Des Moines County IA

Biography of Col. William Williams Chapman

William William Chapman

COL. W.W. CHAPMAN. – It has frequently been remarked, that while many men of great fame, and a deservedly wide reputation, cannot lay their finger upon a single public act that they originated, others whose names are less known can county by the score the progeny of their brains, now alive and active in the affairs of the world. Of the latter class is Colonel Chapman of Oregon. There are few men in America, even among those esteemed great, who have originated and carried to completion a greater number of particular acts of large scope and general beneficence. Many whose … Read more

Combs, Dennis D. – Obituary

Dennis D. Combs, 76, of Burlington, died at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 28, 2006, at his son’s home in Burlington. Born Feb. 28, 1929 in New London, he was the son of Earl and Ina Morrow Combs. On Aug. 2, 1947, he married Martha J. Hoover in Mt. Pleasant. She died Oct. 6, 1988. Mr. Combs worked at the Iowa Army Ammunition Plant and retired in 1983. He enjoyed playing the violin, fishing, playing bingo, going to the boat and playing cards. Survivors include three sons, Ted Combs, Danny Combs, and David Combs, all of Burlington; two daughters, Peggy Rice … Read more

Biography of Thomas Jefferson Booth

Thomas Jefferson Booth, of Independence, is a native of Illinois, in Adams County, of which state he was born January 4, 1856. He was but eight years of age when his parents removed to Iowa and settled in Des Moines County, where they resided until 1869, in which year they settled in Montgomery County, Kansas, where the father took up a claim and resided until his death in 1878. Thomas J. Booth is a son of Milton and Agatha (Adams) Booth. His father was born in Virginia in 1808, and was a son of John Booth, an Englishman, who came … Read more

Biography of John Shackford Kimball

John Shackford Kimball was an enterprising lawyer of Boston and a business man of Burlington, Ia. A son of David and Abigail (Perkins) Kimball, Pembroke, N.H., April 28, 1812. His descent from Michael Kimball, who married Bettie Runnells, came through David Kimball of the second generation and David Kimball of the third, who married Abigail Perkins. The fifth generation is now represented by John Stevens Kimball. Mr. Kimball’s parents died at Pembroke when he was thirteen years old, leaving nine children-Betsey, Asa, Perkins, John Shackford, Abigail, Sarah Towle (widow of Timothy Colby, of Concord ), Joseph, Mary Lewis (widow of … Read more

Biography of Joseph Carman Pence

For thirty years Joseph Carman Pence has been a resident of Idaho, and has been extensively interested in one of the leading industries of the state stock-raising. He was born in Des Moines County, Iowa, on the 28th of May 1844, and is a representative of an old Pennsylvania-Dutch family that was founded in America in colonial days. Some of its members participated in the Revolutionary war, valiantly aiding in the struggle for independence. William Pence, the father of our subject, was born in the Keystone state, and in early manhood married Miss Mary Thurston, who was a native of … Read more

Loosely, Charles A. – Obituary

Death Claims Well Known Fraternalist Following days of critical Illness, Chas. A. Loosely passed away at his home Sunday. The funeral was held Wednesday afternoon at the I.O.O.F. Hall with Rev. Cullison in charge. The body will be taken later to Iowa for burial. Charles A. Loosely was born in Keithsburg, Mercer County, Illinois, November 2, 1877, and passed at his home in Enterprise, Oregon, at 3:30 Sunday afternoon, August 29th, 1920. His early life was spent in Illinois. He married to Miss Nina Baner in Burlington, Iowa, on September 28, 1898, and they made their home for several years … Read more

Biography of Col. Homer F. Fellows

In these days of money-making, when life is a constant struggle between right and wrong, it is a pleasure to lay before an intelligent reader the unsullied record of an honorable man. To the youthful it will be a useful lesson, an incentive to honest industry. Col. Homer F. Fellows is acknowledged by all to be one of Springfield’s most public-spirited and honorable citizens. He has been largely identified with the public enterprises of that city, is a promoter of its improvements and the real founder of one of the largest mechanical industries in this part of the State. He … Read more

Biography of Henry J. Calnan

Henry J. Calnan, publisher and editor of the Weekly Kansas Chief at Troy, had had an unusually varied experience even for a newspaper man. Since acquiring the Kansas Chief he had improved its influence and strengthened its organization and equipment in keeping with the dignity of the paper as the oldest journal under one continuous name in the State of Kansas. The files of the Kansas Chief contain sixty complete volumes. The paper was founded in 1857 by Sol Miller at White Cloud, Kansas, and was first known as the White Cloud Chief. The paper was moved to Troy July … Read more

Biography of Van B. Delashmutt

Delashmutt, Van B., the present Mayor of Portland, was born in Burlington, Iowa, July 27, 1842. Ten years later the family came to the infant territory of Oregon, and settled on a farm in Polk county, in the Willamette Valley. The monotonous life of a farmer’s boy illy suited the naturally adventuresome disposition of young DeLashmutt, and at the age of fifteen he went to Salem, where he secured employment in the office of the Salem Statesman, as an apprentice to learn the printers’ trade. With characteristic earnestness and energy the apprentice served three years, and at the end of … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John Ralph Owens

