Des Moines County >> 1888 Index

Portrait and Biographical Album of Des Moines County, Iowa
Chicago: Acme Publishing, 1888.

B

Jeremiah R. Bailey, a farmer residing on section 32, Yellow Spring Township, Des Moines County, Iowa, was born in Center County, Pa., June 5, 1835, and is a son of Ephraim and Mary H. (Rankin) Bailey, both of whom were also natives of Center County. Our subject was reared upon a farm, educated at the common schools, and emigrated to Iowa with his parents in 1855, they locating on section 32, Yellow Spring Township, Des Moines County, and adjoining where our subject now lives. Ephraim and Mary H. Bailey are the parents of six children, all of whom are now living. Jeremiah R. is the eldest; Sarah, the next, is the wife of Martin L. Heizer, of Mediapolis; Mary J. is the wife of James McMullen, of Burlington, Iowa; John N., who was a member of Company K, 2d Iowa Calvary, of which he was Sergeant, is now a resident of California; Rachel E. is the wife of David R. Bruce, living near Grafton, Neb.; and Ephraim E. D. lives with his father in Kossuth, Des Moines Co., Iowa. Jeremiah lived with his father until Nov. 12, 1861, when, responding to his country's call for volunteers, he enlisted in Company K, 2d Iowa Calvary, serving for three years, and participating in the battles of Corinth, Iuka, Holly Springs, Tupelo, and numerous other skirmishes, in one of which he was slightly wounded in the arm. Returning home in November, 1864, Mr. Bailey worked as a farm-hand for a year, and then rented land in various localities until 1870. On the 20th of November, 1866, he wedded Sarah Hinson, a native of Ross County, Ohio, and a daughter of Joab and Eve (Philips) Hinson, whose birthplace was also in the Buckeye State. Her parents were among the earliest pioneers of Des Moines County, having settled in Benton Township in 1839. The mother died Jan. 5, 1883, aged seventy-nine years, but the father is still living at Kingston, Iowa.

In 1871 Mr. Bailey made his first purchase of land, which consisted of a farm of forty acres on section 32 of Yellow Spring Township. Upon this land the family yet resides, though he now owns eighty acres. Mr. Bailey and his wife are members of the United Presbyterian Church, and he also belongs to Sheppard Post, No. 159, G. A. R.

Ephraim Bailey, the father of our subject, now lives a retired life in the village of Kossuth. His wife died in 1856, and he was again married, Abbie R. Rankin, a cousin by his former marriage, becoming his wife.

Henry Martin Baird, D.S., was born in Burlington, Feb. 18, 1859, and is the son of Rev. William F. and Rebecca (Harah) Baird.  When a young man of sixteen years he was employed by the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad as fireman, and in that capacity he worked for the company until the year 1880, when he left the road and entered the dental office of his brother in Burlington.  He received his education at the State University at Iowa City, Iowa, and there also took a course in dentistry, graduating in the dental class of 1886, since which time he has practiced his profession with his brother in the city of Burlington.  Dr. Baird has gained a reputation for good work and attention to business which many an older dentist might well envy, and is one of the rising young men of the city.

On the 30th of May, 1883, in Bourbon County, Ky., Dr. Baird was united in marriage with Miss Lizzie E., David, daughter of Arthur O. David, of that State.  They have one daughter, Ruby H.  Mr. Baird is a member of the Presbyterian Church.  In politics the doctor is a Republican.

W. H. Baird, Dental Surgeon, of Burlington, was born in Burlington, Iowa, on the 27th of June, 1853, and his parents are Rev. W. F. Baird and Rebecca (Harah) Baird, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work. The Doctor was educated in the city of Burlington, and in 1874 entered the office of Drs. Smith and Cochrane, who are still engaged in business in this city, and began the study of dentistry. A year passed, and then the firm was dissolved, Mr. Baird continuing with Dr. Cochrane. Readily understanding mechanics, it was not long before he became proficient in his chosen profession, and in 1879 he began business for himself. In 1883, with the means he had accumulated, Dr. Baird attended the Dental Department of the Iowa University, and there received his diploma. He is a member of the State Dental Society, and in 1887 served as Vice President of the organization. He was united in marriage, in 1884, with Miss Effie Harris.

Dr. Baird is a man of sound practical judgment and logical common sense, and is greatly respected for his straightforward, honorable dealings with his patrons and friends. He is practically a self-made man, and has worked his way to a position of which he may well be proud.

Rev. William French Baird was born on the 22d day of September, 1818.  His ancestors were of Scotch extraction, from the city of Glasgow, Scotland.  Some of the family sojourned in the northern part of Ireland, near Londonderry, and thence they came to the American Colonies and settled near Lancaster, Pa.  His grandfather, Robert Baird, was barely twenty years of age when he entered the patriotic army of the Revolution. Mr. Baird's father, Alexander Baird, the eldest son of Robert Baird, was married to Nancy French, the daughter of Enoch and Mary French.  The maternal side of the family was also of Scotch descent, and came to America prior to the Revolution, and settled near Germantown, Pa.  Both grandparents of Mr. Baird settled in Fayette County, Pa., and were Ruling Elders in Dunlap's Creek congregation, of the Presbyterian Church.  His grandfather Baird was married to Elizabeth Reeves, whose parents were of English and Welsh descent, and were natives of Long Island.  His grandfather French was married to Mary McIlroy, of Scotch and Irish descent.

Mr. Baird's father was an officer under Gen. William Henry Harrison, for whom he ever cherished the most affectionate regard and admiration.  The early influences by which Mr. Baird was surrounded were most favorable to early development of Christian life and character.  His parents were members of Dunlap's Creek congregation, of the Presbyterian Church, which was organized about 1775 or 1776.  During the long years of faithful ministrations of such men as Rev. Myers, Powers, McMillan, Dunlap, Jennings, Johnson and Samuel Wilson, D. D., now of Fairfield, Iowa, they could not fail in furnishing the most desirable society for childhood and youth.  The observance of the Sabbath, prayer-meetings, Sabbath-schools, catechizations, temperance and education, were the results of such faithful labor.

Mr. Baird professed religion when twelve years of age, and united with Hopewell congregation of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.  Mr. Baird had six brothers and six sisters; of his brothers three were ministers and three were Ruling Elders in the church.  Mr. Baird's father not only gave his children a good education, but desired his sons to learn some trade, so as to be the better prepared for any misfortune that might befall them in the future.  Two sons were millwrights, one a coachmaker, one a stonemason, one an artist and one a dentist.  Of the six sons four received a collegiate education and one son died in his senior year at college.

Mr. Baird left home early in life and learned to build a nine-passenger coach, a barouche, phaeton and buggy.  He then completed a collegiate course in Madison College, at Uniontown, Pa., and received his theological education under Rev. Milton Bird, D. D., and Rev. Azil Freeman, D. D., and was licensed to preach on the 8th of April, 1848.  Mr. Baird came to Iowa, arriving in Burlington on the 16th day of December, 1848, and was appointed missionary the spring following, to operate in Iowa, with his home at Burlington.

Mr. Baird was ordained by the Union Presbytery at Hopewell, Pa., on the 3d of September, 1849, and on the 5th day was united in marriage to Miss Rebecca B. Harah, of Uniontown, Pa.  It was a happy marriage.  The religious influence surrounding Mrs. Baird's early life was of the most precious character.  She was educated in Fayette Seminary, at Uniontown, Pa., and was a member of the Presbyterian Church.  The fruit of this union was two sons--William H. and Henry M. Baird, both graduates of the dental department of the Iowa State University, and now located in the city of their birth.

Mr. Baird returned to Iowa, arriving at Burlington in the fall of 1849.  At this time there was but one Cumberland Presbyterian Church house in Iowa, and now there are between thirty and forty, seven of which were built under the labors of Mr. Baird.  Much of the vast field in Iowa, and some thirty counties in Illinois, were traversed on horseback.  Mr. Baird made three extended tours, prior to the war, in the Southern States, under the direction of the Board of Missions of his church.

When the late war came on Mr. Baird remained a Union man, and presented a battle flag to the Burlington Zouaves, which severed his relation with the Board of Missions, which was located in the South.  Mr. Baird was one of the three agents jointly appointed by the American Bible Society, and the United States Christian Commission, to superintend the Scripture work in the army and navy--styled Army Agents at New York and Field Agents at Philadelphia. Mr. Baird was assigned to the "armies of the Southwest, under Gen. Grant and Sherman," with headquarters at Nashville, Tenn., after the capture of the city.  At the close of the war Rev. Dr. Hall, of the Gulf, and Rev. Mr. Gilbert, of the Potomac, were released, and the entire work was entrusted to Mr. Baird, to provide for the remnant of the army and navy, to re-open the Bible work in the Southern States, to select State agents and to bring in the freedmen.  This required two years of hard labor and much travel.  The last labor was performed in the trans-Mississippi Department.  Mr. Baird was in New Orleans during the riot of July, 1865; a terrible day it was.  He crossed over to Galveston, Tex., and thence north to Red River, visited the Chickasaw and Choctaw Indians, and provided for them the Scriptures, returning south to Austin, San Antonio, Corpus Christi and Brownsville. Here Mr. Baird found Rev. James Hickey, agent for Mexico, on his deathbed, received his dying requests, preached his funeral discourse, and laid him to rest.  Mr. Baird took the aged widow, Thomas Sepulvada, Mr. Hickey's guide, the American Bible Society's ambulance, and drove to Monterey, reorganized the Bible work and returned to New Orleans, and thence to Burlington, after an absence of eight months, having traveled 8,000 miles and spoken 800 times.  After recovering from a severe sickness, Mr. Baird went to New York in May, 1866, and closed his agency.  He received $400 besides his salary as a token of appreciation for faithful services rendered amid danger and death.  For several years Mr. Baird's health was so impaired as to demand rest, but at present he is quite well, and preaches every Sabbath, and had in charge a congregation at Mr. Hamill, Lee County, and two congregations in Cedar County.  Every year of Mr. Baird's ministerial life has received tokens of divine favor in revivals of religion.

Elijah W. Bandy has been a resident of Yellow Spring Township for almost half a century.  Here he was born March 25, 1840, and is a son of John and Mary (Vannice) Bandy.  John Bandy came to Des Moines County in 1838, settling upon the farm where our subject now lives.  He was a wheelwright by trade, but during his residence in Iowa, was engaged in tilling the soil. Twelve children were born to them, ten in Indiana, and two in this county, of whom nine are now living, two being residents of the county, and four of the sons were soldiers in the late War.  William, now a farmer in Scott County, Minn., was a soldier in the 4th Minnesota Infantry; Isaac died in this county in 1884; Rachel became the wife of S. A. Hall, a resident of Santa Cruz, Cal.; Thomas resides in Brookings County, Dak.; John, who lives in Fairfield, Iowa, and is engaged in dairying, was a soldier in the 2d Iowa Cavalry; Samuel is engaged in farming on section 19, Yellow Spring Township; Peter is a merchant of Holt County, Mo.; Henry died at the age of twenty years and eleven months, in September, 1853; Jacob F., a soldier in the 2d Iowa Cavalry, served from 1861 to 1865, as Captain of Company K, and died Oct. 11, 1878, near Memphis, Tenn.; Lee A. is the wife of L. B. Pierce, of Winfield, Iowa; our subject is next in order of birth; and Catherine is the wife of Isaiah Messenger, who is engaged in the manufacture of tile at Fairfield, Iowa.  The father of these children, who was born in 1794, died at an advanced age, May 5, 1873.  His wife, who was born in 1799, died June 2, 1881.  They were both active members in the Presbyterian Church, of which Mr. Bandy was an Elder for thirty-five years, and his aid was largely given to the advancement of the cause.  In his earlier life he cast his ballot with the Whig party, but later became a Republican.  He also served in the War of 1812, and was a native of Virginia, and his wife of Mercer County, Ky.

There are few men in the county who can boast of having been born and reared upon a farm where they now reside, but this is true of Mr. Bandy. His early education was received in the district schools, supplemented by a course in the Yellow Spring College.  At the age of twenty-one, in 1861, he enlisted under the stars and stripes, becoming a member of the 2d Iowa Cavalry, and serving three years.  He participated in the siege of Corinth, the battles of Iuka, Black Land, Farmington, Boonville, Rienzi, Paton's Mills, battle of Corinth, Holly Springs, Yockeney River, Water Valley, Collierville, Moscow and Prairie Station, Miss., and in all Mr. Bandy was always found at his post of duty, serving his country faithfully and well. Being mustered out of service in October, 1864, Mr. Bandy returned home and worked for his father for five or six years.  On the 22d of May, 1873, he was united in marriage with Elizabeth Frame, who was born in Yellow Spring Township, and is a daughter of Milton J. and Maria (Allen) Frame.  Their union has been blessed with two children--John E. and Herbert F.  Mr. and Mrs. Bandy are both members of the Presbyterian Church, of which he is a Deacon.  He has served on the Township Board for several terms, and is a member of the I. O. O. F., and also of the G. A. R.  He has a fine farm of 100 acres, all highly cultivated, and is one of the progressive farmers of Yellow Spring Township.

M. J. Frame, the father of Mrs. Bandy, came to this county in 1851, and here improved a fine farm.  He is a native of Indiana, and was a blacksmith by trade, which occupation he carried on at Kossuth, until the breaking out of the Civil War, when he enlisted in the 14th Iowa Infantry, serving three years.  After the war was ended, he returned to Kossuth, where he again worked at his trade until 1876, and then removed to Champaign County, Ill., where he owns and carries on a large farm.  His wife was formerly Maria Allen, a native of Kentucky.

Theodore W. Barhydt, President of the Merchants National Bank, of Burlington, President of the Burlington & Western Railroad Company, and of the Burlington & Northwestern Railroad Company, senior partner of the firm of T. W. Barhydt & Co., wholesale dealers in boots and shoes, and a member of the firm of H. A. Brown & Co., retail dealers in boots and shoes, all of Burlington, is a native of Newark, N. J. but was reared in Schenectady, N. Y. He was born April 10, 1835, and is the son of Nicholas and Phoebe H. (Gardner) Barhydt. His ancestors were of the old Knickerbockers, the study Holland emigrants, who peopled the valley of the Hudson in the early days of American civilization. They were among the wealty and influential citizens of their day, and bravely bore their part in the wars of the Colonies, and in the War of 1812. The paternal grandfather of our subject was in active service in the War of the Revolution, and served as Quartermaster in the War of 1812. The Barhydt family was founded in New York by two Holland emigrants of that name, Jeronimus Hans and Andreas Hans Barhydt, in the year 1665, who settled at what was then known as Coxsackie, on the Hudson River. Our subject traces his descent directly from the former. His father was born in 1813, was engaged in the manufacture of boots and shoes in Schenectady, and died in 1851.

Theodore received an academic education at the Lyceum Academy of his native city, and was married to Miss Eleanor Christiancey, daughter of Isaac and Maria (Vedder) Christiancey. Mrs. Barhydt was born in Schenectady, N. Y. Her people were also of Holland descent and were old and well-known residents of that region. Shortly after their marriage, in March, 1855, Mr. and Mrs. Barhydt came to Burlington, Iowa, where he secured employment in the postal service, first as clerk and afterward as Assistant Postmaster. In the spring of 1859 he engaged in the boot and shoe business, which he conducted with such marked success that in 1860 he established a wholesale house in the same line, and bulit up a large and prosperous business. Of late years his banking and other important business connections have occupied his time so fully that the management of the boot and show business virtually devolved upon his partner, Mr. H. A. Brown. The retail business is conducted under the firm name of H. A. Brown & Co., and the wholesale house is T. W. Barhydt & Co. Both are extensive establishments of their kind. In 1861 Mr. Barhydt began banking in a private way, gradually increasing his business until 1870, when he secured the co-operation of other capitalists and organized the Merchants' National Bank, of Burligton, now one of the most important banking institutions of the State. He was chosen first President of the bank, and has been re-elected to the same position each succeeding year, and is now serving his nineteenth term. He became interested in the building of Iowa railroads, and for several years was a director and member of the Executive Committee of the Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern and Burlington & Missouri River Railroad. He is now President of the Burlington & Western and of the Burlington & Northwestern Railroad Companies. Of the former he has been President since its organization, and of the latter for the past eight years.

Mr. Barhydt is largely interested in real estate in Burlington, and is the proprietor of several fine business buildings, including two of the finest blocks in the city, the hotel Duncan and the southwest corner block of Main and Jefferson streets. By his enterprise and energy he has caused these substantial improvements to be made, and is entitled to much credit for the share he has had in improving and developing the city. He has been President of the Board of Trade, a member of the City Council and a Director and Treasurer of the City Water Company. Mr. Barhydt was one of several prominent citizens through whose exertions the Burlington Water Works were established. In fact, Mr. Barhydt has been identified with the principal noble enterprises of the city, and has always taken an active part in every project calculated to benefit and increase its business advantages. He is a Knight Templar Mason, a member of Des Moines Lodge, No. 1. A. F. & A. M., of Iowa Chapter, No. 1, R. A. M., and of St. Omer Commandery, No. 15, K. T. Mr. and Mrs. Barhydt are members of the First Presbyterian Church, of which denomination Mr. Barhydt's parents were consistent members. Mr. Barhydt is a Democrat in politics, but has been too closely confined to business pursuits to desire of accept public office. Business is his natural element, and, possessed of superior executive and financial ability, he has avoided the numerous quicksands of speculation, in which so many mercanitle fortunes are sunk, and has steadily accumulated a large and valuable property, and acquired the reputation of an enterprising, upright and honorable man.

On the preceeding page is an excellent portrait of Mr. Barhydt, engraved by Samual Sartain, who stands at the head of his profession as a steel engraver.

Cyrus Barker is foreman of the boiler shop of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, at West Burlington, and we take pleasure in recording his sketch in this work. He was born in Clarkson, N. Y., Dec. 26, 1825, and is a son of Leonard and Lydia (Streight) Barker, both of whom were natives of the Empire State. To them were born four sons: Our subject is the eldest; William is a miller in Erie County, Ohio; Daniel is a locomotive engineer; Trueman, a member of the 2d Michigan Infantry, was wounded in the Battle of the Wilderness, and died in Baltimore from the effects of it. Leonard Barker, the father of these children, died about the year 1854 in Plymouth, Mich., his wife having preceded him by several years to her final rest, her death occurring in 1848. They were both members of the Baptist Church, and among the highly-respected citizens of the community in which they resided. Our subject received his education in his native town, and at the age of eighteen went to Plymouth, Mich., where he learned the blacksmith's trade which he followed for three years. In 1846 he left the parental roof and began life for himself. Going to Ann Arbor, Mich., he there learned the trade of boiler-making, and, having remained in that city about three years, went to Detroit, where he was engaged in the Brennen Boiler Works. He remained in that employment until 1852 and then went to work for the Michigan Central Railroad in the boiler department, with which he remained until 1858, and then removed to Galesburg, Ill., engaging in the same line of work with the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, with which he has now been engaged for thirty years. In 1866 Mr. Barker was sent to Burlington, where he had charge of the boiler shop. That city continued to be his home until 1883, when the shop in West Burlington being completed, he was placed in charge of it. Under his direction the boilers for the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy engines are built and repaired, and upon him rests the responsibility of the careful construction of that most important part of a locomotive. Mr. Barker is a first-class mechanic, thoroughly understanding every detail of his business. For almost a half-century his life-work has been devoted to the building of boilers, thirty years of which have been passed in the employ of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy, and no better recommendation of his efficient skill and excellent workmanship could be given.

