The history of Dubuque County, Iowa : containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc., Part 95

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

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EGBERT CHAMBERLAIN, of the firm of Chamberlain, Dewstoe & Co., wholesale dealers in cigars and tobaccos, No. 419 Main street; is a native of Albany, N. Y., and was born Oct. 30, 1846; when only 9 years of age, he began to earn his own living ; he was office boy in the office of Rufus Choate, the eminent law- yer; in 1857, he came West, and, when 17 years of age, he began railroading with the Illinois Central Railway, and remained with that Company sixteen years ; he held the position of trainmaster for some time; he ran the first passenger train into Iowa Falls, and was one of the oldest conductors on this division of the road ; he engaged in his present business January 1, 1880. Mr. Chamberlain was united in marriage to Miss Laura Clark, from the city of Dubuque, March 24, 1869; they have three children- John, Lena, Egbert.

WILLIAM C. CHAMBERLAIN, President of the Norwegian Plow Co. Main St., Dubuque ; is a native of Brookfield, Madison Co., N. Y; and was born Feb. 18, 1834 ; when 15 years of age he entered a store in Utica and remained for five years and worked himself up to the position of chief clerk in one of the leading stores in that city ; during the last two years of his stay there he was connected with a prominent scientific and literary club and became its secretary ; when about 20 years of age, Mr. Chamberlain decided to come West, and arrived in Chicago in March, 1854; he secured a situation immediately in one of the largest commercial houses in the city ; the following year he came to Iowa, and located in Dubuque in November, 1855. In connection with F. A. Doolittle he started the first store for the sale of agricultural implements exclusively, west of the Mississippi and north of St. Louis ; when this busi- ness was commenced, few, if any, of the improved implements and machines of this class now in general use, and which have revolutionized the methods of labor on the farm had come into use, excepting the reapers of McCormick and Manny ; Mr. Chamberlain has by his energy and fair dealing built up a large business and has trade in almost every town in Northern Iowa, Southern Minnesota and portions of Wisconsin. He established the Norwegian Plow Co. in this city, and is President of the Company, which has erected extensive works and which is one of the largest and leading industries in Dubuque ; he has quite a taste for inventing, and has taken out patents on several articles of practical value. Mr. Chamberlain was united in marriage to Miss Harriet A. Palmer, a native of Utica, N. Y., Aug. 27, 1857. Her father was one of the early

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citizens and leading business men of that city. Mr. Chamberlain is actively identified with the public interests of the city and is one of the most enterprising men in Dubuque.

R. O. CHANEY, of the Dubuque Shot Manufacturing Co .; Sec. 22 ; P. O. Dubuque ; is a native of Pike Co., Mo. ; he came to Iowa and arrived in Dubuque April 5, 1845 ; he began mining in 1854 and has been engaged in that business over twenty- six years and has had a large practical experience in mining during that time ; he built the shot factory and put in the machinery ; and with Gen. Booth and Mr. Carter has carried on the business since then; they constructed, for mining purposes, the tunnel that supplies the city of Dubuque with water; Mr. Chaney is a practical surveyor and has done a great deal of surveying since 1849 ; he has held the offices of Town Trustee and School Director. In 1849 Mr. Chaney was united in marriage to Miss Martha J. Crockwell, from Illinois. They have six children-Emma, Harriet, Helen, George, John and Hyrell.

JOSEPH CHAPMAN, general freight and ticket agent of the Chicago, Clinton, Dubuque & Minnesota Railroad, residence 796 Iowa street; is a native of Pittsburgh, Penn., and was born June 14, 1831 ; he grew up to manhood and received his education there ; he came West in 1856, and located in Dubuque, and until 186- was connected with the Julien House; he then began railroading with the Illinois Central Railway, and was connected with that road until Nov. 15, 1876, when he was appointed general freight and ticket agent of the Chicago, Clinton, Dubuque & Min- nesota Railroad, and since then he has held that position. Mr. Chapman is a member of the Masonic Fraternity, and has been prominently connected with the Order in this State ; he has served as Master of Lodge, High Priest, Eminent Commander and Past Grand Master of the State. In 1859, Mr. Chapman was united in marriage to Miss Catharine Cassidy ; she is a native of Baltimore, but was raised in Pittsburgh ; they have six children, four sons and two daughters-Charles W., Maria, Joseph, Edward, Oliver and Edith.

