Trails-to-the-Past-Iowa-Tama-Co.-Biographies-Progressive-Men

Progressive Men of Iowa
1899

AHLBRECHT, William H., conspicuous as one of the progressive men of Tama county, was born at Iowa City, Iowa, January 13, 1854, and has ever since made this state his home. He came from staunch German ancestry, being the son of Henry and Louise Fictor Ahlbrecht, both born in the kingdom of Hanover, Germany, the first in 1806 and the second in 1811. The father was a linen weaver by trade, and came to the United States in 1832, locating at Wheeling, W. V., where he was married in 1834. Later the couple concluded to go farther west, and accordingly, in 1843, removed to Iowa and settled at Iowa City, which place was their home until the death of the father in 1883. The good old mother is still surviving, and resides upon the homestead which her labors helped to provide. The father was one of those sturdy, industrious and thrifty characters so often found among the early settlers, and left to his children, as a heritage more to be valued than the goodly amount of this world's goods which had been accumulated through strict economy and persistent labor, the example of a pure, honorable and consistent Christian life.

The subject of this sketch recalls an incident that occurred after he had been in business for several years, in Tama, Iowa. A prominent citizen of Iowa City called, and after congratulating Mr. Ahlbrecht on his apparent prosperity, said: "Will, if you are half as good a man as your father was, you will be a good citizen." There is no question that the remarkable success of the son is due in a large measure to the excellent moral and business training given him by the father.

This subject attended the common schools of Iowa City, and took besides several terms in the German Lutheran school of that place. He was a diligent student, and at the age of 14 was prepared to enter the freshman class of the State university, but believing that he should have an avocation of some kind, learned the baker's and confectioner's trade. In that respect he was wise, for thereby were early instilled in his mind the principles of business which served him well in later years. Being ambitious to commence life for himself he went to Tama, in February, 1875, and secured a position with John T. Matson. His good judgment, industry and fine ability aided materially in the building up of his employer's business, and so successful was he that that city has continued to be his home to the present time.

Taking an active interest in municipal and educational affairs, he was elected to serve many terms on the city council, and after re-incorporation became an alderman, assisting as such in the shaping of much important legislation. He has been a member of the school board for many years, a portion of the time acting as its president. In politics, he was independent until five years ago, when he allied himself with the republican party, and has since been one of its strongest supporters. In the spring of 1899, at one of the most closely contested municipal elections ever held in the city, Mr. Ahlbrecht was elected by the republican party to the position of mayor, and is now acting in that capacity.

Possessing a keen business judgment he has, by judicious investments in real estate, acquired a snug little fortune, and all in the short space of a few years; for he went to Tama without capital. He now owns two fine store buildings on Main street and several fine residence buildings. He was one of the foremost of those who secured for his town the Mutual Savings and Loan association, was its first president and for eight years its secretary. The association has helped build more than seventy-five structures in the place and has made over 100 loans. It is one of the flourishing concerns of its kind in the state, and much of its success is due to the personal efforts of Mr. Ahlbrecht.

He was married to Miss Mary Matson, September 20, 1876. They have three children, Emma, Alda and Edith. Their beautiful home is filled with the best of art and literature, and is a model one in every respect.

ALLEN, Manning Leonard, of Tama, is a native Hawkeye, born November 14, 1862, in the country ten miles west of Wapello, Louisa county, Iowa. His parents are Leonard Fletcher Allen, who was born near Saratoga Springs, N. Y., and Harriett Litsey Allen, who was born in Newark, Kendall county, III., both of whom now reside at La Moille, Bureau county, 111., having lived there since 1867. Previously they moved from Louisa county, Iowa, to Little Rock, La Salle county, 111., where they lived for about three years; from there to Trenton, 111., or De Pue as it is now called, and thence to La Moille, thirty-two years ago, where they have since resided. They had seven children - Manning L., Bert L., Hattie, Lowell, Frank, Herman and Jennie, of which Manning is the oldest.

