USA > Iowa > Des Moines County > History of Des Moines County, Iowa, Volume II > Part 31
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In his boyhood days W. A. Baum began work upon a farm and about 1879, when a youth of sixteen years, he entered the employ of Cleveland, Manson & Wickman, of Waterloo. Later he was em- ployed by the firm of Schaefer & Dows at Cedar Rapids, Iowa, con- tinuing with that house for ten years. Still later he was with the National Biscuit Company until February 25, 1907, representing that
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corporation as superintendent at Des Moines, as manager at Rock Island, Illinois, as sales agent at Burlington, lowa, as manager at St. Louis and as manager at Fort Worth, Texas. Later he became super- intendent for the Loose-Wiles Biscuit Company at St. Louis and on the 16th of July, 1908, he accepted the position of manager with the lowa Biscuit Company of Burlington, in which connection he yet remains. This company has a large and well equipped plant and as manager Mr. Baum directs the operations of manufacturing and the disposition of the product.
On the 20th of October, 1887, Mr. Baum was united in marriage to Miss Etta Peppers, of La Porte City, Iowa, and to them have been born three children, Bertha May, S. Leo and N. Vernon. Mr. Baum is an advocate of republican principles but has never been an aspirant for office. He holds membership in the Baptist church and is affiliated with the Elks and is also a member of the Commercial Ex- change. His entire life has been spent in lowa with the exception of a few years spent in Illinois and Texas, and he has ever been guided by the spirit of advancement and progress which has characterized the upbuilding of the state. Those who know him, and he has an ex- tensive acquaintance by reason of the important position which he fills, entertain for him high regard and his character stands the test of long friendship.
LEOPOLD KRIEG.
Leopold Krieg, conducting a plumbing establishment at No. 210 South Third street, was born in Burlington on the 9th of June, 1870, a son of Leopold and Katherine (Seppie) Krieg, both of whom were natives of Germany. The father left the fatherland in early life, came to the United States and was married on this side of the At- lantic. Miss Katherine Seppie becoming his wife. It was in the '6os that they became residents of Iowa, settling in Burlington, where the father engaged in the grocery trade. He later conducted a spice and coffee business and as the years passed on became recognized as a foremost figure in commercial circles here. His death occurred Jan- uary 13, 1894, and his widow has now survived for more than twenty years.
Leopold Krieg is one of the vast number who owe their com- mercial training to the thorough system of instruction in Elliott's Business College. He learned the plumber's trade in Omaha,
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Nebraska, and in 1898 returned to Burlington and opened a plumb- ing shop. In this he was interested for a year and then sold out, but in 1906 again embarked in business on his own account and since that time has won a gratifying and substantial measure of success. In Sep- tember, 1912, he removed to his present location at No. 210 South Third street, where he conducts a large business, employing ten men. He has the contract for plumbing work in many of the best buildings of the city and his own knowledge of the trade enables him to care- fully direct the labors of those whom he employs. He keeps in touch with the most advanced methods in the work and has won a measure of success that is most gratifying.
In 1899 Mr. Krieg was united in marriage to Miss Augusta Melcher, of Mount Pleasant, Iowa, and they have two children, Richard W. and Marie. Mrs. Krieg is a consistent member of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Krieg belongs to the Masonic fraternity and has advanced to the Knight Templar degree in the commandery, at all times exemplifying in his life the beneficent spirit of the craft. He also belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In politics he is a democrat but does not seek nor desire office. He keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day and is ever ready to support his position by intelligent argument. Whenever it is pos- sible for him to aid in advancing a public measure of worth he does so, but his chief interest has been his business and the thoroughness with which he mastered his trade and the efficiency with which he has conducted his interests since that time have been the chief factors in his success.
DENISE DENISE.
Denise Denise figured prominently in connection with the early commercial development of Burlington, for he was a partner in the first packing house of the city. From the age of fifteen years he was dependent upon his own resources and as time passed on he so directed his efforts and activities that he gained a gratifying measure of prosperity. Moreover, the rules and principles which governed his conduct were those which control strict and unswerving integrity as well as enterprise. His many substantial qualities, therefore, made him a valued resident of Burlington and his name should have a place upon the pages of its history.
