History of Scott County, Iowa, Part 55

Author: Inter-state Publishing Company (Chicago, Ill.)
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago, Inter-state publishing co.
Number of Pages: 1280


USA > Iowa > Scott County > History of Scott County, Iowa > Part 55


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Being an earnest and devout Catholic, her own Church and sect were recipients of her charity to a very large degree ; but as said before, when called upon for aid to any public or philanthropic enterprise, she never stopped to inquire as to creed or sect, all alike being partakers of her bounty. She died about nine in the morning, after receiving at the hands of Father Cosgrove the sol- emn rites of the Church of which she was a devout and consistent member.


The funeral sermon was preached by Father Cosgrove, in St. Marguerite's church, of which she was a member, and which was built and furnished by her Husband during his lifetime. Her re- mains were deposited in the burial lot beside her husband at the entrance of the church.


JOHN OWENS.


John Owens was born in Wales, March 18, 1793. He was brought to this country while yet an infant, and grew to boyhood and manhood in New York City, and was one of those who enlisted in the great struggle of the Revolutionary war in 1812. At the close of that war, he removed with his parents to Cincinnati, where he resided for many years. He was here married to Miss Eunice Meeker. In 1838 he with his family removed to Davenport, where he met another poineer from Cincinnati, who had preceded him, D. C. Eldridge, to whose log cabin Mr. Owens and family were made welcome guests.


A short time after his arrival he engaged in the grocery and dry- goods business, in which he continued for more than 30 years, re- tiring only a few years before his death. For a number of years he held the position of director of the Davenport National Bank. He never held but one public position, trustee of Davenport, in 1839, although he was frequently solicited to run for office. In all the relations of life-father, husband, friend, neighbor, citizen, he was loving, affectionate, true, good and loyal, and his death was mourned by many outside of his family and relatives.


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For years he had been a member of the Christian Church and lived a consistent life, believing in and rigidly following the golden rnle-"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." He died at his residence in Davenport, Wednesday, Sept. 27, 1876, at the advanced age of 84.


NATHANIEL SQUIRES.


Nathaniel Squires died at his home in East Davenport, at 5 A. M., Jan. 22, 1878.


Mr. Squires was born Aug. 12, 1807, at Dansville, New York. His school days ended when he was 16 years of age, and he served an apprenticeship to a carpenter and joiner for four years, becom- ing a first-class mechanie before he was of age. In 1837, having married two years previously, he determined to move West, and he stopped not till he had reached the Mississippi, then the west line of a far distant frontier, erossed it and landed in Davenport. As contractor he built many of the best buildings erected in the city during the years he was in business.


Mr. Squires was noted for his push, promptness and ability as a builder, and much of the time he was sought after by persons who had large jobs which they wanted pushed. He prospered and achieved a competency long before he gave up his occupation. He could have held lucrative positions " for the people " but he was no politician, no office-seeker, and about the only positions he ever held were those which required much work for little pay-as the office of alderman, which he filled four years, or from the spring of 1849 to the spring of 1853.


DAVID S. TRUE.


David S. True was born in Kennebee Co., Maine, in Septem- ber, 1823. He was a farmer's son, a member of a highly respecta- ble family of five. His father died when he was about two years old. He was brought up on the home farm, attended the common school; was an apt and eager scholar; worked his way upward among the books, and entered college and graduated with highest hon- ors. After graduating he was immediately chosen principal of one of the leading academies of Maine, where he taught with great success for two or three years; but, his health failing, and having a strong desire for travel, he resigned his position and spent some two years in the most interesting parts of Europe.


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HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY.


Returning to America in 1852, and having expended the little means he had acquired by teaching, he resolved upon establishing himself in the far West and entering upon the practice of law. having already thoroughly prepared himself for the high duties of that profession. He opened a law office in 1852, in the Le Claire Block, Davenport, with a meager library and almost penniless. Practice gradually came to his hands, his business was well and ably attended to and success attended him. In 1859 Mr. Trne was nnited in marriage with Miss Jennie F. Forrest. In the fall of 1873 he returned from Colorado, in low health. For the last three months of his life he was confined to the house most of the time, suffering but little, but gradually sinking until the vital spark finally expired.


