William A. Mynster

As printed in 1891

ILLIAM A. MYNSTER, of Council Bluffs, one of the leading members of the bar of Pottawattamie County, is the only son of Christopher O. and Maria Mynster, pioneers of this county, a sketch ot whom is found elsewhere in this work. He was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, October 13, 1843, having been but a child when the family emigrated to America. He was educated at Sinsinawa Mound College, Wisconsin, and at St. Louis University, Missouri, graduating from the latter institution in 1801, and from the Albany Law School, at Albany, New York, in 1865, and lias been actively engaged in the practice of law in the city of Council BlnfiFs since that time. One year after beginning the practice of his profession he became associated with Mr. Hight, in the firm name of Mynstor it light. This copartnership continued for several years, when the firm of James, Aylesvvorth & Mynster was formed, and later that of Mynster, Mickle & Davis, and still later that of Mynster & Adams. His next association was in the lirm name of Mynster, Lindt & Seabrook. He is still associated with Mr. Lindt, the firm being Mynster & Lindt.

Mr. Mynster was married to Miss E. A. Plater, daughter of Ira Plater, an early settler of Council Bluffs. Mr. Mynster was bereft of his wife by death in November, 1886. He has five children: William Rufus Choate, Marie, Ira C, Lester A. and Henry F. Mr. Mynster is one of the representative citizens of Council Bluffs and an enterprising and progressive citizen. He has served as attorney of Pottawattamie County, and President of the City Council of this city. Politically Mr. Mynster affiliates with the Democratic party.

fUDGE EGBERT E. AYLESVVORTH is one of the earlier and well-known members of the bar of Council Bluffs. Judge Aylesworth is a native of the Empire State, having been born in tiio town of Milford, Otsego County, New York, in 1838. His father, now deceased, was also born in the State of New York, as was his mother, Savina Adams. They were the jiarcMits of si.\ children, three sons and three daughters. The former in the order of tlieir birth, are the subjects of this notice; Lorenne, of Council Bluffs, and Freting, who is still a resident of the State of New York, as are the sisters of the family.

Judge Aylesworth was reared in his native town and was educated at Hart wick Academy and at the Delaware Literary Institute, at Franklin, in Delaware County, New York, and began the study of law in 1861, at Portlandville in his native county, with R. M. Townsend, Esq., a prominent lawyer of that place. He was admitted at Binghamton, New York, May 12, 1863, but continued in the office of his preceptor till he came West three years later. Politically Judge Aylesworth is a Democrat. In 1884: Judge Aylesworth was the Democratic candidate for Judge in the Fifteenth Judicial District, his opponent being C. F. Loofbourrow. The canvass of the votes gave Judge Aylesworth a majority of two votes, but the election was contested and Loofbourrow was declared elected by fourteen votes. Four years before that election he ran against the same gentleman for the same office, when the latter was elected by but sixty-four votes, though the Republican general ticket received a 7najority of about 3,000. In 1873 Judge Aylesworth was appointed by the City Council to the office of City Attorney of Council Bluffs, to succeed Judge J. R. Reed, and was elected to that place in 1874 and re-elected in 1876, serving in that position for four years. In March, 18S2, he was elected Judge of the Superior Court, a position that he filled in an able and satisfactory manner for the period of eight years. He has also been a member of the Council and of the School Board of the city. Judge Aylesworth is a lawyer of fine legal attainments, and is a progressive and popular citizen. He was married in the State of

New York, to Miss Marcella Winsor, also a native of Otsego County. Their children are Paul Clark, Ellen Winsor, Egbert DeWitt and Setli Winsor.

fAUL ACKELS is one of our substantial German-American citizens, and one of the early settlers and promoters of this town, who by industry and energy has made a place of honor for themselves, as well as assisted to promote the business enterprises of Avoca. He was born in the beautiful Province of Rhine, Germany, the son of Malt Ackels, who was a farmer of that province, and the father of four sons: Joseph, John, Paul and Malt. The father is in comfortable circumstances, and has reached the age of ninety years. He served three years in the regular Prussian army, and was also in the rebellion of 1848 as a soldier for the Government. He is a man of remarkable constitution, and of great strength of character, and this robust constitution his son, our subject, has inherited to a great degree. The strong and sturdy sires of the old country have given to their sons, the voyagers to a new world, that vitality and character which are making them leaders in the West.

