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 46
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60
The following is from the Leader, of June 4, 1873:
"The Leader of the Bd stated that Wesley Red- head had at last been successful in his prospecting for roal, but owing to a pressure of other matters a detailed account of his work and discovery did not appear in that day's issue.
"It has always been a cherished theory of Mr. Redhead that the supply of coalabout Des Moines was inexhaustible and that a better quality than any now in the market would yet be found. In pur- suance of this object he has worked carly and late incurring an expense of about $6.000, until at last his labor has been crowned with glorious sueres.
Last January, he commeneed sinking a shaft in South Park. near Seventh Street bridge. Two gangs, each consisting of eight men, were employed alter- nately night and day. A thin vein of coal was found near the surface and further down two larger veins were passed through. When the shaft had reached the depth of one hundred and eleven feet below the surface. the foreman and other experienced miners were of the opinion that further search would be fruitless but Mr. Redhead was confident and to use his own expression was "bound to dig to China or find coal." The work was continued and fourteen feet farther down-one hundred and twenty-five feet below the surface and ninety feet below the hed of Coon River -- the shaft struck a vein of coal four and one-half feet in thickness. This discovery was made on the the 2nd and on the 3d a load of the coal was mined and conveyed to Mr. Redhead's office in this city. The best judges pronounced it. of a superior quality and equal to any mine in lowa. Directly above the coal vein, the drills passed through twelve feet of slate which was strongly im- pregnated with sulphur. The coal is hard and glossy but presents no appearance of sulphur. it will be known as the black diamond coal, and will be mined by the Des Moines Coal Company, of which Mr. Redhead is President. Work will be pressed for- ward as rapidly as possible and the practical bene- fits arising from the discovery be demonstrated. A track will be laid to the shaft from the Indianola branch of the Chicago. Rock Island & Pacific Rail- road and the necessary machinery for hoisting put in by the company. Mr. Redhead is deserving of the thanks of Des Moines and the vicinity for the perseverance he has shown and the discovery which he has made. He was the first man to intro- duce anything like system in the business of coal mining in Des Moines, and now his last great achievement places him in the rank of a benefac- tor and he will undoubtedly receive the just enco- niums of the people which he so richly deserves."
Mr. Redhead gradually purchased the interests of the other members of the company and in 1871. became sole proprietor. In May, 1880. James 1. Clark was admitted as a partner, and the pause of the company was changed to Pioneer Coal Com- pany, Mr. Redbead being President. He is now
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.
sole proprietor. At one time he was Secretary and Treasurer of the Black Diamond Coal Company of Marion County, also Treasurer of the Des Moines Scale Company; a Director of the State National Bank and Vice-President of the State Printing Company. He organized the Pioneer Hay Com- pany. of which he is President. the company hav- ing been incorporated in 1885, with a paid up capital of $60,000. Its business is that of whole- »de dealers in lowa upland prairie hay and that of breeders and dealers in fine horses and high grade cattle. The stock of the company is now entirely owned by Mr. Redhead and the business is in a prosperous condition. He also has a large farm and an elegant suburban residence situated about one mile and a half from his office. He owns ex- tensive tracts of land in Polk County. In addition to his other business interests he is Treasurer of the State Insurance Company of lowa. one of the important Insurance Companies of Des Moines. Hle also located the present State Fair site, which he sold to the State.
Mr. Redhead has been twice married. First in October, 1851, to Miss Isabel Clark, of Iowa City, a sister of llon. Ezekiel Clark, of lowa City, and a sister of the wives of ex-Gov. Kirkwood, Edward Lucas, I. E. Jewett and William Rutton, of towa City, as noble a family of women as was ever reared in the Buckeye State- they being born and Frared near Mansfield, Ohio. She died in 1858. In 1860 he was united in marriage in Des Moines with Miss Annie Seymour, daughter of Austin and Mar- tha (Miller) Seymour, and a ward of Judge M. D. Mellenry. The lady was reared in Kentucky and removed to Des Moines in 1855. Eight children were born of their union, three sons and five daughters, four of whom are living-George S .. Lizzie K., deceased. Mildred, Charles W., Herbert S., Annie Belle and Sarah M., deceased, and one unnamed.
