Biographical and historical memoirs of Story County, Iowa, Part 53

Author:
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago : Goodspeed
Number of Pages: 484

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families. She has borne her husband thirteen children, whose names are here given. John (who is married to Maggie Thompson, and is engaged in farming in Story County), Martha (who is the wife of T. N. Boug, a farmer of the county ), Thomas O. Nernes ( who is married to Christina Sheldahl, and also tills the soil in this county), Sakkarias (who is married to Enna Olson, and farms in the county), Lina (who is a well-educated young woman, and re- sides with her parents, ) and Levi (who assists his father on the farm at home) are the only ones living. Those deceased are: Julia, Ole and Thomas ( who died in infancy in Norway), Martha (died in infancy in Illinois), Julia Elizabeth (died in infancy ), Elizabeth (died in infancy ) and Elizabeth Olena (who also passed from life when an infant). Mr. Nernes emi- grated with his family from Norway to the United States in 1853, and first settled in Ken- dall County, Ill., but two years later came to Story County, it being then in a very primitive state of civilization. They tell of how three families lived together in a log house about twelve feet square, and the hardships and vicis- situdes they were compelled to endure were many indeed. The winter of 1855-56 was especially trying on account of the extremely cold weather, and the sufferings they passed through are almost untold. The nearest mar- ket of any merit was Des Moines, twenty miles distant, but they were compelled to go around so many ponds, sloughs, etc., that the distance was much longer. Mr. Nernes is now the owner of 480 acres of as fine land as can be found in Iowa, and his place is well improved with good buildings of all kinds. He has in- stituted a thorough system of drainage and an excellent plan of farming, and his property is among the most valuable in the county. He has always upheld the principles of Repub- licanism, and he and his family are devout

STORY COUNTY.

members of the Palestine Lutheran Evangel- ical Church, in the county. Mr. Nernes' par- ents were native Norwegians, and are now de- ceased. Their children are: Sarah (wife of Jacob Apland, a farmer of Iowa), Ole (comes next in order of birth), and Elizabeth (is the wife of T. Simmonson, a farmer of the county ).

Mrs. Miami (Hanks) Netterfield is residing iu Section 22, Union Township, Story County, Iowa, on an excellent farm of 200 acres, which was left her by her late lamented husband. This property is well improved, and although the residence is old-fashioned, it is pleasant, comfortable and commodious. Mrs. Netter- field was born in Winnebago County, Ill., June 10, 1844, she being the fifth of nine children- six sons and three daughters-born to Warren and Julia Hanks, the former of whom was born in Vermont in 1806, and the latter in Illinois in 1817. Both were educated in the subscrip- tion schools of early times, and their union was consummated iu Roscoe, Winnebago County, III. Mr. Hanks ever had the interests of his country at heart, and besides partici- pating in the Mexican War also served during the late Rebellion. He passed to his long home when eighty years of age, his wife's death occurring at the untimely age of thirty- eight years. The names of the children that in time clustered about their hearthstone, are as follows: Laura (wife of Gamaliel Netter- field, a farmer and blacksmith of the county), Jarvis (who married Miss Frank Songer, who left him a widower at the end of two years, after which he married Miss Clementine Allen, and is now a farmer of Story County), George R. (a sketch of whom appears in this work-which see), Jarvis (was a soldier in the late war), Duane (married Miss Melissa Steel, and is a farmer of this section; he was also a soldier), Miami (the subject of this sketch ), De Witt (who married Miss C. Lem-

mon, is tilling the soil in this county; he was also a soldier, and was confined in Anderson- ville prison for eighteen months), Henry (who was a farmer and stock-raiser of this region, died at the age of thirty-eight years, a bach- elor), William (who married Miss Mary E. Macone, is an agriculturist of the county ), and Mary (the youngest of the family, was the wife of William Maxwell, a farmer, and died in this county at the age of thirty-one years). These nine children were born, and nearly all grown, when the father moved from Illinois to Iowa, except the youngest five, near Roscoe, Winne- bago County, Ill. Mrs. Netterfield obtained her early education in the schools of Illinois, and about 1854 emigrated with her father from her native county to Delaware county, and from there to Jones County, Iowa, where she was married on September 19, 1860, to

