Trails-to-the-Past-Iowa-Dubuque-Co.-Biographies-Progressive-Men-pg1

Progressive Men of Iowa
1899

BOWEN. E. E., now county attorney for Dubuque county, who was born and raised in Dubuque, has the advantages of that city to thank for the high position in his chosen profession his own energies have given him. Mr. Bowen is the son of the late John Bowen, and was born in West Dubuque June 17, 1869.

In the practice of his profession he has been very successful, and is recognized as one of the leaders among the members of the Dubuque bar. His able conduct of cases before the courts has won for him the encomiums of the judges and the respect and esteem of his brother attorneys. Mr. Bowen was educated in the Dubuque public and parochial schools. He studied at St. Joseph's college and completed the business course at Bayless' college. He studied law with Powers, Lacy & Brown, and Alphonse Matthews and Judge M. C. Matthews and graduated from the law department of the State University of Iowa on the 5th of June, 1892. On being admitted to the bar he started to practice for himself and was signally successful from the start and soon built up a business that made him independent Two years ago he entered into partnership with T. J. Fitzpatrick, and the firm of Bowen & Fitzpatrick is looked upon as one of the most successful and honorable in Dubuque county, which now has a population of 70,000. He was elected to the office of county attorney on the 8th of November, 1898.

BURCH, George B., of Dubuque, was born at Lyons, Wayne county, N. Y., on the 22d of March, 1836. His parents were James H. Burch and Ruhama S. Burch, nee Dunn, both natives of New York. His early education was obtained at the public schools. His father being in moderate circumstances could give him but little assistance, and at the age of 14 he commenced life for himself by entering the employ of a druggist, as clerk. Later he served in several clerical positions, and in February, 1855, moved to the west, and settled in Portage, Wis., where, in 1859, he formed a partnership in the drug business, under the firm name of Burch & Lewis. In December of the same year he sold his interest in the drug business and removed to Necedah, Wis., in the lumber district, where, for a year, he was employed as bookkeeper. In 1861 he entered the lumber business for himself, by purchasing a small lumber mill in Necedah, and engaged in the manufacture of lumber. He removed to Dubuque in August, 1869, and there established a lumber business in connection with his mills in Necedah. Meanwhile his business in Necedah had steadily increased from year to year, and at one time he was president of two large lumbering companies there, which were later consolidated into one, the Necedah Lumber company, and is still in operation, he being president.

He had gradually become interested in other large enterprises, and in 1881 sold out his lumbering interests in Dubuque, although still retaining his interests in Necedah. In January, 1884, he was elected a director and president of the Second National bank of Dubuque, and has continued to hold the office ever since. This bank was organized in 1876, with a capital of $100,000, which was increased to $150,000, then to $200,000, then $400,000, and is the largest in the city. Knowing well that competitive railroad lines added to the material prosperity of the city, he became active in building the Dubuque & North-western railroad, and was elected president of the company. The road is now part of the Chicago Great Western railroad system. Mr. Burch is still largely interested in it and is closely allied with its management. The Julien house, one of the finest and most commodious hotels ever erected in a city the size of Dubuque, probably owes its existence to his enterprising and progressive spirit. Besides the offices already mentioned, he is president of the Necedah Lumber company, of Necedah, Wis.; a director and treasurer of the Key City Gas company. He is also vice-president and director of the Dunleith & Dubuque Bridge company.

He was one of the originators of the Finley hospital, and has been a trustee and treasurer since its organization. He has been elected mayor of Dubuque three different times. In 1876 he was the unanimous choice of both parties, and was chosen without opposition; he was re-elected in 1877, and again in 1888, but declined further election. It is conceded that he filled the position with great credit.

He was married on the 27th of February, 1860, to Miss Ellen H. Merrill, daughter of Hon. Samuel D. Merrill, of Vermont. They have six children living. Mr. Burch has been a resident of Dubuque for over a quarter of a century, and during all that time no man has labored more earnestly, or more steadily, to advance the material prosperity of the city than he has. He has become an acknowledged leader in most of the plans that have been formulated to add to the comfort and wealth of the people.

SCHROEDER, Frank Nicholas, president of the Schroeder-Kleine Grocery company, of Dubuque, is one of the earliest settlers of the Key city. He came with his parents from Mobile, Ala., to New Orleans and from New Orleans to Dubuque on a steamboat, landing in that city May 17, 1855. He was born in Deikirch in the grand duchy of Luxembourg, Germany, July 16, 1849. His father was Nicholas Schroeder, a carpenter and builder, and his mothers maiden name was Josephine Grasser. Her father, Nicholas Grasser, was a captain in the French army and was with Napoleon's army in Russia when the Russians burned the city of Moscow and left Napoleon's army to starve. He was one of seven survivors who succeeded in returning to France. The rest of the company were killed in battle, or perished with hunger and cold. The Schroeder family early emigrated to America to seek a wider field and better opportunities in life.

