The history of Dubuque County, Iowa : containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc., Part 97

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 97

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PETER ELLISON, of the firm of Ellison & Sons, wholesale and retail dealers in ice, and proprietors of Ellison's Dairy, corner Lake and Ann streets, Dubuque ; is a native of Bedford Co., Penn., and was born June 27, 1826; he grew up and lived there thirty years ; he came to Iowa in 1857, and settled in Dubuque Co .; engaged in farming; in 1872, he removed to the city, and engaged in the ice business ; they cut about twenty-five hundred tons annually ; in 1875, they engaged in the dairy business, with only nine cows; they now milk forty cows, and are unable to supply the demand ; they have an apparatus for heating by steam the meal and bran fed to their cows, thereby improving the quality of milk ; his son, Frank I., has charge of the financial management of the business. Mr. Ellison held the office of Brigadier General of militia brigade of Bedford Co., Penn. In 1847, he was united in marriage to Miss Nancy Phenecie, a native of Bedford Co., Penn. ; they have seven children; two sons -Frank I. and Charles F., engaged in business with their father, and five daughters -Mary, Clara, Annie, Ida and Alice.

J. M. EMERSON (deceased) ; was a native of Virginia and was born in 1809 ; he grew up to manhood mostly in Missouri; he came to Dubuque in 1832, and engaged in mining one year ; he engaged in mercantile business, and carried on an extensive business for a great many years in the Opera House Block ; he was also engaged in the lumber business. On the 2d of May, 1840, he was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth T. King, a sister of the late Judge King, also a sister of Mrs. Ken- nedy and Mrs. Scott, of this city ; she is a native of Ohio, and came here with her

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brother, Judge King, among the earliest settlers; she then went back to Ohio, and returned here again in 1839, and was married the following year. Mr. Emerson was a remarkable man in many respects ; he was one of the earliest settlers here ; he only had 50 cents when he first started; he was strictly honest in every particular, and was noted for his integrity ; during thirty-eight years of housekeeping, after they were mar- ried, they paid cash for everything they bought, and neither he nor his wife ever got trusted for a cent ; though he began life without anything, he was successfully engaged in business for many years ; he died Feb. 13, 1878, leaving a large property ; they had five children, two of whom survived, both sons-John H., living here, and George M., living at Clear Lake. Mrs. Emerson helped do the press-work and folded the first newspaper published in Dubuque.

PETER EULBERG, of the firm of Wm. Meuser & Co., brewers and maltsters, Couler avenue, Dubuque; was born in Nassau, Germany, Oet. 5, 1845 ; he came with his parents to America in 1854; they came West and settled in Wisconsin, and he grew up to manhood there ; he came to Dubuque in 1871, and in January, 1877, he became a partner with Mr. Wm. Meuser in the brewing business. He married Miss Mary Schwind, daughter of Jacob Schwind, of this city, May 27, 1872; they have three children-Mary A., Laura, Bertha.

JOHN T. EVERETT, County Surveyor, Dubuque ; is a native of Hart- ford, Conn., and was born Feb. 2, 1826; he came West to Iowa, and arrived in Dubuque Dee. 9, 1837 ; when 17 years of age he engaged in surveying. During the Mexican war, he volunteered in 3d I. V. I., Co. E, and was in the battle of Buena Vista, "Cerro Gordo," and " Molino Del Rey ; " was wounded during the war; was in the service two years, then returned to Dubuque and engaged in surveying Congress lands ; he was Surveyor of Grant Co., Wis., six years, and has held the office of County Surveyor of Dubuque Co. for twelve years ; he is one of the oldest surveyors in the State, and is one of the early settlers of this county. He married Miss Martha J. Stipp, a native of Ohio, Feb. 22, 1850; they have one daughter-Martha M., now Mrs. A. R. Brewster ; they have lost one daughter.

