USA > Iowa > Clayton County > Portrait and biographical record of Dubuque, Jones and Clayton counties, Iowa. Containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the counties, together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States > Part 11
USA > Iowa > Dubuque County > Portrait and biographical record of Dubuque, Jones and Clayton counties, Iowa. Containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the counties, together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States > Part 11
USA > Iowa > Jones County > Portrait and biographical record of Dubuque, Jones and Clayton counties, Iowa. Containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the counties, together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States > Part 11
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H ON. CHRISTIAN ANTON VOELKER is President of the Key City Fire Insur- ance Company and holds a similar posi- tion with the Iowa Mutual Building & Loan Asso- ciation. Long a prominent resident of Dubuque, Mr. Voelker at one time served as Mayor of the city and has long been prominent in publie enter- prises. A native of Hockenheim, he was born in Baden, August 16, 1850, and his father, Leopold, who was born in the same village, was a sugar re- finer. He took part in the Revolution of 1848 with Gen. Franz Sigel and others, after which he continued to live in the Fatherland only until 1851, when he brought his family to America, leaving Havre, France, in a sailing-vessel bound for New York City. He continued on his west- ward journey until he reached this county, where he engaged in farming for a time; he later became a dealer in wood and was thus engaged until he retired from business to make his home in Du- buque. His wife, Lena (Storch) Voelker, was born in Waldorf, Baden, and her father died in the Ger- man army during the War of 1812 to 1815. Both of our subject's parents are members of the Catho- lic Church, and their three sons and four daugh- ters are all living and are residents of this city.
When an infant our subjeet was brought by his parents to Dubuque, and he attended the Trinity parochial school until a little over eleven years of age, when he was obliged to go to work to assist in his own maintenance. He was first employed in a chair factory, where he learned the trade and made himself very useful to the proprietors. At the age of eighteen lie became foreman in the
chair department, in which position he continued for the five succeeding years. In the year 1864 he attempted to join the army, but the quota at the time being full he was not received. He continued in his position as foreman therefore until August 1, 1873, when he engaged in general merchandis- ing in a rented store at No. 1,330 Clay Street, which he operated for seven years.
In 1879 Mr. Voelker built the fine brick block at the corner of Thirteenth and Clay Streets, and there for two years ran his business, later building the store adjoining, as he needed additional room. At the same time he was Vice-President and Di- rector in the Dubuque Fire and Marine Associa- tion, which he helped to organize, and in 1890 he founded the Iowa Mutual Building & Loan Asso- ciation, of which he became President and which has now about $200,000 invested in first mort- gages, the largest concern of the kind in the city. October 19, 1891, our subject organized the Key City Fire Insurance Company with a capital stock of $200,000, and of this company he has been President from the first. At the close of the first year the company was paying dividends of twenty per cent. He owns Woodlawn Park, an addi- tion to Dubuque, which he laid out in company with Messrs. Kleinsschmidt & Hanover, and subse- quently bought their interest. Among numerous other concerns in which he has been interested are the Concentrating Works, the Citizens' State Bank, the German Trust & Savings Bank, and the Dubuque Street Railway Electric and Power Com- pany. His fine residence was erected by him on Seminary Hill and he owns a farm near Brainard, Minn.
April 15, 1873, in this city, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Voelker and Josephinc Kalfen- bach, who was born in Milwaukee and reared in this city. By her he has had four children, Eliza- beth, Rosa, Christian A., Jr., and Mary. They are members of St. Mary's Catholic Church, in which our subject has been Treasurer for years, and he also belongs to the Roman Catholic Pro- tective Association of Iowa, and the St. Alphonse Society.
Always an active Democrat, Mr. Voelker is a member of the County Finance Committee, and in
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1884 was Alternate-at-Large to the Democratic convention which nominated Grover Cleveland in Chicago. In April, 1887, Mr. Voelker was elected Mayor of Dubuque on the people's ticket, having a majority of about eight hundred votes over each of the other parties. He instituted reformatory measures and had a reliable corps of officials.
A SA HORR, M. D., who has had a long and successful career as a medical practitioner in Dubuque, has been located here since . August, 1847, being the oldest member of the pro- fession in this locality. He is Chief of the Medical Staff of Mercy Hospital and belongs to the Amer- ican Medical, the State and County and the Cedar Valley District Medical Societies. Several times he has been President of the County Association, of which he was one of the organizers. During the war he was Post Surgeon at Camp Franklin and also examined recruits for the regular army troops, being later for ten years Pension Examiner in this city. The Doctor is a noted scholar both in the languages and in many scientific depart- ments.
