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 94
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byterian Church in June, 1848, and remained its pastor until October, 1865, when he resigned. A few primitive cabins, a group of soldiers' bar- racks, and hazel brush, were all of where now stands a city of magnificent pro- portions. Mr. Bird was then a poor man, with a wife and several little. children dependent on him for support, but with an abiding faith in his God he surveyed with cheerfulness the field of his labor, and girded him- self for the work before him and the privations of pioneer life. He entered at once upon an active, busy life. On foot or on horseback he traversed his territory, going from neighborhood to neighborhood, swimming rivers, plunging through sloughs, to preach in some cabin or shaded grove. To walk from Red Rock to Cedar Rapids to attend a meeting of the Synod or Presbytery, was not an unusual occurrence. He went where duty called, at all times and in all seasons. His presence was always greeted with glad- ness. He was the able defender of the faith, and a wise counselor. Sunday- schools were special objects of interest with him, and Bible and tract dis- tribution his favorite work. In 1852 he began the erection of a church edi- fice, on Fourth street, on the lot adjoining Mills & Co.'s block, an account of which will be found on page 679. Mr. Bird, early in the settlement of the town made small but judicious investments in real estate, which, owing to the rapid growth and prosperity of the town and city, placed him in easy finan- cial circumstances. Jan. 1, 1864, he was stricken with paralysis, from which he did not recover, and on Monday, January 4, 1869, on a beautiful day, just as the sun went down in the west, sweetly as a babe falls asleep this noble father in Israel closed his eyes in death. He was of that class of men who leave their impress where they live, and to him, and the noble, self-sacrificing labors of his wife, now living, is the city of Des Moines largely indebted for its present good name and prosperity. They laid the foundation stone of her social structure on the church and school, upon which has been built a monument grand and glorious.
BIRD, W. K .- William Knowlton Bird, eldest son of Rev. Thompson. Bird, was born in Thorntown, Boone Co., Ind., Sept. 9, 1840. In 1847, with his parents he came to Iowa, where he has grown to manhood. In his youth he possessed uncommon educational advantages, receiving the tute- lage of his father, and cultured, affectionate mother, who evidently moulded his character and impressed upon him those traits of in- tegrity and sterling worth which give him to-day a prominent place among the business men of the city of his adoption. He
early entered a select school at Norwich, Connecticut, but was unable to pursue his studies, owing to the weakness of his eyes. Return- ing home, he taught school several terms, until the tocsin of war sounded, when he enlisted in company D of that noble, heroic, grand old band of patriots, the Second Iowa Infantry, but was rejected because of the diffi- culty with his eyes. Undaunted he persisted in his object, and finally suc- ceeded in securing a place in the ranks. At the end of nine months he was compelled to return home, and for more than three years was unable to transact any business. So soon as he recovered from his disability he en- tered a dry goods store as salesman, and his genial manners, cultivated mind, and honesty of purpose, at once made him popular. In 1873 he naturally concluded that what was profitable to his employers would be also to himself, and renting the corner of Court Avenue and Fourth street in the then unoccupied Aborn House, he began to paddle his own canoe. It was not long until his increasing business demanded more commodious
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quarters. Luckily the State Insurance Company decided to erect a fine stone front structure on Fourth street between Court Avenue and Walnut. With a keen sagacity which marks the successful business man, Mr. Bird at once secured the occupancy of the entire first story and basement, which was arranged for his special use, making one of the largest and best ap- pointed dry goods houses in the West. While many wiseacres doubtingly shook their heads, Mr. Bird, with that indomitable energy and self-reliance which so characterized his father, venturned to supply a trade want of metropolitan proportions. Events have proved his remarkable success. Through all the recent years of panic and financial revulsions, his com- mercial ship neither tacked to the right nor left, nor went backward, but straight on, and to-day he stands with the first of business men in the city, possessing the confidence and highest esteem of all in social and monetary circles-one to whom citizens can point with a good degree of pride, as in sev- eral other cases where Mother Bird had the early training. November 14, 1866, Mr. Bird was united in marriage with Miss Mary H. Earle, of Mil- ton, Rock county, Wisconsin. One child, a daughter, Anna May, was born to them, who died September 7, 1868.
