USA > Iowa > Jackson County > History of Jackson County, Iowa; Volume II > Part 9
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It was under the business training of his father that Mortimer Rice was . qualified for the onerous and responsible duties of the business world. His. education was acquired in the common schools and the knowledge there gained served as the foundation upon which he built his success in later years. His experience in his father's store was of a most practical character and he continued his service there until 1862, when he joined the Union army in re. sponse to the president's call for more troops. Enlisting in Company H, Thirty-fifth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, he was with that command for more than three years, or until after the close of hostilities, and was commissioned second lieutenant of his company, which, however, had become so depleted in numbers that he was unable to muster the company up to the required number to assume command. He took part in thirty-two engagements, in which the regiment lost heavily in killed and wounded, but Mr. Rice was fortunate in that he always escaped injury, although often in the thickest of the fight. He was mustered out at Davenport, August 10, 1865, and re- turned home with a most creditable military record.
In 1867 Mr. Rice engaged in business for himself in Stanwood, Cedar county, Iowa, conducting his store there until 1870, when he sold out and in
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the spring of 1871 came to Maquoketa, where he established himself in busi- ness. For thirty-eight years he was continuously connected with mer- chandising here and built up one of the largest stores in the city, his trade amounting to about eighty thousand dollars annually. Realizing the truth of the old adage that "honesty is the best policy" and also appreciative of the fact that "there is no excellence without labor," he applied himself diligently and persistently to the development of a business which constantly grew in volume and importance until it was unexcelled by any mercantile concern of the county. He remained at its head until January, 1909, when, on account of failing health, he sold out and retired from active business life, simply giving his attention at the present time to the management of his various properties. He is a stockholder in the American Savings Bank and owns and manages the Opera House of Maquoketa.
In 1867 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Rice and Miss Emma L. Snyder, of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, by whom he has one child, Cora, now the wife of Edwin B. Brown, of Maquoketa.
Mr. Rice maintains pleasant relations with his old army comrades through his membership in Drips Post, G. A. R. He is a republican in politics but has always refused advancement through the avenue of political office. He has been a successful business man, trained from boyhood in mercantile fields, and stands as one of the prominent representatives of commercial life in this part of the state, his worth being widely acknowledged by his col- leagues and associates.
HENRY HERKES.
Henry Herkes, who is living retired in Bellevue, owns a beautiful home, which is well named River View, for it is located just outside the corporation limits on the banks of the Mississippi river and commands an excellent view of the river and the surrounding country. As the name indicates, Mr. Herkes is of German birth, his natal place being Luxemburg, and the date June 24, 1836. His parents, Peter and Theresa (Kamnisch) Herkes, emigrated from Germany to the United States in 1854, arriving in Dubuque, Iowa, in May of that year, having made the journey to that city by stage from Warren, Illinois, for the railroad had been built only as far as the latter city at that time. The father, who was a stone mason by trade, followed that occupation in Dubuque and there he and his wife spent their remaining days. Their family numbered two sons and one daughter. John P. served in the Twenty-first Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and, owing to disability. was discharged at the siege of Vicksburg His death occurred in October, 1904, at Balltown, Iowa. Henry, of this review, is the next in order of birth. Eva, the only daughter, is the wife of Peter Myer, of Dubuque.
Henry Herkes was a youth of eighteen years at the time the family emigrated to this country. He worked as a laborer in Dubuque for several years subsequent to his arrival in that city. When the Civil war was inaugurated and a call was made for men to serve three months, Mr. Herkes enrolled his name on the 2d of
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September, 1861, as a member of Company E, Fifth Iowa Cavalry. He continued his service, however, until December 31, 1863, when he received an honorable dis- charge. He immediately reenlisted for service, joining the army January 1, 1864, and received his final discharge August 19, 1865. He participated in thirty-three engagements, being in some of the most important battles during the struggle. While at the front his health became so impaired that he has since been an invalid and he now draws a pension from the government.
Following the close of hostilities Mr. Herkes returned to his home in Du- buque, where he continued to reside until 1881, when he took up his abode in Bellevue and has here since remained. His home is in an ideal location, on the banks of the Mississippi river, and commands a pleasing view of the surrounding district.
