The Ogilvie Family of Muscatine County, Iowa

ADAM OGILVIE, deceased. Among the rul> earliest and most highly respected pioneers of Muscatine, was the worthy gentleman whose name heads this sketch, and whose memory is still fresh in the hearts of the old pioneers and more recent arrivals, who knew him best, and who were privileged to enjoy his friendship. He was born in January, 1804, in the parish of Keith, Banffshire, Scotland, on the beautiful farm known in Scottish history as the Manse of Glengerrick. This farm has been in possession of the family from remote generations, and is still owned by one of the branches of the Ogilvie family. Our subject was the tenth son of William and Margaret (Anderson) Ogilvie, and his early life was passed at the Manse. When eighteen years of age he was apprenticed to the mercantile business in the city of Keith to John Ingraham, with whom he served three years, and was subsequently promoted to head man in the establishment. He then embarked in the same line of business for himself at Keith, which he carried on successfully for eight years.

In the spring of 1836 Mr. Ogilvie sold out, and in the month of June, of that year, emigrated to the United States, reaching New York in July. After a brief stay in that city, he, in company with relatives, set out for the then Far West, the Mississippi Valley, and about the ist of September of that year, reached the trading-post known as Bloomington, now Muscatine, where he purchased several lots, and decided to establish his home. He subsequently went on a tour of observation up the river as far as Dubuque, thence eastward to Galesburg, Ill., and from there across the country to Burlington, Iowa, and from there back to Bloomington, making the trip on foot, and much of the way traveling in deep snow through an almost unsettled country. In 1837 he opened a general store in a log cabin on Water street, the second mercantile house in Bloomington, counting the old trading post as the first. The log cabin was soon sup planted by a substantial two-story structure on the same street, the lower story of which he occupied as a store, using the upper story as a residence. Thirteen years later this building was removed to make way for a brick building of much greater pretentions, which is still standing.

As a matter of early history, some facts in regard to the erection of the wooden building spoken of may be of interest in these later days, when the river front just below the site of the old store was a wilderness of lumber piles, aggregating hundreds of millions of feet. The timbers of which the building alluded to above was built were all fitted, square and framed on the lot where the house stood; joints, studding, rafters and weather board ing were made from trees generally growing in close proximity to the lot, while the flooring, which was of oak, was brought from Drury’s mills in Illinois, and the pine lumber for doors, sash and finishing, and all shingles, was brought from Cincinnati, Ohio, at considerable expense.

In 1844, having purchased a tract of sixty acres adjoining the town, Mr. Ogilvie built an elegant and commodious residence, which he named after the ancestral home of his native land, “The Manse of Glengerrick,” where he passed the remainder of his days in the company of wife and children. He was married in New York City, on the 9th of August, 1837, to Miss Isabella Milne, daughter of Peter and Isabella Milne. The lady was born at Keith, Scotland, and emigrated to America with her father in June, 1837, her mother having died in Scotland. Four sons and a daughter were born of their union: Charles Duff, the eldest, died in childhood; William Henry, who lived to middle age, was unmarried, and died March 9, 18/8; Charles B., born at Muscatine, Jan. 14, 1845, was graduated from Princeton College, N. J., in the class of ’67, studied law at Columbia College, N. Y., and was admitted to the bar in 1872. He was married at Muscatine, Oct. 17, 1877, to Miss Lucy Jackson, daughter of Alexander Jackson, a pioneer of this city; Frank A. died April 17, 1878; Isabella, the only daughter and the second child, is the wife of Col. C. C. Horton, of the 2d Iowa Cavalry, now an officer of the pension department, and a resident of Muscatine.

Mr. Ogilvie was enterprising and public-spirited, and made many substantial improvements in Muscatine and its suburbs. He was liberal toward worthy objects of charity and in support of religious interests, and was one of the most liberal con tributers toward the erection of the present beautiful Presbyterian Church of that city, of which he lived and died a most devoted member. In the early settlement of Muscatine, section 35, township 77 north, range 2 west, was granted to Muscatine

County for public purposes, and the County Commissioners appointed Mr. Ogilvie their agent to receive payment and deed to each one his particular lot. This delicate duty was performed with entire satisfaction to all concerned, and reflected credit upon him for his prompt, fair and upright discharge of the duties of the position. Mr. Ogilvie continued in the mercantile business until the time of his death. He was also engaged during the with the world, both public and private, genial and affable in manner, and always ready to accommodate a neighbor or aid a friend to the extent of his ability, he won the universal good-will and esteem of all who knew him. His death occurred on the 5th of February, 1865, in the sixty-first year of his age. His death was sincerely mourned by the community where he had so long occupied a prominent place as one of the most worthy of the early pioneers. His estimable wife survives him, and still resides at the old homestead at Muscatine.

later years of his life in the real-estate business, but merchandising was his forte, and while he continued in that line exclusively he was eminently successful.

