USA > Iowa > Des Moines County > History of Des Moines County, Iowa, Volume II > Part 42
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His wife was born in the old town of Pleasant Grove in Pleasant Grove township, January 11, 1846, a daughter of John and Nancy (Zion) Gannaway, natives of Kentucky and Virginia, respectively. They were married in Burlington, having come with their parents to Pleasant Grove township, the former in 1835 and the latter in 1836. The grandfather of Mrs. Lavina Stucker was John Ganna- way, a soldier of the Revolutionary war. He was a native of Ken- tucky, and died in that state. His widow, Mrs. Sarah (Williams) Gannaway, came to this county with her children, and here passed away at the age of ninety-seven years. John Gannaway was of Scotch parentage. He had a family of eight children, and his son John had four children, two sons and two daughters: Robert, now living at Medford, Oregon; William, who is a resident of New London, Iowa; Mrs. Lavina Stucker; and Sarah, who became the wife of M. L. Stucker and died in 1879.
John Alvin Stucker is the eldest in a family of nine children, the others being: Waldo E., who is living in New London, Iowa; Mary Eva, the wife of Charles Collis, of Meadville, Missouri ; Nancy L., the wife of Robert Ritchey, of Pleasant Grove township; George O., Roy F., and William C., all living in Pleasant Grove township; Ethel, at home; and Henry, who died in 1875 at the age of thirteen months.
John A. Stucker, whose name introduces this review, was reared in Pleasant Grove township and there resided until 1902, when he
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came to the farm upon which he now makes his home. In the mean- time he had displayed the same spirit of valor and loyalty which has ever been characteristic of the family. He enlisted in April, 1898, in the Sixth Iowa Battery for service in the Spanish-American war and was mustered out on the 8th of September following. He then returned to the old homestead farm, and in 1902 came to his present place, following his marriage, which was celebrated on the 29th of June, 1902, Mrs. Idora Ibbotson Butler becoming his wife. She was born in Yellow Springs township, August 16, 1874, a daugh- ter of John and Mary (Talbot) Ibbotson, of Yellow Springs town- ship, and the widow of G. A. Butler. By her first marriage she had a daughter, Bessie, who was born November 30, 1898. By the sec- ond marriage there have been born three daughters: Frances La- vina, born January 19, 1908; Lola Grace, April 30, 1911; and Florence Vernila, June 7, 1914.
Mr. Stucker has always followed the occupation of farming, and has today one hundred and forty-eight acres of rich and pro- ductive land on sections 20 and 29, Yellow Springs township, about a mile east of Roscoe. He is carrying on general farming and stock- raising and his efforts are bringing to him a good financial return. He ranks high in other business connections, being one of the di- rectors of the Roscoe Savings Bank from its organization, and presi- dent of the Mediapolis Mutual Telephone Company.
His political support is given to the republican party, and for the past six years he has served as township trustee, discharging the duties of that position in a most capable and efficient manner. He holds membership with the Spanish War Veterans and with the Modern Woodmen, and he and his wife and daughters are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian church of Pleasant Grove. He has never sought to figure prominently in any public connection, but by fidelity to duty, enterprise and progressiveness he has become recog- nized as one of the leading and valued citizens of his part of the state.
WILLIAM D. EATON.
In the year 1880, following his admission to the bar, William D. Eaton became an attorney for the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company, and there is in Iowa today no man perhaps who is more familiar with railroad law than he. A native of this
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state, he was born in Keokuk on the 17th of May, 1859, and is a son of S. Dwight and Gertrude (Williams) Eaton, who were mar- ried in Burlington in the year 1858.
