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 110
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WELLSLAGER, R. T .- Junior member of the book and stationery firm of Redhead & Wellslager. Was born in Washington county, Maryland, in 1834, and removed at an early age to Richland county, Ohio, where,
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during his youth and early manhood, he made the most of his inferior ad- vantages in acquiring a good education and preparing for a future business career. At the age of twenty he emigrated to Oskaloosa, this State, secur- ing a position as deputy postmaster, and becoming so popular that, in re- sponse to a petition signed by nearly every voter, irrespective of party, in Oskaloosa and vicinity, he was, in 1857, appointed postmaster, which posi- tion he filled with almost unequaled satisfaction till April, 1861, when vis- iting the State capital at the opening of the extra session of the Iowa Legis- lature, convened to place the State on a war footing, he was made Assistant Secretary of the Senate. At the expiration of the legislative session he en- tered the banking house of B. F. Allen, where he remained for nearly four years as cashier. Removing to New York City in the spring of 1865 he operated in gold, stocks, etc., in Wall street for one year, and in March, 1866, returned to Des Moines and purchased a half interest in his present business, and has been the active head of the firm of Redhead & Wellslager since that time.
WEST, F. R .- Capt F. R. West was one of the pioneers of Polk county, and has been an important factor in its history. He was born July 28, 1813, in Albany county, New York. His father, Harry West, was an ex- tensive merchant and contractor, who removed to Wayne county, New York, about the year 1816, where the son spent the days of his youth; re- ceiving good educational advantages. In 1834 he went to Pittsburgh, Pa., where he was engaged on public works, and running a packet boat on the Pennsylvania canal, and from which he derived his familiar title of " cap- tain."" In due process of time railroads usurped the passenger traffic of the country, and it was abandoned on the canals. When that was done on the Pennsylvania canal, Mr. West was employed by the railroad company in the weighing department, where he remained from 1846 to 1849, when he became Superintendent of the Alleghany Portage Railroad, which po- sition he held until 1853, when the road was abandoned. He then came to Des Moines, and was engaged in the real estate business for five years. In 1856 he built the brick block corner of Fourth and Court Avenue, now the State Register block. In 1858 the State Bank of Iowa was organized, and Mr. West was elected President of the Des Moines branch, which be- gan business January 1st, 1858. In 1861, Hoyt Sherman, the cashier, was appointed paymaster in the army, and Mr. West was made his successor as cashier, and B. F. Allen elected President. The same year Mr. West was appointed one of the Commissioners on Iowa War Claims, arising from the clothing and equipping of Iowa soldiers in the early part of the war of the rebellion. He continued as cashier of the bank until 1865, when it was reorganized as the National State Bank, under the national banking law. He purchased a majority of the stock, and in 1876 surrendered the charter and started a new banking house under the name of F. R. West & Sons, which continued to 1877, when, becoming involved in the disastrous failure of B. F. Allen, the bank was closed. This ended eighteen years of continuous banking by Mr. West in Des Moines, a longer time than that of any other person, and during that time he had the confidence and sup- port of the community and business men for his prudence and caution. July 17, 1833, he married Miss Elizabeth F. Black, born and raised in El- mira, New York, a woman of estimable character, who has done much to mould and shape the destiny of the capital city of Iowa. Few, very few of those who make up the population of to-day realize or know how much
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is due the noble pioneer women, who toiled and suffered the privations in- cident to frontier life. Six children have been born to them: Francis M., Harry, Albert L., and Nettie L. (wife of Norman Lichty), Whitman, and Mary Arathusa (who married B. F. Allen). The last two are deceased.
WETHERWAX, S. W .- Photographer, was born on the 16th of Octo- ber, 1858, and is a native of Mahaska county, this State. After resing in that county for some time he went to Keokuk, and there received his edu- cation, after which he learned his present business. In June, of 1880, he came to Des Moines, and has since been engaged in business here. Al- though yet a young man he has a bright future before him. His energy, combined with his good business qualifications, will enable him to make a success of whatever he undertakes.
