USA > Iowa > Linn County > History of Linn County Iowa : from its earliest settlement to the present time, Volume II > Part 44
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Mr. Waln has voted for the men and measures of the republican party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He has, however, never been active as an office seeker, for his private interests claim his full time and at- tention. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen Camp at Mount Vernon and in religious faith is a Methodist, both he and his wife belonging to the church of that denomination. In whatever relation of life we find him he is the same honorable gentleman, always conducting his business affairs according to rules of strietest integrity. The people of Linn county look upon him as an exemplary man and are proud to call him their own.
LUTHER G. LONG
Luther G. Long is a native son of Linn county who has gained success in life single-handed and without other aid than that which a natural aptitude for agricultural pursuits, coupled with a strong constitution, gives to a man. He is, in every sense of the term, a self-made man and a representative citizen of the county.
He was born March 18, 1868, and is a son of James W. and Samantha (Sut- ton) Long. His father was born and reared in the Buckeye state and was a blacksmith by trade and a good one. His mother was from Indiana. They came to Linn county, Iowa, shortly before their marriage. Mr. Long arrived in 1842 and at once set up his forge, doing blacksmithing for the countryside. Late in his life he rented a farm for a few years but soon retired after purchasing a twelve-acre plot of ground, upon which he passed his elosing days.
Luther G. Long remained with his parents until twenty-seven years old, working upon his father's farm. Then he was married, February 19, 1895, to Miss Sarah Eastman, a daughter of Oliver and Sarah S. (Fairehilds) Eastman, both natives of Ohio, having located in Linn county, Iowa, in 1853. Mrs. Long was born in Spring Grove township, her home being the house at present oeeu- pied by herself, husband and family. There have been six children born to them, namely : Neva L., aged fourteen years; Evelyn D., aged twelve; Ora E.,
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aged ten; the twins, Leland W. and Lelah A., aged eight; and Irma V., aged two years.
Mr. and Mrs. Long began married life by renting one hundred and twenty acres of land, occupying that place for about a year. Then they secured posses- sion of the old Eastman property by purchase and have lived there since 1896. This place Mr. Long has improved to a great extent, yet contemplates still further improvements which he has mapped out. Both Mr. and Mrs. Long affiliate with the Methodist Protestant church, as do their children. He votes the republican ticket and has held the office of school director for six years, at the present time being an incumbent of the office. At the June primaries of 1910, he received the republican nomination for assessor of Spring Grove township, which demon- strated the sentiment of the community toward him. He is a member of the Masonic Lodge of Coggon, and leads a life worthy of a member of such a fra- ternal organization.
JOHN FRANKLIN STAUFFER
John Franklin Stauffer, cashier of the Linn county Savings Bank at Center Point, was born August 26, 1880, in the city which is yet his home. Although he has but reached the thirtieth milestone on life's journey he has already made a creditable position in financial circles, and qualites of self-reliance, enterprise and laudable ambition which he displays point to larger success in the future. His parents were Frederick and Edith Fanny Stauffer, the former a well known stock dealer of this county.
At the usual age the son entered the public schools and, mastering the lessons assigned him, was advanced from grade to grade until he was graduated from the Center Point high school with the class of 1899. His early business training was received under the direction of his father, with whom he was associated for some time, becoming well known as a live-stock dealer in this part of the state. In the spring of 1906, however, he withdrew from that field of activity and became con- nected with financial interests, entering the Linn County Savings Bank of Center Point as assistant cashier. On the 1st of November, 1907, he was elected cashier and has since continued in that position, covering about three years. He is a pop- ular bank official, courteous and obliging to the patrons of the bank, yet never neglecting the interests which he represents. A general banking business is con- ducted and the success of the institution in the last few years is attributable in large measure to the efforts of Mr. Stauffer.
On the 27th of May, 1909, Mr. Stauffer was united in marriage to Miss Lillis Pearle Clarke, of Center Point, although their marriage was celebrated in Cedar Rapids. Mr. Stauffer is well known in several fraternal organizations, having been a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows since 1902, of the Knights of Pythias lodge since 1904, while in 1910 he joined the Masonic fratern- ity. He has always lived in this part of the state, so that his record is one well known to his fellow townsmen, who recognize in him those sterling traits of char- acter which in every land and clime awaken confidence and regard.
