honorable and successful life. His wife was Mary Blythe, a native of Fayette County, Pennsylvania.

James L. Bever was born in Coshocton, Ohio, March 4, 1838. He attended public schools there until the family moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Here he entered the private school of the Rev. Williston Jones, pastor of the Presbyterian church. This school has grown to be the now prosperous Coe College. In 1855 James was sent by his parents to Kenyon College in Ohio, where he spent two years. Being impatient to begin a business career he left college and took a place in his father's store. This did not satisfy him and he entered the bank of Greene, Merritt & Co., in Cedar Rapids, where he remained until they went out of business in 1862, when the private bank of S. C. Bever & Son was organized. In 1864 this was converted into the City National Bank of Cedar Rapids with S. C. Bever as president, James L. Bever cashier. The bank continued business for twenty-nine years without a change of the officers. Upon the death of S. C. Bever in 1893 James L. Bever was elected president and his brother, George W. Bever, was made vice president and John B. Bever cashier. This bank went into voluntary liquidation in March, 1898, and the Citizens' National Bank was organized to take its place. James L. Bever is largely interested in financial institutions in Cedar Rapids. He was one of the incorporators of the following companies, in which he holds offices as indicated President of the Citizens' National Bank, Director of the American Trust & Savings Bank and of the Cedar Rapids Savings Bank, Vice President of the Cedar Rapids Water Co., and of the Cedar Rapids Electric Light & Power Company and President of the Bever Land Company. Although Mr. Bever has always been a republican he has had no political ambitions.

He is a member of the Occidental Club and is treasurer of the Apollo Commandry, Knights Templar. On his father's death James L. Bever was made senior warden of Grace Episcopal church of Cedar Rapids, and is treasurer of the Iowa Episcopate fund. He married Lavinia Rathbone Silliman, in Christ church, Rochester, New York. They have four children: Mary,

ica. Mr. Butler's grandfather, Beale Butler, removed from Georgia to Wayne County, Indiana, in 1806. His was the first white family to make a home on the west side of the Whitewater river. He married Mary Carter. Samuel Butler, the father of William, was born in Georgia in 1793, and was 13 years old when the family moved to Indiana. to Indiana. He was brought up on the frontier farm in the wilds of Wayne county and when grown to manhood, he married Mary Davenport, daughter of Jesse and Rebecca Hoover Davenport, whose family were of Quaker ancestry. Her father was a native of North Carolina. Mr. Butler was the sixth child in a family of eight

children, and was born in Wayne County, Indiana, September 13, 1827. In the spring of 1843 his father removed to Whitley County, Indiana, then a great wilderness, and occupied by the Indians. Here he became a pioneer and undertook the hard task of clearing and improving a farm in the forest. Probably no part of the Union was settled under greater difficulties than the "Hoosier State." Amid these frontier scenes and surrounded by the wilds of an undeveloped country, William Butler grew to manhood. His first and most lasting lessons were taught by the greatest of teachers, experience. With him as with many others who have overcome every obstacle and made a success of life, it would seem that the rough labor performed and hardships endured served only to build up and strengthen his character. At the early age of 16 he returned to Wayne County and started out for himself by engaging in teaming. After the third year he, in company with a brother, rented a farm which they cultivated for two years. He was married February 2, 1851, to Miss Margaret McCowen, a native of Pennsylvania, and a daughter of William McCowen. Soon after his marriage Mr. Butler removed to Whitley County, Indiana, where he rented land and farmed until the winter of 1855, when he removed overland to Henry County, Iowa. During this trip he stood on the banks of the Mississippi river and watched the first railway locomotive that crossed that river into Iowa at Burlington. After reaching Henry County he occupied a rented farm near New London for one year and in April, 1856, moved to Page County. With the history of this county he has been closely identified and has assisted in making it in many respects one of the banner counties of Iowa. He pre-empted a quarter section of land in Harlan township, improved it and continued farming until 1865. After the autumn of 1861 he was engaged in buying and selling live stock. In 1865 he purchased the 305 acres on which now stands the state hospital for the insane. He became an extensive dealer in grain and in 1871 erected the first grain elevator in Clarinda. During the years from 1876 to 1882, he was associated with a brother under the firm name of Butler Bros. In 1879 and 1880 the firm.

shipped 1,700 carloads of stock. Mr. Butler was a member of a syndicate that handled over 2,000,000 bushels of grain. Like nearly all the successful business men of today who have made fortunes, Mr. Butler has sometimes taken risks, but he has accumulated a handsome competence, which he uses with a liberal hand. He contributes liberally to every good cause, both public and private.

