History of Linn County Iowa : from its earliest settlement to the present time, Volume II, Part 73

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 73

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Pasquale Pusateri remained a resident of Sicily until twelve years of age, when, in 1890, he crossed the Atlantic to the United States, locating first in Chicago. In that city he made his home for nine years, and there his education. which had been begun in his native land, was completed. On laying aside his text-books he found employment in various fruit and wholesale commission houses, and he was also engaged in construction work for the eity of Chicago. The year 1899 witnessed his arrival in Cedar Rapids and here with his three brothers he established the firm of Pusateri Brothers. The enterprise had a small

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beginning in a store on Second avenue, but by close economy, indefatigable energy and untiring perseverance the partners have expanded the business until they now occupy in addition to the original location another store on First avenue. They do a large retail fruit and confectionery business, which has now reached most profitable proportions, and the degree of success to which they have attained is due entirely to their own well directed efforts and to the wise management of their business affairs. Pasquale Pusateri is a member of and was elected by acclamation to the presideney of an organization known as the Aetna Fruit Dealers Association, comprised of twenty-two merchants and incorporated in 1902 under the state laws of Iowa.

Mr. Pusateri holds membership in the Catholic church and also belongs to Unione Siciliana, a fraternal society. In politics he is a republican and in his citizenship has ever been loyal to the institutions of his adopted country, while in the welfare of Cedar Rapids he takes an active interest, ever advocating those things which tend toward the upbuilding and development of the city. Possess- ing good business ability, he has so conducted his interests that he now ranks among the substantial business men of Cedar Rapids.

ALPHONSE FRANCHERE

No history of Cedar Rapids and her progress in commercial lines would be complete withont extended and personal reference to Alphonse Franchere, who from 1885 until his death in 1910 was identified with mercantile interests in this eity. The large department store known as "The Fair" is today a monument to his initiative spirit, his powers of organization and administrative direction. Nor was it alone in commercial lines that he left the impress of his individuality upon the city. He was recognized as a man of wide publie spirit and large benevolence, his generosity being manifest many times but always unostenta- tiously.

Born in Chicago on the 15th of February, 1854, he was employed in 1870 as cash boy in the department store of Field, Leiter & Company of that city. He soon showed a willingness to work which, combined with his adaptability and determination, were qualities which constituted the salient points in his success. Gradually he was promoted until after devoting fifteen years to service in that establishment, he left Chicago for Neenah, Wisconsin, where he embarked in bus- iness on his own account, investing the capital which he had acquired as the result of his industry and careful expenditure. Ile opened a mercantile house in Neenah, where he remained in business for two years, when he sold out. He then went to New Mexico, where he was suecessfully engaged in the cattle bus- iness for several years and in 1885 he arrived in Cedar Rapids, where he pur- chased a small shoe store known as "The Big Four." In a humble way, he entered commercial circles here but as time passed on he added department after department and store after store until the establishment known as "The Fair" contained eighteen departments, each having a floor space of one hundred and twenty by twenty feet. He had little capital but with large faith in the possibilities of Cedar Rapids, he opened a shoe store at No. 212 First avenue and quickly secured a good patronage. As his resources permitted and his business grew he added to his stock and after two years he established a dry-goods and fancy goods department in the adjoining store - No. 214 First avenue. His business continued to flourish and in 1889 he again enlarged his store, taking another floor and also inereasing his ground floor space. In 1891 he seeured the store room at No. 216 First avenue and then his establishment became a regular department store. ITis business inereased and his trade came from far and near.

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In 1849 Mr. Franchere was joined by his brother, O. J. Franchere, of Chicago, who was thereafter actively identified with the management of the enterprise. Later they were joined by a nephew, A. O. Franchere, and the three men con- tinued as active factors in the commercial circles of Cedar Rapids until the death of the founder and senior partner. The Fair is, indeed, not only one of the most extensive but also one of the most complete mercantile establishments in Iowa, popular because of its attractive arrangement, the straightforward business · methods employed, and the large line of thoroughly modern goods carried. The time and attention of Alphonse Franchere largely centered upon his business interests and his ability was manifest in the notable advancement and success which he won. A man of great natural ability, his success in business from the beginning of his residence in Cedar Rapids was uniformly rapid. As has been truly remarked, "after all that may be done for a man in the way of giving him early opportunities for attaining the requirements which are sought in the schools and in books, he must essentially formulate, determine and give shape to his own character," and this is what Mr. Franchere did. Ile persevered in the pursuit of a persistent purpose and gained a most satisfactory reward. More- over, he ever supported those interests which are calculated to uplift and benefit humanity, while his own personal worth was deserving of the highest commen- dation.