Milton Barnett, Steward of the Poor Farm of Des Moines County, Iowa, was born in Belmont County, Ohio, June 10, 1828, and is a son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Grims) Barnett, both of whom were natives of Maryland.  The grandparents on both sides went to Belmont County in 1820, and there Jacob Barnett became acquainted with and wedded Elizabeth Grims, in 1823.  Eight children were born to them:  Eliza became the wife of Asa McCaully, and died in 1845; Mary, wife of Eli Reed, a native of Belmont County, Ohio, who is now engaged in farming in Cook County, Ore.; Catherine died in 1850, in New London, Iowa, at the age of twenty-one; Caroline wedded John Antrobus, a farmer of Northwestern Kansas; Rachel is the wife of John T. Cameron, a grain-dealer of Arkansas City, Kan., who served through the war; Franklin is engaged in farming in Bates County, Mo.; Martha is the wife of Robert Hood, a farmer of Decatur County, Ind.; Amy, widow of Charles McCullock, makes her home in Hastings, Neb.  This family came to Burlington, Iowa, April 11, 1845, locating upon a farm near New London, Iowa, where the children reached maturity, married and later left their home.  On coming to Des Moines County, which was then the Far West, Mrs. Barnett hoped to keep her children near her, but, as one by one they married, they became more widely separated.  After the marriage of our subject the mother made her home with him near Dodgeville, in Franklin Township, until her death, which occurred in 1863.  She was a consistent Christian, and an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

The early life of our subject was spent in his native county, where he received his education in the common schools.  On the death of his father the care of the farm devolved upon him, he being then only eighteen years of age, but he managed it ably and well.  On the 22d of January, 1852, Mr. Barnett led to the marriage alter Miss Caroline Prickett, a native of Bond County, Ill., and a daughter of Jacob and Jane (Lee) Prickett, the father's native State being Georgia, and Illinois the mother's.  Mr. Prickett is yet living in Creston, Iowa, at the advanced age of eighty-five.

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Barnett took up their residence on a farm in New London Township, Henry Co., Iowa, but later removed to Franklin Township, Des Moines County, where, for twenty years, they made their home. In the spring of 1873 they became residents of Yellow Spring Township, and remained upon that farm until March, 1884, when, through the high recommendation of his many warm friends in that township, Mr. Barnett was appointed Steward of the Poor Farm.  Prior to this time the land had been rented, the county paying so much per week to the Steward, but that proving unsatisfactory, the present plan of paying a salary was instituted, and our subject, though a stalwart Republican, was elected by the Democratic board as manager.  The fact that he holds the position, though many are politically opposed to him, shows with what fidelity and ability he discharges his duties.

To Mr. and Mrs. Barnett have been born twelve children, four of whom died in infancy.  Those living are:  William O., now of Red Oak, Iowa; Sarah, wife of D. E. Bridges, a farmer residing in Nebraska; Irene is the wife of Hamilton Talbot, a resident farmer of Pottawattamie County, Iowa; Allen, assistant on the Poor Farm, is the husband of Ollie Magel; Carrie, Emma O. and Lulu and Estella (twins) all reside at home.

George H. C. Batchelor, Secretary of the Burlington Wire Mattress Company, of Burlington, Iowa, was born in Plymouth, Devonshire, England, on the 5th of May, 1846, and is a son of Joseph and Annie (Webber) Batchelor, both of whom were natives of Devonshire. In his native England our subject grew to manhood, receiving but a common-school education, and at the age of fifteen was apprenticed to learn the trade of painter, soon becoming a first-class workman. In 1866 he emigrated to America, locating in Chicago, Ill., following his trade for about a year and a half, when he was called home on account of the death of his mother.

While in England our subject was united in marriage with Miss Sophia Burgoyne, and in 1868 the young couple crossed the Atlantic, making their home in Chicago for ten years, when they removed to Burlington. On account of failing health Mr. Batchelor had to abandon his business, and while in Chicago purchased the right to make the machines of the wire mattress in Iowa and Kansas, and to have full control of the territory. Not having money sufficient to start the business he visited several of the wealthy men of Burlington, but could obtain no financial aid, and finally, renting a small building he set up in business for himself. The plan of operation was to make a few mattresses, start out and sell them, in the meantime taking more orders, and traveling from town to town on foot. By perseverance and untiring zeal he worked on, surmounting all difficulties, overcoming all obstacles, and from the little stock in trade has grown one of the most prosperous business interests in the city.

Mr. Batchelor is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Des Moines Lodge, No. 1, A. F. & A. M., and also a member of Iowa Chapter, No. 1, R. A. M. Politically, he is a Republican, and entirely without his solicitations the people of the county showed their appreciation of his worth and character by nominating him for County Treasurer. Mr. and Mrs. Batchelor have no children of their own but have one adopted daughter, Mamie.

Dr. Charles Beardsley, of Burlington, Iowa, was born in Knox County, Ohio, Feb. 18, 1830. His ancestors were among the early settlers of Connecticut. William Beardsley came from Stratford-on-Avon, England, in 1635, and helped to found and probably gave the name to Stratford, Conn., in 1639. John Beardsley, father of our subject, was born in the same village in 1792, and in 1822 wedded Mary Fitch, a native and resident of New Haven, Conn., hers being also an old family in that State. In the same year of their marriage, they settled in Milford Township, Knox Co., Ohio, amid the dense forest, but they cleared away the trees, developed a farm and there resided until their deaths, Mrs. Beardsley dying in 1879 and Mr. Beardsley in 1887. They had three sons and three daughters: George F. and Mary (Mrs. Craven) reside in Champaign, Ill.; Charles is a resident of Burlington, Iowa; Henry makes his home in Clarks, Neb.; and two of the daughters are dead. The boys grew up on the farm and did their share of the heavy work.

When sixteen years of age, Charles Beardsley began working at the carpenter's trade, which he continued for two or three years. He then attended school for one term at the academy in Granville, Ohio, which was supplemented by a year's course in the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, during the presidency of the accomplished, and sweet-spirited Dr. Edward Thomson, afterwards bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Beardsley then began the study of medicine, teaching school during the intervals of study, graduated at Cincinnati in 1885, and on the 5th of September of that year, began practicing medicine in Muscatine, Iowa, with Dr. Miner, with whom he remained six months. Not liking the situation, he proceeded farther west-ward, and took up his residence in Oskaloosa, Iowa, in March, 1856, there continuing the practice of his chosen profession until 1861. In the meantime, Dr. Beardsley had taken an interest in the Herald of that place, becoming its editor in January, 1858, and continuing in that occupation till March, 1865. He was appointed Postmaster of Oskaloosa in 1861, and retained the office during President Lincoln's administration. Under the Act of Congress of July 14, 1862, he was also appointed examining surgeon of applicants for pensions, and faithfully discharged the duties of the position until his removal from Oskaloosa in 1865.

Dr. Beardsley removed to Burlington in the month of October, 1865, and became the editor and of the proprietors of The Hawkeye, and so continued until his withdrawal from the paper in June, 1874. He represented Des Moines County in the State Senate from 1870 to 1874, serving as chairman of the Committees on Federal Relations and on Schools, and also a member of the Committee on Railroads and Printing. At the session of 1872, he introduced a bill into the Senate for compulsory education, which was passed, but it failed in the House. He again secured its passage in the Senate at the extra session in 1873, but it again failed to pass the House.

After his retirement from The Hawkeye, Dr. Beardsley spent several months abroad. In 1876-77-78, he took an active part in politics, speaking in a majority of the counties of the State, and in February, 1878, was appointed by President Hayes, one of the Coinage Commissioners, to visit the United States mint in Philadelphia. In June, 1879, Secretary McCrary tendered him a position in the War Department, to assist in the preparation of the War Records for publication. This was accepted; but six weeks later, the office of the Fourth Auditor of the Treasury Department becoming vacant, he was appointed to that position by the President, on the recommendation of Secretary Sherman as well as that of Senators Allison and Kirkwood, and many other leading Republicans of Iowa. He resigned this office when the Democrats came into power in May, 1885, and his resignation was accepted in May. During his service as Fourth Auditor, Dr. Beardsley also served by appointment of President Arthur as acting First Auditor during a brief interregnum in the latter office.

Dr. Beardsley and his family returned to Burlington in June, 1885, and in August of that year he was Chairman of the Committee on Resolutions in the Republican State Convention, and the same day was chosen Chairman of the Republican State Central Committee, to which position he was rechosen in 1886 and again in 1887. In April, 1886, Dr. Beardsley was appointed Auditor of State, having charge of that office for three months, during the trial and until the acquittal of the former incumbent of the office. In January, 1887, he was commissioned by Gov. Larrabee to examine the books and papers of the various public institutions of the State, with a view to improve and make uniform their methods of book-keeping, reports, etc. In March, 1888, Gov. Larrabee, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, appointed him State Inspector of Oils for the term of two years.

In Oskaloosa, Iowa, Nov. 23, 1865, the marriage of Charles Beardsley and Eliza M. Pool was celebrated. Mrs. Beardsley is the daughter of Simeon Pool, formerly of Franklin County, Ohio, where he had been known as one of the early and stanch abolitionists. Their children are Florence, Charles, Jr., George, Simon and John, and an infant daughter, deceased. The family are members of the Congregational Church. Dr. Beardsley was for seven years (1867 to 1874) superintendent of the Sunday-school of the First Congregational Church in Burlington, and while in Washington, D. C., was a trustee and president of the First Congregational Society in that city. Dr. Beardsley's talents as an organizer, have been of incalculable benefit to the Republican party in Iowa, and their appreciation of that fact has been shown by their insisting on his retaining the position of Chairman of the State Central Committee for the past three years. In the many responsible public positions to which he has been called, he has ever proved himself a competent and faithful official, and he has won the respect and kindly regard of all with whom he has been brought into contact, and in Burlington, especially, enjoys, in no small degree, the confidence and good-will of its people.  

George W. Benham, foreman of the machinery and tool department of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy shops, located at West Burlington, was born in Warren County, N. Y., May 8, 1847, and is a son of George J. and Sarah (McCormick) Benham, the former a native of Lancashire, England, and the latter of New York. After emigrating to America, George Benham took up his residence in Troy, N. Y., and there wedded Sarah McCormick. They later went to Warren County, where they were pioneer settlers, the country then being uncultivated and wild game abounding. Mr. Benham secured some timber land and developed a farm, also having from thirty to forty men in his employ, engaged in peeling hemlock bark for tanning purposes, it being used in Pottersville. In this business he was quite successful. In Warren County he was also the owner of two fine farms. There his children were born, the family residing there until 1857, when one of the farms was sold, and they removed to Springfield, Mass. Business being dull, Mr. Benham soon left that city, removing his family to Ware, Mass. A cotton factory being in operation, the two eldest daughters secured employment, and the father, with his son George, went to Pompey Village, Pa., where he left George with a friend from Warren County, N. Y., he going into the pineries for the purpose of investing his money in sawmills. This investment proved a failure, thereby causing him the loss of considerable money. He at length sold what interest he had and returned home, after which he went to Charleston, Pa., where he purchased five lime kilns. This investment proved to be very successful, but in 1856 he was obliged to sell and return home on account of sickness of his family. Remaining in Ware until 1859, he then purchased five acres of land near the village, and put in operation a wood yard, in which business he continued for twenty years. In 1879 Mr. Benham removed to North Dana, Mass., and once more engaged in farming, making that his home until his death. In 1886 he made a visit to our subject in Burlington, remaining about a year, and then returned home. His death occurred in 1888, aged seventy-eight years. His wife is yet living, and makes her home with her children in Massachusetts, of whom there are three: Carrie, residing in Westfield, is the widow of E. B. Ainsworth, who was a member of the 34th Massachusetts Infantry and served three years; Nettie is the wife of a wealthy farmer in Connecticut; and Emma is the wife of Calvin Clark, a leather dealer of Hartford, Conn.

George W. Benham, our subject, was first employed in the woolen-mills of Ware, Mass., and from there, in 1861, he went to Westfield, where he was engaged in a piano factory in veneering the instruments. After remaining in that employment for about eighteen months he was employed by the Johnson Organ Company as an apprentice, engaging in making pipe organs, and served until 1863, when he enlisted in the 8th Massachusetts Infantry, his regiment being sent to Baltimore to do garrison duty. After the expiration of his term of service he was mustered out at Readville, Mass. Mr. Benham returned to Ware, but later went to Whitinsville, where he worked as a machinist for one year and then went to Worcester, engaging for a short time in Pond's Tool Works. Later he went to Lawrence, Mass., where he was employed as a machinist in the contractors' shop of Williams & Wilson.

In that city the marriage of George Benham and Miss Elizabeth Hogue was celebrated. She is a native of Canada, of French ancestry, and a daughter of John and Emma Hogue. To Mr. and Mrs. Benham have been born three children: Emma, who was born in Lawrence, Mass.; George A., who was born in Winooski Falls, Vt.; and Della, who was born in Burlington, Iowa. Shortly after their marriage the young people removed to Winooski Falls, Vt., where Mr. Benham was engaged at his trade until December, 1869. His wife and children were on a visit to Mr. Hogue, and while there Mr. Benham came to Burlington. Securing a situation in the Burlington & Missouri River shops, in April, 1870, he sent for his family. He continued in that employment until 1881, when the Burlington & Missouri River was consolidated with the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy road, and he was appointed to the responsible position which he now holds. At first he had but twenty-two men under his control, but now has one hundred, and each year his duties and responsibilities increase. In 1884 Mr. Benham was elected Captain of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Fire Department, and in 1888 the members of the department presented him with an elegant silver and gold trumpet as a mark of their esteem. He has held several township offices of trust, is a member of the I. O. O. F., Knights of Pythias and A. O. U. W., and is a Republican in politics.

Henry Benne, a leading farmer of Benton Township, Des Moines County, Iowa, residing on section 21, was born in Minden, Prussia, in 1831. His parents, Herman Henry and Christine (Burker) Benne, were also natives of the same place, and his father was a farmer by occupation. His death occurred in 1844 at the age of fifty-four years, his wife surviving him until 1848. They were members of the Lutheran Church, and reared a family of five children: Mary, wife of Peter Duncan, a butcher, residing in Germany; Anna, wife of Herman Niekanp; Riekey, deceased wife of Kasper Riepe, of the Burlington police force; Hannah, wife of Christ Geyer, of Burlington; and Henry, of this sketch.

The early life of our subject was spent upon a farm, and at the age of twenty-one he left his home, crossed the broad Atlantic, and first settled near Buffalo, N. Y., where he was employed as a farm-hand and on a canal-boat for four years. In 1856 he came to Iowa, settling on section 22, Benton Township, where he cut timber for a few months, and then purchased eighty acres of land on section 21, where he yet resides. He immediately began to cut down the timber and clear off the land, and his farm, now comprising 200 acres, eighty of which are under cultivation, is one of the finest in the township. Many improvements have been made, among which is the barn, erected at the cost of $700, and a comfortable farm residence worth $1,000.

In 1853 Mr. Benne and Miss Mary Riepe were united in marriage. The lady is a native of Minden, Prussia. They have been the parents of nine children, three of whom died in childhood--Nancy, Louisa and Almira. Henry was drowned, May 16, 1880, at Cottonwood Ford, when twenty-one years of age; Edward is a carpenter in Burlington; Eliza, wife of William Flaar, of Henry County, Iowa; Lydia, wife of Mr. Beard, of Burlington, Iowa; and Tilda, who wedded Joel Moritt, of Monmouth, Ill.

Mr. Benne and his wife are members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. He served for ten months in the Civil War, being a member of the 4th Iowa Infantry. For eight years Mr. Benne held the office of Township Trustee, and in 1885 was elected to the Board of County Supervisors, which position he yet fills. Politically, he is a Democrat, and takes an active part in local politics. He came to this country a poor boy, landing in New York without money and without friends, but by his energy and ability he has gained a comfortable competence for himself. A systematic, practical ad energetic farmer, he can not but be successful, and, as a citizen, he is well known and universally respected by all the people of Benton Township.

George M. Bennett, a prominent contractor and builder of Burlington, was born in Luzerne County, Pa., in the town of Wilkes Barre, July 26, 1840, and is the youngest in a family of seven children, who were born to John T. and Hannah (Miller) Bennett, who were natives of Pennsylvania. The father was a carpenter and builder by trade, and did quite an extensive business in the manufacture of sash, doors and blinds. He was a member of the firm of Dennis & Bennett, and they were known throughout the community as experts in their line of trade. In 1858, accompanied by his family, Mr. Bennett migrated to the West, locating in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, where he remained for two years, during which time he was engaged in the erection of some of the most important buildings of that place. In 1860 he removed to Brownsville, Minn., where he engaged in farming, and thence to Dakota, in 1881, where he now resides. His wife died in 1844, previous to his removal from Pennsylvania.

Our subject was educated in the graded schools of Wilkes Barre, and one year at Dana College, in the same town, after which he learned the trade of a carpenter and builder with his father. With the family he came to Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, where with his father he was employed as the stair-builder for the Insane Asylum. In that city Mr. Bennett was united in marriage with Esther A. Morrison, their union being celebrated in 1859. The lady was born in Ohio, and is a daughter of James and Lottie (Spry) Morrison, the father a native of Ireland, and the mother of Ohio. Her parents came to Henry County, Iowa, in 1857, Mr. Morrison engaging quite extensively in farming until his death, which occurred in 1858. His excellent wife survived him, dying in 1883. By the union of Mr. and Mrs. Bennett four children were born, three of whom are now living: Iona Hortense died at the age of two years; Gussie C. is the wife of D. James Wooding, of Burlington; Annie E. and Nettie M. are both at home.

