For
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume II, Biographical, 1911, page 336
WILLIAM SEATON UNDERDONK----William Seaton Underdonk, is well known in Muscatine as joint agent for the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific and the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Companies. Throughout Iowa he has a wide acquaintance because of his prominence in Mason circles, in which he has been honored with the thirty-third and last degree. He was born in Jefferson county, West Virginia, December 21, 1855, a son of Jacob Van Doren and Sarah A. ( Robinson ) Underdonk, both of whom were natives of West Virginia. The father was a son of Henry Underdonk, a native of New Jersey and of Holland Dutch descent. He made farming his life work and thus provided for the support of his family, numbering four children : Jacob; Newton, who is living in Martinsburg, West Virginia ; Mrs. Sarah Hanna, a resident of Charlestown, West Virginia ; and Mrs. Ann Randall, of Hard Scrabble, West Virginia. The maternal grandfather of Mr. Underdonk was born in West Virginia and his family numbered two sons and a daughter, including Sarah A., who became the wife of Jacob Van Doren Underdonk. This marriage was blessed with eight children, of whom six are now living : William S., of this review ; Jacob R.,who is a resident of Moundsville, West Virginia ; John E., living in Davenport, Iowa ; Charles M., of Cumberland, Maryland ; Sadie M., the wife of C. W. Show, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania ; and Robert M., who makes his home in Washington D. C.The father of these children was a carpenter and contractor who became well known in connection with building operations at Shepherdstown, West Virginia, where he lived for some time. His death there occurred in 1872 when he was about forty years of age. His widow survived him for a number of years and passed away in 1885 at the age of forty-five. Both were Methodists in religious faith. The father was for a few months a conscripted soldier in the Confederate Army and participated in the first and second battles of Bull Run but his services were engaged principally in connection with the engineering corps used in building bridges. He was a Union man in sympathy and as soon as possible he left the Confederate ranks.
William S. Underdonk spent his youthful days in Shepherdstown, Jefferson county, West Virginia, and attended the public schools and an academy, from which he was graduated. His father died soon after the graduation of William S. Underdonk, who then started out in life for himself when about seventeen years of age. As he was the eldest in the family it was necessary for him to aid in the support of the younger members of the household. He learned the trade of handle making and followed it for about seven years. In the early 80's he removed westward to the Mississippi valley and spent one summer in working on a farm near Savanna, Illinois. He afterward went to Sabula, Iowa, and was engaged in teaming for a year in the employ of a milling company. He next entered the employ of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Company as a freight handler and also worked in the office, continuing in that position for eighteen months. He then returned to the east and worked at his trade for a time but afterward came again to the middle west, settling at Davenport, Iowa, where for seven years he was employed by the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Company. On the expiration of that period he was appointed agent of the Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern Railway Company and opened the station for them at Davenport. He continued in that service for eleven and a half years, at the end of which time he closed the office, for the road had been absorbed by the Rock Island Railway Company. He then went to Cedar Rapids, where he worked as freight clerk for a few months, at the end of which time he was appointed agent at Centerville, Iowa, by the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad Company. He was then transferred to Columbus Junction, Iowa, where he acted as agent for two years and later was sent to Muscatine, where he is now filling the position of joint agent with the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific and the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Companies. Much of his life has been spent in the railway service and he has ever proved most capable and faithful in this connection, discharging his duties with promptness and efficiency, thus winning the approval of his superior officers.
Mr. Underdonk has been married twice. His first wife was Eliza Bias. In May 1903, he was married again, his second union being with Mrs. Ida Smith, the widow of Robert Smith. They now have one daughter, Mabel. Both Mr. and Mrs. Underdonk are members of the Presbyterian church and Mr. Underdonk belongs to Trinity Lodge, No. 208, A. F. & A. M., of Davenport, of which he is a past master; Davenport Chapter, No. 16 R. A. M., of which he is a past high priest; and St. Simon of Cyrene Commandery, No.9, K. T., of Davenport, of which he is a past eminent commander. He likewise belongs to Zarephath Consistory, No.3, A. & A. S. R., and Kaaba Temple of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. In recognition of his splendid service in behalf of the fraternity the thirty-third and last degree has been conferred upon him. He is a past officer in all of the bodies except the Shrine and he and his wife are members of Electa Chapter of the Eastern Star. Mr. Underdonk also belongs to Coeur de Lion Lodge of the Knights of Pythias. Politically he is a republican where national issues are involved but casts an independent local ballot and does not believe in the blind following of party leadership if it is contrary to the best interests of the majority. Those who meet him in business as well as social relations find him very genial, courteous and obliging and those qualities have made him popular as a railway official.
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