USA > Iowa > Scott County > Davenport > History of Davenport and Scott County Iowa, Volume II > Part 3
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Shortly after reaching Fort Stevenson Mr. Scott was appointed first post- master of the fort by General Adlai E. Stevenson, first assistant postmaster- general. This was an old military fort established in 1868 and when Mr. Scott received this appointment the military reservation was set off, in charge of the interior department, for school purposes and he was placed in charge as its first bonded officer. He not only had charge of the school and reservation but also established an industrial school to which he brought many Indian children who were there taught the different trades and industries. On the 8th of Janu- ary, 1889, by order of the secretary of the interior and commissioner of Indian affairs, Mr. Scott was transferred to the superintendency of the Chilocco Indian Training School at Chilocco, Indian Territory, with an annual increase of salary of three hundred dollars. At the time that was one of the largest Indian train- ing schools in the service, having an enrollment of some three hundred boys and girls. General John H. Oberly had charge of the Indian affairs and the Hon. William Vilas was secretary of the interior. Mr. Scott remained in charge of the school until December 1, 1889, when he resigned to devote his attention to the reading of law. At the school he had had thirty-five employes under him, had conducted a farm of five hundred acres, had carried on stock-raising quite extensively and had superintended all the manual and graded school work. He was one of the pioneers in the work of the Indian training schools and suc- ceeded in demonstrating their worth in the civilizing of the red race.
While thus engaged Mr. Scott read law in his leisure moments. His read- ing was directed by C. T. Atkinson, at Arkansas City, Kansas, and after his admission to the bar, on the 20th of April, 1890, he practiced there until April, 1891, when he was elected justice of the peace, which position he continued to fill until elected county attorney, January 1, 1893. He filled the latter position for two years and following his retirement from office removed to Davenport on the Ist of February, 1895, and has since been a representative of the bar in this city. While engaged in teaching and also while pursuing his studies Mr. Scott devoted some time to the newspaper business, being correspondent for the
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Bloomington Bulletin. He also worked for the Pekin (Illinois) Times and while in Kansas he was for a time associate editor of the Arkansas City Val- ley Democrat and correspondent for a number of years for other papers. Dur- ing the fifteen years of his connection with the legal profession of Davenport he has made substantial advance and has conducted many important litigated in- terests. He formed a partnership with William Theophilus which continued until April 1, 1898, when Mr. Scott was appointed city attorney at Davenport, holding the position until April 1, 1900. He was then engaged in the practice of law alone until January 1, 1905, when he formed partnership relations with B. I. Salinger and William Theophilus under the firm name of Salinger, Scott & Theophilus, which relation was maintained until May 17, 1909. On the Ist of April, 1906, Mr. Scott was appointed city attorney of Davenport, which office he held until the election of 1908, when he was chosen to the highest official position in the gift of the city, being elected mayor for a two years' term. In 1904 he was the democratic nominee for county attorney but was defeated by one hundred and eighty-one votes. He ran far ahead of his ticket, however, as is indicated in the fact that Roosevelt in the same year was given a majority of twenty-five hundred.
On the 5th of January, 1887, Mr. Scott was married to Miss Rosemary Spier, of Peoria, Illinois, and they have six children: Walter Howell, Maris Stella, Coaina Marie, Eunice Marie, Sylvester Hackney, and George Winans. The family are members of the Catholic church and Mr. Scott holds membership with the Modern Woodmen of America, the Woodmen of the World, the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the National Union, the Modern Brotherhood of America, the Odd Fellows' society and the Elks, and has filled nearly all of the chairs in nearly all of these organizations. He was exalted ruler of the Elks lodge for two years, was district deputy of the southern division of Iowa and was one of the board of directors of the Elks Building Association. He has also been a mem- ber of the Elks grand lodge. He has taken a very active part in society and political affairs and has been called upon to deliver many speeches and ora- tions, both in the lodges and during political campaigns. He has been attorney for a number of corporations in this city and has met with eminent success as a criminal lawyer. He stands as a splendid representative of the men whose strength of character and ability have enabled them to work their way upward. Mr. Scott provided for his own education and though he has met with many hardships and difficulties in life, he has made continuous advancement and is today a forceful character in the professional and political circles of his adopted city. *
HENRY MOELLER.
