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 95
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BROWN, LEVI J .- Attorney, is a native of Portage county, Ohio, and was born on the 18th day of May, 1838. His early life was spent on a farm. He had the advantages of a common school education, supplemented by
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attendance at Hiram College. In 1860 he entered the State University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, and was graduated from the literary and law de- partment. In 1865 his inclination as well as good judgment led him to settle in this city, where he was for a time associated with Judge Mitchell. In 1867 he formed a partnership with C. A. Dudley, and they are the oldest legal firm in the city. Impelled by worthy ambition, he has made his way in the world and has achieved an enviable position in the profession. He was united in marriage with Miss Lizzie Block, 1870. She is a native of Cleveland, Ohio.
BRUNSDON, J .- Wholesale dealer in cigars and tobacco, was born in Gloucestershire, England, on the 10th day of February, 1852, and resided there until 1870. In early life he was apprenticed to the grocery business, and followed it as an avocation until coming to America, in 1870. He settled first in Hamilton, Canada, and after a residence there of two years came to Des Moines and engaged in his present business, in which he has been satisfactorily successful.
BRYAN, J. A .- Chief of Police; born October 8, 1841, in Greene county, Ohio. When he was seven years of age his parents removed to Madison county, Iowa, where he resided some fifteen years, during which time he commenced to learn the trade of carpenter, finishing the same in Des Moines, having taken up his residence here in 1862. From that time until 1872 he was engaged in working at his trade. That year he was appointed on the police force, serving one year as policeman. The year following he was appointed deputy marshal under Adamn Hafner, serving in that position for two years, after which he served two years as police- man. In 1878 he was elected city marshal, which position he held until March, 1880, having been elected by a majority of over 600 votes over a very popular competitor. March, 1880, he was appointed by the mayor to his present position. He was united in marriage to Miss Margaret J. Tumbleson, a resident of Winterset, December 18, 1861. They have buried two children: Ida May and Cora.
BUTTKEREIT, C. G .- Merchant tailor. He was born in Prussia on the 3d day of May, 1826, and in his early boyhood was raised on a farm, and received his education in the schools of his native country. He began his trade when about eighteen years of age, and in 1851 came to America, stopping first in New York City about two years, and from there to Litch- field, Conn. In 1855 he came to Tama county, this State, and from there to this city in 1874, and engaged in his present occupation. Mr. Butt- kereit from his boyhood up has been of an ingenious disposition, and is the inventor of the " bell piano," an instrument similar to the piano forte, except that the tones are produced by bells. He spent about fifteen years in the study and completion of this invention, and it is his object to make it more perfect in the future. The amount he has expended on the one he now has is about $3,300. He feels that he can no doubt yet add to the musical world an instrument of true merit, and one that will far exceed anything yet invented in beauty and quality of tone. His marriage was in Con- necticut, in 1854, to Miss Roxanna Addis, of that State. By this marriage they have one daughter, Alice, who possesses many rare qualifications as a musician on the violin, piano and organ. She began the study of music when only seven years of age, and since that time has devoted about five hours each day to practice. Her instruction was under the well-known Professor Proctor.
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BUSH, F. P .- Was born in Cleveland, Ohio, October 28, 1848. When a child his parents removed to New Haven, Connecticut, the place of their birth. His mother's maiden name was Charlotte W. Kimberly, a descend- ant of the Kimberly who came to New Haven in 1638. His father's ancestors came from England in 1812. Young Bush passed his youth in New Haven, where he was educated. In 1868 he entered the employ of a dry goods firm as salesman, where he remained until 1877. From New Haven he removed to Iowa, locating in Des Moines. Two years he was engaged as traveling agent for Tone Brothers. In September, 1879, he bought a half interest in connection with W. H. Langan in the confec- tionery establishment with which he is now identified. The house with which he is connected was established during the year 1871. The firm is known by the name of Chapin, Merritt & Co. They are not only enter- prising and active men, who constantly study the demands of their trade and the wants of their customers, but in addition to this they are ingenious and skillful confectioners, being practical manufacturers of a superior line of goods. Their confectionery is manufactured from the best quality of pure sugar, and the popularity of their goods, which is generally acknowl- edged throughout a large region of country, has resulted in a trade fully. justifying the metropolitan pretensions of the house. To this firm is the city indebted for the successful operation of at least one manufacturing establishment, and to the prosperity of its manufacturing interests must the city look for future and permanent growth.
