Memorial and biographical record of Iowa, Part 157

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

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Mr. Mortimer was married March 5, 1868, to Miss Catherine Hattle, a native of Pennsyl- vania, as also was her mother. Her father was born in France and reared in Germany, and when a young man came to the United States, locating in Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Mortimer are the parents of seven chil- dren, all of whom are living, namely: Mary Rosalia, born April 1, 1869; Margaret Elma, born November 2, 1870, is the wife of Ira Huston; Clifford Edgar, born September 10, 1872; Lilian Novena, January 28, 1877; Erma Maria, November 9, 1879; Myrtle Lena, Au- gust 21, 1881; and James Raymond, June 21, 1891.

Politically, Mr. Mortimer is an intelligent and well-posted Republican, but has never had official aspirations nor has he' ever held office, his whole time and attention being given to the cultivation and management of his farm. He was reared a Methodist; his wife, Mrs. Mortimer, was reared a Catholic, but after her conversion became a Methodist, and in this faith they have brought up their family, all of whom are members of the church and among its active workers.

ON. ALFRED NORMAN HOBSON, one of the Judges of the Thirteenth Judicial District of Iowa, which com- prises the counties of Allamakee, Clayton, Chickasaw, Fayette, Howard and Winneshiek, is a native of Allegheny City, Pennsylvania, but has lived in Iowa most of his life, having been brought by his parents to this State in childhood. He is the son of Jo- seph Hobson and Elizabeth Baker Hobson. His father was a man of great energy and

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force of character and excellent business abil- ity, while his mother is a woman of strong common sense, exceptionally domestic and de- votedly attached to her children and the ad- vancement of their interests. The subject of our sketch, therefore, received an excellent home training, which resulted in giving him exceptional qualifications for a successful career in life; his primary education was rounded out and finished by subsequent attendance as a student at the Upper Iowa University and the Iowa State University.

Judge Hobson read law in his father's office with his father and the Hon. L. L. Ainsworth as preceptors. April 27, 1870, he was admit- ted to practice in the district courts of the State. In April, 1871, he received an ap- pointment to a clerkship in the United States Assessor's office in Dubuque, Iowa, and served in that capacity until May 29, 1873, thereby acquiring an excellent knowledge of business affairs and the details thereof, which has been of great use to him since that time.

In June, 1873, he returned to West Union and entered the office of L. L. Ainsworth as a clerk and employee, and continued to occupy this position until February 22, 1875, when a copartnership was formed between himself and Mr. Ainsworth, for the practice of law under the firm name of Ainsworth & Hobson. The association of these two parties proved a for- tunate one, and the firm was recognized as one of the leading law firms of northeastern Iowa, doing an extensive business not only in the District and Circuit Courts of the State but also having several important cases in the Federal Court. Judge Hobson was admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of the State of Iowa, April 2, 1873, and in the United States District and Circuit Courts April 21, 1881. He has been a close student of law from the time he commenced its study and be- came one of the best chancery lawyers, if not the best, in the Thirteenth Judicial District.

In 1894 he was nominated by the Republic- ans of the district for Judge of the same, and elected. This position was not obtained by

any political intrigue, but came to Judge Hob- son because the members of the bar and the people of the district from their acquaintance with him deemed him eminently fit for the same.

December 31, 1894, the copartnership which had existed for nearly twenty years be- tween himself and Mr. Ainsworth, was dis- solved, and he took his seat upon the bench. During the time which he has presided in the courts of the different counties, he has demon- strated, by his manner of conducting the same, by the promptness of his decisions and the general correctness of the same, that his selec- tion as judge was a wise one, and that he is a fit successor to Judges Hatch, Granger, and other eminent jurists who have preceded him.

Judge Hobson has been a constant and close reader and student of history, political economy and other subjects requiring close, constant and independent thinking, and is a broad-ininded and well informed man upon nearly every question arising in his intercourse with his fellow citizens. He has been an earnest Republican, but not a bitter partisan, and has never sought nor held office except that of Mayor of West Union and the position he now holds as Judge, -both of which offices were bestowed upon him on account of his fit- ness for the same and not for purely political reasons.

