The history of Dubuque County, Iowa : containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc., Part 94

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 94

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C. H. BERG, of the firm of Palmer, Winall & Co., blank-book manufacturers, printers and book-binders, corner Sixth and Iowa streets, Dubuque; is a native of Pittsburgh, Penn., and was born March 15, 1841 ; his parents removed to Cincinnati when he was 9 years of age, and, four years later, they came to Galena, Ill., where he grew up and entered the office of the Galena Gazette and learned the printing busi- ness, and was foreman in that office when he enlisted, in 1862, in the 96th Ill. V. I., and was Orderly Sergeant of Co. A .; he was in every battle of the regiment-some fif- teen in all; he was wounded at the battle of Kenesaw Mountain, and also at battle of Resaca ; he was in the service three years ; after the war he was foreman of the Dubuque Times office for two years, and then became a member of the present firm of Palmer, Winall & Co .; he is Receiver of Dubuque Lodge, No. 9, A. O. U. W., and is Treas- urer of Harmony Lodge No. 2, I. O. O. F., and belongs to the Iowa Legion of Honor; is a member of the Veteran Reserve Corps. Mr. Berg was united in marriage to Miss Ella C. Helm, a native of Polo, Ogle Co., Ill., Feb. 12, 1869 ; they have two children-Charles E. and Harry H., and have lost one daughter-Estelle.

LEONARD BERG, 731 Clay street, Dubuque ; is a native of Germany, and was born in Hesse-Darmstadt, in 1825; when he was 11 years of age, he came to this country, and lived in Pittsburgh ; he came to Iowa and settled in Dubuque, in spring of 1842, and began working in a bakery ; in 1850, he went to California and remained about eighteen months ; after his return, he engaged in the bakery business for himself and continued for some years. In 1853, he married Miss Margaret Rein- fred, a native of Pittsburgh, Penn ; they have had seven children ; only four survive- Mary, Frank, George and Herman ; Mr. Berg built the building they now occupy over twenty-five years ago, and they have lived in it ever since then.

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MATTHIAS BEWER, dealer in dry goods and notions, corner Iowa and Twelfth streets, Dubuque; is a native of Germany, and was born in Prussia June 18, 1823; he emigrated to America in 1848, and came the same year to Dubuque; arrived here June 18; he began working at the trade of stone-mason, and continued until 1857; he entered the dry-goods house of John Bell & Co. in 1859, and was with that firm fourteen years ; then engaged in his present business, which he has carried on since then ; he had nothing when he came, and owes his success to his own efforts; he belongs to the Pius Society and was one of its founders ; he also belongs to the Mutual Life Insurance Company, and has been Treasurer of it since it started-for fourteen years. He married Margaretta Eeffes, from Luxemburg, Germany ; they have five children-Mary, Paul, John, Katie and Peter.

J. E. BILBROUGH, artistic photographer, corner Main and Eighth streets, Dubuque; is a native of England, and was born only a few miles from the city of London Feb. 18, 1839; he grew up and received his education there, giving much attention to the study of fine arts ; in 1862, he came to America, and two years later, in 1864, he came to Iowa and located in Dubuque, and established his present busi- ness, which he has successfully conducted since then ; he has established an enviable reputation as an artist, as the superior character of his work testifies ; he has recently purchased for his gallery, for taking cabinet and life-size portraits, two instruments made by J. H. Dalmeyer, of London-the finest and best made in the world-which will give him superior facilities in maintaining the leading position he has taken in the profession.

CHARLES W. BITTMAN, of the firm of Bittman & Schroeder, dealers in groceries and provisions ; is a native of Germany, and was born in Rhine Folz, on the Rhine, Bavaria, Jan. 8, 1822; he came to the United States when 15 years of age, and lived in Cincinnati, St. Louis, New Orleans and California ; he came to Dubuque in 1854 and established his present business, and has carried it on successfully for a quarter of a century, and is one of the oldest merchants in the city ; he is Vice Presi- dent of the Board of Directors of Linwood Cemetery Association, and is actively identified with the interests of the city.

