USA > Iowa > Linn County > History of Linn County Iowa : from its earliest settlement to the present time, Volume II > Part 48
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a stockman he has met with most remarkable success and his name in this eonnee- tion is known throughout the length and breadth of the land.
Mr. MeTavish and his wife hold membership in the Congregational chureh and he is quite prominent in fraternal circles, belonging to Mecca Lodge, No. 523, A. F. & A. M., of which he is past master, and also belongs to the order of the Eastern Star; Coggon Camp, No. 4591, M. W. A., of which he was venerable consul for several years, while his wife is a member of the Royal Neighbors. The repub- lican party has always found in him a stanch supporter of its principles and he has taken an active interest in public affairs. He served as a member of the board of township trustees and for several years was also a member of the sehool board. Progressive and publie-spirited, he is deserving of prominent mention in the history of his eounty, where he has done so much to advanee the interests of the farmers by the introduction of some of the best stock to be found throughout the country.
WELLINGTON J. KENDALL
The name of Wellington J. Kendall is found on the list of Linn eounty's hon- ored dead. His life was honorable in its purposes. unfaltering in its activity and in full aceord with the demands of progressive eitizenship. He was active in the business circles of Marion for many years and throughout the entire period maintained an unassailable reputation, for his integrity stood as an unquestioned fact in his record. Marion numbered him among her native sons, his birth having here oceurred on the 19th of May, 1851. He traced his ancestry back to Ebenezer Kendall, whose son Noadiah C. Kendall was the father of Noadiah Kendall and the latter's son Elam Kendall was the grandfather of our subject. His parents were Albert and Sarah (Higley) Kendall, the latter the second child of Abiel and Prudenee (Crane) Higley. She was born in Connectieut, and on the 9th of November, 1840, gave her hand in marriage to Albert Kendall. On leaving New England they made their way to Illinois, where they lived for a few years and then established their home in Marion, Iowa, casting their lot among the early residents of this city. Mr. Kendall was a wagonmaker hy trade and established a shop in Marion, conducting business along that line until his death, which occurred in January, 1876.
From pioneer times the name of Kendall has figured prominently in connection with business interests in Linn county. Wellington J. Kendall was educated in the schools of Marion and in the seminary and put aside his text-books at the age of eighteen years to go into business with his father. He had previously learned the tinner's trade and when he became associated with his father, who was pro- prietor of a large hardware store and tin shop in Marion. he took charge of the outside work and did contracting. His father was in poor health at that time and the burden of the work and the management of the business, therefore, de- volved largely upon Wellington J. Kendall. The store at that time was the largest and best hardware store in Linn county and so continues to the present. Wellington J. Kendall was only twenty-seven years of age at the time of his father's death and thereafter was sole proprietor of the business. He retired from the hardware trade at one time, but resumed operations along that line five years later and continued to carry on the business until he passed away. He studied the needs of the trade, anticipated publie demands and therefore always carried a stock of goods adequate to meet the wishes of his patrons. He was fortunate in surrounding himself with a corps of able assistants and he always demanded that there should be no misrepresentation of any article, but that truth and fair dealing should prevail as salient features in his business. For a number
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of years he dealt in real estate and contributed much to the improvement of Marion by the erection of a large number of houses here.
On Christmas day of 1873 Mr. Kendall was united in marriage to Miss Emma R. Braucht, a daughter of Levi and Jane (Groves) Braucht. They were of an old Ohio family from Findlay. Levi Braucht was a farmer by oceupation and in his youthful days accompanied his father from Pennsylvania to Ohio, the fam- ily becoming prominent in that part of the country. David Braucht, the paternal grandfather of Mrs. Kendall, had been identified with farming interests in the Keystone state and on going to Ohio secured government land in the vicinity of Findlay, being one of the first settlers to take active part in the work of reclaiming that distriet for the uses of civilization. He was actively interested in the work of general progress and improvement there and in his life manifested the sterling traits of character which he inherited from his German ancestry. Mrs. Kendall's maternal grandfather, Thomas Groves, was a native of Virginia, while his wife was born in Vermont. Both died in Findlay, Ohio, at the age of eighty-four and seventy-five years respectively.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Kendall were born three children: Alberta, who on the 16th of June, 1903, became the wife of Ed Sigfred, proprietor of a clothing store in Marion, where both are very prominent in the social circles of the city; Karl Wellington, who wedded Olive Foster and became his father's successor in bus- iness ; and Ralph Jerome, at home.
