USA > Iowa > Lee County > Story of Lee County, Iowa, Volume II > Part 13
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On the 17th of June, 1891, Mr. Gray was united in marriage to Miss Helen Boyles, and they have two children, Helen Palmer and Thomas Francis. The parents are Episcopalians in religious faith and in politics Mr. Gray is a democrat of the Wilson type, believing firmly in the principles of the party. In his career as deputy United States marshal he has had many interesting and ofttimes exciting experiences, which, if given in detail, would impress upon one the old adage that truth is stranger than fiction.
GEORGE BURK.
J. Burk & Company, manufacturers of all kinds of carbonated beverages, has for almost a half century been one of the prosperous concerns of Keokuk. It was founded in 1865 by John Burk, who was one of the pioneers of Keokuk. He was born in Malmo, Sweden, in 1833 and came to the United States at the age of twenty years, land- ing at New Orleans. He later became a resident of St. Louis and there he learned the soda-water business. He subsequently turned his knowledge to good account as the founder of J. Burk & Company of Keokuk. His death occurred in 1889. His wife, who in her maid- enhood was Emma A. Capson, was born in 1833 and died in 1890. Their marriage occurred in Sweden.
The subject of this sketch, George Burk, was born in Keokuk on the 6th of April, 1867, and educated in the local schools. He has lived in the same ward all of his life and has thoroughly iden- tified himself with the progress and growth of his native city.
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During his business career he has been identified with the company of which his father was the founder and he has ably carried on the work which his father began. J. Burk & Company's product is sold throughout this entire section and the trade knows that its soda water, ginger ale and other carbonated beverages are always to be depended upon. Only the purest materials are used and great care is taken in their manufacture to observe all sanitary rules. The business is conducted at 1011 to 1013 Main street.
Mr. Burk is a member of a number of fraternal organizations and is popular therein. He belongs to the Eagles, Elks, Moose and the Owls. A resident of the city during his whole life and a son of one of its manufacturers and business men, he does all in his power to promote the welfare of Keokuk along lines of material and moral advancement.
JOHN ROVANE.
John Rovane, who has been a resident of Keokuk for a period of fifty-six years, covering practically his entire life, has been success- fully engaged in business as a merchant of the city for a third of a century and now conducts a well appointed retail grocery establish- ment at No. 500 Palean street.
His birth occurred in New Orleans, Louisiana, on the 26th of March, 1857, his parents being Thomas and Mary ( Havey) Rovane. The family of Rovane was of French origin but moved to Ireland for political reasons. It was in 1850 that Thomas Rovane, the father of our subject, left the Emerald isle to take up his abode in the United States. He located first at Marietta, Ohio, and subsequently removed to New Orleans, where he met and married Mary Havey. In 1857 he came to Keokuk, Iowa, and maintained his residence in that city throughout the remainder of his life, although he devoted his attention principally to farming. He worked on the old govern- ment lock here and was directly employed on the concrete work, superintending that particular branch of construction. Thomas Ro- vane gave his political allegiance to the democracy and was a Roman Catholic in religious faith. Unto him and his wife were born three children, of whom our subject is the only survivor.
John Rovane was reared to manhood in Keokuk and attended the public and parochial schools in the acquirement of an education. When a youth of sixteen he began providing for his own support,
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securing a position as driver on a delivery wagon. He carefully saved his earnings and at the age of twenty-four years had accumu- lated sufficient capital to embark in the retail grocery business at West Keokuk. He has successfully conducted an enterprise of that character continuously since, removing to his present location at No. 500 Palean street about 1907. Mr. Rovane enjoys an extensive and profitable trade, winning and holding customers by his reliable busi- ness dealings, fair prices and courteous treatment.
On the 4th of October, 1880, Mr. Rovane was joined in wedlock to Miss Margaret Ann Murphy, a daughter of Patrick and Maria ( Brady) Murphy. They are the parents of nine living children, namely: John, Jr., Louis A., Nellie F., Rose A., Lucy A., Inez J., Gertrude A., Margaret A. and Ruth J. Two others died in infancy.
