The history of Dubuque County, Iowa : containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc., Part 101

Author:
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical
Number of Pages: 964

USA > Iowa > Dubuque County > The history of Dubuque County, Iowa : containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc. > Part 101

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ASA HORR, physician and surgeon, 872 Main street ; is a native of Ohio, and was born Sept. 2, 1817 ; his parents were Isaac Horr and Nancy Smith Horr, both of New England stock. The father of Asa was an early settler in the Black River country, in New York, and opened a farm there prior to emigrating to Ohio; in the latter State he engaged in mercantile business, and afterward returned to New York in 1827, and died in Watertown, Jefferson Co., soon afterward. Up to the time when his father died, Asa was kept at school most of the time, but now was put on a farm, and, for several years, attended schools only during the winter season; at the age of 20, he returned to his native town in Ohio and read medicine with a cousin ; he attended lectures at two colleges in that State, and graduated from both ; after leaving the Cleve- land College, he practiced six years in Ohio and one in Illinois, and, in 1847, made a permanent settlement in Dubuque, Iowa; not content with a mastery of the science of medicine, in which he has given no inconsiderable attention to the investigation of sciences collateral to medicine, quite early in life, he studied botany with a good degree of success, and for more than twenty years was one of the leading observers for the Smithsonian Institution ; he was influential in originating, and prominent in building up, the Iowa Institute of Science and Arts in Dubuque, and has been its President for the last eight or nine years ; he is a man of decidedly scientific tastes and of high attain- ments. Dr. Horr is a member of the Iowa State Medical Society, of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, of the American Public Health Associa- tion, and of several scientific societies in the Upper Mississippi Valley ; he is identified with many important interests in Dubuque. Its town clock was procured mainly through his exertions ; the clock and the regulation of time have been since then entirely under his supervision ; and the true longitude of the city was established through him ten or twelve years ago, by the aid of his finc astronomical transit. Dr. Horr is one of the leading surgeons in Northern Iowa, and neither his practice nor his reputation in this line is limited to any one State. He was Post Surgeon at Dubuque in the early part of the late war and Examining Surgeon for recruits in the regular army. He has been a member of the Masonic Order since 1856. In politics, he was a Whig until the extinction of that party, since which time he has been a Republican ; till middle life, his religious views were orthodox ; they are now liberal. He married Miss Eliza Sher- man in 1841; she died in 1866. He married Mrs. Emma F. Webber in 1868; she died in 1879 ; lie has three children, all by his first wife. His eldest child, Augusta S., is the wife of Henry Hackbusch, a civil engineer and surveyor at Leavenworth, Kan .; Edward W. is a leading merchant in Blandville, Ky., and the youngest child, May, lives at home.

MAJ. JOSEPH L. HORR, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 22; P. O. Dubuque; is a native of Ontario, Canada West, and was born in Dundas April 13, 1838; he came to Dubuque in August, 1852, and grew up to manhood here. When the

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war broke out, he enlisted in the regular service in the 13th Regt., U. S. Inf., Gen. Sherman's old regiment ; after serving one year, he was promoted to Second Lieutenant, and afterward promoted to First Lieutenant, and, in 1867, was again promoted and commissioned Captain; he was wounded at Vicksburg; was struck six times in the engagement May 19, 1863 ; he carries two bullets in his body yet ; he served until the close of the war, and was then ordered on the frontier, and was in the Indian service. Maj. Horr was united in marriage, May 24, 1870, to Miss Elizabeth R. Ogilby, daughter of the late Joseph Ogilby, of the city of Dubuque. In December, 1870, Maj. Horr resigned his commission and returned to Dubuque, and since then has been engaged in stock-raising, and is interested in mining. Maj. Horr has a small farm well stocked with fruit, finely located, just outside of the city limits; he also owns a farm of 225 acres at Sand Springs, Delaware Co .; Maj. and Mrs. Horr have one son, Read, and two daughters-Bessie and Irene.

A. W. HOSFORD, proprietor South Dubuque Mills ; residence 596 Union street, West's Hill; born in Oberlin, Ohio, June 14, 1839; came to Dubuque Co. in 1855; engaged in farming until 1857, when he returned to Oberlin and attended col- lege for two years, returning to Dubuque Co. in 1859; was employed in teaching until the breaking-out of the civil war in 1861. He then enlisted as a private in Co. G, 1st I. V. C .; at different times, by virtue of regular and merited promotions, he filled all the offices of his company, commanding the company during the last two years of service, and was mustered out with his command March 17, 1866. Soon after, he was married to Miss Sidonia Waller, of Rockdale, and for the next seven years devoted his attention to farming ; he then sold out his farm and took a trip to Europe with his family ; remained there a year, returning in 1874; in 1875, he bought an interest in the Rockdale (now South Dubuque) Mills, and has been one of its proprietors ever since. Religion, Meth- odist ; politics, Republican; four children living-Amanda Lorena, Richard Waller, Ida Florence (born in England) and Minnie Alberta; two deceased-Albert William and Mary Etta.

