USA > Iowa > Woodbury County > Sioux City > Past and present of Sioux City and Woodbury County, Iowa > Part 8
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work have been carried on in a most progres- sive manner and excellent results have been ac- complished. Father Dagnanlt is a man of most scholarly attainments and while his work has resulted greatly to the benefit of the church he has also won the respect and good will of the residents of Sioux City.
GEORGE M. KELLOGG.
George M. Kellogg, superintendent of the fire department of Sioux City, Iowa, is well qual- ified for the important position that he is now filling. He has held the position continuously since 1888, with the exception of one year, and during his administration the department has developed to extensive proportions and along progressive lines that place it in the foremost rank as a model department of the country. Mr. Kellogg has labored untiringly to advance its upbuilding and efficiency and deserves great credit for what he has accomplished in this di- rection.
A native of Iowa, he was born near the city of Dubuque, January 28, 1861. His father, George W. Kellogg, was born in Oberlin, Ohio, and has for many years resided in the west, having come to Sioux City in 1864. Here he is now living at the age of sixty-eight years and is engaged in the practice of law. While residing in Dakota he served as a member of the territorial legislature for three terins, was also justice of the peace and was territorial anditor for one term. Ilis wife, who bore the maiden name of Sarah E. MeMillan, was born in Towa and died in 1882 at the age of thirty years in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which she was a consistent member. They were the parents of six children: George M. ; Frank E., who is captain of hose company No. 2, of Sioux City: Perry, deceased : Otis .I., who has been a conductor on the street rail- way of Sioux City for twelve years ; Moses K.,
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deceased; and Lucy E., who died at the age of three years.
George M. Kellogg acquired his education in the public schools of South Dakota and after putting aside his text-books he worked at any occupation that he could secure which would yield him an honest living. At different times he was engaged in farming, in rafting on the river and in teaming. In 1884 he came to Sioux City, where he entered the employ of Davis & Wann, grain and implement dealers, with which firm he continued for three years. On the expiration of that period he entered the service of the Oberne & Hosick Company, dealers in hides, tallow and fur, becoming buy- er and assistant bookkeeper, and eventually he went upon the road for that firm. He repre- sented it in this way for two years, after which he returned to Davis & Company as foreman of their house, acting in that capacity for three years. In 1885 he entered the employ of the Sioux City Street Railway Company as fore- man of its barns and not long afterward ac- cepted the position of shipper and keeper of the stock books with the Standard Oil Com- pany. In 1888 he was appointed by the city council chief of the Sioux City Fire Depart- ment and with the exception of the year 1893 he has held the office continuously since, being the incumbent at this writing. In this time he has had a varied experience and his efforts have been largely effective in promoting the efficiency of the department and in raising its standard of excellence. In his service every en- gine house in the city has been built with the exception of No. 1, most of the apparatus has been purchased by him, and under his direc- tion the fire department has been trained and prepared for the important and responsible work which devolves upon it.
In 1887 occurred the marriage of Mr. Kel- logg and Miss Mary E. Jackson, a daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (McKenna) Jackson. She was born in Terre Haute, Indiana, in 1865, and by her marriage has become the
mother of one son, George M. Kellogg Jr., whose birth occurred in Sioux City in 1886 and who is now a student in the high school. Mr. Kellogg gives his political allegiance to the Democracy and is a member of various fra- ternal organizations, including the Masonic lodge, the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Mod- ern Woodmen of America, the Yeomans and the Knights and Ladies of the Golden Precept. He is well known as a representative of fire department interests throughout the state and is now vice-president of the International As- sociation of Fire Engineers and vice-president of the Iowa State Fire Association. In Sioux City he is well known and has the confidence and good will of the public because of his allegiance to his duty and because of the pos- session of many sterling personal traits of character.
