USA > Iowa > Wapello County > History of Wapello County, Iowa, and representative citizens > Part 36
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Henry Phillips was reared in Van Buren county, lowa, and attended the common schools, after which he took a course in the Ottumwa Business College. He accompanied his father's family to Ottumwa in 1875. and first engaged in the wholesale candy business with Boulton Brothers. He sold his interest in this business, and since 1881 has been engaged
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in the coal business. His father established the Phillips Fuel Company and opened mines in the town of Phillips, which was platted later. Ile continued to operate these until 1891, when he opened mines at Foster. Since the organ- ization of this company, Henry Phillips has been secretary, treasurer and manager. llis father has not been in active business since the early "nineties." but lives near his son, Henry. having built a fine home on West Fourth street. The Ottumwa Box Car Loader Company was established in October. 1899, by Henry Phillips and W. E. Hunt. the inventors and promoters. The business was started, and the manufacture was begun at the Union Iron Works building. in Ottumwa, but the city donated $2.500 to lo- cate the plant, which was built in 1900, and occupied in August of that year. The building is 75 by 160 feet in dimensions, and is con- structed of brick. It is a very complete ma- chine shop, arranged especially for manufactur- ing these loaders. The brass casting is done at the plant now, and arrangements are in pro- gress for installing an iron foundry in con- nection with it. AAbout six years were spent in perfecting the invention and many discourag- ing features were met and overcome before the machine was an assured success, but one by one these were worked out and as the merits of the machine became better known the busi- ness constantly increased and is very satis- factory. Superintendent Hunt, whose entire life has been spent in machine shops, has oc- cupied numerous responsible positions, such as manager of the Ottumwa Iron Works and of
the Hardsocg Manufacturing Company. . 1 force of 40 men is employed in the factory, and an office force of ample size, together with two traveling representatives. Mr. Phillips and Mr. Hunt also frequently make special trips in the interest of the company. The machines, complete, are sold at $2,000, and the trade is developing very rapidly in the East, and in Canada. The great feature of this machine is that it will load coal without breaking and mashing it, as occurs when it is loaded in box cars by any other process, and at a minimum expense for labor.
Mr. Phillips was united in marriage with Alice Hinsey, a daughter of Dr. J. C. Hinsey. deceased, who for many years was a prom- inent physician of Ottumwa. Mrs. Phillips was born in Ottumwa and is now forty-two years of age. This union resulted in the birth of three children: Philip P .: Orra .A .: and Howard A. In politics, Mr. Phillips has always been a Republican. Fraternally, he belongs to the Royal AArcanum, and his wife is a member of the Ladies' Club. She is a member of the Congregational church. He built a magnificent new residence at the corner of Fourth and Phillips streets,-one of the finest locations in the city. His home is called Greenwood, a name most appropriate, as his grounds resemble a park. There are beanti- ful shade trees, and the lawn is excellently kept. Every modern convenience character- izes the place, even to a private gas plant and water works. This is unsurpassed by any of the beautiful residences of which Ottumwa
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boasts, and is an ornament to the city. A portrait of Mr. Phillips accompanies this sketch.
EORGE F. HEINDEL, attorney-at- law at Ottumwa, Wapello county, lowa, is a well-known resident of that city. He was born in Gratiot, Wis- consin, in 1809, and is a son of Lewis and Emma ( Rodoli ) Heindel.
Lewis Heindel was born in Lafayette coun- ty, Wisconsin, in 1841, where he was reared and schooled. He prepared for a business ca- reer, and engaged in merchandising. lle is now a merchant and banker of South Wayne. Wisconsin, and is one of the prominent and in- fluential business men of that city. lle married Emma Rodolf, who was born in Lafayette county. Wisconsin, and to them were born five children, as follows: George F .; Marcus L., a farmer; Wilfred 1 ... who is associated with his father in the mercantile business : Roy L., who is a teacher in the Philippines ; and Sydney C., who lives at home.
George F. Heindel received his preparatory mental training in the primary schools of his native county, and in the high school of War- ren, Illinois. Ile then entered the State Uni- versity of Wisconsin, at Madison, and gradu- ated from the literary and law department of that institution with the class of 1891. In August of that year, he located in Ottumwa, lowa, and began the practice of his chosen profession. He was associated with W. . 1. Work from 1892 until 1894, and the following
four years were spent in partnership with E. E. MeElroy. Since that time, he has practiced alone, and has been very successful. With keen perception, good judgment, and marked executive capacity, he is a lawyer of more than ordinary ability, and stands high among his professional brethren in Ottumwa.
