History of Linn County Iowa : from its earliest settlement to the present time, Volume II, Part 38

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 38

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ORRIE C. OLNEY

Orrie C. Olney, the secretary and treasurer of the Cedar Rapids Candy Com- pany, was born on a farm five miles east of Marion, in Linn county, Iowa, on the 5th of December, 1871, his parents being Charles and Margaret (Gibson) Olney. His mother died when he was but eight years of age and he then became a member of the household of James E. Bromwell, a prominent neighbor- ing agrieulturist, with whom he remained until he had attained his twenty- fourth year. When fourteen years of age he went to work as messenger boy in the A. Daniels Bank at Marion and was later promoted to a elerkship, continuing in the employ of the institution for about six years or until its failure. Sub- sequently he spent three years as elerk in the Daniels Hotel at Marion and then came to Cedar Rapids, here accepting a position as billing elerk in the wholesale grocery establishment of P. C. Friek & Company, whom he served for about nine months. He next became bookkeeper in the wholesale fruit house of Lago- mareino-Grupe Company and thus served for three years, resigning in 1898 in order that he might accept a similar position in the office of the Cedar Rapids Candy Company. On the 1st of January, 1906, he became a stockholder in the concern and was made secretary and treasurer of the company, in which official capacity he has ably represented its interests to the present time. He is widely recognized as one of the progressive, enterprising and successful business men of Cedar Rapids and has justly earned the proud American title of a self-made man, having worked his way steadily upward from a position of obscurity to one of considerable prominence for one of his years.

On the 30th of April, 1903, Mr. Olney was united in marriage to Miss Clara A. Morehead, a daughter of Dr. James and Lydia (Stream) Morehead, of Marion, Iowa. He is a republican in politics but has never sought nor desired public preferment. The Cedar Rapids Commercial Club numbers him among

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its members and he also belongs to the Cedar Rapids Country Club. He de- lights in golf and fishing as a recreation. In the county which has remained his place of residence from his birth to the present time he has an extensive circle of warm friends, many of whom frequently gather at his handsome and hos- pitable home at No. 119 North Seventeenth street East.

HENRY C. HENDERSON

Henry C. Henderson, who is busily engaged in the operation of his farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Jackson township, also devotes considerable attention to the raising of stock and in both branches of his business has met with creditable success. His birth occurred on the old Henderson homestead in Jackson township on the 17th of February, 1874, his parents being Peter G. and Jane Arabelle (Mills) Henderson. A sketch of the father is given on another page of this volume.

Henry C. Henderson was reared under the parental roof and obtained his early education in the common schools, while subsequently he attended the Cedar Rapids Business College. He was married at the age of twenty-three years but remained with his parents for two years longer, assisting his father in the operation of the home farm. In 1899 he purchased and located upon eighty acres of his present place in Jackson township and later bought a tract of similar size adjoining, so that his farm now embraces one hundred and sixty acres of rich and productive land. He annually gathers large crops which bring a gratifying financial return and also derives a substantial income from his live stock interests, making a spec- ialty of the breeding and raising of red polled cattle. He is likewise a stockholder in the Central City State Bank and well deserves classification with the substantial and representative citizens of his native county.

On the 3d of February, 1897, Mr. Henderson was united in marriage to Miss Pearl Ford, of Jackson township, her father being Edward Ford, now a resident of Forest City, Iowa. They have become the parents of four children, three of whom are yet living, namely : Mary M., Hiel II. and Donald E.

In politics Mr. Henderson has always been a stanch republican but has never songht nor desired the honors and emoluments of office. Fraternally he is identi- fied with Wapsie Lodge, No. 235, I. O. O. F., and both he and his wife belong to the Rebekahs. They are likewise devoted and consistent members of the Congrega- tional church, in the work of which they are deeply and helpfully interested. A man of high worth and sterling integrity, Mr. Henderson is widely respected and esteemed in the community where his entire life has been spent.

