USA > Iowa > Lee County > Story of Lee County, Iowa, Volume II > Part 8
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A. P. Meyer pursued his education in the parochial schools and in 1897, when a youth of seventeen years, started to earn his own living in a clerical capacity in the courthouse. From 1901 until 1902 he was with the Santa Fe Railway Company and on the Ist of January, 1903, he became deputy auditor of Lee county, which position he con- tinuously filled until the Ist of January, 1911, when he entered upon his duties as auditor, to which office he had been elected the previous fall. On the expiration of his first year's term he was reelected, so that he is the present incumbent in that office. For eleven years he has been connected with the auditor's office, seven years as deputy and about four years as auditor, and the record which he has made in this connection is most creditable. His duties are always discharged promptly, systematically and faithfully, and the record he has made has won him high encomiums from those who are familiar with his work.
On the 29th of June, 1907, Mr. Meyer was united in marriage to Miss Pearl Wells, of West Point, Iowa, a daughter of Charles Wells, and they have one daughter, Ruth M. Mr. Mever attends St. Joseph's Catholic church and holds membership with the Knights of Columbus. He is also identified with the Benevolent Protective
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Order of Elks, the Moose, the Eagles and the Woodmen of the World. The name of Meyer has been prominently associated with musical interests in Fort Madison for many decades, for Joseph J. Meyer has been a member of the band for fifty years and was its leader for an extended period. A. P. Meyer, inheriting the musical taste and talent of his father, also became a member of the band and has been its leader since 1902. He is famed as a cornetist and has done much choir and orchestra work as director. He is indeed a valuable addition to the musical circles of his native city and has done much to improve the public taste in this connection.
JOHN R. KING.
For thirty-seven years John R. King has been a resident of Keo- kuk, where he is now engaged in business as president and manager of the King Plumbing Company. He was born in Danville, Penn- sylvania, September 19, 1855, and was one of a family of six chil- dren, five of whom are now living, whose parents were Charles and Rebecca (Randolph) King. The father was a native of New Jersey and was descended from French Huguenot ancestors, who fled to America to escape persecution. Charles King was a blacksmith by trade and followed that pursuit for many years. He wedded Rebecca Randolph, a native of Pennsylvania, and both died in Danville, that state.
John R. King was reared in Danville, where he pursued his edu- cation in the public and high schools. He was but twelve years of age, however, when he began earning his own living, working through the summer months and attending school in the winter seasons. In 1870 he entered the employ of his uncle, M. S. Ridgeway, proprietor of a rolling mill, and began to roll rails for the Union Pacific and other railroads. As his skill and efficiency increased he was pro- moted from time to time and thus rose to the position of waterman, in charge of the thirty boilers of the establishment. His mechanical skill developed year after year and he became familiar with many phases of mechanics. In 1873 he established a plumbing business in Danville, conducting it successfully for about five years.
On the 20th of September, 1877, Mr. King was united in marriage to Miss Anna C. Antrim, and the following year he came to Keokuk, where two months later he was joined by his wife. They began keeping house at Tenth and High streets and have since made their
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home in this city. After removing to the west Mr. King became foreman in the plumbing establishment of Sutton & Haldorf and later was employed by P. R. Sutton. In May, 1904, he organized the King Plumbing Company, of which he was elected president and manager, and so continues, with R. H. King as secretary. They are contractors for hot water and steam heating, sanitary plumbing, gas fitting, chandeliers, electrical supplies, electric wiring, sewers and tile and their business is now of large and gratifying proportions, having grown year by year.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. King have been born five sons and a daugh- ter, Norris Antrim, Roy Hammond, Harry Randolph, Paul Cowley, Charles Lavan and Hannah Hammond. The family is well known in Keokuk, where they have a large circle of warm friends. Mr. King is a republican in his political views and fraternally is con- nected with the Knights of Pythias and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. His life has been one of industry and upon that foundation he has built his success, working his way steadily upward through his own efforts until he is now at the head of a substantial business enterprise of Keokuk, such as constitutes a gratifying feature in the development and growth of the city.