Mr. Heindel was wedded to Emma Rein- hardt, a native of Ottumwa, and they have one daughter, Mary. The subject of this sketch is a member of the Commercial Law League of America. He belongs to the .I. F. & AA. MI. and Royal Arcanum lodges. Politically, he is a Democrat, and takes an active interest in party work and organization.
OHN B. SCHMIDT, the second son of Bernard Schmidt, is a merchant of Ottumwa, Wapello county, Jowa. He was born in Ottumwa, January 26, 1872. His father, Bernard Schmidt, was born in Hanover, Germany, May 27. 1844. He married Katrina Stuckleman, in 1867, and John B. Schmidt is the second child born to them. His mother died, after which his father mar- ried Elizabeth Dunnebrink. Bernard Schmidt is a brick-maker by trade.
John B. Schmidt, the subject of this sketch, married Libbie Hannan, a daughter of Daniel and Libbie ( Masen) Hannan. She was born February 11, 1877. Daniel Hannan is a native of New York, and was born in 1845. Ile set- tled in Iowa in 1871, where he was one of the Ottumwa police force for twenty-four years.
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He was chief of police four years, and is now an efficient detective, employed by the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company. Ilis children are: May, who was born in 1871. married James Stark, and lives at Mason City. lowa: Gertrude, who was born in 1873, mar- ried Frank Peters, and lives at Creston, Iowa; Libbie, Mr. Schmidt's wife: Catherine, born in 1878, a resident of Ottumwa ; and Daisy, born in 1881, who lives at home.
John Schmidt and his wife are members of the Catholic church. Mr. Schmidt is an enter- prising merchant of Ottumwa, and is highly successful. He is a member of the Foresters and the Eagles. Politically, he is a Democrat.
LBERT WRIGHT JOHNSON, who i has been a resident of Ottumwa. Jowa, since 1878, is at the present time identified with the firm of Sam- uel Lilburn & Company, packers and shippers of butter and eggs. He was born in Seneca county, Ohio. December 10, 1854.
Mr. Johnson was reared and educated in Northern Ohio, and was graduated from Bald- win University with the class of 1870. Upon leaving college, he entered upon the study of law, and scen after coming to Ottumwa, in 18-8, was admitted to the bar of lowa. In addition to the practice of law, he served as principal of the Ottumwa High School during 1879 and 1880. Hle relinquished the legal pro- fession in 1885, having become interested in the firm of Samnel Lilburn & Company in with Cyrene Vadon, who was born in Tennes-
1885, which business he has managed since 1880. They conduct a very prosperous busi- ness, and stand high wherever known.
In 1884, Mr. Johnson was united in the Inds of matrimony with Sarah Lilburn, a daughter of Samuel Lilburn. Politically, Mr. Johnson is an independent Republican.
OHN B. DENNIS, one of the progres- sive citizens of Ottumwa, Wapello county, Jowa, is a member of the firm of Samuel Lilburn & Company, pack- ers and shippers of butter and eggs. He was born in Schuyler county, Missouri, in 1853. and is a son of Caswell and Cyrene ( Yadon ) Dennis.
Caswell Dennis was born in Eastern Ten- nessee. in 1817, and is a son of Thomas and Charity ( Beason) Dennis,-being one of 12 children. His parents were both natives of North Carolina, and at an early day moved to Tennessee. His father was of Irish nativity and parentage, and his mother was descended fn m English ancestors. Caswell Dennis re- moved from Tennessee to Shelby county, Indi- ana, in 1843. and remained there for two years. engaged in agricultural pursuits. He then moved to Schuyler county, Missouri, where he was located until he came to Wapello county, in August, 1864. lle first located in Competine township, but after two years purchased his present farm of 120 acres on section 15. High- land township. He was united in marriage
THOMAS J. PHILLIPS.
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see, and. was a daughter of William and Mar- garet ( Capps) Yadon, both natives of the same state. Six children were born of this union. as follows: William A., who died in infancy : Silas M., who died in 1887: Elizabeth J., who became the wife of J. R. Alexander, of Kansas City, Missouri, who died in 1900: Sarah E .. wife of J. W. McCormick, of Highland town- ship: Mary M., wife of William H. Stevens, who is engaged in business in Ottumwa; and John B., the subject of this sketch. Mrs. Den- nis departed this life in 1873, at the age of fifty-three years. Mr. Dennis formed a second union in 1874. wedding Miss E. J. Capps, who was born in Indiana, and is a daughter of Will- iam and Anna Capps. He is a highly respected citizen of his community, and has many friends. Religiously, he is a member in good standing of the Baptist church.
