USA > Iowa > Des Moines County > History of Des Moines County, Iowa, Volume II > Part 44
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45
REV. THOMAS F. GALLIGAN
515
HISTORY OF DES MOINES COUNTY
and his ready sympathy as well as his devotion to the cause. The history of the church of which he is pastor is given at length on another page of this volume.
COLONEL E. D. TROSTLE.
Colonel E. D. Trostle, who is engaged in the real-estate business and in auctioneering in Mediapolis, was born in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, September 2, 1868, a son of William and Catharine (Diller) Trostle, who were also natives of the same county. The father died there in 1875, at the age of fifty-one years, after which the mother went to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where she passed away in 1909, at the age of seventy-one years. The ancestry of the family can be traced back through several generations to the great-grandfather of our subject, who came from Germany and settled in the Keystone state during the colonial epoch in the history of this country.
Colonel Trostle was one of a family of eleven children, four sons and seven daughters, of whom the sons and two daughters are yet living. He was only seven years of age when he lost his father and almost immediately afterward he began making his own way in the world, working for two dollars and a half per month. When eighteen years of age he removed to the middle west, settling in Monmouth, Illinois, and in that locality he worked as a farm hand for eleven years. He had no home save where he worked up to the time of his marriage, when he established a home of his own. In 1898 he came to Mediapolis, Iowa. During the past twenty-six years he has engaged in the auctioneering business and has conducted more than sixteen hundred sales. He also carried on farming until about nine years ago but since that time has concentrated his energies upon auctioneering and the real-estate business, making a specialty of handling Iowa farm lands. In the real-estate business he is a partner of Charles E. Lee, the firm conducting business under the style of Trostle & Lee. Both branches of his business are bringing to him success, for he is energetic, determined, resourceful and ambitious- qualities which always win substantial results.
Colonel Trostle has been married twice. In 1893 he wedded Miss Sadie Sawin, who was born in Kirkwood, Illinois, and died in Medi- apolis in 1898, leaving two children, Catharine Gertrude and Wil- liam Spencer. In 1901 Colonel Trostle was united in marriage to Vol. II-28
516
HISTORY OF DES MOINES COUNTY
Miss Mary Cocayne, who was born in Missouri, and they have one child, Everett Hanson.
Since age conferred upon him the right of franchise Colonel Trostle has voted with the republican party and is in thorough sym- pathy with its purposes and principles. For the past five years he has served as city alderman of Mediapolis and does everything in his power to promote the welfare and advance the best interests of the community. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity and the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, and his religious faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal church.
A. E. CAVE.
A. E. Cave purchased an interest in the Burlington Coal Com- pany and became its manager in 1911. He owns the greater part of the stock in the business and manages his interests with an ability that has developed through his former years of active connection with the coal trade.
Mr. Cave is of Canadian birth. He was born in Ontario in 1887, a son of William Frederick and Emma L. (Harrington) Cave, the former a native of Canada and the latter of the state of New York. They were married, however, in the father's native country and there he followed the occupation of farming until 1892, when he came to the United States in company with Harry Hamilton and others, who were interested in a rolling mill at Burlington. For a short time he was connected with that business but in 1895 organized the Cave Coal Company and was thus identified with the coal trade until his death, which occurred May 10, 1911. He was thus for a long period well known in business circles of Burlington and his many substantial traits of character gained him high regard. His widow still survives.
They were the parents of nine children. Emma is the wife of F. B. Wilson, a resident of Burlington and a son of Captain Wilson, of Cleveland, Ohio. R. M. is foreman for the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy machine shop. Edward H. is editor of the Recreation maga- zine of New York City. James F., a resident of Burlington, is connected with the Royal Colliery Company of Chicago. Gertrude possesses marked musical talent as a pianist and composer and resides in Buffalo, New York. A. E. is the next of the family. Olive is the wife of A. D. Davis and they reside in Winona, Minnesota. Coral is a resident of Buffalo, New York. Roderick, who completes the
517
HISTORY OF DES MOINES COUNTY
family, is still in Burlington. After the death of the father the family sold their interest in the Cave Coal Company.
A. E. Cave was largely reared in Burlington and attended the public schools of this city. He spent three and one-half years in Drake University at Des Moines and afterward was a student in the North Dakota Agricultural College, so that his educational training well qualified him for important and responsible duties in the busi- ness world. Following his father's death and the sale of the business of the Cave Coal Company he purchased an interest in the Burling- ton Coal Company and became manager in 1911. He is now princi- pal owner of the business, which has assumed large and gratifying proportions and is capably conducted under his direction.
