The history of Dubuque County, Iowa : containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc., Part 98

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 98

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C. R. GIBBS, of the firm of Gibbs & Co., livery, sale and boarding stable, No. 139 Fourth street, Dubuque; is a son of the late R. J. Gibbs, who came to Dubuque in 1857; he had charge of putting in the Dubuque water works ; he was extensively engaged in the grain business here for many years ; he shipped the first car load of grain over the Illinois Central Railroad. He died in March, 1875, leaving a widow and four sons, all living here. The present firm of Gibbs & Co. was established in 1876 ; they have a large stock of good horses and fine. carriages and buggies, and have built up a large trade.

DENNIS GILLIAN, stationary engineer, machine shops Illinois Central Rail- road, Dubuque ; was born in County Antrim, Ireland, only two miles from Giant's Causeway, June 24, 1815 ; he grew up to manhood, and served in the army under William IV ; he served under Victoria when she was proclaimed Queen, and when she was crowned, and when she was married. In 1841, he came to Canada ; he helped build the Prince Albert, the first iron boat built this side of the ocean ; he saw the Par- liament House burned there, April 8, 1850 ; he came to Iowa, and settled in Dubuque, Sept. 1, 1850 ; he made the first boiler work done in Dubuque. In 1863, he entered the employ of the Illinois Central Railroad, and has been connected with the company seventeen years. He married Miss Eliza J. McGowan, from County Donegal, Ire- land, Jan. 1, 1841 ; they have seven children-John, William, Charles, Maggie, Ellen, Hugh, Dora ; they have lost six children.

M. GILLEAS, Roadmaster of the Iowa Division of the Illinois Central Rail- road, Dubuque ; was born Sept. 23, 1844; when 14 years of age, he entered the employ of the Illinois Central Railroad, and he has been connected with this company over twenty-two years ; he was appointed Roadmaster of the Iowa Division of the road in 1877, though he has performed the same character of duties for the past fifteen years. Mr. Gilleas was united in marriage to Miss Mary McDonald, from La Salle Co., Ill., Dec. 25, 1867 ; they have five children-one son and four daughters.

THOMAS F. GILLIAM, of the firm of Poole, Gilliam & Co., wholesale grocers, 272 Main street, Dubuque ; is a native of Morgan Co., Ill., and was born in Jacksonville June 22, 1832; when 14 years of age, his parents came to Iowa, and located in Dubuque April 1, 1846; after reaching manhood, he engaged in mercantile business, and has been connected with the firm of Poole, Gilliam & Co., since its organ- ization in 1870. Mr. Gilliam was united in marriage April 11, 1854, to Miss Eliza- beth A. Shields, daughter of the late Gen. John G. Shields ; they have four children- William S., Ida Virginia, John A. H., and James W. R.

ADAM GLAB, brewer and maltster, proprietor of the Northern Brewery, Couler avenue, Dubuque ; was born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, Nov. 17, 1828; he

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emigrated to America in 1852, and came to Dubuque the same year ; he engaged in mining, and carried on that business for twenty-five years, and is still interested in min- ing; in 1866, he built his present large brewery at a cost of $50,000 and engaged in brewing business, and manufactures about four thousand barrels annually ; when he came here he had nothing, and owes his success to his own industry and management. In 1851, he married Miss Kathrina Wemer, from Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany ; they have had eight children ; six are living-Nicholas, Allie, Frank, Louise, Maggie and Katie. Mr. Glab's parents are both living near him; his father is 80 years old, and his mother is 77 years of age.

