USA > Iowa > Des Moines County > History of Des Moines County, Iowa, Volume II > Part 32
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Mr. and Mrs. Van Osdol have become the parents of a son and two daughters. Thomas O., who was born in Benton township, July 21, 1868, wedded Miss Mattie L. Walker, a daughter of Isaac and Hannah (Friend) Walker, and they have five children, Alma, Mary, John, Wren and Gladys. They reside on the old homestead farm, which Thomas O. Van Osdol is operating. Nora M. is the wife of James R. Walker, a son of Isaac and Hannah Walker, and they also occupied a part of the old homestead, but in 1913 Mr. Walker sold out and purchased one hundred and sixty acres near Middletown, Iowa. They have become the parents of eight chil- dren: Jay; Rollie; Ralph; Dale; Thomas and Howard, both de- ceased; one who died unnamed in infancy; and Mildred. Zora M.,
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who was graduated from the lowa Wesleyan University at Mount Pleasant with the class of 1907, is now the wife of Neil Walker, by whom she has two children, Earl and Paul. They reside upon a part of her father's farm.
Mr. Van Osdol has been treasurer of the Rock Point school dis- trict for twenty-eight years, and is filling the office at the present time. He belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic and has a fine collection of badges which he has worn at the various reunions of that organization. He has always voted the republican ticket and is a stalwart advocate of that organization, which was the de- fense of the Union during the dark days of the Civil war and has ever been the party of reform and progress. His religious faith is that of the Methodist church and for a number of years he has served as church trustee. His has been an active and useful life, nearly all of which has been passed in this county, and his many sterling traits have gained for him the warm regard, confidence and goodwill of those with whom he has been brought in contact.
R. H. TAEGER.
R. H. Taeger is a wholesale and retail dealer in glassware used for wines and liquors, conducting a business which was founded by his father, Charles H. Taeger, who was born in Burlington in 1864. He was educated in the schools of this city and spent the period of his business life here. He married Amelia Bokenkamp, of Burling- ton, who was born March 14, 1866. They became the parents of two children, the daughter being Mrs. Fred Schramm.
R. H. Taeger was born in this city March 4, 1885, and supple- mented his public-school education by a course in Elliott's Business College. He left school in 1904 and joined his father, Charles H. Taeger, who in 1887 had established a business as a dealer in wines and liquor glassware which he sold both to the wholesale and retail trades. Upon the death of his father R. H. Taeger succeeded to the business, which he is now successfully conducting. He has eight employes in the Burlington establishment and is represented upon the road by three traveling salesmen, who visit lowa, Missouri, Nebraska, Minnesota and a part of Illinois. The business is now large and profitable and the trade has grown year by year under the capable direction of Mr. Taeger, who has made a close study of the business and is thus able to supply the demands of his customers.
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On the 2d of August, 1909, Mr. Taeger was united in marriage to Miss Jessie Wilcox, of Burlington, who was educated here, and they have one daughter, Mary Jane, who was born December 16, IQII.
Mr. Taeger is a member of the Elks lodge, the Fraternal Order of Eagles, the Owls and the Gobblers. His political allegiance is given to the democratic party and his religious faith is that of the German Lutheran church. The nature of his recreation is indicated in the fact that he belongs to the Crystal Lake Club, the Lone Tree Fishing Club and the Penkham Fishing Club, and he also greatly enjoys motoring. It has been said that the evenly balanced man knows how to play well just as much as he knows how to work well. Mr. Taeger enters heartily into the joys of fishing or motoring but in business hours gives his undivided attention to the development of his trade.
J. B. SUTTER.
Throughout his entire business career J. B. Sutter has been most careful to conform his activities to high commercial standards and in the employment of progressive and honorable methods has won a substantial success. He was until very recently at the head of im- portant commercial interests in Burlington, where he carried the largest and most complete line of sporting goods in the state. He also sold automobiles and was agent for a number of the best known machines.
