The History of Clinton County, Iowa: Containing a History of the County, Its., Part 86

Author: Western Historical Co , Western Historical Company
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Co.
Number of Pages: 807

USA > Iowa > Clinton County > The History of Clinton County, Iowa: Containing a History of the County, Its. > Part 86

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DANIEL H. PEARCE, deceased ; was one of the earliest settlers of Clin- ton Co .; he was born in Rhode Island, in 1815 ; he emigrated to Iowa and located in Clinton, in 1838. On the 11th of June, 1845, he was united in marriage to Miss Hannah Ferguson, a native of New York; she came to Lyons, Iowa, when only 11 years of age ; there are very few who have lived in Clinton Co. as many years as they have, until the death of Mr. Pearce, which occurred in 1878; he left five children- Emma I., Wallace H., Albert E., Jasper 6., Inez B .; Mrs. Pearce is still living on the home place in Clinton.

JONATHAN L. PEARCE, farmer and gardener ; was born in Wash- ington Co., R. I., May 1, 1816; when 17 years of age, he went to Fall River, Mass., and lived five years; when 22 years of age, he came, with his parents, to Iowa; in 1838, they located where Clinton now stands, and were among the earliest settlers in this county ; there are few persons now living who were here when he came. In April, 1850, he married Miss Helen E. Aiken, a native of Cleveland, Ohio; her parents came to Iowa in 1845. Mr. and Mrs. Pearce have three children-Lura, Delia and Alice. Jonathan Pearce, Sr., the father of Mr. Pearce, died Jan. 15, 1857; his wife, the mother of Mr. Pearce, died July 4, 1879; they had nine children ; of these, six sur- vive.

WALLACE PECK, of the firm of Peck & Flanagan, manufacturers of carriages, Fifth avenue ; was born in Dix, Oneida Co., N. Y., in 1841 ; he learned his trade there; he was in the army during the war; enlisted in the 161st N. Y. V. I., Co. B; he was in the service three years, and was honorably discharged ; he held the offices of Postmaster and Treasurer of Dix, N. Y .; he came to Clinton in 1872, and, for the past three years, has been associated with Mr. Flanagin in their present business, and are building up a good trade. He married Miss Lydia Burghard, of New York, in 1874. Mr. Peck's father was an early settler in New York ; he has lived in Dix since 1805, and is still living.

J. T. PIERSON, capitalist ; residence cor. Fourth street and Seventh ave .; is a native of Orange Co., N. Y .; was born Dec. 5, 1806; when his father died and he being the only son, the care of the family devolved upon him ; he hired out for $16 he

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month : he was engaged in building in Auburn, N. Y., and afterward engaged in mer- cantile business in Buffalo. He married Miss Mary C. Woodruff, a native of Suffolk Co., N. Y., in 1832. They came to Illinois at an early day and located at Crystal Lake, McHenry Co., in 1840; he was one of the early settlers there engaged in mercantile business and farming; he lived there over thirty years, and during that time he built up an enviable reputation for business ability and sterling integrity, and was honored by the people with offices of honor and trust. He held the office of County Treasurer for four years and was elected Representative to the State Legislature, and held the office of Justice of the Peace for twenty years. He came to Iowa and located in Clinton in 1872, and engaged in building and has made some of the most substantial improvements in Clinton. He was elected Mayor of the city in 1876, and in 1877 was elected City Treasurer. He is senior member of the dry goods house of Pierson & Inscho, but does not give his attention to the business ; he began life with only $350, and owes his suc- cess to his own efforts; and, although over 70 years of age, looks more than ten years younger.

CHARLES PIPPING, wholesale and retail dealer in fresh, salted and smoked meats, hams and lard, cor. Second street and Sixth avenue; was born in Germany July 23, 1827 ; he emigrated to America in 1852 ; he came to Illinois, and lived in Aurora and Oswego over nine years ; he came to Iowa in 1866 and located in Clinton, since then has been engaged in his present business and has built up a large trade. He married Miss Theresa Riesner, a native of Germany ; they have six children -Frank, Charles, William, Lewis, Matilda, Lillie; they lost one daughter.

