USA > Iowa > Scott County > Davenport > History of Davenport and Scott County Iowa, Volume II > Part 50
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Mr. Brownlie is a lifelong member of the Christian church at Long Grove and has always held official position therein, having continuously served as trustee since its incorporation and as elder and Sunday school superintendent for about thirty years. He has spent practically his entire life in this county and is there- fore familiar with its development from pioneer times down to the present, hav- ing aided in the arduous toil which brought about the wonderful transformation that is everywhere apparent in this part of the state.
JOHN W. CROWLEY.
Beginning at the lowest round of the ladder, but by his own splendid ef- forts advancing steadily, with no retrograde movement in the whole course of his career, a glance at the life of J. W. Crowley, president of the People's Con- struction Company, can not be otherwise than inspiring. He was born July 26, 1865, in Arena, Wisconsin, his parents being Thomas and Bridget (Smith) Crowley. The father was a native of Ireland and upon coming to the United States located in New Jersey. Attracted by the report of opportunity of the west he came to the Mississippi valley and for some time found employment on the construction of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway. He also made a venture at agricultural work, but eventually took up the railway construction again. His health failed him in his later years and he lived retired at his home until his death. Our subject's mother is still living at the age of eighty-two years.
J. W. Crowley received a common-school education and at the age of six- teen entered the arena of life as a wage earner. He had the advantage of at first working under his father's direction and during two winter seasons he clerked in a store. A cousin engaged in railway work next gave him employ- ment, and then for a while he was a traveling salesman for a publishing company. After another season on the pay roll of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Company, he secured a position, in 1887, with the Flynn & Williams Construction Company, which was operating a large tract of land near Arena, Wisconsin. When this company changed the scene of its activities to Iowa where a railway was to be built, he was offered a position as foreman of the track laying work and continued in this capacity for two years. In 1889 he assumed a similar position with another railway company operating in Missouri and Illinois. When the work of double tracking the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific was undertaken, Mr. Crowley was offered a responsible position which necessi- tated his removel to Buffalo, Iowa, and in course of time he was transferred to
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the bridge department. Not impeded by fear of change he next assumed a position in the Eagle Manufacturing Company. In 1896 he was made super- intendent of construction in the steel department of a large factory located in Moline, Illinois.
Mr. Crowley's association with the city of Davenport began in 1897, when he was employed by the board of local improvements as inspector of construc- tion. He held this position for two seasons and then removed to Kansas City, Kansas, where for some time he superintended various construction enterprises. He returned to Davenport and the city again secured his services as inspector of construction. His splendid executive ability and sound judgment having become widely recognized, the Davenport, Rock Island & Northwestern Rail- way offered him the position of superintendent of construction and bridge work, which he held until 1900. During the following year he filled a similar position with the Flick & Johnson Company and then organized the Crowley & Diehn Construction Company, Mr. Crowley assuming the office of presi- dent. This concern was reorganized in April, 1902, as the People's Construction Company, with Mr. Crowley still at the head, and taking everything into con- sideration, it is not astonishing that it has taken its place among Davenport's leading industries.
On May 30, 1900, Mr. Crowley was united in marriage to Miss Augusta Keuhl, who is of German parentage. They have a fine family of five children. Helen G., at home; Walter L., who attends St. Ambrose's College, as does Raymond J .; Frances R. in school; and Emmett A., the youngest in the family.
Mr. Crowley and his family are communicants of the Catholic church. He is identified with numerous orders, in all of which he enjoys prominence and popularity. These fraternal relations extend to the Elks, the Knights of Colum- bus, the Catholic Order of Foresters, the Hiberians, the Modern Woodmen of America, the Woodmen of the World, and the Knights of Father Matthew, a temperance society. Not taking into account Mr. Crowley's success in his re- lations, both social and fraternal, Davenport is to be congratulated upon her possession of a citizen who contributes so materially to her high standing in the industrial world.
EDWARD K. WARD.