JOHN GLAB, proprietor of the Mississippi Valley Vinegar Works, foot of Ninth street, Dubuque ; is a native of Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, and was born Nov. 11, 1834 ; he emigrated to America in 1854, and came direct to Dubuque. After a few years, he engaged in the wood business, and continued in that for ten years ; then engaged in the distilling business for five years ; then he established his present business in 1873, and he has built up a large trade ; he makes his vinegar from grain, and ships his goods from Davenport south, to two hundred miles north of St. Paul, and through the West ; he also slips quite largely to Chicago. When he began life he had nothing, and owes his success to his own efforts. He married Miss Louise Wagner, a native of Germany, in 1861 ; they have six children-John N. (book-keeper for his father), Lena, Frankie, Henry, Louise, Leo; they have lost one son-John.

H. B. GLOVER, of the firm of H. B. Glover & Co., wholesale dealers in dry goods and notions, 744 to 752 Main street; manufacturers of overalls, corner Iowa and Sixth streets, Dubuque ; is a native of Newtown, Conn., and was born July 24, 1837 ; he came West to Iowa and located in Dubuque in 1856. He established their dry-goods business in 1860, and transacted a retail and wholesale trade for a number of years ; in 1876, he gave up the retail department, and since then their business has been exclusively wholesale. In 1877, they engaged in manufacturing overalls and pants and vests, and this has become a very important part of their business, and is constantly increasing.

PETER GOAN, foreman of planing-mill of Ingraham, Kennedy & Day, residence 25 Rose street ; is a native of Somerset Co., Penn., and was born Jan. 22, 1832 ; he grew up to manhood in that State, and learned the trade of carpenter and joiner, steamboat joiner and woodwork machinery, serving an apprenticeship of nine years ; he came West to Chicago in 1854, and came to Dubuque April 14, 1855, and was foreman of J. L. Dickinson's planing-mill, and held that position some years ; he went to California in 1862; remained three years, and returned in 1865; he was superintendent of the Key City Planing-mill, and held that position ten years ; he was appointed to his present position in July, 1879. He belongs to Harmony Lodge, I. O. O. F., and to Halcyon Encampment and to the Order of A. O. U. W. In November, 1855, Mr. Goan was united in marriage to Miss Emily Cain ; she was born in Indiana, but came in infancy to Dubuque ; they have seven children-Emma F., Orrin S., Lola E., Walter U., Nettie M., Mabel M. and Harry.

M. D. GOBLE, dental surgeon, office 852 Locust street, Dubuque; is a native of Champaign Co., Ohio, and was born Feb. 5, 1844, and came to Dubuque in 1856 ; grew up and attended school here; studied dentistry here and in Cincinnati; in 1865 and 1866, attended lectures in Medical College in Cincinnati. He practiced dentistry in Monroe, Wis., from 1861 until 1866, when he came to Dubuque, and since then he has practiced his profession here ; has a large practice. He has held the position of President of the Northern Iowa Dental Association. In November, 1868, Dr. Goble was united in marriage to Miss Isabel Van Wagener from Racine, Wis .; they have one daughter-Kittie C.

W. A. GOODING, of the firm of Gooding & Co., lumbermen, No. 860 Bluff street, Dubuque ; is a native of Illinois, and was born at Lockport, Will Co., Jan. +, 1833; during the same year, his parents came in the stage that carried the first mail around the head of Lake Michigan, from Niles to Chicago; he grew up to manhood and received his education in that city and vicinity. In 1852, he became connected

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with the management of the Illinois and Michigan Canal; he became the assistant of John B. Preston, the Superintendent, and afterward succeeded him as Superintendent of the canal ; he occupied that position until after the canal passed into the hands of the State, in 1870; and he is now the only person living who is familiar with the gov- ernment in detail of the extended interests of the Illinois and Michigan Canal. After retiring from the management of the canal, Mr. Gooding spent one year in Cuba, and three years in Africa ; he visited the gold fields and the diamond fields, and traveled extensively through that tropical country ; after his return to the United States, he engaged in the lumber business in Wisconsin ; in 1877, he came to Dubuque, and established his business here, and he has built up the largest lumber trade done in Dubuque.

