USA > Iowa > The United States biographical dictionary and portrait gallery of eminent and self made men, Iowa volume > Part 9
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spent the first twenty-two years of his life on his father's farm, receiving, meanwhile, a common school education. For ten years he was a contractor and builder, doing a large business.
In 1856 Mr. Dwelle started for the west, locating early in the following year where the beautiful vil- lage of Northwood now stands, and where then stood a solitary log house. He and his brother, Albert J., built a flouring mill on the Shelbrook river, and ran it until 1875, when they sold out. At present Lemuel is engaged in farming and the real-estate business, buying and selling large quantities of land, and still in partnership with Albert.
Mr. Dwelle was county surveyor the first five or
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six years that he was in Northwood, and was a county supervisor fourteen or fifteen years. In 1866 he was elected to the lower house of the general assembly, and in 1875 to the upper house, doing in both branches good service in the committees on manufactures, agriculture, and horticulture, being chairman of the first two. He was very diligent in the legislature, and a faithful servant of the people. His senatorial term does not expire until 1879.
The Dwelles were the local prime movers in securing the Central Railroad of Iowa, which has its northern terminus at Northwood, and are leaders in all useful enterprises.
Mr. Dwelle has been a Mason for twelve years and has taken three degrees. He has been a mem- ber of the Baptist church for thirty years.
On the 30th of December, 1875, he was married to Miss Hattie A. Edwards, of East Troy, New York.
Lemuel Dwelle is a thoroughly truthful, kind- hearted man, seeking other's good as well as his own. He has helped himself by helping others, has encouraged worthy people to settle in Northwood, actually making sacrifices in their behalf, but has thereby increased the population and improved the society of the place. In character, as well as in purse, he is one of the solid men of Worth county.
HON. CHARLES T. GRANGER,
WAUKON.
C HARLES TRUMBULL GRANGER, judge of the tenth judicial circuit, is a native of New York, and was born in Monroe county, on the 9th of October, 1835. His father, a man of great physical strength and intellectual powers of a high order, an uneducated farmer, was fond of debate, especially on religious and political questions. His mother, be- fore her marriage, was Sally Dibble, an excellent woman, who died when Charles was only a few years old. While he was a mere lad his father moved to Kirtland, Ohio, then the Jerusalem of the Mormons. Young as he was, he must have been a good observer of the Saints, for his recollections of their leading men are extensive and full of interest.
After his mother's death Charles lived for some time with a brother-in-law in Huron county, Ohio. Here he was impatient of restraint and often re- belled against what he regarded as unjust authority. At length, when thirteen years of age, to avoid chas- tisement, he ran away from his brother-in-law's and never returned. He came to the west. Up to this date his educational advantages had been limited and not well improved. He now awoke to a new life and a new ambition, attended an academy a few months at Waukegan, Illinois, studying only the common English branches; in November, 1854, moved to Allamakee county, Iowa, and taught a district school the next winter on Yellow river; re- turned to Illinois in August, 1855, and afterward attended school at the academy before mentioned for a few months. Subsequently, while working on a farm near Waukegan about a year, he improved
his leisure hours studying law books borrowed from lawyers in town. In March, 1860, he returned to Allamakee county, Iowa, read law with Hatch and Wilber, of Waukon, and was admitted to the bar near the close of the same year. It was in this office, as he states, that he received that substantial encouragement and aid which mark the time as an epoch in his life, and his preceptors as true bene- factors and friends. Before commencing practice he went to Mitchell, Mitchell county, and com- menced teaching ; was elected county superintend- ent of schools in 1861, and in August of the next year resigned that office to go into the Union army. He entered as captain of company K, 27th regiment Iowa infantry; as a soldier, was very popular; ex- celled in his knowledge of the duties of any position he was called to fill : often acted as judge advocate in cases of court-martial and as assistant adjutant- general, and served until the close of the war.
Returning from the south, Mr.Granger commenced practice as a partner of L. O. Hatch, Esq., at Wau- kon, on the Ist of January, 1866. Three years later, on the Ist of January, he was appointed district attor- ney of the tenth judicial district to fill a vacancy made by the resignation of Mr. Hatch; at the gen- eral election in 1869 was elected to fill out the un- expired term, and at the general election the follow- ing year was elected for a full term of four years. When this term had half expired, being now well known throughout the district, he was elected judge of the tenth circuit.