BUSH, D .- Among the old settlers of Polk county may be mentioned the subject of this sketch, who was born in Pennsylvania in March, 1799, and lived in his native place until ten years of age, and then removed to Licking county, Ohio, where he learned the tanning business, and followed it until he came to Polk county in 1847, and continued the same business; and his was the first tannery in this county. Since coming to the county he has spent six and one-half years in California; he married Miss Eliza- beth Mone on the tenth day of February, 1824; she was born in Ohio. They have two children, Leonidas H. and Horace M.
BUSHNELL, JOSEPH P .- The subject of this sketch was born in, Jefferson, Ashtabula county, Ohio, October 11, 1845. His father was a lawyer by profession, and was associated in practice with Benjamin F. Wade and Joshua R. Giddings. His mother was born in Hartford, Ohio. When he was only two years old his father died. His mother returned with her only child to Hartford, where they remained four years. At the end of that time his mother married Mr. W. T. Crouse, of Youngstown, Ohio, and resided there about two years, when his parents removed to Freeport, Illi- nois. In 1853 the family came to Iowa City and settled on a farm. He entered the State University and remained two years, when, the war for the Union having broken out, he enlisted in company D, Forty-fourth Iowa volunteer infantry. After the war closed he returned, entered the Uni- versity, remaining two years, when he found it necessary, on account of fail- ing health, to engage in some out door pursuit, and accordingly traveled for some time for a commercial house in Chicago. In the spring of 1867 he engaged in the hotel business in Council Bluffs, where his parents removed, the same year. Two years later he entered into the newspaper and general publishing business, to which he has since devoted all his time. October 11th, 1871, Mr. Bushnell was married to Miss Agnes O. Tubbs, daughter of Dr. O. A. Tubbs, of Council Bluffs, now a resident of Des Moines. They
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have two children : Charles J. and Grace A. Mr. Bushnell removed to Des Moines, his present home, in 1870, and commenced the publication of the Des Moines City Directory, which he has published since that time. He has also published the history of a number of counties in Iowa during the past ten years, and during the past five years has published the Iowa Com- mercial Gazette. This has recently been consolidated with the Iowa Home- stead, the largest and oldest agricultural newspaper in Iowa, having been published in Des Moines nearly twenty-five years. This consolidation makes the Homestead a stronger and better paper than it has been, even under the former efficient management. Mr. Bushnell will still publish his Des Moines City and Polk county directories. He has also a work in press entitled " A Business and Household Manual," which, from its contents, we judge will become a popular work in every business house and household in the land. Mr. Bushnell is zealous in behalf of Des Moines, and is doing all he can by personal effort and through the press to aid in building up. the city, believing that "Des Moines will not only remain the metropolis of Iowa, but in the near future will be the great railroad and commercial center of the northwest." From his youth Mr. Bushnell has ever been an active advo- cate of temperance. In religion he is a Methodist and in politics a Repub- lican. He has that disposition and temperament which renders him amiable, social, honorable, and humane, qualities which insure the respect and good will of all his friends and neighbors. He is sympathetic and benevolent, and conscientious in his intercourse with men. As a citizen he is honored by all who know him as an honest and trustworthy member of society.
BUTLER, H. S .- General agent for the McCormick Harvesting Machine Company. The subject of this sketch owes his nativity to Oneida county, New York, where he was born on the seventeenth of December, 1840. When ten years of age he accompanied his parents to Whiteside county, Illinois, where he resided for four years. After living in various places for a num- ber of years he finally came to Polk county, in the fall of 1868. During his early manhood he followed farming, and while living in Wisconsin was- engaged as engineer on a steamboat, running on the Fox river. While in Chicago he kept books for a prominent firm, and for the last thirteen years has been engaged in the agricultural implement business, at which he has. been very successful. He was married on the twentieth of March, 1871, to Miss Aurilla Everett, a native of Kalamazoo, Michigan. They have had four children, of whom only two are now living: Maud and an infant; lost two: Robert and Bessie. Mr. Butler is marked as a man of broad views, firm adherence to avowed principles, quick perception and sound judgment, which, combined with excellent business tact, has given him an influence and success well worthy of emulation.