JOHN E. AND CHARLES P. MURRAY

Nicholas Keating was born in County Meath, Ireland, in 1750, his father and older brothers being millers. Young Nicholas learned the trade of millwright and cabinetmaker and while vet a young man secured passage on a sailing vessel to America, where two older brothers had preceded him and were then engaged in the milling business at Baltimore, Maryland. While on deck before sailing from Dublin he happened to expose to view his pocket rule. This oversight seems to have determined his future, for he was at once accosted by a govern- ment official, who took him off the vessel. He was then pressed into the army as a mechanic. England at that time being at war with Spain, and it is said that it was he, during this war. who planned and executed the construction of pontoon

MR. AND MRS. H. C. HENDERSON

PUBLIC L -

ILLEN ACUNLAIKIN

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bridges such as are in use now. His regiment having returned to Athlone, Ire- land, and he having served twenty-one years in the army, he purchased a home and shop in Athlone, where he followed his trade of cabinetmaker. In 1795 he was married to Miss Elizabeth Curley and their union was blessed with one son and five daughters, the second youngest, Ann, being born in 1819.

William Murray was born near Moate, in County West Meath, Ireland, in 1777, where he followed farming and acted as steward for the noted landowner, John Longworth, of Glin. In 1802 he married Miss Alice Balfe, and unto them were born seven sons and four daughters, the third oldest son being Thomas, whose birth occurred April 7, 1808. He remained on the farm with his father until he attained his twenty-first year, when he went to Athlone with his oldest brother, Bernard, engaging employment with the Robbison Distilling Company and securing rooms in the home of Nicholas Keating, where they remained for seven years. During this time Thomas became an expert distiller and maltster. He also won the heart and hand of Miss Ann Keating, they being married on January 10, 1836. With his wife (and brother William), Thomas Murray sailed for America on the 2d of May following, landing in Montreal, Canada, about eight weeks later. Here he seeured work at his trade with the Malsom Brewing Company and later with Edward Prentiss Company, receiving what was then considered a very high salary. The two brothers joined the government forces in putting down the short-lived French rebellion. Of the ten children, five sons and five daughters, William, Michael, who died in infaney, and John E. were born in Montreal, the last named on the 19th of May, 1841. Two years later Mr. Murray removed with his family to New York state, engaging in farm- ing near Newburgh, where he remained for two years. Elizabeth, the oldest daughter, was born on this farm. In 1845 they returned to Ireland with the intention of remaining, but a great change had taken place, many of the young people of their acquaintance having emigrated to this country and many old relatives and friends having departed this life. Mr. Keating died shortly after their arrival at the ripe old age of ninety-five years. After a stay of about nine months in their native land they again sailed for the new world and after a stormy voyage of eight weeks and three days once more landed in Montreal. Mr. Murray purchased a farm near that eity and devoted his time to agricultural pursuits during the summer months, while in the winter seasons he worked at his trade in the eity. Later he turned his attention to railway construction, be- ing connected with the building of the Grand Trunk lines and also having charge of the quarries at Point Clair while excavating the stone for the famous Vietoria bridge over the St. Lawrence river. While residing on this farm, Mary A., Thomas F., Margaret and Charles P., were born, the last named on the 16th of January, 1854. In 1855 Mr. Murray sold his farm and with his family migrated westward to Iowa, traveling by way of the St. Lawrence river and lakes to Chi- cago (except from Toronto to Collingwood), thence by rail to Rock Island, Illinois, and on by team to Benton county, Iowa, where they arrived on the 11th of October. There, for the first time sinee leaving Ireland, Mr. Murray met his father, mother, brother John B. and sister Catherine, who had come from Ro- chester, New York, the previous Mareh. In Benton county Mr. Murray followed farming until the spring of 1871, when he removed to Linn county. During the stay in Benton county the two youngest daughters, Jennie and Anna F., were born. His father and son William died in 1859, while the mother passed away in 1866. The remains of all three repose in the Catholie cemetery at Iowa City. In Linn county they resided on a farm five miles northwest of Cedar Rapids until the spring of 1875, when they moved into this city, where Thomas Murray died March 12, 1886, his wife surviving until November 17, 1892. Both lie buried in Mt. Calvary cemetery. They were devoted members of the Catholie church and were highly respected as people of unswerving integrity and lived upright, honorable lives.

