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 57
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Mr. and Mrs. Coply have been the parents of eight children. Jean W., the ellest, was accidentally killed by a friend while on a hunting expedition at the age of twenty-seven years. He was an ex- emplary young man, of more than average intelli- gence and ability. and his untimely death was a sad affliction to parents and friends, Ariel B., the ser- ond member of the family, is a resident of Des Moines; Frances M., is engaged in teaching; Ber- tha E., is at home; George B .. is a resident farmer of Polk County; William J., is operating the home farm; Florence M., is still with her parents; and Roy is deceased.
R OBERTSON M. BRISCO, who for a quarter of a century has been identified with the agricultural interests of this county, is now engaged in general farming and stock-rais- ing on section 34, Bloomfield Township. The Brisco family is of German origin and was founded in America at an early day. Jeremiah Brisco. the father of our subject, was born in Virginia, and on attaining mature years wedded Elizabeth Farmer, a native of Loudoun County. that State. born of Scotch parentage. Mr. Brisco was a boat builder by trade and in his youth removed from Virginia to Kentucky, and thence to Monroe County, in Southern Indiana, where he followed boating, tak- ing boats down the Mississippi to New Orleans, and then making the return journey on foot. It was a slow and tedious trip. the boats not being propelied by steam. In 1836 he abandoned that occupation and went to Northern Indiana, where he leased one hundred and sixty acres of timber land and began the development of a farm. His residence in that
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community covered a period of fourteen years. when. in 1850, be removed to Winucsheik County, lowa. After a few years spent in farming in that county, he moved to Floyd County. where he also followed agricultural pursuits and continued to re- side there until his death, which occurred in 1880. His wife preceded her husband to the final home. dying in 1870. They were the parents of a large family of fourteen children, eight of whom are yet living-John. a resident of Floyd County, Jowa; Robertson, of this sketch: Elias, who makes his home in Topeka, Kan. : Thomas J., of Nashaway, lowa; Sarah A., who makes her home in Wiseon- sin; Mary A., wife of David Reames, of Floyd County, lowa: Elizabeth. wife of N. Reames. of Floyd County ; and Catherine, of Wisconsin.
Our subject has made farming bis principal oc- eupation through life, although to some extent. he has engaged in other pursuits. He was reared to that industry, and like a dutiful son assisted his father until nineteen years of age, when he started out in life for himself. His first employment was as a farm hand, he working nine months for 872. He was then employed in splitting cordwood and rails, and afterwards constructed an iron forge for the manufacture of bar iron on the Tippecanoe River. He shunned no occupation whereby he might carn an honest dollar for he had no capital with which to begin life and no influential friends to procure him a start. He may truly be called a self- made man and deserves no little credit for the success which he has achieved. Going to Southern Michigan, he sought and obtained a po- sition on the construction of the Michigan South- ein Railroad, the first railroad ever run into Chicago from the East. After its completion fic went to St. Jo County, Ind .. and engaged with a fumer at $13 per month. working eighteen months. He then determined that his efforts should be in his own behalf. and leasing five acres of land, he created a little log cabin and began to maul mails and chop cordwood. He is now an extensive stock dealer and owns a number of fine houses, but he was probaldy as much delighted with the first house he possessed a- any of the fine specimens seen in his barns to-day. He paid $75 for the animal and worked for fifty cents per day to pay for it. After
eighteen months, he rented a farm in the same county and continued to operate rented land for three years, when having. by industry and ccon- omy. accumulated some capital, he purchased a traet of one hundred acres in Berrien County Mich., where he made his home for three years. Later he rented another farm and operated the two conjointly for a time, when he purchased property in Buchman, Mich., and there made his home for the succeeding six years of his life. He then de- termined to try bis fortune in some other branch of business, and going to Colorado in 1860, car- ried on a restaurant and engaged in mining near Louisville. After seven months. however, he tired of life in the West and returned to Buchanan, where he engaged in the manufacture of fanning- mills to a considerable extent, doing an excellent business in that line for four years.
