History of Scott County, Iowa, Part 75

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 75


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Mr. Forrest and wife were members of the Methodist elmreh. having joined that faith more than 40 years ago. IIe is also a staunch member of the Sons of Temperance, and was one of the originators of the order in Iowa. He was educated in the Democratic school of politics, to which party he still adheres, and is an earnest advocate for reform. Mr. Forrest is a self-made man. Com- mencing life in straightened circumstances, he has, by his own indomitable energy and perseverance, made for himself a fortune, meriting and receiving confidence and respect of his fellow-citizens.


Matthais Frahm, owner and proprietor of the Davenport City Brewery, 518 and 532 Harrison street, was born in Schleswig- Holstein, Germany, Ang. 9, 1821, son of Jurgen and Katrina Frahm, natives of Holstein, and the parents of 15 children. Mat- thias remained on his father's farm until 21 years of age ; he then worked at the cooper's trade and in the brewery business. He served 16 months in the German army. In 1848 he came to Amer- ica; landed in New York, thence to Davenport in May, 1850. He worked on a farm six months, then in a cooper shop here 18 months. In 1850 he began to build the brewery which he now operates. It is the largest brewery in the city and has a capacity of 14,000 barrels. They manufacture their own malt. In 18º1 they made 1,000 barrels. Mr. Frahm was married in October, 1850, to Katrina Milot, a native of Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Frahm have had four children, one living, Henry, who is foreman of the brewery. He started with two and a half barrels a day and now makes SO. He has all the latest brewing and drying apparatus.


L. French, M. D., 118 East Third street, was born in Broome Co., N. Y., on the 2d day of February, 1832. His parents were Eben- ezer S. and Anna French. nee Seward, his father a native of Massachusetts, his mother of New York. He attended school, and assisted on his father's farm and in the saw-mill until he was 15


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years old, when he attended the Binghamton Academy three years, and in the spring of 1859 he began the study of medicine under his uncle S. I. French, at Lisle. N. Y. Ile graduated at Berk- shire Medical College, Pittsfield, Mass .. in 1853. Ile practiced in Lisle, N. Y .. and Hyde Park. Pa., until the fall of 1561. when he came West and located at Anamosa, lowa. In the fall of 1862. he en- listed as surgeon in the 31st Regiment ot Iowa Infantry, and remained in the service until July, 1863. when he resigned on account of sickness and returned to Anamosa. In March, 1865, he located in Davenport, which has been his home since, and where he has met with good success as a practitioner. standing at the head of his profession. lle has been thrice married ; first in May. 1856, to Mary Brockway. His second marriage was in 1864, to Miss Ellen L. Cook, daughter of Judge Win. L. Cook. They had one child-Nellie. Mrs. Ellen French died in December. 1566. and in May. 1868, Dr. French was married to Miss Agnes Norval, who was born in England and came to Iowa at the age of 15. He has been a member of the Masonic fraternity for the past.25 years. Also a member of A. O. U. W., Davenport Lodge, No. 17, and of lowa and Illinois Central District Medical Society and of the Iowa State Medical Society. He has been examining surgeon for pensions since 1863, and is president of the board in Davenport. Also a member of Scott County Medical Society.


Ambrose C. Fulton. - We have before us a vast number of journals and documents connected with the ever active life of Am- brose C. Fulton. a descendant of one the Fulton brothers, who came to this country from Ireland in 1747. one of whom was the father of Robert Fulton, who was born in Lancaster Co .. Pa .. in 1765, and invented and set afloat on the Hudson. in 1807. the steamboat "Clermont." the first successful steamboat ever launched. The ancestors of his mother. Esther Cowperthwaite, came from England to the new world in 1682.


The subject of our sketch was born in Chester Co .. Pa., in 1811. lle worked on the farm of his parents until 1827, when he went to Philadelphia and acted as errand boy and assistant for an extensive builder. In 1831, with a small capital carned by himself, he sailed for a cruise on the coast of the Atlantic, and in the same year set- tled in New Orleans, and embarked in the commerce of Jamaica, Sicily, and Cuba for two years, in which he was very successful. After this he entered the building business, and erected a large number of the public and private edifices now in New Orleans During his minority he was on the stage for a short period in Philadelphia and New Orleans, and some years thereafter was one of the company ofowners of the Arch St. Theater of Philadelphia. He prospered in all his undertakings. and was able to purchase and pay $11,000 for New Orleans city property in 1-36. and had a reserve of several thousand dollars on hand which at that period was con- sidered a large sum of money. During 1835. Santa Anna. Dictator of Mexico. imprisoned within the dungeons of the capital the repre-


