BIOS: Des Moines Biographies Fuller thru Koons; Polk County, Iowa 

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I hope you find this information of value in your genealogy research.
Marion John Rice, mjrice@dakotacom.net 
___________________________________________________________________________

NOTE:  For more information on Polk County, Iowa 
       Please visit the Polk County, IAGenWeb page  
       at http://iagenweb.org/polk/
____________________________________________________________________________

"The History of Polk County, Iowa" 
published by the Union Historical Company, Birdsall, Williams & Co. 1880.  

Des Moines Biographies
BIOGRAPHICAL.
DES MOINES

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 Mayflower. 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 advantages, 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 
experience 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;
806 BIOGRAPHICAL.
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 is 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 carpenter 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 Revenue Department. In 1865 he 
came to South Bend, Indiana, and 
purchased 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 
subject of this notice, removed 
from Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, to Chillicothe, 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 
Fairfield 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
DES MOINES. 807
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. 
 
CARTON, 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 accordingly settled in this city, 
and has since resided here, following the above business. 
His marriage was in Newton, Jasper 
county, this State, November 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 W 
 
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 Montana, where he was 
for three years engaged in mining with satisfactory results. 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 
fourteen 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, 
Somershire, 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 
merchants. 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
808 BIOGRAPHICAL.
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 regiment 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 subsequently 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 
Spangles, 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 
absconding 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 partnership 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 
close 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 
mountains 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 infantry, 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 Congress, 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 carried 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-
DES MOINES. 809
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 & McCaughan. In 1875 he was a 
representative from Polk county in 
the legislature. General Given was married to Miss Elizabeth 
Armor, at Millersburg, 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 determined 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 purchasing agent. In 1863 he 
was freight conductor on the came 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 Hampshire. 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 
manufacturers, 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 followed 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), Eugenic, 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,
810 BIOGRAPHICAL.
and resided there until 1871, when he emigrated to the 
United States, locating in Chicago, Ill. He 
resided there until 1876, when he came to Des .Moines, and 
in1877 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 educated. 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 
inen. 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 
came 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 steam boating, 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 . 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
DES MOINES. 811
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 extensive business. Has a fine 
residence on Second street. Mr. Grefe was married 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 grocery 
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 4th 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 representative 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 
August, 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,
812 BIOGRAPHICAL
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 quartermaster'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 resident of West Point, Lee 
county, Iowa, but a native of 
Morgantown, Virginia. 
 
GRUSS, W. F.-Retired merchant. Was born April 3, 1833, 
near Berlin, 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 business 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 compelled to 
retire from business. In 1854 he was married to Margaret 
Kennedy, 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 workmen and fair and 
honest in their dealings. During the rebellion he enlisted 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. 
 
GUE, B. F.-United States Pension Agent. Was born in 
Greene county, New York, December 
25,1829, and when four years old his parents removed to 
Ontario county, same State. They were 
both Quakers in their religious belief; became pronounced 
Abolitionists, and in the days of the 
underground railroad their house was used as one of the 
stations. The first paper our subject ever 
saw in his home was Win. Lloyd Garrison's Liberator, the 
first anti-slavery paper that was 
published. When ten years of age he was deprived of the 
care of his father by death. In the fall of 
1851, being then twenty-two years old, he returned to his 
native place and engaged in school 
teaching. Prompted. by a desire to see the then growing 
West, early in 1852 he came to 
Davenport, Iowa, after a tiresome journey of three weeks. 
Went to the northern part of Scott 
county and entered,
DES MOINES 813
160 acres of prairie land and 40 of timber. Early becoming 
identified with the public interests of 
his adopted State, Mr. Gue became known as an influential 
man of the people, and in the fall of 
1857 was elected on the Republican ticket to the State 
Legislature, it being the first session held 
after the removal of the. State capital from Iowa City to Des 
Moines. During that session he 
became one of the authors of the bill providing for the 
establishment of a State agricultural 
college. In 1859 he was re-elected to the Legislature, and in 
the fall of 1861 was elected to the 
State Senate, for a term of four years. He was one of the 
authors of the bill providing for the 
leasing of the land granted to the Agricultural College, by 
which the college realizes more than 
thirty thousand dollars annually. Removing to Fort Dodge 
before the close of his term of office, 
he purchased the Fort Dodge Republican and became its 
editor. In the fall of 1865 he was elected 
Lieutenant-Governor of Iowa, and during the session of the 
Senate in 1866 was elected one of the 
trustees of the Agricultural College, serving in that capacity 
four years, during the construction of 
the building and the organization of the school, being 
president of the board and chairman of the 
executive committee and committee on organization. 
Changing the name of his paper to the Iowa 
Northwest, he continued its publication for eight years. In the 
summer of 1872 he removed to 
Des Moines and purchased an interest in the Iowa 
Homestead, becoming chief editor of the same. 
He continued to serve in this capacity until December, 1872, 
when he was appointed to his 
present position of United States pension agent. Mr. Gue 
was married in November, 1855, to 
Miss Elizabeth R. Parker,. whose father was killed by Indians 
in Arizona. They have four 
children: Horace G., Alice L., Gurney C. and Minnie.  Lost 
one, Birdie. Such is a brief outline of 
the life history of one who, by his own power, has risen from 
comparative obscurity to a position 
of honor and influence. He is indeed the " architect of his 
own fortune," and his life furnishes a 
most worthy example of what may be attained by constant, 
persistent, honest effort. 
 
GULICK, W. P.-Was born January 26, 1833, in Warren 
county, New Jersey, where he was raised. 
He served an apprenticeship of three years as a miller, and 
for some five years was engaged at the 
milling business in Blairstown, New Jersey, and afterward for 
some three years he was engaged 
in the same business at Hackettstown. In 1866 he came 
West, settling in Toulon, Illinois, where 
he resided some three years, working at his trade.. After 
traveling around in various portions of 
Illinois, and taking a trip to California for the benefit of his 
health, he came to Iowa, locating in 
Davenport in 1872. During a portion of the time he resided in 
that city he was head miller in one 
of the large mills. He came from that city to Des Moines in 
1874, and was engaged in the 
flouring mill on the East Side for some time. The. latter part 
of 1875 he, together with J. W. Dye, 
rented that mill, the partnership lasting for one year. Mr. 
Gulick then continued the business 
alone until January, 1880, when he formed a copartnership 
with M. Kennedy. He was married 
June 7, 1853, to Miss H. A. Myers, a native of Warren 
county, New Jersey. They have one 
daughter, by adoption, Luella C. 
 
GUMP, J. F.-Proprietor of the Gault House. Was born in 
Ohio, June 28, 1827, and there was 
raised. After leaving school he learned the hatter's trade, 
following that business until 1848, when 
he engaged in the hotel business. In 1869 he went to 
Ottumwa, Iowa, where he continued.
814 BIOGRAPHICAL.
in the hotel business, and in 1864 came to this city. Is now 
proprietor of the Gault House, and is 
one of the oldest landlords in the city. An addition is now 
being built to this house, and it will in 
a few years rank with the best hotels of the city. With such a 
landlord it cannot fail to have a 
large patronage. Mr. Gump is the owner of a fine fruit farm 
situated about two miles from the 
city, in Valley township. Upon this farm is a fine brick 
residence, beautifully located. He was 
married in Ohio, November 16, 1847, to Miss Anna M. Leflar. 
They have four children: Libbie, 
Phebe, James and Ida. Lost one, Estella, and also an 
adopted daughter, Nettie Farirclougf. 
 