David S. True was a man of a thousand, as his name might seem to indicate. So he was, a true man in every sense of the word. He was a true citizen and neighbor; in professional duties and business pursuits, he was true as steel; a trne husband and friend. As a member of the bar he was clear headed, taking a ready and strong grasp upon the subject in hand. Careful, exact, a sound judge of law, thoroughly reliable as a legal adviser, able, impres- sive, and eloquent as an advocate. He died at his rooms in the Newcomb House, Davenport, Iowa, April 23, 1873, in the 50th year of his age.


HION. JOHN L. DAVIES.


John L. Davies was born in South Wales, in the year 1813. By trade he was a carpenter, as was his father before him. At the age of 18 he left the land of his birth and came to America, settling for a while in Cincinnati. In May, 1840, he was married to Margaret Jones, with whom he lived until the day of his death in great peace and happiness. Shortly after his marriage he moved to Iowa, settling in Davenport in March, 1841. Upon arriving he immediately purchased property and built a small house, the same, with its additions from time to time, that he lived and died in. From the time of his coming he pursued his trade with energy, and was a leading builder in the early days of Davenport.


Politically he was a power of strength in the Republican party, and, though never seeking office, he probably had as much to do with shaping the affairs of his party as any other man in its ranks in the State.


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He made his purse, his pantry and his wardrobe literally a horn of plenty to countless soldiers' families and soldiers' widows and orphans, which enabled him to realize how much more blessed it is to give than to receive. He died at his home in Davenport, March 28, 1872. in the 59th year of his age.


JONATIIAN PARKER.


Jonathan Parker was born at Clarendon, Rutland Co., Vt., May 7, 1786. IIe passed the first 20 years of his life on his father's place ; in his youth he helped to make the farm. Many an acre did he help to clear of its forest trees. In 1806 he left home to take a look at the outside world-a bundle of clothes his only baggage. He found himself at Cambridge, near Boston, at the end of the fourth day, and on the next day hired out to a farmer with whom he had stayed during the night; wages, $12 a month and board. He worked on that farm five months.


HIe married Naomi Titus, whom he had known from boyhood, and together they lived till March, 1875. In 1811 Mr. Parker and family left Clarendon for good, moving to Sherbrooke, Canada. The year 1825 found him in Luzerne Co., Penn., where he became a partner with Major Sterling in a woolen factory, where he remained 12 years.


In the spring of 1830 he went to Albany, New York, by canal; bought a horse and buggy, which he drove to Buffalo; thence by steam passage to Chicago; thence to Davenport, where his children had all preceded him, two sons having come out in 1836, and two daughters in 183S.


During his connection with the Bingham estates he studied civil engineering, and became a competent surveyor of lands. This business he resumed in this country, and had plenty to do in those days. In 1850 he ran the first line for the Chicago & Rock Island Railroad, from Peru to Rock Island, as deputy under Colonel R. P. Morgan ; surveyed the section lines to give angles for right of way along the lines. During the same year Mr. Parker, by order of the City Council of Davenport made a map for a railroad between Davenport and San Francisco.


He was the father of seven children, two of whom died before he came to Iowa. One lies buried in Vermont, another in Canada; the two eldest lie in the cemetery at Davenport, one of whom, Jonathan W. Parker, was one of the earliest lawyers in Daven- port, and one of the ablest of his time in the State, a member of


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the Iowa Territorial Legislature, and speaker of the State Council, and Mayor of Davenport in 1841. The other children are Mrs. Sarah N. Bonney (deceased), Hon. Geo. W. Parker, J. Monroe Parker, and wife of Hon. James Thorington.


Mr. Parker died April 22, 1875, just one month and one day after his beloved wife ; they were both 89 years of age. He died of congestion of the lungs.


BEZALEEL SANFORD.


Bezaleel Sanford was born in Litehfield, Conn., July 7, 1786. lIe passed his boyhood in his native village, and when a youth joined an elder brother in Central Vermont, becoming a clerk in a store for him, and gaining the rudiments of a business education. At the age of 21 he emigrated to the village of Herkimer, N. Y., where he was engaged as a salesman in a store for six or seven years. Desiring to see something of the world of business he removed to the city of New York, where he entered a large store as a clerk In that eity he married Miss Ora Worthington. She died in Davenport in 1863.


