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 32
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 32
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 32
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In April, 1861, on the outbreak of the Civil War, our subject answered the first call for volunteers, and joined Company A, First Missouri Infantry, serving in the department west of the Mississippi. During the latter part of the year his regiment followed Price through the west, spending a great deal of time on the plains. Mr. Finley participa- ted in many important engagements, and was mus- tered out of service April 20, 1866, after having been in the army during the entire period of the war.
When peace was declared, our subject returned to this state, and after spending some time in Hop- kinton, went to Chicago and entered Rush Medi- cal College, from which he was graduated in 1868 with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. He at once located in Canton, this state, where he was engaged in practice for three years, and then came to Cascade, where he is now residing. His prac- tice increased rapidly each year after arriving here,
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and his long experience now renders his opinions and decisions valuable.
Dr. Finley and Miss Anna Hay were married June 3, 1887. The lady was born in Vieksburg, Miss. She departed this life two years later, greatly mourned by all who knew her. In polities the Doetor is a stanch Republiean, believing that party to be in the right. Socially he is a member of the Grand Army post at Caseade, and stands high in Masonie cireles, in which he takes great interest. He is also eonneeted with the Dubuque County Medical Society.
DMUND BOOTH. Many are the instances afforded by the citizens of the United States of sueeess in the face of great ob- stacles, and prosperity after battling against heavy odds. But seldom does it fall to the lot of the biographical writer to narrate the history of one who attains prominence in literary and journalis- tic eireles, when so seriously handicapped as is Mr. Booth. A few years ago people read with the deepest interest a record of the achievements of Laura Bridgman, and while our subjeet was less unfortunate than she, he has also attained a breadth of knowledge and local influence of which she never dreamed. The Eureka, of which he is edi- tor, is read with interest not alone by the people of Anamosa, but also by the citizens of the sur- rounding country. It has a large cireulation, and is a potent faetor in advancing all progressive en- terprises, whether for eity or county.
Springfield, Mass., is the birthplace of Mr. Booth, and August 24, 1810, the date of that event. At the age of four years he suffered an attack of tliat terrible disease, spotted fever, and for a long time his recovery was despaired of. However, from liis ancestors, who were of English and Seoteh lineage, he had inherited a strong constitution and this en- abled him to conquer the fever, though not to es- cape its effects. It left him blind in the left eye, and almost wholly deaf. At the age of eight he was totally deaf.
This it is that makes the life of Mr. Booth so
remarkable. In spite of the loss of hearing, he continued to be able to speak well, seldom being misunderstood, unless by those unaecustomed to his voice. It is with the pen, however, that his influenee has been eliefly wielded. Through boy- hood he made the most of his opportunities. He was not discouraged by his great drawbacks, but determined to do the best possible with his par- tially limited faeulties. At the age of seventeen he entered the Institution for the Deaf and Dumb at Hartford, Conn., and after four years of study was graduated. He was then appointed a tutor in the school, in which capacity he was employed for seven years.
Resigning in 1839, Mr. Booth came to Iowa, and in 1840, in partnership with a brother-in-law, Col. David Wood, built a house at Dartmouth (now Anamosa), which was the first frame structure in the county. In the winter following, Colonel Wood died. The land on all sides being included in the mill company's claim, Mr. Booth moved to the prairie near Russell, and seeured forty aeres for a farm. In 1841 he was elected County Re- eorder, and it is worthy of note that he received all the votes in three out of four precincts, those of the fourth (Farm Creek) being given to John E. Lovejoy. Two years later he was re-elected, and was also chosen for a third term, but prior to its expiration resigned, the Legislature having amended the law so as to unite the offices of Re- corder and Treasurer. He was nominated for the dual office, but deelined.