Dr. Horr was born in Worthington, Franklin County, Ohio, September 2, 1817. His paternal grandfather was a farmer in Massachusetts and re- moved to Lewis County, N. Y., in the early days of its history, when it was known as the Black River Country, and there he continued in agricultural pursuits until his death. The Horr family is of Englishi descent and the name was originally spelt Hoar, but our subject's grandfather had the name changed by the Albany Legislature to its present spelling. The father of the Doctor bore the name of Isaac, and his birth occurred in the Bay State, where he grew to manliood and was married. He took part in the War of 1812, and five years later became a resident of Worthington, Ohio, having removed there from Lewis County, N. Y. He en- gaged in merchandising, being successful for sev- eral years, but about 1826 returned to Lewis
County, N. Y., where he died one year later, aged forty-one years. Ilis wife, Nancy Smith, was born and married in Salem, Mass., and after her husband's death in the Empire State returned to Ohio, where she died when in her sixty-ninth year. Eight of her ten children grew to maturity, but only four are now living, our subject and his three sisters. Leonard was a Captain in the Twenty- first Iowa Infantry until, his health failing, he rc- tired. His death occurred in this city, where he had been engaged in the real-estate business.
Dr. Ilorr until ten years old lived in Ohio, where he attended Worthington College, of which Bishop Chase was Principal, and one of his classmates was Salmon P. Chasc, late Chief Justice of the United States. In 1826 he returned to New York, and on his father's death the children were scattered, being taken by various relatives to bring up. From his earliest years he was a zealous student, and often worked by the light of hemlock and spruce knots. In working on the farm he hurried to complete his task in order that he might devote himself to his beloved books. His brother Leonard was a carpenter and it scemed best that he should be apprenticed to the same trade. He remained for six months working for one man, and during this time had become quite familiar with drafting. When he returned to the country he made a draw- ing and superintended the building of a frame house, this being when he was only fourteen years of age. Ilis brother engaged with a contractor to build a large flouring mill in Canada, north of Kingston, and Asa went with him, werking for about a year and receiving a man's wages. Later with his brother he engaged in contracting and building in Dundas, Canada, remaining there until 1836, and during this time the ambitious youth drew the principal plans of buildings which were put up by the firm.
The first time that the Doctor had thought scri- ously of entering the medical profession was dur- ing the cholera epidemic of 1834-35, when several of his employes contracted the disease, and as there were no physicians in the locality and he had as- sisted his mother, who was a good nurse in former years, he determined to use his best efforts for the afflicted men. Using the old fashioned remedies
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of smart weed and pennyroyal, with good nurs- ing he managed to bring the men through all right and was often afterward annoyed by the many people who came to him for treatment of va- rious disorders. In 1836 Mr. Horr went to Ohio and entered the Worthington Medieal College, from whiel he was graduated two years later with the degree of Doctor of Medieine. For two years subsequently he praetieed with Dr. Hyland, of Fairfield County, and then for six years practiced in Baltimore, Ohio. In 1846 he graduated from the medical department of the Western Reserve University of Cleveland, receiving a degree.
With the intention of going to Galena, Ill., he visited a brother at Elizabeth, and was there pre- vailed upon to assist the doetors of the place dur- ing the epidemie which was prevalent. After a year's time he removed to Dubuque, arriving here in August, 1847, when this was a village of only two thousand inhabitants. Dr. Horr builtan office at the corner of Fifth and Main Streets and has sinee condueted an extensive practice, his office being now at No. 1125 Main Street. For one year he was County Physician and is a member of the Public Health Association of the United States.
In Baltimore, Ohio, Dr. Horr was married in 1841 to Eliza Sherman, a native of Worthington. She was reared as a member of the Vinal family in Springfield and died in Dubuque during the war. Her three children are, Edward W., a merehant of Blandville, Ky .; Augusta S., Mrs. Haekbusch, who died in February, 1894; and May H., wife of Charles G. Sternes, of Waterloo, Iowa. The present wife of Dr. Horr, Mrs. Ella S. Booth, was born in Galena, Ill., and presides with true hospitality over her pleasant home at the corner of Thirteenth and Main Streets.