FRANK PIPPING, proprietor of meat market, Fifth avenue; was born in Oswego, Kendall Co., Ill., in 1856 ; when 10 years of age, his parents removed to Iowa, located in Clinton and he was brought up here; he has been engaged in business here for the past four years, and is building up a good trade. He belongs to the Ger- man Workman Society, and also is a member of the Wapsie Boat Club.

WALDO M. POTTER, proprietor of Clinton Herald.

RICHARD PRICE, manufacturer of brick ; is a native of England ; born Aug. 13, 1824 ; he emigrated to America in 1842 ; lived in Ohio, and went to Galena, Ill., in 1845. He served in the Mexican war; enlisted in the 8th Regt. U. S. Infantry, Co. A, the grenadier company of the regiment; served two years. He came to Sabula, Iowa, in 1853, to Clinton in May, 1859, and engaged in manufacturing brick. He has held the office of City Alderman for eleven years, and was Chairman of Streets and Alleys, for eight years. He married Louisa M. Neff, a native of Ohio, in September, 1852; they have seven children-Henry Clay, Thomas J., Bertha, Richard, Stella, Willie and Ada ; they have lost three children.

C. D. PULFORD, dealer in foreign and domestic fruits, manufacturer of cigars, and jobber in teas, oysters and tobacco, Second street ; was born in Cazenovia, N. Y., in 1845; he came to Iowa in 1867; he was connected with the Chicago & North-West. ern R. R. for eight years; he was baggage-master from Clinton to Boone ; while run- ning on the road, he built up a large cigar trade ; he established his business here and gave up his position on the road, devoting his whole time to his business, and is build- ing up a large trade, making a specialty of teas, cigars, oysters and fruits ; he is agent for Booth's oysters, and does the largest oyster and fruit trade in Clinton. He was in the army during the war ; he enlisted in the 41st Regt. Wis. V. I., Co. C, and after- ward served in the 29th Regt. Wis. V. I., Co. A ; he was wounded at Memphis dur- ing Gen. Forrest's raid on that city. Mr. Pulford married Miss Lizzie Ash, of Des Moines, Iowa; they have three children-Edna, Frank and Baby.

E. M. PURCELL, Sheriff of Clinton Co .; is a native of Pittsburgh, Penn., and was born Feb. 20, 1836; when 17 years of age, he came with his parents to Iowa, in 1853; they lived in Scott Co. until the following year ; came to Clinton Co. in June, 1854, and located in Orange Township, on Section 29 ; he remained on the farm four- teen years, teaching school some during the winter season; in February, 1868, he removed to De Witt and engaged in mercantile business for a short time, then engaged in contracting in building the Davenport & St. Paul R. R. While living in De Witt, he was burned out and lost several thousand dollars; he was engaged in building bridges

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for the county for two or three years; he afterward went to New York City, and grad- uated in the school of Mental Science. In the fall of 1875, Mr. Purcell was elected Sheriff of Clinton Co. ; served two years, and was re-elected in 1877 ; he has also held town and school offices. Mr. Purcell has been twice married ; he married Miss Cath- erine Scallan, from Dubuque, in May, 1862 ; she died Oct. 26, 1872, leaving three daughters -Mary, Catherine and Alice. In September, 1878, he married Miss Kate Hudson, a native of Canada. She was formerly Superintendent of schools of this county.

ISAAC T. RAMSEY, carpenter and builder ; is a native of Lawrence Co., Penn .; born in 1809; he learned the trade of carpenter and joiner; he lived in that State until 1856, when he came to Iowa, and located at Bellevue ; in February, 1866, he came to Clinton, and since then has been engaged in building. He married Miss Mary Jordan, of Lawrence Co., Penn., Oct. 25, 1830; they have had eight children ; seven survive.

C. S. RAYMOND, jeweler, Post Office Block ; is a native of Vermont; he was brought up there until 18 years of age; he lived in New York and in Chicago, and came to Iowa in 1871; he has been engaged in business here for the past seven years, and has built up a leading trade. Married Miss E. E. Shattuck, a native of Vermont, July 30, 1874; they have one son-Burt C., born Sept. 14, 1875.

