USA > Iowa > Linn County > History of Linn County Iowa : from its earliest settlement to the present time, Volume II > Part 86
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George Alfred Merrill was educated in the publie schools of Carthage, Illi- nois, and began his railroad service in the capacity of a messenger for the Chicago, Burlington & Quiney Railroad at Burlington, Iowa, which position he held from November, 1881, to July. 1882, after which he became night operator at that place, serving as sneh until the following November. He then accepted employ- ment with the old Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern Railroad. now a part of the Chieago, Rock Island & Pacifie, as night operator at What Cheer, Iowa, remaining there in various eapaeities until the fall of 1886, when he returned to Cedar Rapids as relief agent on the division and operator in the dispatcher's
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offiee. Ile was later advaneed to train dispateher, serving in that capacity from November, 1887, to 1896. He was next employed as chief dispatcher until 1899, when he was made trainmaster at Cedar Rapids, filling that position until 1903. During that year he was promoted to division superintendent at Esther- ville, Iowa, where he remained for a year, and from 1904 to 1905 held a similar position at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. From 1905 to 1907 he was division superintendent at Little Rock, Arkansas, and in the latter year accepted his present position of division superintendent at Cedar Rapids. His advancement has come to him through faithfulness, marked ability and elose attention to all the details which are a part of railway management and control.
Most pleasantly and happily situated in his home life, Mr. Merrill was united in marriage to Miss Mary J. Dwyer, who was born in Donnard, Ireland, but came to the United States as a child of twelve years. They have no children of their own but have always manifested a keen and helpful interest in the young, taking great pleasure in assisting a boy or a girl to progress along educational or moral lines.
Fraternally Mr. Merrill is a thirty-sceond degree Mason, holding membership in Iowa Consistory, No. 2, A. A. S. R. He is also a member of the Benevolent and Proteetive Order of Elks, belonging to lodge No. 251, and is regent of George Greene Couneil, No. 556, Royal Areanum, of Cedar Rapids.
WILLIAM C. BYERS
Thirty-six years' serviee in connection with the operative department of the Rock Island Railroad system in the eapaeity of engineer is indieative of both the eapability and fidelity of William C. Byers of Cedar Rapids. He was born in Greencastle, Pennsylvania, March 9, 1844. His father, Martin Byers, was a native of Hamburg, Germany, whenee he crossed the Atlantic to America, settling in Greeneastle, Pennsylvania, where he lived until 1865, when he came to Linn county, Iowa, here remaining until his death. He married Margaret Kline, who now lies buried by the side of her husband in Crab Apple cemetery.
William C. Byers acquired a common sehool education in Greeneastle, Penn- sylvania, and at the age of seventeen years, prompted by a spirit of patriotism, responded to the country's eall for troops, enlisting at Harrisburg on the 20th of April, 1861. Hardly had the smoke from Fort Sumter's guns eleared away when he joined the army, being one of the seventy-five thousand ineluded within President Lineoln's first call. He was with the Second Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry and following the expiration of his first term of three months, he reinlisted in the One Hundred and Twenty-sixth Pennsylvania Regulars. The first battle in which he took part occurred at Falling Waters, Virginia, where the rebels were routed as they were again at Martinsburg, Virginia, and at Harper's Ferry. Mr. Bvers, in addition to these engagements, took part in the second battle of Bull Run, the battles of Antietam, White Plains and Snieker's Gap in the mountains of Virginia and later in the battles of Fredericksburg and Chan- eellorsville. For six weeks previous to the last named he was detailed for sharp- shooter's praetiee and during the engagement at Chaneellorsville did very effeet- ive work as a sharp-shooter, using sixty-five rounds of ammunition to good effeet. He is still in possession of the old army rifle that he used during the war and he also has other valuable and interesting relies of the early days. He lost two brothers during the war, Charles being killed at the battle of the Wilderness, while George met his death in the battle of Fredericksburg. William C. Byers. however, was never wounded and following the expiration of his term of enlist- ment, soon after the battle of Chancellorsville, he returned to Greeneastle.