In the spring of 1849, following the tide of emi- gration to the Paeifie Coast, Mr. Booth engaged in mining in California, where he remained until the spring of 1854. He then returned and eommeneed the cultivation of a farm in Cass Township, Jones County, meantime making his home in Anamosa. In 1856 the Eureka was founded by Jolin E. Love- joy, Mr. Booth not long after becoming editor and proprietor of the paper. The sueeess of the jour- nal is due to his able management supplemented by the serviees of his son. Advaneing years now prevent him from taking the aetive part in its publieation he formerly displayed, but age has not dimmed the vigor of his mind nor impaired his in- tellect. At an age when the majority of men re-
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tire from active cares, he still retains his business interests, and in their supervision displays as great discrimination and forethought as he did a half- century ago. Truly his life teaches a useful lesson to every thoughtful student of mankind.
When Mr. Booth came to Iowa he had little to call his own, but though poor, he brought with him many books, for he has always been very fond of reading, and the truth of the old adage of Ba- con that "Reading maketh a wise man," lias proved to be true in his life. In the early days of the history of Jones County, prior to the establishment of a Postoffice at Pamaho (one mile west of Rus- sell) it was his eustom to walk to Edinburg, and afterward to Rome for mail. He always returned home with his pockets full of papers, for he was a subscriber to the leading eastern journals. At the opening of the Civil War, his sympathies were en- listed on the side of the Government, and while he was not able to fight on the battlefield, he did service equally effective through the medium of his paper. Jones County has had no citizen more devoted to its welfare than is he, nor anyone who has contributed so largely to its development through all the changing years of its history.
HARLES H. MEYER is widely known throughout Iowa as one of the prominent business men of Dubuque. He has here made his home during the greater part of the time sinee eight years of age, and has been prominently identified with publie affairs, both commercial and political. He was born in Alsace, Germany, on the 13th of November, 1848, and is the second in a family of three brothers. His parents, Joseph and Barbara Meyer, were also natives of Germany, and in 1856 they emigrated with their family to the United States, landing in New York City, whenee they came directly to Dubuque. The fath- er here spent his remaining days, his death occur- ring in 1870. His wife survives him and yet makes her home in this city.
Our subject was a youth of only eight summers
when with his parents he crossed the Atlantic. His boyhood friends have become his business as- sociates, and they have ever known him to bc an honorable, upright gentleman. His education was acquired in the public schools and in Bayless Com- mercial College. He also pursued a course in Ger- man, and began his business career as a clerk in the employ of C. S. Keller, with whom he remained for six years. He then began. railroading with the Chicago, Dubuque & Minnesota Road as mes- senger, a position which he filled to the entire sat- isfaction of the company. Subsequently he was made bookkeeper in the railroad shops and later became freight and ticket agent in Dubuque. He continued with the same road for several years, a trusted and faithful employe.
Mr. Meyer afterward became interested in the manufacturing enterprises of Dubuque, and is now connected withli inany of its leading industries. He is Manager of the Dubuque Stamping and Enamelling Works, which manufactures all kinds of enamelled steel plates. The firm does all of its own stamping and enamelling, and have the larg- est press in America. It was made in Europe ex- pressly for their works. These are the only enam- elling works west of the Mississippi except St. Louis. They turn out a durable and excellent quality of work and are doing an immense business, which from the beginning lias steadily increased until it has assumed extensive proportions. A large force of men is employed. The works were burned in April, 1893, but were at onee rebuilt on an im- proved plan, and they now have a good substan- tial brick building supplied with all the latest and best machinery. Its success is largely due to Mr. Meyer's energy and careful supervision.
In 1873 Mr. Meyer was joined in wedlock with Miss Carrie, daughter of the late William Ruff, of Dubuque, a highly respected man, who came to this city in 1836. Mr. and Mrs. Meyer have one daugh- ter, Carrie, who is still in school.
In his political views our subjeet is a Democrat, and his fellow-townsmen, appreciating his high worth and ability, have called upon him to serve in positions of publie trust. In 1883 lie was elect- ed County Treasurer, which office he held contin- uously until 1891, when he declined further hon-
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ors. After his retirement he became Cashier of the German Trust and Savings Bank of Dubuque, holding the position for two years, but resigned in order to take a trip to Europe, where he spent nine months in visiting Germany, Italy, France, Austria, Bohemia, Hungary, England, Ireland and the Netherlands. On his return to the United States he went to Southern California, where he has large interests. He is also connected with other industries of Dubuque, including the Dubuque Strect Railway, of which he is Secretary. He is actively interested in everything pertaining to the development and upbuilding of the community, and his hearty support and co-operation are given to all enterprises calculated to prove of public benefit.