Mr. Herkes was married January 4, 1866, to Miss Elizabeth Czizek, who was born in Prussia, July 20, 1846. Her father died in that country when she was but eight years of age and in 1864 her mother came with a son and three daugh- ters to the new world, to join three sons and a daughter, who had previously come to the United States. Three sons served in the Civil war. August, who is de- ceased, was captain of a regiment that was organized at Mount Clemens, Michi- gan. John, who is also deceased, served in an Indiana regiment. Peter, who lives in Moorhead, Minnesota, served in an Illinois regiment. He enlisted three different times, thus serving throughout the war.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Herkes have been born nine children but only four of the number survive. Rose died in Denver, Colorado, August 22, 1891, when twenty- four years of age, and Henrietta passed away in Bellevue on the same day. Richard, the third in order of birth, died when two and a half years old. Theresa pased away in infancy. Michael is an electrician and makes his home in Bellevue. James, who is also an electrician, resides in Davenport. Elizabeth, who was a trained nurse in Dubuque, died at the age of twenty-two years. Clara, who is also a nurse, lives with her parents. Janette, the youngest, makes her home in Dubuque.
Mr. Herkes manifested loyalty and fidelity to his country through his service at the front and since the war he has been equally loyal to his adopted country and her interests. Having now passed the seventy-third milestone on life's journey, he finds his greatest enjoyment at his own fireside in the companion- ship of his family and friends.
ROBERT GEORGE GRANT.
Robert George Grant, an enterprising and progressive representative of journalistic interests in Jackson county, is the sole owner and proprietor of The Jackson Republican, a weekly newspaper published at Maquoketa. His birth occurred in Bridgeport, Jackson county, Iowa, on the 14th of March, 1854, his parents being William C. and Mary E. (Chandler) Grant, who were natives of New York and St. Johns, Canada, respectively. His paternal grandparents were Abner and Emma Grant, both of whom were born in the Empire state. The
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former was a distant relative of General U. S. Grant. The maternal grandfather of our subject, General Samuel Chandler, was sentenced to be hung for taking part in the Patriots' Rebellion in Canada. He was reprieved and banished for life to Van Diemen's Land (now Tasmania) but escaped from the island and was picked up by a merchant vessel whose captain was a brother Mason. His property in Canada having been confiscated, he brought his family to Iowa in 1845, locating on a farm north of Bridgeport.
William C. Grant, who was a miller by trade, came to this state in 1846 and for several years operated the McCloy mill south of Bridgeport. Subsequently he worked at the wagon maker's trade and afterward served as postmaster at Bridgeport for several years. He next turned his attention to general agricul- tural pursuits and passed away on his farm on the 15th of April, 1884. His political allegiance was given to the democratic party and he held various town- ship offices, ever discharging his public duties in a prompt and capable manner. The period of his residence in this county covered thirty-eight years and he was widely recognized as a substantial and respected citizen. On the 17th of Decem- ber, 1846, he had wedded Miss Mary E. Chandler, whose birth occurred on the 6th of August, 1822, and who came to this state with her parents in 1845. She still survives her husband and has attained the age of eighty-seven years. She reared a family of eight children, as follows: Samuel C., who died about five years ago ; Mrs. Emily Tubbs, who is a resident of Okaton, South Dakota ; Mrs. S. J. Tubbs, of Maquoketa, lowa; Robert G., of this review; Joseph L., who resides on the home farm in Maquoketa township; William P. and Lee, both of whom live in Maquoketa; and Mrs. H. S. Ewers, of Le Mars, Iowa.