He is a member of West Union Lodge, No. 69, A. F. & A. M .; Clermont Chapter No. 62, R. A. M. ; and of Langridge Commandery, No. 47, K. T. He is also a charter member of West Union Lodge, No. 124, K. of P.

He was married August 8, 1878, to Miss Mattie Kincaid Ingham, a native of Allegheny City, and a daughter of John Borbridge Ingham. Mrs. Hobson is a lady of refinement and intelligence, and this marriage has proved a fortunate and happy one in every respect. They are very domestic and not what may be termed "society " people, but their presence is always welcome in social and intellectual circles in the city where they reside. Their home has been blest with three children, all of

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RECORD OF IOWA.

whom were born at West Union: Joseph Ingham, born June 25, 1880; Ida Neeb, April 17, 1886; and Florence Louise, August 3, 1888.

The Judge is reserved but kindhearted, honorable and upright, attaching to himself as friends those with whom he comes in con- tact, and is one of the most respected and highly esteemed citizens of the county in which he has so long resided.

ON. HENRY CLAY BULIS, ex- Lieutenant Governor of the State of Iowa, and practicing physician at Decorah, was born on a farm near Chazy post-office, Clinton county, New York, November 14, 1830, a son of Hiram L. and Amanda (Reynolds) Bulis.

The grandfather of our subject, Enoch Bulis, was born in New York, married Phœbe Simpson and their children were Hiram L. and Ann. The father of our subject, Hiram L. Bulis, is a native of Vermont, but removed to New York in 1830, located in Clinton coun- ty, where he lived till 1846, and then moved to Alburg, Grand Isle county, Vermont.

In 1857 he came to Winneshiek county, Iowa and passed the remainder of his days here, his death occurring May 7, 1881. His principal occupation was that of a farmer. He always took a prominent part in public affairs. He served in the Vermont Legislature, and was for a number of years School Commis- sioner in the State of New York, a responsible and important county office. He was a fine Latin and English scholar, and spent the win- ter months in teaching, while the farm claimed his attention for the remainder of the year. Over forty years of his life were thus occupied. During the late Civil war he permitted his pa- triotismn to get the better of his judgment, and decided to enlist in what was known as the " Grey-beard " Regiment. This regiment ren- dezvoused at Davenport, and there Mr. Bulis discovered that it would be folly to attempt a campaign at his advanced age, and, having contracted a severe cold, he was persuaded to

abandon the undertaking and returned home. The mother of our subject was a daughter of a Revolutionary hero. 3 She accompanied her husband to Iowa, and her death occurred at Decorah, this State, September 30, 1881. Their only living child, except the subject of this sketch, is Julia Angeline, who resides in Chi- cago. She never married. Two children died in infancy.

Dr. Bulis was reared on a New England farm and surrounded by all the healthful and invigorating conditions, both physical and moral, incident thereto. From seventeen to twenty-one he occupied his time in teaching and attending the private academies at Bakers- field and St. Albans Bay, Vermont, and during the summer months he would assist his father on the farm. His primary education was re- ceived in the public schools, in which he ad- vanced sufficiently far to enable him to teach.

Our subject began the study of medicine, when he reached his majority, under the pre- ceptorship of Dr. A. C. Butler, of Alburg, Vermont, and at the same time continued to teach. About six years of his life were spent in teaching. He attended two regular courses of lectures at the Vermont Medical College, Woodstock, Vermont, and took the degree of that institution in the summer of 1854. In addition to this, Dr. Bulis holds a degree from the Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia, taken in 1887, after a six-months course.

On October 3, following his graduation in 1854, Dr. Bulis came to Decorah, Iowa, then a village, and began the practice of medicine. For one month he taught school and then re- signed, and this was the last of his duties as a pedagogue. His professional career has been a long and favorable one, and for over forty years he has practiced.in the State, barring the time public office required his attention, and this shows a longer period of practice than that of any other physician in northeastern Iowa.

In 1876 he was made president of the Iowa State Medical Society, the highest honor with- in the gift of the profession, and served for one

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year, which is the longest service allowed by the custom of the organization.

In 1865, Dr. Bulis was appointed United States Examining Surgeon for pensions, and he acted in that capacity till 1876, when he resigned on his appointment as a member of the Sioux commission. He has served as local and division surgeon of the Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern Railroad since it built its branch to Decorah in 1883.