Henry Moeller is one of the most prominent and wealthy of the many suc- cessful agriculturists of Cleona township, although he has now forsaken the active work of the farm, to which he devoted himself with such energy for so many years and now makes his home in the village of Walcott. He was born in the province of Mecklenburg, Germany, September 17, 1848. His parents,
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HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY
John and Caroline Moeller, were also natives of the fatherland and came to the United States in 1854. Immediately after their arrival in this country they came to Scott county, Iowa, locating in Blue Grass township, where Mrs. Moeller died. She was not able to withstand the hardships of travel in those early days when there was nothing to shorten the tiresome journey across the ocean, and the means of crossing the mountains and prairies were most primitive. Mr. Moeller him- self did not live to see the great change which transformed the character of this county for he passed away seven years after his advent here. Only two sons were born to him and his wife-Henry, the subject of this review; and Charles, a resident of Shelby, Iowa.
Henry Moeller, when being deprived of his father's guidance in his youth, found employment and a home upon his uncle's farm, where he remained until he reached man's estate, and, having married, was filled with the natural desire to make a home of his own. Accordingly he bought a large tract of land in Cleona township, to whose cultivation he devoted himself assiduously until May 22, 1906, when he felt that a large income, the generous return of his years of labor, entitled him to the respite from toil he desired and he took up his residence in Walcott. He had previously built a fine residence, whose many modern conveniences indicate the progressive spirit which was as potent a fac- tor in his success as the industry and frugality. In addition to operating his own place, Mr. Moeller improved and cultivated a fine tract of one hundred and thirty-four acres belonging to his wife and another of sixty acres owned by his mother-in-law.
On the 6th of February, 1875, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Moeller and Miss Caroline Feuerbach, who was born in Cleona township, this county, April 14, 1858, and is a daughter of John and Mary Elizabeth (Dietz) Feuer- bach. Her father was a native of Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, where his birth occurred May 20, 1817, and he came to the United States in 1853. He was ac- companied by his sister Lizzie, who later became the wife of Jacob Adorney and was the only other member of his family to come to America. She like her hus- band has now passed away. Mr. Feuerbach had learned the trade of a carpenter in the land of his birth, but after coming to this country worked in the mines of Pennsylvania while that state was his home, and when he took up his resi- dence in Scott county, Iowa, devoted himself exclusively to agricultural pur- suits. He first bought forty-eight acres of land in Cleona township, to which he added extensively in the course of years until at the time of his death he owned five hundred acres. This is now in the possession of his widow and part of it is operated by his son Henry. In Pennsylvania, July II, 1853, Mr. Feuerbach was united in marriage to Miss Mary Elizabeth Dietz, who was also born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, December 18, 1832. In 1853 she came to America with her parents, John and Marie Elizabeth (Mock) Dietz, who settled in the Keystone state and latter came to Scott county, where they passed the remainder of their lives. Caroline, who is the wife of Mr. Moeller, and Henry, of whom mention is made elsewhere in this work, were the children granted to Mr. and Mrs. Feuerbach.
Mr. and Mrs. Moeller have seven children, namely: Willie, who resides upon his father's farm; Bertha, who is the wife of John Hein, of Cleona township;
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HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY
Amelia, the wife of Louis Gibson, of Blue Grass township; Theresa, who mar- ried Julius Hein, a brother of John Hein, and a resident of Cleona township; Elizabeth, the wife of Adolph Rodgens, of Cleona township; Ella, who mar- ried George Reisen, of Fulton township, Muscatine county, Iowa; and Fer- dinand, who lives with his brother Willie on the home farm.
Mr. Moeller is one of the most substantial representatives of the German race who have come to this country, and through the strong traits of their char- acter have raised the standard of citizenship here, while at the same time they have contributed to the sum total of the prosperity which distinguishes this county and state.
JOHN W. JAMISON.