Robert George Grant, whose name initiates this review, has spent his entire life in Maquoketa township and the city of that name. His early education was obtained in the common school at Bridgeport, while later he attended the high school in Maquoketa and subsequently pursued a course of study at Epworth Seminary. He loved books and was continually striving to augment his knowl- edge and, finding that his father was unable to send him to college, he spent several terms as instructor in a country school in order to obtain the necessary funds. Moreover, he assisted his father in the work of the home farm until twenty-five years of age, without recompense or future reward. In 1884 he was graduated from the Davenport Business College and the following year secured a position as deputy postmaster, being thus engaged for two years. On the expi- ration of that period he was appointed deputy county clerk, holding that office for three years. In association with Charles E. Griffin he then established The Jackson Republican, a weekly newspaper of Maquoketa, and has since piloted the business with excellent success, being now the sole owner and proprietor of the publication. It is published in the interests of the republican party and is well known as the champion of progressive movements resulting in substantial benefit to the city. Mr. Grant has always been a great lover of literature and office work, such as bookkeeping, accounting, etc., and is well fitted for the duties which devolve upon him in his editorial capacity.
As a companion and helpmate on the journey of life, Mr. Grant chose Miss Alice M. Safford, a native of New York. They have one son, Ray S. Grant, who has attained his majority and now assists his father in his newspaper work.
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Mr. Grant has proven an efficient incumbent in several township offices, hav- ing served as justice of the peace for several terms and also as township assessor, as well as in other positions of public trust. Fraternally he is identified with Helion Lodge, No. 36, A. F. & A. M., which he joined in 1900. He was reared in the faith of the Methodist church. In the community where his entire life has been spent he is widely and favorably known, his genuine personal worth having gained him a host of warm friends.
G. A. OTTO SCHMIDT.
G. A. Otto Schmidt was in his day one of the prominent men of Preston and vicinity. He was a German by nativity, his birth having occurred March 12, 1829, in Zanzig, in the province of Pomerania in Prussia. He was the son of Frederick Wilhelm Schmidt and the grandson of Gottfried Schmidt, both of whom followed the honorable profession of teaching. His mother was Henri- etta C. Glenwitz and to make complete the pedagogical stock from which he springs, her father was also a teacher.
Mr. Schmidt received his early education in the common schools, supple- menting this with some higher training. He resided under the parental roof until the attainment of his sixteenth year, when he began his apprenticeship to a blacksmith, serving in the shop for three years, and then working for one year as a journeyman. He next entered the German army, his military career lasting for three years, and had the distinction to become a member of the Blücher regiment. After his army service, Mr. Schmidt went to Berlin and for three years worked at his trade in the capital city. A desire to seek his fortunes beyond the Atlantic had taken root in his brain and in the summer of 1854 he came to America and located in Stuyvesant, New York. There he lived for three years, working at his trade, and then went to Hudson, New York, where he lived for another 'ten months. In 1857 he decided to avail himself of the wider opportuni- ties of the west and came on to Iowa, taking up his abode at Van Buren, and establishing the second blacksmith shop in the town. Later he removed to the country and engaged for a time in general farming and stock raising. In 1870 he removed to Van Buren and for eleven years engaged in general merchandising. In 1881 he gave this up in turn and followed agricultural pursuits exclusively until his death occurred May 21, 1905.
Mr. Schmidt's marriage to Miss Sophia Pagels, daughter of John and Maria (Klinckman) Pagels, was celebrated on March II, 1860. Mrs. Schmidt was born in the province of Mecklenburg, her father coming to America with his family and settling in Jackson county in 1855. Both father and mother lived here for something like thirty years, the former dying September 27, 1888, the latter having preceded him to a happier land, February 9, 1883. Twelve children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Schmidt: Frank is a citizen of Kensett, Iowa; August resides upon the old homestead; Minnie is the wife of Charles Finch, of Ellsworth, Minnesota; Otto B. lives in Benton county, Iowa; George W. resides in Davenport; Augusta is the wife of Fred King, of Preston; Charlotte, who
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married Dr. S. B. Toney, is located in Mandan, North Dakota; Hugo lives in Davenport ; Lula makes her home with her mother in Preston; and three are deceased.
Mr. Schmidt was a thirty-second degree mason and a worthy exponent of this world-wide organization. He was a member of De Molay Consistory of Lyons, Jowa, and a Knight Templar, belonging to Tancred Commandery, No. 40, at Maquoketa. A man who took a keen and intelligent interest in public matters, he held several offices aside from his regular calling. At the time of the organization of the German Savings Bank of Preston he was elected president and served as such for thirteen years until the time of his death. He was at one time vice president of the Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Preston ; was one of the county board of supervisors in 1874; and was treasurer and director of his school district. Politically he was a tried and true republican. His wife and her family are Congregationalists. A man of sound principles and good judgment, who accomplished more than can well be told in the substantial building up of the community, he is still missed in many circles and holds a warm place in the memory of all who knew him.