WILLIAM GRAHAM, attorney at law, of the firm of Graham & Cady, corner Main and Seventh streets ; is a native of Orange Co., N. Y., and was born March 2, 1831 ; he grew up and received his education in that State; graduated at Union College, Schenectady, N. Y., in 1851 ; he studied law with Judge Monell, of Newburg, N. Y., and was admitted to the bar in Brooklyn in January, 1856 ; he came West during the same year, and located in Bellevue, Jackson Co., and engaged in the practice of law with Judge John B. Booth ; he remained there until the fall of 1867, when he came to Dubuque, and since then has practiced his profession here. He has held the office of City Attorney ; he was tendered the nomination for Judge of the District Court by the Democratic party ; he has been repeatedly solicited to become a candidate for different offices, but has steadily declined them, preferring to devote his whole time to his profession. Mr. Graham was united in marriage, June 16, 1858, to Miss Harriet Watson, daughter of Hon. Malborne Watson, Judge of the Supreme Court, Catskill, N. Y. ; Mr. and Mrs. Graham have four children-William, Malborne W., Henry L. and Helen.

DAVID GRANT, shoer of fine horses, corner Locust and Seventh streets, Dubuque ; is a native of Ireland, and was born June 19, 1840; he came to the United States in 1850, and came to Dubuque in 1860 ; he learned his trade here, and, in 1864, engaged in business for himself, and has carried it on since then, and has built up a good trade. He married Miss Mary Ann O'Shea Nov. 27, 1864 ; they have two children- Ida M. and Margaret A.

J. K. GRAVES, capitalist, Dubuque ; is a native of Keene, N. H., and was born Sept. 29, 1837, and is the son of Caleb S. and Eliza Graves; his early education was gained at the common schools of his native town ; at the age of 17, he left home and began life for himself; securing a situation in a bank as clerk and correspondent, he gave the day to his duties and attended evening schools, and, by his diligent study, made rapid progress. In 1855, he came West to Iowa and settled in Dubuque, accept- ing the position of cashier in the banking-house of M. Mobley & Co., which, in 1858, was succeeded by the firm of J. K. Graves & Co., which did a very successful business until it was merged into a branch of the State Bank of Iowa, of which he was Vice President and General Manager ; he was also a member of the Board of Control of the State Bank of Iowa; the National State Bank succeeding this branch, he was one of the principal organizers of it, and, for a time, its Vice President ; he was also prom- inent in organizing the Commercial National Bank, of which he was a large stockliolder and Director ; he has been identified with the Key City Gas Works since 1859, and, in 1866, he built the works, which supply the city with light, and of which he is Pres- ident, Director, and a large stockholder. In 1868, Mr. Graves took an active part in the organization and construction of the Dubuque Street Railway, of which he has been President the greater portion of the time. During the early days of the rebellion, he was appointed by Gov. Kirkwood, of Iowa, Post Quartermaster at Camp Franklin, Dubuque, with rank of Colonel, having at one time nearly six thousand men in Camp. In 1866, he was elected on the Republican ticket Mayor of Dubuque by a large majority over his Democratic opponent in a city strongly Democratic; in 1876, Mr. Graves was elected representative to the State Legislature; in 1870, he was induced to turn his attention to the construction of a new railroad from Dubuque to Chicago, which

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road is now in successful operation sixty miles down the river to Clinton; he is Pres- ident of the Chicago, Clinton & Dubuque Railway Company, the Chicago, Dubuque & Minnesota Railway Company, and the Iowa Pacific, and he has been earnest and active in every enterprise tending to develop the interests of Dubuque and vicinity. He was appointed Special Commissioner by the Interior Department, and twice visited Mexico on the duties of his mission. In politics he is a Republican, and an earnest advocate of its principles. He has been a member of the Masonic Fraternity for a number of years. He was united in marriage Sept. 12, 1860, to Miss Lucy C. Robinson, of Salem, Mass. ; they have five children-Luin K., J. K., Jr., Sybil, Sara, and Marjorie. Mr. Graves has one of the most pleasant, attractive homes in Dubuque ; it is situated on the Bluff, commanding the finest view on the Mississippi from St. Paul to St. Louis.

