The following biographies were scanned from the remnants of a book that apparently was a copy of "The History of Polk County, Iowa" published by the Union Historical Company, Birdsall, Williams & Co. 1880.  Marion John Rice has a copyright to this transcription file and gives permission for this file to be posted to at the Iowa Biographies Projects. DES MOINES NAPIER, THOS. H.-Justice of the Peace; one of the pioneer settlers of Polk county. Was born in Giles county, Virginia, on the 20th of July, 1809, and when seven years of age was taken by his parents to Gallia county, Ohio, where he was raised on a farm. He removed from that place to Knox county, Ill., and in 1839 removed to Louisa county, Iowa, and remained there one year, and thence to Johnson county, and helped quarry and furnish the stone for the State House at Iowa City. From this place he changed his residence to Wapello county, and on the 6th day of April, 1846, came to this county and engaged in agricultural pursuits. He was elected a justice of the peace in 1851, elected Sheriff of the county, and in 1855 was elected County Judge, and held the office 41 years. In 1861 he went to the Rocky Mountains, and in 1864 to Montana. He married Miss A. Martin, of Putnam county, Indiana, in 1843. She was born in Butler county, Ohio. Their family consists of three children: Mary L. (now Mrs. H. Brown), Edward L. and Helen (now Mrs. C. Harris). Lost one in infancy. NASH, JOHN A., D. D.-President of the University of Des Moines, and an educator of much experience and eminence. Is a native of Sherburne, Chenango county, N. Y. Was born July 11, 1816. When be was five years of age he lost his father, and was brought up on a farm by an aunt in Otsego county. At the age of twenty he entered the preparatory department of Madison University, and graduated from the university in 1842, and from the Theological Seminary at the same place in 1844. His first pastorate was at Watertown, N. Y., where he spent six years, and on the 3rd of January, 1851, came to Des Moines, which has since been his home. He immediately gathered the few Baptists together, organized a church, and was its pastor between seventeen and eighteen years, teaching also the larger part of this period. About 1835 he started a select school, which soon grew into what was long known as the Forest Home Seminary. Des Moines being centrally located in the State, and some inducements being held out to the Baptists, it was resolved to establish an institution here of the highest order, and the University of Des Moines is the result of that movement, organized in April, 1865. Dr. Nash became its financial agent, and labored in that capacity, with some interruption, for four years, until his health broke down. This was not, however, until some tine after the brick building on the hill in Des Moines had been completed and the institution was in operation there. During the period that he was regaining his health, Dr. Nash was Superintendent of Schools for Polk county, his term expiring on the 1st of January, 1874. Prior to this date, in the autumn of 1872, he became acting President of the University, and was at its head three years, when Hon. Frederick Mott became President, but after holding that position a little over a year he resigned, and Dr. Nash was again placed in the presidential chair, May, 1877. Since he located in Des Moines at the opening of 1851 he has accomplished a great religious as well as educational work organizing two Baptist churches, one on each side of the river, and being largely instrumental in the formation of nearly thirty others in Central Iowa. Every good cause receives his hearty and powerful support. Dr. Nash has been twice married. First, in July, 1846, to Miss Jennie C. Calhoun, of Pittsford, Monroe county, N. 848 BIOGRAPHICAL Y. She died February 3,1851, leaving no children. His second marriage was March 15, 1853, to Miss Mary V. Hepburn, a native of New York, residing at the time of her marriage at Augusta, Lee county, Iowa. They have four children: John A., Jennie C., Netta and Hattie. NAYLOR, THOMAS-Grocer. Was born in Yorkshire, England, April 18, 1836, and there was raised and educated. In June, 1856, he came to the United States, locating in Sullivan county, New York, where he engaged in the carriage and undertaker's business, having learned in the same in the old country. He remained there about eight years, and then went to Helena, Ark., where he engaged in the grocery business. This he followed about four years, and then went to Kansas City, where he opened a grocery store. After remaining there about eight months, in April, 1869, he came to Des Moines and opened a grocery house. In 1873 he erected his present building, and in the fall of that year moved into it. He is one of the prominent flour dealers of the city, keeping on hand a large stock of fine brands. He was married October 7, 1868, to Miss Annie E. Maltby, of New York. They have three children living: Mary E., Martha and Anna. NAYLOR, A. W.