Mr. Sanford enlisted as a soldier in the war of 1812, and did a patriot's duty in defending his country in her last contest with Great Britain. After the war, he returned to New York City, where he pursued his vocation as salesman until about the year 1818, when he became a commercial traveler. In 1838, he concluded to settle in Cincinnati, and the fall of that year found him in the metropolis of Ohio with his family. There he remained, en - gaging in miscellaneous business until 1840, when he removed to Davenport, his son-in-law, the late Alfred Sanders, having preceded him. Mr. Sanford purchased a farm near Rockingham. He farmed over three years in this place. In 1844 he sold the farm, and moved to the city and went into the drug and grocery trade. He remained in trade here till 1851, when he purchased a lot on the southwest corner of Brady and Second streets for $2,000, a two-story briek residence being included in the purchase. He erected a frame building on the south end of the lot and removed his goods to it.


Mr. Sanford came of a long-lived family. Of eight brothers and sisters, seven lived over SO years. He was the father of four children. Mrs. M. A. Sanders, Mrs. Charles Leslie ( deceased ), D. W. C. Santord and one who died in infancy. Mr. Sanford was an honest and upright man. No one who knew him ever thought


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of doubting his word. He would keep a promise at whatever cost to himself. He died on the 15th of January. 1873, at the residence of his daughter, Mrs. M. A. Sanders, in his 87th year.


CAPTAIN LE ROY DODGE.


Le Roy Dodge was born in Herkimer Co., N. Y., Dec. 25, 1911, acquiring what education the common schools of that place and time afforded. In 1832, coming West, he arrived at Dubuqne, lured thither by the reported discoveries of rich lead mines. But he found the mining business over done and secured a posi- tion as elerk in the postoffice at Dubuque and afterward as clerk on one of the steamboats plying between that point and the city of St. Louis. He came to Seott County in 1836 and purchased the place where he afterward made his home, about the year 1843.


Rising in his business from clerk to master he was subsequently proprietor of a number of boats, prominent among them the "Jas. McKee" and the " Keokuk." He retired to his farm about the year 1859 with an ample fortune, the basis of which was untiring hard work and an indomitable will. He died June 27, 1871. Of his children, Mrs. E. E. Cook and Mrs. C. G. Raguet are residents of Davenport, while Worth Dodge, his youngest son, is living with his mother, Eliza M. Dodge, widow of the subject of this sketch, at the old home near Buffalo.


Captain LeRoy Dodge represented Scott County in the State Legislature as a Democrat, a character which he ever uncompro- misingly snstained.


ROSWELL H. SPENCER.


Roswell H. Spencer was born at Vergennes, Vt., April +, 1809, and was nearly 68 years of age at the time of his death. In 1830 he came West to Greene Co., Ill., stopped there a few months and then volunteered in Capt. Lorton's company of Illinois Militia for the Black Hawk war. At the expiration of an- other year, which was at the close of the war, he came to Rock Is- land and remained, until 1834, when he crossed over to the other side of the river to what was then Wisconsin Territory, and settled permanently at Valley City, 10 miles above Davenport on the river. He then opened up a farm and built a saw-mill on Spencer Creek, the latter being accomplished in 1836. A few years later, upon the organization of Scott County, lie was elected county treas- urer. Following his business faithfully and energetically, he in


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1855 found himself possessed of 700 acres of land and surrounded with all the comforts and delights of an elegant and commo- dious home.


The financial panic of 1857 coming on unexpectedly, he became very seriously involved, and in 1862 came out of his difficulties with only a few thousand dollars left, with which he purchased a farm in Cedar Co., Iowa, whither he removed. He remained there two years, and spent two years in Geneseo, Henry Co., Ill., and in 1866 removed to the city of Rock Island where he engaged in the grocery business until his healthi necessitated his retiring from active business.


He was married in 1836 to Martha A. Henley, daughter of Sto- phen Henley, who had settled in Pleasant Valley with his family, about a year before. They had a family of nine children. IFis wife, whom he survived nearly four years, was a woman of most saintly character.


Mr. Spencer died on March 14, 1876, at Rock Island, at the resi- denee of his brother, John W. Spencer, in the 68th year of his age.


ALFRED SANDERS.


The subject of this brief memoir was born in Cincinnati, O., on the 13th day of May, 1819, and died at his residence in East Davenport, Iowa, April 25, 1805, aged 46 years. His disease was typhoid fever. Ilis body was conveyed to the Christian chapel in his adopted city, attended by the "Old Settlers " and a large company of his fellow citizens. Appropriate services were observed by the Church of which he was a member ; and a suitable address was made by the pastor, Elder James Challen. His body reposes in Oakdale Cemetery.