WHITE, W. L .- Was born at Oskaloosa, Iowa, January 18, 1848, where he passed his youth. At the age of seventeen years he entered the army, enlisting in company D, of the Thirty-third Iowa infantry, in which regi- ment he served till the close of the war. He participated in the battles of Mobile, Saline River and numerous others. Upon returning from the war he located in Des Moines, where he was first employed as salesman by W. E. Talbott & Co., in which place he remained for four years and a half, when he began business for himself. The success which he has achieved by this business venture is well known to the people of Des Moines and Central Iowa. He is now regarded as one of the most successful boot and shoe dealers in the State. He was married January 31st, 1873, to Miss Ella Clapp. She is the daughter of Mr. E. R. Clapp, and one of the first settlers of Polk county. They have four children named respectively as follows: Jennie, Adelia, Alvah, William L.
WHITE, W. R .- Of the firm of White & McRae, proprietors of the Pleasant Hill Coal Company, mention of which is made in another part of this work, was born in England, on the 28th day of September, 1850. At the age of nine years he commenced the occupation of miner. In 1870 he emigrated to the United States and settled in Illinois. He came to this county in 1874. He married Miss Mary A. Lumsdon in 1875. She was born in Monmouth, Warren county, Illinois. They have one son, Rob- ert J.
WHITE, B. C .- Proprietor of the Capital Mills, was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, December 23, 1824, and was raised there. He learned the trade of machinist in Philadelphia, and from this place went to Lan- caster, Pennsylvania, and after living there some years removed to Chicago, Illinois, and thence to Indianapolis, Indiana, and in 1853 went to Rich- mond, Indiana, and lived there between twelve and thirteen years, eight years of which he was engaged in the gas business. He came to this county in 1865, and in 1866 built his present mills. He married Miss Letitia Flemming in 1866. She was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. They have a family of three children: George F., Grace M. and Pearl L. Lost one son, Benjamin F.
WHITE, GEO .- Of the firm of Geo. White & Co., dealers in notions at wholesale, and one of the representative business men of Central Iowa, as well as of Des Moines, is a native of Plymouth, Massachusetts, and was born on the 12th day of September, 1825. He resided at home until thir- teen years of age, and then shipped before the mast as a sailor boy and made several voyages to Europe. At the age of fifteen he quit the sea and en- gaged as an apprentice to learn the cooper's trade. He continued this busi-
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ness as an avocation for some years and then went to California and re- mained a short time, and after his return located in Boston, where he lived until 1857, and then joined a New England company, who emigrated to Iowa, and settled in Adair county, and engaged in agricultural pursuits. In 1863 he removed to Des Moines and engaged in his present business. In 1872 he formed a partnership with Mr. Mecracken, which continued until the death of Mr. Mecracken, in December, 1878, since which time the business has been conducted under the name and style of Geo. White & Co. The firm has an established trade and it has done its full share in making Des Moines a wholesale trade-center for the great and growing West. From the time he first engaged in his present business he has been one of the leading dealers of Des Moines. He was married in 1853 to Miss Frances Sprague, a native of Boston, Massachusetts. They have two children: Edith J. (now Mrs. Morrison), and Fannie R.
WHITMAN, DR. H. L .- One of the longest resident practicing physi- cians of Des Moines, is the subject of this sketch, who was born in West Hartford, Connecticut, December 30, 1814, and until seventeen years of age he was raised on a farm. He received his literary education at Am- herst, Massachusetts, and graduated in medicine from the Jefferson Medical College, of Philadelphia. He removed to Freeport, Illinois, in 1847, and thence to Dubuque in 1851, and came to this county in 1853, and has practiced continuously longer in the city than any other physician, and, with the exception of Dr. Ward, the longest in the county, and is one of the best physicians known throughout the county. He is as much a student as ever, and devotes his leisure to reading his medical periodicals and other scientific works, and no one has labored more to raise the stand- ard of medical practice. He was married in 1865 to Miss E. Thompson, a native of Ellington, Connecticut. He has three children: Nellie West, Mary E. and Luara Thompson.
WILLIAMS, J. E .- Was born in Montrose, Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania, October 10, 1841, and in October of 1870 removed to Iowa. He first settled at Adel, and for a time was the editor of the Dallas County Gazette. He held the office of postmaster at that place for three years from January 1, 1871, and in 1874 came to Des Moines to accept the posi- tion of editor on the Daily State Journal, remaining there until August, 1875. In August, 1876, he opened a job printing establishment on Fifth street, which he still continues, in connection with which he is agent of a prominent fire insurance company. September 12, 1865, he was married to Miss Carrie N. Ostrander, of Binghamton, New York. They have one daughter, May.
