USA > Iowa > Pottawattamie County > History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa. Containing a history from the earliest settlement to the present time biographical sketches; portraits of some of the early settlers, prominent men, etc. > Part 54
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Densmore, a farmer of Ashland County, Ohio, a native of Pennsylvania. He came to Ohio in 1833. He had three daughters and four sons, Mrs. Reed being the fourth of the family, and was born in York County, Penn., April 20, 1833.
JOSEPH ROSS, cooper, Council Bluff's, was born in England, and came to America at the age of ten. He came to Iowa in 1857. He has a fine farm in Crescent Township, where he stayed two years and a half, coming to the Bluffs in 1872. He carries on a heavy cooper- ing business, employing from fifteen to eight- een men. His family consists of three children -Daisy S., aged six years ; Jolin T., aged four years, and Charlie, who is three years old.
RAYMOND & CAMPBELL, bridge build- ers, Council Bluffs. E. W. Raymond, the sen- ior member of this firm, was born near Lock- port, N. Y., in 1842. He left New York when a boy and went to Illinois ; was in the Quar- termaster's office in Jackson, Tenn., Vicksburg and Memphis. In August, 1868, he came to Council Bluffs, where, in 1869, he was married. He has two children-William Randolph, aged twelve years, and Anna Belle, both attending school. Mr. Raymond's mother died here in 1879 ; his father, who is now sixty-four years of age, lives with him. Mr. Campbell, the junior member of the firm, was born in Prince Edward Island in 1849, and came to the United States in 1867. He came first to Oma- ha, Neb .; worked there for one year, then worked in Schuyler, Neb., at bridge-building for H. T. Clark for three years. In September, 1874, the present firm of Raymond & Camp- bell was formed, and they are doing a heavy business in bridge-building, employing about fifty men, and doing a business of $200,000.
WILLIAM RICHMOND, wholesale and re tail grocer, Council Bluff's, was born in County Cavan, Ireland, July 12, 1845, and at the age of sixteen years emigrated to the United States with his parents and settled in Green
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County, Wis. He received his education in his native country. He followed farming for four years, and then engaged in the hotel business in Manchester, Iowa, for three years. He then traveled for the grocery house of Harper Bros., Chicago, until he came to Council Bluffs in October, 1880, and began business at No. 14 Pearl street, where he bas since remained. His store occupies two stories 90 feet long and 20 feet wide, the lower floor containing the re- tail department of the business, the upper floor containing teas, spices, etc., and the cellar is stocked with sirups, oils, vinegar, etc. He began business with about $2,000 worth of stock, his annual sales then amounting to about $50,000. He now carries about $5,000 worth of stock, and from present prospects his an- nual sales for the present year will amount to about $100,000. He employs three men in his establishment and keeps nine men on the road, and expects soon to increase his force of trav- eling men. Mr. Richmond is a member of the Masonic fraternity.
M. F. ROHRER, commission, Council Bluffs, became a resident of Council Bluffs in 1871. He came to the city in the interests of a mill- ing firm of Wathena, Kan., and finding the place possessing attractions for him over other cities of the West, he quit traveling and set- tled down, and, instead of stopping three months, as he at first intended, he has pro- longed the time to about eleven years. IIe was born in Rohrersville, Washington Co., Md., on what afterward was the Antietam battle- ground, August 1. 1850, and at the time that battle was fought, he was a lad twelve years old Even at this age, he was pressed into the service as a nurse, as his father's house and barn were turned into hospitals, and all possi- ble aid rendered by the family to the wounded soldiers of the Federal army. lle was a wit. ness of that terrible battle, and, boy though he was, did manly service in caring for the wounded. His first employment in Council
Bluffs was in the capacity of salesman for the firm of Bracket & Golden, with whom he re- mained about one year. This was in 1872. In 1873, he acted as Deputy Sheriff for George Doughty. In the latter part of 1873, and un- til August of 1875, he was engaged as bill clerk for the Chicago, Burlington & Quiney Railroad, and as agent for the Burlington & Missouri Railroad in Nebraska. He then en- gaged in the insurance business in company with his present partner by the purchase of the business of Messrs. J. P. and J. N. Cassady. Changes were subsequently made in the firm, but Mr. Rohrer continued interested in the insurance and real estate business until he en- gaged in the storage and commission business in November, 1881, under the firm name of Bowman, Rohrer & Co. He is, however, still largely interested in the real estate business, though only in property owned by himself. He has taken an active part in all enterprises of a local nature. In 1871, he joined Rescne Hand Engine Company, No. 3, and was shortly after made Vice President, which office he has since held. He is P. G. of Hawkeye Lodge, No. 184, I. O. O. F., and is P. C. P. of Twin Brother Encampment, No. 42, of that order ; he is also a charter member of Widvey Tem- ple, No. 5, P. C. He had served one term as Township Clerk, and in the fall of 1880, while he was in Missouri, he received the nomination for a second term, though he had left positive orders that he would decline to become a can- didate for the office. This was the more pro- voking as the Republicans had put up a colored man as their candidate. There re- mained but one of two things for him to do. either to withdraw and let the public think he was afraid to enter the contest, or to enter the field with a colored man as an opponent. He chose the latter, and was elected by a good round majority of 800 votes, thoughi he did not want the office. With this election, the term of office was changed to two years, so he is
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still filling the position. In 1877, he was mar- ried to Miss Sarah B., only child of John B. and Eliza Beers. Mr. Beers was one of the most prominent real estate dealers and prop- erty owners in the city, as well as the first wholesale grocery merchant. A more com- plete sketch of his life, however, will be found in another part of this work. Mr. Rohrer, though a young man, has builded for himself a good, honorable reputation in the city of Council Bluffs. That he is in every way worthy of the position he holds in both social and business circles is evidenced by his popu- larity among the best citizens of the city.