-President of the Capital City Bank. Was born in Morgan county, Ohio, August 27, 1841, where he grew to manhood on a farm. He received the advantages of a common school education, supplemented by a course of academic study. In 1864 he came to Iowa, locating in New Sharon, Mahaska county. He was there engaged in the mercantile business for ten years with satisfactory results, and for the three years following was in the banking business. In December, 1877, he came to this city and took his present position. January 9, 1864, he was married to Miss Rebecca S. King, in Washington county, Ohio. They have one son and one daughter: Frank L. and Jessie N. Lost one daughter, May, aged 3 years. Mr. N. is a thorough gentleman in manners, and treats all persons with a genial and unaffected courtesy. This, added to his ability as a business man, has gained for him confidence and general esteem. NEWTON, AUGUSTUS--The subject of this sketch, though not one of the pioneers of Polk county, is one of its early settlers, and closely identified with its history and the growth and prosperity of the Capital City. He was born in Worcester county, Massachusetts, April 11, 1818, where he resided until he attained his majority. When eighteen years old he began the carpenter's trade, and in 1840, the days of log cabins, hard cider. and "Tippecanoe and Tyler too," he came West and located at Niles, Michigan, where he remained about one year, when he went to Elkhart, Indiana, where he engaged in general merchandising, which he continued twelve years. While there, although a Free-soil Whig in politics, as he is now a radical Republican, he was appointed postmaster by President Van Buren and held the office four years. From Elkhart he went to Lafayette, Indiana, where he engaged in the drug business under the firm name of Hart & Newton, which he continued one year when he came to Fort Des Moines, then so called and engaged in general merchandising, which in those days included everything a person wanted to use or wear. Six years after his health became impaired and he disposed of his goods to R. W. Sypher. In 1856 he built the west half of Exchange Block, corner of Third and Walnut, and in 1857 the first commodious and substantial brick dwelling-house in the town, which is now on Fifth street, between Park and Center, owned by N. B. Collins. In 18-- he was appointed Assistant U..S. Revenue Assessor, which DES MOINES. 849 position he held until legislated out of office. He was subsequently appointed gauger for the revenue department of the government. In 1874 he was elected Mayor of the city and held the office two years with much satisfaction to the people and honor to himself. In 1876 he became connected with W. B. Mitchell, under the firm name of W. B. Mitchell & Co., manufacturers and dealers in fine carriages, harness, trunks, etc., 221 Walnut street. Mr. Newton inherited from his ancestry those sterling traits of character, rigidity of purpose and conservatism of action which belong pre-eminently to New England and the Puritans, and which has made its impress on the nation. His unswerving fidelity to his ideas of right and his religious convictions aided very materially in laying the foundation of a high standard of morality, education and good society in what has come to be the metropolitan city of the State. In business circles he has the confidence of the public; in social life, with his most estimable wife, possessing all the graces of true womanhood, they are highly esteemed. September 14, 1843, Mr. Newton was united by marriage with Miss Mary E. Mitchell, daughter of General W. B. Mitchell, one of the most prominent civil engineers of Philadelphia, and who ran the first railroad train out of that city. By this union they have three children living: Augustus M. (now of Colorado), Matia A. (wife of Judge W. A. Wood, of Goshen, Indiana), and Willie T. Was a member of the school board six years and secretary four years. During his connection with the school board the Second and Third ward school houses were built, and, in connection with Hoyt Sherman, had control of the building. OAKS, EDWIN-This gentleman is a member of the firm of Oaks & Co., the other one of the firm being J. A. Ferguson. Mr. Oaks was born near Bangor, Maine, July 12, 1827. In 1837 his parents removed to Cambria county, Pennsylvania, where his youth and early manhood were passed on a farm. He afterward learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed most of the time until the present summer. He came to Polk county in 1854, and since that time has constantly resided there, most of his time, having been engaged in building He owns twenty acres in his homestead, section 16, Bloomfield township. In May, 1880, he bought a half interest in the marble works, of which business he is the senior partner. Since coming to the county he has been a member of the Board of County Supervisors for a number of years. He was married October 27, 1853, to Miss Mary A. Gifford, a native of Pennsylvania. They have two adopted children: Francis Marion and Nancy Belle. J. A. FERGUSON, of the firm of Oaks & Co., was born in Preble county, Ohio, June 30, 1825. When yet a youth his parents removed to St. Joseph county, Indiana, where he grew to manhood. When twenty-one years of age he learned the blacksmith trade which he followed for twenty years. Removed to this State in 1855, and located in Adel, Dallas county, where he was engaged in black smithing for eleven years. He came to Des Moines in 1868, and was employed by the Fairbanks Scale Company for six years. Afterward traveled for a boot and shoe house for five years. In 1878 he bought a half interest in his present business, which has earned for him a widespread reputation in business circles. He was married August 22, 1846, to Miss Sophronia. Mastin, who was born in Butler county, Ohio. They have four children living: Clarence A., Arista M., William E. and James. They have lost by death three children. 