AUGUSTUS CHRISTMAN, of the firm of J. and A. Christman & Co., dealers in dry goods and notions, Main street; is a native of Pennsylvania, and was born Sept. 8, 1836; his parents came to Iowa the following year, and located in Dubuque; he grew up and attended school herc ; when the war broke out, he enlisted in the 21st I. V. I., but was not accepted; he afterward enlisted in the 44th I. V. I., Co. A, and served until the close of the war; in 1865, he engaged in the dry-goods trade, and established the business now conducted by the present firm; in 1869, his brother became associated with him in the business. Mr. Christman was united in marriage, January 18, 1872, to Miss Bertha Smith, a native of Ohio; they have three children-Carrie, Lillian and Alice. Mr. Christman is a member of the Masonic Order, and also of the I. O. O. F.

JACOB CHRISTMAN, of the firm of J. and A. Christman & Co., 672 Main street ; is a native of France ; his parents came to this country when he was very young, and they came to Dubuque in September, 1837, and he grew up to manhood here ; he entered the store of J. P. Farley as clerk, and remained with him several years; in 1847, he entered into partnership with Mr. Farley in the hardware trade, and they continued together about fourteen years; he afterward associated in business with Richard Waller, the firm being Christman, Waller & Co., and continued about ten years ; his brother established their present business in 1867, and, the following year, he became interested with his brother, and since then they have conducted the bus- iness, and have established a large and leading trade. There are few men in the city who have been actively engaged in business for so long a time as Mr. Christman. He was elected Vice President of the German Bank, and served as Acting President for two years ; has held the office of City Alderman. In 1850, he married Miss Catharine Gouris, from Pennsylvania ; they have six children, one daughter and five sons-Mary, Francis, Charles, Edwin, Fred, Ben B. and Willie. Mr. Christman is connected with the Order of I. O. O. F., and is the oldest initiatory member of Julien Lodge No. 12, of this city.

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CHARLES CHRISTMAN is a native of Pennsylvania, born Oct. 11,1835 ; his parents came to Dubuque in 1837, being among the carly settlers ; he grew up and attended school here; when 15 years of age he entered a store, and, in 1860, he engaged in business for himself, and since then has continued in the hardware trade. He, and his mother and two sisters, reside at 1409 Main street.

PETER CHRISTMAN (deceased ), was a native of Prussia, Germany, and was born in the year 1800 ; he grew up and learned the trade of machinist. He married Miss Catharine Deetz, a native of Germany ; they came to the United States in 1831, and lived in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and came to Iowa and settled in Dubuque in 1837 ; he worked at his trade and was afterward engaged in farming for over twenty years ; his death occurred in 1864; Mr. and Mrs. Christman had eleven children, eight of whom survive, five sons and three daughters. Mrs. Christman is now in her 80th year, and, with her son and two daughters, resides in this city at 1409 Main street.

WILLIAM CLAIR, blacksmithi, 550 Locust street, Dubuque. Is a native of Saratoga Co., N. Y., and was born Jan. 17, 1837 ; he grew up and learned his trade in New York State, and came West to Dubuque in December, 1856, and began work- ing at his trade ; in 1860, he began business for himself, and has carried it on since then ; there is only onc in the business here now that was here when he came. He married Miss Bridget Dignan, from Baltimore, Oct. 17, 1861 ; they have seven chil- dren-John, Mabel, Charles, William, George, Alice and Bernard F.

A. L. CLARK, manufacturer of ornamental gold, ebony and walnut picture frames, and dealer in moldings of cvery description, corner of Eighth and Main streets, Dubuque ; is a native of Syracuse, N. Y., and was born Aug. 2, 1845 ; after he was 7 years of age, he was brought up in Wisconsin. After the war broke out he enlisted, when only 17 years of age, in Co. B, 47th W. V. I .; he was in several engagements. He came to Dubuque in --; he engaged in his present business in 1874; Mr. Clark has an inventive turn of mind, and has taken out several patents ; he patented Clark's fire escape, which is said to be the best fire escape now in use. Mr. Clark married Miss Emma Melhop, daughter of John Melhop, Esq., Oct. 6, 1875; they have two chil- dren-May Belle and Grace.

C. N. CLARK, of the firm of C. N. Clark & Co., manufacturers of wooden ware and lumber, office and mill, Seventh street and the river, Dubuque ; is a native of Fort Plain, Montgomery Co., N. Y .; was born Oct. 2, 1836 ; he grew up to man- hood there, and came to Iowa and located at Dubuque, in 1857; he engaged in bank- ing, and continued in that business for ten years ; in 1867, he engaged in the milling business; they have a capacity for manufacturing 5,000,000 fcet, of lumber annually ; they also are extensively engaged in manufacturing wooden-ware-pails, tubs, wash- boards, clothes-pins, etc., employing seventy-five hands ; it is the only pail-factory in the State, and they ship their goods as far west as Salt Lake. Upon the breaking-out of the war, in 1861, Mr. Clark enlisted in Co. I, 1st I. V. I .; he was wounded in the battle of Wilson Creek. In January, 1868, he was united in marriage to Miss F. B. Burdick, from Syracuse, N. Y .; they have two children-Hamilton B. and Gertrude E.