The Doetor is a fine botanist, geologist and as- tronomer. He has made large eolleetions of Ohio and Iowa plants, has an interesting collection of geological specimens, and in 1864 ereeted a private astronomieal observatory and was the first to de- termine accurately the longitude of Dubuque. A member of many learned soeieties, he has been President of the Iowa Institute of Science and Arts, and in company with J. M. Bigelow published a catalogue of the plants of Fairfield County,
Ohio. For fifteen or twenty years Dr. Horr had charge of the city eloek and took the time astro- nomieally. He has the finest medical and chemi- eal library in this portion of the state, and is an advocate of phonetie spelling. For some years he has been interested in real estate and owns a num- ber of pieces of business property, as well as an in- terest in some coal mines. In polities he is inde- pendent, and fraternally is a Knight Templar Mason.
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T HOMAS LOCHNER. The name of this gentleman is well known throughout Du- buque County as that of an energetie and thrifty German resident, who through persever- anee, industry and judieious management has gained a fair measure of sueeess. He came to this country with the hope of improving his financial condition, and having become the owner of val- uable property, has no reason to regret his emigra- tion. In Peru Township he owns a traet of fine farming land, upon which he raises eereals. His place contains all the improvements of modern times, ineluding the necessary farm machinery and buildings.
A native of Bavaria, the subject of this sketeh was born Deeember 21, 1829, being a son of Leon- ard and Barbara Loeher. He grew to manhood in the land of his birth, receiving a fair education in its common sehools. He was less than twenty years of age when, on the 26th of February, 1849, he crossed the Atlantic, seeking a new home in the New World. After two weeks spent in New York City he went to Buffalo, N. Y., where he was employed in various capacities until 1854. Dur- ing that year he went to Lancaster, N. Y., and from that place, after a sojourn of six months, he came to Dubuque, Iowa. Here at different times he was variously oceupied.
In 1870 Mr. Loehner removed to Peru Bottom, Peru Township, and for ten years cultivated two hundred and forty aeres of rented land. Mean- time he saved a sufficient amount to enable him to
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purchase thirty-five acres, comprising a portion of his present property. This he has since increased to seventy acres, and having placed the entire tract under cultivation, it is now a valuable home- stcad. In politics he affiliates with the Democratic party, always casting his vote in behalf of party interests and principles. In religion he is a Catlı- olic.
The marriage of Thomas Lochner occurred in Lancaster, Erie County, N. Y., in 1853, uniting him with Miss Louise Jerge, a native of Bavaria. Five children complete the family circle, as follows: Philip; Leonard, who lives in California; Valen- tine, who is working on the home farm; Christine, who married John Shields in Dubuque City, and John, who is also working on the home farm. The children were given good educational advantages and arc well informed. The eldest son, Philip, resided with his parents until he was twenty-one, and for three years afterward cultivated sixty acres of rented land in Peru Township. Then going to Dubuque, he worked in a sawmill one ycar, then returned to Sageville and bought seven and one-half acres of choice land for gardening purposes. IIe is a member of the Catholic Church. Politically he is a loyal Democrat, always working for the advancement of party interests. He lias been called upon to serve his fellow-citizens as School Director and Justice of the Peacc. In 1876 he married Miss Mary Riedel, and to them were born five children, namely: Clara, Annie, Lizzic, Katie and Mary.
H UGH CORRANCE, one of the old and highly respected citizens of Dubuque, car- ries on business as a dealer in groceries and provisions at the northwest corner of Thir- teenth and Iowa Strects. He is a native of Scot- land, his birthi having occurred in the vicinity of Holytown, in the county of Lanarkshire, November 20, 1839. John Corrance, his father, was a man of intelligence and a prominent citizen of the com-
munity in which he lived. He took quite a promi- nent part in public affairs and held several govern- ment commissions. He married Miss Margaret McNeil, and both he and his estimable wife spent their entire lives in Scotland.
Hugh Corrance is the youngest in a family of cight children, six sons and two daughters. Only three of the number ever came to this country. One sister, now the wife of A. MeAllum, now re- sides in Dubuque. The gentleman whose name heads this record received such educational privi- leges as were afforded by the public schools of his native land. In 1863 he bade adieu to the home and friends of his boyhood, and with a desire to try his fortune in the New World crossed the briny deep. This was in 1863. He landed in New York City and came at once to Dubuque, where he has since made liis home. He sought and obtained employment as a clerk with the firm of Mulligan & Hentrager, and later was employed with John Mehilhop. By industry and economy he secured some capital, and in 1870 he started in business on his own account, opening a grocery store in con- nection with P. P. Saddler, under the firmn name of Saddler & Corrance. This connection was con- tinued for two years, after which he bought out his partner's interest, and since that time he has been alone in business. He carries a good stock of groceries and provisions, and as the result of his courteous treatment and fair and honest dealing he has built up a large business.