Paul Ackels, our subject, was born April 20, 1844, and, as all Prussians are obliged by law to learn a trade, he those that of tailor, which he completed in a very thorough manner in France, that country which for so many years was the emporium of fashion for the world. Mr. Ackels remained in the old country until the age of twenty-nine years, when, in 1873, he came to America, landing in New York city in the early part of May. His brother Malt was a farmer in this county, and he naturally came direct to Avoca, and after spending a few months working at his trade in Council Bluffs he came to this city and established himself in business as a merchant tailor. In 1876 he went into the clothing business, and has ever since been the leading clothier in the city.

He married Miss Augusta Fincks in 1876. In his political opinion he is a stanch Republican, and socially a member of the Knights of Pythias, and of the Catholic Church. He is a man of liberal ideas, and has by industry and economy accumulated handsome property, owning real estate in this town and also in Nebraska. He is well known for his integrity of character, and his honor as a merchant is established. Coming from a foreign country and unable to speak our language, he deserves great credit for the many way in which he has overcome every difficulty and won success by his own unaided and laborious efforts.

tBRAM HARRIS, a prominent farmer of Knox Township, descended from a prominent American family. His grandfather, Barnett Harris, was born on a farm in Connecticut, and was of English descent. He was the father of six sons: Barnett, Farrington, Gilbert, Daniel, William and Joseph. The father lived to the age of sixty years, dying on his farm in Dutchess County, New York, where he was one of the early settlers. His son, Barnett, the father of our subject, was born in Dutchess County, and was married at the age of nineteen to Miss Sarah Vanolinda, of Holland-Dutch parentage, but who had lived in New York State a number of years. They were the parents of eight children: Sabin, Abram, Hiram, deceased at the age of twelve years; Aaron, who died when forty-iive years of age; Jane, deceased at five years; Anna E., died at the age of twenty'-tive; Fannie and Mary J., deceased when eight years old. At the age of twotity-one Mr. Harris enlisted in the war of 1812, and served three months. He died at the age of seventy years in Saratoga Connty. He took great pride in his family, and brought them up under the old New England regime — to be honest and upright men and women. He was well-known for his integrity of character, and was industrious and frugal in his habits.

His son, Abrain, the subject of this sketch, was born in Saratoga County, New York, April 15, 1823. His first experience at working out was when but nine years of age, for a six-months job, for which he received $12 and his board. He learned farming in the old-fashioned way, using the old time sickle, scythe and hoe. Pie then became a dealer in cattle and meat, driving the cattle to the Albany markets. In 1855 he moved to Ottawa, Illinois, and engaged in the butcher business, remaining there about thirteen years. Next, in 1868, he went into the dairy business in Colorado, remaining but one year, when ho went to Omaha, where he Bto])ped three months, and while there he purchased 240 acres of land in Pottawatamie County. He soon sold this and bought a one-half section, which he improved and also built a home. He sold this land in 1888, and bought his present farm of 274 acres, which is now under a good state of cultivation. Besides this fine farm Mr. Harris also owns business property in Avoca. He is a large stock-raiser, having at present over 200 head of cattle and twenty-eight horses. In his political opinions, he is a "Gi'een baker," and belongs to the Union- Labor party. He was one of the old-time Republicans, and took an active interest in forming that party. He has always been an original thinker and independent in his opinions, and believes strongly in the original purpose of our Government, — " a government of the people, by the people, and for the people," — and never hesitates to express his views. He served the city of Avoca as Mayor two years, and also tilled the office of Justice of the Peace two years. He waa nominated as candidate for State Senator on the Greenback ticket, and received the heaviest vote on the State ticket. He is a self-made man, having begun the struggle of life for himself at ten years of age, and by honest industry he has made his property. He is a well preserved man of sixty-seven years.