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The Civil war was still in progress when on the 8th of October, 1863. at Greencastle, Mr. Byers was united in marriage to Miss Lucretia Conrad. They became the parents of four children. Shannon, the eldest son, was killed near Tipton, Iowa, while serving as an engineer on the Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern Railroad, the accident being caused by a cow upon the track. Earl. the second son. is now a professor of musie in Cedar Rapids. Edward is em- ployed by the Rock Island Railroad Company as engine dispatcher. Carl. the youngest, is also a railroad man.
Thus three of the sons have followed in the footsteps of their father who for many years has been identified with the railroad serviee. Ile went upon the road in 1871. acting as fireman for three years on the Dubuque & Southwestern Railroad. In 1876 he became an engineer on the Rock Island Railroad and for thirty-six years has been at the throttle, carefully controlling the great iron mon- ster, fully conscious of the responsibility that devolves upon him as the enstodian of human life.
In his political views Mr. Byers is an earnest republican and keeps well in- formed on the questions and issues of the day. For eight years he was a member of the city council and is at present one of the eivil service commissioners of Cedar Rapids. Fraternally he is connected with Crescent Lodge, No. 25, A. F. & A. M .. still retains his membership in the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen. and is also a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. He likewise belongs to the Ancient Order of United Workmen. For thirty years he has been a. Methodist and his life is in harmony therewith, thereby winning for him the respeet and goodwill of all with whom he comes in contact.
JOSEF BURES
Josef Bures was formerly identified with general agricultural pursuits for a number of years and thereby won the success which now enables him to live retired in the enjoyment of well earned rest. He owned and cultivated land in Putnam township and upon putting aside business cares established his home in the town of Ely, where he is now pleasantly located. His surname indicates his Bohemian lineage. He was born in Bohemia in 1852 and attended school in his native land. He learned to read and write the English language after coming to America. doing the last without receiving instruction. He was a young man of eighteen years when he became a resident of lowa, at which time he located in Big Grove township, Johnson county. He had come to the new world empty- handed but was imbued with firm purpose to make the most of his opportunities and to progress along business lines. He began to work as a farm hand but eagerly embraced the first opportunity of becoming the owner of property. IIe had been a resident of Johnson county for only a year when, in 1871, he purchased sixty-five acres of timber land. While it was largely destitute of improvement. he at onee began to develop it and is now the owner of two hundred and thirty- five aeres of highly improved land in Johnson county. His labors made his tract very productive. for in farming he practiced the rotation of erops and the judie- ious use of fertilizers, so that he always kept his soil in good condition. He has ever been a hard worker and in all things has been actuated by the spirit of pro- gress and advancement. At length. feeling that his competence was sufficient to justify him in retiring from active life, he put aside business cares and pur- chased ten acres of land in Ely. upon which he ereeted a thoroughly modern and attractive home.
In December, 1870. Mr. Bures was united in marriage to Miss Christina Bir- inanek, of Johnson county, a daughter of Wesley and Zophia Burinanek. who
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were successful farming people. The children of this marriage were: Anna, now the wife of Wesley Mecota; Julia, who married Joseph Noie; Joseph, who was born Deeember 24, 1878; John, born October 29, 1882; and Frank, born September 29, 1887. The wife and mother passed away on the 24th of April, 1891, and on the 8th of November, 1894, Mr. Bures was again married, his second union being with Mrs. Anna Kremenack, nee Burinanek, a sister of his first wife, at that time a resident of Cedar Rapids. She had three children by her first marriage: Joseph, living in Ely; Anna, the wife of Ed Pisarik, of Putnam town- ship; and Thelia, the wife of Wesley J. Dvorak, of Ely.
Mr. Bures has filled the office of school director and school treasurer, serving in those positions for many years. The cause of education finds in him a warm friend and he has put forth carnest and effective effort to promote publie pro- gress along educational lines. Ilis political views are in accord with the prin- ciples of the democratic party. He is well known among his countrymen as an upright, honest man, and has many friends in both Johnson and Linn counties. His business record is certainly ereditable, for with no capital he started out to make his way in the world, in a land with whose language and customs he was unfamiliar. Gradually he worked his way upward and is today one of the substantial citizens of Ely, his success being evident in his comfortable sur- roundings and his financial standing.
COLONEL SEYMOUR DAVID CARPENTER, M. D.