· H. J. LEHMKUHL.
H. J. Lehmkuhl, one of Jackson county's native sons, is numbered among the younger residents of Fairfield township who are devoting their entire time and energies to agricultural pursuits and in the cultivation of the soil are meeting with marked success. He was born on the 5th of February, 1879, and, as the name indicates, is of German lineage, his parents being Henry and Caroline Lehmkuhl, natives of Germany, extended mention of whom is made on another page of this volume.
Reared amid the scenes and environment of farm life, H. J. Lehmkuhl attended the district schools in the acquirement of an education, and in the work of the fields gained practical experience concerning the best methods of plowing, planting and harvesting. He remained on the home farm, giving his father the benefit of his assistance, until he attained man's estate, when he established a home of his own by his marriage to Miss Anna Pankow, who was born in Jack- son county on the 28th of January, 1880, and is one of a family of nine children born to William and Dora (Henne) Pankow. The father is now deceased, while the mother, who still survives, makes her home at Spragueville, Iowa. After their marriage the young couple began their domestic life on a farm of eighty acres purchased by Mr. Lehmkuhl, where they remained for three years, on the expiration of which period he sold that tract and invested in his present prop- erty of one hundred and forty-five acres in Fairfield township. On that farm he has since continued- to engage in general agricultural pursuits, bringing his fields under a high state of cultivation, and in connection with tilling the soil he makes a specialty of dairying, this branch of his business proving most success- ful and remunerative. His business interests are wisely and carefully managed, he is painstaking and systematic in his methods and everything about his place
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indicates that he is in touch with the modern spirit of progress which is mani- fest in agricultural lines.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Lehmkuhl have been born four children, Ernest F., Adolph W., Dora C. and Rudulph, all of whom are still under the parental roof, the family circle remaining unbroken by the hand of death. The parents are members of the Lutheran church, in the work of which they are deeply inter- ested, while in politics Mr. Lehmkuhl gives stalwart allegiance to the democratic party, although the honors and emoluments of office have no attraction for him. He prefers rather to concentrate his entire attention upon the conduct of his business affairs, his careful supervision of which has already brought him a grat- ifying measure of success which augurs well for a bright future.
HON. FRED W. MYATT.
On the pages of Maquoketa's history there stands out in prominent relief the name of Fred W. Myatt, who with an excellent professional equipment entered upon the practice of law here in the spring of 1896 and has since made steady advancement not only in his chosen field of labor but also in popular regard, for by the consensus of public opinion he is accounted one of the leading and representative men of the county. A native son of Iowa, Mr. Myatt was born in Clinton county, July 24, 1867. His parents, Simon and Louise (Shepherd) Myatt, were both natives of Birmingham, England, where they remained until after their marriage, sailing for the new world about 1866. They established their home in Clinton county, Iowa, where they remained for three or four years. and then came to Maquoketa, Jackson county, where the death of the father oc- curred in 1872, when his son Fred was but five years of age. The mother still survives and makes her home with her son Walter H. Myatt, who is living in South Fork township, Jackson county. Following her husband's death, however, she returned to England with her two sons, but was not satisfied to remain in that country for she had come to know of the broader business opportunities of the new world, where advancement is more quickly secured, and after two years spent in England she again came to the United States. Locating in Iowa, she has since lived in Clinton and Jackson counties.
Fred W. Myatt, carefully reared by his mother, spent his youth on the home farm and supplemented his early education by study in the Maquoketa high school and in the Northern Illinois College at Fulton, Illinois. Later he was matriculated in the Iowa State University and there, qualifying for a professional career, was graduated from the law department in the spring of 1896. Previous to entering the university he had read law under the direction of the Hon. G. L. Johnson, of Maquoketa, for two years. Following his admission to the bar, on the 13th of May, 1896, he opened an office in Maquoketa, where he practiced independently until the spring of 1905, when he entered into his present law partnership with Samuel D. Heide under the firm style of Myatt & Heide. In this field of endeavor there is demanded a most careful preparation, together with thorough apprecia- tion of the absolute ethics of life and of the underlying principles which form the
F. W. MYATT
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basis of all human rights and privileges. Mr. Myatt was a thorough student of law and a close examiner. His activities have also extended to political office and since 1899 he has served as referee in bankruptcy for Jackson county. In the spring of 1909 he received the republican nomination for the mayoralty and at the ensuing election received the endorsement of popular suffrage so that he is now the chief executive officer of the city.
