USA > Iowa > Wapello County > History of Wapello County, Iowa, and representative citizens > Part 24
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APT. S. B. EVANS, editor and pub- lisher of the Independent, at Ot- tumwa, and editor and compiler of the historical feature of this volume, whose, portrait accompanies this sketch, is a native of Jefferson county, Tennessee, his birth occurring July 31, 1837.
The ancestors of Captain Evans are num- Fered among the early settlers of Eastern Ten- nessee. His father, Samuel Anderson Evans, was a soldier in the Seminole War, and a law- ver by profession. His death cœurred in Kem- kuk county, lowa, in 1881, at the age of al- most three score years and ten. The Captain's grandfather. Samuel Evans, served in the War of 1812, and his great-grandfather. Andrew Evans, was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. and participated in the battle of King's Moun- tain. Sarah ( Mitchell) Evans, mother of Captain Evans, was a daughter of Berry Mitch- ell, a soldier in the War of 1812. She died in Keokuk county, lowa, in 1865. Samuel Anderson and Sarah ( Mitchell) Evan- were
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the parents of four children, namely: S. B .; Gideon, a printer residing at Richland, Iowa; Margaret, who also lives at Richland; and Nancy, wife of J. D. Hayworth, who resides at Milo.
S. B. Evans came with his parents to Fowa when but five years old, and lived with them in Davis county until 1849. when the family moved to Keokuk county. At the age of six- teen years, he entered a printing office and served an apprenticeship to the printer's trade. He afterward worked as a journeyman, and accumulated a small sum of money. Near the age of manhood, he found himself with a good trade, a small capital, and but a partial educa- tion: realizing that education was more de- sirable than capital, he entered a branch of the University of lowa at Fairfield, in 1855. In 1858, in company with John R. Farra as part- ner, he founded the Democrat at Sigourney. Mr. Farra soon soll his interest to J. B. Sholl- enbarger. The paper was edited by Mr. Evans assisted by Judge J. M. Casey, and in 1860 it supported Stephen AA. Douglas for the presi- dency. When the Civil War broke out, Mr. Shollenbarger enlisted in the cause of the U'nion. In the fall of 1861, Mr. Evans sus- pended publication of the Democrat, moved to Ottumwa, and with Judge E. L. Burton as partner established the Mercury. But Mr. Evans, like his forefathers, could not be con- tent at home when the country needed his ser- vices in the field. Leaving his paper in charge of Judge Burton and Judge H. B. Hender- shott. he enlisted, in August. 1862, and was mustered into service with Company B, 33d
Reg .. Iowa Vol. Inf. He was appointed com- missary sergeant of the regiment and held that rank until 1864, when he assisted in organizing the 4th Regiment of Arkansas Cavalry, a regi- ment of loyal whites, and was promoted to be first lieutenant, with which rank he was mus- tered out in June. 1865. He participated in the Yazoo Pass expedition, the battle of Ilelena, and the Little Rock and Camden expeditions, including the battle at Jenkin's Ferry, besides numerous skirmishes, and was never wounded or taken prisoner. On returning from the army, he resumed the editorial chair of the Mercury, and attended to its duties until 1868. when he sold it to Samuel Burton. He next founded, in connection with others, the Ot- lumia Democrat, which he conducted until 1881, when he soll it. Soon after this, he took charge of the archaeological expedition into Mexico, in the interest of the Chicago Times. His researches took him into several states of Mexico, and he succeeded in making some dis- coveries acknowledged by the Mexican Govern- ment to be of great importance. One of these was the Tezcuco Calendar Stone, found in a pyramid at the ancient city of Tezcuco. The original stone is now in the Government Mus- eum of Mexico, and fac-similes are in the Smithsonian Institute at Washington, and in the Fairfield Library. He was several months in Old Mexico, and during his stay there. through the influence of Gen. U. S. Grant and the American minister. Judge Morgan, the Mexican Government permitted him to exca- vate at any place and gave him a guard of troops when he desired. His guides were In-
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dians, and he lived with them during his so- journ. After leaving Old Mexico, he con- tinued his researches in New Mexico for a time, and there acquired mining interests to which he gave his personal attention until 1884, and which he still owns. Returning to Ottumwa in August, 1884, he again became editor of the Democrat, and in February, 1886, again be- came its proprietor.
