History of Johnson County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, and its townships, cities and villages from 1836 to 1882, Part 103

Author: Johnson Co., Ia. History. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Iowa City, Iowa.
Number of Pages: 980

USA > Iowa > Johnson County > History of Johnson County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, and its townships, cities and villages from 1836 to 1882 > Part 103

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L. D. PORCH, a blacksmith in Iowa City; was born Feb. 3, 1845, in Knox county, Ohio. Settled in Iowa City Oct. 28, 1870. Opened his present blacksmith shop, wagon and carriage and repair factory in 1877, on the corner of College and Capitol streets. He is doing a fine business; making the repair of farm machinery and plows a specialty. He has a fine steam engine of eight horse power, in a fine brick building. He was married July 3, 1867, to Miss Samantha M. Wells, of Fredricktown, Knox

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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.

county, Ohio. They have one child Lloyd, age 12 years. He is a mem- ber of the Masonic and Odd Fellows Lodges of Iowa City, and of the A. O. U. W. A republican in politics. He was marshal one year of Iowa City in 1876.

D. A. PRATT, post-office Solon; was born in Kennebec county, Maine, August 22, 1824, where he spent his early life until twelve years of age, when his father, Cotton T. Pratt, moved to Ohio, near Cleveland, where they lived four years; they then emigrated to Johuson county, Iowa, and . settled in section 31, Cedar township, in 1840, where they entered land. Mr. C. T. Pratt dying Feb. 12, 1840, one week after they landed here. Mrs. Fannie Pratt was left with five children, of which the subject of this sketch was the oldest, and he has since lived here, with the exception of from 1844 to 1848, he was in Wisconsin. He now owns 123 acres of land besides town property, and is also engaged in the lumber trade. He was married February, 1848, to Miss Rachel M. McCormick, a native of Clinton county, Ohio. They had seven children, six now living, viz: Fannie E., now Mrs. Kissler, Olla R., now Mrs. Templeman, Mary, now Mrs Bush, Annie M., now Mrs. Connelly, Adda L., now Mrs. Rogers and Charles A.

W. T. PRATT, merchant, Solon; was born in this town August 23, 1859. He is a son of Charles and Annie Pratt, of this township. He attended the academy and commercial college at Iowa City, and in the fall of 1879 he commenced business in the drug trade in Solon, and now owns a fine stock of hardware and drugs, and also owns a dry goods and mil- linery store in Solon. He is a young man of fine business qualities, and is doing a flourishing business. He was married December 2, 1878, to Miss Anabel L. Jolly. a native of Indiana. They have one daughter, Hortense B.

CHARLES PRATT, farmer and stock-raiser, Solon; was born in Maine, February 23, 1823. At the age of eight his father, Cotton T. Pratt, moved to Cuyahoga county, Ohio, and lived near Cleveland four years, and in January, 1840, emigrated to Iowa. and settled in section 31, Cedar township, Mr. Pratt dying about one week after they came here. Here the subject of this sketch spent his early life, and in the spring of 1849 went to California with a company from this county, and remained there until 1853, and was engaged in mining and farming. He then returned to Johnson county, and attended school in Mt. Vernon, and afterwards engaged in the mercantile business one year in Marshalltown, and six years in Solon. He then bought the farm he now lives on, in 1862, where he now owns 532 acres of well-improved land, and has a fine brick resi- dence, and pays special attention to the raising of fine stock, and is one of the leading wool-growers of the county. He was married October 19, 1858 to Miss Annie M. True, a native of Maine, and came to Iowa in

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1857. They have four children, viz: Wm. T., Melville E., Lula A., and an infant unnamed.

JACOB F. PRICE, machinist, post-office, North Liberty; was born Aug. 17, 1847, in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, two miles from Bedford. He is the son of Valentine and Catharine Price. At the age of fourteen, Jacob worked eight months at blacksmithing and then went to work in a machine shop. In 1846 he enlisted in the Fifty-sixth Pennsylvania Regi- ment, under Colonel Jackson, was engaged in the battles of Hatters Run, Virginia, and Five Forks. Got his ankle put out of place at Pittsburg and was sent to Washington hospital. He saw President Lincoln, after he was shot, and helped guard a doctor who was charged with complicity in his murder. He was discharged in 1865. Aug. 1, 1866, he came to lowa and settled in Johnson county. Dec. 25, 1867, he was married to Miss Sarah Lentz of this county. They have five children: Emma E., Robert K., Annie M., Arthur M. and Nellie B. Mr. Price has followed threshing every season but one since he came to Iowa, and then he was engaged in making molasses. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. A democrat in politics.