In 1899 Mr. Myatt was married to Miss Gertrude Cooper, of Maquoketa, a daughter of George Cooper, who is now living retired in this city. Mrs. Myatt died in 1903, leaving a son, Frederick Paul. Mr. Myatt belongs to the Knights of Pythias and the Dramatic Order of the Knights of Khorassan. Well known and influential, his labors have constituted a potent element in development and progress here and in the practice of law he has gained distinction which comes only in recognition of superior ability.
M. A. ARAAH.
To see M. A. Araah on his farm in Monmouth township, conversing quietly upon some matter of local interest or of general importance, one would hardly realize that this son of sunny Italy has had experiences such as fall to the lot of few men. He has traveled extensively through Europe and Asia, has labored in missionary fields in foreign lands, passed through the Chicago fire with disas- trous and heavy losses and in the field of business has retrieved his possessions. His life, eventful and varied as it has been, has served to broaden his views, to give to him a clear and correct understanding of human nature and the destiny of the race, and no more interesting companion is found in all Jackson county than the subject of this review. Born within forty-six miles of Rome, the Eternal city, on the 18th of February, 1842, M. A. Araah was a son of David Nelson and Mary Araah. The father, also a native of Italy, came to the United States when his son was nine years of age and established his home in New York city, where he resided for five years, when death claimed him.
M. A. Araah was then a youth of fourteen. The others of the family all died of black fever and he was left alone. He came of an old family intimately con- nected with Garibaldi and his interests and in his nature seems to have gathered all of the strong and sterling traits of his ancestry. He remained in the eastern metropolis until he attained his majority and while there was engaged in business as an architect, contractor and builder. When twenty-one years of age he left New York for Chicago, where he continued in the same line of work until 1876, when he removed to Oxford Junction, Jones county, Iowa. There he remained until about six years ago and during that period conducted a photographic gal- lery and furniture and undertaking business. He also did some contracting and building in connection with his other interests, sometimes employing from forty to fifty men in that line. His removal to Jackson county was occasioned by his desire to retire from that line of work but many of his old patrons and those who know of his excellent work still solicit his services. He possesses expert mechan- ical ability and ingenuity and it seems impossible for him to retire from the
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contracting business, so extensive are the demands made for his services because of the originality and attractiveness of his designs and excellence of workman- ship which he supervises.
Mr. Araah seems gifted by nature in many ways and has made excellent use of his talents. He possesses much natural musical ability, which he has culti- vated. He is, moreover, a man of broad general knowledge and culture. He has traveled extensively on the eastern continent, visiting various European and Asiatic countries. He spent two and a half years in Palestine and three years in Africa and speaks with authority on many questions of general interest concern- ing those and other lands. He now makes his home on a farm of sixty-two and a half acres of land in Monmouth township, Jackson county. This was a timber tract, which he has cleared and developed, erecting upon it good buildings. In addition to his farming interests he is a stockholder and director in the Mon- mouth Bank. At times he has met with reverses, losing seventy-five thousand dollars in the Chicago fire, but his ability has enabled him to retrieve his lost possessions. His home is a notably beautiful one, all finished with hand carved work and nearly all of the furniture is hand carved, while the walls are decorated with beautiful paintings, pastels and drawings which he has executed. Every- where you turn, everywhere you look, you see evidences of his skill and ability. He is a master hand at almost anything he undertakes-a man in whose vocabu- lary the word failure does not appear. He has been successful in almost every- thing which he has attempted and this without any classical or special training. The temperament and different traits of his ancestors seem concentered in him and all attempting to materialize in tangible form in one short lifetime.
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