John B. Dennis received his intellectual training in the public schools of Ottumwa, and took a business course at the Quiney Commer- cial College at Quincy, Illinois. In 1883. he entered the service of the First National Bank of Ottumwa, where he remained until 1889. when he purchased an interest in the firm of Samuel Lilburn & Company. They have a very extensive business, and have met with good suc- cess. Mr. Dennis is a man of recognized busi- ness ability, and is very attentive to his busi- ness interests. He is an independent Democrat in politics, and served as deputy county auditor during 1879. and again in 1881 and 1882. Hle is a director in the Ottumwa National Bank. and was one of the promoters of the Wapello Savings Bank. He is also secretary of the J.
E. Scase Company, a dry goods firm. Ile was united in marriage, in 1883, with Brehilda Bodwell, of Ottumwa.
HOMAS J. PHILLIPS, ex-mayor of Ottumwa, whose portrait is shown herewith, is general superintendent of the Whitebreast Fuel Company of Illinois, a company extensively operating in Illinois and Iowa. The main office has been located in Ottumwa for some years, and the entire business of the company is done through the office of Mr. Phillips. He was born in South Wales in 1841, and is a son of John T. and Margaret ( Edwards ) Phillips.
John T. Phillips and his wife became the parents of nine children, only two of whom are now living: Thomas J .; and Jeanette. widow of Edward E. Ivens, who resides in Lucas county, lowa. John T. Phillips was engaged in the coal business throughout his en- tire life, first in Wales and later in America. lle died in Lucas county, lowa.
Thomas J. Phillips was but six or seven years old when the family came to America, landing in New Orleans. They then moved to St. Louis, where he was reared, his parents residing in what was then Shaw's Tower Grove, now a park and garden. Aside from a good common school education, he has had no assistance, but is entirely a self-made man. His first work was in the coal business as an em- ploye of the Northern Missouri Coal & Min- ing Company, by which he was later advanced to be a foreman. Upon the dissolution of that
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company, he immediately entered the employ of the W. B. Jackson & Brothers Coal Com- pany as a foreman, remaining with them un- til 1879. when he became identified with the Whitebreast Fuel Company. Ile thereby bet- tered his position, and was thereafter steadily advanced until he became general superintend- ent of the entire company. He was mine su- perintendent in Lucas county, Iowa, from 1879 to 18844. and then served as general superin- tendent with his offices at Cleveland until 1895, when he came to Ottumwa, changing the gen- eral ofice to this point. The main offices of the company are in the Rookery Building, Chi- cago, although all of the business passes through the hands of Mr. Phillips at Ottumwa. as he has charge of all the company property, both in Illinois and lowa. The company first began operations in lowa about 1875 or 1876. and it is really the parent of the Colorado Fuel & Iron Company, a mammoth concern, of which J. C. Osgood, formerly president of the Whitebreast Fuel Company, is now presi- dent. Mr. Phillips is ably assisted in his work by his son. J. T. Phillips. They have occu- pied their present suite of rooms since the building was erected by Mr. Bonnifiekl, who aranged the rooms for the convenience of the company. Ottumwa is the distributing point of the company for lowa, and Chicago for II- linois.
Thomas J. Phillips was united in marriage, in Missouri, with Isabella Watkins, a native ot the East, who came to St. Louis as a child and was a daughter of Henry Watkins. She was left an orphan and she, herself, died in
1891, at the age of forty years, leaving six children: Jolm T., who is assistant to his father, and who married Miss Atherton. of Marion county, lowa, and has a daughter. Wil- ma: Margaret (Campbell), of Lucas county, lowa; Jeanette, who is in the employ of the Colorado Fuel & Iron Company, and lives in Colorado; Kate, who resides with her father at Ottumwa: Thomas, who has a position as weighing foreman at the mines in Lucas coun- ty; and Ruth, who is at home. Mr. Phillips was married in 1892, to Mary Mellugh, a na- tive of the Empire state, and later a resident of Bureau county, Ilinois.
In politics, Mr. Phillips is a Democrat and served two terms as mayor of Ottumwa,- from 1897 to 1901, inclusive. He is a Master Mason, having joined the order in 1855; a member of the Knights of Pythias, having' served in all the chairs in Lucas county ; and also a member of the Elks, Eagles, and Druids, of Ottumwa. His son, J. T. Phillips, is also a member of the Knights of Pythias.
