Memorial and biographical record of Iowa, Part 121

Author:
Publication date: 1896
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1360

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Mr. Warren has a pleasant home at No. 717 West Second street, Ottuinwa. He was mar- ried December 22, 1871, to Miss Emma Waitt, daughter of John T. Waitt, and they have three children: Claude, Charles and Howard.

Mr. and Mrs. Warren are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and, fraternally, he is identified with the A. F. & A. M., Ot-

turnwa Lodge, No. 16; Clinton Chapter, No. 9; and Malta Commandery, No. 31. Also he is a charter member of Cloutman Post, No. 69, G. A. R., Department of Iowa. His political views harmonize with the Republican party, of which he has long been a stanch sup- porter.

Thus, briefly, is outlined the life of one of Ottumwa's citizens who has been honored by the people of the county.

EMUEL L. MOSHER, Prosecuting Attorney of Warren county, Iowa, was born in Morrow county, Ohio, on the 9th of June, 1853, and is a son of Stephen and Mary (Farrington) Mosher. The father was born in the same county August 6, 1826, and the mother's birth occurred in Crawford county, Ohio, February 14, 1828. They were married in Morrow county, Septem- ber 1, 1852, and became the parents of seven children, our subject being the eldest. Asa W. was also born in Morrow county, Septem- ber 25, 1855, but the others are all natives of Warren county, Iowa. Sarah A., who was born in March, 1861, has for fifteen years en- gaged in teaching in Warren county. Mary B., born in May, 1863, is the wife of Clark W. Smith, a resident farmer of Warren county. Joseph S. and Ella A., twins, were born in 1867. The former follows farming in this county, and Ella is the wife of William T. Dunn, also an agriculturist. Stephen Gurney, born in November, 1870, also successfully fol- lows the teacher's profession.

In 1856 the parents left the Buckeye State and emigrating westward took up their resi- dence upon a farm in Liberty township, War- ren county, Iowa. The grandfather also came to the same neighborhood in 1853 and entered land from the Government, which during his lifetime he divided among his children. A large part of Liberty township was settled by the Moshers and for many years was known as the Mosher settlement. The grandfather, Asa Mosher, traveled by team to this county from

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Ohio, and here spent his remaining days, his death occurring in 1887, while his wife passed away the following year. They were con- nected with the Society of Friends, and their children were reared in that faith. The parents of our subject are now residents of Ackworth, Iowa, where the father and mother are now living retired.

The gentleman whose name heads this record, acquired his education in the public schools of Warren county, and in Ackworth Academy, and in 1875 and 1876 attended college in Philadelphia. He was graduated in law at Des Moines in 1880, and dur- ing the succeeding year engaged in teach- ing. On the Ist of November, 1881, he came to Indianola, Iowa, and entered the law office of H. McNeil, with the view to perfect- ing himself in the details of the profession, re- maining there for eighteen months. In March, 1883, he was elected Mayor of Indianola, and established an office of his own. On the expi- ration of his official term he was elected Justice of the Peace, serving one term, after which he resumed the private practice of law. He is to- day recognized as one of the leading attorney's of Indianola, and his skill and ability in the legal profession are attested by the liberal patronage which he receives. In June, 1894, he was named as the Republican candidate for the office of Prosecuting Attorney of the county, and the election of November showed that he was the people's choice for that position. The term opened with a docket full of criminal cases, including one murder case, and thus far all who have been indicted and tried have been convicted.

Mr. Mosher was married in August, 1878, to Miss Elizabeth Jones, who died in 1887, leaving four children, namely: Everett E., born in August, 1879; Maggie M., born April 30, 1881; Arthur Asa, born July 27, 1884; and Gertrude G., who died April 3, 1887. The others are all living and attending school. Mr. Mosher was a second time married in 1888, when Miss Maud Young became his wife. She was born in Beaver, Beaver county, Pennsyl-

vania, and there grew to womanhood, and ac- quired her education in its public schools. Her parents were John B. and Anna Young, her father being an attorney of Beaver, who served as Prosecuting Attorney of Beaver county. He was also a soldier during the Civil war. Four children graced the second union of Mr. Mosher: Lemuel Leigh, born February 19, 1890; Wen- dell W., born December 12, 1892; Ruth R., who was born July 4, 1893, and died Septem- ber 8, 1894; and Maud M., born June 23, 1894, and died on the Ist of September of the same year.

