History of Linn County Iowa : from its earliest settlement to the present time, Volume II, Part 34

Author: Brewer, Luther Albertus, 1858-1933; Wick, Barthinius Larson, 1864-
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Chicago : Pioneer Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 896

USA > Iowa > Linn County > History of Linn County Iowa : from its earliest settlement to the present time, Volume II > Part 34

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itable manner for the second term and is justly accounted one of the foremost representatives of the Linn county bar.

Mr. Haas belongs to Trojan Lodge, No. 268, A. F. & A. M., to Mariola Lodge, No. 8, K. P., of which he is past chancellor, while in 1907 he was a member of the judiciary committee of the grand lodge. IIe also holds membership with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and is a past noble grand. His life has been characterized by steady progress along lines demanding keen intellectuality, and in the practice of law he displays careful analysis, elear reasoning and sound logic, whereby he has won many notable verdicts.

FRANK KILBORN

From the stories of successful lives such as are found in these pages many a youth who could not be influenced by mere precept will be inspired with lofty ambitions. A successful life is never an accident; it results from obedience to natural laws, and to win success, therefore, one needs only to know and apply these laws. Emerson said, "biography is history teaching by examples," and as an instructive example we present the following outline of the career of William Franklin Kilborn, founder and manager of the Kilborn Photo-Paper Company of Cedar Rapids. It shows that achievement in material things is not incompatible with the building of a noble Christian character, without which there can be no real success. The history of the Kilborn family has been traeed through hundreds of years, being found in English records as early as 1070, at which time the family was already "seated" at Kilborn, in Yorkshire. The motto which appears on the family coat of arms is Vincit Veritas. The occasion of the grant of arms to this family is not known, but history states: "This pedigree being authentically proved, is entered in the Visitation of London, A. D. 1634 .- Hon. St. George Richmond."

The name Kilborn is now spelled in many ways, hut the common ancestor of all the Kilborns on the western continent was Thomas Kilborne. He was born in the parish of Wood Ditton, in the county of Cambridge, in 1758, where he was baptized on May 8th of that year. Unlike most of the carly colonists, he was a member of the Church of England, serving as warden of his native parish in 1632. On April 15, 1635, he with his wife, Frances, and five of their eight children embarked at London for New England in the ship "Inerease." The family settled in Weth- ersfield, Connecticut, where Thomas Kilborn, Sr., died prior to 1639, and his widow died in 1650 at the age of sixty-five years.

Their youngest son, John, who was the "whole and sole executor" of his mother's will was baptized at Wood Ditton on September 29, 1624, and was, therefore, a lad of ten when he came to America with his parents. He was "col- lector of the tax rates" for the town of Wethersfield in 1647 and is recorded as a landholder in 1649. In May, 1657, he was confirmed by the general court "to be sergeant at Wethersfield," and from that time was generally referred to in the town records as "Sergeant Kilbourn." At the October session of the general court, 1660, Sergeant Kilbourn took his seat for the first time as a representative from Wethersfield. He served at seven sessions during a most important period of our colonial history. He was a member of the colonial grand jury from 1662 until 1666. He also often served as a grand juror of Hartford county, and ju May, 1677, was on the "jury of life and death," at Hartford. In town affairs Sergeant Kilbourn was conspicuous for nearly forty years. Besides being a collector, lister and constable, he was selectman from 1657 to 1681, inelusive.

Sergeant Kilbourn was married twice, his second wife being Sarah, daughter of John Bronson, of Farmington. He died April 9, 1703, and his widow passed

FRANK KILBORN

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away December 4, 1711, "aged seventy years, or something more," as the record has it.

The next in the line of our subject's progenitors was Joseph, next to the young- est of Sergeant Kilbourn's children. He was born about 1672 in Wethersfield. On June 4, 1696, he married for his first wife, Dorothy, daughter of Deacon Samuel Butler. She died August 19, 1709, leaving four children. Joseph Kil- bourn was one of the first settlers of Litchfield, Connecticut, of which town he was admitted an inhabitant on December 12, 1721. The next year lie was chosen a selectman. He also served as lister, moderator of town meetings and sealer of weights and measures. He owned considerable land and apparently was pros- perous. His home lot was the site afterward known as the "county house cor- ner," and here were afterward born Mrs. Harriet Beecher Stowe, Rev. Henry Ward Beecher and other members of Dr. Beecher's family, and on this corner also resided many men famous in military and political life. Joseph Kilbourn's will was proved before the court in 1744, which renders it probable that he died in that year.