R. RICE, M. D., Council Bluffs. The science of medieine has grown to such an extent as to admit of many specialties in the practice. After a general course of study in order to graduate from any of our leading medical col- leges, it has become the custom of many of the best students to turn their attention to some important specialty in the practice and in their chosen field devote the time and hard study of their career as a practitioner to adding new points and new discoveries to that science upon which mankind has grown so dependent. What more important study than the treatment of the cancer could be taken up as a specialty, and what more difficult to treat successfully? For hundreds of years the cancer was considered incurable; this, too, by the best medical author- ity; and it is only by the patient study of emi- nent physicians, who have made a specialty of this dreaded affliction, that in later years thorough and permanent cures are not uncom- mon. For years it was the custom of the phy- sician to use the knife in the removal of the cancer, and even to the present time this is practiced to an extent. The same science, how- ever, which has made the custom of blood-let- ting by the barber-in honor of which their signs were painted with a red stripe-a thing of the past, has also discarded the use of the knife in removing the cancer. No better evi-
dence is needed of the success of the science of medicine in this respect than a talk with some of the patients of Dr. R. Rice, of Council Bluffs, or a visit to the Doctor himself, where abundant proof awaits the incredulous. A brief sketch of the experience and course of study of the Doctor may not prove uninterest- ing. He was born in Coventry, N. Y., March 15, 1820, and resided there until six years of age, when his parents moved to Whitestown, Oneida Co., N. Y. The ensuing time until he had arrived at man's estate was spent in Hol- land Patent, Oneida County, and in Fulton, Oswego Co., N. Y. After receiving a careful literary education, he began the study of medi- cine, and subsequently graduated from the Ec- lectie Vegetable Reform College of Fulton. He began practice in Fulton, N. Y., and remained there till 1868, when he removed to Sandwich, Ill. There he practiced eight years and then re- moved to Council Bluffs, where he arrived in the spring of 1875. He at once opened up an office and began practice, and since that time he has been steadily increasing his practice until at present he is known as the most snc- cessful physician in the treatment of cancers and other chronic diseases of the Missouri Val- ley.
J. C. RHODABECK, attorney, Council Bluffs, began reading law in 1853, in Newark, Ohio, with E. C. Smythe; was admitted to the bar in Franklin County in 1856, and began the practice of his profession in Harrison County, Towa, in 1868. Previons to this, however, he was speculating in land in Benton County, Iowa. In March, 1881, he came to Council Bluffs, where he was engaged in the practice of law. His grandfather on his mother's side was of English descent; his grandfather on his father's side was of German descent, and his grandmothers were of Scotch descent.
