USA > Iowa > Clinton County > Wolfe's history of Clinton County, Iowa, Volume 1 > Part 61
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ESEK B. CHANDLER
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THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIB .. ARY
ASTOR. LITO". AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS B J
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sea. After reaching Savannah, Georgia, he started for Washington City, and was mustered out at Chicago in 1865.
Mr. Chandler started to learn the carpenter's trade in Missouri, but his uncle dying in Illinois, his mother summoned him back to Albany and there . he remained until 1870. Then he came to Clinton, Iowa, and became a saw- yer in the local mills, soon afterward being promoted to head sawyer and be- came an expert in this line. In 1881 he had the misfortune to fall upon a rotary saw which resulted in the loss of a leg and an arm. After recovering from this accident he opened a notion store and made a success of the same. He was secretary of the Workingman's Building & Loan Association for nine- teen years, performing his duties in a most faithful manner. He was elected city treasurer in 1908 and re-elected in 1910, having made a most commend- able record in this capacity and giving entire satisfaction to his constituents and to all concerned. He defeated a man in 1908 who had held this position twelve years. Mr. Chandler's majority in 1910 was fourteen hundred and eighty-four, which shows his popularity and which is a record so far as city elections are concerned. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic.
On May 28, 1880, Mr. Chandler was married to Emma Koechert, of Davenport, who was born May 8, 1857, and this union has resulted in the birth of the following children : Louis is a printer by trade and lives in Chicago: Mary is the wife of Clyde Hammer; Clara, M. is at home and is deputy city treasurer ; Henrietta is also living at home.
JOHN W. KELLY.
A man who has well earned the honor to be addressed as one of the pro- gressive, public-spirited men of Clinton county, is John W. Kelly, a well known business man of Grand Mound, Orange township, since from the beginning of his residence here he has been conspicuously active, securing for himself the comforts of life and home and is laying by a competence for his declining years.
Mr. Kelly was born in DeWitt, Iowa, 1868, and is the son of Roger and Jane A. (McDevitt) Kelly, the father born in Indiana and the mother in Ireland. The latter came to America when a child. This family moved to Clinton county, Iowa, and located on a farm five miles west of Grand Mound. In that vicinity the paternal grandfather, Alexander Kelly, entered
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land and was a well known farmer in the early days here. Roger Kelly and his brother finally entered business in DeWitt. In 1868 or 1869 Roger Kelly and family moved to Grand Mound and there started a grocery store, con- tinuing successfully until 1885, when he turned his attention to the live stock business, which he had been engaged in for some time previously, and he. continued in this business until his death, on March 15, 1901. His wife died in 1885. They were the parents of four children, two dying in infancy, John W. of this review and one daughter, Margaret, being the only sur- vivors. Roger Kelly was twice married, his second wife being Mary A. Har- kins, and this union resulted in the birth of two children, Roger and Alice, both of whom are living. Roger Kelly was a member of the Catholic church, while politically he was a Democrat. He took a great deal of interest in local affairs and he was mayor of Grand Mound and he always did his full duty in developing Grand Mound.
John W. Kelly was educated in the public schools at Grand Mound. He grew up in the live stock business with his father and still continues in it. He has been very successful in this line of endeavor, as he has also been in the furniture business, which he began in 1891. He is a man of splendid business ability and is a tireless worker, being universally known as a man of integrity and honor.
Mr. Kelly was married on November 25, 1890, to Myrtle Mclaughlin, of Grand Mound, where her family has long been well and favorably known. To Mr. and Mrs. Kelly three children have been born, Raymond, Harry and Leo.
Mr. Kelly belongs to the Catholic church and politically he is a Demo- crat. He takes an abiding interest in local affairs and has held various of- fices at Grand Mound.
JOHN H. W. RATHJE.
One of the successful and well known business men of Orange township is John H. W. Rathje, merchant, of Grand Mound and one of the repre- sentative citizens of Clinton county, where he has spent his life and where he has labored for the general good, thereby winning and retaining the confidence and general esteem of his scores of customers and acquaintances. He is one of those men who make a success of whatever they turn their at- tention to because they persist along legitimate lines.
