The history of Dubuque County, Iowa : containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc., Part 113

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 113

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES :

JOSEPH TRUEB, dealer in groceries and provisions, corner of Eleventh and Jackson streets, Dubuque ; was born in Switzerland June 12, 1844; he came to America in 1867, and came to Dubuque the same year; engaged at the cabinet and carving trade; he afterward engaged in his present business. In 1868, he married Miss Mary Gurthner, a native of Switzerland ; she died in 1875, leaving two children- Louie and Annie.

MATTHEW TSCHIRGI, Jr., City Engineer, city hall, Dubuque; is a native of Dubuque Co., and was born in the city of Dubuque Nov. 28, 1850 ; he grew up and attended school here; then entered the University of Michigan, where he took an engineering course and graduated in June, 1872; he opened an office on the corner of Fifth and Main streets. In 1876, he was elected County Surveyor, and, in April, 1877, he was elected to his present office of City Engineer.

MI. TSCHIRGI, of the firm of Tschirgi & Schwind, brewers, Dubuque ; is a native of Switzerland ; was born Oct. 25, 1824; grew up to manhood there, and emi- grated to America in 1845; came to Dubuque in the spring of 1846, and engaged in the brewing business; afterward, in 1854, he formed a partnership with Mr. Schwind, and they engaged in the brewing business, building a brewery on their present location, which was then out of town ; they have continued in the business twenty-six years without any change of firm; they have one of the largest and most complete breweries in the State. In 1848, Mr. Tschirgi married Miss Kathrina Zollicoffer, a native of Switzerland; her father was one of the earliest settlers, and came here in 1834 ; he died in 1873. Mr. and Mrs. Tschirgi have seven children-Catharine (now Mrs. F. Jaeger, of this city), Matthew (City Engineer of Dubuque), Louise (now Mrs. Jacob Traut; of this city). John, George, Arnold and Frank.

NICHOLAS TUSING, stock-dealer and dealer in fresh and salted meats, 185 Main street, Dubuque ; is a native of Germany, and was born in Luxemburg Jan. 7, 1830; he emigrated to the United States in 1858, and caine to Dubuque the same year; engaged in buying stock six years, then engaged in farming until 1874, when he again engaged in buying stock, and has continued in this business since then ; he also carries on a meat market on Main street. In 1860, he married Miss Connolly, a native of Ireland ; they have three children-Catharine, Margaret, Ellen.

L. B. TUTTLE, carpenter and builder, corner Iowa and Fifth streets, Dubuque; is a native of Connecticut ; he came West to Iowa and arrived in Dubuque Oct. 11, 1858; he learned the trade of carpenter and joiner, and afterward he engaged in building, and has continued in the business for the past fifteen years, and has built up a good business ; he has been connected with the Blue Lodge, the Chapter and Com- mandery, and all Masonic bodies. He was in the army ; enlisted in the 44th I. V. I. He married Miss Julia Thurston, of Canada, in 1866.

D. W. TYLER, foreman of machine-shop of Novelty Iron Works, residence, 709 West Fifth street ; is a native of Massachusetts, and was born in Worcester ; he grew up and learned the trade of machinist ; after reaching manhood, he went South and was engaged in putting up steam mills in Louisiana until the war broke out ; he came North in 1861. Married Miss Harriett M. Freeman, a native of Cleveland, Ohio. During the war, he served in the Ordnance Department as Inspector of Arms; after the war, he came West to Minnesota ; in 1871, he came to Dubuque, and since then for nine years has held the position of foreman of machine-shop of Novelty Iron Works ; he is a member of the firm of Grow & Tyler, manufacturers of the turbine water-wheel, which is acknowledged to be the best water-wheel manufactured. Mr. and Mrs. Tyler have four children-Herbert F., Fred W., Frank E. and Wilma Jessie May. Mr. Tyler belongs to the A. O. U. W., the Knights of Honor and the Independent Order of Foresters.