E. L. CLARKE, dental surgeon, corner Main and Eighth streets, Dubuque ; is a native of Franklin Co., Mass .; he grew up to manhood and studied his profession in that State, and began the practice of dentistry in 1842, and continued for eigliteen years, and during that time he put in over three thousand plates-mostly gold-plate- he came West to Iowa in 1860, and located in Dubuque, and engaged in the practice of dentistry and has continued for nineteen years, and has taken a leading position in the profession ; there are very few persons in the profession that have practiced as long a time as hc-a period of thirty-eight years ; he was elected and served as President of the Northern Iowa Dental Association. Dr. Clark has been twice married; he was united in marriage to his present wife, Sarah R. Walker, in 1864; she is a native of Vermont ; he has seven children ; his son, Frank B., is associated with him in business.

R. CLARKE, dental surgeon, corner of Main and Ninth streets, Dubuque; is a native of Conway, Franklin Co., Mass .; he grew up to manhood and studied his

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profession there, and afterward engaged in practice there, and continued for twenty- five years ; upon the solicitation of his brother, Dr. E. L. Clark, he came to Iowa and located in Dubuque, in the spring of 1870, and since then he has successfully practiced his profession here. In 1839, he was united in marriage to Miss Clarissa Rogers, daughter of Dr. Rogers, of Conway, Franklin Co., Mass .; she died in 1867 ; they had six children, only two of whom are living-Aurora (now Mrs. Charles H. Arms); Ada (now Mrs. William Bingham); both reside in this city.

GEN. WILLIAM HYDE CLARK (deceased), was a native of New York State, and was born in Cooperstown, Oswego Co., Feb. 19, 1836 ; he grew up to manhood in that State, enjoying the advantages of obtaining a good education and busi- ness experience. In 1856, he came West to Iowa, and located at Dubuque ; upon his arrival here, he was appointed teller in Maj. Mobley's bank, where he remained until the bank relinquished business ; he then became Secretary of the Dubuque Harbor and Improvement Co., and occupied that position until the establishment of the Dubuque branch of the State Bank of Iowa, of which institution he became teller. In the year 1859, he was united in marriage to Miss Anna Edwards, daughter of Dr. T. O. Edwards. On the breaking-out of the rebellion in 1861, he promptly resigned his position, and, with all his heart, entered into the spirit of the impending conflict. The Governor's Grays, of which he was a member, having unanimously tendered their services to the Governor, he was elected First Lieutenant of that company, after known as Company I .; and one of the ten companies composing the 1st I. V. I. ; he took an impor- tant part in the light engagements of Dugg's Springs, and Forsyth, and in the battle of Wilson's Creek ; after his term of service expired, he returned home ; but soon after re-entered the service, having accepted the position of Acting Assistant Adjutant Gen- eral on the staff of General Herron, with the rank of Captain; after this, he was engaged in a long campaign in Missouri, and Arkansas, and was promoted to the rank of Major on the field for gallant conduct during the memorable and sanguinary battle of Pea Ridge, and was also in the less important battle of Prairie Grove ; during the siege of Vicksburg, the force with which he was connected, took a bold part in forcing the surrender of that important stronghold ; he was among the first to enter the city after its surrender ; he faced the enemy's guns at Port Hudson, and assisted at the capture of Yazoo City. The duties of the campaign called him to Louisiana and Texas ; he remained in the latter State about a year, performed important service necessarily required of him by the responsibilities of his position ; in Texas, the terrible disease which ter- minated his life fastened its grip upon him, and from that hour a constitution unusually strong began slowly to decline ; becoming incapacitated by long exposure and severe labor to perform the arduous duties of camp life still further required, he was ordered to Harrisburg as chief mustering officer under Col. Greer, where he remained until the close of the war. Returning to Dubuque with an untarnished name as a soldier and a man, he was welcomed by his fellow-citizens with warm and genuine friendship; from the time of his return, until compelled by declining health to resign, he was cashier of the First National Bank, of this city, the duties of which he performed with marked abil- ity. On the 10th of October, 1872, Gen. Clark passed away at the early age of 36 years ; his death was mourned by all who knew him ; he leaves a wife and one daughter, who reside in this city.