He completed the course of study in the La Moille high school in 1880, and clerked in a grocery store until September, 1881, when he entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons, of Joplin, Mo., completing the first year's course of medicine, and in September, 1882, entered the medical department of the State University of Iowa, where he finished his second year's course. In 1883 he located at Cooper, Greene county, Iowa, and practiced medicine and taught school until the following February, when he located in Astor, Crawford county, Iowa, and remained there until November, 1886, when, with other business men of the town, he moved to the then new town of Manilla, two and one-half miles northeast of Astor, on the Chicago, Milwaukee & Saint Paul railway. The next year, having a good opportunity to sell out, he did so and came to Garwin, Tama county, Iowa, and remained there until October, 1889, when he removed to Tama, his present home.

In October, 1885, he passed the examination of the state board of pharmacy and received a gold seal certificate, and in 1886 he passed the examination of the state board of medical examiners and received a certificate from them.

In September, 1892, he entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons, of Chicago, graduating from that institution, which is the medical department of the State University of Illinois, April 13, 1893. The same spring he took the post graduate course of the Post-Graduate Medical and Hospital School of Chicago. His ability and standing as a surgeon and physician are recognized by his appointment as medical examiner for nearly all the best-known life insurance companies in the east, and in Iowa. He is also district surgeon for the Chicago, Milwaukee & Saint Paul Railway company, and surgeon for the Tama & Toledo Electric Railroad company. He enjoys a large, lucrative practice and the respect of the community in which he resides. In April, 1897, he was elected vice-president of the Alumni Association of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Chicago.

He was married, August 10th, 1882, to Sarah Rebecca Passett, of La Moille, 111., who has faithfully shared with him the "ups and downs " of the beginning of a professional life with little or no means, and the success of the same. They have three children: Frances Rebecca, born June 16, 1883; Raymond Manning, born July 8, 1887, and Leonard Earle, born May 28, 1894. Dr. and Mrs. Allen are both members of the First Baptist church of Tama.

JACKSON, Hon. Albert E. It is not often that a democrat can be elected to the legislature in Iowa, and the instances are very few wherein a candidate of that political faith has been chosen to represent a district which, ordinarily, is republican by a considerable majority, but that compliment was paid to Albert E. Jackson by the voters of Tama county in 1895.

He was born in Wabash county, Ind., September 23, 1860. His parents were Andrew and Catherine Quick Jackson, both natives of Indiana. The father was born in Madison county, October 21, 1833. He came to Tama county, Iowa, in 1855, but removed to Missouri three years there-after; thence to Indiana, and in 1861 returned to Tama county to reside permanently. He drove a mule team the entire distance from Indiana to Tama county, carrying his wife and three children, together with the few household goods in his possession. He reached his destination without a dollar in his pocket. He was successful as a farmer and stock breeder, having been prominently identified with the importation of improved stock since 1870, and is now rated commercially at $100,000. Grandfather Samuel Jackson was a native of North Carolina. Catherine Quick Jackson was born in 1832 and married Andrew Jackson in 1855. She was best known for her benevolence.

Albert E. Jackson came to Iowa with his parents in 1861, and attended the common schools adjacent to his father's farm until the winter of 1876, at which time the family located near the city of Tama and he entered the high school there, graduating with class honors in 1879. He then matriculated for a three years' course in the Iowa State university, but was compelled to leave school because of failing health. While there he was a member of the Zetagathian Literary society, and ranked high in his class. After leaving the university he was engaged for a time as cashier of a construction company then building the Sioux City & Pacific railroad in Nebraska.