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William Murray, who accompanied his brother Thomas and his wife on their first voyage to America, was born August 24, 1811. In 1844, at Rochester, New York, he married Miss Naney McAdams, and though he came to Benton county, Iowa, and purchased a large farm from the government in 1854, he continued to reside in Rochester and Boston, Massachusetts, until the spring of 1860. At that time he came to lowa, improved his farm and resided thereon until 1892, when he retired, removing to Cedar Rapids, where he died April 21, 1907, at the advanced age of nearly ninety-six years. Michael, another brother, born in 1818, came to New York about 1846 and to Cedar Rapids in 1875. He was city street commissioner here for several years and also acted as foreman and sub- contractor under Murray Brothers. His demise here occurred in 1898. John B., born in 1824, remained on his farm in Benton county until 1887, when he re- moved to Plymouth county. where he died September 6, 1901,- the day on which our beloved president, William McKinley, was shot. Catherine, the youngest sister, married John A. Saunders, of Iowa City, in 1856. She died there on the 24th of April, 1906, at the age of seventy-eight years.

Thomas F. Murray, son of Thomas and Ann (Keating) Murray, died in this city on the 23d of January, 1898, leaving only seven of the ten children. surviving. Elizabeth, the widow of Francis Wear, Mary A., the widow of M. A. Broderick, and Jennie reside in Omaha, Nebraska. The other children, all of whom make their home in Cedar Rapids. are as follows: Margaret, the wife of T. F. Dolan; Anna F., the wife of Eugene Quinn; and John E. and Charles P. of this review.

John E. Murray, with his brother, Thomas F., as foreman, took his first rail- way contract in 1870, on the old Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Minnesota Rail- way between Waterloo and Cedar Falls. They continued in this business and in May, 1872, while building a part of the Postville branch of the same road, were joined by their younger brother, Charles P. All three worked together, executing many important contracts until 1886, except during the years 1881, 1882 and 1884, when John was associated with Hon. S. L. Dows under the firm name of Dows & Murray. They executed several large contracts for the Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern Railway Company, while Thomas F. and Charles P. took large sub-contracts from them. In February, 1886, John E. and Charles P. formed the present copartnership of Murray Brothers. Their brother, Thomas F., having a large grading outfit, continued to sub-contract from them until his death, which occurred in 1898, as stated above. Their first work in 1886 was the construction of a line for the Fremont, Elkhorn & Missouri Valley Railway Company from Scribner to Newman Grove, Nebraska,- sixty-eight miles. Later in the same season they extended this road from Albion to Oakdale, a distance. of thirty-four miles, the next year building from Rapid City to Whitewood, South Dakota, (thirty-eight miles) for the same company, which is all a part of the Chicago & Northwestern Railway system. During this summer they also built the line from Cedar Rapids to Manchester for Hon. S. L. Dows, who was the projector of that road for the Illinois Central Railway Company (forty-two miles), Colonel William G. Dows being associated with them in the work. In the intervening years they have taken and completed many large and important contracts for nearly all the leading railway companies in the middle-western states. They have also done considerable work in some of the southern states and have become widely recognized as leading railway contractors of this section of the country. During slack times in railway building they have turned their attention to grading city property, streets, etc., putting in sewerage and water systems. Among the interurban lines which they have built may be mentioned the Cedar Rapids, Iowa City & Southern, and the Fort Dodge, Des Moines & Southern. Their offices are in the Security Savings Bank building.

John E. Murray is a director of the Security Savings Bank of Cedar Rapids, a position he has held since its organization. He has also been identified with various:

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corporate companies and is justly accounted one of the representative business men of Cedar Rapids, vigilant and enterprising, determined and resourceful. He has done considerable building in Cedar Rapids and his labors have con- tributed to the growth and development of the city along many lines.

On the 16th of June. 1876, Mr. Murray was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary A. Culkin, of Independence, Iowa, her parents being Michael and Mary (McGee) Culkin, former residents of Rockford, Illinois. They are the parents of eight children, namely : Mary Agnes, now the wife of C. C. Perrin of New York city, who is in charge of Thiel's Detective Ageney in the eastern division; William T., who was associated with his father and unele for a time and who now resides in Kansas City, Missouri, having wedded Miss Rose Corrigan of that place; Helen C., the wife of L. H. Burns of Chicago, an employe in the general offices of the Rock Island Railway ; Mande, the wife of Edward J. Corrigan. of Kansas City, Missouri; John A., also living in Kansas City; Leo B., who is with the Metropolitan Street Railway in Kansas City; Edward J., a college student; and Joseph Donald, who is attending St. Joseph's Academy of this eity. The wife and mother passed away October 9, 1904.