ABRAHAM MARTIN HUTCHINSON.
Abraham Martin Hutchinson was for years prominently identi- fied with the early commercial interests that used the Mississippi river as a public highway. He had a wide acquaintance, not only in the middle west, but also throughout the northwest, and he was captain of many of the famous old river boats running up and down the Mississippi river and its tributaries. He was born in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, in 1832, a son of Samuel Hutchinson. The water seemed to have a fascination for him even in his boyhood days and, leaving home in early life, he entered upon an apprenticeship as a pilot on the Ohio river. In those days river conditions were vastly different from those of today and a pilot was a well-informed and capable man. For years Mr. Hutchinson was captain of boats on the running waters of the middle west, among them the famous steamer Phil Sheridan. His license was one of the broadest granted in those days, reading "Pilot of the Mississippi and its tributaries."
In 1874 he came to Keokuk and later organized the corporation known as The Mississippi Coal & Ice Company. It remains in exist-
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ence today with offices at the foot of Johnson street. Mr. Hutchin- son also organized the Mississippi Navigation Company, capitalized for twenty thousand dollars, but this concern went out of business as a result of the river commerce war. While actively connected with marine transportation interests they operated several barges and excursion boats, but when competition became so keen that passen- gers were carried by rival concerns free of charge Mr. Hutchinson thought it best to retire from the field. He was superintendent of the Northwestern Union Packet Company until after the competi- tive war and then ran a steamer, John Kyle, plying between St. Louis and New Orleans, this boat being the second largest on the river. It was eventually burned at New Orleans. For several years Mr. Hutchinson was upon that boat and he was one of the best known river men of the middle west. He was captain of many of the famous old river boats running up and down the Mississippi and its tribu- taries and was the first man to take a boat up the Yellowstone river, carrying soldiers on that trip to fight the Indians. There was no phase of river life with its connecting commercial interests unfamiliar to him and his life history, if written in detail, would give a vivid picture of the days when the greater part of freight and passenger traffic was transported over the river routes.
Mr. Hutchinson was united in marriage to Miss Sarah J. Bald- win, a daughter of Samuel Baldwin, and they had four children : Charles A., who died October 27, 1909; James B .; Effie, the wife of George E. Marshall; and Maud S. The elder son was for years manager of The Mississippi Coal & Ice Company and was also a prominent member of the Republican Club of Keokuk, and exer- cised a wide influence in political affairs. The father, Abraham M. Hutchinson, was also a stalwart republican, but never sought nor desired office. In religious faith he was a Presbyterian and was always loyal to the best interests of the community, co-operating heartily in many movements for material and moral progress. He departed this life November 26, 1886, and his widow, who still sur- vives, now makes her home in Keokuk.
James B. Hutchinson, the younger son, now secretary and gen- eral manager of The Mississippi Coal & Ice Company, was born in St. Paul, August 28, 1863, and when but six years of age was taken to St. Louis by his parents, Abraham M. and Sarah J. (Baldwin) Hutchinson. Several years later the family removed to Keokuk and after completing his education in the public schools he entered into business in connection with his father, taking charge of the same in 1892. At length he disposed of the ice grounds, plant, etc., to the
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water power company, but still maintains offices at the foot of John- son street. The name of Hutchinson has long figured prominently in connection with commercial interests and activity in Keokuk and the work instituted by the father was splendidly carried forward by the son until his interests were merged into those of the larger corporation which bought him out. His political indorsement has always been given to the democratic party, but the honors and emolu- ments of office have no attraction for him.
THEODORE BRINCK.
One is thoroughly unacquainted with the enterprising little city of West Point if they do not know of the Brinck department store there, of which Theodore Brinck of this review is the proprietor. He is both a well-known and popular business man of his section of the county, esteemed because of his enterprise, his progressiveness and his thorough reliability.
