USA > Iowa > Wapello County > History of Wapello County, Iowa, and representative citizens > Part 23
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George D. Hackworth was born in Vir- ginia in 1810, and came west to Center town- ship, Wapello county, Iowa, in August. 1845. residing on section 35 until 1857, when he moved with his family to Ottumwa. He served several years as county surveyor, and two years as county auditor. In 1873, he moved to Kansas, where he died in Cowley county, in March, 1878, leaving a family of four chil- dren.
James T. Hackworth came with his par- ents to Ottumwa in 1845, and attended the Iowa Wesleyan University at Mt. Pleasant, from which he was graduated in 1800. Hle then
entered upon the study of law with Prof. Henry AAmbler, of that institution, and was admitted to the bar in 1861. He was made county sur- veyer of Wapello county, served as such for one year, and then entered upon the practice of his profession in 1863. In the latter year. he was appointed assistant assessor of internal revenue of Wapello county, which office he held for three or four years. In 1871, he en- gaged in his present business, becoming iden- tified with the Johnston Kufler Company. Ile also became a member of the firm of Porter Brothers & Hackworth, wholesale leather deal- ers, and at the present time is the sole owner of that concern.
The Johnston Kufler Company was estab- lished in 1871, having been promoted by J. T. llackworth, Allen Johnston, Capt. J. G. Hutchison, and A. G. Harrow. Capt. J. G. Hutchison withdrew from the company about 1877. and W. T. Major became a partner. The Ottumwa Iron Works is an outgrowth of the Johnston Kufler Company, and was or- ganized in 1880, having been promoted by the same parties mentioned above, except W. T. Major, deceased, whose estate is managed by his son. The Johnston Ruffler Company man- factured sewing machine attachments until 1808. when the patents were sold to Eastern corporations and the article ceased to be manu- factured in Ottumwa. The Ottumwa Iron Works manufacture steam engines and min- ing machinery, and for a time made the fa- mous automatic screw machines. They now manufacture cutlery machinery, which prom- ises to revolutionize the cutlery business, as it
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is used by the largest concerns of the kind in the world, among them the cutlery manufacturing plants of Sheffield, England, and Norwich, Connecticut. Mr. Hackworth is one of the pro- meters of the Ottumwa National Bank, of which he is now vice-president, helped in the organization of the Ottumwa Savings Bank. of which he is a director, as he also is of the Wapello County Savings Bank. He is a pub- lic spirited man and is deeply interested in all that promotes the prosperity and welfare of the city and county. He was one of the 20 men who secured the Dain Manufacturing Company for Ottumwa, and is one of its di- rectors. He is president of the Public Library Association, and also a trustee. Mr. Hack- worth was joined in matrimony, in 1866, with Sue C. Kissinger, of Mount Pleasant, lowa. Mr. Hackworth and wife are members of the First Methodist Episcopal Church, of Ottum- wa. A portrait of Mr. Hackworth and a view of his residence are shown on preceding pages accompanying this sketch.
B. OSTDIEK, a prosperous farmer located on section 20, township 72. range 13. Center township, Wapello county, lowa, is also engaged in the manufacture of brick on his farm, and is secur- ing good results. He was born in Lee county. Jowa, March 15, 1855, and is a son of Ferdi- nand B. Ostdick.
Ferdinand B. Ostdiek was born in Prussia and came to this country in 1846. locating in
Lee county, lowa, immediately thereafter. He was a school teacher for a period of fourteen years, and was then engaged in agricultural pursuits until he died, at the age of fifty-seven years. Ilis wife died in 1885, aged seventy years.
H. B. Ostdiek received a good educational training. Ile first attended a parochial school, and later the public schools. He was then placed in the Commercial College of Ottumwa. received a good business training and gradu :- ated from the institution. He purchased his present farm of 40 acres in the spring of 1892. and has since devoted much time and labor to its improvement, building a barn 38 by 50 feet. in dimensions, and a number of other buildings necessary for successful farming. He has a good orchard and a nice berry patch. He is also engaged in manufacturing brick on his farm, having bought the engine used in the Ottumwa Coal Palace during its existence. Ile makes upwards of a million bricks per year. and has had a very large sale. He is an excel- lent business manager, and has made friends of all with whom he has come in contact, both in business and private life.