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DENISE DENISE
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He was born in Montgomery county, Ohio, December 1, 1815, and was of French Huguenot descent, his ancestors having emigrated from France to Holland on account of the Edict of Nantes. He acquired his education in the schools of his native country and when fifteen years of age made his initial step in the business world in connection with a dry-goods house of Franklin, Ohio. He was not afraid of work and his close application, determination and ability ยท won him promotion and ultimately he became a partner in the firm of Wilson, Schenck & Denise. A later change in the partnership led to the adoption of the firm style of Schenck & Denise and in that connection Mr. Denise continued in business in Ohio until 1846, when they sold out and came to Burlington, finding here a small but grow- ing city which was fast becoming a trade center for western districts as the country in that section became settled. Here the firm of Schenck & Denise established the first packing house of Burlington and from the beginning the new enterprise prospered, their business growing year by year. Mr. Denise remained an active factor in its conduct until, on account of impaired health, he retired, spending his remaining days in the enjoyment of a rest which he had truly earned and richly deserved. He was also a silent partner in the firm of L. H. Dalhoff & Company, wholesale dealers in notions, and for many years faithfully served the city in the capacity of clerk of the court.
Mr. Denise was married on the 12th of September, 1843, to Miss Mary Eliza Schenck, of Franklin, Ohio, who still survives. She acquired her early education in her native town and was afterward graduated from the Oxford Female College at Oxford, Ohio, with the class of 1839. She is today the oldest living alumnus of that school and on Easter, 1914, she received a postal shower from the pupils of the school.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Denise were active church workers and after coming to Burlington Mr. Denise served as a trustee in the Presby- terian church and later was chosen ruling elder and made clerk of the session, which office he filled until 1873. He was elected elder emeritus on the 17th of February, 1884, a merited tribute to his years and experience. At all times he displayed a public-spirited devotion to the general good and cooperated in many plans and measures for the upbuilding and benefit of Burlington. He passed away at the home of his son-in-law, Rev. E. R. Burkhalter, of Cedar Rapids, on the 21st of July, 1891, when in the seventy-sixth year of his age. Although twenty-three years have since come and gone, his memory remains as a benediction to all who knew him because of Vol. II-20
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his upright life and the nobility of his character. Mrs. Denise, who still survives, has always been an active church worker, devoting much time to charity and benevolent projects, and is much beloved in her home city.
WILLIAM WRIGHT BALDWIN.
Life to William Wright Baldwin has meant opportunity and the opportunity has been well improved. His educational advantages were liberal and upon that foundation he has builded a career of usefulness and honor, being recognized today as one of the leading railroad attorneys not only of Iowa but of the middle west. In his present connection as vice president of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company he stands as a prominent figure in trans- portation circles. Anyone meeting Mr. Baldwin face to face would know at once that he is an individual embodying all the elements of what in this country we term "a square man"-one in whom to have confidence, a dependable man in any relation and in any emergency. His quietude of deportment, his easy dignity, his frankness and cor- diality of address, with the total absence of anything sinister or any- thing to conceal, fore-token a man who is ready to meet any obligation of life with the confidence and courage that come of conscious per- sonal ability, right conception of things and an habitual regard for what is best in the exercise of human activities.
