Memorial and biographical record of Iowa, Part 17

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

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On the 22d of October, 1874. Mr. Russell was united in marriage with Florence M. Hol- land, who was born in Elkhart, Indiana, in November, 1852, and is a daughter of Jacob Taylor. Her father, on emigrating to the West, located in Adel, where he engaged in the hotel business until his death. To Mr. and Mrs. Russell have been born six children, but one died at the age of eighteen months. The others are J. La Verne, Earl W., Lulu C., Florence Louise and Cedric E. By her first husband, Mrs. Russell had a daughter, Mrs. Pearl W. Messenger.

In his political views, Mr. Russell is a stal. wart Republican, having given his unfaltering support to that party since casting his first presidential vote for Grant. He is now serv- ing as Mayor of Adel, and since entering upon the duties of the office the principal streets of the city have been paved with vitrified brick and nearly three miles of cement sidewalk have been laid. A fine system of water works has been established, and all that is calculated to promote the city's interest and upbuilding re- ceives his hearty support and co-operation. He. is eminently a public-spirited man, devoted to all that pertains to the welfare of his resident community. He is a recognized leader in pub- lic affairs, and is one of the prominent mem- bers of the Masonic fraternity in the State, having attained to the thirty-second degree in that order. He is also prominently connected with the Knights of Pythias fraternity, and he and his family are Presbyterians and liberal supporters of the church. Besides his palatial

Johnston.

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home and the business blocks which he owns in Adel, he has several large farms. His life illustrates what may be attained by faithful and continued effort in carrying out an honest pur- pose. His is the story of a career whose suc- cess is measured by its usefulness, of a life that has made the world better and brighter.

ON. WILLIAM F. JOHNSTON.

Among Tama county's business men none are more closely identified with the growth and best interests of this locality than the gentleman whose name intro- duces this review. He has been a prominent factor in the promotion of those interests which advance commercial activity, and his connec- tion with various enterprises has promoted the material welfare of the community. In him we also have an example of what perseverance, combined with a determination to succeed, can do. It is the pride and boast of truly repub- lican institutions that they give to every one an opportunity of demonstrating what is in him. No matter what condition or rank of society into which he is born "a man's a man for a' that," and if he but exercise his natural powers and makes the most of his opportunities he can surely work his way upward. This Mr. John- ston has done and Iowa to-day numbers him among her honored citizens. . He became a resident of the State in 1856, locating in Iowa City, and since the first of March, 1858, has been a resident of Toledo.

In Mt. Pleasant, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, April 20, 1833, Mr. Johnston was born. His parents, Urias S. and Mary (Keister) Johnston. were natives of Fayette and Westmoreland counties respectively. The Johnston family is of Scotch-Irish origin, and was founded in America at an early day in the history of Pennsylvania. The father of our subject was born in October, in 1807, and during his youth entered upon an apprentice- ship to a cabinet-maker and carpenter for a · term of seven years, following the former trade during the winter, and the latter in the sum- 7

mer months. He thoroughly mastered the business in all its details, and became an expert workman. He was married in Mt. Pleasant, Pennsylvania, and there resided until 1870, when he came to Toledo, Iowa, where he has spent his remaining days with his children. He had a good home in Mt. Pleasant, but never accumulated a fortune. In politics he was in early life a Democrat, afterward became a Whig, and in 1856 became identified with the Republican party, by which he was elected to different local offices. In early life he attended the Methodist Church, but after his marriage became a member of the United Brethren Church, to which his wife belonged, and was one of its faithful members until his death. Mr. and Mrs. Johnston were numbered among the founders of the church in Toledo, and were prominent in securing the location of Western College in this city.

This worthy couple had eleven children, of whom two daughters died in childhood. The remainder are still living: William F., of this review is the eldest; Wesley is a retired mer- chant of Toledo, Iowa; Susan is the wife of William Wade, who resides on a farm in Toledo; Levina is the wife of Isaac Stauffer, of Gladbrook, Iowa; Lydia is the widow of J. Yeiser, a resident of Toledo, who served during the Civil war as a member of an Iowa regiment; he was wounded in battle, one leg being shot away and his injuries resulted in his death in 1877; Kate is the wife of John W. Ebersole, who is living near Toledo; Sarah is the wife of George M. Berger, of Toledo; Winfield Scott is a merchant of the same place; and Amanda is the wife of William H. Harrison of Toledo.