GUTHRIE, A. W.-Attorney at law. Was born September 25, 
1845, in Lancaster county, 
Pennsylvania. When nine years of age his parents removed 
to Iowa, locating in Jasper county. 
February 24, 1862, he enlisted in company B, Thirteenth 
Iowa infantry, serving two years, when 
he re-enlisted in the same company and regiment as a 
veteran, and served until the close of the 
war, participating in all the numerous battles in which his 
regiment was engaged. After the war 
be entered the Central University at Pella, remaining in that 
institution for two years, at the end 
of which time he was married to Louisa M. Penn. In 1867 he 
located in Washington township, 
this county, on a farm, where he resided until 1870,  during 
which time he bought and improved 
a farm, working the farm in, summer and teaching school in 
the winter. In 1870 he removed to 
town; where he engaged in the dairying business, which he 
followed for four years, when he 
disposed of the same and entered the Iowa College of Law, 
graduating June 12, 1877. In the 
spring of 1877, while he was yet in the law school, he was 
appointed justice of the peace for Lee 
township, and in the fall following he was elected to fill the 
unexpired term. At the close of his 
term of office he engaged in his chosen profession, which he 
has since successfully followed. 
Have a family of four children living : Minnie L., George W.. 
Charles P. and Arthur J. Have lost 
one child, Ida. 
 
HAHNEN, J. F.-Was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, Aug. 
5,1838, and in 1854 emigrated to this 
country with his mother, settling near Lafayette, Ind. Three 
years later he came to this State, and 
crossed the Des Moines river on a pontoon bridge in the fall 
of 1857, and since that time he has 
resided here. On the 1st of September, 1861, he enlisted in 
the Second cavalry, then in the State 
service, and served until the time he enlisted in the United 
States service, March 8, 1864, in 
company D, Second Iowa cavalry. Was mustered out at 
Selma, Ala., Sept. 19, 1865. Was 
commissioned corporal and acting sergeant. He participated 
in about forty-five battles, among 
which were New Madrid, Island No. 10, Iuka, Corinth, 
Okalona, West Point (where he was 
wounded) and Grenada, besides many important and severe 
engagements. He always followed 
farming as his occupation until after the war, when he 
engaged in his, present business, that of a 
saloon proprietor. Has been a member of the police force of 
this city. He was married in 1866, to 
Miss Caroline Zelle, a native of Philadelphia, Penn. They 
have six sons and one daughter: 
Louis H., Jacob F., George F., Carl A., Willie, Arthur and 
Caroline Augusta. 
 
HALLETT, DR. THOMAS A.-Was born in New London 
county,. Connecticut, October 21, 
1835, where he was raised. His ancestors emigrated to this 
country from England among the 
earliest settlers. His grandfather was one of General 
Worthington's staff during the Revolu-
DES MOINES. 815
tionary War. Young Hallett was raised on a farm, attending 
school some. In 1854 he commenced 
a course of study at Charlottesville, N. Y., and graduated at 
the Normal School, Norwich, Conn., 
in 1856. He followed school teaching a portion of eight 
years. He came to Des Moines in 1857, 
and was for a time employed in teaching. In 1861 he began 
the study of dentistry with S. C. 
Brownell, working under his direction until 1863, when he 
bought out Mr. B. and established his 
present office, justly celebrated for its excellent work. He 
was married April 24, 1862, to Miss 
Minerva, a daughter of W. W. Jones. They have a family of 
six children: George E., Julia A., 
Nellie C., Minnie M., James G. and Charles H. 
 
HAMMER, I. A.-Eclectic physician and surgeon. Was born in 
Jefferson county, Tennessee, May 
19, 1827. When three years of age he removed, with his 
parents, to Madison county, Indiana, 
where he continued to reside until 1850. At the age of 
eighteen years he commenced the study of 
medicine with Dr. J. H. Cook, of Pendleton. After the usual 
course of study he commenced the 
practice of his profession at that place, continuing there until 
1850, when he removed to Lisbon, 
Linn county, this State. In 1853 he graduated from the 
Eclectic Medical College at Cincinnati. He 
afterward studied law and was admitted to the bar in Linn 
county in 1860, and to practice in the 
Supreme Court in this city in 1879: In the fall of 1860 he 
removed to Newton, Jasper county, and 
to this city in 1874. Dr. Hammer was a member of the city 
council during the years 1878-79 and 
helped to revise the city ordinances and was also chairman 
of the judicial committee. In 1848 he 
was married in Madison county, Indiana, to Miss C. C. West, 
a native of Bucks county, 
Pennsylvania. Their family circle are: Fannie and Edward W. 
As a physician Dr. Hammer has 
been very successful, and by close attention to his calling, 
has built up a large practice and he is 
always a welcome visitor in the sick room. 
 
HANAWALT, GEORGE P.-Physician and surgeon. Was 
born in Ross county, Ohio, on the 11th 
day of September, 1836, of American parentage, and traces 
his ancestry to German origin. He 
was educated in Ohio and studied medicine in the 
Georgetown Medical College, Washington, 
graduating in 1864. He was hospital steward in the U. S 
army from 1862 to 1864; upon receiving 
the degree M. D. he was discharged for promotion to act as 
assistant surgeon U. S. army in 
March, 1864, in which position he remained till 1868, when 
he resigned. He is a member of the 
Medical Society of the District of Columbia, also of the 
Alumni Society of Georgetown College, 
and was its vice-president in 1869-70. He settled in Des 
Moines in 1868 and engaged in general 
practice, but makes a specialty of surgery, for which his 
experience in the army so well qualified 
him. He has served as secretary of the Iowa State Medical 
Society, and as president of the Polk 
County Medical Society, and is a member of the board of 
examiners for pensions and division 
surgeon of the C., R. I. & P. R. R. Co. and Surgeon of the 
Des Moines & Fort Dodge Railroad 
Company. Dr. H. is a man of acknowledged ability as a 
physician, and his services are 
recognized by a host of appreciating friends, and his kind 
and sympathetic nature makes him a 
welcome visitor in the sick room. He was married in October, 
1871, to Miss Emma Agnes, 
daughter of Hon. J. C. Jordan, one of Polk county's oldest 
and most honored citizens. 
 
HARBACH, LOUIS- Mr. Harbach was born in the district of 
Wausan, Germany, November 22, 
1838, and there he was raised, receiving the benefit of the 
excellent systems of common schools 
of that nation. In
816 BIOGRAPHICAL
1854, in company with his brother Christian, he came to 
America, stopping a short time at 
Mobile, Alabama, and thence he went to Louisville, 
Kentucky, where he learned the saddler's 
trade. In 1858 he came to Des Moines, and the two years 
following was employed by Terry & 
Butler as a saddler. In 1860 he joined his brother, who, in 
1856, had started in the furniture 
business, in a small shop on Second street, between Court 
Avenue and Walnut. By diligent 
attention to business and the exercise of wise discretion in 
management, their business increased 
each year. New quarters were required, enlargements 
necessitated, until now the house has 
become the largest and most extensive in the State. A four-
story brick and cut stone front 
building, one hundred and thirty-two feet deep, on West 
Third, is set apart for their retail trade, 
embracing furniture, upholstery and carpets of all grades 
from the most costly to the lowest. 
Another building on the same street is devoted exclusively to 
undertaker's goods. On Second 
street a building four stories high and one hundred and thirty 
two feet deep is devoted to 
wholesale trade, while another building is devoted to 
manufacturing and repairs. Their goods are 
mostly purchased of manufacturers in unfinished or "knock-
down" shape, and finished or 
upholstered here, giving employment to a large number of 
men. The Kirkwood, the Aborn, the 
churches and most elegantly furnished residences in the city 
attest the skill and elaborateness of 
the establishment. Mr. Harbach purchased the interest of his 
brother and became sole proprietor. 
Starting with but little means, having divided his inheritance 
with his brothers and sisters, 
reserving one dollar out of five dollars, his increase in wealth 
and business has illustrated perhaps 
in a more noticeable degree than that of any other house in 
the city the rapid growth and 
prosperity of the city and surrounding country. He carries a 
permanent stock of $125,000. His 
wholesale trade is $100,000; retail trade, $125,000 annually. 
He was married September, 1862, to 
Sarah Harker, a native of England. By this marriage seven 
children have been born to them: Mary 
Jennette, Lizzie H., Louis F., Willie C., Leonard E., George 
R., Wilmot A. and Carrie M. All are 
living except Louis F. 
 