He was born January 17, 1861, in the town where he still makes his home, and is a son of Herman Brinck, of whom mention is made elsewhere in this volume. Reared and educated at West Point, he attended the parochial schools and in 1877, when a youth of sixteen years, took his place back of the counter and received thorough com- mercial training in his father's employ, remaining for eleven years as one of the salesmen in the store. He then purchased the business of which he has since been the active head. When he assumed con- trol the Brinck establishment was only a general store, but he quickly added other lines and for years has been proprietor of the only department store in Lee county. He today carries a full line of dry goods, ladies' suits and coats, clothing, millinery, ladies' and men's furnishings, carpets and rugs, groceries and queensware. Each department is well stocked and his reasonable prices, earnest desire to please his patrons and honorable business methods have secured for the house a very liberal and well-merited patronage. The store was located at the corner of the park in West Point twenty-five years ago and at that time occupied a building twenty-five by sixty feet, but in 1903 the building proved inadequate for the large and growing business and the present commodious building was erected-a brick structure fifty by one hundred and two feet, two stories in height and having a floor space of over ten thousand square feet. The lower floor is used for dry goods, millinery, clothing and grocery depart-
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ments, and the upper floor for glass and queensware, carpets, rugs, ladies' ready-to-wear departments and reserve stock. The storeroom is a handsome one, equipped with modern fixtures, well lighted and ventilated, and all goods are displayed in an attractive manner. Mr. Brinck has associated with him his three brothers, Bernard J., Wil- liam and Alois and his sister, Rose. This establishment would be a credit to a city many times the size of West Point. Mr. Brinck's long years of business experience has enabled him to know what the buying public needs and demands and he follows most progressive and enterprising methods in the conduct of his interests. Mr. Brinck is also a stockholder in the Farmers and Citizens State Bank at West Point, of which he is vice-president, and another line of activity in which he is deeply interested is that of music. For the past eleven years he has been the organist of St. Mary's church and adds much to the service through his ability in that connection. He has a very wide and favorable acquaintance throughout his part of the county and wherever he is known is justly ranked among the valued and representative citizens.
CARL A. WEBER.
Carl A. Weber holds a position of importance in the business world of Keokuk as president of the Weber, Kirch Company. He was born in Germany on the 24th of April, 1859, a son of Xavier Weber, also a native of Germany.
Carl A. Weber was educated in the schools of his native land and came to the United States in 1876, when about seventeen years of age. He made his way directly to Keokuk and became connected with the A. Weber Company, with whom he remained for many years. In 1900 he founded the firm of Weber, Kirch Company and for the last three years he has given his entire attention to the affairs of this concern. The company manufactures sheet metal goods and hardware specialties, selling to jobbers throughout the entire United States. They employ quite a large number of men and their com- mercial operations add not a little to the business prosperity of Keo- kuk. Aside from his connection with the active and successful man- agement of that business Mr. Weber has other important interests, being treasurer of the American Cement Machine Company of Keo- kuk, treasurer of the Fairview Realty Company and a stockholder and director of the Keokuk National Bank. He displays sound busi-
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ness judgment, tireless energy, keen perception and ability to plan and to perform and has long been accorded a prominent position in the business circles of this city. He became one of the charter mem- bers of the old Business Men's Association and is now a member of the Keokuk Industrial Association.
Mr. Weber married Miss Mary A. Meck, of Bonaparte, Iowa, on the 15th of May, 1889. Mrs. Weber received her carly education in the public schools of her native city and later attended a convent at Milwaukee. She is much interested in social and church work and is one of the leaders in those lines in Keokuk. Mr. and Mrs. Weber arc the parents of six children, as follows: Arthur J., twenty- three years of age; Marie C., twenty; Leonora, eighteen; Gertrude, fifteen; Alice, twelve; and Clare, aged nine years. Arthur J. was for six years a student at St. Marys College, St. Marys, Kansas, and was graduated two years ago. Marie C. attended the public schools at Keokuk and supplemented her education thus acquired by six years' study at Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, and a year's special study at Chicago. Leonora is now in school at Prairie du Chien. The others are attending school in Keokuk.