Mr. Corrance was married March 28, 1866, the lady of his choice being Miss Anna Saddler, daugh- ter of P. P. Saddler, his former partner. Their mar- riage has been blessed with six children, four sons and two daughters: Mae, now the wife of Dr. J. V. Conzett; Edith, at home; William S., who assists his father in the store; John P., who is also clerk- ing in the store, and Hugh, who is now in school. They also lost one son, Harry, who died Novem- ber 20, 1893, in his nineteenth year.
In his social relations, Mr. Corrance is an Odd Fellow, belonging to Harmony Lodge No. 2, I. O. O. F. He and his family arc all members of the Second Presbyterian Church, in which he has served as Elder for sixteen ycars. He takes a very promi- nent part in church work and is recognized as one
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of its leading members. His life has been well and worthily passed, and an honorable, upright career has gained for him high regard. In connection with his other business interests, he is a Director of the Dubuque Building & Loan Association, and also of the Smedley Manufacturing Company. With pleasure we present this record of his life to our readers, for he is one of the best citizens of Dubuque. It proved a wisc choice when he de- termined to come to America, for here prosperity has attended his efforts.
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H ON. JULIUS K. GRAVES is a resident of Dubuque, the home of many of Iowa's leading citizens. Prominent among these he is recognized, for his name is not only insepar- ably connected with the history of this community, but is found on the records of the country in con- nection with public service. In political and bus- iness circles he is prominent and the important part which he has taken in the upbuilding of eastern Iowa, has numbered him among the founders of the Hawkeye Statc.
.
Mr. Graves was born in Keene, N. H., September 29, 1837, and is a son of Caleb S. and Eliza Graves. His early education was obtained in the public schools of his native town, and at the age of seven- teen he started out in life for himself, securing a situation in a bank as clerk and correspondent. He gave the day to his business duties and in the even- ing attended school, where by diligent study he made rapid progress. In 1855 hic came west, and taking up his residence in Dubuque, secured the position of cashier in the banking house of M. Mobley & Co. In 1858 the firm became J. K. Graves & Co., and a successful business was carried on until it was merged into a branch of the State Bank of Iowa, of which he was Vice-President and General Manager. He was also a member of the board of control of the State Bank of Iowa. He
was one of the principal organizers of the National State Bank, of which he served as Vice-President for a timc, and was also prominent in organizing the Commercial National Bank, of which he was a large stockholder and a director.
With various other interests has Mr. Graves been connected. Since 1859 he has been identified with the Key City Gas Works, and in 1866 built the plant which supplies the city with light. Hc is President, Director and a large stockholder of the company. In 1868 he was active in the organi- zation and construction of the Dubuque Street Railway and was its President for a great many years.
The official career of Mr. Graves is an honorable one and forms an important part of his history. During the early days of the Rebellion he was ap- pointed by Governor Kirkwood, Post Quartermas- ter at Camp Franklin, Dubuque, with the rank of Colonel, and at one time had nearly six thousand men in camp. In 1866, although the city was strongly Democratic, he was elected Mayor of Du- buque on the Republican ticket, and in 1876 was elected Representative to the State Legislature. He was appointed Special Commissioner of the Inter- ior Department by Secretary Harlan, and twice vis- ited Mexico on the duties of his mission. In 1881 he was elected State Senator and served four years. He took an active part in the discussion of many bills and served on several important committecs, including those on municipal corporations and in- surance. He is a warm advocate of Republican principles and does all in his power to promote the interests of his party. In 1870 he was induced to turn his attention to the construction of a new railroad from Dubuque to Chicago, which road is now in successful operation sixty miles down the river to Clinton. He was President of the Chicago, Clinton & Dubuque Railway Company, the Chi- cago, Dubuque & Minnesota Railroad Company, and the Iowa Pacific, and has been earnest and ac- tive in every enterprise tending to develop the interests of this city and vicinity. For a number of years he has been a member of the Masonic fra- ternity.
On the 12th of September, 1860, Mr. Graves was united in marriage with Miss Lucy C. Robinson, of
PAUL TRAUT.