JOHN BLAKE (deceased) ; was a native of County Cork, Ireland ; he emi- grated to America in 1834, and in 1836 came to Dubuque, and was one of the early settlers here ; he engaged in manufacturing brick. He married Miss Ellen Murphy, a native of Ireland. Mr. Blake carried on business in Dubuque for many years ; he died in August, 1870, leaving two daughters; their eldest brother died in 1868, and one brother died while attending college in St. Louis. Mrs. Blake and her daughters reside in the old home place on Mineral street; their residence when it was built was one of the finest houses in Dubuque.

MICHAEL BLAKE, quarry-man ; residence 361 Alta Vista street, Du- buque; was born in Ireland, and came with his parents to Dubuque when he was only 5 years of age; he grew up to manhood here; he has been engaged in quarrying for the past ten years, and works the Fourteenth street quarries and the Hill quarries, and carries on a good business. He married Miss Mary Smith, from Staten Island, N. Y., in 1862; they have five children-Edward, Louise, Hugh, Julia and John.

M. BLUMENAUER, brewers' headquarters, 531 Main street, Dubuque ; is a native of Germany, and was born Aug. 12, 1836; he came to America in 1842, and grew up in Frederick City, Md ..; he came to Dubuque in 1856; he was connected with the brewery of Titus Schmid & Co. as Superintendent, and, after their death, he ran the brewery himself; he has held the office of City Alderman from the Fifth Ward, and served as Mayor, pro tem. ; he belongs to the Masonic Order, and is a member of the Encampment and Lodge of I. O. O. F .; also a member of the Sharpshooters and Turners' Society. In 1862, he married Miss Josephine Schmid, a native of Germany ; they have four children-Adolph H., Emma, Ella, Hilda.

GEORGE BOCK, wagon-maker, Couler and Eagle Point avenues, Dubuque; was born in Germany Aug. 7, 1851; he came to America in 1867, and came to Du- buque the same year ; he learned his trade here, and in 1878 he engaged in wagon- making, and is building up a good trade; he belongs to Schiller Lodge, I. O. O. F.

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He married Miss Augusta Burt, of Dubuque, in 1875, she is a native of Germany ; they have two children-Christina and George.

LOUIS BOISOT, cashier of the Second National Bank, corner Main and Sixth streets, Dubuque ; is a native of Switzerland, and was born Aug. 5, 1823 ; he' grew up to manhood, and came to the United States in 1848, and came to Dubuque in 1853; he was connected with the bank of F. S. Jessup & Co., until 1857, after that he was connected with railroad and elevator interests; in 1867, he became connected with the German Bank, and continued with that institution as cashier until December, 1878; in February, 1880, he was elected to his present position as cashier of the Second Na- tional Bank of Dubuque. In April, 1854, Mr. Boisot was united in marriage to Alber- tina Bush, a native of New York ; they have four children-Louis, now attorney at law in Chicago ; Emile, in the First National Bank, Chicago; Edward, insurance busi- ness at St. Paul ; Alice, at home.

GEN. CALEB H. BOOTH, of Dubuque, is a native of Delaware Co., Penn., and was born Dec. 24, 1814; until the age of 12, at which time his father died, he lived on a farm in his native county ; lie was then sent to school at a classical insti- tution at Burlington, N. J., where, under the celebrated Quaker mathematician, John Gummere, he studied mathematics, Latin and French, and prepared himself for an engi- neer ; at the age of 17, he was offered a position as engineer, on the Camden & Amboy R. R., but it was his father's wish that he should study a profession; he studied law under Samuel Edwards, of Chester, Penn., and after three years' study was admitted to the bar, May 3, 1836; soon after being admitted he came to Dubuque, then in Michi- gan Territory, and arrived here July 3, 1836, just one day before the act of Congress establishing the new Territory of Wisconsin took effect; Gen. Booth brought the first steam engine to Dubuque, and erected a steam saw-mill and went into the lumber busi- ness; he also engaged in mercantile business in the firm of Booth, Townsend & Co., and, in 1838, engaged in mining with William Carter, and they have continued the business since then; in 1839, Gen. Booth was elected to the Legislature, and served during the first session in Iowa City; in 1841, he was elected the first Mayor of Dubuque, and has served in the Council several times since; in February, 1849, he was appointed by President Polk, Surveyor General of the land district embraced in Wisconsin, Iowa and Minnesota, and served in that position during the administration of Presidents Polk and Taylor; in 1856, he, with others, invested largely in the Dubuque and Pacific Railroad stocks, and in 1857 he was elected Treasurer of the Company and one of the Directors, and since then he has been connected with railroads in various ways; in 1856, he was one of the State Commissioners to establish the State Bank of Iowa; he was one of the originators of the method of shotmaking by the substitution of a mining shaft for the ordinary shot tower; in the fall of 1872 he was elected a member of the Fourteenth General Assembly on the Republican ticket, he having voted that ticket since the war. Gen. Booth was united in marriage to Miss Henrietta Eyre, a native of Pennsylvania ; they have raised two children. Both Gen. and Mrs. Booth are members of the Episcopal Church, of which church, St. John's, in this city, he is Senior Warden.