JAMES H. REED, photograph artist, Fifth avenue; he was born in Joliet, Ill., Jan. 26, 1836, and was educated in Galesburg and Fulton, Ill., to which latter place his family moved in 1838. He is a photographic artist of unusual ability, and is a leading member of the National Photographic Association of the United States. He has been more or less identified with the interests of Clinton from its foundation to the present time, part of the time making his home just across the river in Fulton, Ill., but for the past seven years a permanent resident of Clinton. He married Miss Anna A. Pomeroy, of Milwaukee, Wis., on the 25th of February, 1871, and has two children- Mabel W. and Ralph; his family are members and regular attendants of the Protestant Episcopal Church. He was a poor man when he commenced business with a borrowed capital of $300, and is now worth from $15,000 to $20,000, with unlimited credit.

THOMAS RICHARDSON, barber and Secretary of the Union Building Association, Fourth street; is a native of England, born in 1836 ; when 6 years of age, his parents came to America, and he was brought up in Missouri ; he lived in Central Illinois for six years, and came to Clinton County in 1865, and engaged in his present business; he has been connected with the Union Building Association since it was organized, Sept. 26, 1873, holding the office of Secretary. Mr. Richardson had noth- ing when he began life; never went to school after he was 11 years old; is now worth over $8,000; he is the first charter member of both the Walhalla Lodge, I. O. O. F., of Clinton, and Schiller Lodge, A. O. U. W .; although an Englishman, he speaks German very fluently. In 1858, he married Miss F. M. Kraus; she lived in Missouri, but is a native of Germany ; they have five children-John, George, Henry, Anna C., Sarah.

SYLVESTER BYDER, farmer, Sec. 1; P. O. Clinton; was born in Ashtabula Co., Ohio, in 1823, residing and attending school there till about 12 years old, when his parents removed thence to Illinois ; he remained there till 1850, in which year he came to Iowa, locating at Clinton. Mr. R. married, in 1850, before leaving Illinois, Miss Marcia A. Chaffee, a native of Vermont ; she came to Illinois, with her parents, in 1839; they have six children-Lillian C. (now Mrs. Martin), Hattie A. (now Mrs. Duncan), Edmond S., Flora M., Chester and Burney W. Mr. R. has a fine farm of sixty acres; his occupation is that of horticulturist.

HENRY SABIN, Superintendent of Public Schools; is a native of Con- necticut, and was born in 1829; graduated at Amherst College, in 1852; came to Clin- ton in 1871.

LEWIS SAMCO, proprietor of "The Fair," Second street, between Sixth and Seventh avenues ; is a native of Germany, and was born May 21, 1846; his parents came to this country in 1849, and he was brought up in Buffalo, N. Y .; during the war, he enlisted and served in the 33d N. Y. Battery, under Capt. Wheeler ; he came to Iowa and located at Clinton, in 1873; he engaged in business here June 14 of that

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year, and has built up a good trade. He married Miss Marietta Mason, a native of New York, in 1872; they have two children-Nannie and Mason.

A. J. SANTEE, dealer in books, stationery, sheet music and wall paper, No. 204 Fifth avenue; is a native of Luzerne Co., Penn., and was born Jan. 1, 1840; when 15 years of age, his parents came to Illinois and lived there eleven years; he came to Iowa in 1865, and entered a store as clerk ; he was afterward connected with the Express Company ; in April, 1869, he engaged in his present business, and has built up a large and leading trade in this branch of business. In 1870, Mr. Santee married Miss Minnie Ramsey, a native of Pennsylvania; they have two children-Ruth and a little boy not named; they attend the Presbyterian Church. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias and is Vice Chancellor of the Lodge, and a member of the Ancient Order of Workmen, and is Master Workman of Clinton Lodge; has taken 32 degrees; belongs to Emulation Lodge No. 255, Keystone Chapter No. 32, Commandery No. 10 and De Ma Lay No. 5.