S. Dwight Eaton was a native of Framingham, Massachusetts, and in early life learned civil engineering, which profession he made his life work. He came to lowa in 1856 and built the Des Moines Valley Railroad. During the period of the Civil war he was in the employ of the government, having charge of the trans- portation of troops and superintending the operation of the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad for the government. Following the close of the war he became a large railroad contractor, conducting a most important business of that character. In 1878 he came to Burlington and from this point superintended his business affairs. He was con- nected with railroad construction in various localities and was thus with the advance guard of civilization, for the railroad is always the forerunner of settlement and development in the west. For twenty-one years Mr. Eaton continued his residence in Burlington, and was then called to his final rest in 1899. His wife passed away January 1, 1900, and was laid to rest by his side in the Burlington cemetery. She was a daughter of Silas Williams, one of the pioneer settlers of Burlington. Mr. and Mrs. S. D. Eaton were people of the highest respectability, both being loyal and consistent members of the Presbyterian church, and Mr. Eaton gave his political sup- port with unfaltering devotion to the republican party. To them were born two sons and a daughter: William D., Walter B., and Anna, all living in this city.
William D. Eaton acquired a public-school education in Hanni- bal, Missouri, and afterward continued his studies in the State Uni- versity of Michigan at Ann Arbor. He pursued his law reading in the office and under the direction of the firm of Hedge & Blythe, attorneys of Burlington, and was admitted to the bar in 1880. Imme- diately afterward he entered the law department of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad and with it has since been connected. He soon demonstrated his ability and for the past fifteen years he has been attorney for all of the Iowa district. He has the entire confidence of the corporation which he represents, and his pro- nounced skill and ability have been manifest on various occasions when he has safeguarded the interests of the company.
On the 4th of December, 1888, Mr. Eaton was united in mar- riage to Miss Elizabeth Ewers, of Union City, Michigan, and they have become the parents of two sons: Henry E., a resident of Chi- cago, Illinois; and Robert E., who is with the Chittenden-East-
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man Company, of Burlington. Mr. Eaton is a republican in his political views and keeps in close touch with the trend of thought and progress along political lines. He belongs to all of the leading social clubs of the city, including the Golf and the Automobile clubs, and he is popular in a circle of friends that is almost co- extensive with the circle of his acquaintance.
JOHN S. LAHEE.
John S. Lahee, a broad and liberal-minded man to whom busi- ness is but one phase of existence and who has studied closely many of the vital and significant sociological and economic problems of the age, belongs to that class of men who wield a power which is all the more potent from the fact that it is moral rather than political and is exercised for the public weal rather than for personal ends. Along business lines his connection with the city is that of an insur- ance specialist. Burlington claims him as a native son. He was here born January 12, 1864, his parents being John and Ellen (House) Lahee, of whom extended mention is made elsewhere in this volume.
After attending the public schools John S. Lahee became a pupil in the State University at Iowa City, entering the class of 1886. After his text-books were put aside he became connected with his father in the insurance and real estate business and upon the death of his father he took over the business, now concentrating his energies and attention upon general insurance. He is thoroughly familiar with every phase of the business and has secured a most gratifying clientage, writing annually policies that represent a very large sum.
Many other interests, however, have claimed the attention and profited by the cooperation of Mr. Lahee, who at all times stands loyally by every cause which he espouses. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and he has served in the customs office, having charge of navigation and known as special deputy sur- veyor of customs. He was also connected with the supervising archi- tect's office of the treasury department during the building of the
Burlington postoffice and had charge of all the accounts. In early manhood, in 1882, he was appointed disbursing agent and chief ex- aminer of the Chippewa Indian lands, but declined to serve in that connection, although it would have brought him lucrative returns. His activity in political circles began immediately after his college
JOHN S. LAHEE
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days, when he was chosen secretary of the Young Men's Republican Club of Des Moines county, at that time a very strong organization, wielding a wide influence in political circles of the community. Mr. Lahee has ever regarded it as the duty as well as the privilege of every true American citizen to exercise his right of franchise and he has been unfaltering in his devotion to the principles which he deems of the greatest value in good government.
