USA > Iowa > Muscatine County > History of Muscatine County, Iowa, from the earliest settlements to the present time, Volume II > Part 6
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Nicholas Barry, Jr., was a lad of about twelve years when he came to Musca- tine in company with his parents. He attended the parochial schools and later pursued a course of study in Snavely's Commercial College. After putting aside his text-books he familiarized himself with the trades of tinner and coppersmith and subsequently learned plumbing and steam fitting, following those occupations for many years. In 1876 he became a partner of his father and on the latter's retirement, in 1894, he and his brothers Patrick and Thomas continued the busi- ness under the old name of the Barry Manufacturing Company, which style has been maintained to the present time. In 1895 the company sold out the lead busi- ness and began the manufacture of pearl button machinery and supplies. Their plant consists of three buildings, the main building being forty-eight by one hun- dred and sixty-four feet and three stories in height; another building is thirty- four by ninety feet and one story high; and the third building covers twenty-two by one hundred and ten feet and is two stories in height. From one hundred to one hundred and twenty-five people are employed in the conduct of the business. Nicholas Barry, Jr., who is now at the head of the concern, is a man of keen dis- crimination and sound judgment, and his executive ability and excellent manage- ment have been potent factors in its continued growth and success.
In July, 1879, Mr. Barry was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary Mccarthy, a native of Davenport and a daughter of Daniel and Emily (Hall) McCarthy, of Rock Island, Illinois. They were natives of Ireland and Kentucky respectively but became early settlers of Davenport, Iowa. Their children were five in num- ber, namely: Nancy, the widow of Thomas Newcomb; Sarah, the wife of Michael Kelly; Mrs. Barry ; and Daniel and Charles, who died in early manhood. Mr. and Mrs. Barry are also the parents of five children. George William, who is employed as a machinist and foreman by the Barry Manufacturing Company, wedded Miss Lillian Dale, by whom he has one daughter, Genevieve. John C., a draughtsman and mechanical engineer, married Miss Edith Harrison, by whom he has a daughter, Evelyn. Florence is the wife of John J. Fuller and the mother of one daughter, Marian. Leo married Miss Lydia Borgstadt and has one daugh- ter. Marie, who attends school, is still under the parental roof.
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Since age conferred upon him the right of franchise Mr. Barry has supported the men and measures of the democracy, believing firmly in its principles. Fra- ternally he is identified with the Knights of Columbus, and both he and his wife belong to the Catholic church. No breath of suspicion has ever assailed his good name and on the contrary he stands as a splendid type of the honorable, reliable, successful man, the public-spirited citizen and the trustworthy friend.
FRANK ASHCRAFT.
Frank Ashcraft, a native of Muscatine and for nearly forty years connected with its business interests, is today one of the best known men in Muscatine county. He was born July 15, 1852, and is a son of Thomas and Mary A. (Dean) Ashcraft, the former of whom was born in Ohio and the latter in Indiana. The father was a mechanic and worked principally at carpentering. He came to Iowa in 1849 and settled at Muscatine, where he spent the remainder of his life ex- cept six years which he passed in Davenport. He died in 1895 at the age of seventy-one years, his wife having preceded him in 1881, when she was forty-nine years old. They were both members of the Methodist church.
Joseph Ashcraft, the paternal grandfather, was also a native of Ohio. He was a farmer and was twice married, his first wife being Mary Reddington, who died in her young womanhood. She was the mother of one child, Thomas. By his second marriage he became the father of five sons. He lived until he was over eighty years of age, departing this life on a farm near Cincinnati. The maternal grandfather was Edward Dean, who was born in Ohio. He removed to Indiana and later settled at Henderson, near Galesburg, Illinois, where both died when over ninety years old. There were ten children in their family, Charles, William, Thomas, Daniel, John, Nancy, Sarah, Eliza, Mary and Lavina. It is a remarkable fact that five brothers and four brothers-in-law of this family were soldiers in the Civil war and went with Sherman on his march to the sea. To Thomas and Mary A. Ashcraft ten children were born, five of whom grew to maturity: Edward deceased; Frank; Alvah, of Little Falls, Minnesota ; Harry, of Muscatine; and Jennie, now Mrs. Clark, living near Wahpeton, North Dakota.