Although now a resident of Chicago, Colonel Seymour David Carpenter, MI. D) .. was elosely associated with the interests of Iowa for many years. He was one of the first medical practitioners of Cedar Rapids and one of the organizers of the first banking house of the city. He was born in Lancaster, Ohio, in 1826, and comes of a family of Swiss origin, the name of Carpenter being the Angli- eized form of the word Zimmerman. Heinrich Zimmerman, the first representa- tive of the family in America, settled in Pennsylvania in 1696. He afterward returned to Switzerland, but in 1706 made permanent location in this country. Arriving in Germantown, Pennsylvania, he purchased a large tract of land in Lancaster county for his colony. Later members of the family were prominent in all the colonial and early wars of the country and representatives of the name in succeeding generations have attained high official positions. Emanuel Car- penter was a colleague of Dr. Benjamin Franklin in the provincial assembly at Philadelphia ; Lieutenant Colonel Jacob Carpenter won fame in the Revolutionary war; Emannel Carpenter of the third generation in 1798 made a trip of explor- ation up the Ohio river and northward and located on the Hocking river, near the present site of Lancaster, Ohio. In 1802 other members of this branch of the family removed to Ohio and finally named that settlement New Lancaster - the home of the Shermans, General William T. and Senator John T. Sherman.
Colonel Carpenter was the eldest in the family of six children of Gabriel Carpenter, whose name is inseparably interwoven with the history of Cedar Rapids, for he was one of the founders of the city and largely guided its destinies in the early days, infusing into the community a spirit of progress and enterprise which constituted a safe foundation upon which to build its present prosperity. Mr. Gabriel Carpenter, the father of Seymour D., started upon life's journey almost at the opening of the nineteenth century, for his birth occurred in Lan- caster, Pennsylvania, on the 11th of September, 1801. He was only a year old when his parents removed from the Keystone state to Ohio with a number of colonists who founded and named the city of Lancaster. There amid pioneer surroundings and environment his youthful days were passed. His edueation
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was acquired under difficulties, for the public-school system was in its infaney and the pioneer community afforded only such educational advantages as could be obtained in the little log schoolhouses on the frontier. His training at farm work, however, was not meagre, for he was early instructed in the work of the fields and taught the best methods of plowing, planting and harvesting. He eon- tinued to carry on general agricultural pursuits in Ohio until 1852. He then removed to Cedar Rapids and became the owner of a section of land now embraced within the southern portion of the eity. From that time until his death he was closely identified with the upbuilding and improvement of Cedar Rapids and contributed in large measure to its progress by laying out seven additions thereto. His real-estate operations were conducted on an extensive scale, and he had the prescience to discern what the future had in store for this growing western city. His investments, therefore, were judiciously made and in time brought to him splendid financial returns. In business matters his judgment was sound, his discernment keen and his enterprise unfaltering.
Mr. Gabriel Carpenter was married twice, first to Miss Catherine Pearee, who died in Ohio. There were five children of that marriage: Seymour David, the eldest, now a resident of Chicago; E. B., living in Leavenworth, Kansas; Rebecca, who died in 1883 while living with her sister, Mrs. Mary Weare, Sioux City, Iowa; Mary, who passed away in 1910; and Susanna, now the widow of H. B. Stibbs and a resident of Chicago. For his second wife Mr. Gabriel Carpenter chose Mrs. Maria Wylie, nee Clifton, who by a former marriage had two daughters : Anna Wylie, living with her mother in Cedar Rapids; and Harriett, the wife of J. H. Reede, a resident of Chicago. By their second marriage Mr. and Mrs. Gabriel Carpenter had five children, namely: Delia; Frank and John F., who have been called to their final home, and rest in the cemetery at Cedar Rapids; George, who is living in Nashville, Tennessee; and Taylor Carpenter, whose home is in Cedar Rapids.