Politically, Mr. Evans has at all times ad- hered to the Democratic party. In 1872, he was a delegate to the national convention held at Baltimore, and voted for Horace Greeley. In 1876, he was an alternate delegate to the national convention held at St. Louis, and sup- ported Samuel J. Tilden. In 1880, he was a delegate to the national convention at Cincin- nati and was made one of the vice-presidents of that body. After the declination of Samuel J. Tilden, he supported Thomas F. Bayard for the presidency. Mr. Evans was appointed and commissioned postmaster of Ottumwa by President Johnston in 1866, but during the controversy between the president and the sen- ate, his nomination, with many others, was withdrawn. During the year 1866, he served several months as deputy collector of internal revenue. He was appointed postmaster of Ot- tumwa by President Cleveland on July 14. 1885. and his appointment was confirmed by the senate in March, 1886, without opposition. lle served a term of four years. He was ap- pointed in October. 1893. by President Cleve- land, consul of the United States to Managua, the capital of Nicaragua, Central America.
States senate, but Mr. Evans declined the office. In 1874. when the lowa legislature established the fish commission, he was chosen president of that body, as it was largely through his in- fluence that the commission was created, which greatly benefited the people of the common- wealth. He may well be proud of his labors while acting in that capacity, and of the results achieved. He was appointed by Governor Boies, served from 1891 to 1897 as such com- missioner, and for three years of that period he was president of the board of commissioners of the lowa Soldiers' Home at Marshalltown. He was chairman of the committee that built the hospital for that institution. In 1895, he was a delegate at large to the Democratic national convention at Chicago, and was chairman of the lowa delegation. During 1891. he was engaged in editing and publishing the Sun and other newspapers, and has continued in such work. Ile founded the Sun. Democrat and Independent, and is at present publishing the last named paper. Mr. Evans was a member of the International Congress of Americanists at Berlin and Paris, and contributed a paper which was read and published at each congress. The object of this congress is to investigate the antiquities and early history of America.
In I001, Mr. Evans was appointed by Gov- ernor Shaw, as a member of the Louisiana Purchase Commission, in connection with the exposition at St. Louis, and he became a mem- ber of the committee of seven on scope and plan of the work in Iowa.
December 19, 1866, Mr. Evans was united The appointment was confirmed by the United in marriage with Sarah E. Potter, who was
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born in Carroll county, Ohio, in November, 1845, the youngest child of John and Nancy Potter. Five children were born of this union : Margaret, deceased, who was the wife of F. L. Briggs; Sarah Edith ; Lucy ; Samuel MacDon- ald. deceased; and Bertha. . As a citizen. Cap- tain Evans has always been ready to assist worthy public enterprises, particularly those intended to benefit wide-awake Ottumwa.
B ARIS CALDWELL, deceased, was born in Ohio county, Virginia, March 13. 1818. Ile was the son of John and Sarah ( Mulligan ) Caldwell. The former was a native of Scotland, and died when Paris was but eleven months okl.
Paris Caldwell left Virginia and located in Burlington, lowa, in 1841, where he remained seven months. Ile then went to what is now Davis county, lowa, and remained there until May, 1843, when he came to Wapello county. lle made claim to a tract of land in Center township, which he afterward purchased from the government. Ile resided on that tract un- til his death. Fifty-four acres of the original farm now lies within the corporate limits of the city of Ottumwa. During the active career of Mr. Caldwell he carried on farming and stock growing.
In 1845 he married Margaret Hackney, a daughter of William and Ellen Hackney, of Virginia. She was born December 22, 1824, and died November 20, 1863. To this union eight children were born, viz .: John R., who married Clara J. Jordan and now lives in Kan-
sas City, Missouri; Sarah R., deceased ; Clara .1., the wife of Edward Graves, now residing in Ottumwa; Mary F., deceased; Anna L., the wife of Newton L. Arrison, living on the old homestead: Charles S., deceased; Joseph S., living at St. Louis, Missouri; and Cassius C .. deceased. Mr. Caldwell was married, sec- ondly, to Rebecca J. Walker, widow of Will- iam Walker. She was born October 8, 1825, and died September 17, 1877. One child was born to this union,-Blanche E., the wife of James .V. Campbell, a sketch of whom is found on another page of this book.