MRS. MARGARET FANNING, whose maiden name was Margaret McEvoy ; is a native of Ireland, and was born at Inniskillen, County Fermanagh, in 1813 : she came to St. Louis, Mo., in 1834, when that place contained only 11,000 people ; while living there in 1841, she married Patriek Fanning ; he was born in Queens Co., Ireland, in 1814 ; they came to Dubuque March 29, 1852 ; he was a stone cutter by trade, and had a large stone-yard, and was engaged in contraeting and build- ing and carried on a large business until his death, which occurred in 1865 ; they have five children-James H., living in Denver : George, lives in Topeka, Kan .; William, lives in Dubuque ; Mary, engaged in teaching school; Margaret, now Mrs. DeLisle, living in Grand Rapids, Mich. They have lost four children-William, Michael, John and Mary Jane; Mrs. Fanning lives on the home place on Grand View avenue.

J. P. FARLEY, is a native of Tennessee, and was born April 2, 1813, and in 1817 his parents removed to St. Louis, which was then a small French town, and did not contain a single brick house ; the first steamboat landed at St. Louis during that year ; when only 14 years of age, Mr. Farley came to Galena and landed there in April, 1827, and began working in the mines; after two years, he went in partnership with his brother-in-law, and engaged in smelting; in the fall of 1832, he came, with others, over to Dubuque, but did not remain; in the spring of 1833, he opened a stock of goods in Galena, and in the month of May, the same year, he came to Dubuque and made a contract for building a house, and also a store, and in the following Septem- ber he opened a stock of goods here ; in 1837 he moved his family here ; he continued in mercantile business from 1833 to 1858, a period of a quarter of a century ; sinee then, he has been connected with railroading, and has been extensively engaged in building railroads. Mr. Farley has always been an enterprising business man, and actively identified with the interests and growth of the city ; he is largely interested and principal owner of the Key City Planing Mills, and also of the Key City Steam Bakery ; Mr. Farley has been three times elected Mayor of the city of Dubuque, and held that

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office for three years ; he has also served in the City Council. In 1833, Mr. Farley was united in marriage to Miss Mary P. Johnson, from the city of Baltimore; she died in 1844, leaving four sons-Charles W., John P., George W., and Francis A. In 1845, Mr. Farley married Miss Mary L. Johnson, from Danville, Ky .; they have five sons-Harry G., Edwin B., Jesse K., Fred H., and Warren C.

JOHN P. FARLEY, agent of the Keokuk Northern Line Packet Com- pany, No. 2 Levee, Dubuque; is a son of Jesse P. Farley, one of the earliest settlers and most honored citizens of Dubuque; he was born in Galena, Ill., Nov. 2, 1836 ; his parents came here when he was only a few months old, he grew up to manhood here and attended school here and at Mt. Morris, Ill., and Mt. Vernon, Iowa ; he has been engaged in steamboating since 1862; he has held the position of agent of the Keokuk Northern Line Packet Company since 1869, and is one of the oldest steamboat agents on the river. He was united in marriage, July 18, 1861, to Miss Bertha Markle, a native of Dubuque, and daughter of J. W. Markle, one of the early settlers ; they have two children -- Glenn M., and Carl T.

MRS. H. R. FARR, manufacturer and dealer in all kinds of human hair goods, ladies' furs made and repaired, Ninth street, opposite post office; established her present business in Dubuque, December, 1878; she has a large stock of hair and man- ufactures wigs, waves, curls, masquerade wigs, and does all kinds of hair work; she does the leading and largest business of the kind in the city, and is building up a large trade ; she buys her goods in New York, and has a large stock of all kinds of hair, and is enabled to suit the most fastidious at reasonable prices.

NOAH H. FAUST, dealer in pumps and lightning rods, corner White and Tenth streets, Dubuque ; is a native of Pennsylvania, and was born Sept. 1, 1846 ; his parents came to Iowa during the same year, and in the following spring of 1847, they came to Dubuque ; he grew up to manhood here, and learned the trade of wood turner. He engaged in his present business in 1866, and has built up a good trade. He mar- ried Miss Minnie Miller, a native of New York City, Oct. 25, 1869 ; they have four children-Charles, William, Minnie, and an infant daughter not named.

