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 79
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of his brother practitioners and that of the public in general. Dr. Schrup is the local examiner for the State Tuberculosis Hospital, is bacteriologist and pathologist of the Iowa State Board of Health, and is local medical examiner for various fraternal organizations. He is a member of the Dubuque County, Iowa State, and Amer- ican Medical Societies, and specializes in surgery. He belongs to the Dubuque Business Men's Club, the Golf Club, the Knights of Columbus, and the Catholic Order of Foresters. He is also a mem- ber of St. Mary's Roman Catholic church.
GEORGE KREMER was born July II, 1847, at what is now West Chicago, Illinois, and is a son of Nicholas and Anna Mary (Klein) Kremer. The father, Nicholas Kremer, was a native of Prussia, Germany, a son of Mathias and Margaret (Berringer) Kremer. His father, in 1868, when eighty years old, came to America to join his family, and even at his advanced age often remarked that if he had an ox team he could even then take a hand at plowing. He died in 1883, preceded by his wife about the year 1859. They were the parents of Nicholas, Martha, Barbara, Catherine and Adam. Nicholas married Mary Klein in Germany, in 1846, came to the United States shortly thereafter, followed farming two years in Illinois, and from there in 1851 drove with two yoke of oxen to Cascade township, Dubuque county, Iowa. They had four chil- dren: George, Elizabeth, Mary and Catherine, the first two named only now living. Mr. Kremer established a home on section 10 and to his first possession of forty acres added until he became the owner of 500 acres. A few years after coming here his wife died and he then married Catherine Klein, a native of Luxemburg, Ger- many, but not related to his first wife, although of the same name. By this marriage he was the father of two children: Mathias and an infant who died unnamed. Both parents are now dead. George Kremer, the subject of this sketch, grew to manhood in Cascade township and has always made his home on the old place originally owned by his father. In 1872 he married Barbara Merfeld, who was born August 6, 1849, in Prussia, a daughter of Mathias and Susan (Heinz) Merfeld, who came to America in 1869, and were the parents of these children: Barbara, Nicholas, John, Gertrude, Susan, Kate, Frank and Mary. Mathias Merfeld was a son of Peter and Catherine Merfeld. farmers of Germany, and Mrs. Mer- feld was the daughter of Nicholas and Margaret Heinz. To the marriage of George Kremer and Barbara Merfeld there are eight children living: Kate, John, Joseph, Nicholas, Mary, Gertrude. Frank P .. Rose and Ida Barbara. Three children are dead, named George Henry, Frances Mary and Susan. Mr. Kremer is one of the substantial and best known men of Cascade township. He and family are Roman Catholics in religion.
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JOSEPH F. HARRAGAN, assistant cashier of the Dubuque National Bank since 1906, was born in this city, and is a son of James and Martha Harragan. James Harragan was a native of Ireland, and came to the United States and Dubuque, Iowa, at an early date. He was one of the organizers of the Dubuque National Bank, and served as cashier of the institution from 1884 up to the time of his death, which occurred in January, 1909, at the age of sixty-seven years. He is well remembered by the present generation of busi- ness men, and his loss was mourned generally throughout the county. Before entering the banking business he was a dry goods merchant, and as a Democrat in his political affiliation was twice the successful candidate of his party for treasurer of Dubuque county. His widow yet survives him and resides in this city. Joseph F. Harragan received his education in the local public and high schools, finishing when sixteen years of age, and then began his banking career as messenger boy. By close attention to busi- ness he was gradually promoted, and in 1906 was made assistant cashier, a position he has since occupied. He is also a director of the institution, and manager of the Dubuque Clearing House Asso- ciation. In politics he is a Democrat, and in religious views is a Roman Catholic and a member of St. Raphael's Cathedral. He is unmarried and resides at 436 Bluff street.
