USA > Iowa > Clinton County > Wolfe's history of Clinton County, Iowa, Volume 1 > Part 59
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Mr. Willet was born November 19, 1864, in Clinton county, Iowa, and he is the son of John and Eveliza Willet, an excellent family of this county. They were natives of New York where they were reared. educated and mar- ried and from which state they came to Clinton county about 1850. A fuller mention of them is to be found on another page of this work, hence will not be repeated here.
Charles H. Willet, of this review, received a good common school educa- tion and was reared on the farm. He was married on March 25, 1903, to
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Lena Nissen, daughter of N. P. and Sophia (Boysen) Nissen. Her parents emigrated from Germany to the United States in 1881 and located in Clinton county, Iowa, on a farm which they improved and on which they established a good home. The father is still living, having reached the age of seventy years. The mother died in 1906 and is buried at Camanche cemetery. Mrs. Willet was reared on the home farm and was educated in the public schools.
Mr. and Mrs. Willet began their married life on their present farm of eighty acres, which they have greatly improved and on which they have established a very comfortable home, erecting modern and substantial build- ings and in many ways adding to the utility and appearance of the place.
Mr. Willet is a successful young farmer and is highly respected, being regarded by his neighbors as honest and industrious. He engages in general farming and feeds stock for the market, keeping a good grade of all kinds of live stock. He is widely known as a thresher, having for the past eighteen years operated a threshing outfit, which he owns and the management of which he well understands. His neighbors say that they can always depend upon him. He is a good machinist and understands every detail of his busi- ness, his farm being a model for neatness and convenience. His wife shares with him the merits of their success.
In politics Mr. Willet is a Republican, but he does not find a great deal of time to mingle in political affairs. To Mr. and Mrs. Willet one child, Elsie, has been born, the date of her birth being January 21, 1904.
SEBASTIAN CABOT DILLEY.
In this sketch is recorded the life of a man who can trace his descent through a long line of men and women of worth and consequence, the stimu- lus of whose memory has ever been present to guide him in his own life. He is a man well known in Clinton and is the proprietor of the leading hotel of the city, which far outranks in quality of accommodations offered to the public any other establishment in the city of Clinton, having no superior in the state of Iowa or in the middle West. To Mr. Dilley belongs a pro- portionate share of praise as the manager of this enterprise, the Lafayette Inn.
Sebastian Cabot Dilley was born on May 21, 1843, in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, the son of Thompson and Jane (Patten) Dilley. Thompson Dilley was born in 1801 in Canada, the son of Ezra and Sarah Dilley. Ezra Dilley was a native of France, and was a captain of artillery in the Napo-
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leonic army. He emigrated to Canada, and afterwards removed to Penn- sylvania, where he spent the remainder of his life. Thompson Dilley was brought up on a farm in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, and followed farming there until 1847, when he removed to Mineral Point, Wisconsin, and farmed there until his death in 1863. In politics he was a Democrat. but departed from his party to vote for Abraham Lincoln. In religious affiliations he was an Episcopalian, and fraternally a Mason of the third degree. He was a man of strong character and influential in his community. Jane Patten. his wife. was a native of Mercer county, Pennsylvania, and died in Wisconsin.
Sebastian C. Dilley grew up on a Wisconsin farm, and received his ed- ucation in a district school. At the outbreak of the Civil war he enlisted in Battery F, Fourth United States Artillery, and served three years, taking part in the battles of Winchester, Cedar Mountain, South Mountain, Antie- tam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Second Bull Run, Gettysburg, and others. The only casualty he suffered during this period of long and hard service was that his right knee was knocked out of place, and he had dropsy of the knee as a result. In 1863 he was honorably discharged, and went back to the Wisconsin farm. He had learned the blacksmith's trade, and began the manufacture of buggies and wagons, which he continued until 1872. when he went into the mercantile business in Iowa City, Iowa, and re- mained in this for ten years. In 1882 he went to Hastings, Nebraska, and was a cattle buyer there for five years. He now began to see a good opening in the hotel business, and for three years operated the New Perkins hotel in David City, Nebraska, and followed this by managing a line of eating houses in Nebraska on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy railroad for the same period of time. Three and one-half years were spent as the proprietor of a hotel in Alma, Nebraska, and three years in the Northwestern Hotel at Boone, Iowa. After a year and a half in the Wilson Hotel at Mason City. Iowa, he decided to retire, and moved to Omaha, but in 1907 he came to Clinton and bought the Lafayette Inn, of which he has since been the pro- prietor. This is a large square building of white brick, containing one hun- dred and twenty-five rooms, sixty of which are fitted with baths, and is well furnished and equipped, while the cuisine of the house has gained a deserved reputation for its quality. Mr. Dilley has followed the paternal example in being a Democrat and an attendant of the Episcopalian church. Fraternally. he is a Mason of the thirty-second degree.