In his fraternal relations Mr. Kendall was an Odd Fellow and filled all of the chairs in the local lodge. He held membership in the Congregational church, in which the family are still aetive and helpful workers. He served as a member of the city council, was a very publie-spirited man and cooperated in many move- ments that were of vital significance to the community. He stood at all times for progress, reform and improvement and as the years went on enjoyed in unquali- fied measure the confidence and trust of those who knew him. He died August 8, 1896, and his death was deeply regretted because of the warm place which he had in the affection of his fellow townsmen and because of the active and helpful part which he took in the publie life of the city.
CORNELIUS LINEHAN, JR.
Cornelius Linehan, Jr., who is holding the important and responsible position of road master over three divisions of the Rock Island railroad, with headquarters in Cedar Rapids, was born January 30, 1860, in Wapello, Louisa county, Iowa. His father, Cornelius Linehan, was a native of Cork, Ireland, and in the year 1845 emigrated to the United States. He was engaged on railroad construction in various parts of the country until finally he settled in Louisa county, Iowa, where he engaged in farming, giving his attention to general agricultural pursuits until his death in 1903. He married Miss Ellen Cronin, also from Cork, Ireland, and they became the parents of seven children, of whom six are yet living: Nellie; Annie; Jennie, now the wife of Charles Wilson, a resident of Trinidad, Colorado; Kitty, the wife of William Hunn, a mining engineer, also of Trinidad; Lulu, who is employed as forelady in a ladies' furnishing goods establishment at Trinidad ; and William, who died in infaney and was buried at Wapello, Iowa.
The other member of the family' was Cornelius Linehan, whose name intro- duees this review. He is indebted to the public-school system of Wapello for the educational privileges which he enjoyed, and in early manhood he was for three years identified with farming interests in Louisa county, but deeided to take up railroading and in 1877 entered the service of the Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern Railroad, which is now a part of the Rock Island system. He was first
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employed on the construction of the track and after three years was advanced to seetion foreman. In 1880 he became general foreman and was in charge when the entire line was rebuilt. He was afterward made tie inspector, thus continuing in 1895, 1896 and 1897, after which he was placed in charge of the entire railroad yards at Cedar Rapids. In 1900 he was promoted to the responsible position of road master of the Rock Island railroad and served in this eapaeity in the order named over three divisions, namely, the Decorah, Albert Lea and Cedar Rapids divisions, extending to Burlington. This important position he is now filling and ably meets the responsibilities which devolve upon him in this connection.
Mr. Linehan was married in 1879 to Miss Katherine Conly, a daughter of Joseph and Mary (Lardner) Conly, of Circleville, Ohio, and they have two daughters: Mary, who is living with her parents in Cedar Rapids ; and Clara, now the wife of Milton Heath, of Mount Vernon, Iowa. The family are members of the Immaculate Conception Catholic church. Mr. Linehan belongs to the Modern Woodmen eamp, the Knights of Pythias lodge and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and in his political affiliations is a demoerat. He is interested in all matters pertaining to publie improvement, but the onerous duties that devolve upon him leave him little time for cooperation in public affairs. His connection with the railroad service has been marked by steady progression, indicating in- ereasing ability as well as fidelity to the interests entrusted to his charge.
PROFESSOR EDWARD O. FISKE
The most valuable assets of a city do not always appear in the census reports. In these ean be listed the number of aeres, houses, stores, factories, schoolhouses and churches, also the number of artisans, merchants, preachers, doctors, lawyers, teachers and housewives. But the inventive and productive skill of the inventor and machinist, the fund of love and devotion of the wife and mother, the trained skill of the surgeon, bringing continued life out of threatening death, the patience and brooding eare of the teacher for the boys and girls entrusted to her care, the eloquence and spirituality of the preacher who inspires men to deeds of patriotie devotion, the creative power of the learned scholar who seeks to lead young men and women to independent scholarship and noble doing : these are assets of city and state, which are more real and more permanent in results than is the material and visible wealth.