J. B. HOWARD, Superintendent of the Dubuque City Gas Works, Dubuque; is a native of the north part of Ireland, and was born at Carrick Fergus March 17, 1830 ; his parents came to America when he was only a few months old, and he grew up to manhood and received his education in the city of New York, and lived there until 1856, when he came West to Iowa and located in Dubuque, and engaged in gas- fitting and plumbing. When the war broke out, in 1861, he enlisted in the first call for troops ; he was a member of the Governor's Grays, which went out as Co. I, 1st I. V. I .; he was Sergeant of the company, and was in the battle of Wilson's Creek ; he after- ward enlisted in the 44th I. V. I., and was commissioned First Lieutenant of Co. A. Mr. Howard and Mr. McArthur leased the City Gas Works, and had charge of them for twelve years, and since then Mr. Howard has been Superintendent of the Gas Works; soon after coming here, Mr. Howard was chosen Chief of the Fire Department, and served in that position three years; he has served as City Alderman, and as Director and Vice President of the Building & Loan Association, and is a Director of Dubuque County Agricultural Fair Association. In July, 1850, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Mercoun, a native of the city of Brooklyn, N. Y .; her father and her grandfather were both born in Brooklyn; Mr. and Mrs. Howard have five children- William (in California), Emma (now Mrs. E. P. Graves), Eliza (now Mrs. George W. Conway), Fannie and Jeremiah.

JAMES HOWIE, carpenter and builder, and builder of Birdsall Refrigerator Building, north side of Fifth street, between Main and Iowa streets, Dubuque; is a native of Aberdeenshire, Scotland, and was born Aug. 3, 1841 ; he grew up to man- hood there, and, in 1861, went to London and lived there until 1869, when he emi- grated to America and came direct to Dubuque, and engaged in building, employing, at times, from ten to fifteen men; he did all the carpenter work for the large works of the Norwegian Plow Company, Waller Building, and many others. In September, 1861, he was united in marriage to Miss Roseina Hull, a native of the city of London ; she died in January, 1874, leaving three children-James R., David T. and Rosie. In

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1876, he was united in marriage to Miss Matilda J. Alexander, a native of this county ; they have two children, twins-Addie and Olive. Mr. Howie is a consistent member of the Christian Church, and is actively identified with the Young Men's Christian Association.

HENRY HUBER, Director in the Dubuque Furniture and Burial-Case Com- pany, factory corner of Eighteenth and Washington streets, Dubuque ; is a native of Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, and was born Sept. 27, 1824; he grew up to man- hood and learned his trade there; he was what is called a " forty-eight man," being a soldier, and fought for the monarchy, and he was awarded two badges of honor ; he emigrated to America in 1851, and lived in New York and New Jersey three years, and came to Dubuque in 1854 and began working at his trade; afterward engaged in business for himself; he and Mr. Kley and Huber built the factory now occupied by this company, and were in business some years. Mr. Huber has been a Director in the Dubuque Furniture and Burial Case Co. since its organization. He married Miss Christina Eichhorn, from Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, in 1850; they have five children -Christina, Frank, Joseph, Paulina and Annie, and have lost two.

M. A. HUBERT, wholesale and retail dealer in hats, caps and furs, Main street ; was born in Baden, Germany, Nov. 9, 1822; he grew up to manhood there and learned the business of furrier ; he emigrated to America in 1848, came to Galena and lived there five years, and one year in St. Louis, and came to Dubuque in February, 1854, and engaged in the business of hats, caps and fancy goods, and, soon after, added a fur department to his business ; he is the oldest dealer in furs in the city of Dubuque, and has built up a large trade, both wholesale and retail. Mr. Hubert has been suc- cessfully engaged in business here for twenty-five years. In 1854, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Niefineker, a native of Switzerland; they have six children- John, Louise, Ed., Arthur, Freddie and Gussie.