E. L. BOSTWICK, Roadmaster of the Chicago, Clinton, Dubuque & Min- nesota Railroad, Dubuque ; is a native of Ulster Co., N. Y., and grew up to manhood in that State; he has been connected with railroading since boyhood ; he began on the New York Central, and was on the Michigan Central and Michigan Southern Railroads ; he engaged in contracting and building railroads in Kansas and Nebraska, and has had a large experience in building railroads through the West ; he had charge of the mechanical department in the construction of the Kansas City Bridge ; he was appointed to his present position in 1877 ; he also has charge of the Wisconsin Valley Railroad ; he is connected with the Masonic Order, and is a member of the Chapter and Com- mandery. Mr. Bostwick married Miss Frances Beebe, from Oneida Co., N. Y .; they have two children-Henry and Helen.

N. W. BOYES, Superintendent of Schools of Dubuque Co .; is a native of Geneva, Seneca Co., N. Y., and was born April 1, 1834; his parents came West to Wisconsin when he was 12 years of age; he attended the common schools there, and

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completed his education in Illinois ; he was engaged in tcaching in Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota, and was Superintendent in the latter State; in July, 1867, he came to Dubuque Co., and located at Dyersville and held the position of Principal of the school there for six years ; in January, 1873, he was appointed Superintendent of Schools, and in October, same year, he was elected to the same position ; he was re-elected in 1875, and again in 1877, and again in 1879 ; he has also held other town and school offices ; he is one of the State Board of Directors of the Iowa Normal School. He was united in marriage to Miss Catharine E. Cummings, a native of Pennsylvania, Jan. 1, 1857; they have five children.

BEN BRADFORD, residence 201 Alpine street, Dubuque; is a native of Southern Illinois ; he grew up to manhood and was engaged in steamboating, and was Captain on the Mississippi River for many years ; he came to Dubuque in April, 1865, and since then he has been largely interested in mining. He married Miss M. Spease, a native of Kentucky.

NICK BRAND, dealer in fresh and salted meats, 1,575 Clay street ; was born in Berne, Switzerland, Nov. 29, 1830 ; he came to the United States in 1852, and came to Dubuque in the spring of 1854 and began the butcher business ; he has carried on the business twenty-six years, and is one of the oldest in the city. In the fall of 1858, he married Miss Elizabeth Bishop, a native of Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany ; they have seven children-Nick, John, Louise, Katie, Samuel, Alois, Ann Elizabeth. When Mr. Brand came to Dubuque, he had nothing, and had to borrow money to cross the ferry ; hc belongs to Schiller Lodge, I. O. O. F., and has been a member of the Ger- man association for seventeen years.