Mr. Rovane has ably served as a member of the city council for six years and during a period of four years acted as mayor pro tem, giving his city a businesslike, progressive and beneficial administra- tion. His religious faith is that of the Roman Catholic church, of which he is a devout communicant. In the city where nearly his entire life has been spent, the circle of his friends is almost coex- tensive with the circle of his acquaintances.
OTTO B. WALLJASPER.
Otto B. Walljasper is operating the Granite Roller Mills at West Point, owned jointly by himself and R. Shadwell. His activity in this connection places him with the leading representatives of indus- trial activity in Lee county. In addition he has various other inter- ests and he is recognized as one who has a genius for devising and executing the right thing at the right time.
He was born at West Point, January 18, 1874, and is a son of Stephen J. and Rosalia (Schulte) Walljasper, the latter a sister of William Schulte, of whom mention is made on another page of this volume. Mrs. Walljasper died in 1885, at the age of thirty- two years, leaving six children, of whom Otto B. Walljasper is the eldest. The others are: Mrs. Lizzie Strothman, who died in 1903; Dietrich, a farmer of Marion township; Mrs. Edward Strothman, whose husband is a teamster of West Point ; Mrs. Frank Fullenkamp, whose husband is a farmer of Pleasant Ridge township; and Anna, who resides with her uncle, Ben Schulte.
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Reared at West Point, Otto B. Walljasper was educated in the parochial school and in his youthful days learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed for three years in connection with his father, who was an expert mechanic. He and his brother worked together and built many substantial structures, including the Catho- lic school and also did the altar work, which is most beautiful. After following carpentering for three years Otto B. Walljasper turned his attention to the milling business, with which he has since been mainly occupied. The miil which he now owns and operates was built by Adolphus Salmon, about 1846, and was operated as a gristmill in pioneer times, the work being carried on night and day. The product was shipped to St. Louis, being hauled to Fort Madison and thence sent down the river by boat. Later the mill was owned by Alexander Stewart for a number of years. He operated it him- self for some time and then rented it to different parties. Later the property changed hands several times until finally it came into possession of Messrs. Walljasper and Shadwell. The building was erected sixty years ago and is still in substantial condition. In 1891 R. Shadwell and Stephen J. Walljasper, father of our subject, installed the roller system and continued the operation of the mill until 1901. It was afterward conducted by Mr. Walljasper and William Gerber, a former mayor of Fort Madison, for about a year and a half. At the end of that time Mr. Walljasper was joined by his son, Otto B., of this review and together they operated the mill until the father's death, which occurred May 27, 1910, when he was sixty-six years of age. The business has since been conducted by the son in a most capable and successful manner. The mill has a capacity of fifty barrels and the flour manufactured is of the most excellent quality and finds a ready and profitable sale upon the mar- ket. The elevator in connection with the mill was built in 1892-3. Mr. Walljasper also owns the elevator at the depot, which was built about twenty years ago by Mr. Everingham. He handles grain of all kinds and also has a wareroom for flour and feed. At the mill he also grinds a large amount of feed and he handles a dozen dif- ferent kinds of flour. The mill is well equipped with modern machinery and the processes which he follows in manufacture are such as produce excellent grades of breadstuffs. He gives careful attention to every phase of his business, is most energetic and his indefatigable industry, perseverance and reliable business methods have been features in his growing and gratifying success.
Mr. Walljasper was married at West Point, to Miss Callie Strothman, a daughter of the late Casper Strothman, whose widow
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resides a half mile south of West Point. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Wall- jasper have been born four children : Adelbert, who died in infancy ; and Edward, Evelyn and Robert, aged respectively ten, eight and six years.
Politically Mr. Walljasper is a democrat and he belongs to the Knights of Columbus at Fort Madison. He and his wife are mem- bers of St. Mary's church. They occupy an attractive residence in the western part of the town, which was built by Mr. Walljasper, and theirs is a most hospitable home, whose good cheer is greatly enjoyed by their many friends. They occupy a prominent social position, equal to the place which Mr. Walljasper fills in the busi- ness life of the community.
MAJOR WILLIAMSON B. COLLINS.