Mr. Cave votes independently, preferring to support those candi- dates and measures which he deems best suited to advance the public welfare rather than to follow blindly the dictates of a party leader. He is fond of outdoor sports and is an enthusiastic member of the Tennis Club. Fraternally he is affiliated with the Masonic order, being a member of the blue lodge, the commandery and the Shrine. His life embodies the high ethical teachings of the craft, and he recognizes in his dealings with his fellowmen the principle of human brotherhood.
HARRY D. LEAK.
Among the retired farmers of Des Moines county now living in Burlington is numbered Harry D. Leak, who was born in Boston, Massachusetts, December 14, 1857, his parents being Martin and Jane (Thompson) Leak. The father was a native of New Bruns- wick, while the mother's birth occurred in Ireland, whence she was brought to the United States by her parents when four years of age. The voyage was a long and tedious one, covering twenty-one weeks on the ocean. For many years the parents of our subject resided at St. Johns, New Brunswick, and there both the father and mother passed away, the death of the latter occurring in March, 1913, when she was eighty-two years of age, while the father died about seven or eight years ago at the age of seventy-six years. His entire life was devoted to farming but he was a natural mechanic and could build anything in wood. He also possessed considerable musical talent and after once hearing a musical selection he could play it upon his violin. Earnest Christian principles guided him and his wife in all life's relations and
518
HISTORY OF DES MOINES COUNTY
they were consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church. In their family were six sons and three daughters: Samuel, now living in Greene county, Iowa; Harry D .; John, whose home is in New Brunswick; Mrs. Mary Jane Dunlap, who died in Canada; George, whose home is in Burlington; Jacob, of Montana ; James, liv- ing in St. John, New Brunswick; Ada Allen, of New Brunswick ; and Maude, who died at the age of seventeen years.
Harry D. Leak was largely reared in St. Johns and when twenty- one years of age went west, spending some time in Kansas and Colo- rado, where he engaged in speculating in land and cattle. He remained in that section of the country for three years and lost much of his money in his business ventures there. About twenty-eight years ago he came to Des Moines county and purchased a part of the old Peter Smith estate. Upon that place he conducted a dairy until three years ago, when he sold his farm, which was located a quarter of a mile southwest of the city limits. Throughout all the years he had carefully and systematically developed his fields, as well as conducted his dairy interests, and success attended him in his efforts. He and his brother George are now engaged in selling Texas lands on the Rio Grande and conduct many excursions to that section of the country. He also has extensive land interests in Canada and Nebraska.
In November, 1881, Mr. Leak was united in marriage to Miss Isabelle Bresteine, who was born in Illinois and came to Des Moines county about a year prior to her marriage. They have five living children. Dr. K. S. Leak, the eldest, is now a practicing dentist of Burlington. Julia Edith is the wife of Walter Steinbrecher, of the Wolverine Oil Company of New York. Ruth Madeline is the wife of L. A. Becket, a graduate of the Kansas State College and a resident of Garden City, Kansas. Harry W., a student at the Iowa State College at Ames, has made a brilliant success with his invention of a sanitary garbage receptacle and is now receiving a handsome royalty on the same from the Kirk Manufacturing Company. David Allen, the youngest of the family, is preparing to enter Harvard University. All of the children were born in this county and have been provided with good educational advantages. Mr. and Mrs. Leak also lost one child, Georgia Maude, who was born December 25, 1888, and died August 9, 1890.
Mr. Leak exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the republican party and he holds membership in the First Methodist Episcopal church. He is not only a self-made man financially but is also self-educated. His opportunities to attend school were extremely limited, but as the years have gone on he has
519
HISTORY OF DES MOINES COUNTY
proven his worth and ability in many connections and has won a sub- stantial measure of success. His life has indeed been an active and useful one and commands for him the respect of those with whom business or social relations have brought him in contact.
NATHANIEL M. McKITTERICK, M. D.
