Progressive Men of Iowa
1899

HOOPES, William Henry, who originated the system of wholesale gardening on Muscatine island, and developed the wonderful resources of that fertile spot, is a son of Lindley Hoopes, who was married November 22, 1838, in Birmingham, Pa., to Miss Mary Addleman. The family came to Muscatine county from Pennsylvania in 1854. Lindley Hoopes was born in Chester county, Pa., in 1815, and his ancestors came from England with William Penn. They belonged to the Society of Friends, and Israel Hoopes, the first in this country, had sixteen sons. Lindley Hoopes was a builder in Pennsylvania and followed the carpenter's trade for a time after coming to Iowa. He is now engaged in farming and breeding horses, cattle and hogs in Lake township, Muscatine county. They are Methodists and strong temperance people, using their best efforts for the social and moral welfare of the country. 

William H. Hoopes was born November 19, 1840, at Warrior's Mark, Huntingdon county, Pa., and was the oldest son in the family of nine children His early education was under the tutorship of Bishop John H. Vincent of Chautauqua fame. He afterwards attended school in Muscatine.  When he attained his majority he left the farm and earned his own way through a two years' course in Greenwood academy, in Muscatine. He afterwards engaged in the building business, was principal of the First ward school in Muscatine two years, and for a number of years was in the grocery and pork packing business. In 1874 he commenced the Muscatine Island gardening business, and with various partners has been engaged in that important business. He now has associated two sons they have 900 acres of land under cultivation there and produce the finest sweet potatoes, melons, cabbages, peas, beans, tomatoes and onions. He also has a vegetable and dairy farm in St. Louis Park, one of the suburbs of Minneapolis. During his farming career he has introduced many labor-saving implements. Among them is one which sets plants of all kinds and saves labor and expense.

Outside of his own immediate business Mr. Hoopes has helped promote the organization of other industries, among them a canning factory, street railway, electric light plant, high bridge over the Mississippi river. In public affairs Mr.  party on account of its championship of temperance principles, in which he is deeply interested and to which he has given much of his best efforts. He was elected alderman as a republican in a ward usually democratic, and helped to inaugurate some of the most important public improvements in Muscatine, including the building of Riverside Park, which turned an unsightly river front into a beautiful spot. He was one of the most zealous supporters of the prohibitory law and had an important part in the prosecution of those who violated it.  He has been prominently identified with the Musserville M. E. church and has been trustee and superintendent of the Sunday school for more than twenty years, making him one of the oldest Sunday school superintendents in the state. He is also an active member of the Y. M. C. A.  and the Muscatine Commercial club. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias, Knights of the Maccabees and Woodmen of the World.

On the 12th of August, 1869, Mr.  Hoopes was married to Phena Thompson, daughter of Philip Thompson, a prominent farmer and stock raiser of Louisa county.  Two children were born to them: Frank Everett, born April 29, 1870, and Fred Philip, born November 11, 1872. They assist their father in the management of the farms and the conducting of their large shipping and commission business.  The family has a beautiful home on Beach Grove avenue, a mile and three-quarters below the post office, on the west bank of the Mississippi river.

McNUTT, Samuel, one of the pioneers of Iowa, who has had a large part in shaping its history, is a resident of Muscatine, where he is passing his advancing years in quiet comfort, engaged in literary study and correspondence. He has contributed to the preservation of Iowa history by a number of writings.

Mr. McNutt was born November 21, 1825, in the north of Ireland, twenty miles west of Londonderry, and is the son of Samuel McNutt and Hannah Stewart McNutt. The family is of Scotch origin and descended from a somewhat noted ancestry. While he was yet a child the family came to America, and after a brief stay in Philadelphia settled in New Castle county, Del., near the village of Newark. His mother was now a widow with seven children, of whom Samuel was the oldest. For forty years she devoted her life and energies to the education and interests of her children, three boys and four girls, the second son, Robert, became an eminent physician in Louisiana, but as he was a union man, he barely escaped to the north with his life, losing all his property in Louisiana. Governor Kirkwood appointed him assistant surgeon of the Thirty-eighth Iowa infantry. The third son, James, also joined the union army, being attached to the medical department of the regular army, and for more than a year had medical charge of Fort Jackson and Fort St Phillip, below New Orleans. Mrs. McNutt died in Iowa, December 24, 1874, at the age of 85 years.