Mr. Butler is a republican, aggressive and always reliable as a supporter of American institutions. In the Fremont campaign of 1856 he was an active worker and came within three votes of carrying his county. By reason of his honorable, fair-minded course in political matters, he has the respect and good will of both parties. During the war and several years afterwards he was a member of the county board of supervisors and in 1869 was elected to represent his district in the Iowa legislature. He was reelected for the next term, was made chairman of the appropriations committee and was active in starting the movement which secured the magnificent capitol building for the state. In 1883 and 1885 Mr. Butler was again elected to the legislature and during this time secured the location of the Hospital for the Insane at Clarinda.

In February, 1885, Mr. Mr. Butler was awarded the contract for building the splendid court house, which is a credit to Clarinda and Page County. From the foundation to the dome he gave the work special personal attention and it is a solid monument of the work so faithfully performed.

Mr. Butler is still in active business, owner and proprietor of the Palace Livery barn, and in connection with it is extensively breeding light harness horses of the Wilkes family, with many other crosses bred in the purple. He owns an interest in the only elevator at Clarinda and gives the business an oversight.

Mr. Butler is an honored member of the various divisions of the Masonic fraternity, and is now in the thirty-second degree of that order. He also belongs to the Knights of Pythias and the Odd Fellows.

Mr. Butler's first wife died July 8, 1871. He was again married March 5, 1873, to Miss Eleanor D. McCartey, a native of Ohio and daughter of Russell G. and Della

Kent McCartey. She was born in Geauga County, Ohio, and educated at the well known Oberlin College. They have one child, Eleanore McCartey Butler, born August 26, 1875, at Denver, Colorado.

BROCK, GEORGE GRIFFITH, a practicing dentist of Sheldon, is descended from one of the old Revolutionary families and was born in Geddes, Michigan, January 2, 1865. His father was C. L. Brock and his mother's

BECKER, DR. FRED J., of Postville, was born in Fayette County, September 18, 1863, and now holds the responsible position of assistant to the professor of surgery in the homeopathic medical department of the State University. He is a son of the well known Dr. Frederick Becker of Clermont, and his wife, Sophia Miller Becker. Dr. Becker Sr. emigrated to America from Germany in 1853, coming alone, although he was only 14 years of age. By industry and application he educated himself in medicine, and has been a resident of the state for

The

maiden name was Marion Morrison. great-grandfather of George G. on his father's side was a veteran in the Revolutionary War and was one of those chosen to escort Lafayette back to France. George G. received his elementary education in the common schools and took two courses in the dental department of the State University, but completed his professional studies in the Kansas City Dental College in Kansas City, Missouri, graduating March 31, 1896. He at once located in Sheldon, where he enjoys a successful practice. Dr. Brock was a republican up to the campaign of 1896, when he supported William J. Bryan for the presidency on the free silver issue. He is not a church member and is unmarried.

more than forty years. He was a member of the State Board of Health from 1888 to 1896. His wife came to America from Germany with her brother in 1857 at the age of 18, and was a resident of the state from that time until her death in 1896. They had three sons, all living, of whom Dr. Fred J. Becker is the youngest. He was educated in the public schools of Clermont and in the homeopathic medical department of the State University of Iowa, where he entered at the age of 18 and graduated three years later in the class of '86. He then took a post graduate course in the Hahnemann Medical College of Philadelphia and graduated in the class of '87. After graduation he spent three years in practice with his

father in Clermont and in 1890 moved to Postville, where he has since been in practice and has met with good success. In 1895 he was appointed by the board of regents as assistant to the professor of surgery, as previously stated. He has always been a republican and is a member of the republican county committee. He is a member of the American Institute of Homeopathy and the Hahnemann Medical Association of Iowa. He is a Past Chancellor in the Knights of Pythias, and is a member of the Congregational church. He was married in June, 1888, to Lola M. Sala, of Keokuk. They have had two children, both of whom died in infancy.,

BRADT, JAMES HINTON, a resident of Rockwell City, is a truly representative citizen of that growing young empire, Northwestern Iowa. His father, James Bradt, and his mother, Abby Ann Vanderhoof Bradt, were descendants of the vigorous Hollanders who colonized a portion of New York, and although the ancestry became, thoroughly Americanized by the residence of successive generations in this country, it lost none of that indomitable energy that made the Holland Dutch a mighty factor in the independence of the new world. James Bradt, Sr., was a New York farmer whose sturdy honesty of character and honorable life made his influence a blessing to all who came in contact with it. James Hinton Bradt was born in Deerfield, New York, November 29, 1847, and received his education in that state. At the age of 23 he came to Calhoun County and has since resided there. After he had tilled the soil for ten years the republicans elected him county recorder, which office he filled for four years, and then he engaged in the real estate business. He is now senior member in the firm of Bradt & Allison, one of the leading real estate and abstract firms of Northwestern Iowa.