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Salem, Mass. They have five children: Luin K., J. K., Jr., Sybil, Sara and Marjorie. Theirs is one of the most pleasant and attractive homes in Dnbuque. It is situated on the bluff and com- mands the finest view on the Mississippi between St. Paul and St. Louis.
P AUL TRAUT is the efficient and popular Treasurer of Dubuque County. He is num- bered among the native sons of the city, where his birth occurred June 27, 1851. His father, Joseph Traut, was a native of Prussia, and on emigrating to America in 1846, took up his residence in Dubuque, where lic is still living, at the age of seventy-two. After his arrival here he was united in marriage with Miss Anna Hilken, a native of Luxemburg, who is now sixty-cight years of age.
The gentleman whose name heads this record spent the days of his boyhood and youth midst play and work and was rearcd in the parental home. His early education, acquired in the public schools, was supplemented by a commercial course in the Bayless Business College of Dubuque, after which he began earning his own livelihood as a salesman in a store of Klingenberg & Wullweber, where he remained for some time. He was then employed as bookkeeper in the wholesale drug house of E. H. Moore for five years. In 1874 he embarked in the wholesale whiskey business on his own account, conducting the same for six years, when in 1880 lic sold out.
In the meantime Mr. Traut was married, having in 1873 led to the marriage altar Miss Louisa Jac- ger, a native of Dubuque, and a daughter of Adam Jaeger, one of the early settlers of this city. Their union has been blessed with seven children, three sons and four daughters, namely: Eleanora, Frank, Louisa Matilda, Mamie, Edward, Verena and Adam H.
In 1880 Mr. Traut entered upon his official career, at which time he was elected City Treasurer of Dubuque on the Democratic ticket for a term of four years. At each succeeding clection he was chosen his own successor for three terms, a
fact which indicates the promptness and fidelity with which he discharged his dutics. In 1889 he was elected Treasurer of Dubuque County for a term of two years and has been twice re-elected, being the present incumbent of that office. In 1884 hc aided in organizing the German Trust and Savings Bank, located on the corner of Thir- teenth and Clay Streets. John Bell was elected its President; D. Rhomberg, its Vice-President; and Paul Traut, Cashier. That position he held for four years, and in 1894 was elected President of the bank. He aided in organizing and consolidating the four breweries of Dubuque and is now Vice- President of the Dubuque Malting Company. In the Dubuque Stamping and Enameling Works, which was formed in 1891, he occupies a similar po- sition. He was one of the organizers of the Dubnque Woodenware and Lumber Company, and is now serving as one of its directors. As he has found it possible, he has enlarged his business facilities and extended his operations until he has become one of the substantial and leading business men of the city.
Mr. Traut takes an active interest in everything pertaining to the welfare and development of Du- buque, and does all in his power to aid in its pro- motion and progress. He is now serving as Pres- ident of the School Board, and the cause of edu- cation finds in him a stalwart friend, in whose be- half he has done effective service. With his fam- ily he belongs to the Catholic Church. He is a pleasant, genial gentleman, who is widely known and has many friends. His life illustrates what may be accomplished. by industry, for he entered upon his business carcer as a clerk, but has stead- ily worked his way upward until he has become one of the wealthy citizens of his native county.
EV. ROGER RYAN, pastor of St. Patrick's Catholic Church of Dubuque, is a native of the Emerald Isle. He was born in that country, in County Limerick, on the 6th of April, 1843, and his education was acquired in Ireland. There he remained until twenty-three years of age, when, in 1866, he crossed the Atlantic to
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Amcrica. Here he entered Cape Girardeau Col- lege of Missouri, in which institution he spent three years, pursuing a thorough and systematic course of study, which well fitted him for his chosen life work.
On the expiration of that period, Rev. Ryan went to Milwaukec, Wis., where he again spent some time taking a course of study in St. Francis Theological Seminary. He was ordained a priest at Milwaukee the 13th of March, 1869, by Archbishop Henni. The year 1869 witnessed his arrival in Dubuque, whither he came to become assistant at the cathedral. Later, in October, 1869, he was appointed pastor of St. Patrick's Catholic Church, one of the largest and most wealthy churches in the city, the congregation numbering over two hundred and fifty families. There is a good house of worship, together with a uicc parsonage, built in a modern style of architecture and tastefully and comfortably furnished. It is situated in the midst of beautiful grounds adorned with all kinds of flowers and with roses from almost every clime. Rev. Ryan is a faithful worker in the interest of his church, untiring in his efforts to promote and up- build it, and has the confidence and esteem of all his parishioners.
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