Frank Ashcraft was educated in the public schools of Muscatine and received his home training under circumstances that were highly favorable for a suc- cessful career. After laying aside his text-books he became shipping clerk in the lumberyard of Chambers Brothers, continuing with the firm until 1878, when he accepted a position in a similar capacity with the Musser Lumber Company. He next became connected as superintendent with the Hershey Lumber Com- pany and remained in that position from 1881 until the company went out of business. He then became identified with Kaiser Brothers as contractor and was with Roach & Musser until 1905, when he engaged in the plumbing business on his own account. For the past two years he has been dealing extensively in engine supplies and specialities and has made quite a success in this line. He is also a director in the Mira Hershey Lumber Company.
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HISTORY OF MUSCATINE COUNTY
On the 30th of May, 1878, Mr. Ashcraft was united in marriage to Miss Ella Fisher and two children blessed that union, Linn and Ida, the former of whom died when one year old. Ida became the wife of Joseph A. Davidson, of Muscatine, and is the mother of two children, Joseph and William S. Mrs. Ashcraft having been called away in February, 1884, our subject was a second time married, the lady of his choice being Miss Clara Theressa Stevens, a native of Rippey, Greene county, Iowa, and a daughter of Alonzo C. and Sarah E. (Clark) Stevens. Mr. and Mrs. Stevens were early settlers in Muscatine and were married in Rippey, Iowa. They now live in Muscatine. Mr. Stevens was a soldier of the Civil war. There were three children in the family: Ella B. now the wife of Dr. Turner, of Pasadena, California; Addie, the wife of John M. Culver, of Canada ; and Clara Theressa, now Mrs. Ashcraft. One son has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Ashcraft, Lee R., who married Anna Wilson and is now in the employ of the Batterson Novelty Company.
Mr. Ashcraft is not identified with any religious organization but his wife is a member of the Presbyterian church. He is a prominent worker in the Masonic order, holding membership in Iowa Lodge, No. 2, A. F. & A. M .; Washington Chapter, No. 4, R. A. M .; and De Molay Commandery, No. I, K. T., and also belongs to Muscatine Homestead, No. 336, of the Yeomen of America. Politic- ally he affiliates with the republican party and is an earnest advocate of its prin- ciples. He served as alderman of the third ward for two years and was a member of the city council, when the bill for paving and sewerage for the city was intro- duced and passed, being very active in its promotion. He was a contributor to the building of the first street railway in Muscatine and was on the building com- mittee that erected the high school and two other city buildings. He served as school director for seven years and for one year was chief of police, and in the discharge of his various duties, public and private, he has exercised a judgment and discrimination that have gained for him the respect of the entire community.
SEABURY BREWSTER COOK.
Seabury Brewster Cook, a well known and leading resident of Muscatine, has been prominently identified with the financial interests of the city for the past four decades, having acted as cashier of the institution now known as the Muscatine State Bank since its incorporation. His sound judgment has also promoted the success of various other enterprises and since 1896 he has served as president of the Muscatine Lumber & Box Company.
His birth occurred in Norwich, Connecticut, on the 11th of January, 1844, his parents being George and Sarah (Brewster) Cook, who were natives of Connecticut and Ohio respectively. The paternal grandfather, who was born in Connecticut, was lost at sea. His wife, who bore the maiden name of 'Abigail Bushnell, lived to be nearly eighty years of age. The Brewster family history has been well written by Emma Brewster Jones, of Walnut Hills, Cincinnati, Ohio. The great-grandfather of our subject in the maternal line was Seabury Brewster, who participated in the Revolutionary war and was on the prison ship
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HISTORY OF MUSCATINE COUNTY
Jersey when they exchanged. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Sallie Bradford, was a descendant of Governor Bradford. William Brewster, the maternal grandfather of S. B. Cook, was born in Norwich, Connecticut, and belonged to the seventh generation descended from Elder William Brewster, who came to this country from England in the Mayflower. He served in the war of 1812, proving a most loyal and valiant soldier. He was twice married, his first wife being Miss Lucretia Fuller, by whom he had two children : Sarah Bradford Brewster; and Lucretia, who passed away when twenty-nine years of age. For his second wife William Brewster chose Miss Harriet Hamlin, of Ohio. The son of that union, William, wedded Miss Georgia Williams in Mus- catine and lived here for a number of years but passed away in New York city. William Brewster, the grandfather of the gentleman whose name introduces this review, came to Iowa with his second wife about 1855, locating in Musca- tine, where he lived retired until called to his final rest. His wife, who survived him for some years, passed away in Wilton, Iowa.
