History of Davenport and Scott County Iowa, Volume II, Part 34

Author: Downer, Harry E
Publication date: 1910
Publisher: Chicago : S.J. Clarke
Number of Pages: 1166

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In January, 1874, Dr. John H. Kulp opened an office at Davenport, Iowa, continuing a successful and prominent practitioner of medicine here until the time of his demise. He gradually began specializing in nervous and mental diseases and diseases of women and eventually devoted his attention exclusively to those branches. For more than twenty years he acted as trustee of Mount Pleasant Hospital, was a member of the consulting board of St. Luke's Hospital and served as alienist of the insane department at Mercy Hospital. He was likewise surgeon for the Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern Railroad. For two terms he acted as president of the Scott County Medical Society, while in the Iowa and Illinois Central District Medical Society he was also elected to that responsible position, serving for one term.

On the 24th of September, 1873, Dr. John H. Kulp was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary E. Cauffman, of Mount Pleasant, Iowa, by whom he had two sons: Oliver W., who was born July 4, 1874; and Ray Ranney, of this review. Both have followed in the professional footsteps of their father. John H. Kulp was a republican in his political views, while fraternally he was identified with the Masons and the Knights of Pythias. He was a man of splendid physique, digni-

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fied and prepossessing, and when he was called to his final rest his professional brethren felt that they had lost one of their most distinguished representatives.

Dr. Ray R. Kulp, whose name initiates this review, spent his youthful days as a student in the public schools, being graduated from the high school at Daven- port in 1899. Entering the medical department of the University of Iowa, he was graduated from that institution in 1904 and subsequently spent a year as house physician of Mercy Hospital in this city. In July, 1905, he began the practice of his profession in partnership with his father and brother and after the death of the former was for a time associated with his brother. He is now enjoying a very extensive and gratifying patronage. He acts as official anaesthetizer at Mercy Hospital, and keeps in close touch with the progress that is being continually made by the medical fraternity through his membership in the County, State and National medical societies and the Iowa and Illinois Central District Medical Society.

In 1906 Dr. Kulp was united in marriage to Miss Bessie G. Piatt, a native of Davenport and a daughter of Benjamin F. Piatt, who was formerly a resident of this city but now makes his home in Minneapolis. Dr. Kulp belongs to the Phi Rho Sigma, having joined the Phi Rho Sigma and the Tau Delta Tau fraternities at college. He is well known and popular socially, while in professional circles he has won a measure of success which many an older practitioner might well envy.

CHARLES H. WENZEL.

Charles H. Wenzel, who conducts a business in farm implements in addition to the cultivation of his fields in Liberty township, was born in Hampshire town- ship, Clinton county, Iowa, December 28, 1862, his parents being Fred and Mary (Smith) Wenzel. They were both natives of Prussia, where they grew to ma- turity and were married, and in 1860 started upon their journey to America. In December, of that year, they reached Iowa, locating in Clinton county, where the father secured a large farm, which Mr. Wenzel operated until his death. It occurred in 1905, when he was seventy years of age. His widow is still living on the homestead. They were the parents of six children : Charles H., who is the subject of this sketch; August, who is a partner with his brother Charles in the implement business; Bertha, who became the wife of Hans Hagge, of Clinton, Clinton county, Iowa; Annie, who is the wife of R. C. Hultz, of Boone, Iowa; Augusta, who married Nicholas Schwartz, of Clinton county; and Minnie, who is the wife of John Wascher and lives upon the homestead in Clinton county.

Charles H. Wenzel was reared upon the homestead in Clinton county and in the district schools of Hampshire township attained a good education. Until he was thirty he worked with his father upon the farm and then started out in- dependently. At first he was engaged in the implement business, which he con- ducted in conjunction with a saloon in Low Moor, Clinton county, for about seven years. About four years ago he came to Liberty township, Scott county, where he continued to sell farm implements and also engaged in agricultural

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pursuits upon the tract of land on which he now lives and which belongs to his wife. It embraces two hundred and forty acres, lying upon sections 18 and 19, and is one of the rich farms of this township. He pursues a general line of agriculture and is now accounted one of the successful men of his locality.

