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 56
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In July, 1862. in a night vision, om subject sew the surrender of Lee's army at the very place where it finally occurred. Impressed by this that the time had come. however, for him to take an active part in the struggle in which his country was engaged. Mr. Perkins, alone in one week's time enlisted one hundred and seven men and was made Captain. On the organization of the regiment he was offered his choice between the offices of Major and Chaplain, Int sickness prevented him from ac. repting, or going with the regiment. the Twenty. second Wisconsin. The following year he took. charge of another circuit but so thoroughly was i. nervous system shattered that he had to give up the beloved work of the ministry in IrGl. Coma . to Mt. Vernon, Jowa, he engaged to sell nursty stock as a business affording him out-door eur ." and he proved to be as successful a sale !is. . preacher. At Marion, lowa, he met an 221 ; the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance for; 3 who induced him to put a few applications foi
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icies in his pocket and while selling trees see what he could do in the insurance business. For twenty- five years he has now continued operations for that company. In 1868, he removed his family to Des Moines and from that time until 1885, did quite an extensive real-estate business in connec- tion with his duties as an insurance agent. He was made State Loan Agent for the Northwestern in 1885, and has since devoted his entire time to its interests.
To Mr. and Mrs. Perkins have been born seven children-Perry, who is Secretary of the Iowa Grand Lodge, Independent Order Good Templars; Charles O., who is a partner with his father in the business of handling coal, building materials, cte. ; Ella, wife of E. B. Fagen ; Frank, a farmer; Kittie, Jennie and Bert. The parents and daughters are members of the First Methodist Episcopal Church of this city. Mr. Perkins hasalways been a liberal donor to the church and while a resident of Daven- pit, lowa. gave one-fourth of his possessions for the building of a house of worship. Since coming to Des Moines he has accumulated an abundance of this world's goods and his contributions to all worthy enterprises have increased proportionately. In politics, Mr. Perkins has always been a stanch Republican and a strong temperance man. He has never sought office but consented to serve as Mayor of Greenwood Park, for the purpose of ridding it of saloons. This sketch, though brief, gives an outline of the life of one of the most prominent business men in the State and one of Des Moines' most esteemed citizens.
OHN J. STEINRIEDE, M. D, of Des Moines, is a native of the Grand Duchy of Oldenburg. and was born June 20 1833. llis parents, Henry and Marie ( Mackie) Steinriode, were born in the same province, re- spectively in 1780 and 1786. His mother was at ninee of Francis P. Molier, whose name has such prominence in the French Revolution. At the close of that struggle the royal family and its ad. herents took refuge in foreign countries, the Molier
and Mackie families going to Germany. Grand- father Mackie was commissary to Napoleon's Army, on its campaign through Oldenburg, and it was on this occasion that Henry and Marie, then young, first met. Upon marriage they settled on the old homestead that had been in the possession of the family for several hundred years. It was a large estate. containing some eight hundred acres. He was an extensive stock-raiser, especially horses, and a man that took a prominent part in local affairs. lle lived to be eiglity-seven, and his wife ninety- nine years old. Of their nine children only two survive -- Henry, who resides in Germany ; and our subject.
Dr. Steinriede enjoyed the very best oppor- tunities for education. Under a learned priest he prepared for the gymnasium, and at the age of seventeen entered the university at Witzburg. and four years later was graduated. As he could not got a diploma from the university until he was twenty-five years old, he was induced to come to America, in 1856, through the influence of Bishop Ferreding. At the instance of the above bishop he was appointed by Arch Bishop Purcell "interne" at St. John's Hospital for Invalids at Cincinnati, Ohio, where he remained till 1860. The same year he was graduated by the Ohio Medical College, and subsequently by the Miami Medical College, both of Cincinnati.
Our subject was married, in May, 1861, to Mrs. Elizabeth Siegendorf, nee De Duhme, a native of Louisiana, Going to New Orleans he entered the Confederate Navy as Surgeon, in September, 1861, and served until nearly the close of the war. In 1863 he had charge of the hospital at. Benton, Miss., and the following year was appointed Examining Surgeon at Mobile. After the service he located at Benton, Miss., where he had a lucrative practice. In 1878 he removed to Yazon City, and remained till 1881, when he took up his abode in New Or- leans. In 1888 he came to Des Moines.
