Memorial and biographical record of Iowa, Part 6

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

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In concluding this sketch we would make further mention of Dr. Irving W. Smith, whose beautiful life, so recently closed, will ever remain

a sweet memory to all who knew him. He graduated at the Iowa State College; began the study of medicine under his father's in- struction; next was a student in the medical department of the Iowa State University, and later in Jefferson Medical College, at Phila- delphia, which in 1875 conferred upon him the degree of M. D .; later he pursued his studies in Philadelphia, Boston, New York city and at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore.

In 1876 he was married, at Philadelphia, to Miss Sallie Stalker, of Iowa. Soon after- ward he received a Government appointment as Surgeon at Fort Sill, in Indian Territory. The climate of that place not agreeing with him, he resigned his position at the end of two years and returned to Charles City, where he formed a partnership with his father,-a part -. nership which lasted a number of years and was attended with signal success.

The news of his death cast a gloom over the whole town. During the funeral the busi- ness places of the city were closed, -an un- usual thing. From an article published in one of the Charles City papers after his death we clip the following:

"To win praise and esteem from one's elders, in a small village or city where one has been a boy, while yet looking little more than a boy, is almost as unknown as for a prophet to have honor in his own country; yet all these things 'Dr. Irving' had for many years, and never were love and laurels more truly won."

The college faculty at Ames adopted the following: 1386811

" We feel most deeply the loss of our friend and colleague, Dr. Irving W. Smith, and de- sire to express our appreciation of his services for the college, the sense of loss we sustain and our sympathy for the bereaved family.

" His long association with the college, first as a student, then for many years a most de- voted friend, and later an honored member of its faculty, had made his career one to be treasured by us all. As a student he was noted for his conscientious and thorough work, and especially for his wide reading and extended

HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL

knowledge in various lines of study. In the busy and exacting duties of a successful physi- cian's practice he won a distinction that brought credit to himself and his college. His influence along with his deep interest in the college and its aims enabled him to do much in its behalf. His varied services as teacher and physician in the college won for him the respect and love of all. It was with universal regret that we learned that his failing health required that this con- nection should be broken, and our hopes for his recovery had followed him lovingly in his search for health and strength. He was a man of strong character, sterling worth, well founded opinions, and one whose influence was invari- ably wielded for the right; a man whose friends equaled his circle of acquaintances.

"To the wife and daughter, the parents and those whose closer ties must cause them to mourn a loss deeper than we can feel, we extend our sincerest sympathy, -all that sorrow- ing hearts can offer in consolation in their deep affliction.

" Resolved, That this expression be spread upon the faculty minutes and copies be sent the bereaved family and to the Charles City and Ames papers."

At the time of his demise a further tribute was paid him in a published article from the pen of Professor W. H. Wynn, a member of the faculty of the college. From this we make the following extract: "Dr. Smith was noted not only for his accurate and seemingly ex- haustless fund of professional knowledge,- giving one the impression of a specialist in the newer lines of research in pathology and thera- peutics which mark our age, -but also for his literary taste and the wide range of his general reading and culture. Socially he was the high- . est type of the gentleman, and a Christian gentleman, -never forgetting or neglecting the religion he professed. He was a husband and father of wonderful largeness and tenderness of heart and great beauty of character in domestic life." The parents often prayed that the life of their first-born might be attuned to noble thoughts and brave deeds. Was the prayer

answered in this life? "That life is long which answers life's great ends!"

In less than three months after his death occurred that of his daughter, the only grand- child, on the father's side, a most promising girl of sixteen years, thus leaving her widowed mother childless. The mother had previously been elected preceptress of the Iowa State Agricultural College, at Ames.

