The history of Polk County, Iowa : containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c., biographical sketches of its citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion, general and local statistics, portraits of early settlers and prominent men, Part 102

Author: Union Historical Company, Des Moines, pub
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Des Moines, Iowa : Union Historical Co.
Number of Pages: 1074

USA > Iowa > Polk County > The history of Polk County, Iowa : containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c., biographical sketches of its citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion, general and local statistics, portraits of early settlers and prominent men > Part 102

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worker in the M. E. Church; he has been actively identified in all the church enterprises of half a century, and has liberally responded to calls for help in planting the institutions of christianity in the new settlements of the West; under his roof was preached the first sermon, of which we have an authentic account, in this township; his home has ever been open to clergymen, and his hospitality has been enjoyed by many; the chapel which bears his name was built mostly by his personal donation; this type of manhood and sterling integrity of character has not been the product of school and college, but it has been developed and directed by the pulpit, the platform and the press.

K AHLER, CHARLES L .- Of the firm of Kahler & Co., dealers in boots and shoes. Was born in Germany, March 9, 1839, where he was raised. While young he learned the boot and shoe business, and fol- lowed the same until 1857, when he emigrated to America, landing in New York. From there he came to Iowa, locating in Davenport, and there followed his former occupation. In the fall of 1857 he came to this city, and has since resided here, dealing extensively in boots and shoes. His store is large and commodious. He was married in this city October 2, 1868, to Miss Mary Lehman. They have by this union a family of three children: Frank, Carl and Solomon.

KASSON, HON. JOHN A .- Is a native of Vermont, and was born in the town of Charlotte, Chittenden county, January 11, 1822. He was de- prived of the care of a father by death when six years of age, and he began early to be trained in the school of self support. He received his primary education at the common schools and a county academy. He prepared for college in the city of Burlington, Vermont, where he entered the State University in 1838, and graduated in 1842. He had selected law as a profes- sion, and began the study with his brother, Charles D., then a prominent lawyer of that State. His means being limited he was obliged to relin- quish his studies for a while and sought employment as a teacher in Vir- ginia. His residence there had much to do with the tone of his future po- litical action on the slavery question. On his return from Virginia he re- sumed the study of law with Hon. Emory Washburne, of Worcester, Mas- sachusetts, and after passing through many struggles and pecuniary em- barrassments he was finally admitted at Lowell to practice in the State of Massachusetts. After his admission to the bar he went to New Bedford, where he entered the law office of Timothy Coffin, an eminent advocate. Here a year of additional study fitted him for a partnership with Hon. Thomas D. Eliot, afterward member of Congress from that district. After five years' practice in this State he decided to go where a larger field opened more avenues to a young man for a successful career. Accordingly he came West. At St. Louis he spent one year in the office of Hon. Joseph Crocket, and then opened an office of his own and gained a large practice. After six years of hard labor in his profession impaired health necessitated a change of climate, and in 1857 he established himself in Des Moines, in the practice of law, where his recognized talents soon gave him a large docket. In 1858 he was appointed chairman of the Republican State cen- tral commmittee. In 1860 he was a delegate to the Republican convention at Chicago which nominated Lincoln for President. In 1861 he was appointed by President Lincoln First Assistant Postmaster General, and it was the second nomination made by the President. In 1862 the State of Iowa became entitled to six representatives. The new Fifth district was

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composed of twenty three counties. While he was in Washington the Re- publican convention of that district offered him a nomination in Congress. He accepted, resigned his place in the post-office department, and actively entered upon the canvass, and was elected by a handsome majority. In 1864 he was re-elected and has left a record that will live in history through all time. At the close of his Congressional service, in March, 1867, he was solicited by the Postmaster-General to undertake the negotiation of new treaties with various European governments, which resulted in reducing postage to one half of former rates. During his absence he was nominated and elected a member to the General Assembly. In the summer of 1872 he was called upon to become a candidate for Congress, and after a spirited contest was nominated and elected. In 1874 he was re-elected to the Forty- fourth. He was appointed by President Hayes in 1877 as United States Minister to Austria, and during his absence has been nominated by his party as their representative to the Forty-seventh Congress from this dis- trict. Mr. Kasson is not an office seeker, in nearly every instance the office having sought the man. Few men of his age have a more brilliant record, and few, if any, ever held a more confidential place in the hearts of the people. In all his relations to society he realizes that he is one of the people, and that their interests are his interests, and in their prosperity alone can he prosper.

