USA > Iowa > Johnson County > Leading events in Johnson County, Iowa history, biographical > Part 63
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E. H. HANLON
The father of our subject was a native of New York State and his mother of Ohio. The former was born March 11, 1840, and the latter March 27, 1850. . James H. Hanlon and Celestine Kunsman were their names. The couple resided at Peoria, Illinois, prior to their removal to Johnson county in 1887. Mr. Hanlon was engaged as a railroad engineer during his early life, in all devoting about thirty-five years to that work. On arrival in Johnson county Mr. Hanlon purchased the home- stead, where he labored until his death, in September, 1901,
JAMES H. HANLON
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR. LENOX TILDEN FOUNDATIONS
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BIOGRAPHICAL
and where the subject of this sketch now resides. The mother survives and lives with her son on the old farm.
E. H. Hanlon, the eldest of three children, was born in Pe- oria, Illinois, April 9, 1875, and removed with his parents to Iowa. He has always been engaged upon the homestead where his parents first settled. The other children are: Stella May- belle, now Mrs. A. E. Baumer, living in Fremont township, mother of two children, John and Celeste; Laura Pearle, now Mrs. Dr. Leroy Hammer, of Kalona, Iowa. Mr. Baumer mar- ried Stella August 29, 1905. He was born November 28, 1880, son of J. B. and Elizabeth (Wagner) Baumer, at Iowa City. He attended the public schools of Iowa City, the Iowa City
RESIDENCE OF E. H. HANLON
Academy, and Irish's Business College, graduating in 1900. At the age of twenty-one he entered the employ of Franklin MacVeagh & Co., wholesale grocers of Chicago. He was as- sistant manager of one of the departments. He remained there for nine years. He then engaged in farming in Johnson county, which he has continued to this day.
Dr. Hammer was married to Laura at Lone Tree September 14, 1911. The doctor is a native of Ottumwa, Iowa, a graduate of the high school of that city in the class of 1904. He gradu- ated from the College of Medicine, State University of Iowa, in 1910.
Mr. Hanlon is a quiet, earnest, industrious man, respected
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
by his friends. For eleven years the care of the home farm has rested upon him, and he has performed his service with credit, devoting himself to the care of his widowed mother and the protection of his sisters, to all of whom he is greatly attached. In politics he is a democrat. The family are mem- bers of the Reformed church of Lone Tree.
He is a member of Abner lodge, No. 535, A. F. & A. M., of Lone Tree; also of the Royal Arch Masons of West Liberty, and of Eastern Star, Fern Leaf lodge, No. 199, of Lone Tree. The entire family belong to the last named lodge.
GEORGE R. CRAWFORD
The biography of Andrew Crawford, printed elsewhere in this volume, contains important facts with reference to the family of which George R. Crawford is a member. The reader is cited thereto. Hugh Crawford, the father of George R. Crawford, is a brother of AAndrew Crawford. His wife,
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RESIDENCE OF GEORGE R. CRAWFORD
George R.'s mother, was formerly Miss Louisa Mackey, a native of Canada. Mr. and Mrs. Crawford, on arrival in the United States, proceeded to Johnson county, Iowa, where the husband made purchase of land. He added to his holdings from time to time, and at the date of his death, September 1, 1907, owned 600 acres in Lincoln township. Five children
HUGH CRAWFORD
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were born to this couple : Jennie, now Mrs. Harley Idle, living in Muscatine county; May, now Mrs. William Mccullough, living in Lincoln township; Alice, died at the age of two years ; George R .; Maggie, residing at home with her mother. The latter owns a fine residence at Lone Tree.
George R. Crawford was born September 25, 1883, on the farm in Lincoln township where he now resides. His business has always been that of a farmer, and his activities have been confined to the old homestead. In May, 1907, he was married to Miss Julia Huskins, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Huskins, of Fremont township. Miss Huskins is a native of Johnson county, and has always resided there. Mr. and Mrs. Crawford have three children, Clair, Charles, and George R. The father is a stanch republican. His fraternal affiliations are with the Knights of Pythias and the M. W. A. of Lone Tree. Mr. Crawford is one of the progressive young men of southern Johnson county, and is highly respected.
