Memorial and biographical record of Iowa, Part 18

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

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In Muskingum county, Ohio, the subject of our sketch was reared and educated and there learned the trade of miller. He was married in Ohio, January 1, 1840, to Miss Julia A. Mauk, who was born June 7, 1822, in Muskin- gum county, daughter of Anthony and Sarah (Price) Mauk, natives of Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. Mauk were among the earliest pioneers of the Western Reserve and in Muskingum county reared their large family of children. The following named reached adult age: John, Eliza, George, Anthony, Sarah Ann, Joseph, Julia A., Hamilton L., William, Mary and Rebecca; and Wayne, Catherine and James died in infancy. Mr. Mauk died at the age of sixty-eight years and Mrs. Mauk at sixty-three. She was a member of the Christian Church and he was a Lutheran.

As above stated, Mr. James first came to Iowa in 1849. In the fall of 1851, having made due preparations to locate here perma- nently, he and his family started in a wagon for their new home, spent two weeks with friends in Illinois, and six weeks from the time they left Ohio landed at their destination. Their first house on this pioneer farm was built of logs, had a puncheon floor and was

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covered with a clapboard roof. In 1866 they built the brick residence which Mrs. James still occupies, this being 38x40 feet, and two stories, beautifully located and with attractive surroundings, The farm comprises 160 acres, and among its other improvements are a good barn and fine orchard and grove. Here Cur- tis H. James passed the rest of his life. He died in April, 1889, at the age of seventy-one years. During his residence here he filled most acceptably a number of positions of local importance. He was the first clerk of the township and also served as Township Asses- sor and Trustee and as a member of the School Board. He was a Republican. A mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church, he served as Steward of the local society. In all his business transactions he was honorable and upright, in office was prompt and efficient, in his church was active and devoted, in his family was loving and kind, and, in short, his whole life was in every way above reproach.

Of the ten children of Mr. and Mrs. James we record that Caleb and Jessie died in early life; Lorenzo, a Corporal in the Thirty-fourth Iowa Infantry, died of smallpox near New Or- leans, during the war, at the time of his death being twenty-one years of age; Whiting, who also served as a member of the Thirty-fourth Iowa Infantry, is now a resident of Union county, Iowa; Curtis, Jr., died December 10, 1885, leaving four children, his wife hav- ing died about three years previously; Anthony, a resident of this county; Marcus, of Aurora, Nebraska; Mary E., who died at the age of seven years; the next, a son, died in infancy; and the youngest, Lovina E., is the wife of Charles Ramsey, of Oakley, Iowa.

ON. COLE NOEL, one of Iowa's statesmen and a man prominent in political and commercial circles, claims Indiana as the State of his na- tivity, for his birth occurred in Monroe county, of the Hoosier State, on the 4th of October, 1818. The Noel family came originally from

England and was founded in America at an early day. The grandfather of our subject was a Baptist minister. The father was born in Virginia, in 1782, and during his childhood removed to Kentucky, which was then a Ter- ritory. In 1815 he went to Indiana, during its Territorial days, and there resided until his death in 1851. He was for years Judge of the Probate Court of Parke county, Indiana, and at one time was Associate Judge of the Circuit Court of Monroe county. He filled various public offices in those counties and discharged his duties with a promptness and fidelity that won him high commendation. He married Sallie McCammon, whose father was born in Ireland, and at the age of twelve years crossed the Atlantic, locating in South Carolina. He served as a soldier in the Revolution under General Francis Marion, and was faithful to the interests of his adopted country.

Cole Noel was only six years of age when his parents removed to Parke county, Indiana. and he resided there until April, 1852. His boyhood days were passed upon a farm until sixteen years of age, when, tiring of the mo- notony and routine of agricultural life, he se- cured a clerkship in a general store, and was connected with merchandising during a greater part of the time until 1856. In April, 1852, he became a resident of Iowa, locating first in Des Moines, whence, in December, 1853, he caine to Adel, where he has since made his home. In a short time he had become identi- fied with public affairs, for his worth and abil- ity brought him into prominence, and in 1856 he was elected Clerk of Dallas county, and was re-elected at each succeeding election un- til resigning the office in October, 1866. He was appointed by President Lincoln as As- sessor of Internal Revenue for the Seventh Iowa Congressional District in 1863, which' position he acceptably filled until 1869, when he was elected a member of the Iowa Legisla- ture, serving in the Thirteenth General Assem- bly. By his ballot and his labors he aided in building the present Iowa State Capitol, and gave his support to many measures calculated