KAUFFMAN, B. F .- This rising young attorney of the firm of Nourse & Kauffman, was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, December 12, 1846. Soon after his parents removed to St. Louis, and from thence on ac- count of the cholera scourge of 1849 in St. Louis, removed to Muscatine, Iowa. At Muscatine his mother died in 1849. In 1852, his father having again married, the family removed to Keosauqua, Van Buren county, where most of his boyhood days were spent, and where he began his education at a select school. He entered the State University in 1863 and graduated from the law department in 1866. He came to this city in 1864, his par- ents having removed here in that year, and after graduation engaged in the practice of his profession, commencing the practice in 1868. In January, 1869, he formed a partnership with Hon. C. C. Nourse, and the firm has taken front rank among the legal firms in the State. He is a man whose fine legal mind has been rendered more acute by constant study and practice. He was married on the 6th of September, 1871, to Miss Anna LeBosquet. They have two children: Frank and Alice. He has given to the study and practice of the law his undivided attention, having no other ambition than to attain the highest degree of success in his chosen profession.

KENNEDY, JOSIAH F .- Physician and surgeon. Was born January 31, 1834, at Landisburg, Perry county, Pennsylvania, he being the second son of William and Mary A. Kennedy. He was educated at Williamsburg (Pa.) Academy, Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania, where he grad- uated in 1855; at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, and at the med- ical department of the University of New York City, graduating from the latter institution with the degree of M. D. in March, 1858. During the years 1855-56 he was principal of the Berrysburg (Pa.) Seminary, and he became a medical student in the office of Dr. Isaac Pursell, now of Dan- ville, Pennsylvania. After graduating he located at Mechanicsville, Iowa, in 1859. In 1861 entered the United States army as assistant surgeon, serving as surgeon in charge of Seminary Hospital, Georgetown, D. C., re- signing in consequence of sickness. He re-commenced the private practice

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of his profession in the fall of 1862, at Tipton, Iowa, and in 1870 removed to Des Moines, where he has since continued. He is a member of the State Medical Society, being now secretary. He was elected assistant secretary of that society in 1874. He is also president of the Polk County Medical Society, and two years served as secretary. He has contributed many val- uable articles to the literature of his profession. Was professor of obstet- rics in the Iowa State University from 1869 to the time of his removal to this city, and is at present the physician of Polk county having charge of the prison, alms-house, etc. July 13, 1858, he was married to Mary C., eldest daughter of Henry Reigart, Esq., of Tipton, Iowa. Their family con- sists of seven children : Anna S., Mary R., Carrie, Emery, Gertie, William and Karl.

KENNEDY, B .- Railroad contractor. Among those who have been prominently identified with the railroad building in Iowa as well as other States is the subject of this sketch. He was born in Ireland in 1828, and was raised there with a mercantile experience, and in 1852 emigrated to the United States and settled first in New York, and from there to Chicago, Illinois, and subsequently to Davenport, Iowa, and has been almost contin- ously engaged on public works since coming to the country, and has been connected as contractor or superintendent of the construction of nearly all the prominent railroads. He was married to Miss Honora McInerney, in 1854. She was born in Ireland. To them have been born nine children: Michael A., Maria A., Ellen B., John F., P. J., J. P., Honora, Cecilia and P. B.

KING, M. H .- Railroad contractor. Was born in Ireland, December 23, 1835, and when young his parents emigrated to the United States, locating in Chester county, Pennsylvania, where he was principally raised, attending school a short time in Harrisburgh. He afterward removed to Blairsville, Pennsylvania, and while residing there was engaged as a clerk most of the time. He came from there to Des Moines in 1856, and has lived here since. A portion of his first years in Des Moines he was in the employ of R. W. Clark and W. A. Scott, as clerk. He has been very prom- inent in the politics of the county, having held the office of County Super- visor, city clerk, justice of the peace, and been frequently elected a member of the city council, the latter position he is now occupying, having been elected in March, 1880. During the campaign of 1878 he was city editor of the Greenback daily People, and had the pleasure of seeing the most of the ticket he advocated, county, judicial and Congressional, elected. Of late years he has been quite prominently identified with railroad building, both in Wisconsin and Iowa. He was married in 1860, to Miss Rosa Ann Cas- sady, of Warren county, this State.