WILSON, JOHN A .- Carriage manufacturer. Was born in Jackson county, Indiana, May 12, 1841, and there received his education. At the age of thirteen years he began to learn the blacksmith trade with Wm. Ireland, of Brownstown, Jackson county, and remained with him until twenty years of age. He then removed to Louisville, Kentucky, where he worked at his trade until August, 1862, and then returned to Brownstown. He there enlisted in and helped to raise company E, Sixty-seventh Indiana. He was promoted to sergeant and then lieutenant of his company and was with the regiment all of the time, except about six weeks in the hos- pital. Served until the close of the war and was discharged at Gal- veston, Texas, August 20, 1865. He returned to Louisville and engaged at his trade, remaining there about three years, and then came to Iowa and
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located at Brooklyn, Poweshiek county. In the fall of 1870 he came to Des Moines and engaged in working for O. W. Munsell until the spring of 1871, when he formed a partnership under the firm name of Harbison, Wilson & Williams, for the manufacture of fine carriages. At the end of about two years Mr. Williams withdrew, and in about one year more Mr. Wilson became sole proprietor. In August, 1866, he sold his establish- ment to Mr. Gill and fitted up a shop on the East Side. One year later he returned to this side and in December, 1878, established his present shops. He was married September 11, 1872, to Miss Mary Bell, a native of Mas- sachusetts. They have two children living: Willie H. and J. A. Lost one, an infant.
WILLIAMSON, W. W .- A native of Franklin, Kentucky, was born on the 6th of September, 1821. In 1828, when William was eight years old, his mother died and he lived with his grandmother Williamson until 1834, when his father married a second time and removed to Orleans, Indiana, and engaged in the mercantile trade. Prior to this time William had at- tended school at various places, but upon removing to Indiana, entered his father's store, where he was engaged for two years. He afterward spent three years on a farm in Orange county, and in 1840 entered Asbury Uni- versity, at Greencastle, Indiana. He continued his studies for three years and in the spring of 1844 taught a school for three months. Going thence to Lawrence county, he there had charge of a seminary for more than a year and at the expiration of that time entered the office of George C. Dunn, Esq., for the purpose of completing his law studies, which he had previously begun. Being admitted to the bar in 1846, he began the practice of his profession at Bedford, Indiana, and continued it with good success until the spring of 1848, when he removed to Fairfield, Iowa. He had intended to settle at Monroe City, the capital having been located there, but the Legis- lature of that year set aside the action locating the capital there, and Mr. Williamson spent eighteen months at the above named place. Believing that the capital would eventually be located at Fort Des Moines, he removed thither in September, 1849, and established himself in the practice of his profession. He soon made for himself a fine reputation, and in 1851 was elected Prosecuting Attorney of Polk county for a term of two years. In 1854 he was elected, on the Whig ticket, Judge of the Fifth judicial district, which comprised all of Western Iowa. After his election had been reported and his certificate issued by the Secretary of State, the election was con- tested, the contesting board consisting of two Democrats and one Whig. Poll-books were admitted in a questionable, if not fraudulent manner, and the result was that his election was set aside. He continued his profession with marked success until 1860, when, by reason of his wife's ill health, he removed his family to San Antonio, Texas. In July, 1861, on account of the civil war, which had already opened, he returned to Des Moines and continued his practice until the fall of 1865, when he again went to San Antonio. Such, however, was the state of society, that he returned to Des Moines in the following spring and opened a law office. He was married in September, 1874, to Miss Clarissa A. McLane, of Bedford, Indiana. Mrs. Williamson was born at Orleans, Indiana, on the 3d of May, 1824. They have had five children: William T., Charles E., Frank and Clara, living, and one daughter, Lillie, died May 8, 1858. As a lawyer he has a wide and worthy reputation among his fellow practitioners, and is universally known as an honorable, fair-dealing man.
