USA > Iowa > Lee County > Story of Lee County, Iowa, Volume II > Part 3
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
tinued his residence there to the time of his death. Unto Mr. and Mrs. McCann were born seven children : William David, who mar- ried Argenia Swartz and is now living in Wichita, Kansas; Nellie, a trained nurse residing in California; Mary, the wife of Ben Mitchell, of Montrose ; Iva, who married Harry Osborn, a resident of the state of Washington ; Eliza, who became the wife of Frank Horton and is now deceased; Osa, at home; and Ethel, the wife of Ray Anderson. of Montrose.
In politics Mr. McCann is a stanch democrat but has never been an office seeker. For thirty-five years he has been a Mason, belonging to Montrose Lodge, No. 136. To its teachings he is most loyal and faithful and is in hearty sympathy with its purposes. Fifteen years ago he retired from railroad work after almost a third of a century's connection with the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy, and through the intervening period he has enjoyed a well earned rest.
J. M. POHLMEYER.
J. M. Pohlmeyer is identified with journalistic interests of Lee county as editor and proprietor of The West Point Bee, which he pur- chased on and has published since April 1, 1906. His birth occurred in Fort Madison, this county, January 28, 1871, his parents being Stephen and Anna (Ludolph) Pohlmeyer. Stephen Pohlmeyer was born in Westphalia, Germany, and served in the German army. In 1860 he crossed the Atlantic to the United States, making his way direct to Fort Madison, Iowa. Here he followed various lines of work. His demise, which occurred in 1908, when he was past sixty- five years of age, was the occasion of deep and widespread regret throughout the community which had been his home for almost a half century. He gave his political allegiance to the democracy and in religious faith was a Catholic, of which church his widow is also a devout communicant. Martin Ludolph, the maternal grandfather of our subject, emigrated to the United States about 1860 and took up his abode in Lee county, Iowa, becoming an agriculturist of West Point township. His daughter, Mrs. Pohlmeyer, now resides at Fort Madison and enjoys an extensive and favorable acquaintance here. By her marriage she became the mother of the following children : J. M., George, Joseph, Conrad, Henry, Frank, Elizabeth and Cath- erine. The last named is deceased, but the others are all living and make their home in this county.
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
J. M. Pohlmeyer obtained his education in a parochial school of his native town and when fourteen years of age entered the office of the Fort Madison Democrat as an apprentice, being gradually pro- moted until he became foreman of the press room. He remained with the paper for twenty-two years and during that period gained a thorough and comprehensive knowledge of all phases of newspaper publication. On the ist of April, 1906, he purchased The West Point Bee, of which he has since been the editor and proprietor and which he has maintained as a clean, bright and interesting sheet. Its col- unns are devoted to the dissemination of local and general news and it is accorded an extensive and gratifying subscription and advertis- ing patronage.
On the 28th of October, 1897, at West Point, Mr. Pohlmeyer was united in marriage to Miss Clara Lohman of that town, her parents being Herman and Catherine Lohman. Her father, a basket maker by trade, passed away about 1897, but her mother survives and makes her home at West Point. Our subject and his wife have a daughter and two sons, namely : Catherine, Walter and Harold, all of whom are attending school. Mr. Pohlmeyer is a democrat in politics and a Catholic in religious faith. His entire life has been spent in Lee county and his record is that of one of its most esteemed and valued citizens.
HENRY BANK, SR.
Henry Bank, Sr., attained a very venerable age as he lived to be past ninety-three years old, passing away July 22, 1906. He was recognized as one of the solid, substantial men of his day, possessing sterling qualities such as command respect in every land and clime. He was born in the kingdom of Hanover, Germany, on the 8th of January, 1813, and was thirty-six years of age ere he left Europe for the new world, crossing the Atlantic in 1849. He did not tarry on the Atlantic coast but made his way at once into the interior of the country, settling at Fort Madison, Iowa, where for two years he fol- lowed the cooper's trade, which he had learned in his native land. In 1851 he removed to a farm in Van Buren township, Lee county, and there followed agricultural pursuits throughout the remainder of his active business life. He did not seek to figure prominently in any public connections, being content to concentrate his energies and activ- ities upon the development and improvement of his farm. His meth-
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
ods were practical and substantial results were soon achieved. He kept in touch with the progress of the times in agriculture and his place became one of the most highly cultivated and valuable proper- ties of the district.
