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 33
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AMUEL NOBLE has been a resident of Des Moines since April 30. 1855. He was born in Middlebury, Vt., April 19, 1852. and is a son of Augustus and Helen ( Fra. lick) Noble, His father was born in Westfield, Mass of English ancestry, and is descended from an carly New England family. while the Fralick family is of Holland origin. In 1836. accompanied by his wife and children, Augustus Noble emi- grated to Ohio. settling in Ashtabula County. Al- though ont subject was then hut four years of age, he yet retains a faint remembrance of the long journey, which was made in a covered wagon from New England to the Jand then situated on the borders of civilization, as it was thought. The Noble family were among the pioneer settlers of Ashtabula Conuty. They endured all the hard- ships and disadvantages incident to frontier life. and in the midst of the forest Mr. Noble clearel and developed a farm, upon which he resided tur it hi- death. Both he and his worthy wife hved to
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an advanced age. the former dom. it IS77. agel ' only three are now living, as follows: Mrs. Noble; eighty-eight years, and the latter passing awy in Augusta, wife of J. J. Kurfner. of Des Moines; and Mary. Mr. and Mrs. Noble have two chil- dren, a son and a daughter-Frank A., who was born in October. 1877. Fint Jessie, March 19, 1882. They lost their first-born. Nellie. at the age of about three years. INST. about the same age. They were the parent- of four sons and two daughters. bat of that pum- ber four are now deceased, namely: Hiram, Hel !! F .. George W. and Jane. However, all attained to mature years and reared families Sammel, our subject, and Frank, who resites on the old home- stead in Ohio. are the surviving ones, and also the youngest of the family.
Samuel Noble is the only representative of his people in lowa. He received orly such educa- tional advantages as the common schools afforded, and was then permitted to attend only a few months each year, as his services were needed upon the farm. At the age of twenty he began learn . ing the carpenter's trade, commencing in Ashta- bula, but serving the last year of his apprentice- ship in Cleveland, Ohio. Having thoroughly mas- tered the business. he looked about him for a location which furnished a favorable opening in this line and determined to come to the new, but rapidly growing, village of Des Moines and, as al- ready stated, reached his destination on the 20th of April. 1855. From Burlington to FI. Dcs Moines he traveled by stage, then the only public conveyance carrying passengers between the two points. Shortly after his arrival. Mr. Noble ro. sumed work at his chosen occupation. and ere long the able manner in which he performed every task entrusted to him won recognition from the public by a liberal patronage. He laid aide all business duties. however, in October. 1861. that he might. respond to his country's call for sid and enlisted as a member of the Tenth lowa Band. After six months, he was discharged on account of disabil- ability and returned to the business which had hitherto engrossed his attention.
It was in this city. in 1866, that Mr. Noble was united in marriage with Miss Helen Churchmish. daughter of Thomas and Eva Churchman. who cube to Polk County about 1800. from Chillicothe. Ohio, and settled near the town of Churchville. where the father died in May. Ist. His wife sur- vived him until April, 1889, when she, too, was called home. They were the parents of a large fully of children, but at this writing. in 1800. !
Many indeed are the changes which have taken place in Des Moines since Mr. Noble became a resident of the city. Thirty- five years have passed, and in that time he has seen a village transformed into the metropolis of the State, whose industries and enterprises, mercantile establishments. churches and schools and palatial residences would grace may an offer city. As a carpenter and builder, he has assisted in the erection of many of the first as well as the more recent buildlings. Every worthy enterprise for the benefit of the city and its inter- ests have found in him a ready supporter, and he and his wife are widely known in the social circles of Des Moines.
DAM BACHMANN, who is now living a retired life. is numbered among the rep- resentative citizens of Des Moines. He was born in the Kingdom of Hesse-Cas- sel. Germany. July 20. 1623, and is a son of Karl Frederick and Catherina Bachmann, who were also of German birth and spent their entire lives in their native land. Their family numbered but two children-Adam. of this sketch; and a daughter, Maria, who died when about two years of age. The father died in 1828. and his mother, when he was a lad of eleven years. Karl Bachmann and two brothers fought in the German Army against Napoleon 1.
