The history of Dubuque County, Iowa : containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc., Part 117

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 117

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CHARLES H. HUNTINGTON, manufacturer, Cascade; was born Oct. 7, 1835, in Geauga Co., Ohio ; left home when but 14, and at age of 15 began blacksmithing, and, with slight interruptions, has continued that business to the present date; in spring of 1855, came West, and in that fall settled in Monticello, and went into general blacksmithing; afterward came to Cascade, and since 1856 has been identi- fied with the business interest of the place; has sometimes employed twenty men in his shop, manufacturing wagons and plows, and repairing reapers and also horseshoeing ; he was for eighteen years associated with D. A. Dickinson in same business, whom he bought out, and now has no partner in carrying on his large manufactory, which is excelled in magnitude by but one, namely, the brewery ; he owns the large shop which he occupies, also has a comfortable residence in East Cascade. He was married, May 9, 1858, to Miss Mary Delay, formerly of Lawrence Co., N. Y .; they have five chil- dren, all born in Iowa, and all living at home-William H., Charles H., Mary M., Clara J. and Rachel A. Belle. Himself and wife are Baptists; he is a Republican ; is active member of Ancient Order of United Workman.

A. J. KEARNEY, farmer, Sec. 15; P. O. Cascade ; born Jefferson Co. Va., Oct. 18, 1831 ; removed to Dubuque Co., Iowa, in August, 1855 ; was engaged in teaching for a number of years in Virginia and in Iowa; finally, however, left the profession, and has since devoted his attention to farming; has a beautifully located and well man- aged farm of 160 acres in Sec. 15, with 20 acres of timber land in Sec. 8. He is one of the leading members of the Reformed Church in his vicinity. His political prefer- ences are with the Democratic party ; he takes a warm interest in educational matters, and has held various responsible school and township offices. Mr. Kearney was mar- ried, May 13, 1856, to Miss Elizabeth A. Long, an estimable lady, of Frederick Co., Va .; seven children-Sarah E., Annie M., William S., Edward M., Adrian F., Charles A. and Eleanor B., complete the family circle of this interesting and pleasant house- hold.

JOSEPH M. KING, attorney and counselor at law, Cascade, Iowa; born, 1828, in Indiana; studied law in Brookville, Ind., and was admitted to practice in

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1850 ; continued practice of his profession in Shelbyville, Ind., till 1855, when he came to Cascade and went to farming on account of poor health ; after recovering his health, he resumed his profession, which he has continued to the present date; he is the only lawyer in Cascade, and is also member of firm of King & Deitz, Anamosa. In 1850, he married Charlotte J. Bolton, by whom he had three children, all now living- Josephene A., William M. and Rollin E .; his wife died in 1877 ; he has real estate in Jones Co., and also a large tract of unimproved land in Pottawattamie Co .; was elected member of General Assembly of Indiana for session of 1854-55; elected as a Doug- las Democrat and was the youngest member of the House; was supporter of the Gov- ernment during the civil war; is still a Democrat ; is member of Ancient Order of United Workmen ; is a Mason and also a Methodist; his present wife was Mrs. Emma Thackara, daughter of Rev. Bishop Isbell, of Anamosa; Esquire King takes an active interest in politics, but appears to be outside of all rings ; he is esteemed as an hon- orable lawyer and a useful citizen.

ISAAC KISSINGER, teacher, Sec. 4; P. O. Worthington; born in Northumberland Co., Penn., Jan. 8, 1832; came to Dubuque Co. in 1852; after a short time returned to Pennsylvania, and completed his education in the University of Lewisburg during the years 1853-54-55, since which time he has been a resident of Iowa; has been principally engaged in teaching music and teaching in public schools ; has a good home, with five acres of ground attached ; has given some time to other vocations than teaching. Has been Assessor of his township eight years, and is well identified with the best interests of his community. He was married, in 1866, to Miss Adelia Nicholson, a native of New York, whose parents had removed here during her 5th year of age ; her father, John Nicholson, now lives in Earlville, Delaware Co., Iowa; her mother, Maria Nicholson, died in 1876; Mr. and Mrs. Kissinger have three children living-Mary Caroline, William Franklin and John Nicholson ; their daughter Jennie Maria died when less than 2 years old.