Dr. Steinriede is a successful practitioner, and is accounted one of the best read physicians in Des Moines. He is a member of the Polk County Medi- cal Society, and of the National Medical Asscia- tion. He was chosen Professor of Materia Medica and Therapeutics, in Drake University. He is at
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present Professor of Chemistry, Pharmacy and Toxicology in the same institution. In addition to his professional duties he has contributed a number of articles to medical journals. Both be and his wife are members of the Catholic Church, and he of the Catholic Knights. They have two children -John W. and Marie A. B.
Dr. Steinriede is a man of wide experience in his profession, having practiced thirty-three years. In Angust, 1889, he purchased a large and well- equipped hotel, capable of secommedating over one hundred guests, at Siloam Springs. Gentry County, Mo. The springs have become quite noted for their medicinal properties. Barrels of water are hanled away, and invalids, unable to get relief from med- cal treatment, are made whole by spending a few months at this-nature's fountain of healing.
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OSEPH WILLIAMS, real-estate dealer of Des Moines, was born in Shelby County, Ind., July 12, 1837. He is one of five chil- dren born to Joel and Jane (Dawson) Will- iams. Only one besides himself, Jeremiah, is now living. The Williams family emigrated from Tennessee and the Dawsons from Kentucky, being among the earliest settlers of Shelby County, Ind. When only four years old Joseph lost his father who died in the prime of manhood. Subsequently his mother married William Sweeney. by whom she had six children. In 1850 the family came to Polk County, and located near Mitchellville, where she still lives being in her seventy-third year.
Josephs' carly life was such as was common to farmer boys in the new West. Having attended the district schools, he entered, in ts56, the North- western University at Indianapolis. Ind., but sickness caused him to give up his college work. Returning home he farmed, with the exception of two years spent in merchandising at Mitchellville, till 1866, when he came to Des Moines, and en- gaged in the grocery trade for a year, then bought the property on East Fifth Street and Court Avenue, put in mill machinery and for nine years did an extensive willing business. Having sold hi, mill
he turned his attention to dealing in real-estate, to which he has devoted himself since. handling more particularly coal land, of which he and his partner, Mr. George Garver, own large and valuable tracts. Hle has not only given time and means to prospeet- ing for coal. bat has helped organize mining com- panios, notably the Watson Coal and Mining Company and the Hastie Coal and Mining Com- pany.
Mr. Williams is interested in farm and city prop- erty; he has foll faith in Des Moines as a safe place to invest in real-estate. Politically, he is a Repub- lican and though he has never aspired to places of public trust, he has been called upon by his ward to serve in the City Council. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias, and of the Ancient Order of United Workmen fraternities. October, 1859, at Muscatine, Iowa, he married Miss Salinda Thornton, a native of Indiana, though she came with her parents to lowa in early life. She bore him six children; one died in infancy : Jeremiah P. died at the age of twenty-one : Ella, Fred. Ada. and Neota. March 17. 1879. his wife died and two years later he wedded Mrs. Lottie E. Bointon, nee Winters, who had one daughter. Jennie, by her former hus- bund. Mr. Williams and wife are of the Univer- salist faith, as was also his first wife. Mr. Williams has lived in Polk County forty years. and during that time has been actively engaged in one busi- ness or another. That his labors have been well directed is evidenced from the fact that he has ac- cumulated a good share of property and has always borne a reputation for fair dealing and honesty.
ROF. CHARLES W. MARTINDALE, Dean of Callanan College, was born in @ Delaware County, lowa, November 15, 1859. The Martindale family emigrated from England to South Carolina, among the early sel- tlers; his great-grandfather was one of the first to cross the mountains to Kentucky. John Martindale, son of the above and grandsire of the Professor. was a pioneer preacher in the Christian Church, ex- tending his labors over Indiana, Ilinois and Mich-
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igan, until 1851, when he came to lowa. He is still living at the advanced age of eighty-live. His son David. father of Charles W .. was born in Southern Indians in June, 1530,and was therefore twenty-one years old when the family came to lowa. He is ope of the successful farmers of Delaware County, Iowa. For a wife he returned to Indiana and married Miss Elizabeth C. Jones,a native of Butler County, Ohio; she was born February 5, 1830. Both he and his wife are active members of the Church of Christ. They had but three children, only two of whom are living-Joseph P., a Christian minister, and the Professor.
