Keokuk 1879 Biographies-3

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O'CONNOR, F. H., DR., physician and druggist, 122 Main street, between Second and Third streets; the Doctor was born in Ireland; came to this
country and located at Ft. Wayne, Ind., in 1847; remained there until he came to Keokuk, in 1852; immediately after his arrival here, he established the
business he is now engaged in, and engaged in office practice of his profession, which he has continued ever since; his is the oldest established drug
house in Keokuk. He manufactures many standard preparations which should find their way into every family; his "Excelsior Hair Tonic" is without doubt
one of the most excellent preparations now in use; his sales of this valuable article extend to nearly every part of this country; he has many letters from
Washington, D.C., New York, Philadelphia and other cities, which testify to the value of the preparation. His Hair Restorative, Condition Powders, etc.,
are very highly recommended by those who have used them, in various parts of the United States; they have been before the public for many years, and
are fast surpassing the worthless preparations with which the country has been so long afflicted.

O'DONNELL, THOMAS, wholesale and retail liquor dealer, Fourth st., between Main and Johnson; was born in County Tipperary, Ireland, in 1831; came
to America in 1851, and to Keokuk in 1853; engaged in the liquor and grocery business in 1860; and is now doing an exclusive liquor business. Married
Miss Ellen O'Donnell in 1853; she was born in County Tipperary, Ireland; died in Keokuk May 16, 1863; has three children-Kate, Maggie and Thomas.
Present wife's maiden name was Mary Davarn; married her in 1864; she was born in Galloway in 1839; they have four children-William, Manna, Michael and
John. Members of the Catholic Church. Mr. O'Donnell is at present Councilman; Democratic.

OGDEN, R. B., book and job printer; born in Leesburg, Loudoun Co., Va., Feb. 5, 1825; came with his parents to Urbana, Ohio, in 1832; in 1838, he went
to Cincinnati, there he entered the office of the Cincinnati Gazette and learned the printer's trade; remained there about five years, then went to Springfield,
Ohio, where he remained until he came to Keokuk in 1846; published the Keokuk Gazette from 1847 to 1849, when he was appointed Assistant
Postmaster; in 1850, he established the first book and stationery store in Keokuk; carried on that business until 1865; since then he has been in the book
and job printing business. Mr. Ogden's wife was Miss Elizabeth M. Miller, daughter of Rev. Reuben Miller, of Springfield, Ohio; they have four children-
Charles W. Robert M., Helen G. and Mary M.

OHLER, A., proprietor of Gate City Beer Hall, No. 626 Main st., born in Rhein Pfalz, Germany, in 1848; came to America in 1868; to Keokuk in 1874, and
has since been engaged in the saloon business. Married Miss Mary Myer in 1869; she was born in Rhein Pfalz, also, in 1848; they have two children-Annie
and Amanda. Mr. Ohler is a member of the Druids' Society and the Saengers' Association.

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PARROTT, JAMES C., was born in Talbott Co., Md., May 21, 1811, where he was educated; in 1831, he went to Wheeling, W. Va., and remained there
until February, 1834, when he joined the 1st Regiment of U. S. Dragoons; during the spring and summer of that year, the regiment made a campaign among
the Indians in the Rocky Mountain country, and, in September, came to Fort Des Moines (now Montrose), where it remained until the spring of 1837, when it
was ordered to Fort Leavenworth, Kan.; Mr. Parrott's term of enlisted expired in February, 1837, since when he has remained a citizen of Lee Co. Sept. 4,
1838, he married Miss Henrietta Buckhalter, a native of Philadelphia, Penn., then 18 years age; five children-three sons and two daughters-were born of this
union. When the war of the rebellion came on, Mr. Parrott took an active part in raising volunteers, which he followed to the field; by reference to army
appointments, between March 13, 1865 and July 28, 1866, the following appears on record: "Lieut. Col. James C. Parrot, of the 7th I.V.I., for gallant and
meritorious service at the battles of Belmont (Mo.), Fort Henry, Donelson, and Shiloh Tenn.), Corinth and Iuka (Miss.), in the Atlanta campaign, the march to
the sea, and through the Carolinas, and for faithful services through the war to date from March 13, 1865." T. J., the eldest son of Col. Parrott, was a member
of the 2d I.V.I., and for two years rendered efficient service in the Signal Service Department; in April, 1867, Col. Parrott was appointed Postmaster at
Keokuk, a position which he filled with credit to himself, honor to the Government, and satisfaction to the citizens, until March 4, 1879; in these twelve years not
a single act of negligence of duty to the Department or to the public stands charged against Col. Parrott, who has spent the better part of the years of his life in
the service of his country.

PATTERSON, J. C., of the firm of W. A. & J. C. Patterson, proprietors of the Patterson House; Mr. Patterson was born in Adair Co., Ky.; came to West
Point, Lee Co., Iowa, in 1837. His father, Col. Wm., Patterson, is among the early settlers of this county. In 1846, they came to Keokuk. The Patterson
Bros. have been conducting the Patterson house since 1869. W. A. Patterson was born in Adair Co., Ky.,; came to West Point, Lee Co., Iowa, in 1837;
came to Keokuk in 1846; he and his brother, J. C. Patterson, are the proprietors of the Patterson House, which is the leading hotel of this section of the
State.