Mr. and Mrs. Redhead are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a member of of the Masonic fraternity, having risen to the Scot- tish Right degree. Has been identified with nearly all the large enterprises that have been started in Des Moines. He was a Democrat until 1861. be- coming a Republican at that time. He served in
the Legislature of Iowa one term; also was Super- visor of the county, member of the City Council and School Board nearly all the terms until within a few years.
Mr. Redhead, as his record shows, has been a busy man all his life. Possessed of a restless en- ergy, cool determination and great self-reliance, he has fought the battle of life unaided except by his natural intelligence, energy and integrity. That he has succeeded beyond the ordinary expectations of most people is conceded, and in doing so he has materially aided in the development of the natural resources of Polk County. built up extensive busi- uess enterprises and given employment to a large number of men. The history of such a man serves to encourage the young whom adversity has left at the foot of the ladder. to greater effort and fuller hope.
12 ENRY TASKETT is engaged in general farming and stock-raising on section 35, Bloomfield Township, where he has a pleas- ant home and a nice farm of eighty aeres. Hle is a native of the Empire State, born April 18. 1824, and is a son of Israel and Harriet (Fuller) Taskett. On the paternal side he is of Spanish de- scent and on the maternal is of English origin, though the Fuller family belonged to one of the emily Puritan fromnilies. The grandfather of our subject was born in Spain, but at an early day crossed the Atlantic to America and settled in Ver- mont, where Israel Taskett was born. He grew to manhood in his native State. but afterwards re- moved to New York, where he followed farming until his death, which occurred in 1861. The lady of his choice. Miss Harriet Fuller, was born in New Hampshire and survived her husband many years, dying in 1883. Of their family of seven children, four are now living-Charles, who resides near the old homestead in New York: Lavisa, wife of B. F. Wood; Lydia. wife of B. S. Keyes, of Nebraska; and Henry.
Our subject spent the early part of his boyhood days in Jefferson County, N. Y., during which time he conned the rudimentary branches of learn-
753
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.
ing in the district schools. He was eighteen years of of age when he started out in life for himself. It his first intention to learn the machinist's trade. and to this end he went to Chelmsford, Mass., but after a six months' trial he coneluded to engage in some other occupation. He then hired ont as a farm hand, working two months. after which he received an offer from his unele in Nashua, N. 11., to take him as an apprentice to the saddlery trade. Accepting, Mr. Tackett spent two years in perfect- ing himself in that business, and then worked at different places in that line until 1853. when, hav- ing acquired some money, he purchased a harness shop in Antwerp, N. Y. At that time there were hut two shops in the village, and believing the in- terests of both proprietors could be benefited by uniting their businesses, he purchased a half in- terest in the other shop. The partnership con- tinned a year, when Mr. Taskett became sole pro- prietor. He was very successful in his operations and for five years did an extensive business in Antwerp. during which time he also erected eight buildings in the town. Selling out in 1859. he re- sumed farming, which he followed in the East un- til 1863, when he came to Polk County to seek a location. Being pleased with the country and its future prospects, he returned to his family in the Empire State, and the following Angust, accom- panied by his wife and children, he came to Des Moines.
Mr. Taskett was married in September, 1858, to to Miss Permelia A. Alton. daughter of George and Harriet (Calledge) Alton, both of whom were natives of Connectient. Her father was a farmer and followed that business for a livelihood to the end of his life. IL died in 1865. and his wife passed away in 1872. They were the parents of ten children. viz: Alvin, David. Almira, Nancy, George. Mary. Daniel, Julia, Hattie and Perioelia. Hattie is now deceased. Five children were born of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Ta. kett, and the fam- ily circle still remains unbroken. although several have left the parental roof. Charles H., the old- est, resides in Bloomfield Township, near the old homestead, and is ongagol in farming : Hattie is the wife of Adin Simons, of Ida Grove, Ida County. lowa; Ella wedded J. H. Graham, of Clay County,
lowa: Julia M. is engaged in teaching in Dallas County, lowa; and Mamie is a teacher of Ida County. lowa. The children received excellent educational advantages, thereby being fitted for the practical duties of this life, and are now re- spected men and women of the several communi- ties in which they reside.