JOHN KURT, farmer, Sec. 23; P. O. Cascade; born in Luxemburg, Ger- many, May 8, 1842 ; came to Dubuque Co. with his parents, Michael and Mary Kurt, when he was about 6 years of age; has a farm of 280 acres in Sec. 23, well located and well managed, and, with his new, large, well-planned and substantially built house , is prepared to enjoy life, while doing a handsome business. Religion, Catholic; politics, Democrat. He was married, in 1870, to Miss Mary Till, who, at the age of 4 or 5, migrated here with her parents, Peter and Elizabeth Till, from Luxemburg, Germany ; they have five children-Peter, John, Frank, Annie and William.

PETER KURT, farmer, Scc. 14; P. O. Cascade ; born in Luxemburg, Germany, April 27, 1817; emigrated to America in 1847, and settled in Dubuque Co. the same year ; has been constantly engaged in farming, and, with industry, thrift and care, has acquired possession of a fine farm, embracing 250 acres of land, located in Secs. 14, 20, 22 and 28. His politics are Democratic. He was married, in 1848, to Miss Ann Leytem, also a native of Luxemburg; they have seven children living- Nicholas, Mary, Annie, Michael, Margaret, Catharine and Elizabeth ; six children have died-Mary, Susan, John, Peter, and two who died in infancy.

PETER KREMER, farmer, Sec. 15 ; P. O. Cascade ; born in Luxemburg, Germany, in March, 1838; emigrated to America in 1855, when 17 years old ; spent his first winter in the city of Chicago, the following summer in Dubuque; he then removed to Jones Co., where he remained about ten years, and then returned and set- tled in Dubuque Co., where he has since resided ; has 180 acres in Secs. 15 and 21. Religion, Catholic ; politics, Democrat. He was married, May 27, 1868, to Elizabeth Soison, also a native of Luxemburg ; four children are living-John, Nicholas, Henry and Katie ; five have died-Henry, Willie, Susan, Harry and John P.

PETER LEHNHOFF, farmer, Scc. 4; P. O. Worthington ; born in Ger- many Dec. 12, 1832 ; came to Dubuque Co. in November, 1853 ; for a time followed the occupation of brickmason, and later that of shoemaking in Dubuque and in Cas- cade ; has been farming at his present place for the past ten years ; has 160 acres of land in Sec. 4, Cascade Township, and Secs. 33 and 34, Dodge Township, and 54 acres

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of timber land in Secs. 6 and 18, Cascade Township. Religion, Catholic ; politics, Democratic. He was married, in 1860, to Miss Mary Kramer, also a native of Ger- many ; they have ten children living-Nicholas, Peter, Susan, Katie, Mary, Annie M., Jacob, Margaret O., Lena and Mary Elizabeth ; two children died in infancy.

T. COKE McGEE, M. D., Cascade ; was born in Baltimore Co., Md., on the 15th of October, 1830 ; his father was for forty years a member of the Baltimore Conference of the M. E. Church, and the Doctor affiliates with that denomination, although not a member; he was at home till 18 years of age, then studied medicine and taught school four years. On the 4th of November, 1852, he was married to Miss Mary E. Long, of Frederick Co., Va., by whom he has had four children- Frances T., Edwin M., Mary E. and Augusta V. He took a course of private lectures in medical science, by Prof. Dunbar, in 1853 at Baltimore, and in 1855 continued his study of medicine in Maryland University ; his second course of lectures were taken at Rush Medical College, in Chicago, where he graduated in 1856; then practiced medicine three years in Dubuque Co., and, in January, 1859, returned to Maryland ; in the spring of 1861, he located in Savannah for practice of his profession. During a visit to Richmond, he was appointed Surgeon of the 1st Md. V. I., which was organ- ized at that city ; he was soon permanently crippled by an accident, and retired from the service within a year from date of enrollment. He lived in Baltimore from 1862 to 1873; then spent two years in Dallas, Tex., and in 1875 came to Dubuque Co., and to Cascade, where he now has a large practice; he has a pleasant and hospitable home in East Cascade, not far from the railroad depot of the Narrow Gauge Railroad ; he is a member of the Ancient Order of, United Workmen, and is a Democrat; his portly form and genial countenance enable a stranger to easily identify the Doctor ; he is a courteous gentleman and a successful physician.