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to promote the best interests of the public. He was appointed by President Arthur as State Statistician for Iowa, in the agricultural department, and served for three years. When his present term of Justice of the Peace expires, he will have filled that position for ten years. For almost forty years he has been continuously in public office, and no one can show a more honorable record than Cole Noel. What higher testimonial of his faithful- ness could be given than his repeated re-elec- tion to various positions of public preferment? Upon his career there falls no shadow of wrong or suspicion of evil, and no one occu- pies a more enviable position in the public confidence than he. His service has ever been for the benefit of the majority and he has won the support and approval of not only those of his own party but of those of the op- posing party as well.

Mr. Noel has been twice married. He wedded Catherine Shuey, who was born in Augusta county, Virginia, February 22, 1821, and is of German parentage. Ten children were born of this union, namely: Matthew B., Samuel J., Mary A., Sarah C., Lucy E., Ed- ward M., William L., George S., Walter A., and Laura J. Only four are now living: Matthew, who resides in Denver; Mary, who is the wife of J. C. Smart; Lucy, wife of W. J. Dack, of Adel; and Walter, a printer and city editor of the Daily Express of Beatrice, Ne- braska. The lady who now bears the name of Mrs. Noel, was in her maidenhood Elizabeth J. Cole, daughter of John and Susanna (Duke) Cole, the former a native of North Carolina and the latter of South Carolina. Her moth- er's people were of English origin, but her father was of Scotch descent, and in the war of 1812 he served as a drummer boy. He after- ward became a Baptist minister and devoted his life to his fellow men. Mrs. Noel was born in Sangamon county, Illinois, August 14, 1829, and by her marriage became the mother of three children: Emma Belle, wife of C. F. McCoy; Carrie S., who died in childhood; and Marcella J., wife of W. T. Buck.

In his early life, Mr. Noel was a supporter of the Whig party, and when the Republican party sprang into existence he aided in its organization in Dallas county. He was a strong opponent of slavery, and loyally sup- ported the Union cause during the late war. For nearly half a century he has been an hon- ored and valued member of the Masonic fra- ternity. He was for one year Grand Scribe of the Grand Chapter, for eight years was High Priest of Tyrian Chapter, No. 37, R. A. M., and is a Knight Templar. He and his wife are members of the Christian Church of Adel, and in the community have many warm friends.

ON. SILAS WILSON, Atlantic, Iowa, well deserves mention in this volume as a type of those who, notwithstand- ing adverse circumstances, make their way in this world, and by virtue of their strong character and earnest determination, win suc- cess and honors from their fellow men. He is a native of West Virginia, born in Marshall county, May 16, 1846.

His father, Samuel Wilson, was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, in 1803, and very early in life removed to St. Clairs- ville, Belmont county, Ohio, where he grew to manhood and learned the trade of carpenter, which occupation he followed the greater part of his life in connection with farming. His father, the grandfather of our subject, is sup- posed to have been a native of Scotland, who emigrated to this country shortly after the close of the Revolutionary war and settled in Pennsylvania, where his death subsequently occurred. Samuel Wilson married Charlotte McTyra, a native of Ohio, born about 1806, and supposed to be of English descent. They were the parents of twelve children, ten of whom grew to maturity. The father died at the age of eighty-four years, and the mother when eighty-six years old.

The subject of this sketch was the eleventh child in the family of twelve children, and grew to manhood in his native State, receiving

Conad Houngerman.