The month of August. 1865, witnessed the ar- rival of Mr. Briseo and his family in Polk County, lowa, where he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land-his prosent farm. It was entirely unimproved or developed, and he rented a house on some land adjoining his own, where he resided three years, when he purchased a forty-acre tract three-quarters of a mile cast of his present home. A residence bad also been built upon that tract and was used as the home of the family for a year, when Mr. Brisco traded his forty acres adjoining his first purchase. His life has been an industri- ous one. and when he came into possession of his present farm he immediately began transforming it into a comfortable home. The wild prairies, which have been transformed into rich and fertile fields, now yield him an excellent income, and the boundaries of his land have been extended until four hundred aeres are now comprised within its borders. It is pleasantly situated about two and a half miles from the capital city. the pleasant resi- dence is neat and tastefully furnished. and the com- forts and many of the luxuries of life are there found. His barn is one of the largest and best in Bloomfield Township, and as before stated, he owns some of the best stock in the county, including several fine imported horses and a blooded bull.
On the 5th of September, 1850, Mr. Brisco was united in marriage with Miss Catherine J. Wy-
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koff, daughter of Peter and Sarah (Buckets) Wy- koff, the former a native of Maryland, and the latter of Virginia. By occupation the father was a gunsmith. but during his later years he engaged in farming. His death occurred in Warren County, Iowa, in 1870, and his wife died at the home of Mrs. Brisco in August, 1886. Their family num- bered six children, four of whom are yet living- Henry C., a resident of Warren County, Iowa; Cornelius C., who is living in the same county; Catherine, wife of our subject; and Peter B., who is living in Benton County, Jowa.
Mr. and Mrs. Briseo are the parents of twelve children, but three have passed away. Those liv- ing are: Martha E., of Des Moines; Emma I'., wife of Lloyd Jones, of Warren County, Iowa; Charles C., who is living in this county; Janet B., wife of S. T. Trowbridge: Ida, Clara. Samuel B .. Kittie P. and Mabel, who are at home.
Mr. Brisco justly ranks among the leading citi- zens of this county. The case of education has found in him a special friend, and he has hold the office of School Director for nineteen years, during which time he has done much to advance the stand- ard of schools in the community. He is a mom- ber of the Masonie fraternity and Farmers' Alli- ance, of Bloomfield Township, and in polities is a supporter of the Republican party. Mr. Brisco is widely known in this community, where he has so long resided, and those whose acquaintance with him dates from the earliest period are his warmest friends.
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G ERRIT VAN GINKEL. one of the most ac- tive business men of Des Moines, who in various ways is connected with the leading interests of the city. is of Holland birth. His father, A. Van Ginkel. was a native of the same country. and was twice married, having six children by his first wife, and three sons and three daughters by his second union. In 1857. he sailed with his fam ily for America. coming direct to Pella. Jowa. where he engaged in farming. His wife died at her home near that city a few years ago. Mr. Van Gin- kel removed to Kansas, where he spent his last days.
Gerrit Van Ginkel was born on the 11th of De- cember, 1819. and is a son of the second marriage. So carly in life did he begin to earn his own living. that he had but little time to attend school, though he has acquired a good practical education at the printer's case, and in the business affairs of life. He possesses an observing eye and retentive memory, and thereby has greatly supplemented his carly knowledge, becoming one of the well-read men of this community. When only eleven years of age. he took his place before a case in the office of Henry Hospers, and for some thirteen years was engaged in newspaper work. When a young man of eight- een years, he established the Pela Gosrtle, printed. in Pella, Iowa, which he published for two years, when failing health caused him to seek other em- ployment. Idleness is utterly foreign to his nature and it was not long before we find him established in Des Moines, devoting his energies to gardening and shipping vegetables in large quantities, in which he has since been interested with his brother John. now being his partner in the business. IIc would work in the garden during the summer sea- son, and in the winter at his case. As his capital increased, he ventured into more extensive busi- ness enterprises, and deserves no little credit for the part which be has horne in the mpbuilding and advancement of Des Moines interests.
