USA > Iowa > Appanoose County > Past and present of Appanoose County, Iowa : a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Vol. II > Part 27
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Mr. Hopkins gives his allegiance to the progressive party and is at all times progressive and public-spirited in his citizenship, although he never seeks public office. Through his membership in the Grand Army of the Republic he keeps in close touch with his comrades of the Civil war. He has been always interested in the welfare of Appanoose county and has given active cooperation to many movements for the public good, his
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efforts being effective and far-reaching. Living in lowa for so many years, he is one of the best known citizens of this locality, being widely recognized as a man of tried integrity and worth and of business enterprise and unfaltering diligence. Now that he has passed the seventy-fifth milestone on life's journey, he is enjoying a well-earned rest, for his life has been long and honorable both in deeds and years.
JOHNSON BROTHERS.
Among the most progressive, reliable and intelligently managed busi- ness houses in Centerville is that conducted by Johnson Brothers, dealers in groceries, meats, flour and feed. The development of their enterprise has been a part of the development of the city and an important factor in it, and its increasing expansion is today a direct force in general com- mercial advancement. The three brothers, Lewis R., Adolph and Oscar, owners of the business, are fine types of the upright, straightforward and progressive business man and are distinct additions to the ranks of citizen- ship in Appanoose county, all having gained high places among men of marked ability and substantial worth. Axel Johnson, the fourth brother, not connected with the above mentioned firm, is successful as farmer and miner.
Lewis R. Johnson is the active manager of the concern, the other brothers being silent partners. He was born in Skutskar, Sweden, October 18, 1884, and is a son of Nels and Caroline (Rostron) Johnson, both natives of that country, where their marriage occurred. They came to the United States in 1887 and located immediately in Centerville, Appa- noose county, where the father worked in a coal mine for one year. He has passed away but his widow still resides in Centerville, making her home with her son Lewis in an attractive residence on South Twentieth street.
Lewis R. Johnson was two years of age when he came with his parents to America. He was reared in Centerville and acquired his education in its public schools, laying aside his books at an early age in order to work in the mines. He followed this occupation for three years, after which he began elerking in the store conducted by Poulson & Pearson. Here he remained for six years and then went upon the road as traveling salesman for the Scandinavian Coal Company of Centerville. He worked in their interests for one year, but on the 7th of November. 1910. formed a part- nership with his brothers, Adolph J., and Oscar W. They bought the
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store belonging to J. B. Perry at 1197 South Eighteenth street, where the enterprise is still located. It is one of the representative business concerns of Centerville, conducted along lines of honesty, fair dealing and constant progress and is a substantial contribution to the city's resources. The suc- cess which the partners have achieved is evidenced in their growing patron- age, which in turn is the direct result of the honorable commercial methods they have ever followed and the high standards of business integrity to which they have steadily adhered. Lewis Johnson has other important business connections, among which may be mentioned the Centerville Gypsum Company, in which he is a stockholder. He is a republican in his political beliefs and has the unqualified respect and esteem of a wide circle of friends and, indeed, of all, who have had business or social relations with him.
Adolph Johnson, the second partner in the firm of Johnson Brothers, was born in Sweden, June 23, 1876, and came with his parents to Appa- noose county and entered the Centerville public schools, where he acquired his education. He began his independent career as a digger in the coal mines but abandoned this in order to accept the position of weigh master for the Scandinavian Coal Company, in which position he has served for the past eleven years discharging his duties in an able, conscientious and efficient manner. He married on the 2d of August, 1900, Miss Bertha Freberg, a daughter of John and Caroline Freberg, natives of Sweden. The father is a shoemaker by trade and after he came to the United' States in 1880 followed this occupation in Illinois for a number of years, coming to Centerville in 1897. Mr. and Mrs. Adolph Johnson have two children: Hugo, who was born on the 22d of February, 1902, and is attending the Garfield school ; and Robert, born May 2, 1904, who attends the Mckinley school. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson reside at 1500 Drake avenue, where they have a cozy and attractive home, which is the center of hos- pitality for their many friends. Both are members of the Swedish Con- gregational church and Mr. Johnson gives his political allegiance to the republican party, being active and progressive in all matters of citizen- ship.