In fraternal circles, too, Mr. Lahee is well known. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias lodge, in which he has served as vice chan- cellor, and he is now affiliated with the Elks lodge, No. 84. Some- thing of the nature of his recreation is indicated in the fact that he became a charter member of the Golf Club. Long a devoted mem- ber of the Presbyterian church, he served for a number of years offi- cially and as president of the brotherhood of that organization for one year. He likewise had charge of the music for the Sunday school for many years and has ever taken a most deep and helpful interest in Sunday-school work. No record of Mr. Lahee would be complete without reference to the prominent part which he has taken in musical circles. Nature endowed him with a love of music, which he naturally developed through study, and for a number of years he played in the Burlington Boat Club Band. He was also a first violinist in Professor Heyner's orchestra and he played the first B flat cornet in the Burlington Boat Club Band. He was also the founder and organizer of an orchestra, which he continued to direct for one year, during which time it became well known and popular. On the expiration of that period the organization was taken over by Professor Schramm and was afterward known as the Schramm orchestra. Mr. Lahee was chief musician of the Second Regiment, Iowa National Guard. He likewise played first violin in the Ladies' Musical Club orchestra and was the leader of the Presbyterian church orchestra. For eight years he was secretary of the Burling- ton Boating Association. He has also belonged to the Board of Trade, to the Commercial Club and the Commercial Exchange, cooperating in all the plans and purposes of those organizations for the benefit and upbuilding of the city.
That his reading and study have been along broad and signifi- cant lines is indicated in the fact that he belongs to the American Economic Association, the American Academy of Political and Social Science and is a fellow of the Royal Economic Society of Great Britain and of other organizations, foreign and domestic, work- ing along the same lines of investigation and research. He is a mem- ber of the State Charity Association and he is well known as a writer VOL. II-27
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against socialism. His opinions are formed from broad investiga- tion and practical experience. He is indeed a broad-minded man to whom life has been purposeful and full of opportunities, which he has utilized for the benefit of his fellows. He belongs to that public- spirited, useful and helpful type of men whose ambitions and de- sires are concentrated and directed into those channels through which flow the greatest and most permanent good to the greatest number. He feels the most hearty concern in the public welfare and has been most helpful in bringing about moral reform and progress. He feels strongly that life should be shaped according to the highest moral laws. He lays strong stress on the doctrine of man's free will, is a believer in marriage as a divine institution and a believer in future life. He is opposed most strongly to materialism, no mat- ter under what name it appears. He advocates moral education in the public schools, feeling that it is necessary for the preservation of civilization to teach morality not only in the home but in the school. He is friendly to all moral education and believes that man's success and happiness in life depend upon his own moral character regardless of his environment. The entire trend of his thought is along the line of uplift and advancement, and his work has been ben- eficially resultant.
WILLIAM LYON.
The mere accumulation of wealth never causes an individual to be remembered for any length of time, but when the attainment of success is the expression of real ability and power and when added to success there are qualities of kindliness, of generosity, of integrity, of appreciation of the worth of others, it is certain that the individual will leave the impress of his individuality upon the lives of those with whom he becomes associated. Such was the record of William Lyon, who gained a foremost position in the business circles of Burlington and in the hearts of his colleagues and contemporaries. Life was to him purposeful and his acts were resultant, and he leaves behind him a family who are carrying forward the good work which he commenced.
Mr. Lyon was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, May 11, 1847, the only son of Thomas Harvey and Jane (McMillan) Lyon. The Lyon family was first established on American soil in New Jer- sey, whence a removal was made to Pennsylvania prior to the Revolu-
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tionary war. General Lyon, the hero of the battle of Wilson's Creek, an engagement of the Civil war, was descended from the same ancestry. Thomas Harvey Lyon was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, September 4, 1819, and made farming his life work, although he early learned the carpenter's trade. He came of English ancestry but the family has long been represented in the new world, the grandfather of William Lyon having served as a soldier in the War of 1812. Thomas Harvey Lyon became the owner of a large farm in Washington county and thereon reared his family. He mar- ried Jane McMillan, a daughter of the Rev. John McMillan, who was of Scotch-Irish descent. The McMillan family was founded in America. by William and Margaret (Rea) McMillan, who emi- grated from the north of Ireland in 1742 and settled at Fagg's Manor in Chester county, Pennsylvania, where they remained until called to their final rest. Both were interred in the churchyard at Chartiers, Washington county, Pennsylvania. The McMillans were strict Pres- byterians and have furnished to the ministry of that church a number of well known representatives who have been most earnest, zealous and consecrated workers for the faith. This number included Rev. John McMillan, who was a distinguished divine of the Presbyterian church. It is authentically known that he was the first established Presbyterian minister west of the Allegheny mountains and to him is due the credit of having founded Jefferson College of Washington county, Pennsylvania, and the Chartiers and Pigeon Creek churches, all of which are historic institutions. He delivered his first sermon at the Chartiers church near Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, August 25, 1775. His daughter, Jane McMillan, as previously stated, became the wife of Thomas Harvey Lyon but died when only twenty- four years of age, and Mr. Lyon afterward wedded Miss Lydia Cheeseman.
