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 57
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 57
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 57
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ORNELIUS MORGAN, Postmaster and Justice of the Peace, is one of the promi- nent, respected and honored citizens of which the town of National boasts. - He was born in Vermont, May 23, 1833, and is a self-made man in all that the word implies; whatever success he has met with in life is attributable to his own push and energy, as he has received no legacy from any source whatever. The parents of our
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subjeet were Cornelius and Hannah(Hartwell) Mor- gan, both of whom were natives of Massachusetts. After their marriage they moved to Vermont, and in the year 1836 moved to the state of New York and located at Parishville, St. Lawrence County, where they resided until their demise. There were eight children born to them, seven of whom are still livmg. They were earnest members of the Free Will Baptist Church. The grandfather of our subject served in the War of 1812 and figured prominently in the battle of Plattsburg, N. Y.
The subject of this biography was reared on a farm in St. Lawrence County, N. Y., from the time he was three years old until he was twenty-three, when he came to this eounty and loeated at MeGregor, which then boasted only a few houses. Here he followed the trade of a carpenter and eon- traetor, building houses all over the county and crecting two at Prairie du Chien, Wis. In the year 1857 he was united in marriage with Miss Mary R. Hudson, a daughter of Washington and Roxana (Bagley) Hudson. This family came from Vermont to this township in the year 1845.
Mr. Morgan enlisted in Company E, Twenty- seventh Iowa Volunteers, as a private and joined his regiment in Mississippi. He participated in the fol- lowing engagements: At the charge and capture of the rebel Ft. Du Russy, Pleasant Hill, under General Banks, Kane River, Old Oaks, Lake Chicot, Ark., under Gen. A. J. Smith; the first day's fight at Tupelo and afterward at Old Town Creek; Nash- ville, under Gen. G. H. Thomas; and after steam- ing down the Ohio, Tennessee and Mississippi Rivers to Dauphine Island in Mobile Bay, in the battle of Fish River and Ft. Blakely. The regi- ment was discharged at Montgomery, Ala., and he was transferred to Company E, Twelfth Iowa Volunteers. He remained with this regiment un- til January 25, 1866, when he was honorably discharged. He was wounded by a bayonet at the charge of Ft. Du Russy, resulting in a running sore, which was a constant annoyance to him.
Mr. and Mrs. Morgan have five children, as fol- lows: George L., Hugh B., Lewis D., Stella E. and James Garfield. Socially he is a member of the Masonie fraternity, and is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. In political belief and
action he is a stanch adherent to the Republican party. He has been Justice of the Peace for twenty-four years in a Democratic township; Town- ship Clerk for twenty years; and a member of the School Board almost constantly for twenty-four years. When Harrison was elected President our subjeet was appointed Postmaster licre and has sinee held that position.
REGOR MCGREGOR, who is a resident of the town named in honor of his father, has made this eity his home during nearly his entire life, and has been a mueh interested participator in its rapid progress and development. For over twenty years he has been engaged in the wholesale hardware trade at this point, and in connection with this does a considerable retail business. His trade extends to many points in Minnesota and Dakota, as well as in the adjacent parts of Iowa, and he earries a large line of heavy hardware, his store being thoroughly equipped with everything usually found in a first-class and well appointed establishment of the kind.
A native of Wiseonsin, our subject was born in Prairie du Chien in 1845, and is the son of Alex- ander McGregor, a native of New York State, who emigrated to the west, becoming a resident of Prairie du Chien in 1842. The McGregor family originated in Seotland, and members of it beeame residents of the Empire State in an early day. Our subjeet's mother, who died in 1891, at the advanced age of eighty years, was before her mar- riage Ann G. Gardner. Alexander MeGregor in 1847 eame to Clayton County, and in that year founded and laid out the present town of MeGreg- or, in which he continued to make his home until summoned by the death angel on December 12, 1858.
The first five years of the subject of this biog- raphy were passed in the place of his nativity, when, with his parents, he came to this seetion and received his early education. In 1859, soon after the death of his father, he went to New
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York, where he remained until 1865; while there he continued his higher studies in Port Edward In- stitute. In 1865 he returned to MeGregor, and two years later entered into partnership with Joseph MeHose, as a member of the firm of J. McHose & Company, and three years later, in 1872, established his present business, which he has conducted successfully up to the present time, being known as one of the progressive and active business men of the place, to whose prosperity he has in uo small measure contributed.