PATTERSON, WILLIAM, COL., Keokuk; was born in Wythe Co., Va., March 9, 1802;
when he was 4 years of age, his father moved to Adair Co., Ky., where William
received his education. In 1822, he married Miss Elenor Johnson, a native of
Maryland. In 1829, they removed to Marion Co., Mo.; thence to Sangamon Co.,
Ill. In 1833; in 1837, removed to West Point, this county, where he resided
until 1846, the removed to this city (Keokuk) and engaged in merchandise and
pork-packing; in 1848, he went exclusively into the latter business, to which
he still devotes his capital and experience. Col. Patterson has taken an active
part in public affairs; he was elected a member of the first Legislature of the
Territory of Iowa in 1838; while in that body, he was influential in settling
the disturbance concerning the boundary-line between this portion of Iowa and
Missouri; at that time, the Missourians of Clark Co. claimed the point of Iowa
lying below a direct extension of the northern boundary line of their State to
the Mississippi River; the people of this section resisted their claim, and
determined that the boundary line should follow the Des Moines River to its
mouth; the contest between them waxed warm; war seemed imminent; the militia on
both sides were called out, and general orders given to march to the scene of
action; at this juncture, Col. Patterson was commissioned Colonel of Militia by
Gov. Lucas, of Iowa, and authorized to raise a regiment, which he at once
proceeded to do; Col. Patterson was several times elected to the Legislature,
both to the upper and lower House, and served in all, during nine sessions,
regular and special; he was a member of the Constitutional Convention which
convened in Iowa City, in 1857; he has been three times elected Mary of Keokuk,
and was Postmaster several years. He was the first Elder of the old Presbyterian
Church elected in Iowa, having been chosen for that office in 1837; he was one
of the chief movers, and most liberal donors to the erection of the Westminster
Church in this city.

PEARCE, ISAAC N., blank-book manufacturer and bookbinder (established in 1852);
born in Liverpool, England, Dec. 2, 1820; came to the United States in 1849;
lived in New York City and vicinity about six months; then went to St. Louis,
resided there a little over two year; then came to Keokuk. Mr. Pearce married
Matilda Carr; she was born in Liverpool; they have four sons and four daughters.

PEIRCE, C. H., proprietor of Peirce Normal Penmanship Institute (established in
1871); the Professor is Superintendent of Penmanship in the city schools, and
Professor of Penmanship in the Keokuk Mercantile College; he has been engaged in
teaching penmanship for the last fifteen years; for four years he taught in the
Ohio State Normal School; graduated from Eastman's Business College in 1870;
came to Keokuk in 1871. Prof. Peirce is a native of Clark Co., Ohio.PIERCE, P.
F., DR., was born in Germany July 14, 1854; came to the United States in 1861;
lived at Farmington, Van Buren Co., Iowa, until 1865; then removed to Dover, Lee
Co., where he remained until he came to Keokuk in 1868; learned the drug
business and read medicine with F. H. O'Connor, M.D.; graduated from the
Eclectic Medical College, of St. Louis, in 1874; he then returned to Farmington
and was engaged in the drug business and practice of his profession
until 1876; he then came to Keokuk again; the Doctor manufactures what he calls
Pierce's Little Liver Pills, which he claims to be a perfect liver medicine,
aiding digestion and cleansing blood, causing no pain, purely vegetable,
containing no calomel, as many remedies for similar diseases do.

PERKINS, JOHN T., undertaker, on Third street, between Main and Johnson streets;
Mr. Perkins was born in Lewis Co., Ky., in 1842; came to this city in 1863.
Married Miss Henrietta Browne, of this city, in 1871; they have two children-
Lillian May and Gracie Lee. Mr. Perkins is a member of the Masonic Order, also
of the Order of I. O. O. F.; in Democratic.

PHILLIPS, T. F., grocer; was born in Van Buren Co., Iowa, in 1843; removed to
this city with his parents in 1850. Married Miss Carrie D. Hunt, of Van Buren
Co., in 1875; they have one child-Earl E. During the war, Mr. Phillips enlisted
in Co. A, 2d I.V.I.; served until the close of the war; was honorably discharged.
He is a member of the I. O. O. F.; acts with the Republican party.

POLLOCK, S. & CO., wholesale grocers; the business was established by S. Pollock,
in 1861; in January, 1865, John M. Bisbee and Benjamin B. Jewell, were admitted
to partnership. Mr. Pollock came to Iowa in 1843; engaged in farming pursuits
in Henry Co. until 1845; three years on the Half-Breed Tract, two years in
California; in 1853, came to Keokuk. Mr. P. is from Guernsey Co., Ohio; Mr.
Jewell is a native of Jefferson Co., Ind.; came to Keokuk in 1855; Mr. Bisbee
was born in Worthington, Hampshire Co., Mass.; came to Keokuk in 1856. Messr.
Pollock & Co., do a business amounting to about $300,000 per annum; their sales
are principally in Iowa, Missouri and Illinois.