MRS. JACOBINA UFFEL, dealer in groceries and provisions, corner Jackson and Nineteenth streets, Dubuque ; is a native of Germany ; she came to America in 1850, and the same year came to Dubuque. Before leaving Germany, in 1849, she married Fred Von Uffel, a native of Germany ; he died Aug. 7, 1856 ; they had two children, and all died within one year ; Mrs. Uffel has carried on the business since his

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death, a period of twenty-four years; she paid all the debts of the store and paid for her house ; she does her own buying and selling and manages everything for herself; she has good credit and can buy all the goods she wants ; there are very few men who conduct their business with more carc and prudence.

SAMUEL UPTON, proprietor of the American Restaurant, No. 583 Main street. Dubuque ; is a native of England, and was born Feb. 15, 1832 ; came to America in 1850, and came to Dubuque in 1852; engaged in making brick and mining; he established his present business in 1862, corner Seventh and Main streets, and was burned out in 1874; since then has been in present location ; the American Restaurant is the oldest in the city ; has served two years as Deputy Marshal ; belongs to I. O. O. For- esters. He married Miss Mary A. Nelson, from Galena, Nov. 11, 1856 ; they have six children-Wallace, William H., Kate, George, Charlie and Fannie.

CHRIS VATH, shaving and hair-cutting parlor, No. 861 Main street, Dubuque ; is a native of Germany, and was born Aug. 14, 1832 ; he grew up and learned his trade there ; he came to the United States in 1849, and came to Iowa in October, 1855, and located in Dubuque and engaged in his present business ; he has carried on the business longer than any barber in Dubuque; he belongs to the I. O. O. F., and to the United Workmen and to the Turner Society. He married Miss Catharine Seilmann, a native of Germany, Aug. 30, 1856 ; they have six children-Gustave, Louise, William, Lena, John and Julia.

JOHN VOEGE, bakery and confectionery, No. 337, Thirteenth street, Dubuque; was born in Germany June 21, 1848; he came to the United States in 1864 ; he came to Iowa in 1869, and located in Jackson Co. and engaged in farming ; continued farm- ing ten years, then sold his farm and came to Dubuque and engaged in the bakery and confectionery business. In 1867, he married Miss Sophia Hagerhorst, from Ohio; they have four children-Tillie, Katie, Willie and Lulu.

ERNST W. VOGEL, of the firm of Vogel & Ferguson, plumbers, steam and gas fitters, and dealers in all kinds of plumbing material, iron pumps, bath tubs and chandeliers, No. 264 Eighth street, Dubuque ; is a native of Dubuque Co., and was born in the city of Dubuque Nov. 4, 1856 ; he grew up, attended school and learned his trade here; in 1879, he engaged in business with his present partner, and they are building up a good trade.

ANTON VOGLER, manufacturer and dealer in boots and shoes, No. 2190 Couler avenue, Dubuque ; was born in Switzerland Oct. 23, 1845; his parents came to America in 1849 ; they came to Dubuque the same year; he grew up and learned his trade here ; he engaged in his present business in 1873, and has continued it since then ; he belongs to the Alphonsus Society and to the German Mutual Society. He married Miss Anna Spahn, from Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, Oct. 30, 1871; they have three sons-Leo, Alouis and Alfred.

A. WAGNER, manufacturer and dealer in all kinds of furniture, Tremont House Block, Eighth street, Dubuque; is a native of Germany, and was born March 30, 1833 ; he emigrated to America in 1848; lived in New York ten years, and came to Iowa and located in Dubuque in July, 1857; he began working at his trade for awhile.and then engaged in the furniture business for himself, and has built up a good trade ; he manufactures and does upholstering ; employs from five to ten men. Mr. Wagner was united in marriage to Miss Louise S. Stumpf, a native of Germany, Oct. 28, 1861; they have six children-Ferdinand, Amelia, Tina, Hugo, L. Hermann and Adolph. Mr. Wagner has one son, Charles, by a former wife. When Mr. Wagner began life he had nothing, and owes his success to his own efforts. His father, Henry Wagner, was born in 1801, and is still living in this city ; his wife died one year ago, after they had lived together fifty-six years.