JOSEPH HUG, teaming, No. 35 West Seventh Street Hill, Dubuque; was born in Switzerland Feb. 23, 1823; he emigrated to America in 1845, and camc, the same year, to Dubuque and began work on the Julian House ; during the Mexican war, in 1847, he volunteered in the 16th I. V. I., Co. D; he served under Gen. Wool, and was at Monterey ; he returned in 1848. Mr. Hug has lived here thirty-five years, and is engaged in teaming and hauling rock ; he built the first house on West Seventh Street Hill; when he came here, he had nothing, and has earned what he has by his own industry. Hc married Miss Catharine Willhaber, a native of Switzerland, Sept. 24, 1849 ; they have four children-Joseph F., Rela A., Warnnie A., Samuel.

J. C. HUNTER, physician and surgeon, corner of Center street and Delhi road, West Dubuque ; is a native of Allegheny Co., Penn., and was born July 8, 1848 ; his parents came West to Scott Co., Iowa, in 1854 ; he grew up and received his edu- cation there ; studied medicine in Chicago and Philadelphia, and graduated at the Uni- versity of Pennsylvania in 1873; he practiced medicine in Scott Co. one year, and in Keokuk Co. four years, and came to Dubuque in the fall of 1878, and, since then, has practiced his profession here, and is building up a good practice. He was united in marriage to Miss Mary W. Garber, a native of Pennsylvania, Oct. 1, 1874; they have one son-Robert R.

F. D. HYDE, architect, cor. Main and Seventh street ; is a native of the State of Maine, and was born at South Paris, near Portland, March 21, 1849 ; his parents came West to Galena in 1850; he spent his boyhood in Wisconsin and Minnesota ; he studied architecture, and pursued his studies in St. Paul, Minneapolis, Chicago and Boston ; he came to Dubuque and located herc in January, 1878, and is taking a lead ing position in his profession.

THOMAS W. HYDE, foreman blacksmith-shop, Illinois Central Railroad, Dubuque; was born in England July 28, 1818; he came to America in 1831, and grew up and learned his trade in the city of New York ; lived there twenty-two years ; he came West in 1855, and settled in Dubuque ; he entered the employ of the Illinois Central Railroad in 1863, and has been with the Company seventeen years. He

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married Miss Jane Tucker, a native of New York ; they have six children-Charles H., Mary E., Adoniram J., George W., Fred A. and Nettie.

THOMAS M. IRISH, Principal of the Third Ward School, Dubuque; is a native of the State of Iowa, and was born at Iowa City Feb. 7, 1841; he grew up to manhood and received his education there, and engaged in teaching, and afterward served as Superintendent of Schools; he came to Dubuque in February, 1867, and engaged in teaching ; after teaching one term in the Fourth Ward School, he was elected Principal of the Third Ward School, and since then, for the past thirteen years, he has filled that position. Mr. Irish was united in marriage, Aug. 6, 1867, to Miss Margaret Ryan, a native of Wexford, Ireland ; they have five children-Fred M., Mary, John, Isabel and Charles.

ADAM F. JAEGER, of the firm of Jaeger & Rhomberg, distillers, import- ers and wholesale dealers in wines and liquors, 521 Main street, Dubuque; is a native of Germany, and was born in Hesse-Darmstadt on the Rhine Feb. 27, 1838; his parents emigrated to America in 1839, and they came to Iowa and located in Dubuque in 1840, and were among the early settlers; he grew up and received his education here ; after reaching manhood he engaged in business, and has continued for a period of twenty years, and this firni have built up a large and leading trade. Mr. Jaeger has held the office of Mayor of the city of Dubuque, and has been elected to the City Council, and has served nine years in that body. In March, 1859, he was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Schaffner ; she is a native of West Dubuque; they have five children-Henry, Antoine, Charles, Alphons and Martin.

FRANCIS JAEGER, of the firm of Brady, Ellwanger & Co., wholesale dealers in wines and liquors, No. 422 Main street, Dubuque; is a native of the city of Dubuque, and was born July 18, 1842 ; he grew up and received his education here ; after reaching manhood he engaged in business here with his brother; in June, 1875, he became a member of the firm of Brady, Ellwanger & Co., upon the organization of this firm; he is a member of the Dubuque Sharpshooters. In December, 1867, he was united in marriage to Miss Katie Tschirga, a native of Dubuque; they have three children-Frank, Arnold and Amelia.

J. T. JARRETT, grain-dealer, buying and shipping grain, office and ware- house, No. 4 Levee, Dubuque ; is a native of Pennsylvania, and was born near Phila- delphia Oct. 3, 1817; he came West to Iowa in 1846, and located at Dubuque and engaged in mining; he engaged in surveying during the summer and mining during the winter for some years ; then gave up mining and gave his whole attention to sur- veying ; in 1857, he was appointed agent of the Western Town Company, and located the town of Sioux Falls; in 1860, he was appointed Deputy Sheriff and served two years ; in 1862, he was appointed first Assessor of Internal Revenue for this district, composed of twelve counties, and held that office over three years; then engaged in the grain business for eight years; then was appointed Storekeeper and Gauger for several years; he was elected Justice of the Peace, and served two years and resigned that office, and again engaged in the grain business in 1878. In 1854, Mr. Jarrett was united in marriage to Miss Amanda M. Farwell, a native of Vermont; they have no children.