After his marriage Mr. Bennett worked at his trade in Mt. Pleasant until 1861, when he enlisted as a private in Company I, 14th Iowa Infantry, though for a time he served as Corporal, and later served in the capacity of Fifth Sergeant. He participated in the battles of Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth and Columbus, Ky., after which he went on the Red River Campaign, engaging in the battles of Alexander, Old Oaks, Markville Plains, Yellow Bayou, Bayou Beth, and several others. After three-years service he was honorably discharged in September, 1864, at Davenport, Iowa, after which he returned to his home in Mt. Pleasant.

After his return home Mr. Bennett engaged in carpentering in Henry County, and later moved to Minnesota, where he engaged in farming for two years. In 1869 he returned to Iowa and took up his residence in Burlington, once more resuming his chosen occupation. During his eighteen years residence in this city some of its best buildings have been erected under his care and supervision, including some of the schools. As a workman he is careful and compenent and never fails to please his patrons. Mr. Bennett takes great interest in political affairs, and casts his vote with the Republican party. He has been connected with the School Board of Independent District, No. 6, for three terms, and held the office of Building Commissioner for the city in 1887. Socially, he is a member of Matthes Post, No. 5, G. A. R., of Burlington; the V. A. S. fraternity; and is also a member of the Knights of Labor, having served as Master Workman of 3,135, and in 1886 had the honor to be sent as a delegate by five orders to the Convention which convened at Cincinnati. He and his wife are members of the Christian Church, and are held in high esteem by all who know them.

Hiram C. Bennett, was born near Maysville, Ky., April 1, 1795, where he was reared to manhood, receiving a liberal education.  He was united in marriage with Miss Aredna Ebert, who was born in Mason County, Ky., in 1800.  In 1835, he emigrated to Burlington, where he embarked in the commission business, moving his family in the spring of 1836.  Mr. and Mrs. Bennett were the parents of twelve children, two of whom are living--Mrs. Evan Evans, of Burlington; and Adna, wife of John Esterbrooks, of Astoria, Ore.  Mr. Bennett was the leading spirit in an early day in the Masonic fraternity, being a charter member of the first lodge formed in Burlington, and was made the first Master of the lodge. He died in Burlington in June, 1847.  Mrs. Bennett died Aug. 9, 1853. They were highly-respected and sincere Christian people.

Jedediah Bennett, senior partner of the firm of Bennett & Frantz, carriage manufacturers of Burlington, Iowa, was born in what is now Lawrenceburg, Dearborn Co., Ind.  He was reared in Union County, in that State, where he learned the carriage-making trade.  As soon as his term of apprenticeship was completed, he came to Burlington, Iowa, arriving in the city in the spring of 1842.  He is a pioneer carriage manufacturer of Des Moines County.  He worked one year as a journeyman in a carriage shop, and then opened a shop in company with a Mr. Stoddard, under the firm name of Stoddard & Bennett.  One year later the partnership was dissolved, and Mr. Bennett engaged in business alone, opening a carriage shop on the northwest corner of Main and Washington streets.

Mr. Bennett was married in August of the same year (1844), to Miss Sarah J. Richardson, daughter of Joshua R. Richardson.  Mrs. Bennett is a native of Logan County, Ohio.  Four children were born of their union, only one of whom lived to maturity, a son, Edwin A., who was killed by the cars, in Iowa, in March, 1875.

When Mr. Bennett began the carriage business at Burlington, he started with limited means, his principal capital being his skill as a mechanic.  During the early years of his business career he had three competitors, but when the cholera of 1861 broke out in Burlington, all three were victims of the scourge, while he alone escaped.  His works were enlarged as his trade developed, he remaining at his old stand for twelve years, when he removed to the site of his present factory, and in 1864 John Frantz became a partner, as before stated.

Mr. Bennett is a Republican in politics and of strong prohibition sentiments.  He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.  Mr. Bennett has now been a resident of Burlington for forty-six years, nearly half a century.  He is widely known, both in the city and surrounding country, as a hard-working, industrious, sober and moral man, upright and honorable in his dealings and of unquestioned integrity.  He has built up an important and industry from small beginnings, and has aided materially in the improvement and development of the city.

Bernard Bros. & Mercer, successors to Donahue, McCosh & Co., wholesale and retail dealers in Italian and American marble, lime, cement, etc. This is the most important establishment of this line in the county, the company doing an annual business of $25,000.  Their office and works are situated at the southwest corner of Market and Fourth streets, and their business was established in 1855, by Donahue & McCosh.  In 1866, S. W. Mercer, who had been in the employ of the company since 1857, bought an interest in the business, and the firm became Donahue, McCosh & Co., and the present firm was formed in February, 1888.  Mr. Mercer of this firm, has had more than thirty years' experience in this business, and is thoroughly familiar with its details.  He has general supervision of the mechanical department of the establishment, which is a sufficient guarantee that all work undertaken by this house will be executed in the best style known to the craft.  Mr. John Bernard has charge of the books and financial management of the business, while Edward L. Bernard, the junior of the Bernard brothers, is at present engaged in the mechanical department.

Cornelius Bernard, deceased, a worthy pioneer of Iowa, of 1837, was a native of Massachusetts, born at Westminster, July 5, 1804, and was the eldest of a family of twelve children, of whom only three are living: Betsy, wife of Horace Hastings, of Haverhill, Mass.; Franklin, of Wilmington, Vt.; and Josiah, of Chicago, Ill.  The parents, Jonathan and Lucy (Miller) Bernard, were also natives of Massachusetts and removed to Wilmington, Windham Co,., Vt., during the childhood of our subject.  They were consistent members of the Baptist Church, and spent the remainder of their days in that county, the father dying at the age of seventy-two years, the mother at seventy-eight.

Our subject was reared at Wilmington, Vt., receiving only a district school education, and at the age of eighteen taught his first school, an occupation which he followed several years.  Having attained his majority, Mr. Bernard went to Northern New York, locating in Chautauqua County, where he spent some ten years in the lumber business.  He sustained a loss of $1,500 in early life by means of a loan to a supposed friend, and that sum representing the saving of several years, its loss impressed Mr. Bernard so forcibly that he was afterward always remarkably prudent and cautious in financial matters.  Going from New York to Ohio, he there taught school at Massillon, Akron and Mermill, and then removed to Indiana, again engaging in that profession at Vincennes, LaFayette and other points.  As was the custom of the early pioneers, Mr. Bernard crossed the plains with teams, reaching Iowa in 1837.  After spending some time at the then little hamlet of Mt. Pleasant, he visited Ft. Madison and other points in the Territory, purchasing land in various localities and made his home for three years on a farm near Burlington, owned by Oliver and Royal Cottle.  Removing to Warren, Ill., at that time, and there remaining for two years, he subsequently returned to Burlington, permanently establishing himself on a farm which has since been the family homestead.

Mr. Bernard was twice married, his first wife being Miss Sarah Root, a native of New York, their union being celebrated at Warren, Ill., Nov. 27, 1848.  Two children were born of this marriage, a daughter who died in infancy, and a son, John, now a member of the firm of Bernard Bros. & Mercer, wholesale and retail dealers in marble at Burlington, Iowa.  The mother died Sept. 29, 1856, and Mr. Bernard was again married, at Grafton, Vt., Nov. 5, 1857, his wife being Miss Martha M. White, who was born at Grafton, Jan. 17, 1832, and is a daughter of Stephen and Betsy (Conant) White.  Her father was a native of Gilsum, N. H., and her mother of Harvard, Mass.  Mrs. Bernard is one of a family of ten children, all of whom reached mature years.  Those now living are:  Eliza, widow of Henry Ober, resides on the old home farm near Grafton, Vt.; Lewis lives in Windham County, Vt.; Willard and Charles reside at Grafton, and Henry at Chester, in that State. The parents were honored members of the Baptist Church, and both died on the old farm near Grafton, where they spent so many happy years, and which is still in possession of the family.  The father died aged seventy-five years and ten months, the mother at the age of seventy-six years.  They celebrated their golden wedding three years previous to the father's death, and the homestead farm where the son Charles now lives has been the property of the family for seventy years.

Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Bernard, four sons and three daughters:  Jennie is the wife of J. M. Mercer, a practicing attorney of Burlington, Iowa; Charles died in childhood; Bessie resides with her mother in Burlington; Lewis died in infancy; Edward L. is a member of Bernard Bros. & Mercer; Martha resides with her mother; and Willie, the youngest, died at the age of three years.  Mr. Bernard continued to reside on his farm until his death, which occurred July 15, 1887.  He was of that peculiar and now rare nature, that always rather shunned than courted public favor, hence did not receive that credit for public spirit and charity to which his acts justly entitled him.  He was a stockholder in the German-American Savings Bank, the North Hill Street Railway Company, Burlington Narrow Gauge Railroad Company, and other public enterprises.  His neighbors and intimate acquaintances can testify to his many acts of charity.  His strongest sympathy was always with the laboring classes, and to the honest laboring man his heart and hand were always open in deeds of kindness.  His first employment in Burlington was on the old Zion Church building, then in process of construction.  He soon returned to his former occupation, however, that of teaching school, and a number of those who are now successful business men were then his pupils.  Among the number we may mention William Garrett, J. M. Sherfey and Isaac N. Ripley.  Mr. Bernard was built of that stern true metal of which those patriots who secured our independence were made, and none could talk more earnestly of "the times that tried men's souls" than he.  His life was a perfect example of what application, economy and strict honesty can accomplish, and his death left a void in the ranks of the best citizens of Des Moines County, among whom he was justly numbered.

A fine portrait of Mr. Bernard is given upon a preceding page.

W. S. Berry, a resident of Burlington, Iowa, was born in Pittsfield, Merrimac Co., N. H., April 15, 1823, and is a son of Thomas and Nancy (Shaw) Berry, both of whom were natives of Great Falls, that State.  His father was a farmer and proprietor of a sawmill, which latter business he began in 1808, remaining in the same occupation for sixty years, his death occurring at the ripe old age of eighty-six.

W. S. Berry was reared on a farm, and at the age of twelve years commenced working in a sawmill.  On attaining his majority he was employed as a salesman in a store at Manchester, N. H., remaining there for thirteen years, and in the spring of 1857 came to Burlington, Iowa, bringing with him a portable engine and boiler.  In connection with Dr. Moses Hale, they built a sawmill near the site of the Burlington Lumber Company's old office, and Mr. Berry operated this mill until it was consumed by fire, causing a loss of about $5,000, but with characteristic energy, they rebuilt, and within three months had it in full operation.  E. D. Rand and William Carson purchased an interest in the business, but after years of service the old mill was torn down, and the present mill of the Burlington Lumber Company was erected.  In 1876 Mr. Berry sold his interest, and the next year built and put in operation, in company with H. H. Gilman, a sawmill, situated at the cascade below Burlington.  A. Kaiser became a member of the firm in 1878, the business continuing under the former name until 1880, when, in April of that year, it was incorporated as the Cascade Lumber Company, which organization succeeded to the business, and under the management of these able gentlemen has been very successful.

In Manchester, N. H., in February, 1852, the marriage of Mr. Berry and Miss Clara Marden was celebrated.  She was born in Gilmanton, N. H., and her ancestors were of an old family of that State.  Four children graced this union, two of whom are living.  William H. died in infancy; Clara Bell, wife of Robert G. Saunderson, Superintendent of the city schools; Jennie, who wedded John Volkmeir, of Burlington; and William, who died in infancy.  Mr. Berry has been a member of the Burlington School Board for six years; is also a member of the Congregational Church; he helped to build the High School.  Politically, he is an earnest Republican; socially, he is a member of the A. F. & A. M., and of the I. O. O. F., belonging to the Mechanics' Lodge No. 13, Manchester, N. H.  For over thirty years Mr. Berry has been a resident of Des Moines County, Iowa.  The city in which he now lives, at the time of his location, was but a village, and in its development he has taken an active part.  Always ready to aid in the advancement of public enterprises, and a friend to education, Mr. Berry has given substantial proofs of his interest in the progress and development of the county, and to such pioneers its present prosperous state is due.

William C. Berry, a prominent farmer residing on section 27, Franklin Township, Des Moines Co., Iowa, and one of the pioneers of 1835, was born in Wilson County, Tenn., June 23, 1811.  He was the only son of John and Elizabeth (Campbell) Berry, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Tennessee.  The mother, who was a member of the Christian Church, died in 1813, when our subject was but two years of age, and John Berry was again married--Miss Elvira Harris becoming his wife.  She is also a native of Tennessee, and a daughter of Samuel Harris.  To them were born the following:  Samuel, a farmer, who makes his home with his children in Republic County, Kan.; James, Henderson and Travis died in Lawrence County, Ill.; Lydia J. is the wife of Peter Shuck, a resident of Silverton, Ore.; Sarah, wife of Jacob Shuck, whose home is in Oskaloosa, Iowa; John P. is a farmer in Washington Territory, was a member of the 30th Iowa Infantry, and served three years.  In 1814 the parents of our subject removed from Tennessee to Lawrence County, Ill., where they remained until 1822, and then became residents of Monroe County, Ind.  Until 1837 the father made his home in that county, but at that time he concluded to follow the course of Western emigration, and settled in Union Township, Des Moines Co., Iowa, his son, William C., being already a resident of the county, and there he resided until 1849.  Once more he changed his place of residence, this time settling in Mahaska County, Iowa, where his death occurred Aug. 28, 1869. For many years he had been a member of the Christian Church, and in his death that body lost one of its most active workers and truest men.

The education of William C. Berry being received in a new country was necessarily limited, and was obtained in the common schools of Indiana.  At the age of twenty he left home to engage in the Black Hawk War, and after its close he returned to Indiana, remaining until about the year 1833, when he went to Tazewell County, Ill.  The following year he made a trip to Des Moines County, Iowa, and was much pleased with the country.  He then returned to his home in Indiana, and in 1835 came to this county and purchased a claim, consisting of 160 acres of land, upon which he has resided ever since.  Thus, for over a half-century, he has been one of Des Moines County's citizens.  At the time of his location, the country was almost an unbroken wilderness, inhabited by wild beasts, wild fowls and roving bands of Indians.  The trail of the Red Men is now laid with iron bands, the wigwams and log cabins have given place to commodious residences, fine school-houses and elegant churches.  Mr. Berry, like the other pioneers of those days, endured patiently the toil and privation of frontier life, and aided largely in the development of the county.  The claim which he purchased had no improvements but a small log cabin, which has long since given way to a handsome two-story farm residence.  Good barns, outbuildings, and other improvements have been made, and he is now the owner of one of the best cultivated farms in Franklin Township.

On the 1st of November, 1838, Mr. Berry and Miss Elizabeth Boner, a native of Ohio, were united in marriage, but the following year the young wife was called to her final home. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.  Mr. Berry was again married--Miss Mary Ping, who was born in Pulaski County, Ky., Oct. 18, 1819, becoming his wife.  She is a daughter of Bowlin and Sophia (Barnes) Ping, both of whom were natives of Kentucky, though they became residents of Franklin Township, Des Moines County, in 1839.  They have both departed this life, the father dying in 1874, the mother in 1861, and both were members of the Baptist Church.

Mr. and Mrs. Berry have been parents of eleven children:  John B., who was a member of the 30th Iowa Infantry, died in St. Louis; Sarah J. became the wife of Henry Slater, both of whom are deceased; Eliza, deceased; Lizzie, wife of Lee Gulich, a resident of Nebraska; Elvira, deceased; Samuel, a carpenter of Mediapolis, Iowa, was a member of the 8th Iowa Infantry; Mattie wedded Perry Young, a resident of Mediapolis; Henry, deceased; America, wife of a farmer of Franklin Township, Des Moines County; William C., who is engaged in farming in Yellow Spring Township, Des Moines County; and Addison L., a farmer of Flint River Township.  Mrs. Berry is a member of the Baptist Church, and Mr. Berry of the Christian Church.  He is an ardent supporter of the Republican party, and has held various township offices.  We are pleased to present this sketch of one of the earliest settlers of the county and his family, all of whom have ever been counted among the best people of Des Moines County.

John Bernard, of Bernard Bros. & Mercer, wholesale and retail dealers in marble, was born in Burlington, Iowa, May 20, 1852, and is a son of Cornelius and Sarah (Root) Bernard.  He received a common-school education, and remained upon the farm until he attained his majority. For several years he taught school in the winter, working upon the farm during the summer, and in April, 1878, was united in marriage, in Des Moines County, with Miss Mary Crites, a daughter of B. F. Crites.  Mrs. Bernard was born in Benton Township, Des Moines County.  Three children were born of their marriage, two daughters and a son:  Josephine, the eldest, died at the age of four years; Olive is seven years of age and Frank four.  For two years after his marriage Mr. Bernard was engaged in farming, but in 1880 entered the service of the Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern Railroad Company, continuing in their employ for three years.  He then took a course at Elliott's Business College, and this being completed he entered the employ of Donahue, McCosh & Co., as its book-keeper, in October, 1883.  Mr. Bernard held that position until the formation of the present firm and their purchase of the stock and outfit of Donahue, McCosh & Co.  Mr. Bernard is a Democrat in politics, and has made his home in Burlington since leaving the farm in 1880.  He is regarded as a young business man of strict integrity, possessed of those qualities which command success.

Gottlob H. Biklen, the senior partner of the wholesale grocery house of Biklen, Winzer & Co., Burlington, Iowa, and a resident of the city since March 14, 1854, was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, March 16, 1830, and is a son of Ludwig Biklen. He was engaged in grape culture during his youth and early manhood. He emigrated to America in 1853, spending a year at Bedford, Lawrence County, Ind., and then in March, 1854, coming direct to Burlington. He was without capital or a knowledge of any trade which he could make available, and so was compelled to work as a common laborer, carrying brick and doing such other manual work as could be found. Two years later he was employed by Charles Starker & Co., wholesale merchants, as porter, continuing with that firm until 1861, when with his carefully saved earnings he engaged in the retail grocery trade in a small way. By good management and frugality, Mr. Biklen rapidly increased his capital until he was enabled to buy out the house of Charles Starker & Co., of which he was formerly porter. In 1875 he closed out his retail business and engaged in the wholesale and jobbing trade, and is now at the head of one of the largest wholesale grocery houses in the State. (See notice of the house of Biklen, Winzer & Co. elsewhere in this work.)