FRANK J. PUDIL
Among the residents of the growing village of Swisher in Jefferson township, one of the best known and most prom- inent is the subject of this sketch. The commemorative history of Johnson county would not be termed complete were the life record of Frank J. Pudil omitted, since he has been a resident in the county and a factor in its growth and progress for many years. He has always maintained an unassailed reputation in business circles by reason of his straightforward methods, and in social life he exercises those sterling qualities in man- hood which awaken the most kindly and lasting regard.
Frank J. Pudil came from Bohemia in Europe with his parents when a small boy and has grown with the county of which he has been a resident ever since, with the exception of a year or two when acquiring his trade.
He was born in Bohemia on April 24, 1855, his father being Wesley Pudil and his mother before her marriage, Miss Rosie Bostek. The father, who was a stone mason, emigrated to America with his family in 1861, settling the same year in Jef- ferson township, where he divided his time between his trade
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
and cultivating a farm. Frank, who at this time was six years of age, grew up on the farm and on nearing manhood deter- mined to become a blacksmith, and after the usual apprentice- ship, opened business in Shueyville on the 9th of December, 1878, buying out a business already established.
On February 24, 1879, Mr. Pudil was united in marriage to Miss Mary Chadima, daughter of John Chadima who also came from Bohemia in 1856, the lady having been born in Fairfax township, Linn county. Of this union there have been six chil- dren, five of whom are now living: Mary, the eldest, died when two years old; William H., located on his own homestead, west of Swisher, is married and has two children; Charles, the sec- ond son, also located on his own farm, adjoining his brother, is married and has one child; Libbie, a daughter, is resident of Cedar Rapids and wife of Charles Jesina : they have two chil- dren; Clara, the youngest daughter, is also a resident of Cedar Rapids, her husband being William P. Keremer : they have one child. The youngest son, Stephen, is a clerk in the Swisher Savings Bank.
After his marriage Mr. Pudil remained in business at Shuey- ville till the fall of 1898, when his state of health compelled him to seek an outdoor life, and he purchased a farm west of Swisher where he remained for about nine years. This farm is now in the hands of his two sons. He then removed to Swisher where he built the commodious residence where he now resides. He has acquired a considerable tract of land ad- joining which is naturally increasing in value as the village grows.
Mr. Pudil has seen much experience in public office. He was for ten years justice of the peace and fills the office of secretary of schools for Jefferson township. He has been supervisor, township clerk, school director, school treasurer and township trustee. He is also a director in the American Trust and Sav- ings Bank of Cedar Rapids.
In politics he is a democrat, though not strictly confined to party lines.
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JAMES H. WINDREM
The subject of this sketch, James H. Windrem, is a native of Iowa City and was born June 15, 1845, son of William and Jane Windrem both natives of Ireland. The father, William Windrem, was born 1801 and came to America in 1830. The voyage across the ocean was made in a sailing vessel and oc- cupied six weeks. The same distance now is covered by any of the ocean greyhounds in less than that number of days. Landing at Ogdensburg, New York, Mr. Windrew commenced learning the carpenter's trade and remained there two years. He became very proficient at his trade and found a ready de- mand for his work. During the years 1838-39-40 he was em- ployed by the United State government, most of the time in Iowa and Wisconsin. In 1842 he came to Iowa City and was employed for some time to do carpenter work on the old State Capitol building then under construction. Afterwards he be- gan the erection of Terrill's Mill and for the material he cut the trees, hewed and framed them, split out clapboards and shingle, all of which required the hardest kind of labor and for which he received as wages the sum of 371/2 cents per day. Considering the fact that he was a first class mechanic, car- penter, and cabinet maker these wages must have been about the highest paid. He continued at his trade for several years and assisted in the erection of many pioneer buildings, all prior to 1850.
In 1851, in company with Stephen Luce, Thomas Combs and Jacob Weim, he left Iowa City with ox teams to cross the plains. The exciting stories that had come from the far west and the "lure of gold" was attracting many towards the far- away Pacific coast. The trail across the lonely plains and over the mountains was the scene of many adventures and oft- times of tragedy and death. There was a constant menace from the Indians who roamed the country and were bitterly opposing the encroachment of the white men into their do- main. The full company or caravan was really made up at Council Bluffs and from there on it required the utmost cau- tion and vigilance to protect the cattle and provide for the safety of the train. After six months of weary travel and camping and hardship the company finally reached California
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
and located for a time at Marysville. Mr. Windrem and a few others engaged in gold mining on the Feather river and re- mained there five years.
In 1856 Mr. Windrem returned to Iowa City. This was the same year that the Rock Island railway was completed to that city.
