USA > Iowa > Des Moines County > History of Des Moines County, Iowa, Volume II > Part 10
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failed in his political service and from ward caucus to the final vote at the polls, often, too, at much personal sacrifice, we never ques- tioned that he would do his full duty as a citizen and a patriot." Members of the Des Moines County Bar Association, the city coun- cil and the Commercial Exchange all passed resolutions of respect and sympathy, but it was not only in the organizations, but in the heart of every individual who knew him that the loss of Cornelius L. Poor was most keenly felt.
T. W. ALEXANDER.
T. W. Alexander is the president of the Burlington Soap Com- pany, of which he was one of the organizers. Business enterprise, laudable ambition and unfaltering purpose have brought him to a creditable place among the manufacturers of the city, and he is still advancing step by step, winning the merited reward of persistent and intelligently directed labor. He was born in Monmouth, Illi- nois, in 1860, his parents being J. W. and Elizabeth Alexander, of that place. The father was a farmer by occupation, and thus pro- vided for the support of his family.
The son, T. W. Alexander, acquired a public-school education and, starting out in the business world, secured a position with the Maple City Soap Company, of Monmouth, thus gaining his initial experience in the field of business in which he still operates. Leav- ing. Illinois in 1890, he went to Hastings, Nebraska, where he organ- ized the firm of Alexander & Company, for the manufacture of soap and there conducted the business until 1891, when he removed his interest to Burlington, where he established business under the name of the Iowa Soap Company, his location being on Front street near the Union depot. In 1896 a removal was made to the Tabor-Burns building, where they continued until 1900, and then removed to Valley street. Mr. Alexander remained in connection with the busi- ness until 1903 and then sold out, spending the succeeding two years in retirement. In 1905 he became the chief factor in the organiza- tion of the Burlington Soap Company and was elected to the presi- dencv. In this connection he is at the head of a growing business conducted at Nos. 508-514 North Main street, where they occupy a three-story building, one hundred and twenty by one hundred and seventy feet. The business has grown steadily under the wise direc- tion of its president and his fellow-officers.
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At the outset of his career Mr. Alexander did not wait for a specially brilliant opening. His natural industry would not permit him to do so, even if his financial circumstances had been such as to make it possible. His mental and physical activity were practically the only capital which he brought to the starting point of his career, but at that time he showed conspicuously the traits of character that have made his life successful. He performed all the duties that de- volved upon him, however humble and however small the recom- pense might be, conscientiously and industriously, and because of this he won steady advancement. His strict integrity, business con- servatism and judgment have always been so uniformly recognized that he has enjoyed public confidence to an enviable degree, and naturally this has brought to him a lucrative patronage.
In politics Mr. Alexander is a progressive, and fraternally is connected with the Ancient Order of United Workmen, but his atten- tion is chiefly concentrated upon his business affairs, and his close application and energy have been crowning points in his career.
THE BURLINGTON SOAP COMPANY.
The Burlington Soap Company, which is one of the large pro- ductive industries of the city and a factor in its commercial devel- opment, was organized in 1905 with T. W. Alexander as the presi- dent; Frank Linell, vice president; William Archer, secretary, and E. F. Holsteen, treasurer. The business is located at Nos. 508-14 North Main street, occupying a three-story building with one hun- dred and twenty foot frontage and one hundred and seventy feet in depth. In 1906 Mr. Archer sold out to E. F. Holsteen, but other- wise there has been no change in the personnel of the company. Em- ployment is furnished to twenty-six people and there are five traveling salesmen upon the road, covering Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, eastern Nebraska, Indiana and parts of Michigan and Wisconsin.
The company manufactures a full line of toilet and laundry soaps, producing altogether twenty different brands of those soaps, besides special lines for certain customers. They sell largely to the grocery and drug trades and they specialize in French violet and honeysuckle perfumes. Their business is also represented by brokerage firms in California, Alabama and West Virginia, and they are now selling quite extensively over the south. Their plant has a capacity for manufacturing daily soap worth one thousand dollars. It is sup-
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plied with new and modern machinery, one kettle alone holding ninety thousand pounds of soap. Steam power is used in the oper- ation of the plant, and the business has been most carefully systema- tized, so that there is no useless expenditure of time, labor or mate- rial. All work is done with the utmost precision, and the wise man- agement of the house is manifest in its growing success.