Mr. Mosher is prominently connected with several social orders, being a Royal Arch Mason and a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which he is a Past Grand. He also served as District Deputy Grand Master. He is connected with the Knights of Pythias, and is State Counselor of the American Me- chanics. His wife is a member of the Woman's Relief Corps, in which she takes a prominent part, and is a lady of superior social qualities, beloved by all who know her. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and the Mosher household is noted for its hos- pitality.

OHN S. ROOME, M. D., practicing physician, at Calmar, Iowa, was born near Clearville, Kent county, Ontario, November 24, 1839, and is a son of William Frederick and Catherine (McLean) Roomne.

Abraham Roome, grandfather of our 'sub- ject, was born in London, England, and emi- grated to New Brunswick about the year 1 800, being accompanied by his wife and four daugh- ters. He married Catherine Somers, and their children were Sarah, Catherine, Mary, Debo- rah, and William Frederick, father of our sub- ject. In 1815 he moved with his family to Orford township, Ontario, where he located a homestead and died a few years later. His wife survived him by more than thirty years, her

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death occurring in 1848. Mr. Roome was a farmer by occupation, and was a pioneer in the Province of Ontario, Canada. His early death was possibly due to hardships incidental to a pioneer's life. The maternal grandfather of our subject, John McLean, was a Scotch Highlander by birth, who emigrated to Onta- rio in 1828, where he established a home in Dunwich township. His children were Agnes, . John, Catherine (mother of our subject), Mary, Sarah and Nancy.

William Frederick Roome, father of sub- ject was born in Fredericton, New Brunswick. May 5, 1807. He was the only son of his par- ents, the youngest child in the family, and the only child born in America. He married Catherine McLean March 13, 1836, and to them were born seven children, our subject being the second child. The third child, Dr. William Frederick Roome, resides in London, Ontario, and has served as a member of the House of Commons, the lower branch of the Dominion Parliament, for the past twelve years. Of the other children, Abraham, the eldest in the family, died in Bismack, Ontario, in his forty-fifth year; Dr. C. D. Roome is a practicing physician at Cresco, Iowa; Joseph E. conducts a mercantile business at Glencoe, Ontario; Sarah Catharine, the only daughter, married a merchant of Dutton, Ontario, where she resides; and James H., the youngest child, is a grain dealer in Manitoba, Canada. Mrs. W. F. Roome was born in Argyleshire, Scot- land, in 1817, and died on the old home place, in Ontario, May 19, 1861. Her husband died June 7, 1873, having followed the quiet occu- pation of a farmer all his life.

Dr. John S. Roome, the gentleman whose name heads this mention, received his primary education in the common schools of Canada, and began the study of medicine in 1862, un- der the preceptorship of Dr. W. Henderson, of Morpeth, Ontario. In 1864 he entered the medical department at Ann Arbor, and took his degree two years later. He came at once to Calmar, Iowa, reaching this point October 4, 1866, and immediately opened an office.

This practice has continued uninterrupted to the present, barring the year 1869-70, which he spent at Newbury, Canada.

Dr. Roome has been twice married. His first marriage, to Miss Gertrude Hilliard, of Ossian, occurred January 26, 1875. She was a native of Madison, Wisconsin, born Novem- ber 12, 1856. To them was born one child, Goldie Gertrude, born November 14, 1877, and now attending school at St. Peters, Min- nesota. Our subject married his present wife September 7, 1882. She was originally Miss Blanche Cora Bigelow, and was born March 17, 1863, at Marshall, Wisconsin. Their children are : Kathie Blanche, born Novem- ber 15, 1883; and John Sydney, born April 17, 1888.

Politically, our subject is a Republican. He has never allowed politics to take him away from his profession, and hence has declined all honors offered him by the party. He has served for two terms as Mayor of Calmar, and for fifteen years as a member of the City Council. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M. and Master of Copestone Lodge, No. 316; he also belongs to the King Solomon Chapter, No. 35, and to the Beausant Commandery, No. 12. He is a charter member of the Cal- mar Lodge, No. 119, A. O. U. W., and also belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America.

As remarked above, Dr. Roome has always devoted his time to his profession, and the standing which he has among his fellow prac- titioners is well illustrated in the medical societies in which he holds membership. For twenty years he has been a member of the Iowa State Medical Society, and for eighteen years a member of the American Medical Asso- ciation. He is also a member of the National Association of Railway Surgeons; of the North- eastern Iowa Medical Association, and of the Austin Flint Medical Society. He has acted as surgeon for the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad for the past fifteen years. At the same time he is not negligent of his duty to the town in which he lives, as will be seen by the time he has devoted to local offices,

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more as a matter of duty than for any other reason. He was one of the prime movers in securing the sash and door factory for Calmar, and is a stockholder in that concern.