In 1907 Mr. Wenzel wedded Mrs. Anna Arp, the widow of Johannes Arp and a daughter of Fred and Catherine (Koch) Misfeldt. They were both born in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, the former January 22, 1823, and the latter March 7, 1843. In their native province they were married and there two of their children were born. In 1865 they crossed the Atlantic and came directly to Scott county, where Mr. Misfeldt engaged in farming. Here he died Sep- tember 19, 1908, and his widow is now living in New Liberty. Twelve chil- dren were born to them, eight of whom are now living. Their daughter Anna was born in Butler township, Scott county, March 10, 1872, and in 1892 gave her hand in marriage to Johannes Arp, who was born in Lincoln township, Scott county, August 2, 1868. He was a son of Deitlef and Bertha (Weis) Arp, both of whom were natives of Germany. They came to this country after having reached their maturity, were married here and took up their residence in Scott county, where Mr. Arp engaged in farming. Eight children were born to them, but two only grew to maturity: Johannes and Adolph, the latter living upon the homestead in Lincoln township. Johannes Arp remained with his parents until his marriage, when he bought the farm of two hundred and forty acres on which Mr. and Mrs. Wenzel are now living. All the improvements are the result of his labors with the exception of the dwelling house which his widow built about two years ago. In addition to this place he owned two hundred and forty acres on section 6, of Liberty township, and was accounted one of the most prosperous and influential men in his locality. He was a democrat in his political views, and upon that party's ticket had been elected justice of the peace, in which capacity he served for seven years. He was later chosen town- ship clerk-an office he held at the time of his death. He passed away in Liberty township, August 30, 1906, and by his demise the community lost one of its valued citizens. Six children had been born to him and his wife: Hilda, Harry, Louis, Raymond, Elsie and Herman. Louis died at the age of four years and four months, but the other children are living with their mother.

Mr. and Mrs. Wenzel are the parents of one son, Fred. While his cultiva- tion of the soil has brought him a generous income his implement business is also profitable and supplies a long-felt want in this community. The implements which he sells are of high grade and he makes every effort to satisfy the wants of his customers, who find him always a man of honorable intentions and acts.

JOHN BRUHN.

A life of industry, crowned with success, enabled John Bruhn to spend his last years in honorable retirement, enjoying the fruits of his former toil. He was indeed a self-made man and in his youth met many hardships and difficulties, but gradually he worked his way up until he won prosperity as the reward of

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John Bruken

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HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY

his diligence. He was born at Lütjenburg, Holstein, Germany, in 1827, and in early life learned the butcher's trade. He was twenty-one years of age when in 1848 he joined the army, serving as a soldier throughout the Schleswig-Hol- stein war against Denmark. In 1852 he determined to come to America and left Hamburg in a sailing vessel, which reached New Orleans after a voyage of thirteen weeks. In company with several traveling companions he went up the Mississippi river to St. Louis, and as he had no money began looking for em- ployment. He did not succeed in his search for work there and so went to Bunker Hill with a countryman, Louis Jansen, who was likewise a butcher by trade and who had a brother' who was engaged in the tailoring business in Bunker Hill. The two young men eagerly accepted any work which they could secure. They worked on farms, on the railroad and also as bricklayers' help- ers. Their wages were very small-not more than fifty cents a day. At the end of two weeks their fingers were so sore that they were compelled to give up work for a time. When they did somewhat recuperate, a prominent Scotch- man of Bunker Hill, who was hostile to the resident Irish butcher, asked them if they would not establish a butcher shop there. They said they would like to, but did not have the necessary money, so the Scotchman supplied them with capital, a horse and wagon and equipped a small shop for them, so that the new business was begun. It was in June, 1853, that they opened their shop and they remained together until November, making quite a little money. In the latter month Mr. Jansen came to Davenport with four hundred dollars, while Mr. Bruhn remained at Bunker Hill until January, 1854. He then came to Dav- enport at the request of Mr. Jansen, who had secured employment with Chris- tian Hannemann, an uncle of Louis and Charles Hansen. Mr. Bruhn and Mr. Jansen bought out the business of Mr. Hannemann, and were so successful in its conduct that in 1855 Mr. Jansen sailed for Germany with four thousand dollars.

Mr. Bruhn, then left alone, discontinued the butchering business and began buying hogs for Mr. Graham and was becoming properous when Mr. Graham failed. Mr. Bruhn, with two other men, had signed a note of twenty-eight thou- sand dollars for his employer and when Mr. Graham went into bankruptcy all of Mr. Bruhn's hard earned savings were taken to meet the note. In 1857 Mr. Jansen returned to America, for Germany was no longer to his liking. He had already expended half of his capital, but with the remainder he and Mr. Bruhn again established themselves in the butchering business with renewed zeal. They prospered and in 1858 went to California, but times were bad and they remained in the Golden state for only about six months. On returning to Dav- enport, Mr. Bruhn became associated with two "Americans in the live-stock busi- ness, shipping to Chicago, but the undertaking was unsuccessful and at the end of a year he had lost nearly all of his capital of five thousand dollars. This was in 1860.