On February 23, 1865, Mr. Dilley was married to Emily Johns, who was a native of Hazel Green, Wisconsin. Four children were born to this union: Joseph, who is concerned with his father in the management of
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the Lafayette Inn; Laura, who married R. B. Wahlquist, of Hastings, Ne- braska; Mary, the wife of S. R. Graham, of Hiawatha, Kansas; and Jane, who married John Reynolds, of Boone, Iowa.
Mr. Dilley is a man who is well informed on all subjects of public in- terest and an entertaining talker. He possesses strong executive ability, as is evidenced by the success of the many enterprises in which he has been en- gaged, and is considered one of the prominent business men of Clinton.
WILLIAM LESTER WILSON.
It is proper to judge of the success and the status of a man's life by the estimation in which he is held by his fellow citizens. They see him at his work, in his family circle, at his devotions, hear his views on public ques- tions, observe the outcome of his code of morals, witness how he conducts himself in all the relations of society and civilization and thus become com- petent to judge of his merits and demerits. In Lyons and Clinton county there is nothing heard concerning William Lester Wilson, who has spent many long years of toil and association with the people of this locality, but good words, having passed so many years here that his worth is well known.
Mr. Wilson was born near Williamsport, Pennsylvania, July 1, 1825, and is the son of Jonathan and Elizabeth (Brewer) Wilson. the father hav- ing been a native of New Jersey. The latter spent his life as a farmer. emi- grating to Pennsylvania at an early age. He married Elizabeth Brewer, a native of Pennsylvania, after reaching this state, and this union resulted in the birth of eleven children, four of whom are now living. The elder Wilson came west in 1852 and located on a farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Lincoln township, Clinton county, and in that year his wife died there. In 1854 Jonathan Wilson moved to Blackhawk county. Iowa, and there died soon afterwards. He was a very successful farmer of the early days and was known as a man of piety and generosity. Politically. he was a Republican and, religiously, a member of the Society of Friends.
William L. Wilson, the immediate subject of this review, was reared on the farm in Munsey Valley. When but a boy he became acquainted with the labor of the fields during the crop seasons, attending the neighboring schools during the winter months. In 1850 he came to Davenport, Iowa, where he spent two years, then moved to a farm west of Clinton. He purchased forty
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acres of his father's old farm, and later added one hundred and thirty-two acres, making a very valuable farm of one hundred and seventy-two acres. Mr. Wilson farmed this place fifty years, during which long period he brought it up to a high state of perfection and made an excellent living, besides laying by a competency for his old age, retiring from active work in 1901.
Politically, Mr. Wilson is a Republican and has long stood by the party. He served for some time as justice of the peace in Lincoln township, and also as school director. Religiously, he is a member of the Methodist church and a liberal supporter of the same.
Mr. Wilson was married on January 1, 1867, to Margaret Ann Dutcher. who was born on January 1. 1837. She was the daughter of a sturdy old Canadian family and was born in Canada. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Wilson, namely : Pearl D .. the wife of Daniel Herring, of Clinton, and Arthur R., who is now very ably filling the responsible position of Indian agent at the White Earth Indian agency in Minnesota.
VERY REV. EDWARD JOHN MCLAUGHLIN.