R. E. GRAVES, President of the Commercial National Bank of Dubuque ; is a native of Keene, N. H., and was born Aug. 8, 1835 ; his early boyhood was spent on a farm, and he received his early education at the common school and academy of his native town; at the age of 16, with a capital of $13, his own savings, he left home to begin life for himself; he secured a situation in a bank, and, by his diligenee in attending to his duties, at the age of 19 he was elected cashier of the Brighton Market Bank, being selected out of thirty-six applicants for the position ; in 1858 he came west to Iowa, and located in Dubuque; in November of the same year, he established the Dubuque Branch of the State Bank of Iowa, and was elected its cashier ; he con- tinued until 1863, when he accepted the position of cashier of one of the leading banks of Chicago ; he was offered the position of United States Tax Commissioner at Charles- ton, S. C., which was declined; in 1867, upon the consolidation of the National State Bank and the First National Bank of Dubuque, Mr. Graves was offered the manage- ment, and in March was elected President of the First National Bank ; he afterward disposed of his interest and resigned his position intending to remove East, having been offered the Presidency of a bank there, but, by the advice and earnest persuasion of his friends, he organized the Commercial National Bank, of which he is the President ; under its present able management, it has become one of the solid banking institutions of the State ; Mr. Graves is actively identified with the educational interests of the city, and has done much for the cultivation and advancement of music and art. On the 10th of Feb. 1859, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary C. Tilden, of Kcene, N. H.

CHARLES H. GREGOIRE, retired ; residence Fifth street from Alpine to Nevada street, Dubuque; is a native of St. Genevieve, Mo., and was born June 10, 1821 ; his parents came to Wisconsin in 1835, when he was only 14 years of age, and after a few years returned to Missouri, he grew up to manhood mostly in Missouri ; he began lead mining when only 17 years of age; he came to Dubuque in 1853, and the family came in 1855 ; he had charge of the first freight that crossed the river after the Illinois Central Railroad reached Galena ; he was connected with, and engaged in run- ning, the ferry for many years until 1866 ; since then, he has not been actively engaged in business here except at intervals in buying grain ; he still retains large mining inter- ests in Madison Co., Mo .; he had nothing when he began life, and his success is owing to his own efforts and good management. Mr. Gregoire was united in marriage to Miss Mary Janis, a native of St. Genevieve, Mo., Nov. 6, 1849; they have three children, two sons-Jules C., and Cyril H., engaged in business here ; and one daughter, Ida, at home.

JOHN M. GRETHER, carpenter and builder. 1539 Washington street ; is a native of Germany, and was born in Baden Nov. 16, 1816 ; he grew up to manhood and learned his trade there, after serving in the army eight years ; he held the respon- sible position of Superintendent of Building Fort, at Rastdatd, for eleven years, and had charge of 2,200 men; during the winter season, he was engaged in draughting and making maps ; he has had a large experience and is an excellent draughtsman ; he came to the United States in 1854, and came to Dubuque the same year and began working at his trade; he is a natural mechanic and can make any kind of machinery ; he belongs to the Order of I. O. O. F. He married Augusta Lembke, from Mecklenburg, Ger- many, June 7, 1859; he has one son-Henry, and one daughter-Louise ; they are as contented and happy a household as there is in Dubuque.