John W. Jamison, residing at No. 1019 Scott street in Davenport, has lived retired for more than two decades and is one of the oldest residents of the city. His birth occurred in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, on the 25th of July, 1822, his parents being Francis and Nancy (Wallace) Jamison, who were natives of Ireland and America respectively. The father was a farmer and miller by occu- pation. John W. Jamison obtained his education in the schools of his native county and after putting aside his text-books worked with his father on the farm and in the mill. He likewise learned the shoemaker's trade and worked at that occupation in Allegheny county until his removal to Scott county, Iowa, in 1855. After a residence of three months in this county he returned to the Keystone state for his wife and children and on establishing his home in Davenport obtained em- ployment in a mill. Subsequently he entered the service of Dawson & Greggs, a shoe concern, with whom he remained for about five years, on the expiration of which period he opened a shoe factory in association with Mr. Murdock. Several years later they dissolved partnership and for a long time Mr. Jamison remained the sole proprietor of the enterprise. Later he became associated with his son, George W. Jamison, and thus continued an active factor in commercial circles until his retirement from the shoe business in 1877. During the following ten years he was employed in a clerical capacity by the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway but since severing his connection with that corporation he has lived in honorable retirement.
On the IIth of February, 1845, Mr. Jamison was united in marriage to Miss Rebecca Kelso, who was born in Pennsylvania on the 8th of September, 1816, her parents being George Washington and Nancy (Murdock) Kelso. Her grand- father participated in the Revolutionary war. Mr. and Mrs. Jamison became the parents of six children, the record of whom is as follows: George W., the eldest, is now a resident of St. Louis. At the time of the Civil war, when but eighteen years of age, he enlisted for one hundred days' service in the Union army and reenlisted in 1864, becoming a member of Company G, Twentieth Iowa Volunteer Infantry. He participated in a number of hotly contested engagements and when the supremacy of the Union had been established was honorably discharged. He married Miss Matilda Hartung, by whom he has four children, namely: Lottie,
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HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY
the wife of Edward Owens; Edmund K., a resident of Moline, Illinois, who wedded Miss Emma Barroclough and has one child, Raymond; Archie, who makes his home in St. Louis; and Wliliam, who is in the United States navy. Francis Jamison, who lives in Moline, Illinois, wedded Miss Mary Binder and has three children : Ida, who is the wife of George Saun and has three children- Mabel, Margaret and Mary; Minnie, a twin sister of Ida; and Amy, who gave her hand in marriage to Charles Berry and has one child, Beatrice. The other children of Mr. Jamison of this review were: John, who has passed away ; Robert, who makes his home in California; Benjamin, who is likewise deceased; and Nancy, at home. Mrs. Rebecca Jamison passed away on the 25th of March, 1907, and her loss was deeply and sincerely mourned by all who knew her.
Mr. Jamison is a stalwart democrat in his political views and held the office of city assessor in 1877. He joined the Masonic fraternity in 1858 and is one of the oldest representatives of the craft here. He belongs to all the branches of the order, has attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite and is past grand treasurer of the grand lodge of Masons. He is likewise past grand chancellor of the Knights of Pythias lodge. For many years he served as superintendent of the Sunday school of the United Presbyterian church and has always been one of its most active and valued members, holding various official positions therein. He assisted in the erection of the first house of worship and was one of the two men who contributed the funds for the seating of the edifice. He is now in the eighty-eighth year of his age and is one of the most venerable as well as respected residents of Davenport, which city has remained his honie for fifty-five years. His record as a business man and as a private citizen has been so honorable that he has gained the confidence and good will of all with whom he has been brought in contact.
COLONEL HENRY EGBERT.
Henry Egbert, "a peer among men," with a wide acquaintance, and honored wherever he was known, left his impress for good upon the city which he made his home and which was stimulated in its growth and progress along many lines by his cooperation, his keen business insight and his unselfish devotion to all that contributes to the welfare of the individual and the community. A successful business man, his commercial and financial interests represented to him but the one phase of life. There was something higher and of more worth for him in life than the accumulation of wealth, and with the passing years he used every opportunity to aid his fellowmen, to alleviate human suffering, to ameliorate the hard conditions of life for the individual, and to heighten those joys and pleasures which are of real value to man. All these things contributed to give to Colonel Henry Egbert a hold on the affection of his fellowmen that was rare and notable, causing the news of his death to be received with a sense of personal bereavement throughout the entire city.