ROBERT J. McVAY, merchant, Cascade; born Sept. 24, 1836, in Law- rence Co., Penn .; came to Maquoketa in 1854, and taught winter school in Shade Bur- leson's district, and the next winter taught in the Presbyterian Church in Scotch Grove. After some mercantile experience, he came to Cascade in 1859, and clerked for G. G. Baughart, whose daughter, Carrie A., he married March 5, 1861; they have two children-Ada L. and Burd W .; from 1861 to 1864, was a dealer in live stock, and did a general brokerage business ; he was nearly two years in the oil regions of Pennsyl- vania, and was interested in several wells, one of which was the most expensive sunk at that date ; it proved a "dry well ;" after his oil experience, he was in the employ of W. B. Lovejoy & Co., wholesale clothiers, Chicago; then, until 1872, was in partnership with W. J. Baughart in a general store, and then, until 1876, engaged in general speculation in real estate and commercial paper; from 1876 to the spring of 1879, he was in the grain trade at Grundy Center, Iowa; in September, 1879, he resumed the dry-goods and notions business, at Cascade : he sells for cash exclusively. His daughter, Ada L., is a graduate of Prof. Jones' Musical Conservatory at Dubuque. Mr. McVay is a Republican and a Mason, but not a church member ; was Deputy Sheriff awhile under C. J. Cummings, but soon resigned in disgust with official duties ; he is ener- getic, wiry, and speculative.

GILBERT MACOMBER, farmer, Sec. 26; P. O. Cascade; born in Sus- quehanna Co., Penn., June 16, 1832; came to Dubuque Co. about 1840; a year later, he went to Illinois, but after a two years' residence there, returned to Dubuque Co., where he has since remained; his farm comprises 150 acres in Secs. 23 and 26. In politics, he is a Democrat ; has been Township Clerk for several years. His first wife was Margaret Boyer; she was also a native of Pennsylvania; they were married in 1861, and she died in 1870; he was married again, in 1872, to Mary McBride, whose native place is Ireland ; they have seven children-Charles Henry, Mary Caroline, George B., Elsie, Jessie, Mabel and Arthur. His father, Egbert Macomber, was born in Dutchess Co., N. Y., Nov. 15, 1805; lived for many years in Pennsylvania, and, later, in Illinois before coming here ; he still resides in Iowa with his children, and is a clear-headed, hale old man ; his wife, Charlotte Macomber, died here about 1859, nearly 45 years of age : these parents have seven children living ; four reside in Dubuque Co.

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-Rufus, Gilbert, Mrs. Martha Swope and Mrs. Ella Somers ; two are in Delaware Co. -Alonzo, and Mrs. Mary Ann Nicholson ; one-Mrs. Lydia Coggeshall-lives near Oxford Junction ; the Macomber family, having for about forty years been identified with the interests of this locality, have had much to do with its settlement and progress, and have been pioneers of the right stamp, worthy to be held in ever-grateful remem- brance.

MRS. JANE MARTIN, proprietress Union House, Cascade, Iowa; born in Ireland ; is widow of Andrew J. Martin, formerly of Ireland, who died in Cascade in June, 1877 ; Mrs. Martin and her sons, John and Thomas, have continued the manage- ment of the hotel since Mr. Martin's death. He was a Republican, and was Captain of the Home Guards during the rebellion ; he had one brother in the regular army, and both had military drill while in Ireland ; the Union House was and is strictly a temper- ance house; the managers are kind, the beds are clean, and the table substantial ; it is- conceded to be the best hotel in Cascade ; new railroad facilities demand enlarged hotel accommodations, but, doubtless, the Union House will continue to receive its share of patronage.