ADY, T. H .- Dealer in lime, cement, etc., was born in Indiana, Jan. C 28, 1838; when about one year of age his parents came to this State, first locating at Burlington. One year later he removed to Henry county, and a short time after his mother died. He lived there about four years when he and his father returned to Burlington. His father died in that city. Before his death our subject was bound out to one Alex McDonald, and remained about twelve years. His educational advantages were lim- ited, and what he now has, which is of no mean order, he has gained by his- own exertions. In 1859 he came to this county and located in Des Moines. December 31, 1857, he was married to Miss Margaret S. Roberts, a native
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of Indiana. They have two sons and four daughters: Edith B., Allie J., John D., Edward, Minnie and Myrtle living, and Wm. F. deceased. Mr. Cady has been engaged in his present business for twelve years and has been very successful. His success can only be attributed to hard work and fair dealing in trade.
CAMPBELL, DR. JAMES-One of the pioneer settlers of Polk county, was born in Gallia county, Ohio, on the eleventh day of June, 1815. He was raised a farmer and desiring to avail himself of the opportunities of- fered in the then Far West, he journeyed on horseback, and so thinly set- tled was the country through which he came that in traveling west from Terra Haute, Indiana, he only saw one house in a day's ride, and from Vir- ginia, in Louisa county to Mt. Pleasant, in Henry county, there was not a house. In 1839 he settled in Van Buren county, and in March, 1846, came to this county and purchased a stock of sutler's goods and opened out in the old guard-house, near where Third and Vine streets now are, and thus he became one of the first if not the first merchant in the town. He held the office of treasurer and recorder, and has seen the city grow from soldiers' barracks to the largest city in the State. He has been twice mar- ried; first to Miss Calista Hill on the eighth day of July, 1841; she was a native of Ohio, and died on the eighth day of June, 1858. On the twenty- second day of July, 1863, he married Barbary Keltz, a native of Zanesville, Ohio. He has five children : Milton, Emaline (now Mrs. Hathaway of Cali- fornia), John, Sarah (now Mrs Bird), and Albert.
CAMP, J. M .- Blacksmith and wagon maker, was born July 7, 1847, in Knox county, Ohio, and there was raised until fifteen years of age, when with his parents he removed to Monmouth, Illinois. He remained in that place until 1866, when, on leaving there, he came to Iowa locating at Sig- ourney, Keokuk county, and there resided until 1876. Then took up his residence in Des Moines, and since that time has followed his chosen calling. During the war Mr. Camp was in the employ of the government, part of the time working at his trade. He was married in 1868 to Mary McClenahan, a native of Illinois. They have four children: Franklin J., Ida, William and Lillie. His father was a member of the Twenty-second Iowa infantry during the war, and died at Vicksburg, July 22, 1863. . His mother died at Atlantic, this State, February 18, 1873.
CARTER, DR. E. H .- Physician and surgeon. One of the prominent physicians and most successful practitioners of this city is the subject of this sketch. He was born in Prince Williams county, Virginia, on the 9th day of July, 1836, and resided in his native place until 1849, and then removed to New London, Iowa. His early life was that of a farmer boy, and his time was divided between farm duties and attending school. In 1848 he first came to this county, and for a time was engaged in teaching. After deciding to make the practice of medicine his life calling, he entered the office of Dr. Wm. Mowlesworth as preceptor, in 1861. He attended lectures at Cincinnati, Ohio, and was graduated in 1865. In 1869 he spent the winter in New York, attending the New York Medical Univer- sity. He was married January 21, 1865, to Miss Amanda Richmond, a native of Ohio. They have one child, Edwin R.
CARSON, GEO. D .- Proprietor of meat market. Was born in Buf- falo, New York, September 15, 1849, and in 1867 came to this city. He has been engaged in business for ten years, and is the oldest butcher on the East Side. His mother died when he was four years old, and a few
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years afterward he went upon the lakes. He was married January 1, 1870, to Miss Nellie Porter, a native of Ohio, born near Marietta. They are the parents of one son and daughter: Georgietta and Fred. D.