Mr. Ostdiek was united in marriage, in 1881, with Ellen Mary Derks, who was born in Wapello county. Her father was born in 1825, and is still living. Her mother died at the age of forty-four years. Six children have blessed this union : Mary Katherine, who was born December 25. 1881: Rose Pauline, born March 28, 1883: Gerhard Paul, born Septem- ber 29, 1885: Ferdinand Theodore, born No- Ivember 3. 1887: John Laurence, born January
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27, 1891 ; and Herman Joseph, born November 9. 1893. Politically, Mr. Ostdiek is a strong supporter of Democratic principles. In re- ligious belief he is a Catholic.
A LVIN C. LEIGHTON was born in Scott county, Illinois, in 1839, and is a son of Joseph and Mary L. ( Coe) Leighton.
Joseph Leighton was born at East Ilar- mony, Maine, and learned the trade of a car- penter, which he followed many years of his life. He moved to Scott county, Illinois, in 1835, thence to Des Moines county, Jowa, in 1841. There he resided until Wapello county was opened for settlement, in 1843, when he took a claim and followed farming until 1846. Ile assisted in building Meeks' mill at Bona- parte, Iowa, in 1844-45. Ile then located in Ottumwa. In the fall of 1847, when Ottum- wa contained but 18 houses, he was elected treasurer of Wapello county, which office then combined the duties of treasurer and recorder. and served in that capacity until 1851, holding the office for two terms of two years each. In 1851 Ottumwa received its charter as a city and Mr. Leighton was elected its first city as- sessor, and in 1852 was elected treasurer. In 1854 and 1855 he was a member of the board of city trustees, and was again elected city as- sessor in 1856. In 1851 he engaged in the general merchandise business with Dr. C. C. Warden, establishing general stores at Ottim- wa and Blakesburg. The partnership was dis-
solved in 1853. Dr. Warden retaining the ( ) tumwa store and Mr. Leighton the one at Blakesburg. Later Mr. Leighton sold hus in- terests and then engaged in the real estate busi- ness, also serving as justice of the peace until a short time before his death, in 1858. 1le was an old-line Democrat, but in 1854 left the party ranks because of the Kansas-Nebraska bill and became a Republican. In 1838 he was joined in marriage with Mary L. Coe, who was born in 1821 in Greene county, Ilinois, and now resides at Ottumwa. They reared three sons and three daughters, as follows: Alvin C., subject of this sketch : Ann Elizabeth, who died in Wapello county at the age of four years: James, born in 1844 in Wapello coun- ty, was a partner of our subject for many years and died in 1882: Joseph, born in 1848. at Ottumwa, died in 1888, leaving a widow and two sons, Joseph, Jr., and Avin C.,-he was president of the First National Bank of Miles City, Montana, and also a wholesale merchant of that city: Mary Emily, who died in 1880, was the wife of Walter B. Jordan. a member of the firm of Leighton & Jordan, wholesalers and bankers at Miles City, Montana,-they had the following children: Stell :. Emily. who died at the age of one year : William Alvin and Walter B., Jr., who are now in their father's bank and store at Miles City : James Leighton. who died from appendicitis at Ottumwa, and Marcus, who resides in Ottumwa with his grandmother, Mrs. Maria Jordan; Abbie. the sixth child born to Mr. and Mrs. Leighton. married a Mr. Jordan and now resides with her mother, having two children,-Mary Inez. whto
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married Frank Thompson, of St. Paul. Minne- sota. by whom she has a daughter, Dorothy. aged five years, and Abbie, who married Law- rence Garner, son of J. W. Garner, wholesale dry-goods merchant of this city, October 8.
Alvin (. Leighton came to Wapello conn- ty with his parents May 1. 1843, and in 1856 went west of the Missouri River, living on the plains until 1878, since which time he has re- sided in Ottumwa. He bought a part and built a part of the Leighton Block on Market street. spending a large sum of money in completing and arranging it. He has built several build- ings in the city and conducts a real estate busi- ness, his attention being entirely occupied by his individual interests. He has been identified with all public enterprises and improvements of the city, such as the opera house and Coal Palace, and also aided in securing the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway.
In 1874 Mr. Leighton married Mary T. Benson, who was born in Baltimore in 1851 and is a daughter of Benjamin S. Benson. The latter was a foundryman and inventor of Balti- more, where he died some years ago. He was a natural mechanic and as a boy invented a water ram. He manufactured all of the piano plates used by the celebrated Knabe Piano Company : his principal business, however, was making water pipe. His grandson, Benjamin S., has offices in the Leighton Block. He was a Quaker in religious belief. Politically Mr. Leighton is a Democrat. Ile lives at the north- east corner of Fourth and Wapello streets. Ot- immwa.