Major Williamson B. Collins, one of the well known legal prac- titioners of Keokuk and a veteran of the Civil war, was born in the village of New Washington, Clark county, Indiana, August 22, 1841. His parents, Milton F. and Harriet Roberts (Sullivan) Collins, were natives of Clark county, Indiana, and Scott county, Indiana, respect- ively. Their parents were among the early settlers of the Hoosier state, establishing homes there at a time when the Indians were still hostile. They were farmers but Milton F. Collins decided that another occupation would be more to his liking and accordingly became a physician. His birth occurred October 22, 1814, and his boyhood was spent upon the home farm. He was graduated from Hanover Academy at Hanover, Indiana, later read medicine with Dr. Cern in Charlestown, Indiana, and then attended a medical col- lege at Cincinnati, graduating therefrom in 1837. With his brother- in-law, John H. Sullivan, a lawyer, he went to St. Louis in the early summer of 1837. From that city they transported their horses and personal equipment to St. Joseph, Missouri, where they expected to locate. The town, however, did not suit them and they proceeded to Westport, Missouri, where they spent the winter. In the spring of 1838 they rode on horseback across the country to Keokuk, crossed the river here and located in Springfield, Illinois. Mr. Sullivan was taken ill there and was obliged to return to his Indiana home. Dr. Collins remained at Springfield, engaging in the practice of medicine until December, 1838, when an army surgeon induced him to go to Chicago, then a small trading town, where an epidemic was
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MAJOR WILLIAMSON B. COLLINS
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raging among the Indians. There Dr. Collins became ill and returned to Springfield, whence he was taken back to the Hoosier state by his father. He was married at New Washington, Indiana, on the 29th of August, 1839, and two sons were born in that state : one who died in infancy ; and the other our subject. Dr. Collins practiced his pro- fession in Indiana until 1843, when he came to Keokuk, arriving here with his family on May 12th of that year. He continued in practice in this city during his active life and enjoyed a representative clientage, holding the full confidence of his patients. He was a pub- lic-spirited man and did much for the benefit of the community. He helped to organize the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he remained an active member. In 1861 he assisted in recruiting the Sixtieth United States Colored Infantry, becoming lieutenant colonel of the regiment. He was stationed at Helena, Arkansas, where he remained until the spring of 1864, when, owing to failing health, he resigned and returned to Keokuk. Throughout his life he was de- voted to his profession, giving always the best that was in him to his patients, making no difference between rich and poor. He was quick in action, benevolent in spirit, and his conduct was invariably that of a high-minded, honorable gentleman. His death occurred February 7, 1880. He had survived his wife for a number of years as she passed away on the 15th of September, 1856.
Williamson B. Collins was reared in Keokuk, receiving his primary education in private and public schools of the city. In 1857 he entered the Methodist Academy located at Charlotteville, Scho- harie county, New York, where he remained a student for two years, returning home in 1859. He then entered Claverack Academy at Claverack, New York, four miles east of the Hudson. In 1860 he attended the summer session of Troy University.
On the ist of June, 1861, Mr. Collins enlisted in the Union army, being mustered into Company F, Seventh Missouri Infantry, at the St. Louis arsenal. He was sent back to Keokuk on recruiting service and enrolled enough to fill the regiment, being commissioned second lieutenant of his company. In the course of events and line of pro- motion by November, 1861, he was made captain and in August, 1863, he was promoted to major. He saw active service first at Boon- ville, Missouri, then at Rolla, that state, and then marched on to Springfield, Missouri, in the fall of 1861, after which he with three companies of his regiment, two companies of the Eighth Iowa In- fantry and a part of a regiment of battery was detached and sent to the relief of General Hunter. He subsequently went to Kansas City, where his command was detached and assigned to Colonel Jennison Vol. II-9
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of the Seventh Kansas Cavalry and sent on an expedition to Waynes- boro to watch the army of General Price. In the spring of 1862 Captain Collins with the three companies of infantry reported to his regiment at Lexington, Missouri, and then took a steamer to Pitts- burg Landing, Tennessee, arriving after the battle and remaining there until the ensuing July. He then marched across the country to Jackson, Tennessee, and back in time to participate in the last battle of Corinth. After this with the army under General Rose- crans he followed the rebel army to Oxford, Mississippi. then re- turned to Corinth and marched on to Holly Springs at the time of General Grant's first advance on Vicksburg. From there he accom- panied the army beyond the Tallahatchie