USA > Iowa > Scott County > History of Scott County, Iowa > Part 83
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CITY OF DAVENPORT.
land, in 1831. After their marriage in Pittsburg, Penn., they made a visit to Scotland, England, and Ireland, returning to Day- enport in 1866. He died in April, 1868. Though not gifted with brilliant powers of oratory, Mr. Shand had few equals in solid literary and theological attainments. For several years previous to his death he suffered from bronchial difficulty so as to be unable to preach. His last illness was not long, but afforded him sufficient time to settle all his affairs and meet death with a calm resignation to God's will, and unshaken faith in the Lord Jesus.
Ebenezer Sherman, son of Ebenezer and Mary ( Storm) Sherman na tives of New York, was born in Duehess Co., N. Y., but was reared in Orange Co., N. Y., where his parents moved after his birth, and where his father died in his 84th year, and his mother in her 82d. At 17, young Ebenezer borrowed 8400 of his mother, and made a partial payment on a farm of 160 acres, which he purchased for 822 per acre. In due time he paid for his farm, re-paid the bor- rowed money, and on this farm spent 29 years, accumulating in that time a fortune of 850,000. He then sold out and came to Dav- enport, and entered 12.000 acres'of land in Northern Iowa, besides, his purchases in Scott County. Soon after coming here he engaged in banking, but abandoned it after a trial of six months. Mr. Sherman married Charlotte Thompson, in Orange Co., N. Y., by whom he had two children-Mary, now Mrs. Trotter; Helen I., now Mrs. Charles Frost. The marriage tie was dissolved, and Mr. Sherman, in 1877, united in marriage with Lucinda Nichols, a native of Wisconsin, born in 1852. They now reside in the city of Davenport.
Adam Sievert, grain dealer, $16 W. 6th St., was born May 24, 1819, in the Dukedom of 1Hertzog, Germany. His father and mother both died in Germany, leaving him an orphan at the age of nine years. In 1853 he emigrated to the United States, and went to Pittsburg, Pa., where he remained about two months, then came to Davenport, arriving April 17, 1853. He worked as a laborer for 10 years, then began buying grain for other parties, and is still engaged in that business. He was married in his native country in March, 1842, to Minnie Law. Her parents came to Davenport in 1548; her father died here in 1873, mother in 1881. Mr. and Mrs. Sievert have had nine children, two of whom are living-Henry W. and Minnie, now the wife of Win. Bolte, of Davenport.
Henry Sievert was born in Davenport, March 24, 1856. He learned the butcher's trade here, and worked for different parties until 1881. when he established a shop of his own at the corner of 6th and Marquette Sts. He engaged in the same business in St. Jo, Mo., two years before locating permanently in Davenport.
Smith & Stearns Paint Company, manufacturers of ready-mixed railroad and paste paints, primers, colors in oil and japan, and also makers of dry colors, chemically pure chrome yellow, chrome greens, new implement red, the great substitute for English and American
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HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY.
vermilion, ready-mixed paints for immediate application in house, barn, bridge, and ear painting. The above firm make quality their motto in manufacturing all of the above-named goods, believing that while it is more difficult to promote the sale of goods that seem high to the consumer at first, that their policy will eventually win-always give the consumer the purest goods at the smallest possible margin. They make a specialty of goods for the use of manufacturers and agricultural implements. Mr. William C. Smith, the secretary and treasurer of the company, manages the firm's business here, while Mr. William P. Stearns, president, manages the business of the company in Monroe, Wis. They have removed from the old factory on Perry street to the com- modious Smith building at 124 and 126 Front street, where they have a large, roomy building, well adapted for their business. They have fitted the building up with the latest improved machinery, and this factory is in point of convenience and manufacturing facilities second to none in this country. The new factory contains three stories and a large, roomy basement, steam elevator, and all the machinery so placed that from the time the paint is placed in the mixing tubs on the upper floor until it is put up in eans and barrels on the first floor, it is manipulated entirely by machinery, thus saving a large amount of labor, and making the mixing and grinding more complete, a feature possessed by only one or two firms in this country. This factory is one of the leading features of Davenport, and the citizens may well teel proud to have sueltan enterprise in their midst. These gentlemen are shipping large quantities of goods to Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska, and some points in Missouri. It is their desire, if they are properly protected by the railroad managers, to make this the great paint mannfactory of the West and Southwest. In addition to the paint factory at Davenport they own the wholesale house of Stearns & Smith at Monroe, Wis., which is a great distributing point for Northern and Southern Wisconsin. Mr. Smith was born in St. Louis, Mo., where he attended school until 17 years of age, when he removed to Chicago, and began his career in the mann- facturing of paint. He was for some years the general salesman of the Alston Manufacturing Co., of Chicago, where he remained until he removed to Davenport. His parents were Charles Smith, one of the pioneers of St. Louis, and a native of Virginia. His wife, Mary Castello Smith, a daughter of M. J. Castello, one of the first settlers of St. Louis. Mr. Stearns was born in Woodstock, Vermont, where he attended school until 1868, when he removed to Chicago, and he and Mr. Smith met for the first time, and soon after joined their fortunes (which were small), and the names of S. & S. have been linked in partnership ever since. In addition to their large manufacturing interest they are also jobbers of oils, brushes, varnishes, colors, glues, sand-paper, and in fact everything usually found in a first-class paint store. They are both enter- prising, representative men.