E. L. SHUGART, of the Shugart Implement Company of Council Bluffs, is unquestionably among the first of that class of citizens to
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whom the " Bluffs City" owes much of her prosperity. He became a resident of the city in 1868, and in 1869, January 1st, he began selling agricultural implements. Ilis chances of success were no better than those of many others who have undertaken the same business and failed under equally favorable circum- stances. The opening of the business was under the firm name of Shugart & Lininger, and was continued by this firm until 1873, when Mr. F. Weis was admitted as a member of the firm. In 1875, the firm again changed, and Mr. E. L. Shugart became successor of the old firm. He conducted the business alone, until September of 1880, when the Shugart Im- plement Company was formed. The building occupied by them was begun in the fall of 1880, and finished in the spring of 1881. It is fifty feet frontage by one hundred feet deep and three stories and basement. This com- pany is considered one of the leading business firins of the city. In 1871, Mr. Shugart was the principal founder of the Council Bluffs Agricultural Works, and continued a member of the company until the works were burned in 1877. Ile was Vice President of the First National Bank of Council Bluff's for a number of years, and when the Citizens' Bank was or- ganized in the summer of 1882, became Vice President of that bank. In 1871, he was elect- ed a member of the City Council, holding the office four years by re- election, and in 1877 he was elected a member of the County Board of Supervisors for a three years' term. In the spring of 1882, he was again elected a member of the City Council, and is at present discharg- ing the duties pertaining to that office. Ife is a member of the order of A., F. & A. M., and of the following lodges: Excelsior Blue Lodge, Star Chapter and Ivanhoe Commandery. Such is briefly the career of Mr. Shugart as a public and business man. He was born in 1836, in Franklin County, Ohio, and in 1850 became a resident of Bureau County, Ill. He was edu-
cated at Vermilion Institute of Haysville, Ohio, and at Smith Seminary of Princeton, Bureau Co., Ill. September 20, 1860, he was married to Miss A. R. Donning, a native of Bureau County, Ill., and who was educated at Mount Carroll Seminary. They have two children living, both boys, aged respectively nine and sixteen years.
F. A. SHULTZ, hotel-keeper, Council Bluffs, was born in Chriswig, Germany. He was the son of E. and Anna (Rosakir) Shultz. His father was born in Chriswig, Germany, and was a shoemaker by trade. He came to this country, and went to Davenport, Iowa, in 1866; here he lived about five years, when he moved to Sheri- dan County, Mo., where he lived nine years and then came to this county. His (subject's) mother was also a native of Chriswig, Ger- many, and died in Sheridan County, Mo., in 1875. Our subject's parents had eight children. He (subject) lived with his father until the spring of 1880, when he came to this county, and engaged in farming. He was a shoemaker by trade, and worked at this in Germany, but since his arrival in America he has been en- gaged in agricultural pursuits, until the spring of 1882, when he opened his hotel in Lewis Township, this county, in which business he has since been engaged. He was married in the fall of 1871, at Davenport, Iowa, to Cathe- rina Ikener, born in Chriswig, Germany, in 1852. She was the daughter of John and Christina (Thompson) Ikener, both natives of Chriswig, Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Shultz have five children-Mollie, Albert, Emma, Laura and Annie. They are members of the Luther- an Church. In politics, Mr. Shultz is a Repub- Hiean.
JACOB SIMS, attorney, Council Bluffs, was born November 30, 1850, at Dodgeville. Iowa Co., Wis. He served a full apprenticeship at the wagon and carriage making trade, and af- ter learning the trade attended Lawrence Uni versity, Appleton, Wis., graduating there in
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the class of 1874, and taking first honors of his class in full classical course. After gradu- ating, lie filled the position of Principal of High School at Oconto, Wis., for one year, and then engaged in newspaper business as editor of the Statesman of Milwaukee, Wis. After leaving that paper, he became editor and proprietor of the Citizen of Minneapolis, Minn. He came to Council Bluffs in March, 1878; read law with B. F. Montgomery; admitted to the bar in Jan- uary, 1879; commeneed practice forthwith here, and has continued in practice ever since; was attorney for Pottawattamie County during the years 1880-81. Both his parents were born in England; his father has been a Methodist min- ister for over twenty-five years. Mr. Sims is editor-in-chief of the Daily Monitor, a Repub- lican organ recently founded in Council Bluffs.
SWAN BROS., packers, Council Bluffs. The members of this firm, C. J., G. W. & F. H. Swan, came from Urbana, Ohio, to Couneil Bluffs in 1869. They are sons of Charles and Mary (Johnson) Swan, who were married at Ithaca, N Y., and who have had a family of nine children, four boys and five girls, none of whom are married. Their parents are still liv- ing; their father is a native of Norwich, Conn. The brothers engaged in the paeking business in Council Bluffs in 1877. They improved and rebuilt their packing house in 1876, so as to be ready for work the following year. They do a wholesale and jobbing business, and employ six inen. They slaughter cattle and hogs in the winter, killing about five hundred hogs each winter season. They also buy and sell cattle. Owing to their increasing business, they purpose improving and rebuilding at an early day. They have a residence on Stutsman street, Council Bluff's.