KOENIGSBERGER, JOHN-Dealer in harness, saddlery, etc., was born in Prussia, Germany, April 29, 1829, where he was raised and learned his trade. He emigrated to the United States in 1854, and located in this city the year following, and since that time has been engaged in business the principal part of the time for himself. In 1871 he removed his business to the East Side where he now enjoys a good trade. He was married in 1857, to Elizabeth Fillman, a native of Pennsyl- vania.

. KOONS, J. H .- County Superintendent of Schools. Was born in Tip- pecanoe county, Indiana, on the 8th day of February, 1847, and was raised there until 1856, when he was brought by his parents to this county. His

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time in youth was divided between farming and attending school, and after- ward in teaching. In 1861 he removed to Council Bluffs, and in 1862 re- turned to Indiana. In 1864 he enlisted in the First Indiana heavy artil- lery and served one year. He supplemented his education by attendance one year at Farmers' Academic Institute and two years at Earlham Col- lege. He returned to Iowa in 1868. Resumed his former occupation of teaching a portion of the time in the western part of the State. In 1870 and '72 attended the Iowa State University. He was for three years prin- cipal of the grammar department in the city schools previous to his elec- tion to the position of County Superintendent, in 1877. He was re-elected in 1879. He married Miss Emma E. Irwin, in May, 1877. She was born in Pennsylvania but a resident of this county for many years. They have one daughter, Edith V.

KURTZ, CHARLES J .- Was born in Prussia on the 12th of May, 1839, and in 1854 emigrated to America, and for a few months lived in Allegheny, Pennsylvania, then removed from there and came to this State, settling in Lee county. He then went to Peoria, Illinois, where he lived for four years, and then came to Des Moines on the 12th of February, 1866. When young he learned the wagon-maker's trade, but never fol- lowed it as an occupation. For twelve years he was in the stove and hard- ware business in this city. He is now engaged in keeping a saloon on Walnut street. Was married in this county November 22, 1866, to Miss Catharine Munzemier, a native of Wurtemberg, Germany. They have three children living: Carl, Elizabeth and Flora.

L ANGAN, THOMAS M .- Was born in Washington county, Pennsyl- vania, May 31, 1844, and in 1848 moved with his parents to the Western Reserve, Ohio, where he was raised on a farm. In the summer of 1863 he came with his parents to Iowa, locating in Jasper county, where they still live. In 1871 Mr. Langan returned to Ohio, locating in Norwalk, Huron county, and there engaged in the mercantile business for two years. In 1874 he returned to this State and engaged as a partner in the firm of Chapin, Merritt & Co., of Des Moines, remaining with that firm until 1876, when he embarked in the enterprise with which he is now connected. The firm is known by the name of Rollins & Langan, and is the first exclusive paper house established in Des Moines. Mr. L. was married November 17, 1868, to Miss Marcia Lane, of Huron county, Ohio. They have a daughter, Gracie.

LEE, GEORGE W .- Attorney and counselor. Was born at New Ips- wich, N. H., June 20, 1853. Son of Rev. Samuel and Lydia Coggswell (Wentworth) Lee. He was fitted for college at the Appleton Academy, and graduated at Dartmouth College in 1874. Was admitted to the bar in Warren county, Iowa, in 1875. He then became connected with the law firm of Bryan, Seevers & Lee, of Indianola, remaining there until 1876, when he came to this county and became a member of the firm of Maxwell, Lee & Witter. The following summer he withdrew from that firm on account of ill health and went East. He has since returned and resumed his practice.

LEFLER, JOHN C .- Was born July 15, 1831, in Cincinnati, Ohio, and there was raised and learned his trade, residing in that city until 1856, when he removed to Iowa, settling in Keokuk, where he remained some two years. He then removed to Hamilton, Illinois, remaining there until 1867, when he came to Des Moines. During the rebellion he served in

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company A, Sixteenth Illinois infantry, enlisting in March, 1863, and remaining in the service until the close of the war, when he was honorably discharged. In the fall of 1872 he took charge of his present position on the new capitol building, and has remained in charge of the same since, having under his supervision the entire brick work of the building. In . December, 1851, he was married to Miss Susan E. Gilbert, also a native of Cincinnati. They have four children: George W., Harry C., Edward G. and William A.