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Mr. Rathje was born in DeWitt township, this county, February 8, 1866, the son of John and Justine (Bolte) Rathje, both born in Germany, where they grew up and attended school, coming to America with their par- ents, he at the age of eighteen and she when seventeen years old. After ar- riving in this country, John Rathje worked for some time at the carpenter's trade in New York. Later he helped build a house for Fred Douglas, a runaway slave. Justine Bolte came direct from the fatherland to Daven- port, lowa. Soon after their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. John Rathje came to DeWitt township, Clinton county, where they bought forty acres of land and later added eighty acres to his original purchase. They later moved to Orange township and bought one hundred and sixty acres. He prospered by reason of persistent application and judicious management and became the owner of four hundred and forty acres before his death, which occurred on August 30, 1894. He was one of the influential and substantial men of his township. He was the father of two sons, A. E. and John H. W. of this review. He was first a Republican and later a Democrat, but independent in local politics, though always active in political affairs, and he served as trus- tee of Orange township for many years, and was also treasurer of the local school board many years. In religious matters he was a Lutheran. His wife was called to her rest on April 4, 1901.
John H. W. Rathje was educated in the common schools and he took up farming when a young man, following that pursuit for himself for eight years. Although he was very successful in this line, he turned his attention to the mercantile field and in 1900 became a partner in the firm of Brick & Rathje, dealers in implements, coal and salt at Grand Mound. They have since carried on a very satisfactory and constantly growing business, carry- ing a large and complete line of implements, and their customers come from all parts of this locality. Mr. Rathje is still the owner of a fine farm of two hundred acres, constituting a choice estate in Orange township.
Mr. Rathje was married in 1891 to Amelia Waack, who was born in Germany, having come to this county when young where she was living at the time of her marriage. Her death occurred on April 6, 1899. Two children were born to this union, namely : Edith J. and Gilbert J., both living at home.
Mr. Rathje is a Lutheran in his religious belief, and he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, being at present treasurer of the local lodge. He is a Democrat in national politics and independent in local affairs. He has been councilman at Grand Mound, but he has never sought public office. He is now school director of the independent district of Grand Mound.
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HANS JOHNSON.
Even in his early youth Hans Johnson gave evidence of being the pos- sessor of those praiseworthy traits of character which have won material suc- cess and at the same time gained the confidence and good will of those whose acquaintance he has formed, and he is today regarded as one of the best farmers and citizens of Olive township, Clinton county.
Mr. Johnson was born in the township where he now resides, July 17, 1862, the son of John and Threna Johnson, both born in Norway, the father on August 22, 1824. They grew to maturity in their native land and at- tended school there, and were married in Chicago shortly after their arrival there. They came to Clinton county, Iowa, in 1853, and took up one hun- dred and twenty acres of land, the patent being signed by President Pierce. They soon had a good farm and a comfortable home, and this place now consists of two hundred and eighty acres of land, consisting of as good soil as the township affords. The elder Johnson was not only an extensive and successful agriculturist, but he also bought and sold land, laying by an ample competency, and he now lives retired. In politics he was a Republican until Cleveland's time; since then he has been a Democrat, but he has never aspired to public office. He and his family are members of the Lutheran church.
Five sons and one daughter were born to Mr. and Mrs. John Johnson, of which number only two sons are now living. Hans, of this review, and Aaron J., of Olive township. The mother of these children was called to her rest, and the father has remained on the old homestead spending his declining years in a serene and comfortable manner, surrounded by plenty as a result of his former years of thrift.
Hans Johnson was reared on the farm and early in life began assisting with the general work on the place. He received his education in the public schools, and he has devoted his life to agricultural pursuits. He now man- ages the homestead of two hundred and thirty acres, and he also owns land at Spring Rock, Iowa. He is regarded as an excellent manager and he keeps his land well improved and properly tilled. being rewarded with abundant harvests.
Politically, Mr. Johnson is a Democrat, and he takes more or less inter- est in local affairs. He has been township clerk for a number of years and for about sixteen years he was a member of the local school board, and performed the duties of secretary of the same. In 1910 he was elected su-
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pervisor by a majority of thirteen hundred and ninety-six, in the face of a strong opposition, a marked testimonial to his popularity and the public con- fidence in him.