George Cook, the father of Seabury Brewster Cook, was engaged in business at Norwich, Connecticut, as a merchant tailor. In the fall of 1861 he came to Muscatine with his family and here spent the remainder of his life in honorable retirement, passing away in the faith of the Congregational church when seventy- nine years of age. His wife, is also a devoted member of that church, still sur- vives and has attained the advanced age of ninety-three years. They had five children, four of whom grew to maturity: Seabury B., of this review; George B., who is deceased ; Edward C., deceased, who was assistant cashier of the Mus- catine State Bank ; and Harriet H., the widow of Professor F. M. Witter, who was the organizer of the public school system of Muscatine and recently died at Biloxi, Mississippi.
Seabury Brewster Cook spent the first seventeen years of his life in his native state, acquiring his education in the public schools of Norwich. In 1861 he came to Muscatine with his parents, here following the profession of school teaching during one winter term. He then worked in the shoe store of W. F. Johnson for about two years, on the expiration of which period he entered the banking house of Isett & Brewster as a bookkeeper. That firm was succeeded by the Merchants Exchange Bank, which later became the Merchants Exchange National Bank, which in turn was succeeded by the First National Bank. Mr. Cook continued in the employ of these various banks until the fall of 1869. On the ist of February, 1870, a new and private bank was established and organized by S. B. Cook and the late Charles Silverman, the enterprise being conducted for several years under the firm style of Silverman, Cook & Company. About 1875 P. M. Musser became a member of the firm and the name was subse- quently changed to that of Cook, Musser & Company. That style was retained until 1896, when the enterprise was incorporated under the state law and be- came the Cook, Musser & Company State Bank and Trust Company. On the Ist of September, 1908, it was made the Cook, Musser & Company State Bank, while in January, 1910, the institution adopted its present title-the Muscatine State Bank. As above stated, Mr. Cook has acted as cashier since its incorporation. A wide-awake, energetic business man, he has done much to promote the in- terests of the institution with which he is connected and has become thoroughly
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HISTORY OF MUSCATINE COUNTY
conversant with every department of banking. He keeps well posted on the financial interests of the country and in his management of affairs has followed a safe, conservative policy which has won the commendation of the patrons of the bank and gained the confidence of the general public. He has not confined his attention wholly to his banking interests but has become identified with other enterprises, having for the past fourteen years served as president of the Musca- tine Lumber & Box Company.
Mr. Cook has been married twice. In 1872 he wedded Miss Seny Chaplin, a daughter of Charles and Helen M. (Sherman) Chaplin, who were early settlers of Muscatine and here passed away. That union was blessed with one son, Robert S., now a resident of Roswell, New Mexico, who married Miss Gena V. Nichols and has one daughter, Sarah Marie. Mrs. Seny Cook was called to her final rest in 1894, when forty-six years of age, passing away in the faith of the Congregational church. For his second wife Mr. Cook chose Mrs. Mary Magill, a native of Muscatine and the widow of Samuel T. Magill. Her parents, Alexander and Lucy (Daily) Jackson, took up their abode among the carly residents of this city.
In politics Mr. Cook is a democrat, while fraternally he is identified with the Masons, belonging to lowa Lodge, No. 2, A. F. & A. M .; Washington Chapter, No. 4, R. A. M .; and DeMolay Commandery, No. I, K. T. His home at No. 419 West Second street is the abode of a charming and gracious hospitality. Mr. Cook has lived in Muscatine for the past half century and has long been numbered among its most enterprising and respected residents.
JEFFERSON D. FULLIAM, M. D.
The name of Fulliam is inseparably associated with the history of the med- ical profession in Muscatine, and the record of Dr. Jefferson D. Fulliam is one which reflects added credit and honor upon an untarnished family name. As a physician and surgeon he is practicing successfully here, having for twenty-three years devoted his time and energies to the alleviation of human suffering and the restoration of health.
He was born in this city, November 9, 1865, a son of Dr. George W. and Elizabeth (Van Natta) Fulliam, natives of Indiana and Pennsylvania respectively. The former was a son of Bland Ballard Fulliam, who was the first white child born in the fort on what is now the site of Lexington, Kentucky. His maternal grandfather, Bland Ballard, was a soldier of the Revolutionary war, being a member of Clarke's Illinois regiment of Virginia troops. Beniamin Fulliam, the paternal great-grandfather of our subject, also fought for American inde- pendence. Bland Ballard Fulliam was a private in Captain Lyddall Bacon's company of infantry, the Seventeenth, Frisco's regiment of Kentucky in the war of 1812. In Washington county, Indiana, whither he went in pioneer times, he married Elizabeth Hardin, who was born near Greeneville, Tennessee. He was of Welsh decent while his wife was or Irish lineage in the paternal line and of German descent on her mother's side. At the time of the war of 1812 Bland
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HISTORY OF MUSCATINE COUNTY
B. Fulliam espoused the American cause, seeing active service during the period of hostilities. He died in 1852 at the age of fifty-five years, having for about five years survived his wife, whose death resulted from cholera in 1847 at the age of forty-five years. Their family numbered seven daughters and two sons, all of whom are now deceased.