S AMUEL M. CART, superintendent of the schools of Chariton, Iowa, occu- pies a position of distinctive import- ance in this city, and is ranked with the leading educators of the State. As such he affords a fitting subject for biographical honors. The following review of his life will now and in years to come be read with inter- est by many whose privilege and pleasure it was to receive instructions from him. -

Samuel M. Cart was born in Elkhart county, Indiana, February 25, 1849. His parents, William and Nancy (Cart) Cart, while their names were the same, were not relatives, he being descended from Irish ancestors and she from German. William Cart was born in Vir- ginia, September 12, 1808, and is still living, a venerable citizen of Marion county, Iowa. He enjoys the distinction of having voted for the two Harrisons-grandfather and grandson. His good wife, born September 22, 1814, passed away in June, 1890, in her seventy- sixth year. Of their six children, we record that the first two died in infancy; the next, Sarah J., widow of Asa Polson, who was a member of the Fortieth Iowa Volunteers, and who died of disease contracted in the service, resides with her aged father; Hamilton, the fourth born, is unmarried and also resides at the homestead; and Margaret A., wife of Ste- phen Y. Gose, a retired farmer and merchant, resides at Pleasantville, Iowa. Mr. Gose was a member of the Sixteenth General Assembly of Iowa.

Professor Cart, the subject of our sketch, is the youngest of the family. He spent his

RECORD OF IOWA.

early childhood days on his father's farm in In- diana, and in 1854 removed with them to Ma- rion county, Iowa, where he was reared to farm life. After completing a district school education he entered Simpson College at In- dianola, Iowa, where he finished a scientific course and graduated in 1875. In the mean- time he taught school, thus procuring the means with which to complete his education, and since his graduation has given his whole time and attention to the profession of teaching, his first engagement being one year at Carlisle, Iowa. In the centennial year he visited the East, spending some time at Philadelphia, and on his return stopped at Goshen, Indiana, where he secured a position in the city schools. This position he held the following three years. Then he came again to Iowa and was employed as instructor in the Knoxville Academy. After a connection with the academy one year, he accepted the position as principal of the West Ward school of Knoxville, which he filled one year. The next two years he was superintend- ent of the public schools at Tama, Iowa. This position he resigned in order to take charge of the public schools at Indianola. That was in 1883, and he remained the effi- cient superintendent of Indianola's schools un- til 1890, when he secured a Government ap- pointment at Santa Fe, New Mexico, his duty being to organize and conduct an Indian school. This appointment was made by General Morgan, Commissioner of Indian Affairs. Professor Cart organized the school as directed, and conducted the same for three years and a half, when, on the change of administration, he resigned and returned to Iowa. In Janu- ary, 1894, he took charge of the North Des Moines high school, which he conducted the rest of the year, and in April of the same year he was elected to his present position.

The city schools of Chariton comprise four ward schools, the high school being located in the Columbus building, the others being desig- nated as Garfield, Bancroft and Franklin. There are sixteen departments, and seventeen teachers, besides the superintendent, are em-

ployed. The high-school graduates can enter the freshman class of the State University with- out examination. On the whole the Chariton schools are well abreast with the advancement made in educational lines, are ranked with the best in the State, and under Professor Cart's superintendency are enjoying an era of pros- perity.

Aside from his regular school work, Pro- fessor Cart has done much as a normal insti- tute instructor, and in this way has gained a wide acquaintance among the teachers through- out the State. Indeed, for the past fifteen years his vacations have been thus occupied, and such is the demand for his services that he finds it impossible to answer all the calls made upon him. He holds a life diploma from the State of Iowa, issued in 1887.

Professor Cart has been married twice. At the close of his last school year at Goshen, In- diana, he was married in that city to Miss Belle Mercer, who was born and reared there, and who was an orphan from her early child- hood. Her brother and sister had also died, and at the time of her marriage she was the only one of the family left, and she, too, was soon to be called to her last home. May 3, 1881, after only twenty-two months of happy wedded life, she passed away, her death oc- curring at Knoxville, Iowa. Mr. Cart's sec- ond marriage was consummated at Tama, Iowa, September 6, 1882, the lady of his choice being Miss Minnie E. Poyneer, daugh- ter of Edward M. Poyneer, a well-known citi- zen of Montour, Iowa; and she is a niece of Hon. A. N. Poyneer, Lieutenant Governor of Iowa from 1890 to 1892. The Professor and his wife have an interesting family of five chil- dren, -Ralph, Wilma, Herbert, Kate and Ed- ward.

Unlike many of the profession to which Mr. Cart belongs, he has each year saved a portion of his earnings, and by careful econ- omy and the exercise of good judgment in mak- ing investments he has acquired a competency. He owns a fine farm of 160 acres, located three miles and a half from Indianola, and also owns

HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL

a business block in that city. Socially, he is a prominent member of the Masonic order, having received the Knight Templar degrees. He also holds membership in the A. O. U. W. His church relation is with the Presbyterians. He is superintendent of the Sunday-school and a member of the Session, and is one of the most prominent and active members of the church.