CHARLES C. COAKLEY, Justice of the Peace, corner Main and Sixth street, Dubuque ; is a native of Ireland, and was born in 1817; he emigrated to America in 1848, and came to Iowa and arrived in Dubuque May 8, 1850, and en- gaged in business here ; he traveled extensively all over the Northern States. In 1856, he was appointed Mayor's Clerk, and served in that position several years ; he engaged in mining and continued for sixteen years; in 1875, he was elected coroner, and was elected to his present office in 1878. In 1847, he was united in marriage to Miss Catharine Donovan, a native of Ireland ; they have one son, William T.

WILLIAM COATES, capitalist; residence Dodge street, Dubuque ; is a native of England, and was born May 10, 1833; his parents came to the United States in 1842 ; from Buffalo they started for Chicago by way of the lakes ; they were ship- wrecked on Lake Erie, in the middle of the night, and lost everything ; they came West to

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Iowa, and arrived in Dubuque in 1842; William grew up to manhood here ; in 1852, he went to California and engaged in mining; remained five years, and returned n 1857 and engaged in the dry-goods business, the firm being Coates Bros .; he continued in the mercantile business here and at Elkader until 1862; on account of his health, he dis- posed of his interest and engaged in the grain trade until 1865, when he engaged in mining and smelting, and continued in that business until 1878, when he gave up active business, though still interested in mining and loaning money. When he began life, he had nothing ; he has cut hundreds of cords of wood, and owes his success to his own efforts. In January, 1862, Mr. Coates was united in marriage to Miss Frances A. Waller, a native of this city and daughter of the late Robert Waller, one of the oldest and best citizens of Dubuque ; Mr. and Mrs. Coates have six children, three sons and three daughters-Robert W., Henrietta, Frank, John Edgar, Maria and Alice May.

ROBERT H. COLLIER. manager of the Northwestern department of the Laflin & Rand Powder Company, 330 Main street, Dubuque; is a native of Edinburgh, Scotland; he came to Dubuque in September, 1856. The house for which he is mana- ger was established here in 1856; the works of the Company are located at Plattville, Wis .; Solomon Turck was manager of the business until 1872, when he was elected President of the Company and removed to New York, and Mr. Collier succeeded him in the management of the Northwestern department of the business. Mr. Collier was united in marriage to Miss Ada Langworthy, daughter of the late Lucius Langwor- thy, one of the earliest settlers of Dubuque County.

J. F. CONANT, United States mail carrier, 572 Locust street ; is a native of Onondaga Co. N. Y., and was born Nov. 6, 1831 ; when 13 years of age, he came West to Wisconsin, and in 1853, he came to Dubuque. He has lived in this city twenty-seven years; he has been engaged in carrying the mails since 1858, a period of twenty-two years. Mr. Conant was united in marriage to Miss Ann Haughey, a native of Ireland, Sept. 23, 1855; they have eight children-Ellen, Mary, Lucy, Caleb H., Elizabeth A., Gertrude, Fannie, Francis C.

THOMAS CONNOLLY, manufacturer of fine carriages, buggies and sleighs, corner of Iowa and Seventh streets; is a native of Ireland, and was born in 1837 ; he came to America when only 4 years of age; he came to Dubuque and estab- lished his present business Aug. 23, 1858; he paid 25 per cent interest for money to engage in business, and, from the small beginning-after being burned out three times, twice without any insurance-he has built his business up to its present magnitude ; by his own effort and energics, he has built up the largest business of the kind in the Northwest ; his extensive manufactory has a capacity for employing 150 hands, and the character of work turned out by his manufactory is unsurpassed, and bears the highest reputation, as the seventy-five premiunis and diplomas which have been awarded to him bear ample testimony.

D. N. COOLEY, President First National Bank, Dubuque; is a native of New Hampshire, and was born at Lisbon, Grafton Co., Nov. 7, 1825 ; his grandfather, Aaron Cooley, was a Major in the Revolutionary war, and died at 91 years of age; his grandfather, Taylor, on his mother's side, was employed in the same war as wagon boy, when 14 years of age; he lived in Lisbon, N. H. to the advanced age of 97 years, and was one of the few men who voted for Washington and Lincoln for Presidents. When 15 years of age, the subject of this sketch left home; he entered the Newbury Semi- nary, Vermont, and, by teaching through vacation, prepared himself for college ; having determined to study law, in 1850 he entered the office of Hon. H. E. Stoughton ; after pursuing his law studies about three years, he was admitted to the bar in 1854; in the fall of the same year he came West to Iowa, and located at Dubuque; he engaged in the practice of his profession, and practiced successfully in the firms of Samuels & Cooley, Samuels, Cooley & Allison and Cooley, Blatchley & Adams; in 1864, he was appointed by President Lincoln, Commissioner to South Carolina; here he and his associates took possession and sold to the Union soldiers and freedmen the islands and so much of the country as was in our lines ; he acted at the same time as special Com- missioner to settle titles and the right to possession of the city of Charleston ; in

