USA > Iowa > The United States biographical dictionary and portrait gallery of eminent and self made men, Iowa volume > Part 72
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Being at the time visiting friends in Knoxville, Illinois, at the suggestion of Judge Hannaman, of that city, he was examined and admitted to the bar there, and afterward at Muscatine, Iowa. One of
the examining committee being something of a wag, while young Richman was awaiting with beating heart and bated breath, broke out suddenly with the preliminary question : "Mr. Richman, can you give us a correct outline of female beauty ?" The revulsion of feeling which this question produced was astonishing. The rest of the committee burst into a loud laugh, while the candidate, recovering ing his self-possession, replied: "If you will give me a piece of chalk I'll try." The remainder of the ordeal was easy enough. His examiners soon found that his freshness from the study of general defini- tions rendered him more than a match for their rustiness on the same subject. He was accordingly adjudged qualified for admission to the bar, and was so certified.
He was subsequently admitted to the bar of the supreme court of Iowa, and in March, 1869, was admitted to the bar of the supreme court of the United States.
In 1855 he became a partner with his brother J. Scott Richman, which continued until December, 1863, when the latter accepted a seat on the bench of the district court of the seventh judicial district of Iowa, whereupon our subject formed a copart- nership with Mr. J. Carskaden, which continues to the present, being now the oldest law firm in the city of Muscatine.
Though naturally averse to active litigation, it has been his lot to be engaged in some of the most important and hotly contested suits arising in his district, among which may be mentioned the special railroad tax cases growing out of the special tax voted in aid of the Muscatine Western railroad in 1871, the collection of which was strongly resisted by many taxpayers -one of the suits still pending ; the State v. Moore, for the murder of Dr. C. Hershe in 1864; the State v. Prosser, for the murder of Silas Ferry; Cole v. Cole, a leading divorce suit ; Arzt 7. Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad Company, an action for personal injuries; Musser v. Hershey, and Brewster 7. Hershey, concerning ripa- rian rights, in the district and circuit courts of the state; Finlay v. Brewster, and cases of bonds of the city of Muscatine issued to the Mississippi and Mis- souri Railroad Company, in the United States cir- cuit and supreme courts.
In politics, our subject was raised a whig, and on the expiration of that party united with the repub- lican, to which he still adheres, though he has never held nor sought an office.
* This John W. Richman was one of the earliest settlers and most prominent business men of Muscatine. He was never married, and died in 1850.
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During the late war he was among the staunchest supporters of the government, and gave time, money and labor toward the raising of recruits for the army, and for the benefit of sick and disabled soldiers and their families.
He was married at Brooklyn, New York, on the ist of September, 1855, to Miss Mary Berdine, daughter of Jacob C. and Matilda Berdine, both of whom were natives of New Jersey, and still living in Davenport, Iowa, to which city they transferred their residence a few years ago, having before that time lived in Mus- catine for many years. They are of revolutionary an- cestry, and of the "true-blue " Presbyterian order.
Mr. Richman made the acquaintance of his wife during the period of his second clerkship in Tren- ton, New Jersey, while she was but a very young school girl. She had heard of his propensity for verse writing, and banteringly asked him to write a stanza for her, with which request he was more than pleased to comply, and we are sorry we cannot now give the lines to the reader; suffice it to say that they fully met the expectations of the lady. An intimacy resulted, they were soon engaged, and the young poet had the rare fortune to find a jewel of a wife, not less a woman than a lady, able and willing to help her husband; of sound judgment, fine exec- utive abilities and exquisite tastes; devoted to her family and domestic affairs, yet enjoying society with a keen relish. Their life has been happy and their home pleasant; their inclinations run in similar channels, and they seek happiness in the home cir- cle rather than elsewhere. They gladly and grate- fully acknowledge the goodness of God in all the ways of life. They have had two children born to them ; the eldest, Scott Clinton, born in 1856, lived but two weeks; the other, Irving Berdine, born on the 17th of October, 1861, now in his sixteenth year, is quite a student, especially of history and biogra- phy, and like his father, is something of a writer on various subjects, and gives promise of further at- tainments in that line. He is now passing through the curriculum of the high school of Muscatine, and seems to develop a taste and aptitude for the pro- fession of his father.
