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 66
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 66
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 66
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Our subject's parents were likewise natives of Switzerland. In 1877 Mr. Gehrig of this sketch entered the City Treasurer's Office as Deputy and after remaining there for one year became Deputy County Treasurer under James Harragan. His ad- vent into politics was sudden, and his natural apti- tude for political campaigning, as well as his gen- eral popularity, has made his way easy and upward.
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He was later elected City Treasurer, in which ca- pacity he served for two terms. For five years hc acceptably filled the position of Deputy Sheriff, which place he resigned in order to accept a po- sition as Cashier of the German State Bank in Dyersville at the earnest request of its directors. Under his management the bank has been a phe- nomenal success. It has a capital of $25,000; its deposits amount to $185,000 and its loans aggre- gate $175,000. In short, no safer financial insti- tution can be found, as it is on a solid basis.
In the spring of 1893, Mr. Gehrig was elected Mayor of Dyersville, in which capacity he is now serving. He is noted for doing everything well that he undertakes, and he is very popular with the mass of citizens. He is an equal partner in the dry-goods and grocery firm of P. Freymann & Co., of this place, which concern has a large and lucra- tive business.
In the year 1875, Mr. Gehrig wedded Miss Frances Kistler, daughter of one of Dubuque's old- est and most highly csteemed citizens. Our sub- ject has a beautiful home, surrounded by all that can make life pleasant, and thoroughly understands how to enjoy the worldly goods which he has ac- quired by diligent and unremitting labor.
M ARK B. SHERMAN. Among the pioneers of Clayton County who have accumulat- ed largely of this world's goods through their indomitable energy, and who are now enabled to retire from the active labors of life and spend their declining years in the enjoyment of a well earned competency, is the gentleman whose name introduces this sketch, and who is a member of the family that has given our country some of its most eminent statesmen. He came to this county in 1844, and since that time has been closely connect- ed with the progress of Farmersburg Township. His home is now in National.
The family history in this country begins with
the arrival of Edmund Sherman, who left Dedham, Essex County, England, in 1634, and came to America accompanied by his three sons, Edmund, Samuel and John. The early representatives of the family in New England were employed in get- ting out ship timber for the Government. Our subject's great-grandfather, Ephraim Sherman, was born in 1700 and died July 9, 1775. His wife, Sarah Willard, whose birth occurred in 1708, was the first white child born in Grafton, Mass. Grand- father Aaron Sherman was born August 25, 1748, and was a graduate of Harvard College at Cam- bridge, Mass. His son, Elijah, was born in Grafton, Mass., September 19, 1776, and in 1801 married Miss Sallie Batchelor, who was born in 1777 at Sutton, Worcester County, Mass. She died Janu- ary 29, 1845, and he passed away June 28, 1862. They were the parents of nine children, of whom the only survivors are Mark B. and Mrs. Maria Musson, of Champaign, Ill.
In Walpole, N. H., the subject of this sketch was born February 7, 1816. He was six years old when in 1822 the family removed to New York, and in Essex County he passed his boyhood years. Be- fore he was sixteen he began in life for himself, and learning the trade of a boot and shoe maker he was thus engaged for some time. May 26, 1842, he married Melissa, daughter of David and Sybil (Adams) Clark, natives of Vermont. Her grand- father was drowned when her father was only eleven years old, and the latter, carly obliged to become self-supporting, learned the trade of a boat builder and architect. He was a soldier in the War of 1812. For many years he lived in Addi- son, Vt., and thence in 1832 went to New York, settling in Essex County, where he and his wife died. Their family numbered six daughters and three sons, of whom one son and three daughters are now living. Mrs. Sherman was born in Addi- son County, Vt., September 13, 1822.
After his marriage our subject settled in the town of Lewis, Essex County, N. Y., where he was employed at his trade. In 1844 he came west and purchased land in Farmersburg Township, Clayton County. The property was then wholly unim- proved. He put up, at an expense of seventy-five cents, a log pole house, but a year later, in 1845,
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erected a more substantial residence, which is still standing and in good repair. After living in that home for twenty-one years, he erected the house where he now resides. IIc and his wife enjoy the distinction of being the oldest surviving settlers of Farmersburg Township, and certainly no one in the community is more highly esteemed than they.