F. G. MEYER, proprietor Spring Valley Mills, Sec. 26; P. O. Cascade; born in Prussia, Germany, Aug. 17, 1833 ; came to America in 1854, settling in Jo Daviess Co., Ill., where he remained for thirteen years ; while there, he carried on, at different times and with unqualified success, the occupations of miller, merchant and lumber- dealer; in 1867, he removed to Dubuque Co., and has carried on milling since, at his present location, with like success ; the fact that he is, financially, one of the most solid men of his locality, is due solely to his persistent and unconquerable business energy ; he came to America with his fortune all yet to be made, and has acquired a handsome- competence by the good use of his fine business abilities. In politics, he is a Democrat, varying this, however, to vote for " the best men," regardless of party. He was mar- ried, in 1858, to Miss Babbett Musselman, a native of Bavaria; they have five chil- dren-Augustus, Frank G., Christian, Edward and Joseph.

JOHN REDDIN, merchant, Cascade; is a native of Ohio ; his parents are Michael Reddin and Mary Joice, who now live in Butler Township, Jackson Co., Iowa, where they located on their removal from Ohio when the subject of this sketch was a small child ; he remained home on the farm till 31 years of age, when he started a dry- goods, grocery and general merchandise store in Cascade, and is now counted one of the leading merchants of that city : he does not sell liquor. He was married on the 21st of November, 1877, to Miss Mary Healy, formerly of Dubuque ; she was a successful and popular teacher of music in this vicinity. Himself and wife are members of St. Martin's Catholic Church. They have a son named Anthony Morris, born July 27,. 1878. He is a reliable Democrat, but does not give time to local politics, neither does he accept office, preferring to devote his entire energies to conducting his own business. He owns the block wherein is his store and dwelling; he is pecuniarily interested in the success of the new railroad to Cascade ; he is an unassuming, law-abiding citizen, and quietly looks after his own business, which is in a thriving condition.

J. B. SAUSER, farmer, Sec. 27; P. O. Cascade; born in Luxemburg, Ger- many, Aug. 16, 1826; came to America in 1848; for two years, he was employed as brick-manufacturer in Detroit, Mich .; removed to Dubuque Co., Iowa, in 1850, since which time he has been engaged in farming, stock-raising, stock-dealing, etc .; he has. acquired extended possessions, having 1,150 acres of land in Secs. 20, 22, 27, 28 and 29, with a probable average value of $30 per acre ; his magnificent barn is 43x133 feet in size, erected somc eight years ago, of native limestone, is one of the noted landmarks of this region, cost about $5,000, and destined to last, for ages ; his residence, built of brick, at a cost of about $3,000, is well adapted for the comfort and convenience of the household. His religion is Catholic ; politics, Democratic. He was married, in 1850, to Mrs. Mary Kurt, a native of Luxemburg ; they have five children-Catherine, now Mrs. Pettinger, of Cass Co., Iowa ; Annie, Peter; Susan, now Mrs. Bisenius, of Dubuque Co., and Michael.

JOHN D. SHAFFER, miller, Spring Valley Mills, Scc. 26; P. O. Cas- cade ; born in Jackson Co., Iowa, March 6, 1854; came to Dubuque Co. in the spring.

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of 1865. Was married, in 1878; to Miss Maggie Thyson, daughter of John and Susan Thyson, of Cascade ; they were natives of Luxemburg, Germany, and settled in Cascade at a very early day ; one child, a daughter, named Mary. Mr. S. is a Catholic in religion ; Democratic in politics. He is thoroughly skilled in his business, having been employed in milling since he was 11 years of age ; his father and grandfather were both millers, also, so that the vocation may almost be claimed to come to him by inheritance. His father, John Shaffer, a native of the city of Luxemburg, was one of the oldest and best-known millers of Dubuque Co .; he was running the Dubuque City Mills thirty years ago ; he afterward operated the Teddy Moore Mills, the Burton Mills, the Belle- vue Mills, the Rockdale Mills, Thompson Mills, Dyerville Mills and Prairie Spring Mills, being assisted in the last four places by the subject of this sketch, who, from this · extended training, acquired an exceedingly accurate, practical knowledge of the busi- ness ; the father died of heart-disease in 1869, and was buried by the I. O. O. F. of Dubuque, an Order of which he had for many years been an honored member.