river. After the capture of Holly Springs by the rebels he returned there and next went on to Memphis. He remained in that locality on provost duty until the spring of 1863, when he went to Lake Providence, Louisiana, remain- ing there until the latter part of April, 1863, when he advanced to Bruinsburg, Louisiana, with Grant's army. On the Ist of May they crossed the river at that point and engaged in the battle of Thomp- son's Hill. The following day they met the rebels at Bayou Pierre and then followed the rebel retreat until the 12th of May, when the battle of Raymond was fought. This command later pursued the left wing of Pemberton's army and was engaged in the first battle of Jackson, Mississippi, on May 14th. Retracing their steps they participated in the battle of Champion's Hill on the 16th of May and the following day the battle of Black River Bridge, continuing their advance on Vicksburg, and taking part in the assault on Fort Hill on the 22d of May. The assault was repulsed and the command was stationed at the left of the Jackson and Vicksburg road. The reg- iment held this position until the fall of Vicksburg and remained in that vicinity for a time. Later Major Collins was in command of three companies of his regiment at Natchez for about three weeks, after which he returned to Vicksburg. In the summer of 1863 his command formed part of the expedition under General Stevenson to Monroe, Louisiana, after which our subject returned to Vicks- burg and in the early fall of 1863 was ordered to Raymond, Missis- sippi, to gather up wounded men and to return with them to Vicks- burg. In the spring of 1864 he was ordered to report with the non- veteran portion of the regiment at St. Louis, where they would be mustered out. When this duty was performed he came to Keokuk in July of the same year and has since made this city his home.
The winter following his return from the front Major Collins entered the law office of Rankin & McCreary, where he devoted him-
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self to the reading of law. He was admitted to the bar in September, 1865, and at once began practice. It is quite usual for young men upon taking up the profession of law to associate themselves with some older practitioner, trusting to the advice and counsel of the senior member of the firm to guard them against error. Major Col- lins, however, being of a self-reliant nature, began practice alone and has so continued. He has won a gratifying success, due to his knowl- edge of the principles of law, to his ability to investigate thoroughly all sides of a question and his skill in presenting his case before the court. In 1889 he was admitted to practice before the United States supreme court. His high standing in the legal profession is due not only to his intellectual ability and his energy but also the fairness and justice which dominate his character.
On October 4, 1870, W. B. Collins was united in marriage to Miss Caroline E. Copelin and they became the parents of seven children, the eldest of whom died in infancy. The others are: William C .; John M .; Joseph S .; Harry R., now associated with his father in the practice of law ; Carrie Louise and Arthur W.
The parents are members of St. John's Episcopal church and are ever ready to support the work of that organization. W. B. Collins is a member and past master of the Masonic lodge, while his political belief is that of the republican party. In 1869 he served as city attor- ney, safeguarding the interests of the municipality with the same zealous care that he gives to his clients in private practice. His long service in the war of the Rebellion and his honorable record therein entitle him to the respect and esteem of his fellow citizens, who realize that but for the services of such men our country would now be divided and the prosperity of the present impossible.
ANDREW FOGGY.
Andrew Foggy was identified with the pioneer development of this region and has always borne his part in its upbuilding and pros- perity. Here he has practically made his home since 1836 and has witnessed all of the changes that have been made since that time. He was born in Tyler county, West Virginia, April 24, 1830, and is a son of James and Margaret (Fleck) Foggy, both natives of Scot- land, though they were married after their emigration to America. Mrs. Foggy made the trip across the Atlantic with her father and brother, who were also accompanied by her future husband. Their
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marriage was celebrated in West Virginia, where they continued to reside until 1836, when James Foggy brought his family to Lee county, Iowa, and purchased school land in Pleasant Ridge town- ship, for which he paid three dollars per acre. He continued to reside thereon until his death, which occurred in 1864, when he was sixty-seven years of age. His wife had passed away in 1860, about the age of sixty years. In their family were seven children, namely : George, who owned a part of the old homestead and died in 1867; Mrs. Margaret Damond; James and William, who both died in Henry county, Iowa; John, who died in Henry county, Iowa; Andrew, a twin to John and the subject of this review; and Adam, who also died in Henry county. The only one of this family now living is Andrew. By occupation the sons were all farmers.