In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Sherman were six children, and four are now living, namely: Julia Adelaide, who married Dr. P. D. St. John, of Wich- ita, Kan., and has two children; Dr. E. Amelia and Althea R., who are with their parents, and Mark R., who married Mary Celia Lull, and lives in Chicago. Emma Maria, who married Elihu F. Chase, became the mother of six children, and both she and her husband are now deceascd. The daughters and son have been the recipients of the most thorough educational advantages. Mrs. St. John graduated from the Fayette (Iowa) Semin- ary, Oberlin College, and the Medical Department of the State University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. She spent one year in the Woman's Medical Col- lege of Philadelphia and is now practicing her pro- fession in Wichita, Kan. Dr. E. Amelia Sherman is a graduate of the classical course of Oberlin Col- lege, and studied medicine at the Woman's Medi- cal College, Philadelphia. She also spent one year in the Woman's Hospital at Boston, Mass., and was graduated from the Medical Department of Michi- gan State University. Althea R., a graduate of Oberlin College in the classical course, studied art in New York and Chicago, and is now superintend- ent of drawing in the public schools of Tacoma, Wash. Mark R. was a student in the high schools of Chicago, spent four ycars in Oberlin College and for two years took a classical course at Ann Arbor, Mich., and graduated, afterward taking a law course there. For one year he was in the law office of Judge Cheever, of Ann Arbor, also prac- ticed at Terre Haute, Ind., one year, and is now a member of a prominent law firm of Chicago. The sixth child, a daughter, Sibyl Melissa Sherman, died when about four years of age. In politics our subject is a stanch Republican, which, in fact, has been the political faith of all of that name. In local matters he has exerted a remarkable influence
and has been one to whom his fellow-citizens liave always looked for counsel. Hc has served as .Jus- tice of the Peace and in other township offices, but
. as a rule has preferred to give his attention to personal matters rather than public affairs.
ATRICK F. CUNNINGHAM of Farley, Taylor Township, Dubuque County, was for many years engaged in railroading, and is now living on his beautiful two hundred and forty-acre farm, adjacent to the village. Mr. Cunningham was born in King's County, Ireland, in 1834, and resided in his native land until he had reached the age of eighteen years when he emigrated to America. Hc first located at Johns- town, Pa., where he resided until 1858, being engaged in work for the railroad. In the last mentioned year he camc to Dubuque County, lo- cating in Farley. He had secured contracts to build the Dubuque Southwestern Railroad which he completed and afterward became roadmaster, superintending the construction of bridges and buildings. Hc remained with this firm until 1879, when he engaged with the Chicago, Northwestern Railroad, for whom he contracted and built fully fifteen hundred miles of road in Illinois, Iowa, Dakota, Nebraska and Wyoming. He continued . actively engaged with that company until the year 1888, when he retired.
In 1860 Mr. Cunningham was joined in the bonds of matrimony with Clara Andrews of Jones County, Iowa, by whom he had had four children, all of whom are still living. Fred L., Frank, Annie M., wife of Nicholas P. Mathews, of Du- buque and Joseph. The eldest son, Fred, bccame a partner with his father in the contracts which the latter took during the last years he was in business, and in the summer of 1892 became super- intendent for all the track-laying on the World's Fair grounds, in Chicago. After the death of Mrs. Cunningham, our subject married Miss
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Catherine H. Fitzgerald, of Farley. They are the parents of seven children, only three of whom arc living: Mary, Kittie and Fitz R.
When our subject came to America, a brother, John, accompanied him. The latter is a resident of Chicago at the present time. His two sisters, Maria and Ann, live in Des Moines, the former be- ing the wife of John Fleming, and his youngest sister, Kate, is now deceased. Politically, Mr. Cunningham is a stanch Democrat, and has served for one term as Supervisor of Dubuque County, being one of three officials in that capacity. Since January, 1892, he has served as a Chairman of the Board. Religiously, our subject is a member of the Roman Catholic Church.
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J OEL LANTZ. There is in the business world one kind of men who can successfully combat many disadvantages and trials and come boldly to the front. It is this sort of men, with superior intelligence and force of charac- ter, that seem somehow to transform a poor begin- ning into the most flattering end. To this class belongs Joel Lantz, a man who by shrewdness of judgment and good management has risen to an honorable position in life.