WILLIAM M. FAUST, of the firm of Faust & O'Connell, dealers in gro- ceries and provisions, cor. Clay and Ninth streets ; is a native of Centre. Co., Penn., and was born May 29, 1843; his parents came to Iowa in October, 1852 ; they lived in Dela- ware Co. two years, then came to Dubuque Co., in 1854, and he grew up to manhood here ; after the war broke out, he enlisted in the 6th I. V. C., Co. G., under Col. Pol- lock ; he remained in the service over three years ; after he returned, was engaged in the lightning-rod business for nine years, and engaged in his present business in July, 1875 ; he was elected to the office of County Supervisor in October, 1879. In 1868, he married Miss Mary A. Keating, from this city ; they have one daughter-Ida May, and have lost one son-William N.

PETER FAY, insurance agent and Chief Engineer of the Fire Depart- ment, No. 1477 White street ; is a native of Germany, and was born in the Rhine province of Coblentz in 1835 ; his parents came to the United States in 1837; they came to Wisconsin in 1840; he grew up there, and attended school in Milwaukee; in 1850, he came to Dubuque; he learned his trade of Rouse & Dean, and worked for them until 1858; he had charge of the machinery of the Dubuque Elevator eleven years, and was tie inspector for three years on the C. D. & M. R. R .; he is Chief Engineer of the Fire Department, and has held the office of City Alderman. He is a member of Pius Society. In 1859, he married Miss Mary Pfiffner, a native of Switz- erland ; they have six children-Anthony, Albert, Frances, Charles, Alois, Mary.

GEORGE FENGLER, proprietor Eagle Point Lime Works, residence 377 Lake street, Dubuque ; was born in Prussia, Germany, April 9, 1842 ; his parents emigrated to the United States in 1849, and, in 1850, they came to Iowa, and settled in Dubuque ; he grew up to manhood here. During the war, he enlisted in Co. A, 21st I. V. I .; he was wounded at the battle of Jackson, Miss., and in the siege of Vicksburg ; he was in nine battles ; served three years, and returned to Dubuque. He established his lime works in 1874, he runs three patent kilns, and manufactures lime

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of a superior quality, and ships as far West as Sioux City ; makes and ships more lime than any one in Dubuque. In August, 1861, married Miss Aliee Curtis, a native of Bellevue, Jackson Co., Iowa ; they have nine ehildren-Melvina, Richard, Edwin, Olive, Hattie, George, Aliee, Osear and Oetavio. Mr. F. belongs to the I. O. O. F. and German Benevolent Association.

PETER FERRING, Sheriff of Dubuque Co., Dubuque; is a native of Prussia, and was born June 29, 1836. He emigrated to Ameriea in 1850, and eame to Galena the same year ; in 1851, he came to Dubuque. After reaching manhood, he engaged in mereantile business, and earried that on about eleven years; then engaged in brewing business, and is still interested in that business. He was elected Sheriff of the county in 1875, and was re-elected in 1877, and again re-elected in 1879. He has held town and seliool offiees for a number of years. He married Miss Ellen Brommensehen- kle, a native of Prussia, Jan. 28, 1860; they have had seven ehildren; only three sur- vive-Mary, Peter, Frankie.

DR. JOHN W. FINLEY, deceased, physician and surgeon ; was a native of North Carolina, and was born in 1807; when 12 years of age, his parents removed to Louisiana, Mo .; he grew up and attended sehool there, and then entered the Jackson- ville College, at Jacksonville. After completing his literary studies, he eommeneed reading medicine in Missouri, and continued two years, and then went to Cineinnati, where he continued his medieal studies under Dr. Gross for two years longer ; after graduating, he eame to Iowa and located in Dubuque, and engaged in the praetiee of medieine. In June, 1844, he was united in marriage to Miss Helen Coriell, a native of Elizabeth, N. J .; she eame to Dubuque with her mother in 1839. Dr. Finley was devotedly attached to his profession, and praetieed medieine until within a few years of his death, which oeeurred Aug. 3, 1877. During the war he was appointed Surgeon of the 37th I. V. I. Mrs. Finley still resides in the eity, and her large residence and grounds oeeupy one of the finest loeations in Dubuque.