C. SHENKBERG.
C. Shenkberg, controlling one of the most extensive business enterprises of Sioux City and influencing trade relations in no small de- gree by his enterprise and business sagacity, was born in Oldenburg, Germany, February 3, 1835, his father being Ferdinand Shenkberg. He spent the first nineteen years of his life in his native country and arrived in America in 1854, leaving Bremen on a sailing vessel, which after forty-eight days reached the har- bor of New York. Locating in Brooklyn he was employed as a clerk in a grocery store, working for six dollars per month. He spent two years there and on the expiration of that period removed to Harrietsville, Ohio, where he was employed in a country grocery store for two years. The owner of the store then said he could not afford to pay Mr. Shenkberg and promised half of the return profits of his to- bacco crop. On this he made two thousand dol-
I. Thankberg
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lars. IIe afterward removed to Marietta, Ohio, where he started a wholesale grocery business. Mr. Shenkberg remained in Ohio for twenty- five years and thence came to Sioux City, Iowa, in 1882. In the meantime he had prospered in his undertaking, carrying forward to successful completion the various business interests which elaimed his attention. With good capital he then removed to northwestern Iowa and brought with him twenty-two carloads of groceries. Here he established a wholesale grocery house, of which he is still the head, the firm name be- ing now the C. Shenkberg Company. In 1892 he erected a fine business block six stories in height and basement. The structure is of briek and stone and there are seven floors each one hundred by one hundred and fifty feet. The adjoining building, three floors and basement, is occupied by the firm as a coffee roasting house and warehouse. This large building fully oe- enpied by the grocery stock is indicative of the volume of trade enjoyed by the company, showing in large measure the business enter- prise and very desirable success which Mr. Shenkberg has achieved. He is also the lead- ing partner in the Iowa Candy Company. In the wholesale grocery a capital of four hundred thousand dollars has been invested.
While residing in Ohio Mr. Shenkberg was united in marriage in 1862 to Lydia J. Nep- tune, and unto them were born three children, of whom only one is now living, Franz, who is manager of his father's business. The wife and mother died in 1872. In 1874 Mr. Shenk- berg was again married, his second union being with Alma Ogle and they now have one daugh- ter, Nellie, who is the wife of J. H. Feather- stone, a resident of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and by this marriage there is a daughter, Louise Featherstone.
In his political views Mr. Shenkberg is a Republican, but has steadily refused to accept office, preferring to devote his attention to his extensive business interests. His affairs are conducted with diligence, guided by sound
judgment. He is accurate in his estimate of a business proposition and its possibilities, is sa- gacious and far-sighted, and through close con- formity to the ethies of commercial life he has won the confidence of the business world as well as a liberal publie patronage.
WILLIAM K. SILAW.
William K. Shaw, who was a factor in the business life of Sioux City for many years and for six years prior to his death represented the real estate interests of Woodbury county, was born in Watertown, New York. His father died when he was but seven years of age and he was reared by his grandmother in his native city, attending the public schools. His father at one time had been proprietor of a sanitarimn at Cromwell, Connecticut, and when William K. Shaw attained his majority he went to Crom- well and there engaged in the drug business, conducting his store for several years. Subse- quently he went to Norwich, Connecticut, where he again opened a drug store and when he dis- posed of his interest in that line he took charge of the Wauregan House there-a hotel, of which he was proprietor for a short time. Sub- sequently he purchased two woolen mills in Norwich and engaged in manufacturing there for a few years. He next became proprietor of the Fort Griswold House, a small hotel. which he condneted with success until 1889, when he sold out and came to the west, settling in Sioux City. Here he established a restau- rant and also conducted a retail liquor business, prior to the time that he began dealing in pat- ent medicines. During this entire period he was also investing his money in real estate and in 1897 he gave up all other lines of business and devoted his entire time and attention to real estate operations, carrying these on ex- tensively up to the time of his death, which occurred January 14. 1904.
Mr. Shaw was married in the east to Miss
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Dimoek and the children of the family are leaving that institution to enter the Northwest- Ethel, Florence, Madonna and Kent, all of whom reside at home. Mr. Shaw took little in- terest in politics and held no political posi- tions, but devoted his entire time and atten- tion to his business affairs, in which he was very successful. At the time of his death he owned twenty-five houses in Sioux City and these bring to Mrs. Shaw a large rental, plae- ing her in very comfortable financial circum- stances. Mr. Shaw was well known among the business men of Sioux City and gained many friends here. Mrs. Shaw now owns a nice home at 915 West Fourteenth street occupied by herself and family.