He was the third son of Hezekiah Sanders, one of the pioneer settlers of Cincinnati, who died in 1836, leaving a wife and a family of five sons and two daughters. His parents belonged to the Society of Friends. Among the survivors is Gen. Add. II. Sanders, who was long associated with him as co-editor of the Daily Gazette, and who, by his ready pen and spicy articles, full of wit and humor, has won for himself an enviable reputation as public journalist. His eminent services in the late war have en- rolled his name among the patriots and defenders of his country. Alfred Sanders received a good education, and finished his Aoa- demic course of studies in Woodward College, Cincinnati. He had


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HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY


the reputation of being a good scholar, -moral, upright, courte- ous and kind. He was ambitious to excel in those studies that pleased him, and took a high position in the several classes in his favorite Alma Mater. In 1841 he arrived in Davenport, Iowa, and was married in 1842 to Miss M. A. Sanford, the youngest daugliter of B. Sanford, Esq. They had six children, two sons and four daughters, of whom four survive.


On the 11th of August, 1841, he brought to the city the press and materials for a printing establishment, and soon opened an office and commeneed the publication of the Weekly Gazette, the first number of which was issued on the 25th of August of the same year. In August, 1853, he commenced a tri-weekly, with most favorable prospects ; and in October, 1854, the first number of the daily was issued. Alfred Sanders continued his services as principal editor until, in 1862, he sold out his entire interest to the present proprietors, and retired to a less active employment in life. By his pen and tongue he urged the election of John C. Fre- mont in 1860, and afterward, that of Abraham Lincoln to the presideney, and stood by our chosen chief to the last, and sought no reward but that which conscience and a sense of duty would grant.


He was a devoted student of the natural sciences. In early life he made botany a specialty, and was very successful in its prose- cution. During the first year of his residence in Iowa he spent muehl time in the prairies and woods making collections of plants, analyzing and classifying them. He was an antiquarian, and especially was he fond of that branch of it that is denominated neumismatics. For many years he was engaged in collecting coins and medals, and whatever would represent their values. He paid much attention to conchology, and made a large collection of shells from our Western waters in addition to those obtained from abroad. These he classified and named, and designed to arrange in his cabinet. In the latter years of his life he was zealously de- voted to the study of geology. His library was enriched with works upon this subject, and he constantly read and studied them, and practically engaged in its pursuit.


IION. WILLIAM B. CONWAY.


William B. Conway, a pioneer lawyer of Davenport, died at Burlington, Iowa, Nov. 6, 1839. At the time of his death he was secretary of the Territory of Iowa, and was regarded as one of the


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most gifted men in the Territory. His body was received in Dav- enport on the 9th of November by a committee appointed for the purpose, and was conveyed to St. Anthony's church, where the solemn services for the dead were performed by the Rev. Father Pelamorgues. A meeting was held on the morning of the 9th, whose proceedings were solemn and impressive.


PUBLIC MEETING.


At a meeting of the citizens of Davenport, convened at Davenport Hotel on Saturday, Nov. 9, 1839, to testify their respect for thie memory of William B. Conway, deceased, late secretary of the Ter- ritory of Iowa, T. S. Hoge was called to the chair, and G. C. R. Mitchell appointed secretary.


On motion it was ordered that John II. Thorington, Thomas S. Hoge, Duncan C. Eldridge, Ira Cook, G. C. R. Mitchell, Richard Pearce, Antoine Le Claire and John Owens be appointed a com- mittee to make the necessary arrangements for the funeral of the deceased, and also to draft and report resolutions expressive of the sense of this meeting.


The committee having retired for a short time reported the fol- lowing resolutions which were unanimously adopted :


Resolved, That this meeting has heard with the most profound regret of the death of William B. Conway, Esq., late secretary of the Territory of Iowa. Possessing a mind richly cultivated and improved, a disposition amiable and kind, he was generons and hospitable; of manners the most bland and courteous, respected, honored and beloved by all who knew him. We feel that in his death this neighborhood has lost its brightest ornament, and the Territory one of its ablest and most worthy officers and highly valued citizens.


Resolved, That this meeting sincerely condole with the family of the deceased in their severe and deep affliction, and pray that He who tempers the blast to the shorn lamb may support and pro- tect them.


Resolved. That as a mark of respect for the memory of the deceased, we will wear the usual badge of mourning for 30 days.


Resolved, That the proceedings of this meeting be signed by the chairman and secretary, and the Iowa Sun and other papers throughout the Territory be requested to publish the same.