LOUIS FISCHER, deceased ; was born in Byrne, Germany, in 1837 ; he grew up to manhood there, and eame to America in 1856, and came to Dubuque the same year. When the war broke out, he was a member of the Jackson Guards. He enlisted and went with that company in the 1st I. V. I., and was in the battle of Wilson's Creek. After he returned from the army in 1862, he married Miss Caroline Rhomberg, a native of Austria; she eame here in 1855. In 1862, he engaged in the iee business, and was senior member of the firm of Fischer, Wheeler & Co., and carried on a large and sueeessful business until his death, which oeeurred Nov. 13, 1875. He left five children-Emma C., Louis A., Julia, Frank and Bertha. Mrs. Fischer resides at No. 1051 Clay street, and still retains an interest in the business of the firm of Fiseher,. Wheeler & Co.

JOHN R. FLICK, foreman of the lumber-yard of the Knapp Stout Lumber Co., of Dubuque ; is a native of Pittsburgh, Penn., and was born Aug. 14, 1854; his parents eame to Dubuque in 1855 ; he grew up and attended sehool here, and learned the trade of carpenter and joiner ; in 1870, when only 16 years of age, he had charge of a gang of hands on the C., C., D. & M. R. R .; he was engaged in con- traeting and building for six years ; he has oeeupied his present position as foreman sinee May, 1879. He married Miss Julia Stoltz, a native of Buffalo, N. Y., Aug. 14, 1876 ; they have two sons-Albert and Edward.

CHARLES FOCKLER & BRO., manufacturers of the Key City Car- riage Tops, No. 42, 44 and 46 Main st., Dubuque; are natives of the State of Pennsyl- vania ; they came to Dubuque in 1860; Chas. Foekler, the senior member of the firm, invented the adjustable buggy top in 1876, and the following year established the busi- ness ; the business inereasing, his brother and present partner beeame associated with him-he has studied law, and graduated from the Law Department of the University of Michigan in 1870, and praetieed law in this city until he became interested in the busi- ness with his brother. They were the first persons to manufacture the adjustable buggy top in this country ; and from the small beginning they have rapidly extended their business, have distaneed all competitors and are the largest manufacturers of their goods

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in this country; they occupy three stores of three stories each and are now crowded for want of room. The timber used in their business is selected and bought in Indiana, and consists of the second growth of ash; they cut it up with their own machinery here. They have a steam-room where the bows are bent and a drying-room ; shops where the ironwork is made ; enameling-rooms, paint-rooms and trimming-rooms; they employ from fifty to seventy-five hands and are unable to fill their orders, being largely ordered ahead ; they ship their goods, the adjustable buggy top and the carriage exten- sion tops, to every State in the Union, and have a large trade on the Pacific Coast, and their trade is constantly increasing. They have one of the largest and most important industries in the city. Charles has charge of the manufacturing department, and his brother, L. Fockler, has charge of the office and finances of the firm.

JOHN FOSSELMAN, dealer in groceries and provisions, corner Couler avenue and Sanford st., Dubuque ; was born in Bavaria, Germany, Nov. 23, 1826 ; he came to the Unite States in 1854 and came the same year to Dubuque ; he engaged in the grocery business in 1859, and has carried on the business since then. In 1849 he married Miss Susanna Greibner, a native of Bavaria. They have five children- Kathrina, Sibvilla, Frank, Charlie and Mary.

G. R. FOSTER, with Ingraham, Kennedy & Day, manufacturers and dealers in lumber, Dubuque; is a native of St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., and was born in 1822; he came to Iowa, and located in Dubuque in the fall of 1848, and entered the store of L. D. Randall & Co .; he has lived here thirty-two years, except three years spent in St. Louis ; he is connected with all Masonic bodies, and also a member of Odd Fellows ; he is Secretary of the Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, and has held official position in all State Grand bodies of Masons. In 1852, he was united in marriage to Miss Sabra M. Gassett, a native of Massachusetts; they have two children-Leroy D. and Charles W.