NICHOLAS SHAFFER, liveryman, Cascade; son of John N. Shaffer and Mary Barbara Cline; was born Dec. 25, 1825, in Lorraine, France ; came to Indiana with his parents in 1831, and up to his 24th year was at home on the farm. Was married in Indiana, Dec. 18, 1849, to Miss Mary Sims, by whom he has had six children ; the following are still living: Mary R., John, Henry and William ; the other two died in infancy. After marriage, he worked two years on the Wabash & Erie Canal, then five years as a cooper, then, in 1856, came to Cascade; was two years partner of Frank May in starting a brewery; then resumed occupation of cooper; in 1871, bought livery stable and stock of Lemuel Fairchild, and now has the main livery establishment in Cascade. At Dubuque, in November, 1863, was married to his second wife, Mrs. Margaret Grogan, of La Fayette, Ind .; by this union he has had three chil- dren, all now living-Josephine, Ellen and Margaret. Himself and wife are members of the St. Martin's Church; is a Democrat. Has been President of the School Board, also served four years as Justice of the Peace in the township of Whitewater.

J. P. SKAHILL, proprietor of the only strictly grocery store in Cascade ; was born in Dubuque June 1, 1850; left Dubuque with his parents when he was less than 3 years old ; lived at home till 22 years of age. Married in Cascade, June 12, 1871, to Miss Ann Kenny ; they have had four children, three of whom still live- Mary, Jane, Martha (died in infancy), Callista. He was three years in the cabinet business with N. Takes ; then he clerked for John Reddin till the fall of 1877, when he started a grocery store in Cascade; his is the only grocery which does not include liquors ; he is, by common report, a moral, law-abiding citizen. Is a Democrat ; both are Catholics.

ROBERT SNOWDEN, farmer, Sec. 2, Richland Township, Jones Co .; P. O. Cascade, Iowa; was born May 9, 1809; his parents were William Snowden and Elizabeth Allison, of County Monaghan, Ireland; he came to America in 1829, and settled in Philadelphia, where he remained till 1836. On the 4th of June, 1833, he married Miss Mary Boyd, a native of Ireland; they have no children. He came to Dubuque in 1836, and was engaged two years as a miner and smelter; then, in 1837, took up a claim in Richland Township, Jones Co., where he removed with his family in the fall of 1838; he sold this farm in 1849, and bought in Whitewater Township, Dubuque Co., where he lived eleven years ; in 1860, he rented his farm, and for ten years lived in Cascade ; in 1870, he repurchased eighty acres of his original farm' in Richland Township, where he now resides; he was born a farmer and has no desire for any other occupation ; he claims to have been the second settler in Richland Township. He and his wife joined the Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia in 1833, the year of his marriage. His great-grandfather was a soldier under Oliver Cromwell. Mr. Snowden, in his early days, was a Whig, and has been a Republican from the organiza- tion of the party. Mr. S. is a prompt and liberal contributor to every cause of moral and commercial progress ; he was made a Master Mason in 1859, and is the oldest member of the Lodge at Cascade, in whose prosperity he is much interested, and he desires to be buried by the fraternity; he is growing old, but, being secure against

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want, he takes life easy, being pleasantly situated and having kind neighbors and many friends.

