USA > Iowa > Polk County > Portrait and biographical album of Polk County, Iowa, containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county > Part 32
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Mr -. Wise was formerly Miss Hattie E. Cudler- wood, the wedding of this worthy couple having been celebrated in Des Moines, September 17, 1880. She is a lady of culture and refinement. and like her lesband. has many warm friends in the com- mmminity. They have one child. a little daughter, Ruth Helene. Socially. Mr. Wise is a member of the Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias and the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and in polit- real sentiment is a Republican. He is a member of the Council of Capital Park, and laid out Wise's sublivisjon to that park. He is a stirring business i'm, and is indebted only to his own energy and industry for the position to which he has attained in the world.
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OTIS C. HU THI NLOCHER. owner and pro- printer of the Banner House, of De Moines. i- out of the pioneer hotel keepers of this ) cis. having have been engaged in that h 1. we for twenty www. He was born in fotosy
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of Hegensberg, county of Esslengen, Wurtemburg, Germany, on the 18th of October, 1828, and is one of nine children, where father was Lorenz F. Hut- tenlocher. Seven of the family have come to America. Frederika accompanied our subject on his voyage across the Atlantic to the shore of the New Worbl, in 1854, they being the first to seek homes in the United States. She died in Rhode Island several years ago, leaving a family, who are still residents of Des Moines. With the exception of one sister who makes her home in Story County, lowa, all the other members of the family reside in Des Moines. The parents are now deceased.
In his native land our subject spent the days of his boyhood and youth, and at the age of twenty- five years, accompanied by his sister, as above stated, he bade good by to his old home and sailed for New York. He spent one year in Elmira, in the Empire State, and the succeeding year in Rock- ford, Ill., after which he came to Des Moines, which has since been his home. Great indeed have been the changes which have taken place in the thirty years which have come and gone since that time. The town of a few thousand has increased to a city of sixty thousand; important manufac- fories and industries have been established, splen- did churches and schools, and palatial residences have been built, and every luxury known to the East has been introduced. The Jowans may look with just pride upon their Capital City, which is also the metropolis of the State.
The principal business in which Mr. Hutteulo- chit has been engaged is that of botel keeping, to which he has devoted his energies for twenty years, eighteen years of which time he has been located at his present place of business. His long expe- niente. and consequent familiarity with the wants of the traveling public, have enabled him to con- net his house in a manner pleasing to all, and a liberal patronage is the result.
Mr. Huttenlocher. in 1855. led to the marriage altar Miss Louise Spieth, who is also a native of Hegen borg. The ceremony was performed in Rock- ford. Il .. and by their union have been born nite children. six sons and three daughters. viz .: Christ. Louisa S., Herman G. L ... Fred L .. Cooling. bla R .. Emiest 1 . Louis Otto, Frank E. W.
In 1885 Mr. Huttenlocher and his wife went back to their off home in Germany, after an absence of thirty-one years. Many of the old landmarks yet remained. but the greatest changes were among their youthful friends, many of whom had sought homes, elsewhere, while others had departed this life. Although it was a pleasure to once more look upon the seem , of their childhood, they wil- lingly returned to their home in this country, around which nearly all of their interests were clustered. They are helt in high respret through- out this community, and are numbered among the worthy German-American citizens.
AMES MAINE, though not one of the car. lier contractors and builders of Des Moines, is yet a prominent representative of that. branch of business in Polk County. He lo. cated in this city in 1885, and for three years was associated with E. D. Janes in the firm of Janes & Maine, but since the dissolution of that partnership. which occurred in 18 88, he has been alone in busi- ness. His office is situated at. No. 517 Mulberry Street, and he is the recipient of a liberal patron- age.
The life record of Mr. Maine is as follows: He is a native of England, having been bom in Bris- tol in 1851. He grew to manhood in his native town. and in his youth served an apprenticeship to masonry and building. His father, Henry Maine. was a railroad contractor in early life. In 1970. the family crossed the Atlantic to America, and af- ter one year's residence in the State of New York, removed to Chicago. I., where the father is now living. In that city our subject also made his home for a number of years, and engaged in the presten tion of his chosen occupation. He was in Chicago immediately after the great fire in 1871, and aidel in the rebuilding of a considerable portion of the city. He first came to lowa in fsis, and took up his residence in Newton, Jasper County, where he resumed work 1- a contract and huiles.