Mr. Caldwell died April 5, 1899. Ile was a member of the Masonic fraternity, and his political affiliations were with the Republican party. When he first came to Iowa it was yet a territory and so remained for five years. For fourteen years after his arrival there was not a mile of railroad in all the State. The only means of conveyance was by water or by the slow-going ox team. The Inchans yet existed in great numbers, and that portion of the territory now comprised in the county of Wa- pello was almost unknown. there being only the Indian agency where Agency City now stands. The changes that have since taken place it is hardly possible for man to realize. In every seat of justice of the 99 counties of the State the puffing of the engine on the great American railroad is heard. The markets of the world are brought to their very doors, and the latest news is given to us day by day, al- most as soon as the events occur.
Mr. Caldwell was reared under the benefi- cent influence of the schools and of the refined
HON. JOSEPH G. HUTCHISON.
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society of the older settled states. Such men were well equipped to go forth and open up a new empire. It was this type of men that laid the broad foundations of the commonwealth of lowa, and to such as he Jowa to-day largely owes her greatness.
ON. JOSEPH G. HUTCHISON. whose portrait appears on the oppo- site page, was born September IT, 1840, in Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, of Scotch-Irish descent, his fa- ther's ancestors being Scotch. His mother's maiden name was Caldwell, and her parents came from the North of Ireland in 1798. His grandmother Hutchison, whose maiden name was Guilford, was of English descent. His grandfather Hutchison was prominent in the public affairs of Pennsylvania, and at an early day represented a district, constituting about one-twelfth the state, in the general assembly.
1
The subject of this sketch, Joseph G. Hutchison, was educated at the Williamsport Dickinson Seminary, at Williamsport, Penn- sylvania, from which he was graduated in June. 1852, after completing a four years course. This institution sustains and conducts classical and scientific collegiate courses, llc entered the service August 10, 1862, as first lieutenant in the 131st Reg .. Pa. Vol. Inf .. in the Army of the Potomac, and participated in the historic battles of Fredericksburg, Antietam and Chancellorsville. He also took part in the Gettysburg campaign as captain of Company
1, 28th Reg., Pa. Vol. Inf., which regiment was mustered into service under the special call of President Lincoln, to repell the Confederate invasion. Captain Hutchison performed his duties well as a loyal and valiant officer, at a time when the country was in its greatest peril. Special mention was given him by the com- mander of his brigade for bravery in the charge on Mary's Hill at the battle of Fredericksburg.
Captain Hutchison had been pursuing his study of the law, and graduated at the Cleve- land ( Ohio) Law School in the spring of 1865. In December, 1865. he came to Ottumwa and formed a law partnership with Hon. F. H. Stiles, one of the most distinguished members of the lowa bar. He practiced law until 1872 when he assisted in organizing the Johnston Ruffler Company, and the Ottumwa Iron Works, a very important industry that gave employment to a large number of men and brought the name of Ottumwa to the front as a manufacturing city. In 1873. he went to "Europe, on a business trip, accompanied by his wife, and spent nine months there, visiting Lon- don, a few of the larger towns of England, and the city of Paris. On the voyage home. he met T. D. Foster, who was then on his way to America, with a view of establishing a large pork-packing house in the interests of John Morrell & Company. Ltd. Captain Hutchi son, loyal to his own town, and as an act of courtesy to his new acquaintance, called Mr. Foster's attention to Ottumwa and the ad- vantages it offered as the location for such an industry. The final result was that the Mor- rell packing-house became a fixture of Ot-
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tumwa. The subject of this sketch resumed the practice of law in Angust, 1875, and con- tinned it actively and successfully until 1879. In the latter year Captain Ihutchison was elected to the lower house of the state legisla- ture, where he served one term. In 1881. he received the nomination for the lowa senate, from the Republican party, by acclamation, of which party he has always been a consistent member, and was elected; he was re-elected in 1884, thus rendering ten years' service in the halls of the legislature. During his senatorial terms, he was a member of the ways and means and judiciary committees, and, it is said, he had more to do in shaping the policy that paid off the state debt, than any other man in the legis- lature. He was the author of the registration system for elections, which is now giving the greatest satisfaction to men of all parties, al- though it was opposed at the beginning by those who did not understand its beneficent effect in securing an honest ballot. Mr. Hutchison also devoted a great share of his attention to railroad legislation, and organ- ized the committee which took the matter in charge, and at last brought about reforms that were advantageous to the people. Ile re- ccived the nomination for governor from the Republican party, in 1889, at a time when re- action against prohibition was strongest. Many Republicans voted for Governor Boies on account of prohibition, and because Captaia Hutchison stood manfully upon the platform of his party. Two years afterwards, Hiram Wheeler was nominated by the Republicans for governor, as against Governor Boies, when the
same issue was presented, and Mr. Wheeler was defeated by a 10,000 majority-4,000 more than the majority Mr. Boies obtained over Mr. Hutchison. It thus became plain that Captain Hutchison was not defeated on per- sonal grounds, but because people suddenly turned against the principles of prohibition, and held the Republican party responsible. Others for other positions on the Republican state ticket suffered defeat each time that Gov- ernor Boies was elected, but the chief effort was made against the head of the ticket.