FREDERICK JENKEL, watchmaker and jeweler, and dealer in all kinds of clocks, watches and jewelry, 592 Main street, Dubuque; is a native of Meck- lenburg, Germany, and was born March 31, 1831 ; he grew up and learned the trade of watchmaker ; he emigrated to America in 1852, and came to Dubuque in December of the same year ; he worked at his trade for six years ; then engaged in the business for himself, and he has continued in the business since then, except three years spent in California ; he has been connected with the jewelry business longer than any one here ; he belongs to Schiller Lodge, I. O. O. F., and to the Order of Workmen. In 1855, he was united in marriage to Miss Caroline Gehrig, a native of Switzerland, and a sis- ter of Mrs. Heeb ; they have four children-Emile, Fred, Flora and Herbert.

C. B. JENNINGS, physician and surgeon, 186 Nevada street, Dubuque ; is a native of Allegheny City, Penn., and was born July 3, 1838; came West to Dubuque

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in 1851; he studied medicine with Dr. J. W. Finley and Dr. T. O. Edwards ; gradu ated at University of Pennsylvania in 1857; after graduating, he practiced medicine here for a few years, then removed to Darlington, Wis., where he engaged in practice of his profession ; while living there, he held the office of Superintendent of Schools four years, and was elected to the State Legislature and served during three sessions ; in 1875, he returned to Dubuque, and since then has practiced his profession here; he has served as County Physician two years, and is Vice President of the County Med- ical Society.

JOHN D. JENNINGS, Justice of the Peace, and President of the Board of Education, office 563 Main street, street, Dubuque ; is a native of Pittsburgh, Penn., and was born Feb. 8, 1824; he grew up to manhood and received his education there; he studied law and was admitted to the bar and engaged in practice there ; he came West to Iowa and located in Dubuque April 17, 1851, and engaged in the practice of law ; after a short time, he became one of the editors of the Miners' Express, and, after that, engaged in the real-estate business, the firm being Kinsy, David & Jennings .; they transacted a large business until 1857 ; he again engaged in the practice of law, the firm being McNulty & Jennings ; in 1859, he was elected to the State Legislature ; after his term expired, he was elected to the State Senate; he remained in the Senate four years ; while there he received in the Democratic caucus the complimentary vote of that body for United States Senator, but was not elected; he has been prominently identified with educa- cational interests here for many years, and was twice chosen President of the School Board, declining a re-election both times ; he was elected City Auditor, and he brought the records of that office out of chaos and confusion; in April, 1879, he was appointed to his present office. In August, 1851, Mr. Jennings was united in marriage to Miss Julia St. Vrain, of St. Genevieve, Mo., daughter of Felix St. Vrain; she died in 1864 ; they had seven children, five survive-Felix, John D., Theodore, Josephine and Julia. In July, 1868, Mr. Jennings was united in marriage to Miss Octavia Soulard, daugh- ter of James G. Soulard, of Galena.

GEN. GEORGE W. JONES, Dubuque. Many years before the Black Hawk war of 1832, the successful lead miners and Indian traders looked with anxiety to the time when they might take possession of the lead mines which had been opened and worked by Julien Dubuque over forty years before. Among such men was George Wallace Jones ; he was born at Vincennes, Ind., on the 12th of April, 1804, and was a son of Hon. John Rice Jones, a native of Merionethshire, Wales; Mr. Jones was educated at the Transylvania University, in Lexington, Ky., and, on graduating, chose the legal profession, which he studied with a relative, Hon. John Scott, at St. Genevieve, Mo ; he was soon appointed Clerk of Judge Peck's court, in which he discharged his duties with commendation ; at this time, failing health required a more active life, and, being of a very enterprising spirit, he determined to seek his fortune in the Upper Mississippi lead region ; he according removed to the new Territory of Michigan, and made a home at Sinsinawa Mound, only six miles from Dubuque ; this was in the early part of 1827. At the close of the Black Hawk war, he was elected Judge of the Court of the Western District of Michigan, now the State of Wisconsin ; it may be said to his credit, in the administration of justice, that no appeal was taken from any of his decisions. Upon the organization of Wisconsin Territory, then including Iowa, Minnesota and even the whole region west to the Pacific, in 1836, he was triumphantly elected over two formidable competitors as a delegate to Congress; he then commenced that brilliant political career of civil service and national legislation which continued for more than thirty years, and, when a Government land office was required for Wis- consin and Iowa, he was appointed Surveyor General. This measure had been earnestly advocated by Delegate Jones while in Congress, and it was mainly through his personal influence that the office was located at Dubuque. He accordingly removed to the city and Territory of his adoption, and has remained one of its most distinguished citizens ever since. In the next two years, political partisanship became so strong under a change of Presidential administration, that he was removed from office, but was re-ap- pointed under the new political policy of President Polk in 1845. He then discharged