Ever aetive in local and public improvements, our subjeet has borne his share in promoting the general good, and though not desirous of publie offiee, as he has preferred instead to devote his time to his own business interests, he has never- theless been prevailed upon by his fellow-citizens to become Mayor of McGregor, and has for three terms served in that capacity to the full satisfae- tion of all eoneerned. His fellow-townsmen truly consider it a most fitting and graceful compli- ment to bestow the highest office of the place upon the man whose father was the originator and founder of the town organization. A true and loyal patriot, Mr. McGregor uses his power of fran- ehise in favor of the Republican party, and in 1878 was elected to represent Clayton County in the Legislature, and was re-elected in 1880.
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B ERNARD J. O'NEILL, one of Dubuque's capitalists now extensively engaged in real-estate dealing, is a native of Coun- ty Carlow, Ireland, his birth having oeeurred there on the 15th of August, 1846. His parents were Jolin and Mary (Harmon) O'Neill. In Ireland they were born, reared and married, and there made their home until 1852, when with their family they emigrated to the New World and settled in Jeffer- son Township, Dubuque County. The father was
a farmer by oceupation. He died June 11, 1888, and his wife passed away December 12, 1892.
The gentleman whose name heads . this sketch was a child only six years old when, with the fam- ily, he came to the New World. They landed in New York City and thenee made their way to Du- buque, and the father secured a farm in Jefferson Township, Dubuque County, upon whieli our sub- ject was reared to manhood, early becoming famil- iar with the ardnous duties of farm life. His education was begun in the district schools of the neighborhood, after which he attended the publie schools of Dubuque and then engaged in teaching for two winter seasons. At the age of twenty-one he embarked in business for himself as a briek manufacturer in Dubuque, carrying on operations along that line for thirteen years. At the same time he was also engaged in the grain business, and in his undertakings met with most exeellent suc- cess, his business career proving a very profitable one.
In the meantime Mr. O'Neill was married, the lady of his ehoiee being Miss Mary J. Gandolfo, a native of Dubnque, and a daughter of Dominiek and Catherine (Roche) Gandolfo. Both are now deceased. Their union was celebrated October 29, 1872, and has been blessed with eight ehildren, four living as follows, three sons and a daughter, Harry E., Bernard J., Edith M. and Emmet G. The parents and children are members of the Cathi- olie Chureh. Those deceased are Dominiek J. Paul C. and two infants.
In June, 1888, Mr. O'Neill began real-estate dealing and platted and laid out five additions to the eity, comprising an area of one hundred and twenty-five aeres, all inside the city limits. In 1887 he aided in the organization of the Dubuque Wagon Bridge Company and seeured from the eity a bonus of $25,000. He was made President of the company and for three years filled that po- sition. He was one of the organizers of the Du- buque Board of Trade and is now serving as its Viee-President. During 1892 it was instrumental in seeuring the establishment of five factories in this eity. Mr. O'Neill has always taken an active part in public affairs and in public improvements, giving his support to any enterprise calculated to
WILLIAM GRAHAM.
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promote the general welfare. He deals extensively in real estate, and during the past three years has erected sixty houses. For his success in life he deserves great eredit, as it has been achieved through his own efforts and is the reward of earn- est labor, capable management and good business ability. He may truly be ealled a self-made man. In polities he is a Republican, but has never sought office, preferring to give his entire time and atten- tion to his business interests, in which he has met with signal success.
H ON. WILLIAM GRAHAM, a prominent attorney-at-law of Dubuque, was born in the town of Montgomery, in Orange County, N. Y., March 2, 1831, and is a son of William and Hannah (Houston) Graham, both of whom are of Seotch-Irish descent. The fa- ther was a farmer by occupation, and was a man of influence in the community where he re- sided. For several years he held the office of Su- pervisor of his town, and represented his eounty in the Legislature of New York in 1850. He was also nominated State Senator in 1857, but de- clined, although his election was certain. He had previously declined an appointment as Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, tendered him by Governor Bouck, and afterward declined to ae- cept a nomination for Congress.