Joseph G. Hutchison has been twice mar- ried. His first wife was Sarah L. Taylor, to whom he was married November 4, 1868; she died on November 2, 1896. She was a woman of strong character and unusual mental gifts and scholarly attainments, and through her in- fluence and executive ability there remain many good works to attest her worth as a true woman of exalted character. Mr. Hutchison was mar- ried to Mabel Vernon Dixon, a daughter of Hon. J. W. Dixon, June 23, 1898. Mrs. Hutchison served as president of the lowa Federation of Women's Clubs from May, 1899. to May, 1901, a position which she filled with rare ability and to the entire satisfaction of the Federation. She has done much unselfish and noble work for women's club interests in lowa.
Captain Hutchison has had a successful business career. Ile was one of the promoters of the Ottumwa National Bank, served seven years as its president, and then resigned to accept the nomination for governor. He leit the bank in good condition, which has been maintained by his successors. In May, 1891,
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he entered upon a wholesale grocery business in which he has prospered. His has been a busy life, which promises to be prolonged to an advanced age with faculties unimpaired.
We have thus given an outline, only, of the principle events connected closely with the sub- ject of this sketch, and the share he has taken in controlling those events. It will be seen that he is a man of action, and has taken his full share of the burdens of citizenship, and well won the honors due to those who are faith- ful in their convictions, and who devotedly love their country and its institutions. Ilis first sacrifices were made when he was but a mere youth, in offering his services as a soldier on the battlefield. When he again became a citi- zen, he so conducted himself that his integrity and ability won recognition, and he was instru- mental, to a large degree, in shaping the des- tiny of the young and growing state of his adoption. During all the years he has lived in Iowa, he has led the life of an upright Chris- tian gentleman, and attracted warm friends be- cause of his integrity and his unswerving ad- herence to a high standard of honor.
R. ALLEN, civil engineer and a prominent mapmaker, well and fa- vorably known in different sections of the United States and Canada, has been a resident of Ottumwa since 1890. He was born at Peoria, Illinois, in 1850, and is a son of D. B. and Martha ( Rewey ) .Allen.
The AAllen family is of English descent and
its ancestry is the same as that of Ethan Allen, of Revolutionary fame, having been established in this country in 1665. D. B. Allen was born in New York, of New England parents, his fa- ther having been born in Massachusetts. The former was a soldier in the Civil War and the latter served in the War of 1812. The former became a civil engineer by profession and set- tled at Peoria, Illinois, as early as 1846. having since made his home in that city. Ile married Martha Rewey, who was of French ancestry, and who died when the subject hereof was very young. She was the mother of three children ; her two daughters now reside in Kansas. My. Allen formed a second marital union, which resulted in the birth of one son and a daughter, who live in Illinois with their parents.
