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 87
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1863 ; Nicholas, born April 8, 1866. Of the above children Anna, Daniel, David and Nicholas believed that success could be attained in greater proportions by cooperation, and with the father worked the home place and shared in the accumulation of an estate of some 852 acres. Aside from general farming they have been very suc- cessful in the raising of shorthorn cattle, Poland-China hogs, Nor- man horses and Percheron mares. They are highly regarded in the community where they reside and are among the county's best people.
SOLON B. PERKINS, retired farmer residing in Cascade, is a native of Erie County, New York, his birth occurring December 29, 1839. His parents, Jesse and Elma ( Annis) Perkins, were also born in New York State and for a time the father followed farm- ing on the shores of Lake Champlain. Three children were born to him and wife in Erie County, named Solon, John, deceased, and Mary, deceased. In 1853 the family came West to Rockford, Illinois, partly by foot and partly by train, and from that place drove to Cascade Township, Dubuque County, Iowa, and established a home on 200 acres of land, forty acres of which was improved. Here the mother died in 1857, aged forty-nine years, and Mr. Perkins subsequently married Mary Ann Patterson, a widow and stepmother of the wife of Solon B. Perkins. After his second marriage Jesse Perkins disposed of his property in Cascade Town- ship and removed to Delaware County, Iowa, and there died, aged seventy-five years. His wife passed away in 1893, aged seventy-six years. Solon B. Perkins, the immediate subject of this review, was but thirteen years old when brought to Cascade Town- ship by his parents, and for a time he attended the Spring Valley school. In 1861 he was united in marriage with Miss Mary Ann Patterson, born in 1838, a daughter of William and Catherine (Eggleston) Patterson. Her parents were both natives of New York State, and during their residence there two children were born to them, Minerva, deceased, and James, living in Illinois. The family then moved to Ohio, where they remained some eighteen or twenty years, and there to Mr. and Mrs. Patterson were born these children : Reuben, deceased ; Mary Ann, married Solon B. Perkins; Sarah, deceased ; and Charles, deceased. The mother died in Ohio, and Mr. Patterson took for a second wife a sister of his former mate, Mary Ann Eggleston. In 1851 the family came to Iowa, driving from Chicago to Delaware County, and here on a farm the father died in 1855 at the age of fifty-four years. To him and wife were born these children: John, residing in Greeley, Delaware County ; and Emily, Walter and William, all of whom are deceased. After the death of her husband Mrs. Mary Ann (Eggleston) Pat- terson married Jesse Perkins, the father of the subject of this sketch. Solon B. Perkins was reared to hard work on a farm, and
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after his marriage rented a tract of land in Cascade Township and here followed general farming for a number of years. He then purchased ten acres of timber land which he cleared and on which he erected a home, and at different times added thereto until he became the owner of seventy acres. This he improved and resided on until his retirement to the village of Cascade in 1910. Mr. Perkins is a Republican in politics, a Baptist in religion and has served a number of years as school director. He is also a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, belonging to the lodge at Cascade. To him and wife two children were born, as follows: Ida, born in 1866 and died when eight years old; and Ralph, born in 1869, married Effie Hankins, has one child, Emerett, and resides on the old homestead.
SAMUEL GANFIELD, who for years followed farming and stock raising in Dubuque County and who now is living retired in the village of Cascade, was born May 17, 1845, in Somersetshire, Eng- land, a son of William and Charlotta ( Andrews) Ganfield, who were gardeners of that country. The family came to America and Dubuque County, Iowa, at an early date and located on 80 acres of unimproved land in Section 7, White Water Township. To this property Mr. Ganfield added 160 acres in Section 7, White Water Township, and all was improved until he became one of the pros- perous farmers of the community. He died in 1891 at the age of eighty-four years, followed by his widow in 1892, aged eighty- three, and both were members of the Methodist church. They had these children: Anna, Lizzie, Charlotta, Hannah, William, Tom, Samuel and Arthur. Samuel Ganfield was educated in the public schools and remained at home until twenty-four years old. On April 20, 1869, he was united in marriage with Mary Jane Patterson, who was born September 3, 1849, a daughter of Richard and Esther Patterson, mentioned elsewhere in this work. To Mr. and Mrs. Ganfield were born the following children : Mary Ellen, born March 23, 1870, deceased ; Henry, whose sketch follows this; William Arthur, born September 3, 1873. married Clara Boardman, is a professor in college and a Presbyterian minister and resides in Waukesha, Wisconsin; George, born in 1876, farming; Mabel, born February 26, 1878, married Edgar Wall, resides in Cherokee County ; and Ella, born July 1, 1884, married Rev. Bock, a Presby- terian minister. Mr. Ganfield has always followed farming and has been very successful in that line of business. He began opera- tions on the old homestead and added thereto as his means per- mitted and in time accumulated a competency. In recent years he retired from the active duties of life and now makes his home in Cascade. In politics he is a Republican, but has never aspired to hold office.