In 1874, much against his tastes and inclinations,
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Judge Granger was nominated by the republicans of the third district as their candidate for congress, but for the want of personal effort on his part he was defeated by the Hon. L. L. Ainsworth, the latter receiving a majority of sixty-three votes. Two years later he was reinstated on the bench of the tenth circuit without party opposition, and still wears the ermine.
Judge Granger has been twice married : the first time, at the age of twenty, to Miss Sarah H. War- ner, of Antioch, Lake county, Illinois. She died without issue on the 2d of June, 1862, two months before he went into the army. His present wife was Anna J. Maxwell, of Waukon, an estimable lady, with whom he was united on the 15th of April, 1868. They have two small children, a daughter and a son.
The career of Judge Granger, considering the discouragements of its humble beginning, has been remarkable. When he was first appointed district attorney his experience as a lawyer had been con- fined to office work. He had never tried more than one case in a court of record, and that a case of trifling importance. His success, therefore, as dis- trict attorney, was a surprise alike to himself and his friends. . From the beginning his familiarity with
legal principles, his common sense in their applica- tion to the case in hand, his skill in drawing the truth from witnesses, and his clear, fair and convinc- ing style of argument, attracted at once the atten- tion of the bar and the people; and, notwithstand- ing his want of experience, he was soon marked as most suitable material for the bench. The judgment of the people in this respect was correct. As a judge, he merits and receives great praise. His court is a model of dignity and propriety. On the bench he neither talks too much nor too little. He treats all members of the bar with uniform kind- ness and courtesy, and at the same time insists on the respect due to his position. Nothing escapes his attention in the court-room. Every word of evidence that goes to the jury is heard and weighed by him. His judicial decisions and opinions are generally correct, often able, are always unquestion- ably in harmony with a keen sense of justice. But to say that he is an able and just judge does him but partial justice. That singular magnanimity which has distinguished every step of his public career, military or civil, is most prominent and beautiful in 'his private life, as a citizen, neighbor, husband, father and friend.
WILLIAM RENWICK,
DAVENPORT.
A" MONG the prominent men who have taken a high and leading part in the manufacturing interests of Iowa, none deserves more honorable mention than William Renwick, prominent lumber manufacturer. He was born in Liverpool, England, on the 24th of June, 1829, and is the son of James Renwick and Elizabeth née Lockerby, both natives of Scotland and descendants of the old Covenanters. He received his early education in England; and later, after the removal of his father's family to Iowa in 1846, attended the Iowa College. In 1850 he engaged in the grain and commission business with his father, under the firm name of Renwick and Son. He was the first agent of the American, and also the United States, Express Companies in Daven- port. In 1852, in connection with their other busi- ness, the firm began dealing in and manufacturing lumber, and in 1855, selling their interest in other business, they devoted their time and capital exclu- sively to the lumber trade. His father retiring in
1859, he conducted the business on his own account until 1875, when the firm of Renwick, Shaw and Crassett was formed, of which he is senior member. Mr. Renwick has been very successful in his busi- ness, and much of his success may be attributed to his perseverance and energy even under adverse circumstances. He is much interested in all enter- prises intended to develop the resources of the city and country.
In religious views, he is a Presbyterian, and has been trustee of that church for a number of years.
He was raised in the democratic school of politics, and adhered to the principles of that party until 1866, when his views became more liberal, and he now supports for office the man whom he thinks best fitted for the position, irrespective of party lines.
He was president of the Board of Trade three years, and is an owner in and director of the Daven- port City Street Railway Company. He is also a
Am Renwick
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director in the Scott County Agricultural Society, in which he is much interested, having been a member for twenty-two years.
He has traveled extensively over the continent of Europe, and being an observing man, has gained a large fund of valuable information. He possesses much taste for the fine arts, and has recently added some fine paintings from the masters to his choice collections.
He was married on the 21st of March, 1855, to Miss Cynthia Seymour, of Davenport, Iowa.