In the fall of that year Mr. Bruhn made the acquaintance of the young lady, Miss Maria Lohmann, who became his wife on the 19th of April, 1861. At that time he had no more money than was necessary to begin housekeeping. However, he had the friendship of a Mr. Sellen, who established Mr. Bruhn in the butchering business and hence again he started in that line with Diedrich

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Eckhardt as his partner. They soon had a liberal patronage and became pros- perous. After about two years Mr. Bruhn disposed of his interest to Mr. Jan- sen and turned his attention to the live-stock business, making shipments to Chi- cago. In 1864 he purchased a house on Third street, near the Turner hall, and took up his abode there in May, 1865. Mr. and Mrs. Bruhn at that time had two children and four were added to the family while they maintained their residence on Third street. In 1874 they removed to the Bluff, where until 1896 they occupied a large dwelling. During that period their four daughters were married and the sons removed to the west.

The decade between 1880 and 1890 was devoted by Mr. Bruhn to dealing in farm lands, and purchasing a farm for himself on Mud creek, he there engaged in feeding stock during the winter seasons. In May he led the cattle out to pasture and in the following fall shipped them to Chicago. The farm, com- prising two hundred acres, he sold to W. Kardel in 1893, and during the re- mainder of his life lived practically retired.

Mr. and Mrs. Bruhn traveled life's journey happily together for forty-six years, their mutual love and confidence increasing as time went by. Mr. Bruhn had reached his eightieth year when he was called to his final rest and a life of usefulness and activity was thus ended, when, in 1907, he passed away. He never had occasion to regret his determination to seek a home in the new world, for here he found the opportunities which were offered and in their improve- ment he worked his way upward. In all of his business affairs he was thoroughly reliable and in his social relations manifested the sterling qualities of the true gentleman.

CHARLES F. EMLER.

Charles F. Emler, well known in financial circles as the efficient cashier of the Farmers Savings Bank of Walcott, serving in this capacity since its incep- tion, has also taken a prominent part in public affairs of the community and is recognized as one of the substantial and representative citizens of the com- munity. One of Scott county's native sons, he was born in Rockingham on the 7th of January, 1860, a son of George W. and Hannah (Griffith) Emler. The father's birth occurred in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, June 5, 1809, and he came to Iowa, locating in Davenport, in April, 1855, having made his way down the Ohio river and up the Mississippi. He was a millwright by occupation and followed that trade until 1863, when he took up farming in Cleona township. His wife was also a native of Bedford county, Pennsylvania, where she was born on the 23d of February, 1819, and in the Keystone state in 1839 gave her hand in marriage to Mr. Emler.

No event of special importance came to vary the routine of life for Charles F. Emler during the period of his boyhood and youth, which was spent under the parental roof. He acquired his education in the public schools of Durant and after laying aside his text-books became identified with railroad interests as telegraph operator for the Rock Island Railroad, in which capacity he served

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for about twenty-five years. In 1884 he came to Walcott, arriving here on the 9th of January, and was first employed as operator and later as agent, and the long period of his service with this company is ample proof of the capable and faithful manner in which he discharged his duties. On the 10th of February, 1904, he severed his connection with railroad interests to take charge of the organization of the Farmers Savings Bank of Walcott, of which he was one of the principal founders. It was organized on the Ist of April, 1904, with a capital of twenty-five thousand dollars, and he was appointed its first cashier, in which capacity he has continuously served to the present time. He has made an excellent record during the meantime, being accurate, prompt and faithful in the discharge of his duties, while he is always genial and courteous with all who have business with the house, qualities which have made him popular alike with the patrons and the officials of the bank. His efforts in behalf of the institution have been potent elements in insuring its growth and progress and it stands today as one of the safe and reliable financial organizations of his section of the county.

In 1886 Mr. Emler was united in marriage to Miss Eibe Wohlenberg, a daugh- ter of Jacob Wohlenberg, of Walcott, and unto their union have been born five children, Edith I., Sewel H., Lucy E., Alice M., and C. Franklin.