A. O. PRICE, a resident of Scott township, post-office Iowa City; lives on section twenty-one, occupation, farming; was born Sept. 18, 1836, in the State of New York. Settled in Johnson county in 1868. He was first married in Michigan in 1869. Two children by his first wife, both dead and his wife died two years after their marriage. He married for his second wife Miss Hardsock of Johnson county, Iowa, in 1873. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church of Iowa City, and is a republican in politics. He has held the office of town clerk for eight years, never having any opposition in the republican party.

RICHARD W. PRYCE, M. D. The subject of this sketch was during his life time a practicing physician and surgeon in Iowa City and a partner of Dr. Shrader. He was born May 5, 1843, died Feb. 3, 1877, in Denver, Colorado, of consumption. He served two years in the Federal army. He studied medicine and graduated from Jefferson Col- lege, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in March, 1868. Came to Iowa City and engaged in the practice the fall of the same year. He was a member of Lodge No. 4, A. F. and A. M. of Iowa City. He was eminently suc- cessful in his profession and always ready without respect of person, to minister at the bed-side of the sick and dying.

CAPT. S. D. PRYCE, a resident of Iowa City, and a merchant doing business on the corner of Washington and Dubuque streets; came to Iowa City from Cambria county, Pennsylvania, in 1861, and at the time of the breaking out of the war was a student in the State University. He enlisted as a private June 27, 1862, in company A, Twenty-second regi- ment Iowa volunteer infantry, at nineteen years of age. He was pro-

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moted from private to sergeant-major on the battle field at Port Gibson, from sergeant-major to adjutant of the Twenty-second regiment. January 14, 1864, and to captain of company A, Twenty-second regiment October 1, 1864, on staff duty as adjutant-general of the first brigade, third divi- sion, ninteenth army corps, with General Molineaux of New York. Cap- tain Pryce was the youngest officer on staft duty in the volunteer service. His rapid promotion from private to the most responsible position of adjutant of a brigade is evidence of the high esteem in which he was held by his brother officers, and the confidence they reposed in him. He is a republican in politics; has been twice nominated by his party as their can- didate for representative, and both times declined the nomination. He was elected county superintendent by an almost unanimous vote of both parties; resigned the office and accepted a position in Bryant & Stratton's College of Chicago, Illinois. He is not an office seeker, but always takes a lively interest in all questions concerning the policy and welfare of his party. He possesses a cultivated literary mind, and has had a vast exper- ience as a writer, and at one time was connected with the Iowa City Republican. He is a member of the Masonic bodies of Iowa City, and other benevolent societies. He began business in 1876 in partnership with W. J. Schell in the hardware and farm machinery trade. The firm is recognized as one of the most successful and prosperous in Iowa City.

FRANK J. PUDIL, a blacksmith residing in Shueyville, post-office Shueyville; was born April 24, 1855, in Bohemia, Austria; came to America in the fall of 1861, and settled in Jefferson township the same year. He was married February 24, 1879, to Miss Mary Chadiena, of Fairfax township in Linn county. They have two children, Mary and Willie. Mr. Pudil is a democrat in politics. He was elected justice of the peace in 1880. Voted against the prohibitory constitutional amendment. He is a member of the literary society, a reading club at Western. He is a hard-working, industrious, honest, and upright citizen, doing a splendid business at his trade.

BENJAMIN PRICE, a dentist residing in Iowa City, doing business on Clinton street; was born February 28, 1844, in Barnsville, Belmont county, Ohio. He settled in Iowa in 1868, at Wilton Junction, and began the practice of dentistry, and came to Iowa City in 1871. He was mar- ried October 12, 1869, to Miss P. Milnes, of Springdale, Cedar county, Iowa. They have four children: Stella H., Louis R. George M., and Ralph. A member of the Congregational Church of Iowa City; a mem- ber of the Masonic bodies of Iowa City; a republican in politics.

REV. JAMES QUINN, the present pastor of the Catholic Church at Windham; was born in county Kilkenny, Ireland, March 2, 1851. He first went to a county school, and at the age of sixteen to the Christian Brothers at Waterford. After being there two years, studying the lower branches, with

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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.

some Latin, he went to St. Kerran's College, Kilkenny, where he remained six years, studying the classics, logic, and physics. At this time he made up his mind to go on a foreign mission, and returned to Waterford to complete his theological studies. He remained there three years at St. John's College, and was ordained priest in the cathedral of that place by the Right Rev. Bishop Power, on the 20th of June, 1878. After his ordination he remained with his parents four months, and then came to America in October, 1878. He arrived in Dubuque in November, and after a short stay there was appointed assistant priest at Des Moines, where he spent two years and five monts, and was appointed by Father Brazil, pastor of Windham, April 1, 1881.