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sentatives of the then Mexican State of Texas, and issned his pro- nunciamento requiring all Americans to leave Texas under pain of death. He increased his army and marched forth to enforce his de- cree. Mr. Fulton, though quite a young man at the time, called upon the friends of oppressed Texas, through the press, to join him and march to the resene. The immediate result was that a volnn- teer corps of over 300 young men was formed, which was the main force at the victorious battle of the mission, and the storming and capture of the fortified town of Baxar, which caused the withdrawal of all Mexican troops from the State, and ended the campaign of 1835: which act eventually gave us Texas and California, and changed the destiny of this Union.


In July, 1842, Mr. Fulton moved to Davenport, Iowa, bringing with him a large stock of goods, and a few years thereafter he opened a branch store at Galena, Ill., with dry-goods which he removed from a store that he had owned several years in Phila- delphia. In October, 1842. he built. and freighted with agricultural prodnets for the New Orleans market, the first flat-boat that ever cleared from the port of Davenport. This year, 1842, Messrs. Fulton, Bennett and Lambert dammed the Wapsipinecon River in Buchanan County, and erected a flour-mill.


In the winter of 1842 and spring of 1843 he made a preliminary survey between Davenport and the Cedar River, near Rochester, with a view of working up a railroad, and also made a survey of the Mississippi River above Davenport. took soundings to ascertain the depth of water and the formation of the bottom and banks, and the practicability of erecting a bridge, and laid the facts before a meeting of the citizens of Davenport in 1843, and published a re- port of his survey in a Philadelphia journal in 1845. In 1842 he conceived the practicability of leading the waters of the Mississip- pi along the Iowa shore and creating a water-power ; purchased several miles of canal grounds and one of the islands in the river ; took levels and made surveys at a cost of several thousand dollars. The work was then abandoned as too heavy for a single individual.


Previous to 1848 Davenport had no flour-mill. A meeting was called to devise ways and means to secure one. Mr. Fulton pro- posed to furnish one-half of the capital to build and operate a first- class merchant flouring mill provided the citizens would furnish the other one-half. 3 They declined, as they considered the under- taking too great and hazardons. IIc resolved alone to put a mill in operation. and immediately purchased the ground and erected a large brick structure. After all was ready for the machinery he sold the mill to be completed by the purchasers. The citizens and farmers expressed great sorrow that he had sold the mill, and called on him by a committee to express their feelings. He re- plied, "Get the owner of the adjacent ground to sell ine at a fair value, and I will erect another steam mill and operate it." "When shall we say to the owner you will commence work ?" "Tell him I will commence to-morrow morning." The ground


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was purchased and foundation work commenced the next morning, and a $12,000 mill erected and put in operation three days before the first mill was run. The citizens assembled on that day, Jan. 15. 1848, and gave within the mill a complimentary dinner to Mr. Fulton and his employes, accompanied with toasts and well- wishes.


In 1849 he called a meeting of the citizens of Davenport to take action toward the construction of a railroad between Rock Island and LaSalle, in Illinois. Subscriptions were opened. and he not only subscribed to the stock to the extent of his ability, but at the onset almost alone and unaided held meetings in the towns, villages and country school-houses of lowa and Illinois. Finally the masses of the people embarked in the undertaking of its full completion to Chicago. The citizens of lowa desired to have the railroad line extended west through the State. To accomplish this it was pro- posed to memorialize Congress for a grant of land. To work up a fine an I circulate those memorials in a sparsely settled country re- quired time and money. Mr. Fulton. as ever, came to the rescue, and spent many months holding meetings through the State, and visiting farmers at their homes. He paid his own expenses, and in due time his exertions were crowned with success, but, instead of a grant for one railroad. three obtained a like favor. "many reaping who had not sown, " and the bridge that he called the atten- tion of his neighbors to in 1843. and the world to in 1845, was erected. In 1849 and 1850 Mr. Fulton wrote for an Eastern jour- nał a series of articles on lowa. respecting her elimate, soil and productions, which attracted the attention of the Eastern people and was instrumental in bringing into lowa a large number of thrifty settlers who are now residing with us.