Mr. Johnston spent the days of his child- hood at Mt. Pleasant, and his primary educa- tion, acquired in the common schools, was supplemented by one year's study in Mt. Pleasant College. He learned the trade of carpentering with his father and pursued that business for several years. He then took up merchandising and for two years was employed as a salesman in his native town. In 1856, accompanied by two companions, he started

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Westward to Portage City, Wisconsin. After a few months, however, they left that place, one of the party going to Minnesota, and the other two to Iowa. At Iowa City, Iowa, our subject was offered a clerkship in a store, but concluded that advancement in that position would not be very rapid and so returned to his trade, working for $2 per day, his tools being furnished him by the contractors. In the fall he again began clerking, continuing that busi- ness until 1858, when he came to Toledo. In the meantime, however, he had become the owner of a tract of land which was sold at referee's sale for $1,700. He had no money, but his employer loaned him that amount for thirty days without security, within which time an uncle of Mr. Johnston in Pennsylvania sent him the money to repay his employer. Within a year he cleared $10,000 on this investment.

Mr. Johnston then came to Toledo and en- gaged in mercantile pursuits, joining Henry Galley, under the firm name of Galley & Johnston. This relationship continued froni March, 1858, until March, 1868, and the two gentlemen are still partners in real-estate in- terests, owning together several hundred acres of land. On Mr. Galley's retirement from the mercantile firm Mr. Johnston entered into another partnership, but in 1879 he became sole proprietor and thus carried on the busi- ness until selling out. For years he did the largest business in the county, the sales amounting to about $100,000 annually. As his financial resources increased he made judi- cious investments in real estate, and at one time owned forty-eight farms, which averaged over 1.50 acres each. He still owns several thousand acres of land in Tama county, being its largest taxpayer, and also has extensive real-estate interests in Minnesota, Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas and northeastern Iowa. His residence in Toledo was erected at a cost of $12,000 and is situated in the midst of most beautiful grounds, while its tasteful furnishings indicate the refined and cultured taste of the inmates. Mr. Johnston has also been con- nected with various other business enterprises,

enterprises that have been important factors in the upbuilding and development of the com- munity. He was one of the principal project- ors, in connection with Major Clark, of the Toledo & Northwestern Railroad, and for eight years was its president, managing the road with such success that it paid ten per cent. dividends. It has now passed into the hands of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad Com- pany, but it is still operated under its original charter, and it was largely through the instru- inentality of Mr. Johnston that the company extended the road, thus securing better trans- portation and shipping facilities for this section. In connection with others, Mr. Johnston built the first elevator in Toledo and operated it for some time. He also built another elevator, which he managed for about twenty years. He was one of the principal incorporators of the Howe Manufacturing Company, now the Iowa Scale Company, which has an extensive plant in Toledo. That he is a man of varied abili- ties is shown by the fact of the many different lines of interest with which he has been con- nected and which he has carried forward to successful completion. Commercial interests have not alone engrossed his attention. He for some time dealt quite extensively in live- stock. He was one of the founders of the Toledo Savings Bank and was its vice-president until 1893, and was one of the founders and directors of the First National Bank at Tama. He now gives the greater part of his attention to his real-estate interests, which are very ex- tensive. He built the first brick block in Toledo and in numberless ways has advanced the city's growth and upbuilding.

In his political views Mr. Johnston is a stalwart Republican, and aided in the organi- zation of the party, previous to which time he was a. Whig. Under Governor Kirkwood he was appointed Draft Commissioner, and was also elected a member of the Legislature to fill a vacancy. This was during the trying times of the Civil war. He also served as chairman of the finance committee of the Board of Supervisors. He has served as a member

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of the town Council and as Mayor of Toledo, and in these various offices has discharged his duties with a promptness and fidelity worthy of the highest commendation. He is a strong advocate of a protective tariff, and takes a deep and commendable interest in the growth and success of his party. He has long been recognized as a leader in its councils in this locality, but has never sought or desired political preferment.