PETER MAGEL.
Peter Magel has since 1905 been a `resident of Burlington, previous to which time he made his home upon a farm in this county. While he is now in a considerable measure living retired, he still gives supervision to his agricultural interests, and in addition to his Des Moines county property has extensive landed interests in Kansas. He has likewise been president of the Continental Brick Company, of Aledo, Illinois, for five years. He was born in Union township, near Rock Springs, this county, February 15, 1849, a son of Seibert and Mary (Licht) Magel, who were natives of Germany, the former born January 5, 1812, and the latter April 24, 1821. They came to Des Moines county in the fall of 1835, making the voyage to America on the same ship. The mother was a daughter of Conrad and Catharine Licht, who brought their family to the new world and established their home in Des Moines county, where they remained until called to their final rest.
Mr. and Mrs. Magel were married in this county about a year after their arrival, and their remaining days were spent upon a farm southwest of Burlington. The mother's death occurred December 6, 1896, and the father passed away August 9, 1897. He had been blind for a quarter of a century before his demise. When he arrived in this country he was the possessor of a capital of two hundred dollars. He immediately sought employment, and his first work was on a dam at Augusta. After being employed as a day laborer for a few months he began farming with Conrad Pheiff, and later they together purchased a cow. They farmed together as neigh- bors, but after a time that property was disposed of and Mr. Magel bought a farm southwest of Burlington, upon which he continued to make his home until called to his final rest. As opportunity offered, however, he added to his property holdings until at one time he was the owner of three farms, but prior to his demise he divided his property among his children. As the years passed he
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won a substantial measure of prosperity and he was always a gen- erous contributor to movements and measures for the public good. He assisted in building two churches and gave liberally to the Bur- lington Hospital, and at his death he left to that institution the sum of one thousand dollars. He held membership in the German Lutheran church and the organization found in him a generous supporter, who was also ever ready to give freely to all benevolent and other worthy causes. His political allegiance was given to the democratic party. To him and his wife were born eighteen children, of whom ten reached adult age, namely: Elizabeth, now deceased, the wife of William Hillgartner; William, who is mentioned else- where in this volume; Henry, of Burlington; Charles, who is living in Fremont county; Conrad, whose home is in Idaho; Peter; Mary, the widow of Julius Schafer, of this city; Margaret, who married Henry Steyh, of Burlington; Theodore, who died in Fremont county ; and Benjamin, also of Burlington.
Peter Magel remained with his parents up to the time of his marriage, and in his youth acquired a public-school education. When twenty-one years of age he began farming on his own account, renting land from his father, and subsequently he purchased a part of the old home place, upon which he erected a comfortable dwell- ing, and from time to time he made further improvements until he had one of the best farms of the county, which he occupied until his removal to the city in 1905. He still owns his old home place and his father's old homestead, one comprising one hundred and forty- eight acres of land and the other one hundred and forty-four acres. The entire amount is improved, save twenty-five acres, which is in timber. Mr. Magel goes back and forth to the farm to a large ex- tent and gives to the place his personal supervision. When actively engaged in farming he employed the most progressive methods; brought his fields to a high state of cultivation and made his farm a very productive one, so that the annual sale of his crops brought to him a most substantial revenue. In addition to his Iowa property he owned five hundred and sixty acres in Kansas. He also has other business interests, having for five years been president of the Conti- nental Brick Company, of Aledo, Illinois, which is one of the profit- able enterprises of that place.