AGNES EICHELBERGER, M. D.
Dr. Agnes Eichelberger, who in the practice of medicine in Sioux City is making a specialty of obstetrics and diseases of children, was born in Lewiston, Illinois, May 28, 1864, a daughter of Martin and Isabelle G. (Johnson) Eichel- berger. Her father was a merchant and spent the latter years of his life in retirement from business cares. At one time he served as post- master of Lewiston, Illinois. He died in 1886, when about sixty-three years of age, his birth having occurred in 1823. His widow still sur- vives at the age of eighty-three years and makes her home with Dr. Eichelberger. The other members of the family are as follows: Edwin E. is engaged in the insurance business in Lew- iston, Illinois, and is married and has four children, one of whom is the wife of W. D. Palmer, a wholesale fruit dealer of Sioux City. Julia is the wife of W. J. Dyekes, a lawyer of Lewiston, Illinois, and they have two children. Irene is the wife of A. L. Howes, a traveling man residing in Peoria, Illinois, and they have two children.
After attending the public schools Dr. Eieh- elberger became a student in Hartman College and also spent two years in Oberlin College,
ern University at Chicago, where she was grad- uated on the completion of a course in medi- cine, with the class of 1888. She was after- ward splendidly qualified for the private prac- tice of medicine by eighteen months' experience in hospital service, and in 1890 she came to Sioux City, where she opened an office. Here she has since engaged in general practice, mak- ing a specialty of children's diseases, and in that branch of her work has been particularly successful. She spent two summers in study in Europe-in 1899 and 1902-attending clinics in London, Paris and Berlin, and her study abroad added largely to her knowledge and her efficiency in practice.
Dr. Eichelberger belongs to the Woodbury County Medical Society, the Sioux Valley Med- ical Society, the Iowa State Medical Society and the American Medical Association. She is physician in charge of the Florence Crittenden Home and is on the staff of the Samaritan Hos- pital and the Training School for Nurses, and is lecturing on obstetrics and children's diseases. She is examiner for the Young Women's Chris- tian Association and is second vice-president of the Association of Charities of Sioux City. Added to her love of scientific research and her deep interest in her profession is her strong humanitarian spirit and true womanly sym- pathy, and these qualities make her presence most acceptable in the sickroom.
WILLIAM R. DE WITT.
William R. De Witt, who is living on section 22, Rutland township, was born in Jones coun- ty, Iowa, August 30, 1860. His paternal grandfather, John De Witt, was reared in New Jersey, and the father, Isaac De Witt, was born in that state in 1813. The latter also spent the days of his boyhood and youth there, was accorded good sehool privileges and became a teacher, following that profession for a num-
DR. AGNES EICHELBERGER.
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ber of years. He also qualified for civil engi- neering and did survey work in Minnesota and Wisconsin for a number of winters. In Ohio he was married to Elizabeth Longshore, a na- tive of that state, born near Columbus, and a daughter of Esquire Longshore, one of the early settlers of Ohio. Mr. De Witt took up his abode at Dubuque, Iowa, during the period of its early development and worked in the mines there. He afterward made a trip to California by way of the isthmus route, in 1849, and spent two years in the mines on the Pacific coast, being fairly successful in his search for the precious metal there. He re- turned by the same route in 1851 and after- ward purchased land in Jones county, taking up his abode thereon. It was subsequent to this time that he returned to Ohio and was married. He had opened up his farm and owned several hundred acres of prairie and timber land. Upon this place he reared his family and he is still living there at the ad- vanced age of ninety-one years. His wife has reached the age of seventy years and both are yet enjoying good health. He has been iden- tified with pioneer development in several states, has an intimate knowledge gained from per- sonal experience with the conditions which ex- isted in the early mining days in California and has borne his full share in the work of development and progress in his part of the state of Iowa. In the family were six sons and two daughters: Mrs. Melvina Griswold, who is now a widow; William R., of this re- view; George, who is living in Sioux City; James, of Wyoming; Alice, the wife of J. M. Davis, editor of the Logan Gazette of Harri- son county ; Albert, of Woodbury county ; Clin- ton, of Nebraska; and Fred, who is engaged in the hardware business in Jones county, Iowa.