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HENRY GANFIELD, farmer and stock raiser of Dubuque County, was born September 7, 1871, on the old Ganfield homestead in White Water Township, and is a son of the pioneers, Samuel and Mary Jane (Patterson) Ganfield, appropriate notice of whom im- mediately precedes this. He was educated in the district schools of his neighborhood and assisted his parents with the work of the home farm until 1896. He then married Louisa Denley, who was a daughter of Henry and Louisa ( Williams) Denley. Her father came to America and lived in Farley, where he died; mother never came to America. They had but two children, Mrs. Ganfield and David, who died in South Dakota. After his marriage Mr. Ganfield rented a portion of his father's property, which he con- ducted eight years and during this time bought an adjoining 35 acres. He later bought tracts of 200, 40 and 20 acres, making a total of 295 acres of valuable farm land. All this has been im- proved and modernized, and today Mr. Ganfield is regarded as one of the prosperous and progressive farmers of the county. He fol- lows general farming and specializes in the raising of fine Norman horses, shorthorn and Durham cattle and Chester White hogs. In political views he is a Republican, but has never held office. He and wife are members of the Presbyterian church. To them have been born the following named children: Nina B., Ruby R., Leslie and Mand, all of whom are at home and the two oldest in school.
HENRY GOSDEN, farmer and stock raiser residing on Section 12, Cascade Township, is a son of one of the early pioneers of Dubuque County, Jacob Gosden, who was a native of London, England. Jacob Gosden married Ann Rice in his native country and came to the United States in 1852, first locating in Dubuque, Iowa. From there he moved to White Water Township, where he pur- chased a tract of wild land and began clearing and improving same. For twenty-seven years he resided on this property, then moved to Farley, where he made his home, retired from the active duties of life until his death in 1903, at the advanced age of eighty-six years. His wife died in 1899. They were members of the Episcopal church, and by their upright and honorable lives commanded uni- versal respect. Henry Gosden was born on the old home farm in White Water Township and passed his early youth in attending the district schools and aiding his father in the work at home. He finished his schooling at Epworth Seminary and continued to reside on the old home farm until 1901. when he purchased his present property. Mr. Gosden is one of the progressive and substantial farmers and stock raisers of Dubuque County. He is a Republican in politics, and a member of the Masonic fraternity and its ap- pendant order, the Eastern Star. To his marriage with Mary Ann Bevans, solemnized in 1887, four children have been born, named Myrtle Irene, Clifford Leroy, Henry Earl and James Alfred. Mrs.
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Gosden is a member of one of the old and highly respected families, mention of whom occurs elsewhere in this work.
ROBERT MARTIN, a native of Ireland and a carpenter by trade, was born in July. 1822. His parents, Andrew and Bessie (Jack- son) Martin, were also natives of Ireland, the former seeing mili- tary service under the Duke of Wellington. Andrew Martin and wife had six children: Andrew, Robert, William, John, Martha and Eliza. John was the first of the family to come to America, then Andrew, and then Robert and his widowed mother. The daughters remained in the old country. It was during President Pierce's administration that Robert and his mother came here. After living for a time in Connecticut they moved to Cedar County, Iowa, and from there in 1857 to Cascade, where Robert worked at his trade. Many buildings in Cascade yet stand as a monument to his skill as a master craftsman. Previous to coming to this country Robert Martin had served in the constabulary of Ireland and, owing to his military training when the Civil War broke out in this coun- try, he was called upon to assist in drilling recruits. In 1858 he married Margaret Crawford, who was born March 17, 1837, one of the following named children born to Thomas and Ellen (Stew- art ) Crawford: Aleckander and Margaret (both of whom died in Ireland) ; Ann, Jane, Ellen, Thomas, David, Margaret, Mary and Robert. Mr. and Mrs. Crawford were married in County Down, Ireland, the former being a son of Daniel and Margaret (McKen- zie) Crawford. They came to this country at an early day and located in Connecticut, where they died. Robert Martin was hard working and industrious. He saved his earnings and bought a farm in Cascade Township in 1880 and there resided until his death, January 2, 1903. Mr. Martin was reared an Episcopalian in re- ligion, but after coming to America he united with the United Presbyterians and for thirty-six years was an elder in that church. He possessed high courage, was mentally a giant, had unbounded physical activity, and his memory will long endure in the hearts and minds of surviving relatives and friends. His children are as fol- lows: William Andrew, born January 10, 1859, married Susan Jane Niblo, is the father of eight children and resides in Jones County, Iowa; David A., born May 29, 1861, married Emma J. Sullivan, who died August, 1899, had two children-Myrle and Nona-and died February 19, 1904; Robert J., farmer of Jones County, born October 4, 1863, married Mary A. Linderman, who died August 29, 1910, leaving two children-Viola and Evelyn ; John Stuart, born June 14, 1868, a farmer of Cascade Township; Thomas M., born March 17, 1872, now managing the old home farm; and Israel Abner, born June 8, 1874, also living on the old homestead.
