USA > Iowa > Johnson County > Leading events in Johnson County, Iowa history, biographical > Part 50
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RESIDENCE OF C. M. RENO
he engaged in business in what is now called China Hall, on Washington street, where he sold china, glassware, and crock- ery, and sold this business in 1877 to J. A. Pickering. June 1, 1882, he established himself in the coal business on the same street, near the Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern railroad depot, and continued this enterprise many years, becoming one of the substantial business men of the city. In 1884 he started a real estate business and this now occupies his entire atten- tion.
Mr. Reno has always taken an active interest in public af- fairs and the welfare of his county and state, as well as in local matters. He was elected secretary of the city school board, served acceptably in that office, and later was elected to the
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
city council, being elected city treasurer in 1877. He resigned the latter office and was elected county treasurer, serving two terms in that office. He was elected mayor of Iowa City in 1884, was three times reelected, serving in this office eight years.
November 1, 1870, Mr. Reno was united in marriage with Miss Hattie A. Hartman, daughter of Samuel and Abigail Hartman, natives of Indiana. The following children were born of this union : Morgan C., a dentist, practicing his profes- sion at Iowa City; Abigail, who is now at home; Sanford H., graduated from Iowa City high school and a commercial col- lege and held a position for some time in Chicago, then became ill and died at home in 1893. The other daughter, Miss Mar- garet, is also at home.
LEROY RUNDELL (Deceased)
In the death of the late Leroy Rundell, Johnson county lost one of its most useful and well-known citizens. He passed away at his home in Iowa City, April 28, 1906, after a long and useful life, mourned by the entire community. He had been most active in advancing the interests of Johnson county, us- ing his strength and finances in the upbuilding and progress of the region. He was born in Cayuga county, New York, Sep- tember 25, 1839, son of Lockwood and Anne (Beard) Rundell, natives respectively of Cayuga county, New York, and of Con- nectient, and both of old New England ancestry. Both passed away in their home in New York. They were parents of six children, of whom Leroy was the fifth in order of birth.
Mr. Rundell received his education in the public schools of his native county and on February 14, 1866, was united in mar- riage with Alice Avery, a native of the same county and state as her husband, and a daughter of Ashbel and Emmeline (Miner) Avery, of Cayuga connty, both of whom died in John- son county, Iowa, Mr. Avery at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Rundell, April 29, 1870, aged 66 years, and Mrs. Avery re- mained with the daughter till her death, February 16, 1893, at the age of eighty-four years. Soon after their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Rundell came to Iowa, arriving in Johnson county in
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BIOGRAPHICAL
1867. After spending a few months in Iowa City, they rented a farm in East Lucas township, and a year later located in Scott township. Mr. Rundell subsequently sold the farm there and retired from active life. The family moved to Iowa City at this time and made their home premanently on East Court street.
Mr. Rundell was most snecessful, both as a farmer and a business man, and always kept a large amount of high-grade stock on the farm. He invested in many manufacturing enter- prises in Johnson county, in this way encouraging local in- dustries. He purchased land on the edge of the city, which
THE OLD RUNDELL RESIDENCE
was known as the Rundell Addition. After his death Mrs. Rundell disposed of this property to the Rundell Land Im- provement Company and to the Iowa City Street Railway Company, as is mentioned at some length in the historical de- partment of this publication. In 1893 Mr. Rundell selected a beautiful site, which he made attractive and valuable, with grounds arranged in modern style, and there erected a com- modious residence, into which the family moved in 1894. This place was well kept and considered one of the finest in Iowa City. While living on his farm he had kept his substantial buildings in a good state of repair and the place always gave
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
evidences of careful management. He was one of the prin- cipal promoters of the Johnson County Agricultural Society, which he served as president for several years, and in connec- tion with this movement his activities were most beneficial to all the residents of the county. He gave freely of both time and money, as well as his influence, to make the society what it is today, being largely instrumental in securing the removal of the fair grounds to their present fine location. In many other connections he proved a valubale and public-spirited cit- izen and one who has left a lasting and honorable record. He was well known as. a successful cattle dealer and well under- stood the care and feeding necessary to prepare stock so that it commanded a high price in the market.