Among the residents of Clinton who have done most for the general development of man Father Mclaughlin stands conspicuously forth. All that he has done for the material advancement of the interests of his congre- gation, great though it is, becomes of little worth in comparison with the les- sons he taught them in regard to the right manner of living, and which he has so well exemplified in his own life, as men of all denominations who have known him during his ministry in Clinton will testify.
Edward John Mclaughlin was born in county Wexford, Ireland, on June 24, 1853, the son of James N. and Mary B. (Foley) Mclaughlin.
James N. Mclaughlin, before coming to America, had secured a large tract of land in northeastern Iowa, with the intention of pursuing an agri- cultural life, with which he was familiar in the old country. On reaching the site of his prospective home in the early part of 1855, he found the location so far distant from church and school that he disposed of his property and removed to Dubuque, where could be found all those advantages of religion and education which he sought for his children. To each of his children he gave a superior education, fitting them for their chosen vocations in life. He continued his residence in Dubuque, one of its most respected citizens, until his death, which occurred on the 4th day of April, 1889. The partner of his
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VERY REV. EDWARD J. MCLAUGHLIN
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THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX, AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS R L
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joys and sorrows for half a century, his estimable wife, followed him into that better land on the 13th day of March, 1890.
They were the parents of five children, of whom Edward J., the youngest, is the only survivor. Peter died in Chicago, Elizabeth J. in Dubuque, Mary E. died in Dubuque as a child.
The other son, the Rev. P. V. Mclaughlin, the founder of St. Mary's parish at Clinton, was educated at the Cathedral school at Dubuque, at Bards- town, Kentucky, Cape Girardeau, Missouri, and finished his courses at St. Francis Seminary of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He was ordained a priest at St. Louis by the late Archbishop Feehan, then bishop of Nashville, on July 19, 1866, during the interregnum before the consecration of Archbishop Hennessy for this diocese. Within less than a year after ordination he was sent to Clinton to found St. Mary's parish, which he did in 1867, and re- mained in charge until his death. January 16, 1879. He was always a man of delicate health, and was only thirty-four years of age at his death. The property which is the present site of the church was secured by him, the small church which he found here enlarged, St. Mary's school founded, and the parish built up on a strong and enduring foundation. A very brilliant young man, he was most beloved by all citizens, irrespective of nationality or creed. His funeral was attended by the citizens at large, and his body laid away under the altar of the old church, whence it was removed to a vault under the altar of the new church. where it now reposes. Immediately on the notice of his death his brother, Edward J. Mclaughlin, was appointed by Archbishop Hennessy to succeed him, though he had been ordained but six months.
Edward J. Mclaughlin graduated from the school of the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Dubuque, after which he entered the public high school, but on account of delicate health was withdrawn from school for a time. In September, 1870, he commenced his collegiate course at Our Lady of Angels Seminary, Niagara Falls, New York, where he spent two years. In September, 1872. he matriculated at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana, from whence he was graduated, valedictorian of his class, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts June 24, 1875, and later the degree of Master of Arts was conferred upon him. For three different years since leaving he has been chosen as president of the Notre Dame Alumni Associa- tion. After graduation from Notre Dame he taught higher mathematics in St. Joseph's College, of Dubuque, for one year, and from there went to St. Francis' Seminary, at Milwaukee. where he completed his theological course. In all of his school work he ranked extremely high.
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Father Mclaughlin was ordained in Dubuque by Archbishop Hennessy May 26, 1878, and assigned to the parish of Sigourney, with several missions attached, where he remained until he succeeded his brother at St. Mary's January 17, 1879. One of his first steps after coming here was to improve and enlarge the old parochial school building to more than twice its original capacity and to refurnish it. He then started a fund to build the new St. Mary's church, for which the cornerstone was laid June 24, 1884. The build- ing was put under roof that same year, but a wait of two years for funds was necessary before the work was resumed and pushed to completion, when it was dedicated on June 24, 1888, by Archbishop Hennessy. The dedication was one of the important events in Clinton's history, as this was the largest and most magnificent building yet attempted in the city, and was attended by citizens of all classes who had liberally assisted in building. After the com- pletion of the church it was found necessary to erect a new rectory or parochial residence, as the old one was entirely inadequate to supply the needs of the growing parish. This was built in 1896. When the rectory was completed, the next taken in hand was the erection of a new school building, the old one having been partially destroyed during the vacation of 1906. The present magnificent structure, one of the best equipped and most solidly built school buildings in the state, was completed in January, 1908. While building the school, the whole of the parish property was graded and transformed from its former rough condition to its present shape, and much beautified.