Coming to this city in pioneer times, Mr. Gabriel Carpenter did effective work for its improvement and his publie spirit was manifest in many tangible ways. His business interests were largely of a character that contributed to general improvement as well as to individual sueeess. Ile was the owner of the land at the corner of First street and Second avenue and upon it ereeted what was then the finest hotel of the city -a briek structure three stories in height. It was condueted as a model hotel and was one of the notable features of the city but was destroyed by fire in 1876. Afterward he utilized the hotel site for the eree- tion of a fine business block, and also ereeted in Cedar Rapids a good briek residence, hauling the brick from Muscatine, Iowa, with teams. The house was finished throughout in solid walnut. and the family occupied that attractive frontier home until it was destroyed by fire in 1865 but afterward was rebuilt. Aside from his building operations and real-estate dealings Mr. Gabriel Carpen- ter became a director in a private bank conducted under the name of Carpenter, Stibbs & Company. Ile was also for a number of years one of the direetors of the First National Bank of Cedar Rapids, became president of the Marshalltown Gas Company, in which he owned a quarter interest. and a stoekholder in the Cedar Rapids Water Company. In business affairs he displayed quiek discern- ment and a faculty of separating the important features of any situation or project from its ineidental or accidental eireumstanees. He used his time and opportunities to the best advantage and accomplished results by prompt and direct action while others were pausing to consider the means to the end.
In matters of eitizenship Mr. Gabriel Carpenter sought for all that promised substantial advancement and was deeply interested in those projeets which are a matter of eivic virtue and eivie pride. He watched with interest the progress of events that led to the inauguration of the Civil war and although too old to render active service he sent two sons, Seymour D. and E. Brough, who both
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served the whole four years, put forth every effort at home to uphold the Union eanse and at the first call for volunteers offered a fine town lot to the first one enlisting. The prize was taken by Joseph Perigo, who after the war built a good house upon the site. Mr. Gabriel Carpenter ever gave his political allegiance to the republican party, believing that its principles conserved the best elements of good government. He belonged to Crescent Lodge, No. 25, of Masons. In his later years he found interest and recreation in croquet, becoming a skillful play- er, spending entire afternoons with friends in the enjoyment of the game. His religious faith was indicated by his membership in the Episcopal church, in which he served as vestryman and also as junior warden at the time of his death, which occurred on the 10th of March, 1881. While almost three decades have since passed, his memory is yet cherished by many of the older citizens among whom he was widely known and honored, his sterling traits of character winning him personal regard, while his activity in business and publie lines established his reputation as one of the most progressive and public-spirited citizens. Mrs. Maria Carpenter still survives her husband at the very advanced age of ninety years.
Colonel Seymour D. Carpenter was reared in Fairfield county, Ohio, pursuing his early education in a district school built of logs and later attending Granville College at Granville, Ohio, then for two years was also a student at Lancaster Academy. Subsequently he again spent two years at Granville College and for three years studied medieine under Dr. Williams of Granville. He afterward engaged in teaching school for a period in the south but finally returned to Lan- easter, where he studied medicine prior to entering the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania, from which he received his diploma in 1848. The following year he left home on horseback and on the 14th of June, 1849, arrived in Cedar Rapids, where he formed a partnership for the practice of medieine with Dr. E. L. Mansfield, thus continuing until 1850, when he became the senior partner of the firm of Carpenter & Koontz.
On the 6th of July, 1850, Colonel Seymour D. Carpenter married Miss Sarah Weare, a daughter of John Weare, Sr., of Cedar Rapids, and in 1852 he became one of the organizers of the first banking house in Cedar Rapids in association with Edmund C. Kreider and Henry Lehman and soon afterward, abandoning the profession of medicine, he devoted his time until 1861 to the real-estate and loan business. At the outbreak of the Civil war he was foremost in the organization of the first Iowa regiments and was appointed assistant surgeon of United States volunteers, serving throughout the period of hostilities. He was mustered ont July 31, 1865, with the rank of brevet lieutenant Colonel, holding three commis- sions.
When the war was over Colonel Seymour D. Carpenter returned to Cedar Rapids, where he engaged in contracting on a large seale in the building of rail- roads and other public works in Iowa and other states, Mexico and Canada. In 1866 he removed to Ottumwa, Iowa, where he became associated with others in the construction of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railway between the Mis- sissippi and Missouri rivers. Later he engaged in the lumber business in Louis- iana with John and Elisha Ely as partners but subsequently purchased their interests and formed the Cypress Shingle & Lumber business. In 1885 he was elected president of the Southern Lumber & Shingle Association and removed his family to Louisiana, where unfortunately he was called upon to mourn the death of his wife and only son Ralph Weare. He continued actively in business in Louisiana until June. 1893, when his mills were destroyed by fire and the fol- lowing year he returned to the north, settling in Chicago.