HARRIS, H. C.-Of the firm of Osgood, Harris & Co., was 
born in Wyndham county, Vermont, 
September 11, 1844, where he spent the first twenty-one 
years of his life on a farm. In 1865 he 
engaged in the grocery business in his native State, and 
continued in it till 1867 when he 
removed to Des Moines. For nearly a year after coming to 
the capital city he was in the employ 
of Ankeny & Dart, grocers. In 1868 he entered the dry goods 
house of G. R. Osgood, with which 
house he continued to be connected as clerk until 1874 
when he bought an interest in the firm. 
Mr. Harris may be properly termed a self-made man. 
Commencing life without any capital except 
a good business education, a strong will and a persevering 
disposition, he has earned a place as a 
member of one of the leading mercantile houses of the 
West. He was married November 21, 
1874 to Miss Mary E. Rawson. She was a daughter of Mr. A. 
Y. Rawson, a prominent business 
man of Des Moines. 
 
HARLEY, JOHN-Harness maker, was born in Franklin 
county, Indiana, in 1842, and was taken 
by his parents in 1847 to Washington. Lived there until 1849 
and then came to this county, 
locating in Crocker township. He was raised a farmer. In 
1863 he came to this city and learned 
his trade with Frank Butler. He has been engaged in his 
present business
DES MOINES 817
since 1875. He was married in October, 1865, to Miss Belle 
Gregg. Their family consists of three 
children: William, Frank and Fred. 
 
HARBACH, F., & BRO. Cigar manufacturers. This firm is 
composed of  F. and Charles 
Harbach. The former was born in Nassau, Germany; 
October 1, 1831. He learned the trade of 
shoe making in his youth and remained in his native country 
until twenty-two years of age and 
emigrated to the United States, and settled in Mobile, 
Alabama, and lived there seven months, 
and then went to Louisville, Kentucky, where he lived two 
years, and thence to St. Louis, and 
after a residence of five months came to this country in 1857 
and entered the employ of Mr. 
Corning. He remained in this situation until 1861 and started 
in business for himself.  In 1864 he 
went to Montana, and returned the following year; and in 
1866 engaged in his present business. 
He married Mary S. Schiesler on the twentieth day of 
November, 1860. She was born in Prussia. 
They have five children: Anna, Frank, Agnes, Mena and 
George. 
 
CHARLES HARBACH, the junior member of the firm, was 
also born in Nassau, Germany, March 21, 1841,  
and learned the shoemaker's trade, and in 1861 emigrated 
to the United States and came to Des  
Moines. In 1865 he went to Germany and returned in 1866. 
He married Miss Lucy Emnerberg in 1868.  
She was born in Germany. They have three children: Emma, 
Mary and Clara. 
 
HARTLEY, JOHN-Commission merchant and dealer in 
fancy groceries, was born in Preble 
county, Ohio, March 13, 1842, and at the age of nine years 
came with his parents to Indiana, 
where they resided until the spring of 1854. He then came to 
Iowa and located near Salem, Lee 
county, where he engaged in working on a farm. His 
occupation, until the spring of 1869, had 
always been farming and at that time he came to this city 
starting a small peanut stand under a 
canvass. The following fall he occupied a small room where 
he had choice fruits and vegetables, 
and remained there until the spring of 1875, when he built a 
brick store room, and in 1877, on 
account of increase in business, he was compelled to put on 
an addition of forty-four feet. He has 
a good share of the public patronage, and in addition to quite 
an extensive business, does 
considerable wholesaling. He commenced business without 
capital and has attained to a 
well merited success. Was married September 26, 1869, to 
Miss Mattie Osborn, a native of 
Indiana. They have three children living: Clifford C., Audra D. 
and Maud. One is deceased. 
 
HARKNESS, W. K.-Grocer, was born in Cayuga county, 
New York, September 25, 1811, and 
was there raised and educated. In 1835 he removed to Ohio 
and located in Huron county, 
engaging in the mercantile business, which he continued 
about three years; then sold out and 
moved to the town of Republic, Seneca county, where he 
opened a general store. Here he 
remained about fourteen years when he went to East 
Saginaw, Michigan, there engaged in the 
manufacture of salt, continuing about three years; and in 
1868 came to this city and bought the 
Callanan farm, near Redfield, Dallas county, containing 
about one thousand acres. Three years 
later he sold out and opened a large stock of staple and 
fancy groceries, at which business he has 
been successful. He was married June, 1839 to Miss 
Theoda Follett, a native of Vermont. They 
have three children living: Bella, Florence and Daniel. Lost 
two. 
 
HARRIS, CAPT. W. J.-Proprietor of billiard hall and saloon. 
Was born in Owen county, 
Indiana, in 1822, and was raised on a farm, and when
818 BIOGRAPHICAL.
ten years of age he moved with his parents to Clay county, 
Indiana. In 1853 he came to this city 
and has since resided here. He was married in Clay county, 
February 28, 1848, to Miss Nancy 
Luther, a native of that county. They have a family of five 
sons and three daughters: Annie, 
Frank, William, Lincoln, Ettie, Minnie, Herman and Gurney. 
 
HASTIE, ALEX-Of the firm of Reed, Hastie & Reed, real 
estate and abstract brokers, was born 
in Berwickshire, Scotland, on the fifteenth of  November, 
1847, and when five years of age 
moved with his parents to this country and settled in Albany, 
New York. They resided there for 
two years and then came to this State, locating in what was 
then Polk county, but now a part of 
Warren county. He there engaged in agricultural pursuits, 
and followed the same until 1874 when 
he moved to Indianola. He was there employed by the 
county as Deputy Auditor for two years 
after which he came to this city and engaged in his present 
business, in 1876. He has been very 
successful and thoroughly deserves credit. He was married 
May 28, 1878 to Miss Mary L. Berry, 
a native of Belmont, county, Ohio, born November 23, 1839. 
They have one daughter, Gertrude. 
 
HATCH, HIRAM B.-Was born in Orange county, Vermont, 
September 18, 1824. He is a 
descendant direct from Puritanic stock, his ancestors having 
emigrated from England, landing in 
Boston in the year 1650. His life was a struggle for a 
precarious living from the rock-bound soil 
of his native State. In 1848, being then twenty-four years of 
age, he removed to Rock Island, 
Illinois, where for six years he followed his former 
occupation. In 1854 he came to Polk county, 
Iowa, and settled in Des Moines, and with his brother, Hon. 
J. H. .Hatch, engaged in mercantile 
pursuits. The year following he purchased a farm in Saylor 
township, which he improved and three  
years later sold; this farm is now known as the County Poor 
Farm. In 1858 he became a government  
mail contractor, having the contracts to carry mail to 
Eddyville, Fort Dodge and Winterset. He  
has represented his ward in the city council. He was married 
on the eighteenth of November;  
1869, to Miss Eliza Godson, born in Troy, New York. 
 