Mr. Biklen was united in marriage in Bedford, Lawrence County, Ind., July 24, 1853, with Miss Christina Hammer, who was a native of Wurtemberg, Germany, and a daughter of John H. Hammer. Two children were born of their union, a son and daughter, Christina and William. The daughter is the wife of James S. Kline, now a grocer of Burlington, and the son is also in the same line of business. Mr. Biklen lost his wife in the spring of 1868, her death occurring in the month of March, and he was again married in the fall of the same year to Miss Christiana Paule, daughter of Jacob Paule. She is also a native of the town in which her husband was born, and was a fellow-passenger on the same ship in which he came to America. Five children were born of the second marriage, two sons and three daughters: Clara Regina, Albert Ludwig, Oscar Philip, Martha Mary, and Alma. Mr. Biklen and his family are members of the Evangelical Zion Church of Burlington. Of the many self-made men of this city no one is entitled to more credit than the subject of this sketch for persevering, honest industry and sagacious business management. Beginning as a humble laborer, he has won his way to an equal footing among the leading business men of Burlington. He is a stockholder and a member of the board of directors of the Iowa State Savings Bank, and deserves and receives the highest respect of his fellow-citizens. He is also Vice President of the Burlington Canning Company.

Capt. John Bird, attorney at law and pension agent, a pioneer lawyer of Iowa of 1843, was born in Washington County, Pa., Aug. 21, 1819, and is a son of John and Catherine (Townsend) Bird, both of whom were natives of New Jersey and also of English descent. His father was a lineal descendant of the Rev. Thomas Bird, who was godfather to Sir Walter Scott. Our subject was reared and educated in his native State, removed to Kenton, Hardin Co., Ohio, in 1840, there studying law with Andrew Dodd of that place, and was admitted to the bar in 1842. The following spring, he emigrated to Iowa and settled at Wapello, Louisa County, where he engaged in the practice of his profession. Mr. Bird raised a company for the late war, which was mustered into the service Aug. 21, 1862, as Company F, 19th Iowa Infantry, of which he was commissioned Captain. His regiment was assigned to duty in Missouri and Arkansas, and participated in the battle of Prairie Grove. While on his way to rejoin his regiment after a sick furlough, he participated in the battle of Springfield, having command of about 300 convalescents that were taken from the hospital. He was placed in command of Fort No. 4, serving through the engagement with honor, but his health becoming seriously impaired he resigned June 6, 1863.

Returning from the war, Capt. Bird resumed the practice of his profession at Wapello, continuing it until 1874, when he removed to Burlington with the intention of retiring from active business, his health again failing as a result of his army experience. He still does a little pension business though not pretending to carry on a regular law practice.

Mr. Bird was married at Wapello, Jan. 5, 1845, to Miss Rebecca Minton, daughter of Jacob Minton, of Louisa County. She was born in Washington County, Ohio, and her family were among the early pioneers of Louisa County, having settled there in 1837. Mr. and Mrs. Bird have been the parents of six children, four of whom are living--Oscar O. married Miss Molly Lyman, and resides at Burlington, where he is Assistant Postmaster; Curtis D. married Miss Minnie Long, of Burlington, and is the present Freight Auditor of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy, at Chicago; Lillie is the wife of P. Richards, of Burlington; Talma is the wife of Robert McCosh, of Burlington. Two children died in infancy.

Mr. Bird is a Democrat in politics, which will account for his not having been called to fill many official positions in Louisa County. He served, however, several years as State's Attorney for that district, having been first appointed to that position by Gov. Clark, the Territorial Governor, and was subsequently elected to the same office. He is a Royal Arch Mason, a member of Wapello Lodge, No. 5, A. F. & A. M., and a charter member of Cyrus Chapter, No. 13, R. A. M., at Washington.

Morris William Blair, a well-known resident of Yellow Spring Township, Des Moines County, was born in a log cabin in the Illinois Military District, now in Schuyler County, and is the son of David E. and Sarah Blair. He was but a child when his parents came to Iowa, as detailed below. His entire life since then has been passed on the farm where he now lives, engaged in the cultivation of his father's homestead, bought at the first public land-sale in Iowa. He is a man of more than ordinary culture and ability, a close reader and vigorous thinker, whose studies have been supplemented by extended intercourse with his fellow-men. He has held several township offices, and, on the organization of the department, was appointed under President Lincoln's administration as Assessor of Internal Revenue, holding the office until 1865, when he resigned. Mr. Blair stands high in the estimation of the community in which his life has been passed.

Thomas Blair and David E. Blair were western pioneers and early settlers in Iowa. Their father, William Blair, born near Lancaster, Pa., enlisted in the Continental Army, in May, 1778, and served three years. At the close of the war he married Catherine Evans, and settled on the Juanita River, and later moved by pack-horse, before wagon roads were made over the mountains, to Westmoreland County. From thence, by flat-boat, about 1785, he emigrated to Kentucky, stopping near where the town of Paris now stands. Here most of his family were born. From Kentucky, in 1799, again by packing, he removed to Ohio, near Chillicothe. Here Thomas and David grew up and married: Thomas to Margaret Job, and David to her sister Sarah, emigrants from Virginia, but natives of Baltimore, Md.

In 1819 the two families removed to near Connersville, Ind.; thence, in 1821, to what is now Cass County, Ill.; and three years later crossed the Illinois River into Pike County. Thomas was appointed a Commissioner for the organization of the new county of Schuyler, and was Chairman of the first Board of County Commissioners of that county. David was the first County Assessor, and also County Treasurer, and purchased for the county the land on which Rushville, the county seat, is located. In 1824 they went to Atlas, a round trip of nearly 150 miles, by canoe and on foot, to vote against a Convention to amend the Constitution of the State, legalizing slavery in Illinois. In 1834 they made claims west of the Mississippi River, and in 1835 Thomas moved over, and his brother in 1836. They settled on what was known as Round Prairie, now in Yellow Spring Township, Des Moines County, Thomas on the place now owned by Daniel Matson, and David on the farm now owned and occupied by his son, M. W. Here they reared their families, cultivated their farms, and lived quiet and useful lives for forty years. In a new country like gathers to like, and around them settled men of like feelings, like character and like purpose. So to them much is due for the good name their neighborhood has always borne for pure morals, attention to educational interests, and hearty support of religious institutions. Both were members and office-bearers in the Presbyterian Church from the beginning, and active in all church work. Thomas Blair represented Des Moines County in the First Wisconsin Territorial Legislature and in the First Iowa Territorial Legislature. David E. Blair was a Representative from the county in 1841, and again in 1842, and also in the First State Legislature in 1846. But they now rest from their labors. Their father died in 1840, aged eighty, and is probably the only soldier of the Revolution buried in the county. David Blair died in 1874, at the age of eighty-two; Thomas in 1875, aged eighty-six; his wife, Margaret, two years later, aged eighty-nine; and Sarah, wife of David, in 1882, at the age of ninety-one. Their descendants, in the pioneering spirit, have generally pushed farther west, none remaining in Des Moines County but Mrs. Lydia Rankin, daughter of Thomas Blair, and M. W. Blair, son of David E. Blair.

William E. Blake, a member of the law firm of Newman & Blake, 307 Jefferson street, Burlington, Iowa, is a native of Preble County, Ohio, and was born in Morning Sun, June 27, 1844.  His parents were H. C. and Mary A. (Wilson) Blake, also natives of Ohio.  His father's ancestors were from Maine and his mother's from South Carolina.

Our subject came to Iowa, with his parents, in 1845, the family settling in Louisa County, where they remained for two years, and then removed to Burlington.  William E. Blake received his primary education in the common schools, and in 1864 entered Monmouth College, at Monmouth, Ill., graduating from the literary department in 1867.  He then took a law course at the University of Iowa, and, graduated in June, 1869.  In the following August he began practicing at Burlington, and still occupies the office where he first hung out his shingle.  He formed a law partnership, Jan. 1, 1870, with judge T. W. Newman, which has continued to this date, with the exception of four years, during which time the Judge was on the bench.  Mr. Blake is a Republican in politics, and a member of the Presbyterian Church.  He helped to organize the Young Men's Christian Association of Burlington, of which he was President for three years, and has been a member of the Official Board since his connection with that society.

Mr. Blake was united in marriage at Morning Sun, Louisa Co., Iowa, July 4, 1867, with Miss Sarah Lucretia Hurd, daughter of James L. and Nancy C. Hurd. Mrs. Blake was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, and like her husband is a member of the Presbyterian Church.  They are the parents of two children, both daughters--Eva W. and Lucretia B.

Mr. Blake's father, who was an early settler of Iowa, was a soldier in the late war, and served three years as a member of Company C, 1st Iowa Cavalry. His death occurred April 10, 1876, at Morning Sun, where his widow still resides.

The law firm of Newman & Blake has a wide business connection and has built up an extensive practice.  Its members are able lawyers and gentlemen of high moral standing.  The senior partner, Mr. T. W. Newman, had been a resident of the city since 1850, and has been Judge of the county and district courts.  Mr. W. E. Blake has resided here since 1869, is thoroughly versed in his profession, and is highly esteemed as an upright Christian gentleman.

As a representative attorney, we are pleased to present his portrait to the readers of the Portrait and Biographical ALBUM of Des Moines County.

John C. Blakeway, general farmer and stock-raiser of section 6, Union Township, Des Moines County, Iowa, was born in Marshall County, W. Va., Oct. 8, 1826, and is a son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Turner) Blakeway, the father a native of Washington County, Pa., and the mother of New Jersey. Until about the year 1824 they remained residents of Washington County, when they removed to Marshall County, W. Va., where Mr. Blakeway purchased a farm of 200 acres, which he greatly improved. Nine children were born to this worthy couple, the four eldest in Pennsylvania, the others in West Virginia. Humphrey has not been heard of since 1852, and it is supposed his death occurred in Texas; William, deceased; Phoebe, wife of George Dee, a farmer in Danville Township; Elmer, residing in Mt. Pleasant;, John C.; May, widow of Isaac Toothacre, makes her home in Kansas; Elizabeth, now living in Union Township, is the widow of Nathan Lamme; Thomas, deceased; William Morrow, whose home is in Louisa County, Iowa. In 1845 the family emigrated to Des Moines County, locating first in Augusta Township, where the father purchased a farm. After a short time he sold this land, becoming the owner of a farm on section 6, Union Township, where he passed the remainder of his life, his death occurring about the year 1879. Mrs. Blakeway, who was a life-long member of the Baptist Church, crossed the dark river in 1866. Mr. Blakeway was a great lover of home and family, caring little for public life, though he was one of the leading men of the community. In his political views, he supported the Republican party.

The early education of our subject was received in his native State in attendance on the common school of those early days. His whole life has been spent upon a farm with the exception of two years, from 1850-1852, which were passed in California during the gold excitement. Returning to Des Moines County he again turned his attention to farming and made his first purchase of land, consisting of seventy acres in Augusta Township in 1861. On the 2d of March, 1853, Mr. Blakeway wedded Priscilla Bashore, who was born in Ohio County, Va., and is a daughter of John and Elizabeth Bashore, who were natives of that State and who emigrated to Missouri in 1848, where the father died in 1858, and the mother in 1865.

Mr. and Mrs. Blakeway have been the parents of twelve children, and nine of that number are yet living: William D., a farmer of Lee County, Iowa; Elizabeth, widow of Nathan Colby, resides in Union Township, Des Moines County; Margaret wedded Stephen Cartwright, a resident farmer of this county; Edward, a farmer and dairyman; Alice is the wife of Peter Magle, a resident farmer of Des Moines County; Thomas is engaged in the same occupation in Augusta Township; Carson, Frank and Hattie are still living with their parents.

In 1866 Mr. Blakeway purchased a farm where he has since resided. What is known as the "home place" consists of sixty-two and one-half acres of land, but he also owns 161 1/2 acres adjoining this, making in all 224 acres of fine and well-improved land. Mr. Blakeway has always been a great admirer of fine stock of all kinds, and upon his farm may be found an excellent grade of short-horned cattle and Poland-China hogs. One of the finest horses in the county is owned by him. It is an English coach horse named Dandy, weighs 1,400 pounds, is sixteen and one-half hands high, and is an excellent traveler. In all public interests, and in the building of churches and school-houses in the community, Mr. Blakeway has ever done his part. For many years he has been a member of the A. F. & A. M., and is one of the highly esteemed men of Union Township. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Samuel D. Blanke, of the firm of Guelich & Blanke, insurance agents of Burlington, was born in Gasconade County, Mo., March 1, 1855, and is a son of Rev. Henry Blanke, a Presbyterian minister, who was born in Hesse Cassel, Germany, and Henrietta (Dresel) Blanke, born in Altena, Germany.  They emigrated to America in 1847, locating in Gasconade County, and were the first to establish the family in this country.  For eleven years they resided in Madison County, Ill., but returned to Missouri, where Mr. Blanke departed this life in 1873.  In his ministerial labors, he endeavored to declare the whole counsel of God, neither adding to or taking from the living oracles.  In his pastoral labors he was successful, and as a citizen was greatly esteemed.  Mrs. Blanke was twice married, first to Charles C. Seuss, by whom there were two children, one of whom is living.  Henry C., a practicing physician of Garfield County, Kan., and a graduate of the St. Louis and Philadelphia Medical Colleges.  He was a soldier in the late War of the Rebellion, enlisting in the 80th Illinois Infantry, Company B, and was badly wounded at the battle of Lookout Mountain, shot through both legs.  Mr. Seuss died in 1847, and his wife married Mr. Blanke.  By this union there were eight children, six of whom are living:  Charles, business manager of the Iowa Tribune Publishing Co. of Burlington; Samuel D. of this sketch; Lydia, wife of H. C. Wolking of Garfield County, Kan.; Emma, wife of A. W. Wehmeyer of Alton, Ill.; Theodore F., a medical student of Kansas; Martha, wife of Silas Wolking of Garfield County, Kan.; two died in youth.

Samuel D. Blanke, the subject of this sketch, received a liberal education, and at the age of seventeen was apprenticed to learn the carriage trade, serving his time and becoming a thorough workman.  In 1876 he came to Burlington, where for a short time he followed his trade, but two years later, in 1878, embarked in the insurance business in company with Mr. Karmmermeyer.  In 1880, he formed the existing partnership, and they have a business second to none in the city.  They handle some of the best companies, and insure against fire, life, accident and plate-glass.

John Blaul, a pioneer merchant of Burlington, Iowa, and the founder of the well-known wholesale grocery house of John Blaul & Sons of that city, was a native of Germany, born in Hesse-Darmstadt, on the border of Rhenish Bavaria, near the historic city of Worms. Mr. Blaul received a liberal education, served an apprenticeship to the machinist's trade, and in 1850 emigrated to America, spending six years in New England, where he worked at his trade and then came to Burlington, Iowa. In company with his brother-in-law, Theodore Pochler (now a wholesale grocer of Lawrence, Kan.), he opened a small retail grocery store on Front street. A few years later Mr. Blaul bought out his partner's interest, and continued the business alone until 1865, when he sold out. Two years later he formed a partnership in the grocery business with Philip Kerr, on the south side of Jefferson street between Main and Front, and in 1869 purchased Mr. Herr's interest, and continued the business alone. In 1874, Mr. Blaul began jobbing and doing a general wholesale grocery business in a building adjoining his old stand. The business prospered, and his sons, John, Charles, Theodore and Louis, who had assisted him from their boyhood, were admitted to partnership, and the firm of John Blaul & Sons was organized. The three elder sons went on the road as traveling salesmen, and by their energy and business tact rapidly increased the trade of the house, till it became one of the leading wholesale grocery firms in the State. Mr. Blaul continued his connection with and supervision of the business till his death, which occurred Jan. 27, 1885. He had begun his career as a merchant at Burlington with a very limited capital, but possessing good business ability, he prospered from the start, increasing and extending his trade as his increased capital permitted. Always prudent and conservative, he established a reputation as a safe, reliable man, whose integrity was beyond question and credit gilt edged. He was ably seconded in his later years by his sons, now proprietors, who, with the energy of youth and the enterprise of the West, aided materially in the prosperity of the house. His successful rise, through the legimate course of business, from the position of a small retail grocer to that of proprietor of one of the most important wholesale houses, shows what can be accomplished by patient effort, when directed by good business ability.

Mr. Blaul was twice married, his first wife dying in Boston, Mass., and her only surviving child is John, Jr. The second marriage occurred in Burlington, Iowa, in 1857, the wife's maiden name being Caroline Knoener. She was born in Germany, and is the daughter of Charles Knoener, a pioneer settler of Des Moines County. Five sons and two daughters were born to this second marriage. The daughters, Amelia and P auline, reside with their mother; Charles, the eldest son, married Miss Jessie Stephen; Theodore is the husband of Miss Emma Unterkirchner; Louis is single; and two younger children, sons, died in childhood. Mr. Blaul was a member of the First German Evangelical Church of Burlington. In politics he was a Republican, but never an active partisan or an aspirant for office. His taste lay more in the way of business, to which he gave his undivided attention, and the prosperous and extensive wholesale house, which still bears his name, is a monument to his memory and its history tells a story of a self-made man--of one who began his business career without other capital than sound judgment, indomitable energy, correct business principles and unquestioned integrity, who, by persevering industry, enterprise and judicious management built up an important business and accumulated a large property. Mr. Blaul was a plain, unpretending business man, sagacious and conservative, always perfectly reliable and held in high esteem by those with whom he had business or social relations.

John Blaul, Jr., of the firm of John Blaul & Sons, wholesale grocers, Burlington, Iowa, was born in Boston Mass., Feb. 11, 1853, and is the son of John Blaul, deceased. He came to Burlington with his father in 1856, was educated in the public schools, and trained to mercantile pursuits in his father's store. In 1882, he was admitted to partnership with his father and brother in the wholesale grocery business under the firm name of John Blaul & Sons, of which he is now the buyer and also the financial manager. During his boyhood, while his father was in the retail business, Mr. Blaul began working for him as a salesman. He took an active interest in the management of the wholesale business from its commencement, and spent two years traveling on the road, since which time he has been actively identified with the general management of the affairs of the house. On May 13, 1877, at Burlington, Iowa, Mr. Blaul was united in marriage with Miss Louisa Dewein, daughter of Jacob Dewein, a pioneer of Burlington of 1841. Mrs. Blaul was born at Burlington, Iowa, April 16, 1853, and her mother, the only surviving parent, resides with her. Mr. and Mrs. Blaul have been the parents of five children, three sons and two daughters, of whom only two sons are living. Clara, the eldest, died in infancy; Lulu died at the age of five years, and John died aged fourteen months. Those living are: Milton Albert, who was born July 4, 1884, and Marcus Theodore, born Feb. 15, 1887. Charles Blaul was born in this city July 28, 1860. He was educated in the public schools, received his first lessons in business as a salesman in his father's wholesale grocery house, spent eight years on the road in the same line and was admitted to partnership in the firm in 1882. He has been actively engaged in the business since 1875, having, by his energy and business ability, aided materially in the prosperity of the house, and also increasing and building up its extensive trade. He now has charge of the traveling salesmen in the employ of the firm, who are eight in number, and has general supervision over their extensive coffee and spice mills. In Wapello, Iowa, Mr. Blaul wedded Miss Jessie Stephen, daughter of Levi and Jane (Dickeson) Stephen. Mrs. Blaul is a native of Wapello, Iowa. They have one child, a daughter, Jessie Marie. Mr. Blaul is a Republican in politics, and while taking a warm interest in the administration of public affairs, has never been an aspirant for office. His important business interests occupy his full time, and the prosperity of the house of John Blaul & Sons is his first care.