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

UILLIAM GORDON, one of the very earliest settlers of Muscatine, having for fifty-two Wy/ years been an honored citizen of that city, is a native of Scotland, and was born in the parish of Keith, Bamffshire, on the 12th of June, 1812.

He is a son of John and Margaret (Ogilvie) Gordon. His paternal ancestors were descended from the dukes of Gordon, of Gordon Castle, and on his mother's side he is descended from the Ogilvies, of the Manse of Glengerrick, who were a distinguished Scottish family. "Little of the affluence or splendor of either castle or mange was reflected upon the pathway of William Gordon. Neither of his parents were in the direct line of inheritance, and their children were early taught to be the architects of their own fortunes." Our subject was accordingly apprenticed at an early age to the carpenter's trade, at which he served a term of five and a half years. After one year spent in working as a journeyman, he emigrated to America, being then in his nineteenth year. He sailed from his native land in the sailing-vessel "Universe," for New York. The ship encountered terrific gales, was partially dismasted, and was driven out of her course, but finally made the port of Galveston, then a part of the Mexican Province of Texas. After making necessary repairs they sailed for New York, where they arrived safely after a tempestuous winter voyage of seven weeks and three days, during which time the crew suffered greatly from hunger and thirst, and were for several days in danger of their lives.

On his arrival in New York William sought out James Gordon Bennett, formerly his near neighbor in Scotland, and was by him directed to the shops of Hon. Richard White, where he secured employment. In the course of his work he assisted in the erection of the well-known Astor House, the New Exchange of New York, and the magnificent Catholie Church, of Paterson, N. J. In the summer of 1836 he went to St. Louis with his uncle, Adam Ogilvie, where they met friends but did not re main. They pursued their course up the Mississippi, and on the loth of August of that year landed at what is now Muscatine, but was then only a trading-post, known as Bloomington. Only twelve white people were then residents of the town, but the Indians swarmed here by the hundreds. Mr. Gordon and his uncle located at this point, the former being the first carpenter to settle there. He at once engaged in building a town to meet the demands of the rapidly arriving settlers. At that early date there were no sawmills in the country, and consequently no lumber. Material was cut from forest trees, from which timber was hewed, clapboards split and shaved, and floors were made of split slabs hewn down to a surface. Some of the buildings which were erected in this prime five manner are still standing, and have been newly roofed and floored, and covered with sawed clap boards. The frames were so strongly made that they are yet as strong as many of the modern buildings. The first building erected by Mr. Gordon was the Hotel Kinney, then known as the Kinney House, which stood on the present site of Mr. Wallace’s business house on Front street.

In the celebrated “Missouri War,” so called, Mr. Gordon joined Col. Yanatta’s force, was commissioned Lieutenant, and marched to Burlington, but there the regiment was met by a messenger bearing the news that a treaty of peace had been signed by the Hon. Stephen Whicher and other of his colleagues, and the Missouri Commissioners, and the war was over.

On the 20th of October, 1840, Mr. Gordon wed ded Miss Eliza H. Magoon, their union being celebrated at Bloomington. The lady is a daughter of Isaac and Hannah (Shaw) Magoon, was born in Palmer, Mass., and came to Bloomington in 1839. Five children were born of their marriage, one son and four daughters: William A., who served as a soldier in the late war as a member of Company H, 11th Iowa Infantry, was severely wounded April 6, 1862, at the battle of Shiloh, and after several years of intense suffering died on the 8th of July, 1866, when twenty-four years of age; Ade laid M. is the wife of Capt. John II. Munroe, who was Adjutant on the staff of Gen. McPherson during the late war; Mary is the wife of Martin L. Mikesell, the present Assistant Postmaster of Muscatine; Agnes S., who married William M. Kinkade, died in 1885; Clara died when thirteen years of age.