EATH, HENRY R.-Proprietor of the Des Moines Oat Meal 
Mills, is a native of Tyringham, 
Berkshire county, Massachusetts, and was born on the 6th 
day of April, 1830. He is of 
Welsh-English ancestry, his progenitors emigrating to 
America before the revolution. In early life 
he attended the common schools, and at the age of fourteen 
years he engaged at  labor at different 
manufactories, working with machinery until twenty-five 
years of age, his specialty being sash, 
blind and door making. In the spring of 1856 he removed to 
Des Moines. He first engaged at 
carpenter and joiner work. After a journey to Pike's Peak, 
Colorado, he returned in the fall of 
1861, and after following his chosen occupation until 1868, 
he commenced business on his own 
account. He established a business that has proved of much 
value to Des Moines as one of the 
branches of manufacturing industries that will make of the 
capital city the great central 
metropolis of the West. In 1879 he engaged in his present 
business, in which he has been favored 
with satisfactory results. His mills have a capacity of from 
one hundred to one hundred and fifty 
barrels per day, which finds a ready sale in the larger 
Eastern cities and European markets. He 
married Miss Edith A. Underwood in 1850. She is a native of 
Massachusetts. They have a family 
of three children: Charles H., Albert C. and Jim.
DES MOINES. 819
HEATON, W. N. Dentist. Among the numerous young 
business men of the East Side, none are 
more deserving of notice for sterling worth and 
straightforward business transactions than the 
subject of this sketch. Mr. Heaton was born in Washington 
county, Pennsylvania, October 31, 
1847, where he was raised to manhood. He finished his 
educational studies at Mt. Union, Ohio, 
attending school there for two years. In 1874 he came West, 
locating in East Des Moines, where 
he has since resided, during which time he has been 
engaged in the dental business. He was 
married, in 1876, to Miss L. S. Willis, at Perry, Dallas county, 
this State. They have two children: 
Arthur D. and an infant. 
 
HENRY, GEORGE F.-Attorney, was born in Chicago, Illinois, 
on the Twenty-seventh day of 
August, 1854, and from that place removed to Davenport, 
Iowa, and was educated at Griswold 
College. After deciding to make the practice of law his 
vocation for life he entered the office of 
Putnam & Rogers, and, after reading for some time with 
them, entered the Iowa University and 
was graduated from the law department of that institution in 
1877. He then came to Des Moines 
and commenced the practice of his profession. He was 
united in marriage with Miss R. Casady, 
daughter of Hon. P. M. Casady, one of Des Moines' oldest 
and most honored residents, in 
November, 1879. She was born in this city. 
 
HERRMANN, JOHN C.-Though young in years, deserves to 
be classed with the old settlers of 
Polk county, having been born in this city, January 11, 1859, 
and is a son of John and Anna, nee 
Heirb, Herrmann, who came to this city in 1854, where the 
subject of this sketch was raised., He 
enjoyed its best educational advantages, supplemented by a 
course in, the Notre Dame 
University, of South Bend, Indiana, from which institution he 
graduated with high honors, in the 
class of '79. He returned home and was in the employ of  L. 
Harbach as shipping clerk for about 
one year, when he became conversant with his present 
business. In April, 1880, he bought the 
furniture establishment of A. Hill, which he now owns. Mr. 
Hermann is a courteous gentleman 
with an extensive acquaintance.  He, bids fair to build up a 
business that will be a credit to the 
city of his birth. 
 
HILL, J. G.-Physician and surgeon, was born in Shelby 
county, Ohio,: on the 4th of July, 1842, 
and when six years of age he left that State and 
accompanied his parents to Illinois. After residing 
there for a number of. years he returned to Ohio, but came 
again to Illinois, settling in Fulton. 
county. His early education was received at the Farmington 
Academy, of Farmington, Illinois, 
supplemented by a course at the College of Chillcothe, 
Illinois. He commenced the study of and 
read medicine with Dr. George W. Everets, at Toronto, 
Canada, and graduated from the Eclectic 
Medical Institute, of Cincinnati, in 1878. He came to Cedar 
Rapids in the winter of 1864, and, in 
1878, to Des Moines, where he still engages in practicing 
and with good results. His marriage 
was in Galesburg, Illinois, June 27, 1865, to Miss Edith H. 
Owens, of Illinois. They have one 
daughter, Fannie. 
 
HIRSCH, L.-L. Hirsch, the subject of this sketch, is a 
member of the progressive and popular 
clothing house of Hirsch Bros. He was born in Germany, 
October 25, 1845, and remained in 
Fatherland until sixteen years of age, when, imbued with the 
spirit of enterprise which has 
culminated in success, he turned his face toward the Sunset 
Land and in 1864 planted himself 
and his worldly possessions in Des Moines. He became a 
salesman in a store, winning friends 
and popularity by his urbanity and
820 BIOGRAPHICAL.
courteous  manners, until 1867, when he was admitted as a 
partner in the well established firm of 
Simon & Straus, continuing thus until 1874, when he, with 
his brother Henry, purchased the 
entire interest of the other partners. With an aim to please 
and satisfy the public they have year by 
year increased their business and enlarged their domains 
until they stand first in the one, and 
extend from street to street in the other. Starting life without 
money, Mr. Hirsch has won a most 
enviable success in business as the result of enterprise and 
thorough business capacity. January 
11, 1876 he married Miss Matilda Bieringer, at Rochester, 
New York, and two children, Milton 
and Harry, have come to bless their home. 
 
HORTON, J. A.-Of the firm of Horton  & Co., photographers, 
is a native Hawkeye, having been 
born in this State, January 24, 1851. He was raised as a 
farmer and followed that occupation until 
1870, when he became engaged in teaching, and continued 
that until 1877. In 1872 ho learned 
the photographing business and still follows the same 
successfully, being a practical and skillful 
artist. 
 
HUNTER, Dr. A. O.-Physician and surgeon. Is a native of 
Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, 
and was born on the 26th day of October, 1836. When 
fifteen years of age his parents moved to 
Fayette county, same State. He received the advantages of 
a good academical education, and is 
also a master of the Latin and Greek languages. He read 
medicine with Dr. W. L. Lafferty, of 
Brownsville, for three years, and attended lectures at the 
Medical University of Philadelphia. 
After practicing his profession for one year in Greenfield, he 
commenced investigating 
homeopathy, and becoming convinced of its superior merits, 
he decided to abandon the allopathic 
system, and studied with Drs. Cote & Herron, eminent 
homeopathic physicians of Pittsburgh, 
Pennsylvania. He graduated from the Cleveland Medical 
College and commenced practicing in 
the towns of California and Greenfield until 1868. He then 
came to this city and since that time 
has been identified with Des Moines' best interests. In his 
medical relations he has built up his 
reputation by skill and energy, and much of his success may 
be attributed to his careful attention 
to the details of his profession. He is a well-read man, of 
independent thought, and has strong 
convictions of his responsibility as a citizen. He was married 
in Uniontown, Pennsylvanian 
September 1, 1864, to Miss Eliza Heaton. Their family circle 
are: Guy and Fred, aged 
respectively thirteen and eleven years. 
 
HUSSEY, TACITUS-The subject of this sketch, familiarly 
called. "Tac," is a Hoosier by birth 
and a Hawkeye by adoption. He first opened his eyes to 
sublunary things in the beautiful city of 
Terre Haute, Indiana, October 10, 1834. He developed into 
explosive boyhood with all that the 
term implies, and at the age of sixteen was inducted into the 
sublime duties of His Satanic 
Majesty in a printing office, which he performed with eminent 
satisfaction to himself, and the 
frequent emphatic dissatisfaction of the "fours." Graduating 
as master of his art he was attacked 
with the western fever, which carried him off, and he landed 
in Des Moines in 1855, when he 
entered the office of the Statesman, a paper which died 
more deaths and was raised more times 
than any hebdomedal sheet in the history of this county. 
Here he remained one year, when he 
entered the employ of Mills & Co., where he remained five 
years. In 1864 he struck hands with J. 
S. Carter and E. N. Curl, and embarked in business as 
printers and blank book makers, and 
thenceforward the firm have increased their business and 
profits, keeping pace with the growth 
and prosperity of
DES MOINES 821
the city and the development of the country. Without capital, 
except willing hands, earnest hearts 
and probity of character, they have established a name 
creditable to themselves and the city. Mr. 
Hussey is probably the oldest printer who has been in 
continuous service in the city. In business 
circles he stands high. In social circles he is much 
esteemed. He possesses a genial nature and a 
rich fund of quaint humor which wins friends. He is also an 
enthusiastic lover of field sports, and 
has run the race with them all as they have come and gone, 
except base ball. He never joined a 
league and parceled himself out to the surgeons for repairs. 
He is largely given to aquatics and 
archery, in the latter of which he is an adept, and has done 
much to encourage and popularize the 
healthful and invigorating game. August 18, 1859, he was 
joined in marriage with Miss Jennie 
Clement, a native of Poughkeepsie, New York, but the 
census-taker utterly failed at his door to 
gather any returns which shall serve to secure the expected 
one million and a half of population 
in Iowa for the present year. 
 