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RANKIN, WM. T., attorney at law; born in Keokuk June 28, 1854; graduated from
Monmouth College in Illinois Class of 1874; he is also a graduate of Columbia
Law School, Class of 1876. He was admitted to the bar in 1876, and has been
engaged in practice here ever since; from Aug. 4, 1876 to Jan. 1, 1878, the
firm being Rankin & Smith; since then Mr. Rankin has had no partner. He has
held the position of Assistant United States District Attorney since Sept. 1,
1877.

RAU, J., saloon-keeper, between Eighth and Ninth streets; born in Germany in
1844; came to America in 1867; to Keokuk in 1869; started present business in
1878. Married Miss Elizabeth Holdefer in 1877; she was born in Lee Co., in 1850.
They have one child-Carl H. born in 1878. members of the Lutheran Church. He
is a member of the I. O. O. F. Lodge.

RANKIN, JOHN WALKER, HON., was born in Washington Co., Penn., June 21, 1823; he
was the fourth of a family of nine children; they were bereaved of their father
when he was but 11 years of age and left in limited circumstances wholly to the
care of a widowed mother; the industry, economy and excellent management of that
pious mother enabled her to bring up all her family in more than ordinary
respectability, and give them all, sons and daughters, a liberal education.
John W. entered Washington College, and graduated with distinguished honors in
1842; at Wooster, Ohio, he taught school and studied law, and was there admitted
to the bar; he came to Keokuk in 1848, and soon rose to distinction in his
profession. Shortly after his settlement here he married Sarah E., daughter of
Col. William Thomasson, of Louisville, Ky.; he died July10, 1869, after an
illness of less than two days. The sudden death of Judge Rankin cast a gloom
over the entire city; meetings of the bar were held at Keokuk and Fort Madison,
and the tributes there paid to his memory attest the great loss sustained by his
associates in the profession. During his twenty-one years residency in Keokuk,
Jude Rankin was Judge, member of the State Senate, and Colonel of the 17th I. V.
I in the civil war; in the same course of years, he was associated as law
partner with Gen. S. R. Curtis, lawyer, statesman and soldier; Judge Mason,
eminent as a jurist; Judge Love, now occupying the bench of the U. S. District
Court of this State; Judge Samuel F. Miller, Justice of the U. S. Supreme Court;
and George W. McCrary, our present Secretary of War, and as a lawyer and jurist
Judge Rankin was not inferior to the most learned and able of these great men;
he loved his profession; he never spoke ill of any one; if he could not praise,
he was silent. He had no enemies.

RAY, W. B., wood and coal dealer; office and residence Morgan street, between
Main and Ninth; was born in Knoxville, Tenn., in 1832; came to Lee Co. 1842; to
Keokuk in 1851. Married Miss E. Gilbert, of New Windsor, Md.; born in 1840;
has one child-Maude, born in 1866. Mr. Ray is one of the charter members of the
Free-for-All Church, and one of the members of the choir; Republican.

REES, WILLIAM, of the firm of William Rees & Co., steam printers; born in New
York City Dec. 16, 1835; from 1850 to 1853, he was engaged in learning his trade
of printer, in Pittsburgh, Penn; came to Keokuk in 1853; in 1857, he conducted
the Daily Post of Keokuk, for a short time; for one year, he was proprietor of
the Doniphan Post, in Doniphan Co., Kan; since 1860, he has been engaged in the
general printing business in Keokuk. Oct. 15, 1863, he married Miss Dale
Tackaberry, a native of the State of New York.

RICE, J. L., attorney; born in Detroit, Mich.; came to Keokuk in 1857; engaged
in practice of law ever since he came here. Mr. Rice has served for nine years
as Register in Bankruptcy.

REINER, CATHERINE, MRS., dealer in groceries, provisions, etc. Main street; was
born in France in 1823; her husband, Lawrence Reiner, was a native of Alsace-
Lorraine; was born April 22, 1825; April 23, 1848, he entered the French army,
ad was enrolled in the regiment "Guard Napoleon," in which he served until Oct.
16, 1851, when he received an honorable discharge at Metz. They were married in
Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1855; came to this city the same year; engaged in the
grocery trade in 1863, in which business he continued until his death, which
occurred in this city Nov. 11, 1878. Their children are Lawrence R., George L.,
Edward O., William R. Harry E. and Nellie E.

REINHART, F., proprietor of the Bavaria Beer Hall, No. 181 Main street; born in
Germany in 1823; came to Keokuk in 1852; started present business in 1869.
Married Miss Miria Hilt in 1853; she was born in Rhuheim, Germany, in 1831; they
have two children-George and Miria. Members of the Catholic Church.