F. W. RABENAU, a resident of Iowa City, engaged in buying grain and selling agricultural implements; was born in February, 1818, in Armstadt, Germany; came to America in 1840, landed in New York city, and finally settled in Iowa in 1849, in Linn county, at Lisbon; kept store there twenty-five years, bought grain and all kind of farm products, and bought stock; he moved into Johnson county on his farm near Solon, in 1872, and lived there three years, and moved to Iowa City; he bought an interest in the oat meal mill at Coralville, and his business is to buy oats for that mill. He was married in 1851 to Miss Agnes Stoltz, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. This union is blessed with nine children, seven boys and two girls: William F., John W., Frank W., George W., Charles, Edward, Samuel, Maria, and Ella. A democrat in politics, and is at present one of the trustee of Iowa City township.

CYRUS S. RANK, a practicing attorney of Iowa City; was born March 31, 1845, in Union county, Pennsylvania; settled in Iowa City July 9, 1872. He was admitted to the bar in Iowa City in June, 1871, gradu- ated in the law department, and commenced the practice here in 1874. He was married January 1, 1873, to Miss Lillie V. Jack, of Iowa City. This union is blessed with two children: Elouise and Lucile. A demo- crat in politics; he was elected city attorney in 1880, and re-elected in 1882; he was chairman of the democratic county central committee, and the vote of Johnson county of 1882, attests how well he performed his duties to his party. His legal ability is recognized by the profession, and is considered a very successful lawyer, and enjoys the confidence of his clients.

JOSEPH RAYNER, farmer, post-office, River Junction; was born in Yorkshire, England, January, 1812, where he spent his early life until 1852; he came to America and stopped one winter at Altoona, Pennsyl- vania; then came to Iowa and settled in Johnson county, where he he has since lived, and followed farming, and buying and shipping stock; he owns 240 acres of land. He was married in England to Elizabeth Raw, who is still living. They have five children, viz .: Joseph, Eliza-

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beth, now Mrs. J. D. Musser; William, Frank, and George. Mr. Rayner is a member of the Reform Church at Lone Tree.

WESLEY REDHEAD, was born in Penrith, Northumberland county, England, July 22, 1825. He emigrated with his parents from there in 1829; landing in Montreal, Canada, where his father started a dry goods store (having followed the same business in the old country). He con- tinued in business two years, and until the cholera of 1831-'2, which was very fatal in that country. The mother was first stricken and died in four hours after the attack. The father survived the " good wife " but two weeks, when God called him. His death was by brain fever; the family left was one girl and six boys, of which Wesley was next to the youngest, being at that time six years old. He was taken, together with a brother next older, by an uncle to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he lived until fourteen years of age, going to school a small portion of the time and working as devil in a printing office the remainder. He was one of the first news boys now so common in our large cities. In 1839 his uncle, thinking he was, as the saying is, going to the devil by acting the devil in a printing office, so he sent him to live with the oldest brother who was then carrying on the cabinet making business in East Fairfield, a small town in the northern part of Vermont. In going there the route was via Ohio river to Portsmouth, Ohio, then by the Ohio canal to Cleveland, thence by the lake to Buffalo, thence by canal to Whitehall, thence lake Champlain to St. Albans, thence by stage twelve miles to East Fairfield. It took three weeks to make the trip. Now it could be made in as many days. Wesley lived with his brother four months and could not stand it any longer, so he ran away. His entire capital consisted of five cents in cash and a very common suit of clothes. He walked to St. Albans and managed to work his way to Whitehall, where he hired out to drive horses on the canal. Any one acquainted with the section he ran away from could not possibly blame him, for it was certainly at that time the most God forsaken country on the face of the earth. After working on the canal during that season he hired out to a farmer in Washington county, New York, for his board and clothes and a three months school- ing during the winter and so worked for two years, when he went to Saratoga Springs and got an engagement as dipper boy at the Congress Springs-staying there two seasons. He laid up a little money and returned to Cincinnati, his friends not having heard from him for five years, they scarcely recognized him. He then hired out as cabin boy on a steam- boat bound for the upper Mississippi. When he arrived at Bloomington, (now Muscatine) in September, 1844, having a brother living at Iowa City, he concluded to go there and see him, so in company with others they hired a hack and arriving at Iowa City late at night, he stopped at Swan's Hotel. Just before starting from Bloomington, to accommodate a

