Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-03-17

Iowa, that he hardly needs any intro
duction to the voters of his home city,
was born in Peoria county, H., in
1850. He resided with his parents in
the country short distance from Pc
oria until he was IA years of age,
when the family moved to Peoria. Mr..
Allen was educated in the public
schools of that city and after leaving
school he went into partnership with
his father, an experienced engineer,
and together they did general bust
ness in Peoria and vicinity for several
years, having considerable business
surveying in the many coal mines in
that portion of Illinois. The father
held the Office of city engineer in Pc
oria for seventeen years, during seven
years of which time his son was his
assistant, SO that while still CON-
paratively young man, the present OF
tumwan had gained quite a reputation
as an engineer and had done much
practical work, having superintended
the construction of about twenty miles
of sewers and great deal of other
l.
Mr.. Allen spent some time under an
experienced hydraulic engineer at
Louisville, KY, and was later on sew
eral extensive railroad surveys under
Major Wrightman of Illinois. He has
resided in Ottumwa for several years
and has served several terms as city
engineer He is at present conducting
a business of his own and is known
all over Iowa as highly capable civil
engineer.
t. Smith.
j. T. Smith, the republican nominee
for city assessor,was born May 2,1S43,
in Bradford county, Pa. He removed
with his parents to Ohio in 1851 and
in 1857 to this county. Since that
time Mr.. Smith has made his home in
Wapello county and Ottumwa continu-
ously with the exception of three
years, when he resided in Clarinda.
His early life was spent upon a farm,
and for time after coming to Iowa
he was engaged in agricultural work.
For twenty-three years Mr.. Smith was
employed in furniture and cabinet
works in Ottumwa as carpenter. AT
one time he was an instructor in the
SCloOlo VI liC Slly cSilu lldo SCl
ed two terms as assessor, doing his
work in a fair and impartial manner
| that has won for him the respect of
| the people. Mr.. Smith was also side
walk com missioner for two years and
served the people in this capacity in a
| highly satisfactory manner. He has
resided in South Ottumwa for several
years and is recognized as one of the
most reliable citizens of that commun-
| ity and the entire city.
John A. PalIister.
John A. Pallister, candidate for park
commissioner, was born 46 years ago in
Quebec, Canada. He removed with his
| family to Ottumwa in 1872 and with
his brothers, Thomas and Henry Pal
lister, established in 1878, the firm OF
| Pallister Bros, cigar manufacturers
| This firm has been in business in OF
tumwa for twenty-five vars and is one
of the progressive establishments OF
the city. Mr.. Pallister has always
been identified with any legitimate
scheme for lettering the city, and is
progressive and energetic. He was
4 the first to install an electric lighting
plant in the city in 1884, and has
fathered bicycling, automobiling and
steamboating His personal likes anC
/ his splendid business record commend
him strongly for the position of parl
| commissioner for which he has beer
| nominated.
S. L. Vest.
S. L. Vest, candidate for park com
missioner, is one of the most widely
| i,,+ nj 1rI Ia hoe cnn
nected with the First Nationa
bank for almost. thirteen years, and is
now teller in that institution. Mr.. Vest
was born near Malta, Morgan county
| Ohio, in 1856. His parents died wher
he was a mere youth, and he was, al
most from childhood, dependent upor
| his own efforts for a livelihood. He
i lived on a farm near his birthplace I'm
til 20 years of age. after which tim,
he removed to GAINESVILLE, Ohio, where
he resided until 1879. In that year h,
came to Ottumwa and has lived in this
city continuously since that time. Soo1
after coming to Ottumwa, Mr.. Vest be
came connected with the Wholesale dry
goods house of Lawrence, DUNCAN {
1 Co.,as bill clerk and later as bookkeeI
er, and remained with this firm TO
eight or nine years, during which tim,
the firms name was changed to Law
renee, Manning, Gushing & Co. Ate
leaving this company's employ, MI
Vest was bookkeeper in the office O
John Morrell & Co., for some time, re
signing that position to accept the DEP
uty county clerkship during the admir-
istration in that Office of Charles I
/ Norton.On December 1,1S90,he accep
ed position as bookkeeper in the Firs
National bank and has been with tina
house since that date, having risen t
the position of exchange clerk and la
er to that of teller. Mr. Vest was fo
two years city treasurer, in 1895 an
1896, and during that time, as Away.
he performed the responsible dutie
that devolved upon him in name
that reflected much credit upon him.
w. w. Cummings.
w. w. Cummings, one of the sui
stantial business men of Ottunwa,
candidate for park commissioner. II
was born in Livingston county, N. Y
in 1860 and while still a babe was tai
en- by his parents to Virginia, whel
\ y, 20