The following year. in Newton Mr. Maine was united in marriage with Miss Missibla Wheeler. a
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daughter of Joseph R. Wheeler, one of the pioneers of Jasper County, where Mrs. Maine was born. By their union they have become parents of six chil- dren, four sons and two daughters- Orin. Herbert A., Daisy. Kinne, Harry and an infant daughter.
Mr. Maine continued to make his home in New- tun, Iowa, until 1885, when as above stated. he came to Des Moines. His experience as a contractor and buildler covers his entire manhood years, and he has aided in the ercetion of many fine buildings, in Chicago, Newton and Des Moines. He sustains a high reputation for honesty and integrity. and these elements of his character. combined with a superior knowledge of his business. have ever insured him a full share of patronage. Although theit resi- dence in the capital city has been of short duration, Mr. Maine and his wife have made many warm friends by whom they are held in high regard.
ERNANDO A. PERCIVAL. the pioneer real-estate dealer of Des Moines, is a native of the Empire State. Ile was born in Os- wego County, December 25, 1836, being a son of Denman and Lucy ( Lamb) Percival. The founders of the Percival family came from England, and the grandfather of our subject, who was a physician by profession but spent bis latter years upon a farm, was a frontiersman of Western New York. llis son, Denman Percival, was reared to farm life, but followed divers occupations, dealing in wool and furs, keeping tavern, running tan yards, etc. After making several removals in New York. he at length settled in Cleveland, Ohio, where he dealt extensively in leather. In 1863. he came to Des Moines, bought wool for a time and then engaged in the real-estate business in which he continued untit his death.
party in early life, was afterwards a Republican and in religious belief was a Universalist. He was truly one of nature's noblemen. All who knew bim respected and esteemed him and his death was sincerely mourned by many friends. His wife, who was a member of the Episcopal Church, died in 1872 in Cleveland. Ohio, while on a visit to friends in that city. In their family were five children. three sons and two daughters: Henry F., a manufacturer of Des Moines; Fernando A. of this sketch; Eunice S., wife of Tyler Scoville; Anna E., widow of Frank B. Hill; and Jerome, deceased.
After acquiring such education as the district schools afforded. Fernando Percival went into busi- ness with his father, continuing to operate con- jointly until 1862, when he laid aside business cares and enlisted in the Forty-second New York Artillery, of which he was commissioned First Lieutenant. He was detailed on recruiting service and his colonel gave him credit for bringing in more recruits than any other man in his regiment. Having served a year he was called home by the death of his brother and resigning shortly after- ward, engaged in the real-estate business with his father and others under the firm name of Thomas, Ilill & Co. Soon Mr. Thomas sold out and the firm became Percival, Hill & Co .. afterward Percival & Co., and in 1865 it assumed its present style. Percival & Hatton, under which form the business has been carried on continu- ously since. This is not only the oldest but is also one of the most reliable real-estate firms in the city. Its members have ever been liberal toward all worthy enterprises and none have done more to forward the interests of Des Moines. They were instrumental in laying out Grand Park, were the original incorporators of the Clifton Heights Imal Company and of the Vermont Syndicate that Platted Kingman Place: beside they have added much to the city in the way of buildings among which may be mentioned the Oriel Block. Gault House. and a great many resi lences. They were Jorge contributors to the lova Exposition Building. Sfr. Percival is prominently connected with several of the organized companies of the city. being one
In Morrisville. N. Y., Mr. Percival married Miss Lamb. daughter of Aroswell Lamb. a substantial fumer formerly from Connectiont. who with his wife emigrated from the t Stide to New York and lived to the advenerd age of eighty-three years. Mr. Percival died in Des Moines in 1870, at the age of sixty -these years. He supported the Whig , of the board of directors of the Central Land
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Trust Company ; President of the Towa Pipe and Tile Company ; and President of the Capital City Planing Mill Company. In political sentiment be is a Republican and socially is a thirty-second de. gree Mason.
In 1873, Mr. Percival was united in marriage with Mrs. Etta B. Mccullough. a native of Wis- cousin, and unto them have been born two children: Lucy M. and Helen. All the family are members of the Congregational Church and rank high in the social world. Our subject has been very soe- cessful in the accumulation of property and in all his dealings he has been pre-eminently just and honorable, thus winning to himself the respect and confidence of his patrons and those with whom he has bad business relations.