There were also other phases of Mr. Franchere's nature that were most eom- mendable. He was connected with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and as a member of the Catholic church he was devoted to high ideals. He was always active in support of any movement or enterprise which would add to the prestige of Cedar Rapids. Notwithstanding his many business cares, he found much time to devote to sports. He was an active promoter of bievele and other racing events, but was especially devoted to baseball and a lover of the national game. He was one of the leading promoters, if not the leading factor in giving to Cedar Rapids year after year league ball. For a long period he was president of or promoter in the Joeal baseball association and he gave unspar- ingly of his time and money that the game might be perpetuated. Athletie Park was created largely under his direction. He was also one of the pronioters of the carnival, which annually brought to Cedar Rapids many thousands of visi- tors, and he was likewise deeply interested in the building of the City Anditor- ium. Moreover, he gave freely to charity. ITis giving was always unostenta- tious, an index of the character of the man and a fitting recognition of the noble qualities of his manhood. He passed away August 13, 1910, and it was with genuine sorrow and profound regret that the people of Cedar Rapids learned of his passing. His name will long live in the business annals of the city, while his memory will be cherished in the hearts of many who called him friend.

ELMER J. C. BEALER

The historian who attempts to analyze the life record of Elmer J. C. Bealer will find it difficult to designate the most important phases in his life, so varied have been his activities, so diverse his interests and so far-reaching and effective his efforts. There stand out as prominent features in his life a most creditable military experience as a soldier of the Civil war, a legislative service covering the twenty-ninth, thirtieth and thirty-first general assemblies and a business ree- ord that marks his rise from a comparatively humble position to a place among the prominent contractors and quarrymen of the Mississippi valley. Each have called forth in him certain qualities and characteristies worthy of admiration and honor.

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Born near Berne, Switzerland, May 20, 1845, Elmer J. C. Bealer was only four years of age when the family emigrated to America, settling in Cleveland, Ohio. HIis father, John Ellis Bealer, after looking in vain for a week for work at the stone-mason's trade finally prevailed upon the foreman of a company to employ him with the understanding that he was to be paid what he was worth, and at the end of a week he was given fifty eents more than any other workman on the same job on account of his skill and rapidity. Later he engaged in quarrying and bridge contracting at Newton Falls, Ohio, and in November, 1856, went to lowa City, Iowa. to take charge of stone work at that place and the capital quarry ten miles up the river. He was joined by his family January 8, 1857, but his wife, who bore the maiden name of Mary E. Walker, died there on the 14th of the following March, at the age of thirty-seven years. In the spring of 1867 the father sold his business at lowa City to his son Elmer and removed his family to a farm which he had purchased and improved. The son bought the home farm February 20, 1877, having in the previous year formed a partnership with his father in the stone business at North Liberty, where they carried on operations together until March, 1878, when the partnership was dissolved and the father. removed to Gage county, Nebraska, he and his son purchasing a farm two miles west of Odell. He had just begun the improvement of that place when he was acci- dentally killed on the 1st of August, 1878, at the age of fifty-two years.

John E. Bealer was twice married. By his first union there were six children : Elmer J. C .; Albert, who died in Jackson, Tennessee, in 1882; John, of Gage county, Nebraska ; Elizabeth, the deceased wife of John E. Grove, of Danforth, lowa ; Mary, the deceased wife of Henry Headlichka, of Oxford, lowa ; and Henry, a farmer of Johnson county. For his second wife the father married Catherine Brigle, and their children were: Sadie, who became the wife of Frank Puter- haugh and died in 1900; Luella, the wife of Louis Georgian, of Clinton, Missouri ; Dora, who became the wife of Albert Cramer and died in May, 1900; and Ellis, who died at the age of four years.

