Jackson County, Iowa Biographies

Nathan M. Balch

The subject of this notice a resident of this county since the fall of 1865, and in former years a prosperous agriculturist, is now a resident of the town of Baldwin. This is a station on the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad, nine miles west of Maquoketa, and located near the center of Monmouth Township. It was formerly known as Fremont. Mr. B. in connection with a hotel and livery business, follows the profession of an auctioneer, to which he seems especially adapted, being very successful. He is a man, quiet and unostentatious in his manner, careful, temperate, and industrious in his habits, and one universally respected where ever known.

Our subject was born in the town of Stockholm, in St. Lawrence County, New York, on Christmas Day, 1835 and is the son of Dan and Sylvia (Manley) Balch, who were natives of Vermont, where their early life was passed. After marriage they settled in St. Lawrence County, New York, during its pioneer days. The father cleared a farm from the wilderness, cutting away the heavy timber, bringing the soil to a good state of cultivation, and building up a pleasant and comfortable home. There the eight children were born, all of whom, with one exeeption, lived to mature years.

The fourth child of his parents, our subject, like his brothers and sisters, was trained to habits of industry, and as soon as old enough began to make himself useful around the homestead. The few schools of that region afforded but little opportunity for an education and young Balch only passed a few days in attendance thereat. He remained a member of his father's household until a man of twenty-five years, and was then married, March 13 1860, to Miss Mercy Daley. Of this union there were born two children, who died at the ages of eleven years, and ten months. The mother only survived her marriage until 1863. Mr. Balch remained a resident of his native State until the fall of 1865, then started for Iowa, in company with Elisha Bradley, one of his old friends. He did not expect to remain in the west , but after coming to this county changed his mind some-what, and as there was an opportunity given him for employment he accepted, and was occupied as a farm laborer for one man that year. In 1860 he contracted a second marriage with Miss Phoebe (Little) Hunsinger. About this time he concluded to settle here, and purchasing a farm of eighty acres, applied himself the next ten years closely to agricultural pursuits. One of his peculiarities is to do well whatever he undertakes to do at all, and this, applied to his farming operations, brought forth satisfactory results.

In due time Mr. Balch purchased fifty acres additional land, but in 1876 sold his first eighty acres, and purchased his present residence property in Baldwin, and removed there. His health being greatly impaired he did but little work for several years thereafter. About 1880 he began entertaining traveling men, and gradually drifted into the hotel business. Later, in connection with this, he established a livery stable, which he conducted successfully until the summer of 1886. He then sold out his livery business, but continued the hotel. In addition to the property already mentioned he owns a good farm of 120 acres, in Pocahontas County, this State.

To our subject and his estimable wife there have been born no children. Mr. B. although not a member of any religious denomination, believes in the establishment of churches, and contributes as he is able to the furtherance of both religion and education. He has had very little to do with political affairs. In former years he voted with the Democratic party, but since 1884 has given his support to Republican principles. With the exception of serving as Township Trustee, for a period of eleven years, he has avoided the responsibilities of office. Mr. and Mrs. Balch occupy a neat and comfortable home, and number their friends by the score in Monmouth Township and vicinity.

[Source: PORTRAIT & BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM OF JACKSON COUNTY, IOWA
Submitted by Debbie Goosinow]

Phillip B. Bradley

Phillip B. Bradley was born in Ridgefield, Connecticut, January 5, 1809. He was a graduate of Union College, New York, and studied law.

In 1834 he located at Galena, Illinois, in 1836, was appointed Prosecuting Attorney and a year later, postmaster of Galena.

In 1839 he removed to Iowa, making his home in Jackson County, where he became Clerk of the District Court in 1843. In 1845 he was elected a member of the Council of the Legislative Assembly. The following year Iowa became a State and Mr. Bradley was largely instrumental in securing the nomination of his friend and neighbor Ansel Briggs for Governor, by the Democratic State Convention. Mr. Bradley was at the same time elected to the State Senate from Jones and Jackson counties. He was the trusted adviser of Governor Briggs during his four years' term. Mr. Bradley was Secretary of the Senate in 1850 and again in 1852. He was chairman of the Iowa delegation in the National Democratic Convention in 1852 which nominated Franklin Pierce for President. In 1858 he was a member of the House of the Seventh General Assembly and again in 1877 he served a term.

For more than thirty years he was one of the trusted leaders of his party and through his long legislative career helped to shape the laws of the Territory and State.

He died at his home in Andrew, March 27. 1890.