Samuel passed his boyhood working on the little farm in Delaware. Books were few and his early train-ing was largely from the Catechism, Psalms of David, Proverbs of Solomon, Scotch Martyrs and Weems' Life of Washington. He contributed some poems to the Temperance Star, of Wilmington, Del., which attracted the attention of Dr. J. S.  Bell, of Newark, one of the professors in Delaware college, who assisted the young man to secure an education. During his college days he contributed to Peterson'a Magazine, Neal's Gazette, Godey's Lady's Book, Saturday Courier and other publications, and his writings had a wide circulation. 

Leaving college he engaged in teaching and at the same time studied law under the direction of Hon. Daniel M. Bates, then secretary of state of Delaware. In 1851 he went to Milwaukee, was admitted to the bar and started to practice there, but being offered a professorship in a collegiate institute in Hernando, Miss., he went there for two years. In 1854 he came north and located in Muscatine county, Iowa.

In 1856 he was principal of the First ward public school and in that year he and D. F. Wells, who was principal of the Third ward school, edited the first educational magazine in Iowa, called the Voice of lowa, published by Dr.  Enos, of Cedar Rapids. At the close of the year he bought a half interest in the Muscatine Enquirer, and became its editor. Subsequently he was associate editor of the Dubuque Herald, under the management of Joseph B. Dorr, and remained in that capacity until 1860, when the paper was sold to Mahoney & Co.

Mr. McNutt had been a democrat in politics and a friend and supporter of Stephen A.  Douglas, but when the southern states began to secede and the war was threatening, he came out strongly in favor of the constitution and the administration of Abraham Lincoln, and supported it by every means. The Herald being opposed to the administration, Mr. McNutt, at the request of democratic friends, started the Daily Evening Union, to counteract the influence of the Herald Publication of this paper was discontinued in about a year with a heavy financial loss, and Mr. McNutt became one of the editors of the Dubuque Times.

In the fall of 1862, intending to go into the army, he removed his family to his farm in Muscatine county, where he has since resided. In 1862, while recruiting for the Eighth Iowa cavalry, he was nominated and elected by the republicans of Muscatine county for representative to the Tenth General Assembly, and was afterwards twice re-elected. At the close of his third term in the house he was elected without opposition to the senate. He had a good record in the legislature, and was one of the pioneers in the introduction of bills for the control of railroad corporations. It was he who secured passage through the house of the Gue bill, to drive out of Iowa the " wild cat " currency then in circulation.  He was the chairman of the committee which investigated the Fort Madison penitentiary in 1872, and wrote the report which prevented the state from paying a bogus claim of prison labor contractors for 847,000, and recommended a new penitentiary where rock could be quarried. This resulted in the location and erection of the new penitentiary at Anamosa. In 1872 he was a candidate for the republican nomination for state treasurer, and had a large following. He was prominent in the Grange movement, and is author of the monster petition signed by 70,000 Iowa farmers, asking for legislation to regulate railroad charges.

President Harrison appointed Mr. McNutt, on August 13, 1890, to be United States Consul at Maracaybo, Venezuela, but a brief residence in that climate convinced him that it was not suitable to him and he resigned and returned to Iowa. He was city judge in 1894 and 1896. For twenty years be was an officer of the Muscatine County Agricultural society, and is a member of the Scotch-Irish Society of America.