In the family of William and Hannah Graham were nine children, five sons and four daughters, of whom seven are yet living at this writing in the summer of 1894. One brother, Henry B., a soldier in the One Hundred and Twenty-seventh New York Volunteers, died in the late war. Rev. James R. Graham, D. D., has been pastor of the First Pres- byterian Church of Winchester, Va., sinee 1851, and was Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church South in 1894. William Graham was the fifth in order of birth. No event of special importance occurred during his boyhood and youth, which were quietly passed in his par- ents' home. He prepared for college in Montgom-
ery Academy, in his native county, and then ell- tered Union College, of which Dr. Eliphalet Nott was then President. He was graduated therefrom in 1851, after which he taught for a time in the Poughkeepsie Collegiate Institute. Wishing to make the praetiee of law his life work, he then en- tered the office of Judge John J. Monell, of New- burg, N. Y., and after a thorough and systematie course of reading was admitted to the Bar in Brook- lyn, N. Y., in January, 1856.
Mr. Graham sought a home in the west, believ- ing that the opportunities afforded ambitious young men were better beyond the Mississippi than in the older and more thiekly settled states of the east. Accordingly he left home, and in 1856 took up his residenee in Bellevue, Jackson County, Iowa, where he began practice as partner of the late Hon. John B. Booth. He soon built up an extensive business, and there continued until the fall of 1867, when, wishing for a larger field of operations, he came to Dubuque, and for some years was associated with Hon. William Mills, now deceased. Afterward for seventeen years he was in partnership with M. M. Cady, and since that time has been alone in practice.
June 16, 1858, Mr. Graham married Miss Har- riet, daughter of Hon. Malbone Watson, who was for ten years a Judge of the Supreme Court of New York. She was a member of the Presbyte- rian Church from the age of fourteen, and her sin- eere and earnest Christian character won her the love and esteem of all. She was a faithful worker in ehureh and Sunday-school, and the poor, the needy and distressed found in her a friend. Ever kind hearted, sympathetie and true, she was re- spected by all. Her death oeeurred suddenly at Catskill, N. Y., March 13, 1894, and she was widely and deeply mourned by friends throughout the country. She left four children, namely: Will- iam, who now resides in Tacoma, Wash., and is an Elder in the Presbyterian Church there; Mal- bone W .; Henry L., Vice-President of the Haney & Campbell Manufacturing Company, of Dubuque; and Helen, at home. Rev. Malbone W. Graham, who was graduated from Princeton College in the Class of '89, was a professor in Lenox College, in Iowa, for two years. Then he returned to Prince-
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ton, and was graduated from Princeton Theologi- cal Seminary in the Class of '94. He recently went to Bogota, South America, to take charge of the educational work of the Presbyterian Board of Missions in Colombia.
In politics Mr. Graham is a pronounced Demo- crat, and has been honored with various offices. He served as City Attorney in 1873, was nominated for Judge of the Supreme Court in 1876, was ap- pointed United States District Attorney in 1886 for a term of four years, succeeding Maj. De Witt C. Cramm. For four years he was President of the Board of Education at Bellevue, and while re- siding in that town officiated as Mayor. In Jack- son County, in 1867, he was nominated for State Senator, but declined to accept the nomination. He has long held membership with the First Pres- byterian Church, of which he is a ruling Elder. His public and private life are alike above rc- proach, and his honorable and straightforward career has gained him the confidence and good will of all with whom he has been brought in contact.
I SAAC DEWITT. More than four score years have passed since the eyes of this venerable resident of Wyoming first opened to the light. During his long and eventful life he has wit- nessed the remarkable development of our coun- try, and has himself contributed to its progress. His travels have included a large portion of the continent between the Atlantic and the Pacific, and by habits of close observation and by prac- tical contact with the world he has gained a breadth of information that renders him an enter- taining conversationalist and a genial companion.
A pioneer of Iowa, Mr. Dewitt came to this state as early as 1842, but did not settle in Jones County until 1855. He is a native of New Jersey and was born in Warren County October 2, 1813, being the descendant of French ancestors, who were early settlers in New Jersey. In that state
were born his parents, Paul and Elizabeth Dewitt, as well as both grandfathers, Peter Dewitt and Abraham Dewitt. The father removed to Ohio many years after his marriage, and there engaged in agricultural work until his death, at the age of eighty-two. Hc was a highly respected citizen of his locality, and was a Democrat in his political views.