JOHN J. MIHM for the past thirty years has been actively and successfully engaged in Dubuque as a stone mason contractor. He was born in this city March 22, 1860, and is the son of Peter and Barbara (Allbinger ) Mihm, the father being a native of Muenchen, Bavaria. He was a soldier in the Bavarian army and came to Dubuque about the year 1853, and here for many years fol- lowed his occupation of stone mason contractor. He was active in local affairs of importance, a staunch Democrat in his political views, and died in 1902, aged seventy-eight years. His wife died in 1884, at the age of sixty-six years, and both are buried in Mount Calvary cemetery, Dubuque. John J. Mihm, the imme- diate subject of this review, attended the local public and parochial schools until fifteen years old, and also assisted his father during the summer months in the contracting business. He worked at his trade as a journeyman until joining his father in partnership in 1884. He has ever since been actively engaged in contracting in Dubuque, and many fine public and private foundations have been erected by him, among which are the Sacred Heart Church, St. Matthew's Church, Third Presbyterian Church, and the Home for the Aged. Like his father before him, Mr. Mihm is a Democrat, but he never mixes in politics, preferring to confine his attentions to private business matters. In religion he is a Roman Catholic and a member of the Holy Ghost Church. April 30, 1890, in Dubuque, he married Miss Wilhelmina Louisa Giessler, daughter of Charles
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F. and Agatha (Jaeger) Giessler, and one daughter has been born to their union, named Agatha Barbara, now attending the Academy of the Immaculate Conception. Mrs. Mihm was the daughter of one of Dubuque's pioneer bakers, who died in 1908, aged seventy- five years, preceded by his wife in 1901, at the age of sixty-five, and both are buried in Mount Calvary cemetery. The family resi- dence in Dubuque is located at 2900 Couler avenue.
BENJAMIN HAWKINS, a grandson of Thomas Hawkins, was born in Somersetshire, England, March 22, 1847, and when but two or three years old was brought to the United States by his parents, William and Sarah (Morgan) Hawkins. The family resided in New York state two years, then came by railroad to Chi- cago and from there by wagon to Cascade, Iowa. For a while the father worked as a day laborer at farming, but finally bought a farm on section 14, Cascade township, which he improved and on which he continued to reside until his death in 1888 at the age of seventy-eight years. Mrs. Hawkins died in 1852. They were the parents of four children: Benjamin, Joseph, Reuben and Simeon, who died in infancy, and were members of the Baptist church. Benjamin Hawkins in early youth attended the Spring Valley district school, and when only fourteen years old started out in life for himself as a farm laborer. Having accumulated some means, he bought forty acres of his present farm, to which he has added as his means permitted, until he now owns 310 acres of the best land in Cascade township. In 1873 he married Mary Hill, a native of Dubuque county, Iowa, and the daughter of Robert and Hester (Gane) Hill, old pioneers of this section of the county. Robert Hill and wife were also natives of Somersetshire, England, and came to America and this county in 1850. They lived at Spring Valley a year, then bought a farm in Cascade township, where the father died in November, 1884. and the mother in the following January. Benjamin Hawkins is deserving of much credit for the success he has achieved. He began life for himself when but a small lad, and without the aid of others he has, by hard work and economy, accumulated a competency. He and wife are the par- ents of nine children, as follows: Nellie, the wife of O. G. Web- ster: William. a farmer near Charles City, Iowa: Jennie, now Mrs. Howard Carlton, of near Portland, Oregon; Alice; Edwin; Arthur: Mignon; Joseph: and Ivan. Being deprived of many of the advantages that by right belong to youth, Mr. Hawkins has spared neither effort nor money in the education of his children and their proper start in life. His home is a model one in all respects. The refining influence of works of art, rare paintings and china, music and good books has made his an exceptional home, and the visitor is delighted with the courtesy and reception accorded him at the Hawkins residence.
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DAVID J. HEISEY, one of Dubuque's successful dental practition- ers, is a son of John H. and Charlotte Esther Heisey, and was born in Monticello, Iowa, August 18, 1878. Succeeding his attend- ance at the Monticello public and high schools, he entered the Northwestern Dental School and in 1901 was graduated there- from with the degree of D. D. S. For three years thereafter he practiced his profession in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, but in 1904 came to Dubuque and has here since been located. Dr. Heisey is a mem- ber of the lowa State and Dubuque District dental societies, the Chicago Odontographic Society and the Iowa Chapter of the Psi Omega college fraternity. He also is identified with the Masonic order, in which he has attained the Royal Arch degree, and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. On October 16, 1908, he was united in marriage with Miss Birdeva Bayless, daughter of Cornelius Bayless, appropriate mention of whom is made else- where in this work. Mrs. Heisey is active in local social and musi- cal circles, and she and husband affiliate with the Westminster Presbyterian church.