Occupying a prominent place in the work of the parish is the convent of the Holy Family, at the corner of Ninth avenue and Fifth street, conducted by the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, whose mother house is at Dubuque. This order was founded for the purpose of educating children in parochial schools and academies, and has now houses scattered throughout the country from Illinois to the Pacific coast. The St. Mary's school is con- sidered one of the most up-to-date and best educational institutions to be found anywhere. A full grammar and high school course is given, and the pupils take highest rank in higher institutions.
Father McLaughlin has been the presiding spirit in all the work of build- ing which has been done by St. Mary's parish and deserves much credit for his work in building the church, rectory and practically two schools. He was made dean and irremovable rector by Archbishop Hennessy and thus has under his charge the priests and parishes in Clinton. Jones and Jackson counties. This charge bears with it the title of Very Reverend.
Though Father McLaughlin has been pastor here for only about thirty- two years, he has practically been a citizen of Clinton since 1870. for while he
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was receiving his higher education, he considered his brother's house as his home, and always spent a portion of his vacations with him. He has been interested as a public spirited citizen in all that has been for the advancement of Clinton, and on numerous occasions his eloquent voice has been heard at the great public gatherings here of national and civic interest. He has, it may be said, no enemies, and his friends are legion among all creeds and national- ities.
GEORGE M. SMITH.
The problem of satisfactory insurance in farming communities and cities and towns is solved by mutual associations. These, if wisely managed, do away with the greater portion of the expense which attaches to the operations of the old-line companies, which are run entirely for profits and carry a force of high-salaried officers and solicitors. The mutual companies are not run for profits, but only actual expenses of the organization are paid out of the annual premiums, and as such companies are usually more cautious about risks, never over-insuring property or taking that heavily insured. they have solved the problem of protection for the people at minimum cost, the actual cost of such insurance often averaging less than one-half of that in old-line companies. At times a run of fires may seem to make the premiums and assessments seem heavy, but, taking the average for a length of time. it is found that any well-conducted mutual company operates a great saving to its patrons.
George M. Smith was born near De Witt, Clinton county, Iowa, in 1866, the son of J. Alexander and Ursula ( Mummey ) Smith, who came from Ohio in 1865 and located near here, where Alexander long lived and where his wife died. Alexander Smith has been a farmer and had over one hundred sixty acres of land. In 1885 he moved to DeWitt and has since been secre- tary of the County Insurance Company. He was the father of two children. He attends the Methodist church and is a Republican in politics. He has always been active in local affairs and in everything which made for the good of the community.
George M. Smith attended the public schools of De Witt, and at Cornell College, Mount Vernon, Iowa. For two years he taught school in this and Scott counties, then was a bookkeeper in the First National Bank for one year. For five years he carried on general farming on a one-hundred-and-
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sixty-acre farm, then, in 1900, he organized the Iowa Assessment Mutual Insurance Company and was made its secretary and still holds that office and has been in the active work since 1900. He is a partner in the firm of Walker & Company, general merchants, of De Witt, and is a director in the Pioneer Fire Insurance Company of Oklahoma City.
Mr. Smith was married on January 25, 1893, to Charlotte Walker, of De Witt, and has two sons living, Harold and Karl. She is a member of the Methodist church. Mr. Smith is a Republican, and an Odd Fellow. He has been active in local politics and takes interest in all matters which concern the general welfare. He is a man who possesses much executive ability and business skill and whose enterprises have uniformly prospered. In his insurance company he has organized a society of much worth to his state. Personally he has gained many friends by his genial character.