Dr. George W. Fulliam, the father of Jefferson D. Fulliam, was reared upon a farm in Washington county, Indiana, amid the wild scenes and environment of frontier life. In early manhood he removed to Nauvoo, Illinois, before the Mormons had left that district. Later he went to Wapello, Iowa, and in 1847 came to Muscatine, where he made his home continuously until his death. When still quite young he took up the study of medicine and began practice in Nauvoo. After living in Wapello for a time he followed the advice of a Mr. Parvin and came to Muscatine in 1847, finding here a profitable field for his professional labors, in which he continued actively until his demise on the Ist of June, 1893, when he was seventy-two years of age. He had married Elizabeth Van Natta, a native of Pennsylvania, and a daughter of William Van Natta, who was born in the Keystone state and was of Holland Dutch descent. The death of Mrs. Elizabeth Fulliam occurred in 1889, when she was fifty-three years of age. She held membership in the Congregational church and her life was the exemplifi- cation of earnest Christian womanhood. Dr. Fulliam had previously married Miss Eliza Jane Morford and had two daughters by that marriage; Mrs. Sultana Bartlett, now of Muscatine; and Mrs. Eliza J. Bond, the wife of Rev. F. F. Bond, of Philadelphia. The children of Dr. Fulliam's second marriage were: Charles, deceased; Dr. Edmond B., of Muscatine; William J., of Horton, Kan- sas; Stonewall J., also of Muscatine; Jefferson D .; George, deceased; Belle, deceased. who was a deaconess in the Methodist and Presbyterian churches ; and Etta, the wife of Crawford Johnson, of Norristown, Pennsylvania.
No event of special importance occurred to vary the usual routine of life for the small boy who devotes his time to the acquirement of an education and to the sports which are a constant source of pleasure, in which manner the youth of Dr. Jefferson D. Fulliam was passed. His professional education was ac- quired in the Bennett Medical College of Chicago, from which he was graduated in 1887, and since that time he has been an active representative of the medical fraternity in his native city. Aside from his private practice, which has con- stantly grown in volume and importance, he served as health officer for eight years. He is now secretary of the Muscatine County Medical Society and also belongs to the State Medical Society.
On the 2d of April, 1890, Dr. Fulliam married Miss Lavine A. Wabnitz, a daughter of Charles F. and Mary (Wagner) Wabnitz. Mrs. Fulliam was born near Grandview, Louisa county, Iowa. Her paternal grandfather, Carl F. Wabnitz, came from Rhine Bishofheim, Baden, Germany, and in 1852 settled in Louisa county, where he resided until a few years prior to his death, which occurred in Lettsville, Iowa, in 1899, when he had reached an advanced age. His wife also came from Rhine Bishofheim, Germany. The maternal grandfather of Mrs. Fulliam was Philip Wagner, for many years an undertaker at Grand- view, Iowa. His wife bore the maiden name of Mary Stroh. Charles F. Wabnitz, the father of Mrs. Fulliam, was a native of Ohio, while his wife was born in
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HISTORY OF MUSCATINE COUNTY
Pennsylvania. They became early settlers of Louisa county, Iowa, where they arrived in 1852. Later they removed to Washington, Iowa, where Mrs. Wabnitz passed away in the summer of 1909, being still survived by her husband. They were the parents of a family of nine children, two sons and seven daughters, of whom seven are yet living. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Fulliam has been blessed with an only son, Charles.
Dr. Fulliam is a well known member of Muscatine Lodge, No. 5, I. O. O. F., and his wife holds membership in the Methodist church. His political allegiance is unfalteringly given to the democratic party and aside from the offices he has held in the line of his profession he has served as a member of the board of education for nine years and in the spring of 1910 was reelected for an additional term of three years. His public-spirited devotion to the general good is mani- fest in many ways, including a loyal support of all the projects and measures which are promulgated for the upbuilding and welfare of the city.
FRANK J. STOHR.