Prof. M. was taught to do all kinds of farm work in his boyhood days. His educational advantages until fifteen years of age were such as the district schools offered, then he attended a village school until he was qualified to teach. Having followed that vocation until he had some means saved, he entered Oskaloosa. lowa, College and the second year secured a position as tutor in the college, be- ing thus enabled to pay his tuition. The subjects taught were pretty deep for a youth -- mathematics, civil government and Greek, but so satisfactory was his work that on the opening of Drake Uni- versity at Des Moines, in 1881. he was given a tutorship. While teaching he was also doing the work of a student in the university. In 1883, he graduated with the degree of A. B., being the first classical graduate of the institution. The winter of 1883 and 1881 he was Principal of the Center- ville High School. Having closed his work there. two positions were offered him, Instructor in Drake University, and the Principalship of Corydon lowa schools. The latter he accepted and held five years. giving the best of satisfaction and winning for him- self a reputation as an educator. At Corydon he married, February 27, 1885. Miss Annie Harts- horne. a native of that city, where she was also educated. They have two children. William Il. and Elizabeth. In tesy, Prof. M. was tendered a jsition in the university, as Dean of Callanan College. Ile is an earnest, aggressive young man, not only in educational but also in moral reforms. Politically. he is a Republican with a strong pro- hibition plank in his platform. He is a member of the Knights of l'ythias fraternity and an active
worker in the Church of Christ, as is also his wife. January 1889, Prof. M. received a life diploma from the State as evidence of ten year's successful work as a teacher. In addition to his professional duties he and Prof. Hill M. Bell are editing and publishing the Des Moines Teacher, a magazine devoted to the educational interests of lowa. in which will be found the most advanced thoughts on educational questions.
EREMIAI SWIFT. one of the early settlers of the county and a loyal soklier in the late war. is now numbered among the repro-en- tative farmers of Beaver Township. He resides on section 8. A native of Vermont. he was born in Orange County, October 7, 1835, and is a son of Joseph and Nancy (Seavy ) Swift, both of whom were natives of Massachusetts, and were of English descent. His father made farming his life occupation, and was engaged in that pursuit in Orange County at the time of his death, which oc- curred in 1863, at the age of sixty years. Ilis wife survived him several years, and continued a resident of Orange County until called home. Their children were as follows: Elizabeth became the wife of Reuben Morris, and is now deceased ; Minnie, wife of George Roberts, a farmer of Or- ange County ; and Jeremiah.
Study, work and play occupied the attention of our subject during his boyhood days, but at the age of twenty -one years he began life's battle with the world. The following spring after attaining his majority, he started for lowa, believing that the West furnished better opportunities for young men, than the older and more thickly settled States of the East. Bidding good-by to parents and friends, he made his way by r il to Iowa City, thence proceeded by stage to Newton and con- tinued his journey on foot to the home of Purle Tom Mitchell, the pioneer of Polk County, for whom he worked as a farm band until the antoine of 1858, when. io company with two companions, he started with an ox-team for Kansas, with the in-
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tention of locating in that State if he found a fa- vorable opening. but he was not pleased with the country, and returned to his old employer, with whom he remained until July . 1862.