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AMUEL BRANSON, who is practically living a retired life at No. 1217 Fine Street, in East Des Moines, was born in Belmont County. Ohio, October 10, 1811. and is a son of Jacob and Rebecca (Holloway) Branson. His father was a native of Virginia and traced bis ancestry back to England. On reaching maturity, on the 16th of September, 1795. Jacob Hanson was joined in wedlock with Miss Hollo- way, also a native of the Old Dominion, whose funily was founded in New Jersey at an early day. In 1805 they removed to Ohio, settling in the vicinity of Flushingtown. Belmont County. where Mr. Branson purchased a farm. He was a cabinet maker by trade and followed that cocopa- tion until his emigration to the Buckeye State. After which he engaged in agriculture phishit. until his death, which occurred June 27. 1- 15. in deseventy - fourth year of his age. I was a min- ister of the Society of Friends and one where 1 p. night life won the respect of all with whom he
eighth. Those deceased are: Abigail. Haih. l'hoche. Lydia, Deborah, Aaron and Jacobs.
Sunil Branson was reared to the recupation of farming, and acquired his education in a school which was under the auspices of the Society of Friends. After the death of his parents. he began Jerking in a store, which position he retained five of six years. when he rented a mill. and in its op- erations spent the six succeeding years of his life, turning out from seventy-five to one hundred bar- rels of flour per day. In 1856, in partnership with a cousin, he embarked in the general merchan- dise business in Uniontown, Belmont County. Ohio, and also engaged in the buying and selling of wool quite extensively until 1879, when he closed out his business connections in the Buckeye State and removed to Polk County. Immediately after his arrival he rented a hotel in Des Moines, then called the Avenue House, which be carried on successfully for a year, after which he was en- ployed for six years as salesman in a shoe store. le then engaged in general merchandising for him- self for about a year. when in 1883, he began dealing in ice, in which he still retains an interest. He has also devoted some attention to the real- estate business, and in the two lines has met with good success. In 1886 be purchased a farm of one hundred and eighty - three peres of last in Mad- i-on Conuty. lowa, which is well improved, but has never engaged personally in its cultivation. leaving it to the care of tenants.
On the 18th of April. Ils, Samuel Branson and Miss Sarah Hult were married, and unto them have been both threc sons, namely : Daniel, the cket, who is now deceased: Frank, who married Adeline MeNett, and reid. . in Kingman Place: and Abbotcan inginer on the Union Pacific Rail. road. Mrs. Branson is a daughter of Daniel and Nancy (Van Pelt) Hull. Her father, a native of South Carolina, was a son of Mis. Und, a sister of Cion. Buaside ... He made farming his life occu- potions and was engaged in that business at the
come in contact. His wife died very sallad, on ' time of his death, which occurred March 10th. the Buth of October, 1831. They were the per- es of mine children, but only two are not Bohn : And the sixth in order of This, who i now the seventy to u vres of age They won the parents ident of Belmont County. Ohio; and Samuel the
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Mary, a resident of Indiana: Sands, now Mis. Branson: lolm. deceased: Mahlon: Aaron, who is living in Chillicothe, Ohio; Plache, deceased; Jesse, of Belmont County, Ohio; and Daniel W .. who resides in the saine county.
Mr. Branson is a self-made man, and is a re- spected citizen of Polk County. He cast his first Presidential vote for Gen. William Henry Harrison, and supported the Whig party until its dissolution. when he joined the new Republican party. of which he has since been a warm advocate, so- cially, he is a member of the Masonie lodge, and in religious belief. both he and his wife are Pres- bylerians.
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e APT. FRED SHEARER WHITING. one of the leading contractors and builders of Des Moines, dates his residence in this city from August, 1865. He was born in Ashland. Ohio, on the 12th of March. 1836. and is a son of Samuel Bowers Whiting, who was born near Augusta. Me. The family was established in Massachusnits in su carly day and later the branch to which our sub- ject belongs removed to Maine. His father was born in 1799. and when shout fifteen years of age with his family became a part of a colony that emigrated westward from the Pine Tree State and settled near New Madrid, Mo. But the settlers were unfortunate. Sickness soon prevailed among them to an alarming extent and death carried off many. including the father of the Whiting family. Most of the colony that survived became discour- aged by continued sickness and the death of so many of their friends and resolved to sok hotes elsewhere. Again tousing their fores eastward they refraced their Stop: until reaching Fayette County, Pa.