D. C. Richman was brought up under Methodist influence, but in early youth mingled with skeptical companions and read Paine's "Age of Reason " and Volney's "Ruins," which for a time unsettled but did not satisfy him; he was next brought under the influence of Universalism, to which he adhered for a number of years, but in 1868, under the influence
of his excellent wife, who is a deaconess in the Con- gregational church, he united with that denomina- tion of christians, and still continues in its commun- ion. He is especially distinguished as a Sabbath- school worker, and was for five years president of the Sabbath-school association of the county, and is still indispensable to the efficiency of the associa- tion. He was also president of the Young Men's Christian Association, which position he recently resigned. He is not a strong doctrinarian, having more faith in being and doing than in creeds and ยท dogmas. In one word, he believes in
" That old, old creed of creeds, The loveliness of perfect deeds."
In personal appearance, Mr. Richman is rather below the medium stature, with brown hair and blue eyes. His manner in company is rather shy and re- served, except when engaged in conversation, when it is free and frank, and his face wears a pleasant expression. . He is an excellent conversationalist, but must be drawn out to appear to advantage, as he is never obtrusive. His familiarity with books, aided by his observation of men and things, affords him ample resources in company, while he is not deficient in the spice of wit and humor. His mind, contemplative and imaginative, naturally runs to imagery and versification ; hence most of his liter- ary efforts have been in poetry. His hitherto fugi- tive pieces were recently collected and given to his friends and the public in book form, under the title of "The Talisman, and other Poems." Most of his productions are of a high order of merit, and entitle the author to rank among the unambitious writers of the day. He does not claim to be a poetic ge- nius. Some of his longer pieces were written for public occasions, as the "Grand Military Review," Washington, May, 1865, which was read at the cele- bration of the 4th of July of that year, at Musca- tine, Iowa, and which was read before the alumni of Iowa State University in 1867, and "Strife for Fame," which was read before the alumni of Gris- wold College, Davenport, 1868. His style is chaste, ornate and sometimes pathetic, often sublime, and frequently pervaded by a deep religious and moral tone.
As a lawyer, he takes rank with the foremost at the bar where he has practiced. He puts himself in full sympathy with his client, and throws into his argument an earnestness and energy which seldom fail of effect. He has a high appreciation of pro- fessional honor, and would scorn to do an act dis-
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honorable or unfair; nor will he on any considera- tion shield a known criminal from justice. But though an eminently successful lawyer, it must be confessed that his natural tastes seem more adapted to the peaceful and quieter walks of literary life than to excited forensic debate. Such tastes and habits have also doubtless kept him out of politics, where he might have made rapid advancement and won greater renown.
As a husband and father, he is esteemed a model by those most intimate with him. His beautiful home, called Brookside, in the suburbs of Musca- tine, not specially costly or pretentious, but cozy and comfortable, presided over by his excellent christian wife, is a little " paradise below."
As a kind and sympathetic friend, he is most ap- preciated by those who have had occasion to need his aid and advice.
HON. JOSEPH P. AMENT,
MUSCATINE.
H ON. JOSEPH P. AMENT, ex-mayor of Mus- catine, was born at Nashville, Tennessee, on the 20th of October, 1824, and is the son of George Ament and Judith D. nee Pettis, His father was a native of Kentucky, the son of Gabriel Ament, a native of Hamburg, Germany, where he was edu- cated for the priesthood of the Roman Catholic church, but, fearing conscription in the German army, emigrated to this country, where his theo- logical opinions underwent a change, and he united with the Methodist church, of which he was a con- spicuous member, in Kentucky. His mother was of English origin, daughter of Stephen Pettis, of Virginia.
Our subject attended district school till the age of fifteen, when he removed to Palmyra, Missouri, de- clining the offers of kind friends to assist with means toward the completion of his education.