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CITY OF DAVENPORT.
Ilon. N. J. Rusch was born in Southern Dithmarschen, Hol- stein, Germany, and emigrated to America in 1849, going directly to Scott County. He married, two years after arriving in Daven- port, Mrs. Catherine Kaack, widow of Hans Kaack, who resided on a farm in Sheridan Township. Mr. Rusch moved to this farm, which he made his home until his death. He was elected State senator in 1858, and lieutenant-governor of Iowa in 1860. When the war broke ont, he was appointed assistant quartermaster, with the rank of captain, with headquarters at Vicksburg, where he died, Sept. 22, 1864. of fever. lle had three children-Emily E. D. (now Mrs. J. C. Emneiss), Gustav C. and Minnie. Mrs. Ruseh, now 75 years of age, lives with her daughter, Mrs. Emeiss, in Davenport City.
Col. John Quincy Wing, a member of the Scott County bar. was born on the 22d day of September, 1838, in Washington Co., N. Y. He commeneed his literary education at the Cambridge Academy, and after graduating from it, entered the Fort Edward Collegiate Institute. He then entered the literary course of the Poultney (Vt.) College, and graduated with honors. In the spring of 1865 he raised a regiment and would have been its colonel, but the war closed before the regiment was organized. He then com- menced the study of law, and was admitted to the bar in 1866 ; he did not, however, enter upon the practice of his profession at onee. In 1867 he came to Aurora, Ill., and became one of the editors of the Aurora Evening Herald. In 1871 he became associated with the well-known firm of Rea & Mitchell, Chicago, Ill., and to better fit himself for the active practice of his profession, he entered a two- years' course in the University of Michigan, from which institution he received the degree of LL. B. He was burned out in the Chi- cago fire, and the firm dissolved, and Mr. Wing came to Monticello, Ia., where he practiced his profession with marked snecess till the fall of 1879, when he opened an office in the city of Davenport. When the Iowa National Guard was organized, Mr. Wing organ- ized Co. D, of the 9th Regiment. and was commissioned its cap- tain. Just before his removal to Davenport, he was elected colonel of the 9th Regiment, over Lient .- Col. Lyman Banks, by a majority of six, both parties claiming the election. The matter was finally compromised by Col. Banks, taking the commission of colonel of the regiment, and Col. Wing was. on the 23d day of June, 1880, commissioned lientenant-colonel on the staff of the commander- in-chief, which position he still holds, Ile is a member of the Davenport Academy of Sciences, and is as devoted to geological and kindred studies as his law business and literary efforts will permit. Thoughi always ready to serve his party in its campaigns, he is not a seeker after political honors-he is a Republican in politics. Ile married Miss Lula A. Finke, of Savanna, Ill., on the 22d day of September, 1873. They have one child -- Florence A .. born on the29th of October, 1876.
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HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY.
Usher M. Kelsey was born in Pittsburg, Pa., in the year 1834. son of Wm. J. and Isabell (Barns) Kelsey, natives of Ireland. where they were married, and immediately started for the United States and located in Pennsylvania, where five children were born, viz .: James, Jolin, Henry, Mary, Harriet. In 1843 lie emigrated to Iowa, and settled in Le Claire Township. He traveled on foot to Dubuque, to enter his land. Mr. Kelsey came to the county a poor man, only having $100 in cash, with which he bought his 80 acres; but by hard work, he accumulated a fine property, owning, at the time of his death, 450 acres of land. In politics he was a Democrat. He died D.c. 16. 1877 His mother died July 28, 1870. The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm, and received a limited education. His first schooling was in an old blacksmith shop, owned by Jame Jack. After his parents came to Iowa there were five children born- Elizabeth, William D .. and Jane. Two died in infancy. Mr. Kelsey has 143 acres of land, valued at $50 per acre, $7,150:40 acres of timber, $10 per acre, $1,600. Total, 88,750. In politics he is a strong Democrat, and has held several local offices of trust. In 1862 he enlisted in the Second Iowa Cavairy. Company C, being a recruit. He joined the regiment at La Grange, Tenn .. immediately after the second battle of Corinth, and was following Price to Coffeeville. Miss. He participated in all the engage- ments in the regiment up to the battle of Tupelo and Guntown. Ile was discharged at Salina, Ala., and also at Davenport, Iowa, in October, 1865. Mr. Kelsey is a member of the Masonic fra- ternity, and also of the A. O. U. W.
