USA > Iowa > Dubuque County > History of Dubuque County, Iowa; being a general survey of Dubuque County history, including a history of the city of Dubuque and special account of districts throughout the county, from the earliest settlement to the present time > Part 55
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 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103
504
HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY
He died in 1870, aged fifty-eight years, and was followed by his wife sixteen years later, at the age of eighty-four.
JOSEPH P. KUTSCH. An industry of first importance in a rapidly growing city like Dubuque is that represented by the contractor and builder, and there are many talented followers of this vocation in the city. One of the most prosperous and successful of the firmis engaged in this line of endeavor is that of Kutsch Brothers. Joseph P. Kutsch, senior partner of this concern, commands considerable attention for the perfection of his work has entitled him to distinc- tion. He was born in the city of Dubuque on October 6, 1859, and has known practically no other home. Nicholas and Helena Kutsch. his parents, were natives of Germany, but at an early date immi- grated to America and after a short residence in New York came to Dubuque in 1850, and here lived happily together until the death of the mother on July 15, 1897, at the age of sixty years. The father was a contractor by occupation, but is now retired from the active business cares of life and is residing at 2105 Washington street at the advanced age of eighty-three years. Before coming to the United States he liad served in the German army. To him and wife a family of eight sons and two daughters were born, as follows : Frank P., general foreman of the Peter Klauer Manufacturing Company ; Joseph P .; Charles, of the Kutsch Brothers contracting firm; William, farming in Dubuque county; Robert, a tinner at Sioux City, Iowa ; Victor, outside foreman for Klauer Manufac- turing Company ; August, carpenter of this city; Albert, who died September 30, 1909; Louisa, the wife of Joseph Bonz, a florist : and Othilda, who married Joseph Bitter, a tailor of Dubuque. Until sixteen years old Joseph P. Kutsch, the immediate subject of this memoir, attended the local public and parochial schools, and then, under the able tutelage of his father, learned the contracting and building business. For a time he was in partnership with his father, but upon the latter's retirement associated himself with his brother, Charles, and the firm of Kutsch Brothers has ever since successfully continued operations. Fair in their prices and honor- able in all transactions, success was assured them from the start, and the expression "Kutsch Brothers" has become synonymous with artistic finish and perfection throughout. Among the more impor- tant of their works are St. Francis convent, St. Mary's casino, the Immaculate Conception academy and many other notable structures. Aside from the business cares of life, Mr. Kutsch has taken con- siderable interest and pleasure in the social side as well, and is identified with the Catholic Order of Foresters and the Dubuque Sharp-Shooters' Club, of Dubuque. He has attained considerable local prominence in the latter organization, having won in the neighborhood of one hundred prizes, and on June 20, 1910, won the championship cup for the best exhibit of marksmanship. In
505
HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY
religious views he is an adherent of the Roman Catholic faith and is a member of Sacred Heart church. June 21, 1893, he was united in marriage with Miss Maria Regina Billings, and to them two children have been born, named Walter, who fell into a vault when but eighteen months old and died, and Irma, now attending Sacred Hcart academy. Mrs. Kutsch was the daughter of Alonzo Billings, and descended from an old English family which have resided in this country for several hundred years, principally in the New England states. Her father passed away at Big Patch, Wisconsin, in June, 1897, at the age of eighty years, being preceded by his wife in June, 1870, and both now lie at rest in the cemetery of that city.