Elmer J. C. Bealer, left motherless at the age of twelve years, started out in life on his own account and together with his father was employed by the firm of Doty & Madden, driving a team and doing a man's work for four years for his board and clothing and the privilege of attending school three months in the winter. One summer he received ten dollars per month as a farm hand and spent the following winter at home. He took his first contract in the spring of 1862, digging a well, and on the 14th of June of that year, when a youth of seventeen, he offered his services to the government, joining the boys in blue of Company A, Twenty-second Iowa Volunteer Infantry. The regiment went into eamp at Clinton in July and there he contracted measles, and a relapse caused him to remain at lowa City from August until the 14th of September. He was both the first and last man in the regiment to whom medicine was issued, but in the mean- time was never on the siek roll. He was mustered into the United States service September 9, 1862, and from that time on his military record is as follows: left Iowa City for Davenport, September 14, 1862; arrived at St. Louis, September 18, 1862 ; left St. Louis, September 22, 1862 ; arrived at Raleigh, September 23, 1862 ; left Raleigh, December 20, 1862; arrived at West Plains, February 2, 1863; left West Plains, February 9, 1863; arrived at Iron Mountain, February 26, 1863 : left Iron Mountain, March 9, 1863; arrived at St. Genevieve, March 12, 1863; left St. Genevieve, March 27, 1863; arrived at Millikins Bend, April 3, 1863; left Millikins Bend, April 24, 1863; arrived at Richmond, April 25; left Rich- mond, April 26; arrived above Grand Gulf, April 29; marched during the night below Grand Gulf; went on board transports the morning of April 30; started down the river and landed at Hard Scrabble on the east side of the river; went into first battle, May 1, 1863, at Port Gibson and arrived at Willow Springs, May 7; battle at Richmond. May 10: battle of Jackson and evacuation, May 14;

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battle of Champion's Hill, May 16; battle of Black River, May 17; arrived at Vicksburg in the afternoon of May 19; took position in line in the rear of A. J. Smith's division, May 20; charge on Vieksburg, May 22; siege lasted until July 4; started for Jackson, July 5; arrived at Jackson, July 9; Jackson was evacuated by the Confederates, July 16; started back to Vicksburg, July 20; arrived at Vicksburg, July 26; went into camp on Heights below Vicksburg and stayed there until the 14th of Angust; started down the river to New Orleans; went into camp at Carleton above New Orleans, August 15; camped at New Orleans until September 4; started for Brazier City, Louisiana, and went into camp in and about Brazier City until November 3; started up the Tash country, Nov- ember 3; marched to Opalussies; stayed two or three days and marched back to Brazier City; took cars for New Orleans; took ocean steamers at New Orleans, November 29; started for Brownsville, Texas; could not land on account of a storm; landed at Mustang island, December 14; went into camp; then marched up Matagorda island the latter part of December; moved across the bay to DeCrows Point ; then took steamers and went up the bay to old Indianola ; camped there two or three weeks; then marched up to New Indianola and stayed there until March 19; then took steamers for Matagorda island, where they arrived the same day; went into camp and began building earthworks across the island : stayed in this camp until April 29; took steamers for New Orleans, where they arrived May 2; immediately took transports and went up Red river as far as Fort Drussie to reinforce Banks but found his army in retreat; General Lawle was wanted to take luis brigade down the river to Bioshavalio, where he was ordered to build a pontoon bridge, which he did out of steamers placing them side by side thirty-three in number and made a crossing on the bow of these boats; stayed in this eamp until all of the army had passed; then marched down the Rio to Morganza Bend, where they went into eamp; lay there to June 7; then took transports; went down the river to Baton Rouge; arrived there on June 7 ; stayed in camp one month to July 7 ; took transports and went down the river to Algiers on the west side opposite New Orleans; went into camp until July 16; then took transports on ocean steamers; arrived at Fortress Monroe on July 23; went up the James river to Bermuda Hundred and returned; went into Ben Butler's line of works and stayed until July 31 ; took steamers for Washing- ton ; arrived at Washington, August 1; marched up Pennsylvania avenue and camped near the Baltimore & Ohio Railway depot; then marched to Tannley- town west of Washington until July 14 ; then took up march for the Shenandoah valley to join General Sheridan's army ; went into camp and the next day marched down the Shenandoah valley to Bolivar Heights, which is three miles from Harper's Ferry ; formed a line of battle and went into eamp, laying there about three weeks waiting for reinforcements : then marched up the valley to Berry- ville ; went into camp ; built temporary works; lay there until the night of Sep- tember 18: took up march toward Winchester; fought the battle of Winchester on the 19th ; fought the battle of Fisherhill on the 21st ; followed the Confeder- ates up the valley as far as Crawfordsville ; camped there about one week; then retreated down the valley to Cedar Creek; built earthworks and lay in camp until October 19, where they were attacked by Early the morning of the 19th : lay in camp until November 9, when they moved to Camp Russell near Winches- ter : from Camp Russell they moved down the valley to about five miles below Winchester, which was a point where the railway had been in repair and oper- ation : lay in this camp until January 7; then took cars and went to Baltimore: lay in camp there until 16th. took ocean steamers at Baltimore; arrived at the mouth of the Savannah river, January 20; went up the Savannah river in lighters : arrived at Savannah on the same day ; lay in eamp about two months : took ocean steamers : went to Morehead City, North Carolina, to open a base of supplies for Sherman's army ; lay in this camp until May 9; took ocean steamers