Edward K. Ward, United State veterinary inspector, with offices in Daven- port, was born in Guilford, Indiana, August 6, 1864, his parents being Isaac B. and Emma (Taylor) Ward. He spent his early years in the Hoosier state and took advantage of her public-school opportunities. Later the citizens of his native town recommended him for the office of postmaster, in which capacity he rendered efficient service, and, known to be a stanch champion of the cause of education, he was also made school director.
At the age of twenty-nine, Mr. Ward entered the veterinary college at Tor- onto, Canada, with the idea of more thoroughly fitting himself for his life work and after taking the full course secured his degree. Thus equipped he went to
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Cincinnati, Ohio, where he engaged for a time in the practice of his profession, and then further satisfied his educational ambitions by taking a post-graduate course in the Columbian Correspondence School of Washington, D. C. Soon afterward he removed to Chicago and entered the government service as assis- tant veterinary inspector. After passing some time there, he returned to Cin- cinnati and became assistant to the chief inspector. His next step was to come to Davenport, where he accepted his present important and responsible posi- tion as United States veterinary inspector, and where the associations formed by him have been sufficiently pleasant to warrant his expectation of remaining here permanently.
The marriage of Mr. Ward and Miss Pearl Crocker, a young woman of his native state, was celebrated June 26, 1889. They have four children : Ama E., Pierman C., Erdine and Carl.
The social is a pleasant ingredient in the composition of Mr. Ward's nature, and he enjoys membership in the Masonic body and in an organization known as the Grotto. He is to a great extent a self-made man, never satisfied with mediocrity, and a worthy citizen whose high aims are not confined to his pro- fession but extend to every relation of life.
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JAMES GARSTANG.
In the years of an active business life James Garstang was connected with carpentering in Davenport and helped to erect many substantial structures here. Now in his seventy-fifth year he is living retired, the fruits of his former toil supplying him with the necessities and comforts of life. He was born in Lancashire, England, February 29, 1836, a son of Collin and Anna Garstang. The father was a loom-maker in England and came to the United States in 1849 with his wife, his son James coming in 1853. After traveling to a con- siderable extent in this county he ultimately settled in Davenport, where he remained until his death, which occurred in 1867.
James Garstang came to the United States four years after his parents had taken up their abode on this side the Atlantic, although they returned to Eng- land and brought him to the new world. They landed at New York and all came direct to Davenport, James Garstang arriving here on the day that he was seventeen years of age. He attended school to a limited extent here and afterward drove a team and was employed in other ways until about twenty years of age, when he began learning the carpenter's trade, which he found a congenial occu- pation, following it continuously until his retirement. As he prospered in his undertakings he made judicious investments in realty and now derives a substan- tial income from his property interests.
On the 30th of March, 1865, Mr. Garstang was married to Miss Mary Baker, a daughter of William Baker and a native of England. She was born October 19, 1839, and came to the United States at the age of sixteen years. Her mother had died in England and her father died at sea while they were crossing the Atlantic. Mrs. Garstang lived to the age of sixty-nine years, passing
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away November 12, 1908. There were two children of that marriage, Collin and William Edward, but the latter died at the age of two years. The former was born December 7, 1867. There are now two grandsons, Clifford S. and Lloyd W.
Mr. Garstang continued actively in business in Davenport for many years and was always found reliable, painstaking and faithful in the execution of his work. His industry and careful management at length brought him a gratify- ing measure of success and with the retired men of affluence he is now numbered.
NICHOLAS ALBRECHT.
Among those citizens of Davenport who though deceased have left behind them a pleasant memory and a living influence for good must be numbered Nicholas Albrecht, who was born October 26, 1853, and passed away, March 25, 1908. He was a native of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, and came here when about sixteen years of age in company with his father, George Albrecht, and two brothers. They were the first members of the Albrecht family to leave the father- land and, speedily becoming typical pioneers, made the journey to Kansas in a covered wagon and endured many hardships incident to life in a new country. The father spent the remainder of his life in that state and died there not many years ago.
