USA > Iowa > Jackson County > History of Jackson County, Iowa; Volume I > Part 54
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Phillips usually had to coax them into the log stable in order to catch them. Some time after he received this warning that his horses were coveted by others, he awoke one night and heard the horses running in the pasture which was near the cabin. He went out and halloed, thinking that if anyone was trying to steal his horses he would frighten them away. The next morning he found that one of his horses was outside of the pasture and one inside. He went entirely around the enclosure and found the fence up all right and the gate shut and fastened with a pin. When he wanted to use the team he missed one of the bridles which could not be found, and the mystery deepened.
That fall, while picking plums in a thicket near the forks, the boys found the bridle in the plum thicket, the reins tied to a plum tree. Phillips, when told of the finding of the bridle, remarked that the mystery was cleared up. He thought that the parties had come to steaf the horses, and had succeeded in catching one, and tied him up with the bridle and went after the other, and while trying to catch the other horse, the one tied up slipped the bridle over his head, a trick that he was adept at, and made his escape.
William Phillips' family consisted of himself and wife, four girls and three boys. In 1846 he sold his claim near the forks of the river to David Sears, and removed to a quarter section of land that he owned or claimed west of the village and now known as the Lenker farm.
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In 1854 he sold this farm and removed to Des Moines where he resided until 1857, when he died from a dose of strychnine taken by mistake for quinine. One of the girls married Alfred Clark in 1842, and in 1850 they went to Cali- fornia. Another, Nancy, married Joel Higgins, the well known fine horse breeder of Higginsport, Dubuque county. A. J., as above stated, still resides in Maquoketa and is full of interesting reminiscences of early days.
A. H. Wilson, recently deceased, told an amusing experience that he and Vosberg had with two of the Phillips girls in 1839 or 1840. There was to be a dance at Shade Burleson's, and while there was a number of young men in the valley, young ladies were almost as scarce as hen's teeth. It was known that there were two girls at Phillips' place, but they were young and shy, and had never appeared at any of the gatherings in the neighborhood. Wilson and Vos- berg conceived the idea of bringing the girls out. They procured a buckboard the evening of the dance and drove out to Phillips' place, which was about six or seven miles from Burleson's cabin. When the young men arrived at Phillips' cabin, Wilson acted as spokesman and informed Mrs. Phillips that there was to be a dance at Burleson's, and asked her permission to take the girls to the dance. Mrs. Phillips told him that the girls could go and that she would help them to get ready. The girls, however, had a different view of the matter. When they heard their mother tell Wilson they could go with him to the dance, they sprang out through the open door like frightened rabbits. Wilson leaped out in pursuit and chased them around the house, but without making headway. He said when he turned a corner of the cabin, he would catch a glimpse of the girls going around the next corner. He finally ordered Vosberg to stand at one corner and head them off, and by that means run them back into the house, where the mother took a hand in, and gave the girls to understand that she had promised that they would go with the boys to the dance, and they had to go.
She helped them to array themselves in their best clothes, and the four young people boarded the buckboard and set out for Burleson's. Mr. Wilson said he could not by any manner of means induce his partner to utter one word on the journey, and she would neither dance nor talk after their arrival at the dance. Burleson had no little sport at Wilson's expense, twitting him with having a partner, who would neither dance nor converse with him, until in sheer despera- tion, Wilson dragged the girl on the floor and led her by main strength through the figure. After the ice was thus broken, Mr. Wilson found that he had a very agreeable, pleasant partner. She explained her behavior by saying that she was so frightened at the thoughts of trying to dance the figures as the others were doing that it really made her sick and miserable. The cabins in those days were far apart, indeed, and the young people had few opportunities for social gather- ings, and for making acquaintances.
OSBORNE SAMPSON.
Osborne Sampson was born in West Brookfield, Worcester county, Massa- chusetts, his parents being Liberty Sampson and Sarah Brighton Chamberlain. He is descended from Henry Sampson, who came from England with the "Bos- ton Colony," and was one of the founders of that city. So far as he knows, his ancestors were farmers in Massachusetts. A brother of Henry came over in the "Mayflower." One of the descendants of Henry was Miss Deborah Sampson, who served with distinction in the Revolutionary war. Her sex was not discovered until she had been shot in battle and the doctor was dressing the wound in the hospital. After her recovery, she was complimented on her bravery by General Washington and retired from the army with honor.
