USA > Iowa > Lee County > Story of Lee County, Iowa, Volume II > Part 20
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position; C. H. Mellen, first vice president; J. Fred Kiedaisch, second vice president; J. C. Weaver, cashier. As before stated, our subject became cashier in 1896, succeeding Mr. Weaver in September of that year and continuing in that office until he became vice presi- dent in March, 1906. C. J. Bode has served as cashier since 1906. In 1911 the capital stock was increased to two hundred thousand dollars, which is its present figure. The bank is prosperous and does a large business annually, immense sums of money being handled. The officers and directors are prudent in investment and accept none but gilt-edged securities as collateral. Although their first care is the safeguarding of depositors' funds, they are also willing to extend financial aid to individuals or firms who can satisfy them of the financial soundness of their projects. The influence of George E. Rix in the development of the bank has been marked and has always been for the good of the institution.
Mr. Rix was married, in January, 1878, to Miss Mary C. Tucker. He is a Presbyterian in religious belief and is much interested in the work of that denomination, lending his business acumen and experi- ence to the solving of the practical problems which arise in connection with the work of the church. He is one of the resourceful financiers of the city and also one of its public-spirited citizens, being willing to subordinate his interests to the community welfare.
DIEDRICH J. MEENTS, M. D.
Dr. Diedrich J. Meents, who has been a practicing physician and surgeon of West Point during the past seven years, has won and main- tained an enviable reputation as one of the leading and successful representatives of the profession in Lee county. His birth occurred in Hanover, Germany, on the 24th of December, 1878, his parents being John and Katherine ( Haaren) Meents, who never left the fatherland. John Meents, a lawyer by profession, passed away in Germany in 1911, but the mother of our subject still survives. They became the parents of four sons, as follows: Diedrich J., of this review; George, who is a sea captain with the North German Lloyd line; H. O., an agriculturist of Iroquois county, Illinois; and Karl, a furniture designer and manufacturer of Hanover, Germany.
Diedrich J. Meents spent the first fourteen years of his life in his native land and then emigrated to the United States with his brother George. He attended school in Chicago for about five years and
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subsequently continued his studies in Steinman College of Dixon, Illinois, from which institution he was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Science in 1903. Having determined upon a profes- sional career, he entered the College of Medicine of the State Uni- versity of Iowa and in 1907 received the degree of M. D. from that institution. While a student at the university he also acted as assistant in pathology and bacteriology for three years. Coming to West Point, Iowa, immediately following his graduation, he bought the practice of Dr. J. W. Divilbiss and has here remained to the present time as a successful and able representative of his profession. His record is that of a self-made man, for he personally met the expenses of his college course and his present prosperity has been builded upon the basis of his own untiring effort and energy. His brother George, with whom he came to this country, has also reached his present position as sea captain by his own exertions. With the steady advance- ment of his profession the Doctor keeps in close touch through his membership in the Lee County Medical Society, the Iowa State Medical Society, the Tri State Medical Society and the American Medical Association. In the summer of 1914 he pursued special post-graduate courses at the medical department of Harvard Univer- sity, Boston, Massachusetts.
Dr. Meents was united in marriage, at West Point, to Miss Violet Ward, of Dufur, Oregon, her father being Joseph W. Ward, a relative of the noted American sculptor, John Q. A. Ward. Joseph W. Ward removed to Oregon in the '50s as a pioneer lumberman and ranch owner, his becoming one of the wealthy and prominent families of the state. Mrs. Meents was reared in the Beaver state and edu- cated in St. Helen's Hall, the well known Episcopal school of Port- land. She is an Episcopalian in religious faith, while her husband belongs to the English Lutheran church at Iowa City. They are popular in social circles here and have many friends.
TULEY L. PETERSON.
In 1888 Tuley L. Peterson entered the employ of the Brown Paper Company, with which he has been connected almost con- tinuously since, covering a period of more than a quarter of a cen- tury. There is no need to comment upon his fidelity and capability, for these are indicated in his long connection with the business. He was born in Sweden, November 19, 1866, and is a son of Claus and
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Anna Peterson, who came to the United States in 1868, locating at Laporte, Indiana, where the father resided until his death, which occurred in March, 1912. His widow still makes her home in that place.
