The Bever Family of Linn County, Iowa

SAMPSON C. BEVER. Prominent among the old pioneers of this county, those who have witnessed its remarkable development and borne a conspicuous part in the great work necessary to such an achievement; who endured the toil and hardships of pioneer life without a murder or complaint, is Mr. Sampson C. Bever.: He was closely identified with the noble and heroic pioneer men and women who have left their im- press upon all the surroundings, and many of whom: yet live to look over these broad prairies covered: with beautiful homes, with growing cities and vil-: lages, school-houses, colleges and churches, and realize with a just satisfaction, that they had a hand in this magnificent development.

Mr. Bever came here from Ohio in 1851, and since then has made an honorable record, lending his means, counsel and enterprise toward the upholding, not only of the city of Cedar Rapids where he resides, but of the county.

Mr. Bever was born on the east side of Columbiana County, Ohio, July 31, 1808, and is the son of James and Euphemia (Imbrie) Bever, natives of 8 Washington County, Pa. The father of James was Sampson Bever, who came to this country from Germany during the Revolutionary War, and lived in Washington County, Pa. There he was actively engaged in agricultural pursuits until his death, lie had three children, of whom James moved to the interior of Ohio in is 10 and secured 160 acres of land which was the site of the town of the Winnebago Indians, who had burned it upon leaving that section. Here he erected a log cabin and began the improvement of his place. His over-zealousness it. to prepare a home for himself and family, and his

Wm mm hard labor brought on a disease which caused his death at the early age of twenty-seven. He had two sons, Sampson C., our subject, and James.

The subject of this notice remained on his father's farm in Ohio until he was fifteen years of I age. He then held the position of clerk in the store of II. Sweitzer, of Brownsville, Pa., for five years, after which he went to work at a glass factory owned by Bowman, Sweitzer & Bowman. After remaining there one year as clerk and manager, he became the proprietor of the works. The history of this period of his life we take from the United States Biographical Dictionary:

"At the age of twenty he took charge of the Albany Glass Works, near Brownsville, at the mouth of the Little Redstone Creek, for Bowman, Sweitzer & Bowman, receiving a compensation of $150 a year. They were men of large means, entirely independent, and soon turned over to Mr. Bever the store, goods, glass works, coal bank — everything they had there; he taking a partner, William Eberhart. an experienced glass-lower, the firm being S. C. Bever & Co. The business prospered, and in two years the firm had paid the indebtedness to the old firm, and had a remunerative surplus left. Upon Mr. Eberhart's retirement from the business George B. Woltz joined with Mr. Bever for the term of four years, but died before its close: the business, however, continued under the name of Bever & Woltz to the end of four years. During this time President Jackson was making war on the United States Bank, and Mr. Bever, though highly prospered, saw tile cloud gathering in the financial heavens, and sold out. The parties to whom he disposed of his interests in the glass-works lost all they had in the course of two or three years."

In the autumn of L836, Mr. Bever formed a partnership with Goodloe II. Bowman, one of his former employers Inil at that time Cashier of the Monon-

RiSElfcSJ gahela Bank, of Brownsville. They opened a mercantile house at Coshocton, Ohio, and the firm of Bever & Bowman flourished for ten years.

He then moved to Mi Herburg, now in Holmes County, Ohio, and there sold goods for the following six years. The location was near the old homestead and the rustic graveyard where his father was laid to rest more than seventy years ago whose remains filial love prompted the son to remove to Cedar Rapids twenty-five years since. Mr. Bever built himself a beautiful home at Millersburg, but afterward determined to " go West," and accordingly sold his homestead and, after prospecting in the States on the Mississippi and Cedar Rivers, settled with his family in Cedar Rapids, where he arrived after a circuitous route by the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers and by private conveyance on the 4th of April, 1852. Here he purchased 600 acres of land close to the city, and entered nearly 4.000 acres more, all within a few miles of the present city. After one year of farm life, he c 'hides that such was not his vocation, and purchased a store on the corner of First avenue and First street, and conducted the business five years, when he sold his goods but retained the building.

Mr. Beyer, during this time, engaged in building the C. I. At N. R. R. from Clinton to Cedar Rapids, and obtained the first charter in Cedar Rapids for a. national bank, having previously been engaged in private banking under the firm name of S. C. Bever & Sons. This soon merged into the City National Bank, capital 8100,000, which he has since continued. He erected his present bank building in 1871, and has built several block. also five large houses for his children and a number of tenement houses. He is interested in the Savings Bank, and owns stock in two different railroads, also stock in the street railway, lie is a stock-holder in the Water-Works, Oil and Paint Works. Oil Mill, and in the Woolen Factory. His residence is situated on the corner of First avenue and Fifth street, and is one of the finest in the city.