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but a limited education in the common schools. West Virginia, then a part of Virginia, was a slave State, and those not possessed of wealth and the owner of slaves had no social position; so it can be conceived that the boyhood and youth of our subject was not one of roses without the thorns. Like his father, he had to work for a living. But a change was rapid- ly approaching. The dark war-clouds that had been hovering over the country had broken and the States were in deadly conflict. When the first blow was struck, our subject was yet under fifteen years of age-too young to en- list. That part of Virginia, now West Vir- ginia, was loyal to the Union, and the patri- otic heart of young Wilson was stirred within him. In August, 1862, when barely sixteen years of age, he enlisted as a private in Com- pany A, Seventh West Virginia Volunteer In- fantry, and, with his regiment, was actively engaged until nearly the close of the war, par- ticipating in a number of engagements. At ' the battle of Hatcher's Run he was struck by a minie ball, which passed through his right ankle. He was at once carried from the field to an improvised hospital in the Baptist church in the neighborhood, and subsequently removed to the hospital at Alexandria, and in March, 1865 to Grafton hospital, West Vir- ginia, where he remained until July, of that year, when he was mustered out and honora- bly discharged.

Returning home Mr. Wilson remained there until September following, when he removed to Washington county, Iowa, where he worked on a farm by the month for a year and a half, and then, in the spring of 1867, he went to Madison county, Iowa, locating at Patterson, where he purchased four acres of land and en- gaged in the nursery business. He had no previous experience in this line, but he de- termined to master it, and the success which has since followed justifies his choice of busi- ness. He remained at Patterson until the spring of 1871, when he sold out and came to Atlantic and purchased land, which he set out in nursery stock. From time to time he in-

creased his possessions until he has at the present time a nursery of 200 acres. He has made the business a study since he embarked in it and is to-day one of the best posted men in his line and is authority upon horticultural matters. In June, 1885, he was elected presi- dent of the American Association of Nursery- men at Indianapolis, Indiana. He was presi- dent and treasurer of the Iowa State Horti- cultural Society for four years.

In politics, Mr. Wilson is a Republican, with which party he has acted during his en- tire life. He was elected by that party a member of the Twenty-first, Twenty-second and Twenty-third General Assemblies, repre- senting Cass county. He was proffered the nomination for the fourth time, but refused to accept the nomination.

In 1875, Mr. Wilson was united in mar- riage with Miss Edna Aylesworth, a native of Lake county, Illinois. They have two sons, Alfred and Willie H. Fraternally, Mr. Wil- son is a member of General Sam Rice Post, No. 6, G. A. R. Religiously he is a member of the United Presbyterian Church and is a member of the Session. In all church and benevolent work he is greatly interested and contributes much of his time and means for the building up of the Lord's cause and the amelioration of the human race.

a ONRAD YOUNGERMAN, who is now living retired in Des Moines, belongs to that class of, American citizens that are called self-made-men who have worked their way upward from humble stations in life to positions of eminence and affluence, and whose careers have been such as to excite the adıniration while commanding the respect of all.

Mr. Youngerman was born in Wichdorf, Germany, near the city of Cassel, province. of Hessen, December 15, 1833, and is a son of Henry and Elizabeth (Sonnerschein) Younger- man, who were also natives of Germany.

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Their family numbered two sons and two daugh- ters, but Conrad is now the only survivor. The father was a contractor and builder in Ger- many, and died when Conrad was only eight years of age, at the age of thirty-eight. His wife survived him many years, and passed away at the age of eighty-seven. She came to Des Moines with our subject after his return from a visit to Germany in 1872, and spent her remaining days in this city. Both Mr. and Mrs. Youngerman were members of the Lu- theran Church, and for a time he belonged to the regular army. The paternal grandfather, Heinrich Youngerman, was also a contractor and lived to a ripe old age, rearing a family of two sons and two daughters. The maternal grandfather, who bore the same Christian name, and was likewise a contractor, followed that business until seventy-five years of age, his death occurring a decade later. He, too, was in the army, serving under Napoleon. His family numbered two sons and a daughter.

In accordance with the laws of his native land, Conrad Youngerman attended school un- til fourteen years of age, and he then began learning the stone-cutter's trade, serving a three years' apprenticeship. For two and a half years he traveled as a journeyman, and then, being drafted for service in the regular army, was forced to return home. The life of a soldier, however, was distasteful to him, and led to his seeking a home in America. In 1854 he crossed the Atlantic, and landing in New York spent two months in a brick-yard at Haverstraw, on the Hudson. He had no money and no tools to work at his trade, and it was necessary that he should thus earn a livelihood. On leaving the Empire State he made his way to Elyria, Lorain county, Ohio, where he con- tinued until his marriage, when he started for Des Moines, Iowa, reaching this city on the 28th of September, 1856. He has since been identified with its leading interests, and has been an important factor in its growth and develop- ment. He immediately began contract work, which he followed up to the time of his retire- ment from active business life, employing many