Dr. Nathaniel M. McKitterick, of Burlington, has been engaged in the practice of medicine continuously since 1880 and in this period, covering more than a third of a century, has won a creditable posi- tion among those whose knowledge and skill place them in the front rank in coping with the intricate problems of disease. Burlington numbers him among her native sons, his birth having here occurred October 5, 1857. His parents were Edward and Mary C. ( Massie) McKitterick. The father was born in Ireland in 1830 and after spending the first fourteen years of his life on the Emerald isle crossed the Atlantic to the United States in 1844, settling at Chillicothe, Ohio, where he remained until 1854, when he became a resident of Burlington. Embarking in merchandising, he was thus engaged in business here until 1880, after which he devoted his energies to man- ufacturing interests and in 1896 he was appointed an auditor in the treasury department at Washington, D. C., under President McKin- ley and later served under President Roosevelt. His wife was a daughter of Nathaniel Massie and a granddaughter of Nathaniel Massie, Sr., who was one of the pioneers of Ohio, in which state her father was one of the early surveyors. It was in Chillicothe, Ohio, that Edward McKitterick and Mary C. Massie were married and they became the parents of seven children. The mother passed away in 1866.
Dr. McKitterick acquired a public-school education in Burling- ton and, having determined to make the practice of medicine his life work, he afterward entered Rush Medical College of Chicago, in which he completed the regular course by graduation with the class of 1880. He was afterward connected with the Indian service in Dakota Territory, spending five years at the Sisseton-Wahpeton agency. In 1890 Dr. McKitterick returned to Burlington, where he has since remained in practice, and the intervening years have chronicled his growing success until he now occupies a prominent position among the able and learned members of the profession.
520
HISTORY OF DES MOINES COUNTY
In 1888 Dr. McKitterick was united in marriage to Miss Mary A. Hyslop, of Minnesota, and to them have been born three chil- dren : Edward H., now an ensign of the United States Navy; Robert, a mechanical engineer with the Santa Fe Railroad Company; and John, at home. Dr. McKitterick belongs to the Masonic fraternity and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. In politics he is some- what independent, but with strong sympathy for the democratic party. He does not hesitate to cast a ballot for candidates of other parties, however, when in his judgment the best interests of the pub- lic will thus be conserved. He is ever active in matters of citizen- ship, feeling a pride in Burlington's advancement and progress and cooperating in all movements toward that end. His religious faith is evidenced in his membership in the Presbyterian church and has gained for him the warm regard, confidence and goodwill of all with whom he has been brought in contact.
GEORGE S. LEAKE.
George S. Leake, who is now engaged in dealing in lands in southern Texas, was born near Sussex, New Brunswick, on the 5th of April, 1865, his parents being Martin and Jane (Thompson) Leake. The father's birth occurred in St. Johns county, New Bruns- wick, and he was a son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Leake, the former a native of Holland and the latter of England. Coming to the new world, they spent the greater part of their lives upon a farm in Kings county, New Brunswick, but have now passed away. In their family were three sons and three daughters : William, Martin, Mary, Char- lotte, Ann and Jacob. The mother of our subject was born in the north of Ireland, but was brought by her parents to the new world when a little maiden of four summers. She was a daughter of Samuel and Martha Thompson, both of whom died in Canada. Mr. and Mrs. Martin Leake spent practically their entire lives upon a farm in New Brunswick and there reared their family. The father died in 1895 at the age of seventy-five years, and the mother passed away May 20, 1913, at the age of eighty-two years. In their family were nine children: Samuel T., who is living in Guthrie county, Iowa; Harry D .; John A., of New Brunswick; Mrs. Jane Dunlap, who died in Alberta, Canada; Jacob, of British Columbia; Ada Allen, of St. John; George S .; James M., living in Sussex, Canada; and Maude, deceased.
521
HISTORY OF DES MOINES COUNTY
George S. Leake was reared upon the old homestead farm in St. Johns county, New Brunswick, until he attained his majority and acquired a common-school education. He arrived in Burlington, Iowa, in 1887 and joined his brother Harry, for whom he worked in the dairy business for two years. Since that time he has been connected with business interests in this section.
In 1889 occurred the marriage of George S. Leake and Miss Lillie H. Hunt, who was born in Burlington in 1862, a daughter of Samuel and Martha Hunt, who were natives of McDonough county, Illinois. They came as pioneers to Iowa in 1833, and their remaining days were spent upon a farm three miles west of the courthouse in Burlington. Following their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Leake re- mained upon her father's farm until about two years ago. His wife inherited part of that property and Mr. Leake purchased the in- terests of the other heirs, becoming owner of seventy acres, which he carefully cultivated for more than two decades. He then sold out and took up his abode in Burlington, where he has now resided for the past four years, being engaged in the real estate business. He was connected with the Sanitary Milk Company from 1905 until 1909.
