USA > Iowa > Lee County > Story of Lee County, Iowa, Volume II > Part 32
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Mr. Rice votes with the republican party and has served as as- sessor, but, while he keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day, he has given little time to seeking or desiring office. He holds membership in the Christian church, and his life is guided by its teachings, so that in his dealings with his fellowmen and in all of his relations with the public he is found honorable, reliable and true.
GEORGE G. HAESSIG.
George G. Haessig, who for many years has been prominently identified with public affairs of Fort Madison, was born in this city on the 17th of June, 1856, and is a son of George and Christiana (Rhode) Haessig. The father was born in Alsace Merzweiler, France, now a part of Germany, March 24, 1829, and the mother in Liebenstadt, Brunswick, Germany, September 20, 1835. Both came to the United States in early life, the father landing in New York in 1847 and taking up his residence in Fort Madison in 1851. The mother arrived here with her parents in December, 1849, the voyage across the Atlantic being made on the same ship with Judge Bank.
Mr. and Mrs. George Haessig were married in Fort Madison on the 28th of November, 1854, and continued to make this city their home throughout the remainder of their lives, the father dying De-
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cember 15, 1892, and the mother August 5, 1902. He was a cabinet- maker by trade but later turned his attention to contracting and building and erected many of the principal blocks in this city. Dur- ing the early part of his residence here he supported the republican party, voting for its candidates until after Garfield's election, at which time he became a democrat. He served for a number of years as alderman of his ward and took a very active and prominent part in public affairs. Fraternally he was connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias, and religiously was a member of the German Evangelical Lutheran church, his wife and daughter also taking a prominent part in the work of that organ- ization. In his family were the following children: George G., of this review; Charles, now a resident of Los Angeles, California; William, of St. Paul, Minnesota; Edward M., who was born Janu- ary 1, 1863, and died September 6, 1904, leaving a wife and two children; Henry G., who is mentioned elsewhere in this work; Albert, who was born January 2, 1873, and died January 20, 1909, leaving a wife and two sons; Otto C., a resident of Fort Madison; Amelia, the wife of Henry F. Smith of Fort Madison; Oscar S., of Washington, Pennsylvania; Frederick, who died at the age of thirteen years; and one daughter who died in infancy.
Having spent his entire life in Fort Madison, George G. Haessig is indebted to the public schools of the city for the educational priv- ileges he enjoyed. In early life he learned the blacksmith's trade and continued to follow the same until 1887, when he turned his at- tention to the butchering business in partnership with his brother, William. In 1888, however, he disposed of the business and became a member of the police force. In 1891 he was elected chief of police and served in that capacity for four years and then served as con- stable until 1899. He was next engaged in the implement business and from 1906 to 1913 acted as steward for the Elks Club. At present he is not engaged in any particular business, but he and his three brothers now own the estate left by their father.
On the 21st of November, 1878, Mr. Haessig was united in mar- riage to Miss Lizzie Hesse, who was born in Wheeling, West Vir- ginia, in 1852, but was brought to Fort Madison by her parents during her infancy. She is a daughter of Henry Hesse, who died when she was only two years old.
Mr. Haessig has ever taken an active interest in public affairs and in 1874 became a member of the volunteer fire department. He was made foreman of the hook and ladder company and continued to serve as such during the greater part of the time he was connected
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with the department. He was made president of the Gem City Fire Department, No. I, and is at present serving in that capacity. The democratic party has always found in him a stanch supporter of its principles, and he served as chairman of the democratic central committee of Lee county in 1885 and as treasurer of the same from 1889 to 1906. He is a member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, the Masonic fraternity and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and is prominent in business and political affairs.
ISAAC W. TRAVERSE, M. D.