In 1858, in company with his oldest son, Samuel, he started for Pike's Peak. On the way there they encountered quite a large company who were returning from that place and re- ported very poor prospects for gold mining in that country. This was rather discouraging to Mr. Windrem and his son and they were about to turn back when it was proposed to take a vote, which resulted in the entire company going to Cali- fornia. Here Mr. Windrem located and followed gold mining successfully until 1880 when he returned to Iowa City and re- sided there until his death in 1886, having then reached the age of 79 years. The mother, Jane Windrem, died in Iowa City in 1883.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Windrem were consistent members of the United Presbyterian church and highly respected by all who knew them. Their passing away lessened the number of the few remaining who were early pioneers and factors in paving the way for a greater civilization and whose memory will be preserved by all the coming generations of men.
Out of eight children, our subject, James H. Windrem, is the only surviving member. He was educated in the public schools of Iowa City and at the S. U. I. In 1875 he located at Oxford, Iowa, and for a time followed the art of photo- graphy. Later he engaged in the furniture and undertaking business, which he successfully followed from 1879 to 1901 when he retired from the active duties of commercial life.
In 1864 he enlisted for 100 days as a soldier in the Civil War but served six months as volunteer in Comapny G, 47th Iowa Infantry.
In 1876 Mr. Windrem was married to Miss Mary H. Hughes. Her parents were of Welsh deseent and formerly from Wil- liamsburg, Iowa, but she was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Mr. Windrem has served as town councilman and mayor of the town of Oxford and has always been counted as one of the progressive, enterprising citizens of the community. He has
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erected three business places besides several dwellings in town, including a fine residence on same lot east of his home. He also owns farm lands in Oklahoma.
Ralph Kepford Luse, a son of the Stephen Luse mentioned in the preceding account of James H. Windrem, was born in Lett township, Washington county, Iowa. His father, Ste- phen Luse, was born March 4, 1823, in Butler county, Penn- sylvania, and came to Johnson county in 1851, and soon after made the trip across the plains in company with James H. Windrem and Jacob Wenn, referred to in the preceding sketch. On his return from the coast, twelve years thereafter, he in- vested in farm lands in Oxford township. He married Mary Ellen Kepford, who was born in Pennsylvania, and came to Johnson county in 1878. She was a daughter of John Kep- ford, of North Bend district, east of North Liberty, and prior to her marriage was a school teacher. Two children were born of this marriage : Ralph K. and Clara V., the latter deceased. Ralph K. Luse was educated in the public schools and the high school of Oxford. He has come rapidly to the front as one of the wealthy and progressive citizens of Oxford township. He has large financial interests in the Oxford State bank and the Eastern Iowa Telephone company, and owns about seven hun- dred acres of the best land in Iowa. In 1905-06 he was mayor of Oxford. He is a member of the Knights Templar of Iowa City and the Shriners of Davenport Consistory. He married Mabel Gould, of Washington county, daughter of George Gould, now of Johnson county. They have two children, Har- old C. and Clair.
VALENTINE MILLER (Deceased)
The late Valentine Miller was for many years prominently identified with the most important interests of Coralville, Iowa, and spent the larger part of his life in the vicinity. He was well known as a successful business man and was held in high esteem and respect for his activities in other lines, being a friend to every movement to aid in the general progress and welfare. He left a memory that is dear to his family and to the whole community, and left an honored name, of which his descendants and friends may well be proud. He came to John-
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
son county the year before the Rock Island railroad was com- pleted to Iowa City, and in early days appreciated the oppor- tunities offered to men of ambition and foresight in the rap- idly developing region. His widow still resides in Coralville, the scene of his most important operations, in the home pro- vided by his loving care, and associated with many happy memories. She was a good helpmeet and sympathized in his ambitions and successes, being a woman of superior intelli- gence and judgment.