DR. HORACE G. KNAPP, pioneer dental practitioner of Dubuque, has been engaged in the practice of his profession in this city for the past forty-five years. He is, perhaps, the oldest living active prac- titioner in Dubuque, and commands the highest respect and esteem from all who know him. Dr. Knapp was born December 13, 1843, in Litchfield, Maine, and is a son of Horace and Lucretia Knapp. who were descended from England and Normandy respectively. Both sides of the family can trace their ancestry back to the early periods in the growth and development of those countries, but for many generations have resided in America. Horace Knapp, well remembered as one of Dubuque's prominent medical practitioners, was a native of Kingfield, Maine, born in 1819, and for many years followed his profession in Connecticut and Chicago, Illinois. He came West with his family to Dubuque, Iowa, in 1884, and here died on December 18, 1886, aged sixty-eight years, leaving behind to grieve for him a widow and five children as follows: Horace G., the subject of this sketch ; Albert M., a physician of Providence, Rhode Island; Frank L., in Chicago; Mrs. A. Holden, of Chicago, and Mrs. A. M. Lydston, of San Jose, California. Dr. Knapp was iaid at rest in the cemetery at Rockville, Connecticut, and his wife, who died September 22, 1895, aged seventy-eight years, was buried in Rosehill cemetery, Chicago. Dr. Horace G. Knapp was pri- marily educated in the Racine, Wisconsin, public schools, subse- quently graduating also from the high school at that place. He early determined to make the study and practice of dentistry his life's work and accordingly entered and was duly graduated from the Ohio Dental College. For a time thereafter he practiced suc- cessively at Waupun, Kenosha and Racine, Wisconsin, and in 1867 came to Dubuque, Iowa, where he has been actively and successfully engaged ever since. Aside from his practice the doctor owns con- siderable valuable mining interests. He has been a lifelong Repub- lican in his political views, and socially is identified with the Modern Woodmen of America. On November 7, 1865, in Kenosha county. Wisconsin, he was united in marriage with Miss Mary A. Miner,
506
HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY
and to them the following named three children were born : Minnie M., who married W. S. Rowe, of Chicago; Corinne M., the wife of C. H. Simmons, a contractor of Chicago, and Nina, who married Dr. F. J. Staehlie, a dentist of Chicago. Dr. Knapp is the grand- father of the following six children: Loraine Rowe, who died June 24, 1905, aged fourteen years; Ardella Rowe; Miner Rowe; Mildred Rowe; Lucile Simmons; Theodore Staehlie, and Jack Staehlie. Mrs. Knapp was the daughter of Clapp and Sabryna Miner, pioneer settlers of Wisconsin, who located at Brighton in 1837 on government land which today belongs to Mrs. Knapp. On March 22, 1900, he passed away, highly beloved and respected by all who knew him.
ULRICH WILLY, well known in Dubuque and surrounding coun- try as a thoroughly capable and responsible contractor, is a native of Schiers, Canton Grisons, Graubunden, in the mountains of eastern Switzerland, his birth occurring April 17, 1857. a son of Otto and Barbara Willy. He was reared to manhood and received his education in his native country, and there, on May 8, 1881, imarried Miss Ursula Mathes, daughter of Nicholas and Anna Mathes. Two days after this event, together with his wife and parents, Mr. Willy immigrated to the United States. Otto Willy, his father, located in Dubuque in the year of their arrival in this country, and for a number of years was employed by the Farley- Loetscher Sash and Door Manufacturing Company. He died January 19, 1909, at the advanced age of eighty-three years, pre- ceded by his wife June 29, 1888, aged fifty years. In the old country Otto Willy was a contractor. Ulrich Willy learned the general principles of the contracting business under his father. Upon his arrival in the United States he found employment for a short time at Youngstown, Ohio, but came to Dubuque in 1881. and for five months was a carpenter for the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad Company. He then worked for various con- tractors until 1894, since which time he has been in the general contracting business for himself. Necessity, the mother of inven- tion, taught him in youth that industry, economy, thoroughness and reliability were the essential requirements of success. The more important buildings erected by him are the German Presby- terian college, in Dubuque, the Catholic church at Alta Vista, a church at Hazel Green, Wisconsin, the Seventeenth Street Presby- terian church, the Dubuque club, the school of the Presentation Sisters, St. Joseph's college, the Glover factory, the Lutheran church and many others. Mr. Willy is connected with a number of important commercial enterprises of Dubuque, and is one of the city's substantial and progressive citizens. He is a member of the First German Presbyterian church and of the Modern Woodmen of America. To him and wife have been born four daughters and
Over. S. Yleis
507
HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY
two sons, named Anna, Emma, Lena, Edna, Otto and Edwin. The parents of Mrs. Willy, Nicholas and Anna Mathes, came to the United States in 1881, the father subsequently dying in Montana, May 8, 1897, and the mother in Dubuque, in May. 1908.