BLYLER, F. F .- Teacher. Mr. B. was born in Lehigh county, Penn- sylvania, April 27, 1846. When he was seven years of age his parents re- moved to Summit county, Ohio, where they resided until 1857, when they removed to Iowa, locating in Beaver township, Polk county, where the sub- ject of this sketch was raised. October 10, 1862, he enlisted in the Second Iowa battery, and served until August, 1865. After the war he was en- gaged for some time in the grocery business in Elkhart, after which he en- gaged for some three years in agricultural pursuits, and teaching school of winters. In 1871 he engaged in the nursery business at Mitchellville, which he followed for some five years. Since that time he has been mostly engaged in teaching, being at the present time employed in teaching in one of the East Side schools. June 12, 1867, he was united in marriage to Miss Ruth S. Lee, daughter of Mr. Ishmael Lee, one of the oldest and most respected citizens of Beaver township. She died December 19, 1871, leaving two children: Peter and Jay. He married for his second wife Mrs. Eva Carebolt, a daughter of one of the pioneers of Elkhart township, Samuel Venaman. From this union he has two children: Freddie and Lee Forest.
BOEHLER, C. A .- Was born in Baden, Germany, August 31, 1836, and was raised and educated at Waldshut. He remained there until 17 years of age, following the hotel and post-office business, and in 1853 emigrated to the United States, landing in New York, where he resided six years .. He was there engaged in the hotel and restaurant business, and then went to Newark, N. J., remained there one year, and thence to New Orleans; was there at the opening of the war, and went into the service as sutler in the One Hundred and Twenty-eighth New York volunteers under Lieutenant- Colonel J. P. Foster. He participated in the battles of forts Hudson and Donelson and the Red River expedition. In 1864 he came to this city, and in 1865 engaged in his present business, saloon and billiard hall. He was married in New York City, June 12, 1859, to Miss Louisa Brutsche, a native of the same place as himself. They have five children: Louisa, Albert, Annie, Nettie, and Andrew; have lost two: Emma and Louie.
BOGUE, C. D .- Of the firm of Bogue & Wymnan, proprietors of the Kirkwood House, is a native of Vermont, and was born in 1832, and was
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raised there with a mercantile experience. He then went to New York, and entered the employ of a large dry goods house, and remained there until 1854, when he engaged in the dry goods business in St. Albans, Ver- mont. At the outbreak of the war he sold out his business and enlisted in the Tenth Vermont infantry as private; was afterward commissioned second lieutenant, first lieutenant and captain. For six months he was en- gaged on provost duty in Maryland. He was detailed on the staff of the third division of the Third Army Corps, and retained this position until the Third Army Corps was merged into the Second, Fifth and Sixth Army Corps. He was then appointed on the staff of the third division of the Sixth Army Corps. He was wounded at Cold Harbor on the 3d of June, 1863, and at Frederick City, July 9, 1864, and laid in the officer's hospital, at Annapolis, for two months, and after recovering was sent to Portland, Maine, for light duty. For three months he was post-adjutant, and six,
judge-advocate. After the surrender of Lee he was ordered back to his regiment to be mustered out, which occurred at Balies' Cross Roads in 1865. After his return from the army he came West and settled in Omaha, and after a residence of eight years in Omaha, in which he was engaged in the hotel business, he then changed his residence to Des Moines, where he re- sumed the same occupation. In May, 1879, in connection with John Wyman, under the name of Bogue & Wyman, opened the Kirkwood House, and has succeeded in building an enviable reputation. He has a cordiality of manner which is truly refreshing, and his social qualities give him pre- eminent fitness to preside over a public house. He was united in marriage with Mrs. J. A. Ayers, whose maiden name was Lacy, in 1879. She is a native of New York.