Brought to the new world when a little lad of but two years, Tuley L. Peterson was reared in Laporte and acquired his education in the public schools there. He also pursued a business course in that city and afterward went to Chicago, where he made his initial step in the business world in connection with the paper trade, being appointed shipping clerk in a paper house in that city. In 1888 he came to Fort Madison to enter the service of the Brown Paper Com- pany, with which he has since been connected save for a brief period which he spent in Appleton, Wisconsin. He is now superintendent and secretary of the company. His entire life has been devoted to the paper business, and he has advanced steadily, occupying now a prominent position in connection with the trade activities of the city.
On the 28th of February, 1897, Mr. Peterson was united in mar- riage to Miss Maude Ennis, of Fort Madison, a daughter of Walter Ennis, who came to this city in 1887 and occupied the position of foreman with the firm of Knapp-Stout Company. Mr. and Mrs. Peterson had four children: Gladys, deceased; Walter; Ennis; and Carl.
Mr. Peterson holds membership with the Moose, the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen of America, and his wife is a member of the Catholic church. In politics he is a republican and keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day, but does not seek nor desire office, feeling that his time is fully occupied with his business duties. In his present connection he has advanced step by step through intermediate positions and is familiar with every branch of the trade. He is a man of unquestioned business integrity and reliability and has contributed in no small measure to the success of the institution which he represents.
MARCHAUD LEE BARGAR.
Marchaud Lee Bargar is a pioneer of this section of the state and has ably done his share in advancing the welfare of Lee county. He is now living retired at Farmington, having abandoned his active business career in 1902. He still owns the old home place, however, which is a fine farm of two hundred and forty acres in Harrison
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township, and is now operated by his son, John W. Bargar. The subject of this review also owns forty acres in Van Buren county.
He was born in Roscoe, Coshocton county, Ohio, July 7, 1836, a son of Dr. Valentine and Alice Chase (Lee) Bargar, the latter a second cousin of Lincoln's secretary of the treasury. Dr. Valentine Bargar was born in Cadiz, Ohio, August 23, 1810, a son of Valentine Bargar, Sr., who was a native of Pennsylvania, born of German parentage. He removed to Harrison county, Ohio, and engaged in farming near Cadiz until his death. His son, Valentine, was reared upon the farm and attended Athens College in the pursuit of an education. He was graduated in medicine and practiced in New- castle, Coshocton county, Ohio, until 1841, when he removed to Lee county, Iowa. At this time he was also engaged in mercantile busi- ness with his brother-in-law, but upon their arrival in Lee county they traded their teams and goods for land. Dr. Bargar, however, soon returned to Ohio and met his death by drowning at Louisville, Kentucky, in the same year, 1841.
The Doctor was married November 6, 1834, to Miss Alice Chase Lee, who was born October 16, 1814, in Tuscarawas county, Ohio. Her parents were Dr. Elihu and Narcissa (Smith) Lee, the former a son of Zebulon and Mary (Taylor) Lee. His paternal grand- father was also named Zebulon Lee and the record of the family in America goes back to one John Lee, of Farmington, Connecticut, who came from England in 1634. Mrs. Narcissa (Smith) Lee was a daughter of Benjamin and Lois (Chase) Smith. After the death of Dr. Valentine Bargar his widow resided at Newcastle, Ohio, with her children until her demise, which occurred September 28, 1851. She was a member of the Episcopal church, but Dr. Bargar was not a member of any religious organization, although he was reared a Presbyterian. In politics he was a stanch whig, loyally supporting its candidates at the polls.
Marchaud Lee Bargar is the eldest of the three sons and a daughter born to his parents and is the only one now living. His two brothers, Byron and Gilbert, both came to Lee county, Byron coming in 1854 at the same time as our subject and started back to Ohio in the fall of 1855, dying en route. Gilbert came to this county some time later. He too returned to Ohio and read law with an uncle at Newcastle. At the time of the Civil war he enlisted in the One Hundred and Twenty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry and raised a company, being elected captain of the same. He was detailed as judge advocate and was for a considerable time on General Maloy's staff on the Potomac. He served for three years, or until the close
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of the war, and then resumed the study of law. He was admitted to the bar at about the same time as his intimate friend, William McKinley, later president of the United States. He practiced law in Columbus until his demise, which occurred in August, 1904, when he had reached the age of sixty-four years. The sister died when but one year old.
