USA > Iowa > Johnson County > Leading events in Johnson County, Iowa history, biographical > Part 16
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The judge, in politics, is a democrat ; is a member of the Masonic, Odd Fellows, and Knights of Pythias fraternities. and an attendant at the Presbyterian church. His integrity is unquestioned, his ability has been demonstrated by the ac- tivities of a successful life, in the midst of which he is at this writing most strenuous and useful, and his place is secure in the affections of a wide circle of friends, embracing the pion- eers and their descendants and the general citizenship of John- son county and vicinity, as well as numerous residents of the state and nation.
ROBERT LIVINGSTON DUNLAP
The ancestry of the Dunlap family of Iowa City, so far as its record in America is concerned, dates from William Dun- lap, a native of Scotland, who emigrated from the north of Ireland to the United States in the latter part of the eigh-
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teenth century. John W. Dunlap, a son of William, was an officer in the New York Militia during the Revolutionary War, and he, with his three brothers, was a participant in the bloody battle of Orriskany, where the commander, General Herkimer, was killed, and one of the Dunlap boys lost his life. John W.'s son, William, was the father of the subject of this sketch. His wife was Margaret Lane, whose ancestors were of German descent. They were residents of New York state, and were engaged in agriculture. In 1836, when our subject was thir- teen years of age, the family removed to Illinois, the journey from New York being made in a lumber wagon. Their first location was in La Salle county, where they remained until 1852, when they removed to Champaign county. Mrs. Dunlap died in that county in 1854.
The date of Robert L. Dunlap's birth in New York state was June 6, 1823, and his birthplace was Cherry Valley, Otse- go county. His primary education was received there. This he supplemented by a further course in the public schools of La Salle and Champaign counties, Illinois, completing his education at the Warrenville Institute, Warrenville, Du Page county. About this time he removed to Cook county, Illinois, and was engaged in farming until 1853 about eighteen miles northwest of Chicago. Thereafter he became interested in the lumber business at Green Bay, Wisconsin, and for the two years following was engaged in the manufacture of pine lum- ber. From Green Bay he went to Virginia, where he built and operated a dredging machine, the first ever operated in the Appomattox river. This he afterward sold to Peters- burgh parties and returned to Cook county, Illinois, where he operated the first dredging machine in the Chicago river. There he remained several years, engaging in the manufac- ture of sash, doors, and blinds. This business he sold in the fall of 1857 and in 1858 removed to Iowa City. There he en- gaged in buying grain and hogs, which business he continued until 1963. As a portion of that period was the time of the Civil War. his operations were often very extensive. In the year last mentioned he began handling agricultural imple- ments, including heavy farm machinery of all descriptions. His two business houses were located at 220 Washington
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street, near the present city hall site, and at the corner of Capitol and Washington streets, now the site of the Univer- sity engineering building. At one time he had one of the largest farm implement trades in the state, selling within a single year on the last named corner 200 reapers and movers, 25 threshing machines, 300 wagons, 60 corn planters, 70 sulky hay rakes, 300 cultivators, 300 plows, and everything else in proportion. Mr. Dunlap was a man of one work, it being a fixed policy of his business life to devote his entire attention to the business in hand; he therefore never had any financial interest in other enterprises.
RESIDENCE OF ROBERT LIVINGSTON DUNLAP
Mr. Dunlap was twice married. His first wife was Miss Alma L. Wiley, daughter of Calvin and Jeannette Strong Wiley, natives of Vermont, to whom he was wedded June 15, 1847, in Cook county, Illinois. She died December 5, 1858, having borne two children, Mareus F. and Fanny II. Mr. Dunlap was again married, April 23, 1866, to Mrs. Orlando S. Cole, a native of Ohio. Two children were the fruit of this union, Robert O. and Ralph L. The former died in 1900, and the latter resides in Iowa City, where he is engaged in the luim- ber business, under the firm name of R. L. Dunlap Lumber Company. Marens F., residing in St. Charles county, Mis-
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sonri, is married to Sadie Ellen Woods, of Fairfield, Iowa, and Fannie H. to M. A. Lumbard, of Des Moines. Mrs. Dun- lap survives her husband, who died February 6, 1898, and lives at the residence he established at 114 East Market street, Iowa City.