Mr. Miller was born in Bavaria, Germany, July 5, 1834. He was educated in his native land and came to the United States in 1855, making the journey on a sailing vessel which was
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RESIDENCE OF MRS. VALENTINE MILLER
eighty-nine days on the way, during which time eighty-two of the passengers died of cholera. After landing in New York City, Mr. Miller went to Rochester, New York, and spent two months there, then, with the tide of immigration then moving westward, started in search of a new home, arriving in Iowa City in August 1855. His first employment in Iowa was in a flour mill conducted by Ezekiel Clarke and William Kirkwood with whom he remained nine years, in Coralville. He then engaged in business for himself, in Marshalltown. In 1864 he purchased a mill there from Banker Woodbury and conducted it six years. He sold this mill in 1869, returned to Coralville, and purchased the mill there, which was destroyed
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by fire four years later, in 1873. However, being ambitious and courageous, Mr. Miller was undaunted, and soon after- wards formed a co-partnership with William Kirkwood and erected the Coral Mills, now owned by Stephen Coldren, of Kansas City, son of a prominent citizen of Johnson county. Mr. Miller installed fine machinery in this mill and carried on business there until his death, in 1903. He established him- self permanently in Coralville, where he erected a substantial brick residence, his home until his death, November 8, 1903, and now the home of his widow. He was well known in fra- ternal circles, being a Mason and an Odd Fellow.
July 7, 1861, Mr. Miller married Miss Minna Ceischler, a native of Saxony, Germany, and member of an old and prom- inent family of that part of Germany. Her father, Professor Ceischler, was a noted musician and all the family were well educated and highly cultured, being well known in musical circles. Although well educated in her native language, she was unable to speak English before leaving her native coun- try. In 1861, the year of her marriage, she came to the United States on the steamer "Harmonia." Soon after her marriage she and her husband settled down in the town where she now resides, which has been her home except for the six years they spent in Marshalltown, since 1869. She has a half acre of land and has seen every tree on the place planted, grow to a size desirable for beauty and shade, and flourish in the place intended for it.
The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Miller : Ida, a professional nurse ; William, of the firm of Miller Broth- ers, dealers (wholesale and retail) in poultry and eggs, at Iowa City, married Ollie Lovell; Grace; Laura, wife of Wil- liam Mosley, of Moline, Illinois, for the past twenty-seven years employed as engineer by the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway Company, has.five children - Edna, Richard, Morton, Myra, and Helen; Minnie, a stenographer formerly employed at the S. U. I., now with W. F. Main; Fred, of the firm of Miller Brothers, of Iowa City; May, wife of Dean Os- borne; Miss Amy, at home. Mrs. Miller is a member of the English Lutheran church. All the children were given good educations and fitted for useful men and women. They attended the high school and academy at Iowa City,
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
and their parents, especially the mother, were very de- sirous of their making the most of their opportunities for education and culture. Mrs. Miller has seen lowa City grow from a small town to a city of size and importance, and owns some property there.
ISAAC VOORHEES DENNIS (Deceased)
Isaac Voorhees Dennis was one of the earliest settlers in what is now Johnson county, Iowa, having come there when Iowa was still a Territory, and he took an active part in the development and progress of the region in an early day. He witnessed remarkable changes and in all of them bore an hon- orable share, being the friend of every movement he felt would benefit his community. He was a native of Clermont county, Ohio, born November 13, 1822, son of John and Mary A. (Voorhees) Dennis, natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio, re- spectively, the latter of whom died in Johnson county in 1890. The Dennis family were early settlers of the Buckeye State, but came originally from Virginia. John Dennis and wife were parents of two sons and one daughter: Bryan Dennis, deceased, a pioneer of Johnson county, a sketch of whom ap- pears in this work; the only daughter was the wife of A. J. Bond, both deceased; Isaac V.
In boyhood Isaac V. Dennis attended the country schools of his native state, and early learned the habits of industry and thrift, which he held throughout his life. In 1839, ac- companied by his mother, brother and sister, came to what is now Johnson county, and eventually located on the farm now occupied by his venerable widow. He and his brother broke the first fifty acres of land plowed west of the Iowa River. The Government had caused a furrow to be plowed to Dubuque, for the purpose of making a road, and this was known as "Dillon's Furrow," being spoken of at greater length in the general history section of this work (Volume one). He brought this homestead farm to a high state of development and be- came successful in his operations in a gratifying degree. He retired from farm life in his later years, but continued to re- side on the home place until his death, December 26, 1894. He
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had become one of the most widely known men in his part of the county and was held in high respect by all. He had been a leader in various enterprises, and first as a democrat, later as a republican, had been an influential factor in public af- fairs. He served many years as trustee and supervisor of West Lucas township, formerly known as Iowa City township. He had the honor of printing the first democratic newspaper in the county, known as "The Argus," of Iowa City. After it had had an existence of eighteen months, Mr. Dennis decided to espouse the cause of the republican party, and afterwards was active in the councils of the latter party.