Marchaud Lee Bargar was reared in Newcastle, Ohio, and there received his education, but when a young man of eighteen he came to Lee county, Iowa, in October, 1854. He taught in the rural schools for four winters and farmed during the summers. In 1866 he bought his brother's interest in the Lee county land and later, about 1873, bought his uncle's interest, going into debt for all of it. The land was then totally unimproved, but he immediately began its develop- ment and after some time took up his residence upon the land. His first dwelling house was a log cabin, but he did not allow the incon- veniences of pioneer life to dishearten him and persevered in his efforts to improve the land and became financially independent. He resided upon his farm until 1902 and his labors were amply rewarded, as his farm became one of the most valuable in Lee county and his abundant crops brought him a handsome yearly income. In the last named year he retired and has since resided at Farmington, Van Buren county.
Mr. Bargar was married March 25, 1858, in this county, to Miss Narcissa Lee, a native of Tuscarawas county, Ohio, born February 23, 1835, and a daughter of Edward and Matilda (Frederick) Lee. Her father was born August 22, 1810, in Genesee county, New York, a son of Dr. Elihu and Narcissa (Smith) Lee, who have been previously mentioned. Edward Lee came to Lee county, Iowa, about 1839 with his family and located first at Fort Madison, where he worked upon the old courthouse. He later became the owner of a farm near Farmington and resided there until his death, which occurred April 8, 1877. His wife, who was born in Virginia in 1811, passed away in Iowa, January 17, 1890. Both Mr. and Mrs. Lee were consistent members of the Methodist church.
Mr. and Mrs. Bargar became the parents of eight children, seven of whom are living. Edward Valentine, born March 18, 1859, is now a farmer residing in the vicinity of Wakeeney, Kansas. Gilbert Lincoln, born February 20, 1861, is also an agriculturist of that section of Kansas. Mary Lee, born March 31, 1862, is now the wife of a Mr. Zane and resides at Farmington, lowa. Ida Alice, born February 14, 1865, is now Mrs. Bonnell and resides in Dover, Lee county. John Wesley, born April 9, 1868, is a farmer of Harrison
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township, this county. Byron Wellington, born November 28, 1869, is an agriculturist of Winfield, lowa. Elizabeth May, born April 7, 1872, is at home. She received an excellent musical education, having studied under Dr. Romley and having also taken work at the University at Mount Pleasant. She has successfully engaged in teaching music for a number of years. Both of her sisters taught school before marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Bargar lost a son, Benjamin G., who was drowned when but two years of age.
Mr. Bargar is a republican in his political belief and has held a number of local offices. He served as trustee of Harrison township, Lee county, and was secretary of the school board of that township for a number of years. Since moving to Farmington he has served as assessor for four years and is now president of the city school board. His daughter, Elizabeth May, is a member of the Rebekahs at Farmington and also holds membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, as do both of her sisters and her brother, John W. The family is well known in Lee and Van Buren counties and is accorded the highest respect of all who know them.
W. H. NEWLON, M. D.
A graduate of the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Keokuk and a member of various medical societies, Dr. W. H. Newlon keeps in close touch with the advanced thought of the profession and his service to the public has been one of distinct value, gaining him wide recognition and a liberal practice. He was born in Dallas City, Illinois, November 10, 1862, and is a son of Dr. B. F. and Amanda (Richards) Newlon, both of whom were natives of Vermilion county, Illinois, and are now deceased.
Dr. Newlon is a graduate of the Dallas City Academy and of the public schools and upon the foundation of his literary learning he ยท built the superstructure of his professional knowledge. Determining upon the practice of medicine as his life work, he entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Keokuk and was graduated therefrom on the 28th of February, 1890. He has since practiced at Fort Madison and has made continuous progress in his chosen calling. He was appointed local surgeon for the Santa Fe Railroad in 1890 and has since continued in that position. He also engages in general practice and has demonstrated his ability to cope with intricate legal problems. Everything which tends to bring to man the keynote to
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the complex mystery which we call life is of interest to him and he reads broadly and thinks deeply upon subjects pertaining to health. He is a member of the American Medical Association; is ex-presi- dent of the Lee County Medical Society and the Fort Madison Medical Society ; and also belongs to the Iowa State Medical Society, the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Medical and Surgical Society and others.
