USA > Iowa > Pottawattamie County > History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, from the earliest historic times to 1907, Vol. II > Part 11
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Unto this worthy couple were born six children, Mrs. Otto being now the only surviving member. She acquired a common-school education at Freeport, and by her marriage has become the mother of the following named: Albert Henry Otto, born in Freeport, Illinois, July 24, 1870, at- tended the city schools of Council Bluffs and was graduated from a business college. After leaving school he was for some time employed in a clerical position and later assisted his father in railroad work. While aiding in the construction of a bridge at Kansas City, Missouri, in January, 1905, he received an injury to his spine, from which he has never recovered. He makes his home with his parents and is a member of the Eagles and the Knights and Ladies of Security. Louise Luella Otto, whose birth occurred in Council Bluffs, June 26, 1875, was married to Adolph Kastner on the 5th of October, 1897, by whom she has a son, Ralph, born May 6, 1899. Mr. Kastner is employed as bookkeeper for the John Deere Implement Company in Omaha, but resides with his family in Council Bluffs. Viola Victoria Otto, who was born in Council Bluffs on the 26th of December, 1878, passed away December 29, 1901. For several years and up to within a very short time of her death she filled the position of bookkeeper and later chief operator for the Nebraska Telephone Company. She was a member of the Episcopal church and her funeral was conducted by Rector T. J. Mackey, who performed her christening baptismal. Elmer Earl, born No- vember 27, 1880, is a traveling salesman for the National Refining Com-
pany of Omaha. He is a member of the Illinois Commercial Travelers As- sociation and resides in Council Bluffs. Jesse Jerome, whose birth occurred on the 24th of March. 1883, lives in Denver and is employed as electrician for the Union Pacific Railroad Company. He was united in marriage, on the 11th of December, 1905, to Miss Etha Floretta Florence, and fraternally is connected with the Eagles. Ethel Etoyla Otto, born in Council Bluffs, August 27, 1885, became the wife of Noah Mattingly, a traveling salesman for the National Refining Company of Omaha. The marriage was cele- brated on the 12th of October, 1901, and the young couple now make their home in Council Bluffs. Pansy May Otto, whose birth occurred in this on
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the 17th of February, 1889, gave her hand in marriage to Fred Fitch Cham- bers on the 11th of May, 1907. Mr. and Mrs. Chambers reside in Council Bluffs and he is a traveling salesman for the Beebe-Runyan Whoelsale Furniture Company of Omaha. Walter Harold Otto, the youngest member of the family, was born January 11, 1896. All of the children received their education in the city schools of Council Bluffs.
In his fraternal relations Mr. Otto is connected with the Masonic fra- ternity, the Independent Order of Foresters, the Woodmen of the World and the Knights and Ladies of Security, while his wife is connected with the Lady Maccabees, Independent Order of Foresters and the Knights and Ladies of Security. In religious faith both our subject and his wife are members of the Episcopal church, and in his political affiliations Mr. Otto is a democrat, though without aspiration for office. In addition to his comfortable home at No. 215 Vine street he owns nine properties in this city, which return to him a gratifying income, and he is thus enabled to enjoy all of the comforts and many of the luxuries of life. The family is widely and favorably known throughout the community and the hospital- ity of their pleasant home is greatly enjoyed by their many friends.
FRED W. A. GEISE.
In a history of the business development and commercial interests of Council Bluffs mention should be made of Fred W. A. Geise, who was widely recognized as a prominent young business man of this city, having been the junior partner in the brewing firm of C. Geise & Son. He was born in Council Bluffs, August 13, 1865, his father being Conrad Geise, who is still conduct- ing the brewing business and of whom mention is made elsewhere in this volume, together with a complete record of the family.