RIBYN, MATT., proprietor of Mississippi Brass-Foundry, on Main, near Tenth
street; Mr. R. was born in Bohemia in 1827; came to this country in 1849.
Married Miss Theresa Felkik in St. Louis, Mo., in 1856; they removed to this
city in 1866. Have four children-Matthias, Amelia, Theresa and George. During
the war of the rebellion, Mr. Ribyn served in the three-moths service. Is
Republican in politics. Himself and wife are members of the Catholic Church.

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SANTO, DAVID, proprietor of meat market, corner Second and Johnson sts.; born
in Keokuk in 1851. Married Miss Annie Hufford, of Nauvoo, Ill., in 1874s; they
have two children-Emma and Lucy; Mr. S. is a member of the I. O. O. F.; was a
member of Fire Department of this city for ten years; he has been engaged in his
present business since 1869. Members Lutheran Church.

SCHOCK, JOHN, boots and shoes, Main st., between Ninth and Tenth; born in
Germany in 1831; came to Keokuk in 1857. Married Miss E. Lambert in 1855; she
was born in Germany in 1835. Members of the Catholic Church; Mr. S. is a
Democrat.

SCHULZ, CHAS., of the firm of Karle & Schulz, wholesale and retail furniture
dealers, No. 516 Main st. between Fifth and Sixth; was born in Wurtemberg,
German, in 1839; came to America in 1851, and to Keokuk in 1857. Started in
present business in 1859. He married Miss Barbara Smith in 1863; she was born in
Wurtemberg, Germay in 1846; they have seven children-Lizzie, Charles, Minnie,
Julia, Annie, Edward and Albert. Mr. Schulz enlisted in Co. D, 1st I. V. I. in
the spring of 1861; he was in several engagements; mustered out in the fall of
the same year. Mr. Schulz is a member of the Knights of Honor and I. O. O. F.
The family belongs to the Evangelical Church; he is a Rep.

SEIDLITZ, G. NEUMAN, physician and surgeon; born in Germany; he received a
thorough medical education in several of the leading universities of Europe, at
Berlin, Heidelberg, etc.; in 1847, he came to the United States and located in
Mississippi, where he remained until 1864, when he came to Keokuk, arriving here
in October of that year; the Doctor is President of the Board of Health, now
serving the fourth year in that capacity; he is a member of the American
Institute of Homeopathy, also of the State Society; he has been President of the
latter Society; he is also one of the lecturers of the Iowa State Institute of
Homeopathy, and is Chairman of several of the committees connected with the
different societies.

SHAFFER, JOSHUA MONROE, M.D., was born in Washington Co., Penn., Sept. 13, 1830,
ad was the youngest of ten children; he entered Washington College in 1843, at
the age of 13 years, and graduated in 1848; in 1849, he began the study of
medicine at Elizabeth, under the tuition of his brother, John E. Shaffer, M.D.,
and attended lectures at the University of Pennsylvania; in 1852, he removed to
Fairfield, Iowa, and entered upon the practice of his profession; in 1862, the
honorary degree of Doctor of Medicine was conferred upon him by the Medical
Department of the Iowa State University; from 1862 to 1874, he was Secretary of
the Iowa State Agricultural Society, an institution born in his office in
Fairfield in 1853, and of which he was Secretary in 1854-55; in 1863, he was
appointed Surgeon of the Board of Enrollment for the First Congressional
District of Iowa, and during the following two years, examined over five
thousand men, preparatory to their admission to the army; in 1867, he was
commissioned by the Governor to represent Iowa at the Paris Exposition, but, the
State failing to provide for expenses, he was forced to resign; he represented
his county in the State Senate in the session of 1861-62; upon the organization
of the Iowa Life Insurance Co., in 1874, he was elected its Secretary, and
removed his residency to Keokuk; he still holds the position. During his
residency in Iowa, Dr. Shaffer has been a careful student in natural history,
and has made large collections in its different branches; his collection of over
five thousand specimens of stuffed birds, etc., all his own work, has given him
an extended reputation as a taxidermist; in this branch of the science he takes
especial pleasure, and is continually adding new specimens. He married, on the
18th of March, 1856, Miss Mel. Jane Curry, of Elizabeth Penn; two of the three
children born of this union are still living-Susan F. and William Monroe;
Lewellyn James, the second, died in 1861, at the age of 20 months.

SHEPPARD, L. D., of the firm of Evans & Sheppard, dealers in groceries,
draining-tile, fire-brick, Louisville cement and plaster, 526 Main street. Mr.
Sheppard was born in Cumberland Co., N.J., in 1841. At the commencement of the
war of the rebellion, he enlisted in Co. F, 9th New Jersey Infantry, as private;
was in the service only a short time when he was appointed Second Lieutenant,
then First Lieutenant, and from the latter office was promoted to that of
Captain; he served from the beginning to the close of the war, and was honorably
discharged; was in numerous engagements; was wounded quite severely at Drury's
Bluff; went to Arkansas after the close of the war, and while there was engaged
in the mercantile business with Mr. Evans. The maiden name of Mr. Sheppard's
wife was Miss Lawrence; they were married in Lewistown, Penn. Mr. Sheppard and
wife are members of the Presbyterian Church. He is Republican in politics, and
is a member of the Masonic society.