He entered a printing office as an apprentice on a small salary, and spent most of his evenings in study, endeavoring in this way to meet the deficiency in his education. He read with avidity such his- toric and scientific books as he could obtain, and having a retentive memory, he rapidly absorbed what he read, and in time became one of the best informed men of the period. At the age of eigh- teen he became proprietor of the paper on which he had been employed, namely, the " Missouri Courier," which for five years he conducted success- fully, when he sold out his interest, and removed to Hannibal, in the same county. Here he purchased the "Hannibal Gazette," and changing its title to that of the " Hannibal Courier," continued its pub- lication until the winter of 1852, when he disposed of it. During his editorial career he naturally be- came interested in political affairs, and though quite
young, was frequently called upon to fill prominent and responsible positions in the county and state organizations of the democratic party, of which he was a member. In 1853 he was appointed by Pres- ident Pierce to the position of receiver of public moneys in the United States land office at Palmyra, and was reappointed to the same position in 1857 by President Buchanan, and continued to hold the office until September, 1858, when he accepted a seat in the Missouri legislature, to which he had just been elected from Marion county. In 1860 he pur- chased an interest in the "Hannibal Daily Demo- crat," which he edited with remarkable skill, during the exciting presidential campaign of that year, ad- vocating the election of Stephen A. Douglas. In 1860 he was again elected to the Missouri legisla- ture, and during both terms occupied a prominent position, serving with marked ability and distinction on several important committees. At his second term he was strongly backed for the speakership of the house, and lacked but a few votes of being elected to that responsible position. In January, 1861, he was elected by the legislature to the of- fice of public printer for the state. His accept- ance of this position necessitated the resignation of his seat in the legislature, which he tendered early in February, not, however, before he had placed him- self fairly on the record, both by speech and votes, as opposed to the doctrine of secession. In April, 1861, he entered upon his duties as public printer. He also became interested in the publication of the " Jefferson Examiner," then the leading paper at the capital, which he continued the oversight of until May, 1864, when he disposed of his interest to his successor in the office of public printer. In the same year he removed to Muscatine, lowa, where he
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purchased a half interest in the extensive wagon and carriage and manufacturing establishment of his brother, William D. Ament, which was greatly enlarged, and continued under the firm name of Ament and Bro, with success until 1877, when the partnership was dissolved, the business being con- tinued by his brother. In 1872 he was elected by the citizens of Muscatine to the position of chief magistrate of the city, reelected in 1873, and again in 1876, retiring to private life at the close of the centennial year. During the period of his legisla- tive career in Missouri, the then all absorbing topic of the rebellion, as well as many executive local issues, had combined to send to the assembly men of the ablest and most experienced politicians of the state ; among these Mr. Ament soon took a promi- nent if not a leading position. His industry in the committee rooms, and the clearness, force and vigor with which his views were expressed, gave to him a power and influence in the body not exceeded by that of any other member. As chief magistrate of Muscatine, his administration of the city affairs was flatteringly successful. For many years previously the interests of the city had been languishing under a load of municipal indebtedness, originally con- tracted to aid in the construction of railroads ter- minating in or passing through Muscatine. For a number of years no interest had been paid on this indebtedness; the state courts had held that mu- nicipal corporations, had no power to subscribe for stock in railroad enterprises, or to issue bonds in payment of such subscriptions. The United States courts have, on the other hand, decided that the bonds were negotiable securities in the hands of bona-fide purchasers, and that their payment would be enforced. Accordingly suit was brought to re- cover on these bonds and coupons in the federal courts, and judgments were obtained which were simply appalling in amount, and orders were issued by the courts commanding the officers of the city to levy taxes to pay up these judgments. The effect of this condition of things was to paralyze industry, depreciate the value of property, and spread alarm and dismay among all classes. To rescue the city from the ruin that confronted it was the first object that claimed his attention as chief magistrate, and to effect which he devoted all his time, talents and energies. After a great deal of labor he succeeded in effecting a settlement with the bond creditors of the city, all of whom were non-residents, much the largest portion of them being European capitalists,
and all clamorous for their money, and not disposed to give any indulgence whatever to a city which had, under the decision of state courts, so persist- ently refused to pay any part of a debt which, aside from its unconstitutionality, had been brought about by systematic fraud and gross deception. He per- suaded nearly all of the bondholders to take new bonds running for twenty-five years, at six per cent interest, instead of the old ones drawing ten per cent interest. Confidence at once became restored, business revived, property appreciated in value, new industries sprang up in various parts of the city, and stately blocks of well-built masonry soon took the place of humbler structures and adorned the princi- pal streets of the city. A spirit of enterprise be- gan to develop. Fire companies were organized ; an excellent system of water-works was put into operation, and other enterprises all betokening a re- newed sense of confidence in the prosperity of the city were inaugurated. It is said of Augustus, the first Roman emperor. that he found Rome brick and left it marble ; of Mayor Ament it may be most truthfully said, that he found Muscatine stricken and powerless, her commercial interests prostrate, and her business men disheartened, and that he re- tired from office leaving the city full of hope, vigor and confidence, with all the evidences of prosperity and progress in and about it. The treasury orders, for the first time in twenty years, were brought up from forty to fifty per cent discount to par. He also took an active interest in all public enterprises de- signed to benefit the community, having served as a member of the school board, as director in numer- ous business organizations, and as president of the Citizens' Association. His name has also been sev- eral times brought forward by his party as a candi- date for congress.