Captain Joseph Kilbourn, his son, was born in Wethersfield, July 9, 1700, and moved to Litchfield with his parents in 1721. He was frequently elected sur- veyor, lister, grand juror and collector and was chosen selectman in 1740, 1750 and 1752. In May, 1750, he was commissioned by Governor Law as captain of the first military company of Litchfield. He was a representative in the Connecticut legislature in 1752 and 1753. He served on a number of committees and was prominent in connection with nearly all matters of public moment in his com- munity. Captain Kilbourn was one of the founders of the Episcopal church and society in Litchfield, in 1745 and was a liberal benefactor of the parish.

He married Abigail Stockwell on November 12, 1723. She died May 20, 1748. Lieutenant Benjamin Kilbourn was the second child by the last-named marriage. He was born in Litchfield, April 4, 1728. He was estecmed as a man of integrity and sound judgment, and was much employed in settling estates. In May, 1769, he was commissioned as lieutenant of the first military company in Litchfield. Soon after the Revolution broke out he lost his commission, owing to the freedom and severity with which he spoke regarding what he considered the "rebellion." Notwithstanding his steadfast adherence to the cause of the king, none were more liberal or humane to those who were suffering in the cause of their country. He resided in Litchfield until some years after the war, when he re- moved with most of his family to Elizabethtown, near Brockville, Upper Canada - being determined, as he said, to "lay his bones on King George's soil." Here he died in 1810. He married for his second wife, Lucy Bishop, on March 20, 1757.

The next in line was David Kilbourn, who was born in Litchfield, February, 1767. He married Hannah, daughter of Joseph White, a New Hampshire loyal- ist, and settled on the Canadian side of the St. Lawrence, a few miles below Brockville.

Though residing in the king's dominion, he was a republican at heart, and in the war of 1812 he engaged in the secret service of the United States, under the direction of General Wilkinson. In consequence of this his entire estate in Can- ada was confiscated by the British government. He was imprisoned, treated harshly and it was proposed to put him to death. He made his escape, but was re-arrested, imprisoned and threatened a second time with death, which would inevitably have been his portion had he not once more escaped. He reached General Wilkinson's camp, where he was provided with money and sent to the quartermaster at Sackett's Harbor. Here he was employed until ill health com- pelled him to give up his position. His services were afterward acknowledged by congress, and appropriations were made to reward him for his services and par- tially to reimburse him for his losses. For some years prior to his death in 1847 he resided at Scriba, near Oswego, New York.

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Whiting was next to the oldest of the ten children born to David and Hannah Kilbourn. In 1816, he removed from Leeds county, Canada, West, where he was born, and settled in Gore district, about Lake Ontario. His active life was spent in agricultural pursuits. He lived in a frontier region and, possessing the qual- ities and attributes that make the successful pioneer, he was noted for his utter fearlessness of man or beast. He was long a class-leader in the Wesleyan Meth- odist church and his genial disposition and his kindness toward the poor made him a general favorite. He lived to an old age, being probably about eighty at the time of his death, which occurred about 1865 or 1866.

Whiting Kilborn married Polly Wood, by whom he had seven children, of whom our subject's father was the fifth.

David Kilborn was born in Dumfries, Ontario, May 17, 1826. He engaged in farming until about 1856 when he removed to Plattsville, Ontario. Here he con- ducted a successful mercantile business and engaged in the manufacture of soap and candles on a large scale for those days. In 1864 he and his family settled on a farm in Cato township, not far from Grand Rapids, Michigan. Here he lived until 1904, when he retired. From that time until his death, February 5, 1908, lie made his home in Sacramento, where most of his children reside. The death of his wife occurred August 30, 1907.

At the age of twenty-five, David Kilborn married Lavina Bowers, who was born in Berlin, Canada, in May, 1832. Her father was a wealthy landowner and manu- facturer at that place. The following children were the fruit of that union : Oscar Mortimer; our subject, Frank; Julia H., wife of George C. Youngman; Elsie A., wife of A. K. Varney; Mrs. May E. Bawden; and David W. All of these, excepting our subject and his youngest brother, are residents of Sacra- mento, California.

David Kilborn was widely known as a local preacher in the Methodist Episco- pal church, of which he was a leading member. He traveled on horseback all through that part of Michigan where he settled and organized Sunday schools. He not only refused to receive a penny for his labors, but he was a liberal contrib- utor to the church. At his home he entertained the traveling preachers of his own church, and all others that came that way, regardless of crecd.