In politics Mr. Dunlap was originally a know-nothing, af- terwards becoming a republican. He was never an office seek- er, but always took an active interest in the public welfare, especially in the temperance cause. While living in Chicago he became a member of the Sons of Temperance, and on locat- ing in Iowa City, assisted in the organization of Ragan lodge, in which he filled all the higher chairs. This lodge was a noted factor and at one time quite aggressive in its work against the saloons in Iowa City. So great was Mr. Dunlap's interest in this reform that at one time he undertook single- handed the prosecution of the liquor interests in the city, with the result that his house was mobbed by extremists of the lat- ter class. In church work both he and his wife were always active participants, being members of the Methodist Episcopal denomination. Mr. Dunlap was an officer of the First M. E. church of Iowa City for many years, being superintendent of the Sunday school and one of the three members of the build- ing committee which supervised the construction of the church edifice preceding the present structure.
Mr. R. L. Dunlap has been twice married, first on Septem- ber 1, 1898, to Miss Mary E. Carroll, who died October 4, 1904. then on April 21, 1909, to Jeannette Melchert of Clinton, Iowa. They have one daughter, Muriel, born August 18, 1911. He is a member of Iowa City lodge No. 4, A. F. & A. M., Iowa City Chapter No. 2, R. A. M., Palestine Commandery No. 2, K. T. Zarephath Consistory No. 4, Kaaba Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., Eastern Star Jessamine Chapter No. 135. He was worship- full master of lodge No. 4 in 1909 and worthy patron of the Star in 1910.
Ralph L., the youngest son, as heretofore stated, is one of the proprietors of the R. L. Dunlap Lumber Co., at Iowa City. He is a graduate of the State University of Iowa, and is one of the successful business men of his native city, where he is universally respected. He resides at the old home, 114 East Market street. His place of business is at 120 West Burling- ton street.
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FRANK PAUL BURKLEY
The Burkley Imperial Hotel, of Iowa City, is known as one of the first-class hostelries of the Hawkeye state. Its history dates from 1863, when Frank Paul Burkley, father of the present manager, Albert Burkley, after two years' experience as proprietor and manager of the Union bakery, launched out in the hotel business under the name of The Burkley House on the site now occupied by the Burkley Imperial. The growth of the enterprise was in response to the increasing demands of its patronage. It is, paradoxically, the effect of its own cause and the cause of its own effect. The effect of maintaining an always satisfactory hotel has been the creation of a large constituency, and the demands of that constituentcy have necessitated the enlargement and improvement of the caravansary. Thus the Burkley enterprise has literally lifted itself over the fence of progress by its own bootstraps, a feat ordinarily deemed impossible.
But, in the vocabulary of the American business man, de- termined to win the good will and patronage of his fellows, there is no such word as impossible. The register of the Burkley never had such a word written on its pages.
Frank Paul Burkley came from the Black Forest of Ger- many, where he was born April 2, 1827, in the village of Svendi, thus wisely side-stepping the romances of All-Fools' Day, and beginning life with the fundamental, straightfor- ward good sense which gave him a big start on the highway of success in America, to which he emigrated just as soon as he reached his majority. He elected to begin at the Hub, and so Boston, Massachusetts, was his home for the first thirteen years of his life in the new world. In 1861 he raised the cry of "Westward, ho!" and landed in Iowa City that year. Two years saw him devoted to the bakery business (not a bad train- ing for a boniface), and 1863 witnessed the launching of The Burkley House, as before stated. In this enterprise Frank Burkley met his destiny. The rest is matter of history.