On the 9th of August, of that same year. Mr. Swift donned the blue and became a member of Company C, Twenty-third lowa Infantry, under Col. William 11. Dewey. The company remained in the barracks at Des Moines until the 19th of September, when, having been equipped for duty they were ordered South. They marched to Ed- dyville, lowa, there by mail to Keokuk, where they boarded a stemmer for St. Louis. Arriving at the latter city, they were put on garrison duty at Scofield Barracks, and after two weeks were ordered to Iron Mountain, Mo., where they also did garrison duty for a short time. From Patter- son. Mo., they were sent to Arkansas on a scout- ing expedition. and thus the winter of 1862-68 wore away. After their return to Iron Mountain the following spring. they were sent to Millikin's Bend, La., where the army was organizing for the Vicks- burg campaign under Gen. Grant, and shortly afterward started southward. marching along the Louisana side of the river until opposite Brooms- burg. where they crossed, continuing on to Mag- nola Hill, where a severe engagement occurred with the rebel troops under Gen. Johnston. The battle lasted about twenty -four hours, during which many members of the Twenty-third lowa Infantry were killed or wounded. Gardener Webb, who was stationed by the side of our sub- ject, was shot down, but Mr. Swift remained unin- jured, although shot and shell were flying thick and fast about him. The battle ended. they started for Jackson, Miss., but while en route it was found that the rebels were in the rear, and facing about they brought on an engagement at Champion Hills, where the enemy was forced to retreat. However, they succeeded in escaping capture, and darkness closing over the scene the armies rested for the night. The following morning the battle was resumed and both sides lost heavily, but the I'nion forces were again victorious and captured abont fifteen hundred prisoners, chasing the re- mainder of the forces into Vicksburg. The Twenty-third lowa Infantry wps detailed to guard 1
the prisoners, while the main body closed up around Vicksburg. The prisoners were then marched down to Young's Point, opposite the city. and a few days afterward were taken to Memphis, Term., and placed in charge of other troops and conveyed northward. The next engagement oc- curred at Millikin's Bend, where a fierce hand to hand fight took place. in which half of the troops were either killed or wounded. This was followed - by the long seige and final capture of Vicksburg, after which they were ordered to New Orleans, and thence went by vessel to St. Joseph's Island, Tex. On the voyage the vessel encounterel a heavy storm which lasted five days and nights. in which the soldiers gave up all hope of ever again reaching the shore alive, but the wind at length abated nivel they reached their destination in safety. Marching to Matagorda Island, they be- sieged and captured Ft. Esperemza, and returned to New Orleans in May 1861. The next battle oc- eurred at Spanish Fort. Ala .. and after camping awhile in the city of Mobile, they were again sent to Texas, to parole prisoners. The Twenty third lowa Infantry was mustered out July 26, 1865, and in Davenport. lowa, Mr. Swift received an honorable discharge. He remained a faithful sol- dier from the time of his enlistment until the close of the war. always found at his post of duty, never shirking any task imposed upon him. Another member of the regiment was also actively engaged in every campaign. Dock. the regimental dog, who followed the Twenty-third through every bat- lle and on every march. made friends with every member of the company, and at length returned to the North when the war was over. Mr. Swift still has in his possession a picture of that faithful canine.
Returning to Mitchellville, Mr. Swift once more entered the employ of Mr. Mitchell, and remained with bim until 1867. On the 16th of April, of that year, be was united in marriage with Miss Henrietta Mattern, and by their union two chil- dren have been born, Carrie and La Forrest. After their marriage they resided in Mitchellville for a year, and then removed to the farm on which they now reside. Mr. Swift having purchased the same in 1866. He erected a house and then began
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the work of improvement, which he has still con tinned until his farm of one hundred acres is one of the best in the township. He also devotes con- siderable attention to the raising of the best grades of stock. In political sentiment he has been a supporter of the Republican party since Istil. and socially is a member of Warr Post, No. 17, Gi. A. R., of Mitchellville. He and his family are well known throughout the county, where their friends are many and where they hold a high po- sition in the social world.
The parents of Mis. Swift are deserving of more especial mention in this volume. Her father, David Mattern, was born in Pennsylvania, of Ger- man descent and having attained to mature years, welded Barbara Parks, who was also a native of the Keystone State, but her family is of Scotch origin. In lis carlier years, Mr. Mattern learned the blacksmith's trade, and has made it his life oe :u- pation. now carrying on the same for Thomas Mitchel. His wife died in 1870, and was deeply mourned by many friends. Of their nine children. six are yet living: Jacob, a resident of Colfax. Iowa; Scott, who served in the late war. and for nine months was confined in Andersonville prison, is now a resident of Nebraska; Irvana is living in Ft. Worth, Tex .: Jane makes her home in Mitch- ellville; Carrie is the wife of Thomas Mitchell; win Henrietta is the wife of Jeremiah Swift. Two other sons of the family served in the army, and gave their lives on the altar of their country. one dying in Helena, Ark,, and the other in Louisiana.