FRANK O. STORRS
Frank O. Storrs, of the Sanitary Dairy Company, whose success in business is the outcome of clear judgment, experience and unfaltering diligence, was born May 24, 1883. His father was Theron H. Storrs, a native of the state of New York, who, emigrating westward at the age of twenty-two years, settled in Bloom- ington, Illinois, where he acquired a college education. He afterward followed
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farming until the dissatisfaction of the south resulted in the inauguration of civil war. With firm belief in the supremacy of the federal government, he enlisted in the Thirty-third Illinois Infantry and participated in the siege and capture of Vieksburg. IIe also marched with General Sherman to the sea, a march that proved the weakness of the Confederaey, showing that the troops had been drawn from the interior to protect the border. He was severely wounded at Jackson, Mississippi, being shot through the stomach. This caused his discharge on account of disability, and for six months he was confined in a hospital in Chicago. While at Vicksburg he swam the Mississippi with others of his com- pany which was a very perilous undertaking, as the banks were lined with the enemy. He and his companions used halves of watermelons that had been hol- lowed out as covering for their heads to deceive the enemy. Some of the number succeeded in getting aeross but the bullets splashed thickly in the water around them and they were constantly in danger from the enemies' guns.
After his release from military service, and having partially recovered his health, Mr. Storrs turned his attention to the occupation of farming in Tama county and subsequently removed to Hull. Later he lived at Sibley, Iowa, until called to his final rest, and his grave was made in the cemetery there. He lived an honest, upright life, gaining many warm friends. His wife bore the maiden name of Hattie Moores. and they were married at Dixon, Illinois, on Christmas day of 1879. She still survives and occupies the old family residence at Sibley.
Frank O. Storrs acquired his education in the Sibley high school, supple- mented by a full course in the Cedar Rapids Business College. He has been almost continuously connected with the dairy business, establishing a dairy in Cedar Rapids and later consolidating his interests with those of John J. Jones, under the style of the Sanitary Dairy Company. They are distributors of milk and cream of unsurpassed excellence and also are manufacturers of ice cream. Owing to the absolute sanitary conditions under which the firm conducts its business, they are enjoying an extensive and high class patronage. Their dis- tributing depot is equipped in a most modern style and their delivery system cannot be excelled. Promptness in the exercise of orders is one of the strong elements in their success.
On the 22d of March, 1905, Mr. Storrs was united in marriage to Miss Jessie Byerly of Anamosa, Iowa, and unto them have been born two daughters, Jessie June and Lois Louise. The family attend and are members of the Congregational church. In matters of citizenship Mr. Storrs is progressive and is independent. in polities. He prefers to make his business the chief interest of his life, and gives to it almost undivided attention, thus developing the trade along progressive lines. The patronage of the house is now extensive and Mr. Storrs, although one of the younger business men of Cedar Rapids, has come to be numbered with those who have reached the plane of affluence.
JUSTIN BARRY
Justin Barry. the well known editor of the Walker News, has spent his entire life in Iowa, being born in La Motte, January 20, 1873. His father, James N. Barry, was a native of New York, but came to Iowa at an early day and during the dark days of the Civil war enlisted in Company K, Thirty-first Iowa Volunteer Infantry, with which he served until honorably discharged for dis- ability. By trade he was a harness-maker and his death occurred April 22, 1890. His widow, who bore the maiden name of Mary S. French, is a native of Pennsylvania and now makes her home with her son Justin.
During his boyhood and youth, Justin Barry remained with his parents and was given good educational advantages, attending the high school at Walker.
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On leaving that institution at the age of fifteen he began clerking in a drug store. Three years later he turned his attention to newspaper work, becoming editor of the Walker News at the age of eighteen years, in which capacity he still continues. He has the distinction of having been sued for libel twice be- fore he attained his majority and was victorious in both cases. He is a wide- awake newspaper man, progressive and up-to-date, and has met with success in his ehosen field of labor.