On the 15th of January, 1879, Mr. Magel was married to Miss Alice E. Blakeway, who was born in Augusta township, Des Moines county, July 30, 1859, a daughter of John C. and Priscilla F. (Bashore) Blakeway, who were natives of Wheeling, West Virginia, and accompanied their parents to the middle west in childhood. The
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father was seventeen years of age at the time of the removal. The mother lived for a time in Missouri. In 1849 Mr. Blakeway went to California, spending two years, and with that exception has con- tinuously resided in this county since his marriage. Both he and his wife passed away in Union township, the former February 19, 1904, at the age of seventy-six years, and the latter on the 22d of January, 1902. They had twelve children, of whom three died in infancy. Those, besides Mrs. Magel, who reached adult age were: William D., of California; Elizabeth, the wife of George Vaughn, of Bur- lington; Margaret, the deceased wife of Stephen Courtwright; Ed- ward, a farmer of Fairfield; Thomas U., living in Kansas; Carson J., of Augusta township; Frank B., of Burlington; and Mrs. Hattie J. Boland, of Memphis, Tennessee. Mr. and Mrs. Magel have two sons. George Seibert, the elder, occupies his grandfather's home- stead. He married Miss Emma Grothe, who died leaving one child, Kenneth Howard, and since losing his first wife he has married Mamie Lyman. John Clarence, the younger son, resides upon his father's farm. He married Miss Rosa Ihrer and they have a daugh- ter, Frances Louise.
Mr. Magel is a democrat, but the honors and emoluments of office have had no attraction for him, as he has always preferred to devote his attention to his business affairs. He served, however, as school treasurer for fifteen years, occupying that position until his re- moval to the city. He and his wife are members of the First Meth- odist Episcopal church and have guided their lives by its teachings. He has a wide acquaintance in this county, where he has always lived, and the number of his friends indicates that his life has been at all times an honorable and upright one.
ARNOLD C. ITA.
Arnold C. Ita is manager and treasurer of the Embalming Burial Case Company, one of the extensive business enterprises of Burling- ton. He has been identified with this business since early manhood and his efforts have been an element in the continued growth of the enterprise. Much of his life has been passed in Burlington. He is a son of Ulrich Ita, who is president of the company and who was born in Stamheim, Switzerland, as was the grandfather, Melchoir Ita, who for eighteen years ran a government stage between Stam- heim and Frauenfeld. Melchoir Ita died in 1859, while his wife,
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who bore the maiden name of Margaret Marthaler, passed away in 1862.
Ulrich Ita was educated in the schools of his native city and after- ward served a two and a half years' apprenticeship at the cabinet- maker's trade. He worked for four years as a journeyman in Swit- zerland and in France and in 1868 crossed the Atlantic to the United States. The same year he became a resident of Burlington and for about four years worked at the carpenter's trade. Advancing along business lines, he became foreman of the Daniel Winters planing mill and after five years spent in that connection he became associated with Robert Wolf in the furniture manufacturing business under the style of Wolf & Ita. For a number of years the business was successfully conducted, but the health of Mr. Ita became so impaired that he sold out to Mr. Wolf, returning to Europe in the hope that the change of climate would prove beneficial. He was not disappointed and in 1881 he returned to America, his health fully restored. At that time he became a stockholder in the Embalming Burial Case Com- pany, which had been organized in 1876. He assumed the manage- ment of the business and on the death of Dr. Bailey was elected presi- dent, in which connection he still continues.
In 1873 Ulrich Ita was united in marriage to Miss Julia Shupert, who died in 1874, leaving a son, Ulrich Ita, who is now in Chatta- nooga, Tennessee. In 1876 Mr. Ita married Miss Carolina Berg- man, of Burlington, and they became parents of four children, Helen, Arnold C., Godfried J. and Walter H. The parents are members of the Zion Evangelical church, in which they are actively interested, and Mr. Ita is also a member of Excelsior Lodge, I. O. O. F. Aside from his connection with the Embalming Burial Case Company he is a stockholder and a director in the German-American Savings Bank.