MARTIN WAGNER, of the firm of Schulte & Wagner, stonecutters and contractors, White street, corner Tenth, Dubuque; is a native of Germany, and was born in Hesse-Darmstadt in 1833; he grew up and learned his trade there, and came to the United States in 1854; he came to Dubuque in September of the same year, and began working at his trade; in 1867, he associated with Mr. Schulte, and since

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then they have carried on the business and have built up a large trade. In 1860, he married Miss Margaret Burkhart, from Byrne, Germany; they have eight children- Mary, Margaret, Henry, Caddie, Lizzie, John, Mena and Christina. Mr. Wagner belongs to the German Benevolent Society.

RICHARD WALLER, capitalist, Bluff street, Dubuque ; is a native of Yorkshire, England, and was born Feb. 26, 1796; he grew up to manhood there and married Miss Mary Harker, from the same place, Dec. 1, 1818; she was born Jan. 4, 1800; they emigrated to America, leaving Liverpool May 4, 1834, and arrived here, in Dubuque, in August; during the same fall, he, with Mr. Bonson and others, built a blast furnace at Little Platte; it was the first blast furnace for smelting mineral erected in this country ; the following year, they built three more, one at the mouth of Fever River, one at Rockdale and one at Mineral Point, and all are now standing, except one. Mr. Waller continued successfully in the smelting business for about thirty years ; he was associated with Mr. J. P. Farley in the mercantile business, and also with Mr. Christman ; he is one of the earliest settlers, and there are few now liv- ing that were here when he came; when Mr. Waller began life, he had nothing, but, by industry and good management, he has acquired a large property ; he and his wife have been prominent members of the Methodist Church for a great many years ; they have had eleven children, only three of whom survive-Robert, living at Rockdale ; Mary Ann, now Mrs. A. W. Kemler, and Sidonia, now Mrs. A. W. Hosford, both of this city.

JOHN R. WALLER, of the firm of Duncan & Waller, loan brokers, real- estate, insurance and collecting agents, 151 Fifth street, Dubuque; is a native of Dubuque Co., and a son of Robert and Maria Waller, who were among the early set- tlers of Dubuque ; he was born March 10, 1845 ; he grew up to manhood and received his education here ; during the war, he enlisted in the 44th I. V. I., Co. A ; after his return from the service, he engaged in smelting and continued for four years ; in Janu- ary, 1871, he associated with Mr. E. W. Duncan and engaged in his present business. Mr. Waller was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Cooper, daughter of A. A. Cooper, Jan. 24, 1877 ; they have one daughter-Mary.

JAMES WALLIS, of the firm of John Bell & Co., wholesale dealers in dry goods and notions, 445 Main strect, Dubuque ; is a native of England, and was born Sept. 25, 1813; he grew up to manhood there and came to America in 1842; he spent one year in Ohio, and, in May, 1843, he came to Iowa and located in Dubuque; he engaged in mining for some years, then went to Mineral Point, Wis., where he had charge of a furnace, and sold exchange for James Carter & Co., bankers, of Galena ; he returned here and took charge of a merchant flouring-mill at Rockdale for some years ; in 1862, he engaged in mercantile business and became a member of the whole- sale dry-goods house of John Bell & Co., and, since then, has been a member of the firm. In February, 1843, Mr. Wallis was united in marriage to Miss Ann Bell, a native of England ; she came to this country in childhood ; they have two children, one daughter-Sarah J., now Mrs. Winall, living in this city, and John W., connected with the wholesale dry-goods house of John Bell & Co. Mr. and Mrs. Wallis have brought up two of their nephews and given them a home. When Mr. Wallis came to this country, he had nothing; he has been successfully engaged in business for one- third of a century, and enjoys an enviable reputation for integrity and fair dealing, and has one of the most pleasant and attractive homes in Dubuque.