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WILLIAM GRIFFIN, foreman of machine-shops Illinois Central Rail- road, Dubuque ; is a native of England ; was born April 25, 1841; he grew up to man- hood there, and came to the United States in 1861 ; he came to Chicago and entered the employ of the Chicago & North-Western Railway for a short time; in July, 1864, he entered the employ of the Illinois Central Railroad, and has been connected with this road for sixteen years ; he came to Dubuque in 1866; he was appointed to his present position May 1, 1873; he belongs to the Masonic Order, Metropolitan Lodge No. 49, and is also a member of Harmony Lodge, No. 2, I. O. O. F. Mr. Griffin was united in marriage to Miss Almeda Johnson, a native of Ohio, in November, 1866 ; they have four children-Annie May, Mary Belle, Jesse Glen and Lillie Maud.

CAPT. ISAAC GRIFFITH is a native of Bedford Co., Penn., and was born June 1, 1836 ; when 16 years of age, he came with his parents to Iowa, in 1852 ; they located in Delaware Co .; he came to this county, and entered a store at Cascade. After the war broke out, he enlisted, in 1862, in the 21st I. V. I .; he was in the service three years, and participated in the battles of Vicksburg, Port Gibson, Black River Bridge, Mobile and others; after the war, he returned to Iowa; was in Des Moines and also in Chicago for a time ; in September, 1868, he became connected with the revenue service, and since then has served in this department. In January, 1862, he was united in marriage to Miss Lucy Bowling, a native of Virginia ; they have two children, both daughters-Nettie and Elsie.

J. M. GRIFFITH, attorney at law, of the firm of Griffith & Knight, corner Main and Fifth streets ; is a native of Montgomery Co., Md., and was born Feb. 25, 1829 ; he grew up to manhood and received his education in that State; he studied law in Baltimore, and was admitted to the bar in 1850; he practiced law there four years ; in July, 1854, came West to Iowa, and located at Dubuque, and engaged in the practice of law ; in 1857, Mr. W. J. Knight became associated with him, and the firm of Griffith & Knight is the oldest legal firm in the State. Mr. Griffith was united in marriage to Miss Helen M. Packard, from Rochester, N. Y., on Christmas Day, 1855.

EDWARD A. GUILBERT, M. D., Dubuque; was born in Water- town, Jefferson Co., N. Y., on the 12th of June, 1826 ; he attended public schools, and also received instruction in the Black River Institute, at Watertown ; in 1837, his father's family moved to Chicago. His professional studies were commenced in the year 1843, and, after a four-years course, he graduated at Rush Medical College, Chicago ; for several years he was the confidential student in the office of the late eminent Prof. Daniel Brainerd. In 1847, he married Miss Kathleen Somers, a young lady of educa- tion and refinement, having had the benefit of a course of study in the famous academy of Mrs. Emma Willard, of Troy, N. Y. Nine children have been born to them, six of whom survive. He practiced medicine and surgery first in Ottawa, and afterward at Waukegan, Ill. In that time, 1847 to 1852, he still pursued medical studies and investigations with all the interest of an enthusiastic student. About this time, Dr. Guilbert resolved to practice medicine upon a different system-that of Hahnemann, and since known as homœopathy. He soon afterward removed to Elgin, Ill., and com- menced his changed practice, having thoroughly studied the literature and theory of that school of medicine. In 1857, he came to Iowa, and located at Dubuque, and engaged in the practice of his profession. In the war of the rebellion, he was appointed Surgeon of the Board of Enrollment for the Third Congressional District of Iowa, and discharged the responsible duties of that position from 1862 to 1865. Dur- ing the war, he gave his influence to encourage enlistments for the volunteer service, and was chosen Captain of Co. A, of the 46th I. V. I. In that capacity he passed five months in the military field service, in Western Tennessee. Having been success- ful in his profession, he succeeded, in 1876, in establishing an institution in Dubuque, known as the Northwestern Sanitarium, with a view to afford medical and surgical relief for that class of patients who might not be able to secure proper treat- ment from local physicians, and to prevent the necessity of long journeys to more distant hospitals. Dr. Guilbert has been prominently connected with the Masonic Fraternity for over a quarter of a century. In 1857, he was