Owens, John Ralph; dentist; born, Burlington, Ia., May 15, 1853; son of John James and Martha Ann Yocum Owens; educated, public schools, Burlington, Ia.; graduated from High School in 1870, salutatorian of class; received degree of D. D. S. from Philadelphia Dental College, 1875; vice pres. of the class; married, Cleveland, May 15, 1889, Louise Benton; issue, three daughters, Beatrice, Theodora, and Louise; enlisted in the Cleveland first troop of Cavalry, 1880; served twelve years, having risen to 3rd sergt.; member Municipal Ass’n; trustee Y. M. C. A., 1884; charter member Cleveland Dental Society, its third pres. and fourth treas., … Read more

Biography of Sherman Mertz

Sherman Mertz. A little more than a quarter of a century ago Sherman Mertz was working as a farm hand in Kansas. He had that quality in him which would not permit him to remain long dependent on an employer’s service, and with a very modest capital and perhaps on borrowed money he began farming for himself. Today Mr. Mertz is rated as one of the most successful and substantial citizens of Wabaunsee, where he is both a farmer and a large property owner. Mr. Mertz was born in Des Moines County, Iowa, near the City of Burlington, October 9, … Read more

Welch, Mabel Leona Morrow – Obituary

Mrs. Amos Welch, 1018 N. 10th St. Burlington, 52, passed away Monday [June 20], at 3:30 p.m. at Mercy Hospital, Burlington where she had been a patient 48 hours. Mabel Leona Welch, daughter of Millie Gholson and Fred Morrow, was born at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, Sept. 15, 1902. She was married July 3, 1917 at Chariton to Amos Lloyd Welch. Before moving to Burlington about two years ago, the family resided at Mt. Pleasant. Mrs. Welch was a member of the former Methodist Protestant Church. Besides her husband, she leaves two children; Rex D. and Lila Jean, both of whom … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Franklyn Evans McClure

McClure, Franklyn Evans; asst. mgr. Ford Auto Co.; born, Mediapolis, Ia., Nov. 27, 1877; son of Isaac Newton and Susan Elizabeth Parrett McClure; graduate Parsons College, Iowa., 1899, Rush Medical College, 1903; married, Detroit, Mich., Sept. 26, 1905, Marjorie Balkley; one daughter, Marjorie Louise; served as asst. surgeon, Wisconsin N. G.; 1904, interne Cherokee, Ia., hospital; 1905-1906, practiced medicine in Neenah, Wis.; 1906-1910 practiced medicine in Detroit, Mich.; 1910, came to Cleveland as mgr. U. S. Motor Co.; member Chamber of Commerce.

Biography of Julius S. Waters

A distinguished jurist has said: “In the American state the great and good lawyer must always be prominent, for he is one of the forces that move and control society. Public confidence has generally been reposed in the legal profession. It has ever been the defender of popular rights, the champion of freedom regulated by law, the firm support of good government. In the times of danger it has stood like a rock and breasted the mad passions of the hour and finally resisted tumult and faction.” A review of the history of Julius Spencer Waters shows that his life … Read more

Peace Attempts with Western Prairie Indians, 1833

General Henry Leavenworth

What was known as the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek was entered into in Mississippi with the Choctaw Indians September 27, 1830; pursuant to the terms of the treaty, in 1832 the movement of the Choctaw to their new home between the Canadian and Red rivers was under way but they were in danger from incursions of the Comanche and Pani Picts or Wichita, and the Kiowa tribe, who came east as far as the Washita and Blue rivers; these Indians had also evinced a hostile attitude toward white citizens and had attacked and plundered Santa Fe traders, trappers, and … Read more

Biography of Samuel R. Dillinger, Jr.

Samuel R. Dillinger, Jr. At all times the grain trade is one of vital importance in every country, and at the present time, when the eyes of a large portion of the earth are turned expectantly to the mighty grain yields of the United States, does the conservation of this food and its proper handling as a commercial factor take on added importance. To buy grain carefully, knowingly and economically requires something more than the trading instinet, it necessitates the possession of special talents and certain knowledge that can only come through actual experience. Samuel R. Dillinger, who is manager … Read more

Biography of Justin E. Joy

Justin E. Joy, a prominent lumberman of Missouri, who always deserves mention in a history of the state as the one who was practically the builder of Webster Groves, was born at Oquaqua Junction, Iowa, June 17, 1844, his parents being Mr. and Mrs. Edward Joy, who removed to Burlington, Iowa, during the infancy of their son. There the father operated a sash and door factory for many years, or until 1874, when he removed with his family to St. Louis and in subsequent years was employed as superintendent of building by his son Justin. The latter was educated in … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Eugene F. Ware

Eugene F. Ware, a soldier of Iowa, a lawyer and public man of Kansas, and an author both of that state and Missouri, was born at Hartford, Connecticut, May 29, 1841. His parents moved to Burlington, Iowa, in his childhood and he was educated in the public schools of that place. During the Civil war he reached the rank of captain in the Fourth Iowa Cavalry. He took a section of land in Cherokee County, Kansas, in 1867, studied law and was admitted to the bar at Fort Scott and to the United States Supreme Court; entered the law firm … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John B. Lent

When there is to be mention of the leading men of Wallowa County, men who have wrought for its up building and advancement, the name of the subject of this appear in prominence in the list, and we are pleased to note the capabilities of the man, manifested in his skillful and wise manipulation of business affairs, as well, also, do we see his uprightness, integrity and probity in his entire career, and the chronicling of these items is ever a pleasure to be desired. John B. was born in Des Moines county, Iowa, on December 27, 1854, being the … Read more