Oscar W. Johnson was born March 28, 1878. in Sweden, and was nine years of age when his parents came to the United States. He entered the public schools of Centerville and after completing his education secured work in a mine. He continued in this position until 1905. when he formed a partnership with Robert Freberg, a brother of Mrs. Adolph Johnson. and with him opened a general store at Exline, Appanoose county, known under the name of Freberg & Johnson Brothers. Mr. Johnson is the active manager of this enterprise, while Mr. Freberg is connected with it as a silent partner, making his home on a farm near Rolfe, Iowa.
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Oscar W. Johnson married Miss Augusta Nelson, a daughter of Charles Nelson, a blacksmith in Sperry, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have three children: Elvira, who was born October 7, 1905; Lucille, whose birth occurred June 5, 1907; and Nadine, born August 16, 1911. For some time Oscar Johnson was superintendent of the Dewey Coal Mine at Cen- terville, but has recently severed his connection with that enterprisc. He is a republican in his political beliefs and takes an active interest in all movements which have for their object the advancement and progress of the section in which he has lived since his childhood and where he is well known and widely respected. He is postmaster at Exline.
The fourth brother, Axel Johnson, is also a native of Sweden, born May 30. 1880. He came to the United States with his parents when he was seven years of age and acquired his education in the public schools of Centerville. After laying aside his books he worked for some time in the mines but afterward took up farming, engaging in agricultural pursuits upon a fine tract of land two miles south of Exline, where he now resides. During the summer months he gives his attention to the development and improvement of this tract and devotes his time in the winter to work in the coal mines. In both lines of occupation he has proved himself an able and conscientious worker and a far-sighted and resourceful business man, and his efforts have been attended by a gratifying degree of success. He is a member of the Mine Workers Union at Exline. Axel Johnson married Miss Nina Johnson, a daughter of a farmer in this county who has now passed away. They have two children : Essie, who was born June 3, 1905 ; and Carl, whose birth occurred on October 26, 1911.
The Johnson Brothers maintain the utmost harmony in their business relations and this is, indeed, one of the factors in their success. All are shrewd, far-sighted, capable and energetic business men and the entire county has profited by their activities in various fields of endeavor, while the enterprise which marks their point of contact is in all respects worthy of their talents and abilities.
CHARLES H. ELGIN.
Charles H. Elgin is a member of the firm of Howell & Elgin, enjoy- ing the largest law practice in Centerville. He is. moreover, a representa- tive of one of the old and prominent pioneer families of Appanoose county. That his has been a well spent life is indicated in the fact that many of his stanchest friends are those who have known him from his boyhood to
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the present time. He was born in this city, August 31, 1874, a son of John M. and Mary J. (Silknitter) Elgin, both of whom were natives of Indiana. The father came to Centerville from Martinsville, Indiana, with his par- ents in '50s and here resided until after the outbreak of the Civil war, when his patriotic spirit aroused, he offered his services to the government and joined the boys in blue of Company F, Thirty-sixth Iowa Infantry, with which he served until the close of the war, participating in many hotly contested engagements. With the restoration of peace he returned to Appanoose county and purchased a farm near Mystic, at once beginning the work of clearing and improving the tract, which he operated success- fully until 1872. He was then ealled to public office, being elected sheriff, in which position he served through the ensuing two years. With his retirement he returned to the farm and again engaged in general agricul- tural pursuits until 1895, when he put aside business cares and once more became a resident of Centerville, remaining here until his death, which occurred April 1, 1900, when he was fifty-eight years of age. His widow is still living in Centerville at the age of seventy.