Fraternally Mr. Emler is identified with Walcott Lodge, No. 312, Knights of Pythias, and also with Walcott Lodge, No. 22, Modern Brotherhood, in the affairs of which organizations he takes a deep and active interest. Politically he gives stalwart support to the democracy and has served as township clerk for two terms. He was the first treasurer and recorder of the town of Wal- cott, and has ever taken a helpful interest in community affairs, his influence being on the side of improvement, reform and progress. Thoroughly identified with the interests of Walcott, the city has benefited by his efforts in her behalf, and he is classed among her foremost representatives.

PASQUALE PUCCINELLI.

Pasquale Puccinelli, whose demise occurred on the 21st of April, 1906, was for twelve years prior to his death prominently identified with the business in- terests of Davenport in connection with a macaroni factory. He was born in Italy in 1845, his parents being Alexander and Annie Marie (Battiala) Puc- cinelli. He obtained his education in the schools of his native land and in early manhood crossed the Atlantic to the United States, coming direct to Daven- port, Iowa. On arriving in this city he entered the service of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway Company and eventually was made foreman. About the year 1894 he commenced working in a macaroni factory and was connected with that enterprise until his demise. He was honored and respected by all who knew him.

On the 28th of January, 1880, Mr. Puccinelli was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary Burns, a daughter of Bernard and Margaret (O'Hare) Burns, natives of Ireland. The father, who crossed the ocean to America when a young man,

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became a prosperous business man and influential citizen of Chillicothe, Ohio. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Puccinelli were born four children, namely: Nora, who is deceased; Margaret, residing at home, who has taken a course in music and is now engaged in teaching the art; Francis, likewise at home; and Edward, de- ceased. Mrs. Puccinelli has gained an extensive circle of friends in this city during the long period of her residence here, having won the kindly regard and esteem of all with whom she has come in contact.

W. P. BETTENDORF.

Through the inherent force of his own character, his strong determination and his close application to the duties that have devolved upon him, combined with the development of his native powers along the lines of invention, W. P. Bettendorf has won distinction and honors in his native land. He is today presi- dent of the Bettendorf Axle Company, controlling the most important industrial enterprise of Davenport, and the extent of his business has made him one of the best known men of the state. He was born in Mendota, Illinois, July 1, 1857, and is the eldest of four children, whose parents were M. and Catharine (Reck) Bettendorf, both of whom were natives of Germany. The father was a young man of eighteen years when he crossed the Atlantic to America and took up his abode in Mendota, Illinois, where he engaged in school teaching. Later he removed to Missouri, and, settling at Sedalia, there established a grocery store. He was afterward employed as a government clerk at Fort Leavenworth, Kan- sas, and is now living retired in Bettendorf, the town which is the home of the great enterprise that was established and is being conducted by his sons. Of the family of four children, the only two living are W. P. and J. W., who are part- ners in the conduct of a business which in extent and magnitude has no equal in Davenport.

W. P. Bettendorf accompanied his parents on their removal to Missouri and to Kansas and in these states acquired the greater part of his education. He at- tended for a time the St. Mary's Mission School, which was an Indian school in the latter state. In 1870 he began providing for his own support as a mes- senger boy at Humboldt, Kansas, and about 1872 he accepted a clerkship in the hardware store of A. L. Shepard at Peru, Illinois. He filled that position for two years, after which he became an apprentice to the machinist's trade with the Peru Plow Company. This was more in accordance with the natural bent of his nature and he served his full term of indenture, becoming an expert workman. Later he left Peru and entered the employ of the Moline Plow Com- pany, with which he remained for ten months, at the end of which time he ac- cepted the position of foreman of the fitting department of the Parlin & Oren- dorff Company at Canton, Illinois, manufacturers of plows and agricultural im- plements. Not only did he faithfully execute the tasks assigned him but unlike many workmen-and they are of the class who never progress-he gave active attention to every duty and thought out along original lines until as the result of experiment and research he invented, in 1878, the first power lift sulky plow.