August 21, 1901, at the Democratic con- vention held at Des Moines, Iowa. Mr. Phil- lips was nominated as the Democratic candi- date for governor of lowa.
D R. M. BANNISTER came with his parents to Ottumwa when eight years old, and received his primary educa- tion in the public schools, and his col- lege degree at the State University of Iowa. He decided on the profession of medicine at an
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early age, and took a course of one year's study in the medical department of the State Uni- versity of lowa. He completed his professional training in the medical department of the Uni- versity of Pennsylvania, in 1894, and was for some time employed as physician in the Poly- clinic Hospital at Philadelphia. He served as medical examiner for the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company for two years, and then came to Ottumwa, to engage in the general practice of medicine and surgery. Since IS08, he has occupied his present suite of rooms in the Leighton Block. Dr. Bannister is unmarried, and makes his home with his mother. in Ottumwa. Fraternally, he is a mem- her of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows: the Ancient Order of United Workmen: the Royal Arcamumm: and the Brotherhood of American Yeomen. He also belongs to the Des Moines Valley Medical Association. In politics, he is a Republican, Religiously, he is a member of the Congregational church.
HARLES A. WALSH, whose name is familiar not only to Wapello county people, but to those of the country as well, was born in Bentonsport. Fowa. October 14. 1859. but has spent the days of his manhood in Ottumwa, removing here before he had attained his majority and here attending the public schools.
Mr. Walsh has had a busy life, having served as county attorney, and under the Bal- lingall will became trustee of the large Bal-
lingall estate. Ile was elected a member of the Democratic national committee from lowa in 1896, and immediately after was chosen sec- retary of the committee, serving during the campaign with great credit to himself. In 1898 he went to Alaska and became interested in geld claims near Dawson. During the winter he edited a Dawson paper : prior to that time he was one of the managers of the Ottunica Daily Sun. Mr. Walsh returned from the Klondike in ample time to take up his duties as secretary of the Democratic national committee prior to the opening of the campaign of 1900. He was a delegate to the Kansas City convention, and was a warm supporter of Mi. Bryan. Mr. Walsh was reelected secretary of the national committee in 1900. a position he now holds ; he is also interested in business enterprises, to which he devotes a part of his time.
Mr. Walsh was happily married a few years age to Catherine Maxon, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Maxon, the former being for several years superintendent of the lowa Di- vision of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad. There is no citizen of Ottumwa who has been more prominent before the country than Mr. Walsh.
ON. HOMER D. IVES. The follow- ing extracts from an obituary written by Henry W. Clement were pub- lished in the Eddyville Transcript of October 17, 1867. and reflect to some extent the deep respect in which Mr. Ives was held by the people of that locality :
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"The startling announcement made on last Monday morning of the sudden death of llon. 11. 1. Ives, of this city, in Keokuk, cast a deep gloom over the entire community. Mr. Ives. together with his wife, eldest daughter and in- fant child. left this place about two weeks since for St. Louis,-partially for recreation, par- tially for the purpose of affording their little child the advantages of eminent medical skill. and also to visit some of the modern residences in the city for the purpose of procuring dia- grams for a new residence he was contem- plating erecting on his fine building site on the bluff. in the suburbs of our city.
"The party concluded their visit and were on their return trip up the river on a packet when Mr. Ives was suddenly taken ill on Sun- day night last and died the following morning ( October 14), at & o'clock, just as the boat was landing at Keokuk. The family immediately telegraphed the sad news to William II. Dun- lap, of this place, and soon after Superintend- ent Williams also sent a telegram stating that the body would be up on the 2 o'clock train. Accordingly everything was put in readiness. and his remains were received and immediately taken to the cemetery and buried. The family. overwhelmed with grief, were taken at once to their home, where the remaining portion of them were waiting, and were kindly cared for and visited by neighbors and friends, notwith- standing the rumor that his death was caused by cholera. Even this report, which soon spread abroad through the community, causing many to stay away when the remains came to the de- pot. did not deter a sufficient number from vol-
unteering their services to assist in the last sol- emin duty to the dead, and a large number of friends from visiting and caring for the heart- broken, desolate, afflicted and exhausted family. Humanity has been fully repaid, however, for not one single case of anything resembling the cholera has been seen or felt in our city.
"Homer D. Ives located in Eddyville at an early date, when our little city was in its in- fancy. He came here with nothing but a small library, a literary and legal education ( having previously graduated, as we learn, at Yale Col- lege and Law School) and an indomitable will. The location of our town being peculiar as to the surrounding county-seats, his business ex- tended very rapidly and very widely, and he became known in the counties of Wapello, Monroe, Marion, Appanoose, Mahaska and Keokuk at an early day. He soon became a successful practitioner, a man of untiring ener- gy and will power.