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HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY
EDMOND H. CAMPBELL, farmer and stock raiser of Cascade Township, was born May 8, 1874, in the community where he now resides, and is a son of James and Ellen (Hucker ) Campbell, na- tives of New York State and England, respectively. James Camp- bell was a son of William and Agnes (Agno) Campbell, and with his wife and one son came to the United States at an early period and settled near Galena, Illinois. His wife died during the trip across the ocean and was buried at sea, and after arriving in this country Mr. Campbell took for a second wife Elizabeth Catlicard, of Irish extraction. Shortly thereafter he moved to Jones County, Iowa, and there farmed and resided for a period of forty-five years. In 1866 he located in Dodge Township, Dubuque County, and there remained until 1904, when he retired from the active cares of life and removed to the village of Epworth. In January, 1908, he passed away, but is yet survived by his widow, who lives in Ep- worth. To them were born seven children, three sons and four daughters, of whom two sons and one daughter are now deceased. James Campbell, father of the subject of this sketch, remained with his parents until they settled in Dodge Township and then purchased a 160-acre tract of unimproved land in the same town- ship and, with the exception of four years spent in Epworth, has passed his life on the dividing line between Dodge and Cascade townships. He added another 120 acres to his original property and improved this by erecting suitable buildings and proper tilling of the soil. On December 15, 1907, while returning from a visit at Epworth with his son, William, and daughter-in-law, Jane (Rogers) Campbell, they were struck by a train at a crossing and all three killed. Ellen (Hucker) Campbell, wife of James Campbell, died in 1881, aged twenty-eight years, and bore her husband these children: Mary Elizabeth, who married J. W. Greenley ; William, died an infant : William, also died in infancy; William, killed in railroad accident, before mentioned ; Edmond; Agnes Ellen, de- ceased ; Minnie Estella, deceased; Myrta Angelina, deceased; and James, also deceased. Edmond Campbell, the immediate subject of this review, was reared to manhood in Dodge Township and received his education in the district schools thereof. When twenty- five years old he started out in life for himself and purchased 120 acres of land from his father. He later added 40 acres more to his property in Cascade Township and 20 in Dodge Township, and all this has been improved and brought to a high state of cultivation. Mr. Campbell is following general and diversified farming and also raises various stock. He is a Methodist in religious views and, although taking an active interest in local affairs of importance, has steadfastly refused to hold office. He married Celestia Bartholo- mew, who was born in Linn County, Iowa, a daughter of Charles and Hannah (Chase) Bartholomew, who were natives of New York State. There Mrs. Campbell's parents had born to them four
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children, James, Benjamin, Robert and Celestia, the first three named now deceased, and at an early period the family came West to Linn County, Iowa. Here they remained four years and then came to Dubuque County and located near Epworth. Three years later they removed to Dodge Township, but after a residence of nine years went to Greeley, Colorado, where they now live. Nine children were born to the parents in Iowa, as follows: Carl, mar- ried Jane Hawe and resides in Wright County, Iowa ; Dudley, mar- ried Nell McLuces and lives in Greeley, Colorado; Arthur, married Rena Williams, same residence: Sarah, deceased; Bertha, wife of Charles Baker, of Dodge Township; Almond, married Evelyn Still- well and resides in Wyoming: Mary, wife of Ross Riggs, of Gree- ley: William, married Mintie McDermott, also of Greeley; and Celestia, who became Mrs. Edmond Campbell.