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WILLIAMS, J. J .- Is the son of Alexander and Mary, nee Jackson, Williams who settled in Jefferson county, Ohio, in an early day. Here young Williams was born, May 14, 1834, inheriting on his father's side the quick, impassioned temperament of the ancient Briton, and the careful, but no less determined Scotch character, through his mother. The subject of our sketch was raised in Gallia county, Ohio, his parents removing to that county when he was quite young. Here he enjoyed good educational advantages. His father was a farmer, an extensive mill owner and operator in the two counties above named. From sixteen years of age until twenty- four, young Williams divided his time between farming, milling and study. He then devoted two years to the study of law, and graduated from the law school of Cincinnati in the spring of 1860. In the following fall he removed to this city, and, after mature deliberation, becoming con- vinced that milling would be more profitable than the practice of law, he became connected with his father, who had the previous year bought the water-power, built the flouring mill on First, corner of Center street, West Des Moines. He continued the milling business until the fall of 1873, since which time he has devoted his time principally to real estate. He at present represents West Des Moines in the city council. He has mani- fested commendable public spirit in the growth and prosperity of the town, and has taken an active part in every public improvement and contributed liberally to every enterprise. He is a man of great decision of character, with strong and enduring convictions of right, and, being a prudent and careful manager, success has attended him in every branch of business. September 25, 1860, he was married to Miss Cornelia M., daughter of John Cating, a native of Gallia county, Ohio. They have a family of seven chil- dren living: Mary B., Jennie C., Cornelia M., Minnetta, Ida L., Alice W., Alex. Have lost two: Gertrude and John A.
WILLIAMS, J. D .- Of the Farmers' Mills. Born in Shelby, county, Indiana, July 25, 1842, and in 1850 removed with his parents to Iowa, lo- cating in Polk county, where, with the exception of the time he was in the army, the subject of this sketch has since resided. In 1862 he enlisted in company C, Twenty-third Iowa infantry, and served until 1863, when, on account of disabilities, he was discharged and returned home. Up to 1873 he was engaged in agricultural pursuits, but since then has been engaged in the milling business, being engaged at present in the manufacture of hominy, bolted meal, feed, etc. He was married in 1863, June 8, to Martha M. Hawkins, a native of Indiana. Have five children: Charles S., Joseph M., James C., Clarence H. and Fanny B.
WINDSOR, JAMES H .- The subject of the following sketch is a fair example of what may be attained by perseverance, industry and energy. He was born in Allegany county, New York, on the 16th day of April, 1829, and is the son of Samuel Windsor, Esq., a merchant of some promi- nence, a dealer in hardware and manufacturer of tinware. Young Windsor's early youth was spent in acquiring an education, and at the age of nineteen he commenced his experience as a practical tinsmith. For three years he was deputy postmaster in his native town. In 1852 he removed to Elli- cottville, Cattaraugus, county, New York, and engaged in the drug business, continuing the same for two years. The following year six months was spent in a tour of observation through the West. In 1856 he removed to Waukegan, Illinois, and served as Deputy Clerk of the Circuit Court for two years and in 1858 he returned to New York to settle his father's estate and
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remained there three years, being engaged in agricultural pursuits and stock dealing. From there he went to Buffalo, where for two years he was engaged in the stock business, being associated with J. H. Metcalf, under the firm name of Metcalf & Windsor, proprietors of the Elk Street Drov- ers' Yards, of that city. He then disposed of his interest and came to Chi- cago and engaged in the live stock commission business, continuing the same until 1873, when he removed to this city and purchased Stower's packing house and became associated with Jones & Raymond in the pack- ing business. Of this business, mention of which is made in another part of this work, we feel that too much cannot be said of its interest to the city and to the farmers of the county in affording them a market at all times and at satisfactory prices. To such institutions is Des Moines indebted for its importance as a business center and commercial supremacy. Mr. W. has been twice married. First, March 29, 1865, to Miss Mary G., daughter of D. D. T. Moore, of West Albany. She died March 8, 1874, leaving three children: Mary, Leland and Ruth. His second marriage was on the 16th of November, 1875, to Miss Hattie G. McManus, a most estimable lady, possessing a sound and discriminating mind, united with sweetness of tem- per and elegance of manner. She was born in Eddyville, Iowa. They have one son: James Raymond.