William R. De Witt was reared to manhood in Jones county on the old homestead farm, which his father improved and developed there. He attended the common schools and when not engaged with the duties of the schoolroom
worked in the fields and gained broad practical experience concerning farm methods. In 1884 he came to Woodbury county and settled upon a traet of raw land, which he has transformed into his present fine farm. Aere after aere he placed under the plow, planted the seed and in due time gathered abundant harvests. This place he has also improved with modern build- ings and there now stands upon his farm a large neat residence, two good barns, sheds for the shelter of grain and stock, and in fact all modern accessories. The place is divided into fields of convenient size by well kept fences, while an orchard and shade and ornamental trees add to the value and attractive appear- ance of this now desirable property. Neatness and thrift characterize the farm in all of its departments and indicate the careful supervi- sion of a progressive owner.
Mr. De Witt was married in Sioux City on the 27th of September, 1892, the lady of his choice being Miss Sarah Orr, a native of Jones county, reared and educated there. She is a sister of Mrs. W. R. Duncanson of this county. There are two children of this marriage, Stella and Virgil. Politically Mr. De Witt is a Dem- ocrat whose belief in the principles of the party is indicated by the ballot which he ever de- posits in support of this county. He is always interested in every measure calculated to im- prove the county and promote its material prog- ress and while he is never remiss in the duties of citizenship he yet gives the greater part of his time and attention to his farm work and has led an active, useful and honorable life.
CHARLES K. SMITH.
Charles K. Smith, deceased, whose life rec- ord is inseparably interwoven with the carly history of Sioux City, took a very active part in the development and upbuilding of Woc I- bury county and especially of the city during the early period of its progress. He was born
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in St. Johns, New York, February 12, 1835. His father, Moses M. Smith, married a Miss Clock and they resided in the Empire state. Their son Charles was educated in the schools of Gouverneur, New York, and when nineteen years of age he entered upon his business ca- reer as a salesman in the employ of Elwanger & Barry, at Rochester, New York. The west, however, attracted him and in 1856 he made his way to Sioux City. He then went to Nio- brara, Nebraska, and held the town site that winter. In the spring of 1857 he was ap- pointed postmaster of Sioux City and occupied the first postoffice here, succeeding C. K. Cook. Hitherto the mail had been distributed from a store or place otherwise than a regular post- office. Mr. Smith was also the first stage agent and first express agent and he had a stock of hardware and tinware. After his retirement from the postoffice on the close of President Bu- ehanan's administration he engaged in the hard- ware trade. In 1870 he built the St. Elmo Ho- tel, which he conducted for three years and then sold out. He afterward engaged in farming for one year and then removed to Merrill, where he purchased grain for three years and conduct- ed a general store. He next resided at Lemars, where he engaged in general merchandising for three years and on his return to Sioux City he began traveling for William T. Allen, of Chi- eago. Two years later he established a grocery store, which he conducted for two years and was then state oil inspector under Inspector Dunn. His next position was that of desk sergeant at the police station and he continued to act in that capacity up to the time of his death, which occurred February 22, 1901, when he was sixty-six years of age.
Mr. Smith was married on the 20th of July, 1860, to Miss Ann M. Gill, a daughter of John and Abigail (Kimble) Gill, of New York. They have three children: Lizzie, the wife of G. B. Healey, of Sioux City; Fred C., with whom Mrs. Smith now makes her home; and Frank G. Mr. Smith was a member of the
Unitarian church and also the Masonic fra- ternity. He always gave his political allegi- anee to the Democratic party and he held some of the city offices, being called to positions of public trust by his fellow townsmen who recog- nized his deep interest in public affairs and his loyalty to the general good. He was mayor of Sionx City in the earlier days and has also been county treasurer. Everything that per- tained to the advancement of community in- terests elicited his attention and usually re- ceived his stalwart support and co-operation. He was extremely familiar with the history of Sioux City from the days of its early growth down to the period of later progress and pros- perity, and was justly numbered among its honored pioneer residents.