On his arrival in the West, Mr. Taskett located in Des Moines, but after residing in the city for eighteen months, he purchased eighty acres of land on section 35, Bloomfield Township. No improve- ments had been made upon it, but he immediately crested a home for his family and turned his at- tention to the development of his land. Although other pursuits have occupied his attention for a number of years, he has spent the greater portion of his life in farming and understands the business in all its details. His fields are well tilled, he keeps on hand a good grade of stock and has all the latest improved machinery. In his political views he is a Republican, having supported that party since its organization, when he cast his first Presidential vote for its first candidate, John C. Fremont, in 1856. lle has held several local offices, including that of Road Supervisor. Trustee and School Di- rector. Although many have longer been residents of the county than Mr. Taskett, none have felt a deeper interest in its upbuilding and progress, and as the result he is numbered among its progressive and public-spirited citizens.
AILON PARIE TURNER, a prominent. physician and citizen of Des Moines, was born in Boone County, Mo., October 25. 1821, and is a son of John D. and Eliva- beth (Stroud) Turuer. His paternal grandfather. Job Turner. emigrated from North Carolina, and settled near Lexington, Ky .. at an early day. bu! removed thence to Boone County, Mo., in 1816. when but few white settlers were living in that State. In 1829, he became a resident of Morgan County, Il., where he died at the ripe old age of eighty-two years. His family munbered diglat chi! dren. of whom Jel D. was the oldest. The latter
754
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.
was born in 1799, near Lexington. Ky .. and while in Missouri was married, in 1822, to Miss Stroud. who was born in Bowling Green, Ky., in 1801, and was a nicee of Stephen Stroad. the noted historie character of the Black Hawk War. Her father died when she was an infant and she accompanied her widowed mother to Missouri.
Dr. Turner's parents improved a farm in that State and shared many of the toils and privations of pioneer life. Their house was built from boards middle with an old fashioned whipsaw. In 1829, they removed to Morgan County. Ill., where they remained until the spring of 1865, when they came to Des Moines and made this city their home until then death. Theirs was the first golden weilling celebrated in this city. Both were zealous mem- bers of the Christian Church and were highly re- spreted people. Mr. Turner was a great admirer of Clay until that gentleman gave his political in- fluence to elect Adams, when he espoused the prin- ciples advocated by Jackson until the rise of the Republican party. He was a strong Foion man and volunteered to join the Graybeard Regiment, but at that time he had reached such an advanced age that his services were not accepted. His death oc- curred in 1877, and his wife passed away in 1887. Their family consisted of nine children. five sons and four daughters, only four of whom are now living. Giles 11., who died in 1885, was an eminent lawyer of Des Moines; while a resident of Carroll- ton, Ill., he served as District Attorney, and repre- sented his district in the State Legislature. He was City Attorney and twice Mayor of Des Moines. Two others are residents of this city, Dr. M. P. and %lica T., widow of Col. Dunlap, who enlisted as a private and was promoted to be Captain in the Mex- ican War, and served as Colonel in the late War.
Dr. Turner, whose name heads this sketch, worked upon his father's farm and attended the district schools until fifteen years of age when he entered the literary department of the Illinois College at Jacksonville, where he pursued a two years' course of study. It was his desire to make the medi al profession las life work, but in order to procure the means necessary to fit himself for practice, he was forced to engage in teaching. After studying for some time with Dr. I. M. Stewart of Exeter. Ill.,
he entered the medical department of Ilinois Col- lege, from which he graduated in the class of 1817. The day after his graduation he was admitted to partnership by his former preceptor, to receive a third of their varnings during the first two years and a half of the profits after that period had ex- pired. Their connection continued for six years, during which time he made $10,000, notwithstand- ing he was in feeble health all the while.
