USA > Iowa > Muscatine County > History of Muscatine County, Iowa, from the earliest settlements to the present time, Volume II > Part 3
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HISTORY OF MUSCATINE COUNTY
crat-Inquirer, which he edited and published at Muscatine for two years. He entered upon the practice of law in 1856 as a partner of the late E. H. Thayer, the business relation between them being maintained until Mr. Thayer was elected to the bench of the county court in 1857. In the same year Mr. Cars- kaddan was chosen prosecuting attorney of Muscatine county, which office he acceptably filled for two terms. He was then chosen for judicial honors, being elected county judge in 1861 and filling the office until June, 1864. when he re- signed, although his service on the bench had given entire satisfaction, his judicial decisions "winning him golden opinions from all sorts of people." In December, 1863, he entered into partnership with the late Judge De Witt C. Richman, and they were associated for about fifteen years, this being regarded as one of the strongest law firms of eastern Iowa until its dissolution through the election of Mr. Richman to the circuit bench.
Mr. Carskaddan was afterward alone in practice until September 1, 1896, when he was joined by William D. Burk in a partnership that remained without change until January, 1906, when I. S. Pepper joined the firm under the style of Carskaddan, Burk & Pepper. That firm continned until the death of Mr. Burk in 1908, since which time the firm has been Carskaddan & Pepper. Mr. Carskaddan and his partners have represented the Chicago, Rock Island & Pa- cific Railway Company in Muscatine county since 1863. He is a lawyer of marked ability whose cases have ever been prepared with great thoroughness and care, while his broad legal learning is recognized in the readiness with which he brings precedent and principle to bear upon his cases. He is and has been since March 6, 1894, president of the Muscatine Savings Bank, now the First Trust & Savings Bank; is president of the Van Nostrand Saddlery Company, and is connected with several other local enterprises which profit by his keen business discernment and powers of organization.
Judge Carskaddan has long been recognized as an influential factor in re- publican circles. He drew up the platform of the first republican convention ever held in Muscatine county, which was probably the first county convention of the party ever held in the state. He became an advocate of republican prin- ciples at the time the party was organized, his first vote being cast for Fremont and Dayton in 1856. In all the intervening years he has never wavered in his allegiance to the high principles for which the party has stood, yet he never countenances for a moment the methods which seek to make a party organiza- tion a tool for individual service and profit.
On the Ist of May, 1854, Judge Carskaddan was united in marriage to Miss Marilla Brown, a daughter of Clark and Julia (Babcock) Brown, of Morris- ville, Madison county, New York. It was there that Mrs. Carskaddan was born and her parents were also natives of the Empire state, in which they spent their entire lives. They had a family of seven children: Edwin, Harvey, Le Roy, Adelia, Marilla, Maria and Rosalia. By her marriage Mrs. Carskaddan became the mother of a son and daughter : Paul, who was born April 14, 1861, and whose promising youth was cut short by death when he was about fifteen years of age, on November 27, 1875, on which day he was drowned in Musca- tine slough while skating in company with a schoolmate, William Robertson; and Gertrude, now the wife of William F. Bishop, president of the Hawkeye
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HISTORY OF MUSCATINE COUNTY
Pearl Button Company, of Muscatine. Mr. and Mrs. Bishop have a son, Jerome Carskaddan Bishop, who has completed his sophomore year in Cornell Univer- sity.
Unpretentious in bearing, cordial and genial in manner, Judge Carskaddan is nevertheless recognized as one of the eminent members of the Iowa bar, whose prominence, however, is none the less the result of an irreproachable private life than of professional ability.
JOHN T. NESTER.
John T. Nester, proprietor of a popular blacksmith and repair shop in Mus- catine, was born in this city, December 26, 1856. He is a son of John and Afra (Bengele) Nester. The father was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, and came to the United States in 1847, stopping for several years at Toledo, Ohio. Being attracted to the west, he came to Davenport, Iowa, where he lived for one year, and in 1853 or 1854 located in Muscatine. He was a blacksmith by trade and was considered one of the best in his line in Muscatine. About 1898, on account of failing health, he withdrew from active work and in 1902 was called from earthly scenes. He was buried in St. Mary's cemetery. The mother of our sub- ject was also a native of Germany. She was married in Ohio and died in this city in 1897. There were eight children in the family: Mary Margaret, deceased ; John T., our subject; Mary Elizabeth and Charles, both deceased; Andrew J., of Muscatine; Theresa R., now a Sister of the Order of St. Francis and living at Roselle, Iowa; Joseph, deceased; and Mary A., the wife of Anton Myers, of Muscatine.
