USA > Iowa > Pottawattamie County > History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, from the earliest historic times to 1907, Vol. I > Part 40
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HISTORY OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Habicht have been born nine children, eight of whom are yet living: Otto, a railroad fireman ; Gretchen, the wife of George Greves, of Manning, Iowa: Bertha and Helen, who are graduates of the Avoca high school; Minnie, Martha, Emma and Carl, all yet at home. The parents are members of the Lutheran church at Avoca. Mr. Habicht being one of its organizers. He was the first man to enroll his name as a member, was the first deacon of the church and is now serving as its col- lector. In its development and growth he is deeply interested and his labors have contributed much to its progress as well as to its support. In polities he is independent. For two terms he has served as school director and is a stalwart champion of practical and progressive methods of education. He belongs to Avoca lodge. No. 220, I. O. O. F., in which he ha- filled all of the offices and he likewise affiliates with AAvoca camp. No. 65. M. W. A. He came to this country empty-handed and through his unfaltering industry and perseverance and good management, combined with unabating business integrity. he has become one of the prosperous agriculturists of the county, deserving much credit for what he has accomplished. Such a record should serve as a source of inspiration and encouragement to others, showing what may be accomplished by personal effort, and in his work, too, he is dem- onstrating the fact that intellectuality is as valuable an asset in agricul- tural life as in any other department of activity, the scientific methods of farming which he is following proving most valuable.
BENJAMIN T. STEVENSON.
Benjamin T. Stevenson in his farming interests makes a specialty of the raising of full blooded Galloway cattle, owning some of the best bred cattle in the state. His herd is indeed a fine one and he has done mnuch to improve the grade of cattle produced in Pottawattamie county. In all of his business in- terests he is alert and determined, showing an aptitude for successful manage- mient.
A native of Ohio, Mr. Stevenson was born in Greene county, on the 27th of December. 1852, being the eldest in a family of four children, whose par- ents were William and Emma Stevenson. The father was born in Ohio and the mother in Jamestown. New York. At an early day they arrived in Iowa, settling in Pottawattamie county among its pioneer residents, the father pur- chasing land where the village of Hancock now stands. He was identified with the early agricultural development of this part of the state and continued to make his home in the county until called to his final rest at the venerable age of eighty-five year -. The mother is still living in the village of Hancock. Their children in addition to Benjamin T. Stevensou are: William R. and AAda, who are residents of Hancock : and J. F., living in Valley township
Benjamin T. Stevenson accompanied his parents on their removal to Pottawattamie county in his early boyhood and was here reared amid the wild scenes and environments of pioneer life. In his youth he assisted in the labors
B. T. STEVENSON AND FAMILY.
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of the home farm and when he attained his majority he began working in the brickyard of Joseph True at Avoca, where he continued for one year. On the expiration of that period he went to Sacramento, California, where he was em- ployed for three years, returning to Pottawattamie county at the end of that time. Here he purchased forty acres of land near Hancock and carried on general agricultural pursuits for three years. He built the first store building in the village of Hancock, opened a stock of goods and carried on general merchandising for a year. On selling out he took another trip to the west and spent one year in Colorado, after which he returned to Pottawattamie county.
It was at this time that Mr. Stevenson was married to Miss Elizabeth Powell, who was born near Belvidere, Illinois, in 1860, and is a daughter of I. H. and Sarah Powell, who were born in the Empire state and are now de- ceased. Their family numbered ten children. Following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Stevenson began their domestic life upon the farm which is yet their home. Here Mr. Stevenson owns two hundred and forty acres of rich and pro- ductive land located on sections 22 and 26, Valley township, and in addition to tilling the soil he is engaged quite extensively in raising full blooded Gallo- way cattle, his fine herd being one of the attractive features of his farm. Every- thing about his place is indicative of careful supervision and progressive meth- ods and his work is conducted along profitable lines.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Stevenson have been born six children, of whom four are yet living: William D., who is at home; Kitty, the wife of Thomas Bell, of Valley township; and Cornelius and Emma, at home. Mr. Stevenson votes with the democracy and has served as school director for four terms, believing firmly in the cause of public education and doing all in his power to promote the interests of the schools of his locality. He is a member of the Masonic fra- ternity at Oakland, in which he has filled all of the chairs and is also a charter member of the Odd Fellows lodge at Hancock, which has been organized for twenty-seven years and has lost only one member during that time-a most remarkable record. In his business life, in his fraternal relations and in the circles of friendship Mr. Stevenson is highly esteemed as one who is always loyal to high principles and manly conduct.