PETER SUMMERS, Cascade ; son of Levi Summers and Lydia Elmore ; was born January 19, 1807, in Green County, Ky .; his father was a farmer and the subject of this sketch worked at home until after attaining his majority; in his 17th year he, with his parents, removed to Sangamon Co., Ill., where they died ; he came to Whitewater Township, Dubuque Co., Iowa, in the spring of 1839. He was married in Springfield, Ill., on Sept. 27, 1828, to Miss Polly B. Pantier, daughter of James Pantier, originally from Kentucky; her father was born in one of the then frontier forts in Kentucky, and she remembers hearing him tell that when a mere lad he ate some wheaten cakes or bread, which he was afterward informed was made from the first wheat ever raised in Kentucky ; it was ground by hand, or rather crushed with stones in the crudest manner, and was sifted in his mother's homespun nightcap ; that was at the time when Daniel Boone and his trusty rifle were becoming famous in the wilds of Kentucky. Mr. and Mrs. Summers have been blessed with nine children, all of whom are now living-Elizabeth, who married David Poole; Harriet, married to Amster Cook, a soldier ; Arathusa, married to Marcus Price ; Susanah, married to John Peters ; Mary, married to James Carl; Eady, married to Anderson Lewis; Eliza, married to Jefferson Goodin ; James, supposed to be in Oregon ; David A., married to Ellen Macomber, and is a farmer in Cascade Township. They have upward of forty grand- children, and four great-grandchildren. He had 220 acres in his original farm which he carried on until all his children were of age, when he sold out and moved to East Cascade, where he now resides. He still owns a small farm near Cascade, which he usually rents ; he also owns a brick business block on the main street. In January, 1852, he went to California, where he mined until 1855, when he returned, having bettered his condition. He has never desired or accepted political office, although an earnest Republican ever since the party was organized. He has attended closely to his own business, keeping debts paid, taking few risks, but faithfully meeting all the obli- gations of a good citizen. He has been an active member of the Methodist Church more than forty years. He and his worthy wife are passing to the sunset of life sur- rounded by friends and blessed with a competency.

WASHINGTON ZARR, farmer, Sec. 5; P. O. Worthington ; born in Lycoming Co., Penn., Oct. 8, 1826; removed to Dubuque Co., Iowa, in the fall of 1854; was first engaged in brickmaking and other enterprises ; has been farming since 1857 ; has 140 acres located in Secs. 5 and 8; his fine house and splendid surrounding grounds, decorated in such tasteful profusion with luxuriant evergreen trees, constitute one of the most beautiful homc-locations in Dubuque Co .; Mr. Zarr is an active helper in good enterprises. Was First Elder of Zion Reformed Church; his politics are Democratic. He was married in 1850 to Miss McRina Tolburt, a native of Lycoming Co., Penn .; they have five children-Ellis, Walter, Wilson, Charity and Mary Alice ; one child died in infancy.

WHITE WATER TOWNSHIP.

P. L. DEVANEY, farmer, Sec. 17; P. O. Cascade; was born in Dubuque Co. in 1840; his parents, Lawrence and Bridget, emigrated from Ireland to the Valley of the Red River of the North, and from there, with a Scotch colony, to this locality in an early day; his father died in 1846; his mother makes her home with her son, the subject of this sketch. Mr. Devaney has an honorable record as a soldier, having served three years during the civil war as a non-commissioned officer in Co. I, 21st I. V. I .; was engaged in the battles of Hartsville, Mo., Magnolia Hills, Black River Bridge, Champion Hills, Spanish Fort and Blakely, Ala .; siege of Jackson, siege of Vicksburg, etc .; was honorably mustered out with his command at the close of the war. He has a farm of 160 acres in Secs. 14 and 17. Religion, Catholic ; politics, Democratic. He

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was married in 1871 to Miss Ellen Kennedy, a native of Charleston, S. C .; she died April 1, 1877 ; there are three children-James H., Mary A. and Loretta.

CORNELIUS FITZPATRICK, farmer, Sec. 6; P. O. Farley ; born in Auglaize Co., Ohio, March 29, 1848 ; came to Dubuque with his parents, Edward and Clarissa Fitzpatrick, in 1860. His father died in 1876, aged 79 ; his mother lives in Farley. Mr. Fitzpatrick has constantly pursued the vocation of farming, except three years employed in Farley as dealer in farm machinery, grain, stock, etc. Religion, Catholic ; politics, Democrat. He was married Oct. 25, 1876, to Miss Mary A. Tur- ner, the daughter of James and Susan G. Turner, of Iowa Township; they have one child living, George Alfred ; a daughter, Louisa, died in infancy.

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The history of Dubuque County, Iowa : containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc., Part 117

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

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