Our subject was born in Clayton County, this state, in 1852, and is the son of Christ and Sophia (Meyer) Lantz, natives of Switzerland. The par- ents emigrated to America in the year 1850, land- ing in New York City and for the following two years made their home in that state. Then coming to Iowa they located in this county, the father in the meantime following his trade of cigar manu- facturer. In addition to this business he superin- tended the operations of the estate on which the family made their home for two years. Mr. Lantz then purchased another tract of land, and moving his family upon it occupied it but a short time when he sold out and went to Indiana, where he is still living and is in the possession of a good income from his agricultural pursuits. His family comprises the following named children: Christ, Sophia, Lizzie, Bertha and Joel, our subject.
The original of this sketch was deprived by
death of the care of his mother when an infant of six months. He remained in the home in which he was adopted until attaining his fifteenth year. Then starting out in life on his own responsibility he worked as a farm hand for ten years; when he had accumulated a sufficient sum of money, he purchased one hundred and sixty-five acres of choice farming land, the extent of which he soon increased to two hundred and ninety acres, his possessions at the present time. He has abundantly shown his good judgment in the accumulation of his estate, which is well supplied with improve- ments which make life in the country enjoyable and add to the value of the property.
Joel Lantz was united in marriage with Miss Eliza Frieden, a lady who is a native of this county and is the daughter of Benedict and An- nie (Baumgardner) Frieden, formerly wealthy residents here. Mr. and Mrs. Lantz have be- come the parents of three children, bcaring the respective names of Willie, John and Celia. They are being given the best advantages for obtaining an education by their worthy parents, who will also train them to fill honored positions in life.
Mr. Lantz is a stanch member of the Democratic party, understands well the political issues of the day and firmly believes that he is right in his judgment regarding them. In religious affairs he belongs to the Dunkard Church.
ARS WITTLESON. In recalling the labors which have made of Clayton County a re- gion noted for its agricultural resources, we feel a glow of admiration for all who bore a part in the scenes of early days. One of the early settlers of Marion Township is the worthy gentleman above named, who has abundantly shown his industry and good judgment by the accumula- tion of a valuable estate, well supphed with im- provements. He possesses the hospitable spirit and cordial manners which belong to natives of Nor- way, and which are also distinguishing character- istics of pioneers in any scction of the country. Honorable in his dealings, well informed regard- ing topics of general interest and able to relate
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many interesting events in connection with the early settlement of the township, his reputation is excellent and his companionship desirable.
The birth of our subject occurred in Norway in 1827. He is the son of Whitley Henderson and Guniel Larson, also natives of that country, where they spent their entire lives. The father was a farmer and stock raiser and well-to-do regard- ing the worldly affairs of this life. Our subject was one in a family of sixteen children, and emi- grated to the United States in the year 1852, landing in New York City. From the metropo- lis he made his way to Milwaukee, Wis., and after remaining there a short time went to Rock County, the same state, where he was employed for the two years following in working on railroads. At the expiration of that time we find our subject en route for this county and on arriving here he made a purchase of a quarter-section of good land in Marion Township. To this original tract he added until his estate amounted to three hundred and thirty-seven acres, all of which has been re- claimed by Mr. Wittleson from its primitive con- dition. The farm machinery in that day was of the rudest build and the first chimneys were of sod, built on the outside of the log houses; all cooking was done in an open fireplace, except in rare instances.
Lars Wittleson was married in 1854 to Miss Annie Larson, who was also born in Norway in the year 1817. She was the daughter of Lars and Guniel Larson, and by her union with our subject has become the mother of a son, Whitley L. Wit- tleson. In politics our subject is a decided Re- publican. He is very popular among his fellow- countrymen in this locality and is of a peaceable, kind and obliging disposition and has never had a lawsuit in his lifc.
F RED COOK is one of the popular and widely known officials of Clayton County, as he occupies the important position of Sheriff of the county, to which post he was clected in the fall of 1893. He declared himself as an Inde- pendent condidate and was endorsed by the Repub-
licans in Convention. He has always taken an ac- tive part in political and local affairs and received a majority of one thousand six hundred and sev- enty-four votes, one of the largest ever polled in the county, which goes to show his personal and wide spread popularity. He is discharging the du- ties of this position with efficiency and marked ability and in a manner well worthy of a patriotic citizen. , His pleasant home is situated in Elkader where he has resided for one year. His home lias been in Garnavillo for more than twenty years.