Mr. Harris was married in Dutchess County, New York, to Johanna Ferris, of Irish parentage, and to them have been born five children: George W., who died at the age of eighteen; Eliza, Mary, Belle and Julia, deceased at nineteen years of age. The mother died, and the father was married to Mary Harder, daughter of Jacob and Mary (Heppner) Harder, and to theui have been born seven children: Maud, Charles, Lincoln, Thomas (deceased in infancy), Robert, Bennie and Jackson. Mrs. Harris has five brothers and sisters living, namely: Christian, Sophia, Mary, Charles and William. Their father was born in Germany.

tm. HUFF. — This is an old and prominent American family of German and * French descent, the remote ancestors being natives of Germany, and early settlers of Stokes County, North Carolina. John Huff, the grandfather of our subject, was born in that State, and was a prominent farmer, owning 200 acres of land. He was the father of twenty-two children, by two wives: Daniel, John, Wells, Charity, Melvina, David, Jordan and William are all that our subject remembers. Lewis Huff, the father of our subject, was born on the old homestead, and when a boy went to Indiana with one of his neighbors, where he remained and was married to Susan Palmer. They had twelve children, viz.: Martha, Mary, Margaret, Edith, William, Alexis, Phcebe, Alice, Hermanda, Arthur, Luella and Charity. After his marriage, in 18-10, Mr. Huff settled in Henderson County, Illinois, where he remained until 1853. In that year he came to Council Bluffs, and settled on a farm on the bottoms, now covered by the court-house and park. At that time there were but live houses and five stores there, which were covered with earth. At Omaha there was not a building, and Mr. Huff had a claim of 160 acres now in the heart of the city. He, was a soldier in the Black Hawk war, and both he and his wife were members of the Baptist Church, in which Mr. Huff was a deacon for many years. In 1855 he came to Center Township, where he was one of the pioneer settlers, there being but three others, — Joshua and Joseph Layton and Mr. Belknap. Mr. Huff was born in 1809, and died on his farm in 1885, at the age of seventy-si.K years. Alexander M. Huff, the subject of this sketch, was born in Henderson County, Illinois, May 17, 1845, and was reared to farm life. When but eight years of age he came with his father to Council Bluffs, and he well remembers the trip to this State. He came with his father to Center Township, and was married in Omaha, in 1866, to Ella Doran, daughter of John Doran, a native of Nova Scotia. To Mr. and Mrs. Huff were l)orn six children: Mary, Lewis, Ford, Eva, Katie and Daisy. The next year, in August, 1869, Mr. Huff moved to his present farm of 160 acres, on which he has made many improvements. He has taken an active interest in the cause of education, has been School Director for many years. In his political principles he is a Republik'.an, and takes an active interest in all matters pertaining to his township.

In 1863 Mr. Huff enlisted in Company C, Twenty-ninth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, as a private, and served two years, or until the close of the war. He was in the siege and capture of Mobile, at the battle of Jenkins' Ferry, and was sixty days on one march, on Red River, which was a continual skirmish. He was in the hospital five weeks with smallpox, and was honorably discharged at New Orleans. As a soldier of the great civil war, his descendants will honor his memory.

JOHN H. DAVIS, residing on section 27, Garner Township, is one of the well-known and early settlers of the county, having settled here July 4, 1853. He is a native of Wales, born May 2, 1825, the son of James and Martha (Harris) Davis, also natives of Wales. John H. was reared in his native land, engaged in mining most of the time. December 28, 1852, he was married to Miss Mary Gritteys, who was born in Wales. In February, a short time after their marriage, they went to Liverpool, where they sailed for New Orleans on the sailing vessel the Old Jersey. They made the voyage in six weeks, and after landing in New Orleans they went to St. Louis, then to Keokuk, Iowa, where they camped for six weeks on the banks of the Mississippi River. They traveled over the plains of Iowa with an ox team, and on the Fourth of July arrived at Council Bluffs. Mr. Davis removed from here to Salt Lake City, Utah, where he arrived in October, 1853, after riding over the plains and prairies. He resided in Salt

Lake until 1861, when he moved his family back to Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie County, on his present farm, in 1865. It consists uf 187 acres, situated four and a half miles from the city limits, lie is engaged in general farming, fruit-raising and gardening.

In his political views Mr. Davis is a Democrat, and although he is growing old he yet bears his years very lightly. He has traveled extensively and is well informed. He has three sons and two daughters: Benjamin, ving at home; William, residing on Keg Creek; Mary, wife of C. Herrick, and living on Keg Creek; James, at home; Sally, the wife of Fred Baup, and residing in Shelby County. A great loss to Mr. Davis was in the death of his wife, in 1867, who had shared his trials and hardships with him.

As printed in Biographical history of Pottawattamie County, Iowa. Containing portraits of all the presidents of the United States, with accompanying biographies ... history of Iowa, with ... biographies of the gove (1891). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.