ORSON W. GRAHAM.
Orson W. Graham, who for many years owned and controlled one of the good productive industries of Council Bluffs, being engaged in the opera- tion of a planing mill, made an excellent record in business circles, his- diligence and industry proving the motive power in his success. He was born in Italy, Yates county, New York, on the 4th of August, 1850. The family is of Scotch lineage and the name was originally spelled Graeme. Orson Graham, the grandfather of our subject, however, was a native of New England, while the father, Lewis B. Graham, was born after the re- moval of his parents to the Empire state, his birth occurring in Italy, New York, in 1815. During the years of his early manhood he followed farm-
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ing, continuing active in that pursuit until 1865, when he was elected elerk of Yates county. He was afterward prominent in politics and established a real-estate and insurance business in Penn Yan, in which he continued up to the time of his death, which occurred in 1902. He was married three times and his second wife, the mother of our subject, was Pamelia S. Green. They became the parents of three children, of whom Orson W. is the eldest, the others being Lucretia O., now the wife of Frank Wagener, of Pueblo, Colorado; and Mrs. Theodosia T. Baldwin, of Cleveland, Ohio. Lewis B. Graham was a soldier in the Civil war.
Orson W. Graham was reared in New York to the age of twenty years, the family, however, removing from Italy to Penn Yan when he was five or six years of age. During the winter months he attended school and about 1870 removed westward to Moline, Illinois, where he worked at the carpenter's trade, which he had learned in the cast. He spent two years at that place and then went to Omaha, Nebraska, where he lived for a year. On the ex- piration of that period he returned to Penn Yan, New York, where he con- tinued for a year and afterward went to Clinton, Iowa, where he spent two or three years as a carpenter. In 1877 he arrived in Pottawattamie county and, settling on a farm in Washington township, gave his time and energies to general agricultural pursuits for twelve years. In 1889 he came to Council Bluffs, where he followed carpentering for two years, and in 1891 he established a planing mill, which he operated successfully for sixteen years or until February, 1907. He then Icased the plant, after having been closely and successfully associated with the productive industries of the city for a long period.
In 1874, Mr. Graham was married in Hampton, Illinois, to Miss Char- lotte A. Wells, and they have one daughter and one son: Mary B., now the wife of James Butler; and Robert E. Graham, twenty-seven years of age. Mr. Graham belongs to the Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks and to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In polities he is a republican where state and national questions are involved. He served as alderman- at-large in Council Bluffs for two years and has ever been deeply interested in community affairs as a public-spirited citizen who labors effectively and ear- nestly for the general good. Ilis name is associated with progress in business and public life.
JOSHUA H. SPALTI.
Joshua H. Spalti needs no introduction to the readers of this volume, for the name of Spalti has long figured conspicuously and honorably in con- nection with the business history of Oakland. The subject of this review was born in Marion county, Iowa, in 1858, and is the eldest son of Henry Spalti, who is now living in Pleasantville, Iowa, at the age of eighty-three years. Further mention of the father is made in connection with the sketch of Henry H. Spalti on another page of this work.