The son, of whom we speak, earned his first money in his new home carrying papers. He began his business career as a porter in the wholesale grocery house of W. H. Rumpf, in Dubuque, January 19, 1865. He was steadily advanced; became shipping clerk and later house salesman, and continued with Mr. Rumpf until August 1, 1882. During that month he formed a partnership with J. H. Kleine, under the firm name of Schroeder & Kleine, wholesale grocers. This firm carried on a prosperous business until November 1, 1892, when, with Mr. J. H. Kleine, Mr. Fred Rumpf and Mrs. J. P. Farring, he incor-porated the Schroeder-Kleine Grocery company, of which Mr. Schroeder is president. He has always been a member of the democratic party, and in 1897 was chairman of the Dubuque county committee. He was a delegate to the democratic national convention in 1884, and is now county treasurer of Dubuque county, elected in 1895 and re-elected without opposition in 1897. He belongs to the Pius St. Alphonsus Benevolent society, R. C. M. P. of the state of Iowa, Dubuque Germania society, Dubuque Luxembourger society, Dubuque Business and Traveling Men's association, and the Catholic church.

He was married November 7, 1871, to Katherine Beck. They have seven children: William, born May 20, 1874; George W., born June 10, 1876; Anna, born January 17, 1878; John P., born May 12, 1881; Mary, born November 23, 1882; Kate, born May 27, 1885; and Josephine, born August 17, 1891.

STOUT, Henry Lane, of Dubuque, is the head of "The Knapp, Stout & Co. Company," which has a capital of $4,000, 000, and is one of the largest concerns of its kind in the United States, and probably in the world. Mr. Stout is an illustrious example of that class of men who, by the employment of brain and energy, have risen to a high and honored position. His career illustrates forcibly what can be accomplished by energy, perseverance, steadfastness of purpose and business ability. He was born in Huntington county, N. J., October 23,1814. His father, William Stout, and his mother, Eleanor Lane Stout, were both natives of New Jersey. His grandfather was a participant in the early history of the country and fought in the revolutionary war. After its close he was a member of the legislature of New Jersey many years.

Their son Henry was reared on the farm, where he acquired the habits of industry and economy which have so largely contributed to his subsequent success. His educational advantages were confined to the public schools. In his 16th year he began life for himself and worked at the builder's trade, in Philadelphia, Pa., until 20 years of age. In 1836 he settled in Dubuque with less than $100 in money, but possessed of good health, a hopeful heart and. a purpose to grow up with the country. For a time he was occupied with building and mining, and in both was moderately successful, though his health was not good during the first ten years of his residence in Dubuque. The country was somewhat unhealthful and physicians advised him to return east, but he refused to do so, being determined to succeed in his original plan, and after becoming acclimated he enjoyed the best of health. In 1853 Mr. Stout invested his capital in the lumber business, purchasing an interest in the firm of Knapp & Taintor, which was then a small business. The name was changed to Knapp, Stout & Company, and Mr. Stout's influence at once made itself felt very strongly. He infused life into the business, and success rewarded the combined efforts of himself and partners. The business soon grew to gigantic proportions. Mr. Stout has been interested in the business over forty-six years, and he and his partners have managed it so successfully that today it is one of the largest businesses of its kind in the world, and the oldest under one firm name. In March, 1878, the concern was incorporated as "The Knapp, Stout & Co. Company," with a nominal stock of $2,000,000, which has since been increased to $4,000,000, although the actual cash value of their holdings is several times larger than that amount. The present officers (July, 1899,) are: H. L. Stout, Dubuque, president; Andrew Taintor, Menomonee, Wis., vice-president; L. S. Taintor, Menomonee, Wis., secretary; John H. Douglas, St. Louis, Mo., treasurer. They have mills and yards at Rice Lake, Wis.; Cedar Falls, Wis.; Dubuque, Iowa; Menomonee, Wis.; Downsville, Wis.; Fort Madison, Iowa, and St. Louis, Mo., and their personal and real property extends from Lake Superior to New Orleans. Their annual output is about 125,000,000 feet. The policy of the company has always been to encourage settlement upon their cut lands, and most liberal terms are made by them to would -be settlers. There are in the employ of Knapp, Stout & Co., at the present time, hundreds of men who have literally grown gray in their service, many of them having been with the company for twenty-five years or more. Faithful service is expected and required and it receives a liberal reward. Besides its large lumbering interests, the company conducts large stores near its mills where large amounts of merchandise are annually sold.