EO E. STEVENS, cashier of the Ot- tumwa National Bank, of Ottumwa, L lowa, is a descendant of one of the old pioneer families of Wapello coun- ty. Ile was born in Wapello county, June IL. 1872. and is a son of William H. Stevens, and grandson of Abraham Stevens.
Abraham Stevens was a native of Ohio, and was born in 1815. He was a farmer, but was known by all as "Doctor" Stevens. He was an carly settler of MeDonough 'county, Ilinois. In 1840 he removed to Henry county, lowa, and two years later to Wapello county, where he is still living. He married Katherine Miller, who was born in 1815, and died in 1896.
William Stevens, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Illinois, in 1844. IIe was reared and educated in Wapello county, and followed farming until 1874, when he moved to the city of Ottumwa, and engaged in the grocery business, which he followed until recent years. He is now living in retirement. Ile has two sons : Leo E., and Fred C., who is engaged in the grocery business in Ottumwa.
Leo E. Stevens was educated in the Ottum- wa public and high schools. In 1887 he ac- cepted a position with the First National Bank as collector. He remained with that bank until 1893, and was promoted through different clerical grades up to the position of teller. Hle resigned that position in 1803 to accept the po- sition of assistant cashier in the Ottumwa Na- tional Bank. In July, 1898, he was elected cashier of the bank, and has since served in that capacity. His steady progress has demon- strated his ability as a man of good business
HON. J. C. MITCHELL.
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capacity, and a bright future is predicted for him.
October 16, 1895, Mr. Stevens was married to Grace E. Miller, a daughter of John W. Miller, of Ottumwa. They had one child,- Donald,-who died aged three years and six months. Mr. Stevens is a member of several fraternal organizations, viz .: B. P. O. E .. K. of P., Fraternal Pilgrims, Wapello Club. Ot- tumwa Country Club, Virginia Historical So- ciety, and Sons of the American Revolution. He is a Democrat in politics and served as city treasurer for two terms. He is a public-spirited man, and his assistance is always sought in all enterprises which are for the benefit of the people who reside in the thriving city of Ot- tumwa.
ON. J. C. MITCHELL, ex-judge of the Second Judicial District of lowa, whose portrait is shown on the op- posite page, has been engaged in the practice of law in Ottumwa, Wapello county since 1893, and is at the present time associated with Attorney F. M. Hunter. He is possessed of great natural ability, and has thoroughly mastered his profession. He enjoys a large and lucrative practice and has been identified with many of the most prominent cases tried in his district. He was born in Monroe com- ty, Indiana, in 1849, and is a son of James Mitchell.
James Mitchell removed from Indiana with his family to Chariton, Iowa, and in 1856 lo- cated at Osceola, Iowa. In the fall of 1861,
he enlisted for service in the Federal army dur- ing the Civil War, and died while in the ser- vice. llis widow still resides at Osceola.
J. C. Mitchell went to Mount Pleasant, lowa, in 1866, and entered college, remaining in that city for a period of five years. Hle then entered the law office of Ambler & Babb, in which he studied for one year. He was graduated from college in June, 1871, and in the spring of 1872 was admitted to the bar. Ile embarked in practice at Chariton, Jowa, and continued there for twenty years and some months, a portion of the time serving as judge of the Second Judicial District of lowa. In 1893, he removed to Ottumwa, Iowa, and was engaged in the practice of law alone, with great success, until 1895, when he formed a part- nership with F. M. Hunter, which has con- tinned to the present time. He has followed a general practice, and has been connected with many prominent and important cases, both in Chariton and Ottumwa. Among them is the case of the Bonaparte Dam, which attracted wide local attention, also the Kelly murder case at Chariton, and the Dougherty murder case at Mbia, besides a mumber of other murder cases. Ile also maintains an office at Keosanqua. lowa, as a member of the firm of Mitchell & Sloan.
Mr. Mitchell was united in marriage with Vice C. Wilson, who was born and reared in Mount Pleasant, lowa, and is a cousin of ex- Governor Boies, of Iowa. They became par- ents of three children : Mrs. Lynn Williams, of Ottumwa, whose husband is a machinist in the employ of the Fair, Williams Bridge &
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Manufacturing Company, and a son of J. II. Williams, who is a member of the firm men- tioned: Mark, who is in the employ of the Fuel Company of Ottumwa: and Paul. who is now in Colorado. Mr. Mitchell purchased a fine residence property on North Green street near Fifth street. He has a large library at home, as well as an exceedingly fine law li- brary. Politically, he was a Demoerat until 1808. when he changed to the Republican party. Except his term as judge, he has never sought nor accepted political preferment. Fraternally, he has been a member of the In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows since he was of age, and is a Mason. Knight Templar, and a member of the Modern Woodmen of Amer- ica .- belonging to the lodges located at Chari- ton. Mrs. Mitchell is a member of the P. E. (). Sisterhood, being one of the first interested in the order at Mount Pleasant, and has served as president of both the Chariton and Ottumwa chapters. Religiously, she is a member of the Episcopal church, which the family also at- tends.