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ON. GEORGE W. COPLY, a prominent lawyer and the present Mayor of Mitchell- ville, is a native of the Buckeye State. He was born in Wayne County, on the 25th of August, 1833, and is of English descent. Ilis paterid great-grandfather, Jacob Coply, came from England to this country during the Revolu- tionary War as a Lieutenant in the service of King George. but when he learned the state of affairs in this country. his sympathies were enlisted with the Colonists. and deserting the British service he
joined the Colonial army, with which he served until American independence was attained. His property was confiscated to the English govern- ment. It hy a special act of Congress was after- ward restored to him. He then started on a return trip to his native land to settle up his affairs in that country prior to making a permanent location in the United States, but was never again heard from, and it is supposed was lost at sea. He left a wife and two children, but the mother died shortly afterward, and the children were reared by a Penn- sylvania farmer, near Lancaster. One of these children. Thomas by name, was the grandfather of our subject. He was born in Pennsylvania, but removed to Wayne County, Ohio. about 1824. and made farming bis principal occupation, and died at an advanced age in 1863. He was the father of tive children, of whom Jacob, the eldest, who was born in 1811, was the father of our subject. He married Elizabeth Bisler, a native of Maryland born of German parentage. Their union was biest with the birth of four children, of whom our sub- jeet was the eldest: lomm B., died while in the service during the late war; Mary M., is the wife of John S. Addleman. of Cleveland, Ohio; and David E., a farmer of West Salem, Ohio. The father has been a life-long Democrat, and is a man of sterling worth, highly respected in the commu- nity where he and his wife now reside, their home being in West Salem, Ohio.
George W. Coply was born and reared on his father's farm in Wayne County. Ohio, and during his youth received a common school education. However he possessed a studious nature, and made the best of his opportunities, and on his sixteenth birthday he began teaching. Having thus secured some ready money, he determined to extend his knowledge, and at the age of eighteen entered upon a scientific course of study in the Ohio Wesleyan University. where he remained three years, gradu- ating in the class of 1851. He paid his own way through college by teaching during vacations, and again followed that pursuit after the completion of his school life. He was an able instructor. and where once employed could always again secure a position.
In 1855 Mr. Coply was united in marriage with
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Miss Maria W. Bernard, of Genesee, Il., after which he spent his winter months in teaching. while during the summer months be devoted his time to the operation of a farm. In 1869 he came to Polk County. and purchased one hundred and sixty aeres of land in Franklin Township, which he cul- tivated for two years, when an accident forced him to abandon that mode of life. It was during a hard wind storm in 1872. when trying to replace a window which had been blown out, the glass was broken and out his wrist. severing an artery, which caused him to lose the use of his left hand. That accident changed the whole course of his life. Being no longer able to follow the flow, he deter- mined to engage in a professional career, and be- gan the study of law at Mitchellville. He was admitted to the bar on the 10th of September, 1876, and here at once began the practice which he has still continued. He makes a specialty of collecting and commercial law, and also represents several of the best insurance companies in the country. He has gained a wide reputation as a successful lawyer, and has proved a valuable addi- tion to the bar of Polk County.
Since attaining his manhood, a period of thirty- five years, Mr. Coply has continually represented the people in some official capacity, either in town- ship, county or muimieipal office, with the exception of two years. This is a fact of which but few can boast, and is excellent evidence of the worth and ability of the man. In opposition to the views of his ancestry. he is a Republican. His popularity is shown from the fact that after his nomintion by his own party for the office of Township Clerk, his name was placed upon the Democratie ballot, and out of three hundred and twenty-five votes cast, he secured three hundred and five. In the spring of 1889 he was elected Mayor of Mitchellville, and so satisfactorily did he discharge the duties of the of- Ilce, that he was re-elected in the spring of 1890. The office of Secretary of the independent school district of Mitchellville, he has hell for seventeen years. Socially. Mr. Coply is a Mason, and for a number of year- has served as Master of the house lodge. In the Ancient Order of United Work- men, of which he is also an active member, he has been Recorder for about seven yents, An ac-
knowledged representative citizen and leading business man of Mitchellville, he certainly deserves representation in this volume, and it is with pleas- ure that we record his sketch. He may also be called a self-made man, his success being due entirely to his own efforts and the assistance of his estimable wife. Besides considerable property in Mitchellville, he owns an adjoining farm on which can be found a good grade of stock.
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