He is a distinguished member of the Masonic fraternity, having filled prominent positions in all its organizations, from the lodge to the commandery. In all the relations which he has sustained to his fellow-citizens, his course has been quiet and unob- trusive, and the success in life which he has won, and the public confidence which he has enjoyed, are due to his steady and determined purpose to discharge the duties of every position and avocation he was called upon to fill, with fidelity, integrity, and to the full measure of his abilities.
He was brought up under the Methodist influence, but for some years past has been a member and officer of the Protestant Episcopal church.
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He is temperate in his habits, warm in his friend- ships, and ever ready to contribute to the relief of distress.
Mr. Ament was married in 1849 to Miss Sarah J. Ruff, a native of Virginia, who died in 1866, leav-
ing three children, who survive : Judith D., Mary and Maggie B. In September, 1868, he married Miss Kate A. Robbins, a native of Iowa, who died in 1875, leaving four children, who survive : Charles R., George H., Irene D. and Cecil H.
NORMAN B. HOLBROOK,
MARENGO.
N TORMAN BRUCE HOLBROOK, the most extensive and successful real-estate dealer in lowa county, was born in Somerset county, Penn- sylvania, on the 25th of April, 1836. His father, Henry L. Holbrook, was a surveyor and school- teacher, and owned two or three farms in Somerset county, on one of which Bruce, as he was generally called, was reared. His mother was Nancy Con- nelly, of whose family but little is known. The Hol- brooks were from England, and among the early settlers in Oneida county, New York.
Bruce remained in his native county until of age, farming and attending in a scanty measure to his in- tellectual wants, finally supplementing the common school with two or three terms at an academy.
In the month of April, 1857, Mr. Holbrook came to Iowa; located at Marengo ; at first surveyed land and taught school ; commenced operating in the real- estate business in four or five years; read law and was admitted to the bar, but has not practiced, ex- cept in foreclosing mortgages and in other business immediately connected with real estate. He has operated mainly in lands in Iowa county, being the leader in this branch of business. He has paid con- siderable attention to the loaning of money on real estate for eastern capitalists, and has been very suc-
cessful in his negotiations and transactions generally, being a careful and reliable business dispatcher.
Mr. Holbrook was elected sheriff of the county in 1859, and held the office two terms. He was at the head of the Marengo school board several years at a time when the graded school was being established and the large school-house was being built, and was very energetic and serviceable in that connection ; he was also president of the county board of supervisors four or five years, and is now a member of the gen- eral assembly, representing Iowa county.
He has always acted with the democratic party, and was a delegate to the national convention which met at Baltimore in 1872 and nominated Horace Greeley for the Presidency.
His wife, Miss Lizzie S. Adams, was a native of Oneida county, New York ; married at Marengo, on the 23d of November, 1861. They have had eight children ; four are now living.
Mr. Holbrook is a man rather below the medium size; is five feet seven and a half inches tall, and weighs about one hundred and thirty-two pounds. He has a fair complexion and gray eyes, with a pleas- ant, intelligent expression of the countenance and a cordial address. In business matters and in all the relations of life he is as true as steel.
HON. ALBERT HEAD, JEFFERSON.