Mr. Johnson was married on October 30, 1889, to Lona Pauline Ander- son, a native of Olive township, this county, where she was born April 12, 1870. She is a member of an excellent family, being the daughter of Thomas and Betsy Anderson, of Olive township. To Mr. and Mrs. Johnson the fol- lowing children have been born: Threna, Alfred, Guy, Agnes, Ruth, Clif- ford, Ethel, Ida and Grace.
The Johnson home is a large, substantial and pleasant one and the family holds a high rank in the community. Fraternally, Mr. Johnson belongs to the Odd Fellows, while in religion he is a Lutheran.
CONRAD BRICK.
Inheriting the thrifty and frugal habits of a sturdy German father and mother and he himself one of that thrifty horde of welcomed citizens from the Fatherland who have done so much for the upbuilding of nearly every locality in our national Republic, it is no wonder that a large measure of success has attended the efforts of Conrad Brick, the well known hardware and implement dealer at Grand Mound, Orange township, Clinton county. The people of this locality have known him as a boy and man, and as his dealings with his fellow men have always been honorable, they repose in him the most implicit confidence, as the large patronage they have accorded him would amply demonstrate.
Mr. Brick's birth occurred in Germany on December 26, 1850, the son of - and Henrietta (Bolte) Brick. The father died in Germany. where he had spent his life. and the mother brought her son, Conrad, to America some time afterwards, and they located near the home of her brother, six miles west of Davenport, Scott county, Iowa. Mrs. Brick married a second time, her last husband being Christ Gettmann, whom she espoused in 1868. In the winter of that year the family moved to Clinton county and located three miles northeast of Grand Mound, and there Conrad Brick still owns a valuable farm of one hundred and sixty acres, where he continued to reside until 1893, in which year he entered the implement business, which he fol- lowed alone until 1900, then the firm became Brick & Rathje, which is doing a large and ever-growing business. For several years they handled grain :
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now they deal in coal and salt, in addition to a general line of implements, in which they have a most excellent trade with the surrounding country for many miles. They treat all customers in a straightforward, honest and courteous manner and hold high rank with the firms of this line in Clinton county.
Mr. Brick was married in 1884 to Caroline Erbs, a native of Germany and the representative of a sterling family. This union has resulted in the birth of these children : Mata Henrietta, now Mrs. Mients, and Herbert, who is living at home.
Mr. Brick is a Lutheran in his religious belief, and politically he is a Democrat. He is now very ably serving as councilman in the town of Grand Mound, having been a councilman for the past ten years. He has never aspired to political offices, though he was township assessor for twelve years while living on the farm.
Mr. Brick ran a traction engine for twenty-two years up to 1892. He brought the first traction engine to Clinton county, and for years he threshed all over this part of the county. He owned the first automobile in Grand Mound, his first machine being a six-horse-power, but he now has forty-horse- power machines.
Personally Mr. Brick is a very congenial gentleman, always ready to assist in any worthy cause looking to the betterment of his community, and he has a host of friends throughout the county.
HENRY S. MUELLER.
One of the old settlers of Clinton county and a man who figured more or less prominently in local affairs for many years was Henry S. Mueller, a man in whom the utmost confidence was reposed by all who knew him owing to the fact that his dealings with his fellow men were uniformly honorable. He came here in the year 1864.
Mr. Mueller was born in Colvitz, province of Magdeburg, Germany, in 1833, and in him were the characteristics, thrift, courage, enterprise and loyalty common to his race. He was the son of David and Kathrina Mueller, who came to the United States in 1854, settling at Hampton, Illinois, buying eighty acres of what is known as Hampton Bluffs, in Rock Island county. After living there ten years they moved to Clinton county, Iowa, with their sons, Henry and Fred, their other child having died in Germany. Fred was
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the oldest, and he was born in Germany. Henry, who was then married, bought three hundred and twenty acres of land upon the arrival of the family in Clinton county, and his father and mother lived with him, the latter dying about 1874, the father surviving for a time. Both were highly respected, and were devoted members of the Lutheran church.