C. HI. WALKER, proprietor of Walker's dairy, also member of the firm of Atherton, Walker & Co., millers, Iowa street, between Second and Third, Dubuque ; is a native of Windham Co., Vt., and was born Jan. 3, 1823; he grew up to manhood there, and came West to Iowa in the spring of 1856, settled in Dubuque County, and engaged in the wood business ; in 1859, he engaged in the dairy business, and has carried on the business since then over twenty-one years ; his dairy farm is located just outside of the city limits ; he milks from fifty to one hundred cows, and has a large trade : Mr. Walker is also engaged in the milling business, being a member of the firm of Atherton Walker & Co. In December, 1853, he was united in marriage to Miss

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Sarah T. Martin, a native of Brattleboro, Windham Co., Vt .; they have four children- Cyrel M., Elizabeth T., James B. and Marshall L.

F. T. WALKER, attorney at law, of the firm of Walker & Rhomberg, law, loan, real estate and collecting, corner Fifth and Main streets, Dubuque; is a native of Ontario, Canada, and was born in the town of Lindsay Aug. 1, 1841 ; he grew up and received a thorough classical and collegiate cducation in Montreal and Quebec, remain- ing in college for nine years ; he came to Iowa, and located in Dubuque April 15, 1864; he entered the law office of Griffith & Knight, and commenced reading law ; he com- pleted his law studies and was admitted to the bar in 1867, and has practiced his pro- fession here; in August, 1875, he associated with Mr. Rhomberg, and engaged in the law, loan, real-estate and collecting business, operating mostly in Northern Iowa and Southern Minnesota, and within the past five years they have loaned over $1,000,000- a fact which speaks very highly for their integrity and fair dealing ; they own the only complete set of abstract books in Dubuque County. Mr. Walker was united in mar- riage July 1, 1867, to Miss Miss Nellie J. Leydon, of this city ; they have four daughters.

M. M. WALKER, commission merchant, dealer in oils and fruits, 242 tó 248 Main street, Dubuque; is a native of Dummerston, Windham Co., Vt., and was born in 1836; when 18 years of age, he went to Boston, and remained there until 1856, when he came West to Iowa and located at Dubuque; he engaged in the grain trade on the river, and transportation business ; in 1860, he established his present business, and has built up an extensive trade ; he is a heavy dealer in oil, and gives special attention to this branch of the business, and deals largely in fruit during the season ; he is also connected with the Key City Barrel Company ; Mr. Walker was united in marriage to Miss Cornelia Fairbanks, of Worcester, Mass.

N. J. WALSH, State Manager of the American Sewing Machine, 69 Eighth street, Dubuque; is a native of New Jersey, and was born in Norristown May 14, 1857 ; his parents came to Iowa and located in Dubuque in 1860, and he grew up and attended school here ; in 1877, he was appointed Manager for this State of the Ameri- can Sewing Machine, and since then he has held that position ; he has built up a good trade. .

MARSHALL H. WAPLES, physician and surgeon, Main street, Dubuque ; is a son of the late Peter Waples, M. D .; his parents were among the early settlers here; he was born in the city of Dubuque July 3, 1841 ; his early boyhood days were spent here until 12 years of age, when he went to Philadelphia and com- pleted his education there; he afterward studied medicine and graduated at Jefferson College, Philadelphia, in 1865 ; after graduating, he was appointed one of the physi- cians in Blockley Hospital, and remained there over a year, and was appointed Contract Surgeon in one of the army hospitals ; he returned to Dubuque in 1868, and engaged in the practice of medicine, and since then has practiced his profession here. He held the office of County Physician, and has served as a member of the Board of Health, and for ten years he has been Commissioner of Insanity for Dubuque Co .; he has held the office of President of the Dubuque County Medical Society, and is a member of the State Medical Society. He was united in marriage Dec. 10, 1875, to Miss Louise Stewart, daughter of W. G. Stewart, President of the Dubuque County Bank, and one of the oldest settlers of the county; they have two children-Laura and Marcia. Peter Waples, the father of Dr. Waples, was a native of the State of Delaware, and was born Aug. 18, 1814 ; when 14 years of age, he went to Philadelphia and entered a store as clerk, and afterward became a successful merchant there ; in 1838, he came to Iowa and located at Dubuque ; in 1839, he engaged in business on his own account on the corner where the Julien House now stands; he built the Julien House, which was then called the Waples House-at that time the boast of the city and the largest house in the Northwest; he continued in business here until 1851, when he returned to Philadelphia and opened an extensive clothing store, and continued for ten years, until the brcaking-out of the war. Mr. Waples married Miss Elizabeth Burton, a native of Delaware, and his death occurred in November, 1870; his wife survived him only one