At the usual age Fred W. A. Geise became a pupil in the public schools and when he had mastered the elementary branches of English Icarning he attended college at Davenport, Iowa, from which he was graduated. He was thus equipped by liberal education for life's practical and responsible duties and returning to his home he entered the employ of his father in the bot- tling works. Closely applying himself to the business, he mastered it in principle and detail and was soon made manager. Following his marriage he was associated in business with his father at Council Bluffs for six months and then removed to the south, settling at Chattanooga, Tennessee, where he established a large brewery, conducting business there on his own account for three years under the corporate name of C. Geise & Company. On the expiration of that period he sold out and returned to Council Bluffs, where he formed a partnership with his father under the firm style of C. Geise & Son. This business is still being carried on by the father under the old firm name at No. 800 East Broadway, where he is conducting a brewing and bottling enterprise. This is the largest plant of the kind in the city. The buildings are well equipped for the successful conduct of the business and
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owing to the excellence of the product the trade has constantly increased until it is now very large. A number of men and teams are employed and the output is shipped to all parts of the state. After his return from the south Fred W. A. Geise continued in the brewing and bottling business in con- nection with his father in Council Bluffs until his life's labors were ended in death on the 5th of May, 1904.
It was on the 5th of October, 1887, that Mr. Geise was united in mar- riage in this city to Miss Veronica Schott, a native of Council Bluffs and a daughter of Albert and Veronica (Dauber) Schott, both of whom were natives of Germany. They. came to America in early life and were pioneer residents of Council Bluffs. Mr. Schott became one of the first merchants of the city, conducting a grocery store in an old log house which stood at the corner of Broadway and Park avenue. He afterward removed his stock of goods to a store on Main street, having the first grocery store on that thor- oughfare. He continued in business throughout his remaining days and had a large and profitable trade, being recognized as one of the leading mer- chants of the city. Mrs. Schott and her two sons now reside with her daugh- ter, Mrs. Geise. Unto our subject and his wife was born one child, Marie, who is at home with her mother.
In his political views Mr. Geise was a democrat, unfaltering in his allegiance to the party, and he took much interest in its work and growth. In 1892 he was elected to represent his district as alderman of the first ward and was the youngest man ever a member of the city council, being but twenty-seven years of age at the time. Whether in office or out of it he was a stalwart champion of progressive measures for the public good. Socially he was connected with the Elks and he had an extensive circle of warm friends, his cordial manner, genial disposition and deference for the opinions of others making him popular. Mrs. Geise and her mother are both members of St. Peter's Roman Catholic church. Mrs. Geise still owns an interest in the bottling works and her property possessions include a beautiful home at No. 432 East Washington avenue, where she and her mother and their chil- dren all reside.
BARNEY S. TERWILLIGER.
Barney S. Terwilliger, a resident of Council Bluffs since 1865, is now practically living retired although to some extent he yet engages in the roofing business. The experiences of pioneer life in the far west have been familiar to him, for he made his way to Walla Walla, Washington, long ere the era of railroad building and almost before the tide of emigration had turned in that direction. A native of Broome county, New York, his parents, Barney and Phebe (Whitbeck) Terwilliger, were also born in that state, and the father engaged in farming in Broome county until 1857, when he removed to the middle west, settling in Minnesota. There he resided for several years and later spent two years in Chicago, prior to coming to Council Bluffs, where
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he lived retired in the home of his son Barney until his death, which occurred in 1871. The mother died in the west at the home of her daughter. brother of our subjeet also eame to Council Bluffs in 1869 and here resided for several years but is now deceased.
In one of the old time country schools near his father's home in Broome county, New York, Barney S. Terwilliger acquired his education and when his attention was not demanded by the duties of the schoolroom he assisted in the work of the farm, there remaining until twenty years of age. He then came to the west, settling at Belvidere, Illinois, where he lived for two years, when he went to St. Paul, Minnesota. While there he assisted in organizing a party going to the coast in 1862. There were seventy-two in the party, with forty-two wagons, constituting a large train. They left St. Paul on the 14th of May, 1862, proceeded up the Red river to North Dakota, being the first party to eross that country, and thenee continued on their way toward the setting sun until they reached their destination-Walla Walla. On the way they killed a number of buffaloes, which supplied them with meat. The trip was a long and arduous one and not without its dangers, but on the 15th of September they had gained their objective point. Mr. Terwilliger spent nearly four years with that party, traveling through the northwest and the west as far as San Francisco, at the end of which time he made his way eastward and chose Council Bluffs as his future home, arriving in this city on the 1st of October, 1865.