Binajah Netterfield, at Monticello. Warren Hanks was the owner of a large and well- improved farm of 300 acres in Illinois, but this he left to emigrate west. The journey to Iowa was made by ox-teams, and this, in- deed, proved a most wonderful occurrence for the children. In a little more than a year Mrs. Hanks died of consumption, after years of suffering, leaving the youngest child of this large family only two years old. Mr. Hanks, however, situated on the farm of eighty acres, which he had purchased, provided well for his children, keeping them together six years, when he married Mrs. Catherine Cassidy (a widow). Some time later, at the outbreak of the war, he enlisted in the "Gray Beard Cav- alry," at Denver, serving faithfully for awhile. He was wounded while on duty by his horse stumbling, was taken to the hospital, and after- ward discharged. During this time his wife died. After returning home Mr. Hanks went to Kansas, and there married Mrs. Martha Carter, also a widow, who survived nine or ten

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years. Subsequently, on account of rheuma- tism, he became unable to work, but his chil- dren, with loving devotion, stood ready to care for him in his old age. He came to Cam- bridge, Story County, Iowa, and made his home among them until his death, dying at the residence of Mrs. Miami Netterfield (to whom he was a great comfort). He was laid to rest in the Cambridge Cemetery, removed from the troubles and labors of a life of vicissitude. An earnest farmer himself, he reared his chil- dren to a life of agricultural pursuits. Of his forty-three grandchildren thirty-one are liv- ing; also eight great-grandchildren. A nice gravestone stands at the head of his grave. Mr. Netterfield was born and reared near Eagleville, Ashtabula County, Ohio, where he lived with his parents to the age of sixteen. He was the eldest of six children, only one of whom, besides himself, lived to be grown-Ga- maliel. His parents were Samuel and Sarah Netterfield, the former a good old-fashioned man and something of a minister, while his mother was an excellent Christian woman. She died when Binajah was sixteen. At the end of two years the father married again, after which the boys took care of themselves. Gama- liel learned blacksmithing. Binajah worked out for awhile, and then went to sea for his health, after which he returned to the old homestead in Ohio. Desiring to find a locality where he might make money, he started for the West, not knowing where he would stop, but finally settled at Woodstock, MeHenry County, Ill., where he worked three years for a farmer by the name of G. W. Phelps. His habits of economy and energy soon gained for him quite a sum of money, besides a team and wagon, when, having taken the Iowa fever, as some called it, he started by himself on another western trip, and in five days landed at his brother's home in Jones County, lowa. Within

nine days from this time he was married to Miss Hanks, verifying the prediction which he had made to his friends in Ohio that he was going to Iowa for a wife. After their mar- riage, they hired out to a large farmer at $22 per month (including the team), thus continuing for nearly a year, when they went near Des Moines, and for nine months also worked for a farmer and stock-dealer. During this time they practiced rigid economy, saving everything possible in order to obtain a home. Coming to Story County, they rented a farm two years, and in the meanwhile succeeded in purchasing the place on which Mrs. Netterfield is now living. Her mind frequently recurs to the days of her first experience in Iowa-a contrast, indeed, to the possibilities and con- veniences of the present, for when she and her husband first came here, the region, being new and unsettled, did not hold forth many prom- ises of future prosperity. Rapid progress was made, however, in clearing and draining the country, and the farm on which they first set- tled, although at that time low and wet, has been converted into one of the finest tracts in this section of the State. At that time the town of Cambridge contained about six houses, and some of the other towns were but little larger. Mr. and Mrs. Netterfield's union re- sulted in the birth of one son and two daugh- ters: Lydia E. (who was the wife of James E. Shafer, conductor of a creamery, died at the age of twenty-one years, leaving a little daughter, Gracie, who is now eight years of age), Emma L. (who was born on the old homestead in Story County, in 1865, is a well educated young lady, and although she is now living with her mother, she expects to make the dressmaker and milliner's trade her life work), Samuel Warren (the only son, is en- gaged in tilling the old home farm, and al- though he spent a short time in Dakota, he

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has resided in Story County the greater part of his life). Mrs. Netterfield is a conscientious Christian, and has been a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church for many years, and a liberal contributor to that as well as to all other laudable enterprises. She has long been noted for her kind and benevolent disposition, and is held in high esteem, not only by her immediate neighbors, but by all who know her. She is surrounded by her children and numer- ous friends, is contented and happy with her lot, and a short sketch of her life will be prized by all. She has taken care of her little grand- daughter, Gracie, ever since she was seven months of age, and expects to rear her to hon- orable womanhood. Mr. Netterfield passed from the scene of his earthly labors on Febru- ary 7, 1876, his death being the result of a fall. He was a kind and loving husband and father, devoted to the interests of his family, and at all times did all in his power to build up and improve the county in general, and his own immediate neighborhood in particular. He had been of an adventurous disposition in his early life, and had been a sailor on the high seas for three years, visiting during this time the Okhotsk Sea and the Society Islands in a whaling vessel. He was always very pa- triotic, and ever upheld the principles which tend to develop true manhood. He was indeed found to be the friend of the poor and dis- tressed, was a patron of educational institu- tions, and was one of the practical farmers of the county. He was laid to rest in Cambridge Cemetery, where a monument has since been erected to his memory by his loving widow and children. After receiving the injury which was the immediate cause of his death, he was bed-ridden for almost five months, was unable to turn himself in bed, and although he suf- fered much he was patient under affliction and very thoughtful of the welfare of those about

