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 99
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FULLER, DR. GEO. W .- Of the firm of Hallett & Fuller, dentists. Is a direct descendant of the Fuller who came to this country in the May- flower. He is a native of Jefferson county, New York, and was born on the 27th of June, 1838. Was there raised until fourteen years of age, when, with his parents, he removed to this State, and settled in this city in June, 1853. In early youth Dr. Fuller enjoyed excellent educational ad- vantages, and on coming to this county prosecuted his studies still further, until the age of eighteen years, when he commenced teaching school. He was successful as a teacher, and never wanted for a school when he would take one. This he continued for five years, when he commenced the study of dentistry with Dr. Hallett, working with him and under his supervision until 1864, when he was admitted as a partner in the firm. This firm is among the oldest of the kind in the State. Dr. Fuller is a prominent member of the State Dental Association. His studious habits, large expe- rience and attention to his business, combined with excellence of work, has placed him in the front rank of his profession in the State. December 18, 1864, he was married to Miss Charlotte T., daughter of William Phillips,
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who removed to the Territory of Iowa in an early day. She was born in Jackson county, and is one of the first, if not the very first child born in the State. Their family circle consists of three children living: Minnie E., Benjamin and Edith. Dr. Fuller is a prominent Mason, and is a member of the order of Knights Templar, and is now Recorder of Temple Commandery No. 4, K. T. He has also been an active member of the First Baptist Church of Des Moines for several years.
FULLER, C. E .- Treasurer of the Iowa Loan and Trust Company, was born in Ohio on the second day of November, 1830, and resided in his native place until fifteen years of age, and then removed to Grand Rapids, Michigan, and remained there until he attained his majority. His youth was spent in attending school, teaching, and at intervals working at the car- penter and joiner's trade. In 1851 he went to Ohio and entered Hiram College, Hon. James A. Garfield being a student at the same time, and they have been warm friends since that period. After remaining three years he taught more or less for some years, and in 1861 settled in Rochester, Indiana, and published the Rochester Chronicle four years, and thence to Washington, D. C., and accepted a position in the Internal Rev- enue Department. In 1865 he came to South Bend, Indiana, and pur- chased an interest in the St. Joseph Valley Register, so long conducted by Schuyler Colfax, and after a residence of two years emigrated to Iowa and settled in Des Moines, which has since been his home. He was engaged for some years in the abstract and conveyancing business, and while conducting this business was one of the principal organizers of the Iowa Loan and Trust Company, and has been its treasurer or acting treasurer since its organization. He is also cashier of the Iowa Loan and Trust Bank. His career thus far in life has been both honorable and successful, and he enjoys the confidence and respect of the community in which he resides. He was married in 1855 to Miss Mary Watson, of Wayne county, New York.
FULTON, ALEXANDER R .-- The father, James Fulton, of the sub- ject of this notice, removed from Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, to Chilli- cothe, Ohio, when the latter State was on the border of civilization. He was married at Chillicothe in 1824, to Miss Rebecca Greene, who is still living. A. R. Fulton was born near Chillicothe, Ohio, October 11, 1825, and was educated in the common schools, and at. Mt. Pleasant Academy, Kingston, Ross county, Ohio. He came to Fairfield, Iowa, in the spring of 1851, where his first employment was to assist in surveying a line for a plank road from Fairfield to Mt. Pleasant. In December of the same year he became associated with Orlando McCraney in the publication of the Fair- field Ledger, and after a time purchased the entire office. He afterward sold a half interest to W. W. Junkin, and in 1854 the remaining interest. Mr. Fulton was married November 20, 1853, to Mrs. Augusta Wheeler. Since his residence in Iowa he has filled a number of official positions, including a clerkship three sessions in the State Legislature, three terms as County Surveyor (Jefferson county), four years as County Judge, and as a Representative in the Twelfth General Assembly. Soon after the close of his legislative term he removed to Des Moines, and at the organization of the State Board of Immigration in April, 1870, he was appointed secretary of the Board, which position he filled four years. He was also the first secretary of the Board of Capitol Commissioners. He has been connected with the newspaper press of the State in some capacity during the greater
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portion of the last twenty-nine years. Since the organization of a company for furnishing ready-print newspaper sheets at Des Moines in 1873, he has filled the place of editor of those sheets, which position he still holds.