He belongs to the Presbyterian church but entertains very liberal views of religion and humanity. He joined the Washingtonians when a boy; in 1851, the Odd Fellows; in 1861, the Union League, and in 1872, the Patrons of Husbandry.  Mr. McNutt was married April 14, 1857, to Miss Anna E. Lucas, of Portsmouth. Ohio, niece of Robert Lucas, ex-governor of Ohio. In August, 1889, while his wife was on a visit lo their son William, in Nebraska, she was taken sick and died there. Their living children are: William L., a farmer in Ord, Neb.; Roberts., a practicing dentist in Muscatine, and Samuel B., a practicing dentist in Des Moines.

MORGRIDGE, George Osborn, of Muscatine, is one of the well-known physicians of eastern Iowa. He is of Puritan ancestry; his great-great-grandfather, John Morgridge, came from England soon after 1700 and settled at Newbury Port, Mass., where he was engaged in shipbuilding.  His son, Samuel, Dr. Morgridge's great-grandfather, was a man of learning, who also followed shipbuilding until injured by a fall, after which he was a teacher.  He married Ruth Siloers, a native of Ireland, and died June 20, 1772. His son, the doctor's grandfather, was born at Amesbury, Mass., August 20, 1760, and died April 19, 1798. Dr. Morgridge's father, Isaac Morgridge, was born September 1, 1798, in Maine. At the age of 15 he came to Marion county, Ohio, where he cut wood and farmed. Two years later he joined the cavalry to serve on the northern frontier in the war of 1812, but before reaching the front peace was declared. He afterwards moved to Iowa, where he died April 8, 1805. Dr. Morgridge's mother, whose maiden name was Anner Thankful Ballentine, was born November 17, 1805, at Schodack on the Hudson, and was married to Isaac Morgridge at Marion, Ohio, September 30, 1828. Previous to her marriage she was a teacher in the public schools of Columbus, Ohio. She was a daughter of Dr. Ebenezer Ballentine, who was a graduate of Yale college, and was commissioned "Surgeon's Mate" in a Massachusetts regiment during the revolution. His father, Rev. John Ballentine, of Scotch descent, was a native of Boston. He graduated from Harvard in 1735, and was called to the pastorate of the Congregational church at Westfield, Mass., in 1740, where he preached for thirty-five years. He died February 12, 1770, aged 60 years. 

Dr. G. O. Morgridge was born January 26, 1840, at Marion, Ohio. The first school he attended was taught in an old abandoned log house, with a drunken cripple for a teacher. He afterwards attended school at Bloomington, Ind. In 1857, at the age of 17, he came to Iowa; crossed the Mississippi at Davenport with but $2.50 in his pocket, walked to Tipton, and there secured work in a brickyard. He was soon afterward engaged for a time at teaching.  During the second year of the war he offered himself to his country, and was mustered into the army October 18, 1861, as a private in Company H of the Eleventh regiment of Iowa infantry. He was made first sergeant in March, 1863, and commissioned captain, October 16, 1864, commanding his company until the close of the war. He took part in the battle of Shiloh, both battles of Corinth, the siege of Vicksburg, campaign and capture of Atlanta, and Sherman's march to the sea. He marched in the great review in Washington at the close of the war, and was mustered out at Davenport July 24, 1865.  He was twice wounded; at Shiloh April 6,  1862, and at Nicko-Jack Creek, Ga., July 4, 1864.

Returning from the war Dr. Morgridge entered the State university, where he studied nearly two years, then entered the office of Dr. J. C. Hughes, Sr., of Keokuk, and in March, 1870, graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons, at Keokuk, and from the medical department of the State university in 1874. During the year 1875-6 he completed the course at Bellevue college, New York, and soon afterwards moved to Muscatine, Iowa, where he has made his home ever since, and has enjoyed the liberal patronage which he deserves.

