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 106

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 106

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PRIESTLY, JAMES T .- Physician and surgeon, was born on the 19th of July, 1852, and is a native of Northumberland, Pennsylvania, and was educated at Louisburg College, in that State. He began the study of med- icine with his uncle, Dr. Joseph Priestly, and graduated from the Univer- sity of Pennsylvania, at Philadelphia, in 1874. He commenced to practice at Northumberland and continued the same successfully for two years and then came to this city. He is a descendant of the celebrated Dr. Priestly, the person who discovered oxygen gas, and also a descendant of Nicholas Biddle, the president of the old U. S. Bank. Dr. P. was married in North- umberland, April 30, 1874, to Miss Clara M. Simpson. They have a fam- ily of two sons: Crayke S. and Marks B. Since coming to Des Moines, Dr. Priestly has succeeded in making many friends and also in gaining a large and increasing practice.

UICK, WILLIAM H .- Mr. Quick was born in Sussex county, New York, July 1, 1832. His father was a miller. At twenty-one years of age, William, or " Billy," as he is more familiarly known in express cir- cles, came to Chicago in 1853. He soon after entered the employ of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad Company as baggage-man and conductor, where he remained two years. In 1856 he came to Iowa City and entered the service of Parker's Express Company, a private company then doing a package express through various sections of the State, as mes- senger from Iowa City to Dubuque. Six months later he was appointed local agent of the company at Iowa City, and there remained until the spring of 1858, when the business of the company was transferred to the United States Express Company. Mr. Quick was transferred from Iowa City to Marengo, Brooklyn, Grinnell as the railroad progressed westward. July 1, 1863, he came to Des Moines, succeeding R. K. McMasters as local agent. He filled the of- fice until 1865,when Joseph Shepherd, Superintendent of the Iowa division of the company, was promoted to the general western superintendency, when Mr. Quick was appointed successor to Mr. Shepherd, as division superintendent, his jurisdiction being extended also over Nebraska, with headquarters at Des Moines, which position he now occupies. Early in the service he man- ifested those qualities of executive ability and integrity of character which commended him to the notice and confidence of the company. He has proven eminently worthy the trust imposed. His genial nature, courteous man- ner, wise, sagacious management, have made him one of the best as he is one of the most popular officials of that immense corporation. He is one of the few who have the rare faculty of managing the affairs of the company with great fidelity and being also exceedingly popular with all employes, as well as the public, and most deservedly so. October 9, 1866, he married Miss Mary L., daughter of Judge Love, of Buffalo, a woman of rare graces. She died March 3, 1870, leaving a daughter, Ella L.

R ANDALL, G. W .- The subject of this sketch was born in Yates county, N. Y., Sept. 3, 1846, where he remained until 1866, when he came to Des Moines.

In 1870 he engaged in the sale of agricultural im- plements. In 1877 he joined Hon. John A. Elliott as member of the firm of Elliott & Randall, and the firm at once stepped to the front as the first in the trade. In 1879 Mr. Elliott disposed of his interest to Adam Dickey, since which time the business has been conducted under the firm name of Randall & Dickey. The firm have established a reputation for integrity and enter- prise, which insures them a wide extended traffic. They handle only the

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best and most approved machinery, thus saving to patrons the expense and loss of experiments. Mr. Randall was married November 25, 1873, to Miss Fannie A. Edwards, of Louisville, Ky. One daughter, Ida, has come to bless their home.