Personally, Mr. Renwick has rare qualities, and by his upright course of life, his manly deportment and independence of character, has made for himself an honorable reputation. Few men have more devoted friends than he; none excel him in unselfish devo- tion and unswerving fidelity to the worthy recipi- ents of his confidence and friendship.
HON. J. K. GRAVES,
DUBUQUE.
W HILE the lives of self-made men seldom abound in incidents of a sensational char- acter, there is an energy and a perseverance of char- acter that lends to them a charm, an attractiveness and worth that merit admiration and careful thought. The subject of this sketch is an illustrious example of that class of men who, by the employment of brain and energy, have risen from obscurity to wealth and high social position.
Mr. Graves, beginning life a poor boy, has, by his own efforts, attained to an honorable position both socially and in business.
He was born in Keene, New Hampshire, on the 29th of September, 1837, and is son of Caleb S. and Eliza Graves, née Kingman, and on his father's side of Welsh descent. His ancestors were early settlers of this country and participated in the battles of the revolution. His earlier education was gained at the common schools of his native town. He early had to care for and support himself.
At seventeen he left home and commenced life for himself, and securing a situation in a bank, as clerk and correspondent, he gave the day to his duties, and attended evening schools, and by dili- gent study made rapid progress. In 1855 he came west and settled at Dubuque, accepting the position of cashier in the banking house of M. Mabley and Co., which in 1858 was succeeded by the firm of J. K. Graves and Co., which did a very suc- cessful business until it was merged into a branch of the State Bank of Iowa, of which he was vice- president and general manager; he was also a mem- ber of the board of control of the State Bank of Iowa. The National State Bank succeeding this branch, he was one of the principal organizers of it, and for a time its vice-president. He was also
prominent in organizing the Commercial National Bank, of which he was a large stockholder and director. He has been identified with the Key City Gas Works since 1859, and in 1866 he built the works which supply the city with light, and of which he is president, director and a large stockholder. In 1868 Mr. Graves took an active part in the organization and construction of the Dubuque Street Railway, of which he has been president the greater portion of the time.
During the early days of the rebellion he was appointed by Governor Kirkwood, of Iowa, post quartermaster at Camp Franklin, Dubuque, with rank of colonel, having at one time nearly six thou- sand men in camp. In 1866 he was elected, on the republican ticket, mayor of Dubuque, by a large majority over his democratic opponent, which, con- sidering that the city was strongly democratic, speaks well for his popularity. In 1876 Mr. Graves was elected representative to the state legislature ; was in 1870 induced to turn his attention to the construc- tion of a new railroad outlet from Dubuque to Chi- cago, which road is now in successful operation sixty miles down the river to Clinton. He is president of the Chicago, Clinton and Dubuque Railway Com- pany, the Chicago, Dubuque and Minnesota Rail- way Company, and the Iowa Pacific, and has been earnest and active in every enterprise tending to develop the interests of Dubuque and vicinity.
He was appointed special commissioner by the Interior Department, and twice visited New Mexico on the duties of his mission. Has twice visited Europe and traveled extensively over the continent visiting points of interest.
In politics, he is a republican, and an able advo- cate of its principles.
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He has been a member of the Masonic fraternity for a number of years.
He was married on the 12th of September, 1860, to Miss Lucy C. Robinson, of Salem, Massachusetts.
From boyhood Mr. Graves' life has been marked by strict integrity, independent action and close
attention to business. Conscientious, benevolent, and warm hearted in his affections, he has endeared himself to a large circle of friends and acquaint- ances. Beginning as he did, and relying wholly on his own exertions, he has attained a success of which he justly may be proud.
HON. GEORGE B. BURCH,
DUBUQUE.