PHILIP HOWES.
One of the men who stamped the impress of his strong individuality upon the minds of the people of Clinton county in a manner as to render him a conspicuous character, was the late Philip Howes, for he was a man in whom there was such a combination of commendable characteristics that those who knew him could not help admiring and respecting him. Faithfulness to duty and a strict adherence to a fixed purpose, which always do more to advance a man's interests than wealth or advantageous circumstances, were dominating factors in his life, which was replete with honor and success worthily attained.
Mr. Howes was born in Bristol. England, March 2, 1830. His parents died when he was very young, and, although deprived of their solicitous care and guidance, he was by nature courageous and by indomitable will forged to the front, becoming. in due course of time, a useful and successful man. He was reared by William Lewis. a Scotchman, and received a fairly good education. He spent most of his life in America, having been brought to Minersville. Pennsylvania, in 1836. when six years of age, where he engaged in coal mining. In 1849 he emigrated westward and located at Indianapolis, Indiana, where he found employment as a railroad fireman. In 1852 he be- came engineer on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy railroad. having charge of an engine named "Rocket." and he became well known in railroad circles.
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He came to Clinton, Iowa, in 1859 as engineer for the Chicago & North- western road, remaining with this company as one of their most faithful and trusted employes until 1872, when he retired and purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land, and turned his attention to gardening, at which he was successful, and spent his last years in quiet and comfort.
Mr. Howes married Esther Waters on March 2, 1852. She was a native of Minersville, Pennsylvania, and to this union thirteen children were born. Politically. Mr. Howes was a Republican, but he had neither the time nor inclination to mingle in politics. In religious matters he was a Methodist.
CLAUS BUENNIG.
It is a pleasure to look out over a well improved and neatly kept farm, one that shows that its owner takes a pride in keeping everything in "ship shape." A large number of farmers care very little for the general appear- ance of their place; about all that seems to interest them is how much they can force the ground to yield in staple crops or truck, as the case may be. They allow the fences to become surrounded with weeds, the pastures abound in underbrush and the buildings go to decay, the gates drop from their hinges and soon the entire place is badly in need of general repairs. Claus Buennig, of near Calamus, Clinton county, is of that class of farmers who believe in keeping everything in first class condition, and he works inces- santly that this may be so, consequently it is an inspiring sight to look out over his fields and his substantial buildings.
Mr. Buennig was born in Germany, November 29, 1841, and is the son of John and Mary Buennig, both also natives of Germany, and there they grew to maturity, were educated and married, and there died, the father in 1857 and the mother in 1900. Their family consisted of three children, two of whom are living, Katie, in Germany, and Claus, of this review. This family were always known as hard workers.
Claus Buennig grew to maturity on the farm which he began working on when a very small boy, and he was educated in the common schools of Germany. He came to Clinton county, Iowa, in 1869, and turned his at- tention to farming here. Saving his money. he was enabled to purchase eighty acres of land in 1874 in the vicinity of Calamus. He later added forty acres to this, until now he owns one hundred and twenty acres of ex- cellent farming land. In connection with general farming. he raises con-
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siderable live stock for the market. He built a fine residence in 1904, mod- ern and attractive.
Politically, Mr. Buennig is a Republican, but he has never been an office seeker. He and his wife are members of the Lutheran church.
In 1875 Mr. Buennig was married to Anna Martins, a native of Ger- many, born there in 1853. She was the daughter of John and Margaret Martins, both natives of Germany, from which country they came to Clinton county, Iowa, in 1865, the father dying in Crawford county, Iowa, in 1893, and his wife in 1865. They were the parents of four children, all of whom are living. To Mr. and Mrs. Buennig nine children have been born, namely : Mary, Amelia, John, Charley (deceased), Herman, Adolph, Gustav, Ernest and Elma.
Mr. Buennig is, or should be, proud of what he has accomplished, for he has acquired his own property without the assistance of anyone, having always been a hard worker and a good manager.
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