Previous to 1854 the city of Davenport did not possess a suitable cemetery. Mr. Fulton proposed to a few citizens to unite and pur- chase a tract of land for cemetery purposes. The proposition was sanctioned, and he was appointed to select a site and enter into contracts, which he did ; at this point the others declined the risk. Hle individually fultilled his contracts, paid for 72 aeres of land. fenced and laid it out with three miles of carriage drive and nine miles of walks. planted 500 evergreen and other trees. and many costly tombs now mark the resting place of the departed. Hle still conducts Pine Hill.


Mr. Fulton was elected and served as county commissioner for Seott County, and when the Democrats were in the aseendeney he was twice nominated and ran as a Whig for the Lower House of the General Assembly of Iowa, and was defeated by a small majority.


In 1854 he was elected to the Iowa Senate by the Anti-Slavery Whigs by a large majority. He took the responsibility and or- ganized that body, fter one week's dead-lock, by voting for a Democratas president of the Senate. Ile also disobeyed the almost unanimons petition and request of his constituents by being in-


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strumental in sending Hon. James Harlan to the United States Senate. In 1857 he was elected a life member of the Northwestern Freedmen's Aid Commission.


During the Rebellion he furnished the war department with mil- itary maps of New Orleans and adjacent country, embracing Fort Jackson, the Mississippi River, lakes, canals. timber and swamp lands, depth of water and nature of the bottom, public roads and bridges, for which he received the personal thanks of Simon Cam- eron. then Secretary of War. He also furnished the then Mt. Ida College building in Davenport as a barracks for an Iowa regiment, and as a hospital, through which the property sustained great dam- age, and he received no compensation. He is without doubt the only man in Iowa, and perhaps in the Union, who quartered a regi- ment at his own individual cost.


The journals before us witness that Mr. Fulton has not lived for self alone. In one good act he gave city lots for four churches; in an other instance, on the 10th of October, 1849, when the delegates from various States and cities assembled at Davenport in conven- tion to take action in respect to the improvement of the rapids of the Mississippi, he furnished the entire delegation with a splendid dinner at the Le Claire House at his own cost.


Ile built without any compensation the first wagon bridge over Duck Creek, west of the Dubuque road, and elevated the roadways to connect with the bridge, and also the first bridge of note and road- ways in Cleona Township. In 1865 he was in the grain and com- mission business in Chicago, and a member of the Board of Trade. In 1867 he, through the press, advocated building a horse railroad, visited Philadelphia at his own expense to obtain facts and consult contractors, organized a home company, solicited stock, and was instrumental in the construction of a street car line east and west through the city. During the same year, 1867, he proposed to a neighbor, Mr. L. F. Parker, to join him and view the country northward for a railroad line to connect Davenport with St. Paul. The view was taken and considered favorably. In 1868 he drew up a stoek subscription list which he headed with $5,000, went upon the street and after much labor obtained many thousand morc. All action then ceased until 1869, when the mass of the people came forward and carried the work to completion. He was one of the original workers and stockholders of the New Orleans and Daven- port gas works. He erected for himself in New Orleans nine buildings and 37 in Iowa. all above the average class, and put 2,000 acres of land under cultivation.


His advantages of an carly education were quite limited. It embraced but a few winters at a country school. But to use his expression, he picked up some useful knowledge during the cve- nings of five years in the sky chamber of a kitchen in New Orleans, where he alternately read history, law, medical works, allopathic and homeopathic, attended a few medical lectures, and studied en- gineering. That he gained some knowledge his published reports


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and estimates made under appointment of the Citizens' Association, to bring the St. Paul Railroad into the city, bear witness, and the court records and reports of New Orleans and Iowa, show that he to a limited extent has been a very successful practitioner. He was one of the corporators of the Homeopathic Medical College of Phil- adelphia, and in January, 1850, in connection with Drs. Sanford and Richards, who with others were then condneting the Col- lege of Physicians and Surgeons at Davenport, undertook to estab- lish an allopathic medical college in Davenport. With this view, Mr. Fulton negotiated with the bishop of Dubuque for the purchase of the grounds and building then known as the Nunnery, on Third street, east of Perry street. and since converted into the Aekley Ilouse. Mr. Fulton had drawn plans for remodeling the Nunnery, and posted them at the postoffice, when an indignant people de- clared that a medical college should not be established in Daven- port. The plans were destroyed, and even a grave in the city cemetery opened to see if the corpse was removed, and the medical faculty abandoned Davenport and located at Keokuk.