Henry Mueller was a man of such exemplary character that it was fre- quently said of him that no better man ever took up his abode in Clinton county, and his friends were limited only by his acquaintance. He was a suc- cessful farmer and stock man and did much for his community. He estab- lished a substantial, comfortable and attractive home and kept his place well improved. He was a faithful member and contributor to the Buena Vista Lutheran church,-in fact one of the founders of the same. When he came here the land was wild prairie, but he upturned the thick sod and soon had it in a high state of cultivation, and the old shanty on the land in due course of time gave way to the modern dwelling which he erected himself.
In 1860 Mr. Mueller was married, prior to his coming to Iowa, to Margaret Gernand, daughter of Henry and Martha M. (Davis) Gernand, who came to America from Saxony, Germany. They also settled on the Hampton Bluffs, in Illinois, mentioned above. Their home in the fatherland was near Wartburg, famed on account of the great reformer, Martin Luther, and also because of Wagner, the noted composer, who wrote his masterpiece, "Tannhauser," there.
Ten children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Mueller, an equal number of boys and girls, named, in order of birth, as follows: Marie, born July 17, 1861, married Fred Brockman, of Rock Island, Illinois, and they had seven children, the mother dying February 17, 1896; Henry was born December 5, 1862, is married and lives on the homestead; Fred, born October, 1864, lives in Clinton county; he and the first two children named were all born in Illinois; Minnie M., born January 15, 1867; Margaret, born April 6, 1870, is deceased; Frederica, born September 28, 1872; Adolph, born December 2, 1874; Emma, born September 3, 1877; George, born November 18, 1880; . Gustav, born January 23, 1884. Nine of these children were living in Clinton county at the time of Mr. Mueller's death, which occurred on December 18, 1905. Mrs. Henry Mueller is now making her home in Calamus, surrounded by her children and all the comforts of life. She owns two beautiful houses in this pleasant little village and has the income of all the properties. She is a lady of high ideals and beautiful traits of character and is a favorite with a wide circle of friends. The Mueller family has long been regarded as one of the leading ones of the county, the children taking a delight in maintaining
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the excellent reputation of their honored father. Mrs. Mueller is making her home with her youngest son Gustav. The latter married Bertha D. Nabel, daughter of Michael and Dora (Staub) Nabel, both living in Davenport, one of the excellent families of that old city.
LORENZO DOW DUTTON.
In looking over the list of the influential, well remembered and highly honored citizens of a past generation in Clinton county, the name of Lorenzo Dow Dutton is encountered. and, although he is now "sleeping the sleep of the just," his life was such a model that it will long be patterned after by the younger generation. He was successful in his business career and did a great deal toward the general development of the county. He was one of the sterling citizens of the old Empire state, braved the primitive life of the West as a pioneer and assisted in pushing the boundary of civilization far into the unknown wilderness. Such hardy characters deserve our commendation and reverence. He was born in Chenango county, New York. June 28, 1818, and was the son of Charles and Nancy ( Pearsall) Dutton, both natives of the state of New York. There the mother died in 1837, and the father emigrated, in the same year, to Clinton county, Iowa, and took up government land, eighty acres, where a good home was established. the land cleared and developed and where for several generations the Dutton family has had their abode. The elder Dutton died in this county in 1858. He was a strong character among the pioneers.
Lorenzo D. Dutton was reared on the home farm, which he helped to clear. and he received his education in the public schools of the early days. He came to Clinton county, Iowa. in 1841 and became the possessor of three hundred and forty acres of land. He was very successful as a farmer and stock man and had one of the best farms in this part of the county. In poli- tics he was an independent voter, and at one time he held the office of county assessor for several terms. He was supervisor on the county board. held various other township offices, and at his death he was vice-president of the Old Settlers' Association of Clinton county.
Mr. Dutton was married in 1856 to Sarah H. Allison, who was born in Rockingham county. Virginia, on November 13, 1838. She was the daughter of David and Elizabeth (Perry) Allison, both born in Virginia, the father in 1810, and they came to Clinton county, Iowa. in 1851, and settled on a farm
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LORENZO D. DUTTON
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and here Mr. Allison's death occurred in 1883, at the age of seventy-two years, his wife having survived him until 1907, reaching the age of eighty-eight years. David Allison, a son of Robert and Hadassa (Smith) Allison, came to Clinton county, Iowa, in 1851 and here both died, she in March, 1859, and he in February, 1867.