SHERMAN, R. H., attorney at Law, Estes House Block. Mr. Sherman is a member of
the firm of Carpenter & Sherman, wholesale and retail dealers in coffees, teas,
spices, etc., Main st., between Second and Third, and also of the firm of
Carpenter & Sherman, proprietors of the Veranda Livery, Johnson st., bet. Second
and Third.

SMITH, D. B., Deputy Co. Treasurer; born in New York City May 28, 1834; in 1835,
his parents removed with family to Southern Illinois, near St. Louis; came to
Keokuk in 1846; Mr. Smith was for many years employed as Civil Engineer,
connected with the construction of the Keokuk & Des Moines Valley Railway Co.;
Keokuk & Mt. Pleasant Railway Co.; Assistant City Engineer, etc. He has served
as Deputy Sheriff, Alderman of Second Ward, two years, etc.; he is now serving
his fourth year as Deputy Co. Treasurer. Mr. Smith married Mamie Reddington,
August 14, 1860; they have one child-Lavina.

SMITH, GEORGE R., dealer in family groceries and boat stores; also commission
merchant, Main st., between Second and Third sts. Mr. S. was born in Muncie,
Ind., in 1834; removed to Iowa City, with his parents, in 1842; thence to this
county in 1847. In December, 1858, he married Miss Marguerite L. Bishop, a
native of Philadelphia, Penn., who came to this county with her parents about
1850. They have two children-Charles J. and Minnie M. Mr. Smith is a member
of the I. O. O. F.; he was wharfmaster five years; has been engaged in his
present business since 1860.

SNYDER, JACOB S., wagon and general repairer, and horse-shoeing shop, Main st.,
near Thirteenth. Mr. Snyder was born in Hartford, Conn., in 1832; in 1842,
removed, with his parents, to Mercer Co., Penn, where he remained until he was
17 years of age; he then went to Wheeling, Va., where he learned the
blacksmithing trade; came to this city in 1855; at the breaking-out of the war
he entered the service as blacksmith. In 1857, he married Miss L. H. Hamilton,
a native of Ripley Co., Ind.; they have two children-Ida Elizabeth and John
Albert. Mr. Snyder and wife are members of the Baptist Church.

SPICER, NATHAN, jeweler, Main st.; was born in Trumbull Co., Ohio, in 1828; in
1836, he removed to Henry Co., Ill., with his parents; he remained in Illinois
until 1844, in which year he went to Iowa City; thence to St. Paul, Minn, in
1849; on the 27th of April, 1852, he married Miss Martha M. Boyl; they moved to
this city in 1867; they have five children. Republican; members of the Latter-
Day Saints' Church.

SOELLINGER, M., proprietor of Eclipse Saloon, corner of Main and Eighth sts.;
born in Germany in 1832, came to American in 1857; to Lee Co. In 1858, started
present business in 1876. Married Miss Louisa Chart in 1859; she was born in
Paris, France, in 1843; they have eight children-Matilda, Amanda, Emma, Joseph,
Josephine, Theodore, Louis, Morris; Mr. Soellinger keeps the summer beer garden,
between Eighteenth and Nineteenth sts; belongs to the
I. O. O. F. Lodge.

SPRING, J., proprietor of Floral Hall, No. 153 Main st; born at Bavaria,
Germany, in 1823; came to Keokuk in 1855; has been in the saloon business since
1856. In 1856, married Miss Catherine Frieker; she was born in Eloise, Germany,
in 1838; they have eight children-Mary, Kate, Amelia, Josephine, Lizzie, Frank
X., Clementius J., Edward; members of the Catholic
Church.

STANWOOD, GEORGE, general collecting agent; born in Newburyport, Mass., May 22,
1818; removed to Natchez, Miss., in 1837; engaged in mercantile pursuits there,
until 1854; in March, 1854, he came to Lee Co., Iowa, and engaged in farming in
Section 31, Charleston Tp., where he purchased a handsome farm of 288 acres,
which he still owns. Mr. Stanwood was engaged as traveling salesman for J. M.
Shelley & Son for five years previous to 1876; although, at the same time, his
farm was carried on under his supervision; Dec. 1, 1878, Mr. Stanwood removed to
Keokuk. He married Charlotte P. Henderson Feb. 14, 1843; she was born in
Maryland; they have six children-Charles C., George, Jr., Joseph A., Isaac H.,
Minnie S. and Samuel D. Mr. Stanwood served four years as Supervisor from
Charleston Twp.