Arnold C. Ita, who is now treasurer and manager of the Embalm- ing Burial Case Company, was born in Burlington in 1879 and, like the other children of the family, was given excellent educational privileges. He attended the public schools and subsequently became a student in Elliott's Business College, and after thus qualifying for the practical and responsible duties of life he became connected with the business of which his father was the president. This busi- ness was organized in 1876 for the building of patent metallic cas- kets and in 1880 the company broadened the scope of its activities by beginning the manufacture of all kinds of undertakers' supplies. Two years later Ulrich Ita, as previously stated, purchased an interest in the business, of which Dr. H. B. Bailey was then president. The Vol II- 7
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latter continued in his office until his death in 1886, when he was succeeded by Ulrich Ita, who still remains at the head of the com- pany, while Arnold C. Ita is now manager and treasurer, with God- fried J. Ita as secretary. The business has enjoyed a very substan- tial and gratifying growth, their annual sales being now three times as large as they were in 1890. The firm today employs about fifty people, all skilled workmen, and they also have a number of travel- ing salesmen upon the road. The factory has a frontage of two hun- dred feet at No. 1105 Agency street. There is a four-story brick warehouse fifty by one hundred and twenty feet, a brick machinery building and engine room one hundred and sixty by sixty feet, a frame drying house eighteen by forty feet, and a lumber shed fifty by sixty feet. Steam power is used and the company specializes in cypress caskets of high quality. They are also jobbers for steel vaults and other undertakers' supplies and their goods are sold between Wyoming and Ohio, six traveling salesmen caring for the trade. This is regarded as one of the substantial firms of the state. The business methods of the house are thoroughly reliable, and it is a recognized fact that the name of Ita is synonymous with progressive methods and honorable dealing. The enterprise, capability and determina- tion which have characterized the father are manifest as well in the sons and the representatives of the two generations occupy a promi- nent position in the commercial and manufacturing circles of Bur- lington.
COLONEL H. B. SCOTT.
Colonel H. B. Scott, whose title was worthily won by service in the Civil war, has been a resident of Burlington since about 1868, and throughout practically the entire period has been connected with the landed interests of what is now the Perkins estate, his services having been called into requisition in this connection by Charles E. Perkins, then president of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Rail- road Company. He was born in Peru, Indiana, on the 15th of March, 1839, and is a son of Benjamin Homans and Sarah (Carlisle) Scott. The father, who was born in Boston and was descended from French-Huguenot ancestry, served his country as a soldier in the War of 1812. One of his great-uncles was killed in the Revolution- ary war at the battle of Bunker Hill. Benjamin H. Scott became a clerk of the court in Miami county, Indiana, being the first to fill
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that position, and he was otherwise identified with the pioneer devel- opment of that section of the state. In his later years he returned to the east, spending his last days in Framingham, Massachusetts. His wife was a descendant of the well-known Chase family, to which be- longed Rev. Josiah Chase, of Kittery, Maine, and she has long since passed away, her death having occurred in 1841.
Colonel Scott, of this review, was but two years of age at the time of his mother's demise. The family returned to Massachusetts and he was reared in that state, supplementing his public-school edu- cation by a course at Harvard, from which he was graduated with the class of 1860. He then took up the study of law, but ere fully qualifying for the bar joined the army, for the country had become involved in civil war. In January, 1862, he was appointed second lieutenant of Company F, Second Massachusetts Regiment, and in July of the same year was advanced to the rank of captain and assistant adjutant-general of the Third Brigade, First Division, of General N. P. Banks' Army Corps. At different times he served on the staff of General Gordon, General Butler and General E. O. C. Orde, and on the 18th of January, 1865, he was appointed major of the Fourth Massachusetts Cavalry. On the 31st of March of the same year he was brevetted lieutenant-colonel in recognition of dis- tinguished service on the field, and on the 25th of April of the same year was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel of the Fourth Massachusetts Cavalry, with which he remained until honorably dis- charged and mustered out on the 14th of November, 1865. His service was ofttimes of a most difficult, arduous and delicate char- acter. He participated in a number of hotly-contested engagements and was wounded at the battle of Chancellorsville. He returned home with a most creditable military record and has every reason to be proud of this chapter in his life history.
After the war Colonel Scott went to Florida, where he engaged in the raising of cotton for three years, and on the expiration of that period made his way to Burlington, Iowa, where he has since main- tained his residence, being numbered among the valued citizens of Des Moines county for a period of forty-six years. He entered the employ of Charles E. Perkins, president of the Burlington Railroad, in a most responsible connection, having charge of his landed in- terests, which he has carefully managed throughout all of the inter- vening period to the present time, displaying therein marked busi- ness ability, sound judgment and keen sagacity.