A few bristling sentences tell the tale of enlargement: In 1870 ten rooms were added; in 1876, fifteen more; in 1892, re- modeled and enlarged, twenty rooms added and the name changed to The Kirkwood; in 1901 extensive alterations and
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improvements made, thirty rooms added, the name switched to Burkley Imperial, American and European systems adopt- ed, Frank Paul Burkley retired, and his son, Albert Burkley installed as proprietor and manager.
For ten years, under the management of this worthy suc- cessor of a worthy sire, the Burkley Imperial has stood in the front rank's of popular Iowa hotels, with the recommendation of every guest who has passed its doorway. Its picturesqne banquet hall is known throughout Iowa as "The Gothic Ban- quet Hall," its cuisine is a precious memory on the tongues of epienres, and its sleeping suites, with private baths, are famous for their comfort. Thus again the venerable commer-
THE BURKLEY IMPERIAL
cial adage is justified of its sapience, "Nothing succeeds like success."
The Burkley Imperial has been the scene of many notable banquets, and will beyond question be the scene of many more. as it is the only house in the University City suitably equipped for such functions.
While a resident of Boston, Frank Paul Burkley was mar- ried in 1850 to Miss Genevieve Mnchenburger, who, in after life, became known far and near for her benevolence. To them were born seven children, of whom five are living, name- ly: Mrs. G. A. Mullin, of Cedar Rapids; Mrs. J. McManus, of Iowa City; Miss Anna, proprietor of Svendi Hall, Iowa
F. P. BURKLEY
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City ; Otto, of Chicago, and Albert, proprietor of the Burkley Imperial, of Iowa City. Mr. Burkley died at Iowa City at 6:30 a. m. on Sunday, December 20, 1908.
The old Park House, to which reference is made in the general history section of this work, which was formerly sold to the Sisters, was repurchased by Albert Burkley in 1909, and is now known as Svendi Hall, a dormitory for women, managed by Miss Anna Burkley. It has a capacity for seven- ty-five people.
The Burkley family are members of the Catholic church of Iowa City.
ARTHUR JOHN COX
Arthur John Cox is today living in the same house in Iowa City in which he was born January 14, 1870, the old home of his parents at 104 East Market street. But this fact does not give the key to the dominant note of Mr. Cox's character. While possessed of sentiment sufficient to give him keen ap- preciation of the romance of residing in the house of his birth, Mr. Cox is essentially a practical man of affairs, and his activi- ties and connections commercially, financially. fraternally, and socially may be best described by the Rooseveltian term. "strenuous."
Educationally, Mr. Cox is primarily a product of Jowa City schools, having taken the complete course of the graded schools and graduated from the high school in 1887. In 1891 he grad- nated from the State University of Iowa with the degree of Civil Engineer, and in 1895 from the department of law with the degree of LL. B. Having decided upon civil engineering as his profession, he secured employment immediately follow- ing his graduation, in 1891, as assistant city engineer of Iowa City. The following year he was made city engineer, and again in 1896. This was followed by election to the office of county surveyor of Johnson county in 1896-97.
In 1893, in company with Charles P. Chase, of Clinton. Iowa, he formed the Iowa Engineering Company, with head- quarters at Clinton, for the purpose of carrying on civil, sani- tary, and hydraulic engineering. This company was later in- corporated and Mr. Cox has been its secretary-treasurer and
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consulting engineer to date. In 1901-02 he spent fourteen months in Europe, making a special study of sewage disposal methods. Mr. Cox is a stockholder, director, and chief en- gineer of Eastman, Gardiner & Co., manufacturers of Long- leaf Yellow Pine lumber, Laurel, Mississippi, and is interested with the same firm in timber lands in Simpson county, Mis- sissippi. He is also a director of the Laurel Cotton Mills.