BOWMAN, M. T. V .- General Agent of the Washington Life Insur- ance Company, is a native of Waterville, Maine, and was born on the 6th day of July, 1838, and resided in his native place until sixteen years of age. His early youth was spent in attending school. In 1854 he went to West Virginia, where he was for two years engaged in teaching. He then attended Granville College, now Dennison University, in Ohio, two years, and returned to Maine, and resumed the occupation of teaching, which he continued until the outbreak of the rebellion, when he enlisted in the First Maine cavalry, and was commissioned first lieutenant. He remained in the service four years, most of the time as brigade and division com- missary. Returned to Augusta, Maine, and was mustered out of the United States service. He then engaged in mercantile pursuits at Charleston, Mass, and after prosecuting his business for a short time, he, in 1867, availed himself of an opportunity to engage in the hardware trade in Newton, Iowa. After conducting this a short time he was employed as a special agent of the Washington Life Insurance Company. He came to this city in 1870 as General Agent of the Brooklyn Life Insurance Company, and after holding this office eleven months he accepted the gen- eral agency of the Washington Life Insurance Company, and the success which has attended his career is an evidence of his peculiar fitness for the posi- tion. As a business man he is prompt and energetic. Upright in all his dealings he has secured the esteem with all whom he has to do. In the spring of 1880 Gov. Gear appointed him aid-de-camp on his staff, with the rank of lieutenant colonel. He was united in marriage with Miss Josephine Webber on the first of January, 1864. She is a native of Maine, but a resident of Charleston, Mass. Their family consists of four children: Leona,
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De Forest, Harold M., Hermon T. They have lost three: Maud, Curtis H., Howard H.
BOWEN, B. W .- Principal of Business College, was born in Van Buren county, Iowa, October 19, 1841, and resided there until 1856, and then re- moved to Wapello, Louisa county. He was raised a farmer and educated in the common schools and at the Wesleyan University at Mt. Pleasant. He has been engaged in teaching seventeen years. He was married on the 5th day of September, 1865, to Miss Lucinda E. Ruble, a native of Bur- lington, Iowa. She died May 12, 1879, leaving three children: Clara E., Iris A., and Mary A. He married for his second wife Mrs. Hannah M. Hagedon, whose maiden name was Hall. She is a native of this State.
BOTKIN, A. H .- Teacher. Born October 3, 1826, in Clark county, Ohio, where he resided until he removed to Clinton county, same State, in 1849, where he remained until 1866, when he removed to Iowa, locating in Des Moines. During the rebellion he was a member of the Seventy-ninth Ohio, company D, enlisting the 21st of July, 1862. In the spring of 1863 he was promoted to the captaincy of company C, same regiment, in which position he served until the close of the war. During the time he was in the service he participated in many hotly contested engagements. At the battle of Peach Tree Creek, the 20th of July, 1864, his company went into the engagement with 60 men, 30 of whom were either killed or wounded, his company being the color company of the regiment. He was joined in marriage to Martha A. Dillon, a native of Wilmington, Ohio, in 1849.
BOWMAN, J .- Physician and surgeon. Is a native of Maine, and was born April 10, 1849. When two years of age his parents moved to Virginia, and he was there raised and educated in the private schools, which he afterward supplemented by a classical course under Dr. Warren, in the Warren Academy, for one year. Then began the study of medicine in Illinois with his father, who went to that State in 1866. He also at- tended lectures at the Miami Medical College, at Cincinnati, Ohio, gradu- ating from that institution in 1872. He then engaged in his profession in Illinois until 1875, when he came to this city. His marriage was in Clay county, Ills., May 23, 1875, to Miss Annie C. Ketchum, of that State. They have two sons: Jasper J., and Clendaur J.
BOYD, W. F .- Was born in Darke county, Ohio, September 5, 1848, where he resided until seventeen years of age, when he removed with his parents to Iowa, and settled in Madison county. In the spring of 1866, it being the year following his arrival in Iowa, he engaged in his present bus- iness, that of photographer. His place of business was first at Winterset, where he remained about one and a half years; at the expiration of that time his services were required on the home farm, and he was compelled to temporarily abandon his chosen calling. At the end of three years he re- sumed his former occupation, and has followed it continually ever since. Mr. Boyd is an artist by nature, and this inherited talent has been sup- plemented by years of industry and careful study. His reputation at the present time is among the best in the State. He was married August 31, 1874, to Miss Sadie M. Laudenback, of Madison county, who is a native of Indiana. They have one child: a daughter, named Lulu M.
BRANDT, ISAAC-Youngest son of David Brandt and Martha nee Hamilton, was born April 7th, 1827, near Lancaster, Fairfield county, Ohio. His father was of German ancestry, and his mother of Scotch-Irish nationality. The youthful years of the subject of this sketch were devoted .