On the 20th of June, 1872, Colonel Scott was united in marriage to Miss Leonora Cranch, of New York city, and they have become
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the parents of seven children: George Cranch, who is engaged in the brokerage business in Boston; Henry Russell, a member of the bar of Boston; Sarah Carlisle, at home; Richard Gordon, who is engaged in farming near Portland, Oregon; Christopher P., who is conducting an electrical business at Portland, Oregon; Elizabeth, at home; and Margaret, the wife of Edward Lincoln, a civil engineer of Portland, Maine.
Colonel Scott gives his political allegiance to the republican party, which he has stanchly supported since age conferred upon him the right of franchise, casting his first presidential ballot for Abraham Lincoln in 1860. He is a member of the Loyal Legion and of the Unitarian church. His has been an active, useful and honorable life, characterized at every point by the same loyalty and fidelity which he displayed when he followed the nation's starry banner upon the battlefields of the south.
H. F. STEINLE, M. D.
A liberal education and hospital practice qualified Dr. H. F. Steinle for his professional service in Burlington, where he located in the fall of 1891. He has since been an active member of the pro- fession here and has specialized in general surgery. He was born in Galena, Illinois, on the 9th of April, 1867, and is a son of William and Katherine (Schier) Steinle. The father was a miner, active in the development of the Galena deposits in northwestern Illinois.
Dr. Steinle attended the public schools of his native city and also of California, to which state the family removed in 1877, when he was a lad of ten years. Subsequently he became a pupil in St. Igna- tius College at San Francisco, and having determined upon the prac- tice of medicine as a life work, he entered Gross Medical College, the medical department of the Rocky Mountain University, from which he was graduated in 1890. Not content with the preparation that he had thus far made, he took a post-graduate course in the Policlinic, of Chicago. He did interne work in the Union Pacific Hospital at Denver, and also in the county hospital there, thus greatly promoting his skill and efficiency by reason of the broad experience that can only be gained in hospital practice. For a brief time he was connected professionally with a mining company at Silver City, Colorado. In the fall of 1891 he came to Burlington, where he has since remained. Opening an office, his share of the
,
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public patronage has come to him in large measure, for it was not long before he had demonstrated his skill and ability in solving many intricate professional problems. He specializes in general surgery and at all times keeps in touch with the advanced scientific methods of handling intricate and delicate surgical work. His suc- cess has as its foundation a comprehensive knowledge of anatomy and the component parts of the human body, and, morcover, he recognizes the ravages of disease, whether coming as a legacy from progenitors or incurred at the present hour. He is calm and quiet in an emergency and a cool head and steady nerves are elements in his success in surgical work.
In 1893 Dr. Steinle was united in marriage to Miss Barbara B. Muckensturm, of Burlington, a daughter of Valentine and Kath- erine Muckensturm, who were pioneer settlers of this city. The father was a cooper and followed his trade for many years. Dr. Steinle and his wife have one son, George H., who is now a medical student in the St. Louis University medical school. The parents hold membership in St. Paul's Catholic church, and Dr. Steinle also has membership with the Knights of Columbus, the Elks, the Eagles, and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. In politics he is a democrat, but the only office that he has sought or held has been in the strict path of his profession. In 1895 he was elected health officer and city physician for a term of two years, and was again chosen for that office in 1899, serving until 1901. He is now city police surgeon. He has the faculty of inspiring confidence in his pa- tients and his presence seems to carry encouragement with it. He ยท has high ideals concerning his profession and has made every pos- sible effort to acquaint himself with the most valuable and modern scientific methods.
CARL AUGUST ANDERSON.
For a third of a century Carl August Anderson has been a resident of Burlington and in the intervening years has gradually worked his way upward until he stands as one of the leading general contractors of the city. He deserves much credit for what he has accomplished by reason of his close application, his thorough reliability and the intelligent direction of his activities.
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