850 BIOGRAPHICAL. O'BLENESS, HAMILTON CREE-The subject of this sketch, familiarly known as "O'B ", first saw the "light of other days" on Eight Mile Run, Washington county, Ohio, June 30, 1846. We might cover many pages with account of his "childhood's sunny hours," but enough is given to show the respectability of his birth, and his claim upon life. When of the age of nine or ten years he removed with his parents to this State, settling in this county, and has remained here ever since with the exception of five or six years spent in St. Louis and elsewhere. Much of his time has been spent in the study of abstract questions, with little profit to himself, he says, and none to the world was given to go into the realms of the unseen, to picture schemes and fancies of an unreal kind; but it is highly probable that from this he has developed poetical talent. He has large insight into human nature, capacity to analyze, to dissect and reason on consequences, but not enough suspicion for a business man. Being possessed of a nonreligious nature, and asking a reason for everything, his investigations in that line have led him to the belief that a good devil is better than a bad god, and that all mankind would be far better if religious toleration was more prevalent. When of the age of eighteen he began to learn the "art preservative of arts," and after many years of labor has learned sufficient to make an average living. On the twenty-third of October, 1867, he was married to Miss Martha A. Riley, a native of Wisconsin, a woman of. uncommon good sense, a good manager of household affairs, and of excellent judgment. Two children, a girl and boy, make music round the house and scatter sunshine everywhere. The father of our subject, Sergeant James O'Bleness, was a member of company C, Twenty-third regiment Iowa Volunteers, and was killed in the battle of Milliken's Bend, in the late war; his mother is still living and resides in Saylor township, near the county farm; he has six brothers and sisters living, all enjoying good health, with the promise of long life before them. O'CONNOR, JOHN-Retired merchant. The subject of this sketch was born on the twenty-second of June, 1815, in Ireland, and after obtaining an education front the common schools he learned the boot and shoe business which he followed until 1842, when he emigrated to the United States, landing in New York, June 17. Then became extensively engaged the manufacturing of boots and shoes, employing from twenty to twenty-five hands. His work was all sewed, and in this business he continued until March 10, 1857, when he came to Iowa, locating in Warren county. There he purchased a farm of eighty-five acres, but in 1861 sold out and came to this city and has since resided here. He has retired from the more active pursuits of life and is now living in quiet at his home. He was married in Ireland November 9, 1841, to Miss Rose O'Conner, daughter of Patrick O'Conner, of Dromiskin, County of South. OLDHAM, JAMES-Grocer, was born in Shelby county, Indiana, September 17, 1827, and was there raised on a farm and educated in the common schools. While a young man he learned the carpenter's trade, and for a number of years worked at it, though irregularly. Also clerked in a store a part of the time; and in 1849 he bought out his father's stock of dry goods and groceries at Edinburgh, that State. In 1850 he sold out and engaged in working at his trade, and in the fall of 1856 came to Iowa; he located in Eddyville where he worked for two years, then moved to Davis county, and bought a farm, engaging in farming until the spring of 1863. Then came to this city and, in October, opened a grocery store, DES MOINES. 851 on the East Side and remained there until 1867. He then sold out, and in 1872 went to Spring Hill and bought a half interest in the elevator at that place, at the same time engaging in the grain business with Mr. Ashworth. In this he continued about two years when he sold his interest. Then went to traveling for Ankeny & Brothers oil works. In March, 1877, he opened a grocery store in connection with G. W. Barkalow, under the firm name of Oldham & Barkalow, and has since been engaged here. He was married July 28, 1848, to Miss Amanda J. Cheatham, a native of Kentucky. They have three children living: Caroline L. (wife of G. D. Barkalow, of Mitchellville), Mary A. and Sarah N.; lost one Elenora. OSGOOD, G. R.-Of the firm of Osgood, Harris & Co., was born in Orleans county, Vermont, July 3, 1840, where he grew to manhood under the vigilant eye of his prudent and thrifty New England parents. His educational advantages being very good, he received that training which is so important as a preparatory work in the life of every successful business man. At the early age of seventeen years he. entered upon the business career which has thus far proved to be an exceptionally successful one. He came to Des Moines in 1861, his health having previously failed, and supposing that the invigorating atmosphere of the Hawkeye State would prove to be beneficial. In this expectation he was not disappointed. He was employed for a year and a half as salesman in the establishment of Rawson & Christie, and in 1863 bought the interest of the latter and the firm name for three years was Rawson & Osgood. At the expiration of that time the firm dissolved, Mr. Osgood taking the dry goods department and forming a partnership with Mr. Geo. H. Bugbee, the name of the firm being Osgood & Bugbee. At the expiration of one year he bought Mr. Bugbee's interest and during the next year conduced the business alone. He then took a partner, Mr. Wyman, and at the end of four years Mr. Harris bought an interest, when the firm name was Osgood, Wyman & Harris. In 1899 Mr. Wyman withdrew and W. C. Crane, a merchant of much experience, from New York City, was admitted as a partner, since which time the firm name is Osgood, Harris & Co. Mr. Osgood was married October 18, 1865, to Miss Caroline Storrs of Madison county, New York. They have three sons, named respectively: Henry H., George J. and Robert S.