Fred Genzlinger merchant, located at the corner of Bridge avenue and Front street. was born in Pern, La Salle Co., III .. Nov. 24, 1854. His parents were Anton, (now deceased), and Barbara G. Genzlinger of German nativity. Fred was educated at Peru and Davenport, and has been engaged in the mercantile business in the latter place for some time. In religious sentiment he is a Con- gregationalist. He was educated in the Republican school of poli- tics and still adheres to that party.


Edward II. Gifford, proprietor of the Tri-city laundry, 116 West Third street, bought this laundry of Geo. W. Fisher in May, 1880. Under Mr. Gifford's management the laundry has been greatly in- proved. having put in the latest and best improvements for doing first class work. He employs 14 experienced women all the time. He was born in Muscatine, Iowa. April 7, 1861, and was a son of E. II. and Nancy A. Gifford, natives of Illinois, and the parents of two children. W. D. Gifford, of the firm of Gifford, Sheels & Co., rope, twine and cordage manufacturers. Rock Island, Ill .. and the sub- ject of this sketch, who married Miss Nettie M. Romidy, July 1, 1880. She was born in Wisconsin, and was a daughter of P. W. and Jane A. Romidy, natives of that State. Mr. and Mrs. Gifford have one child Annie V. Mr. G. is one of our enterprising young business men. and is on the high road to snecess.


Moritz Goldfriederich of the firm of Goldfriederich & Thelman. spring wagon manufacturers, 312 Harrison street, became one of the proprietors of this business in 1876. The factory was estab- lished in 1869, and since 1576 has been operated by its present owners. They occupy a two-story building, 80 x 25 feet, and have a blacksmith, trimming, varnish, and paint shop, and carry a complete line of buggy wheels, springs, etc., and do all kinds of repairing. Moritz Goldfriederich was born in Saxony, Germany, .June 23. 1520, and was a son of Benjamin J. and Christiana S. (Eek-


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hardt) Goldfriederich. Moritz learned the wagon-maker's trade in his native country, and eime to America in 1849. He went to Wisconsin. thenee to Chicago, St. Louis and Cincinnati, locating in Davenport in 1955. Previous to entering into his present busi - ness he worked 12 years for Woeber & Bros. He was married July 27, 1853, to Mary Wiedegen, of Iless, Germany. They have liad 12 children, 6 living- Emily (now Mrs. August Kaine), Emma, Anna, Johnnie, Odelia and Caroline. Mr. Goldfriederich is a mem- ber of Seott Lodge, I. O. O. F., No. 37.


Curl Thelmun was born in Hanover, Germany, March 5, 1833, and was a son of John A. and Charlotte (Reck) Thelman. Carl came to the United States in 1865. He located in Le Claire, Scott Co., where he remained one year, then came to Davenport. IIe married Augusta Wohler in Germany, Nov. 10, 1859. To them have been born eight children, five living-August, Louis, Charles. Harry and Oscar.


Peter Goldschmidt, resident of 420 West Second street, is a na- tive of Schleswig, Germany, born Feb. 18, 1824, son of John and Elsie (Oye) Goldschmidt, of German birth. They both died in Davenport. the former in 1853 and the latter on June 13. 1875. Peter lett his home in Germany for America in 1850, but returned in 1851. He came to America the second time and located in Davenport, July 2. 1852. He obtained employment as cabinet- maker in the store of Mr. Ben Barr for 11 months, then went into business for himself. In 1867 he entered his present store, where he is engaged in the undertaker and furniture business. His marriage with Eliza Henridesen occurred Apr. 18, 1852. She was born in Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Goldschmidt have been blessed with 10 children, five living-Henry, Laura, Edward, Alfred and Otto. Mr. Goldschmidt affiliates with the Republican party.


Ilenry Goos, grocer, 1401 Harrison street, was born Ang. 24, 1826, in Holstein, Germany, and was a son of Henry and Wilbke, Goos, natives of Germany, where they both died, the former in 1827, the latter in 1873. The subject of this memoir came to America and located in Davenport, Apr. 28, 1856. He engaged in various branches of business, a few years, and was then employed by Mr. Gould in the furniture business, and remained with him 17


years. He conducted a furniture store in Durand, Iowa, one year, then returned to Davenport, and in 1878 engaged in the grocery business, which he has followed since. He has a thriving trade and carries a complete stock of goods. He was united in mar- riage with Elizabeth Kuhr, March 8, 1853, in Holstein, where she was born. They have had four children. three living-Henry. born Nov. 20, 1858; William, July 22, 1861, and Emma, March 14, 1867. Mr. Goos is a member of the Lutheran church. Politi- eally is a Republican.