Mr. Weber is a Catholic in religious faith and holds member- ship in the church of St. Francis De Sales, of which he is a trustee, and he also belongs to the Knights of Columbus. He is interested in outdoor sports and is a member of the Keokuk Country Club. He has manifested the thoroughness and capacity for detail which is one of the salient traits of the Teutonic race and this, united with his enter- prising business methods, has brought him success and also added to. the prosperity of the city of Keokuk.
ARCHIE E. DICK.
Archie E. Dick, a resident of Cedar township, this county, was born on section 17 of the same township, on the 30th of March, 1875, a son of James and Margaret (McDonald) Dick and a grandson of William and Mary Dick. His father, James Dick, was born in the province of Connaught, Ireland, in May, 1835. In 1848, when about thirteen years of age, he came to the new world and located in Phili- delphia, Pennsylvania, but later removed to Illinois, remaining in that state about a year and a half, after which he came to Fort Madi- son, Lee county. He was one of the politicians of his time and took an active part in many campaigns. His wife was born in Quincy,
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Illinois, on the 25th of December, 1840, and was educated in Fort Madison, Iowa. She subsequently removed to Van Buren county with her parents and was there married. She passed away in Cedar township, this county, in 1908. She was the mother of nine children as follows: Charles, William T., Robert A., Archie E., Samuel, Martha, Helen, Ella and Mary.
Archie E. Dick was given a good education, as he attended the Mount Pleasant Academy. Subsequently he taught school for three years, but later decided that farming offered better opportunities and assumed the management of his father's farm, which he has since been conducting most successfully. He operates one hundred and thirty-seven acres on section 17, Cedar township, carrying on mixed farming. His stock is of a good grade and this branch of his busi- ness has proven a very profitable one.
Mr. Dick is a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church and stands for a high code of ethics. Fraternally he belongs to the Masonic order and is a member of the Mystic Shrine. He is a democrat, although he has not been very active in politics. He has, however, served as township trustee for six years and treasurer of the school board for thirteen years. He is especially interested in everything pertaining to the welfare of the public schools, as he realizes that a good system of education is the bulwark of a democ- racy. He has proven himself a man of good judgment and of unques- tioned integrity of character, and his place in the estimation of his fellowmen is a high one.
STEPHEN S. WILSON.
Stephen S. Wilson is one of that steadily decreasing company of veterans, who in their youth offered their strength and their lives if necd be to secure the perpetuity of the Union. He has resided in this county for twenty-four years and holds the unreserved respect of those who know him. His paternal grandfather, James F. Wilson, came from England and first settled in Virginia, being one of the early residents of that state and later removing to Kentucky when it was on the western frontier. His son, James F., Jr., was born in Ken- tucky and was a farmer by occupation. He married Elizabeth Stew- art, likewise a native of the Bluegrass state. and later removed to Illinois, where both he and his wife passed away. Both were laid to rest at Carthage.
MR. AND MRS. STEPHEN S. WILSON
704431
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
Their son, Stephen S. Wilson, was born in the heart of the Blue- grass country, at Lexington, Kentucky, July 17, 1842, and spent the first six years of his life there. He was then taken by his parents to Hancock county, Illinois, where the father purchased land and where the subject of this review grew to manhood. He attended the public schools until he reached the age of seventeen, assisting his father on the home farm when not in school. When a youth of seventeen years he begun working for the neighboring farmers and so continued until the outbreak of the Civil war, when he enlisted at Carthage as a pri- vate in Company D, Sixteenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He proved an excellent soldier and his ability and bravery won him pro- motion to color sergeant at the battle of Atlanta. He served until the close of the war in the Army of the Tennessee and was slightly wounded several times, but never seriously. After the cessation of hostilities he returned home, where he remained until 1886. In that year he removed to Clark county, Kansas, where he engaged in the drug business and later in the grocery business. He left there in 1 888, going to Huntington, Arkansas, which remained his home until 1890, when he came to Keokuk and engaged in farming and dairy- ing until 1894. He then concentrated his attention upon the dairy business, 'which proved very successful, and he gained a reputation for supplying milk rich in its percentage of cream and of unques- tioned purity. In 1910 he retired from active business life and is now enjoying the leisure to which his former years of labor entitle him. He owns considerable property, including his comfortable residence.