HARLES JONES DODGE, de- ceased, who was at one time Prose- cuting Attorney for Des Moines county, Iowa, was born in Washing- ton, District of Columbia, July 31, 1852, son of General Augustus C. and Clara A. (Hertich) Dodge. He spent four years of his childhood at Madrid while his father was United States Minister at the Spanish Court, and on his re- turn to America made his home at Burlington, Iowa, the permanent place of residence of the family. His preparatory education was re- ceived in the city schools, and when fifteen years of age he entered the University of No- tre Dame, Indiana, where he took a classical course, and, after an attendance of six years, graduated in 1874, with honors. He distin- guished himself while at the university by his studious habits and good scholarship. In his junior year he won the class medal, and later, as a prize for the leader in elocution, he was awarded a fine Maltese cross, valued at $50, and at the close of his senior year won the honor of being chosen to deliver the valedic- tory. In the fall of 1874 Mr. Dodge entered upon the study of law in the office of Judge J. Tracy, and attended the State University of Iowa, where he took a regular law course, re- ceiving his diploma June 30, 1875. He at once entered upon the practice of his profes- sion at Burlington, trying his first case in court on the 12th of July following.

Mr. Dodge was married at Burlington, January 6, 1876, to Miss Ella Craig, daughter of Robert E. Craig, of St. Louis, Missouri. Mrs. Dodge was born in New Lisbon, Ohio.

On entering upon the practice of law at Burlington, Mr. Dodge was first associated with W. S. Fegan and in 1876 formed a part- nership with his brother, Senator W. W. Dodge. He was a Democrat in politics. The first official position. he was chosen to fill was that of City Solicitor, holding the same for one term. At the regular election of 1886 he was elected County Attorney for Des Moines county, and served efficiently in that capacity. He was the first County Attorney under the new law creating this office.

Mr. Dodge came from an illustrious Demo- cratic family, his immediate ancestors-father and grandfather-having been eminent states- men of national reputation. His father, Gen- eral A. C. Dodge, was conspicuous in the pub- lic affairs of Iowa, represented the State in the national Congress from 1848 to 1855, be- ing the first United States Senator from Iowa, and was United States Minister to Spain dur- ing the years 1855-9. His grandfather, Henry Dodge, was prominent in the early history of Wisconsin, was the first Governor of that State, and was elected to the United States Senate. A peculiar incident in the family his- tory, well worth mention, was that of father and son, Henry and A. C. Dodge, sitting side by side in the United States Senate as mem- bers of that body, representing different States! Charles J. Dodge inherited many of the brill- iant qualities which made his illustrious father so popular. He was gifted as an orator, and won a foremost place as a lawyer. His death occurred at his home in Burlington, Iowa, No- vember 6, 1889.

ON. LEWIS TODHUNTER, of In- dianola, Iowa, is a native of Fayette county, Ohio, born April 6, 1817. His parents were Jury and Jerusha (Johnson) Todhunter, the former a native of Tennessee, born in 1790, and the latter, born in 1794, in Lynchburg, Virginia. They were married in Fayette county, Ohio, in the

RECORD OF IOWA.

Friends' Church, of which they were members, and became the parents of eight children, of whom Lewis is the second in order of birth; William and Charles, the first and third of the family, are both deceased; Isaac Newton and Caroline have passed away; John is deceased; Richard is a resident of Sacramento, Cali- fornia; and Eleanor has departed this life.

When our subject was a lad of ten years his parents removed to Tippecanoe county, In- diana, where they lived from 1827 until 1830, and then took up their residence in Anderson, Madison county, Indiana. Their next removal took them to Michigan City, Indiana, and while they were located there Lewis left home, re- turning to the State of his nativity. His par- ents subsequently went to Missouri, and in 1846 came to Warren county, Iowa, spend- ing their last days in Indianola, where the father's death occurred in 1857, while the mother survived until 1880. The former was a farmer in early life and later took up the practice of medicine, but subsequently aban- doned it to resume farming.