Left an orphan at an early age, our subject. thus thrown upon Ins own resources, was forced to make his own way into the world. He learned the trade of a weaver. being instructed in bi- business by parties in the employ of the government of his country. He followed hi- trade for many years. in fiet until his emigr dion to America. and beenie a superior workman. In the Revolution of 1815. he
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was compelled toenter the army. but after a ser- vice of six months he abandoned his post and sailed for the New World. landing in New York, on the ISth of October, ISIS. His intention on com- ing to this country was to engage in business as a weaver, but as he did not readily find employment in that line, he secured a position as clerk in a New York grocery house, with which he continued seven years, a fact which indicates his popularity with both his employer and patrons. In the meantime, in. May. 1851, he returned to Germany to settle up some business left unattended to. but returned in October of the same year and again resmined his former duties, continuing in the position until the time above mentioned. During his visit to his na- tive land. he induced two families, friends of his. to come to America, believing that they could bet- ter their condition and secure farms without much outlay of money. in Jowa, which but a short time before had been admitted to the I'nion. The fam- ilies, acting upon his advice, came to America, in 1853, and settled in Johnson County. Iowa, where Mr. Bachmann joined them in 1855. That was his first introduction to the State which has now been his home for thirty-five years.
In 1858, while a resident of Johnson County Mr. Bachmann was joined in wedlock with Miss Anna Vickey, but she survived her marriage only one year, dying in lowa City in 1859. She also was a native of Hesse-Cassel, and the daughter of the guardian of our subject. In 1861. Mr. Bachmann was again married, his second union which was cel- ebrated in Iowa City, being with Mis- Susan Rock. who was born in Erie, Pa., and is a daughter of Jacob and Hannah Rock, who removed from Iowa to South Bend. Ind., where they spent their last days. Her father was twice married. she being the youngest child of the first marriage. When about sixteen years of age she left her native county and in the company of friends who sought homes in this State, located in Sioux City. then a small vil- lage of little importance. Three years later she became a resident of Iowa City . where she was liv- ing at the time of her maniage. Mr. and Mrs. Bachmann have four children, a son and three ; poration eight by ten miles in extent a new city daughters and the family circle has remained mi- broken, though the oldest. Anna Lama, has left the g 7 following the former. By the last election Mr.
parental roof. being now the wife of Hemy Moeller of Des Moines. The others are Almira. George and Susie.
In 1863, the family came to Des Moines, where they have since resided. Mr. Bachmann was one of the leading business men of the city until 1876, when he retired to private life, having acquired a sufficient competency to enable him to spend his remaining days in case and quiet. He has a pleas- ant home at No. 936 West Fourth Street, where surrounded by many warm friends, he and his es- timable wife will doubtless pass their remaining years.
OIN J. PEDERSEN, the efficient City Treasurer of Des Moines, is of German birth. having first opened his eves to the light of day on the 14th of November. 1851. in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. His parents were II. P. and Annie (Juler) Pedersen. John was edneated in his native country and in 1870. at the age of nineteen years. emigrated to America with the intention of making this country his future home, believing it would furnish better opportu- uities than his native land. He came directly to Des Moines, Iowa, and was employed in various positions for three years, during which time he was learning the language and hecoming familiar with the ways of the country. In 1873 he entered the employ of the Chicago Lumber Company of this city and so faithfully did he perform every duty devolving upon him that he was retained in the service of that compriy until his election, in March, 1890. to the position of City Treasurer of the Capital City of lowa. a city of upward- of sixty thousand inhabitants. He was elected on the citi- zens tielat by a majority of six hundred and seventeen over his opponent and entered upon the discharge of the duties of the office on the 17th of March. By aun net of the Legislature extending the city limits, thereby including several sabortous towns and increasing the area of the city to a cut- Selection va male necessary, which occurred April
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Pedersen was the only successful candidate on the ticket of his patty, which speaks strongly for his personal popularity. In politics he was a Repub- lican until 1881. since which time he has voted with the Democratic party.
Mr. Pedersen was married in Des Moines in the autumn of 1873 to Miss Tina Hlaason. Their union has been blessed with four children. there sons and a daughter: Mamie, aged fourteen; Il. Frederick, dleven years of age; James aged nine; and Ulysses Grant, aged four. Mr. Pedersen is a member of Ft. Des Moines Lodge. No. 25, 1. 0. 0. `T .. and Ebenezer Camp, No. 10. 1. O. O. F. He has won the esteem of all with whom he has come in contact and was held in the highest regard hy lii- associates and employers in the Chicago Lum- her Company. in whos service he remained for the long period of seventeen years.