In the meantime Mr. Terwilliger had been married in St. Paul to Miss Agnes MeNellie, a native of Utica, New York, while her parents were also born in that state. They removed to the west at an early day, settling in St. Paul, where the father died, while the mother passed away in Council Bluffs at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Terwilliger, with whom she had been living for some time. Mr. and Mrs. Terwilliger had one son, Claude G., born at Council Bluffs, September 7, 1867, and died May 14, 1896, being killed in Pueblo, Colorado. He was well and favorably known in Council Bluffs.
When Mr. Terwilliger came to Council Bluffs he established a paint and wall paper business at No. 31 South Main street and continued in that line of trade for twenty-three years with excellent success, receiving a very liberal patronage. On selling out he engaged in the livery business at No. 222 South Main street, where he remained for more than seven years, when he again sold out. He next engaged in the real-estate business and has sinee bought and sold eity property, thoroughly familiarizing himself with realty values and the opportunities for sale or purchase. He now owns property of various kinds in the city but is practically living retired, transacting business only at his home, his investments bringing to him a gratifying annual ineome. He owns a commodious home at No. 549 Fifth avenue corner of Sixth street, where he has resided for more than a quarter of a century.
In his political views Mr. Terwilliger has long been a stalwart democrat but never an office seeker. He belongs to the Odd Fellows lodge of this city, and his wife is a member of the Presbyterian church. He is a veteran fire- man, having been one of the first to join the fire department of the city in
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the early days when it was a volunteer organization. For forty-two years he has been a witness of the changes which have occurred and which have developed Council Bluffs from a small and inconsequential town to one of metropolitan proportions, with almost every business interest and enterprise represented. Throughout the years he has stood for substantial improve- ment and upbuilding, his labors proving a co-operative factor in many plans and measures for the city's welfare and growth. He is widely and favorably known among the old settlers and also has many friends among the arrivals of a later date.
JOHN LINDER. ,
John Linder is a wholesale liquor dealer of Omaha but resides in Council Bluffs. He was born in Berne, Switzerland, on the 27th of June, 1838, and is a son of John Linder, who was throughout his entire life a resident of Berne, dying in 1847 at the age of fifty-four years. His widow, however, attained the advanced age of eighty-nine years, passing away at her home in the land of the Alps. In the maternal line John Linder of this review comes of a very long lived race, many of the family having attained the age of one hundred years or more. His grandmother was one hundred and four years of age at the time of her demise, while the great-grandmother reached the astonishing old age of one hundred and five years.
Mr. Linder of this review was only nine years of age at the time of his father's death. He continued a resident of his native country until October 13, 1855, when he crossed the Atlantic to America, hoping that he might have better opportunities for business advancement in the new world. He went to Galena, Illinois, where he remained for two years and in 1858 he went to Du- buque, Iowa, where he spent six months. He then returned to Galena but in 1859 started for Pike's Peak, where he engaged in mining for two summers and one winter. He also carried the mail, often weighing as much as one hun- dred pounds, on his back up the mountains, going on snowshoes. He is fa- miliar with all of the experiences of such a life, meeting many of the hard- ships and difficulties incident to early mining days in the far west.
In 1860 Mr. Linder returned to Council Bluffs, where he purchased forty- eight sacks of seed barley, which was weighed out for him by C. Geise, then a boy and now the well known brewer. Taking this grain to Colorado, he sowed it within five miles of Denver and raised several crops, which he sold to John Good, a brewer on the Platte river, receiving about seventeen cents per pound. He was probably the first man to sow and raise a crop of barley in Colorado. He afterward engaged in freighting between St. Joseph, Council Bluffs and Denver and on one occasion hauled some corn for the government from Mills county, Iowa, to Denver, Colorado. In 1865 he purchased ten new Schottler wagons from John Beresheim, the banker, who was then engaged in general mercantile business, and these he used in his freighting business across the plains. He ceased to engage in freighting in 1866 but his memory is yet filled
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LINDER
JOHN
AS-0 , X AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS.