him. Mrs. Netterfield, after coming to Jones County, Iowa, as noted in a previous page, worked out and completed her education as best she could after her mother's death (which occurred when Miami was sixteen years old), making her home with her sister Laura. Fol- lowing her marriage, though not very strong, she did her share in endeavoring to prove a worthy helpmate to her husband, and gaining a much-coveted home. Now she is in com- fortable circumstances and happy and con- tented, though her life has not been without troubles and sorrows hard to bear. Ill health and death have not passed by her home. For eighteen months a bed-ridden sufferer, the death of her dear companion and beloved father, daughter, brother and sister came to her as afflictions hard to bear, but with faith and courage she still toils on, looking toward that city where there will be no trial or sorrow, and where "the weary are at rest."

Isaac B. Norton was the eighth in a family of twelve children, and was born in Maine, in 1847, to Harrison H. and Betsey ( Batchelor) Norton, the names of whose children are as follows: Sophia, Hiram, and a twin brother (who died), Ira B. (of Earlville, Ill.), Lydia (wife of Charles Agnew, of Earlville), Sarah (wife of John Terry, of that place), Ellen, Isaac B., Emeline (wife of Henry Craver, of Earlville), Harrison (of the same place), John (of Zearing), and Levi (of Earlville. ) The fam- ily moved from Franklin County, Me., in 1849, to La Salle County, Ill., where the children grew to maturity and received common-school educa- tions. The paternal grandfather, Trustian Norton, was a resident of the State of Maine for many years. In 1867 Isaac B. Norton was married in La Salle County, Ill., to Miss Matilda F. Wickes, a daughter of E. R. Wickes, of that county. He remained there until 1875, then emigrated to Story County, Iowa, and

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purchased a farm of 160 acres in Section 20, but is now the owner of 480 acres of as fine land as there is in the county, all well im- proved, besides valuable property in Zearing. He has earned the property which he now has by the sweat of his brow, and since locating here he has enjoyed the reputation of being not only a substantial and progressive farmer, but an intelligent and thoroughly-posted man on all public affairs. He has become well known for honorable, upright dealing, and his career through life is an excellent example for young men starting out with but little means. He has always been a stanch Republican in his views, and socially belongs to the I. O. O. F. of Zearing. He is quite an extensive stock breeder, and takes an especial interest in horses, and has raised some splendid roadsters. He has an excellent Alroy horse of Kentucky stock, which was shipped from Illinois.

James M. Olinger, farmer and stock-raiser, Maxwell, Iowa. In mentioning those who have become closely associated with the farming and stock-raising interests of Story County, refer- ence should not fail to be made of Mr. Olinger, who is one of the most successful and substan- tial men of the county. He owes his nativity to Carroll County, Ind., where his birth oc- curred October 24, 1843, and is the son of John and Elizabeth (Aldridge) Olinger, na- tives of Virginia and Tennessee, respectively. John Olinger went to Tennessee when a child, and later to Indiana, where he grew to man- hood and was married. He then followed farming for a number of years, and also worked at blacksmithing until 1854, when he moved to Iowa, locating in Story County in the spring of 1855, on land now adjoining the town of Maxwell. He improved a farm, and there passed the closing scenes of his life, his death occurring March 24, 1874. He held several local offices of honor and trust, and was a zeal-

ous member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church during the last years of his life. His wife is still living. James M. Olinger, the eldest of three children, two sons and a daugh- ter, was early instructed in the duties of farm life, and grew to manhood in Story County. He was married, September 20, 1863, to Miss Rebecca J. John, a native of Indiana, and the daughter of Bowen W. John. After marriage Mr. Olinger rented land for a few years, then leased the old homestead, and afterward pur- chased it, tilling the soil on the same until 1885. He then sold that, and bonght an im- proved place two and a half miles nearly east of Maxwell, where he now resides. He has eighty acres all fenced and in a good state of cultivation. He is also farming sixty acres of rented land. Mr. Olinger is independent in his political views, and has held several local positions of trust, viz .: Constable, justice of the peace, and is now supervisor of the roads of his district. Hisresidence, barns and out-build- ings, and in fact all necessary conveniences, plainly show the quality of farmer that he is. He has a good bearing orchard of over 200 trees, all select fruit, consisting of apple, plum, cherry and small fruit. Mr. Olinger's mar- riage resulted in the birth of nine children: Elizabeth (wife of J. D. Scott, of Polk County ), Minnie A. (at home), Jennie C., George W., Marion L., Ward A., Ross J., Anna R. and Edna G. Mr. and Mrs. Olinger are worthy members. of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