In fraternal, scientific, and social organizations Mr. Cox has taken a prominent part. He is a member of Beta Theta Pi, 1887; Phi Delta Phi, 1894; Sigma Xi, 1908; University Club, Chicago, Illinois ; Triangle Club, Iowa City; Iowa En-
RESIDENCE OF ARTHUR JOHN COX
gineering Society, being its secretary in 1906, its vice presi- dent in 1907, and its president in 1908; member and vestry- man Trinity Parish Protestant Episcopal church, Iowa City; member of Board of Curators Iowa State Historical Society, 1908-09-10-11; thirty-second degree Mason, Clinton Consis- tory; Knight Templar, Iowa City; Mystic Shrine, Meridian, Mississippi. He was Cadet Captain S. U. I. Battalion 1890- 91, and was recommended to the war department at Washing- ton in 1891.
Mr. Cox was married at Clinton, Iowa, on November 14, 1895, to Miss Elizabeth Louisa Gardiner, daughter of Silas
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W. Gardiner, the eighth descendant of John Lyon Gardiner, of Gardiner's Island, New York. The latter landed in Ameri- ca in 1635, and in payment for distinguished services prev- iously rendered the British king was given the island contain- ing 3,300 acres, situated east of Long Island, now known as Gardiner's Island. Silas Wright Gardiner, Mrs. Cox's fath- er, was a member of the firm of Gardiner, Batchelder & Wells, lumbermen, of Lyons, Iowa, and treasurer of Eastman, Gard- iner & Co., Laurel, Mississippi. He was state senator in the Iowa General Assembly of 1891, a thirty-second degree Mason and member of the Sons of Colonial War. He died in 1907. Her mother was Louisa Catherine Henkel, a native of Goshen, Indiana. Four children have been born to Arthur John Cox and Elizabeth Louisa Gardiner, namely: Frederick Gardin- er, October 28, 1896; Sarah Elizabeth, May 27, 1903; Thomas Gardiner, December 12, 1905, and Louisa Catherine, January 3, 1910 - all born in the old home at 104 East Market street, Iowa City.
Mr. Cox's paternal ancestry dates from England, the found- er of the family in the United States being James Cox, who settled at Oyster Bay, Long Island, in 1763. Thomas Jeffer- son Cox, our subjeet's father, was born at Hayesville, Ohio, in 1827, and first came to Iowa in 1849. He went back to Ohio, but returned to Iowa City in 1854, and served several years in the United States land office. During the Civil War he was clerk and auditor of Johnson county, the two offices at that time being combined. He was the first cashier of the Iowa City Branch State bank, holding the position until 1877, after which he was associated with Samuel J. Kirkwood under the firm name of Cox & Kirkwood, real estate and loan business. Sarah Eliza Hershiser, his wife, mother of our subjeet, was born at Bedford Springs, Pennsylvania, in 1830, and came to Ohio with her parents at an early date and thence to Jowa in 1855. The couple were married at Iowa City in 1856. Father Cox died April 25, 1897.
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JOHN W. MORFORD
Living in comfortable retirement at his home, 802 East Bloomington street, Iowa City, is John W. Morford, a native son of Iowa and former prosperous farmer of Graham town- ship. The sharer of his home and fortune is his beloved wife, formerly Miss Stella Mae Colt, daughter of William and Eliza (Trimble) Colt, to whom he was married March 18, 1878, in River Junction, Fremont township. Mrs. Morford's mother, Eliza Trimble, is a daughter of Judge Trimble, a prominent man of his day, formerly of Iowa City. Mrs. Colt now resides at Columbus Junction. She was born at Iowa City in 1841. Judge Trimble settled in lowa in 1840.