There are few men in the State who have had a longer or more varied public career than has Dr. Bulis. His first public office was that of commissioner for the sale of intoxicating liquors, to which he was appointed in 1856, by Judge Reed, and held until the office was abolished by law a year later. The office of County Superintendent of Schools having been created, Dr. Bulis was the first incumbent: having been elected in April, 1858, he served for two years. In October, 1868, he was elected County Supervisor, serving two years, the last year of which service he acted as chairman of the board. In the fall of 1865 he was chosen by the Republican party to repre- sent Winneshiek county in the State Senate, and at the end of a four-years term was re- elected by a handsome majority.

While in the Senate, Dr. Bulis served as chairman of the committee on claims, and also as chairman of the State University committee. In the work of this latter committee he took especial pride and was one of the moving spirits in founding this great institution, and served as Regent eighteen years, declining a re-election at the end of that time. The United States Biographical Dictionary, in speaking of his work in this line, says: "A warm friend of education, and being generous and broad in his views on the subject, he earnestly ad- vocated the appropriation bills and every meas- ure calculated to advance the interests of the University."

Political honors now crowded on our sub- ject thick and fast. In the middle of his sec- ond term in the Senate (in 1871), while serv- ing as President pro tem. of that body, he was

nominated and elected Lieutenant Governor of the State on the Republican ticket. August 25, 1876, President Grant appointed Dr. Bulis a member of the Sioux Indian Commission, which was created for the purpose of purchas- ing the Black Hills.of this warlike people, and rendering some degree of safety to the stream of immigrants pouring into that section, being attracted thitherward by the discovery of gold. The consummation of a satisfactory treaty with the Sioux by this commission, in which our subject acted no inconspicuous part, is one of the cardinal facts in the political history of the country, and, as relating to Dr. Bulis, may be regarded as the climax of a very eventful public career. In 1878 Dr. Bulis was ap- pointed a special United States Indian Agent by President Grant, but resigned after nine months' service. In April, 1883, he was ap- pointed a special agent of the General Land Office, but he resigned at the end of eight months. The duties of these last two offices required almost constant traveling, and to the extreme limits of the country. He found the work too laborious, and hence resigned. In 1889, Dr. Bulis was prominent before the Re- publican Convention, when it chose its can- didate for Congress. After some sixty ballots he withdrew in favor of Hon. J. H. Sweeney, who was nominated and elected.

He served as Mayor of Decorah during the years 1880-81 and 1889-90, resigning during his last term to accept the postmastership, which he held for four years. During his term as Postmaster he organized the free-delivery system, and secured the extension of the rail- way postal service from Calmar to Decorah.

Dr. Bulis is a member of the Iowa State Historical Society, and served as curator for several years.

No one has more earnestly desired the ad- vancement of Decorah's interests than the sub- ject of this notice, In 1869, while a member of the State Senate, he worked unceasingly for the acquirement of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad for Decorah, and his services were such as a man of small ability could not

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have rendered. The same is true of the Chi- cago, Decorah & Minnesota Railroad Com- pany, of which he served as president in 1883, and which built the Decorah extension of the Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern Rail- road, and is now operated by that company.

Dr. Bulis married Miss Laura A. Adams, of Champlain, New York, September 1I, 1854. Their children are: William, who died in in- fancy. Frank Hamilton, who is married, and living at Kansas City, Kansas. Ada Amanda, who resides at home with her father. She is a graduate of the Iowa College at Grinnell, and is a teacher by profession. Mrs. Bulis died in 1861. Our subject's present wife, whom he married June 17, 1863, was Miss Harriett B. Adams, a sister of the first wife. They have no children.

In the fall of 1854, Dr. Bulis came to Iowa and cast his lot for weal or woe with the future of the young State, then but eight years old. We can get a better idea of the earliness of this period when we remember that it was but eleven years before that Captain James Al- len built the first house in Des Moines. At this time our subject was but 24 years old, a young man finely equipped, mentally, morally and phy- sically, for the battle of life. His professional education was the best to be had in his day, and this was increased in after years, as new discoveries and advancements were made in the science.