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the duties of Surveyor General until 1848, when he was selected by the General Assem- bly as one of the two United States Senators ; upon the expiration of his first term as Senator, he was re-elected for another term of six years, terminating in 1859. Under the administration of President Buchanan, Gen. Jones was appointed Minister to New Granada. He made his official residence in Bogota for three years, and returned during the first year of the rebellion. Under some misapprehension of facts, involving also partisan malice, incident to that lamentable period of our history, he was arrested and imprisoned several months in Fort La Fayette, and discharged without specific charges having been made against him; on reaching Dubuque, he was given the honor of a public reception. For the last fifteen years, Gen. Jones has lived a partially retired life. His present family consists of his wife, whose maiden name was Miss Josephine Gregoire, whom he married at St. Genevieve, Mo., in 1829 ; she was a member of a highly respected French family, a lady of high attainments and distinguished for a marked excellence of womanly and Christian virtues. Of his children there are sur- viving three sons and two daughters. In every position which in his eventful life he has been called to fill, Gen. Jones has been successful in the highest degree. Few men have more devoted friends ; none excel him in unselfish devotion and unswerving fidelity to the worthy recipients of his confidence and friendship. In public enterprises and benevolent societies, and in all the social and business relations of life, few men of Dubuque or Iowa will leave a brighter record of public service or private character than Gen. George W. Jones.

PROF. W. V. JONES, musical director of the Beethoven Conservatory of Music, Ninth street ; is a native of Preston, England ; he received his musical educa- tion in the city of London; he held the position of organist in St. Albans' Catholic Church, Lancashire, England, for thirteen years, and, upon his departure for America, he was made the recipient of a handsome testimonial, bearing date July 26, 1869 ; he came to Dubuque the same year, and, in 1872, he established the Conservatory of Music, and it is the only institution in the State where all the studies are graded and systematized ; a thoroughly progressive system of twenty grades is made the basis of instruction ; Prof. Jones' critical personal examination of some of the best music schools in Europe, and an experience of twenty-two years in teaching, enable him to employ the most valuable and best-known methods, and there are more graduates organists and pianists than from any institution west of Chicago ; Prof. Jones has held the position of organist at the Cathedral since Sept. 1, 1869; he is also conductor of the Dubuque Choral Society.

B. W. JONES, contractor and builder ; is a native of Manchester, England, and was born June 18, 1837; his parents came to the United States in 1845 ; he lived in Utica, N. Y., twelve years, and came to Iowa in 1856, and located in Dubuque ; he has been engaged in contracting and building for many years. He was elected Alder- man in 1879. Mr. Jones is prominently connected with the Masonic Order, and has been chosen Master of Metropolitan Lodge No. 49, of Dubuque, for three years. Mr. Jones was united in marriage to Miss Sarah A. White, a native of Dubuque, July 18, 1861 ; they have six children-Walter E., Herbert L., Augustus B., Roy Eugene, Edward W. and Myrtle Maud.

JAMES A. JOHNSTON, superintendent of marine ways at Eagle Point, Dubuque, residence 200 High street; is a native of the province of New Brunswick, and was born in 1842; he grew up to manhood, and served an apprenticeship at ship- building and worked at the trade; he held the position of foreman in a shipyard in New York ; he came to Dubuque in 1869, and bought the ground and built the marine ways at Eagle Point; the firm was Johnston & Gaylord ; after one year, the firm became Johnston & Kalhke, which continued five years; Mr. Kalhke sold his interest to the "Diamond Jo Line," who now run the business, and Mr. Johnston holds the position of superintendent ; they employ from seventy-five to one hundred men. In 1868, Mr. Johnston married Miss Margaret McLean, from Prince Edward's Island ; she died Nov. 18, 1871, leaving one daughter-Maggie ; in April, 1874, he married Miss Matilda Gibson, from Port Byron, Ill. ; they have one son-Harvey.

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The history of Dubuque County, Iowa : containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc., Part 101

Author: Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Number of Pages: 964

Author:
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical
Number of Pages: 964