Frank J. Stohr, a prominent representative of industrial interests in Muscatine, is the senior member of the firm of Stohr & Freund, conducting a machine shop at No. 119 West Front street. His birth occurred in St. Louis, Missouri, on the 18th of March, 1862, his parents being Philip and Adelaide (Kuper) Stohr, both of whom were natives of Germany. The father, who was born in Baden-Baden, was a needle maker by trade. He crossed the Atlantic to the United States in the '40s and took up his abode in St. Louis, Missouri. In 1873 he came to Muscatine, Iowa, and during the remainder of his life conducted a boarding house in this city. While a resident of the fatherland he was a soldier in the regular army of that country. He passed away in Muscatine, in 1884, at the age of fifty-eight years. His wife, who was brought to America by her parents when only a year old, still survives and makes her home at No. 1117 Oregon street in Muscatine. The circle of her friends is an extensive one.
Frank J. Stohr, wlio was a lad of eleven years when he came to Muscatine with his parents, grew to manhood in this city and obtained his education in the public schools. When a youth of eighteen he began learning the machinist's trade and has since followed that occupation. He worked as a journeyman for a period of fourteen years and then returned to Muscatine in 1893, being here em- ployed by the Barry Manufacturing Company for three years. On the expiration of that period, in partnership with P. W. Freund, he established a machine shop at the corner of Front and Chestnut streets, while for the past twelve years the firm of Stohr & Freund has conducted business at their present location-No. 119 West Front street. They manufacture gasoline engines and do general job- bing, having built up an extensive and profitable business in these connections.
On the 18th of February, 1891, Mr. Stohr was united in marriage to Miss Lilly Howell, a native of Sutter Creek, California, while her parents were born in Eng- land and Wales respectively. On coming to the United States they settled in California and in that state spent the remainder of their lives. Their children
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HISTORY OF MUSCATINE COUNTY
were five in number, namely : James, Frank, Annie, Mary and Lilly. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Stohr have been born six children: Esther, Edith, Ruby, Cora, Frank and Gertrude.
In politics Mr. Stohr is a republican. Fraternally he is identified with the Yeo- men and the Masons, belonging to lowa Lodge, No. 2, A. F. & A. M .; Washing- ton Chapter, No. 4, R. A. M .; DeMolay Commandery, No. I, K. T .; and Webb Council, No. 18, R. & S. M. He attends the services of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which his wife is a member. Their home is at No. 1117 Oregon street. The position and success to which Mr. Stohr has attained in the business world is due to the exercise of his innate talents, prompted by laudable ambition, and his record for efficiency in work and for reliability in his dealings is a most enviable one.
LOUIS FIDERLEIN.
A good education acquired early in life and balanced by sound judgment and the inclination and ability to apply himself closely to everything he under- took enabled Louis Fiderlein to become an acknowledged leader in Muscatine county. Although a native of a foreign land, he readily adapted himself to the customs and ideas of a republic and when he was called from earthly labors January 21, 1910, being then in the seventy-eighth year of his age, the county lost one of its most useful citizens-one who clearly demonstrated that the more intelligence a man possesses, the better farmer he may become.
He was born in Baden, Germany. December 21, 1832. His mother was a strong advocate of education and gave her son every advantage that could be desired in a country where opportunities for mental training are unsurpassed. The son became thoroughly familiar with four languages: German, French, Latin and English, and could have succeeded admirably as a professional man had he so desired. However, his mind turned to the new world and he decided to cast his fortune with America as the most favorable country in the world for a young man possessed with laudable ambition. Accordingly, when nine- teen years of age he crossed the ocean and located in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, where he remained for five years, then removing to Rock Island, Illinois, in which region he engaged in farming with a goodly measure of success. In 1878 he sold out and moved to Muscatine county, Iowa, becoming identified with Goshen township. He began with a farm of three hundred and twenty acres, which he cultivated with such success that at the time of his death he was the owner of seven hundred acres, all under a high state of cultivation. He was a man of more than ordinary ability, was gifted with a well balanced mind, was a wise counselor and held a prominent place among his fellowmen.
On the 13th of September. 1857. Mr. Fiderlein was united in marriage to Miss Julia Gregg, a daughter of Nathan Gregg, of Clark county, Illinois. Of this union twelve children were born, seven of whom are now living, namely : Eliza, Isabel, James, Lorena, William, Wilhelmina and Eloise. The mother of these children having passed away in 1879, Mr. Fiderlein was again married
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