WILLIAM GORDON.
William Gordon, a capitalist of Sionx City, whose real estate operations, more extensive than those of any other resident here, have con- tributed in large measure to the upbuilding and progress of the city, was born at Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, Ireland, May 24, 1857. His parents were Thomas and Elizabeth (Parke) Gordon, also natives of County Fermanagh, but both were representatives of old families of Scotland, whence they emigrated to the Emerald isle about the close of the sev- enteenth century to settle upon grants of land made to them by Oliver Cromwell in return for military service rendered him. William Gor- don, the great-grandfather, was born in Ireland and was an intimate friend of John Wesley, one of the founders of Methodism.
Reared in his native country, William Gor- don of this review was educated in the National Model School and in the Portora Royal School. When fourteen years of age he went to Belfast, where he was employed in the office of William Gregg & Son, extensive iron merchants. He afterward spent one year in Liverpool, em-
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ployed in a large building material establish- ment, that of William Dawbarn & Sons, and later went to London as the representative of that house, there remaining for three and a half years, during which time he was advanced rap- idly by the firm, his capability and merit thus finding ready recognition. In March, 1882, he landed at New York, on his way to Australia, but after spending some time in the eastern metropolis and also traveling through the south, he decided to remain in America and aban- doned his project of going to Australia. For a year he was in New York city, and on the 25th of March, 1883, he arrived in Sioux City.
Mr. Gordon was first employed here as a bookkeeper by the firm of Davis & Wann, grain merchants, and subsequently assisted W. P. Manley in organizing the Security National Bank, while later he took charge of the books of F. H. Peavey & Company, grain buyers of Minneapolis, Minnesota. In the spring of 1885 he returned to Sioux City, where he was en- gaged in the insurance and real estate, and two years later he again turned his attention to the real estate business on his own account, having begun operations along that line in 1883 in Galbraith's second addition to the eity, and is to-day the largest dealer in Sioux City. There is no man perhaps who takes as active a part in the development and improvement of a town or eity as does the real estate operator, who has opportunity to promote growth by securing important industrial or commercial interests, and by inducing a desirable elass of citizens to locate in the district where he is operating. Aside from his business Mr. Gordon has mani- fested a most active interest in the progress and prosperity of Sioux City and feels just pride in what has been accomplished here, for at the time of his arrival in 1883 the city contained only about seven thousand inhabitants. He has been identified with many enterprises, the bene- ficial effect of which has been far reaching. During the panie of 1893 his undertakings met with disastrous result, but he has persevered
and with renewed courage has set to work to re- trieve his lost possession, and gradually he has progressed until to-day he is numbered among the capitalists of Woodbury county.
Mr. Gordon married Stella Davis, the eldest daughter of Sammuel T. Davis, of Sioux City, on the 4th of June, 1884, and their children are Elizabeth, Jeanne, William Davis and Mar- garet. The family is well known in the city in which Mr. Gordon has spent the greater part of his time during the period of his residence in America, finding in the growing west the eov- eted opportunities for business advancement and success that drew him to the new world, and while laboring for his own prosperity, he has at the same time through his business activity contributed in large and substantial measure to the welfare and upbuilding of the city.
MRS. WHITFIELD STINSON.
Mrs. Whitfield Stinson was born May 23, 1846, in Erie county, Pennsylvania, and bore the maiden name of Rosaline Vincent, her parents being James and Mary ( Mitchell) Vin- cent, in whose family were four children. She acquired her early education in the Waterford Academy at Waterford, Pennsylvania, but afterward engaged in teaching school for six years. While still in Pennsylvania she gave her hand in marriage in 1873 to Whitfield Stin- son, who is now the manager of the Toy Block, of Sioux City, and who was formerly engaged in the coal business here, following that pur- suit until 1893. In 1875 the Women's Chris- tian Association of Sioux City was established and Mrs. Stinson has since been identified therewith. It was in 1884 that this associa- tion decided to establish the Samaritan Hospi- tal and this work was successfully carried on until the institution was opened to the public on the 11th of December, of that year. Its board of directors is composed of a number of the leading ladies of Sioux City. For seven-
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