Theodore Blaul was born in this city Feb. 23, 1862. He was educated at Burlington, and was trained in the mercantile business in the counting-house of his father. In 1883 he went on the road as traveling salesman for the firm, of which he had been made a member the previous year, traveling in the interest of the house until 1886, since which time the city trade has been under his management. At Burlington, Iowa, Oct. 14, 1886, the marriage of Theodore Blaul and Miss Emma Unterkirchner was celebrated. She was born on Dec. 16, 1866, and is a daughter of P. F. Unterkirchner. A most efficient salesman and competent business man, he has taken an active part in advancing the interests of his house.

Louis Blaul was born in this city Oct. 16, 1863, and was educated in the city schools. He entered the counting-house of his father in 1879 and has been constantly employed in that department of the business since. In 1885 he was admitted to partnership in the house, and is now head book-keeper and cashier. Exact, methodical and careful, Mr. Blaul has proved competent and faithful in the discharge of the important duties devolving upon him.

Henry Bloomer, one of the early settlers of Burlington, Iowa, is a native of Oldenburg, Germany. He was born March 5, 1820, and his parents were Henry and Mary (Meddeck) Bloomer. He is one of six children, and the only surviving one. His early education was received in his native country, and, according to the custom, he entered the military service, remaining therein the full term of seven years. He was in the War against Denmark in 1848, and acquitted himself with honor in several hard-fought battles. Mr. Bloomer was three times married; first in 1847, to Miss Louisa Sheland, by whom he had two children, one living, Henry, now in Texas. In 1849, with his young wife, he left Germany for America, and after remaining a short time in St. Louis, came directly to Burlington, which place he has since made his home. The city was then but a village, very little business being carried on. His supply of money was limited and matters began to look discouraging, but having a good constitution and being willing to work, he overcame these difficulties. On the 11th day of November, 1849, his wife was called to her final rest, and in 1853, he was again married, Caroline Kerlecik becoming his wife. Two children were born of this union, one of whom is living--Mary, now the wife of Martin Karver, of Burlington. His second wife died in 1856, and he was again married, in May, 1860, to Mrs. Caroline Karver, widow of Anton Karver. She had two children by her first marriage--Henry, of Burlington, and Anton, of Cleveland, Ohio. Seven children graced the third union--William, general delivery clerk at the postoffice in Burlington; Anna, Clara; George, deceased; Lena, John and Minnie.

Mr. Bloomer has always been a hard-working man. After coming to Burlington, he was employed for thirteen years by Mr. Coolbaugh, and in the service of Mr. Chamberlain for seventeen years, subsequently working for Mr. Bell. In the discharge of his duties he has ever been faithful, and while classed among those in the humbler walks of life, he yet numbers among his friends many who have been more fortunate in a financial way and few stand higher in the estimation of the general public. The family are consistent members of the Catholic Church.

W. B. Bloomer, the subject of this sketch, is the eldest son of Henry and Carolina Bloomer, and was born on the 13th of January, 1861. He was born and educated in Burlington, Iowa, and, graduating at St. John's Academy, he soon afterward went to work for Ira Gile, and remained a little over three with him; then accepting a position with Taylor Bros., he continued with them about five years. He then became manager of the Burlington Roller Skating Rink, and subsequently went on the road as a solicitor, and spent six months traveling in Missouri and Minnesota. Returning home in the fall of 1885, he went to work as solicitor for the Burlington Gazette, and soon after was appointed a substitute Letter Carrier, just previous to Mr. Waite's retirement as Postmaster, he being Mr. Waite's last appointee in the mail service. When Mr. Hutchinson became Postmaster, he appointed him General Delivery Clerk, which position he successfully fills to-day. Mr. Bloomer was married Sept. 28, 1883, in Chicago, Ill., to Miss Maggie Doulon, of Belle Plain, Iowa. One living daughter, Georgia Helen, graces their home.

Joseph W. Blythe, of Burlington, Iowa, General Attorney for the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company in this State, since April, 1876, was born in Mercer County, N. J., Jan. 16, 1850, and is a son of Rev. Joseph Williams and Ellen (Green) Blythe. His father was a native of Kentucky and his mother of New Jersey. Our subject entered upon the study of law in the office of James S. Aitken, of Trenton, N. J., in 1869, and pursued his studies with that gentleman until 1874, when he came to Burlington, Iowa, arriving in this city on the 24th of December, of that year. The following year, he was admitted to the bar, and soon after formed the existing partnership with Thomas Hedge. In April, 1876, Mr. Blythe was appointed Attorney for the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company in Iowa, and has maintained that relation continually since. He is a Republican in politics.

On the 15th of October, 1877, Mr. Blythe was united in marriage at Burlington, with Miss Margaret E. Gear, daughter of Hon. John J. Gear, of this city, ex-Governor and present member of Congress from the 1st District of Iowa. Mrs. Blythe was born in this city, and one child graces their union, a son, who was born Aug. 22, 1878, in this city.

David Bolick, a farmer residing on section 4, Flint River Township, came to Iowa in 1836.  Great changes have been made in the county since then, the work of civilization and progress has been carried on, the wild, uncultivated prairies have been transformed into beautiful farms, cities and villages have sprung up, churches and schools have been built, railroads cross and re-cross the country, large manufactories have been established, until Des Moines County ranks among the first in the great State of Iowa. Mr. Bolick is a native of Putnam County, Ind., born April 2, 1830.  His parents, David and Rachel (Simmons) Bolick, were natives of Lincoln County, N. C., the former born in 1788, the latter in 1794.  The family emigrated to Des Moines County in 1836, where David Bolick, Sr., purchased a claim upon part of which land our subject now resides.  The work of cultivation was commenced, crops were planted, and trees set our until the farm became one of the best in the township.  In 1854 the family was called upon to mourn the loss of a wife and mother, who that year was called to her last rest. The father survived her many years, his death occurring in 1870.  Mr. Bolick was a man who gave largely of his time and money for the up-building and advancement of the community in which he resided.  Though reserved, he was upright, straightforward and of kindly disposition, receiving the confidence and esteem of all.  Both Mr. and Mrs. Bolick were members of the English Lutheran Church.  They were the parents of ten children, all of whom, with the exception of Peter, who died in Putnam County, Ind., came to Iowa in 1836, namely:  Agaline, widow of John Jones, resides in Flint River Township; Amos died in May, 1880, and was buried in the cemetery belonging to the homestead; Mahala, wife of A. C. Crouch, a farmer of Whiteside County, Ill.; Macilla, widow of Daniel Cain, resides in Monroe County, Iowa; Catharine became the wife of Elijah Judd, and both are now deceased; Caleb A., who is engaged in farming on part of the old home place; David; Rachel, wife of Henry Judd, a farmer of Lucas County, Iowa; Lydia, who wedded George Lore, a resident farmer of Franklin County, Neb.

Almost the entire life of our subject has been spent in Des Moines County, he having become a resident when six years of age.  Here he received his education, and was reared upon a farm, and there remained until the death of his mother.  In 1865, he was united in marriage with Miss Mary Banning, a native of Henry County, and after that event, the father lived with his son until his death.  In April, 1867, the young wife was called to her final home, and Mr. Bolick formed a second union with Miss Mary Depperman, who was born in Prussia in 1848, and is a daughter of John F. and Mary Depperman, who were also natives of that country, and who came to America about the year 1852, and yet reside in Franklin Township, this county.

Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Bolick:  Charles A. and Ambrose S., both died in infancy; David was born May 16, 1873; Nellie, born May 22, 1877; and Morris E., born May 30, 1880.  Mr. Bolick is the owner of 125 acres of land in Flint River Township, which is a part of the old homestead settled by his father in 1836.  But one old apple tree now marks the spot where stood the log cabin into which the family moved, and where so many happy hours were passed.  A handsome two-story frame building was erected in its place in 1861.  The uncultivated land of a half-century ago, from which the brush was cleared with an ax and grub-hoe, is now a finely-improved farm.  In 1880 a large barn was erected, and all buildings necessary on a well cultivated farm may here be found, together with a good grade of stock. Mr. Bolick is a member of the English Lutheran Church of Burlington, and his wife of the Baptist Church, of Danville.  In his political views, he is liberal, voting not for party, bur for the person whom he thinks will best work for the interests of the people.  The temperance cause finds in him a ready supporter, and in social, religious and educational advancement, he stands in the front rank.

John Bone, proprietor of the basket factory of Burlington, Iowa, was born in Butler County, Ohio, Jan. 4, 1834, and is a son of David and Christiann (Holmes) Bone, the father, a native of Butler County, Ohio, the mother of New Jersey. When our subject was but six years of age, the parents removed to Putnam County, Ind., and after a residence there of three and a half years went to Parke County, making that their home for a year and a half. While the family were residents of the latter county, John Bone went to Indianapolis, where he was employed as a brakeman on the railroad, afterward becoming an engineer. Giving up his position after a time, he went to Terre Haute, Ind., where, for two years, he engaged in a spoke and hub factory. Going to Matoon, Ill., at the end of that time, for two years he was employed as an engineer of an elevator, and then going to Lewistown, Ill., he worked in a spoke factory for eighteen months. Again changing his place of residence he became foreman of the Bassett wagon factory at Knoxville, Ill., continuing in that employment until the company failed. After that failure, he became a resident of Iowa, settling in Burlington, his present home, where he was engaged as a switchman for a year on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad. His next occupation was basket-making, at which he worked for three years, at the expiration of which time he became foreman of the hub department of the Burlington Wheel Company, continuing in that employment for about eight years. Mr. Bone then embarked in basket manufacturing for himself, purchasing the factory property, and is now fitting up his establishment, so that by employing thirteen hands he can make 1,000 baskiets per day. On the 19th of February, 1857, John Bone and Mary Jane Wood were united in marriage. She is a native of Marion County, Ind., and a daughter of Vincent and Eliza (Smith) Wood, the father, a native of Ohio, the mother of New Jersey. Five children graced the union of Mr. and Mrs. Bone: Zerilda B., deceased; Hattie, now wife of Theodore Niehaus, a mechanic of Burlington; Mollie A. E., died in infancy; Frank O., died at the age of eleven years; and Lillie Kate, died at the age of six years.

During the late Civil War, Mr. Bone enlisted in the 8th Missouri Cavalry, serving nine months, and then became a member of Lyon's Battery. He participated in the battle of Pea Ridge and numerous other engagements and was always found at his post of duty. In Indiana, while a young man, he was elected Supervisor. Politically, he is a Republican, though liberal in his views; socially, he is a member of the I. O. O. F., and the G. A. R. He has a natural genius in regard to machinery, and is a splendid mechanic. An honorable and upright man, he has the respect, not only of his friends but with all with whom he has business dealings.

Christ Bonn, proprietor of the Prospect House, and dealer in ice in Burlington, Iowa. The Prospect House was first opened by Mr. Bonn, in September, 1883, with only sixteen rooms, situated at 215 South Main street, but he soon found it necessary to enlarge his facilities in order to accommodate his rapidly increasing business. The adjoining building, No. 213, was leased and fitted up, and he now has a commodious and attractive hotel, containing fifty-one will furnished rooms. A well arranged and tasty billiard hall is one of the attractions of the house. Mr. Bonn is also extensively engaged in the ice business, having succeeded his father who established the business in 1858, and carried it on until 1881, when his son assumed the management and now does a retail business, handling about 6,000 tons a season.

Our subject was born at Burlington, June 13, 1856, and is the son of Jacob and Mary (Thul) Bonn, who were both natives of Germany. The father was born in Hesse-Darmstadt in 1828. He learned the butcher's trade in his native country, and, in 1848, emigrated to America. After spending two years in the East, he came to Burlington, working at his trade for awhile, and then engaged in farming in Burlington Township. In 1858, he started in the ice business in a small way, making his home in this city all this time. He was married in 1850 at Burlington--Miss Mary Thul, daughter of John P. Thul, becoming his wife. Four children were born of their union, three sons and a daughter--Peter, the eldest, died aged thirty-one years; Christ, the subject of this sketch; August, the youngest son, resides at Burlington; and Katie is the wife of Samuel E. Hunt, of Burlington. Mr. Bonn has now retired from active business.

Christ Bonn, our subject, was educated in the city schools, and when nineteen years of age went to Texas, remaining there for three years. While there, his residence was at Paris, where he was engaged in the confectionery business until 1877, at which time he returned to Burlington and engaged in the butchering business. In 1881, he succeeded his father in the ice trade, and two years later, opened the Prospect House, as previously mentioned. On the 6th of April, 1879, in Burlington, Iowa, the marriage of Mr. Bonn and Miss Mary Jacoby was celebrated. Mrs. Bonn is a native of this city and a daughter of Johnson Jacoby. Two children bless this union, a daughter and son--Katie, aged nine years, and Edward, aged five.

Politically, Mr. Bonn is a Democrat. He is an active, energetic business man, a popular landlord, and under his management, the Prospect House, with its well furnished, neatly kept rooms, and a table supplied with the best the market affords, has won popular favor as one of the best $1.50 houses in the State. Mr. Bonn is a member of Lodge No. 3, of the Order of Druids, and of Lodge No. 84, Order of Elks, of Burlington.

George Bosch, residing at No. 612 South Main street, Burlington, Iowa, was born in the kingdom of Wurtemberg, Germany, Jan. 5, 1822, and is a son of George and Catherine (Joos) Bosch, who had two other children: John G., a brewer, of Burlington, Iowa, and Margaret, who yet resides in her native land. The two brothers were the only members of the family who came to America, the parents both dying at their old home, where they were members of the Lutheran Church. According to the custom of the church, the children were all baptized in infancy, at the age of twelve were taught the faith and belief of the church, and at fourteen were taken into full fellowship, being allowed to partake of the Lord's Supper after the confirmation. As required by the laws of Germany, our subject went to school from the age of seven to fourteen, and after completing this course was apprenticed to the cabinet-maker's trade, serving a term of two years. Being a natural mechanic, he soon learned the trade, and his work being transmitted to the Board of Examiners and standing the test, he was allowed to go as a journeyman. Proceeding to Stuttgart, Mr. Bosch had charge of some very fine work, and there mastered drawing and mathematics. In 1843 he was drafted into the army, serving five and a half years, three of which were in active duty in the cavalry.

Having saved enough money while in the service to pay his passage to America, Mr. Bosch set sail for New York, arriving at his destination in October, 1848, in time to witness the election of that year. He then proceeded directly to Chicago, where he worked at his trade until the spring of 1850, when, with a cousin, he went to Naperville, there taking charge of a brewery until the following spring. Going to Burlington, Mr. Bosch began the brewery trade with his cousin, and in connection rectifying wines, also making vinegar from high wines. The building which they occupied is where the broom factory is now situated, and there they carried on the business until 1853, when a new building was erected. Their business increased as the city grew, but in 1871 a fire occurred, which caused them to lose about $10,000 worth of stock, and on account of the great fire in Chicago, which occurred five days later, they were able to collect but a small part of the insurance, thereby sustaining a loss of $30,000. Again rebuilding, the business was continued until 1881, the establishment being sold to the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, the brother renting of the company and our subject acting as corresponding secretary and book-keeper. On the 22d of February, 1852, George Bosch and Caroline Mertz were united in marriage. She was born in Germany, and came to America with her parents and four brothers, the former having since departed this life. Mr. and Mrs. Bosch have been the parents of nine children, four of whom died in infancy: Ottilie, residing at home; Amelia is the wife of Adolf Naumann, head book-keeper in the Bank of Minnesota, and a resident of St. Paul; Arthur is a book-keeper in a wholesale house in St. Louis; Leander, first assistant cashier in the Bank of Minnesota, at St. Paul, and Gertrude, residing at home, is an artist of considerable ability. Mr. and Mrs. Bosch have taken special pride in the education of their children, thereby fitting them for the responsible positions they now hold. The family are nearly all fine musicians, Leander being able to play on six different instruments. Mr. Bosch has filled various city offices, and in 1858 was elected Alderman from the Fourth Ward.  

Henry C. Bowman, a farmer and dairyman residing on section 35, Flint River Township, was born in Lebanon County, Pa., Oct. 1, 1843, and is a son of Joseph and Fannie (Garman) Bowman, both of whom were also natives of Pennsylvania.  The father died in Lebanon County in July, 1887, at the age of eighty-two years.  He was one of the leading citizens of the county, and served as its Sheriff for many years.  The mother is still a resident of her native county.

The subject of this sketch was educated in the common schools of Lebanon County, and then followed the shoemaking trade until the age of seventeen years, when he enlisted in Company A, 93d Pennsylvania Infantry, in October, 1861, for three years.  The regiment was assigned to the Army of the Potomac, and participated in the battles of Williamsport, Va.; Fair Oaks, seven days' battle of the Wilderness, Harrison Landing, second battle of Bull Run, Antietam and Fredericksburg, and was with Joe Hooker in his campaign, and then returned to the old camp at Fredericksburg.  They participated in the battle of Salem Heights, Va., May 3, 1863; Gettysburg, Spottsylvania, siege of Petersburg, Charleston, Winchester, Flint Hill, Fisher's Hill and Cedar River.  In several battles Mr. Bowman was scarred by rebel bullets, and on the 25th of March, 1865, received a shell wound in the right thigh.  The term of service having expired the regiment re-enlisted at Harper's Ferry in February, 1864, serving until the close of the war.  For four years and eleven months Mr. Bowman fought bravely and faithfully in defense of the stars and stripes, and was then discharged in July, 1865. Returning to Lebanon County, Pa., during that fall Mr. Bowman went into the oil regions and followed teaming until the spring of 1866, when, having decided to come West, he took up his residence in Des Moines County, renting a farm for a year.  Selling his crops he went to Kansas City, where he remained for one year engaged in freighting from that city to Ft. Scott. The following year he came once more to Burlington, and in 1869 he returned to Kansas City in order to sell a lot of horses which he had purchased. Disposing of his stock he again returned in the fall, and began working for his uncle, Charles M. Garman, buying horses which he drove to Kansas to sell.