Our subject was largely instrumental ip build- ing the Des Moines and Seva-tapol Street Railway. and such was the success of that line, that the com- pany was indusel to build lines in Des Moines proper, competing with the old Des Moines Street Railway Company. After a long and hard strug- gle, Mr. Van Ginkel and his associates succeeded in getting a charter, but the other company, hav-
ing the exclusive right to use house cars. filed an injunction. which, after a struggle, was sustained. After this his company decided to adopt the dee- trie street railroad system. of which every be- Moines am boast. which event was hastened by this clash of interests. No little honor and credit is due Mr. Van Ginkel for his persistent labors in this en- terprise. In 1889 he soldl his interest, but has sitre taken stock in the Des Moines Electric Street Rail- way Company. and Mr. Van Ginkel feels very proud over this road. In 1882, he established the
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Van Ginkel Coal Company, which has its mine at Sevastapol. and employs from seventy five to one hundred and twenty-five men with a daily capacity of two Inmdred and fifty tons of lump coal. and owns a large brickyard in connection. where mil- lions of bricks are made annually. He was one of the originators of the celebrated lowa Mineral and Ochre Paint Works at Des Moines, and in addition to his interest in and about this city, owns an Elec- trie Street Railway in Springfield. If., and is inter- ested in one in South Bend, Ind. He has done much to enlarge and beautify Sevastopol, having there built some thirty houses and several brick blocks.
At Pella, Iowa, December 13, 1867, Mr. Van Ginkel led to the marriage altar Miss Catherine Ten Hagen, a native of that city, to whom much of Mr. Vau Ginkel's success has been due, so he claims. Her parents emigrated to this country from Holland, but her father is of French extraction. I nto them were born eight children: Gerrit C .; Katie, who died at the age of four years; Ada, Samuel, Julia. Charlotte, Nancy and Katie.
Mr. Van Ginkel religiously was brought up in the faith of the Dutch Reformed Church, and is an Odd Fellow, a liberal Republican in politics, and his wife is a member of the Baptist Church. His life has been an industrious one, and his efforts have not proved fruitless. Coming to Des Moines twenty years ago, with only $20 in his pocket, he has gained a place among the prosperous and most prominent business men of this city.
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LEXANDER C. BONDURANT resides on section 31, Franklin Township, where he is engaged in general farming and stock- raising. The history of Polk County, with whose interests he has been so long and so closely identified, would be incomplete without this sketch and in recording his life work we place before the youths of the present generation an example which is well worthy their emulation. As all know, he is one of the wealthy citizens of the county, but his possessions came not to him through inheritance,
but are the result of carrying out certain resolu- tions which he formed in early life.
This respected citizen was born in Sangamon County, Ill. on the 1st of September. 1829, and be- longs to a family of eleven children. The parents, Joseph and Martha (Tharp) Bondurant, were both natives of Boone County, Ky., and removed in 1828, to Sangamon County, Ill .. where the father fol- lowed farming until his death. which occurred in 1861. For many years he was a devoted member of the Christian Church and lived a life of upright- ness and honesty which won him the respect of all and made him a valued citizen. Late in life he be- came identified with the Universalist Church. Ilis wife still survives him and is now living with her son Thomas. The record of their family is as fol- lows: Jolin T. went to California in an carly day and . passed away in that State; Lucretia is the wife of Jos- eph Churchill of Piatt County, IL. ; Elizabeth became the wife of William Miller, both are deceased; Alex- ander C. is the next younger; Thomas is a resident of Piatt County : Samuel died in 1881. as the result of disease contracted in the late war; Margaret is the deceased wife of Thomas Underwood of Sangamon County, IH., Mary E. is a resident of Deland, Ill .; Martha F. is the wife of William Thornton,a farmer of Crocker Township; Joseph N. is a farmer and stock dealer residing in Ford County, Ill., and Amanda died in infancy.