CHARLES F. SCHMIDT, retired, Fifth avenue ; was born in Bavaria, Germany, in 1816; he came to America in 1845, and lived in Blair Co., Peon., for some years; was engaged in the nursery and butcher business; while living here, he married Miss Anna Catharine Weller, March 1, 1849; she was born in Prussia, Ger- many, and came to America in 1836, when only 9 years of age; they came to Clinton Jan. 15, 1865, and have lived here since; they attend the Lutheran Church ; they had very little when they began, and their success in life is owing entirely to their own good management.

L. H. SEEBER, proprietor of Fifth Avenue Shaving Parlor ; is a native of Milwaukee, Wis., and was born June 21, 1852; he came to Clinton May 21, 1870; he worked for W. H. Hess for two and a half years, and then went into partnership with him, and afterward bought out the interest of Mr. Hess, and since then he has carried on the business alone; he has built up a good business, and does the leading trade. He married Miss Caroline Neesley, a native of Lisbon, Linn Co., Iowa, July 23, 1872; they have one son-Artemus Lewis, born Dec. 6, 1876.

SIMON SHOECRAFT, wholesale and retail dealer in coal, salt, cement and building material, corner First street and Fifth avenue; is a native of Oneida, Mad- ison Co., N. Y., and was born Sept. 22, 1836; he attended school there ; he lived in York State until 1858, when he came to Iowa and located in Clinton Co., and engaged in teaching for one year, at De Witt; the following year, he entered Cornell College and remained there three years, and graduated in 1862 ; he came to Clinton and had charge of the public school here; at that time the only schoolhouse was the little brown building adjoining the Presbyterian Church, with only three teachers-Miss Earhart, Miss Rogers and Miss Berry. Mr. Shoecraft afterward taught in De Witt and Lyons; in 1866, he engaged in business in Clinton, and has continued since then ; in August, 1865, he married Miss J. McIntosh, a native of Vernon, N. Y .; they have two cbil- dren, one son and one daughter- Louie, 10 years of age, and Lettie, 3 years of age.

A. SIDDLE, Secretary of the Clinton Paper Company ; is a native of York- shire, Eng., and was born Feb. 23, 1818; he came to this country when a small boy, and was brought up in Dutchess Co., N. Y .; he came to Iowa in the fall of 1858: he located in Clinton Co. and engaged in farming for seven years, until the spring of 1866, when he removed to the city, and has been connected with the Clinton Paper Company since its organization in 1868. He married Mrs. Sarah Potter, daughter of .Valentine Santee; they have three children, and Mr. Siddle also has three children by a former wife.

LEANDER SISCO, engineer of passenger train on the C. & N. W. R. R., residence corner Tenth avenue and Fifth street ; is a native of Baldwinsville, Onondaga Co., N. Y., and was born Feb. 27, 1836; he was brought up there and, after reaching manhood, came to Iowa in April, 1857, and entered the employ of the Railroad Com- pany ; at that time, the road was only completed as far west as Wheatland ; he is one of the oldest employes on the road-over twenty-two years ; he runs a passenger train from Clinton to Cedar Rapids; he is a member of the Locomotive Brotherhood of Engineers, the Knights of Pythias, and the Order of United Workmen. He married

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Miss Mary Ann Cook, a native of Pennsylvania; they have one son-William Cook Sisco, and have lost one son-Frank.

NELS A. SKONBERG, foreman of Angel & Stone's lime kilns; is a native of Sweden, and was born in 1849; he emigrated to America in 1872, and came to Clinton the same year, and has been in the employ of this firm since then ; he has been foreman for three years. He married Ida Anderson, a native of Sweden, Aug. 26; 1878.