John T. Nester was educated in the common schools and at Snavely's Busi- ness College at Muscatine : As a boy he spent a great deal of time in his father's shop and became thoroughly familiar with the trade to which his father de- voted his life. After laying aside his books he worked in the shop and became a partner of his father, assuming the entire responsibility when the latter re- tired. The shop was originally located on Seventh street, but later moved to Third and Walnut streets and in 1868 to 311 Mulberry avenue, where work has since been carried on. The first button factory was started in his shop in 1891. Mr. Nester was the originator of the first saw for the button factory-the same pattern being in use at the present time. He also originated the first saw set and shell tongs and is the only steel worker in the city. He is a man of con- siderable originality and has displayed a great deal of skill in various kinds of steel work. He is the owner of his shop and also of the fine residence in which he lives.
In 1886 Mr. Nester was married to Miss Matilda Gonsman. Nine children have come to bless their home: Afra Margaret; Joseph A .; John M., a steno- grapher at the United States arsenal at Rock Island, Illinois; Matilda; Lewis; Rosalie; Andrew; Agnes; and Cecelia, deceased. Six of the children are living at home.
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HISTORY OF MUSCATINE COUNTY
Mr. Nester has from his boyhood been accustomed to work and has always applied himself earnestly, thereby accomplishing a great deal more than in the case of one who is not thoroughly interested in his daily occupation. By con- scientious discharge of his duties he has built up a fine reputation and a lucra- tive business. He and his wife are members of St. Mary's church. Politically he affiliates with the democratic party. He holds membership in St. Joseph's Beneficiary lodge and the lowa Protective Association, and is also connected with the Maennerchor, the Turners, the German American Alliance and the Be- nevolent and Protective Order of Elks. The esteem in which he is held by his as- sociates is indicated by the fact that he is president of the Maennerchor and of the German American Alliance and has held various offices in other organizations.
JACOB FISCH.
Jacob Fisch, whose demise occurred in Muscatine on the 27th of February. 1907, was long numbered among the most prominent and prosperous residents of the city and was for many years actively identified with business interests as the proprietor of a hardware store. His birth occurred in Hessen-Cassel, Germany, on the 23d of November, 1835, his parents being George and Eliza- beth (Mark) Fisch, who were likewise natives of that country. The father, who was a wagon-maker by trade, followed that occupation in Germany. About 1843 he brought his family to the new world, locating on a tract of government land near Wilton, Muscatine county, Iowa. There he successfully carried on general agricultural pursuits throughout the remainder of his life, dying of ty- phoid fever when past middle age. A few days later his wife also died of the same disease. They reared a family of four sons: John, Conrad, Michael and Jacob.
The last named grew to manhood on his father's farm in this county and attended the country schools in the acquirement of an education. After his father's demise he came to Muscatine and secured employment as a clerk in the hard- ware store of Mr. Moore. Subsequently he embarked in business as a hard- ware merchant on his own account and conducted an enterprise of that char- acter for many years, enjoying an extensive and profitable trade. His straight- forward business methods and reliability won him the unqualified confidence of his fellowmen and he was widely recognized as one of the substantial and re- spected citizens of Muscatine.
On the 22d of October, 1855, Mr. Fisch was joined in wedlock to Miss Mar- tha Huckey, who was born in Germany on the 2d of May, 1839, her parents being Jacob and Catharine (Dibble) Huckey. Her paternal grandfather, George Huckey, was a farmer by occupation and both he and his wife passed away in Germany. Their children were as follows: Jolm, who is deceased; Jacob; Con- rad; Elizabeth ; and Martha. The maternal grandfather of Mrs. Fisch likewise followed farming as a life work and died in Germany.