CARL BREZINSKY, practical furrier; manufacturer and dealer in furs, 590 Main street, Dubuque ; was born in Eastern Prussia, Dec. 26, 1825; he grew up to manhood and served apprenticeship and learned the trade of furrier; he emigrated to the United States in 1855, and worked at his trade in New York and Boston ; in 1860, he came to Iowa and settled in Dubuque, and began working at his trade; he engaged in business for himself in 1864, and since then has manufactured furs, and. has built up a good trade; he is the only practical furrier in the city; Mrs. Brezinsky has charge of the store and attends to selling goods. After coming to Dubuque, Mr. Brezinsky married Miss Johanna Spiedler, in St. Paul, Oct. 17, 1860; she is a native of Prussia; they have two sons -Charles, born Nov. 26, 1861; Freddie, born Dec. 13, 1871, they have lost one daughter, Mary, born March 7, 1863; she died July 12, 1863.

JOHN G. BROADHURST, contractor and builder, No. 478 Fifteenth street, Dubuque; is a native of England, and was born Aug. 29, 1827 ; he grew up to manhood there and came to America in 1848; he came to Dubuque in 1852 and com- menced working at his trade; he is one of the oldest contractors now in the business here; the firm of Biles & Broadhurst built the addition to the Julien House, the Lor- imer House and the old Argyle House, and many other prominent buildings in Dubuque. Mr. Broadhurst was united in marriage to Miss Jarrilda Smart, from Illinois, Nov. 30, 1852; they have six children-Douglas, Isaac and John, and three daughters, Jarrilda, Arminda and Maria, all born in Dubuque, in the house where they now live.

AUGUST BRULOT, engaged in mining, West Dubuque; is a native of France, and was born April 12, 1844; he came to America in 1852; lived in Ohio two years, and came to Dubuque in 1854; grew up to manhood here ; he, in company with three other citizens, is associated in mining. He married Miss Mary Josephine Miller, a native of Dubuque Co., May 31, 1868 ; they have three children-Mary E., Addie V. and Josephine.

L. BRUNSING, dealer in groceries, corner of Twelfth and Washington streets, Dubuque ; was born in Germany in December, 1832 ; he grew up and was in mercantile business there ; in 1873, he came to the United States, and lived in Kenosha, Wis., and in Freeport, Ill., until 1876, when he came to Dubuque and engaged in manufacturing mustard ; he afterward sold out the business to John Glab ; he engaged in his present business in 1879, and is building up a good trade. In 1866, he married

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Lizzie Kuelemann, a native of Germany ; they have one son-Peter. He has two sons by a former wife-Henry and Anton.

GABRIEL BUBLETER, wines and liquors, Julien avenue, Dubuque ; born in Tyrone, Austria, July 13, 1827 ; he emigrated to the United States in May, 1853, and came to Dubuque in June of the same year ; engaged in tailoring; after- ward engaged in his present business. In January, 1854, he married Miss Elizabeth Zollicoffer, daughter of George Zollicoffer, one of the early settlers of Dubuque Co .; they have six children-Kate, George, John, Amelia, Dena, Ada.

NICK BUER, wood dealer, No. 567 Eighth street, Dubuque ; is a native of Luxemburg, Germany, and was born in 1836 ; he came to America in 1855, and came direct to Dubuque ; engaged in cutting wood with Nick Hanson up the river ; he brought wood here on a flat-boat; since 1865, he has been engaged in the wood busi- ness, and is one of the oldest dealers here. He married Miss Eva Beck, a native of Luxemburg, Germany, Jan. 14, 1869 ; they have three children-Lizzie, John and Peter.

GEORGE BURDEN, real estate and lands, residence 25 High street, Dubuque ; is a native of Devonshire, England, and was born Sept. 27, 1814 ; he came to the United States in 1833, and located in Western New York, and lived in that State over twenty years, and was engaged in mercantile business ; he came West to Iowa in 1855, and located at Dubuque, and engaged in the land business, and after- ward engaged in banking in connection with land business ; in 1856, also established a bank at Winona ; during the financial crisis of 1857, they were among the few who did not close their doors, but continued here until 1860; in 1862, they retired from banking at Winona, and since then have been engaged in the land business. Mr. Burden was united in marriage, Nov. 5, 1861, to Mrs. Eliza A. Holmes (formerly Miss Eliza A. Richards), a native of Genesee Co., N. Y .; she is a graduate of Carey Colle- giate Seminary, N. Y. In 1848, she came West to Rockford, Ill., and engaged in teaching a private school ; she was requested by leading citizens of the town to secure a suitable person to establish a female seminary ; she was successful in securing Miss Anna P. Sill, Principal of Carey Collegiate Seminary, a lady of rare literary attainments and qualifications for the position, and, in the spring of 1849, they estab- lished the seminary there, and it has become one of the most successful literary institu- tions in the West. Mr. and Mrs. Burden have one son-George Albert, born Feb. 3, 1866.