On the 15th of March, 1895, Dr. Newlon was united in marriage to Miss Mary Hogeboom, who was born in Topeka, Kansas, a daughter of Dr. George W. Hogeboom, who was chief surgeon for the Santa Fe Railroad Company for many years. He was also the first surgeon and the originator of the idea of the Employes Medical Association, called the A. T. & S. F. Unto Dr. and Mrs. Newlon have been born two children, Helene and William H.
Dr. Newlon belongs to the Masonic fraternity and passing up through both branches has attained high rank, being a Knight Templar and a thirty-second degree Mason. Since 1883 he has held membership in Dallas City Lodge, No. 231, F. & A. M., and is a member of Dallas Lodge, No. 111, R. A. M., both of which his father aided in founding. He now has membership in Delta Commandery, No. 51, K. T., of Fort Madison; Kaaba Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Davenport; and Zarepath Consistory, No. 4, S. P. R. S., of Davenport. He likewise belongs to the Elks Lodge at Fort Madison. His political allegiance is given to the democratic party, but he does not seek nor desire office, preferring to concentrate his energies upon his business affairs. In 1912 he went abroad as attending physician to Samuel Atlee, who traveled in Europe for his health. Dr. Newlon holds to high professional standards and his close conformity to the ethics of the profession has won him the high regard of his brethren of the medical fraternity.
A. H. BANK.
A. H. Bank, a well known citizen of Donnellson, is now engaged in the insurance business, but for an extended period was closely and actively connected with agricultural interests in Lee county. He was born in Hanover, Germany, April 6, 1846, and is a son of Henry Bank, who came from Germany to Lee county in 1848, casting in his lot with the pioneer settlers. On the 11th of June, 1838, he married Julia Gollmort, who died May 5, 1877. Their
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family included the following children, William, Dora, Henry, August, Louisa, Henrietta and Julia. They also had thirty-eight grandchildren and twenty-eight great-grandchildren. As previously stated, it was in 1848 that the parents came to Iowa, settling at Fort Madison in November of that year and in 1851 removing to the old homestead in Van Buren township. The father reached the remark- able old age of ninety-three years and six months, having been born on the 8th of January, 1813, while his death occurred July 22, 1906. The funeral services were held on Tuesday afternoon in St. John's German Evangelical Lutheran church at Farmington, of which he was one of the founders and had long been a most prominent, active and helpful member. His friends gathered in such numbers to pay their last tribute of respect to him that the church was inadequate for the attendance. He was held in high esteem wherever known and most of all where he was best known-a fact indicative of a life of uprightness and honor.
A. H. Bank was but two years of age when brought by his parents to the United States, the family proceeding up the Mississippi river until they reached Fort Madison, where they lived for two or three years and then removed to Van Buren township. In his youthful days A. H. Bank learned the cooper's trade of his father and in the early days would haul barrels to Fort Madison with ox teams. His educational opportunities were only such as were afforded by the district schools and the school building in which he pursued his studies was built of logs. His opportunities in that direction, however, were quite limited, for it was necessary that he leave school when twelve years of age, after which he was taught by his mother, who had been liberally educated in Germany. At length he turned his attention to farming, purchasing land three miles south of Warren, on what was known as the Half-Breed tract. There he secured three hundred acres which he cultivated, but at length sold that property and bought a farm near Donnellson, first securing sixty-five acres, to which he afterward added a tract of eighty-four acres and still later eighty acres, making in all about two hundred and twenty acres, which he still owns. He carefully and systematically cultivated his fields and brought his land under a high state of development, adding thereto many modern improvements and all the equipments and accessories of the model farm of the twentieth century. He continued to till the soil until about five years ago, when he retired and removed to Donnellson, purchasing a two-story residence which stands in the midst of a fine lawn of four lots. He still owns ten other lots in the town. While he has put aside the more arduous duties of the farm
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he still has business connections of importance, for he is president of the Peoples Mutual Insurance Company of Lee county, insuring against fire, lightning and tornadoes. This company is well organized with a secretary, treasurer and nine directors and is strictly a mutual insurance company.