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July, 1865, he was appointed by President Johnson Commissioner of Indian affairs, which he resigned, and for four or five years gave his attention to the practice of law in Washington ; he was elected President of the First National Bank of Dubuque, and has held that position for about ten years. In 1873, he was nominated by the Republican party as State Senator, and was elected by a large majority in a strong Democratic District ; in 1873, he was appointed Commissioner to the Vienna Exposi- tion and served in that capacity. Mr. Cooley is much interested in educational matters, and was President of the Board of Cornell College for several years; he was also elected President of the Northwestern Agricultural and Mechanical Association. In September, 1850, he was united in marriage to Miss Clara Aldrich, a lady of high attainments.

A. A. COOPER, wagon manufacturer, Third street, from Main to Locust street ; is a native of Cambria Co., Penn., and was born 'Nov. 9, 1829; his parents came to Iowa in 1838, and located in Scott Co., when he was only 9 years of age; in the spring of 1846, he came to Dubuque, after serving an apprenticeship of four years ; he began business for himself by starting a small shop on the corner of Locust and Second streets ; by close application his business increased to such an extent that he was obliged to have increased facilities, and, in 1866, he removed to his present location ; with enlarged facilities for manufacturing, his business has continued increasing, and, from that small beginning thirty years ago, it has grown to its present magnitude, requiring the employment of 150 to 175 hands, manufacturing 5,000 wagons annually, which, to meet the demands of their trade, are shipped to all parts of the country in twenty-seven different States and Territories, and this immense business Mr. Cooper has built up individually, until it is the largest of the kind in the State. Mr. Cooper has held the office of City Alderman. In 1851, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary J. Smith, a native of New York; they have six children-Mary E., Lizzie, Willie, Katie, Gussie and Deaney; they have lost one son-Burtie.

HUGH CORRANCE, dealer in groceries and provisions, corner of Thirteenth and Iowa streets, Dubuque; is a native of Lanarkshire, Scotland, and was born Oct. 17, 1839 ; he came to America in 1862, and the same year came to Iowa and located at Dubuque; a few years after coming here, he was united in marriage to Miss Annie Sadler, a native of Jamestown, Wis., in 1866; Mr. Corrance has been successfully en- gaged in his present business since 1869, and has established a good trade. He is a consistent member of the Second Presbyterian Church, and one of the Ruling Elders ; he is connected with the Order of Workmen, the Knights of Honor and the Foresters. Mr. and Mrs. Corrance have five children-William, John, Harry, Hugh and May.

GEORGE O. COWLES, Secretary and Treasurer of the Novelty Iron Works, corner of Tenth and Washington streets, Dubuque ; is a native of Elyria, Lorain Co., Ohio, and was born Oct. 3, 1840 ; he came to Iowa and located in Dubuque in 1860. Upon the breaking-out of the rebellion, he enlisted in the 31st I. V. I., Co. B .; after the war, he returned to Dubuque. Upon the organization of the Novelty Iron Works in 1875, he was elected Secretary and Treasurer of the Company, and since then has held that position. In 1871, Mr. Cowles was united in marriage to Miss Susan R. Rockwell, from Utica, N. Y. They have one daughter -- Bertha.

E. L. COX, manager of the Great American Shoe Company, No. 709 Main street, Dubuque; is a native of Wisconsin, and was born in Racine, Feb. 24, 1854 ; he entered a store in early boyhood, and since then, has been connected with mercantile business ; he has had a large experience in the boot and shoe business in both wholesale and retail departments; the American Shoe Company established their branch store here in May, 1879, and Mr. Cox has by his energy built up a large trade ; this Com- pany have twenty branch stores in the larger towns in the West, buying in large quan- tities gives them unusual facilities in selecting their stock to meet the demands of the trade at the most reasonable prices. Mr. Cox was united in marriage to Miss Sadie A. Stevens, a native of Geneva Co., N. Y. They have two children-Lessie and Pearl.

GEORGE CRANE, attorney at law, corner of Main and Fifth streets; is a native of Butler Co., Ohio, and was born Feb. 6, 1829; he grew up to manhood and

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The history of Dubuque County, Iowa : containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc., Part 95

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

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