Ere leaving his native country Henry Bank, Sr., was united in marriage to Miss Gollmart and they became the parents of the follow- ing children : William, Henry, Dorothea, August, Louisa, Henrietta and Julia.
Henry Bank, Sr., was between ninety-three and ninety-four years of age, when in July, 1906, he was called to the home beyond. Sober, industrious, energetic, honest to the last penny, recognizing the respon- sibility of not only providing well for his family but of setting them a good example, and respected by all for his many sterling qualities- such a man was Henry Bank, Sr.
HON. HENRY BANK, JR.
Hon. Henry Bank, Jr., of Keokuk, who was the first judge to pre- side over the Keokuk superior court, is a native of Hanover, Germany, his birth having there occurred on the 23d of October, 1843. The establishment of the family in the new world occurred during the pio- neer epoch in the history of Lee county, Henry Bank being a lad of six years when brought by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Bank, Sr., to the new world. After a brief residence in Fort Madison cov- ering about two years a removal was made to a farm in Van Buren township, Lee county, and there the son was reared, early learning what hard work means. He laid the foundation of his education in the neighboring schools but much of the year was devoted to work in the fields from the time of the early spring planting until the crops were harvested in the late autumn.
About the time he attained his majority Judge Bank became inter- ested in the sawmill and lumber business and was identified with activity along these lines from 1868 until 1874. He early manifested public spirit and became a close student of all that has to do with civic affairs. He sought the betterment of the community along many lines and his public spirit and his keen intelligence led to his nomi- nation for the office of recorder of deeds of Lee county, to which he was elected in 1874, filling the position with credit to himself and sat- isfaction to his constituents until 1877. About that time he decided to make the practice of law his life work and became a student in the
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
office of Sprague & Gibbon at Keokuk. He was admitted to the bar in 1878 but continued with his preceptors until the removal of Mr. Gibbon to Chicago. He afterward practiced with Mr. Sprague until 1881. when he was elected police magistrate of the city of Keokuk, remaining upon the bench of the police court until the office was abol- ished. Higher judicial honors, however, awaited him, for in 1883. upon the organization of the superior court, he was elected its judge and served as such until the spring of 1895. In the fall of that year he was elected judge of the district court and has continuously served as such to the present time, so that he has been continuously upon the bench for a third of a century. He sinks personal prejudice and opin- ion in the impartiality and dignity of the office which he fills. He ever demands that absolute decorum be maintained in the courtroom and that attorneys and clients give to the court the courtesy which is its due. Beyond this, however, he stands for the spirit as well as the letter of the law, seeking that justice shall be done, yet recognizing at times that the public welfare can best be advanced by tempering jus- tice with mercy.
On the Ist of May, 1869, Judge Bank was united in marriage to Miss Mary Risser, who came from Bavaria to America with her par- ents, Abraham and Katharine (Pletcher) Risser. in the early '50s. Judge Bank is a member of the German Evangelical church and of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, associations which indicate much of the nature of his interests. A man of high principles and lofty purpose, his life is the expression of his belief.
CAPTAIN FREDERICK CORWIN CHAMBERS
Captain Frederick Corwin Chambers has been a lifelong resident of Fort Madison, where he was born on the 4th of September, 1869. his parents being Thomas C. and Mary A. ( Brewer) Chambers. The father is a native of Ohio and being left an orphan when quite small, was brought to Iowa by an aunt and has since been a resident of Fort Madison. During his entire business career he has been connected with steamboating on the Mississippi river. For forty-seven years he was an engineer and was licensed as chief engineer. During the dark days of the Civil war he manifested his patriotism by enlisting in 1861 as a member of Company F, Nineteenth Iowa Volunteer Infan- try, with which he served for nearly three years. He was wounded
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
at Prairie Grove, Arkansas, and was sent to a hospital at New Orleans, where he remained until sufficiently recovered to be discharged and then returned home. Although the family always supported the dem- ocratic party he became a stanch republican and has since given his allegiance to that organization. He is an honored member of the Grand Army of the Republic and is connected with the Christian church.