Ole J. Olson is numbered among the promi- nent citizens of Story County. In company with quite a number of the highly successful men in this section of the country, Mr. Olson came originally from that grand old country, Norway, which seems somehow to instill into her sons the traits of character that make them successful, prosperous and popular wherever

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STORY COUNTY.

Fate leads their footsteps. He is a son of An- drew and Julie Ole Olson, and was born Jan- uary 8, 1843. The family emigrated to Amer- ica in 1854, locating in Chicago, where they remained three years, after which the father moved to Minnesota, and then to Story County. When a lad of fourteen, Ole located in Wiscon- sin, attending school there, and came to Iowa in 1863, where he purchased land in Story County, and devoted his attention to farming. Mr. Olson has made quite a fortune, and that, too, by his own exertions. He married Miss Helen Hill, of Illinois, July 11, 1868. They have five children named, respectively, Chris- tina Amelia, Julia Ann, Andrew Cornelius, Jane Matilda and Henrietta Mabel. Death has robbed them of three children. The fam- ily belong to the Lutheran Church.

Abel Olson. Many years ago in far-away Norway lived the parents of the subject of this sketch, who, at this time ranks high among Story's prominent men. After Death, with ruthless hand, had robbed her of her chosen life companion, Mrs. Olson braved the stormy ocean to discover the charms of the States. Though ninety-six years old, perhaps the old- est person who ever trusted themselves to Neptune's tender mercies, she made the voy- age in safety, and after two years spent upon American soil, breathed her last in 1880. Abel is one of the members of a large family of children, all of whom reached mature years, and eight of whom became the heads of families. He grew to manhood on Norwe- gian soil, receiving an excellent education in the language of that country. After reaclı- ing this land in 1855, he located in Chicago, sailing upon the lakes as a sailor, and for six years led the life of " a jolly tar." In the panic of 1859 Mr. Olson became financial- ly embarrassed, and moved to Iowa in order to restore the fallen glory of his fortunes. Lo-

cating in Story County, he bought valuable land from time to time, until at the present writing he owns 700 acres of highly cultivated ground, from which he reaps an abundant income. A Republican in politics, he was for seventeen years justice of the peace in Howard Town- ship. On March 12, 1859, Mr. Olson married Miss Jorene Olson, in Chicago: She was the daughter of Ole Olson, and a native of Nor- way. They raised four children: Ole, Carl, George and Andrew A. They are members of the Lutheran Church.

John O'Neil, well known in Story County, has been a resident of this section since 1855, at which time then a lad of ten years, he left his native State of Indiana and accompanied his father to the comparatively new State of Iowa, and soon after his arrival here engaged as a farm hand, working out by the month. At the age of eighteen, in the summer of 1863, he enlisted in Company I, Eighth Iowa Vol- unteer Cavalry, in Capt. E. Shurtz' company of Marshalltown; was mustered into service with the regiment at Davenport, and soon after- ward sent to the front and assigned to the First Brigade, First Division, Cavalry of the Cum- berland, J. B. Croxton commanding the brig- ade. He was on the Atlanta campaign with Sherman's army, and afterward on the Nash- ville campaign under Thomas, and was also on the Wilson raid. At the close of the war he was mustered out at Macon, Ga., and dis- charged with the regiment at Clinton, Iowa, in 1865, after which he returned to Story County and engaged in farming. In 1875 he pur- chased 160 acres, which, together with 160 acres he has since bought, goes to make up his farm of 320 acres on which he is now living in Section 17, Sherman Township. He was married in 1867 to Miss Mary French, of this county, and their union has been blessed by the birth of three children: Philip S., Charity

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J. and Charles M., all at home. Until Grant's second term, Mr. O'Neil was a stanch Repub- lican, but he then united with the Greenback party, and at the present time belongs to the Union Labor party.