2
RESIDENCE OF JOHN W. MORFORD
Jolm W. Morford was born in Pleasant Valley township, April 22, 1852. His father was Reason Morford, who was born in Pennsylvania December 13, 1822, and died in Pleasant Valley township May 26, 1886. Ilis wife, the mother of our subject, was Miss Sarah Yarbrough, born in North Carolina August 11, 1835, and died in Newport township December 5, 1867. Of the six children of this couple three survive, as fol- lows: John W., our subject : Thomas Henry, superintendent of parks, Iowa City; Mary Hannah, died when four years of age: Elizabeth who died in infancy: Elwood, a resident of
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North Dakota, and Sheridan, died September 12, 1886, at the age of twenty-one.
Our subject, prior to his retirement, was always a farmer. He was raised on his father's farm, and his education was ro- ceived in the first log school house in Pleasant Valley town- ship. At the age of sixteen he worked by the month at farm- ing, an occupation which he continued for eight years, most of his work being done on his uncle's farm east of the village of Hills. Having saved up his money. our subject bought a part of the old Byington place, 118 acres at $25 per acre. This he sold some time after at $50 per acre. He then bought 133 acres in Graham township at $55 per acre, and after nine years sold 100 acres of this for $129 per acre. To his renmant of 33 acres he added four acres and sold the entire thirty-seven aeres for $3,800. His last purchase was a farm near Oasis. During his residence in Pleasant Valley township, Mr. Mor- ford occupied the office of justice of the peace for nineteen years and assessor two years. He was also president of the literary association of Pleasant Valley township. He has always been a republican.
Mr. and Mrs. Morford are the parents of four children: Grace, wife of William Doan, has six children, William, Hazen, AAlden, Marie, Ethel, and Edna ; William Ray, married to Reta Hagerman, has one daughter, Mabel; Charles E., married to Ada Manasmith, of Iowa City, has one son, Loraine; Ula. re- siding at home, a graduate of the Iowa City high school.
The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church of Iowa City. Mr. Morford has taken an active part in church work, having been superintendent of the Sunday school of the M. E. church in Pleasant Valley township.
CHARLES M. DUTCHER
The firm of Wade, Dutcher & Davis, of Iowa City, is recog- nized by the legal fraternity of the state as one of the repre- sentative law partnerships of the central Mississippi Valley. The reason for this reputation is not far to seek. The firm contains elements of character, ability, and strength within itself of more than ordinary mould. This will be manifest to
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the reader in perusing the individual biographies of the part- ners as set forth in this volume. The attainments and partic- ular talents of each seem to be a fitting complement, so that the combination is essentially unique. The strength of the organization is proven by its large clientele and extensive business interests.
Charles M. Dutcher, the second member of the firm, while a native of Kansas (born in Allen county April 29, 1869), is by early transplanting, education, and residence, an Iowan; for in 1877, when eight years of age, he settled in Iowa county, on a farm near Ladora ; after a residence there of one year, the family removed to Iowa City, where Mr. Dutcher has since
RESIDENCE OF CHARLES M. DUTCHIER
continuously resided. There he received his education and his legal equipment, being a graduate of the law department of the State University of Iowa in the class of 1894. The following year, he formed a law partnership with Charles H. Burton, which continued until 1900, when he became asso- ciated with Walter M. Davis, the firm being known as Dutcher & Davis. In 1905 the present tripartate was effected by the entrance of Judge M. J. Wade, a man of strong personality, and an able and popular lawyer. The firm now occupies a fine suite of offices at 10516 South Clinton street, with com- plete library and every equipment of the modern law office.
Charles M. Dutcher's parents were Daniel N. Dutcher, born
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BIOGRAPHICAL
in New York January 18, 1833, and Sarah A. Beattie, born in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, November 22, 1833. Father Dutch- er died in Iowa City August 24, 1902, and the mother resides with her son, Charles M., in the same city. There are two sons in the family besides the subject of this sketch: Louis W., born April 24, 1870, residing at Helena, Montana, and George B., born April 24, 1871, living in Iowa City.
The marriage of Charles M. Dutcher to Miss Marie D. Campbell took place July 24, 1907. Miss Campbell is a daugh- ter of Melvin Campbell and Etta Brooks, whose family con- sisted of four daughters and one son.