Politically, Dr. Morgridge is a republican. He served twelve years as a member of the Muscatine board of education.  He belongs to the Masonic fraternity and to the Congregational church. He was married in November, 1866, to Ruth A.  Casebeer, whose father was a pioneer Methodist preacher and a pronounced abolitionist. Dr. and Mrs. Morgridge have had two children: Henry W., born in 1867, and Myrta E., born in 1870. His son, Henry, graduated in medicine in 1890, was associated with him in business until October 25, 1897, at which date he died aged 30 years. He was a young man of ability and was greatly loved and respected by all.

SAWYER, Frank Payson, who is at the head of one of the most important industries in the west, lives in Muscatine and is the secretary and general manager of the Muscatine Oat Meal company, which manufactures the celebrated "Friends' oats." Mr. Sawyer comes of New England ancestors. His father, Stephen P. Sawyer, was born in Amsbury, Mass., in 1832, but removed to Hamilton, Ont., about 1848, where he lived until 1871. At that time he removed to Muscatine and retired from business in order to use his income for the benefit of his family and to prolong the life and afford comfort to his wife, who had been a confirmed invalid for many years.  She died March 18, 1897. Her maiden name was Frances Phoebe Gillett, and she was a native of Newport, N. H.

F. P. Sawyer was born in Hamilton, Ont., November, 30,1856, and he has lived in Muscatine most of the time since 1872. His early education was acquired in the Canadian public schools, well known for their thorough training and substantial foundations for a thorough education. He graduated from the Muscatine high school and entered the Iowa State university in 1874. During his sophomore year illness compelled him to retire, and a year's change of climate and travel in the east convinced him the only sure foundation and reliance for life was a trade, and that the professions and ordinary mercantile pursuits could not always be relied upon in case of financial upheaval. So he decided to lose no time, left college and learned the marble cutter's trade, which for a time he followed in Dos Moines. He found this was too arduous an employment and Involved too great a risk to his health, so he interested himself in the Muscatine Oat Meal company, and upon request became personally identified with the management. He had been interested in the concern since its organization, and in 1883 was placed in the management of the business. Since he took hold of it, it has grown every year until now it' is the second largest oat meal industry in operation in the United States.  The factory is of the greatest importance to the city of Muscatine, as it employs over 160 persons in addition to a large number of others indirectly obtaining their income from the business. The company's trade extends all over the world, from South Africa to the European markets, and in all of the large cities of the United States and Canada. Mr.  Sawyer takes a broad view of the notable business success which he has achieved and finds his best reward and the most satisfaction in the benefits it has brought to others in furnishing remunerative employment to so many persons. He is naturally gratified at the financial success of the enterprise and other Investments that he has made, but says that the pleasure derived from the use of such accumulations is that which affords him the most satisfaction and not the mere fact of possession.  Mr. Sawyer is a director of the Muscatine Savings bank and the First National bank and the Muscatine Water company, and also treasurer of the latter concern. He is a republican but is not a hide-bound partisan. He keeps informed on the effects of political changes upon business matters and he always reserves the privilege of voting for the nominee showing the best business qualifications and recommendations for integrity. Party ties and obligations do not strongly bind him.  Mr. Sawyer is a member of the Presbyterian church and has been secretary of the official board for about a dozen years.  He was married November 30, 1882, in Milford, Pa., to Joanna Wells, daughter of H.  B. Wells, probably the most prominent and successful business man of Pike county, Pa. They have three children, Henry P., born November 19, 1883; Aura M., born February 17, 1885, and Maud W., born May 4, 1892.

VAN HORNE, George W., late editor of the Muscatine News-Tribune, who, in his more than twenty-five years of active newspaper association, gained for himself the name of being one of the ablest journalists and most eloquent of social and political platform orators in the state, was born in Chicopee, Mass., October 12, 1833, and died in Muscatine, Iowa, February 8, 1895. 