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Upon the home farm Joshua H. Spalti spent the days of his boyhood and youth and attended the country schools but when only ten years of age entered his father's store at Pleasantville, where he was employed until 1883. In that year he joined his brothers, Henry II. and John H., in the establish- ment of a mercantile business at Bevington, Iowa, and in the spring of 1887 the firm removed to Oakland, where they opened a large store. Success attended them in this venture and they carried on the business with increas- ing prosperity for a number of years. At length they established the Spalti Brothers Bank and carried on the store and bank for some time, when they decided to divide their interests and Joshua HI. Spalti took as his share the stock of merchandise and the business block which he now occupies on the west side of Main street. The original dimensions of the store were forty- three by ninety-five feet but three additions have been made in the past three years and the floor space now covers an area of one-third of an acre. The building is of modern steel and iron front, two stories in height and is an ornament to the town. It was erected in 1890 and the growth of the trade has demanded its enlargement. Mr. Spalti conducts a complete de- partment store and no other commercial enterprise of Pottawattamie county covers as large a space. He carries a stock valued at about sixty-five thousand dollars and also has large real-estate interests in Pottawattamie and Marion counties to the extent of sixty thousand dollars.
In 1880 Mr. Spalti was married to Miss Julia E. Conn, who was born in Warren county, Iowa, in 1859, and is a daughter of John T. and Ellen Conn, the former a farmer by occupation. They have five children: War- ren C., who is a member of the firm of Joshua H. Spalti & Son; Ida C., the wife of Peter G. Green, who is in the employ of her father; Earl E., also in the store; Etta C., attending school; and Mona completes the family, Mrs. Spalti is a member of the Christian church and she presides with gracious hospitality over their pleasant home.
Mr. Spalti belongs to the Odd Fellows society, the Masonic fraternity and the Woodmen. He votes with the republican party and is interested in progressive citizenship as well as the extensive business affairs which make him a foremost citizen of Oakland. He has developed a remarkable business for a town the size of Oakland and in fact such an enterprise would be a credit to any city of the Union. Industry that never flags, energy that is unabating and ready discernment in intricate business situations are the strong elements of his success.
JOHN B. ATKINS.
John B. Atkins, deceased, was one of the wealthy and prominent pioneer citizens of Council Bluffs who for many years was engaged in the drug business, his trade developing proportionate to the growth and upbuilding of the city. He also held many offices here and his public services, as well as his business life, entitled him to the position of prominence which was universally ac-
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HISTORY OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY
corded him. The year 1858 witnessed his arrival in Council Bluffs-a young man of twenty-three years. He was a native of New York, born May 29, 1835, his parents being Lewis and Margaret Atkins, who were like- wise natives of the Empire state. The son was only about a year old when the parents removed to Mount Clemens, Michigan. The father was a shoe- inaker in early life and following his removal to the middle west he engaged both in shoemaking and farming, carrying on the dual pursuits throughout his remaining days. Both he and his wife died at Mount Clemens.
It was in the common schools of that city that John B. Atkins acquired his early education, which was supplemented by a course of study in a col- lege at Detroit from which he was graduated. He afterward attended the College of Pharmacy in Detroit and likewise completed a course in that institution. He then returned to Mount Clemens, where he engaged as a clerk in a drug store until he came to Council Bluffs. The period of his first residence here, however, was of short duration. He continued to travel farther westward, spending a short time in Salt Lake City, after which he again came to Council Bluffs, where he accepted a clerkship in a drug store. Again, however, he went to the west, locating in Denver, Colorado.
It was in that city that Mr. Atkins was married on the 20th of Octo- ber, 1859, the lady of his choice being Miss Lydia B. Allen, while theirs was the first marriage performed in that city. Mrs. Atkins is a representative of an old and very prominent family of Council Bluffs, her parents being Colonel Henry and Susan B. (Benner) Allen, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania. In the year 1854 the father came to Iowa, settling at Chariton, where for three years he was government surveyor, in which posi- tion he surveyed all of the land near Sioux City. He was then sent to Council Bluffs and also filled the position of government surveyor here, but on account of hard work was obliged to give up the position. Soon after he was appointed postmaster and held the office here for two and one half years. In 1858 he went west on account of ill health and settled in Den- ver, Colorado. where he remained until 1861, in which year he proceeded southward to New Mexico. He remained there for a short time, going after- ward to Los Angeles, California, where he made his home until his death. Mrs. Allen still survives and is residing with a daughter in Idaho, being now eighty-five years of age.