On the 12th of June, 1904, Mr. Barry was united in marriage to Miss Ade- laide L. Haight, of Cedar Rapids, who was a prominent and popular teacher in the public schools of that city prior to her marriage. They now have a little son, Jeffrey James Barry. Mr. Barry is a prominent member of the Masonie fraternity and is now serving his fourth year as worshipful master of Rob Morris Lodge, No. 500, A. F. & A. M. The republican party has always found in him a stanch supporter of its principles and he has taken a very active and prominent part in party work, serving as a member of the county central com- mittee of that party for some years.
RUDOLPH N. FITZGERALD
Rudolph N. Fitzgerald since 1893 has resided upon his present farm, a tract of land of one hundred and forty acres on section 34, Marion township. He was born in Rapids township, Linn county, on the 16th of April, 1870, and is a son of James B. and Selma (Quaas) Fitzgerald. The father was born in White county, Illinois, November 20, 1835, and the mother was a native of Germany whence she came to America in 1849. They were married in 1869 and unto them were born four children, namely : Letitia, who is now deceased; R. N., of this review; Wil- lard L., who is living in Seattle, Washington; and Lydia E., the wife of Lee Griffin, of Newton, Iowa. The father followed farming for many years and there- by won a comfortable competeney that now enables him to live retired. He makes his home in Cedar Rapids and is numbered among the old settlers of the county. His wife passed away in September, 1876.
Rudolph N. Fitzgerald was reared on the home farm and carly became familiar with the duties and labors which fall to the lot of the agriculturist. On attaining his majority he was united in marriage to Miss Mary L. Schultz, who was born in this county, in 1870 and is a daughter of Charles and Dorothy (Kulper) Schultz, both of whom were natives of Meeklinberg, Germany. The father came to Amer- ica in 1853 and settled in Pennsylvania. The mother crossed the Atlantic with her parents in 1859 and the following year gave her hand in marriage to Mr. Schultz. They resided in Pennsylvania until 1867 and then came to Linn county, Iowa, where Mr. Schultz purchased forty aeres of timber land, which he eleared and cultivated, cutting down the trees and grubbing up stumps preparatory to tilling the fields. His first dwelling was a log cabin with clapboard roof and puncheon floor and door. The family occupied that primitive home for cleven years when it was replaced by a more modern and commodious residence. Mr. Schultz worked untiringly in his effort to improve his farm, and as he prospered in his undertakings, kept adding to the property from time to time until he became the owner of three fine farms. In 1897 he retired from active life and removed to Cedar Rapids but was not long permitted to enjoy his new home for his death occurred on the 11th of October of the same year. Ilis was a well spent and useful life crowned with a substantial measure of success. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Schultz have been born four children of whom three are still living. The mother also survives and now makes her home with Mr. and Mrs. Fitzgerald in the seventy- eighth year of her age.
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R. N. FITZGERALD AND FAMILY
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After his marriage Mr. Fitzgerald cultivated and rented a farm for two years during which period his untiring industry and careful expenditure brought him sufficient capital to enable him to purchase the farm upon which he now lives, comprising one hundred and forty acres on section 34, Marion township. Here lie has made his home for seventeen years and has gradually improved the prop- erty by the erection of a fine dwelling and other buildings which are features of the model farm. Everything about the place is kept in good repair and he utilizes the latest improved machinery to carry on the work of the fields. He makes a specialty of breeding thoroughbred Aberdeen Angus cattle and Poland China hogs.
The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Fitzgerald has been blessed with three children : Leroy, who is a graduate of the Marion high school and is now attending a business college in Cedar Rapids; Ralph R., a pupil in the Marion high school ; and James Donald. The parents are devoted and active members of the Presbyterian church in which Mr. Fitzgerald has been serving as an elder for four years. They do all in their power to promote the growth of the church and extend its influence. Mr. Fitzgerald is also a member of the Knights of Pythias lodge at Mairon and he and his wife belong to the Farmers Club. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and he is now serving as township assessor while for four years he was township clerk and for several years acted as one of the school directors. He is prompt and faithful in his discharge of every duty that devolves upon him whether of a public or private nature and his upright life and his fidelity to his professions have made him one of the honored and respected citizens of his community.