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with many recollections of those early experiences. He had many skirmishes with the Indians and his route was often one of danger as well as difficulty, oc- casioned by the poor condition of the roads through a district where it was im- possible to obtain supplies, everything having to be carried from the starting point. When he ceased to engage in freighting Mr. Linder opened a baker and butcher shop in Central City, Colorado, where he continued for a year.
On July 18, 1869, he returned to Council Bluffs, where he has since re- sided. Here he established a little grocery store and later engaged in the sa- loon business, while in 1878 he established a wholesale liquor house, removing his business to Omaha in 1901. He has since been located there but maintains his home in the former city. The prosperity that has come to him is due en- tirely to his own labors, for he started out in life empty-handed. His experi- ences have been varied but he retains many pleasant recollections of the carty days in the west and relates many interesting reminiscences of his life on the plains and in the mountainous districts of Colorado.
On the 12th of October, 1870, Mr. Linder was married, in Council Bluffs to Yonette Bircher nee Scherling, the widow of Casper Bircher. Mr. and Mrs. Linder have one daughter, Yonette. In politics he is a democrat, but without aspiration for office. He belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and to the Knights of Pythias fraternity. He is a kind hearted, lovable man, with hundreds of friends, his generous disposition and considerate spirit winning for him the warm esteem of those who know him personally.
ADOLPH F. BENO.
Adolph F. Beno has had an eventful and varied career and to his own efforts owes the prominent and enviable position which he now occupies as secretary of the John Beno Company, dealers in dry goods, carpets, cloth- ing and millinery in Council Bluffs. He was born in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1856, and was reared "all over the west." In 1862 he accompanied his par- ents across the plains on an overland trip from Council Bluffs to Portland, Oregon, and was in that state and in Idaho for nearly four years, followed by a return to St. Joseph, Missouri. About 1867 or 1868 the family went to Cheyenne, Wyoming, where they lived for about four years, Adolph F. Beno there attending school. In 1871 he arrived in Council Bluffs, where he again had the educational privileges offered by the public schools.
He entered upon his business career in 1873 when a youth of seven- teen years as an employe of the firm of Foreman & Beno, the junior partner being his uncle, John Beno. He continued with the house in the capacity of salesman until 1880, when the senior partner withdrew and the firm was reorganized under the style of John Beno & Company, so continuing for twenty years, or until 1900, when the business was incorporated under the name of John Beno Company, at which time Adolph F. Beno, who had formerly become a partner, was made secretary. Other partners in the enterprise are: his brother . Charles A. Beno. also W. F. and Lincoln R.
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Hypes, the latter being made vice president of the corporation. The com- pany carries a large and complete line of dry goods, carpets, clothing and millinery and the well appointed establishment and the neat and tasteful arrangement of the store, together with the straightforward business methods there in vogue make the business one of the prosperous and leading com- mercial enterprises of Council Bluffs.
In 1895 Mr. Beno was united in marriage in this city to Miss Louise M. Schindele, a daughter of George Schindele. They have three sons, George, Frank and Robert. Mr. Beno belongs to the Royal Arcanum, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and the Commercial Club. He is prominent among the business men of the city, having for more than a third of a cen- tury been closely identified with its commercial interests. He is a man of keen discernment and sound judgment and his executive ability and excel- lent management have brought to the concern with which he is connected a large degree of success. With his associates he established a safe, conservative policy which commends itself to the judgment of all, and the company has secured a patronage which makes the volume of trade transacted over its counters of importance and magnitude. The prosperity of the company is certainly due in large measure to its secretary, who through determined spirit carries forward to a successful outcome whatever he undertakes.
CHARLES A. BENO.
The rapid development of all material resources during the closing years of the nineteenth century and the opening years of the twentieth century has brought business enterprises up from the day of small things to gigantic proportions. New conditions have arisen in the business world and men of capacity and enterprise have met these and so utilized their forces as to turn all things to good account in the conduct of commercial and industrial interests which constitute the real basis of a city's growth and prosperity. Charles A. Beno stands as a splendid type of the business man of the present age. He is president of the John Beno Company, wholesale and retail dealers in dry goods, carpets, clothing and millinery in Council Bluffs.