Mr. Leake holds membership with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He votes with the democratic party and keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day. His religious faith is that of the First Methodist Episcopal church and his life record has at all times been an honorable and upright one.
AUGUST STENSTROM.
August Stenstrom, living retired since 1906, was formerly closely connected with business interests in Burlington as a stone-mason, and determination and energy constituted the basis of the success which is now his, enabling him to rest from further labor and spend his remaining days in the enjoyment of the fruits of his former toil. He has now passed the seventy-third milestone on life's journey. He was born in Sweden, August 20, 1841, and came to the United States in 1867, arriving in Chicago on the 12th of May. His parents were Anderson and Mary (Johnson) Stenstrom, who always remained residents of Sweden. Two sisters, however, came to the new world with August Stenstrom and one of these, Jennie, the widow of Charles Carlson, now lives in Minnesota.
522
HISTORY OF DES MOINES COUNTY
August Stenstrom attended the public schools of his native coun- try and, entering business circles, was employed at cutting stone for a railroad bridge. He was a young man of twenty-five years when he came to the United States and he afterward worked on the bridge at Dubuque, Iowa. In 1869 he began to take contracts for stone work and was first engaged to do the stone work in the building of the house for John Sherfey on High street in 1869. In 1871 he erected the stone building of the Merchants National Bank, obtaining the stone at Nauvoo, Illinois. In 1876 he purchased a stone quarry on upper Augusta road at Long Creek and has since operated it. Men are still engaged in quarrying stone there and to the business Mr. Stenstrom gives his general supervision, although he is not now active in the work. Among his employes is John Frebert, who has been in his employ for twenty-four years. As a stone-mason Mr. Stenstrom has done much work in this county and in Illinois. He has built several vaults in the cemetery. In 1880 he built the Carpenter, John Gregg and Boners stone fronts and he has laid many stone sidewalks. In 1884 he put in the stone front for Philip Andre where the I. S. Schramm dry-goods store is now standing. He built the schoolhouse in Dallas, Illinois, in 1896, the Congregational church in Galesburg, Illinois, in 1898, and in 1902 he had charge of the stone work on the poor farm in Burlington. In 1903 he formed a partnership relation, becoming connected with the Burlington Construction Company. He later built a bridge at Dallas, Illinois, and the next year, 1906, built the bank at Dallas, which was his last active work. Since then he has lived retired, enjoying a rest which he has truly earned and richly deserves.
In Sweden, on the 20th of December, 1863, Mr. Stenstrom was married to Miss Sarah Mary Anderson, who was born in Sweden, November 30, 1830, and died in Burlington in January, 1910. They were the parents of five children, of whom three have passed away. Mollie Josephine is the wife of Steve Linstrom and lives on the farm of Mr. Stenstrom at Long Creek, where the quarry is located. They have two sons, Leonard and Frederick, aged respectively sixteen and twelve years. Albertina is the wife of Asa Edward Brockway and they reside with her father. They have two children, Donald Mc- Neill, aged seven, and Fay Dorothy, aged five. Mr. Brockway's mother, Mrs. Louisa C. Brockway, also lives with him.
In politics Mr. Stenstrom was always a republican until 1912, when he voted the democratic ticket. He and his wife are members of the Swedish Lutheran church and he has held all of the church offices. In 1873 he built the home which he still occupies and he also
523
HISTORY OF DES MOINES COUNTY
owns several other residence properties which he rents. He came to America a poor man, but by economy and intelligently directed in- dustry he built up a good business and now has many comforts which have been secured through his former activity along trade lines. He is plain and unassuming, yet there is no shadow of mock modesty about him. He has always been recognized as an expert mechanic, is a man of broad and liberal views and of splendid memory. He is also a man of fine physique and possesses a large heart that reaches out in sympathy, kindliness and good cheer to all. Pleasant at all times and with all people, he numbers his friends among young and old, rich and poor.
ST. PAUL'S CHURCH.