G ARTON, W. T .- Confectioner and baker. Was born in England, Nov. 26, 1840, and partly received his education there. He remained in that country until June, 1852, when he emigrated to America, landing in New York, and from there he went to Indiana, where he completed his education. In the fall of 1856 he concluded to come to Iowa, and accord- ingly settled in this city, and has since resided here, following the above business. His marriage was in Newton, Jasper county, this State, No- vember 12, 1863, to Miss Minerva Allum. They are the parents of seven children, three of whom are living: Ada L., Willie M., and Alfred. Lost four: Mary, Alice, A., and Rosa B.
GETCHELL, C. H .- Of the firm of H. F. Getchell & Sons, lumber dealers, one of Des Moines largest as well as most successful business men, was born in Maine on the 22d day of March, 1841. His youth, until about sixteen years of age, was spent in his native place. He then followed the. water for three years, and in 1862 came to Des Moines, and thence to Mon- tana, where he was for three years engaged in mining with satisfactory re- sults. In 1865 he returned to this city and resumed the lumber business with his father. The firm was the first to handle soft lumber in the city; and from its establishment has done a prosperous business, and some idea of this may be formed when it is known that they established yards at four- teen different stations on or near the Rock Island railroad, and at the present time are the largest shippers of lumber in Central Iowa. Mr. Getchell was married in 1867 to Miss Rachel E. Ankeny, a native of Greene county, Ohio. Their family consists of five children: Eva, Gertie, John, Helen, and Frank.
GILLETT, BENJ. T .- Was born July 19, 1841, at Bridgewater, Som- ershire, England, and lived in and near there until twelve years of age, when he was apprenticed to his uncle for a term of seven years to learn the trade of a tailor. After his apprenticeship he returned to his native town, but remained only a few months and then worked at his trade in Bromyard, Herefordshire, Hereford City, Birmingham, and London, where, in the employ of the famous court tailors, Henry Poole & Co., he gained most of his experience as a tailor. In 1867 Mr. Gillett went to Toronto, Canada, in the employ of J. Stovel & Co., of London, who had a branch house in Toronto, and remained one year, and then to this country. He has filled positions as cutter and tailor in Buffalo, New York, Washington, D. C., New York, and other large cities. He came to this city in 1870 and since that time has resided in Chicago, Buffalo, and Toronto, Ontario. He returned to this city on the 17th of March, 1876, and succeeded Durand & Co. in the business of tailor and clothier and has succeeded in building up a business and reputation which places him among the successful mer- chants. Mr. Gillett is a naturalized and patriotic citizen of this country and takes a lively interest in all questions concerning the welfare of his adopted country. He was married on the 15th day of February, 1875, to Miss Euphemia A. McAlpine, of the Township Elden, near Toronto. They have two children: Frederick William (born January 1, 1877), and Grandville Tazwell (born July 26, 1878).
GIVEN JOSIAH-Was born in Murraysville, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, August 31, 1828. His parents were from Ireland and had
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settled at Murraysville some years previous. In 1838 he went with his father and family to Holmes county, Ohio, where they settled on a farm. His father and elder brother established a cross-roads blacksmith shop, and when a mere lad, he too learned to ply the " noble craft of the smith." He was almost entirely self-educated. Schools in that region, at that time, were few in number and poor in character. From ten to seventeen years of age most of his time was spent in the smith shop. At the outbreak of the war with Mexico he enlisted as a drummer in company I, Fifteenth infantry, and served for a short time with a recruiting squad and was then rejected on account of his youth. A few months later, however-in the spring of '47-he enlisted as a private in company G, Fourth Ohio infantry, Colonel Brough commanding, was appointed third corporal, went with the regi- ment to Mexico and served throughout the war. The war over, the young soldier returned to Millersburg, Holmes county, Ohio, and began to study law in the office of J. R. Barcroft and William Given (an elder brother). In the fall of 1850 he was admitted to the bar in Stark county, Ohio, on motion of Hon. Edwin M. Stanton. He began the practice, and one year later was elected prosecuting attorney for Holmes county and was subse- quently re-elected to a second term. The first case he ever tried in a court of record was a prosecution for murder in the first degree, and in which he secured a conviction against a defense urged by Hon. David Spangler, Hon. John McSweeney and Hon. Thomas Armor-a powerful trio. During his term of office he went to Europe to secure the apprehension of an abscon- ding county treasurer, who had fled to Switzerland with some $22,000 of county funds. The history of this affair would fill a volume and furnish facts " stranger than fiction." He was finally apprehended in Switzerland. He returned