Francis Lambach was born in Prussia, near the River Rhine, Nov. 17, 1812. When 14 years of age he was apprenticed to the trade of bricklayer and mason, where he remained two years. In 1838 he left his native country and embarked on a sailing vessel for the United States, taking 75 days to make the voyage. Ile landed in New York about the middle of July. After remaining in New York a short time he went to St. Louis, Mo., where he remained until 1839, when he boarded the steamer "Des Moines" and came to Port Byron, where he crossed the river to Iowa. The town of Parkhurst being just commeneed, and wishing to build up their new town. Capt. Eads and Mr. Parkhurst gave himself and brothers a lot, if they would put up a building. He and his brothers spent two winters working at their trade in Dubuque and Galena. In 1841 purchased land. and commeneed to open np a farm. In 1842 he built a small stone house which bears the in- scription of A. D. 1842 over the door. In December of the same year he married Armelia MeElyea. By this union there were eight children, four of whom are living, viz .: Helena (now the wife of William Hafkey), Matilda, Francis (who married Miss Eva Hulet), and Louisa. Mr. Lambach runs his farm in connection with his trade, and has done the work on some of the substantial buildings of Davenport.
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CITY OF DAVENPORT.
Ferdinand Smith was born in the southern part of Germany, April 8, 1838, and is a son of John H. Smith, of the same place, who emigrated to America with his family in 1848. They located in New York City, where Ferdinand attended school. In the spring of 1856, he went to Baltimore and elerked one year in a pocket- book mannfactory there, then went to St. Louis, Mo. In 1853 he formed a partnership with Capt. Morley in the auction business, which he continued to 1859. He engaged in speenlation two years, and in 1860 located in Chicago, Ill. He engaged in the wholesale and retail grocery business there one year, in partnership with Mr. Yotham, who was drowned in 1861, while on board the "Lady Elgin." Mr. Smith traveled two years for a wholesale gro- cery house in Chicago; spent four years in the flour, feed and grain business there, and located in Davenport in 1867. Since coming here he has traveled for the following Chicago houses: Smith Bros., G. C. Cook & Co., who lost everything in the fire of 1871, Farring- ton & Schinal, Kellog & Barrett, and is now engaged with Frank- lin Mac Veagh & Co. Ile was married Jan. 30, 1861, to Miss Olga Federow, of St. Petersburg, Russia. They have six children- Ferdinand J. E., now engaged in school teaching, and making a special study of chemistry; Arthur, Olga, Emma, William and Vera.
Robert Smith, head bookkeeper for the Davenport Plow Com- pany, was born in the city of Aberdeen, Scotland, June 15, 1828. His parents were James and Margaret (Duncan) Smith, also natives of Scotland; they had two children. Robert attended school until 15, when he was appointed bookkeeper for the Aberdeen Bank for four years. He was then employed as bookkeeper for the Aberdeen Railway, until the spring of 1852, when he came alone to the United States; he landed in New York City. Eighteen months after he accepted a position as bookkeeper for a grain warchousc, at Milwaukee, Wis., until 1858. He was then agent for the Trus- tees of the State of Wisconsin, for the Fox and Wisconsin River Improvement Co. ( now owned by the Government ), until 1862, when he was appointed paymaster for the U. S. army, by A. Lin- coln, a position he held until November, 1865. He was then cashier for the Connecticut Mutual Life Ins. Co. 18 months, when he came to Davenport, Iowa, and engaged as State agent for the New York Life Insurance Co., four years. He was then bookkeeper in the First National Bank of Davenport four years, when he became head bookkeeper for the Davenport Plow Co., a position he still retains. Mr. Smith married Miss Anna W. Smith, Oct. 1S, 1859. She was born in Maine. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are members of the Episcopal church, and have for children, viz .: James R., Theodore, Bryant and Miss Edith Smith. Mr. R. Smith is a Mason and mem- ber of St. Nicholas Lodge, No. 93, Aberdeen Scotland, and a member of Davenport Lodge, No. 17, A. O. U. W .; a member of Knights of Honor of the U. S. and V. A. S. Stella Colleginm, No. 55, and a member of the G. A .R. Mr. Smith was one of the
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HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY.
original members of the Republican party, and has been a strong supporter of it since its organization .