Mr. Stout has always been a great admirer of horse flesh and has always been a lover of trotting horses; partially to gratify this interest and also partially for profit, he and his younger son, Frank D. Stout, entered into the business of breeding and raising the highest grade of trotting stock. Highland stock farm has become very prominent and there some of the finest and most valuable trotting horses in the United States have been bred and raised. In this business, as in all others in which Mr. Stout has become interested, no outlay is considered too great, and no exertion too much to attain eminent success. In 1886, the private citizens of the west were startled, and even horsemen were surprised, when F. D. Stout paid $22,000 for the stallion Nutwood, at that time 16 years old. That they were justified in making this expenditure is proven by the fact that Nutwood became the " king of trotting sires," and proved a remunerative financial investment. He leads all sires of his age in both first and second generations.

Mr. Stout was twice elected mayor of Dubuque and has filled many local offices of honor and trust. He has been a director and stockholder in most of the railroads coming to Dubuque and takes great interest in the development of the enterprises of the city and vicinity. In politics he is a republican, but his business has engrossed all his time and left none for political matters.

On the 23d of October, 1845, Mr. Stout was married to Miss Eveline Demming, a native of New York state. The wedded life of Mr. and Mrs. Stout, which began so auspiciously, was rewarded with happiness and prosperity, and the faithful wife and mother was spared to see her children grow to manhood and womanhood. These are James H. Stout, born in September, 1848; Frank D. Stout, born in March, 1854; Fannie D., born in August, 1858, now Mrs. Fred O'Donnell, and Jennie E., born in December, 1851, now Mrs. A. W. Daugherty. Mrs. Stout died May 12, 1879. Such is a brief biography of Henry L. Stout. His name is known throughout the entire country; he has climbed the ladder of success step by step until he has reached the topmost round, and now he can look back upon his career and say truthfully that his life has been well spent. His has been self-attained success; no man ever aided him in business, and today he can safely be placed among the most successful men of the west.

TORBERT, Willard H., the well-known wholesale druggist, of Dubuque, is a native of the state of New York, and hie ancestors on both sides have been distinguished practitioners of both medicine and pharmacy.

His grandfather, Samuel Torbert. M. D., was health officer of the port of New York under Gov. Daniel Tompkins. His father, the late Dr. H. G. Torbert, of Camden, was one of New York's most distinguished practitioners. His mother was the daughter of Joshua Ransom, M. D., an illustrious member of the medical fraternity, and her grandfathers on each side, Capt. Elihu Warner, and Lieut. Joshua Ransom, were both distinguished soldiers of the American revolution. Besides those who won distinction in the practice of medicine and with whom the name of Torbert is entwined in honorable kinship, are others prominent in the history of the country. Among them may be named the McCreas, McNairs, and Lieutenant Burrows of revolutionary fame. In the same direct line descended General Torbert, who distinguished himself in brave and gallant service through many engagements of the civil war. And so on through years, early and late, the family history records traditions of an esteemed and honored race who have figured among stirring scenes and notable events, with which the people of the country are familiar.

Willard H. was born in Camden, Oneida county, N. Y. In preparing for college he attended Falley seminary, at Fulton, N. Y., and later completed his education at Princeton college. His earliest experience as a druggist was in Syracuse, N. Y., after which he engaged in the drug business at Adams, Jefferson county, N. Y. Mr. Torbert made his first acquaintance with Dubuque in 1864, and in 1868 became a resident of that city. In 1868 he purchased an interest in the drug store which had been established by Dr. Timothy Mason in 1836, being the oldest establishment of the kind in Dubuque or in Iowa. Later he be-came its sole proprietor and soon broadened its trade into one of the largest among western drug houses, while its wholesale business extends over several western states and territories. In 1880 Mr. Torbert was largely instrumental in securing a modification of the state laws regulating the sale of liquor by pharmacists and in securing the repeal of the obnoxious features. This section was so repealed or reconstructed that no further protest or complaint was heard from the pharmacists of the state, who had hitherto been sorely inconvenienced and embarrassed in this branch of their business.

