History of Davenport and Scott County Iowa, Volume II, Part 44

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

USA > Iowa > Scott County > Davenport > History of Davenport and Scott County Iowa, Volume II > Part 44

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).

William M. Lillis acquired his early education in private and parochial schools and afterward attended the Davenport high school. Early environment naturally turned his attention to a mercantile career and after putting aside his text-books he joined his father in business, since which time he has been a representative of commercial interests in this city. In 1887 he became his father's successor and carried on the business until 1889, when he joined the Halligan Coffee Company and has since been its secretary. The business has enjoyed a steady and substan- tial growth and is today one of the important mercantile enterprises of the city. The business methods employed are such as will bear the closest investigation and scrutiny and the energy and enterprise of Mr. Lillis and the other officers of the company constitute the attributes of the success of the house.

In June, 1889, occurred the marriage of William M. Lillis and Miss Bridget O'Donnell, of Bloomington, Illinois, and of Irish parentage. Their three children are John Hugh, Irene Grace and Carmel. While a citizen of notable patriotism and loyal to every project which he deems of public benefit, Mr. Lillis is not a politician nor has he any desire for office, preferring to devote his time and en- ergies to his business affairs. He cooperates in progressive public movements, however, as a member of the Commercial Club, is a member of the Davenport Academy of Sciences and belongs also to the Knights of Columbus. Honored and respected by all, there is no man who occupies a more enviable position in commercial circles nor more justly merits the regard and esteem which are uni- formly accorded him.

EDWIN PARMELE.

Edwin Parmele, deceased, who is numbered among Davenport's earliest set- tlers, was born in Cattaraugus county, New York, and in 1838 arrived at the small town on the Mississippi then known as Rockingham, which gave little prophecy of the thriving city into which it has since grown. The journey was made in a flatboat in company with his father and mother and four brothers. His father was Moses Parmele and his mother was a Miss Treat before her marriage. The

470

HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY

five sons were as follows: Henry, Walter, Edwin, William and James, the three first named being now deceased.

Until the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion Edwin Parmele earned his livelihood by farming. He was interested in his life work by this great crisis in national affairs and after its termination he began dealing in farm implements, in which he enjoyed no small amount of success. He became representative, or general agent, for a large concern and was well known throughout a wide terri- tory into which his business took him. Mr. Parmele passed on to his reward some years ago, his death occurring March 13, 1887, but his wife is still living in Davenport. These worthy people were the parents of four children, three sons and one daughter. They are F. M., a dentist; William M., superintendent for a paint company ; Myrtle, now Mrs. E. J. G. Peterson; and Edwin T., commercial manager of the Iowa Telephone Company.

Edwin T. Parmele is a native of Davenport, having first seen the light of day 'April 24, 1870, and his education was received in Davenport's excellent schools. In 1890, when he had scarcely attained his majority, he took up the study of the telephone business and became so well versed in it that he served in various capacities, each being an advance upon its predecessor. Beginning at the bottom and asking only a fair field and no favors he has by sheer force of ability climbed to his present responsible position of commercial manager, and his effi- ciency and worthiness are recognized in the business world.

Edwin T. Parmele was married October 10, 1900, to Miss Ella J. Jamison. Their home at 1322 Bridge avenue is brightened by the presence of one child, a daughter, Martha J. Mr. Parmele as a descendant of one of Davenport's pio- neers is able to feel more than the usual sense of proprietorship in the fair city in which he has always made his home.

ALBERT L. BOLLINGER. .

In looking over the past history of Davenport with regard for the citizens whose earnest lives contributed in no small measure to raising the standard of manhood in the city, respect must be paid to Albert L. Bollinger, who before his death was one of the well known business men here and also one of those who, as an old soldier, was ever an inspiration to the patriotic young men.