On his mother's side an uncle, Hon. Daniel H. Chamberlain, led the first col- ored regiment into Richmond after its fall at the close of the Civil war. Later, during the reconstruction, he was governor of South Carolina.
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When through the public school, he entered Phillips Academy, Andover, Massachusetts, and graduated from the scientific department in 1870. He had the good fortune to be in the academy while the famous Dr. Samuel Taylor was principal. His early life was spent on the farm with much work and little play.
After graduating, he worked on the farm until harvest was over, when he took Horace Greeley's advice, "Go west, young man," and went to Chicago. One year later, October 9, 1871, occurred the Chicago Fire, in which he was one of the sufferers, losing both home and business position. He took an active part in the relief work, having charge of the first load of provisions sent to the suf- ferers on the north side, the largest burned residence section. When the relief distributing stations were established on the north side, he had charge of keep- ing them supplied with things needed, from the depots where the goods, sent from all over the world, were stored. He spent the evenings getting from the stations lists of things needed, groceries, clothing, etc., and with the relief committee get- ting orders on the depots for them. Armed with the orders, he started, before daylight, with his horse and buggy and ten large trucks to get the goods from churches, railroad depots, warehouses and packing houses and deliver them to the most needy places. That was a strenuous fall and winter for those connected with the relief of the destitute and suffering.
At the time of the fire he was a clerk with Bradner, Smith & Co., paper man- ufacturers and wholesale dealers. When spring came and the relief work lessened, he secured a position with a New York paper company that had opened a branch in Chicago. He remained with them until 1875, when he resigned to go to the Adams & Westlake Company, one of the largest manufacturing con- cerns in Chicago. He held the position for two years of purchasing agent, and ten years of assistant general superintendent, and then resigned to engage in the manufacturing business for himself. In 1890, when his business was well established and successful, he had a sudden attack of the "grippe" which was an epidemic in Chicago at that time. The attack was so severe that for a time his life "hung in the balance." He gradually grew better, but his recovery was slow. After a year and a half, he went back to business again but found he was not strong enough to stand it, so he sold out and devoted himself to getting back his health and strength. Up to the coming of that attack he had enjoyed exception- ally good health and could not remember being "sick abed" a day in his life. Much of the next three and one-half years were spent in the South, where he had the benefit of the mild winters. In 1895 he "felt ready for business again" and secured a position with the Fairbanks Morse Manufacturing Company (makers of gasoline engines, steam pumps, and windmills), at their factory in Beloit,. Wisconsin.
After ten years more of hard work and responsibility, he felt that he must take a rest from business for a time, or suffer at no distant day another break- down, so in 1905 he resigned his position, and with his wife spent ten months in Europe. On their return they came to Andrew with no intention of remaining, but it is a good place to live, and they are still there in 1909. While with the Adams & Westlake Company, he became interested as a "side issue," and to his financial sorrow, in a planing mill business. For several years he was one of the board of directors of a "building association."
He was "born and bred" a republican and has always affiliated with that party, taking an active part in the caucuses and elections. The only public office he has ever held was mayor of Andrew, to which he was elected in 1908.
In 1870 he united with the New England Congregational church, Chicago. Except when prevented by sickness or absence he was an active member, holding the office of clerk for many years. In 1898 he took his letter to the First Congregational church, Beloit, Wisconsin, and in 1907 to the Presby- terian church, Andrew, of which he is now an elder and clerk.
For several years he was one of the board of managers of the Chicago
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Young Men's Christian Association, and was connected with various other religious and philanthropic movements.
In 1883 he was elected to membership in the Chicago Literary club, and is still a member. He was a member of the Chicago Academy of Sciences and served on the board of directors. He is a member of the Royal League Benev- olent society.
He was married in 1880 to Miss Alice Bradley, in Andrew, at the home of her parents, Judge and Mrs. Philip Burr Bradley.