home, resumed practice, and was for several years in partner- ship with his former preceptor, J. R. Barcroft. In 1856 he removed to Coshocton, Ohio, and practiced law there until the opening of the rebellion. He was trying a case in court when a telegram announcing the firing on Fort Sumter was brought in and read from the bench. He closed his books, left the court-room and never returned till after the close of the war. He organized company K, Twenty-fourth Ohio volunteer infantry and entered the service as its captain, spent the summer of 1861 in the moun- tains of West Virginia; in the fall was promoted lieutenant-colonel, Eighteenth Ohio, and reported for duty at Elizabethtown, Kentucky; served with this regiment some eighteen months, passing through the battles of Bowling Green, Nashville, etc .; slightly wounded at Stone River; in the spring of 1863 was made colonel of the Seventy-fourth Ohio volunteer in- fantry, to succeed Granville Moody, the " fighting parson"; passed through the battles of the Atlanta campaign and during a portion of it commanded the third brigade of the third division, Fourteenth Army Corps. The fall of Atlanta and virtual end of the rebellion found him completely disabled by rheumatism and he thereupon tendered his resignation. He was elected postmaster of the United States House of Representatives, Thirty-ninth Con- gress, his name being presented in a speech by General James. A. Garfield, of Ohio. After serving two years he returned to Ohio, spent a year settling the affairs of his brother, Colonel William Given, deceased, and then car- ried out a long-cherished project of removing to Iowa. He reached Des Moines May 1, 1868, and began the practice of his profession. In 1869 he was appointed a Deputy Commissioner of Internal Revenue, and assigned the division having charge of taxes on spirits and fermented liquors; re-
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signed this position in 1871, and in January, 1872, began service as District Attorney, Fifth judicial district, and served three years. Since then he has been engaged in private practice with the firm of Barcroft, Given & Mc- Caughan. In 1875 he was a representative from Polk county in the legis- lature. General Given was married to Miss Elizabeth Armor, at Millers- burg, Ohio, in 1851, and has a family of six sons and one daughter. In politics he was a Democrat up to the opening of the rebellion, but has since been an unswerving Republican.
GIVIN, ROBERT-Was born in Ireland, November 28, 1833, his ancestors being of Scotch descent. When a youth of sixteen years he deter- mined to leave his native heath and seek his fortune in the New World. Upon arriving in America he secured employment with a milkman at a salary of ten dollars per month. He remained at this business for but a short time, for he soon found a place in a grocery store where he remained seven years. In 1856 he removed to northern Wisconsin, where he engaged in the real estate and lumber business for six years. He then removed to Keokuk, Lee county, Iowa, and was employed on the Keokuk, Ft. Dodge & Minnesota Railroad, afterward the Des Moines Valley Railroad, as pur- chasing agent. In 1863 he was freight conductor on the same road. While serving in the latter capacity the railroad reached Des Moines, and he had the honor of running the first freight train into the Capital City. In the fall of 1866 he was promoted to the position of passenger conductor and was on this road in that capacity for nine years, when he resigned, and was appointed western traveling agent for the same road. In 1874 he entered into the mercantile business at Keokuk, the firm being known by the name of Given & Hunter. In the spring of 1880 he established his present business in Des Moines. Mr. Givin has been a taxpayer in Des Moines for more than fifteen years, having chosen that city as the place of his residence in 1865. He owns a two-thirds interest in thirty-four lots in Stewart's addition, as well as several valuable farms in Dallas county. He was married April 14, 1880, to Miss Alice Gibson. She was the daughter of Mr. Royal Gibson, a prominent farmer of Cantonsburg, New Hamp- shire. Her grandfather had the honor of teaching Daniel Webster his alphabet. They have five children, named as follows: Annie M., John W., Carrie L., Alice G., and Robert R.
GIVEN, JNO. H .- Of the firm of Given & Carpenter, plow manufact- urers, and the first in his line in Central or Western Iowa. Was born in Virginia, on the 7th day of October, 1820, and lived there twenty-two years. He learned the trade of blacksmith and carriage-maker, and fol- lowed the business a long time as an occupation. He removed to Iowa in 1844, and settled in Wapello county. He came to Des Moines at the time: of the Indian payment, and purchased property he now owns. In 1851 he came here to reside permanently, and commenced his present business, which has kept apace with the city. Mr. G. has devoted his entire time to his business, and by energy, economy and fair dealing, attained a well- merited success. He has never been a political aspirant, but has served as a member of the city council. He was married to Miss Cynthia A. Martin in 1848, a native of Ohio. They have a family of six children: Arthur M., Pauline (now Mrs. Swalm), Eugenie, Charles, Kittie and Mattie.