The youthful days of Charles H. Elgin were spent under the parental roof, and the district schools afforded him his educational privileges until he reached the age of seventeen, when he entered school at Lincoln, Nebraska. He afterward attended Drake University for some time, then served for a time as deputy county clerk and subsequently went south participating in the Spanish-American war. Finally, however, he became a student in the State University, at Iowa City, and was graduated there- from with the class of 1900 on the completion of the law course. At that time he returned to Centerville and for thirty days was in the office of the county attorney, after which he entered into partnership with C. F. Howell, one of the most able and learned members of the Appanoose county bar. Their association has since been maintained under the firm style of Howell & Elgin and they enjoy a very extensive practice, with offices at 1001/2 West Jackson street. Mr. Elgin is thorough and painstaking in all his legal work, preparing his cases most carefully and losing sight of no point which will tend to further his cause.
In March, 1899, Mr. Elgin was married to Miss Isal Strickler, a daugh- ter of John J. and Mary E. (Williamson) Strickler, who were natives of Indiana. The father arrived in Centerville in 1862 and engaged in the dry-goods business, remaining one of the foremost merchants of the city for thirty-four years. He is now living retired. His wife died January 14, 1911. Mr. and Mrs. Elgin have two children. John Robert and Mary Elizabeth, aged twelve and nine years.
Mr. Elgin is the owner of considerable real estate in Centerville, includ-
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ing a pleasant home at No. 427 East State street. He is a member of the Masonic lodge, also of the Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks. His political indorsement is given to the republican party but without desire for office as a reward for party fealty. The religious faith of the family is that of the Christian church. The good-will and confidence of many friends is theirs and the professional prominence of Mr. Elgin is the result of well developed powers in the field of law.
WILLIAM R. BRYANT.
Among the most progressive and able of the younger business men of Centerville is William R. Bryant, who is engaged in partnership with his father in the conduct of one of the largest meat and grocery concerns in the city. He is a native son of this state, born in Davis county, May 28, 1886, his parents being Alfred MI. and Mary Elizabeth (Penninger) Bryant. The grandparents of our subject were Williamson Thompson and Sarah (Duzan) Bryant, the former a native of Kentucky and a farmer by occupation, who came to Indiana and from there to Davis county, lowa, in early times. In that section he purchased land three quarters of a mile east of the Appanoose county line and carried on general agricul- tural pursuits with increasing success until his death. He was of Scotch ancestry and was a relative of Abraham Lincoln. His wife was a native of Kentucky, who came in her girlhood to Indiana, where their marriage occurred. She died on a farm in Davis county.
Alfred M. Bryant, the father of the subject of this review, was born on his father's farm in Davis county, January 21, 1855, and acquired his education in the district schools. In 1890 he came to Centerville and engaged in teaming for a number of years, finally abandoning this line of occupation in 1905 in order to establish himself in the retail meat business. with which he has been identified since that time, being now in partnership with his son. He is one of the thoroughly upright, honorable and straight- forward business men of the city and has gained a gratifying measure of success as a result of his well directed work and persevering industry. He married in Davis county, Iowa, Miss Mary E. Penninger, a daughter of Jacob and Annie (Justice) Penninger, the former a native of Richmond, Virginia, of Irish ancestry, and the latter born in Indiana, of German parents. Their marriage occurred in the latter state and later they came to Jefferson county, Iowa, where Jacob Penninger followed farming. He came to Appanoose county in 1854 and located in Sharon township, five
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miles east of Centerville, removing from there in 1874 to Davis county, where his death occurred. His widow is now living with her daughter, Mrs. William Hurd, on a farm in Appanoose county.
William R. Bryant came with his parents to Centerville when he was still a child and acquired his education in the city schools. When he laid aside his books he learned the butcher's trade under W. S. Garnes, remain- ing in his employ for two years and a half, after which he joined his father in the management of the latter's butcher shop. In July, 1910, he took charge of the store located at 1019 South Eighteenth street, where besides all kinds of meats he carries a fine line of staple and fancy groceries and canned goods. Both departments of his enterprise are in a prosperous condition, the meat market being one of the largest and most important in town. Mr. Bryant enjoys a gratifying patronage because he keeps his lines of goods complete and of excellent quality, and, moreover, is always cordial, courteous and considerate in his dealings with his customers.