RAWSON, DR. ALONZO .- Dentist, was born in Alstead, Cheshire county, New Hampshire, April 2, 1831, and was there raised. In his early youth he enjoyed a good common school education, supplemented by an academic course. When eighteen years of age he commenced teaching school, as was the custom of all Yankees. At the age of 21 years, be- coming dissatisfied with the sterility of New England generally, in March, 1852, with satchel in hand, started on foot ever snow-drifts, determining to to find a more congenial surroundings and productive soil. After leaving his native State he reached Erie, Pa., then the western terminus of the railroad, and from there sent his trunk containing his earthly possessions via boat to Cleveland, while he walked overland, but the trunk never came, the company giving damage. Taught school in the vicinity of Cleveland for about two years; in the meantime took a trip to Iowa in the fall of 1852, stopping on his way at Moline, Ill., where he was engaged for a short time in assisting his uncle, the Hon. S. W. Wheelock, a large paper manu- facturer, and one of the first in the Mississippi Valley. While here, hav- ing a desire to take a view of the bluffs of Iowa, he borrowed a horse of his uncle and in a few hours crossed the river and became so infatuated with the country and scenery that he prolonged his trip to twelve days, visiting Cedar Valley as far as Cedar Falls, little realizing until on his return that the horse was only a borrowed one, and found the owner very apprehen- sive in regard to its fate. He remained for about two years in Cedar county. In 1854 he selected a tract of 500 hundred acres of land between Monroe and Newton in Jasper county, coming to the land office on the 31st of March, 1854, through a heavy snow storm. April 1st being the first day of the opening of the office that spring the crowd of applicants was very large, waiting the opening of the doors at 9 A. M., but the in- genuity of of the leading spirits was equal to the occasion. Finding it impossible to gain an entrance and be first, Thos. Mitchell conceived the idea of gaining admittance by numbers, and taking a piece of chalk he placed on his coat No. 1, Hoyt Sherman No. 2, Thos. Cavanaugh No. 3, thus marking out numbers to about half a dozen. Mitchell took the lead and announced the programme, which was through his eloquence adopted, and all were numbered. When Mr. Sherman's turn came it soon became evident to the crowd that he was entering a good many numbers, and those having the highest numbers adopted a novel method by going to Mr. Sher- man's office and giving the number of his land to the clerk, which was forwarded to Mr. S. The consequence was that he was employed nearly all day in entering land, receiving for such service $1.00 for each 401 acres entered. Mr. R. remained here a part of the season, and purchased the lot upon which he now resides, No. 1105 Pleasant street. 's. Then returned to Cleveland and entered upon the study of dentistry with B. F. & J. A. Robinson, and followed his profession in that city until July, 1860. He then started for Des Moines via boat, taking with him his trunk, a pair of colts and a buggy. Arriving at Chicago he started overland, leading one and driving the other colt. Coming to the edge of the prairie a troop of dogs from a settler's cabin came out and so frightened the colts that they turned for the city very suddenly, scattering the contents in wild confu-

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sion. The Doctor succeeded in collecting the scattered articles, found the colts and returned to the stable from whence they had started in the morn- ing, and renewed the journey by driving the colts together, although one had never been harnessed. They started on a full run, going past the cabin above mentioned at a rate of speed that left the dogs far in the rear. They soon quieted down and came the rest of the way in safety. The Doctor still owns and drives one of them, and notwithstanding its advanced years is still a " colt," and likely to remain so. He opened an office in Exchange Block, October 1, 1860, which he still occupies. Dr. Brownell was the only dentist at that time in Central Iowa, and soon after removed to New York State, leaving the subject of this sketch the oldest resident of his profession, and in which he has been satisfactorily successful, Was mar- ried October 11, 1855, to Miss Amelia Rawson, of Richfield, Ohio. She is the daughter of Dr. S. Rawson. who was an eminent medical practitioner of that city for upwards of forty years. He is now 84 years of age, and resides with his daughter. Dr. and Mrs. Rawson have two children: Nellie and Alonzo P.

REDHEAD, WESLEY-A native of Penrith, county of Northumber- land, England. Was born July 22, 1825. When four years of age he emigrated with his parents to Montreal, Canada. During the cholera epidemic of 1831-2 his mother was stricken and died, and two weeks later his father died. Wesley, then six years of age, and his next older brother went to live with an uncle at Cincinnati, Ohio, where he lived until four- teen years old, attending school a part of the time and working as " print- er's devil" the remainder of the time. He was one of the first newsboys, now so common in our large cities, employing his leisure hours in selling papers on the steamboats. In 1839 he was sent to live with his eldest brother, a cabinet maker, at Fairfield, Vermont, but after remaining a short time ran away. He walked to St. Albans, and thence worked his way to Whitehall, N. Y., where he hired out to drive horses on the canal, continu- ing in this employment during that season. He then hired out to a farmer in Washington county, and two years later went to Saratoga Springs, where for two seasons he was employed as "dipper boy" at Congress spring. Then returned to Cincinnati. He next hired out as cabin boy on a steamboat bound for the Upper Mississippi, but on arriving at Blooming- ton (now Muscatine), in September, 1844, he concluded to visit a brother living at Iowa City, and accordingly arrived at his destination safely and late at night. He soon obtained employment at $3 per week in the office of the Iowa Capitol Reporter, conducted by Jesse Williams, then Territorial Prin- ter. The next year, 1845, he went to Anamosa, Jones county. Was getting- along well, when he was taken sick, and being obliged to give up his situation,. returned to Iowa City, where he was ill for nine months. Not being able. to engage in hard work, he learned the tailoring business-served three. years, and afterward worked as a journeyman tailor until the winter of 1851, when he decided to start in business for himself. Coming to Fort Des Moines, he continued his trade one year, and then clerked for the same length of time: At the expiration of that time he was appointed Postmaster by President Fillmore, to fill a vacancy caused by the resigna- tion of Hoyt Sherman. He held the office nine years, and then resigned. While holding that position he opened a bookstore, the fourth one started in the State, the sales averaging about $5.00 per week. Since 1869 Mr.