OL. F. OLMSTED. a gallant soldier of two wars and a military man through all his na- ture years, is the subject of this sketch. He was born on the 5th of May. 1831. in Marion County, Ohio, being a son of Almon and Melissa (Case) Olmsted. llis parents were natives of Ohio and were descended from New England ancestry. their families having removed from Connecticut to Ohio in the early settlement of the Buckeye State.
Our subject was ednested in the common schools of Ohio and when sixteen years of age. in April. 1817. he calisted for the Mexican War as a private of Company E. Fourth Ohio Infantry. le parti- cipated in the captine of Pueblo all other engage- ments, and at the close of the struggle was mustered out after fourteen months of active service und r Gens. Taylor and Scott. In Ists. he went to Ra- eine. Wish, where he spent three years learning the pointer's trade and on his return to Ohio, followed that occupation until the breaking ont of the Civil War. He had watela i with interest the progress of affairs in the South. determine if need be to W ILLIAM H. SHIPLEY, & well-khora con- tractor and lmilder of Des Moines, has been engaged in business in this city since July 1. 1-53. Immediately after his arrival in this Strike a blow for the honor of hits imgrilled com .- try. and handly had Ft. Sumter's en: - conseil 10- verberating when he offered his services In the city he was engaged at work on the capitol. contin-
Government. The attack was made on the 12th and 13th of April; the President issued a call for troops on the 13th, and on the 18th Mr. Olmsted entered the service as Captain of Company I. Twenty-second Ohio Regiment. but was afterwards promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel of the Fifty- ninth Ohio Regiment and served two years. He took part in the battle of Shiloh and other important engagements, but ere the close of the war was forced to resign on account of failing health.
Returning to Ohio in 1861, Mr. Olmsted shortly afterwards came to Des Moines, where, having re- covered his health he engaged in carriage painting and carried on a shop for nine years. He also served as chief of the police for four years and for a similar period of time was clerk in the post-office. He took a warm interest in military matters from carly boyhood and after his return from the Mexi- can War organized a military company in Ohio and was commissioned Captain. but before leaving his native State was promoted to be Major. On coming to lowa. he organized the first militia company of the State and in 1865 was commissioned Colonel. He was sub-rquently promoted to Brigadier-General of the First Brigade of State Militia and maintained his connection with the State Militia until 1884. He has been connected with military matters in either State or National service for thirty-four years, and, being fitted by nature for that life has proved himself a capable commanding officer.
On the 17th of April, 1851, in Worthington, Ohio, Col. Olmsted was united in marriage with Miss Marcela E. Walling, who was born in Franklin County, Ohio, and is a daughter of Joel Walling. They have one child, Dr. James B .. who is wow a practicing physician of Des Moines. In politics the Colonel is a Republican and he and his wife are members of the Summerville Christian Church.
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uing its construction until March, 1856, when he engaged in contracting and in superintending the erection of buildings. Among the many important structures of which he has had charge during their construction may be mentioned the Bethany Pres- byterian Church. of East Des Moines, the Pilgrim Congregational Church. also on the east side, and the fine residences of Jesse M. Smith and George W. Brown, and on the west side the residence of George W. Coon. He created all the above men- tioned buildings by contract and also superintended the construction of the residence of Dr. A. Holland and that of William R. Ankeney and others. He has also done a large amount of work for the Des Moines Loan and Trust Company and as a contrac- for and builder has few equals.
Mr. Shipley was born in Springfield, Ill., in 1842, and is a son of R. A. Shipley, a native of Baltimore, Md., who died many years ago. His wife, however, long survived her husband, and finally met her death by an accident, being thrown from a wagon and killed in March. 1889. They were parents of eight children but only three of that number grew to mature years-Robert. the eldest, went to Texas in 1853, and after several years spent in the South returned to Springfield in 1867, but his health was broken down and he died the following year. Richard A., the second of the three brothers, still resides in the State of his pa- tivity.