Mr. Wilson was united in marriage to Miss Arabella F. Brock- man, of Carthage, Illinois, in 1869, and she passed away in 1871, leaving a daughter, Lela B., now deceased. The father was married in August, 1873, to Mrs. Leah Johnson, nee Pickens, a native of Barbour county, West Virginia, born April 9, 1842, a daughter of George and Elizabeth (Reger) Pickens. She was first married to Levi Johnson.
Mr. Wilson is an active and prominent member of the Methodist Episcopal church, having served in all the official positions and as chairman of the board. He has been a charter member of three dif- ferent Grand Army posts and is today connected with Torrence Post, in which he has filled all of the offices. He is a Knight Templar Mason, having taken the degrees of the blue lodge, chapter and com- mandery, and is now past master of his lodge. Both he and his wife are charter members of the Eastern Star chapter of Keokuk and he has served as patron. They have been delegates to the grand lodge Vol. II-6
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several times. He also belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows and has passed through all the chairs of that lodge. His political support is given the republican party and his fellow citizens, recog- nizing his worth and ability, have called him to various official posi- tions. While a resident of Hlinois he served as chairman of the county central committee and was a member of the city council of Carthage and also assessor.
HERMAN BRINCK.
Many and varied have been the business interests with which Herman Brinck has been associated and which have felt the stimulus of his enterprise and progressiveness. For many years he was a leading merchant of West Point and at different times has been con- nected with other business pursuits and enterprises, which have proven important factors in the upbuilding, progress and prosperity of this section.
He was born in the kingdom of Hanover, Germany, September 13, 1834, and has, therefore, reached the eightieth milestone on life's journey. He was but eighteen months old when his parents emi- grated to the United States, first settling in New York city, where they arrived with but very limited financial resources. They after- ward removed to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where the father estab- lished the third match factory in the United States, calling it by the name of Locofoco, in honor of a political faction of that period. He conducted the manufacture of matches with success for four vears and thus secured the capital with which to establish a similar enterprise in St. Louis, Missouri. He started for the west in 1839 with that end in view and when within thirty miles of his destina- tion the boat on which he was a passenger caught fire and burned and he, with four thousand dollars in gold on his person, was drowned. In connection with this catastrophe the family lost all their belongings in clothing and furniture, while the mother and two children barely escaped with their lives. This was one of the notable river disasters of that period. The widow and two chil- dren were landed in St. Louis, entirely destitute, and Mrs. Brinck was compelled to put her son, Herman, in an orphan asylum in order that she might earn her living by washing. Her worth soon won her friends, however, and finally she became the wife of Mr. D'Lampe, a blacksmith. They removed to the vicinity of Hanover,
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Illinois, and there Herman Brinck joined them at their new home. After a time the family returned to their native country, where they remained for three years.
On again coming to America they settled in Quincy, Illinois, where they also spent three years, afterward removing to Dubuque county, Iowa. Subsequent to attaining his majority Herman Brinck came to West Point and two years later was joined by his mother and stepfather, who remained in Lee county until they were called to their final rest.
It was on the 5th of July, 1859, that Herman Brinck was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Dingman, a native of West Point, born April 28, 1843. She was the youngest of eight children born unto Barney and Gertrude (Litmer) Dingman, natives of Hanover, Germany, in which country they were married ere their emigration to America in 1837. They made their way at once into the interior of the country, with West Point as their destination, and with their two children they took up their abode in West Point township. Iowa had not even then been organized under territorial government and conditions of life in every respect were very primitive. They were true pioneers and became actively identified with the early develop- ment of the county. The first mass held in West Point township was held in their log cabin. All of their children are now deceased with the exception of Mrs. Brinck. The father died July 30, 1851, at the age of about fifty years. He was a blacksmith by trade and followed that pursuit in early life, but afterward engaged in build- ing wagons. He also secured land and was very successful in his business affairs. He also assisted many of the early settlers to get a start and proved a most valuable, worthy and honored resident of Lee county.
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