Mr. Baldwin was born in Keosauqua, Iowa, September 28, 1845, a son of Charles Baldwin, mentioned elsewhere in this volume. After attending the public schools of his native town he matriculated in Lane's Academy in 1860 and in 1862 was enrolled among the students of the Iowa State University, in which he completed his course by graduation with the class of 1866. In his college days he was one of the founders of the Zetegathean Society and belonged to the Beta Theta Pi fraternity. With broad literary learning to serve as the foundation upon which to build the superstructure of professional knowledge he took up the study of law in the Iowa Law School, then located in Des Moines and afterward established as the law depart- ment of the State University. He was graduated therefrom in 1867 with salutatorian honors. During his student days he earned consid- erable money in copying for the printers the opinions of the supreme court, and after paying all the expenses of his college course he found himself with a capital of seventy-five dollars. He became law clerk
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and office boy in the employ of J. C. and B. J. Hall of Burlington and a year later was offered a partnership with the late Judge Harring- ton, with whom he was associated in practice for two years. His identification with the legal department of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company dates from 1879, when he accepted the position of land commissioner for the lowa land department of the railroad. His position with the corporation has been one of growing importance. For a number of years he was president of the St. Louis, Keokuk & Northwestern and other branches of the Burlington system, and was one of the promoters of the Burlington & North- western Railway. In 1890 appointment made him land commis- sioner of the Nebraska land department and a year later he was called to the office of assistant to the president, remaining in that connection until 1909, when he was elected to the vice presidency. In this connection he has supervision of matters pertaining to taxation, land, telegraph and many of the general cor- porate and government relations of the company.
The United Press Syndicate says of him: "The services of Mr. William W. Baldwin with the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Rail- road, covering the greater part of his active career, are coincident, in point of time, with the development of that road into one of the great systems of the country; and to that development, in its legal phases and bearings, it may well be said, he has been a large contributing factor. As assistant to the president, and more recently as vice presi- dent, his services in connection with the corporate and government relations of a system operating ten thousand miles of road in eleven states have been of such a character as to be far-reaching in their bene- ficial results and to win for him a high standing among the country's railroad attorneys."
While his financial and business interests have been of constantly growing extent and importance, Mr. Baldwin has never failed to feel the deepest concern in local affairs and to cooperate in all measures for civic betterment. For many years he has been president of the school board of Burlington and as its directing head has greatly im- proved the school system of the city. He has also been a trustee of the public library, and has been president of the charity organization society of Burlington since its establishment. He is also a director and secretary of the Opera House Company and he has cooperated in many public movements which have been of distinct value in furthering civilization and improvement in city and state. His political allegiance has ever been given to the democratic party, with a firm belief in sound money and low tariff. There is an interesting
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military chapter in his life record, for during his college days he enlisted for service in the Civil war, becoming a private of Company D, Forty-fourth Iowa Infantry in the spring of 1864 and serving until discharged, three and a half months later, on the 15th of September, 1864. During that period he was on duty in western Tennessee.
In Des Moines, in 1870, Mr. Baldwin was united in marriage to Miss Alice Tuttle, a daughter of Martin and Mary (George) Tuttle. Her father was a man of prominence and was a brother of General James M. Tuttle, who served as colonel of the Second Iowa Infantry and became a brigadier-general. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Baldwin were three sons. Martin T., who married Edith Crapo, has been counsel for the United States government in the customs court of New York for several years. William is secretary of the Fellsmere Farms Company of New York city. Roger A. is assistant cashier of the Iowa State Savings Bank in Burlington.
Such in brief is the history of William Wright Baldwin, a native son of Iowa, whose record reflects credit and honor upon the state. Developing through the exercise of effort the powers with which nature endowed him, he has risen to prominence in railway circles. Starting out in life without any vaulting ambition to accomplish something great or famous, he has followed the lead of his oppor- tunities, doing as best he could anything that came to hand and seizing legitimate advantages as they have arisen. He has never hesitated to take a forward step when the way was open. Fortunate in possessing ability and character that inspire confidence in others, the simple weight of his character and ability has carried him into important relations with large interests, until he is now vice president of one of the important railway systems of the country.
P. H. PHILLIPS.
P. H. Phillips, president and treasurer of the Phillips Lime & Coal Company, of Burlington, has been actively engaged in business along this line since 1899. Watchful of opportunities pointing to suc- cess, he has never feared to venture where favoring opportunity has led the way and by reason of his well defined plans and his even paced energy he has come to a creditable and prominent position in the com- mercial circles of the city.