A LBERT HEAD, attorney-at-law, banker, real- estate dealer and extensive farmer, is one of the most stirring and enterprising men in Greene county. He was one of the originators of the County Agricultural Society, furnished the lands for its grounds, and has been one of its officers since its organization. He has a hand in every enterprise tending to develop the resources of Greene county,
or in any way advance the wealth and welfare of his adopted home.
He is a native of Highland county, Ohio, a son of William M. Head, a farmer, still living, a resident of Jefferson, and was born on the 25th of November, 1838. His mother was Margaret Ferneau, a de- scendant of a Hessian who fought on the British side in the war of the revolution, settled in Vir-
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ginia at its close, and later in life was a resident of Ross county, Ohio. The paternal great-grandfather of Albert fought on the American side in 1775-82, and his grandfather in 1812-15.
The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm in his native county until seventeen years of age, receiving, in the meantime, such education as three months' attendance annually at a common school could furnish, and such as he could pick up at odd moments outside the school-room. In 1855 the fam- ily moved to Montezuma, Poweshiek county, lowa, where the son spent four years in reading law with Hon. M. E. Cutts, teaching school at the same' time during the winters. He was admitted to the bar in April, 1859, and practiced at Montezuma until the American flag was stricken down at Fort Sumter.
In July, 1861, Mr. Head enlisted in the army as captain of company F, roth Iowa Infantry; was wounded in the head at Corinth and Vicksburg, and in the leg at Champion Hills, Mississippi, and was discharged at the end of three years, having made a brilliant military record. At one period, while in the army, Captain Head was acting assist- ant adjutant-general under General Raum, and he had the capacity to fill any military position which he was called upon to occupy. One of the wounds in the head came very near proving fatal. He was insensible for seven days.
Returning to Iowa he settled in Jefferson, Greene county, on the 23d of October, 1865, resuming the practice of law, and still continuing it, together with real estate, banking and other branches of business already mentioned. He is owner of one half of the Greene County Bank, organized in 1866. He has a five-hundred-acre farm adjoining the city, under the best of cultivation; has other cultivated lands in Greene county, and wild lands in the same, and in Carroll, Boone and other counties. He raised a thousand acres of corn in 1877, and is an extensive raiser of cattle, horses and hogs. Mr. Head owns a hotel, several business houses, residences and other buildings in the city, between twenty-five and thirty of all kinds in the county. In 1867 he made an addition to the city of Jefferson of one hundred and sixty acres, known as " Head's Addition."
In 1866 he was appointed collector of internal revenue for the old sixth congressional district, re- signing after holding the office two years. He is now mayor of the city.
Mr. Head has always voted the republican ticket, and is an influential man in the party.
He is a third-degree Mason ; is a member of the Methodist church and one of its trustees.
His wife was Miss Minerva Jenkins, of Hardin county, Ohio. They have three children and have lost one.
JOHN CULBERTSON,
TIPTON.
T HE log house, the first house of any kind com- pleted in Tipton, was built by John Culbert- son, thirty-seven years a resident of this place. He is a native of Pennsylvania, and was born in the town of Boalsburg, Center county, on the 13th of August, 1814. His father, Jeremiah Culbertson, was a farmer and inn-keeper; his mother before her mar- riage was Susan Jack; both families were early set- tlers in the Keystone State. John was reared on a farm until his fifteenth year, when his father died and he entered the store of an uncle, George Jack, at Boalsburg. Subsequently he became the clerk of another uncle, Ezra Culbertson, at Allenville, Mifflin county, remaining there for several years. He then moved to Hollidaysburg, then in Huntington, now in Blair, county, and engaged in mercantile business for himself. At the end of about two years, in June,
1838, a flood in the Juniata swept away his store and nearly all his worldly effects. He made up his mind to try his luck elsewhere, and believing that the west afforded the best field for a young man, he prospected a while, and on the 7th of May, 1840, literally pitched his tent where Tipton now stands. He could not do otherwise, as there was no house to shelter him on the town plat. The land had not yet come into market. The commissioners had lo- cated the county seat here early that spring; here in imagination he saw a town rising, and here he resolved to make his home. Soon after completing his log house he opened it to the public; enlarged it in a short time, and kept a hotel for six years. At the end of that period he sold this property, and in company with Preston J. Friend engaged in the mer- cantile business, each one putting in fifteen hundred
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