Progressive Men of Iowa
1899

FLINDT, William. Among the representative business men of Spencer, none are more worthy of mention in a work of this character than William Flindt, who was born at Winona, Minn., May 16, 1863.  His father, Claus H. Flindt, was a native of Sleswick-Holstein, Germany. He came to this country when a young man and soon after married Anna Walburge Sipple, who was a native of Prussia. They settled on a farm in Freeborn county, Minn., where, by industry and frugality, they managed to amass a competency sufficient to enable them to retire from active life, and they now reside at Albert Lea, Minn., where Mr. Flindt assisted in the organization of the First National bank of that place and has always been one of the active directors of that flourishing institution.

William lived with his parents on the farm until he was 18 years old, when he attended, for one year, the Albert Lea high school, working for his board and working at odd jobs between times to pay his way. After leaving school he worked for a time in a grocery store at $25 per month, and soon after engaged with S.  Strauss, a leading clothier of Albert Lea, where he worked for five years and thoroughly learned the business. He came to Iowa September 1, 1887, locating at Spencer, where he opened up a clothing store in partnership with his former employer, S. Strauss, under the firm name of Flindt & Strauss, the business being conducted by Mr. Flindt, Mr. Strauss retaining his residence in Albert Lea, Minn., where he was still engaged in business. In 1891 they established a branch store in Hartley, Iowa, which they sold a year later. In 1894 they established a branch store at Oelwein, Iowa, under the firm name of Flindt, Strauss & Oleson, which they still own. In 1891 Mr. Flindt established a merchant tailoring business in connection with his clothing store at Spencer, but sold the same to L. Carlson one year later. In 1896 he bought the interest of his partner, Mr. Strauss, in the Spencer business, and has since conducted it alone. He has been remarkably successful in business and although he is still a young man, has acquired a considerable amount of this world's goods.

Several years ago he became a stock-holder in the First National bank of Spencer, and was afterwards elected a director of that institution. When the control of the bank passed into other hands in January, 1897, he resigned his position as director and associated himself with others in the organization of the Citizens State bank of Spencer, of which institution he is a large stockholder and director. He is also treasurer and director of the Spencer Building and Loan association, and treasurer and director of the Iowa Mercantile Fire Insurance association, in the organization of which he rendered considerable assistance in 1895. 

He has always been a zealous republican and has always taken a great interest in politics, but has never been a candidate for, or held, any public office, except for a time a member of the city council of Spencer.  He is a member of the Masonic Order, holding membership in the Blue Lodge, Chapter, Knights Templars and Eastern Star. He is also a member of the subordinate Knights of Pythias lodge and Uniform Rank. He has held a number of offices in this organization, among them that of chancellor commander. He does not belong to any church, but usually attends the Congregational.

He was married January 14, 1891, to Miss Emma M. Brundin, at Albert Lea, Minn. They have three children, Lillian M., Charlotta Coline, and William Frederick, Jr. Mr. Flindt is an energetic, wide-awake, progressive businessman, public spirited and active in all the affairs of his community. He takes a great interest in everything intended to build up the material and moral institutions of the city, contributes liberally to all worthy objects, and is a good example of a thorough and successful business man.

MADDEN, P. W. No state in the union has had a penitentiary, warden more universally liked by the unfortunates within prison walls, nor one more popular with the general public than P. W. Madden.  He was born in New Castle, Pa., February 4, 1845. His parents were natives of Pennsylvania, but beyond that fact nothing definite is known of the family history.

He received but a limited education in the public schools, being early required to depend upon his own efforts for a livelihood. His father died when he was 4 years old, and he was therefore compelled to perform manual labor to assist in the support of his widowed mother. At the age of 10 years he came to Iowa with his mother and settled in Mahaska county, where they resided two years, then removed to Polk county.  Here he worked on a farm for several years, placing in the hands of his mother the greater part of his earnings. It is related that when he first hired to a farmer he was to get $10 for two months' service hoeing corn. At the conclusion of the work the farmer paid him with two five-dollar gold pieces. The lad thought this poor compensation for the amount of labor he had performed, and the more he considered the matter the firmer became his conviction that he had been cheated, never having seen that kind of money, and it required the repeated. assurances of his mother to convince him otherwise. 

In the spring of 1862, at the age of 17, he enlisted in Company B, Fifteenth United States regulars. His regiment was sent to Newport barracks, when, after perfecting itself in the drill, it was ordered to the front and assigned to the Fourteenth Army corps, then under command of General Thomas. The first fight they participated in was the battle of Chickamauga, where the Fourteenth corps held Bragg's army in check after the defeat and retreat of the other corps of the union army. The Fourteenth performed heroic service on that day, so dark and disastrous for Rosecrans' forces. The regiment was under Grant at Lookout Mountain, and with the center, under General Woods, scaled that lofty range, hurled shot and shell, and poured death and consternation into the ranks of the rebels. From Chattanooga it marched with Sherman to Atlanta, and when that city fell, it was ordered back to Nashville. Besides Franklin and Nashville it participated in the battles of Missionary Ridge, Buzzard's Roost, Big Shanty, Neal Dow Station, Resaca, Kenesaw Mountain, Peach Tree Creek, New Hope Church, Jonesboro and the siege of Atlanta.  During his entire service Mr. Madden never missed a roll call. He was honorably discharged March 4, 1865.

Returning to Iowa he remained in Des Moines for a time, then went to Madison county, where he married. In 1870 he removed to Clay county, took up a homestead and commenced preparations for a permanent home. Shortly thereafter the grasshoppers came. These were years when it tried the nerve, ingenuity and fortitude of the pioneers of northwestern Iowa. But Mr. Madden was possessed of good staying qualities and remained.

In 1879 he received the nomination for sheriff, but was defeated by eighteen votes. In 1881 he was again a candidate and was elected by a majority of five. In 1883 he was re-elected by a majority of 763 votes, and in 1885 by 832. He was again elected in 1887 and once more in 1889. In 1891 there was no convention and it was a "free for all " race, with four candidates in the field. He was a winner this time with many votes to spare. These repeated elections attest the esteem in which he is held by the citizens of his home county.

Mr. Madden has served three terms as warden of the state penitentiary at Anamosa. So carefully and economically was that institution conducted by him that at the beginning of 1897 the management was able to operate a plant which furnishes water for the entire institution, and without one cent of additional cost to the state.  It came out of savings from the support fund, in addition to $30,000 turned back into the state treasury during his first three years at the head of the institution, and was accomplished without curtailing in any measure the comfort and table supplies of the prisoners. The new improvement is estimated to be worth $20,000 to the state.  He has now returned to his home at Spencer.

He is a member of the G. A. R., Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias, in all of which he is a leading spirit. He was married September 20, 1868, to Miss Abigail Hockett. They have had eight children, all but one of whom are living.

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