PROF. RUDOLPH FRANZ OTTO, instructor of voice and harmony, with studio in the Security Building, Dubuque, is a native of Ger- many, born at Berlin, May 9, 1875, the son of Rudolph and Clara Otto. The father was a prominent dry goods merchant in the old country, and after his son Rudolph had graduated from the Berlin public schools, they traveled extensively over the Continent. In 1899 Prof. Otto left Berlin, came to America and took a complete course in the Chicago Musical College, and later also a course in the Columbian School of Oratory. For a time thereafter he main- tained a studio in Chicago and was director of various choirs, and during 1903-4 he traveled throughout the Southwestern states, giv- ing recitals. He then returned to Berlin, Germany, and took a post-graduate course in Stern's College of Music, after which he again came to the United States and during 1904-5 traveled, giv- ing concerts. In 1906 he located at Winnipeg, Canada, but in 1910 came to Dubuque, where his efforts have been unusually well re- ceived. The winter of 1907-8 he spent in his native city as a member of a grand opera company. Prof. Otto opened a studio in the Security Building shortly after his arrival in Dubuque, where he gives lessons and hears singers, and also is instructor in voice, harmony and public school music in Epworth Seminary. He is director of a male choral club of Dubuque, which is known as the Schumann Club. In 1908 he was united in marriage with Miss Eddy, of Winthrop, Iowa, and they, with their one son, Ralph, born August 12, 1909, reside in the city of Dubuque.
ANDREW ELLWANGER, deceased, one of the founders of the firm of Ellwanger Brothers, dealers in harness, trunks, valises, leather
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goods, etc., Dubuque, was born in the Grand Duchy of Hesse- Darmstadt, Germany, November 30, 1842, and when ten years old was brought to Dubuque, Iowa, by his parents, Peter and Agatha Ellwanger. Here the father followed his profession of music teacher and piano tuner until his death in 1884. Andrew Ell- wanger was educated in the public schools of his native country and Dubuque, and from 1860 to 1869 was in the employ of George WV. Bogan, learning the harnessmaking trade. The latter year, in partnership with his brother, Otto Ellwanger, he embarked in the harnessmaking business, locating at 1256 Clay street, and here the establishment has since continued under the firm name of Ell- wanger Brothers. To his marriage with Miss Fredericka Neu- bauer, of. Dubuque, the following children were born: Herman, Edward, Charles, Frederick and Amanda, all of Dubuque, and Ferdinand, of Chicago. Mr. Ellwanger passed away in 1901 and now lies at rest in the family lot in Linwood cemetery. Mrs. Ell- wanger still survives him and resides in Dubuque.
Otto Ellwanger, who now conducts alone the firm of Ellwanger Brothers, is also a native of the Grand Duchy of Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, and came with the family to Dubuque in 1852. Here his education was completed, and he learned the harnessmaking indus- try under the tutelage of Fred Lehr, beginning his apprenticeship in 1861 and continuing until 1869. when he joined his brother, Andrew, in that line of business. Since the latter's death .Mr. Ell- wanger has conducted the business alone. In 1872 he married Miss Eliza Heisler, of Dubuque, and three sons, Frank, Otto and Wal- ter, have been born to their union. The first two named are dead and the latter is associated in business with his father. Mr. Ell- wanger is a Republican in national politics, independent in local affairs, and has had a long and honorable business career, and socially is identified with the following organizations: Independ- ent Order of Foresters, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, An- cient Order of United Workmen, Modern Woodmen of America, and the Woodmen of the World.
EDWARD FUHRMAN for the past twenty years has been engaged in the express and transfer business in Dubuque. He was born in St. Louis, Missouri, August 9, 1852, a son of John and Caroline Fuhrman. Upon the completion of a railroad to the north, John Fuhrman brought his family to Dubuque in 1854, and for the next eight or ten years was a horse dealer; he then opened a clothing store on Clay street. He was a native of Alsace, Germany, and came to the United States in 1850. He died in Dubuque, August, 1898, one month after having been accidentally injured by a street car, aged seventy years, and was followed by his wife in 1905, aged seventy-seven years. The mother was born in Baden, Ger- many, and came to this country at an early date. Both are buried
H.B. Smith
HB Smith
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in Mount Calvary cemetery. Their son, Edward Fuhrman, the immediate subject of this review, was educated in St. Mary's old rock schoolhouse, which he left when sixteen years old. He then learned the chair-making trade in Hancourt's chair factory. no longer operating, and for ten years followed that line. being fore- man of a concern at Wabasha. Minnesota. The succeeding four years he spent in St. Louis learning the bakery business, then returned to Dubuque and for several years engaged in that line of work. For the next fifteen years he worked at farming, then estab- lished his present business and has ever since been thus success- fully engaged. Mr. Fuhrman is a Republican in politics, is a mem- ber of the fraternal order of Maccabees, and was a member of the old volunteer fire brigade of Dubuque. At St. Paul, Minnesota, on May 29. 1895, he married Miss Catherine Theiring. daughter of Frank and Anna Mary Theiring, the father being a stone mason by occupation and a Union soldier in the Civil war. He came to Dubuque from Cincinnati, Ohio. in 1854, and here died in June. 1902, aged eighty-two years, and was followed by his wife in November, 1908. both now buried in Mount Calvary cemetery. To Mr. and Mrs. Fuhrman one daughter, Sylvia, now attending St. Mary's Catholic school, was born on August 28, 1900. Mr. Fuhr- man is one of Dubuque's representative and enterprising men, and is highly regarded by all who know him.