Our subject lives in his fine residence at Calmar, and is known throughout northeastern Iowa as a gentleman of refined tastes and as a leader in his profession.

IRAM LANPHER COFFEEN, prin- cipal of the Calmar public schools, and late School Superintendent of Winneshiek county, Iowa, was born in Jefferson county, New York, August 22, 1843, being a son of Henry and Nancy (Lan- pher) Coffeen. The paternal great-grand- father of our subject is the founder of the American branch of the family. He left Ire- land when a boy, and was "bound out " for the purpose of working out the passage money. He was to serve from his 14th year to his 19th to pay his passage, but in fact served only for a short time. He married an English lady. Henry Coffeen, grandfather of our subject, was a native of Virginia, and lived in that State from 1770 to 1790. He married Zelia Will- iams, and the offspring of this union were Moses, Henry, David and Nathan. When twenty years of age he located in Connecticut, where he married, and in 1799 he moved to Lewis county, New York, and was one of the pioneers of that region. He was a farmer by occupation.

Henry Coffeen, father of our subject, was the first white male child born in Lewis county, New York, his birth having occurred February 8, 1800. He began life for himself first as a farmer, and in 1830 became a woolen-goods manufacturer, and continued this till the panic of 1837 closed the business. He then farmed for a time, and later worked at the carpenter's trade. In October; 1851, he moved to Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin, where he followed farming until his death, which occurred in Oc- tober, 1870. His first wife, a Miss Cole, bore him one child, Marcia, who married a Mr.

Isaacs, and lived in New York until his death three years later. She had one son, Henry, and is now residing in the State of Oregon. For his second wife he married Nancy Lan- pher, in 1825. She was a native of Lewis county, New York, born December 30, 1806; she died at the old farm in Wisconsin, Decem- ber 3, 1894. Her parents, Paul and Polly Lanpher, were of English descent, and moved from Connecticut to New York. Their chil- dren were: Paul, born in 1796; Samuel, 1798; Richard, 1801; Nancy, 1806; and Hiram, 1811.

The children of Mr. and Mrs. Coffeen were: Marshall, who received a gunshot wound at Shiloh, April 6, 1862, and died from the effects eight days later; Innocent, who married Will- iam Boyer (who enlisted and died in the serv- ice) and died in 1889; Charlotte, married Truman A. Root, and both are now deceased; Lucy, who married Patterson Giltner, who en- listed in the war of the Rebellion, a member of the Twelfth Minnesota Infantry, who died at Bowling Green, Kentucky; she died in 1884; Henry Hale, who was a member of Company A, Eighteenth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, was wounded at Shiloh by a portion of a shell, the force of which was nearly spent; was taken prisoner April 6, 1862, and confined in an old tobacco house at Mobile, Alabama; later he was paroled, and finally exchanged; he then rejoined his company and remained with it until after the surrender of Vicksburg; his lungs became diseased, presumably from the effects of the wound; he was discharged, came home, and died, in November, 1863; Hiram Lanpher, the subject of this sketch, the next in order of birth; and Francis Marion, the youngest child, operates a cheese factory in Wisconsin.

Mr. Henry Coffeen was a member of the Friends' Society. He was originally a Demo- crat, but later voted for Fremont and remained in the Republican party.

Our subject was educated in the public schools of Wisconsin, including the high- school at Taycheedah. In 1863 he entered Ann Arbor and spent one year there in the scientific course. He received his instructions

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from a member of the senior class, doing, how- ever, the regular college work. He lessened his expenses by looking after a number of students' rooms, and thus worked his way through the year. He began teaching at sev- enteen years of age, and taught, all told, in Wisconsin, about four years.

Mr. Coffeen enlisted in Company D, Forty- fifth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, in Novem- ber, 1846, at Madison. He did recruiting serv- ice till March, 1865, and was then sent to Nashville, Tennessee, where he remained until his discharge, in July following. As will be seen in the above paragraphs, two brothers and two brothers-in-law of our subject, gave up their lives for the Union cause during the late Rebellion. Mr. Coffeen enlisted shortly after he reached his twenty-first year, as First Sergeant, and retained this rank throughout the service.

