Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1915
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 837
JOHN SMITH WATTLES

The branch of the WATTLES family to which this gentleman belongs traces its genealogical line to John MacWATTLES, a Highland Scotchman, who landed in Norwich Landing, Connecticut, A. D. 1652. According to the record left his children he dropped the Mac from the family name. John Smith WATTLES is the son of David and Sarah (Smith) WATTLES, born January 3, 1832, in Geneseo, New York. He attended the common schools, graduating from Temple Hill Academy, Geneseo, New York, when eighteen years of age. During this time he spent his vacations in working on a farm and with his father who was a mill-wright and building contractor. He also spent some time in surveying, until April, 1856, when he came west stopping at Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where he spent three years in building and contracting. He was then employed by the Cedar Rapids & Missouri Railroad Company, as assistant engineer on preliminary surveys and in the location of their line (now the Northwestern) between Cedar Rapids and Council Bluffs, Iowa. He had charge of that part of the line between Boone and Ogden the heaviest and most difficult of construction between the Mississippi and Missouri rivers. He was employed as assistant engineer on the location and construction of the Sioux City & Pacific Railroad (now a part of the Northwestern system) from Missouri Valley to Sioux City and from Missouri Valley to Chadron, Nebraska. He was assistant superintendent of construction of the Iowa Falls & Sioux City railroad (now Illinois Central); located and had charge of the construction of the Sioux City & Pembina (now Milwaukee); also the Dakota Southern Railroad from Sioux City to Yankton, South Dakota, and extensions to Running Water and Scotland, South Dakota. He was general manager and chief engineer of the line from Sioux City to Ponca, Nebraska; assistant superintendent of the Sioux City & Pacific and Fremont, Elkhorn & Missouri Valley railroads; general manager of the Sioux City Elevated railroad and resigned to take up private engineering practice.

In all, Mr. WATTLES has located approximately three hundred miles of drainage ditches. He has repeatedly been called as an expert in drainage matters and also in fixing the valuation and cost of railroads and railroad property. On account of infirmities incident to age he has practically retired from active field work, the last work being in 1911.

In recent years he has located and had charge of the Soldier Valley Drainage District improvements, which have reclaimed and benefited more than thirty thousand acres of Harrison county land, more than doubling its value. He laid out the original plat of Missouri Valley and was city engineer several terms; is a member of the American Historical Society, National Geographical Society, Iowa Engineering Society, and other associations. He served as a member of the Missouri Valley school board for sixteen years and molded the school courses. He was a member of the city council when the city government was organized in 1871.

He was one of the charter members of the Presbyterian church at Missouri Valley when it was formed in 1868, and has ever been a pillar, both spiritually and financially.

Mr. WATTLES was united in marriage in May, 1868, to Miss Jane M. Uhl, of Geneseo, New York, who died November, 1881, at Missouri Valley, Iowa, leaving one son, Fred S. WATTLES, now a resident of Sioux City. No other immediate relatives are living.

Truly this man's life has been one of wonderful accomplishments. He has served well in each position of responsibility to which he has been called, and now at the sundown of life, he still resides among a host of friends and admirers, many of whom have been made better by his eventful, successful career.

Return to 1915 Biographical W Surnames Index

Back to 1915 Biographies Index