que & Better Forf 1

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He was still in the employ of the Peru Plow Company at that time. His in- vention was adopted by most of the plow manufacturing plants. After leaving Canton, Illinois, in 1882, he returned to Peru to accept the superintendency of the establishment in which he had served his apprenticeship and while thus con- nected he invented the Bettendorf metal wheel, together with the necessary machinery for its manufacture. He then granted a shop right to the Peru Plow Company and as the metal wheel branch of the business soon assumed large pro- portions it was decided to change the name of the company to the Peru Plow & Wheel Company. This company, however, was slow to increase its capacity for the manufacture of metal wheels, the demand for which was constantly in- creasing, and Mr. Bettendorf therefore saw the necessity of looking around for other interests that would undertake the manufacture on a greater scale, keep- ing up with the market demand. He made the acquaintance of E. P. Lynch, who was president of the Eagle Manufacturing Company at Davenport, and they entered into negotiations which resulted in the establishment of a wheel manufacturing plant in this city. Therefore in 1886 the two brothers, W. P. and J. W. Bettendorf, came to Davenport and undertook the manufacture of metal wheels, in which particular line they continued with substantial success until 1899. In that year the Bettendorf Metal Wheel Company was incorporated and there was established an enterprise which is today the largest manufacturing concern in Davenport. Being of an inventive turn of mind, W. P. Bettendorf was constantly on the alert for opportunities to improve their output and to fur- ther the use of metal wheels and steel construction for farm equipment. He therefore developed a steel gear for farm wagons in 1892 and the manufacture of this was at once undertaken. He severed his connection with the Bettendorf Metal Wheel Company and after three years' experimental work resigned and built necessary machinery for the manufacture of steel gears. This machinery was sold to the International Harvester Company in 1905 but the Davenport company still manufactures for the former corporation. In addition to the manufacture of steel wagon gears, the company manufactures steel car trucks and steel underframes for cars as well as complete cars. The Bettendorf Axle Company was organized and incorporated January 1, 1895, with W. P. Betten- dorf as the president. The history of the development of this enterprise con- stitutes a most important chapter in the business annals of Davenport. From the beginning the business has continually grown and such is the success of the company that in the year 1909 the plant was increased in size threefold. Its equipment is of the most modern character and eight hundred employes are continually busy in turning out the output, which covers a wide range of iron manufacture, Mr. Bettendorf of this review has in large measure been a potent force in the development and success of the business. The two brothers, how- ever, work together in utmost harmony, the talents of each being such as well qualify them for the conduct of the especial interests under their charge.

In January, 1895, their interests were incorporated under the name of the Bettendorf Axle Company, with J. W. Bettendorf as secretary. The business factory and main offices were then located on First street, between Ripley and Scott, and there, on the 28th of January, 1902, they suffered heavy losses through fire. In May of the same year a second disastrous fire occurred, destroy-

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ing their plant, and as the business was constantly increasing it was decided to locate elsewhere. At length they determined to establish their plant at the town of Gilbert, now Bettendorf, about three miles east of Davenport. Here they are controlling the largest manufacturing establishment of the kind in the west and perhaps in the entire country, employment being given to eight hundred men. Recently they have made extensive additions to the plant through the erection of a foundry four hundred and thirty-six by four hundred and forty feet, each of its departments being larger than the average completed foundry. No pro- vision for the economical handling of the immense volume of work done in the building-the avoidance of congestion and the delay that attends upon it-has been overlooked. The buildings are heated by steam and every regard has been paid to the comfort of the employes, for whom in a large separate building com- modious lockers and lavatories have been established. There are two regenera- tive open-hearth basic steel furnaces, having a capacity of twenty-five tons of heat, with an output daily of about one hundred tons of finished steel castings, which the company use in the steel car construction. They have also recently built an erection shop two hundred and forty-six by seven hundred feet, with a further extension fourteen hundred by two hundred and fifty-six feet, giving the building a total length of two thousand and one hundred feet. The entire amount of ground covered by the foundry and erection shop and the buildings for the storage of materials is forty-two hundred feet, or about four-fifths of a mile in length, along the Davenport, Rock Island & Northwestern tracks. Their grounds comprise two hundred forty-seven acres and there is nothing lacking in the equipment of this extensive plant, every modern device being employed that will facilitate the work or improve the character of the output. Something of the growth of the business is indicated in the fact that in 1909 the plant was in- creased to three times its original size. The seventy acres of ground that the company's shops and tracks occupy were originally laid out with a thought to the additions that have recently been made. Careful consideration was given to locating the buildings and the tracks laid to and from them so as to handle the material quickly and at the lowest cost. From the great piles of steel at the east of the shop locomotive cranes carry the material to the east end of the shop, where other traveling cranes reach down powerful magnets, take up the immense bars that would defy the lifting strength of many men, and carry them to various machines, until they issue from the west end of the shop in the Bettendorf steel car, underframes and trucks, which have been pronounced by railroad men generally as the finest cars of the kind ever produced.

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History of Davenport and Scott County Iowa, Volume II, Part 34

Author: Downer, Harry E Publication date: 1910 Publisher: Chicago : S.J. Clarke Number of Pages: 1166

Author: Downer, Harry E
Publication date: 1910
Publisher: Chicago : S.J. Clarke
Number of Pages: 1166