Hans Goos, dealer in sand and cord wood. corner Front and Main streets, was born in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, Feb. +, 1824 ; his parents were Hans S. and Margaret (Schmidt) Goos.


Um O. Kulp .S.


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CITY OF DAVENPORT.


Ilans, the subject of this sketch, was the only child; he attended school until 16. then farmed and worked at the stone-entter's trade and served five years in the war between Schleswig-Holstein, and Denmark, from '48 to '51. In the fall of 1853 he came alone to the United States : was 35 days at sea; landed in New York City, and came direct to Davenport, lowa, arriving here December, 1853. He worked at his trade of stone-cutting one year; since then he has been boating on the Mississippi River. He is halt owner of the "Lone Star" steamer and also owns several flat-boats. He was married to Miss Tiene Meyer, June. 1858. The fruit of this marriage was five children, two living, viz .: Miss Emma and Amelia. The mother died in 1569. In August. 1871, Mr. Goos married Miss Lonisa Long: she was born in Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Goos have had one son. viz., Hans Goos, Jr. Mr. Hans Goos, Sr., is one of Davenport's representative men, and has been identified with this city since December. 1853. Mr. Goos owns a nice residence on Seventh and Gains street, where he and family reside.


Win. W. Grant, M. D., was born in Russell Co., Ala., in 1846, where his boyhood days were spent. In 1567 he went to Enfield, Halifax Co .. N. C., for the purpose of reading medicine; after re- maining there one year he went to Philadelphia and matriculated in Jefferson Medical College; he spent one lecture season there, then went to New York, and after attending lectures at Brooklyn and Bellville Colleges which were all conducted by the same corps of professors, he graduated with the degree of M. D. in the fall of Is6, from the Long Island Medical College, Brooklyn. Upon completing his course he went to Nebraska and located in Dakota City. In 1871 he removed to Davenport, where he has since been a devotee of medicine and surgery; he is acknowledged as one of the leaders in his profession in Scott County, and has a very ex- tensive practice. The Docter is a member of Scott County Medical Society, Iowa State Medical Association, fowa and Illinois Central District Association and the American Medical Association, and has filled several official chairs in them; has been president of the first and third named societies. Dr. Grant married Addie Moseley. born in Franklin, Tenn .. . were married in October. 1878. Ilis father, Dr. MeDonough Grant, was a native of Raleigh, N. C .; he was a brother of Judge James Grant, of Davenport, and died in 1851; his widow resides with her children in this city. Dr. Grant is the eldest son and third child; five of their six children reside in Scott County.


Gough B. Grant, proprietor of the St. James and Newcomb HIonse hotels, Davenport., was born near Montgomery, Ala., Oct. 5. 1852. He was a son of Gough W. Grant. a native of North Carolina, who at an early age enlisted in the United States Navy. and was promoted to first lieutenant. Heresigned his commission in 1845 and returned to North Carolina, where he married Miss Fannie Pierce. He soon after removed to Montgomery, Ala.,


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HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY.


where he afterward practiced medicine. He and wife had three sons. Gough B., the subject of this sketch, when 12 or 13 removed with his parents to Georgia, where he attended school and college until 21. He then taught school at Chalybeate Springs three years. In 1877 he came to Davenport, Iowa, and was private secretary for his uncle, Judge Grant, three years, when he became proprietor of the St. James IIotel. This excellent hotel is three stories high and fronts on Main and Brady streets. It is most pleasantly sitn- ated near the banks of the Mississippi River, affording a grand view of this noble stream as well as Rock Island, Ill., on the op- posite shore. The St. James Hotel is fitted up in first-class order. It has 50 finely furnished sleeping-rooms with elegrant parlors, reception and dining rooms, also fine sample rooms. The kitchens, pastry and dining rooms are models for neatness and the very best cooks and waiters are employed. The entire building is heated by the latest improved steam apparatus, and is the model hotel of the city. It is the commercial man's home as well as the favorite re- sort for the best of all classes. The gentlemanly proprietor, Mr. Gough B. Grant, prides himself on his attention to the comfort of his guests. He is a true gentleman and is respected by all, and is one of Davenport's enterprising representative men.


F. H. Griggs, born at Brookline, Mass., Nov. 14, 1834. Came to Davenport April, 1855. Was for several years engaged in the business of printing and publishing, as a member of the firms of Luse & Griggs, and Griggs, Watson & Day. Was elected president of the Citizens' National Bank, in October, 1872, since which time he has been out of active business.




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