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for Savannah, Georgia ; started from Savannah, Georgia, May 13; arrived at Augusta, Georgia, May 20; took up camp in South Carolina across the river the same day ; lay there until June 20, when they started to march back to Savannah, Georgia, arriving there on June 26; lay in this camp about three weeks waiting for transports home; took ocean steamer for Baltimore, Maryland; arrived in Baltimore, July 17; then took cars for Davenport, Iowa, where they arrived July 22; lay in camp until August 3, when they were mustered out of the service ; arrived at Iowa City, August 4, 1865, where they were once again citizens without a uniform.

When the war was over Mr. Bealer returned home and began teaming for his father, who was getting out stone for the public library building at Iowa City. He continued in his father's employ until the spring of 1867, but in the previous October took his first contract for ent stone on his own responsibility, and in the following spring began business for himself, furnishing both building and cut stone from what was known as the capital quarry in Johnson county. In the spring of 1873 he was awarded a twenty-five thousand dollar contract for macad- amizing the streets of Iowa City and the following year took a contract for build- ing ten bridges in Johnson county at a cost of eighteen thousand dollars. IIe continued in bridge building until 1878, when he removed to Cedar Rapids and began business here. Two years later he graded and macadamized the Oak Hill cemetery. He has the unique honor of having built more yards of bridges than any man living or dead in Iowa.

In March, 1881, Mr. Bealer began contracting in Cedar Rapids with a capital of only one hundred dollars. With that as a working basis he took a contract amounting to one hundred and two thousand dollars on the construction of the St. Louis, Hannibal & Keokuk Railroad. He secured this contract at a lower price than was named by three other contractors who had failed to complete the work, but Mr. Bealer is a man of undaunted energy and what he undertakes he accom- plishes. His vocabulary contains no such word as fail. He made the venture a success and it established his reputation as one of the leading contractors of this part of the country. He next graded and maeadamized the addition to Oak Hill cemetery and in the fall of 1883 laid the foundation for the Masonie Library. He also became interested that year in the masonry work for the Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern Railroad, his first contract being the bridge across the Shell river near Northwood, while in 1884 he built a bridge across the Cedar river near Cedar Bluffs on the Clinton division of the same road. In 1884 he opened the Cedar Valley quarry, from which he made his first shipment on the 29th of November of that year. He has shipped altogether sixty-six thousand earloads of stone from his quarry, which Samuel Calvin, state geologist of Iowa, said is "in many respects one of the most notable and interesting in the entire state." The whole thickness of the quarry stone is more than one hundred and sixteen feet. The quarry is opened in the right bank of the Cedar river and has been carried downward over an area of three hundred feet long and one hundred and twenty-five feet wide until the bottom of the quarry is about sixty feet below the water level of the adjacent river. The Cedar Valley quarry is most thoroughly equipped with modern machinery and all the apparatus needed in operating it according to the most modern methods. In fact, according to Iowa's state geolo- gist "this quarry is more thoroughly and expensively equipped with labor-saving machinery for taking out and handling stone than any other within the limits of Iowa." Whenever an old appliance can be replaced by one more effective it is done regardless of the initial expense, the purpose being to reduce operating expenses to a minimum. That this purpose is accomplished will be admitted by anyone who sees with how little expenditure of time and with how little apparent effort the great blocks of stone are detached from the native ledge and car after ear is loaded and made ready to be dispatched to distant markets. Thus, begin-