William Lyon, whose name introduces this review, was but fifteen years of age when he enlisted for service in the Civil war, becoming a drummer boy of Company H, Eighteenth Pennsylvania Militia in September, 1862. He participated in the battle of Antietam and afterward reenlisted in the Fourth Tennessee Pioneer Corps as a drummer. He took part in the battle of Franklin and the second battle of Nashville and was mustered out in the early part of 1865, having made a most creditable military record, displaying valor and loyalty equal to that of many a veteran of twice or thrice his years. He possessed natural mechanical ingenuity and handled tools from early childhood, learning much of their use from his father, who was a millwright. After the war he worked at the millwright's trade
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until 1866 and then decided to come to the west, making Burlington his destination. For many years he was one of the leading contractors of the city, erecting some of the fine business blocks and dwellings, including the Donahue & McCash iron store, Bodaman's block, the Glazeby factory, the marble store of Donahue, McCash & Company, the business block of O'Brien & Valentine and the dwellings of Benton J. Hall, Colonel Higbee, N. S. Young and Robert Donahue. In addition to conducting an extensive business as a contractor and builder Mr. Lyon also engaged in the manufacture of sash, doors and blinds but sold his plant in 1877 and in January of that year became one of the incorporators of the Burlington Lumber Company, assum- ing the duties of superintendent of the milling department. This.mill was then largely in the hands of Messrs. Rand and Carson and the business was one of the most important lumber enterprises of the central Mississippi. From the time that he started out on his own account William Lyon made steady progress in his business career. He saw possibilities and utilized them and he readily discriminated between the essential and the nonessential in everything pertaining to his business. He was a master in his line and in all of his industrial and commercial connections he followed progressive methods and sought his success by the upbuilding of his own interests rather than by concentrating his energies upon the destruction of other concerns. He attacked everything with a contagious enthusiasm and his energy brought to him a gratifying measure of success.
Mr. Lyon gave his political allegiance to the democratic party in early life but afterward became an independent voter. He belonged to Mathias Post, No. 5, G. A. R., and to Washington Lodge, No. 1, I. O. O. F., and was always most loyal to the teachings and purposes of those organizations. He was a strong prohibitionist, advocating temperance both by precept and example, and his entire career exemplified many sterling principles worthy of emulation.
On the 16th of August, 1866, Mr. Lyon was united in marriage to Miss Margaret A. Barkley, of Washington county, Pennsylvania, who was there born and reared, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Barkley. The latter died at the birth of her daughter, Mrs. Lyon, who was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, February 10, 1846. She died December 5, 1913, and was laid to rest in Aspen Grove cemetery beside her husband. Both Mr. and Mrs. Lyon were consistent and prominent members of the Presbyterian church, in which he filled all of the offices and in the work of which he took a most active and helpful part. He served as president of the building committee during the erection of the handsome new church edifice
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owned by the Presbyterians of Burlington and at all times both he and his wife did everything in their power to advance the moral progress and promote the best development of the community.