Mr. Rundell was actively interested in public affairs, taking a prominent part in many worthy movements. He served as assessor of Scott township and as a delegate to various conven- tions of his political party (the republican), holding many pos- itions of public trust and honor in addition to those already mentioned. He was liberal in religious views and fraternally was a member of the A. F. & A. M. He and his wife had one daughter, Mabel A., who married Keene Abbott, on August 29, 1905. Mr. and Mrs. Abbott, who are residents of Omaha, Nebraska, are both well known for their literary labors. Mrs. Rundell may be found during the summer months in the old home but spends her winters at the home of her daughter.
WILLIAM J. FELKNER
William J. Felkner is one of Johnson county's native sons of whom it may well be proud. He comes of a family that has won distinction in pioneer affairs, his father, Henry Felk- ner, having been associated with such men as Philip Clark and Eli Myers, who with him made their way across the trackless prairie to the neighborhood of the western line of the Indian treaty lands, just below the present site of Iowa City, where an Indian town then stood, its inhabitants awaiting the return of a war party that had gone up the river to meet the Sioux tribe. Henry Felkner was a noble character and a true pioneer. Tall and powerful in physique, he had a kindly manner and drew
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BIOGRAPHICAL
men to him by his innate honesty and upright nature. His father was a native of Germany, perhaps in the Tyrol, and his mother was descended from that Campbell of the clan that · sprung from the Norman soldier, her father's name being Mc- Callum More. The parents came as pioneers to America, locating in the frontier of Ohio, where their children were born. Henry Felkner was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, April 18, 1810, and he died on May 7, 1885. His father died when the children were young and Henry, being the eldest of them, took the place of head of the family, helping the mother to care for the younger ones and remaining at home until he was twenty-five years old. Thinking to better their fortunes, the family moved farther west, into Indiana. In 1837, the
RESIDENCE OF W. J. FELKNER
other children having reached an age when they could look ont for themselves, Henry Felkner came west to the part of the "Blackhawk Purchase" now known as Iowa. This was then known by the Indian name of "Onisconsin," which in- cluded part of Iowa and Wisconsin, which had been a county of Iowa in judicial division. When Michigan had been set off, Burlington was the capital of Wisconsin. Later Wisconsin was set off by itself and Iowa took shape. Henry Felkner was one of the band of brave pioneer spirits who came all the way from Indiana to Johnson county, Iowa, on foot, starting from his home at Milford in the former state. This was about the time Iowa was set apart from Wisconsin and these were among
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
the earliest white settlers. Upon his arrival he spent some time at the trading post with Mr. Gilbert and then engaged in running a sawmill and made the first lumber in the vicinity, from which many of the early buildings were constructed. Among these was the "Old Capitol" building. Later he en- gaged in farming and also took a prominent part in public affairs, becoming one of the first board of county commission- ers when Johnson county was organized, and helping to lay the foundation of the state government. He was a member of the third, fourth and fifth legislatures, until the territory be- came a state; he then turned his attention to his private af- fairs and allowed others to take up the task he had so ably helped to begin.
In 1843 Henry Felkner married Elizabeth, daughter of Enoch and Mourning Lewis, who was born in the neighbor- hood of Columbus, Ohio, in 1820, and came with her parents to Iowa in 1841. The family located at North Liberty and there Mr. and Mrs. Lewis established a home which was remembered by all who passed its threshold, where all were met with the simple "Thou art welcome," from the host and hostess. They were Quakers and in their quiet way wielded a gentle but nev- ertheless strong influence in their community.
Twelve children were born to Henry and Elizabeth Felkner, two of whom died in infancy and ten reached maturity, namely : Iowa, Alma, Clinton, Mary, Henry, William J., Smith, Eliza- beth A., Milton, and Rachael. Of these Elma, Clinton, Wil- liam J., Elizabeth, and Rachael are now living. The father was a democrat of the old Jefferson school and firmly believed in strict honesty in political as in all other affairs. He was one of those who helped frame the laws in the territorial legis- lature which met at Burlington, and he was also a member of the first constitutional convention, but he was fond of his home and did not care to spend so much time away from his family. Later he served as supervisor and in other local offices. In 1850 he went overland to California and spent one year there, returning by sea and landing at New Orleans. He returned to the old homestead and lived there several years longer, but in 1869 moved to the vicinity of West Liberty. There he and his wife died, he at the age of seventy-five and she sixty years.