In the schools of the home district the subject of this sketch gained a practical knowledge of the "three Rs," but the information he possesses has been mainly self-acquired. His schooling was mea- gre, but not so his education in the practical de- tails of farm work. He was trained to that voca- tion, and naturally selected it for his life calling when starting out for himself. In 1842 he came to Iowa, and for two years sojourned in Van Buren County, whence in 1844 he removed to the city of Dubuque, there spending six years. Cali- fornia was then attracting thousands of fortune- seekers from the cast, and he was one of the num- ber who in 1852 sought the Pacific Coast for the purpose of mining. Crossing the Isthmus of Pan- ama, he sailed upon the ocean to California, where for two and one-half years he engaged as a miner.
On his return to Iowa Mr. Dewitt settled in Jones County, and entered a tract of land in Clay Township, where he cleared and improved a valu- able farm. This he sold in 1877, and purchased a farm in Scotch Grove, where he resided until moving to Wyoming. In 1887 he retired from active farming cares and came to Wyoming, but still retains possession of his farm of two hundred and forty acres, which he rents. The property is well improved, the soil under good cultivation, and the buildings neat and substantial. With no capital to start with, he has been prospered beyond his expectations, and is now recognized as one of the well-to-do men of the county. He has never been partisan in his political preferences, but gives his influence to the Democratic party. He is a man of temperate habits, which doubtless accounts for his vigorous health notwithstanding his advanced years.
In Ohio, in 1855, Mr. Dewitt was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Longshore, a native of the Buckeye State, and daughter of Warner
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Longshore. They have had eight children, six sons and two daughters, viz .: William, an agri- culturist of Woodbury County, Iowa; George, who lives in the same place; James, who is em- ployed as a bookkeeper in a business house of Monticello; Albert, also residing in Monticello; Clinton, at present living in Nebraska; Frederick, who is in school at Hopkinton; Melvina C., wife of James Griswold, of Jones County; and Alice, who married J. M. Davis, of Sabula, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Dewitt are faithful members of the Pres- byterian Church of Wyoming.
T HOMAS HENDERSON STUDEBAKER is one of the most prominent citizens of Clay- ton County, being editor of the North Iowa Times, of McGregor. As a politician he has taken an active part, being greatly interested in thic workings of the Democratic party and has been a delegate to various con ventions of the same.
The birth of Mr. Studebaker occurred in Musca- tine, Iowa, September 20, 1854. In the spring of the same year his father, Harmon W. Studebaker, who was a native of Adams County, Pa., came to the west, making a location at Muscatine. He is still living, being robust and strong, though he has reached the advanced age of eighty-three years and is now a resident of MeGregor. The paternal grandfather, Jacob, was born in the Keystone State and was the son of Wireman Studebaker, a native of Germany, who emigrated to America, settling in Pennsylvania at an carly day. The wife of Har- mon W. bore the maiden name of Mary Gardner. Her birth occurred in Huntingdon County, Pa., and she departed this life in 1891, at the age of sixty-seven years. The Gardner family originated in England and the ancestors of the American branch were early settlers in the Keystone State,
our subject's maternal grandfather bearing the Christian name of Joseph.
When only an infant Thomas Studebaker was brought by his parents to Mallory Township, Clay- ton County, where his father settled on a farm to which he devoted himself for many years. The lad obtained a practical knowledge of agricultural pursuits and received a fair education in the dis- trict schools. At the age of twenty he entered Western College, at Toledo, Iowa, and graduated from the scientific course in 1882. He was am- bitious, though poor, and was determined to have a good ,education, even if obliged to make his own way through college. For a time after his graduation he worked on the homestead, after which he taught school for two years in the coun- ty. In 1885 he entered the railway service on the Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, continuing in the service until 1889, when he resigned.
It was in August, 1889, that Mr. Studebaker con- cluded to adopt another line of business, and therefore purchased the Times, which he has ably conducted since. It has an actual circulation of over sixteen hundred copies, and yearly numbers many more among its regular subscribers. The office is thoroughly equipped with modern type, presses, etc., and the genial proprietor is ready at all times to do job printing and other work in the best pos- sible manner. The editorials which appear from time to time in the paper are well and carefully written, showing careful thought and good judg- ment.