H. B. FOUKE, attorney at law, of the firm of Fouke & Lyon, corner Fifth and Main streets ; is a native of Virginia ; he came to Illinois in 1854; he studied law with Hon. J. K. Edsall, Attorney General of Illinois, and was admitted to the bar in 1860 ; he came to Dubuque in 1866, and since then he has practiced his profession here ; he holds the office of District Attorney for the Ninth Judicial District, and is one of the leading members of the bar ; he is prominently connected with the Order of United Workmen, and has held the position of Grand Master of the State in that Order. In 1864, Mr. Fouke was united in marriage to Miss Amelia Schuler, of Dixon, Lee Co., Ill .; they have had two children, only one of whom survives, a daughter-Katie S.

JAMES N. FOYE, contractor, No. 143 Almond street, Dubuque; is a native of New Hampshire, and was born in Rye, Rockingham Co., April 27, 1833; he grew up to manhood there ; in 1852, he came West to Illinois, and, in June, 1857, he came to Dubuque, and engaged in moving buildings. During the war, he enlisted and served in the 48th I. V. I., and afterward served in the 5th I. V. C .; he returned to Dubuque, and since then has been engaged in general contracting. In 1855, while living in Illinois, Mr. Foye was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Darker, a native of England ; they have two sons-James E. and Charles P.

FRED H. FRANKE, gardener and greenhouse, West Eagle Point ave- nue ; was born in Mecklenburg, Germany, Aug. 23, 1835 ; he came to this country in 1851, and came to Dubuque in 1854, and has lived here twenty-six years ; he engaged in gardening and the flower business in 1873, and has continued it since then, and is building up a good trade. He belongs to Key City Lodge, I. O. O. F., and to Iowa Lodge, A. O. U. W, and to the German Benevolent Society and to the I. O. O. F. Musical Society. He married Catharine Mary Sphan, a native of Germany, in 1857 ; she died in 1870 ; he married Annie Mary Sphan, a native of Hesse-Darmstadt, June 13, 1871 ; he has five children-Katie, Barbara, Edward, Maggie and Rosa.

PROF. E. A. FRENZEL, 2445 Couler avenue, Dubuque ; is a native of Germany, and was born Sept. 16, 1830 ; he grew up to manhood, and received his philosophical and musical education there ; he came to the United States in 1852, and pursued a course of study in the New York University ; engaged in teaching ; he

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came to Dubuque in 1866, and established the high school at Guttenburg, and after- ward was Principal of the public schools of East Dubuque ; he resigned his position and went abroad, making an extended visit through Europe ; since his return, he has given up teaching, and has been engaged in literary work, and is correspondent for a number of Eastern papers. Prof. Frenzel is a proficient linguist, and speaks fluently six or eight different languages.

ALOIS FRICKE, brickmason, Thirteenth street, between Elm and Washington streets, Dubuque ; is a native of Switzerland, and was born in 1818; he emigrated to America in 1845, and came to Galena the same year ; he came to Dubuque in 1846, and began working as stonemason, and has worked at the trade of brick- mason for thirty years, and is the oldest person in that trade in the city ; he and his partner built the Lorimier House, St. Joseph Academy and many of the best buildings in Dubuque ; he was successfully engaged in contracting and building for many years. In 1848, he married Helena Luse, from Baden ; she died in 1862, leaving three chil- dren-Hclena, Mary and Frank. In 1863, Mr. Fricke married C. Schwartz, a native of Bavaria.

R. S. GEE, proprietor of the Dubuque Remedial and Surgical Institute, 970 Main street, Dubuque ; is a native of Canada, and was born in Toronto Oct. 2, 1822; he grew up and attended school there ; at the age of 17, he engaged in teaching school, still pursuing his studies ; in 1844, he came to the United States and attended Albion, College, Michigan ; he afterward entered mercantile life; having a taste for professional life, in 1853 he located in Detroit and began the study of medicine; in 1857, he left Detroit and began lecturing through the country upon homœopathy ; he has delivered over twenty-five hundred lectures, and has published over thirty thousand pamphlets ; he is deeply interested in treating chronic diseases ; he came to Dubuque, and, in April, 1874, established " The Remedial and Surgical Institute ;" treats patients homœopath- ically, and, as an adjunct, uses thirty-four different kinds of baths, and with great suc- cess ; he has fitted up his baths with the most improved appliances, and is very suc- cessful in his treatment of chronic diseases that cannot be controlled by ordinary methods of treatment; the honorary degree of M. D. was conferred upon him by Cleve- land Homeopathic College.