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ning with a capital of one hundred dollars Mr. Bealer is condneting one of the most extensive and important quarrying and contracting enterprises in this sec- tion of the country and the business is one which proves a general source of profit by furnishing employment to many workmen, while at the same time it is bringing to him substantial prosperity for his labor. In addition to his other interests Mr. Bealer was one of the promoters of the Cedar Rapids Canning Company, of which he is now president, and is a stockholder and director of the Citizens National Bank, while formerly he was a director of the Merchants National Bank.

On the 27th of October, 1867, Mr. Bealer was married to Mrs. Mary C. Erb, who was born in Winchester, Virginia, June 20, 1842. Her first husband, Benja- min Erb, died in 1864, leaving a son, L. L. Erb, who is now serving as foreman in Mr. Bealer's quarries in Cedar Valley. Mrs. Bealer, who bore the maiden name of Mary C. Stephens, is related to Thaddeus Stephens, who died in Lan- easter county, Pennsylvania, and who was a brother of her grandfather. At the age of fifteen she eame west, her parents having died when she was quite young. She is a lady of marked intellectual vigor as well as of attractive social qualities. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Bealer have been born three children: Orpha D., who was horn February 22, 1870, and is now the wife of John M. Grimm, a lawyer of Cedar Rapids; Millard Y., who was born September 10, 1874, and is superinten- dent of his father's quarries ; and Jessie G., born June 9, 1877.

Mr. Bealer holds membership in Crescent Lodge , No. 25, F. & A. M., and also with T. Z. Cook Post, No. 235, G. A. R., of which he has served as commander. Ile was one of the trustees and chairman of the building committee of the Old Ladies Home and in March, 1898, was elected a school director for three years and was made chairman of the finance and building committees. He was on the school board for six years, during which period he built and remodeled more than half of the schoolhouses in Cedar Rapids. He was the only Protestant member of the building committee of the Mercy Hospital and still holds a position on its board of directors. A stalwart advocate of the republican party, he was elected to the legislature, serving during the twenty-ninth, thirtieth and thirty-first general assemblies. The hill known as house file No. 155, of which he was the author, has the distinction of having been the only bill ever passed under like circumstances. It passed the house and senate without a dissenting vote and four absentees of the house and three in the senate placed themselves on record as having been in favor of the bill and would have voted for it had they been pres- ent. This bill provided for the ereetion of monuments and tablets on the Vieks- burg National Military park to mark the positions oceupied by Iowa brigades, regiments and batteries to commemorate the valor and services of lowa soldiers in the campaign and siege of Vicksburg. Mr. Bealer presented the matter in most interesting speech before the house. He stated that seventy per cent of lowa's gallant soldiers were at the siege of Vicksburg, gave reports of the number of men killed and wounded in the various military movements there and contin- ued: "This was the cost of life for the preservation of the Union. Sixteen thousand, six hundred of these are buried at Vieksburg National cemetery, whiel will be within the park that our appropriation is intended to adorn. The park will be the greatest the world has ever seen for the reason that it is proposed to reproduee the Confederate and Federal works as they were during the siege and mount the guns identically as they were during the war. Ought not this great state of lowa, with its broad fertile fields, its manufacturing establishments, its enormous wealth, its enlture and refinement, pay a fit tribute of respect and love to the memory of her fallen heroes on that southern field of carnage? Ought she not to give liberally, that enduring monuments may mark deeds of valor and heroism ; monuments which in all time to come will foster in the hearts and minds of rising generations a proper measure of patriotism and fidelity to the sacred

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History of Linn County Iowa : from its earliest settlement to the present time, Volume II, Part 73

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