His birth occurred in St. Joseph, Missouri, on the 12th of March, 1860, and in his infancy the family removed from Council Bluffs to Portland, Oregon, four years being passed in the latter state and in Iowa. Again they located in St. Joseph, Missouri, and about 1868 went to Cheyenne, Wyoming, where four years were passed. It was in 1871 that the family home was established in Council Bluffs and here Charles A. Beno attended school. He had previously been a student in the schools of Cheyenne, Wyoming, and he afterward attended the Commercial College in Omaha.
He commenced business life as a clerk in the store of Foreman & Beno in Council Bluffs. remaining with the house until the dissolution of the firm. The business, however, was continued under the firm style of John Beno & Company, at which time Charles A. Beno became one of the partners.
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The business was carried on under that name until 1900, when it was incorpo- rated under the name of The John Beno Company, with Charles A. Beno as treasurer. He so served until his election to the presidency of the con- pany, in which position he is now found. He has been watchful of all of the details of his business and of all indications pointing toward prosperity and from the beginning has had an abiding faith in the ultimate success of his enterprise. Moreover, he has become known in connection with other business interests of value to the city, being president of the Council Bluffs Carpet Cleaning Company, of Council Bluffs, and president of the Arion Mercantile Company, of Arion, Iowa.
It was in this city that Mr. Beno was married in 1891 to Miss Harriett Davis, by whom he has two children, Katheryn and Bernard. Mr. Beno belongs to the Council Bluffs Rowing Association, to the Knights of Pythias fraternity, the Masonic lodge, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Royal Arcanum. In the last named he is very prominent and has attained high honors, being a past grand regent of the order in the state. He has never held nor desired office, yet he belongs to that class of representa- tive American men who are much interested in the public welfare and while advancing individual success also contribute in large measure to the general good.
GEORGE LIPPOLD.
The enterprise and diligence which are necessary to successful farming are numbered among the salient characteristics of George Lippold, a leading agriculturist of Pleasant township. He was born in Scott county, Iowa, on the 1st of November, 1870, his parents being William and Hannah Lippold, who were natives of Holstein, Germany, and came to America in the early '50s, settling in Scott county, Iowa, where the father purchased land and improved a farm. They became the parents of nine children, of whom three are yet living: Minnie, now the wife of Al Zimmerman, of the Indian Territory ; Herman, a resident of Oregon; and George. After residing for some time in Scott county, the father removed to Pottawattamie county with his family and purchased a tract of land of three hundred and twenty acres in Pleasant township, upon which his son George is now living. He became recognized as one of the leading farmers of the community and carried on his work with a spirit of progress and determination which char- acterizes the German race. Both he and his wife have now departed this life. The father died August 1, 1897, and the mother, June 29, 1878, at the age of forty-eight years, ten months and four days.
George Lippold accompanied the family on their removal to Potta- wattamie county and remained under the parental roof until twenty-three years of age. In the meantime he acquired a fair education in the public schools and received ample training in farm labor, for when not busy with his text-books he aided in the work of the fields. At the age of twenty-three he rented his father's farm, which he operated on shares for four years, and
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upon the father's death he inherited the old homestead which has since been his place of residence. He is now the owner of four hundred and forty acres, all in one body but divided into two farms, the home farm comprising three hundred and twenty acres. Here he is successfully carrying on general agri- cultural pursuits and he also makes a specialty of the raising and feeding of Hereford cattle. In all that he does he is practical and progressive and his farm presents an excellent appearance, owing to the care and labor which he bestows upon it.
On the 19th of February, 1896, Mr. Lippold was married to Miss Emma Wulf, who was born in Scott county, Iowa, January 6, 1878, a daughter of Henry and Julia Wulf, who were natives of Germany and who had a family of four children. The father is now deceased, while the mother makes her home in Knox township, Pottawattamie county, with her children. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Lippold have been born seven children, George, Laura, Anna, Freddie, Mary, Bessie and Daniel.
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