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HISTORY OF MUSCATINE COUNTY
The parents of Mrs. Fisch crossed the Atlantic to the United States in 1844, when she was a little maiden of five years, locating near Wilton, Muscatine county, lowa, where her father devoted his attention to general agricultural pursuits. He was about seventy-two years old when called to his final rest, while his wife, who survived him, lived to attain the age of seventy-eight. They were the parents of three sons and four daughters, all of whom grew to maturity, namely : Catharine, the wife of Barney Biel; Adam; Martha, the widow of Jacob Fisch; John; Conrad; Elizabeth. deceased, who was the wife of John Schaum- berg, who has also passed away; and Mary, the wife of James Smith, of Ne- braska. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Fisch were born five children, as follows: Charles A., who wedded Miss Charlotte A. Parr; Henry W., who married Miss Vera Stribbling; George B., who made Miss Tillie Feustel his wife; Emma Eliza- beth, who gave her hand in marriage to Thomas Cherry, a shoe merchant of Muscatine; and Carrie Lilly, the wife of David Bogard, a clothier of Muscatine.
Mr. Fisch acted as a deacon in the German Evangelical church, of which he was a devoted and consistent member and to which his widow also belongs. On the 27th of February, 1907, he departed this life. He had gained an ex- tensive acquaintance during the long period of his residence here and his demise was the occasion of deep and widespread regret. His widow, who still survives him and has now lived within the borders of Muscatine county for two-thirds of a century, resides at No. 201 East Fourth street and has a host of warm friends in this community.
EDMOND B. FULLIAM. M. D.
Careful and thorough preliminary preparation well qualify Dr. Edmond B. Fulliam for active practice and in the intervening years in which he has devoted his attention to the duties of the profession, he has gained recognition as a most able, conscientious and successful physician and surgeon. He has his residence and office at No. 317 East Third street in Muscatine, his native city.
He was born March 10, 1854, and is a son of Dr. George W. and Elizabeth (Van Natta) Fulliam, natives of Virginia and of Pennsylvania respectively. The father was reared upon a farm in the Old Dominion and when a young man made his way westward to Nauvoo, Illinois, residing there at the time the Mormons marched out to enter upon the conquest of the broad and fertile val- leys around Salt Lake. Later Dr. G. W. Fulliam became a resident of Wa- pello, Iowa, and in 1847 arrived in Muscatine, where his remaining days were passed. He began the practice of medicine in Nauvoo and for over a half cen- tury was a valued and honored member of the profession in this city. He pos- sessed not only scientific skill but also broad sympathy and his cheery presence was a factor in his success in the sick room. He was twice married, his first wife being Eliza Jane Morford, by whom he had two daughters: Mrs. Sultana Bartlett, of Muscatine; and Eliza Jane, the wife of the Rev. F. F. Bond, of Phil- adelphia. Following the death of his first wife Dr. Fulliam wedded Elizabeth
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HISTORY OF MUSCATINE COUNTY
Van Natta, and unto them were born eight children : Charles, deceased; Edmond B., of this review; Stonewall J., of this city; William, who makes his home in St. Joseph, Missouri; Jefferson D., a practicing physician of Muscatine; George, deceased; Belle, who was a deaconess of one of the prominent churches of New York city but is now deceased; and Etta, the wife of Crawford Johnson, of Norristown, Pennsylvania. The death of the father occurred in 1893 when he was seventy-two years of age, and the mother passed away in 1889 at the age of fifty-three years, in the faith of the Congregational church, of which she had long been a devoted member.
Edmond B. Fulliam spent his youthful days in his parents' home in Musca- tine, attended the public and high schools and thus established a good founda- tion upon which to rest his professional knowledge. His interest in the prac- tice of medicine was incited in his early boyhood days through the example of his father and after completing his literary course he attended Rush Medical College of Chicago and the Bennett Medical College of the same city, being grad- uated from the latter with the class of 1879. He has since practiced in Musca- tine and his ability is widely recognized in the liberal patronage accorded him. He has always kept in close touch with the progress of the profession, his read- ing and research making him familiar with the advanced ideas that are bringing to light the hitherto hidden secrets of science. In many avenues of business, too, he has also operated extensively and successfully and to the benefit of the city at large as well as to himself. He was president of the company that brought the Muscatine North & South Railroad to this city, was president of the Musca- tine Electric Light & Power Company and was also president of the starch fac- tory that was established at Greeley, Colorado, but at the present time is con- centrating his energies entirely upon his practice, which makes heavy demands upon his energies.