Mr. Dennis is shown by the records of the State Historical
THE OLD DENNIS HOMESTEAD
Society to have paid the first taxes in Johnson county - the sum-of fifteen cents, which was assessed on a yoke of cattle he purchased to use in doing the first plowing on his land. The farm, comprising 260 acres, is some of Iowa's choicest farm- ing land, and the estate shows the care and thought which have been expended in bringing it to its present condition.
In 1843 Mr. Dennis was united in marriage with Miss Eliza- beth Fellows, a native of the Granite State, born March 4, 1826, whose early days were spent in the region which has in- spired song and story from time immemorial. Her home was among the White Mountains, which are visited by tourists from all over the world. Full mention of her family is given
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
in a succeeding portion of this article. The following children blessed this union : Emma, married A. W. Davis, and they have one child, Adelaide, wife of Frank Tanner, of Iowa City; George F., married Abbie Tidd and they had six sons, of whom three survive - Albert, Harry and Fred ; Lucien I., was married December 25, 1894, to Carrie Keser; William D., married March 29, 1899; Stella A. Bordman, and one died in infancy. Samuel Kirkwood (named for Gov. Kirkwood), mar- ried Julia Burke, resides at Oxford, Iowa, and they have one daughter, Gertrude; U. S. Grant, on the home place, is a name- sake of Gen. Grant.
The father of these children, Isaac. V. Dennis, was much
RESIDENCE OF MRS. I. V. DENNIS
honored for the part he took in the Civil War. During the struggle he organized a company, of which he became captain, being mustered into service at Iowa City, September 9, 1862. He served seven months, doing guard duty in Missouri and transferring prisoners, but on account of sickness was obliged to resign. He was a member of G. A. R. Post No. 8, of Iowa City.
Mrs. Dennis' ancestry is traced back to the sixteenth cen- tury, the emigrant ancestor having been Samuel Fellows, the line of descent through him and his son and later generations being as follows: Captain Samuel and the latter's son Nathaniel, grandfather of Mrs. Dennis. Captain Samuel Fel-
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BIOGRAPHICAL
lows served in the Revolution and died October 5, 1793. He was twice married, his second wife being Hannah Elizabeth Hatch, who died September 9, 1809, and was a daughter of Ichabod and grand-daughter of Joseph and Mary (Webb) Hatch. Captain Fellows and wife had a large family of children. He married Mercy Flanders, who was born March 28, 1762, daughter of Jesse and Ruth (Herrick) Flanders, the latter a daughter of Josiah Herrick, a Revolutionary soldier. The record of the Flanders family here given is to be found in the town records of Boscawen, New Hampshire. The sec- ond son of this marriage, Nathaniel Fellows, born at Dor- chester, Grafton County, New Hampshire, May 1, 1796, died in Johnson County, Iowa, April 23, 1863. He married Eliza- beth (Polly) Foss, born in Grafton County, New Hampshire, May 6, 1797, and died on the farm of her daughter, Mrs. Dennis, leaving two daughters: Elizabeth, widow of Isaac V. Dennis, and Judith, Mrs. Smith, a widow, of Buffalo County, Nebraska. Besides these, a cousin of Mrs. Dennis, Olivia (Currier) Chase, was reared as a daughter by Mrs. Fellows.
Nathaniel Fellows, Jr., and his father came to Johnson county, and the latter was the first man to die there, being then the oldest man in the region and being buried on the Fellows homestead. His coffin was made from a walnut log which his neighbor, a Mr. Brown, cut and split. A puncheon box was made, which served for this purpose. This was neces- sary, as there was not a board to be found nearer than Bloom- ington (now Muscatine) or Dubuque. This death occurred in the year of the family arrival, 1838. Nathaniel Fellows, Jr., entered land from the government, and upon coming to the new home found about twenty-five people in the entire county and but five houses in the town of Dubuque. There were only two houses at what was then called Bloomington. Upon his arrival he settled on Indian land, on Section 6, West Lucas township. He first built a log house there and later, in 1843, settled on the farm where he died. Their log house was 10x12 feet in size, and in it four persons lived for one year, with very little furniture, and that little made by hand. Their first bread was made of buckwheat flour ground in a coffee mill and sifted through muslin. Mrs. Dennis's father made a trip to St. Louis for a coffee mill, which was the first in the
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