Mr. Murray usually exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the democracy but is not strictly partisan, though he always takes a deep and commendable interest in public affairs. Fraternally he is identified with the Knights of Columbus, while in religious faith he is a Catholic. His life has been characterized by the highest principles of upright and honor- able manhood and he has never taken advantage of the necessities of another in any business transaction. He has made his own way in life, without the assistance of wealth or influential friends, and what he has accomplished is due to his force of character, laudable ambition and strong purpose that cannot be diverted from the honorable business path that he has marked out. He and his family have an extensive eirele of friends whom they are always glad to welcome at their home, No. 727 Fifth avenue.

Charles P. Murray, in addition to his other interests, is a stockholder in the St. Martins Land Company, the Parmer-Bailey Land Company, the Juanita Coal & Coke Company and several other outside corporations. He is likewise a stockholder in the Commercial National and First Trust and Savings Bank of this city ; secretary and treasurer of the Ideal Dye Works Company; vice presi- dent of the Hotel Realty Company, owners of the Grand Hotel of Cedar Rapids; and president of the Carmody Foundry & Machine Company, one of the largest institutions of this kind in this part of the country.

It was on the 7th of October, 1890, that Mr. Murray was united in marriage to Miss Helen L. Schulze, a daughter of Joseph and Mary Schulze, of Iowa City, Iowa. Mr. Schulze was born in Germany in 1826 and emigrated to America in 1852, loeating in Cumberland, Maryland. In 1855 he took up his abode at Iowa City, opening a boot and shoe store. In 1862 he wedded Miss Mary Williams, a young lady of German parentage, whose birth occurred in Iowa City in 1842. They were the parents of five sons and five daughters, one daughter dying in infaney and the mother departing this life on July 4, 1882. Mr. Schulze re- tired from active business some years ago and now at the age of eighty-four years passes his time in looking after his real-estate interests. He is a very active member of the Benevolent and Proteetive Order of Elks, which society he joined on the 17th of March, 1909. Helen L. was the second oldest ehild, being born May 28. 1865. She took advantage of the exceptionally good educational institutions of that city and continued to reside in Iowa City until her marriage to Mr. Murray in 1890, as stated above. Unto this union there were born five children : Inez G., now attending Mount St. Joseph's College in Dubuque and also quite an accomplished vocalist and pianist; Harold J., who attends the public schools and is also an advanced pupil of Professor Montelius, taking violin lessons; Edith M. and Winifred L., both of whom attend St. Patrick's

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parochial school; and Charles Emmet. Some twelve years ago Mr. Murray built a fine home at No. 715 Second avenue East, where he intended to reside perma- nently ; but as the children grew up he determined to procure larger grounds and purchased the beautiful St. John home at No. 1335 Third avenue West, con- taining nearly five acres. Here they are now in full enjoyment of all the con- veniences of the city and pure air and freedom of country life.

In his political views Mr. Murray is an earnest democrat and keeps well in- formed on the questions and issues of the day but has never been an aspirant for office. He belongs to the Catholic church and holds membership with the Knights of Columbus and with Cedar Rapids Lodge, No. 251, B. P. O. E. His social nature finds expression in his membership with the Cedar Rapids Com- mercial Club and he also cooperates in its movements for the development of the city along business lines and general improvement. He is likewise a member of the West Side Improvement Club. Actuated at all times by an undaunted spirit of enterprise, realizing that the opportunities of the present moment, if neglected, are never to be secured again, and that close application and inde- fatigable industry are the basis of all advancement in the business world, he has so directed his efforts that prosperity has crowned his achievements and he has become widely known in the fields in which he operates.