Mr. Sutter was born in Burlington, July 4, 1876, and is a son of Boniface and Mary (Barnica) Sutter, who at an early period ar- rived in Burlington. The father was a stationary engineer and in other ways was connected with the industrial interests of the city, but is now living retired. He also conducted newspaper agencies for many years. J. B. Sutter obtained a public-school edu- cation, supplemented by a course of study in Lombard College at Galesburg, Illinois. Turning his attention into business channels, he began dealing in bicycles in Burlington, and on the Ioth of March, 1901, removed to No. 319 North Third street. On the Ist of July, 1909, he removed to Nos. 113-115 North Main street, where he occu- pied a building with a frontage of forty feet and three stories and basement in height. The business gradually developed in its scope
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and he carried a full line of sporting goods unsurpassed by any, similar stock in lowa. Moreover, he was the first man to sell auto- mobiles in Burlington, and in 1914 when he sold out he handled the Ford, Maxwell, Overland, Marion and Stevens-Duryea cars. He devoted the third floor of the building to auto repairing. It is a room forty feet wide and a half block long, and he made it one of the best equipped shops in Burlington. He did oxygen and acetylene welding and tire vulcanizing. He employed twenty-five people in the shop, of whom fifteen are skilled mechanics, and he also had three traveling salesmen upon the road. He sold at both wholesale and retail and controlled the territory in several counties. He sold out on the 14th of September, 1914, but contemplates going into business again in the near future.
On the 12th of July, 1904, Mr. Sutter was united in marriage to Miss Jennie Swigert, a native of Vancouver, British Columbia. They have a son, Lyman B., who was born June 12, 1906, and is now eight years of age. Mr. Sutter is a republican, having sup- ported the party since age conferred upon him the right of fran- chise. He belongs to the Commercial Exchange and is a believer in its plans and measures for advancing the general good. Fra- ternally he is connected with the Elks and the Moose, and socially with the Lone Tree Fishing Club. Since starting out in life on his own account his progress has been continuous. Earnest, persistent labor has been the foundation for his success. He has witnessed remarkable changes, not only in his individual business, but also in the general field of automobile sales. He was, as stated, the first man in Burlington to handle cars, and his patronage grew year by year until as agent for many lines of cars he controlled a trade that was very extensive and gratifying.
V. A. JOHNSON.
V. A. Johnson, cashier of the West Burlington Savings Bank, has in this connection been closely identified with the financial in- terests of the city for about eight years. At the outset of his busi- ness career he learned how indispensable are the qualities of indus- try, perseverance and close application, and in the utilization of these he has worked his way steadily upward. He was born in this city March 13. 1863, a son of Augustus and Matilda ( Peterson) Johnson,
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both of whom were natives of Sweden. The year 1850 witnessed their arrival in Burlington, in which city they were married. The father was a contractor and builder, and in the early days was thus identified with the industrial activity of the city, but in later life followed farming and is now living retired. He has long survived his wife, who passed away in 1868. They had five children, as fol- lows: Jennie M., at home; F. E., who follows farming near Bur- lington ; V. A., of this review ; Annie M., who is the wife of Robert L. Russell and resides in Kansas; and Samuel W. G., who makes his home in Burlington, Iowa.
V. A. Johnson acquired a public-school education, supplemented by a course in Elliott's Business College, from which he was grad- uated, and in the lowa Commercial Institute, of Davenport, of which he is also a graduate. He started out in the business world in April, 1887, when a young man of twenty-four years, being made a member of the office force of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad. There he continued until January 2, 1907, gradually working his way upward, his ability winning him promotion from time to time until his position was one of prominence and impor- tance. At the date mentioned, however, he became one of the organ- izers of the West Burlington Savings Bank, which was formed by Colonel G. H. Higbee, who became president; Dr. E. E. Kirken- dall, who was elected vice president, and Mr. Johnson, who became the cashier. The first directors were G. H. Higbee, J. A. Carney, George W. Scholes, Paul R. Ramp, E. E. Kirkendall, P. B. Smith, A. A. Bosch, F. J. Riling and C. H. Walsh. There has been no change in the directorate, save that C. H. Wuellner has taken the place of J. A. Carney, and Paul R. Ramp has been succeeded by J. L. B. Graham. The officers of the company, however, remain the same. The bank has been capitalized for twenty-five thousand dollars and has deposits amounting to two hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars. The company has erected and paid for its build- ing at No. 101 Broadway, in West Burlington. This is exclusively a bank building.
On the 19th of December, 1889, Mr. Johnson was united in marriage to Miss Annie W. Hewitt, of West Burlington, her par- ents being George and Elizabeth Hewitt. To them have been born seven children, five of whom survive, as follows: Grace M., who gave her hand in marriage to Herman Beck, an agriculturist re- siding near Burlington; and Eva G., Georgia E., Florence and Chester C., all at home. The children have been given liberal edu- cational advantages. Several are high-school graduates and Mrs.