After his marriage Mr. Atkins remained in Denver until the outbreak of the Civil war, when he went to New Mexico and there enlisted in the service of his country, being under the command of Colonel Kit Carson and General Canby. He remained with the Union troops throughout the war, being in many battles of importance but was never injured, and when hostilities had ceased he was honorably discharged. After the war he crossed the plains to Idaho City, Idaho, where he was engaged in the drug business for three years, and on the expiration of that time he went to Salem, Oregon, where he conducted a drug store for two years. He and his family then proceeded by steamer to New York city, after which they returned to Council Bluffs. Here Mr. Atkins established business, opening a drug store on Broadway, and throughout his remaining days he engaged in the conduct
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of this store. He had a well appointed establishment, carrying a large and carefully selected line of goods, and as the years passed by he gained a measure of success which made him one of the wealthy and substantial resi- dents of Pottawattamie county.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Atkins were born a daughter and a son: Mary, who died in Council Bluffs in 1883, was the wife of Dr. Thomas B. Lacey, Sr., who was one of the prominent physicians of the city but is also now deceased. Henry C., the son, has always made his home with his mother. Mrs. Atkins' grandson, Dr. Thomas B. Lacey, Jr., is also a well known and capable physician and makes his home with his grandmother. Further men- tion of him will be found on another page of this volume.
Mr. Atkins continued in the drug business until 1903, when his health became poor and lie again went west hoping to be benefited by the change of climate. He located in Los Angeles and there resided until his death, which occurred on the 5th of December, 1903. His remains, however, were brought back to Council Bluffs for interment. At the time of his demise he was one of the most prominent and honored members of the Masonic fraternity in the state and was serving as grand treasurer for lowa, which office he filled for nine years. Ile was also a valued representative of Abra- ham Lincoln post, No. 29, G. A. R., and thus kept up elose relations with his old army comrades. For several years he was a member of the city council and also served on the school board for several years, acting as its president for four years. His political support was given to the republican party for a long period, but he afterward became a champion of the democracy. He was a man ever faithful to his honest convictions and never faltered in his allegianee to a cause that he believed to be right. The same loyalty which he manifested on the field of battle characterized his entire life work. In his business he was ever watchful of opportunities and of all indications that pointed toward success, and his energy and determination constituted the foundation upon which he builded his prosperity.
Mrs. Atkins is a member of the Episcopal church. She owns and occupies a fine residence at No. 540 Sixth avenue, which has been the Atkins home for over thirty-five years, and there she is living with her son and her grandson, Dr. Lacey. She is very well known in Council Bluffs, be- longing to one of the oldest families and is prominent in social cireles.
N. H. LEWIS.
Among the native sons of Pottawattamie county who have gained a creditable name in business eireles is numbered N. H. Lewis, who was born in Council Bluffs on the 5th of June, 1860. His parents were J. B. and Amanda J. Lewis, natives of Kentucky and of Illinois respectively. The father was a harness maker by trade and came to Council Bluffs in 1853, only about five years after the admission of the state into the Union. The city was then a frontier town. in which he established a harness business, con-
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HISTORY OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY
tinuing his operations in that line up to the time of his demise, which oc- curred in 1904. His-widow still survives and now makes her home with her son, who is her only living child.
In early boyhood N. H. Lewis was sent to the public schools, where he acquired a good English education, as he passed from one grade to another. In early life he learned the trade of harness and saddle making with his father and they continued in business together until the father retired at the Bluffs. Mr. Lewis of this review then established a business of his own at Marne, Iowa, where he continued for six years. On the expiration of that period he came to Walnut in 1887, established a harness store and has since carried on the business at this place. He has been very successful in his mercantile operations and his enterprise and diligence well entitle him to the measure of prosperity which he is now enjoying.