A native of the Buckeye State, Mr. Cook's birth occurred in 1846, in Chillicothe, and during his early years fate seemed to deal hardly with him for he was deprived by death of his parents when he was two years of age. His boyhood days were passed in Ohio and Kentucky, and at the age of ten years he canc to the Hawkeye State with his sister, settling in Ft. Madison, Lee County, where he received the advantages of a public school edu- cation. Wlicn nineteen years old he left that city and started out to battle with the world for a live- lihood. He commenced his career by learning the blacksmith's trade, and in the spring of 1865 first- set foot in Clayton County. His apprenticeship was served at Guttenberg, where he remained un- til 1870.
About that time he removed to Garnavillo where lie embarked in the farm implement business in partnership with Fred Harberg, the firm name be- ing Cook & Harberg. For a number of years he did a successful business in that place continuing in the same line until the fall of 1893 when he was elected to be Sheriff of Clayton County. In addi- tion to the sale of implements they manufactured wagons and carriages.
In the year 1869 our subject was married to Miss Clara S. Cooley, who was born and grew to womanhood in this county. Her father, A. S. Cooley was one of the pioneers of this locality having located within the limits of the county as early as 1839; he was also one of the leading farmers of Garnavillo Township, for many years. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Cook has been blessed with two sons: Lee F. and George W.
Mr. Cook is active in several fraternities belong- ing to Garnavillo Lodge No. 90, A. F. & A. M.,
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Garnavillo Lodge No. 29, I. O. O. F. and to the An- cient Order of United Workinen of the same place. For nearly thirty years Mr. Cook has been a resi- dent of Clayton County, during which time he has ever shown his interest in a practical way in the upbuilding and progress of the locality. Demo- cratic in politics, he prefers to owe allegiance to that party, but holds himself free to vote for the men or measures of any, regardless of party lines. He is a man of good education and pursues a varied course of reading thus keeping himself well in- formed on the leading topics of the day. From his early years he has had to "paddle his own ca- noe" and though he has met with many obstacles and discouragements on the journey of life, which might well have discouraged him, he has bravely and courageously met and overcome them, seem- ing to acquire new strength for further conflict at the same time. Few men have a better reputation in this locality for honorable and upright methods and he truly deserves the high esteem in which he is held by those who know him best.
H ON. WILLIAM T. SHAW. One of the most striking examples of industry and perseverance crowned by fortune is to be found in the life of this honored resident of Anamosa. With the history of this now prosper- ous city he has been identified from a period so early in its settlement that it consisted of merely a few houses and stores on "four corners," on the banks of the Wapsipinicon River, when he came liither. Probably no citizen has contributed more largely to the progress of the place than has he, and his name is inseparably associated with the development of its material and commercial interests.
The events that have. marked the life of a man of such prominence will be perused with interest by his friends in Jones and other counties. He was born in Steuben, Washington County, Me., September 22, 1822, and is the son of William Nicholas and Nancy D. (Stevens) Shaw. The family is distinguished for patriotism and un-
swerving loyalty to the Government. His pater- nal grandfather was a prominent officer in the Co- lonial army during the Revolutionary War, serv- ing for a time as aide-de-camp to General Knox. In 1780 he was promoted to the rank of Captain of Artillery, in which capacity he served until the war ended.
The subject of this sketch was a student in the common schools of Steuben and later attended the Wesleyan Seminary at Readfield for several years. He was a young man of nineteen years when he started for the west, and stopping in Indiana, he was for one year employed as teacher in a private school at Greencastle. Thence he crossed the Ohio into Kentucky and was engaged in teaching in Harrodsburg until the Mexican War broke out. In 1848 he visited Arkansas and the Indian Terri- tory, becoming familiar with the customs of the Cherokees, Choctaws and other Indian tribes.