Fort Madison has known Dr. Isaac W. Traverse since 1889 and has continuously accorded him honor in his profession since he quali- fied for the practice of medicine and surgery. His ability and suc- cess are based upon comprehensive knowledge of the principles of the science and the truths which investigation and research have brought to light through all the ages to the present time concerning the laws of health. He reads widely, thinks deeply, his conclusions are logi- cal and he today occupies a position as one of the distinguished practitioners of Iowa.
A native of the neighboring state of Illinois, Dr. Traverse was born in Hancock county on the 22d of October, 1872, his parents being W. F. and Emily J. (Wilsey) Traverse. The former was a son of Dr. Hiel Andrew and Jane (Sprout) Traverse, the latter's father coming from Scotland, he for many years practicing medicine in Hancock county, where he passed away at the age of ninety years. His son, W. F. Traverse, followed the occupation of farming, on which pursuit he depended for the support of his family. His labors, intelligently directed, won him substantial success and he became the owner of four hundred acres of land. His life's labors were ended in death on the 4th of October, 1901. For a long period he had survived his wife, who passed away in June, 1878. They were the parents of three sons and a daughter: John, now deceased; William, who resides upon the old home farm in Illinois; Dr. Isaac W., of this review; and Jean, the wife of Curt Silberschmidt, a broker of Los Angeles, California.
Dr. Traverse assisted in the work of the home farm through the period of boyhood and youth, alternating his work in the fields with attendance at the public schools. Other pursuits, however, made stronger appeal to him than agriculture and after mentally reviewing
DR. ISAAC W. TRAVERSE
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the opportunities open to him he decided upon the practice of medi- cine as a life work. In preparation therefor he entered the Keokuk Medical College, in which he completed the regular course and was graduated on the 7th of March, 1893. He first located at Fort Madi- son, but after two months removed to Wapello, Iowa, where he continued in practice for eight months. In 1894 he returned to Fort' Madison, where he has since made his home, devoting his attention to general practice. Progress is a cumulative process. Where there is no advancement there has been no effort. The career of Dr. Traverse is indicative of this fact. He has advanced steadily with the passing years, for he has kept in touch with the most modern methods of medical and surgical practice, readily recognizing the worth of new ideas and advanced thought, yet not hastily discarding old and time-tried methods. His ability places him in the foremost rank among distinguished representatives of the profession in Iowa and his opinions are an influencing factor in the professional activities of many younger men. In early life Dr. Traverse served as health officer at Fort Madison and at one time was president of the Fort Madison Medical Society. He is often an active participant in the discussions of the Iowa State Medical Society, to which he belongs, and of the American Medical Association. Analyzation of his life work and character shows that he is a man of sympathetic nature, which, as a supplement to broad scientific knowledge, enables him to readily understand the various features and phases of medical practice that rest upon a knowledge of the mental and temperamental condi- tions of a patient as well as upon the actual physical condition. For many years Dr. Traverse has enjoyed an extensive private practice among the best people of Lee county and in addition he is medical examiner for the New York Life Insurance Company and the Metro- politan Life Insurance Company, both of New York; the Union Mutual of Portland, Maine; the Massachusetts Mutual Insurance Company, the Hartford Insurance Company of New York, the Life Extension Institute of New York and several fraternal insurance companies. That his ability has brought him success finds evidence in the fact that he is now the owner of several fine farms and valuable city property and he has one of the most beautiful homes in Fort Madison.
On the 28th of December, 1891, Dr. Traverse was united in mar- riage to Miss Daisy L. Ehart, of Fort Madison, a daughter of Philip and Sarah E. (Jarrett) Ehart, the former one of the old-time settlers of this city, where he conducted business as a wagonmaker. The mother was a daughter of Elias and Fanny Jarrett. The latter lived
Vol. 11-21
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to the advanced age of nearly one hundred years and resided at West Point, Lee county, up to the time of her death. Mr. Ehart departed this life July 30, 1876, and his wife, long surviving, passed away February 13, 1914, at the home of Dr. Traverse. They were the parents of six children, three of whom are living: John, who is express agent at Fort Madison ; Maggie, the wife of Frank Swanson, foreman of the Santa Fe shops; and Mrs. Traverse. Two sons, John W. and Philip E., have been born of the marriage of Dr. and Mrs. Traverse. The younger is now attending school, while the elder. is engaged in agricultural pursuits on his father's farm of two hundred acres in Scotland county, Missouri. He married Geraldine Thorn- ber and they have one son, John William.