John B. Lee was an early resident of Cedar ; and Johnson counties in lowa, where he entered government land. le came from Ilarford county, Maryland, and is descended from the distinguished Lee family of Virginia and Maryland. Ile was a merchant in the East. but followed farming upon coming to lowa. His physical disability barring him from enlisting in the army during the Civil War. he went into the government transport service, and contributed what he could to the Union cause. After the war he was elected recorder of Johnson county, being a Republican in pol- ities. Ile was engaged in mercantile pursuits in Iowa City until he moved to Muscatine, where he now resides with his wife. each be- ing eighty-one years of age. They reared three sons and two daughters, as follows: Mrs. Anna L. Mahin, whose husband. John Mahin, has been editor and publisher of the Muscatine Journal for over fifty years; Joseph J. and Isaac B., of lowa City : Mrs. Milly L. Loomis, of Bevier, Missouri ; and A. W. No death has ever occurred to mar the happiness of the fam- ily of John B. Lec.
.A. W. Lee attended the public schools of Iowa City, and at the age of thirteen years en-
A LFRED W. LEE, one of the most prominent journalists of this section "tered the State University of Iowa. being the of lowa, is editor and proprietor of , youngest regular student ever admitted to that the Otumava Courier, one of the institution. He took a two-years' preparatory course and remained until the end of his sopho- more year. Ile then began newspaper work at $6 per week, with his brother-in-law, on the Muscatine Journal. In 1885 he became a part- ner in the Journal and continued with that publication until 1889. when he went to Hutch- state's enterprising and progresive daily and semi-weekly newspapers. He is also serving as postmaster of Ottumwa in a most satis- factory manner. He was born in Johnson county, Towa, July 8. 1858, and is a son of John B. and Elvira ( Branson ) Lee.
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inson, Kansas, as business manager of the Hutchinson News. He remained there but a short time, and then went to Chicago and was engaged in the advertising department of the Chicago Times until April. 1890. He next came to Ottumwa and purchased the Ottumava Courier, which was established by Richard H. Warden, in 1848. He has built up a splendid circulation for both the daily and semi-weekly editions, as comparative statements of yearly business will show. In 18go the circulation was: daily. 575: weekly. 1.500. The sworn statement of the circulation for the first six months of igot was: daily. 3.709 ; semi-week- ly. 6.598. He has three linotype machines and a perfecting press, printing from stereotyped plates, and employs about 30 workmen, in ad- dition to the carrier boys. He is a member of the Associated Press, and is president of the Lee Syndicate of Iowa Evening Papers, an or- ganization of three of the best dailies in the state, including the Davenport Times, Ottum- au Courier and Muscatine Journal. The Courier is recognized as one of the most suc- cessful county newspaper in the United States. Mr. Lee is always connected in a general way with all improvements in the city of his home. and contributes, both personally and through the influence of his paper. to the furtherance of all worthy projects. He was a powerful fac- tor in making the Sixth Congressional District of lowa safely Republican.
June 4, 1885. Mr. Lee was united in mar- riage with Mary Walker, daughter of W. W. Walker, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and three chil- dren were born to them, viz. : William Walker,
who died in Chicago, in 1800, aged two years and eight months ; Mired William, who died in Ottumwa July 29. 1900, aged nine years, one month and sixteen days; and Laura Anna, born November 12. 1896.
A. ROEMER. a prosperous farmer of Center township. Wapello county, lowa, is located on section 29. town. ship 72. range 13. Ile was born in Center township, and was one of the first white children born in Wapello county.
C. F. A. Roemer, father of G. A., was born in Saxony, Germany, in 1813. and came to this country in 1845, locating in Ottumwa, lowa. on July 6. He purchased land near the fair grounds, but did not begin farming until 1848; he thenceforth continued it until his death, which occurred in 1894, at a ripe oll age. He entered the land now owned by his son on November 6, 1848, and hell it until, 1875, when the latter acquired it.