"Mr. Ives at an early period purchased lots in the city, and from time to time, as he became able, erected buildings on them. At an early day he built the brick storeroom now occupied by Chamberlin Brothers, which formed the nu- cleus of the whole bleck of buildings that now surround it. He improved on his property as fast as he bought it, and at the time of his death his annual income from rents amounted to a large sum.
"Mr. Ives was appointed agent of Berdan. who bought of Eddy the original town plat of Eddyville. Ile threw his whole influence into the work, and during his agency our little town prospered, property sold very readily, and our
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population increased to almost, if not quite, double its former number.
"When the proposition for building the bridge across the Des Moines River at this point was first made, it was largely due to the energy, perseverance and tact of Mr. Ives that sufficient life was infused into the people to in- sure its commencement and final completion. He was always ready- with a fitting speech, and though sometimes severe and sarcastic, he was usually a harmonizer.
"Mr. Ives was not only a public-spirited man and successful financier, but he was a good neighbor and kind-hearted man. To those who best knew him and those who associated with him most. he possessed rare attractions of char- acter and warm veins of feeling.
"At home, Mr. Ives was one of the most social, useful and interesting men we ever knew. His family, to whom he was an affec- tionate husband and father, regarded him with little less than adoration, and he was lavish with his means in furnishing them with every- thing which he thought would add to their happiness. He was a fine conversationalist, and a man who kept pace with the best litera- ture of the day. and his taste was cultivated and correct. He was passionately fond of mu- sic, and during his whole life was a warm patron of the art. His taste was particularly fine and discriminating, and his home was al- ways the resort of our best musical talent.
"We have thus hastily summed up a part of the acts and characteristics of the distin- guished citizen whose decease, occurring in the
manner it did, seemed so peculiarly sad. Ilis life as a whole has been a success. He has left behind him a good name in the community in which he lived, at the various bars at which he practiced his profession, and in the memories of miny warm personal friends."
A scrap-book, containing writings of Mr. Ives in Connecticut and other Eastern papers, throws side lights on his character. As carly as 1843, he was taking a prominent part in public affairs, acting with the old Whig party, and was the author of county and district plat- forms and acted as an officer in Whig connec- tions of that day. He was an ardent Whig. and became a Republican when that party was first organized.
Mr. Ives was a Yale student and carly im- bibed Yale ideas: his ancestors were among those who aided to found that great college, and during all his life in the West he never for- got his carly training. He was a gentleman in all that the word implies, and was one of the best lawyers that have practiced in Wapello county.
Il. D. Ives was born in North Haven, Con- necticut. in 1814, and, as heretofore stated, died October 14, 1867. He was a son of Will- iam and Mary ( Bray) Ives, natives of Con- necticut. He was married in 1849 to Mary Eastman, a daughter of Rev. Oliver and Laura ( Ward ) Eastman, natives of the state of New York. There were born to H. D. Ives and wife: Mary V .. wife of Dr. Todd, of Los An- geles, California: Carrie E., who married W. A. Flunter : Wilfred H., a farmer of Kansas;
1
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Jennie W., wife of J. W. Calhoun, of Ottum- wa, lowa; and Vina B., wife of R. N. Bowden, of Brookfield, Missouri.
RS. EMMA J. PUMROY, widow of the late Martin S. Pumroy, of Center township. Wapello county. lowa, is a native of Morgan county, Ohio, and was born July 22. 1855. She is a daughter of William and Isabella J. ( Patterson ) Moore.
Mrs. Pumroy's grandfather. James Patter- son, was born in 1702. of Scotch-Irish an- cestry. His ancestors were driven from Scot- land to the North of Ireland by religious per- seention, in the seventeenth century. James , Patterson died at the advanced age of eighty- seven years, and his wife reached the age of ninety years.
Elizabeth Patterson, the great-aunt of the subject of this sketch, was a sister of James Patterson. The family was reputed as being very wealthy, and Elizabeth was considered one of the most beautiful belles of Baltimore society. During the carly period of Napoleon Bonaparte's greatness, his brother, Jerome Bonaparte, afterward King of Westphalia, who was visiting in America at that time, was pre- sented to Elizabeth Patterson, and immediately; succumbed to her beauty and womanly charms. After a brief courtship they were united in marriage, in 1803. Two sons, Lucien and Jerome, blessed the union. Jerome Bonaparte was recalled to France after a few years by his
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