INGALLS, REV. P. P.-Editor of the Iowa State Tribune. 
Among the leading Methodist 
clergymen of Iowa, and one who is as widely known, is the 
subject of this sketch, who was born 
in Franklin county, Ohio, on the 1st day of February, 1823, 
and was there raised. He was 
educated at the Ohio Wesleyan University, and when twenty 
years of age he entered 
the ministry at Portsmouth, and served the churches at 
Chillicothe, Zanesville and Marysville, 
Kentucky. In 1855, he came to Iowa and settled in 
Burlington, and from this place to Chariton, 
and had charge of the district as presiding elder. From 
Chariton he went to Mt. Pleasant, and in 
1860 to Keokuk, and from there he entered the army as 
chaplain of the Third Iowa cavalry in 
1861, serving until 1863, when he resigned and returned to 
Mt. Pleasant, and for six months was 
pastor of the M. E. Church at that place. He then engaged in 
the interests of the Soldiers' 
Orphans' Home, as Secretary. This institution was organized 
by private contribution, and had 
been unsuccessfully managed, but by his untiring zeal and 
energy and incessant labor, combined 
with eloquence, he raised eighty-five thousand dollars, and 
was instrumental in getting the  
Legislature to adopt the institution in 1866. That same year 
he came to Des Moines, remaining for 
two years, when he went to Toledo, Ohio, and after a 
residence there of two years returned to this 
city and until 1875 was pastor of the Fifth Street M. E. 
Church. He then went to Kansas City, and 
after remaining there for six months was called to Iowa City, 
which was his home for two and 
a-half years, and returned to this city, where he became 
permanently located, and has devoted 
two years to the temperance missionary work, thus making 
an active service in the ministry 
for thirty-four years. He has pursued his chosen course with 
untiring zeal and with a success 
which has earned for him no inferior rank among, the 
preachers of the State. He is a man of 
strong, sharp intellect, untiring ambition, and as a pulpit 
orator has few superiors. In whatever he 
undertakes he throws his whole energy, and to this his 
success may be largely attributed. He is 
gifted with minor graces often denied men of studious habits, 
being genial, engaging and 
attractive in manner. He ranks high as a promoter of every 
good work and has made a record to 
which the limits of our space render it impossible for us to do 
justice. In December, 1879, he 
became editor and publisher of the Iowa State Tribune. Mr. 
lngalls has been twice married; first, 
to Miss Mary McDowell, on the 15th
822 BIOGRAPHICAL
of June, 1846. She was born in Knox county, Ohio, and died 
in 1861, leaving two children: 
Joseph and Ida (now Mrs. A. E. Swisher, of Iowa City). His 
second marriage  occurred 
November 20, 1865, to Miss Mary Kibben, of Mt. Pleasant, 
Iowa. By this union they have two 
children: James and Mary. 
 
INGERSOLL, E. J.-President of the Hawkeye Insurance 
Company, is a native of Pulaski, 
Oswego county, New York, and was born March 28, 1828. 
He traces his ancestry to England, 
they having come to America previous to the Revolutionary 
War. Young Ingersoll lived with his 
parents until after his majority; he was educated in the 
common schools and in the academy at 
Mexico, New York, and Falley Seminary at Fulton, New 
York, when he entered the office of 
Judge Huntington of Pulaski. After about two years in the 
office he entered the law school at 
Balston Spa, where he graduated in the spring of 1852 with 
the degree of Bachelor of Law. In the 
following September he began the practice of law at Adams, 
New York, where he continued in a 
successful business until September, 1858, when he 
emigrated West and settled in Des Moines, 
Iowa, where he resumed the practice of his profession. In 
1865 the Hawkeye Insurance Company 
was organized with Mr. Ingersoll as president. He had no 
intention of abandoning his profession, 
but in the fall of 1870 his increase of business, insurance 
and legal, compelled him to abandon 
one branch, which the force of circumstances, with money 
investments, decided in favor of his 
continuance with the Hawkeye.  Mr. Ingersoll is a man 
possessing great force of character and 
eminent business qualifications, energetic, persistent, faithful 
and reliable in all business 
undertakings, and as a manager and financier, has but few 
superiors. On the tenth of January, 
1861, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Whitcomb of Adams, 
New York. 
 
JACOBS, A. D.-Of the firm of Jacobs Bros., dealers in 
staple and fancy groceries. Was born 
April 14, 1854, in Carroll county, Illinois, and when nine 
years of age moved with his parents to 
Jasper county, this State. There he was raised on a farm 
and was educated in the common schools 
and Hazel Dell Academy of Newton. In the spring of 1878, 
he opened a general store in Newton 
and continued to keep the same until January, 1880, when 
he came to this city. He opened out a 
new and fine stock of staple and fancy groceries at his 
present place. Is unmarried. 
 
JACOBS, H. F.-A brother of the above and his partner in 
business, was born May 13, 1859, in 
Carroll county, Illinois. He was there raised, and received his 
education in the common schools, 
and also the Des Moines Baptist University. January 1, 
1880, he began business with his brother, 
and they, by fair dealing and strict attention to business, 
have built up a fair trade. 
 
JACOBS, B.-Grocer. Was born in Mt. Carroll, Illinois, 
February 6, 1848, and at the age of fifteen 
years came to Iowa, locating at Cedar Rapids, where he 
lived for two years, and thence to 
Newton. He resided there four years, working on a farm. In 
the spring of 1869, he came to this 
city and entered the employ of Thos. Naylor, with whom he 
remained eight and one-half years. In 
September, 1876, he opened a grocery store in connection 
with Ira Critzer in the building he now 
occupies. In May, 1879, Mr. Critzer retired and was 
succeeded by C. E. Ford, and since that time 
the firm name has been Jacobs & Co. Mr. J. came to Iowa 
without .means and owes his success 
in business to his economy, prudence and good 
:management. He was married on the 11th day of 
September, 1870, to
DES MOINES. 823
Miss Mary E.Johnston. They have three children: Lutie, 
Ernest and Harry (twins). 
 
JAMES, TOM-Of the firm of James & Pratt, photographers. 
Was born in Reddick, England, on 
the 24th day of January, 1853, and at the age of five years 
he emigrated with his parents to the 
United States, landing in New York, and from there went to 
Rhode Island, where he remained 
until 1859, then came to Iowa City, where he learned the 
photographers' business, and continued 
the same until the 14th of February, 1880, when he came to 
Des Moines. His gallery is one of the 
best in the city, finely furnished, etc. His marriage was in 
Iowa City, March 13, 1877, to Miss 
Fannie G. Berryhille, daughter of W. D. Berryhille. 
 