After a thorough academic education, he began the study of law, under the guidance of Judge Gillett, of Westfield, Mass., but seeing greater possibilities for his talent in the growing west, he came to Iowa in 1855, entering the office of Cloud & O'Conner, at Muscatine, to complete his studies and learn the Hawkeye mode of procedure.  His pleasing address, exceptional command of language and adaptability for his chosen pursuit, quickly won for him deserved recognizance, and upon his admittance to the bar he was taken into partnership by D. C. Cloud, then the first attorney-general of the state. His powers as a public speaker sewn drew him into politics, and in 1860 he was appointed by Lincoln as consul at Marseilles, France. He held this post all through the war, having the distinction of being the youngest man in the foreign diplomatic service of the United States during that critical period. Returning to America in 1866 he accepted the invitation of the republican state central committee of Arkansas to take editorial charge of the new state organ that was being established in Little Rock; but the newspaper plant was destroyed by fire before his arrival, involving a complete loss, and Mr. Van Horne was persuaded to stay in the south in the capacity of registrar of Scott county, Ark., under the reconstruction laws of congress, but he soon resigned his position to return to Massachusetts.

Mr. Van Horne, for several years following, turned his attention to various pursuits in New England, returning to Iowa in 1870 and starting the Muscatine Tribune. He afterwards bought the Muscatine Courier and the Betts Bros, were admitted to a partnership which lasted until Mr. Van Horne withdrew to enter the lecture field. He was afterwards placed in charge of the local editorship of the Muscatine Journal, where he remained until 1887, when the Muscatine News Co.  was organized and incorporated. Mr.  Van Horne was elected secretary and made editor-in-chief of the Daily News, which began publication independent in politics.  The editor, however, had come to have marked democratic convictions, and soon imbued the paper with his personality. It quickly became the recognized official organ of that party in Muscatine county, and in May, 1889, the Muscatine Tribune and News were consolidated, with Mr. Van Horne still the editor-in-chief.

In 1893 he was again the recipient of political favors, this time from the democratic party, whose cause he had so zealously championed in his editorship, being appointed postmaster at Muscatine by the practically unanimous desire of his local party, his commission issuing May 12, 1893. Mr. Van Horne's genius, as portrayed by his pen, has been said by able critics to have been unexcelled by any associate journalist. A thorough student, he traversed the continent in his stay abroad with eyes open to the observation of the many scenes and places made notable by history and tradition, while his intercourse in life with those notable in society and politics added to his qualities as a "raconteur " and writer. Among other of his literary efforts for paper and lecture field are such as "Storied Scenes of Europe," "Old London Town, " " Picturesque France, " 44 Men and Women I Have Seen, " " Farmer Whiting Letters," and "Kaleidoscopes of Memory." In the fall of 1892, he became a victim to a malignant form of tumor on his left leg. The surgeons decided that a thigh amputation was the only recourse, and told Mr. Van Horne that in submitting himself to the operation, death was almost inevitable. A week's respite was asked by him to put his worldly affairs in order, and then it was that his journalistic tendencies proved their mastery over the physical man in the preparation of a supposedly farewell editorial, written for his paper and published December 11, 1892, entitled, "Perhaps a Valedictory," which in its graphic word painting displayed so truly the strength of character and noble sentiments of the doomed writer as to be reproduced and commented upon by the press universally throughout the west. He survived the ordeal, however, and lived until the fall of 1894, when he fell a prey to nervous prostration, from which he passed away in the dawn of the following year, mourned by a city and eulogized by the newspapers of the state in a manner rarely accorded to one in the private walks of life.

Mr. Van Horne was married September 15, 1858, to Miss Mary Morrow, only daughter of the late Dr. James G.  Morrow, one of the founders of Muscatine, and at the time a step-daughter of his former law partner, Mr. Cloud. Of this union there were born four children: Hattie D., born at Muscatine, July 2, 1859; Benny R., born at Chicopee, Mass., July 14,1861, who died in infancy in France; Lulu C., born at Marseilles, France, May 3, 1865, now the wife of Edward G. Magoon, of Muscatine; and Elworth Stiles, born at Muscatine, June 14, 1874.

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