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Beck was for three years a teacher. The daughter Florence is now engaged in teaching, and two of the family are now clerking in Bur- lington.
Mr. Johnson is well known in fraternal circles, holding mem- bership with the Knights of Pythias, the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Woodmen of the World, and the Moose. Aside from his business, however, he has been most prominent in political cir- cles and is a recognized leader in the ranks of the republican party. For four years he served as mayor of West Burlington, was town clerk for nine years and has been secretary of the school board since 1891. There has been no question as to his fidelity to duty nor his capability in office. Public interests have been furthered through his efforts, and progress has been promoted in many directions. He stands at all times for advancement, and his activities have been of far-reaching effect and benefit in Burlington. Moreover, his busi- ness career is indicative of what may be accomplished when energy and determination point out the way, and when there is ready dis- crimination between the essential and the non-essential.
F. G. COMER.
F. G. Comer is the manager of the New Delano Hotel, of Bur- lington, and is a popular host, his guests finding him at all times reasonable and reliable in business matters and ever watchful for the comfort and welfare of his patrons. He was born in Hancock county, Illinois, in 1875, and after attending the public schools con- tinued his preparation for life's practical duties by pursuing a com- mercial course in the Gem City Business College, of Quincy, Illi- nois. He afterward went to the west and was engaged in the land business in Colorado. His connection with the west continued for some time, during which he engaged in mining in Nevada and southern Missouri. He made his initial step in connection with hotel interests at Tampa, Florida, in 1898, there conducting the De Soto Hotel for a year. He then returned to Missouri and at Joplin was again identified with mining interests. Still later he went to Nevada, where he spent a few years during the gold ex- citement, and in 1910 he came to Burlington. In May of that year he established the New Delano Hotel. He has since remodeled and refurnished the building throughout. The hotel is today a modern and attractive hostelry, containing seventy-five outside rooms, twenty
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of which have private baths. The hotel is conducted on the Euro- pean plan with a cafe in connection and a liberal patronage is now enjoyed.
In 1897 Mr. Comer was united in marriage to Miss Leila Robin- son, of Keokuk. In fraternal circles he is known as an Elk and an Eagle. His political views are in accord with the principles and purposes of the republican party, but he manifests only a citizen's interest in politics, casting his ballot for the candidates whom he thinks will best fill the offices. He has lived at various points in the west and is familiar with the history of its progress and develop- ment. Everywhere that he has gone the truth has been impressed upon him that honorable success is the outcome of persistency of purpose, close application and unfaltering diligence, and he has cul- tivated these qualities throughout the course of his business career.
ED EVERETT KIRKENDALL, M. D.
Dr. Ed Everett Kirkendall, advancing steadily in the practice of his profession owing to his close study and wide reading, which keeps him in touch with the advanced thought and scientific methods of the day, is now accounted one of the able physicians of Bur- lington and is enjoying a steadily increasing practice. He was born in Kansas on the 27th of March, 1859, and is a son of Elijah B. and Mary (Frazee) Kirkendall. The father, a native of Indiana, was brought to Iowa in early childhood, and attended the Iowa Wesleyan University at Mount Pleasant. For an extended period he lived in Van Buren county, this state, but afterward removed to Lyon county, Kansas, where he remained for eight years. On the expiration of that period he returned to lowa, settling at Douds Leando, where he is now engaged in the banking business.
Dr. Kirkendall, spending his youthful days under the parental roof, passed a portion of his boyhood in Kansas and then came with his parents to lowa. He attended school at Mount Pleasant, where he was a student in Iowa Wesleyan University, and later he entered the State University at Iowa City, in which he pursued his medical course, winning his professional degree upon graduation with the class of 1885. Immediately afterward he took up his abode in West Burlington, where he has since been engaged in general practice. In the thirty years which have since elapsed he has made contin- uous progress, and throughout his professional career anything that
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tends to bring to man the key to that complex mystery which we call life has been of interest to him. Aside from his practice, he is con- nected with financial affairs, being vice president of the West Bur- lington Savings Bank.