In early manhood Thomas C. Chambers married Miss Mary A. Brewer, who was born in Pleasant Ridge township, this county, where she spent her entire life. Her parents were Frederick H. and Rebecca (Edson) Brewer, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Ohio. They were married in Lee county, Iowa, having come here during the '30s. For a time her parents lived in a log cabin in Pleas- ant Ridge township, where the father had entered land from the gov- erninent, and he continued to engage in agricultural pursuits up to within the last few years of his life, when he removed to Fort Madi- son. There both he and his wife died. He was a democrat in poli- tics and was a leader of the party in his locality. In religious faith he was a Methodist and fraternally was connected with the Masonic order. To Thomas C. and Mary A. (Brewer) Chambers were born five children, as follows : Frederick Corwin, of this review; John P., a traveling salesman for a shoe firm and a resident of St. Louis ; W. T., who lives in Rock Island, Illinois, and is employed in the United States engineer's office there ; Charles B., who is manager for a rubber tire company in Buffalo, New York; and Robert R., who died in Fort Madison at the age of twenty-three years.
During his boyhood and youth Frederick C. Chambers pursued his education in the public schools of Fort Madison and after com- pleting the high-school course entered Johnson's Business College, where he was a student for a time. For seven years he was employed on river boats during the rafting season and for the same length of time was engaged in the retail shoe business. He was an engineer at the Fort Madison Iron Works for ten years and for three years was employed as guard at the Iowa state penitentiary. He was next con- nected with the county recorder's office and for two terms. or for four years, served as recorder, while at the present time he is acting as deputy. He has not only been prominent in public life but has also been identified with military affairs, serving for twelve years as a member of the National Guard. During the Spanish-American war he was in active service for nine months as captain of Company F. Fiftieth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and was inspector of rifle practice in the National Guard for three years after the war.
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
On the 12th of January, 1891, Mr. Chambers married Miss Hattie Cutler, of Burlington, Iowa. They are quite prominent socially, and Mr. Chambers has been identified with the Masonic fraternity since 1897. He has served as master of Claypool Lodge, No. 13, A. F. & A. M., and as eminent commander of Delta Commandery, No. 51, K. T. He also belongs to Pottowanock Chapter, No. 28, R. A. M .; and Kaaba Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Davenport, although he took the degrees of the shrine at Jacksonville, Florida, during the Spanish-American war. He also is a prominent member of other fraternal organizations, is past exalted ruler of the Elks, chancellor commander of the Knights of Pythias and captain of the Uniform Rank. He also belongs to the Fraternal Order of Eagles and the Moose. Like his father, he supports the republican party and con- mands the respect and esteem of all who know him.
C. R. ARMENTROUT, M. D.
Dr. C. R. Armentrout, recognized as an able and distinguished surgeon of Keokuk, whose office is in the Young Men's Christian Association building, was born in Iowa City, May 3, 1878, his par- ents being Dr. J. C. and Hattie (Claringbold) Armentrout, mention of whom is made elsewhere in this volume.
Noting with boyish interest the work of his father, an interest that grew with the passing years, the subject of this review determined eventually to engage in surgical work, and with that end in view entered the Keokuk Medical College, from which he was graduated on the 19th of April, 1904. He afterward pursued a post-graduate course in a New York post-graduate college and later returned to Keokuk, where he entered upon the active practice of his profession. He has not only done surgical work of a most important character, but also taught for five years in the Keokuk Medical College, specializing in surgical work. At the present writing he is a member of the oper- ating staff of St. Joseph's Hospital, and as a private practitioner he does much difficult surgical work, his pronounced skill and under- standing leading to the constant growth of his practice. He belongs to the Lee County Medical Society, the Des Moines Valley Medical Society, and the Southeastern lowa Medical Society, of which he is the president. He also holds membership with the Iowa State Med- ical Association and the American Medical Association, and thus keeps in touch with the advanced thought of the profession.