STRIPE, W. C., Secretary and Engineer of the Keokuk Water Works; born in
Woolwich, Eng., Jan 18, 1812; came to Ft. Madison, Iowa, in 1840; Mr. S. was
associate editor of the Lee Co. Democrat for about two years; afterward, he was
engaged in hotel keeping in Ft. Madison and Keokuk for several years; in 1852,
he and James L. Estes took charge of the sale of Hon. Charles Mason's lands,
which comprised 40/100 of what was known as the "Half-Breed Tract." Upon the
adoption of the Internal Revenue Law, Mr. Stripe was appointed Assistant United
States Internal Revenue Assessor, which position he held until the office was
abolished; for four years he was employed by the Government as Clerk and
Assistant Engineer in the construction of the Canal, for the improvement of the
Des Moines Rapids; afterward originated, planned and superintended the
construction of the present system of water works at Keokuk, which he completed
in about ten months after the commencement of the work. Mr. Stripe's first wife
was Eliza Payne; she died in July 1842; they had four children, none of whom are
now living; his second wife was Ellen Anderson; she died in 1851; they had three
children, only one now living-William A., a resident engineer of the Toledo,
Wabash & Western Railway Co. Present wife was Eliza Anderson, a native of
Tennessee; they have had ten children-three deceased; the living are Frederick
H., Iowa O., George M., Frank and Lyda (twins), Mary and Harry.

SUTHERLAND, ROBERT, way-bill clerk K. D. & M. Division of C., B. & Q. Ry.; was
born in Caithness, Scotland, in 1841; came to Canada in 1853, and to Keokuk in
1867, and engaged in the capacity of check clerk on the Des Moines Valley R. R.
Married Miss E. Fulton, of Van Buren Co., in 1865; has five children-Robt. D.,
George C., William, Kate and Margaret. Republican.

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TAYLOR, C. W., Police Recorder; born in Morgantown, W. Va., Jan. 5, 1834; lived
in Virginia until 1852, then removed to Ohio, where he resided two years; in
1854, came to Keokuk; worked at his trade of iron-molder until September, 1861,
when he enlisted in Co. C, 3d I. V. C.; re-enlisted in January, 1864; mustered
out in August, 1865, after serving nearly four years. After Mr. Taylor returned
from the army, he resumed his employment of molder and continued in that work
until he was elected Recorder in April, 1875; re-elected in 1877. He married
Maria Lynch May 27, 1857; she was born in Indiana; they have had nine children;
lost two; the living are Arthur, Charles, George S., Willie, Margaret, Susan and
Harry.

TINSMAN, J. B., of the firm of Wycoff & Tinsman, dealers in new and second-hand
merchandise, on Main street, between Fifth and Sixth streets. Mr. Tinsman was
born in Westmoreland Co., Penn., in 1826. In 1854, he removed to Meigs Co.,
Ohio; thence to Ripley Co., Ind., in 1856; removed to this city in 1865. He
married in Beaver Co, Penn., Miss Lavina Nagle. They have one child-Annie
(now the wife of J. Wycoff). Mr. T. acts with the National Party; is a member
of the I. O. O. F. Lodge.

TYLER, LOREN S., of the firm of Brown & Tyler, auction and commission merchants,
Main st., between Sixth and Seventh; Mr. Tyler was born in Boston, Mass., April
21, 1845; came to Keokuk in 1856. Enlisted as drummer in Co. H, 15th I. V. I.,
Dec. 20, 1861; was mustered out at Vicksburg, Miss., Dec. 31, 1863; re-enlisted
as veteran in Co. H., 15th I. Vet. I., Jan. 1, 1864; was mustered out with
regiment July 24, 1865; was in all the battles his regiment participated in,
from the first at Shiloh, April 6 and 7, to the last at Bentonville, N. C., in
March 1865. In June, 1870, he engaged with his father in the furniture
business under the firm name of A. S. Tyler & Son. In May, 1872, he was
mustered into Torrence: Post, No. 2, G. A. R., and was appointed Post Adjutant,
rank of 1st Lieutenant on the 17th of September, and was re-appointed in
December for the ensuing year; was elected Post Commander, rank of Colonel, in
1873; In 1874, was appointed Assistant Adjutant General, with rank of Colonel.
At the organization of the Keokuk Battery, he was appointed 2d Lieutenant of
that organization. In December, 1875, he formed a partnership with I. L. Brown,
under the firm name of Brown & Tyler, and engaged in the auction and commission
business. Served as Assistant Adjutant General of Department of Iowa, G. A.
R., to second annual encampment, convened at Keokuk, January, 1876; in
February, 1876, he was elected Adjutant and Commander with rank of 1st
Lieutenant, of the 2d Regiment Infantry, Iowa State Guards; was a delegate to
the State Military Convention held at Des Moines in 1878; was elected Vice
President of the same; in April of the same year, he was appointed Major and
Assistant Inspector General of the 1st Brigade, 1st Division I. N. G.;
appointment was approved and he was commissioned by Gov. John H. Gear and John
H. Looby, Adjutant General of Iowa, to rank from June 8, 1878.