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month ; her death occurred in December, 1870; they left three children-Mrs. R. A. Babbage, Mrs. C. J. Rogers and Dr. Marshall Waples.

NICHOLAS WEBER, dealer in wines and liquors, 351 Main street, Dubuque ; was born in Luxemburg, Germany, March 10, 1840; he came to America in 1855 ; came to Iowa the same year, and in 1861 came to Dubuque, and since then has been engaged in business here. In April, 1866, he married Miss Mary Henry, from Baden, Germany ; they have four children-Annie, Lena, Joseph, Martin ; they . have lost one daughter-Mary H.

FRED WEIGEL, residence 1192 Locust street ; is a native of Ger- many, and was born Oct. 28, 1819; his parents emigrated to America and came to Dubuque in June, 1833, and were among the earliest settlers ; he grew up to manhood on a farm ; then engaged in business ; he carried on butchering and packing business successfully for many years. He had nothing when he began life, but by industry and good management became one of Dubuque's successful business men. He has held · the office of City Alderman. In 1850, he was united in marriage to Miss Susanna Hatton, from Indiana ; they have five children-Jessie, Ella, Anna, Lucy and Fred P.

CHRIS WEINZIERL, dealer in wines and liquors, No. 7 Levee, Dubuque ; was born in Bavaria, Germany, January 16, 1841 ; parents came to Dubuque in 1845, and he grew up and has lived here thirty-five years; he was in the army; enlisted in Co. G, 15th I. V. I., and was in the service over, three years ; was in battles of Pea Ridge, Chickamauga, Stone River and Mission Ridge ; he has been engaged in business here since 1868. In 1868. he married Miss Kate Krapf, a native of Baltimore; they have two children-Freddie and Flora.

W. E. WELLINGTON, capitalist ; residence corner Madison and Semin- ary streets ; is a native of Massachusetts, and was born at Arlington, now West Cam- bridge, Middlesex Co., July 8, 1834 ; after reaching manhood he came West to Iowa and arrived in Dubuque March 29, 1855, with only 15 cents in his pocket ; he began driving a dray ; in 1856, he began steamboating, ran a boat for Mr. West and was with him as agent until 1861, when he was appointed agent of the Northern Line and the Minnesota Packet Co .; in the spring of 1863, he bought the steamer Pearl, and during the season he and four others became joint owners of the boat, he having the entire management ; in November, 1863, he, with three other persons, formed and organ- ized the North-Western Packet Co .; they bought the stock of the Minnesota Packet Co., and Mr. Wellington was appointed Superintendent and General Manager of the line, and ran it until 1866, when they consolidated with the La Crosse & Minnesota Packet Co., and he was appointed Superintendent of the line; he had the management of it until 1872, when he resigned; from 1863 until 1870 he acted as agent here for different lines, all the boats on the river, and during a portion of the time there was fierce opposition among the rival lines; the difficult complications caused by this oppo- sition and conflicting interests, he managed with consummate skill and ability to the entire satisfaction of each line; during the war, the Government transportation under his charge amounted to nearly $2,000,000, and he never had but one voucher returned for correc- tion ; the amount was for $4, and he had omitted his signature to the voucher ; Mr. Wellington built the first bulk barges for carrying grain on the river to New Orleans ; he signed the first through shipping bill of lading for cargo to Liverpool via New Orleans; in 1873, he was appointed by the Board of Directors to settle the affairs of the Merchant's National Bank, and he afterward bought the assets; Mr. Wellington lias invested largely in land, and is now a full-fledged granger, and is carrying on seven- teen farms in this State. Mr. Wellington was united in marriage to Miss Addie Jack- son, a native of Wooster, Ohio, Jan. 1, 1866; they have one son-Harry S., born May 30,1867.