GLASER, A. LEWIS-Proprietor of greenhouse, north of city limits. Was born in Saxony, Germany, December 15, 1850, where he was raised,
57
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and resided there until 1871, when he emigrated to the United States, lo- cating in Chicago, Ill. He resided there until 1876, when he came to Des Moines, and in 1877 engaged in business for himself. His marriage was in 1879 to Mary Koefland, a resident of Chicago.
GRAEFE, HENRY-Proprietor of the Graefe House. Was born in Holstein, Germany, November 13, 1842, and there was raised and edu- cated. He became engaged in farming, and followed the same until the fall of 1867, when he emigrated to America, landing in New York. From there he removed to New Jersey, where he worked at the brick business, and in 1868 he came to this city and took charge of the hotel. Has a good house, and being a genial and enterprising landlord has won many friends. He was married in this city on the 5th of February, 1872, to Miss Anna Cronig. They are the parents of four children: Harry F., Bertha C., and Emma C. living, and one, Anna C., deceased.
GRAHAM, SETH-Of the firm of Cate & Graham, transfer men. Was born in Wayne county, Ohio, April 17, 1831, and when 7 years of age he moved to Indiana, locating in Pike county in 1838. In 1841 he went to Perry county, Ills., and in 1850 come to Muscatine, this State, and to this city in 1855. His father was a millwright by trade, and young Graham naturally worked at that, and also at carpentering until about 19 years of age. Also served his time as a mechanic, and learned various businesses, that of steamboating, bridge building, milling, etc. In 1850 he started out to make his own way in the world, and how well he has succeeded may be judged from his success. Was married in this city to Miss Elizabeth A. King on the 29th day of November, 1859. She is a native of England. By this union they have two sons and one daughter: Frederick W. and Clarissa A. living, and one, Augustus W., deceased.
GRAY, CHARLES P .- Deceased. Des Moines is not an old city --- men and women yet young in years can remember the time when Des Moines was in its infancy. Notwithstanding this fact the city is old enough to be the scene of the beginning and ending of more than one promising business career; as an example we mention the name of Charles P. Gray, who came to this city in 1864 and died December 23, 1879. He was born in Newark, Ohio, February 28, 1849. When nine years old his father died. He made his entry into Des Moines when a lad of fifteen years and first entered the employ of Keyes & Knight, dealers in queensware. Mr. Knight retiring from the firm he was succeeded by Mr. Gray and the firm was known as Keys & Gray. This partnership continued but for three months, at the expiration of which time O. H. Perkins bought Mr. Key's interest and from that time the firm was known as Perkins & Gray. The business of the new firm rapidly extended itself without any apparent effort of the members of the firm, although in their quiet, gentlemanly way they were doing much to extend the influence of their house over the entire region of country naturally tributary to Des Moines. Mr. Gray was yet a very young man at the time of his death but he lived long enough to see his business prosper far beyond the most sanguine expectations of his early youth. But while he was widely known as a most prudent and accomplished business man, it was as an upright, genial and sociable private citizen that he was especially loved in Des Moines, and as such he will long be remembered by hosts of friends, who but a few short months since, sorrowfully and sadly followed him to the tomb. He was married to Miss Ella H., daughter of
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J. M. Owen, Esq., of Des Moines, a lady of rare accomplishments. There was born to them one son, named Owen.
. GREFE, WILLIAM-Proprietor of the Des Moines Ice Company. Was born in Germany, March 21, 1849, and when very young was brought by his parents to the United States, landing in New York. From there he went to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and thence to Brownsville, same State, and in 1857 he came to Iowa, locating in this county.
Here he has been raised and educated. He became engaged in the butchering business and followed the same until 1864, when he went in the ice business and has since followed the same, and is doing an exten- sive business. Has a fine residence on Second street. Mr. Grefe was mar- ried in this city November 13, 1874, to Miss Mary Hast. They have three children: William, Alvin and Edwin.
GREFE, AL .- Grocer. Was born on the 27th of June, 1851, in Brownsville, Pa., and at the age of 5 years came to Iowa, locating in this city, where he has been raised and educated. He became engaged in the ice business, which he followed until 1868, when he commenced the gro- cery business on an extensive scale, and still follows the same. He was married in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, November 7, 1877, to Miss M. M. Widman. They have one child, Ruth, born November 4, 1879.