June 29, 1882, Mr. Studebaker was married to Miss Mary Dorcas. The lady is a native of Cedar County, Iowa, and her father, John Dorcas, was one of the prominent early settlers of that lo- cality. To our subject and his estimable wife two sons and a little daughter have been born, as fol- lows: Lulu, Claude and Ward. The parents are faithful and consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and have a pleasant home in the city.
Fraternally our subject belongs to Itasca Lodge No. 111, I. O. O. F., Duncan Lodge 136, K. P., and Bellwood Camp No. 5, Modern Woodmen. In June, 1892, he was appointed by Governor Boies as a delegate to the Nicaragua Canal Convention,
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held in St Louis, and the same year was a delegate to a convention held at New Orleans. As pre- viously stated lie is a stanel Demoerat, having taken active part in county, state and national politics. In August, 1894, he was appointed Post- master at McGregor, which position he now holds.
REDERICK AULWES. For a period of thirty-five years this worthy citizen of Guttenberg was successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits in Clayton County, and after so many years of arduous toil is now passing his declining days surrounded by all the necessities and many of the luxuries of life, which he has earned by the hardest work and surely deserves.
Frederick Aulwes was born and reared in Ger- many, his birth taking place July 2, 1813. He re- ceived a good common-school education in the justly famed schools of that land, and early learned the duties of carrying on a farm. He is a son of Frank and Elizabeth Aulwes, who were respected and well-to-do farmers in Germany.
In the year 1837 Frederick Aulwes said good-bye to his Fatherland and many friends, setting sail for America in one of the old-fashioned unsea- worthy vessels which at that time plied the Atlan- tie. Landing at New Orleans, he thence proceeded up the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers until he ar- rived in the Buckeye State, of which he was a resi- dent for the sueeeeding eight years.
It was in the year 1845 that Mr. Aulwes found himself on the soil of Clayton County, whither he had proceeded with the intention of taking up land. As this seemed to be a favorable place for the pursuit of farming, he purchased a tract of land and devoted himself assiduously to its culti- vation for many years. He placed many improve- ments on his farm, and as his resources increased extended the boundaries of the same. He erected good buildings, put up fences, and in other prae- tical ways increased the value of his property,
which yields him an abundant income as a re- ward for the carc and labor he bestows upon it. He still owns four hundred acres of good and well improved land, which is considered as desirable a piece of property as may be found in this portion of the county.
In April, 1837, a marriage ceremony was per- formed by whieli Miss Charlotte Seabing became the wife of Mr. Aulwes. The lady, like her hus- band, was born in Germany, where she grew to womanhood and received her education. To them was born a family of eleven children, four of whom have departed this life. Those living are as follows: Charlotte, Fred A., Henry, Jolın, Louise, (wife of Carl Westfall) Lewis and George. The children have been given good educational ad- vantages, and have become leading and well-to-do citizens of the places in which they make their home. Mr. Aulwes uses his right of franchise in favor of the nominees of the Republican party and is a man who is well informed ou general and local affairs, in which he has always taken great interest. He has never seen reason to regret his removal to the United States, for though he has been an industrious worker all his life, his efforts have been rewarded with success, and he has ob- tained a good living for himself and his large fam- ily. He is therefore a loyal son of his adopted county, and has trained his children to love and respect her institutions, and to uphold her laws and liberty.
ACOB CLARK. The following sketeh is of one of the best known men of Marion Town- ship, Clayton County, who has lived here nearly all his life, and is identified with the various interests of the neighborhood. He is at present residing upon the old homestead, which he pur- chased in 1883. It contains two hundred and three aeres of valuable land, which he is cultivating in a most profitable manner; he is regarded as one of the enterprising agriculturists of the county.
Our subject was born in this county, December 30, 1854, and is the son of Milo P. Clark, whose
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history will appear in full on another page in this volume. Young Jacob remained under the parental roof until 1881, when lic left home, and going to North Dakota purchased a quarter-section of land in addition to renting four hundred and eighty acres in partnership with a friend. They worked together for twelve months, wlicn our subject dis- poscd of his landed interests in that state and re- turned to the old homestead. A year later he purchased an adjoining farm. As before stated it is a tract comprising over two hundred acres, em- bellished with all the suitable farm buidings and a comfortable residence. The fields are well tilled and each year yield a good return for the care ex- pended upon them.
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