In the summer of 1857 Capt. Gordon was elected Sheriff of Muscatine County, running as the Democratic candidate, and was elected by a handsome majority when his party was in a minority. He was twice re-elected, and served five years in all. He was subsequently elected Assessor, was re-elected and served several years, giving general satisfaction. Mr. Gordon is still a zealous Democrat, but has long been out of politics. His principal business up to 1877 was contracting and building, and many of the finest buildings in the city, both pub lie and private, were erected under his supervision. Mr. Gordon has always taken an active interest in public improvements, and was one of the stockholders in the Muscatine Western Railroad.

In 1872 our subject was called upon to mourn the loss of his estimable wife, who died on the 8th of August of that year. In 1875 he met with a serious accident while standing on a step ladder nailing some mouldings to the ceiling of the hall in a house he was finishing; a barrel of hot unslaked lime, fresh from the kiln, was upset above him and fell in his face, which nearly resulted in the loss of his eyesight, and induced a partial paralysis of his right side. He has since nearly recovered his health, but still suffers from imperfect vision. Capo Gordon adheres to the religious views of his fore fathers, and is a member of the Presbyterian Church. He became a member of the Ancient Order of Free and Accepted Masons in 1843, by joining Iowa Lodge No. 2, of Muscatine, of which he soon became Master. In 1852 he took the chapter degrees in Washington Chapter No. 4, R.

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

CHARLES BENJAMIN OGILVIE.

Charles Benjamin Ogilvie, attorney at law at Muscatine, who is also engaged in the loan and insurance business, was born in this city, January 14, 1855. A residence of more than a half century here has made him thoroughly familiar with the history of Muscatine and in many ways he has been a factor in the city's upbuilding and progress. His parents were Adam and Isabella (Milne) Ogilvie, and the family name indicates the Scotch ancestry. Both father and mother were born in the land of hills and weather. In the year 1835 the former crossed the Atlantic to America and made his way at once to Muscatine, then a small town upon the Iowa frontier, giving little promise of rapid development in the future. Mr. Ogilvie became its first merchant, conducting a general store and also acted as county agent in making out deeds for city lots. He remained in business here for many years, conducting an extensive trade which came to him from many of the pioneers of the surrounding country, and for a long period he was regarded as one of the leading and most honored business men of the locality. About 1855 he erected the Commercial Hotel, which he rented. The first floor was used for his store, having a stock of goods where the hotel office is now situated. He continued a prominent factor in the business and public life of the community until called to his final rest in 1865, when sixty-one years of age. His wife survived him for some time, passing away at the age of eighty-three years. Both were devoted members of the Presbyterian church and contributed to the moral as well as the material progress of the community. Their family numbered three sons and a daughter: William H. and Frank A., both deceased; Belle, the wife of Colonel Horton, of Marshalltown, Iowa; and Charles B., of this review.

The last named was reared in Muscatine and at the usual age entered the public schools, wherein he pursued his studies through consecutive grades. His more advanced literary and professional education was acquired in Princeton University, of New Jersey, from which he was graduated in 1877. Sometime later he was admitted to the bar but did not at once concentrate his energies upon his profession. In 1879 he served as principal of school No. 2 in Muscatine. For thirty years he has engaged in the loan and insurance business and in this field has met with substantial success. At different times he has lived elsewhere than in his native city, remaining for varying periods at Minneapolis, Chicago, New York city and in Kentucky, but for the past twenty years he has remained continuously in Muscatine and is now well known here as a member of the legal profession and also as a loan and insurance agent.

On the i/th of October, 1878, Mr. Ogilvie was united in marriage to Miss Lucy Jackson, a daughter of Alexander and Lucy (Daley) Jackson. There were four sons born of this marriage, Glenn, Alexander, Clarence and Paul. Of this number the two eldest are now deceased, Glenn passing away in infancy and Alexander at the age of twenty years. The others are now attending school.

In his political views Mr. Ogilvie is a democrat, having always supported the party, but the honors and emoluments of office have had no attraction for him. His religious faith is that of the Presbyterian church. The fact that many of his stanchest friends are those who have known him from boyhood is an indication that his life has been honorable and upright at all times. He is familiar with the history of Muscatine county, being an interested witness of its growth and progress from early times, and his cooperation is ever heartily given to measures and movements that are deemed an essential factor in the welfare of the district.

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