ANDREW PRESTON HAMIL, deceased, well remembered by the early settlers in and around Cascade, was born in the year 1818 in the State of Tennessee and was the seventh son in a family of ten children born to Alexander Preston Hamil. He left home at an early age, making his way carpentering. He became a mill- wright and also was employed in a saw mill in his native State. Later he went to Mississippi, where he continued in the saw mill and lumber business a number of years. It was there he met and at Mechanicsburg married, on April 15, 1849, Miss Mary J. Patter- son. With his young wife he then started for Cascade, Iowa, with the expectation of making that his future home, arriving at his destination May 15, 1850. For a short time he resided in Rich- land Township. Jones County, then moved into Cascade and here resided until his death in 1862. He was actively identified with the progress and development of this locality and platted an addi- tion to the village of Cascade. He engaged in the undertaking business, manufacturing coffins from native walnut and other hard- wood lumber. In politics he was a Republican, and in religious views a Baptist. His wife was born in Ireland, March 4, 1817. a daughter of Thomas and Mary Patterson, and came to America when eighteen years old. After the death of Mr. Hamil the mother worked at tailoring and then operated a photograph gallery in Cas- cade, thus supporting and keeping the family together. She died April 12, 1885. The children of Andrew P. and Mary J. Hamil were: Andrew Preston; Margaret E., born April 18, 1853, died November 2, 1891 ; Thomas A., born August 24, 1855, died No- vember 17, 1900; Jane (Mrs. C. J. Doxsie), born July 28, 1859, and now resides in Kansas City, Mo.
Andrew P. Hamil, the oldest son of the foregoing named chil- dren, was born in Richland Township, Jones County, Iowa. Sep- tember 13. 1851, and was named after his father. He has always followed farming and is recognized as one of the foremost men of
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HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY
Dubuque County. September 23, 1874, he married Mary Elizabeth Morrison, a native of California and the daughter of David and Mary (Dean) Morrison. The following named children have been born to this union : Melvin Preston, born January 2, 1876, married Elizabeth Hutchinson, September 1I, 1899, is a dental graduate and practices his profession at Utica, Illinois ; Earle Jay, born Sep- tember 19, 1880, married Elizabeth Hoopes on January 9, 1906, is engaged in the novelty mail-order business, Chicago, Ill .; Mary Ethel. born September 19, 1883, became Mrs. Ralph O. Smith on January 1, 1906, Mr. Smith at the present time occupying a clerical position with the Illinois Steel Company at Chicago; David Morri- son, the father of Mrs. Andrew P. Hamil, was an historic char- acter of this county. He was among the early marshals of the city of Dubuque, and in 1849, leaving a wife and daughter to await his problematical return, started for the gold fields of California. He encountered innumerable hardships on the way and nearly lost his life in desperate conflicts with hostile Indians. Three years later his wife and daughter and her brother, Gilbert Dean, joined Mr. Morrison in San Francisco. His ventures as a minor not prov- ing very successful, Mr. Morrison worked at his trade of contractor and plasterer. Within a year after his wife's arrival he died, in 1854, of brain fever. His widow returned to Dubuque County and died at the home of her sister, Mrs. A. M. Hough, Oelwein, Iowa. She was born October 30, 1827, and died August 17, 1906, and was a daughter of Joseph and Sophia (Fay) Dean, who came from Ohio to Cascade in July, 1842.
EUGENE C. CAREY, proprietor of the Carey Tailoring Company, Dubuque, is a native of Wisconsin, his birth occurring at Shulls- burg, Lafayette County. April 1, 1879, and is one of ten children born to Owen and Anna ( McGraw) Carey. The father was born in New York State in 1827, was descended from an old Irish fam- ily and followed general merchandising in the Empire State. After attending the common schools Eugene C. Carey spent six months in Stone's College learning cutting and fitting. For four years thereafter he worked at his trade in various establishments and in 1899, when he came to Dubuque, founded the Dubuque Tailoring Company. One year later he bought out his partner's interest and has since conducted the business under the name of the Carey Tailoring Company. He carries a stock amounting to about $7,500 and has an annual business of $25,000. By strict attention to busi- ness he has built up a large and profitable trade and is regarded as one of the up-to-date business men of the city. In 1908 Mr. Carey was united in marriage with Miss Agnes Mahoney, of St. Paul, Minnesota, and they are members of St. Raphael's Cathedral, Dubuque. Socially Mr. Carey is identified with the Elks, the Mod-
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ern Woodmen of America, the Eagles and the Knights of Co- lumbus.