- V -

VAN GRIEKEN, S., photographer, 80 Main st. (old number), between Third and
Fourth sts.; Mr. Van Grieken has been engaged in the business of making pictures
for twenty-two years; he has the best possible facilities for doing first-class
work; all kinds of photographic work done; enlarging and copying of every
description done in a satisfactory manner, and at reasonable prices. His
charges are in accord with the times. Mr. Van G. was born in Holland Dec. 6,
1840; when he was about 5 years of age he was brought to New York City by his
grandparents (his father and mother being both deceased); while living in New
York his grandfather died, and when he was 13 years of age he came to Keokuk
with his grandmother, and he has resided here ever since.

VANORSDAL, VALENCOURT, residence on Timea, between Twelfth and Thirteenth
streets; was born in Illinois in August, 1817; when he was 6 years of age, his
parents removed to St. Louis, then to this county, 1827, since which Mr.
Vanorsdale has been a resident of Lee Co., with the exception of the period for
1853 to 1858, which he spent in California. He has been twice married; first
wife was Miss Louisa Wright; present wife was Adeline Taylor; children by first
wife are Maria, Arthur, Kate, Claude, Amos; one child by present wife-Simon.
Mr. Vanorsdal acts with Republican party.

- W -

WALSMITH, E., of the firm of Narrley & Walsmith, butchers, 614 Main street; was
born in Germany in 1841. married Miss Elizabeth Lawrenz in 1860; she was born
in Germany; they have four children-Emma, Lena, Odilla, and Rosa. Mr. Walsmith
is a member of the Knights of Honor, and holds the position of Treasurer;
Republican.

WAPPICH, WILLIAM, residence Johnson, between Fourth and Fifth streets; was born
in Baden, Germany, Dec. 31, 1828; in 1848, went to Paris, France, and was there
during the three-days revolution; in 1849, he entered the regiment known as the
Paris Legion, which was entirely composed of Germans living in that city, and
were enrolled for the purpose of establishing a Republican form of government
in Germany; they were however, defeated at the battle of Rastavt, and Mr.
Wappich, in consequence, became a refugee; he fled to Switzerland, where he
remained six months; then returned to Germany; was there only a short time
before he was taken prisoner and kept in durance three moths; was tried and
convicted to one year's imprisonment; the sentence was commuted to twenty days'
dark imprisonment; at the expiration of the twenty days, he had to enter the
army and serve until 1851; in 1852, he came to this country; live in St. Louis
until 1853; then went to California; remained there until 1855, in which year
he returned to St. Louis, and came to this city in the winter of the same year.
He married Miss S. Lorz, of this city; have three children-Henrietta, William
and Julia.

WEESE, NICHOLAS, Proprietor meat market, corner of Sixth and Palean streets; was
born in Germany in 1822; came to America in 1848; lived in Pittsburgh, Penn.,
the greater portion of the time until 1855, when he removed to this city, and
has been engaged in his present business since. He married in this city Miss H.
Redmacher, a native of Holland.Weigner, Henry, tobacconist.

WEISMANN, ADOLPH, physician and surgeon; born in Germany June 24, 1833, came to
the United States and located at Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1853; Lived there three
years and in May, 1856, came to Keokuk. From 1856 to 1863, he was engaged in
the drug business here. Since 1863, he has been engaged in practice; the Doctor
is a graduate of the College of Physicians and Surgeons, of Keokuk. He is
Examining Surgeon for Pensions; has held that position for the last three years.
He is Vice President of the Medical Society of Keokuk. Dr. Weisman married
Bina Stuckert Sept. 17, 1855, in Cincinnati, Ohio; she was born in Germany.
They had eight children, lost one; the living are Adolph, Bina, Charley, George,
Mary, Ida, and Anna.

WELLS, GUY, Vice President of the State National Bank; born in Wyalusing,
Bradford Co., Penn., July 21, 1813. In the Spring of 1838, he came to La Salle,
Ill.; for two years, he was connected with the construction of the Illinois
Railroad; he then came to Fort Madison, Iowa, via. Galena and thence down the
Mississippi River. He immediately entered into a contract for the construction
of a portion of the Pennitentiary at Fort Madison; for about three years, he
also carried on mercantile business there, and for about five years, operated
the ferry at that point. James Wilson being associated with him as a partner;
served two years as Deputy Sheriff.. In the spring of 1847, Mr. Wells removed
to Keokuk. For eleven years, Mr. Wells was Chief Engineer of the Des Moines
River Improvement; surveyed and superintended the construction of the railroad
between here and Clayton, Ill. He was Superintendent of the company several
years, the road being owned by Sample, Hornish & Wells, afterward sold to the
Toledo, Wabash & Western Railway Co.; then, for two years, Mr. Wells continued
as Assistant Superintendent. Mr. Wells owns one-third interest in the Sonora
Stone Quarries, is one of the owners of the saw-mill at Montrose; also stock-
holder and Director in the Iowa State Insurance Co. For seventeen years he was
a member of the School Board of Keokuk; several years President of the Board.
He is now serving a three-years term as member of the Board. Nearly all the
present school edifices were contracted under his supervision. He served a
long time as City Engineer. Mr. Wells has always taken an active interest in
all public improvements, and is one of the foremost men of the community. He
married Ellen Hawkhurst Oct. 1, 1850; she was born in Vermont Feb. 15, 1827.
They have had four children, one deceased. The living are Carrie (now Mrs.
James Rossell), Kate and Robert Ross.