EDWARD LANGWORTHY was born in St. Lawrence county, New York, in 1808. In boyhood he was taken to Pennsylvania, then to Ohio and finally to Illinois, in 1820. He came to Galena in the spring of 1827 and engaged in mining. He continued thus until 1830, when the price of lead fell to $1 per 100 pounds. He then returned to his father's farm at Jacksonville, Illinois, but in 1832 served in the Black Hawk war. At its close he and his brothers crossed the Mississippi and located at Dubuque. They built a house and also a smelting furnace and had made about 2,000 pigs of lead when they were ordered away by the government. They passed the following winter on an island in front of the city, and in the spring of 1833 returned. He was active and prominent-settling claims, trustee of the town and member later of the city council. In 1837 he was elected to the territorial legislature. He declined renomination in 1842, but when the state was admitted he was sent
1. I to the constitutional convention. In that convention he voted to exclude negroes from the state: he also voted for the abolishment of the grand jury system. Previous to 1860 he erected over twenty houses in Dubuque and did much to build up the city. He and his brothers began banking here in 1854. "One of the most diffi- cult things to effect was a plan for the sale of the mineral lands. A committee appointed prepared a plan giving the whole state the case showing the total impossibility of forming any pre-emption law that would cover the case and recommending a sale in legal subdivisions as other public lands were sold. This plan was finally adopted by the land office. By this act the holders of mining and farming claims obtained titles to their lands. A public bidder was elected by the people, in whose name the most of the mines were bought, and he immediately made deeds to the owner of the par- ticular tract to which he was entitled and all contested claims were settled by a board of arbitrators whose decision was final."- (Account by Mr. Langworthy, in Herald, February 22, 1860.)
CHARLES E. KLEIS, deceased, for many years prominently iden- tified with the commercial interests of Dubuque county, and a man universally esteemed and respected, was a native of Germany, his birth occurring in the early part of the nineteenth century, but when a young man he conceived the idea that greater chances for success in life existed in America and accordingly immigrated to this coun- try, shortly thereafter locating in Dubuque. Possessing much natural aptitude and ability for a business career, the land of his adoption smiled upon him and he became a prominent factor and
508
HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY
figure among the manufacturers of this county. Mr. Kleis estab- lished himself in the soda manufacturing business and the success of the concern was due in no small measure to his excellent business management, it becoming one of the largest and best of its kind in this portion of the country. On July 23, 1909, when eighty-two years of age, death claimed him, thus halting the career of another of Dubuque's most deserving citizens. He is survived by his widow and nine children.
On September 19, 1870, Mr. Kleis was united in marriage with Miss Pauline Foell, a sister of his first wife. She was the daughter of John and Christina Foell, natives of Germany and pioneer set- tlers and farmers of Jo Daviess county, Illinois, now deceased. Her birth occurred July 28, 1849, at Galena, Illinois, and in 1862 she came to Dubuque. To this union the following family of seven children were born: Caroline, who died March 10, 1883, aged twelve years, buried in Linwood cemetery ; Otto, cashier in Sheldahl Savings Bank; Herman, of the soda manufacturing firin estab- lished by his father ; John, soda manufacturer of Ann Arbor, Mich- igan ; Harry, also of his father's firm ; Laura, residing at home, and Louis, clerk in the Rider Wallis Company establishment. By Mr. Kleis's former marriage to Miss Caroline Foell, solemnized at Galena, Illinois, March 14, 1862, there were four children: Minnie, who died when sixteen years old ; William, Ida and Christian. The Kleis family are among the first of the county.
HENRY POTTEBAUM, residing on a fine farm of 200 acres in section 3, Liberty township, is a native of Dubuque county, Iowa, his birth occurring September 15, 1860, and is a son of John and Adelaide Pottebaum, the latter dying while our subject was yet a baby. John Pottebaum came to America from the Kingdom of Hanover, Germany, in 1858, and settled on a tract of land in Liberty township. The surrounding country was rough and un- broken, but he possessed the sturdy thrift characteristic of his fore- fathers and in time became one of the land owners and prosperous men of his community. Upon the death of his first wife he again married, and on August 25, 1874, passed away. His widow subse- quently married Henry Demmer, and with them Henry Pottebaum lived until starting out in life for himself. He attended the paro- chial schools, and when twenty-one years old went to Sioux county, Iowa, and there purchased land at a low price. He remained there one year, building a home and improving his property generally, and on June 26, 1882, took for a wife Miss Theresa Westendorf, a sister of Mrs. Elizabeth Friedman, of whom mention is made else- where in this work, and shortly after the marriage returned to his farm in Sioux county. Desolation greeted him on every hand, for he found his home and various outhouses blown down by a cyclone. He and wife spent their honeymoon in a rudely constructed shanty
50g
HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY
until a new house could be erected, and four years later they returned to Liberty township, Dubuque county, and here Mr. Potte- baum bought his present 200-acre farm. He built a modern home, improved the barns, dug a well, stocked his farm with all sorts of domestic animals necessary to farm life and today owns one of the best producing tracts of land in the community. He is a Democrat in politics, has served as school director and he and wife are mem- bers of Holy Trinity Catholic church. To them were born the following named family of children: Anthony, died in 1899, aged ten years ; Henry, died when one year old, in 1897, both buried in the family lot in the Luxemburg cemetery; Katie, who married John Raush, farming in Liberty township: Joseph, assisting his father ; Mathilda, now Sister Emilia of St. Francis convent, Du- buque ; May : Rosa; John ; William; Edward, and Amelia, all of whom are at home. The Pottebaum family are among the best people in the community where they reside, and are highly regarded by their many friends and neighbors.