In that conty Sontel Whiting affroned to mist- hood and married Rebecca Shearer. after which he removed with his wife to Ashland. Ohio. He was a carpenter and builder by occupation and com- to work at his trade in the Backeste State roth the year 185%, when. : rcogjaniet by his finnis, he care more sought a hur beyond the Missi - sippi. choosing Boca as the scene of his motta . op
perations. He first settled in Henry County but afterward removed to Pairficht, Jefferson County. where he and his wife died and were buried. Their family unmibored seven children. two sons and five daughters. all of whom attained to mature years and are yet living, with one exception, at the time of this writing. in 1690. David, the eldest, is still living in Astand, Ohio; Mary Ann is deceased ; Sarah is the wife of Clark Van Ostrond. a large stock-dealer of Jefferson County, lowa; Loniss is the widow of John Hughes, of Livonia, Richland County. Ohio; Capt. Fred is the next younger; Naney Elizabeth is the wife of Jacob Spraker. of Oakland Mills, Henry County, lowa; Rebecca, a miaiden lady. resides with her sister, Mrs. Van Os- trond.
The subject of this notice was educated in the common schools and in his youth learned the trade of carpentering. He came West in 1855 and vis- ited Des Moines at that early day. At length he made a location at Oskaloosa, but after two years went South and in January, 1861, we find him in the city of New Orleans, but war was then threat- ened and excitement in the South ran high. It was hardly safe for a Northern inan to remain among the rebellion- people, and in consequence Mr. Whiting returned North, going to Fairfield, Jowa, where his parents were then living. Soon after his return he received a recruiting commission from Gov. Kirkwood and for a short time was engaged in enlisting men for the service, Imt wishing to en- ter actively into army life he offered his services "as a volunteer in November. 1861, and was assigned to Company 3. Fourth lowa Cavalry. He was mustered into the United States service as First Lieutenant of his company and soon after the fall of Vicksburg. in 1863. was promoted to the ranks of Captain. The war record of Mr. Whiting is: most honorable one. yet is but an example of the fidelity and loyalty which he has ever shown to the Government and which he displays in the discharge of every duty of trust imposed in him. He was in active service during almost the entire period of the Rebellion, or nelly four years. The history of the Fourth In a Cavalry is one of constant and untiring ervice, franght wir dager and peril. li vy- first moder the command of Cion. Curtis in
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Missouri and Arkansas, but in May, 1863, took part in the more dangerous, yet important. siege of Vicksburg. where it continued until the Meridian campaign of December. 1863. and January. 1861, in which important 'expedition it took an active part. Early in 1864 Capt. Whiting with his regi- ment re-eulisted as veterans and was granted leave of absence. During his furlough he was married, but at the expiration of the time allofted he left his young bride and returned to the front, reaching Memphis in April; thence the command marched with Sturgis in the expedition against Forrest, then returned to Memphis and in September joined in the pursuit of Price. It then joined the Grierson raid from Memphis down the railroad to Okolona, thence again to Vicksburg and took part in the march with Gen. Winslow through Alabama and Georgia to Macon. In all these movements Capt. Whiting with his regiment took an active and im- portent part. The Fourth Towa Cavalry was mus- tried out at Atlanta, Ga. August 10, 1800, and disbanded in Davenport. Capt. Whiting escaped the bullets of the enemy hat many times came near death and twice had his horse shot from under him. While in Jackson, Miss .. however, he received a sun stroke from which he has never yet fully recovered.
As before stated, while on a visit to his home in 1864 Capt. Whiting was married, the lady of his choice being Miss Annie Louise. daughter of Charles and Elizabeth Rommel. She is a native of Indianopolis. Ind .. and came to Des Moines with her parents in 185%. Her father is still living in this city. but his wife is now deceased. By the union of Capt. Whiting and Miss Rommel there have been born six children. five sons anda daugh- ter- Howard. Fred S., Charles B., Emma D. George S. and Raymond, all of whom were born in Des Moines.
