bank is the out- growth of a private banking institution, established by John McDaniels. In 1874, Smith and White built a suitable edifice and opened a private bank and continned for a short time, when Mr. Smith with- drew, and H. F. White ran it until the summer of 1875, when he failed, causing some loss to the depositors. In 1877, John McDaniels instituted a bank upon the ruins of the other, with himself as owner, and his son, Clinton McDaniels, cashier. In 1882, a charter was obtained and the institution reorganized as a Na- tional bank, with the following officers:
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
J. McDaniels, president; J. W. Winslow, vice-president; Clinton McDaniels, cash- ier; J. W. Winslow, Henry Rogers, J. Mc- Daniels, H. L. Henderson and H. M. Boor- man, directors. The bank has a capital of $100,000, and being run by business men, on business principles, is as strong as any financial house in the State. The building in which the bank transacts its business is owned by them, and was erected on the site of one formerly occu- pied by them, which was destroyed by fire on the 24th of December, 1880, and is one of the finest business edifices in At- lantic. It is a large and commodious building, built of cut stone, and archi- tecturally complete, with fine, French- plate glass windows, and other appoint- ments to match. Inside, the furniture is of the handsomest kind, and the bank is provided with a burglar-proof vault, guarded by a time lock of the most ap- proved pattern, for the security of the money entrusted to them by their numer- ous patrons. The present officers are the same as at the time of organization, but the board of direction has been changed, and is composed of the following named, in addition to the officers who are ex-officio members of the board: W. S. Everett, C. A. Dierkson, W W. Parker, Henry Rog- ers and H. L. Henderson ..
John McDaniels was born in Oxford county, Maine, August 8, 1817. His father was of Scotch descent, and his mother of English. He was reared upon a farm, and in 1851 removed to Pennsylvania, where he was engaged in the West India lumber business until 1869, when he came to Cass county, settling in Pymosa township, where he engaged in farming until 1882,
when he removed to Atlantic, where he has been engaged in the banking business. He was married to Julia A. Hamblin, who was born in Maine, by whom he has had five children, three of whom are living- Vilona, living in Warren county; Ello- wene; Mary, the wife of H. M. Boorman, and Clinton, cashier of the Atlantic Na- tional bank. Mr. McDaniels has been suc- cessful in business, and by his own exer- tions has acquired considerable property.
John W. Winslow one of the prominent as well as pioneer business men of Atlan- tic, is a native of Ohio, being born in Wyandott county, December 12, 1833. His early life was spent wpon a farm in Ohio, and when nineteen years of age was engaged as clerk in a dry goods store, where he remained until June 4, 1855, when he came to Iowa, locating in Wash- ington county. In April 1860, he took a trip to Missouri and Kansas to look up .a new location, but finding nothing to suit, returned in the fall, located in Wapello county, remained there until 1862 and re- turned to Washington county, remaining there until August, 1864, he removed to Des Moines, where he remained until July 16, 1868, when he removed to Grove City, engaged in the mercantile business with W. W. Moore, after which he came to Atlantic, February, 1869, remaining in company with W. W. Moore, until April, 1870, at which time he purchased the in- terest of W. W. Moore and sold it to W. W. Parker. The style of the new firm being Winslow and Parker, which contin- ued in the mercantile trade until Septem- ber, 1881, at which time they sold to A. L. Bostedo and Son. Afterward engaging in the banking business. His time is
G
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
mostly confined to this interest, although somewhat interested in city property and real estate. His present wife was Lottie R. Danforth, a native of southern Illinois, to whom he was married January 2, 1873, in Atlantic. There was a daughter by his former wife, who is now the wife of J. A. Hayden. Mr. Winslow is a mem- ber of the Masonic Order. His residence is on the corner of Fourth and . Maple streets.