BENJAMIN C. WISE, postmaster at Cascade, was born in the year 1846, in Germany, and when a child six years old was brought by his parents, Michael and Christina (Bittner) Wise, to the United States. On arrival in this country the family first located near Cleveland, Ohio, where they engaged in farming, but about two years later removed to Columbia county, Wisconsin, and from there in 1858 to Dubuque, Iowa. For the most part the father conducted a bakery here until 1874, then moved to Cascade where he died in 1882, followed by his widow in 1889. Benjamin C. Wise in early youth attended the public schools, but at sixteen years began serving an apprenticeship at the shoemaker's trade in Dubuque with James Hancock. In 1864 he enlisted for the preservation of the Union in the Fifth Iowa Cavalry and served until honorably mus- tered out of service in August, 1865. With the exception of this intermission Mr. Wise worked steadily at his trade until 1870 in Dubuque, then moved to Cascade and was employed in the shoe store of Jolin Collins. Upon the death of Mr. Collins he succeeded to the business and conducted the same successfully until 1897. when he was appointed postmaster, a position he has since occupied with credit to himself and satisfaction to the public. In February, 1873. Mr. Wise married Miss Margaret Beatty, who was born June 23, 1852. Mrs. Wise is the daughter of James and Grace (Stewart ) Beatty, both natives of Ireland, the former coming to America when sixteen years old and the latter when three years old. Mr. and Mrs. Beatty were married at Philadelphia, where their different families had located. Mr. Beatty was engaged in foundry work in the East until 1850, then moved to Richland township, Jones county, Iowa. To the marriage of Benjamin C. Wise and wife there have been born eight children, as follows: Emma, born in August, 1875,
510
HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY
married Charles Elliott, is the mother of one daughter named Geraldine and resides in Jones county, Iowa; William, born in December, 1873, died in April, 1875 : William, born in March, 1877, married Elizabeth Funson, is an engineer on the Illinois Central railroad and lives at Waterloo, Iowa : Charles, born in May, 1879, is a carpenter at Basin, Wyoming; Frank, born in October, 1881. is married and engaged in the drug business at Basin, Wyoming; Harry and Herby, twins, born June 11, 1885, the former married and a jeweler and the latter unmarried and a druggist, both residing at Basin, and Clara, born May 30, 1888, residing with her parents. Mr. and Mrs. Wise are members of the Baptist church and are among the best people of Dubuque county.
HERBERT G. HIGBEE, deputy internal revenue collector, with offices at 208 Post Office building, Dubuque, was born near Fair- bank, Buchanan county, Iowa, September 13, 1877, and is a son of Wallace M. and Harriet (George) Higbee, the father's people coming originally from the state of New York and the mother's from England. Wallace Higbee is at present engaged in the drug business at Fairbank, and as a Democrat in politics served as mar- shal of Independence, lowa. and as sheriff of Buchanan county. Herbert G. Higbee was primarily educated in the public schools of his native county, and subsequently graduated from the high school at Independence. In 1897 he entered the United States Military Academy at West Point, continuing three years, and in the fall of 1900 took up the study of law in the State University of Iowa. Changing his mind, however, in regard to a future profession, he studied pharmacy, being registered before the State Board on April I, 1902, and for a time thereafter worked at his trade in various cities. He then took and passed the civil service examination and was appointed to his present position as deputy internal revenue collector on May 21, 1907. In his political views Mr. Higbee is of Democratic tendencies, and socially he is identified with the Modern Woodmen of America and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He is the present captain of Company A, Fifty-third Iowa National Guards, which was organized in honor of and named after the famous Governor's Greys, which was the first organized com- pany in Dubuque to respond to President Lincoln's call for volun- teers to help preserve the Union. On December 18, 1907, in Web- ster City, Iowa, Mr. Higbee was united in marriage with Miss Julia Frank, daughter of Louis and Martha Frank, the father a pioneer clothier of Webster City. Their home in Dubuque is located at 901 Locust street.