PROF. HARRY B. SMITH, for many years actively identified with the field of education in Dubuque county, was born in Dubuque township, October 30, 1872. the son of Maj. E. Howard and Sid- ney (West) Smith. Major Smith is a direct descendant of George King Smith, the progenitor of this particular branch of the Smith family in America. The latter, who was the captain of an English merchantman, and sailed the seas for many years, settled in Salem, Massachusetts, about 1630, and his descendants for several gen- erations followed the sea. Various members of the family partici- pated in the early struggles of the Colonies, the grandfather of our subject being taken prisoner by the French in the disturbances of 1799. The ancestors of his father's mother were descendants of Elihu Yale, the early benefactor of Yale University.
After attending the Prescott grammar school. Prof. Harry B. Smith further pursued his studies in the Dubuque high school, grad- uating therefrom in 1893, and later entered and in 1897 was duly graduated from the State University of Minnesota, with the degree of Bachelor of Science. For eight years thereafter he was in- structor of mathematics in the Dubuque public schools, and later became teacher of mathematics in St. Joseph's College, this city. For three years following this he occupied the chair of mathe- matics in the West Side high school of Des Moines, Iowa, but in 1906 returned to Dubuque and became an instructor of algebra in
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the high school. Professor Smith has become widely and very favorably known in educational circles, and is a recognized author- ity on mathematics. He is a member of the State Teachers' Asso- ciation and of the Northeastern Iowa Educational Society; he is also a member of the Masonic fraternity and of the Sons of Vet- erans. In religious views he is identified with the Congregational church, in the Sunday school department of which he has been a teacher for years. As a Democrat in politics he was the candidate of his party in 1910 for the county superintendency of schools, and stich was his record that he met with little or no opposition.
MICHAEL EDWARD LYONS, the present auditor of the city of Dubuque, was born April 23, 1861, in St. Louis, Missouri, a son of Daniel and Margaret (O'Callaghan) Lyons. The father was a native of Ireland, but in 1854 immigrated to the United States, locating at St. Louis, and was there married in 1856, and died in 1864. Three years later his widow remarried, taking for her hus- band Thomas Lynch, with whom she removed to McGregor, Iowa, and lived until her death in 1873. Two sons, Michael Edward and Daniel (deceased) were born to Daniel Lyons and wife, and were educated and reared to early manhood in McGregor, Iowa. Michael Edward Lyons, the subject of this review, was thrown upon his own resources early in life, but managed to attend the public and parochial schools, and for a time the high school at McGregor. After quitting school in 1876, he worked on a farm for three years. He then went to St. Louis and was a street car conductor in that city from 1879 to 1883. He then came to Du- buque and engaged in the retail liquor business, in which he con- tinued till 1906. While in business he made profitable use of spare time by studying law with the Sprague Correspondence School, suc- cessfully completing same and receiving the degree of Bachelor of Laws in 1904. From 1904 to 1906 he served as alderman from his ward. In 1906 he was elected city auditor, and was re-elected in 1908 and 1910. He is a Democrat in his political views and a member of St. Raphael's Roman Catholic Cathedral. For three years he was president of the Saloon Dealers' Association, which position he relinquished upon his election to his present office. He was also a charter member of the local lodge of the Eagles. In 1887 he was united in marriage with Miss Helen McKinna, whose parents were among the early farmers of Concord township, this county, and the following children, all at home, were born to them: Mae, Nellie and John.
ALPHONS MATTHEWS. A life that rose to the zenith of its splendid powers in Dubuque and then was blotted out as a star from the sky was that of Alplions Matthews. Born, reared, edu- cated and dying here, he made his impress on the destiny of the
alphons matthews .