William W. Parker was one of the pio- neers of Atlantic. He came to Cass county about the middle of June, 1868, and after looking around for a location, settled upon the town site of Atlantic. His house was the third one raised and the first one plastered in the town. It is still standing, on the west side of Chesnut street, on the corner of Third, and is now used as an ice cream saloon. He kept boarders at first, but in January, 1870, in connection with John W. Winslow, he embarked in the dry goods business, and continued in the same till September, 1881, when he retired from active busi- ness pursuits to enjoy the fruits of a busy and well-spent life. He was born in Mar- shall, Highland county, Ohio, January 18, 1831, and is the son of James R. and Anna Weyer, (Parker) both natives of Ohio. When he was two years of age his parents removed to Indiana, and again in 1835,they removed to Illinois. From there his father enlisted in the army in which he was quartermaster. On returning, he died at Prairie City in October, 1863. William lived in Fulton county, Illinois, until com- ing out here, and was married there Dec- ember 31, 1854, to Emily Walker. They had five children, three of whom are liv-
ing-Anna M., now the wife of J. N. Bur- son, residing in Chicago; Mary O. and Frank M. Mrs. Parker died September 2, 1878. Mr. Parker's property interests, which are quite extensive, are located in Atlantic. He erected the fine brick build- ing used by Burson as a book store, among others. When he came to Atlantic, his means were limited, but by the exer- cise of shrewd business qualities and good judgment, he has amassed a large prop- erty, while aiding in the building up of Atlantic. He was a director in the first school board of the town, and was a mem- ber of the council for nine years.
The Cass County Bank, the oldest in the county, was organized in 1870, by John Keyes, Frank H. Whitney, Isaac Dickerson and J. C. Yetzer, as a private bank. For several years these par ies operated it as instituted, but afterwards Whitney and Dickerson sold out to their partners. On the 1st of May, 1876, it was re-organized as a bank under the State law, with J. C. Yetzer, as president, and William Waddell, as cashier. At that time the capital, which was all paid up, was $60,000, but has since been increased to $110,000. Mr. Waddell was cashier until 1879. When the bank first started it was located on the east side of the street, but in 1871 or 2, the brick building which they now occupy on the west side of Chestnut street was erected by them, for their occupancy. The present officers of this, one of the moneyed institutions of the county, are the following: Joseph C. Yetzer, president; Isaac Dickerson, vice-president; John P. Gerberich, cashier; A. W. Dickerson, assistant cashier; J. C. Yetzer, S. M. Childs, G. S. Montgomery,
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
S. A. Keyes, J. W. Russell, William Wad- dell, Isaac Dickerson, N. Richards and A. W. Dickerson, directors.
Dr. M. N. Graves, is also engaged in the banking business in the city of Atlantic, and operates a private concern, although doing an extensive business.
Dr. M. N. Graves, one of Atlantic's enterprising and most successful business men, came to Cass county in 1875, where he practiced medicine about five years, when he engaged in the drug business. This business was afterward carried on under the firm name of Graves and We- her, until the fall of 1884, when he dis- posed of his interest in the drug store to Mr. Weber. He has since operated a bank, which is a private concern, owned exclusively by himself and does a gen- eral banking business in all its branch- es. He has for some time had an interest in a large drug store at Audubon, which is still carried on under the firm name of Graves and Houston. Mr. Graves was born in Bradford county, Pennsylvania, in April, 1850, and is the son of George G. and Irene (Stevens) Graves, the former a native of New Haven, Connecticut and the latter of Stevensville, Bradford coun- ty, Pennsylvania. When four years of age he went with his parents to Carroll county, Illinois, where they lived about fourteen years, when he removed to Wy- oming, Jones county, Iowa. Here he entered the office of J. M. Terry, M. D., and be- gan the study of medicine. He after- ward studied and attended lectures at the Cincinnati Medical college for three years, graduating from that institution during the winter of 1871-2. He returned to Jones county and began practice, which
he continued until 1875, when he removed to Atlantic, Cass county, as above stated, where he has since resided. He is a mem- ber of the Eclectic Medical institute. Mr. Graves has large property in Cass county and surrounding States, and has been very prosperous in a business capac- ity, and freely contributes to all enter- prises of merit. He was married Decem- ber 24, 1872, to Emma I. Dubois, a native of Iowa. They have two children- George and Leon.
ELEVATOR.
The elevator of Boorman and Hard was built and finished in the fall of 1883, by the late owners. The main building was 40x42 feet upon the ground, with a height of 56 feet. The engine room was 30x15 feet with a fuel room attached 5x10 feet in size. The former contained a fine stationery engine of twenty-five horse power, which furnished an abundance of power for all practical purposes needed. The elevator had a capacity of storing 30,000 bushels, and was valued at about $13,000. This building was destroyed by fire during the fall of 1884.
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