On the 23d of December. 1852. our subject was joined in wedlock with Miss Mary A. Ramsay. who was born near Jacksonville, Ill., September 20." 1828. Her father, William M. Ramsay. was born in 1782, near Charleston, S. C., and in that city learned the saddler's trade. When the War of 1812 broke out he enlisted and did valiant service for kis conn- try. He married Susanna Gillham, who was born in Pendleton County, S. C .. in 1787. John and Sarah (Clark ) Gillham, the parents of Mrs. Ram- say, lived in South Carolina during the Revolution. and suffered much from the cowardly abuse of their Tory neighbors. While the husband was ab- sent, serving in defense of his country, his wife tilled the farm and cared for her children unaided. The Tories attempted to take away her only horse and household supplies, but the brave woman re- sisted until they were forced. out of shame. to re- lease her property. In early life they removed to Illinois, where they were married in 1820. Mr. Ramsay there followed farming for a number of years. His death occurred in 1839. In politics he was a Democrat, and both he and his wife were consistent Christian people. In their family were three children, one son and two daughters. In 1818, Mrs. Turner accompanied her mother and brother to Oregon. They made the journey by wagon and the following year removed to Cali- fornia, where her mother died in 1850. and soon after the sister and brother returned to Himois.
The year 1853 witnessed the emigration of Dr. Turner and his wife to California. He took with him two hundred head of cattle and embarked in the breeding of dairy stock, in which he gained quite a reputation. As physicians were searce in that neighborhood, he was forced into practice, which he continued until his return to Des Moines in 1858. Although he met with some reverses in the West,
757
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPINCAL ALBUM.
he reached lowa. improved both in health and ' parents, having passed their entire lives in this finances. Since that time he has done a great deal city. In justice to Dr. Turner and his estimable wife it should be said that few have done more for the upbuilding and progress of Des Moines than they. yet they assume no credit for it. being con- tent to enjoy the advanced position which the city to-day occupies, rather than to hear the praises of men. to assist in the growth and development of the city. lle built Turner's Block, in the hill of which was given the first performance by a theatrical troupe in Des Moines. He erected the bridge across Coon River, which was swept away, and with I. D. White rebuilt it. They also put the second and third bridges across the Des Moines on Court Avenue. The Doctor deserves special commenda- tion for his effort to furnish the city with a street railroad. With others, he organized the Des Moines Street Railroad Company, and built the first street railroad in the State. As the people were not edu- cated up to the luxury of riding on street cars, it soon became an expensive improvement. and those
associated with the Doctor were anxious to sell out. With full faith in the growth and development of the city, he and his wife purchased the entire stock of the company, he becoming President and Super- intendent and she Vice-President, Secretary and Tremenrer. For fourteen years they operated the road, although they never reaped any profit there- from. They sold out the entire line in 1886.
--
---
Dr. Turner has been very successful as a financier and when he became interested in any enterprise he continued his labors until he made it a successful one. He has large real-estate interests in and near Des Moines and is connected with four flourishing banks, being a Director in the State Savings Bank -- of this city. In early life, although the other men- bers of his family were Democrats, he supported the Whig party until the organization of the Republican - party, when he joined its ranks. He entertains strong temperance principles, and he and his family are members of the Congregational Church. The ; Doctor has never aspired to public office. though during the war he was chosen Alderman from the Fourth Ward, which was strongly Democratic. He has always been a friend of the laboring man, is charitable to the poor, and ever ready to extend a helping hand to the downtrodden.
To Doctor and Mrs. Turner have been born four children: Lizzie C., the eldest, was born in Cali- fornia, and died at the age of seven years; Mary 1 A., born in Des Moines, died at the age of sixteen 1
years; Emma J. and Susie P. are still with their
ONN HAYS, who owns a fine fruit farm on section 25, Bloomfield Township, is num- bered among the honored pioneers of Polk County. He is one of the oldest as well as the earliest citizens, and dates his residence in this community from 1816. At that time the county contained only one hundred inhabitants and gave little promise of its present advanced position. Its lands were wild and uncultivated. Des Moines was but a mere hamlet, and many of the now thriving towns and villages situated between its borders were not then in existence. It is the purpose of the publishers of this work to perpetuate, by written record, the lives of the county's early set- ters and worthy citizens, and as such a one Mr. Hays certainly deserves representation in this volume.