In May, 1900, while traveling abroad, Colonel Seymour D. Carpenter was married again. his second union being with Mrs. Fanny M. Emerson, an English widow, having one daughter, Ellen E. Emerson. By his first marriage Colonel Carpenter had four children. Katherine, widow of J. Asbury Taylor. resides
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in Ottumwa, Iowa. Mary is the wife of Albert G. Harrow, and they have a daughter, Grace, now the wife of J. Rudy Smith, by whom she has one child, Natalie Harrow Smith. Sarah Carpenter is the wife of William D. Elliott, of Ottumwa, Iowa, and they had two sons, William Dalrymple, living, and Albert Weare, deceased. Ralph Weare Carpenter married Grace Harrod and left a daughter, Edith Weare Carpenter, still living at Winnetka, Illinois.
Colonel Seymour D. Carpenter is now eighty-four years of age and is the oldest Carpenter for two hundred years. He is now pleasantly located in Chi- eago, where he is enjoying a well earned rest. He is a man of optimistic ten- dencies, always looking on the bright side, and thus sheds around him much of the sunshine of life. His good qualities have made him highly respected and he yet has many friends in Cedar Rapids among the older residents of the city with whom he was associated through business and social relations during the years of his residence here. At the fiftieth anniversary held in this city he made one of the opening speeches. Ile was one of the first delegates sent by Iowa to a republican convention for the purpose of making a presidential nomination and also attended the convention held in Chicago when President Taft received his nomination. At that time he was invited to occupy a seat on the platform, this honor being given him on account of his being one of the oldest republican dele- gates to a convention, and a long article and his picture appeared in the Chicago Record Herald.
EDWARD YOCOM
The business interests of Springville have a worthy representative in Edward Yocom, who since 1895 has conducted a general mercantile store in that place. A native of Ohio, he was born in Morgan county, on the 4th of November, 1854, and is a son of Thomas D. and Anna (Bailey) Yocom, who were natives of Belmont county, Ohio. The mother died in 1865 in Morgan county, that state. Two years later the father married again and in 1871 he moved to Springville, Iowa, purchasing a farm in Linn county. Ile continued his residence here throughout the remainder of his life and passed away on the 17th of January, 1908, at the age of seventy-eight years. He was a consistent member of the Friends church and was a man honored and esteemed wherever known. By his first marriage he had seven children, of whom three are still living, while by his second union there were two children and one still survives.
Reared under the parental roof, Edward Yocom attended the common schools near his boyhood home and assisted his father in the operation of the farm until he attained his majority. He then engaged in farming for himself for six years. but at the end of that time removed to Marshall county, Iowa, and embarked in general merchandising, which he carried on there for some years. In 1895, how- ever, he returned to Linn county and opened a general store in Springville, which he has since conducted with marked success. He carries a large and complete line of goods to meet the demands of his patrons and his reliability and fair deal- ing have gained him the confidence of all.
On the 9th of April, 1876, Mr. Yocom was united in marriage to Miss L. M. Calvert, who is also a native of Ohio, her parents being John and Mary A. Cal- vert. Her father died in 1907, but her mother still survives and now makes her home with our subjeet. In the Calvert family were nine children, of whom seven are still living. Mr. and Mrs. Yocom have four children : Olive L., now the wife of John Worrall, of Springville. by whom she has one daughter, Veda M. ; John T .. who is married and has a third interest in his father's business; Purley C., who holds a position in a bank in Chicago ; and Edward Brooks, who is now attending Cornell College.
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Mr. Yocom and his family hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church and fraternally he is identified with Springville Camp, No. 3346, M. W. A., in which he has filled all of the ebairs. Politically he has always been a stanch republican and has held various local offices, the duties of which he has discharged with promptness and fidelity, having served as township elerk and as a member of the school board and the town board at different times. His record is a credi- table one, characterized by those qualities which win him classification with the leading citizens and reliable business men of his community. His life has ever been upright and honorable and he well deserves the confidence in which he is uniformly held.
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