The ancestors of him whose history is outlined in this sketch were among the early settlers of New York State. His father, Hial H. McIntyre, was an extensive lumberman for many years in the lumber districts of York State. In 1849 he entered into an agreement to come west and take charge of some lumber mills for Robert Christie, and traveled by way of Lake Champlain, the Erie canal, Lake Erie and Lake Michigan to Racine, Wisconsin. From there he traveled overland to Illinois, and finally settled in Le Claire Township, Scott County, Iowa, for which place he had started. Mr. McIntyre remained in Scott County until his death, which occurred in 1854.
James McIntyre was born in the State of New York, June 26, 1814, at Schroon Lake, near Crown Point. He was five years of age when his father came west, and found his first employment in the office of William Renwick, proprietor of an extensive lumber yard in Davenport. At the age of seventeen years he enlisted in Company D of the Twen tieth Iowa Infantry Regiment, as a private under Captain Adolphus Torry. The company was made up in Davenport, was equipped at Clinton, Iowa, and started for St. Louis. Their first battle was at Prairie Grove, Arkansas, December 7, 1862. The following year they participated in the siege and capture of Vicksburg, Mississippi, which capitulated July 4, 1863. After taking part in the capture of Fort Morgan, Alabama, August 23, 1864, and Fort Blakely, Alabama, April 9, 1865, the company was ordered to Mobile, Alabama, where it remained until July, 1865, when the troops were mustered out of service, the war being at an end.
September 11, 1873, Mr. McIntyre was united in marriage to Miss Ida S., daughter of H. H. and Mary Kenower. Of this union four children were born: Irma E., married to S. T. Morris, bookkeeper for the Davenport Gas Company; Harry H., who died in infancy; May I. and Clyde W., who reside at home. In 1876 Mr. McIntyre entered the employ of the Emerson & Fisher Buggy Company of Cincinnati as traveling salesman, and in 1880 the company decided to establish a branch house in Davenport. Mr. McIntyre was placed in charge of the branch house as general manager, having entire control of the western trade. In this position he has demonstrated that he is possessed of the qualities that command success in the business world. He has built up from a small beginning a large and profitable business, and his standing in the community, both socially and in commercial circles, is a creditable one.
He and his family are members of the Fourteenth Street Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and of Davenport Lodge No. 37, Free and Accepted Masons. Mr. McIntyre's mother was left, by the death of her husband in 1854, with a family of small children to rear and educate. While she was left in comfortable circumstances, yet she had ample opportunity to demonstrate that she was a woman of marked ability and business tact. She not only reared and educated her family of children, but also took care for many years of an aged brother, and instead of encroaching upon the property left by her husband, added to and by prudent management and investment increased the same to a comfortable little fortune. This venerable lady is still living and enjoys excellent health, and the almost unimpaired use of all her faculties.
BIOGRAPHIES