Nicholas Albrecht identified himself with the Tri-Cities by his removal to Moline in the '70s. He subsequently came to Davenport and established himself in the butcher business, starting in on a small scale, but his dealings were such that he soon had a large patronage and by 1891 had prospered sufficiently to build the brick edifice which now stands on the corner of Washington and Leonard streets. Mr. Albrecht's interests were not limited to his trade. He was the pro- moter of the Davenport Ice & Cold Storage Company, an incorporated concern and one of the largest of its kind in the state. It was organized in 1899.
Mr. Albrecht laid the foundation of a happy home life by his marriage, May 2, 1876, to Miss Anna Stahl, who survives her husband. She was born in Ger- many and came to this country with her parents. This union was blessed by the birth of eight children. The eldest son, George, who is connected with the busi- ness fostered by his father-the Davenport Ice & Cold Storage Company-has been married twice, his first wife being Carrie Jurgens, and his second Laura Blesse. He has two daughters, Vernice and Nathalia. The second son, John, is the manager of the meat market started by his father and has in fact been connected with it ever since he began his business career. He is a native of Daven- port, and was married October 8, 1902, to Maria Wiese, their attractive home having as its chief ornament two sons, Harold and Irwin. The other six chil- dren are at home. They are: Meta; Alma; Minnie, who serves as her brother John's bookkeeper; Alvina, who attends high school; and Hulda and Walter, both of whom are at school.
Mr. Albrecht found great enjoyment in his fraternal relations, which ex- tended to the Turners, the Knights and Ladies of Honor, and the Woodmen of the World. He was a progressive and public-spirited man, ready to give his
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support to all good causes, and an earnest champion of education. His school days had been passed in Germany and he was particularly well educated. His mortal remains are interred in Oakdale cemetery, but he will not soon be for- gotten in the city in which he spent so long a period of his life, and to whose social and industrial interests he contributed in no small degree.
DR. REZIN D. MYERS.
Dr. Rezin D. Myers, deceased, enjoyed the distinction of having opened the first office for the practice of dentistry in the city of Davenport. He was born in Steubenville, Ohio, November 7, 1820, a son of John and Abigail (Maloy) My- ers. The family was of German descent but had long been connected with the history of this country even in its earliest years. John Myers, who was a native of Jefferson county, Pennsylvania, was an officer in the war of 1812 under General Harrison and was a farmer and a miller by occupation. He passed away May 10, 1850. In his family were ten children.
Dr. Rezin D. Myers received his early education in the public schools of his native town, but the training which he later acquired and which made his prac- tice of dentistry possible came as the result of his own ambition and labors. He had planned to become a physician, but as he pursued his work he became convinced that he was not suited for that profession and so devoted himself to dentistry. He did not have the means, however, to attend the schools he desired so he conceived the idea of becoming a journeyman dentist, riding or driving through the country, extracting teeth or performing other small and necessary operations among a people who in those early days had little opportunity to fre- quent the cities where the more skillful and better trained might attend to their wants. Dr. Myers rapidly rose in his chosen field, for he was a man who was ever on the alert to profit by experience, and as it often fell to his lot to be associated with those who were most proficient in their work, he soon acquired the ability and the confidence equal if not superior to that which is learned through attend- ing lectures in a schoolroom.
Dr. Myers came to Davenport in 1853, having covered the distance from Chi- cago by stage. Here he established his office and engaged in his profession, to. which he devoted himself assiduously until about fifteen years before his death, with a success that was a gratifying return after the many hardships which only perseverance had overcome in the years he was trying to perfect himself in his art. When he retired he spent a number of years traveling, principally in Mexico for the benefit of his health. On the 30th of July, 1897, his long, earnest and eventful life was brought to a close.
In Pennsylvania, in 1858, Dr. Myers was married to Miss Adeline Huffman, a native of the Keystone state, and they had five children, only two of whom are living: William Lincoln, who is in the paper business in Missouri; and Mrs. Elizabeth Smith, of Bedford City, Virginia.