WM. SKINNER, proprietor of Northwestern Fur Manufacturing Company, Fourth street and Eighth avenue, Clinton, and Main street, Lyons ; is a native of Ports- mouth, Eng., and was born March 25, 1805; he was brought up mostly in London, and learned there the business of furrier ; in 1850, he emigrated to America ; on board of the ship, he met a party coming to this county, and he gave them money to pur- chase land for him here; he remained in New York, working at his business, for five years. He married Belinda Alexander, a native of England, in 1856; the following year, he came to Chicago ; was there one year, then came to this county and settled on his farm; in 1866, he was importuned to open the furrier business in Lyons, and since then he has been engaged in it, and has built up a large trade; he has earned an excel- lent reputation for the superior manufacture of his goods, and has shipped them as far west as Oregon ; he buys and selects all of his skins personally, and has them dressed as he directs; when Mr. Skinner began life, he had nothing; he now owns the store he occupies, corner Fourth street and Eighth avenue, and owns the Midland Hotel, at Maquoketa, besides his farm in this county, and other property ; he has one daughter, Mrs. Mary A. Gay, of Lyons, and one adopted son, Daniel, who has charge of the store in Clinton.

A. H. SMITH, M. D., physician and surgeon, Third street, between' Fifth and Sixth avenues ; is a native of Rockford, Ill., where he was brought up and attended school; he completed his collegiate education at Beloit College, and studied medicine and graduated at the Chicago Medical College; in 1872, after graduating, he spent one year in Mercy Hospital, and, in the spring of 1873, he came to Iowa and located in Clinton, and associated with Dr. McCormick, and, since then, has practiced his profes- sion here.

CHARLES A. SMITH, attorney at law, of the firm of Smith & Bauder, Toll Block ; is a native of Clinton Co., and was born in Center Township, Sept. 5, 1852; he attended school here, completing his education at the State Agricultural Col- lege, graduating in 1872; he studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1874, and since then he has practiced here ; he was appointed Deputy Collector of Internal Reve- nue in 1874. He married Miss Emma A. Painter, a native of Lycoming Co., Penn. ; they have one son-Latimer P., 2 years of age.

GEO. C. SMITH, Treasurer of the Clinton Paper Co .; is a native of England, and was born March 5, 1831 ; grew up to manhood there, and came to this country in 1851, and lived in Chicago six years; he came to Clinton in 1858, and engaged in running an engine; he entered the employ of the Clinton Lumber Co., and was connected with that company for a number of years ; he has been connected with the Clinton Paper Mill since its organization, and is Treasurer of the company, and has charge of the manufacturing department. Mr. Smith married Miss Celia Hosford, daughter of A. P. Hosford, Esq., in September, 1861 ; she died in July, 1863. He married Miss Sarah Carll, from Waterloo, Iowa, in January, 1866; they have six chil- dren-Herbert, Georgiana, Artie, Verner, Lulu M. and Willie.

JOHN SMITH, foreman of the roundhouse; residence, Fourth avenue; is a native of Middlebury, Addison Co., Vt., and was born July 5, 1830; he was raised there, and went in a machine-shop to learn the trade of machinist when only 15 years of age ; he went to New York State and lived five years; in October, 1854, he came West to Illinois, and ran on the Fox River Valley Railroad, and, in December, 1856, he came here and entered the employ of the old Chicago, Iowa & Nebraska Railroad ; he run on the road until 1868, when he was appointed foreman of the roundhouse, and since then has occupied that position ; he has been connected with this line of road over twenty-two years. In 1852, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Totman, from

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Keysville, Essex Co., N. Y .; they have three children-Laura E., Ira Herbert and Charles Edwin.

COL. MILO SMITH, dealer in agricultural machinery, corner of Front street and Fifth avenue; is a native of Shoreham, Addison Co., Vt., and was born Jan. 25, 1819 ; his early education was received in the public schools, supplemented by a thorough and liberal course in the Newton Academy, a scientific and literary institution in his native town ; at the age of 20 years, he left home, and came West, and reached Chicago in 1840; he devoted a few years to teaching and surveying lands, and subse- quently settled in Belvidere, Boone Co., Ill .; in 1848, when the first railroad enterprise was originated west of Chicago, he assisted as Civil Engineer in the construction of the first 100 miles of the Galena & Chicago Union Railroad; in 1852, he was appointed Chief Engineer of the Elgin & State Line Railroad; in 1855, he came to Iowa, and was made Chief Engineer and Superintendent of the Chicago, Iowa & Nebraska Rail- road ; in this position, his ability as a financier and his skill as an engineer were severely taxed ; he carried the road through the panic of 1857, and continued to superintend the operation of the road after its completion to Cedar Rapids until leased to the Galena & Chicago Union Railroad, in 1862. After the breaking-out of the war, Gov. Kirkwood, without his knowledge or solicitation, commissioned him Colonel of the 26th I. V. I .; his regiment formed a part of the 1st Division of the 15th Army Corps, and continued in service until the close of the war; during eighteen months, he was in command of the 1st Brigade of the 1st Division of that Corps; although justly entitled to promo- tion, he declined it, and preferred to remain in command of his regiment; he received three wounds while in the service. Since his return from the service, he has been engaged in various railroad enterprises. In politics, he is a Republican, but not strictly a partisan ; he has invariably declined public office. Col. Smith has been married three times ; is now living with his third wife; he has no children living.