John Hays was born in Augusta County, Va .. September 13. 1815. and was the fifth in order of birth in a family of seven children. His father, Patrick Hays, was a native of Pennsylvania, born of Irish parentage. He was reared to the ocenpa- tion of farming, which he made his life work, fol- lowing the business for a number of years it Augusta County, Va. He married Jane Brown. who was a native of that county. and with his fam- ily afterward removed to Greenbrier County, Va .. but there remained only a short time. His next. place of residence was in Pocahontas County of the same State, where he made his home five years. when in 1839 he emigrated to Davis County, Mo., where the remainder of his life was passed. He died in 1853, at the age of eighty years, and his wife passed away the year previous at the age of seventy -five years. In the War of 1812 Mr. Hays proved himself a loyal citizen by enlisting in the
758
PORTLAPP AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.
American ranks. He won friends wherever he went by his honorable, upright life, and both he and his wife were held in high regard by the citi- zens of Davis County, No. Only two of their children are now living-John. of this sketch; and Ellen, widow of John Kent, of Davis County, Mo. Those deceased are: Jane, Sally, William. Samuel and Robert.
Harvey now lives. His brother. however, soon afterward returned to Missouri on account of the poor health of his family.
The following season. in company with his friend, Mr. Everly. Mr. Days purchased a drove of oxen. which he took to Ft. Leavenworth. Kan., and sold to Majs. Russell and Waddell, contract- ors for furnishing supplies for the army-the Mexican War being then in progress. Having disposed of the stock. he then returned home and began the task of clearing and developing the land, but the same year sold out to Lisander Har- vey. The following spring he purchased a claim near Saylorville, but after two years' residence thereon he moved to Des Moines, where he en- gaged in teaming for some time. His next enter- prise was the buying and shipping of stock, in which he engaged as a partner of J. C. Jordan. He purchased and drove the first lot of hogs in in this county to Keokuk, and successfully carried on the business for about fifteen years. In the meantime he kept an hotel. which every old set- tler will remember as the Cottage House, doing business in that line for about five years. While engaged in the stock business, in the fall of 1859, he was elected Sheriff of Polk County, which posi- tion he filled two years, discharging the duties of the office while looking after his other interests. Hle accumulated a handsome competency as the. result of his efforts as a stock dealer. and m 1870 sold out. becoming owner at the same time of a large fruit farm in Bloomfield Township, upon which he now resides. It has one of the finest orchards in the county, and is a superior farm in every way.
The early life of our subject was spent as that of many another farmer lad. He received such educational advantages as the common schools afforded, and remained under the parental roof until the migration of his parents to Missouri. He embarked upon his business career as a teacher, which profession he followed two terms. The year succeeding his parents' removal to the West, he joined them in Missouri, and assisted his father in the cultivation of the home farm until 1816, when he determined to seek a home elsewhere on account of his abolition principles, In company with his brother and a friend, Henry Everly, he started for Jown in February. 1816. Each of the young men purchased horses, and placing their grips upon them, followed an Indian trail to the north, which led them straight across the prairies to Ft. Des Moines, which on their arrival they found to be a mere hamlet. consisting of a row of fort houses along the bank of the Des Moines River, and another along the bank of the Coon River. The buildings were constructed of logs, but having been whitewashed, presented a very neat appearance. The first man they met was John B. Saylor, in whose honor Saylorville was moned. They inquired of him the best place to make claims, and were told to follow the Des : Moines River on the east side. After proceeding Although Mr. Hay's has gained wealth. it has not come to him through mere good forture. but is the result of industry, enterprise, good management and the exercise of correct business principles. He has also had to contend against the hardships and trials of pioneer life. He has aided in the arduous task of developing the wild land, and in many way's has assisted in the upbuilling of the county. He hes bern a witness of its growth from the days of it- earliest infantry, and no citizen has taken a more active interest in its progress. All social. about fifteen miles they chose locations embracing the present site of Polk City. Our subject and his brother made claim of three hamired and twenty acres of lual, half of which was covered with a dense growth of timber. They erected a log ! cabin and began the development of a farm, but after two months received an excellent offer and sold. They then came down the river to what is now Say lorville and rented land of Mr. Say lor and proceeded to raise a crop. During the same sui- mer John Hays purchased the claim where Lisaunder : moral and educational enterprises have received
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.