CARSON, W. C .- Proprietor meat market. Was born near Buffalo, New York, September 3, 1841, and made that place his home until 1870. When about fourteen years old he went upon the lakes for a living, which he continued more or less until 1870, when he came to this city and engaged in his present business on the East Side. He was married in Buffalo, New York, to Miss Catharine Ebersold. They have a family of four sons and one daughter: William, John, George, Frank and Maud.
CASADY, P. M .- Many of the early settlers of Fort Des Moines have been eminently successful. They were men of intellectual, moral, and physical stamina, industrious, energetic, and shrewd, and early laid a good foundation, and have built slowly, yet surely and safely. Among these is P. M. Casady. He was born near Connersville, Indiana, on the 3d day of December, 1818, where he received his early education at the seminary of that place. He was raised on a farm, and finding the routine of farm duties unsuited to his taste, early resolved to devote his life to some other occupation. Finding in the law a wide field for the employment and cul- tivation of his best powers, he decided to fit himself for that profession, and was admitted to the bar February 16, 1841. In 1842 he was appointed Deputy Clerk of the Circuit Court of Rush county, Indiana, and held that office until he decided to remove to Iowa, in May, 1846. He arrived at Fort Des Moines on the 11th of June of that year, and commenced the practice of law in this and adjoining counties, and was appointed postmaster by Cave Johnson, Postmaster-General, under the Polk administration, and resigned December 31, 1848. The same year he formed a partnership with R. L. Tidrick, under the firm name of Casady & Tidrick, which existed until 1853. April 5th, 1847, he was appointed School Fund Com- missioner for Polk county, and resigned the office in eight or nine months. In August, 1848, he was elected State Senator for the district composed of the counties of Marion, Polk, Jasper, Dallas, and all the counties to the Missouri River, west, and to the State line on the north, and served two regular sessions, the Second and Third General Assembly of the State Leg- islature. He was elected Judge of the Fifth judicial district, and received the commission, was sworn into office, but immediately resigned the office, and accepted the appointment of President Pierce of Receiver of Public. Moneys for lands, subject to sale in this district, and continued in this. office until his resignation was accepted in the spring of 1857. He then formed a partnership with Gen. M. M. Crocker, and in 1859 J. S. Polk was- taken into the firm, under the firm name of Casady, Crocker & Polk, which continued until 1861, when Gen. Crocker retired to enlist in the service of his country. In 1864 Judge Casady retired from the practice of law and devoted his attention to his private business. In July, 1875, he organized the Des Moines Bank, of which he is president. Mr. Casady was married June 27, 1848, to Miss Augusta Grimmel, a native of Ohio. By this union they have three children: Simon, Frank and Rose (now Mrs. Henry).
CASADY, SIMON-Cashier of the Des Moines Bank. Is the son of P. M. and Augusta Casady, both of whom since 1846 have been residents of Des Moines. He was born on the 16th day of June, 1852. He commenced his banking experience in the National State Bank. In July, 1875, the
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Des Moines Bank was organized, and he was placed in charge as cashier, and has proved himself a courteous and safe financier for one so young in years. He was married June 1, 1880, to Miss S. C. Griffiths, daughter . of J. M. Griffiths, also an early settler of Des Moines; and the subject of this sketch and his wife are the first couple married who were born and raised in this city.
CATE, LESTER-Of the firm of Cate & Graham, transfer men. Was born May 3, 1830, and is a native of Sussexshire, England. He was raised on a farm, and when about twenty-two years of age went to London, and for five years was employed on the police force. About twenty-three years ago he came to this State and located in this city, and has been engaged in his present business about eighteen years. He is the oldest one of his line in the city. He owns a fine farm in Walnut township, consisting of ninety- four acres. His marriage was in London, in August, 1855, to Miss Amelia Merrill. She died, leaving one son: Stephen E. His second marriage was on the 1st of January, 1863, to Miss M. A. King, a native of England. They have three daughters and one son: Jennie, William, Carrie, and Annie.