In 1884 occurred the marriage of Dr. Fulliam and Miss Mary Neyenhaus. They were the parents of four children: Edmond, who died in infancy; Hor- tense and Gertrude, both of whom graduated from the Muscatine high school and are now attending Oberlin College; and Edmond, the second of the name, who is pursuing a course in the University Medical College at Kansas City, Missouri. The mother of these children, Mrs. Mary (Neyenhaus) Fulliam, passed away June 21, 1905, and on the 7th of December, 1908, Dr. Fulliam was married to Miss Jeannette Nicola, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Nicola, early residents of Nichols station, Mrs. Fulliam being the first child born there. She belongs to the Congregational church.
Dr. Fulliam is well known in fraternal relations as a Mason, Odd Fellow, Elk, Eagle and Red Man. Ilis political allegiance is given to the democracy and he is now the representative from the second Iowa district in the general assembly. He has also been honored with various local offices, served for five terms as mayor of Muscatine and as chief executive of the city his labors have been of material benefit in promoting reform, progress and improvement. During his first administration he laid the first brick paving in the city and also the first sewer pipe. He was city health physician for two years, was county physician for one term and was pension examiner under President Cleveland. In more
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HISTORY OF MUSCATINE COUNTY
strictly professional lines he belongs to the Iowa State Eclectic Medical Society, serving as president of the same for three successive terms, and the National Eclectic Medical Society, and concentrating his energies upon his professional duties is recognized as one of the strongest and ablest members of the medical fraternity in Muscatine. He is now president of Loyola Medical Alumni, Ben- nett School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois. His life has been in contradistinc- tion to the old adage that a prophet is never without honor save in his own coun- try, for the city of his nativity, which has been the place of his residence through- out his entire life, he has won the confidence, good-will, support and esteem of his fellowmen.
HENRY R. ALTEKRUSE.
Henry R. Altekruse, for many years prominently connected with the farming and stock-raising interests of Muscatine county and now living retired in the city of Muscatine, was born on a farm seven miles from Baltimore, in the state of Maryland, August 8, 1839. His parents, Rudolph and Sophia (Vo Dermark) Altekruse, were both born in Germany, and came to America soon after their marriage. The father worked on a farm in Maryland for some years and in 1840, believing that the west presented more favorable inducements than could be found elsewhere, located in the wilderness on the line of Seventy-six and Lake townships, Muscatine county, Iowa. Here he built a cabin of round logs, witlı clapboard roof and puncheon floor, and began as a pioneer to acquire financial independence. He was an industrious and economical man and in his wife found a highly capable assistant. After acquiring a competence he erected a comfort- able frame dwelling, in which the family took up their home. Here he passed away February 12, 1891, his faithful companion having departed September 21, 1800. Their bodies were first deposited in a country cemetery but later were taken up and now repose in Greenwood cemetery at Muscatine. There were eight children in the family, of whom Sophia, William, Ernest, Samuel, Eliza and Mary are deceased, those still living being Henry R., our subject, and Ru- dolph J., a retired farmer who makes his home in Muscatine.
Henry R. Altekruse received his education in the common schools and grew up on the home farm. At thirty-eight years of age he was married and en- gaged in farming on section 35, Lake township, where he built a residence and a cattle barn, and also made numerous other improvements. He now owns one hundred and twenty acres of land in Lake township and twenty acres in Seventy- six township, making a fine farm of one hundred and forty acres. He is also the owner of the commodious residence in Muscatine to which he removed in June, 1910.
In 1877 Mr. Altekruse was united in marriage to Mrs. Sarah Matilda (Ad- dleman) Buck, the widow of Ira Buck, by whom she had two children : Harry, now living in the southwestern part of Iowa; and Estella, deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Altekruse three children have been born, all of whom are living: Ar-
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HISTORY OF MUSCATINE COUNTY
thur J., a sketch of whom appears below; Emma, the wife of Chester McCabe, of Seventy-six township; and Ira B., a mechanical engineer of Moline, Illinois.
Mr. Altekruse was formerly a stanch democrat, but, having observed the evil effects of the saloon, he is now an ardent prohibitionist. He has never sought public office but for two years he served as trustee of Lake township with great acceptance to the tax-payers. He and his wife are worthy members of the Methodist Episcopal church and by their steadfast lives they have won a place in the esteein of all with whom they have come in contact.