GRIFFITH, CAPT. I. W .- Is a native of Trumbull county, Ohio, and was born April 2, 1820. He resided at home until his eighteenth year, working with his father at the carpenter's trade, when, having cherished a desire to go West, he bid adieu to his friends and home and emigrated to Lee county, this State. For a year he engaged in agricultural pursuits, then resumed his labors at his trade, which he continued until his departure for Mexico. In May, 1847, he enlisted in company K, Fifteenth United States infantry, for the Mexican War. On the organization of the company he was appointed corporal, and in July was promoted to sergeant. On the 24th of May the company landed at Vera Cruz, Mexico, from which they took their line of march for Pueblo, the headquarters of General Scott, which they reached July 8th, after numerous guerilla skirmishes on the road, in which they lost their captain and several men. The regiment shared in the battles of Contreras, Churubusco and Chapultepec. August 20, 1847, Mr. Griffith was wounded in the fight at Churubusco, from which he lost his right arm. On the 15th of September he entered the City of Mexico, and on the 1st of November he received his discharge and started for home, where he arrived in February, having remained in Baton Rouge on account of his wound. On his return to Iowa he settled in Lee county, and in August, 1848, was elected to the Legislature, and served as represen- tative of Lee county in the session of 1848-9, being the second session of the Legislature under the State organization. At this session the first United States Senators were elected, and also the Supreme Court Judges. This was one of the most important legislative sessions ever held in the State, and the only one that ever elected three United States Senators. In Au- gust, 1849, he was appointed deputy Sheriff of Lee county, and resigned in November, 1850, and went to Washington, D. C., where for three years he served as Assistant Doorkeeper of the Senate. In the spring of 1853 he was appointed on the capitol police force, and served for five years. In April, 1858, he was appointed Register of the United States Land Office at Des Moines, and was removed by Lincoln in April, 1861. In October, of the same year, he was elected Sheriff of Polk county, served two years,
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and was defeated in 1863 by H. M. Bush. In the fall of 1864 he went to Memphis, Tenn., where he was employed as master mechanic in the quar- termaster's department, and served to the close of the war. In October, 1865, he was appointed Deputy United States Marshal for the Western District of Tennessee, and served until his resignation, April 1, 1868, when he returned to his home in Des Moines. Since that date he has followed various pursuits. In September, 1840 he married Miss Eales Brand, a res- ident of West Point, Lee county, Iowa, but a native of Morgantown, Vir- ginia.
GRUSS, W. F .- Retired merchant. Was born April 3, 1833, near Ber- lin, Prussia. His parents emigrated to the United States when he was quite young, locating in Seneca county, New York, where he resided until he was 21 years of age. In 1856 he came to Iowa, locating in Keokuk, where he was engaged some years in mercantile business. In 1861 he came to this county, locating in Polk City, where he engaged for two years in selling goods. In 1863 he came to Des Moines, and erected a fine busi- ness house on the East Side, and engaged in the dry goods trade, which he followed until the fall of 1878, when, on account of ill health, he was com- pelled to retire from business. In 1854 he was married to Margaret Ken- nedy, a native of Ogdensburg, New York. She died September 25, 1878. leaving five children: Agnes, Albert, Alice, William and Maggie. His second marriage was November 2, 1879, to Mrs. Catherine Carrilly. She had four children from a former marriage: Thomas, Mary, Alice and Katie.
GRUPE, D .- Of the firm of Grupe & Turner, proprietors of the Iowa Boiler Works, was born February 5, 1845, in Pennsylvania, and when but six months of age his parents removed to Iowa, locating in Des Moines county, near Burlington on a farm, where the subject of this sketch was raised. In his 21st year he commenced to learn the trade of a boiler-maker in Burlington, serving an apprenticeship of three years. He continued to work in that city until 1872, when he came to Des Moines and established himself in business with his present partner, and for the time they have been in business they enjoy a liberal share of patronage, being good work- men and fair and honest in their dealings. During the rebellion he en- listed in company G, Twenty-fifth Iowa infantry, December 31, 1863, and served in that regiment until May, 1865, when he was transferred to the Ninth Iowa infantry veterans, serving until the close of the war. He was with Sherman in his famous march to the sea, and participated in all the battles incident to that campaign. He was married to Miss Jennie Miller, of Des Moines, in 1874. Have two children: Hattie L. and John P.
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