WERSE, J.C., proprietor meat market, Main st., between seventh and Eight; this
gentleman, an old citizen and business man of Keokuk, is a native of Germany;
was married in Holland; came to Keokuk in 1850, and since 1852 has been engaged
in his present business.

WESTCOTT, J. Henry, Justice of the Peace and insurance agent; Mr. Westcott was
born in Wheeling, Va., in 1823, where he remained until 1837, when he removed
with his parents to Ohio, thence to Indiana, in 1862; removed to this city,
1855; he has been engaged in mercantile business the greater part of his life;
has been Justice of the Peace since 1877. Has been married twice; first wife
was Miss Frances M. Ward; present wife was Miss Adelaide Holsey, of this city;
himself and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church; politically he acts
with the Republican party. Mr. Westcott represents the following insurance
companies, Meriden Fire Ins. Co., of Meriden, Conn,; Williamsburg Fire Ins. Co.,
of Brooklyn, N.Y.; Northwestern National Ins. Co. of Milwaukee; Merchants' Ins.
Co., of Newark, N. J.; Union Ins. Co., of Philadelphia, Penn.

WILLER, H., proprietor of Depot House, Deutches Gasthaus, Levee st., between
Main and Johnson; born in Hanover, Germany, in 1834, came to Keokuk in 1868.
Married Louisa Halmasm in 1861; she was born in Hanover, Germany, in 1840; they
have four children-Augusta, Harmon, Emma, Paulina. Mr. W. belongs to the
Druid's Society; is Democratic.

WITZ, JOSEPH, cigar manufacturer, No. 148 Main st.; born at Burlington, Iowa,
in 1847; came to Keokuk in 1867; started present business in 1877. Married
Caroline Heissel in 1871; she was born in Warsaw, Ill., in 1853; Mr. Witz is a
member of the Druids Society; in politics,
Liberal.

WORLEY, S. T., proprietor carriage factory, First street between Main and
Johnson; he manufactures and keeps constantly on hand the various styles of one
and two seated phaetons, rockaways, single and double buggies, with or without
tops, also manufactures all the styles of democrat and spring wagons called for
in this market. Mr. Worley was born in Portsmouth, O., in 1832, where he
remained until 1860, when he removed to Quincy, Ill.; in July 1862, he entered
Co. a, 119th Ill. V. I., as 1st Lieutenant; was promoted Captain of the same
company in 1863; honorably discharged at the close of the war in 1865. Mr.
Worley married in Portsmouth, Ohio, Miss E. J. Hicks, a native of that place;
they have nine children-Laura E., Charles M., William H., Emma, Ida, James H.,
Harry, Grace, Mary; Mr. Worley and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal
Church; he is Trustee and Steward in Methodist Episcopal Church; Republican.

WULFF, ADOLPHUS, editor and proprietor of the Keokuk Post; is a native of
Schleswig, Germany; having studied law at the German Universities of Kiel
(Holstein), Tuebingen (Wurtemberg) and Gottingen (Hanover); he commenced
practicing that profession in 1843, and continued it until 1851, when he came
to the United States; in 1867 and 1868, he edited the Volksblatt, a German paper
at St. Joseph, Mo.; was editor of a German paper at Kansas City, Mo., from 1870
to 1873, when he was a Government official under the Commissioner of Internal
Revenue; since Feb. 1, 1877, he has been editor and proprietor of the Keokuk
Post, which, under his management, is increasing in circulation and influence.

WYCOFF, J. F., of the firm on Wycoff & Tinsman, dealers in second-hand furniture
and new merchandise, on Main between Fifth and Sixth sts.; born in this city in
1851. Married Miss Annie Tinsman in Burlington, Iowa, in 1874; have two
children-Alice Belle and George Edward. Mr. W. is a Republican.

WYMAN, F. W., M. D., office, Third street, between Main and Johnson; born in
Van Buren Co., Iowa, in 1848; came to Keokuk in 1852; in 1863, owned a drug
store in partnership with Mr. Masburg, the firm name being Wyman & Masburg;
continued in the drug business until 1869, then sold out and commenced the study
of medicine with his father, Dr. R. H. Wyman; graduated at the Keokuk Medical
College in 1876. Dr. W. is one of the charter members of the Free-for-All
Church; Democratic.

ZERR, JOHN, dealer in dry goods, notions, etc., Main street, between Third and
Fourth streets; Mr. Zerr was born in St. Charles, Mo., April 6, 1851; resided
there until he came to Keokuk, in 1869. For ten years he was engaged in the
dry goods business as a salesman; since 1873, has been engaged in the same
business as proprietor.

Biographical Sketches Keokuk, City

Biographical Sketches
Keokuk, City