On the 24th of November, 1872, Mr. Bowman was united in marriage with Miss Sophia Sperber, who was born in Des Moines County, May 1, 1850, and is a daughter of John and Margaret (Issinger) Sperber, both of whom were natives of Germany.  Mr. and Mrs. Sperber were among the very earliest pioneers of Des Moines County, becoming residents when there was but one little log cabin on the site where the now populous city of Burlington stands.  Mr. and Mrs. Sperber continued to make Des Moines County their home until 1886, when the death of Mr. Sperber occurred, at the age of sixty-eight years.  Mrs. Sperber is yet a resident of Union Township.  Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Bowman--William, Harry and Mollie.  Shortly after his marriage Mr. Bowman went to work for Iowa Smith, and in 1873 purchased the Hupp dairy, which was situated where the railroad shops now stand.  In 1877 he removed to the Pearce farm, and in the year 1881 purchased a tract of eighty-four acres of land on section 35, Flint River Township, where he still continues to reside.  On this land he started the H. C. Bowman dairy. He has forty-four head of high grade Holstein cows, probably the largest stock in Des Moines County, and there also may be found and excellent grade of Hambletonian horses.  Mr. Bowman is a lover of fine stock, and his farm is one of the best in the county.  Socially, he is a member of the I. O. O. F. and G. A. R., while politically, he is a Republican.

John D. Bridges, carpenter and builder, of Mediapolis , Iowa . Throughout his entire life, with the exception of three years in Kansas , Mr. Bridges' home has been in Des Moines County . He was born Feb. 14, 1845 , in Yellow Spring Township , and has witnessed the transformation which has changed the raw, uncultivated land into beautiful homes and farms; villages have sprung up, graded schools and colleges have taken the place of the old log school-house, and now Des Moines County ranks among the first in the State. Mr. Bridges' parents were David and Clarissa (Haight) Bridges, the father a native of Ohio and the mother of New York . David emigrated in 1841 to this county, settling in Yellow Spring Township , where he purchased a claim of forty acres, residing there until his death, which occurred April 15, 1870 , in his fifty-seventh year. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, a Class-Leader for many years, and a devoted worker for the cause. On his mother's side, Mr. Bridges traces his ancestry back to the early part of the seventeenth century. His mother was Clarissa Bridges, whose maiden name was Haight. Simon and Susanna Haight came from Northumberland County , England , in 1620, settling near the site of Boston . The family remained in the Massachusetts Colony for probably about a century, when they emigrated to the Province of New York . An old record, now in possession of the family, written by Aaron Haight in 1748, traces their genealogy from Simon down, the writer being of the sixth generation. He says: "My mother's family were some of the first settlers of New England , and were people of consequence, and of an original English stock of Puritans of old Plymouth ." Aaron's son Cornelius, grandfather of Mr. Bridges, was born in 1782 in New York State , and died in Des Moines County , Iowa , of which he was one of the earliest settlers. His wife was Abigail Atwood, also a native of the State of New York . She died on the same farm as her husband, adjoining Mediapolis. This couple had a family of sixteen children, one of whom was killed in boyhood by the kick of a horse. The others all lived to maturity, and three of them are now surviving. The entire family were remarkable for their great stature and weight, the men being all considerably over six feet tall and heavy in proportion, and the lightest of the women weighing over 200 pounds. Mr. Bridges' mother was born in 1812 and died April 21, 1888 , in her seventy-seventh year. Mr. and Mrs. Bridges were the parents of three children: Abigail, wife of Silas Bridges, is now deceased; James A., a resident of Kossuth , Iowa , and John D.

Spending his boyhood days upon a farm, and receiving his education in the district schools of the township, John D. Bridges at the age of eighteen years, April 6, 1863, responded to his country's call for volunteers, and enlisting with the many brave boys of the 7th Iowa Cavalry, became a member of Company C. Serving over three years, most of his time was spent in protecting the frontier, participating in all the scouting expeditions of his regiment, and he was wounded in the knee joint by a gun shot at Brownville , Neb.

Being mustered out in May, 1866, Mr. Bridges returned to his home and then learned the wagon and carriage making trade at Kossuth. On the 2d of March, 1867 , he was married to Marcie J. Vincent, a native of Washington County , Ohio , and daughter of William and Sarah (Eddy) Vincent, the father being a native of New York and the mother of Rhode Island . Mrs. Bridges was left fatherless at a very early age, and her mother died in 1855 at the age of fifty-nine years. They were both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Bridges--Wesley D., Frederick G., Minnie J., John Morris and Sadie A., all of whom are at home.

In 1869 Mr. Bridges removed to Crawford County , Kan. , residing there three years engaged at carpentering, and at the end of that time returned to Mediapolis, where he has since lived, engaged in the same occupation. Socially, he is a member of Sheppard Post No. 157, G. A. R., and of the Progress Lodge No. 226, A. F. & A. M., of which he has been Master. He was honored by his fellow-citizens by being elected a member of the Town Council, and served three years.

James W. Brooks, Assistant Cashier of the National State Bank, is a native of Burlington, Iowa, born Dec. 18, 1853, and is a son of Francis William and Harriet C. (Beach) Brooks.  He received his preparatory education in the Burlington city schools, and then took a course at the Lawrenceville Academy, of New Jersey, graduating in the class of '73.  Two years later he made a tour of Europe, visiting England, France, Switzerland, Germany, Norway, Sweden and Denmark, and returned to the United States in the autumn of 1876, in time to visit the centennial at Philadelphia.  Accepting a position in the Union National Bank, of Chicago, as Assistant Note Teller, one year later, Mr. Brooks returned to Burlington, entered the National State Bank as correspondent, and has been connected with the bank ever since.  In 1887 he succeeded Mr. Fleming as Assistant Cashier, and was also elected a Director the following January.

On the 24th of September, 1879, Mr. Brooks was married, at Burlington, to Miss Lily Louise Roads, a native of this city, and a daughter of A. R. Roads.  Four children were born of their union, two sons and two daughters--Francis William, Miller Roads, Mary Roads and Harriet Louise. Mr. Brooks is a Republican in politics, but not an active partisan.  He is an efficient officer of one of the leading financial institutions of the State, of which his father was one to the incorporators, the first cashier, as well as one of the largest shareholders.

David Brown, a pioneer of Des Moines County, Iowa, now residing on section 33, Washington Township, first came to this county Oct. 15, 1841. He traded a team of horses for two lots situated on Division and Sixth streets in Burlington, which he afterward sold to John T. Patterson, and then came to Pleasant Grove Township, where he purchased the Galaher estate. This he improved, but subsequently removed to section 22, where he made his home until quite recently, when he bought the farm upon which he now resides.

Mr. Brown was born in Belmont County, Ohio, July 4, 1816, and is the son of Willian and Barbara (Parker) Brown. The father was born in England, and the mother in New Jersey, though reared in Pennsylvania. She had previously been married to a Mr. Coats, by whom she had four children. The father of David was also twice married, and in all had fourteen children. He died in Belmont County, Ohio.

On the 7th of November, 1844, the marriage of David Brown and Miss Elizabeth Jane Gallaher was celebrated. She is a daughter of George Gallaher, who was a native of Tennessee, though later a resident of Coles County, Ill. Ten children grace the union of Mr. and Mrs. Brown, five sons and five daughters, all of whom are living: Miranda, now the wife of John D. Miller; Lucinda, who wedded Marion Miller; William O., who became the husband of a Miss Thomas; George, who married a lady by the name of Chandler; David H., who wedded a Miss Walker; John J., who wedded Miss Martin; James L., husband of Miss Tolbert; Eugina; Finetta, wife of Benjamin Calaway; and Ella Jane. Mr. Brown was for some time a Trustee of Pleasant Grove Township, and carried the returns of the election to Burlington when they voted to make the Territory a State. He has witnessed the entire growth of Des Moines County, and is one of its most respected citizens, honored and trusted by all who know him.

H. A. Brown, of the firm of H. A. Brown & Co., retail dealers in boots and shoes, is a native of New York, born at Dunkirk, on the 27th of March, 1841. His parents were Barnabas and Mary (Foster) Brown, and for many years were residents of Albany.  His father was born at North East, Pa., and his mother at Fredonia, Chautauqua Co., N. Y., of New England parentage, her people having emigrated to that State from Vermont.

Our subject came to Burlington, Iowa, in 1857, and was employed as clerk in the hardware business until the breaking out of the late war, when he joined J. R. Nelson in the sutler's department, accompanying the 7th Iowa Infantry, and continuing with that regiment until November, 1863, when he was commissioned sutler of a colored Alabama regiment, which position he held until he was captured during Gen. Forrest's raid from Athens, Ala., to Nashville, Tenn.  He was held prisoner at Corinth, also at Cahaba, Ala., and paroled after three months, at Memphis, Tenn.  His business interests demanded his return to the army, and he was soon in the field again.  He pursued his business as sutler successfully until the close of the war, and returned to Burlington in the fall of 1865.  The following year Mr. Brown bought an interest in the boot and shoe business with T. W. Barhydt, which has been carried on continually since, and with marked success, the firm having a wholesale house under the firm name of T. W. Barhydt & Co., and a retail house known by the name of H. A. Brown & Co.

On the 11th of June, 1866, at Burlington, Iowa, Mr. Brown was united in marriage with Miss Anna C. Barhydt, sister of T. W. Barhydt, and daughter of Nicholas and Phoebe H. (Gardner) Barhydt.  Mrs. Brown was born at Schenectady, N. Y., her family being of Holland descent, and her ancestors were of the old Knickerbocker stock, the original settlers of New York. Five children were born of their union, three of whom are living--Ella B., Mary A., and T. Wells Barhydt, all born in Burlington.  Mrs. Brown is a member of the Presbyterian Church, of Burlington.  Mr. Brown is a thorough business man, prompt, energetic and clear-headed.  The important business interests that he has helped to build up, and conducts so successfully, testify in no uncertain manner to his capacity and integrity, and among the leading business men of Burlington he stands as high as any.

James Brown, contractor and builder of Burlington, Iowa, is a native of Scotland, born April 16, 1841, at Cold Stream, and a son of George and Marion (Smith) Brown.  They were the parents of ten children, namely: Grace, Marion, George, Agnes, Peter, Margaret, James, Jessie, Jane and Catherine.  James Brown attended the schools of his native land until fourteen years of age, when he began working in an ironstone mine, afterward serving an apprenticeship of three years at the carpenter's trade, becoming a first-class workman.  Going to Glasgow, Scotland, he there worked at his trade for twelve years, at the end of which time, deciding to come to America, he set sail in 1872, leaving Scotland on the 16th of April, and being on the water for twenty-two days.  After landing in this country Mr. Brown at once came to Burlington, Iowa, where for a year he worked at his trade as a day laborer for Martin Gillis, afterward serving as his foreman for three years.  At the expiration of that time he commenced contracting for himself, and has continued in that occupation ever since.  Among the many works that have been under his supervision may be mentioned the remodeling of John H. Gear's wholesale grocery building, at the corner of Main and Valley streets; the Presbyterian Church, on Jefferson street, and the parsonage, on Augusta street; J. S. Schram's residence, and the Murray Iron Works.  He also superintended the construction of the county court-house at Tarkio, which was erected at a cost of $24,000; the college at College Springs, Page Co., Iowa, at a cost of $15,000; the residence of William Lindsley, on Angular street; made additions to two of the public schools in Burlington, and remodeled Mr. Foraker's residence.  As a contractor and builder Mr. Brown has few equals, and the above-mentioned buildings stand as monuments to his skill and labor.

On the 1st of July, 1864, Mr. Brown was united in marriage with Elizabeth Scott, and three children graced their union--James, Elizabeth S. and Agnes L.  The wife and mother was called to her final home Nov. 27, 1883, and Mr. Brown was again married, July 2, 1885.  Mary E. Turner, daughter of William and Edna Turner, becoming his wife.  He is a member of the Congregational Church, in politics is a Republican and has the respect of all who know him.

Nathaniel Brown, one of the pioneers of Des Moines County, was born in Royalton, Vt., Nov. 22, 1811, and is a son of Myron and Eunice (Aynsworth) Brown.  Myron Brown was a soldier in the War of 1812.  The subject of our sketch was reared in Vermont and Canada, receiving a common-school education, and in 1835 he came West, stopping for a short time in Chicago, which then consisted of a wet prairie and a few cabins.  During the following fall he went to Peoria, and, being out of money, accepted the first work which presented itself, coal mining.  In the spring of 1838, he came to Burlington and engaged in plastering, which occupation he followed for many years. 

The union of Nathaniel Brown and Miss Agnes Thompson was celebrated in Burlington, in 1843.  She was a native of the Sunny South, born in South Carolina, Sept. 22, 1818.  Three children graced their union, but only one is now living--Sophia E.; Frances M. and Sarah E. are both deceased.  They have also one adopted daughter, Ida M., who is married to O. M. Burrus.  Mr. Brown is truly one of the pioneer settlers of Des Moines County, and has witnessed almost its entire growth.  On coming to this community, where the now prosperous city of Burlington stands there were but a few scattered cabins, bands of Indians roamed over the prairie, and the county abounded in wild game.  Although a man of limited means, Mr. Brown has done much to build up the city, and his work can be found in many of the best buildings that adorn the place.

Mrs. Brown died in December, 1884.  She was reared in the Methodist Episcopal Church, was a consistent member of that body for many years, and was a kind wife and mother.

W. O. Brown, a prominent farmer residing on section 20, Washington Township, was born in Des Moines County, Iowa, on the 4th of September, 1849, and is a son of David and Elizabeth Brown, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work.  His primary education was received at the district schools of his native State, but supplemented by a course at the College of Denmark, Iowa.  Throughout his life he has followed the occupation of farming, and is now engaged quite extensively in buying and shipping cattle and hogs.  The first land purchased by Mr. Brown in this county consisted of eighty acres, now highly cultivated and improved, upon which is a comfortable residence and all the outbuildings and machinery necessary to a well-regulated farm.  On the 28th of December, 1871, he was united in marriage with Amanda Thompson, who was born in England, and came to America with her parents, David and Jane Thomas, when only one year of age.  Her father was a native of England, and her mother of America, though of Welsh descent, and they are now residents of Louisa County.  Mr. and Mrs. Brown are the parents of an interesting family of four children--Laura, Charley, Frank and Benton, all at home.

Politically, he is a Democrat, and figures extensively in "helping the boys along."  His wife is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and both are highly respected citizens in the county where most of their lives have been passed.

William C. Brown, Superintendent of the Iowa lines of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company, having been in their employ since 1875, was born in Norway, Herkimer Co., N. Y., July 29, 1853, and his father, the Rev. Charles E. Brown, a minister of the Baptist Church, was born in Oneida County, N. Y., was of Scotch descent, and married Miss Frances Lyon, the mother of our subject, who was born at Little Falls, N. Y., and was also of Scotch ancestry.  Rev. Brown came to Iowa in 1842 as a missionary of the American Baptist Home Missionary Society, settled in Jackson County, and removed from there to Howard County, where he now resides.  Mrs. Brown, an estimable lady, died June 19, 1887.

Our subject was born while his parents were on a visit to his mother's old home in New York, and was brought to Iowa while an infant, thus his whole life has been passed in this State.  Here he was reared and attended the public schools until fifteen years of age, when he began railroading on the old Racine & Mississippi Road, now the southwestern division of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul.  Learning telegraphy, Mr. Brown spent one year with that company, and then entered the train dispatcher's office of the Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, at Minneapolis, Minn.  In 1872 he went to Waterloo, Iowa, as train dispatcher of the Illinois Central, remaining with that company one year; was next employed with the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific in the same capacity and for the same period, and in 1875 came to Burlington as train dispatcher under Thomas J. Potter, who was then Superintendent of the Iowa Division of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, when, after five years' service in this city, he was transferred to Illinois as chief train dispatcher on the St. Louis Division, where he served as Chief Dispatcher, Trainmaster and Division Superintendent from Jan. 1, 1880, to Jan. 1, 1887, when he was appointed Superintendent of the Iowa lines of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, with headquarters at Burlington, which position he now holds.

On the 4th of June, 1874, Mr. Brown was united in marriage, at Lime Springs, with Miss Ella Hewett, daughter of C. C. Hewett.  Mrs. Brown was born in McHenry County, Ill., and is a member of the First Baptist Church, of Burlington.  They have two children, daughters:  Georgia, aged thirteen, and Bertha, aged six.

Mr. Brown is a typical, successful, Western railroad man.  He began at the bottom and had won honorable promotion to the responsible position he now holds by hard work and close application to business, making the company's interests his interests, and never fearing to do too much for the amount of salary received.  To be sure he possessed the essential, natural talent for the business, sound judgment and untiring energy, coupled with superior executive ability, cool courage, and the other essential qualities that distinguish a leader of men.  The great strike of February, 1888, put his metal to the test, and it gave out the true ring of a competent, fearless manager, when on that eventful 27th of February, when nearly all engineers of the great Chicago, Burlington & Quincy system deserted their posts, Mr. Brown took possession of engine No. 149, and with Trainmaster J. W. Working as fireman, ran the train successfully to Galesburg, returning with train No. 7.  From that time to the present he has been actively striving to perfect the operating force on the lines under his control, sparing no effort to advance the interest of the company, and to protect the traveling public from injury, and the commercial interests of the patrons of the road from damage and interruption.

William E. Brown

Among the early pioneers and respected citizens of Des Moines County, Iowa, none deserves more especial mention than does he whose name heads this sketch.  Coming to this county Nov. 18, 1834, and settling in Burlington, he has ever been a most faithful citizen, the interests of the community have always been his interests, and its enterprises have found in him a ready supporter.  An earnest and efficient helper in the progress of civilization and in all that adds to the prosperity of his adopted State, he deserves and wins the respect of all.