JAMES E. WELSH, Principal of the First Ward School, Dubuque; is a native of New York State, and was born in the city of Rochester; when very young his parents came West to Iowa, and located at Dubuque ; he grew up and attended school and graduated at the high school; he engaged in teaching, and was first assistant

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at the high school; in 1878 he was elected Principal of the First Ward School, and since then has occupied that position.

S. S. WEMOTT, of the firm of Wemott, Howard & Co., importers and job- bers of crockery, glassware, china and cutlery, and wholesale dealers in wooden and willow ware, 656 to 664 Main street, Dubuque ; is a native of Lewis Co., N. Y., and was born Jan. 5, 1830 ; he grew up and received his education in that State ; in 1855, he came West to Iowa; remained in Davenport one year, and, in 1856, located in Dubuque, and engaged in business here; he established the present business in 1867, and has built up a large and extensive trade, extending through Iowa and into Minne- sota, Nebraska, Dakota, Wisconsin and Northern Illinois. They occupy nine floors, 22x114 feet; they carry the largest stock, and do the largest business in their line of any house in the State. Mr. Wemott is President of the Dubuque Library Associa- tion. He was united in marriage to Miss Elvira A. Woodworth, a daughter of W. W. Woodworth, Feb. 5, 1862; they have four children-three daughters and one son.

J. M. WERNER, Deputy Clerk of the Courts of Dubuque Co .; is a native of Germany, and was born in Baden Dec. 16, 1832; his parents came to the United States when he was very young ; they came to Ohio, where he grew up and attended school ; in 1847, he went to Wisconsin, and lived there until 1863, when he came to Dubuque, and engaged in teaching. In June, 1871, he was appointed Deputy Clerk of the Courts, and has held that office for the past ten years. He is a member of the Pius Benevolent Society, and Financial Secretary of the Church Building Association. In 1859, he was united in marriage to Miss Clara H. Schneider, a native of Wisconsin. Mr. Werner's parents are both living here with him ; his mother is 77 years of age ; his father is 87 years old. He was a soldier under Napoleon, and was at the burning of Moscow, and in the battles of Leipsic and Waterloo; he also served in the Mexican war, and was commissioned Lieutenant Colonel of the 4th Ohio V. I., during the rebellion. He was anxious to enlist and go in the service.

MRS. THERESA WERTIN, proprietor of the American House, corner of Clay and Fourth streets, Dubuque; is a native of France ; her maiden name was Theresa Kormann ; her parents came to America in 1852. In 1854, she married Christ Isaminn, a native of Germany ; he died in 1859, leaving two daughters, Theresa and Katie ; Mrs. Isaminn came to Dubuque in 1860, and the following year, 1861, she mar- ried Peter Wertin ; he came to Dubuque in 1858, and engaged in the hotel business on the same corner now occupied by the American House; he was also engaged in the ice business for seven years ; he died in 1878, leaving four children-Annie, Peter, Joseph and George.

WILLIAM WESTPHAL (deceased) was a native of the Kingdom of Westphalia ; he came to Dubuque in 1855, and engaged in the hardware trade, and established the business of the present firm of Westphal, Hinds & Co .; in 1857, the firm became Westphal & Hinds ; Mr. Westphal was successfully engaged in business until his death, which occurred March 23, 1869 ; he left four children. Mrs. Westphal is still interested in the firm of Westphal, Hinds & Co.

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The history of Dubuque County, Iowa : containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc., Part 113

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

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