JARRETT, GEO. L.-Of the firm of Johnson & Jarrett, 
manufacturing millwrights, was born in 
North Carolina, August 22, 1852. Some six years prior to 
forming his present partnership he was 
in the employ of Mr. Johnson a greater portion of the time as 
foreman of his establishment. In the 
spring of 1876 the present partnership was established, and 
they are now doing an extensive 
business in their line, their trade extending into Kansas, 
Nebraska and Dakota in fact this 
establishment is one of the permanent and growing 
industries of the city. Mr. J. was married in 
1877 to Miss Elizabeth Wright, of Minneapolis, Minnesota. 
They have one child, John G. 
JENNINGS, A. C.-Principal of the Iowa Business College. Is 
a native of England, and was born 
on the 10th day of December, 1850, and when two years of 
age came with his parents to the 
United States. They settled first in Michigan, where they 
remained two years, and thence to 
Wisconsin, where the subject of this sketch was principally 
raised. He had the advantages of the 
common schools, supplemented with a two years' course at 
the University at Madison, and 
finished his course in the Business College of that place. He 
came to this city in 1874 and took 
charge of the Iowa Business College, an institution founded 
in 1865, and one that has steadily 
grown in reputation and well deserves the success attained.  
Mr. Jennings was married in 1879 to 
Miss Gertrude Tregea, a native of Wisconsin. 
 
JENKINS-, E.-Dealer in house furnishing goods, new and 
second-hand. Was born in Cincinnati, 
Ohio, February 15, 1849, and there grew to manhood and 
learned the trade of cabinet maker. 
During  the war he enlisted, February 22, 1863, at the age of 
fifteen years, in the Fifth Ohio 
cavalry as a bugler. He served in that position for some eight 
months, when he was promoted to 
orderly of his company, and was mustered out at the close of 
the war as commissary. After 
serving his time at his trade he went to Danville, Kentucky, 
where he was engaged in business 
some three years, and was there married on the 15th of 
June, 1869, to Miss Elizabeth Edwards. In 
1872 he removed to Des Moines and has been engaged in 
his present business since 1875. 
Besides his store on the West Side, he has also recently 
opened out one on the East Side. Mr. and 
Mrs. J. have a family of five children: Nellie M., Maud L., 
Emma F., James W. and ,Charles G. 
 
JOHNS, STACY-Of the firm of Stacy Johns & Co., dealers in 
boots and shoes, is deserving of 
more than a passing notice in this work. He is the son of 
John and Ann Johns, and was born in 
Burlington county, New :Jersey, on the 26th day of January, 
1831. His father was a native of 
Delaware, and his mother was born in New Jersey. When 
the subject of this
824 BIOGRAPHICAL.
sketch was two years of age, he was taken by his parents to 
Summit county, Ohio, where he was 
raised with mercantile experience. In 1855 he came to this 
city and engaged in his present 
business, in connection with his father, and at the present 
time the house is the second oldest 
business firm in the city, Dr. Baker alone having priority, and 
few men have a better record and a 
marked characteristic during his entire career has been his 
untiring energy and enterprise. A man 
of determined purpose, he turned the whole current of his life 
force in one direction and as a 
result has secured that reward and success which must 
follow persistent, honorable effort, and 
while comparatively few business men are successful in 
these days of fluctuating strife and 
competition; but the subject of this sketch is an exception, 
and his private life and business 
record is without a stain. He was married to Miss Mary Doty 
on the 2d day of September, 1861; 
she is a native of Lockport, New York. Their family consists 
of five children: Carrie, Mamie, 
Nellie, Willie and Walter. Mrs. Johns is a daughter of Nathan 
and Johanna Doty. What is a 
remarkable circumstance in their family is that the father and 
mother of Mr. Johns and also of 
Mrs. Johns have both celebrated their golden wedding, and 
there was in attendance at the latter's 
the brothers and sisters (five in all) of the mother. 
 
JOHNS, CALEB-Of the Union Coal Company. Was born in 
Wales, in 1833, and was raised there 
on a farm until twenty years of age and then followed the 
occupation of miner. He emigrated to 
the United States in 1862, and settled in Trumbull county, 
Ohio, and lived there three years, and 
thence to Pennsylvania, where he remained one year, and 
returned to Ohio and after living in 
various places in the State, he came to Polk county, in 
August, 1875, and in company with others 
commenced mining on his own account. He has since 
purchased his partners' interest and is 
conducting it alone. He was married in 1862 to Miss Hannah 
Thomas, of Wales. 
 
JOHNSON, HERBERT E.-Was born in Rochester, New 
York, June 20, 1856. His early youth 
was spent in this beautiful city of the Empire State, where he 
divided his time between the public 
schools and a book store, where he was part of the time 
employed as a clerk. In the fall of 1873 
he removed, with his parents, to Iowa and located near 
Winterset, in Madison county. He 
completed the regular course of study at the Winterset high 
school and graduated in 1876. He 
afterward took a course of study at the State University at 
Iowa City and then entered the law 
office of A. W. C. Weeks, of Winterset. After spending quite 
a time in the study of law he was 
admitted to its practice, having been examined before the 
bar of Polk county. His office is with 
the State Insurance Company, whose attorney he is. He was 
married December 24, 1876, to Miss 
Margery Cooper, of Logansport, Indiana. 
 
JOHNSON, A. T.-Was born in Harrison county, Ohio, April 
19,1820. His, early youth was 
passed on a farm. When he arrived at the years of maturity 
he engaged in the stage business. He 
removed to Pittsburgh in 1844, where he was employed in 
stage, express and railroad offices for 
fourteen years. He was the first express agent west of the 
Alleghany mountains, and shipped the 
first Baltimore oysters that were sent to Chicago. In April, 
1856, he removed to Des Moines, and 
entered the employ of the Western Stage Company, 
remaining with the company until July,. 
1870. Since the Western Stage Company went out of 
existence, Mr. Johnson has been employed 
in the management of the Des Moines Omni-
DES MOINES. 825
bus line, of which he is proprietor. He was married June 15, 
1848, to Miss Mary E. Smith, a 
native of Pennsylvania. They have two children, a son and a 
daughter, named respectively Frank 
and Kate. 
 
JONES, A.-Dentist. Was born in Knox county, Illinois, April 
9, 1843, and is a son of W. W. 
Jones, who removed with his family to Fort Des Moines in 
the spring of 1847. Here he lived four 
years, and then moved to Valley township, where young 
Jones was raised at farming, following 
this occupation, after completing his education, until called to 
the defense of his country. On the 
20th of July,1862, he enlisted in company A, Twenty-third 
Iowa infantry, and served with that 
regiment until the close of the war, participating in the 
following engagements: Port Gibson, 
Champion's Hill, Big Black River Bridge, siege of Vicksburg, 
Red river expedition, and Spanish 
Fort. He returned to his home at the close of the war and 
commenced the study of dentistry, 
which he continued until 1867, when he followed his 
profession in different localities in this 
vicinity. In 1872 he opened his dental rooms in East Des 
Moines, and the year following 
removed to the West Side, and came to his present location 
in 1880. 'August 11, 1872, he 
married, in this city, to Miss May E. Daugherty, a lady whose 
grace of mind and person have 
endeared her to all who enjoy her acquaintance. 
 
JONES, WM. M.-Of the firm of Jones & Blair, attorneys, is a 
native of Philadelphia, 
Pennsylvania, and was born of Welsh parentage on the 
eighth day of August, 1838. When 
thirteen years of age he was taken by his parents to Dayton, 
Ohio, where, until seventeen years of 
age, he was raised on a farm. He then read law, but before 
being admitted as a practitioner at the 
bar, engaged in railroading which he followed for a number 
of years with success, and when he 
left the business was the general western passenger and 
freight agent of the Cincinnati, Hamilton 
& Dayton Railroad. He removed to Indianapolis in 1870 and 
was admitted to the bar and engaged 
in the practice of his profession, and continued the same in 
this place until 1876, when he 
removed to Chicago and thence to Des Moines in the spring 
of 1877, and has taken a prominent 
place among the profession. He was married August 8, 
1860, to Miss Caroline Faries, who was 
born in Butler county, Ohio, in 1843. They have four children: 
Charles J., born in March, 1862, 
(and at the present time a clerk in the Des Moines Bank), 
Naomi E. (born November), 1864, 
William M. (born October, 1867), and Edna (born in July, 
1874). 
 