Politically Dr. Traverse is a democrat, but the honors and emolu- ments of office have no attraction for him. His life is largely guided by his faith in the teachings of the Presbyterian church, in which he holds membership, and by his oath of allegiance to the Masonic fraternity. He belongs to Claypoole Lodge, No. 13, A. F. & A. M .; Potowonok Chapter, No. 28, R. A. M .; Delta Commandery, No. 51, K. T .; the Consistory and Kaaba Temple of the Mystic Shrine of Davenport, Iowa. He is also identified with several other fraternal organizations, among them the Modern Woodmen and Knights and Ladies of Security. His life exemplifies the beneficent spirit of the craft and he has utilized the opportunities so frequently offered in the medical profession to aid his fellow travelers upon life's jour- ney. Like her husband, Mrs. Traverse is a devoted member of the Presbyterian church and is a most active worker in its missionary society. In her home she is a devoted wife and mother and those who meet her socially find her a loyal friend. Both Dr. and Mrs. Traverse have an extensive acquaintance in Fort Madison, where the hospitality of the best homes is accorded them. No practitioner in southeastern Iowa stands higher in the regard of his professional brethren and none are more deserving of the success and honor which have come to them.
JOHN P. KENNEDY.
John P. Kennedy is well known in Montrose, where he has filled the office of postmaster and where he has made his home since his infancy, having been brought hither by his parents. His paternal grandfather, William Kennedy, died in Westport, Ireland, at the
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age of sixty-two years. He had a family of three children, William, Elizabeth and John, the last named being now in Dublin, Ireland. Of this family William Kennedy was born in County Mayo, at the town of Westport, July 15, 1831. His father was in the British army in the East Indies for twenty-two years and was retired on full pay.
William Kennedy became a shoemaker, learning the trade at Westport, Ireland .. He became a well informed man and recog- nized as a citizen of intelligence and public spirit, and during his residence in Ireland he served in the revenue police for three years. In 1853 he crossed the Atlantic to the United States and worked at his trade in Chicago, Dubuque and Keokuk. In the last named city he was married in June, 1859, to Mrs. Mina (Williams) Burns, who was born December 18, 1839, in Dublin, Ireland. She lost her father during her early girlhood and afterward came to the United States with her grandfather, who brought his family to the new world and settled at Port Jervis, New York. He was a stonemason by trade. Mrs. Kennedy acquired her education in the schools of Ireland and of Port Jervis, being but twelve years of age when taken to the latter city. In New York she married a Mr. Burns, who died in that state, and she afterward removed to Keokuk with her one child, Timothy. Here she met and married William Kennedy. In October, 1860, he came to Montrose and established a shoe shop on the levee, conducting the business continuously to the time of his death, which occurred in 1885. He was active in township affairs and served on the school board and was a member of the town council, cooperating in many movements and measures which contributed to the public welfare. His political allegiance was given to the repub- lican party and his religious faith was that of the Protestant Epis- copal church. His widow still resides in Montrose. By their mar- riage they had eight children: John P .; William, now living in Tacoma, Washington; Eva, who became the wife of N. J. Chapman and passed away; Jennie, the wife of F. D. Butzer of Los Angeles, California; Charles A., a member of congress; George W., who married Doris Carnes and is principal of the Montrose schools; Annie, the wife of Frank Kerr of Montrose; and Lillie, at home.