As a pioneer settler of Calhoun County Mr. Bradt became prominently identified with every movement for its improvement and advancement, and has always been regarded as one of its foremost citizens. As a business man he has had marked success, accumulating a comfortable fortune by his

He

own efforts. He has, in a large measure, the vigor and industry of his ancestry, combined with his own American keenness and common sense. He takes a lively interest in public matters, especially movements in commercial affairs that will be a benefit to the community or state. In politics he is an ardent republican and in 1896 was alternate delegate from the Tenth Iowa district to the national republican convention. is well posted in state and national politics. and has long been known as one of the political leaders of the section in which he resides. He is one of the most public-spirited citizens of his town and has devoted much time and money to the upbuilding of Rockwell City. He has given a number of years of service as mayor, member of the city council and of the school board, and in political and practical affairs his good judgment and unlimited energy have been of great value to his fellow citizens. His personal character is such as to inspire confidence in his leadership, and thus he has become one of the most useful citizens of the community.

Mr. Bradt is a Mason, a member of Twin Lakes Lodge No. 478, Rockwell City: Cypress Chapter No. 99. Lake City; Rose

Croix Commandry No. 38, Sac City; El Kahir Temple, Cedar Rapids, and has served as S. D. warden and master in Blue Lodge, A. F. and A. M. He is also a member of Forest Lodge No. 238, A. O. U. W., Rockwell City.

He was married December 16, 1878, to Kate Sanford. They have four children: Bertha E., born January 20, 1880; Estella J., born October 28, 1881; Lois G., born September 23, 1883; and Sylvia L., born July 31, 1885.

BIRDSALL, BENJAMIN P., formerly judge of the Eleventh judicial district, is a native of Wisconsin, being born at Weyamwega, Wapaca County, October 26, 1858. He is the son of Benjamin Birdsall and Ann Hyde (Birdsall), who were early settlers of northern Wisconsin, where Mr. Birdsall, Sr., was engaged for a number of years in the lumbering business. He afterwards removed to Iowa, engaging first in the business of farming, which he followed for a number of years, but subsequently became a banker. Judge Birdsall came to Iowa with his parents in the spring of 1870 and settled at

Alden, Hardin County. His early education was gained in the common schools of Wisconsin and Iowa, rounded out by a course at the University of Iowa. He selected the law as his profession and began its study under Hon. C. N. Nagle in that gentleman's office at Alden, and in March, 1878, was admitted to the bar. In December, 1884, he removed to Clarion and there formed a partnership with C. N. Nagle, under the firm name of Nagle & Birdsall. Their practice grew and became extensive. Judge Birdsall's ability in the profession won for him a large clientage and wide acquaintance throughout Central Iowa. In 1893 the republicans of the district recognized the marked ability and integrity of their esteemed fellow citizen by nominating him for judge, to which office he was elected in November of that year. He served five years and was again renominated in 1898. 1900 Judge Birdsall resigned from the bench and returned to practice. Judge Birdsall has been a Republican first, last and all the time. He is a member of the Triune Commandery, Knights Templar, of Webster City.

In

BOURQUIN, EUGENE, president of the bank at New Hartford, and one of the leading business men of that place, is a native of France. His father, John Peter Bourquin, was a prosperous farmer and merchant, who received an appointment from the government of France as a dealer in tobacco, which he held for four years. The mother, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Roy, possessed the typical French characteristics of industry and thrift; and by the skillful management of both parents, the family always lived in comfortable circumstances.

E. Bourquin was born May 8, 1832, at Desandans in the Department of Doubs, France. His education was obtained partly at home, and partly at the College of Montbeliard, a first-class institution of learning managed by the Lutheran church, and situated not far from his native town. He began life in the business world by clerking in a general store in France, where he remained four years, receiving excellent training in the conduct of a mercantile establishment. He came to America in 1854, at