On the 10th of June, 1906, Mr. Bryant married Miss Jessie Shankster. whose father was a veteran of the Civil war and died when Mrs. Bryant was only seven years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Bryant became the parents of three children: William, born March 5, 1907, who attends the Mckinley school in Centerville; Lucile, born January 9, 1909, who lives at home; and Mabel, whose birth occurred on the 6th of April, 1912.
Mr. Bryant's political support is given to the men and measures of the republican party but he has never desired political preferment. He is an energetic and progressive business man and to these qualities and his untiring industry may be attributed his success. He is thoroughly reliable in all transactions and has become widely and favorably known in busi- ness circles.
ALFRED G. TREMBLY.
Among the enterprising and highly successful young business men of Centerville must be mentioned Alfred G. Trembly, senior partner of the Trembly-Huston Electric Company. He was born in Freeport, Illinois, on the 5th of March, 1891, and is a son of Sylvester M. and Lucy E. (Briggs) Trembly. The father was a native of Ohio, his birth having occurred near the Pennsylvania border in 1854, but he was of New England extraction. He came to Iowa in early childhood and his boyhood and youth were passed in Des Moines. In 1SSS, he went to Grinnell. Iowa, as local representative for the Singer Sewing Machine Company, remain- ing there for three years. At the expiration of that period he was trans-
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terred to Centerville, but he later withdrew from the service of the Singer company and engaged in the grocery business with John Zook. He con- tinued to be identified with local commercial circles until his death, which occurred on the 5th of January, 1898. At Freeporr, Illinois, in 1889, MIr. Trembly was married to Miss Briggs, who was born at Olmstead, in the vicinity of Cleveland, Ohio, and is a daughter of the late John and Hester Briggs. The father was born in the state of New York, while the mother is a native of Ohio, but both were of New England extraction. John Briggs passed the greater part of his life in the railway service. In his early manhood he was employed on the first railroad constructed across the Isthmus of Panama, and at the time of his death he was foreman of the round house at Freeport. He passed away in May, 1895, and is buried at Freeport, where his widow still resides. Mrs. Trembly makes her home at No. 531 North Ninth street. Centerville, with her son.
Alfred G. Trembly, who is an only child, was less than a year old when his parents removed to Centerville, and here he has ever since made his home. He was reared in the parental household and acquired his education in the public schools, terminating his student days when graduated from the high school in 1909. He early manifested unusual mechanical skill and was deeply interested in electricity, in which business he resolved to engage before leaving school. For two years, thereafter. he engaged in the mail-order business in electrical appliances. in which he met with a fair measure of success. He next established the Trembly Electric Com- pany, which he conducted until October, 1912. when he went into part- nership with George M. Huston, under the firm name of the Trembly-Hus- ton Electric Company. Mr. Huston, who is a son of William P. Huston. and a young man of twenty-nine years, takes able charge of the mechanical end of the business, being well fitted therefore by the experience which he gained during the ten years he was connected with the Centerville Electric Light & Power Company. He is popular and well known in Appanoose county, where he has many friends who esteem him for his high qualities of mind and character. Their establishment is located on the north side of the square, where they carry a carefully selected stock of electrical sup- plies and they also take contracts for wiring and the installing of all kinds of electrical apparatus. Although he is not yet twenty-two years of age. Mr. Trembly has won a name and position for himself in local business circles, where all who know him prophesy for him a promising future in his chosen field of activity. He is a young man of marked foresight and sagacity in matters of business, thoroughly honorable and reliable in his transactions and applies himself to his work with the unremitting diligence which invariably wins success in any undertaking.
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Mr. Trembly is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. and fraternally he is affiliated with the Yeomen, while he accords his political support to the democratic party. He is well known in this vicinity where he has many stanch friends, the majority of whom have known him since boyhood and have watched with interest the development of his career.
GORDON PEACOCK.
Through successive stages of progress Gordon Peacock has made con- tinuous advancement in the business world until he now occupies the posi- tion of superintendent of the Centerville Water Company. His history indicates clearly what may be accomplished when determination and energy are strong characteristics of the individual. A native of Illinois, Mr. Pea- cock was born in Morgan county, November 14, 1870, and is a son of Gordon and Margaret ( Bennie) Peacock, natives of Scotland. The father was a miner in that country and came to America at an early age, locating finally in Missouri, where he bought a farm, which he improved and operated until 1885. In that year he retired from active life and moved to Centerville, where he is now living, enjoying the respect and confidence of a wide circle of friends. He is one of the honored veterans of the Civil war, having served one year during the conflict as a member of Con- pany K, One Hundred and Thirty-third Illinois Volunter Infantry. His wife passed away in 1900.