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Redhead has been largely engaged in the Des Moines Coal Company, being principal owner, Secretary and Superintendent. He is also Secretary and Treasurer of the Black Diamond Coal Company, in Marion county, and besides is Treasurer of the Des Moines Scale Company, a director of the State National Bank, and Vice-president of the State Printing Company. Mr. Redhead has been twice married. First, in October, 1851, to Miss Isabel Clark, of Iowa City. After seven years of uninterrupted happiness she died, leaving no children. In 1860 he led to the altar Miss Annie Seymour, a native of Kentucky, who removed to Des Moines in 1857, a ward of Judge McHenry. They have six children living: David, George . S., Lizzie K., Middy, Charles W. and Robert S. Have lost one, Annie Bell.

REED, W. A .- Is one of the oldest citizens and prominent business men of Des Moines. Though he emigrated to this place late in life, he is so thorough a representative of the New England enterprise and energy which form so valuable an element in the population of the West that he rapidly built up a prosperous business. Was born of Quaker parents, in Lynn, Mass., on the 1st day of June, 1807. His grandparents on both sides were among the first settlers of Massachusetts. During his boyhood until ten years of age he attended the Friends' school. At that date his father moved to Ohio, which was then emphatically the West, and a sparsely settled country. The long and tedious journey thither by the primitive means of emigration occupied two months. Born so early in the century, Mr. Reed retains a vivid personal recollection of many of the stirring incidents of that eventful period of our national history. He saw the famous Chesapeake and Shannon fight, near Nahant, and well remem- bers the sadness and despair in Boston when it was known that the stars and stripes were lowered on the Chesapeake and both vessels were sailing seaward. In company with his father he attended the military funeral of Lawrence and Ludlow at Salem. He also saw the first steamboat built at Boston. After the emigration of the family to Ohio the subject of this sketch remained with his father until his father's death, having assisted him in clearing a wood farm, and after his decease cleared one for himself. When he was twenty-one years of age he commenced the manufacture of leather at Massillon, Ohio, and with much energy and small capital was successful. In his twenty-fifth year he joined the first temperance organ- ization of Massillon. In June of that year he returned for a visit to his native place, and was in Boston in July when Andrew Jackson's veto mes- sage of the United States Bank was received, an event which produced intense excitement among the best men of the city. In March of that year the death of his mother occurred. In October he was married to Miss Eleanor S. Wright, of Millersburg, Ohio. During the following ten years three sons and three daughters were born to them. In 1849 Mr. Reed went to California in quest of better health and of the gold which was then drawing men like a magnet to the Pacific coast. He was successful in his two-fold enterprise during a sojourn of sixteen months, regained his health, and returned home. In the winter of 1850-1 he engaged in active busi- ness. At the age of fifty he moved to Des Moines, where he found friends and business, and during a business extending over the last twenty-three years, characterized by integrity and success, he has been one of the solid merchants of the city. To its growth he has contributed, having during that time built a brick house and brick store and eight residences. He has

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also improved six farms in this vicinity. His family now consists of one son and one daughter and four grandsons and two granddaughters. Mr. Reed is now seventy-three years of age, and after forty-eight years of mar- ried life with the wife of his youth in full health, is still actively engaged in the daily pursuits of business.