Later he served a term as deputy county recorder of Tama county, after which he was employed with his father in the livestock trade, shipping cattle to supply western ranches. In December, 1885, he went to Colorado, where his father had a large interest in a horse ranch and importing company, and while there received an appointment in the railway mail service on the run from Tama to Hawarden. In October, 1889, he formed a partnership with his father to engage in the banking business, and opened the Farmers and Merchants bank at Tama, of which concern he is the cashier and manager. He is also a member of the land, loan and investment company of Jackson & Carson; is city treasurer, treasurer of the school district of the city of Tama, and local representative of a number of fire, life and insurance companies and building and loan associations, and is interested in a couple of newspaper enterprises. He has been a democrat since old enough to vote. He was the candidate of his party for county superintendent of schools in 1885 and was defeated by but sixteen votes, the county at that time being strongly republican. He has been a member of the county central committee for a number of years, and its chairman. In 1895 he was nominated to represent the Fiftieth district in the general assembly, and was elected against a strong republican majority and over a very popular member of that body, who stood for re-election. As a legislator he was especially identified with the committees on banks and banking, school and text books, private corporations and building and loan associations; on the last named committee being chairman of the sub-committee that formed the present law governing those organizations. He served through the special session for the revision of the code in 1896, and was re-elected to represent his district in 1897, receiving a largely increased majority. He was one of the two members of the minority party who were accorded a committee chairmanship with a clerk at the 1898 session, being chairman of the committee on federal relations, and was selected by the representatives of his party as chairman of the democratic caucus for the session. He is a member of the Masons and Knights of Pythias, and is supreme treasurer of the Ancient Order of the Red Cross, but is not united with any religious sect.

He was married to Miss Mabel Bowen, of Marshalltown, daughter of Webster Bowen, a pioneer of Marshall county, December 21, 1886. They have four children; Helen Hunt, Marjorie, Eloise, and Paul Webster Jackson.

JOHNSTON, William F., of Toledo, is one of the most prominent citizens of central Iowa, and is considered the wealthiest man in Tama county. He was born April 20, 1833, at Mt. Pleasant, Pa., and was the oldest of eleven children. The blood of several nations flows in his veins, for his father, U. S. Johnston, a carpenter, was of Scotch-Irish descent, while his mother, Mary Keister, was a Pennsylvania German.

His education was obtained in the common schools of the village where he lived, and at Mt. Pleasant college, where he studied one year. He worked at his father's trade a few years, and was also employed as a salesman in his native town. He came to Iowa in 1856, and at Iowa City secured work as a carpenter, and later as clerk in the store of Gower, Mygatt & Galley. He had the good sense and judgment at this early day to appreciate the value of Iowa land, and seized an opportunity to bid off 900 acres at a judicial sale. He had no money, but all that he needed was loaned him without security by his employer and eastern friends. This investment was the beginning of a long series of successful ventures, which have marked him as a man of rare business sagacity, amounting almost to genius. Mr. Johnston removed in 1858 to Toledo, where, in company with Henry Galley, now of Des Moines, he opened the "People's Store," which soon became by far the largest and most prosperous mercantile establishment in Tama county. He sold out his interest in the store after about twenty years, his other lines of business having grown to such large proportions as to demand his entire attention; for during all this period he had been buying and selling land, at one time owning fifty good farms in Tama county alone, besides large tracts of land in northwestern Iowa, Minnesota and other states.

He has been connected with almost every large business enterprise of the community, for not only are his extensive means desirable for the establishment of commercial institutions or ventures, but his long experience and rare good judgment are widely sought and consulted. Through his influence and persevering efforts, more than to any other cause, the building of the Toledo & Northwestern railroad in 1880 is to be attributed. The construction of this line was really the making of the towns of Toledo and Tama. In connection with this work Mr. Johnston and Hon. Leander Clark, also of Toledo, purchased the ground and laid out the towns of Gladbrook and Garwin.

Mr. Johnston has been a republican ever since the organization of the party. He has always been prominent in the politics of his county, but has never been an office seeker. He has, however, been frequently called to positions where there was a demand for sound judgment, especially in financial matters. Thus, he has served as a member of the board of supervisors and as a trustee and mayor of Toledo. Mr. Johnston has long been a member of the Methodist church and a trustee of Cornell college since 1871, serving as president of the board since 1876. He has contributed many thousands of dollars to the support of this institution, but has not confined his gifts to schools of his own denomination. He aids liberally in the maintenance of Western college, and ever since its location at Toledo in 1880 has served as a member of the executive committee, having ever since taken a close interest in its success and management.

