The history of Clinton County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns &c., biographical sketches of citizens, Part 83

Author: Western Historical Co
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Chicago : Western historical company
Number of Pages: 812

USA > Iowa > Clinton County > The history of Clinton County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns &c., biographical sketches of citizens > Part 83

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

JESSE J. COLE, firm of Harroun & Cole, blacksmiths, Fifth avenue ; was born in Madison Co., N. Y., in 1835; lived there until 20 years of age ; he came to Iowa and located in Clinton in March, 1856, and learned his trade here ; he served in the army two years, in the 20th I. V. I. ; he has been engaged in business here since 1870. He married Miss Margaret Gilmore, of this city, in 1865.

CAPT. S. C. COMSTOCK, yard master of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad at Clinton ; is a native of Philadelphia, Jefferson Co., N. Y .; was born in 1835 ; he began railroading at an early age; he came West, and was connected with the Illinois Central Railroad for some years ; he was conductor of a passenger train on that road when the war broke out; he resigned his position and enlisted in the Railroad Regiment-89th Ill. V. I., and was commissioned Captain Co. I; he was wounded May 27, 1864, and was also slightly wounded at the battle of Stone River ; after the war, he returned, was given his old position as conductor on the Illinois Central Railroad, but was obliged to give it up on account of injuries received from an accident on his train ; he engaged in contracting and building the Houston & Great Northern Railroad in Texas ; also, had a contract on the Chicago & Alton Railroad ; he was appointed to his present position Dec. 2, 1876. He married Miss Fidelia L. Evans, of New Hampshire ; they have one daughter-May.

E. CONANT, Street Commissioner ; is a native of Susquehanna Co., Penn., and was born Feb. 26, 1825; he was raised in Lockport, N. Y .; came to Illinois in 1852, and was conductor on the Galena & Chicago Union Railroad ; he ran the first

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passenger train that reached Fulton City Dec. 5, 1855; in March, 1857, he began to run a steamboat across the river to Fulton for the old Iowa & Nebraska Railroad ; con- tinued four years ; he engaged in the milling business with Mr. Hofman, running a small mill for six years; then bought the stone mill and rebuilt it and sold it to Mr. Lamb; in the summer of 1867, with others, he built the Farmers' Mills, at a cost of over 820,000, and ran the mills, with his partner, until 1878. Mr. Conant has served as City Alderman five years, Town Trustee five years, and Poor Director. In 1845, he married Miss Harriet E. Webb; she was born in Ohio, but was brought up in New York ; they have one daughter-Edna L.

AYLETT R. COTTON, attorney and counselor at law, Opera-House Block; native of Trumbull Co., Ohio; born Nov. 29. 1826; attended school there ; attended Cottage Hill Academy at Ellsworth, Ohio, two years; when 17 years of age, came with his parents to lowa ; they landed in Davenport May 5, 1844; came to Clin- ton Co. June 18, 1844; fall of same year, he returned to Ohio and taught school ; the following summer, entered Alleghany College at Meadville, Penn. ; engaged in teaching in Fayette Co .. Tenn., for two years ; returned to Clinton Co. and read law ; admitted to the bar in 1848; spring of 1849, went overland to California ; returned in 1851, and engaged in law practice at De Witt; August, 1851, was elected County Judge ; resigned in 1853; following year he removed to Lyons; was elected Prosecuting Attor- ney ; held office of Mayor of Lyons from December, 1855, until 1857; was member of the State Constitutional Convention in 1857 ; member of House of Representatives of Iowa in 1868 and 1870 ; during the last term, was Speaker of the House ; was Repre- sentative from this district to the Forty-second Congress; re-elected to the Forty-third Congress. He married Miss Hattie E. Walker; she was born in Pennsylvania ; her parents came to Iowa when she was an infant.