CALLANAN, JAMES-Capitalist and dealer in real estate, is a native, of Albany county, New York, and was born on the 20th day of October, 1820. After a thorough preliminary education, he was admitted to the. practice of law in 1847, and soon thereafter commenced the practice of his. profession in Albany, New York, where he acquired a large and lucrative business. In 1857 he formed a copartnership with S. R. Ingham, and started the banking house of Callanan & Ingham, at Des Moines, Iowa, in which he had invested largely, Mr. Ingham being the resident manager. In 1861 this firm was dissolved, and the large investments made by Mr. Callanan and the large amount of real estate coming into his hands by rea- son of this change rendered it necessary for him to remove to Des Moines, in 1863, to personally supervise his interests. Since residing in Des Moines. he has always taken an active and lively interest in its welfare, and has been identified with its leading business enterprises. To his individual ef- fort and liberal donation is the foundation of Callanan College indebted. He married Miss Martha C. Coonley, of Albany county, New York, a lady whose graces of mind and person and whose active benevolence and kindly sympathies have endeared her to all who enjoy her acquaintance.
CHAMBERLAIN, A. P .- Of the firm of Chamberlain & Harvison, attorneys at law. Was born in Scioto, county, Ohio, Dec. 11, 1852, and when five years of age he came with his parents to Iowa, locating in Story county. He was raised on a farm, enjoyed good educational advantages, and gradu- ated from the Agricultural College at Ames. He attended the law school in this city, and was admitted to practice in 1876. He has been very suc- cessful and now enjoys a good practice. The present partnership was. formed June 1, 1878. Mr. Chamberlain is also closely identified with the coal interests of this section of the country.
CHRIST, GEORGE-Was born June 26, 1839, in Delaware county, Ohio, where he resided until 1854, when his parents removed to Clayton county, Iowa, and there remained until 1864, when he came to Des Moines. During the war of the rebellion he offered his services to his country three different times, and was as often rejected, on account of disabilities. A portion of the time since residing in Des Moines he has been in the mer- cantile business. In 1871 he was appointed mail agent on the C., R. I. &
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P. R. R., and held the position four years, running from Davenport to Council Bluffs, and two years from Omaha to Chicago. In April, 1876, he was appointed by the city council as marshal to fill out the unexpired term caused by the death of Mr. John Davis, and in March, following, was elected to the same position, serving until March, 1878. In June, 1880, he was appointed mail agent on the road from Des Moines to Albia. Mr. C. has always taken an active part in politics, being a hard worker, and always being in demand in a political fight. At the Congressional convention held at Chariton, in June, 1880, he was elected unanimously as chairman of the Republican Congressional committee, a position admirably adapted to him. He was united in marriage in 1860, to Miss Mary C. Forney. They have six children: Amy, Lizzie, Charles E., Mary G., George, and Katie.
CHRISTY, WM .- Contractor and builder. Born October 16, 1832, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and there learned the trade of a carpenter. He resided in that city until 1857, when he came to Iowa and located in East Des Moines. Since residing in the city he has been largely engaged in contracting and building, having done probably more in that line than any other mechanic now a resident of the city. During the war he served as a member of the Twenty-third Iowa infantry, company C, enlisting in Sep- tember, 1862, and serving until September, 1865, participating in all the battles in which his regiment was engaged. The fall of 1874 he was elected a member of the Board of Supervisors for Lee township, serving one term, and being re-elected in the fall of 1877 to a second. He was united in mar- riage in 1856 to Miss May Deal, also a native of Philadelphia.
CHRISTY, W. D .- City Clerk. Was born in New Lisbon, Ohio, on the 23d day of May, 1841, and when two years of age was taken by his parents to Brownsville, Pennsylvania, where he lived until 1856. He came to Iowa in 1856, and until the outbreak of the war he was attending school. He. enlisted under the first call for 75,000, in the Second Iowa infantry, and served until July, 1865. He took part in the battle of Fort Donelson, where the Second Iowa, for gallant services, achieved such a reputation. He acted as Quartermaster-Sergeant, and since he was mustered out has held the position of chief clerk of the insurance department of the State Insurance Company. He was elected to his present office in the spring of 1880. He married Miss Elizabeth Lunnon in 1870. She was a native of Maryland, and died April 25, 1879, leaving three children : Fred, John, and Lillian.
CHRISTY, A .- Mail-carrier. Was born in Philadelphia, July 31, 1831, and resided there until 1856, when he came here. He is a carpenter and builder by trade. Was married in Philadelphia, in October, 1852, to Miss Martha A. Crawshaw, a native of that city. They have a family of three sons: James, George L., and Frank P. Lost six sons. Mr. Christy has been longer engaged in this business than any one in the city.
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