JOSEPH M. DENNING

Joseph M. Denning, the president of the Denning Wire & Fence Company and also prominently identified with several other industrial enterprises of Cedar Rapids, has been a foremost factor in the business circles of this city since locating here in December, 1899. Ilis birth occurred in Crawford county, Wisconsin, on the 6th of January, 1867, his parents being John and Mary A. (Cass) Denning, who were natives of Illinois and Ontario, Canada, respectively. Their marriage was celebrated in Vernon county, Wisconsin, to which place their respective parents had removed. After he had taken unto himself a wife John Denning located in Rising Sun, Crawford county. Wisconsin, where he was known as a hotel proprietor for a number of years but later disposed of his hostelry and turned his attention to merchandising, likewise operating a farm in the vicinity of the town. He was actively and successfully identified with mercantile interests in Rising Sun until called to his final rest in 1883, at the comparatively early age of thirty-seven years. During the following five years his widow continued to conduct the store but on the expiration of that period she sold the business and came west to Iowa, locating at Swan Lake, Emmet county, where she was identified with merchandising and the creamery business for a number of years. On retiring from active business cares she took up her abode in Estherville, where her death occurred in September, 1905.

Joseph M. Denning was reared under the parental roof and supplemented his preliminary education by a course of study in the high school at Viroqua, Wis- consin. Following his father's demise he assisted his mother in the store for about three years, in the meantime also taking up the printer's trade. In 1887, when twenty years of age, he left home and went to the Puget Sound country, where he worked at the printer's trade for about a year and a half. He then returned to Wisconsin but soon afterward came west to Iowa, though for a time he was not permanently located. Subsequently he persuaded his mother to dispose of her mercantile interests in the Badger state and come to Iowa, and after she had located at Swan Lake, Emmet county, he was associated with her in merchandising and also in the creamery business for about three years. While on the Pacific coast he had invested his savings in Seattle town lots and, disposing

J. M. DENNING

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of these at a great profit, he was enabled to purchase four hundred aeres of land in Emmet county, Iowa. Leaving the store, he located upon this property and spent a year in breaking the land and improving the farm.

Mr. Denning next removed to Estherville, where for some six years he was engaged in the wire-fenee business. In December, 1899, he came to Cedar Rapids, removing his Estherville plant to this city, and from that time to the present he has been prominently identified with manufacturing interests here. He is the president of the Denning Wire & Fence Company and owns and operates branch factories in Sioux City and Kansas City, Kansas. After starting in the fenee manufacturing business he began experimenting on improvements to fence-weav- ing machinery and was successful in inventing and perfecting the fastest fenee weaving machine in use in the United States today and he is in receipt of handsome royalties from his inventions from the largest steel corporations of the country who are utilizing his patents. Mr. Denning is likewise the president of the Prairie State Manufacturing Company and has been connected with several other industrial eoneerns of Cedar Rapids. He is also the proprietor of the Illinois Wire & Manufacturing Company of Joliet, Illinois, is interested in the Denning Canadian Land Company of Cedar Rapids and is the owner and promoter of the Oxford Land & Town Site Company in southwestern Colorado. ITis sound judg- ment and executive ability thus find seope in the management of various important enterprises and he is widely recognized as one of Cedar Rapids' most prominent business men and eitizens.

On December 7, 1891, Mr. Denning was united in marriage to Miss Lney A. Mattson, of Estherville, Iowa, by whom he has two children, J. Wayne and Lois Eleen. Where national questions and issues are involved Mr. Denning supports the republican party but at local elections votes for the candidate whom he believes best qualified for office without regard to party affiliation. Fraternally he is identified with Main Lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He has gained many friends in Cedar Rapids during the period of his residenee here and has won for himself favorable regard in business cireles in recognition of his enterprise, his alert and energetic spirit and his successful accomplishment. His sneeess is due to elose application to business and to an adherence to a striet code of business morals. 'For over five years he has been a member of the board of directors of the Commercial Club and has been especially active through this organization in promoting the eity's welfare. He was one of the prime movers in organizing the freight bureau, an auxiliary organization of this elub, and was chairman of the first committee having the bureau in charge. Ile is also a member of the Country Club and finds his chief source of reereation in motoring and fishing, making many tours with his family throughout the country.

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History of Linn County Iowa : from its earliest settlement to the present time, Volume II, Part 38

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