JOHN BUTT, of the firm of John Butt & Bros., manufacturers of wagons and sleighs, No. 645 Iowa street, Dubuque ; is a native of Germany, and was born in Mecklenburg April 30, 1849 ; his parents came to America, and located in Dubuque in 1852 ; his father established the present business in 1853, and carried on the business until his death, which occurred in 1873. John, the oldest member of the present firm, grew up to manhood, and learned his trade here, and engaged in business with his father, and, at his death, he and his brothers-Ernest, William and Helmuth-succeeded him in the business. He married Miss Therisia L. Hauser, a native of Dubuque, Oct. 18, 1877. Mr. Butt belongs to the Order of Workmen, and is a member of the Dubuque Shooting Club.

CÆSAR BROTHERS, wholesale dealers in fancy groceries, 233 Main street, Dubuque ; the firm was established in 1869, and was composed of August and Charles Cæsar ; they are both natives of Germany ; August came to this country in 1858, and the same year came to Dubuque, and has been connected with the grocery trade in this city over twenty years, and has had a large experience in the business ; Charles came to this country four years later, and in 1869 the present firm of Cæsar Brothers was organized ; by strict attention to the interests of their business, they have built up a good trade.

MONROE M. CADY, attorney at law, of the firm of Graham & Cady, cor- ner of Main and Seventh streets ; is a native of Windsor, Berkshire Co., Mass., and was born Jan. 25, 1842, he grew up there until 17 years of age ; attended school at Easthampton, Mass., and in 1862 entered Union College, New York, and graduated in

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1866 ; he studied law in Troy, N. Y., and was admitted to the bar at the Supreme Court at Albany in 1868; he practiced law in Tioga Co., N. Y. a short time, and then went to New York City, and was engaged in teaching there in the French Academy ; he was offered a good position there with Hon. Charles Nettleton, but he had a great desire to come West, and in 1869 he came to Iowa and located in Dubuque, and engaged in the prac- tice of law ; he has given much attention to patent law, and has made that branch of the profession a specialty ; he has been associated with his present partner, Mr. Gra- ham, since October, 1871.

CHARLES J. CAFFALL, auctioneer, of the firm of Caffall & West, 737 Main street, Dubuque ; is a native of Rickmansworth, Herfordshire, England, and was born March 31, 1825 ; he grew up to manhood at Hammersmith, Middlesex, about twenty miles from London, and served apprenticeship with auctioneer and timber sur- veyor ; he came to America in 1852, and the same year came to Iowa and located at Dubuque, and engaged in the auctioneer and real-estate business; the firm of Cox, Caffall & Co., was one of the most prominent in their business in this section of the State, and they sold the lands of the Dubuque & Sioux Railroad Company along the line of the road; Mr. Caffall makes a specialty of selling stock and farm property, and gives his personal attention to this department of the business ; he is, without doubt, the oldest and most experienced auctioneer in the State. He has been twice married ; his first wife was Miss Sarah Gomme, from Hammersmith, Middlesex, England, she died in 1853, leaving one son, Charles G .; his present wife was Miss Christina McKin- ley, a native of Dunfermline, Scotland ; they have eight children-five sons, Richard, James, Frank, George and David, and three daughters, Emma, Louise and Effie E.