Mr. Johnston was married September 21, 1858, to Maria J. Newcomer, of Mt. Pleasant, Pa., his native town. They have but one child, a daughter, Anna B., who was born at Toledo, Iowa, and who lives at home with her parents. The Johnston home is an elegant and spacious one, and many are the friends who can testify to the genial warmth of hospitality which they have felt while being entertained at "Oak Hill."

MOWRY, Welcome, member of the state board of railroad commissioners, makes his home on his 700 acre farm in Tama county, where he has lived since 1867. His parents were George A. and Nancy Jack Mowry, and he was born in Putnam county, 111., April 3, 1842. His father was born in Rhode Island and his mother in Maryland. They were both members of the Society of Friends and Mr. Mowry often preached for them. They came to Bureau county, 111., in 1841, and later went to Putnam county to educate their children, and then returned to Bureau county, where Mr. Mowry died in 1889. Their son, Welcome, was educated in the common schools and attended Dover academy. At the age of 17 he began supporting himself, working on a farm at $10 per month.

In the spring of 1861 he made his first effort to enlist in the union army at Wyanett, 111., and went with his company to Springfield, but as the quota of Illinois on the first call had been filled, he returned home after about a month. In August of that year he enlisted under C. S. Merriman and went with his company to Fort Leavenworth, which became Company D of the Seventh Kansas Volunteer cavalry. They spent the first winter in Missouri keeping down the guerrillas, and in the spring of 1862 went to Tennessee, spending the next two and a half years in Tennessee, Mississippi and Alabama. They participated in the battles of Corinth, Coffeyville, Tupelo, and the soldier of whom we write was under fire, in addition to the above, at Iuka, Coldwater, Abbeyville, Holly Springs, Oxford, Water Valley and Jackson, Tenn., and at Rippey, Miss. While following Price through Mississippi, he with four others was sent to reconnoiter Price's position. It was a perilous undertaking in the night, wading streams and taking all hazards. They ran onto the enemy's camp guard and then fell back. The enemy, not knowing the size of the force opposing them, soon evacuated the town. This is probably the only instance where five men started a whole army. "He was frequently on duty as scout or courier in hazardous enterprises," says one of his commanders, "where his unflinching bravery, quick intelligence, sound judgment were signally displayed, winning for him the praise of commanding officers. He was our ideal of a soldier." Being honorably discharged at 8t Louis, September 27, 1864, he returned home and went to school for a short time, but re-enlisted February 13, 1865, in Company F, One Hundred Fifty-first Illinois Volunteer infantry, and on account of previous service was made drill sergeant, and in a competitive drill was placed in command of the headquarters guard of General Judea, which he held under Generals Judea and H. F. Sickles, until the close of his enlistment. He was discharged the last time in February, 1866, and returned at once to Wyanett, 111., and resumed peaceful pursuits.

He was married September 5, 1866, to Miss Lucina Sapp, daughter of Hezekiah and Mary J. Bosket Sapp, who were both natives of Delaware. They have three children, Lorena C., born December 18, 1868, Burdette F., born April 22, 1870, and Alzad B., born October 10, 1873. In the following spring the young couple started in a covered wagon for Iowa, and settled in Oneida township, Tama county, on the same farm where they now reside. He commenced with eighty acres, and now has 700 acres of Iowa's most productive soil. Although the land is gently rolling he has laid over four miles of tiling under it.

Colonel Mowry has always been an active republican, casting his first vote for Abraham Lincoln in 1864, and has never missed an election since he came to Iowa. He was justice of the peace for ten years. In 1873 he was placed on the republican ticket for supervisor but the anti-monopoly movement was then at its height and he was defeated by thirty-seven votes in the county. In 1876 he began taking part in speaking campaigns and in every year since then ne has stumped either the county, the district or the state. In 1883 he was elected to represent his county in the legislature, and took an active part in the business of the session. Believing that laws were too often changed he spent more time in defeating what he considered bad measures, than he did in securing the enactment of new laws. He, however, secured the passage of the measure to reduce the penalty on delinquent taxes to 1 percent a month. He took the ground that if the state did not allow an individual to collect more than 6 percent interest, the state should be satisfied with 12. He received special credit from the farmers for the defeat of the bill to abolish independent and subdistricts in the country, making no change in the school laws applying to cities and towns. This bill was championed by State Superintendent Akers and Senator L. R Bolter, and supported by the representatives of the cities.