A native of Delaware, Colonel Egbert was born in New Castle, December 22, 1826, a son of Christian and Elizabeth (Austin) Egbert. The father was
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HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY
a native of Amsterdam, Holland, and came alone to America at the age of four- teen years. From that time forward he was dependent entirely upon his own resources, and following the sea for years, finally became captain of sea-going craft.
Colonel Egbert, one of a family of three children, spent his early boyhood in his father's home, attending school until bereft by death of both parents. At fifteen years of age he went to Philadelphia and, though but a youth in years, soon engaged in the grocery business, which occupied his attention until he attained his majority. Continuing on his westward way, in 1847 he went to Hocking river, seven miles from Logan, Ohio, and there operated a sawmill. While residing in that locality, he was married on the 12th of May, 1850, to Miss Elizabeth G. Sudlow, a daughter of Richard and Hannah Sudlow and a native of New York. They began their domestic life near Logan, where they remained until 1856, when they came to Scott county, Iowa. It was still in some respects a frontier district, although the seeds of civilization had been planted many years before and were already bearing good fruit.
Colonel Egbert purchased a farm in Cleona township and gave his time and labors to the cultivation and improvement of the fields until August 14, 1861, when, aroused by the spirit of patriotism, he abandoned the plow and offered his services to the government. His military record is one of which any man might be proud and well serves to perpetuate the memory of Colonel Egbert in Iowa. He enlisted in Company C, Second Iowa Cavalry, August 14, 1861, as first sergeant and seven days later was elected captain of his company. At the battle of Farmington, Mississippi, he was severely wounded, a piece of shell striking him in the left leg. He was compelled to return home on sick fur- lough, but all the time he was anxious for recovery that he might again engage in active service for his country. Forty days from the date of his home-coming found him on his way back to the field and after rejoining his regiment he par- ticipated in all of its battles until May, 1863, when he was again compelled by wounds and illness to return to his home. He did not leave the service per- manently, however, but in 1864 again went into the field as lieutenant colonel of the Forty-fourth Iowa Infantry and on the Ist of March was appointed pro- vost marshal of the second district of Iowa. In that capacity he closed up the provost marshal business of the entire state and on January 1, 1866, received his honorable discharge from the service.
The war ended, Colonel Egbert quietly resumed the pursuits of civil life, again taking up the work of the farm, to which he gave his attention until the fall of 1869, when his fellow citizens gave expression of their desire for his service in a public capacity by electing him treasurer of Scott county. He held that responsible position for four years and about the close of his term engaged in the printing, binding and blank book business as the senior member of the firm of Egbert, Fidlar & Chambers. In the fall of 1879 he was elected on the republican ticket as Scott county's representative to the Iowa legislature, and his course in the general assembly was characterized by the same loyalty and fidelity which had marked him in other offices, both civil and military. He was from its founding deeply interested in the Soldier's Orphans' Home at Davenport, and while a member of the legislature worked earnestly and successfully to secure
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HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY
such enactments as would insure the permanency and still greater usefulness of that institution. For several years he was the local member and president of its board of trustees.
In politics Colonel Egbert was always a stanch supporter of the republican party, thoroughly conversant with the issues of the day and ready at all times to support his position by intelligent argument. In addition to his other offices he served as postmaster of Davenport during the Harrison administration. In his later years he was prominently known as a representative of the banking interests of the city, becoming president of the Davenport National Bank and Union Savings Bank. The complex problems of banking were quickly and cor- rectly solved by him and he remained at the head of these institutions to the time of his demise.
Colonel Egbert was a prominent and popular member of Davenport Lodge, No. 37, A. F. & A. M., manifesting in his life the beneficent spirit of this society. He belonged to the Loyal Legion and always gave it hearty support. He was a firm believer in Christianity, had strong religious convictions, and ex- emplified them fully in his daily life. In early manhood he became a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and continued to render active and loyal service therein until the end. His first membership was in the Wharton Street church in Philadelphia. Thereafter it was in the First Methodist, later the Central Methodist church, of Davenport, Iowa. The church was very dear to him, and he gave to it liberally, both in time and means.