REES, DR. D. B .- Physician. Was born in Vermillion county, Illi- nois, May 19, 1825, and received his education in the common schools of that State, remaining there until 1846. On the fourth of July of that year he came to Polk county, landing on what is known as the six-mile strip, east of Carlisle. He was raised as a farmer and followed that occupation until 1849, when he commenced clerking. During his spare moments he studied medicine by himself, and in August, 1857, studied with Dr. Beck at Palmyra, as preceptor. He attended lectures at the Eclectic Medical College of Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1858 and '59, and in the fall of 1859 he commenced practicing at Dalamanutha, Guthrie county. He continued there for four years and then returned to Palmyra in 1862. Practiced there until 1874, when he located in Des Moines. February 2, 1848, he was mar- ried to Miss Mary S. Edegerton, a native of Grant county, Indiana. They have a family of six children, five now living: Sylvester C., William W.' Lewis A., Della C. and Iva E. Lost one, Celissa J. (She left one child, Maud.)

REINIG, CHARLES P .- Saloon and proprietor of billiard parlors. Was born in Baden, Germany, July 10, 1839, and when twelve years of age he, with his parents, emigrated to this country, and went to Lancaster, Ohio, where they lived three years, and then came to this city. His father built one of the first brick blocks in the city. Mr. Reinig was married here on the 30th day of October, 1862, to Miss Mary A. Hughes, a native of the same place as himself. She was raised in Madison county, this State. They have a family of two sons and two daughters: Ida May, Charles Edward, William F. and Etta Worthington.

RICE, HON. BYRON-Ths subject of this brief biography is counted among Des Moines' most honored citizens. A native of Madison county, New York. He was born on the 24th of May, 1826, the son of Dr. John Rice. He received a good common school and academic education, and in 1840, being then sixteen years of age, began teaching, devoting the winters to this vocation and the summers to the study of law. Five years later he entered the New York State Normal School at Albany and graduated from the same in 1847. After closing his literary studies he entered the office of Denison Robinson, District Attorney of the county, and there continued his legal studies until August, 1849, when he was admitted to the bar by the Supreme Court then in session at Ithica. Immediately removing to the West he settled at Des Moines, Iowa, and forming a partnership with Mr. J. E. Jewett, established himself in the practice of his profession. In August, 1850, he was elected Prosecuting Attorney, and in the following year was elected County Judge and administered the duties of that office four years. Resigning that position in the spring of 1855, he then, in company with Judge Greene, of the Supreme Court, and Mr. John Weaver, of Cedar Rap- ids, turned his attention to banking, and continued in that business until 1859. Judge Rice next formed a partnership with Hon. D. O. Finch and Mr. George Clark, and again took up the practice of his profession, and continued the same with reasonable success until the fall of 1876, since which time he has not been actively employed in any regular business.

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He was married on the 19th of September, 1854, to Miss Cornelia Calder, a daughter of Joseph Calder, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Of the seven children who have been born to them four are now living, namely: Spencer M., Eliz- abeth, John E. and William B.

RICE, I. N .- Dealers in pianos, organs and musical instruments. Was born in Montgomery county, Indiana, August 28, 1847, and lived there until 1857, when his parents removed to Osceola, Clarke county, Iowa. In 1867 our subject removed to Afton and engaged as a clerk in the dry goods house of Seth Richard, one of the prominent merchants of Iowa. In 1870 he became a partner. This relation continued until 1877, when he removed to this city and engaged in his present business, and is the leading house in his line in Central Iowa. He was married June 8, 1868, to Miss Loonia E. Beebe, of Brookfield, Missouri. Their family consists of three children: Lena, James L. and an infant.

RICH, H. H .- Was born January 26, 1829, in Philadelphia, Pennsyl- vania, and there remained for some time, during which time he was en- gaged principally in working at his trade, he being a mason and plasterer by occupation. In 1855 he came to Iowa, locating in Iowa City, where he remained for a short time and then came to Des Moines, and has since been engaged in working at his trade, having helped to construct the old capitol building, and having also worked on the Agricultural College, the Warren county court-house, and also the Madison county court-house. He had the contract for and did the plastering of the Sixth ward school house in Des Moines, besides having had the contract for the mason work and plastering of numerous smaller buildings in the city. In March, 1880, he was appointed policeman for the East Side, which position he is now filling.