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
In December, 1907, Dr. Armentrout was married to Miss Flor- ence Layton, a daughter of Erastus Layton, and they now have one child, Daisy Ethelda, who was born April 9, 1911. Dr. Armentrout belongs to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He has never been active in public affairs, however, devoting his entire time to his profession, in which he has made marked progress and gained high rank.
EDWARD T. McKEE.
Edward T. McKee is a retired farmer, residing in the village of Denmark, where he has made his home for the past ten years. For a long period he was actively engaged in general agricultural pursuits and is still the owner of a farm of two hundred and forty acres on section 17, Pleasant Ridge township. It was in that township that he was born in 1867, his parents being John S. and Angeline ( Hart) McKee. The father's birth occurred in Washington county, Penn- sylvania. in 1827, and he was, therefore, sixty-one years of age when he passed away in Lee county in 1888. He was reared in the east and in 1851 came to this county. He was in company with his father, John McKee, who died in 1869. Both the grandfather and father followed agricultural pursuits and both settled in Pleasant Ridge township, where they secured farms and remained until called to their final rest. The grandfather, John McKee, Sr., was a soldier in the War of 1812 and was always a public-spirited and patriotic citizen. He married a Miss Sampson, who also passed away in Lee county. Their son John S. McKee was the eldest in a family of six children, all of whom came to this county, but all are now deceased.
While in Pennsylvania John S. McKee held membership with the Society of Friends and his life was ever an upright, honorable one, which gained for him the high regard of all with whom he was brought in contact. His wife was likewise a native of Washington county, Pennsylvania, and her death occurred in this country in 1881, when she was fifty-one years of age. Her religious faith was that of the Baptist church and her life was in consistent harmony with her Christian belief. Edward T. McKee is the youngest of the family of seven children and is the only one now living, although several of the others reached years of maturity. These were : William, who fol- lowed farming and teaching; Haley, who died at the age of thirteen years ; John S., who was a farmer and passed away at the age of forty ; Margaret J., who died at the age of seventeen; George M., whose
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
death occurred when he was sixteen years of age; and Charles B., who died at the age of twenty-four.
Edward T. McKee was reared upon the old homestead in Pleas- ant Ridge township and completed his studies by a high-school course. He then took up the occupation to which he had been reared and made farming his life work. In addition to tilling the fields he also raised good grades of stock and both branches of his business proved profit- able. He brought his fields to a high state of cultivation and added many modern improvements and accessories to the farm, making it a model property of the twentieth century. He resided upon that place until 1904 and then, putting aside the more arduous cares of farm life, removed to Denmark, where he has made his home for the past decade.
Mr. McKee was married in Pleasant Ridge township, in 1894, to Miss Clara Burton, who was born in Pleasant Ridge township, a daughter of Charles and Cornelia Burton, who came from Vermont in 1851. They were natives of the Green Mountain state and were there reared and married. The mother is now living at the home of Mr. and Mrs. McKee and is about ninety years of age. Mr. Burton, however, passed away in 1894, when seventy years of age.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. McKee have been born three children, Cor- nelia A., Marcia B. and Carol. In his political views Mr. McKee is a democrat, always supporting the men and measures of the party, yet never seeking office as a reward for party fealty. He belongs to the Masonic lodge at Danville, Iowa, and to the chapter at Fort Madison, and is most loyal to the teachings and tenets of the craft. He and his wife are members of the Congregational church of Denmark.
JAMES CRUIKSHANK.
James Cruikshank, now enjoying a well earned and well merited rest from business cares in a pleasant home in Donnellson, was for a considerable period identified with agricultural interests in Lee county and is today one of the oldest native sons living within its borders. He was born in Marion township, May 7, 1835, and has therefore passed the seventy-ninth milestone on life's journey. His father. Alexander Cruickshank, one of the early pioneers of the county, had settled here in 1834 and had secured a claim from the government. There were only a few white people living in the
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
county at that time and the work of civilization and progress seemed scarcely begun, while the most farsighted could hardly have dreamed of the wonderful changes which were to occur and bring about the present development. Mr. Cruickshank was acquainted with Chief Keokuk and with Black Hawk, and the latter visited his home and nursed and played with James Cruikshank of this review. Alex- ander Cruickshank was united in marriage to Keziah Perkins, who was born in Kentucky, while he was a native of Norway. His death occurred in 1888 and his wife survived until 1895. In their family were seven children.