Our subject is the youngest of the surviving members of his father's family. All of his earlier life was spent in Central Illinois, where he acquired a common-school education and the age of cigh- teen years began an apprenticeship to the carpen- ter's trade. But the War of the Rebellion came on and he determined to enter the army in defense of the Government. He enrolled his name as one of ; the boys in blue in the Chicago Board of Trade Bat. tery in 1862, and served until the close of the war in the Western Army. Il participated in some of the most important and hotly contested battles of the war, including the engagements at Stone River. Chickamauga and Kenesaw Mountain and in the principal battles of the Atlanta campaign. He also fought in the second battle of Nashville. where the Confederate Gen. Hood was totally |
overthrown and his whole army well nigh de- stroved by the Union forces under Gen. Thomas. He was mustered out with his regiment in Chicago on the Ist of July, 1865.
Immediately after the close of the war Mr. Ship- ley resumed work at his trade in Illinois, and after a considerable' time spent in Jacksonville went to Dakota, where for several years he was engaged in the construction of depots in the employ of the Northwestern Railroad Company. From Dakota he came to Des Moines and entered into business as above stated. Ere he left linois he was united in marriage with Miss Anna E. Johnson, a native of that State. They have but one child, a son, Al- bert, a printer by trade, who is now employed in the office of the Honestrad in Des Moines. They lost their only daughter. Jessie, who died of diph- theria in December, 1883. She was then in her fifth year and her death was a sad affliction to her parents.
Mr. Shipley is a gentleman highly esteemed as a citizen and has by upright. honorable dealing. se- cured the confidence of his fellow-men. He made for himself a worthy record as a soldier and at death will leave behind him as honorable a one, re- garding his life as a private citizen.
E BEN D. JANES, one of the prominent contractors and builders of Des Moines, has been identified with the growth of the Capital City since its carly infaney and the history of Polk County would therefore be incomplete without his sketch. He was born in the town of East Hanapton, Hampshire County. Mass., Septem. ber IS, 1831. and is a son of Obediah and Elizabeth ( Davis) lanes, who were also natives of the Big State. He is descended from one of the early families of New England, the genealogy stating that the Great American ance-tor was William Janes. who was born in Essex. England. about 1610 and came to America in 1637. He took a prominent part in the settlement of the Connectiont Colony and was one of the founders of New Haven. His descendants are very numerons. It was estimated
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some years ago that not less than twenty -five hun- dred people of the present and past generations could claim him as their direct ancestor. Members of the family were prominent in early Now Ing. land history and several of them took an active ; part in the early Indian wars of the colonies. The grandfather of our subject. Jonathan Janes, who was born in 1726. served as a sollier in the French and Indian War. which began in 1755 and also fought for the freedom of the country in the War of the Revolution. He died in 1825, in the one hundredth year of his age.
Obediah Janes, father of Eben, was a merchant by occupation and a successful business man. He was three times married, our subject being a child of the last mion and his family, altogether, num- bered fifteen children, five of whom are living in 1890, namely : Mrs. Mary Sackett, of Hartford, Conn .: Alexander H., who was born in 1810 and resides in Sheffield, III. : Oliver E., who was born in 1815 and makes his home in Princeton, IL. : Mrs. Julia Miller, who was born in 1821 and makes her home in Hartford. Conn .; Lyman, a resident of Des Moines; and Eben D .. the youngest of the surviving members of the family. The father died at the age of sixty-eight years and the mother of our subject at the ripe okl age of eighty three years.
Eben D. Janes was reared in his native town and in its public schools acquired a good English edu- cation. Ile chose the trade of a mason as one which he believed to be both profitable and pleasant and served an apprenticeship to the same in Indian Orchard, Mass. In 1851, at the age of twenty- three years he first came West. After two years' residence in Princeton. HL., he continued his jour- ) ney beyond the Father of Waters and sought a home in Des Moines, where he has resided contin- uously since 1856. With characteristic enterprise he sought and found employment, and steadily working his way upward has become one of the chief contractors and builders of the city. A men- tion of a few of the structures which have been built under his supervision will serve to indiente the class of work on which he has been engaged and his skill and ability in his line of trade. These include the Second Ward Schoolhouse. Rollins
Block, Clapp Block. Seeberger's Block. Mitchell- ville Seminary, the Court House in Guthrie Center. the High School building in Panora and many others of importance. Beside his extensive busi- ness in this line he is also engaged in the sale of lime, wood. coal, cement. etc.
Mr. Janes was married in the autumn of 1856 to Miss Sarah Long. a native of Ohio. They have three children: Susan E., wife of John Owens, of Des Moines: Madora, wife of Heury Liebbe, of the firm of Foster & Lichbe, architects of Des Moines; and Ida, wife of Hany Kirkwood.