J. W. SQUIRE, of J. W. Squire & Co., real estate, loan and abstract, Council Bluffs, came to Council Bluff's in the spring of 1870; entered real estate office and savings bank of N. P. Dodge, and remained there about five years.
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He then formed partnership with A. B. Wal- ker, under firm name of Squire & Walker, in real estate, loan and abstract business, and continued business under that name here until the spring of 1880, when he dissolved partner- ship with Mr. Walker, and continned the busi- ness under firm name of J. W. Squire & Co., having associated with him in business his brother. Their office is on the corner of Pearl and First avenue. Four men are employed in the business, including the partners. They have on hand a complete set of abstract books of the latest improved system, which are thor- oughly kept up. Mr. Squire was born in Suf- folk County, N. Y., February 1, 1848, and re- moved to Rockford, Ill., at the age of four years, with his parents. He was educated in the Rock- ford schools, from which he graduated; then entered the army and served three years in the Forty-fifth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He re- turned to Rockford after leaving the army; was Deputy Circuit Clerk and Recorder five years, and then came to Council Bluffs. He married, September 15, 1872, Elizabeth H. Howard, of West Hartford, Windsor Co., Vt.
THOMAS SWOBE, hotel, Council Bluffs, came to Council Bluffs in 1878, and opened a hotel in the new Transfer Depot building; he also built the Emigrant House in 1878, and conducts it in connection with the Transfer Hotel. In 1866, he bought ont J. M. Palmer. who was running the Transfer Eating House at that time. Mr. Swohe was born in Johnstown, Fulton Co., N. Y., in 1843. His parents moved to Michigan in 1855; he enlisted in the Twelfth Michigan in 1861, as private, and returned Feb- ruary 2, 1866, as First Lieutenant. He came to Omaha in August, 1866, and held the posi- tion of Secretary of Central Land Company till 1868. He was married in November, 1868, and has two children-Edwin T., aged eight years, and Dwight M., aged six years. The firm of which Mr. Swobe is a member is Mar- kell & Swobe. This firm owns, besides the
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Transfer Hotel and Emigrant House, half in- terest in the Millard Hotel at Omaha, on the co ner of Douglas and Thirtieth streets. They employ about fifty-five assistants, their yearly business being about $150,000. Mr. Swobe was elected County Clerk of Douglas County, Neb., in the fall of 1869, and served in that office until the fall of 1871.
M. SCANLAN, meat market, Council Bluff's, came to Council Bluil's in May, 1876, and has been in his present market since. He served seven years' apprenticeship at his trade in Philadelphia, Penn., beginning at the age of fourteen and serving till he was twenty-one years old. He was born in Philadelphia, Penn., in 1821. His parents died when he was small, and there being no free schools at that time, he did not go to school till after he was four- teen years old, and then only attended night schools. Ouce during his apprenticeship, he ran away, but the next morning, seeing that a reward of $100 was offered to any one who would return him, he went back on his own acconnt, knowing that he would be caught if he did not do so. After he was twenty-one years old, he worked only about two months in Philadelphia. Then went to Pittsburgh, Penn., and followed steamboating for about six years. During this time, he went down to New Orleans on a tow-boat, and was afterward on the Gulf of Mexico for some time. In 1848, he was married, in Pittsburgh, Penn., to Miss Martha Sneathen. He then began butchering in Pitts- burgh, Penn., and from there went to Wheel- ing. W. Va., and remained there till 1876, when he came to Council Bluffs. He has four chil- dren living-two sons and two daughters. all married. He is Republican in politics, and was a Whig before the Republican party was organized. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias and I. O. O. F.
E. R. STEINHILBER, furniture, Council Bluffs, came to Council Bluffs in February, 1882, built a furniture factory and commenced busi-
ness July 13, the same year. He was born near Davenport, Iowa, in 1857, and moved to Harlan, Iowa, in 1880. He was engaged in stock business in Davenport, Iowa. He was married in De Witt. Clinton Co., Iowa. in 1880, and has one child, his little daughter Jennie. He is the only one who manufactures furniture on the Western slope. His is, in reality, a great enterprise, and he is doing, as he deserves to do, a lucra- tive wholesale business. He makes a specialty of all kinds of tables, cupboards, safes, ward- robes and washstands.