ILLIAM W. HALLER, a wealthy re- tired farmer of Farley, Dubuque Coun- ty, was born in Harrison County, Va., September 12, 1826, and was the second child in a family of three children born to John and Katie (Kauffman) Haller, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania, and grew to manhood and woman- hood near Clarksburg, Va., where their parents had located.
The father of our subject, John Haller, was a son of Michael Haller, who served in the War of 1812. This last-named gentleman was born in the Fatherland and came to America at an early day. Michael T., a brother of the gentleman of whom we write, became a soldier in the Union cause and was made Captain of the Home Guards. While in the service he was killed in Barber County, Va., leaving a wife and eight children to mourn his loss. The sister, Isabel, married a Mr. Hawks, of Plano, Ill .; she had previously been married to Joshua Comley, who died, leaving her with five children. At the youthful age of five years the father of our subject took him to Vermilion County, Ill., where that parent died, leaving him an orphan, the mother having died a short time before in Virginia. About the year 1835 Mr. Hal- ler and his sister, who were at the time members
of the family of Elijah Hall, removed to south- western Missouri, where they lived on the frontier among the Indians. Here he grew to man's cstate, without any educational advantages whatever, but being of a studious disposition, he made the best of the opportunities afforded him, thereby gaining a wide knowledge of men and affairs,
In 1846 our subject located in Iowa, near Keokuk, and there it was that he wrote his first letter, which was to his brother in Virginia. Soon after coming to Iowa he went on the Mississippi River, employed as one of the crew, plying between Dubuque and St. Louis. He continued in this employment about two years, but thinking he might better his financial prospects, he left this business and took up the honorable vocation of a farmer, locating at Peosta, where he purchased an uncultivated tract of sixty acres. In the mean- time Mr. Haller had married Miss Jane Haggard, whom he had metin the southern part of the state. Mrs. Haller is a daughter of William Haggard, who was a minister. After living at Peosta for some timc, our subject, in 1855, sold out his prop- erty and purchased a tract of eighty acres of fertile land two and one-half miles north of Farley. Our subject furnishes a good example of our so-called self-made men, as is shown by this biographical record of his life. He has gathered together his riches by unremitting and well directed toil and displayed keen common sense, good powers of cal- culation and excellent business qualifications in his dealings, which have also always been charac- terized by strict honesty and fairness.
Mr. Haller, in 1862, although he had a family of six children dependent on him for support, en- rolled his name with the comrades of Company F, Twenty-first Iowa Infantry. Soon after he was transferred to St. Louis, where he lay sick in the hospital for six long, weary months. His illness so disabled him as to unfit him for the hardships of war and he was honorably discharged and sent home.
Mr. and Mrs. Haller reared the following chil- dren: John J., who is a resident of Dubuque; Will- iam W., Jr., of Frankfort, Kan .; Paulina, wife of E. W. Glew; Ellen, wife of George Tucker; and Arthusa, wife of Joseph Glew. The sons are all
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prosperous mechanics, all honor being due to their father, of whom they learned their trade, and who commenced the same after locating in this county. After tenderly and carefully rearing her children, Mrs. Jane Haller passed quietly away. In 1881 Mr. Haller was a second time married, taking Mrs. Abbie Bootlı as his wife; she is a daughter of R. S. Payne.
In his political affiliations our subject is a stanch Republican, for which party he ever uses his influence and casts his vote. In social life he is a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity, and is a genial and whole-souled old gentleman, who has exerted a good influence in the moral and social elevation of the community in which he lives, and has responded generously to all appeals for help in carrying out plans for public improve- ment. He now makes his home in the town of Farley, where he owns a substantial and convenient residence, having lived here since 1875, and is passing his declining years quietly amid the com- forts which he accumulated in early life.