As will be seen by the above paragraphs, Dr. Bulis early assumed an active and perma- nent part in local and State affairs, and that he has been a faithful public servant is vouched for by the fact that he has held office with but few intermissions from his twenty-fifth to his sixty-fourth year. It is not given to many men to participate in the public affairs of two gene- rations, and while advanced in years Dr. Bulis to-day is young in mind, and thinks and acts with the progressive present, and not with the effete past. Always temperate, he is now en- joying the fruits of a life well spent, honored by his friends and respected by all who know him.

ON. JAMES HENRY TREWIN, at- torney, Lansing, Iowa, and Senator representing the Fortieth Senatorial District, was born at Bloomingdale, Illinois, November 29, 1858, being a son of Henry and Mary A. Trewin. Henry Trewin was a native of England, and died at Bloom- ingdale, Illinois, January 8, 1864. His prin- cipal occupation- was that of farmer. His widow resides at Glen Ellyn, Illinois, with her daughters.

Mr. J. H. Trewin was educated in the pub- lic schools of Illinois and Iowa, and at Brad- ford Academy, at Bradford, and Lenox Col- lege, at Hopkinton,-both in this State. His early years were spent on a farm. At the youthful age of sixteen he began teaching, and for the next seven years his time was employed in attending school and teaching. In 1881 he began the study of law, Messrs. Robinson & Powers, of Dubuque, Iowa, being his precep- tors. He was admitted to practice April 27, I882. Mr. Trewin opened an office for the practice of law at Earlville, Iowa, February 6, 1883. He continued here for the next six years, during a portion of which time he served as Mayor of the town. February 6, 1889, he took up his residence at Lansing, Iowa, where he has continued in the practice of his profes- sion to the present time. During this time our subject has built up a large and lucrative prac- tice, extending to many parts of Iowa and reaching into adjoining States.

In 1893 Mr. Trewin was nominated by the Republican party as its candidate to represent Allamakee county in the Twenty-fifth General Assembly. The nomination came entirely un- sought and unexpected, and was reluctantly accepted. Mr. Trewin found a large Demo- cratic majority to overcome, but after a lively campaign was elected over his Democratic op- ponent by 191 votes. In 1895 he was unani- mously nominated by his party for Senator for the Fortieth District, comprising Allamakee and Fayette counties, and was elected by a handsome majority, running ahead of his ticket in both counties.

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In Masonry our subject is both a Knight Templar and a Shriner; is also a K. of P. and a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. He attends the Presbyterian Church.

He was married at Earlville, Iowa, April 14, 1883, to Miss Martha E. Rector, a native of Earlville. Harold R., born May 30, 1890, is their only child.

Our subject is a fine example of the pro- gressive, wide-awake American. We find him just entering on the prime of life with a good law practice already established, and prospects of a brilliant political career ahead. As stated in above paragraphs, he very reluctantly en- tered the political field, believing that a suc- cess in politics would mean a failure in his profession. This is a false theory, however, and no one was quicker to see the fallacy of it than Mr. Trewin when brought face to face with the question. So closely related are the two (law and politics) that they serve equally as stepping stones to each other. Then again, no true American citizen can refuse a nomina- tion that comes like that which first ushered our subject into politics. When the office seeks the man it is the duty of the man to accept.

Having determined upon a political career, Mr. Trewin threw his force and talent into the work with such zeal as to surprise even his warmest admirers. Speaking of his last nomi- nation, the Dubuque Times of October 20, 1895, says: "The Republicans of the Sena- torial district made up of those thrifty counties, Fayette and Allamakee, having a perfect know- ledge of the requirements, have made no mis- take in nominating Hon. James H. Trewin, of Lansing, for Senator, whose record in the Assembly has been made, and who can truth- fully be credited with being one of the very best representatives ever sent from northeast- ern Iowa. When we say 'best' we measure by results, by efforts to accomplish and by what he actually did accomplish, taking into con- sideration that it was his first term, his initial experience as a lawmaker, his first opportu- nity to measure his ability with those who had served their constituencies for years and were

old in the work. The first element of strength in Mr. Trewin's legislative work was his at- tention to business. He was always at his post and during. sessions by day or night he was at his desk or at work in his committee- room. Not one of the hundreds of bills that were introduced escaped his notice, and when any of them came before the house he was al- ways found well versed in its nature and ready to support or oppose in an able and effective manner. Mr. Trewin was not content to be alone a critic of other's productions, but was the originator of much beneficial legislation. Perhaps his most noted work of the session was in securing the passage of the bill for the recodification of the laws of the State. This was his pet measure, and to secure its adop- tion in the house and senate he exercised rare judgment and excellent generalship. Mr. Trewin is a ready and convincing debater, is well versed in the laws as they are, and under- stands what they should be. He is an earnest and willing worker, and combines the elements necessary for an efficient Senator."