He was born in Burlington, March 6, 1872, a son of M. W. and Elizabeth (Combs) Phillips. The father was a native of Paris,
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Indiana, and in early life came to Iowa, settling at Moravia, where he engaged in general merchandising. In 1866 he removed to Burling- ton, where he became a wholesale dealer in hats, conducting that business with growing success for a quarter of a century, or until his death, which occurred in 1891. His wife had long since passed away, dying in 1874. They were the parents of five children, two of whom died in early childhood, the others being: Grant, who is in business with P. H. Phillips; and Cyrus, a resident of Seattle, Washington. The father was a well known member of the Masonic fraternity and was also a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church. His political indorsement was given to the republican party, but he was never an aspirant for office.
P. H. Phillips received his business training in Elliott's Business College following a course in the public schools of Burlington. His initial experience in commercial circles was made in his father's establishment, and, acquainting himself with every phase of the busi- ness, he continued to conduct the wholesale hat store, following his father's death, until 1896. He was also proprietor of a retail estab- lishment for the selling of hats and men's furnishings on Fourth and Jefferson streets, but in 1896 closed out both the wholesale and retail features of his business. He afterward spent two years in connection with manufacturing interests and in 1899 he bought out the Harper & Company coal business. The same year he incorporated his inter- ests under the name of the Phillips Lime & Coal Company, W. W. Parsons becoming president, with Mr. Phillips as secretary and treas- urer. That association was maintained until 1907, when Mr. Phillips bought the interest of Mr. Parsons in the business and since that time has been president and treasurer, with M. A. Phillips as secretary. The business is located at Fourth and Division streets, where they handle a large line of coal and building materials. Their patronage has grown year by year and their business has now reached extensive and gratifying proportions as the result of carefully controlled inter- ests and the employment of progressive and thoroughly reliable principles.
In 1898 Mr. Phillips was united in marriage to Miss Mary A. Schramm, a daughter of Henry and Ida (Copp) Schramm. They have become the parents of three children, Paul, Helen and Milo, all at home. Mr. Phillips exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the republican party and he has membership with the Elks and in the Commercial Exchange. He also belongs to the Crystal Lake Club, the Sand Lake Club and the Carthage Lake Club and is interested in the line of activities and recreation suggested
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by the names of those organizations. He resides with his family at No. 800 South Eighth street on the property once owned by Ex-Governor Grimes. Having always lived in Burlington, he is well known to its citizens and in business affairs he has long occupied an honorable and conspicuous position. Gradually he has advanced step by step, constantly increasing the scope of his interests. His business methods conform to high commercial standards and he has won for himself the most favorable regard by reason of his straight- forward dealing, his enterprise and spirit of unfeigned cordiality.
JOHN W. VAN OSDOL.
Among the retired farmers of Des Moines county is John W. Van Osdol, who now makes his home in Mediapolis. For an extended period he was actively engaged in the cultivation of his farm of two hundred and eighty acres near the town. He represents one of the old pioneer families of Des Moines county, his birth having occurred in Benton township, January 20, 1844. His parents, William and Hannah ( Banta) Van Osdol, were natives of Kentucky. The father's birth occurred in 1816 and in early life he learned and followed the miller's trade. In boyhood he accompanied his parents on their re- moval from Kentucky to Switzerland county, Indiana, where he was reared and married. Removing westward to Iowa, he cast in his lot with the early settlers of Des Moines county, purchasing eighty acres of partially improved land on section 4, Benton township, where he made his home for six or eight years. He afterward became the owner of a farm in Franklin township and a little later he purchased the site of the old Franklin Mills. He built the original mill, which was used as a sawmill, but later he converted it into a flour mill which he operated until 1856. He afterward devoted four years to mer- chandising in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, and then again resumed farm- ing, becoming the owner of land on section 33, Benton township, whereon he made his home until he was called to his final rest on the 3d of October, 1868. He cooperated in many plans and measures for the public good and did everything in his power to advance the up- building and development of his community.