In the acquirement of an education Gordon Peacock attended public school in Illinois and Missouri, but his advantages along this line were limited. At the age of fourteen he laid aside his books and for four years worked in the coal mines in Illinois and lowa. finally abandoning this oc- cupation in favor of railroading. His first position in the new field was as foreman of the Culvert gang, in the employ of the Rock Island system. and he did able work in this capacity for four years. At the end of that time he came to Centerville and worked in the mines in the vicinity of the town until 1905. when he secured a position with the Centerville Water Company. Advancement came rapidly. In 1908 he was made assistant suprintendent and in 1910. superintendent, holding that position at the present time. He has been active in the management and control of the departments under his charge and has proved a courteous, obliging and capable official, whose personal popularity constitutes one of the elements in the prosperity of the corporation which he serves.
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On the 11th of October, 1893, Mr. Peacock married Miss Katherine O'Leary, a daughter of Jobn and Mahala O'Leary, the former a native of Ireland and the latter of Missouri. At an early age the father emigrated to America and served in both the Mexican and the Civil wars. He fol- lowed the stone mason's trade in various parts of the country, passing away in Texas in 1899. He had long survived his wife, who died in 1885. Mrs. Peacock is a native of Woodbury county, lowa, born in 1872. She and her husband became the parents of three children: John William. who was born January 10, 1895, and who died in May. 1905: Marie, aged fifteen: and Agnes, thirteen years of age. Mrs. Peacock and her two daughters are devout members of the Roman Catholic church. Fraternally Mr. Peacock is a member of the Foresters of America and for the last twelve years has been treasurer of that organization. He belongs also to the Iowa Legion of Honor. His political allegiance is given to the repub- lican party and for two years he served on the town council, showing in his public work the same determination and integrity which have marked the various phases of his business career.
W. S. BAILEY.
W. S. Bailey carries on general farming on section 13. Union town- ship, and the excellent appearance of his place indicates his careful super- vision and practical methods. He was born in Marion township. Davis county, lowa, a half mile from his present home, February 6. 1861. and he is now the owner of a part of the old homestead farm, upon which his birth occurred. His parents were Sylvester and Euphain (Taite) Bailey, both deceased. The father was born near Columbus, Ohio. in 1821. and died in September. 1886, when in the sixty-sixth year of his age. His wife, who was born in Kentucky, was brought to lowa by her parents during her childhood and died in 1876. Sylvester Bailey arrived in this state in 1845 and entered from the government a tract of land upon which his son. W. S. Bailey, was born. He converted the wild land into rich and pro- ductive fields and continued to remain upon that farm, comprising one hundred and seventy-four acres, throughout the rest of his life, being well known as one of the energetic and progressive agriculturists of his com- munity. Unto him and his wife were born seven children: W. S. : Smith. who died in infancy: Mrs. Amanda Melntyre, deceased: Letitia, the wife of Louis Swaim, of Marion township. Davis county : Mrs. Annie Kenyon. who has passed away: Amos, a resident of this county: and Orange, who died in childhood.
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W. S. Bailey has spent his entire life in this part of the state and has always engaged in farming. He owns four hundred and fifty acres in one body, embracing a part of the old homestead. His residence is sit- uated on section 13. Union township. Appanoose county, and much of his property lies within that township but fifty acres is across the boundary line in Davis county. He carries on general agricultural pursuits and stock-raising and in connection with his sons is engaged extensively and successfully in the breeding of Hereford cattle. He also raises other kinds of good stock and that branch of his business is proving a profitable source of income. His business methods are such as will bear close investi- gation and scrutiny, for he is reliable as well as enterprising and at all times is actuated by a spirit of progress and improvement.
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