Henry H. Smith was born in Philadelphia, Pa., Ang. 16, 1815. He received the rudiments of an ordinary education, and was es- pecially blessed with having a devotedly pions father, to whom he owes much for his religious training. On arriving at manhood, Mr. Smith continued the business avocation of his father, that of fancy dry goods, in Philadelphia for some years, and in August, 1842, married Miss Mary Lewis. His father's death occurred shortly after. One day he noticed an article in The Dollar Newspaper, over the signature of " A. C. F.," in which the superiority of Iowa was graphically portrayed. This, with the glowing letters from his friend Barr, who had recently settled there, led him to decide upon Davenport as his future home. Accordingly. with his little family and wife, he turned his steps westward, and reached Daven- port May 12, 1850. His journey embraced a period of some two weeks. The only mode of transit was by canal to Johnstown, Pa., thence by Portage Railroad over the mountains, and again by canal to Pittsburg, then down the Onio River and up the Mississippi to Davenport. Mr. Smith found it a village of some 1.200 inhabi- tants, with four stores, all of them located on Front street, Second street being occupied with residences and gardens. Mr. Smithi was the first merchant to disturb the quiet seclusion of this street, and in the fall of 1850, on the southwest corner of Brady and Second streets, erected a sign bearing the inscription, " Smith's Philadel- phia Variety Store," and commenced his career as a Western mer- chant. His wife, acting as his only assistant, was the first lady clerk that ever sold goods in Davenport, and whatever of success followed their united business labors, very much of it may prop- erly be attributed to the rare business talents of Mrs. Smith. No store rooms were to be obtained, so a private residence was se- cured, built by a physician. In this " Smith's Variety Store " be- gan its career. The first stock of goods required a period of 30 days in transit, and the three days staging across the sloughs of Illi- nois was the most expeditions way of sorting up his stock at Chicago. Railroads were as yet unknown in Western Illinois or Iowa. A year or two passed, and the little doctor's shop became entirely too small to meet the demands of a rapidly growing busi- ness. So a friend was found who leased of Mr. Davenport 40 x 60 feet of ground on the northeast corner opposite, and erected what was pronounced the finest store in the city, with its large show windows 20 x 30. A few years later a railroad was talked of to con- nect Davenport with Chicago, and after a year or two of wind work, the snorting of the iron horse was heard on the western bor- ders of Illinois, with his eye directed toward Davenport. With this, the tide of emigration set toward Davenport with great rapid- ity, and "Smith's Variety Store" assumed large proportions, and became famous throughout all the country around for its extent and variety of goods. In 1867 Mr. Smith relinquished the dry-
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CITY OF DAVENPORT.
goods business. his health having become impaired by too close application to business, and spent some years in cultivating his ground in the eastern part of the city. After this he was appointed United States assistant assessor, and served some six years in this office most acceptably. Mr. Smith is at present and has been for some years past engaged in the coal business. The Baptist church in Davenport owes much of its growth and prosperity to the combined labors of Mr. and Mrs. Smith, while every good object never failed to receive their most hearty support and co-operation.
1. J. Smith, of Smith & Mccullough, dealer in furniture and carpets, 114 E. Second St., was born in Columbus, N. J., Aug. 28, 1840. Ilis parents were William and Sarah A. (Gardner) Smith, the former was a Baptist minister. They had a family of nine chil- dren. A. J. attended school until 16, and when is came alone to Davenport, la. He clerked in a dry-goods store for his uncle, IL. II. Smith, until 1860, when he and Mr. Parsons were in business two years. A. J. then worked for Daniel Gould 19 years, when he formed his present partnership with F. Mccullough, and they bought ont Mr. Daniel Gould and opened their present establish- ment at 114 E. Second St., where they carry a full stock of domes- tie and imported carpets and furniture. Mr. Smith married Miss Hellen A. Squires, Dec. 12, 1860. She was born in Seott Co., Ia., and is a danghter of N. Squires. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have two sons, viz. : William G., and Charles E. Smith. Mrs. Smith is a member of the Calvary Baptist Church. Mr. Smith owns a nice residence at 1214 Second St., where he and family reside. In polities he is a Republican.