Sampson C. Bever was manic. 1 in 1833, to Miss Mary Blythe, a native of Fayette County, Pa., and a daughter of John and Ellen Blythe. she became the mother of nine children, five of whom arc-till living: Jane F. married Alex 11. Spangler (deceased), a resident of Cedar Rapids, and is the mother of one son, David; james L. married Miss Lovenia Silliman, and has three children: Mary, Lewis I and Lorenzo; George W. married Miss Ada Taylor; Ellen, Mrs. I'. C. Blake, is the mother of three children, james. Genevieve and Georgia; John B. married Miss Charlotte Morton. The three sons of Mr. Bever are in the Bank; the eldest son,.james L. is Cashier; George W., Vice President, and John B., Teller. His children are provided with fine homes, and their surroundings are all that could be desired. Mr-. Bever departed this life June 14, lS.s.j, loved and mourned by all who knew her.

Politically our subject is a Republican, and has been a member of the City Council, lie and his family are members of the Episcopal Church. Mr. B Bever is truly a self-made man. having started out in life without means but with perseverance, a: desire to do well what was to be done, and an evident determination to win his way in the great battle of life. He has succeeded beyond his fondest expectations, and every year but adds to his store, lie is not only one of the prominent business men of Cedar Rapids, but is honored and respected wherever known, and we therefore take pleasure in presenting his portrait in this work.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JAMES L. BEVER.

Few men are more prominent or more widely known in the enterprising city of Cedar Rapids than James L. Bever. He is an important factor in business and financial circles, and the high esteem in which he is held is well deserved. He is public-spirited, and thoroughly interested in whatever tends to promote the moral, intellectual and material welfare of the city where almost his entire life has been passed.

Mr. Bever \\as born in Coshocton, Ohio, March 4, 1838, and is a son of Sampson C. Bever, whose sketch appears on another page of this volume. At the age of six years his parents removed to Millersburg, that state, where he attended a private school, and for a time was a pupil of Josiah Given, then a young law student, now chief justice of the supreme court of Iowa.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JOHX B. BEVER.

Prominent among the active business men of Cedar Rapids is John B. Bever, vice-president of the Bever Land Company, and stockholder and director in the Citizens National Bank of Cedar Rapids, and of the American Trust and Savings Bank of the same city. He is a native of the city, born on the 15th of September, 1852, and a son of Sampson C. Bever, who is represented on another page of this volume.

In the public schools of Cedar Rapids Mr. Bever obtained his primary education. He later attended private institutions of learning in the same city, and for three years was a student in Griswold College, Davenport, Iowa. Leaving college, he commenced his business career as a messenger in the City National Bank of Cedar Rapids, and, after serving in various positions in the bank, was made cashier, and as such served until 1898. Not only the directors aufl stockholders of the bank, but the general public reposed in him entire confidence, and much of the popularity of the bank was attributed to him. He still retains an interest in the bank and is one of its directors.

On the organization of the Bever Land Company in 1891, he became identified with its interests, and in 1892, on the death of S. C. Bever, who served as president of the company, James L. Bever became president, and our subject was made vice-president, which position he still holds. On retiring from the position of cashier of the City National Bank, he assumed active work in the Bever Land Company, and to the advancement of its interests gives the greater part of his time. One of the original stockholders and organizers of the American Trust & Savings Bank of Cedar Rapids, he has served as one of its directors from its inception to the present time.

On the 1 2th of May, 1886, Mr. Bever was united in marriage with Miss Carlotte Morton, a native of New York, and a daughter of John Morton, who died when she was a small child. With his wife, he holds membership in the Episcopal church, and in the social circles of the city they occupy a prominent position and are highly esteemed.

Soon after reaching his majority, Mr. Bever was made a Mason in Mt. Hermon Lodge, No. 263, A. F. & A. M., and has steadily worked his way upward, taking each degree in the order. He is a member of Trowel Chapter, No. 49, R. A. M.; Apollo Commandery, No. 26, K. T.; and of Iowa Consistory, No. 2. He is also a member of El Kaher Temple, Mystic Shrine. Well posted in the workings of the order, he takes great interest in its principles. The Protective Order of Elks also nuni1)crs him among its members. Politically he is identified with the Republican party.

Public spirited and enterprising, Mr. Bever has done much for his native city and county, and is deservedly popular among all classes of its citizens. Since attaining his majority, he has been associated with his brothers, James L.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.