These facts being understood, it was a fortunate day for Cedar Rapids and for him, when Professor Edward O. Fiske, the subject of this sketch, in 1907, selected this eity as the field of his future life work. Having for many years had the reputation of being one of the most learned men and most efficient teachers in the west, and having served in almost all capacities in the educational world, Professor Fiske chose this city before all other Iowa cities as the one presenting in his thought the best field for his work, which he confines strictly to private teaching and publie lecturing and preaching. While not an ordained elergyman, he is a thorough student of the Bible and of theology, and is an authority on the Greek Testament. He often supplies pulpits in this eity and elsewhere during the vacations of pastors, or between pastorates. His lectures are mainly upon education and literature. Professor Fiske represents that unfortunately too fast disappearing company of general scholars. He has students, mainly adults, in six languages, Greek, Latin, Spanish, French, German and English. In his teachings of most of these languages he uses only the language studied in the recitation, so that the learner comes into the spirit of the language at once and soon gains proficiency. Cedar Rapids already appreciates the advantage she has in so learned, accomplished and self-sacrificing a citizen, and to Professor Fiske's residence come clergymen, physicians, lawyers, teachers
EDWARD O. FISKE
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and merchants, also many housekeepers and mechanics, as well as students in schools and colleges. His students come here from all parts of Iowa, and also from Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin. In the years to come this earnest and efficient man will doubtless have proved himself to have been a mighty factor in the upbuilding of the character and attainments of the citizens of this fair region.
Professor Fiske is a mathematician of unusual originality and skill. He has devised many short methods in calculation, which he has taught to teachers and students. He has not published much except occasional articles in newspapers and educational periodicals, preferring to do his work in person. He has a large clientage as a translator in courts and for mercantile houses. Although his an- cestors on both sides of the family were among the oldest settlers of New England, having come there from old England, this gentleman is free from all narrowness of thought and is cosmopolitan in spirit and is opposed to all attempts by law to hamper personal liberty of thought or action. In this city he has among his stu- dents Russians, Bohemians, Jews, Grecks, Englishinen, Germans and Swedes.
The Fiske (sometimes written Fisk) family originated in England on the east coast in the counties of Suffolk and Essex. It was prominent from carly days, its coat of arms with the motto "Macte Virtute," "Act Ye With Valor," having been awarded it before 1500. It included a large number of learned men. The direct ancestor of Professor Fiske, Thomas Fiske, came from Laxfield, England, to Wenham, Massachusetts, in 1636. In 1772 some of the family became pioneer settlers in Amherst, New Hampshire, and are known as the Amherst Fiskes. Hence was descended Professor Fiske's father, John Proctor Fiske, born in Wil- mot, New Hampshire, for many years principal of the Preparatory School of Beloit College, Wisconsin, and his uncle, Professor Franklin W. Fiske, founder and president of Chicago Theological Seminary, for whom Fisk Hall, near Union Park, Chicago, is named.
His mother was Abbie Richardson Clark of Tewksbury, Massachusetts. The parents moving to Wisconsin from Lowell, Massachusetts, in 1856, Edward O. Fiske was born in Beloit, Wiseonsin, December 30, 1859. He is one of seven children, one sister, Edna, dying in infancy. The other six all were graduated from Beloit high school and the four sons were graduated from Beloit College. These are: Mrs. Abbie F. Eaton, of Pasadena, California ; Miss Hattie P. Fiske, of Kirkwood, Missouri; Rev. Franklin L. Fiske, of Beloit, Wisconsin; John P. Fiske, of Redlands, California ; and George F. Fiske, of St. Louis, Missouri.
Professor Fiske completed the full classical course in Beloit College in 1881, having worked his way through college by his own efforts and having helped to support the family at the same time. He was granted the degree of Master of Arts in 1884 for post-graduate attainments. Since leaving college his activities have been as follows : principal of schools, Lake Geneva, Wisconsin ; head master of Markham Academy (now Milwaukee Academy), Milwaukee, Wisconsin; as- sociate principal of Misses Grant's Ladies' Seminary, Chieago ; principal of Ex- celsior Academy, Excelsior, Minnesota ; in the life insurance business for eleven years, in Minneapolis, Minnesota ; principal of public schools, at Garnavillo, Iowa; teacher in high school and private teacher, Iowa City, Iowa; professor of math- ematics in Western College (now Leander Clark), Toledo, Iowa, also private teaelhier ; and since September, 1907, in Cedar Rapids in the work described above.