Andrew Foggy assisted his father in the cultivation and improve- ment of the home farm and is now the owner of two hundred and fifty-five acres of that place, which is worth two hundred dollars per acre. In this county he has made his home since 1836 with the exception of a few years spent in Mount Pleasant, where he removed in order to educate his children. He can relate many inter- esting incidents of early days, when this region was still in a primi- tive condition, and he has borne his part in its development and upbuilding. In the early days he hauled dressed hogs to town, where he received only one dollar and a half per hundred, and has sold venison ham for three cents per pound. At that time there was no sale for prairie chickens, as they were very plentiful and could be caught easily in traps. His father once traveled sixty miles into Illinois for cornmeal and had to pay one dollar and a quarter per bushel for the same. He was a very successful farmer and became the owner of nearly five hundred acres, which he subse- quently divided among his children. In 1863 our subject drove two yoke of cattle to Colorado with a load of butter and two years later started with four yoke of cattle across the country to Montana, with a load of sugar, coffee and bacon, but returned to this region by boat on the Missouri river. Throughout his active business life he fol- lowed farming with remarkable success and is still the owner of a very valuable and well improved tract of land.
In 1871 Mr. Foggy married Miss Eliza Cooper, who was born in Dublin, Ireland, November 8, 1845, and in 1848 came to the United States with her parents, John and Eliza (Deane) Cooper, also natives of the Emerald isle. The family landed in New Orleans and proceeded up the river to St. Louis and in 1849 settled in Bur- lington, Iowa. A year later, however, they removed to Illinois and
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made their home in Lomax, that state, for many years. There the father acquired an excellent farm of seven hundred and twenty acres two miles from town. He had fifteen children, several of whom died in infancy before leaving Ireland, and nine started with their parents on the voyage to the new world, but one died and was buried at sea. His youngest child, W. L. Cooper, was born in Illi- nois and, being left motherless in 1861, he was reared by his sister, Mrs. Foggy, and is today a prominent attorney of Burlington, Iowa. The father, John Cooper, died in 1890, at the ripe old age of eighty- five years, from the effect of an injury sustained in a runaway.
Mr. and Mrs. Foggy have two children, John C., born February 13, 1873, married Lenora Klopfenstein, and they have two children, Glenn C. and Fern Esther. He is now operating the old home farm and has purchased a tract adjoining. Esther Lee, the daughter of our subject, was born January 1, 1875, and is now the wife of Wil- liam J. Singleton, a banker of Quincy, Illinois, who has established a number of banking institutions. In order to give his children bet- ter educational advantages, Mr. Foggy removed to Mount Pleasant, but in 1912 returned to Lee county and has since made his home in Fort Madison, his present residence being at No. 1017 Second street. He uses his right of franchise in support of the democratic party and its principles. In the early days he was very fond of hunting and was considered one of the best shots in this part of the coun- try. He has taken part in many shooting contests and has killed all game found in this region at an early day, besides hunting antelopes in Montana. He is a worthy representative of that class of pioneer citizens who have done so much toward making Iowa the prosperous state which it is today and is well deserving of prominent mention in a history of Lee county.
CORYDON M. RICH.
Corydon M. Rich came to Keokuk in May, 1909, as the control- ling owner of the American Rice & Cereal Company, of which he served as president and general manager. In June, 1912, the name was changed to the Purity Oats Company. Some conception of the remarkable growth of the business may be gained when it is known that in 1912 there were but four people on the pay roll and that there are at the present time between one hundred and fifty and one hun- dred and seventy-five employes in the Keokuk plant. Aside from
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this, Mr. Rich has been actively identified with other local enter- prises. He is a native of Kansas and was reared in that state. Prior to his removal to Keokuk he was connected with the Atchison Cercal Company. The Purity Oats Company, which manifests his able management in its phenomenal success, has its main branch in Dav- enport and distributes thousands of carloads of its product throughout every state and territory of the Union.
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