John P. Kennedy was brought to Montrose when but six weeks old. He attended the public schools here, afterward becoming a student in the Eastern Iowa Normal school, and was graduated from the law department of the Iowa State University with the class of 1892. He never practiced law, always preferring to attend to his extensive nursery business, in which he has been engaged in connec-
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tion with his brother Charles since 1883. The company still remains intact and the business of the firm is now one of large proportions. His business connections, important and prominent as they are, have made Mr. Kennedy well known and the integrity and enterprise of his methods have gained for him the high regard of all with whom he has been brought into contact. This is the only line of business in which he has engaged save that of teaching, which profession he took up at the age of twenty years and followed at intervals for fourteen years, during part of which time, however, he attended school. During six years of that period he was principal of the schools of Montrose.
Mr. Kennedy was united in marriage to Miss Marjorie Ballou, June 14, 1893, and they became the parents of three children, Cath- erine, Margaret and Eleanor. Fraternally Mr. Kennedy is well known as a Mason and Odd Fellow. He also has membership with the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen of America. His political allegiance has always been given to the republican party, and he has long been a recognized leader in its local ranks. In 1897 he was appointed postmaster by President Mckinley and for fifteen years was continued in that office through ensuing administrations, making a most creditable record by the prompt and faithful manner in which he discharged his duties. He served as a chairman of the republican county committee in 1894, 1895 and 1896, and his opin- ions carry weight in the councils of his party. In fact, he is a recog- nized leader in his community and his influence is always on the side of progress, advancement and improvement.
KEOKUK INDUSTRIAL ASSOCIATION.
A real appreciation of the amount of work done by the Industrial Association, as well as an appreciation of the value of the association to the city, can best be determined by a careful survey of the amount of work handled in the office, by officials and by committees. There are hundreds of items of business which come up for consideration in every city which demand careful and immediate attention. They do not pertain to any one particular business, otherwise they would be looked after by that particular business. These items do not come before the city officials for consideration, because they have more to do with the united commercial interests of the city than they do with any municipal matter in itself. A large compilation of data
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covering the entire field of the city's commercial activity, a study of the manner in which other cities and other commercial organizations are developing commerce and industry are necessary and do not come under the regulation program of activity of any one of the standard old time organizations governing municipalities.
Individuals often wonder what was done in the old times to look after these particular things. Investigation develops the fact that they were either neglected entirely or were handled in a half hearted manner by the municipal organization itself, at the same time that they were burdened with the legitimate affairs of the city. As a consequence many of the important details of municipal development were neglected, seriously, in the old times because of the lack of a specific organization having as its purpose the development of the entire business interests of the municipality.
The Keokuk Industrial Association has demonstrated the value of such organizations by the constant and untiring effort put forth to take care of just those particular things which are so often neglected. To appreciate the real value of the Industrial Association a careful survey should be made of the demands of the city's commercial inter- ests and the numberless items of business directly handled by the Industrial Association, in order to take care of every phase of modern development and meet every demand.
Comparative information in regard to the cities of the country is necessary in order that the people of Keokuk may know where they stand as a city, as compared with the other cities of the state and other states of the Union. This information is on hand at the Indus- trial Association office for the use of the general public.
Complete information as to the amount of business handled, the number of men employed, the factories operated, the amount of busi- ness transacted, the amount of freight handled, in and out of the city, in any one year and a period of years, a knowledge of the actual conditions, sanitary and otherwise, which prevail within the corpo- rate limits, and in addition to all of these a definite knowledge of the best plans and methods whereby all undesirable conditions may be changed and the proper and logical development of every depart- ment of municipal growth can be brought about.
The Industrial Association during the last four years has accom- plished nothing of a spectacular nature. At the same time the asso- ciation has been one of the busiest organizations in the city and has taken care of an enormous amount of detailed work, which municipal growth, under ordinary circumstances, requires. In addition to this it has had the extra burden of taking advantage of the most modern
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and scientific methods in power production and the utilization of the results of these methods in order to produce the best results and to make them of value, not only to individual and commercial firms, but to the city as a whole.