On the 15th of September, 1891, Professor Fiske married in Racine, Wisconsin, Miss Mary Frances Miller, daughter of one of the pioneer dry-goods merchants of Wisconsin. She had been his pupil in Chicago, and is a lady of charming per- sonality and excellent attainments. To Professor and Mrs. Fiske were born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, two children : Proctor Miller Fiske, in 1892, now in the employ of the wholesale firm of Cook & Laurance; and Frances Durand Fiske, in
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1894, now a student in her home. Professor Fiske has taught his children at home, and it is his delight to know that he has watched their entire intellectual development.
The whole trend of the life of this industrious and scholarly gentleman has been to exemplify that which Goethe portrays in the introduction to Faust :
"Was glaenzt ist fuer den Augenblick geboren ; Des Aechte bleibt der Nachwelt unverloren."
MATHEW STEWART
Prominent among the energetic, far sighted and successful business men of Cedar Rapids is numbered Mathew Stewart, the president of the Cedar Rapids Commission Company. His business activity and breadth of view concerning com- mercial interests lead to his classification with the city's substantial and valued residents. He is, moreover, a splendid type of the self-made man who is not only the architect but also the builder of his own fortunes. Starting out in life on his own account, his strong resolute spirit has enabled him to make steady progress until he has reached a position of affluence among the business men of Linn county.
He was born in the north of Ireland, September 17, 1849, but did not long remain a resident of his native land, for in the same year his father, Robert Stewart, who was a farmer by occupation, brought his family to the new world and settled in New Jersey. There he carried on general agricultural pursuits until 1860, when he removed to Buchanan county, Iowa, and took up his abode upon the farm which he had purchased four years before. For a long period he was closely and actively associated with the farming interests in this state, but in 1904 retired from active life and in 1905 passed away at his home in Independ- ence, Iowa, when ninety years of age. His wife, who in her maidenhood was Margaret Gourley, was also a native of the north of Ireland, and died about 1903, at the age of eighty-five. In their family were nine children, seven of whom are yet living, being residents of different sections of the United States.
The carly childhood of Mathew Stewart was spent in New Jersey and he attained his majority in Iowa, having spent his youth amid rural surroundings. He acquired his education in the distriet schools and worked with his father upon the home farm until he had attained his majority. He then started out in life for himself and, carefully saving his carnings through the succeeding decade, in 1881 he invested the capital which he had secured, through industry and careful expenditure, in the grain, lumber and coal business in Jesup, Iowa, where he remained for fourteen years, conducting a profitable and growing enterprise during that period. In 1895 he removed to Cedar Rapids, where he established a wholesale fruit and commission business, in which line he has since continued his labors, being attended with a gratifying measure of prosperity. The business was incorporated about ten years ago under the name of the Cedar Rapids Commission Company, with Mr. Stewart as the president. The trade of the house extends all over Iowa and this is one of the leading establishments of the kind in the state, its suecess and high standing being largely attributable to the efforts, business diseernment, unfaltering enterprise and unassailable com- mercial integrity of him who is the chief executive.
On the 17th of December, 1873, in Independence, Iowa, was celebrated a marriage that united the destinies of Mathew Stewart and Miss Elizabeth A. Cook, a daughter of Henry Cook, of the north of Ireland, and a great-niece of the Rev. Henry Cook, the famous Presbyterian divine of Belfast, Ireland, whose eloquence and words of wisdom held his auditors entranced, while the deep truths which he uttered sank into the hearts of many of his hearers and brought
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forth rich fruit in lives that were better and nobler for his teaching. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Stewart were born two children. Laura Pearl, who seems to have in- herited much of the ability of hier famous ancestor, the Rev. Cook, is now a teacher of elocution in Coe College, and is herself a fine reader. The son, Lee R. Stewart, is a member of the firm and treasurer of the company.
The family residence is at No. 1540 Second avenue and is the abode of warm- hearted hospitality that makes it a favorite resort with the friends of the family. The members of the household occupy an enviable position in social circles and Mr. Stewart holds high rank in Masonry, with which he has been identified since 1886, taking all of the degrees up to and including the thirty-second in the consistory. He also belongs to the Modern Woodmen camp and to the Com- mercial and Country Clubs. He is a gentleman of strong intellectuality, of marked strength of character and of sterling purpose, and whatever he has undertaken he has accomplished through diligence, untiring energy and capa- bility.