W. P. CUBBAGE (retired), residence, Ninth avenue; is a native of Kent Co., Del., and was born Sept. 12, 1812; he was brought up and lived there until 1827, when he started for the West; he walked all the way through the State of Pennsylvania, and came up the river as far as Galena ; he landed there April 17, 1837 ; he arrived there without money or friends, without education and experience ; but he says he had something, and that was the " bilious fever"; in 1840, he came to Jack- son Co., lowa, and made a claim in Washington Township, and began making a farm ; he was one of the earliest settlers in that county; he returned to Galena, and, after clerking in a store two years, he started in business for himself with a cash capital of $93; he remained there thirteen years, and came, in 1855, to Jackson Co., and was engaged in mercantile business and farming, and carried on a briek-yard, and remained there until 1868, when he sold his property and retired from active business, and removed to Clinton, and since then has resided here. He is Vice President of the Fourth street Building Association, and has held the office of Assessor. Mr. Cubbage owes his success in life to his own efforts. He has been married three times; he has four daughters, two of whom are married.

GEORGE M. CURTIS, of the firm of Curtis Bros. & Co., manufactur- ers of sash, doors, blinds and moldings, corner Second street and Thirteenth avenue; is a native of Oxford, Chenango Co., N. Y., and was born April 1, 1844 ; he came to III- inois in 1856; he came to lowa, and located in Clinton in 1867, and established their present business. They began business in the small building adjoining the Farmers' Mills ; in 1869, they purchased of Toll & Ankeny the mill property they now occupy ; they have built up a large business, which extends throughout the West and South ; they manufacture more extensively than any similar house in the State, and employ from 175 to 200 hands; they also dispose of the entire product of building-paper made by the Lyons Paper Company. Mr. Curtis married Miss Ettie Lewis, of Michigan, Sept. 4, 1872; they have one son-Lewis, born Aug. 23, 1878.

CHRIS DAHM, manager for J. H. C. Peterson & Sons, dry goods house, 218 Fifth avenue; is a native of Schleswig, Germany; was born Feb. 22, 1849; he came to America in March, 1874; he engaged in the mercantile business in Moline, Ill., having the management of the business there three years ; he came to Clinton in April, 1879; while living in Moline, he was elected President of the Scandinavian

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Co-operative Home Association, an organization chartered by the State for the purpose of buying land farther west, to establish a colony. He is connected with the Swedish Olive Lodge, I. O. O. F. ; upon leaving Moline, he was presented by the Lodge with a handsome ebony, gold-headed cane, inscribed-" Presented to C. Dahm by the members of Swedish Olive Lodge, No. 583, I. O. O. F."

J. S. DARLING, attorney at law, Post Office Block, Fifth avenue; is a native of Niagara, Canada; born March 3, 1830; when 10 years of age, his father removed to the London District, near St. Thomas; he received a common-school education, and, when 18 years of age, he went to Oberlin, Ohio, and studied two years, then returned to Canada, and commenced reading law ; in 1850, he came with his parents to Iowa, and located in Jackson Co .; he went east with his brother, Thomas C. Darling, now of Kansas, and attended the State and National Law School, at Ballston Spa, and also attended the same institution, after its removal to Poughkeepsie; he was admitted to the bar Aug. 11, 1853, and was admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of the State at the same time; he returned to Iowa, and located at Sabula, where he practiced law until 1870, then came to Clinton, and since then has practiced here. He was elected County Judge of Jackson Co. in 1867, and served two years. He married Miss Charlotte F. Cheney, a native of Essex Co., N. Y. ; they have one son-Douglass Jer- rold, now in the law department of the State University.