THE SUMMERS FAMILY. By J. W. Ellis.
In the territorial days of Iowa, and during the first decade of statehood, but few names were more familiar in Jackson, Clinton and Scott counties than that of Summers. In 1837 Laurel Summers, who, it appears, was a man of much more than average ability, came to Scott county and settled at LeClaire, where he spent all the remaining years of a long and useful life.
In 1840, Redmond and Shelton, brothers of Laurel, came to Clinton county and settled in the town of Comanche, the first town founded in Clinton county, and, according to John Seeley, who wrote an interesting article on the Sum- mers' family, was there in 1844 when the first recorded tornado passed through that village. Mr. Seeley said: "The house of Redmond Summers stood in the line of the tornado. Seeing the storm approaching and having no protection in the way of a cellar or dugout, Mr. Summers told his wife to take the baby, afterward Mrs. Amanda Littell, and get under the bed, while he would hold the door, trusting that the stout logs of which the house was composed would withstand the storm. The house was blown down and Mr. Summers found himself lodged in a tree, and not much injured. He also found his wife and baby unhurt."
In 1845 Redmond and Shelton came to Jackson county. Redmond settled on section 29, South Fork township, and Shelton on section 19 of same town- ship, where both gentlemen spent the remaining years of their lives, living to a good old age, honored and respected by all who knew them.
Another brother, Caleb, who came later, has always resided in this vicinity and is still living, in 1910, in the vicinity of Maquoketa. Sheldon, or Shelton Summers, was married to Martha Johnson, of Indiana, and by her had several children, viz .: Mary Jane, John, Samantha and Nancy. Redmond was mar- ried in 1842 to Miss Vashti M. Blakey. By this union was born Amanda, her- oine of the cyclone and mother of our townsman, Harry Littell, of Maquoketa. There also came to Jackson county in 1856, the second daughter, Adaline, who married Ezra Dutton, of Iron Hills. Annie, the third and last child of Red- mond, married John Littell, who for many years owned a farm near the More- head bridge.
When the Summers brothers first came to Iowa Territory, they came with ox-teams, and their first markets were Dubuque and Galena. Redmond Sum- mers died in 1896, and his wife in 1906. Two daughters still survive them, their eldest, Mrs. Amanda Littell, having passed away June 14, 1909.
Shelton Summers died many years ago, but his two daughters, Mary Jane Fortner and Samantha Smith, still reside in Maquoketa. His wife passed away in 1909. Caleb Summers also has three daughters, Helen, Eva and Mamie, and one son, James, on the old home farm in South Fork township. The following biographical sketch of Laurel Summers is copied from the Port Byron Globe, dated May 10, 1901 :
"Among the pioneers of Iowa the name of the late Laurel Summers, of LeClaire, well deserves conspicuous and honorable mention in the history of this great commonwealth, for he was among the first of the early settlers who began the work of transformation of a wilderness into one of the richest and
-
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most progressive states of the American Union, and through the territorial era and the period of statehood, covered by the passing of more than a third of a century, he was a zealous, active and efficient coworker with his fellow citi- zens in the marvelous development of Iowa, which the annals of the state so well portray in record of its progress.
Laurel Summers was born in Montgomery county, Kentucky, October 2, 1812. Thence he removed with his parents in 1823 to Morgan county, In- diana, where he remained until 1830, when he located at Indianapolis, where he learned the bricklayer's trade. In 1837 he came to Iowa, and soon decided to locate in Scott county, which throughout his life remained his home.
At that time, as the historian records, Iowa was a part of Wisconsin Ter- ritory, but by act of Congress, June 12, 1838, the then future Hawkeye state acquired a territorial organization of its own. At the first election thereafter, September 10, 1838, Mr. Summers was elected to the house of representatives of the first general assembly of the new territory, and he continued to repre- sent the people of Scott county therein in 1839 and 1840. In 1845 he was chosen a member of the territorial council, corresponding to the state senate, in which body he retained membership until statehood was attained, Decem- ber 28, 1846. In August, 1850, he again became a member of the legislature, having then been elected to serve in the lower house.