inen. He has erected many of the large pub- lic business and manufacturing buildings, also many of the fine residences, churches and school-houses of Des Moines, but has now re- tired from active business life. In 1890 he erected and still owns the Youngerman Block, a handsome brick block, eight stories in height, 132 feet front on Fifth street and 66 feet on Mulberry street. It contains about 140 busi- ness offices. He also has other fine business property, and his beautiful home, which is sit- uated at the corner of Center and Fourth streets, is a spacious brick residence.

On the 11th of September, 1856, Mr. Youngerinan was united in marriage with Miss Miene Stark, a daughter of Louis and Miene Stark. They have six sons and one daughter. William A., the eldest, married Miss Alice Longshaw, who died two years later, and for his second wife he wedded Miss Mollie Laffer- day, by whom he has two children, Clarence and Frank. George H. married Miss Sophia Felton, and they have four children: Cora, Minnie, Louisa and Conrad. William and George Youngerinan are contractors, and Louis, the next of the family, carries on a brick-yard. Carl is an electrician. August is engaged in the jewelry business, and Frank is in his father's office. Minnie, the only daughter, is the wife of Frank Mattes, a brewer of Des Moines.

The mother of this family is a member of the Lutheran Church, and all are prominent and highly respected people of the community. Mr. Youngerman is a thirty-second-degree Ma- son, a member of Capital Lodge. No. 110, A. F. & A. M .; Corinthian Chapter, No. 14, R. A. M .; and of Temple Commandery, No. 4, all of Des Moines. He is also connected with the Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias societies, and in politics was for some years a supporter of Republican principles, but is now an advocate of the Democratic doctrine. For two terms he served as a member of the City Council; representing the Third and Fourth wards, and whether as an official or as a pri- vate citizen he is devoted to the best interests of the community and gives his hearty support

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to all that is calculated to prove of public benefit.

Mr. Youngerman is possessed of broad re- sources and capabilities and his superior man- agement and sound judgment, combined with enterprise and thrift, have made him most suc- cessful in his undertakings. In connection with his other interests he is a stockholder in the Des Moines Savings Bank and the Polk County Savings Bank. In 1860 he began the manufacture of brick on a small scale, but soon increased his facilities for that line of industry until for a time he turned out from two to four million brick annually, employing at times from 150 to 250 hands, including the men engaged on his small contracts. Through his industry, perseverance and good management prosperity has attended his efforts and he has become one of the substantial citizens of Des Moines. For more than a third of a century he continued brick-making and contracting and then laid aside all business cares to enjoy the rest which he has so truly earned and richly de- serves. During this time he erected hundreds of buildings, including the Exposition building, the Third and Fourth ward school-houses, the east side school, the Aborn House, the Masonic Temple, Perry Block, a number of factories and three bank buildings-Capital City Bank, the Des Moines Savings Bank and the Polk County Savings Bank, the latter being his own property. These various structures stand as monuments to his enterprise and handiwork. The upbuilding of the city, literally and figura- tively, is largely due to his efforts, and he has long been numbered among the valued resi- dents of the community. His life has been an active and useful one, and that he has prospered and acquired a large amount of property since his arrival in Iowa is not the result of accident or propitious circumstances, but has been brought about by his well directed energy, a thorough knowledge of his business, the ob- servance of correct business principles, and by strict integrity. He began the battle of life unaided by fortune or the influence of friends, relying upon his own resources, which at first

consisted only of skill in his business, combined with energy and enterprise. His success has been the result of years of patient industry and sagacious business investments. Mr. Younger- man is the founder of his family in America, being the first to emigrate from the Father- land and is now the only one left of the orig- inal family. His descendants may point with pride in years to come to the honorable record made by their first ancestor in the New World. He is a man of broad, general information, of a kindly heart and true nobility of character, is pleasant and affable in disposition, and genial and courteous in his intercourse with all.

The name was spelled Gungermann, in Ger- inan, but on coming to America and deciding to become a citizen and wishing to Americanize the name and retain the pronunciation, he changed it to the present style of spelling.