On the 21st of September, 1858, Mr. John- ston was united in marriage to Miss Maria J. Newcomer, who was born in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, a daughter of John Newcomer, a farmer. One daughter has been born of this union, Anna B. There is no cause that has found in Mr. Johnston a more earnest friend and supporter than that of education. He be- lieves it one of the important factors in pro- ducing good citizenship, and has done all in his power for its advancement. For over twenty years he has served as one of the trustees of Cornell College, has long been president of that board, and is a member of the executive committee. He has also given $20,000 to the college, and in other ways has contributed largely of his time and means to make this school one of the most successful in the State. He is also a member of the executive commit- tee of Western College, a position he has filled since its establishment in Toledo, and to this school has made contributions amounting to several thousand dollars. Mr. Johnston is a most active and prominent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and has been a liberal supporter of the church in Toledo. In 1880 he was a delegate from the Upper Iowa Conference to the General Conference held in Cincinnati, Ohio. No other individual in all Iowa has done more for the advancement of education, church and State.

plary.

℮ DWARD A. TEMPLE .- The life of this gentleman forms a story that is both interesting and instructive, for his career is in many respects exem- For many years he has been connected

with the history of Iowa as one of its most conservative business men. He is now presi- dent of the Bankers' Life Association, an in- stitution which owes its existence to his enter- prising and progressive efforts. His home is in Des Moines and he is recognized as one of the most prominent, respected and honored citizens of Iowa's capital.

Mr. Temple was born in Lebanon, St. Clair county, Illinois, September 23, 1831, and is a son of George and Sarah Forest (Deaton) Temple. In 1837 the father became a resi- dent of Burlington, Iowa. He was one of the earliest settlers of this State, which at the time of his arrival formed a part of the Terri- tory of Wisconsin. From that time forward he took an active part in shaping the develop- ment of this region and in promoting those in- terests which have added to its prosperity and progress. He was sent as the Representative from his district to the first Territorial Legis- lature of Iowa, and in 1851-2 represented Des Moines county in the General Assembly, and was elected Speaker of the House. He was an excellent parliamentarian, a man of supe- rior mental ability and worth, and may be justly numbered among the founders of this commonwealth. He served as Postmaster at Burlington under the administrations of Van Buren and Tyler. He was born in 1804, a native of Walpole, New Hampshire, and a son of Jonas Temple, of English descent. Leav- ing New Hampshire at the early age of twelve he grew to dislike the Puritanism of New Eng- land and to love the open, just and generous ways of the great West, with which he had cast his fortunes. His death occurred at Ot- tumwa, Iowa, in 1878, at the age of seventy- six years. His wife was a daughter of Rev. John Deaton, a Methodist Episcopal minister of great strength of character, who died at the extreme old age of 101 years, at Salem, in "old Virginia."

Edward A. Temple was the third in a fam- ily of six children who attained to years of maturity, and the others now living are Cecelia A. and Jonas D. The gentleman whose name

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heads this review was a child of only six years when brought by his parents to Iowa. His youth was passed in Burlington, and his early education was acquired in the private schools. At the age of fifteen he left the school-room to enter the service of Levi Hager, postmaster, and later that of Major W. B. Remey, county recorder of Des Moines county. He was after- ward an assistant in the office of George Blick- hahn, recorder and treasurer of Des Moines county. He also acted as Deputy Postmaster at the Burlington office until 1849, when he entered the employ of Bernhart Henn at Fair- field, Iowa, for whom he worked until 1851. In May of that year he married Miss Elizabeth J. Sweet, of Jefferson county, and in Novem- ber he became a member of the firm of Henn, Williams & Company at Fairfield. This firm did a large business in land and land warrants, having branch offices in Sioux City, Fort Dodge, Council Bluffs and Chariton. Mr. Temple continued a member of the firm and sole manager of the Chariton office until July 1, 1857, when the partnership was dissolved and the Exchange office of Temple Brothers was established, Edward A. Temple in control.