Mrs. Myers is a member of the Presbyterian church, whose services Dr. My- ers attended throughout his life. He was, however, broad in his religious views.
REZIN D. MYERS
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assisting to build many of the houses of worship in Davenport in early years, as his aid was ever given to all the measures or charities which were calculated to ad- vance the social and moral wellbeing of the community. He was a republican in his political affiliations and active in the public life of the city, especially shortly after his arrival here. Fraternally he belonged to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, among whose members he made many friends, who, attracted by the noble character of the man, became endeared to him through close acquaintance with his high ideals and principles and mourned him sincerely as a good citizen when his life was over. Mrs. Myers, too, has many friends in the city, which has been her home for so many years. In fact, she has lived in the same house for more than half a century. -
ADOLPH PRIESTER.
Various business interests have felt the stimulus of the cooperation and sound judgment of Adolph Priester, who through many years has been closely connected with commercial and financial interests in Davenport. Difficulties have seemed but to arouse in him renewed energy and determination and with progress as his watchword he has pushed steadily forward, making for himself an honorable and enviable position among Davenport's chief business represen- tatives. He was born June 30, 1848, in Holstein, Germany, and came to this country in August, 1857, when a youth of nine years, in company with his par- ents, Carl and Elise (Beuthien) Priester. The father was the founder of the family in the new world. He had followed farming in Germany and after cross- ing the Atlantic to the United States he made his way into the interior of the country and invested in land in Scott county. With characterisic energy he then began the development of a farm and soon brought his fields under a high state of cultivation.
Adolph Priester began his education in the schools of the fatherland and . completed his course in the public schools of this country. He was reared to the occupation of farming and became familiar with the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist, but, thinking to find other pursuits more con- genial, he turned his attention to merchandising, becoming active in the manage- ment of a dry-goods store in this city. He was afterward associated with a crock- ery company and later entered the Citizens National Bank, with which he was connected for twenty-eight years as teller and assistant cashier. While still en- gaged in the banking business he established an office for the conduct of an in- surance business, representing the Germania Life Company, and following his retirement from the field of banking he was appointed state manager for the company, which he has thus represented to the present time. In this regard he controls an extensive insurance business annually, carefully devising plans for the furtherance of the interests of the company in this state. He is likewise a director of the Davenport Brewing Company and is a well known business man.
On the Ist of December, 1888, Mr. Priester was married to Miss Ida Koeh- ler, a daughter of Henry and Ottilie (Schlapp) Koehler. Three children grace
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this marriage: Henry C., who has completed school and is now a private secre- tary to Mr. Mixter, superintendent of the Deere Plow Company; and Walter and Oscar C., who are yet students. Mr. Priester is well known in fraternal circles and in Masonry has attained the Knight Templar degree. He also belongs to the Knights of Pythias fraternity and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and his membership relations extend to the Turner Society and to the Com- mercial Club. He manifests in his life many of the strong and sterling char- acteristics of his German ancestry. Patriotism and progress might well be termed the keynote of his character, for these qualities have been manifest in every relation of his life, making him one of the valued citizens of Davenport as well as one of its representative business men.
FERDINAND WOLF.
Ferdinand . Wolf, deceased, was at one time well known among the resi- dent farmers of Scott county and, in fact, was a native son of the county, his birth having occurred in Butler township, on the 18th of February, 1869. His parents were Asmus and Catherine (Buck) Wolf, of whom mention is made on another page of this volume. He was a pupil in the district schools during his boyhood days and he remained upon the home farm until his marriage, aiding in the work of field and meadow as the years went by and thus gaining practical knowledge of the business which he decided to make his life work. At the time of his marriage he began farming on his own account on a tract of land owned by his father-in-law in Butler township. There he lived for five years and then removed to his father's farm, upon which he resided for three years. On the expiration of that period he purchased the farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Butler township upon which his widow now resides and one hundred and sixty acres adjoining the homestead. He made all of the improve- ments upon the place. He cultivated his fields according to the most modern and progressive methods and year after year carried on the farm work in such a practical and progressive manner that substantial success crowned his ef- forts.