Arthur J. Altekruse was born on the farm on which he now resides in Mus- catine county, June 14, 1878. He received his preliminary education in the dis- trict schools and for two years was a student in the schools at Muscatine. Lay- ing his books aside, he assumed responsibility upon the home farm and is now devoting his attention largely to feeding stock. He has a few shorthorn cattle and three trotting horses, being at the present time owner of eighty acres of land, although he cultivates two hundred and twenty acres. Having been thor- oughly trained in farming under his father, he gives promise of gaining an en- viable reputation in his chosen calling. In 1905 he was married to Miss Re- becca Miller, a daughter of Charles and Cynthia Miller, of Muscatine. Politic- ally he is an independent democrat, and he has served one term as township trustee. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and fraternally he is connected with the Modern Brotherhood of America.
ABRAHAM SMALLEY.
When lowa was under territorial rule, when its great broad prairies were largely covered with their native grasses, when deer and other wild game was to be had in abundance and when the Indians roamed at will over the vast stretches of the state, Abraham Smalley came to Muscatine. From that time until his death, which occurred sixty-four years later, he was numbered among the valued and representative residents of the county, his labors contributing in substantial measure to the material upbuilding and progress of this portion of the state.
A native of New Jersey, Mr. Smalley was born at Boundbrook in Somerset county, October 24. 1815. His parents were Andrew and Rhoda (Shepherd) Smalley, and he was a representative of one of the oldest families of New Jer- sey. The great-grandfather also bore the name of Abraham Smalley and was born in that state. Andrew Smalley was born in Middlesex county, New Jer- sey, May 22, 1795, and on the 23d of June, 1814, he married Rhoda Shepherd, a daughter of Thomas and Nella (Schenck) Shepherd. Mrs. Smalley was born in Monmouth county, New Jersey, April 9, 1797. In the year 1816 Andrew and Rhoda (Shepherd) Smalley removed westward to Ohio, settling near Cincin- nati, while later they became residents of Carthage, Hamilton county, Ohio, where Andrew Smalley conducted a hotel and also acted as postmaster, al- though the duties of the postoffice were largely performed by his son Abraham. A few years later the father opened a general store and the son had the man- agement of the business. In the month of August, 1838, Abraham Smalley left
Abraham malley
THE NEW YORK 1 PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS.
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IIISTORY OF MUSCATINE COUNTY
Ohio and made his way to what was then the territory of lowa. In the town- ship of Bloomington, Muscatine county, he purchased a claim for his father, and having thus made arrangements for a home for the family, they came to Iowa on the 18th of April, 1839. At that time the city of Muscatine was called Bloomington and was a mere trading post upon the western frontier. Not long after their arrival the father's health failed, and on the 3d of August, 1839, he passed away. His widow long survived him, her death occurring August 4, 1883, when she was eighty-six years of age. In their family were fourteen children, eleven of whom reached years of maturity: Abraham, Shepherd, Cath- arine, Tylec, Jane, John, Andrew J., William, Henry, Rhoda and Emeline.
Owing to the early death of the father, the responsibility of providing for the family fell upon Abraham Smalley, the eldest child. For several years he had the management of family affairs, and bravely bore the cares and labors that thus devolved upon him. His life was one of untiring industry and perse- verance guided by intelligence, and integrity also stood as an unquestioned fact in his business career. In 1843 he began the manufacture of fanning mills and plows at Muscatine and afterward erected a mill at the corner of Third and Cherry streets, where he engaged in the manufacture of sash, doors and blinds. He was thus closely associated with the industrial interests of the city, and his enterprise proved not only a source of profit to himself, but also of benefit to the community, in that it furnished employment to a number of workmen. He also engaged in the manufacture of cultivators on a large scale for those times, the output amounting to over five hundred machines each year. These were hauled into the country and sold from wagons, and the fanning mills were like- wise disposed of in the same way. For twelve years Mr. Smalley conducted a prosperous business along that line, but sold out in 1855 and began dealing in real estate. The following year, with the firm of Green & Stone and Jacob Butler, he laid out the town of South Muscatine and subsequently laid out Mus- serville, which now forms a part of that city. He also laid out a second and third addition to South Muscatine, and his business activities in this line proved a substantial element in the growth and progress of the county. Mr. Smalley well deserves to be numbered among the pioneer business men who laid broad and deep the foundation upon which the later development and growth of Mus- catine county has been built.
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