H ENRY H. HAGENSICK who has long been a prominent citizen of Elkader, is Presi- dent of the Elkader State Bank, and when the town was incorporated he had the lionor of becoming the first Mayor, which post he held un- til declining further renomination. For a period of fifteen years he also served most successfully as Township Clerk, and has taken an active part in all movements calculated to benefit the general public and his fellow-townsmen. The birth of our subject occurred in St. Louis, Mo., May 12, 1854. His father, J. M. Hagensick was a native of Bava- ria, who set sail for America in 1854, coming by way of New Orleans, and thence up the Missis- sippi to St. Louis. After a short stay in that city he proceeded to Clayton County, and settling in Garnavillo, engaged in his trade of blacksmith- ing for several years. In 1860 he removed to a point five miles south of Garnavillo, and hav- ing been appointed Postmaster of Ceres, held that
position until the summer of 1894, when he re- signed on account of poor health. He received his appointment from Lincoln, and satisfactorily filled the place for thirty-four years. He still makes his home in Ceres, being now sixty-eight years of age. One of the pioneers of Clayton County, he has been prominent in its upbuilding and has held many township offices. In politics he votes with the Democratic party, and person- ally he is a man of worthy characteristics, being upright and honorable in all his dealings. His wife, who was also a native of Bavaria, bore the maiden name of Margaret Frosch, and her death occurred in this county in 1861.
Henry H., of this sketch, spent his boyhood in this county, receiving a good common-school edu- cation. He was only seven years old when deatlı deprived him of his loving mother's care, and ten years later he started out to make his own way in the world. He soon found employment with Joe Eiboeck, who was editor of the Clayton County Journal, and worked with him in his printing office for three months, at the end of which time he was obliged to give up the business, as he found his health was unable to stand the close confinement incident to that trade. He was next a clerk with the firm of F. D. Bayless & Co., with whom he re- mained until 1877. Being industrious and thrifty he managed regularly to lay aside a portion of his earnings, which he carefully saved and was thereby enabled to purchase a one-half interest in the store in the last mentioned year. The firm then be- came known as Bayless & Hagensick, which it has continued up to the present time. They carry a full line of drugs and medicines, and fancy and staple groceries, and have one of the leading stores in the place, their trade coming from far and near.
In 1875 our subject was married to Miss Jane Dresser, whose nativity occurred in Allamakee County, where her father, Calvin Dresser, was one of the early settlers. Two sons have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hagensick, Frank D. and Roy, who are attending school in this city.
In October, 1892, when the Elkader State Bank was organized, our subject was made President of the same; D. D. Murphy, Vice-President and H. G. McGaharen, Cashier. Among the Directors are,
GEORGE BARTON.
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F. D. Bayless, F. J. Uriell, J. J. Kann, Ole Jolin- son and P. J. Cain. This bank does a general banking business, and is favorably rated among the similar institutions of the county. In politics Mr. Hagensick is a stanch Democrat, and frater- nally is a member of the Elkader Lodge No. 304, I. O. O. F., Lodge No. 2, K. P., and a charter member of the Modern Woodmen of America.
EORGE BARTON. It is the glory of our country that industrious and capable men should so abound, not only among the statesmen and distinguished officials, but also aniong those in the ordinary walks of life. They furnish proofs, if proof be needed, of the ability of the American citizen to take advantage of every op- portunity whereby his own interests may be en- hanced, as well as the prosperity of his fellow-men. By inheritance and self-culture, Justice Barton is the possessor of the noble character and energetic disposition that almost invariably bring one ma- terial success.
Referring to the history of the Barton family, we find that Thomas and Grace (Allen) Barton, the parents of our subject, were natives of Derby- shire, England, where the father followed the dual occupation of farmer and merchant. In 1852 he came alone to the United States, and later, return- ing to England, brought his family to America, in 1858. Procecding westward to Dubuque, Iowa, he remained a resident of this city, passing his later years in retirement from active business, until his death, at the age of eighty-four years. His wife died in this city when about seventy-nine years old.
There were eight children in the family, of whom George and two sisters are the only survivors. He was born in Derbyshire, England, May 4, 1827, and in boyhood attended school whenever oppor- tunity was offered. However, his education has been gained chiefly through self-culture and thoughtful reading, by which means he has bc- come a well informed man. His wife, whom he married in June, 1848, was born in Derbyshire and
bore the maiden name of Frances E. Webster. Her parents, John and Ann Webster, were also born in that shire and engaged in farming pur- suits until their death.