JORDAN, HON. JAMES C.-The subject of this sketch was 
born in Harrison county, Virginia, 
March 4, 1813; his boyhood days were spent in the Old 
Dominion; in the fall of 1832 he moved 
with his mother and family to Michigan and settled near 
Niles, his father having died about one 
year before in Lewis county, West Virginia; here he was 
married, in 1833, to. Malinda Pitman, of 
Mount Vernon, Knox county, Ohio; he removed to Platte 
county, Missouri, in the winter of 1839, 
where he resided until the fall of1846, when he located in 
Walnut township, Polk county, Iowa, 
where he has since resided; he pitched his tent the first night 
under the oaks that. were soon to 
shelter his cabin, and whose now wide-spreading branches; 
shade his stately. mansion; the tent, 
the oaks, the mansion, have all grown in the thirty-four years 
since the weary pioneer halted to 
make this his life-long home; Mr. Jordan, well endowed in 
mind and heart by nature, and 
disciplined in the vicissitudes of frontier life, here struggled 
with great
826 BIOGRAPHICAL.
zeal for independence and few in his day and in his sphere 
have been as successful; as a farmer 
and dealer in stock he is widely and honorably known; 
something of the extent and success of his 
business is known by his income tax of nearly a thousand 
dollars a year to the government; in the 
days of State banks, he was one of the directors of the 
branch of the State Bank at Des Moines; 
the public life of Mr. Jordan began in 1854; he had always 
been a Henry Clay Whig; he was 
radically opposed to the "Kansas-Nebraska Bill," and at a 
sacrifice of personal interests he 
reluctantly accepted the nomination to the State Senate on 
that issue; he was elected by 
eighty-four majority, but owing to slight informalities in one or 
two townships, in Jasper county 
where he had a majority, his opponent was counted in and 
given the certificate of election; in the 
contest which followed for the seat, Mr. Jordan was 
successful, not however, until his opponent 
had enjoyed the privilege of voting for U. S. Senator; this 
wrong, however, was righted by the 
U. S. Senate sending the contest, which resulted in this 
election, back to the State Legislature for 
another election, when Mr. Jordan had the privilege of 
contributing his influence and ballot to the 
sweeping majority for Mr. Harlan for U. S. Senator; his term 
in the State Senate was marked by 
the struggle for location of the State Capitol, in which he was 
thoroughly in earnest, and which 
resulted in bringing it to Des Moines; it is with just 
satisfaction he looks back on his conflicts 
and triumphs of these early legislative days; he served for 
years as chairman of the county Board 
of Supervisors under the old law, and his sound practical 
judgment has been in demand in most 
of the public interests of the county in all these years; his 
public spirit is indicated in his gifts to 
public enterprises; when the Valley Railroad proposed to 
extend their line to Des Moines if 
seventy thousand dollars could be raised he was one of the 
two hundred to voluntarily tax 
themselves according to their last assessment, to make up 
that amount; it cost him about one 
thousand dollars in cash to do this; his gifts to the cause of 
education and religion would 
aggregate a small fortune; his conspicuous place in local 
politics could hardly fail to create some 
animosity, but his recent unsought nomination and 
enthusiastic election to the Legislature was a 
more mature estimate of his worth as a citizen, and a well 
deserved compliment to his loyalty to 
the party; Mr. Jordan, though raised on slave territory, has 
been a life-long enemy to slavery; his 
devotion to political life as a staunch :and stalwart 
Republican is the outgrowth of deep-seated 
conviction; it is among the pleasant things to remember, that 
under his protecting roof John 
Brown and his associates, with more than a score of recently 
liberated slaves, have offered their 
prayers and sung their first jubilee hymns on their way to 
Canada, in the old slave days; said 
Brown, when forecasting the next day's journey, with a view 
of safe quarters for the next night, 
"we can stay with our enemies but prefer to stay with our 
friends"; In the panic created in war 
time by fear of rebel raid on Des Moines banks, deposits and 
securities were privately removed 
from the city and secreted at Mr. Jordan's place.  He has 
been twice married and has raised quite 
a family; the children by first marriage are Benjamin P., 
Emma (now wife of Dr. Hanawalt 
of Des Moines), Henry C., John Q., James F., George B.; his 
wife by second marriage was 
Cynthia D. Sheppard of Yates county, New York; and the 
children by this marriage are Ella (now 
Mrs. Cook), Calvin, Eva, Eda (who died young), and Edward, 
all now, but the two above-named, 
living in Polk county; Mr. Jordan has been for fifty years a 
member and an earnest
DES MOINES 827
worker in the M. E. Church; he has been actively identified in 
all the church enterprises of half a 
century, and has liberally responded to calls for help in 
planting the institutions of Christianity in 
the new settlements of the West; under his roof was 
preached the first sermon, of which we have 
an authentic account, in this township; his home has ever 
been open to clergymen, and his 
hospitality has been enjoyed by many; the chapel which 
bears his name was built mostly by his 
personal donation; this type of manhood and sterling 
integrity of character has not been the 
product of school and college, but it has been developed and 
directed by the pulpit, the platform 
and the press. 
 
KAHLER, CHARLES L.-Of the firm of Kahler & Co., dealers 
in boots and shoes. Was born in 
Germany, March 9, 1839, where he was raised. While young 
he learned the boot and shoe 
business, and followed the same until 1857, when he 
emigrated to America, landing in 
New York. From there he came to Iowa, locating in 
Davenport, and there followed his former 
occupation. In the fall of 1857 he came to this city, and has 
since resided here, dealing 
extensively in boots and shoes. His store is large and 
commodious. He was married in this city 
October 2, 1868, to Miss Mary Lehman. They have by this 
union a family of three children: 
Frank, Carl and Solomon. 
 
KASSON, HON. JOHN A.-Is a native of Vermont, and was 
born in the town of Charlotte, 
Chittenden county, January 11,1822. He was deprived of the 
care of a father by death when six 
years of age, and he began early to be trained in the school 
of self support.. He received his 
primary education at the common schools and a county 
academy. He prepared for college in the 
city of Burlington, Vermont, where he entered the State 
University in 1838, and graduated in 
1842. He had selected law as a profession, and began the 
study with his brother, Charles D., then 
a prominent lawyer of that State. His means being limited he 
was obliged to relinquish his 
studies for a while and sought employment as a teacher in 
Virginia. His residence there had much 
to do with the tone of his future political action on the slavery 
question. On his return from 
Virginia he resumed the study of law with Hon. Emory 
Washburne, of Worcester, Massachusetts, 
and after passing through many struggles and pecuniary 
embarrassments he was finally admitted 
at Lowell to practice in the State of Massachusetts. After his 
admission to the bar he went to New 
Bedford, where he entered the law office of Timothy Coffin, 
an eminent advocate. Here a year of 
additional study fitted him for a partnership with Hon. 
Thomas D. Eliot, afterward member of 
Congress from that district. After five years' practice in this 
State he decided to go where a larger 
field opened more avenues to a young man for a successful 
career. Accordingly he came West. 
At St. Louis he spent one year in the office of Hon. Joseph 
Crocket, and then opened an office of 
his own and gained a large practice. After six years of hard 
labor in his profession impaired 
health necessitated a change of climate, and in 1857 he 
established himself in Des Moines, in the 
practice of law, where his recognized talents soon gave him 
a large docket. In 1858 he was 
appointed chairman of the Republican State central 
committee. In 1860 he was a delegate to 
the Republican convention at Chicago which nominated 
Lincoln for President. In 1861 he was 
appointed by President Lincoln First Assistant Postmaster 
General, and it was the second 
nomination made by the President. In 1862 the State of Iowa 
became entitled to six 
representatives. The new Fifth district was
828 BIOGRAPHICAL.
composed of twenty three counties. While he was in 
Washington the Republican convention of 
that district offered him a nomination in Congress. He 
accepted, resigned his place in the 
post-office department, and actively entered upon the 
canvass, and was elected by a handsome 
majority. In 1864 he was re-elected and has left a record that 
will live in history through all time. 
At the close of his Congressional service, in March, 1867, he 
was solicited by the 
Postmaster-General to undertake the negotiation of new 
treaties with various European 
governments, which resulted in reducing postage to one half 
of former rates. During his absence 
he was nominate and elected a member to the General 
Assembly. In the summer of 1872 he was 
called upon to become a candidate for Congress, and after a 
spirited contest was nominated and 
elected. In 1874 he was re-elected to the Forty-fourth. He 
was appointed by President Hayes in 
1877 as United States Minister to Austria, and during his 
absence has been nominated by his 
party as their representative to the Forty-seventh Congress 
from this district. Mr. Kasson is not an 
office seeker, in nearly every instance the office having 
sought the man. Few men of his age have 
a more brilliant record, and few, if any, ever held a more 
confidential place in the hearts of the 
people. In all his relations to society he realizes that he is 
one of the people, and that their 
interests are his interests, and in their prosperity alone can 
he prosper. 
 