It was on the 16th of March, 1894, that Mr. Wolf was married to Miss Alvina Muller, a daughter of Ernest and Christina (Kettleson) Muller. Mrs. Wolf was born in Butler township and her parents were both natives of Ger- many. Her father, who was born in Westphalia, came to the United States at the age of seventeen years with his mother. They first settled in Ohio and later came to Iowa, taking up their abode at Le Claire. Mr. Muller was a carpenter by trade and followed that pursuit for some time, but later turned his attention to farming. The first land he bought was in Butler township and from time to time he added to his original holdings until he had about six hundred and ninety acres in Butler township and one hundred and sixty acres in Lincoln town- ship. He died in Butler township on the homestead. He was a man of good business ability and sound judgment, and the careful manner in which he con- trolled his farming interests enabled him to become one of the large landowners
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of the community. He filled the office of justice of the peace for a number of years and his decisions were always strictly fair and impartial. In 1874 he was elected on the republican ticket to the house of representatives and filled that position for three terms to the entire satisfaction of all concerned. He lived retired on his farm for a number of years prior to his death, which occurred in 1899, his remains being interred in Fairview cemetery. His wife, who was born in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, came to the United States with her par- ents when about seventeen years of age and settled near Dixon, Iowa. She died in 1898 and her remains were also interred in the Fairview cemetery.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Wolf were born five children: Malitta, who was born November 24, 1897, and died when but two weeks old; Delmar F., born August 15, 1899; Raymond E., October 16, 1901 ; Harvey A., November 21, 1903; and Lola C., June 23, 1906.
The death of the husband and father occurred on the 3d of September, 1909, and his remains were interred in Fairview cemetery. He had served as school director for three years and was a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. While his time and attention were largely devoted to his farming interests, he yet advocated progress in all matters of citizenship and endorsed all practical methods for the benefit of the county. He had a wide acquaintance in the township in which he lived and his many good qualities won him the esteem and high regard of a large circle of friends as well as the love of his own family.
H. H. BOETTGER.
H. H. Boettger, a cigar manufacturer and representative of some of the lead- ing cigar producers in the country, is well established in Davenport. He was born here, April 5, 1884, a son of H. J. and Doretta (Kiene) Boettger. The father was born in Germany and came to Davenport in 1882. He was a cigar- maker by trade and finally established himself in the business of manufacturing cigars, having carried it on for the past fourteen years. Mrs. Boettger was also born in Germany, but they were married in the vicinity of Davenport. Three sons have been born to them: H. H., Edward A. and Christian.
H. H. Boettger was educated in the public schools and the high school of Davenport. He then took a commercial course in Brown's Business College. Having learned the trade of making cigars in his boyhood, Mr. Boettger natur- ally turned toward that occupation when he was ready to begin his business life, joining his father in his enterprise, and they now have a fine trade, manufactur- ing their own brands.
A democrat in politics, Mr. Boettger has taken so active a part in labor mat- ters that in November, 1908, he was elected a member of the lower house of the state assembly and has made a record for himself that indicates that he will be called upon to represent the people in still higher offices.
In 1904 Mr. Boettger was married to Ellen Hansen, who was born in Daven- port, a daughter of Jens Hansen, and they have two children: Evangeline and Elizabeth. Mr. Boettger belongs to a number of fraternal orders as well as
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several social organizations and is very popular in them all. Brilliant and self- confident, knowing well what he can do and prompt to carry out his ideas, he easily meets every demand made upon him. His plans for the future and for the betterment of the condition of working people are many and worthy of being executed. Not only is he a statesman but he is very successful in business and understands every detail of the work he and his father are so successfully prose- cuting.
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