LEHMAN, F. W .- Attorney. Among the rising young attorneys of this city is the subject of this sketch, who was born in Prussia, Germany, on the 28th day of February, 1853, and in 1856 emigrated to the United States, settling in Cincinnati. From this place he moved to Indiana, and thence to Missouri. Having a taste for literary pursuits, he attended school at Tabor College, Fremont county, Iowa, and selecting law as a pro- fession, after due preparation he was admitted to the bar in March, 1873, and the same year settled in Nebraska City and formed a copartnership with Judge Mason, which continued until 1876, when he came to this city. He has since pursued his vocation with a good degree of success. In poli- tics he is a Democrat, and possesses rare gifts as a public speaker, carrying force and conviction in his words, and his party finds in him an able advo- cate of their principles. He is a fine conversationalist, and a most excellent social companion. He was married in December, 1879, to Miss Nora

Stark, of this city.

LENDRUM, GEORGE-President of the Eagle Iron Works. Was born in New York on the 31st day of July, 1827, and lived there until fifteen years of age, when he went to Albany and learned his trade, which he followed until 1850. He then went to California, and after a residence. of two years and a half in the mines, with reasonable success, returned to the States. In 1853 he came to Iowa, settling in Burlington, where he lived until the panic of 1857, which led him to go to Shrevesport, La., remaining there until the outbreak of the war. He came to Polk county . in 1863, and the estimation in which he is held by his fellow citizens may be inferred from the fact that he served five years as City Alderman and four years as Sheriff. He was married in 1853, to Miss Julia Bain, a native of Argyle, New York. They have three children: George, Jennie and Ida.

LITTLETON, A. D .- Sheriff. Was born in Fayette county, Ohio, on the 4th day of November, 1834, and lived there until fifteen years of age, at which time he came to Iowa. He received the advantages of the com- mon schools in his youth, and supplemented them by attendance at Mt. Pleasant. In 1860-61 he was engaged in teaching, at the same time pursuing the study of law, and in 1862 was admitted to the bar. He enlisted in the Twenty-ninth Iowa infantry as a private, and was mustered out to accept commission as first lieutenant and adjutant in the Fifty- fourth Iowa, which position he held until the close of the war. In 1869 he settled in Walnut township and engaged in agricultural pursuits. In 1879 he was elected Sheriff of the county. He was married to Miss Sarah Clark, in January, 1862. She is a native of New York. They have four children: Eddie A., Lucy E., Rose and Thomas.

LONG, MATTHEW-Secretary of the State Insurance Company. Is' a native of Columbus, Ohio, and was born on the 3d day of August, 1824. At the early age of eleven years he entered the office of the County Treas-

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urer of his native county as deputy, holding the office until seventeen years of age. His duties requiring his attention there during the winter, he attended school during the summer months. He then entered Central College of that county, and after finishing his collegiate course, engaged in the book trade, continuing that for seven years, first as a clerk and then as a partner. In 1863 he removed to Iowa, settling in Iowa county, and engaged in farming. He was prominently identified with the interests of the county, serving as President of the Agricultural Society for five years, and was elected to the Senate of the Twelfth General Assembly of the State Legislature, representing the counties of Iowa and Poweshiek, and of the Thirteenth General Assembly, representing Iowa county. In 1873 he came to this city and connected himself with the State Insurance Company, of which he is now its efficient Secretary. Mr. Long has much force of character, and in every public position he has left a clear and hon- orable record. He was married in 1846 to Miss Mary T. Tuttle, a native of Newark, N. J. They have five children: William L. (Superintendent of Public Schools in Mills county), Maggie E. (now Mrs. A. Gay), Jacob T. and Ellen.

LOVE H. K .- President of the Iowa National Bank, is a native of Vir- ginia, and was born on the twenty-first day of April, 1821, and resided in his native place until his removal to Ohio in 1832. He was raised with a mercantile experience, and in 1856 removed to Iowa and settled in Lee county, and made his home in Keokuk until 1868 when he went to Dubuque and thence to Des Moines in 1876. He was one of the organizers of the Iowa National Bank in 1875, and has been President of the same since that period, and as a successful banker few men possess more fully the entire confidence and respect of their acquaintance. In 1868 he was appointed clerk of the United States District, and in June 1880 a law went into effect whereby the clerk of the United States District Court became clerk of the United States Circuit Court, for all places in the State in which the United States Circuit Court is held, except Des Moines. He was married in 1853 to Miss Florence Otis of Brooklyn, New York. Their family consists of five children: Mary O., Lucy, Fanny, Martha and Otis Gray.