A quarter of a century has passed since Capt. Whiting became identified with the history of this city and its progress. During that time he has ranked as one of its leading contractor and bail- er's, and many of the line buil lings stund as mont. mente to his enterprise and skill. One of the most . important work- that he has recently high engaged upon, was the superinten ling of the remodeling of the Government building of Des Monts. The
liberal patronage which he receives not only indi- cates his ability and shill as a workman but his worth as a gentleman of honor who fulfills every obligation and faithfully carries out every con- tract. His time is largely occupied by his busi- lass yet he finds leisure to devote to the interests of the public, such as are worthy the support of the best citizens. He has taken an active interest in educational work and for eight years has been an active and influential member of the Des Moines School Board. He was largely instrumental in establishing the High and Industrial School of Des Moines. Politically he is a Republican, and is an honored member of Crocker Post. G. A. R., and of the Loyal Legion. Capt. Whiting is held in high esteem for his publie spirit and integrity and for his unclouded record as a brave soldier during the late war.
R. JACKSON WATTS, one of the leading dental surgeons of Des Moines, has spent netals his entire life in this county, being a representative of one of its pioneer l'am- ilies. His father, John Watts. emigrated from Montgomery County. Ind., to Polk County in Oc- tober, 1818. He was born near Lexington. Ky., in 1805, and was reared to the occupation of farming. Having attained to mature years he wedded Ruth Cox. who was about a year her husband's senior, and soon after their marriage removed to Mont. gomery County. Ind. They were also early settlers of that community. and in the midst of a forest Mr. Watts cleared a farm. He possessed a robust constitution which could well brave the hardships of pioneer life, and the wildness and excitement of a new country delighted his nature. He determined to make his house in lowa when this county was almost an unbroken wilderness, and purchased a elim of one hundred and sixty aeres Irom a moth manned Perkins. He then returned to Indians and the same fall. accompanied by his family. consist- ing of wife and eight children. he agin came to I wa. . ettling on the End pasionsly mentioned. It was located in Allen Township. and the fana which be there developed continued to be his home
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until his death. which occurred November 25. 1857, at the age of fifty- two years. five months and eight days. His wife survived until March S. 1879. aged seventy-four years, six months and seven days. John Watts was a worthy. upright citizen and a fair example of the typical pioneer who laid the foundation for the present prosperity and ad- vanced position of Polk County. In his religious belief he was a Baptist. to which doctrine his wife also subscribed. and in bis political views he was a Jacksonian Democrat. Benevolent and charitable. he gave liberally to all in need of assistance, was over ready to help those in distress and won for himself the love of many.
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Of the family of eight children who accompan- ied their parents to lowa only three are now living. the Doctor being the eldest of that number: John is a resident of Council Bluffs. Jova, and Rath. the only surviving daughter, married Levi Carter, s. resident of Columbia County. Wash. All of the members of the family now decered grew to man- hood and womanbcol and died in this county. Sa- lah married William Keeney and left one child. who died soon after the mother's death; Mason died at the age of twenty-four years; Elizabeth be- came the wife of Caleb Crandall, and at her death left a son and daughter; Barbara was the wife of Stephen Shelton but had no children : Martha died at the age of eightven years.
Dr. Watts, whose name heads this notice. was born in Montgomery County, Ind .. October 10, 1840, and was therefore only eight years of age when the family became residents of Allen Town- ship. He was created to manhood on the homestead farm, and in the public schools received his liter- ary education. Desiring to follows cane other pursuit than that which occupied much of his boyhood days, be made choice of dentistry mit Le_an fitting himself for practice in the office of Dr. J. W. Bishop, of Des Moines, in the summer of 1559. in the fall of the following year be formed a part- nership with Dr. William Mole-wo. the hut bought out the interest of that gentleman in 1961. siner which time he has been alone in business. He is one of the leading dental surgeon of Dr. Meine. who through year of practiceand i each has wohl a foremost place in the banks of his professional
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brethren. He thoroughly understands his business in all its details and has met with excellent success financially. as indicated by the liberal patronage which he requises.
On the Elst of October. 1861. Dr. Watts married Miss Sarah A. Bell. who was born in Johnstown. Pan. October 1. 1811, and is a daughter of Samuel Bell who emigrated with his family from the Key- stone State to Ohio. and thunce to Polk County. He afterward sunted, in search of wealth. to Pike's Peak. Color, where his death occurred. His wife died in Eddyville. Iowa. in 1863. They had but two children, daughters. the younger being Mrs. Watts: Mrs. Mary Rozell. the elder. is now living near Elk Point. S. Pak. One child graces the union of Dr. and Mrs. Watts. Clarence Victor, who was born February 10. 1867. and is a promising young man. After completing a course of study in the Callanan College and Drake University, of Des Moines, he entered the Dental Department of the State University of Pensylvania, located in Phil ?- phin, where he is now a student.
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