O HARLES R. KIRK .- In studying the lives and character of prominent men, we are naturally led to inquire into the secret of their success and the motives that prompted their action. Success is not a question of genius, as held by many, but rather a matter of experience and sound judg- ment; for when we trace the career of those who stand highest in public esteem and in business circles, we find in nearly every case that they are those who have risen gradually, fighting their way in the face of opposition. Self-reliance, conscientiousness, energy, hon- esty,-these are the traits of character that insure the highest emoluments and greatest success; to these may we attribute the success that has crowned the efforts of Charles R. Kirk.

This gentleman is a native of Bethany, Harrison county, Missouri, born December 16, 1857. His father, George W. Kirk, is a native of Delhi, Delaware county, New York, and is of Scotch-Irish descent. The great-grand- father Kirk was the founder of the family in America, coming to this country from the north of Ireland. In Illinois George W. Kirk

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married Miss Mary J. Reid, who was of English lineage, her family removing from Virginia to the Prairie State. Five sons were born to Mr. and Mrs. Kirk. The eldest, Hon. John Robert Kirk, is the present Superintendent of Public Instruction of Missouri and one of the noted educators of that State, having devoted his life to that work. He enjoys the distinction of being the first Republican elected to a State office in Missouri for more than twenty years, and is probably the first member of his party that ever served in the position which he now fills. George T., the next of the family, is a retired teacher living in Ridgeway, Missouri; Charles R. is the third in order of birth; Mau- rice G. is cashier of the freight departinent of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad at Mount Pleasant, lowa; and Harry E. is em- ployed as a stenographer in the office of his eldest brother.

The subject of this review completed his literary education in the Bethany high school, and after teaching for a short time entered the Missouri Medical College of St. Louis, in 1879, there pursuing his studies for one year; but ere completing the prescribed course he left that institution and turned his attention to chemistry and pharmacy. He holds a certifi- cate as a registered pharmacist of Iowa and first began business as a druggist in Mason City, where he remained for about two years. In 1884 he came to Chariton and opened a store on the location where he now carries on business. His stock was at first small, valued at only about $1,000. He was just getting nicely started when in 1887 his store was de- stroyed by fire and he had a hard time to meet his obligations, but he succeeded in paying off every dollar and since that time prosperity has attended his efforts. He was soon enabled to resume business, and he now has a good drug establishment well stocked with a good assort- inent of everything found in his line, and from the public he receives a very liberal patronage.

On the 29th of December, 1886, Mr. Kirk led to the marriage altar Miss Minnie Lynn Gray, daughter of Andrew D. and Margaret

(Gourley) Gray, a lady of education and refine- ment, who has successfully taught in the public schools of Iowa, and at the time of her mar- riage was one of the able teachers in Chariton. She was born in the city which is still her home and is a graduate of the Chariton high school.

As success has crowned the efforts of Mr. Kirk and his financial resources have been in- creased, he has extended his business opera- tions. In the spring of 1889 he became in- terested in importing horses and has made two trips abroad, purchasing stock in England and France and visiting the countries of the old world. He gives considerable time to the training and development of his horses, having one which has made a record of 2:233 trained and driven by himself. His stock is all stand- ard bred and he has some very fine specimens of the noble steed, of which he is a great ad- ınirer.

Mr. Kirk is also extensively interested in real estate. Since 1888 he has given much attention to operations in this line, has exten- sive mining interests in Mexico and Nevada, and also owns an addition to the city of Chari- ton, comprising seventy acres, which is known as the Brookdale addition. Of the Chariton Telephone Company he is vice-president. His success is the just reward of his own labors and has come to him entirely through perseverance, energy, able management and keen discrimina- tion.

Mr. Kirk has served as president. of the Lucas County Agricultural Association. He is a prominent Knight Templar Mason and is an active member of the Knights of Pythias so- ciety. In politics he is a stalwart Republican and has served for about five years as secretary of the Eighth Congressional district committee and two years as chairman of the Republican county committee. When abroad he was ac- companied by his wife, they spending consid- erable time in visiting the principal cities and points of interest in Europe. They have also traveled extensively in America, and thus added materially to their knowledge of the

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Memorial and biographical record of Iowa, Part 18

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