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BIOGRAPHICAL
William J. Felkner was born near Iowa City, July 18, 1852, and was reared to farm work. His first work on his own ac- count was in the same line. Later he engaged in the grain business at Downey and since then has followed this occupa- tion. He is a keen and successful business man and is well known in the region. He is a democrat and stanch in his sup- port of party principles. He was honored by his fellow citi- zens by being elected to the Twenty-third and Twenty-fourth Legislatures, from Cedar county, being the second democrat elected from the district in thirty-six years, which shows his personal popularity and the people's faith in him to be high.
In 1873 Mr. Felkner was united in marriage with Miss Jessie H. Work, who was born in Massachusetts and came to Iowa with her parents in early childhood. Her family settled near Downey, where her father engaged in farming and later in buying and selling stock. Two daughters were born to Mr. and Mrs. Work, Ida and Jessie. Ida, wife of Edwin Dole, lives in California, and Jessie is Mrs. Felkner. William J. Felkner and wife had seven children, of whom four survive: John died at the age of nine years; Jessie died at the age of five; Iowa died in infancy ; Ida is Mrs. H. C. Coffeen and lives in Chicago; Wilma, who graduated at St. Luke's Hospital in New York, in 1905, lives in that city ; Anna, Mrs. T. E. Hall, is a resident of Iowa City; William W. lives at home and is en- gaged in business at Iowa City. The family are affiliated with the Methodist church. They have a very pleasant home on Kirkwood avenue. Mr. Felkner is much interested in the his- tory and development of the region and feels proud of the part taken by his parents in the early struggles of the pioneers, for in those times women had as hard work to perform in their way as the men and performed it as bravely and well.
GEORGE A. FERNSTROM
The father of the subject of this sketch was Charles August Fernstrom, a native of Skara, Sweden, where he was born August 22, 1833. He came from a talented family, his father, John Fernstrom, who was the oldest of twelve children, being a lawyer, a mathematician of ability, and an expert pipe or- ganist, and was educated in the classical schools of Stockholm.
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
Of his three brothers, two were civil engineers and the other a mining engineer. The latter made a fortune in his profession. Charles August Fernstrom was a man of affairs and an ex- tensive traveler, having visited twenty-eight states of the American Union and sailed the Indian, Pacific, Atlantic, and Arctic oceans. He left Sweden when fifteen years of age and came to America on a sailing vessel, arriving, after a long voy- age, at San Francisco. Three years were spent in the gold fields of California, after which, in 1853, he went to Minnesota. In company with Oscar Roos and Oscar Sandahl, he was the first Swede to land in Minnesota, and the trio were the first white settlers of the state. He located at Taylor's Falls, and
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RESIDENCE OF G. A. FERNSTROM
remained for several years. Returning to Sweden, he re- mained for about a year, after which he again went to Cali- fornia, where he engaged in mining for about eleven years. Following this, he came to Johnson county, Iowa, where he purchased a farm of about 400 acres in Fremont township and engaged in raising blooded stock - short horn cattle and Per- cheron horses. In 1876 he removed to Oxford, where he en- gaged in the mercantile business. In 1878 he returned to the farm in Fremont township, where he remained until 1890, when he moved to Lone Tree. There he engaged in the bank- ing business, and was elected cashier of the Lone Tree Savings bank, the first bank organized in the town, a position which he
FERNSTROM MONUMENT
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BIOGRAPHICAL
filled until 1900, when he resigned and started the Farmers & Merchants Savings bank. He was connected with this bank until January 1, 1904, when he resigned the position of cashier on account of ill health, and his son, the subject of this sketch, was elected to take his place. He lived in almost absolute business retirement until his death July 3, 1905. Near the town of Scandia, Minnesota, where he first took up a govern- ment claim, the citizens have erected a monument to the mem- ory of Mr. Fernstrom and his associates, Roos and Sandahl, with the following inscription :
CARL FERNSTROM OSCAR ROOS AUGUST SANDAHL Erected 1900
On the Site of his Claim 1850-1900
Mr. Fernstrom, following his course at the University of Stockholm, was noted for his Latin scholarship, and, though but a boy in years, served as an interpreter of that language. Prior to coming to America he kept a book store.
In politics Mr. Fernstrom was a republican, and took an active interest in county affairs. He was a member of the Masonic order in Lone Tree, of the Chapter at West Liberty, the Consistory and Kaaba Temple at Davenport; also of Ome- ga lodge No. 728, I. O. O. F., of Lone Tree. His membership was in the Methodist Episcopal church of Lone Tree.