WISEHART, JACKSON-Real estate agent and notary public. The subject of this sketch was born in Wayne county, Indiana, November 4, 1831. Two years later he removed with his parents to Henry county, same State, where he made his home until 1873, then coming to Iowa and locat- ing in Adel. He there remained for one year, and in 1874 came to this city. He established his present business March 1, 1878. Mr. Wisehart has been twice married. His first wife was Miss Christiana Brattain, a na- tive of Henry county, Indiana. They were married March 10, 1852, and she died August 24, 1877, leaving a family of two sons and four daughters: Melissa (now Mrs. Will Dykes, of Henry county, Indiana), Ida May (now Mrs. John Judkins, of Indianola, this State), J. E., Otto M., Grace and Ger- trude L. (twins), born September 4, 1874. He took for his second wife, Mrs. H. L. Sullivan, April 4, 1877. She has one daughter by her former marriage, Emma. As a business man Mr. Wisehart is prompt and ener- getic, upright in all his dealings. He has secured the esteem of all with whom he has had business relations and has attained a well merited success.
WRIGHT, GEN. ED-Was born near Salem in Columbiana county, Ohio, January 27, 1872. Mr. Wright was, during youth and early man- hood, inured to the healthy toil and invigorating exercise of a farm life. His father was a thrifty and industrious farmer, and it was at this vocation that young Wright served a youthful apprenticeship; his educational advantages consisted of the facilities furnished at an ordinary district school, supple- mented by a term at Atwater Academy. After his short career at the Academy he taught school during the winter months and worked on the farm during the summer. In 1849 he turned his attention to the trade of carpenter and millwright, and in the spring of 1852 emigrated to Iowa, and settled near Springdale, in Cedar county, where he followed his trade un- til he was elected to the General Assembly in 1856. He was re-elected in 1857 and again in 1859. In 1861 he entered the United States volunteer service, and in August of that year was commissioned major of the Twenty- fourth Iowa infantry. After long and distinguished service he was com- missioned lieutenant-colonel, and finally, after passing through some of the
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most hotly contested battles of the war, among other those of Port Gibson Champion's Hill, Winchester and Fisher's Hill, he was breveted brigadier- general. After returning home at the close of the war, he was honored by a fourth election to the General Assembly, and upon the organization of the house, was chosen Speaker. While filling this important office he won a State wide reputation as an impartial presiding officer. In 1866 he was. elected Secretary of State, and in 1868 was again elected to the same office, and again in 1870 was he called upon to be his own successor. In 1873 he was appointed Secretary of the Board of Capitol Commissioners, and assis- tant superintendent of the State House. Thereare but few men, if any, who have, to a greater extent, enjoyed, and for a longer time maintained the. confidence and respect of their fellow citizens. Mr. Wright was married during the year 1848, to Miss Martha Thompson of Mahoning county, Ohio. She died June 27, 1877, leaving two children: Flora and Celia (now Mrs. Cleveland.)
WYMAN, JOHN-Of the firm of Bogue & Wyman, proprietors of the Kirkwood House, one of Des Moines' most valued citizens, is a native of Vermont, and was born on the 15th day of October, 1823, and over forty years of his life was spent in New England. His father was a car- penter, and until his twentieth year he worked with his father at the same occupation. He then commenced his mercantile experience, which he con- tinned for nearly twenty years previous to his coming to Des Moines, in 1867. Soon after coming to this city he became a member of the firm of Osgood & Wyman, afterward Osgood, Wyman & Harris, and continued the dry goods business until 1879, when he disposed of his interest and soon after formed a co-partnership with C. D. Bogue and opened the Kirkwood House. As a business man he has been very successful, and he is a good illustration of what can be accomplished by industry, economy and a high sense of honor. In character, as well as in purse, he is one of the solid men of the city. He married Miss Loretta S. Hatch in 1871. She is a native of Vermont. They have three children: Nettie A., Grace E. and Anna W. Mr. Wyman has one son, James, by a former marriage.
"OUNGERMAN, CONRAD -- Brick manufacturer and contractor, was born in Germany on the fifteenth day of December, 1833, and was raised' in his native county and learned the trade of stone cutting. He emigrated to the United States in 1854 and settled in Ohio, and in 1856 came to this city; and he is a good illustration of what economy and perseverance can accomplish. He came here a poor man, has always been prudent in his expenditures, and every dollar he possesses is the fruit of integrity and in- dustry. He has long been one of the most prominent contractors of the city, and no one has shown more enterprise than Mr. Youngerman in mak- ing improvements of substantial work. He was married to Miss Mena Stark in 1856; she was born in Germany. They have a family of seven children: Willie, George, Louie, Charlie, August, Frank and Mena.
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