The early life of our subject was passed in a man ner not unlike that in which farmer lads usually spend their time. In the summer months he as- sisted his father in the cultivation of the farm and during the winter season attended the district schools of the neighborhood until he had familar .. ized himself with such studies as are essential to business success. Years passed along and he reached his maturity and thinking it time that he be no longer dependent upon his father, he started out in life for himself. Inall his undertakings be was as- sisted by his brother Thomas, who was but a little younger than he and together they labored. The history of one. in many particulars, is the history of the other-a record of prosperity founded upon in- dustry, enterprise and good management. Many conversations they held in regard to the future. Looking about them they saw that the best prople
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were the church-going people and both identified themselves with the Christian Church. They also determined to live temperate lives, to which reso- lution both have always adhered and in making choice of a business both determined to follow that occupation to which they had been reared. They agreed that as soon as they could save some money they would invest in farming lands and if possible make for themselves comfortable homes. Their hopes have been more than realized and both have been prospered in a degree far beyond their expec tations. yet they have not lived for themselves alone, amassing wealth only for their individual use, but in their prosperity have remembered the poor. have given liberally to the church and have aided in all worthy enterprises which are calculated to advance the best interests of mankind.
The brothers started out upon their business ca- reer in breaking prairie with ox-teams and as soon as they had earned enough to enter land from the Government. made choice of locations. Thomas Bondurant went to Piatt County. Ill., and entered a quarter section, upon which he at once built a house and began the development of a farm. Week by week saw the amount of broken land increased and improvements added, and with the quarter sec- tion as a nucleus his possessions have grown until he now owns and operates two thousand acres of valuable land. He has adhered to the noble reso- lutions formed in his youth, has been an active worker in the temperance cause and is a leading and useful member of the Christian Church. being Elder in the congregation to which he belongs. He gives cheerfully and liberally to its support, con- sidering it only a just return for the blessings which have been showered upon him. In politics, he is an ardent supporter of the Republican party.
The other brother. Alexander Bondurant came to Polk County, where his interests have since been centered. He laid claim to three hundred and twenty acres of land on section 31, Franklin Town- ship, and erected a small house which is still stand- ing as a monminent to the thrift and industry of his early manhood. He cleared and plowed the hitherto unbroken fields, built all the necessary barns and outbuildings and in course of time his labors were rewarded with bounteous harvests. His landed
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possessions now aggregate twenty eight hundred acres and his beautiful home is surrounded by all the comforts and luxuries which make life worth the living.
Mr. Bondurant chose as a companion Miss Mar- garet M. Brooks, their marriage being celebrated October 27, 1861. The lady was born in Mont- gomery County. Ind., and is a daughter of Stephen Brooks, whose sketch appears on another page of this work. Their home was brightened by the pres- ence of eight children-Emma B., now the wife of John W. Redlingeshafer, a farmer of Douglas Township: Fannie, wife of S. C. Perdue of Dong- las Township; Martha E. who died at the age of four years; Frank also deceased ; Florence, Burton, Nellie and Alexander C. As the children have grown up they have been provided with good edu- cational advantages.
Mr. Bondurant has made it his sole object in life to be a representative of the noblest type of man- hood, ever looking to a higher power to guide and direet his efforts and aid him in his deliberations. Although in looking back over the past he sees many mistakes on his part. he has the consciousness of having tried to act for the best. His possessions he has considered as trusts given unto him for a short earthly life and has used his means for the upbuilding of his Master's canse on earth, giving not reluctantly or sparingly but with a bounteous hand. In connection with others, he organized a church at a school house, at which place they wor- shiped until the completion of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad, when they removed to the village of Altoona, where a church building was subsequently erected. This church proved successful and did a vast amount of good in that community. Mr. Bondurant's financial ability and generosity soon put the church in an easy mone- tary condition. He gave it a deed to forty acres of land on section 31, Franklin Township. The pro- ceers of this land furnishes a handsome yearly in- come to the church. He takes a deep interest in educational matters and to Drake University he subscribed 8500. to be derived from fifty-six aeres of land in rental to be collected in three years, to the credit of the institution. Bondurant is a pleasant little village named in honor of our subject who
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platted the town and dining its carly existence gave to all those who would build or open a busi- ness house in the place, a town lot. He also gave the lots on which the church was built and with a number of other brethren withdrew from the Al- toona church and organized the new church, which has now a membership of one hundred and five and is in a good working condition, its pastor being Rev. JJ. II. Painter. Some years since Mr. Bondu- rant with other brethren conceived an idea which has resulted in great benefit to the church. For two years he has given the use of thirty acres of land which each spring was planted in corn, while the members each gave a few days' work to its cultiva- tion during the growing season and when the corn was ready to be gathered, the entire membership re- paired to the field, and procured the golden ears. This was followed by a "husking bee" such as was enjoyed by our grandfathers and a general good time was hadwhile the corn was prepared for sale or stor- age. The first erop yielded twelve hundred bushels and as the result of last season's labor the church has a surplus of $250 in the treasury. This forms an important factor in paying the expenses of the church which is now entirely free from all indebted- ness and is accomplishing a good work in the com- innity. To other worthy enterprises Mr. Bondu- rant isalso a liberal supporter, giving freely to the case of temperance and also educational work. The poor are never turned empty handed from his door but find in him a faithful friend in time of need. He is respected alike by rich and poor, young and old and long after he shall have passed away his Inemory will be enshrined in the hearts of those who partook of his bounty or were numbered among his friends.