In 1892, when the Fifth congressional district was democratic, Colonel Mowry was urged to become a candidate for congress, but was defeated in the convention by K. O. Cousins, the present member. Colonel Mowry immediately took the stump for his successful rival and worked for Mr. Cousins until he was elected. In 1896, without being a candidate, Colonel Mowry was unanimously selected republican candidate for presidential elector in the Fifth district, and made twenty-five speeches throughout the state in that campaign. He was elected by the largest vote of any elector, except Major Conger, elector at large. Colonel Mowry's long service to the republican party and his eminent business qualifications were recognized by the party in 1898, when he was nominated for railroad commissioner by the republican state convention in Dubuque. He received on the first ballot 2421 more votes than his strongest competitor and more than 100 majority over all. He was elected by 62,883 plurality. He is now filling the office with the good sense and Industry that have brought him such a large measure of success in all that he has undertaken in life.

PENROSE, Hon. Emlen G. Senator Penrose, who represented the Forty-fifth senatorial district in the general assembly, was born at Chesterfield, Ohio, August 22, 1844. His parents, Thomas and Maria Clenden Penrose, were Quakers, their remote ancestors having come to this country with William Penn. The early youth of Senator Penrose was spent in his native state on the farm, where he received a common school education.

He came to Iowa in 1860 and has ever since been a resident of this state. As a young man he worked on the farm, clerked and taught school. During the years from 1864 to 1875 he attended several terms in the Iowa State university. In 1868 he located at Tama City and engaged as clerk in a store, but, having an ambition to fill a wider field, removed to Grand Junction and, in partner-ship with C. B. Park, opened a hardware, agricultural implement and grain business, where a large and profitable trade was enjoyed until 1872, at which time he returned to Tama City and put in a complete stock of hardware. While he has ever made it a rule to pay close attention to business, he devotes a portion of his time to the wants and needs of the public, and has been prominent in the management of municipal affairs. He has served several terms on the city council and was mayor both before and after the reincorporation of the place into a city of the second class. Under his administration the city put in a system of waterworks unexcelled by any inland town in the state; erected an electric light plant and built an electric railroad. He is prominent in educational affairs and has been elected repeatedly to the presidency of the school board. For several years he has served as trustee of the Methodist Episcopal church, and has been active in the Masonic, Knights Templars and Knights of Pythias orders.

In politics Mr. Penrose is a republican, starting almost with the birth of the party, casting his first vote for Wm. Stone for governor in 1865, and all the years of his life he has been its earnest friend and staunch supporter. In the fall of 1893 he received the unanimous nomination of his party as a candidate for state senator to represent the district composing the counties of Benton and Tama. The preceding election had given the district to the democrats, but his great popularity and vigorous canvass resulted in his election by a handsome majority, his own city giving him a highly complimentary vote. He was re-elected in 1897. As a legislator he possesses many fine and unusual qualifications. Being a man of excellent judgment in all matters, he moves carefully, yet courageously, when once he has arrived at a final conclusion. He gives a subject due consideration before talking upon it, and then defends his position with great strength and clearness, though always in a manner courteous to those who hold different views. He is a conspicuous figure in the more important committees, and his services as chairman of the railway committee were generally recognized for their thoroughness and care. By his intelligent course he has the esteem of his contemporaries, irrespective of party, who are always ready to join him in facilitating the work he seeks to do, which accounts in a large measure for the considerable legislation he has succeeded in having enacted. He is held in high regard by Governor Drake and was one of the chosen guests who accompanied that official to the sea to participate in the launching of the battleship "Iowa." Honorable to a fine degree, in both his public and private life, generous to a fault and public spirited, he has friends and admirers in all the walks of life. In business matters his word is his bond and it never goes to protest.

He was married in 1870 to Miss Jennie C. Stoddard. They have one son, Frank, who assists his father in the conduct of the mercantile business at Tama.

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