To Mr. and Mrs. Lyon were born five children, all of whom are yet living and who honor and revere the memory of their parents. The eldest, John McMillan Lyon, married Miss Mary D. Cassing- ham and lives in La Harpe, Illinois, where he owns and conducts a lumber yard. He is also connected with the bank and other business undertakings, and in his unfaltering enterprise and sound business judgment are found strong elements in the success of these different concerns. He is also a leading member of the Congregational church, in which he has held all of the offiecs and also has charge of the church music. To him and his wife have been born three sons : John Boyd, who is now a sophomore at the University of Illinois at Cham- paign; Arthur E., who is in school in La Harpe; and Kenneth Cas- singham, also attending school there. William Edgar Lyon, the second son of William Lyon, is engaged in the lumber and coal busi- ness at Carthage, Illinois. He is a very prominent member of the Presbyterian church there and is equally active in the work of the Young Men's Christian Association. He married Miss Susan Viola Tyner, of Carthage, and they have three children : Emily Margaret, who is a senior in the Carthage high school ; Orville Edgar, a fresh- man in the same school ; and Jared Tyner, who is attending the gram- mar schools of Carthage. Lydia Bell Lyon, the eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Lyon, attended the grammar schools of Bur- lington, the Baptist Institute of Burlington, afterward spent one year in Gittings Seminary at La Harpe, Illinois, and is a graduate of Parsons College of Fairfield, Iowa. She now owns and occupies the old home at No. 414 High street, Burlington, and is a very capable business woman, possessing good executive ability, and at the same time her life is filled with kindly deeds which make her beloved by all. She is a member of the Presbyterian church and takes an active and helpful interest in its various lines of work. Charles Lyon, fourth member of the family, is a member of the Noelke-Lyon Manu- facturing Company. He wedded Miss Hattie Millspaugh, of Bur- lington, and they have a family of nine children, all born in Missouri or in Iowa: William Barkley, born in Packwood, Iowa, is now a senior in the Burlington high school; Ruth E., born in Packwood, lowa, is a senior in the North Hill school of Burlington; Margaret Irene, born in Kahoka, Missouri, and Harriet Elizabeth and Mabel Shelby, born in Palmyra, Missouri, are attending grammar school in Burlington; Esther Viola, born in Palmyra, Missouri, is a student in
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the North Hill school; Harvey McMillan, born in Palmyra, Mis- souri, is attending kindergarten ; Clara Grace was born in Burlington, Iowa; and John Millspaugh is a native of Burlington. The fifth member of the family is Catherine Elizabeth Lyon, now the wife of Bert S. Thomas. She is a graduate of the Free Kindergarten College of Chicago, which she entered after attending the Burlington high school and Parsons College at Fairfield, Iowa. She taught for a time at Long Beach, California, where she remained for two years. Later she became the wife of Mr. Thomas, a native of lowa, and they now reside at The Dalles, Oregon, where he is connected with the Cran- dall undertaking business. The members of the Lyon family have ever been afforded excellent educational advantages, for the parents realized the value of intellectual training as a preparation for life's practical and responsible duties. The eldest son, John Lyon, is a graduate of Parsons College of Fairfield, while William E. was graduated from Elliott's Business College of Burlington, as was his brother Charles. At the time of the death of the father, William Lyon, his wife, sons and daughters formed a corporation which is known as the William Lyon Corporation and is still in existence. All of the sons of Mr. Lyon and his two daughters, Miss Lydia and Mrs. Thomas, are financially interested in the Rand Lumber Company and also in the Burlington Lumber Company.
The family have also been greatly interested in church and Sun- day school work. Mrs. Lyon was an esteemed and loyal member of the Presbyterian church and was greatly interested in the work of the Young Men's Christian Association, making liberal contribution to- ward the erection of its new building. She also gave generously to many charitable and benevolent projects and to the plans for the upbuilding of the city. She possessed many womanly graces and those traits of character which endeared her to all. For a time she survived her husband, who died very suddenly July 11, 1910, and was laid to rest in Aspen Grove cemetery. He was a man of fine physique and attractive appearance and his face bore the impress of a character whose salient traits were such as ever commanded for him the highest respect and regard. Starting out in the business world in a compar- atively humble position, he steadily worked his way upward, advanc- ing step by step until he reached a place of prominence. He possessed untiring energy, keen insight and the ability which enabled him to discriminate readily between the essential and the nonessential. As the years passed on, his force, capacity and enterprise were recognized by other capable business men and he came into close connection with important commercial and manufacturing interests. He had qualities
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