Lewis Todhunter was educated in Ohio and Indiana, receiving a common-school education. He was married in Highland county, of the former State, in 1842, to Miss Elizabeth Hull, who was born in that county in 1820. Several years after his marriage he took up the study of law and was admitted to practice in the Buckeye State, where he remained until March, 1850. He then came to Warren county, Iowa, settling upon a farm in the Des Moines valley. He was here licensed to practice in the courts of this State, and in the spring of 1854 opened a law office in Indianola, where he continued the practice of his profession until his retire- ment to private life in 1890. His superior legal attainments were recognized and attested by a liberal clientage. Before the jury or the bench he was a forceful, earnest speaker, log- ical and convincing, and he was connected with many of the most important cases that came up in the county for trial. He labored for the interest of his clients, and his thorough prepa- ration of the case was manifested by the quick-

ness with which he met and answered every argument of his opponents.

Mr. Todhunter assisted in organizing the Republican party in Iowa, prior to which time he voted with the Whig party, casting his vote for General Harrison in 1836 and 1840. In 1888 he supported the illustrious grandson of the old Tippecanoe hero, Benjamin Harrison, and has never failed to cast a ballot for the Whig or Republican party since attaining his majority. He has been prominently identified with Iowa politics during his residence in the State, and has been regarded as a man of great political influence, not only in local circles but in Republican councils throughout Iowa. He was twice elected as Prosecuting Attorney of Warren county, has been County Treasurer and County Recorder, and was a member of the committee to prepare and submit the con- stitution of Iowa, being elected to the conven- tion which met for this purpose in 1857. The constitution which the committee prepared was adopted by the people at the August election of that year.

· Mr. Todhunter has always manifested great interest in temperance work, beginning his la- bors along this line as far back as 1840, when the Washingtonian Society was organized. He immediately began the work of organization in his own county-Fayette county, Ohio- and continued actively in the work for four or five years, when the society was absorbed largely by the Sons of Temperance and the Good Templar organizations. In Iowa his name is also inseparably connected with the history of the temperance movement. He was a mem- ber of the State Convention which met to dis- cuss the subject of the suppression of intem- perance, at which there were present some twenty-five members, representing the various temperance organizations in the State, includ- ing the State Temperance Alliance, the Good Templars, the Sons of Temperance and the Woman's Christian Temperance Union. They appointed sub-committees, and as chairman of one of these Mr. Todhunter presented the bill which became known as the Clarke law be-

HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL

cause it was introduced by Senator Clarke. It was in fact the work of the sub-committee of which Mr. Todhunter was chairman, and its provisions were agreed to in the committee of the whole. He canvassed some twelve or thirteen counties, speaking every night and usually once in the day-time for several months. During the agitation of the passage of the tem- perance law of 1855 he also canvassed a con- siderable portion of the State. He has twice filled the office of Mayor of Indianola, and has always been active in every enterprise cal- culated to promote the general welfare,-a public-spirited and progressive citizen whose residence in the community has been of much value to it. He was also recognized as one of the ablest attorneys of this section of the State, but since 1890, on account of impaired health, he has retired from active practice. His life has been fairly successful from a financial standpoint, and exceedingly so when we calcu- late the good he has accomplished for man- kind.

During the Civil war, Mr. Todhunter gave his best efforts to the country. Though beyond the age of exemption he tendered his services to the Government and became Quartermaster of the Forty-eighth Iowa Infantry. In 1864 he was appointed Assistant Quartermaster, with the rank of Captain. This was a bonded office and he was attached to General Ord's headquarters. In this capacity he saw the death of the Confederacy at Appomattox, being there with General Grant's army. In Septem- ber, 1865, when the war was over, he returned to his family in Indianola.