During these years Mr. Summers lived in the part of the present town of Le- Claire, then known as Parkhurst, so named in honor of an estimable family of pioneers, among the first settlers of the locality. A daughter of this family, Miss Mary Parkhurst, born in the State of New York, January II, 1822, was united in marriage to the subject of this sketch in May, 1841, and in this first year of the twentieth century she is blessed with good health, and exhibits lightly the weight of nearly four score years. Five children were born of this union : Mrs. Helen L. Whitford, of Beloit, Wisconsin; Mrs. Elsie A. Cur- tis and Mrs. S. I. Headley, of LeClaire ; Augustus D., of Dallas county, Ala- bama ; and Lewis Cass-the last named died in infancy.
In 1853 Mr. Summers was appointed United States marshal for Iowa by President Pierce, and in 1857 he again received the appointment, his last com- mission for an additional four years tenure of the office having been signed by President Buchanan. At that time Iowa comprised but one United States judicial district, and as there were no railroads in the state prior to 1855, and but little railroad trackage within its borders later during his term of service, Mr. Summers traveled mainly by stage or steamboat in attending sessions of the Federal courts. In 1860 he conducted the United States census, which exhibited the remarkable growth from 1840 of forty-three thousand popula- tion to six hundred and eighty-four thousand but a score of years later.
Shortly prior to his retirement from the position of United States marshal in 1861, after eight years' service therein, he was chosen by his fellow towns- men to serve them as mayor, and in later years he was thrice more called upon to serve them in the same capacity. In 1858 he had been a member of the city council, and in these positions of municipal trust he demonstrated the quali- ties of efficiency and devotions to the public interests that had characterized his course as a legislator in the pioneer legislative assemblies of Iowa. In 1874 he was designated by the governor to serve as trustee of the Iowa Agri- culture College at Ames, and there superintended some important building improvements, for which trust his excellent business capacity and his skill as a mechanic well qualified him.
His last public service, not many years before his decease, was that of chief deputy for Sheriff Howard Leonard, and at various times he was called upon by Mr. Leonard to discharge the full functions of the office.
At the dawn of a spring morning, April 15, 1890, Laurel Summers was called away from earthly scenes. From the press of the state and from beyond its borders, from citizens of his county and state, and from many in other
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states there came eloquent and touching tributes to his memory. They were merited. He was a man whose nature drew toward him a feeling of warm personal regard, whether inside or outside of his own political fellowship. After the close of a heated political contest, political opponents who had re- ferred to him unkindly, became his warm, personal friends. His unselfish na- ture, his able, genial manner and his strong intellectual and moral worth ren- dered it impossible for anyone to retain a feeling of resentment toward him. He was optimistic, but never visionary. He entertained a feeling of intense pride-well justified-in the great state whose foundation he had assisted in placing. His perceptive sense enabled him, in early years, to foresee the com- ing greatness of this region, and he was ever earnest and outspoken in ad- vocacy of any measure that could contribute toward its more complete devel- opment. An instance is here given on the authority of the late Hon. J. H. Murphy. Mr. Murphy many years ago informed a well known and respected citizen of LeClaire (C. P. Disney) that Laurel Summers was the first man to suggest that the island of Rock Island be reserved for the building of a gov- ernment arsenal, and that he urged that the legislature memorialize congress to that end.
It is not improbable that Iowa owes to Mr. Summers the historic interest to that municipality as having been the capital of the territory and state from 1841 to 1857. In 1840 the subject of removal of the capital from Burlington was agitated in the legislature, Mount Pleasant having been a contestant for its location, when, after many fruitless ballots, during which Burlington strove to retain it, Laurel Summers turned the scale in favor of Iowa City by an- nouncement of his vote therefor.