On the 29th of October, 1885, Dr. Kirkendall was united in mar- riage to Miss Lizzie Peacock, of Van Buren county, Iowa, and to them have been born a son and daughter: Horace Waldo, who is married and follows farming in this county; and Mary Esther, who is in college at Grinnell, Iowa.
The parents hold membership in the Methodist church and guide their lives by its teachings. Dr. Kirkendall is also a faithful mem- ber of the Masonic fraternity, and in his political views is a repub- lican. His membership along strictly professional lines is with the Des Moines County Medical Society, in which he has been honored with the presidency, and is a member of the Iowa State Medical Society. Promptness, extreme care and caution have ever been ex- ercised in his practice, and at the same time he has been actuated by a spirit of progressiveness that has made him acquainted with the latest improved methods in the treatment of disease.
JOHN A. FRITZ.
John A. Fritz, residing on Sunnyside avenue in Burlington, is a well known citizen here, for practically his entire life has been passed in Des Moines county. He was born near West Burlington on the 29th of July, 1866, a son of John and Catharine (Goetsche) Fritz, both of whom were natives of Germany, in which country they were reared and married. On coming to the new world they made their way direct to Des Moines county, where their remaining days were passed. The father was a farmer by occupation, and thus provided for the support of his family. His wife died when their son, John A., was a little lad, leaving to the husband the care of a large family of children whom he reared to be good citizens. There were six sons and two daughters, and they had every reason to revere and bless the memory of their father, who passed away in 1905.
John A. Fritz was the sixth in order of birth in the family, and in early manhood he served an apprenticeship in a machinist's shop at West Burlington. He afterward went to Burlington, Colorado, and homesteaded a claim, after which he returned and has since been one of the valued employes in the West Burlington machine
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shops of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company. He possesses expert ability as a mechanic and is employed in the construction department, occupying a position of responsibility. He resided in West Burlington until about four years ago, when he came to his present home on Sunnyside avenue. He goes back and forth to his work each day on the interurban, which passes his door.
In 1896 Mr. Fritz was married to Miss Emma A. Bock, who was born in Burlington, October 7, 1877, and is a daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Wiemer) Bock, further mention of whom is made elsewhere in this work. Mr. and Mrs. Fritz have two children, Ralph and Mildred. The family occupies an attractive home on Sunnyside avenue, the ground having been a part of the property once owned by her father, Joseph Bock, who was a prominent citizen and leading florist of Burlington. Mr. Fritz also owns a farm in Flint River township. Fraternally he is connected with the Knights of Pythias and with the Modern Woodmen. His political allegiance is given to the republican party, and he holds membership in St. Paul's German Evangelical church of West Burlington. His has been an active and useful life, crowned with a substantial measure of success that has come to him as the merited reward of persistent, earnest labor and capability.
L. H. DALHOFF.
The name of L. H. Dalhoff figures prominently on the pages of Burlington's history, for he long ranked as a leading resident of this city and as one of its prominent business men. He was born in Philadelphia on the 17th of September, 1833, and was of Danish descent. In 1854 he arrived in Burlington, then a young man of twenty-one years, establishing his home in this city, where through- out his remaining days he enjoyed the goodwill, confidence and high regard of his fellow townsmen by reason of a well spent and upright life. He established the first commercial college of Burlington, now known as Elliott's Business College, but turned his attention from educational to mercantile pursuits when, in 1868, he founded the house of Dalhoff & McCarthy. This afterward became Dalhoff & Company and an extensive business was conducted in notions, sell- ing only to the wholesale trade. The firm name was ever a synonym for business reliability and enterprise, and at all times Mr. Dalhoff
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L. H. DALHOFF
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was most careful to conform his efforts to the highest standard of commercial ethics.
On the 11th of March, 1869, was celebrated the marriage of L. H. Dalhoff and Miss E. D. Denise, who, still surviving him, lives with her mother in the old Denise home, which was begun in 1854 and completed in 1857, being not only one of the oldest but also one of the most elegant in the city.
Mr. Dalhoff held membership in the Presbyterian church and his life at all times was characterized by high ideals, exemplified in practical effort for their adoption. Possessing a fine voice, he was a member of the Presbyterian church choir for many years and was also connected with all of the musical organizations of the city. Fraternally he was a valued member of the Masonic order. He passed away on the 15th of September, 1904, and there are many who yet remember him as one of the worthy and valued citizens of Burlington, his name being inseparably interwoven with the history of the city as an educator and merchant.