Source: History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century, Vol. 4, P.27
Submitted by Cathy Danielson

Norris Brown

BROWN, Norris, a Senator from Nebraska; born in Maquoketa, Jackson County, Iowa, May 2, 1863; attended the common schools; graduated from the law department of the University of Iowa at Iowa City in 1883; admitted to the bar in 1884 and commenced practice in Perry, Dallas County, Iowa; moved to Kearney, Buffalo County, Nebr., in 1888, and continued the practice of law; prosecuting attorney of Buffalo County 1892-1896; deputy attorney general of Nebraska 1900-1904; attorney general of Nebraska 1904-1906; elected as a Republican to the United States Senate and served from March 4, 1907, to March 3, 1913; unsuccessful candidate for renomination 1912; chairman, Committee on Patents (Sixty-first and Sixty-second Congresses); resumed the practice of law in Omaha, Nebr., 1913-1942; retired and moved to Seattle, Wash., where he died January 5, 1960; interment in Forest Lawn Cemetery, Omaha, Nebr.

[Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774-Present; transcribed by A. N.]

Wilber I. Cram

Wilber I. Cram is proud that he comes of Irish ancestry, and one of his day-dreams for many years has been to visit the home of his fathers "across the big sea." He was born at historic Crown Point, New York, August 8, 1846, and remained there till eight years old, when he moved with his parents to Jackson county, Iowa. Here he remained for more than 27 years engaged in farming and stockraising.

As a cattle judge and specialist he soon won more than local fame. He became a breeder of thoroughbred swine and one of the originators of the American Poland China Record Association. While here he married Miss Honour Filby. They have four sturdy sons who are all making their way in the world. Thus O. E. Cram manages the old home ranch in Loup county, A. I. Cram is a noted Burwell lumber dealer, Fred C. Cram manages the stockyards at Sargent, and John E. Cram is associated with his father in the Burwell stockyards.

The Crams became pioneers in the unorganized territory which later became Loup county. They arrived in 1881, and homesteaded the southeast quarter of Section 3, Township 21, Range 19. By degrees they have added quarter to quarter till now the ranch, as W. J. calls it, contains 1,680 acres of good land. When they first took their claim the nearest neighbors were four miles away, and water had to be hauled in barrels a distance of seven miles. This led to the sinking of a well 300 feet deep, every foot of it dug by spade. In those days, too, the nearest freight depot was a hundred miles down the river.

Mr. Cram feeds in the neighborhood of 500 steers on the ranch annually, and otherwise deals in all kinds of livestock. He has lately completed a $4,000 residence property, including a waterworks plant.

[The Trail of the Loup, 1906, submitted by CD=FOFG]

Frank F. Hanson

Hanson, Frank F, Breckenridge. Banker. Born Feb 26, 1878 in Monmouth Ia, son of Willlis F and Julia A (Tudor) Hanson. Married Jan 1, 1904 to Minnie Bolster. Educated in high schools Monmouth Ia; Clinton (Ia) Business College; graduated from Unif of Ia Iowa City B S 1901. Engaged in teaching school Iowa 1902-1903; cashr Breckenridge Nat Bank 1903 to date. Member Masonic fraternity and K of P. Sec Republican Central committee for Wilkin county.

[Little Sketches of Big Folks in Minnesota (Publ. 1907) Transcribed by Richard Ramos, fwd. by Marla Z.]

William P. Kennedy

William P. Kennedy, of Glenwood Springs, the county assessor of Garfield county, this state, and who has had a long experience in public office, which he has always filled with credit to himself and advantage to the people whom he served, is a native of Jackson county, Iowa, born in 1865. He is the son of E.J. and Bridget E. (Reed) Kennedy, the former a native of New York and the latter of Ireland. The mother died in 1877, at the age of thirty-six, having been the mother of ten children, William being the sixth in the order of birth. The next year after the death of his wife the father moved his family to Colorado and for some years thereafter engaged in ranching. Then selling out his interests, he lived retired from active pursuits until his death, which was caused by his accidentally falling from a bridge at Glenwood Springs in November, 1901, when he was about sixty-eight years old. The son, William P. Kennedy, was reared to the age of twelve on the paternal homestead in Iowa, then started to make his own way in the world by working on farms in the neighborhood of his home, which he did in his native state for four years at six dollars a month. In 1885 he came to Colorado and, locating at Rifle, was employed for two years in riding the range and herding cattle. In 1887 he moved to Aspen, where he was engaged in mining until 1893, when he took up his residence at Debeque, Mesa county, where for two years he published a newspaper called the Debeque Era, one year of the time serving as mayor of the town. From Debeque he moved to Rifle and bought a one-half interest in the Rifle Reveille, which he edited and managed, serving two terms also as justice of the peace. He made his home at Rifle until elected to his present office of county assessor in 1901, when he moved to Glenwood Springs, where he has since been living and occupied with his official duties. He was married in 1893 to Miss Emma Marchesi, and they have three children, Fred H., Alma I. and William Edwin. Mr. Kennedy is highly respected as a citizen and has won high approbation as a public officer.

