Dubuque County >> 1894 Index
Jones County
Clayton County

Portrait and Biographical Record of Dubuque, Jones and Clayton Counties
Chicago: Chapman Pub. Co., 1894.

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Unless otherwise noted, biographies submitted by Becky Teubner.

THOMAS F. PHILLIPS, of Dubuque, is one of the worthy county officials now ably and acceptably filling the position of Sheriff. He is widely and favorably known in this community, and with pleasure we present this record of his life to our readers, knowing that it will be received with interest by many. He has the honor of being a native of the Hawkeye State, for he was born in Jackson County on the 4th of March, 1857.

The parents of our subject were James and Bridget (Hines) Phillips, natives of Ireland, both of whom emigrated in early life to America, crossing the ocean about 1844, The former spent two years in Pennsylvania and Ohio, and in 1846 came to Iowa, where he settled in Jackson County. His marriage occurred in St. Louis, Mo., in 1847. He came to Dubuque County in 1866, and settled in Prairie Creek Township. After Thomas F. became Sheriff he accompanied him to Dubuque. As a farmer he was prominent in his community, but for some time prior to his death, in September, 1891, he had lived in retirement from active business cares. His wife died in October, 1893. The subject of this sketch is the fourth in order of birth in the family of six children. In the usual manner of farmer lads the days of his boyhood and youth were passed. As soon as old enough to handle the plow he began work in the fields, and was thus employed during the summer season, while in the winter months he attended the district schools of the neighborhood. Thus he acquired a good practical education, and in the Bayless Commercial College of Dubuque he pursued a business course of study.

When that was completed Mr. Phillips returned to the farm, and for some time was engaged in agricultural pursuits and in trading in live stock, buying and selling hogs and cattle. He met with good success in that line of business, and continued to actively engage in the same until 1889, when he was nominated and elected on the Democratic ticket, Sheriff of Dubuque County for a term of two years. So ably did he discharge the duties of the office, that on the expiration of his first term he was re-elected, and in 1893 he was again chosen for a third term in that office. This is now his fifth year. He is brave and fearless in the discharge of his duties and his promptness and fidelity have led to his long retention in office and won him the high commendation of the press and public.

Mr. Phillips takes quite an active interest in political affairs, and does all in his power to promote the growth and insure the success of his party. He owns a good farm and other property and is now comfortably situated in life, having through his own industry and good management become a well-to-do citizen. He is widely known in this community and has many warm friends, who esteem him highly for his sterling worth and strict integrity.

FRANCIS J. PUTZ, one of the leading business men of Elkport, Iowa, is the junior partner in the firm of Putz & Costigan. He well deserves representation in this volume, for he is an enterprising and public-spirited young man, and it is with pleasure that we present to our readers this record of his life. He was born August 21, 1866, and is the son of John and Margaret (Balluff) Putz. They are both natives of Germany, and emigrated to the United States about 1848, landing first in New York, where they remained two years.

John Putz, the father of our subject, was a cooper by trade in his native land and found employment at that occupation in the city of New York. In 1850 he determined to seek a home in the west, and with his family went to Elkader, Iowa, where he again engaged in the cooper's trade. Soon after he bought a farm of eighty acres of land and engaged in agricultural pur­suits for three years. He then sold out and came to Elkport, where he was again engaged as a cooper for some time. He then bought two hun­dred acres of land in Elk Township, where ho made his home for fifteen years, He also has forty acres in Volga Township. He is residing at present in Elkport, and is the proprietor of a large cooper shop in that place. He was born in Germany in 1827, and his wife is a native of the same place, the year of her birth being 1836. They are the parents of seven children: John, Mary, Thresi; Francis J., our subject; Henry, Agnes and Conrad.

Our subject received a common-school educa­tion in the home of his childhood, and at the age of twenty-one began life for himself. He found employment as a clerk in a dry-goods store in Elkport, where he remained two years. At the end of that time he went into business for himself, form­ing a partnership with Mr. Costigan. Since em­barking in the mercantile business he has met with flattering success. He is a prominent busi­ness man of the town, intelligent and enterprising, and is widely known for his sterling integrity and upright dealings with customers and employes.

October 1,1881, occurred the marriage of Francis J. Putz to Miss Ellen Heiberger. This estimable lady was born in Dubuque County, Iowa, Novem­ber 21, 1869. She is one of nine children and of German descent, her parents having been born in Germany. Our subject and his wife are the happy parents of three bright and interesting children: Laurette, Josie and Matilda. He will give them a thorough education as soon as they become of suitable age. Mr. and Mrs. Putz are worthy mem­bers of the Catholic Church, are well respected and occupy a high position in the social circles of Elk-port. He is an advocate of the principles of the Democratic party. He is a genial, popular gentle­man, has a pleasant family, and is a model and successful man of affairs, and has by strict integ­rity and faithful attention to business won the confidence of all who know him. He is now serv­ing as Township Clerk.