DR. RALPH J. QUELLE.
Dr. Ralph J. Quelle, engaged in practice in Burlington, follows some of the most advanced methods which experimentation and scientific investigation have brought to light. He founded the Healthatorium for Naturopathic Treatments at the corner of Third and Jefferson streets in Burlington, and the effectiveness of his methods of treatment is attested by many patients.
He is yet a young man and is a native son of Burlington, born December 22, 1887, his parents being William and Rachel (Witte) Quelle. The father was born in Germany in 1849, and came to the United States in 1857, when a lad of but eight years, his father hav- ing previously located in Des Moines county ere he sent for the family. William Quelle was therefore reared here, and in the course of years he became a building contractor and was thus con- nected with the improvement of Burlington. He erected a num- ber of the substantial structures which are still standing today as evidence of his skill and handiwork, but he had put aside busi- ness cares and was living retired at the time of his death, which occurred at his home in Burlington, January 5, 1915. His wife was born in this county, a daughter of Samuel Witte, now deceased, who Vol. II-21
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was one of the old-time pioneer settlers. She survives her husband and is residing at her home in Burlington.
Supplementing his public-school education, Ralph J. Quelle studied physical culture training at the Battle Creek Sanitarium at Battle Creek, Michigan, and afterward attended the Bernard Mc- Fadden Institute at Chicago. In 1910 he returned to Burlington and opened parlors for massage and physical culture treatment in the Tama building. On the Ist of April, 1913, he removed to the Iowa State Bank building at the corner of Third and Jefferson streets, where he is still located. He calls his place the Healtha- torium. He employs the physical or natura-therapeutic work, has a complete system of baths and massage treatments, and his establish- ment is unsurpassed in Iowa. He uses most of the basement of the State Savings Bank building, having six large rooms, and he em- ploys three assistants. His regular course of treatment includes .everything necessary to the case-baths, manipulative treatments, electric light or steam baths, diet list, exercise chart and all instruc- tion for home regime. He has a thorough knowledge of anatomy and the component parts of the human body, and in his study he has become thoroughly informed concerning the value and worth of physical culture, corrective movements, exercises, dieting, manipu- lation of the nerve centers, joint manipulation and stretching of the muscles and joints, together with water treatments and electric light baths. Dr. Quelle's Healthatorium is liberally patronized and has proven a most helpful institution in Burlington. His business has steadily grown, and his success is advancing month by month.
Dr. Quelle is a progressive in politics, voting, however, rather for the man than for the party. He is a member of the Automobile Club, and he attends the First Methodist Episcopal church and is a member of the Young Men's Christian Association. He is widely and favorably known in the city in which his entire life has been passed, and his many acquaintances recognize his genuine personal worth and give him their high regard.
CHARLES E. DEMLING.
On the roster of officials in Des Moines county appears the name of Charles E. Demling, who has filled the office of clerk of the district court continuously since 1899, making a splendid record in that con- nection as is indicated by the fact that he has been again and again
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chosen to the office. He was born in Burlington on the 3d of April, 1861, and is a son of John A. and Sophia ( Scheurer) Demling.
The father's birth occurred in Bavaria, Germany, February 11, 1835, and after spending the first fourteen years of his life in his native country he came to the United States in 1849 in company with neigh- bors. For a time he resided in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and after- ward in New Orleans, Louisiana, but his stay in both cities was very brief, for in the early 'sos he came to Burlington. He worked on the railroad as foreman for several years and in 1861 embarked in the grocery business at Burlington, becoming one of the leading and rep- resentative merchants of the city and continuing actively in the trade until 1884. He still makes his home in Burlington and is now in the employ of the park board, although eighty years of age. There are few men of his years who continue in active life and his record should put to shame many a much younger man who, grown weary of the struggles and trials of business life, would relegate to others the burdens that he should bear. His career in this respect is indeed one well worthy of emulation. He wedded Sophia Scheurer, a native of Ohio, who was brought to Burlington from that state by wagon in 1836 by her parents. Her father died of sunstroke in the late '40S. The parents of Charles E. Demling were married in 1857. The mother was born in December, 1835, and is also still living, they being among the most venerable couples of this city. In their family were four children, but the first born died in infancy. The others are Charles E .; Louise M., the wife of J. H. Cochrane, of New York; and John F., who is ticket agent for the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company.
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