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stranger he changed a three dollar bill for him, and upon arriving at Iowa City he gave it to the driver for his fare. After getting to sleep the driver came and woke him up saying the bill was a bad one. It was very startling news to him, as he had but very little left, and on counting what he had he found that he had just enough to pay the driver, and for his supper and lodging, and nothing left to pay for his breakfast, so like an honest young man he went without it. He obtained employment in the office of the lowa Capitol Reporter, conducted by Jessie Williams, Esq., who was then territorial printer, at $3.00 per week, agreeing to do the devil work of the office, and set a column a day. The constitution of the State was printed that winter, and he had the honor of giving it its color with the ink roller in the capacity of devil. The next year, 1845, he went to Anamosa, Jones county, to run a carding machine, having had a little experience in that business in the east. While getting along very pros- perously he was taken with the bilious fever; after getting over that he was taken with the fever and ague which was then the curse of a new country. He had to give up his situation. He returned to Iowa City and had the chills for nine months. Not able to do any hard work, in order to support himself, learned the tailoring business, and served three years time, and worked at the trade as jour tailor until the winter of 1851, when he concluded to hunt a location to start in business for himself. He selected Fort Des Moines, where he carried on the business for one year. The business being always distaste- ful to him, at the end of that time he obtained a situation as clerk in a store, where he worked for nearly one year at $25 per month; boarding him- self. He was then appointed postmaster by President Filmore. He was the successor of Hoyt Sherman, Esq., who resigned the office because it did not pay him to keep it. Soon after getting the office he started a very small book store in connection with the office. It was the fourth book store started in the state. His sales at that time,-as his old books show-were an average of about $5 per week. The average sales of the firm of Redhead, Wellslager & Co., of which Wesley is the senior mem- ber, average ebout $600.00 per day-showing that a small begining faith - fully lived up to will continue to grow. He held the office of postmaster for nearly nine years. When he resigned the office, it was one of great profit. He has never suffered himself to remain idle, although he is possessed of sufficient means to live comfortable during his life. He has for the last seven years been giving his personal attention to the business of the Des Moines Coal Company, a business he started for the purpose of developing the interests of Des Moines. He is principal owner, secre- tary and superintendent; also secretary and treasurer of the Black Diamond Coal Company, in Marion county ; director of the Iowa National Bank. He is also carrying on a large farm, and at his beautiful subur- ban home, situated a mile and a half from his business, to occupy his

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leisure time he has engaged in raising fine Berkshire hogs. His herd is said to be the finest in the state. You can see Wesley has not much time to be idle. He does not waste any time in litigation, never having been sued and never suing any one. He has been married twice, the first time in October, 1851, to Miss Isabel Clark, of Iowa City, a sister of Hon. Ezekiel Clark, and a sister of the wives of Ex-Governor Kirkwood, Edward Lucas, I. E. Jewett and Wm. Rutton of Iowa City, as noble a family of women as was ever raised in the old Buckeye state-they being born and raised near Mansfield, Ohio. He lived in uninterrupted happi- ness with his chosen helpmate for seven years, which were the happiest of his life, when God called her to a higher and better life; no children blessed this union. In 1860 he led to the altar Miss Annie Seymour, who was raised in Kentucky, she being a ward of Judge McHenry, and came to Des Moines in 1857. They have living five children-three boys and two girls and one girl, their first, in heaven. Theirs is a very happy family, not having any of the discord so common in many families of our land. The parents both being orphans, they have adopted Mrs. Burges for their mother who lives with them and has all the rights and privileges their own mother, could possibly have under any circumstances.

We have written this sketch a great deal longer than most of the sketches in this history, for the reason that it affords a good model for young men, and is rather a remarkable life. It gives a life lesson to boys starting without any of the advantages that most have, and has been suc- cessful from his own merits alone, and any young man with fixed pur- doses of honesty, industry and frugality, which is far better to start with than a capital of greenbacks, can make his way in the world as well as the subject of this sketch and arrive at competence and respectability.

J. A. REDFIELD, Jr., post-office, Oxford; was born in Adrian, Michigan, September 22, 1856. The fall of 1868 moved to Toledo, Ohio, where he clerked for several years, and in 1877 attended College in Toledo, and the fall of 1877 came to Oxford, and opened a store in what is known as the Wagner building, under the firm name of J. A. Redfield & Co., and in November, 1878, moved in a new brick built by Mrs. H. Kennedy, and continued in business until the night of January 16, 1879, when the building and contents were destroyed by fire; he having about $12,000 of a stock; insured for $8,100; since then he has been engaged as clerk in Oxford stores. The spring of 1881 he bought the stock of Moffet & O'Brien for A. P. Robert, and clerked for him about one year, and in May went to Shelby, Iowa, in the mercantile business.