To Mr. and Mrs. Dutcher one son has been born: Daniel Campbell, August 1, 1908, and one daughter Jane Elizabeth on June 9, 1911.
Charles M. Dutcher is a republican, and was honored by his party with the office of county attorney in 1897-98. He was a member of the board of education of Iowa City for six years ; is a member of Iowa City lodge, No. 4, A. F. & A. M., of which he was Master in 1898-99; is a member of Iowa City Chapter No. 2, Royal Arch Masons; Palestine Commandery Knights Templar and Kaaba Temple Mystic Shrine, of Dav- enport. He is a Knight of Pythias, Corinth lodge No. 24, Iowa City; member of Camp No. 189, M. W. A., of Iowa City, and a member of O. E. S.
Mr. and Mrs. Dutcher are members of the Methodist Epis- copal church of Iowa City. Their home is at 909 East Bur- lington street.
Surely, at forty-two, with the blessing of perfect health, happy home, prosperous business and the universal respect and confidence of his fellow citizens, Charles M. Dutcher is entitled to congratulations. His friends rejoice with him in the brightness of his horizon, and wish him the full fruition of all his hopes.
GEORGE WILLIAM SCHMIDT
At the date on which this biography is written (September 20, 1911) the subject thereof has just passed one day beyond the fifty-first anniversary of his birth. He was able yesterday to look backward through the half century of residence in
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
Iowa City, his native town, with the consciousness that he had endeavored to live the life of a true man and to perform the duties of a patriotic citizen. Moreover, he had the satisfac- tion of feeling that his career had been one of success, both socially and financially, and that in the catalogue of citizen- ship he had the honor of being placed on the page of the self- made men of Johnson county, who, while carving out their own characters and destinies, have been active factors in the development of the institutions of which this county so proud- ly, and rightfully, boasts.
The parents of George William Schmidt, who occupy a high place in his affections, were John Schmidt and Frances Zera-
RESIDENCE OF GEORGE WILLIAM SCHMIDT
bek, both natives of Germany, who were among the pioneers of Johnson county and took an active part in the homely, exact- ing work of the early days. The father emigrated to America in 1855, landing at Philadelphia, whence he came to Daven- port. Iowa, by rail, and from the latter point overland to Iowa City. The mother came direct from Germany to Johnson county m 1856, and the couple were married the same year at Iowa City. John Schmidt was a wagonmaker by trade and worked at that calling in Iowa City until his death in Decem- ber, 1889. Frances Zerabek bore twelve children, and that
GEORGE W. SCHMIDT
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BIOGRAPHICAL
tells the tale of a mother's affection and self sacrifice. Six of these children survive: John C., residing at Kansas City, Missouri ; Mary, living at Kearney, Nebraska ; G. W., onr sub- ject ; F. J., residing at Iowa City ; C. A., residing at Iowa City; Louise, now Mrs. William Kurz, of Iowa City.
At the age of twelve years our subject was compelled to leave school in order to enter the world of work, and from that time to the present he has been a strenuous factor therein. At the age of fifteen he became an apprentice at the blacksmith and machinist trade in the shops of N. H. Tulloss & Co., where he remained for three years, mastering the trade. Thereafter he spent one year at farm work and then returned to take regular employment with N. H. Tulloss & Co., with whom he remained for eight years. He then went into the laundry business, starting the first steam laundry in Iowa City in con- nection with A. T. Calkins, to whom he sold his interest in the business at the expiration of a year and a half. In company with N. Dalsheid he then launched a machine shop. After a few years Mr. Dalsheid retired and Mr. Schmidt has continued the business to the present time, which has proven very sue- cessful. Our subject is now president of the Schmidt-Kurz Improvement Company, which built and owns the Panl-Helen building, one of the finest structures in Iowa City.
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