On January 4, 1870, he was united in marriage to Miss Mabel Evans, daughter of John Evans and Jane Meredith. Mr. Evans was a native of Wales and his wife of Madison county, New York. Four children were born to Charles August and Mabel Evans Fernstrom, namely: Alice R., wife of Dr. W. R. Whiteis, of Iowa City; Charles J., who died at Amarillo, Texas, July 8, 1900; Helen M., wife of Dr. F. H. Gambel, of Thief River Falls, Minnesota ; and George A., of Lone Tree, Iowa. Mother Fernstrom died March 9, 1888, on the farm in Fremont township.
George A. Fernstrom was born at Oxford, Iowa, August 31, 1878. He attended the public schools of the county and also Tilford's Collegiate Institute at Vinton, Iowa. He was asso-
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
ciated with his father in business upon the farm, and upon the latter's retirement, on January 1, 1904, was elected to the cash- iership of the Farmers & Merchants Savings bank, of Lone Tree, Iowa.
He was married July 19, 1911, to Miss Elizabeth J. Schaap- veld, a native of Johnson county, Iowa.
ALEXANDER SWENEY
The Sweney family are among the older settlers of Johnson county, Alexander Sweney being a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1847. After a life of activity and success, he now lives in honorable retirement. His father, George B. Sweney, was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, and received his education at Washington college, located at Washington, Penn- sylvania, afterwards engaging in the dry goods business. He subsequently gave up mercantile business and purchased 2,000 acres of land and a mill site in the northern part of Pennsyl- vania. He also engaged in lumbering and made flat-boats to ship coal to New Orleans. He continued in these various oc- cupations in his native state until 1864, the date of his removal to Johnson county.
He located first near Higby Grove in Scott township, and in the early 'seventies sold his farm there and bought a place known as Cave Springs, up the river in Lucas township. In 1875 Mr. Sweney retired from farming and moved to what is known as the Parsons place, two years later locating on the old Charles Berryhill estate, where his son Alexander and his daughters Elizabeth and Virginia now reside. This residence, which stands in one of the most picturesque parts of Iowa City, was purchased in 1878. The pioneer home stands on a two and one-half acre tract of land, comprising an entire block. This is a noted pleasure ground and the house, which stands on an eminence, is situated at 414 Brown street. A view of it is to be found in this work.
Mr. George B. Sweney was married to Miss Frances, daugh- ter of James P. Kerr, M. D. Dr. Kerr was a graduate of Jef- ferson College, when it was located at Cannonsburg, Pennsyl- vania, being valedictorian of his class, and later from Jefferson
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BIOGRAPHICAL
Medical College in Philadelphia. He was the first resident physician at Claysville, that state, and married Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Miller, at that time justice of the peace. He was the son of Hon. James Kerr, who represented his dis- trict in the Pennsylvania legislature in the years 1801, 1803, 1806, 1807, 1809, and 1813. He and his wife are buried in Pennsylvania. James P. Kerr, Jr., a son of Dr. Kerr, made his home with his sister, Mrs. George B. Sweney, for some eighteen years. He was at one time of the staff of the Wash- ington County Reporter, also on the Commonwealth, being a printer by trade. He served as sergeant of Company C of the One Hundred Fortieth Pennsylvania Volunteers and later be-
RESIDENCE OF ALEXANDER SWENEY
came a member of the G. A. R. Post of Iowa City. He lived in Chicago for a time before moving to Iowa. He and Mrs. Sweney were two of a family of twelve children. The Kerr family was of Scotch descent.
George B. Sweney met death very suddenly, as the result of an accident, while he was coming down Smiley Hill, on his way home from his farm, when his team ran away. He died in August, 1879. His widow lived to an advanced age and died in 1903, in her eightieth year. Both are buried in Oakland cemetery, in Iowa City. Both were sincere members of the Methodist church and died firm in that faith. They were wide-
·
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
ly missed in their community and left a host of friends. Four of their children survive: Miss Elizabeth, Alexander, James Kerr Sweney, and Miss Virginia. The wife of James Kerr Sweney, Ella (Dilly) Sweney, died, leaving a son and a daugh- ter. George B. Sweney was a son of Alexander Sweney, of Irish descent, who lived to be eighty years old. He married Hannah Camp.