GEORGE C. RATH, senior member of the long established pork packing and provision firm of George C. Rath & Sons, is a native of the city of Dubuque and a son of George Rath, one of the mor
51I
HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY
prominent of the county's pioneer settlers. The father was a native of Wurtemburg. Germany, but in 1847 immigrated to America and came directly to Dubuque. Here, in partnership with J. H. Strobel. he was for sixteen years engaged in the manufacture of candles and in pork packing. He financed the present pork packing and provision business mentioned above and the balance of his life fol- lowed that line of endeavor. He was a Republican in politics and served one term as alderman from his ward. On January 17. 1906, , he passed away, aged eighty-four years, and was buried in the family lot in Linwood cemetery. To him and wife two sons and three daughters were born, as follows: George C., subject of this sketch: Anna, who married John H. Smith, part owner of the Times-Journal; Augusta, residing with her mother: Minnie, who died September 16, 1902; Edward F., secretary and treasurer of The Rath Packing Company, of Waterloo ; Emma, residing at home with mother.
George C. Rath was born on April 5, 1851, and received his education in the German and public schools of Dubuque, and fin- ished his schooling with a course in Bayless Business College. For a time he was identified with various concerns, from 1885 to 1889 being cashier of the E. M. Dickey Company, a branch of the Dia- mond Joe Boat Line, but subsequently succeeded his father's and brother s packing establishment, with which he has been identified ever since. Like his father he is a Republican in political views, and in religion is a member of the Independent Presbyterian church. On October 7, 1879, he was united in marriage with Miss Mary Norton, daughter of Francis and Catherine Norton, who was for seven years prior to her marriage a school teacher in Dubuque. Her parents came to this city in 1867 and the father was a prominent machinist. He died in 1877 and his wife in 1894, both now lying in Linwood cemetery. To Mr. and Mrs. Rath two sons and one daughter have been born, named Samuel J., a partner in his father's business ; David E., also a partner, and Lois Myrtle.
DR. HARRY LOWELL HOLMES, well known dental practitioner of Dubuque, was born in the city of Chicago, April 23, 1883, the son of C. M. and Elizabeth (Tallman) Holmes, and is descended from notable ancestry. His paternal forefathers came from England to America in the seventeenth century, settling in New England and later removing to New York state, Michigan, Illinois and finally coming to Iowa. On the father's mother's side the doctor is of the old Slater stock, his great great grandfather. Peter Slater. being a member of the historic Boston Tea Party, disguising himself as an Indian and helping to throw overboard the shipload of English tea rather than pay the hated tax. Peter Slater's son, Rev. Leonard, was a well known Baptist preacher, and acted as a missionary among the Indians of northern Michigan. Dr. Holmes's mother's
512
HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY
people were members of the nobility of Holland, the Van Arsdales being for years prominent in the affairs of that country. They also immigrated to America at an early date and various members of the family have taken active part in the growth and development of their adopted country, serving her during troublous times, both in war and civic affairs. On both sides of the family there have been remarkably good men and women, ever ready to lend a helping hand when needed, loyal and true friends and citizens, whose lives were exemplary. At the conclusion of the Civil war, in which several of the family served, Mrs. Parmenter, a sister of Mrs. J. S. Holmes's father, was very indignant that President Lincoln refused to sanction the execution of Jefferson Davis, and, knowing some- thing of rope making, spun and twisted a hemp rope which she sent to the chief executive with the request that Mr. Davis might be hanged with it. Various other incidents might be herein related to show the loyalty and patriotism of these early pioneers.
Dr. Harry Lowell Holmes, the immediate subject of this memoir, was brought by his parents to Dubuque when but one year old, and here received his early education in the public schools, graduating from the high school in 1901. He early determined to make the study and practice of dentistry his life's work, and accordingly spent one year in the offices of Dr. Petersen, now retired, and the year following in the Northwestern University. He again entered the offices of his old instructor for a year, after which he returned to the Northwestern University, and was duly graduated from that institution in 1906. He has since been actively and successfully engaged in the practice of his profession in Dubuque, specializing in the treating and removal of badly decayed teeth with the use of nitrous oxide oxygen, which is the safest anæsthetic known to the profession. The doctor is essentially a self-made man and by hard work has attained an enviable reputation. He is a member of the Baptist church and one of the county's most progressive and public spirited citizens.
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.