E. M. DAVIS, owner of Davis' Opera House, and Davis' Opera House Block, corner Second street and Sixth avenue ; is a native of Pottsville, Schuylkill Co., Penn. ; he was left an orphan when 4 years of age, and had not a relative in the world. He was apprenticed to the machinist's trade, studying nights, and learning what he could in that way ; when 19 years of age, he ran an engine. In 1852, he came West to Indiana ; in the following year came to Chicago, and was engineer on the old Galena & Chicago Union Railroad. He held the position of master mechanic of the New Albany & Salem Railroad for some years; when he resigned his position, he was presented by the employes of the road with an elegant English chronometer gold watch and chain, inscribed as follows : " Presented to E. M. Davis, master mechanic of the New Albany & Salem Railroad, by the employes, as a token of their regard ; Michigan City, Ind., Aug. 21, 1858." He was in the army during the war, and served over three years, and was connected with the railroad transportation department. In October, 1845, he mar- ried Miss Margaret Waters, from Schuylkill Co., Penn. They came to Clinton, Novem- ber, 1865 ; since coming here, Mr. Davis has been very successful in his investments ; in 1876, he built, on the corner of Sixth avenue and Second street, the finest business block in Clinton Co .; it fronts ninety-five feet ou Second street, and eighty-seven feet on Sixth avenue, and is five stories in height; there is a high stone basement under the whole building extending out under the sidewalk all round ; the first floor is finished off in five stores, all occupied ; the second floor is finished off in offices, all large and com- modious, and finely frescoed ; there is also a nice Music Hall, with ante-rooms adjoining, on the south side of this floor, in the rear of the front offices ; the Opera House occu- pies the third and fourth floors of the building, and it is one of the finest audience-rooms in the West, and will seat 2,000 persons ; there is not a pillar or post, or an obstruction of any kind on the first floor or gallery ; the gallery is held up by strong iron rods from the top of the building, attached to the main trusses that span the building; the dome in the center of the hall is finely frescoed, and paintings representing the four seasons ; outside of the dome, the portraits of celebrated authors are represented, and on either side of the drop-curtain are the portraits of Shakespeare and Forrest ; the drop-curtain represents a fine scene on Lake Como, Italy ; the hall is lighted with the sun-burner, with eighty-one jets, the same kind that is used in McCormick's Hall, Chicago; the hall contains a Hallett & Davis orchestra grand piano, made expressly for the Opera Hall at a cost of $1,500 ; the hall has a large and commodious stage with four dressing-rooms attached ; there is a large plug with pipe attached, to be used in case of fire; there is still another floor above the Opera Hall ; the hall is well ventilated, the chimneys being double with an eight-inch space for ventilation ; the building is complete throughout, in every respect, and is a credit to any city in the West. Judge Brannan pronounced it the best building of the kind in the State. It reflects great credit on the energy and

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enterprise of its owner, Mr. Davis. Mr. Davis also owns other property, including Davis' addition to Clinton, and the limekilns and stone quarries on the river below the mills, embracing twelve acres of valuable property. Mr. Davis is emphatically a self- made man, being an orphan from a child, with no education only what he obtained study- ing nights, and he never had a dollar given him ; he worked his way unaided and alone. Mr. and Mrs. Davis have one daughter-Laura Margaret, now attending the high school.

W. E. DRAKE, proprietor of the " Chicago Store," Opera House Block, corner Sixth avenue and Second street ; dealer in dry goods, trimmings and notions ; native of Dutchess Co., N. Y .; upon reaching manhood, he went to Chicago, where he was connected with mercantile business for nine years ; he came to Clinton in 1877, and engaged in his present business, and is building up a good trade.

JAY H. DUNHAM, of the firm of Leslie, Dunham & Co., dealers in gro- ceries and provisions, Fifth avenue ; is a native of Kalamazoo, Mich; born July 17, 1849 ; when 9 years of age, he came with his parents to Iowa ; they located at Lyons ; he received his education there; engaged in the grocery business, and has since con- tinued it. The firm of Leslie, Dunham & Co. have built up a large and leading trade. Mr. Dunham is connected with the Knights of Pythias and the A. O. U. W.