TO O a self-made man who has battled his way to success, and through his own unaided ability gained an honored and responsible position in so- ciety, much should be accredited. George B. Burch is the architect of his own fortune. Aside from a fair education gained by his own effort, his rise in the world must be attributed solely to his business tact and persevering energy. He came to the west a young man with a determined will and hopeful heart, and to-day is an esteemed citizen with a large and prosperous business. He was born at Lyons, Wayne county, New York, on the 22d of March, 1836. His parents were James H. Burch and Ruhama née Dann, both natives of New York. His early educa- tion was gained at the common schools, and his father being in moderate circumstances could not lend him assistance, and at the age of fourteen he commenced life for himself by entering as a clerk in a drug store. Later he served in several clerical positions, and in February, 1855, removed to the west and settled at Portage, Wisconsin, where, in 1859, he formed a partnership in the drug business under the firm name of Burch and Lewis. This partnership had continued but a short time when he sold his interest, and removing to the lumber dis- trict, was employed for nearly a year as a book-
keeper. In 1861 he purchased a mill at Necedah, Wisconsin, and engaged in the manufacture of lum- ber. He removed to Dubuque in Angust, 1869, where he resumed the lumber business in connec- tion with his mill in Wisconsin, in which he has been eminently successful, having built up an extensive and constantly growing trade.
In politics, Mr. Burch is liberal, and supports for office the best man in his judgment, irrespective of party. Since his residence in Dubuque he has taken a lively interest in the development of its various enterprises, and in the spring of 1876 was, by the unanimous vote of both parties, elected mayor of the city. He is a director of the First National Bank, also of the Northwestern Fair Association and of the Art Association. In 1859 he joined the Masonic fraternity, of which he is now a prominent member and a Knight Templar. He is not a member of any church organization, but attends the Congregational service, his wife being a member of that body.
He was married on the 27th of February, 1860, to Miss Ellen H. Merrill, daughter of Hon. Samuel D. Merrill, of Vermont. Personally, Mr. Burch has rare qualities, and by his upright course of life, his manly deportment and independence of character, has made for himself an honorable reputation.
HON. JOHN M. BRAYTON,
DELHI.
JOHN MARTIN BRAYTON was born in New- port, Herkimer county, New York, on the 15th of September, 1831; and is the son of Smith Bray- ton, a farmer by occupation, and Candace née Mar- tin. He received the ordinary common-school privi- leges until fourteen years of age, at which time he went to Whitestown Seminary, Oneida county. At
the age of eighteen he entered the sophomore class, of Hamilton College, from which he graduated in 1853. While pursuing his college course he began the study of law under Professor T. W. Dwight, then of Hamilton, now of Columbia College.
In 1854 he was admitted to the bar of the supreme court of New York, and in that same year moved
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to Delhi, Delaware county, Iowa. During the next year he formed a law partnership with A. E. House, which continued_three years, when George Watson was admitted to the firm. From 1861 to 1864 the firm was Brayton and Watson. All of these firms did a lucrative business, few lawyers in the judicial district having more cases at the several terms of court. Since 1864 Judge Brayton has been alone in the profession, and no lawyer in the county has been more successful or risen to greater eminence at the bar.
In 1863 he was elected to the state senate for a term of four years. During this term he served on some of the most important committees, and proved himself a valuable member. But having a much greater liking for the law than for politics, he was glad to retire at the end of the four years. In 1870 he was elected judge of the ninth judicial district, serving until July, 1872; he then resigned. He wore
the ermine with credit, and his withdrawal caused regret on the part of the legal fraternity. Of late years he has been largely engaged in railroad liti- gation, and is prominent in the enforcement of mechanic's liens, and by reason of his skill is well known in all parts of the state. By his honest, up- right course he has accumulated a liberal fortune.
Judge Brayton is a member of no church, but by preference attends the Congregational.
In politics, he has always been a republican.
On the 4th of May, 1859, he married Helen M. Martin, a resident of Schoharie county, New York, and by her has had two children, one still living.
Judge Brayton is small in stature but large in intellect, he has a fair complexion and nervous tem- perament, mild, keen eyes, and a decidedly bookish air. He loves the law with his whole heart, but a stranger would seat him in a clerical or college chair, rather than on the bench or in a law office.
HON. EZEKIEL E. COOLEY,
DECORAH.