CHARLES WESLEY LEWIS
Charles Wesley Lewis, a well known farmer of Washington township, is a worthy representative of old and honored pioneer families of Linn county. {His birth occurred in Fayette township, October 20, 1862, his parents being William and Johanna (Blackburn) Lewis, both natives of Ohio. They came to Linn county at an early day with their respective parents, the Lewis family arriving here in 1839 and settling on a traet of land in Fayette township before it was surveyed. His father carried the chain for the surveyor who laid out much of the land in his section of the county and the locality where they settled became known as Lewis Bottoms. Our subject's grandfather, John Lewis, broke and improved the first farm west of Cedar Rapids and became the owner of over two hundred acres of very valuable and productive land. Our subject's father also possessed a tract of similar size and continued to engage in its cultivation and improvement up to the time of his death. He was laid to rest in the Lewis Bottoms graveyard. Mrs. Lewis, who is now seventy-nine years of age, makes her home in Center Point. The Blackburn family, of which Mrs. Lewis was a member, settled here in 1849, about ten years after the Lewis family located here.
Charles W. Lewis spent the days of his boyhood and youth upon his father's farm and acquired a good practical education in the district school at West Bottom. When about eighteen years of age his father died and the management of the home farm devolved upon our subject, as his older brother married about that time and left the parental roof. He continued its operation until 1900, when he rented the farm of which he still owns a hundred and twenty acres and purchased a tract of eighty acres near Urbana, in Polk township, Benton county, Iowa, to which he removed, residing there for four years. At the end of that time he sold that property and bought his present farm of one hundred
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and twenty-three aeres in Washington township, where he has since lived. He is a very progressive and up-to-date farmer and has met with success in the cultivation of the soil.
On the 28th of December, 1887, Mr. Lewis was united in marriage to Miss Amy D. Mather, a daughter of Samnel B. and Rachel E. (Sheely) Mather, of Fayette township, this county. Her father is now deceased, but her mother is still living. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Lewis have been born for children, namely : Karl R., D. Ruth, Nellie O., and Samnel B., all of whom are still at home. Po- litieally Mr. Lewis has always affiliated with the republican party, but has never taken an active part in polities aside from voting. Both he and his wife are earnest members of the Evangelical church at Center Point and are people of the highest respectability, who have a host of friends throughout this, their native county.
EBER LEWIS MANSFIELD, M. D.
Many regard the practice of medicine as a sphere of greatest usefulness and it is a self-evident faet that few men come into closer relation or have larger oppor- tunity for doing good than the physician. Of kindly spirit, of generous disposi- tion and at all times free from ostentation, Dr. E. L. Mansfield won for himself a place in publie regard second to none. His life was one of intense and well directed activity, his fellowmen benefiting by his labors at all times so that when he passed away on the 26th of May, 1887, his death was deeply regretted by the many friends whom he had won during an upright and honorable life.
He was born January 26, 1821, in Canaan, Athens county, Ohio, his parents being Martin and Margaret (Durham) Mansfield, who were natives of Pennsyl- vania and Maryland respectively. After their marriage they removed to Ohio and the father followed the oeeupation of farming. In their family were eleven children, but only one is now living, Mrs. Isaac Stanley, who is a resident of Kansas. The father died August 7, 1860, when sixty-one years of age, and his wife passed away on the 28th of Angust, 1863, at the age of eighty-five years. He was a justice of the peace for twenty-one years and his decisions were strictly fair and impartial, winning for him golden opinions. His father, Samuel Mansfield, was a soldier of the Revolutionary war and served full three years, participating in the battles of Germantown, Monmouth and Brandywine as a member of the Third Maryland Regiment. While taking part in the battle of Brandywine he sustained a gunshot wound through the hip. This never healed and finally eansed his death. A native of Germany, he went to England and joined the British army, with which he came to this country. Learning of the real condition of affairs in America he deserted the English forees and joined the colonial army, with which he did valiant service for his adopted country. After the war he married Charity Boyles and they removed to Ohio, where his death occurred November 16, 1819, while his wife survived until December 22, 1848, and reached the remarkable old age of ninety-nine years. They were the parents of four sons and four daughters, all of whom reached maturity.