At the time of the dissolution of the part- nership the firm of Temple Brothers was in splendid credit, and possessed what was sup- posed in those days to be an ample fortune, but unfortunately for them their New York correspondent, John Thompson, banker, at No. 2 Wall street, failed with a large deposit belonging to the firm. John Thompson's as- sets were sold at auction by the assignee, his sons Samuel C. and F. F. purchasing the whole lot, as might be said, "for a song." These assets were manipulated by Thompson & Sons, in their own interest, and eventually they became controllers of the capital stock of the First National Bank of New York, one of the largest financial concerns in the country. Thompson's creditors, however, only received an eight per cent. dividend upon their claims. The loss to the Temple Brothers was very great, as their New York deposit constituted their ready cash for business operations, and

their bankruptcy was avoided only by most persistent efforts. In their determination to maintain their credit they sold property at whatever might be offered, regardless of pres- ent or prospective value, and finally paid all demands at par, with the then current rate of ten per cent. interest, and in some cases even more. This sacrifice can be better appreciated when we recall the fact that nearly ten years elapsed before their indebtedness was canceled; but the prime object was accomplished and their reputation established upon a basis which has been an enduring monument to their char- acter for fair dealings and the " strict perform- ance of contracts," written or unwritten, which had always been the motto and the policy as well as the practice of the subject of this sketch. The business of Temple Brothers was after- ward transferred to Ottumwa, Iowa, and subsequently sold out to Hon. W. B. Bonni- field, who in 1863 established the First National Bank of Ottumwa.

The previous year Mr. Edward A. Temple took a trip across the plains, attracted by the reported discovery of gold in the Salmon river country in Idaho. He and his wife, with a party of six others, journeyed with mule teams, being five months on the road and in camp, and on the way had many thrilling experiences and some narrow escapes on account of the hostile attitude of the Indians. An emigrant train which preceded the one in which he journeyed only a few miles was attacked and plundered, and a number of the party were killed and left upon the plains, where their remains were found by Mr. Temple and his friends, who buried the dead and cared for the wounded, at the same time incurring a great risk by pursuing the Indians in an attempt to recover the stolen property. In this unfortun- ate effort two of the emigrants were killed by the Indians and a number left wounded on the field to die at the hand of the "noble (?) red man."

Mr. Temple spent a part of the years 1863-4 in trading with the miners and prospecting for gold in Idaho, and in one of the mining camps

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in that Territory opened an office at what he called "No. 2 Wall street," Idaho City, for dealing in real estate, mining claims, live stock, groceries and " green-backs,"-and in fact everything that could be bought and sold ad- vantageously. His business sign was inscribed upon the head of a barrel, "in his own hand." Each end of the barrel was painted with different signs, so that either end might be turned toward the street to suit the "tone of the market." On one end were the words "Legal Tenders Bought," and on the other were the words "Legal Tenders Sold," with the differences in exchange and the market re- ports. His office, constructed of canvas, stood against the hillside, and there he remained until the winter weather forced him to leave the mountains, and rejoin his wife and her relatives at Portland, Oregon. Mr. Temple then took a position as chief clerk in the quartermaster's department, headquarters of the District of Columbia, at Fort Vancouver, Washington Territory, with Captain Hopkins, assistant quartermaster, and was afterward with Major George H. Weeks, chief quarter- master in the regular army in the same capacity. He saw much that was entertaining and in- structive in Western life and customs, and went through many of the varied experiences that formed early Western history and romance.