G. A. Roemer attended the public schools during his early life and received a fair edu- cation. Ile has followed farming all his life, and with much success. He has never been married, but has a very comfortable home. where his friends always find a welcome. He has made berries and small fruits his principal crop, producing a large quantity each year. For some years he played in one of Ottumwa's brass bands, in which he found a great deal of pleasure, but the band was disorganized when the leader left. He has been identified with
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politics more or less, and is a Republican. He legal practice. During his army life he was came close to the nomination for sheriff on two occasions, and had he succeeded would undoubtedly have made a good record as an official.
CGUSTUS IL. HAMILTON, a re- tired business man of Ottumwa and former proprietor of the Ottumau Courier, was born January 19. 1827. in Cleveland, Ohio, in the part of the city then called Newburg. lle lived there until June, 1854, when he removed to the west. in search of broader fields of operation, and located in Ot- tumwa in September of that year. He had been admitted to the bar of Chio in the spring of 1854. but concluded that the newer regions offered more inducements for the practice of his profession.
Hle opened an office in Ottumwa and con- tinued his professional labors until AAugust. 1862. being associated for about eight years with Hon. Morris J. Williams. Mr. Hamil- ton gave up a large practice when he entered the 36th Reg., lowa Vol. Inf .. and was ap- pointed adjutant of the regiment. One year afterward he was promoted to the grade of major, and in 1855 was commissioned lieuten- ant-colond. He was not mustered in as such, however, on account of the regiment not hav- ing men enough to justify it. Mr. Hamilton was mustered out August 24, 1865, and the regiment was disbanded September 7, of that year, at Davenport. In October, 1865, the Major returned to Ottumwa and resumed his
in nearly all the engagements participated in by the old "36th." He was captured at the battle of Mark's Mills, Arkansas. April 25. 1804, and was taken to prison at Camp Ford. near Tyler, Texas, and retained there until July 23rd, when, in company with Capt. Allen W. Miller, of Company C. and Capt. John Lambert, of Company K. of his regiment, he escaped. They traveled a distance of 700 miles on foot, without arms and poorly clad, and arrived at Pine Bluff. Arkansas, on the 24th of August. During this journey the men suffered terrible privations, subsisting for eighteen days on raw green corn. They were com- pelled to make moccasins of their boot-tops. and resort to all possible expedients to escape detection. For many weary days they slept in the forest. or under such shelter as they could find, but not a single day was passed indoors. They traveled nearly always by night, and their experience sounds like the ante-war stories of escaping slaves. For weeks at a time their ragged clothing was wet through. In fact, their escape was a marvelous one, considering the dangers to which they were subjected. The Major's brave comrades died from the effects of their exposure. Captain Miller reached his home in Iowa, but died in September. 1864. from slow fever, and did not recognize his par- ents until a few hours before death. Captain Lambert returned to his regiment. but was not fit for duty, and died January 6, 1865. Major Hamilton rejoined his regiment and was in command a good deal of the time. In 1869, after several years of home life, the Major be-
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came associated with General Hedrick in the | $50,000 of the total subscription for that coll- publication of the Courier and January I, 1878, became its sole proprietor. He was the second mayor of Ottumwa, was several times chosen councilman, was elected to the State senate in 1866, to fill a vacancy, and again in 1868, and was appointed postmaster in 1870, a position he held several years.
In the battle of Mark's Mills, Major Ham- ilton distinguished himself for gallantry; it was a disastrous battle for the Union troops, but the 36th lowa Regiment, under Major Hamilton's command, retrieved the situation, in teaching the Confederates a lesson of loyalty and valor. Major Hamilton has been no less eminent in peace than in war ; there is no man in Ottumwa who has done more for the city than has he. He has always been at the front in promoting great interests, and never has he been backward in charities. Major Hamilton has made an impress upon Ottumwa that will never be eradicated; he is one of the strong characters who go to make up the civilization of a great State.
Major Hamilton married Elma C. Coffin. a native of Springfield, Ohio, August 19, 1856. Six children have resulted from this union. The surviving ones are : Mary E. and Emma S. Major Hamilton has been prominently identified with the public interests of Ottum- wa. lle was a member of the board of edu- cation for a number of years, and was a prin- cipal agent for the St. Louis & Cedar Rapids Railroad Company in raising subscriptions for that line, by which means the St. Louis, Kan- sas City & Northern road was secured. Vont
cern was raised through his efforts. He was also active in the scheme to induce the Chicago & Southwestern road to come to Ottumwa, which was not successful. In the securing of water power and water works for Ottumwa, and in other great undertakings the Major was foremost among the workers, and his name has ever been associated with the material pros- perity of the city.
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