JACOB REES, a resident of Iowa City, on the old Dubuque road, at the wine garden; was born March 5, 1816, at Wittemberg, Germany; came to America in 1852, and settled in Johnson county, April, 1854. He began grape culture in 1862, and had the first grapes raised in Johnson county, got his first plants from Hungary, called the "White Hungarian

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grape," a medium size grape, the shape of a bird's egg; he got grapes the next year after he set out his plants; he renewed his dying vines with the Concord; he began making wine in 1865; he has about two acres of a vineyard. Mr. Rees was married May 10, 1842, to Miss Agatha Steple, of Wittemberg. This union is blessed with one child: Frank, born February 7, 1859. He accidentalty shot himself in June, 1882, but the result is not serious, not being in any way crippled. Mr. Rees was in the German army in the war against Russia, in 1841; he was wounded in the battle of Grimm; he was first lieutenant in the third company of the Fifth Regular Infantry, and served seven years; he was wounded in the left knee, and slightly in the right shoulder. He was by trade a clock and organ maker. The family are members of the St. Mary's Catholic Church of Iowa City. He is a democrat in politics.

PATRICK REGAN, a resident of Iowa City, having just retired from his farm in Lincoln township, Johnson county, in order to give his children the advantages of the school facilities of Iowa City; was born March 17, 1816, in County Cork, Ireland; came to America in 1843, landed at Quebec. He settled in New York State and lived there until 1865; in the spring he settled in Lincoln township, Johnson county, Iowa. He was married in November, 1848, to Miss Mary E. Berry, in Rochester, New York; she was a native of Ireland. This union is blessed with six boys and three girls: John, Charles, Richard, Patrick, Philip and Corne- lius; Margaret, wife of James Hanlet, of Green county, Iowa; Mary and Ella. The family are members of the St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church of Iowa City. He is a democrat in politics. Has served as member of the school board in Lincoln township.

CHARLES M. RENO, a resident of Iowa City; born June 1, 1846, in Iowa City. He is now engaged in the coal trade, office on Washing- ton street, near B. C. R. & N. R. R. freight depot, established June 1, 1882. He was county treasurer two terms, ending January 1, 1882. He resigned the office of city treasurer in 1877 to accept the office of county treasurer. He was elected city treasurer in April, 1877. He was a mem- ber of the city council prior to being elected city treasurer. He was secretary of the city school board prior to being elected to the city coun- cil. His father, Morgan Reno, was the first State Treasurer of Iowa. His father came to Iowa City in 1839, and engaged in the banking busi- ness in Iowa City, and died here July 9, 1869. His widow and two chil- dren, Charles and a daughter, are still living in the city. Charles M. Reno was married November 1, 1870, to Miss Hattie A. Hartman of Milan, Ills. They have four children, Morgan C., Sanford H., Abigail and Margaret. He is a democrat in politics, a member of the A. O. U. W. and Legion of Honor. He was engaged in merchandising for nine years before being elected county treasurer, in what was called China Hall on Washington street, Iowa City, selling China, crockery and glass ware,

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and he is now engaged selling the Star Company coal from What Cheer, and hard coal, and doing a good business.

MILTON REMLEY, was born October 12, 1844, in Greenbrier county, Virginia; settled in Johnson county, Iowa, in November, 1855, graduated at the State University in June, 1867. Read law under C. R. Scott of Anamosa, and was admitted to practice at the Johnson county bar in May, 1868, and practiced at Anamosa four years. He begun the practice in Iowa City in 1874; was a member of the city council in Ana- mosa; was nominated for district attorney by the republicans in the eighth judicial district. He was married September 8, 1868, to Miss Josephine Dennis, of Tiffin, Iowa. They have three children: Hubert, Jessie A. and George E. He is a member of the Baptist Church of Iowa City, a member of the A. O. U. W., Legions of Honor, Royal Arcanum and the Odd Fellows of Iowa City.

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History of Johnson County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, and its townships, cities and villages from 1836 to 1882, Part 103

Author: Johnson Co., Ia. History. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Iowa City, Iowa. Number of Pages: 980

Author: Johnson Co., Ia. History. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Iowa City, Iowa.
Number of Pages: 980