In June, 1866, Mr. Temple returned to his old home, Chariton, Iowa, where he engaged in the banking business, as a member and resi- dent manager of the firm of F. W. Brooks & Company, his partners being Mr. Brooks and F. W. Coolbaugh, the latter president of the Union National Bank of Chicago, and the former, president of the National State Bank of Burlington, Iowa. The business of Brooks & Company was in 1870 merged into the First National Bank of Chariton, Mr. Temple still in control. In 1873 occurred the panic which many financiers had anticipated for years but for which a very few were prepared. Mr. Temple had taken the precaution to have a good reserve of money placed on deposit in the National State Bank of Burlington, where it

would be within a day's call upon any emer- gency, and which would "see him through " any trouble which might occur. The first shock of the panic brought news of the sus- pension of his Chicago correspondent, with a large balance to his credit tied up for an in- definite time. A call upon his special reserve in Burlington brought the response over the wire, '"We can pay nobody." This was some- what alarming, to say the least. Action was necessary, and it must be prompt and effective. Mr. Temple conferred with his directiors and obtained their approval of his plan, which was as follows: He called together his heaviest de- positors and asked them to demand payment of their balances, which he well knew he could not meet. He took their checks by mutual agreement for the amount due; and in pay- ment, or as collateral, which ever it might prove to be, he turned over " bills receivable " in reduction of his liabilities. Other claimants did likewise, and in three days the liabilities left upon his ledger were reduced to a nominal sum. His cash in hand was equal to the de- mand henceforth, and with the revival of busi- ness he collected his assets, took up the collat- eral as it matured, and continued business without loss of credit to his bank, or loss of money to his customers. His " bills redis- counted " were large, as appeared by his ledger, but his patrons were content, and the result of the panic, so far as they were concerned, were nothing more than a temporary inconvenience.

During Mr. Temple's career as a banker he had taken occasion, in the interest of his customers as well as his own, to look into the matter of life-insurance contracts, and the more he studied their character the more he questioned the equity of many of the agree- ments entered into for this purpose. The re- sult was that in 1878 he devised a plan to be operated through the aid of local bankers, and, before undertaking to establish an organization, consulted freely with bankers of his acquaint- ance in Iowa, Illinois, and Nebraska, upon its practicability. The encouragement was all that he could ask, and in 1879 The Bankers'

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Life Association of Des Moines was incorpor- ated and commenced business.

In 1880 his home was broken up by the death of his wife, and, losing interest in his old home in consequence, he began preparations for devoting his time to his new enterprise, which bid fair to command his whole atten- tion. He superintended its management with the aid of officials of the home office at Des Moines until 1884. when he resigned his posi- tion in the bank at Chariton and made Des Moines his future home, strong in the confi- dence that he could demonstrate practically that new features could be introduced into life insurance which would do away with the extravagance and "inequity" which seemed to be incorporated in the plan of many old established institutions.

Mr. Temple has devoted himself entirely to the building up of the association, which has become one of the most solid institutions of Des Moines and of the country, doing a large business throughout the West and in many of the Eastern and Middle States. To indefatig- able industry and application to a degree sel- dom rivaled by men of business, and to paying the greatest personal attention to all matters of a general character as well as those of detail, his success is attributed. The old saying, "Labor, constant and concentrated, conquers all," finds a truthful exponent in him. He is a man of strong marked personality, deliberate in his judgment, fırın in his convictions and resolute in his determination. Throughout the greater part of his life he has been identi- fed with Iowa and her business interests, and no adopted son of the Hawkeye State is more worthy of the regard in which he is held.

URTIS HOOPES JAMES, deceased, was one of the pioneers of White Breast township, Lucas county, Iowa, and for many years one of its honored citizens. A sketch of his life will be found of interest to many, and, briefly, is as follows:

Curtis H. James was born at Chester,

Pennsylvania, August 12, 1818. His parents, Caleb and Elizabeth (Hoopes) James, were na- tives of Pennsylvania and members of the So- ciety of Friends. Little is known of the his- tory of the James family back of Caleb James other than that they were descended remotely from the English and Welsh. Caleb James and his wife had eight children, viz .: Lorenzo, Mary Ann, Curtis H., Elizabeth, Caleb, Jr., Caroline, Isaac, and Robert. For a number of years the family resided in Muskingum county, Ohio, and as early as 1849 the father and his son Curtis came out to Iowa and en- tered Government land, and in 1851 the father established his home on a farm near Chariton, the site on which the roundhouse now stands. On this farm the parents spent the closing years of their lives and died, the father's death occurring at the age of seventy-nine years and the mother's at eighty-four.

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Memorial and biographical record of Iowa, Part 17

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