LOUNSBERY, GEO .- Saloon. Is a native of Elmira, New York, born there September 12, 1835. When about seventeen years of age he left there and came to the State of Illinois. Then to Nebraska, and from there to this city in 1874. When fourteen years of age he began the trade of carriage-making, which he afterward followed for some time, and since he gave up his trade has been connected with various lines of business, among which were the coal, grocery and livery business, and the latter he has made his principal business up to the time he engaged at his present occupation. His marriage was in McLean county, Illinois, July 24, 1861, to Miss Martha J. Vanderbilt, a native of the State of Pennsylvania, and by this union they have a family of five children living, three sons and two daughters: Sarah E., John, Richard, George and May.

LOWRY, WILLIAM-Of the firm of Richter & Lowry, dealers in choice groceries, provisions, etc. One of the self-made and truly successful men of Des Moines, may be mentioned the subject of this sketch, who was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, February 14, 1835, and is a carpenter by trade. He came to Davenport, this State, in July, 1855, and in October, 1856, came to Des Moines and helped to complete the old cap- itol building. Some time afterward, his health failing, he was compelled

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to change his business. He took the position as clerk for J. M. Moody, and while in his employ was elected city treasurer for three successive terms,1871-2-3. In 1873 he was elected County Treasurer, and December first of that year resigned his city treasurership in order to qualify for the latter named office, serving in that capacity for three terms. He has been engaged in his present business since January 26, 1880. As a citizen he is public spirited, ever identified with the best interests and substantial progress of the city. As an official he was courteous, kind and obliging. He was mar- ried in this city to Miss Mary E. Turney, in 1860. She is a native of Som- erset county, Pennsylvania. They have by this union three sons and two daughters: William R., Frank, John D., Mary E. and Alice T. Lost one son, Mark.

LYON, JONATHAN-One of the early settlers of Des Moines, is a native of Pennsylvania, and was born on the 23d day of December, 1804. He removed from his native State when young to Indiana and settled near Salem, and was for many years engaged in the milling business. In 1848 he came to Des Moines and was one of the first and prominent merchants. After selling goods for two years he was more or less engaged in real estate operations. He married Miss Eliza Bowner in 1833. She was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, January 23, 1813, and died in this city in 1874, leaving nine children: Henry H., Amanda E., Laura J., Charles J., Cor- nelia, Jonathan, Florence and Thomas A.

LYON, HARRISON-Retired farmer. Was born October 16, 1811, in Madison, Indiana, and resided in that State until he came to Iowa, locating in Fort Des Moines in 1852, although he had made arrangements two years prior to make this his future home. When he located in this city the East Side was a barren waste, the business being on the West Side. A portion of where the business of the East Side is now done was then in timber. When the capital was located he presented to the State half of the ground now composed in Capitol Square. He has, therefore, seen the East Side grow from a sparsely settled wilderness to a thrifty city of over eight thousand people, with fine business houses and palatial residences in abundance. He was united in marriage to Sarah N. Bonner, in 1842. She is also a native of Indiana. They have five children living: Thomas B., Eliza T., Franklin, John and Margaret E. (now Mrs. H. C. Senteny). Mr. Lyon built the first house ever erected on Capitol Hill, the brush adjacent to his dwelling being so thick that it was almost impossible to penetrate the same. For several years past he has been living in retirement, occupying his time in looking after his property interests.

M CUALL, JOHN A .- Attorney. Was born in Polk county in 1852, and is the son of Thomas and Sarah McCall, who were among the early settlers of the county, they having settled in Camp township in 1846. When the subject of this sketch was seven years of age they removed to Story county, where young McCall was principally raised. He made choice of law as a profession and was educated at the State University and admitted to the bar in 1872. He returned to Nevada and engaged in the practice of law. In 1875 he came to this county and at present occupies the position of county attorney. He was married to Miss Gertie Hutchins in 1878. She was a resident of Story county, but a native of Illinois.

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The history of Polk County, Iowa : containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c., biographical sketches of its citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion, general and local statistics, portraits of early settlers and prominent men, Part 102

Author: Union Historical Company, Des Moines, pub Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Des Moines, Iowa : Union Historical Co. Number of Pages: 1074

Author: Union Historical Company, Des Moines, pub
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Des Moines, Iowa : Union Historical Co.
Number of Pages: 1074