Mr. and Mrs. Todhunter became the par- ents of eight children, five of whom are living, namely: Ann, widow of David Johnson, of In- dianola; Amy J., now Mrs. Barnes of this city; John J., who follows farming in Missouri; Harriet, now Mrs. Kirkland, of Denver, Colo- rado; Mrs. Eleanora Richey, of Ogden, Utah; Clay Corwin, who died in childhood; one who died in infancy; and Charley D., who is en- gaged in mercantile pursuits in Indianola. The mother of this family died in 1881, and in 1887

Mr. Todhunter. married Mrs. Louise (Brown) Smith, a native of Vigo county, Indiana. The family are prominent members of the Method- ist Episcopal Church, although Mr. Todhunter was reared in the faith of the Society of Friends. He has been a member of the Odd Fellows order and a prominent member of the Grand Army of the Republic, in addition to his connection with the various temperance organizations. He is also interested in literary work and has attained more than local noto- riety as a writer on various topics. He is now engaged in preparing a history of the Iowa State temperance laws. Mr. Todhunter is a man of firm convictions, fearless in defense of what he believes to be right, and can neither be scared nor dared. Probably no man in Iowa has received more anonymous letters containing most abusive language and threat- ening him with all kinds of punishments unless he abandoned his aggressive work along tem- perance lines. These have had no effect upon him, however, unless it has been to make him more determined to continue his work for the suppression of the liquor traffic and the evils that arise therefrom.

B EV. M. J. THOMAS, a minister of the Brethren Church in New Virginia, Iowa, is a gentlemen whose labors and influence have been directed in a way that they have brought about most grati- fying results. For more than twenty years he has been a prominent factor in advancing the best interests of the place.

He is a native of what is now West Vir- ginia, born in Preston county, January I, 1832. His father, John M. Thomas, was a native of Fayette county, Pennsylvania, and one of a family of nine brothers, all of whom lived to be over sixty years of age. Several of the number are still living, some of them hav- ing passed the ninetieth mile-post. John M. was seventy-four at the time of his death. His life was devoted to agricultural pursuits. He was married three times and was the father of

J. W. Bankydt

RECORD OF IOWA.

fifteen children. His first wife, whose maiden name was Mary Ringer, and whom he wedded in Preston county, was the mother of five children. His second wife, nee Elizabeth Meyers, bore him two children, and by his last wife, formerly Miss Sarah Lambert, he had eight children. The subject of our sketch is the eldest of them all. Mrs. Mary Thomas, the mother of M. J., was a daughter of George Ringer, who was blind and who died in Preston county, West Virginia. Of the fifteen children above referred to, only seven are now living, viz .: Rev. M. J., whose name graces this article; Susannah, widow of William H. Thomas, resides in Adams county, Ohio; Isaac, a farmer of Virginia township, Warren county, Iowa; George, a retired farmer resid- ing in New Virginia; Mary, wife of Hamilton Welch, a carpenter living in Fayette county, Pennsylvania; Harriet, wife of David Dennis, of West Virginia; and Isabel, of Preston coun- ty, West Virginia, is the widow of Thomas Fischer.

When the subject of our sketch was two years old his parents moved to Pennsylvania, and in Fayette and Westmoreland counties, that State, he was reared and educated. He was for some time a student at Mount Pleas- ant College. His first visit to Iowa was in 1856, and since 1875 he has made his home here, New Virginia and Warren county being the seat of his labors. His whole life has been given to the work of the ministry. It was largely through his efforts that the fine Brethren church in New Virginia was erected. He and his brother personally quarried the rock for the foundation, in the quarry two miles and a half west of New Virginia, and it was some years before they had the means with which to build, but earnest and persistent efforts finally were rewarded with success. In the spring of 1892 the building was completed and dedicated, the dedication sermon being preached by H. R. Holsinger, of Waterloo. Besides his ministerial work in Iowa, Mr. Thomas has preached in Pennsylvania, Mary- land and West Virginia. 3

He was married May 10, 1862, to Miss Sarah Ann Zimmerman, a native of Preston county, West Virginia, and a daughter of Joseph Zimmerman. The children of this union, two in number, are as follows : James Winfield, born March 4, 1863, died March 12, 1871; and Ida Barbara, born May 13, 1870, in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, is the wife of D. F. Hurst, station agent at New Virginia.

HEODORE WELLS BARHYDT, president of the Merchants' National Bank of Burlington, has long been a prominent factor in the business cir- cles of this city. He dates his arrival here forty years ago, when the now great State of Iowa had not within her borders a single mile of railroad, and when the new State was for the most part unimproved and thinly settled. The history of a life like his, full of activity and usefulness, and in a city and State which have kept pace with the marvelous develop- ment of the age, can not fail to be both inter- esting and instructive.

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Memorial and biographical record of Iowa, Part 6

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