Frank Kilborn, as the subject of this sketch is generally known, grew up on the home farm, attending school, helping with the work and enjoying the pleasures common to boys in country places. In 1863 he came to Cedar Rapids and began the study of photography in the gallery of his uncle Wilber F. Kilborn. Having artistic talent he was naturally adapted to this work, and by persistent study and application he soon acquired great skill as a photographer. In 1878 he purchased a half-interest in the business, which was conducted under the name of W. F. Kilborn & Company, and in 1886 our subject became sole owner. At that time his gallery was the oldest in Iowa, and Mr. Kilborn's reputation made it one of the art centers of the west. Mr. Kilborn helped to organize the first state association of Iowa photographers and served as its first president.

In the early days when Mr. Kilborn started in business photographers had to sensitize their own plates and papers. Being of a practical turn of mind, our subject believed the time would come when plates and papers would be produced commercially. He studied chemistry, and as a result of extended experiments produced a printing-out paper which has never been excelled, if equalled, by a paper of its class. The Western Collodion Paper Company was organized to manufacture and market this produet which met with instant favor. In 1894 the Eastman Kodak Company purchased the business, and Mr. Kilborn spent a year at Rochester, New York, in establishing the manufacture of his invention.

Upon his return to Cedar Rapids our subject reopened his gallery and also in connection with it had a store for the sale of photo supplies, artists' materials, pictures of all kinds, etc. Mr. Kilborn's interest in the manufacture of photo-

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papers did not abate, however. He had been a pioneer in the manufacture of printing-out papers, but he felt that this method was too slow, and began experi- ments in the manufacture of papers so sensitive that they could be printed with artificial light. Mr. Kilborn was so successful that his paper under the brand, Kruxo, was the second developing paper placed on the market. The Kilborn Photo-Paper Company was organized for the manufacture of Kruxo, and this business is today one of the large industries of Cedar Rapids. The product, while sold principally in the United States and Canada, goes to all parts of the world, giving wide publicity to the place of its manufacture, as "Cedar Rapids, Iowa" appears on every package that leaves the factory.

Mr. Kilborn has ability to see opportunities, and by persistent and intelligent effort with continual personal supervision of every branch of his work, he has been able to achieve signal success in a difficult field of endeavor strewn thick with fail- ures. He is connected with many other business enterprises among which we mention the Logan County Development Company, the Iowa-Colorado Develop- ment Company, of which he is president, and he is also a director of the Commer- cial Savings Bank.

Mr. Kilborn was married at Lancaster, Ohio, September 4, 1884, to Miss Mary Carty, daughter of William J. and Ellen (Carpenter) Carty of that city. Mrs. Kilborn is a lady of culture and refinement and an active worker in the church, social and literary life of Cedar Rapids. They have two children: Mary Ellen, wife of Carl Richard Greer, editor of the Republican and News and secretary of the Chamber of Commerce, of Hamilton, Ohio; and Paul Franklin, born June 17,1897.

In 1908 Avalon, one of the most beautiful homes in Cedar Rapids, was erected by Mr. Kilborn at the corner of Washington avenue and Seventeenth street. Here amid beautiful furnishings, which indicate refined and cultured taste, our subject and his wife entertain their many friends. ·

Mr. Kilborn is one of the leading members of St. Paul's Methodist Episcopal church, of which he is a trustee. He is identified with many of the religious and benevolent institutions of this city. He is a member of the board of directors and chairman of the foreign work committee of the Young Men's Christian Associa- tion. He is chairman of the Laymen's Missionary Movement in Cedar Rapids and director of St. Luke's Hospital. Mr. Kilborn is a pleasing and forceful speaker and is frequently called upon to address meetings in different parts of the state in connection with religious work. He is known as one of the liberal con- tributors to every good cause and work.

ESAR H. BALL

Esar H. Ball, a prominent factor in industrial circles of Cedar Rapids, is associated with his brother Harry in the conduct of the E. H. Ball Company, engaged in electric construction work. His birth occurred in Horsehay, Shrop- shire, England, on the 15th of July, 1869, his parents being .Richard and Han- nah Ball, the former born in England, in 1832. The family consisted of ten sons and two daughters.