At the time of his marriage, Mr. Barton was proprietor of a dry-goods store, and for a number of years engaged in merchandising. In 1862, four years after his father had brought the other mem- bers of the family to this country, he followed them hither, with his wife and three children tak- ing passage on the "City of Baltimore." They landed in New York, and from therc journeyed westward to Dubuque, Iowa. Soon after coming here, they bought the eighty acres of land com- prising the present homestead.
The union of Judge and Mrs. Barton has re- sulted in the birth of five children, of whom the thrce eldest were born in Derbyshire, England, and the two youngest in Dubuque County. They are as follows: John T., who manages the home farm; Grace E., who is married and has two chil- dren; Frances E., who died at the age of twenty- three years; Stephen J., who is married and has one child; and Harry B., who resides with his par- ents. In local politics the Judge has been promi- nent, and while he usually affiliates with the Dem- ocratic party, he reserves the right to vote for the best man in local affairs, irrespective of political ties. The title by which he is familiarly known was gained through his many years' service as Jus- tice of the Peace, of which office he is the present incumbent. He has filled other local offices with honor and credit to himself. In religious connec- tions, he and his family are members of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church.
H ARM HARMS. Among the worthy Ger- man-American citizens of Jones County to whose efforts can be traced much of the progress of this thriving portion of the state, is this gentleman, who. is President of the Clover Lcaf Creamery Company; he has long been an active agriculturist of Wayne Township. Mr. Harms was born in Hanover, Germany, December
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21, 1828, being the son of John H. and Anna Maria (Reanker) Harms. The father was a farmer and continued to reside in the Old Country until his deathı.
In the excellent schools of the Fatherland our subject received a good education and remained a student until he was fourteen years of age. Hc worked on his father's farm until 1857, when he made up his mind that he would try his fortuncs in the United States, believing that the New World afforded better opportunities for a young man of energetic and industrious disposition. Taking passage in the sailing-vessel "Orpheus," he landed in New York City after forty days passcd upon the briny decp. From the metropolis he proceeded direct to Madison County, Ill., where he went to work on a farm, and while there met and married Miss Maria Johnston. After this event the young couple settled upon a farm in the same county, which was rented by Mr. Harms until 1866. That year he removed with his family to Jones County and bought eighty acres of land. He engaged in general farming and stock-raising and of late years has been particularly interested in the dairy busi- ness, in which he has met with good success. As the years have passed he has extended the boun- darics of his farm little by little as he could afford it, until he now owns two hundred and forty acres of the choicest land to be found in the county. Besides carrying on strictly legitimate farming in a very practical method, Mr. Harms has made a goodly sum from buying, selling and shipping live stock. On his place are substantial and well fitted barns and outbuildings, and a deep, never failing well, wind pump and suitable tanks afford a suffi- cient water supply for his stock.
One of the principal organizers of the Clover Leaf Creamery Company, and having long been an advocate of the system, Mr. Harms was eminently fitted to become President of the enterprise, to which position he was unanimously clected by the stockholders. This creamery, which has only re- cently been formed, bids fair to be one of the sub- stantial industries of Jones County, and long ex- perience has demonstrated the fact that creameries are of great benefit to agriculturists and the com- munity at large, for they can more easily reach
the consumer, and as they handle milk, butter and cheese in large quantities, are better cnablcd to supply the public with standard articles. Mr. Harms is a member of the Mutual Insurance Com- pany and is now officiating as its secretary. This company insures only farm property and numbers among its patrons the most progressive and care- ful farmers of this region. In his political faith Mr. Harms is a stanch supporter of the Democratic party, and in every way endeavors to fulfill the obligations of citizenship.
Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Harms, the eldest of whom, Anna M., is the wife of C. Schatz. Herman is a practical farmer. Tena became the wife of Adam Scheer, and the two younger sons, Gerd and John, are also living un- der the parental roof and assisting their father in the cultivation of the farm, while Maria is at home assisting her mother.
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