ADAM DUNN, farmer, Sec. 14; P. O. Clinton ; is a native of County Antrim, near Belfast. Ireland, and emigrated to America when only 14 years of age. He lived in Monroe Co., N. Y., until the fall of 1839, when he and his brother came to Iowa, to Clinton Co., and bought a claim. The following summer, he returned to New York State, and came out here again in the fall; the next summer, it being very sickly, he again went to York State, and remained two and a half years ; then came back to this county and located where he now lives, near Clinton. He is one of the carly settlers of this county ; there are few here now that were here when he came. He had nothing when he began life ; by industry and good management, he now owns 500 acres of good land. He married Elizabeth Crawshaw, a native of England, in 1845 ; she came to America with her parents when only 7 years of age ; they have three children-William, who is married and living in this county ; Alice Ann, who married Reuben Huntoon, of Evanston, Ill., and lives in this county ; Elizabeth Frances, at home.

JOHN EDEN, firm of Eden & Hansen, manufacturers of vinegar, Second avenue ; was born in Germany, in 1833; came to America in 1853, and in the follow- ing year, came to Clinton Co .; worked at brick-making until January, 1878, when he engaged in manufacturing vinegar. He is the oldest German settler in Clinton. He married Dora Heide, a native of Germany, in 1864; they have three children- Lizzie, John and Emma.

A. G. EWING, Superintendent of W. J. Young & Co.'s lumber-yards ; is a native of Pittsburgh, Penn., and was born Feb. 11, 1838; he was brought up and attended school there, and completed his education at Jefferson College, Cannons- burg, Penn., where he graduated in 1860 ; he came to Iowa and located in Clinton in 1865, and engaged in mercantile business, the firm being Ewing & Young ; for the past three years, he has been connected with W. J. Young & Co., holding the position of Superintendent of the yards. He is a member of the City Council, and is serving his second term. He married Miss Stella C. Coan, daughter of W. F. Coan, President of the Clinton National Bank, Dec. 21, 1871 ; they have two daughters-Kate and Sarah. GEORGE W. EYRE, of the firm of Leake & Eyre, proprietors of the Central Market, Fifth avenue; is a native of England, and emigrated to America in 1858; he lived in Pennsylvania ten years, came to Iowa and located in Clinton, in 1868 ; he has been associated with Mr. Leake, in his present business, for the past five years, and they have built up a large trade ; he was in the army in Pennsylvania when that State was invaded during the war. Mr. Eyre married Miss Maria Stephens, of Schuylkill Co., Penn. ; they have one daughter-Mary E. D. Eyre.

P. J. FARNSWORTH, physician and surgeon, Sixth avenue ; is a native of Burlington, Vt .; he received his education there ; he studied medicine and gradu- ated in Vermont, in 1857 ; he graduated at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, in the city of New York, in 1860; he came to Iowa and located in Clinton Co., and since has practiced here; only one practicing physician here now was here when he came ; since 1870, he has been one of the Professors of the State University, and fills the

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chair of Materia Medica. Dr. Farnsworth has given much attention to geology, and has the nucleus of a fine cabinet of specimens. At the annual meeting of the State Medical Society, at Davenport, Dr. Farnsworth was appointed a delegate to the Inter- national Medical Congress, to be held in Amsterdam, Holland, in September, 1879. Dr. Farnsworth married Elizabeth D. Eaton, a native of Maine; they have one daugh- ter-Florence.