G EORGE GARVER, real-estate dealer of Des Moines. was born in Tuscarawas County. Ohio. April 18. 1831. a son of Martin and Suas (Shaffer) Garver. Both parents were born in Pemirylvania, and among the carly emigrants catne to Ohio. De cleared a fine farm. and made a comfortable home for his family. He died in !
his sixtieth year. His wife survives at the ripe age of eighty-one. Of their family five sons are living, of whom George is the only one identified with the business interests of Des Moines. While growing up he learned to swing the ax and receive the birch as it was wielded by the pedagogue in the pioneer schools. At the age of nineteen he went into a general store as a clerk. Having worked hard and saved his carnings, he went into business for himself, and in all merchandised some thirteen years. From Ohio he found his way to Indiana. and at Newville, in 1857, he married Miss Barbara Fusselman, a native of De Kalk County. Ind. Pushing on westward he became interested in mining in Colorada and Montana. Returning from a trip east, in 1870, it chanced that he had to change cars at Des Moines. Here he met a friend, and while visiting with him his train left, and he was detained a time in the city. Impressed with the outlook, he decided to make this his home, and in March, 1871, moved to the city. He soon engaged in coal mining. Hle and John Walters developed the first coat mines on the Northwestern Railroad. They sunk, and for several years operated four shafts. Mr. Garver and his partner, Mr. Joseph Williams, own a large number of the finest traets of coal land in the State.
Mr. Garver is rot a theoretical coal miner, but for a broad, practical knowledge, derived from exten- sive prospecting and developing coal mines, he has not a superior in the State. This energies, however, have not all been given to one line; he has done much to add to the city in the way of building. having put up about one hundred houses. Esten- sive business in this department led him to dealing in building material and hardware, though of late years he has given his attention chiefly to his coal lands.
Mr. and Mrs. Garver had four children, of whom two died in childhood. Henry F. is a real- estate man of Des Moines, and Carlton M. is associated with the Converse Company of Wyo- ming.
Politically , Mr. Garver is a Prohibition-Repub- lican. lle is a man that stands for principde. even though it touches the pocketbook. In 1880 he
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was elected Conneilman-at-large, which he held for five successive years. During that period the most of the substantial improvements of the city were made.
Mr. Garver is a stirring, energetic man, indeed his has been a very busy life. As a result he has a liberal supply of this world's goods.
HOMAS S. WRIGHT. general attorney for the Chicago. Rock Island & Pacific Railroad Company, was for many years a citizen of Des Moines, but is now living in Chicago. A na- tive of lowa, he was born in Keosanqua, Van Buren County, on the 29th of September, 1811, his parents being the Hon. George G. and Han- nah M. (Dibble) Wright. His father was a pio- neer of Van Buren County, of November. 1810, was there married on the 19th of October. 1813, and in 1855 was elected Chief Justice of lowa. serving on the Supreme Bench for fifteen years. Ile was elected United States Senator in 1870, and would have been again elected had be not de- clined to serve. Ilis residence in Des Moines covers a period of twenty-five years, and a por- trait and sketch of this illustrious citizen appears on another page of this work.
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