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Resolved, That Antoine Le Claire and G. C. R. Mitehell be, and they are hereby, appointed a committee to deliver a copy of the proceedings of this meeting to the respected widow of the deceased. TH. S. HOGE, Chairman. G. C. R. MITOHELL, Secretary.


On the 11th, a meeting of the bar of the Territory of Iowa was held at Burlington to testify respect to the memory of the deceased , and the following was their expression :


" A distressing dispensation of Providence having deprived us of the society of one or our body, whom, during his residence among us, we had learned warmly to esteem, we feel called upon to express our deep regret for his untimely death, and of the esti- ination which his amiable and excellent'qualities universally com - manded. Therefore,


# Resolved, That our brother, the late William B. Conway, had, by his amiable manners, unexceptionable deportment, as a member of the bar, greatly endeared himself to his associates, the members of the bar, of the Territory, generally.


Resolved, That by his death the bar has been deprived of an able member, the Territory of a faithful officer and valuable citi- zen, ourselves of a devoted friend, and his wife and child of their only protector.


Resolved, That we take this method of expressing our deep regret at his untimely death, and of our condolence with the relatives of the deceased, and of bearing testimony to his many virtues.


Resolved, That we testify our respect for the memory of our deeeased brother by wearing the usual badge of mourning for 30 days.


Resolved, That David Rorer, Esq., present these resolutions to the Supreme Court of the Territory for the purpose of having them entered on the record of the court.


CHARLES MASON, Chairman.


WM. J. A. BRADFORD, Secretary.


J. DUNCAN PUTNAM.


Davenport lost one of her most useful citizens in the death of Joseph Dunean Putnam, who died Dec. 9, 1881.


He was born in Davenport-the son of Charles E. and Mary Putnam -- in October, 1855, and liad entered his 27th year, his age being 26 years, one month and 22 days when he died. His health was never very good, but from the days when he became able


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to read, he manifested a strong desire for study. Hle early devel- oped a fondness for the study of insect life, and never tired of it. In the course of time his correspondence on the subject became very extensive, and the most eminent scientists in the world became his correspondents and his admirers and friends. He became a mem- ber of the Davenport academy of science when a youth, and our city readers know that it is owing to his efforts and the work of his parents that the academy has become the noted institution it is. He represented the Davenport academy of science at several meetings of the national association for the promotion of science, and wherever he traveled was treated with respect and honor by men of science. Last year he was elected president of our acad- emy of science, and died in the position.


His death is an irreparable loss to the academy. He studied and toiled in its interests; he and his devoted parents made it what it is, and it exists as his monument.


ROBERT M. PRETTYMAN.


Robert M. Prettyman was born July 5, 1818, in Sussex Co., Del., and was the son of Isaac and Hannah Prettyman. Robert M.'s mother died in Sussex when Robert was only four years old, and his father died six years later, leaving him an orphan at the ten- der age of 10 years. He was the youngest of three children and the only son. After the death of his father Robert went to live with his grandmother, and continued to live with her until he was 17 years old, when she apprenticed him to a dry-goods merchant to learn the business. Ile remained with him until he was 21 years old. Then he emigrated, and in 1839 arrived in Davenport and took a situation as a clerk in a hotel for three months, then took a position as bookkeeper in the dry-goods store of J. M. D. Burrows, and afterward became Mr. Barrows' partner in various lines of trade. They carried on the dry-goods business and milling and were the representative merchants of that day. Mr. Prettyman withdrew from the milling business after their new mill was built, and afterward withdrew from the firm, and took the agency of a line of steamers on the Upper Mississippi, which position he held to the day of his death, which occurred in Davenport. Sept. 3, 1873. Robert M. Prettyman was married to Julia H. Logue, Aug. 14, 1843, in Davenport.


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EUGENE BIRCHARD.


Eugene Birchard was born June 16, 1840, on the farm where he died, at Pleasant Valley, Scott Co., Iowa, in a log cabin, such as the pioneers erected for their first homes in the county. He was the son of Jabez A. Birchard, who settled in Pleasant Valley in 1836. The family is of the good old Puritan stock which emi- grated from New England over a hundred years ago. Eugene Birchard was reared in Scott County, and never had a home any where else. He received his education at Lumbard University, Galesburg, Ill., and after he returned home from that institu- tion he settled down to his father's calling, that of a farmer. In his young manhood he was married to Miss Kittie Donoldson, daughter of James Donoldson.




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