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elected Master of Dubuque Lodge, No. 3, and was re-elected five or six times ; in 1858, being a delegate to the Grand Lodge, he was elected Junior Grand Warden, and was re-elected in 1859; in 1861, he was elected Senior Grand Warden, and, in 1862, was appointed Deputy Grand Master; in October, 1862, he became Acting Grand Master, and, in 1863, was elected Grand Master. He was re-elected for the two following terms, and thus managed the affairs of the Grand Lodge of Iowa for nearly four years. He has served eight years as the High Priest of Dubuque Royal Arch Chapter, seven years as Eminent Commander of Siloam Commandery, and also for five years as the " Thrice Illustrious," of Dubuque Council No. 3. His connection with the Grand Chapter began some years ago, and he is now its Grand High Priest. He was the accepted orator before several of the grand bodies named, on the annual conventions. Dr. Guilbert has been a voluminous writer of Masonic literature. His reports on foreign correspondence, and other reports and papers presented to the four grand bodies in Iowa, have been very full and complete to advance the interests of Masonry. He edited and published the Evergreen, at Dubuque, for three years. There are very few persons who are connected with the Order who have done so much to advance its interests as Dr. Guilbert.

In 1872, Dr. Guilbert became interested in the Liberal Republican movement. He was unanimously chosen Permanent Chairman of the first Liberal Republican Conven- tion held in Iowa; was unanimously nominated for Secretary of State on the joint ticket presented by the Liberals and Democrats; was made a candidate for Congress in 1874, and was defeated in convention, by a combination, only by a few votes, after many ballotings. In 1875, he was, despite his disinclination, proposed as a candidate for Governor on the Anti-Monopoly ticket, and, though not present himself, he was complimented with a large vote on the first ballot. Dr. Guilbert has practiced his pro- fession in Dubuque over twenty-three years, and is one of the leading physicians in the city. He has been professional lecturer in the homeopathic colleges in Cleveland, St. Louis and Chicago.

FREDERICK A. GNIFFKE, publisher of the Dubuque National Demo- krat ; is a native of Germany, and was born in Dantzic, Western Prussia, on the Baltic, March 21, 1833 ; he came to the United States in 1850 ; he entered the office of the Newburyport Herald, where he learned the printing business ; he worked at his trade in Boston and Cambridge ; he came West to Iowa and located in Dubuque, in May, 1856, and the following August he established the Dubuque National Demokrat, and since then, for a period of twenty-four years, he has continued the publication of that paper, and, what is very remarkable, with the exception of a few numbers-not more than six or eight-he has helped to make up, or contributed to, every issue of the paper. The paper is conducted with ability, and has a large circulation and a larger influence, in the city and county and throughout this section of the State. In the fall of 1859, Mr. Gniffke was elected to the State Legislature, and served during the regular session and during the extra war session ; he has been a member of the Board of Education for some years, and, at the recent city election, was again elected for three years. In 1863, Mr. Gniffke was united in marriage to Miss Alvine Baade, a native of Mecklenburg, Ger- many ; she came to Dubuque with her parents in 1850; Mr. and Mrs. Gniffke have one son-Henry B.

J. W. HAAS, of the firm of Junkermann & Haas, wholesale druggists, 776 Main street ; is a native of Germany, and was born in the Kingdom of Wurtemburg, Oct. 19, 1829 ; he grew up and began learning the drug business when only 14 years of age ; he emigrated to America in 1853, and came to Dubuque in 1854, and asso- ciated with his present partner, Mr. O. Junkermann. and established the firm of Junk- ermann & Haas, which is the oldest business house in Dubuque without change of firm ; they have been successfully engaged in the same business for twenty-five years ; they had little when they began, but, by industry and attention to business, they have established a large trade. In 1866, Mr. Haas married Miss Minna Helfferich ; she is a native of Germany, and was born in the Kingdom of Wurtemburg.

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The history of Dubuque County, Iowa : containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc., Part 98

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

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