In 1885 Mr. Lewis was united in marriage to Miss Frances E. Gill, who was born in Lewis, Cass county, Iowa, in 1860, a daughter of Mason C. and Mary Gill, whose family numbered eight children. Both parents are still living, the father having reached the venerable age of ninety years, while the motlier has attained the advanced age of seventy-eight years. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Lewis have been born three children: Frances E., a graduate of Drake University and now engaged in teaching school; and Vera and Fred W., both at home.
Mr. Lewis exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the republican party and is recognized as one of its local leaders. He is now a member of the school board and the cause of education finds in him a stalwart champion. He is also serving as one of the aldermen of the town of Walnut and exercises his official prerogatives in support of all that promises to prove of benefit to the community. IIe belongs to the Odd Fel- lows lodge, No. 327, in which he has filled all of the chairs. His mother was one of the pioneer members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Coun- cil Bluffs and now has her membership in the church at Walnut. The family is an old and prominent one in the county, the name of Lewis hav- ing figured in connection with the harness trade for more than a half century, and at all times the name has stood as a synonym for commercial integrity and progress.
DRURY F. DRYDEN.
Drury F. Dryden, although now living a retired life in Council Bluffs, was for many years actively connected with the agricultural interests of this section of the state, having been a resident of Pottawattamie county since 1869. In the early days of his arrival the wild game was plentiful, including deer and various kinds of wild fowls. All this was in sharp con- trast to his environments and home life in the older east. He is a native of Cleveland, Ohio, where his birth occurred May 12. 1842. His father, Cyrus P. Dryden, was born in Massachusetts and removed to Cleveland at
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HISTORY OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY
an early period in the development of that city, purchasing a home near the town, while his time and energies were devoted to the conduct of the manufacturing business there. Both he and his wife spent their remaining days near Cleveland, and Mrs. Dryden died recently.
Drury F. Dryden acquired an education in the public schools of Cleve- land and Baldwin University and remained at home through the period of his boyhood and youth, assisting his father in the carding mill and chair factory, when not occupied with the duties of the schoolroom. He con- tinued with his father until after the outbreak of the Civil war, being among the first, however, to enlist in response to the country's call. Hardly had the smoke from Fort Sumter's guns cleared away before he offered his aid in defense of the Union, enlisting in April, 1861, for three months. After serving for a time he returned home and found that two more companies in Cleveland were being organized for active field service. Mr. Dryden then re-enlisted for three years as a member of the Nineteenth Ohio Light Artil- lery and served throughout the war, participating in many of the most important engagements, including the siege of Atlanta and the battle of Nashville. He was altogether in more than one hundred battles and was under fire in and around Atlanta for one hundred and five days. He never faltered in the performance of any duty whether on the lonely picket line or on the firing line, but ever loyally followed the old flag until he received an honorable discharge after the close of the war, on the 27th of July, 1865.
When the country no longer needed his services Mr. Dryden returned to the old home in Cleveland and there began business on his own account by opening a stone quarry. He continued to engage in getting out stone and sending it to the market for several years, but thinking that still broader business opportunities might open before him in the west he turned his face toward the setting sun, making his way direct to Kansas. He then located in the vicinity of Salina but did not like the country and only remained for a short period, after which he came to Pottawattamie county, Iowa, where he has since made his home.
In the meantime Mr. Dryden was married in Columbus, Ohio, to Miss Gertrude Goss, a native of that state, and a daughter of Charles H. Goss, who was a clerk in the Ohio State Prison there during the greater part of his life. He died in "Columbus, in 1863, after which Mrs. Goss came west and for a short period remained in Council Bluffs, after which she went to live with her son in Omaha, where her last days were passed.
Upon the arrival of Mr. Dryden in this county in 1859 he purchased a small farm in Hardin township, and turned his attention to generał agri- cultural pursuits, but he soon found that stock-raising was a more profitable business and gave the greater part of his attention to the raising and feeding of stock. In this he was very successful, annually making large shipments to the city markets and finding a ready sale for his stock there. As his financial resources increased he kept buying land and adding to his farm until he owned three hundred and seventy acres on sections 23, 14 and 24, in Hardin township, known as farm No. 7542. He still owns this prop-
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