He was a lover of the quiet and freedom of life in the country and this led him in later years to again make his home there. He chose a sightly spot on the river bluffs above the city, within easy reach of its activities, and there built a home and surrounded it with those things which, with him, made best for life's true enjoyment, and here he spent the last five years of his busy life. Here he and his cherished wife and helpmeet lived to celebrate their golden wedding an- niversary, May 12, 1900. The death of Henry Egbert occurred on the 23d of February, 1901.
"He was one of the finest men that ever lived in Davenport," was the opin- ion uniformly held throughout the city. Kindly and generous, the extent of his good works will never be known, but they have won for him a place in the hearts of his fellows that is more to be coveted than the honors of the statesman or the success of the captain of industry. He stood for all that is highest and best in citizenship, in business and in social life, and though he has passed away, his memory will be enshrined for years in the hearts of those who knew him.
HENRY F. WUNDER.
In a history of Blue Grass it is imperative that mention be made of Henry F. Wunder, its present mayor, who has occupied that office since the incorporation of the town in 1903, and is also serving as the efficient cashier of the Blue Grass Savings Bank, while he is at the same time identified with other financial and in- dustrial enterprises. One of Scott county's native sons, his birth occurred on
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the 4th of September, 1859, his parents being William and Catherine (Schlap- kohl) Wunder, both of whom were born in Holstein, Germany, the former on the 25th of March, 1823, and the latter on the 13th of May, 1822. The father crossed the Atlantic to America in 1851, locating first in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, where he remained for one year and then came to Scott county, where he worked at the carpenter's trade until 1859. In that year he purchased a farm in Blue Grass township, to which he removed and upon which he resided until 1886, when he put aside the active work of the fields and lived retired in Davenport until he passed away on the 4th of July, 1907. The demise of his wife had occurred in this city on the 12th of October, 1891.
In the district schools of Scott county Henry F. Wunder acquired his pre- liminary education and later benefited by study at the Littlebridge Business College of Davenport, completing the course in 1878 and being thus well equipped to take up the practical and responsible duties of life. Returning home, he took charge of the homestead farm for his father and was engaged in agricultural pursuits until the organization of the Blue Grass Savings Bank, when he was elected cashier of that institution and has so continued to the present day. The bank, which opened for business on the 6th of January, 1902, was first capitalized. for fourteen thousand dollars, but its growth has been so rapid during the inter- vening years that on the 22d of June, 1909, its capital was increased to twenty- five thousand dollars. It is today one of the safe, reliable and well known banks of the community and in the capacity of cashier Mr. Wunder has proven himself a very capable and faithful official. His accuracy and business ability, combined with integrity and fidelity to the interests of the bank, have won for him the appreciation and high regard of the other officials, while his uniform courtesy and promptness in the discharge of all business have made him very popular with the patrons of the institution. He is furthermore a stockholder in the Guaranty Mutual Life Insurance Company of Davenport and a director in the Blue Grass Repair & Implement Company, both of which organizations have profited materi- ally by his wise counsel and business sagacity. Upon the death of his father in 1907 he came into possession of the old homestead farm, which he still owns and which annually returns to him gratifying rental. His various business interests, carefully managed, have brought him a most gratifying measure of success and today he stands among the substantial, influential and representative citizens of the com- munity.
Mr. Wunder belongs to Hillside Camp, No. 2470, M. W. A., of Blue Grass, and is a prominent and active member thereof. He cast his first presidential vote for Garfield and since that time has voted a mixed ticket. His fellow citizens, recognizing his personal worth, have called him to various offices of trust and he served for six years as township clerk and as a member of the school board for ten years. In 1903, at the time of the incorporation of the town of Blue Grass, his fellowmen conferred upon him the greatest honor in their power to bestow, electing him mayor of the town, in which office he has since continued to serve. He has made an excellent record during his incumbency in that office, giving to the town a businesslike, progressive and beneficial administration. He has also inaugurated many reforms and improvements and in the discharge of his public duties has ever been true to the trust reposed in him by his fellow townsmen.
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