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to farm labor and acquiring an education in the district school. At the age of sixteen he was apprenticed to learn the boot and shoemaking trade; he served the regular period of two years after the old rule of working for nothing. At the close of his apprenticeship, until he was twenty-one, he spent the most of his time at working at his trade during the summer and attending school in winter. The morning he was of age he rented a shop and began business for himself on a small scale, not having a farthing to begin with. The first day (Friday) found him in his shop, and by day- light he had it cleaned out ready for work. He soon found a job in which "he made seventy-five cents; on Saturday he earned a dollar, and the next week gave him a clean profit of ten dollars. This was the commencement of his business life. He soon found that it was not good to be alone, and so he took a partner, in the person of Miss Harriet Wisely, which event was celebrated November 1, 1848. Miss Wisely was of English-Irish parent- age, and was a native of the neighborhood in which her husband was born and where he lived. In May, of the following year, he emigrated with his young wife to Auburn, De Kalb county, Indiana, where he renewed his labors in the manufacture of boots and shoes. By close application and constant work he soon built up an excellent trade, and secured all the work he could do with fair wages. In October, 1854, he was elected Sheriff, and held the office two years with credit to himself and satisfaction to his friends. In January, 1856, in company with Judge Morris, of Ft. Wayne, and T. R. Dickerson, of Waterloo, Indiana, he made a trip to Iowa, visiting Iowa City, Des Moines, and Council Bluffs, at which place Mr. Brandt made some investments that proved in after years to be very profitable. After returning to Indiana he found that the beautiful prairies of Iowa had enchanted him, and accordingly in the spring of 1858 he sold all his effects and moved with his wife and three small children to Des Moines. In the spring of 1859 he engaged in merchandising, which he continued until the fall of 1865, when he closed out his stock and engaged in the real estate business. During the rebellion he was an active worker for the sup- port and encouragement of the men in the field, and contributed liberally to all needed funds for the successful prosecution of the war. He has always been an active advocate of temperance, and can say what can be said by but few, that he never tasted a drop of alcoholic drinks, wine, or beer, and this is an experience of fifty-three years. In the fall of 1862 he was elected G. W. C. T. of I. O. G. T .; re-elected in 1863, and again in 1870, and in the fall of 1871, and again in 1879, making five full terms in the chief office of the order. He devotes his entire moral powers to the cause of temperance, which costs him from $100 to $300 a year, without counting his time. As a politician he is a staunch Republican. In 1867 he was appointed as Deputy State Treasurer. In the fall of 1873 Mr. Brandt was elected a member of the Fifteenth General Assembly of Iowa. He was made chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means; also of the Commit- tee on Cities and Towns. With his usual good management he succeeded in getting several important measures through the House that were of great importance to the State and the larger cities within the State. In the spring of 1877 he was elected a member of the city council of Des Moines, and by his fellow councilmen chosen mayor, pro tem. In the spring of 1880 he was selected as the Republican candidate for the office of mayor of Des Moines, but owing to a sectional division of the city he was defeated by a small majority. His family circle are: Amos W., Alice J. (now Mrs. J. B.
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Taylor), Olive C., George W., and Willie R. Lost one, Josiah. His oldest child is thirty years of age, and none of his children have ever taken a cup of tea or coffee; neither have they tasted any alcoholic drink.
BRAZLETON, JOHN-Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, November 21, 1836, where he was raised to manhood. He served during the war of the rebellion in the First Wisconsin infantry, company J, enlisting under the first call of President Lincoln for three-months men, serving out his term, and re-enlisting in the same company and regiment the 1st of Octo- ber, 1861, serving three years, when he was honorably discharged. He re- mained out of the service but a few days, when he again enlisted in the same regiment, and served until the close of the rebellion. He partici- pated in all the battles in which the western army was engaged, being with Sherman in his march to the sea. During the entire time he was in the service he never lost a day from duty, and was but once slightly wounded. He came to Des Moines in 1872, and for some eighteen months was engaged in railroading, after which he engaged in hotel keeping on the East Side, which business he followed for some two years, after which he was in the employ of Watt & Cochrane for some two years. In 1878 he was elected member of the city council from the Seventh ward, being elected as a Republican from a Democratic ward over a very popular competitor. He was united in marriage in the fall of 1865 to Miss Mary Hafer. They have three children: William, Milton, and Edna Pearl.