Esar H. Ball attended the public schools of Dronfield, England, until ten years of age, and then accompanied his parents on their emigration to the United States, the family home being established in Youngstown, Ohio, where he con- tinued his studies for three years longer. After leaving school he went to Al- liance, Ohio, where he secured a position in the shops of the Morgan Engineering Works but at the end of four months went to Canton, Ohio, where he spent about a year and a half and then returned to Youngstown and entered the

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service of the United States Steel Corporation, having charge of the waslier manufacturing department for a year and a half. He next worked as mechanical engineer in the mills until 1887 and in November of that year went to Pullman, Illinois, where he learned the electrical business as an employe of the Pullman Car Company. In 1889 he severed his connection with that corporation and went to Rockford, Illinois, where he was engaged as electrician with the Rock- ford Electrical Manufacturing Company until 1891. That year witnessed his removal to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where he acted as superintendent of the plant of the Capital Railway & Light Company until 1893. Going to Chicago, he was there associated with George Mayo in the conduct of an electrical en- gineering enterprise until 1894. The following year he spent in the employ of the Standard Electric Company as a tester of dynamos and motors, while sub- seqnently he entered into partnership relations with another man for the con- duct of an electrical construction business. In 1903 he disposed of his interest and went to St. Louis, Missouri, being identified with the electrical construction department at the World's Fair until the fall of 1904. Returning to Chicago, he was there connected with various electrical construction firms until 1905 and then went to Rockford, Illinois, where he engaged in the electrical construction business on his own account and also acted as agent for the Western Electric Company.

In 1908 Mr. Ball came to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and here embarked in business with his brother under the firm style of E. H. Ball Company, which relation has since been maintained with mutual pleasure and profit. Perhaps in no special field is advancement so marked as in that of electricity. An intangible force, the origin of which is little understood, its effects, however, are manifest and in their application to commercial purposes there has been evolved a new era in business development. Mr. Ball has at all times kept in touch with the progress that has been made in the field of practical effort, invention and ex- periment and is now well qualified to render important service in the line of business to which he is directing his energies.

In December, 1905, in Chicago, Mr. Ball was united in marriage to Miss Clara R. Thompson, by whom he has a daughter, Hannah Wheeler, now one year old.

At the polls Mr. Ball casts an independent ballot, always taking into con- sideration the fitness of a candidate rather than his party affiliation. His re- ligions faith is indicated by his membership in the Methodist church, while fra- ternally he is identified with the Knights of Pythias and the Sons of St. George.

AMOS PLUMMER

For forty-four years Amos Plummer has been identified with the interests of Linn county, and he also stands as one of those patriotic citizens who, during the Civil war, made his personal interests a secondary matter and gave his best efforts to his country in defense of the Union cause. Mr. Plummer is a native of Ohio, born March 28, 1839, a son of Abram and Elizabeth Plummer, whose family numbered twelve children, but only three are now living. The father was a native of Ohio and it was in that state that the wife and mother died. In 1858 the father journeyed farther west, locating in Clinton county, Iowa, but later he removed to Linn county, where his death occurred.

Amos Plummer accompanied his father on his varions removals, being a young man of nineteen years when he left his native state for Iowa. In the meantime he had attended the district schools of Ohio and after coming to Iowa he began life on his own account. He worked as a farm hand for a few years

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but at the outbreak of the Civil war he enlisted as a member of the Fourteenth Iowa Infantry but was later transferred to the Seventh Iowa Cavalry. IIis service, covering a period of three years, consisted of fighting the Indians in the Dakotas. He was mustered out at Sioux City, Iowa, subsequent to which time he spent a few years in Cedar county, this state, but in 1867 made a per- manent location in Linn county. He purchased his present farm of one hundred and twenty acres, located in Marion township, and for many years gave his time and attention to its improvement and cultivation but in the years that have come and gone nc has acquired a competency that now enables him to live re- tired, although he retains his residence on the farm, where he can enjoy the freedom and quiet of a rural existence.

In 1867, when Mr. Plummer had purchased his first land and was thus pre- pared to establish a home, he wedded Miss Celestia C. White, who was born in Ohio, in March, 1844, a daughter of William and Sarah White, both of whom are now deceased. Mrs. Plummer is one of six living children and by her marriage she has become the mother of a son and daughter: C. C., who follows farming in Marion township; and Sarah Elizabeth, the wife of Fred Simpson, a resident of Oregon.

The parents are devoted and consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which Mr. Plummer is acting as a steward. During the forty-four years in which they have made their home in this section of Iowa, they have witnessed many changes, as year by year more modern methods of agriculture are followed and the pioneer homes are being replaced with modern structures, and their community has not been slow in keeping pace with this advancement. Mr. Plummer is a man of exemplary habits, strict integrity and has a strong personality. Although he has passed the seventy-first milestone on the journey of life, he still keeps in close touch with the affairs of the world and now in the evening of his days he and his estimable wife can enjoy in retirement the accumu- lations of profitable, successful and honorable careers.