In 1866 Mr. Coffeen started a grocery busi- ness at Fond du Lac, being associated with J. C. Huber, under the firm name of Huber & Coffeen. They continued together but a short time, however, and then Mr. Coffeen con- ducted the business alone for about one year. In July, 1870, he removed to McLeod county, Minnesota, and engaged in contract work on the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad.

In August, 1876, he removed to Allamakee county, Iowa, and two months later accepted the position of teacher in a Winneshiek county school, located in Pleasant township. Mr. Coffeen was an entire stranger to Iowans, and he took this school with the distinct under- standing that should he fail to get a first-class certificate he should not receive the full amount of salary agreed upon. He succeeded, how- ever, in taking a first-grade certificate from the examiners. The following spring he was called to the Decorah schools, where he taught for three months. In the fall of 1877 he was elected principal of the Decorah schools and continued in this position until his health failed him in 1885. He next took charge as manager, on salary, of the John Frank farm, which was located in Mower county, Minne-

sota, and comprised 1, 500 acres. Mr. Coffeen returned to Winneshiek county at the end of the year, and for the next three years taught school at the towns of Freeport, Burr Oak and Hesper. In the fall of 1889 he was elected County Superintendent of Schools, and was twice re-elected, serving in all six years, from January, 1890, to January, 1896. In Septem- ber, 1895, he took the principalship of the Calmar schools, which he still holds.

Mr. Coffeen was first married December 7, 1865, to Miss Rosina Arvilla Whitford, at Taycheedah, Wisconsin. She died February 18, 1886. There was but one child, Elmer Lanpher, born February 1, 1869, at Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. He is now principal of the Waukon public schools. January 2, 1889, Mr. Coffeen was married to Miss Nora Jewell, daughter of James and Olive (Wilbur) Jewell, of Burr Oak, Iowa. She was born in Iowa, April 4, 1867. Their children are: Alvara Roy, born November 22, 1889, at Hesper, Iowa; and Atta Ruth, born March 27, 1892, at Decorah, Iowa.

Mr. Coffeen is a Republican in politics, and served for two years as chairman of the county central committee. He is a member of the Decorah Post, G. A. R. For eight years he has been a member of the Congrega- tional Church. In his present position as principal of the Calmar schools, Mr. Coffeen has under his care over 260 pupils, who are instructed by five teachers, including the prin- cipal. During the time he served as principal of the Decorah schools he controlled from eleven to fourteen teachers. It was during his term that the public schools of Decorah were graded, and the present fine system now used therein established.

J OHN FINN, hardware dealer and Post- master at Decorah, Iowa, was born March 7, 1836, in the parish of Bally- wilham, county of Tipperary, Ireland, his parents being Patrick and Bridget (Min- nogue) Finn.

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The Finns are one of the oldest Irish fami- lies, and from time immemorial the paternal ancestors of our subject had tilled the soil of their native land. On the mother's side of the house, the Minnogues had turned their atten- tion to other lines of industry than farming, and considerable wealth had been accumula- ted by the family.

John Ragen, a cousin of our subject, had made his home at Galena, Illinois, and through his accounts of the New World Patrick Finn made up his mind to locate therein. Accord- ingly he sailed from Ireland the latter part of 1847, being accompanied by his wife and four children. He was doomed, however, never to see the promised land, for he sickened with ship fever and died, after being on the ocean for eight weeks. The widow with her four sınall children, of whom our subject was the oldest, landed at New Orleans in February, 1848; after a long and tedious voyage of six- teen weeks. The family came on to Galena, where they found that Mr. Ragen had a home prepared for them in the shape of a rented farm; but, the head of the household being dead, this plan had to be abandoned. The widow now located in Galena with the idea of keeping her little family together, and thus prevent the severing of home ties. She passed the remainder of her days there. Of her children, two of them live in Decorah. Mary, the only girl, married William Burge, a boot and shoe dealer, of Galena, Illinois; later they moved to Colorado and there she died, leaving one child, John Burge. Patrick, the youngest child, located in Decorah and died at the age of thirty-five years.