This work so far has been largely preliminary. Not one item of business handled by the association can be termed final in its accom- plishment. It has all been foundation work for the development of the city, even to the securing and the provision of proper housing for the few industries which have been located here.
The Industrial Association office is a veritable bureau of informa- tion regarding the city of Keokuk, its advantages as a location and the means whereby the city's growth can be accomplished in the most satisfactory manner. At the office can be found outlines of the most successful plans adopted by other cities of the country and of the world for the accomplishment of the municipal growth and for the proper care and protection of the city's commerce and industry. Visitors by the hundred have been entertained and have been given a just outline of the city's assets. Thousands of letters have been written in response to inquiries regarding Keokuk and Keokuk's citi- zens, in addition to the letters written to industries which we are endeavoring to locate here.
All of this information, together with hundreds of items yet unmentioned, can be found in tabulated form at the office of the Industrial Association, collected for the benefit of Keokuk citizens and Keokuk industries.
The officials of the Industrial Association are: President, C. R. Joy ; first vice president, J. A. Kiedaisch ; second vice president, C. F. McFarland; secretary, J. F. Elder, and treasurer, Ira W. Wills; and on the board of directors are A. D. Ayres, T. A. Craig, J. F. Elder, L. A. Hamill, A. Hollingsworth, Stephen Irwin, C. R. Joy, J. A. Kiedaisch, J. T. McCarthy, C. F. McFarland, C. A. Mc- Namara, L. F. Rollins, Jacob Schouten, G. S. Tucker and Ira W. Wills.
There is a tendency on the part of many to complain that Keokuk has not developed as rapidly as it should have done. On the other hand, the more thoughtful people take into consideration the fact that up until five years ago Keokuk was not well known beyond the limits of the state of Iowa and outside of the railroad time tables and the river maps. Those who did know it remembered Keokuk as one of the small old-fashioned Mississippi river towns which was holding its own, primarily, by doing a fair amount of wholesale and retail business. It is recognized as one of the oldest towns in
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the state and its history is replete with events of antebellum and Civil war days. People remembered when the canal was built and referred to that event as the one great event in the history of the city. The canal and a few smaller incidents in railroad history and in the com- mercial development of the town constituted the claim to public notice on the part of this city.
In the early seventies the United States government constructed the canal between here and Montrose, in order to make it possible for shipping to get by the rapids of the Mississippi river at this place. Following that the efforts of our people to develop Keokuk into a metropolitan city have been confined largely to occasional series and successful attempts at publicity, industrial development and the like. The great effort was securing the government franchise for the con- struction of a dam across the great river at this place.
Of course, some of the industrial efforts of the association were successful. Several factories were located here which have given rise to considerable publicity. These factories are a source of satis- faction to the city because of their success. Occasionally efforts were made at the entertainment of visitors. The annual street fair was widely known over this section of the country. The reputation of the city for the hospitality of its citizens was a source of pride to all those living here. In fact, Keokuk in the early days was simply a small going Mississippi river city, which had been left somewhat in the shadow by the development of great inland cities as the result of the extension of the railway systems of the country.
In order to appreciate what has really been accomplished by the Industrial Association it is urged that the conditions previous to the organization of this association should be taken into considera- tion. It is wise to compare the amount of business done today with that conducted here, both in a retail and in a wholesale way, previous to 1910. With this comparison in view it is possible to gain a better understanding of Keokuk as it is going to be than in any other man- ner. When the blues come because business does not increase con- stantly it is wise to remember these things and to note that there is a great increase in business generally over what it used to be.
The only real claim upon the city for wide publicity and the only real chance it has had to become a city of great importance came when a committee of Keokuk and Hamilton men, through a long period of effort, secured the government franchise for the power project on the river at this place.
From February 9, 1905, Keokuk has had its chance. The oppor- tunity took on a concrete form in 1910 when the money and the force
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were landed in the city and the construction of the dam and power plant began.
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