BRISTOW, P. H .- Deputy Auditor, was born in Henry county, Iowa, on the 8th day of June, 1846, and while young removed to Lee county, and was raised a farmer, at the same time receiving the benefits of a good com- mon school education, and for several years was engaged in teaching. He came to this county in 1871, and for two years was connected with the State Republican, and between three and four years was Deputy United States Collector. He also held the position of superintendent of the Des Moines Exposition Company, and June 1, 1878, entered the Auditor's office as deputy. He is also a member of the board of education and a member of the board of trustees of Des Moines University. In 1873 he was united in marriage with Miss Anna Rouse, a native of Indianapolis, . Indiana. To them three children have been born: Harry L., Bertha, and Sherman P.
BRISTOW, G. W .- County Auditor, was born in Washington county, Iowa, September 8, 1841, and was raised principally in Lee county. He was raised a farmer and followed it as an occupation until the outbreak of the rebellion and then enlisted in the First Iowa infantry under the first call, and after serving four months, enlisted in the First Engineer regiment of the West, served three years and three months and then re-enlisted in the Ninth U. S., Hancock Veteran Volunteers. He then went to St. Louis and became the clerk of the city assessor, and, in 1867, came to this county and engaged in teaching and for some years was engaged in the County Treas- urer's office, first as clerk and afterward as deputy. In 1877 he was elected Auditor and re-elected in 1879. He was united in marriage with Miss Eliza R. Claflin, in 1866. She was born in Keosauqua, Van Buren county. By this union they have three children: Walter, Percy and Erma.
BROOKS, MRS. T. K .- Widow of the late Dr. Brooks, who was born in Montpelier, Vermont, May 4, 1811. As his father was a farmer, his early days were spent on a farm. When about twenty-one years of age he went to New Lisbon, Ohio, and there studied medicine with
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Dr. McCook and graduated at Philadelphia. About the year 1839 he went to Terre Haute, Indiana, and there commenced the practice of his profess- sion, and on the 2d of November, 1843, he was married to Miss Phebe, daughter of James and Elizabeth Barnes. They continued to live there until September, 1845, when they came to this city. Mrs. Brooks is the oldest settler now living in the city. For five years after coming Dr. Brooks continued the practice of his profession, but at the same time was engaged in farming, this being the principal object in coming here, but as there was but one physician here, and he at the Fort, he was compelled to give up farming and devote himself to his chosen calling. He died in this city, February 28, 1868, aged fifty-seven years. Left two sons: James F., now living in this city, who was educated at the university of Ann Arbor; and Lorenzo Las Cases, who graduated at West Point in June, 1879, and is now second lieutenant of company A, Fifth cavalry, regular army, and is located at Fort Larimie, Wyoming Territory.
BROWN, T. E .- Was born in Chenango county, New York, on the 4th day of October, 1830, and resided in his native place until sixteen years of age and spent his early life on a farm. From New York he went to Penn- sylvania, and after a residence there of two years returned to New York State and studied law in Elmira and in 1854 was admitted to the bar. The same year he came to this county and has been prominent as one of its most active and enterprising citizens. His good judgment and confidence in regard to the future of Des Moines is evinced by his investments in real estate, his addition to the city, and his efforts in laying out a park; and the expenditures in making it an attractive place of resort, should meet the hearty approval and have the sympathy of every citizen of Des Moines. He was married to Miss Anna L. Marsh, in September, 1856. She is a native of Ithica, New York. Their family consists of four children: Frank T., Carrie L., Tallmedge and Ralph M.
BROWNE, JOHN-Is a native of Wales and was born on the 8th day of May, 1815, and lived there until seventeen years of age and then went to Liverpool, where he was educated with a mercantile experience. In 1840 he emigrated to the United States and settled in Brooklyn, New York, and from this place removed to Whitestown, Oneida county, New York, and became connected with the New York Mills, and, after remaining with this company for about eight years, engaged in the insurance business in Utica. In 1854 he made arrangements with the Des Moines Navigation and Rail- road Company to take charge of their business in this State, and since 1867 has had entire control. His life has been one of ceaseless activity, and re- markable for energy and courage. He is a man of good sound understand- ing and large practical experience, and his career for the past twenty-five years is sufficient evidence of a successful manager. Mr. Browne has been thrice married-first, in 1834, to Miss Jane Swall, a native of England, who died in 1856, leaving seven children: Mary S. (now Mrs. Parmelee), John H., Edwin, Hamilton, Cornelia (now Mrs. Carpenter), George and Carrie (now Mrs. Chambers). He married for his second wife, Miss S. M. Scott, a native of Vermont. His third wife was Miss Fannie Scott, a sister of his first wife.
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