ANDREW GEHRIG, tailor, corner Main and Fifth streets, residence 1036 White street, Dubuque ; was born in Switzerland Feb. 7, 1826; he grew up and learned the tailor's trade, and came to the United States in 1855; came to Dubuque May 19 of the same year, and began working at his trade; in 1867, he began business for him- self, and has carried it on since then ; he is one of the oldest tailors in the city. In 1851, he married Dorothea Boul, a native of Switzerland; they have had seven chil- dren, five of whom are living-Doc A. (now City Treasurer), Emile, Lena, Amelia, Emma. Mr. Gehrig belongs to Schiller Lodge, No. 11, I. O. O. F., and to Humboldt Encampment; also belongs to the German Benevolent Society and to the Knights of Honor.

D. A. GEHRIG, City Treasurer of Dubuque; is a native of Switzerland, and was born Feb. 16, 1852; his parents came to Dubuque in 1855, when he was only 3 years of age; he grew up and attended school here; in 1874, he went in the office of the City Treasurer, and afterward went in the office of the County Treasurer, V. J. Williams ; in January, he was appointed Deputy County Treasurer, and held that posi- tion until April, 1880, when he received the nomination and was elected City Treasurer, and is the youngest person ever elected to that office in the city. In 1875, Mr. Gehrig was united in marriage to Miss Frances Kistler, a native of Michigan ; they have two children-Frances and Flora. Mr. Gehrig belongs to Schiller Lodge, I. O. O. F., and to Iowa Lodge, A. O. U. W., and to the German Shooting Society.

JOSEPHI GEHRIG, proprietor of the Jefferson House, corner White and Seventh streets ; was born in Switzerland Dec. 26, 1820; he grew up and learned the trade of shoemaker; he emigrated to America in November, 1844, and came to Dubuque June 1, 1845 ; he began work in Lorimer's stone quarry ; in 1849, he went to California overland, and arrived at Sacramento in December; there were no houses

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and only fourteen tents where the city of Sacramento is now located ; he dug the first cellar in Sacramento ; he remained in California until 1851, then returned to Dubuque and bought the lots where his hotel now stands ; O'Connell was hung and was buried on this same corner. Mr. Gehrig began building the hotel in 1854, and completed it in 1856, and it is one of the largest houses in the city ; he rented it for a while, and then has conducted it himself for many years ; he gives it his personal attention ; there are very few hotels that have so large a basement floor, so well filled with meats and vegetables, and stores of all kinds, and everything so neat and clean as that of the Jef- ferson House ; when he began life, he had nothing, and, by industry and good manage- ment, he has acquired a nice property. He married Miss Oursala Kiene Sept. 26, 1851; she was born in Switzerland, and is a sister of Peter Kiene; she died in 1872, leaving six children-Mary, Lena, Paul, Henry, John and Joseph.

HENRY GEIGER, carpenter and builder, White street, between Sixteenth and Seventeenth streets, Dubuque ; was born in Baden, Germany, May 28, 1840; he· came to America in 1861. He enlisted in Co. F, 5th I. V. C .; served over one year ; then served for two years in the engineer corps at Nashville; he returned to Dubuque in 1867, and since then has been engaged in his present business. He belongs to Schiller Lodge I. O. O. F. He married Anna Hug, from Baden, Germany, in 1868 ; she died 1872; left one son-Henry ; in 1875, he married Mary Marty, from Sher- rill's Mound, this county ; they have three children-Lizzie, Edward and Rosa.

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The history of Dubuque County, Iowa : containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc., Part 97

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

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