Following the death of her husband Mrs. Van Osdol removed to Mediapolis and made her home there for twenty-four years ere she passed away in July, 1892, at the age of sixty-seven years, when her grave was made by the side of her husband, in the Franklin Mills
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cemetery. Their family numbered the following children besides our subject : Mahala, who is the widow of J. W. McDonald and resides in Mediapolis; Melissa, the widow of J. W. King and also a resident of Mediapolis; Martha, who has acted as housekeeper for her brother, John, since the death of his wife; Melinda, the wife of T. S. Poole, a Methodist minister, now living in Mount Pleasant, their daughter, Lydia, having served as a missionary for six years in India and having recently returned to work in Jabalpur, India, after a visit to this country ; Mary, the wife of Nicholas Boyce, of Clarinda, Iowa; Jane, the wife of Henry Walker, of Mediapolis; Anna, who married Frank Corder, of Oklahoma; Minnie, the wife of Albert Hollinger, of Chicago; and Birdie, who married John Piper, of Burlington.
Spending his youthful days under the parental roof, John W. Van Osdol acquired his early education in the district schools of Franklin township, this county, and afterward attended high school at Mount Pleasant, Iowa. He was a youth of but eighteen years when he responded to the country's call for aid and on the 19th of August, 1862, joined Company G, Twenty-fifth Iowa Infantry, at Mount Pleasant. Upon being honorably discharged at Vicksburg in 1864 he immediately reenlisted as a member of Company H, Forty-fifth Regiment of Iowa Volunteer Infantry. He saw duty on many hotly- contested battlefields, participating in the engagements at Chicka- mauga, Arkansas Post and the siege of Vicksburg. He was honor- ably discharged at Keokuk in September, 1864, after which he re- turned to his father's home in Benton township and for three years assisted in the cultivation of the farm. He subsequently went to Mediapolis, where he conducted a livestock and grain business for four years as a partner of his brother-in-law, J. W. McDonald, under the firm style of McDonald & Company. They met with success and erected a large elevator, conducting an extensive and profitable business until 1876, when they sold out. At that date Mr. Van Osdol rented a farm of two hundred and eighty acres and began its cultivation. In October, 1892, he purchased the property and continued its development until March, 1914, when he retired from active life and returned to Mediapolis. He had brought his farm to a high state of cultivation, carrying on the work according to modern, progressive measures. He erected an attractive, two- story frame dwelling and also a large barn and other outbuildings that gave ample shelter to grain and stock. He also engaged suc- cessfully in the raising of hogs and cattle, and as the years passed his labors brought to him a gratifying measure of success that now
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enables him to rest at the age of three score years and ten with suffi- cient to supply all of his needs throughout the remainder of his life.
On the Ioth of October, 1867, Mr. Van Osdol was united in marriage to Miss Lydia Poole, who was born in Benton township on a farm which was afterward purchased by her husband. Her parents were Robert and Lydia (Saddler) Poole. The former was born in Clay county, Ohio, August 3, 1817, while his parents were natives of Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. Robert Poole were married in 1839, and in 1841 cast in their lot with the early settlers of Iowa territory. Mr. Poole purchased three hundred and sixty acres of partially improved land, on which he built a log cabin. This he occupied for ten years, after which he erected a more modern and commodious residence. Other improvements were made from year to year and he extended the boundaries of his farm until it com- prised four hundred acres. He retired in 1881 and removed to Mediapolis, where his death occurred on the 6th of September, 1894. His wife passed away January 27, 1896, and was laid to rest by his side in the Kossuth cemetery. They were earnest and consistent Christian people, greatly interested in church and Sunday school work. They were of the Methodist faith and took a helpful part in organizing the congregation and building the church at Tamatown, Iowa. Mr. Poole served as church steward for more than four decades and in 1884 was elected a delegate to the Iowa annual con- ference. It was a matter of great gratification to Mr. and Mrs. Poole that all of their children embraced the Christian faith and be- came consistent and earnest church members. They had a family of six children, of whom two died in infancy, the others being: Nancy, the wife of William Foster, of Mediapolis; Thomas S., a Methodist Episcopal minister; Mrs. Van Osdol; and Eliza Jose- phine, the wife of Samuel V. McCallister, of Columbus, Ohio.
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