He was born in Lancaster, Peoria county, Illinois, May 14, 1839, a son of Samuel F. and Catherine (Bauman) Bollinger, both natives of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. In the town of his birth he was reared and received his early education, later attending college at Abingdon, Illinois. In his young manhood he enlisted in the Union army at the beginning of the Civil war and throughout the struggle was engaged in active service, although his duties were frequently not upon the scene of battle. He was particularly useful in recruiting, for he had a fine tenor voice and, being able to play several musical instruments, could accompany others or inspirit the troops with the sound of martial music. He had also the power of eloquent speech and on many occasions he fired the pa- triotism of the soldiers by his noble words in support of the Union cause. For a

ALBERT L. BOLLINGER

473

HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY

time he also served as secretary to General Sherman at the latter's headquarters so that, if the bullets but seldom whizzed by his head and the dangers of engage- ments were infrequently his, he performed as invaluable service as those who were not so well endowed with talents and could only prove their devotion to their country through valor in front of danger. He was taken ill after the battle of Perryville and was subsequently taken prisoner but being a non-combatant he was paroled.

At the close of the war Mr. Bollinger went to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where he learned the finishing part of carriage-making, and then returned to Illinois, opening a carriage factory at Geneseo, which he conducted with success for a number of years. In 1873 he came to Davenport and accepted a position as traveling salesman for the Seig Iron Company, with which he was connected until his death. He advanced rapidly becoming vice president and secretary of the company in 1887, and in November, 1890, was made president, treasurer and business manager, serving as such throughout the remainder of his life. Through steady and unremitting toil he had proved worthy of the highest re- sponsibilities and in guiding the reins of this important business he proved himself a man capable of great things. In the small affairs of life, as in the larger ones, his word was as good as his bond, honor and integrity distinguishing all of his relations in the business world.

On the 18th of June, 1866, Mr. Bollinger was united in marriage to Miss Emily D. Wills, a daughter of James Wills, who lived and died in Canton. Her mother was Miss Charlotte Smith before her marriage and a cousin of Mary Livermore, of Vermont. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Bollinger: Judge James W. Bollinger, of Davenport; Mrs. Louis Block; and Mrs. Waldo Becker.

Mr. Bollinger was always a stanch advocate of the principles of the repub- lican party and, while he never aspired to official distinction, he was always in- terested in questions of national or local importance and was preeminently pub- lic-spirited. A man of broad views, he found the tenets of the Unitarian church most in accord with his own ideas of progress and development. Energetic, ambitious, endowed with large ability and the traits of character which com- mand the respect of and admiration of others, he was deeply mourned at the time of his death, September II, 1901, especially by his family and those who knew him most intimately.

JOHN BERWALD.

A lifelong resident of Davenport, John Berwald needs no introduction to the readers of this volume, for from his boyhood days he has been identified with that class which has upheld the political status of the community and promoted its material, social and benevolent interests. He is a man of generous aims and honorable purposes and is both widely and favorably known in this city. He was born July 28, 1852, in the city which is yet his place of residence. His parents were Edward and Carolina (Sandleben) Berwald, both of whom were

474

HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY

natives of Hamburg, Germany. Coming to America, the father landed at New Orleans, whence he made his way northward to Davenport, arriving in this city in 1851. Here he conducted a profitable business in books, stationery and toys. The family of which he was a representative was connected with German affairs through many generations and John Berwald now has in his possession an old picture printed in 1577 at Leipsic, Germany, by one of his ancestors, Jacob Ber- wald, showing a bear coming out of the forest. This is a symbol of the family name: ber, bear, and wald, forest. The picture is of the ancient German type and the spelling is also of the old form.

John Berwald was educated in private German schools of Davenport and in Bryant & Stratton Commercial College. After putting aside his text-books he became his father's assistant in business, also engaged in carrying papers and did much work in connection with the store. When his father was on a visit to Germany in 1866, and John Berwald was only fourteen years of age, he sold his first steamship ticket and since that time has been continuously connected with the steamship business. In these years he has secured passage for many patrons of the steamboat lines, but has not confined his attention solely to this business. Up to 1889 he was connected with his father's store as a dealer in books, stationery and toys and also maintained the steamship agency. From that year until 1904 he was engaged in the fire insurance and real-estate business, and from 1904 until 1908 gave his attention to the life insurance business in ad- dition to the steamship agency. In the latter year he was chosen secretary of the Brick & Tile Company and also has important financial interests in other corpora- tions. In all vital business matters his judgment is sound, his discrimination keen and his enterprise unfaltering, and his efforts and opinions therefore have always been counted valuable factors in the attainment of desirable results in business lines.