J. D. FEGAN, abstracts and dealer in real estate, Fifth avenue; was born in Franklin Co., Penn., July 26, 1831 ; he learned the tailor trade when 18 years of age; he came to Iowa in 1849; after spending a short time in Scott and Jefferson Cos., he came to Clinton Co. June 7, 1850, and located in Elk River Township ; engaged as clerk in a store and worked at his trade. He married, on Ang. 26, 1851, Miss Ann M. Potts, a native of Wisconsin ; her parents were among the early settlers, and came here in 1839. Mr. Fegan took up land and made a farm ; after two years, removed to Lyons, where he served as Deputy Sheriff and County Assessor; in the spring of 1858, he removed to Wheatland and engaged in the lumber business, and buying and shipping grain ; he enlisted in Co. I, 26th I. V. I., and was appointed Ser- geant Major ; he was appointed Adjutant, was promoted and commissioned Captain of Co. B; afterward, by recommendation of Gen. Charles R. Wood, of the regular army, was promoted to Assistant Adjutant General of the First Brigade, First Division, Fif- teenth Army Corps, commissioned by President Lincoln ; he was in a great many battles ; though not wounded, had several narrow escapes ; he was mustered out Sept. 19, 1865 ; after his return, in the fall of 1866, he was elected County Recorder, and held that office four years, and since then has been engaged in abstract business and buying and selling real estate; when he came to this State, he only had one five-franc piece, and his success in life is owing entirely to his own efforts. Mr. and Mrs. Fegan have three children-Charles P., Bessie ( now Mrs. Ben C. Wilkins), and Maggie, at home.

C. C. FENLON, manager of the feeding and stock-yards; is a native of Canandaigua, Ontario Co., N. Y .; after reaching manhood, he came West in 1852, and entered the employ of the construction company engaged in building the Galena & Chicago Union Railroad, which, at that time, was completed as far as Turner Junction ; the following year, he came to Chicago and entered the train-service of the company, and continued on that line of railroad until the fall of 1864, when he came to Clinton and continued in train-service, and was yard master for a time. He was conductor of the mail and express train for nine years, and ran from Clinton to Boone until Oct. 1, 1874, when he resigned his position, and took the active management of the stock-yards here, having had an interest in them since they were removed from Fulton, and established here. When he left the railroad, he was one of the oldest employes of this extensive corporation from Chicago to Omaha. He had nothing when he began life, and owes his success to his own efforts. On the 4th of July, 1858, he married Miss L. W. Stedman, from Jefferson Co., N. Y. ; they have two children, one son-Charles E., telegraph operator, and one daughter-Anna Maud, at home.

CHARLES E. FISHER, bill elerk in the freight office of the C. & N. W. Railroad, and also senior member of the firm of Fisher & Co., dealers in staple and fancy groceries, No. 1008 Fourth street ; is a native of Princeton, Bureau Co., Ill., and was born April 1, 1854; he was brought up there until 14 years of age, when he came to Mechanicsville, Iowa. He came to Clinton April 1, 1874, and since then has been connected here with the C. & N. W. Railroad. He was united in marriage to Miss Mary F. Pierson, of Crystal Lake, McHenry Co., Ill., Sept. 12, 1876.

J. M. FLANAGAN, of the firm of Peck & Flanagan, manufacturers of carriages ; born in Albany, in 1845; he came to Clinton in 1868; for the past three years, he has been associated with Mr. Peck in his present business. He married Marian Dickenson, of Wisconsin, in 1873; they have three children.

J. H. FLINT, attorney and counselor at law, Opera House Block ; is a native of Somerset Co., Me .; born Sept. 12, 1826 ; he attended school there, read law, and was admitted to the bar in June, 1850 ; in the fall of the same year, went to California ; spring of 1854, he returned to Maine, remained a short time, went to California again, and returned East in 1855 ; he came to Iowa the following year, located at Lyons, May 3, 1856, and engaged in the practice of law ; he was commissioned Quartermaster of

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the 26th I. V. I; he was Quartermaster of the Post, Black River Bridge, rear of Vicks- burg, and also Quartermaster of the First Brigade, in the First Division of the Fifteenth Army Corps; went with Sherman to the sea, and was with him in his campaign through the Carolinas, then to Washington, where he was mustered out in June, 1865 ; after his return from the service, he located in Clinton, and since then he has practiced his profession here ; he has held the office of City Attorney for five years, and is Chair- man of the Clinton Co. Republican Committee. He married Miss Ada Rowe, a native of Somerset Co., Me., Oct. 25, 1855 ; they have one son-Fletcher Ware Flint, born July 22. 1868.