William Brown is a native of Fairfield County, Conn., born Jan. 4, 1807, and a son of Jeddiah and Rebecca (Dikeman) Brown, both of whom were also natives of that State.  Going to New York City when about twenty-three years of age, he was employed in a wholesale stoneware store for four years, when he came to Des Moines County, Iowa, settling in Burlington Nov. 18, 1834, where he worked at the blacksmith trade for a time, and was afterward employed in a foundry for seventeen years.  He was united in marriage, in September, 1828, with Rhoda Bouton, a native of Connecticut, and by their marriage ten children were born, five of whom grew to maturity:  William W., a minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church, is a member of the Missouri Conference; Emily, widow of Daniel Howard, is a resident of Burlington; Gould J. is a printer in Albion, Neb.; Anna E., widow of Melville Madden, is also a resident of Burlington; Clara, who died Jan. 18, 1868, at he age of twenty-three, was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.  The mother of these children died March 3, 1864, at the age of fifty-two.  She was an active and consistent Christian, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, being a pioneer in that faith in this community.  She carefully trained her children to a belief in the true God, and all are Christian men and women. Mr. Brown was again united in marriage, April 8, 1866, with Elizabeth W. Andress, widow of D. S. Andress.  She was born in Switzerland County, Ind., Oct. 24, 1825, and is a daughter of Joseph and Mary M. Mitchell, the former being a native of Massachusetts, and the latter of Ohio.  Her father died in 1860, but her mother is yet living with our subject, and is a well-preserved lady for her age.  She reared a family of ten children, four of her sons being soldiers in the late war, following the teachings of patriotism shown by their grandfather, who was a soldier in the war for independence.  Mrs. Brown was first married April 3, 1845, to D. S. Andress, a native of Indiana, a son of Jonathan R. Andress, who was a Methodist Episcopal minister.  They came to Burlington the same year, the husband working as a contractor and bricklayer until his death, which occurred in October, 1858, at the age of thirty-seven years.  He was an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was Class-Leader of the same.  Mr. and Mrs. Andress were the parents of three children:  Dora, widow of James A. Tomlinson, who died in Kansas; Bishop J. J., a farmer residing near Coronado, Kan.; Dillon is a stock-raiser and also Justice of the Peace and Postmaster at Madaline P. O., Kan.

Mr. Brown united with the Methodist Episcopal Church when twenty-four years of age, and was always an earnest worker in the cause of his Master until age prevented him from performing active service, though his interest is still unflagging.  He has held various offices in the church, among which are those of Trustee, Steward and Class-Leader.  He was also Superintendent of the first Sunday-school ever organized in the city of Burlington, it being held in a log cabin in 1837.  Mrs. Brown is also an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, having united with that body at the age of twelve years, and her earnest Christian life is an example which any would do well to follow.  Mr. Brown is the owner of two hoses in Burlington, while three houses and lots on Boundary street are the property of Mrs. Brown.  He cast his first vote for Jackson, it being the only Democratic vote ever cast by him.  A man of strong anti-slavery principles, after the organization of the party he voted with the Republicans.  He is also of strong temperance habits and believes in the enforcement of the prohibitory laws. 

Hon. James Bruce, deceased, of Yellow Spring Township, was a time-honored citizen of Des Moines County, and was numbered among the pioneers of 1837. He was born in Frederick County, Va., March 19, 1814, and comes of good old Revolutionary stock.  His paternal grandfather, George Bruce,  was a native of Virginia, but of Scotch descent, while his father, James Bruce, was also a native of the Old Dominion, born April 20, 1762.  Notwithstanding the family were strict members of the Society of Friends, and therefore opposed to war and the shedding of blood, James Bruce enlisted as a teamster, during the latter years of the Revolutionary War, and was subsequently made Wagonmaster.  He was induced to enlist by Lawrence Washington, a nephew of the General.  The maternal grandfather of our subject, Morris Job, was a native of Maryland, and in the rank of Captain served his country faithfully in the War for Independence.  He died in Baltimore early in the present century.

After the expiration of his term of service, James Bruce wedded Anna Job, a native of Baltimore, Md., born Nov. 20, 1780.  They reared a family of five children:  Lydia married Adam Smith, of Highland County, Ohio, and now resides in Henry County, Iowa; James the subject of this sketch; Jane L. married Sherman Terry, and both are now deceased; Lawrence W. died in Ohio, March 10, 1849; Sarah J. married John Anderson of this county.  In 1816 the family moved to Highland County, Ohio, and settled at Monroe, where James Bruce, Sr., engaged in the hotel business, in which he remained until his death, which occurred Feb. 28, 1826, aged sixty-three years and eleven months.  He was a leading man in his section of the country, and in whatever business he engaged was ever ranked among the foremost.

About one year after his death, the mother, with her family, moved to Fayette County, Ohio, and purchased a farm, which she carried on with he help of her children.  She died many years ago, leaving behind the precious memory of one who did what she could, and who reared a family of honorable men and women.  She was of the old Quaker stock, descended from Richard Bond, who came with William Penn to America.

The subject of this sketch remained at home, assisting in the farm work, until he was sixteen years of age, when he went to Clinton County, Ohio, remaining four years, during which time he learned the trade of a tanner and currier, and afterward became associated with his old employer as partner. In the spring of 1837 he left Ohio to seek a more favorable location, and came directly to Iowa, which was then a part of Wisconsin Territory, and located a claim on section 17 of what is now Yellow Spring Township.  This land he commenced at once to cultivate, making the improvements required by law.  In the winter following he went to Burlington, was engaged by Sullivan Ross, and while in his employ tanned the first leather in what is now the State of Iowa.  For the next few years he was engaged on his claim and doing odd jobs for others as he found opportunity.

Prior to this time Mr. Bruce had lived a bachelor's life, but realizing that "it is not good for man to be alone," on the 28th of March, 1839, he was united in marriage with Miss Mary H. Rankin, a native of Franklin County, Pa., and daughter of David and Frances (Huston) Rankin.  Immediately after their marriage, he took his young bride to his pioneer claim, and in the rude log cabin erected by his own hands, for fifteen years they lived happily together, and there several of their children were born.  In 1854 a more commodious residence was erected, in which the family lived until 1871, when they moved to Mediapolis, where Mr. Bruce ever-after lived a retired life.  At that time the home farm consisted of 210 acres of fine land, which had been brought under an excellent state of cultivation.

Their children, all born upon the old homestead, were as follows:  Francis A. died at the age of six years; Martha is the wife of W. H. Cartwright, one of the leading citizens of Yellow Spring Township; Lawrence H. C., born Feb. 25, 1844, at the age of seventeen, shortly after the commencement of the War of the Rebellion enlisted in the 14th Iowa Infantry, and gave his life for the restoration of the Union.  At the battle of Shiloh he was captured and for three months had a taste of Rebel treatment of prisoners of war.  Being exchanged, he returned to his regiment, and in the battle of Old Oaks was mortally wounded.  He was sent to the hospital at Benton Barracks, where he died.  His father and mother were both with him at the time of his death, and brought the body with them, interring it in the old cemetery at Kossuth. Thus was one more victim offered upon the alter of his country because of the hideous crime of slavery.  David R., the second son and fourth child, is now engaged in farming in Fillmore County, Neb.; John died in infancy; S. Jane is the wife of C. H. Yost, of Fillmore County, Neb.; and Maggie is the wife of W. H. Crowder, of Mediapolis.

Mr. Bruce led an active life and was frequently honored by his fellow-citizens with offices of trust.  Yellow Spring was one of the first townships in the county to be organized, and he was one of the commissioners appointed for that purpose.  He retained his certificate of appointment, signed by James Cameron, the first elected Sheriff in the county, until his death.  In 1861 he was elected a member of the Board of Supervisors of the county, serving three years, two years of which time he was Chairman.  This was at a time when the board consisted of a supervisor from each civil township, and during the time of the Civil War, when great watchfulness was necessary on the part of the people's servants that county funds should not be squandered and yet no niggardly policy should be pursued.  Especially was it expected that the Supervisor should care for the families of the soldiers, and if possible prevent a resort to drafting to secure the county's quota.

In the fall of 1863, during the darkest days of the war, Mr. Bruce was elected a member of the House of Representatives of the Tenth General Assembly, to represent the county of Des Moines, and served with ability and to the satisfaction of his constituents.  By his fellow-members Mr. Bruce was well esteemed, and in him all reposed confidence.  In 1870, when the law was again changed in regard to the Board of Supervisors, reducing the number in each county to three, to be elected from the whole county, Mr. Bruce was one of the first three chosen, and again served for three years.  Among other official positions filled by him was that of one of the Commissioners appointed to survey and appraise the swamp lands of the county.  In every position that he had been called upon to fill he discharged the duties in a conscientious manner, with a desire, not alone to please his constituents but to do what was right.

Mr. Bruce had been an active and consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church since the organization of the first class in Yellow Spring Township.  He toiled early and late in the work of the church, giving his time and means for the building up of the cause.  At the time of his death he was one of the Stewards of the church at Mediapolis, and advanced age did not lessen his interest in the work of the Master.  His good wife, who passed to her rest Nov. 12, 1885, at the age of seventy-six years, was also a member and an active worker in the Methodist Episcopal Church.  In her death the church lost one of its most useful members, one who cheerfully did what she could that the Redeemer's cause should prosper.

In early life Mr. Bruce was an old-line Whig, a great admirer of the leaders of that party.  When the Republican party sprang into existence as an organization designed to prevent the further extension of slavery, he enlisted in its ranks, and under its banner continued to fight.  A temperance man from principle, he believed in the strict enforcement of the prohibitory law, believing it best for the good of the whole people. For a little more than half a century, Mr. Bruce had been a citizen of Iowa.  When he arrived here there was not one-fourth as many inhabitants in the whole Territory as we now find in Des Moines County.  Everything was in a wild state, few improvements had been made, the future was unknown and its brightness could never have been dreamed of, much less realized.  He had seen a State spring up with a school-house upon every hilltop, with a church by its side and with a population of well-educated, contented people.  He had seen countless manufactories introduced and the whole country blossom as a rose.  He had lived to see a perfect network of railroads, crossing and re-crossing each other, penetrating every nook and corner of this grand State, while the telegraph and telephone wires could scarcely be numbered, and man is permitted to address a message or hold conversation with another hundreds of miles away.

Surely the age of wonders is upon us, and to be permitted to be an eye-witness is a great honor, bur to be more than an eye-witness, to be an active participant in the various changes that have taken place, is a favor not shown to everyone; but among the latter number may be enrolled the name of James Bruce, the Des Moines County pioneer.

The hand of death was laid upon this honored citizen May 1, 1888, and he passed to his final rest respected by all who had ever known him, and mourned, not only by his own immediate family, but by a large circle of intimate friends.

Capt. Edward Burke, one of the first to enlist at the call of Abraham Lincoln for troops to put down the Rebellion, was born in Tipperary County, Ireland, Aug. 1, 1830, and is a son of Thomas F. and Catherine (Donnelly) Burke.  In 1848 the father, being driven from his native land, came to America and settled at Lebanon Spring, Columbia County, N. Y., and in 1855 his family, which had remained in their native land, crossed the Atlantic and joined the husband and father in New York.  In 1866 Mr. Burke, with his family, removed to Milwaukee, and there both of the parents died.  Four children graced their union--Thomas, Edward D., Richard and Maggie. The subject of our sketch grew to manhood in his native country, and when but thirteen years of age was apprenticed for seven years to learn the trade of stone-mason, though only serving a term of five, his father paying $50 for the two years not served.  Coming to America with his family in 1855, his first work done in this country was on the Harlem Railroad and the Croton Water-works.

On the 27th of November, 1853, Capt. Burke was united in marriage, at Lebanon Springs, N. Y., with Miss Mary Ann O'Connor, who was bone in the city of Limerick, Ireland, Aug. 17, 1834.  They were the parents of eleven children:  Edward, Martin, Richard, John, Thomas; Katie, wife of John L. Crouch, yardmaster of the C. B. & Q. at Galesburg, Ill.; Mary, wife of Frank Brown, foreman of the boiler works at Ottumwa, Iowa; Maggie, wife of William Moore, foreman of the brush and broom works of Denver, Colo.; James, Michael and Rosa are deceased.  Soon after marriage, with his young bride he went to Milwaukee and superintended the erection of St. Mary's Convent, remaining in that city several years, becoming acquainted with many of the old and prominent citizens.  At the breaking out of the Rebellion, like so many brave Irish boys, he enlisted in the 69th New York Infantry, and was commissioned Captain of Company F.  He participated in many of the hard-fought battles of the war, among which were the first and second battles of Bull Run, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Winchester, (where he saw "Little Phil" as he came in on his twenty-mile ride), the bloody and hotly contested battle of Gettysburg, and numerous other battles and skirmishes. No words are strong enough to express the praise and admiration due to the boys who so gallantly fought for and were willing to offer up their lives for their country; and among the bravest, truest soldiers was our gallant Captain.

After the close of the war, Capt. Burke returned to his home in Milwaukee, Wis., and in 1871 removed to Burlington, where he was employed as foreman on the C. B. & Q. R. R., between that city and Ottumwa.  He came to this country a poor man, but by industry and economy has accumulated a comfortable property.  He is a member of the G. A. R. Post, No. 5, and also of the Ancient Order of Hibernians.

Sylvester T. Bryan, photographer, of Burlington, Iowa, is a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1833, and is the son of John and Mary (Painter) Bryan, the former a native of New Jersey, and the latter of Pennsylvania. IN 1839 he came west with his parents, who located in Henderson County, Ill., which at that time was but little better than a wilderness. Settlements were few and far between, and there were scarcely children enough in any community to form a school; therefore his educational advantages were very limited. About 100 days would cover his school life. But notwithstanding all this, reading and observation in after years have made him a well-informed man. In 1859 he went to California, where he engaged in mining about a year and a half, and then returned to Illinois. The war for the Union soon being in progress, his patriotic blood was stirred, and he enlisted in the 118th Illinois Infantry, as a private soldier, and served until the close of the war. The regiment was in thirty-seven engagements rising to the dignity of a battle, the principal ones being the series of battles involving the siege of Vicksburg. After a service of a little more than three years, he was mustered out of service, the war being over, and the last rebel force disbanded.

On receiving his discharge, he returned home, and soon after moved to Macomb, Ill., where he engaged in the photograph business for about two years. He then removed to Kirkwood, Ill., where he remained until 1874, engaged in the same business. His reputation as a photographer extending, and believing Burlington would be a better field for the display of his artistic taste, he resolved to move to Burlington, where he opened a gallery, and in a short time built up an excellent trade. Mr. Bryan is not alone a picture maker, but is an artist of acknowledged ability. Mr. Bryan and Josephine Pearson, were united in marriage May 2, 1857. Five children have been born to them, four of whom are living--Amy, Minnie, Willard and Josephine. One died in infancy, Edgar.

A number of the portraits in this volume were made from photographs taken by Mr. Bryan.

Col. Fabian Brydolf, a veteran soldier of two wars, and a landscape artist of rare ability, is a native of Sweden, born in Ostergothland, Nov. 28, 1819, and is a son of the Rev. Anders G. Brydolf, a prominent minister of the Lutheran Church. Our subject developed a talent for art in his youth and was instructed in landscape painting by the best teachers of his country, pursuing that as a profession until 1841, when he emigrated to America. He located at Cleveland, Ohio, and finding no demand for his services as a landscape painter, engaged in house and sign painting by which to make a living. Remaining but a short time at Cleveland, he then traveled westward working at his trade as a journeyman in various cities until 1846, when he reached Burlington, Iowa. He came to this State as an interpreter for a party of his countrymen, who having just arrived in this country were ignorant of the English language. He assisted the party to secure land in the neighborhood of Des Moines, and was about to return East, when, on arriving at Burlington, he found navigation closed and no conveyance available except stages, so he decided to remain here and work at his trade.

In April 1847, Mr. Brydolf was seized with a desire to become a soldier, and enlisted for the Mexican War in the 15th Regiment Regulars, U. S. A. under Capt. Guthrie, and was in active service in Mexico, participating in the battles of Contreras, Cherubusco, Molina del Rey, Chapultepec, and many minor engagements, through which he passed without an injury, and returned to Burlington in September, 1848. Working at his trade till the breaking out of the late Civil War, Mr. Brydolf then raised a company for the 6th Iowa Infantry, Company I, of which he was commissioned Captain July 17, following. His regiment participated in the battle of Shiloh, and their he lost his right arm, it being taken off near the shoulder, April 6, 1862, while leading his company in action. He was promoted Lieutenant-Colonel of the 25th Iowa Infantry in 1862, joining that regiment in September following. He was in active service with them until the capture of Vicksburg, when he resigned, and on the 1st of November, 1863, he was commissioned by President Lincoln, as Lieutenant-Colonel of the 2d Regiment of the Veteran Reserve Corps, serving in that capacity until July 1, 1866, when he was mustered out of the service. Col. Brydolf returned from the war with a record of which his family and friends may well be proud. He was a brave and gallant officer, always ready to lead where he expected his men to go. He has served his adopted country faithfully in two important wars, and his empty sleeve bears testimony to his bravery and fidelity to duty. Since his return from the service the Colonel has been employed at his old occupation, that of a practical painter and artist, and of late years has made a specialty of landscape painting, working with his left hand and winning high praise from the best art critics for the elegant pictures he has produced. His success as an artist in the later years of his life is all the more remarkable when we consider that he is now nearly seventy years of age, and, having lost his right arm, is obliged to do all the work with the left hand. His eye is keen, his taste perfect, and his skill with the brush remarkable, when we think how late in life the left hand was educated in his art.

Col. Brydolf was married at Monmouth, Ill., Sept. 1, 1850, to Miss Fannie West, and seven children were born to them, of whom five are living--Adriana, wife of O. M. Parsons, of Burlington, Iowa; George F. died in infancy; one infant died unnamed. The younger members are Nannie, Oscar, Nella and Robert. He is living in quiet retirement in his pleasant home at No. 903 Summer street, working at his art as the humor strikes him, and happy in the company of his interesting children.  

Hugh Bulger, foreman in the erecting department of the West Burlington shops of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, has been with the company sine June 5, 1872. He was born at Geneva, Ontario County, N. Y., May 19, 1847, and is a son of Patrick and Catherine (Gillen) Bulger. He learned the trade of a machinist at the New York Iron Works, Geneva, after which he went to Saginaw, Mich., where he was employed by Wicks Bros., of that place. From Saginaw he came to Burlington, Iowa, and engaged with the Burlington & Missouri Railroad Company, in the old shops, as journeyman until 1875, when he went to Jackson, Mich., and remained until 1876 and then once more returned to this city, since which time he has been employed by the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad. In 1880 Mr. Bulger was made foreman in the erecting department of the new shops at West Burlington, which position he yet holds. Since the company have charged for transportation on the workmen's train to the shops, he has acted as conductor of the train.

On the 5th of January, 1876, Mr. Bulger and Miss Mary Shea, daughter of John Shea, was united in marriage. Mrs. Bulger was born in Ireland, and when an infant came to America with her parents, who settled in Washington, D. C., and in 1870 removed to Burlington. Seven children were born of this union, one son and five daughters: Lila, Francis, Charlotte, Helen, Alice, Virginia and Florence.