Dr. E. L. Mansfield spent his youthful days on his father's farm, where he attended the common schools and acquired a good English education. He after- ward became a student in the academy at Guysville, Athens county, Ohio, and later attended the University of Ohio at Athens, where he was a classmate of S. S. Cox and also of Johnson, of the National Surgical Institute. After the completion of his academic course he made his way to the south and was engaged for some time in teaching in Mississippi and Kentucky. Returning to Ohio, he took up the study of medicine, his reading being directed by Dr. Blackstone for
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two years. He then engaged in practice at Harrisonville, Meigs county, Ohio, in 1845, but in the meantime attended the Western Reserve College at Cleveland, where he pursued a course of lectures and in scholarship ranked third in a class of one hundred and nineteen.
In 1847 he came to Cedar Rapids, the embryo village presenting little promise of future growth and development whereby it would attain to its present promi- nence. At that day there was not a plastered wall in the town or a lot fenced. A few cabins constituted the village and the surrounding country was but sparsely settled. Dr. Mansfield began practice here and continued actively in his profes- sion for thirty-five years, or until 1882. He was the first regular physician of this city and the ability which lie manifested soon won him a patronage that was extensive and gratifying. In 1849 he formed a partnership with Dr. S. D. Car- penter, the relation being dissolved, however, the following year, when Dr. Mansfield went to California in search of gold, being accompanied by John Brown and George Mccullough, who never returned. While on the coast Dr. Mansfield handled a pick and shovel and also practiced his profession during the following year. Not meeting with the success that he had anticipated in search of gold, however, and feeling that Cedar Rapids offered a better field for the practice of medicine, he returned to this city in 1851 and later formed a partnership with Dr. Milligan in 1854. This relation was maintained until 1856, after which Dr. Mansfield was alone in practice until 1863, when he was joined by Dr. Smith in a business relation that was maintained until 1867. In 1870 he formed a partner- ship with Dr. George P. Carpenter, which was dissolved in 1876. He was then again alone in practice until 1882, when he retired. As the years passed on he made extensive investment in real estate and at different times owned between fifteen and twenty thousand acres. He not only operated largely in farm prop- erty but also was connected with the business life and activity of the city. He built the Mansfield block, was one of the organizers of the City National Bank and continued as one of its stockholders until 1882. He was also one of the men that aided in the establishment of the woolen mills, the plow works and the water works, subscribing liberally to the stock of the different enterprises.
On the 6th of April, 1852, Dr. Mansfield was united in marriage to Miss Lucy A. Warriner, a native of Indiana, and unto them were born three children: Sylvia, the wife of C. J. Deacon, of whom mention is made elsewhere in this volume ; Lura, the wife of James A. Reed, of Kansas City ; and Lewis Warriner, who is engaged in the land business in Cedar Rapids. The wife and mother died August 26, 1868, and Dr. Mansfield afterward married again, his second union being with Miss Mary E. Warriner, of Watertown, New York, who died in 1889.
In his political views Dr. Mansfield was independent and at different times served as a member of the city council, exercising his official prerogatives in sup- port of many progressive measures. He was a supporter of the federal govern- ment during the war and a follower and admirer of Horace Greeley. He was also a champion of the cause of education and at different times served as a member of the school board. He did much for the growth and development of the city and his efforts were always along the line of progress and improvement. He was one of the founders of Coe College and for many years served as a trustee of that institution when it was called the Coc Collegiate Institute. He ranked promi- nently not only in the medical profession but also among the business men of Cedar Rapids. He operated to a considerable extent in real estate in his later years. He possessed a charitable, kindly nature and in the practice of medicine responded as readily to the call of the poor as to the rich. He was always lenient with his patients who were unable to pay for services rendered them. When his daughter, Mrs. Deacon, was an infant only a few days old Dr. Mansfield was called to Boone to amputate a man's leg. It was before the days of railroads and he had to make the journey there and back in a buggy. Months and years rolled by and the bill
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