ABSALOM CAIN, 354 Seventh street ; is a native of Virginia, and was born Aug. 28, 1813; he grew up to manhood in that State, and learned the trade of shoemaker ; he came to Ohio and lived there until coming to Iowa, and arrived in Dubuque Dec. 13, 1840 ; he engaged some in mining and worked at his trade of shoe- maker for one year, then engaged in mercantile business with Henry Simplot until the death of the latter in 1846, then Mr. Cain carried on the business with John Simplot until 1852; in 1852 he was appointed Deputy Clerk of the District Court, and then was clerk for the County Judge until 1866, since then, he has been engaged in attend- ing to his own interests ; when he came here, he only had $300, but, by industry and good management, he has acquired a competency, his success in life is owing to his own efforts. He was united in marriage to Caroline Faulhaber, a native of this city, Nov. 17, 1862; they have four children-Fannie, Harry Lee, Frank R., and Addison.

A. B. CARLIN, of the firm of Farley, Loetscher & Co., proprietors of the Key City Planing Mill, corner of Eighth and Jackson streets ; is a native of Guernsey Co., Ohio, and was born Aug. 20, 1838; he came West to Burlington, Iowa, in 1848, when only 10 years of age, and came to Dubuque in 1850 ; in 1855, he went in plan- ing-mill, and has been connected with that business in the manufacture of sash, doors and blinds for twenty-five years ; he was with J. L. Dickinson twelve years ; in March, 1877, the present firm was organized, and they have built up a large business. In November, 1878, Mr. Carlin was united in marriage to Miss Eliza Keeley, of this city ; she is a native of Michigan.

C. M. CARTER, Assistant Treasurer of the Chicago, Clinton, Dubuque & Minnesota R. R .; is a native of Cambridge, Mass .; he grew up and received his edu- cation in that State ; after reaching manhood, he came West in 1876, and held the position of Cashier of the B. & M. R. R. in Nebraska, at Omaha ; he came to Dubuque on the 1st of March, 1877, and was appointed Assistant Treasurer of the Chicago, Clinton, Dubuque & Minnesota R. R., and since then has occupied that posi- tion ; he also performs the duties of Paymaster of the road. Mr. Carter was united in marriage to Miss Ada P. Hunter, of this city, daughter of John Hunter, May 15, 1879.

WILLIAM CARTER, Superintendent of the Dubuque Shot Manufactory ; is a native of Jessamine Co., Ky., and was born April 5, 1806 ; he grew up to man- hood in that State, and in the spring of 1832 came to Galena, and in September, 1832, came over to Dubuque and built his cabin; in the spring of 1833, came over and

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located permanently, and engaged in mining, and has been interested in mining since then ; in 1862, he, with two others, built their works for manufacturing shot, and since then Mr. Carter has had the active management of the business as Superintendent ; Mr. Carter is one of the oldest settlers of Dubuque Co. He has been married three times ; in October, 1830, he married Catharine Parker, from Kentucky, she died in 1844; they had five children, four of whom are living-Melinda, Mary Jane, Joseph and Laura M. In 1845, he married Harriet Crockwell, from Ohio, she died in 1852, leav- ing one son, William H. In 1856, he married Elizabeth D. White, from Vermont ; they have seven children-Caleb H., Joshua D., Martha W., Julia A., Christiana, Horace G., and Elizabeth.

D. D. W. CARVER, of the firm of Ham & Carver, publishers of the Dubuque daily and weekly Herald; is a native of Delaware Co., N. Y., and was born May 12, 1834 ; he grew up and attended school in that State; after reaching manhood, he removed to Massachusetts, and there first entered the printing business ; in the spring of 1856, he came West to Iowa and established the Charles City Intelligencer, the first paper published in the Cedar Valley, north of Cedar Rapids; while publishing that paper, he was appointed Postmaster under President Buchanan; in 1862, he came to Dubuque, and, in 1864, bought a half-interest in the Dubuque Herald, and associated with M. M. Ham, and, since then, they have successfully conducted that paper. Mr. Carver acts with the Democratic party ; he has no taste for political life, although min- gling constantly with politicians ; he has been repeatedly solicited to accept the nomina- tion or become candidate for office, but has declined, preferring to devote his whole time to the interests of the business. In 1858, Mr. Carver was united in marriage to Miss Mary Kelly, a native of Wisconsin ; they have one daughter-Josephine.

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The history of Dubuque County, Iowa : containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc., Part 94

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

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