 Our subject was a soldier during the Rebellion, enlisting in February, 1865, when seventeen years of age, in Company D, 194th New York Infantry, and served until he was mustered out in May, 1865. His father and two brothers were also in the war, the latter enlisting at the first call of the President for troops. Mr. Bulger is a Democrat in politics, and religiously a Catholic. By his industry, integrity and ability in his chosen calling, Mr. Bulger has risen to a position of prominence, and enjoys the utmost confidence of the company by whom he is employed.   

Lemmon Burk, deceased, who settled in Des Moines County in 1851, was born in Baltimore, Md., June 30, 1805, and was a son of Elisha and Rachel (Fuget) Burk, who were also natives of that city. He was the second of a family of two children; Alexis, the eldest, died in 1861. When our subject was but four months old, his mother was called to her final home, her death occurring in October, 1805. The father later married Miss Temperance Jones, who was also a native of Baltimore, the marriage taking place in Hamilton County, Ohio, in 1809, and to them five children have been born, of whom Lewis, Nelson and Ulick are deceased; Rachel, the widow of William Ammerman, resides in Howard County, Ind.; and Ellen is the wife of S. P. Sater, a farmer of Flint River Township. The father of these children died in 1819, and was buried in Hamilton County, Ohio, and the mother departed this life in 1825, her remains being placed by the side of her husband. The early life of our subject was spent in Hamilton County, Ohio, where he received a common-school education, and at the age of nineteen he started out in life for himself, going to Baltimore County, Md., there learning the trade of carding and fulling. Remaining there for three years, he then started on foot for Hamilton County, Ohio, a distance of four hundred miles.

After working that winter in Hamilton County, Mr. Burk once more returned to Maryland, where, on the 28th of July, 1828, he was united in marriage with Miss Rachel Green, of Baltimore. At that time he had to pay $4.50 for a license. Mrs. Burk was a daughter of Abednego and Martha (Burk) Green. The following September the young couple removed to Butler County, Ohio, where Mr. Burk purchased fifty acres of land and began farming, which occupation he followed until within a few years, after which he lived a retired life. Remaining upon the farm in Ohio until 1832 he sold out, and went to Union County, Ind., where he purchased 220 acres of land, all of which had been cultivated, though no buildings had yet been erected. A house and barn were built, and there Mr. and Mrs. Burk resided until 1851, when, selling their land, they became residents of Des Moines County, Iowa, purchasing 380 acres in Flint River Township. At the time of his death he still owned 180 acres of this land, having sold or divided among his children the remaining 200. Mr. and Mrs. Burk were the parents of five children: Mary E., born in Butler County, Ohio, is the wife of W. F. Johnson, whose sketch appears on another page of this work; Martha, also a native of that county, is the widow of D. C. Riley; Barbara A., born in Butler County, is the deceased wife of Samuel Moore, a farmer of Flint River Township; Eliza J. became the wife of J. Q. Graham, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume; and Susan R., who is the wife of John Moore, a farmer of Union Township. On the 9th of June, 1876, Mrs. Burk was called to her final home, dying at the age of seventy-five. By her death the family lost a kind wife and indulgent mother, and the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which she was a member, an active worker.

In 1862 Mr. Burk enlisted in the 37th Iowa regiment, known as the Gray Beard Regiment, it being composed of men to old to enter the regular service. He did garrison duty for two years, and then was discharged on account of failing eye-sight. We are pleased to record the sketch of this respected citizen, soldier and pioneer, who for almost forty years has aided largely in the progress and development which has made Des Moines County second to none in the State. He died at the home of Mrs. Riley, in Flint River Township, July 22, 1888, aged eighty-four. Mr. Burk was one of the self-made men of Des Moines County. Commencing life without financial aid, he had, by industry and economy, accumulated a comfortable competence.

The patrons of this work will be pleased to see the portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Burk, which appear of a preceding page. None are more worthy a place.

W. E. Burke, Superintendent of the Public Schools of Des Moines County, Iowa, is one of the enterprising young men of Burlington. He was born in Forest County, Pa., Dec. 17, 1853, and is a son of David W. and Julia A. (Nolton) Burke. About 1857 or 1858 David Burke moved with his family to Lee County, Iowa. He enlisted in the 15th Iowa Infantry, in 1862, and participated in many of the hard-fought battles of that regiment. In the battle of Iuka, being overcome with the heat, he lost his health, which he never regained. He was subsequently transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps, which was organized at Washington, and died soon after leaving the service, in 1865.

The subject of this sketch received his early education in the public schools of Lee County, supplemented by a course at Denmark Academy, a Congregational institution at that place. After leaving the Academy, he began teaching, in the meantime reading law. In 1880, he came to Burlington and entered the office of Brennemann & Rhode. He was appointed City Librarian of Burlington in 1883 and 1884. In 1885, he was honored with a nomination by the Democratic party and elected to the office of Superintendent of the Public Schools of Des Moines County, and re-elected in 1887. Politically, Prof. Burke is a Democrat and an active worker for the party. By profession he is an attorney, having been admitted to the bar in 1882, with license to practice in all the courts of the State. He is a young man of good address, a fluent speaker, and deserves much credit for the position he holds in the county and city.  

John Burkholder, one of the pioneers of Des Moines County, residing on section 34, Benton Township, is a native of Lancaster County, Pa., and was born on the 18th of February, 1813. His parents, Christopher and Mary (Gordon) Burkholder, were also natives of Pennsylvania. They reared a family of five children, of whom our subject was the eldest; Eliza, the second child, became the wife of a Mr. Du Herst, of Baltimore, Md.; James, whose whereabouts are unknown; Mary, wife of Mr. Wilson, of Brooklyn, N. Y.; Daniel, a machinist, also of Brooklyn. The father of these children was a millwright by trade, but in connection with that occupation also engaged in farming.The family being in limited circumstances, John Burkholder was early compelled to labor. When but a lad of fourteen years, he began working in a cotton factory, where he remained five years, and later went to York, Pa., there serving an apprenticeship at the stone-mason's trade, which occupation he has followed throughout his entire life in connection with farming. In 1836, he left home and went to the Sunny South, settling in Natchez, Miss., where he worked at his trade on public buildings until February of the following year, then purchasing two flatboats, and loading them with sand, he floated them down the river to New Orleans, sold his sand, and, purchasing a full supply of clothing, took passage on the steamboat "Fancy." While making the voyage up the river, the boat took fire and was burned, destroying all his money and clothes, leaving him entirely penniless, his only remaining possession being a watch, which he sold to pay his passage to Burlington on another boat. On the 18th of April, 1837, he landed in Des Moines County, and engaged with Gen. Hight to clear off land, being employed for three months at $1 per day, though he never received all his pay. Mr. Burkholder's first purchase of land in Des Moines County consisted of 120 acres, which he afterward entered, borrowing the money ($100) to pay for it, giving 25 per cent interest. This farm was on section 27, Benton Township. In May, 1847, Mr. Burkholder and Catherine W. Ingram were united in marriage. Mrs. Burkholder is a native of Virginia and a daughter of Arthur and Sarah (Ankiam) Ingram, who were natives of Pennsylvania, and who came to Des Moines County in 1835, settling west of Burlington. The young couple began their domestic life upon the farm on section 27, Benton Township, which Mr. Burkholder had previously purchased. In 1841, he went to Iowa City and worked on the first State House, and also was employed in the erection of the Court House at Mt. Pleasant, which was the first one built in Iowa. In the spring of 1849, shortly after gold was discovered in California, equipped with ox-teams, Mr. Burkholder in company with A. W. Gordon and Carrolton Hughes, made an overland trip to that Territory, the journey lasting from the 5th of April to the 22d of August. He remained in that country two years, engaged in mining, and was reasonably successful, returning home in 1851 by water, making the trip by way of New Orleans and the Mississippi River. After his return home, Mr. Burkholder engaged in the stock business for a few months, but soon sold out, and has since carried on farming, in connection with which he has worked at his trade. He now owns 140 acres of land on section 34, Benton Township, where he has resided since 1857. In 1854, a destructive fire occurred, his house being completely consumed, but with characteristic energy he at once set to work to make good his loss.

Mr. and Mrs. Burkholder have reared a family of seven children--Frank G., who has control of the home farm; Amanda, wife of William Kellogg, of Hall County, Neb.; John J., a resident of Hall County, Neb.; Eliza, wife of John F. Walker, a resident farmer of Benton Township; James P., who is engaged in farming in Keokuk County, Iowa; William and Kate, both residing at home. Mrs. Burkholder is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In his political views, Mr. Burkholder is a Democrat, though very liberal. He has held the office of Justice of the Peace for the past ten years, and is the present incumbent. For four years, he was a member of the Board of Supervisors when there was one from each township, and was County Assessor when one man had control of the whole county. He always took an active interest in public affairs, and being one of the early pioneers has done much for the upbuilding of the county. When he first became one of its residents, Des Moines County formed a part of the Territory of Wisconsin and the now populous city of Burlington was but a little village. Where the railroads now cross the country, before were Indian trails, and the finely cultivated farms for which the county is so noted were then unbroken prairies. In all the work of cultivation and progress which had been carried on, Mr. Burkholder has always done his part, and as a citizen is one of the most highly respected in the community.

Charles Burrus, one of the pioneer settlers of the Des Moines County, Iowa, was born in Virginia, and when a child, went to North Carolina, but subsequently removed to Overton County, Tenn., where he grew to manhood. There he became acquainted with, and married Miss Frances Creed.  In 1826 he emigrated to Morgan County, Ill., locating near Jacksonville, taking up a claim, and making improvements on the same.  In 1835, he came to Des Moines County, settling in Franklin Township, which was then nothing but a wilderness.  Mr. Burrus took a claim, and from the raw land soon developed a fine farm.  Soon after settling here, the panic of 1837 occurred, and our pioneers had hard times to get money enough even to pay their postage, which at that time was twenty-five cents. Mr. and Mrs. Burrus were the parents of seven children, three of whom are living:  Elizabeth, of Franklin Township; Thomas, a farmer of Adams County, Iowa; and Sarah, wife of L. D. Ballard, of Des Moines County.

Mr. Burrus was a firm adherent of the principles of the Democratic party, always casting his vote with the same.  Both he and his wife were people highly respected in the community where the resided, and both died in Franklin Township.  She was a member of Methodist Episcopal Church, and an earnest, sincere Christian.

E. S. Burrus, Treasurer of Des Moines County, Iowa, was born in Franklin Township, May 31, 1840, and there grew to manhood, receiving his education in the common schools, supplemented by a course in the University of Burlington, a school under the charge of the Baptist denomination. For several years after leaving school, he engaged in farming during the summer, teaching school for eighteen terms continuously in the winter. While still residing upon the farm, Mr. Burrus was appointed Postmaster of Franklin Mills Postoffice, and filled that position for eight years. In 1875 he was elected Superintendent of Schools for one term, and two years later was appointed Deputy Treasurer under A. C. Hutchinson, now Postmaster of Burlington. In 1885 he received the nomination of the Democratic party as County Treasurer, and was elected. In 1887 he was reelected to the office and is now filling his second term.

On the 11th of April, 1871, Mr. Burrus was joined in wedlock with Miss Joanna Wierman, a daughter of Jacob Wierman, who was a native of Adams County, Pa. By this union there are four children: Charles R., Thornton W., Rollie and Annie. In politics our subject identifies himself with the Democratic party, of which he is an ardent upholder. He is an honorable, useful citizen, and is truly a representative man of the county, enjoying the respect and good-will of the entire community. As an officer he is pleasant and courteous, evincing a desire to please all who may have business with the office.

O. M. Burrus is a dealer in marble and granite at Burlington, Iowa.  He was born in Oquawka, Ill., in 1860, his parents being Robert and Louisa (Wolf) Burrus, who were among the early settlers of Henderson County, Ill.  They were natives of Germany, but came to this country at an early day.  Their family consisted of four sons and three daughters:  Fanny married William Renehan, of White River Junction, Vt.; O. M., our subject; Leon, of St. Louis; Jennie, at home; Robert, a salesman for a St. Louis house; Alexander, a train dispatcher; Bertha, a music teacher, at home.

The subject of this sketch was reared in his native city, educated in its public schools, and was subsequently apprenticed to learn the trade of a marble-cutter with Stickle & Moard, one of the oldest firms in this line of business in Burlington. Having mastered the trade, Mr. Burrus, in 1885, commenced business for himself with ample capital and first-class qualifications.  Success has attended his efforts, and he today has a well-established and constantly growing trade.  On the 20th day of September, 1887, Mr. Burrus married Miss Ida M. Brown, a daughter of Nathaniel and Agnes Brown, who were numbered among the early settlers of Des Moines County.

Edgar M. Burt, of the firm of N. J. Burt & Co., wholesale seedsmen of Burlington, Iowa, was born in Cedarville Cumberland County, N. J., Nov. 23, 1812, and is the son of Moses and Lovicy (Wescott) Burt.  His parents were also natives of New Jersey, being descended from old German families of that State.  When fifteen years of age Edgar Burt went to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he served a regular apprenticeship to the tailor's trade, at which he worked until 1833, when he removed to La Fayette, Ind., and engaged in the clothing business.  Going to Minnesota for his health in 1862, he spent six years on a farm, and after having recovered his usual health, came to Burlington, where, in company with his son Nathan J., they established the wholesale seed business, which they have carried on successfully since.

Mr. Burt was united in marriage at La Fayette, Ind., in September, 1834, with Miss Minerva E. Jackson,, daughter of Dr. N. Jackson of that city.  Mrs. Burt was born at Piqua, Ohio.  Ten children blessed their union, seven of whom are living, five sons and two daughters:  Lucius C. married Miss Emma Shippy and resides in Poughkeepsie, N. Y.; Amelia is the wife of John M. Carr of Chicago, Ill.; Edgar married Miss Candace Sample of La Fayette, Ind., and is a dentist by profession; Nathan J. married Miss Florence Sigerson, and is engaged in the wholesale seed business with his father at Burlington; William D. is a resident of Burlington; Walter married Miss Margaret McCosh, is a commercial traveler and resides in this city; Minnie J. the youngest, lives with her parents; Frank died at the age of eleven, and two of the children died in infancy.  Mr. Burt and his wife are members of the Baptist Church, and have been identified with that body for over forty years. In early life he was a Whig, and on the dissolution of that organization and the formation of the Republican party, he joined the latter.  His sons are all voters and members of the same party.  Although in his seventy-sixth, Mr. Burt is an active business man, with mental facilities unimpaired and in the enjoyment of fair bodily health. Always temperate in his habits, he has led an upright, honorable and useful life, and enjoys in the fullest degree the respect and esteem of his fellow-citizens.

Nathan J. Burt, of the firm of N. J. Burt & Co., wholesale seedsmen, of Burlington, Iowa, was born in La Fayette, Tippecanoe Co., Ind., Feb. 9, 1847, and is a son of Edgar M. and Minerva E. (Jackson) Burt. When fifteen years of age, he removed with his parents to St. Paul, Minn., where he completed his education, and then entered a drug-store in that city, where he was employed until he reached his majority, in 1868, and then came to Burlington, engaging in the wholesale seed business with his father, which they have carried on continously with marked success. In Oxford, Ohio, in 1874, Mr. Burt wedded Miss B. Florence Sigerson, daughter of Wallace and Anna Maria Sigerson. Mrs. Burt is a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Burlington, and is a native of Cincinnati, Ohio. Two children were born of their union, a son and a daughter--Nathan S. and Ethel E., both born at Burlington. Mr. Burt is an uncompromising Republican in politics. He is a prominent member of the order of Knights of Pythias, and has filled all the chairs in Friendship Lodge, No. 11, and has also held the office of Grand Master of Exchequer in the Grand Lodge of the State of Iowa, for a number of terms. Afterward, by his instrumentality, Flint Hills Lodge, No. 39, was organized. In all the relations of life, both social and business, Mr. Burt is held in the highest esteem. In business circles, he is admired for his prompt, energetic and reliable methods, and his unswerving integrity, qualifications on which he has built a successful career as a merchant, and which have won for him a foremost place among the business men of Burlington.

John A. Buttles, an honored pioneer of Burlington, Iowa, of 1842, was born in Switzerland County, Ind., April 25, 1828, and is a son of John and Elizabeth (Dickerson) Buttles. His father was born in Rutland County, Vt., and was of English and Scotch descent; his mother was born in Switzerland County, Ind., of Welsh descent. Her family were formally of Maysville, Ky., and among the early settlers of Switzerland County, Ind. His father went to Indiana when a young man and was there married. The family emigrated to Iowa in 1842, leaving Indiana in September of that year, traveling by steam, the journey occupying a month, and reaching Burlington in October following. They located on a farm now within the southern limits of the city. Mr. Buttles, Sr., was a teacher, carpenter and farmer, an upright, worthy citizen. His death occurred in the winter of 1844, his wife surviving for about twelve years. Of the six children of their family who came to Burlington, only three are now living--John A., George and Hiram. The two latter reside in Illinois.

John A. Buttles was reared on a farm and learned the carpenter's trade, at which he worked until 1849, when the breaking out of the California gold fever exciting his ambition for travel and adventure, he joined the expedition to cross the plains. Arriving at the gold-fields he engaged in mining at the Placer diggings, but later he carried on the grocery business at Rough and Ready, remaining in California three years. He returned to the States by way of the Isthmus of Panama and New Orleans. In the fall of 1852 he engaged in the lumber business at Burlington, in company with Daniel Haskell, under the firm name of Haskell & Buttles. They bought the old sawmill formally owned by Mr. McKell, at the foot of South street, and on the site built and improved a mill, which they operated about fifteen years. Later, Mr. Buttles was interested in the brick business with Mr. Harper, but since closing out the same he has dealt in real estate and devoted his time to loaning his surplus capital and to the care of his property.

On the 5th of October, 1856, Mr. Buttles led to the marriage alter Miss Mary A. Rice, daughter of George W. Rice. She was born in Porter County, Ind., and came to Iowa with her parents in 1848. They have five children living: George R. married Miss Mary Nilson, and resides at Brookfield, Mo., where he is a train dispatcher for the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad; Eugene M. married Miss Ella Cadwallader, and is engaged in the grocery business at Burlington; Olive J. is the wife of George Martin, a railroad employe, residing in Idaho; Hattie is the wife of James Archibald, an employe of Wyman & Rand, wholesale carpet and furniture dealers of Burlington, Iowa; Nora, the youngest daughter, resides with her parents. Edward died when but seven years old. Mr. Buttles is an Odd Fellow, a member of Washington Lodge No. 1, the oldest lodge of the order in Iowa. He had now been a resident of Burlington for nearly half a century. His record is well known to his fellow-citizens as that of an upright, honorable man, a kind husband and father, a good neighbor, and a business man whose integrity is beyond question, and whose interest is always enlisted in every worthy cause.