GEORGE SPENCER, dealer in hardware, stoves and tinware, Fifth ave- nue; is a native of Wayne Co., N. Y .; after reaching manhood, he was engaged in business in the city of New York for some years ; he came to Iowa and located in Clin- ton in December, 1866, and engaged in the hardware business-firm of Spencer & Paddock; the following year, Mr. Spencer bought out his partner's interest and has continued the business ; he has been engaged in the hardware business longer than any one in Clinton, and is having a large trade.

CHARLES SPORMANN, saloon, tobacco and cigars, corner Second street and Fifth avenue; was born in Germany, in 1839; he emigrated to America in 1861 ; he lived in Illinois, in Carroll and Whiteside Cos., until he came to Clinton, in 1864 ; he has carried on his present business since 1868. He married Johanna Boden- sheen, from Germany, July 4, 1863; they have nine children, and have lost two.

W. W. STEVENS, attorney at law, Second street, over First National Bank ; is a native of Methuen, Essex Co., Mass; born Feb. 14, 1841 ; when 12 years of age, he removed to Belknap Co., N. H., where he received his education ; he studied law and was admitted to the bar in that county, in 1861 ; after the breaking-out of the war, he enlisted in Co. I, 12th N. H. V. I., and was commissioned Lieutenant of Co. I; he was in the service over a year, when he resigned his commission on account of ill health ; after leaving the army, he was located in the city of New York ; was admit- ted to the bar, and remained there fifteen months, and then went South to Atlanta, Ga., with the intention of forming a partnership in the practice of law with the late Col. R. A. Alston ; in the spring of 1866, Mr. Stevens came to Iowa and located in Clinton, and since then he has practiced his profession here. Mr. Stevens married Miss Caroline R. Cornell, a native of New Hampshire, and daughter of Capt. Cornell, of the United States Navy ; Mr. and Mrs. Stevens have two children, one son and one daughter-George C. and Mary Alice.

DAVID W. SWITZER, foreman of C. Lamb & Sons' Stone Mill ; was born in Steuben Co., N. Y., Nov. 30, 1833; he was brought up and lived there until he came to Iowa, in the fall of 1857, and located in Clinton ; he entered the employ of Mr. Lamb, and has been with him ever since he came, and is one of the oldest employes in the mills here; he has held the position of foreman for eight years. He married

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Miss Maria L. Chandler, a native of Massachusetts, in July, 1869 ; they have two chil- dren-Edith Eliza and Scott H.

THE CLINTON NATIONAL BANK, corner of Second street and Fifth avenue.

C. S. TAYLOR, jeweler, Fifth avenue; proprietor of the oldest jeweiry house in Clinton ; he is a native of Vermont, but was brought up in Canada, and learned the jewelry business there; he came to Iowa and located here in the spring of 1863, and engaged in his present business on Front street; there are only two other merchants in business now who were here when he came; Mr. Taylor has held the office of Mayor for three terms-a longer time than any other person elected to this office; has also held the office of Town Trustee for a number of years, and is actively identified with the interests of the city and county. He married Miss Harriet Smith, a native of Canada ; they have six children.

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The History of Clinton County, Iowa: Containing a History of the County, Its., Part 86

Author: Western Historical Co , Western Historical Company Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Co. Number of Pages: 807

Author: Western Historical Co , Western Historical Company
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Co.
Number of Pages: 807