Mr. Altman was born in Indiana County, Pennsylvania, March 9, 1837, and came to Davenport in 1860, where he has resided ever since. His father was Colonel Henry Altman, who derived his title from the fact that he was a colonel of militia in Armstrong, Westmoreland and Indiana Counties. The commissions from Governors Clymer and Wolfe making Henry Altman quartermaster and also colonel of the militia are in the possession of his son James now. The latter also has the commission from Governor Curtin making his father a captain in the late war. However, Colonel Altman's health gave out before he had been long in the service and he was compelled to resign. He returned to his home and died early in 1862.
Mr. Altman, the subject of this sketch, is of German and ScotchIrish descent, his mother, Julia Ann Sloane, having been Scotch-Irish, born in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania.
Mr. Altman received his early education in the public schools of Indiana County, and later attended the academy there. His preceptor was the late Judge Clark of the Supreme Court, an excellent educator. It had been the intention of Mr. Altman to attend college; his brother Henry, however, had come west and was residing in lowa, trading in lands. He persuaded James to join him, and accordingly upon his graduation from the Indiana Academy in 1856 James started for Muscatine. Upon his arrival in that town he and his brother went into the ice business, and James remained in Muscatine until 1860, and then came to Davenport, where he was engaged in business until 1888, when he retired.
He was married in 1863 to Miss Laura Pond, a native of this city, who died in 1882, and in 1887 he married Mrs. Mary Frances Stewart. Mr. Altman has always been a public-spirited citizen, and prominent in business and social life. He has never been a politician, but has been a judge of elections in his own ward almost continuously for eighteen years, and his party-the Republican-has put him on the ticket for alderman and city clerk, although being in a Democratic district he was defeated.
He is a musician of more than ordinary ability, and this fact has been recognized by various churches in the city to such an extent that they have chosen him as director of their choirs. He is familiar with the service in the Hebrew, Catholic and Episcopal churches, and is the director of the singing in the largest congregations in the city.
BIOGRAPHIES