C. P. Page, farmer and stock-raiser, resides on Section 22, Richland Township. He is a native of Marshall County, Va., born in 1822, being the sixth child born to Nathaniel and Annie (Conner) Page, both of whom were na- tives of Virginia. The father was a soldier in the War of 1812, under W. H. Harrison, and the grandfather was a major in the Revo- lutionary War, and lost $60,000, which he spent in buying shoes for his own regiment. Mr. Page, Sr., died when our subject was quite small, and his widow afterward contracted a second marriage and died in 1884, at the ad- vanced age of ninety years. By her marriage with Mr. Page she became the mother of eleven children, nine of whom grew to matu- rity, and only five of whom are now living, viz .: Maria (deceased), Hannah (now Mrs. Blake, of Marshall County, Va. ), Thomas (of Marshall County, Va.), Joseph (deceased), C. P., Lydia (now Mrs. Cook, of Cincinnati, Ohio), Armenia (now Mrs. Grout, of Cincin- nati), and John, Catherine and William, all deceased. By her second marriage she be- came the mother of one son-Samuel McArdle. C. P. Page attained his growth in his native State, his educational advantages being ex- tremely limited, and at the age of sixteen years he left Virginia and went to Marion County, Ohio, and for the next fifteen years he made his home in that State. He was married in Morgan County, Ohio, in 1844, to Miss Sarah A. White, daughter of Edward and Nancy (Rush) White, natives of Pennsylvania. She was born in Somerset County, Penn., in 1823. Their wedded life has been blessed with three children: Irene (now Mrs. McLane, is liv-

ing in Colo, Iowa; she has three children: Sarah A., Lulu and Ellen), Celinda (now Mrs. Chitty, of this township; she has two children: Jacova and Christopher), A. Jay (married Miss Lizzie Day and is living at home; they have one child - Lydia). They also adopted a daughter-Nancy J., who now makes her home with Mrs. Chitty. Mr. Page was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who died in 1879. In 1855 he came from Ohio to this county, and entered 160 acres of Government land, for which he paid $1.25 per acre, and im- mediately commenced improving it. At that time, his nearest market was Davenport, on the Mississippi River, a distance of over 100 miles, and when the railroad came to Marengo, a dis- tance of sixty miles, it was considered a very con- venient market. It would generally take five or six days to make a trip to the river, and often the money received for produce would not be accepted for paying taxes. At the time of his settlement, the entire county voted in Nevada, and the strife was not between Repub- licans and Democrats, but between the north and south side of the slough at Nevada. Since purchasing this tract of 160 acres, Mr. Page has added another forty acres to his posses- sions, and now owns one of the finest farms in the county. He has given all his children a good education, his son Jay, who is now serv- ing his fourth term as township assessor, having received his education at Brown's College, Valparaiso, Ind. He has always taken an act- ive part in the politics of his county, casting his vote with the Republican party, and socially, he belongs to Nevada Lodge No. 404, I. O. O. F.

Lyman Patridge. No name is more closely associated with the farming interests of the county than the one that heads this sketch, for it is borne by a man who is progressive in his ideas, and, during his residence in this county,

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has been one of its most successful agricultur- ists. He owes his nativity to St. Lawrence County, N. Y., where he was born in March, 1822. His parents were natives of New York and New Hampshire, respectively, and reared the following children: Elias, Martha ( unmar- ried and living in New York), Hiram (also a resident of New York), Lyman, Sarah (now Mrs. Clark, and residing in the "Empire State," where her husband is successfully en- gaged in tilling the soil), Mary Ann (the wife of a Mr. Ball, a farmer of New York), Harriet (deceased), Philena (is now Mrs. Beckwith, and a resident of Story County, where her hus- band tills the soil ), Elmira (is now Mrs. Monta, and makes her home in Canada), and Lucy (who married a Mr. Miller, and resides in New York). Lyman Patridge attained his growth in his native State, and although he received the best schooling which the common schools of that State afforded at the time, his education was very meager, and at the early age of fifteen years he commenced life's battle in earnest. When he was twenty years of age he took an extended trip through New Hampshire, Massachusetts and New York, and in 1854 "he took the gold fever," and started from Dubuque, Iowa, afoot, across the plains, and reached California after the usual time. While on the Pacific Slope, he spent most of the time in mining and lum- bering, and remained in California, Oregon, Washington and Idaho, until the winter of 1870, when he returned home, and in August of the following year the ceremony that made him and Cynthia Margaret Southwick husband and wife was performed. Immediately after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Patridge emigrated from New York to Story County, Iowa, arriv- ing here in the spring of 1872. They pur- chased an eighty-acre farm, but slightly im- proved, for which they paid $1,800 in gold, and to this have since added eighty more acres,

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Biographical and historical memoirs of Story County, Iowa, Part 53

Author: Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Chicago : Goodspeed Number of Pages: 484

Author:
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago : Goodspeed
Number of Pages: 484