KAUFFMAN, B. F.-This rising young attorney of the firm of 
Nourse& Kauffman, was born in 
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, December 12, 1846. Soon after 
his parents removed to St. Louis, and 
from thence on account of the cholera scourge of 1849 in St. 
Louis, removed to Muscatine, Iowa. 
At Muscatine his mother died in 1849. In 1852, his father 
having again married, the family 
removed to Keosauqua, Van Buren county, where most of 
his boyhood days were spent, and 
where he began his education at a select school. He entered 
the State University in 1863 and 
graduated from the law department in 1866. He came to this 
city in 1864, his parents having 
removed here in that year, and after graduation engaged in 
the practice of his profession, 
commencing the practice in 1868. In January, 1869, he 
formed a partnership with Hon. C. C. 
Nourse, and the firm has taken front rank among the legal 
firms in the State. He is a man whose 
fine legal mind has been rendered more acute by constant 
study and practice. He was married on 
the 6th of September, 1871, to Miss Anna LeBosquet. They 
have two children: Frank and Alice. 
He has given to the study and practice of the law his 
undivided attention, having no other 
ambition than to attain the highest degree of success in his 
chosen profession. 
 
KENNEDY, JOSIAH F.-Physician and surgeon. Was born 
January 31,1834, at Landisburg, Perry 
county, Pennsylvania, he being the second son of William 
and Mary A. Kennedy. He was 
educated at Williamsburg (Pa.) Academy, Dickinson College, 
Carlisle, Pennsylvania, where he 
graduated in 1855; at Jefferson Medical College, 
Philadelphia, and at the medical department of 
the University of New York City, graduating from the latter 
institution with the degree of M. D. 
in March, 1858. During the years 1855-56 he was principal 
of the Berrysburg (Pa.) Seminary, and 
he became a medical student in the office of Dr. Isaac 
Pursell, now of Danville, Pennsylvania. 
After graduating he located at Mechanicsville, Iowa, in 1859. 
In 1861 entered the United States 
army as assistant surgeon, serving as surgeon in charge of 
Seminary Hospital, Georgetown, D. 
C., resigning in consequence of sickness. He re-commenced 
the private practice
DES MOINES. 829
of his profession in the fall of 1862, at Tipton, Iowa, and in 
1870 removed to Des Moines, where 
he has since continued. He is a member of the State Medical 
Society, being now secretary. He 
was elected assistant secretary of that society in 1874. He is 
also president of the Polk County 
Medical Society, and two years served as secretary. He has 
contributed many valuable articles to 
the literature of his profession. Was professor of obstetrics in 
the Iowa State University from 
1869 to the time of his removal to this city, and is at present 
the physician of Polk county having 
charge of the prison, alms-house, etc. July 13, 1858, he was 
married to Mary C., eldest daughter 
of Henry Reigart, Esq., of Tipton, Iowa. Their family consists 
of seven children: Anna S., Mary 
R., Carrie, Emery, Gertie, William and Karl. 
 
KENNEDY, B.-Railroad contractor. Among those who have 
been prominently identified with 
the railroad building in Iowa as well as other states is the 
subject of this sketch. He was born in 
Ireland in 1828, and was raised there with a mercantile 
experience, and in 1852 emigrated to the 
United States and settled first in New York, and from there to 
Chicago, Illinois, and subsequently 
to Davenport, Iowa, and has been almost continuously 
engaged on public works since coming to 
the country, and has been connected as contractor or 
superintendent of the construction of nearly 
all the prominent railroads. He was married to Miss Honora 
McInerney, in 1854. She was born in 
Ireland. To them have been born nine children: Michael A., 
Maria A., Ellen B., John F., P. J., J. 
P., Honora, Cecilia and P. B. 
 
KING, M. H.-Railroad contractor. Was born in Ireland, 
December 23, 1835, and when young his 
parents emigrated to the United States, locating in Chester 
county, Pennsylvania, where he was 
principally raised, attending school a short time in 
Harrisburgh. He afterward removed to 
Blairsville, Pennsylvania, and while residing there was 
engaged as a clerk most of the time. He 
came from there to Des Moines in 1856, and has lived here 
since. A portion of his first years in 
Des Moines he was in the employ of R. W. Clark and W. A. 
Scott, as clerk. He has been very 
prominent in the politics of the county, having held the office 
of County Supervisor, city clerk, 
justice of the peace, and been frequently elected a member 
of the city council, the latter position 
he is now occupying, having been elected in March, 1880. 
During the campaign of 1878 he was 
city editor of the Greenback daily People, and had the 
pleasure of seeing the most of the ticket he 
advocated, county, judicial and Congressional, elected. Of 
late years he has been quite 
prominently identified with railroad building, both in 
Wisconsin and Iowa. He was married in 
1860, to Miss Rosa Ann Cassady, of Warren county, this 
State. 
 
KOENIGSBERGER, JOHN-Dealer in harness, saddlery, 
etc., was born in Prussia, Germany, 
April 29, 1829, where he was raised and learned his trade. 
He emigrated to the United States in 
1854,  and located in this city the year following, and since 
that time has been engaged in 
business the principal part of the time for himself. In 1871 he 
removed his business to the East 
Side where he now enjoys, a good trade. He was married in 
1857, to Elizabeth Fillman, a native 
of Pennsylvania. 
 
KOONS, J. H.-County Superintendent of Schools. Was born 
in Tippecanoe county, Indiana, on 
the 8th day of February, 1847, and was raised there until 
1856, when he was brought by his 
parents to this county. His
830 BIOGRAPHICAL.
time in youth was divided between farming and attending 
school, and afterward in teaching. In 
1861 he removed to Council Bluffs, and in 1862 returned to 
Indiana. In 1864 he enlisted in the 
First Indiana heavy artillery and served one year. He 
supplemented his education by attendance 
one year at Farmers' Academic Institute and two years at 
Earlham College. He returned to Iowa 
in 1868. Resumed his former occupation of teaching a 
portion of the time in the western part of 
the State. In 1870 and '72 attended the Iowa State 
University. He was for three years principal of 
the grammar department in the city schools previous to his 
election to the position of County 
Superintendent, in 1877. He was re-elected in 1879. He 
married Miss Emma E. Irwin, in May, 
1877. She was born in Pennsylvania but a resident of this 
county for many years. They have one 
daughter, Edith Y.