During the long period of thirty-five years, Mr. Janes has been identified with the growth and pro- gress of Des Moines, and has taken a deep interest in its advancement. He has ever possessed the confidence and esteem of his fellow citizens in the highest degree.
2 ENRY F. PERCIVAL, Secretary and Theas- urer of the Capital City Planing Mill Com- pany. was born in Hamilton, Madison County, N. Y .. on the 1th of January, 1835, the son of Denman and Lucy ( Lamb) Percival, a sketch of whom is found elsewhere in this volume. Spending the days of his boyhood and youth under the parental roof, our subject received a common- school education and at the age of eighteen years began to learn the tanner's trade. When he had mastered the business and prepared himself to make his own way in the world he chose a life com- pemion, and on the 15th of September. 1857, was united in marriage with Martha A. Adsit. a native of New York. their wedding being celebrated in Silver Creek, that State. The following year Mr. Percival became a partner with his father and liother. 1. A. Percival. in the leather trade at Cleveland, Ohio, but in 1861. the others withdrew. He admitted to parturiship a man who had but lit- the means and their liabilities almost equalled their resources, but both went to work in an earnest man- net and at the expiration of three years 3. Per- rival purchased his partner's hall interest for $5000. All delits were paid and business was extended
Lucinda A. Instead
2.22. Grinstead
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until it amounted to $100,000 per year, but the rene- tion following the war came on, prices fell. busi. ness stagnated and he was obliged to sell out as his trade no longer yielded him the proper income. To add to his afflictions his wife died on the Ist of July, 1871. leaving one child. Charles 1 ... who is now manager for D. H. McDonald & Co. of this city. He married Florence Aubrey and unto them has been born a son. Worth W.
Mr. Percival came to Des Moines in 1871, and became Secretary of the Capital City Pinning Mill Company, in which official capacity he has acted since. and during the past five years he bas also served as Treasurer. The company does quite an extensive and safe business and in a consider- able measure he has retrieved his lost possessions. In politics he is an unswerving Republican and takes an active interest in the success of the party but does not seek public office. He however served for three years a- Councilman of Capital Park.
Mr. Percival was a second time married on the 1st of September. 1875, when he led to the by- mcneal altar, Miss Ella Courtney, a native of Indiana and a daughter of Dr. Henry Courtney, deceased. who was one of the most eminent physicians of this city from 1855 until his death. They have an inter- esting family of four children-Garth D., Carl F., Henry C. and Shirley 1., and Jost one child. Alice, the eldest, who died at the age of fifteen months. Both Mr. and Mrs. Percival are active members of the Congregational Church.
AMES W. GRINSTEAD, one of the fore- most farmers and stock-raisers of Beaver Township, residing on section 11. is a repre- sentative of one of the pioneer families of Polk County, where they located in the year in which the Territory of lowa was made a State. His parents, desse and Melinda (Hendricks) Grin- stead were both natives of Kentucky, but the former was of English descent, while the latter was born of Holland and German parentage. Jesse was a soll of Jesse (2ud ) and was a soldier in the war of 1812. In his younger years. Jesse Grinstead learned and followed the trade of cabinet making, but after his
rmigration to Jowa in 1815. he devoted his ener- gies to agricultural pursuits. For some years previous to that time he had carried on business in Illinois, but the year above mentioned located in Pella, Marion County, Iowa, whence he came to Polk County in 1816, settling in Four Mile Town- ship. where he spent the remainder of his days. Gladly would we give an extended account of the pioneer experiences of the family but space for- bids. However, a few facts may here be mentioned. Traveling westward they crossed the Mississippi and at length made their way to this county . then a sparsely settled region where the Indians were still numerous and wild animals and game yet roamed over the prairies. The markets were miles away and they had to travel long distances to mill. The now populous and important city of Des Moines, superior to all others in the State, was a mere hamlet consisting of a few fort houses along the banks of the Coon and Des Moines Rivers. They had many hardships to undergo and their path was beset with difficulties. It was no easy task to transform the unbroken land into a farm which would yield sufficient for their wants and needs. The farming implements were very crude and oxen were principally used in that work. However this life was not without its pleasures. Those who cared for hunting and fishing could in- dulge their taste to the utmost, the homes were noted for their hospitality, and the sociability and good feeling which existed between the few settlers was such as is seldom seen at this day where one has ready access to their friends.
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