In 1878 Alexander Sweney bought his first forty acres of land in East Lucas township and in 1879 bought eighty acres in Washington township, which he farmed. In 1891 he pur- chased eighty acres in Lucas township and in 1895 bought 285 acres in Newport township. In 1905 he purchased another tract of 320 acres in South Dakota, two years later selling this and buying another farm of the same size. Shortly after this was sold and he returned to Iowa City and built two houses on North Capitol street, retiring from active life in 1903.
Mr. Sweney began life in a modest manner, having but little except a team of horses. By careful management he was final- ly able to buy his first piece of land and saved money to pur- chase more. By his energy and foresight he attained more than ordinary success in life and believes that a man should stand on his own feet and profit by his own exertions. He is a self-made man and the secret of his prosperity is the fact that he was ambitious to succeed, always saved his earnings and in- vested them wisely. He gained a good education in early life and is fond of good reading. He keeps well informed on the questions of the day and takes an intelligent interest in cur- rent events. In political matters he votes for the man and the principle rather than for party interests. He is a Methodist in religious faith and endeavors to carry out his belief in his everyday life. He is proud of the part taken by his ancestors in the early history and devlopment of Johnson county, as well as of other parts of the country, and in all respects he is a worthy representative of the family.
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BIOGRAPHICAL
WILLIAM HORRABIN
In the year 1871, memorable as the year of Chicago's great baptism by fire, William Horrabin, the subject of this sketch, was born in London, England. At the age of eight years he emigrated with his parents to the great valley of which the im- perial city of the lakes is the metropolis and settled with them at Des Moines, Iowa. There he was educated in the public schools and in the famous "C.C.C.C." business college, and there he entered the employ of his father, James Horrabin, a manufacturer of and dealer in building materials and an ex- pert in pavement and concrete construction. William Hor- rabin literally grew up with the business, and understands every branch of it, from sand-pit to construction work. James Horrabin, the father, was a native of Liverpool, England, and married there. He was a resident of Des Moines for forty years, his death occurring there in 1911. He was one of the pioneer contractors of the state, and his sons have attained to even greater prominence than their father in the same line of work. There were five children in the family : James Horra- bin, Jr., of Des Moines; William and Alfred, of Iowa City; Mrs. John Williams and Mrs. J. M. Seaver, of Des Moines. James Horrabin died at the residence of his daughter, Mrs. Williams. He was an invalid for fifteen years prior to his death. His beloved wife had preceded him to the Great Be- yond.
The William Horrabin Paving Company and The William Horrabin Sand and Material Company are widely-known en- terprises of Iowa City. William Horrabin is the president and general manager of both concerns, the headquarters of which are located at 15 East College street. Ninety-five per cent of the brick and bitulithic paving in Iowa City has been done by the Horrabin company, two of their principal contracts being Iowa avenue and Bloomington street. This firm did a large part of the important construction for the Iowa City Water Works; built the power house and tunnel work of the State University of Iowa, the University dam across the Iowa river, the large concrete culvert across Iowa avenue, and most of the concrete sidewalks of Iowa City. The plant of The William Horrabin Sand and Material Company is located at Horrabin
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
station, on the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific railroad, five mile ssouth of Iowa City, and is completely equipped with modern machinery both for manufacture and for loading cars for shipment. It has a capacity of two thousand cars, and in addition to sand products handles Portland cement and other concrete construction materials. Our subject is also a mem- ber of the James Horrabin Contracting Company, of Des Moines.
The Iowa City company has done street paving, sewer and concrete work in the following Iowa towns : Grinnell, Newton, Perry, Ames, Estherville, Marengo, Atlantic, Creston, Clar- inda, Des Moines, Waterloo, Waverly, Muscatine, and Bed- ford. The various industries employ about 600 men and in 1910 did $600,000 worth of business in paving work alone. The origin of the enterprise was in 1891, in which year the first street paving was done in Iowa City.
Mr. Horrabin's wife was formerly Miss Nellie Blowers, a native of Pennsylvania. The couple have one son, William Richard Horrabin. The family are members of the Protestant Episcopal church. Mr. Horrabin is a member of the Iowa City Commercial club and the Knights of Pythias. He stands high as one of the progressive, substantial citizens of the state.
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