HON. MATTHEW C. MATTHEWS, who will long be remembered for his active and successful legal career in Dubuque County, is a son of the old pioneer, Dr. Nicholas Blayney Matthews and a brother of Alphons Matthews, of whom appropriate mention is made elsewhere in this work. Our subject was born in the city of Dubuque on January 1, 1862, and was here educated and reared to manhood. After attending the public and high schools he en- tered Bayless Business College and for two years succeeding his graduation therefrom taught school. Like his brother, he possessed much natural ability as a speaker and as a judge of human nature, and his great desire in early life was to become a lawyer. He began the study of that profession with Mr. James H. Shields and later continued it while in the office of the county clerk. In February, 1884, Mr. Matthews passed an examination before the Supreme Court and was duly admitted to practice before the State Bar of Iowa. He returned to Dubuque and almost immediately success in his particular line of endeavor was assured. In 1889 he was elected county attorney, serving in all six years, and during this time prosecuting six important murder cases, all of which he creditably won. In 1898 he was elevated to the district judgeship, assuming the position January 1, 1899, and for a period of twelve years satisfactorily filled this position. Immediately after his re- tirement from the judgeship, January 1, 1911, he formed a partner- ship with J. G. Chalmers under the firm name of Matthews & Chalmers, with offices at 305-307 Bank and Insurance building. Judge Matthews' public life has been unusually clean and devoid of suspicion and he is highly esteemed and respected by the citizens of the county. He is recognized as one of Dubuque's best public speakers. On January 24, 1889, he was united in marriage with Miss Emelie Dausener, daughter of a well-known German, Clayton County, Iowa, pioneer farmer, and to them the following named children were born : James J., of Minneapolis ; Mrs. Helen K. Mac- Mahon, residing in Ireland : Irene E .; Blayney F. ; Washington A .; Marcus L .; Stanley A. : Emily ; Alphons L. ; Miriam C .; Annabel C. ; Clement T. (deceased) ; and John P. (also deceased). In re- ligious views Judge Matthews is an adherent of the Roman Catholic faith, as were his forefathers, and socially he is identified with the following organizations : American Bar Association, Iowa State Bar Association, Dubuque County Bar Association, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Eagles, Independent Order of Foresters, Catholic Order of Foresters, Ancient Order of United Workmen, Modern Woodmen of America, Woodmen of the World, Sons of the Veterans, and an honorary member of the
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Ladies of the Civil War. He is also a member of the National Geographic Society and a member of the board of trustees of the Carnegie-Stout Public Library. He is public spirited and progressive and one of Dubuque County's best citizens.
EDWARD E. KUMPF, for a number of years Dubuque representa- tive for the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, was born in the Grand Duchy of Hesse, Germany, November 27, 1844, the son of Peter A. and Katherine Kumpf. He was educated in the com- mon and high schools and in 1863 joined the German army as volunteer and later was advanced to sergeant-major, remaining thus occupied for a period of thirteen years. He participated in the German war of 1866 and the Franco-Prussian war of 1870 and 1871 ; in 1874, upon promotion to State police duty, he retired from the army. He later became recorder in the chancery at Frankfort- on-the-Main and during his service in 1880 asked for two months' vacation to take sea baths for recovering from sickness; instead of two he was given five with full pay. He then went to Rotterdam, Holland, and there made the acquaintance of several sea-faring officers, later taking a trip to New York as the guest of the captain of one of the large sailing vessels of the day. He visited his brother- in-law in New York and, being filled with glowing accounts of this country, and his only brother in Detroit advising him to stay in this country, he sent for his wife and children and removed to Detroit, Michigan, where he entered the government service in lake survey and lighthouse work. In 1882 he returned to New York and em- barked in the cigar manufacturing business, but two years later came West to Massillon, Ohio, where he followed the same line five years. He then went to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, as reporter and general agent for the Pittsburg Volksblatt, but, due to the panic of 1893, decided to come to Dubuque and here has since resided. He became the local representative of the Metropolitan Life In- surance Company and was very successful in that capacity. As a Republican he was elected constable in 1904, but two years later was defeated by only a few votes and then went to the city police force, where he stayed for two years. Mr. Kumpf is a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, has been secretary of the German Vet- eran Society twelve years, was fest secretary in the big Krieger convention in Dubuque in 1906, also secretary of the big German Day Fest in 1902, was a charter member of the Orioles and is one of the pioneer settlers of Dubuque. In February, 1869, he married Miss Mary M. Meyer and to them have been born: Charles, Ed- ward E .. Jr., Frederick William, George (deceased), Lizzie, Car- lonia, Louisa and Martha. Mr. Kumpf is well known in Dubuque and vicinity as an honest, straightforward and good hearted gen- tleman.
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