RICHTER, GEO .- Of the firm of Richter & Lowry, dealers in groceries, provisions, etc. Among those who are now in business in East Des Moines none have been engaged therein for so long a period as the subject of this sketch. He is a native of Bavaria, Germany, and was born on the 26th day of October, 1835, and emigrated to the United States in 1861, locating in Laporte, Indiana. He made his residence there for three years and then removed to Valparaiso, that State, where he remained two years .. He then came to Des Moines and established his present business. Mr. Richter is kind and obliging, and these qualities, combined with his busi- ness qualifications, have enabled him to build up a lucrative trade. He married in La Porte, Indiana, to Miss Emma M. Amtage, September 13, 1863. She is a native of Prussia. They have by this union four sons. Schiller, Frank, George and Harry.

ROBERTSON, S. A .- One of the earliest settlers of Western Ohio, as .. well as one of its most energetic and persevering business men, was Samuel Robertson. He was a native of Kentucky, and was one of the noble sons. of that State who, in 1812, taught England to respect America's rights-coming out of that conflict wearing a major's epaulettes, bravely won. At the close of that war he removed to Preble county, Ohio, in 1815. Here he became extensively engaged as a contractor, building some of the finest court-houses in that State. Here, too, on the 23d day of De- cember, 1835, his son, the subject of this sketch, was born and reared, who, like his father, became a prominent contractor and builder. While yet a youth of seventeen years he was widely known for his business ability through that part of the State. In April, 1856, he removed to what now

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constitutes the city of Des Moines, and at once engaged in his chosen occu- pation, in connection with which he now owns and operates a valuable limestone quarry on the C., R. I. & P. R. R. in Madison county. His course has been characterized by untiring energy and devotion to business, ever ready in material aid and counsel in advancing every enterprise calcu- lated to promote the interest and growth of the city. He has served the city as a member of its Council faithfully and well, and we quote from the State Register of March 3, 1880, the following: "We cannot, as a paper of the public as well as of a party, refrain from giving to Mr. Robertson the hearty tribute and praise which are due to him for the great work for Des Moines, present and future, that he has done in the Council. - The sewer system for which the city so long had waited was introduced by him and through his unceasing energy, and the city had in that the benefit of his unusual skill and experience as a builder. That we have a sewer sys- tem to-day, and that it is projected on the wise scale that it is, is largely due to Mr. Robertson and the people who have the good of the city and its future interest at heart can never too gratefully remember him for this and for many other good works in the Council. This is an unusual thing for a Republican paper to say of a Democrat, and a Democratic official. But as it is in an unusual emergency, and of an unusual man, we will take the privilege, and find a pleasure in saying it." He was married March 27, 1857, to Miss Margaret, daughter of John Porter. She was born in Rip- ley, Ohio. Their family consists of six children living: John P., Susan B., Edith, Emma, Kittie and Maggie. Have lost three: Libbie, Lownie and Bertha.

ROBINSON, T. B .- Grocer. Was born July 10, 1844, in Oswego county, New York, and at the age of eight years moved with his parents to Kane county, Illinois. His boyhood was spent on a farm until the age of seventeen years, when, on the 2d of August, 1861, he enlisted in company A, Thirty-sixth Illinois infantry, serving until January, 1864, when he veteraned at New Iberia, Louisiana, and served until the close of the war. He was · honorably discharged at Springfield, Illinois, in January, 1866, having been in all the battles and skirmishes in which his company was engaged. In 1867 he came to Iowa and located in Dubuque, and thence to Des Moines, in 1869, and engaged in gardening until 1874, when, on the 1st of April, he opened a fruit and vegetable store on Walnut street. This he continued until December, 1875, when he sold out, and in company with A. S. Todd bought the grocery stock of Wm. Brunsdon. They continued there until August, 1877, when the firm was changed by Mr. Todd selling his interest to J. B. James. They continued the business until April 1, 1880. He then bought Mr. James' interest, and since has done a successful business. He came here with seventy-five dollars and what he has accumulated is the result of economy, industry, and honesty. He was married September 22, 1875, to Miss Clara L. Hart, of Ohio. They have two children: Percy and Leavitt.

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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 106

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