To Mr. and Mrs. Lorenzo D. Dutton the following children were born : Charles A., of Hartley, Iowa; Viola M., the wife of William Mellon, of Santa Cruz, California; Orsina L., who is mentioned elsewhere in this work; Nancy P., of Clinton county, Iowa; Martha J., the wife of Buel King, of Scott county, Iowa; Lorenzo D. is deceased; Elva B. is the wife of R. D. Allison, of Grand Mound, this county; Orpha M. lives in Santa Cruz, California; Blanche I. is deceased; Goldie May is the wife of Earl Scaggs, who was born in Marshalltown, Iowa, and he is a farmer and works the old homestead. They have one child, Dorothy Dutton Scaggs, who was born on May 12, 1904.
The children of Charles and Nancy Dutton, parents of the subject, are: Leroy, deceased; Lorenzo D., of this review ; Charles, deceased; Jerome, men- tioned elsewhere in this work (see sketch of O. L. Dutton).
CHARLES HENRY LATHROP, M. D.
This biographical memoir has to do with a character of unusual force and eminence, for Dr. Charles Henry Lathrop, whose life chapter has been closed by the fate that awaits us all, was for a long lapse of years one of the prominent citizens of Clinton county, Iowa, having come to this section in pioneer times and assisted in every way possible in bringing about the transformation of the county from the wild condition found by the first settlers to its later-day progress and development. An eminent surgeon, a general practitioner who ranked second to none in eastern Iowa, a patriotic, well-informed man, he had the esteem and good will of all classes and is eminently deserving of conspicuous mention in his country's history.
Charles H. Lathrop was born at Taunton. Massachusetts, September 3, 1831, of English descent and of an old New England family of sterling worth. He grew to maturity in his native community and received a good preparatory education in the home schools. Actuated by a laudable ambi- tion to take up the medical profession, he entered the medical department
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of the University of the City of New York, from which he was graduated with an excellent record on June 30, 1858. He had previously attended Brown University, and began life as a teacher and was superintendent of schools at Youngstown, Ohio, for one year. He gave the greatest degree of satisfaction as an instructor and would doubtless have made his mark as an educator had he continued that line of endeavor.
In July, 1858, Doctor Lathrop located in Lyons, Clinton county, Iowa, and began the practice of his profession, and soon had a very satisfactory business.
The military chapter in the life of Doctor Lathrop is one of the most interesting and important, for he was one of the loyal supporters of the national union whose patriotism prompted him to leave the pleasures of home and the prospects of business and do what he could to save the govern- ment from humiliation and treason. Governor Kirkwood appointed him additional assistant surgeon of the First Iowa Cavalry. Afterward he was appointed to assistant surgeon, and upon the retirement of Surgeon Coch- ran was promoted to be surgeon of that regiment, which position he held until his final muster-out in March, 1866. The history, an interesting and comprehensive one, was later written by himself in which, with character- istic modesty, he writes of his own connection with this historic regiment. occupying one of the brightest pages of the history of the war, and which was organized in the spring of 1861, soon after the breaking out of the rebellion, many of the members coming from Lyons and vicinity, especially the "Hawkeye Rangers," which was raised by Captain Leffingwell and was the first company of equipped cavalry in the state. Doctor Lathrop served throughout the war in a faithful and gallant manner, in the course of which he was in fifty-two engagements of greater or less severity.
The ripe experience gained through the five years of service in the army, added to the firm foundation laid by his early studies, eminently fitted him upon his return home to become one of the foremost physicians and surgeons of his day and generation, a rank which he maintained until the day of his death; and it is an evidence of the mental superiority of the man that, in spite of the terrible affliction which he suffered .- the germs of which he contracted during those days of marching and nights of exposure which he so graphically depicted in his history of the regiment. and which for a period of seventeen years made his life such a torture as none can conceive but those who were with him and attended him. and which he knew could only end in death,-he could take such an interest in his profession
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