In Davenport Mr. Berwald was united in marriage, on the 16th of May, 1879, to Miss Sophie Brauch, a native of Scott county, Iowa, whose parents were in- dustrious German people identified with the farming interests of the community. The brother saw active service in the Civil war. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Brauch were born three sons and two daughters, including Mrs. Berwald, who by her marriage has become the mother of two children, Anna Elfrieda and Walter Edward.

Mr. Berwald has taken active interest in matters of public importance, co- operating in many measures for the general good. He was alderman of the city in 1897-8 and is a democrat of the gold standard school. In 1880 he became a member of the Davenport Turngemeinde, of which he was presiding officer in 1903-4. In that year the society attained its highest point in membership, eight hundred and four names being on the roll. Mr. Berwald strongly pushed the matter of obtaining new members, so that one hundred and fifty-eight were se- cured that year. He also belongs to the Klaus Groth Gilde, of which he was presiding officer for several years, during which time the membership was in- creased from one hundred and forty-two to three hundred seventy-four, while the indebtedness was greatly reduced. This society was organized for the benefit of the sick. Mr. Berwald is likewise connected with the Saengerfest of the North- westland and in 1898 the ten singing societies in convention in Davenport elected

475

HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY

him to the presidency for a term of two years. He has been secretary of the German-American Pioneer Society of Scott county since 1904 and has advanced the membership from seventy-seven to two hundred and ninety-two. He has served on several committees of the Business Men's Association, was twice chair- man of the advertising committee and was once secretary of the Carnival Associa- tion, during which time they voted him a donation of one hundred dollars, which he refused, however, to accept. For a year he acted as secretary of the Daven- port Outing Club and assisted them strongly in advancing their financial affairs. That Mr. Berwald has been again and again called to office in these different organizations is an indication of the confidence and respect entertained for him and also of the trust reposed in his ability. He has been associated with no or- ganization that has not felt the stimulus of his efforts and enterprise, and his activity in business lines makes him one of the foremost residents of Davenport.

HANS J. BROCKMANN.

Hans J. Brockmann has since 1906 been living retired in Eldridge, Iowa, in the enjoyment of the fruits of thirty-five years of agricultural activity. He is a native of Holstein, Germany, his birth having occurred in the town of Louder- beck, December 19, 1843, and is a son of John and Anna Brockmann, the former being a blacksmith by trade. Mr. Brockmann attended the German schools and spent his early manhood in his native land.

In 1872 he with a company of friends, concluded to come to America, accounts of whose marvellous natural resources, equality of rank and general opportunity had been widely circulated in the old country They landed in New York and eventually came on to Davenport, settling in this locality. Mr. Brock- mann secured a position on a farm, which he held for one year. At the end of that time he rented two acres of land and he and his wife lived upon this place for five years. By the exercise of thrift and economy they were then able to rent a farm of eighty acres and for three years devoted their energies to its cultivation. Then removing to the vicinity of Mount Joy, Scott county, they rented the Meyer farm for four years, after which they took the management of the Christ Hage- dorn property in Lincoln township and remained there for eleven years. By this time their patient industry was to be rewarded. They had reached the coveted goal of independence and they bought the present homestead of one hundred and sixty acres, for which they paid twelve thousand two hundred dollars. Here they lived for the ensuing decade, making many improvements and yearly increas- ing the value of the property. Three years ago Mr. Brockmann relinquished farming and, having built a fine residence in Eldridge, removed there with the idea of making it his permanent home.

In January, 1873, Mr. Brockmann was united in marriage to Miss Lena Evaldt, a native of Germany, her parents having lived and died in the fatherland. Five children have grown up beneath the home roof: Amelia married Lewis Klindt, of Sheridan township, and is the mother of four children, Harry, Amanda, Leona and a baby ; Clara married John Lensch, of Sheridan township,

476

HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY

and has five children, Amanda, Emiel, Leona, Raymond and Edna ; Rudolph is a resident of Eldridge; and Meta and Harry are at home.