In 1888 Mr. Torbert was elected president of the State Jobbers and Manufacturers' association, and again found an active field for the exercise of his diplomatic acumen. He was a potent factor in securing the enactment of a law regulating rates between railroads and shippers of the state. This measure placed Chicago and Iowa jobbing points on a parity and resulted in untold benefits to the jobbers and manufacturers of Iowa in all branches of their business and trade, and has proven of great value to the railroads themselves. In 1888 Mr. Torbert was elected president of the Iowa State Pharmaceutical association, and in 1889 was unanimously re-elected to a second term, an honor never before extended to any member in the history of the association. At a meeting of the pharmaceutical association at New Orleans and at Louisville, Mr. Torbert was a recognized leader and champion of the interests of the retail druggists of the country. The Pharmaceutical Era says: " In selecting him as chairman of the committee to represent the retailers in the tripartite conference in the further and final execution of the Apha plan, it may be confidently stated that the retail druggists have a wise, true and faithful friend at court, as Mr. Torbert never spares time nor effort when the interests of the retail druggists are at stake. If the plan adopted by the tripartite fails of ultimate success, it will not be the failure of his untiring efforts to secure the desired result as chairman of the commercial section of that body." Mr. Torbert is a prominent member in the National Wholesale Druggists' association, also a member of the Iowa Society of Sons of the Revolution. His ability and influence as a member of the Interstate Retail Druggists' league and as the Iowa representative of the state executive committee, has met with deserved and flattering recognition. In all his dealings with his fellowmen in public and private association, his abilities and integrity have been unquestioned. He also possesses many qualities that would eminently fit him for a political career, had he chosen to take advantage of opportunities that from time to time have offered their allurements in that direction. Mr. Torbert it thoroughly familiar with political methods, is an earnest and eloquent public speaker and an engaging conversationalist. He has been mentioned in connection with many distinguished public positions which he would have filled with ability and honor. He has been frequently sought by the republican party, with which he is prominently identified, as a candidate for the highest office within its gift in the state. But he is too thoroughly devoted to his important business interests to forsake them for a political career. He was president of the Dubuque Commercial club and is now president of the Dubuque Jobbers and Manufacturers' union. He was vice-president of the American Pharmaceutical association, the largest society of pharmacists in the world.

He is an earnest worker in whatever direction his sympathies and convictions are enlisted, a genial companion in the social walks of life, upright in his dealings with men and a useful member of the community with which he has been so long and honorably identified. Mr. Torbert was married January 2, 1868, to Mary E. Kirk, a daughter of Rev. R. R. Kirk and Mary Doxtater Kirk. The y have one daughter, Mary T., now the wife of Maj. Glen Brown, of Dubuque.

TSCHIRGI, Matthew, Jr., of Dubuque, is the son of Matthew Tschirgi, for years prominent in the brewing business, now retired. The father was born in St. Gallen, Switzerland, and emigrated to the United States when 18 years of age. He was interested in the erection of the first brewery built in Iowa, known as Heeb's brewery, at Dubuque, and, being himself a practical brewer, as was his father before him, made the first brew in the new establishment. Although now past 73, he is still active and vigorous, and takes a keen interest in the business affairs of his children. One son, Arnold, he has established in the brewing business at Sheridan, Wyo., and George and Frank are fitted out with extensive improved ranches near that city. Two daughters, Catherine and Louise, are the wives of Francis Jaeger and J. Traut, respectively, prominent businessmen of Dubuque. John W. is employed in the Dubuque Malting company's brewery, an establishment which has more than $300,000 invested in its plant. The very latest improved and most expensive electrical, steam and refrigerator machinery is employed, and, of course, the person in charge must not only possess a scientific knowledge of the art of brewing, but must be familiar with every detail in the management of the immense concern. It is such a position of trust and responsibility that Mr. John W. Tschirgi is at present filling. The father has lived to see the great advancement which has marked the brewing business since the time when he ground the grain in a coffee mill and distributed the product of his brew to customers in person by wheelbarrow, and he has also watched, with no less pleasure, the phenomenal development of his adopted city and state in all other lines of manufacture and trade. The mother, whose maiden name was Catherine Zollicoffer, was the eldest daughter of the late George Zollicoffer, a pioneer settler of Dubuque, well known and highly respected.

Matthew Tschirgi, Jr., was born in Dubuque, Iowa, November 28, 1850. When he had finished the common schools he entered the Michigan university, at Ann Arbor, and graduated therefrom as a civil engineer, in 1872. He began active work in his profession in Dubuque that same year, and was prominent in the surveying of the railroad from that city to Burlington. In 1873 he established a permanent office in Dubuque, and among other things published a map of the city. He was elected county surveyor in 1875, and appointed city engineer in 1877, holding the last named position continuously until 1891, with the exception of the years 1888-9. His practice includes civil and sanitary engineering, plans for waterworks and sewer systems and bridge construction. Among the many engineering structures which he has designed may be mentioned the stone arch highway bridge at Elkader, Iowa; was engineer of the company which built the bridge spanning the Mississippi river at Dubuque, both of which stand as monuments to his engineering skill. Since 1893 he has acted as president and manager of the Dubuque Construction company. In politics he is a republican, in religion a Methodist. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias. He was married in 1880 to Miss Helene L. Schaad. They have four children: Martha Bernice, Harold Magnus, Charles Corrance, and Arthur Mason.

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