CHARLES E. CALDER

In the years of an active business career Charles E. Calder was well known in Cedar Rapids as a member of the firm of Calder & Garrison, extensive dealers in meat. He was a self-made man and as the architect of his own fortunes builded wisely and well. He was born in Cherry Valley, Otsego county, New York, July 5, 1840, and in 1861 came to Cedar Rapids, being then a young man of twenty-one years. In 1863 he established himself in the butchering business at this point and continued therein for a long period. Whatever he undertook he carried for- ward to successful completion. Ile realized that obstacles and difficulties should never affright the individual but should serve as an impetus for renewed effort and closer application.

In 1862 Mr. Calder was united in marriage to Miss Alcinda A. Roberts, who was born in Cumberland, Maryland, in 1841 and was brought to Cedar Rapids by her parents in 1856. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Calder were born seven children, Mary E., Edith M., Charles A., Ada E., Louis B., Cornelia B., and George A.

At the time of his marriage in 1862 Mr. Calder's possessions consisted only of a team of horses, but gradually advancing in the business world he used his means for real-estate investment and eventually became a large property holder in the city. In matters of judgment he was seldom, if ever, at fault and he thus placed his investments judiciously and derived therefrom a substantial income. He traveled quite extensively during the last few years of his life and enjoyed visiting

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the scenes of historic and scenic interests in different parts of the country. He was a member of the Crescent lodge of Masons and was always active in charitable work, doing all he could to promote the moral progress of the community and to ameliorate the hard conditions of life for the unfortunate. His many good qual- ities endeared him to all who knew him, causing his memory to be cherished since he has passed away.

PATRICK MCCARTHY LOUGHNANE

Rev. Patrick McCarthy Loughnane, who is now pastor of St. Joseph's church at Marion, was born in County Kerry, Ireland, on the 21st of August, 1886, and is a son of Patrick Timothy and Catherine (McCarthy) Loughnane. The father was a farmer by occupation and by following that pursuit provided for his family which numbered twelve children: Timothy, who is now engaged in merchandis- ing; Robert, a retired merchant; Daniel, who followed merchandising but is now deceased ; Michael, who has also passed away; William, who carries on farming; Mrs. Mary Doran; Catherine and Margaret, both of whom are deceased; Mrs. Elizabeth McMahon; Patrick, of this review ; Jeremiah, deceased ; and Mrs. Hon- ora Deron. With the exception of those mentioned as having passed away, all are yet living. Father Loughnane has a niece, a daughter of Mrs. Elizabeth MeMa- hon, who is the only representative of this large family in the United States with the exception of himself.

Father Loughnane first attended the national schools in County Kerry, Ire- land, and later attended St. Michael's College at Listowel. He then continued his education at Thurles, where he was ordained to the priesthood in 1893. On coming to this country he made his way direct to Dubuque, Iowa, and soon after- ward was appointed assistant priest at St. Mary's church in Clinton, Iowa, where he continued until he received the appointment as pastor of St. Peter's church at Sabula, Iowa. He next went to Marshall county and thence came to Marion, Iowa, to accept the pastorate of St. Joseph's Catholic church of this city. He has now been located here for five years and under his guidance the church is doing good work and is proving a strong element for the upbuilding of Catholicism in this district. The present house of worship was begun in May, 1905, and was com- pleted in November of that year. It has a seating capacity of three hundred and seventy-five and is modern in construction, unique and attractive in appearance, and was completed at a cost of about fifteen thousand dollars. The work of edu- cation, as carried on in connection with this church, is proving a valuable adjunct to the church work.' The school known as St. Berchman's Seminary is both a boarding and day school for small boys, conducted by the Sisters of Mercy. Father Longhnane instructs the pupils each morning. The curriculum of the seminary includes everything taught in the public schools and when the pupils have finished the work of the ninth grade at the seminary, they are qualified for entrance in the high school at Marion, Dubuque or Davenport. The institution receives boys at the age of seven years and keeps them in the seminary until they are fourteen years of age. The enrollment includes pupils from all parts of Iowa and at present there are three from Chicago and some from other sections of Illinois. The school building contains about fifteen rooms, including a chapel and two large dormitor- ies and also a play hall. It is situated in the midst of fine grounds covering twenty- two acres. Surrounded as are the boys by all that tends to ennoble and elevate, they acquire a great love and respect for all that pertains to a nobler life. In the impressionable years of childhood, the effects of early training are lasting, and the boys at the seminary are kept within the line of duty by a sense of honor and right,

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History of Linn County Iowa : from its earliest settlement to the present time, Volume II, Part 34

Author: Brewer, Luther Albertus, 1858-1933; Wick, Barthinius Larson, 1864- Publication date: 1911 Publisher: Chicago : Pioneer Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 896

Author: Brewer, Luther Albertus, 1858-1933; Wick, Barthinius Larson, 1864-
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Chicago : Pioneer Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 896