Richard Smetham, born Jan. S, 1819, came to Davenport direct from England in May. 1546. Of the 36 years which he has passed in Davenport. eight have been spent in the postoffice, eight in the county treasurer's office, and eight have been passed in the Davenport Savings Bank, of which he is cashier. During the was he was for some time connected with the adjutant general's office, and for the past two years he has been recording secretary of the Scott County Pioneer Settlers' Association.
William Il. Snider, of the firm of Snider & Miles, agents for 40 of the leading American and foreign fire insurance companies, was born in Brockville. Can., May 21, 1848, and was a son of Reuben and Maria Snider, nee Falkner. In 1851 he removed with his parents to Freeport. Stephenson Co., Ill. He attended school until he was 18 years old, and three years later he engaged in the insurance business. In 1869 he left Stephenson County, and went to St. Louis, Mo .. and in 1874 he came to Davenport. He has fol- lowed the insurance business in Holden, Kansas City, St. Louis, Mo .. and Davenport. Ile is special State agent for the Under- writers of Boston, Mass., and the Fire Association of London. He was married in Holden, Mo .. Oct. 4. 1870. to Miss Mary E. Coventry, of Collinsville, Ill., a daughter of William E. 53
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IHISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY.
Coventry. They have had three children-W. Earl, Jennie E. and Charles HI. In politics Mr. Snider is a Republican.
Henry Spink, son of John and Sarah ( Arnett) Spink, natives of IInll, England, where they died, was born in that eity Nov. 20. 1822. He emigrated to America in the fall of 1853, and located at onee in Davenport, Iowa. At that time the old Iowa College was the most prominent building in Davenport. Failing to obtain work at his trade, that of a painter. he bought land in Clinton County and farmed and worked at his trade when there was work to be done for about three years, when he rented his farm and moved into Davenport, and has worked at his trade liere sinee. For three or four years he did the graining for all the painters in this eity. He formed a partnership with John H. Morton, which eon- tinued until the death of the latter, his son succeeding him. The Jatter firm continued five years and Mr. Spink has conducted the business alone until three years ago, when he retired from active Jite. IIe has been twice married; his first wife was Jane Barff, born in the Society Islands, in 1823. Her father was one of the first missionaries that went to the South Sea Islands, under the auspices of the London Missionary Society: their marriage oe- eurred March 30, 1848, in Hull. England. Mrs. Jane Spink died June 15, 1857, in this city, having been the mother of fonr ehil- dren, one living-Sarah. His second marriage took place Feb. 21, 1860. to Miss Emily Godwin. She was born in London, England, on the 26thi of April, 1840. To them have been born 13 children, 11 living-Jane, George H., John W., Alfred, Henry, Emily, Charles, Edward, Hannah, Winifred and Alice. Mr. Spink is a member of the First Presbyterian Church.
William Sternberg, proprietor of the machine shop and brass foundry, 1642 and 1644 West Locust street, was born in Holstein, Germany, Nov. 29. 1848, and is a son of M. C. and Caroline Sternberg, residents of Holstein. He emigrated to this country July 1. 1868, and at once located in Davenport. He worked at his trade of machinist three years, then established a shop of his own, which he ran two years, then built the foundry which he now occupies. IIe does a large business. employing from two to ten men. His marriage with Annie Ense oceurred Nov. 29. 1877. She was born in Davenport ; her father is dead and her mother resides with her. This union has been blessed with one child-Hans. Mr. Sternberg is a member of the Turner Society.
August Steffen, president of the Davenport Plow Manufactur- ing Co., and proprietor of Steffen's wholesale and retail dry-goods store. 226, 228 and 230, N. E. corner Second and Harrison streets, was born in Prussia, Germany, Oct. 24, 1824, and was a son of Ifenry and Mary Steffen. He learned the tobacco and cigar maker's trade in Germany and worked at that until 1849, when he came to America. He landed in New York, thenee to Cineinnati and New Orleans. In the spring of 1850 he went to California, where he engaged in mining four years, then returned to New
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CITY OF DAVENPORT.
Orleans, via the Isthinns of Panama. In May, 1854, he located in Davenport, and opened a grocery store on the same ground where his present large wholesale and retail store now stands: he re- mained in the grocery business until 1860, and from that time until 1878 he engaged in the grain business. Hle then opened the dry-goods establishment he now owns. The building is three stories high, with an elevator and basement. They carry a full assortment of imported and domestic goods, and have one ot the finest stores in the city. Mr. Steflen was married in Davenport on March 21, 1856, to Mary Gehrlicher, of Saxony, Germany. They have had seven children, four living-Metta. Alfred, Adelia and August. Mr. Steffen is director in the First National and the Davenport Savings Banks, being a large stockholder in each.
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