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city, state and nation, and established great principles of law, aided public education and advancement, and in a thousand ways was a benefit and blessing to humanity. He was born in Dubuque in 1856, the son of Dr. Nicholas B. Matthews, remembered as one of the ablest of the early medical men, and knew practically no other home. Mr. Matthews early determined to make the study and practice of law his life's work, and how well he reasoned may read- ily be determined by a survey of his career. Shortly after gradu- ating from the public schools he entered the law offices of Pollock & Shields, reading and studying with this firm until twenty years old, and then took an examination before the Supreme Court and was duly admitted to practice before the State Bar of Iowa. He inmediately began the general practice of his profession in Du- buque, the first two years being spent in partnership with H. H. Regan. He then until 1888 continued alone, and that year formed a partnership with Judge Austin Adams, and continued thus until the death of the latter. On September 15, 1899, Mr. Matthews formed a partnership with J. R. Lindsay and J. P. Frantzen, which was continued until January 1, 1901, when Mr. Lindsay retired from the firm to take up other business, and Messrs. Matthews and Frantzen continued until the former's death. Mr. Matthews' natu- ral ability as a legal practitioner became more and more pronounced and among the men of a bar noted for its eloquence, honorable tac- tics and thoroughness he became a bright and shining light. His unquestioned integrity and fitness for public life was shown by the various elective and appointive positions he held. As a Democrat in politics he was, in 1883, appointed attorney for Dubuque county, and held this position until 1887, when the state legislature made the office elective. Two consecutive terms Mr. Matthews was elected to this position, but a third term was declined in favor of his brother, M. C. Matthews, who later became judge of the district court. In 1886 our subject was honored by the state legislature hy being elected a member of the board of regents of the State University of Iowa, and in this connection he for years displayed his loyalty to the cause of advancement and education. Also, as a member of the local Board of Education, he was active, and as president of same performed his duties in a highly creditable man- ner. Mr. Matthews' strongest claim to being one of the ablest attorneys in the state lay, perhaps, in his remarkable and unusual success as a trial lawyer. Naturally observant, and a great student of human nature, his eloquence and arguments, always directed on the side he thought just and right, seldom failed to move and con- vince a jury, and many of the most important cases that came up in the Dubuque courts were won by his honest and conscientious reasoning. On January 1, 1907, this unusual man suffered a col- lapse, due to a combination of ailments, from which he never recov- ered. His day of life was waning, but he awaited the night with
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the calmness of a man who has tried to do his duty, trusts in God and fears no future. July 15, 1909, the cold hand of Death beck- oned him, thus claiming one of Dubuque's best and most deserving citizens, toward whom the finger of scorn and suspicion could never be directed. Aside from his great interest in legal work, Mr. Mat- thews was also interested as stockholder in several concerns in this city. He was one of the founders of the Dubuque Fire & Marine Insurance Company, and of the German Trust & Savings Bank. December 2, 1885, he was united in marriage with Miss Amelia B. Bowdish, and to them were born Dorothea, Carl, Mona, and Eleanor. His mother, Mrs. Anna Matthews, is still living, and now resides in this city. Such, in brief, is the record of his rise up the ladder of life, from comparatively moderate circumstances as a youth, to a position of highest honor and respect among his fellowmen. For months before his death the end was hourly expected, but when he finally passed away it was a shock to his family and many loyal friends who knew him to be a kind and loving husband and father and an honorable man.
MATHIAS M. HOFFMANN, who founded the Dubuque Investment Company in August, 1892, and who has been the president and director of this organization since its inception, is a native of this city, his birth occurring May 28, 1857, a son of Mathias and Bar- bara Hoffmann, both natives of Germany. The father immigrated to the United States first in 1852, but shortly thereafter returned to his native land, married, and moved here permanently in 1855. He was a cooper by trade, also a carpenter, and considerable of his time was devoted to railroad construction work. He died in 1905. in his seventy-third year, preceded by his wife in 1883. Both were members of the Roman Catholic church, and were buried at Mount Calvary. Mathias M. Hoffmann was attending the parochial school in Dubuque when his father was injured in an accident, thus necessitating his putting his shoulders to the wheel and helping .in the care of the family when but twelve years old. For a number of years he worked at anything he could get to do, subsequently learning the cabinet-maker's trade. He established himself in the undertaking business, and becoming a licensed embalmer, soon acquired a large and increasing business. Mr. Hoffmann was one of the first licensed embalmers in this section of the country, and, becoming an expert, lectured on the subject of embalming in various portions of the country and attained a wide reputation. He was the organizer and for twelve years president of the Dubuque Casket Company. During his business career in Dubuque he has been exceedingly active and energetic in various lines. As a Demo- crat in politics he was elected coroner of Dubuque county, serving as such twelve years. He is a member of the Catholic Order of Foresters, the United Workmen. the Modern Woodmen of Amer-
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