In 1849, when the entire country was thrown into the greatest excitement over the discovery of gold in California, Mr. Shaw was one of the many ambitious and venturesome gold-seekers who sought the Pacific Coast. There he engaged in mining for two years, but in 1851 he returned as far eastward as Anamosa, then a straggling and unimportant hamlet. A year later he went back to California, making the journey by the over- . land route. With the money there gained, he re- turned to Anarosa in 1854 and began to specu- late in real estate. In his enterprises he displayed pluck, foresight and sagacity, and he was naturally rewarded with success. Perhaps in no other way did he more largely enhance the development of the city than by the building of the Dubuque & Southwestern Railroad from Farley to Anamosa, in which work he was engaged at the time of the Civil War. The Iowa Midland Railroad, running from Clinton to Anamosa, became a reality solely through his unwearied efforts. Anumber of brick blocks also stand as monuments to his enterprise. For some years he has devoted liis attention to banking, and the banking firm of which he is a member, that of Shaw, Schoonover & Co., is a re- liable institution, whose affairs are conducted upon a solid financial basis.
A record of the life of Mr. Shaw would be in-
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complete were not conspicuous mention made of his military career. In 1846, at the opening of the Mexican War, hc enlisted as a private in the Second Kentucky Infantry, in which he remained until the close of the conflict, retiring as a non- commissioned officer. Among the engagements in which he participated was that of Buena Vista, where both his Colonel and Lieutenant-Colonel were killed. On the 24th of October, 1861, he was commissioned Colonel of the Fourteenth Iowa Infantry, which became a part of the Second Bri- gade, Third Division, Sixteenth Army Corps. The regiment suffered heavy losses at Pittsburg Land- ing, after which, for a time, it was composed of the "Iron Brigade," the Eighth, Twelfth and Four- teenth Iowa, and the Fifty-eighth Illinois Regi- ments. No better equipped or braver regiment went out from Iowa than the Fourteenth, nor was there any officer more valiant or daring than Colonel Shaw. For a time he commanded the Third Division of the Sixteenth Army Corps, and at the expiration of his terin of service, October 29, 1864, he received high praise from Major-Gen. A. J. Smith, who alluded to his courage, patriotism and skill in the warmest terms. When about to leave the Division which he had so bravely com- manded, the officers presented him with a beautiful sword and seabbard, which, as may be imagined, he prizes very highly. The patriotie spirit he dis- played was emulated by other members of the fam- ily; one of his cousins, Robert G. Shaw, who com- manded the First Colored Regiment, was killed at Ft. Wagner.
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A leader in military tactics, Mr. Shaw was also recognized as eminently qualified for public office, and was therefore chosen to represent his county in the State Legislature. His record in that body was one of which he may well be proud, and his ability made him one of the leading members of the Lower House. With advancing years he is less prominently connected with business and political affairs than when in life's prime, but still retains his interest in everything pertaining to the wel- fare of the city and the progress of the people. He has one of the most beautiful residences in Anamosa. It is a commodious briek structure situated in the suburbs on a rise of ground and
surrounded on three sides by native forest trees. He has been three times married. His first wife, with whom he was united in 1854, was Miss Helen A. Crane, of Jones County; she died in 1865, af- ter having become the mother of two children, one of whom survives her. His second wife, whose maiden name was Retta Harmon, died one year after marriage. He was afterward united with Mrs. Elizabeth Higby, of Kalamazoo County, Mich.
RLANDO B. RUNDLE, is one of the most eminent dentists in the state; not only has he been honored by the success with which he has met in his profession, but for his ex- cellent reeord as a civic officer, and for the part he has always taken in the cause of education and other interests tending to advance the material prosperity of the county.
Mr. Rundle was born in this county upon a farm, April 20, 1851. He is the son of Nicholas Rundle, a native of England, who when young, emigrated to Quebec, Canada, and came to the States a year after reaching his majority. He mar- ried Mrs. Mary Burdick, of Apple River, Ill., the widow of Miner M. Burdick. In 1850 tlic parents located in Seottstown, this county, where Nicholas Rundle carried on his trade of blacksmith in con- nection with his farm which he had purchased in Monticello Township. This comprised one hun- dred and sixty aeres, which his sons aided him in placing under good tillage when they were old enough, and there the father made his home until a short time before his decease, which occurred at Apple River, Ill., December 27, 1863, when on a visit to that place. His good wife is still living, making her home with her children. Mr. Rundle has two sisters living, Mrs. Mary Orr and Mrs. Julia C. Coyle, both of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Lo- deska A. Clark died at Harvard, Neb., in 1887.
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