Coming as this does from a publication re- mote from the district which Mr. Trewin rep- resented, it is a tribute to be proud of.

J ACOB STUMP .- Upon no class of citi- zens does the welfare of a country so largely depend as upon the agricultur- ists, while the development of a com- munity is due to the work that was begun by the pioneers. This gentleman was one of the first settlers, as well as one of the farmers, of Dallas county, Iowa, and in the history of his adopted State well deserves mention. He was born in Wayne county, Indiana, January 31, 1824, and is a son of Joseph and Mary (Reed) Stump, the former a native of Kentucky, and the latter of Ohio. In the early history of the Hoosier State they located within its borders, and their last days were spent in Warren coun- ty, both dying at the age of sixty-four years. They had ten children, of whom four sons are yet living.

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Amid the wild scenes of the frontier Jacob Stump was reared, receiving such educational advantages as pioneer settlements usually af- forded, and working on the old homestead through the spring and summer months until the crops were harvested in the autumn. After he had arrived at years of maturity, he chose as a companion and helpmeet on life's journey Miss Mary Traxel, the wedding being cele- brated on the 9th of May, 1850. The lady was born in Madison county, Ohio, June 5, 1833, and is a daughter of Edward and Cynthia (Berry) Traxel, who had a family of nine children, six yet living. The mother, who was a native of Ohio, died in Adel at the ripe old age of seventy-five years. Mrs. Stump left the parental roof when a maiden of thir- teen and lived with her grandmother, Mrs. Anna Traxel, until her marriage. Ten chil- dren honor the marriage of our subject and his wife, of whom eight are yet living, namely: Mrs. W. B. Kinnick; S. A., who is married and has two children living; Mellie, who is married and has seven children; Nettie, who is married and has three children; Walter, who is married and has one child; Alberta, Nellie K. and Arthur J., at hoine.

After his marriage, Mr. Stump engaged in farming in Warren county, Indiana, until 1853, when he determined to seek a home in Iowa. With a team he drove across the country, reaching his destination after seventeen days, and upon a farm near where he now lives he made his first location. The next year he se- cured 200 acres of land, which he developed into a fine farm, building thereon a log house, about 16 x 18 feet. It was his home for three years, when the primitive cabin was replaced by a frame structure. In 1865 he bought a tract of land of 425 acres, and every building upon this place he has erected. The farm is neat and thrifty in appearance, the fields are well tilled, and the buildings stand as monu- ments to the enterprise and progress of the owner. It was an arduous task to clear and develop this land, but acre after acre was placed under the plow, and to-day the rich and

fertile fields yield to the owner a golden tribute in return for the care and labor he bestows upon them.

In politics, Mr. Stump is a stalwart Repub- lican, joining the party on its organization, and casting his first presidential vote for John C. Fremont. He has filled various local offices in a creditable and acceptable manner, and for some years has served as County Supervisor. He is a warm friend of the cause of education. His own school privileges were limited, and not wishing his children to suffer from a similar disadvantage he has given them good opportu- nities for securing an education that has well fitted them for the practical and responsible duties of life. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and their sterling worth and strict integrity have made them much respected.

HOMAS BILDERBACK is one of the extensive land owners and leading farmers of Dallas county, Iowa. He owns in Adams township 440 acres of rich and arable land, which he has placed un- der a high state of cultivation, transforming the wild prairie into rich and fertile fields. Up- on the place are all the modern improvements that are found upon a model farm of the nine- teenth century. The home is a commodious and comfortable residence, a large barn fur- nishes ample shelter for stock and grain, and other necessary buildings have been erected until the Bilderback farm is considered one of the best in the county.

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Memorial and biographical record of Iowa, Part 157

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