Mr. Brockmann enjoys the esteem of those who know him, and he served for a number of years as road superintendent while living upon his farm. Iowa un- doubtedly owes much of her wealth and progress to her agricultural interests and it is to such men as our subject, self-made, prudent, thrifty and upright, that she is particularly indebted.

CAPTAIN H. B. DOOLITTLE.

Captain H. B. Doolittle, who was for a long period one of the postmen of Davenport, died in Marshalltown, Iowa, August 12, 1896, when he was fifty-six years of age. He had been a resident of Scott county since 1857, and took part in the great development of this section of Iowa. From the time of his advent until the outbreak of the Civil war he was a clerk in a crockery store in Daven- port, but at the first call for troops which was sent through the country he en- listed in Company C, Second Iowa Volunteer Infantry. From the very first he was always in the thickest of the fight and with his regiment participated in many of the more important engagements. It was the battle of Fort Donelson, how- ever, that left the strongest impress upon his memory. In that memorable struggle he held a position in the front rank of his regiment and when one of his comrades was struck with a Confederate bullet he seized the flag from him and was in the act of carrying it over the breastworks of the enemy when he, too, was wounded twice and had to be carried from the field of battle. Captain Thomas Twombly, who was beside him, thereupon seized the flag and carried it on. As soon as his wounds were healed he rejoined his company, of which he was now captain, and on more than one occasion distinguished himself for his bravery. He knew no fear in the face of duty. When the war was brought to a close Captain Doolittle returned to Davenport, where he secured a position as postman on the mail delivery force. For thirty years he was known to the citi- zens of this city until 1895, when he was compelled to give up his work.

In his early manhood Captain Dolittle married Miss Rebecca Goodwin. Her father, Hiram Goodwin, was born in Hamilton county, Ohio, September 22, 1819, and was a son of James and Nancy ( Faulkner) Goodwin. Early in the '4os he came to Scott county, locating upon a farm in Lincoln township, on which he lived until 1897. During that period, he also gained some experience as a pilot on the Mississippi river. When he came here the land he secured had not been cultivated so that he had to break it as well as prepare it for cultivation, and the buildings which adorned it in later years were the results of his own labors. The tract comprised one hundred and twenty-seven acres and from it Mr .. Goodwin derived a handsome income that enabled him to give his family every comfort and start his children well in life. He was married June 14, 1842, to Miss Delilah Hibbetts, a native of Knox county, Pennsylvania, and they had nine children : Mrs. Emily Highley, Alonzo L., Mrs. Theodica Murray, Mrs. Me- lissa McMurray, Thomas, Theodore W., Rebecca, Hiram P. and Orville F.

H. B. DOOLITTLE

479

HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY

Unto Captain and Mrs. Doolittle was born one daughter, Gertrude A., who is living with her mother in Davenport. They are members of the Baptist church, to which the Captain also belonged, and fraternally he was identified with the Grand Army of the Republic and the Masonic order. In politics he was a re- publican. He was one of those men who lived quietly but in strict accordance with the highest principles of manhood and whose every act was marked by that nobility which springs from a large and broad mind.

CASPAR FRIES.

Among the business men whose years of well directed activity and enterprise have brought them success, enabling them now to live retired, is numbered Caspar Fries, and his record is an interesting one inasmuch as it is that of a self-made man who owes his success entirely to his own labors. 'As the architect of his fortunes he has builded wisely and well and has always enjoyed the full confi- dence and esteem of those with whom business and social relations have brought him in contact.

Mr. Fries was born in Prussia, January 1, 1833, and is a son of Peter and Savilla Fries, who spent their entire lives in that land. The father was a black- smith and wagon maker in Prussia and served for three years in the army.