Our subject, being the oldest child, was placed in the position of father to the family. He wasapprenticed to Nicholas Dowling, a tinner at Galena, and there spent five years in acquir- ing his trade. In the fall of 1853 he went up the river to St. Paul and was there employed at his trade. In June, 1854, he returned to Ga- lena on a visit, and from there proceeded to Lancaster, Wisconsin, where he worked that summer. He determined to move into the

Northwest again, and accordingly went to St. Anthony (Minneapolis), where he worked for the next few months. At this time the North- west had no railroad facilities, and when the river was frozen over, St. Anthony and St. Paul were practically cut off from the rest of the world till it opened again in the spring. This was a condition of affairs that did not please Mr. Finn, and when Charles Schmitt, now of Spillville, Iowa, told him he thought he could get a job of Logan & Paul, hardware men at Decorah Iowa, our subject determined to make the effort. He came down the river to Lansing, walked across country to Decorah, and secured the job. He remained with this firm one year, and then worked for M. A. Bradish for a time.

Mr. Finn came to Decorah in October, 1855. When he reached the town he had about $700 in cash, but his marriage a few months later used up about all this money. When he began business for himself in the spring of 1858, his capital consisted of a wagon, which was bought on time from John Ammon, and which he sold to a Mr. White for a kit of tinner's tools. This wagon was valued at $90, and as Mr. White was just starting on an over- land trip to California, it was more useful to him than the tools; and hence the trade.

Mr. Finn's success in life began with his independent start in business, for he was prac- tically successful from the beginning. In 1863 his brother became a partner, but soon after went to the war. . R. F. Gibson was then a partner for a year. When his brother returned from the war he again joined in the business, and thus the firm of Finn Brothers continued till 1879. In March, 1881, Daniel Noble was taken as a partner, and the firm name read "Finn & Noble," and thus continued till January 1, 1891, since which time Mr. Finn has conducted the business alone. The firm of Finn Brothers built the Strand & Duncan building in 1866. Mr. Finn moved into his present quarters in 1886, and in April, 1895, purchased the building from R. F. Allison.

Our subject was married October 10, 1856,

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at Decorah, Iowa, to Miss Elizabeth Quinn, daughter of Patrick and Elizabeth Quinn. She was born in the parish of Craughan, county of Kings, Ireland, March 18, 1840, but brought to America in childhood. Their children are : Mary Elizabeth, born January 1, 1858, died December 6, 1891; Margaret, born May 30, 1859; Grace, October 9, 1861; John Patrick, May 8, 1863; Peter Emmett, born March 2, 1865, died July 10, 1875; Marcella, born in 1866, died in infancy; Annie, born July 20, 1869; and Patrick, May 3, 1875. Of the above children, five of the daughters have taken the regular course at the Prairie du Chien school, one of the best institutions of learning in this part of the country, and the father has left no stone unturned to complete their education. Mrs. Finn died February 7, 1877. During her later years she was a sufferer from pulmonary troubles, and the husband did everything that medical science could suggest to restore the lost health of his wife. As a last resort he took her to Aiken, South Carolina, where they spent the winter, but all to no avail. She died leaving a grief-stricken husband and a group of sorrowful children to mourn her loss, for she was a faithful wife and a fond and lov- ing mother.

Mr. Finn was originally a Republican in politics, casting his first vote for Fremont. He was converted to Democracy, however, under the powerful eloquence of the late Stephen A. Douglas when that gentleman spoke at Ga- lena as a participant in the famous Lincoln- Douglas debates. Our subject has been faith- ful to, and a hard worker in, the party from that time to the present. In 1879 he was the candidate of his party for the Legislature and ran over 300 ahead of his ticket, but was defeated by the overwhelming Republican mna- jority. He was appointed Postmaster of De- corah by President Cleveland June 28, 1885, and the appointment was confirmed by the Senate July 26, 1886. He took charge of the office July 4, 1885, and held it for five years and two months. He received his present appointment as Postmaster from President

Cleveland October 30, 1894, took charge of the office November 12, following. and was confirmed by the Senate January 10, 1895. Mr. Finn was elected a member of the City School Board, and assumed his duties therein March 13, 1865. He served in this capacity for nine consecutive years, and during that time, in 1866-67, the present fine public school building was erected, at a cost of $20,000. He was a member of the Town Council at the time when Decorah became a city, and was instrumental in bringing about that event. He served as chairman of the Democratic county central committee from 1865 to 1885. He was aslo a member of the old Third Congres- sional Committee, serving from 1872 to 1885, with the exception of an intermission of one year.

Probably no man in the county has done as much to keep the Democratic party organ- ized in northeastern Iowa as has our subject. He has been in touch with the national leaders of the party; has been a hard worker, and his upright and successful business career has com- manded the respect of his followers.

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Memorial and biographical record of Iowa, Part 121

Author: Publication date: 1896 Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1360

Author:
Publication date: 1896
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1360