In official position Mr. Summers well exemplified the illustration, "A pub- lic office is a public trust," in his zeal, efficiency and strict integrity which characterized his fulfillment of its duties. He was not an orator, but his public addresses were clear and impressive, and no hearer could doubt the perfect sincerity of his expressed convictions. He was an able and highly entertain- ing conversationalist, and a most interesting correspondent. The large accu- mulation of letters left by him from men distinguished in public life as well as from others gifted in literary attainment fully testify to the appreciation vested in correspondence with him. In public life he was contemporaneous with such eminent men as Senators Jones, Dodge, Harlan and Grimes; Gov- ernors Briggs and Hempstead; Congressmen Leffiler, Cook and Vandever, and Judges Love, Mason, Grant and Dillon, and with many other men of dis- tinction in the annals of Iowa. But the correspondence of Mr. Summers was not restricted to fellow citizens of his own commonwealth; it included men famous throughout the republic, in and out of the public service, at the na- tional capitol and elsewhere.
Such men as Laurel Summers are a benefaction to any community in which they cast their lot. They are as an inspiration intellectually and morally, for they afford a noble example to those who come within the radius of continued association with them, and thus it is that their influence becomes apparent as a halo to all within their vicinage. It was, therefore, but natural that the neighbors and townspeople of Mr. Summers should feel and manifest a keen sense of personal loss when they realized that he was no more on earth. No more deserving, no more appropriate inscription was ever placed upon a mon- ument than the brief one engraved upon that erected in the LeClaire ceme- tery which marks the grave of Laurel Summers: "An honest man is the noblest work of God."
MR. ARNOLD REILING AND WIFE. (Bellevue Herald.)
Mr. and Mrs. Arnold Reiling, of Bellevue, celebrated the sixtieth anniver- sary of their marriage at their home last Saturday, February 10 (1906). Sil-
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ver weddings are a rarity, golden weddings still more so, and it is but seldom that we read of a couple rounding out three score years of married life, and the fact makes the anniversary celebrated by our esteemed fellow townsman and his worthy wife of more than passing interest.
Owing to various circumstances over which the parties most concerned had no control, it was impossible for all the children who are not residents of this city to be present, but all who were not here sent their congratulations in the form of telegrams which reached here on the day of the celebration. Herman Reiling, of Denver, was here, and with the children who live here and the grandchildren made up a very pleasant party. Those present were: Mrs. Christina Weber and daughter, May; Benjamin Reiling, wife and chil- dren ; Arnold Weber and wife, and Phil Weber and wife. Among the presents received by Mr. and Mrs. Reiling was a beautiful Morris chair presented by the grandchildren. This chair has been placed in Mr. Reiling's favorite corner in the library and will serve to keep in his mind the love and respect which the younger generation have for him.
Mr. Reiling was born in the Kingdom of Hanover, November 2, 1823, and at the age of fifteen came to this country with his parents, landing in New Orleans in the fall of 1838 and moving to Galena in March of the next year, and from there the family moved to a farm about four miles north of the pres- ent site of this city. Mr. Reiling's father passed away in 1859. In this same year Mr. Reiling moved into Bellevue and engaged in the mercantile business and followed this for some years, after which he took the contract for building seven miles of track for the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, be- tween Dubuque and Clinton, and for six years after that owned and operated the steamer "Reiling," in the river freight business and finally became inter- ested in the milling business in this city, and for a time the company of which he was a member controlled all the flour milling in this section of the state. Mr. Reiling still owns the mill property, but it is not operated on such an ex- tensive scale as in years past.
Mr. Reiling has served a number of terms as a member of the city council and was for two years mayor of Bellevue, and has the honor of being the first county commissioner elected from the township of Tete des Morts.
He has always been an ardent supporter of the principles of the democratic party, and has no small part in the political affairs of the county. The mar- riage of Mr. Reiling to Miss Mary Havemeyer was solemnized at Galena on the 10th day of February, 1846, and to this union nine children were born: Mrs. Christina Weber, of Bellevue; Herman Reiling, of Denver; Mrs. Regina Reilly, of Wichita, Kansas; Benjamin Reiling, of Bellevue, and Anna and Amelia, who are both living at home. Three have passed to the great beyond.
Mr. Reiling has made a success of life ; there is no more to say ; in all that he has done he has had the support and help of a faithful wife, who has helped him fight his battles, comforted him when the world seemed to go wrong and rejoiced with him in his successes. It is the wish of the Herald and a host of friends that this worthy couple may live to enjoy many anniversaries of the same character as the one just passed.
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