[Progressive Men of Western Colorado, Publ 1905. Transcribed by Kim Mohler]

Willard H. Palmer

Willard H. Palmer is a native of Jackson County and was born in Andrew in 1854 and now is in his 48th year. He was the son of Allen Palmer, deceased, a well-known and prominent resident of Perry Township, one of the Jeffersonian type, who came to Iowa in 1851. After passing through the schools of his native town, William H. was a student at Grand View Academy, Louisa County, and also at Cornell College, but completed his education at the State University, and afterward taught school.

In 1880 he was admitted to the Bar and in 1882 removed from Jackson County to Sioux County in this state where he was engaged in the practice of law for 17 years at Hawarden, Iowa. During his residence in Sioux County he was also nominated there by the Democrats for the office of county attorney against a strong opponent, who had the advantage of of a Republican majority of 900 to start with, but Mr. Palmer succeeded in reducing his opponent's majority to 215.

He left a fairly good law practice in Hawarden after the death of his father to return to Andrew to take care of his aged mother. About a year ago she passed away and with his family he removed to this city and purchased a small home on Arcade Street, where he now resides.

He comes recommended by prominent Judges, well known to the legal fraternity, as being an upright and trustworthy man and a pains taking and capable lawyer. He is a poor man and since his residence here has been particularly unfortunate in having an invalid wife and much sickness in his family, which kept him from his office and sadly interfered with the practice of his profession. But we are pleased to state that his family is again restored to health and Mr. Palmer hopes to be able to see many of the people before election day. The SENTINEL can sincerely recommend him as a gentleman, worthy of the confidence and support of every voter in the county.

[Jackson Sentinel, Published October 9, 1902]
Submitted by Kenneth E. Wright

John B. Reistroffer

JOHN B. REISTROFFER, farmer; P.O. Box, Bellevue; born in France in 1841; came to America in 1858, settled in Jackson County and bought 120 acres of land in Sections 20, 28 and 29. Wife born in Luxemburg, Germany, in 1841, came to America in 1865; her name was Katherine Spittle; they were married in Spruce Creek in 1865, and have five children-Peter, Mathias, Andrew, Mary and Theresa; two children died-Theresa and Charlie. Democrat, in religion, Catholic; has held the office of Road Supervisor two years, and has been School Director two years.

Biographical Sketches, History of Jackson County, Iowa 1879
Kenneth E. Wright

Mrs. Grace Wilbur Trout

Mrs. Grace Wilbur Trout, the woman who is said to have done more to bring equal suffrage to Illinois than any other woman in that state, was born in Iowa, educated in the schools of Iowa and lived here until after her marriage. Her public work having been for the greater part done since moving to Chicago, her name is associated with the activities of Illinois women. She was born in Maquoketa and attended the public schools there. She was married in Maquoketa to George W. Trout and lived there for several years after their marriage. She is the mother of three sons, the youngest of whom died in 1912, at the age of twenty-one. A number of years ago she made a study of Mormonism, in its religious, social and political phases and as a result of that study wrote a book "A Mormon Wife." She is a lecturer of marked ability and has lectured in eight different states on the Chautauqua platform and before clubs and city audiences. Her best known lectures are Suffrage from an American Woman's Standpoint and The English Novel as a Social Protest. She is state president of the Illinois Equal Suffrage Association and led the campaign in Springfield which brought equal suffrage to Illinois in 1913. She is president of the Ladies' Auxiliary of the Ashland Club of Chicago, a member of the West End Woman's Club, of the Chicago Woman's Club, of the Chicago chapter D. A. R., and was president of the Chicago Political Equality League 1911-12. Her home is at 434 Forest Ave, Oak Park, Chicago.

[The Blue book of Iowa Women, by Winona Evans Reeves, Publ. 1914, Transcribed by Dana Kraft]