A MONG the early representatives of the legal profession in Winneshiek county, Iowa, is Ezekiel E. Cooley, a native of New York. He was born in Victory, Cayuga county, on the 12th of Jan- uary, 1827, and has consequently reached his fiftieth year. His parents were Ira A. Cooley and Lydia Chittenden Cooley. His father was a clergyman of the Baptist denomination, who held pastorates, after the son was born, at Hermon, St. Lawrence county, Denmark, Lewis county, and Brownsville, Jefferson county. He died at the last named place in June, 1846. At sixteen years of age the son en- tered the Black River Literary and Religious Insti- tute, Watertown, and at his father's demise was about to enter Hamilton College, but this bereave- ment thwarted all his plans. Two years prior to this date, while fitting for college, he commenced teaching, and in the summer of 1847 went to Cyn- thiana, Kentucky, to pursue this calling, arriving there with seven dollars in his pocket. Up to this date he had had a hard struggle in procuring the knowl- edge which he then possessed, and which struggle was not ended; but he continued to persevere, hav- ing the legal profession in view, and continued teaching with a view to supply himself with funds. Soon after reaching Kentucky he commenced study-
ing law with Judge Trimble; was admitted to the bar in 1849, and in August of the same year re- turned to New York and took charge of a public school in Ogdensburg. Not satisfied with his legal attainments, simultaneously with his commencing to teach, he read law with Hon. A. B. James, now a member of the New York congressional delegation, and was admitted to the bar of that state on the 2d of September, 1850. He commenced practice at Hermon ; two years later he removed to Ogdens- burg, forming a partnership with George Morris under the firm name of Morris and Cooley, and continued this connection until October, 1854, when he immigrated to Decorah, the seat of justice of Winneshiek county. At that date there were less than thirty families in the place, but Mr. Cooley had the wisdom to see that it was a town of much promise and a good opening for an ambitious young attorney, with a broad foundation of legal knowl- edge on which to build.
In 1855 Mr. Cooley formed a partnership with W. L. Easton and L. Standring for the purpose of car- rying on the business of banking and real estate. This banking-house proved eventually to be the seed-corn of the First National Bank of Decorah.
No movement calculated to benefit Decorah or
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the county has failed to receive the hearty support of Mr. Cooley. As early as 1856 he was one of the prominent men in organizing a railroad company called the Northwestern, of which he was made the attorney. The financial depression delayed this enterprise, but after repeated trials the road, under another name, reached Decorah in September, 1869. Upon the celebration of its completion Mr. Cooley was very appropriately made the orator for the oc- casion. Two years after he settled in Decorah an effort was made to remove the county seat to Free- port, three miles eastward, and but for the adroit efforts of Mr. Cooley and a few other persons the project would probably have succeeded.
Mr. Cooley came to Decorah to practice law and to make it his business for life. He has carried out his intentions almost to the letter, and has at- tained eminence in his profession. The few offices which he has held were urged upon him by the par- tiality of friends. In the spring of 1855 he was elected prosecuting attorney for the county, serving two years. When, in 1857, Decorah was incorpo- rated he was chosen president of its board of trus- tees; and in October of the same year he was elected to the lower branch of the general assem- bly, the seventh, which was the first under the new constitution. Young as he was, and wholly inexpe- rienced in legislative matters, he was placed at the head of the committee on federal relations. He was also on other important committees, such as the judiciary and township and county organiza- tions, doing valuable work on all of them, as well as on several select committees.
In 1861 Mr. Cooley was appointed postmaster of . Decorah, but resigned at the end of two years. In September, 1864. President Lincoln appointed him commissary of subsistence in the volunteer service, with the rank of captain of cavalry. He held this position until October, 1865, when he was breveted major for meritorious services, and received his dis- charge the following month.
Twice his republican friends in Winneshiek county have presented his name before district conventions for congressional nomination, but in both instances competing candidates bore off the palm, and he magnanimously took the stump and aided in their election.
Mr. Cooley has profound respect for the bible ; is familiar with its teachings, and has aimed to live a blameless life. He has no church connection.
On the 18th of March, 1856, he was united in marriage with Miss Jane M. Rhodes, of Dubuque, a lady of very fine talent as an amateur artist in oil colors. They have two sons, both students in the literary department of Michigan University. Both, it is understood, have the law profession in view.
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