JOHN STEINER, physician, Council Bluff3. was born in Goettingen, Germany, March 30. 1842, and was educated in his native place. In 1860, he began the study of medicine in Tubingen, Germany, graduating there in 1863, and was admitted to practice. During the Franco-Prussian war, he was Second Assistant Surgeon in the German Army, and while acting in that capacity saw a great deal of service. In 1867, he married Magdeline Frash, and they have four children, two boys and two girls. In 1873, he came to this country and located in Sac County, Iowa, where he followed farming for some time. He then moved to Audubon County, Iowa, where he followed the practice of his profession for some time, thence moved to St. Mary's, Iowa, and thence to Westphalia, Iowa. Meanwhile, he had been attending the Herring Medical College of St. Louis, Mo .. from which he graduated in the spring of 1882. He then located in Council Bluffs, where he has now a good practice.
HARDIN, SKELTON & CO., merchant tai- lors and dealers in gents' furnishing goods, Council Bluffs, began business in Council Bluffs in March, 1881. William Hardin was born in Council Bluffs October 13. 1856, and was educated in the public schools of his na- tive city. He is a son of Martin Hardin, one of the oldest residents of this county. His ancestors were of the first families in Kentucky. Mr. Hardin was messenger boy at the Transfer
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for some time, and afterward entered the ab- stract office of J. P. & J. N. Casady, of Council Bluffs. During the years 1878-79-80, he was Deputy County Treasurer. Henry H. Skelton was born in England and came to this country in 1872. He is a professional cutter, and up to the time of entering the present firm was employed by Metcalf Brothers as cutter. The present firm of Hardin, Skelton & Co. began business with a stock valued at $7,000, their annual sales being $35,000. They now carry a stock worth $15,000, and the annual sales for 1882, from present indications, will reach $50,000.
F. W. SPETMAN of the firm of F. W. Spetman & Bro., Council Bluffs, was born in Kane Township, this county, September 18, 1853. He attended Byrant & Stratton's Commercial College at Davenport. this State, and graduated in 1873. He started in business in Council Bluffs, in the fall of 1875, with about $1,500 in stock. The business increased to such an extent that he took in his brother, W. C. Spetman, and removed to No. 511 Main street, where his father had just completed a building, 22x70 feet, and two stories high, with a basement. But the steady increase of the business demanded still more room, and his father built an addition, 25x70, and two stories high. The firm now carry about $20,- 000 in stock, with annual sales amounting to $60,000. They carry a full line of general merchandise. In 1881, our subject was elected Alderman in the Third Ward, on the Demo-
1 cratic ticket, and served one year. He was married. September 10, 1878, to Alvini Las- kowski, of Council Bluffs. Mr. Spetman is of German deseent.
W. C. SPETMAN, of the firm of F. W. Spet- man & Bro., Council Bluffs, was born in this county in 1856. He graduated from Byrant & Stratton's Commercial College at Davenport, this State, in 1875. He was married, in March, 1881, to Antoinette Ehrig, of Davenport, Iowa.
He has one child-Roy Henry, aged six months.
N. SCHURZ (Schurz & Strohbehn) grocers, Council Bluffs, was born in Prussia. He came to the United States in 1858. He served four years and three months in the civil war, part of the time in the One Hundred and Sixty- ninth Pennsylvania Regiment, and the balance in the navy. He responded to Lincoln's first call for three months' men. He came to Coun- cil Bluffs in 1868, and was employed by a wholesale queensware house, where he stayed for a year and a half, when he moved to Weep- ing Water, Cass Co., Neb. He engaged in the mercantile business, but was burned out in 1873, losing everything. He immediately re- turned to Council Bluffs, and the following spring went to Missouri Valley, where, engag- ing in business, he regained all that he had previously lost. He returned to Council Bluffs | in 1879. Schurz & Strohbehn have added a fine stock of cigars, and will hereafter do a wholesale business in that line. Our subject was married in Pennsylvania to Miss Eliza E. Lindt, sister of Mr. John Lindt, the well-known lawyer of Council Bluffs. They have two boys -Emil, aged fourteen, and Herman, aged twelve.
SCOFIELD & CAVIN, Council Bluffs. Ira Scofield and T. E. Cavin formed partnership in general merchandising business June 1, 1877, at 218 Broadway, and continued in that build- ing until September 1, 1878, at which time they removed to the new building, corner of Broad- way and Market, 200 Broadway, using two stories and basement with elevator attachment. Besides doing a large city trade, they ship goods to railroad contractors in Iowa, Minnesota, Colorado and New Mexico. They started on a small scale in a room eighteen by forty feet, with cellar, and have steadily increased the business so that now they are cramped for room in a two story and basement building, twenty-two by eighty feet. T. E. Cavin came
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