Spending his youthful days in his parents' home, Caspar Fries attended the public schools of Prussia and afterward learned the trade of wagon making and blacksmithing under the direction of his father in the village of Bevengen. Com- parison of the business opportunities of the new and the old world led him to the belief that he would more readily win success on the western side of the Atlantic and so he made preparations to leave his native country and in 1862 landed at New York. From the metropolis he proceeded direct to Buffalo, New York, where he remained for seven months, working for one month at his trade and then for six months as a farm hand. On the expiration of that period he removed to Kenosha, Wisconsin, where he was employed for three months, after which he went to St. Louis, where he worked at his trade for two and a half years. In 1865 he arrived in Davenport, reaching this city on the Ist of February. He then began work at his trade, continuing in the employ of others for a year, after which he started in business on his own account on Fifteenth street, where he maintained his shop for eight years. He next opened a shop on Thirteenth street, at the corner of Harrison, and there remained for four years. He then came to his present place at the corner of Locust and Harrison, where he built his present shop, remaining here continuously throughout the intervening years. As a wagon maker and blacksmith he has done a good busi- ness. His workmanship has been characterized by thoroughness, his business dealings by honesty, and as the years have passed he has enjoyed a liberal patron- age that enables him now in his later years to largely live retired.

While in St. Louis Mr. Fries was married on the 28th of July, 1864, to Miss Elizabeth Bartmeier, the wedding ceremony being performed by Father Liborius Zweihoff. Mrs. Fries was born in Prussia, November 20, 1843, a daughter of

480

HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY

Frederick and Elizabeth Bartmeier. She came to the United States with her mother in 1860, her father having previously crossed the Atlantic. They landed at New Orleans in October, 1861, and lived for a time in the south but afterward made their way northward to St. Louis. Subsequently they became residents of Davenport, where both Mr. and Mrs. Bartmeier continued to make their home until called to their final rest. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Fries have been born eleven children: Elizabeth, the eldest, is the wife of John Conklin, of Davenport, and they have eight children-George, Caspar, Joseph, Eva, Antoinette, Leo, Bernice, and Bernard; Mary is the wife of Rufus Lock, of Arkansas, and they have one child, Bessie; Sophia is at home; John, who with his brother Peter carries on their father's shop, married Anna Brumm and they have three children-Elsie, Raymond and Edward; Lucy is the wife of Charles Sutton of Davenport and they have one daughter, Lillian; Joseph, now of Chicago, married Loretta Conk- lin; Peter wedded Katherine Harman and they have five children-Dorothy, Harold, Lester, Helen and Lucile; Anthony, living in Davenport, married Mabel Fulcher and they have three children-Evelyn, Ruby and Althea; Theresa is the wife of George Ellinghouse, of Bellevue, Iowa, and they have one child, Mar- garet ; Frederick and Theodore both died in childhood.

Mr. Fries and his family are members of the German Catholic church. He is thoroughly a self-made man, for whatever of success he has achieved is attrib- utable to his own efforts and he has won his prosperity by diligence, unremitting industry and honorable dealings.

CAPTAIN DE FORREST DORRANCE.

Princeton numbers Captain De Forrest Dorrance as one of her representa- tive and valued citizens. Throughout almost his entire business life he has given his attention to river navigation. He was born in Rock Island county, Illinois, October 5, 1843, and comes of an old New England family in both the paternal and maternal lines. His father, Pascal Dorrance, was a native of Rhode Island and died when his son De Forrest was a lad of only eleven years. The mother, who bore the maiden name of Betsey Clarke, was born in Massachusetts and passed to her final rest when the Captain was a youth of seventeen years. Two sons of the family were soldiers in the Civil war.

As his name indicates Captain Dorrance is of Irish lineage. He acquired his education in the district schools and throughout his life has remained in the Mississippi valley. His proximity to the water made it a logical sequence that he should be interested in navigation and from his youth his life has been that of a mariner, covering a long service as pilot and as captain on the Mississippi. He has commanded a vessel since 1864 and now stands at the head of his calling. He has owned several steamboats on the river. There is in this locality no man more thoroughly versed upon marine affairs nor more widely or favorably known as a representative of shipping interests on the Mississippi,

Captain Dorrance was married on Thanksgiving day, when twenty-four years of age, to Miss Eliza Lancaster, a daughter of Henthorn Lancaster. Two

481

HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY

children were born of this marriage: Hushel, who wedded Miss Lila Smith and has one child, named for his father; and Irene, who became the wife of Isaac Spinsby. They have eight children : D. F., Thelma, John, Court, George, Blanche, Ruth and Pauline.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Davenport and Scott County Iowa, Volume II, Part 44

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