After leaving the public school C. R. Allen took a normal course and was trained for a teacher. After teaching successfully for two years he abandoned that work on account of the indoor confinement, chose the profession of civil engineering, and went under training with his father. Mr. Allen commenced civil engin- ccring with his father at a very early age, the latter being city engincer of Peoria. He next engaged in railway survey work in Illinois and Indiana, and served under a hydraulic engineer some time. He was under the supervision of Major Wright, an engineer of some note, and also under Mr. Locke, a hydraulic engineer of Louisville. During the seven years of his apprenticeship he located several hundred miles of railroad. He then gathered data for maps for different publishing houses, traveling from the Atlantic to the Pacific in most of the north-
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ern states, and thus acquired a broad experi- ence and becoming familiar with many por- tions of the country in detail. In 1876 he went to Canada and spent four years in the same business, gathering details, platting land, etc. He came to lowa in 1880. and engaged in publishing on his own account, covering a large part of western lowa in detail. He ha .: either compiled or published maps of portions of Canada, the states of Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin and some 20 counties in Jowa, making 80 counties in all, together with 60 cities and towns, some of which are large in size. They are all standard maps and sold at a correspondingly high price. He has published his third map of Ottumwa and also one of Wa- pello county, and has located lands in the far west for syndicates. Since 1890 he has been engaged in local engineering work at Ottumwa and the surrounding county, and has met with success. He was city engineer four years and enjoys the deserved reputation of being one of the best municipal engineers in the state. While acting as city engineer he improved some of the streets of Ottumwa, and, being a landscape engineer of some note, has designed some fine parks and residence grounds. He is a member of the lowa Engineering Society, of which he is past president, and is now a director. He has a fine large reference library and, being greatly interested in the progress of engineering, has contributed various ar- ticks for publication.
Mr. Allen was joined in marriage at De- troit, Michigan, in 1877, with Josie Burdge. whose parents were from New York. Her an-
cestors on her father's side were English and on the mother's side, Hollanders. They have two children : Clara Brooks, a teacher in the public schools of Ottumwa, and John Burdge, now employed with a large wholesale establish- ment at Peoria, Illinois. Clara was born on Prince Edward Island, Gulf of St. Lawrence, and John in Iowa. In politics Mr. Allen is a Republican, and, being a close student of his- tory, is ever interested in the political situation. In religious views the family are in accord with the Methodist church, Mr. Allen taking a deep interest in Sunday-school work. His father was also a Methodist.
D R. J. B. WILSON, a gentleman skilled in the science of medicine and sur- gery, has been located at Ottumwa since December, 1897. in which time he has established a large and remunerative practice. He was born in Mitchell, Ontario, and is a son of James FF. and Matilda ( Stewart ) Wilson.
Dr. Wilson received his primary education in the Harrison high school, from which he graduated in 1886, and then took a classical course of study in Toronto University, which lasted two years. In 1891 he entered Trinity Medical College, in which he completed a five- year course, graduating in 1896, with the de- grees of Doctor of Medicine and Master of Surgery. His first field of practice was at Hanover, Ontario, where he remained about two years. Ile removed to Ottumwa, Wapello
JULIAN C. MANCHESTER.
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county, lowa. in December, 1897, and met with immediate success. He has won the confidence of the citizens of Ottumwa to a marked degree. and stands very high in their esteem, both in a professional and personal relation. He main- tains an office at No. 1402 East Main street.
Fraternally Dr. Wilson is a Mason and has been a member of that order since March 21, 1894. when he was admitted to Harriston Lodge, No. 252. A. F. & A. M., at Harriston, Ontario. Ile is also a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and Royal Neighbors. In religious views he favors the Episcopal church.
ULLAN C. MANCHESTER, whose portrait is shown herewith, one of the most widely known citizens of (t- tumiwa. is the proprietor of the Ball- ingall llotel, the only first-class hotel in the city. It commands the finest transient as well as local patronage, and its management and cuisine are spoken of only in the highest terms of praise. This hostelry consists of 100 rooms, exceptionally well furnished and equipped with all modern improvements. For the advantages to be had, the rates of $2 and $2.50 per day are exceedingly moderate. Mr. Manchester was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, in 1844. is a son of William M. and Content ( Beach ) Manchester. and comes of an old New Eng- land family.
William M. Manchester and his wife were reared and married in Connecticut. She died in 1803, and he came to Ottumwa to live with
his son, J. C., and died here March 22. 1898, at the age of eighty-five years. Religiously, they were strong Methodists. They were the parents of seven children, as follows: Lucius. who is about sixty-eight years of age, and has been a minister of the Methodist Confer- ence of New Jersey, for the past forty years; Francis, aged sixty-three years, who has il- lowed teaching as a profession, and lived in the West for a number of years, but now resides in Ohio; Minerva, who died some years ago; Sarah, who married Henry F. Keyes, and now resides in New Haven, Connecticut : Julian C .. and Julius, a machinist, of Bridgeport, Con- nectient, who are twins; and one who died in infancy.
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