WILLARD P. FOOTE, conductor of passenger train on the Iowa Division of the C. &. N. W. R. R .; residence, No. 626 Tenth avenue; is a native of Potsdam, St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., and was born Oct. 9, 18442 ; he grew up to manhood in that State ; when the war broke out, he entered the army, in the 16th N. Y. V. I .; he was afterward transferred to 121st N. Y. V. I .; he was in the service three years ; he came to Iowa in 1867, and has been connected with the C. & N. W. R. R. since July, 1868-over eleven years ; is conductor of passenger train from Clinton to Boone. Mr. Foote married Miss Julia McComber, of Watertown, N. Y. She died, leaving one son-Henry Herbert. He married Miss Gertrude E. Thompson, from Michigan, in 1877 ; they have one daughter-Florence H.

BID GAGE. cashier of the Farmers' & Citizens' Saving Bank ; is a native of Canada, and was born Aug. 25, 1837 ; when 18 years of age, he came with his parents to Iowa ; they located in Jackson Co., and lived there until 1861, then came to Lyons, and was engaged in mercantile business for some years. He has held the position of cashier of the Farmers' & Citizens' Bank since its organization. Ile has held town offices, and is connected with the Order of Masons, and the Knights of Honor. He married Miss Agnes Graham, a native of Canada ; they have four children-Mary, Frank, Carrie and Myra.

HENRY GERHARD, proprietor of the Gerhard House, corner Front street and Sixth avenue; was born in Germany, in 1832; he emigrated to America in 1853, and came to Iowa and located in Clinton in the spring of 1865 ; he bought the Mississippi House, which was entirely destroyed by fire June 8, 1865 ; he immediately rebuilt the hotel ; moved into the new hotel and occupied it the following 3d of July, less than one month from the time the fire occurred ; in 1869, he bought the Clinton brewery, and ran that for two years, which was a losing investment; he then returned and opened the Gerhard House again, and he has continued in the business since. The Gerhard House is one of the most convenient and best-arranged hotels in the State, being well kept, well furnished and comfortable in all of its appointments. When Mr. Gerhard began life, he had nothing, and, notwithstanding his losses, by attending to business, he owns the hotel and the brick building adjoining it, and half a block on Sixth avenue, from Front street. He is a man of strict integrity. In 1864, he mar- ried Louise Heiser, a native of Germany ; they have three children. He also has three

children by former wife.

J. GLATTS, of the firm of J. Glatts & Co., furniture dealers, Fifth avenue ; is a native of Newcastle Co., Del .; he learned the furniture business at Wilmington, in that State ; after reaching manhood, he came to Fulton, Ill., in 1858, and engaged in the furniture business; in 1865, he removed to Clinton, and since then has been engaged in the same business here. The firm of J. Glatts & Co. are the oldest furni- ture dealers in Clinton ; they also carry on the undertaking branch of the business ; their best hearse is the finest west of Chicago. Mr. Glatts married Miss Sarah Ann Hitehen, a native of Newcastle Co., Del .; they have no children.

HENRY GODE, dealer in groceries and provisions, corner Fifth avenue and Second street ; was born in Oldenburg, Germany, in 1826; he there learned the bak- ers' trade ; he emigrated to this country in 1849, landed in Texas; he came to Daven- port, Iowa, in 1850, to Clinton Co., and located at Camanche May, 12, 1853; he started a bakery; afterward engaged in the mercantile business, and continued there until 1868, when he came to Clinton, and engaged in the same business here, on the corner where he is now located ; he was here when the town was dedicated, in August, 1855 ; he afterward bought the lot and built the store he now occupies. There are

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The history of Clinton County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns &c., biographical sketches of citizens, Part 83

Author: Western Historical Co Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Chicago : Western historical company Number of Pages: 812

Author: Western Historical Co
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Chicago : Western historical company
Number of Pages: 812