SIDNEY OSCAR MANVILLE
On the list of Cedar Rapids' honored dead appears the name of Sidney Oscar Manville. He did not seek a wide sphere of influence through activity in public life, but sought to faithfully perform the duties that relate to the home, to business activity aud to the public welfare. For many years he was engaged in real-estate dealing and those who came into contact with him found him at all times reliable and trustworthy and thoroughly conversant with realty values.
Mr. Manville was born in Columbus, Ohio, April 8, 1842, and is a son of George and Elizabeth (Carpenter) Manville, both of whom were natives of Ohio. The father removed with his family to Benton county, Iowa, in 1861, and there spent his remaining days, while the mother, who still survives, is now a resident of Kenwood Park and while in her ninety-third year is still enjoying good health - a remarkably well preserved old lady. In their family were three sons : Sidney O., of this review ; Dewitt C., living in Kenwood Park; and Charles M., of Osceola county, Iowa.
Sidney O. Manville was a youth of nineteen years when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Iowa. His youthful days had been passed in their home in Ohio and the public schools afforded him his educational privileges. He was married in Benton county, in 1866, to Miss Frances O. Brown, who was born in Knightstown, Indiana, on the 1st of November, 1847, and was a daughter of Jesse S. and Clarissa (Catt) Brown, both of whom were natives of Ohio. The year 1850 witnessed their arrival in Iowa county, Iowa, the journey having been made in a covered wagon. They took up a claim on school land and held it for two years, after which they sold that property and in 1852 removed to Benton county, where Mr. Brown entered eighty acres of land. With characteristic energy he began the development of a new farm, for not a furrow had been turned or an improvement made upon the place at that time. In fact, this was a pioneer region and the family bore the usual hardships and experiences inci- dent to pioneer life. Year after year Mr. Brown continued the development and cultivation of his farm until his life's labors were ended in death in 1881. His widow survived him and passed away in Kenwood Park in 1900.
Mis. Manville was the eldest of a family of nine children. As stated, she gave her hand in marriage to Mr. Manville in 1866, and in 1868 they removed to Cedar Rapids, where he opened a real-estate office and continued in the busi- ness until his demise. He not only negotiated important realty transfers for others but improved his opportunity for judicious investment on his own account
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and when called to his final rest was the owner of considerable valuable real estate in Cedar Rapids and Kenwood Park. He possessed keen discrimination in business matters and his sound judgment enabled him to overcome difficulties and obstacles and work his way steadily upward. After some years Mr. and Mrs. Manville established their home in Kenwood Park, where Mrs. Manville still owns and occupies a fine residence. She is a lady of innate eulture and refine- ment and in her early womanhood engaged in teaching school. She attends the Methodist Episcopal church and, like her husband, has a large eirele of warm friends here.
Mr. Manville passed away on the 3d of October, 1900, and was laid to rest in the Watkins cemetery in Benton county, Iowa. Those who knew him - and his friends were many - still cherish the memory of his upright life, his kindly spirit, his genial, cordial greeting and his unshaken integrity, which was manifest in all connections of both business and private life.
DANIEL A. ROSS
Although prosperity has come to Daniel A. Ross as the logieal result of well directed efforts and wise management in business affairs, yet it is not alone because of the success to which he has attained that he is ranked among Cedar Rapids' prominent and influential citizens. Well known in political eircles, he is making his influenee felt in the public life of the community, and in many tangible ways is leaving his impress upon the substantial growth and permanent upbuilding of the city.
He was born in Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania, on the 29th of November, 1846, a son of Hiram and Mary (Kcech) Ross, also natives of the Keystone state. The former, who was a miller, came west in 1858, taking up his abode in Linn county, Iowa, where he followed his trade until 1861. He then beeamc identified with agricultural interests, remaining in connection therewith in Linn county until 1870, in which year, in company with four of his sons, he went to Webster county, Nebraska, each taking up a quarter scetion of government land. They also secured several valuable timber claims, and the father there remained until his death, which occurred in 1876. The widowed mother continued to reside in Nebraska for four years after the death of her husband, making her home with her son George, and in 1880 returned with him to Iowa, loeating in Sioux county, where she lived until her death. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Hiram Ross were five sons and two daughters, as follows: Jesse H .; Henry W .; Casper Steven ; Daniel A .; George G .; Jennie, who married Julius Gardner and passed away in Carroll county, Iowa; and Amanda M., who died when but eleven years of age.
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