On the 20th of February, 1879, Mr. Bank was united in marriage to Miss Minnie Wendt, of Harrison township, who was educated in the district schools of this county. They have become the parents of eight children who are yet living: Edward, who is manager of a lumber yard at Edina, Missouri, and is now thirty-three years of age; Emma, twin sister of Edward, and now the wife of A. D. Crabill, a resident of Donnellson; August, who was born June 24, 1884, and is living in St. Louis, Missouri, where he is head book- keeper for the Simmons Hardware Company; Frederick C., who was born February 8, 1886, and is now engaged in the express business at Denver, Colorado; Carl Conrad, who was born October 13, 1889, and has for three years been a student in the West Point Military Academy; Alma, who was born July 24, 1892, and is now teaching school in Keokuk; Hulda, who was born November 26, 1894, and has recently graduated from Parson's Business College at Fairfield, Iowa; and Luther, who completes the family. He was born June 8, 1899, and is now in school.
The family are members of the German Evangelical church, and Mr. Bank is a democrat in his political allegiance. He has always enjoyed outdoor life and sports, and his has been a well rounded career, in which due attention has been paid to the various interests of life, proportionate regard being given to business, to pleasure and to public and private duties.
G. A. STARKWEATHER, M. D.
An able representative of the medical profession in Fort Madison is Dr. G. A. Starkweather, who, although one of the more recent additions to the medical fraternity here, came well equipped by previous experience, having for fifteen years followed his chosen calling in Pontoosuc, Illinois. Lee county, however, numbers him among her native sons. He was born on the 28th of September, 1867, his parents being G. A. and Emily (Thompson) Starkweather. The father, a native of Michigan, was a son of Leonard Starkweather, also of Michigan, who brought his family to Iowa in 1842. He settled
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upon a farm in Lee county and carried on general agricultural pur- suits for many years, remaining one of the active farmers of the district to the time of his death. His wife was a daughter of Joseph Thompson, who was born in Louisiana, whence he removed to Tennessee. On leaving that state he came to Iowa, establishing his home in Lee county. He, too, followed the occupation of farming.
In May, 1864, was celebrated the marriage of G. A. Starkweather and Emily Thompson, and they began their domestic life upon a farm, the father ever devoting his time and energies to general agri- cultural pursuits. For an extended period he carried on farming in Des Moines township and was one of its progressive and representa- tive citizens. He died in 1906, having for ten years survived his wife, who passed away in 1896. In their family were four children : Dr. Starkweather of this review ; John, who is engaged in the practice of medicine in Pomona, Kansas; Hattie, the wife of Henry Wash- burn, a resident of Argyle, Iowa; and Alta, who married E. Jenkins, a farmer of Lee county.
Dr. G. A. Starkweather attended the public schools and supple- mented his preliminary course by study in a college at Pella, Iowa. A review of the many avenues of business open to him and a careful consideration of the opportunities thereby afforded and his own inclinations at length led him to the determination of studying medicine, and with this end in view he entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Keokuk, Iowa, from which he was gradu- ated with the class of 1897. He then removed to Pontoosuc, Illinois, where he opened an office, remaining in practice at that place for fifteen years. On the expiration of that period he returned to Lee county and on the 15th of January, 1912, opened an office in Fort Madison, where he has now been located for two and one-half years. His ability has won recognition here in a large and growing practice. He is careful in the diagnosis of his cases, neglectful of no profes- sional duty, and is continually reading in order that his power as a physician and surgeon may be augmented. He is a member of the Fort Madison Medical Society, the Lee County Medical Society and the Iowa State Medical Association.
In 1892 Dr. Starkweather was married to Miss Clara Washburn, who passed away five years later, in 1897. He was again married in 1899, when Miss Rose Fielding, of Pontoosuc, Illinois, became his wife. The only child of the first marriage is deceased and there is one child of the second marriage, Vella F.
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