James Cruikshank received such educational advantages as the district schools afforded, continuing his studies to the age of seven- teen years, when he concentrated his efforts upon farm work. Dur- ing the periods of vacation he had assisted more and more largely in the work of the fields and after his school-days were over he con- tinued to assist his father until the latter's death. He then inherited a portion of the old homestead and he purchased eighty acres adjoin- ing. concentrating his efforts upon the further development and im- provement of his farm until 1898, when he sold that property, which he left the following year. He then bought one hundred and twenty- one and one-half acres of land in Franklin township, where he car- ried on general farming until 1909. He then sold that place to his son Arthur, who still owns and operates it. Retiring from active business life at the age of seventy-four years, the father removed to Donnellson, where he purchased a nice home, which he still occupies, and he is now spending the evening of his life amid the comforts that have been secured as the result of his former toil.
On the 5th of April, 1857, James Cruikshank was joined in wed- lock with Miss Mary A. Harrison, a native of Dearborn county, Indiana, who was reared and educated, however, in Lee county, Iowa. They have become the parents of four children who are yet living: Charles W., a resident of Mount Pleasant; Mrs. Jennie Reid, who makes her home at Long Beach, California; Arthur T., living upon the old homestead farm; and Mrs. Luella E. Powell, a widow resid- ing with her parents.
Mr. Cruikshank is a Methodist in religious faith and has ever been most loyal to the teachings of that organization. There are in- deed few people in the county whose memory goes back to so early an epoch in its development. He can well remember when game of all kinds was plentiful, including not only the wild birds of the for- est but also deer. He remembers the Mormon people as they passed through on their way to the west. They camped out in the county
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
and some of the landmarks of their stay here are still visible. There were many wolves and these would frequently venture upon the farm and kill the pigs. The pioneer settler had many difficulties and hardships with which to contend and it required much courage and fortitude to meet the conditions of that period. In the early days when a death occurred it was customary to bury the departed one near his home, for there was no regular burying ground. Mr. Cruik- shank has lived to witness many notable changes, has seen the county thickly settled, while towns and villages have sprung up, churches and schools have been built and the work of development and im- provement has been carried steadily forward until the county today bears little resemblance to the district in which his early youth was passed.
CHARLES HUBENTHAL.
For more than sixty years Charles Hubenthal has been a resident of Keokuk and for forty-two years was engaged in the butchering business. He became well known and has long been regarded as a worthy and valued citizen. He was born in Hessen-Cassel, Ger- many, in the town of Ober Kaufungen, June 25, 1833. He had two great uncles who fought with the Hessians in the Revolutionary war, coming to this country in 1777 as members of the army hired by King George, to suppress the uprising among the colonies. When they learned of conditions in this country, however, they deserted the English ranks and fought with the American forces. Valentine Hubenthal, father of Charles Hubenthal, was a carpenter and cabi- net maker by trade and spent his entire life in Germany. Two of his brothers, Adolph and Peter Hubenthal, were members of the German army and they, too, died in the fatherland.
Charles Hubenthal attended the schools of his native country until thirteen and a half years of age, after which he began learning the butcher's trade, which he followed for an extended period both in his native country and in the United States. He was quite young when left an orphan by the death of his parents. On crossing the Atlantic he settled first with an uncle at Natchez, Mississippi. He had been there only a short time when his uncle and aunt died of yellow fever and he then went to New York, where he remained for a year, after which he removed to Pittsburgh, where he had rela- tives. From that point he later went to St. Louis, making the trip
CHARLES HUBENTHAL
MRS . CHARLES HUBENTHAL
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
down the river. He had an uncle, William Adams, who had been engaged in ranching in Texas from 1846 and who sent for Charles Hubenthal to join him. The latter was on his way to his uncle's ranch, but turned back when he heard the reports of yellow fever in Texas. He then came to Keokuk, where he arrived in 1853, find- ing a little straggling village. His financial condition rendered it imperative that he gain immediate employment and for some time he worked for others, but afterward embarked in business on his own account.
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