The first organized Catholic church at Burlington was St. Paul's. Some work was done among the few Catholic families of Burlington as early as 1839, when the Very Rev. Samuel Mazzuchelli was in- structed to do all in his power for the spiritual advancement of Bur- lington. When he visited the city about the beginning of the year 1839 he found among its population of two thousand about twenty- seven Catholic families, who were summoned to meet in the home of a pioneer, Tholmann by name, Father Mazzuchelli there celebrating the first mass ever offered in Burlington on the 17th of December. In the summer of 1840 he made frequent visits to Burlington and later he erected the first Catholic church of the city, a little structure thirty by fifty-five feet, with a basement so arranged that it could serve as a church and school. He continued to make missionary visits to St. Paul's until 1843, after which the church was cared for by Rev. J. A. M. Pelamorgues, Rev. J. C. Alleman and Rev. A. Godfert. In his frequent visits to southeastern lowa, Rt. Rev. Bishop Loras made Burlington his headquarters and here administered baptismal rites and otherwise promoted the church work. The first regular pastor of St. Paul's was Rev. George Reffe, who was installed in September, 1848, and remained in Burlington until 1857. In 1851 the Rev. P. M. McGinnis was appointed to act as his assistant. Upon the retire- ment of Father Reffe, Rev. M. Kinsella was appointed pastor of St. Paul's in February, 1854, and remained to May, 1855, and was suc- ceeded by Rev. Father Hannon. A year later Father Kinsella was reinstated in the pastorate of St. Paul's and remained until October, 1861, when Rev. J. B. Donelan became the priest in charge and so
524
HISTORY OF DES MOINES COUNTY
continued until his death December 28, 1870. The next pastor was Rev. P. J. Morran, followed by Rev. Thomas Gunn, who bought the ground and built Lourdes Academy at a cost of twenty-eight thousand dollars. Father Gunn was succeeded by Rev. Clement Lowery and he was succeeded by the Rev. M. P. Kirkpatrick, who collected twelve thousand dollars and began the new St. Paul's church. He was succeeded by Rev. Bernard Mackin, who completed the church and built the new rectory with other improvements costing about seventy-five thousand dollars.
The corner stone of the church was laid October 23, 1892, and the structure completed and dedicated January 27, 1895. In September, 1909, Rev. Thomas F. Galligan, the present pastor, was appointed. The work of the parish school has been carried steadily forward. As carly as 1843 there was a regularly organized Sunday school. The parish school was afterward started. The Christian Brothers at one time had charge. In the early '6os the Sisters of Charity, B. V. M., took charge of the parochial school and have since continued. In 1864 they had three rooms in their school. In 1875 the Academy of Our Lady of Lourdes was built at a cost of twenty-eight thousand dol- lars. The various sodalities and societies have been encouraged by the different pastors and the work of the church in all departments is in flourishing condition.
EDWARD F. DUNN.
Edward F. Dunn is the proprietor of Dunn's Hotel at Burling- ton and is also interested in farming, having valuable property hold- ings in this section of the state. He was born in McLean county, Illinois, October 3, 1875. His parents died before he was nine years of age and he had very little opportunity to attend school. He was thrown upon his own resources, and at the period when most boys are surrounded by home care and attention and giving their time to acquiring an education he had to go to work upon a farm in order to earn his own living. He was thus employed until sixteen years of age, after which he went to Gibson City, Illinois, where he was em- ployed first in a canning factory and still later in a printing office. He picked up his education by studying at night and reading in his leisure moments, and in the school of experience he has learned many valuable lessons until he ranks today with the intelligent,
527
HISTORY OF DES MOINES COUNTY
capable and well informed business men of Burlington, ready for any emergency and in all of his undertakings showing sound judgment.
Mr. Dunn came to Burlington in 1899 and worked as an engi- neer at the Burlington Hospital for eight months. He then had a chance to buy the old Vorhees Hotel, which was badly run down and in debt. He assumed the indebtedness and took charge of the hotel, which he greatly improved, discharging the financial obliga- tions as fast as he could. For seven years he conducted that hotel, and on the ist of June, 1907, he purchased the Hotel Metropole, the name of which he changed to Dunn's Hotel. This he has almost entirely rebuilt and has equipped it with all modern improvements, so that it is today one of the best hostelries of Burlington. For two years he conducted both hotels, but sold the Vorhees in March, 1908. The hotel of which he is now the proprietor contains sixty-five rooms, many with private bath as well as all other modern conveniences. This is a three-story brick building and contains beside the sleeping apartments and office, two dining rooms, a billiard room and a pool room. In addition to his hotel property Mr. Dunn has invested his money in farm lands and owns one of the best farms in Des Moines county, comprising three hundred and sixty acres. The soil is rich and productive, and he makes a specialty of stockraising. Upon the place stands an elegant country residence, and it is supplied with all the modern equipments to be seen upon a model farm prop- erty. He also rents one hundred and forty acres of land, which he farms, and is now planting a total of five hundred acres. Upon his property is Starr's cave, one of the most picturesque and attractive places of natural beauty in this section of the country.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.